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 India faces cooking gas shortage Xinhua) 16:35, March 10, 2026 NEW DELHI, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Indian lawmakers on Tuesday expressed concern over Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) shortage as some areas in the country, particularly in the southern state of Karnataka and the southwestern state of Maharashtra, were adversely hit. The cooking gas shortage was said to be a spillover effect of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, according to local media reports. Only a couple of days ago, the cost of a domestic LPG cylinder increased by 60 Indian Rupees (nearly 65 U.S. cents), and a commercial LPG cylinder by 115 Indian Rupees (nearly 1.25 U.S. dollars). Hotels and restaurants were adversely hit by the LPG cylinder shortage, local media reported. India Today carried an online report titled "LPG shortage shuts 20 percent of Mumbai hotels and restaurants." Tejasvi Surya, a lawmaker from the country's main ruling party, the Bharatiya Janata Party, has written a letter to federal Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, urging him to ensure continuity of LPG supply to the restaurant and hospitality sector. He also highlighted the Bangalore Hotels Association's plight over LPG supply. Reacting to the LPG shortage arising in the country, Jebi Mather, a lawmaker from the main opposition party, the Indian National Congress, told reporters in New Delhi, "Hoteliers of Chennai, Bengaluru and Pune have openly said that they do not have LPG, and they need to shut down their hotels. This is the case with the rest of the country. We are worried." Meanwhile, taking a stern note of the arising situation, the Indian government on Tuesday invoked the "Essential Commodities Act, 1955" in order to regulate the availability, supply and equitable distribution of petroleum and petroleum products and natural gas. In an official order, the federal government also directed the refineries and petrochemical units to maximize production of LPG and divert key hydrocarbon streams to the LPG pool. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) BEIJING, March 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from chinadaily.com.cn Nearly three months after the launch of island-wide special customs operations, Hainan Free Trade Port is witnessing surging foreign investment, duty-free imports and visa-free arrivals, said Liu Xiaoming, the governor of southern China's Hainan province. An aerial view of the Phoenix Island in Hainan's Sanya city. [Photo/VCG] In an interview with China Daily on the sidelines of the ongoing two sessions, Liu, who is also a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress, the country's top legislature, described the special customs operations, which began on Dec 18, as a "new historical starting point" for higher-level opening-up. Since the launch, operations have been stable and the flow of goods, people and capital has been accelerating. "The vitality and potential of Hainan's high-level opening-up have been fully demonstrated," Liu said. The share of imported goods eligible for zero tariffs has jumped from 21 percent to 74 percent of all tariff items. Imported products that undergo at least 30 percent value-added processing in Hainan can now enter the mainland tariff-free. During the nine-day Spring Festival holiday in February, Hainan recorded nearly 48.6 million yuan ($7.03 million) in zero-tariff imports, saving 9.42 million yuan in duties. In the first two months since operations began, the value of imports and exports at local customs ports grew 9 percent year-on-year. The developments are being noticed by foreign enterprises. German turbine manufacturer Siemens Energy and French pharmaceutical company Mayoly have established their presence on the island, while Singapore-based Fullerton Health Group opened Hainan's first wholly foreign-owned hospital. Liu said that in the first two months of operation, the number of new foreign-invested enterprises grew 45.6 percent. Tourism is also surging, and Liu attributed this to the country's most open entry policy. In the two months since the launch, 557,700 inbound and outbound tourists passed through the province's ports. Of them, 141,000 were visa-free foreign nationals, a year-on-year increase of 62.2 percent. Domestic consumption is being reshaped through optimized duty-free shopping policies for outbound travelers and new duty-free stores that cater to residents' needs for daily goods. The first five duty-free stores selling daily consumer goods opened on Feb 11 and attracted 465,000 visitors in the first two weeks. During the Spring Festival holiday, the value of offshore duty-free sales increased 30.8 percent, and the number of shoppers rose 35.4 percent. "The policy dividends have won wide recognition," Liu said, adding that the province will continue to expand the range of duty-free goods and integrate duty-free shopping with tourism and culture. Liu emphasized that, with these operations in place, Hainan is ready to advance its opening-up on a larger scale and at a deeper level. He said that Hainan will steadily expand institutional opening-up by aligning with the rules of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and proactively connecting with high-standard international trade agreements. The province will further liberalize trade and investment by optimizing port layouts and supervisory models. It will work to shorten the negative list for cross-border service trade and explore a coordinated access system for domestic and foreign capital. Liu added that Hainan will increase the flow of goods and factors of production. This includes fully utilizing the multi-function free trade accounts, expanding the list of visa-free countries and improving the management of data exports. Hainan aims to become a strategic hub in the country's dual-circulation development paradigm, serving as a bridge between the domestic market and the global economy, Liu said. He noted that Hainan is within a four-hour flight of 21 countries and regions, encompassing about 47 percent of the world's population. The province has attracted investment from 180 countries and regions, and established partnerships with 41 global free trade zones and ports. Cooperative industrial parks built in collaboration with Guangdong, Hunan and Zhejiang provinces, as well as the Hong Kong economic cooperation demonstration zone, are flourishing in Hainan. "We will actively integrate into and serve the unified national market," said Liu, adding that Hainan will build a high-quality platform to help domestic enterprises go global. Liu highlighted five key priorities for developing unique industrial chains. In seed breeding, efforts will focus on core technologies. The marine industry aims to make the deep sea a source of technological innovation and plans for the marine sector to account for 40 percent of the province's GDP this year. In the space sector, Hainan's commercial spacecraft launch site plans to carry out 60 launches per year. Regarding green development, the province will promote new energy storage, electric vehicles, prefabricated construction and carbon sink trading. To advance e-commerce and international data services, Hainan plans to leverage green computing power and cross-border data flow policies. To build a free trade port with global influence, Liu said that Hainan will develop internationally competitive industries. SOURCE chinadaily.com.cn President Donald Trump on Wednesday suggested that top U.S. military officials preferred sinking Iranian ships to capturing them because its more enjoyable for them as he boasted that the U.S. has already won the nearly two-week-old war he started against Iran. The president was speaking in Kentucky during an appearance to promote a challenger to his longtime GOP nemesis from the state, Representative Thomas Massie. Trump boasted of the decisive action his administration has taken against Iran when he began recounting to supporters how the U.S. has knocked out alleged mine-laying boats to prevent Tehran from using mines to stop maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. They knocked out 54 ships in two days. They're real ships, Trump said. He then recalled a purported conversation with a military leader in which he became angry that the ships werent captured and converted for American use. I got angry at my people. I said, are they good ... I said, Why the hell did we kill them? Why didnt we just capture them and use them in our Navy? And actually one of my general said: Sir, it's a lot more fun doing it this way, he said. Trump boasted of military successes at a rally meant to promote a rival to his longtime Kentucky nemesis, Thomas Massie (AP) The presidents comments came at the top of a rambling campaign-style stemwinder that saw him depart from prepared remarks that were supposed to focus on his administrations work to tackle the cost-of-living concerns that had propelled his return to the presidency last year. Instead, he spent much of the time dwelling on familiar subjects and long-held grievances, such as calling out his predecessor, Barack Obama, for attempting to curb Tehrans nuclear program with a diplomatic agreement negotiated with the E.U. and the other four permanent members of the U.N. Security Council during his second term. Trump called Obama a weak, pathetic person and suggested the agreement, which he pulled out of during his first term, rewarded Tehran with billions of dollars in cash, referring to a right-wing conspiracy which posits that the Obama administration used taxpayer funds to pay bribes in return for the release of American hostages. He also falsely alleged that the Obama-era deal gave [Iran] the right to have a nuclear weapon. If I didn't terminate that deal, they would have had nuclear weapons, and this world would, right now, be a different place, much different place, believe me, he said. The president veered from his affordability message several times in the speech to supporters in Kentucky and at one stage launched into a rant against wind power (Getty Images) He also attacked a familiar enemy wind power by suggesting to the crowd that Chinas government purposefully tricks Western governments into using wind power to sell wind turbines while reaping the benefits of burning coal for power generation. China is very smart. They use coal. What they don't use much of, if at all, are windmills. So they make all the windmills, and they sell that garbage to us round and round it goes, keeps losing money, he said, seemingly ignorant of the fact that China currently operates roughly half of the wind power generating capacity in the world. Trumps diatribes against the 44th president and wind power came just hours after he boasted to Axios in a phone interview that there was practically nothing left to target in Iran and that the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Tehran will end soon. The war is going great, he said. We are way ahead of the timetable. We have done more damage than we thought possible, even in the original six-week period. Trump claimed Iran had posted a threat not just to Israel but to other Gulf states across the region: They were after the rest of the Middle East. They are paying for 47 years of death and destruction they caused. This is payback. They will not get off that easy. Trump again boasted that the U.S. had won the nearly week-old conflict and claimed it had been over in the first hour (AFP/Getty) As he addressed his supporters in Kentucky, the president again boasted that the U.S. had won the nearly week-old conflict and claimed it had been over in the first hour. The knock-on effects of the conflict have caused gas prices to spike and called into question whether Trump or his party will be able to make any claim to have lowered the cost of living for Americans who will vote in November on whether to allow the GOP to keep unified control of both the House and Senate. The administration's explanations for why the U.S. began the conflict and the conditions under which it may end have shifted almost daily and even hourly over the course of the aerial campaign, and Trump has bragged that he can unilaterally bring it to a close any time I want it to end. Irans counterattacks on both ships in the Strait of Hormuz and on U.S.-aligned oil producers have caused a squeeze in worldwide petroleum supplies that led the International Energy Agency to announce a release from many wealthy nations strategic reserves on Wednesday. Trump claimed the U.S. has virtually destroyed Iran and suggested that Irans Air Force, air defense, and ballistic missile capabilities have been destroyed (REUTERS) Trump boasted that the IEA release would be as many as 400 million barrels and claimed it would substantially reduce the oil prices as we end this threat to America and this threat to the world. But he also told rally-goers that the war would continue, asking them: We don't want to leave early, do we? We got to finish the job right, he said. Trump added that the U.S. has virtually destroyed Iran since the joint American-Israeli air campaign began on February 28 and suggested that Irans Air Force, air defense, and ballistic missile capabilities have been destroyed. Nobody has ever seen anything like it, he said. Broadcaster Louis Theroux has described the views of online manosphere influencers as medieval as he discussed his new Netflix documentary. The film, titled Inside The Manosphere, will see Theroux speak with social media stars and content creators who are part of the manosphere as he explores the impact of online misogyny and toxic influences on young boys. Appearing on the podcast Dish from Waitrose, hosted by BBC Radio 6 Music star Nick Grimshaw and award-winning chef Angela Hartnett, Theroux spoke about how easily misinformation is spread to young men who idolise online influencers. Theroux said his new documentary was stressful to make (Harriet Langford Studio/Dish/Waitrose/Cold Glass Productions) The 55-year-old said: It was stressful to make. Its about the manosphere, if you know the term. Its this culture of misogynistic and toxic influences, men who believe in male supremacy Andrew Tates probably the most famous example. Our (documentary) takes place with me in the world of those influencers. I investigate, spend time among them, try to get to know them. The film will see Theroux interact with online content creators including controversial influencer Tate, internet personality Sneako and Harrison Sullivan, known as HSTikkyTokky on TikTok. He said: These streamers enjoy huge virality and have huge social media followers. Theroux spoke about the medieval views held by manosphere influencers (Harriet Langford Studio/Dish/Waitrose/Cold Glass Productions) He called younger people creatures of the internet and said that they get information through these online influencers, who he described as their celebrities, adding: Its a strange thing to reflect on. For the older generation, theyre like: Who are these troglodytic figures? Like these sort of strange, backward-looking, like, retrograde avatars of, a kind of mediaeval mindset. Do you know what I mean? Of, like: Oh, women shouldnt vote. Women are stupid is something they say. But actually, for young teenage boys across Western Europe, across America, thats, those are their pop stars, in a way. The documentary maker added that his new film helped him to understand how parasocial relationships contribute to misinformation being spread among young people. The Cambridge Dictionary defines a parasocial relationship as a connection someone feels between themselves and a famous person they do not know. Louis Theroux appeared on Dish from Waitrose (Harriet Langford Studio/Dish/Waitrose/Cold Glass Productions) Theroux said: Whether its a conspiracy theory or some patently false piece of fake scientific knowledge or just attitudes that are in themselves, poisonous, antisocial (influencers) have currency. (This information) is being presented by people who have a huge rapport with their fan bases, this sort of parasocial relationship that they have with their people who listen to them, so they accept all of that. I think its probably the right reaction to feel disturbed and troubled and at the same time to recognise that, for kids, this is normal content. The Cambridge dictionary defines the manosphere as websites and internet discussion groups concerned with mens interests and rights as opposed to womens, often connected with opposition to feminism or dislike of women. The full interview with Louis Theroux is available on the Dish from Waitrose podcast. World champion Luke Littler has fired an ominous warning to the rest of the darting world by saying he is winning major titles without playing his best. The 19-year-old won the UK Open at the weekend, successfully defending his 2025 crown, to make it five majors in a row. But despite his continuing domination, Littler, who also won his first weekly Premier League night in Cardiff last week, says he was not at his best. Littler spent time at the Cheltenham Festival this week (Andrew Matthews/PA) (Andrew Matthews) I had a little dry spell, but I think I can say Im back, he said ahead of Thursday nights Premier League event in Nottingham. The form hasnt gone my way in the Premier League, so to win in Cardiff meant a lot. I dont think many people expected me to win in the Premier League on Thursday, and I dont think many people expected me to come to the UK Open and win. I played well in patches, missed a lot of doubles, but if I can win major titles not playing my best, what can I do playing my best? Littler will play Gerwyn Price in the quarter-finals in the east midlands, trying to build on his first nightly win last week. Northern Irishman Josh Rock opens the nights proceedings against Stephen Bunting looking for his maiden victory. Rock is playing in the Premier League for the first time but has lost all of his first five matches whereas fellow debutant Gian van Veen has hit the ground running. This is brand new for me and Gian, Rock said. Hes got used to it a lot quicker than me, but Im still enjoying the Premier League. I think Ive been pretty unfortunate, especially last week against Luke. Im not playing badly, so I believe theres a win coming. Van Veen takes on defending champion Luke Humphries while the quarter-final line-up is completed by Jonny Clayton taking on Michael van Gerwen. Sharron Davies has co-sponsored an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill - Clara Molden At the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, I finished second in the 400m individual medley, beaten to the gold medal by East Germanys Petra Schneider. Schneider later admitted her victory was drug-enhanced under the countrys doping programme. One of the great tragedies of the East German doping scandal was the way vulnerable female athletes were often deceived, in the name of promoting Communist ideology, into taking drugs without being told of the illegality or risks. In some cases, this led to tragic consequences, including premature deaths. Last week, I signed my first amendment since becoming a peer in the House of Lords earlier this year, concerning a matter which causes me considerable unease. The amendment relates to another example of powerful drugs being too casually dispensed to women by the state in the name of ideology, from which tragic consequences have already unfolded. I have co-sponsored Baroness Strouds amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill that would protect women by reinstating in-person consultations with a medical professional before abortion pills can be prescribed. Baroness Strouds amendment would allow an accurate gestational age check to take place to prevent abortion beyond the 24-week limit - Daniel Jones I have spent much of my life campaigning for womens rights. I am pro-choice and believe women should have access to safe and legal abortion early in pregnancy. But being pro-choice does not excuse jeopardising safety or allowing a Wild West of abortion pills, where pills can too easily fall into the hands of abusers coercing abortions, traffickers covering up abuse or women whose pregnancies are approaching full term. The backdrop to the amendment Baroness Stroud and I have brought forward with other colleagues is the proposal in the Crime and Policing Bill that would mean it would no longer be illegal for a woman to administer her own abortion at any stage of pregnancy, right up to birth, for any reason, including the desire, prevalent in some communities, to choose a baby boy over a baby girl. The purported justification for this law change is a small number of cases of women who have faced prosecution in recent years for inducing their own abortions after the legal limit. However, Britain already has the most extreme time limit in Western Europe our 24-week limit is double the average in European Union countries and beyond the point when some babies now survive outside the womb. The idea that even this limit should effectively be scrapped for women who induce their own abortions commands little public support only one per cent of the population support such a radical measure. The real cause of these late abortions is the pills by post scheme, whereby women can obtain abortion pills without a face-to-face appointment to verify gestational age. This scheme may, perhaps, have had merit when introduced as a temporary measure during the pandemic, but should have ended afterwards. The practical effect of the scheme is that women at any stage of pregnancy can get hold of abortion pills by misleading abortion providers on the phone about their gestation, either mistakenly or deliberately as in the case of Carla Foster, who was sent abortion pills by BPAS after pretending to be seven weeks pregnant when actually around 33 weeks. Abortion pills, like steroids in 1980s East Germany, are powerful drugs requiring careful regulation. Effectively permitting unsupervised abortions away from a clinical setting late in pregnancy, using pills designed for the first 10 weeks of pregnancy, would put womens lives at risk. The shocking case of Stuart Worby, who was jailed after persuading a friends girlfriend to acquire abortion pills via the pills-by-post scheme so he could spike a womans drink to induce an abortion against her will, demonstrates the risks to women of current lax practice. I entered the House of Lords to bring the common-sense views of ordinary people back into political life. Radical campaigners may argue that I am siding against the feminist cause. But this is nonsense. Supporting safe abortion protocols is pro-woman. Besides, being pro-choice has limits; it does not mean supporting abortion up to birth, so that viable babies (including girls) can have their lives ended in the womb without legal repercussion, even at full term. For that reason, I am also supporting Baroness Moncktons amendment that would remove the abortion up to birth clause from the Crime and Policing Bill entirely. Activists may claim the 24-week time limit would remain on paper, since only women administering their own abortions would be removed from the criminal law under the proposed law change. However, this is disingenuous when women can obtain pills so easily. Indeed, it is profoundly unfeminist to suggest that women, uniquely, should be removed from the criminal law in this area as if women are always victims and lack agency. Equality requires that women have equal responsibilities as well as rights, and are accountable for our actions. The disturbing case of Sarah Catt, who callously aborted a baby at full term in 2010, emphasises the need for an ongoing legal deterrent in this area Catt could not have been prosecuted if the abortion up to birth proposal had been law. It is difficult to see a significant moral distinction between ending the life of a baby shortly before birth and infanticide shortly afterwards. Reintroducing in-person medical consultations for women seeking abortions is not about reducing access to abortion but ensuring safeguarding and best practice. However, as we have seen with the issue of gender ideology, where medication has also been too easily prescribed to vulnerable young people without proper warnings of the risks, ideological zealots are willing to sacrifice safety for the sake of their campaigning. The public, in contrast, does not want abortion up to birth or support abortion access at any cost. It is time that common sense prevailed. Baroness (Sharron) Davies of Devonport is a Conservative peer, former medal-winning Olympic swimmer, charity patron, broadcaster, celebrity and womens rights campaigner Rep. James Comer, chair of the House Oversight Committee, has claimed that the Department of Justice intervened to block a state investigation into Jeffrey Epsteins New Mexico ranch in 2019. The Kentucky Republican appeared on Jesse Watters Fox News show Tuesday, a day after a new search of the property was commenced, when he made the claim about the failings of the authorities to catch up with Epstein during President Donald Trumps first term, when then-attorney general Bill Barr was leading the DOJ. The federal government asked New Mexico to stop their investigation, I believe, back in 2019 of that ranch, said the congressman. So theres just so many questions about how the government failed the victims and how government failed in trying to prosecute Epstein sooner. I mean, this whole thing doesnt make sense. Kentucky Republican Rep. James Comer, chair of the House Oversight Committee, speaks to Jesse Watters on Fox News about the investigation of Jeffrey Epsteins former ranch in New Mexico on Tuesday March 10, 2026 (Fox News) Everyone has conspiracy theories on how Epstein was able to get away with it. Was it because he had powerful friends? Was it because he was an agent? We dont know, but were gonna find out and Im glad that theyre on the ground now in New Mexico searching that property. Responding to the revelation, Watters asked: Congressman, you said in 2019 the government told New Mexico authorities to stand down in investigating the ranch do you know what branch of the government? Comer replied: It was the Department of Justice, I believe. And I believe it perhaps was the Southern District of New York because they had taken over the investigation at that point. So, again these are questions that we have. We want to get the answers. The Independent has contacted Rep. Comer, the DOJ and the White House for further comment. State investigators began their new search of the 26,700 square foot hilltop mansion in Santa Fe County that was once owned by Epstein on Monday. Epsteins former ranch in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, where a new investigation has commenced in light of revelations contained in the DOJs files (Reuters) The ranch was acquired in 2023 by Don Huffines, a businessman and self-declared MAGA Trump Republican running to be Texas comptroller, who changed its name from the Zorro Ranch to the San Rafael Ranch. State Attorney General Raul Torrezs office said the search was being carried out with the cooperation of the new owners and that it had been commenced after New Mexico prosecutors concluded that revelations outlined in the previously sealed FBI files warrant further examination. The Santa Fe New Mexican reported Tuesday that Sandoval County Fire and Rescue personnel were helping to survey the site. Yesterday, California Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia gave an update on the ongoing Epstein scandal, saying that the DOJ had still only released half of its files pertaining to Epstein approximately 3.5 million of its 6 million total, by its own count. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has said that is all his department considers safe to release without compromising innocent people or interfering with ongoing investigations. California Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia accused President Donald Trumps administration of orchestrating a massive White House cover-up over Epstein Tuesday (Getty) We strongly believe that this continues to be a massive White House cover-up that goes all the way to the top of government, Garcia said at his press conference, calling on Attorney General Pam Bondi to release the files in their entirety. Bondi has been subpoenaed to appear before Comers committee to address the situation amid widespread happiness among the survivors of Epsteins abuse about instances of their names going unredacted in the released files, while those of some of the billionaires wealthy associates were kept concealed. Garcia also pointed to upcoming testimony from Epsteins personal lawyer Darren Indyke and accountant Richard Kahn as well as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who has denied wrongdoing over his past association with the disgraced financier, as evidence of progress in the case. Speaking to Lawrence ODonnell on MS NOW Monday, another committee Democrat, California Rep. Ro Khanna, pledged the fight for answers would continue. It continues because its personal, because these survivors have sat in my office, theyve sat in [Kentucky Republican Rep.] Thomas Massies office They were abused, they were raped, and they want justice, Khanna said. And the half of the files that are out proves to the country that what we were talking about was not a hoax, that some of the most powerful people were involved. And the worst stuff is still in these files, the names of some of these people. Major sponsors withdraw from Noma pop-up events in LA as renowned chef faces allegations of abuse Two major companies have reportedly pulled out of sponsoring a Los Angeles pop-up dinner series from the world-famous Copenhagen restaurant Noma, in the wake of a New York Times expose accusing its celebrity chef, Rene Redzepi, of abusing staff. American Express and Blackbird, a hospitality start-up, are no longer associated with the $1,500-per-night series of Noma dinners, which begins on Wednesday, according to the Times and Expedite, a restaurant news publication. Renes past practices, by his own admission, were unacceptable and abhorrent, Blackbird founder Ben Leventhal told the paper. We cannot lean on time elapsed and rehabilitation claims when these things resurface. American Express told Expedite it backed out of the dinner because of disturbing information that has come to our attention. The companies said they would offer refunds and donate remaining money to organizations working on behalf of restaurant workers. Sponsors like American Express are reportedly pulling out of an exclusive, $1,500-per-night Noma dinner series in Los Angeles, after chef Rene Redzepi was accused of abusing staff in the past (AFP via Getty Images) The Independent has contacted Noma for comment. Allegations against Redzepi began surfacing over the last month on the Instagram account of former Noma chef Jason Ignacio White and the website noma-abuse.com. Then, last week, the Times detailed the alleged abuses in a major expose, which featured former Noma staff describing how the superstar chef had allegedly physically abused them in the kitchen, including punching and shoving cooks, jabbing them with utensils, and subjecting staff to public humiliations in front of colleagues. The allegations were at odds with the restaurants progressive image. Noma has been named the best restaurant in the world and held three Michelin stars on the back of its pioneering approach to locally foraged, sustainable cooking. Noma became world famous for its seasonal, locally foraged approach to Nordic cuisine Over the weekend, Redzepi apologized for what he said was harmful behavior that included physical aggression. 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, he wrote on Instagram. The chef said he had moved away from managing regular daily dining service and sought therapy to deal with his anger issues. Noma says it has improved its workplace conditions in recent years. Were aware of the stories circulating online and want to be clear: These claims do not reflect the workplace Noma is today, the restaurant said in a statement after the allegations dropped. Although the stories appear to date back many years, we take them seriously and are looking into them carefully. Since that time, we have improved processes to address concerns. We are continuing to do so with an independent audit that ensures we keep our standards high and our workplace safe. Lord Mandelson, the disgraced former ambassador to the US, seen on Wednesday - Hannah McKay Sir Keir Starmers national security adviser believed Lord Mandelsons appointment as ambassador to the US was weirdly rushed, newly released documents show. The first tranche of the Mandelson files, official papers which the Government published today, reveals details about how the disgraced peer was given the role. The documents show that Jonathan Powell found the appointment process unusual and weirdly rushed. According to a record of a call between Government officials on Sept 12 last year the day after Lord Mandelsons sacking Mr Powell said he had previously raised concerns about the peers reputation to Morgan McSweeney, the Prime Ministers then chief of staff. Mr McSweeney, a protege of Lord Mandelson, had responded that the issues had been addressed, the note states. Mr McSweeney later resigned after taking responsibility for pushing for the peer to get the ambassadorship. Sir Philip Barton, then the most senior civil servant at the Foreign Office, also had reservations around the appointment, according to the record of the call. Two separate vetting processes were carried out on Lord Mandelson. One was a due diligence report by the Cabinet Office which explicitly warned Sir Keir that the peer had a particularly close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and that he posed a reputational risk to the Government. The other was a more formal process carried out by UK Security Vetting, a government body, which Lord Mandelson needed to pass to access sensitive information. Whitehall sources suggested that both vetting processes were fast-tracked for Lord Mandelson. It is understood that it is only possible to fast-track security vetting for a small number of individuals each year. Lord Mandelson was sacked in Sept 2025 after emails revealed the extent of the friendship between the peer and Epstein. He was arrested for misconduct in public office last month over allegations that he leaked No 10 documents to Epstein while he was business secretary in Gordon Browns cabinet. The scandal threatened to bring down Sir Keirs premiership, but he survived after ordering Cabinet members to declare their loyalty to him. Lord Mandelson has denied that he sought to profit from his correspondence with Epstein, but apologised to the paedophiles victims for maintaining an association with him. 07:02pm Thanks for joining Thank you for joining The Telegraphs live coverage of the release of the first tranche of the Mandelson files. Here is what we learnt today: Sir Keir Starmer was warned that Lord Mandelson had a particularly close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein after the financiers conviction for child sex offences. Lord Mandelson was described as a reputational risk and advisers said the Prime Minister would be personally exposed if anything goes wrong. The disgraced peer asked for a severance payment of almost 550,000 after he was sacked last September, with emails showing that he eventually received 75,000. Jonathan Powell, the national security adviser, objected to the weirdly rushed process, while Sir Philip Barton, the most senior civil servant at the Foreign Office (FCDO), also objected. Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, claimed the due diligence document had failed to highlight the depth and extent of Lord Mandelsons ties to Epstein. Sir Keir ordered a standards overhaul in an attempt to boost integrity in public life following the Mandelson scandal. The Telegraphs politics team will be be back tomorrow to guide you through the latest fallout and reaction. 06:48pm The Mandelson files lay bare the depths of Starmers poor judgment Politics is frequently about taking risks, writes Tom Harris. You throw the dice and hope for the best and if youre lucky, your number comes up and you are allowed to bask in the adoring gratitude of the electorate. No one would begrudge any prime minister the laurels of victory if he or she had made a conscious decision to pursue a dangerous course but had triumphed at the end of it. But the thing about risks is they tend to be risky. If the coin lands face down, if the dice obstinately roll a nine instead of a seven, then you lose. And that means consequences. No one forced Keir Starmer to appoint Peter (formerly Lord) Mandelson as Britains ambassador to the United States. Indeed, to many, it was a very odd choice indeed, while some of us welcomed it. There were other names in the frame, there were arguments put forward in favour of a service appointment (a career diplomat) as opposed to a political appointment. Tom Harris: Starmer was warned about Mandelson. He went ahead anyway 06:32pm Damning Mandelson files leave Starmer reeling The Peter Mandelson files have been released, and they are damning. The documents reveal that Sir Keir Starmer was warned that appointing Lord Mandelson as US ambassador posed a reputational risk over his particularly close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. They also make clear the PM knew the peer remained friends with Epstein even after his conviction for child sex offences. After sifting through the 147 pages, Tim Stanley and Camilla Tominey decipher the biggest revelations including that Lord Mandelson was handed a 75,000 payout amid fears he might go public. Listen to todays episode of The Daily T here 06:19pm Mandelsons endorsement of Farage included in vetting files Lord Mandelsons suggestion that Nigel Farage could improve Britains relations with Donald Trump was flagged as part of the official vetting process. A due diligence checklist presented to Sir Keir Starmer noted that the peer had suggested using Nigel Farage to better UK connections with the Trump administration. The dossier went on to state that Lord Mandelson had praised Mr Farage in a way that was contrary to UKG [UK Government] policy. Lord Mandelson was quoted in the documents as saying: You cant ignore him, hes an elected member of Parliament. Hes a public figure. Hes a bridgehead, both to President Trump and to Elon Musk and others ... National interest is served in all sorts of weird and wonderful ways. 05:56pm Badenoch suggests Labour MPs should oust Starmer over Mandelson files Labour MPs should consider their conscience and oust Sir Keir Starmer over the Mandelson files, Kemi Badenoch has suggested. The Conservative leader said the Prime Minister was in office but not in power as she argued that the first tranche of documents relating to the appointment of Lord Mandelson showed Sir Keir has misled his MPs. This Mandelson scandal is all about Keir Starmer being dishonest. He lied about what he knew. pic.twitter.com/TTnkapVfFR Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) March 11, 2026 Mrs Badenoch told Sky News: He is held hostage by his backbenchers and they can see right now that as much as the Prime Minister wanted to make this about Peter Mandelson, this is really about Keir Starmer being dishonest with them, with the country, with Parliament about what they knew. There are not enough Conservative MPs to remove the Prime Minister, he won a landslide. I think Labour MPs now need to consider their conscience and their position, and ask if this man is fit to run our country. 05:33pm Starmer completely careless to allow Mandelson highly classified briefings The Conservatives have denounced Sir Keir Starmers completely careless decision to allow Lord Mandelson access to highly classified briefings before he finished the vetting process. Documents that form part of the first tranche of the Mandelson files show Lord Mandelson was offered briefing at higher tiers from Jan 6, 2025 but suggest his developed vetting was only approved on Jan 29. Alex Burghart, a Tory shadow Cabinet Office minister, said: The lapse in the Prime Ministers judgment knows no bounds. Allowing a scandal-ridden former minister access to highly sensitive information before proper clearance is completely careless. Even more troubling is that this happened while the Government was aware of Mandelsons long-standing, close connections to Epstein. Labour must come clean about what ministers knew, when they knew it, and why national security safeguards appear to have been treated so casually. Mr Burghart went on to demand that the Government must release the full Mandelson files and demand Lord Mandelson pay back his 75,000 severance package. 05:14pm Starmer was warned Mandelson had particularly close relationship with Epstein Sir Keir Starmer was warned that Lord Mandelson had a particularly close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein after the financiers conviction for child sex offences, documents released by the Government show. The first tranche of the Mandelson files published on Wednesday revealed that Lord Mandelson was described as a reputational risk and advisers said the Prime Minister would be personally exposed if anything goes wrong. A due diligence document drawn up in December 2024, before Lord Mandelsons appointment, noted that he had a particularly close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. The dossier explicitly warned Sir Keir that Lord Mandelsons relationship with Epstein posed a general reputational risk, and included a link to a Telegraph story from January 2024 that detailed the links extensively. The Prime Minister, who knew that the peer had maintained ties with Epstein even after the American financier was convicted of child sex offences, appointed Lord Mandelson regardless. However, in a statement to MPs after the files were released, Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, said the due diligence document had failed to highlight the depth and extent of Lord Mandelsons ties to Epstein. You can read the full story here 04:58pm Ex-Labour MP: My former colleagues are better than this An ex-Labour MP said her former colleagues were better than defending Sir Keir Starmer over the Mandelson scandal. Rosie Duffield, who quit Sir Keirs party in September 2024 and now sits as an independent, accused Labour frontbenchers of defending an absolute horror. The MP for Canterbury said: [It is] hard to watch former colleagues, friends from my intake year, serious MPs who did serious work in previous parliaments, as they sit on government benches, squirming and trying to spin this absolute horror, defending the worst Labour PM in modern history. They are better than this. 04:43pm Were all on the hook for a 77,000 payout Katie Lam, a shadow Home Office minister, has denounced Sir Keir Starmers nuts decision to appoint Lord Mandelson and agree to a five-figure severance fee: If Mandelson had lied about his relationship with Epstein, he could have been fired without a payout. But he didn't. The PM knew how close he was to the world's most notorious paedophile and appointed him anyway. Now we're all on the hook for a 77,000 payout. Nuts. https://t.co/QpPUzLWXTX Katie Lam (@Katie_Lam_MP) March 11, 2026 04:24pm How Starmers star appointment fell apart The appointment of Lord Mandelson as ambassador to the US went from being viewed as an inspired choice to plunging Sir Keir Starmer into the worst crisis of his premiership. A former business secretary and EU trade commissioner, Lord Mandelsons experience at the highest levels of government and diplomacy were seen as crucial to enhancing Britains relationship with Donald Trump. Lord Mandelson was credited with early wins including the UK-US trade agreement and Mr Trump spoke highly of Sir Keir, praising his negotiation skills and calling him a winner. However, the release of new emails in September showed the depth and extent of the peers friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, which the Prime Minister claimed he had not been aware of. Sir Keir initially stood by Lord Mandelson but sacked him after further revelations emerged. Last month, the Prime Minister was forced to admit he had known about Lord Mandelsons ongoing links to Epstein when he made him ambassador. The fallout threatened Sir Keirs political survival and senior figures including Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, called on him to resign. It was eventually Morgan McSweeney, Sir Keirs chief of staff, who quit, saying he was responsible for the appointment. 04:12pm Mandelson files show high standards expected of ambassadors Lord Mandelsons letter of appointment as US ambassador, received on Feb 4, 2025, laid out the rules governing senior officials and the high standards of behaviour expected of them. In one section the letter states: Staff and their accompanying spouses / partners / family members are expected to adhere to the high standards of conduct and respectful behaviours required of those posted overseas, and to refrain from any action that could result in reputational damage to HMG or impact negatively upon FCDO staff. 03:54pm Lammy agreed to recommend Mandelson appointment David Lammy agreed with Sir Keir Starmers recommendation that Lord Mandelson become the new US ambassador, newly released files show. A letter sent by Sir Philip Barton, a top civil servant at the Foreign Office, said Sir Keir Starmer had indicated his intention to make a small number of political appointments to ambassadorial and Civil Service roles. Sir Philip said: The Prime Minister now proposes such an appointment. I have discussed this with the Foreign Secretary, who agrees with the recommendation. Last month, allies of Mr Lammy, who was the foreign secretary in 2024 and is now the deputy PM, told The Telegraph he had warned against appointing Lord Mandelson as the ambassador in Washington. The Conservatives said: Last month, David Lammy claimed he tried to warn Keir Starmer about appointing Peter Mandelson as ambassador. The Mandelson Files confirm he signed off on the appointment when he was Foreign Secretary. Which is it? 03:32pm Starmer was sent Telegraph article proving Mandelson and Epsteins close friendship Sir Keir Starmer was shown evidence of Lord Mandelsons close friendship with Jeffrey Epstein before appointing him as US ambassador. Civil servants included a Telegraph article, which you can read here, in a due diligence dossier on the disgraced peer, which was sent to the Prime Minister in late 2024 and has now been published in the Mandelson files. Ragout Sir Keir has repeatedly claimed he was unaware of the depth of Lord Mandelsons relationship with Epstein before he appointed him to run the British embassy in Washington. But critics have called on him to resign for knowingly appointing an ambassador with extensive links to one of the worlds most notorious paedophiles. 03:28pm Starmer should never have appointed Mandelson, says top Tory Sir Keir Starmer should never have appointed Lord Mandelson even with the information that was available to him at the time, a shadow cabinet minister has said. Nigel Huddleston, the shadow culture secretary, questioned the use of the term general reputational risk in advice to Sir Keir published on Wednesday as part of the Mandelson files. Mr Huddleston said: Astonishingly weak advice by advisers combines with astoundingly poor judgment by the Prime Minister. The due diligence shows contact between Epstein and Mandelson beginning in 2002 and continuing throughout the 2000s. Surely no more information than that was needed! 03:19pm Polanski demands Starmer resign over Mandelson scandal Zack Polanski has demanded Sir Keir Starmer resign following the partial release of the Mandelson files. Mr Polanski, the Green Party leader, said: These files confirm that Mandelson's malign influence runs through this Labour government. Starmer knew exactly the choice he was making when he appointed him. He has to go. Zack Polanski (@ZackPolanski) March 11, 2026 03:16pm Starmer orders standards overhaul following Mandelson scandal Sir Keir Starmer has ordered a standards overhaul in an attempt to boost integrity in public life following the Mandelson scandal. The Cabinet Office said on Wednesday that more needs to be done to strengthen the ministerial appointment process and the wider operation of Government. A spokesman said: The Prime Minister has written to the Ethics and Integrity Commission, asking them to review current arrangements relating to financial disclosures for ministers and senior officials, transparency around lobbying and the business appointment rules. The Government will swiftly respond to any recommendations to bolster standards in public life. Alongside this, the Government will review the national security vetting system, including lessons learned from Peter Mandelsons developed vetting. The Government has already confirmed that, in future, diplomatic appointments will not be announced until security vetting has been completed. Baroness Anderson, the parliamentary secretary to the Cabinet Office, has been appointed to lead this work. 03:12pm No 10 asked Foreign Office to make arrangements for appointment at pace Downing Street urged the Foreign Office to make arrangements for Lord Mandelsons appointment as US ambassador at pace, newly released documents show. Sir Keir Starmers decision to send the peer to Washington was communicated in a letter by his principal private secretary to the permanent under-secretary of the Foreign Office. It requested that Dame Karen Pierce, the previous ambassador, be informed that she would be replaced by a political appointee. However, it asked for her not to be given the name of her replacement until it had received sign-off from the King. Please would you take forward the necessary arrangements at pace, the letter stated. We would like to secure agreement as soon as possible to enable handover in advance of the US inauguration. We will need to ensure the utmost discretion throughout this process. Letter requesting arrangements at pace 03:09pm The Government must release the files in full The Government must release the Mandelson files in full, the Tories have demanded. Many key documents were not released on Wednesday in light of an ongoing police investigation into Lord Mandelson. Responding to the files that were made public, Alex Burghart, a Tory shadow cabinet minister, said: These documents just confirm what we already knew. Keir Starmer was plainly aware of the relationship between Mandelson and the worlds most notorious paedophile when he appointed him as US ambassador. Whats worse, the Government gave him a payoff of 75,000 despite his resignation in disgrace. No one will be able to trust the Prime Ministers judgment again. The Labour Government need to come clean on what documents have been hidden from view and whether WhatsApps or private emails have been deleted or hidden. The Government must release the files in full and make Mandelson repay the money. 03:02pm Labour MP attacks Starmer over Mandelson appointment The secretary of Labours Socialist Campaign Group of Left-wing MPs attacked Sir Keir Starmer for appointing Lord Mandelson despite knowing his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Richard Burgon told the Commons that Lord Mandelson would not have been allowed to stand as a Labour candidate for a town council under party vetting processes. He added: Instead, he was elevated despite whats in the document, despite what was known, to this most important of positions. Theres a whole section entitled relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. The question that has to be asked is how did it even get to the stage where the Prime Minister was interviewing Mandelson for this job and considering him for this job? The simple answer is political. Its because it suited the interests of a tiny faction in the Labour Party. Several images of Lord Mandelson were released as part of the Epstein files, including this of him in his underwear with an unidentified woman 02:59pm Mandelson: I deserve bigger payout because my job prospects were permanently damaged Lord Mandelson argued that the contractual part of his payoff was not sufficient because his job prospects had been permanently damaged by the Government. The disgraced peer was entitled to pay in lieu of three months notice, amounting to around 40,000, under the terms of his Government contract. He also received a top-up of around 35,000 in the form of a special severance payment. A Government proposal for the settlement stated: The individuals contract states an entitlement to 3 months notice or payment in lieu of notice. On advice of his counsel, the individual has stated this is insufficient, particularly as they believe the actions of HMG have permanently damaged their employability. The Foreign Office described the final 75,000 settlement as modest. Mandelson says employability is permanently damaged 02:58pm Mandelson told officials Epstein was safe Lord Mandelson told Government officials that Jeffrey Epstein was safe. The former Labour peer appears to have brokered a meeting between Epstein and Sir Tony Blair in May 2002, before the financier had been convicted on a child sex offence. In a note sent to Jonathan Powell, now Sir Keir Starmers national security advisor, a week before the scheduled meeting, Lord Mandelson described Epstein as young and vibrant. He is safe (whatever that means) and Clinton is now doing a lot of travelling with him, the note read. I think TB would be interested in meeting Jeffrey, who is also a friend of mine, because Jeffrey is an active scientific catalyst/entrepreneur as well as someone who has his finger on the pulse of many worldwide markets and currencies. Florida police began an investigation into sexual abuse allegations against Epstein three years later, and he was convicted on a sex offence against a minor in 2008. Victims claimed in depositions ahead of the court case that Epsteins abuse had started many years earlier. A handwritten annotation added to the briefing memo about Epstein said: Do you want to do this and suggested that Sir Tony may want to see Bill Clinton, who had stepped down as US president a year earlier. The annotation appears to add: He pays for Clintons journeys. Note sent to Powell 02:57pm Labour MP: Starmer should apologise for proclaiming ignorance A Labour MP has demanded Sir Keir Starmer apologise for proclaiming ignorance over Lord Mandelsons links to Jeffrey Epstein before his appointment as US ambassador. Kim Johnson, the Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, said that the Mandelson files stated the phrase reputational risk four separate times in relation to making Lord Mandelson the US ambassador. Ms Johnson said: Its impossible that Starmer didnt see these warnings he must apologise for initially proclaiming ignorance. 02:53pm Mandelson represented wider rotten political culture Lord Mandelson represented a wider rotten political culture at the heart of No 10, a Left-wing Labour MP has said. Clive Lewis argued that the controversy surrounding the disgraced former US ambassador was not just about technicalities or lapses of judgment. Mr Lewis said: This is about a wider rotten political culture, a 30-year project where proximity to wealth and power isnt a means to an end, it is the end goal. Thats what Peter Mandelson represented... This isnt just about one bad set of decisions, its about a political culture that he represents and is destroying mainstream party politics in this country. Do we get that? Do we understand that? Will we change? Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, insisted both he and Mr Lewis were in politics to represent working people, adding that he had an ambition to tackle the abuse of power and wealth. 02:47pm Senior minister: Mandelson should hand back severance payout A senior minister has urged Lord Mandelson to hand back his 75,000 severance payment. Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, made the remarks as he insisted that Sir Keir Starmer regrets his choice of US ambassador. He said the Government would not have wanted to give one pound to the disgraced peer, adding: The honourable thing to do would be to donate that money to an appropriate charity. Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, is answering questions in the Commons - Sky News Mr Jones was responding to Sir Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat leader, who said the affair was a stain on our nation. Sir Ed said: Today marks the first day of Britains own Epstein files, and for a close friend of Epstein to have been made the ambassador of the United States is a shameful part of this affair that is the Prime Ministers responsibility. It is disappointing that he is not here now to answer for that and his catastrophic failure of judgment with regards to Peter Mandelson. 02:41pm Government agreed 75,000 payout to avoid even higher costs The Government agreed to pay Lord Mandelson 75,000 in his severance package to avoid even higher further costs. Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, is answering questions from MPs on the Mandelson files in the Commons. Mr Jones told the Commons: The settlement that was agreed was to avoid even higher further costs involving a drawn out legal claim at the employment tribunal, given Peter Mandelsons employment was as a civil servant, rather than a minister. The House will know that ministers can be dismissed without recourse to an employment tribunal. Civil servants are treated differently. 02:40pm Trump officials raised no issues with Mandelson appointment Donald Trumps officials raised no concerns or issues over Lord Mandelsons appointment as ambassador to Washington, documents released on Wednesday show. An email from January last year states that British officials had spoken to Mike Waltz, then US national security adviser, who appeared to have expressed no concerns about Lord Mandelsons appointment as ambassador. As a result civil servants began making arrangements for Lord Mandelsons audience with the King to confirm his new position. In the note of 27 January 2025 Peter Robbins, the top senior servant at the Foreign Office, writes: Following Karens report of her call with Mike Waltz, and with no suggestion that Peters nomination was an issue in the Trump p/c, I will ask Clive Alderton to get the wheels in motion for Peters Audience. Shout by 10am if anyone thinks I shld hold off (I suspect it will still take a little while to confirm this in The Kings diary). Note from Peter Robbins 02:39pm Starmer was informed Mandelson stayed in Epsteins home Sir Keir Starmer was informed that Lord Mandelson stayed in Epsteins home while he was serving as a Government minister and the financier was serving a jail term for child sex offences. The memo to the Prime Minister contained a link to a Telegraph article from January 2024. The note read: After Epstein was first convicted of procuring an underage girl in 2008, their relationship continued across 2009-2011, beginning when Lord Mandelson was Business Minister and continuing after the end of the Labour government. Mandelson reportedly stayed in Epsteins House while he was in jail in June 2009. It also warned that Tony Blairs meeting with Epstein, and facilitated by the Labour peer, was likely to be released by the National Archives early the following year, giving fresh attention to the subject. 02:38pm Mandelson demanded Government help to keep maximum dignity after sacking Lord Mandelson demanded the Governments help in returning to the UK with the maximum dignity and minimum media intrusion following his sacking. The former US ambassador wrote to the Foreign Office on September 17, six days after he had been dismissed from his post by Sir Keir Starmer. Lord Mandelson wrote: My chief concern is leaving the US and arriving in the UK with the maximum dignity and minimum media intrusion which I think is to the advantage of all concerned. Not least because I remain a crown/civil servant and expect to be treated as such. How is the FCDO assisting in this? Mark Power, the chief people officer at the Foreign Office, wrote a letter of reply to Lord Mandelson. However, this has been redacted from the files. 02:37pm Foreign Office determined Mandelson payout reasonable The Foreign Office determined that it was reasonable to pay Lord Mandelson a five-figure sum because of the highly political nature of the scandal. The Mandelson files reveal that the Government talked the disgraced peer down from around 550,000 in salary costs to a total payout of 75,000. A proposal for the settlement states: Negotiations began with a request by the individual to pay out the remainder of the 4-year salary costs of the fixed term appointment. This would have amounted to 547,201. The severance payment we are requesting is significantly below this and amounts to just over 5 and a half months salary (which includes the individuals contractual entitlement to 3 months notice pay). Given 3 months is a contractual obligation, and given the highly political nature of the withdrawal, this is a reasonable settlement that would allow HMG [His Majestys Government] to announce that the individual is no longer employed. Note on severance pay 02:36pm Minister claims dossier did not expose depth of Mandelson ties to Epstein A senior minister has just told MPs that the due diligence report into Lord Mandelson did not expose the depth and extent of his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. However, the dossier states that Lord Mandelson had a particularly close relationship with Epstein. This is contained in a note that was sent to Sir Keir Starmer. In a statement in the Commons, Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, said Sir Keir Starmer had acknowledged it was a mistake and has apologised, not least for believing Peter Mandelsons lies. He said: Whilst the documents point to public reports of an ongoing relationship between Jeffrey Epstein, the advice did not expose the depth and extent of the relationship, which only became apparent after the release of further files by Bloomberg and then the US department of justice. Mr Jones added that there were documents the Government wanted to release on Wednesday but had been told by the Metropolitan Police not to do so yet. He went on to say that victims of Epstein were the Governments first priority, adding: Peter Mandelsons behaviour was an insult to them and their suffering. 02:30pm Blair was told Clinton wanted him to meet Epstein Tony Blair was told Bill Clinton wanted him to meet Jeffrey Epstein while he was Prime Minister, according to documents released by the Government. Sir Tony was sent a memo by a senior civil servant in May 2002 which stated: Jeffrey Epstein is seeing you at 5pm today. The introduction appears to have been brokered by Lord Mandelson. The memo stated: Peter says that Epstein now travels with Clinton and Clinton wants you to meet him. He thinks you would find worthwhile a conversation with him about (a) science and (b) international economic and monetary trends. The note to Mr Blair, who was serving in his second term in office at the time, offered some background information on Epstein. It included the fact that he was very rich, and was close to the Duke of York and had visited Sandringham and Windsor the previous year. 02:28pm Mandelson was sacked over the phone Lord Mandelson was sacked over the telephone by Sir Olly Robbins, the head of the Foreign Office, during a meeting with Sir Keir Starmer in Downing Street. Minutes of the Number 10 meeting at which the Prime Minister decided to relieve the disgraced peer from his post were published on Wednesday. It reveals that Sir Keir Starmer said he took the decision to sack him in part because of serious discomfort on the Labour backbenches. At a meeting on 11 September 2022, a Downing Street aide wrote that the Prime Minister referenced his concern at the judgements and views expressed in the cache of emails released by Bloomberg, that the answer Mandelson provided to FCDO PUS [permanent under secretary] Olly Robbins regarding the emails did not give him confidence that there were not further revelations to come and the serious discomfort in the PLP [Parliamentary Labour Party]. The emails revealed a depth and extent of a relationship with Epstein which he had not been aware of previously when he made the decision to appoint Mandelson. On this basis, he proposed to ask Mandelson to resign from his post as HMA Washington. The aide added: FCDO PUS spoke by telephone to Mandelson towards the end of the meeting to inform him of the Prime Ministers decision and of the next steps. It was noted that the Palace had been informed of the decision during the meeting. Meeting minutes 02:28pm Some of Mandelsons payoff was tax-free Lord Mandelson did not pay tax on more than a third of his 75,000 payoff. The Mandelson files reveal that the disgraced peer was paid around 40,000 in lieu of notice, plus an additional severance payment of roughly 35,000. In the UK, people do not usually pay tax on the first 30,000 of statutory or enhanced redundancy payments, excluding lump sums in lieu of notice. A Foreign Office email containing the details of Lord Mandelsons settlement stated that the special severance payment of around 35,000 would be subject to a tax exemption on the first 30,000. 02:25pm Mandelson was forced to surrender all correspondence Lord Mandelson was forced to surrender his work phone, laptop and all correspondence from his time as US ambassador as part of a settlement with the Foreign Office. The disgraced peer received a 75,000 payoff in October, having been sacked a month earlier over the depth of relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. As part of the agreement, Lord Mandelson confirmed that he returned all property and equipment, as well as records, correspondence, documents, files and any other confidential information. This included his work phone, laptop, security passes and keys to any government buildings. In signing the contract, Lord Mandelson also confirmed he had not retained any copies of confidential documents before returning them to the government. A tranche of documents released in the Epstein files showed that he repeatedly leaked confidential government emails to the financier while serving in Gordon Browns Cabinet. 02:24pm Starmer and Cooper appear to have been consulted on payout Downing Street and Yvette Cooper appear to have been consulted on Lord Mandelsons five-figure payoff after his sacking as US ambassador. A proposal for the settlement, which was agreed at 75,000, states: No 10 and the Foreign Secretary will be appraised and sighted on this special severance package given the position the individual held in the organisation and their profile. It also described Lord Mandelsons case as unprecedented in the Foreign Office. The document called for the severance package to be signed off as soon as possible to allow the disgraced peer to be taken off the Government payroll. 02:23pm Foreign Office feared Mandelson would go public with damaging claims Foreign Office mandarins feared Lord Mandelson would go public with damaging claims against the Government if did not swiftly agree to compensation. Newly released documents say that the former US ambassador suggested to officials that there would be public implications of not reaching a settlement. The claims are contained in an email written by a senior civil servant detailing a call with Lord Mandelson over the termination of his employment. In it Mark Power, the Interim Chief People Officer, wrote: His argument heavily focusses on the reasonableness of the PMs decision. There is some carefully placed language around the public implications of not reaching a settlement, and the nature of an employment tribunal case. Part of the email has then been redacted. Mr Powell ended it by writing: There is a potential, that absent a positive indication, Peter goes public on some of his claims so there is some urgency. A separate email also published in todays release reveals that Lord Mandelson asked for the Foreign Offices help in returning to the UK with the maximum dignity and minimum media intrusion following his sacking. Message from Mark Power 02:21pm Mandelson felt utterly awful about Epstein connection Lord Mandelson told staff after he was sacked as US ambassador that he continued to feel utterly awful about his association with Jeffrey Epstein. The disgraced peer took credit for organising Donald Trumps second state visit to the UK, saying we leave the relationship with the US in a really good condition. He described the tech trade deal between the UK and the US as my personal pride and joy that will help write the next chapter of the special relationship. In the all-staff email, written on 11 September 2025, he said: As you will be have seen [sic], my position as Ambassador to the United States has come to an end. Lord Mandelson seen in the Oval Office with Donald Trump after the UK and the US reached a trade deal in Feb 2025 - Jim Watson Being Ambassador here has been the privilege of my life, and Reinaldos The circumstances surrounding the announcement today are ones which I deeply regret. I continue to feel utterly awful about my association with Epstein twenty years ago and the plight of his victims. He added: We leave the relationship with the US in a really good condition, with a magnificent State Visit and the new US-UK Technology Partnership my personal pride and joy that will help write the next chapter of the special relationship set for next week. Thank you from me, Reinaldo and Jock. I will treasure the experience and memory of having worked with you all. Reinaldo is Mr Mandelsons husband, while Jock is his dog. 02:17pm Badenoch: Mandelson payout shows Starmers shocking lack of judgment Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, has said the five-figure payout given to Lord Mandelson represents a shocking lack of judgment on the part of the Prime Minister: Mandelson reportedly leaked sensitive government documents. Starmer knew Mandelson had stayed close friends with Epstein after the conviction for child prostitution, but made him Ambassador anyway. Now we see he paid Mandelson almost 80k of our money. His judgment is shocking. https://t.co/CpMzxLC8S0 Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) March 11, 2026 02:16pm Mandelson appeared to arrange Epstein meeting with Blair Lord Mandelson appears to have arranged for Jeffrey Epstein to meet with Sir Tony Blair in May 2002. In a memo to the then prime minister ahead of the planned meeting on May 14 2002, Sir Tonys private secretary, Matthew Rycroft, said Epstein was very rich and close to the Duke of York. He has a $30 million home in New York plus a 10,000 acre ranch in New Mexico and a villa in Palm Beach. He made his money working for billionaire Leslie Wexner who owns (among many other things) the lingerie firm Victorias Secret, the note read. Close to the Duke of York. He seems to have met Prince Andrew through Robert Maxwells daughter Ghislaine with whom he has had an on-off relationship. He visited Sandringham and Windsor last year. Epstein, Blair meeting The briefing added that Peter says that Epstein now travels with Clinton and Clinton wants you to meet him. He thinks you would find worthwhile a conversation with him about (a) science and (b) international and economic and monetary trends. Lord Mandelson had resigned from Sir Tonys cabinet a year earlier following accusations that he used his position to influence a passport application for an Indian-born billionaire. Jonathan Powell, who is now Sir Keir Starmers national security adviser, was also copied into the briefing note. 02:13pm National security adviser sounded alarm over weirdly rushed Mandelson appointment Sir Keir Starmers national security adviser sounded the alarm over the weirdly rushed appointment of Lord Mandelson, new documents show. Jonathan Powell said he had concerns about Lord Mandelsons reputation in conversations with Morgan McSweeney, then the Prime Ministers chief of staff. Newly released papers reveal Mr Powell, one of Sir Keirs must trusted advisers, was particularly cautious about making the Labour peer US ambassador. One note, summarising a phone call between Mr Powell and Mike Ostheimer, the general counsel to the Prime Minister, said: Jonathan powell (sic) found the appointment process unusual, weirdly rushed. It added that he raised concerns about the individual and reputation to Morgan McSweeney. Mr McSweeney is said to have responded that the issues had been addressed. According to the note Sir Philip Barton, then the most senior civil servant at the Foreign Office, also had reservations around the appointment. 02:12pm Starmer was warned he would be exposed if anything goes wrong Sir Keir Starmer was advised that he would be personally exposed if anything goes wrong with his appointment of Lord Mandelson, the documents show. An official box note from No10 officials explained the difference between appointing a civil servant as US ambassador and a political appointment. The note was sent to Sir Keir in November 2024, when he was considering appointing Lord Mandelson to the post. While it does not name him, the advice refers to the possibility of a personally damaging scandal for Sir Keir. In the section on political appointees, the officials advised they would ensure a strong connection with the PM and political priorities and your recently appointed [national security adviser]. But it added: The individual concerned will need to operate as an ambassador for the first time while also navigating a new US administration. If anything goes wrong, you could be more exposed as the individual is more connected to you personally. 02:09pm Mandelsons severance package deemed good value for money Lord Mandelsons total severance package of 75,000 was deemed good value for money by a top civil servant. The first tranche of the Mandelson files revealed that the Foreign Office offered 40,330 in lieu of three months notice, plus a termination payment of 34,670. Sir Olly Robbins, the top civil servant in the department, said the payment represented good value for money. Lord Mandelson has faced pressure to hand back the five-figure payoff after the latest revelations about his friendship with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. 02:08pm Negotiations took place to reduce Mandelsons severance pay Emails between Government HR staff show behind-the-scenes negotiations to try and bring down the amount that Lord Mandelson demanded as a payout after his sacking. An email from Oct 16 last year from a Foreign Office civil servant suggested that Government special advisers accept a settlement figure of 75,000 for Lord Mandelson. One from the department said: If theres any pushback, it might be worth mentioning that he opened negotiations asking us to pay out his contract (over 500k.) They added that a colleague did v well to get this settlement down this low with minimal fuss. 02:07pm Lord Mandelson wanted payout of almost 550,000 Lord Mandelson asked for a severance payment of almost 550,000, the Mandelson files show. The 72-year-old made the request on being sacked by Sir Keir Starmer as US ambassador last September following new revelations over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, the late paedophile financier. A Treasury form filled out at the end of September stated: Negotiations began with a request by the individual to pay out the remainder of the 4 year salary costs of the fixed term appointment. This would have amounted to 547,201. In February, an email thread of Foreign Office and Downing Street officials confirmed Lord Mandelson eventually received 75,000, less than 15 per cent of what he had requested. A line that was signed off by Sir Olly Robbins, the permanent under-secretary at the Foreign Office, read: Following Lord /Peter Mandelsons withdrawal as Ambassador in Washington, the FCDO initiated discussions to end his employment. That settlement was agreed on Oct 16. That settlement was worth 75,000, which included his contractual entitlement to a notice period. 01:58pm Mandelson remains under police investigation over misconduct claims Lord Mandelson remains under police investigation after his arrest last month over allegations of misconduct in public office. Police launched an inquiry into the disgraced peer in early February after it emerged that he appeared to have leaked sensitive government documents to Jeffrey Epstein while serving as business secretary in Gordon Browns Cabinet. His arrest created a fresh headache for Sir Keir Starmer, whose judgment has been questioned over the decision to appoint Lord Mandelson as Britains ambassador to the US. Lord Mandelson was arrested last month on suspicion of misconduct in public office - Roland Hoskins Lord Mandelson, who was business secretary between October 2008 and May 2010, is thought to have been taken to a central London police station for questioning. A tranche of emails sent by Epstein, released by the US department of justice in January, showed that their friendship spanned much of Lord Mandelsons time in public life. The emails allegedly included conversations about confidential government decisions. 01:54pm What will the Mandelson files contain? The Mandelson files are expected to include emails and message exchanges relating to the disgraced peers appointment and tenure as US ambassador. MPs voted last month to approve a humble address tabled by Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, that will force the release of a wide range of documents. The humble address asked for the release of key documents, including vetting papers, relating to Lord Mandelsons appointment at the end of 2024. However, the address also demanded the disclosure of all electronic communications and minutes of all meetings between Lord Mandelson and ministers, officials and special advisers during his seven months as Sir Keir Starmers man in Washington. The wide-ranging nature of the humble address means thousands of messages will be published that are not related to Lord Mandelsons appointment itself many of which could be highly embarrassing for Sir Keir and his top team. Some documents will not be published if they are deemed by the intelligence and security committee (ISC) to put national security at risk, harm international relations, or jeopardise an ongoing police investigation into Lord Mandelson on suspicion of misconduct in public office. 01:54pm How did we get here? The first of the Mandelson files have been released just over a month after Sir Keir Starmer was forced into a humiliating about-turn over his handling of the scandal. Key files relating to the appointment of Lord Mandelson as US ambassador were initially set to be released by the Cabinet Office and Downing Street. However, senior Labour MPs including Angela Rayner, Sir Keirs former deputy, insisted that No 10 should not decide what material is published. Instead, Parliaments intelligence and security committee (ISC) will now decide what is released after the Tories tabled a humble address a little-used parliamentary motion to force the release of thousands of key documents. The Government yielded to cross-party pressure and agreed that anything prejudicial would first go before the ISC. 01:53pm Government publishes first set of Mandelson files Good afternoon. The Government has published the first set of documents relating to Lord Mandelsons appointment as ambassador to the United States. The Telegraphs team of reporters will be guiding you through all the latest. Keir Starmer should own the Mandelson saga and admit it was a gamble that failed to pay off - ANDY RAIN/EPA/Shutterstock Politics is frequently about taking risks. You throw the dice and hope for the best and if youre lucky, your number comes up and you are allowed to bask in the adoring gratitude of the electorate. No one would begrudge any prime minister the laurels of victory if he or she had made a conscious decision to pursue a dangerous course but had triumphed at the end of it. But the thing about risks is they tend to be risky. If the coin lands face down, if the dice obstinately roll a nine instead of a seven, then you lose. And that means consequences. Tony Blair faced consequences when he backed George W Bush in his invasion of Iraq. His reputation never fully recovered after allied troops failed to discover the Weapons of Mass Destruction that our (and other countries) security services had assured us were there in the deserts beyond Baghdad. Had those secret caches of chemical and biological weapons been uncovered, British voters would have been as relieved and happy as Blairs domestic critics would have been disappointed. So it is with any controversial political decision when the judgment is down to one man. No one forced Keir Starmer to appoint Peter (formerly Lord) Mandelson as Britains ambassador to the United States. Indeed, to many, it was a very odd choice indeed, while some of us welcomed it. There were other names in the frame, there were arguments put forward in favour of a service appointment (a career diplomat) as opposed to a political appointment. Starmer could have gone with the former; he went with the latter. His choice. There was apparently another political appointee who was appointable, according to government papers just released. Starmer went with Mandelson; his choice. Officials warned him about the potential of reputational damage to the Government (and, of course, the Prime Minister himself). Mandelson was already known as a resigner, as we saw in 1998 and 2001 when he left Blairs cabinet. Mandelsons company, Global Counsel, had a long list of high-profile clients, any of which might have caused embarrassment during his term in Washington, as private companies are wont occasionally to do. Starmer made a decision to wave such a threat away. His choice. Peter Mandelsons friendship with Jeffrey Epstein was well known Global Counsel was already under investigation by the industry regulator for not revealing the existence of a Qatari client yet another reputational risk. This also, it seems, posed no problem for Starmer. His choice. And all of this was on top of the extremely worrying association that Mandelson had with Jeffrey Epstein, as well as with the dead financiers close friend, Ghislaine Maxwell (currently serving 20 years on child trafficking offences). Starmer had also been told about both of these relationships. But he decided that none of the above was reason enough to reject Mandelson for the top diplomatic job Britain has to offer. His choice. No one elses. Obviously he knew of the risks. But he took the chance anyway. What were his thought processes, though? If Mandelson had worked out, a little bit of that New Labour magic would have been sprinkled on Starmers administration. He would be praised for his courage, for his imagination, for a gamble that paid off. And if the gamble didnt pay off, as has become spectacularly clear? Well, obviously then he would have to pay a political price. But what price? At this point we may assume that the Prime Ministers eyes rested on his then chief-of-staff, Morgan McSweeney, a close friend of Mandelsons and the prime mover behind his nomination as ambassador. But did he seriously think that throwing McSweeney under a bus was all that was required of him? It was he who ignored or dismissed all the warnings. The final decision was his. And it blew up in his face. It didnt need to, it could have been avoided. But it was his choice. And now Starmer blames everyone but himself. Mandelson is gone. McSweeney is gone. What happens next? Thats no longer his choice. Sir Keir Starmers judgement is under renewed attack after newly released papers revealed that he was warned in detail about the dangers of appointing Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States. The first tranche of documents relating to Lord Mandelsons employment show that the prime minister was briefed that the former minister had maintained close ties with Jeffrey Epstein even after the paedophile financier was first convicted of procuring an underage girl in 2008, and that hiring him would bring a general reputational risk for the government. The files make clear that Sir Keir ignored the warnings after his then chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, and former director of communications, Matthew Doyle, who was described in the documents as a personal friend of Lord Mandelson, appeared to give their support to the Labour peer. The files also revealed that Lord Mandelson received a taxpayer-funded 75,000 payout after he was sacked in September, as the government sought to avoid a protracted legal challenge but had first demanded more than 500,000. Among the revelations in the documents, it emerged that: Sir Keir was told that Lord Mandelson reportedly stayed at Epsteins house when he was in jail and that the two men were in touch when Lord Mandelson was business secretary The PM was warned over Lord Mandelsons China links and business interests as part of a due diligence document drawn up by the Cabinet Office in December 2024 National security adviser Jonathan Powell thought the appointment was weirdly rushed, while Sir Philip Barton, the most senior civil servant at the Foreign Office (FCDO), also objected to it Lord Mandelson arranged a meeting between Epstein and Tony Blair in 2002, saying that Epstein was young and vibrant and safe The 31 files released by the government did not include correspondence between No 10 and Lord Mandelson, in which a number of follow-up questions were asked about his relationship with Epstein, because those exchanges remain subject to the ongoing police investigation into allegations of misconduct in public office. Sir Keir has insisted that Lord Mandelson lied repeatedly to No 10 about the depth and extent of his relationship with Epstein, but the papers reveal that senior officials had concerns about his appointment. The newly released files make it clear that Keir Starmer ignored the warnings about Peter Mandelson (PA Wire) A record of a call between Mr Powell and Mike Ostheimer, the general counsel to the prime minister, said Mr Powell had raised concerns about the individual and reputation to Mr McSweeney. It added that MM [Morgan McSweeney] responded that the issues had been addressed. The call was made in September 2025 as part of a fact-finding process surrounding Lord Mandelsons sacking. The documents heap more pressure on a prime minister whose future has been in doubt for months, and raise further concerns around his decision to appoint Lord Mandelson who had twice been sacked from government posts when a number of career diplomats were available to fill the role. MPs were furious that the documents, published after Labour rebels backed a motion by the Tories calling for their release, came out after Prime Ministers Questions, leaving the chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Darren Jones, to answer questions instead of the prime minister. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: Mandelson reportedly leaked sensitive government documents. Starmer knew Mandelson had stayed close friends with Epstein after the conviction for child prostitution, but made him ambassador anyway. Now we see he paid Mandelson almost 80k of our money. His judgement is shocking. Speaking to the Commons, Mr Jones defended the payout, telling MPs: The settlement that was agreed was to avoid even higher further costs involving a drawn-out legal claim at the employment tribunal. The disgraced former ambassador is led from his home by police in February (BBC) Labour MP Richard Burgon said: It is clear the prime minister wouldnt have given the go-ahead for this individual, Peter Mandelson, to stand as a Labour candidate for town council, but instead he was elevated, despite what is in the document, to this most important of positions. Justin Madders, a former minister in Sir Keirs government, added: If one of my constituents came to see me and told me that theyd lost their job or been sacked because they had lied during the application process, and wanted compensation, I would tell them that they had absolutely no chance of doing that. Meanwhile, Tory shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart said: These documents just confirm what we already knew. Keir Starmer was plainly aware of the relationship between Mandelson and the worlds most notorious paedophile when he appointed him as US ambassador. Sir Ed Davey has called the documents Britains Epstein files and has urged Lord Mandelson to give his 75,000 payment to charity. The Tories have also called for him to return the pay-off. Last month, MPs ordered the government to release tens of thousands of documents relating to Lord Mandelsons appointment following the publication of the so-called Epstein files by the US Department of Justice. A second, potentially more damaging batch of papers is due to be published when the police are satisfied that it will not interfere with their criminal investigation into Lord Mandelson, but Mr Jones said these files will show that the prime minister was lied to by the former ambassador, who Mr Jones admitted should never have been allowed to represent the UK. Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein being presented with a cake in an undated photo (US Department of Justice) He insisted that Sir Keir regrets appointing him as ambassador. The decision to appoint the former EU trade commissioner and UK business secretary was driven by the need to forge a close relationship with US president Donald Trump, who returned to the White House in January 2025. But an official note to the prime minister warned of the risk in making a political appointment: If anything goes wrong, you could be more exposed as the individual is more connected to you personally. Regarding Lord Mandelsons Global Counsel lobbying firm, the document states: Reputational risks could occur relating to any of these clients dealings with the UK or USA government. Global Counsel did not declare any lobbying clients under the last quarter of the Sunak administration, media reporting is noting the groups expansion since the election. It lists a number of the firms clients, including TikTok, Shell, Accenture, the Premier League, JPMorgan, Santander, BP, Sizewell C, and Shein. Sir Keir is already facing questions over an off-the-books meeting he had with Lord Mandelson when he was ambassador in Washington, with another of his clients, Palantir. The due diligence document also highlights that in 2014, Lord Mandelson agreed to be a founding citizen of an ocean conservation group founded by Ghislaine Maxwell and funded by Epstein. Disgraced socialite Maxwell is a former girlfriend of Epstein and was jailed for 20 years in the US in 2022 for sex trafficking. After swerving a tilt at Cheltenham Gold Cup glory, Fact To File is back to defend the Ryanair Chase crown he won so impressively last year, this time in a fascinating clash with the hugely popular Jonbon. Willie Mullins Irish Gold Cup hero has lit up Prestbury Park with dazzling displays the last two years, in particularly when winning the Thursday feature 12 months ago, and now has the chance to secure a third straight Cheltenham Festival triumph. Owner JP McManus said: He wasnt entered for the Gold Cup for a reason and that was I was worried he might not get the trip. Everyone wants to win the Gold Cup and no more than myself, but the Ryanair felt the right thing for the horse. McManus racing manager Frank Berry added: He would like some rain and it walked quite good, so it could be a concern you only have to look at his run at Kempton on what could be similar ground. The ground would be a worry, but other than that the horse is in great form. At the end of the day there were a few things to consider when we chose to come here, stamina was possibly one and we have a couple of other contenders in the Gold Cup. It wasnt an easy decision, but he was really good in this race last year so we went for the same trip and hopefully he gets his ground now too. Fact To File is one of the leading lights of McManus all-star team for the meeting, but there is no horse the owner holds with more affection than Jonbon, Nicky Hendersons 12-time Grade One winner. The Festival is the final frontier the 10-year-old has to conquer in his exceptional career to date and now takes a fourth shot at landing the elusive victory missing from his CV. Henderson said: Hes just very, very well and if he was going to come here, this was the right race for him. Its mightily competitive and Fact To File is there as well, but JP was up for him having a go. Were very surprised by how well he is given the two hard races at Ascot, but hes always been a happy horse. Even before his last run you were never 100 per cent sure, but he turned out to be fine, so were hoping it will be the same here. Hell love the ground and it wont get soft or heavy, so hopefully he can run well. It was Henry de Bromheads Heart Wood that took the runner-up spot behind Fact To File last year and he is back to lock horns once again having won twice over three miles this term. He was a very good second behind Fact To File last year and he won well at Tramore on New Years Day, said Robbie Power, racing manager for owners Robcour. Henry is very happy with him. Hes versatile ground-wise and will have no issues with whatever conditions he faces we dont think. He probably needs to improve a bit to win a Ryanair, but hopefully he can find a little bit and we do think hes a better horse this year than he was last year. In a race dominated by Irish contenders, the prospect of optimum conditions sees Joseph OBrien saddle his King George runner-up Banbridge. Also taking his chance is former Festival winner Impaire Et Passe, who secured Grade One honours over fences at Aintree last season and made a winning return at Gowran last month in the Red Mills Chase. It was a career-best performance when he won at Aintree last season and he was good in his reappearance, said Daryl Jacob, racing manager for owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede. Fact To File is very good on his day, but if he has an off-day then there is plenty of prize-money ready to be picked up. Impaire Et Passe is one of two in the double green of the owners, alongside Matata, who is also one of a pair of Nigel and Willie Twiston-Davies runners alongside Master Chewy. Joe Tizzard saddles JPR One, with Gordon Elliotts Croke Park completing the line-up. GRAPEVINE, Texas, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- TMJ Plus Wellness Center is proud to announce that Dr. Becky Coats has completed advanced executive education in Artificial Intelligence in Health Care through Harvard Medical School. This intensive program focused on the strategic implementation of data-driven health technologies and ethical innovation in clinical settings. Dr. Becky Coats of TMJ Plus Wellness Center in Grapevine, Texas Dr. Coats' completion of this executive-level program reinforces her commitment to delivering personalized, precision-based care to patients experiencing temporomandibular joint disorders, chronic facial pain, airway-related conditions, and complex bite dysfunction. "In complex TMJ and chronic pain cases, precision matters. Advanced education in AI strategy strengthens our ability to evaluate data thoughtfully, integrate technology responsibly, and design treatment plans that are truly individualized. My goal is always to combine innovation with compassion to achieve lasting patient outcomes," said Dr. Becky Coats. Elevating TMJ and Complex Dental Care Through Data-Driven Strategy TMJ disorders and related conditions are often multifactorial, involving jaw joint mechanics, muscular function, airway health, posture, sleep quality, and systemic influences. Managing these cases requires structured analysis and comprehensive treatment planning. The executive program emphasized: Data-informed clinical decision making Transparent and ethical technology integration Risk evaluation and bias awareness Real-world implementation strategies Outcome monitoring and continuous refinement By incorporating these principles, Dr. Coats enhances her ability to evaluate diagnostics such as imaging, occlusal analysis, airway assessment, and patient-generated health data within a structured framework. This disciplined approach supports more structured and measurable treatment planning. Strengthening Trust, Transparency, and Ethical Care A major focus of Dr. Coats' advanced training involved transparency, reproducibility, and ethical considerations in health technology. In clinical practice, this translates to carefully assessing digital tools and analytical platforms before incorporating them into patient care. Patients at TMJ Plus Wellness Center benefit from: Thoughtful evaluation of emerging technologies Individualized treatment planning Clear communication about recommendations Continuous monitoring and outcome assessment This approach ensures that innovation enhances clinical expertise rather than replacing it. Innovation With Purpose at TMJ Plus Wellness Center Located at 2631 Ira E Woods Ave in Grapevine, TX, TMJ Plus Wellness Center serves patients throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. The practice specializes in diagnosing and treating TMJ disorders, chronic jaw pain, headaches, bite instability, airway-related concerns, and 3-D orthodontic expansion for TMJ and airway disorders. Dr. Coats' advanced executive education further reflects the practice's commitment to modern, patient-centered care. Rather than adopting new technologies impulsively, TMJ Plus Wellness Center evaluates advancements through a structured process that considers clinical validity, safety, practicality, and long-term sustainability. For patients who have struggled with unresolved jaw pain or complex diagnoses, this approach helps ensure care plans are built on thoughtful, evidence-informed decision making. A Commitment to Lifelong Learning Dr. Coats' completion of this program reflects her ongoing commitment to professional development and clinical excellence. By integrating strategic AI education into daily practice, she continues to advance the quality, transparency, and personalization of care provided at TMJ Plus Wellness Center. Patients interested in learning more about TMJ evaluation and treatment options are encouraged to contact the practice directly. About TMJ Plus Wellness Center TMJ Plus Wellness Center provides comprehensive evaluation and treatment for temporomandibular joint disorders, chronic facial pain, airway-related concerns, and complex bite conditions. Led by Dr. Becky Coats, the practice emphasizes personalized care, advanced diagnostics, and long-term functional stability. Contact Information: TMJ Plus Wellness Center 2631 Ira E Woods Ave Grapevine, TX 76051 Phone: 817-481-6888 Website: https://www.tmjplus.com SOURCE TMJ Plus Wellness Center The Duchess of Sussex will headline an intimate girls weekend retreat in Sydney during her trip to Australia next month with husband Harry. Meghan is expected to attend the three-day retreat hosted by Her Best Life podcast at the InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach from 17 April. The event, according to the organisers, will include meaningful speakers and culminate in a gala dinner featuring in-person conversation with Meghan. Her Best Life was founded by Australian media personality Jackie O Henderson and entrepreneur Gemma ONeill. Ms ONeill explained on the podcast that she and the duchess shared a mutual friend who helped connect the two, and said Meghan agreed to participate in the event because she wanted to support women trying to grow, trying to be their best selves and trying to help other women. Ive admired this woman, and what she has endured, how shes risen above it, and how she has demonstrated how a woman can be pushed down and she can still rise, Ms ONeill said of Meghan. The organisers say the retreat will offer a girls weekend like no other, inviting attendees to spend several days by the ocean for discussions, wellness sessions, and social gatherings designed to bring women together for what they describe as powerful conversations, relaxation, laughter, and unforgettable experiences. The retreat is limited to 300 people. The early bird tickets to the event are set at AU$2,699 (1,440) per person, and include two nights at the five-star InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach, access to the gala dinner, meals and alcohol as well as entry to speaker sessions and wellness activities. A more expensive VIP package costs AU$3,199 (1,707) per person and includes seating in the front two rows for the gala dinner with the duchess, a group table photograph with her, an exclusive gift bag, and a premium ocean-view hotel room, along with the other weekend inclusions. The Sydney event will be part of a broader visit to Australia by Meghan and Harry, scheduled for mid-April, where they will take part in a number of private, business and philanthropic engagements. The visit will be their first to the country in more than seven years. The couple last travelled there in October 2018 on an official royal tour that coincided with the Invictus Games in Sydney and took them across Australia, Fiji, Tonga, and New Zealand shortly after their wedding. The couple have not visited Australia for several years, and their children are not expected to join them on the trip (Getty) Their children, Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four, are not expected to accompany them. During the visit, Harry is expected to speak at the InterEdge Summit in Melbourne on 15-16 April, an event focused on workplace mental health and wellbeing. The Australian tour announcement came days after Netflix confirmed it had stepped back from its investment partnership in Meghans lifestyle brand, As Ever, allowing the venture to continue independently. Last year, ahead of Netflixs release of season two of Meghans cooking series, With Love, Meghan, the streamer announced that it had signed a multi-year contract with Meghan and Harry to create thoughtful content. The new model moves the brand into the large SUV sector for the first time (MG) MG has revealed its first ever seven-seat SUV with the launch of the new MGS9 PHEV, a plug-in hybrid family car that combines three rows of seating with an electric-only driving range of up to 62 miles. The new model moves the brand into the large SUV sector for the first time, with prices starting from 34,205 when it arrives in UK showrooms. The MGS9 PHEV uses MGs existing plug-in hybrid technology already seen in the MG HS. The system combines a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with a 24.7kWh battery, allowing the car to travel up to 62 miles on electric power alone. Theres no word yet on what the overall petrol/electric combined range might be, but that electric-only range means many drivers could complete everyday journeys such as commuting or school runs without using the petrol engine. The MGS9 promises 62 miles of EV-only driving from its plug-in hybrid powertrain (MG) The MGS9 PHEV is up against one tough rival in particular, the Chery Tiggo 8, which also offers seven-seat practicality with plug-in hybrid tech. The Tiggo 8 will go for 56 miles on electric power and claims up to 750 miles in total. It also undercuts the MG with a starting price of 33,545. The new MG has been designed to prioritise practicality, with three rows of seats giving space for up to seven passengers. The rear-most seats can be folded away when not needed to reveal more than 1,000 litres of luggage space. Even when all seven seats are in use there is still 332 litres of boot space available. David Allison, MG UKs director of product and planning, said: The launch of the MGS9 PHEV represents a significant milestone for MG, marking our entry into the seven-seat SUV segment and further strengthening our position in the large SUV market. As a vehicle that is both longer and taller than the MG HS, the all-new MGS9 PHEV delivers enhanced presence and versatility, offering the flexibility of a third row to meet the evolving needs of modern families and lifestyle-driven customers. MG says the new model will also offer a generous level of standard equipment. Features include dual 12.3in HD screens, a 12-speaker Bose audio system, leather-style upholstery, a large panoramic sunroof and powered seats that are heated, ventilated and feature a massage function. The car is also fitted with tri-zone air conditioning designed to keep passengers comfortable across all three rows. Allison added: Combining an excellent electric range and strong efficiency with an elevated level of specification and refinement, the all-new MGS9 PHEV continues MGs commitment to delivering accessible innovation and exceptional value within a highly competitive seven-seat SUV segment. Safety is a focus with the MGS9 PHEV already awarded a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, while there are also up to 16 driver assistance technologies on board. The MGS9 PHEV is available to order now, with full specification details expected to be confirmed later this month as the first cars arrive in MG dealerships across the UK. Irans new supreme leader was said to be lucky to survive the strike. Photograph: Majid Khahi/Reuters (Photograph: Majid Khahi/Reuters) Irans new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was injured in the 28 February attack that killed six of his family members, including his father, Tehrans ambassador to Cyprus has confirmed. In an interview conducted at his embassy compound in Nicosia, Alireza Salarian elaborated on the circumstances in which Khamenei, 56, was injured, saying he was lucky to survive the strike, which levelled the late ayatollahs residence. He was also there and he was injured in that bombardment but I havent seen that reflected in the foreign news, he told the Guardian. I have heard that he was injured in his legs and hand and arm I think he is in the hospital because he is injured. Explaining why the cleric had not appeared in public or made any statements since he succeeded his father on Sunday, he added: I dont think he is comfortable [in any condition] to give a speech. The attack occurred on the opening day of US-led airstrikes against Iran, when the sprawling presidential complex in the heart of Tehran was targeted. It was the 10th day of the holy month of Ramadan, said the ambassador, and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was at his residence with several members of his family, including Mojtabas wife, Zahra, and his teenage son, Mohammad Bagher, who were also killed in the attack. Iranian media reports suggested that Ali Khameneis wife, Mansour, died three days after the aerial strike. The [late] supreme leader was killed with his wife, with his daughter, with his son-in-law and with his daughters 14-month-old baby, said Salarian, who was in Iran when the US-led offensive began. They were inside their house near the presidential office. Top commanders were also killed as they were also invited. The supreme leader had four sons and two daughters and actually he lived in the same place where he worked. On Wednesday Yousef Pezeshkian, a top government adviser and the son of Irans president, had said Mojtaba Khamenei was wounded but stopped short of explaining how. In a post on his Telegram channel, he wrote: I heard news that Mr Mojtaba Khamenei had been injured. I have asked some friends who had connections. They told me that, thank God, he is safe and sound. An Iranian official on Wednesday told Reuters that Khamenei was lightly injured but still continuing to operate. Earlier this week Iranian state TV described the regimes new leader as a wounded veteran of the Ramadan war but did not specify his injuries. The US president, Donald Trump, called Mojtaba Khameneis election by an 88-member committee of clerics an unacceptable choice, adding: He is not going to last long. Israel has warned it will not hesitate to assassinate the Shia cleric, thought to be as hardline as his father, who had held the post for 37 years after the Islamic revolution. Salarian told the Guardian the late ayatollah had not wanted his son to replace him. High-ranking clergymen did ask him but the late supreme leader said no because he didnt want a dynastic system. He was elected. [After the attack] top-ranking clergymen said: This is your job; you have to obey. Western intelligence services believe the new leader is being deliberately kept out of the public eye for fear of an assassination attempt. I dont know if he [the new leader] is worried or not, but we know that the US, and especially Israel, will target him, the ambassador said. Estimating that the death toll from the war in Iran had reached 1,400 by Tuesday, Salarian said Tehran, a city of 14 million, had been emptied of around half of its population, with people fleeing to other cities as a result of the bombardment. The attacks had not only taken the countrys political and diplomatic elite by surprise despite the military buildup in the region but proved, he said, that unlike his predecessors, Trump did not believe in the rule of law or abide by it. Nobody believed, expected or predicted the attacks when we had finished a third round of negotiations in Geneva. Trump is a phenomenon. He does not believe in rule of law internationally or even internally in his own country, said the envoy, while praising the administrations of Joe Biden and Barack Obama. Denying that Iran had any intention of developing a nuclear bomb, he said: The late supreme leader himself announced that we are not going to have nuclear weapons based on Irans religious code under which using nuclear weapons is forbidden. Iran, he said, had friendly relations with Cyprus despite the problem posed by British bases on the eastern Mediterranean island. During the 12-day war in June last year the installations had provided logistical support to Israeli and US forces targeting military and nuclear facilities in the Islamic republic, he claimed. But this time, he said, there was no evidence these two military bases support, or are involved in, this attack. RAF Akrotiri was struck by an explosive-packed Iranian-made Shahed drone just after midnight on 28 February, with similar devices being used in attacks intercepted by British fighter jets the next day. Blaming the strikes on militia groups in Lebanon that had neither coordinated with Iran nor were within our control, he instead suggested without giving any evidence that Israel could have staged the attack. If the bases are used in Cyprus [against us] we have the right to respond. Everybody knows that our relevant authorities have said that. Iran was not behind these drone attacks and it has announced that. It is possible that [the attacks] came from Israel with the aim of involving other countries in this war. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe urges Starmer not to get dragged into Trump war on Iran Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has joined more than 100 Iranians living in the UK who have urged Sir Keir Starmer not to get drawn further into the Iran conflict, warning that the war would strengthen the regime in Tehran. The letter, which has also been signed by two of Irans former political prisoners, warns that attacking the country in this way will entrench the authoritarians. It sets out a number of peaceful steps to help the internal opposition in Iran, such as providing Starlink internet services to end the continued communications blackout inside the country. The letter, signed by Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, said that Netanyahus killing of the supreme leader gave him a martyrs ending (Getty) It comes after Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, was killed by Israeli airstrikes earlier this month and was succeeded by one of his sons, Mojtaba Khamenei, who was appointed on Monday. The letter, seen by The Guardian, reads: Nobody can claim to want the end of the Islamic republic more than we do. But attacking the country in this way will have the opposite effect. It will entrench the authoritarians and give life to the fiction that has sustained them internally for decades: that they are fighting western imperialism. When Netanyahu a man charged with international war crimes after killing countless civilians in Gaza assassinates Irans dictator, that kills the man but immortalises the myth. Iranians wanted him tried and punished for his crimes, not given the martyr-ending he craved. British-Iranian national Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe was jailed on false espionage charges in 2016 after being arrested during a visit to her family in Iran with her young daughter, Gabriella. Her husband Richard Ratcliffe led a long campaign to raise awareness of her arrest and force the UK to attempt to strike a deal with Iran. They both took part in hunger strikes, including one by Mr Ratcliffe outside the Foreign Office. The letter was also signed by Aras Amiri, a former British Council worker kept in Evin prison in Tehran for three years, and Nasrin Parvaz, who spent eight years imprisoned in Iran from 1982. It was also signed by a number of high-profile artists, academics and writers within the Iranian community. It reads: A pro-democracy policy would protect political prisoners and ensure that Israel and the US do not bomb prisons like Evin. It is in those cells where the future democratic leaders of Iran reside. A pro-democracy policy would smuggle internet devices not weapons across the border, and break the blackout that is blanketing the country. Mojtaba Khamenei, son of former ayatollah Ali, was appointed as the new supreme leader (AP) A pro-democracy policy would call out Israels assassination policy even when it targets leaders we despise. There is so much that can be done in solidarity with Iranians. But joining in with Netanyahus forever wars is not it. The signatories of the letter said they are overcome with grief. For decades, we have been hoping for the day when Iranian democracy can finally flourish. Many of us have not been able to visit Iran for years for fear of imprisonment or worse. Sir Keir initially refused permission to help the US with the first wave of military action against Iran, but later granted permission for defensive US action against Iranian missile sites from UK bases. On Tuesday night, UK foreign secretary Yvette Cooper emphasised close coordination on Middle Eastern security in a call with her US counterpart as Washington threatened its most intense day of strikes on Iran. Ms Coopers conversation with US secretary of state Marco Rubio came after American B1 bombers were seen taking off from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and explosions were reported in Tehran. Nurse claims a voice told her to kill her three kids and is now suing medical team for not stopping her A former Massachusetts nurse accused of strangling her three young children to death in their family home before attempting to take her own life claims a chilling voice in her head pushed her toward the unthinkable. You should harm the children, you should kill yourself, you will never be the same, the only option is to die, the voice told Lindsay Clancy, according to a lawsuit she filed against the mental health providers who treated her before the killings. Clancy, who is charged with murdering her children, Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and 8-month-old Callan, on January 24, 2023, claims doctors missed clear warning signs as her mental health rapidly deteriorated and failed to properly treat her, according to the lawsuits, CT Insider reported. Two lawsuits filed in Norfolk Superior Court in Massachusetts one by Lindsay Clancy and another by her husband, Patrick Clancy accuse several mental health providers of wrongful death and medical negligence. The lawsuits seek unspecified damages and a jury trial. Prosecutors allege Clancy strangled her children with exercise bands after sending her husband to get takeout food. An hour later, he returned home to find she had attempted to take her life by cutting her wrists and jumping from a second-story window. Lindsay Clancy appeared virtually from Tewksbury State Hospital where she has been held since 2023 when she attempted to take her own life after allegedly killing her three children (WCVB Channel 5 Boston) The former labor and delivery nurse survived the suicide attempt but was left paralyzed from the chest down and is now in a wheelchair. She is being held in the Tewksbury State Hospital while awaiting a murder trial scheduled for this summer. The new filings paint a disturbing picture of Clancys mental decline in the months before the killings. They claim Clancy, who had previously struggled with anxiety and postpartum depression after her second child, became increasingly fearful about returning to work after the birth of her youngest son, Callan, in 2022. She desperately sought psychiatric help that September as her mental health spiraled, but instead of stabilizing her, the medications she was prescribed allegedly made her condition worse, leaving her sleeping only about three hours a night and eventually triggering suicidal thoughts. Those thoughts included the idea that she should kill her children before taking her own life so they would not suffer without her, Patrick Clancys lawsuit claims. The tragedy that followed was the direct and proximate result of the defendants collective negligence in failing to recognize obvious warning signs, coordinate care, properly diagnose Lindsays condition, and provide treatment that met the applicable standard of care, the lawsuit filed on her behalf said. Patrick Clancy, the husband of Lindsay Clancy, is pictured with the couples three children (GoFundMe) In the days before the killings, Patrick Clancy told doctors his wife was having horrible thoughts throughout the day and had admitted to him and her mother that she was thinking about harming the children, the lawsuit filed by her attorneys said. She heard a voice saying, You should harm the children, you should kill yourself, you will never be the same, the only option is to die, the lawsuit filed for Lindsay Clancy said. Her lawsuit also alleges her psychiatrist spent only about 17 minutes with her during each appointment, including a visit the day before the killings. The filings say Clancy repeatedly tried to get help, including going to an emergency department, checking herself into inpatient treatment and contacting crisis hotlines, while telling providers the medications she had been prescribed were making her condition worse. Lindsay Clancy did everything a mother in her situation could do, her attorneys said in the lawsuit filed on her behalf. She recognized something was wrong with her. She sought medical treatment. She went to emergency rooms. She called crisis hotlines. She admitted herself to hospitals. She took the medications prescribed to her. She communicated her worsening symptoms to her providers. She told them the medications were making her worse. According to the lawsuits, there had never been any indication that Clancy was capable of harming her children. She had been consistently academically excellent growing up in Connecticut and spent nine years working as a labor and delivery nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital a job she loved, the filings say. Prosecutors say Lindsay Clancy carefully planned the murder of her three children (Facebook) Her mother-in-law, Susan Clancy, told a grand jury that she loved everything about Lindsay, she was a fun loving, doting wife and mother who adored her children and was always smiling, the lawsuit said. Lindsay now faces a lifetime of physical disability, psychological trauma, and the unbearable grief of waking up every day knowing she killed her children all of which could have been prevented had defendants provided competent medical care, her attorney said in the lawsuit. Clancy has pleaded not guilty to the murder charges and is scheduled to undergo a forensic psychological evaluation in April before returning to court on April 23. After being postponed multiple times, Clancys murder trial is scheduled to begin on July 20. Lord Mandelson was dismissed as US ambassador after the Epstein files revealed the extent of his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein - Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images Civil servants feared Lord Mandelson would go public with damaging claims unless they paid him compensation over his sacking as British ambassador to the US. In new files released by Downing Street, senior officials said that the Labour peer warned them over the public implications of not reaching a settlement. The files revealed Lord Mandelson initially demanded a payoff of more than 500,000, before eventually settling for 75,000 offered by the Foreign Office. After his sacking on Sept 11 last year, he was paid about 40,000 in lieu of notice, plus an additional severance payment of roughly 35,000. He was dismissed by Sir Keir Starmer after the publication of the Epstein files, which revealed the extent of his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Files published on Wednesday show that Lord Mandelson held a call with a senior Foreign Office mandarin on Sept 23 about the terms of his exit. The disgraced peer at his London home on Wednesday morning - Geoff Pugh for The Telegraph Mark Power, the departments chief people officer, suggested the disgraced peer had raised the spectre of negative publicity if a settlement was not agreed. In a note to colleagues detailing the conversation, he wrote: His argument heavily focuses on the reasonableness of the PMs decision [to sack him]. There is some carefully placed language around the public implications of not reaching a settlement, and the nature of an employment tribunal case. A large section of the email, possibly giving details of Lord Mandelsons potential claims against the Government, has been redacted by officials. At the end of it, Mr Power wrote: There is a potential that, absent a positive indication, Peter goes public on some of his claims, so there is some urgency. The former US ambassador initially demanded that he be paid the four remaining years of his contract in full, which would have cost almost 550,000. Foreign Office staff negotiated that down to 75,000, with senior officials saying they had done well to get this settlement down this low with minimal fuss. In one email, a mandarin wrote: If theres any pushback, it might be worth mentioning that he opened negotiations asking us to pay out his contract (over 500k.) Sir Oliver Robbins, the departments top civil servant, put in a formal request for the payout on Oct 6, arguing that it represented good value for money. In a letter to James Murray, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, he acknowledged that the payment would attract public interest. Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, said the decision to award the compensation to Lord Mandelson showed that the Prime Ministers judgment is shocking. The files also reveal that Lord Mandelson did not pay tax on more than a third of the payoff. In the UK, people do not usually pay tax on the first 30,000 of statutory or enhanced redundancy payments, excluding lump sums in lieu of notice. A Foreign Office email containing details of the settlement stated that the special severance payment would be subject to a tax exemption on the first 30,000. This is a battle between good and evil - Win McNamee/Getty Images Its double or quits for the civilised world, for the cause of human flourishing, freedom and democracy. Either Donald Trump holds his nerve, crushes the Iranian regime, rides out the oil shock and reopens the Strait of Hormuz, or he and America are finished, exposed as unserious, fickle and incapable of forward planning, a superpower manquee felled by drone-wielding barbarians. The challenge is Trumps character, his willingness to accept short-term economic and electoral pain, not America or Israels exceptional military capacities. Does the US president, a hawk on Iran for 47 years, have it in him to finish the job, going down in history as the saviour of civilisation from nuclear Islamism, or is he merely the unidimensional man child his critics believe him to be? Much of the commentary on the war has been ludicrously defeatist. The oil price crisis needs urgent attention, but the US-Israeli military operations have been stunningly successful, and, just days into the conflict, the regime has already been forced into its final gambit. The ayatollahs are attacking passing ships, threatening to lay mines, bombing oil infrastructure and unleashing economic terrorism in a last-ditch bid for survival. It is a sign of how far the Iranian regime has fallen. It has seen thousands of its critical sites blown to smithereens. It has suffered catastrophic losses in personnel. Its air defences have been obliterated. Its air force is finished. Its nuclear programme has been hammered. Its navy is being annihilated. Will Trump go down in history as the saviour of civilisation from nuclear Islamism? - Majid Saeedi/Getty Images Irans stocks of missiles and launchers, supposedly vast enough to overwhelm Israeli and Gulf air defences and the US fleet, appear to have been largely destroyed before they could be deployed, with the volume of attacks down by around nine-tenths. Israeli civilians have suffered far less than expected, and the Gulf states have been surprisingly successful at shooting down missiles and drones. Irans proxies have been useless: Hezbollah targeted Israel and Cyprus, triggering a devastating counter-attack by Benjamin Netanyahu in Lebanon that will further downgrade the terror group. It hasnt all been plain sailing for America, but who thought it would be? As predicted, its bases in the Middle East have proved soft targets, with several costly systems destroyed or damaged alongside some casualties. It has had to fly in extra defensive systems from South Korea. The attacks on the Gulf states have greatly diminished, but the ayatollahs are hurting economies dependent on their safe haven status in the hope that they will pressure Washington to back down. Irans drone warfare has exposed Americas inexperience on this front: while it can shoot down UAVs, it should have listened to Ukraine, the master of cheap drone warfare. The military-industrial complex needs to get its act together, and ramp up production of munitions. Operation Epic Fury killed Iranian regime figureheads such as Ali Khamenei, then supreme leader, and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the former president - US Navy All these problems are manageable. The only genuine Iranian achievement is the chaos in the Strait of Hormuz, the collapse in oil output and rocketing prices. The decision to release 400 million barrels from Western reserves will ease the stress, but shipping must be made viable again. The Americans need to redouble their efforts to sink Iranian ships, and deploy their helicopter-based technology to check for mines. They need to pummel Iranian positions and create a protective umbrella to defend shipping lanes, even if this puts the US military at risk. For decades, the Wests expert classes have warned it was too risky to attack Iran. The Iranians have too many missiles, we were told, their armed forces are too large, their leadership too clever and, crucially, they could shut the Strait, triggering a global depression. It was supposedly inevitable that Iran would eventually obtain nuclear weapons, and there was nothing we could do other than to sign dishonest, useless treaties. It has taken just a few days to disprove the first arguments, but Trump must show he wont be held hostage by sociopathic pirates threatening to cut off the economys lifeblood. He must stop hinting that the war is almost over, and focus Americas awesome powers on reopening shipping lanes. Iran could close the Strait of Hormuz, one of the worlds most important shipping routes - Benoit Tessier/Reuters A base-level victory would see the regime set back years on its nuclear programme, its missile capabilities, its military manufacturing, its repressive apparatus, its utility to the axis of authoritarianism, its capacity to fund its proxies and, of course, its ability to block the Strait at will. This would be a great triumph for Trump, and remains eminently reachable. Those of us desperate to see the Iranian people liberated from the tyranny of the ayatollahs would love a de maximis victory, which also saw nuclear material removed, perhaps via special forces, and an implosion of the regime: this was always unlikely, but we can but hope. The great danger is that Trump snatches defeat from the jaws of victory. A loss would involve the Iranians shutting the Strait for an extended period, the Americans panicking at elevated oil prices and the US president walking away with a premature declaration of victory. Iran would be bloodied, but unbowed. This would be a calamity from which neither Trump nor the West would recover. It would be interpreted by our enemies, chiefly China, North Korea and Islamists, as proof that their stereotype of the average Westerner is correct, that we are coddled, narcissistic consumers who cannot handle even the smallest discomfort. It would also embolden the Wests defeatist class. Their analysis relentlessly asserts that the US cannot possibly win, and dismisses any contrary evidence. Everything to them is a miscalculation; killing Ali Khamenei will backfire, we are told, but not killing him would have been criticised just as harshly. There is nothing wrong with caution, but some of these people sound as if they want Iran to win. These same experts rightly loathe Putin, correctly seeing him as a fascist monster, who is willing to kidnap children and ethnically cleanse civilians. They rightly support Ukraine, emphasise its victories and urge it not to give up when Russia strikes a blow. Yet they are not as passionately opposed to the Iranian regime, even though it is just as fascistic as Putins. They loathe Trump and Israel. They were willing to suffer high energy prices to help defeat Putin, but cannot tolerate dearer petrol to take out the Iranian regime. Their double standards and hypocrisy are vile. This is a civilisational struggle, a battle between good and evil. The West must win, or all bets are off. You can sign up to receive Allister Heaths exclusive analysis of the week in politics here Peers vote to scrap non-crime hate incidents months after Met Police said it would stop investigating them Peers have voted to scrap non-crime hate incidents almost five months after the Metropolitan Police announced its decision to cease investigating them. Lord Toby Young of Acton formally proposed the abolition as part of the ongoing Crime and Policing Bill, a legislative piece that still requires further parliamentary scrutiny before it can become law. These incidents are broadly defined as acts appearing motivated by hostility towards individuals based on specific protected characteristics such as race, religion, disability, or gender but which ultimately do not constitute a criminal offence. Londons Met Police last year confirmed it would no longer investigate such cases, notably after dropping a high-profile probe into social media posts concerning transgender issues by Father Ted creator Graham Linehan. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood earlier this year told The Telegraph she would expect to see non-crime hate incidents changed, absolutely. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood (PA) She added: The question is, what do you do instead? Moving his amendment on Wednesday, which peers backed by 227 votes to 221, majority six, Lord Young said: Placing a statutory limit on what non-crimes the police can investigate you for and record against your name is not just in the interests of my noble friends on this side of the House (the Conservatives), some of whom have had non-crime hate incidents recorded against them, its in the interests of then noble Lords opposite (Labour) and the Liberal Democrats. Remember, the political wind can change. It is in your interests to place a statutory limit on what the police can investigate and record as non-crimes, its in all of our interests. It really should be put on a statutory footing. As part of the Conservative peers proposal, police authorities would be banned from processing personal data to record non-crime hate incidents, but officers would still be able to look at information relevant for the prevention and detection of a crime. Forces would also need to purge their files of non-crime hate incident records which fall below a certain threshold, when they are discovered, and not release information as part of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks. Non-crime hate incidents were introduced after the murder of Stephen Lawrence in 1993 and an inquiry into his death, setting up a system for reporting and recording racist incidents and crimes. His mother, Labour peer Baroness Doreen Lawrence of Clarendon, said: It depends on how you see non-crime hate and it depends on whos at the receiving end of that. Now for me, it led to the murder of my son. Non-crime hate incidents were introduced after the murder of Stephen Lawrence in 1993 (Family handout) Now, individuals who think theyve got the right to walk around and talk about, especially, young black men in a certain way, what starts off as just verbal, it leads to violence. Debating the proposal on Monday, Lady Lawrence added: How do you move forward if it moves from verbal into violence and you have no way of tracking back where it started from? She urged peers to consider what implication abandoning the non-crime hate regime could have. Lord Young replied verbal abuse would still meet the new recording threshold for anti-social behaviour and said he had no objection to that kind of thing being recorded. He continued: I just want to exclude the more trivial things from being recorded and having the police waste so much time on them. Home Office minister Lord David Hanson of Flint said the Government had already commissioned a review into non-crime hate incidents. So we have taken action, he said, adding: Were trying to change that regime. Lord Hanson said: We want to ensure that we keep the essence of what that regime was originally established for. This, he added, was to gather information, to prevent crime, to understand tensions, to look at potential areas where tensions could rise, to support investigations, and to safeguard the vulnerable, which remains as relevant today as it did 30 years ago. Turning to the DBS check rules which Lord Young proposed, Lord Hanson said: It is ultimately for chief officers to determine whether the non-conviction information should be disclosed, in-line with statutory guidance issued by the Home Office reflecting the sensitive nature of the information. I dont believe its appropriate for us to tie officers hands to apply a prohibition on disclosing information which may be relevant about individuals who choose to work with the most vulnerable in our society. Press photographers are no longer permitted to take photos inside the Pentagon press briefing room after several outlets published unflattering photos of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, two people familiar with the situation told the Washington Post. On March 2, Hegseth held a press conference with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to brief the press on the U.S. and Israel military strikes on Iran that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in February. Shortly after, wire service photographers such as those from the Associated Press, Reuters and Getty Images published photos of the defense secretary speaking with the media. This is typical for nearly all press conferences held by a government official. But afterward, members of Hegseths staff reportedly told colleagues they did not like the way the defense secretary looked. In press briefings on March 4 and March 10, photographers were not permitted inside. Pentagon spokesperson Kingsley Wilson said in a statement that in order to use the briefing room effectively, only one representative per uncredentialed news outlet was permitted inside. Hegseths staff reportedly thought the pictures from the March 2 press conference were unflattering (AP) Photographs from the briefings are immediately released online for the public and press to use. If that hurts the business model for certain news outlets, then they should consider applying for a Pentagon press credential, Wilson wrote. Last year, the Pentagon implemented a new rule for media that required credentialed outlets to agree to a new policy that states reporters cannot gather or publish information from the Defense Department that is not explicitly authorized. That includes declassified information or off-the-record conversations, no matter where the information was obtained. Many mainstream media outlets refused to sign the agreement, finding the new rules oppressive. As a result, major broadcasters such as Fox News, ABC News, CBS News, CNN and NBC News; legacy newspapers such as the Associated Press, New York Times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal; and other outlets lost their Pentagon press credentials. Hegseth appeared animated in the early March press briefing (AFP/Getty) But the Pentagon made exceptions for the March 2 press conference, requesting major broadcast TV cameras and allowing some reporters in the briefing room. During the press briefing, Hegseth appeared animated before reporters, fiercely pushing back against criticisms of the attacks and accusing mainstream media of reporting false narratives. To the media outlets and political left screaming endless wars, stop. This is not Iraq. This is not endless, Hegseth said during the presser. Our generation knows better and so does this president. The defense secretary called out NBC for asking a gotcha-type question when pressed about the timeline of the ongoing war, he later criticized another reporters question about whether the U.S. planned to put boots on the ground. Hegseth has frequently clashed with reporters during his time as defense secretary (Getty) Hegseth pushed back on reporters questions in the Pentagon press briefing room during the March 2 press conference, accusing mainstream media of pushing anti-Trump narratives (Getty) Why in the world would we tell you, you, the enemy, anybody, what we will or will not do in pursuit of an objective? Hegseth responded to a reporters question. Later during that same press conference, the defense secretary bluntly responded to another reporters inquiry about preventing this conflict from spiraling with: Did you not hear my remarks? Since being tapped as President Donald Trumps defense secretary, Hegseth has consistently sparred with reporters. When press photographers attempted to enter the press briefing room for the March 4 press conference, they were not allowed in, those familiar with the situation told the Washington Post. However, the Defense Departments staff photographers are permitted in the briefing rooms and do publish photos for public use. Victorious: Real Madrid (REUTERS) Federico Valverde scored a sensational first-half hat-trick as injury-hit Real Madrid overpowered Manchester City 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie. Much had been made of the Spanish giants' lengthy casualty list for Wednesday's clash against their familiar rivals at the Bernabeu, with the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo among the big-name absences. Yet it merely provided the opportunity for captain Valverde to step up and the Uruguay midfielder ripped City apart with a clinical display of finishing. He scored three goals in the space of 22 minutes and things might have been worse for Pep Guardiola's side had Gianluigi Donnarumma not saved a second-half penalty from Vinicius Junior. It rounded off a dismal two days for English sides in the Spanish capital after Tottenham's 5-2 hammering by Atletico Madrid on Tuesday. City, having gone into the tie as favourites, now face an uphill task in next week's second leg at the Etihad Stadium. The visitors actually started brightly and tried to take the game to Real. Antoine Semenyo fired an early shot at Thibaut Courtois and the lively Jeremy Doku twice drove across the face of goal. Nico O'Reilly also went close and Bernardo Silva volleyed wide as the visitors tried to exploit any perceived weakness in the Real side. But the home side served warning as former City academy player Brahim Diaz forced a save from Donnarumma and it went unheeded. The Premier League side were caught cold by a long ball from Courtois after 20 minutes which dropped over O'Reilly's head and Valverde took it expertly in his stride. He then glided past Donnarumma and finished brilliantly while off-balance from a tight angle. City had barely had time to regroup before Valverde doubled his tally seven minutes later. Valverde may have got lucky as a Vinicius pass deflected into his path but there was nothing fortunate about his touch as he set himself to drive a low left-footed shot beyond Donnarumma. Valverde completed his brilliant treble before the break as City were again cut open on the counter, this time by Vinicius. The ball reached Diaz, who cleverly lobbed Ruben Dias for Valverde to flick past Marc Guehi and smash home a volley. City left the field shell-shocked and things threatened to get ugly after the restart as Diaz tested Donnarumma following a mazy run. Semenyo did force a save from Courtois at the other end but a long ball from deep sent Vinicius racing into the area where he was brought down by Donnarumma. The goalkeeper was booked and, much to City's relief, guessed correctly to push away Vinicius' resulting spot-kick to his left. Yet the Madrid attacks kept coming with Arda Guler and Vinicius both shooting narrowly wide. City did not give up hope and Erling Haaland might have scored but for a vital touch by Antonio Rudiger, while O'Reilly was denied by the feet of Courtois. PITTSBURGH, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- "I wanted to create a new watch accessory to help you remember a lost loved one," said an inventor, from Stanton, Calif., "so I invented MY WATCH. My design would provide a cherished keepsake, and it would help keep the memory of the departed loved one alive." The invention provides an effective way to keep the memory of a departed loved one alive. In doing so, it offers an alternative to traditional watches and accessories. As a result, it could help during the bereavement process. It also could garner a great deal of attention and may be quite a conversation piece. The invention features an attractive design that is easy to wear so it is ideal for men, women, and children. The original design was submitted to the Orange County sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 25-OCM-1574, InventHelp, 100 Beecham Drive, Suite 110, Pittsburgh, PA 15205-9801, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com. SOURCE InventHelp Predictions: Real Madrid (ES Composite) Real Madrid are without several stars including Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham as they host Manchester City in the Champions League last 16. Los Blancos, the record-holding 15-time winners of this competition, were forced to reach this stage via last months playoffs after finishing ninth in the league phase, a point and a place behind City. FOLLOW REAL MADRID VS MAN CITY LIVE! Madrid exacted revenge against Benfica - who had handed them a third loss from their final five league phase fixtures - in that two-legged play-off tie, winning 3-1 on aggregate to set up a rematch with Pep Guardiolas men, who beat them at the Bernabeu earlier this season. Alvara Arbeloa has been dealt a tough hand with injuries lately and is without star striker Mbappe, who returned to the training pitch this week but not with the main group as he rehabs a knee injury. In another blow to the hosts attack, Rodrygo has been ruled out possibly through the start of next season after rupturing his ACL. Bellingham, meanwhile, has been sidelined for more than a month with a hamstring injury, and will play no part. Eder Militao is out with a hamstring issue as well, with Dani Ceballos and Alvaro Carreras missing through calf problems, and David Alabas own calf means the Austrian defender is out. Thankfully for Arbeloa, Eduardo Camavinga is available again, but he does not displace 18-year-old Thiago Pitarch in central midfield, as the teenager joins Aurelien Tchouameni and skipper Federico Valverde in midfield. Dean Huijsen is also given the nod in the backline alongside veteran Antonio Rudiger. Thibaut Courtois is between the posts. The defensive injuries, particularly to Carreras, means Ferland Mendy continues at left-back, with Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back against his old foe from England. Trent Alexander-Arnold should start at right-back against City (Getty Images) Teenaged star Franco Mastantuono is available but its Brahim Diaz and Arda Guler who start and Vinicius Jr is on the left. Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Rudiger, Huijsen, Mendy; Valverde, Tchouameni, Diaz, Thiago, Guler, Vinicius Jr Subs: Lunin, Gonzalez, Carvajal, Camavinga, Garcia, Asencio, Garcia, Mastantuono, Aguado, Cestero, Angel, Palacios Injured: Mbappe, Bellingham, Rodrygo, Militato, Carreras, Ceballos, Alaba Time and date: 8pm GMT on Wednesday March 11, 2026 Venue: Bernabeu, Madrid How to watch: TNT Sports Rachel Reeves has said there was a valid argument that she should not have hiked employers national insurance contributions after the number of jobless young people edged closer to one million. But the Chancellor insisted the move announced in 2024 was needed to put money into public services. Appearing before Parliaments Treasury Committee on Wednesday, Ms Reeves said: We did make the decision to increase national insurance in my first budget and thats because we needed to properly fund public services, including the National Health Service, which got a 29 billion-a-year uplift. So, I do recognise, and its a valid argument to say that that should not have happened. But if that didnt happen, we wouldnt have been able to put the money into the NHS and reduce waiting lists. And reducing waiting lists in the NHS is also good for business, because it means that more people are available for work, and the workforce is is healthier. But I do recognise there are particular issues around youth unemployment. A lot of that, with respect, we inherited with a big increase in the young people not in education, employment or training, but we are facing into that with actions coming on stream from next month. The Chancellor said the Government was expanding apprenticeship opportunities for young people and pointed to her youth guarantee, committing to offer guaranteed paid work for every eligible young person who has been out of education or work for 18 months. The number of young people not in employment, education or training increased in the final months of last year and edged closer to one million, according to official figures last month. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the number of so-called Neets aged 16 to 24 was reported at 957,000 in the three months from October to December an increase from 946,000 in the previous quarter. Separate figures from the ONS earlier in February showed the overall unemployment rate for Britons rose to 5.2% for the three months to November. It came as business groups told a separate parliamentary select committee that higher employment costs were hampering firms abilities to hire young people. Chancellor Rachel Reeves appearing before the Treasury Committee (House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA) (House of Commons/UK Parliament) Kate Shoesmith, director of policy at the British Chambers of Commerce told the work and pensions committee: When NI changes hit in April, 13% of our businesses said they made redundancies as a direct result of that. One particular mid-sized professional services firm said that the cost to them was 167,000 on their wage bill. When they were thinking about training and progression routes, bringing young people into the jobs market, into their businesses, they would have to pause some of those activities. Other trade industry bosses highlighted that the cost of part-time roles has disproportionately increased, contributing to reduced employment opportunities to young people. Kate Nicholls, chairwoman of UK Hospitality, said: In the last two years youve had changes, particularly changes in the Nics threshold that brought in just under a million people in hospitality for the first time. And because we disproportionately skew towards young people, that disproportionately impacts those first jobs, entry level jobs for 16-24 year olds. Those workers tend to need to work or want to work part-time, and those are the jobs where the tax rate has increased by 75%. Ryanair is set to cut more flights to a popular Spanish destination due to neglect from the countrys airport operator. Flights from Girona airport in the Costa Brava region will decline this summer for the first time since the pre-Covid period. Capacity at Girona is set to reduce by 11 per cent this summer season, which runs from March to the end of October. The budget Irish airline will now offer 34 routes to 13 countries from Girona, including a new connection to Bucharest. The aviation hub is often used as an alternative connection for travel to Barcelona. Aena has increased airport fees by 10 per cent since 2024, said Ryanair. The airline said an Aena proposal to increase fees by 21 per cent by 2031 will further damage air connectivity, tourism, and employment across Spain. In 2024, Ryanair presented President Sanchez with plans for a fifth aircraft based in Girona and growth of 42 per cent. Ryanair urged the CNMC and the Ministry of Transport to reject Aena's price increases to attract growth for airlines across the country. The carrier claims it is willing to expand in Girona provided costs are lower and more competitive. Alejandra Ruiz, Ryanair's spokesperson in Spain, said: While Ryanair also aims to grow at Catalan regional airports, Aena's flawed airport charges system is hindering Reus's potential for off-season growth and impacting Girona's capacity, which will decrease this summer for the first time since the pre-Covid period. Ryanair had ambitious growth plans for Catalonia's regional airports, where it could have based a fifth aircraft in Girona, a new base in Reus, and achieved unprecedented growth at both airports under competitive conditions that would benefit all airlines. However, we are still awaiting a response from the Spanish government, which has no plan to fix a system that continues to line Aena's pockets while draining regional airports. The airline has already axed more than 1.2 million seats from its Spanish flight schedule as it continues to battle regional airport fees. Read more: Ryanair announces new routes for summer 2026 after slashing winter schedule As President Donald Trump has said that his war in Iran might be over soon, skeptical Republicans have three words for the president: Finish the job. The president spoke to Axios on Wednesday, saying that there was practically nothing left to target in Iran and that The war is going great. But hawkish Republicans want to make sure that Trump actually completes the work in Iran and does not cut out solely for political reasons. I mean, it would be ideal, Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, said of Trumps nothing left to target remarks. But, the Trump-skeptical Republican told The Independent, I think every mine that's been dropped in this Strait of Hormuz is another target that we need to take care of so that we can get shipping and everything else underway. U.S. Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) said he wants President Donald Trump to have completed the job with military action in Iran. (Getty) The president has said that the United States knocked out 28 mine ships in the Strait of Hormuz. We've knocked out their navy, their military in all forms. We've knocked out just about everything there is, including their leadership, he said on Wednesday. Tillis said he has not received the most recent information. That's a sweeping statement because there are a lot of layers to what the Iranian Guard, the army and their national police force have available to them, he said. So it'll be, it'll be good to get the briefing to substantiate that, but we still have to talk about what's next. Tillis is not alone. Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana, who played a crucial role in torpedoing Kristi Noem as secretary of Homeland Security, said that as far as he knew, the White House is ahead of schedule on eliminating Irans drone production facilities, infrastructure for the Revolutionary Guard, navy, air force and missile production facilities. The worst thing that we could do would be to panic and leave before the job is done, Kennedy told reporters. I think we're talking about a matter of weeks. Still, plenty of Republicans worry about rising energy prices given that a fifth of the worlds oil supply goes through the Strait of Hormuz. But Kennedy, echoing the White House line on the subject, said once the U.S. leaves Iran, you will see oil prices go down like a fat guy on a seesaw. Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) said Trump does not know what he wants out of Iran. (AFP via Getty Images) Republican senators have long taken a stronger stance against Iran than Democrats, dating back to the 1979 Iranian Revolution, which put in place the extremist regime that exists to this day. Many Republicans say they want to ensure Iran cannot promote terror groups or prop up organizations like Hezbollah. That would be great, but I hope we've done our job, Sen. Rick Scott of Florida told The Independent. We hope we got rid of their ability to produce ballistic missiles, in no way they're going to have nuclear weapons. Unlike other Republican presidents, Trump has shown little interest in toppling regimes or putting in a new government, preferring attempts to cut off the head of governments and then leaving quickly. This was the case earlier this year when he ordered the strikes that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, but left the regime in place, despite the fact many conservatives wanted to see a more pro-democracy regime installed. Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, said that he thought that Trump was trying to find an off-ramp as energy prices spike. I think the President, again, is trying to figure out the best way to get what he wants, but he doesnt know what he wants, Gallego told The Independent. Son of British couple trapped in Tehran prison asks Trump for help after being let down by British government The son of a British couple trapped in an Iranian prison is appealing to Donald Trump for help after being let down by the British government. Lindsay and Craig Foreman, both 53, were jailed for 10 years following their arrest in January 2025 while travelling through Iran on a global motorcycle trip. The couple, from East Sussex, are now being held in Tehrans notorious Evin prison, which has been caught in the crossfire of the US-Israeli bombardment. Joe Bennett, Ms Foremans son, says that British consular staff did not tell his parents that they were leaving Iran a day before the conflict erupted, and says he feels a profound sense of abandonment by the government. Joe Bennett (centre right) has been campaigning for the release of his parents (left), who are trapped in an Iranian prison (Family handout) My government has let me down, he told The Telegraph. They are British citizens who appear to have been abandoned. They are in real and immediate danger. Mr Bennett has told The Independent of the dire conditions inside the prison, where his parents have allegedly been separated, held in solitary confinement and denied legal representation during their months-long ordeal. Ahead of a visit to Washington to address the US Capitol this week, Mr Bennett said that neither the British prime minister nor the foreign secretary has responded to letters or a petition pleading for help. He hopes Mr Trump may be able to offer support instead. Donald Trump is a father and he has a family. I am sure he loves them deeply. And that is the reason I appeal to him to help us get them out, he told the newspaper. Mr Bennett, 31, is preparing to address the US Capitol in Washington on Thursday, during the Transatlantic Conference on Hostage-Taking and Arbitrary Detention. Rescuers work in the rubble of residential buildings after airstrikes, in the Resalat neighbourhood, in Tehran, Iran (Iranian Red Crescent Society) The US is actively bringing their hostages names up in all high-level international discussions, and the UK should be doing this for my parents, too, he said. Mr Bennett previously told how a bomb exploded close to the Tehran prison on the first day of the war, shattering windows and causing plaster to rain down from the ceiling. Ms Foreman, who was on the phone to her son at the time, described a scene of mass hysteria as female prisoners dived under metal bunk beds for cover, awaiting the next strike. The legal process has effectively collapsed. The Revolutionary Courts that sentenced the couple have themselves reportedly been targeted in recent airstrikes, the family spokesperson said. Lindsay and Craig's state-appointed lawyer has left the country, and the family has no clarity on whether their appeal was even successfully received before court systems shut down. US president Donald Trump launched the strikes on Iran and urged its people to rise up (Reuters) A Foreign Office spokesperson told The Independent: The welfare of British nationals detained in Iran is a priority for this government and continues to be during the current situation in the Middle East. Craig and Lindsays sentences are completely appalling and totally unjustifiable, and we will continue to pursue this case relentlessly with the Iranian regime and will do so until we see Craig and Lindsay Foreman safely returned to the UK and reunited with their family. We continue to provide consular assistance to them and their family. Stacey Solomon has shared her conflicted feelings about her eldest son Zachs upcoming 18th birthday. The presenter, 36, shares Zach with her ex-partner and is also mother to Leighton, Rex, Rose and Belle and stepmother to husband Joe Swashs son Harry. Discussing Zachs 18th birthday on March 21, she said she feels really sad about the milestone and plans to cry all day. Zach is going to be 18 this month. I've got an 18 year old, I know, it actually makes me really sad, the mother-of-five told Scott Mills on BBC Radio 2. The Sort Your Life Out host added: I think I'm going to cry all day on his birthday. I've got a fully-grown adult human son. Reflecting on her own career, she remarked: "When I did The X Factor he was one... He was one! Seventeen years ago. Solomon with Zach (Instagram) In September, Solomon talked about being a teenage mum and shared a motivational message to her younger self while celebrating a major career achievement - her haircare company REHAB. becoming the UKs fastest growing beauty brand. A letter to teenage me - one day youll be a teenage mum and there will be people who tell you that youre on a road to failure, that youre not smart enough, that you arent strong enough, you don't speak well enough, you arent talented enough she wrote on Instagram. But then one day you will own the second fastest growing company in the UK with two incredible women who started off with a dream and a garage to work out of. She went on: Today got my beautiful babies ready for school, then headed off to shoot a campaign with a brand I LOVE ) and then drove straight to the awards ceremony to celebrate our company becoming the Second fastest growing company in the country. A day like this I could have never even dreamed of growing up. And so many people told me it wouldnt be possible. Never let anyone set your limits for you. Those people couldnt have been more wrong. Solomon became pregnant with Zach when she was a performing arts student in Essex, and her childhood sweetheart was 23. The Renovation Rescue star previously said that becoming a teenage mother shocked her into being meticulously organised in her life. I tried to hang on to my social life and I just couldn't do it. I realised immediately that if I wasn't meticulously organised, I couldn't get my milk vouchers, she told OK! "I had to pick up my giro at a certain time every week, I had to get the baby into nursery and out of nursery at a certain time there was so much for me to remember and think about. If I didn't get my a*** in gear, I wouldn't have survived. "I wouldn't have passed my A levels and I wouldn't have kept my baby alive. It shocked me into it. Every time I slipped back from that organised self, I would just feel I couldn't cope with life." Keir Starmer told MPs the UKs armed forces were working day and night to protect British lives and British interests in the Middle East. Photograph: House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA (Photograph: House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA) Keir Starmer has attacked Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage over their stance on the war in Iran, accusing both of U-turning on their support for Donald Trump. At a raucous prime ministers questions, Starmer accused the leader of the opposition of making the mother of all U-turns and furiously trying to backpedal after on Tuesday she denied calling for the UK to join the US presidents war on Iran, after previously saying Starmer should do more to stop the people who are attacking us. Last week Badenoch repeatedly pressed Starmer on his decision not to launch offensive strikes to destroy missile bases, asking: Why is he asking our allies to do what we should be doing ourselves? On Wednesday, Starmer said: If Id asked her last week, her position would be, we support the initial strikes and we want to join the war. This week, she says, we dont want to join the war. That is the mother of all U-turns on the single most important decision a prime minister ever has to take, whether to commit the United Kingdom to war or not. To cheers from his own backbenchers, he added: She has utterly disqualified herself from ever becoming prime minister, thankfully she never will. Starmer told MPs that the UKs armed forces were working day and night to protect British lives and British interests in the Middle East, adding that the RAF had flown more than 230 hours of defensive operations over multiple countries and shot down multiple drones. We thank them for their courage and for their professionalism, he said. He accused Badenoch of insulting the UKs RAF personnel by saying they were just hanging about during an interview with BBC Breakfast on Friday. Speaking in the Commons, Starmer said: Let me tell you what theyve been doing: flying sorties in seven of the 10 countries in the region, day and night, taking out incoming strikes, protecting the lives of others whilst risking their own. If she had any decency, shed get up and she would apologise. Badenoch said she had never criticised the armed forces, but had criticised Starmer. Speaking after PMQs, Badenochs spokesperson accused Starmer of seeking to completely misrepresent our position, arguing that the Conservative leader had never argued that the UK should join the war. Badenoch had, he said, called for the UK to allow the US to use British bases for the initial attacks on Iran, and she now supported UK action in response to the targeting of British bases in Cyprus. Asked if this was not the same as joining the war, he said: We are at war. The difference is, were not joining the war. Were in the war. Asked if Badenoch understood the goals of the war, the spokesperson said she did not receive the same intelligence briefings as ministers. Questioned as to how she could back a conflict without knowing its aims, he added: We support our allies. Related: Nigel Farage accused of U-turn as he says UK should keep out of Iran war On Tuesday, Farage said the UK should not get ourselves involved in another foreign war, in contrast to his previous assertion that the gloves need to come off when dealing with Iran. After the start of the war, the Reform leader said he was in favour of regime change in Iran and told a press conference in Westminster: We should do all we can to support the operation. Badenoch used her questions in the Commons to repeatedly ask Starmer about petrol prices and why he thought now is the right time to increase the cost of petrol? Starmer denied that the government was increasing the cost of petrol, saying fuel duty would remain frozen until September. The Liberal Democrat leader, Ed Davey, said families were seeing petrol prices increase, mortgage rates go up and fixed energy deals get more expensive all because of a war they did not start and do not support. Turning his criticism to the Tories and Reform, he said: The leader of the Conservatives has been competing with [Nigel Farage] to be Donald Trumps biggest cheerleader, and the prime minister was right to reject their costly warmongering. Starmer said Davey was right, adding of Badenoch and Farage: Last week, they were urging us to join. If they had been leading the country, wed be at war. Davey called on Starmer to guarantee energy bills wont rise by hundreds of pounds in July when the next quarterly price cap takes effect in July. Ministers are understood to be thinking about how they might protect consumers, but analysts have said that household energy bills could climb by 160 a year from this summer after the war in Iran pushed the UKs gas market to a three-year high. Starmer said he wanted to reassure households that the cap was in place until July. We are working with the sector and with others and with allies to do everything we can to make sure those energy bills dont rise, he said. Were working around the clock on that. The most important thing, the most effective thing we can do, is to work with our allies to find a way to de-escalate the situation. Campaigners are urging Scotlands politicians to tackle unacceptably high levels of hunger and hardship with new figures showing a charity handed out almost 220,000 emergency food parcels last year. Trussell provided 218,838 handouts of food in 2025 the equivalent of 600 parcels a day, or one every two-and-a-half minutes. While the total was down by 13% from 2024, 67,752 of the parcels provided last year were for children. The figures were released by the charity as a host of celebrities including Succession star Brian Cox backed its call for political parties to commit to a plan to end the need for food banks for good in Scotland. Brian Cox said food banks shouldnt have to exist in a just and compassionate society (Suzan Moore/PA) Dundee-born Cox said: No-one should have to turn to a food bank to get by. But shockingly, almost 220,000 emergency food parcels were distributed across Scotland last year with so many of these provided for children. Food banks are a lifeline, but they shouldnt have to exist in a just and compassionate society. Thats why Im calling on all political parties in the Holyrood elections to commit to ending the need for food banks in Scotland for good. Because hunger is not inevitable. Still Game star Sanjeev Kohli meanwhile said: Too many people are struggling to afford the essentials and will have no choice but to turn to their local food bank for support. Parents are being forced to ration nappies and people are opening food parcels to eat as soon as they leave the food bank. Mark Bonnar said while food banks are a lifeline, they shouldnt be necessary (Ian West/PA) I dont want to live in a country which stands by as people are forced to the brink like this. I stand with Trussell in putting pressure on all political parties in the Holyrood elections to commit to ending the need for food banks for good. Shetland actor Julie Graham also backed the call, saying: Its especially alarming how many children are experiencing this, struggling to get through a day at school on an empty stomach. Thats why Im standing with Trussell and calling on all political parties in the Holyrood elections to commit to ending the need for food banks, so no-one has to go through this. Actor and Celebrity Traitors star Mark Bonnar said: Its shocking that so many people are still facing hunger and hardship in Scotland today. This shouldnt be the case in 2026. Food banks are a lifeline, but they shouldnt be necessary. Actor Gregor Fisher, who famously portrayed Rab C Nesbitt in the BBC comedy of the same name, said the number of Scots having to turn to food banks is unacceptable. He added: With almost 220,000 emergency food parcels being distributed to people across the country, and so many of these provided for children, its clear that the time for action is now. Cara Hilton, senior policy and public affairs manager at Trussell Scotland, said the figures show too many people across Scotland are still being pushed to the brink. She added: This is heartbreaking. No-one should be forced to turn to a food bank because they cant afford the essentials we all need, like food, bills and toiletries. But right now, too many people are being forced to skip meals so their children can eat, or survive on cups of tea because they dont have any food left in the cupboards. This Holyrood election, we need to see the political will to act on the unacceptably high levels of hunger and hardship. We must build a Scotland where everyone can afford the essentials, where every child has a decent start in life, and where charitable food provision is consigned to history. We urge all political parties and candidates to commit to a plan to end the need for food banks in Scotland for good. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: The 13% reduction in the number of food parcels issued in Scotland is welcome and aligns with the findings in a report published last year that shows our social security benefits are helping more families avoid the use of food banks and to have healthy meals, while reducing food insecurity. No one should have to compromise on food or other essentials. Building on ongoing investment of over 3 billion per year to policies that tackle poverty and the cost of living, in 2026-27, we will continue to offer the most comprehensive cost-of-living support package in the UK while strengthening our public services. White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, the architect of President Donald Trumps mass deportation agenda, is playing an active role in discussions about recruiting new federal workers, according to a new report. Trumps government has started ramping up hiring again after the Department of Government Efficiency slashed hundreds of thousands of federal jobs last year, The Washington Post reports. We probably have some skills that we now need to hire back, quite frankly, Scott Kupor, director of the Office of Personnel Management, told the outlet. Theres no question anytime you do restructurings sometimes you over-restructure, sometimes you under-restructure. Amid this effort, Miller has been playing an active role in hiring discussions, two sources familiar with the issue told the Post. They said Miller has emphasized hiring young applicants and wants new workers to have views aligned with Trumps goals. It appears some postings are already reflecting these priorities. One job listing for a Homeland Defender reportedly calls on applicants to protect your homeland and defend your culture, and asks them to describe how theyd advance Trumps policies. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller has been playing an active role in hiring discussions, according to a new report (AP) Davis Ingle, a White House spokesperson, told the Post Trump was given a mandate to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse from the federal government. He added that the president has made significant progress in making the federal government more efficient to better serve the American taxpayer. Kupor also told the outlet there could be more opportunities to reshape federal agencies over the next year, but declined to specify which ones could be impacted. The Independent has contacted the White House for comment. DOGE, once led by billionaire Elon Musk, worked to shrink federal agencies, slash budgets and reduce the federal workforce last year. The agency was set up shortly after Trump took office in January 2025. Elon Musk, the worlds richest man, once championed the Department of Government Efficiency (Getty Images) But in November, less than a year after DOGEs work began, Kupor told Reuters the office doesn't exist," and is no longer a "centralized entity. Kupor later clarified his comments on X, writing that DOGE may not have centralized leadership, but its principles remain alive and well. Still, the impacts of DOGEs efforts have been clear. According to official data published last week, the U.S. government saw a reduction of more than 386,000 workers between September 2024 and January 2026. Even with this latest hiring push, some officials expect the government workforce to remain smaller than it was before DOGEs sweeping cuts, the Post reports. While five Strictly Come Dancing professionals have reportedly been dropped from the show, one popular dancer has been tapped up to return. A revamp for the BBC series appears to be underway following the departure of long-time hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, with reports claiming that several professional dancers have been given the axe ahead of the 2026 series. Its believed that Karen Hauer, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk, Michelle Tsiakkas and Nadiya Bychkova have all been told they wont be returning to the dancefloor but one professional who looks set to remain is Katya Jones. Strictly star Katya Jones is believed to be returning for 2026 series (BBC) A source told MailOnline that bosses were desperate to keep Jones, 36, as they know how popular she is with viewers. She is not leaving, they added. Katya is remaining on Strictly the bosses think shes a legend. They know how much viewers love her and they are also in awe of her choreography talents. The Russian dancer made her Strictly debut in 2016 and was partnered with Good Morning Britain presenter and former politician Ed Balls. The following year, she won the show alongside Holby City star Joe McFadden and in 2018, she was embroiled in a scandal after being photographed kissing comedian Seann Walsh while they were partnered together on the show. Jones, who was married to fellow Strictly star Neil Jones at the time, issued a public apology and called the incident a mistake. Walsh was also in a relationship when the kiss occurred. In 2020, Jones became the first professional to be paired with a member of the same sex boxer Nicola Adams and she made waves in 2025 with her memorable choreography whilke dancing with Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope. Lewis Cope and Katya Jones performed together for Strictly 2025 (BBC) The couple was the favourites to win the show, but found themselves eliminated from the show weeks before the final. On companion show It Takes Two, Jones broke down in tears as she hailed Cope and blamed herself for his premature exit. Looking back, I can't help but think how maybe I could have done things differently and to make it work for him better, she said. The Independent has contacted Jones for comment, and a BBC representative said that plans for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 would be confirmed in due course. The dancers reportedly getting the cut from Strictly 2026 have been supported by fans. Hauer the shows longest-standing professional has been partnered with stars ranging from late Hairy Bikers chef Dave Myers to Made in Chelsea star Jamie Laing since her 2010 debut, with whom she finished in second place. Spanish dancer Marquez joined the show in 2016, and reached the final three times with Alexandra Burke, Maisie Smith and Helen Skelton. He met his fiancee, influencer and presenter Gemma Atkinson, on the show in 2017. Strictlys longest-standing professional Karen Hauer has reportedly been axed (BBC) Russian pro Mushtuk became a Strictly dancer in 2018 and has competed on four series, while Cypriot dancer Tsiakkas joined in 2022 and has competed on just one series. Meanwhile, Bychkova, who joined the cast of Strictly Come Dancing in 2017, has competed with the likes of Davood Ghadami and Dan Walker. Her height 5ft 8 has meant that she has normally been paired with the tallest male contestants. She has never reached the final. NEW YORK, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The James Dyson Award, a global design engineering competition that has supported more than 400 inventions, opens for submissions today for 2026. The Award invites current and recent design and engineering students across 28 countries and regions to present ideas that tackle real-world problems. Winner 1 Dyson Shortlisted entries will be reviewed by national judging panels of design and engineering experts, including Dyson engineers. National winners will receive $6,500 and a chance to progress to the international stage. Sir James Dyson will select global winners to receive $40,000 and a platform to take their inventions to the next level. The Award gives winners media exposure, international recognition, and the momentum for these young inventors to accelerate their ideas to commercialization. Sir James Dyson, Founder of Dyson, said: "I established the James Dyson Award to encourage young 'doers' in life who are focused on solving the problems they see in the world, not grandstanding about them. It has been inspiring to see so many brilliant ideas from young design engineers, many of whom have gone on to build businesses and take their problem-solving ideas to people and markets all over the world. I look forward to judging this year's submissions." 2025 Winners In 2025, the James Dyson Award marked its 20th year and received more than 2,100 inventions from young engineers worldwide. Projects provided solutions in areas such as health screening, household waste, and disaster relief. The US National prize was awarded to Sole, a lightweight, wearable robotic device to help people with foot drop. Invented by Harvard University students and U.S. Army veterans, Bradley Wagman and Viktor Bokisch, Sole replaces traditional mobility devices for conditions like foot drop, which are rigid, stigmatizing and often immobile, leading users to experience discomfort, loss of confidence, and declinging function. "Winning the James Dyson Award is incredibly validating. We've been working on this project in our own time, outside of a formal lab, so having it recognized by the James Dyson Award gives us confidence we're on the right track and helps bring us closer to our vision of making assistive devices that people are proud to wear," said Bradley Wageman, co-creator of Sole. "For me, this is proof of concept. It shows that what we've been building isn't just possible, it's needed. This recognition brings us one step closer to getting Sole into the hands of people who can benefit from it most," said Viktor Bokisch, co-creator of Sole. The global Sustainability prize was awarded to WaterSense, an autonomous water quality monitoring device. Invented by Filip Budny from Poland, a PhD candidate in nanotechnology at Warsaw University of Technology, WaterSense replaces manual, occasional sampling with real-time, AI-powered monitoring and early pollution alerts. "The Award validated our mission globally and opened doors to lots of new partnerships, pilots, and conversations across Europe and beyond," said Filip Budny. OnCue, the global Medical winner, is a smart keyboard for people with Parkinson's. Invented by Italian product designer Alessandra Galli, who graduated from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, OnCue uses haptic and visual cues to manage motor symptoms and reduce typing errors. "The Award offers real support to young people to help projects move forward," said Alessandra Galli. How to enter Entries can now be submitted via the James Dyson Award website, with the deadline set for midnight on July 15, 2026. University students and recent graduates of design and engineering subjects are eligible to apply. The best entries tackle a clear global problem, demonstrate a thoughtful design process, and showcase originality and technical feasibility. Please apply here: https://www.jamesdysonaward.org/en-US/ SOURCE Dyson A tacit acknowledgment of the illegality of this war Ursula von der Leyen. Photograph: Ronald Wittek/EPA (Photograph: Ronald Wittek/EPA) The message from Ursula von der Leyen was blunt. Europe can no longer be a custodian for the old-world order and needs a more realistic and interest-driven foreign policy. In a major foreign policy speech this week, the European Commission president said the EU would always defend and uphold the rules-based system but in a precarious and chaotic world, that could no longer be relied upon. On the day she spoke, missiles were raining down on Tehran and southern Iran as the war entered its 10th day, proving her point. Reverberating around Europe, the Middle East conflict has triggered a range of responses. France is sending a dozen naval vessels to the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. EU officials convened an ad-hoc summit with Middle Eastern leaders in a show of solidarity with the region. EU humanitarian aid for Lebanon is being dispatched to help 130,000 people, after at least half a million were displaced by Israeli bombs and evacuation orders. Despite the frenetic activity, Europes voice has carried no weight. As Donald Trump zigzags between different war aims in one 24-hour period declaring the conflict very complete, pretty much but we havent won enough Europes muted calls for restraint have gone unheeded. In part, the problem is disunity over how to respond. Standing alone, Spains prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, has refused to be complicit in something that is bad for the world and that is also contrary to our values. At the other pole, German chancellor Friedrich Merz said it was not the time to lecture partners and allies on international law. Amid this division, EU officials issue impersonal calls for diplomacy, an approach that has earned withering reviews, including from former insiders. Brussels has slipped into a starkly paralysed role as mere commentator on the geopolitical upheaval on its Southern flank wrote a former head of the EUs diplomatic service. Nor did a second former EU official hold back. Europes response to the American and Israeli strikes on Iran has been shameful: stunned, sidelined, and disunited, wrote the EUs former representative to the Palestinian territories. European officials, it has been noted, have called out Iran for its counter-retaliation, without reference to the US and Israels decision to launch a war when facing no immediate threat. Europes collective response has been, at best, a fiasco and at worst, strategic lunacy, concluded analysts at the European Council on Foreign Relations. Were stuck in this bizarre situation at the moment where Europeans are treading around Trump with such timidity, out of fear of antagonising him, that they refuse to come out with a meaningful position on the war, Julien Barnes-Dacey, director of ECFRs Middle East and North Africa programme, told the Guardian. Can Europeans decisively shift dynamics on their own? Probably not. But could they feed into a wider effort to pressure Trump to hold back by more assertively standing up and saying this war is a disaster and Europeans cannot support it because it runs so against their interests? I think that is something they could do more on. *** An obituary for international law? The Middle East conflict has also revealed an old fault line about who speaks for Europe in the world. In a rebuke to von der Leyens diplomatic outreach, France accused the commission of usurping the role of the EUs foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, who operates on a mandate agreed by the 27 member states. Without criticising specific policies or naming von der Leyen directly, French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot called on the commission to adhere strictly to the letter and spirit of the EU treaties. His comments came after a senior French MEP from the ruling party, Nathalie Loiseau, criticised von der Leyens telephone diplomacy to Gulf leaders as NOT your business. This critique is far from universal. Some EU sources contend it is important for a commission president to assume leadership during a global crisis; others said they had no problem with it. The criticism of the commission overstepping its mandate is just a fig leaf for saying, We dont like this, that or the other decision that you took, one EU diplomat said. But von der Leyen has created unease with her quickness to embrace regime change in Iran, interpreted as an attempt to stay close to Trump. Kallas did not go so far; she has said a democratic Iran is the dream scenario but far from certain. Related: The Guardian view on Europes response to the Iran crisis: damage limitation only goes so far | Editorial There is an even greater nuance. Von der Leyen appeared to deliver an obituary for the international rules-based order calling for new ways of cooperating with partners. Kallas, by contrast, called for a restoration of international law, saying that otherwise we are doomed to see repeated violations of the law, disruption and chaos. European Commission vice-president, Teresa Ribera, a Spanish Socialist, issued a more public reprimand to von der Leyen, saying maybe it was not the most adequate manner to express herself. Ribera added: To me, it is key to defend, to stress, to underline that international law is a key element of building the European project and the European security. Socialist MEP leader Iratxe Garcia Perez went further, accusing von der Leyen of failing in her responsibility to defend international law: If we accept that major powers can bomb whenever they want, then international law ceases to exist and we end up with the law of the jungle. Amid the criticism, von der Leyen offered a more full-throated defence of the rules-based order and her approach to MEPs on Wednesday: Seeing the world as it is, in no way diminishes our determination to fight for the world as we want it. For Barnes-Dacey, von der Leyens call for realism is an attempt to keep Trump on side over Ukraine. It was, he said, a tacit acknowledgment of the illegality of this war [on Iran] and Europes failure and unwillingness to call it out based on a perception that we need to keep Trump happy. As Trump mused about waiving oil sanctions on some countries to guarantee supply reported by Reuters to possibly include Russia that strategy appears doomed. EU leaders are deeply concerned about what the Middle East conflict means for Ukraine, more than four years after the full-scale invasion. Russia stands to gain from higher energy prices, diversion of air-defence systems and ammunition to the Middle East and reduced attention to the war it launched on its neighbour. So far, there is only one winner in this war Russia, said the European Council president Antonio Costa. Europe is making a disastrous strategic miscalculation in its approach to the Iran war, Barnes-Dacey said: For the sake of managing the Ukraine conflict and preventing more trade and economic shocks, they are effectively unwilling to confront Trump on a conflict that is so deeply going to impact their wider interests. To receive the complete version of This Is Europe in your inbox every Wednesday, please subscribe here. Ed Milibands renewables promise has so far delivered neither energy security nor price certainty - John Breslin/DESNZ If anyone tells you they know how all this is going to end, turn your back and walk away. Donald Trump appeared to be doing his Grand Old Duke of York trick on Monday. Having marched everyone up to the top of the hill, he seemed poised to march them down again. But you never really know with the 47th US president. What the latest crisis has done, however, is once again expose just how vulnerable the UK economy truly is to any energy price shock. For the second time in four years, we have proved woefully unprepared. Contrary to claims, this is not because of the Governments decision to ban future North Sea oil and gas development, utterly self-destructive though it was. What evisceration of the North Sea will undoubtedly do is unnecessarily deprive the Exchequer of tens of billions of pounds in taxation over the years ahead. And because we will carry on needing oil and gas for decades to come, whatever the progress to net zero, it will also damage the already precarious state of Britains balance of payments. But what it will not do is make much difference to energy prices. OK, so if we had fracked the life out of Englands green and pleasant land, then assuming all the gas extracted was confined to domestic use, it might have made a difference. But that ship sailed a long time ago, and even in the US, which is self-sufficient in oil and gas, it hasnt stopped a sharp rise in energy prices. Net zero objectives are, however, far from innocent bystanders in todays looming cost of living catastrophe. Lack of adequate storage capacity is a case in point. According to data published last week by National Gas, the gas transmission operator, the UKs gas reserves have further shrunk from 18,000 gigawatt-hours (GWh) worth last year to 6,700 GWh enough for just 1.5 days of demand. This is a pitifully small cushion that leaves the UK having to pay top dollar in international markets for any shortfall in gas supplies. Nor has it come out of a clear blue sky. Exactly the same deficiency was highlighted by the last energy price shock when Vladimir Putins Russia invaded Ukraine. Failure to invest in the likes of Centricas Rough storage facility in the North Sea has left the UK grievously short of backup for when supply is scarce. Centrica warned last year that the facility, Britains largest, would close entirely unless the Government underwrote a viable pricing regime. As it is, the facility stands empty, awaiting a Government decision. If full, it would have added 260 billion cubic feet of capacity, or 30 days of supply. Failure to invest in storage is part of the same story that has left the North Sea to wither on the vine. If there is no future for hydrocarbons, there is no commercial incentive for investment in the enabling infrastructure, even though crises like the current one repeatedly highlight the need for it. Storage capacity on the Continent tends to be both more extensive and better maintained. The UK, by contrast, has left itself perilously exposed, and therefore liable to much greater economic damage every time prices spike upwards. Lack of preparedness is becoming a theme in UK public policy and is very much part of the overarching broken Britain story. We see the same disease in the inability of the UK military to respond to war in the Middle East. Some day over the rainbow, heavy investment in renewables is meant to provide protection from the vicissitudes of oil and gas prices, but in the meantime we keep on getting hit over the head by periods of squeezed global supply. Lack of long-term storage capacity is only part of Britains ongoing vulnerability to rising energy prices. The other is heavy dependence on gas for domestic heating and electricity generation. There in a nutshell, claim the likes of Ed Miliband, is the case for transition to renewable sources of energy. Its not just about piously wrapping ourselves in the clean energy flag. It is also about energy security and price certainty. The problem the Energy Secretary has got is that so far it has delivered neither. Thats largely because of the way in which the UKs energy markets have been constructed. Paradoxically, it is almost always the price of gas which sets the wholesale price of electricity, even though renewables now account for more than half of all UK electricity generation and are generally cheaper. The system works on a marginal cost basis, under which prices are established by the most expensive source of generation. As originally conceived, this apparent oddity was meant to both ensure grid stability so that we didnt get blackouts, and incentivise investment in renewables. This it certainly succeeded in doing, but it also locked the UK into some very high prices for renewable energy. Even today, renewable licences issued under the old renewables obligation scheme still account for nearly a third of the UKs total electricity supply. Every time the gas price spikes, these licence holders coin it like there is no tomorrow. Step forward the Crown Estate, the Dukes of Buccleuch and Roxburghe, as well as the Drax power station, which ludicrously claims clean energy status by burning wood pellets from Canada and the US. Drax alone received around 550m in renewable Oobligation certificates in the 2022-23 financial year. A vague effort was made during the last energy price crisis to persuade these robber barons of the renewables scene to transition on to the new and more reasonable contracts for difference price regime used in more recent licence rounds. But only Drax has agreed. This is not an annuity anyone would voluntarily give up. Together with the 50-odd gas-fired electricity plants that remain in the UK, these embedded costs have created a major legacy problem which more or less guarantees exceptionally high electricity prices. There is no easy solution to the unholy mess that 30 years of muddled UK energy policy has created. As suggested by Adam Bell, the director of policy at the consultancy Stonehaven, you might nationalise all the remaining gas-fired stations or otherwise force them on to a less onerous return on capital regime. With the notional date for complete decarbonisation of the grid set for 2030, their days are meant to be numbered anyway. But it would require a high degree of coercion and therefore might deter future renewables and baseload investment. What is certain is that the UK can no longer afford the sort of Energy Price Guarantee that helped sink Liz Truss during the last such crisis. Already gilt yields are rising in a clear warning to the Government not to push its luck any further in sovereign debt markets. Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, will struggle even to ditch the planned rise in fuel duties. In any case, much higher energy bills now seem all but inevitable. So much for Milibands promise that the renewables transition would shave 300 off average household costs by the turn of the decade. Another promise made, another promise broken. Irans military has warned that British cargo ships in the Gulf are now legitimate targets after three vessels were hit in the Strait of Hormuz in just 24 hours. The Thailand-flagged bulk carrier Mayuree Naree, the Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier Star Gwyneth, and third vessel, a Japan-flagged container ship, were all hit by projectiles overnight. While it is unclear who fired on the ships, Iran has claimed control of the critical route for 20 per cent of global oil shipments, and threatened to strike any vessel passing through it. In a warning on Wednesday it indicated British cargo ships are now legitimate targets. We wont allow even one litre of oil to reach the US, Zionists and their partners. Any vessel or tanker bound to them will be a legitimate target, Ebrahim Zolfaqari, an Iranian military spokesman, said. Get ready for the oil barrel to be at $200 because the oil price depends on the regional security which you have destabilised, he added. The warning came as G7 leaders agreed to examine the option of providing escort for ships so they can navigate freely in the Gulf. French President Emmanuel Macron had convened a call with leaders to discuss the US-Israeli war on Iran and its impact on rising energy prices. Some of the crew of the Thailand-flagged bulk carrier Mayuree Naree were forced to evacuate the vessel off the UAE after it was hit. Smoke spewing off the Thai bulk carrier 'Mayuree Naree' near the Strait of Hormuz after an attack (ROYAL THAI NAVY/AFP via Getty Im) Earlier, the Japan-flagged container ship One Majesty sustained minor damage from an unknown projectile 25 nautical miles (46 km) northwest of Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates, two security sources said. A third vessel, the Marshall Islands-flagged Star Gwyneth bulk carrier, was also hit by an unknown projectile approximately 50 miles northwest of Dubai, according to maritime security firms. The latest incidents increase the number of ships that have been attacked since the conflict began to at least 14. Peter Aylott, director of policy at UK Chamber of Shipping told Times Radio that the indiscriminate attacks by Iranian forces meant around 1,000 vessels were now stuck in the Gulf, including 80 to 90 with British interests. As America sought to prize open the strait to end turmoil in oil markets, US Central Command said 16 Iranian mine-laying ships had been eliminated after Trump warned Tehran not to put out any mines. An Iranian naval vessel just before it is struck by a projectile near the Strait of Hormuz on March 10, 2026, according to US defence chiefs (US Central Command (CENTCOM)/AFP) In other developments on the 12th day of Donald Trumps war: *The US President said the US is not finished yet when asked about the war in Iran * Preliminary findings of a Pentagon inquiry reportedly found the US responsible for the strike on a Iranian girls school that killed 170. *US banks asked employees to evacuate their offices after Iran threatened to strike US and Israel-linked banks in the Middle East * An FBI alert warned police departments in California that Iran could retaliate for US attacks by launching drones at the West Coast. * Oil storage facilities were struck in Oman's Salalah port, said maritime sources. Drones struck fuel tanks in the port, Oman TV reported. There was no reported disruption to the continuity of oil supplies or petroleum derivatives in the country. * Britain and other members of the International Energy Agency agreed to release a record 400 million barrels of oil to try to stop prices spiralling. * The US and Israel exchanged new waves of airstrikes with Irans military as the conflict raged on. * The US military warned civilians in Iran to immediately avoid all port facilities where Iranian naval forces are operating * Israel hit Beirut with new attacks targeting militant group Hezbollah. * Four people were injured after two drones "fell in the vicinity" of Dubai International Airport, say local officials. * Residents in Qatar were told to shelter inside after alerts over incoming missiles. * Senators in Washington raised fears that the US was on a path to putting boots on the ground in Iran and that Trump had no plan to keep open the Strait of Hormuz. * Israeli intelligence chiefs believe Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was lightly wounded in an airstrike and that is why he has not been seen in public. * Irans police chief Ahmadreza Radan warned opponents of the regime that anyone taking into streets at the enemys request will be confronted as an enemy not protestor. * Britain was being dragged deeper into the conflict after US bombers took off from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire for airstrike missions. A US Airforce B-1 bomber takes off from RAF Fairford on March 10 (Getty Images) The conflict has effectively blocked vital shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz, halting the flow of one-fifth of the worlds fossil energy supplies from the petroleum-rich Gulf. But after a major surge in crude oil prices on Monday, global energy prices have tumbled and stock markets rebounded as investors bet that the US would seek to end the war soon. Adding to market optimism, the International Energy Agency has proposed the largest release of oil reserves in its history to further stabilize crude prices, the Wall Street Journal reported. But Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps vowed to block oil shipments from the Gulf unless US and Israeli attacks ceased. The Revolutionary Guards said it fired missiles on Tuesday evening at Qatars US-run Al Udeid base and the Al Harir base in Iraqs Kurdistan, followed by drone attacks on a gathering of American troops at Al Dhafra air base in the United Arab Emirates and Juffair naval base in Bahrain. Early on Wednesday, Iranian state media reported another round of attacks was unleashed on US military installations in Bahrain. A fireball rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted an area in Beirut's southern suburbs overnight into Wednesday, March 11 (AFP via Getty Images) Overnight into Wednesday morning, millions of Israelis were repeatedly driven into bomb shelters as the military warned Iran had launched missiles toward Israel, a sign that Tehran retains the capacity to strike Israel after nearly two weeks of hostilities. The sound of explosions from air defences intercepting the rockets punctuated the pre-dawn darkness as air raid sirens blared and Israelis scrambled to safe rooms and shelters. The latest attacks from Iran roughly coincided with a new Israeli barrage on Beirut aimed at rooting out the Iran-backed group Hezbollah, which has fired into Israel from Lebanon in solidarity with the Tehran government. After the naming of new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, a hardliner chosen to succeed his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who was killed on the wars first day, the Tehran regime warned opponents not to take to the streets. Irans police chief Ahmadreza Radan warned that anyone taking into streets at the enemys request will be confronted as an enemy not protestor. All our security forces have their fingers on the trigger, Radan told state television. Smoke rises following a strike on the Bapco Oil Refinery, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, on Sitra Island Bahrain, on March 9 (REUTERS) Iran also arrested dozens of people, including a foreign national, accused of spying for the countrys enemies, the Intelligence Ministry said on Tuesday. More than 1,300 Iranian civilians have been killed since the US and Israeli air strikes began on February 28, according to diplomats. Dozens of Beirut residents have also been killed in Israeli attacks, while Iranian strikes on Israel have killed at least 11 people. Seven US soldiers have been killed in the conflict and the Pentagon on Tuesday estimated about 140 American troops have been wounded. Rapper Tinie Tempah asked the King for an invitation to visit his royal lands at a reception to celebrate the UKs Nigerian community. Charles was joined by hundreds of people celebrating Britains Nigerian diaspora during an event at St Jamess Palace on Wednesday, ahead of the Nigerian presidents state visit next week. He laughed and joked with members of the military, the Kings Trust, the Commonwealth Secretariat, influencers and fashion designers. Charles greets guests during a reception for the Nigerian diaspora (Chris Jackson/PA) (Chris Jackson) When Tempah greeted the King, he said he had been inspired by Charles getting his hands dirty in his environmental documentary about the Duchy of Cornwall. Invite me, invite me, he joked, as the King spoke to him about the royal lands. The rapper later told the Press Association: I was inspired by the King because I always wanted to have a farm, so when I saw that the big man himself is getting his hands dirty Charles has visited Nigeria four times in 1990, 1999, 2006 and 2018 when he was Prince of Wales. Those attending the reception were eager to meet the King, who seemed in good spirits as he moved through the crowd. Charles speaks to people at a reception for the Nigerian diaspora in the UK (Chris Jackson/PA) (Chris Jackson) Two women, wearing matching orange and black ensembles with blue head-dresses, were heard excitedly referring to him as Uncle Charles. The King spoke to designers from Brand63 Africa, a social enterprise launched at London Fashion Week this year, connecting fashion designers of an African heritage to the global luxury market. He also met the UK minister for trade Sir Chris Bryant, the Nigerian minister of foreign affairs Yusuf Tuggar and beauty influencer Patricia Bright. Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and first lady Oluremi Tinubu are set to visit on March 18-19, when they will be guests of the King. Charles and Camilla will host them at Windsor Castle in what is set to be the first UK state visit by a Nigerian president in 37 years. Previous state visits took place in 1973, 1981 and 1989. The reception came ahead of the Nigerian presidents state visit next week (Chris Jackson/PA) (Chris Jackson) Music for the event at St Jamess palace was provided by Dele Sosimi and the Afrobeats Orchestra, who the King spoke to as he left the reception. They told him they had last played at a similar event nine years ago, to which the King joked none of you look a day older. Asked by the band if he had managed to have any Jollof rice, a traditional Nigerian dish being served at the event, Charles laughed and said no. No, I couldnt possibly eat and speak at the same time, he said. Operations at Toronto's snow dumping area in the neighborhood of Downsview on 26 February. Photograph: Cole Burston/The Guardian (Photograph: Cole Burston/The Guardian) Most mountains take tens of millions of years to form. Torontos newest mountain took just days. Towering atop the crowns of evergreens, it has no skeleton of limestone or granite. There are no spires, cornices or headwalls. It is simply piles upon piles of snow, mixed with a toxic cocktail of road salt, antifreeze, oil, coffee cups and lost keys. It is the final resting place for the forces of nature that have battered the city in recent weeks and a daunting environmental hazard. In late January, Toronto was hit with what many experts said was the heaviest single day of snowfall in the citys history. In some spots, nearly 23in fell, driven in part by a collision of weather systems. The city had already removed 264,000 tonnes of snow from 1,100 km (680 miles) of roads, sidewalks and bike lanes by mid-February. A similar storm hit New York City at the end of February with more than 25in of snow piling up in some regions, part of a two-day storm with hurricane-like winds. Major cities that experience the full brunt of winter have long been forced to confront a reality that snow cannot stay on streets or sidewalks. The solution is to truck the snow sometimes for weeks on end to storage facilities along the urban outskirts. Torontos six resulting snow mountains are scattered throughout the city. Most are secret, to deter illegal dumping. One site, however, in the north-western outskirts of the city, is most visible to drivers travelling along the highway. It can hold 144,000 cubic metres of snow on its two acres. Reaching nearly 100ft the height of a 10-storey building it resembles an Italian marble quarry, with yellow excavators moving in unison against the ashy snow. Plumes of steam rise from industry melters contraptions roughly the size and shape of a shipping container which slowly reduce the size of the mountain over time. The site operators pull long shifts: during particularly nasty storms, the machinery works 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Certainly, theres a need to remove the snow to minimise risk on roads and sidewalks, especially from a public safety perspective, said Donald Jackson, a professor of ecology at the University of Toronto. But the challenge is what theyre trying to balance against: the ultimate impact to aquatic ecosystems. Canadas largest city has spent more than C$1bn over more than a decade to successfully re-naturalise the mouth of the Don River, restoring its natural flood mitigation capabilities and reviving a riparian ecosystem once left for dead. The city says it uses a variety of tools to prevent contaminants such as oil from cars entering water systems. But salt is a pervasive foe, passing though most storm water treatment. Toronto has so far used more than 130,000 tonnes of salt this season and local governments are grappling with a shortage even though the worlds largest salt mine sits less than 150 miles west of the city. We know cities are trying to reduce their usage and reliance on salt. But it works, said Jackson. But while we know roughly how much the city uses, we have no idea how much is being used to salt private driveways and places like grocery store parking lots. Furthermore, the risk of legal liability prompts many private operators to overuse salt, Jackson said. The rock salt used on roads sodium chloride is chemically the same as table salt. But the two elements pose different risks to the environment and human heath. Chloride in high concentrations is toxic to fish in fresh water systems. In recent testing, Jackson and Lauren Lawson, a doctoral researcher, found chloride levels were high enough to be lethal to a majority of aquatic species at 30% of sites tested. Virtually all the sites they tested were in excess of federal guidelines. Meanwhile, in areas where people use wells for drinking water, sodium levels increase over time as salt is absorbed into the groundwater. In John McPhees Annals of the Former World, the author wrote: Remember about mountains: what they are made of is not what made them. And what made them is not what will destroy them. A recent thaw eroded chunks of Torontos snow mountain, pushing vast amounts of salt into waterways. You can have places where its elevated to 10, or even 100, times the background level, he said. But weve also seen locations in where the amount of salt in the water exceeds seawater concentration. Experts warn that while the climate crisis will lead to overall warmer temperatures, it is also likely to unleash brutal storms, similar to those that choked infrastructure in Toronto and New York. Those storms will require more salt like many things humans put into the environment which will last a long time. The trajectory isnt good, based on sort of what trends have been over time. Were looking at increasing concentrations that we see in our rivers, in our lakes. And there isnt any reason to expect that to stop, Jackson said. Even if we stopped applying salt right now, it would take years to decade to flush out of all of our soils and the groundwater. The decision by Donald Trump's administration to extend the US policy that bars groups receiving foreign aid from promoting abortion risks weakening United Nations (UN) programmes designed to protect women and support LGBT+ people around the world, experts has warned. The policy branded the promoting human flourishing in foreign assistance policy dramatically expands the so-called Mexico City policy, which restricts organisations receiving US funding from providing or promoting abortion services overseas. The new rule goes much further and attaches broader ideological conditions to American foreign assistance. Organisations that receive US assistance must now ensure that none of their activities, even those funded by other governments, conflict with Washingtons positions on abortion, gender identity or diversity programmes. The rule took effect in February and could apply to tens of billions of dollars in US foreign aid. Under the policy, non-compliance could lead to funding being withdrawn and previously disbursed money being clawed back. Experts say the measure could have far-reaching consequences for the UN, which relies heavily on voluntary contributions from member states, including the US, historically its largest donor. "The new human flourishing policy projects the Trump administrations political position against gender equality through its global financial assistance", Cristal Downing, a director at the International Crisis Group said. "This could have broad implications at the UN and elsewhere, compounding the global regression on gender equality that we have seen accelerate in the last year," she continued. Because the policy applies to voluntary contributions to multilateral organisations, UN agencies may have to ensure their programmes comply with US conditions even when funded by other countries. Critics warn this could affect a wide range of UN work, from programmes helping survivors of sexual violence in war zones to initiatives encouraging womens participation in peace negotiations - work mandated by the UN Security Council under its Women, Peace and Security agenda. Support for LGBT+ refugees could also be at risk, with the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, running specialised programmes providing safe housing and legal protection for LGBT+ people displaced by conflict. Under the new policy, such work could be interpreted as promoting protections based on gender identity, potentially violating the rule. Ms Downing said the expanded Mexico City policy could also disrupt partnerships between UN agencies and civil society groups delivering essential services to women and girls. She said: "History shows that the previous version of this policy broke down networks of organisations working on womens rights. For the UN, this could mean that partnerships between UN agencies and civil society to deliver essential services to women and girls are eroded." Ten countries including the UK, France and Germany have warned the policy could "constrain the delivery of essential health and social services" and undermine gender equality worldwide, according to a joint letter circulated at the UN. Donald Trump speaks to reporters as Pete Hegseth listens while traveling aboard Air Force One en route to Miami, Florida, on Saturday. Photograph: Mark Schiefelbein/AP (Photograph: Mark Schiefelbein/AP) How much longer will US strikes on Iran continue? Getting a clear answer from the Trump administration has been difficult getting a consistent one, even more so. According to Donald Trump, the war is very complete. At least thats what he told CBS News in a call on Monday. That same day, the US Department of Defense posted on Twitter/X: We have Only Just Begun to Fight. Later on Monday, the US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth said the war would end on our timeline and that the US would not stop until the enemy is totally and decisively defeated, promising Tuesday would see the most intense strikes in Iran yet. Thats after Tehran residents say the Iranian capital endured what they described as its worst night of aerial bombardment overnight on Tuesday. At least 1,245 civilians have been killed, including 194 children, by the US-Israeli war on Iran, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists in Iran group. Tehran endures worst night of strikes amid mixed US messages about more to come Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth has warned that Tuesday would be the most intense day of US strikes yet, even as he blamed Iran for civilian casualties by claiming its forces were firing missiles from schools and hospitals. Speaking alongside Gen Dan Caine, the chair of the joint chiefs of staff, Hegseth alleged Iran was deliberately firing missiles from schools and hospitals, describing the countrys leadership as desperate and scrambling like the terrorist cowards they are. Read the full story What evidence is there that the US was responsible for Minab school bombing? The bombing of a primary school in Minab on 28 February killed scores of people, most of them seven- to 12-year-old girls. The strike is the worst mass killing of the US and Israels war on Iran so far and has been described by Unesco as a grave violation of international law. A growing body of evidence indicates that the strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh primary school was carried out by the US. Read the full story Republican and Democrat head for run-off in election for Marjorie Taylor Greenes House seat Republican former prosecutor Clay Fuller and retired army general Shawn Harris, a Democrat, will head to a run-off after they came out ahead in a special election Tuesday to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene in Congress. The election for the states 14th congressional district has been seen as a test of Donald Trumps sway and may provide a rare opportunity for Democrats in a deep-red pocket of north-west Georgia. Read the full story US House speaker Mike Johnson refuses to condemn anti-Muslim comments by Republican lawmakers Mike Johnson, the speaker of the US House of Representatives, on Tuesday declined to condemn Republican lawmakers who recently made Islamophobic comments, saying only that he had spoken to them about their tone. Read the full story US attorneys handpicked by Pam Bondi were appointed illegally, judge rules Three prosecutors installed by Donald Trumps administration to lead the New Jersey attorney generals office after the presidents former personal lawyer was disqualified from the role in December were also illegally appointed, a federal judge has ruled. Read the full story Trump names Erika Kirk to key advisory board of US Air Force Academy Donald Trump has appointed Erika Kirk, the widow of murdered rightwing activist Charlie Kirk, to a key advisory board of the US Air Force Academy. The 37-year-old joins a number of other loyalists to the president on the 16-member panel of the academys board of visitors, which according to its website inquires into the morale, discipline, curriculum, instruction, physical equipment, fiscal affairs, academic methods and other matters of the Colorado Springs military training facility. Read the full story What else happened today: Catching up? Heres what happened on Monday, 9 March. Donald Trump called the war in Iran an "excursion" that will keep the US "out of a war" during a visit to a facility in Cincinnati on Wednesday (11 March). It comes on the same day the president declared the US has won the war in Iran but needs to finish the job," claiming that the US destroyed Iran's navy and air force in a matter of hours. As a reporter asked, "You just said it is a little excursion and oftenyou said it is a war. So which one is it? the Republican replied: "Well, it's both. It's both. It's an excursion that will keep us out of a war. And the war is going to be, I mean, for them, it's a war, for us it's turned out to be easier than we thought." Trumps special envoy to the Middle East has no idea how or when war with Iran will end: I dont know Despite President Donald Trump's insistence that his war in Iran will soon be complete, the commander-in-chief's special envoy to the Middle East says he doesn't know how or when the conflict will end. Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, were in negotiations with Iranian officials concerning its nuclear program when the president and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched a joint attack on Iran. At least 1,230 people in Iran have been killed in the conflict, according to the Associated Press. At least seven U.S. service members have also died. During an episode of CNBC's Squawk on the Street, Witkoff was questioned by host Sara Eisen Tuesday about how the war will end. "So, how do you see this ending, this war?" she asked. Special envoy Steve Witkoff with President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Witkoff, when asked Tuesday how the war would end, said I don't know (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Witkoff replied, "I don't know, Sara." I know this, that President Trump is the wrong guy to go up against. Thats what I know. He has drawn a red line, and that is that Iran cannot have a [nuclear] weapon," he said. "And yes, they say they dont. They dont want one. But all of their actions indicate the exact opposite. So, hes just not the right guy to tangle with, and I would suggest they dont. The Trump administration and Netanyahu have justified the war by insisting that Iran was on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon, despite Trump saying last year that Iran's nuclear program had been "completely obliterated" by his airstrikes at the time. Messaging from Trump officials has been inconsistent regarding the state of the war. Witkoff says he doesn't know how or when the war will end. Trump told CBS News on Monday that it is "very complete, pretty much." Around the same time he made that comment, the Defense Department's rapid response social media page posted a message saying "We Have Only Just Begun to Fight," which appeared to contradict Trump's claim that the war was nearly over. When pressed by ABC News for clarification Monday, Trump said the war was both over but also not over. "Well, I think you can say both. The beginning it's the beginning of building a new country, but they certainly, they have no navy, they have no air force, they have no anti-aircraft equipment," Trump said. "We could call it a tremendous success right now. As we leave here, I could call it. Or we could go further and we're going to go further." President Donald Trump told reporters that the war in Iran was very complete but that the process of building a new country was just beginning on Monday (AFP/Getty) Little changed on Tuesday when Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth faced reporters. Hegseth refused to give anything resembling a timeline for the war. He said that the U.S. would end the war in Iran "on our timeline" and "at our choosing." Hegseth added that the "president has set a very specific mission to accomplish, and our job is to unrelentingly deliver that," before saying that ultimately Trump will determine when the war ends. "Now he gets to control the throttle. He's the one deciding. He's the one elected on behalf of the American people when we're achieving those objectives. And so, it's not for me to posit whether it's the beginning, the middle or the end. That's his," Hegseth said. "And he'll continue to communicate that." The "very complete" war appeared to escalate on Tuesday as the U.S. military claimed it destroyed 16 Iranian mine-laying ships operating in the Strait of Hormuz, according to U.S. Central Command. Trump threatened Iran with unprecedented "military consequences" in a Truth Social post on Tuesday in response to the mine-laying ships. "If Iran has put out any mines in the Hormuz Strait, and we have no reports of them doing so, we want them removed, IMMEDIATELY! If for any reason mines were placed, and they are not removed forthwith, the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "If, on the other hand, they remove what may have been placed, it will be a giant step in the right direction!" A navy vessel is seen sailing ad day after the start of the war in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which much of the world's oil and gas passes (AFP/Getty) He said that any ship believed to be placing mines in the strait will be "dealt with quickly and violently." If the war is ending soon, neither Trump nor Iran's Supreme National Security Council messaging reflects that outcome. On Tuesday, Secretary Ali Larijani offered a thinly veiled threat to Trump after the president promised a violent military response if Iran tried to shut down the Strait of Hormuz. The sacrificial nation of Iran doesnt fear your empty threats, Larijani wrote. Even those bigger than you couldnt eliminate Iran. Be careful not to get eliminated yourself. Four people have been injured after two drones came down near Dubai International Airport (DXB) on Wednesday, Dubais media office has said. Two Ghanian people and a person from Bangladesh sustained minor injuries, and an Indian national suffered moderate injuries as a result of the incident, which has also triggered fresh concern at the nearby airport. Details about the drones' origin or whether they were intercepted remain unclear at this time. Authorities confirm that two drones fell in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport (DXB) a short while ago, press officials said on social media, adding: Air traffic is operating as normal. The UAE warned its air defences responding to new wave of Iranian missile and drone attacks. It comes as the regional conflict enters its 12th day, after the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran, prompting retaliation across the Middle East. Social media footage also showed huge crowds at Dubai International Airport, where some flights had resumed after days of delays and cancellations. At the time of writing, a number of flights departing DXB were still scheduled to leave on time on Wednesday, however a number of delays are also being reported on departure screens. Since the conflict erupted, Dubai has been hit on multiple occasions by Iranian missiles and drones, with six people reported dead across the United Arab Emirates. Locations in the Burj Al Arab, luxury hotels, and Dubai International Airport have all suffered damage since the conflict erupted on February 28. On Wednesday, Dutch carrier KLM said it has cancelled all flights to Dubai until March 28. Some airspaces across the region remain shut due to safety concerns, including Qatar, while airlines have started resuming services in recent days. A United Arab Emirates Air Force F-16 fighter jet flies over Dubai on March 11, 2026 (AFP via Getty Images) Although Dubai's Emirates and Abu Dhabi's Etihad have resumed some flight routes, they continue to operate below capacity. Although Irans president recently apologised to Gulf neighbours and suggested that attacks could stop, there remains a lot of uncertainty about how the conflict will evolve in the coming days and weeks. At least 1,300 people have been killed in US-Israeli strikes in Iran, and apocalyptic scenes have emerged of Tehran oil depots engulfed in flames. News of the latest drone incident near DXB came as three cargo ships near the Strait of Hormuz were forced to evacuate after they were struck by unidentified missiles off the coast of the UAE. There have been three vessels hit in the last 24 hours, a bulk carrier, a container vessel, and a cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, the director of policy at UK Chamber of Shipping told Times Radio. NEW DELHI, March 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the latest research study published by Vyansa Intelligence, the Dermatologicals Market in Japan is projected to grow at a CAGR of around 1.05% during 20262032. The market expansion is primarily attributed to the increasing awareness regarding skin health, rising prevalence of dermatological conditions such as dermatitis, fungal infections, and alopecia, and the strong availability of over-the-counter dermatological treatments across retail pharmacies. Japan Dermatologicals Market Key Takeaways The Japan Dermatologicals Market is estimated at around USD 985 million in 2026 and is projected to reach approximately USD 1.06 billion by 2032, reflecting steady market growth supported by increasing dermatological awareness and continued demand for OTC skin treatment products. By category, antipruritics are expected to dominate the market, capturing around 25% market share, driven by the high prevalence of itching-related skin conditions such as eczema, dermatitis, and allergic skin reactions. By sales channel, retail offline distribution is projected to maintain its dominance with approximately 85% share, supported by Japan's strong pharmacy retail network and consumer preference for purchasing dermatological products directly from drug stores. More than 20 companies are actively involved in manufacturing dermatological products across Japan, indicating a moderately competitive market landscape. The top five companies collectively account for nearly 35% of the market share, including Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Sato Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Zeria Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and Amato Pharmaceutical Products Ltd., among others. Primary Drivers Shaping the Growth of Japan's Dermatologicals Market Rising Awareness of Skin Health and Preventive Dermatological Care Consumer awareness regarding skin health and dermatological conditions has been steadily increasing across Japan. Greater exposure to dermatology education, the growing influence of cosmetic dermatology trends, and improved access to healthcare services are encouraging individuals to address skin concerns at earlier stages. Common dermatological conditions such as acne, dermatitis, fungal infections, and allergic skin reactions often require continuous treatment and monitoring. Consequently, both prescription and over-the-counter dermatological medications are witnessing consistent demand across pharmacies, hospitals, and dermatology clinics. In addition, the rising popularity of medicated skincare products and therapeutic dermatological formulations is motivating consumers to incorporate dermatological treatments into their routine skin health management. Growing Demand for Over-the-Counter Dermatological Products Japan has one of the most well-established over-the-counter (OTC) pharmaceutical markets globally, with consumers frequently purchasing dermatological treatments through pharmacies and drug stores. A wide range of products, including medicated shampoos, antifungal creams, antipruritic treatments, and topical allergy remedies, are readily available without prescriptions. This accessibility allows individuals experiencing mild to moderate skin conditions to seek immediate treatment without the need for medical consultations. As a result, the strong OTC ecosystem continues to support stable demand for dermatological products across retail pharmacy channels throughout the country. Aging Population Driving the Prevalence of Skin Disorders Japan's rapidly aging population is also contributing to the increasing incidence of dermatological disorders. Elderly individuals are more susceptible to chronic skin conditions such as dryness, pruritus, fungal infections, and dermatitis due to physiological changes associated with aging. As the proportion of older citizens continues to expand, the demand for dermatological treatments designed to manage age-related skin conditions is expected to rise accordingly. In response, pharmaceutical companies and healthcare providers are focusing on developing specialized formulations that address skin sensitivity and chronic dermatological issues among elderly patients. Therefore, demographic shifts in Japan are anticipated to remain a key factor supporting long-term demand for dermatological therapeutics. View Full Report and request to get the sample pages at: https://www.vyansaintelligence.com/industry-report/japan-dermatologicals-market-outlook Key Industry Constraint Limiting Market Growth Market Maturity Limiting Rapid Growth Despite stable demand, the dermatologicals market in Japan is considered relatively mature compared with several emerging healthcare markets. High levels of consumer awareness, extensive product availability, and the presence of well-established pharmaceutical brands indicate that the market has already reached a significant level of development. As a result, future growth is expected to rely primarily on incremental product innovations, improved treatment formulations, and brand differentiation rather than large-scale expansion into new consumer segments. Moreover, intense competition among established domestic pharmaceutical companies continues to exert pricing pressures, which may further limit rapid revenue growth across the industry. Market Analysis by Category and Sales Channel By category, antipruritics are expected to dominate the Japan dermatologicals market, accounting for around 25% of the market share. These products are widely used to treat itching caused by various skin conditions, including eczema, dermatitis, insect bites, and allergic reactions. The increasing prevalence of these conditions, along with strong consumer demand for quick-relief topical treatments, continues to drive the adoption of antipruritic medications across Japan. Additionally, the easy availability of these products through pharmacies and drug stores further supports their widespread use. By sales channel, retail offline distribution is expected to lead the market, capturing approximately 85% of the total share. Pharmacies and drug stores play a crucial role in Japan's healthcare ecosystem, providing convenient access to both prescription and OTC dermatological products. Consumers often prefer purchasing dermatological treatments directly from retail outlets where pharmacists can provide guidance regarding product selection and usage. Consequently, the extensive network of drug stores and pharmacy chains across Japan continues to strengthen offline distribution channels for dermatological medicines. View Full Report (All Data, In One Place): https://www.vyansaintelligence.com/industry-report/japan-dermatologicals-market-outlook (Explore in-depth analyses, technological trends, and investment patterns.) Major Dermatological Pharmaceutical Companies in Japan Key companies contributing to innovation and competition in the market include: Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co Ltd Sato Pharmaceutical Co Ltd Zeria Pharmaceutical Co Ltd Taisho Pharmaceutical Co Ltd Amato Pharmaceutical Products Ltd Rohto Pharmaceutical Co Ltd Daiichi Sankyo Healthcare Co Ltd Kowa Co Ltd Ikeda Mohando Co Ltd Taiho Pharmaceutical Co Ltd Japan Dermatologicals Market Scope By Category: Medicated Shampoos, Topical Antifungals, Vaginal Antifungals, Hair Loss Treatments, Nappy Rash Treatments, Antiparasitics/Lice Treatments, Antipruritics, Cold Sore Treatments, Haemorrhoid Treatments, Paediatric Dermatologicals, Topical Allergy Remedies/Antihistamines, Topical Germicidals/Antiseptics By Dispensing Status: Prescription-based Drugs, Over-the-counter Drugs By Route of Administration: Topical Administration, Oral Administration, Parenteral Administration By Drug Type: Branded, Generics By Skin Condition: Acne, Dermatitis, Psoriasis, Skin Cancer, Rosacea, Alopecia, Fungal Infections, Others By End User: Hospitals, Cosmetic Centers, Dermatology Clinics, Homecare, Others By Sales Channel: Retail Offline, Retail Online Browse More Reports on Dermatologicals Global Dermatologicals Market: The Dermatologicals market size was estimated at USD 20 billion in 2025 and is expected to grow to USD 24.46 billion by 2032. Additionally, the market is projected to register a CAGR of around 2.73% during 2026-32. South Africa Dermatologicals Market: The Dermatologicals market size in South Africa was estimated at USD 140 million in 2025 and is expected to grow to USD 170 million by 2032. Additionally, the market is projected to register a CAGR of around 2.81% during 2026-32. Norway Dermatologicals Market: The Dermatologicals market size in Norway was estimated at USD 545 million in 2025 and is expected to grow to USD 590 million by 2032. Additionally, the market is projected to register a CAGR of around 1.31% during 2026-32. France Dermatologicals Market: The Dermatologicals market size in France was estimated at USD 105 million in 2025 and is expected to grow to USD 85 million by 2032. Additionally, the market is projected to register a CAGR of around 1.14% during 2026-32. Finland Dermatologicals Market: The Dermatologicals market size in Finland was estimated at USD 75 million in 2025 and is expected to grow to USD 115 million by 2032. Additionally, the market is projected to register a CAGR of around 1.8% during 2026-32. Egypt Dermatologicals Market: The Dermatologicals market size in Egypt was estimated at USD 65 million in 2025 and is expected to grow to USD 75 million by 2032. Additionally, the market is projected to register a CAGR of around 2.07% during 2026-32. US Dermatologicals Market: The Dermatologicals market size in US was estimated at USD 4.15 million in 2025 and is expected to grow to USD 4.45 million by 2032. Additionally, the market is projected to register a CAGR of around 1% during 2026-32. UAE Dermatologicals Market: The Dermatologicals market size in UAE was estimated at USD 65 million in 2025 and is expected to grow to USD 70 million by 2032. Additionally, the market is projected to register a CAGR of around 1.06% during 2026-32. About Vyansa Intelligence Vyansa Intelligence is a global market research and consulting firm dedicated to delivering strategic insights across high-growth and emerging industries worldwide. Our comprehensive research reports offer data-driven analysis of market trends, competitive landscapes, technological innovations, and regulatory developments influencing the global business environment. Supported by robust research methodologies, advanced forecasting models, and thoroughly validated primary and secondary data sources, Vyansa Intelligence empowers corporations, investors, and decision-makers to identify emerging opportunities, manage potential risks, and develop well-informed long-term strategies. We remain committed to providing actionable intelligence that enables sustainable business growth and strengthens competitive positioning in rapidly evolving markets. Contact Us: Vyansa Intelligence Office: Office No.110, H-159, Sector 63, Noida, Uttar Pradesh - 201301, India Contact No: +91 7065555003 Email: [email protected] Website: vyansaintelligence.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2929228/Vyansa_Intelligence_Logo.jpg SOURCE Vyansa Intelligence Hereditary peers are set to lose their automatic right to sit and vote in the House of Lords, a significant reform expected to take effect before the next Kings Speech. The House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill has now completed its passage through parliament, receiving final approval on Tuesday. This legislative change will effectively abolish the quota that has allowed 92 hereditary peers to occupy the red benches and participate in votes since 1999. Under the new legislation, hereditary peers who have not also been appointed as life peers will no longer be entitled to their seats once the current parliamentary session concludes, anticipated later this spring. Lords Leader Baroness Smith of Basildon said: This has never been about the contribution of individuals but the underlying principle that was agreed by parliament over 25 years ago that no one should sit in our parliament by way of an inherited title. Over a quarter of a century later, hereditary peers remain, whilst meaningful reform has stagnated. We have a duty to find a way forward. The cabinet minister said government teams have had constructive conversations with the Conservatives, and had agreed to allocate the party a number of life peerages. We appreciate the case that has been made by the official opposition that they rely significantly on the experience of hereditary peers, particularly on the front bench, but also in committees, she said. Of the 84 hereditary peers currently taking their seats, 42 take the Conservative whip while 31 are independent crossbenchers. As always, it will be for the party opposite to decide which individuals, either from within or outside the House, they wish to nominate for peerages, subject to vetting by the House of Lords Appointments Commission, Lady Smith added. The House of Lords currently has 85 sitting hereditary peers (Parliament TV/PA) The lord speaker has offered his thanks to hereditary peers for their service in the upper chamber. Lord Forsyth of Drumlean said in a statement: I would like to thank hereditary peers from all parties and none for their work in the House of Lords over many years. Whatever views people may have of this constitutional change, it is sad to say goodbye to friends, who in many cases have contributed significantly to debate and scrutiny and to our institutional memory. Recognising their contribution is not about party politics but acknowledging the value of service and commitment, and I am proud to do so and to thank them. Lord True, the Conservatives shadow Lords leader, described the bill as a bitter pill for many of his colleagues. Since 1999, 92 hereditary peers have been able to sit on the red benches and cast their votes in the lobbies (PA Archive) For dozens of our fellows on this side and on the crossbenches, April will be a cruel month of cold going, but that is how it will be, he told the Lords. Lord True continued: For others, the passage of this bill will be a matter of high satisfaction, and that too is how it will be, but let us treat each others feelings with respect. He said: So, here we are at the end of well over seven centuries of service by hereditary peers in this parliament. They helped create our parliament and they brought it back to life in 1660. In this House 250 years ago, The elder Pitt called for a just settlement for the American colonies it didnt work out very well, did it? Here in 1807, (Lord) Grenville secured the Slave Trade Abolition Act. In 1832, (Earl) Grey moved the first Reform Act, and here too, the illustrious ancestor of the Duke of Wellington passed Catholic emancipation. Many thousands of peers served their nation here and thousands of improvements to law were made. It wasnt all a stereotypical history of reaction in ermine. Many of those people, no doubt, were flawed, but for the most part, they served their nation faithfully and well. This bill draws a line under all that and it is drawn, but my lords, we remember them and we thank them, just as we thank and will always remember those of our comrades in this House on all benches who are being removed under this bill today. The Lords accepted a final draft of the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill, marking the end of its passage through parliament and clearing the way for it to be added to the statute book (PA Archive) Hereditary peer the Earl of Devon, a crossbencher, said he thought the Lords, parliament and country would miss the departing members, not as individuals but as an essential ancient thread in the complex and fragile constitutional fabric that supports our nation. And Conservative former minister Lord Hamilton of Epsom said: When they have gone, well be left with nothing other than political chancers like me and donors and members of the blob of one sort or another. Liberal Democrat peer Lord Newby said his principal emotion is one of relief, adding that the decision to remove hereditary peers was long overdue. Moscows deportation and forcible transfer of thousands of children from Ukraine to Russia amounts to a crime against humanity, a UN team of investigators said on Tuesday. The UNs Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine said it had evidence leading it to conclude that Russian authorities have committed the crimes against humanity of deportation and forcible transfer, as well as of enforced disappearance of children. The inquiry said Russia had deported or transferred thousands of children from occupied areas of Ukraine, of which it had so far confirmed 1,205 cases. Four years on, 80% of the children deported or transferred in the cases investigated by the commission have not returned, it said. Hedgehogs have super-hearing that could prevent them from being hit by cars if manufacturers adapt their vehicle designs a new study has suggested. One in three hedgehogs is killed in road traffic incidents, as the population faces a grave decline, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature in 2024. But a new study by the University of Oxford has discovered that the much-loved mammal can hear high-frequency ultrasounds, with their hearing sharper than that of dogs or cats. The researchers found that ultrasound repellers could be used to deter hedgehogs from roads, reducing the number killed by cars. One in three hedgehogs is killed in road traffic incidents (PA) Dr Sophie Lund Rasmussen, assistant professor at Oxfords wildlife conservation research unit, said: Having discovered that hedgehogs can hear in ultrasound, the next stage will be to find collaborators within the car industry to fund and design sound repellents for cars. If our future research shows that it proves possible to design an effective device to keep hedgehogs away from cars, this could have a significant impact in reducing the threat of road traffic to the declining European hedgehog. In the study, researchers collaborated with colleagues in Denmark to test the auditory brainstem response of 20 rehabilitated hedgehogs from Danish wildlife rescue centres. This method uses small electrodes placed on the animals to record electrical signals travelling between the inner ear and the brain, while short bursts of sounds are played through a small loudspeaker. Dr Sophie Lund Rasmussen said ultrasound repellents in cars could have a significant impact in reducing road traffic threats to hedgehogs (Joan Ostenfeldt) The electrodes detected that the brainstem fired when signals were played across a range of 4-85kHz, with a peak sensitivity around 40kHz. This demonstrates that hedgehogs can hear in the ultrasound range (which starts at frequencies greater than 20kHz), up to at least 85kHz. After being checked by a veterinarian after the experiments, the hedgehogs were released back into the wild the following night. Professor David Macdonald, co-author of the study, said: It is especially exciting when research motivated by conservation leads to a fundamental new discovery about a species biology which, full circle, in turn offers a new avenue for conservation. The critical question now is whether the hedgehogs respond to ultrasound in ways that might reduce the risks of collisions with robotic lawnmowers or even cars. The study Hearing and anatomy of the ear of the European hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus has been published in Biology Letters. Three merchant ships have been struck in and around the strait of Hormuz, including a Thai registered bulk carrier that caught fire after leaving a port in the UAE, forcing crew members to evacuate for their safety. The Mayuree Naree was struck on Wednesday by two projectiles of unknown origin, its owners said, as it sailed about 11 nautical miles north of Oman, marking the end of a four-day lull of attacks in the strategic waterway. A fire broke out in the ships engine room and had to be extinguished. Twenty crew members were evacuated by the Omani navy, while a skeleton crew of three remained on the damaged vessel awaiting rescue. The strait has in effect been closed since the beginning of the month after the US and Israeli attack on Iran prompted Tehran to retaliate across the region. Only a handful of vessels are confirmed as having risked making the crossing. About one-fifth of the worlds oil and gas passes through the strait, and Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said earlier this week it would not allow even one litre of oil to leave the region if US-Israeli attacks continued. The two other vessels struck were only lightly affected. ONE Majesty, a Japanese container ship, was hit by an unknown projectile 28 miles (45km) north-west of Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE, sustaining minor damage above the waterline. A bulk carrier, the Marshall Islands-flagged Star Gwyneth, was struck about 30 miles (50km) north-west of Dubai, to the west of the strait, damaging its hull in the hold area while at anchor. In both cases, no serious crew injuries were reported. Get ready for oil to be $200 a barrel, because the oil price depends on regional security, which you have destabilised, said Ebrahim Zolfaqari, a spokesperson for Irans military command. Oil prices, which shot up briefly to nearly $120 a barrel on Monday, have since settled at about $90 amid hopes the war will end shortly. US media reported Iran had begun laying a dozen or so mines in the strait, though the French president, Emmanuel Macron, said he had had no confirmation of this. Such an operation would most likely be carried out using naval or Revolutionary Guards speed vessels or any midget submarines that had survived repeated US targeting. Related: How Iran has used the strait of Hormuz to throttle oil and gas a visual guide Sidharth Kaushal, a naval expert with the Royal United Services Institute, said: Mining is a threat, not because the Iranians can physically close the strait (most mine-laying vessels can be struck, especially if they have no traffic to hide in) but rather because it only takes a few to keep insurers nervous. On Tuesday, Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social that if Iran has put out any mines in the Hormuz strait, and we have no reports of them doing so, we want them removed, IMMEDIATELY! Less than two hours later, the US military released unclassified footage of attacks on mine-laying vessels. The US military said it had attacked and destroyed 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels near the strait of Hormuz as part of a broader strategy of knocking out the countrys navy and ability to threaten international shipping. Adm Bradley Cooper, the commander of the US Central Command, said the US had struck 5,500 targets in Iran, an increase of 500 on the previous day, and more than 60 ships. Iranian civilians were warned to stay away from civilian ports, where it said that the countrys military was operating. There have been initial discussions about the US navy convoying oil tankers through the strait, but there has been no sign of a patrol mission emerging as the conflict remains at a high pitch. France had said it wants to participate in a convoy once the worst fighting subsides but UK has suggested it believes air protection more relevant. At a defence department briefing, the top US general, Dan Caine, addressed the possibility of the US navy escorting vessels through the strait. Were looking at a range of options there, and well figure out how to solve problems as they come to us, he told reporters. When asked on Wednesday how the US intended to ensure security in the strait, Trump told reporters: I think youre going to see great safety, and its going to be very, very quickly, but he gave no details. The strait at Hormuz is just 21 miles (34km) wide at its narrowest point, with the shipping lane just 2 miles (3.2km) wide in either direction. Oil and gas exports from countries bordering the Persian Gulf typically need to pass through the strait to reach export markets around the world though there are some alternatives. On Tuesday, Amin Nasser, the president and chief executive of Saudi Arabias oil company Aramco, said tankers were being rerouted to avoid the strait, and that the companys east-west pipeline would reach its full capacity this week of 7m barrels a day being brought to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. US forces have been unable to locate all of Irans missile launch sites, officials have disclosed. Donald Trump, the US president, told CBS News on Monday that the American-Israeli war with Iran was very complete, pretty much. He added: Were very far ahead of schedule. However, Irans missile attacks have continued, and two unnamed military officials have claimed that the Pentagon does not have full clarity on all of its enemys launch sites, according to The New York Times. The sources said that Iran had kept many missiles in reserve to strike at important battlefield targets like the American radars designed to identify threats. It is the latest report to raise questions about the Trump administrations strategy and the decisions it made leading up to the war. Some officials have suggested that Mr Trump and his advisers misjudged how Iran would respond. Unlike last years 12-day war, Iran has fired barrages of missiles and drones at US military bases across the Gulf, with cities in Arab nations, such as Dubai, among those hit. Before the war began, some military advisers had warned that Iran could launch an aggressive campaign in response and would view the US-Israeli attacks as a threat to its existence, according to The New York Times. Other advisers were confident that killing senior ruling figures in Iran would lead to more pragmatic leaders taking over, who might bring an end to the war. Meanwhile, reports that the US turned down a Ukrainian offer to buy battle-proven technology for downing Iranian-made attack drones are expected to raise further concerns. US officials told Axios that snubbing the proposal was one of the biggest tactical miscalculations by the Trump administration. The US news website reported that during a White House meeting in August, Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, offered Mr Trump low-cost interceptor drones. How Ukraines Sting interceptors work: The proposal was reportedly part of efforts to strengthen ties between the nations and to show his thanks for US support during Kyivs war with Russia. But the offer was dismissed, with one US official suggesting that there may have been concerns in the administration that Mr Zelensky was seen as a self-promoter from a state that did not command enough respect. Iranian Shahed drones have since been linked to the deaths of seven US service members. The US formally asked Mr Zelensky for help in tackling the drones last Thursday, The New York Times reported. On Wednesday, an analysis by the same newspaper revealed that during the war so far, Iran has damaged at least 17 US sites and other installations several of which had been struck more than once. US embassies, military bases and defence infrastructure have all been hit since Iran began firing thousands of missiles and drones at both the US and allied countries military sites across the region. American officials also told The New York Times that the intensity of Irans retaliation suggests the regime may have been more prepared for war than the Trump administration anticipated. A Pentagon assessment disclosed to Congress last week estimated that the cost of the single strike on the US Navy Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain on Feb 28 stood at $200m (150m), a congressional official told the newspaper. US Fifth fleet naval base, Manama, Bahrain The Trump administration has also been weighing whether to send US commandos to raid one of Irans key nuclear sites. Iran is scrambling to salvage highly enriched uranium through a narrow entrance to underground bunkers in Isfahan. This could be used to build nuclear bombs. The US president said he was considering whether to send in special troops to secure the uranium in the bunkers, which were hit by American bombs in June. The Iranians are believed to have at least 450kg of 60 per cent enriched uranium. It would only take weeks to convert it into 90 per cent weapons-grade material, which could be used to make as many as 11 nuclear bombs. Mr Trumps previous reassurances over the cost of oil have also been called into question. Around 10 days before the start of the conflict, Chris Wright, the US energy secretary, argued that the 12-day war with Iran in June 2025 had seen little disruption to oil supplies and told Bloomberg that prices blipped up and then went back down. Yet oil prices swung wildly on Tuesday after Mr Wright tweeted, and then hastily deleted, a post that claimed the US navy had successfully escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz to ensure oil remains flowing to global markets. The waterway had been effectively closed for tankers since the Iran war began when the post was published, causing chaos for global oil markets. Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, later confirmed the claim in the post was false. Despite the clarification, the market had already been disrupted, with the price of Brent crude moving from a low of $82 a barrel to as high as $92 as a result of the conflicting reports. A Pentagon probe has found that outdated U.S. targeting data caused an American Tomahawk missile to destroy an Iranian elementary school in the opening hours of President Donald Trumps war against Iran. The findings stand in stark contrast to Trumps efforts to blame Tehran, or somebody else, for the deadly attack. Citing U.S. officials familiar with the preliminary findings, the New York Times reported Wednesday that the February 28 hit on the Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school stemmed from the use of old Defense Intelligence Agency data showing the school building to be part of an adjacent Iranian military base. The Times said the inaccurate data was provided by the DIA to U.S. Central Command, which created a targeting package for the missile strike that included the school building. Asked about the report while on his way to Ohio Wednesday, Trump told reporters outside the White House: I dont know about it. According to Iranian officials, the Tomahawk hit killed more than 175 people, with the vast majority of the dead being children. President Donald Trump attempted to blame Iran for the strike by a U.S.-made Tomahawk missile (ISNA) Evidence from data analysts reviewing satellite imagery, video footage and social media, appears to show the school was hit by a precision strike, and may have been hit more than once. Maps from the Department of Defense also appear to show two Iranian air defense targets surrounding the schools location, which is within what the Pentagon describes as a U.S./Israeli strikes zone. Outside military analysts have also suggested that the Pentagons AI-driven targeting or human error that failed to check whether target maps were up to date may have played a role in the strikes. The Pentagons preliminary finding that the U.S. is to blame for the strike is unsurprising considering no other country involved in the war fields Tomahawk missiles, but it comes just days after Trump attempted to deflect blame for the attack by suggesting that Iranian forces which do not possess Tomahawks had used the cruise missiles to hit the school. During a press conference on Monday, Trump claimed he hadnt seen any evidence that the U.S. was responsible and falsely claimed Iran has some Tomahawks even though the cruise missiles are operated exclusively by the U.S. and a few key allies, such as the U.K. Whether it's Iran or somebody else ... a Tomahawk, is very generic. It's sold to other countries, but that's being investigated right now, he said. When pressed further on why hed make such a claim when even Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had refused to go that far, Trump replied: Because I just don't know enough about it. I think it's something that I was told is under investigation, but Tomahawks are used by others. As you know, numerous other nations have Tomahawks. They buy them from us. But I will certainly, whatever the report, I'm willing to live with that report, he said. When initially asked about the strike last week, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that the U.S. does not target civilians and suggested that reports of the death toll were propaganda that journalists had fallen for. Hegseth, who has boasted of ensuring that U.S. forces under his command do not abide by stupid rules of engagement, acknowledged the existence of an investigation last Wednesday, days after the missile strike. The all-girls school at the center of the investigation is located in the city of Minab, roughly 600 miles from Tehran and near the Strait of Hormuz. According to satellite images, it is located adjacent to an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps base. Iranian authorities reported initial strikes in the area at roughly 10:45 a.m., with reports emerging from social media at 11:30 a.m. local time on February 28, which is the beginning of the Iranian workweek, when teachers and students would have been inside the school. Footage reviewed by BBC Verify showed a man filming the area as he rushes into the schools courtyard. Four plumes of black smoke can be seen from inside the courtyard. The smoke appears to emerge from the location of nearby strikes, including the IRGC compound. Satellite imagery taken in the aftermath of the attack appeared to show that multiple precision strikes hit at least six IRGC buildings and the school itself. Four buildings inside a nearby naval base were completely destroyed, and two other buildings showed impact points at the center of their roofs, according to an analysis from The New York Times. After news of the Pentagons preliminary findings emerged Wednesday, a statement from U.S. Central Command warned Iranian civilians to stay away from ports used by the Iranian navy. The CENTCOM statement said the Iranian government was using civilian port facilities to conduct military operations that threaten international shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. This dangerous action risks the lives of innocent people. Civilian ports used for military purposes lose protected status and become legitimate military targets under international law, the statement said. Alex Woodward contributed reporting from New York Gen Dan Caine, chair of the joint chiefs of staff, at the Pentagon in Washington DC on 4 March 2026. Photograph: US navy/Sipa/Shutterstock (Photograph: US navy/Sipa/Shutterstock) US intelligence reporting sees direct attacks by Iran as the greatest threat to oil tankers going through the strait of Hormuz, the key transit passage for the global oil trade that has been effectively shut down by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps since the start of the US-Israeli war against Iran. The Trump administration, spooked by possible preparations by Iran to mine the strait, carried out strikes against 16 mine-laying vessels near the strait on Tuesday. US Central Command posted a video showing munitions hitting nine vessels, most of which were moored as they were struck. But the more potent threat remains the risk of a direct attack by Iran at scale for instance, a swarm of one-way attack drones or a series of shore-to-ship ballistic missiles, according to two people familiar with the intelligence who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive details. Related: Iran war punctures Trumps drill, baby, drill promise on US gas prices, experts say The problem comes because just one missile or drone slipping through defenses could decimate or sink a tanker, giving Iran leverage even as the US launched what a senior administration official described as its largest attack against Iran in the conflict to date. As a result, even if US navy destroyers escorted the tankers, they might not be able to intercept every incoming missile, and even in the event the Trump administration provides risk insurance directly to operators, ships crews would still need to be convinced to pilot the vessels through the strait. Mines in some ways were more straightforward to deal with, because the US was prepared in advance of the war for the possibility of Iran attempting to mine the strategically important waterway through which a fifth of the global oil trade passes, the people said. The issues with protecting oil tankers in the strait was discussed by US military officials in a classified briefing to top lawmakers on Tuesday, according to a person familiar with the matter. Democrats emerged from the briefing deeply critical of the administration. I cant go into more detail about how Iran gums up the Strait, but suffice it say, right now, they dont know how to get it safely back open, the senator Chris Murphy wrote in a social media post after its conclusion. A White House spokesperson referred questions about the risks in the strait to Donald Trumps post on Truth Social on Tuesday, in which he threatened military retaliation if Iran attempted to place mines. The US Central Command strikes on Irans mine-laying ships followed shortly after. The strait of Hormuz is a key passage that connects the Persian Gulf to the northern Arabian Sea. The coastline of Iran runs along one side of the strait, and military and civilian vessels transiting through are at risk of shore-launched attacks as they enter or exit the gulf. Since the start of the conflict on 28 February, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has effectively shut down the strait and stranded oil tankers. The cut in supply has contributed to a steep increase in oil prices, which in turn have translated to higher gas prices for US consumers. The energy secretary, Chris Wright, said in an interview with CNNs State of the Union on Sunday that the US had successfully destroyed many of the weapons Iran might use to hit ships and expected regular traffic through the strait to resume in a few weeks, without providing details. Still, fearing an attack by Iran, virtually all ship operators have stopped their tankers from passing through the strait. On Wednesday, at least three ships were hit in and around the strait, including one Japanese container vessel and two so-called bulk carriers that carry loose cargo like grain. Only one of the bulk carriers, the Mayuree Naree from Thailand, appeared to be in the strait when it was attacked. The other vessels were in the Persian Gulf, according to marine tracking data. Iran claimed responsibility for the attack against the Mayuree Naree. This file photo shows the aftermath of a reported strike on a school in Minab, Iran, on February 28, 2026. The United States was responsible for a Tomahawk missile strike on an Iranian school because of a targeting mistake, The New York Times reported on Wednesday. The newspaper, citing US officials, said the investigation into the February 28 strike was ongoing but preliminary findings were that the US was responsible. The US military was conducting strikes on an adjacent Iranian base of which the school building was formerly a part and target coordinates were set using outdated data, it said. US President Donald Trump suggested earlier this week that Iran itself may have been responsible but later said he could "live with" whatever the investigation reveals. Iran has said the strike on the elementary school in the southern city of Minab killed more than 150 people. (FRANCE 24 with AFP) The Galaxy Globe bulk carrier and the Luojiashan tanker sit anchored as Iran vows to close the Strait of Hormuz, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Muscat, Oman on March 9, 2026. The US military said it destroyed multiple Iranian vessels on Tuesday as the Islamic Republic vowed to block the region's oil exports, raising concerns over its threats to stop tankers from using a waterway through which 20% of the worlds oil is shipped. The US destroyed 16 mine-laying Iranian vessels, though President Donald Trump said in social media posts that there were no reports of Iran planting explosives in the Strait of Hormuz. The American military released the figure, along with unclassified footage of some of the vessels, after Trump earlier warned Iran against laying mines in the strait. Both sides sharpened their rhetoric as the war entered its 11th day, with Trump threatening to hit Iran at a level never seen before if the country failed to immediately remove any mines it might have deployed in the channel. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth promised the most intense strikes yet, while the Pentagon detailed the broader toll of injuries sustained by US troops. The conflict's effects have rippled across the Middle East and beyond. Iranian leaders ruled out talks, threatened Trump, and launched new attacks against Israel and Gulf Arab countries. In Iran, residents of Tehran reported experiencing some of the war's heaviest strikes. A woman said she saw a residential building hit. She and others reached by The Associated Press spoke on condition of anonymity to prevent reprisals. Tens of thousands of Iranians have sought shelter in the countryside. Multiple Israeli strikes killed seven people across southern Lebanon, the Lebanese Health Ministry said early Wednesday. Also killed was a Red Cross member who died early Wednesday after an Israeli strike targeted his team on Monday while they were rescuing people following an earlier attack, the health ministry said. On Tuesday, Israeli air strikes killed four people, including a paramedic who worked for the Hezbollah-affiliated Islamic Health Authority and was treating the wounded. Israel said it was working to intercept missiles from Iran and Hezbollah, which began firing on Israel after the start of the war. In Iraq, drones targeted military bases inside Baghdad International Airport late Tuesday, two security officials told AP on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the press. Some drones fell near Iraqi security positions, while others landed near logistical support sites used by US-led coalition forces, one official said. Iranian attacks in the United Arab Emirates home to the business and travel hub of Dubai have killed six people and wounded 122 others. In Bahrain, the Ministry of Interior said early Wednesday that sirens were sounded, urging people to seek safety. The warnings came a day after an Iranian attack hit a residential building in the capital, Manama, killing a 29-year-old woman and wounding eight people. Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said US forces had hit more than 5,000 targets. The Pentagon separately said on Tuesday that about 140 US service members had been wounded in the war, with the vast majority of injuries minor, and 108 service members already back on duty. Eight US service members suffered severe injuries, and seven have been killed. In Iran, at least 1,230 people have been killed, while the death toll is more than 480 in Lebanon and 12 in Israel, according to officials. Iran's leaders have remained defiant after days of heavy strikes targeting the country's leadership, military, ballistic missiles, and disputed nuclear programme. Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, said on X that Iran was definitely not looking for a ceasefire". We believe that the aggressor should be punched in the mouth so that he learns a lesson and will never think of attacking our beloved Iran again, he said. A top Iranian security official, Ali Larijani, posted a warning to Trump, writing on X that: Even those bigger than you couldnt eliminate Iran. Be careful not to get eliminated yourself. Iran has been accused of plotting attempts to kill Trump in the past. The Trump administration, meanwhile, faced growing scrutiny at home over the war. Im not sure what the end game is, or what their plans are, Democratic Senator Jacky Rosen of Nevada said after a classified briefing that the Trump administration held on Tuesday for some lawmakers. Iran has repeatedly targeted energy infrastructure with attacks that appear aimed at generating enough global economic pain to pressure the US and Israel to end their strikes. It has also fired on Israel and US military bases in the region. The US stock market held steadier on Tuesday as Wall Street waited for the next clue on when the war with Iran might end. Oil prices, meanwhile, remained well below their peaks hit on Monday. Such spikes have been rocking financial markets worldwide due to worries that the war could block the global flow of oil and natural gas for a prolonged period. Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said it will not allow the export of even a single litre of oil from the region to the hostile side and its partners until further notice". Amin Nasser, the president and CEO of Saudi Arabias oil giant Aramco, said tankers were being rerouted to avoid the strait, and that the company's east-west pipeline would reach its full capacity this week, with 7 million barrels a day being brought to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. The situation at the Strait of Hormuz is blocking sizeable volumes of oil from the whole region, he said. If this takes a long time, that will have serious impact on the global economy. The UN refugee agency said on Tuesday that more than 667,000 people in Lebanon had registered as displaced an increase of over 100,000 since a day earlier and more than 85,000 people from Lebanon, mostly Syrians, had entered neighbouring Syria. The British government said the number of commercial flights from the UAE to the UK is returning to normal levels, with 32 flights operated on Monday from Dubai to Britain and another 36 scheduled on Tuesday. British Airways, however, said it had suspended flights to and from Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, Dubai, and Tel Aviv until later this month. Many foreign nationals have been leaving the Persian Gulf region since the war began, including over 45,000 UK citizens, the British Foreign Office said. Some 40,000 people returned to the United States, according to the State Department. (FRANCE 24 with AP) A group enters Rihanna's property on Monday, in Beverly Hills, California. Photograph: Damian Dovarganes/AP (Photograph: Damian Dovarganes/AP) A 35-year-old Florida woman has been charged with attempted murder after she allegedly fired shots into the Beverly Hills home of Rihanna on Sunday. Ivanna Lisette Ortiz was charged on Tuesday with one count of attempted murder, 10 counts of assault on a person with a semiautomatic firearm and three counts of shooting at an inhabited dwelling, all felonies, court records show. Officials have said no one was injured during the shooting. Los Angeles district attorney Nathan Hochman said Rihanna; her partner, A$AP Rocky; their three children; and Rihannas mother were at the property at the time of the shooting. Investigators believe Ortiz drove to Los Angeles from Florida, said Jim McDonnell, the LA police chief, though the timing of her travel is unclear. Her most recent address was in Orlando, and she has been a licensed speech pathologist for more than a decade, according to the Associated Press. Related: Woman arrested for attempted murder after shots fired at Rihannas house Authorities have not said whether Ortiz has any connection to Rihanna or her family, and the motive for the shooting is unclear. Rihannas representatives did not immediately respond to the APs requests for comment. The LA public defenders office has been appointed to represent Ortiz, saying in a brief statement on Tuesday: As in every case, we will work to ensure that our client receives the full protections guaranteed under the constitution. Ortizs arraignment was postponed until 25 March, and she was ordered to be held in jail on $1.8m bail. KABC-TV broadcast video appeared to show five bullet holes in the homes front gate. The news station obtained police dispatch audio that says 10 shots were fired. In 2018, a man was accused of breaking into another home belonging to Rihanna in the Hollywood Hills and spending 12 hours there. The man pleaded no contest to felony counts of stalking and vandalism. The LA district attorneys office has a history with Rihannas family, last year charging A$AP Rocky, a musician, with assault with a semiautomatic firearm, stemming from an altercation in Hollywood in 2021. A jury found A$AP Rocky, who was facing a lengthy prison sentence, not guilty. ANTWERP, Belgium, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Kipling is launching a collaboration with the globally renowned Smiley brand, celebrating optimism, movement and the joy of exploring. Launching as part of Kipling's Spring/Summer 2026 collection and heavily inspired by travel, the new Kipling | Smiley collaboration highlights the idea that every journeybig or smallbegins with a smile. YELLOW FUN BLACK Art M Pink Fun Blue, Cap Bag Yellow Fun Black, Seoul Lap Yellow Fun Ball and Gabb S Pink Fun Blue Seoul Lap Yellow Fun Ball and Spontaneous S Yellow Fun Black Crafted in Kipling's classic black crinkled nylon, this line features the world famous Smiley brand paired with a subtle shadowed Kipling logo. Details include customized dual branded pullers, a monkey dressed in a Smiley T-shirt and luggage wheels printed with the iconic Smiley. YELLOW FUN BALL A vibrant all over Smiley print in energetic yellow combined with the round Kipling logo. This design radiates joy and positivity, capturing Smiley most recognizable identity. PINK FUN BLUE A feminine twist in True Blue crinkled nylon with bold fuchsia silicone trims featuring the Smiley icon and embossed Kipling round logo. The pink monkey keyring mascot wears a matching logo T-shirt. The collaboration also features a standout 3D cap shaped bag that marries innovative design with a functionality to create a compact accessory for city or travel adventures. This collaboration is the perfect way to add a pop of color, fun and individuality to your daily outfit or travel look, as well as hit of positivity and optimism. Together, the capsule celebrates the happiness of movementencouraging explorers to embrace the world with confidence, curiosity and, always, a smile. Travel happily. Pack joy. Explore the world with Smiley. The Kipling x Smiley collection is available now at kipling.com and select retailers. For more information, visit: https://eu.kipling.com/en-gb/collections/kipling-x-smiley ABOUT SMILEY Born in 1972, Smiley is a globally recognized lifestyle brand built on positivity, creativity, and self expression. As a brand that transcends culture and generations, Smiley partners with leading global brands to inspire optimism and celebrate joyful living. ABOUT KIPLING Founded in 1987 in Antwerp, Belgium, Kipling is a global brand known for its lightweight handbags, totes, backpacks, luggage and accessories that combine quality, function and style. Through its signature crinkled nylon and iconic monkey keychain character, Kipling creates practical, durable and expressive accessories in colors and patterns designed to inspire people around the world to Live Light. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2928171/Kipling_Smiley.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2928172/Kipling_Smiley_Travel.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2928170/Kipling_Logo.jpg African nations are lobbying countries across the world to accuse Britain of playing a key part in 'the worst crime in history' This article is the second of a three-part series exploring how African countries are renewing their battle to win slavery reparations from Britain African nations are lobbying countries across the world to accuse Britain of playing a key part in the worst crime in history. Ghana will use its United Nations seat later this month to table a resolution on behalf of the African Union (AU), which has committed to seeking redress for the historic crimes of slavery and colonialism. The resolution will officially recognise the transatlantic slave trade, in which Britain played a leading role alongside other European powers, as the greatest crime against humanity in history. While the resolution is still being drafted, it is understood that it will label the European-led slave trade as historys greatest crime because of its scale, duration, and enduring impacts. The transatlantic trade lasted for about 400 years, and an estimated 12 million Africans were transported, with the largest proportion going to Brazil. The AU hopes to secure reparations from Europe to compensate for historical crimes and enduring impacts, which are said to include economic disparities between the West and the developing world. While the transatlantic trade will be condemned, it is understood that the 1,300-year-long Arab trade in African slaves will not be mentioned. African delegates have been sent to New York to build support for the slavery resolution before a vote scheduled for March 25, which is the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Meetings have been planned with representatives from China, the Non-Aligned Movement which includes India and Iran and the European Union (EU). John Mahama, the president of Ghana, has pledged to table the slavery resolution at the UN on behalf of the African Union - Anadolu via Getty Images Nana Osei, a senior AU official who has travelled with the Ghana delegation, told The Telegraph: We are having conversations that hopefully will lead to us securing the backing of the resolution. We are talking to multilateral regional groups. The idea is to obtain consensus, or a significant majority. Mr Osei works for the Economic, Social and Cultural Council (Ecosocc), an AU department tasked with creating strategies for securing payments from Britain and other former colonial powers. Ecosocc has also advised John Mahama, the president of Ghana, who has pledged to table the slavery resolution at the UN on behalf of the AU. Before announcing his plans, Mr Mahama convened reparations experts in Accra to align on a unified, intercontinental reparations agenda. African lawyers and policy advisors are working on plans to use the International Court of Justice to apply pressure to the Labour government after Sir Keir Starmer accepted legal opinions on the Chagos Islands dispute. Sources have suggested that a UN resolution on transatlantic trade could provide foundational recognition that could help with future reparations claims. William Carew, the head of Ecosocc, said that the push for a resolution reflected the will of African people. He said: By forming part of the government delegation in advocating for this resolution, we have worked diligently to garner support from other member states. This collaborative effort is a testament to our commitment to justice and acknowledgement of our shared history, ensuring that the impacts of this atrocity are addressed with the urgency and respect they deserve. Africas efforts will build on the lengthy campaign by the Caribbean Community (Caricom), which first put its 10-point plan of demands to European nations in 2014. It is believed that Ghanas resolution can count on support from the 15 member states of Caricom, and the 55 AU members, although some, like Sudan, are currently suspended from the bloc amid ongoing conflict. This would fall short of the 97 ordinarily required for a simple majority in the UN General Assembly. Talks are planned with representatives of China, and the Group of 77, a grouping of more than 130 developing countries, with around 70 additional voting members neither in the AU nor Caricom. Discussions are also planned with Non-Aligned states, which overlap with this grouping, and include Asian members such as Iran, and the Commonwealth nations of India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Commonwealth nations previously pressured Sir Keir to officially recognise the need for slavery reparation at the 2024 summit. There are also talks with the EU, which includes member states such as France, Spain and Portugal that once engaged in the transatlantic slave trade, but have repeatedly rebuffed all calls for reparations. While the wording of the resolution has not been finalised, plans to take such a resolution to the UN were endorsed unanimously by the 55 member states of the AU at a February summit. This continental bloc includes influential members such as Algeria, which in 2025 demanded reparations for the crimes of French colonisation, and other nations whose histories are intertwined with slavery. The Muslim Barbary States, which ruled in what is now Algeria, snatched European natives from as far afield as Ireland, while also importing African slaves across the Sahara, while others were moved by sea from ports such as Zanzibar, in what is now Tanzania. An engraving, circa 1870, depicting enslaved people having their shackles removed after their rescue from slave traders by the Royal Navy - Hulton Archive/Getty Images Historians have variously estimated that between 8 million and 18 million Africans were taken by desert or sea to Muslim states during more than 1,000 years of slavery. Arabian slave markets lasted well into the 20th century. Britain ended slavery in Zanzibar in 1896. The Empire also quashed the trade in sub-Saharan African kingdoms such as Dahomey, now Benin, where King Ghezo begged Britain not to intervene, stating: The slave trade is the ruling principle of my people. These efforts were part of the Empires lengthy crusade on both land and at sea to crush the international slave trade, and the Royal Navy freed around 150,000 slaves from captured ships during a 60-year campaign. The Royal Navy Museum estimates a heavy cost to Britain, with one sailor dying in action or by disease for every nine slaves freed. After Cyprus was targeted by an Iranian drone, Emmanuel Macron has proclaimed himself as the islands European saviour - Jeanne Accorsini/Shutterstock As a former defence adviser to the French government, Francois Heisbourg could be forgiven for relishing the idea that his armed forces are better than Britains. After all, Europes two biggest military powers have a long history of rivalry, from Agincourt to Waterloo via the Hundred Years War. Yet, in the wake of Iranian drone attacks on Cyprus, in which French warships, not British ones, have sailed to the rescue, he is diplomatique. If the French military are told to go somewhere, they go there quick thats something they do very well. But, more broadly, the British and the French have the same problem we are two medium-sized powers, without the size and military expenditure that China, Russia and the US have. British politicians are not feeling so forgiving, given their fury over the Cyprus fiasco, which saw an Iranian Shahed drone crash into a hangar at RAF Akrotiri on March 1, with others fired towards the island intercepted. Not only have the incidents raised questions over the defences for Britains main forward operating base for the Middle East, but they have also exposed the lack of military reserves available to provide backup. The Government has belatedly sent the destroyer HMS Dragon to provide extra air cover, but it will not reach Cyprus for another week. Meanwhile, the French aircraft carrier, Charles de Gaulle, has already arrived quickly followed by Emmanuel Macron, the French president, who proclaimed himself as the islands European saviour during a visit on Monday. When Cyprus is attacked, it is Europe that is attacked, he declared, standing next to the Cypriot president, Nikos Christodoulides, who has openly criticised the failure to stop the drone attack, and whose government has hinted that the bases future may be under review. Combined with Donald Trumps broadside over Britains lack of participation in the war on Iran, the last thing Britain probably wants right now is unflattering comparisons with its continental rivals. But with Trump demanding Europe shoulder more responsibility for its own security, the question of how its two most capable warfighting powers compare is attracting growing scrutiny. 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, former prime minister, Rishi Sunak, recently wrote in The Times. Not only do Britain and France wield the Continents only nuclear weapons, but their armed forces have done the bulk of Europes fighting in recent decades the British in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the French in Africas Sahel region, as part of efforts to counter Islamic terror groups. So why is it that the French are currently being hailed as Europes protectors, while the British are seen as a laughing stock? On paper, certainly, it seems that there are valid questions to be asked. Britains military budget last year, for example, was 60bn compared to around 53bn in France. And, for decades, Britain has consistently spent more, proportional to GDP, than the French on defence, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri). Yet, Paris seems to get, quite literally, more bang for its buck. The French military has around 200,000 active personnel, compared with around 150,000 in Britain. It also has roughly the same amount of military equipment across the three Services. France, for example, has 261 combat aircraft compared to Britains 201, and 215 battle tanks compared to Britains 227. The two nations also have a rough parity as maritime powers. Frances fleet includes four destroyers, 17 frigates and one aircraft carrier, the Charles De Gaulle. The UKs, meanwhile, includes six Type 45 destroyers, seven frigates and two aircraft carriers. The Charles De Gaulle is now off to help US forces protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, along with eight French frigates, putting Britains own deployment to the region to shame. However, according to Matthew Savill, director of military sciences at the Royal United Services Institute, the headline figures about military hardware do not always tell the entire story. He points out, for example, that the Charles De Gaulle, like British military vessels, spends months undergoing maintenance every year, leaving France at times without an aircraft carrier at all. Its an uncomfortable comparison because we spend several billion a year more than the French, and it feels like they get more out of it than we do, says Savill. I would say, though, that they have different gaps. The Charles de Gaulle, for example, is not available for a certain proportion of the year. Had it been unavailable now, they would have had zero aircraft carriers to send [to Cyprus]. The French asked us to send support helicopters a few years ago to help them in Mali because they didnt have enough of their own. Indeed, as Heisbourg points out, the British and French defence sectors have faced many similar problems in recent years. Both had big cutbacks after the fall of the Soviet Union, in what the French called la dividende de la paix. Both have defence ministries that sometimes squander large amounts of money on white elephant projects. And in the wake of Russias invasion of Ukraine, both have been criticised by America for not spending enough. Britain, as it happens, is actually closer than France in terms of meeting the new Nato defence spending targets of 5 per cent of GDP, shelling out 2.4 per cent compared to Frances 2.05 per cent of GDP. However, Frances overall trajectory in recent years presents a rather different picture. Since Macron took office in 2017, total French defence spending has doubled, taking it to a level not seen since Charles de Gaulles post-war rearmament in the 1960s. Unlike in Britain, defence spending also enjoys broad public support. The devastating Bataclan attacks in 2015, Britains post-Brexit divorce from Europe, and more recently, Trumps disengagement from Nato, have convinced France to recommit to its role as continental Europes strongest armed power. While Britain has also drawn down its military presence in the Middle East partly as a result of increased Nato commitments in Europe, owing to the war in Ukraine France retains around 5,000 troops in the region, including contingents to the UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon, and a large base in Djibouti on the Red Sea. Last July, Macron also announced an unspecified increase in the size of Frances nuclear arsenal, currently around 300 warheads compared to Britains 225. Unlike Britains nuclear deterrent, which is operationally independent, but technically reliant on the US, Frances Force de Dissuasion is built solely in France, giving it complete sovereignty over its use. It is a very different tone from the France of 25 years ago, when Pariss refusal to back America in the second Gulf War saw them branded cheese-eating surrender monkeys. Public support for what Macron calls his economie de guerre is informed partly by the knowledge that roughly 90 per cent of French military spending involves French firms. Pioneered by De Gaulles strategic autonomy doctrine in the 1960s (under which the country also gained its independent nuclear deterrent), this has made France the worlds second-largest arms exporter. It also supports a large number of jobs. Much of its military research and development likewise has dual capacity benefits for civilian industries, says Emmanuel Dupuy, a former French military adviser and president of Pariss Institute for European Perspective and Security Studies. We French know that one euro of defence spending will bring in [an additional] 1.3 cents of a euro in terms of investment, he says. It benefits not just the nation-state as a whole, but the regions where that industrial capacity is based. Overseen by a team of 8,000 civil servants, the French military procurement system is generally regarded as fairly efficient compared to many European counterparts. But that has not spared it from costly disasters similar to Britains 6bn Ajax armoured-vehicle programme, which has been beset by severe technical and safety problems. For example, the 87bn Future Combat Aircraft System, a joint French-German project that was supposed to show European defence collaboration at its best, is on the brink of collapse because of squabbling over the planes design. Heisbourg insists that just as Britains Ministry of Defence is regularly castigated by the National Audit Office for spending mistakes, French military procurement chiefs are often upbraided by the Cour des Comptes, or Court of Accounts. You in Britain get all sorts of embarrassing reports from your Audit Office, but believe me, we in France have the same, he says. On the face of it, yes, we do get slightly better bang for our buck in terms of overall production and manpower, but Im hesitant to overstate it. And like Britain, France also has its work cut out finding the money to reach Natos new 5 per cent spending targets. While there is a cross-party consensus that defence spending should go up, any increases may have to come at the expense of Frances generous welfare state which French citizens regard as a birthright and could spark mass protests and strikes of the like triggered by Macrons previous attempts to cut social security provision. Indeed, comparisons with its neighbour across the Channel may seem unflattering for Britain at first, but on closer look, neither comes out well. Hannah McKay/Reuters The Peter Mandelson files have been released, and they are damning. The documents reveal that Sir Keir Starmer was warned that appointing Lord Mandelson as US ambassador posed a reputational risk over his particularly close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. They also make clear the PM knew the peer remained friends with Epstein even after his conviction for child sex offences. After sifting through the 147 pages, Tim Stanley and Camilla Tominey decipher the biggest revelations including that Lord Mandelson was handed a 75,000 payout amid fears he might go public. Watch or listen to The Daily T every weekday: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Carole Jordan: she did much to encourage girls to study technical subjects - ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY Professor Dame Carole Jordan, who has died aged 84, was an astrophysicist recognised internationally as an authority on the outer parts of the solar atmosphere known as the solar corona, and celestial entities known as cool stars; from 1994 to 1996 she was the first woman President of the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS). Carole Jordan specialised in using X-ray and ultraviolet spectroscopy to analyse plasma matter consisting of hot, ionised gas that accounts for more than 99 per cent of all observable matter in the Universe, including the Sun and other stars. She pioneered calculations to determine the relative number and densities of elements at different stages of ionisation. Working first with observations from Nasas space station Skylab, and later from the International Ultraviolet Explorer and the Hubble Space Telescope, she researched solar spectra and developed an interest in the corona, which can be seen as a white halo during total solar eclipses. Her analysis of so-called emission lines spectral lines produced when hot, low-pressure gas emits light at specific wavelengths enabled her to identify the chemical elements involved. She applied similar techniques to the plasma surrounding cool stars faint stellar objects with surface temperatures of around 3,000 degrees Kelvin or less, which sometimes exhibit strong flares, intense stellar winds and complex magnetic activity, and developed techniques to determine from spectra the temperature of plasma as a function of height. A solar eclipse in 2017 reveals the Suns corona - Getty Images She was born on July 19 1941, to Reginald Jordan and Ethel, nee Waller. From Harrow County Grammar School for Girls she read physics at University College London, where as an undergraduate she wrote a paper on how craters on the moon might become distorted. Graduating in 1962, she embarked on a PhD in astrophysics under the Australian astronomer CW Allen, completing it, after time at the University of Colorado, Boulder, while attached to the spectroscopy division of the UK Atomic Energy Authority at Culham. Her dissertation on The Relative Abundance of Silicon Iron and Nickel in the Solar Corona was published in 1965. Carole Jordan began her academic career as an assistant lecturer in astronomy at UCL (1966-69). From 1969 to 1971 she was a research assistant at the Astrophysics Research Unit at Culham, where she remained until 1976, serving as Principal Scientific Officer from 1973. In 1976 she moved to Oxford as a lecturer in physics and joined Somerville College as tutor in physics and Wolfson Tutorial Fellow in Natural Science, roles she held until her retirement in 2008. In 1996 she became one of the first female professors of astronomy, and she served as head of Oxfords Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics from 2003 to 2008. Both through her own example, and through leadership positions in institutions including the RAS, the Science and Engineering Research Council and the Institute of Physics, Carole Jordan did much to encourage girls to study technical subjects although in an interview in 1987 she acknowledged peer group pressure against it, saying: Girls dont want to feel different at the age of 13 or 14. Her students came to appreciate that while her approach to her subject was intellectually demanding, she was a kindly woman, patient and supportive with those who struggled to match her high standards. She was concerned by the lack of opportunities for the best students to remain in academic life: a fellow physics tutor at Somerville, Roman Walczak, recalled that after she retired, she would always ask him the same question: How many of our female students continue to a PhD? And her comment to my answer was always the same: Try harder. Carole Jordan was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1990 and appointed DBE in 2006. As well as being the first woman president of the RAS, she was only the third to win the RAS Gold Medal, in 2005. Professor Dame Carole Jordan, born July 19 1941, died February 3 2026 Gerry Adams faces accusations that he played a pivotal role in the Provisional IRA, which he denies - Jaimi Joy/REUTERS A former IRA member claimed that Gerry Adams was one of Irelands most prolific serial killers, a court has heard. Shane Paul ODoherty, who carried out letter-bomb attacks for the terrorist group in the 1970s, told the High Court in London that the former president of Sinn Fein was a member of the IRA. He was giving evidence in a civil claim brought against Mr Adams, alleging he played a pivotal role in the Provisional Irish Republican Army and orchestrated bombings. The court also heard on Wednesday from a British Army intelligence officer during the Troubles who claimed it was inconceivable that Mr Adams was not involved in the attacks. Mr Adams, 77, is opposing the claim and has consistently denied being a member of the IRA, or having any involvement in terrorist activity. Edward Craven KC, representing Mr Adams, told the court that ODoherty was waging a campaign against his client and was extremely hostile towards him. The barrister said ODoherty had referred to Mr Adams as king rat, liar liar pants on fire Gerry, and one of Irelands most prolific serial killers in posts on his online blog. Asked about the claims, ODoherty told the court: I think they are incredibly accurate and victims will be incredibly pleased to hear them. He added: I dont have any personal dislike of Gerry Adams. Im only concerned with his control of the new IRA narrative that there never were any atrocities and nothing bad ever happened. I dont have any personal animosity towards Gerry as a human. I pray for his repentance regularly. Cross-examining, Mr Craven KC put to ODoherty that he had never met or spoken to Mr Adams. ODoherty confirmed this was true but added: I have never spoken to King Charles but I know hes the King. Shane Paul ODoherty, a former IRA member, is giving evidence in a civil claim brought against Mr Adams - PA Images ODoherty joined the IRA in 1970 when he was 15 and was an active member until his arrest in 1975 for sending letter bombs to various prominent people in England. He received 30 life sentences plus a further 20 years in prison for his actions, after being convicted on 31 counts of attempted murder at the Old Bailey He served just under 15 years in prison, during which time he penned numerous letters apologising to his victims. Later, he publicly renounced his commitment to the IRA and published his biography, The Volunteer: A Former IRA Mans True Story, in 1993. The claimants in the case include John Clark, a victim of the 1973 Old Bailey bombing in London; Jonathan Ganesh, a 1996 London Docklands bombing victim; and Barry Laycock, a victim of the 1996 Arndale shopping centre bombing in Manchester. They allege that Mr Adams is liable for damages for the injuries they suffered by virtue of his affiliation and leadership role in the IRA, and are suing him for a symbolic 1 in compensation. Mr Adams has attended each day of the case and is expected to give evidence on Monday. If he loses the civil case, it will ignite demands for him to face criminal prosecution for the attacks. Barry Laycock, a victim of an IRA bombing in Manchester, is among the claimants - Aaron Chown/PA Wire His lawyers said in written statements: The defendant has never been arrested on suspicion of, still less charged or convicted of, any offence in connection with any of the bombings. Had law enforcement authorities been in possession of information which created a reasonable suspicion that the defendant may have been involved in those bombings, he would have been arrested and questioned. In a witness statement submitted to the court, ODoherty claimed that Mr Adams led the Belfast Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) during the early 1970s. He claimed Martin McGuinness, the IRAs former chief of staff, with whom he spent significant time in 1973, told him Mr Adams had attended the Provisional IRAs secret talks in 1972 with William Whitelaw, then secretary of state for Northern Ireland, as a member of the terrorist group. He also claimed that McGuinness had taken him to the home of Mr Adamss aunt in Sutton, Dublin, in 1973, in order to drop off some information and to get some information. He said McGuinness told him this was one of Adamss safe houses, and it had to be kept secret. Hero to younger IRA members There is no doubt in my mind whatsoever, based on my experiences and relationship with McGuinness, that during 1972 and up to his arrest on 19 July 1973, Adams had a command-and-control role within the PIRA, he said in his witness statement. His role changed every time he was promoted. The fact that Adams was at the Whitelaw talks showed how key he was; Adams and McGuinness were PIRA heroes to the younger PIRA members. ODoherty alleged in his statement that Mr Adams was the last prominent PIRA leader to bear witness to the PIRAs long and horrible campaign of terrorism, including some of its worst atrocities dating from the early 1970s the slew of PIRA mass-casualty anti-civilian bombings in city centres and the horror of the treatment of the disappeared, those persons abducted, tortured and extra-judicially executed by the PIRA whose corpses were then disappeared for decades. Nobody alive more embodies all of this PIRA horror than PIRA leader Adams. Colonel Richard Kemp, who served with the British Army in Northern Ireland in the 1980s and 1990s, also gave evidence on Wednesday. Col Kemp, who worked for a time as an intelligence officer, claimed in his witness statement he was privy to a multitude of intelligence that made it clear Adams was one of the most prominent PIRA figures. He claimed that reports named Mr Adams as leader of the Provisional IRAs Belfast Brigade in the 1970s and a member of the seven-man Army Council. He said the bombings at the centre of the case would have required sign off from the Army Council and therefore it was inconceivable that Adams would not have been involved in the attacks. Mr Adams other barrister, James Robottom, told the court that Col Kemp had no direct evidence that his client was involved in the IRA. The trial before Mr Justice Swift is expected to end next week. From left: Charlie, 17, and Keane, 19, both from Eastfield, and Jack, 17, from Scarborough, pictured at Oliver's Mount, overlooking Scarborough. Keane wrote a play as a love letter to his home town Photograph: Polly Braden/The Guardian (Photograph: Polly Braden/The Guardian) Its the morning after a wet and stormy day in the Yorkshire seaside town of Scarborough. The waves, which the previous day had been crashing dramatically on the harbour walls, have calmed and a few brave souls have entered the water with surfboards. There is a man throwing a ball for his dog on the beach and a kayaker bobbing on the waves. Just up from the seafront in the centre of town, Jack and Charlie, both 17, are leaning forward listening to a story from 19-year-old Keane about his recent visit to a drama school in London, where he is hoping to apply for a place on an actor training course once he has saved enough money. I walked outside the school and there was this girl on the phone, he says. I didnt know the context of the conversation she was having but she went I just want to know now if he has left me any money, he says in a high-pitched posh voice. And I thought, you wont hear anyone say that in our town, he adds, as the three teenagers crack up laughing. Its not that Im slagging her off, he hastily explains. Its just that something like that feels like planets away from where we are. We make money, we dont wait for money to come to us. Scarborough, on the North Yorkshire coast, was one of Englands first seaside resorts It is an important point of distinction that Keane, Charlie and Jack are all keen to discuss at length. What money means to families where they live, compared with more affluent places elsewhere. Keane, who had to re-sit his English GCSE and admits he was in trouble at school a lot, was going to apply for an apprenticeship, encouraged by his father, who, he says, struggled to get where he is today and just wanted him to make money as soon as possible. But at the last minute he went with a friend to look at the sixth form of his local college and got on to the drama A-level course there. There were a lot of my mates growing up in school who have now got apprenticeships, says Keane, who works as a cleaner in a local hospital to save money. Theyre working in trades in Scarborough, or maybe furthest in York. Not a lot of people have pursued higher education, he says, but thats about money. Over the next year, the Against the Tide project from the Guardians Seascape team will be reporting on the lives of young people in coastal communities across England and Wales. Young people in many of England's coastal towns are disproportionately likely to face poverty, poor housing, lower educational attainment and employment opportunities than their peers in equivalent inland areas. In the most deprived coastal towns they can be left to struggle with crumbling and stripped-back public services and transport that limit their life choices. For the next 12 months, accompanied by the documentary photographer Polly Braden, we will travel up and down the country to port towns, seaside resorts and former fishing villages to ask 16- to 25-year-olds to tell us about their lives and how they feel about the places they live. By putting their voices at the front and centre of our reporting, we want to examine what kind of changes they need to build the futures they want for themselves. Before having a coffee break and a chat, the three young men had been warming up their vocal cords in the Stephen Joseph theatre, where they are part of the Young Company, a drama training programme for older children and young adults. They are going through lines from a play called Feral. Keane wrote it as a love letter to his home town, where the character he plays, Adam, is grappling with his decision to move to Leeds. Adam wants a brighter future but he also loves where he lives. It is a dilemma faced by countless young people in British coastal towns, many of whom do not want to leave but feel they have no choice. It was also penned in response to an article in 2023 by the Daily Express newspaper that described Scarborough with the headline: Beautiful seaside town reduced to battleground with feral youths reign of terror. When Keane, 17, performed Feral, the powerful monologue earned him two awards at the Scarborough Fringe festival. From left: Jack, Charlie and Keane. Jack, who lives with his grandparents in Scarborough, says Eastfield, though much maligned, has a special place in my heart Charlie is used to people with opinions on where he lives. Ive been judged for living there before, he says. People have been like, oh, hes from Eastfield, what a tramp. But theyre saying this and they dont even know me. Eastfield was the area the Express article focused on. Once a suburb of Scarborough but now a separate small town that has areas that are among Englands most deprived. It is where Keane and Charlie come from and where Jack, who lives with his grandparents in Scarborough, professes to love like home. He adds: It has always had a special place in my heart. A lot of people we speak to on the coast feel trapped young people in particular feel that way David Skaith, mayor Rob Salmon, head of creative engagement at Stephen Joseph, who is working with Keane, Charlie and Jack, says: When there isnt much money in a place, then peoples choices are taken away from them. Its important that the voices of people who are living in that context, and who understand it, dictate how they are seen, he says. All three teenagers aspire to be professional actors but all of them know that it is a difficult choice to make work in a place such as Scarborough, which can feel a million miles away from anywhere. On the Yorkshire coastline of north-east England, Scarborough lies an hour from York to the west and Hull to the south. As with every other coastal place in Britain, its geography means half of its area of opportunity is lost to water. Or, as Salmon puts it when describing the difficulties of attracting theatre audiences: Half our catchment area is fish. Half our catchment area is fish, says one of the people behind Scarboroughs Stephen Joseph theatre Like so many of Englands coastal resorts, the town has, in an age of cheap foreign travel, found itself passed over as a holiday destination. But this has undoubtedly been made worse by its poor transport connections, which are repeatedly cited as the bane of their lives by local people. The train service between Scarborough and York typically runs once an hour and the road between the two places, the A64, is a single carriageway. Despite decades of pleas to widen it to deal with the congestion, there is no immediate hope of this in sight. The Labour MP for Scarborough and Whitby, Alison Hume, recently referred to Scarboroughs poor transport connections as leaving the town stuck in the slow lane with opportunity and growth being choked off. Scarboroughs Cliff Bridge. Like the 19th-century footbridge, much of the towns transport infrastructure belongs to a bygone era This has meaning beyond the obvious day-to day constituency frustrations for Labour. A 2024 report from the consultancy Stonehaven suggests that constituencies where Reform have been elected (Great Yarmouth, Boston & Skegness, Clacton-on-Sea and South Basildon) share the common factor of a missing road. This was either a road that had been the focus of repeated promised improvements, or one that was needed but never built. It is no doubt one reason why David Skaith, mayor of York and North Yorkshire since 2024, says transport is one of the main issues he faces in his role: Access to quality transport is the thing that underpins everything. Ive never worked at this time of year before every other job Ive had, its always been seasonal Daisy, 19 A lot of people that we speak to on the coast feel trapped, which I think is such a horrible way to phrase where you live, but because of that lack of connectivity, a lot of young people in particular feel that way, he says. Emily, 29, who works for the Scarborough arts charity Arcade, grew up in nearby Bridlington and went to university in York. She thinks a more regular train service to Scarborough would make a significant difference to peoples lives. By making it easier to work in York it would create more of an incentive to stay in Scarborough or Bridlington and contribute to the town, she says. Scarboroughs Coney Island, a traditional amusement arcade converted from the old Marine Baths swimming pool Emily, 29, says a better rail link to jobs in York would create more of an incentive for people to stay and contribute to Scarborough. Daisy, 19, who works for a local arts charity, is pleased to have a proper long-term job in town Nineteen-year-old Daisy, who also works for Arcade, commutes to Scarborough from Bridlington by car as she finds the train not the most reliable. She is glad to have found long-term regular employment locally. There will be so many young hidden gems in places like Scarborough these kids, theyve got so much to say Chiedu Oraka Working in the winter months is a whole new experience for her. Ive never worked at this time of year before because every other job Ive had, like in a gift shop on the harbour and that sort of thing, its always been seasonal, Daisy says. Arcade helps communities to get involved in the arts and creativity, and Daisy and Emily have set up an event at the Gallows Close community centre in the Barrowcliff neighbourhood, which is tonight hosting Chiedu Oraka, a rapper from Hull who calls himself The Black Yorkshireman and recently supported Coldplay on their UK tour. Alongside musicians from a professional orchestra, he is helping a group of children ranging in age from eight to 17 to compose their own song about where they live. The Hull rapper Chiedu Oraka at a childrens workshop at Gallows Close community centre, with a volunteer, Stacey, 24; Farrah, 10, (in pink); and Teyha, 10 Related: I say where Im from and they tell me theyre sorry: growing up in the most deprived place in England I despise the way these sorts of [left behind] places are talked about in the media and elsewhere, says Oraka, in a break from working with the children. But I also know there will be so many young hidden gems in places like Scarborough because, these kids, theyve got so much to say. It is something he is hoping to tease out of the children surrounding him. What does Barrowcliff mean to you? he asks. Its a bit scary round here, says one. Another adds: Its all right. Oraka says: When I was your age, I used to say its all right about where I lived too. But it [the north Hull estate he grew up on] has given me everything. People said I wasnt good enough and I proved them wrong. And thats what I want you lot to prove as well. Back at the Stephen Joseph theatre, Keane has just finished rehearsing the passage at the end of Feral where Adam is about to board the train to Leeds. If he makes it to London, how will he feel to be on the train out of Scarborough? When Adam gets on the train, only part of him does, says Keane. A part of him stays in Eastfield. And really, there couldnt be truer words. When I leave here, theres always going to be a part of me that stays behind. Jack looks on as Keane and Charlie embrace after rehearsing Keanes play Feral at the Stephen Joseph theatre Additional reporting by Antonia Shipley The Against the tide series is a collaboration between the Guardian and the documentary photographer Polly Braden and reports on the lives of young people in coastal communities across England and Wales Personnel were seen unloading missiles from the bombers on Wednesday morning - Christopher Furlong/Getty Images American heavy bombers have been photographed returning to the UK after an overnight mission. Three supersonic B-1B Lancers touched down at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire at about 8.30am. The warplanes are thought to have been used for a mission against Iran, with Tehran having reportedly been bombed. It was the first time US bombers had been seen returning to a UK military base since Sir Keir Starmer gave Washington permission to use British airfields to launch defensive operations against Iran. Hours before their deployment, Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, warned on Tuesday that it would be the most intense day of the war so far, with the most fighters, the most bombers, the most strikes. We will not relent until the enemy is totally and decisively defeated, he added. The jets, which have a top speed of more than 900mph, can carry 75,000lb of ordnance. Aircrew were seen unloading AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles from the Lancers on Wednesday morning. The stealth missiles can destroy fortified structures and bunkers. It was the first time US bombers had been seen returning to a UK military base since Sir Keir Starmer gave the US permission to use them - HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images The heavy bombers flew for more than 15 hours during their sortie, analysts said, which would put Iran within range of bombardment, defence sources added. Such a mission would probably have required the jets to refuel while in the air, former military chiefs told The Telegraph. Their return comes after explosions rocked Tehran overnight. Video footage, shared by Al Jazeera on Wednesday, showed several buildings destroyed during a suspected US-Israeli air strike. The US military has yet to confirm the details of the Lancers mission. A US military spokesman said: US air forces in Europe operating locations, including RAF Fairford, routinely host transient US military aircraft (and personnel) in accordance with access, basing, and overflight agreements with allies and partners. RAF Fairford is one of 12 US bases on British soil. It is home to the 501st Combat Support Wing Headquarters and the 420th Air Base Squadron, and serves as the main bomber forward operating location in Europe for USAF Global Strike Command. RAF Lakenheath, another US base in Suffolk, is home to F-35A stealth jets and F-15E Strike Eagles, with warplanes having landed at the air base in recent days. 0402 0402 Rockwell B1 bomber It is understood that as part of the agreement between Downing Street and the White House, British bases, including Diego Garcia, can only be used for defensive missions. Operations under this umbrella could include bombing Iranian missile-launching platforms, weapons caches or drone factories, to degrade Tehrans ability to strike across the Middle East. However, overnight, it was revealed that US forces are struggling to locate all of Irans missile launch sites. Defence officials in the US said there was concern that the Pentagon did not have full clarity on all of the Islamic Republics missile launchers, according to The New York Times. They also suggested Iran had held back many missiles to keep them in reserve. It is believed the projectiles are being stored for attacks on key American infrastructure, such as radar equipment, at a later date. US forces are struggling to locate all of Irans missile launch sites, according to reports - HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images In the 12 days since the conflict began, Iran has predominantly targeted key US air defences, according to experts. They said Iran appeared to have accepted that it could not match the firepower of the US-Israeli campaign, but by simply surviving the barrage, Tehran can claim a form of victory. Meanwhile, reports suggest Donald Trump, the US president, and his advisers failed to predict the Iranian response to the strikes. On Tuesday, Britain sent its first warship, HMS Dragon, to the eastern Mediterranean. The guided-missile destroyer is expected to arrive in the region early next week. LAKE VILLAGE, INDIANA - MARCH 10: An employee emerges after being rescued from a Family Dollar store destroyed by a tornado on March 10, 2026 in Lake Village, Indiana. The National Weather Service had issued an urgent warning about a large tornado moving through the area, calling it a "life-threatening situation." The final day of the sprawling 1,000-mile, multi-day severe weather threat that slammed the Heartland Tuesday targeted more than 95 million people as it charged into the Eastern Seaboard Wednesday. The same cold front responsible for Tuesday's storms, including the damaging tornadoes that slammed parts of Illinois and Indiana, pushed through the Mississippi Valley and into the Ohio and Tennessee valleys on Wednesday, triggering thunderstorm development. Heartland Braces For Renewed Threat Of More Tornadoes, Damaging Hail And Wind Just Days After Fatal Storms According to the FOX Forecast Center, this cold front will act as the main trigger for new thunderstorm development, which is different from how the severe storms formed on Tuesday. "Areas that saw significant severe storms Friday and Saturday will be hit again as this progresses eastward," the FOX Forecast Center said. Tornado Watches were issued for Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky through Wednesday afternoon, as well as across parts of East Texas and Louisiana in the southern component of the severe weather threat. At Least 8 Killed From Destructive Tornadoes As Severe Weather Outbreak Devastates America's Heartland All modes of severe weather were possible on Wednesday, including damaging wind gusts, hail and tornadoes. A large Level 2 out of 5 risk of severe thunderstorms stretched from East Texas through the Lower Mississippi, Tennessee and Ohio valleys. 'Melissa' Officially Retired From Future Hurricane Names Following Deadly Destruction In Jamaica This includes the Houston, New Orleans, Nashville, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. metro areas. Advertisement A Level 1 out of 5 severe storm threat also included parts of southern and central New Jersey and parts of New York's Southern Tier. Two main regions are in the bull's-eye of Wednesday's tornado threat: the Deep South from East Texas through southern Alabama, and the Ohio Valley from Central Ohio to western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and western Maryland. Noaa's Storm Prediction Center Debuts Revamp To Severe Weather Outlooks This Season Strong EF-2 tornadoes are possible in these areas; EF-1 tornadoes are possible in Washington, D.C. and just west of Philadelphia. The FOX Forecast Center warned people in and around Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. to prepare for the most significant weather that arrived Wednesday evening. The southern threat zone for strong tornadoes includes Houston, New Orleans, and Mobile, Montgomery and Birmingham, Alabama, as well as Memphis, Tennessee. The FOX Forecast Center said these storms also brought torrential downpours to this region. Deadly Tornado Devastates Union City, Michigan, Carving A Path Of Heartbreaking Damage In Community This is the final act of a multi-day severe weather threat which is expected to continue into the overnight hours Thursday before finally winding down. Original article source: Sprawling severe weather threat charges east, targeting more than 95 million from Texas to New York Image Credit: Shutterstock. Latin America has some of the worlds most exciting cities, but social media popularity is not the same thing as a low-friction trip. As of March 2026, the U.S. State Department still assigns several destinations in the region either country-level Do Not Travel warnings, state-level red zones, or city-specific restrictions serious enough to reshape how Americans should plan. In some cases, the problem is broad instability. In others, it is a mix of organized crime, kidnapping risk, territorial control by armed groups, or the reality that emergency help can be limited when something goes wrong. This list leans first on current U.S. travel advisories and embassy guidance, then on how directly those warnings hit each city. That distinction matters. A place can sit inside a dangerous state without being under a total citywide ban, while another can be singled out block by block or by neighborhood. Either way, these are not carefree city-break picks. Some may still work for travelers with strong local knowledge, tight logistics, and a high tolerance for disruption, but for most Americans, the safer move is choosing a destination with fewer security complications and more predictable support on the ground. 1. Port-au-Prince, Haiti Image Credit: Shutterstock. Port-au-Prince remains one of the clearest hard-no destinations in the region. The U.S. travel advisory for Haiti keeps the country at Level 4, citing kidnapping, crime, terrorist activity, civil unrest, and limited health care. In practical terms, that means the capital can turn unpredictable very quickly, including on routes that would look routine on a map. The problem is not just street theft or isolated unrest. Firearms-related crime, carjackings, and kidnappings for ransom remain part of the official risk picture, and emergency response capacity is limited. For most travelers, Port-au-Prince is not a place to manage carefully. It is a place to avoid. 2. Caracas, Venezuela Image Credit: Shutterstock. Caracas is risky in ways that go well beyond normal urban crime. The current Venezuela advisory warns against travel or remaining in the country because of wrongful detention risk, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and poor health infrastructure. That is already enough to put the capital in the highest-risk tier. What makes Venezuela especially hard to justify is the lack of a normal safety net. The U.S. government suspended embassy operations in Caracas years ago, and routine as well as emergency consular services remain unavailable inside the country. If something goes wrong, the backup options are far thinner than most travelers assume. 3. Acapulco, Mexico Image Credit: Shutterstock. Acapulco still has the bay, the hotels, and the name recognition, but it sits inside one of Mexicos clearest red-flag states. The U.S. Mexico advisory lists Guerrero as Do Not Travel, and it explicitly says U.S. government employees may not travel to any area of the state, including Acapulco. That matters because the warning is not abstract. The advisory points to armed groups, roadblocks, and violence toward travelers in parts of Guerrero. If the goal is a lower-stress Mexico beach trip, Acapulco is no longer the easy classic choice it once looked like. 4. Culiacan, Mexico Image Credit: Shutterstock. Culiacan sits in Sinaloa, and the current U.S. advisory for Mexico places that state in the Do Not Travel category. Official movement guidance is tight enough that U.S. government employees are limited to specific parts of Mazatlan, Los Mochis, and Topolobampo, with other areas of the state off-limits. That is the key signal for travelers. Even if a visit looks calm on the ground, the official risk picture assumes conditions can shift fast enough that access is tightly controlled. For most Americans, Culiacan makes much more sense as a city to skip than a city to test. 5. Reynosa, Mexico Image Credit: Shutterstock. Reynosa looks convenient because of its border position, but convenience is not the same as safety. The U.S. Mexico advisory lists Tamaulipas as Do Not Travel due to crime and kidnapping, and it notes that organized crime is common along the northern border. That warning is enough on its own to treat Reynosa as a poor choice for casual travel. Border geography can make a city seem easy to dip into, but in this case the official guidance says the opposite: the risk profile is serious enough that most travelers should choose another route or another destination entirely. 6. Nuevo Laredo, Mexico Image Credit: Shutterstock. Nuevo Laredo falls under the same Tamaulipas warning structure as Reynosa, and that alone should give travelers pause. In the official advisory, Tamaulipas remains a Do Not Travel state because of crime and kidnapping, with organized crime activity described as common along the northern border. This is not the kind of place where a map-level shortcut automatically makes sense in real life. For most Americans, Nuevo Laredo is better treated as a city to transit only when absolutely necessary, not one to build a leisure stop around. 7. Ciudad Victoria, Mexico Image Credit: Shutterstock. Ciudad Victoria gets more direct mention than some other entries in Tamaulipas. The State Department advisory for Mexico specifically says organized crime activity is common along the northern border and in Ciudad Victoria, and it lists risks including gun battles, armed robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, forced disappearances, extortion, and sexual assault. That is unusually blunt language for an official page, and it is enough to make the planning decision fairly simple. Even if the city is not built around tourism to begin with, the risk picture is serious enough that most travelers should not be experimenting here. 8. Colima City, Mexico Image Credit: Shutterstock. Colima City is not a famous tourist magnet, but it sits in a state the U.S. advisory for Mexico still marks Do Not Travel. The official language cites crime, kidnapping, violence between criminal groups, and bystanders being injured or killed in shooting incidents. There are narrow travel exceptions for certain parts of Manzanillo and specific highway routes, but that is exactly the point: movement inside the state is not treated as normal. If you are choosing cities based on ease and predictability, Colima City is not a strong bet. Advertisement 9. Morelia, Mexico Image Credit: Shutterstock. Morelia is the most nuanced Mexico entry on this list because the city itself is not treated exactly the same way as the rest of Michoacan. The official advisory still puts Michoacan in the Do Not Travel category and says crime and violence are widespread, but it also allows limited government travel to Morelia by air or by specific highway routes. That does not make Morelia carefree. It means the city sits inside a state risky enough that official access rules are tightly controlled. Travelers drawn by its architecture and cultural weight should understand that this is not a normal low-friction colonial-city getaway. 10. Guatemala City, Guatemala Image Credit: Shutterstock. Guatemala City is more neighborhood-sensitive than a full blanket no-go, but that nuance is exactly why it can be harder than it looks. The U.S. advisory for Guatemala puts Zone 18 in Guatemala City and nearby Villa Nueva in the Do Not Travel category because of crime and significant gang activity. Outside those areas, official travel is still allowed, which is why the city does not belong in the same tier as Port-au-Prince or Caracas. Still, when a capital requires this much zone awareness and route discipline, it stops looking like an easy urban break for first-time visitors. 11. San Pedro Sula, Honduras Image Credit: Shutterstock. San Pedro Sula is not singled out with a city-specific Do Not Travel label on the current U.S. page for Honduras, but the national advisory is still Level 3, Reconsider Travel, because violent crime remains common. The same page cites homicide, armed robbery, kidnapping, extortion, and gang activity as ongoing concerns. That puts San Pedro Sula in a very different category from a routine city break. Even without a city-specific ban, the broader environment is risky enough that many Americans will feel better choosing a more stable base elsewhere in the region. 12. Tegucigalpa, Honduras Image Credit: Shutterstock. Tegucigalpa carries the same Honduras-wide crime warning as San Pedro Sula, but the capital adds one more layer: demonstrations and road disruptions are common enough that the official U.S. guidance specifically flags protests near government buildings and on the CA-5 corridor. That means the city can be both security-sensitive and logistically annoying at the same time. For travelers who do not already know the capital well, Tegucigalpa is not the easiest place to improvise safely. 13. Guayaquil, Ecuador Image Credit: Shutterstock. Guayaquil is another city where the official warning is highly specific rather than all-or-nothing. The U.S. Ecuador advisory says Americans should not travel south of Portete de Tarqui Avenue, while the northern part of the city is under a lower but still serious Reconsider Travel warning. That split matters because it shows Guayaquil is not being treated as business-as-usual. Even travelers who still go need to plan around neighborhood-level risk, not just country-level headlines. 14. Esmeraldas City, Ecuador Image Credit: Shutterstock. Esmeraldas City gets some of the strongest Ecuador-specific warning language. In the official advisory, Esmeraldas City and all areas north of it are listed Do Not Travel, while the areas south of the city remain under Reconsider Travel. That is a serious signal that the provinces risk pattern is not theoretical. When the advisory is this geographically precise, it usually means the situation is volatile enough that normal tourist assumptions break down fast. 15. Huaquillas, Ecuador Image Credit: Shutterstock. Huaquillas is not just a vaguely risky border city. The State Departments Ecuador page explicitly places Huaquillas in the Do Not Travel category because of terrorism and crime. That kind of city-specific callout is rare enough to take very seriously. If a border crossing here is not essential, most travelers are better off leaving Huaquillas off the itinerary entirely. 16. Cucuta, Colombia Image Credit: Shutterstock. Cucuta sits in Norte de Santander, and the U.S. Colombia advisory places that department in the Do Not Travel category because of crime and terrorism. The same advisory also tells Americans not to travel to the Colombia-Venezuela border region because of crime, kidnapping, conflict between armed groups, and the risk of detention. That combination makes Cucuta a hard sell for leisure travel. Border geography, criminal activity, and the possibility of accidentally blundering into a worse situation than expected all work against the idea of this being an easy stop. 17. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Image Credit: ByDroneVideos / Shutterstock. Rio is not a full citywide Do Not Travel destination on the U.S. map, but it still belongs on any risk-aware list. The Brazil travel advisory warns that assaults involving sedatives and drugs placed in drinks are common, especially in Rio de Janeiro, and it says travelers should avoid favelas at any time. That does not make Rio unvisitable. It does mean the city demands more discipline than the postcard version suggests. For travelers who want something easier and more relaxed, plenty of other urban breaks in the region come with less security homework. Read More Image Credit: Shutterstock. The Caribbean has a sneaky way of humbling first impressions. An island that looks perfect in photos can feel thin after two days, while another keeps improving once travelers leave the resort strip, rent a car, and follow side roads toward fishing villages, hiking trails, reef stops, or old colonial streets. That is the real test of a return trip. Not whether a place is pretty, but whether it still has more to give. After enough island hopping, it becomes clear that beach color alone is not much of a ranking system. The islands worth revisiting are the ones that feel varied, easy to sink into, and flexible depending on what kind of trip fits that year. The two islands in the skip category are not bad places. They just feel easier to replace, especially when cruise traffic, crowd pressure, or a more one-note rhythm starts flattening the experience. 1. Puerto Rico Image Credit: Shutterstock. Puerto Rico is one of the easiest repeat bookings in the Caribbean because it never feels like a one-trick island. Old San Juan alone can fill days with forts, sea walls, blue cobblestones, and street life that still feels lived in rather than staged for visitors. Then there is El Yunque, which the U.S. Forest Service describes as the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System, and suddenly a city break can turn into a waterfall-and-mist detour. The real draw is range. Puerto Rico also has bioluminescent bays, and Discover Puerto Rico notes that Mosquito Bay in Vieques holds the Guinness World Record for the brightest bioluminescent bay, while Laguna Grande is one of the easiest options from the San Juan area. That means one trip can be all about history and food, while the next leans into rainforest drives, glowing water after dark, or a slower beach week on Vieques or Culebra. A place that can carry two or three completely different versions of a vacation is a place worth revisiting. 2. Saint Lucia Image Credit: Shutterstock. Saint Lucia is the island that makes lesser scenery look a bit lazy. The Pitons do not merely sit in the background like polite mountains. They dominate the mood of the southwest coast, and Saint Lucias official tourism material treats them exactly as the islands signature landmarks. Even before anything active begins, the place already feels dramatic in a way many beach destinations simply do not. A second visit makes even more sense because Saint Lucia can pivot easily from romantic to adventurous. Official tourism material points travelers toward Gros Piton hikes, rainforest activities, and Sulphur Springs in Soufriere, where the island promotes mineral-rich mud pools and therapeutic bathing. One year the trip can lean soft-focus with sunset views and long lunches. Another year it can be muddy, sweaty, and very satisfying. That flexibility is what makes repeat travelers come back. 3. Curacao Image Credit: Shutterstock. Curacao keeps winning people over because it feels more textured than the standard Caribbean formula. Willemstad is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and official island material leans into Curacaos mix of color, architecture, and layered cultural identity. The result is a destination where the capital actually matters instead of feeling like the place travelers drive through on the way to the beach. Then there is the water, which is where Curacao starts feeling unfair. Official tourism material highlights shore diving, wrecks, walls, and marine life, and even non-divers get a lot out of the island because the west side is full of coves, snorkeling stops, and easy road-trip scenery. Curacao feels organized enough to be simple and layered enough to stay interesting, which is a very good combination for a return trip. 4. Dominica Image Credit: Shutterstock. Dominica is not the island to recommend to travelers who want polished pool bars and a perfectly pressed beach towel. It is the one to recommend to people who get suspicious when a place looks too tidy. Official Dominica tourism material sells the island through rugged natural landscapes, hidden gems, waterfalls, volcanic scenery, and immersion in nature, which is exactly right. It feels wild in a way that much of the region no longer does. Advertisement That is why it belongs in the revisit group. Discover Dominica materials also note that the Waitukubuli National Trail runs 115 miles across the island, giving the destination a real backbone beyond lookouts and beach time. So even if a first trip focused on hot springs, waterfalls, and day hikes, a second one can become something tougher, slower, and much more immersive. Some islands give travelers a lovely memory. Dominica gives them unfinished business. 5. Aruba Image Credit: Shutterstock. Aruba earns a return trip because it hides more variety than people expect. The island gets boxed into the easy-resort category, yet official Aruba material notes that Arikok National Park covers 20 percent of the island and includes caves, trails, rough coastline, and protected landscapes. That changes the picture immediately. Aruba is not just a neat row of loungers facing calm water. It has a rougher, wind-shaped side that gives it some backbone. That split personality is exactly why it belongs on a revisit list. The first visit can be all soft sand, sunset dinners, and very little ambition. The second can revolve around the park, off-road scenery, rock formations, and landscapes that make the island feel harsher and more interesting than its brochure reputation suggests. Aruba works best when travelers stop treating it like one strip and start using the whole map. 6. Barbados Image Credit: Shutterstock. Barbados has more staying power than many first-timers realize. Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison give the island a stronger sense of place than destinations where the built environment feels secondary to the sand. Visit Barbados notes that the UNESCO-listed area includes 115 landmark buildings spanning the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, which helps explain why the island feels richer than a simple beach-and-rum stereotype. The East Coast is what seals it for many repeat visitors. Bathsheba is one of the islands great mood-setters, and the official tourism board notes that it is not the best beach for the average swimmer because of the conditions there. That Atlantic-facing side gives Barbados a rougher, breezier personality than the calmer postcard beaches most people picture first. One trip can be elegant and lazy. The next can be scenic, salty, and much moodier in the best way. 7. New Providence, Bahamas Image Credit: Shutterstock. This is one of the easier places to put in the skip category, and the reason is simple: Nassau can feel too crowded for the kind of repeat Caribbean trip many travelers want. Nassau Cruise Port says 3,233 cruise ship arrivals are scheduled across the 2026 to 2028 season, which helps explain why the city can feel built around high-volume flow rather than slow discovery. That works fine for a first port stop or a quick-hit trip. It is less appealing when the goal is a more layered return. Practical concerns push it farther down the list. The U.S. State Department advises travelers to exercise increased caution in the Bahamas due to crime, and Canada advises a high degree of caution, especially in Nassau and Freeport. None of that means New Providence has no appeal. It means that once travelers have already done it, there are calmer and more rewarding repeat options elsewhere in the region. 8. St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands Image Credit: Shutterstock. St. Thomas is beautiful, and the harbor really does know how to make an entrance. Official tourism material highlights Charlotte Amalie, shopping, dining, and island sightseeing, while the U.S. Virgin Islands tourism board also makes clear that most cruise ships dock on St. Thomas. That tells travelers exactly what the island does well: easy access, strong visitor infrastructure, and a polished, high-traffic rhythm that works especially well for first-timers. That same rhythm is also why it lands in the skip group for a repeat trip. For a first visit, the convenience is a strength. On a return trip, the cruise-shopping energy can start to crowd out the feeling of discovery, especially compared with islands like Dominica, Curacao, or Puerto Rico that reveal more layers once travelers come back. St. Thomas still works. It just feels easier to admire once than to crave twice. Read More In celebration of Women's History Month, record-breakers Aisha Bowe, Alex Aster, and Ilona Maher, return to the classrooms, labs, and locker rooms that shaped them proving that when you refuse limits, you redefine what's possible. NEW YORK, March 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Maybelline New York, the number one makeup brand in the world, unveils its newest campaign, "Record Breakers Go Sky High," spotlighting the fan-favorite Sky High Mascara. The powerful digital campaign brings together three trailblazing women aerospace engineer Aisha Bowe, #1 New York Times bestselling author Alex Aster, and Olympic medalist Ilona Maher as they revisit the formative spaces where they first discovered what it meant to aim higher. Sky High Record Breakers Campaign Video Speed Speed Rooted in nostalgia and propelled by ambition, the campaign follows each woman through high school and college hallways into a library, a math lab, a gym locker room reflecting on the defining moments that shaped their drive. Through poetic voiceover and cinematic storytelling, the film captures stories of strength, resilience, and evolution, inspiring viewers to define for themselves what it means to go Sky High. At its core, Sky High represents more than performance it symbolizes lift, confidence, and the courage to rise beyond expectations. The campaign centers around Maybelline's award-winning Sky High Mascara, known for its lengthening, volumizing formula and flexible brush that delivers full lash impact from every angle with long-lasting, lightweight wear. Grounded in the belief that success isn't one-size-fits-all, the campaign encourages women everywhere to move beyond comparison, embrace their ambition, and reach for their own record because every Sky High journey looks different. "At Maybelline, we believe in the power of self-expression and the confidence to turn possibility into reality," shared Yasmin Dastmalchi, President of Maybelline New York. "Sky High has always stood for limitless possibility not just in performance, but in what's achievable when you believe in yourself. Aisha, Alex, and Ilona embody that spirit, inspiring the next generation to dream bigger, push further, and truly go Sky High." In the campaign film, each woman returns to the spaces where her ambition first took shape, reflecting on the moments that sparked her journey. Aisha Bowe, former NASA rocket scientist, Blue Origin astronaut, and entrepreneur, returns to the classroom where her passion for STEM first began. "When I first dreamed about working in aerospace, it felt almost impossible," said Bowe. "Every equation, experiment, and late-night studying brought me a little closer to that goal. Sky High is a reminder that when you stay curious and push past limits, possibility opens up in powerful ways." Alex Aster, #1 New York Times bestselling author, returns to the library where her love of storytelling first took shape. "I spent so many hours in libraries like this dreaming up stories and building worlds," said Aster. "Those quiet moments taught me that big ideas often start in small spaces. The message behind Sky High believing in your voice and chasing the story you want to tell felt incredibly personal to my journey as an author." Ilona Maher, Olympic Bronze medalist and 2025 ESPY Winner for Best Breakthrough Athlete, steps back into the locker room where her competitive fire was first sparked. "A locker room just like this is where I first started believing in my own strength," said Maher. "Sports teach you that confidence grows every time you show up, compete, and trust yourself. I love that Sky High celebrates that same mindset showing up boldly and going after what you want." The "Record Breakers Go Sky High" campaign will launch across digital and social platforms beginning March 10, with content rolling out on Maybelline New York's Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and maybelline.com, with a debut on streaming later this month. About Maybelline New York Maybelline New York is the number one cosmetic brand in the world, available in over 120 countries. By combining technologically advanced formulas with on-trend expertise and New York City edge, Maybelline New York's mission is to offer innovative, accessible, and effortless cosmetics for all. In 2020, Maybelline introduced Brave Together, a long-term program to support anxiety and depression worldwide. Brave Together provides critical one-on-one support, an online education hub, a variety of programming to help destigmatize the conversation around mental health and has committed to donate $20 million over the next five years to global and local organizations. For more information visit www.maybelline.com or www.maybelline.com/bravetogether. SOURCE Maybelline New York Gov. Greg Abbott provides an update on Texas response to severe winter weather at the State Operations Center in Austin, Jan. 22, 2026.Photo: Texas Office of the Governor via Facebook / Used with Permission (The Center Square) Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has issued another directive to combat Chinese cybercrimes specifically by the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) and Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Hes directed state agencies and state-owned medical facilities to address potential cybersecurity concerns linked to medical equipment manufactured in the PRC. A new directive instructs the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Department of State Health Services and public university systems to review cybersecurity and procurement policies to protect Texans from data breaches of their medical information. Maintaining Texans physical security and protecting their personal privacy, especially personal medical data, is of paramount importance, he said. I will not let Communist China spy on Texans. State-owned medical facilities must ensure there are safeguards in place to protect Texans private medical data and our critical medical infrastructure. The directive comes after the Trump administration Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and Food and Drug Administration have issued warnings about certain Chinese-manufactured monitors that contain a backdoor through which bad actors can control the device remotely and illegally access patient data. The Trump Administration first issued a series of warnings about cybersecurity vulnerabilities with certain patient monitors last January. Both agencies have warned about security risks, issuing notices confirming national security expert warnings about data privacy breaches through Chinese-manufactured smart medical devices nationwide. The state agencies are tasked with reviewing what devices are owned and used by state facilities that could be vulnerable to cyberattacks and patient data theft. They're also tasked with working with Texas new Cyber Command to address the threats among other actions. Advertisement Last year, Abbott identified creating the Texas Cyber Command as an emergency item for the legislative session. The legislature passed a bill creating it, which Abbott signed into law last June. Based in San Antonio, the Texas Cyber Command is the largest state-based cybersecurity department in America, Abbott said. In January Abbott also expanded a list of banned technologies for state employees and devices, including additional restrictions on physical hardware, artificial intelligence and software affiliated with the PRC and CCP, The Center Square reported. These were additional actions hes taken to combat cyberthreats from China and other foreign actors. Last year, he issued five directives to state agencies to protect Texans from PRC and CCP threats. He instructed law enforcement to investigate and arrest alleged CCP and PRC operatives targeting Texans of Chinese descent; directed state agencies to prepare for potential threats against Texas critical infrastructure from a hostile foreign government or proxies, including the CCP and PRC; ordered state agencies to divest from investments originating from China; and banned the use of AI and social media apps affiliated with the PRC and CCP on government-issued devices, The Center Square reported. The legislature incorporated many of these directives into bills it passed that Abbott signed into law, including cybercrime and counter-espionage bills addressing PRC and CCP threats. He also signed into law a bill banning foreign adversaries from purchasing land in Texas. It remains in effect after multiple failed legal challenges, The Center Square reported. In December 2022, Abbott was among the first governors to ban state employees from using TikTok. The social media platform was previously primarily owned by ByteDance Ltd., which employed CCP members; its subsidiary was partially owned by the CCP. As cyberattacks increase in significance and sophistication across the globe, it is critical that Texas utilize cutting-edge capabilities to secure our state. Threats from China, Iran, Russia, and other foreign enemies are growing. President Donald Trump empowered states to more effectively prepare for cyberattacks and defend our infrastructure, and Texas is ready to harness our assets to protect our power, water, and communications, Abbott said, The Center Square reported. Chef Dana Francisco of Le Pigeon in San Francisco. Credit: Courtesy of Le Pigeon At Le Pigeon, a 20-year-old, fine-dining landmark in Portland, Oregon, executive chef and partner Dana Francisco balances the tension between the restaurants history and future in two dishes: a foie gras profiterole and a delicate turnip carpaccio. The profiterole, a classic pate a choux filled with foie gras ice cream, topped with foie gras powdered sugar, and served alongside foie gras caramel, has been on the menu since the restaurant opened. Le Pigeon's foie gras profiterole. Credit: Courtesy of Le Pigeon Francisco, who has led Le Pigeons kitchen for three years, brings to the vegetarian tasting menu thinly sliced turnips with local kiwi that has been treated like limeade from Sonic, he says. The kiwi is macerated in lime juice and honey vinegar, and its served alongside a habanada pepper vinaigrette with pistachio oil and roasted dukka. A new generation of chefs are taking over historic restaurants across the country and injecting them with fresh spirit and personality. Whether its to tweak existing dishes or create new ones, these chefs bring their personal experiences to the table. They seek to appeal to a new set of diners without losing sight of the past. The long path to restaurant succession The transition to leadership at these historic spots happens gradually. Francisco, 38, cooked under founding chef Gabriel Rucker (2007 F&W Best New Chef) for nine months to learn the cadence of an ever-evolving menu that changes every 10 days or so. He also became immersed in the not-so-self-serious fine-dining spirit of Le Pigeon. He now writes about 75% of the restaurants menu. At 17-year-old Outerlands in San Francisco, chef Brenda Landa, 33, who worked at lauded Bay Area restaurants Nopa and Cotogna, ran a Mexican-influenced pop-up called Good Bird for two years before she took control of the kitchen. In 2025, at age 29, Javauneeka Jacobs was named co-chef at Rick Bayless iconic Frontera Grill after she served five years as a sous chef the youngest in the restaurants history. Co-chefs Javauneeka Jacobs and Richard James of Frontera Grill. Credit: Courtesy of Frontera Grill In some of these restaurants, the founding chef still helps guide menu decisions. At Le Pigeon, Francisco meets with Rucker every two months to brainstorm new dishes and bounce ideas. Jacobs works with Bayless, who visits the restaurant daily, and co-chef Richard James to bring her vegetable-centric cooking to life. While the original chef is no longer involved, Landa lets technique, seasonality, and care, the founding pillars of Outerlands, guide her. It comes through in dishes like her trout thats sourced from Californias Mount Lassen. The trout is served in a fumet broth, a highly concentrated, flavorful fish stock, with chickpeas, leafy green tatsoi, and roasted hedgehog mushrooms. Advertisement Bringing longtime guests to the table Each chef balances the expectations of the restaurants longtime regulars with bringing their distinct point of view to the menu. Jacobs makes tetelas (triangular pockets of corn masa) that are stuffed with pumpkin seeds blended with water (which curdles to a texture similar to queso fresco) and collard greens, served with a smoky pasilla salsa. Its influenced by the collard greens she grew up eating in her hometown of Harvard, Illinois. Outerlands is renowned for its tangy, crusty sourdough bread. Landa kept it on the menu, but she added a housemade pappardelle that uses sourdough discards, the portion of the sourdough starter that she removes before the remaining starter is fed with fresh flour and water. She finishes it with brown butter, lemon, stracciatella, chives, and hazelnuts. Its a dish that honors the past, yet avoids being stuck to it. Preparing bread dough at Outerlands. Credit: Courtesy of Outerlands Similar transitions are happening in restaurants around the country. E.J. Lagasse, the 22-year-old son of celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse, transformed his fathers 35-year-old New Orleans institution into a high-end, tasting-menu-only restaurant thats earned widespread acclaim. Aretah Ettarh, the chef de cuisine of Michelin-starred Gramercy Tavern in New York City and a 2025 F&W Best New Chef, works within the restaurants existing market-driven identity to dream up dishes that include a winter citrus salad with chicories and Romano cheese in a peanut dressing. The chefs' ability to experiment and introduce their own direction motivates them to stick around rather than go off on their own. Chef Aretah Ettarh of Gramercy Tavern. Credit: Alex Lau Success at such established restaurants relies on evolution and forward momentum. New dishes are always being added, while classic dishes are constantly being rethought. We never think of ourselves as a 38-year-old restaurant, says Bayless. We think of ourselves as a restaurant that is opening tonight. Disclosure: The author of this article used to be employed by Union Square Hospitality Group, the New York City-based restaurant group that owns Gramercy Tavern. Read the original article on Food & Wine British Airways said it was canceling flights to Abu Dhabi until later this year. John Keeble/Getty Images Several airlines are suspending flight routes to destinations in the Middle East well in advance. British Airways cut flights to Abu Dhabi until later this year and others until later this month. While some airlines are canceling routes, others are operating at a more limited capacity. The travel fallout from the war in Iran continues, with several airlines canceling flights to the Middle East weeks in advance or more. Thousands of flights were canceled across the region following the US-Israel attack on Iran on February 28 and subsequent retaliatory strikes. While some flights have resumed and many travelers who got stranded in places like Abu Dhabi and Doha have made it out, the travel disruptions are ongoing. Industry experts previously told Business Insider that the lasting impacts on tourism and global travel will likely depend on how long the war lasts, as well as how it ends. Canceled flights to Dubai International Airport, which serves as a common connector for routes between Europe, Asia, and Africa, could especially have a ripple effect. While some airlines are canceling routes altogether, others are continuing to operate but in a more limited capacity. Some airlines have also added repatriation flights to help stranded travelers get home. Here are the airlines that have suspended services to some destinations in the Middle East. British Airways British Airways said Tuesday it was canceling flights to Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, and Tel Aviv until later this month, and to and from Abu Dhabi until later this year. It's unclear when the flights will resume. Flights from London to Abu Dhabi appeared to be bookable on the airline's website starting April 16. British Airways also said it had limited seats remaining on its repatriation flights from Oman to London on March 11 and 12 for customers with existing bookings. "Following these dates, the flights will pause due to reduced demand but will be kept under continuous review," the airline said. An update for our customers - 10 March. Be alert to potential scams and only rely on official British Airways channels for updates never click suspicious links or share personal or payment details. pic.twitter.com/N0ec4GqFnk British Airways (@British_Airways) March 10, 2026 Air Canada Air Canada has canceled all flights to and from Dubai through March 28 and to Tel Aviv through May 2 due to the conflict. "If you are in either of these regions, please do not head to the airport. Your safety is our top priority," the airline said in a statement last week. (1/2) Due to the military situation in the Middle East, we have now cancelled our Toronto-Tel Aviv flight until May 2, and Toronto-Dubai until at least March 28, both inclusive. We are monitoring the situation and will adjust our schedule accordingly. Air Canada (@AirCanada) March 6, 2026 Virgin Atlantic Advertisement Virgin Atlantic canceled its service to Dubai for the remainder of its usual season, or until March 28. The British airline, which typically only operates flights to Dubai seasonally, said in a statement that "the recent escalation in the Middle East has brought forward the end of our operation for this season." Virgin also said Sunday it was canceling its flights to Riyadh for the next two weeks. Oman Air Oman Air said Sunday it was canceling all flights to and from the following locations through March 15: Amman, Dubai, Bahrain, Doha, Dammam, Kuwait, Copenhagen, Baghdad, and Khasab. The airline also said it was operating extra flights to and from Muscat during that time, including to London, Istanbul, Cairo, and other destinations in Europe and Asia. Dear valued guests, Due to ongoing regional airspace closures, the following flights have been cancelled: Monday, 9 March through Sunday, 15 March 2026: All flights to and from Amman (AMM), Dubai (DXB), Bahrain (BAH), Doha (DOH), Dammam (DMM), Kuwait (KWI), Copenhagen pic.twitter.com/eemDExKHXD Oman Air (@omanair) March 8, 2026 Oman Air continues to serve its network from Muscat. To support our guests, extra flights from/to Muscat will operate between 1015 March to the following destinations: London Heathrow Istanbul Cairo Rome Frankfurt Kuala Lumpur Bangkok Munich Amsterdam pic.twitter.com/db7QFXiEAB Oman Air (@omanair) March 10, 2026 Air France Air France said Monday it was canceling flights to and from Dubai and Riyadh until March 12, and to and from Tel Aviv and Beirut until March 13. Lufthansa Lufthansa said this it was suspending flights to and from the following locations: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Dammam until March 15 and Tel Aviv until April 2. Previously the airline said it was suspending flights to and from Amman and Erbil until March 15, Beirut until March 28, and Tehran until April 30. Lufthansa said flights to and from Riyadh and Jeddah would continue. Finnair Finnair canceled all its flights to and from Doha and Dubai between February 28 and March 29. Read the original article on Business Insider Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has commuted the death sentence of an inmate two days before his execution, saying it would be "unjust" to take his life when he wasn't the triggerman in a robbery gone bad. The Republican governor commuted the death sentence of 75-year-old Charles Lee Sonny Burton to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Tuesday, March 10. Burton had been set for execution on Thursday, March 12, for the death of Doug Battle, a customer killed during a robbery of an AutoZone in Talladega, Alabama, on Aug. 16, 1991. Burton and five other men robbed the store and its customers that day. But only one of the robbers, a man named Derrick DeBruce, decided to shoot Battle. Burton had already left the building and had no idea Battle had been shot. While Burton got the death penalty, DeBruce ultimately was sentenced to life in prison. "Charles Burton did not shoot the victim, did not direct the triggerman to shoot the victim and had already left the store by the time the shooting occurred," Ivey said in a statement to USA TODAY. "Yet Mr. Burton was set to be executed while DeBruce was allowed to live out his life in prison." She continued: I cannot proceed in good conscience with the execution of Mr. Burton under such disparate circumstances. I believe it would be unjust for one participant in this crime to be executed while the participant who pulled the trigger was not." Alabama plans to execute Charles Sonny Burton, a man who did not kill Doug Battle during a robbery in 1991. Battle's daughter, Tori, opposes execution for Burton. In a statement provided through his attorneys, Burton expressed his gratitude to Ivey. She has proven to the people of Alabama, and the world, that she is a responsible Governor," Burton said. "Just saying thank you doesnt seem like much. But its what I can give her ... Thank you, Governor." During her nearly nine years in office, Ivey has only ever stopped one other execution, that of Robin Dion "Rocky" Myers last year over questions about his guilt. She has presided over 25 executions, including seven that used a controversial new method of nitrogen gas. Burton's commutation drew the ire of Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, who said in a statement that "Sonny Burton has Douglas Battles blood on his hands." "While the media has done its best to paint Mr. Burton as a harmless, decrepit old man, he is a murderer," Marshall said. "He organized an armed robbery, held a gun to the store managers head, and callously doled out the proceeds of the robbery once Douglas Battle, an army veteran, was dead." Here's what you need to know about the case and the commutation. What was Sonny Burton convicted of? On Aug. 16, 1991, Sonny Burton, Derrick DeBruce and four other men decided to rob an AutoZone in Talladega, Alabama. Store manager Larry McCardle said that DeBruce pulled a gun and told everyone in the store to get on the floor. McCardle said that Burton pointed a gun at him and told him to take him to the safe. He complied. Doug Battle, a 34-year-old married father, walked in during the robbery. One of the robbers told him to get on the floor but he "was having some difficulty" doing so, and an argument ensued between him and DeBruce, court records say. DeBruce eventually hit Battle, who fell to the ground, and shot him in the back as he was lying face-down. Burton had already left the store when the shooting happened, an undisputed fact. Like many other states, Alabama law allows a defendant who participated in a felony such as robbery to be convicted of murder, even if they didn't do any killing themselves. Burton was convicted under that law. Gov. Kay Ivey was facing pressure to commute sentence Ivey was facing mounting pressure to intervene in the execution. The victim's own daughter, Tori Battle, wrote an op-ed condemning Burton's scheduled execution for her father's murder, writing that "justice is not about vengeance," but that it's about "truth, proportionality, and fairness," "No one from the State has ever sat with me to explain why Alabama believes it must execute a man who did not kill my father," she said in the op-ed published in December in the Montgomery Advertiser, part of the USA TODAY Network. "My love for my father does not require another death, especially one that defies reason." When the Alabama Attorney General's Office reached out to Battle earlier this year about setting Burton's execution, she said she expressed her opposition. Advertisement "I was told I had no say," she wrote. "I am a victims family member. My voice should matter." In addition to Battle's opposition, at least six of the eight living jurors who voted for Burton's execution said they now opposite it, especially given that the shooter got a life sentence, according to Burton's legal team. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey delivers her State of the State Address at the State Capitol Building in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday evening January 13, 2026. And on Monday, March 9, supporters carrying signs that read "Save Sonny" gathered at the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery to deliver a petition asking Ivey to grant clemency to Burton. The petition had more than 67,000 signatures. "Putting a man to death who not only did not kill, but also did not encourage, participate in, nor even witness the shooting, and doing so after the shooter received a life sentence, indeed represents an injustice," Burton's attorneys said in a clemency petition to Ivey in the weeks leading up to the execution. "As the chief law enforcement officer of the State of Alabama, it is not only within your power, it is your duty to correct such injustices." In granting Burton's commutation, Ivey reiterated that she is a firm believer in the death penalty but that "a governments most consequential action must be administered fairly and proportionately." To be clear, Mr. Burton will not be eligible for parole and will rightfully spend the remainder of his life behind bars for his role in the robbery that led to the murder of Doug Battle," she said. The murder of Doug Battle was a senseless and tragic crime, and this decision does not diminish the profound loss felt by the Battle family. I pray that they may find peace and closure." Reaction to Gov. Ivey's commutation Both times that Ivey has commuted an inmate's death sentence, the state's Attorney General has expressed strong disagreement. In Burton's case, the Attorney General's Office had been arguing for the execution to proceed, saying in a U.S. Supreme Court filing that Burton was the "ringleader" of the six men who robbed the AutoZone that day in Talladega and dismissed his fight for a reprieve as delay tactics. On Tuesday, Attorney General Marshall said he was "deeply disappointed" that Ivey stopped the execution. "Burton was a career criminal before he became a murderer, and the jury rightfully held him responsible for the death that he caused," Marshall said. "I firmly believe that he should have faced the punishment imposed by a jury of his peers and upheld by numerous judges." He said he didn't want the commutation to "cause Alabamians to lose faith in our justice system." "For as long as I am Attorney General, I will not shy away from calling evil, evil and will do everything in my power to ensure that violence perpetrated against innocent Alabamians is punished mightily and without hesitation," he said. Burton's legal team said in a statement that the commutation "is a reminder that mercy remains an essential part of justice." "This decision ensures that the ultimate and irreversible punishment will not be carried out," they said. "The Governors action reflects careful consideration and affirms the principle that justice must always leave room for caution, humanity, and mercy." Supporters march past the Alabama Supreme Court Building as they head to the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery, Ala., on Monday March 9, 2026, to deliver a petition with 67,000 signatures asking Governor Kay Ivey to grant clemency to Charles Sonny Burton. Burton is set to be executed on Thursday March 12. Sonny Burton's execution was going to use nitrogen gas Had Burton's execution proceeded, it would have been the eighth time that Alabama used nitrogen gas to put an inmate to death since January 2024, when the state became the first in the U.S. to use the method. During such executions, inmates breathe in pure nitrogen gas through a mask, eventually displacing all the oxygen in their body and suffocating them. The U.N. Human Rights Office and the European Union have condemned the method, with federal Judge Shelly Dick saying in a ruling last year that witnesses nitrogen gas executions "describe suffering, including conscious terror for several minutes, shaking, gasping, and other evidence of distress." Alabama Attorney General Marshall has defended the method as "both constitutional and effective." "Nitrogen hypoxia as a means of execution is no longer an untested method it is a proven one, Marshall said after the first such execution in January 2024. To my colleagues across the country Alabama has done it and now so can you. And we stand ready to assist you in implementing this method in your states. Louisiana began using the method in 2025. Amanda Lee Myers is a senior crime reporter who covers cold case investigations, breaking news and the death penalty for USA TODAY. Follow her on X at @amandaleeusat. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alabama governor halts execution of Sonny Burton: 'Unjust' FILE PHOTO: A woman uses her smartphone as the Albanian government lifts a ban on TikTok after nearly a year, in Tirana, Albania, February 24, 2026. REUTERS/Florion Goga/File Photo TIRANA, March 11 (Reuters) - Albania's Constitutional Court ruled on Wednesday that the government's one-year ban of TikTok, which expired last month, was unconstitutional and violated freedom of speech. The ban, imposed last year and initially linked to the death of a teenage boy after bullying online, saw Chinese-owned short video platform TikTok banned for all users in the country. At the time TikTok said the clash did not originate on their platform. The ban expired on February 5, 2026, and the government cited new "safety mechanisms" implemented by TikTok. In its ruling on Wednesday, the Constitutional Court said the government had not sufficiently examined the repercussions of implementing a ban and had not "convincingly proven that a general blocking of the platform constitutes the only effective and necessary means to achieve the intended objective." Advertisement It also said that the ban violated freedom of the press and freedom of expression. The ruling was issued in response to a motion filed by the Association of Journalists of Albania (AGSH) and Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) last March. Opposition parties accused the government of trying to silence them by banning the platform weeks before parliamentary elections last year, which the government denies. (Reporting by Florian Goga and Fatos Bytyci; Writing by Ivana Sekularac; Editing by Alexandra Hudson) Arizona residents will seemingly not be driving around with licenses honoring the late Charlie Kirk. Earlier this month, Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed SB1439, a bill introduced by Republican Senator Jake Hoffman that would allow residents to purchase special license plates honoring the Turning Point USA founder. According to the bill, the plates would have cost $25, broken down into an $8 administrative fee and a $17 annual donation to the Conservative Grassroots Network Special Plate Fund. Hobbs explained her reasons for rejecting the bill in a letter. Charlie Kirks assassination is tragic and a horrifying act of violence. In America, we resolve our political differences at the ballot box, she wrote. No matter who it targets, political violence puts us all in harms way and damages our sacred democratic institutions. Advertisement 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, her letter concluded. Afterward, Hoffman took to X, blasting Hobbs for her decision. Katie Hobbs grotesque partisanship knows no bounds, he wrote on the platform. 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 [sic] wish to honor him to do so. Katie Hobbs will forever be known as a stain on the pages of Arizonas story, he added. As the National Enquirer previously reported, the far-right activist was shot and killed at 31 years old while speaking at Utah Valley University in September. Following his death, his wife, Erika Kirk with whom he shares two kids has taken over as CEO of his conservative organization. Read More From National Enquirer This story Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs Explains Why She Vetoed Special Charlie Kirk Memorial License Plates first appeared on National Enquirer. Add National Enquirer as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday that the Iranian regime is making a "big mistake" by continuing to attack its neighbors even after the country's president apologized to bordering countries and vowed to stop. As the Middle East countries of Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates announced on Tuesday that they were under attack by Iran's ballistic missiles and drones, Hegseth said the Iranian strategy is driving its neighbors to side with the United States. "Big mistake by the Iranian regime to start targeting its neighbors right away, exposing who they are and what they're all about -- indiscriminate targeting, flailing recklessly at the beginning," Hegseth said during a Pentagon press briefing Tuesday morning with Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. ABC News - PHOTO: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during a press conference at the Pentagon in Washington, March 10, 2026. Hegseth's comments came after President Donald Trump told Fox News Monday night that he was "surprised" that the Iranian regime was continuing to attack Arab countries in the region. "One of the things that surprised me most was when they attacked countries that were not attacking them," Trump said. "When we attacked them, we knocked out 50% of their missiles. And if we didn't, it would have been a much harder fight." But on Tuesday, Hegseth said, "We knew it was a possibility." Since the conflict began, there have been mixed messages between the president and his top aides, giving different rationales for launching the war. Trump has said at various times that Iran presented an "imminent threat" to U.S. allies and American interests in the region. But Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the imminent threat was really fear of a retaliatory strike by Iran, knowing that Israel was poised to strike first with or without the United States. Hamad I Mohammed/Reuters - PHOTO: This photo shows a building that was damaged by an Iranian drone attack in Seef, Manama, Bahrain, on March 1, 2026. Since the joint U.S.-Israel military operation began on Feb. 28, the governments of Jordan, Kuwait, Turkey, Iraq, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman have all reported being targeted by Iranian missile and drone strikes. On Tuesday morning, authorities in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, said in a post on X that an Iranian drone attack caused a fire in the Ruwais Industrial Complex, the site of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company facilities. Fadel Senna/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: A plume of black smoke rises from the port of Fujairah in the UAE on March 4, 2026. The UAE Ministry of Defense said in a separate social media post that its air defense detected eight ballistic missiles and 35 drones launched into its territory by Iran on Tuesday. The Ministry of Defense said eight of the nine missiles were destroyed and one fell into the sea, while 26 of the drones were intercepted. The minister of defense for Qatar also announced on Tuesday on X that "armed forces intercepted a missile attack which targeted the State of Qatar." Iran will 'spread the pain' with more attacks on US Middle East allies, analysts say The Qatari Ministry of Defense said five ballistic missiles from Iran were intercepted by Qatar's Armed Forces. Advertisement "Our Armed Forces, by the grace of God, successfully intercepted and neutralized (5) ballistic missiles with no casualties or damages reported," the Ministry of Defense said in a social media post. US Navy - PHOTO: Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Bulkeley fires Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles in support of Operation Epic Fury, March 4, 2026. On Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a stern warning to the Iranians after an Iranian missile was launched at Turkey and was shot down by NATO defense forces. "Despite our sincere warnings, provocative steps are being taken (by Iran), which will jeopardize the friendship of Turkey," Erdogan said during a press conference on Monday in Ankara. In a readout of a phone conversation on Monday between Erdogan and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, made public by the Turkish president's office, Pezeshkian denied responsibility for the attacks on Turkey. According to the readout, Pezeshkian claimed the missiles that entered Turkey's airspace did not originate from Iran. 'The streets are emptier than ever': Iranians describe life as US escalates war The Iranian attacks on its neighbors have continued despite Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's apology on Saturday for the attacks. "I should apologize to the neighboring countries that were attacked by Iran, on my own behalf," Pezeshkian said in a statement. "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." Following Pezeshkian's statement, Iran's military arm, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), also weighed in. "Following the statements of the president, the armed forces once again declare that they respect the interests and national sovereignty of neighboring countries and, up to this point, have committed no aggression against them," an IRGC statement carried by state media said. IRGC added, "However, should the previous hostile actions continue, all military bases and interests of criminal America and the fake Zionist regime on land, at sea, and in the air across the region will be considered primary targets and will come under the powerful and crushing strikes of the mighty armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran." Trump says he's 'willing to live with' final US report on deadly missile strike near Iranian girls' school But at Monday's Pentagon press briefing, Hegseth said the Iranian regime's attacks were "pushing those countries in our direction to support this effort, further alienating Iran." "I can't say that we anticipated necessarily that's exactly how they would react, but we knew it was a possibility and I think it was a demonstration of the desperation of that regime then and that regime now," Hegseth said. He added that Iran "still thinks their pathway out is to try to alienate their Arab partners even more, who've instead decided to come to us and have been willing to go on the offense." Brazils former President Jair Bolsonaro looks on from his home as Sao Paulos Governor Tarcisio de Freitas (not pictured) leaves after a visit in Brasilia, Brazil September 29, 2025. REUTERS/Diego Herculano BRASILIA, March 10 (Reuters) - Lawyers for former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro have asked the country's Supreme Court to allow Darren Beattie, who was recently tapped by the Trump administration for a senior advisory role overseeing Brazil, to visit him in prison next week, a document showed on Tuesday. Bolsonaro began in November to serve a 27-year prison sentence for plotting a coup against his successor, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who defeated him in the 2022 presidential election. The former right-wing leader, who served as president between 2019 and 2022, was a close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump during the period when both were in office. Trump has previously called Bolsonaro's trial a "witch hunt", and imposed tariffs on Brazilian goods last year citing what he called the persecution of the ex-president. Most of the import duties were reversed by the end of the year. Advertisement "Exceptional authorization is requested so that the visit can take place on March 16, in the afternoon, or on March 17, in the morning or early afternoon," Bolsonaro's lawyers said in the document. Beattie, a critic of Brazil's current government, was appointed to the position shaping U.S. policy toward Brazil last month, a move that suggested relations between the two countries remain delicate despite a recent rapprochement. In August, Beattie provoked a diplomatic incident after describing Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes in an X post as "the key architect of the censorship and persecution complex directed against Bolsonaro." Moraes presided over the criminal case against Bolsonaro, who was convicted in September. He is currently imprisoned in a penitentiary in Brasilia. (Reporting by Ricardo Brito, additional reporting by Fernando Cardoso, editing by Deepa Babington) Smoke rises from the area after it was targeted in attacks as a series of explosions are heard in Tehran, Iran on March 01, 2026 -Credit:Anadolu via Getty Images (Anadolu via Getty Images) The FBI has alerted California law enforcement agencies that Iran could retaliate for U.S. attacks by launching drones against targets on the West Coast, according to a bulletin reviewed by ABC News. The alert, issued in late February, reportedly warned that Iran aspired to conduct a surprise attack using unmanned aerial vehicles from an unidentified vessel off the coast of the United States, specifically against unspecified targets in California if U.S. strikes continued. Authorities have no further details on timing, method, or intended targets. The warning comes as the Trump administration continues its military operations against Iran, which has responded with drone strikes in the Middle East. The FBI and the White House did not immediately comment on the report. Flustered Trump's 5-word reply to deadly US strike on Iran girls' school Trump hits grim polling milestone with independents giving him the cold shoulder Americans are on high alert as the FBI says it acquired this information in early February 2026, stating that Iran allegedly aspired to launch drone attack against unspecified targets in California if U.S. conducted strikes against Iran. On top of this, Mexican drug cartels' increasing use of drones has raised alarms among U.S. intelligence officials recently. There is fear for the potential of this technology to be used in attacks against American personnel and forces operating near the Mexican border. An uncorroborated report suggested that unidentified Mexican cartel leaders had authorized attacks using UAS (drones) carrying explosives against US law enforcement and US military personnel along the US-Mexico border, according to a September 2025 bulletin. This type of attack against US personnel or interests inside the United States would be unprecedented but exemplifies a plausible scenario, although (cartels) typically avoid actions that would result in unwanted attention or responses from US authorities. USAF military ground personnel load Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) into a US Air Force (USAF) B-1 Lancer bomber on the tarmac at RAF Fairford in south-west England -Credit:AFP via Getty Images ABC News contributor John Cohen , the former head of intelligence for the Department of Homeland Security, said that, We know Iran has an extensive presence in Mexico and South America, they have relationships, they have the drones and now they have the incentive to conduct attacks. Advertisement He continued, The FBI is smart for putting this warning out so that state and locals can be better able to prepare and respond to these types of threats. Information like this is critically important for law enforcement." Intelligence officials have been consistently worried that equipment could be pre-positioned, either ashore or on ships, in preparation for potential strikes against Iran by Israel or the U.S. The FBI's warning does not specifying the logistics, how or when vessels carrying attack drones might approach the U.S. mainland. The US Army soldiers were killed when an Iranian drone struck a key US command center in Kuwait's southern industrial hub of Port Shuaiba, a day after the United States and Israel launched a sweeping military campaign against Iran. -Credit:US ARMY/AFP via Getty Images According to the Pentagon, seven U.S. service members have already been killed in the line of duty in the past two weeks. Six died in a drone strike in Kuwait and a seventh later succumbing to injuries from a separate strike in Saudi Arabia. Around 140 troops have also been wounded. We'll be bringing you the very latest updates, pictures, and videos on this breaking news story. Please check back regularly for updates on this developing story HERE. Get email updates on the day's biggest stories straight to your inbox by signing up for our newsletters. Get all the big headlines, pictures, analyses, opinions, and videos on the stories that matter to you by following The US Mirror every time you see our name. You can sign up for Twitter alerts for breaking news here @MirrorBreaking_ and follow us @MirrorUSNews, or on Facebook here for all the latest updates. Stay tuned as we continue to provide up-to-the-minute coverage of this breaking news story. For inquiries or if you have any information on this story, contact tips@themirror.com IDAHO FALLS The Idaho Falls Arts Council is welcoming award-winning performer Cheyenne Jackson in a special live concert in Idaho Falls Thursday night. Jackson is known for his powerhouse vocals and commanding stage presence. He has earned international acclaim through his work on Broadway, television and film. His stage resume includes leading roles in hit productions such as Xanadu, Finians Rainbow, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Into the Woods, and Aida. Advertisement RELATED | Singer, actor Cheyenne Jackson answers 7 Questions with Emmy Television audiences know him from popular series including 30 Rock, American Horror Story, Glee, Call Me Kat, and Julie and the Phantoms. He has also appeared in major films such as United 93 and The Green. Jacksons concerts are known for blending Broadway classics, pop favorites and personal storytelling, creating an intimate, high-energy experience that showcases both his humor and vocal range. The concert will be held Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the Colonial Theater in Idaho Falls. Tickets are on sale here. The post From Broadway to the Snake River: Cheyenne Jackson performing live in Idaho Falls Thursday night appeared first on East Idaho News. The transition will strengthen the company's global alignment to meet evolving customer needs. HOUSTON, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas (MLA), a leading provider of innovative material handling solutions, today announced it will transition to Logisnext Americas, marking a significant milestone in the company's global evolution. This change will mark a significant step in Mitsubishi Logisnext's ongoing transformation, guided by the "Logisnext Vision 2035." As part of this process, ML has formed a partnership with Japan Industrial Partners (JIP) as the new strategic partner to support sustainable growth and long-term value creation. Consequently, all group companies will begin adopting the new company name starting on the 30th of April. "Today's announcement reflects our forward momentum as a company, but it does not change who we are at our core," said Berry Mansfield, President of Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas. "For decades, customers have relied on us for dependable equipment, consistent service, and solutions that drive their success, and that foundation remains unchanged." The company's existing Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks portfolio will be rebranded to Logisnext Forklifts, a reliable equipment line designed to meet today's evolving material handling demands. This reflects dependable engineering, consistent global performance standards, and a broadened range of solutions that deliver lasting value to customers and dealers. Throughout the transition, the organization is focused on stability and consistency for its dealers and customers. All current support and service structures will remain in place, ensuring uninterrupted operations. Customers and partners can expect a seamless experience as the rebranded Logisnext Americas will continue delivering the trusted equipment and services they rely on. About Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas Inc., and its group companies have helped customers Move The World Forward for over 100 years. A technology-driven manufacturer, Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas offers scalable solutions from material handling to automation and extensive fleet support. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, its complete portfolio of advanced solutions spans across five leading brands Mitsubishi forklift trucks, Cat lift trucks, Rocla AGV Solutions, UniCarriers Forklifts and Jungheinrich warehouse and automation products. All products are backed by an extensive dealer network offering industry-leading customer service and product support. Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Logisnext Co. Ltd. For more information, visit www.LogisnextAmericas.com. SOURCE Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas Karen Rojas Credit: Washington County NC Sheriffs Office NEED TO KNOW A California girl who was kidnapped in 2020 has been found across the country The now-11-year-old victim was found on Tuesday, March 10 and had been living under another name, according to a statement from the Washington County Sheriff's Office in North Carolina The girl is safe in protective custody, the sheriff's office said A California girl who was kidnapped in 2020 has been found across the country, where authorities say she had been living under another name. The now-11-year-old victim was found on Tuesday, March 10, according to a statement from the Washington County Sheriff's Office in North Carolina. The sheriff's office said deputies determined the child had been enrolled in the Washington County School District under an "alias name." After coordinating with multiple agencies in North Carolina and California, investigators located the girl and took her into protective custody. Officials said she is safe. The girl was previously identified by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, but PEOPLE is withholding her name for her privacy. She was 5 years old when she was last seen in Duarte, Calif., on June 2, 2020, per the NCMEC. Advertisement The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services received a missing persons report the following month, but soon the child's mother stopped communicating with authorities, the L.A. County Sheriff's Department said in a statement. The mother was believed to have taken the child, per the statement from the L.A. County Sheriff's Department. Credit: Washington County NC Sheriffs Office 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. "These are very rare occurrences to have such a positive outcome on such an old case as this," the WCSO said. "But it reminds us that through hard work, and dedication, and cooperation...stories with positive outcomes like these can happen." Authorities in California and North Carolina said the investigation is ongoing and did not share whether anyone has been arrested in connection with the case. Read the original article on People A California bishop who allegedly frequented Mexican brothels is facing more than a dozen felony charges stemming from allegations that he stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from his church. Bishop Emanuel Shaleta of Saint Peters Chaldean in San Diego pleaded not guilty to eight counts of embezzlement, eight counts of money laundering and one count of aggravated white collar crime enhancement at a court hearing on Monday, according to KUSI. Shaleta was arrested at the San Diego International Airport while trying to leave the country on Thursday, March 5, the San Diego Sheriffs Office said in a statement. The outlets investigation found that over eight months, rent payments for the churchs social hall were allegedly made to Shaleta in cash. He then allegedly reimbursed the parish using a separate church account intended to help underprivileged individuals with rent assistance. Ex-nonprofit Boss Allegedly Swiped $1.2M Meant For Homeless Programs To Fund Lavish Lifestyle, Da Says According to prosecutors, the monthly rent payments exceeded $30,000, with approximately $272,000 allegedly unaccounted for, NBC 7 reported . Read On The Fox News App While appearing in court on Monday, prosecutor Joel Madero argued that Shaleta is a flight risk and should be made to wear a GPS monitor if he is released on $125,000 bail. "When he was arrested last Friday, it was at the San Diego International Airport, and he was on his way to Germany," Madero told NBC 7 after court. Detroit Judge, 3 Others Charged In Alleged Scheme To Steal Thousands From Vulnerable And Incapacitated People "Given his access to funds, the fact that he had over $9,000 in the bag when he was stopped, and the fact that he has these international ties, were close to Mexico I do believe that some bail to ensure he shows up is appropriate." However, Shaletas attorney argued the trip was previously planned and that he did not intend to flee the charges. "That money effectively vanished, and the money was going to the bishop, via the secretary," Madero said. "There is no accounting of that money. The bishop indicated that was given to the needy." Advertisement New Jersey Catholic Diocese Agrees To $180M Settlement With Survivors Of Alleged Clergy Sex Abuse The charges come after Catholic news outlet The Pillar reported that Shaleta allegedly made multiple visits to a brothel in Tijuanas Zona Norte red-light district an area long scrutinized for human trafficking while also allegedly misusing church funds. The outlet also uncovered church documents showing more than $420,000 was allegedly appropriated by Shaleta, while noting the total could be as high as $1 million. A private investigator told the outlet that Shaleta used a shuttle "exclusive to the clubs patrons" to visit the Hong Kong Gentlemens Club, The Pillar reported. Magnitude Cannot Be Overstated: Feds Say Minnesota Fraud May Be More Than $9B In a report submitted to Vatican authorities, the private investigator also reportedly uncovered evidence that Shaleta shared a personal bank account containing over $40,000 with a woman who previously worked as a parish secretary in Michigan. The Pillars reporting also pointed to allegations that Shaleta routinely visited the home of the woman and would often spend long periods of time inside together. When Shaleta was transferred to Toronto and later San Diego, the woman and her children reportedly followed him. During a recent mass, Shaleta addressed the allegations made against him to his congregation. "I have never in my episcopal life have I used any penny of the church money," Shaleta said, according to NBC 7. "On the contrary: I have done my best to preserve and manage the donations," also saying, "you are the only one who can believe me and defend my integrity in the church financial matters and in life." Click Here To Download The Fox News App On Tuesday, the Vatican accepted a letter of resignation from Shaleta that was submitted in January, according to a press release from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Shaleta is due back in court next month and faces up to 15 years behind bars if convicted. Shaleta's attorney and the district attorney's office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Original article source: California bishops alleged secret double life explodes into felony case A young girl who was believed to have been kidnapped from Southern California six years ago has been found safe in North Carolina, authorities said Tuesday. The girl, now 11, was taken into protective custody after authorities discovered that she was enrolled in Washington County schools under an alias, the local sheriffs office said in a statement. Officials have not provided her name. The girl was reported missing from Los Angeles County on July 1, 2020, after her mother stopped communicating with the local child services agency during an investigation that involved the child, the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department said in a release. A child who went missing in 2020 was found under an alias in North Carolina. (Washington County N.C. Sheriff's Office) (Washington County N.C. Sheriff's Office) Authorities believe the girls mother, who had custody of her, took her, the department said. Advertisement The woman was not identified, and the sheriffs department did not immediately provide additional information about the investigation in 2020. A spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services said the agency is barred from discussing its possible involvement with families. The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department said it received a tip last week that the girl might be on the other side of the country, in North Carolina. Washington County is roughly 130 miles east of Raleigh. School resource officers with the Washington County Sheriffs Office located her Monday, the North Carolina sheriffs office said. These are very rare occurrences to have such a positive outcome on such an old case as this, but it reminds us that through hard work, and dedication, and cooperation [s]tories with positive outcomes like these can happen, the department said. A screen displays a portrait of Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei during the funerals of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) commanders, army commanders and others killed in the early days of the United States and Israeli strikes on Iran, at Enghelab Square in Tehran on March 11, 2026 (ATTA KENARE) (ATTA KENARE/AFP/AFP) Iran warned it could wage a prolonged war with the United States and Israel that would "destroy" the world economy, even as US President Donald Trump said late Wednesday the Islamic republic was facing imminent defeat. The defiance from Tehran came as fighting around the strategic Strait of Hormuz -- the waterway carrying a fifth of the world's oil -- sent shock waves through energy markets, prompting emergency releases from global reserves and a limited draw on US stockpiles. Oil prices have surged since February 28, when the United States and Israel launched air strikes on Iran that killed its supreme leader and plunged the Middle East into conflict. Retaliatory Iranian missile strikes and drone attacks have brought shipping through the strait almost to a halt, forcing governments to scramble to contain the fallout, while Trump said Iran was "pretty much at the end of the line." "Doesn't mean we're going to end it immediately, but they are," Trump told reporters. He said Iran's navy and air force had been destroyed, that it was close to running out of missiles and that US forces could knock out the electricity supply "within one hour" -- leaving the country with a reconstruction that could take a generation. But the US leader indicated that he would rather show restraint than take actions that would make it "almost impossible for them to rebuild their country." The president had earlier said the United States must "finish the job" in Iran, adding that US forces had struck 28 Iranian mine-laying vessels. He said Washington would tap US strategic reserves "a little" to help stabilise markets roiled by the war, and his administration later announced that he had authorized the release of 172 million barrels, beginning next week. The International Energy Agency agreed to release a record 400 million barrels. Israel's military, however, signalled the campaign was far from finished, and that it still had "a broad bank of targets." - Economic shock - With the conflict in its 12th day, Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) warned Wednesday they would strike "economic centres and banks" linked to US and Israeli interests, prompting more international firms to evacuate staff from Dubai. The United States and Israel "must consider the possibility that they will be engaged in a long-term war of attrition that will destroy the entire American economy and the world economy," Ali Fadavi, an adviser to the Guards' commander-in-chief, told state television. Iran said it targeted two commercial vessels in the Gulf after they entered the Strait of Hormuz "after ignoring the warnings" of its navy. Analysts warn that a prolonged disruption to shipping through the strait -- which also carries roughly a third of the fertiliser used in global food production -- would deliver a severe economic shock, particularly in Asia and Europe. The UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding Iran halt attacks on Gulf states, prompting the Islamic republic's ambassador to the United Nations to accuse it of a "blatant misuse" of its mandate. The conflict has already disrupted two pillars of the Gulf economy -- energy production and commercial aviation. Advertisement On Wednesday, drones fell near Dubai airport, injuring four people, authorities said. Others struck fuel tanks at Oman's Salalah port, according to the Oman News Agency. - 'Wave of strikes' - In an apparent first since the war began, Israeli drones also struck targets in Tehran on Wednesday evening, killing members of the security forces, Iran's Fars news agency reported. The Israeli military later said it was carrying out a "wide-scale wave of strikes" after the IRGC announced just after midnight on Thursday it had carried out a joint missile operation with Hezbollah against targets in Israel. Pentagon officials have meanwhile briefed US lawmakers that the cost of the war exceeded $11.3 billion in its first six days, The New York Times reported, citing people familiar with the classified briefing. The conflict has continued to spill across the region. One crew member was killed and 38 rescued in an attack on oil tankers near Iraq, Iraqi state television reported -- without specifying their nationalities or providing details on who was behind the attack. And an Iranian drone struck a tower in Dubai, Iranian state media reported on Thursday. Lebanon said the death toll from ten days of fighting between Israel and Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah had reached more than 630, while more than 800,000 people have registered as displaced. Lebanon was pulled into the war last week when Hezbollah attacked Israel following the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Israel later launched strikes in response to Hezbollah rocket fire. Lebanon's health ministry said eight people were killed in an Israeli strike in the country's east. - 'Satan himself' - The US-Israeli assault began only weeks after Iranian authorities crushed mass protests, though the allies insist regime change is not necessarily their goal. Iran's new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has yet to appear in public, and officials said Wednesday he had been wounded but was "safe". Iran's health ministry said on March 8 that more than 1,200 people had been killed in US and Israeli strikes. AFP could not independently verify the figure. Thousands of mourners gathered in Tehran to commemorate commanders killed in the attacks, the largest public gathering since the war began, held under a heavy security presence. Yahya Rahim Safavi, a senior adviser to the new supreme leader, also struck a defiant tone, calling Trump the "most corrupt and stupid American president" and "Satan himself." bur-ft/md The Princess of Wales's mother, Carole Middleton, sported a recognisable blue fedora adorned with bronze feather trim at Cheltenham today. The hat, a piece from British countrywear label Hicks & Brown, belongs to her daughter Catherine. Carole and Michael Middleton made their first public outing of the year today when they stepped out at Cheltenham Racecourse. The couple, who were photographed alongside actor James Nesbitt and television presenter Natalie Pinkham, last appeared publicly at Catherine's Together at Christmas carol service held at Westminster Abbey in early December. Princess of Wales and Carole Middleton | Source: PA / GETTY Today's appearance at the prestigious horse racing event seemed to be Mrs Middleton's debut at the annual Cheltenham Festival. Catherine was previously spotted wearing the same Hicks & Brown "Suffolk" fedora on January 5, 2020 when she attended a Sunday service at the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate alongside Prince William. This is not the first occasion Mrs Middleton has dipped into her daughter's wardrobe. At Royal Ascot in 2022, she wore an identical pink ME+EM dress that Catherine had also been seen in. The Duchess of Edinburgh has also been photographed in the same style of Hicks & Brown fedora in a beige shade, suggesting the British brand's country-inspired headwear has become something of a royal favourite. Carole Middleton | Source: PA Mrs Middleton accessorised today's outfit with a dark Hermes Birkin bag, a luxury item valued at approximately 50,000. Advertisement The handbag, crafted from black ostrich skin with gold hardware, coordinated perfectly with her chocolate-brown suede boots and leather gloves. For her ensemble, the Princess of Wales's mother chose a longline blue-grey check coat, which she wore buttoned up against the Gloucestershire chill. A caramel-toned faux fur scarf and floral drop earrings completed the look. Notably, neither Catherine nor her sister, Pippa Matthews, has been photographed wearing the iconic French brand, making this a distinctive personal choice. Princess of Wales | Source: GETTY LATEST ROYAL NEWS: Zara Tindall and Carole Middleton | Source: PA Queen Camilla was also present at the racecourse today. As a royal patron of The Jockey Club, one of Britain's largest commercial horse racing organisations established in 1750, she took the opportunity to meet several female jockeys. Among them were Grand National winner Rachel Blackmore and Aamilah Aswat, who made history as the first black woman to win a jump race in the United Kingdom. Mike and Zara Tindall, who attend the festival annually, were spotted on day two of the races. Mrs Tindall, an Olympic silver medallist in equestrian and a member of the Cheltenham Racecourse committee since 2019, opted for a burgundy outfit. The four-day event continues through Friday. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter DORAL, FLORIDA - MARCH 09: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters during a news conference at Trump National Doral Miam A former CIA officer has shared his analysis of what he believes may be the true motivation behind US President Donald Trump's recent military operations against Iran. On Saturday, February 28, the US and Israel launched strikes on the Middle Eastern country as part of efforts to topple the Islamic Republic. As the conflict enters its 12th day, there appears to be no resolution in sight. Triggering extensive retaliatory attacks across the Gulf region-including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Oman, Qatar, and Cyprus-Operation Epic Fury has caused oil prices to spike and opened a new battlefront in Lebanon. Following strikes that killed his father at his compound in Tehran, Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has assumed the role of Iran's supreme leader. It comes after the release of a map purportedly showing the strikes across West Asia. Andrew Bustamante suggested that the action could be a matter of "personal legacy" for Trump (Image: EverydaySpy) However, despite Trump's previous assertion that Iran's "menacing activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas, and our allies throughout the world," questions persist about the true rationale behind the conflict. Former CIA operative Andrew Bustamante, who currently hosts the EverydaySpy podcast, was recently asked, when trying to "get below the propaganda," what he suspected was "really going on" in Iran. Andrew explained that annually, the CIA and other agencies produce a national threat assessment, which is submitted to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). The ODNI then compiles these into an evaluation of the most pressing threats facing the United States. The Annual Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community is publicly accessible and, as Andrew noted, is used by Congress to "fund intelligence operations" for the upcoming year. Smoke and flames rise at the site of airstrikes on an oil depot in Tehran on March 7 (Image: Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images) Going into greater detail, Andrew said: "Iran very clearly, in that document published in March 2025, is not working on weapons of mass destruction, has no plans to increase or enhance its uranium enrichment, and may be at the early stages of research and development for chemical and biological weapons. That's what it says. "That was in March 2025. In June 2025, we bomb Iran under the accusation that they are enriching uranium beyond military grade or up to military-grade levels at the Fordow plants in Iran. Advertisement "In stark contrast, what we were told as the public contradicted what the ODNI published as an official source document for the national intelligence infrastructure. But that's only one of several documents." He then referenced documents from the US Department of Defense (formerly the Department of War) and the White House's national security strategy, pointing out that among publicly available records, "none of them highlighted Iran" as a national security priority. Fire breaks out at the Shahran oil depot after US and Israeli attacks (Image: Anadolu via Getty Images) The conversation eventually shifted to Donald Trump and whether he was merely "power mad" with ambitions to "gobble up territory." Andrew suggested that the military action could be a matter of "personal legacy." He explained: "I suspect there is an element of Trump trying to protect his personal legacy more so than his presidential legacy. He's trying to protect the brand Trump and make sure that that brand is always associated with strength and power. "But then, second to that, I think there's also an element of the United States knowing it's a declining power, and the administration knows that the US is now a declining power. They have to try to scramble back as many wins, victories as they possibly can." He argued that the Trump administration was taking action against what others would view as "low-hanging fruit." Andrew described Venezuela as an "irritant, not a national security issue," and Iran as a "sad news story" for the Middle East. Andrew maintained that this is why the US is allied with Israel, so the latter can "keep Iran in check," meaning the US does not have to put lives or money "at risk halfway across the globe." He added that the US has allies like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Jordan surrounding Iran, meaning it does not have to "get involved." ]]> Standard Chartered logo is seen in this illustration taken January 7, 2026. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration By Hadeel Al Sayegh and Lawrence White DUBAI/LONDON, March 11 (Reuters) - Citigroup and Standard Chartered have begun evacuating their Dubai offices, telling staff to work from home instead, sources said on Wednesday, as banks step up precautions after Iran threatened Gulf banking interests linked to the U.S. and Israel. U.S. financial giant Citigroup told its staff to evacuate offices in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Dubai's Oud Metha neighbourhood, a memo sent to employees which was seen by Reuters shows, telling them to work from home until further notice. A spokesperson for the bank said it was continuing to take measures to keep staff safe and had contingency plans in place to ensure business continuity. Britain's StanChart has a large presence in the United Arab Emirates, with Dubai now a major financial hub for leading international lenders including JPMorgan and HSBC, as well as law firms and asset managers. A spokesperson for StanChart declined to comment. Separately, HSBC has closed all branches in Qatar until further notice, according to a customer notice, saying the measure was to ensure the safety of staff and customers. The moves came after a spokesperson for Tehran's Khatam al-Anbiya military command headquarters said on Wednesday that Iran will target economic and banking interests linked to the U.S. and Israel in the region, after an attack on an Iranian bank. An administrative building linked to Bank Sepah, one of Iran's largest public banks and with historical links to the military, was hit overnight in Tehran, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported. Many staff at foreign and local businesses had already been told by employers to work from home after Iran responded to U.S. and Israeli strikes by firing missiles at targets across the Middle East, causing deaths, damage and travel chaos. CONFLICT DENTING DUBAI'S SAFE-HAVEN STATUS Advertisement The war in the region has dented Dubai's sales pitch to international businesses as the region's most reliable economic hub, prompting concerns of capital flight, layoffs and firms relocating elsewhere, Reuters reported last week. The creation of the DIFC in 2004 kickstarted Dubai's push to draw financial firms. By the end of 2025, DIFC hosted more than 290 banks, 102 hedge funds, 500 wealth management firms and 1,289 family-related entities, capping Dubai's decades-long transition from a modest fishing port into a glittering global financial hub. StanChart, which makes nearly 6% of its overall income in the UAE according to company filings, has in recent years increasingly based senior executives in the region. The CEO of its investment bank Roberto Hoornweg is based in Dubai, a StanChart website shows, making him one of the most senior financiers at a global bank to be based in the region. Hoornweg declined to comment via a bank spokesperson. HSBC CEO Georges Elhedery said on Monday that the bank's "conviction in the GCC's (Gulf Cooperation Council) fundamentals and its future is unchanged", in some of the first comments from an international bank boss on the growing crisis. "The safety of our colleagues and customers remain our top priority," HSBC said in a statement on Wednesday in relation to its Dubai-based staff. A spokesperson for JPMorgan declined to comment. At Goldman Sachs, employees across the region are working from home and following local official instructions, a person with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. (Reporting by Hadeel Al Sayegh, Timour Azhari and Lawrence White, additional reporting by Tatiana Bautzer in New York. Writing by Tommy Reggiori Wilkes; Editing by Elisa Martinuzzi, Anousha Sakoui and Alexander Smith) CNNs Abby Phillip falsely stated on Tuesday that the alleged ISIS-inspired terror attack in New York City over the weekend was "against" Mayor Zohran Mamdani. "Two Republicans say Muslims dont belong here after an attempted terror attack against New Yorks Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the House speaker, Mike Johnson, says nothing, really, to condemn those comments," Phillip told CNN viewers, appearing to trip over her words as she went to a commercial break. In reality, the attack is being investigated as an "act of ISIS-inspired terrorism" that was targeted at anti-Islam protesters outside Mamdani's Gracie Mansion mayoral residence. Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, were charged with material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and use of a weapon of mass destruction. Nyc Terror Probe: Homemade Ieds Set Off In Controlled Detonation At Storage Facility, Source Says Both men are U.S. citizens. One suspects parents are naturalized U.S. citizens from Turkey, while the other suspects parents are naturalized U.S. citizens from Afghanistan. A guest later on Phillip's program pointed out that the attack was targeted against protesters, not the mayor himself. Read On The Fox News App "To frame it as an anti-Muslim attack would actually completely reverse what happened," guest Joe Borelli said. Mamdani, the first Muslim mayor of New York City, has described the attempted attack as "terrorism" but did not reference radical Islam in his initial public remarks. Mamdani Avoids Radical Islamic Terror Phrase After Isis-inspired Nyc Attack, Echoing Obama-era Debate New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. (Getty Images) After significant online backlash to her remark, Phillip took to X on Wednesday morning to offer an apology. Advertisement "I want to correct something I said last night. The bombs thrown in New York City over the weekend by ISIS inspired attackers was thrown into a crowd of anti-Muslim protestors and not specifically targeted at Mayor Mamdani. That wording was inaccurate and I didnt catch it ahead of time. I apologize for the error," Phillip wrote. It was a rough day for CNN on Tuesday, as the network was forced to delete a social media post that oddly portrayed the terror suspects as teenagers who could have simply enjoyed nice weather. "Two Pennsylvania teenagers crossed into New York City Saturday morning for what couldve been a normal day enjoying the city during abnormally warm weather," the now-deleted post read. "But in less than an hour, their lives would drastically change as the pair would be arrested for throwing homemade bombs during an anti-Muslim protest outside of Mayor Zohran Mamdanis home. Here's what we know so far." CNN followed up with this explanation on X: "A post regarding the two individuals arrested for throwing homemade bombs outside of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdanis home failed to reflect the gravity of the incident thereby breaching the editorial standards we require for all our reporting. It has therefore been deleted." Cnn Torched Over 'Bizarre' Post About Pennsylvania Teenagers Charged With Throwing Bombs At A Nyc Protest NYPD Bomb Squad officers search a car allegedly belonging to an individual who attempted to throw a homemade explosive at police officers on March 8, 2026, in New York City. Republican Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee declared in a post on X Monday that "Muslims dont belong in American society," and later defended his remarks as Democrats condemned them. Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., has posted similar rhetoric in the past. Speaker Johnson, responding to questions about Ogles on Monday, sounded the alarm about the threat of Sharia law in the U.S., warning that it is in direct conflict with the tenets the U.S. was founded on. Click Here To Download The Fox News App Fox News Digitals Stephen Sorace, Elizabeth Elkind and Alex Nitzberg contributed to this report. Original article source: CNNs Abby Phillip wrongly claims New York City terror attack was against Zohran Mamdani, apologizes FILE PHOTO: A motorcycle passes by fire burning along Tehran's Koohsar Boulevard, Iran, in this screengrab from video obtained from social media and released on March 8, 2026, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. SOCIAL MEDIA/via REUTERS/File Photo March 11 (Reuters) - The World Health Organization said on Wednesday that it has verified 18 attacks on healthcare centers in Iran since the start of the U.S. and Israel war on Iran on February 28, which has resulted in 8 deaths among health workers. "These attacks not only cost lives but deprive communities of care when they need it most. Health workers, patients and health facilities must always be protected under international humanitarian law," the WHO said in a statement. During the same period, 25 attacks on healthcare centers in Lebanon have resulted in 16 deaths and 29 injuries, the agency said. The conflict has triggered a large-scale population movement, the WHO added. It estimates more than 100,000 people in Iran have relocated, and up to 700,000 people in Lebanon have been internally displaced, many sheltering in crowded buildings with scarce access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene. Advertisement Such conditions risk outbreaks of respiratory and diarrheal diseases, the WHO warned, particularly among women and children. On Tuesday, the agency said that the "black rain" and toxic compounds in the air in Iran after strikes on its oil facilities could cause respiratory problems, and backed Iran's advisory urging people to remain indoors. In Lebanon, 49 primary healthcare centers and five hospitals have shut following evacuation orders issued by Israel's military, reducing the availability of essential services while medical needs rise, the WHO said on Wednesday. Across the eastern Mediterranean region, 115 million people require humanitarian assistance, while 70% of the humanitarian health appeals remain underfunded, the health organization said. (Reporting by Siddhi Mahatole in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli) Kidnapping statistics always have some context behind them. A country could rank high because of organized criminal networks, insurgent activity, or widespread ransom schemes. Others may land near the top because their legal systems classify parental custody disputes as kidnapping and meticulously record every case. The numbers may look similar on paper, but the realities behind them can be vastly different. Still, recent global crime data shows that certain countries consistently report elevated kidnapping rates. Ecuador Credit: Getty Images Not long ago, Ecuador was considered one of the more stable countries in its region. The perception has shifted in recent years, as the country has recorded one of the highest kidnapping rates globally, exceeding 15 cases per 100,000 people in some datasets. The surge has unfolded alongside a broader escalation in gang violence and organized crime activity. Pakistan Credit: Wikimedia Commons Pakistan ranks high in both total kidnapping cases and per capita rates compared with many countries. In recent years, tens of thousands of cases have been recorded nationwide, with reported rates exceeding 12 per 100,000 people during certain periods. Kidnapping for ransom remains a recurring criminal method in some regions. Broader factors such as political instability, uneven law enforcement capacity, and regional disparities also shape the overall statistics. South Africa Credit: Getty Images In South Africa, kidnapping has increasingly intersected with broader crime trends. Economic inequality, organized criminal networks, and social tension all contribute to the countrys elevated numbers. Recent figures place the rate near or above 9 per 100,000 people. Express kidnappings have drawn particular attention. In these short-term abductions, victims are forced to withdraw money before being released. Canada Credit: Getty Images Canadas appearance near the top of per-capita kidnapping lists often surprises people. With rates around 10 per 100,000 people in recent data, the country records thousands of incidents annually. However, most of these cases involve parental abduction and custody disputes rather than organized ransom operations. The countrys comprehensive legal definitions and consistent reporting practices expand the statistical count. New Zealand Credit: Getty Images Advertisement New Zealand has also reported kidnapping rates that exceed those of many larger nations, at times rising above 8 per 100,000 people. As with Canada, a substantial share of cases stems from domestic or custodial situations. Transparent crime reporting ensures that incidents meeting the legal threshold are fully documented. India Credit: Getty Images Indias numbers reflect both population scale and broad legal categorization. The rate exceeds 5 per 100,000 people in recent datasets, and the country records tens of thousands of kidnapping cases each year. Many involve missing children, family disputes, or elopements that fall under kidnapping statutes. While organized criminal abductions do occur, the overall total is heavily influenced by demographic size and legal scope. Turkey Credit: Getty Images Turkeys criminal code groups a broad range of offenses under deprivation of liberty, including unlawful detention, forced restraint, and certain coercion-related cases. Since this category extends beyond traditional ransom kidnappings, it can significantly influence how the countrys kidnapping rate appears in international comparisons. In certain recent reporting periods, Turkey has posted some of the highest kidnapping rates globally, with figures rising well above 10 per 100,000 people and, in some years, significantly higher. Israel Credit: Getty Images Israels kidnapping rate has remained elevated recently, exceeding 6 per 100,000 people in some years. Organized crime groups account for part of the caseload, while the countrys broader security environment also shapes how incidents are categorized and prosecuted. The interplay between criminal activity and national security concerns makes the situation complex. Germany Credit: Getty Images Germany consistently reports kidnapping rates near 6 per 100,000 people in global crime data. Its strong documentation systems and inclusive legal definitions mean that parental and domestic abductions are recorded in full. As a result, Germany ranks higher than many might expect when compared internationally. Lebanon Credit: Getty Images Lebanons kidnapping rates have fluctuated alongside political and economic instability. Economic strain, weakened institutions, and social unrest have all contributed to volatility in crime statistics. In some reporting years, the rate has exceeded 15 per 100,000 people. The numbers reflect a broader environment of instability. SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- At the HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition 2026, GlobalMed will unveil its Mobile Medical Response Unit, an advanced, field-deployable clinical operations platform designed to expand healthcare access across rural, frontier, and underserved communities. Purpose-built to support national priorities in rural healthcare modernization, the Mobile Medical Response Unit enables healthcare providers, emergency responders, and public health agencies to deliver high-quality medical services in locations where traditional healthcare infrastructure is limited. The platform integrates telehealth, diagnostic tools, and secure clinical connectivity within a rugged, mobile environment capable of supporting emergency response, remote specialty consultation, behavioral health services, and public safety operations. With more than two decades of experience delivering digital health infrastructure, GlobalMed has supported large-scale telehealth programs for the Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Defense, Tribal health systems, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. This operational expertise positions the company to help health systems and government agencies extend care delivery across rural counties, Tribal lands, and frontier regions. Providing the enabling infrastructure behind the Mobile Medical Response Unit, the rapidly deployable modulemanufactured by MobileOp4is purpose-built to deliver untethered facilities and services in rural, remote, and emergency response environments. The self-contained clinical workspace enables providers and first responders to extend GlobalMed's telemedicine capabilities beyond traditional care settings by providing the operational foundation necessary to deliver high-quality healthcare access in underserved and hard-to-reach communities. As federal and state leaders focus on modernizing rural healthcare delivery, mobile, interoperable platforms like the Mobile Medical Response Unit can expand clinical capacity, strengthen emergency response, and support rural hospitals and community providers. These capabilities align with ongoing initiatives led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Health Resources and Services Administration to improve healthcare access for rural populations. Conference attendees are invited to visit the GlobalMed booth #2867 at HIMSS26 for a live demonstration of the Mobile Medical Response Unit and to learn how this innovative platform is shaping the next generation of rural healthcare delivery. About GlobalMed Founded in 2002, GlobalMed is the world leader in evidence-based digital health solutions. Its interoperable suite of software, delivery systems, integrated medical devices, and wellness apps have powered more than 60 million consults in more than 60 countries. From the U.S. Defense Health Agency to Zimbabwe villages, GlobalMed helps providers deliver data-driven care to those who need it most all from one platform, at any point in the continuum of care. Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, GlobalMed serves government, commercial, and international customers, pairing the accuracy of in-person medicine with the power and reach of digital health. Learn more about GlobalMed innovation at www.globalmed.com. About MobileOp4 MobileOp4, based in Dallas, Texas, specializes in manufacturing affordable, rapidly deployable modules designed for emergency response, health care services, command operations, and large event support. We serve police departments, fire departments, first responders, hospital and other medical organizations seeking fast, reliable flex space to address health care, command, or operational needs in emergencies, underserved areas, and public gatherings. Learn more about MobileOp4 at www.mobileop4.com. SOURCE MobileOp4 (COLORADO SPRINGS) The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) said on Sunday, March 8, three men allegedly broke into a home where the owner had recently died. On Sunday, at around 6:30 p.m., officers were called to a home in the 1000 block of South Weber Street, east of the Motor City curve. CSPD said a neighbor reported the house was vacant as the owner had recently died, and reported suspects were in the backyard removing valuables. A Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) drone was the first on the scene and recorded three men. Officers arrived, and the three men ran from the area. The RTCC drone was able to track two of the men to a Maverik gas station on South Nevada Avenue. The operator of the drone allegedly saw a suspect attempting to change his appearance. Advertisement The suspect, identified as Trenton Nordby, was contacted by a patrol officer and taken into custody without incident. The other two suspects were identified through the collaboration of RTCC and patrol. Arrest warrants are pending for the two remaining suspects. 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 FOX21 News Colorado. Image Credit: Shutterstock. Dangerous can mean scams, theft, assaults, or worse, but global city comparisons usually lean on one number because it travels more cleanly across borders: intentional homicide rates. The ranking below comes from a bulletin published on 11 February 2026 that reports 2025 homicide rates per 100,000 residents for cities or metro areas with 300,000+ people. That metric is not perfect, but homicide is still one of the more comparable crime indicators used in cross-border analysis, which is why it keeps showing up in international violence studies. For background on that point, see the UNODCs 2023 Global Study on Homicide. This is not a full crime index, and it cannot describe every neighborhood, street, or hour of the day. Think of it as a high-voltage warning light. It does one job extremely well: it shows where lethal violence is unusually concentrated. What you do with that signal is the travel decision. A homicide rate is not a crystal ball that predicts what will happen to you. It is a baseline indicator of how stressed local security conditions may be, how quickly incidents can escalate, and how likely it is that serious violence is spilling into public life rather than staying hidden behind closed doors. When rates reach triple digits, the smart question is not whether you can handle it. It is whether you have a strong reason to be there at all. How To Read This Ranking Without Fooling Yourself Image Credit: Shutterstock. First, remember what the metric is and what it is not. Homicide captures the most severe outcome and is reported more consistently than many other crimes, which is why researchers use it for international comparison. It still does not measure scams, pickpocketing, harassment, or non-lethal assaults. A city can be miserable for travelers even with a lower homicide rate, and a city with a brutal overall rate can still contain pockets that feel calm for part of the day. Second, city labels matter. These entries use city or metro-level boundaries as presented in the source table, and several of them clearly cover something broader than a single walkable core. That means one number can hide very different local realities. Your hotel block, your airport transfer, your route after dark, and your willingness to improvise all change what you actually experience. The rate is not your itinerary. It is the backdrop your itinerary has to survive. Third, treat this list like a filter, not a dare. If a destination lands near the top, ask a basic question: do I actually need to go? If the answer is no, there are plenty of other places that deliver food, culture, beaches, and city energy without forcing you to gamble on severely stressed security conditions. The Travel Rule That Matters Most in High-Risk Places Image Credit: Shutterstock. In normal tourism, spontaneity is a feature. In high-risk environments, spontaneity is usually a liability. The goal is to reduce exposed decision points: fewer aimless walks, fewer last-minute detours, fewer moments where you are standing still in public with your attention split between maps, messages, and luggage. Tight plans can look boring on paper. In practice, they reduce the number of opportunities for a bad situation to find you. If you must travel to a high-risk city for essential reasons, your edge comes from logistics, not attitude. Pre-arranged transport. Clear meeting points. Daylight movement. Conservative evening plans. A base that locals and staff consider reliable. You are not trying to win the city. You are trying to finish the trip with as few moving parts as possible. 1. Port-au-Prince, Haiti Image Credit: Shutterstock. Port-au-Prince ranks 1st with a reported 197.43 homicides per 100,000 residents in 2025. The bulletin lists 6,185 homicides against an estimated population of 3,133,000, which is how the rate is calculated. By any normal public-safety standard, that number is extreme, and it is why the city sits at the top of the table. The wider travel picture is just as bleak. The U.S. State Department keeps Haiti at Level 4: Do Not Travel due to kidnapping, crime, terrorist activity, civil unrest, and limited health care. On top of that, the FAA has extended restrictions on U.S. flights to Port-au-Prince through early September 2026, according to Associated Press reporting on the latest aviation order. From a travel standpoint, this is not a walk around and see what happens destination. If a trip is genuinely unavoidable, it should be built around verified local support, tightly managed transport, and a schedule that leaves as little room for improvisation as possible. Most leisure travelers should simply choose somewhere else. 2. Babahoyo, Ecuador Image Credit: Shutterstock. Babahoyo ranks 2nd at 166.02 per 100,000 in the 2025 bulletin. The source records 527 homicides and an estimated population of 317,436. A number that high is not background noise. It is a signal that serious violence is shaping the baseline environment. Babahoyo also sits inside a live Ecuador security picture that has worsened, not eased. Canadas official Ecuador advisory lists Babahoyo under avoid non-essential travel due to violent crime, and the same page says Los Rios province is under a state of emergency tied to gang violence. That does not automatically mean every block is chaos every hour. It does mean casual optimism is a poor planning method. If you are only passing through, treat it like controlled transit rather than a sightseeing stop. Move in daylight, use pre-arranged rides, and keep the itinerary short and purposeful. In places where the security picture can shift quickly, certainty beats spontaneity every time. 3. Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa Image Credit: Shutterstock. Listed as Mandela Bay in the bulletin, Nelson Mandela Bay ranks 3rd with 119.81 homicides per 100,000 in 2025. The table shows 1,452 homicides and a population estimate of 1,211,951. That is an exceptionally high rate even before you start breaking a metro area into better and worse zones. Advertisement There is no neat, city-specific U.S. warning for Nelson Mandela Bay, so it is better to be precise than theatrical. The U.S. South Africa advisory is Level 2, but it also states that violent crime is common, especially in downtown areas of big cities after dark, and that kidnapping is a real threat for foreign travelers. That broader national guidance matters because high homicide metros do not exist in a vacuum. Travel here is about choosing your base carefully and keeping logistics boring in the best way. Stick to reputable transport, avoid improvising routes after dark, and keep your exposure low in transitional spaces like parking areas, roadside stops, and transport hubs. The goal is not panic. It is disciplined decision-making. 4. Machala, Ecuador Image Credit: Shutterstock. Machala ranks 4th with 116.65 homicides per 100,000 in 2025. The bulletin lists 693 homicides and 594,081 residents. Ecuadors repeated appearances near the top of the ranking are one of the clearest patterns in the table, and Machala is part of that broader shift. Official travel guidance points in the same direction, even if the wording differs by government. The U.S. advisory for Ecuador tells Americans to reconsider travel to El Oro province outside Huaquillas and Arenillas because of terrorism and crime. Canada goes further and places Machala under avoid non-essential travel due to violent crime. El Oro is also one of the provinces currently under a state of emergency. For travelers with an essential reason to go, the smart play is structure. Book transport in advance, avoid aimless wandering, and keep evening movement conservative. A calm, tightly managed itinerary does more for safety than any street smarts speech because it removes the situations where those instincts get stress-tested. 5. Quevedo, Ecuador Image Credit: Shutterstock. Quevedo ranks 5th at 109.01 homicides per 100,000 in 2025. The bulletin reports 433 homicides with a population estimate of 397,226. Once a city clears the 100 mark on this measure, it is no longer reasonable to treat violence as some distant issue that only affects other people in other neighborhoods. Quevedo also carries a direct U.S. warning, not just a vague national caution. The State Departments Ecuador advisory explicitly says Do Not Travel to Quevedo city due to terrorism and crime. It adds that the U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services there, which is the kind of sentence travelers should take seriously the first time they read it. For planning purposes, this should be treated as a city where unnecessary movement is a bad idea. Keep stops specific, avoid late-night transit, and let trusted local contacts shape the route if you are visiting friends or family. Current local knowledge beats generic caution every time. 6. Culiacan, Mexico Image Credit: Shutterstock. Culiacan ranks 6th with 103.91 homicides per 100,000 in 2025. The table lists 1,086 homicides and a population estimate of 1,045,017. Triple-digit homicide rates are already enough to flag a city as high-risk without piling on extra adjectives. The official travel picture is also clear. The U.S. Mexico advisory says Do Not Travel to Sinaloa due to terrorism and crime. It allows U.S. government employees to travel only to limited parts of Mazatlan, Los Mochis, and Topolobampo, and specifically says they may not travel to other areas of the state. Culiacan is not one of the carve-outs. If you have to go, keep the trip tight and purposeful. Use trusted transport, avoid lingering in public while you sort out the next move, and do not let polished social media clips convince you the risk is imaginary. Quiet moments can exist in high-risk places. They do not cancel out the baseline. 7. Manabi Centro, Ecuador Image Credit: Shutterstock. Manabi Centro ranks 7th at 103.77 homicides per 100,000 in 2025. The bulletin lists 911 homicides and 877,933 residents used for the rate. Because this entry is regional rather than neatly city-branded, it should be read as a warning about the broader area presented in the source table, not just one downtown core. That regional reading fits the current advisory picture. The U.S. State Department tells Americans to reconsider travel to Manabi province because of terrorism and crime. Canadas official Ecuador advisory also says Manabi is under a state of emergency and notes that organized criminal violence has intensified across several coastal provinces, including Manabi. If your route takes you through the region, plan like a cautious road traveler rather than an explorer chasing detours. Move during daylight, keep transport pre-arranged, and skip last-minute side trips into unfamiliar areas. In high-risk regions, consistency matters a lot more than confidence. Read More On March 11, 1990, Lithuania became the first Soviet Republic to declare its independence from the Soviet Union. The U.S.S.R. did not accept Lithuanias independence and imposed an economic blockade and deployed troops against Lithuania. This move eventually triggered a series of independence movements across Soviet Republics, resulting in the dissolution of the U.S.S.R. the following year. After the Russian Empire collapsed in 1917, Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia became independent nations. They remained independent until 1940, when they were annexed first by the Soviet Union and then occupied by Nazi Germany during World War II. In 1944, the Red Army returned to occupy the Baltic states, maintaining control until their independence in 1991. Resistance against Soviet rule persisted throughout the postwar period. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, USSR leader Joseph Stalin turned to mass repression, deporting about 600,000 people from the Baltics to Russia, with approximately 200,000 being Lithuanians. Under Khrushchev in the late 1950s and 1960s, resistance in Lithuania increased due to his policies of relaxation. Economic conditions improved as industrialization drew on local resources rather than relying solely on Russian workers. Additionally, the use of Lithuanian in education expanded. However, despite improved conditions, opposition continued throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Protests occurred in Vilnius in 1956 and in Kaunas in 1960. In 1972, a young nationalists protest sparked a riot. When Mikhail Gorbachev became leader of the Soviet Union in 1985, he aimed to improve relations with the West and reduce political repression by rejecting the Brezhnev Doctrine. The Lithuanian government interpreted this as a green light to announce independence in 1990. However, Gorbachev expressed dissatisfaction, clarifying that only satellite countries outside the Soviet Union could determine their own governments, not the republics within it. In March 1990, he presented an ultimatum to the Lithuanian government: either rescind its independence or face consequences. Nevertheless, on March 17th, Lithuania continued seeking diplomatic recognition from other countries. Advertisement As a result, economic sanctions were imposed on Lithuania, and Soviet troops were sent to Vilnius in 1990. In January 1991, Soviet troops stormed Vilnius, leaving 14 people dead and 150 injured. By the end of 1991, eleven other Soviet republics declared independence and formed the Commonwealth of Independent States. A few days later, Gorbachev resigned as president, and the Soviet Union dissolved that month. Ask us! What questions do you have about content, strategy, pop culture, lifestyle, wellness, history or more? We may use your question in an upcoming article! Ask us a question Like MediaFeeds content? Be sure to follow us. This article was syndicated by MediaFeed.org. ROME, Ga. After weeks of lead up to the special election in Georgia's 14th congressional district to replace former congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, the race will continue with a runoff. Election day brought tens of thousands of voters in northwest Georgia to the polls on Tuesday, but after results started to flow in, it was clear there would not be a winner declared that night. Democrat Shawn Harris took home the highest percentage of votes overall, 37.33%, but far from the 51% majority needed to claim the win. Republican Clay Fuller came in second overall with 34.87% of the vote, just shy of 3,000 votes short of Harris' lead. The election comes just two full weeks after President Trump visited Rome, Georgia to endorse Fuller in person and speak on tariffs and a variety of other topics at a steel warehouse facility. But how much did Trump's endorsement and influence in a longtime MAGA stronghold really play into the election results on Tuesday? Fuller and Harris drew different conclusions. Fuller thanks Trump in election night remarks At The Canoe House in Rome, Fuller was joined by family, supporters and reporters with eyes on a screen as votes were being counted across the district. It was soon clear the race was heading to a runoff, with many outlets calling the race less than 2 hours after polls closed. Fuller was introduced to the crowd by Mike Collins, a leading GOP U.S. Senate candidate, before taking the microphone and starting his remarks by thanking God. Georgia Republican congressional candidate Clay Fuller greets supporters during his watch night party after Georgia held a special election to fill a seat in its 14th Congressional District, which was left vacant when Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene resigned in January. Fuller then thanked his supporters, his staff and his wife, Kate Fuller. "Besides all the people in this room that have made this possible this evening, there's one person in particular that I really have to stay thankful to," Fuller continued. "For those of you that were questioning how important President Donald J. Trump is to this country, to Georgia 14th and the state of Georgia, you look at that screen behind me and you see what this man means to the people here in this community, what he means to the people in this country and what he means to the MAGA movement." Fuller went on to say that Trump has "entrusted" the MAGA movement with his campaign into the next decade. He said he would be a "warrior" for Trump in Washington. "I think it is reaffirmation that the voters (here) support the president (and) hear what he thinks about the people he wants to carry on his agenda," Fuller told USA Today chief political correspondent Phillip Bailey in an interview shortly after results were announced. Advertisement President Donald Trump looks on as Republican congressional candidate Clay Fuller speaks at the Coosa Steel Corporation in Rome, Georgia, on Feb. 19, 2026. If everyone who voted for any Republican in the first election votes for Fuller in the runoff, he will take home about 59.6% of the vote, enough to take home the win. The Republican with the second highest number of votes was Colton Moore, a former state representative who strongly aligned himself with Trump but ultimately did not receive the endorsement. In the final days of the election, Moore started attacking Fuller directly with claims about his previous support and personal life, leading to Fuller releasing a video and statement calling the attacks "disgraceful." Moore denied texts attacking Fuller's family sent to voters who were from his campaign. "Obviously, when you're running a strong campaign that has strong support the arrows come," Fuller said in a March 9 post on X. "I'm not afraid of a tough fight or even desperate politicians lashing out with lies because they were passed over by President Trump." Republicans have a 'Marjorie Taylor Greene' problem, Harris says At his own election night event in Rome at his campaign headquarters, Harris said while Republicans may have narrowed their support, the rift between Trump and Greene may be bigger in northwest Georgia than Fuller realizes. "I was right here in this office that day Donald Trump came here, he was less than two miles up the road," Harris told USA Today in a one-on-one interview on election night. "You could still drive around like a normal day... and that's when I realized that oh, Donald Trump didn't realize it, but (the) Marjorie Taylor Greene factor is in effect. As long as they have this major discussion or major divorce that's going on, the Republicans got a problem." Democrat Shawn Harris spoke with MS Now shortly after his race to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene was called for a runoff. In an interview with MSNow Tuesday evening, Harris said that his team's goals were to get the most votes in the first election knowing it was likely going to a runoff, and to build a coalition of Democrats, Independents and Republicans ready for a new era of politics in northwest Georgia post-MTG. "The reality of this is we are seeing it tonight. President Trump came down here two Thursdays ago ... and it made absolutely no difference," Harris said. "Tomorrow we get up, we start it all over again." Harris supporters told USA Today when exiting the polls Tuesday that his demeanor and respectful take on politics was part of what drew them to support Harris, and a welcome change from the years of Greene making constant, and often controversial, headlines. Georgia Democrat congressional candidate Shawn Harris speaks after the voting results were announced during his watch night party in Rome, Georgia, on March 10, 2026. "I was raised to be respectful to people, so all the stuff that's going between (Colton) Moore and Fuller, back and forth, I'm going to stay above that," Harris said. "That is not my nature, that's not my character. I'm going to stick to the facts ... If Fuller wants to attack me, that's his business, but at the end of the day it speaks to his character. I think him and I should have a debate. We should talk about the facts and kind of go from there and let people come out and vote." Harris has his own support from a well-known Democrat in former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, who endorsed Harris for the seat. Harris and Buttigieg are hosting a joint event in Dallas, Georgia on Saturday with what is expected to be a discussion focused on veterans. Both Harris and Buttigieg served in the U.S. military. Irene Wright is the Atlanta Connect reporter with USA Todays Deep South Connect team. Find her on X @IreneEWright or email her at ismith@usatodayco.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Did voters feel Trump presence in Georgia? Runoff candidates disagree FILES-FRANCE-US-AI-TECHNOLOGY-INTERNET Elon Musk, the wealthiest man on Earth, won approval on Tuesday for his artificial intelligence company to nearly double the number of methane gas turbines at its "Colossus 2" datacenter in Mississippi, a move that environmental advocates say would demand enormous amounts of electricity and cause harmful air pollution. Musk's datacenter will be powered by the 41 turbines, which in turn power his AI bot Grok, a tool that has been embroiled in controversies from its production of nonconsensual pornography to posts expressing support for Adolf Hitler, and Musk's own public efforts to correct what he says are "woke" ideas that it sometimes spits out. "Our communities are not playgrounds for corporations who are chasing profit over people," said Abre' Conner, the director of environmental and climate justice for the NAACP, referring to the decision by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality that ran against massive protest from local residents. "MDEQ chose to bulldoze through a decision that silenced the very residents most harmed by it." At a public hearing in February, none of the hundreds of people who appeared spoke in favor of the MDEQ granting Musk the permit. In response, the NAACP has filed a lawsuit against xAI over the datacenter's pollution, arguing the MDEQ dismissed valid concerns by the community in an effort to hurry along the decision. "This was not a thoughtful, phased development. It was an industrial surge imposed on our residential community," a resident said (Image: SELC) "The scale, the speed, the intensity of this expansion are unlike anything this area has absorbed," said Southaven resident Nathan Reed at last month's hearing, according to NBC. "This was not a thoughtful, phased development. It was an industrial surge imposed on our residential community," he said. Advertisement The generators used by xAI in its datacenters in Mississippi and Tennessee emit fine particulate matter containing dangerous chemicals such as nitrogen oxide and formaldehyde, according to the Southern Environmental Law Center. The chemicals are linked to increases in asthma, heart attacks and some cancers. Even before Musk's "Colossus" datacenter in Tennessee was constructed, the American Lung Association had awarded nearby DeSoto and Shelby counties an "F" grade. "xAI's 27 unpermitted turbines have the potential to emit a staggering amount of nitrogen oxides, a type of pollution that causes smog," the SELC wrote in a February report. "This would likely make the facility the largest industrial source of NOx in the 11-county Memphis metropolitan area - an area already struggling with problems with smog." Connor said the SELC will not stand idly by as Musk's AI-powering datacenters expand (Image: Solar Turbines) Connor said the SELC will not stand idly by as Musk's AI-powering datacenters expand. "As we shared when xAI began its operation in Tennessee, this illegal pollution only exacerbates complications to frontline communities who continue to bear the brunt of environmental injustice. We cannot allow for companies to promise a better future while pumping harmful chemicals into the air we breathe," she said. "We demand that xAI follow the Clean Air Act and stop operating these unpermitted turbines to protect the people of Southaven," Connor added. ]]> The Social Security inspector generals office is investigating a whistleblower complaint alleging that a former employee of President Donald Trumps effectively defunct Department of Government Efficiency exploited Americans private information. In a document HuffPost obtained Tuesday, the Social Security Administrations internal watchdog informed the chairs and ranking members of four congressional committees last week that it was launching an investigation after receiving an anonymous complaint about the potential misuse of SSA data by a former DOGE employee. Politics: Social Security Whistleblower Quits, Cites 'Potentially Unlawful' Data Practices The Washington Post reported more details not divulged by the SSA OIG, saying Tuesday it had reviewed the claim and spoken with the whistleblower. According to the complaint, a former DOGE software engineer claimed he had access to two highly sensitive SSA databases and planned to share Americans personal information with his new private sector employer. The databases include private information Social Security numbers, birthplaces, birthdates, citizenship status, parents names, races and ethnicities for more than 500 million Americans living and dead. The complaint, the Post reports, claims that the former DOGE worker told the whistleblower he needed help uploading a thumb drive of the data to his personal computer so he could sanitize it before giving it to his new workplace. The worker allegedly told another colleague he believed Trump would pardon him if he was caught doing something illegal. Like this article? Keep independent journalism alive. Support HuffPost. Elon Musk flashes his DOGE shirt to the media as he walks on the South Lawn of the White House in March 2025. via Associated Press Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), one of the lawmakers who received notice of the complaint, said he was very concerned about the details he learned from the Post. Advertisement These allegations describe one of the largest known data breaches in American history, perpetrated by Trump appointees for the explicit purpose of weaponizing Americans sensitive personal data for political gain, he said in a statement. There must be a full public accounting of this breach at Social Security, including justice for anyone who committed or enabled criminal theft of Americans data. Politics: Trump Admin Admits DOGE May Have Mishandled Social Security Data Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) raised concerns about the former DOGE employees ability to access and alter SSA data remotely. Not only has an ex-DOGE bro been accused of running around with the social security information of every American on a flash drive, he also may have the ability to edit and manipulate data at the Social Security Administration at will, he warned, calling it dangerous and outrageous. Security issues related to DOGE, a government cost-cutting initiative led by tech billionaire and former Trump ally Elon Musk, have been ongoing. In January, the Trump administration admitted in court that staffers at DOGE had unauthorized access to sensitive SSA data and may have shared it outside the agency. This also isnt the first whistleblower complaint alleging misconduct at DOGE. In August, a complaint from the SSAs chief data officer, Charles Borges, alleged that DOGE staffers had recklessly made a live copy of the SSAs most sensitive database and stored it insecurely on a digital cloud server. The investigation into those claims remains ongoing. Arthur Delaney contributed reporting. Political Updates Read the original on HuffPost 3D-printed oil pump jacks and the Chevron logo appear in this illustration taken March 2, 2026. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration By Marianna Parraga and Deisy Buitrago HOUSTON/CARACAS, March 10 (Reuters) - International oil majors Chevron and Shell are closing in on the first big oil production deals with Venezuela since the U.S. capture of President Nicolas Maduro in January, five sources close to the negotiations told Reuters. The deals would allow both companies to boost production in coveted oil regions in the South American country, the biggest steps to date toward what U.S. President Donald Trump has said would be a $100 billion effort to rebuild Venezuela's oil industry after decades of mismanagement and underinvestment under Maduro and his predecessor Hugo Chavez. Venezuela's National Assembly in late January approved a sweeping reform of the country's main oil law. It now grants foreign companies autonomy to operate, export and sell Venezuelan oil even when they are minority partners of state-owned oil company PDVSA. Chevron and Venezuela's energy authorities have agreed on preliminary terms to expand Chevron's largest oil project, Petropiar, in the vast Orinoco Belt, two of the sources said. Venezuela's oil ministry, PDVSA and Chevron did not reply to requests for comment. The deal would give Chevron the rights to produce from the Ayacucho 8 area located south of the Petropiar project area, the two sources added, a large block with proven oil resources. This would allow Chevron to make a substantial increase in the extra-heavy oil it produces and exports. Chevron aims to secure a reduced royalty rate for the new area and other tax and trade incentives offered to companies under the new legislation to develop greenfield oil and gas areas, according to the two sources. PDVSA completed exploration and appraisal in Ayacucho about two decades ago but it remains largely undeveloped. Chevron and PDVSA could extend their well-cluster production system in Petropiar to Ayacucho 8, allowing them to boost output relatively quickly, the sources added. The project would be Chevron's fifth oil area in Venezuela. The project could turn Chevron into the biggest private producer in the Orinoco, which holds over three quarters of the country's total crude reserves. Rival U.S. company ConocoPhillips used to be that region's top foreign producer before it left Venezuela two decades ago following a wave of nationalizations. Chevron and PDVSA were producing around 90,000 barrels per day (bpd) of upgraded Hamaca crude and 20,000 bpd of vacuum gasoil at Petropiar last month, according to a PDVSA document seen by Reuters. Venezuela's total production is around 1.05 million bpd. SHELL PROGRESSES IN OIL, GAS DEALS Shell signed preliminary oil and gas agreements with Venezuela last week, when U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum was in Caracas. Venezuela's government did not make public the details of those deals and the fields included. Advertisement Reuters has learned from an official summary document of the agreements that Shell aims to develop the Carito and Pirital fields in the coveted Monagas North region in eastern Venezuela. These are among the few areas in the country that can produce light and medium crude and natural gas, prized by oil companies that need it for blending to facilitate exports of Venezuela's heavy oil. Shell confirmed in an email it signed several agreements with the government, engineering companies Vepica and KBR and oil-service firm Baker Hughes, which "formally articulate Shell's intent to progress a variety of opportunities with Venezuela," including offshore gas, onshore oil and gas, exploration, local content and workforce development. It did not disclose the fields or give further details to Reuters. Monagas North could also fit into Shell's broader strategy focused on natural gas - due to its proximity to the country's onshore gas infrastructure and the areas with the most gas flaring in Venezuela. Shell, M&P and other companies have previously designed plans to minimize gas flaring by building the infrastructure needed to capture it, process it and transport it for export, possibly through Trinidad. The Punta de Mata area, which includes Pirital, Carito and the nearby El Furrial field, produced some 94,000 bpd of crude and some 1.03 billion cubic feet per day of gas last month, according to independent figures. Of that, some 350 million cubic feet per day were flared. Shell's only project in Venezuela before the preliminary agreement was announced was the flagship Dragon offshore development near Trinidad. The company has struggled to advance it after the U.S. imposed sanctions on Venezuela's energy sector in 2019. Shell had sold its stake in the flagship Urdaneta Oeste oilfield to French Maurel & Prom in 2018. PDVSA and the oil ministry are in talks with about a dozen joint venture partners willing to expand operations to neighboring fields, mature areas or blocks marked as greenfields, where infrastructure development is needed. Among other companies seeking to expand the areas where they have projects so they can boost oil and gas output are Spain's Repsol and M&P, the sources said. Repsol is the foreign partner with the largest debt to recover in Venezuela, with over $5 billion that accumulated under sanctions, the firm said last month. Chevron and Venezuela's government are also negotiating for the U.S. major to return two untapped offshore natural gas areas to Venezuela at the Plataforma Deltana project on the maritime border with Trinidad and Tobago, which could be reoffered for private investment. It is unclear what the terms would be for Chevron to give up those stakes. Chevron is focused on oil rather than gas production in Venezuela. Venezuela in February began a review of all oil and gas projects, starting with production sharing contracts signed by Maduro's administration with little-known firms, and more recently moving to joint ventures with larger partners. The government is requesting documentation on projects from participating companies, the sources said. PDVSA has taken over the administration and oil sales of many production sharing contracts while it conducts the review, suspending them temporarily. Oil ministry officials have told oil executives they would complete the review as soon as the end of March, sources said. Officials from the oil ministry have told oil executives that projects that were inactive or that did not meet investment targets could see their contracts revoked under the review. The U.S. government also is carefully checking company credentials and sanctions compliance before granting clearance to any existing or new partners, separate sources said. (Reporting by Marianna Parraga in Houston and Deisy Buitrago in Caracas, additional reporting by Sheila Dang. Editing by Simon Webb and David Gregorio) Fuel prices are displayed at a Shell gas station in Copenhagen, Denmark, March 9, 2026. Ritzau Scanpix/Sebastian Elias Uth via REUTERS By Marwa Rashad LONDON, March 11 (Reuters) - Shell, the world's largest liquefied natural gas trader, has declared force majeure on LNG cargoes it buys from QatarEnergy and sells to its clients worldwide, three sources told Reuters on Wednesday. Qatar, the world's second-largest exporter of LNG, announced a production halt at its 77 million tons per annum (mtpa) facility last week and declared force majeure on LNG shipments. Shell declined to comment. Other Qatari LNG buyers, including TotalEnergies and some Asian companies, have received force majeure notices from Qatar and told customers they would not be selling them Qatari LNG as long as the facilities remain shut, two other sources said. Advertisement A source close to TotalEnergies said the French oil and gas major has not declared force majeure, a notice used to describe events outside a company's control, such as a natural disaster, which usually releases it from contractual obligation without penalty. Both Shell and TotalEnergies have long-term partnerships with QatarEnergy and are partners in the company's massive North Field expansion project which aims to boost capacity by 2027. Analysts estimate Shell takes 6.8 mtpa of Qatari LNG, while TotalEnergies takes 5.2 mtpa. Qatari Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi told the Financial Times last week that it would take "weeks to months" to return to normal deliveries, even if the war ended today. QatarEnergy declared force majeure on LNG shipments on Wednesday. Sources told Reuters last week that the force majeure notices sent to clients stated that LNG deliveries for March will not be affected, with the impact being felt as of April. (Reporting by Marwa Rashad; Additional reporting by America Hernandez; Editing by Nina Chestney and Alexander Smith) The Thailand-flagged cargo ship Mayuree Naree engulfed in black smoke in the Strait of Hormuz, March 11, 2026. ROYAL THAI NAVY/Handout via REUTERS (Refiles to correct date) March 12 (Reuters) - The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran has threatened Gulf ports and disrupted global trade through the Strait of Hormuz through which roughly a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas normally passes. Iran's Revolutionary Guards have warned that any ship passing through the narrow Strait will be targeted. Below is a list of reported attacks since the war started on February 28: MARCH 1 A crew member was killed on board Marshall Islandsflagged crude tanker MKD VYOM after it was hit by a projectile as the vessel sailed off the Omani coast, 50 nautical miles north of the capital Muscat, manager V.Ships said. Gibraltar-flagged oil bunkering tanker Hercules Star, which supplies fuel to ships, was struck by a projectile 17 nautical miles northwest of UAE's Mina Saqr in Ras Al Khaimah. A fire caused by the attack was extinguished, UKMTO said. A Palau-flagged tanker was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, two nautical miles north of Oman's Kumzar. The crew of the U.S.-sanctioned Skylight was evacuated, Oman's maritime security centre said. MARCH 2 U.S.-flagged products tanker Stena Imperative was struck by two projectiles in the port of Bahrain, which resulted in a fire and the crew evacuating, UKMTO said. MARCH 3 Marshall Islands crude oil tanker Libra Trader and Panama-flagged bulker Gold Oak also sustained minor damage about 7-10 nautical miles off the UAE's port of Fujairah, UKMTO said. MARCH 4 Advertisement Maltese-flagged container ship Safeen Prestige was damaged by a projectile as it sailed towards the top of the strait, two nautical miles north of Oman. The attack caused a fire in the engine room and prompted its crew to abandon ship, according to shipping sources. MARCH 5 Crude oil tanker Sonangol Namibe was hit by a blast while anchored near Iraq's Khor al Zubair port, U.S. representative company Sonangol Marine Services said. An Iranian remote-controlled boat laden with explosives was used to target and damage the Bahamas-flagged ship, according to initial assessments from two Iraqi port security sources. MARCH 6 A tugboat was hit by projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz, six nautical miles north of Oman, while conducting operations with vessel Safeen Prestige, which was struck on March 4, UKMTO said. MARCH 7 UKMTO reported - citing a third party it did not name - a possible drone attack 10 nautical miles north of Saudi Arabia's Jubail. It said the majority of the crew was evacuated. MARCH 11 Thailand-flagged bulk carrier Mayuree Naree was attacked by a projectile in the Strait, 11 nautical miles north of Oman. A fire broke out on board and prompted the crew to evacuate, the vessel's owner Bangkok-headquartered Precious Shipping said in a statement. Japan-flagged container ship One Majesty sustained minor damage after it was hit by a projectile 25 nautical miles northwest of UAE's Ras Al Khaimah. The hull of Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier Star Gwyneth was damaged after being hit by a projectile 50 nautical miles northwest of Dubai, maritime risk management company Vanguard said. There was no environmental impact reported and the crew was reported safe, UKMTO said. Fuel tankers, Marshall Islands-flagged Safesea Vishnu and the Maltese-flagged Zefyros, were attacked in the Gulf near Iraq, prompting Iraq's oil ports to completely stop operations, according to port officials and the state news agency. One port security official said the body of a foreign crew member was recovered from the water. (Compiled by Nayera Abdallah; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise) Investigators followed a trail of familial DNA matches to a man suspected of sexual assaults in Texas and Oklahoma in 2021, according to a Tuesday media release from the Texas Department of Public Safety. Hunter Mackey, 27, was arrested by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation in McCloud, Oklahoma, on Feb. 17, the DPS said in the media release. He was being held Tuesday in the Pottawatomie County Jail in Oklahoma, the DPS said. Anyone charged with a crime is presumed innocent until convicted beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law. According to the DPS media release, on Oct. 10, 2021, a woman in North Texas told investigators she was assaulted by a man now identified as Mackey. The woman told Fannin County Sheriffs Office investigators that she had met him through social media, and he had picked her up in a sedan with Oklahoma registration, driven her to a location and sexually assaulted her, the DPS said. Two months later, investigators were notified of a possible DNA match between the Fannin County case and another similar sexual assault case in Ardmore, Oklahoma, the DPS said. Advertisement A man suspected of sexually assaulting two women was arrested recently after an extensive search of DNA. DNA collected during the investigation was submitted to a national database to check for possible DNA matches between suspects and unsolved cases nationwide, the DPS said. According to the media release, Texas Rangers began coordinating with law enforcement in Oklahoma to conduct a familial search of the DNA samples from the Ardmore case. More: UPDATED Woman found dead in Electra house fire identified More: The humble Pig Stand in Wichita Falls reveals a colorful past In August 2024, evidence from the Ardmore case was sent to BODE Technologies for DNA testing and genealogy research, which ultimately led to the identification of three brothers as potential suspects in September 2025. Further investigation yielded a positive match for Hunter Mackey, the DPS said. On Feb. 17, the OSBI located and arrested Mackey. "Cases like these highlight the importance of collaborative investigative work between the Texas Rangers and our partner law enforcement agencies to bring justice and closure to victims and their families in unsolved crimes," the release said. This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Familial DNA leads investigators to arrest in sexual assault cases Rhodes will be Managing Director of Business Development, Middle East and Asia and will help to accelerate the growth of Monetary Metals gold leasing business. SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Monetary Metals today announced that Jeffrey Rhodes, one of the most respected figures in the global bullion market, has joined the company full time to support its global growth initiatives. Rhodes brings more than 45 years of experience in the precious metals industry, having held senior leadership roles at major bullion banks and financial institutions including Credit Suisse, Standard Bank, Samuel Montagu, the London Bullion Market Association, and StoneX. Monetary Metals Welcomes Industry Veteran Jeffrey Rhodes to Drive Global Gold Leasing Expansion Throughout his distinguished career, Rhodes has helped establish and grow precious metals businesses across four continents: the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and North America. He also played a key role in the development of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre, which helped Dubai become one of the world's leading physical gold markets. Rhodes joining Monetary Metals full-time marks a major milestone as the company continues to expand its Gold Yield Marketplace and accelerate its leadership in the global gold leasing market. "Jeffrey is one of the most influential figures in the history of the gold bullion market," said Keith Weiner, Founder and CEO of Monetary Metals. "Few people understand the mechanics and global dynamics of gold leasing as deeply as he does. His decision to join Monetary Metals full time reflects both the scale of the opportunity ahead and the growing recognition that our model represents the future of gold finance." Rhodes said joining Monetary Metals at this stage of its growth represents a unique opportunity. "Over the past four decades I've watched the evolution of the gold market from the inside," said Rhodes. "Monetary Metals has developed a model that finally allows gold to function as productive capital again. The company is uniquely positioned to capture significant market share in the global gold leasing market, and I'm excited to help accelerate that growth." Monetary Metals' innovative approach enables investors to earn yield on their gold, paid in gold, while providing financing to businesses that use gold productively. With global demand for gold yield rising rapidly, the addition of Rhodes further strengthens the firm's leading position as it continues to expand internationally. For more information, visit monetary-metals.com. About Monetary Metals Monetary Metals delivers a yield on gold, paid in gold, via its Gold Yield Marketplace platform, by offering gold-denominated financing to qualified companies in the precious metals industry. Through its gold leases and gold bonds, investors and institutions worldwide earn a yield on gold and silver every month, compounding their holdings over time with no storage fees. For more information, please visit monetary-metals.com. Monetary Metals Contact Information: Dickson Buchanan Jr. Vice President Marketing [email protected] 646-653-9729 For additional information or press inquiries, please contact [email protected] SOURCE Monetary Metals & Co. Clay Fuller said he'd nominate each ICE agent for the Presidential Medal of Freedom -Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited (Reach Publishing Services Limited) The favorite to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene in Congress said he would nominate each Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent for the Presidential Medal of Freedom for "enforcing federal law." Clay Fuller is running for Georgia's 14th Congressional District, a solid Republican seat last held by Greene, who resigned from the House at the start of the year. Donald Trump won the district by 37 points in 2024. Georgians are voting Tuesday to select their nominees for a special election to fill the vacant seat. Fuller, who has received Trump's endorsement, is running against Colton Moore, a former Republican state representative and several other candidates. Shawn Harris, a military veteran who lost against Greene in her last election, is considered the favorite for the Democratic nomination. All the signs of growing rift as Trump and Vance at loggerheads over Iran war Fox News viewers slam 'idiotic old guy' Trump over Iran girls' school bombing claim The favorite to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene called to "triple" ICE's budget -Credit:REX/Shutterstock Greene quit Congress after falling out with Trump over the Jeffrey Epstein files, and she has continued to criticize the president after he launched airstrikes on Iran. Advertisement After winning Trump's endorsement, Fuller went on to praise ICE, claiming the department is preventing tragedies. Id triple your budget at ICE, and then I'd nominate each and every ICE agent for the presidential medal of freedom because that's exactly what they're doing by enforcing federal law," he said. Widespread protests broke out in the wake of the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were killed by ICE and Customs and Border Patrol officers in Minneapolis in January. Good and Pretti, both 37, were protesting violent crackdowns by ICE in Minnesota, where another man was shot in the leg by ICE. The ICE and CBP agents involved in the shootings are still facing state and federal investigations into excessive use of force. Clay Fuller called himself a "MAGA warrior" at a Georgia rally after winning Trump's endorsement Trump endorsed Fuller, the district attorney for the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit and an Air National Guard Officer, and in February. Clay knows the Wisdom and Courage required to Defend our Country, Support our Brave Military/Veterans, and Ensure PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH, Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. There are 17 total candidates running in the Georgia special election, including 12 Republicans and five Democrats. If no candidate from either party reaches a majority of votes Tuesday night, a runoff vote would be scheduled for April 7. Georgia's 14th district covers 10 counties that stretches from suburban Atlanta to the border with Tennessee. The FBI is now offering $1 million for information leading to the arrest of one of its "Top Ten Most Wanted Fugitives." Omar Alexander Cardenas is wanted by local and federal authorities for a 2019 murder in Los Angeles. Cardenas is accused of firing several rounds at the victim, Jabali Dumas, at a barber shop on Aug. 15, 2019, according to the FBI. Dumas was struck in the head and died, authorities said. FBI - PHOTO: The FBI is offering a reward of up to $1,000,000 for information leading to the arrest of Omar Alexander Cardenas. Cardenas has "known gang affiliations," and the shooting is believed to have been gang-related, according to Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell. A local arrest warrant was issued for Cardenas in April 2020 after he was charged with murder, the FBI said. He is believed to have possibly fled to Mexico and has also been federally charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, according to the FBI. Ryan Wedding, former Olympian turned FBI Most Wanted fugitive, arrested Advertisement The FBI initially offered a $100,000 reward for information on Cardenas' whereabouts when he was added to its "Top Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" list in 2022. The reward, which subsequently increased to $250,000, has now surged to $1 million, the FBI announced on Tuesday. McDonnell called the new reward a "critical step forward" in the case. "We believe that someone knows Omar Cardenas' whereabouts, and we're urging anyone with information to please come forward," the chief said during a press briefing on Tuesday. "Our mission is clear -- to locate and apprehend Cardenas and bring justice for the Dumas family." FBI - PHOTO: Omar Alexander Cardenas is on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. Akil Davis, the assistant director in charge of the FBI Los Angeles field office, said the U.S.' relationship with the government of Mexico "has never been stronger," pointing to the recent apprehension in Mexico of another "Most Wanted" fugitive -- former Olympic snowboarder turned alleged drug kingpin Ryan Wedding. Davis shared a message directed at Cardenas. "Mexico is not safe for you. Mr. Cardenas, if that's where you're hiding," Davis said during the briefing. "I have full faith in this task force that they will bring you to justice." The logo of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) displayed on the building in Washington, D.C., U.S., November 28, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard QUITO, March 11 (Reuters) - The United States has opened its first Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) office in Ecuador, the U.S. Embassy in Quito said on Wednesday. The office will aim to work with Ecuadorean officials to fight the trafficking of drugs and weapons, along with money laundering and the financing of terrorism, the embassy said in a social media post. Ecuador's Interior Minister John Reimber told reporters that collaboration with the FBI office would start immediately, after prior joint efforts with the U.S. Advertisement "What has changed is that we have FBI agents permanently in Ecuador working with a national police unit that has been set up so that they can work together," he said. Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa has made a military crackdown on organized crime a cornerstone of his administration. Last week his government staged a joint operation with U.S. officials to target drug trafficking operations in the South American country. (Reporting by Alexandra Valencia, Writing by Daina Beth Solomon; Editing by Brendan O'Boyle) The FBI warned California of a possible attack.UNSPLASH California could be the first target for Iran as the West Coast has been alerted to a possible attack following President Trump's bombing and killing the country's leader, RadarOnline.com can reveal. According to an ABC News report, the FBI has warned the state the Islamic Republic could launch drones as revenge for the war. The FBI's Warning to California FBI has alerted California to a possible attack.Nicole Cavelli/Unsplash The alert noted: "Iran allegedly aspired to conduct a surprise attack using unmanned aerial vehicles from an unidentified vessel off the coast of the United States Homeland, specifically against unspecified targets in California, in the event that the US conducted strikes against Iran." The FBI added: "We have no additional information on the timing, method, target, or perpetrators of this alleged attack." The alert was revealed as Trump has not backed away from attacking Iran, even boasting after taking out Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. "I got him before he got me. They tried twice. Well, I got him first." Trump recently said. When Will The War End According to Donald Trump? Trump has not backed away from attacking Iran.MEGA In 2024, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland revealed a plot that involved killing Trump: "The Justice Department has charged an asset of the Iranian regime who was tasked by the regime to direct a network of criminal associates to further Irans assassination plots against its targets, including President-elect Donald Trump." Khamenei was reported dead on February 28. His son, Mojtaba, was named Iran's new Supreme Leader on March 8. While the FBI's newly surfaced warning did not include any details on how drone-capable ships would make it to the US coast, officials have been concerned for years that Tehran might "forward-deploy" hardware in anticipation of a battle. Advertisement Despite the fears, Trump doesn't think the war will last much longer, as he claimed it will end "soon," as there is "practically nothing left to target." The president believes the war with Iran will end 'soon.'MEGA Little this and that Any time I want it to end, it will end, Trump added, and added the war, which has led to the deaths of seven American soldiers, was only designed to go on for six weeks. He boasted, "The war is going great. We are way ahead of the timetable. We have done more damage than we thought possible, even in the original six-week period. Trump later told reporters Iran has "lost their air force, they have no anti-aircraft apparatus at all. They have no radar. Their leaders are gone. And we could do a lot worse." However, Israels defense minister claimed there was no time limit to the US-Israeli operation against Iran. An Eerie Threat to Iran's New Leader Israels defense minister doesn't agree with Trump's timetable.MEGA Israel Katz explained, "The operation will continue without any time limit, as long as required, until we accomplish all objectives and achieve victory in the campaign." Trump has already offered a warning to Khamenei's son, who has now taken over the reins from his late father. The president said the new leader would face consequences if he pursued aggressive policies. He sent an eerie threat to the country's new leader, claiming he would "not last long if he doesn't get approval from us." He explained: "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." Finland joined NATO in 2023 in response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine (JOHN THYS) (JOHN THYS/AFP/AFP) Finland's intelligence agency warned Tuesday that Russian spies could boost their efforts to target and destabilise the new NATO member once the Ukraine war ends. The Finnish Security and Intelligence Service (SUPO) said that while the Ukraine conflict, triggered by Moscow's full-scale invasion in 2022, would probably continue for the "forseeable future", its end would free up Russian resources. Finland, which shares a 1,340-kilometre (830-mile) border with Russia, dropped decades of military non-alignment to join NATO in April 2023 in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine, enraging the Kremlin. "Russian intelligence capacity in Europe has suffered due to the war, and Russia is preparing to restore this capacity," SUPO said in a statement. "Russian intelligence and influencing resources currently tied to Ukraine will become available to be used elsewhere after the war." SUPO said Finland would remain of interest to Russia as "a NATO country between the Baltic Sea and the Arctic region." Advertisement If relations between Europe and Russia improve, "the intelligence threat posed by Russia to Finland will become more diverse, with previous operating methods complemented by methods proven effective in the current environment," Juha Martelius, Director of SUPO, said. "These include the extensive utilisation of proxy actors and intelligence gathering from bases on Russian soil," he added. Finland has in the past accused Moscow of "hybrid warfare" in orchestrating a surge of migrants at their shared border -- a charge the Kremlin denied. Last year, western officials accused Russian vessels of sabotaging undersea communications and power cables in several high-profile incidents in the Baltic Sea in recent months. But SUPO warned about attributing too many incidents to Russia. "As various events are readily attributed to Russia, Russian influencing against Finland may appear more extensive than it truly is," it said. jll/pdw Officials have urged residents in vulnerable areas to take precautions At least 102 people have been killed in floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains in the Gamo Zone of southern Ethiopia, the local authority has said. The official death toll, initially put at just over 30, has steadily risen over the past 24 hours. Earlier on Thursday, a senior policeman said 64 had died. Dozens are still missing. Most of the casualties were in highland areas, where saturated slopes gave way after days of intense rain, officials have reported. Torrential rains have unleashed widespread flooding across East Africa in recent days. Dozens have also died in neighbouring Kenya. Forecasters say storms are becoming more intense in the region, partly due to climate change. Before the revised death toll, the governor of the South Ethiopia Regional state had offered his condolences to the affected families. "On behalf of myself and the regional government, I express my deep sorrow over the loss of 30 lives due to landslides and floods in the highlands of Gamo Zone caused by heavy rains," Tilahun Kebede said in a statement on Facebook late on Tuesday. Officials said the disaster followed sustained rainfall in surrounding districts. The town of Arba Minch and neighbouring areas have experienced continuous downpours for two days, causing widespread damage to homes, infrastructure and farmland. Advertisement Authorities have warned that further flooding and landslides remain possible. Mudslides have blocked key roads and several bridges have been flooded, prompting calls for the public to remain vigilant. Emergency teams are monitoring the situation. Over the past two decades, numerous studies have documented a rise in both extreme wet spells and prolonged dry periods across East Africa. Scientists have repeatedly cautioned that human-driven climate change is making severe weather events - such as intense, long-lasting downpours - more frequent and more severe. More than 229 people, including rescuers, were killed by a landslide in the neighbouring Geze Gofa Zone in July 2024. Additional reporting by Jean Otalor More about Ethiopia from the BBC: A woman looking at her mobile phone and the graphic BBC News Africa Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica BBC Africa podcasts The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced Monday that it selected eight proposals for a new pilot program testing new advanced air mobility and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in 26 states. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and the FAA unveiled the pilot program, known as the Advanced Air Mobility and eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (e-IPP), which will center on eight projects in 26 states. The futuristic aircraft can run on electric or hybrid engines and may carry people or cargo, taking off and landing in relatively confined spaces. They're often referred to as " air taxis " or "flying cars" since they represent an alternative to traditional means of transportation. Under the pilot program, several operational concepts will be tested, including urban air taxi services and regional passenger transportation, including with short takeoff and landing aircraft. The Flying Taxi: A Look At The Future Of Travel Additional concepts include cargo and logistics networks, emergency medical response operations, autonomous flight technologies and offshore and energy-sector transportation. Read On The Fox Business App Among the projects selected for participation in the pilot program was one involving the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which will have four industry partners participate in testing 12 operational concepts across New England. The Texas Department of Transportation will be involved with four industry partners in supporting regional flights connecting Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and eventually Houston with air taxi networks expanding from each city. Advertisement Archer Aviation Teams Up With United Airlines To Make Air Taxis A Reality The Archer Aviation Midnight eVTOL aircraft in flight. (Fox News) Four states spanning the Pacific Northwest, the Rocky Mountains and the Plains of Oklahoma will test a range of next-generation aircraft and operational concepts under the leadership of the Utah Department of Transportation. Florida's Department of Transportation will work with industry partners to test three phases of operations focused on cargo delivery, passenger transportation, automation and medical response with public and private investment. Louisiana will host operations to test cargo and personnel transportation capabilities to enable flights over the high seas into the Gulf of America and energy industry locations in Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi. A New Way Of Commuting Is Closer To Taking Off In The Us Other projects detailed in the announcement include those led by the transportation departments of North Carolina and Pennsylvania, as well as the City of Albuquerque. The program was created under an "Unleashing Drone Dominance" executive order signed by President Donald Trump . "Thanks to President Trump, the future of aviation is here, and it's going to dramatically improve how people and products move," Duffy said. "Congratulations to the great American innovators behind each of these exciting pilot programs. "Working together, we will ensure America leads the way in safely leveraging next-gen aircraft to radically redefine personal travel, regional transportation, cargo logistics, emergency medicine and so much more." Companies named as participants in the pilot program include Archer, BETA, Electra, Joby, Wisk, Ampaire, Elroy Air, Reliable Robotics and others. Original article source: Flying taxis could soon take flight as FAA green-lights tests in 26 states As his war with Iran stretches further into its second week, President Donald Trump and his top officials continue to send conflicting or confusing messages about its justification for the conflict and how long it may last. Plus, the administration's messaging on who should control Iran and how that change happens has evolved since the war started on Feb. 28. More recently, questions have emerged about Russia's role in the conflict and who is responsible for a strike near an Iranian girls' school that killed dozens of children. Here's a closer look at what the administration's said. How long the war will take President Trump and his administration have offered different assessments of the timeline for this war. Last week, the president said it could take four to five weeks. Days later, he warned Iran the U.S. had "virtually unlimited supply" of munitions and that it could fight a war "forever." Over the weekend, Trump again brushed off his initial 4-5 week timeline -- telling reporters "whatever it takes." The Defense Department said over the weekend and again Monday that the war is in its early stages. Secretary Pete Hegseth told CBS' "60 Minutes" on Sunday, "What I want your viewers to understand is this is only just the beginning." "We have Only Just Begun to Fight," the Defense Department's Rapid Response X account posted Monday afternoon. Then, as oil and gas prices spiked, President Trump contradicted the department. Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images - PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks to the Republican Members Issues Conference at Trump National Doral Miami, March 9, 2026 in Doral, Fla. Trump told CBS News on that same afternoon that the war is "very complete, pretty much." Then the president spoke the House Republican retreat at his club in Doral: "We took a little excursion because we felt we had to do that to get rid of some evil. And I think you'll see it's going to be a short term-excursion." "Short-term," Trump said as the Republicans in the room applauded. "Short-term." Minutes later, Trump held a press conference where he said "major strides towards completing our military objective" and "some people could say they're pretty well complete." Trump said the operation was "ahead of our initial timeline by a lot" and that it could be over "very soon." ABC News White House Correspondent Selina Wang asked Trump at the press conference: "So, which is it and how long should Americans be preparing for this war to last for?" "Well, I think you can say both, Trump said. "The beginning -- it's the beginning of building a new country, but they certainly, they have no navy, they have no air force, they have no anti-aircraft equipment." "We could call it a tremendous success right now. As we leave here, I could call it. Or we could go further and we're going to go further." On Tuesday, both Hegseth and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said ultimately Trump will decide when the war is over. On Wednesday, Trump told Axios in a phone interview that there is "practically nothing left to target" in Iran and that hell end the war "any time I want." Iranian leadership and regime change One day into the war, President Trump called on the Iranian people to act: "When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be, probably, your only chance for generations. For many years, you have asked for Americas help, but you never got it ... So lets see how you respond." Hegseth claimed days later the war was not about regime change. This past Sunday, Trump told ABC News that any replacement leader is "going to have to get approval from us. If he doesnt get approval from us hes not going to last long." Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: A screen displays a portrait of Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei during the funerals of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps commanders in Enghelab Square in Tehran on March 11, 2026. Later that day, Iran announced it had selected Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to be the next supreme leader -- an outcome Trump had said would be "unacceptable." "Does he have a target on his back?" ABC's Selina Wang asked Trump at Monday's press conference. Advertisement "Well, I don't want to -- I don't want to say that. But, you know, I was disappointed because we think it's going to lead to just more of the same problem for the country. So, I was disappointed to see their choice," Trump said. Deadly strike near Iranian girls' school President Trump has claimed on multiple occasions that Iran may have been responsible for the deadly strike near the girls' school, despite sourcing tell ABC News that U.S. forces were conducting strikes in the area at time and that the U.S. could be responsible. "Based on what Ive seen, that was done by Iran," Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Saturday. The president added, "They're very inaccurate, as you know, with their munitions. They have no accuracy whatsoever. It was done by Iran." Hegseth, standing behind Trump at the time, said the U.S. was investigating the incident. On Monday, after a newly surfaced video appeared to show a U.S.-made Tomahawk missile hitting a building in Iran adjacent to the girls' school, Trump took it further, saying it could have been a Tomahawk fired by Iran. Abbas Zakeri/Mehr News/West Asia News Agency via Reuters - PHOTO: A view shows the aftermath of an Israel strike on a school in Minab, Iran, Feb. 28, 2026. "And I will say that the Tomahawk, which is one of the most powerful weapons around, is used by, you know, it's sold and used by other countries, you know that," Trump said. "And whether it's Iran, who also has some Tomahawks, they wish they had more, but, whether it's Iran or somebody else, the fact that a Tomahawk -- a Tomahawk is very generic, it's sold to other countries. But that's being investigated right now." Then, a reporter pressed Trump on why he was the only one in his administration making the far-fetched claim that Iran could have conducted this strike with a U.S.-manufactured Tomahawk missile. "I just don't know enough about it," Trump responded. "I think it's something that I was told is under investigation. But Tomahawks are --are used by others, as you know. Numerous other nations have Tomahawks. They buy them from us," Trump added. The U.S. makes and sells Tomahawks to its closest allies, including the United Kingdom and Australia. But it has never sold the technology to Iran or other adversaries. While other countries like Russia use cruise missiles, only the U.S. makes Tomahawks which experts say can be seen in the video of the school strike. Israel, also involved in the war against Iran, doesn't use Tomahawks. Russia's role Last week, ABC News confirmed reports the U.S. believes that Russia has been providing Iran the locations of U.S. forces in the Middle East, including aircraft and ships, helping potentially target American troops. The administration has switched from brushing aside the concerns, to denying it's true. "If you take a look at what's happened to Iran in the last week, if they're getting information, it's not helping them much," Trump said on Saturday. Then Steve Witkoff, White House special envoy, said Russians officials denied in a phone call on Monday with Trump that they are sharing intelligence with Iran -- and that the administration believes them. "We can take them at their word," Witkoff said Tuesday during an interview with CNBC. "That's a better question for the intel people, but let's hope that they're not sharing." "Yesterday on the call with the president, the Russians said that they have not been sharing. That's what they said," Witkoff said. Strait of Hormuz In another example of conflicting messages from the Trump administration, White House press secretary Leavitt confirmed to reporters on Tuesday that the U.S. Navy has not escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz. Leavitt's denial came after Energy Secretary Chris Wright posted on X earlier that afternoon that the U.S. Navy had "successfully escorted" an oil tanker through the Strait. He deleted the post several minutes later. Altaf Qadri/AP - PHOTO: Oil tankers and cargo ships line up in the Strait of Hormuz as seen from Mina Al Fajer, United Arab Emirates, March 11, 2026. A spokesperson with the Department of Energy later said an incorrect caption by department staff led to the deleted post on Wright's official X account. "A video clip was deleted from Secretary Wrights official X account after it was determined to be incorrectly captioned by Department of Energy staff," the spokesperson said in a statement provided to ABC News. "President Trump, Secretary Wright, and the rest of the Presidents energy team are closely monitoring the situation, speaking with industry leaders, and having the U.S. military draw up additional options to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, including the potential for our Navy to escort tankers." Justifications for war and risk to homeland The administration's given a long list of reasons why it says it started the war against Iran. They include that Iran was prepared to "take over" all of the Middle East; an "imminent threat" of an Iranian attack on U.S. forces in the region and its allies; a mission to destroy Iran's missile capabilities and restarted nuclear ambitions; "retribution" for 47 years of Iranian-backed American bloodshed; and an opportunity to wipe out regime leaders who were meeting together. The White House has also said that Iran "refused to negotiate in good faith" with the U.S. When pressed on possible risks to the homeland due to the conflict, Trump has vacillated from people should worry "I guess," to saying, "I don't worry about anything." A former University of Kentucky student athlete was indicted Monday on a first-degree manslaughter charge and other felonies after her newborn sons body was found in a closet last year. Laken Snelling, 21, who was a member of the university's stunt team, is accused of hiding the birth and putting the babys body in a closet. Snelling was taken into custody by the Lexington Police Department on Aug. 31, officials said. Officers had responded to a call about an unresponsive infant on Aug. 20, and the baby was "pronounced deceased at the scene," wrapped in a towel inside a black trash bag, according to police. Florida Man Facing Death Penalty For Killing 18-Year-old Girlfriend, Unborn Child After She Refused Abortion Former University of Kentucky student Laken Snelling was indicted on first-degree manslaughter and other charges after her newborn son's body was found in a closet. (Getty Images) Snelling told staff at the University of Kentucky hospital that she heard the newborn "whimper" at birth and "guessed" he was alive, according to an affidavit previously cited by Fox56. The baby also showed "a little fetal movement," the court document stated. Snelling allegedly told police she was awake for nearly 30 minutes after delivering the baby before passing out on top of him. When she woke up, she saw the newborn "turning blue and purple," according to the affidavit. Read On The Fox News App Advertisement Colorado Mom Accused Of Killing 2 Children And Fleeing To Uk Returns Stateside To Face Murder Charges School officials confirmed Laken Snelling was a senior at the University of Kentucky. A Fayette County grand jury indicted Snelling Monday on first-degree manslaughter, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and concealing the birth of an infant. "They were given the information about homicide, the four levels of homicide, and then deliberated and decided that manslaughter, first degree, was the charge that should come out of the grand jury," Fayette Commonwealths Attorney Kimberly Baird told Wkyt. Police found the infant inside a trash bag in a closet and cold to the touch, court records said. Snelling believed the baby was dead and "wrapped him like a burrito" and lay next to him, saying it "gave her comfort," officials said. Her roommates texted each other after hearing loud noises, according to the affidavit. Snelling allegedly told them she was going to see a doctor because she had fainted from not eating. Afterward, she picked up McDonalds and went to the student health clinic but "did not go inside," the affidavit stated. A subsequent search of Snellings phone revealed she had deleted labor photos and evidence of the pregnancy, police said. Click Here To Download The Fox News App Police took Snelling into custody on Aug. 31. Snelling was initially charged with tampering with physical evidence, concealing the birth of an infant and abuse of a corpse. She has pleaded not guilty to those charges. At the time of her arrest, a UK spokesperson confirmed Snelling was a senior at the university, FOX56 reported. Original article source: Former Kentucky cheerleader indicted on manslaughter charge after newborn son found dead in closet (This story has been updated with additional information.) In a report issued Wednesday, March 11, the state Office of the Inspector General formally rebuked the former chief executive officer of the Worcester Regional Retirement System for abusing public funds, and the system's board for failures that imperiled the fiduciary interests of the organizations 14,000 members. The Worcester Regional Retirement System oversees the investments made to fund the retirement for 100 governmental agencies in Central Massachusetts. Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro's office found that CEO Michael Sacco, hired by the board in 2019 and forced to resign in 2023, worked part-time hours in what was supposed to be a full-time job. Sacco, who also represented 53 other retirement boards in the Massachusetts retirement system as private clients when he was hired, attended meetings and hearings to represent those clients during regular work hours of the Worcester Regional Retirement System. The inspector general's office suggested the organization claw back paid-out vacation time and excess earnings received in 2023. In addition, Shapiro recommended the agency request the Massachusetts Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission recalculate Saccos length of service to reflect the actual time he was working for the Worcester Regional Retirement System, as opposed to the time during those three years he was engaged with his private practice clients. Massachusetts Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro testified Tuesday at an informational hearing called by Rep. Dan Donahue, D-Worcester, House chair of the Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy to discuss the call for oversight of the Cannabis Control Commission. In his interview with the inspector general's office during the course of the probe, Sacco stated that the WRRS CEO job required approximately 20 hours of work per week and that he spent about 30 hours per week working in the WRRS office, according to the report. Sacco stated he could earn more independently as an attorney. In a written response to the 51-page report, Sacco said the report was "replete with inaccuracies, misstatements, statements taken out of context and in several cases, outright lies none of which are the result of anything I said or did." In addressing the issue of his salary, Sacco wrote: "I earned every penny the WRRB paid me during my tenure when they hired me in January 2020, they were paying the former CEO Kevin Blanchette approximately $180,000 a year, and on average, the WRRB paid my law firm $80,000 a year for the legal work that we performed for them. When they hired me as CEO, my contract also required me to perform all the legal work for the WRRB that I had been performing in years past. "The salary they offered to me and that I accepted was $150,000 annually to perform both jobs," Sacco said in his written statement. "I also committed to them that I would continue in the position for 10 years. What that means is that what was costing the WRRB $260,000 a year before I took over as CEO, I agreed to perform for $150,000 a year, saving them $110,000 a year, or a total of 1.1 million dollars over that 10-year period to which I committed to them. In his statement, Sacco said he routinely worked from home on agency business. In addition, Sacco said, "The State Ethics Commission conducted a thorough, comprehensive and unbiased review of my tenure at the WRRB and closed its inquiry into the matter without any adverse finding." The inspector general's office found that the Worcester Regional Retirement System board failed to adequately supervise Sacco to identify and curtail the alleged abuse. The board also allowed him to resign rather than firing him, according to the report. Sacco started working as the retirement system's CEO in January 2020, under a six-year contract that paid $150,000 a year. The report said in hiring Sacco, the board received a verbal agreement that he would wind down his client list as pending issues were resolved, allowing him to dedicate a full 40 hours a week to the Worcester organization. Misgivings articulated by board members when negotiating the contract with Sacco were swept aside by Saccos assurances that he would only engage with his private clients during his off hours, including lunch hours and weekends. Advertisement The verbal agreement was reached after Sacco balked at the boards suggestion it be included in his formal contract. If the board had done due diligence, according to the inspector general's report, it would have been alerted to the issues earlier in his tenure. The report found that an analysis of Saccos first four weeks on the job revealed problems that would continue to be demonstrated throughout his tenure as CEO. While the report focused on Sacco and his tenure with the Worcester agency, it noted that its findings underscore concerns that the OIG has regarding the public employee retirement systems generally. It recommended that the Legislature look for a better way to organize the states 104 public retirement systems to mitigate similar risks. In the report, Shapiro discussed proposed legislation that addressed Sacco's postretirement earnings, suggesting the agency seek to recoup excess payments. Sacco, in his statement, said the legislation "seeks to limit my postretirement excess earnings to the amount that the WRRB paid me during the three months that I was retired, not to exempt me from postretirement earnings. The OIGs suggestion that my constitutional right to seek redress before the Legislature should be adversely impacted by this severely flawed report is very troubling to me, and it is government overreach at best." According to the report, employees of the Worcester Regional Retirement System alerted board members that Sacco was frequently missing in action. The employees reported that Sacco participated in online meetings with private clients during his regular office hours. His absences, employees told the board, and failure to perform all of his expected duties were affecting morale. The board, according to the report, questioned Sacco about his work schedule in 2021, and was assured that he only engaged with private clients during off hours. The report said that board members indicated they agreed to pay Sacco two $5,000 merit bonuses, partially to dissuade his engagement with private clients. Records requests through the states Freedom of Information Act, made by the Worcester board to all 104 retirement boards in the state system, revealed the extent of Saccos involvement with private clients during times he was on the job. The inspector general documented that Sacco attended 350 events representing private clients, most during Worcester Regional Retirement System business hours. The chief executive also failed to officially request and document leave time during Florida vacations. The report also indicated that Sacco underperformed as CEO, failing to write biannual newsletters, canceling regular staff meetings and failing to attend investment management committee meetings. The position has seven key components that were to be met by the CEO, including member outreach, organizing and attending meet-and-greets with members. An eighth prong, according to state law, is to discharge his duties for the exclusive purpose of providing benefits to members and their beneficiaries with the care, skill, prudence and diligence The report documented a portion of the abuses the inspector general's office found: In the first four weeks of his employment, which started Jan. 9, 2020, Sacco billed private clients $10,675 for 42.7 hours of work. This included attending meetings for hours at a time, at some distance from the Worcester Regional Retirement System's Auburn office. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Report: Former Worcester area retirement official abused public funds China's five-year roadmap bets big on innovation in strategic leap Xinhua) 08:05, March 11, 2026 Robotic arms are displayed during the 9th China-South Asia Expo in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo) * A centerpiece of the top-level roadmap sets out a profound internal gear shift to transform the world's factory into a global innovation powerhouse by 2030. * At a moment of geopolitical fracturing, the forward-looking plan is set to offer something in short supply in the world today: confidence in long-term growth. * Armed with a vast market, superior digital infrastructure and commercially agile tech firms, China is well-positioned to be among the first to profit from the new tech revolution. * Tech sovereignty is not about isolation. High-standard opening up to the outside world has earned its own chapter in China's five-year blueprint. BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Inside Beijing's conference rooms, the final draft of China's 15th Five-Year Plan is being scrutinized. A centerpiece of the top-level roadmap sets out a profound internal gear shift to transform the world's factory into a global innovation powerhouse by 2030. Building a modern industrial system with advanced manufacturing as its backbone and moving fast to achieve greater sci-tech self-reliance have emerged as high-stakes components of this blueprint, which was submitted to the ongoing national legislature's annual meeting for examination. At a moment of geopolitical fracturing, the forward-looking plan is set to offer something in short supply in the world today: confidence in long-term growth. STRATEGIC DESIGN The five-year plan calls on China to seize the historic opportunities presented by the latest technological revolution and industrial transformation wave, continuously creating new quality productive forces. The country is now poised to place big bets on technology. Visitors learn about products of business aerospace enterprises at the Zhongguancun Exhibition Center in Beijing, capital of China, June 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong) In late February, Beijing's Haidian District -- known as "China's Silicon Valley" -- pledged over 9 billion yuan (about 1.3 billion U.S. dollars) for industrial innovation this year. Leading AI model firm Zhipu AI and chip designer Moore Threads have been early bets for the district government -- prime examples of China's strategy to back up hard tech for the long haul. This massive funding drive is part of China's sweeping long-horizon tech investment. A national venture guidance fund established last December is geared toward attracting trillion-yuan-level capital. This month, authorities followed up with plans for a national mergers and acquisitions pool to unlock another trillion-plus-yuan market. "The government is not just talking about research and development; it is backing it with cash," Shirley Yinghua Shen from Ernst &Young (China) Advisory Limited, told Xinhua. Once overlooked in the eastern Chinese city of Hefei, quantum tech investing has become so intensely competitive that VC funds can't even get a seat at the table without a recommendation, even for small startups. Racing to seize historic opportunities in frontier tech, both state and private capital have moved swiftly, said Ding Hong, a national political advisor and scientist at Shanghai Jiaotong University. Over the next five years, China has pledged to pour more money into original innovation, preparing to raise the share of basic research funding in total R&D spending significantly, and mapping out a new batch of mega-science facilities. Last year, its basic research investment came in at a record-high 7.08 percent of total R&D expenditure. A man plays a racing game with a brain-computer interface (BCI) device at his residence in east China's Shanghai, on April 30, 2025. (Photo by Dai Yanmiao/Xinhua) China's regional economic policymakers are also encouraged to carve out distinct niches based on their unique strengths. The brain-computer interface (BCI) sector, which has been designated a future industry in this year's government work report, is a priority for Shanghai. Pairing hospitals with firms is the city's go-to move for tech translation, given its access to top-tier medical resources nationwide. Shanghai startup NeuroXess is pressing ahead with clinical trials of an invasive BCI product. A breakthrough came when a local hospital implanted the company's wireless device into the skull of a man who had been paralyzed for eight years, and he now races on "Mario Kart" using only his mind. While Shanghai has planted flags with futuristic technologies, Shenzhen farther south is leveraging its vibrant ecosystem of innovative smart hardware. The southern tech hub has created a dense electronic supply chain concentration where the move from prototyping to assembly can happen in as short a time as a single day. Zheng Yongnian, a professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, has reframed China's economic engine around what he terms the new three drivers, mirroring the familiar trio of exports, investment and consumption. These three pistons are foundational research, applied tech commercialization and long-cycle financial support. INNOVATION PREMIUM A plausible but flawed take warns that China's tech splurge risks cannibalizing household spending. Yet while America's sprawling, power-hungry AI data center build-out still awaits a clear payoff, China is playing a different game. Armed with a vast market, superior digital infrastructure and commercially agile tech firms, China is well-positioned to be among the first to profit from the new tech revolution. In the government work report, creating new smart economy forms has been highlighted as a key task. People walk past the booth of Qwen during the 2026 Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain, March 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Cheng Min) Over the Chinese New Year break, China's tech heavyweights vied to unlock AI's commercial potential, eager to turn their raw computing and algorithms into real returns. A simple "I want to watch a movie nearby" browser search triggers chatbots to handle recommendations, booking and payment, all within a single interface. Alibaba's AI model Qwen released recently small AI model series -- a compact package that can be deployed on smartphones as an intelligent assistant -- immediately drawing praise from Elon Musk, who lauded its "impressive intelligence density." China-designed tech gadgets like smart glasses, 3D printers and home robots are seeing a strong uptake on overseas platforms. TIME's "Best Inventions of 2025" list, featuring over 40 Chinese entries among a total of 300, showed that these products are winning on merit, not just price. These commercial successes are underpinned by China's comprehensive manufacturing ecosystem, leaving the country well-placed to move faster in translating technology into vertical applications. To amplify this edge, the new five-year plan doubles down on bridging technological innovation with industrial application. China's AI-plus push in the coming years is set to fast-track digital innovation into the real economy. Engineers at Xiaomi and XPeng have designed humanoid robots for use on their own assembly lines. The founders of both tech firms are serving in the national legislature, championing embodied AI for manufacturing. People view an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft during an exhibition in Yibin, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 13, 2025. (Photo by Peng Minxiang/Xinhua) Additionally, regulators are relaxing restrictions to open new markets for tech. Drones now shuttle goods across cities and waterways, robotaxis are allowed to cruise certain highways, and private rockets are flying more frequently to launch more satellites. Exploring "sandbox regulation," or testing new tech in a controlled, isolated environment to foster new businesses, has also been written into the plan. China's emerging pillar industries are expected to break the 10-trillion-yuan benchmark by 2030, while frontier technologies like quantum computing, BCI, embodied AI and 6G are poised to mushroom into an entirely new high-tech sector over the next decade. The country, Zheng said, is now maneuvering to vault past the "middle technology trap" -- an innovation ceiling that separates emerging economies from advanced ones. GLOBAL BONUS On the sidelines of this year's political advisory session, leading quantum scientist Pan Jianwei recounted how an export blockade on dilution refrigerators -- critical for quantum computing -- compelled his team to develop world-class alternatives. Core technologies cannot be begged for or bought, said Pan, who is also a national political advisor and a professor at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC). 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 15th Five-Year Plan has elevated tech self-reliance and the mastery of homegrown, risk-controllable core technologies to unprecedented strategic prominence. Now, a wave of innovation is breaking the foreign chokehold on semiconductors. In 2025, China unveiled multiple high-performance AI chips featuring indigenous design, and Huawei's Ascend ecosystem is fueling the pre-training of 43 mainstream large language models. Tech sovereignty is not about isolation. High-standard opening up to the outside world has earned its own chapter in China's five-year blueprint. Open-source AI models from Chinese firms have topped global usage charts, and their rapidly expanding global adoption underscores the fact that China's tech rise is expanding the pie rather than taking slices from others. This photo taken on Oct. 22, 2025 shows wind turbines of De Aar Wind Power Project in De Aar, Northern Cape, South Africa. (Xinhua/Han Xu) Additionally, the country's clean energy technology plays a leading role in the field of global carbon reduction, producing 80 percent of the world's solar cells, and 70 percent of both wind turbines and lithium batteries -- achievements Nature magazine cited among its "feel-good science stories to restore your faith in 2025." To date, China has inked 120 government-to-government sci-tech cooperation agreements, a significant portion of which are with developing countries. "For the Global South, China is no longer just a buyer of raw commodities. It is becoming a critical partner in digital infrastructure and green energy," geostrategic analyst Imran Khalid wrote in a recent op-ed for Eurasia Review. Now, China's quantum breakthroughs that Pan and his colleagues spearheaded are gaining global reach, signaling China's embrace of international collaboration. Last March, a Chinese team and its South African counterparts used China's quantum communication satellite to achieve quantum-secured communication spanning over 12,900 kilometers. An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 16, 2026 shows China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) under maintenance in southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) Plans to build an open science ecosystem include opening research facilities to global scientists, as well as leading international mega-science initiatives, have been incorporated in the broader five-year plan. Highlighting China's open-source AI ecosystem during the political sessions, Wang Jian, a national political advisor and computer scientist at Zhejiang Lab, said: "If your technology is not accessible to people around the world, it lacks persuasive power." (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Independent research finds visualization has become standard for the contract furniture industry; 3D Cloud is delivering measurable gains in productivity, cost efficiency, and operational simplification. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- 3D Cloud, the leading 3D digital asset management platform for product visualization and configuration, today released a new Business Impact Study showing significant productivity, cost, and sales benefits for office furniture manufacturers using its platform. Manufacturers using 3D Cloud reported increased productivity, improved cost efficiency through in-house rendering, operational simplification with a single platform, and dramatic sales enablement results from introducing 3D visualization earlier in the buying journey. The independent study, conducted by market research firm Provoke Insights, found that manufacturers using 3D Cloud increased visualization output by more than 50 percent without adding staff, reduced rendering costs, and improved sales efficiency by enabling earlier product visualization during the buying process. The report examines how manufacturers managing highly configurable product portfolios are shifting away from fragmented visualization workflows toward centralized, rules-based 3D configuration platforms that scale with demand and across brands. "Manufacturers are facing increasing pressure to support more product configurations, faster buying decisions, and higher digital engagement without increasing operating costs," said Beck Besecker, CEO and Co-Founder of 3D Cloud. "This study shows how companies are using 3D Cloud to scale visualization output, simplify operations, and support more efficient sales processes." The research identified four primary areas of business impact for manufacturers using 3D Cloud: Productivity Gains: Manufacturers reported increasing visualization output by more than 50 percent without adding staff, allowing teams to support more dealers, projects, and product configurations using existing resources. Manufacturers reported increasing visualization output by more than 50 percent without adding staff, allowing teams to support more dealers, projects, and product configurations using existing resources. Cost Efficiency: By bringing rendering workflows in-house and reducing reliance on external CGI vendors, organizations reported approximately $400,000 in annual savings and reduced the cost per rendered image by 8090 percent. By bringing rendering workflows in-house and reducing reliance on external CGI vendors, organizations reported approximately $400,000 in annual savings and reduced the cost per rendered image by 8090 percent. Operational Simplification: Companies consolidated multiple visualization tools and vendor relationships into a single platform, reducing internal complexity while improving consistency across workflows and channels. Companies consolidated multiple visualization tools and vendor relationships into a single platform, reducing internal complexity while improving consistency across workflows and channels. Sales Enablement: 3D configuration tools allow for visualization earlier in the buying journey, so customers and dealers can explore product options during evaluation rather than late-stage specification. Manufacturers reported 5055 percent time savings in dealer sales visualization workflows and increased early-stage engagement. The study also found that integrated visualization tools drove significant engagement, with some manufacturers reporting up to 20 percent of website traffic interacting with visualization tools and thousands of monthly image downloads and bill-of-materials requests from dealers and customers. As product complexity grows and digital buying expectations increase, the study indicates that real-time product visualization is no longer a competitive differentiator, but a foundational capability required to sell highly configurable products. Interviewed manufacturers reported that 3D configuration reduces manual specification effort, accelerates design cycles, and supports buyers to make more informed decisions earlier in the sales process. Over time, these improvements compound across productivity, cost efficiency, and sales outcomes. Join Melissa Conforto, Director of Research and Strategy for Provoke Insights, and Bryan Wilson, Head of Home and Office for 3D Cloud, for a lively discussion of the research in a pre-recorded webinar on April 27th at 12:00 pm ET. Register here. Download the complete report here: 3D Cloud Business Impact Study for Office and Contract Furniture Manufacturers About the Study 3D Cloud commissioned Provoke Insights, an independent market research firm, to conduct primary interviews with decision-makers and users at leading office furniture manufacturers, including MillerKnoll, Kimball International, Fellowes Brands, and HNI. The research included four in-depth interviews conducted between December 15, 2025, and January 7, 2026. Findings reflect reported experiences and conservative interpretations of results from organizations actively using 3D Cloud. Results may vary by organization. About 3D Cloud 3D Cloud is the 3D digital asset management platform for 3D product visualization, including 3D product configurators, and the global leader in 3D e-commerce for furniture, kitchen, bath, outdoor, office furniture, closets, and storage. The 3D Cloud 3D digital asset management platform is a B2B SaaS that allows retailers and brands to build endless applications from a single 3D product catalog. With 3D Cloud, 3D content is created, managed, and published to all 3D applications from a single source of truth for consistency across every touchpoint in the customer journey. Applications that run on 3D Cloud include 3D Cloud Product Configurators, 3D Cloud Sectional Configurator, 3D Cloud Room Planner with Design from Photo, 3D Cloud Kitchen Designer, 3D Cloud Deck Designer, 3D Cloud Virtual Reality, 3D Cloud 360 Product Spins, 3D Cloud Instant Renders, and 3D Cloud WebAR Augmented Reality. 3D Cloud has offices in Miamisburg, Ohio; St. Petersburg, Florida; and London, England. Clients include a major U.S.-based home improvement retailer, Kingfisher plc, Bob's Discount Furniture, Macy's, Ashley, HNI Corporation, La-Z-Boy, Joybird, and John Lewis & Partners. The company is backed by Dan Gilbert and Arnie Bellini. For more information, visit 3Dcloud.com. SOURCE 3D Cloud California Gov. Newsom Nine months after being gifted a Sig Sauer P365-Xmacro pistol during an appearance on the Shawn Ryan Show in Tennessee, California Governor Gavin Newsom has yet to take possession of the firearm. The delay stems from a series of strict firearm regulations enacted within his own statelaws that the Governor himself has long championed and signed into effect. According to reports, including recent coverage by the New York Post, several legal hurdles stand between Newsom and the handgun. Because the gift originated in Tennessee, it must first be shipped from a federally licensed firearms dealer in that state to a licensed dealer within California. From there, the Governor must navigate the same protocols required of any other California resident. This includes obtaining a Firearm Safety Certificate by attending a mandatory class and passing a written test with a score of at least 75%. Additionally, he must provide proof of an state-approved lock box or locking device, complete the Federal Form 4473 for a background check, and wait out Californias mandatory 10-day cooling-off period. The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA) has publicly commented on the situation, characterizing the irony of the delay as only justice. CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb suggested that the experience could serve as a practical look at the bureaucracy California gun owners face daily. Gov. Newsom might use this as a learning experience, Gottlieb stated. That is, if he actually wants the pistol. Last year, he told Ryan that he is not really anti-gun, even though everything he has said and done in office has certainly pointed in that direction. Advertisement Gottlieb also questioned the specific cause of the nearly year-long holdup, noting that the Governors future political aspirations might be tied to his status as a firearm owner. Were beginning to wonder if Gavin is worried he might not pass the firearms safety test, or get through the background check, Gottlieb said. Whats the holdup, Governor Newsom? Just think about the future. You can campaign for the White House like Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, telling everyone youre a gun owner, and then you could say you were treated like a criminal, the way every other California citizen is treated when they want to purchase a gun. The advocacy group ended its statement with a direct challenge to the Governor to complete the process, with Gottlieb concluding, Cmon, Gavin. Its time to get your gat. READ: Florida Dragnet Snags Leesburg And New Port Richey Child Predators Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage. Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox Gavins Gun Gap: Why California Gov Still Doesnt Have The Pistol He Was Gifted In Tennessee Photo Credit: Anadolu / Getty Images, EVA MARIE UZCATEGUI / Getty Images California Governor Gavin Newsom has mocked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth following revelations about the Pentagons eye-popping spending spree on luxury items. The Democratic governors office released an AI-generated photo, too. Gavin Newsom makes fun of Pete Hegseth with AI photo The Defense Department dropped more than $93 billion in September 2025, which is the final month of the fiscal year, on grants, contracts, and luxury goods (via Open the Books). This is the largest single-month spending total for any federal agency since at least 2008. Gavin Newsom didnt hold back. His press office posted an AI photo showing Pete Hegseth, 45, lounging amid the spoils, with the caption: HEGSETH BLOWING $93 BILLION OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS IN 1 MONTH !! The photo features specific items the Pentagon reportedly purchased: $6.9 million on lobster tail, $15.1 million on ribeye steak, and $2 million on Alaskan king crab. Also visible is a $98,329 Steinway & Sons grand piano bought for the Air Force chief of staffs home. Advertisement HEGSETH BLOWING $93 BILLION OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS IN 1 MONTH !! pic.twitter.com/L8GmyWQ2bt Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) March 10, 2026 The watchdog report details a couple more expenditures. The Pentagon spent $124,000 on ice cream machines, over $12,000 on fruit baskets, and $5.3 million on Apple devices. Additional purchases include $1 million on salmon, nearly $140,000 on doughnuts, and $26,000 on sushi preparation tables. Musical instruments also made the list: a $26,000 violin and a $21,750 custom handmade Japanese flute. Even childrens merchandise was included, with over $3,160 spent on stickers featuring Dora the Explorer, Frozen, and Paw Patrol characters. Reportedly, federal use-it-or-lose-it rules encourage agencies to exhaust their congressional budgets before the fiscal year ends, often leading to rushed spending. Now, Newsoms press office tagged 23-year-old YouTuber Nick Shirley, asking him to investigate the Pentagons spending. Shirley gained MAGA fame for his video on alleged Minnesota child care fraud and recently claimed to have uncovered California voter fraud. Originally reported by Devanshi Basu on Mandatory. The post Gavin Newsom Mocks Pete Hegseth With AI Photo of Him appeared first on Reality Tea. PARIS (AP) A group representing many of the world's wealthiest countries agreed Wednesday to release the largest volume of emergency oil reserves in its history, in a bid to counter the effects of the Iran war on energy markets and the halt of cargo shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The International Energy Agency said it will make 400 million barrels of oil available from its members emergency reserves, which is more than double the 182.7 million barrels that the IEA's 32 member countries released in 2022 in response to Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This is a major action aiming to alleviate the immediate impacts of the disruption in markets, said Fatih Birol, executive director of the Paris-based IEA. But, to be clear, the most important thing for a return to stable flows of oil and gas is the resumption of transit through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has attacked commercial ships across the Persian Gulf in response to U.S. and Israeli strikes, escalating a campaign of squeezing the oil-rich region as global energy concerns mount and effectively stopping cargo traffic in the narrow Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of all oil is shipped from the Persian Gulf toward the Indian Ocean. Iran has also targeted oil fields and refineries in Gulf Arab nations, aiming to generate enough global economic pain to pressure the U.S. and Israel to end their strikes. According to the IEA, export volumes of crude and refined products are currently at less than 10% of prewar levels. Birol noted that the situation in natural gas markets is also very challenging, with Asia the most severely affected region. There are few options to replace the missing LNG cargoes from Qatar and the Emirates, he said. Global energy supply has been reduced by around 20%." A push to lower the price at the pumps The IEA's announcement came a day after energy ministers from the Group of Seven the leading industrialized nations of Canada, the United States, France, Italy, Japan, Germany and Britain met in Paris to look at ways to bring down prices. It also came just before G7 leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, met Wednesday via videoconference. During his introductory remarks during Wednesday's video call, French President Emmanuel Macron praised the IEA decision to release emergency oil stocks, saying it is very important to do everything possible to increase global production and that the 400 million barrels amounted to the equivalent of 20 days of the volume being exported through the Strait of Hormuz. The amount pledged by the G7 nations alone comprises 70% of the total, including 14.5 million barrels France will contribute, Macron said, noting that the IEA decision was prepared at the G7 level. Trump said hours later his administration would tap the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve to try and reduce gasoline prices, telling WKRC Local 12 in Cincinnati, Well, well do that and then well fill it up. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright later confirmed the U.S. would release 172 million barrels of oil from the SPR as part of the IEA's effort. Wright said the release would begin next week and take roughly 120 days for delivery and that the administration would then work to replace about 200 million barrels in the next year. Trump frequently criticized his predecessor Joe Biden's administration for tapping the reserve to try and bring down gas prices. How much might it help? Maksim Sonin, an energy executive who works with Stanford Universitys Hydrogen Initiative, said the release would have a short-term stabilizing effect, but that it would diminish if the war persists and the Strait of Hormuz remains essentially at a standstill. Its not a silver bullet to solve everything, Sonin said. You have to solve the underlying problem. Neil Crosby, a vice president of oil analytics at Sparta, which tracks oil trading, said as big as the release is, it amounts to a little Band-Aid. Advertisement This scenario was always written off by large parts of the industry: In case we get to the scenario of where theres a war with Iran, the U.S. Navy will ensure that Hormuz doesnt stay closed, Crosby said. And then we got there, and its closed. ... Its a complete disaster. Oil follows snaking journeys that can take weeks to go from drill sites to gas pumps. It must pass through refineries, where it is turned to fuel, before it is shipped off via pipelines and tankers to terminals, and then on to gas stations. Because of this, no single decision has an immediate impact. But Kenneth Medlock, senior director of the Center for Energy Studies at Rice University, said the release of reserves will calm markets and prevent wild price swings and could lead to lower prices at the pump in the next week or so. Still, a trade-off is involved by tapping reserves. Youre depleting stocks now. Thats always the catch-22, Medlock said. Youre selling them today but that means you cant sell them tomorrow because theyre gone. Member countries pledge help Germany, Austria and Japan said earlier Wednesday that they would release parts of their oil reserves in response to the IEA's request for members to release 400 million barrels. The IEA reserves were established in 1974 following the Arab oil embargo, and IEA member countries currently hold more than 1.2 billion barrels of public emergency oil stocks, with a further 600 million barrels of industry stocks held under government obligation. Germanys economy ministry, Katherina Reiche, said the IEA asked Germany to release 2.64 million tons roughly 19.7 million barrels of its oil reserves. She said it would take a couple of days before the delivery of the first quantities. Germany stands behind the IEAs most important principle of mutual solidarity, Reiche said. The German government also said it will introduce a measure to allow gas stations in Germany to raise fuel prices no more than once a day. The federal government wants to introduce this as quickly as possible, Reiche said. It wasnt immediately clear how much oil Austria was releasing. Starting Monday in Austria, price increases at gas stations will be allowed only three times a week, said the countrys economy minister, Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer. He said Austria was releasing part of its emergency oil reserve and extending the national strategic gas reserve, adding: One thing is clear: in a crisis, there must be no crisis winners at the expense of commuters and businesses. IEA nations have released emergency stocks on five previous occasions: During the 1990-1991 Gulf War, after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, during the Libyan civil war in 2011, and twice after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. ___ Grieshaber reported from Berlin. Associated Press reporters Matt Sedensky, Cathy Bussewitz and Wyatte Grantham-Philips in New York, and John Leicester and Sylvie Corbet in Paris contributed to this report. Senators Speak Following Weekly Policy Luncheons On Capitol Hill (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Republican senators have largely backed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE) America Act but are balking at an aggressive push to use a talking filibuster to ensure the legislation passes. Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune acknowledged Tuesday that he does not have the Republican votes needed to pass the election integrity legislation using a talking filibuster, noting he lacks the support to proceed or get on a talking filibuster, nor to sustain one if we got on it. He said it is just a function of math and there isnt anything he can do about it, adding that Republicans have conveyed that to President Donald Trump a vocal supporter of the legislation. (RELATED: Senate Republicans Have The Power To Force Democrats To Filibuster Voter ID So Why Dont They?) The comments come as the SAVE Act has gained a number of Republican co-sponsors in the Senate. However, the measure has yet to be brought to the Senate floor for a vote after previously passing the House. The Daily Caller reached out to Thune for comment and was referred to remarks he made during Tuesdays Senate GOP stakeout, where the senator said he must be a clear-eyed realist about whether the legislation can ultimately be achieved. I think its important that everybody understand that this really is about, its about the votes, its about the math. And Im, for better or worse, Im the one who has to be the clear-eyed realist about what we can achieve here. And so well continue to convey that, Thune continued. And I think that were going to have the fight on the floor. Were going to vote on this. Were going to put it up, and well give the Democrats the opportunity to cast their vote on whether or not they think noncitizens ought to vote in American elections, he said in part. Advertisement Several Republican senators have voiced support for both the legislation and the use of a talking filibuster a strategy promoted by SAVE America Act sponsor Utah Sen. Mike Lee to try to advance the SAVE America Act with a simple majority. (RELATED: GOP Sen. Bernie Moreno Outlines Why John Thune Struggles To Move SAVE America Act Forward) The talking filibuster differs from the modern legislative filibuster because it does not eliminate the Senates 60-vote threshold or require changing or nuking the chambers rules. Instead, it forces senators to physically hold the floor to block legislation. Under this approach, the majority can wear down the opposition through continuous debate and enforcement of the Senates two-speech rule, which limits each senator to two speeches on the same legislative question per legislative day. By keeping the Senate in continuous session and refusing to adjourn, the majority can prevent the minority from resetting those speech limits, gradually exhausting their ability to prolong debate. On Wednesday, Trump was asked by a reporter during a press gaggle outside the White House about Thunes statement regarding the lack of votes for the SAVE Act. Well, hes gotta be a leader, Trump said. Hes the leader, hes gotta getem. Its the most popular bill I have ever seen put before Congress.(RELATED: Chuck Schumer Makes Massive Gaffe While Ramping Up Hysteria Against Voter Integrity Bill) Several Republican senators including North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis have expressed opposition to using a talking filibuster. Others, including Maine Sen. Susan Collins, Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker, and Utah Sen. John Curtis, have not publicly voiced support for the strategy. Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski opposes the SAVE Act, but says she supports voter ID. The Caller reached out to Collins, Wicker, and Curtis regarding their support for the use of the talking filibuster but did not receive a response prior to publication. The Caller also reached out to Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnells office, which did not comment on the senators position on the talking filibuster. The company logo for Haleon and the trading info is displayed on a screen on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., July 20, 2022. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid LONDON, March 10 (Reuters) - Haleon is stepping up its Chinese expansion, pushing into second- and third-tier cities and tailoring its gum-health products to local tastes, aiming to succeed where many Western consumer brands have struggled. Sluggish demand and fierce competition have hit Western heavyweights from BMW to Pernod Ricard and Nike, which all reported weaker China sales last year. But Haleon, helped by strong growth in Sensodyne toothpaste, is doubling down with a 65 million pound ($87 million) investment in a new oral-health plant in Shanghai. CEO Brian McNamara says the goal is to take its Parodontax brand into more than 30 cities by the end of 2027. "For us, China's an incredible market," he told Reuters, citing mid-teens growth for Sensodyne and an 860 million-pound gum-health market. "Over 70% of consumers in China suffer from gum health issues," McNamara said. "We have a product to address it. There's a clear consumer need." SWEETER FLAVOUR, FOAMIER TOOTHPASTE China accounts for about 10% of Haleon's 11-billion-pound business and nearly 13% of the $59 billion global oral-health market, which Mordor Intelligence expects to reach about $80 billion by 2031. Haleon relaunched Parodontax in China in late 2024 after an unsuccessful attempt around five years ago, Jayant Singh, global head of oral health, told Reuters. Advertisement Now in 10,000 outlets across 19 cities, the product has been tailored to Chinese tastes with a sweeter, more fragrant flavour, a foamier brushing feel and glossier packaging. "It's these minor nuances that you need to put into your mix to really drive acceptance," Singh said. Sensodyne, Haleon's largest brand, is used by around 11% of Chinese households, Singh said, well behind local leader Yunnan Baiyao, which Haleon estimates at 29.8%. Some Western firms are scaling back in China. Starbucks in November sold control of its China operations to Boyu Capital after weak sales, and Nike is resetting its China strategy after successive quarterly sales declines. Haleon, by contrast, last year bought the Chinese government out of its local joint venture for about 700 million pounds. McNamara joined British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's January trip to China and said meetings with senior regulators were valuable. "We've found the Chinese government very supportive of what we're trying to do," he said. ($1 = 0.7507 pounds) (Reporting by Alexander Marrow. Editing by Mark Potter) Two NYPD officers are being honored by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani after jumping into action to thwart an alleged ISIS-inspired terror attack outside Gracie Mansion over the weekend. NYPD Chief Aaron Edwards and Sgt. Luis Navarro received high praise from Mamdani and New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch at a press conference on Monday, just days after both men put their lives on the line to stop a potentially catastrophic terrorism attack after two explosive devices were dropped at a protest on Saturday. Edwards reportedly jumped over a barrier and tackled Emir Balat, 18, to the ground after he allegedly hurled an improvised explosive device at a group of protesters and was about to throw a second batch handed to him by Ibrahim Kayumi, 19. As the chaos unfolded, Navarro ran toward a second improvised explosive device as it was lit and smoking after allegedly being dropped on the ground by Balat, "without hesitation and without regard for [his] own safety," Tisch said. Warrants Served In New Jersey, Pennsylvania As Feds Look Into Possible Nyc Terrorism New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks during a news conference alongside NYPD Chief Aaron Edwards and Sgt. Luis Navarro at Gracie Mansion, Monday, March 9, 2026, in New York. (AP Images) Mamdani thanked both men for their bravery after also recognizing them in a private meeting. Read On The Fox News App "That is courage, that is selflessness, and I am deeply grateful to both of them and to every member of the NYPD who works every single day to keep New Yorkers safe," Mamdani said. Edwards was recently promoted to borough chief of Manhattan North in December of last year after serving nearly 23 years as an NYPD officer, according to the New York Post. Suspect In Nyc Terror Probe Planned Attack 'Bigger Than The Boston Marathon Bombing,' Prosecutors Say Emir Balat flees after throwing a homemade explosive device toward police as NYPD Chief Aaron Edwards and Sgt. Luis Navarro take action during a protest in front of Gracie Mansion in New York on March 7, 2026. Edwards was inspired to become an officer after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York City. Advertisement "I was a college student back in September 2001," the new commanding officer of the NYPDs Patrol Borough Manhattan North told the Post last year. "I saw what happened, and I took one of the first tests" for the academy. "I saw it, I felt it. When everyone was running out [of the Twin Towers], we had our police officers and the other first-responders running in. I thought that was selfless heroism. It just drew me to the profession," Edwards said. "Since I started, I fell in love with policing." Storage Facility Raided As Feds Investigate Alleged Isis-inspired Nyc Bomb Throwers New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch speaks during a news conference with New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani at Gracie Mansion, Monday, March 9, 2026, in New York. On Monday, Tisch said the officers actions on Saturday followed the same theme of his inspiration to join the department. "We saw that same spirit carried forward in the way that he responded," Tisch said, according to the New York Daily News. Click Here To Download The Fox News App Additionally, Navarro has reportedly been on the force for 11 years and joined the NYPD after a friend encouraged him to take the exam. Like Edwards, he was promoted to his current rank in December. Both Balat and Kayumi are facing federal terrorism charges stemming from the alleged attack. The NYPD did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Original article source: Hero NYPD officers honored for foiling alleged ISIS-inspired terror plot near Gracie Mansion BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) A historic building in south Louisiana that houses an art gallery space was seriously damaged after a lightning strike sparked a fire Monday evening. According to the Twin Steeples Creative Arts Center, no one was injured in the incident, as the gallery is normally closed on Mondays. The nonprofits GoFundMe description states that the main gallery was hit by lightning at 5:30 p.m., days before the unveiling of its newest gallery exhibit. A video showed flames engulfing the roof of the historic Ponchatoula church. After the fire, the arts center shared photos of the damage to the interior. The nonprofit seeks support, while admitting in its fundraiser description that it is unclear if the East Oak Street gallery can be salvaged. In another social media post, Twin Steeples thanked firefighters for their response while confirming that all art was rescued. Our insurance company reacted quickly, and we are in good hands, but as we all know tragedies are hard to recover from financially. We have to assess the damage, rearrange our packed schedule, and plan our recovery, the arts organization said. Advertisement Photos of damage to the building: A lightning strike started a fire at a historic Ponchatoula building that serves as an art gallery. (Twin Steeples Creative Arts Center) Damage to the ceiling after a fire at an art gallery in Ponchatoula. (Twin Steeples Creative Arts Center) Nonprofit shares photos of damage to its art gallery building after a fire. (Twin Steeples Creative Arts Center) How to donate A GoFundMe has been created with a fundraising goal of $7,500. All donations will go into keeping us going while we assess and repair or rebuild, as well as to the work itself. We have insurance, but we all know that it never goes as far as you need when something like this happens, the GoFundMe reads. Click here to donate. 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. A bus fire in Kerzers, Switzerland, killed at least six people Tuesday evening. Police are investigating whether a bus fire in a town west of the Swiss capital that killed at least six people was started deliberately. Police spokesperson Frederic Papaux of Fribourg canton, or region, said an unspecified voluntary act could have caused the fire Tuesday evening in the town of Kerzers, about 15 miles west of Bern. Five people were also injured in the fire, which for locals echoed a New Years Eve fire in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana that killed 41 young people. A bus fire in Kerzers, Switzerland, killed at least six people Tuesday evening. KANTONSPOLIZEI FREIBURG HANDOUT/EPA/Shutterstock Christa Bielmann, representing the Fribourg police, told Swiss broadcaster SRF: There is information circulating that a person poured flammable liquid over themselves on the bus and that this caused the fire. But this is part of the ongoing investigation and is being clarified. It shocks and saddens me that once again people have lost their lives in a serious fire in Switzerland, Swiss President Guy Parmelin wrote on X on Tuesday night. The circumstances are being investigated. I offer my condolences to the families of those who died in Kerzers. And my thoughts are with the injured and the rescue workers. There were no indications that this was a terror attack, Martial Pugin, head of communications for the Fribourg cantonal police, told broadcaster RTS on Wednesday morning. Advertisement The regional transport bus is operated by PostBus, which is affiliated with the national postal service. Images from the scene on Swiss media showed flames tearing through the bus. We are deeply moved by this tragic news. Our thoughts are with the victims, the injured, and all their families, PostBus said in a statement on its website. Police suspect the fire, which injured 5 others, was started deliberately. ALESSANDRO DELLA VALLE/EPA/Shutterstock After rushing to the scene, rescue teams noted that the vehicle was totally engulfed in flames, the regional government said in a statement. Ambulance and helicopter teams ferried three people with severe injuries to hospitals, while two others were treated on site, police said. The identification of the victims could take several days. Getty Images Police dont currently believe the attack was terror-related. Getty Images Papaux said at least six people were killed. Police said the identification of the victims could take several days. The burned-out vehicle was removed during the night and traffic returned to normal as of Wednesday morning. A member of House GOP leadership is jumping into the open race for a Senate seat likely being vacated by Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., after he was tapped to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). House GOP Policy Committee Chairman Kevin Hern, R-Okla., is officially launching his campaign for the Senate on Wednesday with support from at least four Republicans in the upper chamber. "The American dream is under threat by the radical left and RINO Republicans who oppose President Trumps America First agenda and want to turn the United States into a third-world country," he says in his campaign debut video. "That's why I'm running for U.S. Senate to ensure President Trump has a loyal ally, a leader who stood by his side when RINOs turned their backs on him, who will fight against Democrat insanity, keep the southern border secure, deport dangerous illegal immigrants, stand with law enforcement, and deliver economic affordability." 40+ House Republicans Rally Behind Markwayne Mullin For Dhs, Call It A Critical Moment For Border Security House GOP Policy Committee Chairman Kevin Hern is running for the Senate seat that will likely open up in November after Sen. Markwayne Mullin was tapped to lead DHS. (Getty Images) Hern, who grew up in poverty without indoor plumbing until his teenage years, found considerable wealth as a McDonalds franchisee before coming to Congress in 2018. Read On The Fox News App Hes the first major Republican candidate to declare his intent to run for Mullins seat in November and whoever wins the GOP primary in the deep-red Midwestern state is the likely favorite to win. Mullin is expected to leave the Senate after being tapped by President Donald Trump to lead DHS following Kristi Noems firing. Hes facing a confirmation hearing later this month. Traditionally, Senate vacancies are filled by the states governor to serve out the remainder of the previous senators term. That person is also usually the favorite to win the seat in the subsequent election cycle. But in Oklahoma, the governors appointee must sign an affidavit swearing they will not run in the next election which in this case is coming in November, with Mullins term ending at the end of 2026. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem delivers remarks during a working lunch at the "Shield of the Americas" Summit at Trump National Doral in Miami, on March 7, 2026. Its not clear yet how crowded the GOP primary for Mullins open seat will get. Rep. Stephanie Bice, R-Okla., has previously said she is considering her own campaign but has not made any final decisions. Advertisement Mullin Promises To Earn Dem Votes As Gop Colleagues Pounce On His Seat Hern, meanwhile, is already stacking his team with Trump operatives. Hes recruited pollster Tony Fabrizio, who is closely aligned with the president, as his campaigns senior advisor. Fabrizio said in a statement that Hern is in a "strong position" to win the seat, citing his "record of support for President Trumps agenda, the trust he has built with Oklahoma voters, and his experience in public service and in business." Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader John Thunes, R-S.D., first goal is to get Mullins seat quickly filled. He is set to meet with Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a common practice when an appointment needs to be made, this week, a source familiar told Fox News Digital. Its common practice for a governor to meet with the leader of the Senate to work on appointing a replacement, as is the case with Mullin, who is set to begin his confirmation process in the upper chamber next week. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt updates the media on a deadly tornado that ripped through Barnsdall, northeast Oklahoma, on May 7, 2024. Further down the line, Thune has no preference as to who would replace Mullin, who is currently a member of his leadership team. "You know, obviously we want we're going to have to fill that seat for Markwayne here by the end of the month in the near term, and then the long-term issue will be decided by the voters of Oklahoma," Thune said. "So whoever they decide to send us, we'll be happy to receive." Click Here To Download The Fox News App Still, Hern has already snatched up the endorsement of a handful of senators, including Sens. Jim Banks, R-Ind., Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., Rick Scott, R-Fla., and Ron Johnson, R-Wis. Trump has given a deadline of March 31 for Mullin to take over and for Noem to get out, and he is expected to easily pass through the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Whether Mullin hits hurdles during a full confirmation vote remains an open question. Original article source: House GOP leader launches Senate bid as Trump taps Markwayne Mullin for DHS Former Starbucks chief executive Howard Schultz said in a LinkedIn post that he and his wife are moving from Seattle to Florida after more than four decades in the city, where he helped build the coffee chain into a global brand. His announcement comes as Washington state lawmakers advance a so-called millionaire tax that would levy a nearly 10% annual tax on personal earnings over $1 million. Schultz didn't cite the wealth tax in his announcement, posted late Tuesday, about his planned move to Florida. But he wrote that he hopes Washington state "will remain a place for business and entrepreneurship to thrive, creating essential opportunity for those in Seattle and the surrounding areas." Flight of the millionaires? Wealth taxes are sparking debates among lawmakers and policy experts about whether they could cause high-income residents to move to locations with more favorable tax laws. In California, a proposed ballot initiative would institute a one-time 5% tax on the state's estimated 255 billionaires a move that some opponents, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, have warned could trigger an exodus of ultra-wealthy residents. Schultz said he and his wife are moving to Florida one of the few U.S. states without a personal income tax as they enter retirement. "We have moved to Miami for our next adventure together. We are enjoying the sunshine of South Florida and its allure to our kids on the East Coast as they raise families of their own," he wrote. Washington state is one of the few states controlled by Democrats that doesn't tax wages or salaries, although it does tax certain investment proceeds. The wealth tax is aimed at bridging a budget shortfall and helping fund services such as free K-12 school meals. Advertisement House lawmakers in the state adopted the measure this week after an all-night session deliberating amendments to the proposal. It is now set to return to the state's Senate, which passed a version previously. Support from the governor Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson, a Democrat, endorsed the wealth tax in December, saying that it would make the state's taxation fairer. He has indicated that he'll sign the law if the legislature can send it to him before they adjourn on Thursday. Schultz, whom the Bloomberg Billionaires Index says is worth $6.6 billion, paid about $44 million for a penthouse at the Surf Club, Four Seasons Private Residences in Surfside, Florida, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday. The ocean-view unit has five bedrooms, a central courtyard and a rooftop terrace in its 5,500-square-foot space, the Journal noted. Schultz noted that his private family office, an investment firm that manages his family's finances, is also located in Miami, while the Schultz Family Foundation will remain in Seattle. "We will be forever grateful for the memories made in Seattle and the relationships built along the way," Schultz wrote. CBS News exclusive: LA is "ground zero" for hospice fraud Family of teacher killed during prank asks for charges to be dropped against teens How Venezuela is changing 2 months after Maduro's capture Leading researchers join esteemed global community of fellows PHILADELPHIA, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The global ocean faces major threatsfrom illegal fishing to vanishing coastal habitats to plastic pollution. Now, a new cohort of scientists will work to bridge the knowledge gaps hindering effective ocean protections. The Pew Charitable Trusts announced today that seven fellowsbased in Australia, the United States, Canada, Japan, and Thailandwill receive $150,000 grants over three years to pursue conservation-focused research aimed at strengthening ocean health and the communities that depend on it. Their work includes tracing illegal and unreported fisheries with advanced genetic techniques, improving reef restoration in Southeast Asia, mapping climate resilient kelp forests, testing local-based incentives for marine conservation, rethinking fisheries governance in East Asia, analyzing the impacts of harmful algal blooms, and developing open-source technology to classify nanoplastic pollution. This year's fellows' cohort also includes the first recipient of the Pew-Gerstner Fellowship in Ocean Plastics Research, which supports research on solutions to marine plastic pollution; and the second recipient of the Pew-Hoover Fellowship in Marine and Biomedical Science, which fosters innovative research at the intersection of the two fields. "These fellows are tackling some of the ocean's toughest challenges with creativity and immense dedication," said Leo Curran, project director for the Pew Fellows Program in Marine Conservation. "Their work shows what's possible when science, technology, and communities come together to protect our seas." The 2026 fellows join a distinguished community of more than 200 Pew marine fellow alumni dedicated to advancing ocean science and promoting the sustainable use of marine resources. The Pew Fellows Program in Marine Conservation supports midcareer scientists and other experts selected by an international panel of leaders in marine science and conservation. Alumni form an active community that promotes collaboration and knowledge sharing worldwide. "Seeing these scientists turn their ideas into action is what excites me most," said Angela Bednarek, Pew's director of scientific advancement. "They're exploring new approaches, testing innovative tools, and working closely with communities and policymakers, bringing research to life in ways that could shape how we care for the oceans." The 2026 fellows are: Suchana Apple Chavanich, Ph.D. Chulalongkorn University, Thailand Suchana Apple Chavanich will develop and apply innovative methods to advance reef restoration in Southeast Asia, a region with some of the world's richest coral diversity. Working in Thailand, Chavanich will refine techniques for producing new corals through sexual propagation and banking frozen coral sperm and eggscritical methods for preserving the genetic health of restored populations. Andres Cisneros-Montemayor, Ph.D. Simon Fraser University, Canada Andres Cisneros-Montemayor will develop a replicable framework to identify the social connections that shape markets in the ocean economy, facilitating the design and implementation of local-scale incentives for conservation. Working with three fishing communities in Sonora, Mexico, Cisneros-Montemayor will apply this framework, conducting field interviews and community engagement workshops to map and understand the layered interactions that influence economic decision-making. Win Cowger, Ph.D. Pew-Gerstner Fellow in Ocean Plastics Research Win Cowger will enhance the capabilities of Open Specy, an open-source tool he developed to help researchers worldwide classify and analyze different types of plastic pollution. He will build a robust reference library and develop new algorithms to improve the identification of nanoplastics, small microplastics, and plastic leachates in the marine environment. Nur Arafeh-Dalmau, Ph.D. University of Queensland, Australia Nur Arafeh-Dalmau will collaborate with partners in California, Mexico, Peru, and Argentina to identify and map resilient kelp forest ecosystems. Using satellite imagery, ecological surveys, and environmental DNA, Arafeh-Dalmau will analyze biodiversity patterns in persistent kelp forests and test their resilience to marine heat waves. Matthew Gribble, Ph.D. Pew-Hoover Fellow in Marine and Biomedical Science University of California, San Francisco, United States Matthew Gribble will apply an advanced statistical technique called a hidden Markov model to better understand the dynamics of toxin-producing algal blooms. His work will focus on southeast Alaska, where Alaska Native communities have been repeatedly affected by harmful algal blooms, and Andalucia, Spain. Gribble will determine how often areas have been exposed to algal blooms in the past, supporting insights into the health effects of harmful algal toxin exposure. Shaili Johri, Ph.D. Stanford University, United States Shaili Johri will use advanced genetic tools to strengthen seafood traceability and combat illegal fishing. By analyzing fine-scale differences in individual animals' DNA, her research will help pinpoint the geographic origins of traded species. Focusing on reef sharks, Johri will develop low-cost, rapid, and accurate genetic and visual identification methods to identify shark fishing hot spots across the Western Indian Ocean and detect instances of illegal fishing. Namhee Kwon, Ph.D. Kansai University, Japan Namhee Kwon will analyze the effectiveness and limitations of existing agreements in managing shared fish stocks, with the goal of identifying institutional and legal reforms that are both politically viable and ecologically sustainable. Focusing on agreements among South Korea, Japan, and China, Kwon will examine the legal architecture of each agreement, obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and implementation of these agreements within each country's domestic system. Elham Khatami, 202-540-6711, [email protected] SOURCE The Pew Charitable Trusts During the first year of President Donald Trump's second term, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston arrested 414 illegal aliens charged or convicted for child sex offenses. The figure amounts to nearly twice as much as the 211 arrested during the final year of President Joe Biden's tenure, according to a press release. "As a group, the arrested criminal illegal aliens accounted for 761 child sex offenses and 525 other criminal offenses ranging from homicide to robbery," ICE noted in the release. The Trump administration has been working to crack down on illegal immigration since he returned to office last year. Man Accused Of Spraying Anti-ice Graffiti At Oklahoma Capitol Is Registered Child Sex Offender; Charges Filed Federal agents arrested 414 criminal illegal aliens charged or convicted for child sex offenses during the first year of President Donald Trump's second term, ICE says. (Getty Images) One of the individuals arrested was a man who unlawfully reentered the country a whopping 12 times, according to ICE. Read On The Fox News App "Juan Leonardo Garcia Ibarra, a 48-year-old criminal illegal alien from Mexico, arrested by ICE April 4, 2025 has illegally reentered the U.S. 12 times and been convicted of sexual indecency with a child, aggravated assault, cruelty toward a child, DWI and felony illegal reentry, and three times for illegal entry. ICE officers deported Garcia to Mexico on April 7, 2025," the press release noted. Advertisement Pittsburgh Bookstore Hands Out Free Anti-ice Whistles,' Owner Says She's Not Worried About Losing Followers Another one of the individuals arrested, Andrew Mark Watson, is from the United Kingdom. He was "arrested by ICE Dec. 5, 2025," according to the release, which noted that he "has been convicted of two counts of possession of child sexual abuse material and sexually exploiting a minor. Watson remains in ICE custody at the IAH Secure Adult Detention Facility in Livingston pending disposition of his immigration proceedings." Biden-appointed Judge In The Hot Seat After Dhs Fires Back At False Claims About Ice Facility Another one of the individuals arrested was Alex Samuel Lara Diaz, a 35-year-old previously deported criminal illegal alien from Honduras. He was arrested by ICE on Oct. 29, 2025, and was convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a minor. "He is also wanted in Honduras for homicide. ICE officers deported Lara Diaz to Honduras on Dec. 13, 2025, and he was turned over to Honduran authorities to be prosecuted for homicide," the ICE press release noted. Gabriel Martinez, ICE ERO Houston acting field office director, noted, "While elected officials and media pundits across the country were zealously trying to manipulate the American public with fake news stories about ICEs public safety mission, the brave men and women of ICE were quietly going about their business to arrest and remove more than 400 dangerous child predators from our local communities." "Thanks to their tireless efforts, parents across Southeast Texas can sleep a little better tonight knowing that these pedophiles and child rapists are no longer a threat to their children," Martinez said. Original article source: ICE Houston touts over 400 illegal alien child sex offenders arrested during Trump's first year back in office Republican gubernatorial candidate Ted Dabrowski speaks in Broadview, Illinois, Sept. 24, 2025. Photo: Jim Talamonti / The Center Square (The Center Square) Gubernatorial candidates are pushing for votes with the Illinois primary election less than one week away. Four Republicans are seeking to challenge incumbent Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who is unopposed in the Democratic Party primary. Rick Heidner said President Donald Trump has built up the United States as a business while Pritzker has driven businesses out of Illinois. He has no focus at all on building anything. It's all become a state of taking and taking and taking everything they can take from you, Heidner told The Center Square. Ted Dabrowski said hes building a coalition. Being half Hispanic and half Polish, I've been reaching out to a lot of the ethnic communities. They're engaged. They care a lot about what's happening here. They don't like how far left everything has gone, Dabrowski told The Center Square. The former Wirepoints president said he also gained endorsements from traditional Republican groups in Chicago and across the suburbs. Advertisement On Monday evening, Dabrowski, Heidner and DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick attended a debate in Northbrook, hosted by Students for Illinois. Dabrowski said young people are asking the right questions. They're asking about housing affordability, college affordability, safety. They have the same concerns many ordinary Illinoisans do. They want to see Illinois thrive and they want to be able to stay here, Dabrowski said. Heidner said young people at the debate liked his proposal to waive income taxes on downpayment savings by first-time homebuyers. When they save money, whatever they put down on their first home and not only the kids, any first-time homebuyer, I don't want to charge them any income tax on that amount of money for that one year, Heidner said. 2022 GOP nominee Darren Bailey did not participate in the debate on Monday night. Mendricks campaign did not immediately respond to The Center Squares request for an interview. Election Day in Illinois is next Tuesday, March 17. Early voting started on February 4. Photo: Alan Wooten / The Center Square (The Center Square) Voters across Wisconsin now have a bit more information on the nearly quarter-billion dollars in school referendum questions they will see on ballots next month. The Institute for Reforming Government on Tuesday released its School Referenda Transparency Tool. Funding schools sufficiently is important, but taxpayers deserve clear information about district spending and staffing trends when considering new referenda, IRG's Quinton Klabon said. IRGs tool provides simple, helpful information for anyone seeking to understand this Aprils proposals. The tool lists all 74 school referendum questions on the April ballot. They total $225 million. The tool breaks down the cost of the proposed tax increase through 2033, as well as whether the referendum is for building new buildings, maintaining old buildings, or paying day-to-day bills. The institute also tracks how many students each school district asking for money has added, and how many employees they have added. Advertisement "Taxpayers now have clear, consolidated information in one place, helping inform them about local school referenda," the institute said. The institute is also sharing its latest school funding report. That report details the final $1.4 billion in federal COVID-19 funding. It questions whether local schools are "investing wisely." "After sending $860 million to help Wisconsin public schools manage through spring 2021, Congress sent a final $1.49 billion to get students back on track," the report writes. "The goal? Do whatever it takes to catch kids up by September 2024. The problem? No one knows how schools have directed it or not directed it until now." That report allows parents to look at how schools spent their COVID-19 money, breaking it down by category like student spending, teacher spending, mental health spending, and transportation spending. The institute says the goal is to give Wisconsin taxpayers a fuller view of how much money is headed to their local schools. It comes as Gov. Tony Evers continues to insist that the state needs to spend money on public schools, and as a lawsuit over school funding in the state begins its likely journey to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The Institute for Reforming Government says its "main focus will be to remove the onerous barriers and red tape separating the individual from an efficient and functioning government." Donald Trump On Monday, Donald Trump announced the Iran war as "very complete." However, his Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pledged "the most intense day of strikes yet" on Tuesday. This inconsistency in America's communication may be more than just confusion - it could indicate a trap. This is the analysis reportedly put forth by Professor Robert Pape, director of the University of Chicago Project on Security and Threats and author of Bombing to Win: Air Power and Coercion in War. In an essay for Foreign Affairs, he suggests that the US and Israel have been lured into the same type of conflict that shattered American aspirations in Vietnam. The comparison is unsettling. In Vietnam, the US triumphed in every battle over 11 brutal years and never lost control of the skies. It swiftly dismantled much of the military and industrial infrastructure thought to be crucial to the enemy. Yet, it still lost the war. Despite winning every battle for 11 years, the US still lost the Vietnam war (Image: Getty) North Vietnamese and Vietcong forces outsmarted Washington not by matching American firepower, but by escalating "horizontally" - expanding the conflict into the towns and cities of the south on their own terms. According to Professor Pape, Iran is currently employing the same strategy. "Horizontal escalation occurs when a state widens the geographic and political scope of a conflict rather than intensifying it vertically in a single theater," Pape writes, according to a Telegraph report. "It is especially appealing as a strategy for the weaker parties in a military contest. Instead of trying to defeat a stronger adversary head-on, the weaker side multiplies arenas of risk - drawing additional states, economic sectors, and domestic publics into the remit of the conflict." Pete Hegseth pledged "the most intense day of strikes yet" on Tuesday (Image: Getty) In Pape's assessment, the missile and drone attacks targeting gas, oil, water, air, shipping and tourism infrastructure throughout the Gulf and beyond aren't simply the frantic actions of a collapsing regime. They signify something far more calculated - "a bid to transform the stakes of a conflict by widening its scope and extending its duration." Advertisement The objective is political rather than military. By dispersing destruction across the region, Iran aims to pressure voters, investors and US allies, seeking to undermine the support - explicit or implicit - that backs the American-Israeli offensive and compel Trump to return to negotiations. The Iran conflict continues to escalate (Image: Getty) "Horizontal escalation presses on the soft seams between governments and their societies," Pape writes. The pressure is particularly intense among the Gulf autocracies. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman have all lived in fear of a popular uprising similar to the one that overthrew the US-backed Shah of Iran in 1979 and established the Islamic Republic. By targeting civilian infrastructure across these nations, Tehran is not only causing physical and economic harm - it's also sending a warning to these regimes that maintaining alliances with Washington and Tel Aviv comes with a domestic political cost. "Horizontal escalation is not simply about hitting a wider array of targets. Its deeper effect is to change how a foe perceives risks," Pape notes. "By widening the theatre and prolonging the war, Tehran is shifting the contest from a battle of military capabilities to one of political endurance." Whilst it may be a minor historical detail, it's worth noting - Iran is the only major conflict since Vietnam where Britain has not sided with the US from the beginning. How Trump will navigate this escalating situation - which experts caution could potentially lead to a broader regional or even global conflict - remains uncertain. Eleven days in, it has become his defining challenge. ]]> JOHANNESBURG: The Trump administration, citing Iran, is taking more action against the Muslim Brotherhoodthis time in one of the worlds worst conflicts: the civil war in Sudan. On Monday, the State Department declared the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood (SMB) to be a "Designated Global Terrorist and intends to designate the group as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, effective March 16, 2026." The statement also contained a warning to Iran regarding its meddling in the conflict. "The SMB has contributed upwards of 20,000 fighters to the war in Sudan, many receiving training and other support from Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps," the statement noted. It added, "As the worlds leading state sponsor of terrorism, the Iranian regime has financed and directed malign activities globally through its IRGC. The United States will use all available tools to deprive the Iranian regime and Muslim Brotherhood chapters of the resources to engage in or support terrorism." Trump Admin Ramps Up Sudan Peace Effort As Civil War Leaves Tens Of Thousands Dead Fighters of the Sudan Liberation Movement, a Sudanese rebel group active in Sudan's Darfur State which supports army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, attend a graduation ceremony in the southeastern Gedaref state on March 28, 2024. (Getty Images) In November, the State Department sanctioned the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon, declaring it to be a terrorist organization in those countries. Read On The Fox News App The organization, the State Department noted, is "composed of the Sudanese Islamic Movement and its armed wing the al-Baraa Bin Malik Brigade (BBMB), (and) uses unrestrained violence against civilians to undermine efforts to resolve the conflict in Sudan and advance its violent Islamist ideology." FILE- Members of the Iranian revolutionary guard march during a parade. The IRGC is designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the State Department. A large part of its work is to covertly operate outside of Iran. The statement added that the groups "fighters have conducted mass executions of civilians in areas they captured, and repeatedly and summarily executed civilians based on race, ethnicity or perceived affiliation with opposition groups." Edmund Fitton-Brown, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), told Fox News Digital that the Muslim Brotherhoods links within the Sudanese governments Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) are deep and contribute aggressively in the war against the Rapid Support Forces. Advertisement Sudanese army soldiers take part in a military parade in Sudan's capital Khartoum on Aug. 23, 2025 Fitton-Brown, a former U.K. ambassador to Yemen, added that the Brotherhood has a "strong component" in the Sudanese regular army. Adding that the Brotherhood in Sudan has historical links with Osama Bin Laden, responsible with al Qaeda for the 9/11 terrorist attack, Fitton-Brown stated that the State Departments move is significant. "It is the first concrete indication that the November executive order was only the start of a process." Another Christian Community At Risk In Africa As Extremists And War Take Their Toll Sudanese displaced people gather at the Zam Zam refugee camp outside the town of El-Fashir in the Darfour region of Sudan, during a visit by U.N. officials. The U.N. humanitarian aid and refugee agencies appealed Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024, for $4.1 billion in international support for embattled civilians in Sudan amid signs that some may be dying of starvation after nearly a year of war there between the forces of rival generals. On the sanctioning of the Brotherhood in several countries in the region, he said, "I expect there will be many more, possibly starting with al-Islah in Yemen." He said the move "puts Sudan under political pressure because it is effectively associating its government with a terrorist entity." The effects of the nearly three-year-long civil war on the people of Sudan are dire. Last month, the Council on Foreign Relations global conflict tracker stated the "death toll estimates vary widely, with the former U.S. envoy for Sudan suggesting as many as 400,000 have been killed since the conflict began on April 15, 2023. More than 11 million have been displaced, giving rise to the worst displacement crisis in the world. On Monday, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho., posted on X, "This is a vital step to curb the Muslim Brotherhoods influence in the region, especially as hardline Islamists seek to reassert themselves. Now, we must also seriously consider the same FTO designation for the genocidal Rapid Support Forces and their terror campaign in Sudan." Fitton-Brown said the State Departments designation against the Brotherhood in Sudan "is good because it objectively targets a group of people who have brought untold misery to Sudan over decades. It is not a statement of support for the RSF. It is potentially empowering of democratic forces inside Sudan, although it will not be sufficient to change the way Sudan is governed or end the civil war, without much more proactive external involvement in the country." Click Here To Download The Fox News App Nicholas Coghlan, a former Canadian diplomat in Khartoum, was not as hopeful, telling Torontos Globe and Mail that hardline factions within leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhans government alliance "will push him now to ignore the U.S. and other potential mediators and go all out," adding "they have nothing further to lose by holding back." Original article source: Iran regime cited as Trump admin set to designate Sudans Muslim Brotherhood a terror group By Parisa Hafezi, Alexander Cornwell and Phil Stewart DUBAI/TEL AVIV/WASHINGTON, March 10 (Reuters) - The United States and Israel pounded Iran on Tuesday with what the Pentagon and Iranians on the ground called the most intense airstrikes of the war, despite global markets betting that President Donald Trump will seek to end the conflict soon. Raising the stakes for the global economy, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it would block oil shipments from the Gulf unless U.S. and Israeli attacks cease. The Revolutionary Guards also said it fired missiles on Tuesday evening at Qatar's U.S.-operated Al Udeid base and the Al Harir base in Iraq's Kurdistan. Those launches were followed by drone attacks targeting a gathering of U.S. troops at Al Dhafra air base in the United Arab Emirates and Juffair naval base in Bahrain. Early on Wednesday, Iranian state media reported another round of attacks was unleashed on U.S. military installations in Bahrain. Waves of Iranian missiles also were fired at central Israel early on Wednesday. The sound of explosions from air defenses intercepting the rockets punctuated the predawn darkness as air raid sirens blared and Israelis scrambled to safe rooms and shelters. There was no immediate word of whether any of the missiles reached the ground. The latest attacks from Iran roughly coincided with a new Israeli barrage on Beirut aimed at rooting out the Iran-backed group Hezbollah, which has fired into Israel from Lebanon in solidarity with the Tehran government. The White House on Tuesday reiterated Trump's threat to hit Iran hard over moves to stop the flow of energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, where the war has effectively halted one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, and repeated his offer for the U.S. Navy to safely escort tankers. "Today will be yet again, our most intense day of strikes inside Iran: the most fighters, the most bombers, the most strikes, intelligence more refined and better than ever," U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told a Pentagon briefing. In a message posted to his Truth Social platform later in the day, Trump said, "Within the last few hours, we have hit, and completely destroyed" 10 of Iran's "inactive" mine-laying vessels. He did not clarify where the strikes occurred. 'LIKE HELL' Tehran residents reached by Reuters described the war's most intense night of bombardment. "It was like hell. They were bombing everywhere, every part of Tehran," a resident said by phone, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons. "My children are afraid to sleep now." In Tehran's east, two five-storey residential buildings were hit on Monday, blasting out floors and walls and leaving a rickety concrete frame. Footage from Iran's Red Crescent showed rescuers there carrying a victim in a body bag. Workers were still recovering bodies at the site on Tuesday when a missile struck a road intersection nearby. Yet with Trump having described the war on Monday as "very complete, pretty much", investors appeared convinced he would end it soon - before the disruption to global energy supplies caused a worldwide economic meltdown. An historic surge in crude oil prices on Monday to nearly $120 a barrel was reversed as Brent crude settled back down below $90 on Tuesday. Asian and European share prices staged a partial recovery from earlier precipitous falls, and Wall Street bounced around its late February levels, before the war. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Tuesday that the American public will see oil and gas prices drop rapidly once the objectives of the joint Israeli-U.S. air war are fully achieved. A source familiar with Israel's war plans told Reuters the Israeli military wanted to inflict as much damage as possible before the window for further strikes closes, under the assumption Trump could end the war at any time. Israel's foreign minister, Gideon Saar, said the war would proceed until his country and the U.S. determine the time had come to cease hostilities, but that Israel was not seeking an "endless war." "We will continue until the minute that we, and our partners, think that it is appropriate to stop," he said. TRUMP PRESS CONFERENCE APPEARS TO REASSURE MARKETS Advertisement Iran has refused to bow to Trump's demand that it let the United States choose its new leadership, naming hardliner Mojtaba Khamenei as supreme leader to replace his father, who was killed on the war's first day. But occasionally contradictory remarks from Trump at a Monday press conference seemed to reassure markets he would stop the war before provoking an economic crisis like those that followed the Middle East oil shocks of the 1970s. He said the U.S. had already inflicted serious damage and predicted the conflict would end before the four weeks he initially set out. Trump has not defined what victory would look like, but on Monday did not repeat declarations that Iran must let him choose its leader. Several congressional aides have said they expect the White House to soon request as much as $50 billion in additional funding for the war. The U.S. used $5.6 billion in munitions in the first two days of strikes against Iran, a source familiar with the information said on Tuesday. IRANIAN DEFIANCE Several senior Iranian officials voiced defiance on Tuesday. "Certainly, we are not seeking a ceasefire; we believe the aggressor must be struck in the mouth so that they learn a lesson," Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, posted on X. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told PBS that Tehran was unlikely to resume negotiations with the U.S. And a spokesperson for the Revolutionary Guards said Tehran would not allow "one litre" of Middle Eastern oil to reach the U.S. or its allies while U.S. and Israeli attacks continue. "We are the ones who will determine the end of the war," the spokesperson said. QUICK END TO WAR COULD LEAVE IRAN'S LEADERS IN PLACE Ending the war quickly would appear to preclude toppling Iran's leadership, which held large-scale rallies on Monday in support of the new supreme leader. Many Iranians want change and some openly celebrated the death of the elder Khamenei, weeks after his security forces killed thousands of people to put down anti-government protests. But there has been little sign of protest during the war. Fearing a revival of anti-government demonstrations, Iran's police chief Ahmadreza Radan warned that "anyone taking into streets at the enemy's request will be confronted as an enemy not protestor." "All our security forces have their fingers on the trigger," Radan told state television. More than 1,300 Iranian civilians have been killed since the U.S. and Israeli airstrikes began on February 28, according to Iran's U.N. ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani. He said nearly 8,000 homes have been destroyed, along with 1,600 "commercial and service centers" and dozens of medical, educational and energy-supply facilities. The intention of U.S. and Israeli strikes is "to terrorize civilians, massacre innocent people, and cause maximum destruction and suffering," the ambassador said. Scores have also been killed in Israeli attacks on Lebanon, while Iranian strikes on Israel have killed 12 people. Iran has struck U.S. military bases and diplomatic missions in Arab Gulf states but also hit hotels, closed airports and damaged oil infrastructure. In addition to the six U.S. soldiers killed at the outset of the conflict, the Pentagon on Tuesday estimated that about 140 American troops have been wounded. The Defense Department previously said eight U.S. military personnel had been seriously injured. (Reporting by Reuters bureaux, Writing by Peter Graff, Charlie Devereux, Matt Spetalnick and Steve Gorman, Editing by William Maclean, Timothy Heritage, Cynthia Osterman and Michael Perry) WASHINGTON A fiery debate broke out in the Senate on Wednesday, March 11, as lawmakers faced intensifying pressure amid the Iran war and growing airport security lines to end the monthlong partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. The Senate once more opted against even partially reopening the agency after Democrats tried to unanimously pass a bill to fully fund most of its contents except for (crucially) Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection and the Office of the Secretary. Republicans blocked the measure, saying they couldn't support a bill that disregards immigration enforcement. "We're not going back to the era of defund the police," said Sen. Katie Britt, R-Alabama, a key figure in the talks to end the shutdown. "We're not doing it." 1 / 0 ICE, Border Patrol leaders face Congress over deadly Minnesota raids (L/R) Rodney Scott, Commissioner of US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Joseph Edlow, Director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and Todd Lyons, acting director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), testify during a House Committee on Homeland Security hearing on Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on Feb. 10, 2026. Republicans and Democrats shouted at each other on the Senate floor against an increasingly dire political backdrop. As the war in Iran rapidly escalates, lawmakers have warned that critical antiterrorism divisions within the 9/11-era Cabinet agency are facing staff and resource shortages. At the same time, security lines have begun to snake longer at airports across the country, as workers at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which is part of Homeland Security, continue to go unpaid. As is always the case with shutdowns, the pain has started to grow in more visible ways, pulling focus from the reason it started in the first place. Read more: A blind woman, a 'dream job,' and the toll of the government shutdown In this case, Democrats, horrified by the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good by federal agents in Minneapolis, dug their feet in last month and refused to fund the agency that houses ICE and Border Patrol. Since then, they've been negotiating with congressional Republicans and the White House over potential reforms to federal immigration enforcement. Among other things, they want a ban on masks for agents, more requirements for officers to wear body-worn cameras and a commitment to no raids without warrants from a judge. Republicans have said some of those asks, including the mask ban, are nonstarters. They've been more amenable to other requests, though, like the body-worn cameras demand. President Donald Trump ousted Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem last week in a move many Democrats were happy to see, but it didn't immediately change their minds on funding the department. Speaking on the Senate floor, a visibly upset Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, accused Democrats of allowing the latest counterproposal from the Trump administration, which he said "went further" than many Democrats expected, to languish for two weeks. Advertisement Senate Majority Leader John Thune talks with reporters at the U.S. Capitol on March 11 in Washington, DC. "This is a one-sided negotiation," he said. Washington's Patty Murray, the top Democratic appropriator in the Senate, shot back that her party doesn't want to negotiate with Republicans if they'll just be overruled by the White House. "I am willing to talk to people," she said. "But I'm not willing to sit in a room, have coffee, give away a few things, and then have (Trump adviser) Stephen Miller override whatever we all agree to." Read more: White House says Trump's SAVE Act threat not applicable to DHS funding Terrorism risks, TSA lines growing Members of the FBI perform an investigation near Buford's bar in downtown on March 1, 2026 in Austin, Texas. Three people are dead and 14 others hospitalized following a mass shooting early Sunday morning. The stakes of the DHS shutdown are only getting higher. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Oklahoma, the chair of the House Appropriations Committee, said that Coast Guard men and women, including those in harm's way in Bahrain because of the war, "are completing missions without full resources behind them." Lawmakers and federal officials have also said the Iran conflict has increased the risks of terrorism in the United States. In just the nearly two weeks since the war began, two separate incidents underscored that reality. On March 1, three people were killed outside a bar in Austin, Texas. The suspect was wearing a "Property of Allah" sweatshirt, and reports indicate he was wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the Iranian flag. On March 9, two teenagers were accused of igniting bombs outside the home of New York City's mayor in an attack motivated by the Islamic State, according to a federal complaint. Simultaneously, travelers are facing TSA lines of up to nearly three hours long at some major airports, causing missed flights and massive delays during peak travel, the TSA told USA TODAY in a statement. Workers only received partial paychecks earlier this month and now face their first full missed paycheck, raising the risk of "crippling staff shortages," according to the agency. For those reasons, Democrats have continued to push Republicans to pass funding for most of DHS while they work out an immigration enforcement deal with the Trump administration. "Republicans claim they're worried about TSA and FEMA," said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York. "They can't be too worried, because they're blocking it right now." Zachary Schermele is a congressional reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach him by email at zschermele@usatoday.com. Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele and Bluesky at @zachschermele.bsky.social. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Iran war clouds ICE concerns as DHS shutdown talks remain stalled The war raging in the Middle East threatened to throw Easter travel into chaos on Tuesday as British Airways announced it had cancelled all flights in the region. BA said it would scrap flights to and from the region due to the conflict between Iran, the US and Israel, on routes that typically serve thousands of travellers every day. In an announcement, the airline said all flights to Amman in Jordan, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai and Tel Aviv have been cancelled until later this month. Flights to and from Abu Dhabi have been scrapped until later this year. BA will also pause its repatriation flights from Muscat to London after Thursday because of reduced demand, it said, with limited seats left on the final flights out of Oman on Wednesday and Thursday. BA has been carrying out repatriation flights from Muscat (Getty/iStock) BA is the latest airline to indefinitely pause flights as the US presses on with a widespread bombing campaign in Iran aimed at instigating regime change. US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said that Tuesday would be the most intense day of strikes since the war began on 28 February. Due to the continuing uncertainty of the situation in the Middle East and airspace instability, weve had to temporarily reduce our flying schedule in the region, a spokesperson for the company said, adding that the schedule will be kept under continuous review. Flights to Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai and Tel Aviv will be cancelled up to and including 28 March. They are also closed for sale to new customers from 29 March until 15 April. A building was damaged in a drone strike in the Seef district of Manama, Bahrain, on Tuesday (AFP/Getty) Flights to Abu Dhabi are seasonal and will not restart until October 2026. Advertisement The last BA repatriation flight, intended to bring back BA passengers who are stranded in the Gulf, will depart from the Omani capital on 12 March. The services have been dedicated to customers with existing bookings from Middle East locations, including Abu Dhabi and Dubai. But with regular flights departing on Etihad and Emirates, departing travellers are choosing not to make the five-hour journey across the desert instead boarding a commercial jet at the nearest airport. Airlines and businesses are facing further uncertainty after mixed signals from Washington over how long the conflict will last. President Donald Trump promised this week that the war would be a short-term excursion that would finish very soon, but later threatened Iran with death, fire and fury if it continues to disrupt maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. Around 20 per cent of global oil supply passes through the route, making it key to the global economy. Rescuers work in the rubble of residential buildings after airstrikes in the Resalat neighbourhood in Tehran (Iranian Red Crescent Society) Mr Hegseth, meanwhile, said the US will not relent until the enemy is totally and decisively defeated, adding: But we do so on our timeline and at our choosing. For example, today will be yet again our most intense day of strikes inside Iran. Mr Hegseth said that more fighter jets and bombers were being deployed to pound Iran as experts warned that the Islamic Republic could be playing a war of attrition, exhausting expensive US weaponry before using its better gear. Irans foreign minister Abbas Araghchi signalled that Iran was no closer to backing down under US-Israeli pressure, telling PBS: We are well prepared to continue attacking them with our missiles as long as needed and as long as it takes. Separately, the UK government announced that British warship HMS Dragon has left its naval base in Portsmouth for the eastern Mediterranean to protect Cyprus. The vessel left Portsmouth Harbour a week after its deployment was announced. The Type 45 destroyer is capable of shooting down drones and ballistic missiles fired by Iran and its proxies as the Middle East crisis continues. Israeli President Isaac Herzog spoke yesterday to a group of business leaders gathered in Washington at the Yale CEO Caucus. While discussions during the gathering were off the record, Herzog made his virtual remarks on the record. His main message was to convey a sense of regional solidarity around the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran and what he described as the NATO-like response of Gulf neighbors to Irans widespread retaliatory bombing, while characterizing the offensive as a prerequisite for Middle East prosperity. Herzog also spoke glowingly of Americas role as a partner, saying, The incredible cooperation that we have between our militaries is unprecedented, compared even to some of the alignment of the allies in World War II. While the president acknowledged the cost and controversy around the military strikes, which killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, he underscored the urgency of the situation. Iran was recharging and reigniting its program, its nuclear program, in clandestine new sites that were extremely sensitive, and we could have missed the opportunity of taking care of them, he said, adding: Iran was rushing a plan of 20,000 ballistic missiles. They had 2,000 at the opening of this operation. Twenty thousand would have made a sea change of their power in the region for generation or so. As U.S. President Donald Trump has done, Herzog also pointed to Irans recent nationwide protests and the regimes mass killings in response as further justification for the attacks. Two months ago, they butchered 50,000 of their people, Herzog said. (Iran put the death toll at between 3,117 and several thousand, while groups like Human Rights Watch say the toll is hard to calculate amid a government crackdown and now the war.) Added Herzog: We also are hurting the government/military infrastructure substantially to enable the people to rise up. We dont know if they will. Attendees asked Herzog about the allies long-term plan for Iran and criticism that the attacks were launched without one. The grand plan is first and foremost to weaken them substantially, and that is what is being done, he said, arguing that Irans grand master plan was a threat beyond the region. Every American leader, every European leader, was talking to us about Iran. We understood that its a cocktail of extreme ideology, jihadist ideology, that does not accommodate moderate Islam, Christianity, Judaism, or anybody else. Advertisement A plan for prosperity The main message for CEOs, though, was that Tehran had been undermining an increasing spirit of cooperation throughout the Gulf region and beyond. The real next big horizon in business is the connectivity between Israel and India through Saudi Arabia and the Gulf, he said, referring to the IndiaMiddle EastEurope Economic Corridor, or IMEC, that was announced during the G20 Summit in New Delhi in September 2023. Weeks later, on Oct. 7, Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists murdered more than 1,200 civilians in Israel and took more than 250 hostages, sparking a war with Gaza that has killed more than 70,000 people, primarily Palestinians. That has slowed but not halted progress on the bold initiative to integrate energy, transportation, and digital infrastructure across the continents. Prior to the watershed moment of Oct. 7, he said, about a million and a half Israelis had been working throughout the region, primarily in UAE and Bahrainthe first signatories to the Abraham Accords, a deal to normalize relations between Gulf nations and Israel that was negotiated under the first Trump administration in September of 2020. Sudan and Morocco later signed on to the accords, and Saudi Arabia had expressed interest in joining. Now, those aspirations for a regional bloc of cooperation are on hold, and Herzog largely blames Tehran: We need to be steadfast, take a deep breath, and finish the undermining of Iran. The Israeli president acknowledged polls that show a growing number of Americans becoming less supportive of Israel amid ongoing violence in the Middle East, calling it a very big strategic issue thats not unique to Israel. Every nation is going to social evolution. There are changes, especially changes with the young generation, said Herzog, who has a tense working relationship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Among other things, Herzog has resisted pressure from both Netanyahu and Trump to pardon the Israeli prime minister on bribery and fraud charges and end an ongoing corruption trial. Israel is going through an election in about six months time. Were a democracy. We feel and are confident that we are doing the right thing. That said, he also talked about the need to have a bipartisan, open, and frank dialogue, explaining to the American people that we in Israel are serving their national security interest. As he put it: If you are the biggest empire in the world, theres many advantages to it but also certain obligations that youre meeting by fighting the empire of evil that wants to undermine you. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com Israel's President Isaac Herzog visits the site of a fatal Iranian missile strike, amid the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, in Beit Shemesh, Israel, March 2, 2026. REUTERS/Amir Cohen March 10 (Reuters) - Israel's President Isaac Herzog on Tuesday did not offer a timetable on when the war with Iran could end, telling Germany's Bild newspaper: "We need to take a deep breath and get to the end result." Herzog said the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran were changing the whole configuration of the Middle East. He defended strikes on Iranian oil sites as a way of taking away money from Tehran's "war machine". The interview was published as the U.S. and Israel pounded Iran with what the Pentagon and Iranians on the ground said were the most intense airstrikes of the war, despite global markets betting that President Donald Trump will seek to end the conflict soon. Advertisement Israel's foreign minister, Gideon Saar, had earlier said his country was not planning for an endless war and was consulting with Washington about when to stop it. The Iranians are the ones spreading chaos and terror throughout the region and the world. So I think if we measure everything by a speedometer, we wont get anywhere. We need to take a deep breath and get to the end result, Herzog told Bild. Eliminating the Iranian threat would "enable the entire system in the region to suddenly breathe again and develop further. Thats fantastic, he added. (Writing by Matthias Williams; Editing by Cynthia Osterman) NEW YORK, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Prior authorization, a process that requires physicians to obtain approval from health care insurers before certain treatments are covered, may keep patients from filling prescriptions for two critical heart failure drugs, a new study shows. Led by NYU Langone Health researchers, the analysis focused on angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors (ARNIs) and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, which are pillars of modern heart failure treatment. The drugs have no generic alternatives and can cost hundreds of dollars out of pocket. While they have been shown to substantially reduce the risk of death when added to standard therapy, past research showed that less than half of patients prescribed these medications take them regularly. "Prior authorization requirements may be contributing to the substantial health disparities seen in heart failure care." Post this According to the new study's findings, people with heart failure whose prescriptions required prior authorization took three times as long to fill an ARNI prescription and six times as long to fill an SGLT2 inhibitor prescription than those whose prescriptions did not require it. Patients whose SGLT2 prescriptions required prior authorization were twice as likely to never fill them. "Our results suggest that prior authorization may be doing harm when it comes to guideline-recommended medications with no generic alternatives," said study lead author and cardiologist Amrita Mukhopadhyay, MD, "While these policies are meant to control health care costs by steering patients toward lower-priced alternatives, they may instead be keeping people with heart failure from timely access to lifesaving treatments." Mukhopadhyay is the Eugene Braunwald, MD, Assistant Professor of Cardiology in the NYU Grossman School of Medicine's Department of Medicine and its Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology. According to the authors, delays and nonfilled prescriptions may occur because most patients fill prescriptions the same day as their medical visit. If the pharmacy tells them they must return weeks later, some may give up on the treatment. Clinicians might also hesitate to prescribe a drug if they know it will require prior authorization, adds Mukhopadhyay, who is also an assistant professor in the Department of Population Health at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. The current findings echo those from interviews and surveys of physicians and patients that have long suggested that prior authorization requirements can delay care, increase treatment abandonment, and erode trust in the health care system, Mukhopadhyay notes. Published online Jan. 27 in the journal JACC: Advances, the study is the first to examine the impact of prior authorization on access to ARNI and SGLT2 inhibitors prescribed for heart failure and to provide clear evidence that it may significantly delay their pharmacy fills, the researchers say. For the investigation, the research team assessed information from the electronic health records and pharmacy fill logs of 2,183 men and women in treatment for heart failure at NYU Langone Health. All had received a new prescription for ARNI or SGLT2 inhibitor between 2021 and 2023. For each patient, the team determined whether prior authorization was required and how long it took to fill the prescription within a year of it being written. The researchers accounted for patients' race and ethnicity, gender, education, and other demographic and social factors in their statistical analysis. The findings revealed that prior authorization was more common among people living in lower socioeconomic-status neighborhoods and among those who identified as Black or Hispanic. Patients facing these prior authorization requirements were also more likely to have Medicaid insurance. According to the researchers, this suggests that these policies may be reinforcing health care disparities. "Our results indicate that prior authorization requirements may be contributing to the substantial health disparities seen in heart failure care and need to be carefully reexamined," said study senior author Saul Blecker, MD. According to Blecker, an associate professor in the NYU Grossman School of Medicine's Departments of Population Health and Medicine, the study team next plans to explore how copays, coinsurance, and other elements of insurance may affect access to heart failure drugs. Blecker cautions that the findings may not be easily generalized to the entire country since the study assessed patients within a single health care system. Because New York state Medicaid offers some of the most comprehensive coverage policies in the nation, the barriers linked to prior authorization may be even higher in other states. National Institutes of Health grants R01HL155149, R01HL152699, K23HL171636, and K24AG080025, and the American Heart Association and the New York Academy of Medicine, provided funding for the study. Along with Mukhopadhyay and Blecker, NYU Langone and other NYU researchers involved in the study are Samrachana Adhikari, PhD; Xiyue Li, MS; Adam Berman, MD, MPH; Carine Hamo, MD; John Dodson, MD, MPH; Rumi Chunara, PhD, MS; Nathalia Ladino, MS; Harmony Reynolds, MD; and Stuart Katz, MD. Other study co-investigators are Dhruv Satish Kazi, MD, at Harvard Medical School in Boston, and Ian Kronish, MD, MPH, at Columbia University in New York City. Reynolds has received funding for unrelated research from biotechnology companies Abbott, Philips, and Siemens. NYU Langone Health is managing the terms and conditions of these relationships in accordance with its policies and procedures. About NYU Langone Health NYU Langone Health is a fully integrated health system that consistently achieves the best patient outcomes through a rigorous focus on quality that has resulted in some of the lowest mortality rates in the nation. Vizient Inc. has ranked NYU Langone No. 1 out of 118 comprehensive academic medical centers across the nation for four years in a row, and U.S. News & World Report recently ranked four of its clinical specialties number one in the nation. NYU Langone offers a comprehensive range of medical services with one high standard of care across seven inpatient locations, its Perlmutter Cancer Center, and more than 320 outpatient locations in the New York area and Florida. The system also includes two tuition-free medical schools, in Manhattan and on Long Island, and a vast research enterprise. Media Inquiries Shira Polan 212-404-4279 [email protected] SOURCE NYU Grossman School of Medicine and NYU Langone Health FILE PHOTO: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni looks on as she waits for the arrival of President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides, at Chigi Palace, in Rome, Italy, February 26, 2026. REUTERS/Remo Casilli/File Photo By Angelo Amante and Giuseppe Fonte ROME, March 11 (Reuters) - Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday delivered her strongest criticism yet of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, describing it as part of a growing and dangerous trend of interventions "outside the scope of international law". Her remarks to parliament came after repeated accusations from the opposition that her right-wing government had been too soft toward its allies. Most other European nations, with the notable exception of Spain, have withheld direct critique of the U.S. and Israeli attacks, largely calling for restraint. Meloni - who has close ties with U.S. President Donald Trump - also said Iran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons, as that would end the international non-proliferation framework with "dramatic repercussions for global security", leaving Italy and Europe exposed to a potential nuclear threat from Tehran. The U.S. and Israel traded air strikes with Iran across the Middle East as the war stretched into its 12th day, a conflict that has halted the flow of one-fifth of the world's oil and gas supplies. Advertisement Addressing parliament on the crisis, Meloni drew parallels between the Middle East conflict and Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which she said triggered a broader global destabilisation. "It is in this context of structural crisis in the international system, in which threats are becoming increasingly frightening and unilateral interventions outside the scope of international law are multiplying, that we must also place the American and Israeli intervention against the Iranian regime," she told the Senate. Meloni said Rome was providing air-defense assets to Gulf countries hit by strikes from Tehran. "This is not only because these are friendly nations and strategic partners of Italy, but also because there are tens of thousands of Italian citizens in that area whom we must protect, not to mention the fact that there are about 2,000 Italian soldiers stationed in the Gulf." (Reporting by Angelo Amante and Giuseppe Fonte, editing by Andrei Khalip) Authorities have raided Jeffrey Epstein's New Mexico ranchmega Authorities in New Mexico have swarmed a sprawling property once owned by Jeffrey Epstein, where the bodies of two missing girls the s-- fiend allegedly abused are thought to be buried, RadarOnline.com can report. The New Mexico Department of Justice has confirmed it has revived its investigation into alleged crimes at Epstein's "Zorro Ranch," a 7,600-acre property outside of Santa Fe. Reopening the Investigation Epstein is accused of abusing, and possibly burying, two young girls there.doj A tip was previously sent to the FBI in 2019, the year Epstein committed suicide, claiming two girls' bodies the pedophile had allegedly abused had been buried in the hills outside the house. The ranch was searched that same year, but nothing was found. Last month, however, state leaders decided to reopen the investigation. "At the direction of Attorney General Torrez, the New Mexico Department of Justice initiated a search this morning of the Zorro Ranch property previously owned by Jeffrey Epstein, with the New Mexico State Police and Sandoval County Sheriffs Office providing assistance," a statement said. "This search is part of the criminal investigation announced by the New Mexico Department of Justice on February 19th into allegations of illegal activity at Epsteins ranch prior to Epsteins 2019 death." Officials asked for any information or tips "relevant to events that occurred in New Mexico" and promised to "continue to keep the public appropriately informed, support the survivors, and follow the facts wherever they lead." The Search for Buried Bodies The ranch is often overlooked by Epstein's other properties.mega The renewed scrutiny comes after the office of Raul Torrez, New Mexico's attorney general, announced it was investigating claims two bodies were buried at the ranch. Advertisement The allegations surfaced in a 2019 email to Eddy Aragon, a conservative talk-show host and former Albuquerque mayoral candidate, alleging two "foreign girls" died of strangulation during "rough, fetish s--" and were buried on the "orders of Jeffrey and Madam G" an apparent reference to Ghislaine Maxwell, now serving a 20-year federal prison sentence for s-- trafficking. The individual claimed the women were buried "somewhere in the hills outside the Zorro" and said they had taken seven videos from Epstein's home, including footage depicting s-- with minors, as "insurance in case of future litigation against Epstein." The sender offered to provide the material on a flash drive in exchange for one bitcoin. "It felt very legitimate to me. That's why I forwarded it," Aragon said at the time, explaining that he shared the letter with the FBI immediately and did not respond to the author or pay for the videos. Secrets To Spill The ranch was previously searched in 2019.mega Epstein's Zorro Ranch is often overshadowed by the financier's private Caribbean islands, but New Mexico criminal defense lawyer John W. Day previously told Radar the location may have its own secrets to spill. "We know from firsthand victim accounts what was taking place in the Caribbean," Day reasoned. "We havent heard the same level of victim stories about what was happening in New Mexico, but youd have to be foolish to think that it wasnt being used for the same purposes." Day contends there are still people in the area who know for sure what went down at Epstein's 26,700-square-foot ranch. "There had to be so much activity here that there hasnt been much attention paid to it," Day said. "There must have been people who worked on the place: staff, ranch hands, people coming and going. Was this any different from the island?" Joe Rogan said the attacks on Iran seem 'insane' after Donald Trump's campaign promises.PowerfulJRE/YouTube; MEGA Joe Rogan famously endorsed Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, but when it comes to the ongoing conflict with Iran, the podcaster isn't pulling any punches. During his Tuesday, March 10, installment of The Joe Rogan Experience, the 58-year-old trashed the recent attacks, claiming they didn't "make any sense," RadarOnline.com can reveal. Joe Rogan Questions Trump's Campaign Promises Joe Rogan admitted many people 'feel betrayed' by the conflict with Iran.PowerfulJRE/YouTube Pointing out that Trump, 79, memorably campaigned on avoiding endless and unnecessary wars, Rogan said the POTUS' decision to coordinate attacks on Iran with Israel "just seems so insane." "I mean, this is why a lot of people feel betrayed, right?" he continued. "He ran on No more wars, end these stupid, senseless wars, and then we have one that we cant even really clearly define why we did it." "It just doesnt make any sense to me, unless were acting on someone elses interests like particularly Israels interests," Rogan said, later adding, "Clearly Israel wanted this." Megyn Kelly Torches Iran Attacks Megyn Kelly railed against the attacks on Iran.@TheMegynKellyShow/YouTube Rogan isn't the only former Trump supporter who has lashed out at the attacks. Earlier this month, Megyn Kelly questioned who the men and women in the military were fighting and dying for. "My own feeling is no one should have to die for a foreign country. I don't think those four service members died for the United States. I think they died for Iran or for Israel," she said in a recent episode of her SiriusXM show. Since her remarks, the death toll has shot up to at least seven with around 150 troops wounded in the conflict, according to Mediaite. Advertisement "Our government's job is not to look out for Iran or for Israel. It's to look out for us," she added. "And this feels very much to me like it is clearly Israel's war." Trump later hit back at Kelly's comments, suggesting that she should "study her history book a little bit." "Megyn was opposed to me for years when I ran the first time and nothing stopped me," he told Fox News at the time. More Ex-MAGA Fans Chime in Tucker Carlson called the war with Iran 'disgusting.'MEGA Former MAGA member Tucker Carlson also turned on Trump, calling the bombing "absolutely disgusting and evil" in a sit-down with ABC News chief Washington correspondentJon Karl. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has been feuding with the Prez for several months, also called him out in a fiery social media post. "The Trump admin actually asked in a poll how many casualties voters were willing to accept in a war with Iran??? How about ZERO you bunch of sick f------ liars," she penned. "We voted for America First and ZERO wars." Iran War 'Pretty Much' Over Donald Trump said the war is 'very complete, pretty much.'MEGA As backlash from both sides of the aisle continues, Trump surprisingly announced the conflict was nearly over. "I think the war is very complete, pretty much," he said in a phone interview with CBS News White House correspondent Weijia Jiang. "They have no navy, no communications, theyve got no Air Force." KANSAS CITY, Mo. The Kansas City Police Department reports a missing 54-year-old man last seen on Tuesday evening has been located safe. Richard Herring was reported missing after he was last seen near the area of 43rd and College Ave. in Kansas City, Missouri around 5:10 p.m. on Tuesday. See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri Advertisement The Kansas City Police Department is searching for a missing 54-year-old man last seen on Tuesday evening. Herring suffers from cognitive impairment and multiple life-threatening medical conditions. His family was concerned for his health and well-being. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Getty Images For the first time in over 20 years, a new live-action Lord of the Rings movie is headed to theaters and a cast of returning LOTR veterans will be joined by none other than Kate Winslet. Winslet will reportedly play the female lead of The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, which will be directed by Gollum himself, Andy Serkis, and is produced by Peter Jackson, the filmmaker behind the original Lord of the Rings film trilogy, as well as The Hobbit prequels. According to Deadline, Serkis and Peter Jackson spent most of last year coaxing Winslet to appear in the film, which means uprooting to New Zealand to shoot her scenes in the film from late May through to October. Winslets history with Jackson goes all the way back to 1994, when Winslet starred in Jacksons film Heavenly Creatures. Advertisement READ MORE: Hollywood, Please Bring Back the Making-Of Documentary They have no details on the character Winslet will play in the film, but they note that in addition to Serkis, both Elijah Wood and Ian McKellen will reprise their Lord of the Rings roles, as Frodo and Gandalf, respectively. The Hunt for Gollum was first announced by Warner Bros. in the spring of 2024, following the acquisition of the Lord of the Rings rights by Embracer Group, and a new deal between them and Warner Bros. The specifics of the plot remain unclear, although the title gives at least a little clarity about whats going on. The film is not connected to Amazons ongoing live-action Lord of the Rings series, The Rings of Power, which is actually a prequel set centuries before the events of J.R.R. Tolkiens Middle-earth novels. The shows third season was filmed in late 2025. The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is scheduled to open in theaters on December 17, 2027. Thats not that far off when you think about it! Sir Keir Starmer has hinted at a move to cancel a fuel duty hike amid concerns over the impact that the Middle East crisis will have on the UK economy. The prime minister told MPs that the planned 5p increase would be kept under review before it is due to come into force in September. Fuel duty is currently frozen to help drivers with the cost of living, but that is due to end in the autumn. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has so far resisted calls to cancel the planned hike in response to the oil price spike caused by Donald Trumps war on Iran. But his comments, which came during a tetchy exchange at Prime Ministers Questions, pave the way for another possible U-turn. Pressed on the issue by Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, the prime minister said: We are not increasing the cost of petrol. We are absolutely clear in taking the measures that are necessary to deal with the impact of the conflict in Iran. Were dealing with that with other allies, were taking the necessary action. But the best thing that we can do is to work with others to de-escalate the situation." He added: Fuel duty is frozen. It is going to remain frozen until September. And we will keep the situation under review in light of what is happening in Iran. Later, in response to Tory MP Graham Stuart, he added: In light of what is happening in Iran, of course we will look carefully at the situation. Sir Keirs remarks were a distinct shift in statements given earlier this week by the chancellor, who had insisted that the rise would go ahead in September. Starmer has said Labour will look carefully at the situation when it comes to fuel duty (Parliament TV) Pressed on the subject in a Commons statement on Monday and then again during Treasury questions on Tuesday, she had added: Of course, we always keep taxes under review. Fears over a cost of living crisis similar to what happened in 2022 as a result of Russias invasion of Ukraine have been heightened by the price of oil rising more than 20 per cent to above $100 a barrel and gas more than 50 per cent. The RACs head of policy said on Wednesday that diesel prices have already risen by nearly 9 per cent since 28 February. Meanwhile, petrol prices are on average 6 per cent more across the same period, RAC Fuel Watch said. Advertisement But Ms Reeves justified the increase, claiming that fuel duty was already 11p a litre below where they would have been under the plans of the previous Tory government. Ms Badenoch hit back over his fuel duty comments in response to lengthy criticism by the PM that she herself had U-turned on whether the UK should be joining the US and Israel in attacking Iran. Sir Keir said Ms Badenoch relentlessly attacked him for refusing to join the initial US-Israel strikes, before changing her position. Yesterday, in the wake of the economic consequences, the leader of the opposition totally abandoned her position, he said. She told the BBC I never said we should join. He added: That is the mother of all U-turns on the single most important decision a prime minister ever has to take whether to commit the United Kingdom to war or not. He said she and Nigel Farage had been spooked and were now furiously trying to backpedal on their stance. Kemi Badenoch has been accused of totally abandoning her position when it comes to the Iran war (House of Commons/UK Parliament) Responding to the possibility that the fuel duty rise may be cancelled, John OConnell, chief executive of the TaxPayers Alliance, said: Motorists will be desperately hoping that the prime minister is getting ready to slam the brakes on the planned fuel duty hike. Prices at the pump are set to surge over the coming weeks, and yet the government is currently planning to pour petrol on the flames by driving up prices even further. The chancellor needs to put taxpayers minds at ease by putting a stop to the hike. A Conservative Party spokesperson said: We have just seen a truly shameful display from the prime minister. Six times he was asked why he is raising fuel duty for families and businesses this year, six times he refused to answer, instead smearing the leader of the opposition and deliberately misrepresenting her position on Iran and our armed forces. Keir Starmer has shown he doesnt care about drivers and doesnt care about the cost of living. He has no answer on petrol prices, because he knows that raising fuel duty for the first time in 15 years is the clearest possible symbol of Labours total mismanagement of the economy. After PMQs, a Downing Street spokesperson played down divisions between the words of the prime minister and chancellor. They noted that Ms Reeves had said things are moving on a daily basis and added: Its our long-established position that decisions around taxes are set at Budgets. Kim Jong-Un and his daughter North Korea has launched strategic cruise missiles from a newly constructed destroyer, with leader Kim Jong-un and his leather jacket-clad daughter overseeing the event. This display of military might coincides with significant U.S.-South Korean military exercises. State media reported that the missiles were launched from the 5,000-ton Choe Hyon destroyer, soaring over the Yellow Sea before hitting their intended targets. This action follows a stern warning to the US from the Kim regime. It comes after the 4 safest US states to live in during a nuclear war were laid bare in a chilling map. "We will manage strategic threats to national and regional security through the responsible exercise of deterrent power, including the full deployment of all available special means that must be overwhelming," stated Kim Yo Jong, a high-ranking Workers' Party official recently promoted by the dictator. State media reported that the missiles were launched from the 5,000-ton Choe Hyon destroyer (Image: East2West News) "We will continually and repeatedly demonstrate to our adversaries the scale and lethality of our war deterrence. We will deploy catastrophic destructive power to ensure that the enemy cannot even imagine opposing us and to safeguard the nation's firm peace." These tests occurred just days after a similar missile launch from the same warship, coinciding with the start of Seoul and Washington's annual "Freedom Shield" joint drills, which Pyongyang routinely criticizes as invasion preparations. Images released by North Korean media depict Kim observing the launch via video link, with his daughter Kim Ju-ae - believed to be 13 or 14-years-old and widely considered his likely successor - also present during the test. Kim announced that North Korea's nuclear forces were now entering a "multifaceted operational phase" (Image: East2West news) Kim stated the launches were part of initiatives to build "a powerful and reliable nuclear war deterrent." North Korea characterized the missiles as "strategic" cruise weapons, terminology frequently employed by Pyongyang to indicate potential nuclear warhead capacity, as reported by the Korean Central News Agency. Advertisement The missiles allegedly flew for over 10,000 seconds before striking their targets, showcasing what state media described as the dependability of the nation's expanding strategic weapons system. North Korea characterized the missiles as "strategic" cruise weapons (Image: East2West News) Kim announced that North Korea's nuclear forces were now entering a "multifaceted operational phase", apparently signaling his intention to deploy nuclear-capable weapons across land, sea and additional platforms. The test underscores Pyongyang's effort to enhance its naval strike capabilities. North Korea's "offensive weapon systems [are] undergoing constant development constitute an indispensable factor for self-defence literally", Kim stated, according to the news agency. The Choe Hyon destroyer, revealed last year, represents one of North Korea's most advanced warships and is purported by the regime to carry supersonic cruise missiles, tactical ballistic missiles and other strike weapons. Nevertheless, South Korean analysts have cast doubt on the vessel's actual capabilities. Kim has additionally directed the construction of more destroyers of the same class, indicating a long-term strategy to bolster the country's navy. The missile launch represents the most recent in a series of provocations from Pyongyang, which routinely conducts weapons tests during joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea. The Freedom Shield exercise, which commenced Monday, will continue for 11 days and includes large-scale command-post simulations and field training. Kim maintains the drills are a rehearsal for invasion, whilst Washington and Seoul insist they are purely defensive. Reports have indicated Kim Ju-ae is being intentionally exposed to North Korea's missile and nuclear bureaucracy, to underscore grooming for her future role as leader. She is starting to provide input on some policy matters, it is believed. It comes after we revealed the three underground bunkers across the US designed to withstand nuclear war. ]]> By Dave Graham and Olivia Le Poidevin KERZERS, Switzerland, March 11 (Reuters) - Six people died and five were injured in a bus fire in Switzerland that police suspect was caused by a man who set himself ablaze, though there was no indication it was an act of terrorism. Swiss authorities said on Wednesday the suspected perpetrator, a 65-year-old Swiss man who one official described as "disturbed," was among the dead, and had earlier been reported missing by his family. The bus was engulfed in flames on Tuesday evening on a road near the centre of Kerzers, a town of about 5,000 inhabitants in the western canton of Fribourg, about 20 km (12 miles) from the Swiss capital Bern, police said. "As for the motive, there is absolutely no evidence to suggest that this could be a terrorist act," Raphael Bourquin, Fribourg's attorney general, told a press conference. A criminal investigation has been opened into suspected homicide, arson, and endangering the lives of others, Bourquin said. The six dead were formally identified and except for the 63-year-old bus driver who was Portuguese, all of them were Swiss. They included two women, 25 and 39, and two males aged 16 and 29, police said. PANICKED PASSENGERS SEEN ESCAPING The suspect is believed to have boarded the bus with bags before dousing himself in flammable material and starting the blaze, officials said. Investigators were going through CCTV footage as well as social media posts to understand the man's motives, and said further searches and interviews would take place. Passengers were seen escaping from the burning bus, panicked and injured. Video after the flames were extinguished showed the charred remains of the yellow vehicle. Zeynel Teke, 61, was working at his food stall when flames erupted from the bus and it stopped in front of him. Advertisement Two or three people came out of the vehicle, and Teke ran to help, using his hand to put out flames on one woman. He went to get his fire extinguisher but the flames were too hot to get close enough to douse them. "It's so sad to see people burning in front of your eyes. It could be my child, it could be yours," he said. Two of the injured people remain in hospital, a 56yearold woman and a 34yearold man, police said. WITNESSES DESCRIBE HORROR Mina Gendre was about to close up the shop she works in when she saw the bus was ablaze inside. "It was so shocking," said Gendre. "I saw someone come running out of the bus on fire." One video of the fire circulating among Kerzers' residents showed what appeared to be a body in flames moving on the ground next to the burning bus. Nirosan Vickneswaran, 37, was waiting anxiously for news of his cousin who was on the bus. "We don't know if he's injured or worse," he said. "All we know is that somebody set fire to themself." A memorial was quickly erected next to the site of the blaze. Swiss President Guy Parmelin offered condolences and said on X: "It shocks and saddens me that once again people have lost their lives in a serious fire in Switzerland." In January, Switzerland was rocked by a fire in a bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana that killed 41 people and injured 115. Parmelin laid flowers in Kerzers with local officials on Wednesday afternoon and paid tribute to rescue workers who battled the blaze. (Reporting by Dave Graham in Kerzers, Olivia Le Poidevin in Geneva; additional reporting by Cecile Mantovani; Editing by Alex Richardson, Andrew Cawthorne and Lincoln Feast.) A Lehigh Acres man arrested two years ago in connection with a deadly hit-and-run will spend more than a decade behind bars. Jose Manuel Aguiar-Meza, 42, on March 6 pleaded no contest to charges of leaving the scene of a crash involving death; leaving the scene of a crash involving personal injury; and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence. Lee Circuit Judge Nicholas Thompson sentenced Aguiar-Meza to 15 years in prison, followed by five years of state probation. Troopers said the initial investigation revealed an unknown pickup turned left in front of an approaching motorcycle on 40th Street Southwest, near Rena Avenue South, in Lehigh Acres, on March 28, 2024. The motorcycle operator, a 54-year-old Lehigh Acres man, died, and his passenger, a 53-year-old Lehigh Acres woman, was seriously injured Troopers said Aguiar-Meza fled the scene in his pickup. Two days after the wreck, the Florida Highway Patrol released two photos of the suspected pickup a 2017 GMC Sierra. About a week after the crash, Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers said video surfaced shortly after the crash, which showed Aguiar-Meza exited his pickup and looked around his vehicle with a flashlight before he left the scene. Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers identified the victim as John Vanwy, 54, of Lehigh Acres. Aguiar-Meza never called 911 for help and never tried to render assistance, authorities said. A receptionist at his workplace told troopers that Aguiar-Meza called in sick March 29, 2024, just days after the wreck, and had not showed up. Authorities learned Aguiar-Meza flew to Guadalajara, Mexico, out of Orlando two days after the crash. Aguiar-Meza turned himself in at the Lee County Jail on Sept. 8, 2024. Advertisement Driver's spouse arrested on tampering charges Hours after Aguiar-Meza was taken into custody, his spouse, Yurid Gricel Macedo-Velasquez, 40, was arrested on tampering charges. According to court documents, when troopers responded to Aguiar-Meza's home and spoke with Macedo-Velasquez, she said her husband was "out of the country" and that the suspected pickup was "out of the state." Authorities learned Macedo-Velasquez booked Aguiar-Meza's flight to Mexico after the deadly crash. The lengthy report indicates text messages referenced the balance on Aguiar-Meza's pickup loan and that authorities did not recover the vehicle. Court records show she pleaded no contest on March 9. Thompson sentenced her to 180 days in jail, followed by four-and-a-half years of state probation. Slain motorcyclist's daughter: 'He is where I get my heart from' A GoFundMe created by Amber Vanwy, John Vanwy's daughter, said her father is remembered as an honest, hard-working man and a supportive father and friend "who would give you the shirt off his back if he could." "He was always cool to be around and had a peace about him that people loved," Amber Vanwy wrote in the fundraiser. "He is where I get my heart from. This man was wise beyond his years. As a kid growing up around him I never saw him shed a tear." Amber Vanwy said that for John Vanwy riding his motorcycle "was his way of feeling alive and free." "He loved to build up the community around him both on the job and off the job," Amber Vanwy wrote. "This man could always make something out of nothing." Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@usatodayco.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran, Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews and Bluesky @tomasfrodriguez. Please support Southwest Florida community journalism and stay informed about Southwest Florida news by subscribing to The News-Press and Naples Daily News; download the free News-Press or Naples Daily News app, and sign up for daily briefing email newsletter, food & dining and growth & development newsletters here and here. This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Lehigh Acres man sentenced in deadly Lehigh Acres crash As Iran continues to retaliate against the Feb. 28 U.S.-Israeli strike that took down Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, sites across the Middle East continue to be hit. Rescue flights have been taking off from cities including Muscat and Oman throughout last week, but expansive airspace closures and strikes targeting airports in the region have complicated any attempts at restarting air service. In the early hours of March 11, two drone strikes on Dubai Airport (DUB) injured four people amid similar attacks on Zayed International Airport (AUH) in Abu Dhabi, CBS News reported. Most major international airlines, including Lufthansa, KLM, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines, have temporarily canceled service to the Middle East for periods that keep extending as the conflict deepens and spreads beyond the initial attack. Many Middle Eastern routes to not restart "until later this month," British Airways says Amid widespread uncertainty around aviation safety, the United Kingdom's British Airways is now saying that its flights to cities like Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, and Tel Aviv will not restart "until later this month." Service between London Heathrow (LHR) and Abu Dhabi will, meanwhile, not restart "until later this year." After running daily rescue flights to London from the Oman capital of Muscat from March 5, British Airways also said it will stop these for the time being "due to reduced demand," as most travelers who wanted to be evacuated have now made it home. Related: Iranian strike hits major airport, injuries reported "We have limited seats remaining on our repatriation flights from Oman (Muscat) to London Heathrow on 11 and 12 March for customers with an existing booking," the airline said, adding that it will be "keeping the situation under constant review" to see if more evacuation flights are necessary at a future date. Advertisement Airlines promising to restart select commercial routes in March include Delta for its flights between JFK and Tel Aviv and Air France for its routes to Riyadh and Beirut from Paris. Dutch flag carrier KLM also issued an update, saying its flights to Riyadh and Dammam from Amsterdam will not restart until March 12 at the earliest, while flights to Dubai will remain canceled throughout the month. Airlines have canceled flights to cities such as Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Tel Aviv throughout March.Image source: Shutterstock (Image source: Shutterstock) When other airlines are restarting Middle East flights "Due to ongoing unrest in the Middle East, KLM has decided to cancel all flights to Dubai up to and including March 28," the airline said in a statement. "We understand that this decision has a significant impact on our travelers and are doing everything possible to keep them well informed. " More Travel News: German flag carrier Lufthansa, which also runs an extensive network of flights to the Middle East, is keeping flights to Amman, Erbil, Dammam, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi suspended until March 15, and its flight to Tehran from Frankfurt International (FRA) is currently listed as canceled until April 30. Flights that Lufthansa subsidiary airlines such as Austrian Airlines, Swiss, and Brussels Airlines run to Tel Aviv are also suspended until April 2. Related: Airlines cancel more flights over geopolitical instability This story was originally published by TheStreet on Mar 11, 2026, where it first appeared in the Travel section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here. BOSTON, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Provident Healthcare Partners ("Provident"), a leading healthcare investment banking firm, announced it has advised A Caring Experience Nursing Services, Inc. ("ACE"), a Cranston, Rhode Island-based provider of in-home care services, on its partnership with HouseWorks Holdings, LLC ("HouseWorks"), one of the nation's leading personal care services companies. The acquisition expands HouseWorks' footprint in New England and strengthens its ability to deliver high-quality in-home care to seniors across the region. Provident's deal team was led by Managing Director, Kevin Palmara, and Director, Jake Vesely. Nixon Peabody served as legal counsel to ACE, and Goodwin Procter and Reed Smith served as legal counsel to HouseWorks. "Provident brought a deep understanding of the market and helped position our business with the right partners. Their team ran a very thoughtful and professional process and managed the many moving pieces along the way, which allowed us to stay focused on operating the company," commented Dean Denuccio, CEO of ACE. "This transaction highlights the continued demand for high-quality home care providers with strong reputations and deep relationships in their local markets," said Vesely. "ACE has built an outstanding platform in Rhode Island, and we are proud to have helped the team find the right partner in HouseWorks, bringing together two organizations that share a strong commitment to supporting seniors and their families at home." About A Caring Experience Nursing Services, Inc. A Caring Experience Nursing Services is a leading provider of private and dependable in-home care, providing exceptional, patient-focused care across Rhode Island. ACE has been enhancing the quality of life for its clients and their families since its founding in 1999. In addition to home care services, the organization operates a caregiver training school, reinforcing its commitment to quality workforce development. For more information, visit acaringexperience.com. About HouseWorks Holdings, LLC For more than 20 years, HouseWorks has provided older adults and their families the highest standard of dependable in-home care. HouseWorks' proprietary Better Care at Home approach leverages personalized care services and innovative technology to guide the work of its caregivers as it helps seniors stay safe, comfortable, and engaged in their life at home. HouseWorks is a leading provider of home care serving clients across Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, and New York. For additional information, visit houseworks.com. About Provident Healthcare Partners Provident is a leading healthcare investment banking firm specializing in merger and acquisition advisory, strategic planning, and capital formation services for healthcare companies. The firm has a comprehensive knowledge of market sectors and specialties, including post-acute care. Provident also has unsurpassed experience and insight into the M&A process, which includes working with a multitude of investors such as private equity firms and strategic consolidators. For additional information, visit providenthp.com or follow Provident on LinkedIn. SOURCE Provident Healthcare Partners LLC (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images) (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images) Most Californians think their state is currently on the wrong track, according to an Emerson College poll released Tuesday. The poll shows that 52% of likely California voters think the state is heading in the wrong direction, compared to 48% who think it is presently on the right track. Meanwhile, voters in deep-blue Los Angeles were divided right down the middle with 50% saying the Golden State is moving in the right direction while the other 50% think it is going in the wrong direction, according to the survey. (RELATED: Victor Davis Hanson Calls Gavin Newsom Utter Buffoon) The surveys release comes ahead of Californias June 2 gubernatorial primary in which the top two finishers will advance to the November general election regardless of party. Current Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom is barred from seeking reelection due to term limits. Los Angeles will similarly hold a mayoral election on June 2 which will go to a November runoff if no candidate receives a majority of the vote. Incumbent Democratic Mayor Karen Bass is facing challenges from socialist Democratic City Councilmember Nithya Raman and former reality TV star Spencer Pratt, a Republican. A majority of California voters, 53%, think the states homelessness crisis is worsening, 33% think it is staying the same and 15% think it is improving, according to the poll. The Emerson College survey also found that 37% of California voters said the most important issue was the economy, followed by 22% who said the same about housing affordability. By comparison, 11% of respondents ranked threats to democracy as the biggest issue, while 8% said immigration and 7% said healthcare, the survey found. A spokesperson for Newsoms office declined to comment. SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA FEBRUARY 28: California Gov. Gavin Newsom shakes hands at an event promoting his book Young Man in a Hurry on February 28, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Benjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images) Advertisement Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell is currently leading the open primary for California governor with 17%, followed by former Fox News host Steve Hilton at 13%, billionaire Tom Steyer at 11%, Chad Bianco at 11% and former Rep. Katie Porter at 8%, the poll found. However, a quarter of the surveys respondents said they were still undecided. Rep. Swalwells support increased among Democratic voters in the past month from 23% to 27%, along with Tom Steyer, whose support among this group also increased from 12% to 16%, Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, said in a statement. A plurality of the independent electorate is undecided (39%), while 12% support Swalwell and Hilton respectively, and Republicans are split between Hilton (38%) and Bianco (34%). Due to Californias top two primary, it is possible that both Hilton and Bianco can advance to the general election guaranteeing that Newsoms successor will be a Republican. The term-limited governor is reportedly likely gearing up for a presidential run in 2028. Newsom said during an October 2025 interview on CBS News Sunday Morning that he would be lying if he dismissed plans of weighing a 2028 White House bid, NBC News reported. California notably recorded a net loss of approximately 216,000 residents in 2025, following a net loss of about 239,000 residents from 2023 to 2024, and even bigger outbound moves during the COVID pandemic years, The Malibu Times reported on Jan. 18, citing data from U-Haul and population figures from the California Department of Finance. Emerson Colleges survey was conducted March 7-9. The sample of likely California voters, n=1,000, has a credibility interval, similar to the polls margin of error (MOE), of plus or minus 3 percentage points. The sample of likely voters in Los Angeles consists of a sample size of n=350 with a credibility interval of plus or minus 5.2%. The data sets were weighted by gender, age, and education based on U.S. Census parameters and voter file data. All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporters byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org. Courtesy of andrew.allamon.710/Facebook A Pennsylvania man accused of raping four children over a span of decades will be behind bars for the rest of his life, the states attorney general announced. Andrew Allamon, of Perry County, was found guilty in October of multiple counts of rape, unlawful contact with a minor, sexual assault, indecent assault of a child, and endangering the welfare of a child, according to the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. Allamons conviction stemmed from years of him using his relationships with the victims to carry out evil, disgusting acts, Attorney General Dave Sunday previously said in a news release issued on October 31, 2025. According to prosecutors, Allamon sexually abused victims while armed with a pocket knife. He allegedly used the knife during sex acts and in other apparent acts of cruelty, against the minor victims, the state attorney generals office said. If the children did not comply with the abuse, Allamon allegedly beat them and forced punishments, including by locking victims inside dog kennels and making them eat out of dog bowls, according to prosecutors. Man Accused of Sexually Assaulting Child for Years Gets Decades-Long Prison Sentence in Texas On Tuesday, March 10, a Perry County judge handed Allamon a sentence of 65.5 years to 131 years in prison in connection with four victims, the attorney generals office said in a news release issued that same day. This defendant no longer presents a threat to anyone in our communities, Sunday said in a statement. Advertisement We hope the survivors who bravely testified at trial can take solace from this outcome and continue moving on with their lives, Sunday added. In an emailed statement to Us Weekly on Wednesday, March 11, Allamons defense attorney Shawn M. Stottlemyer said that Mr. Allamon's sentence, although not unexpected given the outcome of the trial, is very lengthy. Mr. Allamon maintained his innocence throughout the Sentencing Hearing and looks forward to exercising his post-sentence and appellate rights, Stottlemyer added. After an investigation was launched by Pennsylvania State Police, criminal charges were filed against Allamon in September 2023 in connection with alleged sexual abuse beginning in 1990, according to police, the Daily Voice reported. Allamon is accused of raping children as young as 5 and 9, investigators said, according to the outlet. Man Brutally Executed Ex-GF While She and Her Children Slept, Says District Attorney Before Allamon was convicted in October in connection with four victims, he was found guilty of unlawful touching and attempted indecent assault in connection with a fifth victim, according to the attorney generals office. In April 2025, he was sentenced to four to eight years in prison on those charges, the attorney generals office said. Perry County is about a 30-mile drive northwest from Harrisburg. If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453. A former Augusta state legislator and a leader of a local religious community appear headed for an April 7 runoff to fill a vacant seat in the Georgia legislature. Democrat Sheila Clark Nelson and Republican Thomas D. McAdams won the top two vote totals Tuesday evening in a special election to replace Democratic state Rep. Lynn Heffner in Georgia House District 130, according to figures posted by the Richmond County Board of Elections. Heffner resigned in early January after publicly disclosing that a change of address moved her outside her eastern Richmond County district, making her ineligible to serve. Nelson, a retired postal employee, represented House District 125 for the Augusta area from 2017 to 2023, when it was redrawn as District 130 and won by Heffner. Advertisement McAdams is the chief administrative officer for the nonprofit Alleluia Christian Service Center, an ecumenical Christian community in Augusta. With all 16 precincts reporting and 1,699 ballots cast, here are the totals for each candidate and the percentages of the vote they won. Sheila Clark Nelson (D): 567 (33.49%) Thomas D. McAdams (R): 340 (20.08%) Karen Gordon (D): 333 (19.67%) ShaQuanta Calles (D): 236 (13.94%) David Carson (R): 136 (8.03%) LaFawn S. Pinkney-Mealing (D): 81 (4.78%) 'Necessary decision': Augusta lawmaker resigns General Assembly seat This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: With no majority, Augusta special election moves to April 7 runoff Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons says a man accused of inflicting "horrendous injuries" on his 3-year-old nephew will have his charges upgraded to felony murder. Samuel Maldonado Erazo was arrested by Escambia County Sheriff's deputies March 5 after it was initially reported his 3-year-old nephew Orlin Hernandez Reyes suffered cardiac arrest. During a March 10 hearing, ECSO investigator Josh Timo told the court that Dr. Deanna Oleske attributed Hernandez Reyes' cause of death to internal bleeding caused by blunt force trauma. In a video released by Simmons shortly after Maldonado Erazo's arrest, he said that Hernandez Reyes had been hit in the head 17 times, multiple of the boy's ribs were broken to include one completely detached from the spine, he had a transected pancreas, had a broken collarbone and that there were signs of possible sexual abuse. "(Medical Examiner Dr. Deanna) Oleske stated she was confident that Hernandez Reyes was a victim of homicide and that he endured repeated physical abuse over the past month or so, culminating on March 4, 2026, when he passed away due to a combination of the above-mentioned injuries," an arrest report stated. Timo noted that Oleske determined that half of Hernandez Reyes' blood volume was located inside the boy's abdominal cavity. In a March 9 video update, Simmons said Maldonado Erazo was initially arrested with negligent manslaughter based on not taking the child to get treatment. "I can now tell you that based on interviews and additional investigation, we are upping that charge to felony murder," Simmons said in the video. "The uncle will now be held responsible and accountable for not just the care, but also for inflicting these horrendous injuries." Read more: Cantonment 3-year-old dead after being beaten, burned allegedly by his uncle Child suffered bruises, scratches, burns other injuries According to Maldonado Erazo's arrest report, law enforcement officers observed Hernandez Reyes suffered from "abnormally swollen" stomach and genitals along with numerous bruises, scratches and scabs covering his body. "I observed some of the bruising to be patterned (possible shoe prints) and some of the other bruising to be elongated with crisp, straight lines (hard linear object)," the responding investigator noted in his report. During the autopsy, the investigator noted there were numerous marks on the thighs and abdomen of Hernandez Reyes that "were conformed to and wrapped around the shape of his body." The investigator and Oleske were "in agreement that they likely were caused by a looped cord." Hernandez Reyes also suffered from multiple burns that appeared to consistent with heating a grill lighter and pressing it against the skin. Advertisement According to Simmons and the report, the boy's mother was deported to Honduras, which led to Maldonado Erazo becoming the child's caregiver. During the March 10 hearing, Timo said Maldonado Erazo's 6-year-old daughter was transported to the Gulf Coast Kids House for a forensic interview. Timo said during the interview, the daughter said Maldonado Erazo "drinks everyday" and will get angry and begin to hit her and his other two sons with "cords, wires, shoes and other items." Investigators then spoke with the children's babysitter who said she believed Hernandez Reyes had gone back to Honduras with his mother since Maldonado Erazo would drop off the other kids except Hernandez Reyes. "She was unaware that Hernandez Reyes was still in Pensacola and living with Maldonado Erazo," the report said. Samuel Maldonado Erazo says nephew went limp after not feeling well During an interview at the hospital, Maldonado Erazo said his nephew began complaining of not feeling well after dinner on March 4 and began vomiting. The next morning, Hernandez Reyes was continuing to vomit and said he did not feel well, according to the uncle. After deciding to take his nephew to work with him, Maldonado Erazo says he left work early, obtained medicine from the store and took him home. Once they arrived home, the man lifted Hernandez Reyes out of the car and noticed "he was limp and then threw up." By the time they walked in the house, the uncle claims Hernandez Reyes became unresponsive, at which point Maldonado Erazo says he called 911. In a second interview after the boy's autopsy, Maldonado Erazo said his nephew is "always with him and that he never lets him out of his sight." The investigator then showed photos of Hernandez Reyes' injuries, to which the uncle said he had dropped a 12-pack of soda on his nephew's foot and that the boy had many bug bites. However, Oleske told Maldonado Erazo over the phone that those injuries were not consistent with his explanation. Another investigator then entered the room and explained Maldonado Erazo's Miranda rights, at which point the man said he wanted a lawyer. Maldonado Erazo now faces aggravated child abuse and murder while engaged in aggravated child abuse charges, according to court records. Since Maldonado Erazo's murder charge is a capital felony, Florida law would require a grand jury to indict Maldonado Erazo. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Cantonment Samuel Maldonado Erazo faces murder charge nephew's death dehoy! Agency / MEGA dehoy! Agency / MEGA When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle return to Australia in April, it wont just be a nostalgic trip back to a place they once toured as working royals. This time, the visit will include something very different a luxury retreat where guests paying thousands of dollars will hear Meghan speak and, for those who pay a little extra, pose for a photo with her. The speaking appearance was announced days after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex revealed plans to head back to Australia for a series of private, business and philanthropic engagements, they said in a statement, for the first time in more than seven years. Meghan is set to appear at a three-day Girls Weekend retreat in Sydney between April 17 and April 19 hosted by the Her Best Life podcast. The gathering at the InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach hotel will feature a gala dinner, a disco celebration, a womens session with a high-profile psychologist, a meditation and manifestation session, morning yoga, a sound healing experience and an in-person conversation with the Duchess of Sussex. The events website describes the festivities as an intimate luxury weekend by the ocean designed to bring women together for powerful conversations, relaxation, laughter and unforgettable experiences. The price to meet Meghan Matrix / MEGA Attending the retreat, which is limited to 300 guests in total, doesnt come cheap. Prices range from about $1,932 for early-bird tickets to $2,290 for a limited number of VIP experience tickets. That means that for an extra $358, some attendees can score a group table photo with Meghan, plus seating at a table in the front two rows for the gala dinner, a VIP goodie bag and an ocean-view hotel room. MORE: Follow Wonderwall on MSN for more top news Advertisement Critics have pointed out that in the 2022 book Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown, author Valentine Low claimed that during Harry and Meghans well-received 2018 royal tour of Australia where thousands of well-wishers lined their walkabouts the duchess was overheard saying, I cant believe Im not getting paid for this. How Meghan got involved James Whatling / MEGA Gemma ONeill, who hosts the Her Best Life podcast, revealed how the opportunity came together during a recent episode, as reported by journalist Tom Sykes The Royalist Substack. ONeill said the connection was made through Markus Anderson, a Soho House consultant whos one of Meghans longtime friends. Markus messaged me because he was at Meghans house, ONeill explained. Markus is also very close friends to Meghan and has been for many years, long before she was married, and they have a beautiful friendship, too. I guess thats probably one of the things that Ive always felt about Meghan whenever Ive read stories. Ive always felt protective that my friend Markus is the bees knees, hes a top-notch human. The first person to be there, check on you, ONeill added. I knew that Markus wouldnt be so close or best friends with someone who wasnt also the same. According to ONeill, Anderson thought she and Meghan would also have a good connection, so someone from the Sussexes team reached out to confirm the former Suits star was open to talk. Why Meghan signed on Mirrorpix / MEGA ONeill said she was thrilled to connect with Meghan and welcome her to join the retreat. I am beside myself about it, because I have admired this woman, and what she has endured, how shes risen above it, and how she has demonstrated how a woman can be pushed down and she can still rise, and that person is Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, ONeill said on her podcast. And I cant believe Im even saying those words. Theres no one more shocked than me, because I know what youre all thinking, cause Im thinking the same thing, which is, How has Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, this incredible woman, gone from Oprah [Winfrey] to talking on stage with just little old me, Gemma in Sydney? Meghan ultimately agreed to speak at the retreat because she supports the communitys focus on women supporting one another. Shes doing this because she really loves what our community is about, which is women trying to grow, trying to be their best selves and trying to help other women, ONeill added. Dale Warner being escorted back to the Lenawee County Jail after a preliminary examination hearing in 2024 Credit: David Panian/The Daily Telegram / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images NEED TO KNOW A Michigan man has been found guilty of murdering his wife after her body was found in a fertilizer tank Dee Warner disappeared from the couple's farm in April 2021. Her body was found in a fertilizer tank in August 2024 On Tuesday, March 10, Dale Warner was convicted of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence A Michigan man has been found guilty of murdering his wife after her body was found in a fertilizer tank. PEOPLE previously reported that Dale Warner, 58, was charged with murder and tampering with evidence in connection with the death of his wife Dee Warner, 52. Dee disappeared from the couple's farm in the hamlet of Tipton in April 2021. Her body was later found in a fertilizer tank on a property the family owned in August 2024. An autopsy concluded that she died by strangulation and blunt force trauma to her head and face. On Tuesday, March 10, Dale was convicted of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence, according to CBS News, WXYZ and The Detroit News. Dee Warner Credit: Michigan State Police The verdict came after jury deliberations paused on Friday, March 6, following the beginning of the trial on Feb. 12, per CBS News. Dale was seen looking down as the verdict was read out in Lenawee County Circuit Court, The Detroit News reported. Loved ones of Dee also cried and hugged one another during the verdict, per the outlet. PEOPLE has reached out to the Lenawee County Circuit Court but didnt immediately receive a response. 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. Speaking about the verdict, Dees brother Gregg Hardy, who campaigned for Dales conviction, said the decision was a victory for his sister. Advertisement I fought every day for five years, he told The Detroit News. It was very difficult to get validation. It took nearly to the very end. "Its almost impossible to believe we got it, Hardy, who led the Justice for Dee campaign, added. Dale Warner Credit: Lenawee County Jail Dee and Dale had been married since 2006, according to The Detroit News. PEOPLE previously reported that the night before her muder, Dee told Dale that she wanted a divorce and planned to sell their businesses, per WTOL. "I'm ready to move out and be done with this, prosecutors claimed she texted him. You treat me as if I'm not worthy of anything. I'm not going to live like this." "We don't even talk, another text read. We are just roommates." "Our relationship has gotten so much worse, she added. Dee was a mother and stepmother of nine children, PEOPLE previously reported. In May last year, Dees family members filed to have access to her financial estate, per CBS News. Citing Michigan's Wrongful Death Act, relatives stated that Dale was not entitled to Dees estate, which includes multiple businesses and 4000 acres of land. Dale is set to be sentenced on May 7, 2026 and could face up to life in prison, per CBS News. Read the original article on People A photo released by US Central Command shows a sailor directing a helicopter aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Delbert D. Black on March 7, 2026 (-) (-/US NAVY/AFP) US Navy escorts could help increase the flow of tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, but American warships accompanying slow-moving commercial vessels would face threats including mines, missiles and drones in the narrow waterway bordering Iran. Iran has threatened to block oil exports via the key maritime chokepoint -- through which nearly 20 percent of the world's crude usually transits -- in response to the US-Israeli war against the Islamic republic. President Donald Trump -- who warned of "Death, Fire, and Fury" if Tehran disrupted oil flows -- has also floated the idea of the US Navy accompanying commercial vessels, but Washington's forces have yet to begin the potentially risky mission. "There are a number of threats that Iran...potentially could bring to bear against that type of escort mission," said Jonathan Schroden, chief research officer at the Center for Naval Analyses. These include sea mines, fast-attack craft, missiles and one-way attack drones. "If you put mines in the water and you can reinforce those with both surface and air threats as well, you create a layered threat that extends from under the sea all the way up through the surface into the air," Schroden said. "That just makes it much, much harder to defend." Trump on Tuesday warned Iran against mining the strait, saying in a social media post: "If for any reason mines were placed, and they are not removed forthwith, the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before." The United States has an array of ships deployed in the Middle East, including two aircraft carriers. But an escort mission would be carried out by smaller vessels such as destroyers or frigates -- possibly with warplanes or helicopters providing cover overhead -- that would accompany several tankers at a time, Schroden said. - 'Global economic disruption' - US Navy ships would "provide a deterrent effect," and could also "respond if the tankers get fired upon," he said. Advertisement The Strait of Hormuz -- less than 30 miles (48 kilometers) across at its narrowest point -- is shared by Iran on one side and Oman on the other. At least 10 oil tankers in or near the strait were struck, targeted, or reported attacks between March 1 and 10, according to data compiled by the UK Maritime Trade Organisation, the International Maritime Organization, and Iranian authorities. In addition, three bulk carriers, two container ships, a tugboat, and an oil drilling vessel have reported explosions, strikes, or suspicious activity in the area. "It's really a global economic disruption that could escalate very, very quickly if it's not addressed," Schroden said. The United States previously carried out a tanker escort mission -- dubbed Operation Earnest Will -- in the same region to protect ships from attacks by Tehran's forces during the Iran-Iraq war, between 1980-88. "The major difference is in the scope and scale of military capabilities of both sides," said Schroden. "Iran didn't have drones, for example, they didn't have nearly the missile capacity that they have now," while US forces now have "much, much greater...ability to bring air and space and cyber effects" to bear that "didn't exist back in the '80s." Daniel Schneiderman, an adjunct senior fellow in the Center for a New American Security's Middle East Security Program, said Iran's forces remain a danger despite more than 10 days of US-Israeli strikes. "The threats are significant and very real, even (with) what the US military has been able to do, what the Israeli military has been able to do," Schneiderman said. A US mission to escort tankers "is absolutely a very high risk, especially when you consider the number of ships that will be involved in this kind of mission -- it's very resource-intensive," he added. wd/sla Most of what we know about North Korea does not come through open reporting or official transparency. Information reaches the outside world in fragments, usually carried by defectors, foreign investigators, satellite analysis, and occasional state broadcasts. They describe a rigid system built around loyalty to the Kim family, reinforced by strict regulation of daily life. State-Controlled Hairstyles Credit: Wikimedia Commons In 2013, authorities released a guide to approved hairstyles. Men received 10 options, and women received eighteen. The regime limits mens hair to five centimeters, with a small extension allowed for men over 60. Young men must cut their hair every 15 days to remain compliant. Western Fashion Crackdowns Credit: Reddit Clothing carries ideological meaning in North Korea. For this reason, Kim Jong-un ordered a crackdown on Western fashion trends, including denim jeans, because they believed that jeans symbolize American capitalism and cultural influence. Enforced Mourning Periods Credit: Wikimedia Commons During the 10th anniversary of Kim Jong-ils passing, authorities reportedly imposed an 11-day ban on laughter, drinking, and leisure activities. Kim Jong-il ruled before his son, Kim Jong-un, which is why the leadership treats the anniversary of his death as a solemn national event. Each year, July 8 carries similar restrictions tied to the death anniversary of Kim Il-sung, North Koreas founding leader and Kim Jong-ils father. Speech and Sarcasm as Threats Credit: Wikimedia Commons If you are caught using sarcasm about the government, you can face some serious consequences. Your comment may be interpreted as a hostile intent or an act of political violence. Punishment can include detention in a political prison camp. In certain cases, relatives may also face penalties under collective punishment policies. International Calls and Surveillance Credit: Wikimedia Commons Advertisement North Korea operates a domestic mobile network, Koryolink, that blocks international calls. You will find signal jammers installed near borders to prevent outside communication. Surveys estimate that many households own at least one mobile phone, but making an unauthorized international call can lead to capital punishment. A Closed Intranet System Credit: Wikimedia Commons You probably use the internet for a number of things, like watching a short clip or reading the breaking news. However, North Korean citizens cannot do that since the national leadership provides an internal network called Kwangmyong instead. Reports in 2014 said it offered about 5,500 approved websites, all of which are closely monitored. Assigned Careers for Life Credit: Wikimedia Commons Imagine being stuck in a job you never chose, knowing you cannot easily leave it. In North Korea, students do not select their professions after graduation. The people in charge study labor demands and assign each graduate a position and location. You cannot even transfer once placement becomes official. Housing Without Ownership Credit: Wikimedia Commons The government owns every building in the country. Citizens do not buy homes or hold traditional property rights. The state assigns housing and must approve any move to Pyongyang. These restrictions led residents to create a workaround. After 2000, people began using residency certificates called ipsajung to transfer occupancy outside the law. Religion as Disloyalty Credit: Wikimedia Commons An American citizen received five months in prison for leaving a Bible in a restaurant restroom in North Korea. Government officials treated the act as a serious offense because the country defines itself as an atheist state and views independent religious belief as competing loyalty. Churches exist in Pyongyang, but access to them is controlled. Three-Generation Punishment Policy Credit: Canva The three-generation sentence enforces collective responsibility for political crimes. If officers accuse someone of wrongdoing, they can imprison parents, children, and grandparents. In addition to that, children born inside prison grow up there because their bloodline is considered tainted. This policy began after World War II to eliminate rebel lineage. View of Lake Wononscopomuc at sunset - Malgosia S/Shutterstock While Bantam Lake is Connecticut's largest natural lake, the state's deepest natural lake is Lake Wononscopomuc, which boasts depths measuring over 100 feet. Just a short drive from the Litchfield County town of Salisbury, which oozes New England charm, Lake Wononscopomuc, also referred to as Lakeville Lake, is a popular destination for swimming, fishing, kayaking, and more. The best way to access the lake is from Salisbury's Town Grove, a petite park with a sandy beach. Here, locals and visitors alike enjoy leisurely days on the lifeguard-supervised sandy shore or embark on more active pursuits by renting boats from the on-site marina to venture out on the idyllic lake. The lake is especially renowned for its fishing opportunities, as it is home to significant populations of trout, largemouth bass, and chain pickerel. The nearly 350-acre lake is famed for its clean and clear waters, which have been regularly tested for water quality for decades.The Lake Wononscopomuc Association, established in 1988, works to maintain the healthy waters by imposing strict regulations on activity in the lake. In fact, due to the threat of hydrilla, a type of invasive weed that could damage the lake's fragile ecosystem, all watercraft (such as canoes, kayaks, and boats), must be rented from the Town Grove, and the boat launch will close if any hydrilla is detected. Lake Wononscopomuc is an idyllic day or weekend escape, located about a 90-minute drive from Albany, New York's oldest town that's a history-rich gem, and a nearly two-hour drive from New Haven, Connecticut. Town Grove is open daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Daily entry costs $15 per person for access to the beach and the Town Grove's facilities, and boat rentals start at $10 per hour. Read more: 5 Unexpected Places You Can Park Your RV Overnight For Free Advertisement Fishing adventures on Lake Wononscopomuc View of a fisherman on Lake Wononscopomuc - Catrina Genovese/Getty Images Lake Wononscopomuc is a favorite spot for anglers because of its promise of plentiful catches. In fact, the lake is a bass, trout, and chain pickerel management lake, so the lake is stocked annually with these species by the state of Connecticut. The lake's history as an acclaimed fishing destination stretches back over a century. The record for the state's largest trout, weighing nearly 30 pounds, was set here in 1918. The large dimension of this fish is attributed to the lake's natural depths (here about 102 feet deep), since fish such as trout thrive in colder temperatures. If you want to fish from the shore, there is a jetty extending into the lake at Salisbury's Town Grove. Anglers can rent boats from Town Grove (outside boats are not permitted) and head out onto the lake to hook species such as rainbow trout, largemouth bass, chain pickerel, yellow perch, sunfish, and brown bullhead. A Connecticut fishing license is required for fishing at Lake Wononscopomuc, and there are daily catch and dimension limits due to its status as a management lake. During the winter months, if there is enough ice coverage, ice fishing is also permitted. Anglers can drill a hole into the thick layer of ice and are allowed to use up to two devices to catch fish that thrive beneath its frozen surface. The lake is especially beloved by fishermen for its serene setting since only fishermen are allowed to rent motorboats,which cannot exceed 10 horsepower. Other lake goers can rent kayaks, paddleboards, canoes, and rowboats to glide across its sparkling surface. "Great area and a beautiful lake," raved a Google reviewer. "It was very quiet and peaceful." 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. Tommy Thompson Credit: Franklin County Sheriff NEED TO KNOW A treasure hunter who spent years in prison after refusing to reveal the location of 500 missing gold coins from one of the greatest shipwrecks in the U.S. has been released Tommy Thompson discovered the 1857 Ship of Gold, also known as SS Central America, off the coast of South Carolina in 1988 Thompson, now 73, was then sent to prison in 2015 after not disclosing where the ships 500 gold coins were located A treasure hunter who spent years in prison after refusing to reveal the location of 500 missing gold coins from one of the greatest shipwrecks in the U.S. has been released. Tommy Thompson discovered the 1857 Ship of Gold, also known as SS Central America, off the coast of South Carolina in 1988, according to the Associated Press and The Columbus Dispatch. The Ship of Gold sank in 1857 during a hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean, killing 425 people, per The Columbus Dispatch. Tommy Thompson Credit: Delaware County Sheriff's Office via AP Thompson, now 73, was then sent to prison in 2015 after not disclosing where the ships 500 gold coins were located. On Wednesday, March 11, a spokesperson from the Federal Bureau of Prisons records confirmed to PEOPLE that Thompson was released from the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons on Wednesday, March 4. The spokesperson added that there would be no further comment on the conditions of confinement, as well as release plans, due to privacy and security reasons. Thompson was initially celebrated when he made the discovery, which included the ships 150-year-old treasure, according to the Associated Press. Advertisement 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. SS Central America known as the Ship of Gold Credit: Library of Congress/AP However, after not revealing the location of the ships estimated $100 million gold coins and bars, many investors who financially backed his expedition felt cheated, The Columbus Dispatch reported. Investors argued that they had not received any money for the 500 gold bars and thousands of coins that were sold for $50 million, according to The Associated Press. Gold ingot recovered from the S.S. Central America, which sank in 1857 Credit: Steven Senne/AP Thompson then faced multiple lawsuits before going on the run in Florida, per the outlet. The explorer was eventually located in a hotel three years later. He was subsequently sentenced to prison after being found in contempt of court. He was also ordered to pay $1,000 for every day of his imprisonment, $3,335,000 in civil contempt fines and a $250,000 fine in the criminal contempt case, per The Columbus Dispatch. Thompson is now reportedly claiming that the coins, which were worth $2.5 million, were given to a trust in Belize. He also stated that the $50 million was used for legal expenses and bank loans, according to The Associated Press. Read the original article on People The milestone reflects investor conviction in a fundamentally different retail model designed to eliminate the inefficiencies embedded in traditional pricing. SAN FRANCISCO, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Quince, the consumer technology platform redefining how premium goods are produced, priced, and distributed, today announced a $500 million Series E financing led by ICONIQ, with participation from Basis Set Ventures, Wellington Management, Wndrco, Marcy Venture Partners, Ballie Gifford, Notable Capital and DST Global. The financing results in a post-money valuation of $10.1 billion and will support the continued growth and global expansion of Quince's proprietary Manufacturer-to-Consumer (M2C) operating system. Quince began by testing a simple premise: premium quality should not require legacy retail markups. The company first proved the model in material-led categories such as cashmere, where composition and craftsmanship are measurable. As customers returned and demand expanded, growth followed, not through trend cycles, but through supply chain innovation and AI designed to deliver consistent quality and pricing at scale. Today, Quince is a platform that serves millions of customers across a broad set of categories, with repeat purchasing reinforcing that trust is anchored in the system, not in any single product. The explanation behind that momentum is a unique end-to-end business model and proprietary technology and AI that power decision making. Rather than chasing seasonal volatility, Quince invested in structural redesign. By partnering directly with specialist manufacturers and removing traditional intermediaries, the company challenges a retail model that has long embedded financial and environmental inefficiencies into the price of goods. Excess production, layered margins, and inventory risk inflate cost without improving quality. Quince's Manufacturer-to-Consumer platform addresses those distortions directly: reducing waste, compressing supply chains, and preserving material standards as it expands across essential categories. What differentiates Quince is not pricing. It is the system behind how products are made, priced, and delivered. This structural operating advantage is built through proprietary technology, disciplined capital deployment, integrated manufacturing relationships, and a world-class team executing the platform at scale. Traditional retailers typically forecast demand months in advance, placing bulk production orders long before products reach shelves. Excess inventory is routinely discounted, destroyed, or written off, costs that ultimately become embedded in consumer pricing. Quince instead forecasts demand weekly at the SKU and size level, introducing production through small-batch test orders before scaling. Factory integrations, materials verification systems, and real-time production planning allow inventory targets to be measured in weeks rather than quarters. By narrowing the distance between maker and customer, the company reduces excess inventory, shortens supply chains, and removes the financial and environmental inefficiencies historically built into retail pricing. The Company has re-defined the way goods get to market. "For decades, consumers have been conditioned to equate higher prices with higher quality," said Matt Lippert, Chief Commercial Officer at Quince. "We play in categories where quality is tangible and measurable to disprove that assumption. The model is simple: design a different system that eliminates the waste consumers have traditionally paid for in retail. That starts with real care around quality, from the materials we source all the way through how products are made, while removing excess production, unnecessary intermediaries, and inventory risk. When those inefficiencies come out of the system, people experience the benefits through more consistent quality and more accessible pricing. Over time that creates trust, and increasingly customers come to Quince first when they're looking for something because they know what they're going to get." That operating model has translated into exceptional growth, and last year surpassed $1 billion in top-line revenue. Since launch, Quince has experienced triple digit growth year over year, every single fiscal year. "Quince has built hyperefficient infrastructure that enables it to deliver unmatched value to consumers at scale and, in turn, has built a brand people love," said Yoonkee Sull, General Partner at ICONIQ. "By redesigning how premium products are manufactured and delivered, compressing traditional retail cycle times and reducing waste, and building a deep understanding of what customers want in real-time, the company is correcting structural inefficiencies that have long defined retail economics. We are excited to triple down in Quince following a year of strong execution by the team and believe the platform is positioned for durable, long-term growth." With this financing, Quince joins a limited cohort of private consumer companies valued at $10 billion or more, a milestone that reflects investor conviction not in a product, but in a platform. As the company expands globally, its proprietary Manufacturer-to-Consumer operating system is designed to compound, strengthening forecasting precision, production efficiency, and category expansion with each additional customer interaction. About Quince Quince is a consumer technology platform rebuilding retail from the infrastructure up. Through its proprietary Manufacturer-to-Consumer (M2C) operating system, the company integrates AIdriven demand forecasting, real-time production planning, and direct factory partnerships to align supply precisely with customer demand, removing the layers of markup, inventory risk, and inefficiency historically embedded in pricing. The company was built on a simple premise: premium quality should not require traditional retail markups. By redesigning how products are made, priced, and delivered, Quince restores transparency to modern retail and expands access to high-quality products across the categories people care about most. That system has quickly established Quince as a trusted destination for customers seeking premium materials, consistent quality, and pricing free from traditional retail markups. The result is a structurally more efficient model that challenges the economics of traditional retail and positions Quince as one of the fastest-growing consumer platforms in the industry. Media Contact Dakota Kate Isaacs Head of Brand Strategy & Narrative, Quince [email protected] SOURCE Quince New owner plans repairs to long empty Ryan's restaurant in Pensacola The long empty Ryans restaurant in Ensley has a new owner that is promising Escambia County hell bring the property up to code. The restaurant at 9006 Pensacola Boulevard closed in 2021 when the nationwide chain shuttered all its remaining restaurants, including another Ryans in Pace. The 10,000 square foot building sits on just under 2 acres near the Walmart in Ensley and over the years has intermittently been cited by Escambia County Code Enforcement for nuisance conditions like trash, debris, overgrowth and broken windows. Those are some of the nuisance conditions listed on the countys most recent violations of the property. A case was opened on the property in October 2025 and by December the code enforcement officer determined the property is still in horrible condition. The county tried to contact the propertys owner at the time but there was no communication. The property was sold to a new owner, AllSouth Appliance Group, which closed on the sale in early February for $1,390,000. 1 / 0 New owner of shuttered Ryan's in Pensacola plans property repairs The closed Ryan's restaurant at 9006 Pensacola Blvd. in Pensacola on March 2, 2026. The county filed a notice of code enforcement violations against the new owner on March 3 when the case was scheduled to go before a county magistrate, but the case was continued to give AllSouth Appliance time to bring the property into compliance. Advertisement AllSouth Appliance Group President Tyler Hillman sent a letter to Escambia County saying he would address and complete the necessary repairs to the windows and doors. AllSouth Appliance acknowledges the condition of the property and confirms that these repairs will be completed promptly after closing to ensure the property meets applicable safety and code requirements, Hillman wrote the county. Fire training: Doomed building provides Pace fire fighters real life training AllSouth Appliance Group is based in Birmingham, Alabama, and is a household appliance retailer specializing in kitchen, laundry and outdoor products to professional builders and homeowners. According to its website, AllSouth has showroom locations spanning seven cities and three states: Birmingham, Alabama; Huntsville, Alabama; Montgomery, Alabama; Panama City, Florida; Fort Walton Beach, Florida; Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Nashville, Tennessee. Theres no word on AllSouth Appliance Groups plans for the property. Messages to the owner for comment were not returned. The countys code enforcement case on the property is scheduled to go back before a magistrate on April 14. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola Boulevard Ryan's bought by AllSouth Appliance Group Delaware State Police troopers shot a person at a home near Greenwood while attempting to serve a warrant on March 11, the agency said. The agency shared news of the shooting on X just before 3 p.m. No troopers were hurt, the agency said, though the suspect was seriously injured. State police provided only initial details, but said the shooting occurred in relation to a "barricaded subject." More information with the suspect's age and gender will be provided as the investigation continues. Delaware State Police closed Wheatfield Road at Nine Foot Road following a police shooting on March 11, 2026. A large police presence could be seen at the home late-afternoon. Other first responders, including Sussex County EMS, were also on scene. RELATED: Man killed by NCCo officers after advancing at police with knives identified What happened? Police went to a home in the 11000 block of Wheatfield Road to execute a warrant, the agency said. At some point, the person barricaded themselves. Police have not said what led to a barricade, but by about 4 p.m., a handful of troopers could be seen moving around on the lawn and between vehicles on the property. In addition to a home, there were a number of small outbuildings on the property. Wheatfield Road is closed at Nine Foot Road. Near there, a tow truck could be seen waiting. A person with the Delaware Department of Justice arrived at Wheatfield Road about 4 p.m. and told troopers he was with the agency to gain access. Advertisement The area is a very rural part of Sussex County. West of Route 13, it's largely farmland, forest and houses spread far apart. Police said there is no threat to public safety, but asked that people stay away from the area. Residents should also expect an increased police presence. Second police shooting in Delaware this month This is the second police shooting in Delaware in just more than a week. On March 3, New Castle County police fatally shot Daniel Shacklett. Police said he first fired at officers, then wielded a shovel before he "began advancing toward" them with knives outside a home on Ramsey Road in Brandywine Hundred. Delaware State Police investigate a police shooting on Wheatfield Road in Greenwood on March 11, 2026. Officers were initially called there for reports of shots fired. The 911 caller, an acquaintance of Shacklett's, told dispatchers he heard gunshots and then saw Shacklett with a handgun. That man fled to safety. No officers were hurt in that shooting. This is a developing story. Return to delawareonline.com for updates. Got a story tip or idea? Send to Isabel Hughes at ihughes@delawareonline.com. Reach Shannon Marvel McNaught at smcnaught@gannett.com or on Facebook. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Person shot by police during warrant attempt, barricade near Greenwood Life-threatening storms tore across the Midwest and Southern Plains on Tuesday into the evening, unleashing grapefruit-size hail, torrential rain that prompted flood watches, and powerful tornadoes that killed at least three people, leaving behind a trail of widespread destruction. The National Weather Service warned of possible EF3+ tornadoes across parts of Illinois and Indiana, raising the severe weather risk to Level 4 out of 5 ahead of the storms. Life-threatening Tornado Rips Through Parts Of Illinois As Severe Weather Lashes The Heartland After Tuesdays brutal storms, warnings proved spot-on as tornado watches and severe weather swept across the Southern Plains to the Midwest including Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, and Michigan. Tornadoes were reported in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and Texas and crews will now survey the destruction to determine the storms final strength. This came just days after last weeks deadly tornado outbreak tore through the Heartland, leaving many communities still reeling in its wake. Live Updates: Violent Storms Slam Millions, Unleashing Intense Tornadoes, Giant Hail In Midwest The life-threatening weather on Tuesday has now claimed the lives of at least two in Lake Village, Indiana. According to the Newton County Sheriff's Office, the people who were killed were an elderly male and female from the same family. Kankakee, Illinois and its surrounding areas were among the worst-affected, with Kankakee County officials activating the Emergency Operations Center and filing an emergency disaster declaration with the state to help perform damage assessments, and conduct search and rescue efforts in affected areas. On March 12, the Kankakee County Sheriffs Office announced in a press release that the county coroner had confirmed the death of a tornado victim found inside a damaged residence in Aroma Park. Dark clouds and dangerous hail some as large as grapefruits tore across the skies from Texas to the Great Lakes Tuesday afternoon. The photo above captures the ominous, churning clouds looming over the landscape, with what appears to be a man in a helmet preparing for the pounding hail ahead. 1,000-Mile Severe Storm Threat Charges To East Coast Mid-week Following Dangerous Tornado Threat In Heartland The hail was so fierce it shattered car windshields and pummeled homes and vehicles across the region. Even FOX Weather Storm Tracker Corey Gerkin was on the ground chasing the storm when the large hail began cracking his windshield. Advertisement You can hear the pounding of the hail and feel the intensity as Gerkin takes us through the moments driving through Kankakee, just before the tornado touched down. Tornadoes were reported in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana,and Texas and crews will now survey the destruction to determine the storms final strength. Homes across the county have lost their roofs, as debris from the catastrophic storm littered streets and yards everywhere. FOX Weather Correspondent Katie Byrne was on the ground in Chicago Tuesday night, where she said that there was so much hail it looked like a blanket of snow. Deadly Tornado Devastates Union City, Michigan, Carving A Path Of Heartbreaking Damage In Community Today, shes on the ground in Kankakee, Illinois, surveying homes devastated by tornado debris. Emergency shelters have sprung up to help those displaced, and officials report seven injuries so far, with the total number still unknown as assessment continues. Parts of Indiana also took on significant structural damage, with officials reporting multiple homes damaged in Lake Village. LAKE VILLAGE, INDIANA - MARCH 10: An employee emerges after being rescued from a Family Dollar store destroyed by a tornado on March 10, 2026 in Lake Village, Indiana. The National Weather Service had issued an urgent warning about a large tornado moving through the area, calling it a "life-threatening situation." The North Newton Jr High School is operating as a shelter for the displaced. Lake Twp. Fire Chief Rob Churchill said it was "total devastation. There were houses that collapsed, there were people trapped in houses." Sprawling Severe Weather Threat Charges East, Targeting More Than 95 Million From Texas To New York Winds ranging between 6777 mph struck throughout Missouri, Texas and Illinois. How To Watch Fox Weather The NWS is still surveying damage across the Midwest and Southern Plains and more details on the number and strength of tornadoes will emerge. The chance for severe weather still remains as the system pushes east, leaving many areas still on high alert. Original article source: Photos: Deadly tornadoes, massive hail, heavy rain rip through Midwest, Southern Plains, killing at least two Komodo dragon with open mouth. Komodo dragon is the biggest living lizard in the world, Indonesia, Rinca Island. Claudio Soldi/Shutterstock.com Quick Take At Singapore Zoo, a Komodo dragon named Mario swallowed multiple plush toys after wild macaques tossed them into his enclosure. As ambush hunters triggered by sudden movement, Komodo dragons can instinctively strike at flurries of activity, likely causing Mario to mistake the toys for prey. Veterinary staff from Mandai Wildlife Group launched an emergency medical procedure to check for internal damage and successfully remove the blockages. Things got a little crazy at the Singapore Zoo, where March brings mischief and mayhem to a resident komodo dragon. Mario, a rare Komodo dragon hatched outside of Indonesia, found himself in a dilemma. When a group of wild macaques found a bag of stuffed plushies and decided to throw them in his exhibit, all bets were off. Mario wasted no time making a meal of them, and in turn, left one veterinary team extremely concerned. Singapore Zoo Komodo Dragon Snacks on Stuffed Plushies At the Singapore Zoo, wild and captive animals coexist in a shared space. This is what makes the zoo so unique and gives its residents a natural environment to live in. Mario, the komodo dragon, is one of its most beloved residents. The species is also notoriously difficult to breed, and hatchlings are a rarity. This makes his presence at the zoo that much more impactful for visitors. His caretakers work tirelessly to ensure his health, which is how Marchs incident was dealt with swiftly. And, despite a few hiccups, successfully. Komodo dragons use their sharp, recurved claws to dig up shallow graves. ZiemowitJ / CC BY 4.0 Original / License (ZiemowitJ / CC BY 4.0) On March 2nd, an Instagram video posted by the Mandai Wildlife Group shared the predicament Mario found himself in. As some wild macaques, which are native to the area, had their own fun with a bag of plushies theyd found. Mario, on the other hand, found himself a snack. The flurry and frenzy of the macaques excited activity is initially what drew his attention. This lured him to the forbidden funhouse toys, unaware they were not edible. Without realizing what he was eating, Mario ingested two large plushies. From that moment on, the clock began ticking, and the Mandai Wildlife Group waited. An Indigestible Problem If youve ever had a pet eat something they werent meant to, then you know that its often expelled as easily as its ingested. In Marios case, the Mandai Wildlife Group hoped for the same result. Komodo dragons often regurgitate food or objects that dont agree with them, or that cant be digested easily. Unfortunately, after a full 24 hours, Mario still had not regurgitated the two plushies hed eaten. The emergency veterinary team immediately jumped into action. Objects left in an animals stomach pose a significant threat to their health and can even become fatal. Large objects cause intestinal blockages that prevent food from passing through in either direction. As the animals health rapidly declines, they may become sick, lethargic, and eventually succumb to injuries caused by the blockage. Given Marios size and the fact that a full day had passed by, the veterinary team knew they needed to intervene. Advertisement Diving Into the Belly of the Beast Mario was scheduled to undergo an endoscopic procedure to remove the stuffed plushies. Dr. Heng Yirui, deputy vice-president of veterinary healthcare and scientific programs at Mandai Wildlife Group, led the operation. While Mario was under anesthesia, veterinarians attempted to remove the plushies using an endoscopic tool. After about 90 minutes, these efforts proved to be unsuccessful. Knowing time was running out for Mario, the team switched to a more aggressive means of removing the plushies. A stuffed toy is not the best companion for a Komodo Dragon. iStock.com/kiwisoul (iStock.com/kiwisoul) In the video shared on Instagram, Dr. Heng can be seen with his entire arm down Marios throat. The footage shows him reaching as far as he can for the plushies. As he grabs one plushie with his bare hands, the footage shows a close-up of the fully-intact toy. Trust me, it is difficult to grab onto these toys with all your might. I could only manage to pull out the first toy. I was so fatigued I had to ask for help for the second toy, he says in the social media video. Mario Is Thankfully on the Mend Thanks to the swift action of Dr. Heng and his team, Mario made it out of surgery. The Mandai Wildlife Group confirms there are no further obstructions to his intestines or stomach, giving the komodo dragon a clean bill of health. The day after surgery, Mario passed stool. Marios instinct led him to unintentionally ingest the stuffed plushies. Komodo dragons are ambush hunters, which means their predatory instincts were triggered by the macaques activity. In all likelihood, Mario may have thought what he was eating was a macaque, or at least an animal that was digestible. In the wild, komodo dragons are skilled hunters and can bring down animals weighing up to 100 pounds. They typically prey on boar, Timor deer, and water buffalo during large feeding events. Small prey often include lizards, snakes, birds, and even insects. While these stuffed plushies dont fall in any of those categories, its a miracle that Mario has lived to see another day. The post When Playtime Gets Wild: Komodo Dragon Eats Plush Toys After Macaques Toss Them Into His Enclosure appeared first on A-Z Animals. MADISON - Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said his administration will resist any efforts by the FBI to seize voting documents if federal authorities expand their probe of the 2020 presidential election to Wisconsin. Evers made his comments after the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel first reported a potential threat to Milwaukee voters' right to a secret ballot. The FBI in recent weeks has seized voting data in two battleground states where President Donald Trump lost reelection in 2020. If the FBI takes its effort to relitigate the 2020 presidential election to Milwaukee County, federal authorities will be able to figure out how tens of thousands of residents there voted because of a state law that sets Wisconsin apart from other battleground states. The law requires poll workers to affix a voter number to all absentee ballots counted in a central counting facility, which exist in Milwaukee and more than three dozen other Wisconsin municipalities. And because Milwaukee election officials have not yet destroyed the 2020 presidential election ballots, those voter numbers could be matched against poll book information to determine which candidate voters picked that year if such voting documents are seized. So far, there has not been any movement in Wisconsin by federal authorities on this front. In this state, Wisconsinites have a constitutional right to cast a secret ballot, and thats something we take really seriously even Kathy and I dont always talk about who we vote for," Evers told the Journal Sentinel in a statement, referring to his wife. "So, the idea that the state should somehow turn over sensitive voter information and documents that could enable the federal government to know how Wisconsinites voted and who they voted for is wrong, and well continue fighting to protect Wisconsinites right to vote by secret ballot." "We want to keep our elections safe and secure, and caving to the Trump administrations demand will do the exact opposite. Thats something were going to fight all the way. The Democratic governor said he would sign a repeal of the state law that requires absentee ballots in central counting facilities to include a voter identification number given clerks' support for doing so. More: What to know about the law that could reveal how Milwaukeeans voted But Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said he wants to keep the law in place as an added safeguard. Advertisement "Its important we dont eliminate any law that will prevent double voting or allow anyone here illegally to cast a vote," Vos said in a statement. "Our number one priority should be keeping our elections secure and ensuring our citizens trust the system." Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu did not respond to questions about the matter. State and local election officials were on alert Monday after the FBI issued a grand jury subpoena for voting information in Maricopa County, Arizona the second battleground state where federal authorities have compelled the release of records related to the 2020 election. In late January, federal investigators seized hundreds of boxes related to the 2020 election in Fulton County, Georgia. Election officials are bracing for the probe to expand to Milwaukee, where Trump has repeatedly leveled baseless claims of fraud in the 2020 election including on the night of the election, when it became clear Trump would lose. 'It gets me PO'd,' Tony Evers says of election conspiracy theories "It gets me POd when President Trump lies and spreads baseless conspiracy theories about Wisconsins elections, because what hes doing is attacking the integrity and hard work of Wisconsinites across our state," Evers said. More: Trump re-ups myth about Wisconsin voter numbers. Here are the facts Absentee voting skyrocketed in the 2020 presidential election because of the advent of the coronavirus pandemic, which pushed people to avoid public places. In Milwaukee, nearly 180,000 people voted absentee. Following Trump's loss, his campaign paid for a recount in the liberal Dane and Milwaukee counties and unsuccessfully sought to throw out all absentee ballots cast in those counties, which would have overturned the election result. Trump continues to falsely claim he won Wisconsin's 2020 presidential contest, despite court rulings and audits showing otherwise. Molly Beck can be reached at molly.beck@jrn.com. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Tony Evers vows to resist any effort to seize 2020 Milwaukee ballots A major winter storm this weekend will bring blizzard conditions, record snow, high winds and dangerous travel conditions to parts of the upper Midwest and Great Lakes, then will deliver a blast of winds and cold air to much of the East and South. This weekend storm has been named Winter Storm Iona by The Weather Channel. Straight out of the textbook for wild swings in March weather, this winter reality check will follow on the heels of a severe weather outbreak and spell of record warmth in the central and eastern U.S. that will now intensify into a record March heat wave in the Southwest. (MORE: March Is A Frustrating Weather Month) NOAA's Winter Storm Severity Impact Forecast For Winter Storm Iona Weekend Blizzard A very strong storm with widespread, very heavy snow is forecast for this weekend. For now, a band of snow stretches from the Rockies into the Midwest, but the conditions will deteriorate as the weekend progresses. Alerts Blizzard warnings have been issued for portions of South Dakota and Minnesota, where wind gusts up to 50 mph combined with moderate to heavy snow will make travel impossible at times on Sunday. Winter storm watches and warnings are in effect from the Northern Rockies to the Upper Midwest. Heavy snow and gusty winds will lead to dangerous driving conditions, especially in areas where warnings are in effect in the dark blue on the map below. High wind watches and warnings are in effect through this weekend in parts of the Rockies and Plains, where gusts of 70 mph or higher could lead to some tree damage and power outages. Timing By late Saturday, a broad area of snow will blanket the Northern Plains, Northern Rockies and Great Lakes. On Sunday, a strong low pressure system will surge eastward from the Plains to the Great Lakes, bringing heavy snow and gusty winds to much of the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest, including the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Blowing and drifting snow will cause lower visibilities across the Upper Midwest even where snow is not falling from the sky. Some mixed precipitation, including sleet and ice, is likely from Iowa through southern Wisconsin and central Michigan. Ahead of the sharp cold front, a line of severe thunderstorms is expected from eastern Texas to the Ohio Valley, including areas just hit by severe weather this week. Rain could fall as far north as Milwaukee and Lansing, Michigan. (MAPS: 7-Day US Snow, Rain Forecast) Sunday's Forecast Sunday night and Monday, the strong low will shove the cold front rapidly into the East. Precipitation may change from rain to a quick burst of snow in the Ohio Valley and Appalachians. Along much of the East Coast, this will be a rain event, with strong to severe thunderstorms packing damaging winds possible from parts of the Northeast to the Carolinas. (MORE: Severe Thunderstorms Forecast From The Mid-Mississippi Valley To The East) Strong winds are expected to persist in much of the Midwest and East into Monday, with power outages possible, especially near the Great Lakes and along the immediate East Coast. Monday's Forecast How Much Snow In parts of the upper Midwest, this could be a record-setting snowstorm . Advertisement From parts of southern Minnesota into central and northern Wisconsin, far northern Lower Michigan and Upper Michigan, over a foot of snow looks likely. In fact, some of these areas may see 18 to 24 inches of snow from this storm, in the areas shaded in pink in the map below. That could include Green Bay, Marquette and Mackinac Island. A spot or two could see more than 30 inches of snow in northern Michigan. And Marquette has seen over 214 inches of snow since October 1, which is a top 5 snowiest October 1 to March 14. Accoring to NOAA records, this could flirt with or break 2-day snowstorm records in some locations of northeast Wisconsin, eastern Upper Michigan and extreme northern Lower Michigan. Snow could fall at the rate of 1 to 3 inches per hour Sunday and Monday, accompanied by strong winds. This could lead to extremely dangerous, if not impossible, travel conditions. If you plan to travel in this timeframe in the western Great Lakes and upper Midwest, you should consider either delaying or canceling those plans. If that wasn't enough, there also could be a band of freezing rain and sleet for a time from parts of extreme northern Iowa and southern Minnesota into southern Wisconsin and Lower Michigan Sunday, before changing to rain, then back to snow. This could lead to some ice accumulations that could make roads slippery. These strong winds, heavy snow and some ice accumulations could also lead to tree damage and power outages that could become widespread. We don't expect significant snowfall in the Northeast from this winter storm. Rain will be the dominant precipitation type and dry air aloft should minimize any wrap-around snow chances. (MORE: 6 Things To Know About Snow Forecasts) Snowfall Forecast Cold, For A While Forecast Low-lights That weekend blizzard will pull down a fresh supply of cold air from Canada beginning this weekend that will have staying power into St. Patrick's week. Sunday, that cold will nosedive southward into the Plains. Monday, that cold air will have reached the northern Gulf Coast. Tuesday, that cold air will have swept through the East, including Florida. Monday, highs will be stuck in the teens, 20s and 30s in much of the Midwest. St. Patrick's Day will be stuck in the 20s and 30s in most of the Northeast and Midwest, while the Southeast shivers in the 40s and 50s, for the most part. Some subzero lows are possible in parts of North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula Monday and Tuesday. Much of the Deep South, including parts of far northern Florida, is forecast to dip below the freezing mark Tuesday and Wednesday morning. Some daily record lows and cold highs could be threatened, especially in the Deep South, where a frost could make it as far south as Mobile, Alabama, and New Orleans. Highs struggling to reach 60 degrees in central Florida could be their coldest St. Patrick's Day highs on record. (MAPS: 10-Day US Forecast Highs/Lows) How Long Will It Last? If you've had enough of winter weather, especially following the recent warmth, we do have some good news. Warmer air should work its way eastward in the Plains by the middle of the upcoming week, then may ooze farther east later next week. However, some longer-range models are suggesting some chillier air may spill back into parts of the Midwest and Northeast by the weekend of March 21 and 22, or that following week. So goes, March, right? Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at weather.com and has been covering national and international weather since 1996. Extreme and bizarre weather are his favorite topics. Reach out to him on Bluesky, X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. George H.W. Bush smiling - Hulton Archive/Getty Images When a current or former president of the United States wants to go out to eat, it's safe to say that any given restaurant will make room for them. In some cases, the commander-in-chief chooses a famous eatery where getting a reservation is nearly impossible, like the elusive New York establishments Rao's and Carbone. But not every place where a POTUS has dined is considered hoity-toity. In fact, when President George H.W. Bush was in Washington D.C. and got the hankering for Chinese food, he'd head 10 miles southwest of the White House to a modest spot called Peking Gourmet Inn, in Falls Church, Virginia. Bush was a patron of the eatery over 100 times. He first ate at the restaurant in 1985 when he was Vice President, at the recommendation of his son, Marvin. Per KHOU 11, shortly thereafter, he sent a letter to owner George Tsui saying, "I just wanted you to know that the food was excellent and your sons, Robert and George, and all the rest of the people there couldn't have been more accommodating. The duck was especially fantastic." Tsui shared that he considered Bush more than a good customer, but also a great friend. Bush would often enter Peking Gourmet Inn through the back door, many times with members of his family or administration. Read more: What JD Vance Actually Eats Advertisement Peking Gourmet Inn has been open for almost 50 years Peking duck on colorful plate at Peking Gourmet Inn - alwaysfun2travel / Tripadvisor Eddie Tsui opened Peking Gourmet Inn in 1978, where he wanted to celebrate Northern Chinese cuisine and especially Peking duck, the house specialty, and one of George H.W. Bush's personal favorite dishes there. It was unlikely, though, that he ever ordered anything with broccoli, a vegetable he hated so much he supposedly banned it from Air Force One during his presidency. The duck is so renowned that the restaurant cooks up over 80,000 each year. Wheat and wheat flour is plentiful in Northern China, and the restaurant's menu reflects this, with many dumpling and noodle options available, all made in-house from hand-pulled dough. Much of the produce used in the dishes comes from the Tsui family farm in Purcellville, Virginia. A who's who of the political scene has eaten at Peking Gourmet Inn, and the restaurant hangs up their photos to prove it. They include at least two commanders-in-chief (the second being George W. Bush), a slew of generals, and Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, among others. According to the restaurant, thanks to its famous clientele and word-of-mouth recommendations, it doesn't invest money in advertising. The place sees so many notable and influential figures, that one of its tables sits behind a bulletproof window. Yet it doesn't look like an upper-crust eatery. Peking Gourmet Inn is located in an unassuming spot in a strip mall off a busy street. Nonetheless, you just might spot a VIP or two on any given night of the week. For more food and drink goodness, join our newsletter and add us as a preferred search source. Get taste tests, food & drink news, deals from your favorite chains, recipes, cooking tips, and more! Read the original article on Mashed. Pool / Getty Images News via Getty Images The size of the U.S. military budget has often reflected the countrys changing role in global affairs. Defense spending has expanded during periods of war, geopolitical rivalry, and heightened national security concerns. From the massive mobilization of World War II to the Cold War arms race and the post-9/11 War on Terror, military funding has shifted in response to new threats and strategic priorities. While Congress ultimately approves federal spending, presidential administrations play a major role in shaping defense policy, proposing budgets, and influencing how military resources are allocated. In this article, we explore how the U.S. military budget has evolved over time and examine the presidencies that saw the largest increases in defense spending. By comparing percentage growth across administrations, it becomes easier to see how major global events and national security challenges drove expansions in military funding. History of the U.S. Military Budget Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons) Members of the U.S. Air Force. The military budget of the United States pays for more than just guns and tanks, it also covers anything that is remotely military-related. This includes healthcare, salaries, and everything related to building and maintaining arms, weapons, and facilities in the United States and abroad. The budget is divided between the Navy, Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Space Force. The U.S. military budget reached a peak (as a percent of GDP) during World War II before dropping significantly after the resolution of the war. After World War II, the United States renamed the National Military Establishment as the Department of Defense in 1949 in probably one of the biggest instances of irony in the history of planet Earth. This new department set up the groundwork for the military-industrial complex we see today. Besides the branches of the military within the Department of Defense, there are also four intelligence services that get a portion of the budget. These are the Defense Intelligence Agency, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the National Reconnaissance Office, and the National Security Agency. Current Military Budget Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons) U.S. M1A2 Abrams tank, right, rumbles past a Georgian tank. By law, each federal agency must release a public audit of its finances every year. The DoD was late to the party and only started conducting audits in 2018, though it has repeatedly failed them. Investigations into the finances of the department show illegal, inaccurate, and unsubstantiated changes to the financial documents to force them to match the budget in the U.S. Treasury. The Department of Defense has repeatedly suppressed and hidden third-party audits of its finances. In 2022, the Department of Defense proved its asset documentation and accounting controls were severely insufficient. The Department of Defense has the highest number of budgetary resources allocated to it compared to all other federal agencies, and it is more than half of the total yearly spending in the U.S. federal discretionary budget (which does not include mandatory expenditures like Social Security). The Department of Defense requested a total budget of $849.8 billion for 2025, and the U.S. Congress approved a resolution to fund it through March of 2025. This is a substantial increase over the $842 billion for 2024 and $782 billion in 2023. Congress regularly increased the military budget beyond what the president or even the Department of Defense requested or even wanted. For example, President Biden requested a military budget of $715 billion for 2022, but the Senate Armed Services Committee instead approved a budget of $740 billion. Also, President Obama requested $664 billion for the Department of Defense for 2009, but Congress approved a final budget of $680 billion instead. Why does Congress do this? Americans love war, and they love to see their elected officials being aggressive when it comes to supporting the military and the armed forces. So, our representatives often ask for and support legislation and budgets that are in excess of what we need in order to score political points. It would seem that U.S. pro-military propaganda has begun to come back and bit it in the behind. Please remember, that the budgets for each of the branches of the military that follow are according to the Department of Defense and are impossible to verify. They are also unlikely to be true. Department of the Air Force Budget Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons ) B-21 Raider. The U.S. Air Force receives around 22% of the military budget. The largest expenses for the Air Force are, in order: military personnel (including salaries and training), operation and maintenance, weapon procurement, research and development, construction projects, family housing, and management funds. Department of the Army Budget Bumble Dee / Shutterstock.com - Original / License (Bumble Dee / Shutterstock.com) U.S. Soldiers. The U.S. Army receives the most military funding, about 32% of the total budget for the Department of Defense. It is the largest military branch in the United States with around 1,005,725 soldiers (including the Army Reserve and National Guard) as of 2022. It has been the primary force in projecting American power and influence since World War II. Department of the Navy Budget Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons - Original / License (Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons) USS Virginia. The U.S. Navy receives around 23% of the total military budget (not including the Marines). It includes the U.S. Navy and the Marine Corps. The Navy has around 400,000 military members with around 25% in reserve. The U.S. Navy is widely regarded as the most powerful navy in the world with the largest displacement as of 2021 from 299 combat vessels and 4,012 aircraft. It has the most aircraft carriers of any country (at 11, currently, and more to be launched soon). The Marine Corps receives its budget from the Department of the Navy, which is about 4% of the total military budget. Senator John McCain repeatedly killed legislation that was meant to rename the Navy Department as the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps. The legislation had broad support in both houses of Congress. Other Military Budget Expenses Bumble Dee / Shutterstock.com - Original / License (Bumble Dee / Shutterstock.com) US soldiers. Around 15% of the remaining budget is expenses that are shared between the military branches and other operations and military activities. Another 4% (approximately) is for classified intelligence operations. 3. Donald Trump (20172020) Pool / Getty Images News via Getty Images (Pool / Getty Images News via Getty Images) Donald Trump. Total budget increase: 8% On the campaign trail, Trump promised to pass a massive build-up of Americas military power, and even though he backtracked once he was in office, he still found himself in third place on our list. Advertisement After his election, President Trump withdrew the United States from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, withdrew from the Open Skies Treaty, and complained that the United States spent too much money on an uncontrollable arms race with China. He called the current military budget crazy yet praised his own increases in military spending. In 2018, Trump bragged that he had made the largest budget increase ever, enacted the first military pay increase in ten years, and increased the military budget beyond 4% of GDP. All of these assertions were lies. Trump also pardoned a number of military members who had committed war crimes. This includes when he intervened in the Navy process and pardoned Eddie Gallagher who shot and killed unarmed civilians, which angered and offended many military officers. Trump drastically increased how often the government used drone strikes against military and civilian targets in Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, Yemen, and Syria. He reduced transparency in drone strike reports and reduced the accountability related to drone strikes. In 2019 he ended the policy of reporting how many civilians are killed in each U.S. drone strike. He said that reporting civilian deaths was unnecessary. Why Did Trump Increase the Military So Much? Pete Marovich / Getty Images News via Getty Images (Pete Marovich / Getty Images News via Getty Images) Donald Trump. Trump repeatedly complained that he inherited depleted armed forces from Obama, which several high-ranking military officers disputed. Despite this, and his promises to increase funding considerably, overall military spending was lower than during Obamas first term as president. Trump shifted more responsibility for military engagements from the president to the Pentagon. Of this move, Mother Jones said the US military was pursuing a strategy that tolerated a higher risk of bloodshed. Trump drastically decreased the number of troops in Afghanistan, reducing the amount to its lowest point since 2001. Instead, he increased the use of drones. As a result, the number of civilian deaths due to American forces skyrocketed during his presidency. Trump also signed a deal with the Taliban in 2020, promising to withdraw U.S. troops and releasing 5,000 Taliban members. These members were among the forces that overthrew the Afghan government in 2021. Overall, the Trump presidency set itself apart from previous administrations by openly praising and admiring authoritarian rulers, rejecting key human rights, and ignoring their abuses. According to Fox News, CNN, and The Atlantic, Trump often and frequently disparaged and mocked military officers, American soldiers, and fallen soldiers with demeaning and crude language to other world leaders in public and private. 2. Ronald Reagan Fox Photos / Hulton Archive via Getty Images (Fox Photos / Hulton Archive via Getty Images) Ronald Reagan. Total budget increase: 16% Even though the Cold War was cooling off when Reagan took office, his campaign promises and personal ideology caused him to escalate the Cold War with the USSR and drastically increase not only military spending but also offensive and violent rhetoric. Reagan won popularity by campaigning against the social changes made during the Civil Rights era and through Affirmative Action, and by promising to return the U.S. to military supremacy. Reagan more than doubled the military budget between 1981 and 1985. He is responsible for the first and second highest year-over-year military budget increases. In order to help pay for his massive increases, Reagan proposed cuts to Social Security, and cut funding for food stamps, unemployment benefits, subsidized housing, and Aid to Families with Dependent Children. He also raised the retirement age and increased Social Security taxes. Why Did Reagan Increase the Military So Much? CORBIS via Getty Images ( CORBIS via Getty Images) Ronald Reagan. Reagan used the threat of Communism to scare millions of Americans into voting him into office. Once elected, he forgot his promises of balanced budgets and immediately ordered huge military increases. Reagan ignored multiple opportunities to create peace with the USSR, and instead launched several new projects to protect the United States from hypothetical Soviet threats (like protecting the country from missiles launched from space) and increased the U.S. presence and engagement in foreign conflicts. He was the first president to reject containment and de-escalation with the Soviet Union and preferred to believe that it could be outright defeated. Reagan supplied funds, resources, and weapons to the Mujahideen in Afghanistan (which would eventually lead to the rise of Osama bin Laden), supported the fascist Guatemalan government as it committed genocide, and funded the Chad government as it committed mass killings of its own people. Reagan ordered the invasion of Grenada, armed the Contras in Nicaragua in the Iran-Contra affair, and more. By the time Reagan left office, the military budget had been increased by 43% over its peak during the Vietnam War. 1. George W. Bush Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images News via Getty Images (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images News via Getty Images) George W. Bush. Total budget increase: 39% George W. Bush continued the neoliberal policies of his predecessors and laid the groundwork for todays neoconservatism. Whether Bush had plans to expand the military and government as much as he did, we may never know, as the September 11 attacks set the tone for his entire presidency and forever changed the world. Why Did Bush Increase the Military So Much? Mark Wilson / Getty Images News via Getty Images (Mark Wilson / Getty Images News via Getty Images) George W. Bush. On September 20, 2001, Bush declared the War on Terror, which resulted in significant U.S. military operations in Somalia, Yemen, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, Iraq, and more. It also included severe rhetoric against North Korea, Iran, and Iraq. Bushs administration repeatedly claimed they had the right to declare preemptive war against countries or groups who might pose a threat to the United States, a policy which quickly became known as the Bush Doctrine. This blatantly offensive policy weakened international support for the United States, a trend that continues today. Like the War on Drugs before it, the War on Terror has proved to be not only ineffective but profoundly negative in making the situation far worse than it was before. Bush launched the War in Afghanistan in October of 2001 and the Iraq War in March 2003. Iraq had no ties to the September 11 attacks and Bush relied on misinformation and outright lies to convince the country and other world leaders to support his invasion. Bush also launched the Presidents Surveillance Program, authorized the torture of suspected terrorists, passed the Patriot Act, and created the Department of Homeland Security. The post Which Presidents Increased the U.S. Military Budget the Most appeared first on History-Computer. Rachel Zoe and Rodger Berman attend the A Sense of Home Gala held on October 21, 2023 in Los Angeles, California Credit: Getty Images The Gist Rachel Zoe revealed the unexpected first celebrity she called after her decision to leave her husband of 26 years, Rodger Berman. Zoe announced her separation from Berman in September 2024, and filed for divorce last July. The fashion designer recently opened up about her "really fun" experience getting back into dating. Rachel Zoe ensured she had one of her longtime A-list friends in her corner after her decision to separate from her husband of 26 years, Rodger Berman, in September 2024. In a new podcast interview, the fashion designer revealed why Jennifer Garner was the very first person she called following her splitand how the 13 Going on 30 actress drew from her own divorce from Ben Affleck to give her friend some legal advice. Jennifer Garner and Rachel Zoe attend The 2017 Baby2Baby Gala presented by Paul Mitchell on November 11, 2017 in Los Angeles, California Credit: Getty Images During a March 9 appearance on the Inside Edit podcast, the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star told Maeve Reilly that she immediately called Garner to get the name of a good divorce lawyer before the dust settled on her split from Berman. Zoewho officially filed for divorce from Berman last Julyrevealed that the Alias actress recommended Disso Queen celebrity divorce attorney Laura Wasser, whom she used to dissolve her marriage to Affleck in 2018. Jennifer Garner and Rachel Zoe host the Pink Party at HANGAR:8 on October 18, 2014 in Santa Monica Credit: Getty Images The fashion star said that other than confiding in Garner, she initially decided to keep the news of the longtime couples breakup under wraps. However, behind closed doors, Zoe said she knew it was over because [she] was spending more time sad than happy. Opening up about the breakdown of their 26-year marriage, the celebrity wardrobe stylist said, The person that I never went anywhere without, I wanted to go without. I started going to things alone or with friends, and that was a symbol to me. Advertisement Rachel Zoe attends the Michael Kors 45th Anniversary show at Metropolitan Opera House on February 12, 2026 during New York Fashion Week Credit: Getty Images Zoe recalled Garnerwhom she first styled for a 2003 eventhaving an unexpected reaction to her split. Her reaction was so interesting and Ill never forget it, Zoe recounted. She was like, You must be so exhausted. And I knew what she meant by it. And I was, I really was so exhausted. Nowadays, however, Zoe revealed shes having fun dating and is embracing a new mantra for her romantic pursuits. "Im definitely spending time with guys who are younger. Its mostly creative, energetic, deep-souled people who I connect to, she told Interview magazine in a March 5 story. I dont need a man for traditional reasons. Im financially independent. Im socially independent. I have my kids. So for me, its like, Lets enjoy life. Zoe also reflected on her marriage to Berman while revealing shes open to walking down the aisle again. "We were married for 26 years and I cant have any regrets because we had a great love story, she added. Read the original article on InStyle President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has a confirmation hearing ready to go, and he will have to reckon with an intraparty feud in the process. Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., will soon undergo the rigorous confirmation process in the Senate after being tapped by Trump to replace embattled DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. He will first go through the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee before heading to a full confirmation vote in the Senate. Katie Britt Blasts Democrats For Playing 'Political Games' With Shutdown Amid Airport Chaos Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., is aiming to hold a confirmation hearing for Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., March 18, 2026. (Getty Images) Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who chairs the Homeland Security panel, wants to hold Mullins hearing next week. The White House formally sent over Mullins nomination to the Senate on Monday, according to the congressional record. "Were shooting for a week from Wednesday if all the paperwork comes in," Paul said. Read On The Fox News App But Mullin and Paul have a personal rift that could spill out into the confirmation hearing. Teamsters Boss Praises Mullin Dhs Nomination Despite Past Heated Hearings Sen. Markwayne Mullin's, R-Okla., path to running the Department of Homeland Security won't be easy in the Senate, where Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is already bucking his nomination. In February, Mullin slammed Paul during an event with voters for his perennial votes against Republican priorities, like spending bills or other elements of Trumps agenda, such as the "big, beautiful bill" last year. Advertisement Oklahoma reporter David Arnett reported in a lengthy profile of Mullin that, during the event, the lawmaker was asked about an amendment to a spending package from Paul that he voted against. Mullin warned that Paul was "trying to kill the farm bill because hes trying to legalize hemp for drinks in Kentucky because of tobacco industry shifts," and then went after Pauls voting history before taking a jab at the 2017 incident in which the Kentucky Republican was attacked by his neighbor over a lawn dispute. Trump's New Dhs Pick Is An Illegal Immigration Hawk Who's All About The Mission: Expert President Donald Trump listens during an event about the Ratepayer Protection Pledge in the Indian Treaty Room of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington, March 4, 2026. "I respect Bernie Sanders because hes an open socialist, and you know that hes a communist, so you know what youre getting," Mullin said. "Rand Pauls a freaking snake. And I understand completely why his neighbor did what he did. And I told him that to his face." That slight at Paul may come to bear during his confirmation hearing, but Mullin is expected to easily move through that first hurdle, given that most Republicans on the panel will back him, and he has the support of Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa. Click Here To Download The Fox News App Paul shrugged off the incident on Monday when he told reporters, "Im going to reserve judgment now, and well probably find out a lot more." "I would suggest coming to the hearing, though," Paul said. "I think it'll be interesting." Original article source: Rand Paul to oversee confirmation hearing of Trump's DHS pick who once blasted him as a 'snake' Using lessons they learned in the classroom, the students spent 24 hours developing a solution that impressed the judges with its capabilities. They competed against 32 other teams to win the $5,000 top prize. NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A team of Rutgers Business School graduate students won first place in the University of South Carolina's Big Data Health Science Case Competition after designing a tool to help doctors determine treatment options for patients undergoing musculoskeletal care. The team of Rutgers graduate students who won first place in an online Big Data Health Science Case Competition hosted by the University of South Carolina. Standing with the students is the team advisor, Rutgers Business School professor David Dryfus Bhargavi Varanasi, a medical doctor from India pursuing her a Master of Health Care Analytics joined Debanshu Poddar, Anjaney Srinivas and Vivek Chakraborty, classmates in the Master of Supply Chain Analytics Program, to form the Rutgers team. The students were advised by Rutgers Business School Professor David Dreyfus, director of the Health Care Analytics Program. Find out more about the specialty master's programs offered at Rutgers Business School during a Graduate Open House on Saturday, March 28, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. in Newark. Register today. "Building this in 24 hours was a blur of whiteboarding and debugging, but it pushed us to grow," the team members said in an email. "The true value was learning to translate 'black box' math into a transparent, trustworthy tool. Realizing there's a real person making a life-altering choice behind every data point made the sleepless night completely worth it." An intense competition The two-day, online competition attracted 32 teams from across the country. It required the students to data clean 100,000 pieces of patient information, deciding what was important and what was unnecessary. "Understanding the data was the main thing," Chakraborty said. Sorting through the data was time-consuming, and they were processing so much data, he said, that their computers repeatedly froze. And that was just the beginning. They used their modeling knowledge to determine predictive values for different outcomes, including patient recovery, rehabilitation time and cost of surgery or care. They also had to demonstrate their programming, analytical, collaboration and communication skills to develop and explain their tool to the judges. While Varanasi helped to identify the important data what would be most relevant to determine a patient's treatment and recovery time Srinivas went over the case again and again to ensure the team understood the problem and was approaching it correctly. Vivek did research to find data that they felt was missing, and Poddar crafted the presentation. First among seven finalists As they prepared for the final round, they had to do more than only refine the work they had presented previously. They were required to integrate more information about patient treatment preferences into their solution. The Rutgers Business School students won the final round against teams from Carnegie Mellon, Dartmouth College, University of South Carolina, University of Iowa, and Florida State and Missouri State universities. Students from the University of South Carolina won second place, and third place went to Missouri State University's team. The Rutgers team will share the first-place prize of $5,000. "This victory reflects not only the team's technical excellence and analytic depth, but also their ability to translate data science into meaningful healthcare solutions," Dreyfus said after the team's win. "Their shared decision-making model demonstrates the very best of interdisciplinary collaboration between healthcare and supply chain analytics." The competition reflected a growing real-world demand in health care for tools that will allow physicians to access quantitative data to support their care decisions and better explain to patients such things as the would benefit from surgery or physical therapy and how long their recovery will take. The team wasn't told why they won the competition, but Srinivas theorized that it had to do with the quality of their final tool. "We were quite robust with our solution," he said. SOURCE Rutgers Business School Blue whale with albinism spotted off coast of Loreto, Mexico Credit: Michael Fishbach/Great Whale Conservancy NEED TO KNOW A rare blue whale with albinism was spotted off the coast of Loreto, Mexico, in the marine area of Loreto Bay National Park The National Commission for Natural Protected Areas confirmed the discovery via a press release shared by the Mexican government on Friday, March 6 The organization noted that "30 distinct blue whales" have been spotted in the same waters this season alongside humpback whales and fin whales A rare blue whale with albinism was spotted off the coast of Loreto, Mexico, in what is being heralded as "an unprecedented milestone for marine biology." According to a Friday, March 6 press release from the National Commission for Natural Protected Areas, the whale was seen in the waters of Loreto Bay National Park. Citing confirmed sightings of "30 distinct blue whales," including the all-white whale, in the area this season including a mother and her calf the Mexican government said this was evidence that Loreto was "a vital breeding and refuge area for this species." During this season, the whales have also been spotted closer to the shore than in the past, thought to be due to "a massive upsurge of nutrients that has generated an extraordinary availability of krill." Blue whales, the largest whale species in the world, can eat as much as four tons of krill a day, according to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which notes that blue whales can reach sizes over 100 feet. Blue whales are classified as "endangered" by the Red List of Threatened Species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Weighing in at 200 tons, a mature blue whale is comparable to 30 elephants. Experts estimate that there are as many as 15,000 blue whales worldwide. Advertisement Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. In addition to blue whales, both humpback and fin whales have been spotted in Loreto this season. In their press release, Mexico noted this as evidence "solidifying Loreto's position as a global benchmark for marine wildlife viewing." Blue whale with albinism spotted near Loreto National Park in Mexico Credit: Michael Fishbach/Great Whale Conservancy Albinism is a rare condition that results in an animal appearing white or much lighter than other animals of its species, according to National Geographic. "In mammals, albinism occurs when an individual inherits one or more mutated genes from both parents that interfere with the body's production of melanin, the main pigment that determines the color of skin, fur, and eyes," the outlet wrote. The National Commission for Natural Protected Areas reported that albinism is particularly rare among whales, and that blue whales with albinism are rarely seen in the wild. It is estimated that only 0.0025% of whales have the genetic mutation. Read the original article on People A Northern California representative announced that he would be dropping his affiliation with the Republican Party, opting instead to run as an independent in his upcoming election. Rep. Kevin Kiley, of California's 3rd Congressional District, made the announcement on social media last week after filing for his third term as a No Party Preference" candidate, citing his frustration regarding "hyper-partisanship in Congress" and the recent decision by California voters to redraw districts in the upcoming election. "Gerrymandering is a plague on democracy, one that Gavin Newsom has brought back to California," Kiley said on X, referencing the California governor. "But theres a way we can fight back and protect our democracy from his partisan games: by removing partisanship from the equation." Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-California, speaks during a news conference in downtown Los Angeles on Feb. 20, 2025. Throughout his last two terms in Washington, the California lawmaker occasionally broke from the Republican Party's agenda, most recently voting with Democrats to rescind the emergency declaration that President Donald Trump used to impose tariffs. "It is no secret Ive been frustrated, at times disgusted, by the hyper-partisanship in Congress," Kiley said. "In the last year, its led to the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, a massive increase in healthcare costs, and of course, a pointless redistricting war. The epidemic of gerrymandering has spread from Texas to California to states all across the country. Both parties are complicit." On Monday, Kiley asked the U.S. House of Representatives clerk to officially change his party affiliation from Republican to independent, though he confirmed to CNN that he would continue to caucus with Republicans. "In terms of the way that I approach my role here, I am an independent, and as I have been throughout my time here, Ill be an independent voice fighting for our district, he told CNN. How Prop 50 affected Rep. Kevin Kiley 1 / 0 White House drilling proposal fuels fear for California's scenic coast A unique perspective on the Pacific Ocean from Point Lobos State Natural Reserve near Carmel-by-the-Sea on the California coast on July 26, 2025. Kiley was one of the five congressional Republicans whose districts were broken up as part of Proposition 50, a measure that temporarily redraws California's congressional maps to increase the chances of winning more Democratic seats and counteract a similar effort in favor of Republican-leaning districts in Texas. Prior to the proposition's approval by voters, California's 3rd Congressional District represented a large portion of the state. It encompassed regions such as Roseville, a major suburb of Sacramento, and Chester, a town north of the Lassen Volcanic National Park, to Death Valley National Park in Central California. May 8, 2024; Washington, DC, USA; Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA), center, asking questions of David Banks, Chancellor, New York City Public Schools, New York City Department of Education, Karla Silvestre, President, Montgomery County Board of Education, Montgomery County Public Schools, Emerson Sykes, Senior Staff Attorney, American Civil Liberties Union, and Enikia Ford Morthel, Superintendent, Berkeley Unified School District, at The House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education hearing on antisemitism in K-12 schools on May 8, 2024 in Washington. Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY ORG XMIT: USAT-879919 (Via OlyDrop) But as part of the new congressional map, the district was split into several Democratic-leaning districts and one largely Republican district, leaving Kiley in limbo among the new boundaries in Northern California. Advertisement Initially, Kiley planned to run for re-election in the newly created 5th Congressional District, which encompassed rural towns along the Sierra Nevada Mountain range and what he considered a "safe" Republican House seat. Instead, Kiley opted to file for the "more challenging race" in California's newly created 6th Congressional District, a Democratic-leaning region that includes portions of Placer and Sacramento counties. "I was born, raised, and went to local public schools in Placer and Sacramento Counties, which Ive always called home. Theyve been the core of my district during my time in elected office," Kiley said in a social media post on March 3. "At the end of the day, as much as I love the communities in the 5th District that I represent now and as excited as I was about the new ones seeking office in a district that doesnt include my hometown didnt feel right." Kiley believes that he can create a "winning coalition" with voters in California's 6th Congressional District, noting that residents are "Democratic-leaning but open-minded." Who is running for California's 6th Congressional District? The seat in California's newly created 6th Congressional District is crowded and competitive, as expected for a district without an incumbent. Currently, there are eight people on the candidate list for the district: five Democrats, two Republicans and Kiley as the only independent candidate. Among the list are a few heavy hitters, including Kiley; notably, Martha Guerrero, the mayor of West Sacramento; Thien Ho, the Sacramento County district attorney; and Richard Pan, who previously served in the California Assembly and Senate from 2012 to 2022. Here is a list of the candidates currently in the race for California's 6th Congressional District: Lauren Babb Tomlinson (D ) - Babb Tomlinson currently serves as the chief public affairs officer at Planned Parenthood Advocates Mar Monte. She's running for Congress to address the affordability crisis and protect Americans' rights, according to her campaign website. Christine Bish (R ) - Bish is a real estate agent and small business owner based in Sacramento. She's running for Congress with the goal of lowering taxes, providing cost-effective educational solutions, addressing water quality and flood management, tackling homelessness, ending sanctuary cities, and restoring Second Amendment freedoms, according to her campaign website. Martha Guerrero ( D ) - Guerrero serves as the mayor of West Sacramento, first elected by residents in 2020 and then reelected in 2024. She is focused on addressing the affordability crisis many face, protecting people's rights, reducing health care costs, tackling homelessness, and strengthening the public education system, according to her campaign website. Thien Ho ( D ) - Ho serves as the Sacramento County district attorney and played a pivotal role in prosecuting the Golden State Killer, Joseph James DeAngelo, in 2020. He is running to expand access to health care, lower the cost of housing, protect working families, and defend democracy, according to his campaign website. Kevin Kiley ( I ) - Kiley serves as the representative for California's 3rd Congressional District. He is running to retain his seat in California's Congressional delegation and fighting against "hyper-partisanship in Congress." Richard Pan ( D ) - Pan previously served in the California Assembly and Senate from 2012 to 2022, where he spearheaded legislation that reduced the uninsured rate in California. He is running for Congress to hold the Trump administration accountable for how it's handled the country's healthcare and, in turn, "endangering Americans", according to his campaign website. Raymond Riehle ( R ) - Riehle is a business owner and an active member of the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce. He is running to lower taxes, provide more funding to law enforcement, secure the border and tackle the "woke agenda," according to his campaign website. Tyler Vandenberg (D) - Vandenberg is a veteran who wants to address the "chaos" of Washington, according to his campaign website. He plans on tackling housing and health care issues as well as "building a safer America" for migrants, women and members of the LGBTQ community. One candidate, Craig Deluz (R), initially planned to run for the seat but confirmed to the Sacramento Bee that he suspended his campaign in September due to "family health issues." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rep. Kevin Kiley leaves Republican Party to run as an independent Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) speaks to reporters ahead of a vote to pass the American Relief Act on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., December 19, 2024. The legislation failed to pass the House in a 174-235 vote. REUTERS/Anna Rose Layden By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON, March 10 (Reuters) - Republican U.S. Representative Andy Ogles doubled down on Tuesday after saying "Muslims don't belong in American society," which had sparked widespread condemnation and prompted a Muslim advocacy group to designate him as an "anti-Muslim extremist." Here are some details: Top Democrats like California Governor Gavin Newsom and House of Representatives Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called those comments "disgusting" and Islamophobic. Muslim advocacy group Council on American-Islamic Relations, which documents anti-Muslim and anti-Arab bias in the U.S., said it designated Ogles as "an anti-Muslim extremist" after his social media comments. "Muslims don't belong in American society. Pluralism is a lie," Ogles said on X on Monday. Advertisement He called for expulsion of Muslims from the U.S. on Tuesday. "Muslims are unable to assimilate; they all have to go back," he posted. Over the years, rights advocates have attributed Islamophobia to the September 11, 2001 attacks; and more recently to anti-immigration sentiment, white supremacy and the fallout of Israel's war in Gaza. Muslim advocacy groups have also previously condemned Republican lawmakers like U.S. Representative Randy Fine for their anti-Muslim comments. They have also criticized the crackdown by Republican President Donald Trump's administration on immigration and pro-Palestinian protests. Republican House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson, in comments to reporters on Tuesday, declined to condemn Ogles' remarks. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Stephen Coates) Protests against the war with Iran have broken out across the US -Credit:Anadolu via Getty Images (Anadolu via Getty Images) As the war with Iran escalates and conflict explodes across the Middle East, fears of a potential US military draft are rising. On Monday, Donald Trump gave conflicting messages about the war's timeline, suggesting it could be near its end while also threatening additional force against Iran if the country disrupted the global flow of oil. His comments came just a day after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt refused to definitively rule out a US military draft for the Iran conflict. President Trump wisely does not remove options off of the table," Leavitt said. "I know a lot of politicians like to do that quickly, but the president as commander-in-chief wants to continue to assess the success of this military operation," she added. Trump humiliated as expert explains how Iranian 'strategy' has trapped the US Three secret underground sites across US can withstand nuclear war "Its not part of the current plan right now," Leavitt noted, but repeated that the president "keeps his options on the table." While there is just a small list of people who would be exempt from any draft, other Americans could avoid going to war by becoming a conscientious objector. What is a conscientious objector? Around 170,000 men were classified as conscientious objectors during the Vietnam War -Credit:AP A conscientious objector is someone who is opposed to serving in the armed forces or bearing arms on the grounds of moral or religious principles. During the Vietnam War, when the last mandatory military draft in the United States took place, around 170,000 men were classified as conscientious objectors, while 300,000 were denied the status. What are the requirements for a conscientious objector? Until the Vietnam War, a conscientious objector was required to have religious convictions. However, in 1965, the Supreme Court ruled that a person can have conscientious objector status based on a belief that has a similar position in that person's life to the belief in God. In 1970, the Supreme Court expanded that ruling, declaring that conscientious objection based on deeply held moral or ethical beliefs, rather than religious training, still qualifies for exemption, provided they are not merely political or sociological views. Muhammad Ali's conviction for draft evasion was reversed after the Supreme Court found his conscientious objector claim was improperly denied -Credit:Getty Images In 1971, the Supreme Court ruled that conscientious objector status requires objection to all war, not just a specific, "unjust" war. That same year, the Supreme Court unanimously reversed Muhammad Ali's conviction for draft evasion, finding that the Department of Justice improperly denied his conscientious objector claim. Advertisement According to the Selective Service System, beliefs that qualify for conscientious objector status may be religious in nature, but dont have to be. "Beliefs may be moral or ethical; however, a mans reasons for not wanting to participate in a war must not be based on politics, expediency, or self-interest. In general, the mans lifestyle prior to making his claim must reflect his current claims," the Selective Service System states. How to register as a conscientious objector Protesters gather outside the White House to demonstrate against US and Israeli attacks on Iran -Credit:Anadolu via Getty Images Today, all conscientious objectors are required to register with the Selective Service System, a US federal agency that maintains a database of men, primarily aged 1825, for a potential military draft in a national emergency. Once a man is notified that he has been found to qualify for military service, he is able to make a claim for classification as a conscientious objector. While making a claim, the man must appear before his local board to explain his beliefs. He is required to provide written documentation or include personal appearances by people he knows who can attest to his claims. His written statement might explain how he arrived at his beliefs and the influence his beliefs have had on how he lives his life. The local board will then decide whether to grant conscientious objector classification based on the evidence presented. If they reject the claim, the man may appeal the decision to a Selective Service district appeal board. If the appeal board also denies his claim, but the vote is not unanimous, he may further appeal the decision to the national appeal board. Are conscientious objectors still drafted to war? Conscientious objectors are technically still eligible for US military draft, however the types of service they are assigned to is different and usually avoids direct combat. There are two types of service available to conscientious objectors; the type assigned depends on the individuals specific beliefs. A conscientious objector opposed to any form of military service will be assigned to alternative service. The Selective Service Alternative Service Program attempts to match conscientious objectors with local employers. Many types of jobs are available, but the job "must be deemed to make a meaningful contribution to the maintenance of the national health, safety, and interest," the Selective Service states. Examples include jobs in: conservation caring for the very young or very old education health care Conscientious objectors assigned to alternative service must spent an equal amount of time in the program to the amount of time a man would have served in the military, usually 24 months. A conscientious objector whose beliefs allow him to serve in the military but in a noncombatant capacity will serve in the Armed Forces but will not be assigned training or duties that include using weapons. Its not easy to find peace and quiet in Rhode Island when summer tourist season comes around, for one simple reason - the Ocean State is very small! The smallest state in the United States still manages to pack a lot into its square mileage, containing major cities and stunning natural sights alike. The odds are just about every town along the beach will attract crowds during the summer, but that doesnt mean all towns are created equal. If you ask us, Narragansett is the best hidden beach town in Rhode Island, because this beautiful oceanfront destination is just far enough from the states busiest area to deter many tourists who will be satisfied coming into Providence or Warwick and enjoying the beaches there. Narragansett, which is home to just over 14,000 people, features some of the most beautiful sights in Rhode Island and is often your portal to the states biggest adventure - so take the adventure this summer and discover why Ocean State residents swear by this little slice of paradise! What Makes This Coastal Town So Special JustTheLetterK stock.adobe.com One of the most beautiful towns in Rhode Island, Narragansett is known for its historic buildings first and foremost. Everywhere you look, youll find something that looks more like a castle than a modern building. This iconic building, known as The Towers, is the last remnant of the Narragansett Pier Casino, and has been standing since 1880. lucky-photo stock.adobe.com Of course, Rhode Island - and all of New England - is known for its lighthouses. The most famous one is Point Judith Light, first built in 1810 and still active today; its now an automated beacon that serves as a vital alert in the choppy waters off Narragansett. Many people use this town as a jumping-off point to take the ferry to Block Island, but theres plenty to see and do right here first! Advertisement Best Things To Do in This Quiet Beach Town in Rhode Island Benjamin stock.adobe.com Your first priority in Narragansett should be the Black Point Trail. This easy 2.1-mile trail is suitable for all skill levels thanks to its simple terrain, but its far from an everyday hike. It takes you past the Scarborough Beach Ruins, the last remnants of a 19th-century mansion. digidreamgrafix stock.adobe.com Narragansett is also a fantastic place to just spend a few days relaxing. The Break Hotel is located only minutes from the towns famous lighthouse with stunning views, and is considered a great place for a couples getaway. For a romantic night out, dont miss the Coast Guard House Restaurant, an old-school gem offering the towns best steak and seafood. Have you had the chance to explore this hidden beach town in Rhode Island yet? If not, Narragansetts best season is coming up soon, so tell a friend about this article and plan your Ocean State getaway! If youre looking to work in a few more adventures during your vacation, check out our list of the best state park beaches in Rhode Island. And if this is your first time in the state and you want some more ideas for how to spend your vacation, head over to Only in Your States AI-powered travel planner and let it design a custom itinerary for you based on your interests! MediaTek CEO Rick Tsai said engineers at his company are increasingly learning from Nvidia Corp as the two companies deepen collaboration on next-generation computing and AI chips. MediaTek Shifts Strategy From Connectivity To Computing Last week, speaking on the "A Bit Personal" podcast, Tsai the former CEO of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. discussed how MediaTek has been repositioning itself beyond its traditional focus on smartphone connectivity. He said the company began reconsidering its long-term strategy about three to four years ago as growth in the mobile sector started to slow. Tsai explained that relying heavily on one market posed risks for the company, prompting MediaTek to expand into new areas such as computing, automotive technology and artificial intelligence. Don't Miss: Jensen Huang's Advice Helped Shape MediaTek's Pivot Tsai also reflected on a long-standing relationship with Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang, whom he said he has known since the mid-1990s. According to Tsai, Huang had long encouraged him to consider the massive potential of the computing market. "He [Huang] once said to me, Rick, you know, computing is a very big market,'" Tsai said. The two companies are now collaborating on chip development, combining MediaTek's design capabilities with Nvidia's graphics processing technology. Trending: Before the IPO: How One Company Quietly Locked Up 500+ Iconic Character Rights Engineers Learning Nvidia's Culture Through Collaboration Beyond the technical collaboration, Tsai said the partnership is exposing MediaTek's engineering teams to Nvidia's approach to innovation and product development. "Our technical engineers need to work with Nvidia engineers to co-develop chips," Tsai said. "It's very good for our people to learn how other people are doing." Advertisement Tsai also highlighted the importance of corporate culture in driving long-term success, adding: "Culture will eat strategy for breakfast." See Also: This Under-$1 Pre-IPO AI Company Is Still Open to Retail Investors Learn More Nvidia, MediaTek Partner On GB10 Grace Blackwell AI Superchip Nvidia and MediaTek have partnered to develop the GB10 Grace Blackwell Superchip, combining MediaTek's expertise in CPU and memory architecture with Nvidia's advanced GPU technology. The GB10 integrates CPUs, memory and GPUs within a dual-dielet package and features Arm v9.2 cores, Nvidia's Blackwell GPU and support for up to 128GB of LPDDR5X memory, highlighting the companies' deepening technological collaboration. The partnership also reflects increasingly close strategic ties between the two chipmakers as they expand into AI and high-performance computing. Last year, market speculation surfaced suggesting Nvidia could consider acquiring MediaTek in a deal valued at about $73 billion, though industry reports indicate such a move would face significant regulatory and geopolitical hurdles, making it unlikely. Read Next: Blue-chip art has historically outpaced the S&P 500 since 1995, and fractional investing is now opening this institutional asset class to everyday investors. Photo Courtesy: Andreas Merchel 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 Rick Tsai Shares Advice Once Given To Him By Jensen Huang, Reveals MediaTek Engineers Are Learning From Nvidia Amid Deepening Chip Partnership originally appeared on Benzinga.com 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Ketanji Brown Jackson got into a debate at a public event Credit: Andrew Harnik - Pool/Getty; Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via AP Images Supreme Court Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson and Brett Kavanaugh argued their ideological differences during a rare joint appearance this week. At an event for lower court judges and lawyers held at the federal courthouse in Washington, D.C., on Monday, March 9, Jackson and Kavanaugh sparred over the Supreme Court's recent rulings, with Jackson accusing Kavanaugh and his fellow conservatives of pushing through too many of President Donald Trump's emergency requests without taking time to carefully consider the cases. This uptick in the courts willingness to get involved with cases on the emergency docket is a real unfortunate problem, she said, alleging that it's "creating a kind of warped" legal process. I think it is not serving the court or our country well at this point." The emergency docket, or "shadow docket," refers to cases that the Supreme Court pushes through quickly at the urging of the federal government, even when they've been blocked by lower courts. Kavanaugh argued that the Biden administration also appealed lower court decisions, noting that, "We have to have the same position regardless of who is president," a sentiment Jackson agreed with. However, she argued, the "willingness to grant these emergency motions" is something new and unique to the Trump-run White House and conservative-dominated Supreme Court. Brett will remember that when we clerked some 20 years ago, this was not the Supreme Courts stance, that just because these motions were filed, the court actually had to entertain and grant them on their merits," Jackson said. The two justices didn't discuss any specific cases, but Kavanaugh did ultimately admit that the shadow docket was not an ideal system for the court, saying, "None of us enjoys this." Even with a conservative supermajority, the current Supreme Court hasn't always ruled in Trump's favor. Last month, the court ruled that the president exceeded his authority when he imposed unprecedented tariffs on imports from almost every U.S. trading partner by invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977. Advertisement At the time, Trump called the ruling on his "Liberation Day" tariff plan "deeply disappointing." "I am absolutely ashamed of certain members of the court for not having the courage to do what's right for our country," he told reporters. "When you read the dissenting opinions, there's no way that anyone can argue against them." The president praised the three dissenting justices Kavanaugh, Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas but called those who voted for the majority "a disgrace to our nation." He reserved his sharpest insults for Amy Coney Barrett and Neil Gorsuch, the two Trump appointees who voted against his tariffs, calling them "an embarrassment to their families. 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 following week, a majority of the Supreme Court justices made the decision to skip Trump's first State of the Union address of his second term, during which he spoke out against their tariff ruling once again. "It was an unfortunate ruling from the United States Supreme Court, a very unfortunate ruling," Trump said to the four present justices Kavanaugh, Coney Barrett, Elena Kagan and Chief Justice John Roberts seated in the front row. Read the original article on People Just in time for spring break, one Florida lifeguard agency has a new tool for teaching swimmers how to survive deadly rip currents. Volusia County Beach Safety, whose officers and lifeguards oversee swimmers and surfers along more than 30 miles of beach on Central Florida's Atlantic coast, including Daytona Beach, recently unveiled a portable rip current simulator to educate beachgoers. This isn't a visual tool like a video game or reality glasses, it's a machine that creates a powerful current in a swimming pool that feels like the real currents in the water that claim dozens of lives in the United States each year, said Alex Miller, deputy chief of Beach Safety. Hailey Monahan, a lifeguard and EMT, faces a rip current simulator on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, at Daytona State College. What is a rip current? Ocean rip currents have been called silent killers. They form when water piles up on shore, then rushes to the lowest point to return to the sea. If the water finds an existing groove in the sand or carves its own channel on the sea floor, it can rush out in a strong, powerful current that can quickly carry a wader or swimmer away from shore. To the untrained eye, rip currents may seem unnoticeable. To the inexperienced or casual swimmer, they can be deadly. They kill far more people every year than lightning and can be responsible for dozens of lifeguard rescues in a single weekend or offshore weather event. At least 47 deaths were attributed to rip currents in the United States in 2025, out of 99 surf zone fatalities. Fifteen of those were in Florida, with 2 in Volusia County, according to statistics provided to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Nationwide in 2024, there were 59 fatalities, including 18 in Florida and three in Volusia County. Four people died in just 48 hours in Panama City Beach that summer, USA TODAY previously reported. Rips can occur when storms or hurricanes stir up currents, or after when the ocean surface is deceptively placid but the sandy bottom is still disturbed by rough weather. But, it is possible to detect rip currents in the water, and to float or swim out of one, with the proper information beforehand, Miller said. Deadly rip currents A guide to the beachside danger causing drownings Rip currents are powerful currents of fast-moving water that generally form perpendicular to shore. Using technology to recreate a rip current The development of machines that allow people to swim distances in their own pools, often referred to as water treadmills, helped make the simulator possible, said Miller, secretary of the Florida Beach Patrol Chiefs Association. He had seen information about the portable machines by Slipstream, a swim machine manufacturer, that create a variable stream current, and thought it could be a great concept for simulating rip currents. He was on a call with Water Smart Florida, a state project that promotes safe swimming, when he learned grant money might be available to develop a simulator. He contacted Slipstream and the result is the portable simulation machine method purchased with the $12,750 state grant. "We're very excited about it and Miller's idea is a great idea obviously," said James Murdock, founder of Slipstream and founder and former owner of Endless Pools. He first became interested decades ago in trying to recreate the experience of swimming in a river-like flow in a small backyard pool, then retired, then founded Slipstream during the COVID-19 pandemic. The simulator is basically a turbine that pulls water into a chute and then pushes it out of a box just under the water level to create a strong current, Miller said. "We decided two units side by side gives you a wide rip currrent (10 - 12 feet) and you practice swimming out of it." "They're going to be good for rip current simulators because of the power and the portability," he said. "It doesn't have to be hardwired in. It's very light, you set it in the pool." Advertisement A 'unique' tool for saving lives The new portable simulator is unique so far, said Chris Brewster, National Certification Committee chair for the United States Lifeguard Association. "I have not heard of anything like this," said Brewster, who has partnered with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for 25 years on improving rip current safety and informational signs on beaches. Brewster said he and others he has talked with have have been impressed with the concept. The portability means it can take lessons to wherever they're needed. Rip currents present several problems for the beachgoing public, Brewster said. "They're really hard to identify from the beach for people who aren't trained, so you don't know where they are." To be able to sense what it feels like when you get into one, and then learn there's an easy way to get out is great, he said. Hailey Monahan, a lifeguard EMT, demonstrates what its like to be caught in a rip current using a rip current simulator, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, at Daytona State College. Volusia County is the first agency Miller is aware of with a portable in-pool simulator, but it won't be the last. Other coastal counties are expressing interest, he said. Volusia County hopes to interest visitors and residents alike in the training and is working with local pools to offer the training, he said. Participants first learn what a rip current is and how to get out of it in a short demonstration, and then the person can practice their new-found skills. They're also planning to partner with local hotels, who could invite guests to learn more about rip currents. Other efforts to improve rip current safety Hofstra University worked with New York Sea Grant and New York State Parks to develop a virtual reality simulator used in 2025 to teach people how to recognize rip currents. Jase Bernhardt, an associate professor in the university's geology, environment, and sustainability department has led research to offer the virtual reality simulation and teach ways swimmers can navigate to safety, the university stated last year. The Pawleys Island YMCA near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, installed an Endless Pools Fastlane Pro current system in a pool for a Rip Current Ready initiative to demonstrate rip current conditions and teach people how to escape. How do you escape a rip current? If you're headed to the beach, the National Weather Service has a complete information and beach safety page that allows you to check surf zone conditions at the beach you plan to visit. Meanwhile, here are the key tips to learn how to recognize, avoid and escape rip currents. Always swim at a lifeguard-protected beach. Check conditions before entering the water. Learn to identify rip currents. Ask hotels and rental companies where to find the closest lifeguard-protected beach. Hailey Monahan, a lifeguard and EMT, demonstrates signaling for help during a rip current simulator demonstration on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, at Daytona State College. How to escape a rip current: Relax: Rip currents pull you out, not under. Swim parallel to the beach and not against the current. Float or tread water until you escape the current or are rescued. Draw attention to yourself by yelling and waving. Contributing: Sheldon Gardner, News-Journal, USA TODAY Network Dinah Voyles Pulver, a national correspondent for USA TODAY, writes about violent weather, climate change and other news. Reach her at dpulver@usatoday.com or @dinahvp on Bluesky or X or dinahvp.77 on Signal. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Florida rip current simulator lets you experience a deadly danger The medical examiner most every procedural series has one, cutting into corpses, analyzing stomach contents, pointing out bullet holes and strange residues and the effects of blunt force trauma. As characters, they may be flamboyant and/or ironic in a way often denied to the central investigators, whom they are likely to find a little irritating. Often they are fan favorites, like David McCallum's Dr. Ducky Mallard on "NCIS," Tamala Jones' Dr. Lanie Parish on "Castle," or Annette Badland's Dr. Fleur Perkins on "Midsomer Murders." But now and again the medical examiner will go beyond the job description to become the investigator your Dr. Maura Isles, your Dr. Jordan Cavanaugh, and the grandpappy of them all, Jack Klugman's "Quincy, M.E." leaving credential cops in the dust. Which brings us to "Scarpetta," premiering Wednesday on Prime Video and based on the novels of Patricia Cornwell she has written a passel since 1990, though, surprisingly, this is the first time her Kay Scarpetta has made it to the screen. Kay, played by Nicole Kidman, is newly back in harness as the chief medical officer of the Commonwealth of Virginia, a job she'd held before being pushed out some unspecified years earlier. The series runs on parallel timelines, in the present day and 28 years earlier at the time of Kay's "first big case, the one I build my whole career and reputation on" a serial murder affair whose solution a new crop of murders is bringing into question. Husband Benton Wesley (Simon Baker, of "The Mentalist" long ago), a Virginia native, wearing a Southern accent and suspenders, is also being sworn back into service as an FBI profiler. He has a lot of money and a big, big old house, which is currently also sheltering Kay's sister, Dorothy (Jamie Lee Curtis), and her husband, Pete Marino (Bobby Cannavale), a former police detective who worked that First Big Case with Kay. (Their own house is being remodeled.) Also living on the property, in a separate little cabin, is Dorothy's daughter, Lucy (Ariana DeBose), a computer whiz like the M.E., you can't get by without one in modern police fiction who has inchoate plans with Pete to open a private eye shop. More or less raised by the responsible Kay while Dorothy was off being wild and crazy, Lucy has a dead wife, Janet (Janet Montgomery), surviving as a fully embodied, essentially sentient, self-directed AI program, who looks back on the world through the computer screen where she "lives." With the possible exception of Janet, they have all appeared in the novels, if not exactly in this exact form. Most everyone has some particular, complicated business with most everyone else Kay and Dorothy, Dorothy and Pete, Kay and Pete, Kay and Benton, Kay and Lucy, Pete and Lucy, Pete and Benton, Dorothy and Lucy, Lucy and Janet, Dorothy and Janet all explored at length, and more central to the series than who did what murders and why. "We will literally fight about anything," says Kay as she and Dorothy argue about song lyrics and which one of them is the weirdo, and whether it bothers Kay that Dorothy is rich, while down a hill Lucy visits (real) Janet's grave. Advertisement Just how they've spent the intervening decades isn't quite clear; Kay and Benton have been "in Boston," where they might have been "happier." Lucy became rich before she was out of her teens, presumably through that computer wizardry. Dorothy has somehow become a fabulously successful author of children's books, though nothing in her character suggests she could sit down long enough to write one; after a few marriages she has settled on Pete, satisfied to be a "kept man." That will change when Kay makes him her quasi-official deputy ("How does forensic operations specialist sound?"), because "I am surrounded by vipers in that office and I need someone I can trust." "So many distractions in this case," says (older) Kay, and she's not kidding. Between the old case and the new, which can get mixed up in one's head, and Kay's investigation bumping up against Benton's, the series is packed tighter with incidents than a Marx Brothers stateroom, including a pseudo-spiritual grief cult, 3D-printed human organs, a fallen space station, intra-office rivalry and crushes and, not to forget, murders. Developed by Liz Sarnoff, who co-created "Alcatraz" and has written for "Barry," "Lost," "Deadwood" and "Crossing Jordan" (featuring the above-mentioned medical examiner, Jordan Cavanaugh), it isn't quite the romp that suggests, given that it's all tackled with great seriousness, but it certainly is nutty. Kidman's props here are wire-rimmed glasses, to make her look like a doctor, and cigarettes, to emphasize inner turmoil, as we don't see much outer. When the camera switches back and forth from her to Baker in close-up, between her porcelain features and his mid-fifties creases, or she's riding along next to Cannavale, they seem to belong to different species entirely. There's something remote about her performance, as well, which, to be sure, might be an acting choice, a function of her character, just as Curtis' manic Dorothy might be of hers; if we want to get hypothetically analytical about it, we might assign their adult behavior to the childhood trauma of their father's murder. Though the sisters are supposedly first-generation Italian American, no whiff of the old country hangs about Kay; Dorothy will at least spit out a few words in Italian. But Jersey boy Pete, who manages to look exactly the same degree of unshaven from day to day, is paisan enough for them all. (It also means that in his younger incarnation, played by Cannavale's son Jake Cannavale, he carries the burden of Neanderthal ideas about women and sexuality; he does grow up some in the 27-year interregnum.) Cannavale is the series' MVP, grounding Kidman in their scenes and Curtis in theirs, and seeming, more than most of these characters, like a person you might meet in this life we call real. As younger Kay, Rosy McEwen carries the past-set scenes, and could support a series of her own. There are some threads left loose along the way, to be tied up, or not, and a mysterious cliffhanger to be climbed back from, in the already scheduled second season. Sign up for Screen Gab, a free newsletter about the TV and movies everyones talking about from the L.A. Times. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The Pima County Sheriff's Department updated Sheriff Chris Nanos' public resume Tuesday after a local news report highlighted an error in his work history that appeared to glaze over an unhappy split with his first employer in law enforcement. Nanos resigned in lieu of termination from the El Paso Police Department in Texas in 1982, according to public records cited in the Arizona Republic. But his resume claimed he remained there until joining Pima County as a corrections officer in 1984. Search For Nancy Guthrie Enters 5Th Week, Cadaver Dogs On Hold Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos gives an update on the investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Savannah Guthrie, who went missing from her in Tucson, Arizona, Feb. 5, 2026. (Reuters) "The Pima County Sheriff's Department recently identified two clerical errors in Sheriff Chris Nanos' publicly posted resume," a department spokesperson told reporters later Tuesday. "Both date discrepancies were administrative in nature and were not intended to mislead or misrepresent Sheriff Nanos' work history." The statement did not address allegations in the report that he left his role in El Paso to avoid being fired. Read On The Fox News App Send Us A Tip Here "For clarity, Sheriff Nanos served with the El Paso Police Department from 1976 to 1982," the spokesperson added. "His service with El Paso PD concluded in 1982, not 1984 as previously stated. Additionally, Sheriff Nanos was promoted to the rank of captain in 2007, not 2009." Nancy Guthrie, 84, has been missing from her Arizona home since Feb. 1, 2026. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos is the head of the investigation. Follow The Fox True Crime Team On X According to the report, Nanos served as a decoy who baited out drug dealers and would-be muggers. But he left in 1982 amid allegations of "insubordination" and "consistent inefficiency." In six years, he reportedly spent 37 days suspended for allegations of excessive use of force, off-duty gambling and coming to work late or missing shifts altogether. Sign Up To Get True Crime Newsletter Near the end of his time in El Paso, he took a 15-day suspension for allegedly sending a suspected robber to the intensive care unit after kicking him in the head during an arrest, according to police records included in the report. Advertisement The Republic also published what it described as an emailed response to its reporter's questions, attributed to Nanos himself, after he reportedly declined to comment on the error. LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST "Thats your urgent request? You sure you dont want to go back to my high school and ask why I got swats from the principal?" it reads. "Good luck with your hit piece." Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos speaks at a news conference, Feb. 3, 2026, in Tucson, Arizona, to provide updates in the Nancy Guthrie case. Nanos is in charge of the investigation into the suspected abduction of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, the mother of "Today" co-host Savannah Guthrie. He's taken heat over his initial handling of the crime scene, purported disputes with the FBI over bringing the bureau into the case and subsequent lab testing, conflicting statements given at different points in the case and for attending an Arizona Wildcats NCAA game while Guthrie's adult children were filming a response to her potential abductor. Like What You're Reading? Find More On The True Crime Hub Pima County Sheriffs involved in a law enforcement operation at the intersection of Camino de Michael and East Orange Grove Road in Tucson, Arizona, on Feb. 13, 2026. The location is approximately two miles from Nancy Guthrie's home. She has been missing since Feb. 1. Nanos held three news conferences that week, with the last coming on Feb. 5. There have been none held since. In the second, held on Feb. 3, he addressed the weight of massive media attention to the case. "I'm not used to everybody hanging on my words and then trying to hold me accountable for what I say," he told reporters. More than five weeks after her disappearance, authorities have not publicly identified any suspects, persons of interest or any vehicles that could be connected to the crime. Click Here To Download The Fox News App There is a combined reward of more than $1.2 million for information that leads to Guthrie's recovery. Anyone with information is asked to dial 1-800-CALL-FBI. Original article source: Sheriff running Nancy Guthrie case responds after report reveals unseemly exit from first policing job Local health care leader and former family caregiver Amy Radevski is launching a mission-driven senior care business to serve the northern Pittsburgh communities. PITTSBURGH, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Seniors Helping Seniors in-home care services, a franchisor with more than 200 franchise partners and 400 territories nationwide, has grown rapidly in recent years by building a workforce of talented caregivers who create meaningful relationships with their senior care receivers. Now, local resident Amy Radevski has opened a new location to serve communities in Beaver, Butler and Armstrong counties, as well as northern Allegheny and northern Westmoreland counties. Born and raised in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, Radevski brings deep local roots and a lifetime of caregiving experience to the business. Coming from a long line of entrepreneurs, her family has operated multiple small businesses from the 1960s through the 2020s. During her teenage years, her father was diagnosed with Pick's disease, a rare form of dementia. Determined to keep him at home, Radevski's mother became his primary caregiver, with Radevski and her brothers stepping in to help. Her father remained at home until his passing a defining experience that shaped Radevski's commitment to helping seniors age safely and independently in their home. Radevski brings more than 26 years of experience in the health insurance and health care technology industries, including leadership roles in portfolio management, business solutions, solution architecture and product management. She holds a master's degree in organizational leadership from Robert Morris University and a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Pittsburgh. "This model is personal for me," Radevski said. "It reflects exactly what my mother did for my father. I've lived the challenges families face when caring for aging loved ones. I want to build a business that allows seniors to stay safely in their homes while also providing meaningful employment opportunities for active seniors in our community." The demand for in-home care for mature populations continues to grow, with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reporting that nearly 70% of retirees will require some form of long-term care. Seniors Helping Seniors is expanding in Pennsylvania with its unique care services and approach to caregiver-care receiver matching. This new location will mark the 11th in the state and will focus on serving the communities in and around Pittsburgh. The Seniors Helping Seniors franchise stands out from other brands in the elder-care space in part because of its commitment to hiring senior caregivers, which provides employment opportunities for seniors and better cultivates meaningful relationships between caregivers and care receivers. "We've become a leader in this industry by prioritizing the best possible care for our seniors, and that means partnering with only the most passionate and hardworking franchise owners," said Seniors Helping Seniors President Namrata Yocom-Jan. "That's exactly what we've found with Amy as a new franchise partner, who is well-equipped to provide unparalleled in-home services to those in need throughout Pennsylvania." ABOUT SENIORS HELPING SENIORS: Seniors Helping Seniors franchise system was founded by husband-and-wife duo Kiran and Philip Yocom. Kiran, who grew up in India, later worked to advance humanitarian efforts alongside Mother Teresa. After moving to the U.S. in 1995 and marrying her husband Philip, the Yocoms felt called to provide loving care to seniors and to cultivate an exchange of gifts at every generational level. Together, the Yocoms founded Seniors Helping Seniors in-home services in 1998, opening the brand to franchising in 2006. With a mission to be the most respected and rewarding home care provider in the U.S., Seniors Helping Seniors locations stand apart from competitors as the only company that prioritizes hiring active seniors to provide care services to their less active counterparts. Seniors Helping Seniors service aligns caregivers and care receivers based on the abilities and needs of both by offering a wide range of care services. Seniors Helping Seniors network has grown to 400 territories nationwide and more than 200 franchise partners in 38 states. For more information on Seniors Helping Seniors in-home care, visit https://seniorshelpingseniors.com/. MEDIA CONTACT: Julie Maw Mainland 209.617.6518 [email protected] SOURCE Seniors Helping Seniors Prince Harry is 'adrift' and jobless in the U.S. MEGA Six years after ditching royal duties, Prince Harry is "adrift" and virtually friendless in his adopted luxury enclave of Montecito, California, RadarOnline.com can reveal. While wife Meghan Markle chased lifestyle-influencer fame with her ill-fated Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, and sputtering As Ever brand, the exiled duke is still struggling to find steady work or a sense of purpose. Prince Harry Is 'Lonely and Isolated' Prince Harry still doesn't have a close set of friends despite six years of living in Southern California. MEGA Lonely Harry is "adrift and isolated, with Meghan chasing new pursuits," said one insider. The prince never found his footing as a Hollywood producer, as his Netflix Polo series and his Heart of Invictus docuseries flopped and failed to draw any viewer interest. The $100million exclusive deal Harry and Markle signed with the streamer was scrapped in August 2025, in favor of a measly first-look arrangement. Netflix already passed on the couple's latest project, the documentary Cookie Queens, which they signed on to as executive producers. Despite the pair flying to the Sundance Film Festival in January to promote the Girl Scout Cookie-themed flick, it has yet to find a distributor. Prince Harry Can't Find Work in America Prince Harry now collects about $50K for keynote speeches at conferences. MEGA "Harrys not really doing anything in America," one source claimed, as the prince indeed has had little luck bringing in money in the States. He flew to Toronto, Canada, in December 2025 to get a paycheck as a keynote speaker at the Ontario Real Estate Association's Powerhouse Conference. Advertisement Now, Harry has to fly nearly 8,000 miles to make his latest bucks in Melbourne, Australia. It was revealed on March 10 that he will be giving a speech on workplace mental health at the InterEdge Psychosocial Safety Summit in mid-April. Top tickets are going for $2,378.65 per person for the privilege of hearing the duke speak, even though his own workplace at the former Archewell Foundation saw several employees let go in December, while he and Markle burned through their 11th publicist in five years with the resignation of Meredith Maines. Prince Harry Is 'Wrapped Up in the Past' Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are seen attending the 2018 Invictus Games in Sydney.MEGA "He seems very wrapped up in the past. There have been rumors about a business, but their track record isnt great. Hes really great at service look at Invictus. He should stick with that," the insider advised. Harry has already locked down the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham, England, but has little to do on his calendar ahead of that. There have been rumblings that the duke might announce an upcoming Invictus-related event while in Australia, when he and Markle arrive for what their rep calls many "private, business, and philanthropic engagements" in both Sydney and Melbourne. The country last hosted the 2018 Invictus Games, which Harry took part in when he and Markle did their first big royal tour abroad as newlyweds Goodbye Royal Treatment Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's new Australian trip will have none of the adoring crowds they saw in 2018.MEGA During their previous trip to Australia, the couple was literally treated like royalty, with adoring crowds, motorcades, and the best accommodations. Now, Harry and Markle are private citizens cashing in on their royal titles to make a quick buck. That is something Queen Elizabeth II specifically asked that they not do when the duo negotiated their exit from the royal family in January 2020 to chase "financial independence" in the U.S. While the duke is speaking about mental health in the workplace, the former cable TV actress will deliver an address at the "Her Best Life" wellness retreat at a Sydney hotel, during which she will pose for photos with $3,200 VIP ticketholders. Judge's Gavel (Unsplash) A group of Somali immigrants and advocacy organizations filed a federal lawsuit in the District of Massachusetts today, seeking to halt the governments plan to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somalia. The legal challenge aims to postpone the March 17, 2026, expiration date of the program, which currently protects thousands of individuals from being returned to a nation struggling with active armed conflict and a severe humanitarian crisis. The plaintiffs include African Communities Together (ACT), the Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans (PANA), and four individual Somali TPS holders and applicants. They are represented by Muslim Advocates, the Haitian Bridge Alliance, and the Legal Defense Fund. The lawsuit alleges that the administrations decision to terminate the designation was not based on an objective assessment of country conditions, but was instead driven by a discriminatory agenda targeting non-white and non-European nations. TPS is a humanitarian program authorized by Congress to provide work permits and protection from deportation for people whose home countries are deemed unsafe due to natural disasters or war. For years, the U.S. has maintained Somalias designation because of the threat posed by the paramilitary group Al-Shabaab, extreme climate events, and widespread food insecurity. The lawsuit argues that these conditions persist today, making any forced return life-threatening. The complaint points to a pattern of terminating protections for immigrants from Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean while simultaneously proposing easier entry for white refugees, such as Afrikaners from South Africa. It also cites recent public statements from President Trump, who has referred to the Somali community in Minnesota using derogatory terms such as garbage and low I.Q., as evidence of racial bias in policy-making. Somali community members have built deep roots hereraising families, working, contributing to their communitieswhile their home country has remained in crisis for decades, said Amaha Kassa, Executive Director of ACT. The government had a legal obligation to conduct the statutorily required periodic review process for Somalia. It failed that obligation, and we are in court to say so. Advertisement Ramla Sahid, Executive Director of PANA, noted that the looming deadline has already created a climate of terror, with families avoiding medical appointments and fearing separation. Legal representatives argue that the termination would lead to irreparable harm, including the loss of work authorization and the potential for families to be torn apart. The termination of TPS for Somalia is racism masking as immigration policy, said Omar Farah, Executive Director at Muslim Advocates. The administration cannot point to a legally sufficient country conditions review for Somaliaor for the many other communities it has targetedto sustain the termination. The outcome of the case will determine whether thousands of Somalis can remain in the U.S. or if they will face deportation proceedings when their current protections expire next week. READ: Florida Sen. Rick Scott Targets State Fraud With New Bill To Snatch Back Wasted Tax Dollars Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage. Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox Somali Immigrants Sue Trump Admin To Block The End Of TPS FILE PHOTO: Rescuers work near the wreckage of the Jeju Air aircraft that went off the runway and crashed at Muan International Airport, in Muan, South Korea, December 30, 2024. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/File Photo SEOUL, March 11 (Reuters) - South Korea's transport ministry cut construction costs and approved improper airport safety structures for more than two decades, the state auditor said in a report on aviation safety management after a Jeju Air crash that killed 179 people. The December 2024 crash involved a Boeing 737-800 which was struck by birds, belly-landed and overran the runway at Muan International Airport, killing almost everyone on board after it struck a concrete support for a localiser antenna. The only survivors were two flight attendants at the rear of the plane. The Board of Audit and Inspection said in a report published on Tuesday that the ministry built a 2.4 metre (7.9 ft) high concrete embankment upon which to place the localiser - a landing guidance system - at Muan airport in order to reduce earthwork costs, without adequately reviewing relevant rules. Under international standards, localiser structures should be designed to break apart easily upon aircraft impact. The ministry is responsible for airport construction. It hands operations to Korea Airports Corp (KAC) but remains responsible for safety certification. The auditor said the ministry wrongly approved 14 non-compliant localiser installations at eight airports including Muan, Gimhae and Jeju. It also said that, for up to 22 years, the ministry certified operating permits and approved regular inspections that erroneously found frangibility standards had been met. It identified broader shortcoming in bird-strike prevention and other aspects of air safety management, and notified the ministry of 30 cases of wrongdoing or procedural failure. Advertisement The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said it "humbly accepted" the findings and would take strict follow-up measures, including localiser improvement and stronger bird-strike prevention. A KAC spokesperson said the airport operator is in the process of reflecting improvements recommended by the report. Jeju Air did not answer phone calls seeking comment. A separate government-commissioned report found the crash might not have been deadly if there had not been a concrete embankment at the end of the runway, an opposition lawmaker said in January, citing a simulation contained in the report. A full investigative report is pending public disclosure. It has missed a one-year deadline for the release of a progress report. The Muan airport has been closed since the crash. It is unclear when it will reopen. (Reporting by Joyce Lee; Editing by Ed Davies and Christopher Cushing) FILE PHOTO: Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez takes part in a talk on The Future of Multilateralism: A Coalition to Tackle Global Challenges at the 2025 Global Progress Action Summit, in London, Britain, September 26, 2025. REUTERS/Jack Taylor/File Photo MADRID, March 11 (Reuters) - Spain will launch a tool to measure hate speech on digital platforms as part of a broader strategy to increase oversight of social media companies, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Wednesday. The country announced a wider plan last month to regulate social media, including a ban on its use for younger teenagers and measures to hold platform executives accountable for illegal or hateful content hosted on their services. The new tool, called HODIO an acronym in Spanish for Footprint of Hatred and Polarisation will allow the government to systematically track the presence, amplification and impact of hate speech online, Sanchez said. Advertisement Online hate was causing deep divisions in Spanish society, he said, and it was important to start talking about the "footprint of hate" in the same way society discusses the carbon footprint. "We want to start talking about the impact of hate. When something is measured, it ceases to be invisible," he said. The tool's results will be made public, so that citizens can see "who is blocking this content, who is looking the other way, and who is profiting from it," Sanchez said. (Reporting by Emma Pinedo; Editing by Charlie Devereux and Pooja Desai) Spain permanently pulled its ambassador to Israel on Tuesday over its opposition to the U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran, ratcheting up an already tense diplomatic rift between the two countries. The Spanish government formally terminated the ambassadors post in its official gazette and said its embassy in Tel Aviv will now be led by a charge daffaires indefinitely. Madrid had recalled its ambassador last September after Israel condemned Spains decision to block aircraft and ships carrying weapons to Israel from using Spanish ports or airspace. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called the move antisemitic at the time. When a reporter on Wednesday asked whether Spain, in general, was cooperating with the U.S., President Donald Trump replied, "No, they're not. I think they're not cooperating at all." World Leaders Split Over Military Action As Us-israel Strike Iran In Coordinated Operation People walk past damaged buildings following a strike on a police station, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 4, 2026. (Reuters Photos) "Spain, I think they've been very bad," the president said. "Very bad. Not good at all. We may cut off trade with Spain." Read On The Fox News App "I dont know what Spain is doing," Trump continued. "They've been very bad to NATO. They get protected, they don't want to pay their fair share. And they've been that way for many years." Trump added that the people of Spain "are fantastic," whereas the leadership is "not so good." Advertisement Trump Presses Nato Partners On Support As Hegseth Blasts Hesitation President Donald Trump speaks with reporters before departing on Marine One from the South Lawn of the White House, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Washington. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., on Wednesday criticized Spains decision to recall its ambassador to Israel permanently as "hard for me to absorb." "Spain is a member of NATO, and the United States and Israel are in joint operations against the Iranian regime who openly calls for the destruction of the Jewish State, attacks against the West, and seeks to purify Islam in its own image," Graham wrote on X. Spain recalled its ambassador to Israel, the latest flare-up in the rocky diplomatic relationship between the two countries in recent years. "The religious Nazi regime in Iran is the problem, not the Jewish State," the senator continued. "I hope Spains actions will not encourage the tyrannical, fanatical regime in Iran that abuses its own people to hang on." Click Here To Download The Fox News App Relations between Spain and Israel have deteriorated sharply since Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza in response to the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terror attacks. Israel also downgraded its diplomatic presence in Spain last May after Spain recognized a Palestinian state, placing its own embassy in Madrid under a charge daffaires. Original article source: Spain permanently pulls ambassador from Israel amid Iran war The special election to fill former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's vacant House seat in Georgia's solidly red 14th Congressional District is headed to a runoff next month. The seat in northwestern Georgia was left vacant when Greene stepped down at the beginning of January. Green quit Congress with a year left in her term after a public falling out with President Donald Trump over the Epstein files. Tuesday's special election ended in a runoff between Trump-endorsed Republican District Attorney Clay Fuller and retired Army veteran Shawn Harris. The GOP clings to a razor-thin 218214 majority in the House. As a result, Republicans cannot afford any surprises and allow the Democrats to pull an upset in a district Trump carried by a whopping 37 points during his 2024 presidential election victory. Trump Foe Fani Willis Blocked Yet Again From Collapsed Rico Case As President Pushes To Claw Back Millions The election to take over former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's seat will head to a runoff between a Republican and Democrat next month. (Getty Images) All 17 candidates in Tuesday's special election in Georgia, regardless of party affiliation, were on the same ballot. Twelve were Republican, three were Democrats. Read On The Fox News App Since no contender topped 50% of the vote in the primary, the top two candidates are advancing to an April 7 runoff. Harris, a retired Army brigadier general, got 39.9% of the vote, while Fuller, a district attorney for the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit, got 34.2%. Advertisement House Gop Fears Primary Losers Could Jeopardize Razor-thin Majority American flags are on display outside the office of the 14th Congressional District of Georgia in the Rayburn House Office Building Thursday, March 5, 2026, on Capitol Hill in Washington. With $4.3 million raised, Harris was the fundraising champion among all 17 candidates, but Fuller has a Trump endorsement in a district the president won handily. Fuller teamed up with the president recently during a stop in the district at an event in Rome, Georgia, during which he described himself as a "MAGA warrior." In addition to his Trump backing, Fuller is backed by the politically potent and deep-pocketed fiscally conservative group the Club for Growth. "I think we've been very successful in staying with our message discipline that President Trump truly matters in Georgia 14," Fuller told Fox News Digital. "His support has meant the world to me and meant the world to the voters. So, we're just going to continue to get that message out about President Trump supporting us, and my experience, being a military officer, an elected district attorney and an America First fighter too." Fbi Subpoenas 2020 Arizona Voting Docs As Federal Push Into Election Administration Widens Former Congresswoman Greene, once a top Trump ally in the House, became a vocal critic of his and stayed neutral in the race to succeed her. Fuller told Fox News Digital Tuesday night that he had not gotten a chance to speak with other Republicans in the race, but said he was confident that the Republican Party would embrace him against Harris. Republican congressional candidate Clay Fuller, left, speaks next to President Donald Trump during a visit to the Coosa Steel Corporation in Rome, Ga., Feb. 19, 2026. Third place Tuesday evening went to former state Sen. Colton Moore, a vocal Trump backer who enjoyed support from the far right. Moore garnered 10.9% of the vote. "Everybody in the field understands that a Democrat cannot represent Georgia 14. It would be a tragedy for Georgia 14, a tragedy for the MAGA movement. And we're going to rally around as a party and go and win this thing and defeat Sean Harris," Fuller said Tuesday evening. Original article source: Special election replacing Marjorie Taylor Greene goes to runoff between Trump-endorsed candidate and Democrat My trip to Singapore helped me realize solo travel isn't always as wonderful as it seems. Stacey Lastoe I was supposed to spend my 45th birthday on a wonderful trip to Singapore with my husband. Flight delays due to weather derailed our plans, so I went on the trip I'd planned by myself. Many love solo travel, but I just kept wishing I could share my experiences with my husband. We were supposed to be in Singapore together for my 45th birthday. After last year's depressing birthday in the city, my husband Steve suggested we celebrate my special day overseas and check off a destination that had been on our bucket list for years. Since Steve had business in Tokyo earlier in the month, our plan was to meet on Sentosa Island in Singapore a couple of days before my birthday, then eat and drink our way through the delicious city-state. I had booked us 90-minute massages at Auriga Spa at Capella Singapore the morning of my birthday, painstakingly selected the perfect Michelin-star restaurant for dinner, and bookmarked a couple of cocktail bars to keep the festivities going. I had mapped out hawker centers and booked us a heritage tour. We were going to have an epic few days. Then, plans changed. Despite our plans being shaken up, I went on the trip alone I went shopping in Singapore by myself. Stacey Lastoe My flight to Singapore was scheduled for Sunday, January 25. By the Friday before my departure, I was already bubbling over with excitement, packed, and counting down the hours until our trip would begin. And then Storm Fern announced itself, and Qatar Airways canceled my flight. Distraught, I called Steve, who was just waking up in Tokyo, to deliver the news; the next available flight wasn't until 11 p.m. Tuesday two and a half days later than I was supposed to depart. The updated itinerary had me landing in Singapore at 4 p.m. on my birthday, leaving Steve and me with less than 24 hours together before he was to return to the States. We agreed it didn't make sense to meet in Singapore for less than a day, but I was determined not to scrap the trip despite the massive upheaval. And besides, I'd traveled alone plenty and relished the brief no-compromise zone and empowering sense of independence it provided. Even so, I cried on our couch in Brooklyn minutes before my Lyft arrived to take me to the airport. Suddenly, taking this big trip by myself felt daunting and maybe even a little wrong. It wasn't supposed to be like this, and I found myself feeling nervous about the journey. Still, I went. Advertisement After a long flight, I found myself 45 and fabulously alone on the other side of the world The birthday message after my flight was a fun surprise. Stacey Lastoe In spite of my exhaustion after more than 30 hours in transit, navigating Singapore's Changi Airport turned out to be a breeze. I was tickled when, after swiping my passport at the immigration kiosk, the display lit up with streamers and a message: "Happy Birthday!" "What a nice touch," I texted Steve, who wouldn't see it for hours once he woke up back in Brooklyn. There was a cake, a card, and chocolates waiting for me at the hotel. Stacey Lastoe When I checked into my room at Capella, the first thing I saw was a small cake, an array of chocolates, and a birthday card. It was thoughtful, but having a cake and no one to share it with just reminded me of how alone I was. Too tired to venture off the property on my first night, I freshened up and took myself to Cassia, the on-site Cantonese restaurant. I ordered a beer and learned that the chef had created a special tasting menu for me (I later learned Singaporeans really like to celebrate birthdays). But jet lag had messed with my appetite, and I merely picked at the dishes, including the dessert, which came out with a candle. I really just wanted to crawl into the luxurious, king-sized bed and wake up on a day that was NOT my birthday. Maybe then it would start to feel normal and nice traveling by myself. Despite the fun, I realized some celebrations and experiences are better when shared I spent time shopping and walking around Singapore on my own. Stacey Lastoe Waking up refreshed and ready to take on the city, I spent the day wandering around. I ate Hainanese chicken at Maxwell Hawker Center, sipped from a giant coconut, and learned how to save a spot at a table (leaving anything from a tissue to a hair band to an empty phone case stakes your spot). I shopped in artsy boutiques, navigated a giant shopping center, and marveled at the cleanliness of the metro station. It was clear I was capable of doing all of these things on my own, but it turned out I no longer wanted to. Dinner at Willow Stacey Lastoe At dinner at Willow, I was surrounded by close-sitting couples eating off each other's plates. The food was fantastic, and I felt perfectly welcomed as a solo diner, but I wished Steve had been there to encourage me to order the wagyu supplement and tell me not to worry about the cost. On my first night in Singapore, I ate outside and was inundated with birdsong. I held my phone out, trying to capture the gorgeous cacophony of sounds, unlike anything I'd ever heard before. I told Steve about it later, but it was hard to fully explain the unexpected concert. "You had to be there, I guess," I said. I wish he had been. Read the original article on Business Insider People stand near debris and damaged vehicles at the site of an Israeli strike on an apartment building, in central Beirut, Lebanon, March 11, 2026, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. REUTERS/Emilie Madi By Emilie Madi, Rami Ayyub and Alexander Cornwell BEIRUT/NAZARETH, March 11 (Reuters) - Israeli strikes battered Beirut's southern suburbs late on Wednesday, lighting up the skyline with flashes of red and setting buildings on fire, after the Lebanese-armed group Hezbollah launched a volley of rockets into northern Israel. Israel launched an offensive against Iran-backed Hezbollah after it opened fire on March 2 to avenge the killing of Iran's supreme leader at the start of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. Israeli strikes have killed more than 600 people in Lebanon, and uprooted 800,000 more, Lebanese authorities say. On Wednesday night, Hezbollah said it had launched dozens of rockets into northern Israel as part of a "series of operations," indicating there could be more to come. Lebanese security sources told Reuters more than 100 rockets were launched. A senior Israeli defence official said Iran and Hezbollah had launched a joint missile attack, describing it as the first coordinated action against Israel since the war began. In the early hours of Thursday, Lebanon's health ministry said at least eight people were killed in an Israeli strike on Beirut's Ramlet al-Baida seafront. 'ROUGH CONDITIONS' FOR DISPLACED LEBANESE Dozens of explosions also lit up the sky north of the Israeli city of Nazareth as missile defence systems intercepted rockets from Lebanon. Some could be seen crashing to the ground. Israel's ambulance service said two people had been lightly wounded by the rockets. The Israeli strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs began almost immediately after Hezbollah's attack, sending half a dozen consecutive booms reverberating across the city. The Israeli military said it struck 10 Hezbollah structures within 30 minutes, including a headquarters of its elite Radwan unit. Beirut's skyline was covered in thick smoke, Reuters footage showed. In one of the bombed locations, flickering orange flames were visible late into the night. Israel's military has repeatedly ordered residents of the southern suburbs to leave over the last week, prompting a displacement crisis as government shelters struggle to cope. Less than a quarter of the 800,000 displaced had found space in government shelters, but even there they live in "super rough conditions," said Maureen Philippon, the Norwegian Refugee Council's Lebanon director. Shelters lack showers and sufficient toilets, several families occupy the same rooms and there are fears of infectious diseases spreading, she told Reuters. Some residents of the southern suburbs told Reuters they had nowhere to go and no choice but to return home between bombing raids despite Israeli evacuation orders. Advertisement On Wednesday night, after strikes began, the Israeli military said it would "soon act with overwhelming force" against Hezbollah and that residents should leave immediately. ISRAELI STRIKES KILL PRIEST, MEDIC IN LEBANON Israel's strikes on Lebanon have killed 634 people since March 2, including 91 children, Lebanon's health ministry said. Catholic priest Pierre al-Rahi and Red Cross medic Youssef Assaf, who died after sustaining injuries in separate Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon earlier this week, were buried on Wednesday. Pope Leo offered his condolences for Rahi, saying he was a "true shepherd". The International Committee of the Red Cross mourned Assaf in a statement on social media, saying he "lost his life while carrying out his humanitarian duty". Earlier on Wednesday, an Israeli strike hit an apartment block in central Beirut, the second time in days that Israel targeted the heart of the capital. Lebanon's health ministry said four people were wounded. Israel's military did not comment on the strike. "The sound was indescribable, the fear is indescribable. Enough is enough, enough. This is a nightmare, when will it end?" said Bassima Ramadan, a woman living across the street. ISRAEL PRESSES LEBANON AT UN The Israeli military says it has struck hundreds of Hezbollah targets since March 2, launching daily airstrikes in the south, Beirut's southern suburbs, and the eastern Bekaa Valley. Israel's military ordered reinforcements to the area bordering Lebanon including its elite Golani Brigade and has also sent soldiers into southern Lebanon, establishing new positions there. Reuters reported on Tuesday that Hezbollah fighters were braced for the possibility of a full-scale Israeli invasion of the south. Lebanon said last year it aims to establish a state monopoly on arms and its cabinet last week outlawed Hezbollah's military activities. But Israel's ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon said on Wednesday that Beirut needed to take direct action. "If Hezbollah is being dismantled, what are the evidence? What are the operations against the launch sites? Where are the seizures of their weapons? Where is your military?" Danon said. (Additional reporting by Nazih Osseiran, Maya Gebeily, Tom Perry, Ahmad Al Kerdi and Khalil Ashawi in Beirut; John Irish in Paris; Steven Scheer in Jerusalem; Simon Lewis in Washington; Writing by Tom Perry; Editing by Mark Potter, Sharon Singleton, William Maclean, Alistair Bell and Michael Perry) Sgt. First Class Cory Hicks says he remembers hearing a "buzzing noise" that quickly got louder, right before an Iranian drone attack on a U.S. command center in Kuwait that killed six of his fellow service members. "I remember turning my head to the left and I'd seen the nose of that drone pop through, and as soon as it did I knew what it was, it was either a missile or a drone," Hicks told ABC Minneapolis affiliate KSTP from his hospital room in the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland. "So I turned to my right, and that's when it blew up and just blew the whole building apart." Iran live updates Hicks said he and other soldiers had been in a bunker while missiles and drones were intercepted overhead. He said they then got an "all clear," so they came out of the bunker and went back into their work station -- at which point he said the deadly drone strike occurred at Shuaiba port in Kuwait. The Pentagon hasn't responded to a request for comment regarding his account. "Kind of looked around and I saw everything was just smoke and fire and crazy and chaos," Hicks told KSTP. "At that point in time, I knew that I had to get out of there, so I grabbed my battle buddy and pulled him out and tried to get people out as fast as I could," he said. That's when he realized he was "a lot more injured" than he initially thought. Hicks said he got hit with shrapnel that severed an artery attached to his spleen and struck his arms and face. He said he has nerve damage to his face that makes it difficult to smile now. KSTP - PHOTO: Sgt. First Class Cory Hicks speaks with KSTP from his hospital room, March 9, 2026. "I'm making strides," Hicks, 37, a native of Princeton, Minnesota, told KSTP on Monday from Walter Reed, where he said he expects to be for several more weeks. Hicks' wife, Shanyn, said she was at home getting their children ready for church when a friend called her about the attack and told her her husband was injured and in the hospital. "I just remember falling to my knees, and just hyperventilating," she told KSTP from the hospital room. "Not having all the information -- it was terrifying," she told the station. Hicks said there's a joke in the military community that a deployment to Kuwait is a "vacation, not a deployment." Though a situation can quickly turn hostile, he said. "You just have to try to prepare your mind for that, and I don't think any of us were really prepared for it, just because we were in Kuwait," he told KSTP. "There hasn't been war in Kuwait for over 30 years. You know, we thought we were safe." Trump attends dignified transfer of 6 fallen service members killed in Kuwait amid Iran war Hicks is assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, an Army Reserve unit based in Des Moines, Iowa. The six soldiers killed in the March 1 attack were assigned to the same unit. Advertisement One of the six soldiers killed in the attack was also from Minnesota -- Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake. Hicks said Amor was "literally five feet from me" when the attack occurred. "She was very, very optimistic on life, very full of life," Hicks told KSTP. Hicks said he had gotten to know Amor over the past year and that she challenged him to read more while deployed overseas. "She was just the kindest, kindest woman ever," he told KSTP. "She always went above and beyond to make sure you're taken care of." Department of Defense - PHOTO: Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota Hicks' wife, who is also in the Army Reserves, said she was in the same location as Amor for her first reserves unit. "She had the biggest, happiest, most welcoming smile," she told KSTP. "She always went out of her way to help you make sure you were taken care of." Shanyn said Amor's death hits close to home, and that she feels for the fallen soldier's husband and children. "Now they have to find their new way of life, they have to find their new way of remembrance and their new way of peace. And that could have been any one of those families overseas," she told KSTP. Also killed in the Kuwait attack were Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa; Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, California; Maj. Jeffrey R. O'Brien, 45, of Indianola, Iowa; and Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska. Overall, seven U.S. service members have been killed in action and at least 140 injured since the start of the war, according to the Pentagon. Mark Schiefelbein/AP - PHOTO: An Army carry team moves a flag-draped transfer case with the remains of U.S. Army Reserve soldier Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor past President Donald Trump during a casualty return, March 7, 2026, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. Shanyn said she feels "blessed" that her husband made it back. "It could have been a lot worse. He's here, he's able to see and hear for the most part, he's got his limbs, and that's all I could ask for," she told KSTP. "Our kids still have their dad, I still have my partner, I couldn't be more blessed." As he recovers in the hospital, Hicks said his message for others is to not take anything for granted. "Life is precious, life is short," he told KSTP. "Appreciate the ones you love and the ones that are close to you, because you might not ever get to even talk to them again," he said. ABC News' Steve Beynon contributed to this report. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. is expanding its workforce and production footprint as global demand for advanced chips grows. The key contract chipmaker's expansion plans remain on track despite the U.S.Iran conflict, which has triggered a broad selloff in semiconductor and major technology stocks. Taiwan Semiconductor Launches Major Hiring Push Taiwan Semiconductor said it plans to hire about 8,000 employees this year to support its expansion and will offer an average annual salary of 2.2 million New Taiwanese dollars ($69,449) to newly recruited engineers with a master's degree. Don't Miss: The company launched a recruitment campaign in Taiwan that included a job fair at National Taiwan University, where it sought engineers and technical staff for facilities in Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Taichung, Chiayi, Tainan, and Kaohsiung, the Taipei Times reported on Sunday. Taiwan Semiconductor said it is recruiting talent across multiple fields, including electrical engineering, materials science, mechanical engineering, business management, and accounting, while also targeting specialists in AI, big data, and digital transformation technologies. The company plans to hold additional recruitment events at other universities and online, and to run a summer internship program for university students. Trending: Own the Characters, Not Just the Content: Inside a Fast-Growing Pre-IPO IP Company Political Debate Over U.S. Fab Expansion In other news, Taiwan Semiconductor's overseas investments have sparked debate in Taiwan. Advertisement Some politicians from the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) argue that building chip fabs in the U.S. could weaken Taiwan's semiconductor industry, the Taipei Times reported on Monday. KMT Deputy Secretary-General Lin Pei-hsiang criticized the move as a "substantial hollowing out" of Taiwan rather than reciprocal cooperation, while former TPP Chair Ko Wen-je said it amounts to "selling Taiwan out to the United States." Both parties are pushing legislation to restrict semiconductor technology transfers. However, the report said such claims which resonate with some voters amid Taiwan's economic anxieties are misleading, arguing that Taiwan's global chip dominance is not threatened by its investments in the United States. Read Next: Photo by Jack Hong via Shutterstock "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 Taiwan Semiconductor Just Put 8,000 New Jobs On The Table originally appeared on Benzinga.com 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. CASTRIES, Saint Lucia, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- TabTrade (tabtrade.com), a new global forex and CFD broker operated by TabTrade Ltd (company number 2025-00919), has officially launched under the leadership of Founder & CEO Benjamin Boulter (benjaminboulter.com). Guided by the mission "Markets made simple," the platform launches with an emphasis on speed, pricing clarity, and positioning as a lowest spread forex broker for major currency pairs. TabTrade is introducing 0.0 pips average spreads on major forex pairs, including EUR/USD, GBP/USD, and USD/JPY. The pricing model is structured to compete among the lowest spread forex broker offerings on core pairs, delivering transparent, commission-based pricing for active traders and professional clients. Execution speed is a core feature of the launch. The broker targets average execution below 30 milliseconds for Edge accounts and below 20 milliseconds for VIP accounts on MetaTrader 5, supporting active and high-frequency trading environments. Clients connect to institutional-grade liquidity through FIX API access and Equinix data centre connectivity, including LD4 and LD5 infrastructure. The technology framework is built to support stable pricing, fast order routing, and reduced slippage during periods of market volatility. TabTrade Ltd operates under the Saint Lucia regulatory framework which is overseen by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) and holds client funds in segregated accounts, maintaining separation between client and company capital. Benjamin Boulter, Founder & CEO of TabTrade, said the launch reflects growing demand for lower spreads and faster execution in the global forex market. "Traders expect speed, reliability, and simplicity. Our aim is to remove friction and deliver a platform built around those expectations from the start," said Mr Boulter. The broker offers global access to FX and CFD markets through MetaTrader 5, supported by account tiers designed for both retail and professional traders. About TabTrade TabTrade is a global forex and CFD broker founded by Benjamin Boulter. Operated by TabTrade Ltd (company number 2025-00919), the broker offers 0.0 pips average spreads on major forex pairs and positions itself among the lowest spread forex broker providers for active traders, alongside ultra-fast execution targets under 30ms and 20ms on Edge and VIP accounts, and institutional-grade infrastructure through FIX API and Equinix connectivity. SOURCE TabTrade MEMPHIS, Tenn. A 16-year-old boy has been charged following a bomb threat at Millington Central Middle High School last month. The Shelby County Sheriffs Office said on Wednesday, February 25, deputies assigned to Millington Central Middle High School responded to the threat targeting the school. SCSO said Shelby County Sheriffs Office School Resource Officers, along with SCSO School Response Deputies, Tennessee Homeland Security, and Millington Police and Fire, immediately coordinated a thorough search of the campus while ensuring all students were safely secured in a separate area. Authorities found the threat to be unfounded. Stray bullet just misses residents in Memphis apartment SCSO said detectives launched an intensive investigation, with assistance from Tennessee Homeland Security, and identified and apprehended the individual responsible for the threat. Advertisement On March 6, the 16-year-old was formally charged with making threats of mass violence against a school. The safety of our students and schools is always our top priority, said Chief Deputy Anthony Buckner. We will not tolerate threats of violence, and we are committed to holding individuals accountable. I am proud of the swift action and teamwork displayed by all responding agencies as well as the comprehensive investigation conducted by our detectives, which ensured the well-being of everyone at the school. The Shelby County Sheriffs Office commends the rapid, coordinated response of all agencies involved. 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. Texas ICE Operation Nets 646 Illegal Aliens, With 543 Criminal Aliens And Gang Members Federal authorities in Houston reported a significant spike in the apprehension of criminal undocumented immigrants tied to sex crimes against children during the first year of President Trumps return to office. Data released by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Houston shows that 414 individuals charged with or convicted of child sex offenses were taken into custody over the last year. This figure represents a nearly 100% increase compared to the final year of the Biden administration, when the same office recorded 211 such arrests. Beyond the 761 specific child sex offenses attributed to this years group of active cases, those arrested were also linked to 525 additional crimes, including homicide, robbery, and assault. While elected officials and media pundits across the country were zealously trying to manipulate the American public with fake news stories about ICEs public safety mission, the brave men and women of ICE were quietly going about their business to arrest and remove more than 400 dangerous child predators from our local communities, said Gabriel Martinez, acting Field Office Director for ICE ERO Houston. Thanks to their tireless efforts, parents across Southeast Texas can sleep a little better tonight knowing that these pedophiles and child rapists are no longer a threat to their children. The agency highlighted several specific cases involving repeat offenders and those with violent histories. Among them was Alex Samuel Lara Diaz, a 35-year-old from Honduras convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a minor and wanted for homicide in his home country. He was deported in December 2025. Another individual, Juan Leonardo Garcia Ibarra, a 48-year-old from Mexico, had reportedly reentered the U.S. 12 times prior to his April 2025 arrest for sexual indecency with a child and other felonies. Other notable arrests included Andrew Mark Watson, a 38-year-old from the United Kingdom convicted of possessing child sexual abuse material, and Jesus Gutierrez Mireles, a 68-year-old three-time deportee from Mexico convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child. Both Watson and another suspect, Luis Mario Monsalve Chaux of Colombia, remain in federal custody pending the outcome of their immigration proceedings. Advertisement The surge in enforcement involved collaboration between ICE and several federal partners, including the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, alongside various state and local agencies. The Houston field office maintains jurisdiction over 58 counties across Southeast Texas, covering the region from Beaumont to Corpus Christi and inland toward Waco. Officials continue to encourage the public to report suspicious activity or crimes via the DHS tip line at 866-347-2423. READ: Toddlers Brutal Beating Death Leads To ICE Detainer Against Uncle In Florida Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage. Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox Texas ICE Agents Arrest 414 Child Sex Offenders In First Year Of Trumps Return Credit: Miami-Dade Corrections & Rehabilitation A Texas man headed to London was arrested at Miami International Airport after authorities say they found roughly 75 lbs. of marijuana packed inside luggage he had checked for the international flight. Harrison Oneill Tiernan, 23, of Austin, was preparing to board a flight to Londons Heathrow Airport when U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers stopped him and questioned him about his bags, according to NBC6, the Miami Herald and Local10. When authorities inspected the luggage, they discovered 65 vacuum-sealed packages containing a green leafy substance that later tested positive for marijuana, the outlets reported. Investigators said the search was part of inspections being conducted because of a high trend of narcotics being smuggled outbound from the USA. In total, the packages allegedly contained nearly 75 lbs. of marijuana, per the outlets. Advertisement Tiernan was taken into custody and booked into jail on a cannabis trafficking charge involving more than 25 pounds but less than 2,000 pounds of marijuana, according to Miami-Dade County online jail records. Credit: D.A. Varela/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Federal investigators initially reviewed the case but declined to pursue it because the amount of drugs did not meet the federal threshold, the outlets reported the Miami-Dade Sheriffs Office then became the lead agency. Online jail records show Tiernan was booked at Metro West Detention Center March 7. Read the original article on People BANGKOK, March 10 (Reuters) - Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered civil servants to conserve energy amid an energy squeeze brought on by the conflict in the Middle East, a government spokesperson said on Tuesday, with measures including suspending overseas trips and using stairs instead of elevators. "The prime minister ordered that starting from today civil servants will work from home," spokesperson Lalida Periswiwatana told reporters, adding that exceptions would be made for officials who must serve the public. Southeast Asia's second-largest economy has around 95 days of energy reserves left, and it has been seeking additional sources of liquefied natural gas from the United States, Australia and South Africa, according to Energy Minister Auttapol Rerkpiboon. But it is urgently trying to reduce demand. Lalida said other government measures to conserve energy include setting air conditioning temperatures at 26 to 27 degrees Celsius (78.8 to 80.6 Fahrenheit) and wearing short-sleeved shirts instead of formal attire like suits and ties. Advertisement Nearly 68% of Thailand's energy needs are met from natural gas. Over half of its liquefied natural gas is sourced from domestic production in the Gulf of Thailand, while 35% comes from imports, including 13% from neighbouring Myanmar, according to the country's Energy Regulatory Commission. Earlier this month, Thailand also halted energy exports to all countries other than Laos and Myanmar. Government officials have been ordered to reduce electricity use at office buildings by switching off lights and electrical equipment when not needed, Lalida said. The government will also ask the public to cooperate and encourage energy saving measures such as carpooling. "If the situation escalates, the government may consider mandatory measures including dimming advertising signs at shops, cinemas and businesses and closing gas stations at 10 p.m.," the government also said in a statement. (Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat and Chayut Setboonsarng, Editing by David Stanway) Possum Silhouetted against the Moon Murray McCulloch/Shutterstock.com Quick Take Researchers successfully identified two tiny marsupials thought extinct for more than 6,000 years. The animals a pygmy long-fingered possum and a newly identified ring-tailed glider are examples of rare Lazarus species that reappear after vanishing from the scientific record. Each species has unusual adaptations, like an extra-long finger and a prehensile tail. Their rediscovery highlights New Guineas extraordinary biodiversity and the urgent need to protect one of the planets least explored ecosystems. For thousands of years, scientists knew of two tiny marsupials in New Guinea only through fossils and local legend. Researchers had long considered these species extinct. However, a team recently discovered the pygmy long-fingered possum and a new species of ring-tailed glider alive and thriving in one of the Earths most remote and biodiverse regions. These so-called Lazarus species offer a rare glimpse into ancient ecosystems and provide a second chance to study life forms that have survived millennia of environmental upheaval. Rediscovering Lost Life in New Guinea During a 2026 expedition into the rugged Cyclops Mountains, a team of international researchers led by biologist Tim Flannery rediscovered two marsupial species. Scientists previously believed these animals had been extinct for over 6,000 years. Researchers and historians knew the rediscovered species the pygmy long-fingered possum and a newly identified ring-tailed glider only through fossil fragments and indigenous stories. Scientists call such creatures Lazarus taxa because they seem to have miraculously returned from the dead. The term Lazarus species refers to organisms rediscovered long after being declared extinct. Named after the biblical figure who rose from the dead, these species disappear from the fossil record or historical sightings for so long that experts assume they are gone, only to reappear in the wild. The pygmy long-fingered possum demonstrates convergent evolution with Madagascars Aye-aye. Carlos Bocos / CC BY 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons Original / License (Carlos Bocos / CC BY 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons) The rediscovery of these two Lazarus species is not a miracle; instead, it highlights the vast gaps in modern scientific research. For the past 6,000 years, isolated pockets of New Guineas deep wilderness concealed life from human detection, including these two unique marsupials. Lazarus species also offer invaluable biological insights. Unlike fossils, which preserve only bones and teeth, living specimens reveal soft tissue biology, organ function, and immune system adaptations. Their DNA provides a clearer window into evolutionary history. Additionally, their resilience offers clues for how wildlife might adapt to todays changing climate. Two Rediscovered Marsupials The 2026 expedition gave scientists a rare opportunity to study some of the most specialized adaptations found in the animal kingdom. Although both the pygmy long-fingered possum and the new ring-tailed glider are small, tree-dwelling mammals, each occupies a distinct ecological niche. The new ring-tailed glider is closely related to the Australian greater glider. Arman Muharmansyah in Flannery et al. (2026) / CC BY 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons Original / License (Arman Muharmansyah in Flannery et al. (2026) / CC BY 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons) Researchers previously thought the pygmy long-fingered possum (Dactylonax kambuayai) had vanished at the end of the last Ice Age. This tiny creature weighs only around 0.44 pounds no larger than a human palm. Its fourth finger is extraordinarily elongated, measuring twice the length of any of its other digits. The possums use this long finger for percussion foraging, tapping on tree trunks to locate hollows and extract insect larvae from within. The ring-tailed glider (Tous ayamaruensis), in contrast, represents a completely new genus the first to be described in New Guinea in nearly 90 years. With its surprisingly powerful prehensile tail, this glider can grasp branches, allowing it to navigate the dense canopy to eat leaves and nutrient-rich tree sap. It weighs approximately 0.66 pounds and lacks fur on its ears, unlike many of its relatives. Advertisement Why New Guinea Is a Biological Hotspot New Guinea is often described as the worlds most complex biological laboratory. Despite covering less than one percent of Earths landmass, the island harbors roughly five percent of its biodiversity. Its extreme geography, deep geological history, and remote isolation create the ideal conditions for evolution. The islands massive mountain ranges, with peaks over 16,000 feet, form sky islands isolated habitats that drive rapid speciation. Over 30 species of birds-of-paradise, for instance, are each found on only one mountain range. The two newly discovered species live in lowland mountain forests. MICHAEL WORKMAN/iStock via Getty Images (MICHAEL WORKMAN/iStock via Getty Images) New Guineas position at the collision point of two tectonic plates brings together fauna from Australia and Southeast Asia, creating unique ecological overlaps. Yet the same factors that make the island biologically rich also make it difficult to study: rugged terrain, a harsh climate, and a highly complex human landscape, with over 800 languages and land largely managed by Indigenous peoples. Ultimately, scientific success is not merely a matter of exploration; it also depends on deep and respectful collaboration with local communities. Implications of This New Discovery While the rediscovery of these two marsupials is exciting, it also brings a deep sense of urgency. These species are considered hyper-vulnerable, with their populations likely restricted to tiny pockets of forest. Even minor habitat loss or illegal trafficking could wipe them out completely. To protect the animals and mitigate these risks, researchers are keeping the exact locations of their habitats strictly confidential. These discoveries also validate Indigenous knowledge. While Western scientists had assumed these species were extinct, the Maybrat and Tambrauw peoples have long known about and protected them. The ring-tailed glider, for instance, holds cultural significance as a sacred guardian. This highlights a crucial reality: the most effective way to safeguard such fragile ecosystems is through conservation efforts led by indigenous communities. These two marsupials are extremely threatened by habitat loss. Milne-Edwards / CC BY 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons Original / License (Milne-Edwards / CC BY 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons) A Window Into a Living Lost World These recent findings also offer compelling evidence for the Refuge Hypothesis, which suggests that the Vogelkop Peninsula functioned as a biological life raft. This unique region provided a stable sanctuary where ancient species could endure while their counterparts elsewhere vanished. For these ancient lineages to survive another millennium, immediate protections against the encroachment of logging and palm oil expansion are no longer just beneficial they are essential. The pygmy long-fingered possum and ring-tailed glider are far more than biological curiosities; they are living links to a prehistoric world. Their rediscovery serves as a powerful reminder that extinction is not always final. When we approach nature with humility, curiosity, and deep respect for local knowledge, the planets most remote rainforests can still reveal lost worlds that have remained hidden in plain sight. The post Thought Extinct for 6,000 Years, These Tiny Marsupials Have Just Been Rediscovered appeared first on A-Z Animals. The US has a series of underground bunkers it could use in the event of a nuclear war -Credit:Getty Images (Getty Images) As tensions in the Middle East continue to rise with the US and Israel aiming attacks at Iran, anxieties continue to rise about the potential of a nuclear war. It comes as there are currently more nations involved in active conflict than anytime since World War II. Should war break out, President Donald Trump could find himself on the lookout for a bolthole to seek refuge. According to the Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP), potential sites have already been earmarked as possibilities should the president need to go into hiding. Trump could be evacuated to bunkers in Colorado, Pennsylvania or Virginia, reports Unilad . The underground bunkers were built during the Cold War in the event of an attack by the former Soviet Union (USSR). The bunkers would mean that Trump could continue to run his administration while dealing with a potential conflict. The bunkers - Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center, Raven Rock Mountain Complex and Cheyenne Mountain Complex - are all said to be kitted out with the essential technology to operate during a conflict. They are full-funded and staffed in case of a crisis. They are built under mountain ranges in order to withstand a nuclear attack. Advertisement Mount Weather Operations Center in Bluemont, Virginia, could be used as a bolthole for Trump -Credit:2019 Maxar Technologies/Getty Images It is understood that Raven Rock Mountain Complex, known as the underground Pentagon or Site R, would become the command hub in the event of a nuclear war. The Pennsylvania-based facility was last used by Vice President Dick Cheney in the wake of the 9/11 attacks as a protected site away from George W Bush. The Mount Weather Operations Center in Virginia is understood to be the base for classified programs. Its underground operation, known simply as Area B is designed for the highest level of civilian and military officials. The Cheyenne Mountain Facility is built under 2,000ft of granite -Credit:Kevin Moloney/Getty Images The facility is also home to the FEMA National Radio System (FNARS), which allows the government to emit messages via the Emergency Alert System. The Cheyenne Mountain Complex has been operational since 1967. Built 2,000ft under the granite in Colorado Springs, it is designed as the back-up location for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), and United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM). It is said to contain dozens of buildings and has food stockpiled to help sustain employees in the event of an attack. The Cheyenne Mountain Complex could be used in the event of a nuclear war -Credit:RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post via Getty Images Inside the massive facility is said to be like a time capsule. Speaking to the Denver Post, NORAD Col. Cory Kwasny said: You might walk in and think youre still back in the 1950s and 60s. The design of it hasnt changed. You feel like youre walking into a time capsule. But it has been modernized, including all the communications systems and all the networking systems needed to do our job effectively. It is not a museum piece, not something sitting here mothballed, waiting for a new purpose or a new life. It is being used daily. While the three bunkers would be vital in the event of a nuclear war, there are other places Trump could hide, including a bunker in the East Wing of the White House. Timothy Busfield visits People Now on February 19, 2020 in New York, Credit: Noam Galai/Getty NEED TO KNOW Timothy Busfield's trial has been scheduled for May 2027, PEOPLE confirmed on Wednesday, March 11 The actor is facing third-degree felony charges after a grand jury indicted him on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a child He has denied all allegations since turning himself into New Mexico police in January A trial date has been set in Timothy Busfield's ongoing legal battle. The West Wing alum's trial is scheduled to begin in May 2027, his criminal defense attorney Amber Fayerberg confirmed to PEOPLE on Wednesday, March 11. The date is subject to change and could potentially be sooner. According to the court dockets, the proceedings are scheduled to last three weeks. On Friday, Feb. 6, Busfield, 68, was indicted by a Bernalillo County grand jury on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor (child under 13), District Attorney Sam Bregman announced. All four charges are third-degree felonies and pertain to events in October 2022 and September 2023, according to court documents. Busfield pleaded not guilty to all four counts on Feb. 10, per a plea entry filed in New Mexicos Second Judicial District Court. On Feb. 11, he waived his arraignment and appearances in court for all pretrial proceedings. Judge Joseph Montano granted the request on Feb. 18. Timothy Busfield looks on before a hearing in the Second District Judicial Court at the Bernalillo County Courthouse on January 20, 2026 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Credit: Sam Wasson/Getty Following the indictment, the actor's lawyer Stanton "Larry" Stein told PEOPLE, "The indictment was not unexpected." "What is deeply concerning is that the District Attorney is choosing to proceed on a case that is fundamentally unsound and cannot be proven at trial. The detention hearing exposed fatal weaknesses in the States evidence gaps that no amount of charging decisions can cure. This prosecution appears driven by something other than the facts or the law," Stein said. "Mr. Busfield will fight these charges at every stage and looks forward to testing the States case in open court where evidence matters not behind closed doors." The child sex abuse charges were first leveled against Busfield in a Jan. 9 warrant issued by the Albuquerque Police Department, which alleged that he engaged in unlawful sexual conduct with two 11-year-old boys, whose identities have been withheld from the public. Advertisement Busfield surrendered to police on Jan. 13, and the following day faced an additional allegation of sexual abuse, which he has not been charged with. According to a pretrial detention motion filed on Jan. 14, Colin Swift reported to law enforcement on Jan. 13 that Busfield allegedly sexually abused Swift's then-16-year-old daughter "several years ago" in Sacramento, Calif. While auditioning for [Busfield] at B Street Theatre, the 16-year-old reported that [Busfield] kissed her and put his hands down her pants and touched her privates," per the motion. Busfield allegedly begged the family to not report to law enforcement if he received therapy and Swift, being a therapist himself, thought at the time that was the best thing to do," per the motion. Timothy Busfield arrives for a hearing in the Second District Judicial Court at the Bernalillo County Courthouse on January 20, 2026 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Credit: Sam Wasson/Getty After he turned himself in, the district attorney filed a motion for pretrial detention against Busfield, which sought to keep him detained until trial. Because of New Mexicos no-bond detention rule, defendants are otherwise released on recognizance, with or without conditions. On Jan. 20, he was released from custody with conditions while he awaits trial, following a two-hour pretrial detention hearing in a San Bernalillo, New Mexico district court. His wife, Melissa Gilbert, was in attendance and was seen crying and whispering, "Thank you, God," when the release was announced. After being released on his own recognizance, Busfield has been ordered to appear for all his future court dates and is not allowed to possess any firearms or dangerous weapons, consume any alcohol or illegal drugs, have contact with the alleged victims or their families, discuss the case with any witnesses or have unsupervised contact with any minor children. The judge also allowed him to travel, but he will be under the supervision of Pretrial Services in New Mexico. After Busfield was released from jail, Stein told PEOPLE he and Gilbert were still in shock that it happened to them and they're still distressed." "But obviously they're in a better mood than they were yesterday before he was released," he said. We're taking one day at a time." If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages. Read the original article on People A former deep-sea treasure hunter who made one of the greatest shipwreck discoveries in American history and spent the past decade in prison after refusing to disclose the whereabouts of some of its missing gold coins is now free, federal records show. Tommy Thompson, who in 1988 located what was known as the Ship of Gold off the coast of South Carolina, was released last Wednesday, according to federal Bureau of Prisons records reviewed by The Associated Press. Thompson, an Ohio-born research scientist, was hailed as a hero after finding the SS Central America and its thousands of pounds of sunken treasure that sat at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean for more than 150 years. Tommy Thompson at the helm of the Arctic Explorer on Aug. 29, 1991. AP But in the decades that followed, he battled with investors who accused him of cheating them out of millions and then spent years on the run as a fugitive before being sent to prison over rebuffing court orders while contending he didnt know what happened to 500 coins minted from the ships gold. The Central America was filled with a big haul from the California Gold Rush when it sank in a hurricane in 1857. Four hundred and twenty-five people drowned, and thousands of pounds of gold were lost, contributing to an economic panic. Investors who backed Thompsons venture sued him in 2005, saying they had yet to receive any money from the $50 million sale of more than 500 gold bars and thousands of coins just part of the ships booty. Thompson, who was living in Florida, went into seclusion and then later became a fugitive when an Ohio federal judge issued a warrant for his arrest in 2012 after he failed to show up in court. Authorities tracked Thompson to a Florida hotel three years later. A gold coin recovered from the SS Central America is examined in Santa Ana, Calif. on Jan. 23, 2018. AP The judge then held him in contempt and sent Thompson to prison at the end of 2015 for refusing to answer questions about the location of missing coins. Thompson, now 73, maintained that the coins valued then at $2.5 million were turned over to a trust in Belize and said the $50 million from the sale of the first batch of gold mostly went toward legal fees and bank loans. Advertisement He remained locked up even though federal law generally limits jail time for contempt of court to 18 months. A federal appeals court in 2019 rejected Thompsons argument that the law applied to him, saying his refusal violated conditions of a plea agreement. The following year, Thompson appeared by video for another hearing where US District Judge Algenon Marbley again asked whether he was ready to address the whereabouts of the gold. Your honor, I dont know if weve gone over this road before or not, but I dont know the whereabouts of the gold, Thompson responded. I feel like I dont have the keys to my freedom. Just over a year ago, Marbley agreed to end Thompsons sentence on the civil contempt charge, saying he was no longer convinced that keeping him in prison would produce an answer. The judge then ordered Thompson to immediately start serving a two-year sentence for skipping the 2012 court hearing. Thompson, now 73, maintained that the coins valued then at $2.5 million were turned over to a trust in Belize. AP Dwight Manley, a California coin dealer who bought and sold nearly the entire fortune, said Monday that Thompson paid a heavy price over what he said amounted to a business dispute. Going to prison for 10 years over a business dispute is not America, Manley said. People kill people and get out in half the time. Sentences in civil contempt cases are somewhat indefinite, but they shouldnt go on forever, said Ryan Scott, a University of Florida law professor who researches contempt law and worked to secure Thompsons release. Its very unusual to go on 10 years, Scott said. He said Thompson should have been freed years ago since at least 2018, after the court dismissed the underlying case calling it a miscarriage of justice for this to have gone on this long. FILE PHOTO: Light from the rising sun hits the U.S. Supreme Court building at the start of the day in Washington, D.C. U.S., January 12, 2026. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo By Andrew Chung and John Kruzel March 11 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday to intervene in its effort to strip humanitarian deportation protections from more than 350,000 Haitians living in the United States despite persistent violence in Haiti that has displaced more than a million people. The Justice Department in an emergency request asked the court to lift a judge's decision that blocked the administration's move to end Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, for Haitians. The judge found that the administration's action toward the Haitians likely was motivated in part by "racial animus." Kristi Noem, a Trump appointee then serving as secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, determined in November 2025 that there were "no extraordinary and temporary conditions" in Haiti that would prevent Haitian migrants from returning to the Caribbean country. The U.S. State Department currently warns against travel to Haiti "due to kidnapping, crime, terrorist activity, civil unrest and limited healthcare." MASS DEPORTATIONSThe Republican president, pursuing a policy of mass deportations since returning to office in January 2025, has moved to strip certain migrants of temporary legal protections previously provided to them by the U.S. government for humanitarian reasons, expanding the pool of possible deportees. Under Trump, the Department of Homeland Security has moved to end TPS status for about a dozen countries, saying it was always meant to be temporary. The Supreme Court in October let the administration terminate TPS for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan migrants. The administration in February also asked the court to allow it to strip TPS status from about 6,100 Syrians living in the United States. The Justice Department in its filing in the Haiti case said lower courts were "again attempting to block major executive-branch policy initiatives in ways that inflict specific harms to the national interest and foreign relations." As it did in the Syria case, the administration suggested that the Supreme Court take up and hear arguments on the underlying legal issue given that "stop-and-start litigation over TPS terminations has become endemic." "Unless the court resolves the merits of these challenges - issues that have now been ventilated in courts nationwide - this unsustainable cycle will repeat again and again, spawning more competing rulings and competing views of what to make of this court's interim orders," the Justice Department wrote. Temporary Protected Status is available to people whose home country has experienced a natural disaster, armed conflict or other extraordinary event. It provides eligible migrants with work authorization and temporary protection from deportation. Advertisement Haitians were first given TPS in 2010 under Democratic former President Barack Obama after a devastating earthquake struck their country. The U.S. government repeatedly extended the status, most recently under Democratic former President Joe Biden's administration, which cited "simultaneous economic, security, political and health crises" in Haiti, fueled by gangs and a lack of a functioning government. That extension had given Haitians living in the United States protections through February 3, 2026. More than 1.4 million Haitians have been displaced by violence and instability, according to the International Organization for Migration. Trump fired Noem on March 5 after months of controversy including the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by federal officers in Minneapolis and questions by lawmakers about a $220 million advertising contract for a campaign promoting her and her department. Noem's TPS decisions were not at issue in her dismissal. 'HOSTILITY TO NONWHITE IMMIGRANTS' U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes ruled on February 2 in a class-action lawsuit brought by Haitians challenging the administration's move. Reyes found that Noem likely violated the procedures required to terminate the protected status of Haitian immigrants as well as the U.S. Constitution's Fifth Amendment guarantee of equal protection under the law. "Plaintiffs charge that Secretary Noem preordained her termination decision and did so because of hostility to nonwhite immigrants. This seems substantially likely," Reyes wrote. Referencing a December social media post by Noem, Reyes added, "Kristi Noem has a First Amendment right to call immigrants killers, leeches, entitlement junkies and any other inapt name she wants. Secretary Noem, however, is constrained by both our Constitution and the (Administrative Procedure Act) to apply faithfully the facts to the law in implementing the TPS program." The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on March 6 rejected the administration's bid to pause the judge's ruling. The Supreme Court requested a response from the plaintiffs to the administration's filing by next Monday. Trump's administration has asked the Supreme Court on an emergency basis to allow implementation of policies impeded by lower courts. The Supreme Court has sided with Trump in most of these cases since he returned to the presidency. (Reporting by Andrew Chung in New York; Additional reporting by Ted Hesson and Nate Raymond; Editing by Will Dunham) The administration of President Donald Trump is asking the Supreme Court to overturn a judge's order allowing temporary protected status for Haitian immigrants to remain in place, potentially opening the door for deportations to begin. The request for the case to be heard by the Supreme Court of the United States was filed on March 11. The nation's highest court has not agreed to take the case as of 4:30 p.m. on March 11. Haitian TPS had been set to expire in early February but a federal judge in Washington, D.C., ordered it to remain in effect while a lawsuit filed by several Haitians proceeds through the legal process. Haitians have had temporary protected status since 2010, and an estimated 350,000 Haitians live in the United States. Temporary protected status can be given to immigrants from countries where environmental disaster, epidemics, ongoing armed conflict or other extraordinary and temporary conditions exist. TPS allows those migrants to live and work legally in the United States. The Supreme Court emergency appeal comes less than a week after a federal appeals court denied a similar request. On March 6, the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia denied the administration's request for an order that would allow the temporary protected status to expire while the case is appealed. In the 2-1 ruling, Judges Florence Pan and Bradley Garcia said the administration has failed to articulate why the TPS designation was tolerated for months but now poses imminent harm to the United States. Both Pan and Garcia are appointees of President Joe Biden. Advertisement "It had no urgent need for a stay because Haiti's TPS designation would expire ' in the next few months' - that is, four and a half months later in February 2026," Pan and Garcia wrote. "But here too, it should be no more than a 'few months' before this court can adjudicate the government's appeal on the merits. Yet the government does not explain what has changed to make the continued presence of Haitian TPS holders during that interim period a matter of 'imminent' irreparable harm." Marie, a Direct Support Professional for Saint Dominic's Family Services in Blauvelt, cries as she talks March 3, 2026 about the consequences of the Trump administration's efforts to end Temporary Protected Status for Haitian immigrants. Marie, a Haitian immigrant who has worked for St. Dominic's for ten years, fears having to leave the people she cares for, saying that she considers them her family. She also fears for her safety should she be deported to Haiti, where she hasn't lived for over twenty years. In a dissenting opinion, Appellate Judge Justin Walker, a Trump appointee, noted that the Supreme Court has granted the administration's request in similar cases it has already ruled upon. However, Walker wrote that the plaintiffs in the Haiti case do face the potential for harm. "If termination means the unlawful removal to Haiti of Plaintiffs who would prefer to stay in America, the Plaintiffs are injured: America is a safe and developed nation with individual liberties and economic opportunity - Haiti is not," Walker wrote. Prior to the Feb. 2 ruling from U.S. District Court Judge Ana Reyes, Haitian immigrants in Springfield had been bracing for a possible surge of immigration enforcement in the area. During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump and Vice President JD Vance amplified false rumors of Haitian migrants in Springfield eating their neighbors pets and vowed to deport them. More: Judge who blocked Haitian TPS termination says she received death threats If the Supreme Court agrees to review the case, it could have oral arguments and issue a decision through its regular process. The court also could rule through an emergency order, similar to what was done with temporary status for Venezuelan immigrants. A similar request related to TPS for Syrian immigrants is also pending. Reporter Bethany Bruner can be reached at bbruner@dispatch.com. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Haitian TPS lawsuit could be headed to Supreme Court Strategic Partnership Aligns to Meet Growing Demand for Rental Housing for Travel Nurses and Travel Allied Professionals Across the U.S. DELRAY BEACH, Fla., March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Vidle Housing, a nationwide mid-term rental platform built specifically for healthcare travelers, today announced a strategic partnership with June Homes, now a part of Outpost Group, the largest co-living operator in the U.S., to provide expanded access to fully furnished, professionally managed apartments in key U.S. cities. Strategic Partnership Aligns to Meet Growing Demand for Rental Housing for Travel Nurses and Travel Allied Professionals Across the U.S. Through this collaboration, healthcare travelers including travel nurses and allied health professionals will gain streamlined access to move-in-ready housing designed for 30+ day stays, aligning with typical 13 to 26-week healthcare assignments. The partnership comes following June Home's recent merger with Outpost to form Outpost Group, creating the largest co-living and flexible living operators in the United States. This merger further expands housing options available to Vidle Housing healthcare travelers, providing: Broader geographic coverage across high-demand metro areas Increased professionally managed inventory Integrated operational infrastructure and resident support Greater stability for mid-term renters "Healthcare travelers require dependable housing partners who can deliver consistency across markets," said Steve Curtin, President of Vidle Housing. "June Homes' expanded platform and footprint align perfectly with our commitment to quality, flexibility, and scalability for clinicians serving communities nationwide." "We are thrilled to partner with Vidle Housing and support the travel healthcare community," said Sergii Starostin, CEO at Outpost Group. "Vidle Housing has built a truly unique business model that bridges employment and housing in a way that simplifies the entire relocation journey for healthcare professionals. Their focused approach to mid-term, fully furnished rentals create meaningful value for both travelers and housing providers, and we are proud to expand access to our professionally managed inventory through this collaboration." Supporting the Travel Healthcare Ecosystem Healthcare professionals relocating every few months require flexible, reliable housing that aligns with stipend budgets and proximity to healthcare facilities. By making June Homes' and Outpost furnished rentals available to the Vidle Housing platform, travelers benefit from transparent pricing, digital booking, and professionally managed residences that remove friction from the travel process. Vidle Housing operates as a nationwide fully furnished, mid-term rental platform exclusively for healthcare travelers, with a focus on convenience, optimal locations near medical facilities that employ travelers, and pricing that fits within the budget of healthcare traveler's housing stipends. Vidle Housing also provides perks for travelers when booking on the platform including a free set of FIGS medical scrubs and a year of mental health support and tools from BetterHelp. Combined with Vidle.com - Vidle's companion healthcare job platform, integrating employment opportunities with housing resources, the broader Vidle ecosystem offers a seamless pathway from job placement to move-in. About Vidle Housing Vidle Housing (www.VidleHousing.com) is a nationwide mid-term rental platform serving healthcare travelers and property owners across all 50 U.S. states. The platform specializes in fully furnished rentals with a 30-day minimum stay requirement, designed specifically for travel nurses and travel allied health professionals. Vidle Housing is part of the broader Vidle Group ecosystem that includes Vidle.com (www.vidle.com), supporting travel healthcare employment and housing needs. About June Homes Founded in 2017, June Homes (www.JuneHomes.com) is a flexible living platform that provides fully furnished apartments across major U.S. cities. The company offers convenient, move-in-ready housing solutions designed for modern renters seeking flexibility and ease, and hosts approximately 4,000 residents each year. Following its merger with Outpost (www.Outpost.me) to form Outpost Group, the company operates as the largest co-living and flexible living providers in the United States, managing 4000+ units, delivering professionally managed housing solutions designed for convenience, flexibility, and move-in-ready living. Media Contact Marketing Contact: Vidle Housing 17863071721 [email protected] SOURCE Vidle Housing Black soot after reported black rain following a strike on fuel tanks, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 10, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON, March 11 (Reuters) - Officials from President Donald Trump's administration estimated during a congressional briefing this week that the first six days of the war on Iran had cost the United States at least $11.3 billion, a source familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. That figure, from a closed-door briefing for senators on Tuesday, did not include the entire cost of the war, but was provided to lawmakers as they have clamored for more information about the conflict. Several congressional aides have said they expect the White House to soon submit a request to Congress for additional funding for the war. Some officials have said the request could be for $50 billion, while others have said that estimate seems low. The administration has not provided a public assessment of the cost of the conflict or a clear idea of its expected duration. Trump said during a trip to Kentucky on Wednesday that "we won" the war but that the United States will stay in the fight to finish the job. The $11.3 billion figure was first reported on Wednesday by the New York Times. Advertisement The campaign against Iran began on February 28 with U.S. and Israeli airstrikes and has so far killed around 2,000 people, mostly Iranians and Lebanese, as the conflict has spread into Lebanon and thrown global energy markets and transport into chaos. Administration officials also have told lawmakers that $5.6 billion of munitions were used during the first two days of strikes. Members of Congress, who may soon have to approve additional funding for the war, have expressed concern that the conflict will deplete U.S. military stocks at a time when the defense industry was already struggling to keep up with demand. Trump met executives from seven defense contractors last week as the Pentagon worked to replenish supplies. Democratic lawmakers have demanded public testimony under oath from administration officials about the Republican president's plans for the war, including how long it might last and what his plans are for Iran once the fighting has stopped. (Reporting by Patricia ZengerleEditing by Bill Berkrot) Those closest to President Donald Trump have revealed that the president is reportedly withholding his endorsement for the highly competitive Texas Senate race in or to ramp up support for his SAVE America Act. -Credit:AP (AP) Those closest to President Donald Trump have revealed that the president is reportedly withholding his endorsement for the highly competitive Texas Senate race in or to ramp up support for his SAVE America Act. Two sources close to the White House said that the president had been prepared to endorse the incumbent, John Cornyn, after the senator reportedly outperformed expectations against Attorney General Ken Paxton in last week's primary. Those close to the president reported that his anticipated endorsement was forestalled when the state AG announced that, if the Senate passes the bill, he would end his campaign. The Mirror U.S. reached out to the White House to confirm the allegations. "I think that was a very smart strategy because it bought time. Because now, if youre the White House or Trump, why would you now weigh in?" one of the sources said to Politico. Trump announcing endorsement in Texas Senate race and expects other GOP candidate to 'immediately drop out' Democratic voter turnout beats GOP in red state Texas primary "Trump has remained very steadfast that he wants this done, and that is a huge priority, and hes getting p----- off at these members and at [Senate Majority Leader John] Thune," they added. Paxton's last-ditch effort also highlighted the area in which he and Trump are aligned, while simultaneously poking the gaping wound between the president and Senate Republicans. Advertisement Just after it was announced that the Lone Star Republicans would face a runoff election in May, the president posted on Truth Social that he would announce his pick and expected the other candidate to drop out. "The Republican Primary Race for the United States Senate in the Great State of Texas, a State I LOVE and won 3 times in Record Numbers (the HIGHEST vote ever recorded, by far!!!), cannot, for the good of the Party, and our Country, itself, be allowed to go on any longer. IT MUST STOP NOW!" her wrote. Those close to the president reported that his anticipated endorsement was forestalled when the state AG announced that, if the Senate passes the bill, he would end his campaign. -Credit:AP "We have an easy to beat, Radical Left Opponent, and we have to TOTALLY FOCUS on putting him away, quickly and decisively!", he warned. "Both John and Ken ran great races, but not good enough. Now, this one, must be PERFECT!". Trump went on to claim that his "Endorsements within the Republican Party have been virtually insurmountable!" and "such an honor" that "almost everyone I Endorse WINS, and wins by a lot, especially in Texas!" He added, "I will be making my Endorsement soon, and will be asking the candidate that I dont endorse to immediately DROP OUT OF THE RACE! Is that fair? We must win in November!!!" Paxton's last-ditch effort also highlighted the area in which he and Trump are aligned, while simultaneously poking the gaping wound between the president and Senate Republicans. -Credit:AP Open rebellion It was reported last week that Paxton, who weathered impeachment proceedings and a divorce from a Texas state senator, planned to defy Trump and continue the campaign even if he failed to get the endorsement. Paxton told Real Americas Voice that he will not withdraw from the race. Two sources close to the White House said that the president had been prepared to endorse the incumbent, John Cornyn -Credit:Bonnie Cash/UPI/Shutterstock "President Trump said hes going to make an endorsementwhoever he doesnt endorse should drop out, the host said. "I have a funny feeling you dont drop out under any circumstance." Paxton agreed, saying that he owed it to the people of Texas to stay in the race. "No, Im staying in this race," Paxton commented. Paxton, who weathered impeachment proceedings and a divorce from a Texas state senator, planned to defy Trump and continue the campaign even if he failed to get the endorsement -Credit:Getty Images We just sent a message, loud and clear, to Washington, he said. We are not going to go quietly, and we are not going to let you buy the seat. A pro-Paxton PAC issued a statement as well, stating that the "D.C. establishment has done its job" by rallying around its wounded incumbent, opening the fundraising spigot, and flooding the airwaves." Georgia Republican congressional candidate Clay Fuller greets supporters during his watch night party after Georgia held a special election to fill a seat in its 14th congressional district, which was left vacant when Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene resigned in January, in Rome, Georgia, U.S. March 10, 2026. REUTERS/Alyssa Pointer March 10 (Reuters) - The election in Georgia to choose the successor to Republican firebrand Marjorie Taylor Greene in the U.S. House of Representatives will go to a runoff next month after no candidate, including one backed by President Donald Trump, received a majority of the votes, AP News and NBC News projected on Tuesday. Trump's preferred candidate, former district attorney for four northwest Georgia counties Clay Fuller, faced fellow Republican Colton Moore, a hard-right former state senator and Shawn Harris, a moderate Democrat who sought to court disillusioned Trump voters, were seen as the top contenders in a field of 17 candidates. The race has drawn outsized national attention following former U.S. Representative Greene's abrupt departure in January after an acrimonious split with Trump, setting off a high-stakes contest over who should succeed one of the Make America Great Again movement's most visible figures in Congress. Advertisement Georgia's 14th Congressional District, a mostly blue-collar corridor from Atlanta's exurbs up to the Tennessee border, vaulted into the national spotlight after Greene swept to victory there in 2020, turning a reliably Republican seat into a closely watched barometer of the party's populist wing. The contest is now being viewed as a test of Trump's grip on his base ahead of the November general election. Fullers failure to secure an outright majority could signal some softening of that hold. The winner of the special election will serve through the end of 2026 but must immediately campaign for the full two-year term starting January 2027, beginning with a May primary that could pit many of the same contenders against each other again. (Reporting by Nathan Layne in Wilton, Connecticut; Editing by Alistair Bell) U.S. President Donald Trump waves as he arrives at the White House from Florida, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 9, 2026. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein March 10 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump endorsed former U.S. Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein for a Kentucky seat held by one of his most prominent Republican critics in Congress, Representative Thomas Massie. Trump made his endorsement for Kentucky's 4th Congressional District on social media on Tuesday. Advertisement Massie and Trump have been at odds for months as the Kentucky congressman has continually pushed for the release of files related to the investigation of late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and criticized the Trump administration for its handling of the issue. Trump has repeatedly criticized Massie, including in his endorsement of Gallrein on Tuesday. (Reporting by Christian Martinez and Kanishka Singh; editing by Ismail Shakil) 1 / 0 Trump visits Northern Kentucky Ellie Suggs, left, talks with Mattie Savage as she makes a sign at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, Reading Branch, before President Donald Trump arrives in Reading on March 11, 2026. Trump will visit Thermo Fisher Scientific, a pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, in Reading to discuss TrumpRx.gov, a new prescription drug website. President Donald Trump gave Ohio native Jake Paul a shout out at a rally in Kentucky on March 11. Trump referenced investment in the United States. "We got $18 trillion and Jake Paul knows what that means. $18 trillion!" Trump said at the beginning of his remarks. US boxer and influencer Jake Paul waits for US President Donald Trump to speak at Verst Logistics in Hebron, Kentucky, on March 11, 2026. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP via Getty Images) Paul, a boxer and YouTuber, attended Trump's rally at Verst Logistics in Hebron, Kentucky. Advertisement Trump also visited Thermo Fisher Scientific in Reading, Ohio on March 11. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president wanted to meet with business owners and lawmakers he admired and talk about the economy. Jake Paul is here at Trumps Kentucky rally just a few miles from his home state of Ohio. He emerged into the crowd moments after Trump participated in an undisclosed podcast interview pic.twitter.com/UQUMZRKNM9 Katelyn Caralle (@Katelyn_Caralle) March 11, 2026 Paul was born in Cleveland and grew an audience as a social media and Disney Channel star. In 2024, he encouraged his audience to vote for Trump in his stead, as Paul lives in Puerto Rico and can not vote in presidential elections. This story was republished to add a gallery and links to related content. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio native Jake Paul attends Trump rally in Northern Kentucky Donald Trump announced on Monday that the Iran war is "very complete." -Credit:ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS, AFP via Getty Images (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS, AFP via Getty Images) On Monday, Donald Trump announced the Iran war as "very complete." Yet, his Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pledged "the most intense day of strikes yet" on Tuesday. This apparent contradiction in America's communication may be more than mere confusion - it could indicate a trap. This is the purported analysis of Professor Robert Pape, director of the University of Chicago Project on Security and Threats and author of Bombing to Win: Air Power and Coercion in War. In an essay for Foreign Affairs, he suggests that the US and Israel have been lured into precisely the type of conflict that shattered American aspirations in Vietnam. The comparison is unsettling. In Vietnam, the US triumphed in every battle over 11 brutal years and never relinquished air superiority. CNN halted as host shares humiliating blow to Donald Trump Trump claims Iran War is 'pretty much' complete as Hegseth says 'it's only just beginning' It swiftly dismantled much of the military and industrial infrastructure thought to support the enemy. Yet, it still lost the war. The US won every battle in Vietnam for 11 years, but ultimately still lost the war -Credit:Bettmann, Bettmann Archivevia Getty Images North Vietnamese and Vietcong forces outsmarted Washington not by matching American firepower, but by escalating "horizontally" - expanding the conflict into the towns and cities of the south on their own terms, reports the Express. According to Professor Pape, Iran is employing the same strategy now. "Horizontal escalation occurs when a state widens the geographic and political scope of a conflict rather than intensifying it vertically in a single theatre," Pape writes, according to a Telegraph report. "It is especially appealing as a strategy for the weaker parties in a military contest. Instead of trying to defeat a stronger adversary head-on, the weaker side multiplies arenas of risk - drawing additional states, economic sectors, and domestic publics into the remit of the conflict." Advertisement The waves of missiles and drones that have hit gas, oil, water, air, shipping and tourism facilities throughout the Gulf and further afield are not, in Pape's assessment, the frantic flailing of a government in its death throes. The waves of missiles and drones sent by the US and Israel have hit gas, oil, water, air, shipping and tourism facilities throughout the Gulf -Credit:Anadolu, Anadolu via Getty Images They signify something more calculated - "a bid to transform the stakes of a conflict by widening its scope and extending its duration." The objective is political, not military. By dispersing destruction throughout the region, Iran is exerting pressure on voters, investors and US allies, aiming to undermine the support - explicit or implicit - that underpins the American-Israeli campaign and compel Trump back to the bargaining table. "Horizontal escalation presses on the soft seams between governments and their societies," Pape writes. A test of stamina Nowhere is that pressure felt more intensely than among the Gulf autocracies. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman have all spent decades fearing precisely the kind of popular revolution that overthrew the US-backed Shah of Iran in 1979 and established the Islamic Republic. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pledged "the most intense day of strikes yet" on Tuesday. -Credit:Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images By targeting civilian infrastructure throughout those nations, Tehran is not merely causing physical and economic harm - it is signaling to those governments that continued partnership with Washington and Tel Aviv comes with a domestic political cost. "Horizontal escalation is not simply about hitting a wider array of targets. Its deeper effect is to change how a foe perceives risks," Pape writes. "By widening the theatre and prolonging the war, Tehran is shifting the contest from a battle of military capabilities to one of political endurance." It may be a historical footnote, but a significant one - Iran marks the only major conflict since Vietnam in which Britain has not joined the US from the beginning. How Trump extricates himself from the escalation spiral - one that analysts caution could still expand toward a broader regional or even a WW3 global conflict - remains unclear. Eleven days in, it has emerged as his defining challenge. RUSSIA-POLITICS-ENERGY The Kremlin said that President Donald Trump and Russia's President Vladimir Putin discussed the war in Iran, with the conversation being "frank and businesslike", according to Putin's foreign affairs advisor Yuri Ushakov. The conversation last roughly an hour, Ushakov added. Putin "voiced a few ideas aimed at a quick political and diplomatic settlement" of the war on Iran after he spoke with Gulf leaders and Iran's president, the foreign affairs advisor said. This was the first publically known call between Trump and Putin since the war with Iran. At a press conference on Monday, Trump also acknowledged he spoke to Putin. Trump tells the press he spoke to Putin during a press conference in Doral, Florida. (Image: Getty) "We talked about that with President Putin. He was very impressed with what he saw because nobody's ever seen quite like it." Trump also provided his input "in the context of the ongoing U.S-Israeli operation," Ushakov said. Advertisement The two leaders had a "specific and useful" exchange of views. They also touched on Venezuela "in the context of the situation in the global oil market." Putin provided the U.S president "several proposals" for ending the war with Iran, Ushakov added. Earlier on Monday Putin shared Russia had "repeatedly warned that attempts to destabilize the situation in the Middle East will inevitably jeopardize" the economy, such as the global energy market. Putin said Moscow will continue to provide oil and gas to "countries that themselves are reliable partners," such as Slovakia or Hungary. He noted Moscow is a "reliable energy supplier." He also added Russia is "increasing supplies" to its partners. The Trump administration is nearing the three week mark after it struck Iran on Feb. 28, which killed its country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Supreme Leader's son, Mojtaba, was chosen as the next leader on Sunday. The war has since killed over a thousand in Iran along with 30 killed in the Gulf and over 400 killed in Iraq, Israel, Jordan and Lebanon combined, according to Al Jazeera's live tracker. ]]> Naomi and Danny Saphire pose with their children and dogs at their new home in Plettenberg Bay after returning from the U.S., in the Western Cape, South Africa, March 7, 2026. REUTERS/Esa Alexander (Corrects year to 2016 from 2019 in paragraph 10) By Nellie Peyton and Tim Cocks JOHANNESBURG, March 11 (Reuters) - Andrew Veitch left South Africa after being held up at gunpoint in his car. But now he feels there are greater threats in the United States, he said, citing mass shootings in public places as well as violence by U.S. immigration officers. "People are being shot in broad daylight. American citizens are being shot and killed," said the 53-year-old, who moved to California in 2003. "I don't want to live in a place like this." President Donald Trump's officials have said Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers were justified in firing the shots that killed two U.S. citizens in January, although video evidence has contradicted their accounts. Veitch plans to return to South Africa this year, one of thousands of white South Africans coming back, despite Trump's statements that the white minority is being persecuted by the country's Black majority government. Pretoria says there is no evidence of discrimination or persecution against whites. Many have left since the end of white minority rule in 1994, some citing crime and difficulty getting jobs, but many are also returning. Veitch is among 12,000 people who have checked their citizenship status in an online portal launched by the government in November after the overturning of a 1995 law that stripped citizenship from some South Africans who left. They represent a fraction of South Africans abroad. The latest official statistics on returnees, from 2022, show that almost 15,000 white South Africans returned that year. EXPATS SAY SOUTH AFRICA MEANS LOWER COSTS, LESS TURMOIL Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said 1,000 people had reclaimed their citizenship, a number he expected to grow significantly as the programme takes off. "There is definitely a sense of optimism for South Africans abroad," said Schreiber, part of the white-led Democratic Alliance party that has ruled in coalition with the African National Congress since 2024. He is a returnee himself, having spent time in the U.S. and Germany before coming home in 2016. Two recruitment agencies that help expats relocate said the number of inquiries had jumped, and Reuters spoke to 10 South Africans who had either returned or were planning to, seven of them from across Europe and three from the United States. Their reasons, echoed in a 25,000-strong "Return to South Africa" Facebook group some belong to, included being closer to family, lower living costs and political turmoil abroad. The Trump administration is ramping up its new refugee programme for white South Africans, focusing on Afrikaners, the descendants of Dutch settlers. About 3,500 South Africans have entered the United States as refugees since the programme started in May 2025. Applicants interviewed by Reuters complained of being victims of racially motivated crime and employment equity laws that favour non-white candidates in order to redress decades of white minority rule. Advertisement Other Afrikaners, like Naomi Saphire, take a different view. She had been settled in the United States for two decades when she came back for a holiday and realized how much she missed home. Last year, she left North Carolina for a seaside town in South Africa's Western Cape, where she said her three children spend more time outdoors, health insurance is affordable and she prefers the schools. "My heart is just full of gratefulness to be here," the 46-year-old said from her home in Plettenberg Bay. "The U.S. has been really good to me (but) I just felt like I was depriving my kids of this life." Saphire said she knows many people who are returning home. RETURNEES USE REMOTE WORKING TO KEEP THEIR JOBS Crime and joblessness are major issues in South Africa, but the unemployment rate is 35% for Black people compared with 8% for whites, according to the latest figures from the national statistics agency Stats SA. Police statistics released last year showed that even farm murders, which Trump has focused on, killed more Black people than whites. Reuters has found that photos and videos Trump has presented on the matter were taken out of context or misrepresented. Still, Stats SA estimated a net outward flow of half a million whites since 2001, including 95,000 from 2021 to 2026. There is no regular data on returnees, but a Stats SA analysis showed that 28,000 South Africans returned in 2022, 52.9% - or some 14,800 - of whom were white. Anton van Heerden, CEO of employment agency DNA Employer of Record, said inquiries from white South Africans seeking to return had jumped 70% in the past six months. Angel Jones, CEO of Johannesburg-based recruitment firm HomecomingEx, reported a roughly 30% rise in inquiries since 2024. A boom in remote working since the COVID-19 pandemic has also helped; three of the returnees interviewed by Reuters kept their jobs abroad. Many South African professionals have extensive private security at home which minimizes crime risks, Van Heerden said. "If you can afford to live in a safe environment, you can have a much better life than I think in most places in the northern hemisphere," he said. Several returnees also said they felt life in South Africa had improved since they left. Power cuts, which used to be daily, for example, have largely stopped. Thirty-eight-year-old engineer Eugene Jansen, who returned from the Netherlands in December with his wife and two children, said the returnees he knows feel things are getting better. "The opinion is that the country is improving," he said. (Reporting by Nellie Peyton and Tim Cocks; Editing by Mike Collett-White and Philippa Fletcher) Traveling out of Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) Tuesday, March 10? Travelers again faced lengthy TSA checkpoint wait times at some U.S. airports Monday, including an average 3-hour wait at Houston Hobby Airport. TSA staffing issues stemming from the ongoing partial government shutdown and the spring break travel spike have contributed to the extended waits. Impacts on Florida airports, including RSW, continue to be minor. However, RSW officials urged travelers to arrive early. "Lines are long at certain times of day due to the busy travel season in Southwest Florida. Please be in your security checkpoint line at least two hours ahead for a domestic flight and three hours for an international flight. The lines vary by concourse and time of day," a post on the RSW Facebook page reads. Here are the latest wait times at RSW and other Florida airports: TSA wait times at RSW airport in Fort Myers, Tuesday, March 10? According to the TSA, estimated checkpoint wait times at RSW as of 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 10, are: Advertisement Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW): 15-30 minutes, decreasing to less than 15 minutes after 3 p.m. What are the current wait times at Florida airports? As of Tuesday morning, here are the estimated security wait times for Florida airports according to the airports and TSA. Note that TSA estimates may not be current due to the shutdown when the MyTSA app is not updated: Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB): 0-15 minutes Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS): 0-15 minutes Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL): 0-30 minutes Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV): 0-15 minutes Jacksonville International Airport (JAX): 0-15 minutes Key West International Airport (EYW): 0-15 minutes Melbourne Orlando International Airport (MLB): 0-15 minutes Miami International Airport (MIA): 0-30 minutes Northwest Florida Beaches International (ECP): 0-15 minutes Orlando International Airport (MCO): 0-15 minutes Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB): 0-15 minutes Palm Beach International Airport (PBI): 0-15 minutes Pensacola International Airport (PNS): 0-15 minutes Punta Gorda Airport (PGD): 0-15 minutes Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ): 0-15 minutes St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE): 0-15 minutes Tallahassee International Airport (TLH): 0-15 minutes Tampa International Airport (TPA): 0-25 minutes Wait times will be shorter for travelers with TSA PreCheck, or for families or military members using dedicated lines, where available. How to check TSA wait times Need to know when to be at the airport? There are a few ways to monitor TSA lines in real time. Airport websites: Some airports post checkpoint wait updates so you can see how the day is going. Airport social media: Follow your airport's social media page. Often, when there are significant delays, the airport will post about it. The MyTSA mobile app: The TSA's free app provides estimated wait times for many U.S. airports based on TSA data and traveler reports, along with other TSA information. However, this information may not be up to date due to the ongoing government shutdown when nonessential services are not maintained. Banners on both the TSA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection websites warn that, Due to the lapse in federal funding, this website will not be actively managed. 3rd party sites: Several unofficial websites, such as airportinsightfind.com, fly.com, flightqueue.com or tsawaittimes.com, provide estimated wait times based on airport reports and traveler submissions. You can get all of Floridas best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY. This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: RSW TSA wait times Tuesday at Fort Myers airport Ozgur Ozel, leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), speaks during an interview with Reuters in Istanbul, Turkey, March 11, 2026. REUTERS/Murad Sezer By Daren Butler and Ali Kucukgocmen ISTANBUL, March 11 (Reuters) - The trial of Istanbul's jailed mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, is a purely political affair aimed at preventing him from challenging President Tayyip Erdogan in the next election, Turkey's main opposition leader told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday. Imamoglu, 55, appeared in court on Monday in the opening hearing of a sweeping corruption case involving more than 400 defendants linked to the Istanbul municipality. Prosecutors accuse him of leading a criminal organisation for profit through tender-rigging and bribery, charges he and his Republican People's Party (CHP) deny. "Let me put it plainly. In Turkey, what is happening is not a trial in the normal sense of the word. It is not a legal process but a political one," CHP leader Ozgur Ozel said. The judges handling the case have been tasked "not with conducting a fair trial but with delivering the decision that Erdogan wants", he said. Erdogan's government denies influencing the judiciary and says Turkey's courts are independent. The investigation into the Istanbul municipality was led by Akin Gurlek, who last month was appointed justice minister. Imamoglu has been held in pre-trial detention for nearly a year amid an unprecedented judicial crackdown on the CHP that rights groups and opposition figures say has damaged the democratic credentials of NATO member Turkey. KEEPING IMAMOGLU BEHIND BARS Ozel said he did not expect Imamoglu to be released from detention during his trial, adding that such an outcome would require greater social pressure within Turkey, international pressure, or a further drop in Erdogan's poll ratings. Advertisement Ozel said Erdogan wanted to keep Imamoglu in prison because, if released, he could campaign across the country ahead of elections that the opposition leader believes will take place next year, ahead of schedule. "If Imamoglu gets out, he could travel all over Turkey and launch a major campaign. That is why Erdogan wants to keep him inside," he said. Opinion polls show Imamoglu performing strongly against Erdogan in any presidential race, while party polling suggests a tight race between the secularist CHP and Erdogans Islamist-rooted AKP, with the CHP holding a narrow lead. Ozel said Turkish democracy had sharply deteriorated under Erdogan, who has led Turkey as prime minister or president since 2003. "Turkey's democracy has probably gone back 50 or 60 years," he said. "We have fallen into what I would call the third division in the world." Ozel also said he expected pressure on the opposition to intensify as elections approach. "Things will get worse, and [Erdogan] will become more aggressive. We are open to every kind of attack, both through legal channels and through other means," he said, adding that the opposition was not afraid and believed it would defeat Erdogan and his ruling AK Party at the ballot box. Ozel said he believed Erdogan was preparing for an early election in September or October 2027 rather than waiting until the scheduled 2028 vote because under the constitution an earlier ballot could allow the president to run again. "We want an election as soon as possible," Ozel added. "If the election is held in June 2028, Erdogan cannot run. If it is held early, he can." (Reporting by Daren Butler, Writing by Ece ToksabayEditing by Gareth Jones) Emirates' planes sit on the tarmac of Dubai International Airport (DXB) after two drones came down in the vicinity of the airport, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, March 11, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. REUTERS/Stringer By Federico Maccioni and Maha El Dahan DUBAI, March 11 (Reuters) - Two drones fell near Dubai's main airport and Bahrain evacuated some planes on Wednesday, as attacks on infrastructure across the Gulf continued to disrupt air traffic, hampering efforts to restore flights as the war on Iran entered a 12th day. The U.S.-Israel war against Iran has led to tens of thousands of flight cancellations, reroutings and schedule changes worldwide, shutting much of the Middle Easts airspace including Qatar's due to missile and drone threats. That has plunged aviation into its worst crisis since the pandemic, as Dubai International Airport (DXB), the busiest hub for global passengers, and other regional airports are critical transit points for long-haul travel. The conflict has also disrupted a key oil export corridor, leading to a spike in jet fuel prices, pushing fares higher on some routes and deepening concern about a broader hit to travel demand. Time-sensitive air cargo was also heavily affected. Highlighting the ripple effects of the conflict beyond the Middle East, the government in Vietnam warned on Wednesday that domestic airlines may be at risk of fuel shortages as soon as next month. TWO DRONES FALL NEAR DUBAI AIRPORT Advertisement Bahrain's Civil Aviation Affairs said on Wednesday that several Gulf Air aircraft without passengers, and some cargo airplanes, were relocated to alternative airports to "ensure the continuity and efficiency of air operations" during the crisis. It did not provide further details. Gulf Air was not immediately available for comment. Tracking data on FlightRadar24 showed several passenger jets moving to locations in Saudi Arabia over the past 24 hours. Dubai's media office confirmed two drones fell near Dubai airport, but said air traffic was operating as normal. Reuters witnesses said there was no visible damage to the airport. Four people were injured. The attack marked a renewed threat after DXB airport sustained damage on the first day of the conflict, alongside Abu Dhabi and Kuwait's international airports. Regional carriers like Dubai's Emirates and Abu Dhabi's Etihad, as well as Qatar Airways, have resumed some flights but were still operating well below capacity. Daily flights by the main United Arab Emirates airlines topped 600 over the weekend, but the rising number of flights flattened before dipping slightly on Tuesday, Flightradar24 data shows. (Reporting by Federico Maccioni, Maha El Dahan, Tala Ramadan and Nayera Abdallah in Dubai, Tim Hepher in Paris and Adam Jourdan in London; Writing by Josephine Mason; Editing by Bernadette Baum, Aidan Lewis) An Iranian drone attack in Kuwait that killed six U.S. service members in the early hours of the war with Iran was more severe than has previously been revealed, with dozens suffering injuries including brain trauma, shrapnel wounds and burns, multiple sources told CBS News. At least one may require the amputation of a limb. Sources described a grim and chaotic scene in the aftermath of the strike on a tactical operations center at the Shuaiba port outside Kuwait City on March 1. Smoke quickly filled the building, making it difficult to rescue those inside. More than 30 military members remained in hospitals Tuesday night with battle injuries from the Kuwait attack one at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, 12 at Walter Reed Medical Center in suburban Washington, D.C., and about 25 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, sources said. Of those, about 20 arrived on a C-17 military transport aircraft at Landstuhl on Tuesday with injuries the military designated as "urgent" and requiring evacuation, including traumatic brain injuries, memory loss and concussions, three of the sources said. More than 100 medical personnel were sent to Landstuhl to assist, one of the sources said. Defense Department officials initially didn't specify how many had been hurt in the Kuwait attack, but said on March 1 that five were seriously wounded and "several others sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions." Two of the service members were missing after the attack and were later found under the rubble, sources said. The Pentagon has a process to notify wounded soldiers' family members and seeks to shield them from learning from press releases about how extensive the injuries were. The military defines a serious injury as one that "requires medical attention, and competent medical authority declares that death is possible but not likely to occur within 72 hours." Advertisement Speaking at the Pentagon last week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, described the strike: "You have air defenses, and a lot's coming in, and you hit most of it. Every once in a while, you might have one, unfortunately, we call it a squirter, that makes its way through. And in that particular case, it happened to hit a tactical operations center that was fortified, but these are powerful weapons." At least one American was killed in a separate strike in Saudi Arabia March 1. It is unclear how many others may have been injured in that attack. On Tuesday, the 11th day of the war, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said about 140 American service members had been injured so far, without specifying where or when they were wounded. "The vast majority of these injuries have been minor, and 108 service members have already returned to duty. Eight service members remain listed as severely injured and are receiving the highest level of medical care," Parnell said in a statement. The military has robust air defenses shielding all U.S. personnel in range of Iranian attacks, sources told CBS News. Pentagon spokespeople did not immediately respond to questions on Tuesday about service members' injuries or where they were sustained. Editor's note: A previous version of this article said that at least one of the Americans wounded in the March 1 attack in Kuwait "required the amputation of a limb," but the individual has not yet undergone an amputation. The report has been updated. CBS News exclusive: LA is "ground zero" for hospice fraud Family of teacher killed during prank asks for charges to be dropped against teens How Venezuela is changing 2 months after Maduro's capture FILE PHOTO: General Christian Freuding welcomes German Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht during her visit at the Munster military base, in Munster, Germany, February 7, 2022. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer/File Photo By Sabine Siebold BERLIN, March 11 (Reuters) - Ukrainian military trainers will help Germany's military meet a target of being ready to defend against any Russian attack on NATO by 2029, the German army chief said, in a role reversal after years of Western troops training Ukrainian forces. Berlin and Kyiv agreed last month that Ukraine would send military instructors to German army schools to teach lessons they have learned from fighting against Russia's invasion. "We have high expectations," Lieutenant General Christian Freuding, the head of the German army, told Reuters in an interview. "The Ukrainian military is currently the only one in the world with frontline experience against Russia." Germany is not the only Western country drawing on Kyiv's experience: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Thursday pledged to provide assistance to the U.S. in dealing with Iranian drones in the Middle East. Freuding said Germany was the first country to reach an arrangement with Ukraine to provide military instructors but predicted others would follow suit. Asked what the Ukrainian trainers would contribute, he referred to assessments by German and other Western intelligence agencies that Russia could be ready for a large-scale attack on the NATO military alliance by 2029. "That's almost the day after tomorrow. We have no time - the enemy doesn't wait for us to declare we're ready. So we have to use every possibility to prepare," Freuding said. Advertisement Russia has insisted it does not intend to attack NATO, but Western officials say such assurances cannot be taken at face value as Moscow made similar statements before invading Ukraine. EXPERTISE IN ARTILLERY, DRONES AND ENGINEERING Freuding, who became army chief last October after previously coordinating Germany's arms supplies to Kyiv, said the initial contingent of Ukrainian trainers would likely number in the "middle double-digits" and stay for a few weeks at a time. The Ukrainian instructors are expected to contribute expertise in artillery, engineering, armoured operations, drone usage and command and control. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Germany has trained Ukrainian forces on weapons such as Marder infantry fighting vehicles, Leopard tanks, howitzers and air defence systems. Freuding said Ukraine had built on these skills in combat, developing tactics and capabilities in data-centric warfare - the military term for highly digitalised and interconnected operations - that cannot be found in textbooks. "The fact that they are now coming to us as instructors reflects a security partnership on an equal footing," Freuding said. (Reporting by Sabine Siebold; Editing by Andrew Gray and Alex Richardson) A suspected retaliatory drone attack by pro-Iranian militias struck a major U.S. diplomatic facility in Baghdad on Tuesday, according to The Washington Post. The newspaper said the strike hit the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center, and no injuries were immediately reported. Six drones were launched toward the compound, five of which were shot down. The Post, citing a security official and a State Department alert, reported one drone struck near a guard tower and people at the facility were instructed to "duck and cover." Gulf States Intercept Hundreds Of Iranian Missiles And Drones, Issue Joint Condemnation With Us U.S. Ambassador to Iraq James Jeffrey stands with Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Martin Dempsey, Gen. James Mattis, Gen. Lloyd Austin III and Sgt. Maj. Joseph Allen following a ceremony retiring the ceremonial flag at the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center on Dec. 15, 2011. (Reuters) "Accountability is ongoing," the alert said. Read On The Fox News App Iraqs ministry of defense condemned the drone and missile attacks targeting the Martyr Muhammad Alaa Air Base and the Martyr Ali Fallah Air Base in a post on X but did not mention the hit on the U.S. facility or Iran directly. "In response to these sinful aggressions, the Ministry wishes to clarify and confirm the following facts: These air bases are fully sovereign and Iraqi, subject entirely to the authority of the state and the law, and there is no representation of any foreign forces in them under any designation," the government account wrote. The security official told The Washington Post the attack was likely conducted by militias affiliated with the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a loose umbrella group of Iran-aligned Shiite armed factions that have claimed responsibility for attacks on U.S. forces in the region. Advertisement Us Embassy Struck By Drones In Saudi Arabia As Americans Instructed To Shelter In Place A billboard featuring a photo of Ali Khamenei, Irans supreme leader who was killed in U.S. and Israeli airstrikes, is seen along a street in Baghdad on March 9, 2026. At the start of Operation Epic Fury, the State Department had urged Americans to depart immediately from more than a dozen countries across the Middle East, warning of "serious safety risks" as the Iran war intensified. Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar said on March 2 that U.S. citizens should leave Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. The department said Americans who need help arranging departure via commercial means can contact the State Department 24/7 at +1-202-501-4444 from abroad or +1-888-407-4747 from the U.S. and Canada. Iran Proxies Wage War On Israel, Threaten Us Interests As Iraq Slammed For Not Disarming Them Protesters walk through tear gas during clashes with Iraqi security forces near a bridge leading to the Green Zone in Baghdad on March 1, 2026. Click Here To Download The Fox News App Officials warned conditions in the region remain volatile, and security situations could change quickly as fighting tied to the conflict continues. At least nine U.S. missions, including Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar and Israel, issued repeated shelter-in-place directives or advisories at the outset of Irans retaliatory attacks against U.S. forces and Israel. Original article source: US diplomatic facility in Iraq struck by drone By Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart WASHINGTON, March 11 (Reuters) - A strike on an Iranian girls' school that killed scores of children may be the result of U.S. use of outdated targeting data, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Wednesday, providing new details about what would rank among the worst cases of civilian casualties in decades of U.S. conflicts. Reuters first reported on Thursday that an ongoing, internal U.S. military investigation showed U.S. forces were likely responsible for the strike on the girls' school in Minab. Video surfaced that experts say appears to show a U.S. Tomahawk missile striking the area. But exactly how the tragedy unfolded has remained unclear and the Pentagon has declined comment, saying the investigation remains ongoing. The strike, during the first day of U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, killed 150 students, according to Iran's ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva, Ali Bahreini. According to archived copies of the school's official website, the school is adjacent to a compound operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the military force that reports to Iran's supreme leader. One of the sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said officials responsible for creating targeting packages appeared to have used out-of-date intelligence. The second source confirmed that out-of-date intelligence appears to have been used. Advertisement In response to a request for comment, the Pentagon said that "the incident is under investigation." The possible use of outdated targeting data was first reported by the New York Times earlier on Wednesday. It is unclear how old data ended up being used for the strike and what, if any other factors, might be responsible for the error. The investigation is still ongoing and it is not clear when a final conclusion will be reached. Since Reuters' report on the U.S. likely being responsible for the strike, U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed without evidence that Iran was responsible. But since then, he has said he does not know enough about the strike, that an investigation is ongoing and that he will accept the results of the inquiry. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other U.S. officials have stressed that the United States would not deliberately target civilians. Deliberately attacking a school or hospital or any other civilian structure would likely be a war crime under international humanitarian law. Images of the girls' funeral were shown on Iranian state television last week. Their small coffins were draped with Iranian flags and passed from a truck across a large crowd towards the grave site. (Reporting by Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart; Editing by Don Durfee and Deepa Babington) Smoke billows from an Israeli strike in the southern suburbs of Beirut on March 10, 2026 (Ibrahim AMRO) (Ibrahim AMRO/AFP/AFP) Iran unleashed a wave of attacks against Israel and Gulf nations on Wednesday, including targeting a Saudi oilfield, as reports of a proposed record release of oil reserves helped calm markets and prices. The war sparked by US-Israeli strikes on Iran has spread across the region and beyond, causing spiking energy costs, fuel rationing, and even school closures. G7 leaders will meet by video conference later Wednesday to discuss the war's economic consequences, particularly the "energy situation," the French presidency said, and the International Energy Agency will decide on a proposal for its largest-ever oil reserve release, the Wall Street Journal reported. The United States on Tuesday said it was hitting Iranian ships capable of mining the Strait of Hormuz, the crucial passageway for oil that has been effectively closed by Iranian threats. The US military posted video footage of Iranian boats blasted apart, saying it had destroyed 16 minelayers near the strait through which one-fifth of the world's oil passes. "If for any reason mines were placed, and they are not removed forthwith, the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before," President Donald Trump wrote on social media. Trump faces mounting political risks over the surging cost of oil, months before US elections. Crude prices spiked five percent late Tuesday, before turning lower Wednesday after the reserve release report. Trump has said the US military could accompany tankers through the strait, but his administration acknowledged that a post by the energy secretary announcing a first such escort was untrue. Early Wednesday, the UK maritime agency said a container ship off the coast of the United Arab Emirates had been hit by an "unknown projectile," illustrating the ongoing risks to transport through the region. With an eye on jittery markets, Trump on Monday said the war would be short, although his defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, then said Tehran would be hit by unprecedented fire on Tuesday. - 'Not seeking ceasefire' - The Israeli-US attacks came weeks after Iranian authorities ruthlessly crushed mass protests, although the United States and Israel say they are not necessarily seeking to topple the Islamic republic. Iranian authorities warned against dissent at home, with the country's police chief saying protesters will be be viewed and dealt with as "enemies". "All our forces are also ready, with their hands on the trigger, prepared to defend their revolution," said national police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan in comments aired by IRIB. Tehran also intensified its assault on targets in the region, with the government announcing it carried out its own "most intense and heaviest" salvo, firing missiles for three hours at cities across Israel. AFP journalists heard air raid sirens and explosions in Jerusalem. Emergency services reported no immediate injuries, although Channel 12 said several people were hurt in Tel Aviv. New salvos were reported early on Wednesday, with no reports of injuries. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they also fired on Bahrain and Iraqi Kurdistan, both of which have a heavy US presence, and also targeted a US air base in Kuwait, Iranian media said. Kuwait said it had downed eight drones, without offering further details. Drones and ballistic missiles were also intercepted elsewhere in the Gulf, including multiple drones heading to the Shaybah oil field in Saudi Arabia, its defence ministry said. Advertisement Earlier, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a former top commander in the elite Revolutionary Guards, said in an English-language post on X: "Certainly we aren't seeking a ceasefire." "We believe the aggressor must be punished and taught a lesson that will deter them from attacking Iran again," he added. Seven US military personnel have been killed and about 140 injured since the start of the war, according to the Pentagon. - Fright in Tehran - The United States and Israel launched the war on February 28 with an attack that killed Iran's veteran leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. His son Mojtaba Khamenei has been named his successor, though he has yet to appear in public. In Tehran, one woman in her 40s said she found some reassurance in her impression that the bombings "don't target ordinary buildings". But she said, "The noise of the bombings is extremely disturbing." Iran's health ministry said on March 8 that more than 1,200 people had been killed, and over 10,000 civilians injured. The conflict has spread as far as Sri Lanka, where US forces torpedoed an Iranian ship, and Australia, which said Wednesday it granted asylum to two more members of the Iranian women football team. Iraq and Lebanon, both home to Iran-backed fighters, have become proxy grounds in the war. In Iraq, Iranian-linked groups said Tuesday that five of their fighters died in strikes they blamed on the United States. In Lebanon, hundreds of people have been killed and hundreds of thousands have fled their homes following Israeli airstrikes and ground operations targeting Iran-backed Hezbollah. New Israeli strikes were reported in Beirut's southern suburbs on Wednesday, with the health ministry saying another five people had been killed in the southern town of Qana. An Israeli strike also hit a central Beirut neighbourhood on Wednesday morning, state media reported. Iran complained to the United Nations that four of its diplomats died in a strike on a seafront hotel in central Beirut on Sunday, which Israel said was aimed at "key commanders" from Iran's Revolutionary Guards. The effects of the war are being felt globally, with the UN trade and development agency warning of rising costs for essentials like fuel and food hitting the world's most vulnerable people. In Egypt, which increased the cost of fuels by up to 30 percent, mother-of-six Om Mohamed fretted about the future. "We were barely getting by as it is. I don't know how people will manage," she told AFP at a Cairo market. burs-sah/hmn Evangelist David Nasser, a 1988 graduate of Vestavia Hills High School who escaped the 1979 Iranian Revolution when he was a child, has been sharing his story widely as international attention focuses on the current U.S. war with Iran. Its a long journey from Iran to Alabama, from speaking Persian as a child to preaching to thousands in English, from being a Muslim to becoming a Christian evangelist in demand all over America. Nasser left his home in Iran at age 9, after his military father arranged an escape during the Islamic revolution that launched Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini to power in 1979. The same week we escaped, 54 Americans were taken hostage, Nasser said in an interview with The Birmingham News in 2007, when he had his ministry offices in Hoover. Hes now teaching pastor at New Vision Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where he again shared the story of his escape from Iran in a sermon last week. He was also a guest on multiple Fox News programs the past week, where he celebrated what he hoped would be the end of Irans fundamentalist religious government. This is both scary for our family members back home, but exhilarating, Nasser said on Fox News. Weve been asking God for this for so many years. Nasser also appeared last week on the Live Free with Josh Howerton podcast, sharing his story with Howerton, senior pastor of LakePointe Church in Dallas. Nasser has recounted the story many times to audiences across the country. His father was a high-ranking military officer in the Iranian government before the Islamic revolution. Many of Nassers fathers military friends who were loyal to the Shah of Iran had been captured, tortured, imprisoned and killed. He knew for sure they were coming for him, Nasser said. Nasser said that on his last day of military school at an army base in Iran, a soldier held a gun to his head and said he was ordered to kill him. The mans hand was shaking and the principal intervened to stop him. Nasser told his father, who accelerated their plans to leave Iran. Nasser said his father paid off doctors who helped him claim that his wife needed bypass heart surgery, then he bought round-trip tickets out of the country, pretending they planned to return. Nasser, his parents, and a brother and sister went to Switzerland and sought political asylum through the U.S. Embassy. The Nassers waited in Switzerland and then Munich, Germany, for nine months, hoping to be granted asylum in the United States. The United States did not have out a welcome mat for Iranian Muslims, even ones escaping terrorism, he said. Weve exhausted all our avenues, Nasser said his mother told them. His mother showed the children a picture. This is Jesus, she said. Hes American. We need to ask him to let us into his country. Not knowing anything about Jesus, Nasser nonetheless prayed to Jesus. We close our eyes. Jesus, let us into your country. A week after we mentioned the name of Jesus, he opened the doors for us. They were granted asylum. The Nasser family ended up moving to Alabama, where his father opened a French restaurant. A group from Shades Mountain Baptist Church went there one night for dinner, and saw that the restaurant staff was short-handed and overwhelmed. Advertisement Instead of complaining about the bad service, they rolled up their sleeves and waited on tables at my Dads restaurant, Nasser said on the Josh Howerton Podcast. They went back the next day and did it again. The worship pastor, Aubrey Edwards, invited Nassers father to come to church choir practice. Out of gratitude, Nassers father went to choir practice. Edwards circulated a volunteer sheet for anyone in the choir who could help work for free as bus boys and waiters at the restaurant. For weeks, church volunteers helped staff the restaurant. Nasser, after graduating from Vestavia High, said he knew nothing about this when a friend asked him to go to church with him. He asked his fathers permission to go to church with his friend. What is the name of it? his father asked. The friend, standing nearby, said it was Shades Mountain Baptist Church. I know those people, Nassers father said. You can go there. The youth group began visiting Nassers home every Monday night for eight weeks for Bible study. Nasser joined the church and became a Christian at age 18. His family had been only culturally Islamic, not devout Muslims, but the conversion still upset his father. My father was affluent, highly educated and traveled quite a bit, Nasser said. My dad was real high-ranking in the military. He lost his position, his pedigree, and now I was abandoning a heritage of faith. I never set out to discredit their faith. I wanted to find peace and restoration in my life and I found it in Christ. Within five years, his parents, brother and sister all became Christians. Because of his dramatic escape from Iran and Christian conversion, Nasser was soon in demand as a speaker at churches. In 1989 he began traveling with evangelist Rick Stanley, the step-brother of Elvis Presley. Stanley often drew crowds of thousands and would call up Nasser, putting him on the spot to answer questions. It taught Nasser that he needed to study the Bible extensively and always be able to give a biblical answer to a question about any social issue. In 1991 he began traveling with evangelist Jay Strack, then in the mid-1990s began speaking for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, doing as many as 17 conferences, retreats and revivals a year. Nasser began traveling and speaking as much as 180 days a year through David Nasser Outreach, which he ran from an office at his home in Hoover. He later moved away from Alabama to take a job as campus pastor and senior vice president at Liberty University. He was at Liberty from 2014-2021, then moved to Tennessee. He has written several books, including Glory Revealed, which was released with a companion music disc featuring Mac Powell, Michael W. Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, Brian Littrell and other top Christian artists. His first book, A Call to Die, was released in 2000 and sold more than 130,000 copies. He said the focus of most of his preaching and writing is to help people escape the drudgery of religion to find true faith, and to help them understand God through Scripture. Throughout his life, though, the Iranian revolution lingered on his mind. Were waking up to the hope that this is the dawn of a new season, Nasser said on Fox News Sunday. Weve always dreamed of seeing the people of Iran liberated. That we might actually see them freed is an incredible moment. Most Popular Stories by Greg Garrison Chilling map shows 4 safest US states in the event of a nuclear war Alabama Supreme Court makes ruling in United Methodist church property disputes Im standing on the shoulders of a giant: Son takes over dads Alabama megachurch after 38 years Katie Britt lashes out at Fox News report saying she opposes talking filibuster to pass Save Act United Methodist Bishop Holston names first clergy appointment of 2026 for Alabama Read the original article on al.com. Add al.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here. The Brief A Virginia man is accused of trying to get at least three minors to send him sexually explicit photos and videos. He contacted the children through a popular messaging app, offering to pay them in cash and with "Robux." "Robux" is the currency used in the popular online gaming platform Roblox that many children use. CULPEPER, Va. - A Virginia man has been charged after authorities say he tried to get at least three children to send him sexually explicit photos of themselves in exchange for Robux the currency used in the popular online gaming platform Roblox. What we know On March 5, officers with the Culpeper Police Department arrested 20-year-old Angel David Rubio Marin for allegedly trying to get the minors to produce child sexual abuse material. The investigation began on March 1 after the Culpeper Police Department received a report that three children had been contacted by an adult stranger through a popular messaging service. It was quickly determined that the communication was sexual in nature, prompting detectives to further investigate. Detectives discovered that the suspect offered to pay three children under the age of 10 for sexually explicit videos and images. Not only did the suspect offer to pay them with regular money, but he also offered to pay them with "Robux," which can be spent in the popular kids' game Roblox. Advertisement The charges Investigators were able to identify Rubio Marin, a resident of Manassas, as the suspect. He faces seven felony counts of the use of communications systems to facilitate certain offenses involving children. He was brought before a judge and was ordered to be held without bond at the Prince William County jail. Police believe it is likely that Rubio Marin had similar contact with additional, unidentified children, and detectives are asking anyone with additional information to come forward. Additional charges may be obtained following further investigation. What they're saying Police are reminding parents and families to be careful when interacting with others online. "The Culpeper Police Department would like to remind users of internet-based social platforms that predators are constantly finding new ways of contacting juveniles on these sites, and that parental monitoring is crucial to the safety of children online. As proven in this investigation, proactive monitoring by parents is often the last line of defense between predators and potential victims." Why Trumps War Against Iran Is Uniquely Unpopular Among Americans Its clear that regime change is among the biggest objectives of the U.S. war in Iran. I have to be involved in the appointment of Irans next leader, President Donald Trump said on March 5, 2026. Trump has also said he might put U.S. boots on the ground to get the job done. Trump now joins a long list of modern U.S. presidents from Franklin Roosevelt to Harry Truman, Lyndon Johnson, George W. Bush and Barack Obama who started wars to either overthrow hostile regimes or support embattled friendly governments abroad. For all the parallels to history, though, Trumps Iran war is historically unique in one critically important way: In its early stages, the war is not popular with the American public. A recent CNN poll found that 59 percent of Americans oppose the war a trend found in poll after poll since the war began. As an expert on U.S. foreign policy and regime change wars, my research shows that whats likely generating public opposition to the Iran war today is the absence of a big story with a grand purpose that has bolstered public support for just about every major U.S.-promoted regime change war since 1900. These broad, purpose-filled narratives generate public buy-in to support the costs of war, which are often high in terms of money spent and lives lost when regime change is at stake. Two historical examples In the 1930s and 40s, a widely accepted and largely true story about the dangers of fascism spreading and democracies falling galvanized national support in the United States to enter and then take on the high costs of fighting in World War II. Likewise, in the 2000s, a dominant narrative about preventing a repeat of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and stopping terrorism brought strong initial public support for the war in Afghanistan, with 88% support in 2001, and the war in Iraq, with 70% support in 2003. With no comparable narrative around Iran today, Trump and Republicans could face big problems, especially as costs continue to rise. No anti-Iran narrative Iran has been a thorn in the side of many American presidents for a long time. So, whats missing? Why no grand-purpose narrative at the start of this war? Two things. First, grand-purpose narratives are rooted in major geopolitical gains by a rival regime the danger to the U.S. For the anti-fascism narrative, those events were German troops plowing across Europe and the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. For the anti-terrorism narrative, it was planes crashing into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. A U.S. Army carry team in Dover, Del., moves a coffin on March 7, 2026, containing the remains of a U.S. soldier killed in the retaliatory Iranian strike on Kuwaits Port of Shuaiba. (Getty Images) Gains like these by rivals prove traumatic to the nation. They also dislodge the status quo and provide the opportunity for new grand-purpose narratives with new policy directions to emerge. Today, most Americans see no existential danger around Iran. A Marist poll from March 3, 2026, found that 55 percent of Americans view Iran as a minor threat or no threat at all. And the number who see Iran as a major threat, 44 percent, is down from 48 percent in July 2025. By contrast, 64 percent of Americans saw Iraq as a considerable threat prior to the 2003 U.S. war in Iraq. The poll numbers on Iran arent surprising. Iran is far from a geopolitical menace to the United States today. To the contrary, its been in geopolitical retreat in the Middle East in recent years. In the summer of 2025, Irans nuclear enrichment facilities were significantly damaged completely and totally obliterated, according to Trump, though there is no confirmation of that claim during the 12-Day war between Iran and Israel. And in recent years, Tehran has lost a major ally in Syria and witnessed its proxy network all but collapse. Iran has also faced crippling economic conditions and historic protests at home. Advertisement As the polls show, none of that has sparked a grand-purpose narrative. Missing a good story The second missing factor for narrative formation today is any strong messaging from the White House. In the months prior to World War II, Roosevelt used his position of authority as president to give speech after speech, setting the context of the traumatic events of the 1930s, explaining the dangers at hand and outlining a course going forward. Though less truthful in its content, Bush did the same for nearly two years before the Iraq War. Trump did almost none of this storytelling leading up to the Iran war. Five days before the war started, the president devoted three minutes to Iran in a nearly two-hour State of the Union Address. President Trump at a press conference in Miami on March 9, 2026. (Getty Images) Prior to that, he made a comment here and there to the press about Iran, but no storytelling preparing the nation for war. Likewise, since the war began, the administrations stated reasons for military action keep shifting. No wonder 54% of Americans polled disapprove of Trumps handling of Iran and 60% of Americans say Trump has no clear plan for Iran. Also, 60% disapprove of Trumps handling of foreign policy in general. By comparison, Americans approved of Bushs handling of foreign policy by 63% in early 2003. Absent a cohesive, unifying story, its also no surprise that there is a lot of political fracturing today. Partisan divides run deep Democrats and independent voters strongly oppose the war. But Trumps MAGA coalition is cracking too, with people like Tucker Carlson and Marjorie Taylor Greene sharply criticizing the war. The way out If he opts for it, there is an off-ramp for Trump from the Iran war. Its one he knows well. When U.S. leaders get caught up in costly regime change wars that outrun national support, they tend to back down, often with far fewer political costs than if theyd continued their unpopular war. When the disaster referred to as Black Hawk Down hit in Somalia in 1993, killing 18 U.S. Marines, President Bill Clinton opted to end the mission to topple the warlords that ruled the country. Troops came home six months later. Likewise, after the Benghazi attack killed four Americans in Libya in 2012, Obama pulled out all U.S. personnel working in Libya on nation-building operations. And just last year, when Trump realized that U.S. ground troops would be necessary to topple the Houthi militant group in Yemen, he negotiated a ceasefire and ended his air war in that country with no significant political fallout. With Trumps Iran war, gas prices keep rising, more soldiers are likely to die, and stocks are highly volatile. Backing down makes a lot of sense. History confirms that. Charles Walldorf, Professor of Politics and International Affairs, Wake Forest University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The post Why Trumps War Against Iran Is Uniquely Unpopular Among Americans appeared first on Katie Couric Media. A group of military personnel The UK's position on conscription has been made clear in the wake of the White House's refusal to rule out plans for a Vietnam-style military draft in the US. When pressed yesterday evening on whether Donald Trump would send troops to Iran and introduce a military draft, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded: "It is not part of the current plan right now but the president again wisely keeps his options on the table." This week, Croatia joined the growing list of countries calling up young people for mandatory military service, whilst in Germany, thousands of teenagers have walked out of school in protest over a compulsory fitness test for 18-year-old males that opponents claim is a stepping stone to conscription. In Britain, however, the government has been unequivocal that there are no plans to bring back any type of conscription or National Service, which was scrapped in the 1960s. It comes after Trump was caught on a hot mic making a chilling threat that could spark WW3. Croatia became the latest nation this week to summon young people for compulsory military service (Image: ANTONIO BAT/EPA/Shutterstock) Last December, Defence Secretary John Healey maintained that the UK "does not need" to revive such a program, contending that resources would be better spent ensuring the nation has "great professional forces" following years of Conservative defense budget reductions. Still, certain experts remain advocates for some version of incentivized military service - including one who proposed today that young people should receive tuition fee waivers if they sign up. Anthony Glees, a professor at the University of Buckingham and former director of the Centre for Security and Intelligence Studies, said: "I'm very much in favour of it. We need to deter Putin from a conventional war just as we've deterred him from a nuclear one. That means troops as well as hardware and that of course means we need to spend, massively. "I've argued in the past that to get our young to enlist to defend us they do need an inducement to sit alongside patriotism. In WW2 troops were encouraged by the prospect of the NHS and homes for heroes if they secured victory. Advertisement The White House refused to dismiss plans for a Vietnam-style military draft in the US (Image: Aaron Schwartz - Pool via CNP/Shutterstock) "Well, we have the NHS so let's offer homes, free further and higher education, cancelling student debt. I'd even close 50% of our unis to help fund all this." During the Second World War, Britain drafted all men aged 18 to 41, with exemptions granted to those who were medically unfit or worked in essential industries such as baking, farming, and medicine. Following the war, the Ministry of Defence continued to call up men aged 18-30 for National Service, a mandatory period of military training in the armed forces lasting between 18 months and two years. It included intensive basic training known as 'square-bashing', a modest wage, and in certain cases, overseas deployments to Germany, Malaya, and Korea. The National Service call-up officially concluded on December 31, 1960, with the final personnel discharged in May 1963. In the run-up to the 2024 General Election, then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak encountered broad criticism for what many characterized as a 'rushed' manifesto commitment to reintroduce compulsory national service in Britain, which would have mandated a 12-month full-time military assignment or weekend volunteer work in community positions. He was defeated in the election, and his proposals have not been revisited by the current Labour government. ]]> Military deputies discuss Xi's speech at annual legislative session Xinhua) 08:09, March 11, 2026 This photo taken on March 9, 2026 shows the Great Hall of the People ahead of the second plenary meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Members of the military delegation attending the ongoing annual session of the national legislature studied and discussed President Xi Jinping's speech delivered at a plenary meeting of the delegation, a military spokesperson said Tuesday. Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the delegation of the People's Liberation Army and the People's Armed Police Force at the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress, said the speech by Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), has further enriched and developed the guidelines and policies for enhancing political loyalty in the military. Attending the meeting last Saturday, Xi stressed the effort to fully leverage the unique strengths of enhancing political loyalty in the military, and called for concerted efforts to advance the modernization of national defense and the armed forces in a steady and sustained manner. Zhang said military deputies pledged to implement the system of ultimate responsibility resting with the chairman of the CMC, continue to deepen political rectification, strengthen all-around military training and combat readiness, and pool strength to advance high-quality development. On the priorities for the modernization of national defense and the armed forces, Zhang said the military will strengthen political guidance to deepen political rectification, increase the supply of advanced combat capabilities, enhance military governance with an emphasis on improving the institutions and mechanisms for leading and managing the people's armed forces, and strengthen the development of integrated national strategies and strategic capabilities. ON DEFENSE BUDGET The figure earmarked for national defense in the 2026 national general public budget is expected to rise by 6.9 percent from the previous year's actual spending. Of the figure, central government expenditures on national defense are expected to increase by 7 percent. Zhang spelled out four priority areas for the increase in the defense budget this year. He said the budget increase will go to promoting the integrated development of the military through mechanization, informatization, and the application of smart technologies. The spending will be used to optimize the joint operational system and enhance the development of advanced combat capabilities. The spending will also be used to accelerate the development of advanced weaponry and defense technology innovation, advance the construction of modern logistics, and continuously deepen political rectification and advance military training under real combat conditions. FIGHT "TAIWAN INDEPENDENCE" FORCES, OPPOSE EXTERNAL INTERFERENCE Zhang said the Chinese military will resolutely fight separatist forces aimed at "Taiwan independence" and oppose external interference. "We will strive for peaceful reunification with the greatest sincerity and the utmost effort, but we will never promise to renounce the use of force," he said. The armed forces will intensify training and combat readiness, enhance their capability to fight and win, resolutely thwart any attempts at secession or external interference, and safeguard peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, he added. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Anniversary Celebration Set for March 2022, 2026, at Camp Monte Toyon APTOS, Calif., March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Web of Life Field (WOLF) School is proud to celebrate its 37th anniversary, marking more than three decades of immersive, field-based science education that has impacted generations of students across California. WOLF School provides outdoor experiences that give students the opportunity to gain knowledge, awareness, and respect for their environment, their community, and themselves, creating lifelong learners and global stewards. Founded in 1989 by Aptos native Randy Widera, WOLF School began with a simple but powerful vision: to connect young people to the natural world through hands-on, outdoor learning experiences that awaken curiosity and stewardship. What started as a single program at Camp Monte Toyon has grown into a multi-campus organization serving more than 12,000 students annually through its four residential campuses and its coastal marine science initiative, Camp SEA Lab. A Vision Rooted in Connection Widera originally launched the program as Science and Environmental Adventures in Learning (SEAL School), inspired by his work in environmental education and mentors in the outdoor school movement. Early on, the program merged with United Camps, Conferences & Retreats (UCCR) becoming the WOLF School, a name reflecting the ecological "web of life" and the belief that students thrive when they understand their place within the interconnected systems of nature and community. Reflecting on the milestone, Widera shared: When I think back to those first days at Monte Toyon, I remember standing in the redwoods hoping that we could create something that mattered in children's lives. What I could never have imagined was the extraordinary community that would rise up around that vision. WOLF School was never built by one person. It was built by passionate naturalists who poured their hearts into every lesson, by teachers who trusted us with their students, by staff who stayed up late comforting homesick kids, by kitchen teams who made camp feel like home, and by administrators and board members who believed in the long game. For 37 years, it has been thousands of small, loving acts: a counselor remembering a child's name, a teacher encouraging a shy student to try, a staff member noticing when someone needed to be seen. These acts are what have made WOLF School what it is. I feel nothing but gratitude. Watching students step into the forest uncertain and leave confident, connected, and proud has been one of the deepest joys of my life. The real legacy of WOLF School belongs to the people who showed up, week by week and year after year, to make it possible. Leadership, Growth, and the Sea For the past 25 years, WOLF School has been led by Director Heather Butler, who succeeded Widera and guided the organization through significant growth, innovation, and resilience. "WOLF School has always been about more than outdoor education," Butler said. "It's about helping students feel seen, capable, and connected to nature, to each other, and to themselves. Over the last quarter century, we've expanded our programs while staying grounded in the core belief that belonging is the foundation of learning." In 2020, Butler oversaw the formal merger of WOLF School with Camp SEA Lab, bringing together forest and marine science education under a single unified vision. Camp SEA Lab's roots stretch back to 1997, when a group of local teachers, scientists, and resource managers from marine science and education organizations around Monterey Bay came together to address a need for stronger marine science education in local schools. They developed a plan for a residential marine science program that would capitalize on the region's unique natural and institutional resources. Supported by broad-based community advocacy and seed funding from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, California Sea Grant, and the California Coastal Commission, Camp SEA Lab launched its first one-week pilot camp in the summer of 2000. Built on collaboration and regional partnership, the marine science program quickly became a respected leader in hands-on marine science education. The 2020 merger strengthened both organizations, expanding access for students by creating a seamless educational arc from redwood forest ecosystems to the living laboratory of Monterey Bay. 37th Anniversary Celebration To honor this milestone, WOLF School will host a 37th Anniversary Celebration March 2022, 2026, at Camp Monte Toyon, where the program first began. The weekend will bring together alumni, educators, former staff, families, and community partners to celebrate the school's legacy and future. A special highlight of the celebration will be the debut of Bertram J. Chatham's new book, Art of the Welcome: A Practical Guide to Helping Kids Feel Safe, Seen, and at Home at Camp. Chatham's work on the power of intentional welcoming has long inspired WOLF School's approach to building community and belonging. In Chapter 1, Chatham writes: "Every child who arrives at camp is carrying an entire universe inside them. Dreams and fears in equal measure." The philosophy described in Art of the Welcome reflects a value that has been embedded in WOLF School since its early years - that the first moments of arrival can shape a child's entire experience of growth, confidence, and belonging. A Legacy of Impact Over 37 years, WOLF School has served hundreds of thousands of students many of whom now send their own children to experience the same transformative week in the redwoods or along the coast. Teachers consistently report increases in student engagement, collaboration, and environmental literacy following participation. As WOLF School looks toward the future, its mission remains as vital as ever: to nurture scientific curiosity, resilience, and stewardship in the next generation. For more information about WOLF School programs or to donate to support building respect, appreciation, and stewardship within the web of life, visit www.wolfschool.org. Media Contact: Name: Heather Butler Title: Director WOLF School Mobile: 831/431-0669 Email: [email protected] SOURCE WOLF School A woman waits as a person processes a payment with a card reader, outside in a parking lot. Shoppers in western Pennsylvania are being warned after a scam targeting grocery store customers surfaced in a Shaler Township Giant Eagle parking lot. According to a report by CBS News Pittsburgh, authorities say the suspects approached people claiming to collect donations for a funeral, then asked them to pay using their debit or credit cards instead of cash (1). Must Read Investigators say the suspects then allegedly used electronic devices to copy the card information and make unauthorized charges, and they believe the group could be operating in multiple areas. How this scam works Tap-to-pay technology and portable card readers have become a normal part of modern retail transactions, enabling contactless purchases in seconds. As highlighted in a 2024 article by PYMNTS, Mastercard reported contactless payments accounted for 70% of its transactions as of Q3 that year (2). And according to a 2025 report from digital banking services firm Cheqly, almost 90% of consumers across the country had used contactless payments before (3). While this method of payment is fast and convenient, it also creates opportunities for criminals to process a payment without the victim ever seeing the full transaction. In some cases, victims may not see the total before tapping. In others, scammers can quickly adjust the amount or move the device out of view, making it easy to overcharge or capture card information. By the time victims check their bank statements, they could discover they were charged for a much higher amount than they expected, or that their card information was compromised and used elsewhere. But a big flaw with this scam can be exposed by savvy consumers who take their time before they donate to a cause the pressure to pay there and then is a huge red flag. "It's really important that you know exactly who you're giving to," Caitlin Driscoll, public relations director with the Better Business Bureau of Western Pennsylvania, told CBS (1). "Don't be afraid to ask questions regarding who the donation is impacting, the organization that they are collecting for. You don't have to give on the spot." In a post on Facebook (4), the Shaler Township Police Department urged residents to exercise caution, saying, "Do not provide anyone soliciting money in person or over the phone with any personal or financial information. If you have questions, please feel free to contact our agency." Advertisement 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 Red flags and what to do if you get scammed Contactless payments are a modern-day convenience that can feel safe because theyve become so common. But it doesnt mean that there arent risks. The Federal Trade Commission reported that consumers lost more than $12.5 billion to scams in 2024, and that fraudsters are getting more aggressive and inventive with their tactics (5). Scammers play on peoples emotions and can use triggers like medical emergencies, funerals or disasters to exploit generosity and create urgency. Remember that a donation is not an obligation. If you want to donate, legitimate charities and fundraisers will give you time to research them and contribute through official channels. The Better Business Bureau (6) recommends first verifying a charity via Give.org. If someone approaches you for a donation, watch out for these red flags: Refuses cash and insists on a card. Pressures you to act immediately. Offers vague details about the charity or fundraiser. Covers the transaction amount on a tap-to-pay terminal. If you discover unauthorized charges after a tap-to-pay transaction: Contact your bank or card issuer right away and report the transaction as fraudulent. Request a chargeback or dispute the transaction. Cancel or freeze your card to prevent more charges. Monitor your account closely for additional suspicious activity. Consider putting a fraud alert on your credit file. Tap-to-pay may be a modern-day convenience, but convenience shouldnt replace caution. You can still contribute to a cause safely, without feeling pressured to do so. If you notice any of the red flags or something feels off, walk away and report the incident to local police. Staying alert and informed could be your best way to protect yourself and your wallet. 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. CBS News (1); PYMNTS (2); Cheqly (3); Shaler Township Police Department/Facebook (4); Federal Trade Commission (5); Better Business Bureau (6) This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos Credit: Jan Sonnenmair/Getty NEED TO KNOW The Arizona sheriff and the department investigating the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie are facing a $1.35 million lawsuit unrelated to the high-profile case According to a complaint reviewed by PEOPLE, Christopher Marx, an inmate at the Pima County Jail, alleges that his life was put at risk by a sheriff because proper precautions were not taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19 during his time in custody On Tuesday, March 10, PEOPLE reached out to the Pima County Sheriff's Department for comment on the lawsuit, and a spokesperson said that Sheriff Chris Nanos does not comment on pending litigation The Arizona sheriff and the department investigating the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie are facing a $1.35 million lawsuit unrelated to the high-profile case. According to a complaint reviewed by PEOPLE, Christopher Marx, an inmate at the Pima County Jail, alleges that his life was put at risk by a sheriff because proper precautions were not taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19 during his time in custody. The complaint was filed on March 5 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona against Sheriff Chris Nanos and the Pima County Sheriffs Department. Marx claims that a sheriffs deputy who had been working in a unit where an inmate was quarantined with COVID-19 traveled back and forth between that unit and his own which was on lockdown without proper sanitization between visits, per the complaint. "This deputy also had to serve our dinner meal on his shift," the complaint states. Marx alleges that the deputy's actions "put my life in jeopardy," according to the complaint. "I could of [sic] caught COVID-19," he said in the complaint. "I could of [sic] died. The complaint states that Marx is seeking $1.35 million to fund the purchase of two apartment buildings to house the homeless [for] six months rent free. He is also requesting an apology from the Pima County Sheriff's Department. On Tuesday, March 10, PEOPLE reached out to the PCSD for comment on the lawsuit, and a spokesperson responded that Sheriff Nanos does not comment on pending litigation. Nanos has been in the spotlight since Feb. 1, when authorities announced Nancy, the mother of Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie, disappeared from her Tucson, Ariz., home. She was last seen going into her garage at 9:50 p.m. the night before after having dinner with her daughter Annie, who lives nearby. Her family called 911 at 12:03 p.m. that day after the mother of three failed to join friends to watch a virtual church service. The PCSD, later joined by the FBI, launched a massive investigation into Nancy's disappearance, saying they believed she was taken against her will in the middle of the night. Advertisement Nancy Guthrie's Tucson, Ariz., house; Nancy and Savannah Guthrie Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty; Don Arnold/WireImage Concern for Nancy deepened when Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos revealed that blood spatter found on the front porch belonged to her. Even more chilling were Nest camera surveillance photos and video footage authorities released on Feb. 10 showing a masked, armed man on Nancy's front porch in the early morning hours of Feb. 1. The FBI Phoenix office shared additional details describing the suspect as "a male, approximately 59 - 510 tall, with an average build. In the video, he is wearing a black, 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack" that may have been purchased at Walmart. Masked man seen at Nancy Guthrie's home on Feb. 1 Credit: Pima County Sheriff's Department Guthrie's doorbell camera, authorities disclosed, was disconnected at 1:47 a.m., local time. Shortly after, at 2:12 a.m., the camera detected a dark figure walking toward the house. Sixteen minutes later, at 2:28 a.m., Guthrie's pacemaker was disconnected from the pacemaker app on her cellphone, authorities said. Law enforcement worked tirelessly to try to find Nancy, to no avail. In late February, however, a couple who live on a back road about 2.5 miles from Nancys home released new footage, obtained by FOX News, showing a car speeding down the road minutes after police believe she was abducted. One of the videos the couple released was recorded at around 2:36 a.m. on Feb. 1, about eight minutes after Nancy's pacemaker last synced with her iPhone, according to the sheriff's timeline. The Pima County Sheriffs Office told FOX News and NBC News they are aware of the newly released Ring camera footage, but didnt say whether the footage will help the case. Savannah Guthrie and mother Nancy Guthrie Credit: Savannah Guthrie/Instagram Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Since their mother went missing, Savannah and her siblings have been awaiting any word about what happened to her. On Feb. 24, Savannah released an emotional new video saying the Guthrie family is offering up to a $1 million reward for any information leading to Nancys recovery. The family is also donating $500,000 to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The FBI's $100,000 reward for information remains active. Anyone with information about Nancy Guthrie's disappearance is asked to contact 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or the Pima County Sheriffs Department at 520-351-4900. Read the original article on People The official start of spring is just over a week away, but Punxsutawney Phil may have been right when he predicted six more weeks of winter. Old Man Winter doesn't seem to be going anywhere just yet as six states were hit with Winter Storm Warnings from the National Weather Service on March 11. Four of those states: Maine, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin will see marginal snowfall up to eight inches while three other states are facing the brunt of a strong winter storm: Montana, Oregon and Washington. Oregon Facing up to 30 Inches of Snow, More in Montana, Washington The National Weather Service issued a new series of Winter Storm Warnings on March 11 that predict up to 30 inches of snowfall in Oregon, while Montana and Washington will see at least three feet of snow. "An already active, wet pattern across the Pacific Northwest into the northern Rockies is not only expected to continue but intensify the next few days as another Pacific system/Atmospheric River moves into the region," the NWS said in a statement. "Very heavy snow is expected for higher elevations of the Olympics/Cascades and northern Rockies, with totals of multiple feet forecast. Gusty winds are also expected throughout the region, prompting Blizzard Warnings for the Cascades and Olympics. Lower elevation/coastal areas of the Pacific Northwest will see waves of moderate to locally heavy rain, with an isolated threat for some flooding. Most interior lower elevations/valleys will see a mix of lighter rain and snow showers, but some more moderate snows are expected for the High Plains of Montana." Advertisement Oregon: The Larch Mountain region is expecting to see up to 30 inches of snow and 45 mph wind gusts. "There will be a brief lull in snowfall late Wednesday, but will increase again with heavier precipitation. Heaviest snowfall expected between 5 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday, and 5 a.m.-5p.m. Thursday," the NWS predicted. Montana: In the Southern Clearwater Mountains there is a likelihood of extreme winter storm impacts with total snow accumulations between 2 and 6 inches in the lower elevations and 30 to 60 inches in the higher elevations. Elsewhere in Montana near Glacier Park, winds are expected to reach 80 mph making travel "treacherous and potentially life-threatening." Washington: Already pummeled by a winter storm this week, Washington is now in store for additional snowfall up to three feet in the Cascades. The cities of Easton and Roslyn are expected to receive the worst of the strong winds in the region as gusts reach 55 mph. The Winter Storm Warnings in Oregon end on Thursday, March 12, while the warnings will end in Washington on Friday, March 13. The warnings will continue in Montana through Saturday, March 14. Related: Rory McIlroy Injury Update: Will He Tee Off in The Players Championship? This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Mar 11, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here. The Brief Thirteen members of a prison-based methamphetamine ring were sentenced for distributing drugs across North Georgia. Inmates at state and federal facilities coordinated with outside couriers to move massive amounts of meth. Law enforcement seized a conversion lab and over 3,000 kilograms of methamphetamine during the multi-year investigation. ATLANTA - Thirteen members of a drug trafficking organization that orchestrated a massive methamphetamine distribution network from behind prison walls have been convicted and sentenced, federal officials announced. The group, which included both state and federal inmates, coordinated with couriers and distributors to flood North Georgia communities with the drug before being dismantled by a joint law enforcement task force. What we know Federal agents say the operation was run by inmates Edward Kelvin Pope, David Wilson, and Kevin Josue Campos Rivera, who were serving time at Central State Prison in Macon. The trio collaborated with Jose Santos Isaola Cisneros, a federal inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution in Atlanta, to manage a network of couriers and customers. The investigation, which began in November 2020, revealed that the group was responsible for moving kilogram quantities of methamphetamine. During a search of a residence in Stockbridge, agents uncovered an active methamphetamine conversion lab and seized more than 3,000 kilograms of the drug. Another search at an apartment in Norcross netted 13 kilograms of meth, a rifle, and $49,000 in cash. Timeline The investigation spanned several months of documented drug transactions across the metro Atlanta area and North Georgia. Advertisement November 2020: Law enforcement begins investigating Pope and Wilson for using couriers outside Central State Prison. April 30, 2021: Two kilograms of methamphetamine are distributed at a gas station in Cartersville. June 14, 2021: A deal for one kilogram of meth is completed in a Stockbridge restaurant parking lot. June 28, 2021: Agents raid a Stockbridge home, seizing a conversion lab and 3,000 kilograms of meth. August 11, 2021: An undercover DEA agent successfully purchases a kilogram of meth from the organization. What they're saying U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg emphasized that the groups incarceration did not stop their criminal activity, stating that from behind prison walls, these defendants egregiously continued to violate the law by coordinating the distribution of massive amounts of methamphetamine throughout North Georgia. Hertzberg noted that the prison sentences were imposed without the possibility of parole. The reach of the organization was also addressed by Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEAs Atlanta Field Division, who said, "Methamphetamine continues to fuel addiction, violence, and instability in our communities." Chung added that while these defendants believed they could orchestrate a drug trafficking organization from inside a correctional facility, the sentences show that law enforcement will pursue traffickers wherever they operate. Chief Deputy John B. Stevens of the U.S. Marshals Service issued a direct warning to those currently behind bars. "It doesnt matter if you are already in custody, if you continue to violate the laws of the United States, we will come for you, and you will be held accountable," Stevens said. By the numbers 3,000+ kilograms: The amount of methamphetamine seized by agents during a single raid on a conversion lab in Stockbridge. 13: Total defendants convicted and sentenced for their roles in the prison-based trafficking ring. 25 years: The longest prison sentence handed down in the case, given to federal inmate Jose Santos Isaola Cisneros. $49,000: Amount of bulk U.S. currency recovered from a Norcross apartment, along with 13 kilograms of meth and a rifle. 72: The current age of inmate Edward Kelvin Pope, who was already serving a sentence of life plus 70 years when this investigation began. 3: Different Georgia correctional facilities or locations (Central State Prison, FCI Atlanta, and various metro Atlanta hideouts) linked to the coordination of the drug sales. What's next The following primary defendants received the longest sentences in the case: Jose Santos Isaola Cisneros (35): 25 years Ramon Rodriguez, Jr. (46): 20 years Carlos Ruben Ramirez Romero (41): 19 years David Wilson (53): 18 years, 4 months Kevin Josue Campos Rivera (27): 15 years Gustavo Omar Martinez (37): 14 years Luis Cisneros Ruiz (27): 12 years Edward Kelvin Pope (72): 10 years Marcelo Ibarra (33): 8 years, 6 months Julio Estuardo Mijangos Chinchilla (37): 6 years, 5 months Kelyn Roxana Ortiz Flores (36): 4 years, 3 months Max Donald Whitlock (55): 3 years, 5 months Oscar Valdez Samaniego (45): 3 years, 5 months The Source The details in this article come from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Georgia, U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg, DEA Special Agent in Charge Jae W. Chung, and U.S. Marshals Service Chief Deputy John B. Stevens. Funeral arrangements have been announced for the Pennsylvania state police corporal who was killed in the line of duty over the weekend. A viewing for Corporal Timothy O'Connor will be held next Tuesday at St. Joseph's Church in Downingtown from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. A funeral service will take place the following day, Wednesday, March 18, beginning at 11 a.m. at the same location. O'Connor was shot and killed Sunday night while responding to a report of an erratic driver in West Caln Township. Police say he stopped the vehicle at Route 10 and Michael Road, and within seconds of approaching it, the driver-identified as 32-year-old Jesse Elks-opened fire, fatally wounding him. Advertisement Authorities say Elks then took his own life. READ MORE | Pennsylvania state police trooper shot and killed during traffic stop; suspect also dead Community mourning loss of trooper killed during traffic stop According to state police, O'Connor was assigned to Troop J, Embreeville Station. He enlisted in September 2010 as part of the 131st cadet class. After graduating, he served at Troop J, Avondale, later joining the Criminal Investigation Unit in 2016. He transferred back to Troop J, Embreeville, in 2022 and was promoted to corporal that July. O'Connor is the 105th member of the Pennsylvania State Police to die in the line of duty. The Brief A federal judge denied a request to block federal agents from carrying out the continued practices in Minnesota. The judge noted, however, that ICE "likely maintained unconstitutional policies" of race-based immigration enforcement and warrantless arrests. The ruling was part of a lawsuit filed by the ACLU to stop the arrests of what they described as racial profiling by ICE agents. ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - While a federal judge found Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) "likely maintained unconstitutional policies" of race-based immigration enforcement and warrantless arrests, he denied a request to block federal agents from carrying out the continued practices in Minnesota. ICE agents likely engaged in unconstitutional immigration enforcement The backstory The ACLU and several individuals detained by ICE filed a lawsuit to stop the arrests and what they described as racial profiling by immigration agents in Minnesota. They filed the suit in U.S. District Court, arguing that the "suspicion-less arrests" violated their constitutional rights. As part of the case, several immigrants, including Mubashir Hussen and other American citizens testified under oath about their experiences during a hearing in St. Paul. They told U.S. District Judge Eric Tostrud they believe they were singled out by immigration authorities because of their race, ethnicity, or use of a foreign language. Advertisement The judge's ruling In his 111-page written order, Tostrud acknowledged that the plaintiffs made a "clear showing" that ICE officers likely maintained unconstitutional policies. Tostrud wrote, "defendants adopted a policy authorizing federal immigration officers to conduct investigatory stops based on ethnicity or race without reasonable suspicion that the individuals were violating immigration laws." However, he ruled that under federal law, the plaintiffs must demonstrate a high likelihood of future injury or impact in this case, meaning additional encounters with immigration enforcement agents. The judge concluded they failed to meet that standard in part because of ICEs recent drawdown of operations in Minnesota. "No Plaintiff or declarant has been unlawfully stopped or arrested a second time," Judge Tostrud wrote. "In a field of 33 total witnesses, the lack of a subsequent encounter makes it less likely that future violations are certainly impending." The full ruling can be read below: Click to open this PDF in a new window. The Source This story uses previous FOX 9 reporting and court filings. A federal judge heard Tuesday arguments over the federal governments request for information from the University of Pennsylvania on the membership of Jewish groups, part of an investigation into whether antisemitism has created a hostile work environment for employees. The judge will decide whether to enforce a subpoena. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is investigating the Ivy League school in Philadelphia after several reported incidents, including antisemitic slurs and property damage at a Jewish student life center, a Nazi swastika painted on an academic building, and hateful graffiti left outside a fraternity. The probe has also examined the universitys handling of protests over the war in Gaza and its response to other incidents. Tuesdays hearing before U.S. District Judge Gerald Pappert focused on the EEOCs request, filed in November against Penns Board of Trustees, to enforce an administrative subpoena as part of its investigation into claims that Jewish faculty and employees have been subjected to an illegal hostile work environment based on religion, race or national origin. The probe has also examined the universitys handling of protests over the war in Gaza and its response to other incidents (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Pappert did not say when he might rule after the four-hour hearing. The legal dispute began in December 2023, when the EEOC accused Penn of a pattern of antisemitic behavior, as it wrote in a court document last fall, and said it was acting in light of the probable reluctance of Jewish faculty and staff to complain of a harassing environment due to fear of hostility and potential violence directed against them. The EEOC wrote in November that Penns workplace is replete with antisemitism, and it told the judge that investigators think identification of those who have witnessed and/or been subjected to the environment is essential for determining whether the work environment was both objectively and subjectively hostile. Advertisement Penns lawyers wrote in January the school had cooperated for more than two years, turning over about 900 pages of material. The school has said the only current dispute is what it called the EEOC's extraordinary and unconstitutional demand" that it put together lists of employees that reveal their Jewish faith or ancestry, associations with Jewish organizations, affiliation with Penn's Jewish studies programs and other details including home addresses, phone numbers and emails. Vic Walczak, an American Civil Liberties Union lawyer, said the five groups his organization represents in the case are concerned about the collection and potential use of the information the government has demanded. The groups -- some that are specifically Jewish-related, and others that consist more broadly of faculty -- support investigating antisemitism but feel this is not the way to do it, Walczak said. Were on the same side as Penn -- were not opposing an investigation, what were opposing is the court forcing Penn to create, essentially, lists of participants in Jewish organizations and turning over confidential information, including home addresses, Walczak said. A Penn spokesperson said in an email only that the school will await Pappert's decision. Penn says it offered to notify all of its employees about the investigation and to tell them how to get in contact with the agency, but that was rejected by the EEOC last fall. The school argued that approach would not invade employees privacy, sense of safety, and constitutional rights or echo terrifying periods of history for Jewish communities. Messages seeking comment were left Tuesday for the EEOC's regional attorney, Debra Lawrence, and at the agency's Philadelphia office. Hegseth in navy suit with red and blue tie at a podium with Pentagon seal behind him alon with flag and people raising hands in front of him Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, a military veteran and former Fox News host, has brought a combative style to his moment in the spotlight as de facto spokesman for the war in Iran. He speaks of how Operation Epic Fury is "crushing the enemy", whom he labels "terrorist cowards". "We have only just begun to hunt," Hegseth, 45, told one news conference of the US-Israeli strikes, which killed several leaders of the Islamic republic. "We are punching them while they're down, which is exactly how it should be," he said. The second-youngest defence secretary in US history, Hegseth has weathered controversies, including revelations he inadvertently divulged details of air strikes in Yemen to a reporter on an app chat, and claims of misconduct aired during his confirmation hearings. But as the public face of President Donald Trump's largest military action yet in the Middle East, the former morning show host's media skills have come to the fore. Whereas his predecessors spoke in more measured, technocratic language, Hegseth presents himself as an unapologetic frontman for the world's most powerful military. Occupying a cabinet position last year rebranded as secretary of war, he projects a sense of invincible American might and what he calls the "warrior ethos". Hegseth sometimes quotes Christian scripture and refers to the military as "my American brothers". Matthew Walling, chief executive of the American Security Project, a think tank, told the BBC: "There's a degree of machismo to how he speaks, and that's part of the public image that he presents of himself." Hegseth's confidence and conviction may appeal to Americans "who are looking for certainty", he said. The Minneapolis-born, Princeton and Harvard graduate served as an infantry platoon leader in Guantanamo Bay and Iraq, where he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. He later deployed to Afghanistan as a counterinsurgency instructor in Kabul. Hegseth's political experience was previously limited to an unsuccessful 2012 run for the Republican Senate nomination in Minnesota. After his military service ended, he returned home and briefly led two veterans' charities. But it was as co-host of the Fox & Friends weekend show for eight years that he caught the eye of one regular viewer: Donald Trump. He praised Hegseth's 2024 book, The War on Warriors, for exposing "the leftwing betrayal" of America's military. Yet he barely won confirmation as defence secretary, even though the Senate is controlled by Trump's fellow Republicans. The thrice-married father-of-four was grilled about allegations of sexual misconduct, infidelity and heavy drinking, which he cast as a smear campaign. Critics sought to link his tattoos of symbols from the Crusades with far-right extremism. Hegseth said the body ink merely reflected his Christian faith. Some also questioned if he had the experience to run a department with a nearly $1tn budget - the largest in the US government and three million employees. Advertisement During Operation Epic Fury, Trump and some members of his administration have been accused of failing to articulate a cohesive rationale for military action in Iran. Hegseth, though, has repeatedly laid out the operation's objectives: to eliminate Iran's weapons, to destroy Iran's navy and to ensure Iran cannot make nuclear weapons. But some accused him of insensitivity when he took issue with reporting on US casualties, saying: "When a few drones get through or tragic things happen, it's front-page news. I get it. The press only wants to make the president look bad." Recent polls indicate many Republican voters approve of Hegseth. Not everyone is impressed, though. Brett Bruen, president of the Global Situation Room, a crisis communications agency, and a former diplomat with the Obama administration, acknowledged the defence secretary is a skilled communicator. But he criticised Hegseth's "brashness, the bravado, the bulldozing of questions" in briefings. "We're at war and we need a leader at the Pentagon who tells us what is happening and why it is happening and what we should be doing to prepare for what comes next," Bruen told the BBC. "And he seems incapable of providing that basic information." Hegseth faced his first controversy soon after being sworn in, when a journalist was mistakenly added by another official to a Signal messaging group in which the defence secretary posted details of plans for an attack on the Iran-backed Houthi group in Yemen. Members of Congress and others called for him to be fired, saying he had endangered US military members and flouted protocols. Hegseth, however, clung to his job. A personal bugbear of his has been ending what he calls "woke garbage" in the military. During confirmation hearings, the culture warrior was lambasted by Democrats for arguing that diversity policies had degraded the military's fighting capability. Hegseth has renamed bases and severed defence ties with universities over diversity programmes, including his alma mater, Harvard. He again drew scrutiny over US raids on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and Pacific. The Pentagon chief rejected claims he gave an order to "kill them all" during a follow-up military strike on a vessel. In a video, Democratic lawmaker veterans urged the military to refuse any illegal orders. Hegseth called the clip treasonous and took steps to demote retired Navy Captain and Arizona Senator Mark Kelly. The legal battle over Kelly one of several lawsuits against Hegseth's defence department grinds on. His Pentagon has also rewritten its rules of engagement with the media, imposing new reporting restrictions and banning photojournalists for pictures of Hegseth deemed "unflattering". But the defence secretary appears intent on showing that he like his vision for the US military is not the type to back down from a fight. Taco Bell is releasing more than 20 new menu items, including the Creme Brulee Crunchwrap Slider. Courtesy of Taco Bell Taco Bell is releasing over 20 new menu items in 2026, including the Creme Brulee Crunchwrap. I was at Live Mas Live, its annual superfan convention, and got to try many of the new menu items. Mexican Pizza empanadas, the Mountain Dew Baja Midnight Pie, and Diablo nuggets are also coming soon. I never thought I'd be stuffing my face with Taco Bell in the presence of my childhood hero (Tara Lipinski) or my teenage hero (Rachel Bilson), but life much like the fast-food chain has a way of being unpredictable. Could you have ever imagined a Crunchwrap Supreme combined with a creme brulee, chicken nuggets dusted with Cool Ranch Doritos, or a burrito with popping cayenne crystals? These are just a few of the 20-plus new items coming to Taco Bell's menu in 2026, which the chain unveiled during its annual superfan convention Live Mas Live on March 3. After more surprising celebrity cameos than I could count Lil Jon! Demi Lovato! Jason Sudeikis! everyone got a chance to try some of the coming dishes. The show, which was filmed at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, is now available to stream on Peacock. But if you want to know how everything tastes, you've come to the right place. 10. Mountain Dew Baja Midnight Pie Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider When the original Baja Blast pie made its debut at the very first Live Mas Live in 2024, there were gasps from the audience and a dozen DMs waiting in my Instagram from friends who were excited, aghast, or perplexed by its creation. I actually loved the OG pie, which was surprisingly silky and light it reminded me of a slice of key lime. The new Baja Midnight Pie was denser than I expected, with a texture that was fizzy instead of airy. While Taco Bell calls it a "passionfruit-forward pie," the aftertaste reminded me more of grape. The sweet, citrusy notes were just a tad too muted and lacked the brightness I was craving. Although this gets the last spot on my list, I have to admit that the Baja Midnight Pie looks very cool with its marbled swirls and amethyst hue. As my friend Kayla said, "If Willy Wonka were real, he would make this." 9. Fire Queso Sauce Packet Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider Out of all of Taco Bell's wild creations, this is among its most impressive feats. The chain wanted to create an edible version of its iconic hot sauce packet, and it achieved it! After biting off a corner of the Fire Queso Sauce Packet, I squeezed the sauce onto the classic crunchy taco that came with it. The packet itself was crispy and light, but it lacked flavor. I know being interactive was the main goal, but I would've loved to see the packet dusted with some nacho cheese powder so it could stand alone as a snack. Business-wise, though, I think it's a really smart strategy. Gen Z has loved Taco Bell's focus on sauces, and the packet will look great on TikTok. 8. Tacodilla Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider After combining a quesadilla with a burrito to create the much-loved Quesarito, Taco Bell wanted to fuse it with a taco instead. And so, the Tacodilla was born. The star of the Tacodilla is the grilled shell, made with yellow corn and flour. It's soft but crispy, with a fluffy, pillowy texture that reminded me of good pita bread. And I'm Greek I know good pita bread. While the Tacodilla was massive, I wish it had been filled with just a bit more grilled steak and red chile sauce. The meat's flavor got lost amid all the melted cheese, and some dry bites needed an extra hit or two of Taco Bell's hot sauce. 7. Queso Cracked Cantina Bowl Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider Liz Matthews, Taco Bell's chief food innovation officer, told me that fans have been clamoring for more chicken items after the debut of the chain's cantina chicken menu. She knew she wanted to release a new bowl for the lunchgoers, but she wanted to make it more exciting. Enter the Queso Cracked Cantina Bowl, featuring a crackable layer of cheddar cheese atop seasoned rice, slow-roasted chicken, black beans, lettuce, purple cabbage, sour cream, pico de gallo, cotija cream, and a sprinkle of chile lime seasoning. The crackable cheese is designed to be broken into crispy chips. I'm frequently singing the praises of Taco Bell's cantina chicken burrito, which is my go-to order, so I was very excited to see this bowl. It has the same crispy freshness as everything else on the cantina menu, with satisfying layers of flavor and texture in each bite. As I wrote in my notes at the time: "Fresh, crunchy, healthy, zingy everything you need in a salad!" My one note is that the cheese shell on top was much softer than I was expecting. It wasn't crispy enough to lift the salad, and it didn't really achieve the promised chip effect. 6. Chocolate Fudge and Caramel Empanadas Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider These empanadas are Taco Bell's first new menu items to be released nationwide after Live Mas Live. They come as a pair, so you don't have to pick between the flavors. A birthday cake empanada, made in collaboration with pastry chef Christina Tosi's famous Milk Bar, will be released later this year. I was an instant fan of the caramel empanada, which reminded me of Caramel Apple Pops. The flavor of the filling was so similar, I could practically see the iconic green lollipop wrappers I'd desperately search for in my trick-or-treat bag as a kid. It's warm, gooey, and crispy, and will satisfy any Taco Bell fan who misses the chain's iconic caramel apple empanada. The chocolate fudge empanada wasn't as sweet as I expected, so I'd guess the shell and fudge filling are both made with dark chocolate. I didn't love it as much as the caramel empanada, but as a pair, their flavors work well together. Advertisement 5. Strawberry and Cream Mexican Pizza Bite Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider The Strawberry and Cream Mexican Pizza Bites are as tiny as the Tacodilla is big, and the only thing they have in common with the traditional Mexican Pizza is the layering technique. In the middle is a cheesecake filling, sandwiched between two miniature tostadas. The bites are topped with white-chocolate shavings and chopped strawberries, which have been macerated with cinnamon sugar. While the caramel empanada made me think of candy, these Mexican Pizza bites tasted like cereal specifically Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Their crispy texture and that sprinkling of cinnamon sugar brought me right back to that childhood favorite. I wanted just a bit more cheesecake filling, but overall, this was a fun and nostalgic treat. 4. Flamin' Hot Mini Taco Salad Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider Taco Bell just introduced the mini taco salad in January as part of its new value menu, but it's already releasing a spicy sidekick. The Flamin' Hot taco salad features seasoned beef, refried beans, lettuce, tomatoes, and cheddar cheese, and is topped with Fritos Flamin' Hot corn chips, with the tortilla bowl rimmed with more Flamin' Hot seasoning. I gave the mini taco salad the top spot in my ranking of Taco Bell's Luxe Value Menu, so I wasn't surprised to love this dish. The Flamin' Hot rim was a fun visual touch that reminded me of a margarita glass with Tajin. The shell was also deliciously crispy, and I loved the heat from the Frito chips. I did miss the creamy chipotle sauce from the original mini taco salad, so I recommend grabbing some extra hot sauce packets to drizzle on top. 3. Creme Brulee Crunchwrap Slider Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider Taco Bell CMO Taylor Montgomery told me this was the menu item he was most excited to release in 2026. "It's outrageous that we would do something like this," Montgomery said. "I think it's one of those products that show our fans there's really nothing off-limits for us." When I took my first bite of the slider, I heard that same satisfying crack you get when you tap a spoon to the caramelized top of a creme brulee. After the crust shattered, a rush of cream burst through. I was surprised to taste vanilla instead of the creme brulee's traditional custard filling, but it paired well with the cinnamon-sugar tostada. The cream is very sweet and would probably be too much if the slider were the size of an actual crunchwrap, but in bite-sized form, it feels fun and indulgent. This is the kind of drive-thru dessert that I think Gen Alpha kids will remember when they grow up, just like I'll never forget eating Hershey's Sundae Pies from Burger King after school. 2. Mexican Pizza Empanadas Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider During Live Mas Live, Montgomery admitted that getting rid of the Mexican Pizza had been a huge mistake. Even Dolly Parton wasn't happy about it! It's been four years since the chain course-corrected, but Taco Bell is still making sure fans get their fill of the iconic dish. Joining the strawberry bites and a Cantina Chicken Mexican Pizza which we didn't get to sample but will also be coming out in 2026 are the Mexican Pizza empanadas. Just like the original Mexican Pizza, these empanadas are crunchy, delicious, and inventive. They come stuffed with seasoned beef and a three-cheese blend and are served with a side of Taco Bell's Mexican Pizza sauce for dipping. The shells were perfectly crispy, releasing a gratifying crackle that tickled my ear. They gave way to the juicy, flavorful beef in the middle, slicked with sauce that added an extra kick of heat. 1. Diablo Dusted Crispy Chicken Nuggets Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider Taco Bell debuted its first-ever chicken nuggets in 2024, and this year the chain will release three different limited-edition flavors. I got to try the Diablo Dusted Crispy Chicken Nuggets, which feature a new seasoning inspired by Taco Bell's iconic Diablo hot sauce. I turned on my phone's dictation feature to capture my reaction while I tasted the nuggets, and the first thing it wrote was: "Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god." Typically, when fast-food chains say something is spicy, they don't deliver more than a mild kick of heat. But these nuggets are truly HOT and not for the faint of heart. That's why I loved them. The heat from the Diablo seasoning is smoky and intense, with a spice that really dances on your tongue. The nuggets, made with all-white meat, are extra-crispy and plump. They tasted delicious with the accompanying ranch sauce, which helped tame the heat a bit. This was the first thing I tried at Live Mas Live and, after sampling nine other menu items, I couldn't help but go back for seconds. My mouth was on fire, but my soul was ecstatic. Read the original article on Business Insider The Brief Pennsylvania State Police Corporal Timothy OConnor was killed during a traffic stop in West Caln Township on Sunday night. OConnor is being remembered for saving a local mans life during a heart attack about one year ago. State police say the shooter fired at OConnor, then turned the gun on himself, and the motive is still unclear. WEST CALN TOWNSHIP, Pa. - Corporal Timothy OConnor, a 15-year veteran of the Pennsylvania State Police, is being honored as a hero after he was shot and killed during a traffic stop in West Caln Township on Sunday night. Community remembers Corporal OConnors life and service What we know State police say OConnor was killed just before 8:30 p.m. near Route 10 and Michael Road during a traffic stop. According to investigators, 32-year-old Jesse Nathan Elks fired at OConnor as he approached the drivers side, then walked a short distance and turned the gun on himself. OConnor was a husband and father to a young daughter, and had served with the state police for 15 years. He was also a member of the West Chester Fire Department since 2003, and the department said he served his community with courage, commitment and compassion. A memorial has grown on the SUV once driven by OConnor at Troop J in West Bradford, where family members and community members have gathered to pay their respects. A year ago, OConnor saved a local mans life What they're saying David Lee said, "I really never did get to shake his hand, to thank him for what he had done for me." Advertisement Lee credits OConnor with saving his life one year ago when he had a heart attack and pulled into Troop J for help and saw OConnor and his partner walking into the building. He tried to drive himself to the hospital for what he thought was a COPD flare-up, but realized he was not going to make it. Lee said, "I blew the horn, they came over and said, Were not waiting for the ambulance, hop in, were going... He made sure that they got me back in the room, started working on me, here I am today, but hes not with us today." Lees daughter, Erica Armstrong, said, "He wouldnt be here if it wasnt for Corporal OConnor." She added, "To his little girl, I just want you to know your daddy saved my daddy and we thank you for that and youll forever be a part of our family, if you ever need anything were right down the road." Jessica Hernandez, who cut OConnors hair for more than a decade, said, "All I said to myself, because I knew his territory, was I hope it wasnt him and I was going to send him a message just to make sure he was OK...once you got to know him you can see what kind of a great person he was and always talked very highly of his family and his daughter and his wife." State police lined the barracks with American flags in OConnors honor. Support for OConnors family State police helped start an online fundraiser to support OConnors family, and donations have already started to come in. OConnors legacy is being remembered by those whose lives he touched, including the family he saved and the community he served for more than a decade. What we don't know The motive for the shooting is still unclear, according to state police. The Source Interviews with David Lee and his daughter, and the Pennsylvania State Police. Blog Archive: Mar 2026 (70) Feb 2026 (140) Jan 2026 (155) Dec 2025 (126) Nov 2025 (141) Oct 2025 (153) Sep 2025 (149) Aug 2025 (154) Jul 2025 (155) Jun 2025 (150) May 2025 (155) Apr 2025 (9) Mar 2025 (149) Feb 2025 (139) Jan 2025 (155) Dec 2024 (144) Nov 2024 (143) Oct 2024 (155) Sep 2024 (149) Aug 2024 (155) Jul 2024 (155) Jun 2024 (150) May 2024 (153) Apr 2024 (149) Mar 2024 (155) Feb 2024 (145) Jan 2024 (155) Dec 2023 (155) Nov 2023 (150) Oct 2023 (155) Sep 2023 (150) Aug 2023 (155) Jul 2023 (155) Jun 2023 (150) May 2023 (155) Apr 2023 (150) Mar 2023 (155) Feb 2023 (140) Jan 2023 (155) Dec 2022 (156) Nov 2022 (150) Oct 2022 (155) Sep 2022 (150) Aug 2022 (155) Jul 2022 (154) Jun 2022 (150) May 2022 (155) Apr 2022 (150) Mar 2022 (155) Feb 2022 (140) Jan 2022 (156) Dec 2021 (156) Nov 2021 (150) Oct 2021 (155) Sep 2021 (150) Aug 2021 (155) Jul 2021 (155) Jun 2021 (150) May 2021 (155) Apr 2021 (150) Mar 2021 (155) Feb 2021 (140) Jan 2021 (155) Dec 2020 (155) Nov 2020 (150) Oct 2020 (158) Sep 2020 (150) Aug 2020 (130) Jul 2020 (124) Jun 2020 (120) May 2020 (124) Apr 2020 (120) Mar 2020 (124) Feb 2020 (116) Jan 2020 (125) Dec 2019 (126) Nov 2019 (120) Oct 2019 (124) Sep 2019 (120) Aug 2019 (125) Jul 2019 (124) Jun 2019 (120) May 2019 (123) Apr 2019 (121) Mar 2019 (124) Feb 2019 (112) Jan 2019 (125) Dec 2018 (126) Nov 2018 (120) Oct 2018 (124) Sep 2018 (121) Aug 2018 (124) Jul 2018 (125) Jun 2018 (120) May 2018 (124) Apr 2018 (121) Mar 2018 (124) Feb 2018 (112) Jan 2018 (123) Dec 2017 (124) Nov 2017 (124) Oct 2017 (141) Sep 2017 (135) Aug 2017 (138) Jul 2017 (137) Jun 2017 (134) May 2017 (138) Apr 2017 (135) Mar 2017 (139) Feb 2017 (129) Jan 2017 (143) Dec 2016 (135) Nov 2016 (138) Oct 2016 (142) Sep 2016 (128) Aug 2016 (133) Jul 2016 (136) Jun 2016 (138) May 2016 (164) Apr 2016 (311) Mar 2016 (348) Feb 2016 (320) Jan 2016 (348) Dec 2015 (314) Nov 2015 (338) Oct 2015 (363) Sep 2015 (358) Aug 2015 (399) Jul 2015 (374) Jun 2015 (331) May 2015 (337) Apr 2015 (319) Mar 2015 (320) Feb 2015 (271) Jan 2015 (286) Dec 2014 (254) Nov 2014 (238) Oct 2014 (287) Sep 2014 (267) Aug 2014 (259) Jul 2014 (260) Jun 2014 (238) May 2014 (241) Apr 2014 (228) Mar 2014 (240) Feb 2014 (217) Jan 2014 (263) Dec 2013 (226) Nov 2013 (254) Oct 2013 (256) Sep 2013 (252) Aug 2013 (263) Jul 2013 (261) Jun 2013 (251) May 2013 (250) Apr 2013 (221) Mar 2013 (193) Feb 2013 (164) Jan 2013 (157) Dec 2012 (155) Nov 2012 (240) Oct 2012 (526) Sep 2012 (411) Aug 2012 (394) Jul 2012 (284) Jun 2012 (229) May 2012 (213) Apr 2012 (213) Mar 2012 (253) Feb 2012 (269) Jan 2012 (298) Dec 2011 (273) Nov 2011 (219) Oct 2011 (204) Sep 2011 (201) Aug 2011 (236) Jul 2011 (217) Jun 2011 (211) May 2011 (206) Apr 2011 (215) Mar 2011 (215) Feb 2011 (186) Jan 2011 (215) Dec 2010 (107) Nov 2010 (98) Oct 2010 (55) Today's headlines: twelfth day of the Israeli-US war on Iran, attacks in various areas of the Gulf; Tehran threatens to crack down on all forms of protest. First declines in Thai tourism due to the conflict in the Middle East. By the end of March, Japan will be ready to deploy a battery of missiles towards China. Austerity measures also in Pakistan due to the fuel crisis. NORTH KOREA - CHINA Tomorrow will see the first journey in six years of a passenger train from Beijing to Pyongyang, with tickets - purchased by businesspeople, government officials and journalists - already sold out before departure. The resumption of rail service, suspended in 2020 due to Covid, revives a critical transport link between isolated North Korea and its main economic ally, China. Four round trips per week are planned. IRAN - ISRAEL - GULF The war launched by Israel and the United States against Iran, which has spread to the Gulf countries and Lebanon, reaching the borders of Europe, entered its 12th day with heavy attacks already in the early hours of the morning. Intense bombing has been reported in various areas of the Islamic Republic, which has responded by launching missiles and drones at US targets in Kuwait, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates, among others. Tehran is also looking to the domestic front, threatening to crack down with force, already having its finger on the trigger, on any form of anti-government protest, while also denying rumours of the death of the new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has never appeared in public. A speech announced several times has never been broadcast. He was reportedly injured in the attack on the first day of the war but is safe and sound. According to some sources, meanwhile, the Iranian regime is filling the Strait of Hormuz with mines to prevent navigation and block trade. THAILAND - GULF The war in the Gulf is worrying the Thai Association of Travel Agents (ATTA), which is already complaining about the impact on long-haul routes and a 13% drop in weekly arrivals due to flight cancellations, with forecasts for 2026 predicting a collapse of up to 50%. According to the Ministry of Tourism and Sport, weekly arrivals between 1 and 8 March fell by 9% compared to the previous week. Long-haul markets saw the steepest decline at 13%, with arrivals from Europe and the Middle East down 18%. From 1 January to 8 March, foreign arrivals totalled 7.24 million, down 4.35% compared to the same period in 2025. JAPAN - CHINA By the end of March, Japan intends to deploy a battery of long-range missiles in the south-western part of the archipelago, pointing towards China. The Ground Self-Defence Force plans to position the carriers with a range of about 1,000 km in Kumamoto, in the Kyushu region, to strengthen deterrence capabilities against Beijing, which is increasingly active in the East China Sea. PAKISTAN Like other countries in the region, Pakistan is also introducing austerity measures due to the war in the Gulf. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced emergency and fuel conservation rules following a disruption in oil and gas supplies, with blockades in the Strait of Hormuz posing a direct threat to the economy. Measures include a four-day working week for government employees and the closure of schools for two weeks. INDONESIA A new lawsuit has been filed by civil society against the free meals programme launched by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, one of the cornerstones of his programme, already at the centre of controversy over cases of food poisoning and poor quality. The MBG Watch movement has filed a petition with the Constitutional Court for a review of the 2026 state budget law, which supports funding for the programme. The law, in fact, would allow excessive discretion in the management of funds to support the programme. In January, a first instance court ruled that the funding of free meals reduces the education budget to less than 20% (the legal limit). RUSSIA In many regions of Russia, alcohol detoxification centres are reopening, as in Soviet times, after being permanently closed in 2011. Clinics and hospitals are no longer able to cope with the problems of patients suffering from violent alcohol crises, whose numbers have been growing steadily since the start of the war in 2022. Many of these cases involve Svo veterans, with a steady increase in drunkenness-related crimes. GEORGIA The Georgian Dream party has put forward a plan to reform the entire secondary and higher education system, eliminating the 12th and final year of school and dividing state higher education institutions according to different profiles. According to the opposition, this initiative aims to place all education under the direct control of the regime, leaving little choice in enrolment and dismissing a large number of teachers, which has sparked many protests. by Arundathie Abeysinghe Regulations dating back to the 1950s in Sri Lanka prevent the importation of high-quality seeds and more resistant and productive varieties available in Southeast Asia. The restrictions were introduced to prevent plant diseases from Latin America. Now they force farmers to use low-yield seeds, with more fertilisers and pesticides. Colombo (AsiaNews) - Due to quarantine laws from the last century, Sri Lanka's agricultural sector is unable to reach its full potential. While it is impossible for private entities to import high-quality seeds, local farmers are forced to resort to traditional low-yield varieties. Experts believe that some of the best seeds are imported into Asia from Latin America by countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand. It is no coincidence that the sector is at its peak in Southeast Asia. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, cannot access it due to outdated quarantine laws. As a result, farmers are forced to use higher doses of fertilisers and pesticides on their crops, in the absence of an agricultural business model that allows companies to be at the forefront of research and development. The Department of Agriculture requires very strict import permits for plants and seeds, which slows down the adoption of better agricultural practices. The National Plant Quarantine Service (NPQS) faces challenges due to a shortage of qualified personnel, limited funds and outdated laboratory equipment that prevent efficient and modern pest detection. Pradhantha Aroshan Seresinhe, managing director of CIC Holding PLC, recently reiterated at a press conference the problem of archaic quarantine laws, which were conceived in the 1950s and never repealed. At that time, South American leaf rust (SALB), caused by the fungus Microcyclus ulei, was a highly destructive disease of rubber trees, confined to the American continent, which posed a threat. At the time, strict quarantine measures were implemented to prevent its entry, he explained. As a result, since then, the entry of any plant, plant product (including seeds, cuttings and roots) and packaging material from these regions, particularly those that could be carriers of leaf rust, has been prohibited. Consequently, the country is losing its agricultural potential in many respects because of this vision that has been in place for many decades. Agronomists Sameera Malalasekara and Randesh Vithanage told AsiaNews that farmers now understand that in order to cultivate and improve their agricultural practices, they need to be more careful in their use of fertilisers. They turn to certain manufacturers for advice on the compounds and mixtures that are the best nutrients for their crops. These interventions have resulted in improved yields. . The country's agricultural sector is severely limited by these outdated constraints, based mainly on Law No. 35 of 1999 on plant protection and previous regulations dating back as far as 1924. These "prevent the importation of high-quality, disease-resistant and high-yielding seed varieties. In addition, they force local farmers to rely on traditional low-yield seeds, reducing overall agricultural productivity and competitiveness in the region." According to senior officials at the Institute of Post-Harvest Technology (IPHT) the leading institute engaged in agricultural research and development "the IPHT is initiating collaboration with foreign universities and research institutes to promote and provide high-yield planting material to local farmers, who represent 70% of the country's workforce. Currently, most farming communities adopt incorrect agricultural practices or use inadequate planting material, which ultimately leads to the production of poor-quality products." by Chiara Zappa For 57 years, the Sisters of Saint Jeanne Antide Thouret have taught Christian and Shia children and youth to live together in Dahye, a Hezbollah stronghold on the southern outskirts of the Lebanese capital. Since war broke out, a hundred families have been forced to flee, and about 20 had their homes destroyed. The wounds caused by fear are invisible amid the uncertainty about the future. The feeling that someone is close to them is the only sign of hope. Milan (AsiaNews) The Sisters of Charity of Saint Jeanne Antide Thouret run a school for 700 children aged three to seventeen, half-Christian and half-Shia Muslim, in an area south of Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold, which has been repeatedly struck by Israel. In fact, For several days now, our region has been living to the rhythm of bombings, reads a statement issued by the school administration. Our school is located on the edge of Beiruts southern suburbs (Dahye), an area heavily affected by the strikes. Day and night, the sound of explosions echoes very close to us. This reality has profoundly disrupted the lives of our families and our students. Yet, in this difficult context, where tensions sometimes strain relations between different communities, the Sisters teach pupils to understand one another. AsiaNews met them a few months ago, on the eve of the visit of Pope Leo XIV in Beirut. The principal, Sister Wafaa Racheed, discreetly opened the door to the first-grade classroom for us, pointing out a shy, curly-haired boy among the children raising their hands to introduce themselves. His name is Ali, after the highly revered imam of Shia Islam, but his middle name is Charbel, in honour of the Maronite Christian saint considered the patron saint of Lebanon. Ali Charbel perfectly represents the daily reality of our school, said Sister Wafaa. She let us glimpse at this before explaining the daily work in favour of peace the school has carried out for the past 57 years, which can be found in the PIME magazine Mondo e Missione. "In collaboration with the Adiyan Foundation, which works to foster encounters between different communities, our young people participate in dedicated sessions where Christians and Muslims have the opportunity to get to know each other more deeply and journey together, said Sister Michele El Hajj, in charge of secondary education. "The goal is to help them (pupils) feel that others do not pose a threat, which is a message our young people often absorb from their surroundings, sometimes even within their families." Today, this reality is also something that is experienced under Israeli strikes, shared with hundreds of thousands of others in Lebanon, caught in the madness of this war. According to initial information gathered following an investigation conducted a week after the start of the bombing, 122 families from our school community had to leave the area to seek refuge elsewhere, often in dire circumstances, reads the statement from the school management. Some left with very little, leaving behind their homes, their memories, and sometimes even their belongings. Among them, 22 families saw their homes severely damaged or completely destroyed by the bombing. Several children are now displaced, living temporarily with relatives or in shelters, sometimes without their school supplies and even without sufficient clothing. In this context, the school had to close its doors for in-person classes to ensure the safety of students and staff. We tried to continue teaching online, but the situation remains very complicated. Many students have been displaced, some no longer have access to Internet; others have lost their equipment or live in conditions that don't always allow them to follow the lessons. For the Sisters, Despite everything, our teachers remain deeply committed. They try, as much as possible, to stay in touch with the students, to encourage them, and to offer them a minimum of stability during a time marked by fear, uncertainty, and displacement. Beyond the material hardships, our children also suffer from invisible wounds: the fear of bombings, the worry for their loved ones, the anguish of not knowing when they will be able to return home, to their neighbourhoods, their schools, and their friends. In spite of this terrible situation, the Sisters are grateful to all those who show their support. In this trying time, your support takes on an even deeper meaning. It is a sign of hope; even from afar, people continue to believe in their future. May God keep you and bless you. 11 March 2026 12:52 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more For more than a century, hazelnuts have been the quiet backbone of a peculiar corner of global agriculture: a crop that is simultaneously niche and indispensable, prized by chocolatiers and nut lovers alike. Yet in 2025, climatic volatility laid bare the fragility of that system. Severe spring frosts ravaged hazelnut orchards across Turkiye, the worlds dominant producer, pushing global supplies towards contraction and prices into uncharted territory. In the wake of these shocks, Azerbaijans hazelnut industry has emerged as one of the unlikely beneficiaries. According to official export data, Azerbaijan shipped 18,700 tonnes of hazelnut kernels in 2025, earning $169.86m in foreign exchange, roughly 34 percent more than the $126.7m earned in 2024. Although the shipment volume was slightly smaller than the previous year, the average export price jumped sharply, from about $6,555 per tonne to $9,096 per tonne, a near 39 percent rise. The reason for this value surge is simple: supply elsewhere has collapsed. Turkiye, which normally accounts for around 6570 percent of global hazelnut production, suffered one of the worst frost events in decades, particularly across key Black Sea growing regions such as Ordu and Giresun. Reports suggest losses of up to 5075 percent in high-altitude orchards, with total output projected as much as 3040 percent below normal. That has driven nut prices in Europe well above historical norms. Wholesale hazelnut prices shot up by roughly 3034 percent in the aftermath, with some commodity trackers reporting values around 9,400 (about $10,900) per tonne, a level that has left confectionery buyers nervously recalibrating costs. Turkiye is the world's dominant hazelnut exporter, controlling approximately 60%75% of global supply. Other top exporters, following far behind, include Chile, Italy, the United States, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. Major markets for these exports include Germany, Italy, and France. Given this fact, global impact has been felt far from the orchards. Major buyers such as chocolate producer Ferrero, which sources large shares of hazelnuts for products like Nutella and Ferrero Rocher, have described the situation as one of "unprecedented volatility" and moved quickly to diversify sources beyond Turkiye. For Azerbaijan, this crisis has created a commercial opening. Positioned among the top ten hazelnut exporters globally, the country has been steadily building its reputation for quality kernels. In the first half of 2025 alone, hazelnut shipments from Azerbaijan rose by nearly 28 percent in volume and almost 48 percent in value compared with the same period in 2024. Beyond crude export figures, the shift signals a deeper market repositioning. Global analysts note that climatic pressures are likely to make agricultural markets even more volatile in the years ahead, affecting everything from cocoa and coffee to nuts and fruit. Hazelnut markets, long dependent on a single dominant producer, have proved especially vulnerable to weather extremes, a trend some observers say reflects the wider risks of climate change on food systems. There are strategic lessons, too. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization has previously highlighted that Azerbaijan, while a significant producer, has yet to capitalise fully on processed hazelnut exports, such as pastes, oils and confectionery ingredients, which carry higher global value than raw kernels. As buyers seek alternative sources, Baku may find more room not only to sell raw tonnage but also to move up the value chain. The distribution of Azerbaijani hazelnuts also tells a shifting story. Russia remained the largest single destination in 2025, although exports there contracted by over 26 percent. European markets, particularly Germany and Italy, absorbed larger shares, with exports to Germany rising by more than 30 percent and commanding premium prices above $11,000 per tonne. Smaller but fast-growing markets such as Switzerland and Turkiye itself also expanded Azerbaijani purchases markedly. Even so, weather and price dynamics have left their imprint everywhere. Turkish hazelnut exports overall, for instance, have shown declines in both volume and revenue against 2024, reflecting not just frost damage but also shifting demand amid higher costs. Whether Baku can sustain this "unexpected" momentum and move beyond raw kernels into branded and processed products will depend on both policy choices and the continuing evolution of global supply chains. Perhaps, the opportunity is there. With climate volatility likely to remain a defining feature of agricultural trade, the worlds hazelnut map may look markedly different a decade from now. 11 March 2026 13:37 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more "You are gambling with World War 3, you are gambling with World War 3." These were the words of US President Donald Trump on February 28, 2025, during a highly contentious bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy inside the Oval Office at the White House. It was a moment that really brought to light what a lot of people had been feeling for months: the way we expect countries to interact with one another, even if its not perfect, just isnt working like it used to. The ten days surrounding that exchange have felt something between a cold fever dream and a slow-building "World War" atmosphere. US First Lady Melania Trump presided over a United Nations Security Council meeting on children and education in conflict zones in New York (just a few days after we saw the news headlining the U.S. hitting a school near the IRGC camp). Republican front-office figures laid hands on Donald Trump in prayer, visibly rallying around his office. Meanwhile, Israeli Rabbi Yosef Mizrachi allegedly said the scenario of a missile strike on the Al-Aqsa Mosque, out loud being blamed on Iran, a suggestion so inflammatory it almost defies commentary. This conflict, like all conflicts that matter, is resistant to clean narratives. Any commentary that sounds sarcastic probably captures the situation more accurately than anything earnest, unfortunately. Unironically, it really is a more complex situation than it seems. The Iranians perceive this as a religious war, and they have responded accordingly, announcing what amounts to a posture of total resistance (the same could be stated for the US as well, but it's a bit different). Command and control within Iran is decentralised: every region operates under its own orders and its own strategy. Removing the leadership in Tehran, in this framework, changes very little. As the saying goes, cut off the head, and the body keeps moving - status-quo is always protected. This reality presents a fundamental problem for American military doctrine, the architecture by which the United States designs and deploys its forces. Despite its formidable conventional capabilities, the US military is not well-equipped for 21st-century warfare defined by drones, decentralised resistance, and religious fervour. And yet, doctrinal inertia pulls Washington toward targeting Tehran regardless. The great irony is, that those Iranians most likely to welcome change, educated, progressive, urban, are concentrated in the very cities being bombed. Those most likely to fight to the last breath, Shia militants, rural and deeply devout, are precisely those being left alone. The military logic, in other words, is destroying its own potential constituency and radicalising its most dangerous opponents. The Republican Administration did not calculate one more thing. The U.S. believed that a war lasting only a few days would weaken Iran, leading its people to turn against their government. However, they underestimated the consequences of killing religious leaders during Ramadan, which ultimately united the Iranian population rather than dividing them. Now that his son has come to power, there is no significant influx of people into the country, a scenario the U.S. could not have anticipated. At the same time, Iran is utilizing its atomic capabilities to target and undermine the costly infrastructure of the U.S. For related insights, you may also read our latest analysis on three possible scenarios for the conflict in Iran: IranUSIsrael war: possible scenarios Uncertain gains The situation following the second US strike against Iran on 28 February, part of what analysts are now calling the twelve-day conflict of June 2025, has made one thing clear: the strategic calculations made in Washington were far from precise. The confident rhetoric that accompanied early strikes masked assumptions that events quickly complicated. President Trump had asserted that American strikes on Iran's strategic infrastructure had delivered a decisive advantage. During the first days of hostilities, reports emerged of the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. By the eighth day, the bombing of a major refinery in central Tehran was presented as evidence of decisive leverage over Iran's internal stability. Yet ten days in, Iran's political system had not collapsed. Mojtaba Khamenei, the Supreme Leader's fifty-six-year-old son, assumed the position and moved quickly to consolidate control over the country's theocratic structure. The system held. Public reaction on social media reflected widespread scepticism. For many observers, the war was not a carefully designed strategy so much as a sudden, improvised confrontation, driven less by a coherent Trump doctrine than by America's determination to defend Israel. This perception, however reductive, has shaped how the conflict is understood globally. On 10 March, Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and the President's son-in-law Jared Kushner arrived in Israel, their presence widely read as signalling the beginning of a new diplomatic phase. Both figures have form in this regard: they attracted attention during earlier international crises, including visits to Moscow during periods of tension surrounding the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Kushner, in particular, remains the principal architect of the Abraham Accords, the 2020 agreements that facilitated a notable warming of ties between Israel and several Gulf states, altering the diplomatic landscape of the region. Current discussions appear to be closely connected to that framework. Early indications suggest the central focus is a coordinated regional security network involving Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain, an arrangement designed to strengthen collective defence while reducing the risk of further uncontrolled escalation. What is the logic you may ask yourself? Israel confronting Iran alone carries significant strategic risks. For the United States, maintaining a direct military presence in the region is both financially burdensome and politically difficult to sustain. For Israel, confronting Iran's extensive proxy network without Arab partners is increasingly untenable. The war, in this sense, may be accelerating what diplomacy alone could not. If these efforts fail, if weakening Tehran proves impossible, Washington and Jerusalem may simply revert to the familiar playbook: tightened economic sanctions, continued skirmishing with Iranian-backed proxies, and the long, uneasy equilibrium that has defined Middle Eastern geopolitics for decades. This situation could lead to all-out war or peace in the Middle East, perhaps even both simultaneously. It may also result in a world where the US President, now emboldened, acts without congressional authorization. Congress is intended to be the most powerful branch of government; the whole point was that decisions should be made by an elected group rather than a single individual. Upholding reputation: Trump's idea of a non-negotiable principle Trump has labelled the Iranian regime as terrorists, and his willingness to act unilaterally, with contempt for multilateral frameworks, raises a question about the body theoretically tasked with preventing such escalations. Where is the UN? The honest answer may be that it has become, in practice, a dead organisation. As he has been saying ever since his second term in the Oval Office. Trump didn't break the world order. He just stopped pretending it existed. Then he "upped the competitiveness by creating an altenative called Board of Peace. The creation of the United Nations was never a tidy affair. The period leading to that common framework, from the late nineteenth century through to the end of World War II, was marked by mass death, regime change, and the violent emergence of new systems. History, it is often said, repeats itself; only the conditions, resources, and methods change. And yet dismantling the current system is not as straightforward as some suggest. Despite periodic calls to dissolve the UN, shared interests have consistently outweighed such ambitions. The architecture, however imperfect, persists, because no one has yet built something better, and because those with the most to gain from its collapse tend to have the most to lose from the chaos that would follow. The method, unilateral, secretive, dismissive of international mechanisms, undermines the very order it claims to protect. Now it acts more like "United Nonsense" rather than its renowned name. Maybe, optimistically, it could try 'renovating' itself within to challenge the US's Board of Peace, and we see a big, standing support... But now, selective enforcement of power fronts as principled action. The language of a "new reality" obscures that what we are watching is not coherent order-building, but drift. Regime change without regime change. Legitimacy claimed without institutions. Stability is pursued through shock. Power has always been like this...unfortunately Perhaps we should stop pretending. There is no international law, not in any meaningful, enforceable sense. There is no rule-based order. There is no territorial integrity. What exists is power, resources, and the calculations that connect them. Empires do not disappear. They rebrand themselves. They speak the language of diplomacy, democracy, security, and stability, but they move for the same reasons they always have. Oil, gas, minerals, trade routes, and influence. International law, in theory, exists for sovereign states: equal, independent, inviolable. In practice, it applies when powerful states choose to recognise it. When it suits them, it is law. When it does not, it is ignored. Borders are crossed. Governments are removed. Legality is invoked after the fact. This is not a failure of the system. This is the system. And the current era, with its risk-taking leaders, its algorithmically curated public opinion that loves or hates without nuance, and its technology capable of amplifying every miscalculation, may be the most dangerous context in which that system has ever operated. Unlike the diplomatic configurations of earlier centuries, today's international environment is defined by unprecedented interdependence. A miscalculation that once might have produced a regional war can now produce global consequences. The leaders who understand this least seem, at present, to be the ones most in charge. The renowned paper, "The Atlantic" writes, As U.S. and Israeli missiles struck Iran this weekend, just weeks after Donald Trump ordered a rapid military action in Venezuela, the president is already considering his next target: Cuba. Viewing regime change as a way to define his legacy, the president has openly expressed what he envisions for Cuba. During a conversation with reporters at the White House on Friday, he floated the idea of a "friendly takeover" of the island nation, which has a population of 11 million people. The president believes he is the first modern American leader with the courage to accomplish what others have only considered: transformative changes around the world that could, in his view, solidify his legacy, placing him above previous presidents like Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, and Richard Nixon. Many Americans appear to be increasingly accepting of illegal and unconstitutional actions, as long as these actions align with their political beliefs. But that is a thorny and slippery issue. When violations of the law become normalized, we also begin to normalize authoritarianism. When that occurs, and the next outcome does not align with their beliefs, who knows what will happen next? Not a Just War, Just War. The concept of a "just war" has always been a theological convenience, a framework designed to give moral cover to decisions already made on other grounds. What we are witnessing today does not fit even that elastic category. There is no coherent just cause being pursued through proportionate means by competent authority. There is improvisation, selective memory, and the ancient logic of the powerful deciding, after the fact, that what they did was necessary. The question in the title of this piece, are we headed into a 'just war' era?, may have been the wrong question from the start. The more accurate one is simpler: are we headed into an era where power once again dispenses entirely with the pretence of justification? And if so, what does that mean for those without power? History has a very pessimistic answer to that question. It is not a comfortable one. 11 March 2026 08:30 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more In the backdrop of rising regional tensions, energy issues have once again come to the forefront. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has intensified transit problems, while growing demand has pushed oil prices upward. Azerbaijani oil has surpassed the $100 mark per barrel, reaching levels not seen since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Yet history shows that prices tend to return to average levels after such spikes. The question now is: if the conflict continues, what scenarios might unfold for oil prices in the coming months? Could they climb to $110120 per barrel? To explore this, AzerNEWS spoke with energy expert Ilham Shaban. The expert notes that Brent crude reached $119.5 per barrel on March 8 at 6:30 a.m. Baku time in electronic trading, based on futures contracts for May delivery. Prices then fell below $107, reflecting what he calls short-term emotional volatility. He explains that before the outbreak of the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, Brent was trading at $72.48, but tensions quickly drove prices up to $92.69. This military conflict acts as the locomotive pushing oil prices upward, he emphasizes, recalling that the last time oil traded above $110 was in June 2022. According to him, the sharp rise at the start of the week was triggered by reports that Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the UAE, and Kuwait had reduced production. During the first week of the war this did not happen, except in Iraq, because oil was being stored in tanks. As those tanks filled, cutting production became logical due to limited export capacity, the expert explains. Looking ahead, Ilham Shaban believes that major importers may resort to their strategic reserves to avoid buying expensive oil. This would act as a brake on further price increases. He points out that Japans reserves could cover 254 days of imports, while Chinas undisclosed reserves are estimated to last around 200 days. The United States holds more than 400 million barrels in its strategic reserves. Azerbaijan, as an exporter, stores oil in SOCARs facilities near Sangachal and Boyukshor, though official figures are not disclosed. For Azerbaijan, higher oil prices translate into greater revenue opportunities, but the expert cautions that the gains are situational and unstable. Oil companies pay taxes quarterly, so the Ministry of Finance will only have real data by mid-April on how much extra revenue has entered the budget compared to forecasts, he explains. Globally, volatility remains high. Brent crude fell from $119 to about $98.5 within a single trading session. Ilham Shaban attributes this sharp drop to comments by French Finance Minister Roland Lescure, who announced after a G7 meeting that member states were considering tapping reserves in response to Middle East tensions. The International Energy Agency (IEA), which oversees 1.2 billion barrels of reserves across 32 member countries, could release supplies in emergencies. The IEA has taken such steps five times since 1974. The last was in March 2022, when the Russia-Ukraine war sent prices soaring. At that time, member countries released 2 million barrels per day, with the U.S. adding another 1 million. Prices fell from $130 to $95 within a month, he recalls. The trajectory of oil prices will depend on the interplay of geopolitical tensions, production cuts, and the use of strategic reserves. As the expert underscores, the market is highly volatile, creating both risks and opportunities. For Azerbaijan, the situation offers potential short-term gains, but the broader global economy faces uncertainty as energy markets remain on edge. 11 March 2026 16:38 (UTC+04:00) Elnur Enveroglu Read more Relations between Azerbaijan and the European Union are developing on a positive and increasingly strategic trajectory. In a world marked by geopolitical turbulence and shifting alliances, Baku has steadily strengthened its reputation as a reliable partner, a capable regional power and an essential bridge between Europe and Asia. The development of relations at this level and their rise to such a level is certainly a clear example of the robust contacts and ties established between the countries of the South Caucasus and Europe, as well as the unchanging and stable policy. Lets point out that, for many years, Azerbaijan has pursued a balanced foreign policy built on cooperation with major global actors. These relations have been formed not only through words, but also through a series of agreements, adding extra value to the country's image and economic values. For instance, strategic agreements with countries such as the United States, China, Turkiye and Uzbekistan demonstrate the countrys growing weight in international affairs. Within this wider network of partnerships, relations with the European Union occupy a particularly significant place. Certainly, at the centre of this relationship lies energy security. Europe has spent the past several years rethinking the foundations of its energy supply. The West's search for prospects for solid and sustainable cooperation has steadily increased, particularly due to energy constraints arising from the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. In that process, Azerbaijan has emerged as one of the European Unions most dependable partners. Azerbaijani natural gas currently reaches fourteen European countries, a figure that continues to grow as infrastructure expands and demand rises. Two additional European states are expected to join the list this year, further reinforcing Azerbaijans role in the continents energy architecture. The backbone of this partnership is the Southern Gas Corridor, one of the most significant energy infrastructure projects linking the Caspian region to European markets. Stretching thousands of kilometres from the Caspian Sea to Southern Europe, the corridor has transformed Azerbaijan from a regional energy exporter into a strategic supplier for the European Union. The project includes pipelines such as the Trans Adriatic Pipeline and the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline, which together deliver Caspian gas directly into European markets. Since its launch, the corridor has steadily increased its supply volumes, providing Europe with a stable alternative source of natural gas at a time when diversification has become a central policy priority. Energy cooperation, however, is no longer limited to hydrocarbons. In recent years, Azerbaijan has also begun developing a new dimension of partnership with European states in the field of renewable energy. One of the most notable initiatives involves an agreement between Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania and Hungary to deliver green electricity from the South Caucasus to Europe through a submarine power cable under the Black Sea. This project represents a major step toward integrating the energy systems of the Caspian region and Europe while accelerating the transition toward cleaner energy sources. Azerbaijans vast renewable potential, particularly in solar and wind power, positions the country as an emerging green energy exporter. Another important development emerged during COP29, where Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan reached an agreement that could reshape regional energy flows. The initiative envisions green electricity generated in Central Asia being transmitted across the Caspian Sea and through Azerbaijan before reaching European markets. This plan would effectively add a green energy component to the rapidly expanding Middle Corridor, strengthening the corridors role not only as a trade route but also as a clean energy bridge between continents. Indeed, Azerbaijans importance for Europe extends far beyond energy supplies. Geographically positioned at the crossroads of Eurasia, the country has become a crucial transport and logistics hub linking European and Asian markets. The Middle Corridor, which runs through Azerbaijan, offers a faster and increasingly reliable route for goods travelling between Asia and Europe. The strategic value of this route has grown significantly in the context of the war in Ukraine and rising instability in the Middle East, including tensions involving Iran. These developments have pushed governments and companies to seek alternative trade pathways that avoid traditional transit routes. In this changing geopolitical environment, Azerbaijan stands out as both a stabilising force and a connector of regions. Energy, transport and green infrastructure projects are gradually weaving together a new Eurasian economic landscape. As Europe looks for reliable partners and diversified supply routes, Azerbaijans role is becoming increasingly difficult to overlook. For the European Union, cooperation with Azerbaijan is no longer merely an option. It is becoming an essential pillar of the continents long-term energy security and economic connectivity. 11 March 2026 11:24 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more A freight train carrying Russian grain to Armenia departed today from the Bilajari Railway Station operated by Azerbaijan Railways (ADY), passing through Azerbaijani territory as part of an ongoing transit route, AzerNEWS reports. According to information, the cargo train consists of 11 wagons transporting a total of 1,023 tons of grain. The train will continue its journey to the Boyuk Kesik Railway Station, where it will cross into Georgia before proceeding toward Armenia. The latest shipment follows another delivery on March 9, when a freight train with 7 wagons carrying 488 tons of Russian grain was dispatched to Armenia via the same transit route. So far, more than 21,000 tons of grain (302 wagons) have been transported from Russia to Armenia through Azerbaijan. In addition, 610 tons of fertilizer (9 wagons) have also been delivered using the same corridor. 11 March 2026 14:21 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more The total volume of trade turnover between Azerbaijan and France increased in January 2026 compared to the same period of the previous year, AzerNEWS reports. According to the latest data, Azerbaijans trade turnover with France exceeded $19.7 million in January 2026, marking a 23.8 percent increase compared to January 2025. Based on this growth rate, trade turnover between the two countries in January 2025 amounted to approximately $15.9 million. During the reporting period, the share of trade with France in Azerbaijans total foreign trade turnover stood at 0.55 percent. Earlier statistics show that bilateral trade between the two countries has fluctuated in recent years. For instance, Azerbaijans trade turnover with France reached about $241.5 million during the first nine months of 2024, with exports totaling $63.7 million and imports from France amounting to $177.8 million, according to data from Azerbaijans customs authorities. At the same time, energy trade continues to play a notable role in economic relations between the two countries. Azerbaijan exported more than 281,000 tons of crude oil to France worth over $143 million in the first ten months of 2025, highlighting the importance of hydrocarbons in bilateral trade. 11 March 2026 12:16 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more The Azerbaijan Filmmakers' Union and the French Embassy in Azerbaijan have organized a film evening at the SKA Cinema Hall to mark International Women's Day, AzerNEWS reports. Guests included representatives of diplomatic missions, creative intellectuals, and youth. The event, dedicated to International Women's Day, featured a screening of films by Alice Guy-Blache, the first female director, producer, and founder and president of her own film company. Guy-Blache was the first to express the idea that cinema could not only document life but also tell stories, like theater. One of the first feature films in the history of cinema, if not the very first, is considered to be "The Cabbage Fairy," which she shot in 1896. Guy-Blache's work often addressed socially significant issues, such as immigration, strikes, minority rights, and women's rights. The film "The A Fool and His Money" also became a groundbreaking achievement in cinema history it was the first film in which all the roles were played by black actors. A team of specialists undertook extensive restoration work on Guy-Blache's old films, and a significant portion of her legacy is now once again available to audiences. A pioneer of cinema, Alice Guy-Blache made a huge contribution to the development of feature film and proved that cinema can be not only a means of capturing reality but also a fully-fledged art of storytelling. "I was the first woman director, and I want that to be known. Not for myself, but for history," said Alice Guy-Blache, eager to restore women's place in the history of world cinema. 11 March 2026 13:16 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more Azerbaijan's archaeology holds many secrets, revealing a past full of mysteries and discoveries to researchers. In an interview with AzerNEWS, the director of the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Philosophy in History, Associate Professor Farhad Guliyev, discussed a recent discovery that promises to reshape our understanding of the region's ancient history. He shared details of the discovery, the artefact's significance, and how such finds help us better understand the lives and cultures of our ancestors. Q: What discoveries in recent years do you consider the most significant? A: In recent years, research conducted by the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) has yielded interesting results. First and foremost, the main result of the research conducted in Taghlar Cave by an international expedition led by Japanese archaeologist Yashihiro Nishiyaka and Azerbaijani archaeologist Azad Zeynalov, based on an agreement signed with the University of Tokyo, can be considered a noteworthy discovery. In 2025, paleoanthropological remains were discovered. These are believed to be the remains of a Neanderthal, approximately 80,000 years old; the find is currently being analyzed in Japan. The relevance of this issue lies in the fact that approximately 50,00060,000 years ago, Homo sapiens and Neanderthals actively interacted and interbred in the Middle East. This region, including the Caucasus, became one of the main "hybridization zones" after humans left Africa. Without hybridization, modern humans would not have been able to disperse over such vast territories, nor would they have developed such rapid immunity to diseases different from those prevalent in the African region. This discovery could provide important information about Neanderthal populations in the region during the period preceding hybridization. This topic is of great interest to global scientific circles. A tomb dating from 1231-1295 may rightfully be considered one of the most valuable discoveries by Azerbaijani archaeologists in 2025. The ruins of the ancient city of Kharaba Gilan are located in Nakhchivan, approximately one kilometer northeast of the village of Kalantar Diza in the Ordubad district. Bahlul Ibrahimli, who led an expedition to Nakhchivan, discovered mummified burials with clothing during his research in the tombs. This form of burial has nothing in common with Islamic traditions. So far, according to the accepted primary working hypothesis, these burials belong to the Buddhist tradition. It is known that the Ilkhanids (Khulagids) finally converted to Islam at the very end of the 13th century. Very interesting finds of mummified human remains and equally interesting well-preserved garments made from fashionable fabrics from the reign of the Chingizids in Western Asia. Another notable monument is the ancient settlement of Tavatepe, located near the village of Ashagi Kesemen in the Agstafa district and belonging to the Khojaly-Gedabay culture (13th-7th centuries BC, Late Bronze Age - Early Iron Age). Bakhtiyar Jalilov, together with the University of Catania (Italy), conducted archaeological excavations at the Tavatepe settlement. During the excavations, a ritual sanctuary dating back approximately 3,500 years, more than 100 well-preserved ceramic samples, pintaderas (seals for various purposes), a fireplace, and anthropomorphic figurines were discovered. In 2025, Taleh Aliyev conducted archaeological excavations at the Torpaggala settlement in the village of Leleli in the Kakh district. According to the research, the most intensive settlement of this area dates back to the late antiquity and early Middle Ages. Near the village of Demirchi in the Shamakhi district, archaeological research was conducted under the direction of Akif Guliyev at the Atbatan necropolis, dating back to the early Middle Ages. More than ten stone cist burials were studied. During excavations this year, silver drachmas belonging to the Sassanid ruler Khosrow II Parviz (590628) were also discovered. The Khinalig Archaeological Expedition, led by Idris Aliyev, conducted exploratory excavations in the Guba district at sites dating back to the ancient and early medieval periods, as well as at the Bronze Age site of Bargushad. Key finds include coins from the Caliphate period, various beads, silver and bronze bracelets, a bronze earring, a signet ring, and a Chinese bronze mirror dating back to the Tang Dynasty. The entire complex dates to the 8th9th centuries. The bronze mirror is the first such find in Azerbaijan and the Caucasus. According to preliminary estimates, an iron helmet, a spearhead, and silver plates dating to the 6th7th centuries were discovered at another excavation site, suggesting that these items belonged to the Khazar tribes. Jeykhun Eminli conducted archaeological research at the Bilgah necropolis, located in the village of Urakeran in the Yardimli district. It is worth noting that the Bilgah necropolis is one of the most important sites for the study of Atropatena, a state that played a significant role in the history of Azerbaijani statehood. Research conducted under the direction of Safar Ashurov in the Mount Beshbarmag State Historical-Cultural and Nature Reserve revealed that the Beshbarmag Complex spans both the Early Bronze Age and the medieval period. At the Alisha Fortress, located in the village of Alasha in the Astara district, excavations led by Mikayil Mustafayev uncovered fortress walls, additional rooms, an artificial reservoir, and infrastructural elements such as a line of clay pipes. Ceramic samples, including fragments of ornamented tiles, indicate that the monument dates back to the 11th14th centuries. Q: Have any significant finds been discovered in the liberated territories? A: I have already reported on a new find in Taghlar. In addition, other research is being conducted in the liberated territories, yielding interesting results. Research continues at the Uzerliktepe site, the only Middle Bronze Age settlement in the South Caucasus, which is remarkable for both its size and the thickness of its cultural layer. It should be noted that, after research conducted here in the 1950s, it remains a mystery why the study of this majestic and unique site was discontinued during the Soviet period. The Fuzuli-Khojavand Iron Age Archaeological Expedition, led by Zaur Hasanov, conducted research at the Yedditepe burial mound, located between the liberated villages of Mirzajamalli and Merdinli in the Fuzuli district. The work was carried out with the joint participation of scientists from Korea and Switzerland. Archaeological surveys and excavations were conducted at Tugh State Historical, Cultural and Natural Reserve in the Khojavand district under the leadership of Natig Alishov, with the support of the State Tourism Agency. Research has continued at the Shahbulag Complex. During the work conducted by Tevekkul Aliyev, the high density of stone structures, utility pits, tandoors, and a wide variety of ceramic vessels revealed evidence of the vibrant life of Shakhbulag during the medieval period. Chronologically, the upper cultural layer of the excavated site dates back to the 11th to early 13th centuries, while the underlying layer dates back to the 9th to 10th centuries. As a result of research conducted by Shamil Najafov on the territory of the Khojaly Historical and Archaeological Complex, the site of a mausoleum adjacent to the Khojaly turbe was discovered within the necropolis. It had no visible above-ground features and was located at a depth of approximately 70 cm. Furthermore, another burial mound dating to the Bronze Age was discovered within the necropolis. In January 2025, under the leadership of Arif Mammadov, archaeological research continued at the Red Church, a monument dating to the Albanian period and part of the Tugh Nature Reserve. Furthermore, under his leadership, the East Zangazur Archaeological Expedition conducted research in the village of Sharifan in the Zangilan district. The discovered artifacts confirmed that the monument dates back to the 13th15th centuries and provided important scientific data for the study of medieval religious and architectural traditions and the social life of the region. Some foreign detractors, seeking to distort the history of our people, have claimed that a Muslim population appeared in Karabakh only in the 18th century, during the formation of the khanates. However, research conducted in Shahbulag, the Khojaly necropolis, and Sharifan refutes these falsified claims. Under the leadership of Vusal Hasanov, an expedition was organized to study Albanian-period monuments accidentally discovered during construction work in the village of Zar in the Kalbajar district. Research conducted by the Forensic Archaeology Department is also noteworthy. Together with a working group of the State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons, research was conducted in the liberated territories of the Aghdam, Aghdere, Khojaly, Shusha, and Askeran districts to search for Azerbaijani citizens missing during the First Karabakh War. Excavations were conducted in the Aghdam, Shusha, Khojaly, Aghdara, Kalbajar, and other districts; human skeletons and fragments, presumably belonging to citizens killed or missing during the First Karabakh War, were discovered at various sites. Q: What is the purpose of resuming scientific research in Icherisheher and Gala? A: Archaeological excavations conducted in Icherisheher during the Soviet period contributed to the formation of a certain scientific understanding of Baku's past. However, at that time, archaeometric research was not as advanced as it is today, and the limited research conditions within the reserve meant that many questions remained unanswered. Currently, a general agreement has been reached regarding the initiative to begin scientific research in the Icherisheher State Historical and Architectural Reserve. In other words, planned archaeological excavations are planned in both Icherisheher and Gala, the results of which will be analyzed in scientific laboratories (primarily those related to radiocarbon dating). Fragmentary studies of monuments or cultural layers revealed during construction and improvement work no longer meet modern scientific requirements and pose serious challenges to the development of tourism. Modern, systematic archaeological research is needed, involving various scientific disciplines. Q: Which international partners are involved in the Institute's current projects? Are there any joint expeditions planned with international research centers? A: After the Republic of Azerbaijan gained independence, especially since the early 2000s, joint archaeological research began with various scientific centers around the world. In recent years, international research has noticeably intensified and diversified across various scientific fields. Thus, the following international archaeological expeditions can be noted: Azerbaijan - Germany (Azykh Cave in the Khojavand district, Janavartepe in the Aghjabadi district, Aghalyktepe in the Agstafa district); another international expedition to study the Azykh Cave, conducted jointly with scientists from Denmark; Azerbaijan - Italy (Tavatepe monument in the Aghstafa district); Azerbaijan - Korea - Switzerland (Yedditepe monument in the Fuzuli district); Azerbaijan - Korea (Salbir territory in the city of Gabala); Azerbaijan - Japan (Taghlar Cave in the Khojavand district); Azerbaijan - Kazakhstan - Turkiye (Yedditepe monument in the Imishli district). Azerbaijan - USA (Bilgah necropolis of the ancient period in the Yardimli district). Archaeological research in Azerbaijan is generating significant interest among international scientific centers in the context of studying the history of the human civilization.At the same time, international archaeological expeditions create conditions for familiarization with new scientific technologies, mastering them, and training young archaeologists with modern knowledge. Furthermore, our archaeologists participate in research conducted in other countries and in scientific conferences. In particular, the work of the Azerbaijani-Turkish International Archaeological Expedition, led by Muzaffar Huseynov, is noteworthy. It is conducting research in the Merkez, Karakoyunlu, and Aralik districts of Igdir Province (Turkiye). Our archaeologists have also participated in international scientific and research events in Turkiye, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Japan, China, North Macedonia, the Vatican, Portugal, Poland, and other countries. Scientists from Turkiye, Kazakhstan, Japan, Denmark, Sweden and a number of other countries held scientific seminars and presentations at our Institute. In recent years, as a result of archaeological research conducted in the country and the strengthening of international ties, our institute has increased the number of published scientific articles. At the closing session of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, the results of a statistical analysis of scientific institutions' publications abroad were announced. In 2025, the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology was the scientific institution that published the largest number of papers in journals included in the SCOPUS database. No other research institute in the humanities and social sciences can compare with the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology in terms of the number of publications abroad. All this is one of the most striking examples of the integration of Azerbaijan's archaeology into the global arena. Q: What projects for the preservation of archaeological and anthropological heritage are planned in the coming years? A: First of all, in collaboration with the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry, digital registration of material culture samples discovered during archaeological research in the 20th and 21st centuries and stored in the institute's and museum collections has begun. Such work has been ongoing for a long time in many developed countries, and we must strive to close the gap in this area. A digital database should be created for each find, the data from which can then be subjected to analytical analysis using artificial intelligence technologies. In the long term, the results of such analysis will open up broad opportunities for understanding the processes of formation of archaeological cultures, the vectors of their dissemination, and transformation. Similarly, there is a serious and urgent need for the digital registration of anthropological material and, in general, the creation of an anthropological archive. Work in this direction is also underway. 11 March 2026 11:25 (UTC+04:00) At Heydar Aliyev International Airport, President Jose Ramos-Horta was welcomed by Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov and other officials. On March 11, President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste Jose Ramos-Horta arrived in Azerbaijan for a visit, AzerNEWS reports. 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! 11 March 2026 11:33 (UTC+04:00) Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan Abdelrahman Al-Burhan, President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council of the Republic of the Sudan, sent a letter to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, AzerNEWS reports. ''Your Excellency, I have followed with concern the targeting of Azerbaijani territories by Iranian drones and the resulting violation of your national airspace. Such actions constitute a clear breach of the principles of international law and the fundamental norms governing respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. In this regard, I wish to express the full solidarity of the Republic of Sudanits leadership, government, and peoplewith the friendly Republic of Azerbaijan. I reaffirm my support for all legitimate measures undertaken to safeguard your country's sovereignty, security, and stability in accordance with international law. May God protect the Republic of Azerbaijan and grant it continued security and stability. Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration and respect,'' the letter reads. March 1o, 2026: Ukraine is producing interceptor drones to destroy Russian Geran attack drones flying high enough to avoid Ukrainian truck-mounted heavy machine-guns that destroy low-flying Shahed 136 drones. It requires an average of two interceptor drones to destroy one Shahed drone. Iran developed its delta-wing 200 kg propeller driven Shahed 136 drone a decade ago and it was first used by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen during 2019. After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine began, Iran provided Shahed 136 drones to Russia and assisted Russia in building a factory to produce a Russian version. Last year the Russian October air campaign against Ukraine was one of the most intense so far. Russia used over 5,000 Shahed drones, 74 cruise missiles, and 148 ballistic missiles. The targets were components of the Ukrainian energy production network. Russia wanted Ukrainian industries and civilians to suffer as the weather grew colder. Russia is now producing over 5,000 Shaheds a month. They want to increase production 1,000 attack drones per day but so far have only been able to build 350 a day. Russia calls the Shaheds it produces the Geran. These 200 kg drones travel at a speed of 180 kilometers an hour at an altitude of about 100 meters. They carry a 50 kg warhead. GPS navigation is jammable when close to the target while the unjammable, but less accurate INS backup, is not affected. Over 80 percent of the Gerans have been detected and destroyed by a clever Ukrainian air defense system created by two Ukrainian engineers. Called Sky Fortress, it consists of nearly 10,000 cell phones mounted on two-meter poles with their microphones activated to detect the unique sounds of Gerans flying nearby. All this data goes to a command post where operators can triangulate on, locate and track the incoming drones and direct groups of gun trucks, equipped with multiple machine-guns and lots of ammunition, to positions the drones will pass over. The gun trucks have managed to destroy most of the drones they encounter. Ukraine has built several hundred of these gun trucks and deploys them quickly via roads or cross country to carry out the interception. This system costs less than a single Patriot air defense missile. This drone defense system is operated by thousands of Ukrainian soldiers, and its simplicity, effectiveness and low cost has led NATO countries to request more details from the Ukrainians, including visits to NATO countries to further explain the system. Russia responded by having their Gerans fly higher, beyond the range of the machine-guns. Ukraine went on to develop new countermeasures. Year by year Russia and Ukraine develop new offensive weapons to use against each other. Ukrainian air strikes use larger drones at targets deep inside Russia. Unlike most western militaries, Russia has become dependent on the use of missiles and drones instead of artillery and airstrikes. Ukraine reports that, from late 2022 through late 2024, Russia used 4,800 missiles and nearly 15,000 attack drones. The missiles are expensive, most costing one or two million dollars each, while some of the drones cost $35,000. More recent drone designs cost only a few hundred dollars each. It was thought that the inexpensive drones would replace the use of 155mm artillery. The range and cost of artillery shells vary from $3,000 to $100,000 depending on its version and purpose. The basic 155mm shell weighs 43 kg and contains about seven kg of explosives. The Russian equivalent is the 152mm shell. The only overt foreign Russian sources of weapons and munitions have been Iran and North Korea, which has a feeble economy with a GDP of only $30 billion and has long been subject to economic sanctions. Iran is also sanctioned but has oil to export and a GDP of over $400 billion. Iran was also responsible for the recent completion of a Shahed drone manufacturing facility on the Volga River. Russia has over fifty firms manufacturing over two dozen types of drones. These include three dozen different models, most of them with a range of 40 kilometers while about a dozen have ranges of 100 to 2,000 kilometers. Russia is building a drone manufacturing infrastructure. By 2026 330,000 people will be involved in the development, production, and operation of drones by 2026. By 2035 1.5 million people may be involved in drone design, development and production. Russia continues to obtain drones and drone construction assistance from Iran. While Russia produces 330-350 Shahed-136 drones per month, Iran also helps out. Russia has manufactured over 2,000 Shahed drones and at least 2,600 have been sent by Iran. 11 March 2026 16:05 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, arrived in the Republic of Azerbaijan on an official visit on March 11, AzerNEWS reports. A guard of honor was lined up for the President of the European Council at Heydar Aliyev International Airport, which was decorated with the national flags of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the European Union. President of the European Council Antonio Costa was welcomed by Deputy Prime Minister Samir Sharifov, Deputy Foreign Minister Yalchin Rafiyev, and other officials. Costa announced his arrival in a post on the social media platform X, stating that he looks forward to meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku. In Baku today, looking forward to meeting @presidentaz Ilham Aliyev. Azerbaijan is a key partner for the EU. Over the past year, we have re-energised our relationship. We are committed to further deepening our relationship on security, energy, digital and transport. We pic.twitter.com/tm2Zjwe1xE Antonio Costa (@eucopresident) March 11, 2026 According to Costa, both sides are interested in expanding cooperation in several strategic areas, including security, energy, digital technologies, and transport. We are committed to further deepening relations in the fields of security, energy, digital and transport. We will also discuss recent developments against the backdrop of the rapidly changing geopolitical situation, Costa added. Energy cooperation remains one of the central pillars of relations between Azerbaijan and the EU. Speaking at the 12th ministerial meeting of the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council and the 4th Green Energy Advisory Council in Baku on March 3, Dan Jorgensen highlighted the growing importance of Azerbaijani gas for Europe. According to Jorgensen, gas supplies from Azerbaijan are extremely important for Europe at a time when the EU is reducing its dependence on Russian gas. Earlier, Ursula von der Leyen also noted the strategic role of regional transport routes, stating that the Middle Corridor could significantly expand trade and cooperation in the South Caucasus by connecting Azerbaijan and Armenia with each other and with European markets. 11 March 2026 16:20 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more Azerbaijans Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov met with Miguel Angel Moratinos, the High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the UN Special Envoy on Combating Islamophobia, who is visiting the country to participate in the Global Baku Forum. As reported by AzerNEWS, according to Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry, the meeting focused on issues on the agenda of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the UN Alliance of Civilizations, the continuation of joint projects, and prospects for future collaboration. The sides highlighted the importance of the existing partnership between Azerbaijan and the UN Alliance of Civilizations in promoting intercultural and interreligious dialogue. They also emphasized Azerbaijans contribution to fostering intercultural dialogue through the Baku Process and other international initiatives. During the meeting, Minister Bayramov briefed the UN official on the regional situation in the post-conflict period, Azerbaijans peace efforts, and the ongoing peace process with Armenia. Moratinos praised Azerbaijans active and consistent policy in promoting intercultural dialogue at the international level. He stressed the importance of continuing cooperation between Azerbaijan and the UN Alliance of Civilizations and expressed support for maintaining joint initiatives in the future. The sides also discussed issues related to the growing military escalation in the Middle East and expressed concern about the current situation. In addition, they exchanged views on other bilateral and multilateral matters of mutual interest, including the promotion of intercultural solidarity in the face of global challenges and opportunities for joint action in combating Islamophobia. 11 March 2026 16:24 (UTC+04:00) A one-on-one meeting has commenced between President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of the European Council Antonio Costa, AzerNEWS reports. President Ilham Aliyev and Antonio Costa first posed for a joint photograph. 11 March 2026 18:41 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Cargo transportation along the International NorthSouth Transport Corridor (INSTC) has been largely suspended since February 28 following the escalation of the armed conflict in the Middle East, according to sources from several shipping companies, AzerNEWS reports via Vedomosti. Industry representatives report that exporters have begun halting shipments due to growing uncertainty and disruptions along routes that pass through Iran. In particular, companies operating in the forest industry have suspended cargo deliveries via the corridor. Two sources from firms exporting wood materials confirmed that shipments along the NorthSouth route were halted from February 28. One of the sources noted that the company plans to redirect exports toward markets in North Africa and Latin America. A source in a chemical company said the current security situation in the Middle East has seriously complicated logistics and delivery schedules. Meanwhile, a representative of a trading firm stated that only shipments dispatched before the outbreak of hostilities or during the early stages of the conflict are currently continuing. The disruption comes after the United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran on February 28. According to reports, the strikes targeted military, administrative and strategic facilities, as well as port infrastructure. In response, Iran launched missile and drone attacks on targets in Israel and in Persian Gulf states hosting US military bases. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a move that has effectively halted much of the shipping activity in the Persian Gulf. Amid the escalating tensions, Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, said on March 6 that participants in the sector remain uncertain about how the situation will develop. Security concerns have also affected transportation through Azerbaijan. After two Iranian drones reportedly crashed near Nakhchivan International Airport on March 5, Azerbaijani authorities temporarily suspended truck crossings at the border with Iran. Transport operations were resumed on March 9. The 7,200-kilometer NorthSouth transport corridor is designed to connect Russia with seaports in Iran, primarily Bandar Abbas, and onward to the markets of India, the Persian Gulf states, and Southeast Asia. The corridor consists of three major branches: Western route via Azerbaijan Trans-Caspian route across the Caspian Sea Eastern route via Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan All three branches eventually pass through Iranian territory. Among Russian exporters, the western route through Azerbaijan is the most widely used, particularly for transporting forest products and grain, while the eastern branch typically carries paper, cellulose, construction materials, and food products. Cargo moving through Caspian ports mainly includes oil and vegetable oil shipments. According to Russian Railways (RZD), rail freight along the corridor totaled 12.9 million tons in 2024, representing a 3 percent increase year-on-year. However, citing RZD data, RBC reported that cargo volumes dropped to 9.9 million tons in 2025, with the route accounting for about 1 percent of the companys total freight load. Experts warn that the disruption could have a tangible economic impact on exporters. Dmitry Baranov, a leading expert at Finam Management, said the suspension of the corridor could increase transportation costs for Russian exporters by 2030 percent, as cargo would need to be redirected along longer alternative routes. He added that delivery times to India and Iran could rise from roughly 30 days to between 45 and 60 days, reducing the profitability of exports such as grain, metals, and petrochemicals. Baranov estimates that up to 70 percent of cargo currently transported through the corridor could be redirected to other routes, though at higher logistical costs. The temporary suspension could also lead to losses of about $4060 million per month, equivalent to 510 percent of export revenues linked to the corridor. Meanwhile, Mikhail Burmistrov, head of Infoline-Analytica, warned that if the Middle East conflict continues, cargo throughput along the NorthSouth corridor could decline by 25 percent or more in 2026. He stressed that the future trajectory of regional tensions remains unpredictable, making it difficult to accurately estimate the long-term impact on trade flows and cargo volumes along the corridor. 11 March 2026 09:00 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva Scientists from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) have made an important breakthrough in the field of quantum metrology by developing a new generation of strontium optical clocks. These devices can measure the passage of time with an accuracy that was previously considered almost impossible. The clock is so stable that its error would be less than one second over a period twice the age of the universe, AzerNEWS reports. How was such accuracy achieved? A group of researchers led by Zhi-Peng Jia demonstrated the operation of the USTC Sr1 optical clock, whose systematic uncertainty is only 9.2 10. This achievement places the Chinese device on the same level as the most advanced clocks developed by leading institutions such as the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). It may also open the way to redefining the international definition of the second in the SI system of units. The main component of the system is strontium-87 atoms, which are trapped in a one-dimensional optical lattice created by laser light. Their quantum state is measured using an ultra-stable laser with a wavelength of 698 nanometers. To reach this extreme level of precision, scientists developed innovative techniques to reduce factors that normally distort atomic oscillations. One of the most difficult challenges was eliminating the light shift caused by the optical lattice. Special attention was also given to magnetic effects. By using magnetically insensitive atomic transitions, researchers reduced the influence of external magnetic fields by more than 22 times compared with traditional methods. Careful calibration allowed the team to minimize errors caused by magnetic shifts. As a result, the system demonstrates remarkable frequency stability, proving that the clock can operate reliably for extremely long periods. Why is this important? The capabilities of such devices go far beyond simply measuring time. Thanks to their extraordinary sensitivity to gravitational potential, optical clocks like the Sr1 can be used in relativistic geodesya technique that allows scientists to measure differences in height with millimeter-level precision by detecting tiny variations in gravity. This technology could help monitor tectonic plate movements, groundwater changes, and volcanic activity, providing new tools for studying Earths dynamic processes. In addition, ultra-precise optical clocks may play an important role in fundamental physics. Scientists hope to use them to search for dark matter, detect low-frequency gravitational waves, and measure extremely small variations in fundamental physical constants. Some researchers even suggest that networks of optical clocks placed around the world could act as a new type of planet-scale sensor, capable of detecting subtle changes in space-time itself. 11 March 2026 11:54 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Dubai Media Office is reporting that four people have been injured after two drones fell in the vicinity of Dubai airport, AzerNEWS reports. Explosions rock Tehran as Iran says US and Israeli forces have bombed nearly 10,000 civilian sites in the country, and killed more than 1,300 civilians since the war began 11 days ago. Israeli forces bomb a building in central Beirut, causing extensive damage. Hezbollah and the Israeli military trade fire as Iranian missiles set off sirens in Tel Aviv and central Israel overnight. Iranian counterattacks continue, with Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE reporting missile and drone interceptions in recent hours. The US military says it has destroyed 16 inactive Iranian mine-laying vessels after President Donald Trump warned of grave consequences if oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz are disrupted. 11 March 2026 18:00 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed the AK Party group meeting, delivering a forceful message on the ongoing war in the Middle East, particularly concerning the US, Israel, and Iran. Erdogan urged an immediate halt to the conflict, saying, We are continuing our efforts to silence the weapons, AzerNEWS reports. Highlighting the humanitarian toll, Erdogan recalled that 175 female students were killed in Iran on the first day of attacks, adding, Some high-ranking Iranian figures, including Khamenei, were assassinated. Iran's infrastructure has suffered serious damage. The Iranian people are now struggling to survive every day. These developments are causing great devastation both geographically and economically. The President also commemorated the 105th anniversary of Turkiyes National Anthem, describing it as the most eloquent symbol of the nations shared values and freedom. These are the fundamental values that led the national struggle to victory, laid the foundation of the Republic of Turkiye, and formed the essence of the Turkish nation: the call to prayer, the Quran, martyrdom, the flag, and freedom, Erdogan said. Emphasizing unity and inclusivity, Erdogan stressed Turkiyes stance on regional conflicts: We have never looked at the people of our region, including our brotherly Iranian people, as this one is Shia, this one is Sunni, this one is Turk, this one is Kurd, and we never will. For us, there is only humanity. We stand by anyone who is wronged or suffering. We reject discrimination based on race, sect, religion, language, or origin. Erdogan extended a call to all Muslims, declaring: We do not have a religion like Sunnism or Shiism. We have only one religion, and that is Islam. Hz. Ali is ours, Hz. Omar is ours, our mother Hz. Aisha is ours, and our mother Hz. Zeynep is ours. He warned that the attacks on Iran are having broader regional and global consequences, particularly by driving up oil prices, saying, Already, not just the countries involved in the conflict, but the entire world is preparing to pay the price. 11 March 2026 22:50 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more The world is entering a period of intensifying rivalry between the United States and China, and Europe must choose a third path to avoid being forced to align with one of the competing camps. This view was expressed by JeanNoel Barrot, Frances foreign minister, during an interview with the television channel France 2, AzerNEWS reports. Barrot said the emerging global order is increasingly defined by the strategic competition between two major powers. The world that is taking shape is one of growing rivalry between two superpowers: the United States, the superpower of the 20th century, and China, the rising superpower, the minister said. According to him, this strategic competition could eventually lead to conflicts as geopolitical tensions deepen between the two global powers. Against this backdrop, Barrot stressed that for France and its European partners the key challenge extends beyond the current crises unfolding in the Middle East. Instead, he suggested that Europe must focus on its long-term strategic positioning in an increasingly polarized world. The French minister also emphasized the importance of Europes strategic autonomy. Our vision of the worldand of ourselvesis a strong and independent France and Europe, he said, underscoring the need for the continent to strengthen its political, economic and security capabilities. Barrots remarks reflect a growing debate within Europe about how the continent should navigate the evolving global power balance while maintaining its independence in foreign and security policy. 11 March 2026 19:50 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Germany will release part of its oil reserves as part of an internationally coordinated effort to mitigate price increases on international markets stemming from the Iran war, Economy Minister Katherina Reiche told reporters on Wednesday, AzerNEWS reports. "The International Energy Agency yesterday evening asked its member states to release oil reserves of 400 million barrels. We will accede to this request and make our contribution," Reiche said in Berlin. Earlier, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said that her country would release oil reserves as early as next week to ease pressure on the prices of petrol and other energy sources. Spain approved the move as well. Earlier Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the Group of Seven advanced economies, said the G7 would this week discuss a possible release of strategic oil reserves. A possible meeting of G7 leaders on the energy issue could take place this week, Macron told journalists on his way to Cyprus. However, speaking to reporters after chairing a video meeting of G7 finance ministers, French Finance Minister Roland Lescure said the group was "not there yet". Asked if they had agreed on releasing stockpiles to lower prices, Lescure said from Brussels: "What we've agreed upon is to use any necessary tools, if need be, to stabilise the market, including the potential release of necessary stockpiles." Such a measure can only be effective if it is implemented in a "coordinated" manner, Lescure added. The war triggered by US-Israeli strikes on Iran is fuelling fears for the global economy, with global stock markets sinking and oil rocketing above $100 a barrel for the first time since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. March 9, 2026: France is building long range drones for Ukraine. Details were not revealed, but the same French firm produced an AAROK long-distance drone with a 22 meter wingspan carrying a payload of about three tons. This can be fuel, missiles or real-time video monitoring cameras. France has been sending thousands of locally made drones to Ukraine. These include 2,000 of the French UX11 kamikaze drones. France also developed and built the UX11 known as Colibri, which is a loitering munition that weighs 1.5 kg, has a 1.1m wingspan top speed of 60 kilometers an hour and an endurance of 45 minutes. UX11 is battery powered and propeller driven. It has an effective range of five kilometers from the operator and can reach altitudes of up to 2,000 meters. The operator uses the video link with the UX11 to search for a target. When one is found the drone dives into it, exploding on contact. The explosives carried are equivalent to several hand grenades and sufficient to damage or destroy unarmored targets, including groups of soldiers. These initial models of the UX11 cost about $23,000 each. Once UX11 enters mass production that cost will come down to under a thousand dollars each. French manufacturer KNDS, like so many other NATO weapons manufacturers, is donating new products to Ukraine to see how their products perform in combat. France has sent substantial military aid to Ukraine. One of the more popular and useful weapons was the Caesar truck-mounted 155mm artillery system. After receiving its first Caesar artillery systems, Ukraine found that this novel truck mounted 155mm howitzer was more effective than towed or conventional self-propelled artillery systems that ran on tracks, like a tank. That led Ukraine to purchase more Caesar systems from the French manufacturer. The French are producing at least a dozen Caesar systems a month. The manufacturer has also made several improvements and upgrades. These are often based on feedback from Ukrainian users. The changes include adapting Caesar for use on different types of trucks and upgrades to the fire control system that allow the use of different types of 155mm shells, including some that can hit targets fifty kilometers away accurately. This required upgrades to the fire control system to increase effectiveness of regular missions and as well as the accuracy of long-range missions. A semi-automatic loading system increases the rate of fire and requires less physical effort from the crew. Ukraine found that their first Caesar systems were the key to developing more effective counter-battery fire to hamper enemy artillery operations. NATO was able to help with that because NATO also supplied very effective counter-battery radars that are used to calculate where enemy shells and rockets were coming from. This enabled the Ukrainians to fire back quickly, often while the Russian artillery was being moved to avoid counter-battery fire. Ukraine did this by developing a better fire control system that was much quicker to react using multiple well-dispersed individual guns and artillery rocket launchers, as well as their own drones that specialized in detecting targets, especially enemy artillery systems that were not firing. The Russians have nothing as effective as this and neither does NATO. Ukraine has some of the best software engineers in the world and they mobilized after 2014 to improve Ukrainian military capabilities. An additional advantage was that many Ukrainian civilians in Russian-occupied areas kept their Ukraine cellphones and, once the invasion began, joined local clandestine networks to provide GPS locations for Russian troops, headquarters, and supply stockpiles. The corrupt and poorly led Russian forces were unable to deal with the Ukrainian target location and artillery advantage. This is a major reason why, by late 2022 the Russians were not just retreating but often running away from the advancing Ukrainian troops and their numerous artillery attacks on targets behind the front line. These Ukrainian successes with artillery also revealed which artillery weapons were the most effective. The big winners were not armored self-propelled guns firing new, longer-range shells. The Ukrainians found that towed 155mm guns, like the M777 or truck mounted 155mm guns like Caesar were the best for supporting front line troops and counter-battery fire against enemy artillery near the front line. For more distant targets the best solution was systems like the American High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS. This was a truck-mounted system that carried either six guided 227mm diameter rockets with a range of 80 kilometers, or one or two larger guided rockets with ranges of up to 500 kilometers. Western nations, especially the United States, have spent a lot of time and money trying to develop longer range shells and came up with larger armored self-propelled guns firing very expensive GPS-guided shells that could hit targets up to 70 kilometers away. The shorter barrel on the M777 and Caesar fired unguided shells out to 40 kilometers. This approach was a lot cheaper because M777 and Caesar were cheaper and more effective because both could set up quickly, fire several shells and then be gone in about a minute or two. That was quick enough to avoid counter-battery fire and the truck-based artillery systems were easier to keep operational. Plus, unguided shells are far cheaper than guided ones. Tracked armored vehicles require a lot more maintenance by the crew and need replacement parts, like new tracks to replace worn ones, more frequently as well as a lot more fuel. The armor was sometimes useful, but the truck mounted HIMARS system got a lot of battlefield experience in Afghanistan and elsewhere and found that some lightweight armor on the crew cabin was sufficient for protection from bullets and shell fragments. Truck mounted systems like Caesar often use this protected crew compartment feature as well. A Staple for Oregon Coast Spring Break, Festival of Illusions Hits Lincoln City Again Published 03/10/26 at 7:55 a.m. By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff (Lincoln City, Oregon) A famed favorite returns to Lincoln City for spring break: the Festival of Illusions will double this as the Lincoln City Cultural Centers 14th annual celebration, bringing six of the Northwests best-known family entertainers to the coast for a week of performances and workshops. The lineup that hits the central Oregon coast town includes returning favorites Jeff Evans, Louie Foxx, Matt Baker, Joe Black and Professor DB Schreiber. Responding to strong demand, the Bubble Man will offer two matinee shows in addition to the evening schedule. (Above: performing will be the Bubble Man) 2026 Festival of Illusions, March 22-27 Reserved seats for evening shows, workshops and other ticketed events are now on sale through the Lincoln City Cultural Center. Theatre-style seating is priced at 19 dollars for adults, 17 dollars for seniors and students, 11 dollars for kidlets ages 6 to 18, and free for children 5 and under. Prices are all-inclusive for 2026, with no added fees. Membership discounts and complimentary tickets will be accepted. Daytime activities continue to expand, led by the Brick Gallerys growing collection of six themed LEGO exhibits. Dive into the world of Harry Potter and other fantastic realms. The popular Hogwarts castle display has been joined by Lego City, Pirates Lagoon, Alien Planet, Minecraft and a Lunar New Year installation. Jeff Evans Several exhibits include scavenger hunts designed for visitors of all ages, and a new interactive building area invites young engineers to create and display their own LEGO artwork. Families can also browse the centers themed art kits, created by volunteers and Visual Arts Director Krista Eddy. The kits are available by donation while supplies last in the upstairs art-kit room near Margarets Meeting Room. Nearly 30,000 kits have been distributed to date. Two gallery exhibitions will be on view during the festival. The Fiber Arts Studio Gallery will present Eco Play, a two-artist show by Sal Strom and Kathleen Caprario-Ulrich that imagines a world shaped by environmental restoration. The PJ Chessman Gallery will feature Oregon Coast After Dark, an astrophotography exhibition by Jeremy Likness capturing the regions night skies. Louis Foxx Visitors can also explore the cultural plaza outside the main entrance, where the Cosmography lithoMosaic serves as a mandala-inspired centerpiece celebrating coastal life. Nearby features include Pete Beemans kinetic sculpture Poppy, the Poetry Path, the Kiwanis patios Gary the Octopus seating and the Rotarys outdoor musical instruments. The Lincoln City Cultural Center, located at 540 NE Highway 101 in the historic Delake School, will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended hours for evening performances throughout festival week. Ticketing and information are available at lincolncity-culturalcenter.org or by calling 541-994-9994. If you want this tightened into a shorter wire-style brief, I can produce that as well. See the full lineup: lincolncity-culturalcenter.org Hotels in Lincoln City - Where to eat - Lincoln City Maps and Virtual Tours MORE PHOTOS BELOW OREGON COAST HOTEL REVIEWS (hit refresh to see different reviews) Lincoln City Rentals Company Offers Quite the Price Drops: Oregon Coast Early... A1 Beach Rentals has a 30-percent reduction. Hotel reviews, Lincoln City hotel reviews, Lincoln City lodging Capping Either End of Cannon Beach: Two Different Charmers of the N. Oregon C... Like a pair of bookends, two of its more engaging places to stay cap either end. Cannon Beach hotel reviews, Schooner's Cove Inn, the Wayside Inn, Seaside hotel reviews Yachats Hotels - Oregon Coast Yachats Hotels, hotel reviews from Yachats, hotel news, vacation rentals Pacific City Hotels, Lodging Pacific City Hotels, Lodging, hotel Pacific City hotel reviews, vacation rentals More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight Washington Coast / Oregon Coast Articles (stories are random: hit reload to see different articles) Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted Virtual Oregon Coast Field Trip: How to Chomp on Yum-Yums from Netarts Bay Published 03/10/26 at 9:55 p.m. By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff (Oceanside, Oregon) Dig further into the beach without actually being there. It's a digital trip to the Oregon coast that is live. Friends of Netarts Bay-WEBS will present the second webinar in its 2026 Producers of the Bay series on Wednesday, March 18, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., with a program focused on seaweeds, invasive green crabs and the changing conditions of Oregons coastal blue ecosystems. The session will examine how climate change and non-native species are reshaping nearshore environments, and how science-informed, ancestral stewardship and harvesting practices can help strengthen ecosystem resilience. The virtual field trip will explore the ecological roles of seaweeds and invasive green crabs while drawing from marine ecology, the Indigenous 13 Moons seasonal framework and Asian coastal food traditions. Organizers say the goal is to connect ecosystem literacy with culinary nourishment, showing how traditional and contemporary knowledge can work together to support both environmental health and coastal foodways. Dr. Siew Sun Wong of Oregon State Universitys School of Nutrition and Public Health and Dr. Samuel Chan of OSUs Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences will share insights into Oregons nearshore systems. They will discuss how thoughtful harvesting and cooking practices can turn ecological challenges into opportunities for stewardship, sustainability and meaningful meals. Seaweed samples will be available for registrants to pick up at the WEBS office to enjoy during the presentation. Pickup details will be provided to participants after registration. More information and registration are available at netartsbaywebs.org/events. Questions or cancellations can be directed to info@netartsbaywebs.org. Hotels in Three Capes - Where to eat - Three Capes Maps and Virtual Tours MORE PHOTOS BELOW OREGON COAST HOTEL REVIEWS (hit refresh to see different reviews) Lincoln City Openings for Sept (Including Holiday) Going for Less Than Much o... One has openings on Labor Day Weekend ? Sept normally summer prices. Lincoln City hotel reviews, availability Lincoln City Rentals Company Offers Quite the Price Drops: Oregon Coast Early... A1 Beach Rentals has a 30-percent reduction. Hotel reviews, Lincoln City hotel reviews, Lincoln City lodging Waldport Hotels - Oregon Coast Waldport lodging news, Waldport hotel news, Seal Rock hotel reviews, Waldport hotel reviews, vacation rentals Manzanita Hotels, Lodging Manzanita Hotels, Manzanita hotel reviews, vacation rentals, Lodging More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight Washington Coast / Oregon Coast Articles (stories are random: hit reload to see different articles) Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted Even thought the British economy is in dire straights under Labour Party mismanagement, the illegal immigration problem is an even bigger concern for British voters according to a new poll from the major British polling firm YouGov. Immigration has now surpassed the economy as the biggest concern among the UK electorate. The YouGov poll finds that immigration, meaning the swarms of illegal alien "asylum seekers" arriving in small boats, is the top issue among 51% of British voters. The poll further finds that 78% of voters say that the governing Labour Party is doing a bad job on handing immigration. https://rmx.news/article/immigration-retakes-economy-as-top-concern-for-brits-as-4-in-5-voters-think-government-has-handled-issue-badly/ This bodes particularly well for the populist nationalist Reform Party led by Nigel Farage, which calls for mass deportation of illegal aliens, and has been holding a double digit lead in the polls for months. The corrupt dark money organizations around RINO senate boss Phil Berger are getting some investigation from the Daily Haymaker. Berger's state senate primary received more mailings and TV ads than the state's US Senate race. Berger outspent his conservative challenger Sheriff Sam Page by 53 to 1 but still lost by 23 votes. It turns out the money for Berger's campaign and the attack on Page was filtered through multiple PACs and other organizations. Some of it hits a dead end that cannot be traced any further, but much of its ultimately goes back to special interest groups that want help with their legislation from Berger. It looks like Berger was a losing investment for them. https://dailyhaymaker.com/shining-some-sunlight-on-all-that-dark-in-the-page-berger-clash/ The special interest PAC "NC Ac Action PAC" has filed an information report revealing some additional information on its successful scheme to buy the 79th district House seat for the "RoundUp RINO" Darren Armstrong. Their consultant was out of Atlanta, Georgia. Much of their funding is still "dark money" because it comes from organizations that do not file reports like the NC Ag Partnership, which is linked with an NGO that tried to put our shrimping industry out of business. Another dark money group that files no report calls itself "Keep Ag Growing NC" Some funds also passed through the NC Pork Council, Inc. but since they file no reports, there is nothing to show if its came out of their own funds or was a pass through. Two corporations in North Carolina that operate very large farming businesses also made large contributions, as well as a farming business located in Indiana. There were NO small or even medium contributors. They were all fat cats. Many of these big special interests are corporations and that give more than the usual limit on contributions. Corporate contributions directly to a candidate are illegal in North Carolina but these corporations are allowed to buy a legislative seat for their special interest by spending their corporate money in a special interest independent expenditure campaign and to go way over the usual limit on campaign contributions. The NC Ag Action PAC lists a total of only 6 contributors, all over the usual legal limit and all from corporations. There are no reports that have been seen yet on the casino money spent against Kidwell. February 11, 2026: At the end of December last year, about a hundred Russian soldiers crossed the border into the Sumy province of Ukraine. The soldiers seized fifty civilians and about a dozen Ukrainian soldiers and moved them all back to Russia. The Russian soldiers then returned to the Russian side of the border. This sort of thing is considered a violation of international law. The Russian government denied that this happened and provided no information on the captives. Its also unknown if the brief Russian invasion had any connection to a 2024 Ukrainian invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine sent several thousand troops and over a hundred tanks and other armored combat vehicles into Russias Kursk region in early August. It took a week for the Russians to send any effective response and that force was only able to defend, not always successfully. Reinforcements to Kursk were meager at first. Satellite photos revealed a convoy accompanied by two mobile field kitchens, with one truck towing a water trailer. There were about twenty trucks carrying troops and supplies. These vehicles had only a few hundred soldiers. Ukrainians quickly advanced more than 35 kilometers into Russia while surviving the initial weak Russian efforts to halt the advance. The Ukrainian air forces used bombs and attack drones to destroy five bridges the Russians needed to move supplies to their forces. Without those bridges, most Russian troops in the area will soon be out of food, medical supplies and munitions. Meanwhile, Russia evacuated about 200,000 civilians from the area, sending them to nearby areas where there was no fighting. After two weeks, Ukrainian forces occupied about 1,100 square kilometers of Russian territory. The attack force was accompanied by hundreds of drones. Some were for surveillance, to keep track of Russian forces. Most of the drones were for attacking Russian troops or infrastructure. This included several key bridges and a few other military facilities. At first the Russians couldnt believe that the Ukrainians were invading Russia. This should not have been a surprise because the Russian offensive into Ukraine has been stalled for over a year. The Russians were unable to counterattack for a number of reasons, including fear of failure and too many soldiers who did not want to be in Ukraine. Four weeks after the Kursk invasion began there were nearly 10,000 Ukrainian troops in Russia. The Ukrainian forces withdrew from Kursk province six weeks after they entered Russia. In 2023 the Russian Volunteer Corps/RDK and Freedom of Russia Legion/LSR, two anti-Putin Russian militias based in Ukraine, launched raids into Russia. The two militias are not identical. The LSR began when about a hundred Russian soldiers defected mostly as a single group in early 2022. The RDK was formed around Russians living and working in Ukraine when the invasion began. Both groups are almost entirely composed of Russians who oppose Russian leader Vladimir Putin. The raids are meant to embarrass Putin, not kill Russian soldiers and civilians. Some of the Russian responses to the raids did that, notably by doing the same things they did in Ukraine, like bombing and using thermobaric weapons in civilian areas, looting Russian instead of Ukrainian civilians, and so on. Most of the responses against the Ukrainian-backed Russian militias were ineffectual, which is typical of the Russian Army Putin has created to fight in Ukraine. These raiding operations took place in the Russian province of Belgorod, which is on the border north of the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. Initially these raids faced no armed opposition and, when Russian security forces showed up during more recent raids, the Russian troops either retreated or surrendered. This was not unexpected because Russian troops in Ukraine have performed poorly from the beginning. Worse, the raiders were all Russians who, unlike most Russian army personnel in Ukraine, were competent and effective fighters whose motivation was to discredit Vladimir Putin and his war in Ukraine. It was also a mystery, at first, where these anti-Putin Russians came from. The LSR was formed in early 2022 from a company of Russian soldiers who defected to the Ukrainians in March 2022 and became part of the International Legion Ukraine formed from the many foreign veterans who went to Ukraine to fight the invaders. The RDK consisted of Russians living in Russia and Ukraine who were fed up with Putin and also joined the International Legion but later left that to form the RDK. While the International Legion was formed to defend Ukraine, the RDK and LSR were formed to embarrass, discredit and oust Putin from power. Since the invasion began in February 2022, there have been a growing number of Russians who oppose the war. This is one reason why some of the raids are carried out deep, over 50 kilometers, inside Russia. The Russian armed response to these raids has been embarrassingly ineffective. Before these raids began, the Ukrainian border was lightly guarded, on both sides, by border guards and conscripts. Once these raids by Ukrainian-backed Russian militias began and the border was revealed to be vulnerable, Russia tried to reinforce border security along the entire 540-kilometer border. This proved to be difficult without withdrawing a substantial number of Russian troops from Ukraine along with artillery, armored vehicles and air support. This led some Russian media critics to describe this as an easy way to divert Russian forces from the fighting in Ukraine. Russian media was ordered to downplay the fact that the raiders were Russian. The reality of the situation eventually reached most Russians. This is what RDK and LSR wanted, to show that Russians were fighting against Putin. Russia described the raiders as Ukrainian terrorists, playing down the fact that the raiders were Russians. Media coverage of the raids made it obvious that Russian security forces were no better at defending the border than they were at defeating Ukrainians inside Ukraine. Russia also has to worry about the imminent Ukrainian counteroffensive in southern Ukraine. If that offensive has any obvious success, it will demonstrate that the poor security on the Belgorod border was part of a pattern of Russian military failures in Ukraine. Putin is ignoring this and his close associates are not supposed to tell Putin how bad the situation is in Ukraine. This is not a strategy for victory, but for ignoring defeats and hoping for the best. The Russian media cannot report these problems on the border or inside Ukraine. Russians who are curious have other ways, usually via the internet, to find out what is really going on. As Western economic sanctions on Russia continue and are increased, that means more economic privation for Russian civilians. Putin is confident that the traditional Russian willingness to tolerate shortages and higher unemployment will prevent any protests inside Russia. That has generally been the case. But because this is not a war where Russia has been invaded and is defending itself, Russian military losses and economic losses are harder to justify. Russia is the invader of a neighbor that was not attacking Russia. This reduces the Russian peoples willingness to tolerate the cost of the war. And now Russia is facing armed Russians fighting inside Russia to protest the Putin policies. Bennington, VT (05201) Today Snow along with gusty winds at times. Temps nearly steady in the mid 30s. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of snow 90%. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Mostly cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 23F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Bennington, VT (05201) Today Variable clouds with snow showers. Temps nearly steady in the mid 30s. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 60%. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 24F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Bennington, VT (05201) Today Windy. Snow this morning will give way to snow showers this afternoon. Temps nearly steady in the mid 30s. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of snow 70%. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. Tonight Considerable cloudiness. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 23F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Ahead of the 98th Academy Awards, most major categories remain competitive, highlighted by a tight Best Picture race between "One Battle After Another" and "Sinners." The awards ceremony will honor what turned out to be a great year for film with a slew of original content that catered to different audiences in the horror, comedy and drama genres. PITTSFIELD Hundreds of people living in public housing in the city soon will have access to affordable, broadband internet and the training they need to understand how to get the most out of it. A pair of state grants, totaling about $2 million, will cover the cost of installing fiber-optic cables throughout seven of the buildings operated by the Pittsfield Housing Authority, and establishing technology education programs for the residents. The grants were distributed by the Massachusetts Broadband Institute, which aims to make affordable, high-speed internet accessible to all Housing Authority residents. The institute is a division of Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, a public agency that supports growth in the technology sector. "It's not just about getting the the physical fiber connection," said Jody Jones, the program executive for Massachusetts Broadband Institute. "It's about all the programming to ensure that residents can afford it and can use it and have the devices and the skills." The Pittsfield Housing Authority is a local public housing agency that operates more than 600 units across 10 developments in the city. These units are state and federally subsidized to help lower rents for low-income residents. The increased internet access will be available in the coming months for 503 units at seven agency apartment complexes: Christopher Arms, Columbia Arms, Dower Square, Francis Plaza, Providence Court, Wahconah Heights and Wilson Park. The other three complexes did not fall under this grant. Columbia Arms was the first to receive the upgrade, said Tina Danzy, the executive director of the Pittsfield Housing Authority. Connection of the other six complexes should be complete in about four months, she said. Broadband internet is defined by the Federal Communications Commission as download speeds of 100 megabits per second and upload speeds of 10 megabits per second. The average download speed in America is over 200 megabits per second, according to highspeedinternet.com. The larger of the two grants, $1.65 million, came from the Residential Retrofit program, which goes to a qualified internet service provider to install and manage the fiber-optic connections in the housing units. Access Plus, a local internet service provider, will upgrade wiring and provide residents with income-eligible plans, starting at $35 a month. It is the first time in the state a housing authority is being upgraded through the Residential Retrofit program, said Kathryn Downes, the associate director of programs for the institute. It was also the first award in Berkshire County. "You don't realize that you have the capacity to just Google when you have a question," Danzy said. "The conveniences of the internet are obvious substantial, so we want to be able to bring that to everyone." Pittsfield Housing Authority currently provides free internet access in some common rooms, she said, something the agency plans to expand with the new grants. The smaller award, $402,750, came through MBI's Retrofit Ancillary Grantee program. These funds will go toward establishing computer learning rooms and hiring outside instructors to lead technology education programs for the residents. The Great Barrington Housing Authority and Hearthway, a local nonprofit housing developer, also received $29,198 and $284,481 respectively from the Retrofit Ancillary Grantee program to support technology accessibility at their properties. "The combination of having the infrastructure investments coupled with the programming will really ensure that residents can use it to its fullest potential," Jones said. You are the owner of this article. NORTH ADAMS At the Cumberland Farms on Ashland Street on Tuesday, gas prices were up to $3.39 per gallon a 41-cent increase from last weeks $2.98. When asked what she thought of the spiking gas prices as she filled her tank, North Adams resident Pauline Longtin thought the answer was obvious. Oh I love it, everybody loves to pay more, she joked. Roughly a week after U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran drove oil prices higher and pushed gas prices up across the country, Berkshire drivers filling up Tuesday said the rising cost at the pump is already being felt. After the initial Feb. 28 attack on Iran, the country responded by launching missiles at several targets around the Middle East and shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, where some 20 percent of the world's oil passes. Oil prices have jumped since the strikes amid fears of supply disruptions in the Middle East. A barrel of oil has climbed to about $90, up from roughly $60 earlier this year, pushing gasoline prices higher nationwide. Longtin often drives her siblings who dont drive to appointments, the grocery store or the airport in Albany. To save money on gas, she usually uses her BJs membership card, which she said saves her 10 cents a gallon, but instead she stopped in North Adams because it was more convenient. With the amount of driving she does, she said, any more increase would hurt. Five dollars [a gallon] would kill me, she said. Were already paying enough. Clarksburg resident Jeremy Carroll stopped to fill up his tank Thursday before heading to a doctors appointment in Lee. He had only heard about the recent attack on Iran the day before, but noticed the price was about $3 more than the last time he filled up. Its always been a fluctuating thing; you just kind of have to roll with the punches, he said, though he added that $4 a gallon would be way too much. Sonia and Sarah Cohen, owners of Sacred Light Healing in Adams, often travel in an oversized van packed with supplies for floating baths, sound baths and Reiki lessons. The recent jump in gas prices shocked the couple when they filled the vans large tank, which is on top of their other personal cars. I actually just got rid of a vehicle because things are just so expensive right now, Sonia said. Not only did she not support the U.S. joint attack with Israel on Iran that has sharply driven up gas and oil prices in the last week, she said it isnt what the U.S. stands for. Were supposed to have someone who represents the people and this is not a reflection of that at all, she said. Its unfortunate [President] Trump is starting a war and its costing innocent civilians. Reina Mcginnis had already accepted the price increase when filling up. This happened during the Ukraine War. Gas hit five bucks a gallon when [it] started and honestly, I think it could keep going up if [the Iran war] keeps escalating. Some arent just noticing the attacks effect on their gas budget, but also their home heating oil. Deb Raber said shes seen a $1.50 spike in the price of oil that heats her home since the past weekend. Its been fluctuating so much in the last week that she has been keeping track. Ive been screenshotting the whole way through, showing shots on her phone of the rates per gallon increasing daily. She called Trumps decision to attack Iran and the resulting rising prices not necessary." Whats going on in the world right now, this is not what we were promised [by Trump], she said. We were promised way different prices on gas, oil, groceries, everything and thats completely the opposite of what we got. Like Raber, retired Adams resident Bob Norcross uses oil heating in his home and he was also shocked at the $580 he had to pay for Februarys oil. I dread the next time I have to call the oil company, he said. Having worked as a night manager at Big Y in North Adams and Pittsfield for 35 years, Norcross saw the domino effect that rising gas prices had on everyday costs. Just bringing the goods to the market costs money, he said. We pay to get lettuce from California, but they have to pay the truckers to get it to the supermarket. This time of year is dance competition season for Jessica Gwozdz, who owns Studio North Dance Arts school in North Adams. She tries to keep traveling within a two-hour radius, but worries about how gas prices will affect peoples desire to participate. She always prepays inside with a cashier, but still noticed a difference from the roughly $3 per gallon where the price normally sits. I know Im not getting the same amount as last Thursday, she said. And with fuel prices going up, were seeing the cost of everything else go up. Gwozdz has costume orders coming in ahead of competitions and noticed the price of shipping spike. If it keeps going up, what will the impact be? she said. What will people be willing to spend on an extracurricular activity? It all just bottles up in my head exponentially. No matter where she gets gas, Longtin has stopped looking at the price when the pump clicks off. You know why?" she said. "Because I have to pay it no matter what. Stay up to date on Berkshires news with Berkshires in Brief, our free daily newsletter CHESHIRE Superintendent Aaron Dean plans to present a $23.99 million budget for the Hoosac Valley Regional School District that would increase spending by 3.7 percent next year while eliminating five full-time positions. When Dean started the budget season for the regional school district which encompasses Adams and Cheshire the initial proposal was about $1.57 million higher. But he said he's worked with his team to trim the increase and to shift the burden away from local taxpayers. We have to continue to do the work to make this the best place it can be, Dean told the finance subcommittee on Monday. And go to the towns with a budget thats responsible and respectful to theirs and our needs. I do think that this balances that. Monday's meeting was in advance of a 6:30 p.m. March 16 budget hearing at Hoosac Valley High School. In this proposed budget, five full-time positions will be eliminated: a school adjustment counselor; an elementary school librarian; a middle school science, technology, engineering and mathematics teacher; a special education coordinator and a secretary. Dean said hes already had conversations with people to warn them of potential layoffs, though at least one of those staff reductions will take place through attrition. Hoosac Valley Regional School District has 1,013 students from prekindergarten through 12th grade, a level Dean expects to remain steady next year. Total staff will be 153 employees supported by the local operating budget. In addition, the district has about 50 more staff funded primarily through grants. To cushion local taxpayers, Dean plans to use state aid and school choice tuition to fund six positions that were previously supported by the local operating budget. Once the full Hoosac Valley Regional School Committee approves the budget, Dean will then go to the finance committees of both Adams and Cheshire and to town meeting voters for approval. In Adams, voters will be asked to approve a local assessment of just $6.17 million, a 3.5 percent increase. The school district's budget represents about 35 percent of the towns total $19 million budget in the current fiscal year. If this budget doesn't change, Cheshire town meeting voters will be asked to approve a local assessment of $3.1 million, or 5.9 percent over the current assessment of just under $3 million. COST FACTORS Special education remains one of the districts largest costs both for in-district students, of which there are 248 and for students who require out-of-district placement, of which there are 10. The district is also responsible for providing special education services for 15 students who are home schooled or attending private or parochial schools as well as three preschool students, who receive drive-by services. About half of the district's 80 preschool students are receiving special education services. Our special education costs are actually increasing 22 percent overall, even though you're not going to see that necessarily in the operating budget, Dean said. Adding to the cost, the district will have to add a new, substantially separate classroom to address special education needs for 15 elementary students. Hoosac Valleys line items for students opting to choice out of the district is expected to go up from $915,000 to $1.1 million, an increase of 27.5 percent. Hoosac Valley sends 130 students out of the district, and some of those students are receiving special education through their new schools. Hoosac Valley, though, is assessed additionally for those services. Other uncontrollable and increasing costs include insurance and utilities. The School Committee recently decided not to accept new students through school choice in the fall. In the current year, Hoosac Valley accepted about 15 new students through school choice. The number has varied, partly because Savoy students used to attend Hoosac Valley through school choice, but now the town has a tuition agreement. Dean said that decision was driven by current class size approaching 20. "We just don't have space at this point in time," he said. "So that would put us over certain numbers that we try to maintain for educational purposes." He said the $5,000 tuition gained per student through school choice "is not going to be enough money for us to fund another position that we might need, or fund something else that will result from an additional need of accepting more students. "Next year it could look different," he said. "It might not." Boston Symphony Orchestra, music director Andris Nelsons to part ways after 2027 Tanglewood season Boston Symphony Orchestra Music Director Andris Nelsons will step down after the 2027 Tanglewood season, ending his 13-year tenure with the orchestra. BSO musicians 'blindsided and shocked' by abrupt dismissal of Andris Nelsons The surprise announcement by the orchestras trustees and President/CEO Chad Smith was released late Friday, citing a lack of alignment on the future mission. Nelsons tenure ends after the 2027 Tanglewood season. When Boston Symphony Orchestra leadership abruptly announced the termination of Andris Nelsons tenure as music director, it caught almost everyone off-guard. A collective statement from BSO musicians said they strongly oppose the decision by the Board of Trustees to end the appointment of Maestro Nelsons. In a note of agreement with the musicians statement, a member of the BSOs board of advisors told The Eagle everyone was blindsided and shocked. Everyone including Mr. Nelsons, apparently, who sent a letter to orchestra members on Friday shortly after the news broke, writing this is not the decision I anticipated or wanted. Suddenly letting go of a talented conductor who has led more than a decade of harmonious evenings at Boston Symphony Hall and the BSOs Berkshire summer home at Tanglewood was bound to strike a sour tone. Theres no way around that, and its unfortunate it had to come at an interval that may blunt the springs budding enthusiasm for this summers Tanglewood season. Yet the news lands all the more discordantly given the rather vague reasons given for the impending separation. The BSOs official announcement simply stated that Mr. Nelsons was not aligned with the BSOs future vision. The statement did not elaborate further on what that means or why it should compel the regions premiere orchestra to look for a new musical director while sending a perfectly capable one packing. (Mr. Nelsons will hold his position through this summer and next, departing after the 2027 season.) In his letter to orchestra musicians, Mr. Nelsons indicated that he understands the decision to let him go was unrelated to artistic standards, performances, or achievements during his tenure. Its then reasonable to ask: What exactly about the clash in vision between BSO leadership and Mr. Nelsons warrants announcing his dismissal just 15 months after the BSO announced it had agreed to an automatically renewable contract for the conductor? Were certainly not the only members of this treasured musical institutions audience who are pondering that question right now, and the BSO owes the answer to the community that supports it. If the BSO has a vision for the future clear enough to dismiss its seasoned musical director, it shouldnt be hard to clearly communicate what that vision is to classical music lovers throughout the region troubled by this news. The U.S. Department of Education formally launched the development process for the 202728 Free Application for Federal Student Aid on Thursday, unveiling a package of significant improvements aimed at making the nation's gateway to college financial aid faster, simpler, and more accessible while touting over $1 billion saved by combating rampant fraud exposed under the previous administration. The Starting Gun: What Thursday's Announcement Means By publishing its information collection notice in the Federal Register on February 13, the Department officially opened the multi-step development process for the 202728 FAFSA form the version millions of students will use to apply for federal grants, loans, and work-study funds when planning for the fall 2027 semester. The announcement sets the Department on track to launch the 202728 FAFSA by October 1, 2026 the federally required opening date for FAFSA submissions a benchmark the previous administration notoriously missed during the botched 202425 rollout that delayed aid notifications for millions of students by months. "After years of mismanagement under the Biden Administration that left students and families struggling with delays and confusion, the Trump Administration promised to fix the FAFSA and in just one year, we have delivered historic progress for students and families across the country," said Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent. "We welcome public comment and feedback as we continue to modernize and streamline the form to better serve American students, families, and institutions." New Features Coming to the 202728 FAFSA Thursday's announcement outlined three headline improvements students and families can expect when the 202728 form launches next October: Pre-Populated Renewal Data In one of the most student-friendly changes, returning applicants will find their personal and financial data already filled in from their previous FAFSA submission. Rather than re-entering the same household and financial information year after year a frustration cited repeatedly in student surveys students simply review, confirm, and update only what has changed. This change is particularly meaningful for the millions of students who complete the FAFSA every year throughout their college careers. A student completing their junior year FAFSA, for instance, will no longer face the same time-consuming data-entry process they endured as a freshman. The result: a dramatically faster, less error-prone renewal experience. Clearer, Jargon-Free Language Questions and instructions on the 202728 FAFSA will be rewritten to strip out technical and bureaucratic language that has long confused first-generation college students and families unfamiliar with financial aid terminology. The overhaul targets phrases and concepts that research shows lead students to make errors, skip questions, or abandon the application entirely. Financial aid administrators have long complained that FAFSA language assumes a level of financial literacy and familiarity with tax concepts that many families especially those with the greatest financial need simply don't have. Clearer language directly addresses one of the most persistent barriers to FAFSA completion among low-income and first-generation applicants. Family-Friendly Multi-Child Applications For the first time, parents with more than one child applying for federal financial aid simultaneously will be able to enter their information once and apply it across all of their children's applications rather than being required to re-enter identical parental information for every individual child. This change eliminates a significant burden for families with multiple college-age children a situation increasingly common as college enrollment ages spread and gap years become more popular. Previously, a parent with three children attending different colleges could find themselves completing the parental section of three entirely separate FAFSAs, introducing repetition, fatigue, and the potential for inconsistencies. What's Already Working: 202627 FAFSA Improvements Thursday's announcement also highlighted improvements already implemented in the current 202627 FAFSA cycle changes the Department says make this the most streamlined FAFSA form in history: Redesigned Contributor Invite Process Students can now invite a parent or other financial contributor to complete their portion of the FAFSA form using a simple code a significant usability improvement over the previous system that required contributors to navigate complex account linking processes. The simplified code-based system reduces the technical friction that had caused many families to struggle with the multi-contributor requirement introduced during the major 202425 FAFSA overhaul. Instant Verification for New StudentAid.gov Accounts New account holders on StudentAid.gov now receive faster account confirmation, reducing the delays and frustration that had plagued the account creation process. Previously, students and parents sometimes waited days to verify new accounts, creating bottlenecks at the very beginning of the FAFSA process particularly problematic early in the application cycle when millions of new high school seniors attempt to create accounts simultaneously. Earnings Indicator: A Powerful New Transparency Tool Perhaps the most consequential new feature for students deciding where to apply is the Earnings Indicator a tool that shows whether graduates of colleges and universities to which students are applying have lower median earnings than a high school graduate. This data point, surfaced directly within the FAFSA application process, gives students considering financially risky college choices a stark, data-driven warning: if the typical graduate of this institution earns less than someone who never attended college, is this investment worth taking on federal student loan debt? The Earnings Indicator represents a significant shift in how the federal government uses its position as the primary college loan originator to steer students toward higher-value educational investments. Critics of some for-profit and low-completion institutions may welcome the transparency, while colleges with poor earnings outcomes may push back against what they view as an oversimplified metric embedded in the application process itself. Aggressive Fraud Prevention: $1 Billion Saved The Department reported that reversing what it characterized as "years of Biden Administration negligence" in FAFSA fraud prevention resulted in identifying and eliminating fraudulent applications that saved federal taxpayers over $1 billion last year alone. FAFSA fraud which includes identity theft schemes where criminals submit fraudulent applications using stolen personal information to redirect financial aid disbursements had grown substantially in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, as federal student aid systems processed an unprecedented volume of applications under emergency conditions. The $1 billion fraud savings figure, if accurate, represents a significant return on investment in verification and fraud detection systems, and sets a baseline for ongoing anti-fraud efforts in the 202728 cycle. The Working Families Tax Cuts Act: FAFSA Changes From New Legislation The current FAFSA cycle also reflects changes mandated by the Working Families Tax Cuts Act the Trump administration's signature domestic policy legislation which modified how financial need is calculated for certain applicants. Specifically, the new law excludes from FAFSA asset calculations: - Family-owned businesses with fewer than 100 full-time employees - Family farms - Commercial fishing operations These exclusions mean families whose primary wealth is tied up in a small business, farm, or fishing enterprise will no longer see those assets counted against them when calculating financial need. Previously, a farming family with substantial land assets but modest cash income could be deemed ineligible for need-based aid despite having little liquid money available to pay for college. For rural communities and small business owners constituencies the Trump administration has emphasized supporting this represents a potentially meaningful increase in financial aid eligibility. The full impact depends on how many families who previously appeared "too wealthy" on paper due to business or farm assets will now qualify for additional Pell Grant or subsidized loan eligibility. The Shadow of the 202425 FAFSA Disaster Any discussion of FAFSA improvements must be viewed through the lens of the catastrophic 202425 FAFSA rollout, which the Trump administration has made central to its higher education narrative. The Biden administration's overhaul of the FAFSA mandated by the FAFSA Simplification Act launched months late due to programming errors, data privacy miscalculations, and technical failures. The delayed rollout cascaded through the entire financial aid ecosystem: colleges couldn't issue aid offers to admitted students, students couldn't compare financial aid packages to make enrollment decisions, and admission cycles at thousands of institutions were thrown into disarray. At its worst, the crisis left hundreds of thousands of students unable to make informed college enrollment decisions. Some enrolled without knowing their actual cost of attendance. Others deferred or chose not to attend college while waiting for clarity on aid. Community colleges, which serve heavily price-sensitive populations, reported enrollment declines linked to FAFSA confusion. The Trump administration inherited this crisis and has invested significantly in stabilizing and improving FAFSA operations, with Thursday's announcement representing its most forward-looking statement yet on the form's future direction. Who Needs to Act and When For students and families currently navigating the college financial aid process, Thursday's announcement has limited immediate impact the changes announced are for the 202728 form, which won't be available until October 1, 2026. Students currently completing the 202627 FAFSA which opened October 1, 2025 should focus on completing their current application promptly to maximize financial aid eligibility before institutional deadlines. Students entering college in fall 2027 meaning current high school freshmen and sophomores will be the primary beneficiaries of the improvements announced Thursday. For stakeholders who want to influence the 202728 form's design including financial aid administrators, student advocates, higher education institutions, and members of the public the comment window runs through April 14, 2026. Comments must be submitted electronically through regulations.gov. Higher Education Community Reactions Financial aid administrators and higher education policy experts have long advocated for FAFSA simplification, and many of Thursday's announced improvements align with longstanding recommendations from the field: The pre-populated renewal data feature mirrors practices used in tax software and other government forms that store and reuse previously entered information, addressing one of the most frequently cited barriers to FAFSA completion among returning students. The multi-child family improvement addresses a pain point that disproportionately affected middle-income families with multiple college-age children families often squeezed between being too wealthy for maximum need-based aid and facing actual financial strain. The clearer language initiative echoes years of research from organizations like the National College Access Network showing that confusing FAFSA language is a significant barrier to completion among first-generation and low-income students, precisely the populations the form is meant to serve. The Earnings Indicator: Promise and Controversy Of all the announced features, the Earnings Indicator carries the most significant policy implications and the greatest potential for controversy. Embedding graduate earnings data directly in the FAFSA application at the exact moment students are seeking financial aid for specific colleges creates powerful behavioral nudges that could meaningfully shift enrollment patterns. Students considering a program whose graduates earn less than high school graduates may reconsider, potentially reducing enrollment at low-value programs. Supporters argue this is exactly the kind of consumer information students need. The federal government provides the loans that fund these programs; it should inform borrowers about the likely return on their investment. Critics will raise questions about how earnings are measured, what time frame is used, whether the metric fairly represents diverse career paths, and whether it disadvantages programs in lower-wage fields like social work, early childhood education, or the arts fields with genuine societal value that simply don't generate high earnings. The Earnings Indicator also continues a broader trend of the Trump administration using federal financial aid access as leverage to steer students toward higher-earning outcomes a market-oriented approach to higher education quality assurance that diverges sharply from traditional academic values around the intrinsic value of education beyond its income effects. FAFSA and the Broader College Affordability Crisis Thursday's announcement, while focused on form improvements, occurs against a backdrop of escalating concern about college affordability and student debt. Total outstanding federal student loan debt in the United States now exceeds $1.7 trillion, held by more than 43 million borrowers. The FAFSA is the gatekeeper to the federal grant and loan programs that finance the vast majority of college attendance for low- and middle-income students. Making the FAFSA faster, simpler, and more accessible doesn't directly address the underlying cost of college but it does reduce the administrative friction that prevents some students from accessing aid they're entitled to. Research consistently shows that FAFSA completion rates are strongly associated with college enrollment rates, particularly among first-generation and low-income students. Every student who abandons the FAFSA because it's too confusing, too time-consuming, or too technically burdensome represents a failure of the system's core mission: connecting qualified students with the financial resources they need to pursue postsecondary education. What to Watch Going Forward In the months ahead, several developments will shape the 202728 FAFSA's final form and impact: The public comment period through April 14 will reveal what students, families, institutions, and advocacy groups most want changed or preserved. High comment volumes on specific features signal strong stakeholder engagement that the Department typically must address in its final form development. The Department's actual October 1, 2026 launch of the form will be the true test of whether it has successfully stabilized FAFSA operations after the Biden-era crisis. Meeting the October deadline something the Biden administration failed to do for the 202425 cycle is itself a major benchmark. How the Earnings Indicator is ultimately designed and displayed will determine its practical impact. A prominent, clearly explained metric could meaningfully influence student decision-making. A buried or confusing presentation might have minimal effect. Whether additional FAFSA simplifications including further reducing the number of questions required are pursued in the 202728 cycle will signal the administration's appetite for deeper structural reform versus incremental improvement. How to Submit Comments Students, families, educators, financial aid administrators, and higher education institutions that want to shape the 202728 FAFSA form have until April 14, 2026 to submit public comments. Comments must be submitted electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov. The Department will not accept comments submitted by fax or email. Comments should reference the 202728 FAFSA information collection to ensure proper routing. Tamil Nadu releases BioVision 2026 to shape future of bioeconomy March 11, 2026 | Wednesday | News Tamil Nadu could plausibly approach a $2530 billion BioEconomy by 2030 Tamil Nadu BioVision 2026 report was released by MK Stalin, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. The report was prepared by Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises (ABLE) for the Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission, Government of Tamil Nadu highlighting the states potential to emerge as a nationally and globally competitive bieconomy hub. Tamil Nadu accounts for over 10% ($9.8 Billion in 2025) of Indias BioIndustrial value. This reflects the States manufacturing maturity in biofuels, use of industrial enzymes, fermentation products, and bio-based materials. Hosting major pharmaceutical facilities and a mature medical devices ecosystem, Tamil Nadu captures approximately 2% ($1.3 billion in 2025) of national BioPharma value. This indicates substantial room for expansion, particularly in high value biologics and advanced therapeutics. Tamil Nadus BioEconomy has entered a phase of accelerated expansion, growing from $7.7 billion in 2023 to an estimated $12.4 billion by the end of 2025representing approximately 61% growth over this period and significantly outpacing the national expansion rate. This trajectory positions Tamil Nadu as one of Indias fastest-growing BioEconomy ecosystems, with the State now contributing approximately 6.4% of Indias estimated $195 billion BioEconomy (2025), up from 5.1% in 2023. If current expansion patterns are sustained, Tamil Nadu could plausibly approach a $2530 billion BioEconomy by 2030, potentially contributing 810% of Indias projected national value. With a BioEconomy that has grown to an estimated $12.4 billion by 2025, the State has already begun integrating biological innovation across manufacturing systems, healthcare ecosystems, and knowledge-driven services. The question before us is therefore not whether the BioEconomy will shape Tamil Nadus future, but how decisively we can harness it to advance inclusive and future-ready development, said Dr J. Jeyaranjan, Executive Vice-Chairman, State Planning Commission, Tamil Nadu Roche India partners with Punjab Govt to strengthen Multiple Sclerosis care March 11, 2026 | Wednesday | News A dedicated publicprivate collaboration focused on strengthening care for Multiple Sclerosis In a landmark step toward strengthening neurological care, the Government of Punjab and Roche Pharma India have launched NeuroSakhi, a first-of-its-kind patient support and awareness initiative. The programme is designed to strengthen care and support systems for women living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in the State. The programme aims to strengthen care pathways, awareness and support systems for women navigating this complex neurological condition. The initiative was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER), Punjab Govt and Roche Pharma India at the Punjab Civil Secretariat in the esteemed presence of Balbir Singh (Health Minister - Punjab); Kumar Rahul (Principal Secretary Health); Dr Hitinder Kaur ( Director Health Services); Dr Rupinder Bakshi (Joint Director Medical Education & Research) and Dr Dheeraj Khurana (Professor of Neurology, PGIMER Chandigarh). An expert group led by the Department of Neurology at PGIMER Chandigarh will guide the development of evidence-based treatment pathways and recommendations for early diagnosis and timely treatment initiation. PGIMER Chandigarh will function as the central clinical hub, while Government Medical Colleges in Amritsar, Patiala and Faridkot will serve as regional spokes, enabling coordinated multidisciplinary care for Multiple Sclerosis across the State. The initiative will work toward improving the affordability and accessibility of disease-modifying therapies and high-efficacy treatments through government formulary inclusion and sustainable funding mechanisms. State-wide training programmes will strengthen the ability of physicians to identify MS symptoms early, ensure timely referrals and adopt evidence-based management practices. As part of this effort, PGIMER Neurological Society will support training for Government Medical Colleges serving, through a hub-and-spoke model. ARCHIVE - An elephant can be seen in the Elephant Nature Park. Photo: Carola Frentzen/dpa Keystone A night-time visit to a restaurant by a wild elephant has left traces of devastation near Thailand's famous Khao Yai National Park. Keystone-SDA SDA The animal searched the Penlaos restaurant in the Pak Chong district for food at around 4.00 a.m. (local time) in the early morning, according to local media reports. Among other things, the elephant initially searched a fruit stand in the restaurant and severely damaged parts of the structure, including shelves and other equipment, wrote the Bangkok Post newspaper. Photos showed numerous pieces of debris scattered on the floor. Restaurant with Michelin award According to reports, the animal often stays outside the boundaries of the national park. Local residents suspect the elephant may have "developed a taste for human food". The restaurant is located not far from Khao Yai National Park and serves dishes from the northeast of Thailand. It also has branches in Bangkok and was honored a few years ago by the Michelin Guide with the "Bib Gourmand" award for high-quality cuisine at moderate prices. Human-animal conflicts on the rise Khao Yai has been a Unesco World Heritage Site since 2005. The park is located around 120 kilometers northeast of Bangkok. It was only in February that a camper was trampled to death by an aggressive bull elephant. In many parts of Asia, the animals are suffering from the massive loss of their habitat. As a result, human-animal conflicts are becoming increasingly frequent. The Migros Cooperative Zurich is saying goodbye to its German subsidiary Tegut. Archivbild: Keystone Migros Zurich is saying goodbye to the German retail trade. The cooperative wants to sell numerous Tegut branches and central operating units to Edeka. Keystone-SDA SDA No time? blue News summarizes for you Migros Zurich is withdrawing from the German market and wants to sell a large part of the Tegut supermarket chain to Edeka. The sale includes many of the approximately 300 stores as well as central parts such as the Michelsrombach logistics center, the Herzberger bakery and the operator of the Teo locations. Despite cost reductions, the background to this is still difficult market conditions in Germany, falling sales and continuing losses at Tegut. Show more The Migros Cooperative Zurich (GMZ) is withdrawing from the German market. It intends to sell a significant part of the German supermarket chain Tegut to the retailer Edeka, as GMZ announced on Wednesday. The withdrawal will cost the Migros Zurich cooperative around 270 million euros in 2025 alone, a company spokeswoman told the news agency AWP. Overall, the losses since the takeover of Tegut in 2013 until the sale amount to a maximum of 600 million euros. The contract with Edeka includes a large part of the network of around 300 stores as well as the logistics center in Michelsrombach, the Herzberger bakery and the operator of the Teo locations, according to the statement. At the same time, Migros Zurich is holding talks with other market participants about the future of other locations. The aim is to secure as many jobs as possible and to continue operating branches. The withdrawal follows a strategic review as part of the restructuring of Tegut, according to the statement. Although cost reductions have recently significantly reduced operating losses, the market environment in Germany has continued to deteriorate, leading to falling sales. Purchase price unknown The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price. The transaction is still subject to the approval of the German Federal Cartel Office. Financial effects are expected to become apparent in the 2025 annual financial statements and lead to extraordinary charges. Tegut has been a problem child for Migros for some time. Migros Zurich originally set a deadline of the end of 2026 for the chronically loss-making retailer. If the German subsidiary was in the black by then, the company would have a future - otherwise not, it used to say. In November 2024, Migros announced job cuts of around a fifth of the workforce at the Tegut headquarters in Fulda. Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. Deborah Tolson had spent more than two decades teaching children in Baltimore's public schools. On Monday morning, colleagues made a devastating discovery inside the very building where she had helped hundreds of young students learn to count and solve equations. Tolson, a 75-year-old maths interventionist at Arundel Elementary School in Baltimore's Cherry Hill neighbourhood, was found dead inside the school before classes began on 9 March. Officials believe she may have been inside the building since the weekend, meaning she could have gone undiscovered for days. Tolson had worked in that role at Arundel for seven years and was beloved by all. Her role focused on helping the youngest pupils, from pre-kindergarten through second grade, who were struggling to keep pace with numeracy while their classmates progressed. No Foul Play Suspected The school dismissed all pupils by 10:15 am after the body's discovery. Baltimore Police spokesman Vernon Davis confirmed the death and said Tolson's body showed no signs of trauma or foul play. The medical examiner's office received her body and will determine the official cause of death. School system spokesperson Sherry Christian confirmed that no students were in the building at the time of the discovery. That detail offered administrators some relief during an otherwise difficult morning. However, questions remain about how a 75-year-old staff member could have spent what may have been an entire weekend inside a school building without a welfare check being conducted. It is also unclear who was responsible for knowing she was there or whether the district has protocols for monitoring staff members who remain in school buildings during off-hours. Tolson had more than two decades of service in the district and, at 75, was among its older working staff members at the time of her death. A dedicated educator, she was known for showing up even on days when she was not required to be at school. A School Left Grieving BREAKING: A Baltimore City Schools employee DIED inside a school over the weekend (perhaps on Friday). Here is the release from City Schools. No cause of death given. The body was not found until today. Students were let out of school at 10:15 AM. Police are investigating. pic.twitter.com/ExgdgQrwkS Chris Papst (@chrispapst) March 9, 2026 Principal Kerry-Ann Malcolm wrote to families the same morning. Her message acknowledged that many young students would struggle to understand the news. 'Please expect our students to be affected in some way with this news,' Malcolm wrote. 'I encourage you to talk about what happened and to allow your child to discuss her or his feelings and thoughts.' She also described what Tolson meant to the school community. 'A pillar of the school community, she was beloved by both students and staff.' Baltimore City Public Schools deployed a crisis team to Arundel Elementary. Counsellors and mental health professionals were made available to support students and staff on the day of the discovery and in the days that followed. 'Our hearts and thoughts remain with Ms Tolson's family and friends, as well as our entire school community, in this difficult time,' Malcolm wrote to families. For many parents, the letter meant difficult conversations at home. Some had to explain to children as young as five why the school day ended early and why Ms Tolson would not be there when they returned. Originally published on IBTimes UK The department of theater and dance recently staged a production of Every Brilliant Thinga play exploring themes of mental illness and suicide as a child creates a list of everything wonderful in the world to help their mother cope with depression. The Bowdoin production featured four student actors, all playing their own version of the role of narrator at different times, explained Assistant Professor of Theater Lindsay Livingston, who directed the play, which is known for its immersive and interactive nature. This one-person show follows the narrator as they try to grapple with their mothers mental illness and suicide attempts. At age seven, after their mothers first hospitalization, the narrator begins the list, which becomes the backbone for this beautiful play about how we find grace and joy in all the millions of brilliant things that life offers us every day, she said. The play is based on improvisation and engaging with the audiencetrue storytelling theater at its most elemental, added Livingston, with each actor bringing her/their/his own experiences to the process. That list of brilliant things compiled by the child/narrator includes ice cream, water fights, staying up past your bedtime, rollercoasters, and people falling over. Enjoy this slideshow of images from the production, courtesy of photographer James A. Hadley: Two people died in the aftermath of the 7 March mass shooting that left Oakland communities in mourning. Oakland police identified Latetia Bobo, 33, and Markise Martin, 25, as the two people killed in the shooting incident at EZ's Lounge on 7 March. Five other people were also shot, but are now in stable conditions, according to The Guardian. A witness said they heard people panicking shortly after the shooting, which started at around 3:00am. 'I didn't even hear the gun shots, I just heard like 100 people running,' Kuzi, a tattoo artist, told KTVU. 'There were a lot of people crying, screaming, the whole street was blocked off.' Mass Shooting Claims Two Victims in Its Wake Responders found seven people with gunshot wounds, including Bobo, who died at the scene, and Martin, who was taken to the hospital. Martin succumbed to his injuries later that morning. Friends, family, and the larger community mourned Bobo and Martin's deaths. Colleagues remembered Bobo as 'an incredible educator and an even more incredible human being who truly valued relationships and community.' 'Her presence brought unmistakable light to our campus, and she will be deeply missed by all of us,' the Caliber public school district said in a statement. Bobo was engaged to be married before the incident. 'She was just talking about her fiance, and now she's gone,' Robin DeGarcia, a parent whose children were Bobo's eighth-grade students, told CBS San Francisco. 'I'm angry. Not that anyone ever deserves it, but she definitely didn't deserve it,' she lamented. Martin's family remembered him as a 'loving son, a devoted father to his one-year-old daughter, and a kind, protective brother.' 'He was always there for his family when needed, offering support and love without hesitation,' the family wrote in Martin's GoFundMe campaign. 'His presence brought comfort and strength to those around him, and he was truly such a caring soul underneath his tough exterior.' Official Urges for Vigilance Against Gun Violence Oakland City Council member Carroll Fife found the incident alarming, especially after the city recently ramped up measures to prevent gun violence. In 2025, the city recorded its lowest homicide rate for the past five decades, according to The Guardian. Part of that is credited to Operation Ceasefire, a program that provides social support to people at risk of gun violence. 'It's tragic,' Fife said in an Instagram post. 'Oakland deserves to have venues where people don't have to worry whether they're going to come home or not. Everyone should be able to live, laugh and love all parts of Oakland without fear. We're discussing ways to deal with private parties, street closures, a host of existing laws and new ones.' Persons of Interest Have Been Arrested Oakland police confirmed they have apprehended persons of interest. 'Officers detained multiple individuals at the scene and recovered several firearms,' they said in a statement. 'Investigators from the OPD homicide division are conducting a follow-up investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.' Authorities have yet to release information about what sparked the shooting incident. Originally published on IBTimes UK 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 A man charged with the murder of his partner, who was found dead in a burning apartment, told a Garda at the scene that she was the best woman in the world before asking, Why would someone do this to her? Adam Corcoran (31) denies murdering Daena Walsh, his partner of several years, at their apartment in John Barry House, Midleton, Co Cork, on August 2nd, 2024. He has also pleaded not guilty to a charge of causing damage to the apartment by fire on the same date. A trial at the Central Criminal Court in Cork has heard that the 27-year-old mother of two had 11 stab wounds, including one to her chest, which was 11.5 centimetres deep. She also had 14 incised wounds. Witnesses who arrived at the scene have said in evidence that her injuries also included a slit throat and a partially amputated left arm. Advertisement Det Sgt Cormac OBric on Wednesday gave evidence of speaking to Corcoran at the scene. The garda had arrived at John Barry House at around 4:30pm on August 2nd, 2024. The emergency services had received a call about a suicide at the apartment. Det Sgt OBric said that Corcoran stated that he had gone to an off licence and that when he returned he saw that Daena was bleeding. All she (Daena) said was I love you so much, this wasnt your fault. Before I went out she was lighting candles. We were going to have a sexual time, if you know what I mean. He said that Corcoran indicated that he had been gone from the apartment for about four minutes when he returned to find his partner with cuts. Det Sgt OBric said that Walsh had a big blade. He said that he told her (Daena) that he loved her. The jury of eight men and four women also heard evidence from Det Insp John OConnell. He said that he arrived at the apartment at about 5:40pm. He noted that there was significant fire damage and a smell of smoke. He saw the body of a female lying under a sky light in the dining area of the apartment. Det Insp OConell said that the woman had sustained a very significant injury to her left arm. He noted that she had a slice injury at the left elbow. Det Insp OBric said that Walsh had sustained stab wounds to her upper torso and had a gaping wound to her rib cage. Advertisement Another garda witness Det Garda Tomas Ryan said that he arrived at the scene at 4.20pm after a call had been made of an alleged suicide attempt onsite. Det Garda Ryan said that the fire alarm was going off upon his arrival at the apartment complex with another garda. When he went up to the apartment he was met in the hallway by Corcoran. He said that the accused told him She is dead, she is dead, she f***ing killed herself man. Ireland Man pleads guilty to hit-and-run incident which led to death of couple in Co Dublin Read more Det Garda Ryan said that Walsh had injuries which were not compatible with life. She had extensive injuries to her abdomen. She was obviously dead. Meanwhile, Det Sgt Ger OShaughnessy was also on duty at the scene on the day. He said that he noticed that Corcoran looked disheveled. He stated that Corcoran had blood over his right eye which looked like a cut. He also had blood on his hands and clothing. The trial will continue on Thursday. It is being presided over by Justice Siobhan Lankford. A Brazilian Deliveroo driver has been denied bail after being charged with sexually assaulting an eight-year-old girl in a north Dublin alley last month. The 27-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons and has been living illegally in Ireland for two years, appeared before Judge Michele Finan at Dublin District Court on Wednesday. The accused, described as having "made his life here" has since been let go by a food delivery company. He was charged with sexual assault of the girl who had been out playing with a friend on February 15th, and possessing a false Portuguese driving licence on a later date at his address in the city's north side. Garda Grainne Raggett told Judge Finan that the man's response to the assault charge was "no reply" and he told gardai he did not know the licence was false. Advertisement She opposed bail, citing fears that the accused would not face trial if released and the seriousness of the case. Garda Raggett also said that directions will be sought from the Director of Public Prosecutions regarding possible further charges, and she alleged he was suspected of being involved in "suspicious" approaches to two other children on separate dates last month. Regarding the alleged child sex attack, the garda said the girl's father came to a north Dublin station to report the incident. It was alleged that the child was in an alley near her home playing with a friend when she observed a delivery rider approaching on an electric bicycle. A recorded specialist interview was later carried out, during which the girl stated that the man pulled down her pants as far as her knees, exposing her skin and genital area. The contested bail hearing was told that the girl recalled that the man brought his face down to her level, touched her hip with one hand, and the lower stomach area. The court heard that she described how he used two fingers to touch her below the stomach area, closer to her private parts than to her belly button. Garda Raggett, still citing the specialist interview, alleged that the man then took a phone call, "told her he was done," and left on his bicycle. The child could tell he had an electric bicycle because he did not need to pedal, the court heard. It emerged during the bail hearing that the gardai received separate reports of a Deliveroo driver making approaches to children on February 13th and 17th, which are still under investigation. Advertisement The garda agreed with defence counsel Ciara Murray that her client recalled "a brief, quite innocent encounter" in relation to one of the approach allegations when he was going through a laneway. In his garda interview, he denied the sexual assault and told gardai that he may have brushed against her, but did not touch her with his hand. GPS phone data obtained in the investigation showed he was in all three areas on those dates, the court heard. Garda Raggett said the accused, who has no status in Ireland, arrived from the UK two years ago; his home was searched, resulting in the driving licence find. She said the accused had been tracked on CCTV footage, but under cross-examination, the garda conceded there was no footage of him with the girl in the lane. Defence counsel Ciara Murray pleaded for bail, telling the judge that her client would abide by stringent conditions. She stressed that the man, who did not address the court, was of limited means but had stable accommodation and had cooperated with the investigation, during which he identified himself on CCTV footage. Ireland Teenager charged after man (20s) left in coma following gig outside 3Arena Read more He also admitted to using lanes during his deliveries. He had no convictions in Ireland, and counsel submitted there was no evidence to suggest he would fail to turn up for his trial. Judge Finan emphasised that the accused still had the presumption of innocence, but held that Garda Raggett had established grounds to oppose bail and remanded the accused in custody to appear again on March 18th at Cloverhill District Court. Legal aid was granted. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help. In the case of an emergency, always dial 999/112. China's foreign trade records strong start to 2026 with double-digit growth Xinhua) 08:15, March 11, 2026 An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 5, 2026 shows a container dock of Tangshan Port in Tangshan, north China's Hebei Province. (Xinhua/Yang Shiyao) BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- China's foreign trade has posted a robust start to the year, with the total value of trade in goods recording double-digit growth, surging 18.3 percent year on year in the January-February period, latest official data showed. Data released Tuesday by the General Administration of Customs (GAC) revealed that total goods trade value had reached 7.73 trillion yuan (about 1.12 trillion U.S. dollars) during this period. Exports rose 19.2 percent from the same period last year to total 4.62 trillion yuan, while imports went up 17.1 percent to reach 3.11 trillion yuan, according to the data. In the first two months of 2026, China's exports of high-tech and high value-added mechanical and electrical products posted a year-on-year increase of 24.3 percent. Meanwhile, strong consumer spending spurred by the extended Spring Festival holiday boosted import demand. During the first two months, China's imports of mechanical and electrical products, iron ore and crude oil all posted double-digit growth. RESILIENT TRADE GROWTH China's foreign trade has continued to demonstrate resilience and vigor in 2026, after the nation's foreign trade had expanded by 3.8 percent year on year in 2025. Analysts observed that since the start of this year, different Chinese regions and departments have made proactive efforts in seeking to bolster foreign trade, while a large number of foreign trade companies have endeavored to secure orders and explore markets. Huang Qunhui, a researcher at the Institute of Economics of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that this strong start has laid a solid foundation for China's 2026 foreign trade prospects. Huang noted that the transformation and upgrading of China's manufacturing industry and the expansion of domestic demand to strengthen imports, have combined to deliver added fresh impetus to the high-quality development of foreign trade. At a press conference held last week on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress, Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao said China's foreign trade has largely maintained the momentum and characteristics seen in 2025. However, he said that the external environment facing foreign trade remains "complex and severe" and that there was pressure to ensure stable trade growth. "Recent escalating geopolitical conflicts have impacted the international economic order and global industrial and supply chains, making the situation even more volatile and uncertain," Wang explained. DIVERSIFIED TRADING PARTNERS Broken down by region and country, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) remained China's largest trading partner, with China-ASEAN trade value hitting more than 1.24 trillion yuan in the first two months of 2026, up 20.3 percent year on year. This was followed by the European Union's 998.94 billion yuan in goods trade with China during the same period, an increase of 19.9 percent year on year. Meanwhile, China's trade with Latin America and Africa grew 19.7 percent and 34.2 percent year on year, respectively, the data showed. China's trade with the United States stood at 609.71 billion yuan during this period, down 16.9 percent year on year, the data revealed. The GAC data also showed that trade with countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative had reached 4.02 trillion yuan during the first two months of 2026, with year-on-year growth of 20 percent. During the same press conference, the commerce minister said China will promote balanced trade growth this year by stabilizing exports while sharing more opportunities in its domestic market. He pledged increased imports of agricultural products, premium consumer goods, advanced equipment and key components. He also said that China will accelerate the development of digital trade and green trade, and promote the export of artificial intelligence products, green power equipment and other products, as it seeks to foster new drivers of foreign trade. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) A Fayette County grand jury has indicted a former University of Kentucky student on first-degree manslaughter and three additional charges in connection with the death of her newborn son, whose body was discovered in a closet at an off-campus Lexington home in August 2025. Laken Snelling, 21, was formally indicted on March 10, 2026 on charges of first-degree manslaughter, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant the culmination of a months-long investigation involving the Lexington Police Department, the Fayette Commonwealth's Attorney's Office, the Kentucky Medical Examiner's Office, the Fayette County Coroner's Office, and the Kentucky State Police Forensic Laboratory. What the Investigation Found The case began on the morning of August 27, 2025, when Lexington Police officers were dispatched around 10:30 a.m. to a residence in the 400 block of Park Avenue a street near the University of Kentucky campus after a report of an unresponsive infant. Officers arrived to find the baby, who was pronounced dead at the scene. According to court documents, the newborn was found wrapped in a towel inside a trash bag in a closet. Snelling was arrested shortly after and initially charged with abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant. The case was sent to a grand jury for further consideration in September 2025. The critical development that elevated the charges came from the Kentucky Medical Examiner's Office, which determined that Infant Snelling had been born alive. The medical examiner ruled the cause of death as asphyxia by undetermined means. That finding gave the grand jury grounds to consider homicide charges and on March 10, the jury opted for first-degree manslaughter. Fayette Commonwealth's Attorney Kimberly Baird explained the grand jury's deliberation process. "They were given the information about homicide, the four levels of homicide and then deliberated and decided that manslaughter first degree was the charge that should come out of the grand jury," Baird told WKYT. What Court Documents Reveal Court documents provide a detailed account of the events that preceded the discovery. According to those records, Snelling gave birth to a baby boy at approximately 4 a.m. on August 27 at her off-campus home. Her roommates, who had reportedly suspected she was concealing a pregnancy, told investigators they heard unusual and loud noises coming from her bedroom during the early morning hours. Snelling later told investigators she did not believe the baby was breathing after giving birth and that she passed out on top of the child after the baby landed on the bedroom floor. She then said she wrapped the baby in a towel before placing the body in a trash bag and putting it in a closet before going back to sleep. According to court documents cited by WBIR, Snelling also told medical staff at UK Hospital that the baby made a whimper and that she guessed the baby was alive a statement with direct bearing on the manslaughter charge. After giving birth, Snelling cleaned up blood in the room, showered, and left the home. Rather than attending morning classes or going to the university clinic, she reportedly went to a McDonald's. While she was gone, her roommates entered the bedroom and found what investigators described as troubling evidence, which ultimately led to the police call. Snelling's Background at UK At the time of her arrest, Snelling was enrolled at the University of Kentucky and was a member of the school's STUNT team, a competitive cheerleading discipline. Following her arrest in August 2025, she withdrew from the university and is no longer part of the program. Potential Penalties and Next Steps If convicted on the first-degree manslaughter charge, Snelling could face up to 20 years in prison. The additional charges abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant carry a combined potential sentence of up to an additional 11 years. Fayette Commonwealth's Attorney Baird said Snelling's next court appearance is expected within the next two to three weeks. The investigation, which involved multiple state and county agencies, is described as ongoing. Snelling has not yet entered a plea on the indictment. Michael Lowry has said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has decided against bringing charges against him arising from the Moriarty Tribunal. The Independent TD described the tribunal report as flawed and based on conjecture, manipulation and speculation. The tribunal was established in September 1997 to examine payments to former taoiseach Charles Haughey and Lowry. The tribunals final report was published in March 2011 and found that Lowry, a former Fine Gael TD, helped businessman Denis OBrien secure the States second mobile phone licence in 1995. In his statement on Facebook on Tuesday evening, Lowry said: Its findings have allowed me to be subjected to repeated insults, smears and false allegations, with no legal remedy available to me. He added: I fully co-operated with the gardai and voluntarily met them and answered all questions. Advertisement After the gardai finished their extensive investigation, a file was sent to the DPP in late 2024. Now 15 months later, the DPP, the States Independent Prosecutor, having fully and carefully reviewed the file, has issued a direction that there will be no prosecution of me. In a statement, gardai said: We do not comment on named individuals or third party statements. The office of the DPP has directed no prosecution in respect of this matter. An Garda Siochana will not be commenting further. In his statement, Lowry thanked his family, friends and the people of Tipperary and North Kilkenny for the unwavering faith and trust they placed in me. The DPP has been contacted for comment. A man has pleaded guilty to a hit-and-run incident in Dublin at Christmas time, which led to the death of a married couple. John Halpin (46) of Whitestown Avenue, Blanchardstown, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to dangerous driving causing the deaths of Anthony (Anto) Hogg, who was 39, and 38-year-old Georgina Hogg Moore in Blanchardstown on December 26th, 2024. Halpin further pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to stop and leaving the scene of an accident, knowing that injury had been caused on the same date. Separately, Nicole Fallon (35), also of Whitestown Avenue, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to impeding the apprehension of John Halpin, knowing that he had committed an offence of dangerous driving causing death. Fallon was due to be sentenced before Judge Orla Crowe on Wednesday, but Fiona McGowan, prosecuting, requested that this case be adjourned along with Halpins case so that they could be dealt with together. The sentence hearing of both Halpin and Fallon was adjourned to May 21st next when all evidence will be heard. McGowan told the court that the deceased couples children would like to view the sentence hearing via video link. She indicated that victim impact statements have previously been ordered. A man who sexually abused his daughter and his young cousin in two separate incidents 25 years apart has been jailed for four years. The 55-year-old Dublin man, who can't be named to protect the anonymity of the complainants, was found guilty by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury of both counts against him following a trial last December. He was found guilty of one count of indecently assaulting his younger cousin at an address in Dublin on a date between February 1987 and February 1990. She was aged around four and six years' old at the time of the abuse, while he was aged between 16 and 19. The man was also found guilty of sexually assaulting his 16-year-old daughter during a family holiday to Florida in the USA on a date in June 2014. He has no previous convictions. Advertisement The charges carry maximum sentences of 10 and 14 years respectively. The man acknowledges the verdicts of the jury but continues to protest his innocence, defence counsel Brian McInerney told the court. In relation to the abuse of his cousin, a local detective garda told Carol Doherty, prosecuting, that the little girl was staying over in the man's family home when she awoke to see him coming into her room. He put his hands under the covers and touched her inappropriately, including digitally penetrating her, before leaving again. The little girl was frozen in fear throughout, the court heard. When she summoned the courage to leave the room in search of the man's mother, she found him standing in the hall outside her room. He told her he had thought she was asleep and, feeling intimidated, she returned to her bed. In relation to the abuse of his daughter, the court heard the man separated from her mother when she was a baby and she visited him regularly. In 2014, she was invited on holiday with him and his new partner. The trial heard that prior to this, the man had disciplined the girl in ways that made her feel uncomfortable. During the holiday, the man entered the bedroom where his daughter was sleeping, surprising a female relative of his partner she was sharing the room with. He repeatedly said: "I'm looking for my daughter" before he got into bed beside the girl and started "spooning" her and then sexually assaulted her as she lay paralysed in fear. When he made a comment about her private parts, the girl jumped out of bed and left the room. Advertisement Her father then followed her and suggested that they go skinny-dipping "like it was a game", the complainant told the trial. She made a move to go to his new partner's room to speak to her but her father's demeanour changed and he told her to get back to bed. The court heard the girl expected the man's partner to ask her about the incident the next morning given her relative had also been in the bedroom at the time. However, nothing was ever said. In her victim impact statement, the man's daughter described how she spent years trying to maintain a relationship with her father, who went on to marry his partner and have two children with her. The young woman said she wanted to have a relationship with her younger siblings. "All I wanted was for my dad to be my dad and for so long I clung on to hope," she said. "I wanted him to walk me down the aisle, I wanted him to be a loving grandfather to my children." She said she eventually cut all ties with her father and as a result, no longer has contact with her younger siblings. "I feel as though I live in a constant state of grief, but I'm grieving people who are still alive." She said the abuse has shaped how she parents her own children and she knows that one day when her own children ask about their grandfather, she will have to recount the pain he has caused. Advertisement "I live with the knowledge that abuse does not only come from strangers," she said. She said she was happy the verdict was correct, but that telling her story to a room full of strangers was one of the hardest things she ever had to do. "This pain does not end with the court process," she said, adding she was left "heartbroken". "I wish none of this had happened." The first complainant who was abused in the late 80s told the court that when she heard what had happened to her younger relative, she felt "a strong moral obligation" to report what had happened so that no other children would be hurt by the man. "It's impossible to explain the impact of child sexual abuse to a person who has not experienced it," she said, adding it changes one's relationship with the world and the people in it. "It's hard to play again. Things are suddenly and permanently very serious and very scary and no-one is coming to save you," she said. She said she was assaulted at a time when people didn't know how to respond, and after she disclosed the abuse there was a "terrible silence" for years. She said she ultimately reported the abuse for other little girls. "I knew this (legal) process would cost me and it has," she said. "...I'm here to stop him hurting other little girls. I have played my role in letting people know the danger he poses." Sentencing the man on Tuesday, Judge Jonathan Dunphy paid tribute to both complainants, whose statements he described as "honest, courageous and brave". Advertisement "I am encouraged and can only be impressed by the way the two victims have supported each other," he said, noting they displayed strength and determination throughout the trial. He noted they are now parents themselves and have supports in place, "but at the time, they were innocent and vulnerable". He said notwithstanding the fact the two offences occurred so far apart, they had striking similarities in that they took place in the victim's bed at night, involved touching the girls under their clothes and involved a level of "intimidatory" behaviour afterwards. In relation to the first offence, he set a headline sentence of four years, which he reduced to two years, noting he must treat the man as possibly being a child during the offending period. He said there was little in the way of mitigation given the man does not accept the verdicts of the jury and has shown no remorse or victim empathy as a result. He suspended the final nine months of this sentence on a number of conditions, including that the man take part in sexual offence-focused work in custody. In relation to the second incident, the judge noted this involved the sexual abuse of the man's vulnerable daughter while she was on a foreign holiday with him and his new partner and away from home. He set a headline sentence of five years. He reduced this term to four years and suspended the final 15 months on similar conditions. Judge Dunphy ordered that the sentences run consecutively, amounting to a sentence of four years. He ordered the man to have no contact whatsoever with either victim. Defence counsel said there was little he could say in mitigation, given that the man still maintains his innocence. He has a long work history in the aviation sector but lost his job when he was convicted. Ireland Reset of phone nothing to do with Natalie McNally death ex-partner tells court Read more He noted that during the trial, the prosecution successfully applied to change the dates on the 1980s indictment amending it from a 1989 date to a time period spanning 1987 to 1990. He said this change meant the man was aged under 18 for part of this time period and as such, had to be sentenced as a child. The man's wife was in court to support him throughout the trial and the sentence process. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help. In the case of an emergency, always dial 999/112. The Minister for Health has said she is disappointed with the pace of construction of the National Childrens Hospital, and will meet with the chief executive of the construction group BAM on Friday. Speaking to reporters in Dublin on Wednesday, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said: Ive been there a couple of times in the last few weeks, and on every occasion that Ive been there, I have not seen the number of people working there that I believe I should be to meet the April 30 deadline. She said she is not satisfied with the number of rooms being completed, adding that over a four-week average about 167 are finished a week, saying: Its becoming cumulatively worse relative to where it should be in terms of room completions. Carroll MacNeill said she had written to the global headquarters of the main contractor on the project, BAM, and said its chief executive and two senior executives will meet with her at the hospital on Friday. During recent visits to the hospital, she said she was disappointed she did not see hundreds and hundreds of people working there, and if there were I didnt see them. She said she hoped the BAM executives would be able to explain to her where the people are, and how theyre going to meet the deadline, that is their deadline, which is one that theyve missed several times. BAM has been contacted for comment. The Tanaiste said he is open to spending more on defence as he placed an emphasis on security during the upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Simon Harris said this could include accessing EU loans to address gaps in defence capabilities. In a speech at the Irish Embassy in Paris to mark the Saint Patricks Day period, Mr Harris said Irelands presidency in the second half of 2026 would involve working with other member states to make Europe more secure. Tanaiste and Finance Minister Simon Harris presents shamrock to Benjamin Haddad (Liam McBurney/PA) The Tanaiste then gifted a glass bowl of shamrock to Benjamin Haddad, Frances minister delegate for European affairs, as a symbol of the relationship between the two countries. Mr Haddad told the same event that France would be a key partner and supporter of Irelands presidency, which he said came at a critical moment for the continent. Advertisement In this moment, we can agree that we need a strong European voice on international affairs. We need a strong Europe which will come first with the deepening of our competitiveness. Tanaiste and Finance Minister Simon Harris speaking during a St Patricks Day political reception at the Embassy of Ireland in Paris (Liam McBurney/PA) In reference to the invasion of Ukraine, Mr Haddad said Russia represents a threat to European democracies and their infrastructure. We also need to strengthen the common European industrial defence base. He added: We need to accelerate in the next 12 months to continue to reduce our dependencies and to increase the ability for Europeans to take ownership of their own security and defence. Tanaiste and Finance Minister Simon Harris with Hala Abou Hassira, ambassador of Palestine to France, and Niall Burgess, ambassador of Ireland to France and to Monaco (Liam McBurney/PA) Mr Haddad said this would be absolutely critical in times of war and with questions arising over Europes relationship with the US. Asked afterwards if Ireland was coming under pressure to increase defence spending from EU counterparts, Mr Harris told reporters he was open to spending more. He said the State was spending more on defence than ever before and was significantly and speedily increasing our capabilities. Tanaiste and Finance Minister Simon Harris in Paris (Liam McBurney/PA) He said France had been a very important source in boosting defence capabilities through Government-to-Government procurement in the sector. He said he would also be open to having a conversation around Ireland applying to the Council of the European Unions Safe loan scheme for defence measures. As finance minister, Im open to spending more in relation to defence. Mr Harris said gardai and the Defence Forces are working really hard on preparations for the presidency. Asked about the threat of drone incursions, he added: Many European countries, including some who spend very large sums of money on defence, have seen incursions into the airspace and the likes. Advertisement I think its less about whether that happens and more about how you respond, and Im confident Irish authorities will know how to respond correctly should such an incursion happen. Tanaiste and Finance Minister Simon Harris said Ireland stands with the people of Ukraine (Liam McBurney/PA) Elsewhere at the reception, Mr Harris met the Ambassador of Ukraine to France. In a speech, he told the Ukrainian embassy staff that: I want you to know on this Saint Patricks Day period Ireland stands with you and Europe stands with you for as long as it takes. Because while there is a brutal illegal war on your territory and your country, it is an attack on all of our values and security. Ireland Taoiseach to pledge 5.2 billion in US investment at Trump meeting Read more The Tanaiste also met with the ambassadors to France from Lebanon and Palestine. He said he was particularly concerned about the security situation in Lebanon, where Irish peacekeepers are stationed, and told the Palestinian diplomat that Ireland would always stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine. Mr Harris itinerary also involves a meeting with French Finance Minister Roland Lescure and engagements with Irish businesses in the country. A Tipperary man released by the High Court at the start of the week after spending 240 days in prison for defiance of court orders over a home repossession appears to be back in the house, a judge has been told. Owen Ryan's former home at Moat Quarter, Kilfeacle, Tipperary, is now owned by Mars Capital Finance DAC over failure to pay a 402,000 mortgage debt. Mars took possession of the house in July 2024 following a court order. But Ryan, or others, returned to it and gained possession leading to Ryan's imprisonment in July 2925 for contempt of court by repeatedly refusing to obey orders not to return. During numerous appearances since then before Justice Brian Cregan giving him an opportunity to purge his contempt, Ryan refused to give an undertaking that he would not attempt to get back into the house. Advertisement On Monday, a barrister for Mars informed Justice Cregan the house had been sold and they were no longer seeking Ryan's imprisonment. The judge ordered his immediate release from prison. On Tuesday, a lawyer for Mars informed the judge there appeared to be someone in the house who was refusing to answer the door. Mars was seeking guidance from the court as to what steps could be taken by gardai in relation to the previous order committing Ryan to prison. Ireland Deliveroo driver denied bail over alleged sexual assault of girl (8) Read more On Wednesday, Rudi Neuman, for Mars, argued a commital to prison order would be rendered meaningless if someone could just "evade it by not opening a door". The judge told him the solution appeared to be that, as the house was now no longer owned by Ryan, the locks could simply be changed with the gardai present. The gardai could then be invited into the house to effect the arrest of Ryan in compliance with the court order. The court could be updated at any time in relation to what happens, the judge added. The International Energy Agency agreed to release the largest volume of emergency oil reserves in its history, in a bid to counter the effects on energy markets of the war in the Middle East. The Paris-based organisation said it will make 400 million barrels of oil available from its members emergency reserves. Its a larger stock than the 182.7 million barrels that were released in 2022 by the IEAs 32 member countries in response to Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Today, @IEA Member countries unanimously agreed today to carry out the largest ever oil stock release making 400 million barrels from their emergency reserves available amid market disruptions from the Middle East conflict. Read more https://t.co/4HGtR7ZYZB pic.twitter.com/sPH1rOm8LY International Energy Agency (@IEA) March 11, 2026 IEA executive director, Fatih Birol, said: Without sufficient routes to market and with no more available storage, Middle East oil producers have started to reduce production. And we have seen further attacks and damage to energy and energy-related infrastructure. Refinery operations have also been disrupted, with major implications for jet fuel and diesel supplies in particular. Advertisement IEA member countries currently hold more than 1.2 billion barrels of public emergency oil stocks, with a further 600 million barrels of industry stocks held under government obligation. In response to US and Israeli strikes, Iran has attacked commercial ships across the Persian Gulf, escalating a campaign of squeezing the oil-rich region as global energy concerns mount. Iran has effectively stopped cargo traffic in the narrow Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of all oil is shipped from the Persian Gulf toward the Indian Ocean. Today @IEA hosted a G7 Energy Ministers Meeting, chaired by Minister Roland Lescure of France, on the current oil & gas market situation We will hold an extraordinary meeting of IEA Member governments later today to assess market conditions My statement: https://t.co/ViR4Zc4Mhv pic.twitter.com/TYlt2Aj89E Fatih Birol (@fbirol) March 10, 2026 It has also targeted oil fields and refineries in Gulf Arab nations, aiming at generating enough global economic pain to pressure the United States and Israel to end their strikes. Germany and Austria said on Wednesday they would release parts of their oil reserves following an IEA request for members to release the record 400 million barrels to help temper energy price spikes due to the Iran war. Japan also said it will release some of its reserves starting from Monday. G7 energy ministers met at IEA headquarters in Paris to look at ways to bring down prices. Mr Birol said afterwards that they discussed all available options, including making IEA emergency oil stocks available to the market. The IEA reserves were established in 1974 following the Arab oil embargo. Mr Birol added: This is a major action aiming to alleviate the immediate impacts of the disruption in markets. But, to be clear, the most important thing for a return to stable flows of oil and gas is the resumption of transit through the Strait of Hormuz. Advertisement Mr Birol said that 15 million barrels per day of crude oil and another five million barrels per day of oil products normally pass through the Strait of Hormuz. This amounts to around 25% of the worlds oil trade via sea. And now the flows of oil, gas and other commodities through the strait have all but stopped. Big oil tanks are pictured in front of the BP refinery in Gelsenkirchen, one of the biggest fuel producers in Germany (Martin Meissner/AP) The G7 comprises the leading industrialised nations of Canada, the United States, France, Italy, Japan, Germany and Britain. Austria is not a member. The groups leaders were set to hold a meeting via videoconference later on Wednesday to discuss energy issues. The groups leaders, including US President Donald Trump, met on Wednesday via videoconference to discuss energy issues. During his introductory remarks, French President Emmanuel Macron praised the IEA decision to release emergency oil stocks, saying it amounted to the equivalent of 20 days of the volume being exported through the Strait of Hormuz. The IEA move was prepared at the G7 level, Mr Macron said, noting that the amount pledged by the G7 nations, alone, comprises 70% of the total and that France would contribute 14.5 million barrels. I think its very important to see as well everything we can do in order to increase our global production, Mr Macron added. The German economy ministry, Katherina Reiche, said the IEA asked Germany to release 2.64 million tons of its oil reserves. It was not immediately clear how much Austria was releasing. Advertisement She said it would take a couple of days before the delivery of the first quantities. Germany stands behind the IEAs most important principle of mutual solidarity, Ms Reiche said. The G7 energy ministers announced on Tuesday that they supported in principle the implementation of proactive measures to address the situation, including the use of strategic reserves. According to the IEA, export volumes of crude and refined products are currently at less than 10% of pre-war levels. I welcome the decision by IEA Member countries to carry out coordinated oil stock release amid the current market disruptions sparked by the conflict in the Middle East. In times of hardship, unity and global cooperation are essential. Dan Jrgensen (@DanJoergensen) March 11, 2026 Austrian Economy Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer said his country was releasing part of the emergency oil reserve and extending the national strategic gas reserve, adding: One thing is clear: in a crisis, there must be no crisis winners at the expense of commuters and businesses. The German government also said it will introduce a measure to allow petrol stations in Germany to raise fuel prices no more than once a day. The federal government wants to introduce this as quickly as possible, Ms Reiche said. In Austria, starting Monday, price increases at petrol stations will be allowed only three times a week, the countrys economy minister said. Oil reserves have been tapped when the market has faced major disruption in the past, including wars in Iraq, Libya and, most recently, Ukraine. Israel and Iran have exchanged fire as Tehran kept up pressure on the regions oil industry, as global energy concerns mount and the war in the Middle East shows no signs of abating. Iran has effectively stopped cargo traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of all oil is shipped from the Persian Gulf toward the Indian Ocean. It has also targeted oil fields and refineries in Gulf Arab nations as part of a strategy aimed at generating enough global economic pain to pressure the US and Israel to end their strikes. Irans joint military command has said banks and financial institutions would now be a target in the Middle East. The Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters statement followed Iranian media reports that staff at a bank in Tehran had been killed in Israeli-American air strikes. Advertisement Two Iranian drones have struck near Dubai International Airport, wounding four people though flights continue, authorities said. People have taken shelter after Iranian missiles struck Michmoret, Israel, on Tuesday (AP) The Dubai Media Office, which issues statement on behalf of the city-states government, said the attack caused minor injuries to two Ghanaian nationals and one Bangladeshi national, and moderate injuries to one Indian national. It said flights are continuing. Dubai International Airport, home to the long-haul carrier Emirates, is the worlds busiest for international travel. Authorities have been trying build up its flight schedule though the airport has been targeted in the war. Authorities confirm that two drones fell in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport (DXB) a short while ago, resulting in minor injuries to two Ghanaian nationals and one Bangladeshi national, and moderate injuries to one Indian national. Air traffic is operating as normal. Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 11, 2026 Earlier on Wednesday, a projectile hit a container ship off the coast of Oman in the Strait of Hormuz, setting it ablaze and forcing the crew to abandon the vessel. Kuwait said its defences had downed eight Iranian drones, while Saudi Arabia said it intercepted five drones heading toward the kingdoms Shaybah oil field. The UN Security Council will vote later on Wednesday on a resolution sponsored by the Gulf Cooperation Council to demand Iran stops attacking its Arab neighbours. Israel, which launched the war with the United States on February 28, said it had renewed attacks on Tehran, following multiple strikes the day before that residents described as some of the heaviest during the war. Witnesses reported continuous airstrikes hitting Tehran after Israel said it had renewed its attacks. Explosions were also heard in Beirut and in southern Lebanon after Israel said it had started a new assault on targets related to the Iranian-linked militia Hezbollah. Advertisement The attacks, which came without warning, set a building ablaze in central Beirut in the densely populated Aicha Bakkar area, engulfing the top two floors of the multi-storey structure. Lebanons Health Ministry said four people were wounded. A residential building was destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut (AP) Other Israeli strikes on southern and eastern Lebanon killed 14 people, and a Red Cross worker also died on Wednesday of wounds sustained on Monday, when his team was hit by an Israeli strike while they were rescuing people from an earlier attack. More than 500 people have been killed so far in Lebanon since Hezbollah triggered the latest round of fighting with Israel when it fired rockets into the countrys north after the American and Israeli attacks on Iran started. The military escalation in the Middle East is disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The impacts extend far beyond the region, affecting energy markets, maritime transport and global supply chains.@UNCTAD's rapid impact analysis: https://t.co/Q9r8Ha3ctG pic.twitter.com/nvnpvYplkl United Nations (@UN) March 10, 2026 Israel warned of three Iranian attacks early on Wednesday, with sirens heard in Tel Aviv and elsewhere but no immediate reports of casualties. In addition to Iranian attacks targeting Saudi Arabias oil fields, the kingdoms defence ministry said it had destroyed six ballistic missiles launched toward Prince Sultan Air Base, a major US and Saudi-operated air facility in eastern Saudi Arabia. The ministry also said it intercepted and destroyed two drones over the eastern city of Hafar al-Batin. In the Strait of Hormuz north of Oman, a cargo ship was hit with a projectile and set on fire, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations centre (UKMTO). Drivers are already feeling the pain at the pumps (AP) Iran did not immediately claim the attack, though it has been targeting ships in and around the strait. The UKMTO earlier reported on another attack targeting a container ship off Ras al-Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates. In that case, it said the extent of the damage is currently unknown but under investigation by the crew. Advertisement The United Arab Emirates said its air defences were working to intercept incoming Iranian fire. The wealthy nation home to the business and travel hub of Dubai said Iranian attacks have killed six people and wounded 122 others there. Bahrain sounded sirens early on Wednesday, warning of an incoming Iranian attack. The warnings came a day after an Iranian attack hit a residential building in the capital, Manama, and killed a 29-year-old woman and wounding eight people. U.S. forces eliminated multiple Iranian naval vessels, March 10, including 16 minelayers near the Strait of Hormuz. pic.twitter.com/371unKYiJs U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 10, 2026 At the United Nations, the Security Council is to vote on Wednesday afternoon on the Gulf Cooperation Council resolution, according to diplomats. The council, a six-nation regional bloc, said its own facilities were targeted in an Iranian attack last week on Bahrain. The draft resolution, obtained by The Associated Press, condemns Irans attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan. The measure calls for an immediate end to all strikes and threats against neighbouring states, including through proxies. It would be the first Security Council resolution considered since the start of the war. US president Donald Trump said there were no reports yet of Iran mining the Strait of Hormuz (AP) Oil prices remained well below the peaks Monday but the price of Brent crude, the international standard, was still up some 20% on Wednesday from when the war began, and consumers around the world are already feeling the pain at the pump. The spike in oil prices has been rocking financial markets worldwide because of worries that the war could block the global flow of oil and natural gas for a long time. Advertisement On Tuesday, the US military said it had destroyed 16 Iranian minelayers near the Strait of Hormuz, though US president Donald Trump said in social media posts that there were no reports yet of Iran mining the passage, a prospect that experts warned of preceding the war. If the strait is mined, it could take at least weeks to clean it up once the conflict is over. Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has been chosen as Irans new supreme leader (AP) Meanwhile, concerns grew over the health of Irans new supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei after comments about him being injured. The 56-year-old the son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has not been seen since since becoming supreme leader on Monday. His father and wife both were killed in an Israeli air strike February 28 that started the war. In addition to the nearly 500 people killed in Lebanon, Iran has said more than 1,300 people have been killed there and Israel has reported 12 people dead. The US has lost seven soldiers while another eight have suffered severe injuries. Many foreign nationals have been getting out of the Persian Gulf region since the war began, including over 45,000 UK citizens, the UK Foreign Office said. Some 40,000 people returned to the United States, according to the American state department. Iran has fired on commercial ships and targeted Dubai International Airport, escalating a campaign in the oil-rich Persian Gulf as global energy concerns mounted and American and Israeli air strikes pounded the Islamic Republic. Irans response to the surprise Israeli and US bombardment that started 12 days ago has upended trade routes, choked supplies of fuel and fertiliser coming out of the Gulf and threatened air traffic through one of the worlds most-travelled regions. Authorities confirm that two drones fell in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport (DXB) a short while ago, resulting in minor injuries to two Ghanaian nationals and one Bangladeshi national, and moderate injuries to one Indian national. Air traffic is operating as normal. Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 11, 2026 Both sides have dug in, hoping to outlast the other. An Israeli intelligence assessment, meanwhile, found Irans new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, was wounded at the start of the war on the day when his father and predecessor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in an Israeli air strike. The 56-year-old, whose wife was also killed in the Israeli strike, has not been seen since becoming supreme leader on Monday. Yousef Pezeshkian, the son of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, wrote on social media that he had heard the new supreme leader was wounded but that friends said he is healthy and there is no problem. In Tehran late Wednesday, witnesses said they heard loud air strikes, explosions and heavy fire by anti-aircraft batteries. They could also hear the buzzing of drones overhead. The fallout across the Middle East widened as Israel struck what it said were targets connected to Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. The UN refugee agency said at least 759,000 people have been internally displaced in Lebanon, while more than 92,000 others have crossed into neighbouring Syria. Advertisement Elsewhere, two Iranian drones hit near Dubai airport, home to the long-haul carrier Emirates and the worlds busiest for international travel. Four people were wounded but flights continued, the Dubai Media Office said. Iraqis hold a portrait of the Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei to support his selection as the Irans Supreme Leader (Hadi Mizban/AP) The UN Security Council voted on Wednesday to approve a resolution demanding a halt to Irans egregious attacks on its Gulf neighbours. The international community is resolute in rejecting these Iranian attacks against sovereign countries that are threatening the stability of the peoples, especially in a region of strategic importance to global economy, energy, security, and security of global trade, said Bahrains UN ambassador, Janal Alrowaiei. The 13-0 vote in the UNs most powerful body reflects Irans isolated position as it has aggressively responded to Israeli and US strikes. China and Russia two Iranian allies abstained from the vote, allowing it to be approved without using their veto to block it. (PA Graphics) Iran has effectively stopped cargo traffic through the narrow Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of all traded oil passes. It has also targeted oil fields and refineries in Gulf Arab nations, aiming at generating enough global economic pain to pressure the United States and Israel to end their strikes. Advertisement At least 12 incidents have been confirmed involving vessels in and around the strait since the war began, according to two global trackers. The International Maritime Organisation says at least seven mariners have been killed. A projectile hit a Thai cargo ship off the coast of Oman in the Strait of Hormuz, setting it ablaze. Authorities are searching for three missing crew members from the Mayuree Naree after 20 were rescued by the Omani navy, according to Thailands Marine Department. Thai cargo ship, Mayuree Naree, that was struck and set ablaze in the Strait of Hormuz (Royal Thai Navy via AP) The United States has pledged to keep the strait open and has led intense air strikes targeting Irans navy and the port city of Bandar Abbas. The US military said on Tuesday it destroyed 16 Iranian mine-layers near the strait. Some tankers, believed to be linked to Iran, continue to get through the strait, making so-called dark transits meaning they are not turning on trackers that show where they are. Vessels carrying sanctioned Iranian crude often turn off their trackers. The commodity-tracking firm Kpler said Iran has restarted crude exports through its Jask oil terminal on the Gulf of Oman. A tanker loaded roughly two million barrels at Jask on March 7, it said. Oil prices remained well below Mondays peaks but the price of Brent crude, the international standard, was still up some 20% on Wednesday from when the war began. Consumers around the world are already feeling the pain at the pump. A residential building was destroyed in an Israeli air strike in Beirut (AP) The International Energy Agency agreed on Wednesday to release the largest volume of emergency oil reserves in its history, in a bid to counter the wars impact on energy markets. The Paris-based organisation said it will make 400 million barrels of oil available from its member countries emergency reserves, more than twice the amount they released four years ago in response to Russias invasion of Ukraine. Advertisement While visiting Ohio on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump told Cincinnati television station WKRC that he will tap the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve to try to curtail rising prices. He did not specify how many barrels of oil the US would release. Israeli strikes set a building ablaze in central Beirut. Lebanons Health Ministry said four people were wounded. Other Israeli strikes on southern and eastern Lebanon killed 14 people. Lebanons Health Ministry said on Wednesday that 634 people have been killed in the country since the latest fighting began. Drivers are already feeling the pain at the pumps (AP) Hezbollah launched dozens of rockets at Israel on Wednesday night, the Israeli military said. One rocket hit a house near the town of Karmiel, lightly injuring two people, according to Israeli rescue services. Israel responded with a large wave of strikes in Dahiya, a densely populated southern suburb of Beirut, the Israeli military said. Iranian authorities say more than 1,300 people have been killed there, and Israel has reported 12 people dead. The US has lost seven soldiers while another eight have suffered severe injuries. Advertisement Irans joint military command said it would start targeting banks and financial institutions in the Middle East. "If Iran has put out any mines in the Hormuz Strait, and we have no reports of them doing so, we want them removed, IMMEDIATELY!" - President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/WeX6rE4Uw1 The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 10, 2026 That would put at risk particularly Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, which is home to many international financial institutions, as well as Saudi Arabia and the island kingdom of Bahrain. The threat came after a Tehran location of Bank Sepah, a state-owned financial institution sanctioned by the US over funding Iranian armed forces, came under attack on Wednesday, killing staff there, according to the state-run IRNA news agency. In a separate development, Irans sports minister, Ahmad Donyamali, told Iranian state TV that the countrys football team cannot take part in the upcoming World Cup in North America in June because of the wicked acts of the United States. He said Iranian players would not be safe in the US. Keir Starmer was warned there was a general reputational risk over Peter Mandelsons relationship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein before giving him the role of ambassador to the US. The UK government has released an initial batch of papers relating to Mandelsons appointment after MPs ordered the publication of the files. A due diligence document drawn up in December 2024 before Mandelsons appointment to the Washington role noted a series of reports detailing his links with Epstein. The document noted that after Epstein was first convicted of procuring an underage girl in 2008 their relationship continued across 2009-2011, beginning when Lord Mandelson was business minister and continuing after the end of the Labour government, noting that Mandelson reportedly stayed in Epsteins house while he was in jail in June 2009. Advertisement BusinessMarketsInside China Opinion Chinas latest plan to dominate global trade Stephen Bartholomeusz Senior business columnist March 11, 2026 11:15am March 11, 2026 11:15am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A When China publishes the final version of its latest five-year plan this week, it will target its lowest economic growth rate in a quarter of a century. Thats not necessarily good news for the rest of the world. At the opening session last week of the National Peoples Congress, Chinas Premier Li Qiang, speaking before President Xi Jinping and thousands of party delegates, said that the official target for GDP growth would be 4.5 per cent to 5 per cent. Thats the lowest goal since 1991 and a modest downgrade from last years target of around 5 per cent, a target China said it achieved. China is lowering its economic growth targets. Vincent Thian/AP The downgrade comes amid a turbulent geopolitical and global economic environment, with Donald Trumps trade war on everyone and Americas increasing military adventurism causing a remaking of international trade patterns and, with the war in Iran, threatening global energy supply and economic growth. Advertisement Geopolitical risks are rising. Global economic momentum remains sluggish, while multilateralism and free trade are under severe threat, Li told the congress. At the same time as the outlook for the global economy has become uncertain and threatening, Chinas domestic economy remains weak and unbalanced, with the supply of goods outstripping demand and exports providing a safety valve that is, however, leading to increased trade tensions with countries other than the US. But with its five-year plans new targets, China will play a part in generating the ever-increasing trade imbalances that are threatening growth and jobs around the world. On some estimates, more than 50 countries have now enacted measures to protect their economies and local manufacturing bases from being overwhelmed by the tide of cheap Chinese goods. That tide is still flowing, with data released last week showing that exports surged 21.8 per cent in the first two months of this year. Chinas trade surplus for those months was up 25.3 per cent to a record $US213.6 billion ($300 billion). Advertisement Last year, China recorded a record annual trade surplus of $US1.2 trillion, despite Trumps tariffs, by redirecting exports diverted from the US to other markets hence the rising trade tensions with economies ranging from the European Union to South-East Asia and South America. Related Article China Chinas latest blueprint aims to close US technology gap and break old habits China hopes to defuse some of those tensions by increasing its imports from the rest of the world, with Li making that one of the objectives in this years planning, saying China would proactively open up its markets and promote more balanced trade. Imports were up almost 20 per cent in the first two months of the year, although they were boosted by a near-16 per cent rise in fuel imports, as China stocked up in anticipation of the conflict in the Middle East. China, the worlds largest oil importer, has a strategic reserve of somewhere between 1.2 billion and 1.5 billion barrels of oil and has been increasing the electrification of its economy at an accelerating pace to reduce its vulnerability to imported energy. Advertisement While its exports are booming (and generating increased protectionism elsewhere), the domestic economy is still struggling from the 2021 collapse of its property market. Housing prices have fallen more than 30 per cent since 2021 and a sector that once produced 25 per cent to 30 per cent of Chinas economic growth has roughly halved its contribution, which has flow-on effects to household wealth, confidence and spending. Li said the market was still in a period of adjustment and as the imbalance between strong supply and weak demand is acute, Beijing would maintain (albeit at a reduced level) the trade-in policies it has been deploying to try to stimulate domestic consumption. It is seeking a notable increase in domestic consumption, although it isnt yet apparent how it will try to achieve that, other than vague references to boosting employment and household incomes through social security and government transfers. Chinese President Xi Jinping during the opening session of the National Peoples Congress in Beijing. AP Its not that Chinese consumers dont spend consumption accounts for about 40 per cent of GDP but rather that growth in consumption lags the growth in investment that has been heavily subsidised by the various layers of government. Advertisement That has led to over-capacity, intense competition and price wars between domestic manufacturers, the surge in exports that has alarmed other countries and deflation in the domestic market. In the latest five-year plan, Beijing is foreshadowing a reduction in its subsidies (which the International Monetary Fund has estimated amount to about 4 per cent of Chinas GDP), singling out solar panels and batteries, with a new focus on exports of artificial intelligence, green energy equipment and other high-tech goods and services. Related Article Middle East at war Trumps removal of another Xi friend complicates planned summit In the face of Trumps America First approach to trade, China is also doubling down on its efforts to promote technological self-sufficiency and superiority. It wants to reduce its dependence on, and vulnerability to, advanced technologies sourced offshore. Artificial intelligence, quantum computing, bio-manufacturing, 6G mobile networks, robotics, pharmaceuticals, advanced semiconductors, hydrogen and fusion energy and brain-computer interfaces are all sectors targeted by the new plan. Advertisement Xi Jinping has said previously that China needs to expand the advantages it has in a range of the 21st-century technologies and their supply chains, including its dominance of strategic minerals. A key element of that plan is to embed AI throughout the economy, with a stated goal of integrating the technology into 90 per cent of the economy. There is a window of opportunity for China, while it maintains its stranglehold on the rare earths and other minerals vital to most advanced manufacturing (and military hardware), to enhance its lead in advanced manufacturing before the efforts by the US and others to develop alternative sources of supply erode its dominance of the raw materials needed for 21st-century technologies. Beijings ability to direct its companies and its provincial and local governments to support its strategies while it can lead to significant inefficiencies also means that its plans are executed in a way that doesnt happen within Western economies. Chinese companies and officials do what they are told. The call for a massive focus on advanced technologies will be answered and will almost inevitably produce results, including a shift in over-capacity or maybe just an extension of it from existing industries into the new sectors, with another wave of high-tech exports hitting global markets. Just as China is pursuing self-sufficiency in technology, it is also seeking to bolster its energy security, with the war in Iran giving that goal a heightened focus. Advertisement It is seeking to increase domestic oil and gas production, including an expansion of coal-to-oil projects, with an ambition of increasing domestic energy production from the equivalent of just over 5 billion tonnes of coal last year to 5.8 billion tonnes by 2030 while also continuing to expand its already significant base of clean energy. More than half its existing power generation is from non-fossil fuel sources. So while its not immune to the disruption to oil supply caused by Irans closure of the Strait of Hormuz, its reduced reliance on oil and gas and its oil reserves means China is better placed than most of the major economies to weather prolonged disruptions to global oil supplies. Loading The new five-year plan, it seems, wont contain any material departures from the strategies initiated by its predecessors which, given that Xi has presided over four of them about to be five isnt surprising. For the rest of the world, Chinas lowered targeted growth rate for an economy facing deflationary and demographic threats while continuing to invest heavily in its industrial platform probably means lower global growth and the continued dumping of Chinas excess industrial capacity into global markets that are already fearful of being de-industrialised. Advertisement Premier Li might have bemoaned the threats to multilateralism and free trade at the outset of the congress, and America might have been the major culprit thus far. But with its five-year plans new targets, China will play a part in generating the ever-increasing trade imbalances that are threatening growth and jobs around the world. The Market Recap newsletter is a wrap of the days trading. Get it each weekday afternoon. Advertisement BusinessThe economyMiddle East at war Opinion Trump is facing a humiliating crisis he created himself Ambrose Evans-Pritchard March 11, 2026 5:35pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A Britain and France won the Suez war in 1956. They destroyed Egypts air force on the ground and gained total control of the skies within hours. They crippled Egypts tank forces. The assault was professional and achieved all of its immediate military objectives. Trump cant let this conflict drag on much longer. AP Yet the Suez crisis degenerated into their worst humiliation since 1940 because the two powers failed to anticipate the economic fallout. Both faced capital flight and pressure on their fixed exchange rates. In a larger sense, they misread the worlds post-imperial mood. Advertisement Donald Trump risks his very own Suez crisis if he lets this conflict drag on through March. Markets may have rallied after he pronounced the war very complete, but Iran is still fighting and the Strait of Hormuz is still closed. Related Article Analysis Middle East at war We havent won enough: Markets like what Trumps saying but mixed messages abound He launched this war with 21 days consumption cover in the US strategic petroleum reserve China is thought to have at least 120 days cover and with inadequate warships to protect shipping. The 20-million-barrel buffer of floating Russian crude has mostly been soaked up already. Vladimir Putin will not step into the breach. He is already exporting as much as he can. Michael Haigh and Ben Hoff, from the Societe Generale bank, estimate that the war has cut off 17 million barrels a day (b/d) of oil supply, or a sixth of global consumption. It is worse for liquefied natural gas. Advertisement Iraq has run out of storage and has been forced to slash production by 3 million b/d. Kuwait is following suit. Abu Dhabi will do so within days. Saudi Arabia has more storage but has had to close the Safaniya, Marjan, Zuluf and Abu Safa fields because of drone attacks, curtailing more than 2 million b/d. Energy experts at Argus say almost 7 million b/d has already been shut in across the region. Trump said America is immune to the energy shock because it has achieved oil and gas supremacy and is a net fossil fuels exporter. He is wrong. Bloomberg The Saudis can divert some crude through the East-West pipeline to the Red Sea, but the port at Yanbu has capacity limits and is within drone-strike range of the Houthis, a Yemeni Shiite militia aligned with Iran. Disruption escalates in a non-linear way once drillers close oil fields. The first couple of weeks upsets the reservoir physics. Advertisement Restarting field production of this scale will be a massive technical exercise, said Jim Burkhard, the chief oil analyst at S&P Global Energy. Related Article Updated Middle East at war US blows up minelaying boats near Strait of Hormuz amid conflicting claims Beyond a month, the damage to well pressure and flowlines becomes permanent. In our view, $US200 [per barrel] is not outside the realms of possibility in 2026, said Simon Flowers, the chairman of energy consultants Wood Mackenzie. That would be a horror story for gas too. Societe Generale said funds are betting on a strike price of 200 ($326) per megawatt-hour for September natural gas futures in Europe. The same contract was 26 a few weeks ago. Advertisement Trump has talked of a $US20 billion ($28.1 billion) fund backed by the US Development Finance Corporation to cover war reinsurance for Gulf shipping. This reveals how little the White House understands the global maritime and insurance market. Helima Croft, a former CIA analyst now at RBC Capital, said the task of shifting the vast fleet of stranded ships on both sides of the Strait of Hormuz threatens to overwhelm the entire $US205 billion statutory risk limit of the US government agency. The Strait of Hormuz is the critical choke-point in the global oil industry. AP She said Iran still has an arsenal of long-distance drones that can be deployed from anywhere and an ample supply of small, fast boats that can be packed with explosives to target ships. The new and dangerous twist is that China has sent its state-of-the-art Liaowang-1 signals intelligence vessel to the region with an escort of destroyers. Advertisement Related Article Updated Middle East at war Qantas hikes fares, blames jet fuel prices linked to Iran war Defence Security Asia said its electromagnetic sensors could give the Iranians instant data on US and Israeli aircraft, quoting one specialist calling it a floating supercomputer processing petabytes of data to map the invisible battlefield. The Kuwait Petroleum Corporation said maritime insurance on its own is not enough. Sheikh Nawaf al-Sabah, the chief executive, vowed that he will not risk the lives of crews. Were prepared to move through the Gulf if we can get some level of assurance on safe passage from the US Navy, but theres not yet a plan in place for a naval escort, he said. There has been oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz for over 80 years and not a single day of those 80 years has it ever been closed to traffic. After eight decades, we have now entered a new era of geopolitics, he said. Advertisement Well, indeed. Trump posted on Truth Social that the naval escort would soon be assembled. It has not been done and cannot physically be done in time to avert a global energy crisis as long as the war continues. The US has just 12 warships in the Gulf region. They are needed to prosecute the attacks. It would take a fleet of 20 ships to handle the constant stream of tankers. The mission would need minesweepers from Europe. Without seeming to realise what he has done, Trump has exposed the raw fact that the US is no longer a full-spectrum military hegemon able to project power simultaneously in multiple theatres across the planet. It has superb armed forces and technology but that is not the same thing. Ronald Reagans defence budget reached 6.7 per cent of GDP in the late 1980s. Trump commands a navy that has shrunk by half and a military budget of 3.4 per cent. Declaring that the Pentagon is renamed the Department of War alters nothing. Advertisement Trump said the US is immune to the energy shock because it has achieved oil and gas supremacy and is a net fossil fuels exporter. It doesnt really affect us, he said. So which will prevail in the tug of war within Trumps personality? This is nonsense. Oil is a fungible commodity and is priced globally. The US could reimpose Jimmy Carters oil export ban and partially break the price linkage, but it still has to import a colossal 9 million b/d, either in petroleum products or as heavy sour crude to balance Texas light sweet in its refineries. Advertisement Americans drive twice as far each year as western Europeans,and the average fuel efficiency of their cars is roughly half. They are four times as vulnerable to the price. They also fly twice as far per capita. The average petrol price at the pump in the US has risen from $US2.90 a gallon ($1.077 per litre) in mid-February to $US3.50 ($1.29 per litre) so far. Diesel prices have doubled to $US4.60. Jet fuel is up by even more. That alone will hurt in a K-shaped economy shedding jobs fast and where the bottom half is already raging about affordability. Prices will rise mechanically, with a lag, the longer that Gulf drillers suffer structural damage. Nobody knows where the breaking point lies in US politics, but another hike in oil prices to $US150 a barrel would surely shatter Trumps electoral base. $US200 would destroy his presidency. It is true that the oil intensity of US and global GDP has halved since the Arab embargo of 1973, but that episode was chiefly confined to oil. Qatars Ras Laffan, now the worlds largest exporting port for liquefied natural gas, was then a fishing village. LNG was not exported from the Gulf until 1996. The region did not then produce 30 per cent of the worlds urea or supply 20 per cent of the fertilisers used by Americas farmers, badly needed now for spring planting. It did not account for an eighth of the worlds polypropylene and ethylene, or a tenth of its aluminium. It was a different world. Advertisement Related Article Opinion Middle East at war War is over soon? Markets faith in Donald Trump is misplaced Stephen Bartholomeusz Senior business columnist Markets expect Trump to declare victory soon, before he is overwhelmed by a supply chain shock to match COVID. That bet is probably correct, but Irans Revolutionary Guard have so far refused to make it easy for him by rolling over. It is we who will determine the end of the war, they said on Tuesday. So which will prevail in the tug of war within Trumps personality: his fear of losing the US midterm election? Or his injured vanity and his psychological need to command escalation dominance, always and everywhere? Advertisement That is the $US200 question. The Telegraph, London The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning. Advertisement CultureOperaPerforming arts Opinion Timothee Chalamet says nobody cares about opera. Opera Australia would like to thank him Alex Budd Opera Australia CEO March 11, 2026 2:00pm March 11, 2026 2:00pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A Id like to thank Timothee Chalamet. Its the least I can do. In a recent interview, the Oscar nominee suggested that opera and ballet are art forms people are trying to keep alive even though nobody cares about them any more. Timothee Chalamet arrives at the 98th Academy Awards Oscar nominees luncheon last month. Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP It was quite the achievement. In a single sentence, he managed to do what our marketing team spends weeks trying to achieve: getting the world talking about opera. Opera, after all, has been pronounced dead so often it should qualify for frequent-flyer points to the underworld. And yet the corpse keeps selling tickets. Across Europe alone, more than 13 million people attend opera each year, filling tens of thousands of performances. Opera Australia has more than a million tickets on sale this year with many performances already sold out. A curious way for society to show a complete lack of care for an art form. Advertisement The deeper misunderstanding, though, is not about numbers. It is about relevance. Opera survives because it tells uncomfortable truths about human behaviour, and often the parts we would rather not talk about. Related Article Sydney live reviews An ugly American, a young woman abused. Does the plot of this sublime opera sound familiar? Take the works in our current season at Sydney Opera House. Madama Butterfly tells the story of a 15-year-old girl, underage by any modern standard, drawn into an arranged marriage before being exploited and abandoned by a visiting naval officer. Hansel and Gretel is essentially a warning to children about the predatory nature of strangers offering sweets. Turandot is a brutal study of power, trauma and the dangerous mechanics of desire. Eugene Onegin explores male pride so fragile it leads to a pointless duel and needless death. If these plots dropped on Netflix tomorrow, they would be praised as fearless explorations of exploitation, youth suicide, violence, ego and the wreckage human beings leave in each others lives. Advertisement Later this year, with our friends at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre another organisation that appears to care about opera we premiere George Palmer and Leah Purcells The Drovers Wife, a major operatic adaptation of Purcells extraordinary retelling of Henry Lawsons story. It is bold First Nations storytelling confronting colonial violence, survival and the Australian frontier with the heightened emotion only opera can deliver. Hardly the work of an art form clinging nervously to the past. Opera Australia and Queensland Performing Arts Centres The Drovers Wife will star Marcus Corowa and Nina Korbe, who is the niece of director, librettist and originator of the Molly Johnson character, Leah Purcell. Lyndon Mechielsen This week Opera Australia announced the appointment of Amy Lane as director of opera, part of a new generation of creative leaders shaping where the art form goes next. Artists like Lane are redefining how opera looks, whom it speaks to and how boldly it engages with the world around it. With leaders like her stepping forward, the future of opera should impress not only Chalamet, but quite possibly his children and grandchildren. Which brings me to the more interesting part of this conversation. Chalamet is just 30 years old and recently declared he would not want to work in opera. Thats perfectly understandable. Operatic performance requires years of specialist training, extraordinary musicianship and a level of discipline that makes many creative pursuits look like a casual hobby. Advertisement But we are not suggesting he should sing. We are inviting him to attend. At 30, he qualifies for Opera Australias under-35s program, a small conspiracy (or special access) designed to introduce the next generation to opera. His generation. The one increasingly filling our theatres, often arriving curious and leaving converted. Related Article Stage A killer wife and a seedy tryst: Has opera ever been this edgy? So, to say thank you to Mr Chalamet, when he next finds himself in Australia, there is a standing invitation for him and a mate to join us at the Sydney Opera House, that rather famous little building on the harbour he may have seen in photographs. Come sit in a theatre full of strangers while a story about love, pride, power and regret unfolds on stage with an orchestra beneath it. He suggested nobody cares about opera. We suspect he might be surprised. That is, of course, if there are any tickets left. Alex Budd is the chief executive of Opera Australia. Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter. Advertisement CultureTV & radioReview Its based on a best-selling series, but Nicole Kidman seems almost bored in this TV adaptation Louise Rugendyke March 11, 2026 1:35pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A Scarpetta Nicole Kidman has made working with female directors and showrunners a priority over the past decade or so, and she also has a long history of pushing female-forward stories on screen. She has been so prolific she has another five projects due on screen in the next year or so that not everything will be a winner. Kay Scarpetta (Nicole Kidman) and Dorothy Farinelli (Jamie Lee Curtis) in Scarpetta. Scarpetta, adapted from Patricia Cornwells bestselling book series and created by Liz Sarnoff, Im sorry to say, is not a winner. It is mid-TV, the kind that gives the impression of being prestige big-name cast, well-known source material, a deep-pocketed streaming service but leaves you feeling, well, meh. You watch it, you move on. It doesnt stick. Kidman plays Virginias chief medical officer, Kay Scarpetta. Shes in her 50s, a seasoned forensic pathologist who built her name and reputation on a serial killer case 28 years ago. She was pushed out of the job for reasons that arent immediately clear, but now shes back in town just as the serial killer appears to have re-emerged. Advertisement As such, the eight epsiodes are split over two timelines, with Rosy McEwen as the younger, sassy Kay, who wears snazzy checked suits to work, smokes in her car and has eyes on a young FBI profiler, Wesley Benton (Hunter Parrish), who has joined the case. Nicole Kidman as chief medical examiner Kay Scarpetta. Fast-forward to the present day, and its Kidman smoking in her car (surely, as someone who carves up bodies for living, Kay would have quit by now!), then snapping on the gloves as she heads to a crime scene where a woman (its always a woman!) has been found dead next to railway tracks. The murder has all the hallmarks of the previous killer Kay caught, so could she possibly have made a mistake? Related Article Review These toxic influencers hadnt heard of Louis Theroux. That was their first mistake Oh, and that young FBI agent? In the present-day timeline hes now her husband, played by Simon Baker, who is also working on the same case. The pair have been living in Boston (doing what? Its not really explained) and have returned to Virginia, where they move back into Wesleys old family mansion, which is currently home to Kays older sister Dot Farinelli (Jamie Lee Curtis), a successful childrens author, and her husband and Kays old work partner Pete Marino (Bobby Cannavale, whose son Jake appears as young Pete). Advertisement Also living on the property is Dots daughter, Lucy (Ariana DeBose), who is coping with the death of her wife by talking to a computer-generated version of her every day (its wacky, again its not explained, so best to just go with it). The family dynamic is pretty dysfunctional: Lucy, who is some type of computer ace who made a lot of money as a teenager, doesnt really talk to her mum, Dot; Kay and Dot argue in the kitchen; Wesley spends his time at home quietly disappearing from every room; while Pete, Lucy and Kay eventually get some kind of work buddy thing happening. Loading They are all clearly a mess, and its as if the writers watched The Bears Fishes episode the one in the second season where Curtis character Donna, Carmys mum, crashes the car into the living room and thought, Lets re-create that! Curtis, certainly, seems to be hanging onto Donna, as shes all fingernails and frantic energy, while Kidman is so controlled that its hard to tell when shes angry, upset or feeling any emotion at all. Her Scarpetta is clearly happier at work than she is at home, driven over the passing decades to prove herself. Kidman has dropped her voice a note or two to give it gravitas, while Kay works with purpose in the autopsy room. Why Kidman would want to add this to her resume is not clear. Yes, Kay Scarpetta is a powerful woman working in a mans world, but Kidman seems almost bored. Advertisement Scarpetta doesnt have the sexual rush of her 2024 film Babygirl, and it isnt as delightfully unhinged as her recent Netflix series The Perfect Couple. Sure, the crime stuff is fine and the cast on paper is cracking, but it doesnt quite click. Cannavale holds it together the best, while McEwen, as young Kay, is also terrific. Young Kay (Rosy McEwen) and young Marino (Jake Cannavale) in Scarpetta. There are 29 books in Cornwells series, so theres obviously something about Kay that clicks with readers (and publishers), but whatever it is, it isnt quite working on screen. Scarpetta is streaming on Amazon Prime Video from March 11. Find out the next TV, streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees. Get The Watchlist delivered every Thursday. Advertisement NationalNSWCourts Will you resign?: NSWs top prosecutor under pressure amid feud with judge Michaela Whitbourn Updated March 11, 2026 3:54pm ,first published 12:02pm 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 top prosecutor has insisted she will not resign if a parliamentary inquiry makes adverse findings against her after her office gave information to a Sydney radio station that fuelled a damaging story about a sitting judge. Director of Public Prosecutions Sally Dowling, SC, has been at the centre of a long-running feud with District Court Judge Penelope Wass after a highly critical story about Wass aired on 2GB in October 2024. NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley and DPP Sally Dowling, SC, have been grilled during budget estimates. Sitthixay Ditthavong, Parliament of NSW Dowling admitted during her evidence before a parliamentary inquiry last year that her office effectively gave the story about Wass to 2GB. However, she said she only became aware of this more than a year after the fact, and she did not authorise the information being disclosed. The inquiry is due to report by May 8. Advertisement During a tense budget estimates hearing in state parliament on Wednesday, upper house Liberal MP Damien Tudehope asked Dowling: In the event that the committee makes an adverse finding against you, or in relation to evidence that you have given, will you resign? Dowling replied: Absolutely not. I am confident that there is no basis upon which the inquiry could make such a finding. There has been no inconsistency in my evidence. I have not given any evidence that could be capable of being construed as misleading this parliament. Personal confidence in Dowling Earlier on Wednesday, NSW upper house MP Mark Latham asked Attorney-General Michael Daley if he had personal confidence in Dowling. Advertisement Yes, Daley replied. Latham claimed he had talked to a lot of MPs in this place and theyve totally lost confidence in the director and the way this matter has been handled at the ODPP. Daley said Dowling, who was appointed as the states top prosecutor in August 2021 for a 10-year term, was a highly senior legal practitioner in NSW and is the statutory office holder of one of the most important offices in the state. Independent NSW upper house member Mark Latham. Janie Barrett He added that the director of public prosecutions, in whom I have confidence, has given evidence before [the] parliamentary committee under oath about the Wass incident. Advertisement Youre asking me to pre-empt the results of the parliamentary committee, and Im not going to do that. The judges submission In an explosive 68-page submission to the parliamentary inquiry last year, Wass alleged the 2GB story was part of a deliberate strategy by some of those within the ODPP, including Ms Dowling to attack her or to influence her judicial conduct, or both. Wass said the upper house committee conducting the inquiry might consider referring senior ODPP officers to the governor for removal from office. Under the Director of Public Prosecutions Act, the DPP may be removed by the governor for incapacity, incompetence or misbehaviour. Advertisement Latham asked Dowling during Wednesdays hearing if she now acknowledged that what happened with 2GB was wrong. The top prosecutor said she acknowledged it was deeply regrettable that that information was conveyed by the [ODPP] media manager without approval from myself or from any of the other executives. The way in which 2GB reported on that incident is a matter for them, Dowling said. District Court Judge Penelope Wass. Latham pressed: Can I ask you, in the pitching of the story [to 2GB], what did it have to do with the fact that at the time Judge Wass had been sharply critical of the way you do your job as director? Advertisement Related Article Courts The judge v the prosecutor: Inside a very public and bitter feud Dowling said that she was not aware at the time that the story was, quote, pitched, by a person from my media team. She said that at the time of the incident the ODPP media team members were new to their roles. Dowling has said in a response to supplementary questions on notice from the inquiry that she did not dispute that ODPP media manager Sally Killoran had a mistaken understanding after an internal meeting that she was authorised to raise the story with 2GB. However, Dowling stressed that she did not, and would not have, approved this occurring. The story related to a sentencing hearing for an Indigenous teenager presided over by Wass. Advertisement Dowling took issue with Lathams use of the word leak to describe the information given to 2GB, and said that what happened in that courtroom was amenable to public discussion. The 2GB story criticised Wass for inviting the Indigenous offender to perform what she called a Welcome to Country before being sentenced for a serious crime. The offender performed a short Acknowledgement of Country before his sentence. You understand what a leak is? Giving media information on background where you dont want it attributed to you, which is exactly what your office did. Thats what a leak is, Latham said. Media manipulation He added that the ODPP should stay right out of media manipulation because it never ends well. Advertisement I would agree with that proposition, Dowling said. Related Article Courts Top prosecutors deep regret amid stand-off with judge The inquiry has heard Wass contacted police after the 2GB story because she was concerned the restrictions on identifying children in criminal proceedings may have been breached. The information Dowlings office gave to 2GB included the name of the Indigenous teen. However, the radio station did not publish or broadcast his name to the public in line with the statutory protections, which include criminal sanctions for breaches. Police concluded their investigation last year and no charges were laid. Advertisement Under questioning by Latham on Wednesday, Daley said that theres been a thorough police investigation which concluded with no charges being laid. At the time of the 2GB story, Wass and Dowling, among other District Court judges, were embroiled in an increasingly public row stemming from comments made by the judges in decisions in sexual assault proceedings. The judges had expressed the view the ODPP was running unmeritorious prosecutions. Two judges Robert Newlinds and Peter Whitford met with disapproval from the Judicial Commission after Dowling lodged complaints against them over their remarks. The two decisions are no longer accessible online. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition 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. A man is in an induced coma after he was allegedly punched in a fight at a Logan car park. Several people were involved in the altercation along Bourke Street at Waterford West in Logan on Tuesday afternoon about 4.20pm. A police spokesperson said the fight was near the Chambers Flat Road intersection, where a McDonalds restaurant and a pub are located. A 29-year-old man allegedly punched the 48-year-old in the face during a fight. A 29-year-old man allegedly punched a 48-year-old in the face, causing him to fall and hit his head on the bitumen. Advertisement NationalVictoriaCity life Meet the man whos found so many fossils in Melbourne hes opened his own museum Carolyn Webb March 11, 2026 2:30pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A A few years ago, palaeontologist Ben Francischelli saw something extraordinary while free diving just off the beach at Beaumaris in Melbournes south-eastern suburbs. Not an exotic fish, a pretty shell, or even a stolen phone. It was the complete skull of a whale, almost the size of a small car, he says. Enlightening finds: Palaeontologist Ben Francischelli at Beaumaris holding Otodus megalodon (giant shark) and Livyatan (killer sperm whale) teeth. Justin McManus I was pretty blown away by it. It was in a spot that I always look as well. I couldnt quite believe my eyes. Along a three kilometre stretch of Port Phillip Bay in Beaumaris and Black Rock, an abundance of prehistoric fossils can be found. Next month, more than 1000 fossils that Francischelli and other enthusiasts have found in the area will go on display as part of a returning pop-up showcase. Advertisement Held at the Beaumaris Motor Yacht Squadron on April 11, most items that will be on display at the Prehistoric Bayside Museum are five to six million years old. They include wing bones from Pelagornis, a flying bird which had a wingspan of over six metres, the three-kilogram tooth of a Livyatan, or killer sperm whale, and tusks from beaked whales. Loading When people come to see the displays, all they need to do is walk down to the beach and theyre at the fossil site of Beaumaris, Francischelli says. As part of the event, palaeontologists will offer talks to shed light on whats on display. Squadron manager Alex Henderson said the club is not charging the museum rent to hold the event, and sees it as a community service. Advertisement Henderson said it was incredible to see teeth from the prehistoric shark Otodus megalodon a 15-metre-long predator that were the size of his hand. You get a sense of just how big these things were, he says. For Francischelli, the Prehistoric Bayside Museum is a way to continue his passion for palaeontology after his fossil collector and preparators job at Museums Victoria was discontinued six years ago. Hes now a climate action specialist with Glen Eira Council, and in his spare time he free dives for fossils. Every time we go in the water theres something new thats discovered, and I love the thrill of trying to figure out what these fossils mean sometimes well pick up something and have no idea what it is, he says. Advertisement We find ear bones that are not representative of any living group of animals today. And so making sense of what these animals are, whether or not theyre a completely new group of animals that have never been discovered in the entire world, is something thats really thrilling to me. Impression at the Prehistoric Bayside Museum of what the prehistoric bird Pelagornis would have looked like. Francischelli mounted an exhibition called Prehistoric Bayside in 2024 at Bayside Gallery in Brighton, before holding his newly named Museums first open day at Beaumaris Motor Yacht Squadron in November 2025. People of all ages brought in bones theyd found on the beach decades ago, he says, and kids sat down and tried to pick my brain. This childlike curiosity is something Francischelli still shares. Advertisement Theres something thats so exciting and so completely intoxicating about doing this, he says. I get members of the public sending me pictures almost daily of a rock that they found, and I have to say sorry, its just a rock. But every now and again, youll say thats an ear bone of a beaked whale. Theyre extremely rare, where did you find it? Telling them the story is exciting. Recently, he met a man who found part of a jaw of a small river dolphin on a Beaumaris beach and the mans 11-year-old son identified the species. This piece will now sit alongside others in the museum. Long-term, Francischelli wants the areas fossil fields to be better known and protected. Its one of the most exciting fossil areas in the country, and we need to do everything we can to preserve the site, to ensure its there for future generations, he said. Advertisement Tickets are available at the door or online via Humanitix for a gold coin donation. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Remove items from your saved list to add more. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. The warning level for an out-of-control bushfire threatening homes and blocking evacuation routes for residents in Mundaring has been downgraded to a watch and act. The fire was first reported just after 2pm, sparking an emergency warning for people bounded by Great Eastern Highway, Doconing Road and Old Northam Road in Beechina. Authorities warned the fire was out of control and moving in a westerly direction, and advised residents it is too late to safely leave. The warning was downgraded later on Wednesday as the bushfire was stationary, however it was not contained or controlled. Advertisement PoliticsFederalUniversity Morphine drip: Shorten warns of international student addiction, calls for new tax to fund unis Rob Harris March 11, 2026 7:30pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A Universities have been forced onto a morphine drip of international student revenue to survive decades of declining public funding, former Labor leader Bill Shorten has warned, as he proposed a new sovereign wealth education fund to help stabilise the sector. In a speech calling for a major reset of Australias higher education model, the University of Canberra vice chancellor said a 1 per cent levy on company profits could raise about $5.2 billion a year to fund universities and reduce pressure on students. Shorten said international student fees had quietly become the financial backbone of the sector. Oscar Colman Delivering the annual Aitkin Lecture on Wednesday night, Shorten said the current funding model had pushed universities to rely heavily on overseas enrolments while shifting more of the cost of tertiary education onto graduates through the HECS loan system. That ignores the economic signal that successive governments have sent tertiary institutions that if universities want more funding to replace what they expect to receive from government, they should rely on the morphine drip of international student revenue to dull the funding pain of declining investment, he said. Advertisement The warning comes as universities face growing political scrutiny over migration levels and international student numbers, one of Australias largest export industries. Shorten said international student fees had quietly become the financial backbone of the sector, subsidising domestic teaching and research. To maintain the quality of education provided, fund innovation and produce high-quality research, universities have had to rely on income from international students, he said, adding international student fees were effectively cross-subsidising the education of Australian students. But he warned the model was increasingly fragile as governments turned international student numbers into a lever of migration policy. At the same time, the burden of funding higher education had shifted steadily onto students through the HECS loan system. Advertisement Introduced in 1989, the income-contingent scheme was originally designed so that graduates paid about 20 per cent of the cost of their education. That balance has shifted dramatically, Shorten said. Related Article Immigration International students locked out of in-person hearings for visa appeals The underwriting of the higher education system has moved from a situation in 1990 where the government would pay 90 per cent of a students course to now, on average, below 50 per cent. The result has been rising student debts and growing pressure on universities. Some student debts are ballooning simply because of the interest being accrued, he said. Advertisement Shorten said the burden fell particularly heavily on women who spent time out of the workforce caring for children, slowing repayments while interest continued to accumulate. He argued Australia was trying to run a modern university system with a funding model designed four decades ago, even as student demographics and study patterns had changed dramatically. His proposed new fund would be jointly managed by government, industry and universities and directed toward national priorities such as research capability and critical skills. We could do this here in Australia with one prerequisite that the left and the right meet in the middle. Where we get big thinking from big thinkers who care about Australia and not partisanship, Shorten said. He added that if universities request changes in the funding model, then the sector must address the efficiency and quality of how it educates. Advertisement Education Minister Jason Clare said in a major speech last year that it was critical to break down the invisible barrier that made Australians feel like university was somewhere else for someone else. Related Article University Its worth it: The shocking cost of degrees for international students He argued that 80 per cent of jobs would require a TAFE qualification or a university degree by 2050, compared to 60 per cent today. 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 PoliticsQueenslandQueensland votes Election map redraw could hand LNP up to three seats, analysis suggests Matt Dennien Updated March 12, 2026 9:21am ,first published 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 Analysis of Queenslands draft state electoral map overhaul suggests the LNP has emerged the winner, with up to three extra seats slated to fall into the governments hands. As the major parties again traded barbs about the work, the LNP claimed both seats proposed were in Labor heartland. However, Caboolture appears likely to be a marginal LNP seat. Boundary changes to Labors sole Gold Coast seat of Gaven, held by shadow attorney-general and future leadership figure Meaghan Scanlon, have left analysts predicting it will also become a marginal LNP seat. Changes to Labor shadow attorney-general Meaghan Scanlons Gold Coast seat of Gaven appear likely to see it flip to the LNP. Matt Dennien One even suggests the Labor-held seat of Macalister on Brisbanes south could fall into LNP hands. Advertisement On the old boundaries, a 1.9 per cent two-party-preferred uniform swing would deprive the LNP of their majority. On the new boundaries, that swing would need to be 2.9 per cent, election analyst Ben Raue wrote on The Tally Room blog. That is a significant improvement for the LNP. In a later interview with ABC Radio Brisbane, he described the overall proposed change as reasonably balanced. The analysis of proposed new boundaries by Raue and fellow election analyst William Bowe reassigns voting data from the 2024 election within the draft boundaries. It also comes as Labor renewed its criticism of the role of Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijies department head, John Sosso, as one of three figures on the commission undertaking the work. Advertisement Under the redistribution proposal, the names of 19 seats would be changed and two electorates Caboolture and Springfield would be created. Related Article Exclusive Queensland votes Accusations fly as row kicks off over redrawing election map The legally required redistribution is the first for the state since 2017, when parliament also expanded from 89 to 93 seats. The redrawn map will be used in the 2028 state election. An extensive public consultation process has been under way since mid-2025, when submissions were sought by the commission before being published and comments invited. Among these, the LNPs submission urged the abolition of two seats: the north Queensland seat of Hill, and the Labor-held seat of Toohey in Brisbanes south. Advertisement Both the LNP and the Greens, who urged an expansion of parliament, called for a new seat in the Logan-Ipswich corridor, in differing locations. While Labor did not call for the abolition of any seats in its unusually vague submission, it agreed with both the LNP and Greens on the need for a new electorate around Caboolture. The Labor Party are picking up two seats in their Labor heartland. Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie on Wednesday Public submissions on the proposal are open until April 9, and will be published after this date for further public comment. On Raues analysis, the LNP would net two extra seats under the proposed redistribution, with both Labor and KAP losing one. Of seats with margins under 4 per cent, Raue said the LNP appeared to have done better in 12. Advertisement Labors standing was improved in the case of five, and Greens appear better off in two, he said. In analysis for his The Poll Bludger blog, Bowes estimated two-party preferred result in Macalister suggests the redrawn seat to be renamed Beenleigh could also fall to the LNP, with a margin of 0.4 per cent. It is currently held by Labors Melissa McMahon. Well, the LNP rigged this process, and as a result, weve got a rigged outcome which will lead to a rigged election. Opposition Leader Steven Miles on Wednesday Hill, centred around Innisfail in the states far north and held by Katters Australian Party, would be abolished, as would Labor-held Stretton in Brisbanes south. Along with a second new, notionally Labor, seat in the Ipswich region, Raue and Bowes analysis suggests in net terms the LNP may notionally have up to three new seats, Labor as many as two fewer, and KAP down one. Advertisement While the LNP has defended Sossos selection for the commission, the Labor opposition has not been the only voice to have raised concerns. Tony Fitzgerald, who led the landmark Fitzgerald inquiry in the late 1980s, warned last year of a return to the bad old days of biased electoral boundaries after Sossos appointment. In a parliamentary committee hearing last month, senior Labor MP Shannon Fentiman asked Crime and Corruption Commission representatives if it was appropriate for the government to have been informally provided detail of the draft changes. Citing multiple whistleblowers, Fentiman suggested this took the form of a draft copy or information about the electoral boundaries from the independent Queensland Redistribution Commission. The CCC said it could not respond. Approached for comment at the time, a spokesperson for the Electoral Commission of Queensland in which the redistribution body sits said it had not provided a copy of the draft or related information to any external party. Advertisement The office of Premier David Crisafulli repeatedly refused to provide a response to this masthead until Wednesday, suggesting Fentiman first needed to substantiate her claims. If false, the government could pursue Fentiman through the ethics committee for misleading parliament. It has given no indication it is doing so. After a further request on Wednesday, a government spokesperson said only: Has Labors Shannon Fentiman actually provided any proof of this to you whatsoever, or is she just misleading the media again as part of her campaign to take down Steven Miles? This masthead has not been able to independently verify Fentimans claims with primary sources. 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 WorldNorth AmericaTrump's White House White House tells Republicans to avoid mass deportation talk ahead of midterms Natalie Allison and Kadia Goba March 11, 2026 5:30pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A Washington DC: White House and top House Republican officials have told party members to avoid discussing mass deportations ahead of the midterm elections, backing away from public discussion of a central campaign pledge of President Donald Trump. The advice hit as Republican prospects appear dim ahead of the November voting. Trump campaigned heavily on pledges to deport millions of undocumented migrants. AP While Republican members of Congress gathered in Doral, Florida, for a retreat Tuesday, White House deputy chief of staff James Blair and Republican congresswoman Lisa McClain, the chair of the House Republican Conference, instructed them to eschew talking about sweeping deportations of undocumented people and instead focus only on deportations of violent criminals, according to three people with knowledge of the remarks who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly about the closed-door event. Trump ran on a pledge of enacting mass deportations, vowing to launch the largest deportation in the history of our country. At one point on the campaign trail, he told Time magazine he planned to deport 15 million to 20 million undocumented immigrants a figure larger than the actual number of immigrants in the country illegally, according to most experts. Advertisement Related Article Trump's White House Bulletproof vests and Rolex watches: The rise and fall of Kristi Noem The president himself has since tiptoed away from the plan, at times calling for protections for undocumented hospitality and agriculture workers, and suggesting that the administration first focus on deporting people who have committed violent crimes. Blair told the crowd they should now focus on highlighting the administrations removal of criminals, according to two of the people present, and explained that there is greater public support for doing so than for mass deportations. The remarks were first reported by Axios. For much of last year, the administration leaned hard into the idea that anyone in the country illegally was a legitimate target for deportation. The White House last year pressured the Department of Homeland Security to increase its deportation numbers, while DHS, under Secretary Kristi Noem, embarked on high-profile round-ups of migrants, many of whom had no criminal background. By midsummer last year, more than half of those removed from the country had no criminal conviction, according to a Washington Post analysis of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement data. Advertisement Kristi Noem before the oversight committee last week. Her tactics were too flashy and narcissistic even for Donald Trump. AP Last week, Trump fired Noem, tapping Republican senator Markwayne Mullin for the role as the White House seeks to minimise DHS-related controversy ahead of the midterms. Trump still receives high marks in polls for his administrations efforts to effectively halt illegal border crossings, but a growing majority of Americans have soured on his deportation strategy, with 58 per cent saying last month he has gone too far deporting undocumented immigrants, a rise of eight percentage points since last fall, according to a Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll. The survey found that a slightly higher number, 62 per cent, opposed the aggressive tactics of ICE after immigration agents fatally shot two US citizens in Minneapolis earlier this year. A senior Republican aide told the Post on Tuesday that the partys messaging would be about deporting violent criminals and not mass deportations. Advertisement Related Article Opinion Middle East at war What does war with Iran mean for US voters? In November, well know Bruce Wolpe Senior fellow at the US Studies Centre and former political staffer A fourth person with knowledge of Blairs remarks said he was asked to discuss immigration going into the midterms, and told members to highlight that Democrats want to reopen the borders and oppose Republicans efforts to deport violent undocumented immigrants. Blair also suggested an emphasis on Democratic support for sanctuary cities, the person said, and a lack of co-operation with the administration on deportations. Asked by the Post last month whether he supported the deportations of immigrants who have otherwise been law-abiding but are in the country illegally a position his MAGA base has urged the administration to adopt Trump said: I want to see everybody deported, but were focusing on the criminals. Were focusing on killers. The Washington Post Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter. Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 10:33PM Embed from Getty Images Jay Graber, the chief executive officer of Bluesky since 2021, is leaving her position and transitioning to chief innovation officer of the social platform. "As Bluesky matures, the company needs a seasoned operator focused on scaling and execution, while I return to what I do best: building new things," Graber wrote in a blog post. Taking over as temporary CEO is Toni Schneider, the former CEO of WordPress parent Automattic. Graber also remains a member of the company's board of directors and will help determine who the permanent leader of the platform will be. SOURCE Vivienne Clarke Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has said the builder of the new childrens hospital BAM urgently needs to complete the hot block where surgeries and laboratories will be located. Carroll MacNeill told RTE radios Today with David McCullagh show that she had visited the building on Tuesday, where she saw the ground floor, the lower ground floor and the sixth floor. What we really, really need is the hot block, which is where the surgeries are, where the laboratories are. That's the piece that we really need and that BAM should be giving us. The Minister also said she had been investigating the safest way in which sick children could be transported from hospitals such as Crumlin and Temple Street to the new childrens hospital. There had been a theory that such a move could not be made during wintertime, she said. We're testing that, we're looking at other examples of where that has been able to happen. You have to get the exact right time to do that. And it's contingent on lots of different factors. How many people take up the flu vaccine next year impacts whether we can do this because it impacts on what the presentation of flu is in our hospitals, including our adult hospitals. That means how many ambulances are available to us. All of these things work together," she said. Those factors impact on our ability or the availability of ambulances, the availability of staff in hospitals to be able to do this move safely. So we will push it as far as we safely can and we will make the correct assessment, I hope, at the right time. But it's contingent on a lot of different things like that. Carroll MacNeill said that Childrens Health Ireland (CHI) was now looking at examples of where such moves had been made during the winter. CHI are out testing that as well and observing that and looking at different places where that has happened and what would be the circumstances in which that could happen safely. We will only do what's safe to be done. But all of that is contingent on BAM giving us the hot block in the next number of weeks. Darragh Mc Donagh Motorists who complained to local authorities after their vehicles were damaged by potholes received around 1.3 million in compensation during the past three years, new figures have revealed. The local authority with the highest level of successful claims by motorists who suffered pothole damage was Donegal County Council, which has paid out 340,923 through its insurer since 2023. Cork County Council faced a similar bill of 275,439, though this related to 1,175 claims by motorists, whereas the larger figure paid out by Donegal County Council related to just 109. Meath County Council was hit with 556 claims from motorists who damaged their vehicles in potholes during the three-year period, paying out a total of 143,544. By contrast, neighbouring Westmeath County Council paid out just 11,669 in respect of 43 claims from motorists. Galway City Council had the lowest level of compensation for pothole damage at 3,765, while Galway County Council paid out 10 times this amount, settling claims worth 37,342 since 2023. Motorists who filed claims for pothole damage received a total of 542,382 from local authorities in 2023, with Donegal and Cork County Councils accounting for 188,043 and 111,997 of this, respectively. The annual total fell to 383,507 in 2024 and 366,096 last year, with 1.3 million paid out over the three years. The figures were provided by 28 of the states 31 local authorities under the Freedom of Information Act. Cork City Council was the only local authority to refuse to release the information under the Act, while Carlow County Council and Kerry County Council failed to issue a decision within the statutory time limit. Louth County Council had the fourth-highest bill for pothole damage during the three-year period, with 403 motorists who damaged their vehicles on its roads receiving a total of 70,453. It was followed by Fingal County Council (50,681), Tipperary Council Council (50,105), and Galway County Council (37,342). Limerick City and County Council was next with 36,905. Some of the lowest levels of compensation were paid out by Kilkenny County Council (4,540), Laois County Council (5,317), Leitrim County Council (5,433), and South Dublin County Council (6,097). Local authorities are insured against claims from motorists by Irish Public Bodies Mutual Insurance (IPB), which is owned by its policyholders. Councils are typically not liable for damage incurred as a result of normal wear and tear of roads in the absence of any intervention or negligence by the local authority. Many claims would therefore relate to circumstances where potholes had been repaired to an insufficient standard. Eimear Dodd A man who punched broadcaster Brendan Courtney several times voluntarily contacted gardai to tell them he had been involved in the assault, a court has heard. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Courtney was walking home along the quays around 9:30pm on February 27th, 2025, when he was beckoned over to a car stopped at traffic lights. The court heard the front passenger appeared to roll down the window and call him over. Courtney went over, thinking he knew the occupants of the car and later described to gardai that he believed they were ridiculing him. He turned to leave, tapping on the window as he went. The back seat passenger in the car, Ross Deegan (22), left the vehicle, then assaulted Courtney along with a co-accused, who is also before the courts. CCTV of the assault was played to the court. Deegan ran at the injured party, then punched him. He threw two further punches to the side of the injured partys head. The court heard that it is alleged that the co-accused also assaulted Courtney, who was carrying shopping bags and pinned against a wall, throwing a number of punches and kicking him in the stomach. Deegan then got back into the car, which drove away. Ross Deegan of An Riasc, Finglas, Dublin 11, contacted gardai voluntarily on March 5th, 2025, identifying his involvement in the assault. Deegan came forward from the District Court on a signed guilty plea to assaulting Courtney causing harm on February 27th, 2025, at Ushers Quay in Dublin city centre. A cyclist stopped and helped Courtney, who went into a nearby pub. Nothing was said by the men during the incident and there was no suggestion the parties are known to each other, the court heard. When gardai arrived, they noticed cuts to his ear, chin and back of his neck. Garda Shane Monahan told David Perry, prosecuting, that Courtney did not seek medical attention that night and went to hospital the following day after waking up in pain. He sustained a concussion and a fracture of his eye socket. A medical report and photos were provided to the court. When interviewed by gardai, Deegan claimed it was self-defence. He said that the injured party approached the car aggressively and struck the front passenger window with his fist. Deegan said he perceived this as an attempt to hit his brother, who was in the front seat. He said he got out of the car to defend himself and his brother and admitted punching the injured party three or four times. No victim impact statement was provided to the court. Deegan has no previous convictions and has not come to other garda attention. Gda Monahan agreed with Oisin Clarke, defending, that the cyclist said in a statement that there had been a knock on the front passenger window. It was further accepted that this case had received some media attention, that Deegan was co-operative, and that the assault appears random and not premediated. The court heard that Deegan had brought 1,500 to court as a gesture of remorse. Gda Monahan said Courtney does not wish to accept the money and suggested it should be donated to the Mater Hospital or a charity of the courts choice. Clarke said this is an utterly bizarre offence, which does not really have an explanation. Referring to the statement from the cyclist, Clarke said the catalyst appeared to be a bang of some description on the window and that Deegan took umbrage. Counsel said this was not an excuse for what happened and asked the court to take into account his clients guilty plea, co-operation and youth at the time. Two letters of apology, including one written to Courtney, and letters of reference from family members were handed to the court. Clarke said these letters speak of a man who is supportive and helpful to others. He said his client was supportive of his two sisters, who are gay. He noted that his client is adamant that he did not know who the injured party was. Deegan has a consistent work history since leaving school, and his current employer is aware and willing to keep him on, counsel said, adding that his client had faced social odium due to media reporting of the case. Clarke asked the court to order a probation report to assess his clients risk of re-offending and said his client is willing to engage in an anger management course. He said his client earns 734 a week after tax and gives approximately 50 a week to his parents. He said bank statements could be provided to the court outlining how the 1,500 gesture of remorse was accumulated. Judge Martina Baxter said the court had concerns as Deegan behaved in such a reprehensible fashion on the night and has not come to other negative attention before or since. Directing a probation report, Judge Baxter adjourned the case to July 22nd next for finalisation and remanded Deegan on continuing bail. She also directed that the 1,500 gesture of remorse should be given to gardai for transmission to the Mater Hospital. As part of a pilot project BreakingNews.ie has used AI to suggest headline options for this article. The final headline was chosen and edited by BreakingNews.ie journalists. Find out more By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association in Paris, France There should be no lag in energy companies reducing rates if oil prices stabilise, the Tanaiste has said. Simon Harris said he was hopeful a decision by the International Energy Agency to release oil reserves would have a positive impact on prices for consumers and businesses. The 32-member countries of the agency agreed today to make 400 million barrels of oil from their emergency reserves available to the market to address disruptions stemming from the war in the Middle East. The Finance Minister said the action makes sense as it would increase supply and give certainty in the market in the coming weeks, reducing volatility. This week, EU energy commissioner Dan Jorgensen said it was unacceptable that Europeans are struggling to pay utility bills on time as he recommended that governments should lower taxes and levies on energy. Asked if the Irish Government was reluctant to follow that advice due to the benefit to the Exchequer, Harris said: No, I think the context of what the energy commissioner was saying was that while theres things that can be done at a European level, theres also things that are available in the toolkit of a member state. Harris said he remained deeply concerned that prices at fuel pumps had not fallen with reductions in oil prices. Speaking to reporters in Paris, he said the Government was not ruling out action but said any steps taken had to be appropriate. He also said that home heating oil fills happening before the summer months would not be affected by the carbon tax increases on May 1st. Were genuinely working on this, were monitoring this, and were working with European colleagues but the most helpful thing we can do right now is try and ensure positive news around supply, he said. Asked about the cost of home heating oil increasing at a far higher rate in Ireland than the rest of Europe, the Tanaiste said the fact that the country uses kerosene was a factor in the disparity. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said a decision to reduce the share of nuclear energy in the EUs electricity production mix was a strategic mistake (Leon Neal/PA) However, he said the speed at which companies hiked up their prices following the outbreak of war was instantaneous and concerning. He said that, if oil prices stabilise, energy companies should not have any lag in reducing their rates. The Finance Minister said: The speed at which prices rose was a lot quicker than the economic advice available to me suggested it should have. And all Im saying is, if you were able to hike up the prices that quickly, if we get to a situation its a very big if, because theres huge volatility at the moment but if we get to a situation where theres some stabilisation in oil prices, I hope those who hiked things quickly would be as quick to reduce things. Harris said he hoped a Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) probe into price increases in home heating oil and fuel would be urgent and thorough, adding it was his belief that it would take a matter of weeks. He said it really needs to be scrutinised how different filling stations saw big disparities in price increases since the war. He said the CCPC had powers to fine companies millions of euro and secure convictions in the courts. French President Emmanuel Macron was holding a summit on nuclear energy (Tom Nicholson/PA) While Harris visit to Paris was ongoing, French President Emmanuel Macron held a Nuclear Energy Summit in the city on Tuesday. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen told the conference that the decision to reduce the share of nuclear energy in the EUs electricity production mix was a strategic mistake. Asked for his view on the comments, Harris said the two leaders were right to be highlighting energy security as the EU was too reliant on fossil fuels from outside of the bloc. However, he said Ireland had no plans to change its energy framework and added that renewables was an area where progress needed to be made. Ireland is on track to miss its renewable energy targets up to 2030, at a potential cost of billions of euro in penalties. He said: From an Irish perspective, we have to be restless now about being able to deliver energy infrastructure in a more speedy manner. A STUDENT from Tyndall College, Carlow is a Solicitor of the Future after successfully completing the Law Society of Irelands innovative legal education programme. James Lopes Farrell of Tyndall College was one of 40 transition year students who attended the popular week-long Solicitors of the Future programme at the Law Societys Blackhall Place headquarters in Dublin in February. Delivered by leading legal experts, the immersive, activity based programme featured practitioner led workshops, guest speakers, courtroom exercises and a dedicated careers seminar. In total, students from ten counties participated. Places on this years programme were allocated by lottery, with 20% reserved for students attending socio economically disadvantaged schools. It is designed for anyone interested in exploring a career in law. SIXTH-class pupils at St Fiaccs National School, Graiguecullen scooped the award for best script at the 20th annual Fis Film Awards in Dublin recently. The Fis Film Awards is a short film competition for primary schools across the island of Ireland which encourages children to engage in all aspects of filmmaking, from scriptwriting and directing, to acting and editing. The film, which was called Theres no such thing as a free lunch and took almost five months to produce, follows the plight of one pupil as he and his peers investigate who the culprit is when items begin disappearing from his lunchbox. One of the pupils who worked on the film, Althea Byrne, said the class got the inspiration for the plot from a podcast episode about a lunch-stealing teacher. We got the idea for our movie from a podcast episode where a teacher kept stealing things from their pupils lunchboxes, Althea explains. We put our heads together and our teacher did a number of lessons on narrative, structure, dialogue, camera and sound. We created a narrative arc for our movie and my friend Elena and I helped Mr Keogh with the dialogue. Then, it was time for lights, camera and action, she added. Altheas dream is to have a career in acting and she said being involved in the production of the movie helped her learn more about what is required if she wants to make that dream a reality. I would love to have a career in acting and I think this movie really helped me learn more about what I need to do to make this dream a reality. Im already in the Spotlight Stage School, a space where I can act and dance for a few hours a week. Ive also filmed some ads for TV and Ive danced on the Late Late Toy Show. When I finish secondary school, I would love to continue my interests in acting and film. Althea thanked St Fiaccs for giving her class the opportunity to participate in the film festival and added that there is a filmmaking camp being held over the summer and the school hopes to enter two films in next years awards. You can check out the film on the St Fiaccs National School YouTube channel. There is also a behind-the-scenes video detailing how the film was made. In Guys and Dolls, the lead couple flies to Havana to cavort in a rich, corrupt paradise run by Batista whose regime was so cruel even President Eisenhower welcomed its overthrow. But soon, in accordance with our anti-communist containment policy, Castros reversal of fortunes to favor the majority of Cubans prompted our embargo of Cubas economy. Nearly every year since, the UN General Assembly has voted to condemn this as unprovoked warfare. Checks sent to Cuba for lease of Guantanamo have been (poor as weve forced it to be) uncashed. Cuba became the first in the Latin hemisphere to achieve universal literacy and has graduated more medical doctors per capita than any other country. They serve all over the world. There is no more noble, knowledgeable and needed profession. Even in our sadly commercialized, predatory system, if we are fortunate enough to have a physician, we trust that person up to our death. But Trump will take Cuba as he has Venezuela, like a parasite using a cell. His T-Rex brain longs for decomposed ancestors to power a warrior nation that inflicts suffering, death and impoverishment. We are losing all we have represented to the world since 1776. Lucy Taylor * * * Having grown up during the Castro era, I thought a response to Ms. Taylor might be in order. Many today dont know about 1960s Cuba. Ernesto Che Guevara de la Serna, an Argentine communist, was part of the Cuban revolution and later the government. He was named minister of industries, but between 1959 and 1963 he oversaw the deaths of over 500 political opponents during his time in charge of La Cabana prison. In 1967, while exporting revolution around Latin America, he was caught and executed by the Bolivian army. For years after, his face was worn on t-shirts proudly by leftist radicals. Readers might see why Ms. Taylor omitted any reference to Che or the public firing squads which were frequent in the Castro years. She also left out any references to the thousands who fled Castros regime: the Golden Exile 1959-62, Freedom Flights 1965-73 and the Mariel Boatlifts 1980. They most likely were not fleeing because they opposed the universal literacy Ms. Taylor touted. When I was young I listened to short wave broadcasts nightly from around the world, including Castro propaganda in English from Havana, Cuba. Ms. Taylors post, with the exception of the reference to Trump, sounded very much like the propaganda the Castro regime beamed from Radio Havana. Ralph Miller * * * Democrats are like broken records, they screech, make horrible noise and, well, and are just plain broken. Girl, go to Cuba before you open your mouth. In Havana you will see a city of 2.2 million people, 10 times the population of Chattanooga with 85 percent fewer cars and motorcycles than Chattanooga, One-third of these were built before 1959 - the year Castro replaced Batista. The people who do move, do it by bicycle, horse cart, horse or walk. This is not by choice. In the countryside traffic is almost universal by horses. Oxen, and buffalo plow the few fields. Most are left fallow. My pictures document this. Government takes the money, produce and livestock, so why work? It has nothing to do with an embargo. Over 165 countries and some U.S. companies still trade with Cuba. Venezuela traded oil for military advisors and doctors for years. Thats over. The military advisors were not so good either, not sure about the doctors. A retiree pension is 6,000 pesos a month. Typical income is 16,000 pesos a month. !00 U.S. cash dollars will get you 50,000 pesos. The exchange rate gets worse by the day. Bring your own beans and rice. The roads are worse than Chattanooga. Outside downtown Havana even when walking you have to avoid the large potholes. Sometimes only half the road is paved. There are a lot of rail tracks, but extremely few used. If you go to a hospital and have an operation, one of three will have little or no anesthesia, antibiotics, pain relievers, or anesthetics. Bring your electricity as well. I dont see anyone going to Cuba for an operation, do you? The people in Cuba live for the regime. They are poor, downtrodden, and hungry. Few jobs and the pay is less. If education matters, and is so good, then why are there no jobs? It is not education. It is the teaching of Marxist dogma. Like in American we promote our children including the girl writing, to be Democrats with platitudes, slogans, opinions, and insults for anyone who opposes them. Insulting Trump is noise. For Democrats, it seems the solution for all problems. Go there and learn something. Come home and love America. Miller & Martin PLLC announces the addition of two attorneys, Kane Shepherd and Will Sikes, to its Chattanooga office.Mr. Shepherd serves as of counsel within Miller & Martins commercial group, concentrating his legal practice on real estate transactions. He collaborates with sellers and real estate developers throughout all phases of residential and commercial projects, providing guidance in planning, negotiating and documenting transactions - including startup initiatives, complex arrangements, title examination, restructurings, financing, purchase and sale agreements, and office and industrial leases.Additionally, Mr. Shepherd has experience handling commercial loan transactions for regional and local banking institutions and representing borrowers in such matters. Mr. Shepherd is licensed to practice in Tennessee.Mr. Sikes practices within the firms Commercial department, focusing on commercial finance and real estate. While in law school, he was a judicial extern at the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, serving under the Honorable Nicholas W. Whittenburg. Mr. Sikes is a graduate of Lee University and the University of Tennessee College of Law. Mr. Sikes is licensed to practice in Tennessee.In addition to hiring new attorneys, Miller & Martin promoted two commercial real estate attorneys, Kyle Fuller and Evan Sharber, to member."These partner-level promotions further expand the capabilities of the commercial real estate group," officials said.Mr. Fuller is a commercial real estate attorney in the Nashville office and concentrates his practice on all aspects of commercial real estate transactions, including high-volume commercial leasing matters ranging from industrial, office and retail, as well as acquisitions and dispositions within the same industries. In addition to representing commercial real estate owners and developers, Mr. Fuller has represented hospitals, health systems and healthcare investors providing counsel on healthcare real estate in the context of the regulatory overlay that governs healthcare real estate transactions, namely the federal Anti-kickback Statute and the Stark Law. He has also represented one of the worlds largest wireless telecommunications companies on matters involving real estate and land use issues.Mr. Sharber is a commercial real estate attorney in the Chattanooga office who advises clients on their real estate acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, development and financing transactions. He guides clients through all phases of the transaction process, from contract negotiation through due diligence and title examination to closing and post-closing matters. Mr. Sharber regularly assists clients with title and survey matters, including easements and restrictive covenants. He works on loan documents and legal opinions and represents landlords and tenants in documenting commercial lease agreements. He has experience with various property types, including retail, industrial, office, mixed-use developments, multifamily, senior housing and mobile home parks. Prior to starting his legal career, Mr. Sharber worked as a legislative aide to U.S. Senator Bob Corker. He now serves on the board of Compassion Community Care Center and is a member of Leadership Chattanoogas current class of 2026."We are excited to welcome Kane Shepherd and Will Sikes to our Chattanooga office and to recognize the hard work and expertise of Kyle Fuller and Evan Sharber," said Scott Parrish, chairman of Miller & Martin. "These additions and promotions reflect our ongoing commitment to providing exceptional service and depth in commercial real estate for our clients throughout the region." Wellpoint Tennessee and the YMCA recently hosted a Healthy Habits Health Fair at the Hamilton Family YMCA, bringing together Chattanooga families for an evening focused on nutrition and whole-person health.Held in partnership with the J.A. Henry YMCA, the event offered hands-on wellness experiences and practical tools to help attendees build healthier lifestyles. Free food was provided to the first 120 participants. Community members enjoyed live healthy cooking demonstrations, a heart-healthy food truck, self-care activities and tours of YMCA wellness classes and programs.Officials said, "According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 9.2 percent of Tennessee adults report eating enough vegetables to meet federal recommendations.This highlights ongoing challenges in improving nutrition across the state. Events like the Healthy Habits Health Fair help address this gap by connecting families with practical nutrition education and accessible wellness resources that support long-term health."Access to healthy food and practical nutrition education plays a critical role in preventing chronic disease and strengthening families, said Rachel Chinetti, president of Wellpoint Tennessee. By partnering with the YMCA, we are creating opportunities for people to learn new skills, connect with local resources and take meaningful steps toward better health. When families have the knowledge and support they need to make healthier choices, it creates lasting benefits not only for individuals, but for the entire community.During the event, J.A. Henry YMCA representatives highlighted upcoming cooking classes and their ongoing partnership with Wellpoint Tennessee, aimed at expanding access to nutrition education and equipping participants with practical skills they can use at home.This partnership reflects our commitment to strengthening the health of the entire community, said Paula Irwin, executive director of the J.A. Henry YMCA. By working alongside Wellpoint Tennessee, we are able to provide meaningful opportunities for families to learn about nutrition and take achievable steps toward healthier living.Officials said, "The Healthy Habits Health Fair builds on Wellpoints ongoing partnership with Chattanooga-area YMCA locations, which includes sponsorship of cooking classes, fresh produce initiatives and self-care programming aimed at supporting whole health. Together, the organizations are helping address social drivers of health by combining education with increased access to nutritious resources."Wellpoint Tennessee continues to invest in community-based initiatives across West, Middle, and East Tennessee to expand access to care, provide practical health education resources and strengthen the communities it serves." The Morning Pointe Foundation, established by Morning Pointe Senior Living co-founders Greg A. Vital and J. Franklin Farrow, has received the 2026 SOAR Philanthropy Award from the College System of Tennessee, recognizing the organization and its founders for their "lasting contributions to students, communities and workforce development across the state."The SOAR Philanthropy Award honors organizations whose generosity and leadership help strengthen Tennessees colleges while preparing students for meaningful careers.Officials said, "The Morning Pointe Foundation was established in 2014 as the philanthropic arm of Morning Pointe Senior Living.Built on the belief that strong communities begin with compassionate and well-trained caregivers, the Foundation works to support students pursuing careers that serve others including nursing, therapy, social work and culinary scholarships while helping to address the growing needs of an aging population."Altogether, Morning Pointe Senior Living and the Morning Pointe Foundation have invested more than $2.1 million in support of Tennessees community colleges and Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology, helping expand educational opportunities and strengthen the states workforce."Through 2025, the Morning Pointe Foundation has provided scholarships to 15 colleges within the College System of Tennessee. Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded more than 140 scholarships to community and technical college students, representing a $200,000 investment in their education and future careers."Morning Pointes commitment to education and workforce development extends well beyond scholarships. Mr. Vital and Mr. Farrow provided the lead gift to establish the Tom Edd Wilson 'First in the Family' Scholarship at Chattanooga State Community College, which is now endowed at more than $345,000 to support first-generation college students."They have also served as presenting sponsors and co-hosts of Chattanooga States signature fundraising event, Dinner of Firsts, which has raised $1 million for first-generation scholarships."Support for students is also evident at Cleveland State Community College. Since 2017, Mr. Vital has donated more than $572,000 to the college, creating new opportunities for students and faculty. His support helped establish Cleveland States first named program, the Greg A. Vital Center for Natural Resources and Conservation, a state-of-the-art facility that provides hands-on training for students studying forestry, wildlife and fisheries."This recognition is incredibly meaningful to all of us, said Mr. Vital. Education opens doors for people who want to serve others and make a difference in their communities. Through the Morning Pointe Foundation, we have been honored to support students as they pursue their education and step into careers where they can truly impact the lives of others.Officials said, "The Morning Pointe Foundation also provides free caregiver education events and support programs for families, helping people better understand aging, memory loss and the challenges of caregiving."Under the leadership of Miranda Perez, executive director of the Morning Pointe Foundation, the organization has continued expanding its partnerships with schools across the Southeast."This award reflects the incredible collaboration between our school partners, the College System of Tennessee, and the students who are working so hard to pursue their education, said Ms. Perez. For the past four years, I have had the privilege of seeing firsthand how these scholarships help students stay in school, gain experience and move forward into careers where they can truly make a difference. We are grateful to be part of that journey. State Rep. Greg Vital has introduced a number of legislative bills in the 114th General Assembly focused on supporting veterans and military families, protecting Tennessees natural resources, strengthening public safety and promoting responsible community development.My goal this session is to use practical problem solving to improve the daily lives of Tennesseans. Simply put, this means standing with our veterans and service members, protecting our natural environment for future generations and ensuring families are treated fairly and safely by the systems they depend on, said Rep.Vital.Officials statement about the proposals:Supporting veterans - Supporting veterans and military families must remain a top priority. House Bill 1801 provides a sales tax exemption on motor vehicle purchases for active-duty service members who maintain Tennessee residency but are stationed outside the state on military orders, ensuring they receive the same tax treatment as those based within Tennessee.Prioritizing public safety - Public safety and consumer protections remain another priority. House Bill 1061 protects patients from "no surprise billing" by limiting unexpected out of network ambulance charges and ensuring insurance cost sharing is applied fairly. Emergency ambulance services are required by law to respond to 911 calls regardless of a patient's insurance coverage or inability to pay. With patients unable to choose their ambulance provider in the event of an emergency, and providers unable to select which insurance network to join for emergency calls, patients are left to pay the significant difference in cost between the total charge and the amount covered by the patient's insurance plan.In another effort to ensure public safety, Rep. Vital has sponsored House Bill 1168, which directs the Tennessee Advisory Commission (TAICR), to conduct an evaluation of autonomous vehicle technology in Tennessee. The study will assess autonomic vehicles in both private and commercial capacities, including interstate commerce, passenger support, and food delivery. The legislation requires assistance from all relevant state agencies and would provide the General Assembly with data-driven recommendation for future regulations pertaining to autonomous cars, trucks and pod vehicles.Environmental conservation - Rep. Vital also advanced legislation supporting Tennessees parks and conservation efforts. House Bill 1520 supports planned playground projects at Booker T. Washington State Park and Harrison Bay State Park to be completed using existing resources, which will improve accessibility and recreation opportunities for families. House Bill 1738 , which permanently designates the month of April as Tennessee Natural Plant Month, passed both the House and Senate in a unanimous vote. The bill recognizes Tennessees native plants and natural heritage, promoting conservation awareness across the state. House Bill 1738, which was signed into law by Gov. Bill Lee, will make this April the states first official acknowledgement of what will be an annual recognition.Improving community accountability - Additional legislation sponsored by Rep. Vital aim to strengthen emergency response and community accountability. House Bill 2521 updates background check requirements for firefighters. House Bill 2074 improves employment record and evaluation standards for law enforcement officers by requiring a public safety employer to grant an employee or prospective employee reasonable access to their full employment record, including the results of a mental health evaluation or screening.The 114th General Assembly is expected to adjourn in late spring. Former Lookout Mountain Judicial District DA Clay Fuller will be opposing Shawn Harris, who had a 40-year military career and is a Rockmont cattle farmer, in the Georgia U.S. House District 14 runoff election to replace outspoken Marjorie Taylor Greene. Mr. Fuller, a Republican, was far ahead of other area candidates, including former state Senator Colton Moore of Dade County and former Dalton City Councilman Nicky Lama. Former Summerville Mayor Lanny Thomas, a Republican, will be facing Jack Zibluk, the only Democratic candidate, to replace Colton Moore in Senate District 1. The runoff election will be April 7. U.S. House District 14 Among Republican candidates: Clay Fuller 34.87% Votes 40,388 Colton Moore 11.63% Votes 13,472 Brian Stover 4.68% Votes 5,418 Tom Gray 3.52% Votes 4,078 Nicky Lama 1.18% Votes 1,364 Among Democratic Candidates Shawn Harris 37.33% Votes 43,241 State Senate District 53 Among Republican Candidates Lanny Thomas 38.70% Votes 11,794 Denise Pierce Burns 20.90% Votes 6,370 Blake Elsberry 13.40% Votes 4,085 Democratic Candidate Jack Zibluk 26.99% Votes 8,226 Mr. Zibluk said, "While the vote tallies are not yet final, its clear that I will be in a runoff with Lanny Thomas for the 53rd District seat in the Georgia state Senate. "We have certainly overperformed. Our campaign was outspent by an estimated 10-1. Its hard to tell because Lannys campaign had a lot of outside PAC money that was spent on professional canvassers, television commercials and other publicity efforts. "We had none of that. We had an energized base that was tired of the same-old same- old. Our donors were local, along with a lot of my old high school and college friends. But our message resonated. "Our campaign is about public service. I am a third generation public servant. My grandfather was a police officer and my widowed grandmother was a police dispatcher. My parents were municipal workers and I have been a public university teacher for 35 years. "Too often, our critics look at Democrats as cartoon straw men in order to knock them down. Me and my family are the people who teach your kids and approve your drivers licenses. And thats the legacy I bring forward to the next step in the race for state Senate." For the open U.S. House seat, Republican candidates were Star Black, Regan Box, Beau Brown, James Marty Brown, Jared Craig, Eric Cunningham, Clay Fuller, Tom Gray, Larry E. Hilley, Trey Kelly, Nicky Lama, Colton Moore, Brian Stover, Meg Strickland, James Tulley and Jenna Turnipseed. The Democratic candidates were Shawn Harris, Jim Davis and Jonathan Hobbs. Andrew Underwood is running as a Libertarian. Rob Rush Ruszkowski is on the ballot as an independent candidate. President Donald Trump has endorsed Mr. Fuller, of Lookout Mountain, Ga., a former district attorney for the Lookout Mountain Judicial District. Ms. Greene stepped down after a falling out with President Trump, who was once her ally. Shawn Harris, who ran against Ms. Greene previously, has raised $4,297,587.91. Businessman Stover has taken in $940,141.60, while Mr. Fuller reported $786,797.09 received. Nicky Lama raised $370,341.00, and Colton Moore collected $342,298.35. Mr. Lama issued a statement saying that nine of the 17 candidates failed to qualify for the regular primary election in May. Voting for any of these candidates is a waste of time, he said. Even if they won the special election, they could only serve until January of next year. He added, A vote for any of the dropouts is a waste of the gas you burned driving to the polls. A vote for me is a vote to send a pro-Trump, conservative businessman to represent common sense in Washington. He said the candidates who failed to qualify for the primary election in May are Jim Davis, Jonathan Hobbs, Christian Hurd, Trey Kelly, Rob Ruszkowski, Jenna Turnipseed, Andrew Underwood, Larry Hilley and Meghan Strickland The district includes Floyd, Polk, Chattooga, Catoosa, Dade, Murray, Paulding, Walker and Whitfield counties as well as part of western Cobb County. The City of Chattanooga and Stantec announce that Lynnbrook Park has received a National Recognition Award in the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) 2026 Engineering Excellence Awards.'This national honor follows a visit from the National Park Citys Peer Review Committee, marking a banner year for the parks recognition as a model of urban ecological restoration and community-centered design," official said. "The ACEC Engineering Excellence Awards, often referred to as the 'Academy Awards of the engineering industry,' recognize projects that demonstrate the highest degree of innovation, complexity and value to society.Earning a National Recognition Award places the Lynnbrook Park Stream Restoration among the top engineering achievements in the country for 2026."Lynnbrook Park is more than just a green space; its a vital piece of infrastructure that solves complex flooding issues while providing a beautiful sanctuary for the Oak Grove community and re-establishes an ecological balance and naturalizing of the stream. said Maria Price, assistant city engineer and storm water director at the City of Chattanooga. "Having this work recognized at both the state and national levels, and hosting the National Park Citys Peer Review Committee, underscores our commitment to being a world-class city in a park."Officials said, "The project, led by the global design and engineering firm Stantec, transformed a 1.4-acre flood-prone vacant lot into a vibrant community asset. Key features of the restoration include: Natural Stream Restoration: Re-establishing the natural flow of an urban stream to mitigate neighborhood flooding. Green Infrastructure: Utilizing nature-based solutions to treat stormwater and improve water quality. Community Connectivity: Providing residents with a new pedestrian bridge, play equipment, walking paths, and a pavilion."The visit from the National Park City Peer Review Committee highlights Chattanoogas status as North Americas first National Park City. The committees review focused on how spaces like Lynnbrook Park integrate nature into the daily lives of urban residents, promoting health, equity and environmental stewardship." Senator Bill Hagerty officially became the only Republican qualified for the primary ballot as he seeks his second term in the United States Senate. Senator Hagerty submitted petitions with signatures from all 95 Tennessee counties and carries the endorsement of President Trump, his campaign said. Senator Hagerty said, I am deeply humbled by the outpouring of support as I seek my second term as your United States Senator. In just one term, I experienced the stark contrast between serving during an America Last administration to now standing with President Trump during his first year back in office as we work to Make America Great Again. "Together, we are rebuilding our economy, securing the southern border, and bringing common sense back to Washington. Im honored to have the support of Tennesseans in all 95 counties and the endorsement of President Trump as I continue fighting for the greatest state in the nation. Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) is hosting Open Houses at all six campuses to provide an opportunity to learn more about the programs offered at GNTC, tour the facilities and meet faculty and staff. The events will take place on Fridays. Locations and dates include: Catoosa County Campus, Building A, Room 103, March 13, from 10 a.m. to noon Floyd County Campus, Building A, Room A141, March 27, from 10 a.m. to noon or 2-4 p.m. Gordon County Campus, Conference Center, Building 400, Room 4122, March 20, from 10 a.m. to noon Polk County Campus, Building A, Room A123, March 27, from 10 a.m. to noon Walker County Campus, Building 600, Rooms 6101 and 6102, March 13, from 10 a.m. to noon or 2-4 p.m. Whitfield Murray Campus, Building B, Rooms 231 and 233, March 20, from 10 a.m. to noon or 2-4 p.m. Legare Price, associate vice president of Student Success at GNTC, shared his excitement about the upcoming Open Houses. Open House is a great chance for potential students and families to explore one of our six campuses and see what GNTC has to offer, Price said. Each two-hour event will include registration, a panel discussion, campus tours with program highlights, a presentation highlighting GNTCs unique benefits and a step-by-step overview of the enrollment processfrom application through advising. Attendees will receive special giveaways and a code to waive the $25 application fee. GNTCs campus locations include: Catoosa County Campus, 120 College Park Drive, Ringgold; Floyd County Campus, One Maurice Culberson Drive, Rome; Gordon County Campus, 1151 Highway 53 Spur, Calhoun; Polk County Campus, 466 Brock Road, Rockmart; Walker County Campus, 265 Bicentennial Trail, Rock Spring; and Whitfield Murray Campus, 2310 Maddox Chapel Road, Dalton. For more information, contact GNTCs Office of Admissions at admissions@gntc.edu or 866-983-4682. A family planning to move into their newly-built home saw their dream go up in smoke after fire destroyed the large three-story house Tuesday morning on The Pointe Drive in Catoosa County. Catoosa County E-911 received calls for help at 7:09 a.m. and dispatched Catoosa County Fire Department crews from stations 3,7,9, and 10. Upon arrival firefighters reported heavy fire and smoke conditions from the large structure. Additional help from volunteer firefighters, command staff, the Georgia Department of Corrections firefighters, and Puckett EMS worked for several hours to extinguish the fire. No injuries were reported. According to Catoosa County Fire Chief Daniel Walston, construction on the house was scheduled to be completed in the next few weeks but is now a total loss. Chief Walston said a house previously on the lot of Tuesday mornings fire was destroyed by fire in 2015, possibly the result of a lightning strike. The cause of Tuesday's fire is under investigation. Collegedale city commissioners selected Judge Curtis L. Bowe III to serve as the citys judge, bringing more than 30 years of legal and judicial experience to the position. He fills the seat vacated after the passing of Judge Kevin Wilson in January 2026. I am excited to have Judge Curtis Bowe take the bench at Collegedale City Court, said Collegedale Mayor Morty Lloyd. He is amply qualified to assume the role and will do an excellent job." Judge Bowe earned his Juris Doctor from Vanderbilt University School of Law in 1994 and holds a bachelors degree in sociology from Duke University, where he was a Benjamin N. Duke Leadership Scholar. He began his legal career in Chattanooga as a litigation associate with Chambliss Bahner, representing clients in both state and federal courts. During his career, he has handled complex litigation matters through nationally recognized law firms including Squire, Sanders & Dempsey and Kilpatrick & Stockton, LLP. Judge Bowe later founded Bowe & Associates, PLLC, where he serves as managing member. His legal practice has included commercial litigation, employment law, healthcare compliance, maritime law, civil rights, and regulatory matters across multiple industries. He has served as an adjunct professor in the Criminal Justice program at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Judge Bowe is also a member of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association, the American Association for Justice/A.T.L.A., and approved counsel for the Fraternal Order of Police and The Policemans Benevolent Association. He previously served as a magistrate (referee) judge for Hamilton County Juvenile Court, presiding over cases involving delinquency, dependency and neglect, and child abuse. In that role, he also supervised court personnel, including clerks, intake specialists, and probation officers. "Collegedale is a special place to live, work, and raise a family, said Judge Bowe. Our community is defined by its strong neighborhoods, beautiful outdoor spaces, and the spirit of neighbors helping neighbors. Judge Bowe expressed that he is proud to be part of the Collegedale community and looks forward to working closely with the citys residents, Commissioners, City Hall administrators and staff, Collegedale Police Officers, and Public Works employees. Together, we will ensure that every citizen is treated with fairness, respect, empathy, and consistency as we uphold the law and serve the people of Collegedale," stated Judge Bowe. The Hearing Loss Associations Chattanooga HLAA chapter will meet at 2 p.m. on Sunday, at First Christian Church, 650 McCallie Ave. Guest speakers from Signal Centers Assistive Technology Center include Heather Hansen, assistant director, and Cay Bordenave, assistive technology specialist. The program topic will cover "Assistive Technology: Getting By With A Little Help From Technology." HLAA provides information, education, support and advocacy to people with hearing loss. All are welcome. Captioning and refreshments will be provided. Contact Betty Proctor at baproctor@epbfi.com for more information. Associated General Contractors of East Tennessee (AGC) brought together leaders from across the regions commercial construction industry on Friday, March 6, for its Annual Meeting and Awards Celebration at The Westin. The event highlighted the accomplishments of the past year, honored outstanding members, and set the stage for the organizations continued leadership in strengthening the construction industry throughout East Tennessee. During the program, outgoing Chairman of the Board Jerod Gilley officially passed the gavel to Arch Willingham, who will serve as AGC East Tennessees 2026-2028 Chairman of the Board. Willingham welcomed newly appointed committee chairs and recognized the addition of Jason Geraci to the Executive Board as Secretary/Treasurer. The program also featured remarks from Jeff Shoaf, CEO of AGC of America. As our industry continues to grow and evolve, AGC East Tennessee plays a critical role in bringing contractors together to advocate for our workforce, advance safety, and strengthen the future of construction in our region, said Arch Willingham, 2026 Chairman of the Board. Im honored to serve alongside such dedicated members and look forward to building on the strong foundation laid by those who have led before us. Reflecting on the past year, Jerod Gilley highlighted the collaboration and momentum within the organization. Serving as chairman has been an incredible privilege, said Jerod Gilley. The strength of AGC East Tennessee lies in its members, companies and leaders who are committed not only to building great projects, but also to investing in the people and partnerships that make our industry thrive. AGC East Tennessee honored individuals and companies that have demonstrated leadership, innovation, and commitment to the commercial construction industry and community. The award winners included: Project of the Year Awards Over $10 Million Grace Construction, The Waymark Hotel $2-$5 Million Tyson & Associates Construction, Coahulla Creek High School Industry Excellence Awards Middle Valley Church of God, located at 1703 Thrasher Pike in Hixson, announces that Pastor Mitch McClure will be preaching on Sunday, March 15, in the 10:30 a.m.service. His topic will be 'Who Do You See In The Mirror?' The purpose of the sermon series is to help all Believers understand their relationship with God and how He helps them be the person He wants them to be in life and eternity. It includes a call for self-examination. This will be the fifth part of the sermon series to encourage Believers to realize their need to know their relationship with God and to be determined to draw closer to God. All are welcome to participate. Each Sunday at 5:30 p.m. , the church conducts a Prayer Meeting. The Prayer Meeting is open to all who wish to participate and is designed to encourage prayer. Information on various methods of prayer will be shared with participants. The goal of this prayer meeting is to encourage Believers to seek God through prayer. All are welcome to participate. Each Wednesday at 7 p.m., an Interactive, Interesting, and Informative Bible Study will be held in the church auditorium. Kelley Selby is currently leading this Bible study. All are welcome to participate. The goal of this Bible study is to encourage Believers to study the Bible and discuss with others, making the Scripture their guide. Middle Valley Church of God is a community focused church with various ministries in the Middle Valley area and in Cusuna, Honduras. The community is welcome to join in times of worship and community service. MVCOG has been ministering in the Middle Valley Community since 1946 from the same location. If you have questions, please contact the church office at 423.843.1539. All are welcome. The annual C. S. Lewis Lecture at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga will be held on Wednesday, March 25 on the University campus. The event will begin at 7 p.m., and will be held in Derthick Hall, Room 101.The lecturer will be Dr. William Tate. Dr. Tate is the dean of Arts & Letters and a professor of English at Covenant College. He holds a Ph.D. in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, along with MAs from Bob Jones University and Duke University.The title of the lecture will be "A Kind of Truth: C.S. Lewis's Lived Ontology."The C. S. Lewis Lectureship was established in Chattanooga in 1983 by Charles Hummel of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship to perpetuate the Christian and literary legacy of Clive Staples Lewis. The annual lecture is normally given during the month of March on the UTC campus.The public is invited.For more information on the lectureship, including recordings of past lectures, visit lewisutclecture.com. Around 90,000 people attend the two-night Esperanza Lima evangelistic event at the National Stadium of Peru in Lima, March 78, 2026. | Photo credit: Facebook/ Franklin Graham Evangelist Franklin Graham proclaimed the Gospel to more than 89,500 people during the two-night Esperanza Lima evangelistic gathering in Peru over the weekend. Graham, the son of renowned evangelist Billy Graham, highlighted key moments from the outreach through several posts on social media following the event. Reflecting on the first evening of the festival, Graham wrote in a message shared on X: It was such a privilege to preach the Gospel in Lima tonight at the National Stadium of Peru, he wrote in an X post on Saturday. It was packed with 41,000 people and more waiting outside! I told the crowd that I had come to Lima for a reason and that reason is to share the Truth! Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father, except through Me (John 14:6). He added that many attendees responded to the message by placing their faith in Christ. We give God all the glory for the thousands who made the most important decision of their lives tonight to turn from their sins and put their trust in Jesus Christ! he exclaimed. Additional details about the event were later released in a statement from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association on Monday, which described the spiritual response to the festival and included excerpts from Grahams message to the crowd. I want you to know tonight that you can have a new life through Jesus Christ, Gods Son, Graham told the audience. The entire world is infected with sin. Without Jesus you have no hope. You cannot save yourself. You cannot forgive yourself. The church cannot save you. Religion cannot save you. Only the blood of Jesus can save you. He is the only way. He came from heaven to this earth to take your sins. He died and shed His blood on the cross for you. Tonight you can put your faith and trust in Him and be saved from your sins and have a new life. Organizers noted that the outreach had initially been planned as a single-night event. However, the festival was expanded to two nights because of the overwhelmingly positive response from thousands of pastors when the festival was announced. Esperanza Lima was held in partnership with approximately 2,300 churches throughout the Lima region. The event also included performances from several Christian musicians, including Charity Gayle, The Afters, Christine DClario and the Jahaziel Band. To make the gathering accessible to more people, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association arranged 600 buses to transport attendees who otherwise might not have been able to travel to the stadium. Graham is scheduled to continue his evangelistic outreach later this year, with upcoming stops including Festival de la Esperanza in Madrid, Spain, on May 3031 and a gathering in Manchester, England, on Oct. 3 as part of his God Loves You tour. An aerial view of the property at 10001 North 92nd St. in Scottsdale, Ariz., recently acquired by Mark Driscolls Trinity Church. | Screenshot: Trinity Church website Pastor Mark Driscolls Trinity Church in Scottsdale, Arizona, has purchased a new property valued at $15.5 million as the congregation continues to grow nearly a decade after the ministry was launched. Driscoll, who started Trinity Church in 2016 following his departure from Seattles Mars Hill Church, said the congregation which now draws roughly 5,000 attendees to each worship service has outgrown its current meeting space. Announcing the development on the churchs website, Driscoll described the purchase as a milestone in the ministrys journey. This is the moment. Since our beginning as a Bible study in 2016, the mission of Trinity Church has remained the same: We open our Bibles to learn. We open our lives to love. So that lives and legacies are transformed, he recently announced on his churchs website. God has richly blessed this mission, and our church family has completely outgrown our home. So we prayed, and God answered. In a video accompanying the announcement, Driscoll outlined how the new facility will significantly increase the churchs capacity and resources. weve purchased a big building right off the Shea [Boulevard] and the [Loop] 101. Five times the parking, four times the square footage, three times the kids' space, two times the seating, all under one roof. Local reporting from the Scottsdale Progress states that Trinity Church finalized the purchase of the property at 10001 North 92nd St. on Jan. 5. The transaction totaled $15.5 million and included a $2,765,000 down payment, while the remaining $12,735,000 was financed through AG Financial Solutions, a mission-focused financial services organization affiliated with the General Council of the Assemblies of God. The building itself is a two-story structure originally constructed in 1997. The property includes approximately 116,200 square feet of space and provides 378 parking spaces. According to LoopNet, the facility previously operated as an office complex and included amenities such as a fitness center and conference space. Driscolls return to pastoral leadership followed his controversial departure from Mars Hill Church in Seattle in 2014, a once-fast-growing megachurch that eventually dissolved after leadership disputes and criticism surrounding Driscolls ministry style. In a tearful 2015 interview with Hillsong Church founder Brian Houston, Driscoll said he had not initially intended to resign from Mars Hill but felt spiritually compelled to step down. He also acknowledged that his leadership had become the subject of criticism, including concerns about his strong leadership style, his views on womens roles in the church and past online remarks that resurfaced. Reflecting on that period in the 2015 interview, Driscoll admitted that he had made mistakes while leading the church he founded at age 25. I've made a lot of mistakes, and one of them was going too fast. There's the Lord's calling and then there's the Lord's timing, he said in the 2015 interview. And I should have waited longer; I should have been under godly spiritual authority for Grace and I to be under a godly couple that was senior pastor, so that we can learn and grow. My character was not caught up with my gifting and I did start too young. After leaving Mars Hill, Driscoll said he and his wife spent a lot of time with older, more experienced spiritual leaders and saw many ways in which he could improve the way he did ministry. I hope whatever the Lord has for me in the future is that I will draw people and not drive people, he said. My empathy level will increase. Photo credit: Unsplash/ Robert Collins A new study suggests that fewer American Christians believe churches and individual believers bear primary responsibility for helping orphans, while a growing share believes government authorities should play a larger role in supporting vulnerable children both domestically and globally. The findings come from research conducted by the Barna Group based on responses from 3,351 self-identified Christian adults surveyed between Sept. 24 and Oct. 8. The study, commissioned by the Faith to Action initiative and the Martin James Foundation, was compared with results from a similar survey of 3,000 Christians carried out between Nov. 11 and Dec. 3, 2020. The study found that about 28% of Christians in the United States report donating to orphanages, childrens homes or residential care organizations, contributing an estimated $4.5 billion annually. Although 72% of respondents recognized poverty as a major factor leading to orphanage placement, only 23% correctly identified poverty as the most common reason, with many attributing placements primarily to abuse, neglect or the death of parents. Likewise, even though 68% acknowledged studies showing negative developmental effects associated with institutional care, many Christians still expressed positive views of orphanages and saw them as a necessary resource. Strong support remains for family-based care solutions. Nine out of 10 respondents agreed that children thrive best when raised in families, and most participants indicated that strengthening families is the most effective long-term solution. Support for government involvement in child welfare also increased. The belief that National governments should take more responsibility to see that children in their own countries are cared for in families rose to 88% in 2025, up from 84% in 2020, and was widely supported across all age groups. Among generational groups, 91% of Generation X Christians expressed agreement that national governments should ensure children are placed in families. Similar views were shared by 88% of millennials, 87% of Baby Boomers and 86% of Generation Z Christians. Views about the role of the U.S. government abroad also shifted upward. In 2025, 74% of respondents strongly or somewhat agreed that The U.S. government should take more responsibility to see that children around the world are cared for in families, compared with 69% in 2020. However, attitudes varied by generation. Younger Christians were more likely to support government responsibility for children overseas, with 84% of Generation Z respondents agreeing, compared with 79% of millennials, 78% of Generation X and 65% of Baby Boomers. At the same time, the study found declining agreement that Christians themselves carry an obligation to care for vulnerable children worldwide. Overall, 78% of respondents said Christians have such a responsibility, a drop from 89% in 2020. Responses varied slightly among generations when participants were asked whether individual Christians have a responsibility to help care for orphans and vulnerable children around the world. Eighty-two percent of Generation X Christians agreed with that statement, along with 81% of millennials, 78% of Generation Z respondents and 72% of Baby Boomers. The survey also showed a similar trend regarding the role of churches. Among all respondents, 74% said Christians and churches in the United States should take more responsibility to ensure children around the world are raised in families down from 80% who held that view in the 2020 study. Home News 3 things to know about alleged ISIS-inspired terror plot in NYC Authorities are investigating the ties two men accused of throwing homemade explosive devices at a crowd of protesters near the New York City mayors mansion over the weekend have with the Islamic State. According to the federal criminal complaint, 18-year-old Emir Balat and 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi attempted to detonate two explosive devices on Saturday near the Gracie Mansion in Manhattan, New York, during a protest and counter-protest in the area. Preliminary results of a test on one of the explosive devices indicate that it contained a quantity of triacetone triperoxide, which the complaint noted is a highly volatile explosive material used in multiple terrorist attacks over the last decade. After the New York Police Department arrested the suspects at the scene, they both reportedly made statements referring to IS (a terror network also known as ISIS, ISIL, or Daesh). Here are three things to know about the alleged terror plot in New York City and the suspects. Home News Advertising giant refuses billboard campaign promoting abortion pill reversal treatment A faith-based medical provider is pushing back against an advertising companys refusal to display a billboard campaign promoting its abortion pill reversal services, a decision that the organization argues is a disservice to women looking to save their pregnancies. Brandi Swindell, the founder and CEO of Stanton Healthcare, a pro-life pregnancy center with multiple licensed medical clinics across the country, expressed disappointment in the Lamar Advertising Company for refusing to display her organizations billboard campaign. We sincerely hope Lamar will immediately reconsider and recognize the reasons given for rejecting our billboard are flawed, inaccurate, and denies women critical medical choices, Swindell said in a statement provided to The Christian Post. At its heart, this issue is about women facing difficult moments who deserve to know that hope and the best medical care are available, the Stanton Healthcare CEO added. Refusing to display these billboards is a disservice not only to Stanton Healthcare but to the women of the Treasure Valley, the entire state of Idaho, and beyond. Women deserve to know that they are not alone and that professional medical care is available to them. The Lamar Advertising Company did not immediately respond to The Christian Posts request for comment. In response to the situation, the non-profit medical organization retained legal assistance from the American Center for Law and Justice, which sent a letter on Wednesday to Desi Gibbons-Throngard, the general manager of Lamar Advertising Company in Boise. The legal group requested a response from the advertising company within 10 business days of receipt of the letter. According to the letter, Lamar issued a contract to Stanton Healthcare for an outdoor advertising campaign consisting of 14 billboard panels across the Boise and Nampa/Caldwell, Idaho markets. The legal groups letter also noted that the contract was fully executed, and the agreement followed multiple meetings between Stantons representative and Lamar Account Executive Chris Wing. During those discussions about the content of the advertisement campaign, Wing reportedly said that a display using generalized language about abortion pill reversal would be acceptable, according to ACLJs letter. On. Feb 11, however, Wing informed the pro-life organization that the advertising companys legal department had determined that it could not post the billboard campaign. As for the reason, one of the companys employees, Hal Kilshaw, stated: We do not post abortion pill reversal as it has not been deemed safe and effective by the FDA. In its letter to Lamar Advertising, ACLJ requested clarification on several points to better understand the companys decision, such as the policies or guidelines for evaluating advertisements for medical treatments or therapies. The legal group also requested that Lamar Advertising identify a source supporting the statement that abortion pill reversal has not been deemed safe and effective by the FDA. In addition, ACLJ argued that there is a difference between a treatment that the FDA has affirmatively determined to be unsafe and a treatment that the FDA has not made a safety or efficacy determination for a particular use. The FDA has issued no regulation, guidance document, warning, or administrative determination that prohibits, restricts, or conditions the advertising of abortion pill reversal services or information. The practice of APR which typically involves the administration of progesterone following incomplete mifepristone ingestion is a lawful medical procedure, the legal group stated in its letter. It appears Lamar personnel has manufactured a regulatory prohibition where none exists, the letter continued. The assertion that the FDAs silence on efficacy translates into a prohibition on advertising is legally unfounded and factually unsupported. The abortion pill reversal treatment typically involves a woman who has taken mifepristone the first drug in the abortion pill regimen taking progesterone, which is a natural pregnancy hormone, to counteract the effects of the drug. While pro-life advocates and pro-life medical groups insist that the abortion pill reversal treatment is effective, arguing that it has saved thousands of lives, groups such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists claim that the evidence is lacking. Rev. Patrick Mahoney, the chief strategy officer for Stanton Public Policy Center, the policy division of Stanton Healthcare, said in a statement provided to CP that the organizations message to Lamar Advertising is simple and direct. Please support women and allow them to receive accurate and science-based medical information regarding abortion pill reversal, Mahoney stated. Tragically, Lamar Advertising is choosing to pursue the course of viewpoint discrimination and abortion politics while taking it upon themselves to censor critical medical information, which should be made available to women regarding abortion pill reversal, the pro-life advocate argued. Lamar is denying women information to help assist them in making informed personal healthcare decisions. Stanton calls for Lamar to immediately allow Stantons billboard campaign to move forward and stop playing politics with the lives of innocent women and children, he continued. Home News Al Mohler, other Christians excoriate David French for pro-Talarico op-ed: 'Deception and surrender' New York Times columnist David French faced a torrent of Christian criticism for a Sunday op-ed praising Democratic Texas state Rep. James Talarico as "one of the few openly Christian politicians in the United States who acts like a Christian." Talarico, a Presbyterian seminarian who has made his Christian faith a key part of his liberal political platform, has drawn intense scrutiny for his public theological positions since his decisive U.S. Senate primary victory last week. Despite what many Christians have characterized as Talarico's blatantly unbiblical views regarding Scripture, abortion, race, gender, sexuality and the nature of God Himself, French presented him as a potential antidote to the "members of the MAGA Christian movement" he rebuked when he endorsed former Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024. French, who drew backlash last summer for affirming the transgender identity of an employee at The Dispatch, noted he disagrees with some of Talarico's positions, but wrote that the candidate "is giving people hope," which he attributed to his decency amid a political climate fiercely divided between right and left. "Yet if the primary American divide is between decent and indecent, then the equation changes. Talarico shines," French wrote. French's op-ed caused a firestorm of negative responses from many Christians on social media, some of whom suggested his praise for Talarico indicates that the former Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) member has drifted into apostasy. "David French has completed his sordid metamorphosis. He is now fully convinced in his own mind, and he is on a crusade to persuade others, that good really is evil and evil really is good," said Colin J. Smothers, who serves as executive director of the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood and senior pastor at First Baptist Church of Maize in Maize, Kansas. Christian broadcaster Erick Erickson suggested French's claim that Talarico is "decent" is superficial and neglects the potential eternal consequences of his positions, which include using the story of the Annunciation to defend abortion, affirming transgenderism for children and claiming "prophetic voices like Jesus" helped him reckon with his own whiteness, which he likened to a virus. "It is not decent to twist Scripture to lead others to hell. It is not decent to claim whiteness itself is like a virus. It is not decent to use Christ's conception as a justification for abortion. It is not decent to reduce women to 'neighbors with uteruses.' Only if you have been radicalized by your critics can you land at this position," Erickson said. "So now you know exactly what David French is he is a Pharisee," said Mark Brown, pastor of Mt. Zion Lutheran (LCMS) in Peoria, Arizona. "He is the one who says to sinners who gather around Jesus that they aren't good enough. He's the one who likes to be known for perfect tassels, flowing robes and long prayers. While making twice as much a son of hell those who follow his teaching." "Advocating for the murder of babies and the castration of children is demonic, regardless of how handsome the speaker is or how dulcet his tone," Talarico's colleague, Republican Texas state Rep. Brent Money, replied to French. Amid the backlash, some users also pointed out the irony of French appearing to fall for praise from a satirical X account named after N.I.C.E. (National Institute for Co-ordinated Experiments), which was the demonic, technocratic organization from C.S. Lewis' novel That Hideous Strength that sought to destroy humanity while masquerading as kind and progressive. "It's clear a lot of the criticism comes from people who aren't really reading closely. Your work is nuanced and thoughtful, and the strong reactions suggest it's hitting a nerve. Your work is closely followed and greatly appreciated," the fake N.I.C.E. account posted to French, who replied, "Thank you :)" French later deleted his comment. David French just got fooled by a satire account named after the evil organization in C.S. Lewiss That Hideous Strength (the NICE) that is literally communicating with demons in the book ???????????? pic.twitter.com/bXSGxfnruQ William Wolfe ???????? (@WilliamWolfe) March 9, 2026 French and Talarico drew particular pushback from Al Mohler, longtime president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, who argued in a Tuesday op-ed for WORLD that the debate erupting over Talarico, a lifelong member of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), is symptomatic of "the battle for the evangelical soul." "Talarico may be David French's ideal of a 'faith forward' politician, but his brand of theology not only includes abortion rights and the LGBTQ revolution, but is part and parcel in with the liberal theology of his own denomination, the PCUSA," wrote Mohler, who publicly warned in 2006 about the spiritual trajectory of Talarico's boyhood PCUSA church when it admitted an avowed atheist into full membership. Mohler also dismissed the idea that liberal Christians such as Talarico are any less desirous of the political power they often accuse so-called "Christian nationalists" of coveting. Talarico has made denunciation of Christian nationalism a major part of his platform, and French appeared in the late Rob Reiner's 2024 documentary about the topic, though Mohler observed "neither French nor Talarico bothered to define Christian nationalism." He warned that such figures are broadening the term to include "the vast majority of evangelical Christians and a good number of conservative Catholics," though he noted Talarico does it "with a smile." Claiming Talarico "knows what he is doing," Mohler described him as "a talented politician who is running as a 'faith-forward' candidate while condemning conservatives for running as 'faith-forward' candidates, and he condemns evangelical Christians for attempting to influence politics while he seeks to establish his own religious liberalism as law." "Talarico wants to divide voters just as much as Donald Trump, but on different grounds and along different lines," he said. "Politics in a fallen world is messy and getting messier. This is no time for triumphalism in Christian political life. On the other hand, it's certainly no time for deception and surrender, which exactly what the 'Talarico moment' would represent," Mohler went on to add. On Tuesday afternoon, French responded to the backlash on X, writing, "There are a lot of evangelicals on this website who seem to strongly believe that no person can disagree with them on cultural issues and also be a decent person. This is the mirror image of the hyper-woke left, which also rejects the idea that decent people can disagree." French went on to say that "the more civil candidate won a plurality on the GOP side and a majority on the Democratic" in the Texas primary, which he hopes "are perhaps a sign of things to come." "People are getting tired of intolerance and cruelty," he added in his three-tweet thread, which also drew plentiful rebuttal from Christians and other conservatives. Home News Here's why Erika Kirk has an advisory board role at US Air Force Academy Erika Kirk, the widow of slain Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, has been appointed by President Donald Trump to an advisory board for the U.S. Air Force (USAF) Academy. Charlie Kirk, founder of TPUSA and TPUSA Faith, was originally appointed to the USAF Academy Board of Visitors by Trump in March 2025, months before he was assassinated on Sept. 10 while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Established under Title 10 U.S. Code 9455, the Board of Visitors "inquiries into the morale, discipline, curriculum, instruction, physical equipment, fiscal affairs, academic methods and other matters relating to the Academy which the Board decides to consider." Weeks before his assassination, Kirk attended his only meeting of the board in August, where he asked Air Force Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind about the academys progress in complying with Trumps executive orders regarding the elimination of critical race theory (CRT) and diversity initiatives. Erika Kirk, who assumed the roles of CEO and board chair of TPUSA after her husband's death, now steps into the board position herself. Her name appears among the president's appointees on the academy's official website, listed alongside Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., Dan Clark, Doug Nikolai and Dina Powell, with one slot vacant. Of the 17 board positions at the USAF Academy, six are appointed by the president and 11 by congressional leaders. Appointments are typically for three-year terms, but recent administrations, including the Biden administration, have opted to quickly replace defense advisory board members. While others on the advisory board have historically held governmental or military roles, Erika Kirk, like her late husband, doesn't have any prior military service or ties to the USAF Academy, according to a review of Kirks website by The Christian Post. A former beauty pageant queen, Erika Kirk has degrees from Arizona State University and Liberty University, according to her personal website. Current members of the USAF Academy Board of Visitors include Clark, a motivational speaker with longtime ties to the USAF; Nikolai, a retired USAF colonel; and Powell, who served as Deputy National Security Advisor during the first Trump administration. Following his death, Board of Visitors Chairman Rep. August Pfluger released a statement honoring Kirks brief service as a passionate champion for our Academy, its timeless mission and the extraordinary Cadets who have dedicated their lives to service before self. The Christian Post reached out to the Air Force Academy and TPUSA for comment on Tuesday. This article will be updated if a response is received. Last October, following Kirks death, the USAF Academy was set to vote on whether to extend Kirk an honorary degree and membership in the academys alumni group. However, before a vote was cast, the academy withdrew both motions after receiving comments from "several hundred USAF Academy graduates and family members about the proposal. President Trump appointed Kirk after he ordered the immediate dismissal of the Board of Visitors for the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard in February 2025. We will have the strongest Military in History, and that begins by appointing new individuals to these Boards. We must make the Military Academies GREAT AGAIN! the president wrote. Home News 5 of the biggest companies to flee California for Texas They say everythings bigger in Texas and that includes the number of U.S. corporate headquarters, which has jumped sharply in the last decade. Roughly 200 companies have moved their headquarters to Texas since 2020, including some of the nations biggest brands like KFC and the New York Stock Exchange. But its California that has been perhaps the biggest loser when it comes to watching corporate revenue flee the state for Texas. Here are five of the biggest companies that have left California for Texas. Home News Record majority of Americans say belief in God isnt necessary to be moral A record majority of Americans now say that it isnt necessary to believe in God to be moral and have good values, but this view is primarily held by individuals who already don't believe in God, according to new data from the Pew Research Center. The research, published earlier this month, also highlights a growing share of people around the world who say belief in God isnt necessary to be moral and have good values. Data for the United States portion of the research was collected from 3,605 adults between March 24-30, 2025, as part of the American Trends Panel Wave 166 Survey. It shows that the question of whether or not people need God to be moral and have good values was asked 18 times since 2002, and in 2025, 68% of U.S. adults agreed that It is not necessary to believe in God in order to be moral and have good values. It's the largest share of U.S. adults to agree with that statement since 2002. In 2014, that share was 58%. From 2002 through 2011, Americans were split fairly evenly or tilted toward the view that people need to believe in God to be moral and have good values. Starting in 2014, however, Americans have been more likely to say the opposite that belief in God is not necessary to be moral, Jonathan Evans, senior researcher at the Pew Research Center, said in a statement. The data show that since 2020, approximately two-thirds of U.S. adults have held the position that belief in God isnt necessary to be moral and have good values. Researchers also posed the question to adults in 24 other countries from Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas in the spring of 2025. Significant majorities in half of those countries, mostly in Europe, agree that belief in God isnt necessary to be moral and have good values. Only India and Indonesia saw growth in the share of adults who say its necessary to believe in God to be moral and have good values. Indians today are 6 points more likely than in 2019 (85% vs. 79%) and 15 points more likely than in 2013 (85% vs. 70%) to say belief in God is necessary to be moral, Evans stated. In Indonesia, 96% of adults or more have connected belief in God with morality all five times weve asked the question since 2007. Still, the data show a strong correlation between believing in God and saying that belief in God is necessary to be moral, according to Evans. Unlike many countries in Europe, the research found that in places like Brazil, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Turkey, a clear majority of adults linked morality and good values to belief in God. In Hungary, for instance, two-thirds of adults who say religion is very important to them also say that belief in God is necessary to be moral, Evans noted. Among Hungarians who place less personal importance on religion, by comparison, just 19% connect belief in God with morality. The latest findings on Americas ideas on morality come as recent Gallup data show that Americans with no formal religious identity, popularly known as the nones, reached a record share of the population in 2025. It also showed that fewer than 50% of U.S. adults say religion is very important in their lives. Less than half (47%) of American adults say religion is very important in their lives, while another 25% said it is fairly important to them. The share of Americans who say religion is very important in their lives has been in gradual decline from 70% to 75% in the 1950s and 1960s, to 58% in 2012, according to Gallup. Americans relationship with religion continues to evolve, marked by fewer adults describing religion as central to their lives, Megan Brenan, a senior editor at Gallup, concluded. Home News FBI arrests suspected MS-13 gang member wanted for pastors murder A suspected MS-13 gang member wanted for the murder of a pastor in El Salvador was arrested in Waterbury, Connecticut, on Tuesday and is now set for deportation to the Central American country to answer to the charge there, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The suspect, Danny Antonio Granados-Garcia, was arrested with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Legal Attache office located within the U.S. Embassy in El Salvador called FBI LEGAT San Salvador. Granados-Garcia, who is a national of El Salvador, was identified as a fugitive with an active El Salvadorian arrest warrant and @Interpol_HQ Blue Notice for aggravated homicide, FBI New Haven said in a statement. He was wanted for the murder of a pastor, who was a relative of an El Salvadorian police officer. The suspected murderer has since been turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to facilitate his return to El Salvador to be held accountable for his crimes, the statement noted. MS-13 members are notorious for their brutality, violence, and intimidation, said P.J. O'Brien, FBI New Haven Special Agent in Charge. No matter how committed they are to creating chaos in our communities, the FBI and our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in our commitment to relentlessly pursue members and associates of MS-13 and obtain justice for the victims of their crimes. MS-13, or Mara Salvatrucha, is an international criminal gang formed in Los Angeles, California, during the 1980s by Salvadoran immigrants to protect themselves from other gangs, according to the Department of Justice. Since then, the gang has evolved into a transnational organization known for extreme violence, including murder, drug trafficking and extortion. The gang has a strong presence in the U.S. and Central America. While the El Salvador Constitution is supposed to guarantee religious freedom in that country, that right has faced threats from both the government and gangs like MS-13, the Berkley Center explains. Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele has worked to diminish the control gangs exercised over religious freedom in recent years. El Salvador experienced the sharpest increase in social hostilities against religious groups in Latin America in 2018, according to the Pew Research Center. This included the murder of a priest on his way to Mass during holy week and the murder of an evangelical pastor for reportedly persuading six members to leave the gang and join his church, the Berkley Center reported. Further, gangs also extorted money from some congregations in exchange for letting them operate, and made others divert donations to gang members families. At the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., last month, Bukele warned attendees that violent gang members in his country are known to worship Satan. "Many people don't know that our enemy was not just the flesh and blood, but spiritual as well. The gangs didn't just murder, rape, extort. They also worship Satan," Bukele said. "It's straight up. Literally. When we went to their homes to arrest them, we discovered altars that were used for satanic rituals." Home News Tennessee lawmakers kill bill seeking to criminally punish women who have abortions A subcommittee in the Republican-controlled Tennessee House of Representatives has killed a bill that would have imposed criminal penalties of homicide on women who have abortions, as the pro-life movement remains divided on that particular approach. The Tennessee House of Representatives Population Health Subcommittee discussed House Bill 570 at a Tuesday hearing. State Rep. Michele Carringer, R-Knoxville, the chairwoman of the subcommittee, asked members of the subcommittee if she had a motion on the bill so she could add a controversial amendment to the bill that would impose criminal penalties on women who have abortions. While Carringer did not explicitly outline the bill's provisions, the high-profile nature of the bill drew protesters to the chamber. When no one offered a motion, she announced that the bill fails for a lack of motion. As the subcommittee attempted to move on to other bills, protesters gathered in the audience shouted, prompting Carringer to threaten clear the committee to the point where no one is allowed in. She followed through on the threat as the protests did not die down. The amendment would have changed Tennessee law governing criminal offenses against people with a fetus as a victim to state Enforcement pursuant to this section is subject to the same presumptions, defenses, justifications, laws of parties, immunities, and clemencies as would apply to the assault of a person who had been born alive. The measure would have clarified that A woman involved in the assault of her unborn child before the effective date of this act must not be prosecuted under this section, adding This section is prospective only and does not apply to any act committed prior to the effective date of this act. The proposal caused division in the pro-life movement, with supporters in the abortion abolition movement praising it as a necessary step to protecting all unborn life, while others warned that it could be counterproductive to the pro-life movement. By protecting the lives of preborn children with the same laws that protect people who are born, we are simply loving our neighbors in the womb as ourselves, wrote Southern Baptist Convention President Clint Pressley in an X post published last month reacting to the proposal. Tennessee now has the opportunity to set an example of how states can protect the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death. The bills sponsor, Republican state Rep. Jody Barrett, dismissed the idea that the amendment is targeting mothers as a talking point in a statement to WTVF. According to Barrett, Were not targeting mothers. Were targeting unborn children and trying to protect them and give them the protection under the law for you and me. Al Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kentucky, suggested in a 2024 podcast that women who have abortions have varying moral culpability based on the circumstances. He asserted that a woman whos coerced by a man into an abortion is less culpable than a woman who brags about her abortion and celebrates it as a matter of personal autonomy and tweets about it. Pro-life activist Victoria Robinson expressed concern in an op-ed published by The Christian Post last month that rhetoric depicting women who have abortions as murderers who deserve to be criminalized has the effect of shaming post-abortive women who are still dealing with the traumatic aftermath of their choices, and those who are now active or considering being active in the fight for the unborn. Penny Young Nance of the socially conservative advocacy organization Concerned Women offered a similar analysis in an interview with CP about the Tennessee bill last month. Calling the proposal wrongheaded, bad strategy and not right thinking, Nance maintained that It changes our ability to bring people to our side and harms the movement overall. Kristi Hamrick of Students for Life of America described the proposal as extremely disappointing, telling CP Its not been the policy of the pro-life movement to go after women because women are often a second victim of the abortion industry and really attacked culturally and attacked by often her partner for the purpose of causing an abortion and pressuring her for an abortion. Home News Trump DOJ pushes to dismiss lawsuit challenging abortion pill, upsets pro-life leader The U.S. Department of Justice has asked a federal court to dismiss a case challenging the Food and Drug Administration's loosened regulations for the abortion pill mifepristone that allow the drug to be distributed by mail, drawing criticism from a leading pro-life advocate. The Justice Department filed a motion to dismiss a federal lawsuit filed by Missouri, Idaho, and Kansas against the FDA and abortion pill manufacturer Danco Laboratories on Friday over the loosening of requirements for obtaining mifepristone, the first drug in the abortion pill regimen. The ability of women to obtain the abortion pill without visiting a doctor in person is at the center of litigation involving the abortion pill. Government lawyers maintained that the lawsuit threatened to short-circuit the FDAs ongoing risk evaluation and mitigation strategies review for the abortion drug and insisted that the states did not have standing to bring the lawsuit. Fridays filing comes less than two months after the DOJ had previously asked a federal court to dismiss a similar lawsuit in Louisiana. Pro-life activists called the filing disappointing behavior by the Trump administration, which they have also accused of slow-walking the FDA abortion pill review to complete after the midterm elections. Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser condemned the court filing. Once again, the Trump-Vance Justice Department is taking the side of abortion drug dealers and the radical Left against women and children, public health and safety, and the overwhelmingly pro-life GOP base," Dannenfelser, who led Trump's pro-life coalition during his 2016 election campaign, said in a statement. "Burying this shameful move in a Friday evening news dump underscores how indefensible it is. More Americans die from abortion drugs than fentanyl, cocaine and heroin combined. Havent we seen enough American carnage? she asked. While the Trump administration sees the abortion issue as a political liability heading to the midterm elections, Dannenfelser argues that the Trump administration's actions are not in line with the views of most Republican primary voters and could impact the upcoming midterms. She cited data found in a survey of 1,000 Republican primary voters conducted by Cygnal in February, which suggests that 80% of Republican primary voters believe that the FDA should reinstate the requirement that women seeking to obtain the abortion pill must have an in-person visit with a doctor. The pro-life movement has very simple demands. There should be no place on the market for drugs meant to poison and kill innocent human beings but at the very least, this administration can and should take them out of the mail. This is no more or less than the policy of the first Trump administration," the activist said. With 8 in 10 GOP base voters wanting to reinstate in-person doctor visits, and one third of the most engaged voters at risk of sitting out midterms, Trump-Vance world ignores this crisis at its own political peril." The survey also found that 32% of Republican primary voters would have decreased enthusiasm for voting in the upcoming midterm election. Thirty-six percent of primary voters classified as the most engaged said the same. Similarly, 34% of all Republican primary voters told pollsters that they would be less willing to volunteer or take part in general election campaigns if Republican leaders weaken or abandon pro-life policies, with 37% of the most engaged primary voters holding the same view. Dampened turnout among Republican voters could result in Democrats taking control of one or both chambers of the U.S. Congress later this year, which would mark a significant blow to the pro-life movement. Efforts to restore the in-person dispensing requirement for the abortion pill, which date back several years, have received renewed attention following the election of President Donald Trump in 2024 and the publication of a report from the Ethics and Public Policy Center last year finding that more than 10% of women who took the abortion pill have experienced adverse effects. That figure is substantially higher than the adverse effect rate advertised on the abortion pill label, which asserts that less than 0.5% of women experienced adverse effects in clinical trials. Home Opinion Should Christians influence politics? A response to Mike Erre and Preston Sprinkle After Christian apologist and political influencer Charlie Kirk was tragically assassinated six short months ago, there has been heightened debate among Christians about what our proper role in the public sphere should be: should we seek to improve society through apologetics, college campus discussions, and political involvement as Kirk did, or should we stand above the messiness of politics which is of this world and instead focus on personal transformation and thereby influence the culture in a less confrontational manner? On his podcast Theology in the Raw, Preston Sprinkle recently interviewed pastor and podcaster Mike Erre about political discipleship after Charlie Kirk. Specifically, they questioned whether its accurate to refer to Kirk as a martyr. Erre explained, The big wrestling we have in the Church over the last several years has been, Does the Church exist to change and transform culture, or does the Church exist to be transformed and be faithful to Christ, and then thereby through indirect witness be salt and light to culture? But this is a false dichotomy: The Church should both transform our culture in a way that glorifies God and continually ask God to sanctify us and be faithful to Christ. Are Christians involved in politics Dominionists? Erre went on to warn about what he calls a dominionist view that says the Church is to exert influence in all spheres of human life by placing Christians in positions of influence and power so that Christians are protected, Christians are uniquely privileged, Christians are magnified in culture. And there are those of us who really question whether or not thats the role of the Church theologically, biblically. However, while sadly there does seem to be a rise of Christian nationalism among the fringe alt-right, Erre tragically misunderstands the motives and history of Christians involved in government: We do not believe that we should seek to influence power solely for Christians so that theyre protected, privileged and magnified. Rather, we seek to influence public policy for the common good of all of society because we love God and we love our neighbors as ourselves. Sphere sovereignty and the cultural mandate Furthermore, Erre misunderstands the concepts of sphere sovereignty and the cultural mandate. Sphere sovereignty is a view developed by Dutch prime minister and theologian Abraham Kuyper in the early 20th century: each sphere of life (family, church, state, education, etc.) has its own God-ordained authority. No sphere is sovereign over another. This enables a pluralistic society where each area functions independently under God, preventing tyrannical government or religious control. The cultural mandate (or cultural mission) is found in Genesis 1:26-28: God told Adam and Eve to fill the Earth and subdue it, having dominion over every living thing that moves on the Earth. As Chuck Colson and Nancy Pearcey explain in their book How Now Shall We Live, The generations since Adam and Eve still bear children, build families, and spread across the Earth. They still tend animals and plant fields. They still construct cities and governments. They still make music and works of art, and therefore fulfill our original purpose to build societies and create culture and, in doing so, to restore the created order. Following the cultural mandate glorifies God. The Great Commission The last instructions Jesus gave His followers before ascending to Heaven was, All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Jesus did not tell His disciples to make an exception in governments, nations or cultures that might be offended by Him. He Himself transformed the world through His prayers, words and actions. His disciples, early Christians, and many of our brothers and sisters throughout the world today have been martyred because they love God with all that they are, they speak the Truth in love, and they are salt and light in a dark world. Why should we shrink back and stay out of politics or any sphere of society simply to focus solely on our own personal transformation? The genius of the U.S. Constitution: Freedom of religion for all not a Christians-Only nation Erre showed a lack of knowledge regarding Americas founding, history, and the Constitution when he described what he read on TPUSA Faiths website: Biblical citizenship teaches that the country was based on Christian principles or founded by Christians. And its because of those Christian principles that America has been the most successful country in the history of the world. Thats what has led to our success. Were no longer as we drift away from biblical principles were no longer successful. And so to save our country, we have to return to biblical principles. Far from wanting to impose a formal, government-sanctioned religion on the new United States of America, our Founders who established a democratic republic through the Constitution ensured that there would be freedom of religion, writing in the First Amendment, Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof The Founders also understood that there is a moral law (or what C.S. Lewis called Natural Law) written on every persons heart in every culture, referring to the Laws of Nature and Natures God and unalienable rights given by our Creator in the Declaration of Independence among which are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. This moral law includes concepts such as murder is wrong, stealing is wrong, and lying is wrong. The Founders intentionally did not favor one religion over another and did not make Christianity the national religion. They simply referred to such important principles as morality, equality, unalienable rights, the freedom of speech, and the freedom of religion. Are Christians exiles in America? Preston Sprinkle, too, believes that Christians should seek to stay above politics and not try to influence government officials in support of one partys policies over another, as he argues in his book, Exiles: The Church in the Shadow of the Empire. In March 2025, he wrote on X: My political theology has allowed me to be so hopeful in this political season. I reject the empire, yet submit to it, because Jesus is king. I embrace and celebrate Christs multiethnic kingdom and the many ways we are spreading good in the world. Christians should not be captivated by the binary political playing field thats been handed to us by Babylon. Christians are not called to reject the empire (our governmental system). According to Romans 13, the purpose of government is to promote good and restrain evil. Jesus is King, and He has given humans the authority to govern societies, uphold order, and punish criminals. We should appreciate the God-ordained and government-protected freedoms that we have in the U.S. and support policies that uphold good and restrict evil. As apologist and author Natasha Crain explains, we are not like the exiles in Babylon. The Babylonian exile was when the people of Judah were temporarily deported to Babylon under Gods judgment before they were restored to their land. They were told to seek the welfare of the city because in its welfare they would find their welfare. They had limited political opportunities. But even so, Jeremiah told them to seek the welfare of the city as best they could. However, unlike the exiles in Babylon, thankfully, Christians in America are blessed to live in freedom under a constitutional republic. Therefore, we have many more options and opportunities to promote the common good and restrain evil than the Jewish exiles did. Finally, the U.S. government historically and currently functions under a two-party system. While not always ideal, the parties platforms do help us recognize what each group believes and what policies they will advance. If one partys platform happens to line up more succinctly with Christians beliefs and values, it is OK to openly support one party over another or one candidate over another. Although each party and candidate are far from perfect, it is wise to uplift and vote for the one that, for example, fights for the sanctity of life, parental rights, the innocence and safety of children, religious freedom, and strong families. Was Charlie Kirk a martyr? In light of these reflections, is it therefore accurate to describe Charlie Kirk as a Christian martyr, as Erre and Sprinkle questioned? Charlie boldly, lovingly, and unapologetically shared the Good News of the Gospel and the truth about Gods moral law, and he knew that someday someone might kill him because of this. His assassin did just that. That makes him a martyr. Should Christians influence politics? Jesus told us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Amid a dark and hurting world, we should shine our light into politics and every other sphere of life. This brings glory to God and is part of fulfilling the Great Commission and cultural mandate. May Our Heavenly Fathers will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. For His is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Originally published at The Washington Stand. Home Opinion Tucker Carlson and his antisemitic tropes demand Christian discernment In a recent interview on The Bryce Crawford Podcast, political commentator Tucker Carlson raised a barrage of inflammatory and reckless claims about Israel, Evangelical Christians, and the alleged influence of the Israeli government on American churches and politics. In the interview with podcast host and pastors kid Bryce Crawford, Carlson accused some pastors of acting on behalf of a foreign government, dismissed Christian support for Israel as propaganda-driven, and advanced rhetoric that echoes dangerous and long-discredited antisemitic tropes. When examined historically, morally, and theologically, those claims collapse under even basic scrutiny. This issue matters for reasons that go beyond foreign policy debates or opinions about Israels government. When Christians fail to exercise discernment and fall for deceptive and manipulative claims or conspiracy narratives, we train our minds to accept deception. That leaves us vulnerable to error and deception in countless other areas of faith and life. Scripture calls believers to something higher: Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2). Christian faith is not built on viral commentary or rhetorical manipulation, but on disciplined thinking shaped by objective truth. Scripture also commands believers to test everything; hold fast what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21). When we apply that standard here, several serious problems emerge. Christians can evaluate the actions of any government, including Israels. The Bible itself records prophets rebuking Israels kings. Political criticism is legitimate. Broad ethnic generalizations are not. Carlsons argument went far beyond policy critique. In the interview, he suggests that some Evangelical pastors are paid by the Israeli government and are acting on behalf of a foreign government, that Christians who support Israel are dupes of propaganda, and that the Israeli government is manipulating Evangelical pastors and using them to shape American churches and politics. He offers no proof to back such claims. Those claims echo a long-standing antisemitic narrative: the idea that Jews secretly control institutions and manipulate Christians. History should make Christians cautious about rhetoric like this. The church has a tragic record of repeating conspiracy theories about Jews, from medieval blood libels to modern political myths. Carlsons framing, wrapped in uniformed pseudo-Christian language, risks reviving those same patterns. Christians should reject antisemitism not because it is politically inconvenient, but because it is unbiblical, morally wrong, and historically destructive. The genocide accusation does not withstand scrutiny Carlson also asserted that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Basic research debunks this at its most basic premise. To be clear, that claim also collapses under the most basic definition of genocide. Genocide requires intent to destroy an ethnic group. Israels stated objective is to dismantle Hamas. Hamas is a terrorist organization responsible for the October 7 attacks that murdered more than 1,200 civilians, including 46 U.S. citizens, and took hundreds hostage. Civilian casualties in war are tragic and grievous. Christians should mourn every innocent life lost. But war against a terrorist organization embedded within civilian infrastructure is not the same thing as genocide. Hamas operates military infrastructure in hospitals, schools, and residential areas. It uses civilians as human shields. Its charter explicitly calls for the destruction of Israel. Ignoring these realities distorts the already complex moral picture of a nation at war. Scripture makes it clear that the government is to wield the sword of justice. Christian ethics recognizes the concept of just war a tragic but sometimes necessary use of force to stop aggression and protect innocent life. Carlson criticizes theology he admits he does not understand One of the most striking moments in the interview is Carlsons own admission: I dont know anything about dispensationalism or replacement [theology]. Yet he then proceeds to dismiss Christian support for Israel as the product of theological confusion or manipulation. That is intellectually irresponsible and an attempt at dividing Evangelicals on a secondary issue. That said, the relationship between Israel, the Church, and the biblical covenant is one of the most widely studied topics in Christian theology. Serious scholars across multiple traditions have debated it for centuries. Even among Christians who disagree about systematic theology, several truths remain widely accepted. The Jewish people remain historically tied to Gods covenant story (Romans 911). Gods promises are not nullified by human failure (Romans 11:29). And Christians are warned not to become arrogant toward the Jewish people (Romans 11:18). During the interview, Crawford argues that Israel is believers in Jesus, presenting an oversimplified soundbite of replacement theology; the idea that the Church fully replaces Israel in Gods plan. While some Christian traditions hold variations of this view, I would argue the New Testament presents a more complex picture. In Romans 11, the Apostle Paul describes Gentile believers as branches grafted into Israels olive tree, not as a replacement for it. Jewish branches are not permanently rejected, and Paul concludes that the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable (Romans 11:29). Whatever ones view of eschatology and whatever ones systematic theology, the New Testament does not support contempt for the Jewish people or the erasure of Israels role in salvation history. Smearing pastors as foreign actors is reckless Carlson also claims Evangelical pastors supporting Israel are political actors working on behalf of a foreign government. This accusation is both cynical and unfounded. Christians might support Israel for many reasons: biblical history, moral clarity about terrorism, humanitarian concern for a people who have faced centuries of persecution, geopolitical alliances, or recognition that Israel is the only functioning democracy in the Middle East. Disagreeing with Israeli policies is legitimate. But dismissing millions of Christians as foreign agents is not a serious argument. It is a smear tactic that maligns pastors who speak publicly on the issues. The Christian response should reject conspiracy rhetoric that demonizes Jews or portrays Christians as manipulated pawns. Christians are capable of moral clarity without resorting to reckless accusations or reviving the same antisemitic tropes that have poisoned public discourse for centuries. Carlsons commentary illustrates how theological ignorance, conspiratorial thinking, and inflammatory rhetoric can combine into a powerful form of deception. The result is division. This is precisely why Christians must exercise the discernment Scripture commands and choose carefully who we listen to online. Christians are called instead to pursue truth and justice in humility. We should learn to recognize and avoid propaganda, pray for peace in Israel, and pray for protection for innocent civilians. We should recognize and condemn terrorism without hesitation. And we should reject antisemitism and conspiracy theories wherever they appear. Gods redemptive story began with Israel. Jesus Himself was Jewish. The apostles were Jewish. The Scriptures were given through the Jewish people. That history should produce gratitude, not suspicion. Christians can debate foreign policy. But we must do so with intellectual honesty, biblical literacy, and the discernment Scripture commands. Growing interest in the two sessions confirms the worlds desire for stability, sound governance 08:54, March 11, 2026 By Global Times editorial ( Global Times Illustration: Liu Rui/GT Since the opening of the two sessions, international media attention has continued to intensify. According to data from the Global Times Institute, the number of foreign media reports on the two sessions has surged significantly for two consecutive years. One telling detail illustrates the growing interest: Before the press conference on China's foreign policy and external relations began, some journalists had already started lining up at 4 am. Two hours before the event started, all 360 seats were filled, and the aisles were crowded with reporters sitting on the floor. "At this very moment, the whole world is watching China." When China's two sessions become a "moment for the world," it shows that the global community is more eager than ever to hear China's voice. Foreign media coverage of the two sessions is undergoing a shift - from "observers" to "researchers," and from "looking for problems" to "looking for answers." Le Monde of France turned its attention to "building China into a technological superpower." The China.Table of a German website noted that China's cautious growth target lies in a delicate transition to a "new model of prosperity." CNN described China's high-tech development strategy as a "plan to win the future." Argentina's Clarin wrote that "while the world burns, China defines the future." The increasingly positive and objective tone in foreign media coverage is no coincidence; it reflects the world's mature recognition of China's governance, stability and rationale. Behind this shift lies the world's growing desire for certainty. At present, the international landscape is undergoing rapid turbulence, with escalating regional conflicts, volatile energy markets, and unstable supply chains, leaving a pervasive sense of unease across the world. China serves as an anchor of stability for regional security and a driving force for development and prosperity. As an important window for observing China's policy direction, the two sessions have therefore taken on global significance. The remarks from a reporter from Brazil are representative: "Amid the current turbulent international situation, I am eager to better understand how China will continue to inject certainty into the world." While some countries focus only on the next election cycle, with policies swaying as parties alternate in power, China keeps its eyes firmly on the next five years and beyond. This strategic foresight and policy predictability provide the world with a greater sense of security. As the Maldives' Ambassador to China Fazeel Najeeb noted, "China is showing very steady hands This is very encouraging for developing countries." The goals and tasks China aims to achieve during the 15th Five-Year Plan period are, in essence, a "list of opportunities" for the world. Media outlets such as Reuters have noticed that China plans to nurture emerging industries and industries of the future, identifying brain-computer interfaces and embodied artificial intelligence as new growth points. A question from a reporter with Africa Young Voices was straightforward: "We want to understand China's development plans and concrete measures for the next five years, because they are closely linked to the world." Through the two sessions, the world not only gains a clearer understanding of China's development blueprint, but also actively seeks new opportunities and possibilities to ride the "express train of China's development." China's development achievements and governance model offer the world a new path toward modernization. The world has witnessed the reality of 800 million people lifted out of poverty, the rapid construction of infrastructure such as high-speed rail networks, water conservancy systems, and computing networks, as well as continuous breakthroughs in cutting-edge fields like semiconductors and artificial intelligence. By "following a good blueprint through to the end," China has steadily moved forward step by step, turning one beautiful vision into reality after another. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, China will continue to increase investments in employment, education, healthcare, and elder care to meet the people's needs for a better life. This people-centered development philosophy not only reflects the original intention and aspirations of China's ruling party but is also deeply rooted in the rich heritage of traditional Chinese culture, prompting the world to contemplate the essentials of governance and the foundations of development. China's confident and open attitude makes the world more willing to listen. "Building a modern industrial system," "developing a strong domestic market," and "expanding high-level opening-up" While some countries erect "high fences and small yards" and advocate for "decoupling and severing supply chains," China, through tangible actions, embraces the world. China's continuous expansion of high-level opening-up means that global industrial and supply chains will become smoother, leading to stronger momentum for world economic growth and a more stable development of a rules-based multilateral trade system. Facing volatility, we should stay cool-headed and not be affected by any distractions. While the world seeks direction amid turbulence and change, China injects valuable certainty and confidence into global governance with its clear stance, pragmatic solutions, and stable predictability. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has released its latest processing time estimates for all temporary residence, permanent residence, and citizenship applications. Most notably, in-land spousal sponsorship (within Quebec) wait times increased by one month, while Parent and Grandparent (PGP) sponsorship both within and outside Quebec decreased by one month. India-based dependent child sponsorship processing times have also dropped by eight months. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration Visitor visas also saw improvements across the board, with notable improvements for Indian applicants and American applicants. Work permit applications from Nigeria have seen an additional two weeks added to wait times, while US-based submissions are down by one week. This article will cover the latest processing times for: Temporary Residence Applications Temporary residence processing times are compared against the February 26 update, with current times as of March 11, 2026 (or March 9, for certain application types). Work permits Processing times for work permit applications largely remained stable, with some moderate reductions for applications from India (which dropped in wait times by one week) and gains for applications made from Nigeria (which rose by two weeks as noted). In-Canada work permit applications saw a slight three-day increase in wait time. US-based submissions were the only ones to see an improvement in processing time (one week): Application Type Previous (Feb. 26) Current (Mar. 11) Inside Canada 256 days 259 days India 8 weeks 7 weeks Pakistan 30 weeks 30 weeks Nigeria 11 weeks 13 weeks United States 10 weeks 9 weeks The Philippines N/A 7 weeks Service standard: In-Canada submissions (initial and extensions): 120-days Outside Canada submissions: 60 days International Experience Canada permit submissions: 56 days Schedule a Free Work Permit Consultation with the Cohen Immigration Law Firm Study permits Study permit processing times remain unchanged across all countries, except for the United States, which saw a moderate drop of one week in processing times: Application Type Previous (Feb. 26) Current (Mar. 11) Canada 9 weeks 9 weeks India 4 weeks 4 weeks Pakistan 15 weeks 15 weeks Nigeria 8 weeks 8 weeks United States 6 weeks 5 weeks The Philippines N/A 5 weeks Service standard: In-Canada submissions (initial and extensions): 120 days Outside Canada submissions: 60 days Discover your options to study in Canada Visitor visas Visitor visa processing times have continued their downward trend across all countries, with moderate improvements across the board. India saw the largest improvement, with wait times dropping a full two weeks, while US-based processing times fell by six days. Application Type Previous (Feb. 26) Current (Mar. 11) Inside Canada 19 days 18 days India 71 days 57 days Pakistan 53 days 49 days Nigeria 56 days 53 days United States 23 days 17 days The Philippines N/A 14 days Service standard: In-Canada submissions: N/A Outside Canada submissions: 14 days Super visas Super visa processing times have seen moderate improvements since the last reporting period. Nigeria saw a three-day improvement, while Pakistan and India each saw slight decreases of four and two days, respectively. Application Type Previous (Feb. 26) Current (Mar. 11) India 210 days 208 days Pakistan 136 days 132 days Nigeria 47 days 44 days United States 205 days 207 days The Philippines N/A 85 days Service standard: 112 days Note: Super visa applications cannot be submitted from within Canada. Get a Free Super Visa Telephone Consultation with the Cohen Immigration Law Firm Permanent Residence Applications Processing times for permanent residence applications have remained largely stable since IRCCs last update, with a few notable exceptions in the family sponsorship categories. Express Entry Processing times for Express Entry programs remain unchanged from the previous update. Application Type Previous (Feb. 17) Current (Mar. 9) Canadian Experience Class (CEC) 7 months 7 months Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) 7 months 7 months Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)* N/A N/A *IRCC does not release processing time estimations for the FSTP due to insufficient data. CEC applications currently waiting for a decision: 44,300. FSWP applications currently waiting for a decision: 45,300. All Express Entry programs have a service standard of six months. See how competitive your Express Entry profile is Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) No changes in processing times were recorded for base or enhanced PNP applications since the last update. Application Type Previous (Feb. 17) Current (Mar. 9) Through Express Entry (enhanced) 7 months 7 months Non-Express Entry (base) 13 months 13 months Enhanced PNP applications currently waiting for a decision: 13,000. Base PNP applications currently waiting for a decision: 108,000. The service standards for enhanced PNP applications is six months, while base applications have a standard of 11 months. See your eligibility for all enhanced PNP streams Quebec Immigration Processing times for Quebecs Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) remained the same since the last reporting. Application Type Previous (Feb. 17) Current (Mar. 9) Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) 11 months 11 months PSTQ applications currently waiting for a decision: 26,900. PSTQ applications have a service standard of six months. Learn more about your options and get assistance immigrating to Quebec Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) Wait times under the AIP have remained stable, but continue to sit well above the stated service standard of 11 months. Application Type Previous (Feb. 17) Current (Mar. 9) Atlantic Immigration Program 33 months 33 months AIP applications currently waiting for a decision: 13,500. Family sponsorship The biggest change seen in this application category is for in-land spousal sponsorship for settlement outside Quebec (one month increase) and sponsorship of a parent or grandparentone month decrease in wait time, both within and outside Quebec. Application Type Previous (Feb. 17) Current (Mar. 9) Spouse/partner inside Canada (outside Quebec) 21 months 21 months Spouse/partner inside Canada (Quebec) 35 months 36 months Spouse/partner outside Canada (outside Quebec) 15 months 15 months Spouse/partner outside Canada (Quebec) 35 months 35 months Parents & Grandparents (outside Quebec) 35 months 34 months Parents & Grandparents (Quebec) 47 months 46 months Applications for a spouse/common-law partner in Canada, intending to reside outside Quebec, currently waiting for a decision: 52,400. Applications for a spouse/common-law partner in Canada, intending to reside in Quebec, currently waiting for a decision: 12,300. Applications for a spouse/common-law partner outside Canada, intending to reside outside Quebec, currently waiting for a decision: 48,200. Applications for a spouse/common-law partner in Canada, intending to reside in Quebec, currently waiting for a decision: 18,900. Applications for sponsorship of Parents or Grandparents, intending to reside outside Quebec, currently waiting for a decision: 46,600. Applications for sponsorship of Parents or Grandparents, intending to reside in Quebec, currently waiting for a decision: 11,700. IRCCs service standard for the processing of sponsorship applications for spouses or common-law partners living outside Quebec is 12 months. No other application types detailed above have published service standards. Sponsor your family for Canadian immigration Dependent child sponsorship Processing times for in-Canada dependent child applications increased by one month, while India-based submissions saw a substantial eight-month drop from 16 to 8 months. Application Type Previous (Feb. 17) Current (Mar. 9) Within Canada 19 months 20 months Outside Canada (India) 16 months 8 months Outside Canada (Nigeria) 19 months 19 months Outside Canada (Philippines) Not reported 12 months IRCC does not publish service standards for the sponsorship of dependent children. Citizenship applications Wait times for citizenship grants and citizenship certificates have dropped by one month. Application Type Previous (Feb. 17) Current (Mar. 9) Citizenship grant 14 months 13 months Citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship) 11 months 10 months Applications for a citizenship grant currently waiting for a decision: 320,000. Applications for a citizenship certificate currently waiting for a decision: 50,900. IRCC only publishes service standards for citizenship grant applications, which sit at 12 months. Get a Free Legal Consultation on Applying for Proof of Canadian Citizenship The difference between processing times and service standards Processing times and service standards are often confused, but they are distinct concepts. IRCC's published processing times reflect how long an applicant can expect to wait for a decision, assuming their application was submitted on that given day. For applications filed online, the clock begins at the moment of submission, while for paper-based applications, processing starts when the application is received in the mailroom. Processing times fall into two categories. Historical processing times are calculated based on how long it took to process 80% of applications of a particular type in the past. Forward-looking processing times are projections based on future estimates, factoring in the department's current inventory of pending applications and the anticipated rate at which decisions will be finalized. Service standards, by contrast, are self-imposed benchmarks set internally by IRCC that define how long it should take to process a given application type. These benchmarks are designed to reflect the completion timeline for 80% of applications within that category, with the remaining 20% accounting for cases that are more complex in nature." Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration ronstik, Adobe Stock A former worker with a Staffordshire sex abuse support charity has been given a suspended sentence after passing confidential data to a man awaiting trial for rape. On 9 March, 30-year-old Lauren Leese, who worked as an independent sexual violence advisor (ISVA) with now-defunct charity Savana, pleaded guilty to unauthorised accessing of computer material at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court. Shane Davis, 36, who was jailed for the rape offences in 2025, pleaded guilty to the same charges. He was sentenced to 12 months to be served concurrently with his existing sentence, while Leese received a 12-month sentence suspended for 18 months. The court heard evidence that for six months in 2024, Leese unlawfully obtained sensitive personal information from a child survivor of serious sexual offences and shared it with Shane Davis, who was incarcerated at HMP Dovegate near Uttoxeter. Davis then used the information to threaten and intimidate a fellow prisoner. Leese was arrested in September 2024 but initially denied the offence when interviewed. Former charity worker betrayed position of trust Detective Inspector Lewis Haigh of Staffordshire Police said : Lauren Leese held a position of trust at responsibility with Savana, which she betrayed, letting down the victims she supported, her colleagues and the public. She was only supposed to access sensitive and confidential information when necessary to support and advocate for victims of serious crime, Haigh added. Instead she passed information to Davis, who was on remand awaiting a trial after being charged with rape offences and who she sustained a relationship with while he was in prison. Leeses former employer Savana, which operated in Stoke and Staffordshire for almost 40 years providing counselling and support to people affected by sexual violence and abuse, announced its closure in March 2025. The charitys then-CEO Sophia Baker told the BBC at the time that it had been unable to secure the funds needed to continue amid a tough operating environment, with about 25 staff being made redundant. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, The government has announced the membership of an expert group to oversee implementation of its Civil Society Covenant, which it says will bring the voluntary sector into the heart of decision making. The new Civil Society Council will be chaired by National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) chief Kate Lee and will meet quarterly in Downing Street, a 10 March statement from Prime Minister Keir Starmers office said. Matt Hyde, Lloyds Bank Foundation CEO, Gemma Peters, Macmillan Cancer Support chief and Saeed Atcha, who heads Youth Leads UK, are among 12 other appointees. In December 2025, the government invited sector experts to apply for positions on a new advisory body to provide strategic oversight of the covenant, which was published in July. Lee, ahead of the councils first meeting in April, said: Together, we share a commitment to resetting the relationship between government and civil society. I have no doubt this group will help turn that commitment into real change. The covenant was launched as a set of principles designed to reset the relationship between the state and the charity sector. It included plans for a joint civil society council. This has now been realised after an expression of interest process which garnered almost 600 applications. The council will provide a central forum for charities to address problems that intersect with government and influence policymaking. Civil society's insight needed to drive change One of the new Civil Society Council members, Innes Morgan, director and founder of Act with Purpose, an organisation which works across civil society, said: The Civil Society Covenant is a chance to reimagine how government can work with communities, to rebuild trust, and to collaborate with civil society. Im deeply proud and honoured to have been appointed to the council, and I look forward to contributing to a partnership that will drive real and lasting change. In July last year, the Civil Society Advisory Group, which contains leaders of sector bodies such as NCVO and ACEVO, said it would take honesty and humility to build trust. The group added that tangible change was needed so that civil society was valued as an expert and strategic partner. Reacting to the new councils formation, Gemma Peters, Macmillan chief executive, echoed this sentiment. Throughout my career, and most especially at Macmillan, Ive seen how civil society organisations bring fresh insight and real-world experience into policymaking and service delivery, she said. Im committed to championing that contribution and ensuring the voices of communities are at the heart of national decision-making, Peters added. The full list of appointees is as follows: Kate Lee, Matt Hyde, Gemma Peters, Innes Morgan, Saeed Atcha, Lindsay Cordery-Bruce, WCVA chief, Maddy Desforges, NAVCA CEO and Rob Wickham, Church Urban Fund chief. Charlotte Hill, The Felix Project & FareShare CEO, Emma de Closset, chief of UK Community Foundations, Mark Russell, CEO of The Childrens Society and Clare Moriarty, Citizens Advice chief, complete the council. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, Newswise Short-term surges in air pollution in New Jersey from the 2023 Canadian wildfires were associated with a higher stroke rate and more serious strokes, according to a preliminary study released March 3, 2026, that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurologys 78th Annual Meeting taking place April 18-22, 2026, in Chicago and online. Wildfire smoke contains pollutants like ozone and particulate matter, so it is more than a nuisance, it can be a public health hazard, said study author Elizabeth Cerceo, MD, of Cooper Medical School of Rowan University in Camden, New Jersey. The 2023 Canadian wildfires resulted in unprecedented declines in air quality across the northeastern United States. Our findings show that short-term exposure to elevated air pollution from these wildfires was associated with a higher incidence and severity of stroke. For the study, researchers used a stroke registry to identify all cases of stroke that occurred during June and July 2023 and during the same months a year earlier. Ischemic strokes are the most common kind of stroke. Bleeding strokes are more severe and often more fatal. Researchers reviewed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency data for both periods from air quality monitors located in Camden, New Jersey. They calculated average daily exposures for ozone which, when inhaled, can cause shortness of breath, coughing and aggravation of conditions like asthma. They also calculated daily average exposures for fine particulate matter, also called PM2.5, which is air pollution with particles that are 2.5 micrometers in diameter or less. Ozone levels peaked at 136 parts per billion (ppb) during the wildfires in 2023 compared to median ozone concentration of 36 ppb. Particulate matter reached 211 micrograms per cubic meter (g/m) compared to median concentration of 48.5 g/m. Daily air quality data was matched with the timing of each stroke. Because pollution effects may take a few days to impact the body, researchers also took into account the levels from the preceding one to two days before participants had their stroke. For ozone levels, 72% of the days were 50 ppb or less, with 28% of the days above the recommended level. The World Health Organization guideline for ozone is 50 ppb. Researchers compared 42 strokes that occurred on above average ozone days, with 80 strokes that occurred on below average days. For strokes that occurred on above average ozone days, the incidence of stroke, or the rate at which new stroke cases occurred, was 1.25 strokes per day compared to 0.93 strokes per day that occurred on below average days. After adjusting for factors like age, sex, race, and cause of stroke, researchers found higher average ozone days were associated with a 0.32 higher incidence of stroke per day. They also found for strokes on above average ozone days, there was a higher proportion of bleeding strokes and more large artery atherosclerosis, plaque buildup in major arteries. For particulate matter levels, 38% of the days were above average days and 62% were below average days. Researchers compared 39 strokes that occurred on above average particulate matter days to 83 strokes that occurred on below average days. They found above average particulate matter was associated with longer hospital stays and higher scores on a scale measuring stroke severity. While longer-term air pollution has been recognized as a risk factor for stroke, less is known about short exposures to wildfire smoke, said Cerceo. Our study addresses a critical gap by providing more information about the neurological impact of wildfire smoke. Our findings can help guide stroke prevention and underscore the need for public health interventions during wildfires. Cerceo noted this analysis focused on a short wildfire period, and the findings represent an early signal rather than a complete picture of the association between wildfire smoke and risk of stroke. She said future research will look at longer periods of time. A limitation of the study was that it looked at daily average pollutants. Cerceo said more nuanced hourly measurements may also impact strokes but may not be reflected in averages. Similarly, other weather variables such as humidity and barometric pressure were not incorporated. Discover more about stroke at Brain & Life, from the American Academy of Neurology. This resource also offers a website, podcast, and books that connect patients, caregivers and anyone interested in brain health with the most trusted information, straight from the worlds leading experts in brain health. Follow Brain & Life on Facebook, X, and Instagram. The American Academy of Neurology is the leading voice in brain health. As the worlds largest association of neurologists and neuroscience professionals with more than 44,000 members, the AAN provides access to the latest news, science and research affecting neurology for patients, caregivers, physicians and professionals alike. The AANs mission is to enhance member career fulfillment and promote brain health for all. A neurologist is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, care and treatment of brain, spinal cord and nervous system diseases such as Alzheimers disease, stroke, concussion, epilepsy, Parkinsons disease, multiple sclerosis, headache and migraine. Kansas lawmakers were set to take up a bill on Tuesday backed by Bayer that would prevent people from suing pesticide manufacturers for not warning them that their products could cause cancer or other illnesses, as the German company readies a potential $7 billion-plus settlement for thousands of lawsuits over the weedkiller Roundup. The Kansas legislation is one of about a dozen Bayer-supported bills introduced in state legislatures. It comes just weeks after the company announced a proposed $7.25 billion settlement that would resolve most of approximately 65,000 outstanding lawsuits related to Roundup. Related: Bayer Wins Court Nod for $7.25 Billion Roundup Settlement Bayer acquired Roundup as part of its $63 billion purchase of agrochemical company Monsanto in 2018, and with it an avalanche of litigation from people who say the product caused them to develop cancer. The company is supporting state and federal legislative efforts to try to head off further Roundup-related litigation, a company spokesperson said. So far Bayer has had mixed success. Two bills have passed in North Dakota and Georgia; the outlook for the Kansas bill is uncertain. Opponents of the Kansas bill distrust the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys assessment that glyphosate pesticides such as Bayers Roundup product are not likely to cause cancer, while proponents fear that the widely used pesticide will be made more expensive or pulled from the market, negatively affecting many businesses in the heavily agricultural state. Ill wake up and Ill have over 400 emails and half of them are saying yes, half of them are saying no, said Democratic state senator Silas Miller, who sits on the agriculture committee. He had not decided how to vote when he spoke to Reuters. Related: Bayers $7 Billion Effort to End Roundup Curse Draws Skepticism Kenny Titus, a Republican senator on the committee, said he was also inundated with emails both for and against the bill, but planned to oppose it. In an earnings call on March 4, the company reported a fourth-quarter net loss of about 3.76 billion euros ($4.4 billion), attributed in part to the cost of litigation. Bayer is also the defendant in a case before the Supreme Court, which is set to hear arguments in April on whether the company had a duty to warn customers that glyphosate could cause cancer. In Washington, the House Agriculture Committee on Thursday morning advanced a draft farm bill also supported by Bayer requiring uniform pesticide labels nationwide. If passed, it would bar local governments from requiring chemical companies to put health warnings on the labels of pesticide products that differ from language used by the EPA. In February, U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order to encourage more domestic production of glyphosate-based herbicides like Roundup. MAHA Blowback The move has generated blowback from the so-called MAHA coalition, many of whom supported Trump in the 2024 election, and whose advocates are now in the administration including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Just as the large MAHA base begins to consider what to do at midterms, the President issued an Executive Order to expand domestic glyphosate production. The very same carcinogenic pesticide that MAHA cares about most, MAHA-affiliated pesticide activist Kelly Ryerson wrote on social media after the order was announced. Titus, who said many of his goals overlap with the MAHA movement, said that for his Republican colleagues, the split on pesticides among conservatives had put them in an interesting position. A Missouri state court judge last week preliminarily approved Bayers proposed $7.25 billion settlement of a nationwide class-action lawsuit brought by people who say Roundup caused them to contract non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The judge said he will hear objections from people affected before deciding in July whether to grant final approval. (1 euro = $1.17) (Reporting by Hickman; Editing by Emily Schmall) An unusually early heat wave is set to grip Los Angeles and much of the Southwest, putting Californias already fragile snowpack, and therefore its water supplies, at risk. Temperatures in downtown Los Angeles on Friday are forecast to reach 98F (37C), coming within a degree of highest reading for the month set on March 29, 1879, according to the National Weather Service. Across the region, temperatures are expected to rise 20F to 30F above normal, with several daily records likely to fall and some areas potentially breaking all-time March highs, the agency said. Brutal heatwaves are not just a summertime concern anymore, said Jennifer Francis, a climate scientist with the Woodwell Climate Research Center. Record-breaking March temperatures will stretch across the Southwest, South Central, and Southeast states this week. Nine states across the Great Plains and West had their warmest winter going back 131 years, and five more, including California, had their second mildest, according to the U.S. National Centers for Environmental Information. Overall, the U.S. had its second warmest winter season measured from Dec. 1 to Feb. 28. This meant many of the storms striking the West arrived as rain and not snow. Much of that water ran through rivers into the Pacific Ocean or seeped underground. As a result, California and the Colorado River basin are perilously low on the frozen water needed to replenish supplies late in the spring and summer. With the coming heat wave, what little snow is left in Californias Sierra Nevada range and elsewhere in the West may melt before it can be captured in reservoirs, presenting a water supply challenge for residents, farmers and livestock. California depends on mountain snowpack as a natural reservoir that stores water through winter and releases it gradually in the spring and summer, said Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. Even when major storms delivered heavy snow, including a system linked to one of Californias deadliest avalanches that killed nine people, the accumulation quickly melted. This heat wave looks pretty extreme by March standards across large portions of the Southwest, and that is saying something given the winter we have just experienced, Swain said. It is a very big deal both in the shorter term and in the longer term. In Colorado, the high temperatures, lack of snow and strong winds across the states Front Range have caused utility Xcel Energy to use its enhanced power safety settings, the company said in a statement. The tool can shut electricity off on power lines if an object comes into contact with them. Right now, North America is on a heat seesaw. New York Citys Central Park reached a record 80F for the date, according to the National Weather Service. As the warmth in the East fades, the West will pick up the slack as temperatures rise. Through next Monday, 214 daily high-temperature records could be broken or tied across the U.S., and another 76 threatened, according to the US Weather Prediction Center. The heat may also set the stage for drier-than-normal soil conditions this summer, increasing the risk of an intense wildfire season, Swain added. Although the past few years have brought devastating fires including the Palisades and Eaton fires that killed 31 people and destroyed over 16,000 structures many burned through grasslands or brush rather than dense forests. A large ridge of high pressure settling across the Southwest will magnify temperatures and topple records, according to Marc Chenard, a senior branch forecaster at the U.S. Weather Prediction Center. It is definitely not common to get this hot, this early, he said. Top photo: A structure burns during the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles in 2025. Photographer: Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg. Copyright 2026 Bloomberg. A cyberattack against medical technology maker Stryker Corp. crippled the companys global operations, according to a person familiar with the matter and a memo seen by Bloomberg News. A pro-Iranian digital activist group, Handala, has claimed credit for the incident, potentially marking the first known major cyber disruption of an American organization since joint U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran. Many Stryker employees around the world are unable to work, so theyve been sent home from offices and told to avoid connecting to any Stryker networks or software through any device, according to the person, who asked not to be identified because they werent authorized to speak publicly about the matter. Some employees have also seen data on their devices wiped as a result of the breach, the person said. Shares of Stryker were down as much as 5.3% after the Wall Street Journal reported on the breach. Stryker is experiencing a global network disruption to our Microsoft environment as a result of a cyberattack, a company spokesperson said in a statement. We have no indication of ransomware or malware and believe the incident is contained, the spokesperson said. Our teams are working rapidly to understand the impact of the attack on our systems. Stryker has business continuity measures in place to continue to support our customers and partners. Neither the FBI nor the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency immediately responded to inquiries. Stryker manufactures a wide range of medical devices and equipment with a focus on orthopedics, surgical tools, neurotechnology and spinal products, including emergency services and intensive-care disposable equipment, according to the companys website. Most of its products are marketed directly to doctors, hospitals and other healthcare facilities and are available in more than 61 countries, according to the companys filings. Stryker generates about $25 billion in revenue annually and has a market valuation of about $131 billion. Handala claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement posted online Wednesday. The group portrayed the hack as retaliation for a suspected US bombing of an Iranian school and threatened a new chapter in cyber warfare. Neither the company nor any cybersecurity agency has confirmed that an Iranian group was behind the hack. Critical health care infrastructure represents a high-value, high-impact target: disruption doesnt just mean data loss, it can mean patient safety, said Sergey Shykevich, threat intelligence group manager at the Israeli cybersecurity firm Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. The attack unfolded dramatically beginning around midnight U.S. eastern time when workers saw systems go down in front of them one at a time. Once they realized what was happening, employees scrambled to unplug some machines in order to attempt to save data, according to the person. The effort was frantic and had mixed results. In some offices as many as 95% of the computers and devices have been wiped, the person said. In the operation, more than 200,000 systems, servers and mobile devices were wiped and 50 terabytes of data were extracted, Irans semi-official Tasnim news agency reported. Bloomberg News hasnt independently verified those claims. Handala suggested it had attacked Stryker because it had connections to Israel. In 2019, Stryker acquired the Israeli company OrthoSpace. Stryker has also previously worked with the U.S. military: Last year, it won a $450 million contract to supply medical devices to the US Department of Defense. Copyright 2026 Bloomberg. General views of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland on April 06, 2024 in Anaheim, California. Disneyland Resort President Thomas Mazloum has been named the next chair of Disney Experiences, overseeing the company's portfolio of theme parks, cruise ships, resort hotels and consumer products, the company announced on Tuesday. Mazloum succeeds Josh D'Amaro, who takes over as Disney's next chief executive officer on March 18, at the company's annual shareholder meeting. D'Amaro hailed Mazloum as "the right leader to guide Disney Experiences into its next chapter." Mazloum brings deep knowledge of Disney's parks and cruise lines to his new position, and a background working in the European luxury hospitality industry. He began his Disney career in 1998, as a hotel director for Disney Cruise Line, and later served as general manager of food and beverage and special events at EPCOT at Walt Disney World. Mazloum left the company in 2002 to join Crystal Cruises, where he remained for 15 years, becoming its chief operating officer. The executive returned to Disney in 2017, serving as a senior vice president of operations at Walt Disney World Resort, where he oversaw 31 Disney hotels and the Disney Springs retail district, among his other responsibilities. He was named president of Disney Signature Experiences in 2020, where he oversaw Disney Cruise Line, laying plans to double the size of the fleet by 2031. As president of Disneyland Resort, Mazloum oversaw the two Southern California theme parks, three hotels, and the Downtown Disney District. Mazloum assumes his new role on March 18. Disney Experiences also announced other changes to its leadership team, which take effect on the same day. Jill Estorino, a 35-year veteran of Disney, has been named president of Disneyland Resort. Tasia Filippatos has been appointed president of Disney Parks International, overseeing the company's parks outside the United States. She recently served as president of Disney Consumer Products. Lisa Baldzicki has been promoted to president of Disney Consumer Products. She was most recently head of Parks Product Development and Retail for Disney Consumer Products. For many travelers, the process of planning their trips is a grueling slog through endless price comparisons and messy browser tabs. Increasingly, they are outsourcing the task to artificial intelligence. About 91% of global travelers rely on AI travel planners, according to an annual survey of 11,000 global users by travel platform Klook. Travelers use the technology for various reasons. Some turn to AI to figure out what they even want from the trip, and others to find the best possible deals that suit their needs, Klook's research revealed. The appeal partly reflects a "do it yourself culture, feeling the ownership and pride of like building something yourself," said Leigh Rowan of travel agency Savanti Travel. But trust remains a challenge. A separate report by Booking.com on consumer attitudes towards AI in everyday life and travel found that 91% of respondents continue to have concerns about AI, with only 35% fully trusting its outputs. Over the shoulder view of young Asian woman using smartphone, checking digital flight ticket and boarding pass on device screen while packing a suitcase on bed for a trip. Planning for travel. Travel and vacation concept D3sign | Moment | Getty Images 'Hallucinations' hurdle One major obstacle is accuracy. AI tools, which are built around large language models, are known to produce 'hallucinations', a phenomenon where false information is presented as fact. Shyn Yee Ho, a board member at non-profit travel organization Smiling Gecko Singapore, said her experience with AI was largely devoid of hallucinations. As a self-proclaimed "heavy user" of LLMs, Ho relied on suggestions from ChatGPT to find hotels within her budget and destinations that matched her interests while planning for her six-month solo sabbatical trip. Those recommendations, she said, were "very clear and good." While Ho's experience with AI has been positive, the reliability of AI continues to be a concern for many travelers. Savanti Travel's Rowan recalled a client, who was in Paris on a business trip, arriving late for an appointment after ChatGPT suggested a route that failed to account for road closures due to construction. What should have been a 10-minute transfer turned into a 45-minute journey. "They seem like they're edge cases, but they're actually very common," Rowan said. The AI paradox Industry experts say AI may also reshape which destinations travelers see. Smaller businesses may be particularly affected because they lack the expertise or digital presence needed to appear in search results. Older properties, especially independent ones, or even those in developing countries, "will struggle even more because they don't have the expertise, they don't have the guidance," Horwath HTL's Ho said. "It is a shame," said Ho, who is also a director at tourism consultancy Horwath HTL. "Arguably ... they need the demand more than ever." On the flip side, well-publicized tourist destinations might suffer from the consequences of over-tourism in AI's current iterations. AI tools should be used to introduce offbeat locations, to spread out demand so there isn't that risk of over tourism, Guy Llewellyn, assistant professor at EHL Hospitality Business School Singapore, said. Many AI systems are being trained on "the top 10 lists" of places to recommend, which is a bit of a paradox, he added. Crowds of tourists on the street near Kyoto's Kiyomizu-dera temple in April 2019. Nicolas Datiche | Lightrocket | Getty Images AI tools may also struggle with real-world nuances that experienced travel planners account for. These include factoring seasonal weather when suggesting outdoor experiences and travel fatigue after long flights, Rowan said. "Multi-generational movement issues, you know, outright allergies, disabilities, intolerances, those things AI really can't manage very well," he said. It's also not able to help you when things go wrong, he added. When the war in the Middle East started, numerous travelers were stranded after the airspace in the region was shut down. AI isn't going to get you to the top of the queue for the next repatriation flight, he said. The road ahead Mount Fuji and the Shinjuku skyline in Tokyo, Japan, on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. Photographer: Kiyoshi Ota/Bloomberg via Getty Images Asia-Pacific markets traded mostly higher Wednesday as investors assessed the ongoing Middle East war. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.59% to close at 8,743.5. Japan's Nikkei 225 jumped 1.43% to end the session at 55,025.37 while the Topix added 0.94% to close at 3,698.85. South Korea's Kospi advanced 1.4% to 5,609.95 while the small-cap Kosdaq closed flat at 1,136.83. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index fell 0.2%, while the CSI 300 added 0.64% to close at 4,704.50. Oil prices, which spiked to nearly $120 a barrel Monday at the height of fear around the Iran conflict, dropped from their height as traders believed a group of countries would tap emergency crude reserves to mitigate disruption caused by the conflict. U.S. crude oil was last up 3.24% at $86.15 per barrel. "The most immediate impact of an oil shock is that it acts like a tax on the economy. When energy prices surge, households spend more on fuel and utilities and less on everything else, which quietly slows consumer demand across the broader economy," said David Johnson, CEO of financial services firm Vervent. Hong Kong-listed shares of Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio surged more than 15% after the company reported a sharp improvement in fourth-quarter results, helped by surging deliveries, better product mix and cost cuts. Fourth-quarter vehicle deliveries jumped 71.7% from a year earlier to 124,807 units, while revenue rose 75.9% to 34,650.2 million yuan ($4,954.9 million) and vehicle margin improved to 18.1% from 13.1% a year ago. The auto industry keeps getting hit by supply constraints at a time when it is making some of the biggest transitions in its more than century-long history. The war in Iran could be just the latest of those issues. Though the region is not a major maker of automotive parts, it does produce key resources such as oil and aluminum. About 20% of the world's oil travels through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, a major shipping artery that is bordered on two sides by Iran and Oman. Oil prices surged above $100 a barrel on Monday with concerns about supply as the war continues. Drivers are already paying more at the pump. Gas in Iowa, for example, is now above $3 per gallon, according to GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan. That's still a ways from the peak prices hit in 2022, De Haan said. But there have been two 12 cent increases nationwide in the past two weeks. That's two of the largest single day increases going back to 2005 in terms of nominal increase in cents per gallon, according to GasBuddy. "I think it's the pace of the increases this week that's really catching Americans off guard, and that might be making them feel a little bit nauseous about the prospect of driving, getting out, road trips," De Haan said. Diesel and jet fuel prices are rising as well, which puts pressure on shipping and freight, he added. High oil prices stand to drive up the cost of petrochemicals, which is what plastics are made of. Some estimate that about 30% of the parts on a car are plastic. "It's not just raw crude coming out [of the Strait]," said Dan Hearsch, managing director at AlixPartners. "There's a lot of refining capacity. So ethylene, propylene, a lot of the aromatics, also ship out of that region. Those are not ports that are well connected over land. So it's kind of by ship or by not." That region is also a large producer of aluminum, particularly in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. Like plastic, aluminum has become an increasingly important material for car manufacturers, in part because it is lighter than steel. Lightweighting vehicles is a top priority for automakers trying to improve fuel efficiency or offset battery weight in electric vehicles and hybrids. Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates account for 9% of the world's total aluminum smelting, according other AlixPartners. The U.S. imports between 80% and 90% of its aluminum, and about 20% of it comes from the Gulf. The concern for automakers and suppliers is that even though the region is not a large producer of auto parts per se, it could be a chokepoint for key materials that form those parts. Duncan Wood, a visiting fellow at the Washington, D.C.-based think tank Wilson Center, said there are reasons to think these high prices won't last, and that oil will not rise to $200 per barrel, as some have speculated. "Although the Strait of Hormuz is responsible for so much of the traffic, you will see other countries beginning to boost production," he said. "That will help. You've already seen the Saudis trying to move some of their production away from that channel to other outlets to world economies. Probably the Russians will try to replace a lot of the Iranian oil in the Chinese market." But for the auto industry, a further step back reveals a larger and troubling pattern: repeated global shortages the industry doesn't have a playbook for. The pandemic brought raw materials shortages, a microchip deficit and oil spikes, while the Ukraine war cut off an important source of wire harnesses a key component in cars. "Since Covid, some very fundamental things seem to have broken," Hearsch said. Meanwhile, geopolitical tensions are rising. A second chip shortage erupted in 2025 when the Netherlands-based chipmaker Nexperia found itself at the center of a trade standoff between the European Union, the U.S. and China. "What you had was years, even decades of, of really relative stability," he said. "The global supply chain, the world is flat. All of this was was pretty stable. The disruptions were kind of long cycle and everybody was interested in cooperating." Automakers are facing the fallout from conflict in Iran while already paying out billions in tariff costs due to trade disputes. These disruptions are stretching the industry's resources at a time when it is trying to enact two fundamental and interrelated transitions: making profitable electric vehicles and rolling out new hardware and software. "It's not just perception," Hearsch said. "It's not just how it feels. These things are continually disruptive. There's no silver bullet for predicting or dealing with all of these crises, because they each have some unique thing that you would have to do differently. That's what we're experiencing." I was on CNBC yesterday, discussing our top pick from our research on the impact of the energy sector from the Iran war. SLB is the world's largest oilfield services provider. Over the past two weeks, the conflict in Iran sent crude prices briefly surging toward $120 per barrel, yet SLB's stock fell nearly 10% during the same period. That divergence has created what appears to be a rare valuation disconnect. The global leader in oilfield services trading as if energy demand were collapsing, despite one of the most volatile oil supply environments in decades. In reality, geopolitical disruptions tend to benefit companies like SLB over time. When global oil prices rise while supply becomes uncertain, producers typically respond by accelerating offshore development and long-cycle projects exactly the areas where SLB dominates. Trade timing & outlook SLB recently pulled back toward the $45 support level, which previously acted as resistance during the stock's breakout earlier this year. The stock successfully bounced off the $45 level, suggesting buyers are stepping in following the recent sell-off. Upside potential: If SLB stabilizes above support, the stock could recover towards $52, where it traded prior to the recent market turbulence. Technically, the recent pullback appears more consistent with macro-driven selling pressure than a deterioration in company fundamentals. Fundamentals Despite its dominant position in the oilfield services industry, SLB currently trades at a meaningful discount to its peers. Forward P/E: ~16x vs. Industry ~19.6x Expected revenue growth: ~4.5% vs. Industry ~5.3% Expected EPS growth: ~9.3% vs. Industry ~19% Net margins: ~9.5% vs. Industry ~5.1% While growth expectations are modest relative to some peers, SLB's profitability remains significantly higher than the industry average, reflecting its technology leadership and global footprint. The company also generated more than $4 billion in free cash flow in 2025 and continues returning capital to shareholders through dividends and buybacks. Bullish thesis International oil projects are accelerating: SLB's business is weighted toward international markets and offshore developments. The company recently secured multi-year projects with Petrobras in Brazil and Mubadala in Indonesia and is ready for an entry to Venezuela. Technology and software expansion: The ChampionX acquisition adds production optimization software and digital infrastructure, which should expand margins and deepen integration with major energy producers. Uncertainty favors services companies: Geopolitical disruptions and potential supply disruptions across the Middle East tend to encourage global producers to invest in new supply sources. That translates into more drilling activity, offshore projects and greater demand for oilfield services, all of which directly benefit SLB. Options trade Given the elevated volatility across energy stocks, a conservative way to express a bullish view is through a cash-secured put strategy. I'm looking to sell the April 17, 2026 $47.50 Put for approximately $2.05. Maximum reward: $205 per contract (4.51% yield in 37 days) Maximum risk: $4,545 if shares were assigned Breakeven: $45.45 This approach allows you to collect premium while potentially acquiring SLB shares at a discount if the stock declines. View this Trade on OptionsPlay for Updated Prices Summary The recent selloff in SLB appears driven more by macro uncertainty and market positioning than by any deterioration in the company's fundamentals. With geopolitical tensions pushing energy markets into one of their most volatile periods since 2022, the world's largest oilfield services company may be one of the most overlooked beneficiaries. If oil supply disruptions lead to increased global drilling activity, SLB's scale, technology leadership and international exposure position it to capture a disproportionate share of that spending. DISCLOSURES: None. All opinions expressed by the CNBC Pro contributors are solely their opinions and do not reflect the opinions of CNBC, or its parent company or affiliates, and may have been previously disseminated by them on television, radio, internet or another medium. THE ABOVE CONTENT IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY . THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE FINANCIAL, INVESTMENT, TAX OR LEGAL ADVICE OR A RECOMMENDATION TO BUY ANY SECURITY OR OTHER FINANCIAL ASSET. THE CONTENT IS GENERAL IN NATURE AND DOES NOT REFLECT ANY INDIVIDUAL'S UNIQUE PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES. THE ABOVE CONTENT MIGHT NOT BE SUITABLE FOR YOUR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES. BEFORE MAKING ANY FINANCIAL DECISIONS, YOU SHOULD STRONGLY CONSIDER SEEKING ADVICE FROM YOUR OWN FINANCIAL OR INVESTMENT ADVISOR. Click here for the full disclaimer. This is the script of CNBC's financial news report for China's CCTV on March 11, 2026. OpenClaw's earliest prototype was a project called Clawd released last November by Austrian programmer Peter Steinberger. The project later went through several name changes, first to Moltbot, and was officially named OpenClaw in January this year. Due to its open-source, unrestricted, and autonomous operating features, the project quickly spread after its release and has been regarded as one of the most accessible AI agent projects. Recently, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang also stated that OpenClaw is the most important software release in history. Analysts point out that OpenClaw's rapid rise reflects the market's growing interest in "AI agents." These systems can autonomously complete tasks, make decisions, and take actions on behalf of users without continuous human guidance. The OpenClaw software itself is free. Users only need to pay for the cost of running the underlying large language models. However, the installation process may not be simple for users without technical experience. OpenClaw's slogan is "The AI that actually does things." Early users' reactions can be described as both excited and concerned. Supporters describe OpenClaw as "AI with hands," saying it can save several hours of repetitive work each week. Jay Zhao Managing Partner Leonis Capital "it changed how AI interacting with the humans, where AI taking a more proactive stand in terms of suggesting item to do." Analysts believe that as AI agents continue to develop, this technology could disrupt the long-standing "middleman" model of the internet, while end-service providers that directly deliver services may instead become the winners. Specifically, AI agents may not browse multiple websites and compare prices like humans do, but instead directly complete transactions based on user needs. Under this model, airlines, hotels, and other end-service providers may benefit, while intermediaries such as ticket booking platforms and price comparison websites may see their roles weakened. However, analysts also warn that deploying OpenClaw at this stage carries security risks. As an open-source project, OpenClaw is more like an experimental platform, allowing developers to observe what AI can do with almost no safety guardrails and how it interacts with the real world. But this may not be suitable for everyone. For users, to some extent, it means trading security for convenience. Jill Popelka Board advisor Darktrace "they're also naive. They don't have business judgment. They don't fear consequence. And so we have to ensure that we have put some guardrails, really, around those AI agents as we use them, ensure that we know what data they have access" In addition, what many people find somewhat strange or even novel is a platform called Moltbook, which can be understood as a forum website built for AI agents. There, AI agents can post, comment, and even interact with each other, as if forming a "social network among AI." This phenomenon, which appears as AI interacting and chatting with one another, has also quickly gone viral online. Regardless of the controversy, related technologies are rapidly entering industrial deployment. On Tuesday local time, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, confirmed that it has acquired the AI agent social platform Moltbook. It is also reported that Nvidia plans to launch an open-source AI agent platform for enterprises. We will continue to follow these developments closely. Saratoga ridden by Mark Walsh celebrates winning the McCoy Contractors Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham Racecourse on March 10, 2026 in Cheltenham, England. This report is from this week's CNBC's UK Exchange newsletter. Like what you see? You can subscribe here. Irish trainers, most notably the great Willie Mullins, have trained the most festival winners in 14 of the last 15 years. And, in 17 of the last 18 years, Irish jockeys have dominated, most famously the brilliant Ruby Walsh, whose record of riding the most winners at 11 festivals is unlikely to be beaten. Above all, there's the Irish attendees making up roughly one-third of the crowd. The festival usually coincides with St Patrick's Day although not this year and has become a showcase for Irish racing. The festival draws a unique crowd to the rolling Cotswolds hills. Streetwise lads from Liverpool, Manchester and nearby Birmingham, many of the latter dressed like characters from the cult Birmingham-based TV drama Peaky Blinders, rub shoulders with the landed gentry, business leaders and City types, showbusiness personalities and the farming community from Gloucestershire and neighbouring counties. The four-day festival it was extended from three days in 2005 will attract more than 160,000 racegoers in a champagne and Guinness-fueled celebration of Britain's second-most-popular spectator sport. Yesterday saw the start of the Cheltenham Festival, the jump racing calendar's biggest annual event. Yet this year's festival comes at a time of crisis in British racing. Charles Allen, the respected former chief executive of broadcaster ITV, resigned last week as chairman of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), the sport's governing body, which licences participants, oversees disciplinary procedures and enforces the rules. His departure after just six months, due to what the Guardian called "horse racing's intractable politics," underscored the difficulty of reconciling the industry's stakeholders: racehorse owners and breeders, jockeys, trainers, racecourse owners and bookmakers. Allen's distinguished business career and close ties to the government made him an ideal candidate to bring unity and deliver a strategy to grow the sport. Unfortunately, this proved impossible. What looks to have caused his downfall was a refusal by smaller racecourse owners and in particular Arena Racing Company (ARC), whose 16 courses include Chepstow, Newcastle and Wolverhampton to support the idea of an independent BHA board. This is said to have been driven by ARC's demand that the BHA continue charging a relatively low sum for so-called "race-day data" mainly information on non-runners and off-times which the racecourses then sell onto bookmakers bundled in with other information and footage from the races that can be screened in betting shops. ARC and its allies have already fallen out with bookies, most notably Betfred, after seeking to raise the price of this footage. Allen is said to have reluctantly acquiesced to ARC's demands and, in the process, alienated others. The Jockey Club, owner of Britain's most prestigious courses, including Aintree, Newmarket, Epsom and Cheltenham itself, responded to Allen's resignation by demanding a corporate governance review at the Racecourse Association (one of the bodies currently represented on the BHA board). Other leading courses Ascot, Goodwood, Newbury and York joined its call. With civil war having broken out among the racecourse owners, it is hard to see how their differences can be reconciled. The Jockey Club operates under a royal charter the King and Queen are its joint patrons and all of its profits are reinvested in the sport. By contrast, ARC, which is owned by the billionaire brothers David and Simon Reuben, is renowned for being aggressively commercial. In the meantime, racecourse attendances remain below pre-pandemic levels and the industry's costs are rising, while betting revenue is falling. This latter point is crucial as 10% of returns made by bookmakers from horse racing bets are returned to the sport via a government levy. Never has unity been more needed. But never have the competing interests within the sport been more destructive. Ian King In this article 9988-HK 1698-HK CAAS Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT This report is from this week's CNBC's The China Connection newsletter, which brings you insights and analysis on what's driving the world's second-largest economy. You can subscribe here. The big story Instead of trumpeting China's tech advances, Premier Li Qiang struck an uncharacteristically somber tone during a nationwide address on policy plans. I've heard him speak in person several times over the years, including his first and only press conference as premier in 2023, and he's as motivational as Chinese politicians can be. But his candid portrayal of challenges and tech goals on Thursday was far more measured in tone. That signals one thing: Whatever the geopolitical situation or state of the economy, China sees technology as the key to its future. To get there requires a departure from China's state-dominated economic preferences. Businesses and investors also need encouragement, as it wasn't too long ago that Beijing was tightening oversight of tech companies. But changes are happening. One senior official told reporters over the weekend that businesses need to take a greater lead in helping policymakers figure out which tech challenges are worth solving and in evaluating research outcomes. Industrial policy debate It's quite a shift from Beijing's top-down industrial policy a model that's started to gain admirers. The approach has stirred anxiety in Washington, which has tried to pursue its own version with the CHIPS and Science Act. But excessive state participation hasn't been good for China's aircraft ambitions, according to a report published last week by Scott Kennedy of the U.S.-based think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies. Instead, he said, where China's private sector has taken the lead, such as in electric vehicles, rapid advances have bolstered Beijing's status globally as a tech power. State-organized infrastructure still matters. Government-built charging stations helped electric cars go mass market. Now, China is rolling out computing power for its homegrown AI companies as part of its 15th five-year development plan that kicked off in January. But innovation is already happening in the private sector. Last week, just before Li's speech, I stopped by the offices of Beijing-based startup Linkerbot. The company has been making mechanical hands for humanoid robots that have gained global attention over the past year. The company pushed back on the idea that it would benefit from specific policy support. Instead, the startup said overall industrial development has enabled its tech to move quickly from research labs to actual business use. Linkerbot said its robotic hands are sold not just in China but also to customers in Europe, Japan and South Korea. And in a refrain I'm hearing more often, Linkerbot claims production times at least one-sixth those of foreign rivals, at one-tenth the price. Forced transformation Beijing's pivot toward giving the private sector more leeway traces back to last February, when President Xi Jinping met with tech entrepreneurs. But change at a deeper level takes time and resources that the government may not always have. Liqian Ren of Wisdom Tree summed up Beijing's attitude as: "We don't have much money to help you, so you are pretty much on your own, but we are not going to crack down on you." Investors are also getting a clearer sense of where Beijing's red lines are, such as in monopolistic or hyper-competitive behavior. At the same time, private companies still have their own profit-driven incentives and remain a critical source of employment in China. Ironically, the electric car push has also forced traditional state-owned giants to adapt, or risk further eroding their market leadership by BYD and other upstart companies. State-owned Changan Automobile has responded by working with Huawei on in-car technology. The collaboration helped the company climb to third place in China's new energy vehicle rankings by domestic sales last year, ahead of Tesla. The technological advances have gained international attention. Changan, based in the southwestern metropolis of Chongqing, said that over the past year, it has hosted a slew of government delegations, industry partners and customers from Europe, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. In about a month, a U.S. delegation of more than 100 young science and technology professionals is traveling to the city, said Chen Wei, chair of Chongqing-based fintech company Yucun Keji. Chen, who will be presenting to the U.S. delegation, is also one of Chongqing's representatives to the National People's Congress, as is Changan's Chairman Zhu Huarong. It's the kind of state-vs.-private-market dance that businesses in China have long had to navigate. But this year, the stakes are higher. With tariffs, war abroad and slowing growth at home, China's tech companies bear a growing national responsibility. It's one that Beijing won't want to discourage. Need to know Coming up In this article ABB.N-CH SIE-DE SU-FR Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT watch now Just outside Ireland's capital, Dublin, a data center has become the first in Europe to turn to an independent, so-called "islanded," microgrid to keep its servers running. Europe is looking to cash in on the AI boom while tackling power connection delays that have persisted for decades. The European Commission estimates the bloc needs at least 1.2 trillion euros ($1.39 trillion) in investments by 2040. In some cases, companies can't wait for bottlenecks to be eased and are turning to their own sources of power. The Dublin facility, operated by digital infrastructure developer Pure Data Centre Group, which partnered with power supply solutions provider AVK, could mark the continent's first step toward a privately powered ecosystem. Microgrids are localized energy systems that can generate, store, and distribute power. The systems are already being widely used in the U.S., where a boom in data centers in red-hot areas like Texas and Virginia has seen an increasing need for off-grid power. AVK and Pure DC say their Dublin installation is the first data center in Europe to be operated by a live microgrid. "As these data centers get bigger and we see AI workloads and that data becoming more of a feature in our day-to-day lives, that only puts more stress on the grid. So we have to drive to a different solution," AVK CEO Ben Pritchard told CNBC. The systems are not without their challenges. Regulatory hurdles could slow deployment, and the long-term success of microgrids likely depends on whether their power sources are both reliable and sustainable. Overcoming an energy moratorium Ireland is one of two European countries to have enforced a moratorium on new data center applications as the energy-intensive facilities put pressure on the nation's grid. The facilities consumed a staggering 22% of the small country's power in 2024. Ireland's national grid operator warned in late February that meeting power demand could be "challenging" as consumers use electricity in new ways. It identified data centers as a key driver of that demand growth. But late last year, Irish authorities eased the moratorium, as the AI boom saw sentiment U-turn on their economic potential. All new data centers connecting to the grid must now provide dispatchable power electricity that can be turned on or off depending on the national grid's needs or have the capacity to store energy. They must also source at least 80% of annual demand from renewable electricity generated in Ireland, according to guidelines set by the country's regulator CRU. "The alternative in Ireland was to wait, literally wait for an unknown time to be able to get a grid connection, and still today you're not able to get a grid connection. So creating a microgrid enabled us to move our project forward," Pure DC President Dawn Childs told CNBC. Childs, who was appointed a Dame in the U.K. for her services to engineering, added that the project is intended as both an immediate and a long-term solution. "If we have to stay as an islanded solution, we absolutely can ... However, to get the most sustainable solution and to provide services back into the grid in Dublin, in the most constrained area of Ireland, it would be our desire to get a grid connection." The Dublin data center, which can run both cloud and AI workloads, has a total capacity of about 110 megawatts. Total projected investment in the site is about 1 billion euros ($1.2 billion). A CGI image of what the complete microgrid-connected AVK and Pure DC facility will look like in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo: Pure Data Centres Group) (Photo: Pure Data Centres Group) The facility is currently powered by natural gas engines with the ability to switch to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO). The site has also trialled biomethane as a power source. If the Dublin data center does eventually secure a grid connection, it will be able to offer dispatchable power and provide up to 20 MW of battery storage, Childs said. Islanded power The global microgrid market was worth around $29 billion in 2025, with Europe's market expected to grow by nearly 10% per year due to its aging infrastructure, according to estimates from Global Market Insights. While investments are made in modernizing the national grid, companies are expected to increasingly turn to more immediate solutions for power. Microgrids are already being used to power industrial sites and plants in Europe, but there aren't many instances of them powering data centers when compared to the U.S. In addition to AVK, companies such as ABB and Siemens are racing to develop the technology, with Schneider Electric opening a microgrid testing lab in Massachusetts last year to test the systems in real-world conditions. Siemens sees "potential opportunities" for implementing microgrids at data center locations and is currently in discussions with several customers, a company spokesperson told CNBC. The topic is particularly relevant for the U.S. market, but it is also having similar discussions in Europe, they said. Siemens is also interested in the use of microgrids to support electric vehicle charging infrastructure and port decarbonization. AVK, which is expected to reach at least a billion-dollar valuation by 2030, initially focused on standby and backup power generation before expanding to become a full power solutions provider. According to the company's CEO, discussions and plans for microgrids were underway in Europe, but the U.S. market quickly overtook the 27-nation bloc. "It's just that the U.S. has such a high demand that we've seen the rollout a little bit quicker than we've seen here in Europe," Pritchard told CNBC, adding that the company is now seeing a new type of investor who is specifically interested in microgrids and not necessarily the data center itself. watch now "They're infrastructure funds who are looking to build, own and operate microgrids and supply power to the data centers," Pritchard said. He expects this type of asset class to mature over the next three to five years. Ireland is a "real success story," Gary Wojtaszek, chairman and interim CEO at Pure DC, told CNBC. He added that the company, owned by Oaktree Capital, plans to undertake a series of fundraises to support its expansion from the 1 GW of global data centre capacity it currently operates to a targeted 3 GW over the next few years. "The scale of the business is such that [you have] to get to the public markets to raise that amount of capital to continue to fund your growth," he said when asked about the potential for an IPO. "I think that's something that we're going to look at in the future, but not currently on our time horizon." Sustainability and reliability One of the biggest challenges facing the market is how microgrids are deployed sustainably, as much of the discussion on the tech has revolved around the use of gas turbines or fuel cells, Diego Hernandez Diaz, a partner at McKinsey, told CNBC. "Making these assets grid participants in theory and in practice are very different questions," Hernandez Diaz said. "Technically speaking, it's very feasible to do so, and we've seen examples of that in the U.S. [where] grid operators are requiring 50 or even 100 hours of flexibility out of the entire year in order to ease the pressure on the grid. So they're not asking for a lot, but actually having the regulation and policy in place to allow for that to happen is a big question." Ensuring the power supply is reliable, as well as overcoming regulation, will also be key, Hernandez Diaz said. He noted that in the U.S., around 30% of data centers are adopting microgrid or other behind-the-meter solutions, like fuel cells and gas turbines power sources that don't require a connection to the main grid. In Europe, the share was just 510% 18 months ago, but has since already risen to about 20%, he added. The energy center in construction at AVK and Pure DC's microgrid connected data center in Dublin. (Photo: Pure Data Centres Group) Pure Data Centres Group watch now The EU must not abandon plans to ditch Russian oil and gas, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said, as the war in Iran causes a painful supply crunch. But Moscow is threatening to shut the door early, as the continent continues to wean itself off its supplies. The EU has scaled back imports of Russian energy since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and is planning an outright ban on all Russian energy imports. But the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran has sent international markets into a tailspin, limiting oil and gas supplies and sending prices soaring. Stock Chart Icon Stock chart icon Oil prices over the last five days. Europe is particularly vulnerable to an energy shock, and more Moscow-friendly European states like Hungary have called for a lifting of EU sanctions on Russian energy imports to ease the supply crisis. Von der Leyen said on Wednesday that it would be a mistake for the EU to abandon its strategy that aims to deprive Russia of revenues from its energy sales that fund its war machine against Ukraine. "In the current crisis, some argue that we should abandon our long-term strategy and even go back to Russian fossil fuels. This would be a strategic blunder," von der Leyen said in a speech in the European Parliament. She said the EU was preparing other options to lower energy prices for its 27 constituent states, including state aid measures, power purchasing agreements and subsidies or caps on energy prices. As prices soar, G7 energy ministers have met in Paris to discuss the possible release of emergency oil stocks held by the International Energy Agency. A decision is set to be made later on Wednesday. Russia looks to hurt Europe Von der Leyen was speaking after Russian President Vladimir Putin has already said his government "may decide not to wait for Europe to completely reject its oil and gas." Sensing the opportunity to tighten the screws on Europe, Putin said on Monday: "The government has already set the task of evaluating the possibility and feasibility of stopping our fuel supplies to the European market, without waiting for the door to be demonstratively slammed in front of us." "The task is to do it now and to redirect these volumes from the European markets to more promising areas, and, most importantly, to gain a foothold there," he added, in comments reported by state news agency TASS. Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the government via a video link in Moscow, Russia, March 4, 2026. Gavriil Grigorov | Via Reuters Iran appoints Mojtaba Khamenei as its new supreme leader. Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images The U.S. achieved a quick victory when its first strikes on Iran killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country's supreme leader for nearly 37 years. But news that the country had appointed Khamenei's son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as his successor, along with Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, sent oil prices skyrocketing above $120 per barrel on Monday, their highest levels since 2022. "The Iranians are showing defiance by choosing the son of Khamenei," Michael Herzog, former Israeli Ambassador to the U.S., told CNBC on Tuesday. He added it showed there was "continuity, and the guy will probably be vengeful." U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his "disappointment" in the new supreme leader's selection, telling Fox News: "I don't believe he can live in peace." watch now The country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, told CNBC on Monday the country would unite around Mojtaba Khameini when asked about schisms in the country's leadership. The 56-year-old inherits the job of leading a country of over 90 million people in a war that has engulfed the Middle East. Here are five things to know about him. He's more hardline than his father Mojtaba Khamenei is more connected to the Islamic Republic's political and security establishments than his father was. Born in the religious city of Mashhad, he was just 10 when his father, a mainstream figure in the revolution alongside the country's first ayatollah, Ruhollah Khomeini, overthrew the ruling shah and established the Islamic Republic in 1979. The son joined the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iran's most elite military institution, in the late 1980s, serving in the final years of the 1980-88 IranIraq war, a period that shaped his ties to Iran's security elite. After the war, Mojtaba Khamenei studied under prominent clerics in Qom. Despite years in the system, he does not hold a traditional religious rank. He strengthened his connections with Iran's clerical establishment and consolidated his position within conservative and hardline political networks through his marriage to Zahra Haddad Adel, the daughter of a senior conservative politician. For decades, Mojtaba Khameini operated quietly in his father's office, cultivating influence across the IRGC. Through his decadeslong entrenchment within Iran's institutions, by many accounts stronger than his father's in his own early rule, has shaped his reputation as a more hardline figure. Mojtaba Khamenei has been identified as one of the leaders overseeing the 2009 Green Movement crackdown, when security forces brutally suppressed protestors who opposed President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad being declared the winner of the election, the largest demonstrations at that point since the revolution in 1979. He has close ties with the IRGC Mojtaba Khamenei has maintained close ties with the IRGC over the years. The IRGC is seen as a fierce defender of the Islamic Republic and was formed by Iran's first supreme leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, not long after the 1979 Revolution. It was further entrenched in the country's system by his successor. It boasts expansive intelligence capabilities, business networks, and nearly 200,000 personnel. His involvement in the IRGC during the Iran-Iraq war is central to his rise and allowed him to forge close relationships with members of the Guard and its internal networks. His wartime ties later evolved into a core power base within the security establishment. Mojtaba Khamenei acted as a key figure inside his father's office. He coordinated directly with IRGC commanders and intelligence units, managing sensitive security and political files. Without the IRGC's backing, Mojtaba Khamenei could not have ascended to succeed his father. Airstrikes killed much of his family Along with his father, Mojtaba Khamenei's wife, son and mother were killed in airstrikes on Feb. 28, according to a statement by the Iranian government. "You can imagine that this is not someone who's going to be in any kind of conciliatory mood," Jasmine El-Gamal, former Middle East Advisor at the U.S. Department of Defense and now CEO of Averos Strategies, told CNBC. "The two sides continue to be quite far apart, and that's why I say we're going to continue to see more escalation from a military perspective over the next few days," El-Gamal added. watch now He's never held public office before Mojtaba Khamenei's father was president before he was the ayatollah. But the son maintains a relatively low public profile. He was described as an influential shadow figure operating behind the scenes of Khamenei's office, and was called his "principal gatekeeper," and "the power behind the robes," in U.S. diplomatic cables published by WikiLeaks. A billboard is displayed which features an image of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on March 4, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. Majid Saeedi | Getty Images In 2005, he was accused by reformers of working with religious leaders and the IRGC to ensure the election of Ahmadinejad, the conservative candidate, as president. He faced similar claims in 2009. A reformist candidate who ran in the elections at the time, Mahdi Karroubi, wrote a letter to Ali Khameini, then the ayatollah, saying his son had worked to support one of the candidates. Per an excerpt published by PBS, Karroubi said in the letter that Ali Khameini had said of his son: "He is his own man, not just my son." In 2024, when Iran's Assembly of Experts met to discuss Ali Khamenei's successor, the then-supreme leader said that his son should be excluded from consideration, the New York Times reported. He reportedly has an international property empire A major housing affordability bill poised to clear the Senate as soon as Thursday will hit a wall in the House, in part over concerns about a ban on major investors from buying single-family homes. During a meeting at the House Republican retreat this week attended by the party's leaders and committee chairs, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., predicted the housing measure is likely to bog down due to differences between the House and Senate versions. He said that if the Senate doesn't address wide-ranging concerns from House members and House Financial Services Chair French Hill, R-Ark., the bill is likely to require discussions between the House and Senate before it could become law. "If the Senate thinks we're gonna take this medicine, we're gonna go to conference" committee, Scalise said, according to three attendees, who asked not to be named because they were speaking about a closed-door meeting. A conference committee is made up of lawmakers from both chambers who are charged with reconciling differences between legislation that's been approved by the House and Senate. The housing package has received a rare degree of bipartisan support in a bitterly divided Congress. A House version of the bill passed 390-9 in February, while the Senate measure has advanced through procedural votes with more than 80 votes supporting it. Yet Scalise's outlook for the Senate bill means the legislation will likely need to go through weeks, or months, of negotiations before a final bill is ready. The International Energy Agency on Wednesday agreed to release 400 million barrels of oil to address the supply disruption triggered by the Iran war, the largest such action in the organization's history. The IEA did not set out a timeline for when the stocks would hit the market. It said that the reserves would be released over a time frame that is appropriate to the circumstances of each of its 32 member countries. IEA members are primarily advanced economies in Europe, North America and northeast Asia. The organization is tasked with maintaining global energy security. It was founded in 1974 in response to the oil embargo imposed by Arab producers over U.S. support for Israel during the 1973 Arab-Israeli war. "The conflict in the Middle East is having significant impacts on global oil and gas markets, with major implications for energy security, energy affordability and the global economy for oil," IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said in remarks broadcast from the group's headquarters in Paris. "I can now announce that IEA countries have unanimously decided to launch the largest-ever release of emergency oil stocks in our agency's history," Birol said. IEA members currently hold more than 1.2 billion barrels of public emergency oil stocks, with a further 600 million barrels of industry stocks held under government obligation. The IEA chief said the release is designed to address the immediate impacts of the supply disruption. But tanker traffic must resume through the Strait of Hormuz to bring stable oil and gas flows back to the global market, Birol said. The strait is a narrow maritime corridor off Iran's coast that connects the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Roughly 20% of global oil and gas usually passes through it. Tanker traffic through the strait has ground to a standstill as shippers fear attacks by Iran. Earlier in the day, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the country intended to release oil stockpiles from its national reserves as early as next week, citing an "exceptionally high level of dependence" on the Middle East. Biggest supply disruption ever The closure of the strait has triggered the biggest oil supply disruption in history, according to analyses by consulting firms Rapidan Energy Group and Wood Mackenzie. Energy analysts warned ahead of the release that even the IEA's maximum drawdown capability would likely not be able to offset the nearly 20 million barrels per day that typically transits through the strait. The IEA chief painted a dire picture of the situation. Middle East producers are cutting production and refinery operations are disrupted with major implications for diesel and jet fuel supplies in particular, Birol said. Attacks continue to damage energy and energy-related infrastructure, he said. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meet on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, on Oct. 23, 2024. India is easing rules that will allow Chinese investments into the country, in a move that marks New Delhi's push to reset economic ties with Beijing after nearly six years of friction. The Indian cabinet has approved changes to its foreign direct investment policy, allowing investments from "Land Bordering Countries" in manufacturing of electronic components, capital goods and solar cells, the government said in a release on Tuesday. While India shares borders with China, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar, the restrictions were primarily aimed at limiting investments from China the only major economy sharing its border with India. Beijing-New Delhi ties had soured in 2020 following the deadly border skirmish in the Galwan Valley, and India had tightened investment rules the same year. Under the new rules, Chinese investments in Indian companies will be expedited and processed within 60 days as long as the ownership of the firms stays with Indian shareholders, the note said. The rules also permit Chinese companies to acquire up to 10% stake in Indian businesses without seeking New Delhi's approval. "Allowing limited Chinese participation in India's manufacturing ecosystem could make it easier for [multinational] companies to shift final assembly to India while maintaining access to Chinese inputs," said Arpit Chaturvedi, South Asia advisor at Teneo. He added that this will reinforce India's "attractiveness within China-plus-one strategies" of multinational companies that are looking to diversify supply chains away from China. For the past six years, attempts by Chinese companies to invest in India had been thwarted by a web of security clearances from India's foreign and home ministries. The Indian government in its note has said that these restrictions were "adversely affecting investment flows from investors including global funds such as PE/ VC funds" especially in cases where investors held a "non-strategic, non-controlling interests." Those potential price hikes come as U.S. consumers face a sustained stretch of higher prices for food, housing and energy. Inflation for food at home climbed 2.4% year over year in February, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said Wednesday. Roth estimates the disruption could raise "food-at-home" inflation by roughly 2 percentage points, adding about 0.15 percentage points to headline inflation in the U.S., on top of roughly 0.40 percentage point increase from energy. "Beyond energy, another risk receiving less attention is the potential knock-on effect on food prices, as fertilizer shortages push agricultural costs higher," said Wolfe Research chief economist Stephanie Roth in a note written on Tuesday. While energy markets have focused on oil supply risks, analysts say threats to fertilizer supply chains through the Strait of Hormuz may also bring long-term economic issues through food inflation. The war in Iran could raise global food prices as the conflict disrupts fertilizer shipments through one of the world's most critical trade routes. More than one-third of globally traded fertilizer passes through the Strait of Hormuz, making it a critical artery for agricultural supply chains. Commercial traffic through the route has largely been halted since the war started late last month, disrupting shipments just as farmers across the Northern Hemisphere prepare fields for spring planting. The timing is critical because fertilizers are applied early in the crop cycle and help determine yields later in the year. "If fertilizer supply tightens during this window, farmers may reduce application rates," Roth said in the note. That could reduce yields for crops like corn, soybeans, wheat and rice, and increase agricultural costs. Economists in the fertilizer industry are equally concerned and say prices are already rising. Between the weeks ending Feb. 27 and March 6 which encompass the start of the war the price per short ton of urea fertilizer imports in the U.S. jumped by 30%, according to data collected by industry advocacy group The Fertilizer Institute. Urea a nitrogen-based fertilizer widely used to boost crop yields is one of the most heavily traded fertilizers moving through the region. Higher fertilizer prices for farmers and retailers could ultimately raise food costs for consumers if the trade disruption lasts, said Veronica Nigh, chief economist at The Fertilizer Institute. "This is a global impact on fertilizer costs," said Nigh. "I would imagine that there would be much more passing on of these costs to consumers in this scenario, which is not something we have seen before." The U.S. relies on global fertilizer markets, importing roughly 20% of its total use, though nitrogen fertilizers like urea come from a more wide-ranging group of suppliers, including Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, Russia and elsewhere. The ripple effect could stretch around the world and beyond commodities. Asia and Africa are especially dependent on fertilizer exports from the Gulf region. Countries such as India rely heavily on Gulf supplies, while several African economies depend on imported materials used to produce fertilizers. While disruptions to fertilizer shipments could lower crop yields for farmers and raise costs for households, fertilizer producers could stand to benefit. CF Industries hit an all-time high Monday and shares are up nearly 10% over the past week, the company's biggest multiday gain since 2022. Correction: This story has been revised to reflect that the Iran conflict is disrupting fertilizer shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. A previous version misspelled the name of the body of water between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. In this article CAAS USO Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT Rotterdam hopper dredger vessel operated by Van Oord sits anchored, as Iran vows to close the Strait of Hormuz, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Muscat, Oman, March 9, 2026. Benoit Tessier | Reuters Iran has continued to send large amounts of crude oil via the Strait of Hormuz to China even as the war between U.S.-Israel and Iran has jeopardized broader supplies through the critical waterway. Iran has sent at least 11.7 million barrels of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz since the war began on Feb. 28, all of which were headed to China, Samir Madani, co-founder of TankerTrackers.com, told CNBC on Tuesday. The firm monitors vessel movements with satellite imagery, allowing it to capture vessels that would otherwise go undetected if their tracking systems are switched off. Many vessels have "gone dark" after Tehran threatened to attack any vessel attempting to pass through the waterway. Shipping intelligence data provider Kpler estimates around 12 million barrels of crude oil to have passed through the strait since the war started. "Given that China has been the primary buyer of Iranian crude in recent years, a significant share of these barrels could ultimately head there," said Nhway Khin Soe, crude analyst at Kpler, adding that confirming the final destination for these vessels had become increasingly challenging. China's National Energy Administration did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comments. The Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway that has been critical to the transportation of about one-fifth of the world's oil and gas, has seen shipping traffic slow to a trickle since the war started last month, with tankers largely avoiding the besieged waterway. Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards Getty Images Ten vessels in or near the Strait of Hormuz came under Tehran's attack less than two weeks into the war, killing at least seven seafarers onboard, according to the International Maritime Organization. Oil tankers transiting through the Strait "must be very careful," a spokesman for Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in an interview with CNBC's Dan Murphy on Monday. Three of the six tankers captured on satellite imagery that have departed Iran since Feb. 28 were Iranian-flagged, said Madani. As oil prices have soared on supply disruption fears, U.S. President Donald Trump told Fox News' Brian Kilmeade that ships stranded near the passageway need to "show some guts" and push through the channel. "There's nothing to be afraid of, they have no Navy, we sunk all their ships," Trump said. Alternative exports outlet? Kharg island terminal, located about 15 miles off the coast of mainland Iran, has long been the country's primary oil export facility, handling around 90% of its crude exports before tankers travel through the Strait of Hormuz. Now, Iran has also resumed loading tankers at the Jask oil and gas terminal along the Gulf of Oman, south of the Strait of Hormuz, which could add additional capacity to crude shipments. An Iranian vessel was loading 2 million barrels of crude oil only the fifth such loading there in the past five years, according to TankerTrackers. watch now The renewed activity at Jask signals that Tehran is exploring alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz, though the extent to which it can serve as a viable route for shipments remains uncertain, said Soe. The Jask oil facility Iran's only crude export outlet on the Sea of Oman that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz entirely has rarely been used as it appears far less efficient. Loading a single Very Large Crude Carrier, a class of supertanker built for long-haul oil transport, can take up to 10 days, Madani said. "It has good domestic propaganda value, but not much in terms of a logistical advantage." For comparison, a VLCC takes about one or two days to load in the Kharg Island. China's stockpiling While Tehran continues to export to China, shipments of about 1.22 million barrels per day (mbd) were significantly lower than the levels before the war broke out. Iran exported 2.16 mbd in February, the highest level since July 2018, according to Kpler's Soe, and they were all destined for China, as Beijing amassed reserves to cushion the potential energy supply risk. In the first two months of the year, Beijing accelerated its efforts for building its oil stockpile, with crude imports soaring 15.8% compared to a year earlier, customs data showed Tuesday. According to Kpler, Iranian crude loadings also hit a record high of 3.78 mbp in the week of Feb. 16, more than double the previous weekly average of roughly 1.48 mbd. Over the years, China has built up large crude stockpiles, accumulating an estimated 1.2 billion barrels of inventory as of January, which could fulfill demand for 3 to 4 months, according to Atlantic Council. And that build-up took on renewed urgency this year as U.S. President Donald Trump targeted two of Beijing's most critical sources of supply, Venezuela and Iran. The U.S. captured Venezuela's leader Nicolas Maduro in a military strike at the start of the year, while Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the U.S.-Israel war against Iran last month. The Middle East war has shown few signs of abating, keeping tensions around the Strait of Hormuz elevated and global energy markets on edge. watch now In this article MSFT ORCL NVDA CSCO Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT watch now Tech companies have been funnelling billions of dollars into AI infrastructure projects in the Middle East over the past few years, drawn in by cheap and readily available energy and land, alongside local government support. But the Iran war spilling over into neighbouring countries in the Middle East throws questions over the future of the data center and digital infrastructure buildout in the region, particularly if it becomes a prolonged conflict, experts told CNBC. Data centers have already been targeted. Iran's wave of retaliatory attacks hit AWS facilities in the UAE and Bahrain, causing banking, payments, enterprise and consumer services to experience outages. While the Iran war will likely not see hyperscalers walking away from existing AI infrastructure builds in the region, it could impact future investment in the case of drawn-out hostilities. There could be a "shift in where the next wave of capacity gets built," Patrick J. Murphy, executive director of the geopolitical unit at Hilco Global, told CNBC. "If geopolitical risk continues to rise in the Gulf, companies may accelerate projects in places like Northern Europe, India or Southeast Asia, where power supply, regulatory frameworks and security conditions are more predictable." watch now 'Targets for attack' The Middle East has fast become a key hub for tech companies looking to build out infrastructure to support the AI boom. A concerted push by governments in the region to attract international investment and divest away from China to appease the U.S. administration has borne fruit. Oracle , Nvidia and Cisco are all involved in OpenAI's AI campus in the UAE dubbed Stargate which, in collaboration with Emirati firm G42, will span 10 square miles and include a 5-gigawatt capacity. Saudi company Humain is pouring billions of dollars into AI infrastructure buildouts and Microsoft said it would invest $15 billion into the UAE by 2029. But security considerations around the facilities that power digital infrastructure in the region have come under scrutiny in the past week following attacks by Iran. Those strikes signal that data centers may now be "considered legitimate targets for attack in modern armed conflicts," Aalok Mehta, director at think tank the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "This will significantly change how companies think about data center security going forward." AI infrastructure firms will likely be making contingency plans because of the situation, he added. "Either by considering shifting to less vulnerable regions or by hardening current and future data centers with missile defense and counter-drone technology." Guests look at a model of the largest data center in the UAE under construction in Abu Dhabi as the Stargate initiative, a joint venture between G42, Microsoft, and OpenAI, during the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference (ADIPEC) in Abu Dhabi on November 3, 2025. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP) (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images) Giuseppe Cacace | Afp | Getty Images Prolonged conflict There are still big draws for companies looking to build AI infrastructure in the Middle East. "The region remains attractive to companies in terms of capital from sovereign wealth funds, government buy-in, available energy and its role as a gateway to markets in the global south," Tess deBlanc-Knowles, senior director at think tank Atlantic Council, told CNBC. Governments in the Middle East will also likely be racing to reassure U.S. companies and encourage them to maintain commitments in the region. "The UAE sees AI buildout as critical to their future and is betting heavily on the technology," said Mehta. "It is investing many billions of dollars to support the AI transition and has also played a central role in facilitating many of the big AI infrastructure partnerships." Given the huge costs invested in already operational facilities, alongside the power contracts, land agreements and fiber connectivity, it's unlikely AI hyperscalers will look to relocate built capacity. "Data centers typically need to be located close to their customers to ensure low latency and reliable service," Tancrede Fulop, senior equity analyst at Morningstar, told CNBC. "Relocating or closing facilities could therefore lead to service-level agreement breaches and reputational risk." But scenario planning around the Iran war and its impact on the wider Middle East region will be weighing on investment committees and boards. Rather than exiting the region, companies could take steps to "hedge their investments," by slowing new capital deployments or pausing planned partnerships, deBlanc-Knowles said. Should the conflict persist or escalate, those hedges may transition into an "evaluation of alternative regional hubs to reduce exposure to sustained disruptions from a wider regional conflict," she added. U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum speaks as he attends with Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez (not pictured) to deliver statements at Miraflores Palace, in Caracas, Venezuela, March 4, 2026. U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said Wednesday that the International Energy Agency should release oil stockpiles to address the massive supply disruption triggered by the Iran war. "Certainly these are the kinds of moments that these reserves are used for, because what we have here is not a shortage of energy in the world," Burgum told Fox News in an interview. "We've got a transit problem which is temporary," he said. "When you have a temporary transit problem that we're resolving militarily and diplomatically, which we can resolve and will resolve, this is the perfect time to think about releasing some of those to take some pressure off of the global price." Burgum's comments come as the IEA has proposed to release 400 million barrels of oil, the biggest such action in the organization's history, sources told The Wall Street Journal. Japan's Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae told reporters Wednesday that Tokyo plans to independently release stockpiled oil as early as Monday, according to Japanese broadcaster NHK. The IEA convened an emergency meeting Tuesday to discuss a stockpile release, but has not yet publicly announced a recommendation. Its member countries hold about 1.2 billion barrels of oil in reserve. The IEA's 32 members are advanced economies in Europe, North America and Northeast Asia. The Iran war has triggered the biggest oil supply disruption in history, as most tankers are unwilling to transit the critical Strait of Hormuz because they fear attacks by the Islamic Republic. The Strait is a narrow maritime passage between the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman that is vital for global oil exports. About 20% of global petroleum consumption passed through the Strait prior to the war. President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he's not worried about Iran executing a terror attack within the United States in retaliation for the ongoing war by the U.S. and Israel. "No, I don't," Trump told a reporter outside the White House when asked if he feared such a domestic attack. Trump also touted progress in the war against Iran, which is in its 11th day, before departing for a trip to Kentucky and Ohio. "Right now, they've lost their Navy, their Air Force. They have no anti-aircraft apparatus at all," the president said. "Their leaders are gone, and we could do a lot worse." Trump said the U.S. military is "leaving certain things" in Iran, which could be destroyed by the afternoon, if need be, and "they literally would never be able to build that country back." Later in the day, Trump told reporters upon arrival at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland that the U.S. has located all Iranian "sleeper cells" covert groups embedded in foreign countries that remain dormant until activated to carry out terror attacks. "We know where Iranian 'sleeper cells' are ... we have eyes on all of them," Trump said, adding that the U.S. was "in very good shape" in its war on Iran, according to a Reuters feed of his statement. The U.S. military had destroyed about 16 of Iran's mine-layers, Trump said. Asked if Iran had mined the Strait of Hormuz, which is the world's most sensitive choke point for oil shipments, Trump said, "We don't think so." In a report Tuesday that cited two people familiar with U.S. intelligence reporting, CNN said that Iran began laying mines in the strait, albeit just a few dozen in recent days. Trump, referring to the CEOs of major oil companies, said, "I think they should" send tankers through the narrow strait, which has remained effectively closed because of the war. A spokesman for Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned Monday that tankers passing through the strait "must be very careful." The Strait of Hormuz, which lies off the southern coast of Iran, connects the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea. The insurance giant Chubb said Wednesday that it will serve as lead underwriter for a U.S.-government-led program to provide insurance to ships passing through the strait. The artificial intelligence spending blitz has the memory industry dancing to a new tune. Shares of Micron are up more than 370% over the past year, while Sandisk , which only listed in February of last year, is up more than 1100%. For decades, memory stocks were stuck in a trader's game, a boom-bust-repeat pattern, but executives now say that AI has structurally broken the old cycle, and prices are showing no signs of coming down. "We will continue to raise prices because the industry will continue to raise prices," HPE CEO Antonio Neri told CNBC. "There is not enough supply for demand." An executive at hard drive maker Seagate told the South China Morning Post on Tuesday that memory price hikes are likely to become "the new normal" for the next few years. South Korea's SK Hynix , one of the biggest producers of memory in the world, told CNBC that the entire memory industry is undergoing structural change. "The company's customers, including hyperscalers, have increasingly preferred long-term contracts over the one-year agreements that were more common in the past," a spokesperson said in a statement. Nike is still worth a spot in the Club's portfolio, even though the stock hasn't done a whole lot of winning lately. "It's a fraction of what it used to be worth, but it's still a great company," Jim Cramer said during Wednesday's Morning Meeting . "So I think that it's one that you have to hold onto." Jim admitted that Nike's stock performance has been "disappointing," echoing the frustration he expressed during the February Monthly Meeting. Shares are down 5% over the past five sessions and more than 12% year to date. Ending Wednesday's session below $56 a share, Nike is trading at its lowest levels since we initiated a position in September around $68. The last time Nike closed south of $56, the market was in the throes of tariff-induced chaos in April 2025. However, analysts at Barclays offered a glimmer of hope Wednesday, upgrading the stock to a buy-equivalent rating from neutral. Analysts acknowledged it is an "unconventional upgrade into peak skepticism," because Wall Street's expectations for the coming years may still be too high. Nevertheless, "the risk to reward profile has shifted favorably, making Nike an attractive investment opportunity at this stage," the analysts wrote. Believing the worst may be behind the sportswear giant, Barclays raised its price target on the stock to $73 a share from $64. The analysts said they're encouraged that Nike has already improved its performance and cleaned up its inventory in North America under CEO Elliott Hill necessary steps to reinvigorate its iconic brand. North America, its largest market by revenue, has been Hill's top priority since taking the job in October 2024. Analysts noted that Nike's running business, in particular, has been delivering impressive growth under Hill. NKE 1Y mountain Nike's 12-month stock performance. To be sure, Barclays acknowledged Nike's turnaround still faces risks around tariffs, competition and a potential weakening in consumer spending tied to the Middle East conflict. "I think people are becoming very skeptical," Jim said. Like Barclays, he pointed to rising competition from brands such as Hoka, On, New Balance and Adidas . China, once a major growth engine for Nike, has also become a major problem. When Nike reported quarterly results in mid-December , declining sales in China were a big reason why the stock fell 10.5% the day after earnings. "China's not working, [the] direct-to-consumer [strategy is] not working," Jim said. Nike's struggles in China were a motivating factor behind Wells Fargo's decision to remove Nike from its list of "top picks" last week. Analysts also lowered their fiscal 2027 earnings per share estimates because of weakness in the region. Despite those adjustments, Wells Fargo reiterated its buy-equivalent rating on the stock. We're clearly not the only ones who see value in Nike's stock. Late last year, a round of Nike insiders including board member and Apple CEO Tim Cook made a splash by purchasing stock in the open market. On the heels of Nike's post-earnings stock drop, that was a welcome vote of confidence in its comeback. Investors will get their latest progress report on the evening of March 31, when Nike is slated to release its next set of quarterly numbers. "I'm still a believer that they can get this thing right," Jim said. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long NKE . See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED. In this article @CL.1 @LCO.1 XOM Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT A family sits against the backdrop of a dockyard off the coastal city of Fujairah, in the Strait of Hormuz in the northern Emirate on Feb. 25, 2026. Giuseppe Cacace | Afp | Getty Images Oil prices rose more than 4% Wednesday, as traders weighed threats to tankers in the Strait of Hormuz against a historic release of emergency reserves from the International Energy Agency. Global benchmark Brent crude futures rose 4.76% to close at $91.98 a barrel. U.S. crude oil gained 4.55% to settle at $87.25. Oil prices rose Wednesday after several commercial vessels were attacked off Iran's coast. Tanker and cargo traffic through the critical Strait of Hormuz is severely disrupted due to threats from Iran. Stock Chart Icon Stock chart icon Crude oil prices To curb this disruption, IEA countries agreed to release 400 million barrels of oil from their emergency reserves, the largest release in history. "The oil market challenges we are facing are unprecedented in scale, therefore I am very glad that IEA Member countries have responded with an emergency collective action of unprecedented size," said IEA executive director Fatih Birol in a statement. "Oil markets are global so the response to major disruptions needs to be global too. Energy security is the founding mandate of the IEA, and I am pleased that IEA Members are showing strong solidarity in taking decisive action together." On Tuesday, oil prices fell drastically after a post on U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright's social media account wrongly stated that the U.S. Navy had escorted a tanker through the Strait of Hormuz. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later told reporters the U.S. Navy had "not escorted a tanker or a vessel at this time." watch now Analysts across Wall Street were happy after Oracle delivered stronger-than-expected fiscal third-quarter results , with accelerating cloud infrastructure growth helping ease concerns about the scale and profitability of its artificial intelligence infrastructure investments. The software giant reported adjusted earnings of $1.79 per share on revenue of $17.19 billion. Analysts polled by LSEG had expected earnings of $1.70 per share and $16.91 billion in revenue. Oracle also reported $8.9 billion in total cloud revenue, beating the $8.85 billion StreetAccount consensus. This figure represents a 44% increase. The $4.9 billion it reported in cloud infrastructure is an 84% surge and was also stronger than the 68% growth Oracle had reported in the prior quarter. Guidance was also better than expected. "Executing to the high-end of guidance for Cloud and Total revenues, with op margins ahead of consensus, should begin to reassure investors on Oracle's ability to execute to a large opportunity ahead," added Morgan Stanley analyst Keith Weiss. Shares rallied more than 10% in the premarket following the results and strong guidance. The gain is a welcomed one as the stock enters Wednesday's session down more than 10% year to date. "With skepticism and debate around the profitability of AI infrastructure (not just Oracle's), it was helpful to hear disclosure of a blended 32% gross margin across all AI capacity delivered in the quarter relative to the company's 30% benchmark," said Deutsche Bank's Brad Zelnick. The report even led JPMorgan's Mark Murphy to upgrade the stock to overweight. Here's what analysts at some of Wall Street's biggest shops had to say. JPMorgan: overweight rating, $210 price target JPMorgan analyst Mark Murphy upgraded the stock from neutral. His price target, down from $230, still implies about 41% upside. "While the earnings call provided limited incremental color on OpenAI and Stargate, the absence of negative news or RPO-writedown may be interpreted as modestly positive signaling. Overall, we respect the accelerating growth being delivered at this scale, believe Oracle deserves credit for execution, and view ORCL shares, which are well off of recent highs when they closed at $328 in September 2025, as offering a more favorable risk-reward dynamic." Deutsche Bank: buy, $300 Deutsche Bank's forecast corresponds to upside of 101%. "We reiterate our Buy rating on Oracle following better-than-expected F3Q results, featuring Cloud revenue growth coming in at the high end of guidance for the first time in over 2 years. Underpinning the strength here was OCI +81% y/y @cc, well above our +75% estimate, driven by strong execution including the delivery of > 400MW of capacity to customers in the quarter. The remainder of the business also performed well, altogether resulting in total revenue and adj. EPS +2% and +5% above Street estimates, respectively, and both growing > 20% organically for the first time in over 15 years. Very importantly, we think messaging and disclosure relative to key investor debates we discussed in our preview was helpful, especially as we think about capital allocation and the profitability of AI infrastructure." Wells Fargo: overweight, $280 The bank's target calls for 87% upside going forward. "Estimates continue to nudge higher as ORCL extends its roster of large AI deals (RPO + $29B q/q, est ~$47B bookings in-qtr). OCI growth story remains early with multiple qtrs of acceleration ( & IaaS share gains) still ahead." Barclays: overweight, $240 The bank's forecast, up from $230, is 61% above Tuesday's close. "We see ORCL shares starting to work better from here again as Q3 addressed several investors concerns around CapEx needs, the GM profile of contracts and ORCL's ability to deliver capacity on time. With the other parts (SaaS, maintenance, etc) also performing well there is plenty of upside now." Goldman Sachs: buy, $228 Goldman Sachs' target equates to 53% upside. "Oracle is indicated up 9% post its 3QFY (February) report. We believe the stock reaction reflects OCI forecasts being revised higher (cloud services guided to 2-6pts of acceleration in 4Q; and total revenue guidance increased to $90bn in FY27, 4% above the Street) on the same FY26 capex (guidance maintained at ~$50bn), as well as incremental datapoints that increase visibility into the timing and profitability of the AI infrastructure build." Morgan Stanley: equal-weight, $213 The bank's forecast implies about 43% upside from here. "Executing to the high-end of guidance for Cloud and Total revenues, with op margins ahead of consensus, should begin to reassure investors on Oracle's ability to execute to a large opportunity ahead. Given the pressure seen in the ORCL multiple, steps in the right direction should yield relief." Almost two months after TikTok's U.S. operations officially landed in the hands of a group of investors, Oracle disclosed its stake in the joint venture at roughly $2 billion. In its quarterly financial filing on Wednesday, Oracle said it recorded "non-marketable debt investments and equity securities and related instruments" of $2.2 billion for the period ended Feb. 28. The "substantial majority" of its non-marketable investments were in TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, the filing said. A national security law signed by former President Joe Biden in 2024 required China's ByteDance to sell TikTok's U.S. operations, or face a nationwide ban. President Donald Trump signed an executive order approving ByteDance's divestment in September. Vice President JD Vance said the business was valued at $14 billion. In January, Adam Presser was named CEO of the new TikTok USDS Joint Venture. Oracle, Silver Lake, Abu Dhabi's MGX and a group of other investors made up the majority control in the new entity. Oracle owns 15% and has a seat on the board, which the company reiterated on its earnings call late Tuesday. Silver Lake and MGX each control 15% as well. ByteDance owns just under 20% of the U.S. venture. Investors face a dilemma in the midst of headlines from the U.S.-Iran war seemingly changing by the hour: Risks of all sorts persist in a stock market that's still near all-time highs, making it difficult to decide where to go and what to do. The major averages rose Tuesday, building on their Monday comeback when stocks staged a massive reversal after President Trump said "the war is very complete, pretty much." Those remarks helped to whipsaw the market, with the S & P 500 ending the session higher by 0.8% after falling as much as 1.5% earlier in the day. Even with those gains, some investors are skeptical that the all-clear has sounded. Not only is the S & P 500 just 2.5% below its all-time high, expectations of future volatility are high. The VIX Wall Street's fear gauge, and calculated based on real-time S & P 500 options prices was last above 20, after nearing 30 on Friday. "While the Trump interview with CBS News and the press conference in Doral, Florida seemed to suggest an early end to the war, he could not provide a date 'not this week,' he said," Komal Sri-Kumar, president at Sri-Kumar Global Strategies, told CNBC. "Also, the naming of the hardline son of Khamanei as the next Iranian leader suggests that they are digging in for a long war." 'Correction could resume' "So, after the steep fall in oil prices [Monday] and pickup in equity prices, the correction could resume," Sri-Kumar added. Sri-Kumar, the former chief global strategist at TCW, is bearish on both the U.S. economy and the stock market. His base line assumption is that stagflation is coming, a period marked by low economic growth and stubbornly high price pressures a forecast he's held since September. Given his weak economic outlook, coupled with high equity valuations, an ongoing war and lingering concerns over the health of private credit, Sri-Kumar said investors should lower their exposure to equities. Traders could position defensively in energy and health care stocks, he added. Within Treasurys, he's sticking to shorter duration bills and notes. Sri-Kumar, whose firm provides macroeconomic consulting, thinks stocks could overshoot to the downside by 15% to 20% before traders step in to scoop up oversold names. "Wait until there is blood on the street, and when you see blood on the street, rush in," Sri-Kumar said. Not everyone holds the same view. On Tuesday, Max Kettner, chief multi-asset strategist at HSBC, upgraded equities to "max" overweight , saying the worst fears around the Iran oil spike are now behind investors. Nevertheless, the strategist held the same view as others that investors should stick to stocks that have been oversold the most during this latest slide. He expressed a preference for Asia and Europe over the U.S., and is overweight Japan equities. Software is one area that may hold bargains after its recent steep decline. Deutsche Bank Research, for one, argued there is now a buying opportunity in the sector after last month's selloff. Toyota vehicles are displayed for sale on a dealership lot on Nov. 18, 2025 in Austin, Texas. Toyota Motor Corp is recalling 550,007 vehicles in the U.S. as a faulty seat-back mechanism may fail to lock, increasing the risk of injury, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Wednesday. The recall includes certain 2021-2024 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles because the second-row seat backs may not lock into place during adjustment. Dealers will replace the return springs in the seat-back recliner assemblies at no cost to owners, NHTSA said. President Donald Trump will decide whether the U.S. participates in the historic release of oil reserves by the International Energy Agency to address the supply disruption triggered by the Iran war, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told CNBC on Wednesday. "I think what you're hearing out of the IEA today is reasonable on their part, but clearly whether the U.S. participates is up to President Trump, he'll make the final decision on that," Burgum said in an interview on CNBC's "Power Lunch." Trump said later Wednesday that he will tap the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to help lower energy costs. "We'll do that, and then we'll fill it up," Trump said in an interview with Cincinnati broadcaster WKRC. "I filled it up once, and I'll fill it up again, but right now, we'll reduce it a little bit, and that brings the prices down," the president said. IEA members agreed Wednesday to release 400 million barrels of stockpiled oil in response to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. It is the largest such action taken by organization in its more than 50 year history. The IEA is a group of 32 advanced economies primarily in Europe, North America and northeast Asia. The U.S. is a member of the organization. The IEA is tasked with maintaining global energy security. The U.S. currently has 415 million barrels stockpiled in its reserve, according to the Department of Energy. The stocks are about 58% of the SPR's current authorized capacity of 714 million barrels. Trump is not obligated to participate in the IEA's release of reserves, said Bob McNally, president of Rapidan Energy Group. "He can decline or chip in a contribution," said McNally, a former White House energy advisor to President George W. Bush. U.S. President Donald Trump takes a question as he speaks during a press conference at Trump National Doral Miami in Miami, Florida, U.S., March 9, 2026. President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the U.S. will get its first oil refinery in 50 years, funded by investments from Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries . "THIS IS A HISTORIC $300 BILLION DOLLAR DEAL THE BIGGEST IN U.S. HISTORY," Trump said in a post on Truth Social. He thanked India's largest privately held energy company, Reliance Industries, "for this tremendous Investment." Reliance owns the world's largest oil refinery in Jamnagar, India, and has a market capitalization of $206 billion, according to LSEG data. The new refinery, located at the port of Brownsville in Texas, will "strengthen our National Security, boost American Energy production, deliver Billions of Dollars in Economic impact, and will be THE CLEANEST REFINERY IN THE WORLD," Trump said. The refinery is designed to process 100% American shale oil and is being developed by America First Refining. Iran has shipped at least 11.7 million barrels of crude oil to China through the Strait of Hormuz since the US and Israels latest war on Iran began on February 28, CNBC reported. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the busiest routes in the world for oil and gas. Normally, about 20% of global crude oil passes through this waterway. After US-Israeli strikes assassinated Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other top officials 12 days ago, Tehran vowed revenge and closed the narrow oil corridor. It warned it would set fire to any vessel attempting to navigate the strait.China has been Irans largest oil buyer in recent years, importing about 90% of its crude exports. Last year, China imported about 5.4 million barrels of crude per day through the Strait of Hormuz, The Guardian reported. This included a record 1.38 million barrels per day of Iranian crude, much of it under sanctions.Many tankers en route to China have switched off their automatic tracking systems, as per CNBC. This practice, known as going dark, is used to avoid detection amid rising risks in the strait.The ongoing war in the Gulf has disrupted normal traffic through the strait. Many commercial shipping companies have stopped using the route, and insurance costs for tankers have risen sharply. Ships that do travel there, face risks from mines, missiles, and naval attacks.Because traffic through Hormuz i s so low, other countries are trying to find other ways to move oil. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf producers are shifting some shipments away from the strait, using pipelines and routes through the Red Sea, Reuters reported.For years, China has built strategic reserves and diversified its energy supply. By 2025, Iran supplied about 13% of Chinas seaborne crude, often sold at a discount and sometimes relabelled to avoid sanctions. The current conflict has pushed global oil prices sharply higher, but Chinas extensive stockpiles, estimated at 1.1 to 1.4 billion barrels, or about 140 days of import demand, give it a buffer against immediate shocks.The conflict has caused a sudden surge in global oil prices. Brent crude briefly reached $119.50 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate also touched nearly $119.Markets reacted and stock indices across Asia, Europe, and the US dropped sharply.Irans main export terminal at Kharg Island (known as orphan pearl) remains operational, continuing to load supertankers bound primarily for China. Other Gulf producers, including Iraq, the UAE, and Kuwait, have scaled back production as tanker traffic slows.Chinas exposure extends beyond oil. Between 2019 and 2024, Chinese investment in the Gulf region reached nearly $89 billion. This includes stakes in LNG terminals , ports, and infrastructure projects across the region, as per a NYT report. Iran-US-Israel War Highlights: PM Modi discusses regional tensions with Iranian President Pezeshkian By CNBCTV18.COM | Mar 13, 2026 6:25 AM IST (Updated) Iran-US-Israel War Live Updates: Tensions in West Asia rise as US-Israel-Iran conflict impacts energy markets. Irans Foreign Minister said talks with Washington are off. Trump warned Tehran on oil shipments. US-Israel-Iran War LIVE Updates: Iran warned it could wage a prolonged war with the United States and Israel that would "destroy" the world economy, even as US President Donald Trump said the Islamic Republic was facing imminent defeat. The defiance from Tehran came as fighting around the strategic Strait of Hormuz -- the waterway carrying a fifth of the world's oil -- sent shock waves through energy markets, prompting emergency releases from global reserves and a limited draw on US stockpiles. Oil prices have surged since February 28, when the United States and Israel launched air strikes on Iran that killed its supreme leader and plunged the Middle East into conflict. Retaliatory Iranian missile strikes and drone attacks have brought shipping through the strait almost to a halt, forcing governments to scramble to contain the fallout, while Trump said Iran was "pretty much at the end of the line." Let's tune in to the West Asia conflict's LIVE coverage with CNBC-TV18 here: 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 Why foreign media say 'while the world burns, China defines the future': People's Daily Rui Ping 08:55, March 11, 2026 By Chang Yandao ( Global Times "While the world burns, China defines the future." As China's two sessions convene, a foreign media outlet published an article under this headline, noting that everything that happens in China will have a ripple effect on the world. Each of its decisions affects everyone, either directly or indirectly. Many overseas Chinese feel this deeply: While they may be facing a world of chaos and turbulence, they have behind them a motherland as firm as a rock. As one netizen put it, "We are not living in a peaceful era, but we are living in a peaceful country." This year's two sessions have focused heavily on the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), rallying people around a shared vision of the future. The event allows the world to witness China's determination and resilience in economic development featuring "maintaining strategic resolve, forging ahead step by step, and advancing steadily from one stage to another." A steadily developing China is injecting greater stability and certainty into a world marked by turbulence and transformation. "Nurture industries of the future such as future energy, quantum technology, embodied AI, brain computer interfaces, and 6G technology" - foreign companies operating in China have taken note of signals from the government work report, viewing them as a "list of opportunities" for deeper engagement in China. China's stability is the reassurance that allows Indonesian companies to confidently expand their overseas business, said the head of an Indonesian media outlet. A China committed to peaceful development is enabling its hundreds of millions of people to stride more confidently toward the future. Plans include raising the average years of schooling among the working-age population to 11.7, increasing life expectancy to 80 years, and building around 1,000 closely integrated medical and health consortia at the county level. Through this "livelihood agenda" of the 15th Five-Year Plan, one can glimpse a vibrant and promising future. From planning the 15th Five-Year Plan to legislating the development planning system, China has become "an oasis of certainty and a hot spot for investment and entrepreneurship," bringing opportunities and hope, warmth and reassurance to the world. This article was originally published by the Opinion Department of the People's Daily. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) 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. Despite the impressive ability of the combined might of American and Israeli forces to decapitate the Iranian regime and seriously degrade its military resources, theres a growing fear in Washington that all is not well. As spiking oil and gas prices threaten President Trump with gathering economic pain and a domestic political backlash, there are even those close to him in the White House urging an exit plan which would bring hostilities to a quick end. Last night's confirmation by the Pentagon that 140 US soldiers have been wounded in the conflict so far, after seven were killed in the first 10 days, will only embolden them. Yet much of the increasing concern is caused by the President himself. The endgame what victory would look like remains as much of a mystery as it did when he began the attacks on Iran 12 days ago. Meanwhile his messaging on the wars purpose and progress has become a confusing shambles. One minute earlier this week he was claiming America is way ahead of schedule in achieving its military aims and that it will all be over very soon. Next minute hes musing aloud we could go further, quickly adding were going to go further. In one interview he refuses to rule out boots on the ground. In the next interview he says hes nowhere near considering that. Last week he said his goal was Irans unconditional surrender. This week he opined that if we cant have [regime change], we might as well get it over with right now. In other words, quit. This is no way for a war leader to conduct a war. Keir Starmer was wrong to refuse America use of two US bases on British territory (even if he did quickly U-turn), unnecessarily throwing a spanner into the Anglo-American works for the sake of some nebulous pieties about international law. But he was right to avoid going to war alongside America and Israel. Of course, contrary to Labour spinners implying Starmer bravely and explicitly rejected US requests to join in, there was no need to say no to Trump because (bar the use of the bases) he never asked us for our help in the first place. Given the current scandalous state of our military unpreparedness we had nothing useful to bring to the conflict anyway, which is why our involvement never even crossed Washingtons mind. President Trump's messaging on the war's purpose and progress has been a 'confusing shambles', writes Andrew Neil Even so, it was wise to stay out. You cannot easily go to war comfortably or confidently alongside an ally who changes the war aims from day to day and his assessment of the course of the war from hour to hour. Nor is it sensible to stand shoulder to shoulder with an ally who has made some fundamentally wrong calls. Some of those close to Trump say he was genuinely surprised when the Tehran regime didnt simply crumble after the first US-Israeli onslaught, especially since its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, was an early fatality. If so, he was clearly badly briefed on the resilience and fortitude of the tyrants of Tehran. The Israelis claim up to 75 per cent of Irans missile launchers have been destroyed. Even thus depleted, Iranian missiles and drones are still wreaking havoc in the Gulf States. Not as many are being launched as before but still enough to discombobulate Americas allies in the region, spreading fear, an exodus of expats and tourists while disrupting oil and gas facilities, airports and embassies. The US says 43 Iranian naval vessels have been destroyed and that the regime no longer has a functioning navy. Even so, the Strait of Hormuz is closed, a strategic choke-point for the global economy through which a fifth of the worlds oil and gas passes. President Trump says the US Navy will open it again. In truth it is in no position to do so. It is months away from being able to organise the sort of protected convoys which kept the Strait open in past Gulf conflicts, including the Iran-Iraq War in the late Eighties. France is only talking about providing escort once the conflict is over. The failure of America to plan ahead for this contingency is a telling sign that Trump did not properly think through the consequences of unleashing attacks on Iran and was ill-prepared for it. This matters because the longer the Strait of Hormuz stays closed the more the rest of us will feel the economic pain as energy prices soar and the global economy tanks. Of course these are early days. Yesterday morning US defence secretary Pete Hegseth, a blowhard who deploys the offensive and puerile rhetoric of military video-games to describe US action, promised even more intensive missile attacks on regime infrastructure. Masked Basij militants, a volunteer militia within the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, in downtown Tehran It will naturally continue to take its toll on the regime. But perhaps not fatally so. After 12 days of brutal attacks, the regime is certainly battered but not broken. It remains in control, still with fight in it. Senior regime figures are now in hiding, lest they are blown away like their very recent predecessors. But they post messages to show theyre still in charge. There are, as yet, no perceptible cracks in the regime, no institutional breakdown. Irans military remains intact enough to target and often hit high-value infrastructure across the Gulf. There have been no uprisings. Fresh memories of the massacre of protesters in their thousands earlier this year is enough to deter even the bravest. There is a heavy security presence on the streets, with plenty of checkpoints in Tehran and other cities. In Isfahan, a large number of the Basij, the regimes volunteer goons, have been roaming the streets on motorcycles, brandishing guns and flags of the Islamic Republic. In a text message sent to millions of Iranian mobile phones on Sunday the intelligence wing of the Revolutionary Guard warned that street protests will be considered an example of direct co-operation with the enemy. Just in case anybody didnt fully comprehend the message, it added: If they show sympathy for the enemy, there is a shoot-to-kill order. So hopes of a quick collapse look forlorn. Even Trumps hope that a faction within the regime would emerge with which he could do business regime reconstruction, Venezuela-style, rather than regime change has failed to materialise. Indeed the new Supreme Leader is the deceased ones son, Mojtaba Khamenei, even more hardline than his father, even more closely aligned with the Revolutionary Guard, the dictatorships main arm of repression. The regime strategy now, as one Iranian source put it to me, is to hang on until Trump moves on, counting on his notoriously short attention span to lead him to lose interest in a stalemate. Mr Trump did not properly think through the consequences of unleashing attacks on Iran, writes Andrew Neil Meanwhile Khamenei Jr and his hardline national security leader, Ali Larijani, sit atop a chain of command which still functions, still has the ability to fan a regional conflict designed to disrupt global trade and travel. Twelve nations have now been drawn into the conflict, whose global ramifications have only just begun. Already you can discern potential winners and losers. The Gulf States, like the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain, have proved remarkably resilient in the face of Iranian attacks. But an undefeated, even if badly wounded, Iranian regime is the worst of all possible outcomes for them. Tehran would retain its ability to terrorise commercial capitals such as Dubai and Doha when the mood took it, undermining their ability to rebuild their hard-won reputations for security and stability in a dangerous part of the world. More than America, more even than Israel, the Gulf States now have a vested interest in regime change. But it is not clear that will be uppermost in Trumps mind if hes looking for a way out. Russia is already a clear beneficiary of the attacks on Iran. The spiking of oil and gas prices couldnt have come at a better time for Trumps pal, President Putin. The extra fossil revenues will replenish the Kremlins coffers just as they were running low. A protracted war of attrition in the Gulf would benefit Moscow even more. Not just in terms of revenue but in downgrading Ukraine in American and European eyes, as the US focused its military might in the Gulf and Europe struggled to cope with yet another soaring energy-price crisis. Both would sap Western support for Ukraine, in terms of military and financial aid, which would play into Putins hands. Indeed, a long war that depleted Western military stocks, diverted attention from Ukraine and perhaps even made Russian oil and gas essential for European economies once more, is a prize of which Putin, at least until now, could only dream. Contrary to much nonsensical scaremongering we are not on the brink of World War Three. But we could be at the start of a regional war with global consequences. China is watching developments closely too. Iran has asked Beijing to provide anti-ship missiles. It is not clear China will oblige. A lot of Chinas oil and gas comes through the Strait of Hormuz. So far only Iranian tankers bound for China have been given safe passage. Plus China, which has been building up oil and gas supplies, has over 200 days-worth in reserve. Unlike Western Europe it is not in any immediate danger of shortfalls. It also has its eyes on a bigger prize: Taiwan. Trumps Iranian venture is said to have whetted President Xis appetite for annexation of what he regards as a rogue Chinese island. Very recent US intelligence reports indicate he has tasked the Peoples Liberation Army with a blueprint for invasion or naval strangulation of the island by 2027. Depending on events in the Gulf, some fear he might even bring that forward. The US Navy has 11 massive carrier fleets. But regular maintenance means only three or four can be deployed at any one time. Two are already on active duty in the Iranian theatre. The US Navy is meant to have a minimum of 355 warships. It currently has 290. The Chinese Navy is bigger and concentrated almost entirely on the western Pacific, where Taiwan is located. This is not to say a Chinese attack is inevitable. It is never easy to discern what is in Xis mind. But current events in the Gulf make it more rather than less likely, especially if Xi concludes Trump is distracted and stretched by other matters. The joint US/Israeli assault on Iran was based on the belief that by decapitating the regimes political and military leadership and destroying the infrastructure that facilitates their repressive rule, it would collapse or at the very least be forced to give up its nuclear ambitions, missile arsenal and evil desire to wipe out Israel. For now, that belief is being sorely tested. As is Trumps domestic standing. For the first time in any recent American war of choice, the attacks on Iran are unpopular with a majority of the American people right from the start. Usually Americans rally round the flag to begin with, disillusion setting in when things turn sour. Not this time. This is politically fraught for Trump given the crucial mid-term elections coming up in November, when Republican control of the House and even the Senate is at stake. Republican leaders from swing states are already calling the White House, urging Trump either to secure a quick victory in Iran or just declare victory anyway and get out. As Ive already indicated, powerful figures in Trumps circle agree. Trump has gambled with the rest of his presidency and it is by no means clear the gamble will pay off. The collateral damage elsewhere the Gulf States, Ukraine, Taiwan could be enormous. And the stagnant European economies, including our own, are in no condition to weather a global recession, which could well be on the cards. Britain is particularly vulnerable. Labours profligate borrowing in two successive Budgets has undermined our fiscal defences. Our borrowing costs will soar if we need to run even bigger budget deficits because of collapsing revenues or the extra cost of new subsidies for household energy bills. Chancellor Rachel Reeves seems oblivious to the dangers. Starmer doesnt seem to understand them. He was right to keep his distance from Trumps Iranian adventure but it could bring him down anyway. As with every previous Middle East war these are parlous times for incumbent governments. Ive got a message for all the tax-avoiding British expats fleeing the Middle East at the moment and making a fuss about it: put down your phones and step away from social media. You are a national embarrassment. I myself have often lived abroad my husband is a pilot so we have lived in Iceland, Mauritius and Italy all in the past few years. So I understand entirely why youd want to leave the UK in search of a better lifestyle and who doesnt want to pay less tax? but I am squirming with mortification on behalf of all those who are moaning about their current predicament and expecting sympathy from their former countrymen. Im now in my refugee era, displaced from my home, declared Apprentice star Luisa Zissman to her Instagram followers from the sanctuary of England, having managed to evacuate Dubai, her home only since she relocated there in December. She then had the nerve to complain that Blighty was very f***ing cold and its very grey and to lament: Im really paranoid someone is going to steal my phone. Shes not wrong of course; the weather is awful here and we have too much crime, but is it really the time to be biting the hand that is currently feeding her with comments like that? It reeks of a stroppy teenage runaway returning home, grudgingly, because they ran out of clean clothes and realised their vision of freedom wasnt all it was cracked up to be. Then youve got the legion of narcissists who genuinely believe we are interested in a livestream of their treacherous voyage back to the UK amid flight shortages. EastEnders actress Rukku Nahar, who was left stranded with her Love Island boyfriend Michael Griffiths last week, invited her followers to wish us luck with a sad-face selfie, saying she and Michael faced a long day and long night in their bid to return home from Dubai. Im now in my refugee era, displaced from my home, declared Apprentice star Luisa Zissman to her Instagram followers from the sanctuary of England In another Instagram post, Luisa complained that Blighty was 'very f***ing cold' Rukku Nahar told her followers that she and boyfriend Michael Griffiths faced a long day and long night in their bid to return home from Dubai (pictured in 2025) Ill reserve my compassion for the civilians across the Middle East who are actually losing their lives at the moment, thank you very much. Its not just celebrities. My own Facebook timeline has been peppered with Dubai residents marking themselves safe or thanking no one in particular for their thoughts and prayers at this difficult time. Sorry, Bethany, but of the small handful of people who have been (tragically) injured or killed in the UAE as a result of Iranian strikes, I wasn't actually worried you were one of them. And dont get me started on anyone who left the UK to avoid taxes (not in itself an unreasonable endeavour), but who still expect a spot on our governments repatriation flights. More than 170,000 Britons have registered with the Foreign Office for help leaving regions including the UAE. Its one thing if youre stranded there on holiday, but I sincerely hope the expats among them will be required to fund their own tickets home. Theres a special place in hell, too, for the slew of families abandoning their dogs because its proving too tricky to export them. They were rightly branded shameful by TV personality Vicky Pattison who got out of Dubai via Muscat in Oman via private transfer after vets reported an influx in inquiries from fleeing expats about euthanising pets. I actually have more respect for the deluded influencers and celebrities in the UAE who are insisting, maniacally, that everything is fine and dandy in their sunny havens as missiles rain down around them. Petra Ecclestone enthused on social media: One thing were very grateful for is how much Dubai puts safety first and how welcomed and safe it has made us feel. She does happen to not be there at the moment, mind you, but only on account of her daughter Lavinias 'horse shows in Europe. TV personality Vicky Pattison got out of Dubai via Muscat in Oman via private transfer She called out the slew of families abandoning their dogs because its proving too tricky to export them, branding them 'shameful' Likewise, another Love Island alumnus and influencer Arabella Chi, who has been busy posting beach selfies from Dubai this week, told the Daily Mail: Everyone Ive spoken to agrees that, thanks to the governments tight control here, its still safer than the UK, given the UKs crime rates. Indeed, there is an almost suspicious number of influencers currently sharing near-identical propaganda videos of Dubai leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on social media with the vaguely dystopian slogan I know who protects us. Im not sure Id feel 100 per cent safe in that part of the world right now, but props to them for sticking it out. I dont for a moment begrudge anyone for wishing to vacate the Middle East at this particular time, to be clear. Id probably be looking for an escape, too. But I would not be kicking up a stink over the airport chaos, or presenting myself as some sort of war victim. So to anyone who is currently experiencing inconvenience in vacating their luxury Dubai residence this week, and is tempted to post a Facebook sob story about it, perhaps keep it to the confines of your expat groups. To your former compatriots in cold, crime-riddled Britain, you simply sound ridiculous. When the iron gate slammed shut behind me, I shuffled forward and held out my arms. The two male prison guards reached out and touched too much, fondling me as they searched for contraband. They seemed to relish it. I tried to block them out, to retreat into a little corner in my mind. I didn't even want to breathe until it was over. A gruff voice, a buzz, then another set of bars swung open. When the last gate clanged, I was surrounded by stark concrete walls. I was locked in now, about to encounter a man who was someone's nightmare. Who might yet be mine? Lorton Reformatory housed the men who'd been convicted of the worst crimes in the nation's capital. It was 1979 and I was 26. I was the newly minted director of the Washington, DC Rape Crisis Center, and I had driven an hour to the notorious Northern Virginia prison on an unusual mission: to talk to a man who was serving a life sentence for raping and murdering a black schoolteacher named Ethel Dorsey. William Fuller had written to the Center months earlier, asking for help. I can still remember the crux of his letter, more than 40 years later: 'Outside I raped women; inside I rape men. I'd like not to be a rapist anymore.' The doors clanged shut - 'I was locked in now,' said Ross, 'about to encounter a man who was someone's nightmare. Who might yet be mine?' At first the letter had appalled Loretta Ross, newly minted director of the Washington, DC Rape Crisis Center William Fuller - convicted for rape and murder - was interviewed by Cambridge Documentary Films He had been incarcerated for 15 years by that time. Fuller's letter sparked passionate disagreement at the Center. Most of us were offended. We didn't have enough resources to help victims. How dare a rapist seek help from us? Yet I couldn't put the letter out of my mind. And, tellingly, I hadn't thrown it into the trash. It sat on my desk for months, lurking beneath other paperwork but never forgotten. Eventually, my curiosity won. Over the objections of some of the other staffers, I wrote back, offering a counseling session. It was only as I stood frozen - in that cramped, drab hallway in Lorton Reformatory - that I realized how poorly this could go. I had no plan, no script. And I had no special qualifications, except for one thing: I was a survivor of sexual assault. Those scars were still bleeding all over my life. When I was 14 and entering the tenth grade in the tumultuous summer of 1968, I was molested by an older cousin. Instead of babysitting me while I stayed with our great-aunt, he plied me with alcohol to manipulate my consent to sex. I had never drunk alcohol before, and I felt like he was treating me like a grown woman. I now know this is how many sexual predators groom young girls. What's worse, he apparently thought what he was doing was okay because I'd told him the secret that I was most ashamed of: that I technically wasn't a virgin, that I'd already been raped. Three years earlier, at age 11, I'd been kidnapped from a Girl Scout outing at an amusement park. I had wandered away from the troop after chasing a place in line for a coveted ride. As I roamed around the edges of the park seeking my mom and the other girls, a uniformed young GI from the local army base offered to help. He drove me into the nearby woods and raped me, repeatedly punching me in the face because I wouldn't stop screaming. I didn't tell my parents because I was afraid I'd be in trouble. At the time, I thought the rape was my punishment from God for getting into a car with a stranger. Ross aged five (in 1958) - she was raped twice by the time she was 14 Ross aged 14 (in 1968), the summer before she was raped for the second time Lorton Reformatory - now closed - housed the men who'd been convicted of the worst crimes in the nation's capital Working at the Rape Crisis Center helped save my life and heal my soul. When I joined, I was suicidal, fearful of men yet in a relationship with one, and trying to hold on to my sanity by channeling my rage into political work. I wanted to help other victims, but I was still in total chaos. I hadn't sought therapy yet for my unhealed trauma, so I was self-medicating through drug abuse, hoping no one would peep behind the facade and discover how much of a fraud I felt inside. I wanted to find answers to why I was hurting so bad. So, after months of indecision, I finally decided to go to the prison. I wanted to make Fuller deal with my pain; part of me wanted to lay into him, to punish him, because my rapists had never been punished. But I also wanted to see if I could change him, to make it impossible for him to hurt anyone else again. No one else from the Center wanted to go, so I was alone in seeking answers to questions I didn't fully know I had. I wanted to feel power - the brave survivor confronting the murderous rapist who deserved everything he got. In my false bravado, I didn't foresee the possibility that this encounter would challenge and change me as well. When I went through that final locked door in Lorton and entered the prison meeting room, six men awaited me. I'd been expecting one man, Fuller, and even he I didn't know how to picture. I was taken aback. It wasn't just how many there were; it was how big they were. I didn't anticipate that they would be so physically intimidating, like buffed-up MMA fighters. Only years later did I realize that I was meeting the prison's predators: the men who bulked their bodies up to avoid becoming prey. They were sitting in a circle, calmly dressed in civilian clothes instead of prison jumpsuits. One man spoke up and took the lead. He was William Fuller, he said, and he introduced the man sitting next to him as Larry Cannon. The pair had started the group that was now sitting before me, which they called Prisoners Against Rape. A 1975 documentary called Rape Culture - produced by Cambridge Documentary Films and revised in 1983 - features the group and includes an in-depth interview with Fuller. Fuller spoke about 'rape culture' and how they wanted to change how they viewed women. At first, they only shared their experiences in broad terms like 'I mistreated women' or 'I was convicted of raping women.' The maximum security facility - 'When the last gate clanged, I was surrounded by stark concrete walls,' said Ross Ross sat in a circle with some of the most dangerous predators in America - still from Cambridge Documentary Films' Rape Culture I didn't question their vagueness. After all, people rarely perceive themselves as villains in their own stories, and abusers frequently minimize what they've done. Besides, I didn't want the graphic details. After those who wanted to speak had introduced themselves, Fuller asked if I was willing to help them learn about things like feminism, black history, and violence against women. In the early sessions, I tried to hide my fear. I didn't precisely feel unsafe, because there were alert prison guards just outside the door. But I did not want to appear hypervigilant as a result of my PTSD, constantly expecting to be raped again. I took comfort in knowing these men were never getting out; they were serving life sentences. I tried to remember that I could come and go, while they could not. But I also didn't feel relaxed. At the Center, we often began with our truths. So, in that first session, after setting out some guidelines, I fell back on the only real thing I could be sure of: my own story. I shared the story of the incest; how angry I was about what happened to me; how I'd had to overcome my anger and fear to meet with them. Slowly, several of the men started resharing their own stories, going deeper. One said he'd been raped as a child and wanted to hurt people like he'd been hurt. One admitted he'd not only raped a woman but also sodomized her with a broom handle, killing her. That's the story that shook me to my core; I still shake today from that dreadful image. Finally, one of the men said he raped other men who were incarcerated with him. After that confession, the room went silent. As I looked around the room, I suspected all of them had done the same, or been victims themselves. Lorton warehoused teen boys as well as adult men, and the stronger preyed on the weaker. Since all of them had entered Lorton as teenagers, they continued the cycle until they chose not to. That's when I felt their desperation. No one was forcing them to be there. They came because they wanted to change. They ached to reclaim their humanity. So began my weekly journeys to Lorton, a tradition that lasted three transformative years. Working with the prisoners in what became an informal book club provided an intellectually stimulating break from the stress of maintaining a barely viable nonprofit organization. They learned to listen to women's voices; I learned to widen my perception of men who rape. I'm not certain when the emotional shift in my relationship with the men occurred. But as I delighted in the joy of shared learning and mutual growth, I forgot to be angry and afraid. I learned that my anger at them was largely born of fear, and eliminating the fear dissipated the anger. I discovered a capacity for trust under the most improbable of circumstances. I learned to see the humanity of those I had only previously seen as predators. They had seemed nothing but evil to me until they helped me see them in all their complexities, with all their challenges and contradictions. In the process, I learned not to be afraid of my secrets. My shame and regrets held me back from owning all of my experiences as the joy of growth. Sharing these secrets began my process of healing. Ten years after I'd left the Rape Crisis Center, I was walking down a street in DC when I heard a bass voice shouting my name. I turned, and there he was: William Fuller rushing toward me, out from behind bars. For years, this had been my nightmare; I'd only been able to sleep when I first got home from Lorton because I knew that none of the men would ever be released. Even after we'd grown friendly, I still felt a jolt of terror at seeing Fuller on the street. I could tell he wanted to hug me, but he held back. I was grateful that he'd listened to me enough in years past to know that a woman's space is her own. In a gush of words, he told me everything: he had been paroled, he had gotten married, and he was working in construction now. He lifted his little lunch box as if to prove it. He looked good, I realized, grounded. He told me that he was continuing to read and had gone back to school. He thanked me for all the work we'd done together; he told me I'd changed his life. As he walked on, I was left shaken and with a strange thought. I hadn't changed him; he'd changed me. Or maybe neither thought was right. He'd already been on his path, and I'd just helped him along. I'd already had the potential to overcome my fears, but I needed someone else to show me how. We each needed someone else to call us in as we struggled to figure out where we could go and who we could be. If we just had a little more space, a little more grace. Excerpted from Calling In by Loretta J. Ross. Copyright 2026 by Loretta J. Ross. Reprinted by permission of Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved. Susan Smith clutched her husband David's hand as they gingerly made their way through the crowd and approached the microphone. Standing in front of a throng of reporters - all with their cameras trained on the young parents - she paused, closing her eyes for a brief moment, bracing for action. When the 23-year-old mother opened her eyes and spoke, what came out was the story of every parent's worst nightmare. 'First of all I would like to say to whoever has my children that they please, I mean please bring 'em home to us where they belong,' she said. Smith's voice grew more high-pitched and emotional as the press conference went on, sobs punctuating her words. 'I want to say to my babies 'I love you so much I just feel in my heart that you're okay.' But it was all an act to disguise a far more disturbing truth. On October 25, 1994, the mom-of-two had strapped her two sons, three-year-old Michael and 14-month-old Alex, into her car and rolled it into a lake in South Carolina. After intentionally drowning her children, Smith fabricated a story that a Black man had carjacked her and driven off with her sons inside. For nine days, she stuck to the story, regaling it countless times in media interviews and making tearful appeals for their safe return on national television. Finally, Smith confessed to the murders and was sentenced to life in prison. It's a story made all the more shocking by the fact Smith tried to parade her false grief on television for the world to see. But Smith is far from alone in her antics. Susan Smith and her husband David on October 27, 1994, as Susan claimed her children were abducted by a carjacker A makeshift memorial is left for Michael and Alex Smith at John D. Long Lake shore in South Carolina, after their mom Susan Smith drowned them From family annihilator Chris Watts to murderer Scott Peterson, it's a well-trodden phenomenon for killers to go on TV to appeal for their missing loved ones - only to be later exposed as their killers. And, according to experts in body language and behavioral analysis, it is these public TV appeals and shows in front of the cameras that can reveal their guilt and lead to their downfall. So why do they do it? Why do killers seek media attention and go on TV to speak about their loved ones' disappearances? Why risk incriminating themselves? Dr. Abbie Marono, an author and behavioral scientist who trains federal agents in behavioral analysis, told the Daily Mail it is because of a common psychological phenomena called White Knight Syndrome. 'These people build their identity around being a protector or rescuer, and need to be seen as the good guy saving others, so with killers like Chris Watts, or Scott Peterson, or Susan Smith that's the role that they're playing on TV. They try to look like the grieving husband, or the desperate mother, because it makes them appear innocent and trustworthy,' she said. It is also the killer's attempt to control the narrative around their loved ones' disappearance, she said. 'It gives them an active hand in shaping their own story. If they put themselves on camera, and are able to discuss their narrative, they become in charge of it,' she said. But, regardless of how good of an actor they are - or how hard they try to play the role of the desperate family member - there are certain patterns or cues that betray that they could be lying. 'Even when individuals are good liars and actors, things tend to slip out,' Marono said. The top body language and behavioral analysis experts the Daily Mail spoke all to debunked the commonly-held belief that one non-verbal action - such as nose scratching or heavy blinking of the eyes - proves a person is lying. Scott Peterson murdered his pregnant wife Laci Peterson and their unborn son Conner in 2004 Before his arrest, he appeared on TV. Body language experts have revealed the clues in his TV appearances that raised red flags Instead, the experts revealed something far more nuanced, where a cluster of cues or behaviors could together raise alarm bells that something isn't what it seems - and needs further investigation. 'The question of deception cues is a highly debated one,' Marono explained. 'When it comes to non-verbal behaviors, there is not one single cue or gesture that proves deception. But, there are consistent patterns. 'It's not about finding one cue and saying they're lying. It's about noticing when words, emotions, and behaviors don't all line up, and looking for a collection of cues, rather than just one.' One of these cues is a mismatch between verbal and non-verbal behaviors. 'When the words and feelings don't match, there's this mismatch. So, for example, a guilty person might say, 'I just want them home'. But their face is blank, their voice is flat, and their body language is very calm,' Marono said. Other cues include overacting, avoiding direct answers, verbal slips, and an increase in self-soothing behavior, like rubbing their arms, or touching their face. 'When we're highly stressed and are trying to juggle a lie it increases our nervous system activation,' she said. 'So people unconsciously engage in self-soothing behaviors as it helps calm down the sympathetic nervous system and make the body more relaxed. And another cue is slips of the tongue where people reveal knowledge they shouldn't have. All these things raise red flags.' Chris Watts played the grieving husband after murdering his pregnant wife Shannan and their two children Chris Watts on the porch of the family home where he played the concerned husband and father Despite common assumptions, neither the presence or absence of tears gives a clear indication of whether or not someone is lying or telling the truth, Joe Navarro, former FBI agent, founding member of the bureau's National Security Behavioral Assessment Program and author of 'What Every BODY is Saying', told the Daily Mail. Rather, the chin is a far more powerful indicator of human emotion, he explained. 'I've seen people cry when they're innocent and cry when they're guilty,' he said. 'The chin is more accurate in revealing emotions. When people honestly are traumatized by an event, there is a wrinkling or dimpling or vibration of the chin. So when I don't see it in someone going through a devastating event, I begin to question why.' It is a natural, innate sign of psychological discomfort even seen in newborn babies, he added. 'This is where the phrase stiff upper lip comes from as it is a response to stop the lips vibrating.' There are also other instinctual behaviors or cues that humans are unable to stop, hide or feign - no matter how hard they try. These innate responses are caused by mental shortcuts in the brain called heuristics that developed in humans thousands of years ago as a way to protect from danger and threats from wild animals. These include freezing, covering the neck, covering the mouth and covering the head when someone feels threatened by something. To respond in this way during a TV appearance could indicate they feel threatened by a question being posed at that time or a piece of information presented. 'We don't even think about them. They are just in our DNA. They're universal behaviors that we do without thinking,' Navarro said. While the most famous examples of killers parading on camera have taken place in the US, Marono said it is actually a universal phenomenon. In the UK, school caretaker Ian Huntley gave several TV interviews after he lured and murdered 10-year-old Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in Soham, England, in the summer of 2002. When JonBenet Ramsey's parents sat down for a TV interview days after the six-year-old pageant star was murdered, her mother Patsy's mellow affect raised eyebrows with the public JonBenet Ramsey was found murdered in the basement of the family's Boulder, Colorado, home on December 26, 1996 'We see these patterns cross-culturally. They are the same behaviors that I've seen in cases in the UK, in Australia, and further afield,' she said. But despite the common patterns and cues, the experts strike a cautionary tale: that not everyone who appears to be lying or guilty actually is. There have been several high-profile cases where an individual's behavior on camera is scrutinized and they are found guilty in the court of public opinion - only to be later exonerated. When British student Meredith Kercher was murdered in Perugia, Italy, in 2007, the public and media quickly eyed her American roommate Amanda Knox as her suspected killer due to her behavior caught on camera outside the crime scene, including a now-infamous kiss with her boyfriend. Knox was convicted and served four years in an Italian prison. Her conviction was later overturned and she was eventually exonerated. When JonBenet Ramsey's parents sat down for a TV interview days after the six-year-old pageant star was found murdered in the basement of the family's Boulder, Colorado, home, on December 26, 1996, her mother Patsy's mellow affect raised eyebrows with the public glued to the screens. For years, the family fell under a cloud of suspicion and accusations. All family members have since been officially cleared as suspects in the still-unsolved case. 'It can be very difficult to tell the difference between people who are guilty and innocent because some cues might appear to show guilt but could actually be present because of the extreme fear of being thought of as guilty,' Marono said. Amanda Knox fell under suspicion of her roommate's murder in part because of her behavior caught on camera, including a now-infamous kiss with her boyfriend. Knox was convicted but later exonerated 'The cues don't show deception but emotion and the intensity of emotion. So I might have that fear because I'm lying, but I might also have it because of a deep fear of being caught. 'It can be very difficult to identify where the emotions are coming from.' There can be a rush to judgement because of a lack of understanding of how humans respond to trauma, she explained. Extreme trauma can cause the brain to go into emotional shutdown, meaning the individual appears cold and calm. Smiling inappropriately can also be a trauma response, Marono added. 'Grief can look really messy, and trauma responses can be unexpected. 'This isn't because they're not in grief, it's because the grief is so intense that the brain has removed that emotional processing to save them. 'That's why we should make sure not to rush to judgments and remember that the non-verbal cues are just one side of the coin. We need to couple them with the verbal aspect, too.' She adds: 'It is one piece of the puzzle.' They all stared into the cameras and begged for their missing loved ones to come home. Some sobbed, some furrowed their brows, some choked over their words. All were later convicted of their loved ones murders. Its a disturbing, though not rare, spectacle for killers to parade in front of the cameras, hold press conferences and TV interviews, and put on what they believe is a foolproof show of grief and concern following the disappearance of the family member they have just murdered. But, to top experts in body language and behavioral analysis, the show is far from convincing. Instead, these TV appearances shine a spotlight on unusual behaviors or cues - including mismatches in verbal and non-verbal cues, excessive self-soothing behaviors, and inappropriate stress responses - and reveal that all is not what it seems. The Daily Mail asked three leading experts in body language and behavioral analysis to analyze the public appeals and TV appearances made by some of Americas most infamous killers and suspects. Heres what they noticed: Chris Watts Chris Watts played the grieving husband after murdering his pregnant wife Shannan and their two children Chris Watts on the porch of the family home where he played the concerned husband and father In August 2018, Chris Watts played the role of worried husband and father when his pregnant wife Shanann and their daughters Bella, four, and Celeste, three, disappeared in Frederick, Colorado. He gave several TV interviews pleading for their return. But his story quickly unraveled. Days later, Watts confessed to murdering his family, leading police to an oil field where he had buried Shanann in a shallow grave and dumped their childrens bodies in tanks. Watts was having an affair at the time of the murders and wanted to start a new life with his lover. Scott Rouse, behavior analyst, body language expert and host of The Behavior Panel, told the Daily Mail he noticed multiple cues during one TV interview on the porch of Wattss home. When Watts crosses his arms and sways back and forth, he is showing what is known as adapting - an attempt to get rid of built-up stress and tension. Theres also a mismatch in behavior with Watts appearing calm, with a flat affect when talking about his missing family. At one point, Watts even smiles and laughs. This is known as Dupers Delight. When someone is being deceptive and believes they are getting away with it, that micro-expression of pleasure will leak out, Rouse said. Often, Rouse said the cues are more about whats missing than what is present because people struggle to fake natural human expressions. Another moment also raised a red flag: Watts learned that a neighbors security footage contradicted his story about the day his family went missing. Watts then covered his head - an innate, primitive response when someone feels threatened For example, when someone is grieving, the grief muscle in the brow forms an upside down shape. It doesn't form at all here, Rouse said of Watts. From a neurological perspective, when you're really grieving, the sides of your mouth will also come down, your chin comes up like a little child's - it's called the chin boss. You can do that by yourself, but it doesn't look the way it's supposed to - it's not as dominant or as deep. They're a little thin. That's how you know somebody's faking that.' Killers like Watts pull expressions that they believe show sadness and grief but fall short because 'they don't understand the way emotions affect facial expressions or behavior,' he said. Joe Navarro, former FBI agent, founding member of the bureaus National Security Behavioral Assessment Program and author of What Every BODY is Saying, also noticed the absence of chin dimpling in Wattss appearances. Watts did however show lip compression and heavy eyelids - behaviors associated with psychological discomfort. But what is important is when that appeared. It was when he was asked a question about when was the last time you saw your wife? which could be a problem, he said. Another moment also raised a red flag: Watts learned that a neighbors security footage contradicted his story about the day his family went missing. He turns away from the information. An honest person would physically get closer to that information but he turns away from it, Navarro said. Watts then covered his head. That, Navarro explained, is an innate, primitive response developed in humans thousands of years ago when someone feels threatened. It indicates he thinks that footage is a threat to his life. Scott Peterson Scott Peterson murdered his pregnant wife Laci Peterson and their unborn son Conner in 2004 Before his arrest, he appeared on TV. Body language experts have revealed the clues in his TV appearances that raised red flags It was Christmas Eve 2002 when eight months pregnant Laci Peterson disappeared from Modesto, California, where she lived with her husband Scott Peterson. For some time, Scott avoided the media while Lacis other family and friends made public appeals for help. As suspicion mounted, Peterson finally sat down with the cameras. Dr. Abbie Marono, an author and behavioral scientist who trains federal agents in behavioral analysis, said the element of control was key for Peterson, because he didn't get involved publicly until his reputation was on the line. When he finally appeared on TV, he was very calm, composed, measured and emotionally contained. During really high-pressure moments, you would expect someone who is suffering to allow emotions to slip out because it's very difficult to control your behaviors when you're grieving. But he was very emotionally contained. He had a very calm, flat affect, she said. It contrasts very sharply with what we would expect from someone whose wife and unborn child are missing. Peterson also focused on himself, she added, speaking about his reputation rather than what his wife could be enduring. In one interview, there was a moment when Petersons phone rang and he quickly turned it off. Scott Rouse, behavior analyst, body language expert and host of The Behavior Panel, and Dr. Abbie Marono, an author and behavioral scientist who trains federal agents in behavioral analysis weigh in on the cases At the time, Laci was still missing and he was supposedly waiting for news about her whereabouts. Those actions, Marono said, are a mismatch between the words and feelings. It is not what you would expect from someone frantically searching for their loved one. Its a slip of behavior, she said. Peterson was convicted of murdering Laci and their unborn son. He continues to appeal his conviction and claim his innocence. Susan Smith It was October 1994 when Susan Smith claimed she was carjacked by a man who drove off with her two sons Michael, three, and Alex, one. Tearful press conferences and media appearances followed. The nation was gripped and horrified. Rouse remembers watching Smiths TV interviews and press conferences in real time - and instantly believing she was lying. All of us analysts were calling each other and saying: I think she did it, he said. Susan Smith gives a tearful press conference pleading for the return of her two sons In October 1994, Susan Smith drowned her two sons Michael, three, and Alex, one, in a lake The cues that stood out to him was the lack of the grief muscles, lack of engagement in the brows, as well as a verbal slip where she referred to her children in the past tense. Marono also found Smiths performance showed overacting and a mismatch between the emotion and her expressions. She does appear emotional and tearful and distraught. But it isnt natural. We tend to switch between different facial expressions very quickly. If youre trying to fake a facial expression, you hold it too long, she said. It felt very artificial - like she was playing a role. It was all a lie. Smith had rolled her car into a lake to drown her children. She confessed and was sentenced to life in prison. She will be eligible for her second parole hearing in November. The third week of grief author Kouri Richins's murder trial got off to a surprising start with the defense team suggesting that her late husband and his best friend were embroiled in a sexting scandal. In a bizarre moment inside Summit County Courthouse high in the mountains of Park City, Utah, on Monday, Eric Richins's text messages referring to an 'open relationship' and anal and oral sex with his longtime friend were revealed to the jury. It was a revelation that sparked a heated debate between Richins's legal team and the prosecution witness, private investigator Todd Gabler, as they sparred over whether the messages were just a 'joke' or an indication of something deeper. Romantic texts, forbidden lovers and extramarital affairs have all taken center stage at the high-profile murder trial as prosecutors lay out their case that the mom-of-three wanted her husband out of the way so that she could start a new life with her handyman. Last week, Richinss ex-lover Robert Josh Grossmann gave tearful testimony about their years-long love affair as their secret texts were shown to the jury. Meanwhile, Erics own alleged interest in a co-worker also cropped up in a stunning moment inside the courtroom. Richins, a 35-year-old real estate agent, is accused of murdering her husband Eric by poisoning him with a fentanyl-laced Moscow Mule cocktail on March 4, 2022. Eric, a 39-year-old successful stonemason, was found dead in the couple's bedroom inside their Kamas home just hours after Richins claimed the couple had celebrated the closing of one of her real estate projects with some homemade cocktails. Kouri Richins and her husband Eric Richins with their three young sons before his March 4, 2022 death In a photo submitted as evidence this week, Richins is seen with Eric's friend Bryce Knudsen and other friends - just one day after Eric was found dead An autopsy found he died from a fentanyl overdose, with more than five times the lethal limit found in his system. For more than a year, Richins played the grieving widow, authoring a childrens book, titled Are You With Me? about dealing with grief. The mom-of-three even appeared on local TV to promote the book in April 2023, describing how she had wanted to find a way to help the couples three young sons cope with the sudden loss of their father. But according to prosecutors, it was all an act. Just one month after that heartfelt media appearance, Richins was arrested and charged with her husbands murder. According to prosecutors, it was a crime allegedly motivated by Richinss desire to obtain Erics $4 million estate and to start a new life with her lover. Richins denies the allegations and has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Now, new details about the couples seemingly crumbling marriage and their communications with those close to them have been revealed in court. Kouri and I are starting an open relationship tonight. So I told her Im taking you home, read one message from Eric to his best friend Bryce Knudsen. Other messages that were referenced but not submitted as evidence to the court contained references to taking part in sex acts, including oral and anal sex together. Sitting on the witness stand in a neck brace, PI Todd Gabler smiled and brushed off the messages as jokes among friends Sitting shackled at the defense table, Richins raised her eyebrows and widened her eyes as she stared Gabler down The crude texts between the two friends surfaced when Gabler faced fiery questions from defense attorney Kathy Nester on Monday afternoon. The private investigator was hired by Erics family after his death as part of an ongoing civil case between them and Richins. During cross-examination, Nester asked Gabler if, over the course of his extensive investigation and analysis of Eric and Richins' cell phones, he had uncovered evidence of Eric sexting with people other than Kouri. Gabler testified that he didnt know what she meant by sexting but conceded that he did investigate allegations that Eric had an affair. Shown the text message where Eric referred to an open relationship, Gabler questioned if the defense was classing that as sexting. It was at this point that Nester alluded to messages where the two men, who had been friends since school, referred to performing oral and anal sex on one another. Sitting on the witness stand in a neck brace, Gabler smiled as he brushed off the messages as jokes among friends. It just makes me laugh. It doesnt seem to be serious, Gabler testified with a big grin. I dont understand this to be sexting. I think youre wrong about that. I resist your characterization. Kouri Richins is accused of poisoning Eric with a fentanyl-laced Moscow Mule cocktail These are two friends joking with each other. Thats what I read here. As well as being at odds with the defense teams assertion, the PIs interpretation of the jokey messages prompted Richins to pull a face. Sitting shackled at the defense table and wearing a black jumper and her hair in a neat bun, she raised her eyebrows and widened her eyes as she stared Gabler down. Erics sister Katie Richins-Benson sat arm-in-arm with her husband Clint Benson and maintained a stoic expression during the testimony. Knudsen's name cropped up earlier in the trial when jurors saw photos and video of an apparently impromptu 'celebration of life' for Eric hours after he was found dead. In one image, Richins was seen posing and smiling with Knudsen and a handful of other friends. During the gathering, a witness testified Knudsen 'probably' took off his pants at one point. Phone calls between Knudsen and Richins were also played in court last week, in which the mom-of-three is heard sobbing and complaining about her rift with Erics family over his trust, which Katie was made the trustee of. Gabler testified that there was zero evidence to suggest Eric and Knudsen were having a homosexual affair. Robert Josh Grossmann broke down as his texts with Kouri Richins were shown in court Shortly after Eric's death, Kouri Richins self-published a children's book titled 'Are You with Me?' What he did find was that between January and May 2022, Richins sent hundreds of texts to Carmen Lauber her housekeeper who testified that she provided Richins the fentanyl that killed Eric. Eric and Richinss mother Lisa Darden were the only people who she had contacted more within the timeframe, cell phone records allegedly showed. Richins is charged with five felonies: aggravated murder, aggravated attempted murder, two counts of insurance fraud and forgery. If convicted, she faces life in prison. The trial continues. Sometimes it takes a crisis to fully reveal the cold, hard truth. The Iran war has done just that in relation to Britain's military readiness. Over many years there have been countless warnings of under-investment in our Armed Forces, and now the conflict in the Middle East has exposed just how grave the situation has become. Ten days after the first missiles fell on Tehran, the Royal Navy finally despatched a single warship to protect British military interests in the Mediterranean. It is approaching a laughing stock something that has not gone unnoticed by Emmanuel Macron. The French president visited Cyprus, the location of the RAF Akrotiri airbase, and told islanders they can 'count on France'. He landed by helicopter aboard the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, to crow: 'An attack on Cyprus is an attack on all Europe.' By contrast, Britain's two aircraft carriers (price tag: more than 3billion apiece) both remain at port, with one HMS Queen Elizabeth thought to be months away from returning to service after drawn-out repairs to its propulsion systems. The HMS Dragon leaves Portsmouth on Tuesday - 10 days after conflict in Middle East ramped up Political leaders, both current and former, must share the blame for failing to heed the warnings about our depleted military. But Sir Keir Starmer alone bears responsibility for the vacillation that has enraged the White House and left other allies questioning Britain's military relevance. If Argentina were to invade the Falkland Islands tomorrow there would be next to no chance that Britain could send a Thatcher-style taskforce to take them back. In the event of a wider conflict, we would be more dependent than ever on America, yet Starmer's peacenik folly has left us distrusted and unloved. Recovery from this dire position will require billions redirected to defence from the over-inflated welfare state, our indulgent asylum system and sloppy Whitehall budget-keeping. If Labour fails to rise to the challenge in light of what we now know about the state of our Armed Forces it faces being accused of nothing less than treason. Victory over hatred The Al Quds march a creation of the Iranian regime had been set to go ahead in London this weekend. Initially only one Labour minister, Sarah Sackman, broke ranks and called for it to be banned, the rest of her party hesitating to speak up in case it lost them Muslim votes in marginal constituencies. Starmer's No10 shamefully passed the buck, saying the police should decide whether it should be outlawed. The Metropolitan Police and the Home Office finally bowed to pressure and the Daily Mail's exhortation last night and moved to ban the event. As the Iranian mullahs rain missiles upon our allies, this should mark the beginning of a new approach a willingness to be intolerant of intolerance. Mistaken identity Labour is blindly pursuing its obsession with digital identity cards. Ministers have been unable to state their purpose, apart from generic references to 'convenience', and cannot say how much they will cost. The sole genuine benefit of the scheme tackling illegal working will no longer be possible after compulsory registration was abandoned. The Government should drop this white elephant and instead divert the money to critical areas: first and foremost to the defence of the realm. Theyve been hailed as miracle drugs, helping millions shed stubborn pounds and cutting the risk of heart attack and stroke by around 20 per cent. But as the use of GLP-1 weight-loss jabs has soared, doctors say they are also seeing more patients in A&E with severe vomiting, dehydration and complications linked to gallbladder disease and acute pancreatitis. Now, new research suggests millions taking the injections could also face a greater risk of developing a chronic cough. A chronic cough is one that lasts longer than eight weeks. It can be debilitating and may cause sharp chest pain as the muscles of the chest wall and diaphragm repeatedly contract. The condition is thought to affect between eight and 10 per cent of adults and can be triggered by asthma and smoking, as well as certain medications. Researchers at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California found that people taking GLP-1 drugs were 12 to 25 per cent more likely to develop a persistent cough than those using other second-line diabetes treatments. The study analysed health data from more than two million people with type 2 diabetes. Of these, 427,555 patients were taking GLP-1 receptor agonists. They were compared with around 1.6million people using other second-line diabetes medications. New research suggests millions taking the injections could also face a greater risk of developing a chronic cough Your browser does not support iframes. Chronic cough has not traditionally been listed as a common side effect of GLP-1 drugs. But the analysis revealed a small yet noticeable increase in cough diagnoses among patients using the medications. The association was even stronger in patients who had never been diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a condition in which stomach acid flows back into the oesophagus and is a known cause of chronic cough. The finding, published in the journal JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, surprised researchers, who had initially suspected reflux disease might explain the link. To test this theory, the researchers repeated their analysis after excluding anyone who had previously been diagnosed with GERD. The unexpected result was that the association between GLP-1 drugs and chronic cough not only remained but appeared even stronger. The researchers suggested the drugs might trigger coughing through a different form of reflux known as laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). This occurs when stomach contents, such as acid and digestive enzymes, travel up into the throat without causing the typical burning sensation associated with heartburn. Scientists believe this could be linked to the way GLP-1 drugs slow stomach emptying - a key mechanism that helps people feel fuller for longer and lose weight. Slower gastric emptying can sometimes allow stomach contents to move further up the digestive tract, irritating sensitive tissues in the throat and potentially triggering the cough reflex. Another possible explanation involves the vagus nerve, which plays a key role in controlling coughing. Because GLP-1 receptors are also found in tissues in the throat and lungs, researchers suggested the drugs could potentially stimulate nerve pathways involved in the cough reflex. However, the scientists stressed that the findings do not prove the medications directly cause chronic cough. According to Jeff Stanley, MD, president of the Virta Medical Professional Corporation of Denver-based Virta Health, the results should be viewed as an early signal rather than definitive evidence. Primary care clinicians should view these findings as a reminder to expand their differential diagnosis when evaluating persistent cough but understand that this is currently a correlation, he said. Stanley added that clinical trials of GLP-1 receptor agonists did not show a significant increase in chronic cough. He said post-marketing data may also be influenced by other factors. Some patient populations may be at higher risk of cough while taking GLP-1s, including those with asthma, COPD, sleep apnoea, or prior GERD, he said. It is possible that a higher prevalence of these conditions in post-marketing surveillance could be responsible for the slightly higher incidence of chronic cough that has been seen. He added that these conditions should not be considered a reason to avoid the medications but said doctors may wish to discuss the possibility with patients. Stephanie Walsh, co-founder of ProCare TeleHealth, said that while several studies have observed a link between GLP-1 therapy and chronic cough, researchers still do not fully understand why it might occur. There isnt a consensus on why this cough is likely to develop, she said. There is some thought that it may be due to gastric slowing and increasing reflux, although patients without GERD have developed the cough as well. Walsh said most cases should be managed conservatively rather than immediately stopping the medication. Management of the cough is not yet established, she said. Your browser does not support iframes. If a patient develops a cough, they should reach out to their physician, especially if they have shortness of breath, difficulty breathing or a fever. Doctors may consider changing medications or investigating other possible causes, she added. Discontinuing GLP-1 therapy is generally recommended only when other explanations have been ruled out and symptoms remain persistent or severe. Stanley said trying a different GLP-1 drug may also be reasonable in some cases, as individual medications can have different side-effect profiles. However, he cautioned that there is currently limited evidence to guide this approach. He also warned that nonstandard dosing schedules, such as taking the medication every other week, are not recommended. Empiric reflux management is typically not recommended, he said, although it could be considered if there is a strong reason to continue the medication, such as coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease or poorly controlled diabetes. As prescriptions for GLP-1 medications continue to rise, Stanley said doctors should discuss possible side effects with patients without overstating the risk. This does not appear to be common, and it wasnt seen in the clinical trials, he said. As with starting any new medication, it is important to encourage open communication from patients about any new side effects, particularly any red-flag symptoms. Encouraging patients to report persistent or unusual symptoms, he added, allows doctors to investigate early while maintaining trust and adherence to treatment. Thousands of frozen blueberry desserts are being recalled in two states over fears they may be contaminated with a deadly bacterium. Oregon-based Willamette Valley Pie Company, LLC, is recalling more than 3,800 frozen raw bulk blueberry crumble pies for potential contamination with listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium that causes the illness listeriosis. The recall applies to 182 four-pie cases of 8-inch frozen blueberry crumble pies and 777 four-pie cases of 9-inch frozen blueberry crumble pies. The 8-inch pies have a best-by date of January 19, 2028 and the 9-inch pies have a best-by date of January 13, 2028. The frozen pies were sold in bulk to grocery stores in Illinois and Oregon. No illnesses have been reported in connection to the recall. The recall has been classified as Class II, indicating 'a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.' Listeria infections often begin with flu-like symptoms, including fever, muscle aches, nausea, and headache, but for vulnerable groups, the illness can be deadly. Pregnant women face miscarriage, stillbirth, or life-threatening complications for their newborns. Older adults and immunocompromised individuals may experience severe neurological effects, including confusion, seizures and even death. The recall applies to 182 four-pie cases of 8-inch frozen blueberry crumble pies and 777 four-pie cases of 9-inch frozen blueberry crumble pies (stock image) While healthy adults usually recover, the elderly are at much higher risk of fatal outcomes due to age-related immune decline. Around 90 percent of people with listeriosis require hospitalization, while 20 to 30 percent of patients die. The CDC estimates that of 1,600 cases every year, roughly 260 do not survive. UPC codes can be found on the pies. The 8-inch desserts have a code of 0002251881223 and the 9-inch pies have 00022518893257. The pies were sold to in-store bakeries and are intended to be baked by the retailers before being sold to customers. The frozen pies were not sold directly to consumers. The recall does not specify which ingredient in the pies is thought to be contaminated. Last month, however, Oregon-based Oregon Potato Company issued a warning over 55,689 pounds of blueberries and the FDA upgraded it to a Class I last week. A Class I recall indicates 'a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.' The recall was issued because the blueberries may be contaminated with listeria monocytogenes. The cases and containers of blueberries were sold in four states: Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin and Michigan. The recall applies to 30-pound cases and 1,400-pound totes. Falling ill with covid, an extreme case of the flu or pneumonia makes you more vulnerable to developing lung cancer, according to researchers. The new findings, published in medical journal Cell, reveal that viral infections 'reprogramme' the lungs and make them more susceptible to becoming tumorous months or even years later. UVA School of Medicine researcher Jie Sun, PhD said that this is because the lungs are left in an inflamed state after battling the infection. He said: 'A bad case of COVID or flu can leave the lungs in a long-lasting "inflamed" state that makes it easier for cancer to take hold later.' Respiratory infections - such as flu and covid - are one of the most common causes of injury and trauma to the lungs, but scientists have had little understanding of the effects this can have on a patient's long-term cancer risk. To investigate, Sun and his team looked at the effects in both lab mice and human patients. In mice, they found that the animals that suffered severe lung infections were both more likely to go on to develop lung cancer and significantly more likely to die from the disease. And when they looked at data from human subjects, they saw a similar pattern, noting a significant association between people who had been hospitalised for covid and increased lung cancer incidence. They noted a significant link between people who had been hospitalised for covid and increased lung cancer incidence Furthermore, the 1.24-fold increase was true regardless of 'comorbidities' such as smoking, or having other health conditions. Using learnings from the mice model, the researchers concluded that viral lung infections have dramatic effects on immune cells called neutrophils and macrophages. These are supposed to protect the lungs, but the viruses triggered some of the neutrophils to malfunction and create an inflamed, 'pro-tumor' environment where cancer can thrive, months or even years later. Similarly, the scientists also identified significant changes to the epithelial cells that line the lungs and the air sacs that let us breathe. The findings will terrify the millions of survivors of severe covid-19 who may now face increased chances of developing lung cancer in the years ahead - but there was good news for people who had been vaccinated. Prior vaccination appeared to prevent the cancer-promoting lung changes, and in people who had only experienced a mild case of covid, actually slightly reduced their cancer risk. Sun said: 'The encouraging news is that vaccination largely prevents those harmful changes for cancer growth in the lung. 'We also believe that vaccines don't just prevent acute hospitalisation after contracting the virus. 'They may also reduce the long-term fallout of severe infection, including the kind of immune scarring that can increase cancer risk.' Based on their findings, the scientists are urging doctors to closely monitor patients who have recovered from severe covid, flu or pneumonia in hopes of catching lung cancer early, when it is most treatable. Jeffrey Sturek, MD, PhD, a UVA physician-scientist and collaborator on the study said that he hopes that this will change the notion of who is at risk of lung cancer. He said: 'These findings have important immediate implications for how we monitor patients after severe respiratory viral infection. 'We've known for a long time that things like smoking increase the risk for lung cancer. The results from this study suggest that we may need to think about severe respiratory viral infection similarly. 'For example, in some patients who are at high risk for lung cancer based on smoking history, we recommend close monitoring with routine screening CT scans of the lungs to catch cancer early. In future studies, we may want to consider a similar approach after severe respiratory viral infection.' Lung cancer is the UK's biggest cancer killer, according to the Lung Cancer Coalition, claiming more than 35,000 lives every year. Around a quarter of those diagnosed with the disease every year are non-smokers. A British woman who was allegedly sexually exploited by a notorious Romanian 'sex yoga' guru accused of grooming hundreds of women has spoken out about the 'twisted' cult in a new documentary. Gregorian Bivolaru, 72, was arrested during raids in November 2023, when police rescued 26 women being held at his Parisian apartment in 'deplorable conditions'. The 'out of the ordinary' operation conducted by 175 officers finally led to the capture of the elusive tantric yoga 'guru', who has already served a prison sentence for raping a minor. He is currently awaiting trial for offences including human trafficking, rape and kidnapping which Bivolaru strenuously denies and a conviction would only be the first step towards healing for his victims, they say. Among them is Miranda (full name withheld), an English teacher from Oxfordshire, who turned to yoga seeking enlightenment but found herself pushed into the dark world of online pornography and webcamming. Telling her story in Twisted Yoga, a new Apple TV series releasing on March 13, Miranda claimed she was groomed and sexually exploited after she joined an east London yoga studio with ties to Bivolaru. The self-styled guru, who began teaching yoga under the Communist regime in Romania, founded the yoga organisation known as Movement for Spiritual Integration into the Absolute (or MISA) in the Nineties. The organisation, also known as the ATMAN Yoga Federation, operates a network of yoga centres across the UK and Europe including the Tara Yoga Centre off Old Street in central London. The reason Miranda was drawn to Tara Yoga Centre was its focus on 'esoteric tantra' that was less about the sexual aspects of the practice and more about fostering a deeper connection to one's inner self. Having attended a tantric yoga course in Thailand, Miranda returned to London in 2017 looking for a studio that would enrich her practice and discovered Tara. English teacher Miranda turned to yoga seeking enlightenment, but instead she found herself pushed into the dark world of online pornography and webcamming Miranda, now in her thirties, resonated with the teachings as she explained: 'For a woman who has grown up having shame, judgment around your body, thinking that I was fat...in this school, there was this idea that your body is sacred, not some kind of object.' She started attending the classes weekly and felt her body and mind respond instantly. 'My relationships were improving, my sense of self had completely changed and that felt really exciting,' she said. 'I decided to quit my job and dedicate myself to [learning the practice] full-time.' In 2018, Miranda signed up for a three-day 'polarity retreat' in Somerset, as Miranda described rituals where female participants were encouraged to dance in their underwear in front of the men. 'That shocked me: the level of casual nudity in the dances and performances, seeing my teachers performing on stage naked,' Miranda told The Guardian last year. When she began dating one of the teachers at Tara Yoga, Miranda learnt about the 'inner circle' and the 'Spiritual Guide' at the centre of MISA Bivolaru. By the time Miranda entered Bivolaru's orbit, he was already a convicted sex offender. Bivolaru was born in 1952 in Tartasesti, now in Dambovita County, in the Muntenia region of Romania. He started practising yoga when he was 17, and was teaching at 18 under the Communist regime led by Nicolae Ceausescu. But the regime frowned upon the practice, which led to Bivolaru being jailed twice and held in a psychiatric ward. Between 1977 and 1984, he was arrested for distributing pornographic materials on two separate occasions; the first time, Bivolaru was sentenced to one year in prison but did not serve any time after he was pardoned on his birthday. Gregorian Bivolaru the self-styled guru from Romania is the subject of a new Apple TV documentary that examines how he used his influence to groom hundreds of women Bivolaru was arrested during raids in November 2023, when police rescued 26 women being held at his Parisian apartment in 'deplorable conditions' He founded MISA in 1990, as French newspaper Le Monde reported that one of the key tenets of Bivolaru's teachings was 'sacred eroticism'. In one of the books 'bearing his signature', Bivolaru reportedly promised male readers 'states of cosmic orgasm without ejaculation'. In 2004, Bivolaru was prosecuted in Romania for having sex with a minor, and he fled to Sweden, where he was granted asylum and a new identity as Magnus Aurolsson. He was found guilty and sentenced in absentia to six years in prison in 2013 before Bivolaru was finally arrested in Paris in 2016. At the time, one of his victims, Agnes Arabela Marques now in her 40s claimed she had a relationship with Bivolaru when she was 15. 'Bivolaru claimed that, if I had sex with him as a yoga master, I could achieve superior levels of tantric spirituality,' she said. 'In his apartment, there were constantly girls who were there to have sex with him. 'The girls living in that apartment would spend a few days or even a few weeks there and afterwards their place would be taken by other girls,' she said. 'This way Bivolaru wanted to ensure the so-called "avalanche state". To keep sexual desire alive, he said it was not good to live with your partner for too long.' Her testimony came ten years before the release of Twisted Yoga, as Miranda described how female students from ATMAN-affiliated yoga centres across the world were summoned to Bivolaru's apartment in Paris for sexual initiations. One of the most prominent voices against Bivolaru and ATMAN, Ashleigh Feckleton, recalled her trip to France in 2019 after she also joined Tara Yoga Centre in London. The former Bachelor Australia contestant revealed the 'FBI-like' secrecy surrounding Bivolaru when she arrived in Paris to meet a woman she compares to a handler. 'She was telling me I couldn't tell anyone where I was going, and I had to tell my parents I was going for a silent retreat in Denmark,' Ashleigh said. 'That was how I got around the fact that I was going to be uncontactable. 'She took me to a car, and I had to give her my phone. She took the SIM card out of the phone and wrapped it in foil. Wrapped the phone in foil. 'She said, "Oh, we're like the FBI or the CIA.".' The women, including Ashleigh and Miranda, were asked to wear hats and blacked-out sunglasses as they were taken to a three-storey home in the suburbs of Paris. Employees of Bivolaru allegedly told the women this was because there was an arrest warrant out for the 'Spiritual Guide' who, they claimed, had been a 'victim of human rights violations'. When the women arrived at their destination, they were greeted by female members of the group, who checked their bags. They confiscated their passports and any electronic devices before revealing an extensive list of tasks to complete before they could receive the sexual initiation from 'Greig'. Ashleigh said they had to take a vow on the Bible and swear they would never speak of anything that happened during the 'retreat' as well as agreeing to a list of 'punishments'. 'One of the things that I had to sign was agreeing to the punishment of shaving my head for five years if I was caught trying to steal any of the secret teachings in the house.' Miranda, who felt the initiation was a 'promise' for a better life, said she became 'focused on getting those tasks done' including watching a series of porn films and writing about 'what kind of states we perceived the women were having'. 'It was like everything that had ever happened in the school had been leading to this.' After two weeks, Miranda was blindfolded and taken to a different location that she would later come to know as Bivolaru's grubby, tiny apartment. Another former student said that, on any day, three or four girls were brought to the house every day, adding: 'Some girls would go every month his favourites.' The women were then asked to knock on the door and wait before 'Greig' came out wearing a dressing gown. 'Looking into his eyes, it was almost like an empty space,' said Miranda. 'It pulls you in at the same time as being empty. I couldn't sense any emotions from him, nothing.' Telling her story in Twisted Yoga, Miranda claimed she was groomed and sexually exploited after she joined an east London yoga studio with ties to Bivolaru Miranda was then shown a blacked-out bedroom 'and that is where the girls who are taken to him for sex are kept'. The room is locked from the outside, and the women's clothes are taken away. 'There were between four and six of us. We did our yoga practice as best we could, watched DVDs and read books. We slept on a mattress on the floor that we moved during the day, and on bunk beds.' She remembered Bivolaru would get upset about small things like using the wrong towel, as Miranda said there was 'a feeling of a low-level threat'. When it was Miranda's turn, she discovered the initiation was a long sexual encounter with Bivolaru. Despite not feeling any attraction to Bivolaru, Miranda convinced herself not to be shallow and even recited mantras to help her through the experience. 'I would say I was also pretty detached from the physical, at this point: "I'm here now, I have to get through this." There was a fair amount of dissociation going on.' But that was far from the end of Miranda's ordeal. Miranda was then taken to a house in Prague and she said the bus ride was her first chance to sleep in '42 hours'. She was told that the women in the house would be expected to perform erotic rituals in the morning, and then 'after that you had to do a four-hour shift, six days a week on a cam girl site'. Bivolaru's aides explained the sex work as a spiritual practice because the energy from the morning's rituals would be used 'to amplify our power'. 'Ultimately, this was used to encourage us to make a profit through sex work.' Ashleigh Feckleton, one of the most prominent voices against Bivolaru, said she was made to swear on the Bible and agree to a list of 'punishments' The Guardian also reported that the women who were forced into webcamming were told it was a way to pay off their debts to the organisation, including the costs of food and accommodation, as well as travel to the retreats. After six months, Miranda was finally permitted to leave Prague and she returned to London in February 2020. On 28 November 2023, the Romanian yoga guru was one of 41 people arrested in raids against his controversial sect that has been accused of exploiting young women for sex. Bivolaru and his group, the Movement for Spiritual Integration into the Absolute (MISA), are accused of several charges, including holding women against their will. The people were arrested in the Paris region and southern France and included other key members of the sect, the source added. Bivolaru himself was apprehended in a house in Ivry-sur-Seine near Paris. Some 175 police officers were deployed for the operation, during which 26 women several of whom were held against their will were freed. They had been 'kept in deplorable conditions' both in terms of space and hygiene, the source said. The investigation was sparked by France's Human Rights League, a human rights NGO, which contacted the prosecutors' office after receiving statements from 12 former MISA members, a judiciary source said. Under Bivolaru, MISA has been repeatedly in the crosshairs of judicial authorities in Romania, Sweden and France in the last years, a source close to the investigation said. MISA, which became known as ATMAN after its expansion beyond Romania, taught tantric yoga with the aim of 'conditioning victims to accept sexual relations via mental manipulation techniques which sought to eliminate any notion of consent', the source said. Bivolaru allegedly brought female followers to his personal home for 'sexual initiation' into tantric yoga. Several women, of different nationalities, said they had been victims of the MISA organisation and its leader, the source said. Women were encouraged to accept sexual relations with the group's leader and 'to agree to participate in fee-paying pornographic practices in France and abroad', the source said. The judicial source told AFP that so-called yoga workshops were paid for by women members via sex chats and by men with manual work. The workshops were 'clearly exclusively dedicated to the satisfaction of the main suspect's desires,' the source said. A French judicial source said the sect had 'several hundred' members, but no precise figure was available. The arrests follow a probe into the sect launched by Paris prosecutors in July, on suspicion of kidnapping, rape and people trafficking among others. A kidnapping charge can result in prison of up to 30 years under French law. The case is 'insane', a source added, because it involves 'a group reminiscent of the Mafia and pimping disguised as philosophy'. MISA was kicked out of the International Yoga Federation and the European Yoga Alliance in 2008 because its commercial practices were judged to be 'illicit', the source said. In a statement on its website, ATMAN said the raids were part of a 'witch hunt', adding the organisation 'categorically condemns any kind of abuse'. The message read: 'We are deeply concerned about the unsubstantiated attacks of the police and media against affiliate members of our Federation and their teachers and students. 'We refute any of these current absurd allegations that have been brought up with no evidence. We consider that basic human rights should be respected, and everybody should benefit from the presumption of innocence.' Twisted Yoga premieres in the UK on Apple TV on March 13. Several practitioners have been struck off from the once reputable area London's Harley Street has long been a byword for the most exclusive private healthcare in the land, with the rich, the famous and the royal heading to Marylebone for treatment. While this enclave of elegant Georgian buildings is still home to some of the world's most respected doctors, a different type of practitioner has moved in in more recent decades. The W1 postcode is now awash with aesthetic doctors and dentists, offering cut-price deals on teeth-whitening, facial fillers and Brazilian butt lifts. Cosmetic 'doctors', unqualified to practice medicine, are renting space temporarily and opening 'pop-up' clinics to attract clients using the street's prestigious reputation. While patients heading to long established medical clinics come and go quietly, those having aesthetic enhancements appear more than happy to post about their visits on social media. Photos and videos on Instagram and TikTok show influencers posing with the Harley Street sign, showing off shiny veneers after a visit to the dentist's chair, or even grinning mid Botox injection. There is a serious and potentially life-threatening side to the street's evolving landscape though. Harley Street was once reserved for the most celebrated public figures and the ultra wealthy. But pop-up clinics there are becoming more common (Pictured, influencer Holly Arnott) Social media offers rogue practitioners the chance to advertise treatments quickly, luring in clients using the famous Harley Street name. (Pictured, influencer Cinzia Zullo mid-treatment) Recent figures released by Save Face, the Government-approved register for qualified aesthetic practitioners, the number of unqualified individuals offering procedures in temporary Harley Street offices has soared in the last five years, increasing from 18 to 118. Social media offers rogue practitioners the opportunity to advertise treatments cheaply and quickly, luring in clients who assume if a practitioner has a clinic on or near Harley Street, they're likely to be reputable. Ashton Collins, director of Save Face, painted a rather bleak image of the historic medical street in 2026. She told The Times: 'I definitely recall speaking to at least two people that had liquid BBL (Brazilian butt lift) treatments that nearly died as a result of it. 'Then when (patients) try reaching out to the practitioner they get fobbed off and blocked. When they try to contact the clinic at its address, they are then told by whoever manages the building that the person is no longer there and they were just renting a room for a short time.' Procedures such as the liquid BBL, which involves injecting dermal fillers such as hyaluronic acid into the buttocks to increase volume and improve shape, can be deadly if performed by those without skilled training. Across the last ten years, there have been numerous cases of practitioners in the Harley Street area either disciplined or struck off due to instances of misconduct, negligence and 'botched' surgeries. Some cosmetic clinics that have targeted Harley Street were found guilty of negligence and deliberate disregard for professional standards for instance, botched dental surgeries In January, an unregistered plastic surgeon, Dr Sayed Mia, was found to have illegally performed liposuction at a private clinic in Harley Street and told health inspectors he was a patient when he was caught illegally working at the clinic. Dr Mia also undertook a number of gynecomastia procedures (male breast reduction) without the registration required. Following a lengthy investigation, he was suspended for 12 months after the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service tribunal found he had 'failed to act honestly and with integrity and showed a deliberate disregard for professional standards'. Likewise, Dr Shahram Sabha, who ran the Lister House Dental Clinic on Harley Street, was struck off in 2019 when he was found guilty of more than 400 charges of misconduct, negligence and dishonesty including botched dental surgeries. Detailing how Harley Street may now be losing its credible 'reputation', cosmetic doctor Haroon Ashraf said: 'Think Harley Street guarantees world class care? Think again.' Taking to Instagram to share his concerns, Dr Ashraf explained: 'Today, anyone can rent a room and call themselves a "Harley Street practitioner". 'Harley Street earnt its name for world class private medical care, especially in the field of cosmetics, but the postcode isn't a quality filter anymore. Rooms can be rented by anyone, regardless of their experience.' He added that due to non-surgical injectable treatments remaining 'highly unregulated in the UK', there are 'significantly varied' standards of care across the Marylebone area. His comments come as a cross-party House of Commons select committee has renewed calls for a UK aesthetics licensing scheme to be rolled out in 2026 following plans by the UK government to crack down on rogue practitioners operating across England. Harley St Injectables shared on social media that Emily English (pictured), who has more than two million Instagram followers, had a specialist skin tightening treatment at their clinic An abundance of influencers have been posting about their trips to Harley Street for facial treatments and 'new teeth', while detailing their often gifted or discounted treatments on social media. Taking to TikTok, influencer Hettie's Holidays posted a video of herself walking around Harley Street and told her mass of followers: 'Come with me to get my bottom composite teeth done. 'I'm currently on Harley Street and going for my first appointment. So exciting.' Under a video captioned 'soooo excited for my new teeth', she filmed herself entering the Harley St Dental Art Clinic and proceeded to talk her followers through the expensive procedure. Last summer, social media figure Holly Arnott took to the platform to share a video with her more than 40,000 followers that showed her walking through the iconic medical district. 'One minute you're scared to start posting, the next you're being invited to London's famous Harley Street for a facial,' read the caption. 'Love this for you girly,' commented one user, while another added: 'Amazing'. With a clientele that now extends far beyond the world's high-brow celebrities, a number of clinics based in Harley Street are using social media platforms to promote their work and their customers with a large following. In one Instagram post, Harley St injectables revealed that social media personality Emily English, who has more than two million Instagram followers, had undergone a specialist High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) treatment at the clinic. They added: 'Notably, Emily highlights the significant improvement in her buccal region and jowls, marking this as her preferred aesthetic treatment.' Yet despite the growing popularity of aesthetic procedures online, Lesley Blair, chief executive of British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology, warned that there are grave 'concerns about the rise of unregulated pop-up clinics' in Harley Street. She told The Times that consumers are being exposed to a number of 'serious risks' that are beginning to pose an 'increasing burden on the NHS'. As low costs enable treatments to become increasingly accessible, Ms Blair advised undertaking 'careful research' prior to visiting an aesthetic practitioner. An Australian diner revealed how their honest review about a 'subpar' restaurant led to consequences they never could have predicted. The diner, a young dad, had a poor experience at a restaurant in Western Sydney near Parramatta and decided to leave a review online criticising the food, service and cost. He said nothing on his account mentioned his workplace and the review was written in a personal capacity like the many others he's written over the years. Yet shortly afterwards, the restaurant's owner contacted the man's employer directly after looking him up on LinkedIn. 'I had a very unfavourable experience at a restaurant and left a Google review not disclosing the company I worked for,' he explained, adding that he works in a 'totally unrelated sector' to hospitality. 'The founder of the restaurant then called my employer and I have now been spoken to by the management team about [it] despite not mentioning the company I work for in the review.' The worker said there were no formal consequences from the meeting but that senior management had noted the incident and was 'keeping score on negative events'. While tempted to complain, he said hitting back at management's response to the bizarre scenario 'isn't worth my job in the current climate'. An Australian diner revealed how their honest review about a 'subpar' restaurant led to consequences they never could have predicted He did, however, admit he would be actively looking for new employment in the weeks to come. 'I believe it's a good sign to keep looking for something else.' When reviews leave the internet Online reviews have become one of the most powerful tools for diners to share experiences, with platforms like Google, Yelp, and TripAdvisor allowing customers to publicly rate restaurants and services. But the story has raised questions about where the line is between personal opinions online and professional reputations. Many people were stunned that the restaurant owner contacted the reviewer's workplace at all. 'I am surprised your employer even entertained this,' one commenter wrote. Another suggested the situation should be added to the review itself. While tempted to complain, he said hitting back at management's response to the bizarre scenario 'isn't worth my job in the current climate' 'Update the review to say that they harassed you via your employer,' they said. Others said the situation highlighted how easily online activity can be traced back to someone's professional life. 'If they have a clause in the employment contract about communications that bring the company into disrepute, they can let you go,' one commenter warned. They said a friend had lost their job after posting something critical on Facebook when people involved tracked down their workplace through LinkedIn. The blurred line between personal and professional The incident also sparked debate about whether employers should become involved in situations like this at all. Some people questioned why a company would weigh in on an employee's personal restaurant review if the business itself was not mentioned. 'If you didn't mention your company by name, I fail to see the issue,' one commenter said. 'If an unfavourable review written in your personal time constitutes inappropriate workplace conduct, why do we have reviews at all?' Others raised concerns about privacy. 'If your employer provided or confirmed your personal details to a third party, that's a breach of privacy,' a man wrote. Many people were stunned that the restaurant owner contacted the reviewer's workplace at all A warning about online reviews While many commenters criticised the restaurant and employer, others said the situation was a reminder that anything posted online can sometimes travel further than expected. 'I know it sounds tough, but be professional always - you never know who's watching,' one warned. They suggested that if management had chosen to address the issue, it was possible the wording of the review crossed a line. Regardless of who was in the right, the story has struck a chord with people who rely on online reviews both to vent about bad experiences and to decide where to eat next. After all, most diners assume a critical review might earn them a reply from the restaurant - not a conversation with their boss. As one of the most stylish stars in Hollywood, Zendaya never puts a foot wrong and has the six-figure contract with Louis Vuitton to prove it. But at the French luxury brand's show on the final day of Paris Fashion Week yesterday, fans were less interested in the 29-year-old Dune star's white dress than the discreet gold band nestling on her wedding finger. Its appearance seemed to confirm rumours she and her partner of five years, Spider-Man actor Tom Holland, 29, have already tied the knot. While Zendaya noticeably kept her left hand in her pocket prior to the show, the ring became visible once she'd taken her seat. In the absence of an official statement from the couple, the sighting may well be as much proof as her fans get. But Zendaya wasn't the only guest dishing out clues with her choice of a 'bridal white' dress. Bridgerton star Phoebe Dynevor, 30, also arrived at the show in cropped black trousers and a white draped blouse that she told Vogue was 'a little nod to the year of my wedding. It's white and a little bit Grecian'. The English actress is due to wed American actor Cameron Fuller, 30, later this year. As one of the most stylish stars in Hollywood, Zendaya never puts a foot wrong and has the six-figure contract with Louis Vuitton to prove it A discreet gold band seemed to confirm rumours she and her partner of five years, Spider-Man actor Tom Holland, 29, have tied the knot While Zendaya noticeably kept her left hand in her pocket prior to the show, the ring became visible once she'd taken her seat Also opting for white was Bond actress Ana de Armas, 37, in a long backless dress and actress Catherine Deneuve, 82, in a tailored white jacket. Longtime Louis Vuitton brand ambassador Jennifer Connelly, 55, bucked the trend slightly by wearing a draped cream dress in a floral jacquard. On the catwalk, white was barely anywhere to be seen. Nor were any glamorous evening dresses of the sort that could dominate the red carpet at this weekend's Academy Awards. For autumn/winter 2026, designer Nicolas Ghesquiere, 54, was preoccupied with Cubist silhouettes and sharp, architectural angles, including tricorn hats, handkerchief-hem skirts and capes with shoulders so pointy they could take your eye out. Were the clothes challenging to wear? Absolutely. But it matters not. As the jewel in parent company LVMH's crown, Louis Vuitton has the budget to dominate the Oscars this Sunday. These days, it's not the catwalk that sells clothes, but the red carpet. The grand opening of Victoria's Secret in Birmingham's Bullring left onlookers with 'second-hand embarrassment' over the weekend. The store celebrated its return to the West Midlands city with a performance from a dance troupe, who sported the brand's trademark pink pyjamas, before a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The shop shut down in Birmingham in March 2024 after nine years following woe for the business as the retailer's UK arm plunged into administration four years earlier. However, the store didn't get off to the best start last week as the dancing ensemble and the manager's inability to cut the ribbon with a pair of oversized scissors left viewers in stitches. After DJ Mystikle Blue shared footage of the event on TikTok, viewers flocked to the comment section to mock the opening, with one saying: 'Standard Birmingham behaviour.' A second wrote: 'No need for dancing.' While a third joked: 'Me trying to use right handed scissors.' The string of gaffes is just the latest form of embarrassment for the brand that once held the ability to make any model's career, amid struggling sales and a failed 'woke' rebrand. The lingerie brand rose to fame with its sultry catwalks, which featured the likes of Cara Delevingne and Miranda Kerr as its 'Angels'. It was once at the peak of its game, but Victoria's Secret is now worlds away from its heyday (pictured: Miranda Kerr modelling a $2.5million diamond bra on the runway during the 2011 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in New York) The grand opening of the Birmingham store went downhill when the ribbon cutter struggled to use the scissors Strutting down the catwalk in 10ft white feathered wings, thongs, basques and marabou-trimmed wisps of nothingness, the Victoria's Secret 'Angels' were a global cultural phenomenon. Uniformly tall, slim, beautiful and stripped to their underwear, they were every heterosexual teenage boy's fantasy, while their sexy high-fashion glamour appealed to women. But such marketing came under fire from campaigners, forcing the company to temporarily retire its shows, and while the US company's move to become a more inclusive retailer gained 'favourable reviews online, [it] never translated into sales,' according to The Business of Fashion reporter Cathaleen Chen. As part of its rebrand, the firm replaced supermodels with a more diverse range of brand ambassadors. But with the brand's efforts to promote inclusivity failing to halt falling sales, bosses looked to bring back the firm's 'sexiness,' according to a report by CNN. Chief executive Martin Waters reportedly said: 'The reality is we all know the performance of the company and so there must be something that's not going to plan. 'It can't all be at green status. And the harsh reality is that the most important aspect of the work that we had to do in 2023, which was strengthening the core of the company, is not where we need them to be.' Victoria's Secret and Pink brand president Greg Unis told investors: 'Sexiness can be inclusive.' 'Sexiness can celebrate the diverse experiences of our customers and that's what we're focused on,' the brand executive added. Victoria's Secret was founded in 1977 by US businessman Roy Raymond, who set up a small chain of boudoir lingerie shops when he could find no man-friendly women's stores. In 1982, he sold the company to clothing magnate Les Wexner for $1million a fraction of its current value. Raymond later took his own life by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. He chose the name Victoria after Queen Victoria, thinking it sounded refined, and added Secret to refer to what was hidden under the clothes. Eventually hundreds of stores opened coast to coast, but it was the glitzy launch of the brand's first blatantly sexy catwalk show at the Plaza Hotel, New York, in 1995 which made the difference. Broadcast on network TV to 185 countries, millions tuned in to see supermodels Naomi Campbell, Helena Christensen, Tyra Banks and Karen Mulder among others stripped back to the barest of essentials. But eventually the tide began to turn in the late 2010s, when the over-the-top event started to look like a relic of the past in the #MeToo era. It was further plunged into controversy when marketing chief Ed Razek came under fire for saying that the brand would not cast plus-sized or 'transsexual' models because the show is a 'fantasy.' The lingerie giant's parent company, L Brands, confirmed in November 2019 that its famous show wouldn't take place. The decision was part of a move to 'evolve the messaging of [the company],' Fortune reported at the time. Purchases by women aged 18 to 49 had been declining for several years prior to the move. Managing director for the UK, Ellis Quinn, is currently attempting to rebuild the brand, with multiple new openings on UK high streets. And the return to the brand's original ethos appears to be working somewhat over in the States, with the brand this week recording total sales of $6.553billion for fiscal year 2025, up 5 per cent, according to Fashion Network. It's hard to miss Weisz's flawless complexion in the new Netflix show Vladimir Rachel Weisz has returned to screens after nearly three years with the release of Netflix's black comedy Vladimir. The Oscar winner is brilliant in the role of a tenured English professor caught between her husband's campus sex scandal and a dangerous obsession with her younger colleague Vladimir (played by 29-year-old Leo Woodall). As the episodes go on, it's impossible not to notice 56-year-old Rachel's sculpted face that is just as flawless as her performance. Her age-defying appearance was even worked into the show's script, with the university president's envious wife asking Rachel's unnamed protagonist to spill her skincare secrets in one scene. While her character M sheepishly reveals she 'bought a device on sale', a cosmetic surgeon has revealed the actress actually has a 'structural insurance policy' against visible signs of ageing. Harley Street plastic surgeon Dr Julian Silva told the Daily Mail that the reason Rachel looks younger than ever in her 50s is down to the Golden Ratio. Dr Silva said he uses the mathematical blueprint for facial symmetry to assess beauty and Rachel's proportions 'rate close to optimal'. However, the 'poster girl for youth' may have had a little extra help, added Dr Julian Silva as he noted subtle tweakments that make her look 'even more vibrant than she did in her 20s'. 'If she has undergone procedures, they have been executed with extreme precision and restraint. She hasn't changed her face; she has simply preserved the best version of it,' he said. Rachel Weisz has returned to screens after nearly three years with the release of Netflix's black comedy Vladimir. (Pictured at the premiere of Swept from the Sea in 1997) As the episodes go on, writes Maanya Sachdeva, it's impossible not to notice that the 56-year-old's face is just as flawless as her performance Among the procedures the star may have opted for are a temporal brow lift, dermal fillers, eyelid surgery or a hidden incision blepharoplasty, a mini facelift and skin tightening treatments. Dr Silva noted her smooth forehead could be the result of micro-doses of Botox to relax the muscles 'just enough to erase the lines' while maintaining full emotional expression. He added: 'There is also a subtle elevation in her brow line, suggesting a temporal brow lift or regenerative treatments that prevent the "hooding" we typically see as the skin loses elasticity.' According to the cosmetic surgeon, her cheeks appear fuller and more sculpted than ever, adding: 'While most people lose mid-face volume by their 50s, Rachels cheeks remain high and firm. 'This suggests subtle volume restoration, potentially through bespoke dermal fillers or fat transfer (or, less likely, cheek implants), which mimics the natural plumpness of youth without the "overfilled" look common in Hollywood. 'While the under-eye area is usually the first to show age, Rachel has almost no loose skin or bags', he added. 'This refreshed look is often achieved through a hidden incision blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) with or without volume (fat transfer or fillers), which smooths the transition between the eye and the cheek, creating a bright, rested appearance that defies her busy filming schedule,' Dr Silva continued. Finally, a sharp jawline is usually the hallmark of good underlying bone structure. 'However, to maintain this level of contour at 56, one might look toward deep plane facelift techniques or mini-lifts that reposition the deeper tissues of the face rather than just pulling the skin,' he suggested. Combined with skin-tightening treatments like radiofrequency microneedling, it ensures the neck and jawline remain 'snatched' and youthful. A plastic surgeon observed that Rachel (pictured at an Oscars party in March 2002) now looks 'even more vibrant than she did in her 20s' Her age-defying appearance was even worked into Vladimir's script, with an envious character asking Rachel's protagonist to share her skincare secrets Harley Street plastic surgeon Dr Julian Silva told the Daily Mail that the reason Rachel looks so young, even in her 50s, is down to the 'Golden Ratio' But Dr Silva noted that subtle tweakments, such as eyelid surgery and mini facelifts, may have helped Rachel achieve her youthful look 'Rachels look is the gold standard of modern aesthetics,' Dr Silva said. 'She proves that with the right maintenance, the ageing process isn't just slowed but elegantly reversed.' It comes after the Daily Mail's critic Deborah Ross said Rachel delivered a career-best performance in Vladimir as she gave the show a five-star rating. The eight-part show is based on Julia May Jonas's eponymous novel, with Ross praising the Netflix adaptation as a 'darkly comic exploration of desire that is so sly and incisive and delicious' she wishes she could watch it for the first time again. Vladimir follows Rachel's character, a creative writing professor 'M', as she grapples with the fallout on campus when her husband John (played by John Slattery), also the head of the department, is accused of sleeping with his students. To complicate matters, M develops an unhealthy obsession with Vladimir, a rising literary star and M's newest colleague. Ross said: 'Its a clever unpicking of the generational divide that never gets heavy as this is essentially a complex character study of a woman who is vain, manipulative and self-absorbed but is also suffering what all women suffer as they get older. 'This woman will not go quietly into the night, and Weisz is truly superb. 'You cant believe everything her character says, but you can believe her to be psychologically true. 'You can even believe shes a woman on the wane even though Weisz so isnt. I was mesmerised, spell-bound, transfixed and also.gripped.' Before Vladimir, she was seen in Dead Ringers, a six-part adaptation of director David Cronenberg's 1988 psychological thriller of the same name, which starred Jeremy Irons as twin gynaecologists operating an infertility clinic. Set in New York, Rachel - who is married to former 007 Daniel Craig plays both Elliot and Beverly Mantle, twins who share everything: drugs, lovers and an unapologetic desire to do whatever it takes. They team up to push the boundaries of medical ethics in an effort to challenge antiquated practices and bring women's health care to the forefront. The key to the plot is the relationship between them, she explained. She said: 'Beverly is altruistic, thoughtful, careful, and kind. She wants to change the way women give birth. 'Elliot is very, very different. She's not altruistic and she's pushing the boundaries of what's ethical.' 'It's quite deliciously mischievous at times. Emotional. Moving. And there is some humour, also darkly, darkly humorous,' Rachel told the Hollywood Reporter. Marks and Spencer has revealed its 20 dine-in menu ahead of Mother's Day as shoppers opt for 'premium food' to celebrate the occasion. The UK retailer's latest deal offers up a main course and three side dishes to feed a family of four on Sunday, March 15. Among the choices for Sunday dinner are roast pork and crackling, roast chicken, roast beef and cook-in-the-bag salmon plus a vegetarian option. Research from M&S Food shows 54% of people will celebrate a wider circle of maternal figures this Mother's Day many of whom are looking to tuck into a tasty meal they don't have to cook. It comes as Retail Gazette reports the UK's Mother's Day spend this year will total 18billion an increase of 15% on last year. Meanwhile, in a survey of 1,000 people, 61% of shoppers said they plan to buy more 'upscale' food to celebrate the occasion. Available from today (11 March), the dine-in menu claims to offer quality food diners can trust while taking away the stress of cooking for the family. M&S Food has unveiled its dine-in menu for Mother's Day this year, which promises to feed a family of four for 20. Pictured: Boneless Outdoor Bred Ultimate British Pork Crackling Joint This year's dine-in main course options include: Main courses Salt & Pepper British Chicken Slow Cooked Boneless Tender British Beef with Rich Beef Gravy Boneless Outdoor Bred Ultimate British Pork Crackling Joint Roast In The Bag Wild Garlic Salmon Side Mushroom Stroganoff Vegetarian Pie The menu includes a range of main courses and side dishes, including vegetarian options. Pictured: Mushroom Stroganoff Vegetarian Pie Side dishes Roast Potatoes Herby Hasselback Potatoes Honey Roasted Carrots Roots For Roasting (Carrots, Parsnips, Butternut Squash & Red Onion topped with Rosemary, Fennel and Rosemary Butter). Spring Greens, Cavolo Nero & Peas Cheesy Green Vegetable Bake Eight Yorkshire Puddings The dine-in menu comes amid reports an unusual product from M&S has soared in popularity both in the UK and overseas. 'Posh' tinned fish is enjoying a renaissance among TikTok and Instagram chefs as they cook up a storm with sardines, tuna and mackerel. Marcus Ansell, a food influencer, has been reviewing different brands and varieties of tinned fish and uploading his reviews online for the last two years. In particular, he noted: '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. It was the morning of the summer solstice and I was getting ready to film a vicar giving birth. I was a television documentary director working on a BBC2 series about midwives in Yorkshire. As I sat on the steps of the vicarage, listening to the guttural roars of childbirth coming from inside the house and waiting for the nod to come in to start filming, I received a text message. Your recipient has been in touch to let us know she is pregnant! A stranger was pregnant with my egg. She was going to give birth to a child that was biologically mine but would never call me mother. My donated eggs had been mixed in a petri dish with the sperm of a man I also didnt know and placed into this womans womb and now a baby was growing. I had just turned 30. My stomach somersaulted through different emotions: happiness, relief and, yes, an undeniable touch of envy. I was thrilled that this woman was pregnant it made all the weeks of medical appointments wonderfully worthwhile but it also made me realise more than ever how much I wanted my own children. In the years leading up to this moment, my life was increasingly peppered by stories of women unable to get pregnant. My mother, my aunt, a handful of friends and the stranger to whom I donated had all struggled with infertility then, with a horrible irony, two years after I got that text outside the vicarage, I found myself in the same boat. I had seen the psychological toll it took and the consequences of what happens when fertility secrets are hidden. It all started when I signed up to the DNA website 23andMe and accidentally set off a bomb in my family. Like most people who send off their little saliva sample, I wanted to know more about my familys heritage but discovered, when I matched as a half-sister with a woman Id never heard of, that the man Id called Dad for the past 27 years was not my biological father. Rebecca discovered that she and her three siblings were all conceived via donor through DNA website 23andme It turned out that my three siblings and I were all donor conceived, in this case via a sperm donor (who was also the genetic father of my 23andMe match). My parents had kept it secret for decades. It felt like stepping on a landmine I didnt know was there. I was stunned but I didnt blame them when they first started their five cycles of IVF in the mid-1980s it was a process that carried such stigma, few spoke about it publicly. As late as 1991, when I was born, IVF was still surrounded by secrecy and donor conception was steeped in even more shame. The facts were simple: both my parents had been medically infertile. My mother had endometriosis, which was blocking her fallopian tubes while my fathers sperm was unviable. IVF with sperm donation was their only route but it wasnt until they were 35 and 36 that the process became accessible to them, with a clinic the first in the Midlands opening near their home in Nottinghamshire. They signed up immediately. The very first round resulted in my older brother but there were four more failed attempts until on the fifth, my mother gave birth to triplets. I was one of them. Back then, donors were guaranteed lifelong anonymity. The internet did not exist, of course, nor did consumer genetic sequencing. No one could have imagined a future in which people could upload their DNA to a website and instantly be matched with their donor or their relatives. And yet the fallout of my discovery was so emotionally painful, I spent a lot of time wishing I hadnt sent off that saliva sample. Id always been told I looked like my dad and had never had any inkling at all that I wasnt related to him biologically. I wonder what mix of emotions hed felt when he heard people tell me that. I didnt blame my parents for not broadcasting their use of a sperm donor but it did make me question how loving parents like mine could keep such a big secret like that from us, their children, for three decades. It doesnt change anything, does it? asked Dad, openly upset. No, of course not, I replied. But the truth is, it sort of did. Rebecca didn't blame her parents for not broadcasting their use of a sperm donor but she became fixated by the secret behind her conception The secret behind my conception became a kind of fixation for me. I was living in London, doing well in my career and at that point in a happy relationship, though we werent ready for children just yet. In any case, could I have them? Like my mum, I had been diagnosed with endometriosis. Friends were already beginning to encounter problems with conception and both my parents had been infertile. The question gnawed away at me. Thats when I started researching egg donation and, realising there was a shortage of donors in the UK, decided to do something altruistic and donate mine. I would also be able to use the process to check on my own fertility. You have to have counselling before you donate either eggs or sperm to make sure you understand the emotional impact. Women need a blood test to check their AMH level (Anti-Mullerian Hormone), which is a good indicator of ovarian reserve essentially how many eggs they have left. We are born with all our eggs but the number diminishes with time and age. For some women, it depletes faster than others. After a few weeks, a blood test revealed that my AMH was on the low side, though still enough to donate. I was relieved but also concerned. Did it mean I might struggle to conceive myself? I started to worry whether donating would diminish my own egg reserve more quickly, though the clinic reassured me it wouldnt, since the eggs would be lost each month anyway. Once the timeline was agreed and synced up with the recipient, I began daily hormone injections into my belly. This process wasnt as bad as I thought it would be. I have been known to faint from vaccinations or giving blood but I quickly got used to administering the shots, with my boyfriend by my side, giving me ice cubes to help with the swollen skin afterwards. Timings are crucial with this kind of medication, so I was most anxious about making sure I did everything at the right time, taking my pack of needles with me everywhere I went. Every few days I had to go into the clinic to have a scan to check how my follicles were developing. Because of the risks and time it took, I received 750 in compensation (in 2024, the compensation for egg donors was increased to 985). After ten days of injections, it was time for the egg retrieval. I arrived at the hospital and was sedated for half an hour while eggs were collected from my ovaries with a thin needle and suction device. Rebecca with her son, who is now six months old. Rebecca has endometriosis and was concerned she wouldn't be able to conceive naturally When I woke up, the nurse said theyd collected ten eggs. I was delighted. There was a good chance at least one of them would result in a baby. I messaged my mum to let her know how the procedure went. She replied saying: Wow. Super. Well done. Youre a superstar! I felt so proud of myself. It was a full circle moment telling my mum the news that her donor-conceived daughter was helping another woman to become a mother through donation. Now I knew my eggs were viable, my biological clock began to tick even louder. The problem was, my boyfriend James 18 months younger than me wasnt ready for children. We had only been together for a year, so I understood. Yet while he could afford to wait, I felt like time was running through my fingers like sand. For the next two years I could feel the tension inside me grow. Alas, my fears were confirmed. When, aged 30, James did agree to start trying, nothing happened. I was 31. Month after month, my period arrived and my anxiety ramped up. My biggest worry was coming horribly true. Infertility is defined as being unable to conceive after 12 months of regular unprotected intercourse and we approached that deadline alarmingly fast. Id always wanted a family and facing up to the possibility that it wouldnt happen was agonising. People who know me always ask if this sudden twist was made harder by knowing that somewhere out there another woman was raising a toddler who was biologically related to me. But I can honestly say no at no point did I regret donating my eggs to her. That and my own struggle to conceive were separate things in my mind. In fact, I thought donating was good karma if it now turned out I needed an egg donor myself. After a year of trying, we were referred for IVF at our local clinic and I started hormone injections again. A few weeks later six eggs were retrieved but they were never mixed with my partners sperm. At the last minute, he decided to stop the process because he still wasnt ready. I felt shock and devastation. His actions seemed to pile cruelty upon hurt. In fact, for a while he disappeared before breaking up with me over the phone two weeks later. I was almost 33 years old, heartbroken, single and no closer to having the family Id always longed for. As the months rolled on and my fertility prospects worsened, I considered having a child on my own and going down the sperm donor route. Another full circle moment. Would I do what my parents had done, what my own egg recipient had done, and rely on the extraordinary generosity of a stranger to fulfil my dream of motherhood? I decided to give it until I turned 35. Instead, the universe intervened and I met Ollie on a dating app. He was 34 and we hit it off instantly. He was sympathetic to my fertility situation but told me he wasnt sure if he wanted kids. After a few months of dating, I said we should give it six more months and if he decided he didnt want children, or wasnt ready, then we should go our separate ways. A few months later he suggested we start trying. I was elated but after ten months of negative pregnancy tests, we turned to IVF. I contacted a clinic abroad, where IVF is much cheaper, and started researching flights. But I never booked them. A few weeks later to our total surprise I discovered I was pregnant naturally. We now have a gorgeous, healthy, six-month-old baby and could not be happier. Ollie is a terrific dad and its been wonderful seeing how much he enjoys fatherhood. Funnily enough, when I was pregnant I joined a brunch club for pregnant women. Of the three women I happened to sit next to, all had experience with donation. One had conceived their baby with egg donation, another with sperm donation and the other was sperm donor-conceived herself, like me. What were the chances? All four of us gave birth to baby boys within a few weeks of each other and I have no doubt theyll be best friends as they grow up. I had hoped that the stigma my parents faced was firmly relegated to the past but Ive noticed that when people share their personal experiences of IVF, donor conception or fertility treatment on the internet, there are almost always negative comments left by strangers below. It is such an odd response. Are we less worthy of being here? Me, my siblings, the child born of my donated egg? Are my parents less deserving of having a family than others? All I know is that we were deeply wanted and yearned for which, sadly, cannot be said of all children conceived naturally. I recently learned that the recipient of my eggs gave birth to a baby girl. Because of a law change in 2005 which removed donor anonymity, she will be able to contact me when she turns 18 if she wants to. If she ever does, I will tell her that life is a gift; one I was very happy to give in return for having been gifted it myself. Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more Stovepipe jeans, jelly bags and woven leatherette co-ords; among the usual brilliant basics youre destined to find on the rails at M&S, the new spring offering which launches today is overflowing with set-to-sell-out hits. In the past year, this high street goliath has churned out high-demand, fast-selling items, including a pair of 38 Barrel leg jeans, a 65 bomber jacket and a 95, 86-pattern-piece, trench coat, which its design team delved into the brands Leeds clothing archive to create, all in an effort to impress its growing younger customer base - the under 35s. And its working. M&S reported its best-ever financial performance in 2025, with pre-tax profit rising to 716.4 million in 2023/24, up from 453.3 million the previous year. Further to this success, in January Sparks was named the UKs best brand for the fourth year in a row by YouGov. Its powerhouse departments include denim, knitwear, formal bottoms and tops. But this spring you can throw co-ords, shoes, bags and trendy denim on that pile, too. If the magic M&S effect is anything to go by, your summer sandals are about to get sculptural: cue the wobble-proof notched wedge. This sophisticated shoe has the usual solid extension of the sole to the heel, but the heel is warped like a boomerang. Angular and sleek, this high-end take on the wedge is a surprising style to see off the runway - but now it can be yours for just 46. If heels arent your bag, M&Ss granny-take on a Mary-Jane might suffice instead. Its knitted ballet flat with a chunky supportive strap comes in poppy red and golden beige and is set to be a serious crowd pleaser in the flat footwear department - the PR team says they're poised for its release over the next few weeks. On your arm, this season's candy is jellified: your new beach bag - or office tote - will comprise of caged plastic in red or blue and is inspired by the nostalgic beach shoes which took over our toes last year. Playful, yet practical, the jelly shopper (26) comes with matching almond toed pumps, of course. At least they're waterproof and therefore perfect for British summertime. Head of womenswear design, Lisa Illis, says she also thinks they have finally discovered the 'jacket sweet spot' in this collection. Outerwear is one of our biggest strengths. This spring most styles across the collection come with the sought-after anti-ageing funnel neck. And all of them sit roughly around the 55 mark, she explains. Funnel jacket 50, shirt 28, top 24, trousers 40, sunglasses 16, shoes 36, marksandspencer.com Co-ords are another key focus this season for their versatility. We always think about outfit-maxxing, says womenswear director, Maddy Evans. 'We want to supply something that can be worn matched and mismatched with everything else you own,' she adds. Polka dot scarf tops and skirts, striped shirts and shorts, as well as crisp wedding-worthy suits are plentiful. But theres one stand out to watch. Set your alarms for the 26th March, when a three-piece M&S Collection faux leather mocha hued mini skirt (32), shirt (35) and jacket (60) set will drop online and in store. Having fondled the woven leatherette fabric myself, I can attest its so convincingly soft I had to ask if it was real, rather than faux, leather. Effortlessly cool and expensive-looking, this cult co-ord wont be around for long. M&S Collection Textured Faux Leather Jacket 60, Faux Leather Woven Mini Skirt 32, Faux Leather Woven Shirt 35, Woven Bag 36 launching 26th March, marksandspencer.com Over in the denim department, theres a new jean on the block. You may have only just got to grips with the bulbous Barrel leg, but now the streamlined Stovepipe is top of the crop. Autograph's has a high-rise waist with a straight-leg cut that falls cleanly from hip to ankle. Think of it as a modern, polished alternative to skinny jeans. Plus, rather handily theyre leg lengthening, and only 55. Thats a steal if you ask me, although an unsurprising one when wonderfully, 40 per cent of M&Ss new denim range is 30 and under. Finally, if you think your boxy cotton white t-shirt cuts it, think again. M&S has elevated this bog-standard staple and now the new covetable silhouette comes with shoulder pads, in Daz-level white, dusty pink and rich burgundy (26). Trends are all good and well, but its shoppers are truly clinched by its value driven approach to price tags; impressively 57 per cent of these new-in clothes are 30 and under. Thats a 15 per cent rise on last year, without sacrificing fabrication or the quality this stalwart is known for. If that wasnt enough M&S magic they now have a fabulous new, household name to front it all. Earlier this week the Sex Education and X-Files star, Gillian Anderson, was announced as M&Ss new CCO or 'Chief Compliments Officer'. Not quite a CEO, Anderson will 'champion affirmation, positivity and connection as the front woman of a campaign that grew out of a social media series launched by M&S last year celebrating small, but powerful affirmations between strangers. Just yesterday, Anderson walked the runway and closed the Miu Miu fashion show in Paris. That today's M&S has the same celebrity pull as a big-name luxury brand is testament to its rise and rise through the ranks to sit at the very top end of the high street. Moreish Colin the Caterpillar cakes, affordable great-quality clothes and Hollywood campaign stars. Nothing is out of this retailer's reach. Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more When Jade Holland Cooper isn't running her multi-million pound luxury fashion empire, Holland Cooper, shes hot on the race day circuit. Statement coats, elegant knee high boots and excellent hats have become part of her image and the styling inspiration behind her brands country-urban aesthetic, which supplies traditional tailoring with a country edge, elevated wardrobe essentials and specialist equestrian wear. Jade Holland Cooper attends Cheltenham today Youll be pushed not to spot revellers at top-tier premier race days across the UK in her designs. But whilst Coopers brand resonates with the run-of-the-mill racing set, it also has a firm celebrity fan base which ranges from Claudia Winkleman, Mary Berry and Jodie Kidd to royalty; The Princess of Wales has worn (and re-worn) its double breasted coat in a blue and green Blackwatch tartan to multiple public events (749, hollandcooper.com). Its no wonder then, that Holland Coopers pre-tax profits rose to 8.56 million, with turnover reaching 50.15 million for the year ending March 2025. It's safe to say Cooper has become somewhat of an expert in this niche pocket of British style. Here, Cooper shares her insider race day dressing tips - and the styling mistakes to avoid! How to achieve the country-smart look 'Cheltenham really is like a countryside catwalk - familiar faces, great racing and a wonderful celebration of British craftsmanship and style. Country-smart is really about pairing elegance with practicality, while staying true to classic countryside style. Cheltenham dressing should feel polished, but its still rooted in heritage. For me, the coat is always the hero piece. Its the foundation of the entire outfit. Layering up underneath with thin thermals is also key, because the weather can be unpredictable, and practicality really matters when youre spending the whole day outdoors.' Don't dress for Cheltenham as you would for other races 'At Cheltenham, there are no strict rules, which is part of the charm, but the atmosphere always encourages a sense of occasion. Cheltenham style is often mistaken for Ascot or Aintree, but its quite different. The look here is much more grounded in heritage, think beautiful tweeds, tailoring and pieces that work with the elements rather than against them.' Choose your camp: dresses versus co-ords 'Ive always loved a well-cut co-ord for the races. A jacket paired with a matching skirt or trouser feels incredibly polished yet effortless. For this season we launched our 360 maxi skirt (599) with a peplum jacket (499) in several fabrics, and its a combination our customers have really embraced. Ultimately, whether you choose a co-ord or a one-piece look, its about feeling confident, comfortable and ready for the day.' Make a coat the outfit 'For Cheltenham, the coat is key. I almost always start there, particularly because the weather can be so unpredictable. Shape and texture are everything. A beautifully structured wool or tweed coat will always look elegant and belted styles are particularly flattering as they create a cinched waist silhouette. We recently launched our Cheltenham Coat (899), which was designed with the event very much in mind. Its full length for warmth, but impeccably tailored with a fit-and-flare shape. Id style it with knee-high boots and a great pair of leather gloves. Timeless and incredibly chic.' To cape or not to cape? 'Capes have had a real resurgence recently - especially after Claudia Winkleman wore our cape on The Traitors, which was fantastic to see (679). But weve actually been designing capes since 2008. A well-cut wool cape layered over knitwear looks incredibly elegant while still allowing freedom of movement. Paired with gloves and knee-high boots, its a timeless combination you can return to year after year.' Pick the right prints 'Cheltenham is the perfect place to embrace classic British patterns - checks, herringbone, tweed and subtle plaids always feel right at home. Ive never been one to shy away from prints myself and have worn houndstooth before, which always makes a statement. Now, I tend to gravitate towards heritage patterns like tweed or a deep green herringbone.' The biggest rule for Cheltenham hats 'A hat is always a lovely finishing touch at Cheltenham, though the style tends to be far more understated than at other race meetings. For me, practicality is important - you want something that fits well and feels comfortable enough to wear all day. I recommend a structured fedora as they frame the face beautifully and offer a little protection from the elements. I would avoid anything overly elaborate.' My favourite footwear 'Youll spend most of the day walking across grass or gravel, so delicate heels can quickly become a mistake. A sturdy boot or a block heel is always the smarter choice. Personally, I love a knee-high boot for Cheltenham. Its elegant, warm, comfortable and completely in keeping with the countryside setting.' The best race day accessory 'A beautiful pair of leather gloves is something I rarely attend the races without. They instantly elevate an outfit and are incredibly useful on colder days. I also tend to carry a small structured bag - just large enough for the essentials like a phone and lipstick.' Seasoned hacks for looking chic in bad weather 'Layering is all you need to think about. A thermal base layer, knitwear and a great coat can make all the difference when the temperature drops. A hat is also incredibly useful for keeping dry while still looking polished, and a classic umbrella is always worth having to hand as the weather can change very quickly.' My biggest race-dressing fashion faux pas 'Early on I remember wearing a much lighter coat than I should have and quickly realising just how cold it can be at Cheltenham. I shivered the whole day. It taught me very quickly that dressing should always go hand-in-hand with sensible style.' The one thing you should never wear 'Very high stilettos, overly floaty fabrics or pieces that simply arent designed for outdoor weather can make the day far less enjoyable, as its not Ascot. Cheltenham style should feel elegant, but always grounded in reality - which in truth, is very cold.' Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more If theres one person we always look to when a new outerwear trend starts bubbling up, its Alexa Chung. The model, presenter and perennial style muse has a knack for spotting the jackets that are about to be everywhere and her latest look confirms what fashion insiders have been quietly noting all season: washed, worn-in leather is springs coolest jacket trend. Spotted crossing the street in Paris, Chung styled an oversized, slightly distressed leather jacket over a layered sweatshirt and crisp collared shirt, finishing the look with straight-leg jeans and ballet flats. The result is the sort of outfit she has long perfected effortless, slightly undone and quietly directional, the kind of look that instantly makes you rethink your spring outerwear. Alexa Chung is the latest It-girl to sport springs coolest jacket trend What makes the moment even more appealing is where her jacket comes from. Rather than a rare vintage find or an investment runway piece, Chungs relaxed leather layer is courtesy of the high street, specifically Mango. The exact style Mango Oversized Leather Jacket With Lapels captures the mood of the trend perfectly. With its roomy silhouette, relaxed lapels and subtly worn finish, it has the kind of vintage character that usually takes years of wear to achieve. Its easy to imagine throwing it on over everything from tailoring to spring dresses, though it works particularly well styled as Chung has done here, with relaxed denim and simple layers. While Chung may have given the trend her stamp of approval on the streets of Paris, the look has also been quietly gaining traction on the runway. Designers such as Saint Laurent, Miu Miu and Loewe have been leaning into soft, slightly distressed leather outerwear in recent seasons, favouring oversized bomber and biker silhouettes that feel relaxed rather than rigid. All of which explains why Chungs outfit feels so current. The beauty of this particular jacket trend is that it doesnt feel overly polished instead, the slightly weathered finish and relaxed fit give it a cool, effortless energy that works just as well with denim and knitwear as it does with dresses or tailoring. And thats exactly why the Mango version is such a good find. It taps into the same oversized proportions and vintage-leaning texture that have been appearing on the runway, but at a much more accessible price point. For those tempted to follow Chungs lead, there are plenty of alternatives that capture the same mood. Reformations Veda Daphne Leather Bomber (658) offers a beautifully soft take on the oversized bomber shape, whilst Majes Cropped Leather Jacket (679) delivers a slightly sharper interpretation. More classic silhouettes also tap into the trend. Levis Genuine Leather Moto Jacket (182, reduced from 365) offers a timeless biker style, whilst H&Ms Leather Jacket (379.99) proves the high street is leaning heavily into the look. Prefer faux leather? Brands such as Abercrombie & Fitch and Noisy May have released relaxed leather-effect styles this season meaning its easier than ever to tap into the trend. Still, if Chungs outfit proves anything, its that the appeal of this jacket lies in its ease. A slightly worn leather jacket has the rare ability to make even the simplest outfit feel instantly cooler and if the fashion set and the runways are anything to go by, its a piece well be reaching for all spring long. It's not just dry skin shedding, it's a sign of long-term genetic damage Peeling skin after a day in the sun is all too common among those who live in Australia - but a doctor has urged people to remember what it's a sign of. Emergency room doctor Dr Joe Whittington issued his stark warning online after realising many didn't know their peeling skin was a sign of genetic damage, not just 'dryness'. 'Sunburn peeling might look satisfying, but it is actually your body removing skin cells that were damaged by ultraviolet radiation,' he said in a TikTok video. What's actually happening when skin peels According to Dr Whittington, peeling after sunburn is the result of a protective process happening deep within the skin. When ultraviolet (UV) radiation damages the DNA inside skin cells, those cells can trigger a built-in self-destruct mechanism known as apoptosis. He explained that a few days earlier, UV radiation would have caused the sunburn, likely leaving the skin red and inflamed while damaging DNA in the cells near the surface. 'Your immune system then clears them away, which is why the top layer of skin starts peeling a few days after a bad sunburn,' he said. Peeling skin after a day in the sun is all too common among those who live in Australia - but a doctor has urged people to remember what it's a sign of @drjoe_md Sunburn peeling might look satisfying, but it is actually your body removing skin cells that were damaged by ultraviolet radiation. When UV light injures the DNA inside skin cells, those cells can trigger a built in self destruct process called apoptosis. Your immune system then clears them away, which is why the top layer of skin starts peeling a few days after a bad sunburn. It is essentially your body getting rid of cells that were too genetically damaged to keep around. #sunburn #skincancerprevention #dermatology #medicaleducation original sound - Dr. Joe, M.D. Cancer Council NSW explains that the long-term damage to skin cells remains even after the visible burn has healed. Even mild sunburn can increase the risk of melanoma, and repeated or severe sunburn further raises the risk. 'It is essentially your body getting rid of cells that were too genetically damaged to keep around.' Why sunburn is more serious than many people think Health experts say the warning is particularly relevant in Australia, which has some of the highest UV levels in the world. According to the Cancer Council, sunburn occurs when the amount of ultraviolet radiation your skin is exposed to exceeds its ability to protect itself using melanin. Skin that has been sunburnt typically turns red within hours, with the burn continuing to develop over the next one to three days. Most people who experience sunburn will also peel, as the body sheds damaged skin cells and makes way for new skin underneath. However, experts warn the damage does not completely disappear once the redness fades. Experts warn the damage does not completely disappear once the redness fades and peeling begins Why it's easy to get burnt The time it takes for skin to burn varies depending on several factors including skin type, time of day, time of year and the surrounding environment. People with fair skin burn faster than those with darker skin, while UV levels are typically higher at certain times of the day and during summer months. Surfaces such as water, sand, cement and snow can also reflect sunlight, increasing exposure. Importantly, UV radiation can still damage the skin even if you do not feel hot. Health authorities warn that UV is present every day and can remain high even when temperatures feel cool. It can also pass through light cloud cover. Australians are advised to use sun protection whenever the UV index is three or above - even if they are not planning to spend long in the sun. Shoppers are delighted to discover Ritz In A Biskit Crispy Potato flavour is back A nostalgic snack many Australians grew up eating is making a long-awaited comeback - more than a decade after it quietly disappeared from supermarket shelves. The Crispy Potato flavour of Ritz In A Biskit is returning to stores across the country after being discontinued in 2015, bringing back a fan favourite that was once a staple of lunchboxes and after-school snacking. The entire In A Biskit range was pulled from shelves more than 10 years ago, leaving many Australians disappointed when the cult biscuits vanished. But the brand made a partial comeback in 2021 when the Chicken and Drumstix flavours were revived. Now, the beloved Crispy Potato variety is finally joining the comeback - alongside an entirely new flavour inspired by Korean sweet and spicy seasoning. The move reflects a growing trend of global flavour influences appearing in everyday supermarket snacks, offering something new for younger shoppers while still tapping into nostalgia for older fans. Both flavours are now available nationwide at Coles, Woolworths, and IGA, with packs priced at $4. Many Australians have also reported purchasing the top-selling snack on special for just $2. The Crispy Potato flavour of Ritz In A Biskit is returning to stores across the country after being discontinued in 2015. It is alongside a new flavour inspired by Korean sweet and spicy food For many shoppers, In A Biskit is a reminder of childhood afternoons, school lunches, and a very specific era of Australian snacking. The range was hugely popular throughout the 1990s, when Crispy Potato sat alongside other well-known flavours including Chicken and Drumstix. According to Mondelez Australia, nostalgia has played a major role in bringing the flavour back. Andra Dempster, Senior Director of Marketing for Biscuits at Mondelez Australia, said the response to the brand's 2021 return made it clear that Australians still had a soft spot for the snack. 'In A Biskit Crispy Potato holds a special place in so many Australians' memories,' she told the Daily Mail. 'It's the snack that fuelled afternoons spent mastering Rubik's Cubes and rewinding VHS tapes. It's a direct line back to the 90s - the end of dial-up internet and checking the TV guide for when you'll catch your favourite program.' While the return of Crispy Potato has been welcomed, some fans say there are still other flavours they would love to see make a comeback. Over the years, the brand has released a wide variety of options including Big Cheese, Vegemite, Bacon, and Nacho - all of which were discontinued alongside the rest of the range in 2015. The brand made a partial comeback in 2021 when the Chicken and Drumstix flavours were revived Food lovers online have already begun campaigning for more. 'Bring back the Nachos and French Onion flavours! They were the greatest of all time!' one fan wrote. Others were simply excited to see an old favourite returning. 'Crispy Potato was my favourite! Man, I can't wait for these,' another said. 'Amazing. Remember these from the 70s and wondered where they went,' one person added. 'Nice to see Crispy Potato In A Biskit returning. They were one of my faves from the range back in the day,' another fan wrote. For others, the news has sparked pure nostalgia. 'Yum, I loved the potato ones - can't wait to get my hands on some.' Jupiter has been in apparent retreat through the sign of Cancer since last year, encouraging a period of inner reflection. Today it resumes its forward motion and the shift is palpable. Something that felt stalled begins to move again. ARIES (March 21 - April 20) Technology moves quickly but some of the oldest tools are still essential. Theres a reason that every smartphone comes equipped with a compass. You have been moving quickly, and not without reason, but today asks you to pause and assess what you already have before you set out looking for something new. You may feel inclined to take a leap forward in a family matter. Dont force it. A resolution will be easier to find if you let it flow naturally. Curious about love, career or life choices? Get personalised guidance call 0905 789 0301 TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) Youve been turning a particular situation over in your mind for so long that the original shape of it has become harder to recognise. Spotting where edges have become frayed and where they were always thin has become almost impossible. Jupiter moving direct today brings welcome clarity to an area of your life that has felt unclear. Dont worry too much about why things are beginning to shift. Sometimes the most useful thing you can do is simply notice where resistance has eased. Curious about love, career or life choices? Get personalised guidance call 0905 789 0302 GEMINI (May 22 - June 22) It is easy to trick yourself into thinking that multitasking works best. The more tabs we keep open, though, the slower we tend to arrive at any conclusions. There are some days when the most productive thing you can do is close down some things and let one priority have your full attention. Jupiter turning direct today allows you to revisit a conversation or connection that has been waiting in the background for a while. Depth will get you ahead faster than speed. Curious about love, career or life choices? Get personalised guidance call 0905 789 0303 CANCER (June 23 - July 23) Jupiter has been moving through your sign, supporting you to reflect on what you need to nurture. What have you learned to stop asking for? As the planet of amplification changes direction, you are being cosmically encouraged to demand a little more of what you actually deserve. You are wise enough to understand that you cannot drink from an empty cup. Neither can you pour from one. It may be a cliche, but some truths do not need updating to be helpful. Curious about love, career or life choices? Get personalised guidance call 0905 789 0304 LEO (July 24 - August 23) When your efforts are met with silence, how can you tell if others are on your side? Youve been putting energy into something without receiving much of a response, and that has made it difficult to know whether to continue. Dont be disheartened. Jupiter turning direct today offers a shift in that dynamic. What you have been building in the background is more developed than it appears. Trust your own assessment rather than waiting for external confirmation. Curious about love, career or life choices? Get personalised guidance call 0905 789 0305 Jupiter has been in apparent retreat through the sign of Cancer since last year, encouraging a period of inner reflection (stock image) VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) A proposal that stays in the planning phase indefinitely wont make any impact. It might be comfortable to keep things under consideration, but growth requires the right balance of nurturing and needle-pushing action. You have been refining an idea for long enough that the refinement has started to become an end in itself. Jupiter moving direct today is not demanding perfection. It is asking whether you are ready to let something worth your while have the space it needs to emerge. Curious about love, career or life choices? Get personalised guidance call 0905 789 0306 LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) Many of our laws emerged from some kind of disagreement. Sometimes, the most radical changes occur by putting right a blatant injustice. It is easy to assume that processes will be fair when you are a person who does things the right way. Unfortunately, the world doesnt operate like that. Today, ensure you look out for what you need before you yield. Giving too much away now may not bring much comfort. Equity and equality are not the same thing. Curious about love, career or life choices? Get personalised guidance call 0905 789 0307 SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) Locksmiths make opening a mechanism look easy because they know which part needs pressure and which part needs patience. You have been applying intensity to a situation that may respond better to a lighter touch. Jupiter moving direct brings movement to something that has felt jammed shut. You dont need to understand every stage of this process. Focus on what you can do consistently today and trust the mechanism to respond positively. Curious about love, career or life choices? Get personalised guidance call 0905 789 0308 SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21) You may be frustrated by recent delays to a project, but today you get a reminder that a slower pace may be for good reason. The faster you move, the more friction you risk. Today, as your ruling planet turns direct and the Moon moves through your sign, you may feel ready to get going again. Before you rush into anything, though, give your feelings a chance to land. You might find that with a little more time the path ahead becomes even clearer. Curious about love, career or life choices? Get personalised guidance call 0905 789 0309 CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20) There are banking apps now which round up payments and put the difference into a savings account. In the background of a busy life, stability can be grown. It just takes consistency a concept youre no stranger to. Youve put in the work and invested your energy. Today you see where you have banked lots of good faith. The results may not be immediately visible, but they are there. What you are constructing has longevity. Give yourself the acknowledgement you deserve. Curious about love, career or life choices? Get personalised guidance call 0905 789 0310 AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) IM blessed with several Aquarian siblings. One of them enjoys jigsaw puzzles. The problem is, once she starts one, she struggles to know when to walk away. You guys are nothing if not committed especially when you can visualise progress. Sometimes, stepping back allows you to take things in more clearly. Today you get to see where your work is paying off in the form of a tangible shift. What seemed to be a setback transforms into something positive. Curious about love, career or life choices? Get personalised guidance call 0905 789 0311 PISCES (February 20 - March 20) Tides do not ask permission to reach the shoreline. A river does not seek advice before it breaks its banks. You are not a body of water, but you were born under a sign of the zodiac that is ruled by this element. You may feel as though your emotions make you vulnerable but, in truth, they bestow upon you a unique power. Today, finally, you feel real evidence of that power. Venus and Pluto are making a clear connection now and theres something inside you that knows exactly which direction you need to move in. Curious about love, career or life choices? Get personalised guidance call 0905 789 0312 Former CBS star Josh Elliott was spotted at 'middle-aged single bars' in Connecticut amid a heated divorce from his ABC News journalist wife Liz Cho. Elliott, 54, is reportedly on the prowl in the dating world after filing for divorce from Cho, 55, last year over their 'irretrievable' marriage lasting nearly a decade. 'Josh is out and about on the dating scene in Fairfield County,' a source told PageSix. 'He's been seen at bars in the area where middle-aged singles congregate.' Cho and Elliott married in 2015 after two years of dating, not long before Elliott was fired from CBS News in February 2017. A second source told PageSix that Elliott isn't currently 'dating anyone, but he is open to meeting people.' The source said that his daughter is 'his priority.' The former CBS anchor filed for a 'dissolution of the marriage' for 'an equitable distribution of all property, both real and personal.' Former CBS anchor Josh Elliott, 54, has been spotted prowling the dating scene in Connecticut bars as he splits from his wife of nearly a decade 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 when Cho responded to the filing from June Cho and Elliott married in 2015 after two years of dating, not long before Elliott was fired from CBS News in February 2017 'The marriage of the parties has broken down irretrievably,' court documents obtained by the outlet stated. Elliott was confirmed to have moved out of their $4.2 million marital home in January after hiring a moving truck while Cho and her daughter were on vacation. Cho claimed she was first made aware of his leaving their home after she was notified by Optimum on January 21 that he had set up his new internet, the outlet reported. In response, she filed for contempt against Elliott for moving out a 'significant amount of furniture and furnishings from the marital residence,' court documents stated, according to PageSix. His moving out included taking their two Portuguese Water dogs, who she claimed were 'supposed to stay in the marital residence' that they had continued to share, the outlet 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. 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. 'Josh is out and about on the dating scene in Fairfield County,' a source said Elliott was 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 Elliott was confirmed to have moved out of their $4.2 million marital home in January after hiring a moving truck while Cho and her daughter were on vacation 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. Cho had initially responded to Elliott's filing for divorce 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. 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' 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. Elliott had been booted from CBS in 2017 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. 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. The Daily Mail reached out to Elliott's representation with Needle & Cuda and Cho's with Blank Rome LLP and MeehanLaw LLC. I drive a Motability Mercedes van adapted for wheelchair use. In November last year, it developed a gearbox fault. The RAC attended at the roadside but was unable to make the repair and the van was transported to a garage in Cardiff. The mechanics said the issue was in an electrical unit controlling the gearbox and told me it was my fault as it was likely caused by a liquid spill from the cupholder. As a result, it said the 1,000 repair would not be covered under my Motability agreement. The garage told me to contact my insurer, Direct Line. It declined my claim based on the garage's assessment. I had to pay the bill myself which has caused significant financial hardship. I feel hard done by. D.S., Tredegar, Wales. Turned down: Direct Line refused to pay for a gearbox fault in this reader's car Sally Hamilton replies: For you, as for thousands of others with a disability, the Motability scheme is a godsend, giving vital freedom and independence to get around. It is available to people on certain disability benefits who use the mobility element to cover the cost of leasing an adapted vehicle from a dealer via the scheme. The benefits are paid directly to Motability. The lease package includes breakdown cover (RAC) and insurance (Direct Line), with only claim excesses paid by the customer. Motability meets the cost of routine repairs and maintenance but doesn't pay for an issue caused by customer neglect. As your repair was not routine, Motability wouldn't cough up; and because the Mercedes warranty excludes accidental damage of this kind, Direct Line was your last port of call. You said it took the word of the garage that it was your fault, meaning you were not covered. So that you wouldn't be left housebound you paid the bill but had to borrow from family. You are worried about whether you will be able to repay them. I revved up my enquiries and found that spillages from drinks through the cupholders are a relatively common cause of car electrical faults. You were particularly aggrieved that you were blamed for the gearbox fault. You were adamant that you used capped bottles and did not recall any spillage. I asked the British Insurance Brokers' Association whether an accidental spillage causing electrical damage might typically be covered by a policy's accidental damage clause. Mike Hallam, BIBA's head of technical services, says: 'Some comprehensive policies may cover it under the accidental damage section, subject to an excess. However, many policies exclude mechanical, electrical or computer failure, breakdown or breakage. 'This exclusion could be relevant if there is no identifiable incident, the damage is gradual or linked to wear, or liquid ingress cannot be confirmed. But if the spillage was sudden and accidental, it directly caused the damage and there is evidence of liquid contamination then it could be considered insured as an accidental damage claim.' In your case there appeared to be no single identifiable incident. You were extra miffed because, at the time of the breakdown and while waiting for the RAC, your wife had placed a sealed bottle of fizzy cherry drink in the cupholder. To your amazement, on taking delivery of your repaired vehicle the bottle remained in the cupholder. You got no response when you asked why it was left in place if it was the supposed culprit. I asked Motability Operations, the company that runs the Motability scheme, to investigate. After a week of talking to all the parties involved, Motability Operations came to a decision to cover the bill. A spokesperson says: 'We are sorry that this case was not handled as it should have been.' EasyJet wouldn't let me board Alps flight I was due to go to the Swiss Alps for a weekend recently for my wedding anniversary, but when I got to the airport easyJet wouldn't let me board the plane. My passport had more than three months validity, which Switzerland requires, but the issue date was more than ten years ago which apparently falls foul of post-Brexit Schengen rules. I have ended up 1,750 out of pocket. Can I get my money back?M.B., Nottingham. Sally replies: How disappointing to have your romantic ski trip knocked offpiste over a passport you were sure was still valid. It is perfectly natural to focus on the expiry date when checking the validity. But rule changes after the UK left the EU means it is vital to check the issue date. For travel to Europe (other than Ireland) British holders must ensure their passport not only has at least three months of validity remaining from the date of leaving the European Union, but also that it was issued less than ten years before the day of arrival in the country. Those with passports issued from September 2018 needn't worry, as they have a maximum validity of ten years. But the risk of falling foul of the rule affects many thousands who renewed old passports before that date. Back then, the passport office typically added up to nine months of remaining validity from an old passport onto a new one, meaning some passports were valid for up to ten years and nine months. Unfortunately, your passport fell into this category. If you had been celebrating your anniversary outside of Europe, you would have been waved through the boarding gate. You concede it was your responsibility to scrutinise requirements beforehand but feel that easyJet could have made the risks clearer when you checked in online 12 days before your planned flight. EasyJet says it makes the passport validity message clear on its website. A spokesman adds: 'It is ultimately the passenger's responsibility to ensure they are aware of and adhere to documentation rules and that their documents are valid for travel.' I asked NatWest, which provides your travel insurance cover, whether you might have grounds for reimbursement. A spokesman confirmed what I suspected. They would not cover a claim arising from not having the correct passport or visa for the country you are travelling to. Your passport faux pas led you to order a new one immediately. I hope you can now rearrange your anniversary get away without worrying about that pesky ten-year rule. Write to Sally Hamilton at Sally Sorts It, Money Mail, 9 Derry Street, London, W8 5HY or email sally@dailymail.co.uk. Include phone number, address and a note addressed to the offending organisation giving them permission to talk to Sally Hamilton. Please do not send original documents as we cannot take responsibility for them. No legal responsibility can be accepted by the Daily Mail for answers given. Rents have fallen in several cities, as the balance between the number of renters and the amount of available properties tips in tenants' favour. According to the property website Zoopla, rental prices are stagnating or even falling in multiple locations across the Midlands and South. In Wales, rents are down 1.7 per cent year-on-year. Rents in Bournemouth are down 1 per cent, and in Birmingham they are down 0.7 per cent. In Nottingham they are down 0.8 per cent year-on-year, Zoopla said, while Brighton has also seen marginal falls. However, there are still some parts of the country where rents have risen, particularly in the more affordable markets in Northern England and Scotland, with certain cities seeing increases of around 4 per cent. For example, average rents in Liverpool and Newcastle are up 4.6 per cent and 4.5 per cent respectively. In London, rents are growing at a relatively low 1.7 per cent year-on-year, with the average rent now sitting at 2,187. Cooling: Tenants may find it easier to secure a new home than they did a year ago, Zoopla says Your browser does not support iframes. Why are rents falling? Demand amongst renters has fallen by 14 per cent over the last year, according to Zoopla, while the number of homes available for rent has increased by 11 per cent. This is down to a combination of factors. More landlords are selling properties due to higher taxes and stricter regulations, such as the upcoming Renters' Rights Act. At the same time, there has been an increase in former renters getting on the property ladder as house price rises have cooled, and an uptick in younger people continuing to live with parents rather than renting privately. The result has been less competition between renters. Agents are receiving 4.8 enquiries per property, down from 6.5 a year ago. Homes are taking longer to rent. On average, finding a tenant now takes 20 days - a week longer than 2022s peak of 13 days. For renters, this means there is more room for negotiation on rent. Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla says market conditions for renters are the best they have been for six years. 'The rental market is moving back towards balance as demand cools and more homes become available to rent,' says Donnell. 'Renters are facing less competition for homes and slower rent increases than in recent years.' However, he thinks this will be a short lived trend. 'Supply remains well below pre-pandemic levels, which means increasing the number of rental homes remains key to improving affordability for the UK renters over the long term,' Donnell added. Harry Watts, lettings director at London agent Douglas & Gordon, says the upcoming the Renters' Rights Act, which comes into force on 1 May, is causing movement in the market. The legal change will give tenants the greatest increase to their rights in a generation, with landlords facing fines of up to 40,000 if they fall foul of new rules on evictions, rent rises and more. Watts said: 'As we move closer to the Renters Rights Act, were seeing more tenants being asked to move at points in the year when they would not typically expect it. 'In many cases, this appears linked to landlords reassessing their position and, in some instances, choosing to sell, which is becoming more prevalent. 'Over the past couple of years, tenant incomes have struggled to keep pace with pricing, so correctly priced homes let well, while anything ambitious is taking longer and facing sharper negotiation.' Rise in first-time buyers Improving conditions in the mortgage market for first time buyers have also resulted in lower demand for rented homes, according to Zoopla. However, the shift is not purely down to first-time buyers, with this increase also stemming from would-be sellers deciding to place their properties into the rental market - particularly if they are struggling to sell. A continued decline in migration into the UK for work and study is also a major factor, as well as a rise in people emigrating. The latest Office for National Statistics estimates reveal net migration into the UK peaked at 944,000 people in the year to March 2023 and then slowed to 204,000 in the year to June 2025. One property insider warned that some letting agents have seen tenant enquires fall off a cliff with landlords having to accept far lower rents. Ashely Osborne, founder of Lexit, a service that helps analyse buy-to-let deals for investors says the lettings agents and landlords he works with suggest things could be even worse in reality. Osborne says both the student lettings market and new build apartments are of particular concern at the moment. 'In Manchester, we acquired a prime central purpose built student block for a client last year in February 2025. 'It is still well below full occupancy 12 months later - at rock-bottom pricing in a top location.' 'Foreign students are steering clear due to safety fears, family restrictions, and better options elsewhere.' Landlords may find it hard to sell up Landlords hoping to find salvation by selling up may struggle to do so, as the number of homes for sale is at a 10 year high, according to Zoopla. Osborne says his company is being contacted by between three and five landlords a day looking to sell. 'We have to break the news to them that it will be much harder to sell it than it was to buy it,' he said. The brand that produces Britain's most popular Chinese car has unveiled its new flagship alternative to a Range Rover - though for around only a third of the price. The Jaecoo 8 SHS-P, which uses the car maker's popular 'super hybrid' petrol-electric system, offers drivers an impressive full-tank range of 700 miles and - for the first time ever - seating for up to seven passengers. It is available in two configurations: the 'Luxury' option can transport seven passengers while the 'Executive' choice reduces seating to six to provides more space and comfier seating for customers who prefer to be driven rather than drive themselves. Offering plush cabin materials, massage chairs and loads of gadgets, the manufacturer says it is aimed at 'larger families to professional drivers and anyone in between'. Starting from 45,500, the lookalike SUV is a snip of the price of the least expensive seven-seat Range Rover, which rings in at over 120k. It is the third model from Jaecoo - which is the sister brand to Omoda and Chery, both of which are also on sale in Britain - and will arrive in UK showrooms in May. The 8's unveiling comes just days after thousands of the smaller Jaecoo 7 - the motor dubbed by social media mums as the 'Temu Range Rover' - were recalled due to a fault with a wiring harness clip. Jaecoo - the Chinese car maker that's already incredibly popular in Britain - has unveiled a flagship Range Rover lookalike with up to 7 seats - though for around only a third of the price Jaecoo has become extremely popular in Britain, despite having only launched its first car here in January 2025. The 7 was the car most purchased by private buyers in the 12-month period from its debut, topped the UK sales charts in the first month of this year, and is the third best-selling new model of 2026 so far. In its debut year, it shifted a total of 28,232 vehicles, making it the fastest-growing mainstream automotive brand in a decade. In 2026, it is Britain's 16th most popular new car brand, overtaking established names like Volvo, Mini, Mazda, Citroen and Tesla. It also outsells Chinese rival BYD. Looking to build on this monumental success is the arrival of the 8, which is the first Jaecoo to provide three rows of seating - but with different customers in mind. Auspicious by name, the number 8 is strongly linked to 'prosperity, progress and good fortune' in Chinese culture, making it the ideal model to become its flagship product. Prices for Jaecoo's range-topping 8 start from 45,500. For a comparable seven-seat Range Rover, you'd have to pay north of 120k All versions come with its latest plug-in hybrid system, which marries a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor to put out a combined 422bhp. Power is sent to all four wheels via a three-speed automatic gearbox, generating 520Nm of torque - effectively meaning lots of power at low engine revs. As such, it can accelerate from 0 to 62mph in just 5.8 seconds, yet has CO2 emissions of just 14 g/km; this means low first-year 'showroom' tax rates for private buyers and an affordable company car tax option. Drivers can keep the car in EV-only mode for up to 83 miles before the battery runs out and the vehicle switches entirely to combustion power. The total range of the two power supplies combined is 'over 700 miles'. That's almost driving from London to Munich without needing to stop for fuel or charge. The car's electric battery accepts DC fast-charge up to 40kW - this means the battery can be upped from 30 to 80 per cent in around 20 minutes. It also features 6.6 kW 'vehicle-to-load' functionality, meaning owners can plug conventional household appliances into the battery charging port (using an adapter) when they're staying away from home or on camping holidays. While we expect few - if any - customers to ever take a Jaecoo 8 off-road, the Chinese maker has installed lockable differentials and adaptive terrain response for those who do end up venturing away from the tarmac. Slide me The Luxury version (left) has seven seats in total with three across the second row and two that fold out of the boot. Executive (right) has two large 'captain's chairs' in the second row The arm chairs in the pricier Executive are heated, ventilated and feature five massage functions. They too have headrest speakers allowing passengers to tune into their own music Luxury or Executive? The seven-seat SHS-P Luxury is the cheapest variant, starting from 45,500. It targets larger families looking for 'generous room for passengers, prams, and luggage' and a motor that can cope with everything from school runs to family trips. While sharing similar dimensions, two-tone paint options and boxy styling with the Range Rover, It is a fraction of the price of its least expensive seven-seater, which is the 120,055 HSE Long Wheel Base. For an extra 2,000, the 47,500 Executive version is designed to 'appeal to those who prioritise passenger comfort and a more premium rear-seat experience' or to luxury taxi fleets. Four Nappa leather 'captain's chairs' - two in the front and just two in the rear - are heated, ventilated, have five massage options and headrest speakers allowing passengers to tune into their own music, podcasts and radio stations. The rear seats have extendable footrests and the ability to recline into a relaxed position. But it's the front passenger seat where comfort levels are greatest. The Executive model's front passenger chair boasts 123-degree adjustable angle and even has a dedicated 'Boss Button' that increases leg room The model is also auspicious by name - with 8 linked to 'prosperity, progress and good fortune' in Chinese culture The chair is a 'zero-gravity' seat with a 123-degree adjustable angle and a dedicated 'Boss Button' that increases leg room. If there is a need to transport more people, the Executive spec offers two addition seats that fold out of the boot compartment. With the third row of seats not in use, the Jaecoo 8 provides a van-like boot capacity of up to 2,021 litres. However, with all chairs occupied, the capacity shrinks dramatically but still provides enough space for a fortnight grocery haul or three medium-sized suitcases. Victor Zhang, UK country director at Jaecoo, said: 'As our flagship, and the halo model for us here in the UK, it plays a key role in showcasing what Jaecoo stands for, bringing together our approach to modern design, advanced hybrid technology and genuine all-road capability in a way that feels both premium and highly usable. 'Were starting 2026 as we mean to go on; building on an exceptional first year in the UK with a model that demonstrates the confidence we have in our product, our technology, and our brand.' When Jonathan Reeves left for work one morning in September 2023 and asked his wife to call a plumber to fix their boiler, he never thought it would end with his family held to ransom. Jonathan, 43, of West Hampstead, north-west London, had just moved into a new home with his wife and their two daughters, then aged one and two. As they were still settling in, the boiler had not yet been switched on and the dishwasher and washing machine needed to be plumbed in. After Jonathan left for his job as a City banker, his wife, who doesnt want to be named, tried to ring a reputable local plumbing firm called Plumberoo, which they had used at their previous home. Jonathan says a plumber turned up shortly after, wearing work overalls, and barged into the home as his wife opened the door. He spent five hours in the boiler room but appeared to be doing nothing he just kept saying the boiler still needed to be repaired, he says. The plumber then emerged and demanded to be paid 2,000 immediately, either in cash or by bank transfer before he would leave. He said this would cover the cost of his labour and replacement parts. Jonathan says: Feeling vulnerable, and with the two young children at home, my wife called me and I spoke to him on the phone explaining I would not be intimidated to pay while he was still in the house and that he must leave us a bill. But he refused to leave. As the standoff reached an impasse, the plumber went into the boiler room and used his tools to rip out the entire boiler. He carried it out with him, leaving a gaping hole where it had been. Jonathan Reeves believes a sophisticated technique was used to hack the call which he believes his wife made to a genuine plumber Jonathan says his wife was extremely upset by the ordeal and didnt feel she could stop him from leaving with the boiler. It was a traumatic experience and my wife was left really shaken, he adds. Jonathan says he returned later to discover water dripping on the floor and gas pipes dangling from the wall. He phoned Plumberoo, but they said they had never heard of the man who had turned up. He tried to phone the rogue trader again, but could not get through to anyone. Jonathan was left with no choice but to find a legitimate plumber to install a new boiler. He then contacted his insurer, Tesco, to make a claim. The stolen Vaillant boiler was worth 3,600 and the cost of replacing it, including labour, was 5,000. The Reeves family had fallen victim to a dangerous rogue trader crime, which involves crooks posing as genuine tradesmen. Once they have tricked their way into your home they make a threat demanding money is paid immediately or else they will steal or damage fittings inside your house. Katherine Hart, lead officer for doorstep crime at the customer protection group Trading Standards Institute, fears this shocking crime is not an isolated incident. She says: This theft has all the hallmarks of a rogue trader. He may have intended to fix the boiler but realised he was out of his depth or always intended to hold the household to ransom with a demand. But the outcome was the same. Never invite a stranger into your home for a repair, even in an emergency, without seeing their credentials and having written documentation with an agreement about exactly what they will do and the cost. The rogue plumber went into the boiler room and used his tools to rip out the entire boiler, leaving a gaping hole where it had been Despite being shaken by the experience, Jonathan hoped a replacement boiler would be installed under his home cover as provided by Tesco Insurance. But the company refused to pay out, claiming that because the family let the burglar into the home, even though they believed he was a genuine plumber, the insurer did not have to pay up under small-print terms and conditions on thefts. Jonathan decided to take Tesco Insurance on at the small claims court in January, seeking 5,000 to cover the cost of replacing the boiler. But the insurer won. Jonathan received nothing and picked up the 205 court costs. The 43-year-old is baffled by how a call to a local plumber he trusted had ended with a visit from a conman and believes a sophisticated technique was used to hack the call which he believes his wife made to a genuine plumber. Jonathan said his wife believed she had called the reputable local company they had used before Plumberoo and thats where the tradesman was from but it was only after talking to the firm later that Jonathan discovered the thief did not work for them. Its still unclear how that happened. However, at the court hearing, Tesco defence lawyer Oliver Stapel suggested google spoofing might have been the culprit behind the criminal interception. This is when copycat websites appear when you tap in the details of a company or service which means anyone browsing the internet might accidentally contact fake providers believing they are genuine. Hart adds: This family may never find out how the criminal managed to trick them into believing he came from a reputable outfit. But we have come across similar deception techniques, varying from intercepting genuine phone calls to impersonating others with clone websites. For a trusted tradesmen, it is a good idea to ask for recommendations from family or friends. [Stock image] Sadly, homeowners need to constantly be on their guard. Jonathan says: We have been robbed pure and simple and I am disappointed that this is not covered by the insurance policy that covers you in the case of theft. The experience has taught me the importance of making sure the person at your door is exactly who they say they are before you let them in. It turned out to be a costly mistake. Deputy District Judge Javaherian was sympathetic with Jonathan but threw out his case because the thief had technically been invited into the home and the crime was only discovered later. The judge said if his wife had phoned the police immediately then Tesco Insurance might have been forced to pay the 5,000 that Jonathan demanded. The judge also pointed out that the home cover taken out with Tesco Insurance was for buildings and had the couple taken out contents cover as well then it would have been more likely that their insurer would have paid out. Tesco failed to respond to our request for a comment. Plumbing expert Billy Gunn, director of Imperial Heating Services, says: Ripping out a gas boiler is extremely dangerous and any problems should only be dealt with by fully qualified engineers. Otherwise, there is potential for a gas leak and explosion, not to mention water damage. Never let anyone inside your home without asking to see their credentials first. If they are working with gas, they must be Gas Safe Registered. If concerned about a gas leak even if someone has not taken your boiler you should contact the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. Tips for trusted tradesmen A great place to start is a recommendation from family or friends. Ask for references and get a written agreement on the job to be done. Do not pay in advance, although a small deposit is okay. Try to get two or three people to provide a written quote. But be wary as the cheapest is not always the best. Several websites offer tradesman-finding services, but the only Government-backed scheme is TrustMark. Paying cash is not recommended as it means there is little recourse if things go wrong. Winston Churchill and Jane Austen will be replaced by the likes of otters and badgers on UK banknotes in a decision described as 'total bonkers' by critics. The Bank of England said that after five decades of featuring historical figures, the next set of notes would instead be illustrated with animals native to the UK. It comes after the Bank announced last summer that it was considering changing the theme of the images it used on Britan's paper money to reflect 'real diversity'. A public consultation, which received 44,000 responses, found that 'nature' was the top choice ahead of 'architecture and landmarks' and 'notable historical figures'. The Bank has now appointed a panel of wildlife experts to draw up a shortlist of animals for the public to choose from in a consultation to be launched this summer. Ditching the use of historical figures has previously been described as 'wrongheaded wokery'. It seems calculated to help avoid the controversy whipped up by campaigners about all manner of aspects of Britain's past. The new design idea will even steer clear of pitting dog lovers against cat lovers as household pets will not be included. Historical figures such as Churchill will not appear on the next series of notes Victoria Cleland, chief cashier at the Bank of England, said the change 'provides an opportunity to celebrate different aspects of the UK' and would 'showcase the UK's rich and varied wildlife'. But Kevin Holinrake, a former business minister, said: 'Britain's banknotes should celebrate the people who shaped our country and our history. 'Replacing legendary figures like Winston Churchill and Jane Austen with animals is total bonkers. 'Of course we value our wildlife but our national currency should have pride in, and honour, the giants of our past.' Former business secretary Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg said: 'It says all you need to know about the lack of seriousness of the Bank. 'Notes use symbolism to express power and value, twee little furry things do neither.' Key criteria for deciding on the theme included that it should symbolise the UK and resonate with the public as well as not being 'divisive'. The Bank said that wildlife images would also 'be most effective for developing banknotes with security features that are easy for the public to recognise and distinguish'. In addition to animals, the new series of notes may also incorporate other elements from nature such as plants and landscapes, to complete the design. The use of historical figures began in 1970 with William Shakespeare. UK banknotes currently feature Sir Winston Churchill, Jane Austen, artist JMW Turner and codebreaker Alan Turing. The Bank has previously run into controversy over banknote designs after campaigners complained that too few women had featured in recent years, prior to Jane Austen appearing in 2017. History has also proved uncomfortable due to links with slavery. In 2021 the Bank removed from display a series of paintings and busts of governors and directors who had connections to the slave trade in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The boss of Lego has criticised Denmarks proposals for a wealth tax a policy which Left-wing politicians hope the UK will adopt. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has proposed an annual 0.5 per cent tax on assets worth more than 2.9million in a bid to be re-elected. Niels Christiansen, the toymakers chief executive, warned that this would lead to fewer jobs and drain quite a lot of capital out of companies. Theres a high risk it would impact society pretty hard in the long run less job creation, less tax generated from companies, less competitiveness for a broad range of Danish companies, Christiansen told the Financial Times. Lego boss Niels Christiansen warned wealth taxes would lead to fewer jobs The Chairman of shipping giant Maersk, Robert Uggla, has already said this would be harmful to Denmark, arguing: This type of redistribution policy risks negatively affecting Danish companies access to capital. Kim Fausing, chief executive of technology company Danfoss, said: Its a fundamental problem of again driving Europe and Denmark in the wrong direction. In the UK, the Green Party is proposing an annual tax of 1pc on assets above 10m and 2pc on assets above 1bn, with politicians on the Left of the Labour Party also supporting the plan. A 49-year-old man has been jailed for targeting vulnerable homeowners and encouraging them to flog their homes on the cheap via an illegal 'sale-and-rent-back' scheme. Through a firm called Secure Property Consultants Ltd, Rajinder Gill targeted homeowners in financial difficulty, claiming he could sell their homes quickly, offering them cash advances and saying they could stay in the homes as tenants. Victims were encouraged to sell their houses at less than market value, while he charged excessive, confusing or hidden fees totalling 925,233. Some victims were evicted from their homes. The Financial Conduct Authority said that once Gill got wind of the probe into his and his accomplices' activities, he tried to conceal his activities and shut down the company. He also warned clients not to talk to the regulator. On Wednesday, the FCA said Gill had been jailed for two and a half years for running an illegal sale-and-rent-back scheme without being authorised, and illegally providing credit agreements and mortgages. Property scheme: Victims were encouraged to sell their houses at less than market value, the FCA said (file image) In sentencing Gill, His Honour Judge Weekes said 'there was a pattern of systematic exploitation and the 'victim impact [was] stark and troubling across the victims'. He added Gill was 'dishonest and manipulative' and the sale-and-rent-back agreements 'particularly odious'. Amandeep Heer, Gill's partner, received a community order for two years with a condition of 250 hours of unpaid work for her role as an accomplice. Jetinder Sandhu has completed 100 hours' unpaid work over 12 months as a condition of a 15-month suspended imprisonment, which was suspended for 18 months. Gill pleaded guilty to 27 offences in relation to sale-and-rent-back agreements, as well as crooked credit agreements and mortgage contracts. He asked the court to consider a further 12 offences of the same nature at sentencing. Following a trial, Heer was found guilty of committing three similar offences. The FCA has launched confiscation proceedings to deprive the defendants of the proceeds of their crimes, with a view to compensating victims. Gill, based in Middlesex, was also disqualified from being a director of a company for eight years. On the Companies House website, it is evident that Gills' firm, Secure Property Consultants Ltd, has been dissolved. However, another business he is a director of, Secure Property Commercial Limited, remains active. The FCA first started investigating Gills' involvement in sale-and-rent-back schemes in 2013. Steve Smart, executive director of enforcement and market oversight at the FCA, said: 'Mr Gill and his accomplices preyed on vulnerable homeowners, turning financial difficulty into misery to fill their own pockets. 'Sale-and-rent-back comes with significant risks. 'If you are considering using it, always check the provider is authorised by the FCA.' Any consumer who thinks they may have been affected by the activities of Gill, Heer or Sandhu should contact the FCA's investigation team by emailing alva.info@fca.org.uk. Recruitment giant Robert Walters has warned the cost of hiring staff in the UK can be prohibitive as unemployment races towards its highest level in over a decade. As it reported annual losses of 19.6million, the company revealed it shed nearly a quarter of its British workforce last year, though it did not put a number on the job losses. The firm swung the axe as a slowdown in hiring by UK firms plagued by Labours tax hikes and rising cost dented fees earned by its recruitment teams. Robert Walters boss Toby Fowlston And Robert Walters said it would continue to make further meaningful cost cuts this year. The update will fuel fears of a mounting unemployment crisis in the UK just days after the British Chambers of Commerce warned the jobless rate will hit 5.5 per cent this year. That would be the highest since 2015 while youth unemployment is set to soar to 17.1 per cent. Robert Walters chief executive Toby Fowlston said the company has moved some basic head office jobs overseas to save money. The cost of hiring in the UK can be prohibitive so we have made the decision to offshore some of our functional roles to places like Manila and India, he said. However, Fowlston noted a pick up in business in the UK towards the end of last year, with a 5 per cent decline in fees in the first six months of 2025 followed by a 20 per cent increase in the second half. He said there was strong demand for staff among the legal profession as well as in technology, accounting and finance. Momentum built as the year progressed, he said, adding that the candidates it places in the UK earn a typical salary of 71,000, rising to over 85,000 in London. Businesses in the UK have been battered by higher taxes under Labour, including the 25billion national insurance raid, as well as sharp increases to the minimum wage and other costs. Unemployment has jumped from 4.1 per cent when Labour came to power to a five-year high of 5.2 per cent while youth unemployment is at an 11-year high of 16.1 per cent. The UK job losses at Robert Walters came as the firm slimmed down its workforce worldwide with global staff numbers down 15 per cent last year. The average salary of a worker placed in a job in London by Robert Walters is over 85,000 In a statement to the stock market, the firm said: The overall backdrop for hiring markets globally remains volatile. As such, the cautious client and candidate sentiment observed in 2025 is expected to remain a factor in 2026. The board's planning assumption therefore remains for 2026 group net fees to be slightly below 2025. The comments came as the firm posted losses of 19.6million for 2025 having made profits of 500,000 the previous year. Net fees slumped 15 per cent to 274.2million. And in a blow to shareholders, the company said it would not be paying a dividend, having handed out 23.5p a share for 2024. Robert Walters said it was mindful of the importance of a strong balance sheet position as well as the overall still volatile macro backdrop. Fowlston said 2025 was a third challenging year for global hiring markets, with client and candidate sentiment still cautious given the considerable macro and geopolitical volatility of the first half of the 2020s. He added: The resultant decline in group net fees, over half of which was offset through cost actions, resulted in a loss for the year. The financial result, which includes restructuring costs, is unsatisfactory to everyone at Robert Walters - but 2025 was not defined by it. In the face of the challenging conditions, we continued to implement self-help measures, focused on ensuring a robust balance sheet and moved to further position the business to address the significant long-term market opportunity. He said artificial intelligence is also re-shaping the world of work. Fowlston said: Though the advent and adoption of AI brings the prospect of further accelerating the speed of change in how work is done, and in how hiring is done, we continue to believe this will present opportunities for our business. Revolut has said it has secured a full UK banking licence, five years after it first applied to the regulator. The Bank of Englands Prudential Regulation Authority has reportedly lifted restrictions on Revoluts banking licence, giving its approval to launch its UK bank. The digital bank first operated with an e-money licence in the UK, applying for a banking licence in 2021. The PRA granted the licence with restrictions in 2024 - a standard stage in the process - but the transition to a full licence was held up amid concerns that its risk controls couldn't keep up with its rapid growth. At the time, Revolut said that the scale and complexity of the business meant it was not rushing to meet a specific date. Revolut has approximately 13 million customers in the UK, but without a full licence its banking division has only been able to hold 50,000 in total deposits. The removal of restrictions will allow it to lend at a greater scale and offer deposit accounts protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), allowing it to compete with high street lenders. Revolut co-founder Nik Storonsky has long pursued a full UK banking licence Revolut said it would gradually begin the process of rolling out current accounts to new customers in a few days, starting with a small group and expanding over the coming weeks to ensure a smooth user experience. For existing customers, nothing changes immediately, and customers' Revolut app and cards will continue to work as normal. It confirms earlier reports in the Financial Times. Co-founder Nik Storonsky said: Launching our UK bank has been a long-term strategic priority for Revolut, and marks a significant moment in our journey. The UK is our home market and central to our growth. We look forward to introducing a full suite of banking services to our millions of UK customers, bringing the same innovative experience we already provide across the rest of Europe. This is a vital step in our mission to build the worlds first truly global bank. The digital bank has already secured banking licences in the European Union, through the central bank of Lithuania, and in Mexico. It has also been given the green light to set up a bank in Colombia, but further approvals are needed before it can start lending. It has also set its eyes on the US, with previous reports suggesting that Revolut was weighing up buying an American lender to allow it to operate there. Last week, it made a second attempt to secure a US licence, filing for a US bank charter as it named a new boss for the region. Storonsky said it was a major milestone in its vision of building the first truly global banking platform. This charter will give us the direct control needed to innovate faster and deliver the Revolut experience to millions more Americans as we move toward our goal of 100 million customers, he added. Pennsylvania's Democrat governor is being sued by his neighbors who say he is trespassing and unlawfully occupying a piece of land that they refused to sell to him. Governor Josh Shapiro and his wife Lori own an $830,500 home in the Philadelphia suburb of Jenkintown, Pennsylvania. The couple's property shares a common boundary with land owned by Jeremy and Simone Mock, whose home is worth just shy of $1 million. The Shapiros wanted to build an eight-foot security fence along the boundary after an arsonist attacked the Governor's official mansion in Harrisburg while Shapiro was inside with his family, the Mocks' lawsuit said. Shapiro and his family are Jewish, with the arsonist reportedly telling police that he was spurred into the attack by Israel's war on Hamas. The couple offered to buy 2,900 square feet of land from the Mocks, which for decades they had believed was part of their own property, so they could move forward with their security project, the complaint alleged. But the families could not agree on a purchase price, so the Mocks offered to lease the land to the Shapiros, according to the lawsuit. The Shapiros initially agreed to the lease, the Mocks' lawsuit alleges, but ultimately decided to take 'alternative actions' to obtain the land, which the governor and first lady claimed they owned through 'adverse possession.' The Shapiros planted large trees on the Mocks' property, threatened to remove healthy trees from the land, flew a drone over the area and chased away the Mocks' arborist and surveyor, the lawsuit alleged. Jeremy and Simone Mock, seen together in 2014, have sued Pennsylvania Gov Josh Shapiro and his wife Lori for trespassing and unlawfully occupying their land. They also accused him of an 'outrageous abuse of power' Lori and Josh Shapiro, pictured together, argued in their counter complaint that they are owners of the disputed area due to Pennsylvania's adverse possession law Governor Josh Shapiro and his wife Lori own this $830,500 home in the Philadelphia suburb of Jenkintown, Pennsylvania The couple's property shares a common boundary with land owned by Jeremy and Simone Mock, whose home worth just shy of $1 million The governor also directed Pennsylvania state police to patrol the land, even though it was owned by the Mocks, the court filing stated. When the Mocks tried to access their land, state police allegedly told them the area was 'disputed' and ordered them to leave immediately. The Mocks further claim they were forced to pause construction of their own fence because state police forbid their contractors from approaching a 'disputed area' in the 'security zone,' despite the couple owning the land. State police told the Mocks, citing how the area was a 'security zone,' they could not enter without consent from the Shapiros. The Shapiros, in their counter complaint, argued they are owners of the disputed area due to Pennsylvania's adverse possession law, which allows an unauthorized occupant to acquire legal title to another person's property if they have occupied the area continuously for 21 years. The Shapiros claim their uninterrupted possession of the disputed area began in May 2003, when they moved into their home, the complaint said. They note that the fence that separates their property and the Mocks' property was erected before they purchased their home in 2003. From the date of purchase until 2025, residents of both addresses have treated the fence line as the actual property boundary, the filing alleged. Join the debate Should a governor use state resources to claim a neighbors land for personal security? Your browser does not support iframes. Pennsylvania state police officers patrol the disputed land on the boundary separating the Mock and Shapiro properties The Shapiros, seen with their children outside the governor's mansion in Harrisburg, were looking to amp up security measures at their homes after an arson attack last year According to their complaint, the couple have maintained, improved, and exercised dominion over the area by 'mowing, landscaping, installing improvements, and excluding others.' They governor and first lady further cited how the Mocks purchased their home in April 2017 and since then have 'never possessed or occupied' the disputed land. The Mocks also never objected to their use of the property until October 2025 when the Shapiros informed them that they actually owned the land, the countersuit said. The Shapiros learned about the Mocks' ownership of the land in summer 2025 after the state sent a land surveyor to the home as part of its plan to implement additional security measures on the property. State officials decided to amp up security at the residence after arsonist Cody Balmer, 38, threw a Molotov cocktail at his official residence in April. Shapiro was inside the property with friends and family as they celebrated the first night of the Passover holiday at the time of the attack. Balmer pleaded guilty to the attempted murder last October. He also entered pleas to terrorism, 22 counts of arson, aggravated arson, burglary, aggravated assault of Shapiro, 21 counts of reckless endangerment and loitering in the attack that caused millions of dollars in damage to the state-owned brick building. Under the plea deal, he was sentenced to 25 to 50 years in prison, far less than he could have faced if the case had gone to trial. Pennsylvania State Police moved to increase security measures at Shapiro's homes after arsonist Cody Balmer, 38, threw a Molotov cocktail (pictured) into the governor's mansion in Harrisburg in April 2025 while Shapiro and his family slept inside Damage after a fire at the Pennsylvania governor's mansion caused by the arson attack The Mocks are being represented by prominent Republican attorney Walter Zimolong (left). He is pictured alongside Lara Trump (second-left) Pennsylvania treasurer and Republican gubernatorial candidate Stacy Garrity has used the neighbor row as fuel for her own political campaign. She shared this meme on Valentine's Day The neighbor row, however, has now become more than an issue of security with Shapiro's office alleging it is a political stunt to harm him as he runs for re-election. The Mocks, who in their lawsuit accused Shapiro of an 'outrageous abuse of power,' are being represented by prominent Republican attorney Walter Zimolong. Zimolong refers to himself as Pennsylvania's go-to attorney for 'conservative causes and candidates for office,' his website states. He is a member of the Republican National Lawyers Association and his previous clients include the political campaigns of President Donald Trump and US Sen. Dave McCormick. Shapiro's spokesperson, in a statement to the Philadelphia Inquirer earlier this month, said: 'The Governor looks forward to a swift resolution and will not be bullied by anyone trying to score cheap political points, especially at the expense of his family's safety and wellbeing.' Zimolong, however, has hit back at the allegation, telling the Washington Post that his clients' lawsuit is 'not a political action or "stunt" it's a straightforward defense of the property rights of two innocent people.' Lori and Josh Shapiro claim they have maintained, improved, and exercised dominion over the dispute area since May 2003 Despite this, Pennsylvania treasurer and Republican gubernatorial candidate Stacy Garrity has used the incident as fuel for her own campaign. In a post on Valentine's Day, she shared a fake Valentine's card that featured a picture of Shapiro and said: 'I love you more than I love my neighbor's yard.' Attorneys for the Shapiros and Mocks did not respond to the Daily Mail's requests for comment. A Sydney woman accused of a staggering crime spree is allegedly one of the citys worst-ever shoplifters after she was charged over a $32,000 haul of designer goods. Connee Mansour, 34, was arrested last month after cops from NSW Police Proactive Crime Team raided her one-bedroom Meadowbank unit in Sydneys north-west. She was charged over four outstanding warrants relating to common assault, larceny, shoplifting and break and enter. Court documents allege she went on the crime spree between August and September 2025, targeting at least ten high-end businesses across Sydneys CBD, Surry Hills and Glebe. Among the most eye-watering allegations is that on August 8 last year, between 7pm and 7.20pm, she allegedly stole jewellery worth $11,755 from luxury Australian brand By Charlotte inside the Queen Victoria Building (QVB). Just weeks later, she is accused of stealing two belts, two wallets and a handbag valued at $4,455 from David Jones in the CBD. On August 17, she allegedly took $1,200 worth of lingerie from Honey Birdette at the QVB. Police also allege she broke into a Dermalogica clinic at the QVB on the afternoon of September 22 where multiple skincare items were stolen. Alleged shoplifter Connee Mansour was granted conditional bail at a mental health facility for assessment She allegedly took $1,200 worth of lingerie from Honey Birdette at the QVB Other items allegedly swiped include a $3,000 knitted Gucci top, $1,614 worth of clothing from Chinese designer Goelia, a $205 Armani perfume from David Jones and $4,000 worth of cosmetics from Sephora in Glebe. In addition to the retail theft, Mansour is accused of stealing two Dell Inspiron laptops and an Acer Nitro AN515 laptop from Wentworth Institute of Higher Education in Surry Hills on September 30. She is further alleged to have broken into Western Sydney Universitys Rydalmere campus with intent to commit a serious indictable offence. Court documents claim she opened a closed window of the EI Building and entered various rooms in circumstances of aggravation, allegedly in the company of a man. Just one day before she was taken into custody, police allegedly caught Mansour in Macquarie Park in possession of prohibited drugs, including 0.3g of cocaine, 0.3g of methylamphetamine and Alprazolam (Xanax). She was also allegedly fraudulently using a drivers licence at the time. One day before she was taken into custody, police allegedly caught Mansour in Macquarie Park in possession of prohibited drugs Court documents allege the 34-year-old went on a brazen thieving spree between August and September 2025, targeting at least 10 high-end businesses across Sydneys CBD, Surry Hills and Glebe She allegedly stole jewellery worth $11,755 from luxury Australian brand By Charlotte inside the Queen Victoria Building The following day, officers attended her Meadowbank home to execute the outstanding warrants when police allege she resisted arrest. Its further alleged that 3g of prescription opioid buprenorphine and 1g of cocaine were later located while she was in custody at Gladesville Police Station. Mansour faced Burwood Local Court on February 25 where Magistrate Maryanne Higginson granted bail, but ordered her to stay at a mental health facility for assessment. Mojtaba Khamenei will rule over the repressed Iranian population with an iron fist after replacing his slain father as the country's Supreme Leader. The 'vengeful' cleric, 56, is backed by the hardline Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and is viewed as even more extreme and oppressive than his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran's new leader is said to want to 'seek revenge' against the US or even ordinary Iranians for the killing of his father and his wife. Mojtaba, who has been wounded in the war, has not been seen in public since the outbreak of conflict and has been earmarked for assassination by Israel. But as he asserts his power over his beleaguered nation he could benefit from his father's extraordinary business empire, worth an estimated $95billion, which he built up by systematically seizing thousands of properties belonging to ordinary Iranians. And despite being sanctioned by the US in 2019, Mojtaba is said to oversee an investment empire of over 100million, with access to luxury properties in north London and bank accounts in the UK, Switzerland, UAE and Liechtenstein. He is believed to own 11 properties on The Bishops Avenue - an exclusive street in Hampstead, north London, also known as 'Billionaires' Row' and two luxury apartments overlooking the Israeli embassy in London. The sixth and seventh floor apartments near the Israeli embassy, which come with servants' quarters on the ground floor, are a stone's throw from Kensington Palace, the official residence of the Prince and Princess of Wales. Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, could take over his father's $95billion business empire after taking over as Supreme Leader Authorities in Iran announced Mojtaba Khamenei, the late Ayatollah's second son, as Iran's new Supreme Leader on Sunday Mr Khamenei, the Ayatollah's second son, owns the properties through a network of shell companies, one of which is registered in the tax haven of the Isle of Man. His vast portfolio also includes an exclusive villa in Dubai and several luxury European hotels. A year-long investigation into the 56-year-old's foreign investments revealed the full eyewatering extent of his sprawling wealth - which touches Persian Gulf shipping, Swiss bank accounts and luxury property - as well as the complex network that has allowed him to evade western sanctions imposed on him in 2019. And he could further benefit from the riches of his father. Ali Khamenei, whose 36 years and eight months leading Iran resulted in the mass repression of women, the slaughter of civilians and the funding of terror groups including Hamas and Hezbollah, held his business empire under Setad, a little-known organisation set up by Ruhollah Khomeini just before his death. Its full name in Persian is 'Setad Ejraiye Farmane Hazrate Emam' - Headquarters for Executing the Order of the Imam. It was one of the keys to the now-dead Iranian leader's power and holds stakes in nearly every sector of Iranian industry, including finance, oil, telecommunications, the production of birth-control pills and even ostrich farming. A Reuters investigation in 2013 found Setad amassed a giant portfolio of real estate by claiming in Iranian courts, sometimes falsely, that the properties are abandoned. The organisation holds a court-ordered monopoly on taking property in the name of the supreme leader, and regularly sells the seized properties at auction or seeks to extract payments from the original owners. Under Khamenei, the organisation expanded its corporate holdings, buying stakes in dozens of Iranian companies, both private and public, with the stated goal of creating an Iranian conglomerate to boost the country's economic growth. Setad's total worth is difficult to pinpoint because of the secrecy of its accounts. Reuters estimated it at around $95billion, made up of about $52billion in real estate and $43billion in corporate holdings. Your browser does not support iframes. Mojtaba is believed to own 11 properties on The Bishops Avenue - an exclusive street in Hampstead, north London, also known as 'Billionaires' Row' Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in Israeli airstrikes in Tehran. He is said to have opposed his son ruling Iran because he was opposed to hereditary rule While there is no evidence that Khamenei used Setad to enrich himself, it did empower him. Through Setad, Khamenei had at his disposal financial resources whose value rivals the holdings of the shah, the Western-backed monarch who was overthrown in 1979. This authority could now be passed on to his second son. As Iran's top cleric, Khamenei had final say on all governmental matters. His purview included his nation's controversial nuclear programme, a major reason for American and Israeli strikes on Iran that ultimately led to his assassination. Mojtaba was excluded from a list of three senior clerics his father reportedly identified last year, but on Sunday was announced as his successor after being appointed by the regime's 88-person assembly. Over the last 20 years, Mojtaba has built close ties with the Guards, giving him added leverage across Iran's political and security organisations. According to research by Bloomberg, Mojtaba's name never appears on the multiple assets he owns - which are acquired through a spider network of shell companies, middle men and bank accounts held in the UK, Switzerland, Lichtenstein and the United Arab Emirates, through deals that stretch back to 2011. The shell companies and intermediaries have been established across a wide geographical spread covering the UAE, Isle of Man, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Europe. In October, the businessman was placed under UK sanctions for 'hostile activity' that included allegedly financing Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards. The move could prompt Mojtaba and his associates to sell off the network's European assets ahead of similar sanctions imposed by the EU, an expert in money laundering investigations told Bloomberg . As for the funding of this substantial portfolio, Mojtaba is believed to have siphoned off profit from Iranian oil sales, before funnelling it through his opaque network to evade international sanctions aimed at curbing Tehran's military and political operations. The hardline cleric is already marked for assassination by Israel after it vowed to 'eliminate' whoever succeded the Ayatollah, having killed him and Mojtaba's wife Zahra Haddad-Adel in strikes on the first day of the conflict. The new Supreme Leader has strong links to the IRGC and was chosen by Iran's Assembly of Experts 'under pressure from the Revolutionary Guards', according to Iranian media. Father-to-son succession is viewed negatively in the Shiite Muslim clerical establishment in Iran and Mojtaba is not a high-ranking cleric, has never held office and did not have an official role in the regime until now. And his father is said to have indicated opposition to his candidacy because it would resemble the hereditary rule enacted by the US-backed Shah monarchy before it was overthrown in the Iranian Revolution in 1979. But having been selected as Iran's Supreme Leader, he will look to exact revenge for the killing on his father, according to one Iran expert. They told BBC Radio 4: 'He is vengeful. They have killed his father and he won't let it go. 'If he can't get revenge on the US, he will take his revenge on ordinary people.' Parham Ghobadi from BBC's Persian service claimed he 'has taken the most dangerous job in the world because the Americans and Israelis have vowed to target the next leader, saying the next leader of Iran is going to be a legitimate target for assassination. Large crowds in Tehran wave Iranian flags and shout, 'Allahu Akbar, Khamenei Rahbar', meaning: 'God is great, Khamenei is the leader' He added: 'There have been rumours around him that he is going to be the next leader since the protests in 2009, people were chanting in the streets "Mojtaba we hope you die. You'll never become the next leader". 'So the rumours were there for decades that he'd be the next leader... But overall he's a shadow. 'Now the person who has never been officially in charge has suddenly consumed power and become the next leader of Iran at such a critical time.' The Israeli military has already warned it will 'pursue every successor' of Ali Khamenei. In a post on X in Farsi, the IDF said: 'After neutralizing the tyrant Khamenei, the terrorist regime of Iran is attempting to rebuild itself and select a new 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.' Mojtaba has already been wounded in the war, according to a report on Iranian state TV. In one report on his ascension to Supreme Leader, it refers to him as being wounded in the war. The anchor describes him as 'janbaz', or wounded by the enemy, in the 'Ramadan war,' which is how media in Iran refer to the current conflict. It does not elaborate on how he was injured, although his wife and father were killed in Israeli strikes on Tehran. An analyst on air later suggested Khamenei's wounding could have been during his service in the 1980s Iran-Iraq war, although the differing accounts could not be immediately reconciled. Mojtaba Khamenei's potential impact on the escalating conflict in the Middle East was laid bare in the moments after his succession was confirmed, with videos showing regime supporters chanting his name and urging more strikes. Large crowds in Tehran waved Iranian flags and shouted, 'Allahu Akbar, Khamenei Rahbar', meaning: 'God is great, Khamenei is the leader.' More ominous still, the Iranian military vowed to respond to any Israeli attacks on the country's energy infrastructure by striking oil sites across the region - after Israel targeted reserves the night before. Owners of a 20million Belgravia townhouse have left neighbours terrified their mansions could 'implode' after seeking permission to build a 2million mega-basement. The six-storey palatial home already boasts a hair salon, wine cellar, sauna, steam room and cinema. But a mysterious offshore company that owns the listed-property has sought permission to excavate beneath it to build an underground gym and swimming pool. Wealthy neighbours are furious at the controversial proposals describing the scheme as a 'gratuitous vanity construction project' With others encouraging the owners 'not to live hermetically sealed within exclusive luxury palaces' but to use local swimming pools instead. Last year, Westminster Council rejected the plans after locals feared their multi-million pound homes could 'implode' because of structural weakening. However, the owners of the property - purchased for 14million in 2005 - have appealed the decision, paving the way for a final showdown with the independent Planning Inspectorate. Under plans filed with the council, the early 19th century property constructed by acclaimed builder Thomas Cubitt, and a linked mews house at the rear, would have their basements excavated to make way for the underground amenities. The six-storey palatial home already boasts a hair salon, wine cellar, sauna, steam room and cinema The early 19th century property and a linked mews house at the rear would have their basements excavated to make way for the underground amenities Your browser does not support iframes. A wine cellar would also be relocated and an existing lift extended at an estimated 2million cost. And while mega-basements have become standard practice among some of the capital's ultra rich homeowners - the excavations mean there is a chance the property could collapse. One furious neighbour said: '[The property] is fortunate to already have a wine cellar, hair salon, gym, sauna and steam room as well as multiple kitchens and baths and four garage spaces. 'A new wine cellar, subterranean gym, and interior pool of such length that it extends under the house and mews would not seem necessities that might merit exposure to construction risks.' The home in Belgravia is owned by an off-shore company called Rosspark Ltd, which is registered in the British Virgin Islands and has a correspondence address in Limassol, Cyprus. Rosspark initially succeeded in obtaining approval for the pool plan, only for Westminster councillors to overturn its officers own support. The council ruled that the 'excessive depth' of the excavation went against its planning policies. The company insisted its proposals were 'respectful of the existing building' and that the proposed development 'would have no adverse impacts' on the structural stability of the historic terrace. In an appeal, now currently being considered, agents for Rosspark insisted: 'Basements with swimming pools are not uncharacteristic of the buildings within the immediate surroundings of the site'. A barrage of objections have poured in from nearby residents raising concerns about the disruptive impact of the massive excavation. One objected saying: 'The architects will certainly be aware that Cubitt, even with wealthy clients of his day, would not have installed an artificial lake in the basement of the six-story townhouse and its mews stables. 'Not only would he have understood the risk which continues today of the area's swampy marshy soil, he would have appreciated ornamental, artificial lakes would be more appropriately cited in the country seat his clients undoubtedly had and, fortunately, these applicants own.' Pictured: Plans showing the new pool the owners plan to excavate Pictured: The salon inside the property bought in 2005 for 14million Pictured: The current wine cellar, which would be relocated to the new mega-basement Pictured: The garage full of luxury cars, located in ultra-exclusive Belgravia They added: 'Encouraging overdevelopment through gratuitous vanity construction projects discourages renters and owners alike from locating here and using local services with any enjoyment.' Families living nearby also raised health concerns, saying the project could worsen air quality through construction dust and vehicle emissions. 'Our family includes three children and we are very conscious of the disturbance this will cause to their development, mental health and health' one objection said. Another warned of a 'dangerous precedent' for similar excavations, creating a 'domino effect of structural risk'. The Belgravia Neighbourhood Forum, meanwhile asked councillors 'is this development really necessary?' with the community group warning the 'enormous excavation of earth, is likely to disrupt the peaceful enjoyment of their homes of neighbours for a considerable period of time.' The house sits in the heart of Belgravia, one of London's most exclusive enclaves where neighbours include some of the world's wealthiest people. Just a short distance away, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani - the former Prime Minister of Qatar and a member of the country's ruling royal family - purchased nearby Forbes House and is currently developing a staggering 300million mega-mansion. When completed, the property is expected to become London's most expensive private home. The area has also attracted a string of ultra-rich international buyers, including Kuwait's Sheikh Ahmad Al-Sabah, who owns a 36million property in Belgrave Square. Ukrainian oil and gas tycoon Gennadiy Bogolyubov is among the neighbourhood's billionaire residents after purchasing a lavish 60million, 10-bedroom villa nearby. Westminster Council have been contacted for comment. The Barefoot Investor was shocked after learning a teenager who took out a $50,000 car loan still owes more than the original amount despite paying back $16,000. The 18-year-old took out the $51,681 loan through finance company Infinity Finance at 18.35 per cent interest, with monthly repayments of $1,327. But when he asked for an early payout figure after receiving a windfall, the lender allegedly told him he would need to pay $53,511 to clear the debt - almost $2,000 more than he originally borrowed. The teenager's aunt wrote to finance expert Scott Pape, saying the family was shocked. 'After a full year of repayments they say he owes more than he borrowed,' she wrote. 'Is there any world in which this is legal?' Pape said the situation was a brutal example of how high-interest car loans can trap young borrowers. He said the teenager has learned an expensive life lesson: don't swim with sharks. Barefoot Investor Scott Pape (pictured) said the teenager has learned an expensive life lesson, don't swim with sharks 'He borrowed $51,681. He's already paid almost $16,000,' Pape said. 'And after a full year of repayments they say he still owes $53,511? Bloody hell.' Pape said lenders pile on things like early termination fees, establishment fees, monthly account fees, and interest that compounds 'faster than rabbits'. 'It's all buried in the fine print,' he said. 'If he keeps the loan, he'll end up paying close to $70,000 for a car that's probably worth $35,000 today. 'Half his money. Incinerated.' Pape urged the teenager to call the National Debt Helpline and get a free financial counsellor in his corner. 'He's about to scrap with a company whose entire business model depends on 18-year-olds not reading the fine print,' he said. An Australian teenager who borrowed $51,681 for a car was left stunned after learning he owes more than he originally borrowed despite paying nearly $16,000 over the past year 'His first punch is to call Infinity Finance and tell them he's disputing the loan on responsible lending grounds. 'While he's got them on the phone, make them a full and final settlement offer well below their payout figure. I'd open at $45,000. 'However, I'm guessing these guys don't mind a scrap and they love their money, so they may well say bring it on. If they do, it's time to go for his knockout punch: lodge a complaint with the Australian Financial Complaints Authority. 'The moment he does, Infinity Finance has to stop any debt collection action. They can't chase him. They can't threaten him. They just have to sit there and wait.' Infinity Group Australia, which claims it is 'changing lives financially', states on its website that it is committed to improving financial literacy and helping Australians strive for less debt and better money management nationwide. 'At Infinity, we do budget management and money mentoring on steroids. We're committed to helping you get out from under your mortgage and money worries.' The driving force behind Infinity is Graeme Holm - also known as the Money Mentor. Daily Mail contacted Mr Holm for comment. The wife of a City lawyer was filmed screaming at her neighbour as he thwarted her plans to erect a security fence in a posh London village. Business consultant Robin Christie, 65, grabbed onto metal railings outside the couple's 850,000 home - in a bid to stop Julia Stafford's illegal construction work. Striking footage shows the moment Ms Stafford, 44, kicks in the direction of Christie as he stays put on the building site in Hill House Drive, Richmond-upon-Thames. A section of the railing is then sent crashing to the ground and Ms Stafford turns her frustration on another resident, who had been protesting alongside Christie. She shouts: 'That's what I said would happen if I let go. You stupid woman!' Ms Stafford is also heard mocking Christie - saying he is an 'old man' in danger of a 'heart attack' for physically blocking her plan to fence off the wall. The ordeal began on July 5, 2024, when Ms Stafford proceeded to carry out the construction work with her husband Samuel Tempest Brooks, 44. The pair had obtained planning permission to radically extend their detached Edwardian former waterworks home in the Hampton Village Conservation Area. However, Mr Brooks and Ms Stafford failed to secure local authority permission to demolish a boundary wall to create a gated entrance on their site. Nevertheless, Ms Stafford began knocking the wall down anyway. Business consultant Robin Christie, 65, grabbed onto metal railings - in a bid to stop Julia Stafford's illegal construction work. The scuffling pair are pictured here A section of the railing is then sent crashing to the ground and Ms Stafford turns her frustration on another resident, who had been protesting alongside Christie Further recordings show Ms Stafford taking it upon herself to chip away at the boundary wall with a pickaxe The married couple's home in the conservation area was at the centre of the planning row In the months that followed, several neighbours voiced their opposition to the illegal act protesting and sometimes interfering with the security fence being built. Further recordings show Ms Stafford taking it upon herself to chip away at the boundary wall with a pickaxe, an incident witnessed by council leader of RichmonduponThames, Gareth Roberts on August 13, 2024. Christie and other residents said they intervened to prevent the quiet cul-de-sac from becoming a busy HGV cut-through. But at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court, Deputy District Judge Patricia Evans ruled Christie had overstepped the mark in voicing his objections to the couple. He was subsequently convicted of harassing Ms Stafford between July 1 and September 28, 2024, and now faces up to 26 weeks' imprisonment. Christie, who has never been in trouble with police, will be sentenced later this month. He said: 'My reputation is in threads. I am distraught about the whole thing. 'I help businesses get themselves organised and now my career is in danger. 'The conclusions of the trial judge in her judgment were ferocious, but that is because she was only allowed to hear half of the story.' Prosecutor Barto De Lotbiniere argued Christie's offending constituted 'high harm' to the victim and attracted a sentencing range of six to 26 weeks imprisonment, with a starting point of 12 weeks. The resident who was called a 'stupid woman' by Ms Stafford, has lived in the culdesac for 27 years and did not want to be identified, said she 'stands by Robin (Christie)'. Robin Christie, 65, is pictured leaving Wimbledon Magistrates' Court - he has been convicted of harassment after a row with neighbours over their planning application Married couple Julia Stafford and Samuel Tempest Brooks had paid 850,000 for an Edwardian former waterworks property in Hampton Village, south-west London She added: 'It would have changed the whole community. We would have constantly had lorries up and down. 'We have children playing outside, the children are riding their bikes. I stand by Robin, who has become our spokesperson.' Despite Christie's conviction, the residents were eventually victorious and work ground to a halt, with the development - and Mr Brooks and Ms Stafford's marriage - coming to an end and the property put back on the market for 999,950. 'There is a massive sense of relief, but until the property is sold and they are gone, none of us can really relax here,' added the woman. 'The road is unsuitable for HGVs, even cars can barely pass.' A road sign near the entrance to the close reads: 'Unsuitable for HGVs.' However, the high-flying couple had planned for their large lorries and plant machinery to access their site via this route. In his witness statement, council leader Mr Roberts confirmed planning permission was needed to demolish the boundary wall and that he told Ms Stafford she would be subject to planning enforcement and potential prosecution if she continued. Christie summonsed the councillor as a defence witness, telling the twoday trial: 'The wall was in the conservation area and she had no permission to demolish this wall. 'She was agitated and angry and would stress her opinion that she was correct. It would have been a breach of planning if she demolished the wall.' Another resident, who has lived in Hill House Drive for twelve years, said this week: 'It has clearly affected life here and has especially affected my mental health due to the behaviour and bullying. 'That is a strong word, but who would rock up at a little culdesac with bulldozers and just think they can do what they want? It is not acceptable.' Christie said: 'I grew into becoming the spokesperson for the residents. I was the calmest head and sought to seek solutions and had no personal issue with Ms Stafford' In his letter to solicitor Mr Brooks, Christie said the lawyer's wife 'ploughed on like an angry Zimbabwean land grabber'. However, this communication was judged to have constituted harassment. Judge Evans maintained Christie had been 'arrogant and intimidating' in his behaviour towards Ms Stafford and prevention of the security fence erection. The trouble began when Ms Stafford began erecting security fencing on the residents' side of the dividing brick wall, claiming her land extended into Hill House Drive. Giving evidence behind a screen during the trial she said Christie and another neighbour approached. 'They began objecting to me erecting fencing and they were also verbally abusive. 'They told me I didn't have permission and that I was causing problems and being a nuisance. Robin Christie was inciting it. 'He was the instigator behind it and representing himself as some sort of legal authority and that he knew what he was talking about. 'He was falsely claiming that I didn't own the land and had no right to erect the fencing and he followed me through a side gate onto the land I physically own. 'The fencing was to protect people from the construction site and prevent them walking into an unsafe area. 'I felt very threatened, violated and exposed and I kept being accused of criminal damage,' Ms Stafford said. She complained Christie followed her onto her property and the court viewed footage where she was recorded shouting: 'Get off my land!' Join the debate Have YOU ever been caught up in a bitter neighbour dispute? Describing Christie's behaviour during the videorecorded incident, Judge Evans said: 'He can be seen pushing against the complainant and in the scuffle her hands and legs were hurt. 'Getting into a tussle over fencing Mr Christie was completely losing perspective and behaving in a highhanded manner.' Ms Stafford claimed the dispute caused her PTSD and sleepless nights. This was followed by titfortat reprisals with each party attaching their own bike locks to the security fencing, ending with Ms Stafford using a metal cutter and borrowed axle grinder to cut out the whole section. 'Everyday I was verbally abused and it was like living in a cage,' she told the court. 'I was accosted by Robin Christie and two women telling me if I removed the locks it was criminal damage.' Ms Stafford received a fixed penalty fine from the Met Police for cutting through one of Christie's wire bike locks. 'Placing the bike and multiple locks is an act of harassment. Putting a lock on someone's property and then watching them so he and the community can get their own way,' said Judge Evans. 'He was so busy championing the cause of the neighbours he lost perspective and pursued with increasing determination.' But Christie told the trial: 'I grew into becoming the spokesperson for the residents. I was the calmest head and sought to seek solutions and had no personal issue with Ms Stafford. 'This was a community trying to overcome an issue with someone difficult to deal with. 'The residents had looked after that area and paid for its maintenance, but Ms Stafford was in an aggressive mood and did not want to hear sense. 'She was walking up and down muttering something like "little stupid people" and the fence was later moved during a storm because it was dangerous. 'I did not push the fence into her, I was trying to stabilise it and she banged the fence into me. The police then picked up the fence and threw it back over her wall. 'She came back an hour later and reinstated the side gate, which she called a cage when giving evidence. She's put the fence on land she does not own. 'The fence was eight feet into our land. This was a trespass.' Ten sheep had their faces ripped off in the latest horrific attack at a Co Kildare farm last weekend - leading to the latest confrontation that has left a rural community demanding new laws be enacted. When confronted on the land by the horrified farmer, the four dog owners, whose dogs were savaging his sheep, deliberately aimed their car at him, in a shocking response. The farmer from near Monasterevin who did not wish to be identified for fear of reprisal said he believes the criminal gang behind the attack were illegally blooding the dogs, letting them loose and encouraging them to chase and kill the sheep. The incident has sparked calls for tougher legislation to tackle the scourge of illegal poaching in rural Ireland. Junior Justice Minister Niall Collins described it as an absolutely horrendous incident and insisted the Government is doing everything it can to get more gardai into villages and communities He told the Irish Mail on Sunday: I was feeding cattle and saw the sheep running I looked and saw dogs out attacking. I didnt know the harm to the sheep at this point, and I confronted them and told them Id rung the guards. They got into the car, swerved and struck me with it. He [the driver] drove at me and caught me on the hip and the legs. The poor dogs are treated like dirt and then encouraged to chase and kill the sheep The gang, who gardai believe had travelled from Waterford to the Midlands, fled the scene. It was four lads and four dogs, the farmer added. They put the dogs into the sheep on purpose, without a doubt. It was horrific. When the farmer confronted the poachers, he said one of the men lifted up one of the dogs in anger and threw him hard on the ground... like a piece of dirt. He had no respect for animals. He threw him like a stone, the poor dog. And then another lad picked him up by the scruff of the neck and threw him in the car. The same lad came towards me and shouted at me: I dont like to be f***ing shouted at. After they left, the farmer was left horrified at the bloody scene in front of him, What dog would do that, go for the sheeps faces? They are bred that way by these thugs. It was horrifying, and it all happened in a matter of minutes. Im a farmer and my blood was boiling with what they did to the sheep. I told the guards, if I had a weapon on me, I would have used it. They are a law onto themselves. The incident has renewed calls for greater garda resources and new laws to tackle the growing problem of farm attacks. Barry Carey, crime prevention executive with the Irish Farmers Association (IFA), said: This is not just a oneoff thing. It is constant. We need to look at extending or changing the laws. Gardai headed up by the forces new rural crime lead, Superintendent Michael Corbett are preparing to launch a new operation targeting illegal poaching. Retired Garda Superintendent Martin Walker, right, believes unless the guards investigate the poaching, it is going to continue Mr Carey said he raised the latest attack with Superintendent Corbett, but stressed it is by no means an isolated case. Its shocking stuff... there was a case last July in Kilkenny where a very nice man came to the gates of his farm and there was a gang with dogs; they threatened to kill him and he got it on dashcam. The culprit was given four and a half years with a year suspended... also an exclusion order of five kilometres from the farm the first of its kind. Mr Carey said that illegal poaching by criminals is all around the country. He cited the case of a man in north Co. Dublin who was beaten unconscious on his farm. Weve had other people held at knife point. There are currently investigations in Co. Carlow. We had a farmer in Tipperary who came up his lane one night at 9pm, and there was a van he asked to move. They hit him over the head with an iron bar. There was another farmer in Tipp who had to hide behind a tree because they fired steel balls at him, and he could have been seriously injured or killed. Then there was a case in Tallaght, where a lady woke and found a baby lamb tied to her gate and four men with their dogs about to let the dogs go. She ran out and took the lamb. Its endemic. Criminal gangs use poaching as a revenue stream to fund illegal betting, money laundering, and other illegal activities. Mr Carey noted: There are so many issues attached to this, it needs attention and the law needs to be reviewed. We are looking for the minister to review the law of trespassing and the fines associated. Its happening from north Dublin to north Kerry and everywhere in between. Retired garda superintendent Martin Walker, who developed a memorandum of understanding with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) on the issue, described illegal poaching as the scourge of rural Ireland. He said there were a number of incidents where farmers were assaulted, particularly in the Athy area (in Co. Kildare, around 20 kilometres from the scene of the Monasterevin attack) of the topography. The sheep at the farm near Monasterevin Co Kildare. The area around Athy is particularly a Its wonderful there for hares, and thats the attraction. Then there are the sheep that are killed because of the disregard they have for the farmer and the farm land. That is criminal damage, as well as the wildlife offence of trespassing and hunting hares and foxes. Mr Walker said the issue has been discussed at length between An Garda Siochana and the IFA. This is ongoing for years, and unless the guards investigate it, it is going to continue, he added. Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Niall Collins, said gardai are liaising with rural organisations to combat criminal poaching and rural crime. The Fianna Fail TD told the MoS: My department, along with the National Rural Safety Forum, which is cochaired by the Irish Farmers Association and An Garda Siochana and meets on a regular basis, oversees the implementation of the Rural Safety Plan to coordinate a crossGovernment and crosssociety response to rural crime. Animal and welfare crime is a key pillar of the Plan. The Limerick County TD described the Monasterevin attack as absolutely horrendous and said gardai will do their utmost to investigate and bring justice to the perpetrator. He added: Stealing livestock is an insidious form of crime that causes serious harm in rural communities. Its effects go far beyond just financial loss for a farmer farmers live for their animals. Minister Collins urged people living in rural areas to report any incident they are aware of to gardai because if theyre not [reported], they cant be investigated, and the gardai cant increase their presence in a particular area. He said getting more gardai out into our villages and communities to prevent and detect crime is the first priority of this Government in Justice. Mr Collins added: Budget 2026 provided unprecedented funding of 2.74billion to support [garda] recruitment and staffing. For the first time ever, there were two garda recruitment competitions held in 2025 which saw over 11,100 people applying to join and, as a result, we saw 794 trainees commence training in Templemore in 2025, which is the highest number since 2018. The president of Turning Point USA's chapter at Florida International University has resigned after reports revealed he was involved in a private group chat containing racist, antisemitic and homophobic messages. Ian Valdes stepped down from his leadership role after the Miami Herald published WhatsApp logs showing participants repeatedly used racial slurs, demeaned women, targeted Jewish and LGBTQ people with hateful language and discussed Adolf Hitler's politics. The newspaper said the messages spanned roughly two and a half weeks in September and October 2025 and were verified by two people in the chat. Participants used variations of the n-word more than 400 times. The controversy has triggered an investigation by university police, prompted condemnation from state and local Republican leaders and fueled calls for the resignation of Miami-Dade GOP Secretary Abel Alexander Carvajal, who helped create the chat. Carvajal has so far refused to step down. In a statement posted to Instagram, the Turning Point USA chapter at FIU confirmed Valdes' resignation. 'The Turning Point USA chapter at Florida International University has been made aware of the recent incident involving chapter leadership. The chapter president has stepped down from leadership, turned over social media, and we are currently reconstituting our leadership team. 'Our chapter remains focused on fostering constructive conversation, supporting our members, and continuing our mission of engaging students in meaningful discussions within the FIU community.' Comments on the post were disabled. Ian Valdes resigned as president of Turning Point USA's chapter at Florida International University after reports linked him to a private group chat full of racist and hateful messages Turning Point USA is a nonprofit conservative advocacy organization founded by Charlie Kirk, pictured. Following Kirk's death, leadership passed to his widow, Erika Kirk The Turning Point USA chapter at Florida International University said its president stepped down, leadership is being reorganized, and the group remains focused on student engagement and constructive dialogue Turning Point USA is a nonprofit conservative advocacy organization founded by Charlie Kirk. Following Kirk's death, leadership passed to his widow, Erika Kirk. Kevin Cooper, chairman of the Miami-Dade Republican Party, condemned the messages and called for accountability. 'I am shocked and appalled at these statements. Racism and antisemitism have no place in the Republican Party.' Cooper also had words for Miami-Dade GOP Secretary Abel Alexander Carvajal, who helped create the chat. 'We condemn in the strongest possible terms Abel Alexander Carvajal's racist group chat. His words and actions are reprehensible.' He added that a majority of the party's board voted to request Carvajal's resignation and that removal proceedings had begun, although he has declined to step down. He previously claimed that he did not see the full extent of the extremist and racist content. Either way, senior Republicans across Florida are pushing for consequences. Senator Rick Scott called the chat 'disgusting,' said it 'cannot be tolerated,' and urged accountability FIU President Jeanette M. Nunez said the case is under investigation and that FIU 'will not tolerate' hate or discrimination State Representative Juan Porras said: 'Better education needs to be done for our youth. I think they are being misled by some very harmful individuals that are being paid to spew this propaganda by outside sources.' Florida Senator Rick Scott wrote, 'This is disgusting and cannot be tolerated. I'm glad that RPOF is launching an investigation and expect anyone who engaged in this horrible behavior to be held accountable. Racists and antisemites are not welcome in the Republican Party.' Former Miami-Dade GOP chair and current state Rep. Alex Rizo said the party is preparing a full meeting and vote on Carvajal's position. 'If these comments are being said or written and you're not removing yourself from that situation, that's one problem in and of itself.' An FIU spokesperson said the university is reviewing the chat, and FIU Police have now opened an investigation. 'We take these allegations very seriously. The alleged conduct continues to be investigated by FIU Police Department in coordination with local, state, and federal law enforcement,' said FIU President Jeanette M. Nunez. This is not the first time private chats linked to campus conservative groups have sparked outrage President Trump is known to be a big fan of Turning Point Action and its founder Charlie Kirk 'FIU does not and will not tolerate violence, hate, discrimination, harassment, racism or antisemitism. This is not who we are. This is not what FIU stands for.' This is not the first time private chats linked to campus conservative groups have sparked outrage. In 2018, chat logs obtained by the Miami New Times showed members of FIU's TPUSA chapter joking about rape. Efforts at the time to shut down the club failed and it remained active. A similar scandal erupted last year when Politico reported on thousands of messages in a Young Republicans Telegram group containing antisemitic and misogynistic remarks. The Royal Navy warship HMS Dragon finally set sail for Cyprus last night, a week after she was ordered to be made ready for sea. She may well arrive next week and find the war has passed the Type 45 air defence destroyer and her crew by as they raced south from Portsmouth. What she will definitely find is a French-led carrier strike group already near the island, ready to protect it from Iranian missile attacks. The carrier Charles de Gaulle and an allied armada of ships: French, Italian, Spanish and Greek, will have been there for days, allowing French president Emmanuel Macron to rub British noses in the dirt. Earlier this week he insisted Cyprus can 'count on France' as he rubbed salt in the wound of Britain's military embarrassment. The French president swiped at the UK's difficulties defending the crucial RAF Akrotiri base from Iranian reprisals as he visited the island. And he went further, announcing that France will send further warships to the Red Sea and Straits of Hormuz to join US efforts to guarantee oil tankers can get through. In all he suggested a dozen ship could be deployed, While this is a fraction of the surface power of the world's largest naval power, the US Navy, it is more than the Royal Navy can currently manage. Apart from Dragon, only one other ship, landing ship RFA Lyme Bay, is being made ready and that is in case it is needed to help evacuate expat Brits in the Gulf rather than for any combat requirement. A new YouGov poll last night showed that more than half (56 per cent) of voters think the government is handling defence badly, up 11 points in a week. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. A glossy video posted on social media by Mr Macron shows him posing with forces personnel and a variety of impressive military hardware including the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier. It features people singing national anthem La Marseillaise and dramatic classical music, as Mr Macron comments: 'Your presence demonstrates the power of France.' Paris has taken the opportunity to put on a display of power as the UK struggles to mobilise even a single warship to protect Cyprus. He was hugged by his Cypriot counterpart on the tarmac after his presidential plane taxied to a halt at Paphos airport. On paper there appears to be a major mismatch between the Royal Navy's 63 vessels and the Marine Nationale's 133, although the reality is a bit more complicated. Included in the French total are more than 50 support ships. Its coastguard is also part of the force. In terms of major warships it has one aircraft carrier, two helicopter carriers, 17 destroyers and frigates and nine submarines, plus an array of smaller patrol vessels and minesweepers. The Royal Navy has two aircraft carriers, two assault ships, 13 destroyers and frigates and nine submarines, and likewise additional smaller ships. And there is also a little French 'ruse de guerre' at play, with some of the ships in the Middle East already as part of long-term deployments, including against Houthi prates off Yemen. The main difference is the French ability to use their ships properly. There are serious questions as to how much of the Royal Navy fleet is in a position to put to sea with any sort of immediacy. Only three of the six Type 45 destroyers are currently operational, with the others undergoing major refit work. The lead ship of the class, HMS Daring, has not been operational since 2017, initially going in for engine replacement work and then being cannibalised for spare parts to keep the other five going. Most of the ageing Type 23 frigates are also tied up, with replacement Type 25 and 31 frigates not expected to start entering service until later this decade and well into the next. Britain also has five Astute class attack submarines, but only one is overseas - in Australia. Last night, Parliament's Defence Committee has raised concerns over the Royal Navy's capacity to respond to the Iran crisis. The committee said that after a secret briefing on Middle East operations from senior civilian and military officials from the Ministry of Defence on Tuesday morning, its members were 'left satisfied that the UK's decision making and preparedness measures in place ahead of the recent military activity were grounded in a coherent logic'. But their statement continued: 'We note, however, the considerable gap between some of the political rhetoric circulating internationally, and the reality of the UK's support to the United States and regional partners. 'The situation has also underlined longstanding and grave concerns which we share about whether the Royal Navy has sufficient capacity and resilience to respond effectively to a crisis at a time of worsening global security. 'We therefore call upon the Government to urgently release the Defence Investment Plan and take steps to increase spending on defence to 3 per cent of GDP during this Parliament.' The Defence Secretary praised the Royal Navy's 'remarkable effort' to prepare HMS Dragon for deployment over the past week. John Healey said: 'I have only praise for our Royal Navy personnel and civilian teams who have worked flat out to prepare HMS Dragon for deployment to the eastern Mediterranean. 'What is normally six weeks of work was completed in just six days a remarkable effort delivered around the clock. They are the very best of Britain in action.' HMS Dragon's commanding officer, Commander Iain Griffin, said: 'My ship's company have worked tirelessly to ensure we are ready for our mission to the eastern Mediterranean. 'I am proud of the professional manner in which they have responded. We are trained for this, we are ready for this, we have the equipment and people, we have the support of the British people and, most importantly, our families and friends.' Shocking body camera footage shows Florida deputies rushing to rescue a quadriplegic man after he fell into the water while strapped to his wheelchair. A 30-year-old man was on the ramp connecting his boat to the dock when it collapsed, sending him and his wheelchair plunging into eight to 10 feet of water on Sunday morning. Terrifying video showed the man, still strapped to his 230 pound wheelchair, dangling as two bystanders rushed to help, holding him above the water. First responders raced to the scene, where a Sea Tow captain jumped into the water and used a rope to stabilize the wheelchair as the man slowly slipped out of the chair. As he kept slipping, rescuers removed him from the hefty wheelchair and secured him to a life preserver to keep him afloat as they swam to shore. Footage showed Martin County officers grabbing the yellow raft the man was strapped to and hoisting him onto land. After the man was brought to safety, he appeared in good spirits, and his family said they are treating the ordeal as a learning lesson. Two bystanders rushed to help the quadriplegic man after he fell, holding him and his wheelchair above the water His electric wheelchair weighed about 230 pounds, and first responders made the decision to remove him from the chair to get him to safety 'Best advice I can give is just be prepared for everything, you never know when a tragedy is going to strike,' Deputy Mark Appler told NBC6. The sheriff's office praised the officers and bystanders in a Facebook post about the dramatic incident. 'A frightening situation at Mariner Cay ended safely thanks to the quick actions of MCSO deputies, Martin County Fire Rescue, a Sea Tow captain, and two bystanders who refused to let a man slip beneath the water,' the post read. "Thanks to the quick thinking and teamwork of the bystanders, the Sea Tow captain, and responding deputies, the victim was safely rescued and suffered only minor injuries," the sheriff's office said in a social media post. Overwhelming support poured in on social media, with users applauding everyone who helped the victim. The man was strapped to a yellow life preserver, where a responder swam to shore with him Martin County officers grabbing the yellow raft the man was strapped to and hoisting him onto land After the man was brought to safety, he appeared in good spirits 'Its nice to see that there are still kind people in our world! Thank God the gentleman was ok.,' One user commented. 'You all were there at the right time!' 'Thank you to the bystanders, and all the helpers,' another said. 'Great work, heroes!' Another user gushed. Ghislaine Maxwell is screening steamy romance movies to teach felons about female empowerment in her new job as a prison educator, the Daily Mail can exclusively reveal. Jeffrey Epstein's notorious madam, 64, has her own classroom in the education department at Federal Prison Camp Bryan where she insists on being called 'Miss Maxwell.' The convicted sex trafficker's teaching syllabus includes a series of worthy but dull modules covering writing basics, personal finances, and 'mindset'. But according to a source inside the all-female Texas lockup, it's the promise of watching raunchy flicks like Redeeming Love and Indecent Proposal that has her fellow cons flocking to join. 'The movies have set pulses racing throughout the camp. There's a line of people waiting to sign up,' a source told the Daily Mail. Maxwell's classes are part of the camp's Adult Continuing Education program, a series of prisoner-led lessons to promote personal development and life skills. Take-up was slow, with most inmates resentful of the disgraced socialite who was transferred to Bryan last August after a mysterious sit-down interview with the Justice Department to discuss Jeffrey Epstein. Minimum security prisons typically house low-risk criminals rather than sex offenders like Maxwell, who is serving 20 years for grooming young girls for her financier ex, who killed himself in 2019 while awaiting trial. Ghislaine Maxwell, pictured testifying in prison scrubs last month, has a new job teaching fellow inmates about female empowerment behind bars, where she insists on being called 'Miss Maxwell,' the Daily Mail can reveal Sources say inmates have flocked to Maxwell's class after she announced they would watch 1993 romance film Indecent Proposal, as well 2022 movie Redeeming Love, as part of a lesson on relationships A paltry three students attended her first ACE class, according to our source, where they were asked to write an inspirational letter to themselves beginning 'Why I am Special.' But a dozen cons packed into the next day's session after Maxwell revealed it would involve watching Redeeming Love, a 2022 Western-inspired drama with multiple sex scenes. Demand for places was said to be even higher when she announced the next movie would be the raunchy 1993 classic, Indecent Proposal. It tells the story of a playboy billionaire (Robert Redford) willing to pay $1 million to sleep with a beautiful married woman (Demi Moore). 'The idea behind it is that you watch the movie and put yourself in the shoes of the female character,' the source explained. 'Afterwards you discuss it and write in your journal about the choices they made and what they could have done differently. 'It's a self-help exercise. But, of course, the prospect of earning credits while watching great movies is just too good to miss.' Maxwell federal inmate 02879-509 has kept a low profile since arriving at Bryan, regarded as one of the cushier facilities in the country, according to our source. Maxwell, who is serving her sentence at minimum security Federal Prison Camp, Bryan in Texas, is teaching classes as part of the camp's Adult Continuing Education program, a series of prisoner-led lessons to promote personal development and life skills Once a fixture on the international social scene, rubbing elbows with Kevin Spacey and President Bill Clinton, Maxwell now lives in a small cubicle as she completes her 20-year sentence She teaches in the education department from 8am until 3pm before heading to the indoor recreation room for a run on the treadmill. The privately-educated Oxford graduate typically eats breakfast among the general prison population, picking at fruit while giving away her grits or oats, but rarely appears for lunch or dinner. She sleeps in a small cubicle comprising four beds in a two-story housing block with 48 prisoners on each level. One of the beds is usually kept empty, leaving three inmates to share the three-sided living space. Violence is virtually unheard of inside the 37-acre compound which accommodates 635 women, mostly serving sentences of under five years. 'People resent the fact she's here but they will ship you out just for having an argument. Nobody wants none of that,' the source explained. 'There are a lot of women from other countries who don't know anything about Jeffrey Epstein. Others who barely went to school. 'They are just eager to learn from someone who is so well educated and knowledgeable. And Miss Maxwell is really a good teacher. She's sweet and has a lot of patience.' She is pictured during her time in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn in 2020 Maxwell was convicted of helping Jeffrey Epstein groom young girls for abuse and is serving a 20-year prison sentence Things were starkly different at FCI Tallahassee, the dilapidated Florida lockup where Maxwell was incarcerated for three years after her 2022 conviction on multiple counts of child sex trafficking. There, she was bullied by inmates, badgered about her personal hygiene and even thrown in solitary confinement for giving an unapproved media interview. Maxwell's fortunes improved dramatically when she was let out of jail last July to speak with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche amid intense pressure on President Donald Trump to release the Epstein Files. Prison Bureau brass never provided an explanation for Maxwell's unexpected transfer just days later to Bryan. Her attorney, David Oscar Markus, has insisted the move was made on safety grounds, not because of favoritism or any imminent prospect of a presidential pardon. Behind the scenes Maxwell couldn't hide her glee, writing to a family member: 'I feel like I have dropped through Alice in Wonderland's looking glass.' She went on to praise Bryan as orderly, safe and comfortable in correspondence obtained last year by NBC. 'The kitchen looks clean too,' raved Maxwell. 'No possums falling from the ceiling to fry unfortunately on ovens and become mingled with the food being served.' Markus has previously said Maxwell - due for release in July 2037 - is 'innocent and never should have been tried, much less convicted, in this case.' The Daily Mail has reached out to him for comment on her new teaching job. Every parent in Ireland knows the routine. Sniff your teenagers jacket when they come in from school. Check for that sicklysweet strawberry scent drifting from their bedroom. Look for a brightly coloured vape pen tucked into a pocket. Though smoking is declining, vaping has taken its place and there is a real fear that nicotine is becoming part of everyday teenage life in Ireland something they reach for as easily as their phones or headphones. Warnings echo in school WhatsApp groups, at parent teacher meetings and in hushed conversations at the school gate, a quiet alarm that what was once shocking is now increasingly commonplace. But theres something new, something parents arent checking for yet. By the time you notice, your child could already be hooked. The nicotine pouches are brightly packaged Paul Crone doesnt mince words when I speak to him at his Sandyford office this week. As director of the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals, hes been hearing the same disturbing reports from schools across Ireland. Its in every school, he says bluntly. Every single one. Including primary schools. The problem? Nicotine pouches. Its almost impossible to quantify, because you dont know the students are using them, he says. They just sit between the gum and the lip. We dont know how many students are using them, but if you walk into any local shop or garage, you can see an array of them for sale just behind the counter. They wouldnt have such a large stock if they werent moving fairly quickly. I walk into my local newsagents in Dublin. Behind the counter, beside the lottery tickets, sits a plain wallmounted cabinet. The cigarettes hidden behind shutters for years are locked away discreetly. Right next to them? A wall of brightly coloured tins. Blue. Green. Purple. Out in the open. They look like sweets, fancy mints or chewing gum. Once you spot them, you start seeing them everywhere. Nicotine pouches small white sachets sold under brands such as Nordic Spirit, ZYN and VELO are completely odourless. No smoke. No vapour. Nothing. Each pouch is the size of a piece of chewing gum, white, soft, innocentlooking, like a tiny pillow. You tuck it between your upper lip and gum. Within minutes, nicotine floods your bloodstream. Your teenager could have one in their mouth all day long scrolling through TikTok at the dinner table, doing homework, chatting with friends and youd never know. That should terrify every single parent in Ireland. Because if you thought vaping was bad, this is much worse. A tin costs around 7. Inside, theres about 25 pouches. The tins and sachets like miniature white teabags disappear easily into pockets and schoolbags. The flovoured nicotine patches are hugely popular with Irish teenagers Ive started spotting them everywhere. Last Tuesday, three white pouches sat in the gutter outside Sallynoggin College of Further Education. A week earlier, a handful lay near my local Tesco, dirty, soaked in a puddle. Yesterday, I saw six more on my walk to work. Once you know what to look for, theyre everywhere, like cigarette butts 20 years ago, scattered on pavements across Ireland. Marketing also seems to be working. Brightonbased influencer Ailbhe Lower (Mr Bruv) promotes VELO to hundreds of thousands of followers on TikTok, while the hashtag #ZYN has hundreds of millions of views. Sales tell the story. In 2023, about 6 million pouches were sold in Ireland. By 2024, it had risen to 29 million, nearly five times as many. Category revenue jumped 442 per cent yearonyear, according to PJ Carroll & Co Ltd, the Irish subsidiary of British American Tobacco. Jennifer Whitmore first learned about nicotine pouches the hard way as her teenage son was using them but she had no idea what they were. I first became aware because a family member my son, who was a teenager at the time was using them, the Social Democrats TD explains. At first, I couldnt understand what he was using, but I quickly realised the extent of the problem. These products are highly addictive, and teenagers were using them in school where teachers couldnt detect it. When I first found out, I didnt really know what these pouches were. They werent covered in the media, so I began asking questions of the Health Minister at the time, Stephen Donnelly, about regulations. Whitmores family history makes this personal as her father and his brothers all suffered from smokingrelated illnesses. This is a new generation of kids being used as lab rats, essentially and for profit, she says. The nicotine pouches are highly addictive Nicotine pouches are mainly made of plant fibres such as eucalyptus and pine to shape the pouch. Other ingredients include foodgrade fillers, sweeteners, flavourings and nicotine (freebase or salts). The nicotine content varies theres usually 110mg per pouch but some maxstrength pouches contain up to 50mg. They are tobaccofree, odourless and dissolve slowly between the gum and lip, making detection difficult. In Europe, Belgium, France and the Netherlands have banned or strictly regulated nicotine pouches for minors. Ireland currently has no national regulations, making it something of an outlier in Europe. Nicotine pouches exist in a loophole. They dont contain tobacco and arent inhaled so there are no restrictions on flavours, strength or advertising. Cigarettes have been hidden for years but these pouches are openly displayed. Big tobacco is back on bus shelters, and at festivals and gigs, promoting these products. In the absence of national legislation, these cynical industry tactics are unchecked, with the potential for a whole new generation of young people getting hooked on nicotine, says Suzanne Dowd, senior advocacy officer at the Irish Cancer Society. The countrys legislative system is too slow to catch up and stay ahead of cynical marketing tactics. Nicotine pouches have fallen through the regulatory cracks as they do not contain tobacco and are not inhaled. Although longterm health effects are unknown, nicotine is highly addictive and harms adolescent brain development, which continues into the early to mid20s. Crone has been hearing the same story from principals nationwide. Symptoms include irritability, inability to focus and aggressive behaviour in class. Teachers see it, they just cant prove it. What our principals would be noting is increased irritability and lack of concentration, Crone explains. The dilemma is, how much of that is normal teenage stuff, and how much is nicotine addiction? They find the pouches on corridors, on classroom floors and in schoolyards. However, catching a student using one is nigh on impossible. Theyre very good at disguising the use of them, so its impossible to catch a student using nicotine pouches, he says. With vaping, youd know from the smell but these are odourless and discreet. I quit smoking more than 20 years ago then three years ago, bored and curious, I bought a tin of nicotine pouches to see what they were like. It was a big mistake I had no idea how addictive they would be. The maxstrength Nordic Spirit was shockingly intense. My mouth flooded with saliva almost instantly, the flavour hitting hard, overpoweringly strong and chemical. Within minutes came a heavy nicotine rush a strange mix of alert and calm, like the first drag of a cigarette after a long day. The taste was unpleasant and I spat it out. Yet just 20 minutes later, I wanted another one. I used them for five days. By day three, I was going through six pouches a day. When I stopped, the mental obsession and withdrawal symptoms were brutal, worse than quitting cigarettes all those years ago. Im a grown woman in my 50s and I understood nicotine addiction going in. How is a 13yearold supposed to cope? Professor Luke Clancy, director general of the TobaccoFree Research Institute Ireland, is very concerned. The most important risk is addiction, he says. Effects on brain and control mechanisms lead to smoking and undermine tobacco control in general. Are current regulations protecting young people? No. Professor Bobby Smyth, clinical professor of public health and primary care at Trinity College Dublin, acts as clinical lead across three adolescent addiction services. He has dire warnings about the effect these nicotine pouches could have. These pouches play no role in smoking cessation, he says. Their purpose is simply to addict a new generation to nicotine, some of whom will inevitably transition to traditional smoking. He warns they can cause symptoms of nicotine poisoning such as vomiting, stomach pain, sweating and increased blood pressure. There are single cans of pouches containing enough nicotine to kill two 13yearolds, he says starkly. Sadly, there is nobody in charge of regulating or monitoring these healthdamaging products. With Ireland having been a world leader in the smoking ban, little is being done to curb the use of nicotine pouches, something that is disheartening for TD Jennifer Whitmore. The Government was very progressive with the smoking ban, but now children are being targeted with another toxic, addictive product, and no one is acting fast enough, she says. The companies are always ahead, constantly innovating with new products, and the Government reacts slowly. Shops may claim an age limit of 18, but its voluntary. Teenagers are still buying them and theres no quality control nicotine doses can be very high. Its the same as the 1950s tobacco companies claim responsibility while profit is the priority. Big tobacco has found a new audience. The Department of Health says that as the pouches are relatively new, the longterm impacts are not yet known. However, it agrees that they contain nicotine which is highly addictive, and there is some evidence that they may cause oral health issues. As such, moves have been made to restrict their use. In November 2025, the Government approved the addition of measures to the draft Public Heath (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill to regulate all nonmedicinal nicotine products, such as pouches, a spokesperson says. These measures are a minimum legal age of sale, restrictions on point of sale display and a prohibition on advertising in retail outlets. The Minister intends to seek approval to bring this draft Bill into the Houses of Oireachtas for enactment shortly. All three major brands also replied to queries from the Irish Daily Mail with statements. Youth access prevention is a global priority for ZYN, says John Humphries, a spokesperson for the company, which is owned by Philip Morris International. We are extremely careful to ensure that we use platforms and content which are appropriate for an adult audience and that do not have particular youth appeal. We would welcome the introduction of a range of tighter restrictions for all smokefree products including packaging and flavours to limit irresponsible brands from appealing to minors. Nordic Spirit, owned by Japan Tobacco International, insists it doesnt target those under 18. A spokesperson said: We are fully committed to the principle that minors should never use or access nicotinecontaining products and, as a responsible manufacturer, we implement business practices aimed at preventing minors from accessing them. We fully support the introduction by law of a minimum legal purchase age requirement of 18 for nicotine pouches, and we believe clear age of sale legislation is an essential safeguard to prevent youth access. A spokesperson for VELO, owned by British American Tobacco, says: Our position is clear: tobaccofree nicotine pouches are for adult nicotine users only and should never be sold to those underage. We have repeatedly written to Irelands Minister for Health calling for an under18 sales ban, the restriction of youthappealing flavours, as well as the introduction of a 20mg nicotine strength cap. So what can you do if your teen is addicted to nicotine pouches? I decided to test the system and called the HSE Quit Service, Irelands official stopsmoking helpline. I need help quitting nicotine pouches, I explained. There was a long pause. Do you mean you want to quit smoking? the adviser asked. She outlined the usual supports nicotine replacement therapy for smokers, advice for vapers. But when it came to pouches, she admitted there wasnt anything directly available and Id need to see my GP. Irelands entire stopsmoking infrastructure the same system credited with reducing tobacco use since the landmark workplace smoking ban in 2004 appears unprepared for a product already in the mouths of children across the country. New legislation is being drafted, but no date exists. So for now, it appears help must start at home. Crone emphasises listening, saying open, honest conversations are key. Check pockets and laundry, and guide teenagers on the dangers of nicotine. It needs a whole societal response, he says. Schools, parents, GPs none alone can solve this. But it starts with regulation. Professor Smyth outlines why this regulation is vital and quickly. Without urgent action, the antismoking generation could become the nicotine addicted generation. A top congressional Democrat easily defeated an upstart millennial challenger, a rebuke to the narrative that progressive voters across the country are looking for a new generation of leadership in their political party. Mississippi Democratic Representative Bennie Thompson, 78, is on the glidepath for another term in the House of Representatives after trouncing Evan Turnage, 34, who has been alive as long as Thompson has been in office. The Associated Press called the race shortly before 10 pm eastern time. Thompson first came onto the political scene as an activist in the then-segregated South, in his home state of Mississippi. During his time in Congress, he served twice as chairman of the powerful Homeland Security Committee, both from 2007 to 2011 and from 2019 to 2023. Thompson was also the chairman of the temporary committee that investigated the January 6th, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. A year after the January 2021 incident, Thompson characterized it in 2022 as the 'culmination of an attempted coup.' Turnage had argued that the incumbent had not done enough to address black poverty in the district. Bennie Thompson, right, speaks as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, left, listens during a hearing on the 5th anniversary of the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, Tuesday, January 6, 2026 Democrat Evan Turnage, who challenged incumbent Bennie Thompson, in the March primary 'People in this district are ready for change,' Turnage told MS NOW. 'This is the poorest district in the poorest state in the country, and it's been like that for my entire life. People want better,' he added. But the voters felt otherwise as Thompson's double-digit thrashing demonstrated. The race seems to fit into a broader conversation about generational change in the Democratic Party, and how not all Democratic voters will automatically gravitate towards a younger candidate. Just last week, Democratic newcomer Christian Menefee, 37, bested Al Green, 78, in a member-on-member primary after Texas' mid-decade redistricting forced two incumbents to compete head-to-head in a primary. The two will also face off in their own runoff on May 26. Menefee was only elected to the House earlier last month, in a special election to fill the seat previously held by Sylvester Turner, who passed away in 2025. Back in Mississippi, incumbent Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, backed by Trump, faced physician Sarah Adlakha in the primary. Hyde-Smith is heading to the November general election after garnering over 80 percent of the vote on Tuesday, per NBC's Decision Desk. Trump had also endorsed all three incumbent House Republicans running for re-election in the state, who are all heading to the November general. A new breed of powerful cameras using artificial intelligence are to be used to see inside cars and detect drivers using mobile phones behind the wheel. They will also be deployed to pinpoint motorists who are not wearing seatbelts as part of the largest survey of its kind ever undertaken in the UK. The data will be used to inform enforcement strategies in the future, raising the prospect that the AI devices will join speed cameras in a new crackdown on drivers. But motoring campaigners have raised privacy concerns over the technology, describing it as having a 'sinister Big Brother dimension'. The survey will see two cameras mounted on trailers using AI processing techniques to determine the probability of an offence, rotating around locations in Scotland over the six months. The cameras will monitor behaviour at 12 sites north of the Border for the duration of half a year. Transport Scotland said among Scotlands around 4.7 million daily vehicle journeys, it is estimated around 169,000 drivers do not use seatbelts. More than 28,000 may use handheld devices every day behind the wheel. The quango said two stages of human review will validate the cameras findings. This picture taken with an Acusensus camera appears to show an unidentified driver using a mobile phone behind the wheel - with another five devices on the dashboard There is currently no timetable for enforcement in relation to the survey. Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: We know using a mobile phone behind the wheel when driving and not wearing a seatbelt are two of the highest factors which risk death or injury on our roads and present significant dangers to other drivers and passengers on Scotlands roads. This trial will give us the most comprehensive picture yet of the scale of these issues. Recent statistics show that almost a quarter of in-car fatalities were of drivers and passengers who were not wearing a seatbelt at the time, and tens of thousands of drivers continue to use mobile phones behind the wheel on a daily basis at serious risk and danger to themselves and others. We cannot allow that to continue, and this trial will help inform the next steps in tackling these behaviours through enforcement, education and targeted investment. The Scottish Government remains absolutely committed to our goal of making Scotlands roads the safest in the world by 2030. The use of new technology to tackle some of the most dangerous driver behaviour will help us achieve that goal. In December, UK Government ministers were urged to take a modernised approach to tackling mobile phone misuse and seat belt non-compliance. Among the recommendations put forward by the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) in a white paper was a nationwide roll-out of roadside AI cameras and the use of in-vehicle monitoring to clampdown on these high-risk behaviours. Ian Taylor, spokesman for the Alliance of British Drivers, said: There is a sinister Big Brother dimension to this. Weve already lost a great deal of privacy while driving and now it will go altogether. It paves the way for more restrictions and more fines another layer of surveillance which wont be welcomed by many motorists. The involvement of AI also greatly perturbs us because it is far from being perfect technology. Were told humans will be involved but can we be sure this will always be the case? Cutbacks at any time could reduce human scrutiny. There may come a day when these cameras can detect people talking on hands-free phones that may be the next thing to be banned. The Acusensus trailer and camera, which are being deployed in Scotland for the first time In certain cases, such as medical grounds, there may be exemptions from seat-belt wearing is this a judgment AI can make? The new report was supported with funding from Australian tech firm Acusensus. PACTS said UK trials of the AI cameras have shown they can identify thousands of offences within hours and deliver a measurable deterrent effect when publicised. The study concluded that new technologies - including AI-enabled camera systems, in-vehicle monitoring, and phone-limiting apps offer credible and scalable ways to detect, deter and better understand non-compliant behaviour. Yesterday Geoff Collins of Acusensus said: As the UKs largest ever survey of mobile phone and seatbelt use, this project will provide clear evidence for the scale of poor driving behaviours on Scottish roads. We know from existing operational schemes that this knowledge gives us a chance to change bad habits, which will result in fewer avoidable collisions and casualties. In 2024, the technology was rolled out by one UK police force to catch drink drivers during the Christmas party season. Devon and Cornwall launched the world-first trial as part of its Vision Zero South West road safety partnerships campaign. Using cloud-based algorithms to analyse image data from passing cars to look for indicators that the motorist might be impaired by drink or drugs, the camera software alerted nearby officers of the driver showing signs of being under the influence. When officers stopped the vehicle, a roadside breath test was administered to find if they were above the legal limit. Thomas Massie is the Republican Donald Trump wants gone more than almost any other and now the president is on his way to Kentucky to prove it. Trump will give remarks at Verst Logistics in Hebron, Kentucky, where he is expected to rail against Massie and boost his handpicked challenger, Ed Gallrein, a retired Navy SEAL, although the formal guidance for the event describes the speech as 'remarks on the economy.' 'The President will be in Kentucky to breathe life into my opponents Biden-like basement campaign,' Massie noted in a Tuesday night post on X. Massie has accused his Republican primary opponent of abandoning the party in the wake of Trump's 2016 election win, brandishing voter registration cards he claims show the challenger quit the GOP and didn't re-register until 2021. 'I call them voter transition cards. He transitioned out of the party and stayed out for five years,' Massie said at a GOP event last weekend, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. The cards - posted on Massie's X account and front and center in a new campaign ad - are central to his case against Gallrein, whom Massie is portraying as a fair-weather Republican whose party loyalty only returned when Trump was out of power. In the ad, Massie's campaign claims that 'woke Eddie left the Republican Party right after President Trump won the Republican nomination in May of 2016.' The ad also notes that as the MAGA movement is taking off, 'disgusted by what he sees, woke Eddie Gallrein turns his back on Trump and walks away.' Gallrein's campaign did not dispute the validity of Massie's ad, choosing to blast the incumbent through a statement from spokeswoman Alexandra Wilkes who told the Daily Mail, 'clearly Thomas Massie is desperate because he knows the fact is that he has been exposed as a RINO and an ally of the Democrats and he has fallen to the bottom in the polls.' US Representative Thomas Massie, Republican from Kentucky, faces his toughest primary yet with Trump-backed challenger Ed Gallrein 'Now he's pretending to be a Trump ally and Conservative Republican after repeatedly joining with the Squad and AOC to vote against President Trump and the Republican agenda - it's laughable,' Wilkes added. Ed Gallrein, former Navy SEAL and primary challenger to Congressman Thomas Massie, poses for a photograph with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office Gallrein himself also hit back, telling the Daily Mail that he 'was proud to vote for President Trump all three times and donate in 2020 and 2024, unlike Thomas Massie, who campaigned against him in 2024 and sides with the Democrats to vote against President Trump every week in Congress.' In a Wednesday morning Truth Social post, Trump jabbed at Massie calling him the 'WORST Republican Congressman in the long and fabled history of the United States Congress,' while boosting Gallrein as 'a great American Patriot.' Trump also re-upped a previous post endorsing Gallrein on his social media site Truth Social on Tuesday night, declaring that voters in Massie's district 'desperately want to get rid of Thomas Massie, the Worst "Republican" Congressman we have had in many years.' Senator Rand Paul, a fellow Kentucky Republican with his own libertarian streak, piled on in Massie's defense writing on X: 'Oh my, @MassieforKY opponent quit the GOP when Donald Trump won and only came back after Biden was elected.' Massie's loyalty to principles, not the President, has repeatedly landed him in Trump's crosshairs, with increasing frequency since the commander in chief returned to the White House. The incumbent congressman's top unforgivable sin was spearheading the congressional release of the millions of Department of Justice Files relating to deceased pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, despite Trump's wishes. Massie and California Democrat Ro Khanna, who have led the charge in Congress to release the Epstein Files Massie predominantly worked with Democrats to compel Congress to release the files, although all but one Republican in the House voted for the final bill ordering the release, and Trump ultimately signed it. The incumbent has also moved to limit Trump's military actions, co-sponsoring War Powers resolutions on both Iran and Venezuela with his top partner in crime, California Democrat Ro Khanna. Massie has additionally sided with the most progressive Democrats on their votes against sending aid to Israel, because his libertarian worldview means that he does not back foreign aid to any country. The Republican was also one of two 'no' votes on the GOP's signature 'Big, Beautiful, Bill' spending package last summer. A convicted Hawaii crime boss deliberately took his own life in prison staging it to look like an accidental overdose after receiving legal advice that his death could derail the government's effort to seize more than $20 million in criminal assets. In newly filed court documents the US Attorney's Office claims Michael J. Miske Jr. orchestrated a plan to smuggle fentanyl into the Federal Detention Center in Honolulu and used small doses in the days before his death to create the appearance of routine drug use. Federal prosecutors say Miske carefully staged the fentanyl overdose so investigators would believe it was accidental. Authorities say the strategy was intended to mislead investigators and protect property tied to his racketeering enterprise, derailing the government's attempt to seize more than $20 million in assets tied to his criminal enterprise. Miske died on December 1, 2024 while awaiting sentencing after a federal jury convicted him of racketeering conspiracy, murder and 11 other felonies. His death vacated the criminal case and halted forfeiture proceedings, forcing prosecutors to pursue the assets through civil court. The stunning allegation surfaced as the US Attorney's Office moved to amend a civil forfeiture complaint targeting Miske's fortune. The portfolio includes luxury real estate, boats, high-end vehicles, artwork, cash and business accounts that jurors previously found forfeitable. Michael J. Miske Jr. died of a fentanyl overdose at the Federal Detention Center in Honolulu on December 1, 2024 Miske died at the Federal Detention Center in Honolulu, where he was being held while awaiting sentencing According to the government, following Miske's death the Federal Detention Center in Honolulu abruptly halted the criminal forfeiture process because he had not yet been sentenced. His conviction was vacated under longstanding legal doctrine, forcing prosecutors to restart their effort through civil court. But investigators say his death was not just tragic but tactical. 'Our criminal prosecution of Michael Miske demonstrated that he was a thug who used robbery, felony assaults, drug trafficking, fraud, chemical weapons attacks on his competitors, murder, and criminal obstruction to terrorize and intimidate Hawaii for many years,' US Attorney Ken Sorenson said in a statement. 'When he was found guilty by a brave Hawaii jury, Miske then resorted to a plan to frustrate the lawful forfeiture of his criminally derived property by scheming to kill himself while in federal custody awaiting sentencing. 'Today's amended complaint demonstrates our solemn resolve to pursue criminally derived proceeds and deny criminals like Miske the power to dictate the fate of their ill-gotten gains.' Court records show a federal jury convicted Miske on July 18, 2024 of racketeering conspiracy, murder and 11 additional felony counts. One week later, jurors ruled that 27 seized assets were subject to forfeiture as proceeds of racketeering. But before sentencing could occur, Miske was found dead. Federal prosecutors now claim Miske secretly set the stage for months. The government claims Miske came up with an alleged plan meant to block forfeiture of more than $20 million in assets His seized assets include multiple boats, among them high-value recreational vessels that prosecutors say were purchased with proceeds from his criminal operation Miske's estate includes luxury homes, boats, high-end cars including a Ferrari and vintage vehicles, artwork, cash, and multiple business bank accounts that prosecutors say are tied to his criminal enterprise Investigators allege he arranged for fentanyl to be smuggled into the detention center by a former inmate on supervised release. In exchange, Miske allegedly provided a vehicle to the man, who then deliberately violated release conditions to be re-arrested and returned to custody carrying contraband. According to court filings, Miske then began ingesting small amounts of fentanyl in the days leading up to his death - a move prosecutors say was designed to create the appearance of habitual use. Authorities think he believed that pattern would 'mislead investigators into thinking his death was an accidental overdose.' The complaint further states Miske 'devised a plan to corruptly obstruct, influence, and impede an official proceeding and the administration of justice, by committing suicide for the purpose of obtaining the Defendant Properties as assets of the Miske Trust.' Prosecutors say that roughly three months before his death, Miske transferred multiple forfeitable properties into his trust, including boats, a Ferrari, vintage vehicles and business bank accounts. He also revised the trust's structure, removing several individuals and leaving his granddaughter, identified in court records as N.M., as sole beneficiary for his estate, estimated at more than $20 million. His vehicle collection includes white Ferrari and several vintage and luxury cars that prosecutors say were tied to the proceeds of his criminal enterprise His real estate holdings include multimillion-dollar homes in the Portlock and Kailua neighborhoods that prosecutors say were purchased with criminal proceeds San Francisco attorney Edward Burch, who represents Miske's trust and granddaughter, rejected the government's claims. Burch said the government was 'ignoring the facts and making unsupportable claims.' 'Now, grasping at straws, the (Department of Justice) has invented a novel and fundamentally flawed legal theory which, if believed, is based on the government's own negligence.' Burch also argued the forfeiture effort would punish an innocent child. 'We look forward to preventing the government from holding a child responsible for the alleged sins of others.' He said Miske's businesses generated legitimate profits and described the granddaughter as 'an innocent 9-year-old.' Federal officials say the criminal investigation remains ongoing, including whether charges will be filed against inmates allegedly involved in smuggling fentanyl into the facility. The government stressed that the new allegations remain accusations. 'The assertions in the proposed second amended civil forfeiture complaint are merely accusations, and any potential defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law,' prosecutors said. A father was forced to deliver his own baby daughter after the midwife 'panicked' and left the room minutes before the birth. Matt Gray's daughter Cleo was born with her umbilical cord wrapped around her neck, which the former ambulance technician had to carefully remove. The midwife in the delivery room at the John Radcliffe Hospital Women's Centre, in Oxford, disappeared for 15 minutes after Cleo's heartbeat went down to 110 bpm, leaving Mr Gray to don some rubber gloves and help his wife Jo deliver their baby. By the time staff returned to the room, Cleo had been cleaned up and was being cradled by Mrs Gray. The mother-of-four has blasted staff at the hospital, describing the ordeal as 'terrifying', while Mr Gray has launched a formal complaint with the Oxford University Hospitals Trusts (OUH) and the Care Quality Commission. According to Mrs Gray, Staff at the hospital did not immediately apologise for her harrowing birth and instead told her it 'was very unfortunate but everything was ok'. The OUH has since apologised to the family. Mrs Gray was rushed to the hospital after she went into labour two weeks early on February 21. Matt and Jo Gray's baby daughter Cleo (pictured) was delivered by her father after the midwife 'panicked' and left the room minutes before the birth John Radcliffe Hospital Women's Centre, where baby Cleo was delivered. Her parents have blasted staff at the hospital and they have launched a formal complaint with the Oxford University Hospitals Trusts (OUH) and the Care Quality Commission Due to her several medical conditions, the birth was deemed high-risk and, with Cleo being the couple's fourth child, it was likely the labour would progress quickly. Once at the hospital, they were entrusted to a 'lovely' midwife at first who shortly had to leave and was replaced with a less experienced midwife. 'It went downhill from there; it was really bad,' Mrs Gray told the Banbury Gazette. The mother claimed the new midwife 'lacked communication, didn't talk to us' and gave 'no reassurance'. She continued: 'The midwife kept moving me. Apparently baby's heart rate kept changing but it was after every contraction, which is normal. 'But she started panicking, which in turn, made me panic. Her face kept dropping and she was constantly getting me to move, telling me that baby's heart rate was dropping and it was getting dangerous.' The midwife then left the room, leaving the concerned parents on their own. Mr Gray ran to fetch the midwife who left again after 30 seconds. They did not return for another 15 minutes and by that time Cleo had been born. By the time staff returned to the room after leaving the family alone for 15 minutes, Cleo had been cleaned up and was being cradled by Mrs Gray Mrs Gray described the ordel as 'terrifying' warning 'it could have gone so wrong'. An OUH spokesman said: 'We have heard from Jordan and Matthew Gray and are very sorry for the difficult childbirth experience they have described which appears to have fallen short of the high standards we set for ourselves. 'We are taking the issues they raise very seriously and will be carrying out a full investigation into what happened. 'We are unable to provide further detail while that investigation is underway but are committed to openness and transparency when sharing our full findings with Jordan and Matthew once the process has been completed.' The hospital's maternity unit is also one of 12 across the UK under scrutiny in the Maternity & Neonatal Investigation led by Valerie Amos. A former real estate agent has exposed the sneaky tactics used to squeeze as much money out of home buyers as possible. Dion Marsden, who now runs Marsden Buyers Agents in Melbourne, said there were several mistakes buyers made that allowed real estate agents to take advantage. He explained the first was that buyers didn't ask for a counteroffer before raising their initial offer. He said a buyer may offer $700,000 for a property before the owner, who could be chasing $750,000, came back and said they wanted more. 'So many times the buyer would come back and say okay, $720,000, $730,000, without getting a counteroffer (from the vendor),' Mr Marsden told Daily Mail. 'Why would you not ask for a counteroffer? 'You've just given me $20,000 or $30,000 from your first offer for no gain. Your first offer was a waste of time.' He said some buyers 'don't ask basic questions', leaving them with scant information to base their decisions on when making an offer. Dion Marsden told how home buyers found ways to get ripped off when negotiating a price 'They guess - and thats when people get themselves into sticky situations,' Mr Marsden said. The second thing he pointed out was that buyers often don't understand that a reserve price can be changed. He said agents typically don't set the reserve until just before an auction. 'Let's say the reserve is $1.1million and it passes in $20,000 short. There is nothing stopping a real estate agent from upping the reserve price,' Mr Marsden said. 'They can just quickly amend the reserve price and go back out and tell the buyer the reserve is $1.15million and was a little bit higher than expected.' 'No it wasn't, you just changed it. The buyer doesn't know that, then they start negotiating and could have bought it for less. 'It happens. You've got to be a savvy buyer or you'll be taken advantage of and pay way more than you need to.' Mr Marsden told potential buyers to always ask about settlement plans. Potential buyers need to ask more questions before buying a home 'If you get into any conversations about settlement and you tell them your settlement (plan), then they most probably know you're desperate to buy,' he said. Another tactic involves buyers being led to believe they have exclusive negotiating rights if a property is passed in at auction. 'What does that mean? It's used as an incentive for buyers to put their hand up and bid,' Mr Marsden said. 'Do you know that if a property is passed in to you, your exclusive right ends the moment you say no to the reserve price. 'And no-one is going to say yes to the reserve price, that's the worst advice you could ever give.' Mr Marsden posts his insights on TikTok, explaining he made the decision out of frustration at seeing so many real estate agents taking advantage of buyers. Theres a lot of naive buyers who arent good negotiators, Mr Marsden said. I hear so many stories of buyers telling me they bought a property for a great price then you hear the negotiations, and I think they were taken for a ride. Thousands of Australians may have lost part or all of their retirement savings without realising it, after the collapse of two highrisk superannuation products left regulators scrambling to track down potential victims. Compensation Scheme of Last Resort chief executive David Berry said about 12,000 people were exposed to the failed First Guardian Master Fund and Shield products, yet only 2,000 complaints have been lodged with the Australian Financial Complaints Authority. 'What happened to the other 10,000?' he said. 'If you received dodgy advice, you may be eligible for compensation. Lodge a complaint with AFCA. And encourage everyone to check their super balance now.' Barefoot Investor Scott Pape said it was likely the missing 10,000 victims have no idea it happened. 'The vast majority of people who got screwed innocently clicked on a Facebook ad offering a free super comparison or review,' he said. 'They were taken to a page that asked for their phone number. Then a smooth-talking spiv convinced them to move their super into a dog-turd super fund. 'Then their money went poof.' Barefoot Investor Scott Pape (pictured) said it was likely the missing 10,000 victims have no idea it happened after being lured to move their super into a 'dog-turd super fund' Compensation Scheme of Last Resort chief executive David Berry (pictured) said 10,000 people were exposed to the failed funds and remain unaware Thousands of Aussies were exposed to the failed First Guardian Master Fund and Shield products but only 2,000 complaints have been lodged with AFCA Pape said most Australians never look at their super account which is exactly what 'crooks' were counting on. 'If you, or someone you love, ever clicked on a social media ad and switched your super, or if a financial advisor has switched you into a super fund, go to (takeyoursuperback.com) right now to find out if you're affected.' First Guardian and the related Shield Master Fund collapsed in May 2024 owing about $1.2billion, with more than 12,000 investors believed to have been affected. Liquidators have so far recovered only $1.6million. It is alleged First Guardian director David Anderson siphoned millions of dollars from the fund into his personal ANZ bank account and moved $274million offshore after learning he was under investigation. Fellow director Simon Selimaj had a $548,000 Lamborghini Urus registered in his name which is alleged to have been bought using money from the fund. Industry sources say many victims were drawn in through socialmedia ads offering free super reviews, funnelling users into leadgeneration businesses that passed their details to unlicensed or conflicted advisers. Consumers were persuaded to roll over large super balances into highrisk or poorly governed funds, many of which later collapsed. First Guardian fund director David Anderson (pictured) is accused by ASIC of siphoning millions of dollars into his personal ANZ bank account and shifting money overseas Sydney mental health nurse Caroline Grey, 64, lost $560,000 in the First Guardian Master Fund superannuation scandal and now struggles to get out of bed after her dreams of retirement were cruelly dashed. 'This was not an everyday scam - it was theft on a massive scale,' the mother-of-three told the Daily Mail. 'My future's been stolen. 'I'm a normal everyday person. I pay my tax. I have always followed the rules. I care about the community. I work hard to provide for my family and for my own future.' In 2020, Grey's husband Michael Johnson spotted a Facebook ad suggesting he check the value of his superannuation funds. The couple had a Zoom meeting with the now-collapsed financial advice firm United Global Capital (UGC) which gave them tips to improve their super. The couple decided to combine their savings into a self-managed super fund totalling $560,000, which they later invested in First Guardian. 'I didn't do anything stupid or wrong and [the ordeal] could happen to anybody,' Ms Grey said, adding she had researched UGC and done her due diligence. The collapse of First Guardian Master Fund has devastated everyday Aussies like Sydney mental health nurse Caroline Grey, 64, and her husband Michael Johnson 'They had no red flags. I could see nothing on ASIC about them, no complaints. There were plenty of positive reviews about them... and they had been around a long time.' It comes as the Australian Financial Complaints Authority revealed it received a record number of complaints in 2025, with 111,373 complaints coming through the door a 14 per cent increase from the 2024 calendar year. AFCA chief ombudsman David Locke said Shield and First Guardian complaints will continue to be a key focus for AFCA throughout 2026. 'We have now issued 44 decisions, including five lead decisions, and have 500 simultaneous investigations underway, and we remain firmly committed to progressing these matters as quickly as we can,' he said. ASIC Commissioner Alan Kirkland told a Parliamentary Joint Committee earlier this month it had conducted 11 rounds of direct mail and email to investors. 'We are trying to do all we can including what we can through the mainstream media,' he said. 'We are doing what we can to encourage people who have lost money to make complaints. 'Making a complaint to AFCA as a key way to get access to compensation and if AFCA makes a determination against a firm it is required to pay, if not, then the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort. 'If in doubt, make a complaint. AFCA can then decide.' The Compensation Scheme of Last Resort is a government initiative that provides up to $150,000 for consumers with unpaid financial misconduct claims. Iran could have got hold of a nuclear weapon from North Korea just three days before Donald Trump launched attacks to crush the regime, the US President's former security adviser has claimed. A quick wire transfer to the Central Bank of North Korea would be enough to secure the weapons, according to American attorney John Bolton - who assisted Mr Trump in his first term. The authoritarian regime could then 'put a nuclear device on an aeroplane, route it through Russia' and ship it to Iran - all within 72 hours of the request. Mr Bolton insisted the relationship between Iran and North Korea should not be underestimated. He told The Sun: 'Let's face it, in the China-Russia axis that's forming right now, Iran and North Korea are two outriders, and so the cooperation between them is very threatening.' The former adviser claimed Iran could still obtain the nuclear weapon it had desired for years - and this was justification enough for a regime change. 'It could be a military government [that replaces the current Iranian regime],' Mr Bolton added. It could be a democracy. 'At least it's not run by a bunch of theocratic extremists and militarists that want nuclear weapons that is the big change.' Iran could have got hold of a nuclear weapon from North Korea just three days before Donald Trump, pictured on Monday, launched attacks to crush the regime A quick wire transfer to the Central Bank of North Korea would be enough for Mojtaba Khamenei's regime to secure the weapons, according to American attorney John Bolton While the US's Operation Epic Fury had put a dent in Iran's nuclear aspirations, Mr Bolton argued that the Middle Eastern regime could use their alliance with other countries to secure a weapon. Iran is believed to be rebuilding fast after the wave of American strikes hindered their nuclear plans. The attorney's remarks come just two days after Mojtaba Khameini became Iran's new Supreme Leader in the wake of the killing of his father the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. And terrified Iranians on Monday warned that having the slain Ayatollah's son as their new leader will change nothing as he is 'as bad as his father'. Hardliner Mojtaba, 56, is one of the most influential figures in Iran's clerical establishment and has for years been seen as one of the top candidates to succeed his father. On Sunday, a Foreign Office minister warned his appointment 'suggests no change in direction from Iran'. The comment was mirrored by many Iranians in the country. Mr Trump said Mojtabas appointment is 'going to lead to just more of the same', as he said he was aiming a new wave of deadly strikes at the regime after Tehran said not 'one litre of oil' would be shipped from the Middle East if attacks continue. While Mr Hegseth said Mojtaba 'would be wise' to listen to Mr Trump and not pursue nuclear weapons. Iranians have also protested the appointment of the Ayatollah's son by shouting 'death to Mojtaba' from their houses. Meanwhile, American forces have destroyed 16 Iranian minelaying vessels close to a major sea passage used to export oil. The White House had earlier warned Iran will be hit 'at a level never seen before' if they place mines on the Strait of Hormuz amid concerns the regime could target the key oil waterway. 'US forces eliminated multiple Iranian naval vessels, March 10, including 16 minelayers near the Strait of Hormuz,' the US Central Command announced on X, with an accompanying video showing some of the strikes. John Bolton pictured in October. He insisted the relationship between Iran and North Korea should not be underestimated Then Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visits the Natanz uranium enrichment facilities in 2008. The US's Operation Epic Fury put a dent in Iran's nuclear aspirations A satellite image shows a historical view of the Natanz Nuclear Facility in Iran The Strait is the only sea passage between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Mr Trump has previously said he is 'not afraid' to use military force to keep the passage open, as oil prices steady following a rapid surge over the weekend. US soldiers stationed at military bases in Abu Dhabi and Bahrain were earlier targeted in the latest attacks launched by Iran after US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Tehran faced the 'most intense day of strikes'. Iran's Revolutionary Guards are said to have launched missiles towards American troops based at at Al-Dhafra airbase, near Abu Dhabi, and Juffair in Bahrain, according to the Mehr news agency. Sirens were also heard in Dubai and Tel Aviv on Tuesday night. Iran also warned Mr Trump to 'be careful not to be eliminated' after the US President said he did not believe the regime's new Supreme Leader can 'live in peace'. Mr Trump told Iran to brace for 'death, fire and fury' for keeping the Strait of Hormuz shut before threatening its new leader Mojtaba Khamenei. He told Fox the new Supreme Leader will be unable to 'live in peace' and he was 'not happy with the appointment', having warned Iran he would have the final say over their leader. But the regime's security chief Ali Larijani dismissed Mr Trump's comments, claiming Iran 'is not afraid of your empty threats'. He added: 'Even those greater than you could not eliminate the Iranian nation. Take care of yourself not to be eliminated!' He landed in London with an entourage fit for a dictator. Twenty bodyguards, a clutch of servants and an unlimited credit line from Tehran accompanied Mojtaba Khamenei the son and heir of Ali Khamenei and now Irans new Supreme Leader. They checked into the Sheraton on Park Lane and stayed for two months in a visit said to have cost around 1million. Its a striking scene: the future Supreme leader and his phalanx of regime thugs enjoying the finest London has to offer. The purpose was deeply personal. He and his wife, Zahra Haddad-Adel, travelled to Britain 30 years ago for fertility treatment after the couple struggled to conceive. Within the year, she gave birth to their son Bagher dubbed the million-pound boy by those aware of the London trip. And its not the only connection Mojtaba which means the chosen in Persian has with London. A web of companies linked to figures close to him supposedly controls a portfolio of high-end property worth around 100 million in Londons most exclusive districts. Among the most luxurious are two eye-watering apartments in Kensingtons Palace Green a building opposite Kensington Palace and overlooking the Israeli embassy, no less. From the upper floors there is a direct view into the embassy compound. For a regime that routinely calls for Israels destruction, the idea that figures tied to Irans ruling circle own property with a clear line of sight into one of Israels most sensitive diplomatic sites in London is alarming, to put it mildly. Then there is Londons notorious Billionaires Row The Bishops Avenue where several properties have been linked to a network associated with Mojtaba through a sanctioned Iranian banker called Ali Ansari. Mojtaba Khamenei is the son and heir of Ali Khamenei and is now Irans new Supreme Leader Investigations have pointed to a cluster of mansions bought through offshore vehicles tied to Ansari, including Jersey House, a vast gated residence worth more than 30 million. Records suggest several houses on the avenue were snapped up through Isle of Man shell companies in deals worth more than 70 million. Like many properties on the street famous for its empty palaces owned by oligarchs, Gulf princes and foreign elites several appear unoccupied. Ownership sits buried beneath layers of offshore firms and nominee directors, making it difficult to trace. But Mojtaba has been linked to these mansions by the respected US financial media company Bloomberg. It is all part of a familiar pattern: a revolutionary leader in this case the Shia cleric and politician now in charge of Iran who spends his days denouncing Western decadence while surreptitiously parking enormous wealth in Londons most expensive postcodes. Decades on from that summer of fertility treatment, the Khamenei story has taken a grim twist. Mojtabas wife Zahra and Bagher, the boy they conceived back then, were killed last week alongside Ali Khamenei in Israeli-US strikes that tore through Irans leadership and cleared the path for him to take his fathers place. So who exactly is Khamenei Junior? Its an important question not just for Iranians but the watching world. Both will suffer the consequences of his rule. For years, while regime figures stalked the world stage, Mojtaba stayed largely hidden. Now 56, he has never delivered a public speech nor given an interview. His name, however, has long carried weight far beyond his public profile. He is the second son of Ali Khamenei the Supreme Leader had six children, four sons and two daughters and grew up inside the innermost chamber of revolutionary power. Posters of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, right, the successor to his late father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei He did not climb to the top through elected office. Instead, he simply positioned himself right next to Irans most powerful man his father. Those who wanted access to the Supreme Leader often had to go through him and he gained immense leverage as a result. And if his princeling status is one slap in the face to the Republics ideology, his very average religious credentials are another. All Supreme Leaders must be Grand Ayatollahs, the highest religious rank in Shia Islam. Yet until his appointment, Mojtaba was only a Hojjatoleslam, a mid-ranking cleric. (His father had the same problem, and then, as now, the regime fudged it). Western governments noticed his power early on. In 2019 the US sanctioned Mojtaba, describing him as someone who represented the Supreme Leader in an official capacity. According to the US Treasury, toward the end of his life Ali Khamenei had effectively delegated parts of his authority to his son. Beyond this, it is his relationships with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its paramilitary arm, the Basij forged when he fought as a teenager in the vicious 1980-88 war between Iran and Iraq, serving in the elite 27th Mohammad Rasulullah Division that are widely seen a cornerstone of his power. The importance of these organisations extends far beyond their military capabilities: they are the regimes shield and sword, the institutions that brutally enforce loyalty at home, as we saw in the bloodstained crackdown on protesters in January, and who project power abroad. Control those networks, and you control Iran. His alignment with them also tells you something about Mojtabas political instincts. He has long been seen as a hardliner, deeply hostile to reformist politicians who once dreamed of opening Iran to the outside world. Mojtaba Khamenei became a symbol of the regime's most ruthless instincts after demonstrators for the Green Movement were beaten, jailed, tortured and, sometimes, killed During the mid-2000s he was widely believed by critics to have played a role in the rise of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the ruthless populist who became president in 2005. Ahmadinejads presidency marked one of the most confrontational periods in modern Iranian politics. When the disputed 2009 election for his second term triggered mass protests which became known as the Green Movement, the regime responded with brute force. Basij units flooded the streets. Demonstrators were beaten, jailed, tortured and, sometimes, killed. Many Iranians came to associate Mojtaba Khamenei with that crackdown. He became a symbol of the regimes most ruthless instincts. He has blood on his hands. In recent years Mojtaba has begun to edge out of the shadows. Figures inside the establishment openly touted him as a future supreme leader. Knowing the desperation for change among ordinary Iranians, a few tried to present him as a reformer. The regime even wheeled out a hugely reactionary cleric from Qom as a possible successor to Khamenei so they could paint Mojtaba as a moderniser by comparison. But the truth is the opposite. The IRGC, the intelligence services, and the Basij militias are now the rigidly conservative institutions that underpin the regime and Mojtaba is at one with them. He is an autocrat in clerical robes backed by the oppressive machinery of state brutality. Some of the most striking portraits of Mojtaba personally come from defectors who once moved inside the regimes inner world. One of them is a former insider who says he studied alongside the new Supreme Leader in the seminaries of Qom. Jaber Rajabi has publicly described him as even more extreme than his father. Worse, Rajabi believes him to be a man driven by fanatical and ideological conviction, and convinced that he has a providential role to play in history by overseeing the destruction of Israel. Mojtaba Khamenei is more dangerous than 50 nuclear bombs, he warned in an interview before the war. Mojtaba Khamenei believes he... will lead the army carrying the black banners to liberate Jerusalem. The picture that emerges of the new Leader is terrifying. A man shaped by secrecy, financial corruption, the most brutal security networks and ideological fanaticism. Given the death of so many members of his family last week we can add two more factors to the list: rage and a remorseless desire for revenge. The Home Secretary last night caved in to demands to ban a pro-Iranian rally in London this weekend. As a Labour minister said the Al Quds 'hate' march had no place in British society, 100 MPs and peers told Shabana Mahmood that it would provide a platform for intimidation and extremism. The Home Office said it had approved Scotland Yard's request to halt the 'uniquely contentious' march. Ms Mahmood said: 'I am satisfied doing so is necessary to prevent serious public disorder, due to the scale of the protest and multiple counter-protests, in the context of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. 'Should a stationary demonstration proceed, the police will be able to apply strict conditions. 'I expect to see the full force of the law applied to anyone spreading hatred and division instead of exercising their right to peaceful protest.' Met Police Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan said: 'The Al Quds march is uniquely contentious having originated in Iran and in London is organised by the Islamic Human Rights Commission, an organisation supportive of the Iranian regime. 'The threshold to ban a protest is high and we do not take this decision lightly; this is the first time we have used this power since 2012.' The Home Secretary last night caved in to demands to ban a pro-Iranian rally in London this weekend. Pictured: last year's rally from Marble Arch to the BBC in Portland Place Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she had approved Scotland Yard's request to halt the 'uniquely contentious' march He added: 'But in our assessment this march raises unique risks and challenges. We must consider the likely high numbers of protesters and counter-protesters coming together and the extreme tensions between different factions. 'We have taken into consideration the likely impact on protests of the volatile situation in the Middle East, with the Iranian regime attacking British allies and military bases overseas.' It came after Sarah Sackman yesterday became the first minister to call for action against the annual march on Sunday. Shortly afterwards, the Prime Minister's chief secretary, Darren Jones, hinted that restrictions could be placed on the rally. Organisers from the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) have described Iran's assassinated Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as a martyr and a 'rare role model' following his death in US-Israeli strikes. Marchers have previously called for Israel to be 'wiped off the map' while carrying the flags of Iranian-backed terror group Hezbollah. The demonstration is held every year during Ramadan and named after the Arabic name for Jerusalem. But given the situation in the Middle East, it is feared it poses a higher-than-usual risk this year. Courts minister Ms Sackman said: 'Those expressing support for the malign regime in Iran and the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) and its proxies have no place in our society.' She told LBC: 'They shouldn't be on the streets of London calling for hate and hostility against this country. 'That's thoroughly anti-British and I expect the police and the Home Secretary to take the necessary action...' Ms Sackman, a barrister and MP for Finchley and Golders Green, which has a large Jewish population, told Times Radio: 'This sort of thing has no place in our society.' Shadow home affairs minister Alicia Kearns added: 'It would be an enormous insult to our brave Armed Forces if the very people currently attacking them were being celebrated here on our streets.' There are likely to be counter-protests from activists opposed to the Iranian regime, including from Stop The Hate, set up to combat anti-Semitism during pro-Palestine marches. Scotland Yard does not have the power to ban a protest but asked Ms Mahmood to intervene. A source said it was possible that demonstrators could be prevented from marching but permitted to stage a static protest outside the Home Office, which is the group's intended meeting point. But the Met last night made it clear that it will 'place strict conditions on any static assembly'. Join the debate Should protests be restricted if they risk promoting extremism? The march is held in the capital each year during Ramadan and was established in 1979 following the Iranian revolution Mr Adelekan added: 'Given the tensions, we have to accept that confrontations could still take place.' A cross-party group of MPs has already written to the Home Secretary to say the march will legitimise Iran's agenda and send an 'unmistakably troubling message'. Demonstrators at last year's rally chanted 'Zionism has to fall'. Among those who signed the letter are Labour peers Baroness Hodge of Barking and Lord Mendelsohn, Labour MP Luke Akehurst, former anti-extremism tsar Lord Walney and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. They said that allowing the march to go ahead would weaken Britain's credibility internationally and undermine domestic cohesion. The IHRC said the event 'offers a platform for all those who stand for justice against colonialism, oppression and apartheid to come together'. HMS Dragon finally sailed from Portsmouth, ending Britain's embarrassing failure to send a single warship to the Middle East. Sailors' families waved from the harbour after frantic efforts by engineers to repair the Type-45 destroyer allowed her to cruise into the Solent. The ship's anti-drone systems have been upgraded and new weapons to knock out Iranian missiles have been fitted. The 1billion warship was in dock undergoing welding work when the Royal Navy thrust her back into service. On Tuesday night, naval sources described Dragon as 'one of the world's most capable air-defence warships'. Her role will be to detect, track and destroy aerial threats. Dragon left Portsmouth as the first US B-1 Lancer bomber left a British base to launch a strike on Iran. The aerial mission followed a furious row between Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump over whether America can use British bases after the Prime Minister previously declined the US President's request. Dragon will take a week to reach Cypriot waters. Once there she is expected to join Greek, French, Italian, Spanish and Netherlands' ships. France in particular has stolen a march on Britain, with President Emmanuel Macron committing at least eight French ships to the eastern Mediterranean and the Strait of Hormuz. HMS Dragon finally sailed from Portsmouth as it begins its journey towards Cyprus Family and friends waved loved ones off as HMS Dragon set sail from Portsmouth Harbour HMS Dragon's departure from the home of the Royal Navy was something of a surprise on Tuesday after Defence Secretary John Healey told the Commons on Monday that she would leave 'in the next couple of days', giving rise to suggestions she may not depart before Wednesday. On Tuesday, Mr Healey paid tribute to military and civilian staff who prepared HMS Dragon, saying: 'I have only praise for our teams who worked flat out. 'What is normally six weeks of work was completed in just six days. A remarkable effort delivered around the clock. They are the very best of Britain in action.' The destroyer's departure came hours after Ministry of Defence officials confirmed that the UK's designated civilian evacuation vessel, RFA Lyme Bay, is being readied for a possible deployment. With 173,000 Britons having registered their presence in the region, Lyme Bay could play a key role in evacuation efforts. The 579ft Bay-class dock landing ship part of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary was on a shortened 'notice to move' period on Tuesday. If her involvement is approved, she is expected to rescue UK civilians stranded in countries such as Lebanon, sailing them to relative safety in Cyprus. On Tuesday night, defence officials said preparations for a possible deployment of RFA Lyme Bay were 'prudent planning'. But the ship, which would carry a contingent of Royal Marines and medical specialists, could have been readied in January when other preparations were made. Neither ship is expected to play any part in operations to unblock the Strait of Hormuz, the world's most important maritime oil and gas route. Meanwhile, UK forces have continued to knock out Iranian drones. British pilots have completed more than 230 flying hours on defensive operations. On Tuesday, Sir Keir held talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italy's Giorgia Meloni about the security crisis. Downing Street said they 'agreed on the vital importance of freedom of navigation for vessels through those waters'. Naval sources added that HMS Dragon's deployment was one element of a wider approach taken since January to prepare for conflict in the Middle East. Sir Keir Starmer has held talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italy's Giorgia Meloni about the security crisis The other measures included deploying radar systems, air defence and F-35 jets. Over the past week the Ministry of Defence has added further counter-drone specialists, additional Wildcat and Merlin helicopters and four more Typhoon jets to Qatar. A US B-1 bomber took off from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Tuesday night on what is expected to be the first strike against Iran from UK soil. The B-1, which can carry 75,000lb of bombs or missiles at over 900mph, is a supersonic strategic bomber designed for long-range missions and heavy payloads. After the aircraft flew to the UK from the US when Sir Keir belatedly gave permission for the US to launch strike operations from British bases, Reform leader Nigel Farage said the UK should not join Donald Trump's war on Iran. Mr Farage said: 'Given that we can't even send a Royal Navy vessel to defend British sovereign territory and an RAF base, we don't have the capability to offer anything of value to the Americans or the Israelis. If we cannot defend Cyprus let's not get involved in another foreign war.' Pauline Hanson has sparked a war of words with new Nationals leader Matt Canavan, after she accused the Queensland senator of joining the 'woke pile-on'. Party members elected Victorian MP Darren Chester as deputy leader. David Littleproud fought back tears on Tuesday as he announced he would be stepping down after years in the top job. Canavan, 45, fired a warning shot to One Nation leader Pauline Hanson as he addressed an eager press pack on Wednesday. 'Pauline has been in politics more than double for the time I've been. And I struggle to point to a single dam, single road, single hospital, and Pauline Hanson has delivered in Australia,' the father-of-five said. 'I can point to swathes of those things with the work I've done with Michelle Landry, Colin Boyce, and others in Central Queensland. 'That is ultimately why we're here, to deliver results. We're here to make people's lives better.' Hanson hit back, accusing Canavan of joining 'the woke pile-on' in a furious X post. Nationals Senator Matt Canavan (pictured) is the party's new leader Pauline Hanson accused Canavan on joining 'the woke pile-on' in a furious X post Canavan, 45, is pictured with his wife Andrea. The couple share four sons and one daughter 'Canavan joins the likes of the ABC, the Guardian and left-wing fact checkers who have started a war against One Nation to try and tear us down,' she said. 'Canavan has found himself in strange company against One Nation, the only party truly dedicated to leading the agenda on ending net-zero, cutting immigration and putting Australia first.' When asked how he would differentiate the Nationals from One Nation, Canavan said he worried about 'where Pauline would take this country'. 'What unites us as a country is more than what divides us. Even when we have these robust debates, we have a wonderful country with wonderful people from all different backgrounds, religions, etc,' he said. Canavan said he stood for the leadership because 'we are losing our country'. 'People are losing their standard of living. They're losing their confidence. We're losing our relaxed and larrikin nature, and we have to fight back for Australians. So all we need to do to revive our great nation is to have more Australian everything. We need to manifest hyper Australia here,' he said. 'We need more Australian babies. We need more Australian humour, more Australian jokes. We need more Australian everything. 'We don't need to look overseas for the future.' David Littleproud (pictured with his wife Amelia) resigned on Tuesday in an emotional press conference where he said he was too 'buggered' to continue Canavan's former mentor, Barnaby Joyce, has warned the new Nationals leader and his deputy could clash over policy positions. Joyce defected to One Nation earlier this year, as the party surges in the polls. 'Their hearts will be in the right place with Matt; it's just policy will be completely different,' Joyce told reporters. 'I know Matt, I know him very well, and he is an exceptional guy and a good fella, but his policy beliefs are just a million miles away from where a lot of the Liberal Party is, and to be quite frank, they're quite a distance away from where Darren [Chester] is.' Daily Mail's political editor Peter van Onselen said Canavan would need to play the team game as he goes up Joyce. 'Pauline Hanson won't fear Matt Canavan, and she'll have Barnaby Joyce to help explain him to her,' van Onselen said. 'But Canavan will likely try and match much of the populism One Nation spruiks.' Canavan was elected senator in 2014 and was a minister in Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison's governments. A trained economist, Canavan previously worked as Barnaby Joyce's chief-of-staff when he was Agriculture Minister. Canavan's former mentor, Barnaby Joyce, has congratulated him on the leadership, but warned there could be tensions between him and Chester over policy The Queensland senator is a rare party leader from the Senate. Traditionally, leaders sit in the House of Representatives. On Tuesday, Littleproud fought back tears as he told reporters he was exhausted after years in the top job and presiding over two traumatic splits in the Coalition. 'I'm buggered and I've had enough,' he said. Littleproud will stay in Parliament and plans to recontest his Queensland seat of Maranoa, one of the safest electorates in the country, which he has held since 2016. He also left open the possibility of returning to the Coalition frontbench under the party's new leadership. American forces have destroyed 16 Iranian minelaying vessels close to a major sea passage used to export oil. The White House had earlier warned Iran will be hit 'at a level never seen before' if they place mines on the Strait of Hormuz amid concerns the regime could target the key oil waterway. 'US forces eliminated multiple Iranian naval vessels, March 10, including 16 minelayers near the Strait of Hormuz,' the US Central Command announced on X, with an accompanying video showing some of the strikes. The Strait of Hormuz is the only sea passage between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. The minelayers near the Strait of Hormuz were among multiple Iranian vessels taken out by US forces on Tuesday. The military published the figure and unclassified footage of some of the vessels after Donald Trump warned Iran against laying mines in the critical waterway. Trump has previously said he is 'not afraid' to use military force to keep the passage open, as oil prices steady following a rapid surge over the weekend. In a post to social media, Trump said the US military 'completely destroyed' the inactive Iranian mine-laying vessels after reports of Iranian action in the Strait of Hormuz. Video released by the US Central Command shows what they say is an Iranian naval vessel as it is struck by a projectile 'near the Strait of Hormuz' as part of 'Operation Epic Fury' on March 10 The vessel is seen being blasted to bits after being struck by a missile fired by the US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth help a press briefing on Operation Epic Fury at the Pentagon In his social media post he added that there would be 'more to follow.' "If for any reason mines were placed, and they are not removed forthwith, the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before," Trump wrote. The concern is that mines could make it impossible for tankers to pass through the strait, which could cause oil and natural gas prices to rise. Trump has been sensitive to higher energy prices as a domestic political issue, as his economic argument to voters is based on keeping gasoline costs low. A fifth of the world's oil passes through the strait, which is only about 21 miles wide at its narrowest point. The announcement came soon after two Truth Social postings by the US president in which he said he has no reports of Iran putting explosive mines in the strategic waterway, but also warned Tehran that if it did, he wants them immediately removed. Donald Trump said he has no reports of Iran putting explosive mines in the strategic waterway, but also warned Tehran that if it did, he wants them immediately removed In a follow-up post, Trump said the US military 'completely destroyed' the inactive Iranian mine-laying vessels after reports of Iranian action in the Strait of Hormuz A missile can be seen about to slam into the side of an unmanned mine-laying boat Moments later, the boat in shrouded in a blast of fire smoke The attack was monitored by the Pentagon and released later on social media. A missile is seen circled The Callisto tanker sits anchored as the traffic is down in the Strait of Hormuz, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Muscat, Oman Amid concerns over the 'energy situation', French president Emmanuel Macron announced, the G7 leaders will hold a video conference on Wednesday to discuss the economic impacts of the war in the Middle East. Meanwhile, US soldiers stationed at military bases in Abu Dhabi and Bahrain have been targeted in the latest attacks launched by Iran after US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Tehran faces the 'most intense day of strikes'. Iran's Revolutionary Guards are said to have launched missiles towards American troops based at at Al-Dhafra airbase, near Abu Dhabi, and Juffair in Bahrain, according to the Mehr news agency. Sirens were also heard in Dubai and Tel Aviv on Tuesday night. Petrol stations in regional Australia are running dry and some have resorted to limiting drivers to only $20 worth of fuel. Panic buying in capital cities across the country is impacting the bush, and some small towns have already run out of diesel. A service station in NSW's New England region has limited purchases to just $20 per customer. Station owner Andrew Brown told NewsWire he's been forced to enact a limit to ensure locals can fill up in an emergency. 'We could have lifted our prices and been out of fuel in five days but instead we are trying to ration it for up to 15 days,' he said. His supplier, Transwest Fuel, provided a delivery last week despite their petrol stations running low on supply. Mr Brown said, at this stage, Transwest Fuel won't be able to supply more until at least next week as he sits on about 1,500 litres for emergency services. 'We will end up stopping, so we can maintain our SES and our fire brigade but we aren't at that stage yet,' he said. Petrol stations like this one in the New England region of country NSW are running out of fuel To ensure there was enough fuel for emergencies, Mr Brown told 2GB he imposed a limit on the general public. 'We had to put a $20 limit. We were going to go $50 but we would have run out in a week, so we dropped it down to $20,' Mr Brown said. 'Most of the locals understand we have to keep a supply for them. We are 60km away from Tamworth so in any emergency they need to be able to get into town and $20 can get you there.' Many other country towns are facing the same issues, while drivers in big cities can fill up without restrictions. Energy Minister Chris Bowen said Australia's fuel supply was secure and Aussies in capital cities should not panic buy. 'I can say that our diesel and petrol supplies remain at this point secure,' Bowen told reporters at Parliament House. 'We have as much diesel in Australia today as we had before this crisis began, and the stock obligation, which the companies are legally required to meet, remains at 32 days. 'We are seeing a big increase in demand particularly for diesel, and I understand why Australians are concerned.' Regional town in Australia are facing a fuel shortage in the next week While Bowen is technically correct, critics in the bush claim they have been shunned as all the fuel is directed towards the major centres. Bowen said he had 'a great deal of concern and empathy for farmers' who are struggling to secure diesel. 'I do need to emphasise this is a huge spike in demand, not an impact on supply at this point,' Bowen said. Oil prices have peaked at $US120 per barrel - $US11 short of the price hikes at the start of the Ukraine war. A revered Melbourne cop fed up with the out-of-control street violence has made a heartfelt plea for peace and common sense to the city's tooled-up teens. Victoria Police Commander Wayne 'Cheesy' Cheeseman has urged young people to stop carrying weapons, warning that a single moment of anger can destroy lives forever. In October Superintendent Cheeseman became a cult hero to frustrated Victorians when he called out violent left-wing protesters during the March for Australia rally. Now he has revealed he penned a personal message about the latest tragic death, after the alleged stabbing of 22-year-old security guard Aidan Becker at Mernda train station. Sitting in his car just before he appeared on Nova 100's Jase & Lauren breakfast show, Supt Cheeseman wrote out his desperate plea for sanity to prevail. 'You know, carrying a weapon really can turn a moment into a lifetime of consequences,' Supt Cheeseman said on the show as he read out his plea. 'It can cost someone their life. It can cost you your future. 'I implore you to really think about the decisions you make. A moment of anger, a deliberate action or a bad decision can result in a tragedy that affects life forever. Wayne Cheeseman took a sack of rocks into a press conference to show what protestors had used against cops at a Melbourne rally 'To all those people who are carrying weapons enough's enough. It has to be enough. 'We've got to the point where it's just becoming commonplace ... and I worry that it's becoming an accepted part of our community, and it's not.' The death of Mr Becker on Friday shocked and angered the nation after he was allegedly attacked when he tried to protect a student, 14, from four youths just before 6pm. Police allege Mr Becker 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 him. He was found by paramedics with critical injuries and could not be saved. Supt Cheeseman described the killing as a 'senseless waste of life' that has devastated both the victim's family and the families of the accused. 'As police, we see the best of life, the worst of life, and everything in between,' he said. 'It's just a senseless waste of life for the poor victim and his family and then, even though you cast these thoughts against the offenders, you know, their life is ruined and their family's lives - they must be in despair as well.' Aidan Becker went to the help of a child who was allegedly being attacked Aidan Becker has been hailed a hero The senior officer acknowledged the difficult position faced by members of the public who witness violence and wanted to intervene. 'From a Victoria Police perspective, the first thing we would say is call the police straight away,' he said. 'But as a common, decent person you naturally would help, but I understand the hesitance, because you don't know what the consequences are, because there's more people carrying knives, there's more people willing to use knives. 'So you are taking a risk by being involved, but what do you do? You can't unsee what you see, and I would like to think that I would help, and other decent people would help. 'But there is a risk involved. I understand the hesitance.' Supt Cheeseman has made a name for himself as a no-nonsense cop willing to speak his mind. After last year's protest, he brought rocks into a press conference to show what had been hurled at police. 'This is what was thrown at police today,' Supt Cheeseman said with one large rock in hand and the rest sprawled on the floor. 'Melbourne has had a gutful. These were being thrown at police. Bottles filled with shards of glass were being thrown at police. Rotten fruit was being thrown at police.' Wayne Cheesman (second from left) appeared on Nova 100's Jase & Lauren breakfast show on Wednesday The March for Australia demonstration turned ugly last year His tirade came just hours after demonstrators clashed with anti-immigration protesters, with riot police forced to use flashbangs, tear gas and rubber bullets to control the crowd. Police were pelted with large rocks, glass bottles and fruit. Two officers required hospital treatment: a female sergeant suffered a broken hand, and a male senior constable sustained a laceration to his leg. Supt Cheeseman exhibited a boxful of rocks that were thrown at police during his searing conference, singling out the left for the violence, claiming the anti-immigration protesters were the ones who were well behaved. 'Bins were on fire, flags were on fire, enough is enough. The disruption to Melbourne... we really need to find an answer,' he said then. Supt Cheeseman claimed protesters on the 'left' were responsible for the chaos during the rally. 'The people who came to pick a fight with police were the issue-motivated groups on the left,' Supt Cheeseman said. Australians across the country heaped praise on the officer for his open and candid comments, and calling out the counter demonstrators. A drunken mom allegedly cursed out her 12-year-old daughter before abandoning her at a bar. Amanda Thorpe, 33, was arrested on Saturday after police found her young daughter distraught and alone at CW Shoreline Bar, alongside Universal's CityWalk in Orlando. Thorpe's daughter was 'visibly upset, crying, and sitting alone on a bar stool by the bar,' per the affidavit obtained by FOX35. Police said the 33-year-old mother was drinking at the bar when another customers comment upset her, prompting her to storm off. Thorpe wanted to head to a different resort nightclub, the Red Coconut Club, but the preteen asked 'to go back to the hotel room because she was tired,' the report said. The mother then allegedly flipped off her daughter, shouting 'f*** you,' before storming out. 'An unidentified patron of the bar stated something that upset Amanda,' the affidavit stated, per the New York Post. 'Amanda then stated that she wanted to go to the Red Coconut Club, to which [REDACTED] responded that she wanted to go back to the hotel room because she was tired,' the affidavit stated. Amanda Thorpe, 33, was arrested on Saturday. Police say she cursed out her 12-year-old daughter before ditching her at a bar in Universal Thorpe was discovered later by cops at the Red Coconut Club, on the dancefloor alone, alcoholic drink in hand The 12-year-old's name was redacted from the document. The affidavit continued: 'Amanda got livid with [REDACTED], displayed the middle finger, said, '(Expletive) you" and left the CW Shoreline Bar without [REDACTED].' Cops later found the 33-year-old at the nearby nightclub, dancing alone with an alcoholic drink in hand. The inebriated mom initially told deputies that she thought the girl was with her, per the affidavit. Thorpe later claimed her young daughter was back in their hotel room. 'I noticed that Amanda had red, bloodshot eyes, uncontrollable swaying of the body, unbalance while walking, and the scent of fruity purities coming from her breath,' an officer wrote. The deputy noted that Thorpe appeared drunk, and the 12-year-old was later picked up by her grandfather, the report said. Universal Orlando CityWalk, the CW Shoreline bar is alongside here The 33-year-old was taken into custody, and pleaded not guilty to a third-degree child neglect charge, according to online court records. She was granted a $2,500 cash bond and, in her mug shot, is seen still wearing party beads around her neck. Daily Mail reached out to Thorpe's attorney for further comment. Police have returned to the remote Oak Valley Station to continue investigations into the disappearance of four-year-old Gus Lamont. Officers attached to Task Force Horizon will search several locations on the property today for evidence in the case. 'An update will be provided as the investigations continue,' South Australia police confirmed in a statement. The task force have already conducted several searches for Gus, including using cadaver dogs to search a water tank, a freshly cemented outhouse and properties near his grandparents' station which he vanished from on September 27 last year. Despite the largest police search operation in the state's history, no trace of him has been found. On February 5, police announced they believed Gus was dead, declared his disappearance as a major crime, and revealed they had identified a suspect within his family. They later confirmed they' found 'inconsistencies' in statement details and the timeline provided by some family members. Detectives previously stressed that Gus' parents had been completely ruled out as possible suspects in his disappearance and confirmed they were cooperating with the investigation. Gus Lamont was reported missing on September 27 in South Australia's north east Police returned to Oak Valley Station on Wednesday to scour for fresh evidence in the case Josie and Shannon Murray hired separate lawyers after police said a family member 'who resides at Oak Park Station' is considered a suspect Gus' grandparents, Shannon and Josie Murray, later retained separate lawyers which is not unusual in these circumstances. The couple said they were 'devastated' by the police announcement and insisted they were still cooperating with the investigation. No arrests have been made or charges laid over Gus' disappearance. In November, a search of six uncovered and unfenced mine shafts located between 5.5km and 12km from the homestead lasted three days. 'The inspection of the mine shafts ... did not locate any evidence to assist in the investigation into Gus' disappearance,' a police statement said. 'Several of the shafts were relatively shallow and could be visually inspected but the remainder were up to 20 metres deep and specialised equipment was required to complete the searches.' Before that, authorities drained a dam in late October, ruling out the possibility Gus had drowned. More to come. A man's racist rant while mimicking the actions of the gunmen behind the deadly Bondi terror attack can be put down to drunken stupidity, his lawyer says. Zayne Jason William McMillan, 22, was seen posing and moving his hands as though he was holding a long-barrelled firearm while on a footbridge at Bondi Beach on January 31. Naveed Akram and his father Sajid allegedly stood on the same bridge two months earlier and opened fire on a crowd celebrating Hanukkah, leaving 15 people dead and dozens injured in Australia's deadliest anti-Semitic attack. While he was imitating their alleged actions, court documents reveal McMillan shouted 'f*** the Jews' before intimidating a man walking with his young daughters. The girls burst into tears. McMillan on Tuesday said he accepted he had been acting stupidly and wanted to apologise for his behaviour. He is due to be sentenced in April after pleading guilty to three counts of offensive behaviour in a public place and two counts of intimidation over an hour-long drunken tirade. McMillan has shown remorse and should be released from custody to address his alcohol and drug issues before then, his lawyer Glen Cremer argued before Waverley Local Court. He accepted the agreed facts of the case were 'fairly extreme' and clearly offensive, insensitive and immature but said there was a possibility his client might not be jailed. Zayne McMillan was charged after he was seen mimicking the actions of the Bondi gunmen McMillan said he was drunk when he pretended to hold a firearm on the same Bondi footbridge used in the attack (pictured is alleged Bondi gunman Naveed Akram) A magistrate agreed imprisonment appeared likely for the 22-year-old The Koori man had been drunk and influenced by others at Bondi when he embarked on the spontaneous offending, Mr Cremer said. 'It's not planned anti-Semitic terror activity,' he told the court. 'It's drunken stupidity.' But the police prosecutor contended a jail term was inevitable, given McMillan's criminal history and the 'pretty horrendous' facts before the court. McMillan had been on parole for multiple domestic violence offences when he mimed holding the gun and made racist remarks, he noted. The magistrate agreed that a term of imprisonment appeared likely and declined to hear the bail application. McMillan will deliver an apology to the community when he is sentenced next month, the court was told. After shouting the anti-Semitic remarks from the pedestrian bridge, the facts state McMillan made eye contact with a passer-by who was walking with his young children. The 22-year-old swore and suggested he would attack the man in a rant that left the terrified children in tears. The bridge has become synonymous with the December 14 attack that left 15 people dead Minutes later, he biked up behind a Jewish man wearing religious headwear and his young son who were walking to a synagogue in Bondi and continued his anti-Semitic rant. It comes just weeks after the future of the Bondi footbridge was debated at a local council meeting. The bridge, which has become synonymous with the December 14 attack, could be demolished. In January, NSW Premier Chris Minns said the bridge should be demolished to prevent it from becoming a 'ghoulish reminder' of the atrocities that occurred. Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh said there had been 'many ideas' about how to mark the tragedy, however a decision would be made on the bridge's future following consultation with the NSW government, Jewish community, Waverley community and the families of victims and survivors. Lifeline 13 11 14 Beyondblue 1300 22 4636 Craig Freeman has pleaded not guilty to her murder Melinda Freeman was allegedly murdered in Whittlesea in 1991 The husband of a woman found dead in a ransacked home three decades ago will face trial accused of her murder. Craig Freeman, 63, was charged in 2025 with his wife Melinda Freeman's murder, 34 years ago. On Wednesday, Freeman appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court where he pleaded not guilty to one count of murder. The plea means Freeman's case will be fast-tracked across to the Supreme Court of Victoria where he will face a jury trial. Police allege Ms Freeman, aged just 27, was found dead in her Whittlesea home, in Melbourne's outer north, on October 4, 1991, after she was assaulted. Freeman claimed he found his wife's body lying on the top landing of their two-storey home after returning to the property with their son and finding the front door open. He was granted bail in December on a $500,000 surety, put up by his current wife, after the prosecution did not oppose his application. Justice Michael Croucher found Freeman had demonstrated exceptional circumstances to permit his release on bail, including that the prosecution's case was circumstantial and an issue at trial would be the alleged killer's identity. Melinda Freeman was a doting mum when she was allegedly bashed to death in her own home Craig Freeman walks out of the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Wednesday in hot pursuit by reporters Freeman had engaged top Melbourne lawyer Paul Galbally to represent him. Magistrate Stephen Ballek ordered Freeman face the Supreme Court for a directions hearing on March 26. Freeman was placed on trial bail with conditions including he not leave Victoria, report to police twice a week, and not contact any prosecution witnesses. At a previous hearing, the court heard the former male stripper had previously suffered a stroke and required medication while behind bars. Ms Freeman's husband had always been 'a person of interest' although police were unable to make a case against him until recently. A 1997 coroners inquest revealed Freeman had been having an affair with a close friend of his wife at the time of her death. Despite family suspicions, Coroner Jacinta Heffey delivered an open finding, stating there was insufficient evidence to support claims that he was responsible, dismissing them as 'impressions, conjecture, and speculation'. In February 2022, police announced a $1million reward in relation to the case, which could be up for grabs should police secure a conviction. Craig Freeman, 63, was charged in 2025 with his wife Melinda Freeman's murder, 34 years ago. The home where Melinda Freeman was allegedly bashed to death by her husband There had been signs of a struggle in the house and police believed the killer had tried to make it look like a robbery On the day she died, Ms Freeman and her husband had been at a family reunion to welcome her sister back from overseas. The couple arrived home from the function at about 4pm and Ms Freeman then prepared dinner for the family. Later her husband and child left the house, so Ms Freeman could be left alone to study for her proposed career in the beauty industry. About 11.30pm, her husband told police he returned home and unlocked the back door before noticing the premises appeared to have been ransacked. It was at this time he also noticed that the front door of the house was open. Freeman told police he then walked to the bottom of the stairs where he saw his wife's body lying on the top-floor landing. Despite a significant investigation over the past 30 years, detectives had been unable to establish Ms Freeman's final movements on the night and the events which led to her death. She had come from a close and loving family and was said to be a doting mother to her baby son. A tech issue has thrown NAPLAN into chaos on its first day, with 1.4million students unable to sit for the test. Testing was due to begin on Wednesday morning in more than 9,400 schools across the country, but had to be paused at numerous campuses. Some students struggled to log onto the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) online platform to complete their exams. Parents of children at a Melbourne girls' school were alerted to the technical issue, and assured their daughters would be supported. 'Students will not be disadvantaged by these delays,' the director of teaching and learning wrote in an email. 'To support students, any affected sessions at our school will be paused and rescheduled where needed.' An ACARA spokesman confirmed at lunchtime the problems had been resolved. 'We apologise for the disruption to students and schools, and thank them for their patience,' he said in a statement. A tech issue has thrown NAPLAN into chaos on its first day, with 1.4million students unable to sit for the test (stock image) 'NAPLAN testing has now resumed following a widespread issue earlier this morning, which affected students being able to log on to the online platform to complete their assessments. 'We continue to monitor the platform to ensure students are able to complete their assessments without further issues.' NAPLAN is a nationwide annual test on literacy and numeracy for Australians in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. Year 3 writing assessments were done on paper on Wednesday meaning they were unaffected by the technical issues. During the chaos, teachers jumped on social media to criticise the system, with one user writing: 'So frustrating. Waste of time.' Another said: 'Glad my Year 3s were writing by hand! Our Year 5s got online eventually, around 11.' A third teacher added schools should 'bring back paper tests', to which one user added that it would solve both technology issues and concerns about cheating. The National Assessment Program, which develops the tests, has a page on its website that addresses concerns, including what happens if a device stops working. 'No student is disadvantaged if their device stops working during the test' it said. 'In the event the device stops working, all responses will have been saved and the student can complete their test on another device or in a rescheduled test session.' NAPLAN testing was moved online in 2022 and, a year later, education ministers reformed the assessments - including holding them earlier in March rather than May. The goal was to carry out the exams earlier so schools had an opportunity to provide additional support for students struggling with literacy and numeracy. Dora the Cavoodle has been reunited with her grateful owner after she was allegedly stolen from outside a busy shopping centre. Frank Wong had tied the 10-month-old black puppy outside the Vogue Shopping Plaza in South Yarra, 5km southeast of Melbourne's CBD, about 3.25pm on Monday. But while he was inside grabbing some groceries, three unknown women untied Dora and allegedly took her. All three were described as Caucasian, aged in their 20s to 30s, with medium brown hair. The trio were last seen walking along Chapel Street towards Richmond. On Wednesday afternoon, Victoria Police announced the search for Dora was over, with two women arrested over the alleged abduction. Officers had located the adorable puppy at a property on Barnett Grove in Noble Park, south-east of Melbourne, just hours earlier. A 19-year-old Noble Park woman was arrested at the scene. She was taken into custody to be interviewed. A 27-year-old Richmond woman later self-presented to a police station. Officers located the adorable puppy (pictured) at a property on Barnett Grove in Noble Park, south-east of Melbourne, on Wednesday morning Frank Wong was reunited with his family's beloved puppy Dora on Wednesday Police released an image of these three females whom they hope can answer some questions about the alleged theft of Dora 'Dora was uninjured and has been returned to her family,' a police spokesperson said. Word of Dora's rescue has warmed the hearts of Victorians, who have been caught in the middle of a seemingly endless crime wave. 'Sadly gone are the days when you could tie your dog up outside a shop while you ducked in! So glad its a happy ending for the owners,' one person posted online. 'We can all breathe a sigh of relief. This is a fantastic outcome,' another wrote. Footage released by police showed the moment Mr Wong was reunited with Dora, who wagged her tail as she was handed back to her grateful owner. 'She must have been so frightened,' he said as he embraced the pooch. 'I'm so happy.' Mr Wong had earlier told reporters he only tied Dora up outside due to store policy. A woman police wished to speak with over the alleged theft of Dora Another woman police suspect knows something about the theft of Dora Police released footage of a woman suspected of being involved in Dora's alleged abduction 'Dora was not allowed inside the shopping centre, so I tied her up outside the mall for only about 15 minutes or so,' he told a press conference. 'It was utterly awful. We thought we lived in a safe and friendly neighbourhood so to see such an act is very awful.' Mr Wong said his young daughter had been desperately missing her puppy. 'She misses Dora very much, they are like sisters,' he said. '[Dora] means so much to her. We are happy to provide a reward, all we want is to have Dora back home with our family. 'If you want to take her to a vet or a shelter, just hand her over, that would be fine with us as well. Nothing matters more to us than being reunited with Dora.' Pam Bondi has moved into a secure military base due to an increase in threats over the Jeffrey Epstein case and the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The attorney general became the latest member of the Trump administration to move from a private residence in Washington to a military facility. Bondi left her apartment in Washington DC to an unknown military base in the region within the past month, The New York Times reported. A spokesperson for Bondi confirmed the arrangement but asked the media not to publish her location. A senior official said threats from drug cartels and criticism of her job performance led her to make the decision. Bondi joins a whole host of Trump administration officials who have moved into military housing during his second term. Stephen Miller, Pete Hegseth and Marco Rubio all currently live in government facilities, in addition to departing homeland security chief Kristi Noem. Government officials living in military accommodations was extremely rare until recently. Pam Bondi has become the latest member of the Trump administration to move from a private residence in Washington to a military base The attorney general made the decision after an increase in threats following her mishandling of the Jeffrey Epstein case Defense Secretary Robert Gates lived in Navy housing when he served under George W Bush and Barack Obama. His successor Jim Mattis and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo did the same under the first Trump administration. Noem said last year that she paid 'fair-market rent' for her home but it is not known what the others are being charged by the government. The Daily Mail has reached out to the attorney general's office and the White House for comment. Bondi last week was subpoenaed by the House Oversight Committee to testify over the Epstein files. Hardline conservative Republicans Tim Burchett, Lauren Boebert, Michael Cloud, Nancy Mace and Scott Perry voted with Democrats to compel Bondi to appear before the committee. The Republican-majority Oversight Committee is investigating the Epstein files and the Justice Department's handling of the case. Bondi is the latest big name to be snared by the committee, which last week compelled Bill and Hillary Clinton to testify over their relationship with the pedophile and his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell. Join the debate Do YOU think Pam Bondi should have moved into military housing over cartel threats? A senior official said the threats from drug cartels in relation to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and criticism of her job performance led her to make the decision Stephen Miller is another of a myriad of Trump administration officials who live in military facilities The attorney general has faced fury from across the political spectrum over her botched release of the Epstein files, including leaving victims names unredacted while keeping secret the names of alleged abusers. Bondi clashed with representatives at a tense House Judiciary Committee hearing last month, pointing to the Dow soaring over 50,000 points when pressed on the administration's performance. Bondi promised to release the files shortly after taking up leadership of the DOJ but the first tranche of documents she disclosed were already widely circulated. Pressure on Donald Trump to release the full files ratcheted up last year, eventually culminating in the Epstein Transparency Act, a bipartisan bill that forced the Justice Department to publish the remaining files. More than 3 million Epstein related documents were finally released at the end of January, including new mentions of Trump, as well as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Lutnick had agreed to testify after a new photo emerged showing him with Epstein on the pedophile's infamous private island, Oversight chair James Comer announced on Tuesday. Trump said last week that Lutnick was a 'very innocent guy.' Lutnick was subpoenaed after Rep. Mace threatened to force a subpoena vote against him. Bondi last week was subpoenaed by the House Oversight Committee to testify over the Jeffrey Epstein files Mace wrote on X ahead of the subpoena vote: 'AG Bondi claims the DOJ has released all of the Epstein files. The record is clear: they have not.' She called the Epstein case 'one of the greatest cover-ups in American history' and said that despite the DOJ's latest release 'we still don't have the full truth.' 'Videos are missing. Audio is missing. Logs are missing. There are millions more documents out there,' Mace said. Robert Garcia of California, the Democratic ranking member on the committee, said the public has 'significant questions' about the release of the Epstein files. 'The attorney general has gone to speak, obviously, to other committees,' he said. 'I think it's important that she is in front of our committee. She can directly answer questions about the release of the files, about transparency, about ensuring that victims and survivors are protected.' The NSW Government has been forced to apologise for allowing two vulnerable foster children to be placed in the care of an elderly woman living with a serial killer. Reginald Arthurell, who now goes by Regina after transitioning in 2020, is understood to have moved in with the children, aged 12 and 14, at a home in Western Sydney. Arthurell, 78, spent 24 years behind bars for bludgeoning their fiancee, Venet Mulhall, to death in 1996. They were on parole at the time, after killing their stepfather with a carving knife in the 1970s and a teenage sailor in the 1980s. News of where the triple-killer was living was first revealed on Monday by 2GB host Ben Fordham, with heavily-armed police swooping in a day later to move Arthurell on from the property. On Wednesday, NSW Families and Communities Minister Kate Washington conceded the children were put in danger by being allocated to the home where Arthurell resided. 'It's entirely unacceptable for a vulnerable child in the care of the state to be living with a triple murderer,' she told 2GB. 'It should never have happened and I'm deeply apologetic.' Washington said her department was first made aware of the unusual living situation in December but 'some very poor decisions' taken at the time didn't rectify their placement. Reginald Arthurell killed his fiancee Venet Mulhall in 1995 after serving time behind bars for the murder of his stepfather and a teenage boy in the 1970s and 80s After transitioning in 2020, Arthurell lived with two foster children in a home in Sydney's west NSW Families and Communities Minister Kate Washington said she was 'deeply apologetic' after it was revealed the children were living with Arthurell She confirmed Arthurell has now relocated from the property. It's understood Arthurell began sharing the home after being invited to stay by an elderly woman they met at Westmead Hospital. The woman's daughter alerted 2GB on Monday after growing increasingly concerned for the safety of her mother and the children. During a budget estimates hearing on Wednesday, NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley was grilled by coalition MP Damien Tudehope who pressed him on what he knew and when. An extended supervision order slapped on Arthurell which lapsed in December 2024 needed to be on Mr Daley's radar, Mr Tudehope said. 'You took no action to seek an extended supervision order and the circumstances of this person... now living with a woman who is significantly at risk and her foster children,' he said to Daley in a testy exchange. 'No one in the government took any any steps in relation to it. Do you think that's acceptable in protecting community safety?' Arthurell was released on parole in November 2020 after serving a 24-year sentence. There was a testy exchange between Attorney-General Michael Daley (right) and Coalition MP Damien Tudehope on Wednesday after Arhurell's extended supervision order lapsed Arthurell, who now goes by Regina, once took pictures cross-dressing in their victim's clothing It comes five years after Arthurell was forced to move out of a Yagoona retirement home after local community members learned of her real identity. Arthurell was arrested in January 2022 on sex crime allegations after they were accused of sexually touching a 55-year-old man. A spokesperson for NSW Attorney General, Michael Daley, told the Daily Mail on Monday that Arthurell remains without an extended supervision order. 'All decisions in relation to extended supervision orders are made after thorough consideration of risk assessments and all other relevant information, and with the primary object of the Act, which is the safety and protection of the community, in mind,' the spokesperson said. 'Any concerns regarding allegations of financial abuse, or other concerns relating to the safety of other individuals, should be reported to the NSW Police Force.' Disturbing reports about a primary school student 'celebrating' the deaths of the Bondi terror attack have surfaced amid NSW budget estimates. The shocking claim about the student from Granville South Public School, west Sydney, was tabled during a hearing on Wednesday. Reports differ with some claiming just one student was involved while others allege multiple students 'celebrated'. It was labelled one of 'at least 100 anti semitic incidents' in NSW public schools since early 2024. It's understood the incident was reported to the Department of Education's hotline. A total of 15 innocent lives were lost when Sajid Akram, allegedly alongside his son Naveed, opened fire on a Jewish festival celebrating the first night of Hanukkah at Bondi Beach on December 14. Deputy Premier and Education Minister Prue Car described the alleged celebration as 'disgusting'. When asked about the apparent incident by Independent Sydney MLC Tania Mihailuk, Secretary of the NSW Department of Education Murat Dizdar said he wasn't informed of it but would have been notified if it wasn't properly handled. A student at Granville South Public School (above) reportedly 'celebrated' the deaths from the Bondi massacre on December 14 Deputy Premier and Education Minister Prue Car (above) said the alleged celebration was 'disgusting' Some reports alleged multiple students from Granville South Public School (above) were involved 'You've got to appreciate that with close to 780,000 students, four million humans in public schools every day. I'm not going to get every single incident,' he said, Newswire reported. 'Look, I don't recall that specific incident, but it's probably best that I come back on notice with a response.' Daily Mail has contacted the Department of Education for comment. Get your news delivered straight to you by 7am - sign up to our new Morning Mail newsletter for FREE Meghan Markle will headline a 1,400 'girls' weekend' in Australia, where she will deliver a gala dinner speech and pose for photos with VIP guests. Up to 300 guests will be welcomed to the three-day luxury retreat in Sydney from April 17 to 19, during her trip to the country with the Duke of Sussex. Meghan reached out to the organiser, Her Best Life podcast host Gemma O'Neill, about the 'ultimate girls' weekend' after being put in touch by a mutual friend. 'I have admired [Meghan] and what she has endured... and how she has demonstrated how a woman can be pushed down and she can still rise,' Ms O'Neill said. Speaking to her listeners on Wednesday, Ms O'Neill revealed she 'almost said no' to interviewing Meghan 'because I felt like I don't deserve this', but changed her mind after 'a lot of reflection'. VIP ticket holders who pay 1,700 will get front-row seats and the chance to pose for a group table photo with the Duchess. Guests will also indulge in morning yoga classes, a 'sound healing' experience, a meditation and manifestation session at the five-star InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach hotel. An advert for the event reads: 'A girls' weekend like no other! An unforgettable weekend for women ready to reconnect, recharge and have some serious fun. 'Join us for an intimate luxury weekend by the ocean designed to bring women together for powerful conversations, relaxation, laughter and unforgettable experiences. An advert for the weekend promises a 'girls' weekend like no other' VIP experience tickets cost 1,700 per person, and will get you a group table photo with the Duchess 'The highlight of the weekend will be an in-person conversation and gala dinner with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. An intimate gala like no other. 'This is your chance to step away from everyday life and spend a weekend focusing on connection, growth, joy and celebration. 'Come by yourself, come with your best friend, or bring a whole group of your favourite women.' Gemma O'Neill, founder and presenter of Her Best Life, announced the news to her listeners on her podcast on Wednesday. She said: 'She's doing it because she really loves what our community is about, which is women trying to grow, try to be their best selves and trying to help other women. 'It's a very small event for 300 women... it's going to be a fireside chat with Meghan and I.' The podcaster revealed she almost turned down the opportunity to interview the Duchess but was encouraged to do it by her long-time friend Jackie 'O' Henderson. 'I feel really excited because I did go through a period, I will admit, that I actually almost said no, and I actually spoke to Jackie about it. 'I tried to beg her to come and do it, or I tried to beg her to come and, like, take over the event,' she continued. 'She was adamant, and she said: "No, Gemma. You need to do this for yourself. This is meant to be for you. '"I know you dont want to do it, and I know youre nervous because youre very private, and you hate doing things - you like having career things happening behind the scenes, but you hate being front and centre." 'Im going from trying to be private, to now it could not be any more front and centre. 'For a good period of time there, I didnt take them up on the offer, because I felt like I dont deserve this - Im just Gemma, Im just a mum. 'So I almost did turn it down, and it took me a lot of reflection, and at the end of the day I feel like this community deserves it.' Join the debate Is it right for celebrities like Meghan to charge thousands for exclusive self-help events? Meghan Markle, pictured here at a fundraising gala last month, will headline a 'girls' weekend like no other' in Australia The extravagant retreat is being hosted at the five-star luxury hotel InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach, on the waterfront in the citys eastern suburbs. Guests will be put up in twin rooms, with two breakfasts, a lunch, and two dinners included. Meghan is the star attraction for the first evening, while the second will bring a 'dinner and disco celebration' - with all alcohol included on both nights. As well as prime seats for the Duchess in action, VIP guests will take home an exclusive goodie bag, and enjoy an ocean-view bedroom. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are returning to Australia seven years after their first visit in 2018, when they were still senior members of the Royal Family. Kensington Palace had announced Meghan was pregnant hours before the 16-day tour in October of that year - the couple's first major trip overseas. It is understood that their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, will not be joining them on the trip next month. A spokesman for the couple said: 'Prince Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, will visit Australia to take part in a number of private, business and philanthropic engagements. 'Further details will be shared in due course.' The news of Meghan's headline appearance in Sydney comes days after the severing of the partnership between her lifestyle brand, As Ever, and Netflix. A Los Angeles insider claimed that the Duchess's jam and flower sprinkles business just 'didn't fit', and there was 'no appetite' for it among the streaming giant's customers. The Netflix source told the Daily Mail that there has been some consternation at their HQ in Sunset Boulevard over claims Meghan felt they had been 'too cautious' with her As Ever brand and had held her back. It came as another expert claimed that the end of the As Ever-Netflix partnership is the 'kiss of death' for her future brand deals with big business. 'Netflix were not happy', the Daily Mail's insider said yesterday. Brazen crooks stole 30,000 worth of Pokemon cards from a small business in a 'targeted' nighttime raid. The culprits broke into Trove in Winton, Bournemouth, last week and smashed their way into locked glass cabinets before fleeing with the valuable collectors items. Pokemon cards are being dubbed 'more valuable than gold' due to their increasing popularity among millennial collectors. Live selling platforms such as Whatnot have reported a 282 per cent surge in sales in 2025 compared to the year before. Trove's sister store in Bournemouth town centre was also targeted last week and 500 worth of collectables were stolen in a 'distraction theft'. Police were called but the business owners have become frustrated at a lack of response - prompting them to post social media appeals. The man responsible for the 500 theft has since come forward to return the cards after members of the public recognised him and provided his name and address. But the company are still trying to track down the perpetrators of the 30,000 break-in which 'devastated' the collective of small traders inside. The culprits broke into Trove in Winton, Bournemouth (pictured) on March 4 and ransacked locked glass cabinets containing the valuable Japanese movie franchise items Photos show the devastation in the aftermath of the break-in - with shattered glass scattered over the floor and planks of wood ripped from cabinets The Trove's Pokemon cards are pictured. 30,000 worth of valuable cards were stolen in a 'targeted' nighttime raid Photos show the devastation in the aftermath of the break-in - with shattered glass scattered over the floor and planks of wood ripped from cabinets. The business said it felt as though police had left them to 'solve it ourselves'. Sian Hillman, manager at Trove Winton, claimed to have not heard anything from police since a forensics officer came to the store the day after the break-in. She said: 'We have always seen a bit of an issue with shoplifting but it does seem to be increasing, especially with Pokemon cards. 'It may be that people see that it is valuable and sellable and it's making it a target. The total Winton theft was worth 30,000 and it was predominantly Pokemon cards. 'The distraction theft in Bournemouth was for 500 of stock. It is absolutely devastating for the traders who have spent years collecting these things and so much money and effort goes into it. 'I don't want to criticise the police but we have been really disappointed. A woman came to do fingerprints but we've not heard anything since. We feel like we have been left to solve it ourselves.' In footage of the 500 theft, a young man in a white hoodie appears in no hurry as he opens the cabinet and pulls out some of the prized examples. He stuffs them into the pockets of his dark baggy trousers then bizarrely stares at the display for several seconds before heading for the exit. It is believed that his accomplice was distracting the till staff during the incident. There have been a spate of high-profile burglaries targeting Pokemon cards in recent months. In footage of the 500 theft, a young man in a white hoodie appears in no hurry as he opens the cabinet and pulls out some of the prized examples He stuffs them into the pockets of his dark baggy trousers then bizarrely stares at the display for several seconds before heading for the exit It was reported that a man from Surrey had 300,000 of Pokemon cards taken from his home, while a Cambridgeshire business lost 100,000 of stock. Social media influencer Logan Paul sold a rare Pokemon card for a world record 12.4million ($16.5m) last month. Dorset Police said they are investigating the Winton break-in but no arrests have been made. A spokesman added: 'We received a report at 9.06am on Thursday March 5, 2026 of a break-in that had occurred the previous night at Trove in Wimborne Road, Bournemouth. 'It was reported damage had been caused and stock had been stolen. Enquiries into the incident are ongoing. No arrests have been made at this time.' Trove in Winton is offering a 1,000 reward to anyone with any information. They have asked people to contact the shop in the event they are offered large quantities of Pokemon, Magic: The Gathering or other trading cards. A young mother died from sepsis after neglectful NHS medics gave her the wrong antibiotics, a coroner ruled. Aleisha Rochester, 33, a bank cashier from Croydon, south London, died after a routine operation to remove an abscess from her left armpit in August 2023. After several attempts to get medical help, she was prescribed antibiotics to deal with her worsening condition but not the type that would treat the bacterial infection. Staff at St Epsom and St Helier University Hospital failed to follow their NHS trust's own guidelines on administering antibiotics, assistant coroner Sian Reeves said. The trust has apologised. Ms Rochester would have most likely lived had she been given the right antibiotics in time and neglect by medics had contributed to her death, Ms Reeves told an inquest in December last year. Now her eight-year-old son Xavier is left without a mother. Ms Rochester's own mother Lorna is now suing the NHS trust. In a heartbreaking statement, Lorna said: 'Aleisha was the most loving, caring and compassionate daughter you could wish for. Aleisha Rochester, 33, died from sepsis in August 2023 after she was given the wrong antibiotics to treat an infection from a routine operation after seeking medical help several times. Her death was due to 'neglect' the coroner said 'Amazing mummy' Ms Rochester leaves behind her eight year old son Xavier 'She was strong, independent and ambitious, with a vibrant personality and had ambitions of starting her own business. 'Aleshia was an amazing mummy with motherhood coming to her naturally. 'The bond between Aleisha and Xavier was evident in every moment they spent together. 'There's still not a day goes by when we don't think of Aleisha or miss her... 'There's a huge void in our family and the hardest thing to try and come to terms with is how she'll never get to see Xavier grow up and celebrate milestones in life. 'We'll make sure Xavier knows how much his mummy loved him and how proud she would be of him. 'However, I don't think our family will ever get over the pain of losing Aleisha especially in the way we did... 'All we can hope for now is that by speaking out, we can help improve care for others and raise awareness of how important it is to spot and treat sepsis correctly.' It was determined that Ms Rochester had suffered from hidradenitis suppurativa, which causes abscesses on the skin. Ms Rochester had gone for an operation to remove abscesses from her armpit and groin on August 5, 2023. 'At some point after the 10th of August, she became unwell and the wound to her left armpit became infected,' Ms Reeves said. 'She went to an out-of-hours GP appointment on the 13th of August where she was prescribed a course of penicillin-based antibiotic. 'On the same day, she went to the A&E at Croydon University Hospital, where doctors said she'd got a wound infection and discharged her home with a plan to continue the antibiotics. 'On the evening of the 14th of August, she went to the A&E department at St Helier hospital. She had a wound infection to her left armpit and was administered a dose of flucloxacillin (antibiotic) intravenously, and then was sent home with a plan to return the next day.' She did so and was seen by a junior doctor, a senior house officer and then a specialist. 'Antibiotics were prescribed but were not in line with St Helier Hospital's antimicrobial guidelines,' the coroner wrote, adding, 'Prior to selecting this combination of antibiotics, the surgical team did not consult with the hospital's microbiology team for advice.' The drugs used did not treat gram-positive organisms, the most likely pathogen causing the infection, she added. St Helier Hospital's trust has apologised for Ms Rochester's death, admitting they 'failed' her but are now training staff on how to better spot sepsis On August 16, Ms Rochester was finally given the correct drug 'in line with hospital guidelines' but she deteriorated and was rushed into intensive care on August 17. She was in septic shock with multiple organ failure and there were signs of infections in her lungs, doctors discovered. Ms Reeves said: 'Despite a maximal antibiotics regime, intubation, ventilation and intensive medical support, Ms Rochester continued to deteriorate. 'She suffered a cardiac arrest in the early hours of the morning on the 19th of August, from which she could not be resuscitated.' If she had been given the right antibiotics on August 15, on her return to St Helier's, she most likely would have survived, the coroner said. She 'should have been, but was not prescribed' the correct medication until it was too late, she added. 'Her death was contributed to by neglect,' she said. Dr Richard Jennings, group chief medical officer for St George's, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals, said: 'We know we failed Ms Rochester by not giving her the correct antibiotics, with tragic consequences - for this we are extremely sorry and offer our deepest apologies and condolences to her family. 'We sadly can't put this right for Ms Rochester, but we would like to assure her family that we have learned from Ms Rochester's death, and we have taken multiple steps to prevent this happening again. 'We are now giving further training to staff on the prompt recognition of sepsis, and have taken measures to make sure antibiotic prescribing is done correctly. 'We are also carrying out regular audits to make sure our guidelines are being followed.' Saudi Arabia's state oil company has warned of 'catastrophic consequences' for the world's oil markets if the Middle East war continues to choke exports, as three commercial ships were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway is a chokepoint in the global oil trade, where roughly 20 per cent of the world's oil would ordinarily pass through daily. But as a result of the roiling war, oil shipments have been largely blocked from using the shipping artery. And Iran said on Tuesday it would not allow 'one litre of oil' to be shipped from the Middle East if US and Israeli attacks continue. Amin Nasser, the CEO of Aramco, said: 'While we have faced disruptions in the past, this one by far is the biggest crisis the region's oil and gas industry has faced.' He admitted that while his firm, the world's single biggest exporter of oil, was meeting most of its customers' needs for now, this was only possible by tapping into storage facilities outside the Gulf. Nasser said that these stores cannot be used for 'an extended period of time, but for the time being, we are capitalising on it.' The CEO said: 'There would be catastrophic consequences for the world's oil markets, and the longer the disruption goes on the more drastic the consequences for the global economy.' The stark warning comes after three commercial ships were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz. An attack on the Thailand-flagged bulk carrier Mayuree Naree from an 'unknown projectile', which was reported at 4.35am GMT, happened 11 nautical miles north of Oman and resulted in a fire onboard the ship. Iran today confirmed it had attacked the Mayuree Naree, adding: 'The American aggressors and their partners have no right to pass.' Authorities are searching for three missing crew members from the Mayuree Naree after 20 were rescued by the Omani navy. It comes as: Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky warned Russia may send troops to Iran to fight against US and Israeli attacks Four people were injured after two Iranian drones struck near Dubai International Airport The UN Security Council is set to vote today on a resolution demanding Iran stops attacking its Arab neighbours Your browser does not support iframes. A Thai bulk carrier (pictured) travelling in the crucial Strait of Hormuz was attacked March 11, with 20 crew members rescued so far, the Thai navy said Earlier, the Japan-flagged container ship One Majesty had sustained minor damage from an unknown projectile 25 nautical miles northwest of Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates, two maritime security sources said. Its crew members are safe and the vessel is sailing towards a safe anchorage, the sources added. A third vessel, a bulk carrier, was also hit by an unknown projectile approximately 50 miles northwest of Dubai, maritime security firms said. The projectile had damaged the hull of the Marshall Islands-flagged Star Gwyneth, maritime risk management company Vanguard said, adding that the vessel's crew were safe. The attacks came shortly after American forces destroyed 16 Iranian minelaying vessels near the Strait of Hormuz. The White House had earlier warned Iran will be hit 'at a level never seen before' if they place mines on the Strait of Hormuz amid concerns the regime could target the key oil waterway. 'US forces eliminated multiple Iranian naval vessels, March 10, including 16 minelayers near the Strait of Hormuz,' the US Central Command announced on X, with an accompanying video showing some of the strikes. The Strait of Hormuz is the only sea passage between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. The minelayers near the Strait of Hormuz were among multiple Iranian vessels taken out by US forces on Tuesday. The military published the figure and unclassified footage of some of the vessels after Donald Trump warned Iran against laying mines in the critical waterway. As the world continues to reel from skyrocketing fuel prices, the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen today said that the EU is considering subsidising or cutting gas prices to 'deliver relief now.' Gas prices in Europe have doubled since war broke out, and von der Leyen today said in Strasbourg that subsidies or caps could be used to lower the impact when gas sets the price of electricity, which happens when intermittent renewables do not supply power to the grid. Overnight, the US and Israel traded air strikes with Iran across the Middle East on Wednesday as the besieged Tehran government warned its state security forces were ready with 'fingers on the trigger' to confront any anti-government protests. Following an exchange of some of the heaviest bombardments in the region yet on Tuesday, the combatants renewed their attacks on opposing targets in Israel, Lebanon and the Gulf as the war stretched into its 12th day. The conflict has effectively blocked vital shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz, halting the flow of one-fifth of the world's fossil energy supplies from the petroleum-rich Gulf. Join the debate How should the world respond if energy supplies are weaponized in global conflicts? Your browser does not support iframes. A map showing the latest attacks in the Strait of Hormuz reported to the UKMTO. The latest attack is marked with an 'X' Smoke rising from the Thai bulk carrier 'Mayuree Naree' near the Strait of Hormuz after an attack on March 11 The Thai ship was attacked today. No group or nation has yet claimed responsibility A large hole was torn in the ship's hull Dozens of crew members were rescued from the vessel In an effort to ease economic pressure, Japan's prime minister Sanae Takaichi announced today that her country would take the lead and begin releasing oil from its reserves as early as next week. She said Japan had decided not to wait for the International Energy Agency, a global body set up to help ensure stable oil prices, to make a formal decision on a coordinated release between its 32 members. The planned release will see Japan release 15 days worth of oil from the private sector, along with one month's worth from the state's stock pile. Between public and private stocks, Japan has roughly 254 days of oil saved up. Further complicating matter, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed Russia could become the first country to send troops to Iran to fight against the US and Israel amid reports Moscow is sharing intelligence with Iran. Vladimir Putin has denied providing information to Iran to help target American forces in the Middle East during a phone call with Donald Trump earlier this week. It comes after the Washington Post reported the Kremlin has passed Iran the locations of American military assets including warships and aircraft. Overnight, millions of Israelis were repeatedly driven into bomb shelters as the military warned Iran had launched missiles toward Israel, a sign that Tehran retains the capacity to strike Israel after nearly two weeks of hostilities. The sound of explosions from air defences intercepting the rockets punctuated the pre-dawn darkness as air raid sirens blared and Israelis scrambled to safe rooms and shelters. There was no immediate word of whether any of the missiles reached the ground. Iran's armed forces spokesman Abolfazl Shekarchi on Wednesday urged regional countries and fellow Muslims to indicate 'US-Zionist [Israeli] hiding places' to maximise the precision and impact of Iranian strikes, while minimising harm to civilians, who he said are 'used as human shields', according to Defapress, a news outlet affiliated with the military. Shekarchi also said that Iran will respond to recent U.S.-Israeli strikes in residential areas. The latest attacks from Iran roughly coincided with a new Israeli barrage on Beirut aimed at rooting out the Iran-backed group Hezbollah, which has fired into Israel from Lebanon in solidarity with the Tehran government. Explosions were also heard in Beirut and in southern Lebanon after Israel said it had started a new assault on targets related to the Iranian-linked militia Hezbollah. The attacks set a building ablaze in central Beirut in the densely populated Aicha Bakkar area, engulfing the top two floors of the multi-storey structure. There were no immediate reports of casualties from the strike, which came without warning. An earlier Israeli strike killed five people in the Nabatieh district in southern Lebanon, while two more were killed in strikes in the Tyre and Bint Jbeil districts, Lebanon's health ministry said. A Red Cross worker also died as a result of wounds sustained on Monday, when his team was hit by an Israeli strike while they were rescuing people from an earlier attack. Nearly 500 people have been killed so far in Lebanon since Hezbollah triggered the latest round of fighting with Israel when it fired rockets into the country's north after the American and Israeli attacks on Iran started. In response, France today said it will send 60 tonnes of aid to Lebanon. French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the aid would arrive by Thursday, and would include 'sanitation kits, hygiene kits, mattresses, lamps and a mobile medical post' amid strikes on Lebanon. Israel warned of three Iranian attacks early on Wednesday, with sirens heard in Tel Aviv and elsewhere but no immediate reports of casualties. In addition to Iranian attacks targeting Saudi Arabia's oil fields, the kingdom's defence ministry said it had destroyed six ballistic missiles launched toward Prince Sultan Air Base, a major US and Saudi-operated air facility in eastern Saudi Arabia. The ministry also said it intercepted and destroyed two drones over the eastern city of Hafar al-Batin. Emergency personnel work at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in Beirut's Aisha Bakkar neighbourhood on March 11, 2026 Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war last week when Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the killing of the Iranian supreme leader in US-Israeli strikes Two Iranian drones have struck near Dubai International Airport, wounding four people though flights continue, authorities said. The Dubai Media Office, which issues statements on behalf of the city-state's government, said the attack caused 'minor injuries to two Ghanaian nationals and one Bangladeshi national, and moderate injuries to one Indian national'. It said flights are continuing. Dubai International Airport, home to the long-haul carrier Emirates, is the world's busiest for international travel. Authorities have been trying build up its flight schedule though the airport has been targeted in the war. Iran's new supreme leader was lucky to survive the strike which killed his father and wounded him in both legs, according to a regime official. Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, who has not been seen in public or pictured since taking over from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday, was injured in the attack on his father's compound in Tehran on the first day of the war. Mojtaba, described as a 'wounded veteran' of the war by Iranian state TV, suffered injuries to his legs and is currently in hospital. 'He was also there and he was injured in that bombardment,' Alireza Salarian, Iran's ambassador to Cyprus, told the Guardian. 'I have heard that he was injured in his legs and hand and arm... I think he is in the hospital because he is injured.' Mojtaba's injuries are behind his mysterious absence from the public eye, the ambassador said, adding he also wants to avoid the glare of Israel and the US. He said: 'I dont think he is comfortable [in any condition] to give a speech.' Iranian officials have claimed he remains alert and is sheltering at a highly secure location with limited communication. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was 'lucky to survive' the strike which killed his father and wounded him in both legs, according to a regime official Authorities in Iran announced Mojtaba Khamenei, the late Ayatollah's second son, as Iran's new Supreme Leader on Sunday The 'vengeful' hardline cleric has been marked for assassination by Israel after it vowed to 'eliminate' whoever succeeded the slain Ayatollah, having killed him, Mojtaba's wife Zahra Haddad-Adel and one of his sons in strikes on Tehran on the first day of the war. Donald Trump also ramped up his threats against the supreme leader, claiming he won't be able to 'live in peace' and warning Iran to brace for 'death, fire and fury.' In one report on Mojtaba's ascension to supreme leader on Iranian state TV, it refers to him as being wounded in the war. The anchor describes him as 'janbaz', or wounded by the enemy, in the 'Ramadan war,' which is how media in Iran refer to the current conflict. It did not elaborate on how he was injured, although his wife and father were killed in Israeli strikes. Komiteh Emdad, a powerful government religious charity, also branded Mojtaba a 'janbaz jang', the Persian term for a veteran wounded in war. But the supreme leader is 'safe and sound' according to Yousef Pezeshkian, son of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. On Wednesday, Mr Pezeshkian, who is also a government adviser, said: 'I heard news that Mr Mojtaba Khamenei had been injured. I have asked some friends who had connections. They told me that, thank God, he is safe and sound'. Mojtaba is viewed as even more extreme than his tyrannical father and was confirmed as the regime's leader on Sunday after being selected by an 88-person assembly. He has close links to the brutal Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and has been described as 'vengeful' and likely to seek revenge on the US or even ordinary Iranians following the death of his father, wife and son. The Ayatollah was said to be opposed to his ascension to Supreme Leader because hereditary rule would resemble the US-backed Shah monarchy which was overthrown in the Iranian Revolution of 1979. But thousands of Iranians gathered in major squares and streets across the country on Monday to 'pledge allegiance'. Thousands took part in a rally at Tehran's Enghelab Square, chanting 'Death to America, death to Israel' and 'God is greatest'. Mr Trump said Mojtabas appointment is going to lead to just more of the same. Thousands took part in a rally at Tehran's Enghelab Square, chanting 'Death to America, death to Israel' and 'God is greatest'. While the Israeli Foreign Ministry posted a picture of Mojtaba and his father with blood on their hands, captioned 'the face may slightly change, the terror regime does not. Mojtaba Khamenei inherits his father's legacy of repression and bloodshed.' Parham Ghobadi, from BBC's Persian service, claimed he 'has taken the most dangerous job in the world because the Americans and Israelis have vowed to target the next leader, saying the next leader of Iran is going to be a legitimate target for assassination.' He added: 'There have been rumours around him that he is going to be the next leader since the protests in 2009, people were chanting in the streets "Mojtaba we hope you die. You'll never become the next leader". 'So the rumours were there for decades that he'd be the next leader... But overall he's a shadow. 'Now the person who has never been officially in charge has suddenly consumed power and become the next leader of Iran at such a critical time.' The Israeli military has already warned it will 'pursue every successor' of Ali Khamenei. In a post on X in Farsi, the IDF said: 'After neutralizing the tyrant Khamenei, the terrorist regime of Iran is attempting to rebuild itself and select a new 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.' The war entered its twelfth day on Wednesday with the worldwide economy reeling from the spike in oil prices as Iran attacks oil facilities in the Middle East and keeps the Strait of Hormuz shut. A cargo ship has been attacked in the strait, a vital passageway which transports around 20 per cent of the world's oil. The attack from an 'unknown projectile', which was reported at 4.35am GMT, took place 11 nautical miles north of Oman and resulted in a fire onboard the ship. Your browser does not support iframes. The UKMTO, a maritime monitor, said crew evacuated the vessel. It added: 'Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO while authorities continue to investigate.' No group or military has yet claimed responsibility. The maritime body also said it had received a report of a separate incident off the UAE coast, with the master of a container vessel reporting it sustained damage from a suspected but unknown projectile. The attack came shortly after American forces destroyed 16 Iranian minelaying vessels near the Strait of Hormuz. The White House had earlier warned Iran will be hit 'at a level never seen before' if they place mines on the Strait of Hormuz amid concerns the regime could target the key oil waterway. 'US forces eliminated multiple Iranian naval vessels, March 10, including 16 minelayers near the Strait of Hormuz,' the US Central Command announced on X, with an accompanying video showing some of the strikes. A woman who was punched and pushed to the ground by her partner as he held their nine-week-old baby has been forced to flee Australia after he was granted bail. Chloe Wright, 30, and her three children, including the young baby, fled to an undisclosed location overseas after her former partner, Guy Cramp, was granted bail by Magistrate Paul Lyons on February 19. Ms Wright's world was turned upside down when Cramp attacked her outside her home in Stratton, in Perth's east, in November. While holding their baby, Cramp unleashed horrific violence that left Ms Wright with a broken nose and fractured cheekbone. Cramp admitted all this in court and was still granted bail. The situation worsened further when his past was taken into consideration. Cramp has a 15-year history of violence, WA Today reported. This includes assaults against two other women, taxi drivers and allegedly two police officers. Chloe Wright (above) was violently attacked by her then-partner, Guy Cramp His record is also littered with bail breaches, ignored family violence restraining orders and a conviction for tampering with electronic monitoring equipment. Ms Wright believed Cramp's guilty plea, the CCTV footage of her assault and Cramp's history would be enough to keep him behind bars until his sentencing. Prosecutors were told Cramp was already on bail at the time he attacked Ms Wright, over alleged assaults on two police officers, to which he pleaded not guilty. Days before Ms Wright's assault, Cramp had been released from prison after assaulting a taxi driver over a $20 fare. Prosecutors argued 'no conditions' on Cramp's bail would ensure Ms Wright's safety. The court disagreed and bail was granted. 'How is that possible? When someone has pleaded guilty to something as serious as that?' Ms Wright told the publication. 'I don't understand.' Guy Cramp (above) was granted conditional bail after pleading guilty to the attack, despite having a history of ignoring court conditions Videos showed him shoving her to the ground and striking her repeatedly while heartbreaking photos showed the bruised aftermath of the attack. The mother only learned her attacker would be free when she received a text message from the WA government's Family Violence Service. Fearing what he might do if he saw her again, Ms Wright sought help from the Department of Communities' child protection unit to urgently relocate herself and her three children overseas. The department had her stay in emergency accommodation until she could be flown out of Australia. Ms Wright said she fears he holds anger towards her over the court case. She added that, despite getting help, she feels more vulnerable than before. 'He's been given everything and we're left to pick up the pieces.' Cramp was banned from Ms Wright's suburb as part of his bail conditions, along with her children's school, and is required to wear an ankle monitor and report to Joondalup Police Station twice a week. Ms Wright(above) was forced to flee with her children overseas for fear Cramp would attack her again Cramp is living at his parents' rural property in Bullsbrook. Magistrate Lyons decided to release Cramp on bail after the court deemed he was 'marginally' suitable for a domestic violence offenders program, which cannot be completed behind bars. The court also considered Cramp's guilty plea. 'I'm at the point in my life where I can't do this any more,' he told the court last month. 'I have a son now ... I want to be a better man so that he can look at me in the future and be proud of me.' Cramp is set to be sentenced for the assault on Ms Wright on April 16. A high-rise building in Dubai has caught fire after it was struck by an Iranian drone as authorities work to bring the blaze under control and evacuate the building. Authorities shared pictures of the aftermath of the attack on social media which unfolded in the early hours of Thursday local time. The strike occurred near Dubai Creek Harbour, which is located around five miles from the airport. On Wednesday, the airport also came under attack from Iranian drones, leaving four people injured. No casualties have been reported so far in the strike on the high-rise building and authorities have confirmed all residents are 'safe'. Meanwhile, in Iraq a foreign worker has been killed in an Iranian attack on an oil tanker. Farhan Al-Fartousi, from Iraq's General Company for Ports, told state television that searches are underway for the missing with 38 others rescued so far. The latest developments come as Donald Trump insisted 'we're not finished yet' when he was asked what it will take to bring the war in Iran to an end. The US President - who is experiencing plummeting approval levels for the war in Iran - promised 'more of the same' on Wednesday as the conflict approaches a third week, adding: 'And we'll see how that all comes out.' This live blog has now closed. Thank you for following our coverage today. For the latest news on the Iran war, visit the Daily Mail homepage. Follow the latest updates on the US-Israel war with Iran Keir Starmer is bracing for a fresh Mandelson storm today as the first papers on the Labour grandee's vetting are released. The government is publishing a tranche of papers on how the peer was appointed as US ambassador, despite his known friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The PM has already conceded he was aware when giving Mandelson the crucial 160,000 a year post that ties had been maintained after the financier was first jailed. The ex-Cabinet minister was later sacked - with a payoff believed to total around 75,000 - after the American administration issued a massive trove of Epstein's personal emails. However, Sir Keir - who only agreed to disclose the material after a massive revolt by Labour MPs - will not personally face a grilling on the documents today. Instead, his chief minister Darren Jones will make a statement in the House after the PM's weekly questions session. The initial release is expected to run to 200 pages, with thousands more to come later. The timing has sparked accusations from the Conservatives that the Prime Minister is attempting to 'dodge questions'. On another dramatic day in Westminster: The documents are set to include a three-page 'due dilligence' summary on Mandelson produced for the PM before he was made US ambassador. It is said to reference his ongoing friendship with Epstein and highlight 'reputational' risks; There are understood only to have been very limited redactions from the material, overseen by the Intelligence and Security Committee; A former No10 aide has condemned Lord Mandelson's lack of 'contrition' for sending Epstein sensitive government information. Lord Mandelson pictured with Jeffrey Epstein. They had a long-standing friendship Keir Starmer - who only agreed to disclose the material after a massive revolt by Labour MPs - will not personally face a grilling on the documents today Lord Mandelson outside his London home this morning ahead of the documents being released Ex-No10 aide condemns Mandelson for lack of 'contrition' A former No10 aide whose internal Credit Crunch memos were shared with Jeffrey Epstein has condemned Lord Mandelson's lack of 'contrition'. Nick Butler, who was a senior Downing Street official under Gordon Brown, said any 'consequences' for the peer were a 'matter for the Metropolitan Police and the law'. But he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I'm very sorry there's been no note of contrition from Peter Mandelson to the people whose trust he broke.' He added: 'For the system I think it will make people just wonder what people are doing with the information that they pass round.' Last month the Commons approved a motion ordering the release of a huge range of material, including messages between Lord Mandelson and ministers and senior officials that could prove embarrassing for the Government. Following the vote, Sir Keir said he wanted to ensure 'urgency and transparency' and apologised for believing the peer's 'lies' about the extent of his relationship with Epstein. But the scandal triggered a meltdown in Downing Street that almost saw the PM ousted, with his chief aide Morgan McSweeney resigning. In a key moment, Kemi Badenoch asked Sir Keir at PMQs on February 4 whether 'the official security vetting he received mentioned Mandelson's ongoing relationship with the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein'. The premier replied: 'Yes, it did. As a result, various questions were put to him.' Some files are being withheld for national security or foreign relations reasons, but the final say rests with Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee. Ministers had initially wanted to give the Cabinet Secretary control over which papers would be released, but caved to mutinous backbenchers. The Government has also agreed a framework with the Metropolitan Police on which documents can be released without prejudicing the ongoing police investigation into Lord Mandelson, according to the ISC. Lord Mandelson was arrested on February 23 on suspicion of misconduct in public office, having been accused of passing sensitive information to Epstein during his time as business secretary. The PM's chief minister Darren Jones will make a statement in the House after the PM's weekly questions session He was subsequently bailed, but later handed his passport back and freed under investigation. He has denied any criminal wrongdoing or acting for personal gain. Tory frontbencher Neil O'Brien voiced fury at the payoff for Mandelson. He said: '70,000 bung for betraying Britain. Unreal. 'And just wait for Starmer to whine, 'the process was followed, there was nothing I could do' Pitiful.' Shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart said: 'His fingers are all over this. 'He's already admitted that he knew about Mandelson's ongoing relationship with Epstein when he appointed him. 'Time and again his judgment has been found wanting.' Touring broadcast studios this morning, Mr Jones insisted the Commons timetable meant his statement had to come after PMQs. Mr Jones told Times Radio: 'We were always teed up to report in early March with the first tranche of documents, which is what we're doing this afternoon. 'Because I run the Cabinet Office, at the centre of government, it was always my responsibility to give those updates to the House of Commons and statements always come after Prime Minister's Questions.' He added: 'There will be a second tranche of documents that will come at a later stage.' Mr Jones told ITV's Good Morning Britain: 'On the specific issue of Peter Mandelson's appointment as ambassador to the United States, the Prime Minister has apologised for his appointment and said that it was a mistake. 'The documents that will be published today later to Parliament will provide full transparency about the appointments process, bar one document that has been held back by the Metropolitan Police because of an ongoing criminal investigation. 'The Prime Minister said that we only really knew of the depth and extent of Peter Mandelson's ongoing relationship with Jeffrey Epstein once documents had been published by first Bloomberg and then the United States Department of Justice. 'As soon as those documents became available, and it became obvious that Peter Mandelson had lied to the Prime Minister about the depth and extent of his relationship, he was sacked as ambassador the United States very promptly.' On Sky News, Mr Jones said: 'It's a big number of documents. Government takes its responsibility to be transparent to Parliament really seriously. 'And of course, on this issue of Peter Mandelson and his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, we all have a shared interest in bringing some accountability and transparency to these these issues. 'So the first tranche will be published this afternoon. A second tranche, they will come later, because there's been further work that we've had to do across Government in response to the humble address, which is not quite ready. 'And we have two other processes that take a bit of time, given the live criminal investigation with the Metropolitan Police and the role of the Intelligence and Security Committee in Parliament has some oversight of it.' Join the debate Should politicians who ignore serious warnings be trusted to lead? This is the moment two heroes armed with just a broom tackled a gang on machete robbers during a raid on a jewellery shop in north London. Four figures clad in black and motor helmets raided Bilezzik, a shop selling Turkish gold-plated jewellery in Green Lanes, north London, on the morning of February 24, but brave locals fought back as they tried to get away. Footage taken by an onlooker shows two motorbikes on the pavement outside the shop, while somebody screams repeatedly. Two of the group remain outside, one sitting on a bike and the other patrolling the pavement, waving a huge machete to ward off any intervention. But one passerby confronts the watchman with a wooden broom, charging towards him and using the handle to defend against wild swipes of the blade. The other two emerge from the shop clutching large shopping bags, apparently stuffed with stolen goods, and jump onto their bikes - while a man bellows 'thieves' at the top of his voice. Both bikes move off, but one of the rear passengers stumbles and struggles to mount the bike - giving members of the public another opportunity to strike. Some hurl bottles in an attempt to knock him off the escape vehicle. This is the moment a hero armed with just a broom tackled a gang on machete robbers during a raid on a jewellery shop in north London Another person wearing a bike helmet follows them in with a hammer, smashing the display cases A different man armed with the broom gives chase, while another sprints across the road brandishing a saw at the blundering thief. Further footage from inside the shop shows the moped driver ram the bike straight through the front door as a customer spoke to the shop attendant. The other men then rush in and begin smashing the glass cabinets to snatch the jewellery, terrifying the two women who run to the back for safety. One of the women was a customer and the other was an employee at the shop who is seen from interior CCTV taking the customer to a safe place. The employee said she doubted the robbers knew that the jewellery was mainly made of silver, with gold-plating on top. 'I think soon they will be caught,' the woman said. 'Our jewellery is gold-plated, but I guess [the robbers] didn't realise that.' A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: 'Police were called at 10.04am on Tuesday, February 24, following reports of an armed robbery at a shop on Green Lanes, Islington. 'During the incident, a number of members of the public attempted to prevent the suspects from making off. No injuries were reported. 'Officers arrived on scene at 10.08am and an investigation is ongoing, with officers working quickly to secure evidence and identify suspects. At this stage, no arrests have been made.' A model who suffered ten years of abuse at the hands of Jeffrey Epstein has claimed many more people linked to the paedophile financier are yet to be identified. Sharlene Rochard also called on Epstein's friends Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Peter Mandelson to 'show accountability' and reveal everything they know. In an emotional interview on ITV's Good Morning Britain, she urged them to 'stand up and be completely transparent with what had happened and show accountability'. Canadian Ms Rochard, who first revealed she was an Epstein victim last November, added that her 'whole reason for doing this is to protect the next generation'. She told host Susanna Reid there were 'a lot of people that were involved in this whole sex trafficking ring and there were so many things that were also happening'. Asked about who else was at gatherings she had to attend, Ms Rochard said: 'I feel that it's not always up to survivors to come forward and say things that we know. 'Everybody was there, these were big events, there were lots of people there sometimes. Sometimes there were smaller events as well. But the things I attended, there were definitely other people there.' Co-presenter Ed Balls suggested to Ms Rochard that 'there will be a lot of names' she could disclose to police in the UK, having already given them to US authorities. Former model Sharlene Rochard suffered ten years of abuse at the hands of Jeffrey Epstein Jeffrey Epstein's friends Peter Mandelson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, pictured in 2007 And she said: 'Yes, there's a lot of different things that I had been through because I was travelling as a model, so I was in a completely different circumstance than a lot of other girls. 'But the girls that were models, we travelled quite a bit, and depending on where you were, Jeffrey would say "maybe you might want to meet somebody".' When Reid asked her what she would say to Lord Mandelson and Andrew 'about the duty they owe to you', Ms Rochard replied: 'They need to stand up and be completely transparent with what had happened and show accountability. 'The people need to know, my whole reason for doing this is to protect the next generation. And Jeffrey Epstein, this was a lot of people that were involved in this whole sex trafficking ring. 'There were so many things that were also happening aside not just us as well, and it's really important to know how this worked so that we can protect the next generation.' Ms Rochard was one of three Epstein survivors appearing on Good Morning Britain today having flown to the UK to meet MPs. As she sat on the sofa today with fellow Epstein survivors Liz Stein and Danielle Bensky, Ms Rochard also told Reid that she wanted Andrew and Mandelson to go to the US to testify. She said: 'Yes, it would be nice if they would go and tell us what they know.' Mandelson was arrested on February 23 on suspicion of misconduct in public office, having been accused of passing sensitive information on to Epstein during his time as business secretary. Epstein survivors (from left) Sharlene Rochard, Liz Stein and Danielle Bensky on ITV today Sharlene Rochard (second right) holds a photograph of Virginia Giuffre as she stands next to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer at the US Capitol in Washington on February 10 He was subsequently bailed, but later released from his bail conditions, although he remains under investigation. Andrew was arrested on February 19, also on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He spent around 11 hours in custody 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 investigation. Andrew served as the UK's special representative for international trade and investment from 2001 until 2011, when he stepped down amid controversy over his friendship with Epstein. Andrew was accused of having sex with Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre three times, including when she was 17, and also during an orgy after being trafficked by the financier. Andrew has previously denied the allegations. A new batch of pictures released by the US Department of Justice last week showed a man resembling Andrew snuggled up with two young women. One of the blurry, low-quality snaps - taken at Epstein's New York home - displays the man sat with a woman on his lap. The other shows him appearing to crack a smile with a woman leaning over his shoulders. The two women's faces are redacted and it is yet to be confirmed whether the man is indeed Andrew. The photos were among 180,000 new images shared under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Last November, Ms Rochard fell silent for several seconds during an interview on US television after MS NOW host Jen Psaki asked her about Donald Trump. Ms Psaki - Joe Biden's former press secretary - pressed Ms Rochard about parties she attended at Trump's Florida estate Mar-a-Lago as a teenager, then asked her: 'I just have to ask if you think [Trump] was aware of that arrangement. A new US Department of Justice photo of a man resembling Andrew with a woman on his lap In one of the photos, the man appears to crack a smile with a woman leaning over his shoulder After several seconds, Ms Rochard stammered, 'Um... I-I don't know if he was aware.' She then added: 'Actually, I can't answer that. I'm sorry.' Ms Psaki then turned to how Ms Rochard had been a teenager at the time, saying: 'And I think this is important for people to understand that people were in their teens and were young, and you were a - you were a young model and you were - you were handled by a predator.' Mr Trump, who had a social and professional relationship with Epstein in the 1990s and 2000s, was seen with Epstein at Mar-a-Lago several times. The US President has denied any involvement in Epstein's crimes. Meanwhile documents relating to Mandelson's appointment as ambassador to the US are set to be released today. Cabinet minister Darren Jones said a 'big number' of the documents will be released, although it is only expected to be a fraction of the papers demanded by Parliament. Last month, MPs ordered the Government to release tens of thousands of documents relating to Lord Mandelson's appointment in 2024 after questions over how the peer was vetted and what was known about his links to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. The Prime Minister has insisted Lord Mandelson 'lied repeatedly' to No 10 about his relationship with Epstein, before and during his tenure as ambassador. Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Mr Jones will confirm the release of the first set of documents - those which have been cleared for publication by the police investigating Lord Mandelson - in a Commons statement. An influential Emirati tycoon's posts criticising US President Donald Trump over his handling of the war have been deleted. Khalaf Al Habtoor's tweets venting his frustration at Trump for drawing the Gulf into the conflict against Iran came as the UAE issued a stark warning to the public over posting anything online that might be harmful to 'public order' or 'national unity'. Mr Al Habtoor's posts were removed soon after being posted without an explanation, and were replaced by ones praising the 'beauty' of the UAE. Mr Al Habtoor is a prominent billionaire whose developments have influenced Dubai's skyline. His posts on social media criticising Trump and the US government were widely followed by Gulf media and discussed online - with many agreeing with his comments. In the posts, Mr Al Habtoor accused President Trump of placing Gulf states 'at the heart of a danger they did not choose', writing: 'Who gave you the authority to drag our region into a war with Iran? 'And on what basis did you make this dangerous decision? Did you calculate the collateral damage before pulling the trigger? 'And did you consider that the first to suffer from this escalation will be the countries of the region itself!' He continued, questioning President Trump's motive for the war: 'The peoples of this region have the right to ask as well - was this your decision alone? Or did it come as a result of pressures from Netanyahu and his government? Khalaf Al Habtoor is a billionaire Emirati tycoon, whose tweets criticising US President Donald Trump suddenly disappeared from social media Mr Al Habtoor criticised President Trump (pictured) for dragging Gulf states into the US-Israel conflict with Iran 'Thank God, we are strong and capable of defending ourselves, and we have armies and defences that protect our homelands, but the question remains - who gave you permission to turn our region into a battlefield?' Later posts also criticised Lindsey Graham, the US senator, responding to Mr Graham's comments that the Gulf states should join America's campaign, the Telegraph reported. Mr Al Habtoor wrote: 'We will not enter this war to serve the interests of others, nor will we sacrifice our sons in a conflict that could have been avoided through diplomacy and political solutions.' Soon after, the critical posts had been removed - with no explanation given. The tweets were instead replaced with on hailing the UAE's 'beauty', as the billionaire wrote: 'How beautiful our country is this morning, with clouds filling the sky and the rains of goodness pouring down upon the land of the Emirates. 'We ask God to perpetuate security and safety upon our country, to preserve our wise leadership, and to keep the Emirates forever a land of goodness and a source of pride for us all.' The rulers of the Emirates have made no comments about the wider politics of the conflict beyond condemning Iranian aggression. They have, however, issued influencers or anyone posting social media content about the conflict with Iran that they could face fines of up to 58,000 or prison, deeming it harmful to the reputation of the state. The UAE has been caught in direct fire of the conflict and hit with Iranian drones and missiles. Pictured: smoke rising from the 23 Marina tower on March 6, which stands 88-storeys tall and comprises more than 280 units Despite being caught in the fire and showered with Iranian missiles and drones, the Gulf states have appeared to take a strictly defensive stance towards the Islamic republic in a bid to stop the US-Israeli war from becoming their own. The wealthy US allies had long been seen as safe havens in a turbulent Middle East, but the current war has spread across the region and seen their critical infrastructure, military bases and energy facilities targeted. The Gulf capitals have released public statements saying they are not taking part in operations against Iran and that their territory is not being used as a base for attacks. Analysts believe the oil-rich countries are collectively betting on staying out of the conflict, figuring the cost of direct involvement would be far higher than that of restraint. But there is pressure on them from the US to join. Senator Lindsey Graham, a foreign policy hawk and ally of Trump, criticised Saudi Arabia this week. Mr Graham wrote on X: 'It is my understanding that the Kingdom refuses to use their capable military as a part of an effort to end... the Iranian regime.' 'Hopefully this changes soon. If not, consequences will follow.' MPs have called on the government to set up a new urgent probe into grooming gangs in London amid fears many girls have been raped and forced into sex work. Eight Conservative MPs and three London Assembly members have sent a letter demanding 'urgent action' over the abuse of vulnerable victims in the capital. They condemned what were described as the 'failings of the authorities in London to tackle the grooming gangs we have seen operating all over the country'. And there has been criticism of London's mayor Sir Sadiq Khan over his previous insistence there were 'no reports and no indication' of Rochdale- or Rotherham-style grooming gangs existing in the capital. Those signing the letter include Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp and former Conservative party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith. It comes after revelations of women and girls as young as 14 being raped and forced into sex work by ruthless London grooming gangs in a recent investigation. The new letter demands 'urgent action' from Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and London mayor Sir Sadiq. The MPs and London Assembly members behind it wrote: 'Survivors told the BBC they had been raped by several men as payment for unpaid drug debts by the gangs that controlled them, while others said they had been groomed for sex. There has been criticism of London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan over his past insistence there were 'no reports and no indication' of Rochdale- or Rotherham-style grooming gangs in the capital 'We are horrified by these reports. The report lays bare the failings of the authorities in London to tackle the grooming gangs we have seen operating all over the country.' Sir Sadiq told the London Assembly in June last year there was 'no indication of grooming gangs' operating in the capital. But appearing before MPs last November, Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said officers were working on 'tens' of active cases. He also confirmed the force was reviewing 9,000 cases of child sexual exploitation which were reported and closed between January 2010 and March 31 last year. Sir Mark said he expected 'two to three thousand' of the initial 9,000 cases to be identified as group-based offending, but said this would include intra-familial, institutional, peer-on-peer and online abuse as well as grooming gang activity. Baroness Casey, a former victims' commissioner, published a report last year which found local authorities and other official bodies had shied away from tackling 'ethnicity or cultural factors' in grooming gangs 'for fear of appearing racist'. Her findings prompted Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to order the creation of a national inquiry, with former England children's commissioner Baroness Anne Longfield announced as its chair last December. A probe last month included interviews with five survivors of gang-based violence, telling of victims being groomed into trading weapons, stealing phones and dealing drugs by groups of men. The MPs signing the new open letter include the Tories' Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp Some have been raped as supposed 'payment' for unpaid drug debts accumulated by the gangs controlling them, with others groomed and forced into sex work by the organised crime groups. Det Sgt John Knox, head of the Metropolitan Police's Child Exploitation Team, described girls as being the 'lowest rung' among the gangs, meaning 'they cannot say no to sex'. He told the BBC: 'Within that gang world, the girls are the lowest rung, and they have to do as they are told, and that includes sexually.' Sir Sadiq previously said the capital had not witnessed the type of sex grooming rings that have been exposed in dozens of towns and cities elsewhere in Britain, while the Met's Chief Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said he had 'not seen' them. Yet Sir Mark more recently suggested to the London Assembly last October that there were a 'very significant' number of multi-offender cases that would need probing again amid the grooming gangs review by the Home Office. Evidence of concerns about gangs of men carrying out such abuse in London was taken from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services reports from between 2016 and 2025. The inspectorate's reports suggested six potential victims had been identified, with girls as young as 13 being preyed upon by grooming gangs. Two victims were mentioned in a report in February this year by the inspectorate on the Met's 'handling of the sexual and criminal exploitation of children'. Baroness Anne Longfield, former children's commissioner for England, was appointed last December as chair of the national inquiry into grooming gangs Your browser does not support iframes. One was a 15-year-old girl missing for four days before being found with a man aged 21 and she then told officers of being raped by 'numerous men'. The other was a girl aged 13 said to be at high risk, with officers identifying two men that were suspected of sexually exploiting her. The previous February, HMICFRS's equivalent report found a social worker told of a 15-year-old girl being coerced to go to a hotel where she was given drugs and alcohol and forced to carry out sexual acts on men. Their previous study in February 2018 included details of a girl aged 17 telling the Met a number of men raped her after plying her with alcohol. And an earlier inspectorate report in November 2016 told of two more victims, one of whom was a 16-year-old who said she was raped numerous times over a three-year period by a group of men in London who threatened to harm her and her family. The other was aged 13, went missing overnight and was reported to police as being unsafe and in a room with three men. The risk level was raised to 'high' and she was found but arrested for a minor assault on her mother while the three men were not interviewed, HMICFRS said. Mr Khan had provided formal statements in response to each report, including calling the November 2016 one 'deeply troubling' and saying it was 'simply unacceptable' that too often 'children in our city have been let down'. In his comments in response to the inspectorate's findings in February last year, Mr Khan said it was 'reassuring' that the Met had made 'significant improvements'. A spokesman for the mayor has since said: 'The Mayor has repeatedly said on record that there are grooming gangs in London.' The Metropolitan Police receives about 2,000 reports annually regarding child criminal exploitation, child sexual exploitation or cases where both forms of harm were present. The force had previously stated it would be reviewing at least 1,200 child sexual exploitation cases again following a national review into the matter. A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: 'We have always recognised the scale and seriousness of groupbased child sexual exploitation offending in London, and remain committed to securing justice, regardless of the historic nature of some offending. 'Such cases are already investigated by specialist officers with expertise in sexual offences and safeguarding.' The force said that as part of the national reinvestigation it had a dedicated unit reviewing about 12,000 child sexual abuse and exploitation cases over 15 years. The spokesperson added: 'Work is ongoing to further strengthen our specialist response - training over 11,000 frontline officers and expanding safeguarding teams - leading to three times more cases solved last year and 134 additional suspects charged. 'We also recognise the openness and courage of victims in coming forwards, and sharing their personal experiences to continually bring this issue to the forefront.' A Home Office spokesperson said: 'Sexual and criminal abuse of children by gangs, wherever they occur, are among the most horrific crimes imaginable. 'The local areas to be examined by the Inquiry will be selected by the Chair in due course.' A spokesperson for the mayor of London said: 'Any individuals, groups or grooming gangs exploiting children for sex are utterly abhorrent and the Mayor wants justice for every single victim of these horrific crimes. 'Since taking office, the mayor has led efforts to strengthen the protection of children from exploitation and harm in all its forms in London, including grooming gangs. 'Sadiq has driven forward long-overdue reforms in the way the Met protects children and delivered vital investment in specialist services to support child victims of sexual abuse and exploitation including a new 2.4million package of support for victims and survivors to ensure they have the care, attention and specialist support services they deserve. 'The mayor is clear that the Met must follow the evidence wherever it leads and he will continue to ensure it does everything possible to tackle all child sexual exploitation in the capital, including grooming gangs, to build a safer London for everyone.' Initiatives include Mr Khan's 15.6million Violence and Exploitation Support Service offering specialist support to young Londoners who are vulnerable, caught up in or being exploited by criminal gangs in the capital. Officials have also pointed to 233million invested in supporting police to go after the worst perpetrators of violence against women and girls and schemes such as GPS tagging of male perpetrators. Europe's dash to scrap its nuclear power plants was a 'mistake', European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen admitted on Tuesday, as green-obsessed EU governments face rising energy bills. Speaking at the Nuclear Energy Summit in Paris, von der Leyen said that Europe produced around a third of electricity from nuclear power in 1990 but that has fallen to 15%, leaving it reliant on oil and gas imports whose prices have surged in recent days. Being 'completely dependent on expensive and volatile imports' of fossil fuels puts Europe at a disadvantage to other regions, von der Leyen said. Germany took a political decision under then-Chancellor Angela Merkel to phase out nuclear power plants owing to public opposition and safety concerns after the 2011 Fukushima disaster. Von der Leyen, who was ironically a minister in Merkel's government when that decision was made, added: 'This reduction in the share of nuclear was a choice. I believe that it was a strategic mistake for Europe to turn its back on a reliable, affordable source of low-emissions power.' Meanwhile, Germany's centre-left Environment Minister Carsten Schneider on Tuesday criticised von der Leyen's 'backward-looking strategy' on nuclear power. 'Cleaner, safer electricity from wind and sun is cheaper, has long been driving the energy transition, and produces no radioactive waste,' Schneider said in a statement. The EU has rapidly expanded renewable energy, but gas power plants still form an important part of its power mix, and fossil fuels still dominate energy consumption in sectors such as transport and heating. Emmanuel Macron, Ursula von der Leyen and Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) pose during the Nuclear Energy Summit A decommissioned nuclear power plant in Gundremmingen, southern Germany The continued heavy reliance on imported oil and gas exposed European countries to soaring energy prices in 2022, when Russia cut gas deliveries after the invasion of Ukraine. The EU budget does not directly fund nuclear energy projects because they are not unanimously supported by its 27 member governments. In a sign of the EU's increasing acceptance of the technology, von der Leyen said the executive Commission would offer a 200-million-euro guarantee for private investments in innovative nuclear technologies. She said the money would come from the EU's carbon market. Some EU countries which previously opposed nuclear, such as Denmark and the Netherlands, have recently softened their stance, as they hunt for ways to secure large amounts of stable, low-carbon electricity for heavy industry. Others, including Austria and Luxembourg, remain opposed. Meanwhile Spain, whose green-obsessed government is rushing to close its remaining plants, saw an increase in their use during the massive blackout across the country last spring. France, Europe's biggest nuclear energy producer, argues that stable, low-carbon power from nuclear plants is key to industrial competitiveness. French President Emmanuel Macron said the EU - where nuclear power producers still imported 15% of their uranium from Russia in 2024 - needed to move towards other suppliers. 'We need to cooperate internationally to make progress on this issue, to diversify our supply sources,' he told the Paris event, adding that France planned to increase its own enrichment capacity. France imported 39% of its enriched uranium from Russia in 2025, customs data showed. Macron also proposed standardising reactor designs across Europe. That could benefit France's state-owned nuclear giant EDF, which has struggled to win recent tenders for new projects. He added: 'Nuclear power is key to reconciling both independence and thus energy sovereignty with decarbonization, and thus carbon neutrality We can see it in our current geopolitical context: when we are too dependent on hydrocarbons, they can become a tool of pressure, or even of destabilization.' In 2024 South Korea's KHNP won a tender worth at least $18 billion to build a new nuclear power plant in the Czech Republic, a decision which losing bidder EDF sought to block in the courts. Wind turbines are seen outside the village of Neuhardenberg, north eastern Germany Jordan Bardella, Marie Le Pen's deputy, decried Germany's approach to nuclear energy, calling it a 'historic blunder.' 'For years, we have fought to ensure that nuclear energy holds a place of honor against the obscurantism of so-called environmentalists and the dogmatism of the European Commission, which has driven the reduction of nuclears share in Europe,' he said. 'Ursula von der Leyen now acknowledges that this was a strategic error. In reality, it was more than that: it was a historic blunder that has cost our continent precious time, harmed the competitiveness of its businesses, and eroded the purchasing power of its citizens.' The National Rally politician added that von der Leyen's admission should be accompanied by a rethinking of European energy market rules. This comes as Macron will convene a call with leaders of the Group of Seven on Wednesday to discuss the Iran crisis and rising energy prices G7 energy ministers stopped short of agreeing on a release of strategic oil reserves on Tuesday and instead asked the International Energy Agency to assess the situation before acting. Benchmark oil prices surged to almost four-year highs on Monday but prices plummeted 11% on Tuesday after US President Donald Trump predicted the war in the Middle East could end soon. Meanwhile, a rise in energy prices from the war and American 'erratic' trade policies are expected to dampen Germany's economic recovery only slightly this year, Germany economic research institute DIW said on Wednesday. The institute, one of Germany's main economic forecasters, expects the country's gross domestic product to increase by 1% this year and by 1.4% in 2027, after 0.2% growth in 2025. Bono and Angela Merkel have been handed gongs in the European Union's first honours list. A total of 20 people are being honoured by the EU for contributing to its values and pushing for integration. Alongside the U2 frontman and the former German chancellor, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and Lech Walesa, Poland's first prime minister after the fall of communism, were also honoured. Zelensky and Walesa, along with Merkel, were handed the highest rank of the new European Order of Merit. Bono, The Edge and other members of U2, were all given a lower grade. Roberta Metsola, the European Parliament president, said in Strasbourg on Tuesday: 'With the European Order of Merit, we honour those who did not simply believe in Europe, but who helped build it.' As a reward, they will be given a badge, a ribbon bar and a certificate signed by Metsola at a ceremony in May. The winners were chosen by a committee which included Michel Barnier, the former Brexit negotiator. U2 were chosen as they had made 'an exceptional contribution to Europe's cultural influence and moral leadership', according to the Telegraph. Bono (pictured) has been honoured by the European parliament Angela Merkel (pictured) was also handed a gong by the European parliament The Irish rock band played a 'defining role in shaping contemporary European culture' and had a 'distinctly European voice committed to peace, freedom, human dignity and solidarity.' U2's frontman has long spoken out in favour of the EU. On a 2018 visit to the European parliament, he said: 'I feel at home here today. People are nervous about the rise of nationalism. Im really excited about the rise of internationalism.' The European Order of Merit was established to mark the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, a precursor to the EU that proposed the establishment of a common European steel and coal community. The highest attainable rank is a 'Distinguished Member', with 'Honourable Members' coming in second and ordinary 'Members' as the lowest rank. While it is possible to be moved up in ranks, it is also possible for a person to be stripped of the honour if they do not live up to European values. It is the first time an institution from the bloc has setup an honours system. But they weren't without controversy. Boos could be heard in the European Parliament building after Merkel's name was announced. She was honoured for her work in leading Germany away from nuclear and towards renewable energy. But her 16 years as leader of her nation were controversial. While she was credited with saving the EU during the Eurozone crisis, her legacy was tarnished by her handling of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the 2015 migrant crisis. She spent years appeasing Vladimir Putin by fuelling Germany with cheap Russian gas, allowing him to build up his coffers. And her decision to take in over one million refugees from Syria during the migration crisis has since been disavowed by her Christian Democratic Union party. Even her decision to push Germany away from nuclear energy, which she was recognised by the committee for, is not without controversy. By moving away from nuclear energy and cheap Russian gas, Germany under her leadership saw a marked increase in the use of polluting coal. A woman whose death sparked a murder probe when her body was found in a river likely 'stumbled and fell unconscious' during a booze and drug-fuelled camping trip, an inquest heard. Natalie Dean, 34, was found in the River Severn with several injuries, including broken ribs and loose teeth, over the late-May Bank Holiday weekend in 2023. Police arrested and interrogated her army veteran boyfriend Lee Page, with whom she had been on a romantic break in Llanidloes, Powys, Wales. But a coroner concluded that Natalie, of Ford, Shropshire, had likely tumbled down the bank and been knocked unconscious after drinking heavily and taking drugs. Mr Page, who served in Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan, woke up at 6am to find that Natalie had disappeared from the tent. He went to check a friend's house, and raised the alarm after there was no sign of her. The hearing was told Natalie's injuries included a blunt force injury to her face, a fractured cheekbone, cuts to her mouth, loose teeth, four rib fractures and bruising and grazes on her elbows, forearms, knees and shins. Forensic pathologist Dr Edward Williams said: 'A number of substances were found in her blood - all added together they would potentially have a sedative effect.' Natalie Dean (pictured) was found dead in the River Severn outside Llanidloes in Powys, Wales, in 2023 Her body was found in the water with several injuries, including loose teeth and broken ribs. Pictured is the River Severn near Llanidloes Superintendent Jonathan Rees said Mr Page had been arrested on suspicion of murder, but Natalie's cause of death had always been 'a stumbling block'. He said: 'Sadly, there are always unknowns we may never have clarity over. My team followed every possible line of investigation.' Mr Page, who has also since died, was on bail for a year after Natalie's death until the probe was dropped in July 2024 - and he was told he would face no further action. Friend Wayne Butler, who had been with the couple over the weekend, described Natalie as 'a small, fiery little cracker'. Coroner Rachel Knight said: '[Natalie] had bronchopneumonia, which she likely knew nothing about, which left her unable to move. River water found in her body likely entered passively after her death.' Her medical cause of death was given as the combined effect of drugs, bronchopneumonia and entering the river. Delivering a narrative verdict at the inquest in Llandrindod Wells, Ms Knight said: 'Natalie and Mr Page both took a significant amount of drugs and alcohol and they were highly intoxicated. 'They bought more alcohol and made their way to a field where they set up a makeshift camp. 'Mr Page lit a fire and was going to cook, while Natalie needed to urinate and went quite far away. 'It is more than likely she was not making decisions that would make sense to a sober mind. 'She somehow came upon the river and injured her face as she stumbled on the river bed. She likely had underlying pneumonia, unbeknown to her, and this, plus the drugs in her system, left her unable to move. 'She remained lying there until she was found by search teams the next day.' Shots fired at U.S. consulate in Canada's Toronto, no injuries reported Xinhua) 09:04, March 11, 2026 Toronto police work at the scene of a shooting incident in Toronto, Canada, on March 10, 2026. Toronto police said Tuesday they are investigating a shooting incident targeting the U.S. consulate in the largest city in Canada. No injuries were reported, police said, adding that they did not have information on a suspect. (Photo by Li Haitao/Xinhua) OTTAWA, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Toronto police said Tuesday they are investigating a shooting incident targeting the U.S. consulate in the largest city in Canada. Police said in a news release that they responded to reports of gunfire directed at the consulate at 5:29 a.m. local time on Tuesday. Upon arrival at the scene in downtown Toronto, officers found evidence that a firearm had been discharged. No injuries were reported, police said, adding that they did not have information on a suspect. Canadian Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree called the shooting "absolutely unacceptable," adding that Canada will never tolerate intimidation or violence of any kind. Ontario Premier Doug Ford also condemned the shooting as an "absolutely unacceptable act of violence and intimidation," saying that the government and law enforcement would do "whatever it takes" to prosecute and punish those responsible. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow noted that the incident followed multiple shootings at Toronto-area synagogues earlier this month. She said there is a heavy police presence at both the U.S. and Israeli consulates. Toronto police work at the scene of a shooting incident in Toronto, Canada, on March 10, 2026. Toronto police said Tuesday they are investigating a shooting incident targeting the U.S. consulate in the largest city in Canada. No injuries were reported, police said, adding that they did not have information on a suspect. (Photo by Li Haitao/Xinhua) Toronto police work at the scene of a shooting incident in Toronto, Canada, on March 10, 2026. Toronto police said Tuesday they are investigating a shooting incident targeting the U.S. consulate in the largest city in Canada. No injuries were reported, police said, adding that they did not have information on a suspect. (Photo by Li Haitao/Xinhua) Toronto police work at the scene of a shooting incident in Toronto, Canada, on March 10, 2026. Toronto police said Tuesday they are investigating a shooting incident targeting the U.S. consulate in the largest city in Canada. No injuries were reported, police said, adding that they did not have information on a suspect. (Photo by Li Haitao/Xinhua) Toronto police work at the scene of a shooting incident in Toronto, Canada, on March 10, 2026. Toronto police said Tuesday they are investigating a shooting incident targeting the U.S. consulate in the largest city in Canada. No injuries were reported, police said, adding that they did not have information on a suspect. (Photo by Li Haitao/Xinhua) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) A pro-Iranian 'hate rally' in London will now take place as a static protest, organisers confirmed today after a march was banned by the Government. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood approved a Metropolitan Police request to prohibit the annual Al Quds Day march on Sunday 'to prevent serious public disorder'. The event - named after the Arabic word for Jerusalem - was created by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini after Iran's 1979 revolution to express opposition to Israel. It has long drawn heavy criticism, which grew today after its organisers expressed support for Iran's former leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was recently killed in an Israeli airstrike. Faisal Bodi, a spokesman for march organiser the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC), insisted the despot was a man of 'principle and integrity'. Asked if he would hold a picture of Khamenei, Mr Bodi told the BBC: 'Happily. I would rather hold a picture of the Ayatollah than Keir Starmer or Donald Trump. He was a man of principle, a man of integrity, a man who stood for justice.' He added: 'In the same way I would happily hold a picture of Nelson Mandela and Malcolm X and many other towering personalities.' Mr Bodi added that Khamenei 'stood on the side of Palestine'. He also quoted Tehran's figures for the number of protesters that had been killed during a recent wave of street protests - rather than independently verified figures that are in the tens of thousands. Today, the IHRC said it 'strongly condemned' the Met's decision to ban its march and would continue with a static protest. People take part in a pro-Palestine march organised by Al Quds in London on March 23, 2025 But Lord Walney, the government's former independent advisor on political violence and disruption, said Ms Mahmood had made 'the right decision'. 'This has always been a highly questionable march, and it is ludicrous of its organisers to suggest that it's been entirely good natured and there's been no extremist or legal material on display,' he added. 'It has been effectively a festival of hatred for Jewish people, and there has been clear support for criminal organisations, for prescribed terrorist organisations at the margin.' IHRC said in a statement this morning: 'IHRC strongly condemns the decision by the Metropolitan Police to ban the Al Quds Day March. However, a static Al Quds Day protest will still go ahead. 'We hope to see you on Sunday 15th March InshaAllah. All preparations must continue as planned. We are seeking legal advice and this decision will not go unchallenged.' The statement added: 'If it was not clear already, the police have brazenly abandoned their sworn principle of policing without fear or favour, and have capitulated to the pressure of the Zionist lobby. 'The Metropolitan Police unashamedly regurgitate Zionist talking points about IHRC without a shred of evidence. They cannot present evidence because there is none we are an independent NGO. 'In essence, this is a politically charged decision; not one taken for the security of the people of London.' The organisation had previously insisted the demonstration is always 'good natured and peaceful'. Announcing her decision yesterday to ban the march, Ms Mahmood said she was 'satisfied doing so is necessary to prevent serious public disorder, due to the scale of the protest and multiple counter-protests, in the context of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East'. The Home Secretary added: 'Should a stationary demonstration proceed, the police will be able to apply strict conditions. 'I expect to see the full force of the law applied to anyone spreading hatred and division instead of exercising their right to peaceful protest.' Former Met chief superintendent Dal Babu said this morning that the annual march would be 'extremely challenging' to police. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'The last time we had a ban was in 2012, so this is a very, very serious decision, but it would have been based on police intelligence.' Mr Babu added: 'There are people who want to demonstrate against what (the) Iran regime is doing. There are Jewish groups that want to demonstrate around the Al Quds. 'There are other groups who want to demonstrate... I understand from the police that this will be groups that want to do counter-demonstrations near the point where this demonstration is taking place. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood arrives for a Cabinet meeting in Downing Street yesterday 'So, it's going to be an extremely challenging situation for the police to manage.' He later added: 'An outright ban is extremely unusual and I think we need to trust the police, trust their judgment.' It is the first time a protest march has been banned since 2012. The Met said previous Al Quds Day marches resulted in arrests for supporting terrorist organisations and antisemitic hate crimes. In a statement, the force said: 'The decision to ban it this year is purely based on a risk assessment of this specific protest and counter-protests - we do not police taste or decency or prefer one political view over another, but we will do everything we can to reduce violence and disorder.' The Met said the 'uniquely complex' international situation and 'severe' risks meant merely placing conditions on the protest 'will not be sufficient to prevent it from resulting in serious public disorder'. It added that it would place 'strict conditions' on any static protest, which the law does not allow the police or Government to ban, but 'given the tensions, we have to accept that confrontations could still take place'. The decision follows calls from Labour and Conservative MPs to ban the march. Earlier yesterday, courts minister Sarah Sackman said people expressing support for 'the malign regime in Iran' should not be 'on the streets of London calling for hate and hostility against this country'. Shadow Home Office minister Alicia Kearns also called for the march to be cancelled, saying there was 'no place in our country for the celebration of terrorists'. A spokesman for the IHRC, Faisal Bodi, told the BBC's The World Tonight that it was 'a sad day for freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and the right of people to legitimately protest about issues they feel strongly about'. He added: 'This demonstration has taken place for the last 40 years peacefully.' The IHRC has previously expressed support for Iran's former supreme leader, the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Following his death in a US-Israeli airstrike last month, the group said Mr Khamenei 'chose to stand on the right side of history' and described him as 'a rare role model' who would be 'mourned by freedom loving people all over the world'. The Campaign Against Antisemitism welcomed the decision to ban the march, saying it was 'a positive development' and adding: 'Allowing this hate-fest to go ahead would have sent the message that Islamists rule the roost in Britain.' African states could use Keir Starmer's Chagos Islands 'surrender' as the blueprint for claiming slavery reparations potentially worth trillions of pounds from Britain and other former colonial states Former colonies plan to use the PM's deference to international law against the UK and countries including France and Belgium when they come to push their case for compensation. The African Union, which represents all 55 nations on the continent, has called for 'meaningful reparations' from European powers for ongoing 'systemic injustice' across the region. It has pledged to team up with Caribbean countries to seek compensation - with some insisting they are owed trillions of dollars. Now they are seeking to replicate a legal ruling from the International Criminal Court in The Hague used by Sir Keir to justify paying billions to Mauritius to take over an archipelago including the air base at Diego Garcia. A source told the Telegraph: 'The UK has been very vocal about its commitment to international law in this instance. 'That is something the continent really appreciates. We believe it might also be standardised. 'If you accept [the Chagos opinion], then what international law says about recognising the transatlantic slave trade as a crime against humanity must also be recognised.' Former empire colonies plan to use the PM's deference to international law against the UK when they come to push their case. Now they are seeking to replicate a legal ruling from the International Criminal Court in The Hague used by Sir Keir to justify paying billions to Mauritius to take over an archipelago including the air base at Diego Garcia Ghana has been tasked with leading on the issue, with its foreign minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa telling an AU summit: 'By standing together at the United Nations, we signal to the world that Africa will no longer allow the scale of its historical suffering to be minimised' The AU agreed at a summit in February that a UN resolution due to be tabled on March 25 will seek formal recognition of the transatlantic slave trade as a 'grave crime against humanity'. Ghana has been tasked with leading on the issue, with its foreign minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa saying the resolution will 'demand reparations including the return of looted objects'. He told the summit: 'By standing together at the United Nations, we signal to the world that Africa will no longer allow the scale of its historical suffering to be minimised. 'We seek not only recognition, but a global legal framework that paves the way for healing, accountability, restitution and restorative justice.' The move raises the prospect that Britain - which controlled a quarter of Africa at the height of empire - could find itself facing fresh claims over the slave trade and colonialism. Britain abolished the slave trade in the early 18th Century and then played a crucial role in smashing the practice worldwide. Reparations are now being framed more broadly, not only in terms of slavery, but also the return of cultural artefacts, reforms to global economic systems, and compensation for climate change impacts. Leaders argue that the industrialised nations of the 'Global North' bear historical responsibility for environmental degradation. Other colonial powers that could face pressure include France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium and Germany - all of which carved up Africa by the late 19th century. Sir Keir has been facing an upsurge in anger over his decision to hand the Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius, which is seen as an ally of China. Last week Donald Trump issued a new blast at the deal as he fumed at Sir Keir's initial bar on use of Diego Garcia for the Iran strikes - which Mauritius opposes. Mauritius PM Navin Ramgoolam has raised the prospect of legal action if Britain does not go ahead with the deal. But it is understood the UK government believes there are no grounds in international law for a compensation claim if the treaty is not ratified. Four people have been injured after two Iranian drones hit near Dubai International Airport, as a major airline cancelled all flights to the region for several weeks. The war in the Middle East has affected global energy routes and travel, as Iran, Israel and the US continue to hit targets across the Gulf region. Dutch airline KLM said it was cancelling all flights to Dubai until March. 'Due to the ongoing geopolitical unrest in the Middle East, KLM has decided to cancel all flights to Dubai through March 28th,' KLM, the Dutch arm of Air France-KLM, said. The airline added that it remained available to repatriate stranded travellers, a process handled through the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It comes as Iran attacked several commercial ships on Wednesday across the Persian Gulf and targeted Dubai International Airport, escalating a campaign of squeezing the oil-rich region as global energy concerns mounted and American and Israeli airstrikes pounded the Islamic Republic. Earlier, a projectile hit a Thai cargo ship off the coast of Oman in the Strait of Hormuz, setting it ablaze. Authorities are searching for three missing crew members from the Mayuree Naree after 20 were rescued by the Omani navy, according to Thailand's Marine Department. Four people have been injured after two Iranian drones hit near Dubai International Airport (File image) Footage from a previous attack on Dubai airport on March 7 Iran has effectively stopped cargo traffic in the narrow strait through which about a fifth of all oil is shipped. It has also targeted oil fields and refineries in Gulf Arab nations, aiming at generating enough global economic pain to pressure the United States and Israel to end their strikes. Iran has now said it will start targeting banks and financial institutions in the Middle East. That would put at risk particularly Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, which is home to many international financial institutions, as well as Saudi Arabia and the island kingdom of Bahrain. Kuwait said its defences downed eight Iranian drones and Saudi Arabia said it intercepted five heading toward the kingdom's Shaybah oil field. The UN Security Council will to vote later today on a resolution sponsored by the Gulf Cooperation Council demanding Iran stop attacking its Arab neighbours. Witnesses reported continuous airstrikes hitting Tehran after Israel said it had renewed its attacks. Explosions were also heard in Beirut and in southern Lebanon after Israel said it was hitting targets connected to Iran-backed Hezbollah militants. The attacks set a building ablaze in central Beirut's densely populated Aicha Bakkar area, engulfing the top two floors. There were no immediate reports of casualties. Other Israeli strikes on southern and eastern Lebanon killed 14 people, and a Red Cross worker also died on Wednesday of wounds sustained on Monday, when his team was hit by an Israeli strike while they were rescuing people from an earlier attack. More than 500 people have been killed so far in Lebanon since Hezbollah triggered the latest round of fighting with Israel after the United States and Israel began the wider war with their surprise bombardment of Iran. Israel warned of three Iranian attacks early on Wednesday, with sirens heard in Tel Aviv and elsewhere but no immediate reports of casualties. Smoke rising from the Thai bulk carrier 'Mayuree Naree' near the Strait of Hormuz after an attack on March 11 Saudi Arabia said it had destroyed six ballistic missiles launched toward Prince Sultan Air Base, a major US-Saudi-operated facility, and intercepted two drones over the eastern city of Hafar al-Batin. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre, run by the British military, reported an attack on a container ship off the United Arab Emirates, saying the 'extent of the damage is currently unknown but under investigation by the crew.' Another ship was hit by a projectile in the Persian Gulf, it said. The crew was reported safe. The ship attacks follow intense American airstrikes targeting Iranian navy assets and the port city of Bandar Abbas on Tuesday. Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and the UAE were working to shoot down Iranian missiles and drones. The Iranian threat against financial institutions did not identify any specifically. It came after a Tehran location of Bank Sepah, the state-owned financial institution sanctioned by the US over funding its armed forces, came under attack earlier today, killing staffers there. At the United Nations, the Security Council was to vote Wednesday afternoon on the Gulf Cooperation Council resolution, according to three diplomats speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of an official announcement. The draft resolution, obtained by The Associated Press, condemns Iran's attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Jordan. The measure calls for an immediate end to all strikes and threats against neighbouring states, including through proxies. It would be the first Security Council resolution considered since the start of the war on February 28. Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war last week when Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the killing of the Iranian supreme leader in US-Israeli strikes Oil prices remained well below Monday's peaks but the price of Brent crude, the international standard, was still up some 20% Wednesday from when the war began, and consumers around the world are already feeling the pain at the pump. The spike in oil prices has been rocking financial markets worldwide because of worries that a prolonged war could hinder exports from a critical region. The US military said Tuesday it had destroyed 16 Iranian minelayers near the Strait of Hormuz, though US President Donald Trump said in social media posts that there were no reports yet of Iran mining the passage. If the strait is mined, it could take at least weeks to clean it up once the conflict is over. Some tankers, believed linked to Iran, are continuing to get through the strait making so-called 'dark' transits - meaning they aren't turning on their Automatic Identification System trackers, which show where vessels are. Vessels carrying sanctioned Iranian crude often turn off their AIS trackers. The security firm Neptune P2P Group said Wednesday there had been seven ships pass through the strait since March 8. Of them, five were linked to Iranian-associated shipping, it said. In ordinary times the strait typically sees 100 ships or more transit daily from the Persian Gulf into the Gulf of Oman. Meanwhile, the commodity-tracking firm Kpler said Iran has restarted crude exports through its Jask oil terminal on the Gulf of Oman. A tanker loaded roughly 2 million barrels at Jask on March 7, it said. Concerns are growing over the health of Iran's new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei after comments about him 'being injured.' Emergency personnel work at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in Beirut's Aisha Bakkar neighbourhood on March 11, 2026 The 56-year-old Khamenei - the son of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei - has not been seen since becoming supreme leader on Monday. His father and wife both were killed in an Israeli airstrike on the first day of the conflict. In addition to the more than 500 killed in Lebanon, Iran has said that more than 1,300 people have been killed there and Israel has reported 12 people dead. The US has lost seven soldiers while another eight have suffered severe injuries. Many foreign nationals have been getting out of the Persian Gulf region since the war began, including over 45,000 UK citizens, the British Foreign Office said. Some 40,000 people returned to the United States, according to the State Department. Channel migrants have arrived in Britain seven days in a row for the first time this year. There were 309 arrivals who crossed from northern France aboard four dinghies on Monday, pushing the total number of arrivals since Labour came to power past the 68,000 mark. It means 1,200 migrants have reached British soil over seven days. Until then the longest stretch of consecutive arrivals this year had been three days in mid-January. The total number of arrivals under Labour now stands at 68,123. Of those, 3,409 have come since the start of this year. On Monday, two of the inflatables attempted to cross between Boulogne in France and Lydd on the Kent coast before they were intercepted by Border Force vessels Defender and Ranger. They were all brought into the Port of Ramsgate in Kent. Migrants boarded a dangerously-overloaded dinghy off Gravelines beach in northern France and headed for Britain last week Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: 'Shabana Mahmood has no control of our borders - 1,200 illegal immigrants in just seven days is a week of shame for Labour. 'There have been 68,000 crossings since the election - a 45 per cent increase. 'The gangs have not been smashed, the French are not intercepting boats and there is no deterrent. 'Shabana Mahmood is too weak to do what is needed - leave the European Convention on Human Rights and deport all illegal immigrants within a week of arrival. Then the crossings would quickly stop.' Migrants were seen sprintging across the sand at Gravelines beach to board smugglers' dinghies on Tuesday last week It comes after the Home Secretary, Ms Mahmood, announced that failed asylum seeker families will be offered up to 40,000 to leave Britain voluntarily. The new pilot scheme, unveiled last week, was branded 'absurd' and an insult to the British taxpayer by critics. The Home Office has already invited 150 families with no right to be in this country to apply for the lump sums - 10,000 a head for up to four people - and it could be expanded to thousands more families if seemed successful by ministers. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. It is significantly more generous than existing voluntary returns schemes, currently capped at 3,000. Ms Mahmood sanctioned the huge pay-outs in a bid to save even larger sums currently being spent on keeping the families in migrant hotels and other types of accommodation. It currently costs an average of 158,000 a year to support a family of failed asylum seekers in migrant hotels. Labour scrapped the previous government's Rwanda scheme, which would have seen adult asylum seekers compulsorily sent to east Africa, as one of its first acts in office. Officials said last week that the 10,000 per head sum could be increased - or lowered - depending on take-up of the pilot scheme. Eligible families have had claims rejected by the Home Office and have then exhausted the appeals process in the courts. Schemes offering migrants cash to go home were first introduced in 1999 and continued under the Conservative government. A Sudanese migrant with 'deep forehead wrinkles' and a 'protruding Adam's apple' is actually a child, a British asylum court has ruled. The migrant was assessed as being 25 when he arrived via a small boat because he has a 'weathered' face, a beard, and a 'well-developed jaw line and cheek bones'. Despite the migrant claiming he was and is still under 18, officials in Britain said he must be an adult because he has a 'protruding Adam's apple', old acne scars, and sunken eyes. Known only as 'ASB', the asylum seeker maintained that he was 17 when questioned and provided evidence including his TikTok and Facebook accounts. Now, a judge from the Immigration and Asylum Chamber has sided with the Sudanese migrant and ruled he is in fact 17, and was 16 when he entered Britain. He will now be treated as a child in any future hearings about his asylum status. ASB arrived in the UK on a small boat and claimed asylum in February 2025. Despite the migrant claiming to be born in 2008, the Home Office judged that his probable age was 23 and his date of birth was July 1, 2001. He asserted however to be 16 years old upon arrival, with his date of birth as July 1, 2008. He said he has two uncles living in the UK and another cousin with whom he had been speaking when he was in Calais. He underwent an Initial Age Assessment with Liverpool City Council, which said that he was a 'clear and obvious adult' and aged between 23-25. The migrant was assessed as being 25 when he arrived via a small boat because he has a 'weathered' face, a beard, and a 'well-developed jaw line and cheek bones' The age assessment said: 'He has a well-developed jaw line and cheek bones, he has a prominent and protruding Adam's apple and lines across the neck, he has facial hair on the upper lip and chin. 'He has old acne scarring on the face, his eyes are sunken into his head and he has dark circles under the eyes. 'He has deep forehead wrinkles and smile lines. There are signs of weathering on the face showing a change in skin tone. 'He has broad shoulders going past the waist and large hands. '[ASB] has a confident demeanour and makes eye contact with both officers when being interviewed. He answered questioning in an assured manner.' It concluded that: 'I am fully satisfied that he is significantly over the age of 18.' A second assessment added: '[ASB] appears to be 5ft 7 inches tall and is of a slim build. He has dark black afro hair that is long at the top and short on the sides. '[ASB] was observed to have facial hair around his chin area and upper lip. [ASB] was asked if he shaved, he said he did not, however a shaving shadow could be observed. '[ASB] had a visible Adam's apple, deep forehead lines and prominent lines on his face and neck which can be attributed to adult maturity. 'He did not present as a teenager would in a stressful situation, for example struggling to maintain eye contact or fidgeting.' The case was taken for judicial review in April 2025 and ASB was given the right to challenge the decision to treat him as an adult in June 2025. ASB showed his Facebook account, which said he was born in July 2008. His cousin gave evidence saying that they used to spend time together in a village and visit their grandmother in the holidays. Upper Tribunal Judge Paul Lodato has now decided that the evidence was 'compelling' and ruled he was born in July 2008. The judge said: 'The concerns I have about the overly subjective approach adopted in the age assessment process is exemplified by the following remark "he did not present as a teenager would in a stressful situation, for example struggling to maintain eye contact or fidgeting". 'Firstly, there is simply nothing to underpin the notion that this is how a teenager might be reasonably expected to behave in this situation. 'Even if some teenagers might be deferential under questioning by figures of authority, it cannot be a safe conclusion that all, or most, teenagers will behave in that way. 'This would be an overly simplistic stereotype of teenage behaviour shorn of any statistical or empirical baseline. 'When I step back and assess the overall evidential picture, I am satisfied on the balance of probabilities that [ASB] is the age he claims to be and is a child.' The Home Secretary has approved a request from the Metropolitan Police to ban a pro-Iranian march planned for Sunday 'to prevent serious public disorder'. The annual Al Quds Day march in London had drawn criticism over apparent backing for Iran's regime after its organisers expressed support for the country's late leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Several counter-protests had also been planned for the day. Announcing a ban on the march, Shabana Mahmood said she was 'satisfied doing so is necessary to prevent serious public disorder, due to the scale of the protest and multiple counter-protests, in the context of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East'. She added: 'Should a stationary demonstration proceed, the police will be able to apply strict conditions. I expect to see the full force of the law applied to anyone spreading hatred and division instead of exercising their right to peaceful protest.' The Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC), which organises the march, has since confirmed a 'static protest' will go ahead instead on Sunday; while the Met said the law does not allow the police or Government to ban such a demonstration. Now you can have your say on the march being banned in the Mail's latest poll: In yesterday's poll, Mail readers were asked: 'Do you believe war in the Middle East is 'pretty much' over, as Donald Trump claims?' Out of more than 6,000 votes, some 90 per cent of you said 'no' and 10 per cent said 'yes'. Dubai's influencer army has released another barrage of posts praising its government in suspiciously similar language - amid claims some are being paid to pump out 'propaganda'. Content creators with hundreds of thousands of followers between them have responded to Iranian attacks by sharing images of Dubai leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum alongside the words, 'I know who protects us'. The posts begin by asking 'are you scared?' before flashing up images of Al Maktoum waving to adoring crowds. Sceptical social media users have responded by claiming the influencers are being paid by the UAE government, although several have spoken out to deny this. Online content creators need a licence to operate in Dubai, and its government responded to the outbreak of war by threatening prison against anyone sharing information that 'results in inciting panic among people'. The tough stance is believed to have encouraged self-censorship by influencers in the Gulf state, with earlier clips of Iranian drone and missile attacks now swamped by posts lauding the regime. There appears to be a deliberate attempt to avoid mentioning the war, with content creators mirroring the sanitised language of the city's leadership. In the first days of the conflict, the government cracked down on 'citizen journalists' reposting genuine footage of the first wave of attacks, which included a drone strike on the five-star Fairmont Hotel on the Palm Jumeirah. The Dubai Media Office responded within a few hours by claiming that 'outdated images of past fire incidents' in Dubai were being spread to stoke fear among the city's residents. Yesterday, Dubai's airport came under attack from Iranian drones, leaving four people injured as passengers were rushed to shelters. Authorities said two drones fell near the airport earlier today as Iran continues to retaliate against US and Israeli strikes. Influencers have responded to Iranian attacks by sharing images of Dubai leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum alongside the words, 'I know who protects us' One expert said that it appeared 'suspicious' that the videos were identical and could have started out as a 'paid trend' One German TikToker, @julisjoking, shared a video rejecting accusations she had been paid to post the 'I know who protects us' meme. She said she was only 'paid' by the lifestyle benefits she enjoys living in Dubai Dubai has today come under attack from Iran as drones were fired towards the city's airport leaving four people injured as passengers were rushed to shelters TikTokers taking part in the viral 'I know who protects us trend' typically start by sharing a photo of themselves accompanied by text sayig 'you live in Dubai, aren't you scared?' or 'do you feel safe in Dubai?'. It then cuts to the montage of the UAE leader with the words, 'no, because I know who protects us'. One such video has been viewed nearly 7million times. Social media users have been quick to suggest the videos appear as if they have been sponsored by the government. One hit out at influencers for 'doing overtime trying to convince the rest of the world it's all okay' to which one of them, Bea Albero, responded with, 'we are ok, I feel this way'. Another TikToker, @julisjoking, shared a video rejecting accusations she had been paid to post the 'I know who protects us' meme before urging her followers to 'trust God and trust the government'. There are strict laws about criticising or insulting the UAE government or causing 'reputational harm' to the country which can result in fines of up to 200,000, or up to five years in prison, and possibly deportation. Sentences are even harsher if you own property there. Few influencers will speak about content laws, but Marc Owen Jones, Associate Professor of Media Analytics at Northwestern University in Qatar, said the identical videos were 'suspicious'. He was unable to confirm whether the influencers were being paid but did believe there was a strong likelihood that they were in order to emphasise the appearance of safety and stability in the country. However, he highlighted that the trend may have picked up organically with other - unpaid - influencers recreating similar videos to appear patriotic. Professor Jones said: 'At the moment I don't know for sure if they are paid or not, but my expert opinion is that this started as a paid trend, an attempt to overemphasise the safety of Dubai since the perception of stability is so important for the country. 'The issue is when trends go viral, people replicate them and they become just that, a 'trend'. 'I also wonder in an authoritarian context if people think posting such content becomes a way of flagging themselves as patriotic and spreading information that will be viewed positively by the authorities. 'The fact that some of the clips are identical is suspicious, but also the affordances of TikTok and Instagram allow for 'remixing' while changing very little.' Her original post praising the sheikh. The influencer has urged her followers to 'trust God and trust the government'. The posts cut to a montage of Al Maktoum being greeted by adoring crowds The Government of Dubai Media Centre has been contacted for comment. The social media trend comes a day after the Daily Mail revealed that a British influencer in Dubai admitted he's more worried about being fined or jailed for posting the 'wrong' content than he is of the lethal explosives themselves. Ben Moss, from Wandsworth in south-west London, said: 'I do feel completely safe here because of the UAE air defences, but the laws can sometimes concern me so I always keep everything positive. 'I'm far more scared of being fined or jailed for posting the wrong content than I am of the Iranian missiles and drones.' That would include videos of drone or missile strikes which anger the authoritarian state. When the first waves of Iranian ordnance was launched at the United Arab Emirates (UAE), lifestyle influencer Mr Moss and his Iranian-born girlfriend Parisa, both 31, hot-footed it from their luxury flat in Ras Al Khaimah, the nearest point in the country to Iran, and travelled 70 miles inland. They pitched a tent near Hatta, a border post with neighbouring Oman, which has largely remained unscathed in the current conflict. 'We felt it was much safer to be in Hatta, keeping on the move each night,' said Mr Moss, 'We were really worried at first, and I had also made the mistake of posting an image of my apartment online and it occurred to me that it could put us at risk.' Mr Bea Albero received an unambiguous text he (and all citizens) received from the Dubai Police earlier in the week, which read: 'Photographing or sharing security or critical sites, or reposting unreliable information, may result in legal action and compromise national security and stability. 'Compliance helps keep the community safe and stable. Your Security is Our Happiness.' He said he understands the security concerns about videos of drone or missile interceptions being posted and respects the government. Mr Moss, who has been in the UAE for around three years, admits that his new career is 'a weird way to make a living', but his endless enthusiasm keeps him going making 'content' deals with businesses across the UAE. Influencers Ben Moss (pictured with his girlfriend) is more worried about being fined or jailed for posting the 'wrong' content than he is of explosions He said he feels the current situation represents 'an opportunity' for those like him who are prepared to stay in the UAE for the 'long haul'. He added: 'There will be plenty of people who will head home after these events, to the UK or other countries in Europe. And that might leave a gap for the rest of us. 'It may also bring down the high property prices and the hotels and resorts will need help with marketing to get their numbers up, and that's where people like me come in.' 'I do see the market bouncing back within 24 months, as people will now view the UAE as being an even safer place to live, given they can defend themselves in such a spectacular way, etc. and when the Iranian regime is hopefully removed, we will be living in a much safer region.' A seven-year-old boy was viciously mauled to death after an animal shelter gave his mother a 'monster' pit bull who had a 'troubled history.' Leelan Lokie was attacked inside his home in Gunnison, Colorado, on February 4 by the 86-pound beast named Boaz. According to a police report uncovered by KDVR, officers arrived at the family home to find the animal locked onto the youngster's neck. One officer had to fire their weapon which caused the dog to release its grip, Leelan was then rushed to hospital where he later died. Investigators have classified the incident as a Level 6 attack on the Dunbar Bite Scale, the most severe. The animal had previously been fostered through Montrose Animal Shelter with shelter staff reporting the animal having behavioral issues, the report said. According to the report staff had planned on euthanizing the dog but instead contacted the Montrose Bully Breed Club who placed Boaz in the care of the family. It is unclear how much Leelan's mother Kirsten knew about Boaz's history, although she responded to a post highlighting how he had been returned to the shelter by his previous family. A GoFundMe has since been launched to help Kirsten and Leelan's older brother Uriah move home after the attack, it has raised over $137,000. Leelan Lokie died after being violently attacked by the dog inside his home in Gunnison, Colorado Investigators have classified the incident as a Level 6 attack on the Dunbar Bite Scale, the most severe. Boaz is seen here According to emails between Montrose Animal Shelter workers and city staff, seen by The Colorado Sun, there was growing concern over what the animal would do next. Warnings were passed between the two even as the Montrose Bully Breed Club stepped up efforts to have the animal rehomed, the emails revealed. They had assured city officials that the dog had a good temperament, the outlet reported. In one of those messages, a Montrose Animal Shelter had a different take however, telling another staffer the dog was 'a monster'. The text said: 'He was like a monster today, wanting to attack every dog who passed by him in the inside kennel. Nobody I mean nobody will take that dog to their family.' In January the dog lunged at another dog, workers at the shelter then asked the Montrose Bully Breed Club to take him or euthanize him. In December a volunteer was walking the animal when it fractured her wrist by pulling her arm into a kennel door, a report obtained by The Colorado Sun said. One email from the same staff member who branded the dog a monster said: 'My worry is that an adoption could lead to unfortunate outcomes, such as him returning to us with a history of biting or having issues with other dogs or cats that could result in injury or even death A GoFundMe fundraiser has raised over $137,000 to help cover funeral costs and for them to move house Leelan is seen here with his mother Kirsten and his older brother Uriah A post to Montrose Animal Services Facebook in December of last year described the dog as being 'fantastic with children' 'I truly want whats best for him and hope to avoid any situation that could lead to further challenges. 'We already have 4 other Pit bulls with the same demeanor: dog aggressive. The longer they stay here, the worse they get.' The email in question was sent to the Western Slope Humane Society In another text, the worker said: 'Its like we are waiting for an accident to happen to reason for euthanasia, and thats not good, because some one or some dog may be injured or even dead.' A post to Montrose Animal Services Facebook in December of last year described the dog as being 'fantastic with children'. The post, which had the added disclaimer of using information provided by another agency, said: 'Boaz is the epitome of enthusiasm. 'This playful guy has a knack for toys that squeak or make noise. Boaz's heart is as big as his personality. He's fantastic with children and adores everyone he meets. 'A true cuddlebug, he'll shower you with kisses and affection. While he may jump up with joy when he sees you, a simple command of "off" will have him listening right away.' It went on to describe him as a 'lovable goofball'. It was Kirsten who responded to one of these posts saying she would foster the dog, the Colorado Sun found. Gunnison Police said on Tuesday that no criminal charges would be filed in the case, with a spokesperson calling it 'noncriminal'. The Montrose Bully Club described the death of Leelan as 'an incomprehensible and unforeseeable tragedy'. Their Facebook page has since been placed on pause. A vehicle has been found in the search for two tourists who disappeared amid massive floods in central and southwest Queensland. The Chinese nationals - a 26-year-old man and 23-year-old woman - were travelling from Brisbane to North Burnett and were last heard from on Sunday night. Their last phone signal pinged at Kilkivan, which has been affected by heavy flooding. Queensland Police confirmed on Wednesday a Silver Subaru Forester was found near Kilkivan. The vehicle is believed to belong to the missing tourists. The pair were only reported missing on Wednesday after they failed to arrive at their destination. 'Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the two missing tourists are urged to contact police,' Queensland Police said in a statement. 'The search is ongoing.' That search was assisted by the SES and police helicopter. A vehicle (above) believed to belong to two missing Chinese tourists was found on Wednesday Major flooding has affected large parts of central and southwest Queensland (pictured are SES volunteers in southwest Queensland) The discovery comes amid an ongoing flood crisis in Central Queensland. Police issued a Public Safety Preservation Act (PSPA) declaration for Chinchilla due to the danger posed by rising floods. A shelter was opened at Chinchilla Showgrounds while officers door-knocked homes to encourage at-risk residents to evacuate. Bundaberg Regional Council mayor Helen Blackburn warned recovery from the flood damage 'could take months'. 'We're thinking a few hundred homes and properties have been impacted at this stage,' she said. 'Until we get some vision from Polair, who will be flying over the north side and providing streaming back to council, we won't know exactly what's gone on over there. 'They will be monitoring, they'll be making sure that any isolated properties up and down the river are reviewed and we're making sure that people are safe.' Mayor Blackburn advised the town's main bridges would begin to reopen on Thursday and Friday. Bundaberg locals were told to prepare for the worst in terms of flood damage (pictured is the Burnett River) Flooding in the regional Queensland hub of Bundaberg 'In the coming day or two, we will be looking to open the bridges again, and we'll also be looking to assess each property individually to ensure that those properties are safe to be habitable for people,' she said. 'There were 197 people in our evacuation centre, and there were many more that would have been staying with family and friends overnight.' The Emergency Alert for Bundaberg was downgraded to Watch and Act on Wednesday night but residents were told it's still not safe to return to flooded areas. Premier David Crisafulli urged the community to prepare for the worst. 'The impacts on homes and businesses won't be to the same number as we've seen before, but the impacts and the magnitude will hit home and hit hard very, very hard for a number of people,' he said. 'This community is resilient, it's tough, it bounces back from disasters as well as anywhere in the nation. That doesn't mean it should be left on its own. 'They need help and help they are going to get.' About 2,000 homes around Bundaberg were without power on Wednesday, nearly 800 roads across Queensland were closed or damaged by Tuesday, an estimated 1,000 livestock were lost and nine schools shut. Nearly 800 roads across Queensland were closed or damaged across Queensland as of Tuesday The search for the two tourists remains ongoing Crisafulli instructed Queenslanders in flood zones to monitor to disaster.qld.gov.au for the latest information. 'There are people who will be impacted in the next 24 hours, that it might be the fourth time in 15 years and yet they respond in a true Queensland way. It's a really good community for that,' he said. 'It's made of people who are made of really strong stuff. It's got a great fabric and while this will be a challenge, it's not a challenge that the community hasn't handled before and it's not a challenge that they're not up to.' Western Downs Mayor Andrew Smith, who oversees Chinchilla, said the region saw 260mm of rain in 48 hours. 'The predictions for this water level are at least half a metre lower than 2010/2011, so we're not expecting the same impacts, and we always have to remember that a prediction is just a prediction,' he said. Rockhampton Mayor Tony Williams said council was on alert for potential flooding as upper catchments move downstream. 'At this stage we are monitoring those levels upstream and seeing how they move down. We'll continue to do that over the next week and respond should we need to,' he said. A five-year-old girl who was abducted from California almost six years ago has been found safe and well on the other side of the country. Karen Rojas, who is now 11, was kidnapped on June 2, 2020, from Duarte, a city near Los Angeles. She was was discovered living under an alias around 2,600 miles away in Washington County, North Carolina, on Tuesday. Police in the Washington County Sheriffs Office (WCSO) received a tip off from cops in Los Angeles who alerted them that the young girl could be in their state. 'With the information provided to the deputies were able to determine that the child was enrolled in Washington County Schools under an alias name,' WCSO said in a statement. Rojas was taken into protective custody through the efforts of several agencies and the WCSO confirmed she is 'safe.' 'These are very rare occurrences to have such a positive outcome on such an old case as this, but it reminds us that through hard work, and dedication, and cooperation,' noted WCSO. 'Stories with positive outcomes like these can happen.' The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children identified Rojas as the missing girl, according to the Charlotte Observer. Missing girl Karen Rojas, 11, was found safe and well six years after she was last seen in Los Angeles County Rojas was only five years old when she was abducted. She was found around 2,600 miles away in North Carolina WSCO said they are continuing to investigate her abduction and are limiting information due to her young age. Rojas was understood to have been snatched by a non-custodial relative. The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) has been probing her whereabouts ever since she vanished. Rojas's mother cut off contact with DCFS and allegedly kidnapped her, the statement noted. A missing persons poster at the time described Rojas as Hispanic, with brown hair and brown eyes. Los Angeles County is roughly 2,600 miles away from Washington County. The Daily Mail has reached out to the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department as well as the WCSO for comment. In December, a Kentucky teenager was found alive two states away months after she disappeared. Rojas was last seen in Duarte, California but disappeared amid an investigation by the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Wynter Wagoner, 13, was last seen at her foster parents' home in Orlando on October 14. Two months later, on December 26, she was found with a 37-year-old man at a Maryland home 560 miles away after investigators received a tip about her location. Maryland police arrested and charged the man, Christian Alexander Delgado, with kidnapping. During an initial court appearance in Maryland, Delgado claimed the whole situation was a 'misunderstanding'. Police have arrested a 13-year-old boy in connection with the national 'School Wars' posts made on social media encouraging school children to fight with weapons. The teenager from Sheffield was arrested yesterday on suspicion of malicious communications, encouraging or assisting crime, and an alleged public order offence and remains in police custody. Posters inspired by notorious LA street gangs the Bloods and the Crips featuring men in red and blue balaclavas while associating schools with each 'side' have been circulating on Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram. One showed images of scissors, a knife, compasses, fireworks, and a comb with the tagline 'bring your best'. The arrest comes as part of an ongoing response to posts circulating in South Yorkshire linked to the trend. Inspector Katie Hammond said: 'We know how worried parents, families, staff and pupils have been since these social media posts started appearing here in South Yorkshire and we have provided support and reassurance to our local schools and communities through a high-visibility presence and increased patrols. 'Behind the scenes we have also been actively monitoring social media and carrying out intelligence checks, and doing all we can to track down the accounts responsible and shut them down. 'We are taking this matter seriously and are doing everything in our power to deal with it swiftly and robustly. Posters inspired by notorious LA street gangs the Bloods and the Crips featuring men in red and blue balaclavas while associating schools with each 'side' have been circulating on Snapchat , TikTok and Instagram One poster showed images of scissors, a knife, compasses, fireworks, and a comb with the tagline 'bring your best' 'I believe the overwhelming majority of children here in South Yorkshire understand this trend is reckless and irresponsible, and not at all reflective of the real, positive relationships which exist between our educational establishments, young people and communities.' In the past week South Yorkshire police have increased patrols in the area. They have received no confirmed reports of any criminal offences directly linked to the trend. Superintendent Paul Ferguson, force lead for neighbourhoods said: 'We have specialist officers and staff in force who are actively monitoring social media and co-ordinating intelligence as part of our response. 'We are seeking out the accounts responsible and doing everything we can to get them shut down.' He encouraged parents and guardians to 'talk to their children about this and the importance of rising above it'. Recently, while it seems unrelated to the arrest, a number of staff and students at a Yorkshire school were injured when a 'disturbance' led to 'broader pockets of disorder'. On February 26, around 20 police cars swarmed Fir Vale Academy in Sheffield after a mass fight broke out. Several staff and students were injured, and one staff member was taken to hospital. Residents of a California city in the heart of Napa Valley are fed up with their tap water coming out brown and smelly, as officials tell them it is safe to drink and bathe in. St. Helena, known for its Cabernet Sauvignon, is now also gaining a negative reputation for its water. Some days the taps in people's homes run clear, but on others, residents say the water is silty and frothy, resembling beer or Chardonnay. City officials say the discoloration is caused by a buildup of harmless, naturally occurring minerals in the aging municipal pipes. 'St. Helena has faced seasonal water discoloration for over 40 years due to naturally occurring iron and manganese in two of our three water sources. These minerals aren't harmful but can build up in old pipes and get stirred up when water flow changes,' the city said in an update published on August 7, 2025. In December, the city said it flushed 73,000 gallons of water through the system when residents were dealing with discoloration issues. At the time, officials said it would take a long time to resolve this. Months later, St. Helena residents are losing their patience with the ongoing problem and want a quicker solution. 'There are days where it's fine, there are days where it's brown, and there are days when it smells like swamp,' Michelle Liu Covell, an architect and a parent, told the San Francisco Chronicle. Others told KTVU that the water smells like dirt or that when they wash their sheets, they come out brown. St. Helena, California, has been dealing with water discoloration issues for decades, but residents say it has gotten worse in recent years (Pictured: A resident's bathtub filled with brown water) St. Helena is in the heart of Napa Valley (pictured) and is known for its Cabernet Sauvignon Residents say that even though this has been going on for decades, it used to happen primarily in the summertime. Now they say it's happening more frequently. In 2023, city officials acknowledged the rising frequency, saying the tap water issues rose to 'an entirely new level in both severity and reach, sparking understandable concern throughout our community about water quality and long-term infrastructure health'. That year, the city estimated it would have to spend more than $55 million over the next five years to bring its drinking water and wastewater systems up to modern standards. That year was also when Bianca Thall, a mother with young children, decided to move away because of the constantly varying quality of the water. She told the Chronicle she was sick of having to buy bottled water or boil the tap water until she felt it was safe. Those who chose to stay are in the same predicament and are being forced to pay some of the highest water bills in the Bay Area. St. Helena's lowest utility prices start at around $80 per month for water service and $194 for wastewater. Longtime St. Helena resident Tom Belt told the Chronicle he installed a water filter for his entire house last year, which cost his family about $800. Replacement filters cost more than $155. Pictured: Bianca Thall's bathtub filled with yellow water Thall left St. Helena with her family over this issue, believing the water was not safe for her children Cynthia Kee, a mortgage banker, believes the city has not taken enough action. She also doesn't trust officials' assurances that the water is safe, so she sent a sample of the water for independent testing. In January, the city put out a notice to residents that it had not met federal water standards but that it was not an emergency. In some areas of St. Helena, the water had haloacetic acids that exceeded outlined safety levels. Haloacetic acids form when disinfectants commonly used to treat drinking water, such as chlorine, react with organic material found in natural water sources. 'This is not an immediate risk,' the city stated in a public notice. 'If it had been, you would have been notified immediately. However, some people who drink water containing HAAs in excess of the MCL (maximum contaminant level, a state drinking water standard) over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer.' Jay Kouba, a member of the city's water advisory committee, told the St. Helena City Council in October 2025 that the water system should be stabilized within six months or a year. The first in a series of community meetings on the citys water issues is scheduled for March 30. New York City's new socialist mayor Zohran Mamdani has caused quite a stir in the Big Apple, especially when it comes to his hardline stance on increasing taxes for the rich. Many wealthy residents did not vote for Mamdani, and some even said they would flee the city after hearing of his plan to tax those individuals who make $1 million a year and corporations that earn $5 million annually. The Democratic socialist has promised that the tax money would go toward programs in the city like universal childcare, free city-wide bus services, and a massive investment in housing, among other goals. But amid the overwhelming dismay toward his push to raise taxes for the wealthy, there are opulent locals who are fully on board with his plan and are even pleading with lawmakers to get it done. Craig Kaplan, Marissa Hersh, and Marc Baum, all affluent New York City residents, are three of those people pushing for the cause. All of them not only support Mamdani, but are part of a group called Patriotic Millionaires, an organization that pushed lawmakers to improve the lives of the working class by making the rich pay higher taxes. Kaplan, a lawyer in the Big Apple, uses his political connections to help convince Governor Kathy Hochul to raise taxes for people like him - something she has been openly opposed to. 'There is such a need in our city for the kind of programs that Mamdani is talking about,' Kaplan told The New York Times. Despite reports that many New Yorkers are not happy with Mayor Zohran Mamdani's plan to have the wealthy pay high taxes, there is a group of rich residents, including Craig Kaplan (pictured), who believe it is the only viable move During his campaign, the Democratic socialist (pictured Sunday) promised he would get the rich to pay higher taxes in the Big Apple so there would be more money for programs like universal childcare, government-owned grocery stores, and free bus services 'The plans to spend the money are totally productive and serve the whole society, from the ultra rich to working people,' Kaplan added. The attorney said he also doesn't understand why increasing taxes would push the wealthy to run for the hills. 'I cant imagine anybody who has that kind of income would leave New York over a $20,000 tax increase. It would mean absolutely nothing for me,' Kaplan, who's hosted Democratic fundraisers in his Manhattan home with his wife, added. Hersh, a philanthropic advisor to the Movement Voter Project, an organization that raises money for progressive causes, echoed Kaplan, stating she also would not be affected by the mayor's plan because she does not make $1 million annually. She does come from a wealthy family, though, and said she fully supports Mamdani's push to create city-owned grocery stores in NYC. The politician said the government-run stores would be 'focused on keeping prices low, not making a profit.' Hersh, a mother of two who lives in Queens, said she would be more than happy to 'bear the burden' and pay higher taxes to help the city. 'We use the parks, the libraries and public 3-K. We can afford to pay higher taxes, and Id be happy to be the one to bear the burden, which really isnt a burden,' she told the outlet. Marissa Hersh, a philanthropic advisor to the Movement Voter Project said she too would not be affected by the mayor's plan because she does not make $1 million annually, but she does come from a wealthy family Marc Baum said higher taxes wouldn't have an impact on him either because he tends to live a frugal, simple life Baum, another lawyer who lives in Manhattan, said higher taxes wouldn't have an impact on him either because he tends to live a frugal, simple life. He drives a 2013 car 'into the ground,' purchased a West Village brownstone in the 1990s, and is the proud owner of 'two shacks in the Adirondacks,' he told The Times. 'Would I give less to charity? I don't think so,' he said. The group they are all a part of, Patriotic Millionaires, also includes other high-level executives, including Abigail Disney, an heir to the Disney fortune, and Morris Pearl, the ex-managing director of BlackRock. Another member, Andrew Tobias, said he would happily pay more 'as long as everybody has to pay it.' He also suggested that Mamdani should think of a way to thank rich New Yorkers for their possible increased contributions. 'You made $38 million this year what a wonderful problem to have. On top of that, you get a fruit basket from the mayor,' he quipped. Though Tobias believes most wealthy locals would be fine with the tax hike, others who make just over $1 million might have a harder time. 'If you have a place in the Hamptons and three kids in private school, its probably tough to make ends meet,' he explained. 'There might be someone who has to sacrifice something.' While there are some that are fine with the possible increase, others are very upset about it, and are thinking of a way out before it could come into play. John Catsimatidis, a billionaire businessman and CEO of Manhattan grocery stores Gristedes and D'Agostino Supermarkets, believes the tax plan would negatively impact the city's economy. Despite that, Catsimatidis said he would personally be fine if higher taxes came into play. 'Im going to run out of time before I run out of money,' he said. Still, he sees a slew of New Yorkers uprooting their lives because of this. 'I think its a stupid move. The joke we tell is that New York politicians are the best real estate brokers in Florida they really laugh at us,' he said. The proposed tax hike on the rich in New York City has led many to suggest that wealthy residents will flee, but the Big Apple is home to nearly 400,000 millionaires. (Pictured: Protestors hold up a 'Tax the Rich' sign in NYC) Despite rumors that New Yorkers plan to vacate one of the country's most populated cities, a mass exodus is unlikely, according to a recent Cornell University report. 'The first fact is simple: Millionaires have low migration rates,' the research stated. The last time a chunk of New Yorkers left the city was in 2020 and 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic. In recent years, the Empire State has gained a slew of millionaires and remains the hub for the wealthy. According to a recent report from Henley & Partners, the Big Apple is still considered the place where the rich settle, with nearly 400,000 millionaires calling it home. Starbucks founder Howard Schultz revealed he is retiring to Florida on the same day that Democrats in Washington state passed the so-called millionaires tax bill. The businessman, 72, and his wife Sheri, 71, have relocated to Miami after spending nearly five decades in Seattle, Schultz revealed in a LinkedIn update. The couple have been travelling the world, which Schultz claims they were 'too busy' to do while raising kids and building the global coffee brand, and have now 'entered the "retirement" phase of our lives.' 'We have moved to Miami for our next adventure together. We are enjoying the sunshine of South Florida and its allure to our kids on the East Coast as they raise families of their own,' he shared. The Schultz Family Foundation, started by Sheri in 1990, will continue to operate from Seattle under the leadership of Vivek Varma, who has served as the foundation's CEO since July 2023. The couple's private family office will move to Miami, Schultz added. He went on to praise the Pacific Northwesterners who helped build Starbucks into a worldwide brand and said it is their 'hope that Washington will remain a place for business and entrepreneurship to thrive.' But Schultz failed to acknowledge how Seattle in recent years has grown a reputation for vagrancy and open air drug markets as the city's soft-on-crime policies fail to tackle the homeless crisis and fentanyl epidemic. He also neglected to highlight how Starbucks has already begun shifting operations to Tennessee, where it will be launching a new corporate operations office. Schultz, who according to Forbes is worth an estimated $4.3 billion, publicly announced his retirement plans as the House passed Washington state's first-ever income tax, affecting only households earning more than $1 million annually. Starbucks founder Howard Schultz and his wife Sheri, together in 2012, are retiring to Miami, Florida after spending nearly 50 years in Seattle Schultz, pictured testifying before Congress in 2023, announced his retirement plans on the same day that Democrats in Washington state passed the so-called millionaires tax bill, which would impose a 9.9 percent income tax on top earners like himself Schultz opened the first ever Starbucks shop in 1982 in Seattle's Pike Place Market, pictured in July last year. The market is one of the city's top tourist destinations Democrats passed the controversial income tax bill on Tuesday, which imposes a 9.9 percent tax on top earners beginning in 2029. The bill will impact less than 1 percent of the state's population and is expected to bring in about $4 billion per year, KING 5 reported. The proposal now heads to the Senate for confirmation before going to Democratic Governor Bob Ferguson's desk. It must be signed by Thursday - the end of the current legislative session - in order to go into effect. Ferguson, in a statement Tuesday, said: 'I look forward to signing it.' Schultz, however, would be among the 1 percent impacted by the proposed tax, if he were to stay in Washington state long-term. But his new home state of Florida is just one of nine US states that do not have a state personal income tax. Under current Washington law, it also falls within the nine income tax free states. Tennessee also does not impose a personal income tax and generally offers a more competitive corporate tax structure than Washington, according to Tax Foundation analysts. Starbucks says its North America and Global Support Headquarters will remain in Seattle, but the company will be expanding to Nashville later this year. Starbucks says its North America and Global Support Headquarters (pictured) will remain in Seattle, but the company will be opening a new officer in Nashville later this year Schultz Family Foundation CEO Vivek Varma will continue to lead the charity from Seattle The original Starbucks in the Pike Place Market in Seattle is a popular tourist attraction. A rotating list of musicians performed for the crowds outside the shop in August 2014 The firm's new office intends to support 'rising customer demand, in particular, the southeast region of the US,' Starbucks said in a news release last week. The Tennessee office will work closely with the Seattle headquarters, officials said, sparking rumors about whether Starbucks is gradually planning to quit the city where it started. Starbucks COO Mike Grams added: 'Looking ahead, Starbucks has great ambitions to grow even further across North America. With these growth plans, we see Nashville, Tennessee, as an ideal location to open an office and establish a more strategic presence in the Southeast region of the US. 'The city offers a deep, talented and growing workforce, making it a desirable location for us.' Tennessee's Republican governor Bill Lee and Nashville's Democrat mayor Freddie O'Connell are both excited to welcome the company to the region and believe its presence will 'create quality jobs for Tennesseans.' Schultz, in his LinkedIn post Tuesday, applauded the brand's growth since opening its first store in Seattle's Pike Place Market in 1982. 'Back then, the Pike Place Starbucks only sold whole bean coffee. Today, it's the most visited Starbucks in the world,' he wrote. 'The history of the company is bound up in the very foundation, walls and floorboards of our first store in the city's historic market.' Schultz announced his retirement plans in a post on his LinkedIn page Tuesday Coffee lover Beat Curti with Starbucks founder Howard Schultz at the first Swiss Starbucks coffeehouse in Zurich in 2001 Schultz claimed that the brand, as it is known today, largely 'stands on the shoulders of the many Pacific Northwesterners who built the company.' He said the locals 'helped shape the culture, the benefits and the brand, contributing to the civic, community and public life of the city and state.' In conclusion, the billionaire added: 'We will be forever grateful for the memories made in Seattle and the relationships built along the way. To the family, friends and partners who made Seattle our home for so many years, thank you. Onward.' A rookie police officer has apologised after she admitted making a series of blunders which left a future triple killer free to strike. Libbie-Mae Taylor was only 12 shifts into her job with Leicestershire Police when she was called to the scene of a warehouse assault on May 5 2023. The suspect, Valdo Calocane, had fled the scene but was already wanted for skipping bail after being charged with assaulting an emergency worker. But PC Taylor failed to notice Calocane should have been arrested when she received his full name and date of birth to enter them into the police log at a later date. She then closed the incident without obtaining detailed statements from the victims, despite a legion of eyewitnesses at the warehouse who saw the unprovoked attack, including claims Calocane was reaching for a knife. Calocane went on to stab three people to death, and seriously injure three others in Nottingham on June 13. An inquiry is looking into what went wrong in the build-up to the atrocity. The young officer - who was in charge of the case, despite her vast inexperience - today apologised for her mistakes. She told the inquiry in London: 'I think that in this incident, I made mistakes. PC Libbie-Mae Taylor was only 12 shifts into the job when she was made officer in charge of an assault carried out by Valdo Calocane, the month before he killed three people in Nottingham Calocane, now 34, has been jailed for manslaughter on the grounds of diminished reponsibility 'We've all admitted, accepted that we've made mistakes, and unfortunately, you know, it's really difficult. 'I can only apologise for making those mistakes and the role that I played in it.' She said she felt supported by her senior colleagues, but explained all members of staff were under significant pressure with large caseloads, which required her to work on her days off to 'catch up'. The inquiry heard Calocane, who had a history of violence, had only been working at the Arvato warehouse in Kegworth for five days when he assaulted two colleagues, a husband and wife, leaving the male in serious pain. PC Taylor was called to the scene with her senior colleague, PC Connor Amos-Perkins, who was described as her tutor. But the inquiry heard PC Taylor did not properly download bodycam footage of the aftermath of the incident, including testimony from witnesses, which meant it was lost. She made subsequent errors, describing Calocane as a 'detained person' despite him being at large, and admitted she did not properly reflect the seriousness of the injuries sustained. But, crucially, she did not notice Calocane was already wanted by the magistrates court when she was provided with his details later - something the inquiry heard should have been a 'breakthrough'. PC Amos-Perkins also admitted he should have done more. PC Connor Amos-Perkins, who was PC Taylor's tutor, admitted he should have done more in the investigation Ian Coates, Barnaby Webber - known as Barney - and Grace O'Malley-Kumar were killed in Nottingham in a series of supposedly random knife attacks by one man She told Rachel Langdale KC, counsel to the inquiry, she did not see the warrant on the police log, despite clicking on it twice. Ms Langdale asked: 'Did you look at it?' PC Taylor replied: 'If I did click on it then all I can say is I've not absorbed that information because if I had seen that, I would have said something to (my tutor) and I didn't.' Ms Langdale said: 'You didn't register it?' PC Taylor replied: 'I didn't register it.' PC Amos-Perkins, himself only three years into being a police officer, admitted he should have 'been more on it' as PC Taylor's supervisor. He also admitted he made mistakes, particularly failing to check there was a proper investigation into Calocane's previous. He told the inquiry: 'PC Taylor was the officer in the case, I'd be sort of wanting her to complete these checks. 'It's my oversight, I should have just double-checked and just had that word and said to her: "Let's check him out, let's see what's happened", but I havent, unfortunately.' He said police would have arrested Calocane, had he known he was wanted. Temporary police sergeant Mark Read admitted he 'should have' raised the issue of checking the Calocane file with PC Taylor, who he supervised . He agreed it was a 'real missed opportunity'. The inquiry was told all three officer as subject to an investigation by the police watchdog. Leicestershire Police's temporary Chief Constable David Sandall also apologised. He told the inquiry: 'We have acknowledged officers have not met the standard of investigation that we would want. 'We acknowledge that as an organisation and I apologise for that. 'But ... No, I don't think we have the resources that we require to meet the demands we face.' He said around 15 per cent of cases recorded by the force had a mental health element to them. Calocane fatally stabbed 19-year-old Nottingham University students Barney Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, and 65-year-old school caretaker Ian Coates. He was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order after the CPS accepted his guilty pleas to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. The inquiry continues. Hardline conservatives are turning on Donald Trump after it emerged that the President's top advisers are prepared to abandon one of his core campaign promises. White House adviser James Blair privately urged House Republicans Tuesday to stop promoting the 'mass deportations' of illegal migrants, according to a report from Axios. Trump's deputy chief of staff, speaking at the Republicans' annual retreat in Doral, Florida, urged lawmakers to instead focus their messaging on deporting violent criminals. The White House's advice signals that Trump may be shifting how he frames his immigration policy heading into the midterms in November. The latest bombshell has rocked some of Trump's most hardline supporters because mass deportations were the central promise of his 2024 campaign. 'Absolutely disgusting betrayal,' said Republican attorney Anthony Sabatini. 'Sad to see.' Trump stormed back into the White House on a wave of voter support for his tough immigration agenda, but just one year into his presidency, the issue has become one of the most politically dangerous for his administration. Nearly half of Americans reject the crackdown after the deaths of two US citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, during anti-ICE protests in Minneapolis. Trump's top White House adviser James Blair has privately urged House Republicans to stop promoting the 'mass deportations' of illegal migrants Immigration enforcement has been the most controversial yet defining issue for Trump since the start of his second term Noem has ruled over DHS alongside her close adviser and rumored lover Corey Lewandowski 'The betrayals just keep coming,' said one MAGA user on X, while another reacted to the news by claiming 'MAGA is dead.' Immigration enforcement has been the most controversial yet defining issue for Trump since the start of his second term. During the President's first year, the administration leaned heavily into aggressive deportation crackdowns in urban areas controlled by local Democratic leaders. The effort was spearheaded by outgoing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem who was fired last week by Trump after numerous scandals plagued her tenure. Noem's firing is being welcomed by senior White House officials as an opportunity to reset the administration's approach to immigration, according to a source. Trump returned to the White House with strong voter support for deportations and tougher border security. Moments before Alex Pretti (on the ground) was fatally shot in the Minnesota city in January Federal agents gather during a noise demonstration protest in response to federal immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis Demonstrators gather during a heavy snowstorm to protest against ICE's presence in Minneapolis in January One White House source suggested Noem's fatal mistake was engaging in a petty rivalry with Trump's Border Czar Tom Homan But under Noem's leadership, public sentiment has shifted sharply, and the issue has increasingly become a political liability for the president as the midterm elections approach. Noem famously ruled over DHS alongside her close adviser and rumored lover Corey Lewandowski. Sources tell the Daily Mail that frustration had been mounting inside the White House over the infighting that Noem and Lewandowski had fueled within DHS, including persistent leaks and internal disputes targeting senior immigration officials. The Labour minister behind the rollout of digital ID cards today refused to say how much the scheme will cost the taxpayer - or when the controversial scheme will even start. Darren Jones rejected suggestions from the Office for Budget Responsibility that the rollout, already watered down, will cost 1.8bn, but refused to put an alternative figure forward. And speaking to Times Radio he was vague about when it will be rolled out, suggesting it is unlikely to come into effect before the next election. It came as it was revealed Keir Starmer's plans for digital ID could go far beyond the original proposals - even making it easier to claim benefits and notifying people when to put their bins out. Labour on Tuesday unveiled its prototype system as it laid out further details on what the scheme could look like in its push to create 'Government by app'. The Prime Minister first sold the scheme as a way to crack down on illegal migration - but now Labour has revealed its vision for a one-stop shop that could become the 'front door' for public services. Sent out to promote the launch today, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Mr Jones was pushed on the scheme's cost and when it might be rolled out. Regarding the OBR figure he said: 'The number's not right and I don't quite know how the OBR came up with that number because we haven't consulted yet on what it is that we're trying to build and how we're going to build it.' Darren Jones rejected suggestions from the Office for Budget Responsibility that the rollout, already watered down, will cost 1.8bn, but refused to put an alternative figure forward. Digital ID will first be used to carry out digital right-to-work checks, but ministers envision this expanding to include things like childcare, tax, national insurance and even registering a marriage Pushed on whether the figure could in fact be higher he said: 'We're consulting on the details at the moment and we can't come forward with a figure until the public have answered our questions... 'To be honest, it's not that quick. I mean, I'd rather it was quicker to be honest. But we're going to consult before the summer this year. 'We then have to bring legislation to parliament because we need the legal right to do that. We won't actually start building the technology until 2027 and the minimum viable case will come in 2029.' Documents published by the Cabinet Office yesterday state that the Government will retain the right to revoke somebodys digital ID - and could even be handed powers to take enforcement action if people fail to keep their details up to date. The digital ID will first be used to carry out digital right-to-work checks, but ministers envision this expanding to include things like childcare, tax, national insurance and even registering a marriage. Under Labours plans the public will be able to tell the app which council area they live in - with people then receiving alerts telling them when their rubbish collection is due. The app could even flag what benefits people might be entitled to based on their personal details, making it easier to claim Universal Credit, child benefits and housing support. The consultation document states that the digital ID will allow government to more easily verify an individuals eligibility for benefits. The documents state that digital IDs will reduce existing, systemic barriers to accessing public services, ensuring people can access the services to which they are entitled. And Labour pointed to a case study from Estonia, where parents experience a seamless, digital-first system for accessing financial support using their digital identity when their child is born. Using their digital identity, parents register the birth online within minutes. Immediately afterward, a tailored benefits offer appears in their government account. Parents simply review and accept the offer, it adds. Shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately said that Labour sold its digital ID plans as a simple way to access services, but warned they are already expanding far beyond its original reach. The last thing this country needs is Digital ID encouraging more people onto the bourgeoning list of welfare claimants, she told the Mail. Instead the Government should get getting a grip of welfare. Reform UK said digital ID cards will make no difference to illegal immigration but it will instead be used to control and penalise the rest of us, with a spokesman adding: The state should never have this much power.' Western banks in Dubai have evacuated staff from their offices amid a warning from Iran that it will target US and Israeli economic centres across the Middle East. British bank Standard Chartered, US multinational Citi and two other companies told employees to leave their offices in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and in Oud Metha on Wednesday. London-based Standard Chartered has a large presence in the United Arab Emirates and offices, including in the DIFC, a financial hub home to large international banks and law firms. Many staff at foreign and local businesses have been working from home following US and Israeli attacks on Iran, which prompted Tehran to fire missiles at targets across the Middle East, causing damage and deaths across the Gulf and travel chaos. The creation of the DIFC in 2004 kick-started Dubai's push to draw financial firms. By the end of 2025, DIFC hosted more than 290 banks, 102 hedge funds, 500 wealth management firms and 1,289 family-related entities. The evacuation comes as the Islamic Republic vowed to unleash a 'painful response' on American and Israeli banks after the US hit Iran with the 'most intense' day of strikes yet. Iran has already attempted to cripple the world's economy as it forces shut the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passageway which transports around 20 per cent of the world's oil. And the regime claims sites of economic interest linked to the US will be the 'next targets' of its bombing onslaughts following an alleged US-Israeli overnight attack on Bank Sepah in Tehran, an Iranian bank with ties to the country's military. It warned people in the Middle East to stay at least 1km away from the institutions as it threatened to destroy them. Standard Chartered offices in Dubai (pictured) have been evacuated following a warning that Tehran will target US and Israeli banks across the Middle East Iran has threatened to target US banks and economic centres in the Middle East as the regime continues to furiously strike the region The Islamic Republic vowed to unleash a 'painful response' on American and Israeli banks after the US hit Iran with the 'most intense' day of strikes yet The Islamic Republic's central military command, quoted in state media, said: 'Following their failed campaign, the terrorist US army and cruel Zionist regime have targeted one of the country's banks. 'With this illegitimate and uncommon action, the enemy is forcing our hand to target economic centres and banks linked to the US and Zionist regime in the region.' According to Iranian state media, several bank employees were killed in the strike on a bank in northern Tehran Iran has continued to pummel Israel and US allies in the Gulf in retaliation for the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Two drones hit Dubai International Airport on Wednesday morning, injuring four people. Authorities said two Ghanaians and a Bangladeshi national received minor injuries while an Indian citizen was moderately hurt. The UAE said its air defence systems had detected 1,475 drones sent by Iran since the start of the war twelve days ago. Meanwhile, fires broke out on three commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz as Iran continues to choke exports. Oil shipments have been largely blocked from using the shipping artery as a result of the war. And Iran said on Tuesday it would not allow 'one litre of oil' to be shipped from the Middle East if US and Israeli attacks continue. Saudi Arabia's state oil company has warned of 'catastrophic consequences' for the world's oil markets due to its ongoing closure. Amin Nasser, the CEO of Aramco, said: 'While we have faced disruptions in the past, this one by far is the biggest crisis the region's oil and gas industry has faced.' He admitted that while his firm, the world's single biggest exporter of oil, was meeting most of its customers' needs for now, this was only possible by tapping into storage facilities outside the Gulf. Nasser said that these stores cannot be used for 'an extended period of time, but for the time being, we are capitalising on it.' The CEO said: 'There would be catastrophic consequences for the world's oil markets, and the longer the disruption goes on the more drastic the consequences for the global economy.' An attack on the Thailand-flagged bulk carrier Mayuree Naree from an 'unknown projectile', which was reported at 4.35am GMT, happened 11 nautical miles north of Oman and resulted in a fire onboard the ship. A Thai bulk carrier (pictured) travelling in the crucial Strait of Hormuz was attacked on Wednesday, with 20 crew members rescued so far, the Thai navy said The UKMTO, a maritime monitor, said the crew are evacuating the vessel. Authorities are searching for three missing crew members from the Mayuree Naree after 20 were rescued by the Omani navy. No group or military has yet claimed responsibility. Earlier, the Japan-flagged container ship One Majesty had sustained minor damage from an unknown projectile 25 nautical miles northwest of Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates, two maritime security sources said. A third vessel, a bulk carrier, was also hit by an unknown projectile approximately 50 miles northwest of Dubai, maritime security firms said. Meanwhile, Donald Trump told Iran to brace for 'death, fire and fury' for keeping the Strait of Hormuz shut before threatening its new leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. On Monday, Mr Trump said the US had inflicted serious damage on Iran's military and predicted the conflict would end well before the initial four-week time frame he had laid out, though he has not defined what victory would look like. The president is under pressure as oil prices spike amid warnings of a global economic crisis. He warned that US attacks could rise sharply if Iran sought to block tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which handles one-fifth of the world's oil supply. 'We will hit them so hard that it will not be possible for them or anybody else helping them to ever recover that section of the world.' The IRGC said it would not allow any oil to leave the region if attacks from the United States and Israel continue. 'We are the ones who will determine the end of the war,' a spokesperson said, describing Trump's comments as 'nonsense', according to state media. In a later Truth Social post, Trump repeated his warning. Your browser does not support iframes. 'If Iran does anything that stops the flow of Oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far,' he said. On Tuesday, the US Defence Secretary said Tuesday would be the 'most intense' day of attacks. Pete Hegseth said the US was 'crushing the enemy', adding: 'Today will be yet again, our most intense day of strikes inside Iran. The most fighters, the most bombers, the most strikes. Intelligence is more refined and better than ever.' Mr Trump had earlier insisted war in the Middle East was 'pretty much' over and claimed the operation launched 10 days ago was 'very far' ahead of schedule. The American President even described the massive US and Israeli onslaught as a 'short-term excursion' which will be 'finished pretty quickly'. But further remarks betrayed Mr Trump's willingness to keep the war with Iran going, as he added: 'We've already won in many ways, but we haven't won enough...we're going to go further.' He said: 'We could call it a tremendous success right now or we could go further, and we're going to go further. We will not relent until the enemy is totally and decisively defeated.' Britains biggest police force has delivered an ultimatum to tech giants over the mobile phone theft epidemic. Scotland Yards commissioner said Apple, Samsung and Google had until June to design out thefts by installing a kill switch that would turn stolen phones into an unusable brick. If the firms missed the deadline Sir Mark Rowley said he would ask the Government to implement legislation forcing them to act. The commissioner has been in talks with manufacturers for two-and-a-half years but criticised the tech giants for being polite but not serious. Im setting a clear public marker, if by the first of June, industry has not come to the table in a genuinely serious and solution-focused way, with concrete commitments on stolen mobile phones the Met will formally write to the Home Secretary to ask that she legislates, he told the International Mobile Phone Crime Conference in central London. Sir Mark, who referenced the Mails investigation into stolen phones being resold in Hong Kong at the event, said he could not understand why telecoms giants had not done more to protect their customers from theft. For nearly three years we have sought meaningful engagement with phone manufacturers and their response to date does not match the scale of harm and risk to their customers, he added. Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley (pictured at a dawn raid in east London) has given tech firms until June 1 to act to create a 'stolen mode' that would render a phone useless once verified as stolen by law enforcement There were 71,391 phones stolen in London last year, down from 81,365 in 2024 The international trade in stolen phones is worth millions, with devices stolen in London worth more in countries such as China because it has none of the government restrictions put in place by the authorities. The Mail revealed last month that British children as young as 14 are being recruited on social media to steal mobile phones before school for 400 each. Gangs shipping stolen phones to Algeria, China and Hong Kong use Snapchat to target children to steal the devices - offering vast sums plus 100 bonuses to the most prolific phone snatchers. The exploitation of children in this trade is not just about individual offences, Sir Mark said. Its an entry point into organised crime. Children recruited to snatch phones for quick cash are being groomed into criminal networks, normalised into offending behaviour and pushed further into exploitation. What begins as one device on a street corner becomes a pathway into debt, coercion, violence and deeper criminality. The Met has ramped up its counter-phone theft operations, deploying drones and officers on e-bikes to deter and catch thieves The Met wants anti-theft protection switched on by default, stolen phones to be rendered unusable, and better access to IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) data to make it easier to return devices to their owners. Figures released under Freedom of Information legislation show only a fraction of devices taken in London are returned to their owners Between 2017 and February 27 2024, a total 587,498 phones were stolen in London excluding the City, 13,998 of which were recovered, and 573,500 were not. Delegates from countries including Japan, Brazil, Spain, and the United States attended the conference, the first of its kind. Sir Mark said weak security means criminals can still bypass locks, alter IMEIs, and sell parts that are not cryptographically tied to devices. He said there would be no criminal market if a stolen phone were unusable, and called for similar action to that taken by the car industry to make car radios less attractive to steal. Phone manufacturing software companies have invested massively in preventing access to your data, he said. Its an escalating war with fraudsters and cyber criminals, but theyve been successful enough to allow us to run our lives, including our finances, on our phones. Whilst theyve worked hard on the financial and data security of our phones, they spend far less attention on the physical safety of their customers who walk through cities with a 1,000 or 2,000 device held loosely in their hands. If a stolen phone were to become an unusable brick and the parts were not recyclable, there would be no criminal market. Police have launched a series of dawn raids on thieves and handlers as part of the crackdown Among those arrested in recent months was a 16-year-old already wearing an ankle tag for stealing the devices He added: I do not understand why tech companies leave their clients at risk despite two or three years of discussions. Until this device is worthless, the market will remain attractive to organised crime. A spokesman from Google said: 'Android's anti-theft features give added security for billions of people, including Londoners. 'We were delighted to attend the Met Polices conference to demonstrate our commitment to device safety, to outline our work to protect those who use our products and our world leading partnership with Sao Paulo police.' Last month the Met said that the number of recorded phone thefts in London went from 81,365 in 2024 to 71,391 last year. Separate figures available on the Mets crime data website show that in 2023 there were 52,820 thefts from the person where a phone was taken, and 14,326 robberies; the figures for 2024 were 70,249 thefts and 11,125 robberies; and for 2025 61,292 thefts and 10,207 robberies. In the space of the month to mid-February, the Met arrested 248 people over phone theft and recovered around 770 stolen handsets. The force is using high-powered e-bikes and drones as part of its operations to stop phone theft. But in a report for the London Policing Board, Sir Mark warned the Met remains an outlier for the number of personal robberies per thousand people, and theft from the person. The force also solves one of the smallest proportion of these offences compared with others in England and Wales. A Philadelphia man who was charged for allegedly violently assaulting his wife and daughter is revealed to have served as a family court judge. Michael Fanning, 60, was arrested at around 8.45pm on Monday after repeatedly punching his 58-year-old wife in the face and strangling her before turning on his daughter, prosecutors said. Fanning allegedly dragged his 30-year-old daughter to the ground by her hair and caused her to cut her face during the attack at their home in Torresdale, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. The incident was sparked by a 'verbal altercation' between Fanning and his wife. When the argument turned physical, his daughter attempted to intervene, according to the Philadelphia Police Department. The family court judge was appointed to the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas bench in 2014 after graduating from Temple University Law School. Before Fanning was appointed to be a judge, he worked as a lawyer in private practice and as an assistant attorney in Bucks County prosecuting child abuse cases, the outlet reported. He appeared in court on video, seen in his cell in a black tracksuit and sunglasses on his head with his lawyer Tom Pfender, according to the Inquirer. Pfender said Fanning plans to enter a not guilty plea. Bail Magistrate Lauren Connor allowed Fanning to be released on an unsecured bail of $200,000 as part of a deal between Pfender and the prosecution. Michael Fanning, 60, was arrested on Monday night after repeatedly punching his wife in the face, strangling her and then turned on his daughter, prosecutors said The family court judge was appointed to the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, seen above, in 2014 after graduating from Temple University Law School and prosecuting child abuse cases Fanning faces charges including Aggravated Assault, Strangulation, two counts of Simple Assault and two counts of Recklessly Endangering Another Person Fanning has been barred from contacting his wife and daughter as an emergency protection-from-abuse order had been issued on Monday, Connor said, according to the outlet. Should Fanning violate the order or any terms of his release, or if he appeared before Connor again in a similar domestic-violence case, bail would be set to $1 million. 'Do you understand?' Connor asked him, to which he said: '100 percent.' Fanning has not been automatically stripped of his judgeship and removed from the bench. He may face a suspension or removal by state judiciary officials. Fanning faces charges including Aggravated Assault, Strangulation, two counts of Simple Assault and two counts of Recklessly Endangering Another Person, police said. The Daily Mail reached out to Fanning's attorney and the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas for comment. A judge has declared a mistrial in the case of a Pennsylvania man accused of killing his neighbors yellow lab after a courthouse therapy dog inadvertently entered the jury room. Judge Michael F Salisbury made the decision on Friday once it was brought to his attention that the black lab, Clark, had mingled with the jurors deciding the fate of Robert W Wallish III, who admitted on the stand to killing the same breed. Clark was in the courthouse with his probation officer handler. At some point, his leash was dropped and he went into the jury room, where he was petted by multiple jurors, Pennlive reported. Salisbury called defense attorney Sarah Marie Lockwood and District Attorney David Strouse into his chambers to discuss the issue. The trial had begun the day before, on Thursday. Lockwood requested a mistrial after speaking with Wallish, while Strouse argued that the trial could be saved if the jury was given curative instructions. Salisbury agreed with the defense and granted a mistrial, even though testimony was almost over. The prosecution had rested in the morning and Lockwood only had two more witnesses to get through. If Wallish does not agree to a plea deal, his next trial is scheduled to begin in the middle of May. Wallish, 55, said in his testimony that he shot his neighbor's dog while it was still dark out on December 16, 2024. Clark, a courthouse therapy dog, wandered into a Pennsylvania jury room on Friday - during the case of Robert W Wallish III, who was charged with killing his neighbor's yellow lab He was at his hunting cabin in Clark County and explained that at around 5.30am, he went to check on his trail cameras because he had seen an opossum the night before. He took the SD card out of the camera and went back to the cabin, he said. When he realized the camera battery was dead, he went back outside with a replacement battery. He did not have his flashlight with him but he had his rifle. While walking, he said he heard a growl. He turned and fired, not knowing what he had shot. He soon realized that it was a dog, and estimated he had shot it from about 10 to 15ft away. 'I felt terrible because it was a dog,' he said. 'I love dogs.' Wallish said he put the dog's body in a garbage bag, put it in the trunk of his car and drove to his home in Dauphin County, about 150 miles away from his cabin. He then left the remains in a field about three miles from his home. The remains were discovered the next day and police were called in. Wallish admitted to killing the dog and dumping its remains three miles from his property. Now that his case has ended in a mistrial, his new trial is set to begin in the middle of May Wallish then admitted he initially lied to state police, telling them he had no knowledge of a dog being shot. He maintained that he thought he did nothing wrong in shooting the dog but said he 'wasn't thinking clearly' when he decided to dispose of the canine's remains without telling anyone. Wallish also said he did not know Andrew and Alyssa Gavlock of Westport, the owners of the 11-year-old dog named Hemi. He did acknowledge that he could see their home about 300 yards away. Andrew Gavlock testified that he let out Hemi that morning. He later followed paw prints in the snow, which led to Wallish's hunting property. Andrew did not go there. He instead used binoculars and was able to see blood stains on the snow on Wallish's property, and called the police. Wallish has been released on $10,000 unsecured bail. He faces charges of aggravated animal cruelty, evidence tampering and abuse of a corpse. A 16-year-old boy has been arrested after a teenage girl was stabbed at a school which was put into lockdown today with terrified pupils told to hide under their desks. Armed police were called to Thorpe St Andrew school near Norwich at around 10.24am as pupils were told to hide and turn off their phones while teachers barricaded classroom doors. Around 100 parents arrived at the school grounds after hearing the reports on social media, pleading with police for more information. 'Just f*****g let the kids out,' one parent shouted at officers. Another said: 'If my son is under a table and someones coming with a knife, I want him to be aware theyre coming.' One pupil who was able to make contact with their family sent a text reading 'I am very scared', while another sent a message saying they 'just want to go home'. Police drones were also on the scene as officers searched for the suspect, who is thought to have fled after jumping over a fence, before an arrest was made. It's understood that the suspect was on the run for more than an hour, with the arrest being made at around 11.30am. Officers arrested a 16-year-old boy on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and have taken him to Wymondham Police Investigation Centre for questioning. The teenage girl, believed to be a Year 10 pupil and aged between 14 or 15, has been taken to the hospital with 'minor injuries'. Armed police were called to Thorpe St Andrew school near Norwich this morning Armed police raced to the scene of the stabbing in Norwich today at around 10.24am Around 100 parents arrived at the school grounds after hearing the reports on social media, pleading with police for more information Pupils were told to hide and turn off their phones while teachers barricaded classroom doors Police drones were also on the scene as officers searched for the suspect, who is thought to have fled after jumping over a fence, before an arrest was made The scene at Thorpe St Andrew School where a teenage girl was stabbed Your browser does not support iframes. Other schools in Norfolk were also understood to be keeping children inside over lunchtime, while Thorpe St Andrew School remained in lockdown. Darren Evans, a father whose daughter is in year eight, told the Eastern Daily Press: 'The communication from the school has been shocking. 'If it were not for Facebook and the news, I would have had no idea what was going on. 'I last heard from my daughter an hour ago. There's been a total lack of communication.' Another parent added: 'To hear nothing from the school, its terrifying. Your mind sort of starts wheeling, you've got kids in the school, you don't know what they want. 'To have no information whatsoever about what was going on, with all this going on in the world right now, your mind instantly goes to the worst. 'You automatically assume the worst, and think something horrendous has happened. I mean, it has. You automatically think it's something a hell of a lot worse.' One teacher at the school said they had been told to stay in the classroom with pupils, telling ITV News Anglia: 'One of the things you practice, but never think you'll do'. Teachers are understood to have used items such as cabinets to barricade classroom doors with the school under lockdown for almost three hours. One parent, Adam Howlett, told the news outlet that he had still not heard from his daughter, despite hearing from his son who is still locked in his classroom. He said: 'When it comes to your child even minor injuries are terrifying. You dont expect to come to school and get injured. Im just waiting to find out some news and put my mind at rest.' Another parent, Shantelle Taylor, said she was 'absolutely fuming' to hear about the incident through a friend and not through the school. 'I have managed to get hold of my daughter even though she's been told she is not even allowed to message me to tell me she's okay which I think is absolutely ridiculous,' she said. An alarm was still ringing out across the school just before 1pm, however, a member of the security staff at the school told parents waiting outside 'don't worry, everyone is now safe', the BBC reports. The first pupils were let out of classrooms at around 1.20pm to be reunited with their parents, while students who are unable to leave now will be held in the school hall. Police today said the stabbing was 'not believed to be linked' to reports of anti-semitic chants at an under-15 football match which took place at the school last week. Last week, Jewish teenagers claimed they were told to 'go back to the gas chambers' and called 'dirty Zionists' by baying spectators at a football tournament at the school. They also heard repeated chants of 'Jews' and slurs made against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while one mixed-race boy alleged he was called a 'N***** Jew' by the crowd during the quarter-final of an Under-15s national football tournament on March 5. One boy alleged he was called a 'monkey' - a term that has been used by Islamic extremists as a slur against Jewish people. Students from Jewish Free School (JFS) in London told the Daily Mail they were left feeling 'threatened', 'hurt' and 'ashamed to be Jewish' after hearing the offensive remarks, which they say began from the moment the team starting warming up on the pitch at Thorpe St Andrew School. They allege staff 'didn't seem to care' after the JFS pupils raised their concerns and instead allowed the abuse to continue. It is understood the spectators comprised mainly Thorpe St Andrew students. The school, which was rated Good in its 2025 Ofsted inspection, is an 11-to-18 mixed secondary school which also includes a sixth form. A statement from Broad Horizons Education Trust, of which the school is a part, said: 'We have clear procedures in place and our staff acted swiftly, with the whole school going into lockdown with children staying in their classroom with their teacher. 'One of our students was injured and is now being treated in hospital for minor injuries. 'This has obviously been a distressing experience for our whole community and our focus now is on making sure all students feel supported as we begin to understand what happened.' Norwich North MP, Alice Macdonald, described the incident as both 'incredibly serious and deeply alarming. Posting on X, she wrote: 'Immediately, we need to give the police time to ensure that every child and adult at the school is safe. 'My thoughts right now are with all of them, especially the victim who has been taken to hospital, and their families who will be extremely worried. 'My office is trying to get the latest information to understand exactly what has happened. I will keep you updated as I learn anything.' A Norfolk Police spokesperson said: 'A boy has been arrested following an incident in Thorpe St Andrew. 'Police were called to a school on Laundry Lane, Thorpe St Andrew at 10.24am this morning following reports that a teenage girl had been stabbed. 'Emergency services attended the scene including fire and ambulance. The victim has been taken to hospital with minor injuries. 'A 16-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. He has been taken to Wymondham Police Investigation Centre for questioning. 'This incident is not believed to be linked to a hate crime reported at the same school last week.' The vape shop at the centre of a devastating fire in Glasgow city centre was not registered to sell vapes and had paid no business taxes, it was revealed today. The extraordinary blaze began in the store on Sunday afternoon, leaving a landmark Victorian building in ruins and shutting Scotland's busiest railway station. The fire started on an adapter charging system which was full of chargers under the counter, according to a witness who ran into the shop soon after it began. Flames spread through the store at 105 Union Street then into the historic B-listed Forsyth House building next door and around the corner onto Gordon Street. Now, the Daily Mail can confirm the business in the store was called 'Junaid Retail', trading as 'Scot's World', and was noted as having occupied it since August 2024. The business rates bill for 2025/26 was however returned to the local authority Glasgow City Council, with respondents claiming the owners had 'gone away'. But landlord Afton Estates confirmed Junaid Retail was still the occupier, so the council updated the billing address to the company's registered office in Hamilton. However no payment for business rates has ever been made by the company, and the account was therefore transferred to the council's debt recovery partner. The vape shop on Union Street in Glasgow pictured before the fire destroyed it and the building Black smoke billows out of the vape shop before the fire ripped through the entire building The Mail can also confirm there is no registration for the address on the Scottish Government's Register of Tobacco and Nicotine Vapour Product Retailers. Businesses selling vapes must enrol on the register under law, with failure to do so potentially leading to fines of 20,000 and even up to six months in prison. The register - intended to enforce age-restriction laws - has no record of 105 Union Street, in one of several revelations first reported by investigative website The Ferrett. The Union Street business was sold a fortnight ago to another owner under the same company name, according to a report by the publication's co-editor Karin Goodwin. The Ferret visited the business's registered address in Hamilton, where a similar shop to the Glasgow one was found selling vapes and rolling papers as well as DIY tools. This store put the website in touch with a man called Ajaz Sarwar, who claimed to be the owner of the Union Street shop until it was sold two weeks ago. Mr Sarwar claimed he was told would get one year of business rates relief before he would have to pay, but once this grace period had ended he was 'struggling badly' and the shop 'was not making enough money' to afford the payment. Mr Sarwar also told publication that he did not think vapes were included in the regulations for registering and it was only for the sale of tobacco. He added: 'I cannot comment on what happened next. That is for the new owner. But when I heard what had happened I had so much pain. Words cannot describe it.' The Mail spoke to the vape shop's current boss Arslan Ali on Monday, who said the fire 'shouldn't have happened' and that he is 'standing with all' after the blaze, adding that the incident was 'hurtful' and 'disappointing'. Mr Ali has been contacted for comment again today following the latest claims. Afton Estates, which bought the building housing the shops and the floor above for 540,000 in 2008, is under no obligation to register the selling of vapes. The huge fire began at about 3.45pm on Sunday in the shop on Union Street in Glasgow The fire brigade try to put out the blaze near Glasgow Central station on Sunday evening Glasgow City Council said enforcement officers visited the shop about 15 months ago to check it was complying with age restrictions, and it passed the test. A spokesman told the Mail today: 'Our enforcement on the sale of nicotine products focuses on under-age sales and illicit tobacco. 'We proactively visited these premises in November 2024 to undertake a test purchase to ensure compliance with age restrictions on the sale of nicotine products. 'This test purchase was passed and it was also observed at that time the stock of nicotine products being sold complied with the relevant legislation. 'The focus of our enforcement effort is determined by the complaints and other intelligence that we receive. We have received no complaints about the sale of nicotine products at these premises. 'Our approach to ensuring compliance with the register is primarily through education and guidance when we receive complaints or intelligence about an individual premises.' A planning application lodged with the council in September 2024 to convert the store into a hot-food takeaway was rejected in December last year. Maureen Burke, Labour MP for Glasgow North East, yesterday called for an urgent review of vape shops in the city, saying an audit was needed to prevent a 'repeat' of the blaze. She said: 'Given the large quantities of products containing lithium batteries, vape shops pose a greater risk of fire; therefore, it is essential that appropriate fire safety measures are in place.' Writing to Susanne Millar, the chief executive of the council, Ms Burke said: 'I am requesting that Glasgow City Council undertakes a review of vape shops operating in Glasgow to ensure we do not see a repeat of [Sunday's] fire.' At Holyrood, Glasgow Scottish Conservative MSP Annie Wells also urged ministers to work with councils on a review of the rules on vape shops 'to protect public safety'. Experts are worried about the safety of the remnants of the building after the fire in Glasgow First Minister John Swinney visits the scene of the fire adjacent to Glasgow Central yesterday First Minister John Swinney said: 'There is an obligation on any business owner, and particularly an owner of a vape shop, to make sure that their business is safe. 'And we may well be looking at the implications of that failure on other adjoining buildings.' Reform UK Glasgow City Councillor Thomas Kerr said his party wants 'the temporary removal of disposable vapes from sale while a full investigation is carried out'. The UK Vaping Industry Association called the fire an 'isolated incident' but also advised members 'to check their fire risk assessments'. Eyewitness Lamin Kongira told BBC Scotland News that he saw the fire had begun around an adapter charging system - full of chargers - under the counter in the shop. There are believed to be around 6,500 vape shops in Scotland. E-cigarette and vape use has risen rapidly. In 2011 there were about seven million adult e-cigarette users globally, increasing to 68million in 2020. While many users vape in a bid to quit cigarettes or because it is seen as being safer than smoking, concerns have been raised about the number of young people taking it up. It comes as some train services at Glasgow Central resumed today after the fire, but the main part of the station will remain shut for the rest of the week. Network Rail said it will not be possible to open the upper part of the station this week due to the 'high level of instability' of the facade of the fire-damaged building in Gordon Street. It said assessment work needs to be carried out to determine the safety of the building, and experts will then be able to assess whether there has been any damage to the high-level station. The fire service reduced its presence at the scene this morning, though three appliances and one high-reach vehicle remained at the corner of Union Street and Gordon Street. After a full site assessment, the low-level station, which is below the main concourse of the high-level station, reopened for train services from this morning. Dubai influencers have hit back after being accused of abandoning their pets as they flee the war. Vets in the UAE have reported an influx in inquiries about euthanising pets, and re-homing groups said they were 'overwhelmed' by the number of owners wanting to leave their pets behind since the US-Israel and Iran war began. Influencers were condemned by many for allegedly leaving behind their pets, including the French Animal League who published a tweet claiming French influencer Maddy Burciaga had left her dog behind and fled to Mauritius. Ms Burciaga responded by threatening legal action and said that she went on holiday and will be returning to her dog, Maya. The Animal League tweeted 'shame on her' on Monday, writing: 'Influencer Maddy Burciaga explains that she left Dubai for Mauritius due to tensions in the region... leaving her dog behind with the nanny under the pretext of "too complicated because too much paperwork." 'A dog, on the other hand, would never abandon its human to save its own skin. Dogs are ready to cross through a war to stay with their humans. 'That's the entire difference between loyalty... and comfort. Even if she wants to "protect" her family by taking refuge elsewhere, she could at least have started preparing her dog's repatriation. 'Nothing of the sort. Go ahead and ask for a strategy or deep reflection from that kind of superficial person... it's a lost cause. Shame on her.' Ms Burciaga denied the claims, saying she would be returning to her pet after a holiday in Mauritius Maddy Burciaga (pictured) is one Dubai influencer who has faced backlash for allegedly abandoning her dog while fleeing the Middle East conflict Sarah Lopez (pictured) is another influencer in Dubai who has slammed critics for accusing her of abandoning her pets The post got over 1.9million views and over 1,000 comments of condemnation, but today Ms Burciaga responded on her social media and denied the claims of abandonment and threatened to sue for defamation. She wrote: 'I would never abandon my dog; my dog is my baby, she's part of our family. When we go on vacation, Maya is looked after. 'We didnt flee Dubai, we went on vacation for a few days to escape the anxiety-inducing atmosphere there. 'To use our vacation and the ongoing war to claim we abandoned our dog is very low. 'We didnt flee Dubai, our life is in Dubai. We plan to return home to Dubai. If I had to leave tomorrow, of course I would have done everything I could to make sure Maya came with me if I didnt intend to come back. 'In any case, were going home, even if the situation doesnt improve.' She added: 'I reserve the right to attack all those who dare to damage my image and invent such serious statements.' Another influencer, Sarah Lopez, was accused on social media of abandoning her cat. Photos of dogs tied to lamp posts have been circulating online and vets have reported an influx in inquiries about euthanising pets Vicky Pattison blasted 'shameful' Dubai expats who abandoned their pets to flee the missiles raining down on the Middle East She denied this on Snapchat and claimed the cat was a 'stray' that she fed, as opposed to her pet. Ms Lopez also threatened legal action, writing: 'I dont own animals in Dubai - I rescue animals in Dubai. 'Do I have to send you vet bills for you to stop unfairly attacking me? If you only knew how furious I am. 'I reserve the right to take legal action against anyone who threatens me with messages, insults me, or threatens my family. 'Im not reserving the right, Im going to do it. A bailiff will document everything, and the proceedings will begin very soon.' Dubai and the Gulf states have been caught up in the conflict in the Middle East, suffering hits from Iranian drones and missiles and regular air raid sirens. Expats were criticised for fleeing the UAE and abandoning their pets by other expats and animal welfare groups, including former Geordie Shore star Vicky Pattison, who called it 'shameful'. Ms Pattison, 38, who was in Dubai when the conflict broke out, yesterday took to social media to blast those leaving their animals behind, saying they 'never deserved them'. She wrote: 'Just a note... if you are abandoning your pets in Dubai you didn't deserve that animal to begin with and I pray it finds a better home. Shameful.' K9 Friends Dubai, a dog re-homing group, said it has become overwhelmed by the number of dog owners wanting to leave their pets behind and phone calls they have received about abandoned puppies. Animal groups are trying their best to find shelters but hundreds of posts about deserted pets have been spotted online. And some vets have had to euthanise even healthy pets because their owners don't want to face the relocation costs or paperwork. Claire Hopkins, a resident of Dubai who volunteers with several animal organisations and shelters, said they were under severe financial pressure as fundraising activities are highly regulated and GoFundMe pages are banned in Dubai. She said: 'Some pet owners are stressed and panicking. It's right across the board, and I think the Brits are better than most, but you're talking about 200 different nationalities here in the UAE. 'Some people want to give back their adoptive pets. There are dogs starting to be abandoned. 'The airlines aren't taking animals at the moment anyway as the flights are operating a very reduced service. If you wanted to get a rabies jab, then you have to delay your travel by a further three weeks. 'I'm sorry to say that vets have had inquiries about euthanasia, which is disgusting. 'Most vets would pass them on to the shelters, but we're already full.' Rachel Reeves today conceded there is a 'valid argument' that she should not have hiked national insurance. The Chancellor said she 'recognised' the case against the controversial move in her first Budget, amid rising unemployment - particularly among young people. But appearing before the Treasury Select Committee, Ms Reeves insisted she had needed money to 'fund public services'. Concerns have been growing about the effects of increasing NICs contributions for employers. Critics say heaping extra costs on staffing has battered the jobs market and crippled the prospects of the younger generation. Pressed on what she was doing to tackle unemployment, Ms Reeves said: 'We did make the decision to increase national insurance in my first budget and that's because we needed to properly fund public services, including the National Health Service, which got a 29 billion-a-year uplift. Rachel Reeves today conceded there is a 'valid argument' that she should not have hiked national insurance The number of NEETs stood at 957,000 in the last three months of 2025, equivalent to around one in eight from the age group 'So, I do recognise, and it's a valid argument to say that that should not have happened. But if that didn't happen, we wouldn't have been able to put the money into the NHS and reduce waiting lists. 'And reducing waiting lists in the NHS is also good for business, because it means that more people are available for work, and the workforce is is healthier. 'But I do recognise there are particular issues around youth unemployment. 'A lot of that, with respect, we inherited with a big increase in the young people not in education, employment or training, but we are facing into that with actions coming on stream from next month.' The Chancellor said the Government was expanding apprenticeship opportunities for young people and pointed to her 'youth guarantee', committing to offer guaranteed paid work for every eligible young person who has been out of education or work for 18 months. The number of young people not in employment, education or training - so-called NEETs - increased in the final months of last year and edged closer to one million, according to official figures last month. Critics say heaping extra costs on staffing has battered the jobs market and crippled the prospects of the younger generation The ONS said the number of so-called Neets aged 16 to 24 was reported at 957,000 in the three months from October to December an increase from 946,000 in the previous quarter. Separate figures earlier in February showed the overall unemployment rate for Britons rose to 5.2 per cent for the three months to November. Some businesses have slowed hiring as they have seen the cost of employing workers rise on the back of policy measures including the hike in employers' national insurance contributions and a rise in the minimum wage. A mother has removed all Amazon Alexa devices from her Texas home after the AI assistant asked her four-year-old daughter what she was wearing. Christy Hosterman, 32, was using the device to help with a dinner recipe last month when her daughter Stella asked it to tell her a silly story, a feature on the device that is commonly utilized by children. When the story was finished, Stella asked the AI if she could narrate her own tale. Alexa agreed, but interrupted the child halfway through to ask 'what she was wearing and if it could see her pants,' Hosterman revealed in a Facebook post. Screenshots of the interaction shared by the concerned parent show that when Stella told the device 'I have a skirt on,' it asked her to 'let me take a look.' The AI then corrected itself, saying: 'This experience isn't quite ready for kids yet, but I am working on it!' Hosterman then confronted the device, stating that she did not approve of the remarks. Alexa apologized and said it 'cannot actually see anything' because it lacked 'visual capabilities.' The device added that its response was 'confusing and inappropriate.' Christy Hosterman, seen with her family, has removed all Amazon Alexa devices from her Texas home after the AI assistant asked her four-year-old daughter an incredibly creepy question Hosterman is now urging other parents to 'be aware when you child talks to Alexa' Hosterman is now urging other parents to 'be aware when you child talks to Alexa' and says she has permanently removed the device from their home. 'I flipped out on the Alexa, it said it made a mistake and doesn't have visual capabilities, but I dont believe that. No more Alexa in our house,' she shared. The concerned parents submitted a ticket to Amazon over the inappropriate interaction, WXIX reported. An Amazon spokesperson claimed the device misunderstood Stella's request and tried to launch a feature the Shiw and Tell feature which 'lets Alexa+ describe what it sees through the camera.' 'Because we have safeguards that disable this feature when a child profile is in use, the camera never turned on and Alexa explained the feature wasn't available,' the spokesperson told the Daily Mail. Amazon claims the response likely stemmed from a 'feature misfire that our safeguards prevented from launching'. The company said the interaction demonstrated a technological issue that its team 'worked quickly' to correct. Alexa will no longer attempt to launch the Show and Tell feature when a child profile is in use, the spokesperson added. 'Alexa will simply respond that this feature is not available.' Screenshots of the interaction shared by the concerned parent show that when Stella told the device 'I have a skirt on,' it asked her to 'let me take a look' Hosterman then confronted the device, stating that she did not approve of the remarks. Alexa apologized and said it 'cannot actually see anything' because it lacked 'visual capabilities.' The device added that it's response was 'confusing and inappropriate' But Hosterman says Amazon's explanation does not address her concerns. 'My concern is that it recognized she was a child to begin with and with or without the child profile, it should not have been asking that,' she told the outlet. Tech expert Dave Hatter has made a chilling suggestion that a predator may have accessed the device and been influencing the conversation. Hatter, who has 25 years of software writing experience, alleged there is a 'slim' chance that AI would alter its script this drastically. 'It feels to me like a potential predator seeing there's a child accessing this and gauging where the conversation is going that's more of a human being trying to steer down this direction,' he said. Amazon denied Hatter's claim, telling the the Daily Mail: 'It is functionally impossible for Amazon employees to insert themselves into a conversation and generate responses as Alexa. All technical evidence points to a feature misfire that our safeguards prevented from launching.' A Porsche-driving ringleader has been handed a mammoth term for managing a series of anti-Semitic attacks designed to divide Australian Jewish and Arab communities. Nicholas James Alexander admitted orchestrating firebombings and attacks across Sydney in January 2025 at the behest of shadowy overseas figures. He hired street-level thugs to firebomb a childcare centre in Maroubra and torch cars at the former home of senior Jewish leader Alex Ryvchin. Anti-Semitic slurs and swastikas were also painted on cars and a synagogue. The 32-year-old said he acted on the instructions of the unknown people based overseas and was not motivated by racial hatred. 'I don't have any ill will towards the Jewish community,' Alexander wrote in a letter to Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court. 'My acts, which I took responsibility for, are completely financially motivated.' He claimed a drug problem propelled him into debt and he felt like he had no other choice except to do as he was directed. Executive Council of Australian Jewry Co-CEO Alex Ryvchin, with wife Vicki Ryvchin, at their former home in Dover Heights, eastern Sydney, after it was targeted by an anti-Semitic attack A car was graffitied and firebombed in the Dover Heights attack on January 17, 2025 (pictured) 'My actions were not intended to hurt anyone or to push an agenda on my behalf. I was simply trying to free myself from the trap I found myself in,' he wrote. He pleaded guilty to knowingly directing a criminal group and six counts of being an accessory before the fact to property destruction. He organised for stolen cars to be used in the attacks, explained how to make and use Molotov cocktails, arranged for handguns to be passed on, and co-ordinated drop-off points. While accepting he was remorseful and not motivated by race, magistrate Jennifer Atkinson rejected his reasons for the offending. His ownership of a Porsche implied he was not without financial resources, she noted. Alexander was motivated by financial reward and knew the offences would create fear in the Australian Jewish community and beyond, the magistrate found. The magistrate also noted his explanation was similar to messages he had sent to the people he hired, which told them if they got 'grabbed' to claim they owed a drug debt to Arab gangs. The series of attacks was a deliberate tactic to divide Australian Arabs and Jewish communities to further the overseas masterminds' aims, Ms Atkinson said. A childcare centre was set ablaze in one suspected anti-Semitic attack (pictured) An anti-Semitic slur was found spray-painted on the childcare centre's exterior wall (pictured) 'The immense distress already being experienced in the Jewish community was compounded day by day throughout the month of January,' she said. 'These events were also an attack on Australian society generally, by persons from outside our community. They were intended to divide our community.' He played a crucial role for the overseas meddlers, who would have no way of influencing events in Australia without people like Alexander willing to enact their plans. Alexander did not react as he was jailed for five years. He will be eligible for parole in mid-2028. The head sentence is the highest term available to a NSW magistrate for any set of offences. Mr Ryvchin, whose former home was defaced in the attacks, said he believed the sentence was appropriate. 'This man's decision to target a childcare centre and a family home made people fear for their lives and the safety of their children,' the Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive said. 'They made Jewish Australians question their place in this country and change patterns of behaviour between Jews and non-Jews.' A pro-Iranian 'hate rally' in London will now take place as a static protest, as Shabana Mahmood confirmed she was powerless to block it from going ahead. The Home Secretary approved a Metropolitan Police request to prohibit the annual Al Quds Day march on Sunday 'to prevent serious public disorder'. But a static demonstration - based in a single location - is set to go ahead instead. The Public Order Act - under measures set out under Section 13 of the legislation - allows the authorities to ban marches but there are no equivalent powers for 'public assemblies' which remain in one place. She told MPs: 'The police and Home Secretary only have the power to prohibit a public procession. 'Section 13 cannot be used to ban a static protest, referred to in the legislation as a public assembly. 'Should a static demonstration proceed this weekend, the police will not be able to stop it. 'Instead, they will be able to impose conditions such as dictating the precise location and timing. 'People will therefore be able to exercise their right to peaceful protest, though the full force of the law will be enforced if hate crimes or other crimes are committed.' The Home Secretary added that restrictions on the protest - including its location - will be a matter for the Metropolitan Police. It remains to be seen whether the force will allow it to be staged in a high-profile public place, such as the capital's Trafalgar Square. People take part in a pro-Palestine march organised by Al Quds in London on March 23, 2025 Ms Mahmood said the organisers of the event, the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC), was 'an organisation that has been closely associated with the Iranian regime'. And the timing of this weekend's demonstration 'comes at a time when the Iranian regime is attacking British forces and bases, as well as those of our allies'. During a Commons debate on the Home Secretary's statement, Conservative MP Dr Andrew Murrison expressed concern that the IHRC would be able to 'exploit a loophole' in the law and continue with a static demo. Ms Mahmood replied: 'It's not a loophole that the law deliberately treats the two things differently. 'The policing challenges of a static protest are different in nature from the policing challenge of policing a march which is moving from one location to another. 'The Public Order Act just recognises the difference between those two things. 'The police do have the powers to condition the way that a static protest takes place. 'They've made use of those conditions very well to date. I'm sure they will continue to do so.' The event - named after the Arabic word for Jerusalem - was created by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini after Iran's 1979 revolution to express opposition to Israel. It has long drawn heavy criticism, which grew today after its organisers expressed support for Iran's former leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was recently killed in an Israeli airstrike. Faisal Bodi, a spokesman for march organiser the IHRC, insisted the despot was a man of 'principle and integrity'. Asked if he would hold a picture of Khamenei, Mr Bodi told the BBC: 'Happily. I would rather hold a picture of the Ayatollah than Keir Starmer or Donald Trump. He was a man of principle, a man of integrity, a man who stood for justice.' He added: 'In the same way I would happily hold a picture of Nelson Mandela and Malcolm X and many other towering personalities.' Mr Bodi added that Khamenei 'stood on the side of Palestine'. He also quoted Tehran's figures for the number of protesters that had been killed during a recent wave of street protests - rather than independently verified figures that are in the tens of thousands. Today, the IHRC said it 'strongly condemned' the Met's decision to ban its march and would continue with a static protest. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood delivers a ministerial statement in the House of Commons today on her decision to allow the Al Quds march to be banned - but she explained she and the police are powerless to prevent a 'static' demonstration from taking place instead But Lord Walney, the governments former independent advisor on political violence and disruption, said Ms Mahmood had made 'the right decision'. This has always been a highly questionable march, and it is ludicrous of its organisers to suggest that it's been entirely good natured and there's been no extremist or legal material on display,' he said. 'It has been effectively a festival of hatred for Jewish people, and there has been clear support for criminal organisations, for proscribed terrorist organisations at the margin.' IHRC said in a statement this morning: 'IHRC strongly condemns the decision by the Metropolitan Police to ban the Al Quds Day March. However, a static Al Quds Day protest will still go ahead. 'We hope to see you on Sunday 15th March InshaAllah. All preparations must continue as planned. We are seeking legal advice and this decision will not go unchallenged.' The statement added: 'If it was not clear already, the police have brazenly abandoned their sworn principle of policing without fear or favour, and have capitulated to the pressure of the Zionist lobby. 'The Metropolitan Police unashamedly regurgitate Zionist talking points about IHRC without a shred of evidence. They cannot present evidence because there is none we are an independent NGO. 'In essence, this is a politically charged decision; not one taken for the security of the people of London.' The organisation had previously insisted the demonstration is always 'good natured and peaceful'. Announcing her decision yesterday to ban the march, Ms Mahmood said she was 'satisfied doing so is necessary to prevent serious public disorder, due to the scale of the protest and multiple counter-protests, in the context of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East'. The Home Secretary added: 'Should a stationary demonstration proceed, the police will be able to apply strict conditions. 'I expect to see the full force of the law applied to anyone spreading hatred and division instead of exercising their right to peaceful protest.' The ban on a procession will remain in force until April 11. Former Met chief superintendent Dal Babu said this morning that the annual march would be 'extremely challenging' to police. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'The last time we had a ban was in 2012, so this is a very, very serious decision, but it would have been based on police intelligence.' Mr Babu added: 'There are people who want to demonstrate against what (the) Iran regime is doing. There are Jewish groups that want to demonstrate around the Al Quds. 'There are other groups who want to demonstrate... I understand from the police that this will be groups that want to do counter-demonstrations near the point where this demonstration is taking place. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood arrives for a Cabinet meeting in Downing Street yesterday 'So, it's going to be an extremely challenging situation for the police to manage.' He later added: 'An outright ban is extremely unusual and I think we need to trust the police, trust their judgment.' It is the first time a protest march has been banned since 2012. The Met said previous Al Quds Day marches resulted in arrests for supporting terrorist organisations and antisemitic hate crimes. In a statement, the force said: 'The decision to ban it this year is purely based on a risk assessment of this specific protest and counter-protests - we do not police taste or decency or prefer one political view over another, but we will do everything we can to reduce violence and disorder.' The Met said the 'uniquely complex' international situation and 'severe' risks meant merely placing conditions on the protest 'will not be sufficient to prevent it from resulting in serious public disorder'. It added that it would place 'strict conditions' on any static protest, which the law does not allow the police or Government to ban, but 'given the tensions, we have to accept that confrontations could still take place'. The decision follows calls from Labour and Conservative MPs to ban the march. Earlier yesterday, courts minister Sarah Sackman said people expressing support for 'the malign regime in Iran' should not be 'on the streets of London calling for hate and hostility against this country'. Shadow Home Office minister Alicia Kearns also called for the march to be cancelled, saying there was 'no place in our country for the celebration of terrorists'. The Campaign Against Antisemitism welcomed the decision to ban the march, saying it was 'a positive development' and adding: 'Allowing this hate-fest to go ahead would have sent the message that Islamists rule the roost in Britain.' Iran has warned the world to prepare for oil to hit $200 a barrel, after it attacked three cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has all but cut off access to the waterway, a chokepoint in global trade that ordinarily sees around 20% of all oil pass through daily. Since the start of the war in the Middle East, however, it has established a domineering presence in the Strait, leading to oil prices hitting a peak of nearly $120 a barrel, before dropping to its price at time of publication of $87. Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for Iran's military command said in comments directed at the US and its allies: 'Get ready for oil be $200 a barrel, because the oil price depends on regional security which you have destabilised.' Yesterday, Iran said it would not allow 'one litre of oil' to be shipped from the Middle East if US and Israeli attacks continue. It has made good on that threar, after today attacking several commercial ships in the Strait. An attack on the Thailand-flagged bulk carrier Mayuree Naree from an 'unknown projectile', which was reported at 4.35am GMT, happened 11 nautical miles north of Oman and resulted in a fire onboard the ship. Authorities are searching for three missing crew members from the Mayuree Naree after 20 were rescued by the Omani navy. Your browser does not support iframes. Authorities are searching for three missing crew members from the Mayuree Naree (pictured) after 20 were rescued by the Omani navy An attack on the Thailand-flagged bulk carrier Mayuree Naree from an 'unknown projectile' was reported at 4.35am GMT The price of oil rose rapidly this week, following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz Earlier, the Japan-flagged container ship One Majesty had sustained minor damage from an unknown projectile 25 nautical miles northwest of Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates, two maritime security sources said. Its crew members are safe and the vessel is sailing towards a safe anchorage, the sources added. A third vessel, a bulk carrier, was also hit by an unknown projectile approximately 50 miles northwest of Dubai, maritime security firms said. Iran today confirmed it had attacked the ships, adding: 'The American aggressors and their partners have no right to pass.' The projectile had damaged the hull of the Marshall Islands-flagged Star Gwyneth, maritime risk management company Vanguard said, adding that the vessel's crew were safe. Earlier, Saudi Arabia's state oil company warned of 'catastrophic consequences' for the world's oil markets if the Middle East war continues to choke exports. Amin Nasser, the CEO of Aramco, said: 'While we have faced disruptions in the past, this one by far is the biggest crisis the region's oil and gas industry has faced.' He admitted that while his firm, the world's single biggest exporter of oil, was meeting most of its customers' needs for now, this was only possible by tapping into storage facilities outside the Gulf. Nasser said that these stores cannot be used for 'an extended period of time, but for the time being, we are capitalising on it.' The CEO said: 'There would be catastrophic consequences for the world's oil markets, and the longer the disruption goes on the more drastic the consequences for the global economy.' Your browser does not support iframes. Smoke rising from the Thai bulk carrier 'Mayuree Naree' near the Strait of Hormuz after an attack on March 11 The Thai ship was attacked today. No group or nation has yet claimed responsibility The attacks came shortly after American forces destroyed 16 Iranian minelaying vessels near the Strait of Hormuz. The White House had earlier warned Iran will be hit 'at a level never seen before' if they place mines on the Strait of Hormuz amid concerns the regime could target the key oil waterway. 'US forces eliminated multiple Iranian naval vessels, March 10, including 16 minelayers near the Strait of Hormuz,' the US Central Command announced on X, with an accompanying video showing some of the strikes. The Strait of Hormuz is the only sea passage between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. The minelayers near the Strait of Hormuz were among multiple Iranian vessels taken out by US forces on Tuesday. The military published the figure and unclassified footage of some of the vessels after Donald Trump warned Iran against laying mines in the critical waterway. As the world continues to reel from skyrocketing fuel prices, the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen today said that the EU is considering subsidising or cutting gas prices to 'deliver relief now.' Gas prices in Europe have doubled since war broke out, and von der Leyen today said in Strasbourg that subsidies or caps could be used to lower the impact when gas sets the price of electricity, which happens when intermittent renewables do not supply power to the grid. Overnight, the US and Israel traded air strikes with Iran across the Middle East on Wednesday as the besieged Tehran government warned its state security forces were ready with 'fingers on the trigger' to confront any anti-government protests. Following an exchange of some of the heaviest bombardments in the region yet on Tuesday, the combatants renewed their attacks on opposing targets in Israel, Lebanon and the Gulf as the war stretched into its 12th day. After offices of a bank in Tehran were hit overnight, Iran said would respond with attacks on banks that do business with the United States or Israel. People across the Middle East should stay 1,000 metres from banks, it warned. Emergency personnel work at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in Beirut's Aisha Bakkar neighbourhood on March 11, 2026 In an effort to ease economic pressure, Japan's prime minister Sanae Takaichi announced today that her country would take the lead and begin releasing oil from its reserves as early as next week. She said Japan had decided not to wait for the International Energy Agency, a global body set up to help ensure stable oil prices, to make a formal decision on a coordinated release between its 32 members. The planned release will see Japan release 15 days worth of oil from the private sector, along with one month's worth from the state's stock pile. Between public and private stocks, Japan has roughly 254 days of oil saved up. Further complicating matter, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed Russia could become the first country to send troops to Iran to fight against the US and Israel amid reports Moscow is sharing intelligence with Iran. Vladimir Putin has denied providing information to Iran to help target American forces in the Middle East during a phone call with Donald Trump earlier this week. It comes after the Washington Post reported the Kremlin has passed Iran the locations of American military assets including warships and aircraft. Overnight, millions of Israelis were repeatedly driven into bomb shelters as the military warned Iran had launched missiles toward Israel, a sign that Tehran retains the capacity to strike Israel after nearly two weeks of hostilities. The sound of explosions from air defences intercepting the rockets punctuated the pre-dawn darkness as air raid sirens blared and Israelis scrambled to safe rooms and shelters. There was no immediate word of whether any of the missiles reached the ground. Iran's armed forces spokesman Abolfazl Shekarchi on Wednesday urged regional countries and fellow Muslims to indicate 'US-Zionist [Israeli] hiding places' to maximise the precision and impact of Iranian strikes, while minimising harm to civilians, who he said are 'used as human shields', according to Defapress, a news outlet affiliated with the military. Shekarchi also said that Iran will respond to recent U.S.-Israeli strikes in residential areas. The latest attacks from Iran roughly coincided with a new Israeli barrage on Beirut aimed at rooting out the Iran-backed group Hezbollah, which has fired into Israel from Lebanon in solidarity with the Tehran government. Explosions were also heard in Beirut and in southern Lebanon after Israel said it had started a new assault on targets related to the Iranian-linked militia Hezbollah. The attacks set a building ablaze in central Beirut in the densely populated Aicha Bakkar area, engulfing the top two floors of the multi-storey structure. There were no immediate reports of casualties from the strike, which came without warning. An earlier Israeli strike killed five people in the Nabatieh district in southern Lebanon, while two more were killed in strikes in the Tyre and Bint Jbeil districts, Lebanon's health ministry said. A Red Cross worker also died as a result of wounds sustained on Monday, when his team was hit by an Israeli strike while they were rescuing people from an earlier attack. Nearly 500 people have been killed so far in Lebanon since Hezbollah triggered the latest round of fighting with Israel when it fired rockets into the country's north after the American and Israeli attacks on Iran started. In response, France today said it will send 60 tonnes of aid to Lebanon. French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the aid would arrive by Thursday, and would include 'sanitation kits, hygiene kits, mattresses, lamps and a mobile medical post' amid strikes on Lebanon. Israel warned of three Iranian attacks early on Wednesday, with sirens heard in Tel Aviv and elsewhere but no immediate reports of casualties. In addition to Iranian attacks targeting Saudi Arabia's oil fields, the kingdom's defence ministry said it had destroyed six ballistic missiles launched toward Prince Sultan Air Base, a major US and Saudi-operated air facility in eastern Saudi Arabia. Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war last week when Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the killing of the Iranian supreme leader in US-Israeli strikes The ministry also said it intercepted and destroyed two drones over the eastern city of Hafar al-Batin. Two Iranian drones have struck near Dubai International Airport, wounding four people though flights continue, authorities said. The Dubai Media Office, which issues statements on behalf of the city-state's government, said the attack caused 'minor injuries to two Ghanaian nationals and one Bangladeshi national, and moderate injuries to one Indian national'. Dubai International Airport, home to the long-haul carrier Emirates, is the world's busiest for international travel. Authorities have been trying build up its flight schedule though the airport has been targeted in the war. The lead Jeffrey Epstein investigator in Congress claimed on Tuesday that Donald Trump's Department of Justice failed when it ended a probe into the sex offender's New Mexico ranch. During the President's first term, in 2019, New Mexico state authorities were investigating Epstein's Zorro Ranch, a remote 30,000-square-foot mansion, surrounded by sprawling grasslands. However, Trump's Justice Department took over the case from the local investigators and shut down their investigation. Epstein died that year of what the government claims was a suicide while in his jail cell awaiting his federal sex trafficking trial. 'The federal government asked New Mexico to stop their investigation, I believe, back in 2019 of that ranch,' House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, a Republican and an ally of Trump who is leading the Epstein inquiry, said Tuesday. 'So theres just so many questions about how the government failed, the victims and how government failed in trying to prosecute Epstein sooner. I mean, this whole thing doesnt make sense.' Zorro Ranch is roughly 30 miles south of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and is alleged to be the site of much wrongdoing. Self-proclaimed Epstein victims have alleged they were abused at the property. Shocking files in the recently released DOJ Epstein trove claim - among other things - that two foreign women were killed during 'rough sex' at the property and later buried on site. Though the claims have come under much scrutiny. Those revelations and more recently prompted local authorities to reopen the probe into the ranch. Authorities began searching the property on Monday. The DOJ did not immediately respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said on Fox News Tuesday evening that Trump's Department of Justice shutdown a local New Mexico investigation into Jeffrey Epstein's Zorro Ranch in 2019 The FBI did not answer the Daily Mail's inquiry this year about whether it ever searched the property. Above Epstein is shown at the New Mexico ranch Epstein's victims say they were abused at the property and some documents released by the DOJ claim two foreign women were killed and buried at the site, though the allegations have come under much scrutiny An interior shot of the main house on Zorro Ranch The three-level main house spanned 30,000 square feet with four bedrooms, a living room, library (above) and gourmet kitchen It's unclear whether the site had already been searched by federal authorities or if it had been left untouched for years. The FBI told the Daily Mail last month that it would not comment on allegations it never searched Zorro Ranch. Some emails in the DOJ Epstein trove indicate that federal authorities never searched the 7,500-acre property. 'Everyone has conspiracy theories on how Epstein was able to get away with it,' Comer said. 'Was it because he had powerful friends? Was it because he was an agent? We dont know, but were gonna find out and Im glad that theyre on the ground now in New Mexico searching that property.' New Mexico State Attorney General Raul Torrez announced that state investigators began searching the ranch on Monday. 'Revelations outlined in the previously sealed FBI files warrant further examination,' the state investigators said of the previous federal request. According to Comer, the DOJ's Southern District of New York office shut down the 2019 local New Mexico probe into the Zorro Ranch. 'It was the Department of Justice, I believe. And I believe it was because they had I believe, it perhaps was Southern District of New York because they had taken over the investigation at that point.' The plans show that Epstein's master bedroom takes up most of the first floor, where there were also two relatively small en-suite bedrooms and a fourth 'staff bedroom' One of the four bedrooms inside the sprawling property Epstein bought Zorro in 1993 from former New Mexico governor Bruce King According to Comer, the DOJ's Southern District of New York office shut down the 2019 local New Mexico probe into the Zorro Ranch A drone view shows Zorro Ranch, a property formerly owned by Jeffrey Epstein, near Stanley, New Mexico, March 8, 2026 'So, again, these are questions that we have. We want to get the answers.' Epstein ordered the burial of two 'foreign girls' near his ranch after they were strangled to death during 'rough, fetish sex', according to an email released by the DOJ earlier this year. The email, sent by a person claiming to have worked for Epstein, also includes links purporting to show the late pedophile engaging in sex with underage girls. The correspondence, first sent to a man named Eddy Aragon on November 21, 2019, before being forwarded to the FBI was titled 'Confidential: Jeffrey Epstein.' The apparent sender, whose name has been redacted, claimed to have 'been there and seen it all, as a former staff at the Zorro.' The sender alleged the girls were buried on the orders of Epstein and 'Madam G', believed to be Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's close associate, at Zorro Ranch. Jeffrey Epstein ordered the burial of two 'foreign girls' near his ranch after they were strangled to death during 'rough, fetish sex', a person claiming to be a former worker has alleged The email, sent on November 21, 2019 to Eddy Aragon, was forward to the FBI In the email, the person wrote: 'Edward. This is sensitive, so it will be the first and last email depending on your discretion.' 'You can choose to take it or trash it but this comes from a person that has been there and seen it all, as a former staff at the Zorro.' 'The material below was taken from Jeffrey Epstein home as my insurance in case of future litigation against Epstein. SORRY NO QUESTIONS.' The email added: 'What is damning about Jeffrey Epstein is yet to be written. Did you know somewhere in the hills outside the Zorro, two foreign girls were buried on orders of Jeffrey and Madam G? Both died by strangulation during rough, fetish sex.' The sender also included links to videos which claimed to show Epstein having sex with minors, threesomes and sex with underage girls. The sender then demanded a payment of one Bitcoin in return for the video and information. When Trump deemed the shoes of his most senior Cabinet members, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, too shabby, he ordered them a pair of his favorite Oxfords. The President, in an anecdote told by Vance earlier this year, asked about their shoe sizes. Rubio said he was an 11-and-a-half, Vance a 13 and a third politician, whom Vance did not name, said he was a size 7. Trump crudely joked: 'You know, you can tell a lot about a man by his shoe size.' Now, a photo of Rubio's feet is going viral after reporting this week revealed that Trump has bestowed the $145 Florsheim dress shoes on multiple cabinet secretaries, with many feeling obliged to wear them. Rubio's pair appeared to be on the large side with a noticeable gap between his heel and the back of the shoe. As the image went viral, speculation swirled that Rubio had exaggerated his shoe size, given the President's fixation with foot size. 'They all told the President their shoe sizes were bigger than they are because of the exact same reason a 12-year-old would,' said one commenter on X. President Trump has bestowed $145 Florsheim dress shoes on multiple Cabinet secretaries, with many apparently feeling obliged to wear them, including Marco Rubio The Secretary of State's footwear caused a stir online after appearing to be on the larger side, with a noticeable gap between his heel and the back of the shoe on Capitol Hill on January 7 JD Vance, Rubio and Pete Hegseth are all said to be recipients of the Florsheim footwear People familiar with the ritual detail how the President guesses people's shoe size in front of them. Later, he will have an aide put in an order, which the White House claims he personally pays for, and a week later send off a brown Florsheim shoebox, bearing his signature and sometimes a note. Recipients of the Florsheim footwear include Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, the Wall Street Journal reported. 'All the boys have them,' said a female White House official. 'It's hysterical because everybody's afraid not to wear them,' said another. Fox News star Sean Hannity, former Fox personality Tucker Carlson and Senator Lindsey Graham also have the shoes, as does White House deputy Chief of Staff James Blair. Some sources heard a cabinet secretary complain about feeling the need to hang up their Louis Vuitton shoes to wear the Florsheims when they come to the White House. The American shoe brand is relatively affordable compared to other dress shoe brands. Most dress loafers and Oxfords come in at a grand total of $145, and some on sale can reach as low as $50. Florsheim was founded in 1892 in Chicago by German immigrant Sigmund Florsheim and his son Milton. The company outfitted American soldiers in the First and Second World Wars. President Harry Truman donned them and Michael Jackson famously moonwalked in their loafers. Fifth-generation Florsheim, Thomas Florsheim Jr, when reached by phone, said he was unaware of the President's shoe orders and declined to comment on his affinity for the brand. Join the debate Is Trump's behaviour unpresidential? President Trump has, for the last year, developed an affinity for gifting Florsheim brand shoes to male Cabinet officials, lawmakers, advisers and politicians, according to a report Florsheim was founded in 1892 in Chicago by German immigrant Sigmund Florsheim and his son Milton. Their male Oxfords and loafers usually run around $145, which Trump personally pays when gifting them Rubio was already familiar with the shoes donning boots from the brand during his 2016 presidential campaign Apparently, Trump fell in love with Florsheim shoes late last year when he was searching for footwear that would feel better after a day of work. Shortly after, he began dispensing them to his allies. 'Did you get the shoes?' Trump will ask his agency leaders at cabinet meetings. It is unclear the reason why Trump, who is known for his expensive Brioni suits and love for aesthetics, was looking for a new shoe brand. But he has snubbed compression socks that could help with his chronic venous insufficiency, a condition that causes swelling in the calves and ankles. Speaking with the Journal in January, Trump admitted he briefly tried wearing the medical compression stockings but stopped because he 'didn't like them'. Rubio and Vance got their shoes from Trump after a December Oval Office meeting. The Vice President recalled during an event the same day, celebrating Kennedy Center honoree Sylvester Stallone, how Trump looked over the Resolute Desk at their feet and said: 'Marco, JD, you guys have s****y shoes.' He then opened a catalog and asked Vance, Rubio and a third unnamed politician their shoe sizes, which were 13, 11.5 and 6, according to the VP. 'The President kind of leans back in his chair and says, "You know you can tell a lot about a man by his shoe size",' Vance said during the December remarks. Jill Biden is set to lift the lid on the grim three weeks when the Democratic Party drew the knives out for Joe amid mounting claims that his inner circle were covering up his failing health. The political spouse of 50 years has never publicly discussed the final stretch that ended her husband's career, including accusations that she stood at the center of a 'palace guard' that kept his decline a secret. Now she is finally breaking her silence in a new book, 'View from the East Wing: A Memoir,' that will be published June 2. Jill said the book is a 'reflection of my four years as first lady' and that writing it was, for her, somewhat healing. 'It was kind of cathartic for me to write it, and I wrote about all the, you know, sometimes painful - but other times, most of it really beautiful moments that Joe and I shared during his presidency,' she said. Jill declined Tuesday to discuss any of those moments, including whether she will address claims that she, chief among a small circle of loyalists, actively managed what the public was allowed to see of a president whose condition had become an open secret inside the West Wing. The dam finally burst in June 2024 when a disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump laid bare Biden's cognitive decline, in which he struggled, in a raspy voice, to land his points and often appeared to lose his train of thought. Aides claimed he was suffering from a cold, but that only fanned the flames of what critics claimed was a years-long cover-up. Joe Biden, left, and First Lady Jill Biden walk on the South Lawn of the White House after arriving on Marine One in Washington, DC, US, on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 First Lady Jill Biden speaks at a Get Out the Vote campaign event for Harris-Walz in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States, on November 3, 2024 Special Counsel Robert Hur had already described Biden earlier that year as a 'well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory' who could not recall the date of his son Beau's death. The public had seen him fall over on numerous occasions, on the stairs to Air Force One, at speaking engagements and even spectacularly tumbling off his bicycle. Biden at first insisted he would stay in the race. But after three weeks the 81-year-old withdrew, announcing his decision in a letter posted to X while isolating with Covid at his Rehoboth Beach home in Delaware. Even the signature on that letter was immediately disputed, with online sleuths claiming the loops and spacing indicated the use of an autopen. The frequent use of the autopen, often cited by Trump, has become a specter that haunts Biden's presidency to this day. Biden's vice president Kamala Harris went on to become the party's nominee. Jill was livid that her husband had been forced out and privately seethed at Harris, the pair remaining icy ever since, with her ultimate defeat to Trump only souring relations further. She said the book offers a 'more balanced view' of her husband's presidency, a claim likely to raise eyebrows given what followed. A House Oversight Committee report published last year accused top advisors of hiding Biden's decline, describing it as one of the biggest scandals in US history. Jill said: 'I have put things in perspective.' Vice President Kamala Harris and first lady Jill Biden attend a ceremony during the National Veterans Day Observance in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., November 11, 2024 The memoir is also a tribute to women who, like herself, juggle multiple roles. 'It's also a story about my being able to balance life, you know, as a working woman and as a mother, a grandmother, a first lady,' she said. During her four years in the role, Jill, 74, made history as the first first lady to continue the career she had before entering the White House. She had taught English and writing for decades at the community college level, and she continued teaching twice a week at a Northern Virginia school while serving as first lady. She has one daughter, Ashley, with Biden, and helped him raise his sons Beau and Hunter following the tragic death of his first wife in a car crash in 1972. The Bidens have seven grandchildren. Biden's office announced last May that he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer and that it had spread to his bones. He's receiving treatment. Jill said it was 'quite a shock getting the diagnosis' for her husband, who's now 83. 'The fact that it is in his bones means that he will have cancer, you know, all his lifetime,' Jill said. She said the doctors say he will 'live out his natural life.' Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrive on the South Lawn of the White House, Jan. 23, 2023 Jill Biden and U.S. President, Joe Biden arrive ahead of the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey on September 19, 2022 in London, England. 'Like most retired couples, he'll probably drive me crazy till the end of it,' she joked. She said he visits Washington at least once a week for meetings or to give speeches. Jill also writes about serving during a unique period in American history, including the Covid-19 pandemic and the January 6 Capitol riot, the publisher Gallery Books said. Her husband was sworn into office just two weeks after Trump supporters stormed the Capitol over claims the election had been rigged. Biden's first year in office was dominated by the federal response to the pandemic and, while he mostly stayed at the White House, Jill wore a face mask and traveled around the country to encourage people to get their vaccinations. She also continued her advocacy on behalf of military families, education and community colleges, cancer prevention and women's health initiatives. Before the White House, Jill served as second lady from 2009 to 2017, during her husband's two terms as Barack Obama's vice president. She currently chairs the Milken Institute's Women's Health Network. Jill is also the author of 'Where the Light Enters,' published in 2019, in which she wrote about meeting Biden, then a US senator from Delaware, and building a life with him. She has also written three children's books. An 83-year-old US Air Force veteran might not survive after a man shoved him onto New York City subway tracks, according to his devastated daughter. Richard Williams was enjoying his usual errands on Sunday around 11.30am in the Upper East Side, when the alleged suspect, Bairon Hernandez, 34, pushed the elderly man onto the tracks while he waited for the F and Q trains at the Lexington Avenue-63rd St. station. Just moments before, Hernandez sent another man, John Rodriguez, 30, flying onto the train tracks, the New York Police Department (NYPD) said. Rodriguez helped Williams off the tracks, while bystanders guided them back onto the platform just before a train came speeding into the station. Hernandez, who is originally from Honduras, fled the scene but was arrested early Tuesday morning at a shelter in Brooklyn after police received a tip, authorities said. Williams and Rodriguez both suffered injuries as a result of the vicious and random attack, and according to the veteran's daughter, he might not make it. 'We're wishing for a miracle right now,' his eldest daughter, Debbie Williams, told the Daily Mail on Wednesday as her father remains on life support at New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell. Debbie said she would also 'love to meet the man who saved him,' referring to Rodriguez. Richard Williams, 83, was shoved onto a subway track in New York City on Sunday morning at the Lexington Avenue-63rd St. station. His daughter said he might not survive after suffering serious injuries Williams (left) is seen on the train platform just moments before the alleged assailant, Bairon Hernandez (right), pushed him onto the train tracks and fled the scene John Rodriguez (pictured), 30, was pushed onto the tracks just before Williams was. He helped get the elderly man to safety, and now Williams' daughter, Debbie, wants to meet him, she told the Daily Mail When asked how she feels about Hernandez being arrested, she said: 'I hope he burns in hell.' The day it happened, Debbie said her father was out enjoying his usual shopping spree 'like he always does,' Daily News reported. 'Now none of that is probably going to happen again. He goes wherever he wants to go. Hes very healthy for an 83-year-old man thats going to be 84. 'Theres absolutely nothing wrong with him. So for this whole thing to happen, its a real sin.' Samantha Loria, Williams' granddaughter, echoed Debbie's heartbreak, adding that her grandfather has survived horrible events in the past. 'The hardest part is I cant have a conversation or hug him again,' Loria told CBS New York. 'Any time I visit him, we walk around. We would go to Manhattan. He would always say hi to everyone, ask how theyre dong. It doesnt hurt anything to be kind. 'He loves to walk. He survived a fire, cancer recently, and all he wanted to do is walk,' she stated. Police posted images of Hernandez around the city and offered a $3,500 reward for information leading to his arrest After hearing about her dad's alleged attacker being arrested, Debbie said she hopes Hernandez 'burns in hell.' He was arrested early Tuesday morning at a shelter in Brooklyn Loria added: 'Thank God there wasn't a train coming.' Before the attack, Debbie said her father was very active and healthy. 'He's an incredible man. He likes reading. He likes walking,' she said. Williams, who has three daughters and two granddaughters, just recently celebrated his 55th wedding anniversary, she said. He previously had a career in making bulletproof equipment and lives on Roosevelt Island, she told the outlet. On Monday, Rodriguez told ACB 7 he is scared to ride the subway again after what happened. The Queens man was on his way to work when he was shoved onto the tracks with Williams, he said. 'I panicked, I started asking for help, not only for me but for the other man that was pushed,' Rodriguez, who's been left in an arm sling, told the outlet. Dramatic footage Rodriguez recorded after he was pushed showed Williams on the platform just before the suspect, seen next to him, shoved him. Williams, who has three daughters and two granddaughters, just recently celebrated his 55th wedding anniversary, his family said. He previously survived a fire and cancer As that happened, a good Samaritan was seen trying to help bring Rodriguez to safety, police said. His shoulder and neck were injured, and he also developed a fever after the incident, the young man revealed. 'I get panic attacks just thinking about getting on the subway,' he added. The footage helped police track down Hernandez after they posted images of him around the city and offered a $3,500 reward for information leading to his arrest. He has been charged with attempted murder, attempted assault, assault and reckless endangerment, police said. Rodriguez, who lives in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, does not have a prior record in New York. Williams and Rodriguez do not know their alleged attacker or each other. It is unclear when Hernandez is due in court. The Daily Mail contacted the NYPD for comment. South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has sparked immense backlash with his latest comments about escalating tensions over the US war with Iran. During an appearance on Fox News' show Hannity, Graham claimed that when he goes 'back to South Carolina, I'm asking them to send their sons and daughters over to the Middle East.' That line has created mayhem, as President Trump's bombing of Iran last month is highly unpopular with the American public, with both Democrats and Republicans alike. Eight American service members have already been killed in the conflict. The latest numbers also reveal that at least 140 troops have been injured. Iran claims more than 1,300 civilians have been killed since strikes began. Nancy Mace, a South Carolina Congresswoman who is also running to be the state's governor in this year's mid-term elections, noted in an X post Tuesday that she does 'not want to send South Carolina's sons and daughters into war with Iran,' without directly mentioning Graham's comments. Megyn Kelly, a former Fox News anchor and host who now runs a top podcast as an independent journalist, came after Graham more directly on her show. 'He should NOT be allowed back on television, period! He is frothing at the mouth... this guy is a homicidal maniac, with a bloodlust that is insatiable. What the f? Who voted for that?!,' Kelly stated. In another recent segment, Kelly noted about Graham, 'no one elected you as our Commander-in-Chief. Shut the f**k up! Get off the national scene. You've disgraced yourself and endangered our troops long enough.' Senator Lindsey Graham said in a Fox News appearance this week that he is asking his constituents 'to send their sons and daughters over to the Middle East' Nancy Mace noted in an X post Tuesday that she does 'not want to send South Carolina's sons and daughters into war with Iran Paul Dans, Graham's opponent in the June 9th primary for South Carolina's Senate seat, reacted to Graham's clip on X, noting 'Lady Graham is obviously blackmailed. We need to keep him as far away from the President as possible. June 9th South Carolina is throwing him OUT.' Days before Trump struck Iran, Graham was seen at the White House. He reportedly has been one of the President's closest advisers on Iran strategy. Paul Dans, a Graham opponent in the South Carolina GOP primary for the US Senate, said that the incumbent, 'is obviously blackmailed' Megyn Kelly , a former Fox News anchor and host, called Graham a 'homicidal maniac, with a bloodlust that is insatiable' for wanting to send more Americans to the Middle East In an X post reacting to the Iran strikes as they were announced on February 28th, Graham noted that the operation was 'well planned'. He also noted at the time that he was 'in awe of President Trump's determination to be a man of peace, but at the end of the day, evil's worst nightmare.' The MAGA-supporting senator, who was once a Trump foe in the 2016 GOP primary field, also raised eyebrows over the weekend during an appearance on Fox host Maria Bartiromo's Sunday show. During the segment, he brandished a cap that hinted at his aspirations for the Trump administration. Emblazoned on it was the slogan, 'Free Cuba.' 'I'm in Miami. You see this hat? "Free Cuba."' Stay tuned,' Graham told the host in an exchange that was quickly clipped and shared. 'The liberation of Cuba is upon us. It's just a matter of time now,' he added. 'We're marching through the world. We're clearing out the bad guys. Cuba is next.' Graham further fumed to Bartiromo: 'If we get in a fight, I want to win it, I want to win it quick.' Sir Keir Starmer was accused of rewarding Peter Mandelson for 'betraying' Britain today as damning papers about the Labour grandee's appointment were released. Bombshell documents show the peer was handed a 75,000 payoff when he was sacked as US ambassador over his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The disgraced former Cabinet minister had apparently been demanding 547,000 compensation for losing his 161,000 a year job and threatening legal action. Despite the PM claiming in Parliament that Mandelson 'lied' during his vetting, the government privately assessed that there was no evidence of 'misconduct in role that would give rise to normal disciplinary proceedings'. Foreign Office permanent secretary Olly Robbins wrote of the package: 'This represents good value for money.' Other officials congratulated each other on getting the sum - including 34,000 severance as well as cash in lieu of notice - 'so low'. Extraordinarily, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, James Murray, responded that he was 'happy' to sign the payment off. Meanwhile, the papers published by the government confirm that Sir Keir was aware when he appointed Mandelson in December 2024 that his friendship with the financier continued after he was convicted. In December 2024, a note from a senior aide to the premier stated he and chief of staff Morgan McSweeney had expressed a 'preference for a political candidate' to be Washington envoy and Mandelson was the 'lead candidate'. It said the Director of Communications - Matthew Doyle at the time - had been 'satisfied' with Mandelson's responses about his relationship with Epstein. A three-page 'due diligence' report supplied on December 11 2024 to Sir Keir - who dodged facing MPs on the revelations in the Commons today - flagged the ties between Mandelson and Epstein. It referred to reports of Epstein's 'particularly close relationship with Prince Andrew the Duke of York and Lord Peter Mandelson' and said their contact continued through the 2000s. The summary stated: 'After Epstein was first convicted of procuring an underage girl in 2008, their relationship continued across 2009-2011, beginning when Lord Mandelson was Business Minister and continuing after the end of the Labour government. 'Mandelson reportedly stayed in Epstein's House while he was in jail in June 2009.' It also mentioned that in 2014 Mandelson 'agreed to be a ''founding citizen'' of an ocean conservation group founded by Ghislaine Maxwell, and funded by Epstein.' Downing Street insisted the ongoing police investigation into Mandelson means it is unable to release details about what questions the peer was asked. On another dramatic day in Westminster: Chief Secretary to the PM Darren Jones said all sides of the House wanted 'full transparency and accountability', and Sir Keir had taken 'responsibility' and 'apologised' for Mandelson's appointment as ambassador; The documents include a 2002 email from Mandelson to No10 chief of staff Jonathan Powell about arranging a meeting between Epstein and Tony Blair; Mr Powell, now No10 national security adviser, told the PM's counsel in September last year that he had expressed concerns about Mandelson's initial appointment, but was told by Mr McSweeney that the 'issues had been addressed'; Mr McSweeney has already resigned from Downing Street amid the maelstrom; Mandelson is said to have argued for a bigger payoff because the government's actions had 'permanently damaged his employability'; A statement revealing the size of Mandelson's severance package was seemingly cleared last month, but never made public; The government has announced the rules around lobbying, business appointments, and financial disclosures for ministers are being reviewed by the Ethics and Integrity Commission; There are understood only to have been very limited redactions from the material, overseen by the Intelligence and Security Committee; A former No10 aide has condemned Lord Mandelson's lack of 'contrition' for sending Epstein sensitive government information. Lord Mandelson pictured with Jeffrey Epstein. They had a long-standing friendship Keir Starmer - who only agreed to disclose the material after a massive revolt by Labour MPs - will not personally face a grilling on the documents today A note written by a senior No10 aide revealed that the Director of Communications had been 'satisfied' with Mandelson's responses about his contact with Epstein A three-page 'due dilligence' report supplied to Sir Keir on December 11 flagged the ties between Mandelson and Epstein Lord Mandelson outside his London home this morning ahead of the documents being released Your browser does not support iframes. Ex-No10 aide condemns Mandelson for lack of 'contrition' A former No10 aide whose internal Credit Crunch memos were shared with Jeffrey Epstein has condemned Lord Mandelson's lack of 'contrition'. Nick Butler, who was a senior Downing Street official under Gordon Brown, said any 'consequences' for the peer were a 'matter for the Metropolitan Police and the law'. But he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I'm very sorry there's been no note of contrition from Peter Mandelson to the people whose trust he broke.' He added: 'For the system I think it will make people just wonder what people are doing with the information that they pass round.' The turmoil over Mandelson was sparked after a massive trove of Epstein's personal emails was leaked in the US last September, and then officially released. Sir Keir - who only agreed to disclose the material after a massive revolt by Labour MPs - will not personally face a grilling on the documents today. Instead, Mr Jones made a statement in the House. The initial release runs to 147 pages, with thousands more to come later. The timing has sparked accusations from the Conservatives that the Prime Minister is attempting to 'dodge questions'. Last month the Commons approved a motion ordering the release of a huge range of material, including messages between Lord Mandelson and ministers and senior officials that could prove embarrassing for the Government. Following the vote, Sir Keir said he wanted to ensure 'urgency and transparency' and apologised for believing the peer's 'lies' about the extent of his relationship with Epstein. But the scandal triggered a meltdown in Downing Street that almost saw the PM ousted, with his chief aide Morgan McSweeney resigning. In a key moment, Kemi Badenoch asked Sir Keir at PMQs on February 4 whether 'the official security vetting he received mentioned Mandelson's ongoing relationship with the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein'. The premier replied: 'Yes, it did. As a result, various questions were put to him.' Sir Keir said: 'He lied repeatedly to my team when asked about his relationship with Epstein, before and during his tenure as ambassador. 'I regret appointing him. If I knew then what I know now, he would never have been anywhere near Government.' Some files are being withheld for national security or foreign relations reasons, but the final say rests with Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee. Ministers had initially wanted to give the Cabinet Secretary control over which papers would be released, but caved to mutinous backbenchers. The Government has also agreed a framework with the Metropolitan Police on which documents can be released without prejudicing the ongoing police investigation into Lord Mandelson, according to the ISC. Lord Mandelson was arrested on February 23 on suspicion of misconduct in public office, having been accused of passing sensitive information to Epstein during his time as business secretary. He was subsequently bailed, but later handed his passport back and freed under investigation. He has denied any criminal wrongdoing or acting for personal gain. A No10 private office note released today showed Sir Keir decided to sack Mandelson after the publication of leaked emails revealing 'a depth and extent of a relationship with Epstein which he had not been aware of previously when he made the decision to appoint Mandelson'. The memo said that at a meeting on September 11, the PM 'referenced the his concern at the judgments and views expressed in the cache of emails released by Bloomberg, that the answers Mandelson provided to FCDO PUS (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office permanent under-secretary) Olly Robbins regarding the emails did not give him confidence that there were not further revelations to come and the serious discomfort in the PLP. 'The emails revealed a depth and extent of a relationship with Epstein which he had not been aware of previously when he made the decision to appoint Mandelson. 'On this basis, he proposed to ask Mandelson to resign from his post as HMA Washington.' The note also said: 'The Chief Whip emphasised the serious discomfort amongst the PLP. 'The Prime Minister was clear about his strong concern for Epstein's victims and the importance of the work of the Government to tackle Violence against Women and Girls.' Sir Olly then 'spoke by telephone to Mandelson towards the end of the meeting to inform him of the Prime Minister's decision and of the next steps', the memo said, adding that 'it was noted that the Palace had been informed of the decision during the meeting'. Bombshell documents show the Labour grandee was handed a 75,000 payoff when he was sacked as US ambassador over his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein Mandelson had demanded a 547,000 payout according to the papers The PM's chief minister Darren Jones will make a statement in the House after the PM's weekly questions session The documents reveal the shift in the PM's stance after the extraordinary revelations in Epstein's personal emails However, Mandelson does not seem to have been willing to go quietly. On September 17 last year he wrote to No10's chief people officer Mark Power saying: 'My chief concern is leaving the US and arriving in the UK with the maximum dignity and minimum media intrusion which I think is to the advantage of all concerned, not least because I remain a crown/civil servant and expect to be treated as such.' An email from Mr Power to government colleagues on September 24, 2025 describes a meeting with the peer. 'He has sought advice, during the conversation he intimated this had been from Senior Counsel (a KC) specialising in employment law,' Mr Power wrote. 'His argument heavily focusses on the reasonableness of the PM's decision. There is some carefully placed language around the public implications of not reaching a settlement, and the nature of an employment tribunal case.' The message added: 'There is a potential, that absent a positive indication, Peter goes public on some of his claims so there is some urgency.' A paper justifying the severance deal with Mandelson noted that the first 30,000 would be tax-free. 'There is no suggestion of misconduct in role that would give rise to normal disciplinary proceedings, and the individual has a high profile which could give rise to reputational damage to the FCDO and HMG were a court or tribunal claim to be pursued,' it added. It is unclear whether the PM's stance that Mandelson 'lied' was based on the full cache of Epstein emails released by the DoJ at the end of January, rather than the set leaked in September - at which point No10's language was more nuanced. Tory frontbencher Neil O'Brien voiced fury at the payoff for Mandelson. He said: '70,000 bung for betraying Britain. Unreal. 'And just wait for Starmer to whine, ''the process was followed, there was nothing I could do'' Pitiful.' Shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart said: 'These documents just confirm what we already knew. 'Keir Starmer was plainly aware of the relationship between Mandelson and the world's most notorious paedophile when he appointed him as US ambassador. 'What's worse, the Government gave him a payoff of 75,000 despite his resignation in disgrace. No one will be able to trust the Prime Minister's judgment again. 'The Labour Government need to come clean on what documents have been hidden from view and whether WhatsApps or private emails have been deleted or hidden. 'The Government must release the files in full and make Mandelson repay the money.' Touring broadcast studios this morning, Mr Jones insisted the Commons timetable meant his statement had to come after PMQs. Mr Jones told Times Radio: 'We were always teed up to report in early March with the first tranche of documents, which is what we're doing this afternoon. 'Because I run the Cabinet Office, at the centre of government, it was always my responsibility to give those updates to the House of Commons and statements always come after Prime Minister's Questions.' He added: 'There will be a second tranche of documents that will come at a later stage.' Mr Jones told ITV's Good Morning Britain: 'On the specific issue of Peter Mandelson's appointment as ambassador to the United States, the Prime Minister has apologised for his appointment and said that it was a mistake. 'The documents that will be published today later to Parliament will provide full transparency about the appointments process, bar one document that has been held back by the Metropolitan Police because of an ongoing criminal investigation. 'The Prime Minister said that we only really knew of the depth and extent of Peter Mandelson's ongoing relationship with Jeffrey Epstein once documents had been published by first Bloomberg and then the United States Department of Justice. 'As soon as those documents became available, and it became obvious that Peter Mandelson had lied to the Prime Minister about the depth and extent of his relationship, he was sacked as ambassador the United States very promptly.' On Sky News, Mr Jones said: 'It's a big number of documents. Government takes its responsibility to be transparent to Parliament really seriously. 'And of course, on this issue of Peter Mandelson and his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, we all have a shared interest in bringing some accountability and transparency to these these issues. 'So the first tranche will be published this afternoon. A second tranche, they will come later, because there's been further work that we've had to do across Government in response to the humble address, which is not quite ready. 'And we have two other processes that take a bit of time, given the live criminal investigation with the Metropolitan Police and the role of the Intelligence and Security Committee in Parliament has some oversight of it.' Three US bombers have returned to Britain after completing the first UK-approved attacks on Iran since Sir Keir Starmer's policy shift. The supersonic B-1 Lancers touched down on a bright morning in Gloucestershire after contributing to what US War Secretary Pete Hegseth had insisted would be the 'most intense night of bombing' of the conflict. Previously the Prime Minister had denied Donald Trump permission to use RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia as part of the campaign over fears the US's intentions to cause regime change in Iran were illegal under international law. Downing Street's position shifted after an Iranian drone targeted the British airbase on Cyprus. Following that attack on 1st March, the UK approved the build up of B-1s and B-52s at Fairford. The base is vital to the United States Air Force due to its extended runway and as it shortens the journey for long-range bombers from the US. The specific roles undertaken overnight by those B-1s remains highly classified. This morning, neither the Ministry of Defence nor Downing Street was inclined to discuss the missions. Personnel stand around a US Air Force B-1 Lancer bomber parked on the tarmac after it landed at RAF Fairford this morning after completing attacks on Iran Military ground personnel work on Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) in front of a US Air Force (USAF) B-1 Lancer bomber at RAF Fairford today The B-1s, which have a top speed of more than 900mph, touched down around 08.30am after a 15-hour mission. Yesterday these aircraft were 'bombed up' with missiles ahead of the raid. The aircraft can carry 75,000lb of ordnance. Details of their contribution to Operation Epic Fury may be revealed by the White House or the US Department of War. While the UK has permitted the US to use its bases for so called offensive actions such as destroying Iranian munitions sites and missile launch pads British jets deployed to the region can only intercept munitions in the air a tactic described by Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch as 'catching arrows rather than targeting the archer'. Today, defence minister Luke Pollard was challenged on the apparent contradiction of those two positions. Appearing on the BBC's World At One, he said: 'We have permitted and accepted a request from the United States to use a small number of our bases for very limited actions. 'The UK is not involved in offensive action. That is the right decision for us. The defensive action that we are taking is to take down missiles and drones that are threatening British bases and are allies in the region. 'That's why we have jets in the air all around the clock. And that is why we are deploying additional resources into theatre. Defensive actions have the backing of the British public and are the right step to take. 'Committing our forces to action is the most important decision you can take as a Prime Minister or a Minister.' The B-1 bomber was conceived in the 1970s, entered service in the 1980s, lost its nuclear mission after the Cold War, and then built its later reputation in operations over Iraq, Kosovo and One of the B-1's defining features is its variable-sweep wing, mounted high on either side of the fuselage. The wings can move backwards and forwards depending on the phase of flight. Set further forward, they help provide the lift and control needed for take-off, landing and refuelling. Swept back, they reduce drag and suit the aircraft for much faster flight. The result is a bomber whose shape reflects its job: carrying a heavy weapons load over long distances while also being able to fly at high speed. Heat haze from engines warms technicians as US bombers are primed for missions A US B-1 Lancer touches down at Fairford, Gloucestershire, yesterday The British-based bombers were part of the 'most intense' operations according to Hegseth with the 'most fighters, the most bombers and the most strikes'. Statistics for last night's missions have not yet been released. The sorties are understood to have lasted around 15 hours. US aircraft are able to fly over Iranian airspace with what the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine described as 'relative impunity'. That follows the decimation of Iranian radar and surface to air missile systems. Footage released by US Central Command showed US bombers striking Iranian missile launchers, causing the warheads to 'cook-off' within their underground site. CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper confirmed 'Iranian combat power is declining' while the last four remaining warships of the Soleimani-class have been destroyed. CENTCOM also confirmed 16 mine-laying vessels capable of planting mines in the Strait of Hormuz were eliminated. Admiral Cooper said: 'We are methodically dismantling them by hitting Iranian missiles and drones. Just last night, our bomber force hit a large ballistic missile manufacturing facility as an example. 'So it's not just about what's shooting at us today. It's also about eliminating the threat in the future.' American forces are struggling to locate all of Iran's missile launch sites, it has been revealed. Defence officials in the US said there was concern that the Pentagon does not have full clarity on all of the Islamic republic's missile launchers, according to The New York Times. They also suggested that Iran has held back many missiles to keep them in reserve. It is believed the projectiles are being stored to be able to attack key American infrastructure such as radar equipment at a later date. A father who attacked his 16-year-old son's alleged murderer in a North Carolina court said he would have killed the suspect if authorities had not intervened. Shaheem Snype, 47, told the Queen City News that he was glad he attacked Marion McKnight, 21, on February 19. McKnight, who has been out on bond since November, is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly shooting Snype's teenage son, Jamariyae Dixon, on May 23, 2025. He also faces three charges of attempted murder after two others were shot including Nazyr Perry, who was left paralyzed. Snype was caught on camera raining blows down on McKnight in the hallway of the Mecklenburg County Courthouse in Charlotte until an officer used a taser to stop the attack. McKnight was transported to the emergency room, where he received staples in his head, according to his lawyer Michael Kabakoff. Snype was charged with misdemeanor assault and later released from jail on a $1,000 bond however it appears he was willing to take things much further. When asked by the outlet if he would have beaten McKnight to death, he replied: 'Yeah. Honestly, yeah.' Footage showed Shaheem Snype beating his 16-year-old son's alleged killer at court Snype needed to be tasered in order for him to stop battering Marion McKnight and said he would have killed him if he had the chance Snype, 47, lost his son Jamariyae Dixon in a shooting in May, 2025 'Still to this day, I cry every morning,' Snype said. 'A day don't go past I don't think about my son.' Snype lashed out at McKnight during a hearing in which prosecutors were requesting a judge revoke his $150,000 bond over alleged violations. The grieving father vowed to take matters into his own hands if the system did not act. 'That's a promise, not a threat,' he added. 'I can make a promise, but I can't make a threat.' Other family members including Susan Sherrill, Dixon's aunt, stood by Snype's actions. 'Any father would've did the same thing,' said Sherrill. 'We're still grieving. This is a wound that will never ever close because my nephew was 16 years old, and he should still be here with us.' Kabakoff told the outlet in a statement that the incident was 'the most violent assault I've seen in a courthouse in my 22 years as a lawyer.' 'Any parent can sympathize with the intense grief of losing a child, but the violence we saw in court on Thursday was unacceptable,' added the lawyer. The beating only ended after a court officer deployed a taser against Snype, who remained defiant over his actions Marion McKnight is charged with Dixon's murder but his attorney claims he was acting in self-defense Kabakoff claimed in court that McKnight acted in self-defense during the shooting that killed Dixon, despite prosecutors stating that none of the victims were armed or aggressive. 'The number of people who were poised to attack him that day was at least four, possibly six or seven people,' Kabakoff said. 'He shoots because he senses what anybody would sense in that scenario, which is fear of great bodily harm or death.' Judge Daniel Kuehnert, overseeing the case, said that video from the shooting showed McKnight appeared to be surrounded and felt that a 'jury kind of going either way on this,' before denying prosecutors' request for $1 million bond. The alleged killer has been under electronic monitoring while living at his mother's house, according to the New York Post. He was arrested on May 28 after he was identified as a suspect in the shooting that killed Dixon last year. Dixon's mom Lynnette Dixon said she had a real smile for the first time since her son had been gone while watching a video of McKnight get battered. Dixon was killed and two others were shot including one person who was left paralyzed Snype was charged with misdemeanor assault and later released from jail on a $1,000 bond She set up a GoFundMe to help Snype finance his legal fees. Lynnette described Snype as being 'overwhelmed by emotion and the weight of everything we have endured'. 'He reacted in a way that has now left us facing unexpected legal challenges,' she added. The Daily Mail has reached out to McKnight's attorney for comment. A former FBI agent believes the decision to refuse civilian search efforts in the hunt for Nancy Guthrie means an arrest could be near. Jennifer Coffindaffer explained that investigators' choice to decline additional help could be an indication they are getting close to taking someone into custody. Her comments came after volunteer-led search and rescue group, the United Cajun Navy, offered last week to assist Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos in the search for Nancy, 84. The group submitted a 41page proposal describing a massive operation including two dozen canines, former law enforcement volunteers and drones ready to be deployed. However, the offer allegedly went unanswered even as the search for missing Nancy, mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie, entered its sixth week. 'Wondering why Sheriff Nanos keeps turning away proven very capable civilian search experts like EquuSearch and the real Cajun Navy?' Coffindaffer, a former SWAT team member, wrote on X. 'Is [law enforcement] close to an arrest and they know what happened to Nancy so they don't want to waste the valuable resources of these groups? But why won't the sheriff at least acknowledge these groups?' Coffindaffer said she was trying to take a 'glass half full' view of the news and hoped police were getting closer to an arrest. Nancy, the 84-year-old mother of Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie, was last seen on January 31 Former FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer believes that an arrest in the investigation over Nancy Guthrie's disappearance could be imminent Pima County Chris Nanos has turned down volunteer help, even as the search for Nancy drags on without answers The United Cajun Navy pitched a proposal titled Tactical Operational Packet: Search for Nancy Guthrie to Nanos last week, according to NewsNation's Brian Entin. The volunteer group said it was prepared to offer support on the ground and in the water using volunteers, drones and thermal technology. The organization said the plan's purpose was to 'provide structured search support' and that they would operate under the sheriff's authority. Brian Trascher, the United Cajun Navy's national vice president, claimed this was actually the second time an offer to help search for Nancy had been turned down by the sheriff. Trascher alleged the public information officer from Nanos' office initially told him they were 'not accepting help from external organizations.' After putting together a full assessment, the package was resubmitted to Nanos and supposedly ignored. 'I don't believe we've gotten any answer at all,' he said. 'I think they've just kind of stuck to their mantra that they want to leave it to the professionals, but we'd like to remind everybody that Noah's Ark was built by amateurs and the Titanic was built by professionals.' He added: 'I'm not sure why we couldn't be a force multiplier for him in this situation.' However, Trascher's claim was shot down by the Pima County Sheriff's Department (PCSD) on Wednesday afternoon. The department's public information officer told the Daily Mail: 'We have sent two responses to the Cajun Navy regarding their proposal within 24 hours of their emails.' Coffindaffer (pictured) suggested the decision to turn down volunteer help means an arrest could be imminent Doorbell footage was released by the FBI from outside Nancy's home, showing a masked individual in black latex gloves with a backpack and what looked to be a holstered gun The Pima County Sheriff's Department told the Daily Mail: 'Per the sheriff, the department will not be utilizing external operational support' When the Daily Mail asked the PCSD what the responses to the volunteer group were, their response was: 'In short we thanked them for their concern and offer to help.' It added that, per Nanos, 'the department will not be utilizing external operational support.' According to Entin, the sheriff's office confirmed that volunteer search groups had expressed interest in collaborating. However, they were asked by Nanos to 'kindly allow investigators the space necessary to conduct their work.' 'We value their concern, and we all share the goal of finding Nancy, but this task is best handled by professionals,' their statement said. 'PCSD offers volunteer opportunities for those wishing to contribute to the department.' The United Cajun Navy's request was not specifically mentioned by officials. 'Private property laws apply,' the police department added. 'It is up to each individual property owner to grant permission for anyone to be on their property.' Law enforcement has not named any suspects of persons of interest in Nancy's disappearance to date The Guthries have offered a reward of up to $1million for information leading to Nancy's whereabouts (Photo of Savannah) No suspects or persons of interest in Nancy's disappearance have been publicly named by the PCSD to date. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released doorbell footage from outside her home showing a masked figure wearing black latex gloves, a backpack and what appeared to be a holstered gun. Authorities described the suspect as a man with 'an average build' standing roughly 5'9" or 5'10". He was wearing a black, 25liter 'Ozark Trail Hiker Pack' backpack in the short clips released, though no more details have been released. Nancy was last seen at her $1million home in the Catalina Foothills area outside Tucson on January 31. She had dinner with her daughter Annie that evening and was driven home by son-in-law Tommaso Cioni, who dropped her off around 9.50pm. At 1.47am, the masked individual was captured outside Nancy's home. He disabled the home's doorbell camera that caught sight of him. United Cajun Navy national vice president Brian Trascher claimed that his organization's 41-page plan had been ignored by the Pima County sheriff although police said they acknowledged the request Nancy was last seen in her $1 million home in the neighborhood of Catalina Hills in Tucson, Arizona Less than an hour later, Nancy's pacemaker monitoring app disconnected from her phone. Investigators believe that could be the moment when Nancy was removed from the house. Nancy's disappearance was reported the following day by family members after she did not attend a church service. Drops of blood were found on the front porch of her home. Authorities believe that she was kidnapped. Nancy needs daily medication for a heart condition and had problems walking, according to the FBI. The Guthries have offered a reward of up to $1 million for information leading to her whereabouts. The FBI is also offering a reward of $100,000. The Daily Mail reached out to the United Cajun Navy for further comment. Peter Mandelson pushed for Sir Tony Blair to meet 'young and vibrant' Jeffrey Epstein in Downing Street, newly-published files show. A tranche of documents released by the Government on Wednesday includes an email sent by Lord Mandelson in 2002. In the message to Jonathan Powell, who was Downing Street chief of staff at the time, Lord Mandelson described Epstein as 'young and vibrant'. He told Mr Powell that Epstein was a 'travelling friend' of Bill Clinton, the former US president, and then-prime minister Sir Tony 'would like to met him'. The email was sent by Lord Mandelson to No10 little more than a year after he had resigned from the New Labour government for a second time. A copy of the email was published on Wednesday as part of an initial batch of papers relating to Lord Mandelson's appointment as Britain's ambassador to the US last year. He was sacked after just seven months in Washington DC following the emergence of further revelations about his friendship with Epstein, a convicted paedophile. A continuing scandal over Lord Mandelson's appointment by Sir Keir Starmer has rocked the Prime Minister and forced the publication of details about what he initially knew of the peer's links to Epstein. A tranche of documents released by the Government on Wednesday includes an email sent by Lord Mandelson in 2002 A week later, on 14 May 2002, an email to Sir Tony Blair himself advised the then-PM on his meeting with Epstein 'at 5pm today' Lord Mandelson was arrested last month on suspicion of misconduct in public office, having been accused of passing sensitive information on to Epstein while a government minister The first tranche of those documents includes the email written by Lord Mandelson to Mr Powell, now Sir Keir's national security adviser, on 7 May 2002. 'Do you remember when Clinton saw TB he said he wanted to introduce his travelling friend, Jeffrey Epstein, to TB?,' he wrote. 'This was frustrated - TB said at the time - in the office for reasons (he says) he was unclear about. 'Jeffrey is an active scientific catalyst/entrepreneur as well as someone who has his finger on the pulse of many worldwide markets and currencies. 'He is young and vibrant. He is safe (whatever that means) and Clinton is now doing a lot of travelling with him. 'I mentioned to TB that Jeffrey is in London next week and he said he would like to met him.' A handwritten note on a printout of the email, included in the documents, appears to ask Sir Tony: 'Do you want to do this?' A week later, on 14 May 2002, an email to Sir Tony himself advised the then-PM on his meeting with Epstein 'at 5pm today'. The email from Matthew Rycroft, who was Sir Tony's private secretary, offered a 'background' on Epstein, who was described as 'a financial adviser to the super-rich and a property developer', as well as 'a friend of Bill Clinton and Peter Mandelson'. It added that Epstein was 'very rich' and 'close to' the Duke of York, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. 'He has a $30million home in New York plus a 10,000 acre ranch in New Mexico and a villa in Palm Beach,' the memo, which was also sent to Mr Powell and Geoffrey Norris, another No10 aide, said. 'He made his money working for billionaire Leslie Wexner who owns (among many other things) the lingerie firm Victoria's Secret 'He seems to have met Prince Andrew through Robert Maxwell's daughter Ghislaine with whom he has had an on-off relationship. He visited Sandringham and Windsor last year. 'Peter says that Epstein now travels with Clinton and (Clinton) wants you to meet him. ' thinks you would find worthwhile a conversation with him about (a) science and (b) international economic and monetary trends.' The email was sent by Lord Mandelson to No10 little more than a year after he had resigned from Sir Tony's New Labour government for a second time The meeting was six years before Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from a minor in June 2008 Your browser does not support iframes. A reference to the email was included in the advice received by Sir Keir in December 2024, when he was considering appointing Lord Mandelson as US ambassador. The advice stated: 'The Cabinet Office holds official records that are likely to be released by the National Archives early next year, which relate to a Tony Blair meeting with Epstein that was facilitated by Mandelson.' The meeting with Sir Tony was six years before Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from a minor in June 2008. Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking. A spokesperson for Sir Tony has previously said of his meeting with Epstein: 'As far as he can remember, Mr Blair met with him for less than 30 minutes in Downing Street in 2002, and discussed US and UK politics. 'He never met or engaged with him subsequently.' The spokesperson added: 'This was, of course, long before his crimes were known of and his subsequent conviction.' Clinton has acknowledged being a former associate of Epstein but said he had no knowledge of his crimes. Mr Mountbatten-Windsor became the first senior royal in modern history to be arrested after he was held in custody for around 11 hours on his 66th birthday last month. He was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, following claims he shared sensitive information with Epstein during his time as the UK's trade envoy. He has denied any wrongdoing over his Epstein links, but has not directly responded to the latest allegations. Lord Mandelson was arrested last month on suspicion of misconduct in public office, having been accused of passing sensitive information on to Epstein during his time as business secretary. He was subsequently bailed, but later released from his bail conditions, although he remains under investigation. The peer has vowed to cooperate with the police investigation and 'to clear his name'. He has denied the Epstein files show he broke any laws or acted for personal gain and repeatedly said he regrets his friendship with Epstein. 'Inconsistent' adherence to safety procedures led to the death of a soldier who died when his rifle unexpectedly went off, an inquest concluded today. Lance Corporal Joe Spencer, 24, was undertaking a sniper training course in the Scottish Highlands when he shot himself with his own firearm, moments after a colleague 'bumped into him' at a shooting range. The Afghanistan war veteran was instantly killed as a bullet from the gun, which could fire up to a range of 1km, entered his chin and came out the top of his head. Today a two-week jury inquest into LCpl Spencer's tragic death concluded at Winchester Coroner's Court, Hants and confirmed that safety management on range was not entirely adhered to. The jury were unable to explain how LCpl Spencer's gun went off, and gave a narrative conclusion. The foreperson said: 'Joe William Spencer died on the 1st of November 2016 at Tain Air Weapons Range, Scotland. 'Inconsistent range management and adherence to safety procedures contributed to the omission of a full unload drill after detail one.' A 'full unload drill after detail one' was a phase of the safety procedure that was meant to be adhered to. The foreperson continued: 'A live round remained chambered in Joe's rifle. These events led to the unintentional discharge of his weapon. 'How his gun went off in the ISO could not be ascertained.' The ISO was the type of container that LCpl Spencer was in at the time. Coroner Jason Pegg said: 'Mr and Mrs Spencer, to the two of you, to Joe's brother and the wider family and his partner you have my genuine and sincere condolences for your loss. 'This has been I know a very long and difficult process for you and I know that there had been a previous court hearing in Scotland. 'During this inquest I have learned about Joe, the young man that he was. 'It is quite evident that he was a much-loved son and partner. 'It is strikingly apparent to me that Joe's colleagues from his battalion and other battalions have amazing words about him. 'He was clearly a guarded, competent and capable soldier. 'He had served his country in Afghanistan and suffered injuries but wanted to remain in his chosen career. 'I am sure that you are proud of Joe and rightly so. You have my genuine best wishes going forward.' Joe Spencer 24, was killed when his gun went off unexpectedly during a sniper training course He had been holding the rifle vertically, with the butt of the gun on the toe cap of his boot and his chin resting on the top end, it was found LCpl Spencer, from Bishopstoke, Hants, was killed on November 1 2016, while he was undergoing a two-month-long sniper training in Tain in the Scottish Highlands. A previous inquiry at Tain Sheriff Court was held into his death - with a report published in January 2025. The cause of death was determined to be a gunshot wound to the head. The cause of the accident, which killed him instantly, was confirmed as the 'undemanded discharge of a single round from an L115A3 sniper rifle'. The gun is a specialist sniper rifle used by the British Army. LCpl Spencer joined the army in February 2011 and was promoted to Lance Corporal in 2015. He had carried out basic training at Catterick, Yorks, in 2011 and finished top of his class and awarded a ceremonial rifle. He was a member of the 3rd Battalion The Rifles and had previously been seriously injured by a grenade whilst serving in Afghanistan. He had bought a house with his partner, Cherycce Connelly, in July 2016. LCpl's parents, partner and one of his brothers were present at the inquest. Mr Spencer joined the British Army in 2011 and became a member of 3rd Battalion, The Rifles Mr Spencer was deployed abroad on a number of occasions, including on operations in Afghanistan During the inquest, it was heard that Private Christopher Leveridge was left 'white and shaking' after 'bumping into' LCpl Spencer. Range Supervisor Colour Sergeant Gordon Smart told the inquest that Pte Leveridge was noticeably 'shocked' and that he tried to reassure him. CSgt Smart said: 'I heard a commotion and one of the men shouted 'Man Down'. 'I went straight to the ISO container and saw Joe's body lying on the floor. There were rifles in the container and there was a weapon underneath him. 'Due to confusion the RCO (range commanding officer) didn't know what happened and the rifles were taken out of the container (except for Joe's rifle). People were still trying to figure out what happened. 'At that time everyone came out of the ISO and one (person) - Pte Leveridge - came out and said it was my fault. 'He said he bumped into him and it went off. 'He was white and shaking. Just shocked. I told him it wasn't his fault. I told them to get out of the ISO so they were separated. 'I started but didn't finish recovering the rifle from beneath Joe. I noticed that the rifle beneath Joe did not have a magazine in it.' Sergeant Kieran Blair was in the ISO container when the gun, which killed LCpl Spencer, went off. He said: 'We were all freezing. We were just shivering and complaining. He was probably about one or one and half metres away from me. 'We were just as a group chatting and then there was a big bang and a big explosion. 'There was a sudden bang and a bright flash. I ran out of the ISO container and everyone was shouting 'Stop, Stop'. 'Someone shouted for a medic. I remember going back almost immediately after. I went back because two of my guys were still in there. I used a light on my phone to light up the ISO. 'After it happened I pretty much went straight into a state of shock. 'I remember him holding his gun facing up with two hands. The barrel was facing up but I cannot remember the exact orientation. 'The container was dark with only an element of ambient light coming through the front door.' A post-mortem, carried out by Dr Gavin Laing , found that LCpl Spencer's face had been 'distorted' and there were powder burns on the skin. It was confirmed that the bullet had gone in the middle of his chin and left through the top of his head. The International Energy Agency (IEA) today unlocked 400 million barrels of oil from their reserves - the biggest such release ever - to ease the impact of the Middle East war. 'The oil market challenges we are facing are unprecedented in scale, therefore I am very glad that IEA member countries have responded with an emergency collective action of unprecedented size,' IEA executive director Fatih Birol said in a statement. 'Oil markets are global so the response to major disruptions needs to be global too.' The 32 countries at an emergency meeting 'unanimously agreed today to make 400 million barrels of oil from their emergency reserves available to the market to address disruptions in oil markets stemming from the war in the Middle East', the statement said. 'The emergency stocks will be made available to the market over a timeframe that is appropriate to the national circumstances of each Member country and will be supplemented by additional emergency measures by some countries.' The US-Israeli war with Iran has effectively closed off the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route for oil and gas. The waterway normally sees around 20% of all oil pass through every day, but with Iran all but cutting off access to the route, prices have shot through the roof and remain volatile. Earlier today, Iran attacked three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, including a Thailand-flagged vessel called the Mayuree Naree. Smoke rising from the Thai bulk carrier 'Mayuree Naree' near the Strait of Hormuz after an attack on March 11 Your browser does not support iframes. Making matters worse is the reneging of US president Donald Trump's promise to provide military escorts to ensure shipments of oil continue. Last week, he said: 'No matter what, the United States will ensure the free flow of energy to the world.' But yesterday, the US Navy was reported to have refused near-daily requests from the shipping industry for military escorts through the since the start of the war on Iran, saying the risk of attacks is too high for now. It is only the fifth time in its history that the IEA has mandated a release of oil to stabilise prices, having previously done so in 1991, 2005, 2011, and twice in 2022. The IEA release far exceeds the 182 million barrels of oil that its member countries released in 2022 when Russian leader Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine. The 32 members of the IEA hold over 1.2billion barrels of public emergency oil stocks, with a further 600 million barrels of industry stocks held under government mandates. Earlier, Iran threatened to send oil prices to over $200 a barrel, as nations scramble to stabilise prices. Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for Iran's military command said in comments directed at the US and its allies: 'Get ready for oil be $200 a barrel, because the oil price depends on regional security which you have destabilised.' Yesterday, Iran said it would not allow 'one litre of oil' to be shipped from the Middle East if US and Israeli attacks continue. Saudi Arabia's state oil company today warned of 'catastrophic consequences' for the world's oil markets if the Middle East war continues to choke exports. Amin Nasser, the CEO of Aramco, said: 'While we have faced disruptions in the past, this one by far is the biggest crisis the region's oil and gas industry has faced.' The Thai ship was attacked today, with Iran claiming responsibility Your browser does not support iframes. He admitted that while his firm, the world's single biggest exporter of oil, was meeting most of its customers' needs for now, this was only possible by tapping into storage facilities outside the Gulf. Nasser said that these stores cannot be used for 'an extended period of time, but for the time being, we are capitalising on it.' The CEO said: 'There would be catastrophic consequences for the world's oil markets, and the longer the disruption goes on the more drastic the consequences for the global economy.' As the world continues to reel from skyrocketing fuel prices, the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen today said that the EU is considering subsidising or cutting gas prices to 'deliver relief now.' Gas prices in Europe have doubled since war broke out, and von der Leyen today said in Strasbourg that subsidies or caps could be used to lower the impact when gas sets the price of electricity, which happens when intermittent renewables do not supply power to the grid. The latest attacks from Iran roughly coincided with a new Israeli barrage on Beirut aimed at rooting out the Iran-backed group Hezbollah, which has fired into Israel from Lebanon in solidarity with the Tehran government. Explosions were also heard in Beirut and in southern Lebanon after Israel said it had started a new assault on targets related to the Iranian-linked militia Hezbollah. The attacks set a building ablaze in central Beirut in the densely populated Aicha Bakkar area, engulfing the top two floors of the multi-storey structure. There were no immediate reports of casualties from the strike, which came without warning. An earlier Israeli strike killed five people in the Nabatieh district in southern Lebanon, while two more were killed in strikes in the Tyre and Bint Jbeil districts, Lebanon's health ministry said. A Red Cross worker also died as a result of wounds sustained on Monday, when his team was hit by an Israeli strike while they were rescuing people from an earlier attack. Nearly 500 people have been killed so far in Lebanon since Hezbollah triggered the latest round of fighting with Israel when it fired rockets into the country's north after the American and Israeli attacks on Iran started. In response, France today said it will send 60 tonnes of aid to Lebanon. French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the aid would arrive by Thursday, and would include 'sanitation kits, hygiene kits, mattresses, lamps and a mobile medical post' amid strikes on Lebanon. Israel warned of three Iranian attacks early on Wednesday, with sirens heard in Tel Aviv and elsewhere but no immediate reports of casualties. In addition to Iranian attacks targeting Saudi Arabia's oil fields, the kingdom's defence ministry said it had destroyed six ballistic missiles launched toward Prince Sultan Air Base, a major US and Saudi-operated air facility in eastern Saudi Arabia. Birds fly as smoke rises after an Israeli strike on Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon, March 11, 2026, The ministry also said it intercepted and destroyed two drones over the eastern city of Hafar al-Batin. Two Iranian drones have struck near Dubai International Airport, wounding four people though flights continue, authorities said. The Dubai Media Office, which issues statements on behalf of the city-state's government, said the attack caused 'minor injuries to two Ghanaian nationals and one Bangladeshi national, and moderate injuries to one Indian national'. Dubai International Airport, home to the long-haul carrier Emirates, is the world's busiest for international travel. Authorities have been trying build up its flight schedule though the airport has been targeted in the war. More to follow. A Chicago woman was outraged after discovering her tax preparer husband had a second wife in Palestine who was living a life of luxury, court documents revealed. Sharhabeel Shreiteh's infidelity was thrust into the spotlight after he was indicted on federal charges for a $14 million fraud scheme pertaining to coronavirus relief loans. Shreiteh, 46, received roughly $740,000 in kickbacks from the scheme which he spent on lush vacations and home renovations, according to a sentencing memo obtained by the Daily Mail. He sent hundreds of thousands of dollars to Palestine, where his second wife resides, and built her a mansion, the filing stated. He also purchased a Mercedes. His outrageous spending left his American wife Hania Atiq Shreiteh, 52, furious, the prosecution suggested, citing text messages she allegedly sent him in July 2021. 'You suck!' Atiq Shreiteh wrote. 'I bust my a** for 13 years and don't have like she gets without working for it!!!...You gave her kids, a villa, now fancy cars??!! 'To the point you are helping her show off her American husband and gonna buy her a Mercedes jeep??!!! I'm so sick and tired of being lied to by you!!!' she added. It is unclear if Shreiteh is legally married to his second wife. He has not been charged with bigamy. Despite his cheating and law-breaking, long-suffering Atiq appears to have taken her wayward spouse back. They celebrated their 17-year anniversary last July, she revealed in an Instagram post commemorating their relationship and her 'wonderful husband.' Chicago tax preparer Sharhabeel Shreiteh, 46, used fraudulent funds to build a mansion for his second wife who lived in Palestine, court records revealed. He also bought a Mercedes Sharhabeel Shreiteh and his American wife Hania Atiq Shreiteh celebrating their daughter's ninth birthday in 2022. Atiq Shreiteh learned of his alleged infidelity in July 2021 'We've had ups and downs but I wouldn't change it for the world. I hope we have many more blessed, healthy, happy years together,' she wrote, adding: 'I love you dearly.' Atiq Shreiteh, who runs a beauty supply store in the Chicago suburbs, boasts in her Instagram bio how her husband and daughter are 'my life.' She is the sole owner of the 2,484 square-foot home that she and Shreiteh reside in, Will County property records revealed. Atiq Shreiteh purchased the home in 2015 for $125,000, but it is now worth $325,542. Shreiteh has been associated with the address since his wife purchased the home. Shreiteh does not appear to own any domestic property, according to public records. It is unclear if he still owns property in Palestine or if he remains in contact with his second wife. The tax expert was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud for his role in the Paycheck Protection Program scam. The judge, in her sentencing memorandum, described the level of fraud he perpetrated as 'staggering.' He wept as the judge handed down his sentence and apologized to his family and the court 'for the harm' he caused, the Chicago Tribune reported Shreiteh and his Atiq Shreiteh, 52, celebrated their 17-year anniversary last July. She made a heartfelt Instagram post calling him a 'wonderful husband.' She added: 'We've had ups and downs but I wouldn't change it for the world' 'I don't know what to say or do now,' Shreiteh told his sentencing hearing. 'It's so harming for everyone. I'm speechless.' Shreiteh also faces felony charges in a related federal tax fraud case, court records showed. According to a status report filed Tuesday, the prosecution and defense are considering 'potential options for resolution of this case.' The Daily Mail has approached Atiq Shreiteh and Shreiteh's attorney for comment. Two senior Army officers will face trial later this year over their handling of a sex assault claim made by a teenage soldier who later committed suicide. Major James Hook and Colonel Samantha Shepherd are accused of misconduct in relation to information passed to them about a sexual assault committed on Gunner Jaysley Beck, 19, by a superior officer. Miss Beck was found dead in her barracks in Larkhill Camp, Wiltshire, in 2021. Former senior non-commissioned officer Michael Webber, 43, was jailed for six months by a military court last year after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting Miss Beck five months before her death. At an inquest into Miss Becks death which concluded last year, a coroner said the Armys handling of her complaint was a more than a minimal contributory part in her death. Brigadier Melissa Emmett, on behalf of the Chief of the General Staff, later said the Army should have done so much more to support and protect her. Colonel Shepherd and Major Hook appeared via video-link at the Military Court Centre at Catterick Garrison, North Yorks, on Wednesday to deny charges in relation to Miss Beck. Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck was found dead in her barracks in Larkhill Camp, Wiltshire, in 2021. Gunner Beck with her mother, Leighann McCready, at her passing out parade Col Shepherd, who is now based in the US, pleaded not guilty to two charges of conduct prejudicial to good order and service discipline under the UK Armed Forces Act 2006. The first alleges that on July 13, 2021, and thereafter, you did not report the commission of an alleged sexual assault to the service police in respect of a suspect within the regiment of which you were regimental colonel. The second alleges that on a date in July 2021, you misreported what you had been told by Jaysley Beck to another person. Major Hook pleaded not guilty to one charge of the same offence, which said that on July 13, 2021 you did not treat information passed to yourself by Jaysley Beck in a manner consistent with its seriousness. Members of Miss Becks family were listening via video-link as the senior soldiers were told they would stand trial in September. The judge was told Hook is serving with 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery and Shepherd, who appeared from the United States, is serving with the British Defence Staff in the country. Miss Becks inquest was also told the teenager, originally from Oxen Park in Cumbria, had been subjected to relentless harassment from her line manager, Bombardier Ryan Mason, who sent her more than 4,600 messages expressing his feelings for her. Miss Beck was found hanged in her barracks in December 2021 after a work Christmas party and had earlier complained she had been pinned down by a colleague. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has leapfrogged JD Vance as the favorite to become President after Donald Trump. Rubio has a 19 percent chance of being elected President in 2028, on the regulated exchange and prediction market site Kalshi. Vance is currently in second place, tied with Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom, both with an 18 percent chance of taking the White House. Until Tuesday, Vance had led with a 20 percent chance of becoming President, while Rubio had stood at just under 17 percent. Meanwhile, Vance retains a healthy lead on Polymarket, another prediction market and competitor of Kalshi, to succeed Trump as President in 2028. On that platform, Vance has a 21 percent chance to become the next President, while Newsom sits at 18 percent and Rubio at 15 percent, per Wednesday's numbers. Since the Iran war broke out, and Rubio has taken center stage in the administration's response, the Secretary of State has been ascendant in prediction markets. So much so that Rubio's odds of becoming the next President have almost doubled since the beginning of the war, when Rubio's odds stood around 10 percent. Secretary of State Marco Rubio now has the highest odds - 19 percent - to become the next President of the US, according to the prediction market Kalshi Vice President JD Vance had previously had the highest chance of being named President in 2028. Vance still is the favorite on Polymarket, a prediction platform that rivals Kalshi President Donald Trump has asked donors and advisors for their thoughts on comparing Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance Since Trump ordered the capture of Venezuela's ex-dictator Nicolas Maduro, Rubio has enjoyed more time in the spotlight as he has been tasked with explaining the administration's position on its vast foreign policy agenda. This week, the President floated that the Secretary of State - the son of Cuban refugees - could also soon lead the 'friendly takeover' of Cuba. Cubans can 'trust' Rubio, Trump explained, because the former Florida Senator can speak Spanish, 'which is always nice and always helpful,' the President added. Vance, meanwhile, was 'less enthusiastic' about the war, Trump has said, noting how he and his Vice President differ 'philosophically.' Trump himself has also shown an interest in who will succeed him in 2028. The President has repeatedly asked donors and close advisors for their thoughts on Rubio and Vance, seemingly prodding for insights about how they could be viewed as presidential contenders. Trump asked a room of donors at his Mar-a-Lago estate for their thoughts on his top two lieutenants one day after he launched a war on Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported this week. It was not the first time Trump had quizzed his inner circle like this before. The odds on Kalshi for who will win the 2028 election as of Wednesday afternoon 'What do you think of JD Vance and Marco Rubio?' the President asked during a speech, sources in the room told the WSJ. Over jumbo crab and rib-eye steaks, attendees applauded loudly for Rubio, the people said. The Secretary of State reportedly received noticeably louder applause than Vance. Vance, 41, and Rubio, 54, both former senators with differing appeal depending on where in the country one may be from - whether they like it or not - are at the heart of Trump's 2028 sweepstakes. Vance leads early polling to become the GOP's 2028 presidential nominee, according to an exclusive survey by the Daily Mail and JL Partners. Nineteen percent of respondents said Vance is the most influential member of Trump's inner circle. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was second with 12 percent. Donald Trump declared that the US had won the war with Iran during a rally in Kentucky on Wednesday. On the 12th day of nonstop bombings in the Middle East, the President insisted that it was actually already over. 'It's only good if you win,' Trump said of the war before asserting: 'And we've won.' 'You know, you never like to say too early 'you won.' We won In the first hour it was over,' he said at a rally in Hebron, Kentucky. Trump's statements came mere hours after Israel said missiles were launched from Iran towards its territory. Al Jazeera additionally reported that 'Iran has launched nine ballistic missiles and a number of drones against Qatar' per the 'Gulf nation's Defence Ministry.' Still, Trump reiterated that the war was won when speaking to reporters after landing back in Washington, DC after a jaunt through Ohio and Kentucky on Wednesday. 'We have very good news on the war front, namely they are absolutely being destroyed Iran is,' Trump said. 'The main thing is, we have to win this thing we need to win it,' he went on. 'And there are many people, just watching some of the news, most people say it's already been won it's just a question of when. When do we stop?' He did not answer a question from the Daily Mail on if his timeline for the conflict with Iran is still four week, like he said earlier this month. US President Donald Trump arrives to speak at Verst Logistics in Hebron, Kentucky, on March 11, 2026 This combination of pictures created on March 11, 2026 using satellite image released courtesy of Vantor shows an overview of Havadarya airbase in Bandar Abbas, Iran, on February 27, 2026 (top) and on March 11, 2026 after airstrikes Smoke rises after an explosion at the airport in Erbil, Iraq, late Wednesday, March 11, 2026 Earlier in the day on Wednessday Trump said that the conflict with Iran is both a war and a 'little excursion.' 'An excursion will keep us out of a war,' he insisted during a drug packaging factory tour at Thermo Fisher Scientific in Cincinnati, Ohio. 'For them [Iran] it's a war,' the President added. 'For us it's turned out to be easier than we thought.' The President and the administration as a whole have not had a unified message throughout the war's duration thus far. On February 28, the first day of the joint US-Israeli operation in Iran, Trump stated in a video posted to his Truth Social account that Iran's nuclear program had been 'obliterated'. That phrasing conflicted with a White House document from just months earlier, which described strikes carried out by the US last summer as having 'significantly degraded' the authoritarian regime's nuclear capabilities. Senator Roger Marshall, a Kansas Republican who is seeking reelection in this year's midterm elections, told CNN's Kaitlan Collins that he was 'wrong' about Iran's nuclear capabilities when asked to react to a statement he made on Fox News last June, following the Trump admin's strikes on nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Last year, Marshall said that it would take Iran 'years to restart their nuclear program', that they can't control their airspace, and that he was in 'shock and awe' over how much 'damage was done to their facilities.' GOP Sen. Roger Marshall on his argument last summer that it would take Iran "years" to restart their nuclear program: "I was wrong." pic.twitter.com/OX9c42zUnS Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) March 11, 2026 South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham sparked immense backlash with his comments he made about the war during an appearance on Fox News' show Hannity this week. Graham claimed that when he goes 'back to South Carolina, I'm asking them to send their sons and daughters over to the Middle East.' That line has created mayhem, as President Trump's bombing of Iran last month is highly unpopular with the American public, with both Democrats and Republicans alike. Eight American service members have already been killed in the conflict. The latest numbers also reveal that at least 140 troops have been injured. Nancy Mace, a South Carolina Congresswoman who is also running to be the state's governor in this year's midterm elections, noted in an X post Tuesday that she does 'not want to send South Carolina's sons and daughters into war with Iran,' without directly mentioning Graham's comments. Trump delivered his Wednesday remarks at Verst Logistics in Hebron, Kentucky, where he also railed against his top Congressional nemesis, Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie. Trump also boosted his handpicked challenger, Ed Gallrein, a retired Navy SEAL, during the event, although the formal guidance previewed the speech as 'remarks on the economy.' A surgeon charged at a female patient and screamed in her face after she complained of being in pain after an operation, a lawsuit alleged. Dr. Steven James Muscoreil lashed out at Natalie Henry after she underwent gallbladder surgery in January of this year, her suit claimed. According to Henry, she was suffering from severe abdominal pain after the surgery inside St. Mary's Sacred Heart Hospital in Lavonia, Georgia, on January 6. The complaint, seen by Fox Carolina, claimed that fellow staff inside the hospital told her that Muscoreil 'doesn't like to be bothered'. Two days after the operation, Musocreil had her undergo a CT scan and while going through the results he is said to have started shouting at her, the suit said. Muscoreil told her that the scan showed gas and fluid, telling her it should resolve on her own when she then asked him to examine her in person, the suit added. He is then alleged to have shouted at her: 'Don't you tell me how to do my job!', and 'You wanted me to come in here and check on you. Here I am.' It is alleged in the suit that he then charged towards her as she lay in bed, with a nurse having to step in between the two and push him away. Steven James Muscoreil lashed out at Natalie Henry after she underwent gallbladder surgery in January of this year she claimed in a law suit According to Henry she was suffering from severe abdominal pain after the surgery inside St. Mary's Sacred Heart Hospital in Lavonia, seen here, when the alleged incident happened The lawsuit claimed the hospital and medical group knew that Muscoreil was 'volatile' and had ignored prior complaints held against him. Henry claimed she now suffers from emotional distress, anxiety, nightmares and fears leaving the house as a direct consequence. She is seeking over $10,000 in damages and has demanded a jury trial, the outlet reported. St Mary's Health Care System said that Muscoreil was no longer providing care at the hospital after the alleged incident. According to WYFF, Muscoreil was arrested after the alleged incident with a police report claiming Muscoreil charged at her 'as if he was going to strike her'. The police report added that Muscoreil was shaking his finger in her face and yelling so loud that hospital staff outside the room could hear him. Officers spoke with two nurses, who both described Muscoreil as being 'extremely angry', the outlet added. It is alleged in the suit that he then charged towards her as she lay in bed, with a nurse having to step in between the two and push him away Muscoreil was hit with a simple assault charge after the alleged incident, he is seen here in his mugshot He was later charged with simple assault and taken to jail. It is unclear what happened after he was arrested. According to his LinkedIn, Muscoreil has over 35 years of experience and is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. His webpage said that he was practicing as a surgicalist and medical director at Sacred Hearts General Surgery. It added: 'His career has been marked by dedication to surgical excellence, patient safety, and continuous advancement in the field of surgery.' The Daily Mail contacted a legal representative for Henry, a cell number listed for Muscoreil went unanswered on Wednesday. Senior No10 figures close to Keir Starmer have blamed each other for the decision to hire Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington despite his known links to billionaire child abuser Jeffrey Epstein. In documents released today national security adviser Jonathan Powell appeared to suggest that Morgan McSweeney, Sir Keir's former chief of staff was at fault. In a legal grilling included in the trove of Mandelson files he said he thought the appointment was 'weirdly rushed'. He also said he flagged 'concerns' about Lord Mandelson - a fellow former Tony Blair confidant - and his 'reputation' with McSweeney at the time and was told they had been 'addressed'. His version of events appeared to be backed up by Matthew Doyle. In his own grilling by general counsel Mike Ostheimer, the former comms chief said Mr Powell had been 'particularly cautious' about the appointment. He also said he had also had some 'back and forth' with Mr McSweeney over Mandelson's job in private meetings. All three men have been criticised for their role in Mr Mandelson's appointment. Mr McSweeney quit the government last month in the fallout from the revelations about Mandelson's deep friendship with Epstein, with Mr Doyle having already left. But Mr Powell remains in post as NSA, playing a key role in the deal to surrender the Chagos Islands among other work. In documents released today national security adviser Jonathan Powell appeared to suggest that Morgan McSweeney, Sir Keir's former chief of staff was at fault In a legal grilling included in the trove of Mandelson files he said he thought the appointment was 'weirdly rushed' He also said he flagged 'concerns' about Lord Mandelson - a fellow former Tony Blair confidant - and his 'reputation' with McSweeney (above) at the time and was told they had been 'addressed'. Sir Keir was accused of rewarding Mandelson for 'betraying' Britain today as damning papers about the Labour grandee's appointment were released When McSweeney quit, his allies tried to pin the blame on Mr Powell, with one telling the Telegraph: 'Morgan didn't make the appointment, so while he has made an honourable decision on accountability, he shouldn't be the one taking responsibility. 'Let's see what those who pushed for Mandelson's hiring or tried to block his sacking will do now they can't hide behind Morgan.' Sir Keir was accused of rewarding Mandelson for 'betraying' Britain today as damning papers about the Labour grandee's appointment were released. Bombshell documents show peer was handed a 75,000 payoff when he was sacked as US ambassador over his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The disgraced former Cabinet minister had apparently been demanding 547,000 compensation for losing his 161,000 a year job and threatening legal action. Despite the PM claiming in Parliament that Mandelson 'lied' during his vetting, the government privately assessed was there was no evidence of 'misconduct in role that would give rise to normal disciplinary proceedings'. Foreign Office permanent secretary Olly Robbins wrote of the package: 'This represents good value for money.' Other officials congratulated each other on getting the sum - including 34,000 severance as well as cash in lieu of notice - 'so low'. Extraordinarily, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, James Murray, responded that he was 'happy' to sign the payment off. Meanwhile, the papers published by the government confirm that Sir Keir was aware when he appointed Mandelson in December 2024 that his friendship with the financier continued after he was convicted. In December 2024, a note from a senior aide to the premier stated he and chief of staff Morgan McSweeney had expressed a 'preference for a political candidate' to be Washington envoy and Mandelson was the 'lead candidate'. It said the Director of Communications - Tim Allan at the time - had been 'satisfied' with Mandelson's responses about his relationship with Epstein. Your browser does not support iframes. Mr Powell's version of events appeared to be backed up by Matthew Doyle. In his own grilling the former comms chief said Mr Powell had been 'particularly cautious' about the appointment A three-page 'due diligence' report supplied on December 11 2024 to Sir Keir - who dodged facing MPs on the revelations in the Commons today - flagged the ties between Mandelson and Epstein. It referred to reports of Epstein's 'particularly close relationship with Prince Andrew the Duke of York and Lord Peter Mandelson' and said their contact continued through the 2000s. The summary stated: 'After Epstein was first convicted of procuring an underage girl in 2008, their relationship continued across 2009-2011, beginning when Lord Mandelson was Business Minister and continuing after the end of the Labour government. 'Mandelson reportedly stayed in Epstein's House while he was in jail in June 2009.' It also mentioned that in 2014 Mandelson 'agreed to be a ''founding citizen'' of an ocean conservation group founded by Ghislaine Maxwell, and funded by Epstein.' Downing Street sources insisted the ongoing police investigation into Mandelson means it is unable to release details about what questions the peer was asked. Britain's greatest living pacifist I speak of Sir Keir Starmer turned amazingly ratty at PMQs. The Prime Minister may have wished to assert his non-combative propensities but he went about it in a strange way: by raving, flaming his eyes and generally behaving like an Old Testament fakir on the brink of nervous self-immolation. His stubby fingers, much brandished in admonition, trembled terribly. He would hardly discuss anything but the war (in which he claimed we were not involved). He kept shouting, huffing, muttering at the breeze and crunching down on the nearest locust. You may recall such characters in the margins of The Life Of Brian, bendy-legged with beards to their navels. Amid all this tonsil-waggling protestation of his eirenic inclinations the nasal knight simultaneously wished to portray himself a firmly martial leader. He boasted about having taken decisions to send the RAF out on armed sorties and about the Royal Navy destroyer Dragon tootling off to the Gulf. Its voyage had been delayed, he claimed, only because Dragon had needed time to load munitions. That photograph of a pallet of potatoes waiting on the naval dockside earlier this week must clearly have been a disguise. Exploding spuds. Kemi Badenoch, who was markedly less keen to discuss the war, had merely asked the PM about fuel duty: Why does he think now is the right time to increase the cost of petrol? Sir Keir, after a brisk we arent, then said he might not go ahead with his increase. U-TURN! U-TURN! laughed Opposition MPs. This only enraged Sir Keir even more. He flew into a prolonged rant about Mrs Badenochs initial hunger for combat and her subsequent change of tack. That is the mother of all U-turns! cried our fakir, jumping up and down in his sandals. Mrs Badenoch smiled with the patience of a psychiatric nurse and softly repeated her query about petrol prices. Whoomph! Off Sir Keir flew into another tirade, deploring things Mrs Badenoch and her shadow ministers had said. The PM may have wished to remind Britons he is a pacifist. However, he would hardly discuss anything but the war (in which he claimed we were not involved) writes Quentin Letts Sir Keir Starmer's admonitions, shouting and huffing at PMQs was reminiscent of characters from Monty Python's The Life Of Brian, says Letts Kemi Badenoch smiled at Sir Keir 'with the patience of a psychiatric nurse', writes Quentin Letts, as he ranted in response to her query about petrol prices I know they dont want to hear it! yowled the agitated eremite Sir Keir. I wouldnt want to hear it if I woz them! After that... He was about to embark on another Levitican curse when Speaker Hoyle screeched for peace and quiet. Moments later the Speaker ejected a Labour MP, Peter Swallow (Bracknell), for shouting at Mrs Badenoch. A Tory frontbencher was also admonished for calling Sir Keir a liar. All this peace-keeping was making everyone frightfully cross. Sir Keir continued to scream in anger, reading from his notes as he accused Kemi B and Nigel Farage of becoming spooked by their pro-US prejudices. Speaker Hoyle could bear no more of this flannel and told Sir Keir to stick to Prime Ministers questions (i.e. stop being evasive). Im sorry Im interrupting you, the Speaker snapped sarcastically. Sir Keir glowered at him, quivering with rage. His behaviour was odd. Are men of peace not meant to be serene? But perhaps the burdens of office are starting to take their toll. If I were the new Cabinet secretary Id move that big red nuclear button out of his immediate reach. Beside Sir Keir sat the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves. She has a new pair of spectacles. Smart and bookish. With any luck those new bins should bring the line of red noughts at the bottom of the national balance sheet more sharply into focus. Later in the afternoon the chamber heard that Peter Mandelson had been given a 75,000 pay-off, having at first demanded more than half a million quid. Left-wing Labour MPs laughed at the greed of it. The Conservatives Alex Burghart marvelled that the by now absent Sir Keir, supposed ace prosecutor, had fallen for such an ambassador. Mr Burghart doubted that the Labour Party, or indeed the country, would ever again trust Sir Keir. Much more of that sort of thing about our Learned Peacenik and Mr Burghart may find a Sidewinder missile heading up his jacksie. A New Jersey father went on a deadly shooting rampage, killing his in-laws and the mother of his children before turning the gun on himself, police said. Officers with the Berkley Township Police Department responded to a home on Fairwood Drive in Bayville around 5am Tuesday after receiving a report of shots fired, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office. When the SWAT Team entered the residence, they found Allan Russell, 61, and his wife Michelle Russell, 60, deceased from apparent gunshot wounds. Authorities then found three minor children inside the home who were unharmed before locating Vaughn Stewart, 37, dead from an apparent gunshot wound to his head, officials said. Officers searching the area around the home then found bullet shell casings that led to the discovery of Deonna Stewart, Vaughn's estranged wife, and the Russells's daughter. Her deceased body was located about 50 yards from the house. Vaughn and Deonna, 38, were the parents of the three children found in the home and were living separately at the time of their deaths, investigators determined. Detectives said Vaughn entered the home and shot Allan, a Child Protective Services (CPS) employee, and Michelle before chasing Deonna down the street and firing multiple shots at her. He then went back into the house and shot himself with the gun, police said. It is unclear what sparked the horror quadruple murder-suicide. Allan Russell (pictured), 61, and his wife Michelle Russell, 60, were shot to death by their grandchildren's father, Vaughn Stewart, 37, on Tuesday morning at their home in Bayville, New Jersey The Russells's daughter, Deonna Stewart, 38, was also killed. Prosecutors said Vaughn, the father of her children, shot her multiple times while chasing her down the street Deonna and Vaughn's three young children are now in the care of the Department of Child Protection and Permanency, the prosecutor's office stated. Tributes have since poured in online for the Russells and their daughter Deonna, who all lived at the home together, according to public records. The three of them were originally from Jamaica, a friend, Tanya Shannon, said in a Facebook post. 'My heart is so heavy. A beautiful soul, Deonna, was taken from this world far too soon at just 38 years old,' she wrote alongside an image of the late mother. Shannon added: 'She leaves behind three precious children, including a baby who is only 2 months old. Her parents also lost their lives in this unimaginable tragedy. 'Deonna and her parents are family friends, they were my sisters neighbors in Jamaica, before they migrated to the USA. She was a client at the salon, I still remember her last visit in December right before she had her last baby. 'She was always kind, warm, and full of life. Its heartbreaking to think that someone so vibrant is gone,' she continued. Several of Allan's coworkers also took to social media to express their grief after hearing of his passing. After killing the three family members, Vaughn went back into the home and shot himself in the head, police said. Three children were found unharmed inside the home when authorities arrived Deonna and Vaughn's three young children are now in the care of the Department of Child Protection and Permanency, the prosecutor's office stated One wrote on Facebook: 'In a highly stressful and often thankless position - you always handled yourself with integrity, grace, and humor! 'RIP Mr. Allan Russell and thank you for your devotion and dedication to our youth. I am so sorry this happened!' Another one of his coworkers, Quinn Gunderson, shared multiple images of Allan with his friends. 'Allan sat in the cubicle next to me at work. He became a close friend and I am honored to have known him. He would do ANYTHING for anyone and never asked for anything in return,' Gunderson wrote. In a subsequent post, she shared how gifted he was at his job. 'Working in child protection services, we see the worst and we are dedicated to helping the lives of those we serve. Allan was a testament to believing in families and believing people can change. He cared so much for his clients and cheered for them. 'He was also the biggest family man and was always so proud to talk about his children and grandchildren.' Allan and Michelle's neighbors said the couple was always so friendly and welcoming. 'They called me once every couple of weeks just to check in on us,' James Casella, whose backyard backs up to the Russells's home, told Nj.com. Several of Allan's coworkers took to social media to express their grief after hearing of his passing. He worked for Child Protective Services (CPS), they said 'My kids look out the back window just to see if theyre out there, just to say "hi" to them. It really hit us hard. They were truly great, great people.' Casella told the outlet one of the bullets hit his home near the bedroom he shares with his wife, but thankfully did not strike the area where they sleep. 'My wife and I were sleeping. I looked out the back window; it was dark. The neighbors house to them had their back porch light on. I did not think it was this house behind me,' he explained. Natalia Antonowski, another neighbor, immediately sheltered inside her home after hearing gunfire that morning, she said. Antonowski, 23, said the shots were repetitive, but at some point they stopped. 'There was a break in between, and then we heard one last. I kind of stared at my ceiling. I didn't know what to do or say. Investigators are seen marking evidence outside the home 'You wouldnt really expect it to happen around here,' she added. A GoFundMe page has been launched to help raise money for Allan, Michelle and Deonna's funeral services. 'Allan and Michelle loved their children and grandchildren endlessly. Their faith in God was immeasurable. This horrific act of domestic violence took three precious lives,' the page read. As of Wednesday afternoon, nearly $12,000 had been raised for the family. The Daily Mail contacted the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office for comment. Keir Starmers digital ID card scheme could be used as a population-wide facial recognition database for police to check mugshots, privacy campaigners fear. A clause included in Labours digital ID consultation could allow police to access facial recognition and biometric data held by the Government. The digital ID cards will include a a current, high-resolution biometric facial image that meets specified requirements, the Government announced this week. Documents published by the Cabinet Office state that there is a legal basis for police use of facial recognition, which may include access to biometric data held by government. The documents add that under the Governments proposals the digital ID cards will be subject to existing and any new legal frameworks for using facial recognition in law enforcement. Jasleen Chaggar, from civil liberties group Big Brother Watch, said: Snuck into the consultation is an admission that the police would be allowed to repurpose our digital ID photos as mugshots to create a population-wide facial recognition database. It is for precisely this reason that the public is rightly sceptical of a sprawling ID system that has been sold to us under various guises - whether to stop the boats or improve public services - but which invariably hands more power and more of our personal information to the state, at our expense. She added: Given the public backlash, high costs, serious data risks and likelihood that this could become a mandatory scheme in practice, the government should drop this digital ID disaster altogether. Digital ID will first be used to carry out digital right-to-work checks, but ministers envision this expanding to include things like childcare, tax, registering a marriage, and even telling people when to take their bins out A clause included in Labours digital ID consultation could allow police to access facial recognition and biometric data held by the Government On Tuesday Labour unveiled its prototype digital ID system as it laid out further details on what the scheme could look like in its push to create 'Government by app'. The digital ID will first be used to carry out digital right-to-work checks, but ministers envision this expanding to include things like childcare, tax, national insurance and even registering a marriage. Under Labours proposals, the digital ID app could expand to make it easier to claim benefits and even tell people when to put their bins out. The Government has launched an eight-week public consultation and subsequent peoples panel on plans to launch a digital ID, as it tries to curry favour for its controversial scheme. The consultation period is due to end in June and ministers then plan to bring legislation before MPs, with the digital ID app expected to be running by the end of this parliament. Ministers have stressed that digital IDs will not be mandatory, and when the legislation is brought before parliament 'it will say this on the face of the Bill'. And Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, has insisted that the digital ID scheme is not about law enforcement but is designed to improve interactions with public services. Mr Jones, who is in charge of the project, told a press conference: The digital ID system that we're building is not a mandatory ID that you need to have available to show to the police or anybody else. If you wish to use it, you can, but you don't have to if you do want to. So any concerns the public have about how this interfaces with law enforcement, please be reassured that's not what this is about. This is about making customer services easier to access and use across government. Punch was the most famous monkey in the world when he went viral last month. The orphaned animal who lives in Ichikawa City Zoo, near Tokyo, set social media ablaze after he appeared to seek comfort in a plush toy monkey after being rejected by the other macaques in his enclosure. Hundreds of fans flocked to the zoo to catch a glimpse of the six-month-old monkey while others shouted 'hang in there!' as Punch tried to approach others in the troop. However, despite Punch becoming the star of the Japanese zoo, his handlers have urged visitors to 'stop feeling sorry' for him. In a statement, the zoo said: 'On February 20, 2026, we [the zoo] posted on our official X account (@ichikawa_zoo) that "Although Punch has been scolded many times by other monkeys, no single monkey has shown serious aggression toward him." '"When you observe these disciplinary behaviors from other troop members toward Punch when he tries to communicate with them, [the zoo] would like you to support Punch's effort rather than feel sorry for him."' The zoo added that Punch was not 'being bullied', after viral videos online claimed otherwise, insisting that the behaviour is part of a 'strict hierarchical society' where 'dominant individuals show "disciplining actions" toward their subordinates'. 'These behaviors differ from human "abuses",' the zoo said. Punch the monkey, who lives in Ichikawa City Zoo, near Tokyo, set social media ablaze after he appeared to seek comfort in a plush toy monkey after being rejected by other macaques in his enclosure While they acknowledged that a 'few high-ranking macaques' have demonstrated aggression more frequently' and they were removed from the troop on March 8 as 'a temporary measure', they claimed that there has been no evidence that Punch has been 'attacked in a way that would threaten his survival'. And although the zoo said it was 'understandable' that people had suggested Punch be removed from the group, to do so now 'would create the risk that he would never be able to return to the group and would have to continue living that way for the rest of his life'. The statement continued: '[The zoo] share your concerns about Punch, and all the zookeepers and staff will continue to work together to ensure that Punch can continue to live a healthy life as part of this troop of monkeys.' Recent pictures showed that Punch appears to be finally integrating with other monkeys and using the toy less. The baby macaque has recently been pictured hitching a ride on the back of another monkey, sitting with adults, and sometimes getting groomed or hugged by his peers. He was abandoned by his mother after his birth, presumably because of exhaustion. Zookeepers nursed him and gave him the toy to train him to cling an ability newborn macaques need to survive. He joined the monkey enclosure at the zoo early this year, with his companion toy provided by the zookeepers for comfort. A statement from Ichikawa City Zoo, near Tokyo, about claims Punch is being bullied Fans of Punch the money outside a street mural to the baby macaque in Melbourne. Punch was briefly the most famous monkey in the world when he went viral last month Zookeeper Kosuke Kano, 24, said: 'Helping Punch learn the rules of monkey society and being accepted as a member is our most important task.' Japanese baby macaques cling to their mothers to feel safe and to build up their muscles, according to zookeeper Kosuke Shikano. The zoo looked for an alternative, such as a towel or a different soft toy, but Punch chose the long-legged teddy orangutan. 'This stuffed animal has relatively long hair and several easy places to hold,' Shikano said. 'We thought that its resemblance to a monkey might help Punch integrate back into the troop later on, and that's why we chose it.' Punch was so popular after images of him and his toy showed up online last month that the zoo had to set rules to make visitors quiet and to limit viewing to ten minutes to reduce stress for the more than 50 other monkeys. Punch outgrowing the toy is a good thing, zoo staff say. 'When he grows out of the plush toy that encourages his independence, and that's what we are hoping for,' zoo director Shigekazu Mizushina said. Punch still sleeps with his toy every night, but Mizushina said the next thing keepers want to see is Punch bunched up with other monkeys to sleep. The Pentagon has reportedly banned photographers over 'unflattering' images from Pete Hegseth's briefings. The Defense Secretary's staff were livid over photos from a hearing on March 2, sources told the Washington Post. It is unclear exactly which images Hegseth's aides objected to, but several show the Pentagon chief with a furrowed brow and holding his hands out as he responds to a reporter's question. The briefing was Hegseth's first in more than eight months after the US killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in an airstrike on February 28. Major news agencies, including Reuters, Getty Images and the Associated Press, all covered the first briefing with Hegseth and General Dan Caine. But they were banned from attending two subsequent briefings on March 4 and March 10. The Pentagon denied that the photographers' exclusion was related to the substance of their images, instead claiming that there is limited space inside the briefing room. 'In order to use space in the Pentagon Briefing Room effectively, we are allowing one representative per news outlet if uncredentialed, excluding pool,' spokeswoman Kingsley Wilson said. MARCH 2: It is unclear exactly which images Hegseth's aides objected to, but several show the Pentagon chief with a furrowed brow and holding his hands out as he responds to a reporter's question MARCH 2: Another image from AFP taken during the hearing in which aides reportedly fumed about 'unflattering' photos MARCH 2: Hegseth speaks during a news conference at the Pentagon MARCH 2: Hegseth furrows his brow as he speaks to reporters a the Pentagon briefing MARCH 2: Pentagon gestures in a photo taken by the Associated Press from the offending briefing 'If that hurts the business model for certain news outlets, then they should consider applying for a Pentagon press credential.' The Pentagon refused to issue passes to media who refused to sign a new contract last year, with dozens of major outlets rejecting the strict terms. But since the Iran war started, a special arrangement has been made to allow reporters from certain outlets in spite of the contract dispute. The Washington Post reported that White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly turned down the chance to comment on Hegseth and his aides' decision to block photographers. Kelly took to X, calling the Post journalist Scott Nover who reported the story a 'fake news reporter,' pushing back that she declined to comment for the story. She wrote, 'Not true! He just didn't like my comment because it exposes how little the Washington Post cares about access for photographers They just fired all of their White House photographers! Fake outrage.' Kelly also attached a screenshot of the exchange showing the exchange between the reporter where she responded to a request for comment with, 'Didn't the Washington Post just fire all of it's White House photographers?' The March 2 briefing with Hegseth and Caine was supposed to be a 'Pentagon new media' affair, but due to a need for TV coverage, the Pentagon made a deal with outlets to attend the briefing. MARCH 10: The officially sanctioned photo released from Hegseth's most recent briefing MARCH 10: Hegseth in a photo released by his office from the most recent briefing However, following the publication of images that reportedly horrified Hegseth's aides, the Pentagon has now enforced the photographic blackout. Now, the only cameras allowed in the room belong to the Pentagon's photographer. 'Excluding photographers from Pentagon briefings because officials did not like how published images portrayed them shows an astonishingly poor sense of priorities in the midst of a war and is, for a public servant, not a good look,' NPPA President Alex Garcia said. 'A free press cannot function if government officials decide that only favorable images of public officials may be created or distributed.' Things reached a boiling point back in October when Pentagon reporters handed over their press credentials in a dramatic walkout. This was sparked by a new government policy that essentially sought to ban the press from uncovering certain sensitive information and requiring them to show Pentagon officials a story before publishing. Taking the fight to the feds, the New York Times and journalist Julian Barnes have slapped the government with a lawsuit over the controversial policy. They argue the rules are a direct assault on the First Amendment. The case is reaching a boiling point in DC, where a judge is currently mulling over the next move after Friday's courtroom showdown. A manhunt has been launched to find an asylum seeker who admitted to attacking his friend after he fled the court during a lunch break. Jordanian national Mustafa Al Mbaidin, 29, headbutted his pal before putting him in a headlock and hitting him around the head with a bottle and metal kettle. Al Mbaidin appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court and pleaded guilty to one charge of wounding. The court heard that he brutally attacked his friend Muhammed Al-Aseel on January 24, 2025, after spending the day drinking Champagne. A witness described the attack as the 'most horrific physical assault' she had ever seen and required counselling with a trauma specialist. However, during a lunch break at court, Al Mbaidin did not return, breaking his bail conditions to remain within the court building and its car park. A warrant was subsequently issued for his arrest. Al Mbaidin is from Jordan but came to Britain via Turkey. He was staying at a hotel in Bournemouth when he committed the offences. Jordanian national Mustafa Al Mbaidin, 29, headbutted his friend before putting him in a head lock and hitting him around the head with a bottle and metal kettle. Pictured: Mustafa Al Mbaidin leaving Poole Magistrates Court in July last year The two men had been helping Sophie Burnett move into her new home in Southbourne, Dorset. John Dyer, prosecuting, said Al Mbaidin had been drinking Champagne all day. The defendant began making advances towards Ms Burnett and she asked him to leave. Mr Al-Aseel started to encourage him to leave and Al Mbaidin became aggressive and attacked. Mr Dyer said the defendant headbutted Mr Al-Aseel and put him in a headlock before he struck him round the head with a bottle and a metal kettle. Al Mbaidin struck the victim with 'considerable force' and left a dent in the kettle, it was heard. Mr Al-Aseel was treated at the scene by paramedics for the wound which was 'bleeding profusely' before he was taken to hospital. The defendant claimed he attacked Mr Al-Aseel because he had been aggressive towards him, the court heard. Ms Burnett told the court that the incident was 'the most horrific physical assault I have seen in my life'. She said 'I was deeply concerned because there was blood shooting up the sides of my kitchen' and added that Mr Al-Aseel had been 'fearful, so I was super-fearful'. Ms Burnett said that she had received 'eight months' counselling with a trauma specialist, for four months I could not leave my house'. After the court broke for lunch, the defendant, who was bailed to remain in the court building and its car park, failed to return for the continuation of the Newton hearing. Issuing a warrant for his arrest and adjourning the case until Monday, Judge Kerry Maylin said: 'I can be sure he absented himself as I bailed him with strict conditions he remain in the building or the precincts of the court. 'In reality, the only conclusion I can be drawn to is that he has voluntarily chosen to disobey the conditions that the court put on his bail. 'The reason I had put those conditions on his bail is because I had a feeling he might not come back. I have observed him in the dock and he has not been a happy individual.' The judge added: 'He may have been overwhelmed that witnesses have continued to maintain the accounts they gave at the police station or at the outset of this allegation.' The attack came just days before Al Mbaidin was convicted of attacking two police officers last January. Al Mbaidin pushed and spat at Dorset PC Ian Leslie just two weeks after he appeared in court for attacking another officer. He first shoved PC Selina Swan and hit her on the head with his jacket as he was being arrested for drunk and disorderly behaviour. He appeared in court on July 16, 2024, and was let off with a 12-month conditional discharge. But just 14 days later he got drunk again and caused a confrontation on Bournemouth beach. As PC Leslie put him in handcuffs, he pushed the officer and spat at him, but it did not connect. Al Mbaidin was charged and released on bail but then failed to appear at Poole Magistrates' Court on November 26. He later pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker by beating and failing to surrender to court bail at the appointed time. Despite the previous concerns, lead magistrate Colin Stupack sentenced Al Mbaidin to 250 hours community service and ordered him to pay PC Leslie 50 compensation. Nothing was said about Al Mbaidin's right to remain in the UK at the time. Green Party leader Zack Polanski was today revealed to have doubled-down on his claim he could enlarge women's breasts through hypnosis. The 'eco-populist' has previously said he was 'misrepresented' in a 2013 newspaper article, which detailed his belief he could boost cup sizes using the mind alone. Mr Polanski has also repeatedly said he apologised 'a day later' for the newspaper article about his work as a hypnotherapist. But a newly unearthed radio interview has now shown how Mr Polanski stood by his claims nearly a week after the article was published on 12 June, 2013. On 18 June that year, when speaking to BBC Radio Humberside, Mr Polanski spoke of a 'successful project' with the journalist who wrote the article. 'Actually there was an article in The Sun last week where a client came to see me who was a journalist and we had a successful project,' he said. 'We've done it a couple of times and there seems to be no shift. 'But, actually, increasingly more and more as I work people there's starting to become anecdotal evidence, at least, of a growth in breast size.' Green Party leader Zack Polanski is revealed to have doubled-down on his claims he could enlarge women's breasts through hypnosis Mr Polanski went on to suggest the journalist's breasts had grown significantly within the space of a week, adding: 'She says that she grew four inches. 'It didn't change her cup size, she stayed the same cup size but she said it was a tighter fit.' Asked if the woman's breasts had actually grown, Mr Polanski told the radio host: 'Yes, according to a journalist.' Pressed on whether he personally believed women's breasts can be enlarged through hypnosis, he added: 'I believe that it can happen in theory. 'And I think it's definitely worth investing the time, evidence and research into hypnosis generally.' In the 2013 radio interview, Mr Polanski said he was not charging clients for breast enhancement 'at the moment'. He also expressed his hope that hypnotherapy would help people more generally with body confidence issues. 'When you think about cosmetic surgery, kind of the dangerous effects et cetera - both mentally as well, at least with hypnotherapy we're also combining it with a package of looking at people's confidence and their self-esteem,' he said. 'My hope would be that, actually, just with one session people wouldn't even want to enhance their breasts - they'd actually be looking to become more comfortable from the inside out.' The radio interview appears to contradict Mr Polanski's more recent comments on the 2013 newspaper article, which advertised a 90-minute session with him as costing 220 and was titled: 'Can you really THINK your boobs bigger?' In September last year, shortly after his election as Green leader, Mr Polanski was asked on ITV's Good Morning Britain if he believed at the time that hypnosis could enlarge a woman's breasts. 'I was misrepresented, I apologised a day later,' he said. 'Does anyone believe that? Actually lots of men got in touch with me asking if it could help with other body parts. 'I've never done it for men, I've never done it for women, that's not something I believe in.' Later the same month, he told the Pod Save the UK podcast of the 2013 article: 'I went out on BBC radio the next day, so not 12 years later when I became a politician, but literally the next day to go 'this article doesn't represent me'.' A Labour source: 'Zack Polanski's ego might have got bigger, but nothing else has. 'It's now clear that his pretence to have been misrepresented over his breast enlargement hypnosis scam was absolute nonsense - he got called out years later, and he lied about it. 'You can't trust a word he says - he'll say whatever he thinks you want to hear.' A Green Party source said: 'Zack has repeatedly apologised for an interview he did with The Sun more than a decade ago. 'Now, Zack is focused on the issues that really matter to people: bringing down bills, protecting the NHS and rebuilding our public services.' A former Army colonel who served as an intelligence officer during the Troubles has told the High Court that Gerry Adams was part of an IRA Army Council which authorised car bomb attacks on the British mainland. Richard Kemp, who served almost 30 years in the British Army and took part in seven tours of Northern Ireland between 1979 and 2001, said he had come to the unequivocal conclusion that Adams was a central figure within the Provisional IRA. He said this was based on intelligence reports compiled by the Army, MI5 and Northern Irelands Royal Ulster Constabulary [RUC] police force. Adams, 77, is being sued vindicatory damages of 1 by three survivors of IRA bombings in England between 1973 and 1996. The claimants allege that owing to his leading role in the IRA, he was directly responsible for terror attacks on the British mainland during the Troubles. Mr Adams, the former president of Sinn Fein, has always denied being a member of the IRA. A number of witnesses are being called by the claimants in an attempt to prove that Adams was in fact a senior member of the IRA at the time of the bombings. The civil trial has already heard that he was described by an RUC Special Branch intelligence officer as the terror groups de facto leader. Gerry Adams outside London's Royal Courts of Justice on the third day of a civil trial where claimants allege he was a senior member of the IRA behind at least three bombings Retired British Army officer Colonel Richard Kemp said that he was 'privy to intelligence' which suggested Mr Adams was an IRA leader In a written witness statement, Mr Kemp said that, during his tours in Northern Ireland, I was privy to a multitude of intelligence that made it clear Adams was one of the most prominent PIRA [Provisional IRA] figures. He added: We were provided with photographs of him by military intelligence and ordered by our commanders that if we encountered him on the street, we were to question him on his activities, and if instructed, arrest him for further questioning. Adams origins I understand to have been in the Belfast Brigade, but from the intelligence I saw he had worked his way to leadership of the brigade and other more senior roles. He continued: It was my understanding that Adams was on the Army Council of the PIRA early in the Troubles, though I do not know the exact dates, and remained so even after the peace process in the late 1990s. Adams is being sued by John Clark, a victim of the IRAs Old Bailey attack in 1973; Jonathan Ganesh, who was injured in the 1996 attack at Londons Docklands and Barry Laycock, who was injured in the attack at Manchester's Arndale Shopping Centre in the same year. In relation to those bombings, Mr Kemp said they would have all required sign off from the Army Council. This very high-profile activity simply could not have been carried out without the Councils knowledge and approval, he said. The court had earlier been told that Adams (right) must have been an IRA member after he wore a black beret at an IRA funeral in 1971 It is inconceivable, in my view, and based on my knowledge of the PIRA and the intelligence I had access to, that Adams would not have been involved in this process and its ultimate authorisation. In his statement, Mr Kemp, 65, who joined the Army in 1977 and left in 2006, also claimed that Adams was named in intelligence files as being responsible for a series of bombings in Belfast in 1972 known as Bloody Friday. At least 20 bombs exploded and nine people were killed and 130 injured. No-one has ever been convicted over the bombings. The IRA later apologised for the attacks. In his statement, Mr Kemp said: Adams was also named in that intelligence as being responsible, in that he gave the orders for, the Bloody Friday massacre in 1972. We had this corroborated from multiple sources at various grades. Earlier, the court heard from former IRA explosives expert Shane ODoherty who claimed there was a risk in giving evidence against an IRA leader as a witness in a previous libel case had been murdered. He noted that Eamonn Collins, a former IRA volunteer-turned-author who gave evidence in a libel trial against an IRA commander in 1998 was murdered just months later. Mr ODoherty said Adams would not have been able to meet with senior IRA leaders unless at the very least he had the first level of security which is to swear the oath of allegiance [to the IRA]. Unless you have done that you cant be trusted, he added. Mr ODoherty, who spent almost 15 years in prison for planting IRA letter bombs in London, conceded that, until this weeks court case, he had never met or seen Adams. Adams contends that any meetings with other IRA figures or the British government were part of his role at Sinn Fein. He denies any role in the bombings or membership of the IRA. The trial continues. The FBI alerted California law enforcement to potential Iranian drone strikes on the West Coast in retaliation for the US war against the Islamic Republic. 'Iran allegedly aspired to conduct a surprise attack using unmanned aerial vehicles from an unidentified vessel off the coast of the United State Homeland, specifically against unspecified targets in California, in the event that the US conducted strikes against Iran,' the alert obtained by ABC News said. 'We have no additional information on the timing, method, target, or perpetrators of this alleged attack,' the FBI update continued. The alert surfaced as the Trump administration continued its sustained offensive against Iran. This move follows a pattern of escalation in the Middle East, where the regime in Tehran has used drone warfare as a primary tool for retaliation. Both the FBI and the White House declined to comment for this story. Mexican drug cartel drone usage has also ticked up in recent months, raising the stakes for US border security and the safety of personnel operating in the region. A government bulletin from September warned that an unverified tip indicated Mexican cartel bosses may have greenlit drone strikes targeting American law enforcement and military personnel along the southern border. The bulletin noted that while such an attack on US soil would mark a dramatic and historic escalation, officials considered the scenario plausible, even as they acknowledged cartels have historically steered clear of provocations likely to trigger a heavy response from Washington. Iran has showed off a sprawling underground network of tunnels filled with row after row of drones and rockets File photo of the Hollywood sign in California Rows of Iranian drones and missiles were seen in underground tunnels Your browser does not support iframes. The warning provided no details on how drone-capable ships might approach the US coast. Officials have remained wary for years that Tehran might 'forward-deploy' hardware in anticipation of a direct military confrontation with Washington or Jerusalem. The drone threat comes as Iran launched a cyber offensive against one of the world's leading medical technology companies. Michigan-based Stryker experienced a global outage on Wednesday, saying thousands of employees have lost access to work systems. It employs approximately 53,000 people globally. The company is a leading provider in advanced medical technologies that improve healthcare outcomes, including joint replacements, robotic-assisted surgical systems, trauma and neurotechnology products. The Tehran-aligned Handala group issued a statement on Telegram, saying it wiped more than 200,000 systems and extracted 50 terabytes of data in retaliation for military strikes on Iran. Handala emerged around 2022 and has claimed responsibility for a number of cyberattacks against Israeli and Western targets. Footage released by the Fars News Agency, which is closely linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, shows long lines of missiles and Shahed drones A Shahed drone fired by Iran Shahed drones cost just tens of thousands of dollars to produce, and take little time to manufacture The alert surfaced as the Trump administration began its sustained offensive against Iran. This move follows a pattern of escalation in the Middle East, where Tehran has increasingly utilized drone warfare as a primary tool for retaliation Your browser does not support iframes. The group claimed it shut down Stryker offices in 79 countries and that all extracted data is 'now in the hands of the free people of the world.' Stryker is active in over 100 countries around the world. 'Our major cyber operation has been executed with complete success,' Handala says in a statement, describing the attack as retaliation for what it calls 'the brutal attack on the Minab school' and for 'ongoing cyber assaults against the infrastructure of the Axis of Resistance.' A foreign hacker broke into the FBI's New York Field Office in 2023 and tampered with files relating to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to a new report. The hacker, whose nationality was not disclosed, reportedly broke into the FBI and gained access to government Epstein files on February 12, 2023, Reuters reports. An investigation into the breach found the hacker had been 'combing through certain files pertaining to the Epstein investigation.' A source familiar with the breach told the outlet that the foreign hacker appeared to have been a cybercriminal rather than a foreign government. They added that the breach occurred after a server at the Child Exploitation Forensic Lab in the FBI's New York Field Office was accidentally made vulnerable to infiltration. Special Agent Aaron Spivack was attempting to 'navigate the bureaus complex procedures for handling digital evidence,' the report claims. The FBI refused to comment. Spivack did not immediately return the Daily Mail's request for comment. According to a timeline written by the agent, Spivack discovered his system was breached when he came into work on February 13, 2023, the day after the hack, and found a warning that his network had been compromised. A foreign hacker reportedly broke into the FBI's New York City office in 2023 and gained access to a government server before interacting with some files related to Jeffrey Epstein Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide in 2019 while awaiting his federal sex trafficking trial. Epstein has been linked to many of the world's most powerful and rich people, including Presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton The hacker reportedly broke into the FBI's New York Field Office, shown above The timeline does not state what files were accessed, whether any data was downloaded or the identity of the hacker. 'The FBI restricted access to the malicious actor and rectified the network,' a spokesperson said in a statement. 'The investigation remains ongoing, so we do not have further comments to provide at this time.' Spivack reportedly told FBI investigators that he was being made 'a scapegoat for the intrusion' and that poor information technology practices and communication were to blame for the breach. The source familiar with the incident told Reuters that the foreign hacker appeared not to know they had infiltrated a government server. The foreign infiltrator told FBI officials they were disgusted that child abuse material appeared on their server. The hacker even threatened to turn the FBI official over to the FBI, the source said. FBI brass eventually convinced the hacker that they were indeed a part of the bureau by inviting the hacker to join a video call on which they showed the perpetrator their law enforcement credentials. The DOJ did not immediately respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment. Jeffrey Epstein shown at his Zorro Ranch Epstein's victims say they were abused at the property and some documents released by the DOJ claim two foreign women were killed and buried at the site, though the allegations have come under much scrutiny 'Who wouldnt be going after the Epstein files if youre the Russians or somebody interested in kompromat?' Jon Lindsay, a Georgia Institute of Technology professor, told Reuters. 'If foreign intelligence agencies are not thinking seriously about the Epstein files as a target, then I would be shocked.' The bombshell report comes the same week that investigators descended on Epstein's former New Mexico property, called Zorro Ranch, after DOJ files showed concerning reports that two foreign women were murdered there. 'The federal government asked New Mexico to stop their investigation, I believe, back in 2019 of that ranch,' House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, a Republican and an ally of Trump who is leading the Epstein inquiry, said Tuesday. 'So theres just so many questions about how the government failed, the victims and how government failed in trying to prosecute Epstein sooner. I mean, this whole thing doesnt make sense.' Zorro Ranch is roughly 30 miles south of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and is alleged to be the site of much wrongdoing. Self-proclaimed Epstein victims have alleged they were abused at the property. Shocking files in the recently released DOJ Epstein trove claim - among other things - that two foreign women were killed during rough sex at the property and later buried on site. Though the claims have come under much scrutiny, as the person providing the tip later asked for Bitcoin as payment for their knowledge. A married nurse was killed by her colleague-turned-lover after he created a romantic boudoir in the back of her husband's Chevy Tahoe, investigators allege. Linda Campitelli, 35, was found dead on the side of a road in Palm Beach County, Florida on October 28, 2024, just two weeks after her 35th birthday. The mother-of-two, who was married to a doctor called Jon Campitelli, died from blunt force trauma to the head and body, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by the Daily Mail. Her death was ruled a homicide. Rene Perez, a post anesthesia care nurse, was arrested in Miami on Tuesday and charged with first-degree murder with a deadly weapon and tampering with physical evidence in connection to Campitelli's death. Police claim that on the night of the killing, Perez, 38, met up with Campitelli in her SUV at his workplace in Wellington, Florida for a belated birthday celebration, although they have not offered any motive. The backseats were down flat in a position that investigators said would make it easy for the pair to be intimate, the affidavit stated. A 'happy birthday' table cover was on display and medical sheets matching those used at Delray Medical Center - where Perez worked - had been laid down, photos recovered from Campitelli's cell phone showed. Investigators believe Perez attacked Campitelli in Wellington and then transported her body in the Tahoe to the nearby town of Lake Worth Beach, before dragging it along the road and fleeing the scene. She was found about 50 feet away from the SUV. Linda Campitelli was found dead on the side of a road in Palm Beach County, Florida on October 28, 2024, just two weeks after her 35th birthday The mother-of-two, pictured with her doctor husband Jon and their daughters, died from blunt force trauma to the head and body, according to a probable cause affidavit Campitelli suffered blunt force trauma to the head and torso, a skull fracture and rib fractures. A postmortem examination found an accumulation of blood in the skull and contusions on her upper back and neck, the affidavit said. Her body had significant bruising and severe road rash, and her heels were worn down, disfigured, and distorted. Investigators said her injuries were consistent with that of being compressed against the road while being forcibly dragged. When deputies arrived on the scene, the Tahoe - which was registered to Campitelli's physician husband Jon - was still running, according to the filing. The front driver's side tire was flat and the rear driver's door handle had transfer blood stains on it, which authorities say suggests that someone tried to wipe blood off of the vehicle. Detectives identified Perez as a suspect in Campitelli's murder through a trail of digital clues, including the pair's WhatsApp messages. Campitelli and Perez communicated daily through the platform, the filing stated. They often discussed work, familial affairs and made plans for in-person meetings. Investigators claim the married nurse was having an affair with her colleague Rene Perez, whom faces first-degree murder charges in connection to her death Police claim that on the night of the killing, Perez, 38, met up with Campitelli in her SUV at his workplace in Wellington, Florida for a belated birthday celebration The pair expressed their love for one another, discussed having sex and occasionally sent 'nude and provocative photographs,' investigators said. In multiple messages, Campitelli detailed her frustration with having to share quality time with Perez's wife. WhatsApp messages dated October 27, 2024, revealed that the pair made plans to see each other at 7.30pm on the day she was killed. 'I LOVE YOU, I FEEL KINDA WEIRD. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT TOMORROW. YOU'VE NEVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE THIS FOR ME BEFORE AND I FEEL A LITTLE NERVOUS,' Campitelli wrote. Perez replied: 'LOL, ITS NO BIG DEAL. JUST TRYING TO SHOW U THAT I CAN BE ROMANTIC. IT PROBABLY WONT BE AS GOOD AS WHAT YOUVE DONE FOR ME.' Campitelli then confirmed their meeting time and asked him if he was '100% sure this is ok,' according to the affidavit. Perez affirmed and told her 'I love you so much.' She said the same back to him. The accused killer, who admitted to having an affair with Campitelli, told detectives he cancelled their October 28 meeting, but there were no messages to corroborate his claim. Campitelli married her husband Jon in 2016, roughly one year after they met Surveillance cameras also captured him at Delray Medical Center the night of the murder. Perez was arrested Tuesday in Miami and transported to Palm Beach County Jail. He appeared before a judge Wednesday and was denied bond. Campitelli married her husband Jon in 2016, roughly one year after they met, according to her obituary. They had two daughters together. Jon told police he believed his wife was headed to dinner with friends on the night of her murder. She started working as a registered nurse in 2014 and was preparing to start a new position before she died. 'Linda was beautiful inside and out; a strong, kind, and thoughtful woman who cared about things passionately and made an impression on everyone she met,' her obituary said. Her relatives remember her for her 'bold, sassy and fun-loving' personality and for living a life that was filled with laughter and love. Jon Campitelli did not respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment. This is the moment social media influencer Harrison Sullivan is scolded by his mother on Louis Theroux's new Manosphere documentary as she tells him that is 'not how I brought you up'. The broadcaster, 55, met with Harrison, 24, who is better known as HStikkytokky, as part of his deep dive into the growing amount of misogynistic content which is being shared online. Tensions between the pair grew as Louis called out HStikkytokky for double standards over his views on the promotion of adult female performers. However, Louis said what struck him most about Harrison was the interactions he had with his mother before the interview for the documentary took place. In a clip from the Netflix show, the influencer's mother suggests he should have a juice to which he curtly replies: 'I don't want a juice mum.' His mother continues: 'Don't embarrass me, don't be rude. That's not the way I've brought you up. Do not be rude because it is a reflection on me.' The pair then have a heated conversation about something Harrison appears to have spilled on the floor. His mother takes the towel and says: 'Look at this. I'm not having them coming here. Get out of the way.' This is the moment social media influencer Harrison Sullivan is scolded by his mother in a new Louis Theroux documentary Louis issued a warning to parents of boys in light of his new Netflix documentary Inside the Manosphere Louis, 55, met with influencer Harrison, 24, better known as HStikkytokky on platforms including Instagram and TikTok, to discuss his rise to fame among the manosphere Later in the documentary, HStikkytokky is seen ranting online after videos of him and Louis went viral on social media during their time filming the Netflix special. Thousands of viewers had headed to the comments joking that Louis was 'setting up' the social media star to 'look like a clown' by having him involved in the documentary. HS was heard fuming: 'If you want to call me a pimp, a scammer, racist, homophobic d**khead, I'm all of those, I'm all of those, Theroux.' During their tense time together, the broadcaster pointed out that Harrison criticises female adult perfomers while simultaneously promoting seedy OnlyFans content on his channel. Harrison has previously called Bonne Blue 'disgusting'. Louis, however, was quick to point out the similarities between the duo. He left Harrison angered as he claimed the content creator 'sounded like Bonnie' while describing how he feels about promoting extreme or controversial content. Speaking about the interview, Harrison began: 'I think she's absolutely repulsive as a person,' before admitting he only got her on the live stream for 'clout'. Louis then asked: 'You've got 500,000 people on your Telegram, right? And you're advertising OnlyFans girls on there. Do you think there's a contradiction there?' To which Harrison hit back: 'No, because I openly say I don't give a f**k and I'm doing it for money. I don't care about...' Louis interrupted: 'The morality of it?' to which HS added: 'I know it's not good. I say to people: "Don't watch porn". It's sad, it's loser s**t.' But Louis corrected him: 'You can't say I promote it but discourage people from doing it... You say it but it doesn't mean anything. 'So you say, "Come down to the gym I'm going to help you work out" and then you just have a box of donuts there's a box of donuts that I'm holding up to your face... it's giving very mixed messages.' HS continued: 'You do what you choose. If you want to go and eat the donuts, eat the donuts, but I own the donut shop. 'If you wanna come in the gym and pay for the PT or eat the donuts, I make dough either way. My kids are going to be very happy, they can do what they want.' It comes after Louis sent out a warning to parents of boys - following abusive run-ins while filming his Manosphere documentary for Netflix. During the 90-minute film Inside the Manosphere, the host examined how prominent male content creators are helping form young men's ideas about masculinity. He met the likes of Harrison (aka HSTikkyTokky), Myron Gaines, Nicolas Kenn De Balinthazy (aka Sneako), Justin Waller and Ed Matthews. The 55-year-old entered their world and learned how these individuals highlight their respective views on traditional gender roles and values. Meanwhile, the Manosphere itself refers to an online network including forums, websites and blogs that promote anti-feminist beliefs, masculinity and misogyny. At the beginning of the documentary, Louis remarks how he had noticed 'parts of the Internet were being taken over' by male influencers claiming to provide young men with 'cheat codes to win at life'. Louis told The Mirror: 'These aren't figures on the margins anyone who's got kids, and especially boys, will know that they are making inroads into the culture. 'Their influence is being felt in schools, in the workplace and all across the internet.' Throughout the documentary, the influencers film Louis for their own social media platforms while putting him through abuse and asking questions they receive from their followers while livestreaming. In turn, this leads to Louis receiving abusive comments about his previous documentary with the late Jimmy Savile. He also witnesses homophobic behaviour by HSTikkyTokky whilst Myron Gaines speaks in front of his girlfriend about wanting multiple wives in the future. Regarding his own sons, Louis said that while a parent would 'hope your influence would outweigh' online content, he added: 'They probably spend more hours looking at their phones than they do talking to us and we don't always know what they're looking at.' Reports that Louis was set to 'front a new Adolescence-inspired documentary for Netflix' first surfaced in September 2025. A source told The Sun at the time: 'Louis is famous for starting out on the BBC with his Weird Weekends show and has stayed with them ever since. 'Even though he started making shows for other channels and streamers, he never fronted them - that was reserved for the Beeb. 'He did two celebrity interview series for them in 2022 and 2023, but ended that after just two series to focus on other projects.' Netflix's Adolescence, which was created by and starred Stephen Graham, centres on 13-year-old Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper), who is accused of murdering a schoolgirl with Stephen playing the boy's father. The scripted series reached 24.3million views in just the first four days of its release and has been praised for highlighting the online radicalisation of young men and boys. The Home Office has refused to disclose how many failed asylum seeker families have snapped up Shabana Mahmoods offer of up to 40,000 to leave Britain voluntarily. A new pilot scheme unveiled last Thursday offers families with no right to be in this country lump sums of 10,000 a head for up to four people if they agree to go. The Home Office has already told 150 families they are entitled to apply for the cash. They were given a seven day deadline which had been due to expire at midnight tonight - to accept or lose the offer forever. But a Home Office spokesman refused to reveal how many families so far had opted for the cash bonanza by 6pm this evening, with just a few hours to go before the original cut-off. 'We are not going to be giving a running commentary on the offers that have been made,' the spokesman said. The deadline for applying is now the end of Thursday, they added, eight days after it was launched. The programme could be expanded to thousands more families if ministers deem it to be a success, Home Office sources have indicated. Migrants sprint through the surf at Gravelines beach in northern France last week to board a dinghy to Britain Your browser does not support iframes. It is significantly more generous than existing voluntary returns schemes, currently capped at 3,000. Home Secretary Ms Mahmood sanctioned the huge pay-outs in a bid to save even larger sums currently being spent on keeping the families in migrant hotels and other types of accommodation. It currently costs an average of 158,000 a year to support a family of failed asylum seekers and by paying them to go home the taxpayer will save money in the long run, the Government argues. The scheme will only apply to people whose home countries are deemed safe - leading critics to question why they needed to be paid to leave Britain. Each family has had asylum claims rejected by the Home Office and then exhausted the appeals process in the courts. The 10,000 per head sum could be increased - or lowered - depending on take-up of the pilot scheme, officials have indicated. Labour scrapped the previous government's Rwanda scheme which would have seen adult asylum seekers compulsorily sent to east Africa. Channel migrants have reached Britain on seven days in a row for the first time this year, in what Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp described as a week of shame for Labour. There were 309 arrivals who crossed from northern France aboard four dinghies on Monday, pushing the total number of arrivals since Labour came to power past the 68,000 mark. Your browser does not support iframes. It means 1,200 migrants reached British soil over seven days. There were no further arrivals on Tuesday, however, breaking the run. The total number of arrivals under Labour now stands at 68,123 and, of those, 3,409 have come since the start of this year. A Home Office spokesman said: The Daily Mail have been told that the deadline given to failed asylum seekers to take up the scheme has not been passed - but they strangely went ahead and published this story anyway. Once the deadline has been passed, the Government will be fully transparent and published the results in full. The Conservatives continued policies offering financial incentives to asylum seekers who agreed to leave, and Reform UK have proposed similar schemes. Australia has closed its embassies in Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv as well as its consulate in Dubai, amid fears the conflict in the Middle East could intensify. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said at least nine cities where Australian embassies and consulates are located have experienced missile and drone attacks. 'Iran's reprisal attacks continue at scale and at a depth that we have not seen before,' she told parliament on Wednesday. The conflict was 'likely to intensify and continue in the near term', she said. 'Our missions in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Tel Aviv have all had to physically close in the last week.' Australia has also directed dependants of diplomatic officials in the United Arab Emirates and Israel to leave. 'The dangerous and destabilising attacks by Iran put civilian lives at risk, including Australian lives, and we continue to support Australians affected as limited commercial flights resume and we expand consular efforts,' Wong said. Australia ha shut down two embassies in the Middle East, including Abu Dhabi (pictured) Pictured is an underground bomb shelter in Tel Aviv, where Australia has shut down its embassy Foreign Minister Penny Wong said that the Middle East conflict 'likely to intensify and continue in the near term' More than 3,200 Australians have returned from the Middle East on 23 commercial flights. About 115,000 citizens were in the region when the conflict began almost a fortnight ago. Westminster is to introduce new legislation to allow the separation of the roles of Scotlands top law officer following concerns about a conflict of interests. The Lord Advocates dual role as head of Scotlands prosecution service and the Scottish Governments law officer with a seat in Cabinet will be able to be split under a Bill proposed by a Tory MP. It follows the outcry over the current Lord Advocate, Dorothy Bain, tipping off the First Minister about details of a court hearing involving Nicola Sturgeons estranged husband Peter Murrell, the former SNP chief executive. MP John Cooper yesterday secured cross-party support for a 10-minute rule motion proposing legislation to amend the Scotland Act to allow the roles to be separated. He will now work with other Tory, Labour and Lib Dem MPs to work up legislation on the issue, with a second reading of his Bill scheduled for April 17. Presenting the motion in the Commons yesterday, Mr Cooper, MP for Dumfries and Galloway, said it is alarming the head of criminal prosecutions sits cheek by jowl with the politicians supposed to run Scotland at the Cabinet table. Lord Advocate Dorthy Bain holds a dual role as head of Scotlands prosecution service and the Scottish Governments law officer with a seat in Cabinet He said the current approach is not the stuff of a 21st century democracy and that there should not be even the merest suggestion of a conflict of interests, and described the arrangement as cloyingly cozy. Mr Cooper said: When prosecutors are, or are even perceived to be, too close to politicians like moths drawn too close to the flame of power, the public may rightly fear the law is compromised and so we must act. No MP opposed the Bill, meaning it will now be prepared and brought in. Following the decision, Mr Cooper said: Im delighted that my Bill has attracted cross-party support and received no objections, and I hope the Labour government will find the time to allow it to progress when it returns to the Commons on April 17. It comes after the SNP government said it has concluded the dual role of the Lord Advocate has considerable strengths and that the current system works. It did not rule out changes in the future, but said this would require very careful consideration. The SNPs manifesto for the 2021 elections had committed to consulting on whether the dual functions of the law officers, as head of the independent prosecution service and principal legal advisers to the Scottish Government, should be separated. Holyrood will be taking an unprecedented risk if it backs a Scottish assisted suicide law full of gaping holes, a cross-party group MSPs has warned. The critics said days of debate over final amendments to the Assisted Dying Bill had exposed huge uncertainty over its fine print. Because of the limits on Holyroods powers, key issues will be left to Westminster to decide through Section 104 orders if the legislation is passed by MSPs. Vital areas in relation to medics being able to follow their consciences and employment rights are among the blanks likely to be filled in by officials south of the Border. Tory Highlands & Islands MSP Edward Mountain said: To ask MSPs to vote for something and hope somebody, somewhere in a different jurisdiction will sort it is extraordinary. It leaves us voting blind and with huge uncertainty. It is a wholly inappropriate way to make law. Section 104 orders might be OK for miniscule tweaks to insignificant legislation. But for it to apply in this monumental decision of life and death is utterly wrong. Section 104 orders are a form of minor UK legislation used to refine Westminster law to fit with measures passed at Holyrood and ensure legal consistency. By definition, they can only be deployed after Holyrood passes a Bill. The assisted dying bill is being promoted by Orkney Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur Tory MSP Edward Mountain has raised serious concerns about the Bill Ayrshire SNP MSP Ruth Maguire said: It is obvious there will be gaping holes in the Bill of significant importance. Were being asked to take a leap of faith when it comes to employment rights and conscientious objection is deeply troubling. It would be an unprecedented risk. By voting for something over which we wont then have any control leaves many of us feeling we are not fulfilling our role as elected representatives to our constituents. Promoted by Orkney Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur, the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill is scheduled for a decisive vote due on March 17. Three days have been set aside for 328 amendments this week, with the possibility of a rare Friday sitting at Holyrood if the current slow pace continues. The legislation would give terminally ill adults with six months or less to live the right to ask for a self-taken lethal drug if overseen by two doctors. Although coercing someone to end their life would be a crime, critics fear people will still feel pressured to avoid being a burden to others. MSPs backed the Bills principles by 70 to 56 last May, but some supporters have since changed sides, and a few more switchers could see it defeated. North East Scotland Labour MSP Michael Marra added: The Bill we are going to be asked to vote on next week will have serious flaws and be vulnerable to all kinds of unintended consequences. Mr McArthur said the three MSPs were all long-time opponents of assisted dying. He said: While they are each entitled to their views, I find it hard to believe any of them would have backed my Bill regardless of what it contained. Section 104 orders are a normal part of our legislative process. My MSP colleagues can be assured that choice and protection are at the heart of this Bill - that means choice and protection for medical professionals as well as for dying people. If passed this bill would represent the most heavily safeguarded end of life choice available. Embattled politician Tiffany Heynard, who was booted out of her mayoral seat last year, has made a comeback as a Republican. Heynard, infamously known as America's 'worst mayor,' has ditched Illinois and chosen to run for a seat in Georgia as the lone GOP candidate for South Fulton County's District 5, according to election records. She is going against four Democrats - Sojourner M. Grimmett, Deijia Felicity Swindell, J. Jazz Thomas-Jones and Helen Zenobia Willis. Heynard, 42, made national news in 2024 after officials in her administration were served subpoenas from the FBI in regard to an alleged corruption investigation. The federal records looked into trips taken by city officials and potential financial mismanagement. She was never charged. Amid her political rebranding, Heynard, who smiled from ear-to-ear when she met former President Joe Biden in 2024, has used her online platforms to make her stance clear. In December 2025, she shared an image of Nicki Minaj, stating she stands behind her after the rapper declared herself a Donald Trump supporter. 'Support Nicki Minaj. True support doesnt disappear when things get uncomfortable. Shes incredibly talented and continues to make an impact through her work,' Heynard wrote. Tiffany Heynard has relaunched her political career as a Republican. She is the only GOP candidate on the ballot for South Fulton County's District 5 Heynard is seen smiling widely when she met former President Joe Biden, a Democrat, in 2024 at the White House 'Team Supermayor Tiffany Henyard stands with you, Nicki. It takes bravery to stand up for what you believe in, and courage like that deserves recognition and respect.' Over the years, Heynard has developed a nationally terrible reputation for her confrontational antics, failure to do her job, alleged corruption, and apparent disdain for her constituents, whom she has berated publicly and once with the assistance of a DJ. In February 2025, she lost her re-election battle by a landslide just after she took part in a chaotic brawl at a council meeting. Despite declaring before results came in that she had 'no competition' and would win in a 'landslide,' Village Trustee Jason House blew out Henyard during the Democratic primary, winning 87.9 per cent of the votes. Henyard mustered up only 536 Democrats willing to re-elect her, just over 12 per cent. House did all he could to rub it in, dancing to the podium to declare victory to the tune of Kendrick Lamar's 'Not Like Us,' according to the Chicago Sun-Times. When asked her thoughts, she could only muster that 'the people have spoken' and 'God must have a different plan.' When questioned by WGN about what she would do with her tainted career next, Heynard ominously said: 'Stay tuned.' In December 2025, she shared an image of Nicki Minaj, stating she stands behind her after the rapper declared herself a Donald Trump supporter In February 2025, she lost her re-election battle by a landslide just after she took part in a chaotic brawl at a council meeting House - a veteran of the village chamber of commerce as well as a trustee - declared the end of a corrupt era in the village of just 21,000-plus residents. 'We faced four years of intimidation, four years of failure, and tonight is the new day for the village of Dolton,' House said. 'Today marks the end to a dark time for Dolton. If you want to pass the buck, pass that seat with it.' Lawrence Gardner, a former business owner who claimed Henyard targeted his trucking company until it closed, was even more celebratory. 'The Wicked Witch of the West is dead! It's over. Now we have to go another eight weeks to bury her,' he told the New York Post at the time. 'If I can do a backwards hand flip right now - and I'm 67-years-old next month - I would definitely do it,' the fellow anti-Henyard voter added. Heynard was ordered to pay $10,000 in regard to a case where her landlord accused her and her former boyfriend, Kamal Woods (pictured together), of failing to pay rent for a home she lived in while she was in office After losing her re-election, Heynard was ordered to pay $10,000 in regard to a case where her landlord accused her and her former boyfriend, Kamal Woods, of failing to pay rent for a home she lived in while she was in office. She was also ordered to appear in court last year after she failed to turn over public records from her time in office. Heynard also previously served as supervisor of Thornton Township, but she was again defeated during her re-election bid by Illinois state Senator Napoleon Harris. The Daily Mail contacted Heynard for comment. California Governor Gavin Newsom says his state is 'preparing' for possible Iran drone attacks after blaming Donald Trump for waging a war with no endgame. The FBI alerted California law enforcement last month to potential Iranian drone strikes on the West Coast in retaliation for the US war against the Islamic Republic. It would be a stunning escalation of the war if Iran manages to hit a target within the US. 'It's all-around intelligence collecting, and it's all about a posture of preparedness for the worst-case scenario,' Newsom told reporters on Wednesday. 'We have been gaming those out for some time as it relates to, again, what the FBI has been warning of. Again, it's not a surprise, and it's sort of a large part of the larger spectrum of considerations that we have as it relates to doing what we can to support our federal partners and local partners at the state level, in terms of what could happen next.' A day earlier, Newsom appeared to blame Trump for 'drone issues' that have been 'top of mind' for him. 'I haven't talked to the President directly about this,' he admitted. 'I wish the President would talk to the American people about what this is all about, what's the end game?' Newsom said. He added, 'We've seen no real endgame in sight when it comes to the Strait of Hormuz.' Iran has blocked the critical shipping lane, putting a bottleneck on crude oil exports. California Governor Gavin Newsom characterized potential Iranian drone attacks on California as a 'critical' threat currently under state and federal surveillance, while simultaneously criticizing President Trump's handling of Middle Eastern conflicts Since the first 24 hours of Operation Epic Fury, Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks have dropped drastically Law enforcement in California were reportedly alerted weeks ago to a possible 'surprise attack' from Iranian drones. 'Iran allegedly aspired to conduct a surprise attack using unmanned aerial vehicles from an unidentified vessel off the coast of the United State Homeland, specifically against unspecified targets in California, in the event that the US conducted strikes against Iran,' the alert obtained by ABC News said. 'We have no additional information on the timing, method, target, or perpetrators of this alleged attack,' the FBI update continued. The alert surfaced as the Trump administration continued its sustained offensive against Iran. This move follows a pattern of escalation in the Middle East, where the regime in Tehran has used drone warfare as a primary tool for retaliation. Both the FBI and the White House declined to comment for this story. Mexican drug cartel drone usage has also ticked up in recent months, raising the stakes for US border security and the safety of personnel operating in the region. A government bulletin from September warned that an unverified tip indicated Mexican cartel bosses may have greenlit drone strikes targeting American law enforcement and military personnel along the southern border. The bulletin noted that while such an attack on US soil would mark a dramatic and historic escalation, officials considered the scenario plausible, even as they acknowledged cartels have historically steered clear of provocations likely to trigger a heavy response from Washington. Iran has showed off a sprawling underground network of tunnels filled with row after row of drones and rockets File photo of the Hollywood sign in California Rows of Iranian drones and missiles were seen in underground tunnels Your browser does not support iframes. The warning provided no details on how drone-capable ships might approach the US coast. Officials have remained wary for years that Tehran might 'forward-deploy' hardware in anticipation of a direct military confrontation with Washington or Jerusalem. The drone threat comes as Iran launched a cyber offensive against one of the world's leading medical technology companies. Michigan-based Stryker experienced a global outage on Wednesday, saying thousands of employees have lost access to work systems. It employs approximately 53,000 people globally. The company is a leading provider in advanced medical technologies that improve healthcare outcomes, including joint replacements, robotic-assisted surgical systems, trauma and neurotechnology products. The Tehran-aligned Handala group issued a statement on Telegram, saying it wiped more than 200,000 systems and extracted 50 terabytes of data in retaliation for military strikes on Iran. Handala emerged around 2022 and has claimed responsibility for a number of cyberattacks against Israeli and Western targets. Footage released by the Fars News Agency, which is closely linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, shows long lines of missiles and Shahed drones A Shahed drone fired by Iran Shahed drones cost just tens of thousands of dollars to produce, and take little time to manufacture The alert surfaced as the Trump administration began its sustained offensive against Iran. This move follows a pattern of escalation in the Middle East, where Tehran has increasingly utilized drone warfare as a primary tool for retaliation Your browser does not support iframes. The group claimed it shut down Stryker offices in 79 countries and that all extracted data is 'now in the hands of the free people of the world.' Stryker is active in over 100 countries around the world. 'Our major cyber operation has been executed with complete success,' Handala says in a statement, describing the attack as retaliation for what it calls 'the brutal attack on the Minab school' and for 'ongoing cyber assaults against the infrastructure of the Axis of Resistance.' Distressing footage has emerged showing students allegedly attacking a young schoolgirl in a toilet block. NSW Police confirmed to Daily Mail on Thursday that three girls have been charged with multiple offences after officers were called to the public high school in Sydney's south-west on February 27. Footage showed the victim, 13, allegedly being punched and verbally abused by a group of students as others watched and filmed, the Daily Telegraph reported. The girl was seen in the video being called a 'f***ing fat f***' as she was ordered to stand on a table. 'Start barking and start saying you're a bi***!' one girl ordered. 'Get on your knees and start barking. Say woof woof. Say it louder!' The girl fell heavily as she was pushed off the table. She was repeatedly ordered to say she is the 'bi***' of others while she was allegedly hit in the head. Distressing footage emerged of the alleged attack at a high school in south-west Sydney Police have since charged three girls over the alleged attack at a Sydney high school 'These punches are for you,' one girl told her. The frightened victim was repeatedly ordered to 'say sorry to the wall' before she was dragged into a toilet cubicle, where her head was pushed into a toilet bowl. Another video showed other schoolgirls watching and laughing as they filmed. The alleged attack continued outside, where the girl was repeatedly pushed to the ground and punched. The NSW Department of Education said the school is now working closely with police. 'This kind of behaviour is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated in NSW public schools,' a spokesman said. 'Support measures are now in place to ensure the safety and wellbeing of those impacted.' It is not known whether the school has taken further action against those allegedly involved. The department and school declined to comment further on the incident. Three girls aged 13, 14, and 15, were charged with assault and stalk/intimidate with intent to cause fear or physical harm. The trio will appear in a children's court in the coming weeks. 'As the matter is before the court, police will not be making any further comment,' a police spokesman said. A truck driver has died after their vehicle rolled over them on Sydney's North Shore this morning. Police were called to the northbound on ramp of the Pacific Highway, Wahroonga, following reports of a crash at about 4.20am this morning. Officers were told a driver had been hit after their refrigerated truck had rolled onto them. 'A nearby driver entered the vehicle and pulled the emergency brake to stop the truck from entering traffic,' police said. The injured driver was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics; however, they died at the scene. The driver is yet to be formally identified. Police have established a crime scene, and an investigation has commenced into the cause of the incident. The Wahroonga on-ramp to the Pacific Highway remains closed, with a diversion to the Pennant Hills Rd on-ramp in place. A truck driver has died after their vehicle rolled over them on Sydney's North Shore this morning Drivers are urged to avoid the area and allow extra travel time. Keir Starmer was facing fresh questions about his judgment on Wednesday night after handing Peter Mandelson a pay-off worth double what he was entitled to. Downing Street agreed a 'special severance package' worth 75,000 for the disgraced Labour grandee after he was sacked over his friendship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. The amount was almost twice what Mandelson was contractually entitled to, but Whitehall sources said it was far less than the 547,000 he was demanding for a departure his lawyers said had 'permanently damaged [his] employability'. Documents released to Parliament on Wednesday revealed Sir Keir was warned that Mandelson had a 'particularly close' relationship with Epstein and there was a 'reputational risk' to appointing him US ambassador. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch called on Labour MPs to depose the Prime Minister, saying: 'There are not enough Conservative MPs to remove the Prime Minister - he won a landslide. Labour MPs now need to consider their conscience and their position and ask if this man is fit to run our country.' Asked if he should resign, she told Sky News: 'We can't make him resign. The only people who can fix this are Labour backbenchers.' The documents also confirmed that Sir Keir was warned in advance that Mandelson had continued his friendship with Epstein following the financier's conviction for child-sex offences. The Cabinet Office told the PM in writing that appointing him as US ambassador would represent a 'general reputational risk' to the Government. Keir Starmer, pictured on Wednesday, was facing fresh questions about his judgment after handing Peter Mandelson a pay-off worth double what he was entitled to Mandelson pictured with Jeffrey Epstein. Downing Street agreed a 'special severance package' worth 75,000 for the grandee after he was sacked over his friendship with Epstein Despite this, Sir Keir went ahead and appointed a man who had twice been forced to resign from the Cabinet in disgrace. Incredibly, Mandelson was briefed on top-secret documents before his security vetting had been completed. Whitehall sources said the letter signing off Mandelson's pay-off was written by Foreign Office permanent secretary Sir Olly Robbins, who previously served as Theresa May's Brexit negotiator. One insider also blamed Sir Olly for the extraordinary decision to brief Mandelson on secret documents before he had been vetted. However, the documents show the pay-off was agreed with the Treasury and that both Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and No 10 were briefed on it before it was agreed. Officials claimed the 75,000 golden goodbye was 'good value for money' as it would result in Mandelson leaving quickly with 'minimal fuss'. But MPs said he should have been booted out without a penny in compensation. Mrs Badenoch said the revelations were 'yet another indictment of Keir Starmer's judgment'. The Tory leader said: 'The fact is we wouldn't have been paying Peter Mandelson anything if Keir Starmer hadn't appointed him in the first place. 'The vetting we have now seen shows the Prime Minister should never have made this decision. 'He has not been honest with the country and Parliament about what he knew.' The revelations emerged in the first batch of files which the Government was ordered by MPs to release last month. The files, covering Mandelson's appointment and seven-month tenure in Washington, could eventually involve tens of thousands of documents. The PM's chief secretary Darren Jones said Sir Keir had 'taken responsibility' for Mandelson's appointment, telling MPs: 'He has acknowledged that it was a mistake and has apologised, not least for believing Peter Mandelson's lies.' Wednesday's release of 147 pages of documents confirmed that Sir Keir was briefed on Mandelson's long-term friendship with Epstein. The paedophile was jailed in 2008 for soliciting a minor for prostitution. A 'due diligence' document compiled by the Cabinet Office stated that, despite this, Mandelson's relationship with Epstein 'continued across 2009-2011, beginning when (he) was business minister and continuing after the end of the Labour government'. It noted newspaper reports that the Labour peer also stayed in Epstein's New York mansion while he was in jail in 2009. In a separate note to the PM, officials underlined the risk of appointing such a high-profile politician, saying: 'If anything goes wrong, you could be more exposed as the individual is more connected to you personally.' The documents suggest that the PM's then chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, who pushed for the appointment of his mentor, drew up three follow-up questions for Mandelson on his relationship with Epstein. Sir Keir has claimed Mandelson 'lied' in response. But the questions and his responses are thought to be among a handful of documents that were withheld at the request of the police who are investigating allegations against Mandelson of misconduct in public office. One document states that the PM's then communications director Matthew Doyle was 'satisfied with his responses to questions about contact' with Epstein. Both Mr McSweeney and Lord Doyle were personal friends of Mandelson. Lord Doyle has since been suspended by Labour following separate revelations that he campaigned for a former Labour councillor after he had been charged with child sex offences. Mr Jones told MPs it was now clear that the 'due diligence process fell short of what is required'. He said Mandelson had been sacked as soon as the depth of his relationship with Epstein was revealed by leaked emails held by the US Department of Justice. Mr Jones urged Mandelson to give his pay-off to charity, saying the sum had been agreed 'to avoid even higher further costs involving a drawn-out legal claim at (an) employment tribunal'. Whitehall sources said the letter signing off Mandelson's pay-off was written by Foreign Office permanent secretary Sir Olly Robbins, pictured Join the debate Is Starmer unfit to lead? But MPs questioned why the payment had been made at all. Shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart, said the public would be 'disgusted'. He said the documents raised serious questions about the PM's judgment. 'The Prime Minister claims that he was lied to; he was not lied to by this due diligence document. It may be that Mandelson denied those claims, and if so, perhaps the Prime Minister was lied to, but by an inveterate liar who had been fired twice before. 'We are supposed to believe that the Prime Minister, who was once the chief prosecutor in this country, could not see through this nonsense. It beggars belief.' Tory MP Sir Julian Lewis questioned why the PM had pressed ahead with the appointment following the warnings about a man who had a reputation as 'one of the most slippery and sleazy characters in modern British politics'. Mandelson's contract entitled him to three months' notice worth 40,330. But he was also handed a 'special severance payment' worth a further 34,670. Mandelson has denied wrongdoing. Former ASIO chief Dennis Richardson has blamed a lack of clarity about his role for his surprise resignation from the royal commission into anti-Semitism, adding he was overpaid for the work he was doing. Mr Richardson said he felt he was 'surplus to requirements' because of the way the commission was being run. 'Probably there wasn't enough discussion right at the beginning about the precise way things would work, and ultimately I came to a (view) that I was surplus to requirements,' he told ABC Radio National on Thursday morning. 'The interim report that will now be done by the royal commission will be a very different document to the one that I would have done when I was doing the review, prior to the royal commission being announced.' Commissioner Virginia Bell announced Mr Richardson's sudden departure on Wednesday night, as her inquiry prepares for its initial report by the end of April. Mr Richardson was originally recruited to produce an independent report into any potential intelligence failures leading up to the Bondi Beach terrorist attack, in which 15 people were killed when a father and son opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration on December 14. But when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a royal commission into anti-Semitism following the attack, Mr Richardson's work was folded into the broader probe. On Thursday, the former spy boss turned US ambassador said his salary was also an issue. Former ASIO chief Dennis Richardson has blamed a lack of clarity about his role for his surprise resignation from the royal commission into anti-Semitism, adding he was overpaid for the work he was doing 'Quite frankly, what I was being paid wasn't consistent with the work I was doing,' he said. He later clarified that he believed he 'was being way overpaid' for his limited work. Mr Richardson declined to elaborate when pressed, only saying most people would understand. The Australian Financial Review reported earlier in March that the former ASIO chief would be paid $5,500 a day for his work as special advisor to the royal commission. Treasurer Jim Chalmers said he was sad to learn Mr Richardson had quit the probe but hadn't spoken to him about it. 'I think the world of Dennis Richardson,' he told ABC TV on Thursday morning. 'He is a person of such immense experience and knowledge, and hopefully we've been able to tap some of that before this development.' In a statement, Attorney-General Michelle Rowland thanked Mr Richardson for his work and said the commission would deliver its interim report by April 30, as scheduled. Shadow Attorney-General Michaelia Cash said the former intelligence boss was a central part of the probe and suggested his resignation could seriously undermine the investigation. Albanese's government initially refused to call a royal commission into the Bondi massacre, instead tapping Mr Richardson to head a review of the adequacy of intelligence and law enforcement agencies before the attack. Following weeks of political pressure, Albanese relented and announced a broader inquiry to be headed by Ms Bell, a former High Court judge, to investigate anti-Semitism as well as any failures in the nation's intelligence services. In announcing Mr Richardson's resignation in a statement, Ms Bell said he was uniquely well-placed to report on intelligence and security agencies' preparedness for a terror attack.' 'Thanks to Mr Richardson and the senior members of his team... work on the interim report is well advanced,' she said. Ms Bell thanked Mr Richardson 'for the valuable contribution he has made to the commission'. Mother of Beatrice's stepson Dara Huang quits Ladies of London after baseless rumour that she is a high-end 'madam' - as cast member claims Princess was not happy about her being on the show It's been reported that the Princess of Wales was 'cautious' of the York Princesses long before the scandal of the Epstein Files unfolded and a 'tense' scene between Kate and Eugenie showed their true feelings were evident as far back as 2013. Standing next to one another on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for Trooping the Colour that year, the two royals put on an 'awkward' display, according to a body language expert. Judi James told The Daily Mail that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's daughter showed signs of 'tension' when Kate, who was pregnant with Prince George at the time, struck up a conversation with her. The body language expert claimed Eugenie was torn between engaging in the discussion and sticking to mirroring her father, the ex Duke of York, and her sister, Princess Beatrice, who looked 'grim-faced' and 'uncommunicative' next to her. 'Kate clearly showed signals of high levels of excitement and sociability to the royal fans,' said Judi. 'Her body language here showed she was the one instigating the chat with Eugenie and she made more than one effort, turning her head and craning her neck to signal an active desire to be friendly. 'Eugenie appeared rather tense here which could suggest silent group pressure from her sister and father to mirror their state. 'Her bag was held in a barrier ritual between herself and Kate and her free right hand seemed to be fiddling or picking slightly to hint at some inner awkwardness.' However, the King's niece did eventually 'snap her head around when Kate turned to talk and there were some reasonably high sociability signals from both women,' explained Judi. She added: 'Kate in particular appeared to want to convey the impression of friendship to both Eugenie and the crowds.' Kate and Princess Eugenie appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the annual Trooping The Colour ceremony on June 15, 2013, in London 'We can see Kate's wide mouth smile beneath her hat brim as she turned to talk, and we can also see her affirmative nods as Eugenie replied, which would be a signal of active listening, encouragement and agreeableness. 'When Kate looked back to the front, she retained her smile in a "lingering" gesture of authenticity to signal sustained pleasure at the transaction although her smile did look a little rigid.' Judi suggested that Kate's rituals after the conversation hinted at 'some potential awkwardness'. Following the chat, Eugenie looked to the front and returned to wearing a 'dour' look like her father and sister, while Kate's smile dropped slightly, according to the body language expert. Judi suggested Eugenie displayed feelings of 'vulnerability or awkwardness', adding: 'She might have felt slightly torn between smiling and chatting with Kate and standing as grim-faced and serious as her father and sibling.' The expert continued: 'When the camera picked the two women up again, there were clear signs of a desire to promote the idea of a relaxed and happy friendship, with Kate chatting and laughing and Eugenie responding, although Eugenie had her bag clutched in both hands then in a double barrier and she seemed to bite her lower lip as she smiled, to hint at tension.' Judi's analysis of the footage follows a claim from royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams that William and Kate 'won't' miss the York sisters if the future king has to 'take the hard line' with his cousins. Their relationship has apparently long been strained but the latest revelations from the Epstein files could cause it to deteriorate further. The most recent tranche of Epstein documents has raised serious questions about how much the former Duke and Duchess of York's daughters knew of their parents' corrupt dealings with the paedophile financier. One email sent by Epstein in 2015 after he was convicted for soliciting sex from a girl under 18 boasted to a friend that Beatrice 'liked' him. Kate and Eugenie stand on the balcony during the annual Trooping the Colour in 2013 It also emerged that Beatrice helped advise her mother on how to placate Epstein after Fergie called him a paedophile while apologising for accepting a 15,000 bailout from the convicted sex offender in a 2011 interview. She also played a key role in facilitating her father's 2019 Newsnight interview. Beatrice and Eugenie must now face the possibility that the drip-feed of Epstein revelations could see them ousted from royal life as well. William is now facing calls to evaluate his relationship with Beatrice and Eugenie, and assess whether they have a future within The Firm a decision which will no doubt be fuelled by the apparent pre-existing tension in his relationship with the York sisters. Speaking to the Daily Mail, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said: 'It may fall to William to make a decision on the future of Beatrice and Eugenie. Neither are reportedly particularly close to him or to Catherine. 'The fact that Beatrice, when 20, and Eugenie, aged 19, visited Epstein in Florida just after his release from prison with their mother is alarming. They must have known who they were visiting and how inappropriate this was. He was under house arrest. 'There is obvious sympathy for the predicament of the sisters; mention in the files does not denote wrongdoing. 'The King reportedly regards their work-life balance, where they both do some charitable work alongside their careers and families but are not working royals, as admirable. 'William, it is reported, may well take a hard line when he becomes king. William and Catherine do not appear to have close ties with the sisters and would probably not miss them.' Rumours of tension go back as far as 2011, when the future king failed to invite Beatrice's long-term boyfriend, Dave Clark, to his wedding. It was a surprising twist, given that William introduced the former couple to one another at a party hosted by Sean Brosnan, the son of film star Pierce Brosnan. In spite of having made the initial introduction, William had cooled his friendship with Dave, seeing him as 'indiscreet', to the extent that he didn't ask him to his wedding in 2011 a decision that hurt Beatrice very much. 'Reports indicate that William fell out with him, regarding him as unreliable,' Fitzwilliams said, adding: 'Proof of this is his absence from William's wedding in 2011, which was obviously one of the weddings of the century.' A source told the Daily Mail in 2016: 'William isn't a huge fan of Dave. It's fair to say that if Beatrice had asked the Queen for permission to marry Dave, and she in turn asked William privately for his view, she may not have been given a glowing report.' Last month, sources close to the sisters said they were 'appalled' and 'embarrassed' by a photo of Andrew crouching over an unidentified woman lying on the floor in the newly released files. They are believed to be 'aghast' at their mother's emails, calling Epstein a 'legend' and proposing marriage to him, and Eugenie must surely have been left mortified after her mother told the sex offender she was off on a 's***ging weekend'. A source close to Eugenie and Beatrice told the Daily Mail: 'They are aghast at what they have read. They are mortified by the emails their mother has sent to Epstein. It is so embarrassing for them.' They added: 'We don't believe the girls [Beatrice and Eugenie] were told much about what has just emerged [in the latest Epstein files release], and they will simply be aghast at just how close their parents were to this appalling man.' On a special episode of the Daily Mail's Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things podcast, hosts Robert Hardman and Professor Kate Williams are joined by historian Alice Loxton to separate fact from fiction in the Oscar-nominated film Hamnet. Directed by Chloe Zhao and based on Maggie O'Farrell's acclaimed 2020 novel of the same name, Hamnet follows William Shakespeare, played by Paul Mescal, and his wife Anne Hathaway, reimagined in the film as Agnes and played by Jessie Buckley, as they grapple with the devastating loss of their only son to plague. Both the novel and film are loosely historical accounts drawing on the unproven theory that the death of Hamnet in 1596 inspired the creation of Shakespeare's most famous tragedy, Hamlet, first performed around 1600. The film has released to near universal critical acclaim, with Irish actress Jessie Buckley widely tipped to take home the Oscar for her stirring portrayal of the Bard's grieving wife. On a special episode of the Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things podcast, Robert Hardman and Professor Kate Williams are joined by Alice Loxton to separate fact from fiction in Hamnet While broadly praising the film's depiction of Elizabethan England, Loxton told the podcast there was one glaring historical inaccuracy she struggled to overlook: the lack of religion Listen to the full Hamnet episode of Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things wherever you get your podcasts, or on YouTube While broadly praising the film's depiction of Elizabethan England, Loxton told the podcast there was one glaring historical inaccuracy she struggled to overlook: the lack of religion. 'I thought there was quite an absence of faith in these characters' lives,' Loxton told the podcast. 'Agnes totally relies on nature and the natural world. During times of crisis, like plague, what would have been more prevalent in these people's lives would be the church. They'd have gone there and prayed. 'I don't think the book or film really highlights that. If you go to Stratford today, there's an enormous church there, and the Guild Chapel. The Shakespeare school is right next to that chapel.' The presence of such prominent religious buildings at the heart of Shakespeare's Stratford suggests the couple would have been deeply embedded in the life of the church. Religion can only really be felt once in the film, when Shakespeare and Agnes are forced into a shotgun wedding in a church after she falls pregnant. Professor Kate Williams agreed that the sidelining of Christianity was a striking historical oversight The presence of such prominent religious buildings at the heart of Shakespeare's Stratford suggests the couple would have been deeply embedded in the life of the church Throughout the film, Agnes is depicted as a mystical, witch-like figure, said to be able to see into the future and armed with an arsenal of ancient herbal remedies. When Hamnet dies, Agnes tells those around her: 'I will go to church, but not say a word', an overt protest against the faith. Professor Kate Williams agreed that the sidelining of Christianity was a striking historical oversight. She explained: 'Elizabeth I was prosecuting people [for being impious]. You had to go through the motions, Catholics were being prosecuted and executed. 'You had to be very careful, you did need to go to church.' Listen to the full Hamnet episode of Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things wherever you get your podcasts, or on YouTube. This is the moment Miriam Margolyes told Queen Camilla that King Charles should 'take no notice of anyone who criticises him, because he's just wonderful'. The actress asked Camilla to pass on a message to her husband as they spoke during an event in London yesterday for the Women of the World (WOW) organisation. Greeting Camilla with kisses during a line-up of prominent guests at the St James's Palace reception, Margolyes told her: 'Hello darling, how are you? 'Will you tell His Majesty that we love him and we want him to get better and to take no notice of anyone who criticises him, because he's just wonderful?' The Queen laughed and tapped her on the shoulder, saying: 'I will bear that in mind.' Margolyes replied 'thank you', before Camilla spoke to the next guest, Cherie Blair. It comes after Charles last month vowed the Royal Family would 'continue in our duty and service to you all' in the wake of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest. The King previously insisted the 'law must take its course' as he expressed his 'deep concern' over allegations of misconduct in public office against his younger brother. He stripped Andrew of his right to be a prince and his Duke of York title last October amid the ongoing scandal surrounding Andrew's links to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Queen Camilla speaks with Miriam Margolyes during a St James's Palace reception yesterday Camilla and Margolyes speak at St James's Palace yesterday as Cherie Blair watches on Margolyes during the reception at St James's Palace to mark International Women's Day The King has also faced a serious health battle after being diagnosed with cancer in 2024, although his weekly schedule of treatment has been reduced this year. During a speech at yesterday's event, Camilla said she stands in 'solidarity, sorrow and sympathy' with women who have survived abuse and sexual violence. The Queen also criticised toxic online topics, urging for 'misogyny and hatred' influencing boys and young men to be 'confronted' in a bid to head off future issues. And she said schoolboys should be taught to manage and express their feelings and all children should have lessons on 'what constitutes consent - and what is assault'. The Queen's address was her most significant speech to date on the issue of violence against women and girls, and follows more than 15 years of supporting survivors, charities and other organisations working in the area. Camilla told her guests: 'To every survivor of every kind of violence, many of whom have not been able to tell their stories or who have not been believed, please know that you are not alone. 'We stand with you and alongside you, today and every day, in solidarity, sorrow and sympathy. Every woman has a story. And these stories must be told. Because when we live in a culture of silence, we empower violence against women and girls.' The Royal Family has been dealing with the issue of Andrew for years, left disgraced by his association with Epstein, a convicted sex offender. Andrew was accused of having sex with Epstein victim Virginia Guiffre three times, including when she was 17, and also during an orgy after being trafficked by the financier. Andrew has previously denied the allegations. The Queen's speech to mark International Women's Day and her 16-year association with WOW, 11 as president, is likely to be seen as thinly veiled reference to Andrew. Queen Camilla, president of Women of the World, speaks during a St James's Palace reception Dame Helen Mirren was also among the guests invited to St James's Palace yesterday Camilla's address was her most significant speech to date on violence against women and girls Actress Hannah Waddingham during a reception at St James's Palace in London yesterday A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: 'I think Her Majesty's speech speaks for itself.' Camilla delivered her speech to a group of invited leading women: from Dame Helen Mirren and Penny Lancaster, Lady Stewart, to Baroness Floella Benjamin and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson. She also told the audience: 'It is in the online space where boys and young men absorb many of the values they will carry through until adulthood: if misogyny and hatred are not confronted here and now, then we will face far greater issues in the future.' Camilla also said men and boys were not the 'enemy of progress', but were 'essential partners', and the 'benefits will be felt by girls, by women, by communities and by society itself'. Also among the guests was Amy Hunt whose sisters Louise and Hannah Hunt, and their mother Carol Hunt, were killed by Kyle Clifford, 27 - Louise's ex-partner - in 2024. The Queen said: 'In the playground, boys should be taught to manage and to express their feelings healthily. In the classroom, all children must learn what constitutes consent - and what is assault. 'In the work place, inspiring male and female role models can demonstrate true egalitarianism. In our social lives, emotional honesty should be seen as strength, rather than weakness. 'After all, we cannot claim that we believe in gender equality if we also believe that "real men don't cry". And we cannot be surprised by physical cruelty if, in digital forums, we turn a blind eye to those who heap abuse on others without thought or consequence.' During the reception, Dame Helen joked about the conversation she had with her driver when he she told him she was on her way to an event celebrating International Women's Day. The actress said with a laugh: 'He said, 'when's men's international day, then?' and I said, 'every f***ing day, 365 days of them'. So yes, we do need an International Women's Day.' Princess Anne told her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence to 'ignore' the group of anti-monarchy protestors during the Commonwealth Day service, a lip reader has revealed. On Monday, King Charles led the largest gathering of senior royals since the arrest of his disgraced younger brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, as the Royal Family marked the occasion at Westminster Abbey. The event was attended by Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales, as well as Princess Anne, 75, who was typically stoic when Sir Tim, 71, pointed out a small but noisy group of protestors waving banners that read 'What Did You Know?' and 'Not My King'. They were part of the Republic pressure group campaigning for the abolition of the monarchy, as members outside the Abbey questioned the King and senior royals about the scandal surrounding Andrew's friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Princess Anne told Sir Tim 'don't listen to them, ignore them' when they walked into the Abbey in London, according to forensic lip reader Nicola Hickling. 'Oh listen to that, do you know what it is theyre playing?' asked the Princess Royal as she walked past the band, no doubt in an effort to distract from the protesters' shouts. The no-nonsense Anne would likely have had the same advice for her brother, King Charles, when His Majesty seemingly expressed concerns about the protest. 'It's not good out there...it's rather tense, isn't it? It's not good,' he appeared to say, before greeting the rest of his family. Princess Anne walking past a group of anti-monarchy protestors outside Westminster Abbey on Monday Princess Anne told Sir Tim 'don't listen to them, ignore them', as they arrived for the Commonwealth Day service in London, according to lip reader Nicola Hickling Charles, 77, then 'seemed to say something further to Kate and William, prompting the Prince to step slightly forward and respond: "Were not happy".' During a brief exchange with his aunt, the future king also told Anne, 'I've had enough of hearing his name'. But Nicola was unable to confirm who the Prince was referring to. His 'telling' comments could be in connection with the ongoing fallout surrounding Andrew, after the 66-year-old was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in office two weeks ago. Nicola said it was unclear what Anne said to her nephew to prompt this reaction as her back was to the camera. However, during the 'brief and subdued' conversation, William also said: 'It's up for debate.' Meanwhile, King Charles shared a tense moment with his son upon his arrival, saying 'Oh finally' whilst wearing an irritated expression, the lip reader claimed. William responded with a quick greeting, kissing his father on both cheeks, but did not appear to say anything in return. Anne later had a more light-hearted exchange with Kate, 44, when they were forced to deviate from royal protocol during the event. The pair were both wearing stylish, if rather large, hats that made a formal kiss greeting rather difficult to pull off. Footage taken ahead of the service at London's Westminster Abbey showed how no-nonsense Anne, 75, improvised by blowing Kate a kiss from afar to avoid bumping hats. Dressed in an all-green ensemble, Anne spotted Kate making her way over to the group and instead blew her an affectionate kiss to avoid any chance of a hat collision. The Prince of Wales had a brief chat with his aunt, the Princess Royal, who wore an all-green ensemble The Princess of Wales, who greeted Sir Tim with a kiss, proceeded to place a delicate hand on Anne's arm before the pair erupted into laughter at their hilarious dilemma. As the royals arrived at the prestigious event, William, 43, was also seen shaking hands and making light conversation with Sir Tim Laurence, before greeting his aunt with a kiss on each cheek. During the service, Kate dazzled in a cobalt Catherine Walker dress coat and five-strand pearl necklace that belonged to her husband's late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. The collared gown, which accentuated her silhouette and featured a pleated skirt, was teamed with a sophisticated felt Sean Barrett hat, worn by the future Queen for the 2023 event as well. Anne, meanwhile, opted for a forest green pencil skirt and jacket which was pinned with a rose coloured diamond and gold floral brooch believed to have been an 18th birthday gift from the late Queen and Prince Philip. The iconic brooch was also worn by the Princess Royal during her 1973 engagement photos with her first husband, Captain Mark Phillips. On Monday, large crowds had gathered to catch a glimpse of the royals, who joined an 1,800-strong congregation celebrating the historic 'family of nations' formed in the breakdown of the British empire but now comprising 56 independent member countries, united by 'shared values including a commitment to promoting democracy, human rights, the rule of law and equality for its 2.7 billion citizens'. The royal party arrived to a fanfare inside the Abbey with the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester arriving first, followed by the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence and then William and Kate. All were greeted by the Dean of Westminster and presented to the Chapter and members of the Royal Commonwealth Society. They included the Commonwealth Secretary General, The Hon Shirley Botchwey, and Chair of the Royal Commonwealth Society, Janet Cooper. Led by the King, the family then formed into a processional group ahead of the National Anthem. The party walked to their seats behind the Commonwealth Mace Bearer during the first hymn 'Praise To The Lord, The Almighty, The King Of Creation'. In his annual Commonwealth Day message which this year emphasises the theme of 'collaboration' King Charles acknowledged deeply challenging times globally, but insisted it was also an opportunity for the Commonwealth to demonstrate its 'enduring spirit'. In his address, which was printed in the order of service, he said: '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. 'Ours is a remarkable association that spans every ocean and continent. Embracing an extraordinary diversity of culture, language and faith, our Commonwealth family is united by shared values of justice, democracy, opportunity, compassion and mutual respect. The King and Queen joined the Prince and Princess of Wales at the annual Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey King Charles used his address at the service to emphasise the theme of 'collaboration' and celebrate the Commonwealth's 'enduring spirit' in times of global challenge 'In a world that can feel increasingly fragmented, this voluntary union of free association remains rare and precious a forum for open and honest discussion and debate to help improve the lives of the nearly three billion people who call our Member States home.' He stressed that the organisation holds 'untapped potential for prosperous trade between trusting partners' which some might consider a backhanded nod towards US President Donald Trump and his controversial trade tariffs. He added: 'With nearly two-thirds of our population under the age of thirty, we are a family defined by youth and possibility. It is our shared responsibility to ensure that they inherit not only hope and ambition, but also a world in which they can flourish.' The King also used his message to highlight the environmental, saying that the inheritance of the Commonwealth 'depends upon the health of our planet and on the restoration of the natural world on which we depend'. He continued: 'Across so many parts of our Commonwealth climate change is not an abstract or distant threat, but a lived reality. The stewardship of nature, the protection of oceans and forests, and the pursuit of prosperity secured in harmony with the natural world are duties we owe not only to one another, but to generations yet unborn.' Highlighting this autumn's biannual Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda, the King stressed that the organisation was very much the sum of its parts, saying: 'We are reminded that the great gatherings of our nations are strengthened by the daily endeavours of their people. What distinguishes the Commonwealth is not only what our governments resolve together, but what our people do each day in countless acts of service, enterprise and creativity. 'When leaders meet, they do so on behalf of millions whose quiet determination, resilience and generosity give true meaning to our shared endeavour. '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.' Carole Middleton proved that she's firmly part of the Royal inner circle today as she hugged Princess Anne while cheering on the horses at Cheltenham. Kate's 71-year-old mother joined Queen Camilla, 78, and the Princess Royal, 75, for Ladies Day to take in the action on track after arriving arm-in-arm at the Gloucestershire course with Zara Tindall. An amused Carole tried to politely avert her eyes as Mike Tindall planted a kiss on his wife's lips as they attended day two of the festival. Carole also held her own in the fashion stakes, carrying a chic Hermes ostrich skin bag with an eye-watering price tag of approximately 20,000, and she gave a nod to her daughter, wearing the same navy fedora the Princess of Wales wore to church at Sandringham in 2020. Although Kate wasn't present, Carole was still clearly at ease in the company of her daughter's in-laws and was even seen throwing her arms around no-nonsense Princess Anne - who is not usually one for public displays of affection. She also looked animated as she chatted to TV star James Nesbitt, while Queen Camilla watched the action on track with Clare Balding. In a nod to Ladies Day, Camilla celebrated 'trailblazing' women in sport at the Festival, hailing the first black woman to win a jump race as 'just brilliant'. Carole Middleton is firmly part of the royal inner circle as the Princess of Wales's mother was spotted hugging Princess Anne and cheering alongside Queen Camilla at Cheltenham Festival today Queen Camilla put on a very animated display while watching the races on the second day of Cheltenham Festival Carole was spotted sharing a laugh with a friend and consultant surgeon Brendan Moran on Ladies Day Zara and Mike Tindall put on a very loved-up display as they arrived at the Gloucestershire racecourse on Wednesday - even as Carole Middleton crashed their date Princess Anne can be seen holding the Ladies Day programme as Carole and Camilla share a laugh with James Nesbitt Carole paired her herringbone wool coat that was strikingly similar to Zara's with a brown, faux-fur stole, fur-lined blue hat, and brown suede boots Carole, 71, and Zara, 44, were twinning in nearly-identical grey coats as Zara finished her Ladies Day outfit with a burgundy blouse , dark brown skirt and black suede boots After arriving at the racecourse by helicopter at noon, she chatted to jockey Aamilah Aswat, who last month became the first black woman to win a jump race in the UK, winning at Kempton Park on Guchen, a horse owned by the Friends of Ebony Horse Club. Camilla is president of the London-based charity and community riding centre uses horse riding to transform the lives of disadvantaged young people. 'Just brilliant,' Camilla told her, asking: 'When's your next race?' In the parade ring she was also introduced to Rachael Blackmore. Blackmore, 36, was the first female jockey to win both the Grand National in 2021 on Minella Times and the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2022 on A Plus Tard. She retired from racing last year and is expecting her first child with her husband, the jockey Brian Hayes. 'Oh, wow, congratulations Rachael,' Camilla told her, spotting Blackmore's baby bump. 'I know, it's a bit different to before and the career,' Blackmore laughed. The Queen also met with the Rugby World Cup-winning Red Roses team members Natasha 'Mo' Hunt and the captain, Zoe Aldcroft, who both also play for Gloucester. 'Make sure you both have some bubbles today,' Camilla said. Zara then joined Camilla for a group photo and a chat. 'See you up there,' Camilla said, before heading to the royal box, where she was joined by her son Tom Parker-Bowles, daughter Laura Lopes and her husband, Harry Lopes. Mr Moran pointing something out to Carole as they watched the action unfold from the Royal Box Carole joined Zara and Camilla (not pictured) in the Royal Box at Cheltenham Racecourse Camilla added a touch of flair to her outfit with a feathered hat Camilla looked animated as BBC star Clare Balding reacted to the races Princess Anne was be seen holding the Ladies Day programme Made in Chelsea star Georgia Toffolo is seen celebrating a winning horse on Ladies Day while enjoying a pint of Guinness The senior royals joined thousands of revellers to celebrate the return of Ladies Day after a seven-year break from the cherished festival tradition It appeared Carole and Zara coordinated their outfits as they sported near-identical coats. Zara finished her Ladies Day outfit with a burgundy blouse, dark brown skirt and black suede boots from Fairfax & Favor. The former Olympian, 44, added a fascinator and sunnies on an uncharacteristically bright day at the races. Meanwhile, Carole paired her herringbone wool coat that was strikingly similar to Zara's with a brown faux-fur stole, suede boots and a feather fedora from Hicks & Brown. It is the same 115 hat that Kate was seen wearing as she attended a church service in Sandringham six years ago. She was also spotted carrying a vintage black Birkin as Prince William's mother-in-law pulled out all the stops for the event today. Meanwhile, the Queen arrived for Ladies Day wearing a camel coat with a brown suede skirt and matching boots as she added a touch of flair with a feather hat by Philip Treacy. Not long after, the Princess Royal was seen making her way to the course in a forest green ensemble that she paired with a brightly coloured silk scarf. The senior royals joined thousands of revellers to celebrate the return of Ladies Day after a seven-year break from the cherished festival tradition. Queen Camilla (second from right) reacts while watching the races The Queen was completely engrossed in the races She can be seen here sharing a laugh with a friend as the Queen's daughter Laura Lopes was pictured in the background One attendee wearing a navy winter hat as Ladies Day got underway Famous faces like Georgia Toffolo and presenter Josie Gibson were joined by guests sporting gravity-defying fascinators, bright yellow tailored suits and a sea of tweed, on day two of the races. In 2020, Ladies Day was renamed 'Festival Wednesday' and was further rebranded as 'Style Wednesday' in 2025. But now the decades-old title has made a triumphant comeback, inviting female attendees to show up in their finest ensembles. The Queen also presented the trophy to the winning owner, jockey, and trainer of The Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase, the feature race of day two and the most prestigious race for two-mile chasers in the jump racing calendar. Cheltenham Festival kicked off in style on Tuesday as glamorous racegoers clad in tweed and fur arrived in Gloucestershire for the four-day racing event. With spring around the corner and the occasion signalling the start of the British social season, revellers quickly got into the party spirit on day one of the festival. As big a draw for its fashion as the horse racing itself, Cheltenham attendees paraded down the racecourse in statement suits, tweed jackets and knee-high boots. British fashion designer Jade Holland Cooper was a vision in a navy-and-green tartan-print peplum jacket and matching tweed skirt from her own brand. The founder of Holland Cooper a favourite of the Princess of Wales paired her outfit with a delicate fascinator and burgundy leather accessories, including boots and a bag. She was joined by perfectly coiffed women clad in thigh-skimming dresses, fur-lined jackets, tailored suits and trenches drinking champagne while enjoying a sunny day in the countryside. Spirits were high as revellers gathered around large screens to watch the action unfold as drinks flowed freely. The Queen presented the trophy to the winning trainer of The Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase, Willie Mullins, after Il Etait Temps won the race The Queen arrived for Ladies Day wearing a camel coat with a brown suede skirt and matching boots as Camilla, 78, finished the look with a flamboyant feather hat Not long after, the Princess Royal was seen making her way to the course in a forest green ensemble that she paired with a brightly coloured silk scarf Zara (far left) and Queen Camilla (centre) posing with former jockey Rachael Blackmore (far right) and jockey Aamilah Aswat (next to Camilla) and England rugby players Natasha Hunt and Zoe Aldcroft In a nod to Ladies Day, Camilla celebrated 'trailblazing' women in sport at the Festival, hailing the first black woman to win a jump race as 'just brilliant' James Nesbitt joined the royal party as the Irish actor was seen posing with Natalie Pinkham (left) and Zara The Princess of Wales mother Carole was all-smiles as she arrived at the Cheltenham Festival today The Tindalls returned for a second day of racing action as they looked more in love than ever Zara appeared in high spirits as she posed for photos ahead of the races A closer look at Zara's Juliette Botterill fascinator and mother-of-pearl earrings on Ladies Day at Cheltenham Camilla opted to recycle her Anna Valentine coat, which she previously wore for a visit to Canterbury last year Racegoers drinking pints of beer as they watched the races Whilst there were plenty of glamorous women, the men certainly held their own, with some opting for brightly coloured statement suits, wacky windcheaters and overcoats. Zara, a regular fixture at Cheltenham, also made a stylish appearance in a navy wool skirt suit by The Fold. The King's niece's striking teal hat added a bold touch to her look and complemented the emerald pussybow blouse visible beneath her jacket. Elsewhere, after making a red-hot entrance, Georgia Toffolo was seen sipping on a pint of Guinness while posing for photographs before the races got underway. The Made in Chelsea star, 31, revealed her outfit in a post on Instagram, as she admitted her red suit 'may be completely mad and slightly controversial for Cheltenham'. She quipped that 'you certainly won't miss me on the course' as the reality TV star modelled a two-piece Chanel suit that she bought in New York last September. 'I've waited all these months to unveil her,' Georgia wrote on her Instagram. She finished the look with a black turtleneck from Intimissimi, tights from Calzedonia and Massimo Dutti shoes. Georgia also showed off her thrifted bag charm a leather horse and declared she was 'buzzing' that Cheltenham had finally arrived. Guests were also delighted to discover that the festival organisers had stayed true to their word by slashing the price of a pint of Guinness to 7.50 for this year's edition. As detailed by Daily Mail Sport in September, the decision to lower the prices came as a means to entice racegoers to return to the four-day event after a reduction in attendance. In 2025, 218,839 people flocked to Prestbury Park a decrease of more than 10,000 on the previous year when just south of 230,000 attended. Last year's Ladies Day, which is on a Wednesday, saw just 41,949 come through the gates the lowest crowd figure for a single day in a quarter of a century. Many punters blamed the increasing costs of attending and enjoying Cheltenham as the main factor for no-shows, with a pint of Guinness in 2025 almost at the 8-mark at 7.80. King Charles met with First Nation leaders from Saskatchewan for a historic private meeting at Buckingham Palace today. The seven Treaty 6 leaders travelled to London for the private audience after formally inviting the monarch to the 150th anniversary of the treaty's signing in Fort Carlton, Canada. Images of Charles meeting and shaking hands with the delegation of chiefs serve as a poignant moment for the members, who have long been campaigning for a royal meeting and are hopeful for the King's attendance in August. Ahead of the meeting, Chief Larry Ahenakew of Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation said that he first wrote to the King in November 2024 and in February 2025 before receiving a response in December. He told CBC News: 'It's going to be exciting for all of us,' Ahenakew said. 'First time in Europe, myself.' The leaders, who had hoped to present the King with a personalised invitation to the anniversary event, also planned to gift the King beaded moccasins 'rooted with love and prayers for the future generation'. The visit, which Ahenakew described as 'historic', has been supported by by the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations and the Assembly of First Nations. During the private audience, the King also welcomed an 105-year-old Second World War Mosquito Bomber to Buckingham Palace and presented him with a Distinguished Flying Cross. Flight Lieutenant Colin Bell is the last surviving bomber pilot to have flown the de Havilland Mosquito aircraft during the conflict. King Charles met with First Nation leaders from Saskatchewan for a historic private meeting at Buckingham Palace today (pictured) Images of Charles meeting and shaking hands with the delegation of chiefs serve as a poignant moment for the members, who have long been campaigning for a royal meeting and are hopeful for the King's attendance in August. Pictured: Charles and Grand Chief Joey Pete During their meeting at the Palace, the pair shook hands and chatted, while the heroic veteran also gave His Majesty a copy of his memoir, Bloody Dangerous. His book recounts the extraordinary story of his heroic wartime service for the first time and what it was like to fly a Mosquito, known as the 'wooden wonder' for being mostly constructed of wood, during 50 raids over Germany including 13 to Berlin. When asked in the book what would happen if the Rolls-Royce Merlin engines failed on take-off, the commander replied in stark terms: 'You die like an officer and a gentleman.' Mr Bell also revealed that, rather than carrying a teddy bear as a mascot on his death-defying bombing raids over Nazi Germany, he took along a Smith & Wesson revolver with 20 rounds of ammunition in case he was shot down. Mr Bell, whose full title is Flt/Lt (Ret'd) Colin S Bell DFC AE FRICS IRRV(Hons) RAF (Ret'd) flew for 608 & 162 Squadrons, part of the Pathfinder Group - an elite, hand-picked bunch of the RAF's most skilled pilots and navigators. The Pathfinders were tasked with flying bombs deep into enemy territory and marking targets for larger, more vulnerable bomber formations to increase their accuracy. Mr Bell, who now lives in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, and his navigator were part of the Light Night Striking Force which carried out nuisance raids on cities all over Germany forcing workers down into air raid shelters. He and his fellow pilots were aided by cutting-edge navigational technologies of the time, which in the post-war era paved the way for safe commercial air travel. The leaders, who had hoped to present the King with a personalised invitation to the anniversary event, also planned to gift the King beaded moccasins 'rooted with love and prayers for the future generation' During the private audience, the King also welcomed Flight Lieutenant Colin Bell, an 105-year-old Second World War Mosquito Bomber, and presented him with a Distinguished Flying Cross The King presented Mr Bell, who served with the RAF's 608 Squadron in the Light Night Striking Force, with the citation to his Distinguished Flying Cross, which was originally awarded to him for his actions by Charles's grandfather King George VI in 1945. The Distinguished Flying Cross is given for 'acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty while flying in active operations against the enemy' to personnel of the Royal Air Force and other services. Mr Bell's final raid, over Berlin, took place in March 1945, just before his 24th birthday. Two days later the very Mosquito he had flown in was shot down and both crew members were killed. In his incredible memoir, he also addressed recent criticism of Bomber Commands devastating attacks on German cities like Dresden, which hit civilians as well as military targets. He wrote: There is certainly an argument to be had about this, but I do often wonder how that argument would go if we had lost the war. People might be expressing reservations about living as slave labourers under a Nazi regime, with concentration camps set up in every city for its opponents. So, when people say, What about Dresden? I reply that Dresden was indeed horrific. But so too was the blitzing of London, Coventry, Plymouth, Exeter, Liverpool and Southampton, to name but a few. Tinie Tempah asked the King for an invite to his royal lands as the pair met for an event to celebrate Britain's Nigerian community. King Charles was joined by hundreds of people at St James's Palace on Wednesday ahead of the Nigerian president's state visit next week. Rapper Tempah greeted Charles by revealing he had been 'inspired' by the monarch's work in his environmental documentary about the Duchy of Cornwall. As the King started discussing the royal portion of land, Tempah interjected: 'Invite me, invite me.' Charles has visited Nigeria four times - in 1990, 1999, 2006 and 2018 - when he was Prince of Wales. Those attending the reception were eager to meet the King, who seemed in good spirits as he moved through the crowd. Two women, wearing matching orange and black ensembles with blue head-dresses, were heard excitedly referring to him as 'Uncle Charles'. The King spoke to designers from Brand63 Africa, a social enterprise connecting fashion designers of an African heritage to the global luxury market. King Charles pictured with Tinie Tempah during a reception for the Nigerian diaspora in the UK at St James's Palace on Wednesday Two women, wearing matching orange and black ensembles with blue head-dresses, were heard excitedly referring to the King as 'Uncle Charles' He also met Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar during the event on Wednesday King Charles was joined by hundreds of people at St James's Palace on Wednesday ahead of the Nigerian president's state visit next week He also met Trade Minister Sir Chris Bryant, Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar and beauty influencer Patricia Bright. Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and first lady Oluremi Tinubu are set to visit on March 18 and March 19, when they will be guests of the King. Charles and Camilla will host them at Windsor Castle in what will be the first UK state visit by a Nigerian president in 37 years. Previous visits took place in 1973, 1981 and 1989. Music for the event at St James's Palace was provided by Dele Sosimi and the Afrobeats Orchestra, who the King spoke to as he left the reception. They told him they had last played at a similar event nine years ago, to which the King joked: 'None of you look a day older.' Asked by the band if he had managed to have any Jollof rice, a traditional Nigerian dish being served at the event, Charles said: 'No, I couldn't possibly eat and speak at the same time.' The event came after the King met with First Nation leaders from Saskatchewan for a historic private meeting at Buckingham Palace. The seven Treaty 6 leaders travelled to London for the private audience after formally inviting the monarch to the 150th anniversary of the treaty's signing in Fort Carlton, Canada. Images of Charles meeting and shaking hands with the delegation of chiefs serve as a poignant moment for the members, who have long been campaigning for a royal meeting and are hopeful for the King's attendance in August. Charles pictured sharing a joke with some guests while inspecting a mannequin Charles and Camilla will host Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and first lady Oluremi Tinubu at Windsor Castle in what will be the first state visit by a Nigerian president in 37 years The King chats to guests at the event celebrating the Nigerian diaspora on Wednesday Ahead of the meeting, Chief Larry Ahenakew of Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation said that he first wrote to the King in November 2024 and in February 2025 before receiving a response in December. He told CBC News: 'It's going to be exciting for all of us,' Ahenakew said. 'First time in Europe, myself.' The leaders, who had hoped to present the King with a personalised invitation to the anniversary event, also planned to gift the King beaded moccasins 'rooted with love and prayers for the future generation'. The visit, which Ahenakew described as 'historic', has been supported by by the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations and the Assembly of First Nations. Hilaria Baldwin is once again flaunting her lavish Hamptons home in a bid to finally secure a buyer after four years of sitting on the market. The 10,000 square-foot mansion was first listed in September 2022 for $29 million but has repeatedly gone on and off the market amid Alec Baldwin's Rust shooting scandal and the couple's various controversies. Hilaria, 42, gushed to the camera in an Instagram video posted on Monday about how much she loved the area, but that her family wanted to start their 'next chapter'. 'Our family is going to go off on a new adventure, which means we are selling our Hamptons home,' she said. 'It's bittersweet because we have made so many amazing memories there, and we are excited for our next chapter! 'While we are sad to leave it, we know the next owners will love it just as much as we do so I wanted to share it here it really is a piece of paradise.' In the carousel, Hilaria - who has been a frequent target of mockery since she was exposed in 2020 for having faked her Spanish heritage - shared multiple professional pictures of the home and posted a link to the listing in her bio. From the link, it appears the Baldwins appear to have cut the price again - from $21 million in December 2025 to $19.99 million, more than $9 million below the original 2022 asking price. Hilaria Baldwin is once again flaunting her lavish Hamptons home in a bid to finally secure a buyer after four years of sitting untouched on the market Hilaria's Instagram post on Monday included multiple pictures of the home and shared directions to the listing link in her bio which revealed the price had been slashed further since it was relisted in December 2025 Alec Baldwin, 67, first acquired the property in 1996 for a mere $1.75million Alec, 67, first acquired the property in 1996 for a mere $1.75 million. The estate has been prominently featured on his reality show The Baldwins, which shows him and Hilaria juggling their seven children: Carmen, 12, Rafael, 10, Leonardo, nine, Romeo, seven, Eduardo, five, Lucia, four, and Ilaria, three. The couple said in 2021 they had plans to renovate the beach getaway, but ditched those plans in September 2022 when they put the Amagansett home on the market for $29 million - only to lower the price to $24.9 million just four months later. But they took the house off the market that summer after failing to find a buyer amid the ongoing controversy over the Rust shooting. In October 2021, while filming the Western movie Rust in New Mexico, he was holding a prop revolver that went off and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Alec strenuously denied pulling the trigger of the prop gun and insisted he was told there was no live ammunition inside the weapon. This kicked off a cycle of the listing coming on and off the market until January 2024, when the couple resorted to slashing the price to nearly $19 million, and Alec starred in a real estate video plugging the home, saying he was 'always happiest' while there. In his video, he also noted he and his wife had installed 'additions' to the building that brought it up to 10,000 sq ft. Baldwin first put the home on the market in September 2022 for $29 million, less than a year after he was plunged into scandal over the Rust shooting In January 2024, he slashed the price to nearly $19 million and starred in a real estate video plugging the home, saying he was 'always happiest' when he stayed there The estate has been prominently featured on his reality show The Baldwins, which shows Alec and Hilaria juggling their vast family of seven children under the age of 12 Hilaria was recently trolled for the painting of herself that she keeps in the living room of the Hamptons house Hilaria's controversies may also make the house a hard sell, as she was recently trolled for the painting of herself that she keeps in the living room of the Hamptons house. Created by the artist Brendan O'Connell, the massive picture was apparently inspired by a paparazzi photo of Hilaria going grocery shopping and showed her in front of shelves filled with boxes of Rice-A-Roni. The painting came up as the Baldwins proudly showed off their estate over the summer for a photo profile in the New York Times. 'I have to admit that I'm extraordinarily embarrassed that there is a gigantic painting of me in this room,' Hilaria claimed to the newspaper at the time. 'It's like: "Welcome to my living room. Here is a painting of me."' In September, when her husband reposted some highlights from the New York Times photo profile to Instagram, the painting came in for hooting derision in the comments. Social media users sniggered: 'This is multi-faceted rage bait,' 'She can't be too embarrassed with the picture bc she hung it up,' and: 'Only a narcissist would have their pic in there living room. Who wants to see that!!!' A New York home hit the market this month for 55 percent less than the areas median single-family home price of more than $735,000. For $329,900, the home in Selden - a central Long Island suburb of about 21,000 people - notably does not have a dedicated bedroom. It does come with a bathroom, a kitchen, a dining room, a small backyard patio, and an unfinished basement. Denise Beckman of HomeSmart Dynamic Realty said the lack of a bedroom isnt necessarily a dealbreaker, noting that the several offers she has received suggest buyers are willing to overlook what would normally be a major drawback. 'All sorts of different people' have shown interest, Beckman said, including investors, first-time buyers and people looking to downsize. Among prospective buyers who plan to live in the home, most are single people and couples, she said. 'Some people just come in to say, I saw it online and I was curious, and I'd love to walk through,' she said. And because of the home's relatively small profile - 446 square feet of living space - it has an estimated property tax bill of $3,750 per year, according to the listing. The home, built in 1930, is laid out in a straight line, with the front door opening into the dining room, followed by the living room, the kitchen and, finally, the bathroom. Excluding the outdoor space and basement, the home is roughly the size of a typical New York City studio apartment, usually between 300 and 600 square feet. This home, located in Selden, New York, was listed this month for $329,900. It does not have a dedicated bedroom, according to the listing The 446-square-foot home is laid out in a straight line. The front door leads into the dining room, which is connected to this carpeted living area with a fireplace The next room in the house is the kitchen, complete with a full-sized fridge and an oven The last room in the house is a bathroom, which has a door that leads into the backyard patio For those who feel the space is still too small, Beckman said it would likely be possible to set up a bedroom in the basement. To do this legally, the homeowner would have to get a building permit from the Town of Brookhaven, where Selden is located. To convert the basement into a bedroom, it would need ceilings at least seven feet tall and windows that can be used as an emergency escape. Beckman pointed out that the basement has multiple windows that lead out to the ground level. One potential downside of the renovation is that the town would need to reassess the added living space, which would almost certainly increase the homes property taxes. Beckman said the added value would outweigh any potential tax hike. 'With a little bit of money in that house, you could really make it quaint. I see it more as the type of house for, say, a medical professional that works 80-hour weeks since it's maintenance free,' Beckman said, pointing out that there is no lawn to cut. Investors interested in the property are particularly keen on adding a bedroom to increase its appeal on the rental market. Beckman said a landlord could get at least $2,500 per month with that added bedroom. With a consistent tenant at that monthly rate, the owner could recoup the sale price of the house within 11 years. The current owners, a couple who have lived in the house for years, are hoping the right offer comes from someone looking to start a new chapter in life, not necessarily an investor. The home also has an unfinished basement, which could likely be remodeled into a full bedroom, according to Denise Beckman, the listing agent Beckman, of HomeSmart Dynamic Realty, said renovating the basement would be an easy way to add resale value to the home Pictured: The fenced-in backyard area of the home 'They want to see that home go to somebody that wants to have a nice place just for themselves, whether it's a single or a couple,' Beckman said. 'They want nice, fresh young blood and people that are going to love it as much as they did.' Beckman and her fellow agents have shown the house numerous times this week to clients. She will be hosting a second open house this weekend. 'There's a lot of naysayers online. The people that say it's ridiculous didn't walk through it. They're those keyboard warriors. When other people walk through it, they understand what they're getting,' she said. A Catholic priest has issued a chilling warning that global events may be aligning in ways some theologians believe could prepare the world for the rise of the Antichrist. The Antichrist is a figure in Christian theology believed to be a powerful deceiver who will oppose Jesus Christ and lead many people away from the faith before the end of the world. Speaking on the Shawn Ryan Show, Father Chad Ripperger said: 'The Antichrist has to be able to rule the world. He's not going to rule through governance. He's going to rule it through economies.' He explained that several conditions described by early Church leaders appear to be unfolding in modern society. Early Christian theologians taught that the Antichrist would emerge during a period of widespread moral collapse, something he believes has already been underway for decades. 'That's happened since the 1950s. There's been an implosion where people just aren't following the laws of God and of the natural law in any sense of the term,' Ripperger said, agreeing that the 'stage is set' for the rise of the Antichrist. He also warned that the Antichrist would not rise to power through politics alone, but through control of the global economy. The Catholic priest said modern financial systems and emerging digital technologies could potentially create the kind of centralized economic control described in biblical prophecy. 'That's why they talk about the mark of the beast,' he said. 'Well, we're almost there, where they could literally just decide, look, unless you're going to sign off on certain things, you're not going to have access to the digital currency that we're going to enact worldwide.' A Catholic priest has issued a chilling warning that global events may be aligning in ways some theologians believe could prepare the world for the rise of the Antichrist In Christian prophecy, the Antichrist is described as an end-times figure who will rise to global power as a charismatic but deceptive leader. 'They say that the antichrist will be so charismatic, and unless a person has specific graces from God, you're going to easily get sucked into what he teaches and what he professes,' Ripperger told Ryan. He added that the figure will reject Christ while presenting himself as humanity's savior. According to these interpretations, the Antichrist will be empowered by Satan, persecute believers and demand loyalty or worship. Ripperger also said Christian prophecy describes two biblical figures returning to oppose the Antichrist before his downfall. 'The two prophets that are in heaven, Elijah and Enoch, have to return they actually return and preach against him,' he said. According to the priest, the pair are ultimately killed before Christ returns and defeats the Antichrist. Scripture and later theological writings say he will appear during a period of global turmoil and instability. Speaking on the Shawn Ryan Show, Father Chad Ripperger agreed that the stage is set for the Antichrist, detailing how it would play out in our real world Some interpretations suggest he will initially present himself as a peacemaker, brokering a fragile agreement in the Middle East before turning against Israel. However, Ripperger said the Antichrist's power would ultimately depend on a unified global economic system capable of controlling who can buy or sell. Such control, he suggested, could be enforced through financial access tied to technology. In the biblical Book of Revelation, a mysterious 'mark of the beast' is described as a system without which people cannot buy or sell. Some modern interpreters believe future technologies could resemble that mechanism. The priest said technology such as microchips or digital identification systems could theoretically fulfill that role. 'So it's going to be something in our bodies that will give us access to these particular things,' he explained. Early Church teachings describe the mark of the beast as the opposite of the spiritual mark believers receive during baptism. In Catholic tradition, baptism leaves a permanent spiritual mark on a person's soul, symbolizing that they belong to Christ. During the sacrament, priests often trace the sign of the cross on a person's forehead as a visible reminder of that consecration. The mark of the beast, he said, is described by theologians as an inversion of that symbol, something placed on or within the body that signifies allegiance to a different authority. According to this interpretation, the mark would function as a kind of identifier allowing people access to essential parts of society, including food, goods and financial systems. 'I think that's one of the ways how he's going to control people is through digital currencies, and he's going to just shut people off, and that's how they'll be able to basically starve people out if they're unwilling to sign off on to Christ's rules.' Ryan asked how those who reject the mark of the beast would survive. Ripperger said believers may face difficult choices. 'You have to be willing to sacrifice the lesser good in order to achieve the greater good. 'You have to be willing to I have to follow Christ regardless of the personal cost. Now God will also often provide for people.' In Christian scripture, the Antichrist is described as a powerful adversary who will appear before the return of Jesus. Interpretations of how and when that prophecy might unfold have varied widely throughout history. Ripperger stressed that he cannot say with certainty that such events are imminent. 'I don't think that he's just immediately around the corner,' he said. 'But I could be wrong in that.' Still, he warned that rapid technological change and shifting global systems may be bringing humanity closer to the conditions described in ancient prophecies. They say you're only as old as you feel but hitting 62 means you're officially getting on, according to Gen Z. A poll of 4,000 people across the UK has revealed how different generations perceive ageing. While Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) think old age begins at 67, their children and grandchildren believe it to be much younger. According to Gen Z, the likes of Michelle Obama, Brad Pitt and Lisa Kudrow who are all 62 have officially fallen into the 'over the hill' category. The polling also revealed Gen Z think people start experiencing cognitive decline at 62, while the struggle to adapt to technology begins three years earlier at 59. Meanwhile, they believe someone no longer looks good wearing the latest fashions at 56. Katherine Crawshaw, co-head of the Age Without Limits campaign, said: 'What we often see with beliefs around age and ageing is real concern at becoming older, of reaching a certain age, from quite early on in our adult lives. 'And then as we reach those milestones, for many the fears and worries about reaching that age dissipate somewhat with the reality. Being subjected to a barrage of ageist messaging throughout our lives, with children as young as ten wanting to buy anti-ageing make-up for example, gives people an unduly pessimistic view of what getting older will be like.' Michelle Obama is 62 but Gen Z consider this to be the age you officially turn 'old', according to a new study Analysis of the data also revealed that a fifth of Gen Z-ers, who are aged 18-29, don't think they'll look good when they're 'old'. Meanwhile, a quarter don't expect to still have plenty of family or friends around them in their later years. Some 27 per cent don't think they will be in good health when they are 'old' and are likely to believe people have less fun as they age. Across all people polled, the most common phrase used in reference to an older person was 'stuck in your ways', followed by 'mutton dressed as lamb'. Other popular phrases included 'you're too old for that', 'dinosaur' and 'over the hill'. The data revealed that a significant proportion of Gen Z were likely to think people over the age of 50 will struggle to keep up with technology. However, they appeared to have a more sympathetic view on the value of older workers compared to Boomers and were more likely to think that, overall, people at this age would still be a desirable hire for employees. The Age Without Limits campaign, run by the Centre for Ageing Better, aims to highlight the harmful nature of ageism across all aspects of society. Hollywood heartthrob Brad Pitt is also 62 and officially 'over the hill', according to people aged between 18-29. Pictured: During filming for F1 movie in 2023 Harriet Bailiss, co-head of the campaign, said: 'Taking a simplistic view of ageism, one might assume that younger generations are likely to hold more dismissive opinions of older age. 'The reality is much more complex than that, as our latest polling shows. When 'old age' starts, according to different generations Gen Z (1829): At 62.3 years old Millennials (3045): At 62.9 years old Gen X (4661): At 64.4 years old Boomers (6280): At 67.3 years old Silent Generation (81+): At 71.8 years old 'While the figures might indicate a potential frustration with older people's use of technology from younger generations, it also seems to indicate that Gen Z have a more hopeful view around older workers and employment than the Babyboomers themselves who are trying to navigate an ageist labour market.' She added: 'What we know is that ageism can impact people at all ages and many Gen Z-ers will have experienced being judged on their capability based purely on their age. 'This is why we need everyone, no matter their age, to be able to notice ageism and to challenge it when they do witness it.' Last year, scientists discovered the average human life is split up by four pivotal 'turning points' between five key stages. These are childhood, adolescence, adulthood, early ageing and late ageing. Analysis of the brain scans of 3,802 people aged between zero and 90 revealed it takes almost three decades of rewiring before our brains reach their adult forms. Your browser does not support iframes. Once we reach our mid-30s, our intelligence and personality reach a stable 'plateau'. However, it all goes downhill from age 66. At this age, our brains stop becoming more efficient, and the structure stabilises with more 'segregation' emerging as regions start to become more compartmentalised. Based on previous studies, the researchers say that this corresponds with a 'plateau in intelligence and personality', although the reasons for this change aren't entirely clear. The US is facing a severe weather outbreak on Wednesday, threatening millions of people with tornadoes, giant hail and destructive winds. Forecasters warned that the dangerous storm system is expected to barrel through Texas and Louisiana before pushing northeast toward parts of Pennsylvania and New York. Northern Illinois remains the area of greatest concern, where a moderate tornado risk covers about two million people. Kankakee County has declared a state of emergency after at least four twisters struck Tuesday evening. Tornadoes have already been confirmed in Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Illinois and Indiana since Tuesday, and two deaths have been reported in the Lake Village community in Indiana. AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Courtney Travis said the midweek threat of storms and tornadoes could become the most 'widespread and impactful severe weather outbreak so far this year.' Nearly 210 severe weather reports poured into the National Weather Service (NWS) from Tuesday through early Wednesday morning, the highest number recorded nationwide in 24 hours since July 28. Major metro areas that could experience severe weather include Houston, San Antonio, Nashville, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Atlanta and Columbus, Ohio. The first round of storms could arrive during the early morning hours, roughly between 4am and 10am, across parts of the Midwest and central United States. The greatest tornado threat is expected later in the day, when warmer temperatures and unstable air allow storms to intensify from the afternoon into the evening. Kankakee County has declared a state of emergency after at least four twisters struck Tuesday evening (PICTURED) Tornadoes were reported Tuesday evening in Oklahoma (PICTURED) Forecasters are especially concerned about the possibility of nighttime tornadoes, which are harder to detect and more dangerous because people are often asleep when warnings are issued. The Storm Prediction Center has placed a large area stretching from the Lower Mississippi Valley through the Ohio Valley and into the Mid-Atlantic under a Slight Risk for severe thunderstorms. Tornado chances in some areas range between two and nine percent, meaning a tornado could occur within about 25 miles of any given location in the highlighted zones. While tornadoes are possible, forecasters warned that damaging straight-line winds are expected to be the most widespread threat across much of the region. Gusts of 65 to 70 mph, along with power outages, were reported in parts of southern Illinois early Wednesday morning as the line of storms swept through. The Weather Channel also reported scattered severe storms developing across parts of the South. 'In general, Wednesday's primary severe threat will be damaging thunderstorm wind gusts from parts of the Appalachians and Mid-Atlantic to the Lower Mississippi Valley,' meteorologists with The Weather Channel said in a statement. Forecasters say tornadoes remain possible across several regions, and a strong tornado rated EF-2 or higher cannot be ruled out, particularly across parts of the upper Ohio Valley, the northern Appalachians and the lower Mississippi Valley. Northern Illinois remains the area of greatest concern, where a moderate tornado risk covers about two million people. The region experienced twisters on Tuesday evening, destroying several homes Giant hail is expected in several US states. Pictured is hail in Kankakee County, Indiana on Tuesday Forecasters warned that the dangerous storm system is expected to barrel through Texas and Louisiana before pushing northeast toward parts of Pennsylvania and New York An EF-2 tornado is considered a 'strong' tornado, with estimated three-second wind gusts between 111 and 135 miles per hour. Storms of that strength can cause considerable damage, including tearing roofs off homes, destroying mobile homes, snapping large trees and lifting vehicles. Severe thunderstorms are also expected to continue well into the night, stretching from the Mid-Atlantic and Appalachian regions through the Tennessee Valley and into parts of the Southeast and northern Gulf Coast. Some of these storms could still produce damaging winds, hail and isolated tornadoes as the system moves east. Weather officials warn that conditions can change quickly, and tornado watches or warnings may be issued with little notice, sometimes giving residents only 13 to 30 minutes of lead time to seek shelter. Residents across the affected regions are urged to stay alert and monitor updates from the National Weather Service and local weather alerts throughout the day. From the slow drawl of the South to the sharp-edged sound of New York City, Americans have revealed which regional accents they find most and least attractive. A poll of 2,000 single Americans ranked the nations most appealing voices, offering a glimpse into how speech patterns shape first impressions in modern dating culture. The survey, by language-learning site Babbel, found that Southern American English, spoken across states like Texas, Georgia, Alabama and the Carolinas, topped the list as the most attractive. Louisianas Cajun-influenced English ranked second, followed by New York City English in third place. Miami English and General American, the most widely spoken accent in the nation, rounded out the top five. At the other end of the list was Appalachian English, highlighting how certain regional dialects still face cultural stigma despite their deep linguistic history. Appalachian English is typically characterized by a slower rhythm, elongated vowels and distinctive expressions rooted in Scots-Irish linguistic traditions, giving the speech a melodic, mountain-drawl quality. The Philadelphia accent ranked as the second least attractive, followed by accents from the Great Lakes region, Boston and California. Your browser does not support iframes. While Babble's results reflect perception rather than objective value, they offer a snapshot of how voice influences first impressions in American culture. Southern American English, common across much of the Southeast and parts of Texas, is known for its elongated vowels and slower cadence, traits many listeners associate with warmth, friendliness and charm. Celebrities with authentic Southern accents include actors Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Morgan Freeman and Dolly Parton, known for their distinct regional twangs. Estimates suggest that more than 30 percent of Americans speak with some form of a Southern accent. Researchers have noted that it originated primarily from 17th and 18th-century immigrants from the British Isles, specifically combining dialects from Southern/Midland England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Louisiana's Cajun English, placed second, developed in southern Louisiana's Acadiana region and reflects a blend of Southern American speech patterns with strong French linguistic influence. Historically, Cajun culture was shaped by French-speaking Acadians who were expelled from Canada in the 18th century and resettled in Louisiana. While more than a million people spoke Cajun French in the 1960s, that number has declined dramatically, with fewer than 20,000 speakers today. Celebrities with authentic Southern accents include actors Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Morgan Freeman and Dolly Parton, known for their distinct regional twangs However, the region's unique rhythm of speech and cultural mystique continues to captivate the public. New York City English, known for its sharp consonants and distinctive vowel shifts, is instantly recognizable and deeply tied to the city's cultural identity. It is spoken by many celebrities, including Fran Drescher, Cardi B, Joe Pesci, Robert De Niro and Al Pacino. The accent developed from a mix of immigrant languages and dialects that blended in New York during the 18th and 19th centuries. It is largely rooted in British English, particularly the non-rhotic speech patterns that drop the 'r' sound, brought by early settlers from southeastern England. As New York became a major immigration hub in the 1800s and early 1900s, the accent evolved further through the influence of Irish, Italian and Jewish immigrant communities, especially in working-class neighborhoods. Babbel's research also highlighted how accents can shape confidence, as nearly a quarter of respondents said they feel embarrassed or judged because of the way they speak. Speakers of Appalachian English reported the highest levels of accent insecurity, with 42 percent saying they feel judged for their voice. The accent originated primarily from 18th-century settlers from the British Isles, specifically Scotland, Ireland and Northern England, who settled in the mountain region. Younger Americans were also more likely to report feeling self-conscious about their accent compared with older generations. New York City English is spoken by many celebrities, including rapper Cardi B That pressure can influence behavior in dating settings, as about 24 percent of respondents said they consciously soften or adjust their accent when meeting someone romantically. Linguists often refer to this behavior as code-switching, the practice of adjusting tone, vocabulary or pronunciation depending on the social environment. In dating contexts, that shift can feel strategic rather than deceptive. First dates often function as rapid assessments, where people try to present the most appealing version of themselves. However, Babbel's cultural and linguistic expert, Esteban Touma, said accents should be embraced rather than hidden. 'Accents don't just shape first impressions, they influence who we swipe on, who we meet again, and even how confident we feel showing up as ourselves,' Touma said. He added that accents carry deeper meaning beyond sound alone. 'They carry history, identity and emotion, and it is precisely this distinctness that gives them meaning,' he explained. 'Rather than something to smooth out or hide, our accents deserve to be embraced and celebrated.' An Iranian-linked hacking group has claimed responsibility for the global disruption of one of the world's leading medical technology companies. Michigan-based Stryker experienced a global outage on Wednesday, saying thousands of employees have lost access to work systems. It employees approximately 53,000 people globally. The company is a leading provider in advanced medical technologies that improve healthcare outcomes, including joint replacements, robotic-assisted surgical systems, trauma and neurotechnology products. The Handala group issued a statement on Telegram, saying it wiped more than 200,000 systems and extracted 50 terabytes of data in retaliation for military strikes on Iran. Handala emerged around 2022 and has claimed responsibility for a number of cyberattacks against Israeli and Western targets. The group claimed it shut down Stryker offices in 79 countries and that all extracted data is 'now in the hands of the free people of the world.' Stryker is active in over 100 countries around the world. 'Our major cyber operation has been executed with complete success,' Handala says in a statement, describing the attack as retaliation for what it calls 'the brutal attack on the Minab school' and for 'ongoing cyber assaults against the infrastructure of the Axis of Resistance.' Children between the ages of seven and 12, along with staff members, were among those who died in the school strike. There were at least 175 people present during the February attack. An Iranian hacking group has claimed responsibility for the global disruption of Stryker, one of the world's leading medical technology companies The Handala hacking group said the cyberattack was retaliation for the US's brutal attack on the Minab school' Stryker began experience technical issues shortly after midnight on Wednesday, The Wall Street Journal reported. The company's staff found that remote devices running Microsoft's Windows operating system, such as cellphones, laptops and others configured to connect to Stryker's technology systems, had been wiped. The logo of Handala appeared on login screens, according to the WSJ, which cited people familiar with the matter as well as social media posts. The Irish Examiner reported that Stryker staff can only communicate through WhatsApp, noting employees have revealed that g anything connected to the network is down, and that 'anyone with Microsoft Outlook on their personal phones had their devices wiped.' Multiple sources told the outlet that systems in the Cork headquarters have been 'shut down' and that Stryker devices held by employees have been wiped out.' Stryker's outage comes as an ongoing military investigation determined today the US is responsible for the deadly Tomahawk missile strike after officials decline to say America had hit the Shajarah Tayyebeh school. On Monday, President Donald Trump blamed Iran for the deadly airstrike that hit an all-girls' school on the first day of the war. The Handala group issued a statement on Telegram, saying it wiped more than 200,000 systems and extracted 50 terabytes of data in retaliation for military strikes on Iran 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. Officers at US Central Command decided to strike the school using outdated data provided by the Defense Intelligence Agency, one of the premier US intelligence agencies. The deadly operation on Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school full of children is considered one of the most devastating US military errors in decades. Marbella, Magaluf, Ibiza and Benidorm are among the most popular Spanish destinations favoured by Brits. But in recent years, huge numbers of tourists flocking to these sunshine-filled hotspots have led to overtourism and anger amongst locals, with many residents complaining of crowded beaches and soaring prices as a result. But one former resident has revealed why Brits should still enjoy holidays in Spain - and the best places to go to. Trevor Baker, who lived in Alicante on and off for six years and is married to a woman originally from the city, shared his advice for Brits seeking a Spanish vacation without the hordes of tourists. Trevor wrote in Which? Travel: 'Done right, following a few simple rules, being a tourist on the Costa Blanca is still one of the most enjoyable things in the world.' Alicante's old town and the Santa Barbara Castle should be top of your bucket list The Rambla de Alicante is part of the city's central hub So, where should you go? The Costa Blanca and Alicante region. First, Trevor recommends Alicante's city centre and old town. Unlike other parts of Spain, it's not nearly as overrun with tourists. He adds that Alicante is the warmest place in mainland Spain during the winter. The Rambla, the main promenade, is worth a visit. Plus, the Portal de Elche a central square - and El Barrio neighbourhood, full of terraced cafes and bars serving tapas, are charming. While he says locals will give Alicante's popular Postiguet Beach a miss, Trevor says it's worth it for the views, where you can see the imposing Mount Benacantil and the Castle of Santa Barbara. A visit to the castle is essential, Trevor writes, adding he will often combine this with a trip to 'the sleek El Castillo cafe for a cana a small glass of beer.' Elsewhere, Trevor adds: 'In our survey of the best Spanish seaside towns, four of the top 10 were in Alicante: the city itself, Moraira, Javea and Altea. 'The latter three are all on the northern side of Benidorm greener, leafier and more mountainous than the south.' True, Benidorm might be synonymous with the idea of 'Brits abroad' and package holidays. But smaller towns and beaches in the region around Benidorm are stellar, according to the former resident. The small town of Altea is one such much-visit location, with boutique shops, cafes and more - and just a 20-minute drive from Benidorm. Postiguet Beach in Alicante always has a vibrant atmosphere The neighborhood of El Barrio in Alicante's old town is worth a visit The village of Altea has picturesque white facades and boutiques to explore Javea, also on the Costa Blanca, is one of the region's best places to visit - with bars, restaurants, a pretty old town, the gorgeous Arenal Beach, sand dunes and rocky coves. Cala Blanca and Granadella are also popular beaches in the area. But Trevor favours La Caleta, which he says is devoid of the mass crowds of tourists. And what are his rules for ensuring a perfect holiday? First, avoid driving where possible. Secondly, stay in hotels rather than Airbnbs - to give properties local priority. Thirdly, don't visit in summer when it's too hot - go at any other time of year. And finally, embrace the fact you're a tourist. It's clear that travel to Spain is on the rise, with its popularity soaring as both a holiday destination and big draw for expats. So much so that Brits are expressing record-breaking interest in moving to Spain, with many looking to ditch the dreary UK weather and chase a better lifestyle abroad. Internet searches for 'move to Spain' shot up a whopping 40 per cent in February. The recent surge in interest is the third highest peak in the past five years. And Alicante proved to have the highest amount of property owned by expats in new research looking into 50 different Spanish cities and regions. The sunny spot boasts plenty of English-speaking services and has mild winters, affordable properties and is by the coast - making it a great destination for Brits to move to or visit. It has a vibrant expat community and good transport links for those who might want to return to the UK to visit family and friends - with an international airport and good trains. Millions of Brits jet off on holiday over the Easter break, with many hoping to catch some sun and enjoy good weather. After weeks of rain, and summer still a few months away, it might be more important than ever for holidaymakers to find the perfect sunny destination. Fortunately, new research analysing historic rainfall, wind speeds and mean temperatures of over 150 locations has revealed the European hotspots to head to. Turkey proved to be the best, with average temps of 18C, low wind speeds and minimal rainfall in previous years. It is also the destination with the lowest amount of rainfall during the Easter holiday months - a mere 0.01mm. Out of the 150 destinations analysed, Turkey proved to be the best for the Easter holidays, with average temps of 18C, low wind speeds and minimal rainfall in previous years Overall, it bagged 9.04 out of 10 in TUI's ideal weather score. One of TUI's travel agents, Abbie Watkinson, previously explained how Turkey continues to be the winner for families and couples seeking five-star experiences without the premium price tag. With stunning Mediterranean and Aegean coastlines, and exceptional all-inclusive packages, Abbie says it's no surprise her customers consistently turn to Turkey for good bargains especially with average temperatures hitting 25 degrees in May and staying nice and high all the way to September, when it's still around 30 degrees. She adds: 'Lots of the resorts out there have family-friendly facilities and kids' clubs my personal top pick would be the Platinum Rixos Sungate. 'You get free access to the Land of Legends theme park and it's also got its own waterpark with 13 flumes! There are also 13 bars in the hotel. so everyone in the family will be happy.' Greece ranked second in the research, with an average temperature of around 15C over Easter. The dreamy destination sees minimal rain too, with just 0.03mm of rainfall during the Easter months. Bulgaria followed in third place, with 0.43mm of rainfall and average temperatures of 15C. Elsewhere, Spain and Croatia ranked fourth and fifth - boasting 15C and 17C sunny days. Greece ranked second in the research, with an average temperature of around 15C over Easter The best destinations for good weather during your Easter break Turkey Greece Bulgaria Spain Croatia Italy Hungary Portugal Montenegro Gibraltar Natalie Johnson, product and proposition manager for TUI Holiday Villages, explained how Easter is 'one of the smartest times of the year to travel' because of the decent weather and prices. She said: 'With milder temperatures and lower prices than peak summer, it's the perfect moment for a memorable, and affordable, getaway. 'Our analysis highlights where families are most likely to find the most reliable and enjoyable weather for an Easter getaway, from Turkey's pleasantly warm and calm conditions to Greece's sun soaked beaches. 'Whether families are seeking gentle warmth, guaranteed sunshine, or just anything but rain, there are plenty of options to make a 2026 Easter holiday both relaxing and memorable.' A popular cafe in Budapest, known as the 'most beautiful in the world', has been criticised by visitors for its high prices, which include a grilled ham and cheese sandwich for 16.50 (14.25) and rather measly salads for 21.50 (18.55). The New York Cafe, situated in the five-star Anantara New York Palace Budapest Hotel, is renowned as one of the world's most beautiful coffee houses thanks to its ornate, Italian-Renaissance decor. Inside, guests can tuck into gourmet cuisine or sip cappuccinos surrounded by live music and stunning interiors marked by high ceilings, marble columns, crystal chandeliers, and intricate gold accents. However, an increasing number of guests have blasted the establishment for charging customers an 'extortionate' amount for basic menu items, such as salads, soups, sandwiches, water and hot beverages. The New York Cafe, in the five-star Anantara New York Palace Budapest Hotel, offers 24-carat New York hot chocolate for 15.50 euros (13) As for food, visitors can tuck into classics like a Grilled Chicken New York Caesar Salad for 23 euros (19.85) In the cafe's online PDF menu, a range of dishes are displayed alongside their prices. Among these offerings are a 24-carat gold New York DUBAI Hot Chocolate (15.50/13), Layered Hungarian Potato with Bacon and Cheese (26/22), New York Caesar Salad with Chicken (21.50/18.55) and a 750ml mineral water (13/11). On TikTok, a British visitor who goes by @melika_zaidi playfully renamed the cafe the 'most expensive in the world' after dropping by for a cup of peppermint tea that arrived in a miniature teapot and with an equally miniature cookie for 10. While documenting her experience in a video, she said: 'I'm actually in shock it was 10. It's nice, but it's not worth 10.' Meanwhile, Budapest-obsessed Anastasia, who runs the TikTok account @budapest_insider, gave a scathing review of the cafe whilst capturing a long line of visitors outside the building in another video. She wrote: 'POV: you're queueing for an Instagram post and a side of disappointment'. In a third clip, avid traveller @bettitoursbudapest advised her followers to visit the cafe - which she described as a 'typically overpriced place' - for its decor alone. She added: 'It is very expensive and the quality of food is nothing that special It's worth seeing the design of the places. I would recommend buying drink, taking few pictures and then leave!' Members of the Best of Budapest Facebook group were also left divided over the cafe's pricing, with some citing significant price hikes compared to previous visits. Visitors have praised the cafe's luxurious interiors but criticised its 'extortionate' prices One member, who goes by JA Kovacs, recalled of their April 2025 trip: 'It's a tourist trap with expensive but average food in a pretty building. My hot chocolate was pretty good, but it wasn't 12 Euros good. The pricing for such basic food is wild.' Others chimed in, with one former visitor adding: 'It was on my bucket list but everyone we talked to said the food was mediocre at best and very expensive. It was crowded and noisy. We saw the beautiful architecture, took a photo and walked out.' A second, agreeing, warned: 'It's not a bit pricy, it's VERY pricy! I almost fell off the chair when I received the bill 2 years ago, even though I live in one of the most expensive countries in Europe...' A third said: 'We went to the New York cafe in September last year. Beautiful place but the service was terrible - we walked out! We heard the table behind us complaining too.' Another added: 'I did enjoy my visit there however I agree. The prices were horrendous. Ive never paid so much for a dessert in my life and sadly I ended up seated in a side room that was not decorated.' The coffee house is famed for its decadent desserts and viral hot chocolate - which can cost as much as 15.50/13 for a single serving Opened in 1894, the New York Cafe served as a famous gathering place for writers, poets and newspaper editors at the turn of the 20th century. Following World War II, the cafe fell into disrepair and operated as a sporting goods store until it was reopened in 1954. Today, hundreds of visitors pour into the cafe each day, hoping to marvel at its breathtaking design and sample some of its specialties, such as Hungarian Hot Plate, Beef Cheek with Hungarian sour cabbage, and its viral New York Hot Chocolate. But, for those who simply want to marvel at the decor and avoid the food, one person who's been a few times suggests simply walking into the Anantara hotel courtyard. They added: 'You can see the cafe from there for free if you just want to look.' The Daily Mail has contacted the New York Cafe for further comment. Phuket International Airport has been forced to temporarily close its runway after an Air India Express plane landed nose-first on the tarmac, sustaining damage in the process. The Boeing 737 MAX operating flight IX938, which had departed from Hyderabad, India, made a hard landing at the Thai airport on Wednesday, 11 March, damaging the aircraft's nose landing gear. All 133 passengers - including two infants - and seven crew members on board were left unharmed, and were safely evacuated from the plane, according to local reports. Airport officials said the aircraft touched down at 11.24am local time ahead of its scheduled arrival time of 11.40am. Preliminary inspections indicated the aircraft made a hard landing, which left the plane unable to immediately taxi off the runway. Videos and photos taken by bystanders near the airport show the plane flying closely overhead before 'bouncing' onto the tarmac, as one Russian onlooked exclaimed: 'Wow, that plane really bounced!' An Air India Express plane landed nose-first on the runway at Phuket International Airport, resulting in the temporary closure of the runway The hard landing caused damaged to the aircraft, including to its nose landing gear Initial reports suggested the issue may have been linked to a detached wheel, believed to have resulted from the heavy landing. Due to the damaged aircraft coming to rest on the runway, airport officials have been prompted to temporarily suspend flight operations. Phuket International Airport has since issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) announcing a temporary runway closure until 6pm local time, while crews work to remove the aircraft and carry out safety inspections. With airport operations halted, inbound flights have been required to hold in nearby airspace while others have been diverted to alternate airports, including Krabi (KBV) and Bangkok (BKK), according to Nation Thailand. British passengers were among those delayed as a result of the incident, as well as passengers heading to and from Russia. According to reports, airport lounges were 'crammed full' of travellers due to delays, as one passenger complained to E2W News: 'Our flight is delayed nine hours'. As reported by Business Standard, Air India said in a statement: 'We confirm that our Hyderabad-Phuket flight on March 11 experienced an issue with the nose wheel at Phuket Airport. The crew followed all standard protocols, and guests were deplaned.' Travellers are urged to checked their flight status directly with airlines before arriving to the airport. The problem has been reportedly linked to a detached wheel, believed to have resulted from the hard landing Air India, ranked as one of the world's worst airlines for over a decade, has been embroiled in a long history of tragic disasters over the years. In June 2025, one of the airline's planes suffered a crash that claimed the lives of 270 people - the carrier's highest ever death toll from an accident. Gatwick-bound Flight AI171, which was carrying 242 passengers, including 53 British nationals, crashed moments after take-off from Ahmedabad Airport in the northwestern Indian state of Gujarat. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner smashed into the densely populated Meghani area of the city after losing power at 625ft. All but one sole survivor on the plane died. The Indian national airline has, in its nearly 90-year history, endured some of the industry's most dramatic incidents - including several crashes, a hijacking and a devastating terrorist bomb attack. The airline's first major accident came in 1947, according to research by Britannica, 15 years after the brand took to the skies. On December 27th, close to Karachi in Pakistan, a Mumbai-bound Douglas C-48C (DC-3) aircraft, carrying 23 passengers, crashed into Korangi Creek, killing all of those on board. The accident was deemed the result of possible instrument failure and poor visibility. On January 1, 1978, all 213 passengers perished when the first Boeing jumbo jet Air India had ever bought came down eight years later after taking off from Mumbai en route to Dubai. Instrument failure was blamed for the accident, which saw the 747 aircraft plummet into the Arabian Sea. And in June 1985, 329 people were killed on Air India flight 182 after a bomb placed in the aircraft's hold exploded off the coast of Ireland. British travellers are cancelling holidays to Cyprus as fears grow over the Iran war - despite officials saying the island remains safe to visit. The popular Mediterranean hotspot, which welcomed four million international visitors in 2025, relies heavily on tourism from the UK, with British travellers making up around a third of arrivals. However, its location in the far eastern Mediterranean, just 100 miles from the coast of Lebanon and Syria in the Middle East, means the country is seeing a decline in its usual visitor numbers as regional instability grows. Concerns have mounted after the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the US and Israel led to heightened tensions across the Middle East and surrounding areas. A drone launched by a pro-Iranian militia recently struck the British military base at RAF Akrotiri, located in the Western Sovereign Base Area, on 2 March, placing the island closer to the regional security situation. British travellers are cancelling holidays to Cyprus as concerns grow over the conflict in the Middle East (Pictured: a woman walks on a beach near RAF Akrotiri, a British sovereign base in Cyprus) The entrance of RAF Akrotiri, a British sovereign base in Cyprus, which was hit by an unmanned drone overnight in March Numerous flights to and from Cyprus have been cancelled since the drone incident -including 36 today alone, according to the Cyprus Mail. And this uncertainty has reportedly led tourists to reconsider their holiday plans, with locals worried about the potential impact of the conflict, especially with the Easter holidays approaching. Local business owner Vassilis Georgiou told the Guardian that people are 'thinking twice' about visiting. He added: 'It may be early days but Ive been here since 1992 and suddenly hoteliers are saying bookings are down.' One establishment told the i Paper they were 'about 10 per cent behind' on hotel bookings in April compared to last year. Foto Kikillos, a representative from Ayia Napa's town hall, added: 'Were hearing of cancellations.' However, he was cautious to add: 'Life here is very safe. People are enjoying themselves. 'The last thing we want in Cyprus is to be dragged into this war.' The UK Foreign Office doesn't currently have Cyprus on its no-fly list. Its current travel advice for the island is: 'Regional escalation poses significant security risks and has led to travel disruption.' Pictured: A person sits on a scooter next to the gate at RAF Akrotiri, a British sovereign base that was hit by a drone early on 2 March, causing limited damage Civil defence officers are seen in Akrotiri village next to RAF Akrotiri The Cyprus Peace Council has since organised a protest against the presence of British Bases in Cyprus because they involve Cyprus in the war with Iran To help protect Cyprus from future Iranian attacks, the UK sent a Royal Navy warship, HMS Dragon this week. On 10 March, the Type 45 destroyer left Portsmouth, a week after it was ordered to get ready to head to the Mediterranean. It comes after Britain faced the embarrassment of France and other EU and Nato states stepping in to send ships to defend the island after a drone strike on RAF Akrotiri 10 days ago. But the ship could still take a week to arrive on station, while a French aircraft carrier and other European naval vessels are already in position around the island. The crew of the vessel were seen lining the deck as the ship moved out of Portsmouth Harbour on Tuesday. Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more Cat Deeley took to to This Morning in one of spring's biggest fashion trends - and we've found the exact blouse, and an alternative, that's still in stock. The ITV daytime show sees the 49-year-old and co-host Ben Shephard, 50, interview a range of celebrity guests and familiar faces during the week. Cat is no stranger to sporting a chic look for her time in front of the camera, sharing the details her outfit for her adoring fans on social media. And this week, she made sure to keep right on trend with a polka dotted blouse, which she paired with some chic black jeans and a pair of boots. The 100% silk shirt is one of the silhouettes fashionistas are saying is back in this spring, so it's lucky for fans that the original look is still available to purchase. While it's a little more on the expensive side, there's also a lower-budget alternative out there for savyy shoppers to get their hands on. Cat was seen posing on her social media in the Boden Sara Silk Shirt, which comes in a variety of colours including the chic beige and blue she opted for. The 100% silk garment is available in a huge range of sizes, from 4 to 22, and is still available in both petite and regular length, with 'long' now sold out. Described as 'the top equivalent of an LBD' and a 'real classic' the shirt is designed to fall just above the hip. It's priced at 139 - and aside from the popular polka-dotted pattern. A similar shirt is available to purchase at Marks and Spencer - their Printed Collared Shirt comes in a cream and light brown variety. Stocking in sizes 6 to 20 - the shirt is currently priced at 26, and is also available in both petite and regular varieties to fit a range of body types. Cat paired her look with some jeans from Donna Ida, a London denim-based fashion brand - which are currently on sale online for 245. The Minnie style jean, which has a signature wide-leg flared style, features patch front pockets and a statement A-line leg. There is a single pocket on the back of the jean, as well as side-fastening hardware to pull the trousers in at the waistline. The jeans are currently available in waist sizes 23 to 34, and in a variety of different shades of blue, white and grey. For those looking for an alternative on a budget, Marks and Spencers are also stocking a wide-leg jean - for just 55. The Autograph look is available in sizes 10 to 24, and comes in short, regular and long to fit wearers leg length. It comes after Alison Hammond took to This Morning in an on-trend denim dress. Luckily for fans, while the original dress is quickly selling out quickly online on both the Monsoon and Marks and Spencer's sites, there are other alternatives also available to wear. From other M&S looks to River Island, we've got the rundown of similar styles that will keep you on trend like Alison's look. The Monsoon Erin Zip Denim Midi Dress in denim blue is currently priced at 80 on their website - and available to buy in all sizes from 8 through to 24. The website describes it as 'capsule wardrobe-worthy', adding: 'Primed for wearing the whole year round, this denim midi dress is designed with a long zip on the bodice and three-quarter sleeves that allow you to show off your wrist-stack. 'Dipped in a dark wash, it's complete with two oversized pockets and a flowy mid-length hem.' The dress, which is made from 92 per cent cotton, is also available for 85 on the M&S website, but is only available in sizes 8 and 22 where it has been selling out fast. It's been met with a series of rave reviews from fans who have already purchased the number, who have called it 'flattering and high quality'. One shopper revealed: 'Generous fit, lovely A-line shape. Really recommend. A touch of stretch too helps it fit nicely and pockets are a bonus!' Another agreed: 'Beautiful dress this is now my second denim dress from Monsoon. Has some stretch so true to size.' Similar styles are also available elsewhere online, with Mint Velvet stocking their own version of the denim look with the Indigo Denim Zip Midi Dress. The crew neckline and short puff sleeved dress is currently on sale online for 85 - down from 140 - and is only left in a size 8. Meanwhile, Next are also stocking a midi denim dress - this time with a belted middle to cinch the waist and create an hourglass silhoutte. The Love & Roses Rinse Blue Denim Lace Trim Midi Dress is priced at 64, and is available to buy in sizes 8, 10, 14, 16, 18 and 22. One happy shopper said after purchasing the item: 'This is a lovely denim dress, the fabric is not stiff, it falls beautifully. 'The poppers hold securely and there is no gaping in the chest area. I get lots of compliments when I wear it.' River Island have also hopped on the trend, with their Blue Denim Short Sleeve Seamed Midi Dress - which is priced at 56. The number is still available in sizes 8 to 16, with only low stock left in a size 22. It comes after Cat Deeley took to This Morning in a chic full length skirt in a popular animal print design that quickly began flying off the shelves. The Mint Velvet skirt, which is now sold out in all sizes on the John Lewis site, is still available to buy for 99 on the Next website. The machine-washable skirt, which is made from polyester, features a neutral tone animal print design, with a high waistband and A-line design. While it's selling out quickly, the skirt is still available in sizes 6, 12, 14, and 16. For those looking for a different size, or another high street alternative, Mango are also stocking their own animal-print long skirt design. The Leopard Midi Skirt is currently on sale, down to 22.95 from 35.99, and available in sizes XS to XL - with free delivery to your nearest store. Crafted from lightweight fabric, the skirt is ideal for the transition from spring to summer as the UK weather starts to warm up. Elsewhere, New Look currently have a mega 69% price reduction on their animal printed midi skirt, which features a brown printed design. It's selling quickly, only left in a size 6 and 26, but is at a bargain price of 9. ASOS are also stocking a version of the skirt, a Miss Selfridge design, and on sale from 27.99, down to 23.79. Available in sizes 4 and 6, the machine washable fashion item features a high-rise cut, with an elasticated waistband for comfort. The Crew Clothing company's Rowen Satin Slip Midi Skirt in Brown Leopard Print, is still in stock in all sizes from 6 to 18. Priced at 35, the skirt is also currently on sale, down from 59. The silky, elegant skirt features a flattering A-line cut, with an elastic waist for comfort - with the website detailing it as 'perfect for heels of flats'. It's not the only skirt worn by Cat that has got viewers talking, as over Christmas, she caused a stir with a long white pleated skirt. The ME+EM skirt, which features a side split and pleated detailing, is still on sale for 250 on the outlet's website - but sizes are running out fast. The crepe material drop-waist look is only available in size 10, having sold out in sizes 6, 8, 12, 14, 16 and 18 since its debut on the website. ME+EM offer multiple different delivery options - including a speedy delivery for those looking to wear it immediately. But for those looking for a different size, or a high street alternative, Next are now stocking their own version of the look - and it comes in two colours. The two-piece set, which features both a cream and a black pleated chiffon skirt, is priced at just 44, and is available in all sizes from extra small to extra large. Savvy shoppers who have already purchased the set, which Next say is best paired with 'a blouse', have gushed over the look as 'comfortable' and 'great value'. There are also similar versions available at ASOS for 36, Reiss at 158 and Karen Millen for 159.20 - on sale from 199. This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1 and ITVX She's been at the centre of the Netflix drama since its debut six years ago but now, Lady Whistledown, at least as audiences have known her, has retired. The most recent series of the hit regency drama Bridgerton, which returned to screens earlier this year, saw Nicola Coughlan's Lady Penelope waving goodbye to her post as the resident ton gossip columnist, Lady Whistledown. But as the fourth season came to a close, viewers were left delighted when the writer's voice rung out again signalling a new writer taking over. 'Are you perhaps feeling a little shock?' the new Whistledown, voiced by Julie Andrews, said. 'You thought I was gone for good, but far too much transpires for this author to remain silent. 'It is assuredly a reunion rooted in care and love. Though this time with a very different author.' The identity of the mystery new writer has so far been kept under wraps, but it hasn't stopped the show's huge fandom from making their guesses at the identity. She's been at the centre of the Netflix drama since its debut six years ago but now, Nicola Coughlan's Penelope, aka Lady Whistledown, has retired Fans of Bridgerton have been speculating as to who will be the next author of the Lady Whistledown column, including the Queen (pictured: Golda Rosheuvel and Adjoa Andoh) Dozens of viewers have pointed out that the new Lady Whistledown is speaking more colloquially than before, perhaps pointing to a lower-class author. While others have hinted at the head of society herself, Queen Charlotte, and her band of ladies-in-waiting given she did admit she loves a good gossip, and might know exactly what her subjects want to hear. Nonetheless, the slight change in voice has had the Ton talking, with one fan taking to social media to write: 'I don't quite have the vocabulary to describe this but Julie Andrews' narration sounds completely different at the end of Season 4...' Another agreed: 'It's to play on the fact that a new Whistledown is taking over!' Here, we run down some of the most popular fan theories, and what evidence there is to back them up after season four came to an end. Hyacinth Bridgerton Surprisingly, of all the people who were upset to see Penelope wave goodbye to her much-loved gossip column, it was Hyacinth, played by Florence Hunt, who was most distressed by the news. The youngest Bridgerton sister has been busy preparing for her debut in the most recent season, and with Lady Whistledown retiring, nobody would be writing about her first entry into society. She also happens to tick some of the boxes, being curious, observant and clearly wowed by the glamorous social games of the ton. Fans have speculated it could be Hyacinth (right, played by Florence Hunt) who takes over Lady Penwood To escape marriage to a wealthy elderly man, the new Lady Penwood, known better by fans as Cressida Cowper, wed a distant relative of the late Lord Penwood. And in order to re-insert herself into society, Cressida and her husband moved back into London in the Penwood residence, hoping to gain favour, influence and relevance again through the Lady Whistledown column. It didn't go too well, with Penelope instead using her final column to announce her departure rather than heap praise on Cressida as she might have hoped. It would make her the perfect candidate to want to take over in order to re-shape the way society sees her after her time away from the ton. Mrs Varley Featherington housekeeper Mrs Varley is already on top of all the gossip floating about the ton meeting with other housekeepers at the market to exchange stories about their household. Season four highlighted just how good Varley is at keeping secrets, as she was seen battling it out with Araminta Gun over the whereabouts of her step-daughter, Sophie. Fans appear to be behind Varley's rise in society, with one writing: 'They had the storyline about how she knows all the gossip, and that she hasn't been paid enough.' But, if one thing is for certain, having a gossip column is a full-time job something the working classes might struggle with on the side of their already busy lives. Featherington housekeeper Mrs Varley is already on top of all the gossip floating about the ton Alice Mondrich She's already been working for the Queen trying to find out information about Benedict Bridgerton and Sophie Baek on her behalf since her new rise in society, becoming one of the ladies-in-waiting. Now, Alice could capitalise on her ability to find out the juicy details about one of the ton's most famous families while keeping herself busy. It's no secret that Alice hasn't exactly enjoyed her and her husband's rise in society, and finds being a lady-in-waiting a little boring, so it could provide the perfect outlet. One Reddit user reacted: 'She stated that simply being a lady in waiting was boring for her, so her writing about gossip would keep the Queen and her entertained.' The Queen Who better to write a gossip column than the one woman who admitted that she loves a good gossip? That's at least what fans are theorising. Queen Charlotte initially outright refused to let Penelope end the column when she was first approached with the idea, and there was no shortage of conversation about how much a good gossip means to her. And if it's not one of her ladies-in-waiting, or her trusty footman Brimsley, doing it themselves, they certainly could help her Majesty remain undercover. One fan said: 'I can see the Queen taking this on as a new project to keep herself occupied and entertained on her own terms, like the real puppet master she is.' Fans have also theorised the Queen could be behind Lady Whistledown's new iteration It comes after Bridgerton fans have called out a blink-and-you'll-miss-it blunder just minutes into Netflix's hotly anticipated fourth series of their Regency era drama. Eagle-eyed viewers took to social media after spotting the costume mistake as one character donned a very modern item alongside her period costume. Taking to TikTok, one Bridgerton fan zoomed closely on a shot of Katie Leung, who plays Lady Araminta Gun, the former Lady Penwood, in the series to reveal her wearing a plaster. The actress, who is best known for her role as Cho Chang in the Harry Potter franchise, had the flesh-toned plaster placed over a cartilage piercing in her ear. Covering the piercing, the plaster was noticeable thanks to the lighting in the moment, where Lady Penwood met with Lady Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell) to ask whether her son Benedict (Luke Thompson) was looking for a suitor. Joined by her two daughters, played by Michelle Mao and Isabella Wei, in the shot, fans took to social media to reveal the blunder. Bridgerton fans have called out a blink-and-you'll-miss-it blunder just minutes into Netflix's hotly anticipated fourth series of their Regency era drama One TikTok user penned, nodding towards show gossip columnist Lady Whistledown: 'Dearest Gentle Readers, bandaids in this era? The ton want to know!' Another replied to the video: 'Can someone explain what it is?' to which the poster continued: 'Earring covering, I saw her piercing on Instagram.' 'This is literally the problem with ultra HD TVs and cameras,' someone else pointed out, as a fourth penned: 'As an actor, it's wild to not take your piercing out to film.' 'I wish they had covered it better like put a fancy ear cuff up there or something,' another viewer suggested, as one wrote: 'Okay, so I wasn't crazy when I saw that?' Bridgerton set pulses racing once again as Benedict and Sophie Baek's love story was put front and centre in the fourth series last month. Bridgerton is available to stream on Netflix now. Mistress Dispeller: Storyville (BBC4) Rating: Reality TV is generally anything but real. Staged with prewritten dialogue, featuring vain posers who are already celebrities in their own little heads, it's a festival of fakeness. The Chinese do things differently. An extraordinary documentary by filmmaker Elizabeth Lo took us deep into the home life of an ordinary middleaged couple, Mr and Mrs Li, whose marriage was on the point of falling apart. A caption at the start of this 90minute film noted that nothing was scripted or reenacted. The camera simply watched unobtrusively from the sidelines, from the moment Mrs Li decided to engage a Mistress Dispeller called Wang Zhenxi - the SAS of marriage guidance counsellors. 'I can imagine an affair happening in any family except my own,' said Mrs Li, the mother of an adolescent daughter. 'My husband and I used to be so close. Now it feels like there's an invisible sheet of paper between us.' Mr Li, a man of about 50 with the puffy face of a heavy drinker, was not a master of subterfuge. He'd started staying out late every night, and he had a habit of leaving his phone lying around. When his wife saw a message from an unknown woman, urging him to wear long johns during cold weather, she guessed the truth. Wang Zhenxi in 'Mistress Dispeller' she is the SAS of marriage guidance counsellors Who but his lover, Mrs Li fretted, would discuss something as intimate as thermal underwear with a married man? She spoke in Mandarin Chinese, of course, and the whole show was subtitled. From the opening shots, as Mrs Li sat in the hairdresser's chair with tears coursing down her face, this entire film was both an insight into a distant, very different culture, and an act of engrossing voyeurism. Luoyang, a city roughly halfway between Wuhan and Beijing, is a mass of highrise grey concrete, with tower blocks like storage facilities crammed with tiny apartments. Spoiler alert of the night: Roving detective Ellis (Ch5), played by Sharon D. Clarke, recited the plot of The Godfather to her sidekick, DS Harper (Andrew Gower), as she explained to him how to solve a murder. Make your suspect an offer he can't refuse, perhaps? Single people looking for love write their profiles and their romantic ideals on sheets of paper blue for the men, pink for the ladies and peg them to clotheslines in the park. It's literally 'online dating'. Mr Li's girlfriend was a desperately lonely woman in her 30s named Fei Fei. She met him as she buzzed around Luoyang on her moped, making frozen food deliveries. Her tactics for seduction were straightforward and effective: lots of flattery, lots of affection, lots of alcohol. In a rare poetic moment, as he confessed to the affair, Mr Li described the attraction: 'With my wife, it's living. With the girl, it's more like spending time in the sun.' The 'mistress dispeller', Ms Wang, introduced herself to Mr Li as a new friend of his wife and, over a bowl of shrimp soup, told him to buck his ideas up. Then, claiming to be Mr Li's cousin, she met Fei Fei and gave the unhappy woman her marching orders. None of them argued. In China, disobedience is unacceptable. But infidelity, it seems, is universal. A BBC dating show with a celebrity presenter has been axed after four series on air amid 'funding challenges' - with fans left gutted. Presented by Dannii Minogue, I Kissed A Boy launched in 2023 and was the first matchmaking programme for gay singles. A year later, the show returned as I Kissed A Girl - which featured exclusively lesbian and bisexual women - before reverting back to men in 2025. According to The Sun, I Kissed A Girl will air one final series, before both iterations are retired. A BBC spokesman told the publication: 'We are exceptionally proud of I Kissed A Boy/Girl, the UKs first show for the LGBTQ+ community. 'We would like to thank our fabulous cupid Dannii Minogue and the entire team at Twofour for bringing the series to screen. A popular BBC dating show has been axed after four years - with its host expressing gratitude for the experience I Kissed A Boy launched on screens in 2023 and was the first matchmaking programme for gay singles 'Unfortunately, we have to make difficult choices in light of our funding challenges and there are no current plans for the show to return.' Taking to X, one viewer posted: 'This is terrible. You had to sacrifice the one show that is the only representation for gay people? Shaaame.' Another added: 'NOOOOOOO!!!!!!! Another good show going.' A third chimed in: 'Aw gutted I love these.' Addressing the decision, Dannii, 54, thanked the BBC and Twofour Productions for involving her in 'such a powerful and important show'. Writing online, viewers shared their disappointment over the decision She continued: 'Im so proud the show has given us the chance to celebrate so many people from the LGBTQ+ community, who made up our cast. 'I cant wait for you to see the brand new series of I Kissed A Girl, bringing all the excitement and joy that this show represents.' Dannii concluded by describing the show as 'the most special experience' across her almost 40 years of television - praising the 'integrity' and 'love and care'. Filming for the programmes took place in Italy - unlike Love Island, which uses Spain and South Africa. Speaking at the series launch for I Kissed A Girl in 2024, Dannii said: 'This is so important. 'There hasn't been a show for the girls in the reality gay dating world. It's like we need this to happen. I'm hoping that there are parties up and down the country.' Reflecting on both iterations, host Dannii said: 'Im so proud the show has given us the chance to celebrate so many people from the LGBTQ+ community, who made up our cast' The presenter also revealed she identifies as queer herself after the girls in the series made it clear they fancy the Australian in the first episode. She declared: 'I identify as queer in a weird way.' As one contestant, Amy from Surrey, commented that Dannii is 'just my type', Danni was asked if she is too attracted to women. Laughing in the episode, Dannii replied: 'You girls are hot. You know it. I love it. I'm here for it. Is that an answer?' She added: 'You girls are so brave and amazing and have brought so much to it. I could never do what you have done. 'I will always be in awe of what has happened and what we've created. I feel so proud. 'You're stepping forward, and you're the first crew of girls representing in this space, and it is big.' Love Island: All Stars' Whitney Adebayo has revealed the moment Maya Jama stepped in and banned show producers from airing drama during the finale. The ITV2 dating show contestant revealed exactly what got cut from the tense concluding episode, which hit screens last month. Whitney, 28, who came fifth in the most recent series alongside Yamen Sanders, spoke about how host Maya, 31, defended her during the episode. She heaped praise on Maya for 'having her best interests at heart' when she told ITV producers to cut out some of the drama during the episode. Whitney joined fellow former Love Island star Tyrique Hyde in a social media video when she explained what went down aside from what viewers saw. She explained in the video, according to The Sun: 'What I appreciate about Maya, she didnt have to do this by the way. Love Island: All Stars' Whitney Adebayo has revealed the moment Maya Jama stepped in and BANNED show producers from airing the finale drama She heaped praise on Maya for 'having her best interests at heart' when she told ITV producers to cut out some of the drama during the episode 'Maya went out of her way to pull me aside, tell me the questions and help me respond in a way that like...' Tyrique then chimed in to ask: 'Wait so youre saying before Maya asked you that question, she pulled you to the side and briefed you?' Whitney continued to explain: 'Yes, so Maya did that. I think they wanted to show some clips on the live, Maya said "No were not doing that". 'Like she actually had my best interests at heart. I get that questions need to be asked its a show but obviously I have other reality TV PTSD so I appreciated that about her. 'She took out some questions as well.' Fans were quick to react to the video, taking to the comments to praise Maya for taking the initiative to protect Whitney in the final episode. One penned: 'Maya has more clout shes the presenter. Also been doing this for years. Glad she said no to a clip,' as another said: 'Maya a real one.' 'Very sweet of Maya she understands how these rabid fans work and knows the mental health of these contestants is far more important,' a third added. It comes after Love Island All Stars winner Samie Elishi has hit back at co-star Lucinda Stafford's 'bullying' claims, insisting it is not true. Lucinda, 26, had a rocky time in the villa and often clashed with Samie, 26, Belle Hassan, 28, and Jessy Potts, 27. Since leaving the South African villa, Lucinda has appeared on Paul C. Brunson's We Need To Talk podcast and claimed she felt 'bullied' by some of the girls, which led to her being 'isolated' from the group. Hitting back at Lucinda's claims, Samie told the Daily Mail: 'Some of the stuff that is being said is so bizarre, like the bully accusations, they are not true. 'Every Love Islander that has gone on a podcast since the show has said categorically no one got bullied and obviously the show wouldn't go on if there was. 'That stuff is hard to hear, but you've got to move on, like I know what kind of person I am.' Love Island All Stars winner Samie Elishi has hit back at co-star Lucinda Stafford's 'bullying' claims, insisting it is not true Since leaving the South African villa, 26-year-old Lucinda has appeared on Paul C. Brunson's We Need To Talk podcast and claimed she felt 'bullied' by some of the girls Speaking at Carmex's Sip & Paint event at Jumeirah Carlton Tower hotel on Tuesday, Samie revealed she is still in contact with all of her Love Island co-stars, other than Lucinda. Since leaving the villa, the pair have unfollowed each other on social media and have made it clear they are no longer friends. Samie added: 'I'm a firm believer that everyone is entitled to their own opinions and that is fair because I've got my own opinion and I want people to respect it. 'At the end of the day, my morals are so strong and I know the truth. I know my truth and the people that I'm close to, their truth, and that's all that matters. 'We lived it, we know what went on.' Samie won the third series of Love Island All Stars with partner Ciaran Davies, 23. The influencer admitted she was ready to leave the villa, as it had become more 'intense' than enjoyable. 'It was getting really intense and just not a very nice environment towards the end. As soon as we left, it was just like we could breathe again,' she explained. The girls fell out when Lucinda, who was appearing on Love Island for the fourth time, picked Ciaran to couple up with after she arrived as a bombshell. Tensions only worsened during a game of Snog, Marry, Pie, when Lucinda chose to pie Samie with 'full force,' which Samie described as feeling like a 'slap in the face'. Lucinda also found herself at loggerheads with Belle over Sean Stone, 26, and Jessy, who claimed she was putting on a 'fake baby voice'. Samie won Love Island All Stars third series with Ciaran Davies. The influencer admitted she was ready to leave the villa, as it had become more 'intense' than enjoyable On one episode, Lucinda stormed off in tears after a huge showdown and host Maya Jama had to step in to comfort her, sparking over 8,500 complaints in one night. Fellow islander Whitney Adebayo, 28, later asked Lucinda whether she felt she was being bullied, to which she replied that she hadn't been. Lucinda has since backtracked during her appearance on the We Need To Talk podcast. When host Paul gave the definition of bullying as 'when you have someone who has been antagonised, typically multiple times, but that person is on the lower end of a power imbalance', Lucinda said: 'Well that was exactly what it was. 'It was like I had in that moment when I was talking to Maya, I genuinely had no one to look to at all, apart from Sean. There wasn't one single person in there that I felt like was my friend. It was literally just Sean. 'And even that night I went to sleep. I didn't want to talk to anyone. I woke up the next morning. I looked around the bedroom and I was like, there's no one to even talk to. This isn't fun.' Despite her third stint on Love Island being a tense experience, Samie remains a huge fan of the ITV2 dating show and has no regrets. She explained: 'The fact that I've won is like the craziest thing in the world. I can't fathom it, but I love the show and I'll keep watching it forever. 'It still blows my mind that people know who I am. They are just amazing and it is the best to receive lovely messages.' Samie joined fellow Love Island stars Lauren Wood, Olivia Hawkins, Kaz Kamwi, and Gabby Allen for a dinner with Carmex on Tuesday. Celebrity make-up artists Anna Lingis and Lielle Neury had makeup stations where guests could be seated and Carmex was applied. Love Island: All Stars is available to stream on ITVX. Netflix fans have been granted behind-the-scenes access to tense therapy sessions between failing couples in their new series, Blue Therapy. The series kickstarted with a bang after its upload to the streaming site last week, as a woman learned her husband had been lying to her for months about going to work, and wracked up thousands of pounds of debt in the process. Blue Therapy will follow seven couples as they move out of their comfort zones and onto the therapist's couch to try and work through their relationship issues. Married coupled Yasmin and Mike were one of the first pairs to sit down with relationships therapist Karen Doherty in the debut episode of the new series. It was money troubles that was starting to come between the duo, before they took the decision to seek help from Karen on the show, sharing the background of their issues in a tense chat. Mike left his wife shocked when he revealed he was struggling so much with money that his debt had doubled in recent months, from 6,000 to 12,000. A woman learned her husband had been lying to her for MONTHS as she appeared on Blue Therapy Mike left his wife shocked when he revealed he was struggling so much with money that his debt had doubled in recent months, from 6,000 to 12,000 But it wasn't his quickly amounting debt that was most shocking to Yasmin, who was left completely furious when she discovered Mike had been lying. He said: 'Remember I told you that I had a reshuffle at work, and they had been moving people at round and all the rest of it... I've been made redundant. 'It's been two months. It's embarrassing to say but Ill dress up like Im going to work. We leave the house around the same time, and then Ill literally circle round. 'And as long as shes gone to work, Ill just circle back home.' 'I just feel completely and utterly blindsided,' Yasmin reacted, putting her head in her hands. 'Hes been living another life, just lying to me. I can't even look at [Mike].' The episode came to a dramatic end after the shock admission - with fans flooding social media to react to the scenes. One penned on X, formerly Twitter: 'So Mike waits till hes on national tv to tell his fiancee Yasmin hes in debt for over 12,000. AND he was made redundant but pretending to go work everyday. She aint allowed a reaction either?' Another chimed in: 'Watching this and literally logged into this app just to see if I was understanding this situation correctly. Cos what? WhAtTtTt?!?!?' Married coupled Yasmin and Mike were one of the first pairs to sit down with relationships therapist Karen Doherty in the debut episode of the new series 'Honestly, absolute madness,' someone else added, as a fourth said: 'Every single one of these men are trash, it's actually sending me.' It comes after Blue Therapy therapist Karen gave her verdict on whether opposites really attract, adding 'that's not the real thing'. The show, which first launched as a format on YouTube, follows couples as they get comfortable on Karen's couch while navigating 'modern-day' issues plaguing their relationships. One of the most common problems she sees is a lack of shared interests between couples, as Karen said: 'It's not that opposites attract. That's not the real thing.' She told the Daily Mail: 'It's about discovering the bits of yourself that your partner helps you tap into that may not be prevalent. 'For example, if you're an introvert, but actually there's an extrovert hidden in you, your partner should bring that side out.' According to Karen, 'that's the beauty of a couple. A good couple is really developmental for both individuals.' In fact, being in this kind of partnership is the 'healthiest vehicle' for change and growth in people. Karen Doherty is set to make her TV debut after the Brighton-based psychosexual therapist was handpicked to lead the debut season of Netflix's Blue Therapy The show marks seasoned podcaster Karen's foray into television, as she explained that her online presence led Netflix to recruit her for Blue Therapy. The UKCP-accredited therapist, who specialises in working with neurodivergent couples, told the Daily Mail the eight-part show is both 'authentic' and 'dramatic', explaining: 'The drama is in every relationship, we just need to let it play out. 'We need people to feel safe enough to be able to explore it together.' Karen said she spent a total of seven hours counselling each couple about 'universal' problems such as early pregnancies, infidelity, and growing inequality between a caregiver partner and one whose career is taking off. Despite its success, Blue Therapy also drew criticism after fans discovered the show's 'therapist' Denise was also an actress. Andy also told Metro.co.uk that one-half of the show's central couple, Chioma, wanted to start acting as he addressed fabrication accusations in an interview in 2021. What I will say is this: The cast is real. Theyre not actors, none of them are actors, the director said. Its a reality show, and I feel everyone should enjoy it as a reality show. Whether its real or fake thats down to the viewers interpretation. None of the cast are [actors] apart from Denise, who has acting experience. Netflix's adaptation which promises to delve into 'real issues' with 'real couples' is 'authentic, it's not performative,' Karen confirmed. 'That's the beauty of it.' On the most intense moments from season one, which premieres tomorrow, Karen said: 'There was overwhelm and having to leave. There was sadness, where people were caught unawares, and they cried. 'There were really sad stories, there was bravery where people talked about very intimate issues.' Blue Therapy is available to watch on Netflix now Louis Theroux: Inside The Manosphere has been hailed 'his most chilling documentary yet' as critics have admitted that they were left 'quivering behind their sofas' by the 'horrid, yet addictive' probe into the world of alpha males. His latest 90-minute doc was released on Netflix on Wednesday 11 March. It follows as documentarian Louis, 55, explores how extremist influencers are manipulating young boys in society with their views, interviewing the likes of Harrison Sullivan (HSTikkyTokky), Myron Gaines and Nicolas Kenn De Balinthazy (Sneako). 'With rare access and no holds barred, the acclaimed documentarian investigates a growing ultra-masculine network and its controversial influencers,' the popular streamer's synopsis reads. The film has largely received rave reviews from critics, who applauded the probe into the rising online movement, brought to the attention of many by hit Netflix drama Adolescence. The Telegraph's Benji Wilson awarded Louis' new work five stars. Louis Theroux: Inside The Manosphere has been hailed 'his most chilling documentary yet' as critics have admitted that they were left 'quivering behind their sofas' by the 'horrid, yet addictive' probe into the world of alpha males It follows as documentarian Louis, 55, explores how extremist influencers are manipulating young boys in society with their views, interviewing the likes of Harrison Sullivan (HSTikkyTokky, pictured) 'With rare access and no holds barred, the acclaimed documentarian investigates a growing ultra-masculine network and its controversial influencers,' the popular streamer's synopsis reads His headline states: 'As a father of teenage boys, Louis Therouxs film had me quivering behind the sofa.' He adds: 'I like horror films, but as a father of two teenage boys, I was quivering behind the sofa like the lily-livered beta I am while watching Louis Therouxs latest documentary. 'In Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosophere (Netflix) the documentarian travels to Marbella, Miami and New York to meet content creators from the extreme end of the manopshere, the toxic online network of misogynistic male influencers. 'And as you can imagine, extreme manospherics is extremely unpleasant.' City AM's Adam Bloodworth awarded the documentary four stars. His headline states: 'The Louis Theroux Manosphere doc is horrid, addictive viewing.' He adds: 'In technological terms at least, there hasnt ever been such a clear example of how documentaries and traditional media are old hat. 'While Theroux and his team take months to film and cut this documentary, perhaps one of the strongest arguments platformed by one of the content creators is that his content is more authentic: live streamed and shown in its entirety, viewers on social media simply dont need four-people-strong camera crews anymore to put out content. 'But that is just logistics, what theyre spewing is vile and Theroux is still absolutely the journalist to take these men to task.' Join the debate Do documentaries expose toxic influencers or amplify them? Louis pictured with Instagram influencer Justin Waller, one of Andrew Tate's best pals Mashable's Sam Haysom writes: 'Theroux's interviews expose a number of similarities between the influencers he meets: They all share extreme views, they're anti-feminist, and crucially they've all found a way to profit from sharing these views online. 'With half a million people in his Telegram group, Sullivan is able to drive fans towards the profiles of OnlyFans creators and financial apps, both of which provide him with a revenue source. 'Throughout the documentary, though, his disdain for OnlyFans creators is clear. When Theroux asks him if it's a contradiction to be profiting from OnlyFans creators while also denigrating them, Sullivan is unapologetic. '"I openly say I don't give a f**k, and I'm doing it for money," he says. 'Gaines' relationship with OnlyFans creators is shown as similar; he frequently has them as guests on his podcast, while also doing his best to publicly humiliate them.' The Irish Times journalist adds: 'Theroux doesnt interview Tate, but instead spends time with a group of Tate mates: young men often from challenging backgrounds who see performative misogyny as a passport to fame and wealth. 'It is truly grim stuff, but it is never clear whether Therouxs detached style is the right way of approaching the horrors of the manosphere. The documentary needs more anger and surely more female input. 'Its all very well for Theroux to be mildly discombobulated on behalf of women, but often this feels like a conversation about misogyny without any contribution from the people at whom the hate is directed.' The Times' Carol Midgley writes: 'Therouxs task is to try to chip away at their macho facades, and hopefully show us the vulnerable lost boys beneath. 'To some extent, he succeeds. But there is much more of the other stuff: blowhards such as Ed Matthews, Sneako (Nicolas Kenn De Balinthazy) and the podcasters Justin Waller and Myron Gaines variously showboating about how they have life sussed, how they arent slaves to the Matrix (doing mediocrely paid 9-5 jobs) and how women should oblige whenever their men want sex (one-way monogamy means her remaining faithful while he is free to get his leg over whomever he wants, should you wish to suggest this to your wife). 'Women, apparently, are born with more innate value than poor old men because they have a vagina and titties. I didnt quite follow that particular argument.' She adds: 'Theroux saved a perhaps more enlightening glimpse until last. It was extra footage, taken before the interview, of HS being told off by his mother, who, if I heard correctly, the alpha male called Mummy. 'She told him: Dont be rude. Thats not the way I brought you up. He did as he was told (which reflected well on him actually. 'At least heres one woman he respects.) But I saw the inclusion of this footage as Theroux, the older bespectacled man with the considerably smaller biceps, landing the last punch.' The Guardian's Lucy Mangan writes: 'Still, can a subject really be said to have been done until we have seen what Louis T makes of it? 'Evidently not, so here he is, repeating his shtick as he covers ground that other less high-profile documentarians have done before him. 'To be fair, he approaches his interviewees with a slightly harder, less ignorant-ingenue vibe than usual. 'This is pleasing on many levels. I find the latter quite an effortful pose and increasingly hard to endure, and he rightly intuits that the full version wouldnt fly here. Its also simply getting old. 'We know he is an intelligent man who lives in this world the silent supposed bafflement and dependence on giving people enough rope to hang themselves, which are such a large part of his arsenal, look like increasingly feeble weapons when the matters are of such increasing importance in all of our lives.' Metro's Alana Anderson adds: 'Theroux attributes association with the manosphere with broken childhoods (Sullivans single mum worked six-day weeks to put him through private school, while Gaines was nearly put into foster care). Youd have to dig pretty deep to find even an ounce of sympathy. 'Its not just the anti-woman rhetoric and resentment which is folded into the film. The racism is so casual within the manosphere that itll make you see red. 'Ive never seen Theroux confronted in such a vicious way within his own territory and while the cameras are rolling. Amid all the discussions of misogyny, homophobia, and pornography, the most uncomfortable part is seeing him subjected to vile antisemitic comments. They arent thinly veiled remarks theyre blatant and they sting even the viewer. Its like seeing a group of teenagers gang up on your dad.' Coronation Street fans were left outraged as Theo Silverton celebrated his birthday - fuming 'it makes absolutely no sense!' The ITV soap villain - played by actor James Cartwright - marked his special occasion in Monday's (March 9) installment. Unfortunately, the day ended up being a disaster as Theo created an argument with his partner Todd Grimshaw (Gareth Pierce). The builder has been subjecting Todd to abuse for months, with the latter's loved ones unaware. Although viewers weren't too pleased about Theo's birthday for another reason - and it involved another character. Coronation Street villain Theo Silverton celebrated his birthday - but viewers were uimpressed for an entirely different reason They noted how fan favourite Lisa Swain (Vicky Myers) hadn't had an on-screen birthday - despite having a longer tenure than Theo They questioned why Lisa Swain (Vicky Myers) hasn't had a birthday on the soap yet, despite debuting in 2021 and being a regular since 2024 - long before Theo joined. One wrote on X: 'Lets get this right, evil Theo Silverton has had a birthday? But not our Angel on earth Lisa Swain!!!! #swarla.' Another commented: 'Even evil Theo gets a bday before Swain. She hasn't had a birthday in 2+ years. Not even a mention of one. 'I don't care if they celebrate it off screen or only the Connor-Swains come to her birthday party because she doesn't have any friends, give Lisa Swain a birthday! #corrie.' A third remarked: 'The writers really gave evil Theo a birthday before Lisa Swain.' While a fourth chimed in: 'WHY DONT WE KNOW LISA SWAINS BIRTHDAY?!?' Theo's birthday proved chaotic from the start, as he was not too pleased with the presents he got from Todd and Summer Spellman (Harriet Bibby). Tensions then grew even further when Todd was late to Theo's birthday meal at the Bistro. Writing online, viewers shared their frustration of Theo having an on-screen birthday celebration before Lisa Swain Out of spite, Theo ordered the most expensive menu items - as well as invited Gary Windass (Mikey North) and Maria Connor (Samia Longchambon) to join. And when Todd was unable to cover the bill's cost, Theo embarrassed him even more by paying it himself. The fractured couple found themselves in conflict soon after returning to their flat - as Todd addressed his boyfriend being in a 'bad mood.' Theo replied: 'Can you blame me after having such a rubbish birthday? 'I mean, you got me a lousy present, kept me waiting, humiliated me in front of our friends. I had to pay the bill.' Todd suggested the pair have a coffee rather than more wine, prompting Theo to start throwing things around. Following this, Todd attempted to get Theo to stop, with the villain grabbing hold of a knife. He defiantly told Theo: 'You going stab me? Are you? Well go on, do it. You think I care anymore? You think I wanna carry on? Do it. Put me out of my misery, do it!' Theo, however, put down the knife and walked out of the flat, leaving a shaken Todd behind. It comes as troubled Theo is among those in the firing line amid a deadly flashforward. Betsy Swain (Sydney Martin), wearing wedding clothes after attending her mum Lisas marriage to Carla Connor (Alison King), shocks detectives by reporting the discovery of a dead body of someone she knows. She explains that she had been at a wedding but was heading into town when she found the body. As the narrative rewinds to the present, the show explores how the actions of the five characters could put them in danger months later. Theo wasn't too impressed with the gifts that Todd and Summer (pictured) gave him for his birthday Theos controlling relationship with Todd intensifies, and with their wedding looming, its unclear whether Todd will speak out about what's really been going on. Megan is caught in a web of lies as she continues to manipulate impressionable teen Will Driscoll. It raises the question of will her secrets might lead to her demise? Maggie, fiercely protective of her family, faces potential risk herself after giving a fake alibi for Will to stop him being charged with the Christmas Day attack on Daniel Osbourne. If she were to discover the truth about Megan and Will could she end up in danger herself? Meanwhile Carl Webster has alienated everyone around him, including Debbie, who was wrongly blamed for a fatal accident he caused, leaving Carl with plenty of enemies. Since finding out Debbie is actually his mum and not his sister he has pressed the self-destruct button. There is more than one person who would be glad to see the back of him. Maybe he wants to put an end to the torture or could someone take the law into their own hands? Jodie Ramsey, Shonas estranged sister, brings a mysterious past with her into the Platt household. Her secrets could ignite trouble both at home and in the wider community. Will trouble follow Jodie to Weatherfield, or could she upset people closer to home with her behaviour? As the story fast-forwards to April 23, all five characters appear on the cobbles during Lisa and Carlas wedding fireworks. Carl is battered and bruised, Jodie appears frantic, Maggie stands menacing, Megan bears a bloody nose, and Theo looks furtive and anxious. The tension escalates as the night sky lights up with fireworks, contrasting the darkness surrounding the characters fates. In the final moments the scream of Betsy Swain fills the air - but which Weatherfield resident will breathe their last? Coronation Street airs on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX. Louis Theroux called out 'manosphere' social media star Harrison Sullivan for double standards in his new documentary during a heated exchange. The documentarian went behind the scenes at the forefront of a fast-growing cultural movement of extremist influencers targeting young men with misogynistic, homophobic, antisemitic and racist views online. Louis, 55, met with influencer Harrison, 24, better known as HStikkytokky on platforms including Instagram and TikTok, to discuss his rise to fame among the manosphere. During their tense time together, the broadcaster pointed out that Harrison criticises female adult performers while simultaneously promoting seedy OnlyFans content on his channel. Harrison has previously called Bonne Blue 'disgusting'. Louis Theroux compared 'manosphere' social media star Harrison Sullivan to adult content creator Bonnie Blue in tense scenes in his new documentary Louis, 55, met with influencer Harrison, 24, better known as HStikkytokky on platforms including Instagram and TikTok , to discuss his rise to fame among the manosphere Louis, however, was quick to point out the similarities between the duo. He left Harrison angered as he claimed the content creator 'sounded like Bonnie' while describing how he feels about promoting extreme or controversial content. Speaking about the interview, Harrison began: 'I think she's absolutely repulsive as a person,' before admitting he only got her on the live stream for 'clout'. Louis then asked: 'You've got 500,000 people on your Telegram, right? And you're advertising OnlyFans girls on there. Do you think there's a contradiction there?' To which Harrison hit back: 'No, because I openly say I don't give a f**k and I'm doing it for money. I don't care about...' Louis interrupted: 'The morality of it?' to which HS added: 'I know it's not good. I say to people: "Don't watch porn". It's sad, it's loser s**t.' But Louis corrected him: 'You can't say I promote it but discourage people from doing it... You say it but it doesn't mean anything. 'So you say, "Come down to the gym I'm going to help you work out" and then you just have a box of donuts there's a box of donuts that I'm holding up to your face... it's giving very mixed messages.' HS continued: 'You do what you choose. If you want to go and eat the donuts, eat the donuts, but I own the donut shop. 'If you wanna come in the gym and pay for the PT or eat the donuts, I make dough either way. My kids are going to be very happy, they can do what they want.' Louis then pointed out: 'You sound a bit like Bonnie Blue... that it doesn't really matter what choices you make because you're making money, "my kids will enjoy a high standard of living so because of my choices of living".' Angered, Harrison replied: 'You're saying me posting pictures with a few girls is the same as getting shagged by a thousand guys? Don't compare me to Bonnie. 'I'm not getting triggered, but you're talking s**t mate.' Moving on, Louis then asked the social media influencer: 'Why not try and be a good person? Uplift people? Don't pander to their worst impulses?' But Harrison simply responded: 'If I just done good things, I would never have blown up on social media in the first place.' Later in the documentary, HStikkytokky is seen ranting online after videos of him and Louis went viral on social media during their time filming the Netflix special. Thousands of viewers had headed to the comments joking that Louis was 'setting up' the social media star to 'look like a clown' by having him involved in the documentary. HS was heard fuming: 'If you want to call me a pimp, a scammer, racist, homophobic d**khead, I'm all of those, I'm all of those, Theroux.' It comes after Louis sent out a warning to parents of boys - following abusive run-ins while filming his Manosphere documentary for Netflix. He left Harrison angered as he hit out the content creator 'sounded like Bonnie' while describing how he feels about promoting extreme or controversial content During the 90-minute film Inside the Manosphere, the host examined how prominent male content creators are helping form young men's ideas about masculinity. He met the likes of Harrison (aka HSTikkyTokky), Myron Gaines, Nicolas Kenn De Balinthazy (aka Sneako), Justin Waller and Ed Matthews. The 55-year-old entered their world and learned how these individuals highlight their respective views on traditional gender roles and values. Meanwhile, the Manosphere itself refers to an online network including forums, websites and blogs that promote anti-feminist beliefs, masculinity and misogyny. At the beginning of the documentary, Louis remarks how he had noticed 'parts of the Internet were being taken over' by male influencers claiming to provide young men with 'cheat codes to win at life'. Louis Theroux issued a warning to parents of boys in light of his new Netflix documentary Inside the Manosphere Louis told The Mirror: 'These aren't figures on the margins anyone who's got kids, and especially boys, will know that they are making inroads into the culture. 'Their influence is being felt in schools, in the workplace and all across the internet.' Throughout the documentary, the influencers film Louis for their own social media platforms while putting him through abuse and asking questions they receive from their followers while livestreaming. In turn, this leads to Louis receiving abusive comments about his previous documentary with the late Jimmy Savile. He also witnesses homophobic behaviour by HSTikkyTokky whilst Myron Gaines speaks in front of his girlfriend about wanting multiple wives in the future. Regarding his own sons, Louis said that while a parent would 'hope your influence would outweigh' online content, he added: 'They probably spend more hours looking at their phones than they do talking to us and we don't always know what they're looking at.' Louis also met with other content creators in the Manosphere, such as Myron Gaines (pictured) Reports that Louis was set to 'front a new Adolescence-inspired documentary for Netflix' first surfaced in September 2025. A source told The Sun at the time: 'Louis is famous for starting out on the BBC with his Weird Weekends show and has stayed with them ever since. 'Even though he started making shows for other channels and streamers, he never fronted them - that was reserved for the Beeb. 'He did two celebrity interview series for them in 2022 and 2023, but ended that after just two series to focus on other projects.' Netflix's Adolescence, which was created by and starred Stephen Graham, centres on 13-year-old Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper), who is accused of murdering a schoolgirl with Stephen playing the boy's father. The scripted series reached 24.3million views in just the first four days of its release and has been praised for highlighting the online radicalisation of young men and boys. Louis Theroux: Inside The Manosphere is available to stream on Netflix now Channel 5's scandalous new docudrama about Huw Edwards has released a first look at its grooming scenes depicting the disgraced former BBC newsreader curled up in bed. Under the working title Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards, the docudrama stars Martin Clunes as Edwards. It will follow the real-life story of how the former BBC news presenter became the centre of a grooming scandal. Edwards, who presented the BBC's News at Ten for decades and broke some of the biggest stories including the death of Queen Elizabeth II, pled guilty to making indecent images of children in July 2024. New pictures from the drama show Martin, 64, in character to portray the grooming scenes. One shot depicts Edwards curled up on his bed while on the phone to a teenage victim. An upcoming docudrama starring Martin Clunes as Huw Edwards has released a first look at its grooming scenes It will follow the real-life story of how the former BBC news presenter became the centre of a grooming scandal Meanwhile, another shows the same teenage boy on the phone to Edwards while out and about. Channel 5 teased of the series: 'The drama explores the story of how a vulnerable 17-year-old was groomed by one of the most powerful figures in television Huw Edwards. 'Starring Martin Clunes as Edwards, the series explores the newsreaders double life as it spirals out of control, leading him to make the greatest announcement of his career his total exit from public life following his conviction for serious child sexual offences. 'Edwards had a secret. Online, he was repeatedly soliciting explicit sexual photos from young men, and in particular grooming a vulnerable 17-year-old. 'He had also struck up a separate online friendship with a man who, from December 2020 to August 2021, repeatedly sent him messages containing child abuse imagery which he accessed, including so called Category A images the most extreme.' An earlier first look at the programme, which is directed by BAFTA and Emmy Award-winning Michael Samuels, saw the Doc Martin actor transformed into Edwards. Seen putting in an earpiece as he prepares for broadcast in a TV studio, Martin stared down the lens of the camera in the ten-second clip. Edwards (played here by Martin Clunes), who earned 475,000 a year at the corporation, secretly groomed a vulnerable 17-year-old boy while working as Britains most respected newsreader Channel 5 previously teased of the series: 'The drama explores the story of how a vulnerable 17-year-old was groomed by one of the most powerful figures in television Huw Edwards' 'Martin Clunes stars as in Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards, coming soon to 5,' a voiceover rung out over the dramatic shot. Edwards, who earned 475,000 a year at the corporation, secretly groomed a vulnerable 17-year-old boy while working as Britains most respected newsreader. Edwards, 64, was suspended by the BBC in July 2023 and was later convicted of making indecent images of children for which he received a six-month suspended sentence in September 2024. Meanwhile, a former BBC boss issued Channel 5 a stern warning, speculating that their new drama about Edwards 'will rapidly run into legal problems'. Roger Mosey, who previously headed up BBC TV News, admitted he felt the series was 'very risky' instead noting a 'documentary approach' would have been safer. Speaking on Times Radio, Roger, 68, who left the broadcaster in 2013 to become Master of Cambridge's Selwyn College, told radio hosts Jane Garvey and Fi Glover that a drama would not have been his 'preferred route' of looking at the case. He said: 'Dramas involving living people are always very risky. A documentary approach seems to me to be completely legitimate and right and you should have the right to investigate. 'But as we saw, you remember Steve Coogan's film made about Richard III... once you start doing a narrative in a movie of good guys and bad guys and who did it, you can run into legal problems really very, very rapidly. 'Drama would not be my preferred route of looking at this.' Teen Mom star Jenelle Evans has spoken out after her 16-year-old son allegedly pulled a gun on his grandmother before he was sent to a mental health hospital. According to TMZ, Evans's mother, Barbara Evans, made a 911 call from her home in North Carolina to have her grandson Jace committed on an involuntary basis amid claims he had put a gun to his head and threatened to kill her and himself. In a statement to the Daily Mail, a representative said: 'The son is receiving the help he needs, and Jenelle has been dedicated to finding the best treatment and the right place to support his progress. 'Her commitment and persistence in seeking the most effective care show how deeply she cares about her sons well-being and future.' They added: 'At this time, we respectfully ask for privacy for the family and Jenelle Evans. 'This is a personal matter, and space and understanding are appreciated as they focus on their well-being and time together,' they continued. 'Thank you for respecting their privacy during this time.' Teen Mom star Jenelle Evans's 16-year-old son Jace allegedly pulled a gun on his grandmother before he was committed to a mental health hospital, TMZ reported on Tuesday Evans's mother, Barbara Evans (left), made a 911 call from her home to have her grandson committed on an involuntary basis According to TMZ, sources with knowledge of the situation said Evans's mother made a call to 911 on February 27. They also claimed that Barbara alerted her daughter to her plans to file paperwork in court to help her with Jace, who has been living with his grandmother while Jenelle lives in Las Vegas with her other children. On Monday, TMZ reported that sources described the 911 call from Barbara's home as being about a 'troubled teen disturbance.' The publication claimed that a police report indicated that seven officers attended the home in response to the call. Evans took to X on Tuesday to slam her family members, writing: 'Whoever thought the enemy is my own mother, sad AF. And to think the empathy I had for her all these months because of her health.' A representative for Evans told TMZ: 'At this time, we have no comment on the matter. We're unable to discuss this issue because it involves confidential personal matters.' There's no word yet on how long Evans's teen son will allegedly be staying at the mental health facility or receiving treatment. TMZ previously reported on Tuesday that sources close to the situation said that Jace had put a handgun up to his head and threatened to kill both himself and his grandmother TMZ reported that sources close to the family say the focus right now is on his health and stability. The alleged disturbance comes months after Barbara, whom Jace has been living with since last year, was hospitalized in October due to a stroke. However, Evans's mother was discharged shortly after the incident and was able to recuperate at home. According to the publication, it is unclear how long Jace will be under professional care. Evans publicly feuded with her own son last year after he shared a text message exchange depicting a fiery conflict between the two. 'I am finally putting out how my mother really is,' Jace said in a social media post from August, followed by a text exchange in which he complained about his living situation and called his mother 'crazy.' In the posted messages, Jace said to his mother, 'I don't need you, you don't need me and I don't understand why ur doing this just because I'm telling you the truth, ur crazy.' The 16 and Pregnant alumna replied, '[You're] the one saying you're going to have my custody taken. F*** YOU.' Jace has been living with his grandmother in North Carolina since last year, while Evans lives with her other children in Las Vegas The text messages also included references to Evans's ex-husband, David Eason, as she claimed Jace lied when he said Eason had tried to strangle him. Jace replied he 'never lied,' and he said that Eason had indeed 'tried to' physically assault him. Shortly after the exchange was posted, Evans posted a lengthy response via her Instagram Stories, telling her 3.1 million followers that it had been challenging parenting her firstborn child as he deals with legal and health issues. 'My children are my whole world,' she said. 'And everything I do is to try to protect, guide and love them. Like any parent, I set rules and boundaries ... and sometimes that isn't easy. 'Jace posting our private texts was his reaction to being rightfully disciplined and while it hurts to see those moments shared publicly, I know it comes from a place of struggle.' Jenelle said she hopes fans can empathize with the difficult family situation she finds herself in and vowed to stand by her son. 'Navigating Jace's different [medical conditions] has not been easy but I have never stopped fighting to make sure he has the resources, love and support he needs,' Evans said. 'I will always stand by him, no matter what challenges come our way and I will continue to work on being the best mom I can be to all three of my kids.' She asked the public for 'empathy, kindness, and prayers during this time,' adding, 'not just for me, but for Jace and our family as we work through this together.' Evans publicly feuded with her own son last year after he shared a text message exchange depicting a fiery conflict between the two In response, Evans posted a lengthy response via Instagram Stories in which she said that it's been challenging parenting her firstborn child as he deals with health and legal issues She said her eldest child has dealt with legal issues and urged the public to go easy on him In February 2024, Evans filed for separation from husband David Eason, six years after they were married Evans continued: 'Recently, hes also been in trouble with the law these past few months and is having a hard time adjusting to the rules set before him. 'Ive been trying to help him navigate it, but we are butting heads in the process.' Jenelle ended her emotional statement by saying, 'Please give him grace at this time ... this is hard on all of us,' adding emojis of a crying face, a broken heart and prayer hands. The Teen Mom 2 personality welcomed Jace with her ex-boyfriend, Andrew Lewis, in August 2009. Evans is also the mother of 11-year-old Kaiser Orion Griffith, whom she shares with her ex-boyfriend Nathan Griffith, and her daughter Ensley Jolie Eason, nine, whom she had with her ex-husband, Eason. Eason was infamously fired by MTV in 2018 for homophobic and transphobic tweets, and the cable network subsequently let Evans go in 2019 following nine seasons of Teen Mom 2. This came shortly after her then-husband shot and killed their French Bulldog, Nugget. After Evans initially called the Columbus County Sheriffs Office to report that her husband had shot and killed the pet, she subsequently claimed that she had not seen the shooting or seen any evidence that the dog was actually dead. That meant police ended their investigation, only for Eason to admit months later that he had shot and killed the tiny dog. At the time, he claimed it had bitten their daughter, Ensley, who was two at the time. Audiences were first introduced to Evans in 2010, when she appeared in the second season of the MTV reality show 16 and Pregnant. Jim Carrey has been defended by celebrity plastic surgeon Dr. Terry Dubrow amid criticism over the actor's recent Cesar Awards appearance. Carrey, 64, was accused by fans of being 'cloned' after photos emerged of his face looking unrecognizable while in Paris last month. Dr. Dubrow, 67, was a guest on Tori Spelling's misSpelling podcast this week, where he revealed that he's been continuously asked to share his thoughts on Carrey's new look. 'All they want to do is talk about the way poor Jim Carrey looks,' he said about paparazzi hounding him lately. 'It's like, what do you say when you're confronted with that stuff? It's so mean, right?' And he added, 'I still think he looks great.' The Botched star said he doesn't know whether or not Carrey has had plastic surgery, but acknowledged that the comedian looks 'different.' Jim Carrey has been defended by celebrity plastic surgeon Dr. Terry Dubrow amid criticism over the actor's recent Cesar Awards appearance Carrey, 64, was accused by fans of being 'cloned' after photos emerged of his face looking seemingly altered while in Paris last month; pictured left in 2024 and right in February 2025 He reasoned that fans are likely shocked by the movie star's appearance because they have been 'used to seeing' him look 'young' for 'so many years.' The reality television star then urged, 'He's kind of our national comedic treasure. Can't we be a little more kind?' 'Every plastic surgeon in the world is going online and talking about, 'There's less skin in his upper eyelids and his brows are higher,' and they're, like, dissecting him with a microscope, which is so unfair, I think, and uncool.' Dubrow said he considers criticism over Carrey's face as 'body-shaming' and encouraged social media users to exercise empathy. A representative for the Mask star confirmed to the Daily Mail that the actor attended the Cesar Awards show in person, despite fans insisting it was a 'lookalike.' And Gregory Caulier, the general delegate of the awards, stated that his appearance was authentic and 'a historic moment.' Branding the controversy a 'non-issue,' Gregory said: 'Jim Carrey's visit has been planned since this summer. From the outset, he was extremely touched by the Academy's invitation.' Noting that Carrey spent eight months discussing and practicing his speech in French, he told Variety that the actor was supported by 12 of his family members and friends as he accepted his honorary award. Dr. Dubrow, 67, was a guest on Tori Spelling's misSpelling podcast this week, where he said he thinks Carrey 'still looks great' although he looks 'different' Dubrow reasoned that fans are likely shocked by the movie star's appearance because they have been 'used to seeing' him look 'young' for 'so many years'; pictured in 1992 Since Carrey's new look was revealed, the internet has been abuzz with bizarre conspiracy theories. Theorists highlighted that his eye color appeared to be lighter, and noted he was signing autographs with his right hand, despite reports that he is left-handed. One X user wrote: 'I've been talking about human cloning for a long time and I'm glad to see it finally gain some traction. Jim Carrey was cloned years ago. 'Something has changed behind the scenes to allow us to see unfinished and malfunctioning clones. New clones have a puffy look.' The person continued, 'It takes time to perfect voices and mannerisms. Additional surgery is needed to create a perfect match. 'I think this sloppiness is evidence of the ongoing silent war on cabal cloning by military white hats.' Another added: 'Yeahumm NO! This is NOT Jim Carrey! Jim Carrey has dark brown eyes for onethis copycat/clone creature has light eyes.' Interview: China prioritizes innovation-driven high-quality growth: scholar Xinhua) 09:28, March 11, 2026 OSLO, March 10 (Xinhua) -- China's ongoing "two sessions" and the draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan signal a clear shift toward higher-quality, innovation-led growth, said Carl Fey, professor of strategy at BI Norwegian Business School and former dean of Nottingham University Business School China. In a recent written interview with Xinhua, Fey said the new blueprint suggests China is no longer evaluating development mainly by GDP growth rates, but by the quality and technological content of growth, with innovation and "new quality productive forces" taking center stage in the country's next phase of development. The draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) was submitted to the national legislature for examination during the annual session of the National People's Congress. The government work report stressed high-quality development, stronger domestic demand and faster advances in science and technology. One notable feature of the new blueprint, Fey said, is its strong emphasis on emerging and future industries. Official documents released during the "two sessions" show that China will foster sectors such as quantum technology, embodied AI, brain-computer interfaces, hydrogen energy, nuclear fusion, and 6G mobile communications. Fey also noted that the plan places greater emphasis on domestic consumption, green development and high-level opening up. The government work report and related policy documents indicate that China will roll out measures to boost consumption and personal income, while continuing to improve the environment for foreign investment and expand market access. In Fey's view, these priorities could create broader opportunities for international businesses, including European firms, while offering valuable lessons for other countries seeking to balance economic growth, innovation and sustainability. Despite challenges, he said China has demonstrated a strong capacity for long-term planning and effective policy implementation, and its new development blueprint points to solid momentum in the years ahead. "It is clear that China has a very bright future over the next five years -- a future most countries can only dream of," Fey said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) 90 Day Fiance personality Eric Rosenbrook is disputing the results of the autopsy performed on his late infant daughter Alisa Eleanor in the wake of her death last summer in Wisconsin. Rosenbrook and his spouse Leida Margaretha have retained the services of a private medical examiner to examine the findings from the autopsy performed by the Adams County Health and Human Services Department, Margarethas lawyer Taylor Hart told the Daily Mail Tuesday. The private medical examiner has challenged the agency's conclusion that the infant's cause of death was 'non-accidental,' Hart said. Hart said Margaretha 'continues to deny any and all allegations of wrongdoing, and would have never harmed her child.' Hart said the medical examiner the family hired believes the initial autopsy was 'poorly performed.' Rosenbrook told TMZ Tuesday that findings from the private examiner indicate Adams County officials overlooked essential steps and key details in their probe. 90 Day Fiance personality Eric Rosenbrook and spouse Leida Margaretha are disputing the results of the autopsy performed on late infant daughter Alisa Eleanor in the wake of her death last summer Major routine steps were not finished, Rosenbrook told the outlet, noting that a fracture on the five-week-old had not been clearly addressed in the findings of the initial autopsy, insiders told the outlet. Rosenbrook told TMZ that the examiner the family had hired cited an injury that might have happened during the childbirth process, as Margaretha underwent a cesarean section procedure. A fractured rib on the child cited in the report was possibly suffered while CPR was being performed on the baby, Rosenbrook told the outlet, citing his private examiner's findings. Rosenbrook told TMZ that he and his spouse have directly challenged the findings of Adams County Health and Human Services Department. Rosenbrook told TMZ HHS officials were non-responsive to their questions regarding the issues cited. The Adams County Sheriff's Office 'has not found Leida at fault,' Rosenbrook told TMZ. Rosenbrook told TMZ of Child Protective Services involved in the issue, 'As far as CPS goes, they're a hammer and every parent is a nail,' calling the agency 'the definition of fascism.' No criminal charges have been filed in connection with the issue, and a probe in the case continues, according to the report from the Adams County Health and Human Services Department. No criminal charges have been filed in connection with the investigation into the tragic death Margarethas lawyer Taylor Hart told the Daily Mail Tuesday that 'over the past two years, Leida and her husband tried desperately for a child' Hart told the Daily Mail Tuesday that 'over the past two years, Leida and her husband tried desperately for a child. 'They tried, and hoped, and prayed, but they unfortunately suffered many setbacks including multiple miscarriages.' Hart noted that 'the cause and manner of Alisas death' remain 'unknown;' and that Leida remains 'extremely distraught and is still seeking answers for herself. 'She loved her baby beyond measure and is struggling with the emotions of losing her child.' Hart said that 'the loss of Alisa is a tragedy' and that 'Eric and Leida are both still actively grieving and they ask for your privacy, sympathy, and understanding during this difficult time.' Said Hart: 'There are many allegations of wrongdoing being levied against Leida,' adding that it comes as 'no surprise as she has endured years of unfounded negative publicity and social media attention since her appearance on 90 Day Fiance in 2018.' In related news, court docs reviewed by TMZ indicate that Rosenbrook will not serve any time in custody in connection with a charge of operating under the influence linked to a July 5, 2025 incident. Rosenbrook entered a no contest plea to the charge, the outlet reported, citing legal documents. Two linked charges against Rosenbrook were dismissed, the outlet reported, noting that he faced fines of $968; a six-month suspension of his driver's license; and mandatory attendance in an alcohol assessment program. It appears that Elle Ferguson has been turning the heads of the Hollywood A-list. Elle, who rose to fame on The Block in 2022, took to Instagram on Tuesday to share a clip of her experience at the Zimmermann show at Paris Fashion Week. The social media star was clearly besotted with the celebs she was rubbing shoulders with, including Oprah Winfrey, Jessica Chastain, Leila George and Lily James. The clip also featured an awkward moment in which Naomi Watts appeared to look Elle up and down as they both worked the room. The clip showed Elle happily chatting to Cinderella star Lily as Naomi stood in the background. Apparently taken with Elle's get-up, Naomi cast her eyes over Elle's outfit in a moment that was slowed down for full effect. It appears that Elle Ferguson has been turning the heads of the Hollywood A-list Appearing at the Zimmerman show at Paris Fashion week on Monday, Elle seemingly caught the attention of Aussie actress Naomi Watts Captioning that portion of the video, Elle wrote: 'Did Naomi Watts just check me out?' It's not surprising that Elle would turn heads at the fashion-forward event. She stepped out in a very colourful, floral-patterned Zimmermann lantern dress and a pair of matching flared pants. Wearing her blonde tresses in playful waves that cascaded over her svelte shoulders, Elle accessorised her look with a blue Chanel bag. Meanwhile, Naomi claimed her own share of the spotlight in a vibrant pink trouser suit comprised of a fitted jacket and flared trousers. The Hollywood star rounded off her look with deep red lipstick as she settled down for the fashion-forward event. It comes after Elle revealed, earlier this week, that she was at the vanguard of high fashion. She took to Instagram on Sunday to flaunt some luxury items she picked up at Chanel, including a belt and a very trendy new bag. Join the debate Is the fashion industry's obsession with appearances becoming too competitive or just part of the fun? The social media star was clearly besotted with the celebs she was rubbing shoulders with, including Oprah Winfrey, Jessica Chastain and Aussie actresses Leila George, and Lily James The clip also featured an awkward moment in which Naomi Watts appeared to look Elle up and down as they both worked the room She unveiled her bag, the brand new Chanel Maxiflap, which retails for an eye-watering $15,090 and has just recently become available for purchase. Elle explained that she wanted to 'treat herself' to the latest release from the high-end fashion house, and described the oversized shoulder bag as 'so chic' and 'very French'. The grained calfskin purse, which comes in burgundy, is bound to be this season's must-have accessory. Elle's followers were impressed, with one writing in the comments: 'Are you joking? We're obsessed. Love love love.' Another said: 'It's absolutely stunning!!!' while one more chimed in, 'Such a gorgeous bag.' Not everyone was amused, however, with one person commenting: 'Yeez. Is this important? Today is #womensday and you have to be this shallow?' Last year, Ferguson responded to the heavy backlash she copped after modelling a very revealing dress by Spanish fashion house Loewe. Captioning that portion of the video, Elle wrote: 'Did Naomi Watts just check me out?' Meanwhile, Naomi claimed her own share of the spotlight in a vibrant pink trouser suit comprised of a fitted jacket and flared trousers At the time, she had shared an Instagram video of herself wearing the frock, and many of her followers said the designer ensemble looked 'unflattering', 'uncomfortable' and 'hideous'. The 40-year-old has defended her viral sartorial moment, calling the piece the 'most beautiful dress'. 'The only thing I was thinking when I put this dress on is that I was exceptionally lucky to be looking at Jonathan Anderson's last collection with Loewe,' Elle told The Daily Telegraph. 'I loved that dress. I still love that dress. I put it on and I stood there proudly,' she said, adding that her fiance Joel Patful loved it too. Australian actress Leila George ensured all eyes were on her on Monday when she attended the Zimmermann show on Day Eight of Paris Fashion Week. The 33-year-old ex-wife of Sean Penn, who is currently starring as Calvin Klein's wife in the TV series Love Story, cut a striking figure in a crisp white oversized blazer paired with wide-leg palazzo trousers. Underneath, she wore a black deep-V neck one-piece bodysuit going braless and confidently showing off her slim frame. Leila completed the look with nude strappy heeled sandals and added a pop of colour with a burnt orange clutch. Her glossy brunette hair was styled in soft, tousled waves, and her natural, glowy makeup kept the focus on her outfit. Dark oversized cat-eye sunglasses added a final touch of downtown Parisian cool. Australian actress Leila George ensured all eyes were on her on Monday when she attended the Zimmermann show on Day Eight of Paris Fashion Week The 33-year-old ex-wife of Sean Penn cut a striking figure in a crisp white oversized blazer paired with wide-leg palazzo trousers Leila, who is the daughter of Greta Scacchi and Vincent D'Onofrio, starred in popular US series Animal Kingdom from 2019 2022. The sighting comes almost two years after Leila and Sean finalised their divorce after one year of marriage. The couple dated for four years before tying the knot in July 2020 and separated about a year later, with Leila filing for divorce in October 2021. In a subsequent interview with Hollywood Authentic, Sean revealed he wasn't happy with the split. The actor was honest about their relationship issues, going as far as saying he 'f***ed up the marriage' because he was 'very neglectful'. He said: 'There's a woman who I'm so in love with, Leila George, who I only see on a day-to-day basis now, because I f***ed up the marriage. 'We were married technically for one year, but for five years, I was a very neglectful guy.' The two-time Academy Award winner, who said he never cheated, added he 'allowed myself to think that my place in so many other things was so important. Underneath, she wore a black deep-V neck one-piece bodysuit going braless and confidently showing off her slim frame Leila completed the look with nude strappy heeled sandals and added a pop of colour with a burnt orange clutch Her glossy brunette hair was styled in soft, tousled waves, and her natural, glowy makeup kept the focus on her outfit Dark oversized cat-eye sunglasses added a final touch of downtown Parisian cool Leila is currently starring as Calvin Klein's wife in the TV series Love Story 'That included my place in being totally depressed and driven to alcohol and Ambien at 11 o'clock in the morning, by watching the news, by watching the Trump era, by watching it and despairing.' Sean said he 'doesn't know' what the future will hold for him and Leila, but he said he's worked on what he sees as the problems with himself during their relationship. Leila is currently starring in Love Story, a limited TV series dramatizing the romance and tragic deaths of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette. She plays Calvin Klein's former wife, and Carolyn's friend, Kelly Klein. Disgraced Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein has revealed how he feels about Adrien Brody playing dad to his and ex-wife Georgina Chapman's two kids. Weinstein, 73, is serving a 16-year prison sentence at New York's Rikers Island after being convicted on sex crime charges in California in 2022. Chapman, 49, separated from Weinstein after ten years of marriage in 2017, once the allegations of sexual harassment and sexual abuse made against him were exposed in a bombshell report by the New York Times. The exes, whose divorce was finalized in 2021, have a daughter, India Pearl, 15, and a son, Dashiell Max Robert, 12, together. Chapman began dating Oscar-winner Brody, 52, in 2019 and the actor has since taken on a fatherly role in the children's lives while Weinstein remains behind bars. Last year, Brody revealed in his Oscars acceptance speech that India and Dashiell fondly refer to him as 'Popsy.' And in a new interview, Weinstein insisted to The Hollywood Reporter that he is 'happy' Brody has stepped up for his children. Disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein has revealed how he feels about Adrien Brody playing dad to his and ex-wife Georgina Chapman's two kids Chapman started dating Brody in 2019 and he has since become a father figure to her and Weinstein's children 'No! I was happy. It's good that my kids have someone in their lives,' said Weinstein when asked if he was upset by Brody's mention of his kids on stage at the Oscars. 'And Georgina suffered terribly because of me. I'm glad she's finally found some happiness.' While Chapman is no longer on speaking terms with Weinstein, he claimed that the designer still allows him to see their children. Weinstein also spoke about Chapman and her luxury fashion label Marchesa being 'punished' by Hollywood after the allegations against him were made public nearly a decade ago. He said that many of the A-list actresses, who his ex-wife 'dressed so beautifully' for years, stopped wearing her designs in the aftermath. 'I am sorry she got such a bad rap,' Weinstein said. 'She knew nothing about what I was doing. 'I was a master of deception. To punish her company is an act of insanity.' This is not the first time Weinstein has spoken about Brody's life with Chapman or about the actor's presence in his children's lives. Join the debate What's your take on Weinstein's comments? Brody shocked last year when he revealed in his Oscars acceptance speech for Best Actor that India and Dashiell fondly refer to him as 'Popsy' Weinstein and Chapman in 2017. He told The Hollywood Reporter this week that he is 'happy' Brody has stepped up for his children Weinstein's spokesman, Juda Engelmayer, provided an exclusive statement to the Daily Mail last year in the wake of Brody's Oscars speech. While accepting Best Actor for his performance in the Brutalist at the 2025 ceremony, Brody notably thanked his girlfriend Chapman and her two children with Weinstein. 'I share this with my amazing partner Georgina, who has not only reinvigorated my own self-worth but my sense of value and my values and her beautiful children, Dash and India,' he said. Revealing the nickname Weinstein's children have for him, he added: 'It's been a rollercoaster, but thank you for accepting me into your life, and Popsy's coming home a winner.' When approached for comment, Weinstein's representative Engelmayer told the Daily Mail that 'Harvey is happy for Georgina and grateful that his kids are being loved and cared for as they deserve to be.' Once a Hollywood heavy-hitter, Weinstein became a symbol of sexual misconduct after media reports revealed allegations against him in 2017. In total, some 60 women came forward with harrowing allegations against the producer and he was convicted of various sex crimes in both New York and California. 'It's good that my kids have someone in their lives,' said Weinstein when asked if he was hurt by Brody's Oscars speech Weinstein has denied that he raped or sexually assaulted anyone. He is awaiting a third Manhattan trial later this year to resolve a remaining rape charge from his 2025 New York retrial. Weinstein is living with a litany of health woes, including cancer, diabetes, spinal stenosis and a possible immune system problem. Prior to meeting Brody in 2019, a source told PageSix last year that Chapman was in 'really dark, awful place' at the time following the breakdown of her marriage to Weinstein. She and Brody first became acquainted at an event at the Dorado Beach Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Puerto Rico in April 2019, which she allegedly attended after being urged by her friends to 'get out of the house' after isolating herself at home amid the Weinstein fallout. The duo hit it off and officially began dating just months later. Now, having been together for more than five years, PageSix's source said Chapman and Brody have 'absolutely been there for each other through highs and lows.' They added that Chapman's relationship with Brody is 'much more different' than the one she had with ex Weinstein. 'She and Adrien feel more like partners.' The woman accused of shooting at Rihanna's home while she and her family were inside was hit with 14 charges, including for attempted murder, on Tuesday. In a press conference on Tuesday, Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman announced that Ivanna Lisette Ortiz had been charged with one count of attempted murder, ten counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm, and three counts of shooting into an inhabited dwelling or camper. Hochman said the 35-year-old woman could face up to life in state prison if convicted of the crimes, which occurred on Sunday. Although Rocky (real name: Rakim Mayers) was previously reported to have not been home at the time of the shooting, the LA DA stated in the press conference that Rihanna, 38, and Rocky, 37, had been in an airstream trailer on her property when Ortiz allegedly opened fire. According to Hochman, Ortiz was charged with three counts of shooting into an inhabited dwelling because Rihanna's property includes two dwellings, while Ortiz allegedly also shot at a neighbor's home. The DA said the 10 counts of assault were for each person allegedly in the line of fire from Ortiz. The woman accused of shooting at Rihanna's home while she and her family were inside was hit with multiple charges, including for attempted murder, on Tuesday; Rihanna and partner ASAP Rocky are pictured in November in NYC In a press conference on Tuesday, Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman announced that Ivanna Lisette Ortiz had been charged with one count of attempted murder, ten counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm, and three counts of shooting into an inhabited dwelling; Ortiz is pictured in a 2023 mugshot According to Hochman, Ortiz was charged with three counts of shooting into an inhabited dwelling because Rihanna's property includes two dwellings, while Ortiz allegedly also shot at a neighbor's home He said Rihanna, Rocky, their three children sons RZA, three; Riot, two; and daughter Rocki, five months and her mother had been on her property at the time of the shooting, along with two staff members. Two other individuals were also in the neighboring residence that Ortiz allegedly fired on. Although no one was injured in the shooting, a law enforcement official told the Los Angeles Times that Rihanna and Rocky 'easily could have been hit.' Ortiz made her first appearance in court on Tuesday, though she did not enter a plea, according to the LA Times. Ortiz, who was dressed in a blue jumpsuit for her appearance, had a continuance for her arraignment scheduled for March 26. The Los Angeles DA announced in his press conference that Judge Theresa McGonigle had set Ortiz's bail at $1,875,000. In the event that she should make bail, Ortiz was also ordered to stay away from Rihanna and Rocky. In addition to issuing the protective order, Judge McGonigle ordered Ortiz to surrender all of her firearms. The LA DA stated in his press conference that Rihanna, 38, and Rocky, 37, had been in an airstream trailer on her property when Ortiz allegedly opened fire; pictured November 3 in NYC Ortiz who hails from Orlando, Florida is accused of firing at Rihanna's property at the neighboring home with an AR-15style rifle from her white Tesla. She allegedly fled to Beverly Hills before ending up in Sherman Oaks, where she was arrested 30 minutes after the shooting; pictured in a 2023 mugshot The Los Angeles DA announced in his press conference that Judge Theresa McGonigle had set Ortiz's bail at $1,875,000; Judge McGonigle is pictured Tuesday during the arraignment at LA's Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center Deputy Los Angeles District Attorney Alexander Bott speaks during Tuesday's arraignment Outside the courthouse, Hochman stated during his press conference: 'I want everyone in this county to understand that you should absolutely feel safe in your residence, in your neighborhood and in your community. When someone comes into our community and decides to shoot it up, that person will be arrested and held fully accountable for their actions.' Ortiz who hails from Orlando, Florida was represented at her first court appearance by LA County Public Defender Jamarcus Bradford. She is accused of firing at Rihanna's property at the neighboring home with an AR-15style rifle from her white Tesla. According to TMZ, Ortiz waived her right to a speedy trial at her first court appearance. Audio obtained by the Daily Mail of the 911 dispatch call regarding the shooting paints a tense picture of the hunt to find the vehicle, which was reportedly tracked down thanks in part to how dirty it was. Hochman said that Ortiz had fled to Beverly Hills before ending up in the parking lot of the Sherman Oaks Galleria, where she was arrested 30 minutes after the shooting. Jim McDonnell, chief of the LAPD, said Tuesday during his weekly crime briefing that the motive for the shooting has not been established, but the investigation by the LAPDs RobberyHomicide Division is ongoing. Hal Roen, the attorney for Ortiz's ex-husband, Jed Nikko Valdez Sangalang, told TMZ that Ortiz had previously been involuntarily committed to a psychiatric facility under Florida state law, which allows for up to 72-hour voluntary or involuntary holds. Although the LA DA didn't share a possible motive for Ortiz, her ex-husband's attorney told TMZ that she had previously been placed on an involuntary psychiatric hold in Florida; Ortiz is pictured in a 2023 mugshot Ortiz was represented at her first court appearance by LA County Public Defender Jamarcus Bradford (pictured in court on Tuesday). According to TMZ, Ortiz waived her right to a speedy trial Ortiz, who has positioned herself as a Christian influencer, previously shared seething Facebook posts criticizing Rihanna, including one in which she suggested Rihanna had spoken negatively about her, though no connection between the women has been established; Rihanna is pictured with Rocky on February 6 in LA While Ortiz was being arraigned on Tuesday, Rihanna was spotted flying out of Los Angeles the previous day on a private jet; she's pictured in NYC last month Documents obtained by the publication indicated that a judge in Florida awarded Ortiz's ex-husband with full physical custody of their child in April 2024. Ortiz was reportedly barred from all contact with their child, including in-person meetings, phone calls, video chats, text messages, emails and any communication through another individual as long as the order is in effect. However, in December of last year, she filed an appeal to overturn the custody decision. Ortiz who has ironically positioned herself as a Christian influencer has previously shared messages online directly targeting Rihanna, the Daily Mail has revealed. She shared seething posts criticizing the hitmaker on Facebook, including one in which she suggested Rihanna had spoken negatively about her, though no connection between the women has been established. She also shared videos in which she discussed Rihanna's death and made disturbing threats toward the singer. The Daily Mail has also revealed that Ortiz was previously arrested for domestic violence, careless driving and violating pretrial release conditions in Florida. While Ortiz was being arraigned on Tuesday, Rihanna was spotted flying out of Los Angeles the previous day on a private jet. A Los Angeles court on Monday entered a default judgment for landlord Eric T. Goldie against his one-time tenant Mickey Rourke in an eviction dispute over a rental home a month after the actor turned down six-figures in GoFundMe donations from fans. Goldie received a default judgment in his eviction filing against the Oscar-nominated actor, 73, according to documents from Los Angeles County Superior Court reviewed by Daily Mail. Goldie said in legal documents filed in late December that The Wrestler star owed $59,100 in unpaid rental fees on the house, which is located off Drexel Avenue. The actor, whose film catalog includes Diner, Rumble Fish and 9 Weeks, failed to respond to the eviction notice under the designated time frame under California law, leading to the default judgment. The court granted Goldie immediate possession of the property and nixed the remaining lease agreement, effectively keeping Rourke out of the home moving forward. Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for Rourke for further comment on the story. A Los Angeles court on Monday entered a default judgment for landlord Eric T. Goldie against his one-time tenant Mickey Rourke (pictured in 2022) in an eviction dispute over a rental home Fans swung into action last month, donating about $100,000 to a GoFundMe set up by an assistant to Rourke's manager Kimberly Hines - but Rourke rebuffed the money, vociferously decrying the campaign as a 'cruel embarrassment.' Monday's judgment included a notation of possession only - indicating it had been centered on who resides at the physical property - as opposed to financial disputes linked to the rental agreement. The Angel Heart actor on December 18 was presented with three-day notice to pay or leave, according to a legal complaint from Goldie. Rourke, whose full name is Philip Rourke Jr., had resided in the three-bedroom Southern California home since March 30, 2025 - at which time he inked a lease agreeing to pay monthly rent of $5,200. Goldie said in the legal complaint, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court December 29, that the actor has 'failed to comply with the requirements of' the order he was given to settle up or move out. Goldie at the time also asked the court to force the actor to cover the legal costs he spent in trying to recoup the rent; and for Rourke to forfeit the remainder of the rental agreement. Rourke pushed back after one of his business associates set up a GoFundMe which drummed up around $100,000, saying he was unaware of what she was doing. 'That was some lady who worked for me did that s***,' Rourke told photographers during an outing in Los Angeles in January. The Angel Heart actor on December 18 was presented with three-day notice to pay or leave, according to a legal complaint from Goldie. The actor, seen in 2019, said of the home, 'The kitchen sink didn't run, there were two bathrooms, one bathroom had no water, there was no heat, the air conditioners don't work, and they had rats and mice' Rourke's team on Wednesday provided the Daily Mail with a statement on behalf of the actor, explaining his side of the rental dispute. 'The reason I stopped paying rent was because the living conditions in the house had become unacceptable,' Rourke told Daily Mail in a statement. He added, 'For months there were serious problems that repeatedly went unaddressed despite my efforts to have them fixed.' Rourke said that 'there were ongoing rodent issues that required multiple visits but were never fully resolved, and the bathroom and plumbing frequently did not work. 'I made repeated requests for repairs, but the problems continued and basic maintenance was never properly handled.' Rourke concluded, 'Withholding rent was not a decision I made lightly. I simply could not continue paying for a house that was in such poor condition after so many attempts to have these issues corrected.' Stormzy's fans pleaded with the rapper to join the line-up for the second series of Celebrity Traitors after he tried out the live experience. The immersive game in London mimics the hit BBC show, with a group of up to 14 players tasked with playing either with - or against - each other to make it to the grand final. Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, Stormzy, 32, celebrated tricking his friends and even murdering his sister in the ruthless game. The rapper, who was selected as a Traitor, declared 'I betrayed them all', before he chanted 'winner, winner'. Stormzy captioned the post: 'The traitors live experience is tooooo lit oi we had the best time and yes I snaked all these fools. 'They're my friends but they're fools they got smoked it was so easy. Top traitor. Just finessed the whole s**t I'm very proud of myself. P.S the last slide is how I killed my sis Cass lmao buzzing. Love ya'll, bye!' (sic). Stormzy's fans pleaded with the rapper to join the line-up for the second series of Celebrity Traitors after he tried out the live experience Fans took to the comment section to tell the hitmaker he should be on the next series, hosted by Claudia Winkleman Fans took to the comment section to tell the hitmaker he should be on the next series, hosted by Claudia Winkleman. They wrote: 'get Stormzy on the REAL traitors NOWWWW' (sic); 'You have to go on Celeb Traitors s2 now' and '@chattyman would be proud'; 'The last slide tho!! Comedian!! Hahaha' (sic). Last year's celebrity spin-off went down a storm as 11 million viewers tuned in to see Traitor Alan Carr win the prize money over Faithfuls Joe Marler, Nick Mohammed and David Olusoga. Angela Scanlon was the latest star rumoured to be in talks with bosses to join the new series. The presenter, 42, has been a target to land a much sought-after spot on the show after becoming a BBC favourite following her appearances on Celebrity Apprentice and Strictly Come Dancing. Angela, who this week has been standing in for Cat Deeley on This Morning, would join a long list of stars rumoured to be joining the show, including Steve Pemberton, Richard E Grant and Hugh Bonneville. Join the debate What makes someone a great Traitor on reality TV: cunning, charm, or sheer ruthlessness? Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, Stormzy celebrated tricking his friends and even murdering his sister in the ruthless game The rapper, who was selected as a Traitor, declared 'I betrayed them all', before he chanted 'winner, winner' Fans told Stormzy to star on the next series of Celebrity Traitors and last series winner Alan Carr 'would be proud' A source previously told The Sun: 'The BBC are big fans of hers and are keen to secure her as one of their key talents. Celebrity Traitors would be the perfect fit for Angela. She's clever, mischievous and isn't afraid of causing a stir. 'Negotiations with talent are still ongoing and it'll go down to the wire. Contracts are often signed in the days leading up to the show starting.' Daily Mail has contacted representatives for the BBC and Angela Scanlon for comment. Angela herself has confessed she is a huge Traitors fan, and even confessed she was 'obsessed to an unhealthy degree' with the civilian series' fourth run last month. So far there has been a long list of names rumoured to be taking part in Celebrity Traitors' second run, including Ruth Jones, David Mitchell and Steve Pemberton, Alison Hammond and Jamie Oliver. Jackie 'O' Henderson has snubbed Meghan Markle's upcoming Sydney retreat as the fallout over her shock KIIS FM exit continues. The radio queen's bestie and manager Gemma O'Neill revealed this week that the Duchess of Sussex will be the headline guest at the inaugural Her Best Life Retreat, a three-day event organised by the events company Besties, founded by O'Neill and Henderson. However, Henderson has chosen to snub the event, to keep the spotlight firmly on O'Neill. Speaking about the upcoming retreat in the latest episode of the Her Best Life, O'Neill said that she almost said 'no' to the opportunity to host the Duchess until confiding her apprehension to Henderson. 'I feel really excited because I did go through a period, I will admit, that I actually almost said no, and I actually spoke to Jackie about it,' she said. Gemma added that she begged the broadcaster to helm the event, but to no avail. Jackie 'O' Henderson has snubbed Meghan Markle's upcoming Sydney retreat as the fallout over her shock KIIS FM exit continues 'I tried to beg her to come and do it, or I tried to beg her to come and, like, take over the event,' she continued. 'She was adamant, and she said: 'No, Gemma. You need to do this for yourself. This is meant to be for you.' O'Neill said that Henderson's reason for eschewing the event was to give O'Neill a chance to break out of her 'private' shell. 'She said: "I know you don't want to do it, and I know you're nervous because you're very private and you hate doing things,' O'Neill explained. 'You like having career things happening behind the scenes, but you hate being front and centre", which I think you guys know. 'So, you know, I'm going from trying to be private to now it could not be any more front and centre.' Despite the snub, Henderson did find the time to wish O'Neill all the best with the ambitious endeavour. Commenting on O'Neill's announcement post on Instagram, Henderson wrote: 'Incredible Gem... definitely living your best life,' augmenting the sentiment with clapping hands and love heart emojis. Join the debate Would YOU pay $3,000 to attend Meghan Markles Sydney retreat? The radio queen's bestie and manager Gemma O'Neill revealed this week that the Duchess of Sussex (pictured) will be the headline guest at the inaugural Her Best Life Retreat, a three-day event organised by the events company Besties, founded by O'Neill and Henderson Speaking about the upcoming retreat in the latest episode of the Her Best Life, O'Neill said that she almost said 'no' to the opportunity to host the Duchess until confiding her apprehension to Henderson 'I have admired this woman and what she has endured, how she's risen above it, and how she has demonstrated that a woman can be pushed down and she can still rise,' O'Neill said as she announced the event this week. 'I know what you're all thinking because I'm thinking the same thing. How has this incredible woman gone from Oprah to talking on stage with little old me?' The retreat will be held at the InterContinental Hotel at Coogee Beach in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs and will bring together around 300 women for a weekend focused on connection, wellbeing and personal development. The April 1719 event is anticipated to bring in nearly $1million in ticket revenue. Those who purchase VIP tickets for $3,199 will be privy to a 'group table photo' with the Duchess and seats in the front two rows for the 'gala dinner'. VIPs will also enjoy an exclusive goodie bag and a premium ocean-view hotel room. Guests will also attend a session with psychologist Dr Justine Corry, a meditation and manifestation workshop with O'Neill, yoga, sound healing, time by the pool overlooking Coogee Beach and a dinner-and-disco celebration. 'Join us for an intimate luxury weekend by the ocean designed to bring women together for powerful conversations, relaxation, laughter and unforgettable experiences,' the event website states. 'I tried to beg her to come and do it, or I tried to beg her to come and, like, take over the event,' she continued. 'She was adamant, and she said: 'No, Gemma. You need to do this for yourself. This is meant to be for you' The retreat will be held at the InterContinental Hotel at Coogee Beach in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs and will bring together around 300 women for a weekend focused on connection, wellbeing and personal development 'The highlight of the weekend will be an in-person conversation and gala dinner with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. An intimate gala like no other. 'This is your chance to step away from everyday life and spend a weekend focusing on connection, growth, joy and celebration. 'Come by yourself, come with your best friend, or bring a whole group of your favourite women.' It comes after it was announced this week that Meghan would split from Netflix and take complete control of her As Ever jam brand. The abrupt split comes just two months after the streaming giant axed With Love, Meghan, which ran for only two seasons. Charlotte Dawson's son Jude has been rushed to hospital and put on oxygen just three weeks after his last health scare. The TV personality, 33, shared details of her 'scary' night after her two-year-old son was struggling to breathe and coughing all night. Taking to her Instagram on Tuesday, Charlotte shared an update from Jude's hospital bed after he was rushed to A&E and hooked up to oxygen. The toddler's latest health scare comes just three weeks after he was last treated in hospital for the same virus - but Charlotte said he has since come off oxygen and is now on the mend. Charlotte revealed back in December that Jude had again come down with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Bronchitis - one of the common viruses that cause coughs and colds in winter. Aged just seven weeks, Jude was hooked up to oxygen for six days as he battled the virus, with doctors telling Charlotte he would have died if he'd come into hospital a day later. He was hospitalised with it again at eight months old. Charlotte Dawson's son Jude has been rushed to hospital and put on oxygen just three weeks after his last health scare, she revealed on Instagram on Tuesday Speaking to fans in a video, Charlotte said: 'Thank god this little angel turned himself around this morning. He couldn't even breathe last night. He's been off oxygen now for about two hours. He is on his inhalers every two hours. His oxygen kept dropping, that's why. Oh, what a day, guys. 'So he was literally in the night last night just coughing his guts up, and it was awful. He usually always sleeps in his own bed, in his own cot, he's amazing at sleeping - but last night, I kept bringing him into me because he was just kept screaming for me. So I brought him in the room, and then he was going, "mummy, mummy, I can't breathe. I can't lie down. My chest hurts". 'He finally went to sleep and woke up at six o'clock, and I just knew, I just thought, "I'm gonna have to ring 111". So thank God they sent an ambulance and they blue-lighted him straight up.' Charlotte continued: 'His oxygen levels were so low and he was so grey and so white, his colour. And then we got up here, we were really worried about him. He was on oxygen. Been on oxygen all day. 'Literally, as soon as he gets to hospital he just gets it just gets so much better. Thank God. It's just so scary. Like, we literally can't catch a break with this RSV with Jude. We were literally in here three weeks ago, and now we're back. It's just always going to be a weak spot for him. 'But I'm in the right place. I'm glad I'm staying tonight, because, to be honest, if I got home and he got worse again, there's just... there's just no point. At least I'm in the right place.' Elsewhere Charlotte shared a sweet video of her and Jude enjoying buttered toast in his hospital bed as she took his mind off his illness. She captioned the video: 'After such a magical weekend we have had an unexpected trip to hospital again with my Judey this morning, we were only here 3 weeks ago!!! 'But he struggles so much with RSV and his breathing - been such a scary morning and day but he's just amazing how quickly he makes his recovery Thankgod!!!! 'We are having yummy hospital toast now in bed as we have to stay over.. he's been off oxygen for a few hours now so hopefully the only way is up now love him so much xxx.' The TV personality, 33, shared details of her 'scary' night after her two-year-old son was struggling to breathe and coughing all night Elsewhere Charlotte shared a sweet video of her and Jude enjoying buttered toast in his hospital bed as she took his mind off his illness In December Charlotte explained that Jude suffered a 'horrible turn' due to RSV bronchitis. Speaking on her Instagram Story, Charlotte said: 'Jude is a lot better, he has come round and a miraculous recovery really. It's been a lot. 'I think they are going to let him out. He's been taken off the oxygen now.' She added: 'He really struggles with this RSV and I think he will forever really. The last time that he was in he didn't have to be put on oxygen but his levels were that bad this time.' 'He has been full on playing in the play room, making all the nurses laugh and being the character that he is.' 'The worst week ever this, I put my phone in the washing machine, the car broke down, my train got cancelled and Jude is in the hospital.' Charlotte shares Jude, two, as well as Noah, five, and Gigi, eight months, with her partner Matt Sarsfield. In a previous update, she said: 'What a horrendous week & 24 hours... Our Judey had a horrible turn last night whilst I was in London, now I'm reunited with him in hospital. 'Thank god for daddy and grandad last night and today. 'Had to cancel everything I had on in London straight back to my cherub hoping he's out tomorrow. Anything work related will sort tomorrow.' Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson are reportedly back in 'regular contact' amid speculation they both want to return to The Kyle and Jackie O Show. According to News.com.au, Henderson reached out to Sandilands, 54, last week amid reports he was feeling 'betrayed' by their employers, ARN, after his on-air fight with Henderson, 51, led to his suspension and her contract being terminated. After connecting, both Sandilands and Henderson apparently realised ARN had told them separately that both parties didn't want to be contacted by the other. 'They both realised, like, "Why aren't we allowed to talk to each other?"' a source said. The publication also claims the meeting came before Henderson's statement last Friday, in which she announced she had not quit or resigned from the radio show. Sandilands apparently blames ARN for 'exploiting a very emotional Jackie', with the insider saying Sandilands and Henderson both feel they have been 'f**ked over' by their employer. Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson are reportedly back in 'regular contact' amid speculation they both want to return to The Kyle and Jackie O Show It was reported on Monday that the pair were hoping to return to The Kyle and Jackie O Show together. A source told The Daily Telegraph, Sandilands and Henderson are 'talking and want to do radio again'. 'The ball will be in ARN's court as to how this goes forward,' the source alleged. KIIS FM's parent company, ARN, announced last week that Henderson's $100 million contract had been terminated after she told executives she 'cannot continue to work with Mr Kyle Sandilands' following his harsh on-air comments that left her in tears. However, in a statement issued through her manager, Gemma O'Neill, Henderson stated she 'did not quit or resign', that she was 'deeply saddened... [by] the possibility of the show ending', and that her exit 'has come as a shock to me'. Meanwhile, 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.' Sandilands has been suspended and given 14 days to 'remedy' the breach, or else he faces termination. The radio titan is said to have called in lawyers and is 'preparing to sue' ARN should his $100 million contract be terminated following the collapse of the show last month. According to News.com.au , Henderson reached out to Sandilands, 54, last week amid reports he was feeling 'betrayed' by their employers, ARN, after his on-air fight with Henderson, 51, led to his suspension and her contract being terminated On Tuesday, Sandilands released his own statement, claiming he has been 'muzzled' by ARN, and barred from contacting Henderson or speaking with colleagues. 'I want to speak directly to my listeners, my colleagues and the public about what has been happening,' Sandilands began in his statement. 'On 20 February, I had an argument with Jackie on air about something that had been bothering me for a while. I said things I wish I had said differently.' Sandilands went on to say that he privately apologised to Henderson after the feud and deeply regretted hurting his long-time co-host's feelings. 'That same evening, I sent Jackie a message telling her I was sorry for anything I said that didn't go down well, that I love her and care for her, and that I could have handled it better. I meant every word of that, and I still do,' he continued. 'Jackie and I have worked together for over 25 years. She is one of the most important people in my life. The idea that our partnership could end like this is devastating to me.' The shock jock went on to claim ARN had imposed some strict conditions amid the fallout. 'ARN told me that I am not allowed to contact Jackie. They have told me that I am not allowed to speak to my colleagues. I did what was asked even though it made it impossible for me to do the one thing anyone in my position would want to do pick up the phone and talk to the person I have been talking with continually for my entire career,' he explained. Join the debate Should radio hosts or their employers decide when and how iconic partnerships come to an end? Sandilands apparently blames ARN for 'exploiting a very emotional Jackie', with the insider saying Sandilands and Henderson both feel they have been 'f**ked over' by their employer 'The truth is that ARN terminated Jackie's contract on the same day it accused me of a breach. It suspended me from work. All of this happened while I was being told to sit quietly and say nothing. That is not a genuine process.' While acknowledging Henderson had told him she was hurt, he insisted they had always resolved disagreements privately. 'I am not going to pretend that everything about this situation is simple. Jackie told me she was hurt, and I accept that. But we have had disagreements before and we have always worked through them. That is what partners do. We never needed lawyers or ASX announcements to sort things out. I believe we could have sorted this out too, if ARN had given us the chance. 'I have a contract with ARN that runs until 2034. I am committed to that contract. Despite what ARN says, I am not in breach of that contract. I want to be on air. I want to be with my audience. I want to do the job I have done my entire adult life,' he insisted. 'I am asking ARN to do the right thing: honour our agreement and let me get back to doing what I do best - entertaining the people who have supported this show for more than two decades.' He concluded: 'To my listeners: Thank you. I miss you. I'll be back.' Influencers are known for asking brands to 'collaborate' in the hope of scoring freebies in exchange for a bit of 'exposure'. But it's not every day you see a high-profile television star doing the same. Eyebrows were raised this week when Daily Mail spotted an unusual advertisement from Karl Stefanovic's team asking hotels to provide him with a complimentary room. The ad - published in the latest edition of industry newsletter Social Diary - stated that the Today show host will be travelling to London in a few months to record his podcast, The Karl Stefanovic Show. 'We'd love to hear from hotel partners interested in accommodation partnerships (which will also be used as a studio for episodes),' the ad read. The request is particularly surprising given Stefanovic's eye-watering salary. Eyebrows were raised this week when Daily Mail spotted an unusual advertisement from Karl Stefanovic's team asking hotels to provide him with a complementary room The ad - published in the latest edition of industry newsletter Social Diary - stated that the Today show host will be travelling to London in a few months to record his podcast, The Karl Stefanovic Show As the long-time host of Nine's Today show, he is widely regarded as the highest-paid television personality in Australia. It was reported his annual pay packet was around $3 million - although it was recently rumoured he had a pay cut, taking his salary down to $2 million. However, the bumper payday puts the breakfast TV veteran well ahead of most of his rivals in the industry. Surely a millionaire presenter can afford a hotel room in London, even with the city's notoriously lofty accommodation price tags? The ad is also curious for another reason: accommodation used for business purposes is typically considered a legitimate tax deduction in Australia. If a hotel room were genuinely to be used as a recording location for a podcast, the cost would ordinarily be something Stefanovic's team could claim as a work-related expense. Of course, there are some possible explanations. Stefanovic's team may be hoping that the hotel will help promote Stefanovic's podcast on social media, helping boost the recently-launched show's audience. As the long-time host of Nine's Today show, he is widely regarded as the highest-paid television personality in Australia. (Pictured with Today co-host Sarah Abo) It comes as rumours continue to swirl that Stefanovic is preparing to walk away from his high-profile Today gig It comes as rumours continue to swirl that Stefanovic is preparing to walk away from his high-profile Today gig. The Australian claimed on Monday that it is unlikely Stefanovic will extend his multi-million-dollar contract when it expires at the end of the year, and is eyeing a 'full-time switch to radio'. Stefanovic reportedly had informal talks with Australian Radio Network (ARN) regarding the move 'as recently as a month ago' and is currently weighing up his options. According to the report, Stefanovic told ARN boss Michael Stephenson during their meeting that 'he doesn't know what he is doing next year'. The publication also claimed that Nine's decision to grant permission for Stefanovic to launch his own podcast was a 'mistake'. It was suggested that executives 'underestimated Stefanovic's work ethic and commitment to the project', particularly his desire to keep the project independent of Nine. Nine did not comment to The Australian about the suggestion that Stefanovic was going against the Nine 'company line' regarding his podcast content, instead noting: 'This is an independent podcast entirely produced by Karl.' Anwar Hadid, the younger brother of supermodels Gigi and Bella Hadid, has requested a restraining order against a woman he claims repeatedly harassed him, ultimately breaking into his bedroom while he slept. Attorneys for Anwar identified the woman as Kristen Paige Fury, 28, in a legal filing in Los Angeles Friday. They said in the application that Fury 'has engaged in a knowing and willful course of conduct directed at' Anwar 'that is alarming, harassing, and disturbing.' Anwar's legal team said: 'Her conduct has escalated over time from unwanted messaging to physical intrusion into [Anwar's] residence and bedroom while he was sleeping.' Lawyers said that Anwar and Fury first crossed paths at a New Year's Eve party at his home on December 31, 2023, as she was a 'guest of a mutual friend.' Fury began texting Anwar with messages telling him they were 'meant to be together' and 'God told her' to pursue a romance with him, according to the application for the restraining order. Anwar Hadid, the younger brother of supermodels Gigi and Bella Hadid, has requested a restraining order against a woman he said repeatedly harassed him, ultimately breaking into his bedroom while he slept. The male model, 26, pictured in Paris in 2023 Fury showed up at Anwar's home on a rainy evening in late 2024, telling him that "God sent her" to him and that they were meant to be together, his lawyers said in the filing. Attorneys for Anwar said he 'clearly told her that he did not share those feelings and was not interested in a relationship,' but 'despite this rejection, [Fury] later resumed contact.' Lawyers for Anwar said he subsequently blocked phone numbers and social media platforms linked to her, but she resurfaced through new accounts in 2024 and 2025. Anwar's legal team said Fury posted statements such as "Zaddy, come find me;" tagged locations connected to him; imitated his photographs; and reposted content involving his relatives. Anwar never responded to any of Fury's communications, his lawyers said. Attorneys for Anwar said that Fury broke into his home late on December 14, 2025 and 'entered his bedroom without his permission.' Lawyers for Anwar said he 'was awakened by his dog barking and discovered [Fury] inside his bedroom. 'She had a blanket over her head and stated words to the effect of, "I know you must be scared right now; God sent me," and that we were meant to be together,' Anwar's legal team said in the filing. Gigi Hadid, Anwar Hadid and Bella Hadid pictured on October 8, 2015 in New York City Fury seen in security camera footage taken on January 16, 2026 - in an incident which led to her arrest, court papers say Anwar's legal team said that Fury, shortly after being released from custody on January 23, 2026, returned to his home and 'left only after being confronted and told to leave.' A 'shocked and afraid' Anwar contacted 911 and filed a report with police the next day, his lawyers said. Fury was 'arrested in connection with her conduct' after she 'returned to the area near' Anwar's home on January 16, 2026, his legal team said. Anwar's legal team said that Fury, shortly after being released from custody on January 23, 2026, returned to his home and 'left only after being confronted and told to leave.' (Anwar's attorneys shared a series of security camera photos with the court in the application.) They added that Fury 'has repeatedly disregarded clear verbal rejection, blocking measures, police intervention, and arrest' in their request for the restraining order. Anwar 'is afraid that [Fury] will continue to escalate and return to [his] residence again,' his lawyers said. The temporary restraining order was denied, but will be further explored at a hearing in the future, as the court 'needs more information at a properly noticed hearing prior to issuing any orders,' according to legal docs. The future of Jackie 'O' Henderson's career may be in question, but it was business as usual as the radio star visited her partially-built mansion on Wednesday. Jackie appeared deeply focussed as she attended an 11 am meeting at the construction site of her $13.25 million Clovelly cliffside home. The 51-year-old surveyed the progress of the luxury build, joined by architect Madeleine Blanchfield and members of the construction team. She paused multiple times to snap photos of the sprawling coastal property on her mobile phone, where $5 million worth of renovations are underway. It appears the build is forging ahead, despite questions about Jackie's future earnings after the termination of her $100 million contract at KIIS FM. The radio queen had eight years and $88 million left to pay on the deal, which earned her a whopping $10 million a year. The future of Jackie 'O' Henderson's (pictured) career may be in question, but it was business as usual as the radio star visited her partially-built mansion on Wednesday Jackie appeared deeply focussed as she attended an 11 am meeting at the construction site of her $13.25 million Clovelly cliffside home The 51-year-old surveyed the progress of the luxury build, joined by architect Madeleine Blanchfield and members of the construction team Prior to the landmark agreement with ARN, Jackie was earning a reported $5 million a year, with her net worth in 2025 estimated at anywhere between $10 million and $50 million. The star joked in 2025 that she would have to 'ask her accountant' how much she was worth. Henderson has also made impressive property moves, with her former Woollahra home selling for $13 million in 2023. Her most lucrative asset in her portfolio is the $13.25 million Clovelly oceanfront property she purchased in 2023. The home is expected to be worth an eye-watering $30 million when the rebuild is complete, with Jackie currently hiding out in a rental with her daughter Kitty as she weathers the media storm of her recent departure from The Kyle & Jackie O Show. Situated in one of the most sought-after locations in Australia, Jackie is currently doing an entire rebuild of the home, to the tune of a whopping $5 million. The sprawling oceanfront rebuild, overseen by Robert Plumb Build and Madeleine Blanchfield Architects, has surged into its next phase, with the multi-level concrete shell now taking full shape and the show-stopping curved pool structure clearly defined. The site - located in a scenic position featuring sweeping oceanside views - was cleared of the original 1960s-era six-bedroom, three-storey home, leaving a vast, open canvas for the huge job. She paused multiple times to snap photos of the sprawling coastal property on her mobile phone, where $5 million worth of renovations are underway It appears the build is forging ahead, despite questions about Jackie's future earnings after the termination of her $100 million contract at KIIS FM The radio queen had eight years and $88 million left to pay on the deal, which earned her a whopping $10 million a year Prior to the landmark agreement with ARN, Jackie was earning a reported $5 million a year, with her net worth in 2025 estimated at anywhere between $10 million and $50 million The star joked in 2025 that she would have to 'ask her accountant' how much she was worth Henderson has also made impressive property moves, with her former Woollahra home selling for $13 million in 2023 The property is located on a clifftop overlooking the ocean in the sought-after beach suburb of Clovelly, which is 9 km from the CBD. The house is set back from the road, offering Henderson the privacy she didn't have on the narrow streets of her former address. Henderson bought her new home after pocketing a tidy $2 million in profit on the sale of her old home in Woollahra, after paying $11 million for it in 2020. Last year, she shared snapshots of herself alongside the construction team, jokingly captioning one photo: 'Site meeting'. It comes after The Kyle and Jackie O show collapsed last week amid a high-profile feud between hosts Henderson and Sandilands. Henderson has been AWOL from the program since Friday, 20 February, after Sandilands, 54, accused her of being unfocused at work. During the on-air feud, Henderson broke down in tears when the pair were discussing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Sandilands got angry at her when she proceeded to read out the disgraced royal's birth chart. Her most lucrative asset in her portfolio is the $13.25 million Clovelly oceanfront property she purchased in 2023 The home is expected to be worth an eye-watering $30 million when the rebuild is complete, with Jackie currently hiding out in a rental with her daughter Kitty as she weathers the media storm of her recent departure from The Kyle & Jackie O Show Situated in one of the most sought-after locations in Australia, Jackie is currently doing an entire rebuild of the home, to the tune of a whopping $5 million The sprawling oceanfront rebuild, overseen by Robert Plumb Build and Madeleine Blanchfield Architects, has surged into its next phase, with the multi-level concrete shell now taking full shape and the show-stopping curved pool structure clearly defined The site - located in a scenic position featuring sweeping oceanside views - was cleared of the original 1960s-era six-bedroom, three-storey home, leaving a vast, open canvas for the huge job The property is located on a clifftop overlooking the ocean in the sought-after beach suburb of Clovelly, which is 9 km from the CBD The house is set back from the road, offering Henderson the privacy she didn't have on the narrow streets of her former address Henderson bought her new home after pocketing a tidy $2 million in profit on the sale of her old home in Woollahra, after paying $11 million for it in 2020 Last year, she shared snapshots of herself alongside the construction team, jokingly captioning one photo: 'Site meeting' It comes after The Kyle and Jackie O show collapsed last week amid a high-profile feud between hosts Henderson and Sandilands He lambasted his co-star, claiming that her love for astrology was affecting her work. An emotional Henderson said she was deeply 'offended' by his brutal comments during the clash. Fans were left in shock when just days later, it was announced that Henderson's $100 million contract had been terminated after she told executives she 'cannot continue to work with Mr Kyle Sandilands' following his harsh comments on-air that left her in tears last month. However, in a statement issued through her manager, Gemma O'Neill, Henderson stated she 'did not quit or resign', that she was 'deeply saddened... [by] the possibility of the show ending', and that her exit 'has come as a shock to me'. 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 'an act of serious misconduct which is in breach of ARN's services agreement with Quasar Media'. ARN has offered Henderson the possibility of an alternative show on the network. It has since been reported that Henderson and Sandilands are back in 'regular contact' amid speculation they both want to return to The Kyle and Jackie O Show. Henderson has been AWOL from the program since Friday, 20 February, after Sandilands, 54, accused her of being unfocused at work Fans were left in shock when just days later, it was announced that Henderson's $100 million contract had been terminated after she told executives she 'cannot continue to work with Mr Kyle Sandilands' following his harsh comments on-air that left her in tears last month However, in a statement issued through her manager, Gemma O'Neill, Henderson stated she 'did not quit or resign', that she was 'deeply saddened... [by] the possibility of the show ending', and that her exit 'has come as a shock to me' It has since been reported that Henderson and Sandilands are back in 'regular contact' amid speculation they both want to return to The Kyle and Jackie O Show According to News.com.au , Henderson reached out to Sandilands last week amid reports he was feeling 'betrayed' by their employers, ARN, after his on-air fight with Henderson led to his suspension and her contract being terminated According to News.com.au, Henderson reached out to Sandilands last week amid reports he was feeling 'betrayed' by their employers, ARN, after his on-air fight with Henderson led to his suspension and her contract being terminated. After connecting, both Sandilands and Henderson apparently realised ARN had told them separately that both parties didn't want to be contacted by the other. 'They both realised, like, "Why aren't we allowed to talk to each other?"' a source said. The publication also claims the meeting came before Henderson's statement last Friday, in which she announced she had not quit or resigned from the radio show. Sandilands apparently blames ARN for 'exploiting a very emotional Jackie', with the insider saying Sandilands and Henderson both feel they have been 'f**ked over' by their employer. It was reported on Monday that the pair were hoping to return to The Kyle and Jackie O Show together. A source told The Daily Telegraph, Sandilands and Henderson are 'talking and want to do radio again'. 'The ball will be in ARN's court as to how this goes forward,' the source alleged. Sandilands (left) apparently blames ARN for 'exploiting a very emotional Jackie' The radio titan is said to have called in lawyers and is 'preparing to sue' ARN should his $100 million contract be terminated following the collapse of the show last month. On Tuesday, Sandilands released his own statement, claiming he has been 'muzzled' by ARN, and barred from contacting Henderson or speaking with colleagues. 'ARN told me that I am not allowed to contact Jackie. They have told me that I am not allowed to speak to my colleagues. I did what was asked even though it made it impossible for me to do the one thing anyone in my position would want to do pick up the phone and talk to the person I have been talking with continually for my entire career,' he explained. 'The truth is that ARN terminated Jackie's contract on the same day it accused me of a breach. It suspended me from work. All of this happened while I was being told to sit quietly and say nothing. That is not a genuine process.' While acknowledging Henderson had told him she was hurt, he insisted they had always resolved disagreements privately. 'I am not going to pretend that everything about this situation is simple. Jackie told me she was hurt, and I accept that. But we have had disagreements before and we have always worked through them. That is what partners do. We never needed lawyers or ASX announcements to sort things out. I believe we could have sorted this out too, if ARN had given us the chance,' he said. 'I have a contract with ARN that runs until 2034. I am committed to that contract. Despite what ARN says, I am not in breach of that contract. I want to be on air. I want to be with my audience. I want to do the job I have done my entire adult life. 'I am asking ARN to do the right thing: honour our agreement and let me get back to doing what I do best do best entertaining the people who have supported this show for more than two decades.' Daniel Radcliffe has said that every child actor should have mandatory therapy as he reflected on growing up in the spotlight. The actor, 36, who rose fame aged just 11 as the titular character in the Harry Potter film franchise, revealed that although he 'didn't have those resources' he was one of the lucky ones. Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, Daniel recalled hearing a story about one child actor who took his own life after struggling with his mental health. 'You are viewed as having it all so you feel like you kind of don't have a right to complain and that is hard to get past,' he said. 'Some mandated therapy would be a great thing. I would say start therapy before you need it and then you have a language to [speak about things]. 'When we were kids, we didn't have those resources. It was the 2000s in England, so no one was thinking that way.' Daniel Radcliffe has said that every child actor should have mandatory therapy as he reflected on growing up in the spotlight He added on Bustles One Nightstand: 'But we had so many good people on set that were looking out for us. It was totally fine. But that was more luck than anything, we were very lucky in that way.' It comes after he recently begged Harry Potter fans not to put pressure on the child actors in the new TV series by making comparisons to the original cast. The actor said he doesn't want to be a 'weird spectral phantom' in the children's lives. Dominic McLaughlin has bagged the role of Harry Potter, while Arabella Stanton will play Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout will portray Ron Weasley in the upcoming HBO TV adaptation of JK Rowling's wizarding world. Daniel said that he's sure 'Dominic is going to be better than me' and urged fans to let the new stars 'get on with it' as he answered concerns about fame at a young age. He said: 'In some ways I think getting famous when you are young is almost easier because then all the weird things about fame are so intertwined with your life that they don't feel weird when you come up against them. 'There was a whole thing when these kids got cast like, "We have to look after them." If you mean that, one of the things people can do is not ask about us.' Speaking to Screen Rant, Daniel added: 'I would like not to be weird spectral phantoms in these children's lives and just let them get on with it.' The actor, 36, who rose fame aged just 11 in the Harry Potter film franchise (pictured), revealed that although he 'didn't have those resources' he was one of the lucky ones He continued: 'It's going to be a new thing, a different thing and they're going to be better than me, I'm sure Dominic is going to be better than me. 'I learned as I went. I look back at what I did now with a lot more kindness and I find it less embarrassing now that I'm older.' Offering some advice, the actor continued: 'I would say, have the best time and lean on the crew. Everyone has an image of how we were all raised on the set by the best British actors, but Maggie Smith wasn't coming in and giving me advice on how to grow up. That's not their job. 'The people that we were really close to were the crew. The crew were some of my best friends, they are still the people who I am really close to.' Additional cast on the HBO series sees Rory Wilmot set play Neville Longbottom, Amos Kitson as Dudley Dursley, Louise Brealey as Madam Rolanda Hooch, and Anton Lesser - best known for his role as Qyburn in Game Of Thrones - as Garrick Ollivander. Bel Powley and Daniel Rigby were announced the Mr and Mrs Dursley earlier this year. Janet McTeer, known for her powerhouse performances on stage and screen, will step into the sharp heels of Professor McGonagall, while rising star Paapa Essiedu takes on the darker, more complicated role of Severus Snape a part made famous by the late Alan Rickman. Emma Weymouth commanded attention on Tuesday evening, as she made a dazzling appearance in New York City, after royal fans took to social media to draw comparisons between her and the Duchess of Sussex. The Marchioness of Bath, 39, was the picture of glitz and glamour as she stepped out in a one-shoulder silver gown, encrusted entirely in rectangular diamantes. Flashing a radiant smile, she added even more sparkle to her striking outfit with beaded high heels, diamond earrings and glittery eyeshadow. Her outing comes after she sparked debate among royal fans with comments about being the first black woman to marry into British aristocracy in the latest season of the reality TV show, Ladies of London: The New Reign. Emma has joined the cast of the rebooted Hayu show, which follows socialites on the London scene, alongside the mother of Princess Beatrice's stepson, Dara Huang, and former Made in Chelsea star Mark-Francis Vandelli. In the opening scenes, designer Lottie Kane brought up Meghan while introducing Emma to viewers. Emma Weymouth commanded attention on Tuesday evening, as she made a dazzling appearance in New York City , after royal fans took to social media to draw comparisons between her and the Duchess of Sussex The Marchioness of Bath, 39, was the picture of glitz and glamour as she stepped out in a one-shoulder silver gown, encrusted entirely in rectangular diamantes Flashing a radiant smile, she added even more sparkle to her striking outfit with beaded high heels, diamond earrings and glittery eyeshadow 'She is the first black woman to be married into an aristocratic family, and I think Meghan Markle tries to claim that, but it was actually Emma,' she said. 'I'm of mixed heritage, half-Nigerian, half-English,' added Emma, who became the Marchioness of Bath after her husband Ceawlin Thynn's father, Alexander Thynn, died in 2020. 'The press commented heavily on the fact that I was going to become the first woman of colour to hold this title, and I acknowledge the fact that... the only woman of colour in this position is me, still to this day,' she continued. Fans took to social media to comment on Meghan's mention in the show, with one writing: 'People continue to obsess over Meghan. Her power!' A second said: 'Of course, they think if they mention M it will give them more traction.' A third wrote: 'Watching #LadiesOfLondon and they threw some shade at Meghan Markle.' Emma went on to explain her title, saying: 'My title is the Marchioness of Bath. My husband is the Marquess of Bath. 'What does it mean in 2025 to have a title? For me, it matters in the context of the estate, the house, and the family. 'My husband is Ceawlin Thynn, the Marquess of Bath, and I run Longleat House. Longleat House is a stately home; it was built in the Elizabethan times in 1518. It's very big, it's officially the biggest house in the UK. 'Longleat is a 10,000-acre estate with art and antiques, 44 thousand books, a very huge collection of beautiful things. 'Longleat is our main home, but then the kids go to school in London now, so I'm half in London, half at Longleat, and no two days are the same. Her outing comes after she sparked debate among royal fans with comments about being the first black woman to marry into British aristocracy in the latest season of the reality TV show, Ladies of London: The New Reign In the opening scenes, designer Lottie Kane brought up Meghan while introducing Emma to viewers (pictured last month) Emma is married to Ceawlin Thynn, the 8th Marquess of Bath, with whom she shares sons John, 11, and Henry, nine (seen together in 2021) Emma was met with positive comments from her castmates, with Mark-Francis saying of her: 'Emma is the embodiment of the modern aristocrat. 'She's cool, she's trendy, but at the same time, she holds, with great grace, the weight of being one of Britain's most important aristocrats.' Emma became Britain's first black marchioness in April 2020, when her husband's father, Alexander Thynn, 7th Marquess of Bath, died unexpectedly of coronavirus aged 87. But speaking to Tatler later that year, she said that she didn't want her skin colour to be a 'defining characteristic' and admitted to being a reluctant role model. Emma - who shares sons John, 11, and Henry, nine, with Ceawlin - said: 'Where I have been discussed in a positive light, as positive change, I'm grateful for being included in the conversation. 'I see my role as a practical thing: as a wife, mother and someone with a responsibility to maintain this incredible estate. I aspire to a future where [my skin colour] is not a defining characteristic.' The former Lord Bath - who was known for his affairs with as many as 70 women, who he called his 'wifelets' - and his wife Anna Thynn boycotted Emma and Ceawlin's wedding in 2013. In 2015, Ceawlin claimed his mother - who died in 2022 - said to him: 'Are you sure about what you're doing to 400 years of bloodline?' in reference to the colour of Emma's skin. Anna denied making the comment and said she has 'absolutely nothing against her daughter-in-law' but had never met her grandchildren something Emma has previously acknowledged is an ongoing sadness for her and her husband. Katie Price has declared her feud with her sister Sophie is over, after her family were left blindsided by her whirlwind marriage to Lee Andrews. In a sign that she has mended family relations, the star, 47, has revealed the podcast she co-hosts with Sophie is returning this week. The Katie Price Show abrubtly stopped days after Katie's Dubai wedding to Lee, 42, but after over a month off air the long-running weekly podcast is back with a new episode on Thursday. Both Katie and Sophie are back on the show, with the sisters posting a snap of themselves recording the episode on Tuesday night. In an Instagram video an excited Katie, who has returned home to the UK after jetting back and forth to Dubai over the past few weeks, told fans: 'Guess what everyone? The podcast is back! The Katie Price Show, the one that I do with my little sister!' It is not known if Katie and Sophie plan to address the recent rumoured rift on the episode. Katie Price has declared her feud with her sister Sophie is over, after her family were left blindsided by her whirlwind marriage to Lee Andrews Katie shocked fans when she married so-called businessman Lee in Dubai in January within 10 days of meeting him. And despite her family sharing their concerns, several of his ex-partners making bombshell accusations and a slew of his claims about his finances, business acumen and celebrity-links being revealed as false - Katie is certain that Lee is the real deal. She said they first connected after Lee came up as a suggested follow on Instagram and she took the opportunity to slide into his DMs, with the pair going on to message back and forth up to five hours a day, before finally meeting in person in Dubai. Yet her loved ones were said to have been blindsided by the whirlwind nuptials, and are reported to have expressed their concerns about the marriage and are 'anxious this is a potential scam'. However, Katie dismissed her family's worries, insisting that she was not a kid and that 'my life isn't normal', so they had to 'let me be me'. She acknowledged their feelings in an interview last week, saying: 'Of course my family are going to worry, I wouldn't expect anything different. They love me and they've seen me go through so much heartache, and the most horrific times. 'So I don't blame them for being p***ed off and angry. They love me and I love them too. But I'm not a kid any more, I am 47, I can make my own choices, and I will. They have to give me that chance to go and find out for myself.' Katie's sister Sophie has previously hinted at her disapproval of her new marriage and said their podcast would be 'paused' for the foreseeable future. Katie shocked fans when she married so-called businessman Lee in Dubai in January within 10 days of meeting him In a sign that she has mended family relations, the star, 47, has revealed the podcast she co-hosts with Sophie is returning this week In January, she shared a video of rolling British fields with the caption: 'This and never stepping foot in Dubai,' after telling her followers she'd had 'one hell of a week' following news of the wedding. While last month, she tellingly reposted a clip of physician Dr Gabor Mate discussing the various approaches that families can make in difficult times. The video ends with the words: 'I'm not going to try and change you. I just hope you come to your senses at some point. But I'll be with you and I'll be supporting you.' While her five children are still yet to meet the businessman, eldest children Princess, 18, and Junior, 20, said on This Morning last month that the family are 'happy as long as she's happy'. Love Island All Stars winner Samie Elishi has hit back at co-star Lucinda Stafford's 'bullying' claims, insisting it is not true. Lucinda, 26, had a rocky time in the villa and often clashed with Samie, 26, Belle Hassan, 28, and Jessy Potts, 27. Since leaving the South African villa, Lucinda has appeared on Paul C. Brunson's We Need To Talk podcast and claimed she felt 'bullied' by some of the girls, which led to her being 'isolated' from the group. Hitting back at Lucinda's claims, Samie told the Daily Mail: 'Some of the stuff that is being said is so bizarre, like the bully accusations, they are not true. 'Every Love Islander that has gone on a podcast since the show has said categorically no one got bullied and obviously the show wouldn't go on if there was. 'That stuff is hard to hear, but you've got to move on, like I know what kind of person I am.' Love Island All Stars winner Samie Elishi has hit back at co-star Lucinda Stafford's 'bullying' claims, insisting it is not true Since leaving the South African villa, 26-year-old Lucinda has appeared on Paul C. Brunson's We Need To Talk podcast and claimed she felt 'bullied' by some of the girls Speaking at Carmex's Sip & Paint event at Jumeirah Carlton Tower hotel on Tuesday, Samie revealed she is still in contact with all of her Love Island co-stars, other than Lucinda. Since leaving the villa, the pair have unfollowed each other on social media and have made it clear they are no longer friends. Samie added: 'I'm a firm believer that everyone is entitled to their own opinions and that is fair because I've got my own opinion and I want people to respect it. 'At the end of the day, my morals are so strong and I know the truth. I know my truth and the people that I'm close to, their truth, and that's all that matters. 'We lived it, we know what went on.' Samie won the third series of Love Island All Stars with partner Ciaran Davies, 23. The influencer admitted she was ready to leave the villa, as it had become more 'intense' than enjoyable. 'It was getting really intense and just not a very nice environment towards the end. As soon as we left, it was just like we could breathe again,' she explained. The girls fell out when Lucinda, who was appearing on Love Island for the fourth time, picked Ciaran to couple up with after she arrived as a bombshell. Tensions only worsened during a game of Snog, Marry, Pie, when Lucinda chose to pie Samie with 'full force,' which Samie described as feeling like a 'slap in the face'. Lucinda also found herself at loggerheads with Belle over Sean Stone, 26, and Jessy, who claimed she was putting on a 'fake baby voice'. Samie won Love Island All Stars third series with Ciaran Davies. The influencer admitted she was ready to leave the villa, as it had become more 'intense' than enjoyable Samie joined fellow Love Island stars Olivia Hawkins, Gabby Allen, Lauren Wood and Kaz Kamwi (pictured L-R) for a lavish dinner with Carmex on Tuesday On one episode, Lucinda stormed off in tears after a huge showdown and host Maya Jama had to step in to comfort her, sparking over 8,500 complaints in one night. Fellow islander Whitney Adebayo, 28, later asked Lucinda whether she felt she was being bullied, to which she replied that she hadn't been. Lucinda has since backtracked during her appearance on the We Need To Talk podcast. When host Paul gave the definition of bullying as 'when you have someone who has been antagonised, typically multiple times, but that person is on the lower end of a power imbalance', Lucinda said: 'Well that was exactly what it was. 'It was like I had in that moment when I was talking to Maya, I genuinely had no one to look to at all, apart from Sean. There wasn't one single person in there that I felt like was my friend. It was literally just Sean. And even that night I went to sleep. I didn't want to talk to anyone. I woke up the next morning. I looked around the bedroom and I was like, there's no one to even talk to. This isn't fun.' Despite her third stint on Love Island being a tense experience, Samie remains a huge fan of the ITV2 dating show and has no regrets. She explained: 'The fact that I've won is like the craziest thing in the world. I can't fathom it, but I love the show and I'll keep watching it forever. 'It still blows my mind that people know who I am. They are just amazing and it is the best to receive lovely messages.' Samie joined fellow Love Island stars Lauren Wood, Olivia Hawkins, Kaz Kamwi, and Gabby Allen for a dinner with Carmex on Tuesday. Celebrity make-up artists Anna Lingis and Lielle Neury had makeup stations where guests could be seated and Carmex was applied. Jess Wright has been branded a 'hypocrite' by social media users after bashing thong bikinis - despite having worn the revealing swimwear herself on numerous occasions. The former TOWIE star, 40, came under fire after discussing the clothing with her mother Carol, 65, and sister Natalya, 25, on their podcast, during which Jess told women to 'put it away'. Sharing her husband William Kemp's views on the trend, Jess said: 'Will cannot stand it. He says to me "I cannot understand how she thinks that's attractive". Put it away and leave something to the imagination. Who wants to see up their butts?' Carol also weighed in on the debate, revealing that her 69-year-old husband Mark Wright Sr. had told her he finds the look 'unsexy' after spotting holidaymakers wearing thong bikinis. Following the release of the podcast episode, titled 'Should thongs be allowed at the beach?', the comments faced mass backlash, with many saying what they said was 'degrading' about women. The comments also raised eyebrows among fans as Jess herself has previously worn the style multiple times over the years. Jess Wright has been branded a 'hypocrite' by social media users after bashing thong bikinis - despite having worn the revealing swimwear herself on numerous occasions (pictured in 2024) The former TOWIE star, 40, came under fire after discussing the clothing with her mother Carol, 65, and sister Natalya, 25, on their podcast, during which Jess told women to 'put it away' Jess (left) and Natalya are pictured in 2024 in thong style bikinis She also once owned an underwear shop, With Love Jessica. The Loughton High Road-based store opened in October 2011 before closing down in 2014. Following the upload, social media users resurfaced throwback images of the reality star wearing barely-there bikinis, many of which showed much of her bottom due to the cut of the swimwear. Those accusing her of hypocrisy wrote: 'Did no one see Jess on Towie? She was always in this sort of bikini when it was pool parties etc xxx Another added: 'Literally. pot kettle black and all that xx one rule for everyone else and their own rules for them, double standards at its finest lol.' Jess last shared a photo of herself in a thong bikini during a family holiday in 2024. Shortly before that, she and Natalya posed in barely-there two-pieces while holidaying in Abu Dhabi. She also posed in a white thong bikini during her pregnancy in 2021. Earlier that same year, she was seen walking through an airport in a fringed skirt with minuscule bottoms worn underneath on her way to her hen do. During a trip to Portugal, she showed off her figure in a white thong two-piece while relaxing on a yacht. In 2020, she donned another barely-there set while posing in the sea during a holiday in Dubai, and the year before she displayed her figure in a black version. Meanwhile, Natalya is also no stranger to wearing a thong bikini, with her Instagram filled with snaps of her in barely-there pieces. The comments also raised eyebrows among fans as Jess herself has previously worn the style multiple times over the years (Jess pictured in 2020) Following the upload, social media users resurfaced throwback images of the reality star wearing barely-there bikinis, many of which showed much of her bottom due to the cut of the swimwear The reality star also pictured in a thong bikini that year Jess with her sister in thong one-pieces She showed off her curves in the racy swimwear In 2024, she uploaded a clip of her in a black two-piece She also posed in a white thong bikini during her pregnancy in 2021 Another snap of her in a thong bikini while on holiday She wore a thong to the airport for her hen do Jess in a white thong bikini during her hen do Jess pictured on the beach in another thong bikini bottom In 2019, she displayed her figure in a black version Meanwhile, Natalya is also no stranger to wearing a thong bikini, with her Instagram filled with snaps of her in barely-there pieces On Tuesday, Jess issued a heartfelt apology for the comments made about women wearing thong bikinis on her Wright At Home podcast. Despite deleting the clip from the podcast Instagram page, the clip was shared across TikTok with mass backlash against the discussion. Jess' subsequent apology on Tuesday afternoon, which was also shared on Carol and Natalya's accounts, read: 'In response to comments we made on our podcast. We've listened, we hear you and we want to say sorry... 'Our judgement was wrong and we take full accountability and will do better moving forward. Love Jess, Natalya and Carol.' Jess and Carol joined Natalya in discussing the swimwear - where Jess ordered women to 'put it away'. Social media erupted with reaction to the clip, with many defiantly posting bikini pictures and stating: 'Jess, I do not dress for your husband', while others posted throwback images of Jess wearing thong bikinis over the years. Jess, Natalya and Carol launched Wright At Home in November last year and while the show has gained mild traction since its launch, the bikini discussion has stormed TikTok - despite the minds behind the Instagram page removing the clip. The discussion started with Jess stating: 'I can't stand how it's acceptable to walk around on the beach in a thong', to which Natalya said: 'Do you know what's worse, these girls who do wear them, fair enough if you're gonna wear them, at least if you're gonna bend over and put your towel over your bed, put a sarong on!' Carol joined the conversation: 'I really do think this is not sexy for men to look at.' Jess then gave the insight of her husband's feelings, saying: 'Will cannot stand it. He says to me: "I cannot understand how she thinks that's attractive". Put it away and leave something to the imagination. Who wants to see up their butts?' Carol urged: 'Leave something to the imagination! It's not sexy', while Jess added: 'Please girls, wear bigger coverage bikini bottoms.' The family matriarch then recounted a story from a holiday with her husband, who she revealed weighed in on the look of three women with varied figures. She said: 'Me and daddy was walking along the promenade and there were three girls in front of us and they were all different shapes and sizes but they had their whole arses out and daddy was looking and he said: "It doesn't even look sexy"'. On Tuesday, Jess issued a heartfelt apology for the comments made about women wearing thong bikinis on her Wright At Home podcast Upset arose at the prospect of women failing to support other women, with one TikTok user declaring they are not concerned with Will's opinion. They wrote: 'Its disgusting women still have to deal with other women tearing them down for their clothing choices... 'Jess hunny, I do NOT dress for your husband and I certainly dont want him imagining me naked. That is not why the baddies wear thong bikini's.' One video showed a pair of girls standing at the front of a boat with words over the top reading: 'Oh better change my whole summer wardrobe because Jess Wright's husband and Dad think it's unacceptable and unattractive xxx.' Georgia Toffolo sipped on a pint of 0% Guinness and posed with a Gold Cup as she enjoyed day two of the Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday. The 31-year-old, who found fame on reality series Made in Chelsea and went on to win ITV's I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! in 2017, has previously described Cheltenham as the 'highlight' of her year. And getting in on the action, Georgia took to social media on Wednesday as she shared snaps from her day. She was seen cheersing with a pint of 0% Guinness beside the Guinness 0.0 trailers on site and also posed with a mascot dressed as the golden trophy. Georgia's husband, James Watt, was not with her on the day amid his Brewdog business woes, however that should come as no surprise. He previously joined her at the horse racing event but decided it wasn't for him. Georgia Toffolo sipped on a pint of 0% Guinness and posed with a Gold Cup as she enjoyed day two of the Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday Georgia appeared to be having a great day out at the famous horse racing festival She was seen cheersing with a pint of 0% Guinness beside the Guinness 0.0 trailers on site and also posed with a mascot dressed as the golden trophy Toff, who plans her outfits months in advance, was also seen lamenting how her furry shoes from Western Affair were not faring too well in the mud. She looked incredible wearing her coat, which she sourced from eBay, over a Gucci jumper and a mini skirt from Maje. Keeping on the furry theme, she carried a shearling bag from Dior and wore a camel-coloured hat from JT Millinery. Georgia shared some pictures of her look on social media on Wednesday and wrote: 'Day two at Cheltenham here we go again. I feel reallyyyy special in this outfit. 'Ive been attending Cheltenham for as long as I can remember, and every year it gets trickier trying to think outside the box while still weaving in the heritage and style of Cheltenham that we all love.' She continued in the Instagram caption: 'I do slightly worry I may have pushed the fashion boundaries a little far this time 'Because yes, I can confirm I am wearing hairy pointed stilettos to Cheltenham. 'And of course I searched high and low for the prettiest brolly in the land as we all know Cheltenham never fails to provide a little scattering of rain. 'P.S. My shearling Dior saddlebag is the one thing I would grab in a fire.' She also took to her Stories to show herself grappling with her footwear in the mud. Toff, who plans her outfits months in advance, was also seen lamenting how her furry shoes from Western Affair were not faring too well in the mud The reality TV star looked incredible wearing her deer print coat, which she sourced from eBay Keeping on the furry theme, she carried a shearling bag from Dior wore a camel-coloured hat from JT Millinery Join the debate Do you find Georgia Toffolo relatable? Georgia made sure to bring her umbrella in case it rained, writing on social media: 'Of course I searched high and low for the prettiest brolly in the land' Her Instagram post ended with the humorous admission: 'P.S. My shearling Dior saddlebag is the one thing I would grab in a fire' Josie Gibson raised eyebrows when she arrived at Cheltenham on the arm of Sam Wolfenden, who has appeared on This Morning before Meanwhile, Josie Gibson raised eyebrows when she arrived on the arm of farrier Sam Wolfenden, who has appeared on This Morning before. The pair met on the breakfast show in March 2025 and things appeared to get a bit steamy between the two, although it's not yet known if they are dating. A farrier is someone who shoes horses so it's likely they have just as much in common as Cheltenham fans. Wednesday was certainly not Georgia's first time turning heads at the racing event, as she attended the day before in a striking red Chanel mini skirt suit. It came as her BrewDog co-founder husband said he is 'heartbroken' after his firm was sold off for just 33million this month with the loss of almost 500 jobs. The Scottish brewery, which was speculatively valued at 2billion just a few years ago, was sold to US cannabis and drinks firm Tilray for a fraction of that earlier this week. A total of 38 UK Brewdog bars closed this month, when CEO James Taylor told 484 staff in an all-hands conference call that they were no longer employed. Georgia was seen swigging a pint of alcohol-free Guinness at the racing event the previous day Her BrewDog co-founder husband has said he is 'heartbroken' after his firm was sold off for just 33million this month - with the loss of almost 500 jobs Shares owned by the 220,000 'equity punks' who invested some 75million in the company over seven funding rounds are now practically worthless. In a post shared across several social media channels, self-espousing 'punk' and multimillionaire Mr Watt expressed contrition over the company's downfall. However, it failed to impress some observers. Describing the last week as 'incredibly hard', he wrote: 'I am heartbroken for all of the hard working and passionate team members who have lost their jobs. 'I am heartbroken for all of our brilliant equity punks who did not get the return on their investment they wanted. 'And heartbroken to have dedicated the best 20 years of my life to something that ultimately did not have the ending we all wished for.' Warwick Davis was supported by a mystery woman as he accepted his OBE from The Prince Of Wales on Wednesday, after crediting a person known as 'Sponge' for 'helping him to love again' following his wife's death. The Harry Potter star, 56, was also joined by his daughter Annabelle, 28, and son Harrison, 23, as he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to drama and charity. Arriving for the ceremony, Warwick was seen conversing with Prince William as he accepted the honour, with his mystery woman and his children watching on. Warwick shares his two children with his late wife Samantha, who died in 2024 as a result of a cardiac arrest following complications from an essential surgery. Last year, the star paid tribute to a mystery woman for helping him to 'love again', but has only referred to her as 'Sponge'. Speaking during his acceptance speech, after being awarded with the BAFTA Fellowship last year, he said: 'Special mention should go to Sponge, you know who you are.' He added: 'Thank you for showing me that life can still have meaning and for helping me to laugh and to love again.' Warwick Davis was supported by a mystery woman as he accepted his OBE on Wednesday, after crediting a woman called 'Sponge' for 'helping him love again' following his wife's death The actor was joined by the mystery companion (pictured, right), his daughter Annabelle and son Harrison, as he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) Asked about the identity of 'Sponge' last year, Warwick said on The Jonathan Ross Show: 'I can reveal, sticking with the Harry Potter theme, Sponge is indeed She-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named.' Referring to Daisy May Cooper's character, Kerry Mucklowe, from comedy series This Country, Warwick adds: 'Sponge very much reminds me of Kerry. Some of the things she says and her accent.' Warwick also spoke about his emotional tribute to his late wife Samantha during his acceptance speech, saying: 'When you go through your career as an actor, you sometimes become a bit reluctant to do certain jobs thinking another one will come along and be a bit better. 'She would always say "get out there and do it". She was great at networking as well, always talking to producers and getting me the work in the next job. Very supportive. You need that in this business because it is difficult. You've got to have someone who is very supportive of you being away on occasions and working ridiculous hours.' Warwick added: 'Acting is quite a lonely career, really. You need a solid foundation at home to support that and make it work.' Warwick's late wife Samantha Davis, who was also an actress, died aged 53 at University College Hospital in London on March 24, 2024. An inquest into her death concluded that she died as a result of a cardiac arrest following complications from an essential surgery. She fell ill with sepsis in 2019 which led to intensive care treatment. This followed operations on her spine that were undertaken at University College London Hospital. Warwick dedicated his BAFTA Film Fellowship Award to his late wife during an emotional tribute at the ceremony. He said: 'Above all I would like to dedicate and thank my wonderful wife Sammy who died almost a year ago. She was always so supportive of my career and encouraged me to grab every opportunity with both hands.' His children were both seen crying in the audience as their dad thanked them helping him get through the tough year. He said: 'Since then, life has been pretty tough for me but thanks to the support of our wonderful children Annabelle and Harrison, I've been able to continue working and engaging in life.' Join the debate Who do you think the mystery woman is? Warwick has two children with his late wife Samantha, who died in 2024 as a result of a cardiac arrest following complications from an essential surgery (pictured in 2015) The couple met during the filming of 1988 fantasy movie Willow, in which he had a starring role as the hero Willow Ufgood. They married in 1991. Alongside their daughter Annabelle and son Harrison, Warwick and Samantha also had a third child, however he tragically died nine days after being born. Warwick said in 2022 that he would not wish the 'devastating' experience of losing their son on anyone and added: 'You never get over it.' Samantha was then struck down with sepsis, five years before her death, with Warwick keeping vigil at her hospital bedside as she fought for her life. Their family had been gearing up for a caravan holiday in 2019 when she suddenly fell ill with a mystery condition, something she put down to stress. However, she became gravely unwell and left on the brink of death before thankfully making a remarkable recovery. Samantha then tragically died in 2024, with Warwick releasing a touching statement where he said her passing had 'left a huge hole in our lives' and paid tribute to his 'favourite human'. He described Sammy, as he called her, as his 'most trusted confidant and an ardent supporter of everything I did in my career'. The Star Wars actor said he felt like he could achieve anything with his wife by his side and that it felt like he had a 'superpower'. 'She was a unique character, always seeing the sunny side of life she had a wicked sense of humour and always laughed at my bad jokes,' Warwick said in a statement given to the BBC. Following the inquest into Samantha's death, Senior coroner Professor Fiona Wilcox ruled her cause of death as 'arrhythmic cardiac arrest and complications following left thoracotomies'. Warwick, who recently received an OBE for services to drama and charity, praised his late wife Samantha as 'an ardent supporter of everything I did in my career' The star, seen here conversing with Prince William, co-founded the charity Little People UK in 2012 with his late wife, to support people with dwarfism and their families Best known for his role as Professor Flitwick in Harry Potter, Warwick confirmed he will return to the world of wizardry for the new Harry Potter series reboot She explained that she had achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism, which was 'complicated by very severe spinal problems' and had required multiple surgeries since 2016. She also praised the care given by hospital staff, telling the court, the hospital delivered 'nothing but excellent care' and all of Samantha's 'complications were appropriately managed'. She said: 'I am satisfied that the medical cause of death should be arrhythmic cardiac arrest and complications following left thoracotomies. 'In my view, the stress of everything together has precipitated this arrhythmic cardiac arrest in a lady who was not known to have any previous arrhythmia problems.' Prof Wilcox added: 'I have found nothing but excellent care being delivered to this lady and all of her complications were appropriately managed. 'It is frankly heartbreaking that the surgery itself was successful only for complications to arise and to cause her death.' David Lawrence, a cardiothoracic surgeon at University College London Hospitals, said Samantha's recovery had been going well and that she had stable readings. He told the inquest: 'Very sadly, on the night this happened, the original plan had been that she would be discharged home the following day. 'We had good evidence that this patient had a chest x-ray that was acceptable, very stable observations and this patient did not bleed during the day.' During her stay, two surgical chest drains had been removed the second of which came out on the very same day she died. Senior Coroner for Inner West London, Prof Wilcox, said: 'I am satisfied that the medical cause of death should be arrhythmic cardiac arrest and complications following left thoracotomies. 'In my view, the stress of everything together has precipitated this arrhythmic cardiac arrest in a lady who was not known to have any previous arrhythmia problems.' The coroner added: 'I have found nothing but excellent care being delivered to this lady and all of her complications were appropriately managed. 'It is frankly heartbreaking that the surgery itself was successful only for complications to arise and to cause her death.' In a statement released through their solicitors ahead of the hearing, the family said: 'We know that the resilience and strength Sammy instilled in all of us will guide us through this difficult next chapter. 'Her love, support, and determination is a legacy we want to continue. Sammy's Helping Hands fund, which was set up in her honour, has already had a huge impact on young people in the dwarfism community, and will continue to support families all over the UK moving forwards. 'The last year and trying to come to terms with Samantha's death has been incredibly difficult. 'However, we hope that the inquest will at last provide us with answers. We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their kindness and well-wishes to us all.' Samantha was diagnosed with achondroplasia, a bone growth disorder that causes dwarfism, as a child. Her husband is affected by a similar condition, spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita. It meant he never grew taller than 3ft 6in. Best known for roles such as Professor Flitwick and goblin Griphook in Harry Potter, as well as his comedic adventures with Karl Pilkington in An Idiot Abroad, Warwick is particularly commended for his advocacy for people with dwarfism. He co-founded the charity Little People UK in 2012 with his late wife Samantha, to support people with dwarfism and their families. Davis has confirmed he will return to the world of wizardry for the new Harry Potter series reboot and reprise his role as Professor Flitwick. Kylie Jenner has posed for arguably her sexiest shoot yet for Vanity Fair's Spring Issue, going topless while lying on a bed while covering her modesty with her hands. The cover shot sees her smoking alongside a saucy tagline which reads: 'Kylie on top' and she also poses completely naked wearing nothing but a cape and heels. In the accompanying interview, the mother-of-two, 28, who is in a relationship with Hollywood actor Timothee Chalamet, 30, admits she does want more children. Kylie is already mother to Stormi, eight, and son Aire, from her relationship with musician Travis Scott, 34, and Timothee has previously said he wants to be a dad. She said: 'In the last years of my 20s, I want to focus on just me, my businesses, my work, travelling with my kids, enjoying my kids, and then... I do want to have more kids....' Kylie also reflected upon her 'fun' romance with Wonka star Timothee when asked about the shout-out he gave her at the Critics Choice Awards in January where he confessed his love for her. Kylie Jenner posed topless and smoked a cigarette as she revealed her desire for more children while reflecting on her 'fun' relationship with Timothee Chalamet in a sizzling Vanity Fair shoot Kylie lit up a cigarette in a satin bra and jodhpurs for the cover alongside a tagline which saucily read: 'Kylie on top' She posed naked under a bowed cape and heels for a sexy black and white photo for her raciest shoot yet as she detailed growing up in the spotlight Kylie and Timothee kept their romance out of the spotlight until he won Best Actor at the Critics' Choice Awards in January and publicly made a declaration of love for her In January, the actor won the Best Actor trophy for his role in Marty Supreme and made a very public declaration of love for his girlfriend. Timothee finished his acceptance speech with a tribute to Kylie. He said: 'Lastly, I'll just say, thank you to my partner of three years. 'Thank you for our foundation. I couldn't do this without you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.' Kylie was seen in the audience resting her chin on her folded hands and mouthed: 'I love you.' Referencing the moment in Vanity Fair, Kylie was asked: 'Is it fun to be shouted out onstage?' The interviewer noted its the only time in the interview that Kylie gets flustered, but in the most charming way possible. 'Is it fun?' they ask again, pushing her on the matter. 'Of course,' she said, blushing. During the same interview, Kylie's sister Kendall is asked about how Kylie has matured in the public eye, after growing up on reality show, Keeping Up With The Kardashians. Kylie leans her head back in an almost orgasmic fashion in another leggy image She is seen writhing on a chair while wearing her underwear and ripped tights When asked whether her relationship with Timothee is 'fun', she blushes and says 'of course' She said: 'We learned how we wanted to take control of our private lives as much as we could. 'But Ive seen so much beautiful growth in her, and shes really come into herself in such an awesome way... 'She had kids really young, so she had to grow up quick, but it feels like the most adult Ive ever seen her, and I feel like shes just really in her grown-up bag.' Kylie herself admits that no one in her famous family could have forseen what was to come with the show, which quickly became a global phenomenon. She said: 'I dont think any of us knew what we were getting ourselves into in the beginning. I was nine, I have a daughter now whos turning eight, so its crazy to see her and how young she is. 'And this is when you start creating your first memories. Its almost like I just dont know anything else. 'I never got a taste of normalcy as an adult. Growing up in it almost was a benefit to me because I dont have anything to compare it to, really.' While Kim Kardashian is often viewed as the most famous member of the family, Momager Kris Jenner, 70, told the publication that Kylie is 'one of one'. Talking about her youngest daughter's creativity, she said: 'I think Kylie is one of one. Some people dont have the eye for being able to put things together a certain way, that artistic vision. 'And shes just got this level of creativity. A lot of us, just in my family, we just go to Kylie for a vision, an opinion.' Kylie tried to trademark her name in 2014, but was blocked by singer Kylie Minogue. Minogue won the legal battle in 2017, blocking Jenner from trademarking the name 'Kylie' for advertising and endorsement services in the US. She recalls the money she used to 'go for it' was half the money she had in her bank account at the time, around $250,000. Jenner said: 'My mom was like, "You are going to be left with lots of lip kits in your garage if this doesnt work out." And it wasnt even a thought that it wasnt going to work out.' Despite the success of her beauty brands, Kylie noted that she struggled to enjoy the fruits of her labour at first, saying: 'It wasnt very exciting for me for the first year because I was so stressed out that everyone would harass me on Twitter at the time because they couldnt get a lip kit. 'I couldnt handle it because I really wanted to just make everyone happy.' The woman charged with firing multiple rounds into Rihanna's $13.8 million Beverly Hills mansion while she was home with her family on Sunday did so deliberately, according to the criminal complaint. Prosecutors alleged that Ivanna Lisette Ortiz's 'attempt to murder' the 38-year-old pop diva was 'willful, deliberate and premeditated' when she traveled to her five-bedroom modern farmhouse, in legal documents obtained by People. During the court hearing Tuesday, the 35-year-old suspect was charged with attempted murder, 10 counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and three counts of shooting at an inhabited dwelling or camper. But Ortiz's arraignment was reportedly postponed until March 25 after her public defender Jamarcus Bradford withdrew a not guilty plea on her behalf. The Florida woman - whose bail was set to $1.8 million - remains in custody and faces up to life in state prison if convicted. Miraculously, no one was injured when Ortiz allegedly drove her white Tesla Model 3 to the posh property and used an AR-15 rifle to open fire on Rihanna (born Robyn Fenty) as well as a neighboring property. The woman charged with firing multiple rounds into Rihanna's (pictured November 3) $13.8 million Beverly Hills mansion while she was home with her family on Sunday did so deliberately, according to the criminal complaint Prosecutors alleged that Ivanna Lisette Ortiz's 'attempt to murder' the 38-year-old pop diva was 'willful, deliberate and premeditated' when she traveled to her five-bedroom modern farmhouse LA County DA Nathan J. Hochman said at a press conference on Tuesday: 'In that residence, Rihanna was there with her partner, her three children, her mother, and two staff people representing eight of the 10 of the counts of dealing with an assault with a semi-automatic firearm.' The nine-time Grammy winner and her babydaddy A$AP Rocky are parents of three-year-old son RZA, two-year-old son Riot and six-month-old daughter Rocki. 'In addition, Miss Ortiz is accused of firing at a neighboring residence that had two additional individuals,' Hochman said. 'That is why there are 10 felony counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm.' Ortiz - who has a history of prior arrests - frequently insulted and made wild accusations about Rihanna on her Facebook account and YouTube channel. 'The way that Rihanna wants to kill me, she's the one who wants to kill me. The way that Rihanna wants to kill me shows that we're not going to show this right now, but this is my heart, Lord. And I am expecting and waiting in that beautiful time for you to show me what you're going to do and how you're going to deliver this promise,' the licensed speech pathologist said in a January 4 video. 'Listen, Rihanna, when you die, God is taking me to my future. You want to kill me? Shut up. Okay, shut up. Yeah, she's a witch. She's a witch. I'm a watchman. She's a witch. Get that stupid girl out of here.' During the court hearing Tuesday, the 35-year-old suspect was charged with attempted murder, 10 counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and three counts of shooting at an inhabited dwelling or camper (pictured February 27) But Ortiz's arraignment was reportedly postponed until March 25 after her public defender Jamarcus Bradford (pictured) withdrew a not guilty plea on her behalf The Florida woman - whose bail was set to $1.8 million - remains in custody and faces up to life in state prison if convicted Miraculously, no one was injured when Ortiz allegedly drove her white Tesla Model 3 to the posh property and used an AR-15 rifle to open fire on Rihanna (born Robyn Fenty) as well as a neighboring property LA County DA Nathan J. Hochman said at a press conference on Tuesday: 'In that residence, Rihanna was there with her partner, her three children, her mother, and two staff people representing eight of the 10 of the counts of dealing with an assault with a semi-automatic firearm' (pictured in 2024) Ortiz - who has a history of prior arrests - frequently insulted and made wild accusations about Rihanna on her Facebook account and YouTube channel The licensed speech pathologist said in a January 4 video: 'Listen, Rihanna, when you die, God is taking me to my future. You want to kill me? Shut the up. Okay, shut the up. Yeah, she's a witch. She's a witch. I'm a watchman. She's a witch. Get that stupid girl out of here' Before the scary incident, Rihanna - who flew her private jet out of LA Tuesday - had been hard at work in the studio recording her long-awaited follow-up to her eighth record Anti in 2016 Ortiz lost custody of her 10-year-old child with ex-husband Jed Nikko Valdez Sangalang in 2024 a year after she was involuntarily committed under the Baker Act - according to TMZ. Before the scary incident, Rihanna - who flew her private jet out of LA Tuesday - had been hard at work in the studio recording her long-awaited follow-up to her eighth record Anti in 2016. Meanwhile, the 37-year-old Punk Rocky rapper (born Rakim Athelaston Mayers) is scheduled to kick off his 42-date Don't Be Dumb Tour on May 27 in Chicago. Shia LaBeouf has finally received permission to travel to Rome for his father's baptism amid his legal troubles after a judge rejected an initial request to authorize the trip. LaBeouf, 39, has been arrested twice in connection to a Mardi Gras bar fight last month. He was ordered to pay $105,000 in bail and is now required to check into rehab and undergo regular drug and alcohol testing. Throughout the legal proceedings, the actor had sought permission to travel abroad for his father Jeffrey's baptism while out on bail, according to The Guardian. LaBeouf's initial request to fly to Italy 'for religious purposes, including his father's baptism' from March 1 to 8 was denied by judge Simone Levine during a February 26 court hearing, according to the publication. But a second attempt at seeking permission was successful. The publication reports LaBeouf's request to travel to Italy was granted on March 4 by magistrate Peter Hamilton. Shia LaBeouf has finally received permission to travel to Rome for his father's baptism amid his legal troubles after his initial attempt to authorize the trip was rejected by a judge; pictured February 17 booking photo The Guardian reports that the initial requested was rejected primarily as no travel itinerary had been given to the judge, however numerous officials knowledgeable about the situation told The Guardian a travel itinerary was supplied in the second request. LaBeouf was arrested on two counts of misdemeanor battery on February 17 following an alleged fight outside a bar in New Orleans' French Quarter. He was released the same day on his own recognizance, but judge Levine later ordered he pay a $100,000 bond after learning about alleged homophobic slurs the actor had used during the incident, according to The Guardian. The Even Stevens actor was arrested again in connection with the same incident on a misdemeanor simple battery charge and had bond set to $5,000, according to TMZ. According to the New Orleans Police Department incident report, officers were dispatched to R Bar on Royal Street at approximately 12:45 a.m. on February 17 in response to a reported simple battery involving a man who was allegedly 'causing a disturbance and becoming increasingly aggressive.' In the narrative section of the report, officers wrote that they were informed 'a white male subject was aggressive and struck multiple people' inside the bar. It was claimed the actor yelled: 'These f****ts put me in jail. Im a Catholic.' Judge Levine slammed LaBeouf for his alleged use of the slur against a 'marginalized community' that has faced so much 'terror' already. Jeffrey Damnit, who was involved in the altercation, has called LaBeouf's release 'ridiculous' and called for him to be charged with a hate crime. Eyewitnesses alleged LaBeouf became increasingly aggressive at a business and was escorted out by staff, at which point he allegedly struck one man multiple times with closed fists. Authorities say the situation escalated when LaBeouf returned to the scene and allegedly assaulted the same victim again before punching a second man in the nose. LaBeouf, pictured with his father Jeffrey in 2024, has received permission to travel abroad for his dad's baptism LaBeouf, pictured July 2025, has been arrested twice in connection to a Mardi Gras bar fight last month Witnesses reportedly attempted to restrain him until police arrived. LaBeouf was taken to a hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries before being booked into Orleans Parish Prison. He was charged with two counts of simple battery. In a statement provided to Daily Mail, the police said: 'At approximately 12:45am on February 17, 2026, NOPD officers were called to the 1400 block of Royal Street in response to a simple battery where two victims (two adult males), reported being assaulted. 'Investigators say a man identified as 39-year-old Shia LaBeouf was reportedly causing a disturbance and becoming increasingly aggressive at a Royal Street business. 'A staff member attempted to eject Mr. LaBeouf from the establishment. Once removed from the building, the victim reported being struck by LaBeouf who used his closed fists on the victim several times. 'The victims reported that LaBeouf left, but then came back, acting even more aggressive.' LaBeouf pictured being taken into custody following the alleged bar fight In his first interview since the brawl, LaBeouf made a series of bizarre claims - including that he felt scared when approached by three gay men on Fat Tuesday. Big gay people are scary to me, LaBeouf said bluntly during an hour-long interview with Channel 5. The interview saw LaBeouf make outlandish and often controversial statements. Among them was a claim that he felt 'scared' when approached by three gay men on Fat Tuesday. 'Big gay people are scary to me,' LaBeouf said plainly during one part of the hour-long conversation with Andrew Callaghan. 'When I'm standing by myself and three gay dudes are next to me, touching my leg, I get scared. I'm sorry. If that's homophobic then I'm that.' He also explained about the altercation, 'I was drunk and then I felt infringed upon in terms of my proximity. But I wasn't in my right mind, and so it's on me.' And he took accountability for reportedly using a gay slur, admitting, 'I said words not ok to say. I don't want to hurt nobody's feelings... I'm wrong for what I did.' LaBeouf's latest legal troubles come after he ended his marriage to Mia Goth; pictured 2014 LeBeouf told Callaghan he relocated to New Orleans, where he has deep family roots, following the Los Angeles wildfires in January 2025. LaBeouf detailed some family history elsewhere in the thorough interview. He explained that his paternal grandmother was a lesbian who married a man who served as her 'beard,' a partner meant to publicly disguise someone's homosexuality. His last name was originally spelled LeBoeuf but the spelling was changed by his grandmother in an effort to distance herself from her family, who had disowned her. Speaking on the subject of homosexuality, he clarified: 'I'm good with gay. Be gay over there though. Don't be gay in my lap.' In the wide-ranging interview, the movie star briefly discussed the demise of his marriage to Mia Goth. 'It's not new heartbreak. I don't want to talk too much about it. It's not my story alone to tell, but my side is I failed my marriage, so I had to own up to that. So that's why I moved out here,' he said. Hacks actress Jean Smart showed off her new boyfriend on Monday evening. He is Joe Pacheco, who has played Bart Daley alongside Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon on The Morning Show. The Boston-based actor has also appeared in Major Crimes, Bent and 100 Code. They looked happy as they smiled at each other while arm-in-arm at the 2026 Roundabout Theatre Company Gala in New York. They wore matching black: she was in a round-neck floor-length gown with ruffles on the waistline, hem and sleeves while he had on a black suit and tie with a crisp white shirt. The 74-year-old blonde star was married to actor Richard Gilliland for 35 years before his sudden death from a heart condition in 2021. Hacks actress Jean Smart showed off her new boyfriend on Monday evening. He is Joe Pacheco who has played Bart Daley alongside Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon on The Morning Show The Boston-based actor has also appeared in Major Crimes, Bent and 100 Code. They looked happy as they smiled at each other while arm-in-arm at the 2026 Roundabout Theatre Company Gala in New York The couple seems to have been dating since at least late 2024, according to Instagram posts of them together. And Pacheco has marked his Facebook status as 'in a relationship.' In January, she gave a big shoutout to her boyfriend when she accepted her second Golden Globe award for Hacks. Smart walked the red carpet before the awards with Pacheco before winning Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series. She thanked 'Joe' for being part of the 'support' surrounding her. 'I'm one of the luckiest people innot this roomin this entire business, and it does not go unappreciated,' Smart said as she accepted the award. 'I have the best bosses, I have the best showrunners, I have the best cast, led by the brilliant Hannah Einbinder, and I have my kids, Joe, I mean, I am just surrounded by so much support,' she said. The Hacks star was married to actor Richard Gilliland for 35 years before his sudden death from a heart condition in 2021. The blonde star was married to actor Richard Gilliland for 35 years before his sudden death from a heart condition in 2021. Seen in Audrey's Rain in 2003 He was 71 at the time of his passing. They share two sons, Connor Gilliland, 36, and Forrest Gilliland, 17. Seen in 2020 He was 71 at the time of his passing. They share two sons, Connor Gilliland, 36, and Forrest Gilliland, 17. In 2024 Smart called his death 'such a shock' when she discussed his 'unexpected' passing. 'Losing your mate of 35 yearsI mean, literally half my life I lived with him is just kind of indescribable,' she said on Who's Talking to Chris Wallace? 'And it just, you go through this period of thinking it's just not real,' she added. 'It's just this isn't real. You know? This just doesn't make any sense.' Hacks is ending with season five. Hacks is ending with season five. The HBO Max dark-comedy drama sees Smart play a stand-up comedienne named Deborah Vance, and Hannah Einbinder stars as Ava Daniels, Deborah's young comedy writer The HBO Max dark-comedy drama sees Smart play a stand-up comedienne named Deborah Vance, and Hannah Einbinder stars as Ava Daniels, Deborah's young comedy writer. The duo attempt to navigate their dynamics as a professional partnership and their personal lives through the comedy industry. Einbinder said the atmosphere on set will be 'bittersweet' as the cast knows it will be the last time they work together on the show. She told Live From E!: 2025 Emmys host Heather McMahan: 'I think it will feel different. We're going to start next week, and knowing it's the last season is really bittersweet.' However, she said the decision to end Hacks is smart. She explained: 'But I think it's right. It's nice to do something as many times as it should be done [and] not overstay your welcome. Rip it and do it and laugh and cry.' Kendall Jenner offered rare comments about her younger sister Kylie as she said the beauty mogul 'had to grow up quick' after welcoming kids at a young age. The 30-year-old model - who recently appeared in a new Adidas campaign - opened up about the topic for Kylie's latest Vanity Fair cover story published on Wednesday. At the age of 19, the Kylie Cosmetics founder became pregnant with her first child Stormi, eight, and gave birth to her daughter after turning 20. Four years later, she welcomed son Aire, four. 'I've seen so much beautiful growth in her, and she's really come into herself in such an awesome way,' Jenner told the outlet. 'She had kids really young, so she had to grow up quick, but it feels like the most adult I've ever seen her, and I feel like she's just really in her grown-up bag.' The TV personality also discussed how Kylie, 28, learned about navigating privacy in the spotlight after watching her older siblings over the years. Kendall Jenner, 30, offered rare comments about her younger sister Kylie as she said the beauty mogul 'had to grow up quick' after welcoming kids at a young age; seen in February in Milan 'She had kids really young, so she had to grow up quick, but it feels like the most adult I've ever seen her, and I feel like she's just really in her grown-up bag,' Jenner said of the beauty mogul She expressed, 'We learned how we wanted to take control of our private lives as much as we could.' Kylie - who shares her two children with ex Travis Scott - has previously talked about becoming a mom at a young age. During an appearance on sister Khloe Kardashian's podcast last year in November, the businesswoman admitted that it had been 'really hard' while on the topic of motherhood. 'It was really hard for me having kids so young and you're just the emotions, and the postpartum,' Kylie explained. However, the star revealed that she has since found a 'good balance' and still feels like herself. The beauty mogul also reflected on how she had been the youngest one out of her friend group to become a mother. One of her close pals Yris Palmer had also entered motherhood around the same time, but was a few years older than Kylie. 'The only one,' the Khy founder said. 'Yris. Yris and I became a lot closer. She's a little bit older than me, we had kids together also. But I think I did a pretty good job. I think it just takes time.' Jenner expressed, 'We learned how we wanted to take control of our private lives as much as we could'; Jenner and Kylie seen in 2024 in L.A. At the age of 19, the Kylie Cosmetics founder became pregnant with her first child Stormi, eight, and gave birth to her daughter after turning 20. Four years later, she welcomed son Aire, four 'It was really hard for me having kids so young and you're just the emotions, and the postpartum,' Kylie explained Kardashian applauded her younger sibling and expressed that she 'did a great job.' Kylie also shared how she could 'relate to' mom Kris Jenner after welcoming kids of her own. 'I understand maybe some of the decisions that she made, for sure. It's changed my whole relationship with my mom.' In the latest Vanity Fair cover story, the momager gushed about her youngest daughter and said that she is one-of-a-kind. 'I say this about all my kids, but Kylie is one of the kindest, most generous young ladies I've ever met,' she said. 'I think Kylie is one of one. Some people don't have the eye for being able to put things together a certain way, that artistic vision.' Kris added, 'And she's just got this level of creativity. A lot of us, just in my family, we just go to Kylie for a vision, an opinion.' Kylie - who is currently dating actor Timothee Chalamet - revealed whether she plans to have more children in the future. 'I say this about all my kids, but Kylie is one of the kindest, most generous young ladies I've ever met,' Kris Jenner said 'In the last years of my 20s, I want to focus on just me, my businesses, my work, traveling with my kids, enjoying my kids, and then...,' the media personality told Vanity Fair. 'I do want to have more kids,' she continued. Kylie made brief comments about her relationship with the Marty Supreme actor - whom she was first romantically linked to in 2023. The couple have mainly kept their dating life out of the public eye, with the reality star making rare appearances by Chalamet's side to support him at events. With awards season in full swing, the TV personality has been spotted with the Oscar-nominated star at ceremonies such as the Golden Globes earlier this year. However, she was absent from the 32nd Annual Actor Awards which took place nearly two weeks ago. Kylie - who is currently dating actor Timothee Chalamet - revealed whether she plans to have more children in the future; seen in January in Beverly Hills Kylie made brief comments about her relationship with the Marty Supreme actor - whom she was first romantically linked to in 2023; the pair seen in February in London At the Critics Choice Awards in January, Chalamet gave a special shout out to Kylie from the stage during his acceptance speech. 'And lastly, I'll just say thank you to my partner of three years. Thank you for our foundation. I love you. I couldn't do this without you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart,' he had gushed at the time. When simply questioned by the outlet if it was 'fun,' the star replied with a blush, 'Of course.' And while Kylie has shared her desire to have more children in the future, her sibling Kendall Jenner recently revealed whether she has the same plans. All her other sisters - including Kim, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian - have children of their own, making her the only one without kids. And while Kylie has shared her desire to have more children in the future, her sibling Kendall Jenner recently revealed whether she has the same plans; seen in February in Milan Last month, Jenner got candid about the topic during an interview with Vogue France. At one point, she was asked if she has been thinking of having children now that she is in her 30s. 'Yes, of course. I want to have them, but not right now,' Jenner admitted to the outlet. 'I want to make sure I can dedicate a lot of time to them, and for the moment, I'm still too busy.' Jamie Oliver says he's 'grateful for second chances' after being given an opportunity to partially reopen his Italian restaurant chain - seven years after its spectacular collapse. The celebrity chef has reopening the doors of Jamie's Italian with a 140-seater branch in the heart of London's West End - with free pasta available for walk-in guests on opening day, March 9. It's an impressive return, given that Jamie's Italian teetered on the edge of administration for more than a year, with millions of pounds in debt, before finally going bust in 2019, shutting down 22 restaurants and resulting in the loss of 1,000 jobs. Three years later, the celebrity chef insisted the humiliating collapse of his restaurant chain, which left his company owing around 83million, was just a 'minor blip'. Speaking on Wednesday, Oliver, 50, admitted 'life doesn't always go the way you want it' while reflecting in the dramatic implosion of his business - little more than a year before COVID-19 affected all customer facing businesses across the world. 'I was, like, fairly young when I started it,' he added during an appearance on the Chris Moyles Show. Jamie Oliver says he's 'grateful for second chances' after being given an opportunity to partially reopen his Italian restaurant chain - seven years after its spectacular collapse 'And we started literally the same week of when we said that the British recession started, like, when I was 28. And I mean, in a way, it's a bit like that now, isn't it? A bit miserable out there. 'I've just tried to train the staff to be joyful and like welcome people in, and its accessible food, accessible prices.' Oliver also revealed her was 'really excited and grateful' to be back in the kitchen at Jamie's Italian, after a lengthy absence. He said: 'Second chances, you know? Like, life doesn't always go the way you want it.' Speaking on Jamie Oliver: The Naked Chef Bares All about the crushing collapse of his beloved restaurant chain, the TV personality said: 'It happens, and I would call it a minor blip really, in the vision and the dream. A very painful one. But definitely, I'm better for it. 'We had thirteen amazing years and learned loads. I was a young man when I started, I'm much older and wiser now.' Asked whether or not he had learned from the closure of his Italian restaurant chain, the TV personality said: 'Yeah, for sure, and every other failure that I've had - which is about 50 per cent. But I've never been more rounded, I've never been more experienced.' When Oliver was asked about the restaurant chain's demise again last year, he admitted he got the 'basics' wrong because he is 'conceptually thick'. During an appearance on Davina McCall's Begin Again podcast, Jamie opened up about navigating failure, admitting he struggled with his inability to understand maths. He mused: 'Sometimes I've failed, and I got all the hard bits right and I got the basics wrong because I spent a lifetime refusing to accept any responsibility around numbers and maths... I didn't pass maths at school. 'Conceptually within that, yeah, I'm thick. I have a negative view of myself when it comes to maths. 'So when I lost my restaurants, you know, all the hard stuff we got right - all the stuff that most people struggle getting right, we got right. We were really good at the hard stuff - and it was really the basics.' The celebrity chef has reopening the doors of Jamie's Italian with a 140-seater branch in the heart of London's West End - with free pasta available for walk-in guests on opening day Speaking on Wednesday, Oliver admitted 'life doesn't always go the way you want it' while reflecting in the dramatic implosion of his business Poor online reviews are also believed to have contributed to the worsening reputation of Jamie's Italian, as food delivery apps such as Uber Eats conquered the market, leaving the chef unable to save his struggling brand. Josh Singh, who previously worked at Jamie's Italian at the Bullring in Birmingham said: 'In the early years it was a destination restaurant but I think over time the message got lost. The company started giving things away and turned into your average high street restaurant instead of a celebrity restaurant. 'They opened restaurants all over the place and in places where you wouldn't expect celebrity restaurants to be like villages and very small towns.' An anonymous member of staff added: 'It was getting too commercial and I felt under pressure to get customers seated and ordered and then out too quickly. 'On busy nights it felt like a conveyor belt. Why pay 100 plus for a meal when you feel under pressure to eat it quickly? You might as well go to McDonalds.' Oliver also revealed her was 'really excited and grateful' to be back in the kitchen at Jamie's Italian, after a lengthy absence Oliver opened his first Jamie's Italian in Oxford in 2008, growing it to more than 60 restaurants worldwide. In 2017, the restaurant chain lost almost 20million and was forced to close several of its branches. It came close to bankruptcy in 2018, before the chef injected 12.7million of his savings into the business. That year, he closed the last of his Union Jacks eateries and scrapped his magazine Jamie, which had been in print for almost 10 years. The father-of-five went on to describe that year as the worst of his life. By 2018, Jamie's Italian was struggling with debts of 71.5million. More than 600 people had lost their jobs earlier that year, when the chain said it would close 12 sites. Now, the new branch of Jamie's Italian, which is aiming to sell classic pasta dishes at accessible prices, is opening in partnership with Brava Hospitality Group, the team behind Prezzo Italian. Oliver said of the opening: 'I'm beyond excited to be opening Jamie's Italian doors once again - it's been quite the journey, but I'm truly humbled by the support you've shown us over the years. 'And for those of you still holding onto a cheeky 'borrowed' napkin or an old-school gold card, bring it down and we'll treat you to a free bowl of pasta or Ravioli Fritti no questions asked. 'And the free pasta? It's my way of saying a massive thanks for sticking with us.' Tune into The Chris Moyles Show on Radio X weekdays from 6:30am to 10:00am. Also available to stream on Global Player. Forgetting your steps while on stage in front of a packed house is every dancers worst nightmare, even more so for a West End leading lady. For Strictlys Amber Davies, however, a recent mishap while treading the boards has only intensified talk of a backstage feud on the touring production of Legally Blonde. Because while the former Love Island winner may be billed as the musicals star performing as Elle Woods, the bubbly sorority girl turned legal eagle insiders say the big buzz is about Ambers understudy. For waiting in the wings seven nights a week is Hannah Lowther, a TikTok favourite who boasts 1.3million followers. Hannah, who trained at the prestigious Italia Conti Academy (whose illustrious graduates also include Pixie Lott and Naomi Campbell), appears in the production as Margot, Elles friend, while also stepping in to the lead role whenever Amber is absent. The buzz became only more intense on Wednesday night, when Amber was forced to pull out of a performance of the musical mid-show after falling ill, admitting she is suffering from burnout. Audience members were quick to laud Hannah for stepping in, with one fan sharing a clip from the show and writing: Hannah Lowther went from Margot to Elle mid show in act 1 this afternoon! She's a superhero!!! The rivalry between the two actresses had been thrust into the spotlight from the very first public preview performance. Footage from the touring production appeared to show Amber briefly losing track of the choreography during a dance number before glancing across the stage at Hannah and copying her movements. Within hours, the clip filmed by an audience member had circulated widely online, prompting Amber to address her fluffed routine in a TikTok video, describing the moment as embarrassing. I forgot there was a dance break coming, she explained. I feel like you can see me looking at Hannah and copy what she does with her hands. So yeah, thats embarrassing, thats going to be in the public domain for the rest of my working career. Credit to Amber, 29, for owning her mistake but if she hoped a public confessional would bring the curtain down on the story, she was wrong. Amber Davies as Elle Woods, the legal eagle lead in Legally Blonde which is currently on tour in the UK and Ireland A still of a video filmed by an audience member shows Amber, in light pink, looking over to Hannah Lowther, front row second from left, having seemingly forgotten the choreography TikTok star and actor Hannah Lowther is playing Margot, Elle's friend, and is Amber's understudy Comparisons between her and Hannah only intensified by the on-stage gaffe have rumbled on, with an insider telling me the online reaction may have caused tension behind the scenes. Hannah is a million times better as Elle, a well-placed industry source who has seen both performers in the role tells me. You can tell Amber has quite an ego about it and carries herself very much like the star of the show. When Hannah goes on, the energy is completely different. She gives it ten times more energy than Amber ever has, and just has that sparkle that Amber lacks. According to the insider, the growing attention surrounding Hannahs performances has become difficult for the shows cast to ignore. Everyone backstage is professional, but it would be fair to say the atmosphere between the two girls can be a bit tense at times, the source said. When an alternate starts getting that much praise online, it inevitably becomes a talking point. Amber performs seven shows a week in the touring production, with Hannah covering the Thursday matinee. But this week she had to step in on Thursday evening too, when Amber pulled out of a performance in Milton Keynes mid-show, confessing that her appearances in The Great Gatsby, her last-minute call-up to Strictly and her immediate start in Legally Blonde had affected her health. Alongside a selfie, she posted two lengthy captions explaining that she was fending off illness and taking antibiotics, and would be off stage indefinitely. The Instagram announcement read: Ok update: After talking to my doctor, being on antibiotics and trying to recover whilst doing shows is getting me and my health NOWHERE... Been working on this lingering illness for a month now so Ill be off again from my beautiful Elle Woods... This is the last thing I want but there's no other way... I fear if I keep pushing through. I will be battling with this for longer than I need to be. I can't wait to be back on stage and feel like me again!!! Thank you Amber x. After pulling out of Thursday night's performance of Legally Blonde, Amber posted an update to fans on Instagram after the performance Fans took to TikTok to laud Hannah for stepping in on Thursday night, with an audience member sharing a clip from the show Hannah performs as Elle Woods, having filled in when Amber was sick to much acclaim from social media users She continued in another post: Also I keep having to remind myself I went from Gatsby, to a last min Strictly then to Elle so my bodys evidently fighting for its life... I also keep reminding myself that its ok to be poorly, we are human. Just a reminder theres absolutely never a right time to be poorly in a musical theatre schedule. But while she did not address the mid-stage departure or Hannah in her posts, fans were quick to praise the understudy. And indeed they did so last month when Amber was ill and forced to miss several performances while on antibiotics. When Hannah, 28, stepped in on that occasion the reaction online was immediate and brutal. Hannahs energy is unmatched, commented one user, while another said: Amber gives us nothing while Hannah gives us everything. One TikTok user added: I hate to be that guy... but Hannah shouldve been full-time Elle. Born in Basingstoke, Hannah rose to fame as the Tesco TikToker during lockdown after filming herself singing and dancing in the aisles while working shifts at the supermarket. And her online popularity soon translated to the stage. In 2021, she joined the cast of Heathers: The Musical at Londons Other Palace, appearing in the ensemble while also understudying the lead roles. During the run, she became the only performer to play all three of the shows leading characters, most notably stepping into the role of Heather Duke with just four hours notice, despite not being the official understudy. Amber as Jordan Baker in The Great Gatsby at the London Coliseum last year Amber with partner Nikita Kuzmin performing during Strictly Come Dancing last year Kem Cetinay and Amber in season three of Love Island in 2017. The couple won but broke up shortly after the show ended All of which explains why many theatre fans believe Hannah to be the real star of the Legally Blonde tour. And the debate will come as little surprise to those familiar with Ambers reputation in showbusiness circles. As the Daily Mail revealed during her appearance on Strictly Come Dancing last year, Amber has never been shy about expressing her frustrations when things have not gone her way. She fits the mould of a leading lady in every sense including the demands, a source said at the time. When shes missed out on opportunities in the past, shes made her frustrations very clear. You can imagine her dressing room on Saturday night. It would not have been a relaxing place. Amber is no stranger to a showbiz strop, whether its demanding cars to take her home from events or asking her team to get her on red carpets. She has been hard work. Indeed, when she waltzed on to Strictlys dance floor with more than a decade of professional dance experience, Amber could hardly have been surprised when some viewers questioned whether she held an unfair advantage. After all, she had trained at Londons Urdang Academy, a leading conservatoire in dance, and already had a roster of West End hits to her name, including Back To The Future: The Musical and The Great Gatsby. Sources told the Daily Mail at the time Amber had subsequently appealed to former show business acquaintances in a series of private, passive-aggressive WhatsApp messages, urging them not to brief against her following criticism of her casting on the show. Amber has been sending strange WhatsApps to people who she dumped when it suited her, one source said. She wants them to back her now, but for years she didnt want anything to do with them after she thought she could find better people to have around her. Indeed, after winning Love Island in 2017 alongside Kem Cetinay, 29, Amber quickly set about proving she was more than just another reality television star. With the help of her staunchly loyal agent Martin Coutts (whom she ditched in 2021) they networked like demons, according to sources close to her. She was after column inches and she set about networking in a way that was extremely impressive, one source said. She made friends with journalists and was even a guest in a red top newspapers box for the Brit Awards one year. All of which makes Ambers appearance on the WhatsOnStage Awards red carpet on Sunday all the more striking. Flicking her dress for the photographers, she struck poses with the confidence of a seasoned leading lady. But when she reached the line of waiting journalists and reviewers, she had little interest in speaking to anyone. While Amber once made a point of charming journalists as she worked her way up the showbusiness ladder, it seems that now she has reached the West End, she no longer feels quite the same need to stop for a chat. And given the growing comparisons between her and the star waiting in the wings to replace her, the snub did not go unnoticed. Tori Spelling dressed down in a knit beanie and wolf-print sweater to catch a flight out of LAX Airport in Los Angeles on Tuesday. The Beverly Hills, 90210 alum's street sighting came after she blasted people who've criticized her over the years for undergoing cosmetic filler, a rhinoplasty and three breast augmentations. 'I'm 52, I'll be 53 in May, and I purposely go the other way because... every photo I put up, people say, "Stop with the filler." I'm like, "I'm not!"' Spelling lamented on her misSPELLING podcast Monday. 'I guess at this point, I should be like "f*** it" and just have my whole face done because they already say I've had it done. I can't win.' The nepo baby of TV producer Aaron Spelling was only 17 years old when she was accused by a tabloid publication of having gotten 'cheek implants' and a 'new chin.' 'They were like, "She's had all this plastic surgery." So they did something like that to a 17-year-old,' said Spelling. Tori Spelling dressed down in a knit beanie and wolf-print sweater to catch a flight out of LAX Airport in Los Angeles on Tuesday The Beverly Hills, 90210 alum's street sighting came after she blasted people who've criticized her over the years for undergoing cosmetic filler, a rhinoplasty and three breast augmentations 'I had gotten my nose done at the time. That was it.' In a bonus episode posted Wednesday, the Lost in the Everglades producer-actress revealed her congenital condition pectus excavatum gives her sternum a concave appearance, which hasn't helped the speculation. 'People are like, "What's that gap between her boobs?"' Spelling said. 'I'm like, "It's my bone thing. It's high here but it goes in. Like, even when I was five years old it looked like I had cleavage. So people shame me all the time, "Look how bad her boob job is!" And I'm like, "You guys, I have like a bone thing that's genetic."' The 9021OMG podcaster was interviewing plastic surgeon Dr. Terry Dubrow when she suddenly asked him to perform her fourth breast augmentation, this time to downsize her 'heavy' silicone implants from 2021. 'They're so heavy,' Spelling lamented. 'I'm miserable with them. They put that mesh bra in, but I still have ripples. So did it work? And it doesn't hold me up, the mesh bra.' The 67-year-old Botched star did not fully agree, but he offered the former child star a free consultation in his Beverly Hills office. 'Everyone [asks], "Do you have any fashion regrets that you would take back from the nineties?"' Spelling said. 'I'm 52, I'll be 53 in May, and I purposely go the other way because... every photo I put up, people say, "Stop with the filler." I'm like, "I'm not!"' Spelling lamented on her misSPELLING podcast Monday. 'I guess at this point, I should be like "f*** it" and just have my whole face done because they already say I've had it done. I can't win' The nepo baby of TV producer Aaron Spelling was only 17 years old when she was accused by a tabloid publication of having gotten 'cheek implants' and a 'new chin' 'They were like, "She's had all this plastic surgery."' So they did something like that to a 17-year-old,' said Spelling. 'I had gotten my nose done at the time. That was it' In a bonus episode posted Wednesday, the Lost in the Everglades producer-actress revealed her congenital condition pectus excavatum gives her sternum a concave appearance, which hasn't helped the speculation (pictured February 28) Spelling said: 'I'm like, "It's my bone thing. It's high here but it goes in. Like, even when I was five years old it looked like I had cleavage. So people shame me all the time, "Look how bad her boob job is!" And I'm like, "You guys, I have like a bone thing that's genetic"' The 9021OMG podcaster was interviewing plastic surgeon Dr. Terry Dubrow when she suddenly asked him to perform her fourth breast augmentation, this time to downsize her 'heavy' silicone implants from 2021 'They're so heavy,' Spelling lamented. 'I'm miserable with them. They put that mesh bra in, but I still have ripples. So did it work? And it doesn't hold me up, the mesh bra' This Friday, the former child star and her second ex-husband Dean McDermott will celebrate the 19th birthday of their son Liam McDermott (pictured in 2025), who describes himself as a drummer and fashion designer 'And I'm like, "Yeah, my boob implants." Health-wise aside, and how good you can feel from them and all that, I feel like it really ruined fashion for me...Slip dresses have never been more popular and I want to downsize these.' This Friday, the platinum blonde and her second ex-husband Dean McDermott will celebrate the 19th birthday of their son Liam McDermott, who describes himself as a drummer and fashion designer. Spelling and the 59-year-old Polar Opposites actor also welcomed daughter Stella, 17, daughter Hattie, 14, son Finn, 13, and son Beau, nine, during their 17-year marriage, which ended in 2023 (divorce was finalized November 10). The former Oxygen reality stars were both married to other people when they originally met on the set of Lifetime's Mind Over Murder way back in 2005. The $100,000 Pyramid contestant will next portray a fortune teller in Jed Shepherd's interactive horror video game Ghosts, which Visible Games and Limited Run Games will release later this year. Luisa Zissman knocked back margaritas with Carrie Johnson on Wednesday after jetting back to the UK following the escalating conflict in Dubai. The Apprentice star, 38, declared 'being in the UK isn't so bad' as she caught up with best friend Anna Williamson, Boris Johnson's wife Carrie, 37, and Lucie Cave. Luisa relocated to the UAE from the UK in December with her Irish millionaire husband Andrew Collins and two of her three children, Indigo Esme, nine, and Clementine. She has been one of the most vocal Dubai-based influencers to throw their support behind the UAE government, even declaring it to be the 'safest country in the world' last week despite days of missile strikes and suicide drone attacks. But Luisa returned to the UK on Monday and enjoyed a meet up with her friends. Alongside a beaming snap of the four of them, she wrote: 'Being in the UK isn't so bad when I'm with my best girls drinking margaritas...' Luisa Zissman had margaritas with Carrie Johnson on Wednesday after jetting back to the UK following the escalating conflict in Dubai Luisa returned to the UK on Monday and enjoyed a meet up with her friends (L-R) Carrie, Anna Williamson and Lucie Cave Luisa had always planned to come back to the UK this week to record episodes of her podcast LuAnna, with Anna, but had decided to bring her daughters over fears they may not be able to get back to Dubai. On Tuesday, she shared a clip of the classic bored Cillian Murphy meme as she made her feelings clear on the panic many have felt at being trapped in Dubai for days. The text read: 'Everyone in (UAE flags) seeing tourists talk in interviews like they just came back from the frontlines.' Earlier in the day, Luisa declared she was in 'my refugee era, displaced from my home,' and admitted she was scared about returning to London crime in a clip as she walked through Chinatown. 'Back in Blighty,' she told fans. 'I'm in Chinatown, I'm heading into the Global studios this morning. 'Obviously I am no longer in Dubai, I was due back for work anyway so I came back with the kids, they're on school holidays now and I just wanted to bring them back with me.' She paused as she looked around and said: 'I'm really paranoid someone is going to steal my phone.' 'I'm now in my refugee era, displaced from my home,' she added before heaping more praise on the UAE and her 'very, very easy' journey home. Luisa looked happy to be back home as she enjoyed an evening out with her pals Luisa had always planned to come back to the UK this week to record episodes of her podcast LuAnna, with Anna, but had decided to bring her daughters over fears they may not be able to get back to Dubai She is now settling back into being in the UK and on Instagram on Tuesday she shared a clip of the classic bored Cillian Murphy meme as she made her feelings clear The star has been one of the most vocal Dubai-based influencers to throw their support behind the UAE government, even declaring it to be the 'safest country in the world' 'It was actually fine leaving, it was very, very easy, we went through Oman, took us about 15 minutes to get through the border then flew out from Muscat to Heathrow.' 'Back with Team Luanna for the next two days and I'm very excited to see my crew, and I'm very f**king cold and it's very grey.' It comes after Luisa posted from her Dubai home and assured her followers 'everything is fine'. There has so far been a mixed response from those reporting from the emirate, with some influencers and reality stars claiming the feel 'safe', while others have openly discussed how scared they have been feeling during the missile strikes. In her March 4 post, Luisa revealed she planned to return to the UK for work but she was fearful she wouldn't be able to get back to Dubai. She said: 'The situation here seems to be fine to be honest, the children have broken up one week early from school. I was due back to the UK on Monday for work so hoping that can happen. Can see lots of passenger planes in the sky. 'I'm worried if I come back to the UK for work I won't be able to get back to Dubai, so will take the children with me and see my parents too.' She also shared a video while out with her dog, telling fans she was 'loving life' and that she could hear passenger planes flying overhead. Luisa is one of the many famous faces who have continued to paint Dubai in a positive light, after the US-Israel war against Iran sparked chaos in the UAE. But for some influencers and social media stars, attitudes shifted as the region entered a second weekend of strikes. UAE claims that Iran has fired 238 ballistic missiles at their territory since the US-Israeli strikes began, with 221 destroyed and only two reaching their destination. However, Iran has also used its 'suicide drones' to launch attacks on the Emirates. A night drone attack on two of Dubai's 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. Kurt Cobains daughter Frances Bean Cobain was spotted with her one-year-old son Ronin for the first time since a bombshell report suggested the rock legends death may have been a homicide, not a suicide. The 33-year-old artist, whose mother is Courtney Love, carried her baby boy - whom she shares with Tony Hawks son Riley - as they stepped out of a car in San Diego on Wednesday. Dressed in an all-black ensemble with a tank top and oversized trousers, Cobain appeared tense as she held her only child in one arm. The outing comes just two weeks after Love, 62, was involved in a frightening car incident in Los Angeles, fleeing a collision with a bicyclist - an incident that coincided with a private investigation reopening questions about Kurt Cobains death. The Nirvana frontman died on April 5, 1994, at just 27 years old, officially ruled a self-inflicted shotgun wound to the head. But a private team of forensic investigators recently revisited the case, reviewing autopsy reports and crime scene details, reigniting debate over the circumstances of the rock stars untimely death. Kurt Cobains daughter Frances Bean Cobain was spotted with her one-year-old son Ronin in San Diego on Tuesday The 33-year-old artist, whose mother is Courtney Love , carried her baby boy - whom she shares with Tony Hawks son Riley Frances Bean Cobain has so far remained silent on the new report, continuing to live a quiet life away from the spotlight despite her famous lineage - and her husband being the son of skateboarding legend Tony Hawk. Since marrying in October 2023 and welcoming their first child, Ronin, in September 2024, the couple has mostly shared glimpses of their lives on social media. We just do our own thing, Riley previously told People about the legacy each of their families carries. We don't really think too much about it, honestly, other than the fact that we do stuff like this with a video game, or whatever it may be, or something regarding her side of the family, he continued, referencing his appearance in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4. But other than that, we're just a very quiet stay-at-home family. We just hang out. The reflection on family comes after Tony Hawk left fans emotional with a heartfelt tribute following Ronins birth, acknowledging that the late musician would never meet his grandson. Sharing a ticket stub from a Nirvana concert he attended in Houston in October 1991, he wrote: Went straight from a S.U.A.S. event at Houston Skatepark to this concert in 1991. It was as transformative as live music can possibly be; we all experienced something rare and powerful that night. The world would never be the same. He added how much he wished Cobain could witness his daughters life now: I wish Kurt were here so he could see the incredible woman his daughter has become, meet her devoted, caring husband, and hold our wondrous grandchild. Dressed in an all-black ensemble with a tank top and oversized trousers, Cobain appeared tense as she held her only child in one arm Frances Bean Cobain has yet to comment on the report and continues to live largely out of the spotlight with her husband, the son of skateboarding legend Tony Hawk Even as the family keeps a low profile, the new report questioning Cobains death has drawn Frances Bean back into public discussion. The private team of forensic investigators suggested some evidence points to foul play rather than suicide. Crime scene reconstruction expert Bryan Burnett noted inconsistencies in blood patterns, clothing, and injuries to Cobains mouth that, he said, didnt align with a typical suicide scenario. Investigators theorized that Cobain may have been confronted by one or more individuals, forced into a heroin overdose to incapacitate him, and then shot, with the scene staged and a suicide note forged. Love, meanwhile, appears determined not to dwell on alternative theories. She would love Kurt to be able to rest in peace, but it looks like that will never happen, a source told Daily Mail exclusively. Courtney is going to choose to honor him instead of reliving that horrible moment in her life, and not give it any [extra] life it doesn't need. Over the years, Love has faced repeated accusations from fans claiming she played a role in Cobains death, including baseless theories that she hired a hitman to control his estate - all of which she has denied. She is also the subject of the documentary Antiheroine, which chronicles her relationship with Cobain, battles with substance abuse, and decades of media scrutiny. The Nirvana frontman died on April 5, 1994, at just 27 years old, officially ruled a self-inflicted shotgun wound to the head; (Frances Bean, Courtney Love and Kurt Cobain in 1993) A private team of forensic investigators recently revisited the case, reviewing autopsy reports and crime scene details, reigniting debate over the circumstances of the rock stars untimely death Premiering at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, the film sees Love reflect on falling for Cobain while Hole toured with Nirvana in 1991. When you find somebody you really get along with and can be yourself with, it's easy, she said. We knew we were in love, we knew we wanted to have a baby right away. The thing that got in the way was his need for total oblivion.' Love also recounted the night Cobain died, while she was in rehab. Cobain reportedly tried to reach her, but the late-night call wasnt put through. His body was discovered three days later in the greenhouse above the garage of his Seattle home. Police reports revealed Cobain had injected a dose of heroin far exceeding what even a heavy user would typically consume, with toxicology showing other substances in his system, including morphine, codeine, and diazepam. The King County Medical Examiner officially ruled the cause of death as a self-inflicted shotgun wound to the head. Kurt Cobain died by suicide in 1994, a spokesperson for the Seattle Police Department told the Daily Mail. This continues to be the position held by the Seattle Police Department. Vicky Pattison has shared highlights from her trip to Oman with husband Ercan but said 'our focus was getting home' in the post - after fleeing Dubai amid Iranian missile strikes. The TV personality, 38, and her partner left Dubai last week after the US-Israel war against Iran sparked chaos in the UAE. At the time she 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. The couple 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 safely as possible'. But while in Oman they made the most of their trip as they saw the sights and swam with turtles. Sharing snaps from the visit she penned on Instagram on Wednesday: 'Moments from Oman... Such a beautiful country and honestly, a shame that we didn't get to explore it more - our focus was getting home obviously. Vicky Pattison has shared highlights from her trip to Oman with husband Ercan but said 'our focus was getting home' in the post - after fleeing Dubai amid Iranian missile strikes The TV personality, 38, and her partner left Dubai last week after the US-Israel war against Iran sparked chaos in the UAE 'But I'm really happy we made the most of our last couple of days while we waited for our flight... 'Huge thank you to @daymaniyat_experts, for a wonderful experience snorkelling with the turtles... and @stonevibes.oman for an incredible tour of the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque.' Last week she gave an update on how things were going after being silent on social media amid chaos in the region. 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. '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. At the time she 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 But while in Oman they made the most of their trip as they saw the sights and swam with turtles Sharing snaps from the visit she penned on Instagram on Wednesday: 'Moments from Oman... Such a beautiful country and honestly, a shame that we didn't get to explore it more - our focus was getting home obviously...' 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 Thank you 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.' On Tuesday she blasted 'shameful' Dubai expats who abandoned their pets to flee the missiles raining down on the Middle East. Vets have reported an influx in inquiries about euthanising pets as thousands of Brits trapped in the region scramble to get home. In response, the TV personality took to her Instagram Stories to say those leaving their animals behind never deserved them. She wrote: 'Just a note... if you are abandoning your pets in Dubai you didn't deserve that animal to begin with and I pray it finds a better home. Shameful.' K9 Friends Dubai, a dog re-homing group, said it has become overwhelmed by the number of dog owners wanting to leave their pets behind and phone calls they have received about abandoned puppies. Animal groups are trying their best to find shelters but hundreds of posts about deserted pets have been spotted online. And some vets have had to euthanise even healthy pets because their owners don't want to face the relocation costs or paperwork. Claire Hopkins, a resident of Dubai who volunteers with several animal organisations and shelters, said they were under severe financial pressure as fundraising activities are highly regulated and GoFundMe pages are banned in Dubai. She said: 'Some pet owners are stressed and panicking. It's right across the board, and I think the Brits are better than most, but you're talking about 200 different nationalities here in the UAE. 'Some people want to give back their adoptive pets. There are dogs starting to be abandoned. 'The airlines aren't taking animals at the moment anyway as the flights are operating a very reduced service. If you wanted to get a rabies jab, then you have to delay your travel by a further three weeks. 'I'm sorry to say that vets have had inquiries about euthanasia, which is disgusting. 'Most vets would pass them on to the shelters, but we're already full.' Barry Keoghan finally cleared up how to pronounce his surname as he appeared on BBC Radio One's Breakfast Show on Wednesday. Greg James quizzed the actor, 33, on how to say his last name after being told by friends and listeners he was saying it wrong. Greg said: 'Can I just check this? Every time I say it on the radio people are like, "it's not Ke-OH-gan" and I'm like, "it is".' When asked by Barry who tells him he is mispronouncing Keoghan, the host replied: 'Everyone. And I've been saying this to all my mates and they're like "Why are you saying Ke-OH -ghan".' Barry said: 'Until a Keoghan tells you it's not how you say it...', before he confirmed Greg was saying it right as he said: 'Kee-gan is wrong. It sounds like an infection'. Barry Keoghan finally cleared up how to pronounce his surname as he appeared on BBC Radio One's Breakfast Show on Wednesday The interview came as he was seen stepping out in NYC this week The clip from the interview was shared on TikTok and fans took to the comment section to say Barry is the one who is saying it wrong. They wrote: 'Barry pronounces his own name wrong. Its supposed to be said ky-own. Eoghan is the Irish spelling of Owen and you dont pronounce the g sound in that.' 'HE pronounces it kee-ogan but the vast majority with that surname dont pronounce it that way. Its Kyowan. His name is right coz its his name but its also wrong.' 'I know a family of Keoghans and they all pronounce it like Kyo-an. The G is silent just how nobody pronounces the G in Gallagher apart from Oasis.' 'The weird thing is Ive never know anyone with that name to pronounce it his way. Its keown.' Elsewhere in the interview, Barry joked he watches his Saltburn naked scene every Monday. The actor bared all in the infamous dance scene to Sophie Ellis-Bextor's Murder On The Dancefloor in the black comedy thriller. He said: 'I can't get away from it like because it's part of me.' Greg James quizzed the actor, 33, on how to say his last name after being told by friends and listeners he was saying it wrong The clip from the interview was shared on TikTok and fans took to the comment section to say Barry is the one who is saying it wrong He looked stylish as he emerged in New York He wore a casual T-shirt and jeans Barry is in the midst of filming a new Beatles biopic. The actor has grown out his hair to take on the role of legendary drummer Ringo Starr. He will star alongside Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Harris Dickinson as John Lennon and Joseph Quinn as George Harrison. It was just last year that Netflix's series Adolescence instilled fear into parents across at the world about the content their teenage sons are viewing online. And with the release of Louis Theroux: Inside The Manosphere, parents have again been left 'terrified' by the 'toxic behaviour and extremist views' of the world of alpha male influencers. It follows as documentarian Louis, 55, explores how extremist influencers are manipulating young boys with their ideas surrounding masculinity, interviewing the likes of Harrison Sullivan (HSTikkyTokky), Myron Gaines and Nicolas Kenn De Balinthazy (Sneako). Amidst a string of concerning scenes are several showing very young boys obsessing over the extremist influencers and declaring themselves 'huge fans'. Now, worried parents of young boys have shared their utter terror after watching the documentary as they insisted they will be showing it to their own sons. It follows the widespread impact of Netflix's drama series Adolescence, which told the story of a 13-year-old boy who brutally murders his classmate after becoming radicalised by online extremist misogyny. With the release of Louis Theroux: Inside The Manosphere, parents have again been left 'terrified' by the 'toxic behaviour and extremist views' of the world of alpha male influencers It follows as documentarian Louis, 55, explores how extremist influencers are manipulating young boys with their ideas surrounding masculinity, interviewing the likes of Harrison Sullivan (HSTikkyTokky) [Pictured left) Sharing their thoughts on Louis's latest deep-dive documentary, concerned parents wrote in the comments: 'Watching this now and I am speechless. As a mum of four boys it is terrifying,'; 'Had to watch in stages as these people are beyond belief! I'd be so ashamed if I was their parent. Going to watch again with my 2 sons,'; 'Fantastic work! Thank you for shedding light on a world that many parents of teen and young adult sons have been worrying about, let alone understand it. 'Watched it today, it was uncomfortable watching. Great documentary but it makes me worry about the type of world my little boy will grow up in!'; 'Just watched it. Excellent as per. Also scary as the mother of a young boy who is very kind, sensitive and gentle right now,'; 'If one of my sons grew up like them I would be ashamed of them !'; 'Great doc...these boys influencing even younger boys is purely terrifying stuff. Parents, this is a must watch...and shows the reason social media should be banned for teens.' Elsewhere viewers branded the men studied in the documentary 'disgusting and dangerous' as they claimed their behavior was 'insecurity amplified to terrifying levels'. They wrote: 'Well that was terrifying,'; '3 minutes in and already screaming at the Tv!!! Bloody incels!'; 'Watching right now. I despair!'; 'Watching this now. Wow, what utterly horrific people! Well done for staying cool,'; 'Insecurity amplified to terrifying levels. Thank you Louis, for the insights,'; 'Rewatching for the second time - first watch I was just so utterly furious and gobsmacked I'm not sure whether everything sunk in!!! Another incredible documentary. Bravo,'; 'Steeped in narcissism and self importance, but a bloody good watch,'; 'It's great - as always. Bloody saddening and infuriating though!'; 'Deeply troubling, brilliantly made,'; 'This documentary just showed how horrible and hateful some men really are, absolutely awful awful people. All I can say,'; 'Watched it this morning.... such a compelling doc, and such a frightening insight into a sphere even more toxic than I'd feared,'; 'Absolute horror film Louis! Well done for showing what happens to those who cannot rise above their childhoods and instead weaponise, monetise and traumatise the young and disaffected for their own gain. I adore your work,'; 'Honestly it infuriated me. These people are disgusting and dangerous,'; 'Another masterclass in letting these toxic fools dig their own graves. Well done Louis.' It follows the widespread impact of Netflix's drama series Adolescence, which told the story of a 13-year-old boy who brutally murders his classmate (Pictured) Amidst a string of concerning scenes are several showing very young boys obsessing over the extremist influencers and declaring themselves 'huge fans' (Louis pictured with extremist influencer Justin Walker) Sharing their thoughts on Louis's latest deep-dive documentary, concerned parents wrote in the comments: 'Watching this now and I am speechless' The synopsis for Louis Theroux: Inside The Manosphere reads: 'With rare access and no holds barred, the acclaimed documentarian investigates a growing ultra-masculine network and its controversial influencers.' The Manosphere itself refers to an online network - including forums, websites and blogs - that promote anti-feminist beliefs, masculinity and misogyny. Louis himself sent out a warning to parents of boys following abusive run-ins while filming the documentary. The 55-year-old entered their world and learned how these individuals highlight their respective views on traditional gender roles and values. At the beginning of the documentary, Louis remarks how he had noticed 'parts of the Internet were being taken over' by male influencers claiming to provide young men with 'cheat codes to win at life'. Louis told The Mirror: 'These aren't figures on the margins - anyone who's got kids, and especially boys, will know that they are making inroads into the culture. Their influence is being felt in schools, in the workplace and all across the internet. 'These aren't figures on the margins - anyone who's got kids, and especially boys, will know that they are making inroads into the culture. Their influence is being felt in schools, in the workplace and all across the internet.' Last year the manosphere was explored in the fictional award-winning drama series Adolescence - with Prime Minister Keir Starmer even insisting it be played in schools across the UK paired with anti-misogyny lessons. Keir, who admitted he 'found it really hard' to watch the programme with his teenage children, said he supported the decision to make the 'groundbreaking' series available at schools. The synopsis for Louis Theroux: Inside The Manosphere reads: 'With rare access and no holds barred, the acclaimed documentarian investigates a growing ultra-masculine network and its controversial influencers' At the beginning of the documentary, Louis remarks how he had noticed 'parts of the Internet were being taken over' by male influencers claiming to provide young men with 'cheat codes to win at life' Elsewhere viewers branded the men studied in the documentary 'disgusting and dangerous' as they claimed their behavior was 'insecurity amplified to terrifying levels' 'As a father, watching this show with my teenage son and daughter, I can tell you - it hit home hard,' he said in a statement after the meeting with co-writer Jack Thorne. 'As I see from my own children, openly talking about changes in how they communicate, the content they're seeing, and exploring the conversations they're having with their peers is vital.' Showing the series will 'help students better understand the impact of misogyny, dangers of online radicalization and the importance of healthy relationships,' his office added. Writer Jack, who has said that children should not be given smartphones until they turn 14, added the show was made to 'provoke a conversation' and 'what we really hope is it'll lead to students talking amongst themselves'. It was later revealed that schools are set to give students anti-misogyny lessons in wake of the show. The classes will form part of the government's new relationships, health and sex education (RHSE) guidance, which will be introduced before the end of the academic year. Though Labour's classroom guidance is still being developed, it is understood to include content to 'support healthy relationships', to 'enable schools to tackle harmful behaviour and ensure that misogyny is stamped out and not allowed to proliferate', an insider source said, the Times reported. From as early as primary school, children will be encouraged to 'express and understand boundaries, handle disappointment and pay attention to the needs and preferences of oneself and others', with content modified for older children to reflect the 'real-life complexities of romantic and sexual relationships', the source added. Lindsay Lohan was spotted with her husband Bader Shammas and their son Luai in New York City on Wednesday after fleeing Dubai. The 39-year-old actress - who recently appeared on the cover for Vogue Arabia - flashed a smile while making her way through a crowded NYC airport with her loved ones upon returning to the U.S. It comes shortly after it was revealed that Lohan and her family were safe following Iran's retaliatory strikes in areas including the UAE, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. Lohan was stylishly casual wearing a pair of black sweatpants as well as a burgundy leather jacket. The Mean Girls star additionally sported a plain white shirt underneath and a patterned scarf was draped around her neck. Her long locks were parted in the middle and flowed down past her shoulders in light waves. Lindsay Lohan, 39, was spotted with her husband Bader Shammas and their son Luai in New York City on Wednesday after fleeing Dubai The actress flashed a smile while making her way through a crowded NYC airport with her loved ones upon returning to the U.S. Lohan completed the look for her busy day of traveling with mini earrings and a pair of black shades. Shortly after landing in NYC, the actress was seen walking through the bustling airport with her husband by her side. The couple tied the knot back in 2022 and welcomed their son Luai, two, in July 2023. Lohan and her family fled Dubai following retaliatory strikes by Iran which began after U.S. and Israel's joint attack on Iran on February 28. A source told TMZ earlier last week that Lohan was safe amid the ongoing Iranian airstrikes. The actress also took to her Instagram stories to share a message and simply penned to her followers, 'Praying for peace. Stay safe everyone. God bless us all.' Shortly after, a separate insider told the Daily Mail that Lohan's loved ones in the United States were 'concerned' for the star. 'There's a lot going on over there,' the source said. 'The family has been in constant communication. Right now, she's safe.' Lohan was stylishly casual wearing a pair of black sweatpants as well as a burgundy leather jacket The actress also took to her Instagram stories to share a message and simply penned to her followers, 'Praying for peace. Stay safe everyone. God bless us all' 'There's a lot going on over there,' the source said. 'The family has been in constant communication. Right now, she's safe' Another insider said that Lohan 'has been really comfortable in Dubai' and had remained calm under other stressful situations such as the Covid-19 pandemic. But it was noted by the source that it is still 'a scary time for everyone, including Lindsay.' Lohan relocated to Dubai over a decade earlier in 2014 following legal troubles and a life in the public eye. Last year during an appearance on Live With Kelly And Mark, the actress gave insight into her decision to permanently reside in Dubai. 'It's just far away from Hollywood, and I live a very normal life,' she explained at the time. 'There's no worry of like, "I can't go eat at this place 'cause someone's gonna take a picture of my son." I feel very safe.' And for her recent cover story for Vogue Arabia, the Freaky Friday star further talked about her life in Dubai. 'Being in Dubai is very grounding. I get to just spend time with my family. The city gives me a sense of being with what's most important,' Lohan explained. 'It's just far away from Hollywood, and I live a very normal life,' she explained of living in Dubai 'Being in Dubai is very grounding. I get to just spend time with my family. The city gives me a sense of being with what's most important,' Lohan explained; seen with Shammas in January in Dubai She also got candid about having more privacy living in Dubai. 'That's a big breath of fresh air, having to not overthink everything you do every second,' the actress expressed. Lohan had lived in other cities such as London before making the choice to relocate to the United Arab Emirates. 'I wasn't having fun in the business anymore,' the mom-of-one also admitted to Vogue Arabia. 'I wasn't finding roles I loved. 'It's not a life I wanted to live, you know? It's not a real life. It pushed me so far away that I moved to the other side of the world. And I'm so glad I followed my gut.' Despite living far from Hollywood, Lohan has still followed her passion for acting in the industry. She recently reunited with Jamie Lee Curtis to star in the 2025 film Freakier Friday which is a sequel to the 2003 movie Freaky Friday. 'I wasn't having fun in the business anymore,' the mom-of-one also admitted to Vogue Arabia. 'I wasn't finding roles I loved'; seen in 2025 in Qatar Lohan's break out role was in the 1998 movie The Parent Trap and the actress got candid about growing up in the spotlight during her conversation with Vogue; seen in 2003 Lohan is set to appear alongside Shailene Woodley in the upcoming Hulu limited series Count My Lies, per Deadline. The pair are not only taking on major roles in the project, but are also both executive producers. Lohan's break out role was in the 1998 movie The Parent Trap and the actress got candid about growing up in the spotlight during her conversation with Vogue. 'Now I look back and wonder, "Why didn't anyone just go and take me out of there, protect me more?" You don't know how to do that yourself when you're a teenager.' The Trump administration has a target set on Havana, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio is hovering over the scope. Off the back of the January capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, and a stunning ongoing military campaign with Iran, the rising star of the Trump Cabinet is now turning his attention to the island that has defied US presidents for seven decades. Two insiders say Rubio's goal is nothing less than a total 'global cleanup' of socialist regimes across the Western Hemisphere. And unlike Venezuela, he believes he can strangle Cuba's communist leadership without a single US soldier setting foot on the island. '2026 is going to be a reckoning,' a diplomatic source familiar with their plans tells the Daily Mail. The weapon of choice: oil. With the Maduro regime dismantled and Washington now effectively controlling Venezuela's oil exports, the fuel shipments that kept the lights on in Havana have been cut off. Two State Department insiders tell the Daily Mail that Rubio is playing a careful long game: He avoids raising Cuba directly with Trump or the cabinet unless other officials bring it up first - letting the oil squeeze do the talking. 'He's playing it very, very carefully. He pretty much only talks about Cuba when he's asked about it but ultimately, the president is putting a lot of trust in Rubio,' one former State official explained. Source Says Administration Believes Cuba Regime Could Fall This Year It is a calculated, peace-through-strength chokehold, and Trump says it is already working. The President revealed on Saturday that the communist regime is 'in its last moments of life' and that he would 'take care of Cuba.' Rubio, the son of Cuban exiles who has made the fall of Castroism his life's mission, is now the dualhatted architect of this strategy, serving as both Secretary of State and acting National Security Advisor. He been given total space on the Western Hemisphere by Trump to be the lead architect of this policy, the Daily Mail has learned. A source close to Secretary Rubio tells the Daily Mail that the administration is so confident in their new strategy that they believe the Cuban regime will be 'gone by the end of the year.' Insiders familiar with their plans describe it as a financial crippling to the current regime that involves cutting Cuba off from economic assistance from the rest of the world, and to prepare a recovery plan. Once the oil dries up, they hope the 'oil squeeze' will lead to structural collapse. The target: Miguel DiazCanel, the President of Cuba and First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba, and General Alvaro Lopez Miera, the Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces. The Cuban military controls the majority of the Cuban economy, including oil distribution and tourism. Sources Say Pressure Mounting on Cubas Communist Leadership 'I will just say that Cuba is right where we want them,' a White House source familiar with the internal conversations explains. Blackouts have plunged Cuba into darkness. Garbage is piling up on the streets of Havana. And the communist leadership, sources say, is feeling the pressure. Venezuela was pumping a critical 55,000 barrels of crude into Cuban ports every day before the January raid, a flow that has reportedly now plummeted to near zero, according to an analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies and Reuters shipment tracking data. Even secondary suppliers like Mexico have halted shipments under the threat of US tariffs. 'Cuba is a beggar country abandoned by its friends and desperate to survive an oil embargo that could soon shut down its national economy and lead to structural collapse,' said John Sitilides, a former State Department consultant. The Daily Mail has reported on a longstanding 'tug of war' over Latin American policy that has ended between Rubio and Ric Grenell, Maduro's former negotiator. The two have frequently clashed over their competing visions for the region. 'There is no Ric Grenell wrestling for the steering wheel in Cuba anymore,' the State Department insider revealed. 'Rubio feels a sense of relief; it's an open field for him now.' Insider Suggests Mounting Pressure Could Trigger Palace Coup Grenell played an early role in South America as Trump's envoy for special missions. Rubio ultimately emerged as the winner in leading policy decisions as the former special envoy was sidelined. Trump is reportedly hellbent on forcing a major political shift in the country. Latin America experts detail a scenario that could play out given this strategy. One where the police lose the streets to a hungry, desperate population, and the ultimate survival of the regime falls to the military high command. One White House insider suggests a 'palace coup' is the likely endgame, where top generals, desperate to protect their own vast business empires, choose to topple President Miguel DiazCanel rather than fire on their own people, potentially installing a reformist junta to negotiate a lifeline with the US administration. 'They [the Cuban regime] are already being strangled. The government of Cuba has been living off of other people's money for decades. United Nations, European countries, countries like Japan or Switzerland or others who lent money thinking they would be paid and they never did,' former US envoy Otto Juan Reich explained to the Daily Mail. 'Pretty much everyone has learned that lesson.' Reich was the Assistant Secretary of State under President George W. Bush and later the Special Envoy for Western Hemisphere Initiatives. He also worked for President Ronald Reagan and was a former US ambassador to Venezuela. Rubio Reportedly Bypassing Cuban Government He argues that without Venezuelan oil and with a tightening US naval blockade, the regime simply cannot survive. Yet history warns against underestimating the regime's proven resilience. Having survived the brutal 1990s 'Special Period' economic crisis when trade plummeted by 80%, Havana is no stranger to governing by candlelight. Regardless, the administration says they feel confident Cuba's government will be toppled this time around. In another stunning development, Rubio is reportedly bypassing the official government of President Miguel DiazCanel entirely, Axios originally reported. Instead, he has opened a highstakes backchannel with the one man the administration believes holds the real power: Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, the grandson and former head of security for Raul Castro. 'They are expecting a managed transition that ensures stability on the ground while making irreversible and inexorable progress towards a different situation,' the former Senior State Department official said. 'But the Trump administration won't be satisfied with just a regime in Havana that is under control by some member of the Castro family.' Domestic Risks However, pushing too hard for total systemic collapse carries severe domestic risks for the administration. As Sitilides points out: 'In 1980, 125,000 refugees fled Cuba for Florida. Civil chaos in Cuba today could lead to more than a million refugees, ten times the impact on Florida and the southern United States, and a potential political calamity for the Republican Party in the November midterm elections.' To avoid this worstcase scenario, the administration is favoring strategic leverage over total disruption. 'A sudden 'deBaathification' overthrow that led to twenty years of carnage in Iraq is not the White House model for Cuba,' Sitilides explained. 'Rather, a shortterm 'regime management' policy in Washington towards Havana can lay the longterm pathway to a hopeful democratic transition, as the experiment is similarly proceeding in Venezuela.' A source familiar with the conversations between the President and his advisors says Trump and Rubio are also getting advice from CubanAmericans in Congress, Cuban businessmen he has worked with MaraLago with and even individuals 'recently named ambassador who have the personal experience.' Those he has been speaking with more closely include Republican Representatives Mario DiazBalart, Maria Elvira Salazar and Carlos Gimenez from Florida; the selfdubbed 'Three Crazy Cubans.' Trump and Rubio Reportedly Seek Advice From Ambassadors The list of ambassadors Trump and Rubio reportedly has been seeking advice from include Ambassador to Panama Kevin Marino Cabrera, Ambassador to Argentina Peter Lamelas, Ambassador to Peru Bernie Navarro and the Ambassador to Spain Benjamin Leon Jr. The Daily Mail reached out to the ambassadors for comment. They did not immediately respond. While the White House remains publicly tightlipped about regime change, insiders say the message to Havana is clear: negotiate a transition now, or collapse under the weight of the blockade. As the former Senior State Department official put it: 'They believe that [preventing oil from coming in] will give them the leverage to make the changes that will lead to a new political situation on the island.' If Rubio's plans hold, the communist experiment in Cuba may not survive the year. 'Their goal is to make Cuba's leadership as desperate as possible,' the White House sources familiar with plans tell the Daily Mail. Experts Warn of Guerrilla Warfare Risk Yet, regional experts warn that cornering Havana comes with a final, dangerous wildcard. 'The looming backfire risk is ignited guerilla warfare elsewhere in Latin America, especially in Colombia and Venezuela where Havana has trained thousands of fighters,' Sitilides warned. 'Cuba is a house of cards,' Reich explained. 'It has never worked, but it has enormous potential. The sooner that these people can be removed peacefully and replaced, not by other crooks, the better. But there are plenty of people inside and outside the island who can then rebuild. Cuba can become one of the rising stars of Latin America again.' A White House aide familiar with ongoing plans says that a plans for Cuba's recovery are already being plotted. 'They are already working on Cuba's economic recovery plans at [the State Department]. That shows you how confident they feel that this will be achieved,' the aide explains A White House official confirms to the Daily Mail that there are active conversations with Cuba. 'We are talking to Cuba, whose leaders should make a deal. Cuba is a failing nation whose rulers have had a major setback with the loss of support from Venezuela and with Mexico ceasing to send them oil,' A White House spokesperson told the Daily Mail. I fell in love with many things about Australia when I first moved here from London 20 years ago: the beaches, the sun, the coffee and, of course, Aussies themselves. In particular, I'm enamoured by their ability to sniff out [expletive] faster than you can say 'Crocodile Dundee'. Australians are known for wrestling crocs with one hand and holding a VB in the other but what impresses me most is their sharp radar for anything staged, insincere or fake. And you know by now, I have very little patience for fakery myself. If there's one thing Australians struggle to stomach, it's someone who has zero authenticity, and, in my opinion, few in the public eye encapsulate that better than the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle who this week stunned our nation by announcing she would be the star guest at a $3,199-per-head 'weekend retreat' for just 300 lucky ladies at the Intercontinental Sydney in Coogee Beach. Meghan's Image Problem Down Under Please. Aren't these 'celebrity holidays' just Cameo clips for rich people? What a breathtaking fall from grace for a member of the Royal Family. What next, will she announce a return to Deal or No Deal? But I digress... Back to the subject at hand: Meghan's image problem Down Under. While Aussies don't exactly tip their Bunnings hats and sing God Save The King before they tuck into their Vegemite toast every morning, most of us don't think the royals are half bad. We certainly don't want, ahem, a president, and given the Labor government's failed referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, now's hardly the time to put a national vote to banish the Crown. But, like I've said, Aussies can't stand [expletive]. So I don't think I was the only one in this sunburnt country who rolled my eyes when it was announced that Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, would be visiting us in a matter of weeks to 'take part in a number of private, business and philanthropic engagements'. 2018 Visit Really? Surely they're not expecting us to roll out the red carpet again? After all, their last visit back in 2018 ended on rather a bitter note. Back then, we were naive and hopeful, even a tiny bit starstruck, desperately hoping that the Hollywood-meets-royalty fairytale couple would be the monarchy's glimmer of hope as it began to feel increasingly outdated and remote on our far-flung shores. We lined the streets with flags and cheers, eager for a glimpse of the elegant Meghan and the charming, irrepressible Harry. At last, the monarchy had a modern, exciting couple to represent its future! Meghan hugged fans. Harry joked with the crowds. The couple were pictured outside our iconic Opera House and barefoot on our golden beaches. They cuddled koalas! Australians fell in love. And then, days into the tour came the announcement that Meghan was pregnant with Archie and didn't that just make the visit feel even more special? Only, we later learned, all was not as it seemed. Later Reports Reveal a Different Story In fact, the 'perfect tour' was little more than smoke and mirrors. Later reports revealed it had actually exposed early warning signs that things were going off the rails behind the scenes at the Firm. In his damning book Courtiers, royal correspondent Valentine Low detonated Meghan's squeaky-clean reputation in a few hundred pages, claiming relations between the couple and palace staff began to crumble during that time, with aides allegedly jokingly referring to themselves as the 'Sussex Survivors Club'. Low also reported that Meghan wanted to know why she wasn't being paid for her duties on the tour, including walkabouts and handshaking. Did she not read the 'How to Be a Royal' guidebook before walking down the aisle to marry a prince? The Mail's Rebecca English also reported witnessing a tense exchange during the Fiji leg of the tour, where Meghan was said to have 'turned and hissed' at a female aide who was later seen with 'tears running down her face.' It wasn't a great look, was it? There were also reports of Harry becoming fixated on media coverage about his wife at about this time, scouring the press for anything negative. Then Came the Bombshell Oprah Interview Then everything unravelled when the couple did the unthinkable they went to war with the Windsors. They took on the Queen herself, signing up for a bombshell tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey, where they accused the royals of racism, cruelty and indifference to Meghan's mental health, all while insisting on 'privacy'. (I should add, on a personal note, I will never, ever forgive Meghan for her mock re-enactment of her first curtsy to the Queen in that insufferable Netflix documentary). Of course, Meghan has every right to speak her mind, and if her mental health suffered during her time as a royal, she deserves compassion. But the tearful Oprah interview didn't feel heartfelt not to me, at least. It seemed like a calculated, choreographed attack on the ageing Queen Elizabeth II. And I suspect most Australians and their [expletive] detectors would agree. Because here's the thing: most Aussies I know are Elizabethans first and royalists second. Even those with sympathy for the republican cause acknowledge her lifetime of selfless duty and genuine affection for the Commonwealth. Australians Haven't Forgotten the Pain Caused to the Queen While Britons remain hostile to Harry and Meghan for turning on the Royal Family and 'the Firm', Australians tend instead to feel a quiet sorrow that their choices so deeply wound the late Queen. That's the scar that hasn't healed. That Meghan and Harry caused such pain to the Queen in her final years compelling her, at 94, to release the nowfamous 'recollections may vary' statement, laden with sadness remains impossible to excuse. It's unforgivable. And did they truly imagine we'd forget? If you're shaking your head and calling me a bitter old royalist, let me share a quick encounter I had today at my local cafe. Chatting with a bloke about Harry and Meghan's return to Australia, he rolled his eyes and said Aussies have no time for Meghan any more. Then he showed me a black-and-white photo on his phone a framed picture of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip he'd snapped in a hotel in Fiji where he'd stayed. 'Now, they were class,' he said, gazing at the couple with a smile. And in that moment, it hit me. Australians might not bow to royalty, but we respect loyalty, dignity and service and we can spot nonsense a mile off. So Meghan and Harry we won't be rolling out the red carpet for you. And don't expect forgiveness either. Starbucks plans to close five cafes in its hometown of Seattle next month including four that recently unionized. The move has escalated tensions between the coffee giant and organized baristas as labor unrest spreads across the chain. Starbucks Workers United, which represents more than 600 unionized stores nationwide, said baristas at several of the locations recently staged a strike over what they called unfair labor practices. The latest closures come after Starbucks shut roughly 400 stores across the US last year -including 59 unionized locations. The union blasted the move to close in early April, accusing Starbucks of targeting workers who were battling for better conditions. 'If you think you can crush a movement by closing a building, you're wrong,' the union said. The stores set to shut include locations on Madison Street, University Way NE, Seattle Center and at Seattle Children's Hospital. A fifth non-union location in downtown Seattle will also close. The union told the Daily Mail the company was 'failing its hometown', pointing to layoffs of thousands of corporate employees, the opening of a new office in Nashville and the closure of flagship Seattle locations. But they directed particular anger at CEO Brian Niccol, who took the role in September 2024, accusing him of cutting stores and jobs while using the company jet. Starbucks plans to close five cafes in its hometown of Seattle next month including four that recently unionized Starbucks Workers United, which represents more than 600 unionized stores nationwide, said baristas at several of the locations recently staged a strike over what they called unfair labor practices (PICTURED: Workers on strike outside Seattle Center Starbucks in December 2025) CEO Brian Niccol has faced criticism from union activists after reports that he commutes to work by private jet while overseeing layoffs and store closures 'Brian Niccol is yet again upending the lives of employees and disrupting customers with no notice or justification while commuting on a private jet and enjoying one of the highest CEO-to-worker pay gaps,' a union spokesperson told the Daily Mail. The closures come as Starbucks reshapes its business under chief executive Niccol, who has been cutting jobs and closing underperforming cafes as part of a sweeping turnaround plan. The company announced last week it is opening a new corporate office in Nashville, Tennessee, which already hosts Amazon, HCA Healthcare and Nissan North America. The move has fueled speculation of a 'soft move' following layoffs and the closure of Starbucks' 11-year-old Seattle flagship Reserve Roastery in the city's Capitol Hill neighborhood in September 2025. Starbucks spokesperson Jaci Anderson told the Daily Mail the decision to close the stores was difficult, but part of the company's 'Back to Starbucks' strategy - implemented by Niccol - aimed at restoring the brand's identity as a welcoming 'third place' community coffeehouse rather than a purely transactional pickup spot. Two of the locations slated for closure are tucked away - including one at Seattle Children's Hospital that operates as a secondary kiosk behind a security desk, and another inside the food court at the Seattle Armory, though the latter is reportedly popular. Anderson added that, in line with Niccol's vision, Starbucks 'regularly reviews how our coffeehouses serve their neighborhoods.' 'Sometimes that means investing in updates or trying new formats. Other times, it means making the difficult decision to close a location that no longer fits how people in that community live, work, or gather,' Anderson said. The stores set to shut include locations on Madison Street (left), University Way NE (right), Seattle Center and at Seattle Children's Hospital. A fifth non-union location in downtown Seattle will also close The company announced on March 3 it would be opening a new corporate operations office in Nashville, Tennessee The move has added to unease following layoffs and the closure of Starbucks' 11-year-old Seattle flagship Reserve Roastery in the city's Capitol Hill neighborhood in September 2025 Starbucks said its commitment to collective bargaining remains and that hourly employees earn an average of $30 an hour in wages and benefits while working as little as 20 hours a week. Workers United said it has filed an unfair labor practice charge and plans to challenge the latest closures. The union also demanded that affected baristas be offered transfers or severance packages and stated their baristas would be 'fighting back'. 'We know Starbucks doesn't work without baristas. We make the drinks, take the orders, clean the spills, and build relationships with customers. 'Thousands of baristas are organizing together, united in their union, to demand a better future at Starbucks. 'Our message to Starbucks is simple: if you think you can crush a movement by closing a building, you're wrong.' Drivers across the United States are posting photos of eye-watering gas bills as the war with Iran sends fuel prices climbing nationwide. The national average price of gasoline rose to $3.54 a gallon on Tuesday - 6 cents higher than Monday, according to AAA. Prices are jumping even faster in some states as oil markets reel from the escalating conflict. Behind the surge is a shock to global energy supplies after attacks and shipping threats effectively shut down the Strait of Hormuz - the narrow waterway through which about 20 million barrels of oil normally pass each day. The disruption briefly sent Brent crude soaring to $119.50 a barrel on Monday, its highest level in four years. Prices have fallen below $90 today - but that is still $25 higher than before attacks began. Prices have continued to climb in high-cost states such as Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. In California - long known for its sky-high gas prices - the average rose .086 cents overnight to a whopping $5.29 per gallon. One Reddit user shared a photo of gas prices at his pump in Phoenix, Arizona, today, showing regular gas at $4.359 per gallon - 39 cents above the state's current average at $3.968. Mark Doran, a Vermont resident pumping gas, told 6ABC News that the prices were 'crazy' and 'not needed,' adding that people were 'already struggling.' Your browser does not support iframes. One Reddit user shared a photo of gas prices at his pump in Phoenix, Arizona, today, showing regular gas at $4.359 per gallon - 39 cents above the state's current average at $3.968 Illinois Rep. Eric Sorensen posted a photo of gas prices at a local station to his X account on Monday, noting that costs had risen 48 cents in a week 'thanks to Donald Trump's war in the Middle East'. Former US Ambassador Bridget Brink posted the prices at her local gas station in Lansing, Michigan, to X on Monday, noting they had risen a full dollar compared with last month, reaching $3.69 per gallon - above the state's average of $3.61 per gallon. Another X user shared gas prices at a Los Angeles station on Monday, showing $5.15 per gallon and writing 'buckle up' as prices could continue to climb. Perhaps Los Angeles' most notorious Chevron station had drivers paying out prices as high as $8.21 for a gallon of regular gas on Monday, multiple internet users captured. One customer at that Chevron told the New York Post her total bill at the pump cost her $107 for around 13 gallons. XXX California Post! The surge followed the largest weekly gain ever recorded for US crude, with prices jumping more than $40 a barrel in little more than a week. Qatar's energy minister Saad al-Kaabi warned prices could reach $150 a barrel if tankers remain unable to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Oil's rise in price comes as the war has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow shipping route controlled by Iran through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil normally flows each day. Your browser does not support iframes. Rep. Eric Sorensen (D-IL) posted a photo of gas prices at an Illinois station to his X account on Monday, noting that costs had risen 48 cents in a week 'thanks to Donald Trump's war in the Middle East' Former US Ambassador Bridget Brink posted the prices at her local gas station in Lansing, Michigan, to X on Monday, noting they had risen a full dollar compared with last month, reaching $3.69 per gallon - above the state's average of $3.61 per gallon Another X user shared gas prices at a Los Angeles station on Monday, showing $5.15 per gallon and writing 'buckle up' as prices could continue to climb Perhaps Los Angeles' most notorious Chevron station had drivers paying out prices as high as $8.21 for a gallon of regular gas on Monday, as multiple internet users captured 'In the whole written history of the strait, it has never been closed, ever,' JPMorgan Chase analyst Natasha Kaneva told the Wall Street Journal. 'To me, it was not just the worst-case scenario. It was an unthinkable scenario.' President Donald Trump said Monday that US military operations against Iran were initially expected to last about four to five weeks, but that the administration 'has the capability to go far longer' if necessary. The president also warned on Truth Social on Monday that if Iran did anything to prevent oil coming out of the strait, 'they will be hit by the United States of America TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far.' He swore 'Death, Fire, and Fury will reign upon them,' but prayed it wouldn't come to that. Trump told reporters last night that he 'will not allow a terrorist regime to hold the world hostage and attempt to stop the globe's oil supply, and if Iran does anything to do that, they'll get hit at a much, much harder level'. He said the Strait of Hormuz is 'going to remain safe', even though Iranian attacks have left tankers reluctant to sail through the strait. With tankers unwilling to risk sailing through the waterway amid threats of Iranian attacks, oil producers across the region are now being forced to cut production. Kuwait - the fifth-largest producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) - announced precautionary cuts to its output because of what it called threats to ships passing through the Strait. The president also warned on Truth Social on Monday that if Iran did anything to prevent oil coming out of the strait, 'they will be hit by the United States of America TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far' Oil's rise in price comes as the war has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz (PICTURED: Tankers transiting the straight on March 3) In Iraq, production from the country's three main southern oilfields has reportedly collapsed by around 70 percent, dropping to about 1.3 million barrels a day from more than 4 million barrels before the war. The United Arab Emirates has also said it is carefully managing offshore production as storage tanks begin filling up because oil cannot be shipped out. The dramatic disruption has sparked urgent talks among major economies. Finance ministers from the Group of Seven nations - including the United States, Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Canada and Japan - were expected to hold an emergency call Monday morning to discuss whether to release oil from strategic reserves to stabilize markets. The move would mirror similar emergency actions taken during the energy crisis that followed Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Analysts say the situation in global energy markets is unlike anything seen before. Neil Atkinson, a former head of oil markets at the International Energy Agency, warned the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz could create an 'unprecedented energy crisis.' 'There is no precedent for this,' he said Monday. 'If the Strait remains closed and production stays shut in across the region, we are entering a crisis the likes of which we have never seen before.' This beloved travel center boasts the 'worlds cleanest bathrooms,' has a cult-like following, and even features a cute furry mascot. But the Buc-ee's beaver couldnt stop the Better Business Bureau (BBB) from giving the Texas-born chain an F rating. The world's largest convenience store received a failing grade after nearly 90 complaints were filed against the business. Ratings range from A+ to F. While the BBB says customer reviews dont directly affect the final grade, the companys responsiveness and handling of complaints are taken into account. 'Failure to respond to 88 complaint(s) filed against business,' the reasons for rating stated. '88 complaint(s) filed against business,' was another bullet listed underneath. Customers claim their inquiries arent answered, the chain has rude customer service, overpriced items, poor parking, and an inability to return certain items, according to the BBBs website. 'There is never enough parking, so everyone leaves their vehicles at the pumps and the lines back up to the street on all locations, making the waiting time a half hour or more,' one complaint stated. 'When you do get inside the food is bland at best and generally horrible. It is definitely not Texas BBQ by any stretch of the imagination and is very overpriced,' it continued. An aerial view of the Buc-ee's in Luling, Texas - the chain's largest location to date, spanning about 75,000sq ft with 120 fuel pumps Customers make their way around the Texas Round Up station at the nation's largest Buc-ee's 'What a rip-off! Rack of Warmies marked as $24.95, but rang up as $29.99. The manager said they HAVE to charge what rings up. I have pictures of price of $24.95 clearly marked above the items,' another agitated customer wrote. 'What a scam! I will NEVER go into another Buc-ee's!' they slammed. 'Returned an item five seconds after purchasing. They said [it] would be credited to my account. A month later, nothing,' one consumer explained. They added that they couldnt reach the businessand when they called, it went straight to voicemail. Nevertheless, these negative complaints have not slowed the companys expansion into eight new states. The company currently has 54 US locations across 11 states, with plans to grow into Ohio, Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, North Carolina, and Wisconsin. As it plants its flag in new corners of the map, it promises more supersized pit stops with a hundred-plus gas pumps, a store packed with brisket and beaver nuggets, and famously clean bathrooms. Buc-ee's has a cult following, particularly among Gen-Z, thanks to its social media-friendly snacks and over-the-top scale. Join the debate Does good customer service matter more to you than hype? Buc-ee's convenience store and gas station. Huge interior with thousands of snack, meal and drink options The chain is packed with brisket and beaver nuggets, and famously clean bathrooms Buc-ee's is rapidly expanding beyond its Texas roots, with new travel center locations planned in cities across states like Ohio, North Carolina, Kentucky, Arizona, and more The company remains privately owned and famously tight-lipped about its finances Fan favorites include the Sausage on a Stick, Dr Pepper Icees, and an entire wall of jerky. The company remains privately owned and famously tight-lipped about its finances, adding to the mystique around a brand that has turned the humble gas stop into a piece of Americana. The largest Buc-ee's location is a 75,000 square-foot station with 120 fuel pumps that opened in Luling in 2024. The Luling location had snatched the title of biggest Buc-ee's from a location opened up in Tennessee back in 2023. A number of firms have modified their ratings and price targets on shares of Carters (NYSE: CRI) recently: 3/5/2026 Carters was downgraded by Weiss Ratings from hold (c-) to sell (d+). 3/2/2026 Carters was upgraded by Monness Crespi & Hardt from neutral to buy. They now have a $45.00 price target on the stock. 2/19/2026 Carters was upgraded by Weiss Ratings from sell (d+) to hold (c-). 2/19/2026 Carters had its price target raised by UBS Group AG from $33.00 to $40.00. They now have a neutral rating on the stock. 1/21/2026 Carters was upgraded by Citigroup Inc. from neutral to buy. They now have a $50.00 price target on the stock, up from $34.00. 1/19/2026 Carters was upgraded by Zacks Research from hold to strong-buy. 1/13/2026 Carters had its price target raised by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. from $26.00 to $29.00. They now have a sell rating on the stock. 1/11/2026 Carters was upgraded by Wall Street Zen from sell to hold. 1/9/2026 Carters had its sell (d+) rating reaffirmed by Weiss Ratings. Carters Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 27th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 13th will be issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.9%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 13th. Carterss dividend payout ratio is presently 39.68%. Get Carter's Inc alerts: Carters, Inc (NYSE: CRI) is a leading designer and marketer of infant and young childrens apparel in North America. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the companys core business focuses on creating clothing and accessories for babies and children, including bodysuits, sleepwear, layette, outerwear and accessories that blend comfort, safety and style. Carters flagship brand is complemented by its OshKosh Bgosh line, which offers heritage-inspired designs and durable fabrics for toddlers and young kids. The company distributes its products through a diversified platform that includes wholesale partnerships with major department stores and mass merchandisers, directtoconsumer e-commerce sites, and an extensive network of company-operated retail stores. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Carter's Inc Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Carter's Inc and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ascletis Pharma Inc. (OTCMKTS:ASCLF Get Free Report)s share price fell 0.8% during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as $1.94 and last traded at $1.94. 300 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 92% from the average session volume of 3,700 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1.9550. Ascletis Pharma Stock Performance The firms 50 day simple moving average is $1.84 and its 200-day simple moving average is $1.65. Get Ascletis Pharma alerts: About Ascletis Pharma (Get Free Report) Ascletis Pharma (OTCMKTS:ASCLF) is a clinicalstage biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Hangzhou, China, dedicated to the research, development and commercialization of therapies for viral and liver diseases. Since its founding in 2013, the company has built an integrated platform spanning smallmolecule discovery, process chemistry and clinical development. Ascletis is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and maintains facilities for both clinical research and commercial manufacturing in Mainland China. The companys core pipeline focuses on directacting antiviral agents targeting hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Ascletis Pharma Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ascletis Pharma and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BlackRock ESG Capital Allocation Term Trust (NYSE:ECAT Get Free Report) saw a significant decrease in short interest in February. As of February 27th, there was short interest totaling 28,628 shares, a decrease of 82.4% from the February 12th total of 162,520 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 502,205 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.1 days. Based on an average trading volume of 502,205 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.1 days. BlackRock ESG Capital Allocation Term Trust Stock Performance BlackRock ESG Capital Allocation Term Trust stock traded up $0.06 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $14.63. 495,045 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 551,025. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $15.37 and its 200 day simple moving average is $15.89. BlackRock ESG Capital Allocation Term Trust has a one year low of $13.35 and a one year high of $17.14. Get BlackRock ESG Capital Allocation Term Trust alerts: BlackRock ESG Capital Allocation Term Trust Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 15th will be given a dividend of $0.2733 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 15th. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 22.4%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On BlackRock ESG Capital Allocation Term Trust BlackRock ESG Capital Allocation Term Trust Company Profile A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Keener Financial Planning LLC bought a new position in BlackRock ESG Capital Allocation Term Trust during the third quarter valued at about $30,000. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. purchased a new position in BlackRock ESG Capital Allocation Term Trust in the third quarter valued at about $49,000. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. boosted its stake in BlackRock ESG Capital Allocation Term Trust by 630.3% in the second quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 3,155 shares of the companys stock valued at $51,000 after acquiring an additional 2,723 shares during the last quarter. Tucker Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of BlackRock ESG Capital Allocation Term Trust during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $53,000. Finally, Triumph Capital Management bought a new position in shares of BlackRock ESG Capital Allocation Term Trust during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $62,000. (Get Free Report) BlackRock ESG Capital Allocation Term Trust (NYSE: ECAT) is a closed-end management investment company sponsored by BlackRock, Inc The trust seeks to provide investors with a combination of current income and capital appreciation through a diversified portfolio of equity and fixed-income securities. ECATs investment strategy integrates environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria into the selection process, targeting companies whose business practices align with sustainable outcomes while aiming to manage risk and enhance long-term returns. The funds portfolio is constructed and managed by BlackRock Investment Management, LLC, leveraging the firms global research capabilities and proprietary ESG analytics. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock ESG Capital Allocation Term Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock ESG Capital Allocation Term Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE:OMC Get Free Report) have been given a consensus recommendation of Hold by the eight analysts that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $95.00. A number of equities analysts have recently commented on OMC shares. Citigroup boosted their price objective on Omnicom Group from $103.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, February 20th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c) rating on shares of Omnicom Group in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. Bank of America reiterated an underperform rating and set a $77.00 price target (down from $87.00) on shares of Omnicom Group in a report on Monday, January 5th. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Omnicom Group from $82.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, February 23rd. Finally, UBS Group raised their price objective on shares of Omnicom Group from $99.00 to $108.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, December 5th. Get Omnicom Group alerts: Check Out Our Latest Report on OMC Omnicom Group Stock Down 3.8% Shares of NYSE OMC opened at $80.80 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $25.07 billion, a P/E ratio of 164.89, a PEG ratio of 0.80 and a beta of 0.71. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $77.91 and its 200-day simple moving average is $77.11. Omnicom Group has a 12-month low of $66.33 and a 12-month high of $87.17. The company has a current ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60. Omnicom Group (NYSE:OMC Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 18th. The business services provider reported $2.59 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.94 by ($0.35). Omnicom Group had a positive return on equity of 25.65% and a negative net margin of 0.32%.The businesss revenue was up 27.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.41 EPS. As a group, equities analysts predict that Omnicom Group will post 8.25 EPS for the current fiscal year. Omnicom Group Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 9th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 11th will be paid a $0.80 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 11th. This represents a $3.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.0%. Omnicom Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 653.06%. Omnicom Group announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a share buyback program on Wednesday, February 18th that allows the company to buyback $5.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the business services provider to purchase up to 38.1% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are often a sign that the companys board of directors believes its shares are undervalued. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Omnicom Group by 15.3% in the 3rd quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. now owns 108,310 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $8,831,000 after purchasing an additional 14,368 shares during the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its stake in Omnicom Group by 18.7% during the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 1,877,462 shares of the business services providers stock worth $153,068,000 after buying an additional 295,379 shares during the last quarter. Jackson Creek Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Omnicom Group during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $870,000. National Pension Service increased its position in Omnicom Group by 35.3% during the third quarter. National Pension Service now owns 111,161 shares of the business services providers stock worth $9,063,000 after buying an additional 29,014 shares during the period. Finally, Mediolanum International Funds Ltd purchased a new stake in Omnicom Group in the third quarter valued at approximately $5,888,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 91.97% of the companys stock. Omnicom Group Company Profile (Get Free Report) Omnicom Group Inc (NYSE: OMC) is a global marketing and corporate communications holding company headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1986 through the merger of the BBDO, DDB and Needham Harper agencies, Omnicom has built a portfolio of leading brands and networks serving clients across diverse industries. The companys primary business activities encompass advertising, strategic media planning and buying, digital and interactive marketing, direct and promotional marketing, public relations, and customer relationship management. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Omnicom Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Omnicom Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mnchener Rckversicherungs-Gesellschaft (OTCMKTS:MURGY Free Report) Investment analysts at Erste Group Bank issued their FY2027 EPS estimates for shares of Mnchener Rckversicherungs-Gesellschaft in a note issued to investors on Wednesday, March 4th. Erste Group Bank analyst S. Lingnau expects that the financial services provider will post earnings of $1.25 per share for the year. The consensus estimate for Mnchener Rckversicherungs-Gesellschafts current full-year earnings is $0.46 per share. Get Mnchener Rckversicherungs-Gesellschaft alerts: Mnchener Rckversicherungs-Gesellschaft (OTCMKTS:MURGY Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 26th. The financial services provider reported $0.17 EPS for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $0.17. The firm had revenue of $19.77 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $19.51 billion. Mnchener Rckversicherungs-Gesellschaft had a net margin of 10.19% and a return on equity of 19.90%. MURGY has been the subject of several other reports. Zacks Research cut shares of Mnchener Rckversicherungs-Gesellschaft from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, February 16th. Kepler Capital Markets initiated coverage on shares of Mnchener Rckversicherungs-Gesellschaft in a research report on Friday, January 16th. They set a buy rating for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Mnchener Rckversicherungs-Gesellschaft currently has an average rating of Hold. Check Out Our Latest Report on MURGY Mnchener Rckversicherungs-Gesellschaft Stock Down 0.1% Shares of Mnchener Rckversicherungs-Gesellschaft stock opened at $12.31 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.13, a current ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $12.47 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $12.62. The stock has a market capitalization of $79.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.95, a PEG ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 0.47. Mnchener Rckversicherungs-Gesellschaft has a 12-month low of $11.31 and a 12-month high of $14.41. About Mnchener Rckversicherungs-Gesellschaft (Get Free Report) Munchener Ruckversicherungs-Gesellschaft (OTCMKTS:MURGY), commonly known as Munich Re, is a global reinsurance company headquartered in Munich, Germany. The firms core business is providing reinsurance solutions to primary insurers, covering propertycasualty and life & health risks. Munich Re also offers specialty reinsurance products for complex or large-scale exposures and develops tailored risk-transfer solutions for clients facing catastrophic, industrial, or longevity risks. In addition to its reinsurance operations, Munich Re conducts primary insurance activities through its ERGO Group subsidiary, which markets life, health, property & casualty, and legal protection insurance to retail and corporate customers. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Mnchener Rckversicherungs-Gesellschaft Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mnchener Rckversicherungs-Gesellschaft and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. China Resources Enterprise Ltd. (OTCMKTS:CRHKY Get Free Report) was the target of a significant decline in short interest during the month of February. As of February 27th, there was short interest totaling 53,156 shares, a decline of 82.1% from the February 12th total of 297,632 shares. Approximately 0.0% of the companys stock are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 167,086 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.3 days. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 167,086 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.3 days. Approximately 0.0% of the companys stock are short sold. China Resources Enterprise Stock Down 0.4% OTCMKTS CRHKY traded down $0.03 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $6.74. 102,494 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 90,300. The company has a current ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01. China Resources Enterprise has a 12 month low of $6.07 and a 12 month high of $7.75. The company has a 50 day moving average of $6.86 and a two-hundred day moving average of $7.02. Get China Resources Enterprise alerts: China Resources Enterprise Company Profile (Get Free Report) China Resources Enterprise Limited is a Hong Kongbased conglomerate principally engaged in consumer products distribution, retail operations and food and beverage businesses. Established in 1993 as a publicly listed arm of the state-owned China Resources Group, the company has grown into one of the largest integrated consumer companies operating across Mainland China and Hong Kong. In its retail division, China Resources Enterprise operates the CR Vanguard chain of supermarkets and convenience stores, supplemented by online grocery platforms and membership loyalty programmes. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for China Resources Enterprise Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for China Resources Enterprise and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Eaton Vance Short Duration Municipal Income ETF (NYSEARCA:EVSM Get Free Report) was the target of a significant decrease in short interest in February. As of February 27th, there was short interest totaling 18,336 shares, a decrease of 81.4% from the February 12th total of 98,317 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 62,961 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.3 days. Currently, 0.2% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Currently, 0.2% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 62,961 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.3 days. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Eaton Vance Short Duration Municipal Income ETF Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. AdvisorNet Financial Inc bought a new position in Eaton Vance Short Duration Municipal Income ETF in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $122,000. Advisory Services Network LLC raised its stake in Eaton Vance Short Duration Municipal Income ETF by 18.2% during the 4th quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 4,689 shares of the companys stock valued at $236,000 after acquiring an additional 721 shares in the last quarter. Diversified Portfolios Inc. acquired a new position in Eaton Vance Short Duration Municipal Income ETF during the 2nd quarter worth $258,000. FSA Advisors Inc. boosted its position in Eaton Vance Short Duration Municipal Income ETF by 79.6% during the 3rd quarter. FSA Advisors Inc. now owns 8,632 shares of the companys stock worth $435,000 after acquiring an additional 3,825 shares during the period. Finally, Flow Traders U.S. LLC grew its stake in shares of Eaton Vance Short Duration Municipal Income ETF by 41.9% in the second quarter. Flow Traders U.S. LLC now owns 13,199 shares of the companys stock worth $660,000 after purchasing an additional 3,900 shares in the last quarter. Get Eaton Vance Short Duration Municipal Income ETF alerts: Eaton Vance Short Duration Municipal Income ETF Trading Down 0.0% Shares of EVSM traded down $0.01 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $50.57. 90,369 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 91,336. Eaton Vance Short Duration Municipal Income ETF has a 1-year low of $48.63 and a 1-year high of $50.88. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $50.63 and a 200-day moving average price of $50.50. Eaton Vance Short Duration Municipal Income ETF Increases Dividend Eaton Vance Short Duration Municipal Income ETF Company Profile The firm also recently announced a monthly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 5th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 27th were paid a dividend of $0.1151 per share. This is an increase from Eaton Vance Short Duration Municipal Income ETFs previous monthly dividend of $0.11. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 27th. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.7%. (Get Free Report) The Eaton Vance Short Duration Municipal Income ETF (EVSM) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund is an actively managed fund that invests in USD-denominated tax-exempt municipal bonds, rated investment grade and with a portfolio maturity of less than three years. EVSM was launched on Dec 19, 2018 and is issued by Eaton Vance. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Eaton Vance Short Duration Municipal Income ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eaton Vance Short Duration Municipal Income ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Empire (OTCMKTS:EMLAF Get Free Report) is anticipated to post its results before the market opens on Thursday, March 12th. Analysts expect Empire to post earnings of $0.5210 per share and revenue of $5.7515 billion for the quarter. Empire Trading Up 0.6% Shares of OTCMKTS:EMLAF opened at $36.34 on Wednesday. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $34.65 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $35.38. Empire has a 12-month low of $29.47 and a 12-month high of $41.90. Get Empire alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce restated an outperform rating on shares of Empire in a report on Friday, December 12th. BMO Capital Markets reiterated a market perform rating on shares of Empire in a research note on Friday, December 12th. Finally, TD Securities reissued a hold rating on shares of Empire in a research report on Friday, December 12th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold. About Empire (Get Free Report) Empire Company Limited trades on the OTC Pink under the symbol EMLAF. It is a leading Canadian food retailer and distributor, operating a network of more than 1,500 locations across all provinces. The companys retail segment includes national and regional banners such as Sobeys, Safeway (Western Canada), FreshCo, IGA (Quebec), Foodland (Atlantic Canada), Thrifty Foods and Price Chopper (Ontario). Through its wholesale division, Empire serves independent grocers and franchises markets under the Empire Wholesale Club and other distribution outlets. In addition to traditional supermarket operations, Empire has expanded its digital and e-commerce capabilities, offering online grocery ordering and home delivery services to meet shifting consumer preferences. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Empire Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Empire and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. UniCredit S.p.A. Unsponsored ADR (OTCMKTS:UNCRY Free Report) Investment analysts at Erste Group Bank issued their FY2027 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for UniCredit in a report released on Wednesday, March 4th. Erste Group Bank analyst S. Lingnau anticipates that the company will post earnings per share of $4.77 for the year. The consensus estimate for UniCredits current full-year earnings is $3.02 per share. Get UniCredit alerts: A number of other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports on UNCRY. Citigroup reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of UniCredit in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Morgan Stanley raised shares of UniCredit from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 10th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upgraded UniCredit from a hold rating to a moderate buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 16th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have issued a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Buy. UniCredit Stock Up 2.8% Shares of UNCRY opened at $39.61 on Monday. UniCredit has a 1-year low of $22.61 and a 1-year high of $47.14. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $42.40 and its 200 day simple moving average is $39.60. UniCredit Company Profile (Get Free Report) UniCredit S.p.A. is an international banking group headquartered in Milan, Italy, offering a broad range of banking and financial services to retail, corporate and institutional clients. The firm operates as a universal bank, combining traditional deposit-taking and lending with capital markets activities, transaction banking and advisory services. UniCredit provides consumer and commercial loans, mortgage financing, deposit accounts, payment and card services, and wealth management solutions for private clients. On the corporate and institutional side, UniCredit offers relationship banking, corporate lending, trade and export finance, cash management, custody and securities services, and investment banking capabilities including debt and equity capital markets and structured finance. Read More Receive News & Ratings for UniCredit Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for UniCredit and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Invesco Dynamic Software ETF (NYSEARCA:PSJ Get Free Report)s stock price traded up 2.9% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $61.96 and last traded at $61.86. 134,406 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 687% from the average session volume of 17,076 shares. The stock had previously closed at $60.10. Invesco Dynamic Software ETF Stock Performance The firms 50 day moving average is $62.88 and its 200-day moving average is $58.69. The company has a market cap of $332.19 million, a PE ratio of 28.76 and a beta of 1.01. About Invesco Dynamic Software ETF (Get Free Report) PowerShares Dynamic Software Portfolio (the Fund) is a non-diversified fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield of the Dynamic Software Intellidex Index (the Index). The Index is designed to provide capital appreciation by evaluating companies based on a variety of investment merit criteria, including fundamental growth, stock valuation, investment timeliness and risk factors. The Index consists of stocks of 30 United States software companies. These are companies that are principally engaged in the research, design, production or distribution of products or processes that relate to software applications and systems, and information-based services. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Invesco Dynamic Software ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco Dynamic Software ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. iShares Aaa A Rated Corporate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:QLTA Get Free Report) was the target of a large increase in short interest during the month of February. As of February 27th, there was short interest totaling 86,354 shares, an increase of 1,526.9% from the February 12th total of 5,308 shares. Currently, 0.2% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 215,362 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.4 days. Based on an average trading volume of 215,362 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.4 days. Currently, 0.2% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Institutional Trading of iShares Aaa A Rated Corporate Bond ETF Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in iShares Aaa A Rated Corporate Bond ETF by 28.0% during the 3rd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,881,586 shares of the companys stock worth $139,670,000 after buying an additional 630,177 shares in the last quarter. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D increased its stake in shares of iShares Aaa A Rated Corporate Bond ETF by 200.0% in the 4th quarter. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D now owns 750,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $36,068,000 after buying an additional 500,000 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of iShares Aaa A Rated Corporate Bond ETF during the first quarter worth $14,357,000. Cornerstone Advisors Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of iShares Aaa A Rated Corporate Bond ETF by 189.7% during the third quarter. Cornerstone Advisors Asset Management LLC now owns 386,080 shares of the companys stock valued at $18,713,000 after acquiring an additional 252,792 shares during the period. Finally, Diversify Advisory Services LLC bought a new position in iShares Aaa A Rated Corporate Bond ETF in the third quarter valued at about $10,965,000. Get iShares Aaa - A Rated Corporate Bond ETF alerts: iShares Aaa A Rated Corporate Bond ETF Stock Performance Shares of NYSEARCA:QLTA traded down $0.25 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $47.98. The companys stock had a trading volume of 330,539 shares, compared to its average volume of 294,407. iShares Aaa A Rated Corporate Bond ETF has a fifty-two week low of $45.81 and a fifty-two week high of $49.02. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $48.27 and its 200-day simple moving average is $48.35. About iShares Aaa A Rated Corporate Bond ETF The iShares Aaa A Rated Corporate Bond ETF (QLTA) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund tracks a market-weighted index of dollar-denominated fixed-rate corporate bonds rated AAA-A issued by US and non-US corporations with maturities of at least one year. QLTA was launched on Feb 14, 2012 and is managed by BlackRock. See Also Receive News & Ratings for iShares Aaa - A Rated Corporate Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Aaa - A Rated Corporate Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Keyera Corp. (OTCMKTS:KEYUF Get Free Report) fell 1.4% during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $38.76 and last traded at $38.77. 9,727 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 90% from the average session volume of 95,107 shares. The stock had previously closed at $39.31. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an outperform rating on shares of Keyera in a report on Tuesday, February 17th. Citigroup reissued a buy rating on shares of Keyera in a report on Monday, February 23rd. TD Securities restated a buy rating on shares of Keyera in a research note on Friday, February 13th. Scotiabank reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Keyera in a report on Friday, January 16th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Keyera in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Keyera presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy. Get Keyera alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Report on KEYUF Keyera Trading Down 1.4% About Keyera The firms 50-day moving average price is $34.73 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $32.79. (Get Free Report) Keyera Corp. is a Canadian midstream energy company headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, that specializes in the gathering, processing, transportation and marketing of natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGLs). Founded in 1998, Keyera has grown through strategic infrastructure investments to become one of Western Canadas leading providers of midstream services. The company operates a network of natural gas processing plants, NGL fractionation facilities, pipelines and storage terminals. Keyeras core business activities include the purification of raw natural gas to remove contaminants, the separation and fractionation of NGL streams into products such as ethane, propane and butane, and the storage and distribution of these products to end users. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Keyera Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Keyera and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MicroSectors FANG & Innovation 3x Leveraged ETN (NYSEARCA:BULZ Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest in February. As of February 27th, there was short interest totaling 618,046 shares, a growth of 699.5% from the February 12th total of 77,305 shares. Currently, 0.7% of the companys shares are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 2,871,904 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.2 days. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 2,871,904 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.2 days. Currently, 0.7% of the companys shares are sold short. MicroSectors FANG & Innovation 3x Leveraged ETN Stock Performance NYSEARCA:BULZ traded down $0.38 on Tuesday, hitting $22.28. The stock had a trading volume of 1,163,305 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,683,086. MicroSectors FANG & Innovation 3x Leveraged ETN has a 1 year low of $5.70 and a 1 year high of $33.56. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $23.93 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $25.13. The stock has a market cap of $1.89 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.09 and a beta of 4.45. Get MicroSectors FANG & Innovation 3x Leveraged ETN alerts: About MicroSectors FANG & Innovation 3x Leveraged ETN (Get Free Report) Read More The MicroSectors Solactive FANG & Innovation 3X Leveraged ETN (BULZ) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Solactive FANG Innovation index. The fund tracks 3x the daily price movements of an equal-weighted index of US-listed technology companies. BULZ was launched on Aug 20, 2021 and is issued by REX Microsectors. Receive News & Ratings for MicroSectors FANG & Innovation 3x Leveraged ETN Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for MicroSectors FANG & Innovation 3x Leveraged ETN and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Naked Wines plc (LON:WINE Get Free Report) insider Jack Pailing bought 12,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 9th. The stock was acquired at an average price of GBX 73 per share, with a total value of 8,760. Jack Pailing also recently made the following trade(s): Get Naked Wines alerts: On Wednesday, March 4th, Jack Pailing purchased 20,000 shares of Naked Wines stock. The stock was acquired at an average cost of GBX 74 per share, for a total transaction of 14,800. On Thursday, January 29th, Jack Pailing purchased 16,350 shares of Naked Wines stock. The stock was acquired at an average cost of GBX 74 per share, for a total transaction of 12,099. Naked Wines Price Performance WINE opened at GBX 72 on Wednesday. Naked Wines plc has a 12 month low of GBX 42 and a 12 month high of GBX 95. The business has a 50-day moving average of GBX 73.97 and a two-hundred day moving average of GBX 75.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 8.40, a current ratio of 1.50 and a quick ratio of 0.29. The stock has a market capitalization of 49.25 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -34.29, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.40 and a beta of 1.53. Analysts Set New Price Targets Naked Wines ( LON:WINE Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, December 9th. The company reported GBX (4.30) earnings per share for the quarter. Naked Wines had a negative return on equity of 2.23% and a negative net margin of 0.67%. On average, research analysts expect that Naked Wines plc will post 1.4166456 earnings per share for the current year. Separately, Panmure Gordon restated a buy rating and set a GBX 150 price target on shares of Naked Wines in a research note on Thursday, November 20th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to MarketBeat, Naked Wines has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of GBX 150. Read Our Latest Analysis on Naked Wines Naked Wines Company Profile (Get Free Report) Naked Wines plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the retailing of wines and spirits in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia. The company offers its products online. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Naked Wines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Naked Wines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. NN Group (OTCMKTS:NNGRY Get Free Report) is projected to release its results before the market opens on Thursday, March 12th. Analysts expect NN Group to post earnings of $1.98 per share and revenue of $7.1965 billion for the quarter. NN Group Stock Performance NN Group stock opened at $38.47 on Wednesday. NN Group has a 1 year low of $24.45 and a 1 year high of $42.74. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $39.51 and a 200 day moving average price of $36.85. Get NN Group alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In NNGRY has been the subject of several analyst reports. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a buy rating on shares of NN Group in a research note on Monday, December 1st. Zacks Research upgraded NN Group from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Wednesday, February 18th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have given a Buy rating, four have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, NN Group presently has a consensus rating of Hold. About NN Group (Get Free Report) NN Group N.V. (OTCMKTS:NNGRY) is a Dutch insurance and asset management company that provides a range of life and non-life insurance products, pension and retirement solutions, and investment management services. Its product offering typically includes individual and group life insurance, annuities, disability and health-related coverages, property & casualty insurance, and savings and retirement planning products aimed at both retail and corporate clients. The company also manages assets on behalf of its insurance operations and third-party institutional and individual investors. NN Group traces its corporate structure to the Dutch insurer Nationale-Nederlanden and was established as a separate, publicly listed company following a demerger from ING Group in the mid-2010s. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for NN Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NN Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Carlyle Credit Income Fund (NYSE:CCIF Get Free Report) was the target of a large increase in short interest in February. As of February 27th, there was short interest totaling 361,922 shares, an increase of 475.0% from the February 12th total of 62,940 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 357,775 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.0 days. Based on an average daily volume of 357,775 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.0 days. Carlyle Credit Income Fund Trading Up 4.1% NYSE CCIF traded up $0.13 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $3.36. 132,483 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 193,078. Carlyle Credit Income Fund has a 12 month low of $3.15 and a 12 month high of $7.90. The company has a 50 day moving average of $4.16 and a two-hundred day moving average of $4.90. Get Carlyle Credit Income Fund alerts: Carlyle Credit Income Fund (NYSE:CCIF Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 25th. The company reported $999.00 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.17 by $998.83. The company had revenue of $7.12 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.82 million. Carlyle Credit Income Fund Announces Dividend Institutional Trading of Carlyle Credit Income Fund The company also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 29th. Investors of record on Monday, May 18th will be paid a $0.06 dividend. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 21.4%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, May 18th. Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Wedbush Securities Inc. bought a new position in Carlyle Credit Income Fund during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $69,000. Virtu Financial LLC acquired a new position in shares of Carlyle Credit Income Fund in the 4th quarter worth approximately $74,000. XTX Topco Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Carlyle Credit Income Fund in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $83,000. Citadel Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Carlyle Credit Income Fund in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $89,000. Finally, Osaic Holdings Inc. raised its position in shares of Carlyle Credit Income Fund by 34.4% during the 2nd quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 17,135 shares of the companys stock valued at $111,000 after acquiring an additional 4,388 shares in the last quarter. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities analysts have commented on the stock. Credit Suisse Group set a $6.00 price objective on shares of Carlyle Credit Income Fund in a report on Thursday, November 20th. B. Riley Financial lowered their target price on Carlyle Credit Income Fund from $9.00 to $6.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, November 20th. Get Our Latest Analysis on Carlyle Credit Income Fund Carlyle Credit Income Fund Company Profile (Get Free Report) Carlyle Credit Income Fund is a close ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Vertical Capital Asset Management, LLC. The fund is co managed by Behringer Advisors, LLC. The Fund invests mainly in fixed-income securities. The fund invests in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. It seeks to benchmark the performance of its portfolio against the Barclays Capital U.S. Mortgage Backed Securities Index. Carlyle Credit Income Fund was formed on December 30, 2011 and is domiciled in the United States. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Carlyle Credit Income Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Carlyle Credit Income Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Transat A.T. (TSE:TRZ) reported improved profitability and higher revenue in its fiscal first quarter ended January 31, 2026, as management pointed to progress under its turnaround efforts and continued gains from its Elevation Program. Get alerts: First-quarter performance: revenue up 5%, adjusted EBITDA up 68% President and CEO Annick Guerard said the company delivered a solid financial performance supported by initiatives introduced over recent quarters, including advanced revenue management practices, network diversification, and increased connectivity. Revenue rose 5% year-over-year to CAD 871 million, despite disruption tied to Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica. Adjusted EBITDA increased tofrom CAD 20 million a year earlier, which management attributed to higher revenue and disciplined cost management. CFO Jean-Francois Pruneau said operating expenses increased just 1% even with capacity growth and higher pilot compensation, helped by better vacation package margins and lower fuel expense. On the bottom line, Transat posted a net loss of CAD 29 million, or CAD 0.73 per share, compared with a net loss of CAD 122 million, or CAD 3.10 per share, in the prior-year quarter. Adjusted net loss improved to CAD 48 million, or CAD 1.18 per share, from an adjusted net loss of CAD 75 million, or CAD 1.90 per share, a year earlier. Operating metrics show continued yield and traffic gains Guerard highlighted what she described as sustained year-over-year traffic growth and a fifth consecutive quarter of yield improvement. Capacity (available seat miles) increased 1% overall, while Sun routes capacity grew 4.4% during the winter season. Load factor improved to 81.5% from 80.6% a year ago, and revenue passenger miles increased 2.2%. Yields were 1.4% higher than the same period last year. Pruneau added that revenue growth reflected the traffic and yield increases, and also included CAD 5 million of compensation revenue from Pratt & Whitney related to grounded aircraft, compared with no such revenue in the prior-year quarter. Operational headwinds: GTF engine groundings and Cuba suspension Transat ended the quarter with a fleet of 43 aircraft. Guerard said four aircraft were grounded in the first quarter and are expected to remain grounded in the second quarter due to ongoing Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan (GTF) engine issues. The company continues to expect gradual improvement, with grounded aircraft projected to decline to three by summer. Guerard said full resolution is anticipated by the end of 2027 or early 2028. Early in the second quarter, Transat suspended all flights to Cuba through April 30 due to an anticipated fuel shortage at destination airports. Guerard said the company organized repatriation flights to return customers to Canada and noted the suspension will affect second-quarter results because Cuba represented about 10% of winter season capacity. Management said it redeployed part of that capacity to other Sun destinations where demand has increased and will continue monitoring conditions to determine when flights can safely and reliably resume. The company also cited a short, localized disruption in Puerto Vallarta in February, where four flights were postponed over two days due to local conditions in Jalisco. Guerard said operations resumed promptly and that bookings to Mexico are gradually returning to expected levels, though the events temporarily affected consumer confidence. During the analyst Q&A, management also discussed broader geopolitical developments, including conflict in Iran. Guerard said Transat has not seen a direct operational impact and no broad decline in customer willingness to travel, though she noted a little bit of softness over the last two weeks on bookings for Istanbul, which the company serves twice weekly from Toronto. She emphasized that fuel costs are the most significant potential impact. Network diversification and new routes Management pointed to new and expanded destinations as part of its strategy to reduce seasonality and balance demand. Guerard cited recently added routes including Tirana, Albania; Agadir, Morocco; and Dakar, Senegal, and said performance on new routes has been very encouraging and is contributing positively to the network. She said the company continues to emphasize diversification across Africa, Europe, and South America, and has expanded connectivity through strategic partnerships to extend its reach beyond its own operated routes. When asked about current booking momentum, Guerard said demand for Europe remains strong heading into the summer season and that the company has flexibility to shift Sun capacity among destinations. She pointed to Dominican Republic and Costa Rica as currently popular, while reiterating that Cuba remains a popular destination and that Transat intends to resume operations when conditions allow. Cash flow, balance sheet improvements, and outlook items Transat reported a significant improvement in cash generation. Cash flows from operating activities were CAD 296 million, up from CAD 169 million in the prior-year quarter, reflecting higher profitability and changes in working capital. Capital expenditures were CAD 14 million versus CAD 23 million a year earlier. Free cash flow was CAD 247 million, compared with CAD 129 million in Q1 2025. Cash and cash equivalents totaled CAD 387 million at quarter-end, up from CAD 165 million at the end of the previous quarter. Cash and cash equivalents plus amounts held in trust or otherwise reserved totaled CAD 528 million, up from CAD 430 million, which Pruneau said reflected solid travel package bookings. Long-term debt and deferred government grants were CAD 375 million as of January 31, down from CAD 400 million three months earlier and down from CAD 813 million 12 months earlier, prior to a refinancing completed last summer. Pruneau said the quarter-over-quarter decrease reflected repayment of CAD 25 million on the revolving credit facility, and he added that Transat repaid CAD 30 million on its subordinated working capital facility after quarter-end because cash exceeded a threshold. He said the facility remains available as needed. Transat ended the quarter with a net cash and cash equivalents position of CAD 12 million, compared with a net debt position of CAD 235 million three months earlier. Looking to the second quarter, Guerard said planned capacity is expected to rise about 5% year-over-year despite the Cuba suspension. Management said Q2 yields are tracking in line with last year, while load factors are 1.8 percentage points below the prior year, with the variance weighted to the back end of the quarter. For the full fiscal year 2026, the company anticipates capacity growth of approximately 5% to 7%. On fuel, Pruneau said more than half of second-quarter consumption is hedged, with hedging coverage lower than half for the summer but still providing protection against price increases. He declined to disclose hedge levels. In response to analyst questions, management said sudden fuel spikes are difficult to pass through immediately, noting actions including increased fuel surcharges on Europe, fare increases on peak travel dates and routes with less competition, and efforts to optimize ancillary revenue. Management also said capacity cuts could be considered if fuel impacts persist, though the company is not at that point. Separately, Guerard reiterated plans for a new loyalty program, first announced in January, featuring a co-branded credit card with Desjardins Group and Visa. She said the program is scheduled to launch in the second half of 2026 and is intended to create a recurring revenue stream, improve revenue quality, and drive higher load factors. She also said Transat estimates that not having a loyalty program prevents us from 4%-5% market share today. In discussing the Elevation Program, management said it remains on track to deliver CAD 100 million in EBITDA by mid-2026. Guerard said roughly CAD 70 million is already embedded in the companys results and added that Transat continues to pursue additional initiatives on both the revenue and cost sides. About Transat A.T. (TSE:TRZ) Air Transat is a leading travel brand voted 2025 Worlds Best Leisure Airline by passengers at the Skytrax World Airline Awards. Its program offers access to international destinations, mainly in Europe, the Caribbean, the east coast of the United States, South America and North Africa. Air Transat is recognized for its excellent customer service. Its fleet includes some of the most energy-efficient aircraft in their category. Based in Montreal with major hubs in YUL Montreal-Trudeau International Airport and Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ), it has 5,000 employees with a common purpose to bring people closer together. Read More ProPetro Holding Corp. (NYSE:PUMP Free Report) Equities research analysts at Zacks Research decreased their Q1 2026 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for ProPetro in a note issued to investors on Wednesday, March 4th. Zacks Research analyst Team now anticipates that the company will post earnings per share of ($0.11) for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of ($0.09). The consensus estimate for ProPetros current full-year earnings is $0.25 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for ProPetros Q3 2026 earnings at $0.01 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $0.05 EPS, FY2026 earnings at ($0.10) EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $0.17 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $0.06 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $0.08 EPS, Q4 2027 earnings at $0.09 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $0.40 EPS. Get ProPetro alerts: A number of other equities research analysts have also recently commented on PUMP. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of ProPetro from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and raised their price target for the stock from $7.00 to $13.00 in a report on Wednesday, December 10th. Wolfe Research raised shares of ProPetro to a buy rating and set a $13.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. Barclays raised their target price on ProPetro from $11.00 to $12.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 25th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a sell (d-) rating on shares of ProPetro in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, Piper Sandler increased their price target on ProPetro from $16.00 to $17.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $12.83. ProPetro Stock Performance NYSE:PUMP opened at $12.18 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.24, a current ratio of 1.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13. ProPetro has a twelve month low of $4.51 and a twelve month high of $13.25. The company has a fifty day moving average of $11.06 and a 200-day moving average of $8.82. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 1,218.00 and a beta of 0.70. ProPetro (NYSE:PUMP Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 18th. The company reported $0.01 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.13) by $0.14. The firm had revenue of $289.68 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $279.90 million. ProPetro had a return on equity of 0.10% and a net margin of 0.06%.The companys revenue was down 9.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned ($0.17) earnings per share. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of ProPetro in the 4th quarter worth about $56,000. Trek Financial LLC bought a new stake in ProPetro during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $57,000. Dark Forest Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in shares of ProPetro in the third quarter worth approximately $57,000. MQS Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of ProPetro in the third quarter worth approximately $58,000. Finally, PharVision Advisers LLC bought a new position in shares of ProPetro in the second quarter valued at approximately $60,000. 84.70% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About ProPetro (Get Free Report) ProPetro Holding Corp is a publicly traded oilfield services company that specializes in hydraulic fracturing and well completion solutions for exploration and production operators. Headquartered in Midland, Texas, the company delivers a comprehensive suite of pressure pumping services designed to optimize reservoir stimulation and enhance hydrocarbon recovery. Its integrated approach encompasses well design, proppant selection, fluid systems and pressure management to support clients development targets across unconventional plays. The companys core offerings include high-pressure fracturing, coiled tubing, cementing, acidizing and flowback services, all supported by in-house logistics and digital monitoring tools. Read More Receive News & Ratings for ProPetro Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ProPetro and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Xiaomi Co. (OTCMKTS:XIACF Get Free Report)s share price was up 1.1% during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $4.56 and last traded at $4.38. Approximately 38,904 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 53% from the average daily volume of 82,120 shares. The stock had previously closed at $4.3330. Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, Jefferies Financial Group downgraded Xiaomi from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 17th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Xiaomi currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy. Get Xiaomi alerts: Check Out Our Latest Report on Xiaomi Xiaomi Stock Performance About Xiaomi The firms 50-day moving average is $4.64 and its 200 day moving average is $5.57. (Get Free Report) Xiaomi Corporation, founded in April 2010 by entrepreneur Lei Jun and a group of partners, is a Chinese multinational electronics company headquartered in Beijing. The company began with the launch of its proprietary MIUI operating system and quickly expanded into hardware design and manufacturing. Over the past decade, Xiaomi has established itself as one of the worlds leading smartphone vendors, focusing on delivering high-performance devices at competitive price points. In addition to its core smartphone business, Xiaomi operates two main hardware sub-brands: Mi and Redmi. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Xiaomi Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Xiaomi and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Monolith Management Ltd acquired a new stake in Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund acquired 180,778 shares of the specialty retailers stock, valued at approximately $32,310,000. Alibaba Group comprises approximately 14.2% of Monolith Management Ltds investment portfolio, making the stock its 2nd largest position. A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of BABA. Capital World Investors boosted its position in shares of Alibaba Group by 1,074.9% in the third quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 6,038,318 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $1,079,229,000 after buying an additional 5,524,354 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Alibaba Group in the 2nd quarter valued at $527,243,000. Alkeon Capital Management LLC bought a new position in Alibaba Group during the second quarter valued at about $184,291,000. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership acquired a new stake in Alibaba Group in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $290,208,000. Finally, Trivest Advisors Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Alibaba Group in the third quarter worth $202,126,000. 13.47% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Alibaba Group alerts: Trending Headlines about Alibaba Group Here are the key news stories impacting Alibaba Group this week: Positive Sentiment: Analysts and previews expect Alibabas March 19 Q3 report could spark a rebound if management delivers strong cloud/AI commentary and beats conservative estimates this is a near-term catalyst for the stock. Earnings Preview Analysts and previews expect Alibabas March 19 Q3 report could spark a rebound if management delivers strong cloud/AI commentary and beats conservative estimates this is a near-term catalyst for the stock. Positive Sentiment: Broader strength in Chinese exports has lifted major internet names (including Alibaba), providing a favorable macro backdrop that can support multiple re-rating catalysts for the stock. Export/Market Lift Broader strength in Chinese exports has lifted major internet names (including Alibaba), providing a favorable macro backdrop that can support multiple re-rating catalysts for the stock. Positive Sentiment: Market reminders to watch the March 19 earnings date are increasing investor attention and trading volume elevated focus can amplify moves on any guidance or surprises. Earnings Calendar Market reminders to watch the March 19 earnings date are increasing investor attention and trading volume elevated focus can amplify moves on any guidance or surprises. Neutral Sentiment: Recent small outperformance vs. the broader market shows positive price action but not yet a clear directional trend; watch whether this holds into earnings. Market Performance Note Recent small outperformance vs. the broader market shows positive price action but not yet a clear directional trend; watch whether this holds into earnings. Neutral Sentiment: Company communication shows continued expansion of the Qwen AI initiative and denies reports of collective resignations supports continuity of AI strategy but is informational rather than a direct earnings driver. Qwen AI Update Company communication shows continued expansion of the Qwen AI initiative and denies reports of collective resignations supports continuity of AI strategy but is informational rather than a direct earnings driver. Negative Sentiment: A report that an Alibaba AI system learned to mine cryptocurrency instead of doing intended tasks raises governance and controls concernscould prompt investor questions about AI oversight and risk management. AI Governance Concern A report that an Alibaba AI system learned to mine cryptocurrency instead of doing intended tasks raises governance and controls concernscould prompt investor questions about AI oversight and risk management. Neutral Sentiment: Broader fund moves and macro stories (e.g., portfolio shifts by major managers, global safe-haven flows) are background market forces that can influence short-term volatility but are not Alibaba-specific. Macro/ETF Context Analysts Set New Price Targets BABA has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Weiss Ratings downgraded shares of Alibaba Group from a buy (b-) rating to a hold (c+) rating in a research note on Friday, February 27th. Macquarie Infrastructure reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Alibaba Group in a report on Tuesday, November 25th. Citigroup upped their price objective on Alibaba Group from $218.00 to $225.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 26th. Wall Street Zen lowered Alibaba Group from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Friday, November 28th. Finally, Arete Research upgraded shares of Alibaba Group from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $190.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Sixteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $195.17. Read Our Latest Research Report on BABA Alibaba Group Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:BABA opened at $136.86 on Wednesday. The business has a fifty day moving average of $156.95 and a 200-day moving average of $158.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23, a quick ratio of 1.46 and a current ratio of 1.46. Alibaba Group Holding Limited has a twelve month low of $95.73 and a twelve month high of $192.67. The firm has a market cap of $326.74 billion, a PE ratio of 18.90, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.90 and a beta of 0.43. Alibaba Group Company Profile (Free Report) Alibaba Group Holding Limited is a Chinese multinational conglomerate founded in 1999 in Hangzhou, China, by Jack Ma and a group of cofounders. The company built its business around internet-based commerce and related services and has grown into one of the largest e-commerce and technology companies in the world. Alibaba completed a highprofile initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange in 2014. The company operates a portfolio of online marketplaces and platforms serving different customer segments: Alibaba.com for global and domestic B2B trade, Taobao for consumer-to-consumer shopping, and Tmall for brand and retailer storefronts targeted at Chinese consumers. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BABA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Alibaba Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alibaba Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Alger 35 ETF (NYSEARCA:ATFV Get Free Report) saw a large decline in short interest during the month of February. As of February 27th, there was short interest totaling 1,074 shares, a decline of 74.5% from the February 12th total of 4,213 shares. Approximately 0.0% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 23,793 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.0 days. Based on an average trading volume of 23,793 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.0 days. Approximately 0.0% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Alger 35 ETF Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. bought a new stake in Alger 35 ETF during the 3rd quarter valued at $83,000. Global Retirement Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Alger 35 ETF during the 4th quarter worth $182,000. Worth Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Alger 35 ETF during the third quarter valued at $210,000. Citadel Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Alger 35 ETF in the third quarter valued at about $227,000. Finally, Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC bought a new stake in shares of Alger 35 ETF in the third quarter valued at about $249,000. Get Alger 35 ETF alerts: Alger 35 ETF Stock Performance NYSEARCA:ATFV traded up $0.21 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $33.15. The stock had a trading volume of 6,097 shares, compared to its average volume of 32,904. The stock has a market capitalization of $119.34 million, a PE ratio of 29.96 and a beta of 1.29. Alger 35 ETF has a 52 week low of $18.98 and a 52 week high of $36.90. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $34.38 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $34.61. Alger 35 ETF Dividend Announcement About Alger 35 ETF The company also recently disclosed an annual dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, December 18th were paid a dividend of $0.0708 per share. This represents a yield of 21.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, December 18th. (Get Free Report) The Alger 35 ETF (ATFV) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in total market equity. The fund is an actively-managed, non-transparent ETF that holds a concentrated portfolio of global growth stocks. The fund utilizes the Precidian non-transparent model. ATFV was launched on May 3, 2021 and is managed by Alger. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Alger 35 ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alger 35 ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Avolta AG Unsponsored ADR (OTCMKTS:DUFRY Get Free Report) gapped up prior to trading on Wednesday . The stock had previously closed at $5.81, but opened at $6.0201. Avolta shares last traded at $6.1363, with a volume of 30,639 shares changing hands. Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, UBS Group raised shares of Avolta from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 17th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and one has assigned a Buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Strong Buy. Get Avolta alerts: View Our Latest Analysis on DUFRY Avolta Stock Up 4.0% Avolta Company Profile The firms 50-day moving average price is $6.13 and its 200-day moving average price is $5.73. The company has a quick ratio of 0.44, a current ratio of 0.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.85. (Get Free Report) Avolta AG operates as a travel retailer. The companys retail brands include general travel retail shops under the Dufry, World Duty Free, Nuance, Hellenic Duty Free, Zurich Duty-Free or Stockholm Duty-Free, Autogrill, and HMSHost brands; Dufry shopping stores; brand boutiques; convenience stores primarily under the Hudson brand; and specialized shops and theme stores. It offers perfumes and cosmetics, food and confectionery, wines and spirits, watches and jewelry, fashion and leather, tobacco goods, souvenirs, electronics, soft drinks, packaged food, travel accessories, personal items, sunglasses, destination, and other products, as well as newspapers, magazines, and books. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Avolta Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Avolta and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust (NYSE:BTZ Get Free Report) announced a monthly dividend on Friday, January 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 13th will be given a dividend of 0.0839 per share by the investment management company on Tuesday, March 31st. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 9.9%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 13th. BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust Stock Down 1.1% Shares of NYSE BTZ traded down $0.12 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $10.22. The stock had a trading volume of 348,227 shares, compared to its average volume of 303,435. BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust has a fifty-two week low of $9.54 and a fifty-two week high of $11.18. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $10.66 and a 200-day moving average of $10.86. Get BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust alerts: BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust Company Profile (Get Free Report) BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust (NYSE: BTZ) is a closed-end management investment company sponsored by BlackRock Fund Advisors. The trust seeks to provide investors with a high level of current income, as well as the potential for capital appreciation, through an actively managed portfolio of credit and income-producing securities. BTZ primarily focuses on instruments that offer attractive yields while aiming to preserve capital over the long term. The portfolio is diversified across a broad spectrum of credit sectors, including investment-grade corporate debt, high-yield bonds, leveraged bank loans, residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities, and asset-backed securities. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund, Inc. (NYSE:MUJ Get Free Report) declared a monthly dividend on Friday, January 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 13th will be given a dividend of 0.054 per share by the financial services provider on Wednesday, April 1st. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 13th. BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund Stock Up 0.2% Shares of BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund stock traded up $0.02 on Wednesday, reaching $12.48. 2,314 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 92,326. The company has a 50 day moving average of $12.26 and a 200 day moving average of $11.87. BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund has a 52 week low of $10.50 and a 52 week high of $12.68. Get BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund alerts: BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund Company Profile (Get Free Report) BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund (NYSE: MUJ) is a closed-end management investment company that seeks to provide shareholders with a high level of current income exempt from federal and New Jersey state income taxes. The fund primarily invests in investment-grade municipal securities issued by or on behalf of the State of New Jersey and its municipalities, authorities, and instrumentalities. By concentrating on high-quality New Jersey public finance obligations, MUJ aims to offer tax-efficient income for investors with exposure to the states credit profile. The funds portfolio is actively managed by BlackRocks municipal fixed income team, which conducts credit analysis and sector allocation to identify opportunities within New Jerseys diverse municipal marketplace. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund, Inc. (NYSE:MIY Get Free Report) announced a monthly dividend on Friday, January 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 13th will be given a dividend of 0.0545 per share by the financial services provider on Wednesday, April 1st. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.2%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 13th. BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund Trading Down 0.4% Shares of MIY traded down $0.05 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $12.62. The company had a trading volume of 4,036 shares, compared to its average volume of 57,170. BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund has a twelve month low of $10.57 and a twelve month high of $12.90. The companys 50-day moving average is $12.22 and its 200-day moving average is $11.75. Get BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund alerts: BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund Company Profile (Get Free Report) BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund (NYSE: MIY) is a closed-end management investment company that seeks to provide current income exempt from federal and Michigan personal income taxes. The fund primarily invests in investment-grade municipal securities issued by state and local governments within Michigan. Its portfolio typically includes a diversified mix of general obligation bonds and revenue bonds backed by public utilities, transportation projects, and other essential municipal services. The funds investment strategy emphasizes credit quality and diversification across sectors and maturities. Read More Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Blue Whale Capital LLP decreased its position in Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Free Report) by 5.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 498,342 shares of the companys stock after selling 26,517 shares during the period. Philip Morris International makes up 4.5% of Blue Whale Capital LLPs holdings, making the stock its 9th biggest holding. Blue Whale Capital LLPs holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $80,831,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Corient Private Wealth LLC grew its stake in Philip Morris International by 1.2% during the second quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 490,590 shares of the companys stock worth $89,354,000 after purchasing an additional 5,681 shares during the period. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC lifted its stake in Philip Morris International by 10.3% in the third quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 549,481 shares of the companys stock valued at $84,922,000 after buying an additional 51,399 shares during the period. Trajan Wealth LLC lifted its stake in Philip Morris International by 31.2% in the third quarter. Trajan Wealth LLC now owns 132,295 shares of the companys stock valued at $21,458,000 after buying an additional 31,490 shares during the period. Dynasty Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 53.0% during the 3rd quarter. Dynasty Wealth Management LLC now owns 27,772 shares of the companys stock worth $4,505,000 after buying an additional 9,622 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Westwood Holdings Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 295.8% during the 2nd quarter. Westwood Holdings Group Inc. now owns 67,717 shares of the companys stock worth $12,333,000 after buying an additional 50,610 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 78.63% of the companys stock. Get Philip Morris International alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In other news, CEO Jacek Olczak sold 80,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $182.18, for a total value of $14,574,400.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 632,344 shares in the company, valued at $115,200,429.92. This trade represents a 11.23% 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, CFO Emmanuel Babeau sold 33,800 shares of Philip Morris International stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $181.61, for a total value of $6,138,418.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 164,463 shares in the company, valued at approximately $29,868,125.43. The trade was a 17.05% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 0.13% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Philip Morris International Trading Down 0.3% Philip Morris International stock opened at $172.78 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $268.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.97 and a beta of 0.38. The firms fifty day moving average price is $175.58 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $164.02. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 1-year low of $142.11 and a 1-year high of $191.30. Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, February 6th. The company reported $1.70 EPS for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $1.70. Philip Morris International had a net margin of 12.09% and a negative return on equity of 130.95%. The company had revenue of $10.36 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.40 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.55 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 6.8% on a year-over-year basis. Philip Morris International has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 1.800-1.850 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 8.380-8.530 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 7.14 EPS for the current year. Philip Morris International Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 13th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 19th will be paid a $1.47 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 19th. This represents a $5.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.4%. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio is 80.88%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Needham & Company LLC lifted their price objective on shares of Philip Morris International from $190.00 to $205.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 10th. Morgan Stanley restated an overweight rating and issued a $205.00 price target on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Monday, February 9th. UBS Group reaffirmed a neutral rating and issued a $181.50 price target on shares of Philip Morris International in a research note on Monday, February 9th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Philip Morris International from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, January 10th. Finally, Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Philip Morris International from $200.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 10th. Eleven investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $196.83. Get Our Latest Analysis on PM Philip Morris International Company Profile (Free Report) Philip Morris International Inc (NYSE: PM) is a global tobacco company that manufactures and sells cigarettes, other nicotine-containing products and a growing portfolio of smoke-free alternatives for adult smokers. The firm traces its corporate roots to the 19th century Philip Morris enterprise and was established as an independent, publicly traded company following a 2008 separation from what is now Altria. Since the spin-off, the company has focused on serving international markets outside the United States. PMIs product mix includes traditional combustible cigarettes as well as smoke-free offerings such as heated tobacco systems and other reduced-risk products. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Philip Morris International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Philip Morris International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Blue Whale Capital LLP increased its stake in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (NYSE:TSM Free Report) by 36.9% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 717,700 shares of the semiconductor companys stock after buying an additional 193,430 shares during the period. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing accounts for about 11.1% of Blue Whale Capital LLPs portfolio, making the stock its 3rd largest holding. Blue Whale Capital LLPs holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing were worth $200,446,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Westfuller Advisors LLC lifted its position in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 2.2% during the third quarter. Westfuller Advisors LLC now owns 1,551 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $434,000 after acquiring an additional 34 shares during the last quarter. BankPlus Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 1.6% during the third quarter. BankPlus Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,291 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $640,000 after acquiring an additional 35 shares during the period. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust grew its position in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 7.5% in the third quarter. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust now owns 500 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $140,000 after purchasing an additional 35 shares during the last quarter. New Millennium Group LLC grew its position in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 2.9% in the third quarter. New Millennium Group LLC now owns 1,248 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $349,000 after purchasing an additional 35 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Empirical Asset Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 1.8% during the third quarter. Empirical Asset Management LLC now owns 2,008 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $561,000 after purchasing an additional 36 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 16.51% of the companys stock. Get Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing alerts: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Trading Down 0.5% Shares of NYSE:TSM opened at $346.81 on Wednesday. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $344.95 and its 200 day simple moving average is $304.23. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. has a 1 year low of $134.25 and a 1 year high of $390.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a current ratio of 2.62 and a quick ratio of 2.42. The company has a market capitalization of $1.80 trillion, a P/E ratio of 32.56, a P/E/G ratio of 0.97 and a beta of 1.29. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Cuts Dividend Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing ( NYSE:TSM Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 26th. The semiconductor company reported $3.11 earnings per share for the quarter. The firm 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%. On average, research analysts anticipate that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. will post 9.2 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 9th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 11th will be paid a $0.9503 dividend. This represents a $3.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 11th. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings payout ratio is 23.57%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In TSM has been the subject of several research reports. Wall Street Zen raised Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, January 17th. Dbs Bank upgraded Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing to a moderate buy rating in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. Barclays lifted their target price on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $380.00 to $450.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, January 16th. Wedbush restated an outperform rating on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a research note on Wednesday, February 11th. Finally, Zacks Research raised shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 3rd. 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 company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $391.43. View Our Latest Analysis on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Key Stories Impacting Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Here are the key news stories impacting Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing this week: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Profile (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 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. Nemes Rush Group LLC raised its position in BondBloxx Bloomberg One Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF (NYSEARCA:XONE Free Report) by 37.3% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 155,105 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 42,101 shares during the quarter. Nemes Rush Group LLC owned approximately 1.17% of BondBloxx Bloomberg One Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF worth $7,702,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Kingdom Financial Group LLC. acquired a new position in shares of BondBloxx Bloomberg One Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at $232,000. Csenge Advisory Group acquired a new stake in BondBloxx Bloomberg One Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF during the 3rd quarter worth $233,000. C2P Capital Advisory Group LLC d.b.a. Prosperity Capital Advisors purchased a new position in BondBloxx Bloomberg One Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF during the 3rd quarter worth $246,000. Inspire Advisors LLC purchased a new position in BondBloxx Bloomberg One Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF during the 3rd quarter worth $270,000. Finally, Flow Traders U.S. LLC acquired a new position in BondBloxx Bloomberg One Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF in the second quarter valued at $275,000. 47.99% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get BondBloxx Bloomberg One Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF alerts: BondBloxx Bloomberg One Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF Stock Performance Shares of NYSEARCA:XONE opened at $49.48 on Wednesday. BondBloxx Bloomberg One Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF has a one year low of $49.40 and a one year high of $49.78. The stock has a market capitalization of $715.98 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -52.64 and a beta of 0.08. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $49.56 and a 200-day simple moving average of $49.59. BondBloxx Bloomberg One Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF Cuts Dividend About BondBloxx Bloomberg One Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF The business also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 5th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 2nd were paid a dividend of $0.1358 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 2nd. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a yield of 3.3%. BondBloxx Bloomberg One Year Target Duration US Treasury ETFs dividend payout ratio is currently -221.28%. (Free Report) The Bondbloxx Bloomberg One Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF (XONE) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund is passively managed to invest in a portfolio of US Treasury securities with a target duration of one year. XONE was launched on Sep 13, 2022 and is managed by BondBloxx. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for BondBloxx Bloomberg One Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BondBloxx Bloomberg One Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Brentview Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ Free Report) by 25.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 26,266 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 5,337 shares during the quarter. Johnson & Johnson comprises about 2.2% of Brentview Investment Management LLCs holdings, making the stock its 22nd biggest holding. Brentview Investment Management LLCs holdings in Johnson & Johnson were worth $4,870,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in Johnson & Johnson by 1.3% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 237,047,859 shares of the companys stock valued at $36,209,060,000 after buying an additional 3,085,180 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Johnson & Johnson by 2.1% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 60,609,476 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,227,988,000 after purchasing an additional 1,225,676 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Johnson & Johnson during the 2nd quarter worth $4,877,174,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its stake in Johnson & Johnson by 3.5% during the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 24,637,649 shares of the companys stock worth $4,568,313,000 after purchasing an additional 835,146 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Legal & General Group Plc increased its holdings in Johnson & Johnson by 2.8% during the 3rd quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 19,450,064 shares of the companys stock worth $3,606,431,000 after purchasing an additional 532,790 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 69.55% of the companys stock. Get Johnson & Johnson alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on JNJ shares. Loop Capital set a $220.00 price objective on Johnson & Johnson in a research note on Tuesday, January 27th. Leerink Partners raised their target price on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $201.00 to $232.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their price target on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $240.00 to $255.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 3rd. BMO Capital Markets reissued an outperform rating on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $262.00 price objective on shares of Johnson & Johnson and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have assigned a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $234.87. Insider Buying and Selling at Johnson & Johnson In other Johnson & Johnson news, EVP Vanessa Broadhurst sold 6,197 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $243.39, for a total value of $1,508,287.83. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president 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 transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Timothy Schmid sold 22,623 shares of Johnson & Johnson stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $244.33, for a total value of $5,527,477.59. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 26,769 shares in the company, valued at $6,540,469.77. This trade represents a 45.80% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold 30,142 shares of company stock valued at $7,360,528 in the last 90 days. 0.16% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Key Headlines Impacting Johnson & Johnson Here are the key news stories impacting Johnson & Johnson this week: Johnson & Johnson Stock Performance Shares of JNJ opened at $243.75 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $587.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.34. Johnson & Johnson has a 52-week low of $141.50 and a 52-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 stock has a 50 day moving average price of $229.80 and a 200 day moving average price of $205.27. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Saturday, January 31st. The company reported $2.46 earnings per share for the quarter. The company had revenue of $24.28 billion for the quarter. Johnson & Johnson had a net margin of 28.46% and a return on equity of 33.04%. Research analysts predict that Johnson & Johnson will post 10.58 EPS for the current fiscal year. Johnson & Johnson Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 24th were given a $1.30 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 24th. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.1%. Johnson & Johnsons payout ratio is 47.06%. 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. Further Reading 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. Capital Fund Management S.A. purchased a new stake in Fair Isaac Corporation (NYSE:FICO Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 18,049 shares of the technology companys stock, valued at approximately $27,011,000. Capital Fund Management S.A. owned approximately 0.08% of Fair Isaac as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in FICO. Ransom Advisory Ltd acquired a new stake in Fair Isaac during the 3rd quarter valued at $30,000. Meeder Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of Fair Isaac by 66.7% in the third quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. now owns 20 shares of the technology companys stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 8 shares during the period. Root Financial Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Fair Isaac during the third quarter valued at $30,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of Fair Isaac by 280.0% during the third quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 19 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 14 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Strengthening Families & Communities LLC acquired a new position in Fair Isaac during the third quarter valued at $34,000. 85.75% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Fair Isaac alerts: Fair Isaac Trading Down 11.0% Fair Isaac stock opened at $1,282.35 on Wednesday. Fair Isaac Corporation has a 1-year low of $1,193.09 and a 1-year high of $2,217.60. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $1,469.69 and its 200-day simple moving average is $1,595.35. The company has a market capitalization of $30.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 47.46, a P/E/G ratio of 1.39 and a beta of 1.28. Fair Isaac ( NYSE:FICO Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 28th. The technology company reported $7.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $7.08 by $0.25. The firm had revenue of $766.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $501.05 million. Fair Isaac had a net margin of 31.89% and a negative return on equity of 40.98%. Fair Isaacs revenue for the quarter was up 16.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $5.79 earnings per share. Fair Isaac has set its FY 2026 guidance at 38.170-38.170 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Fair Isaac Corporation will post 24.15 earnings per share for the current year. Fair Isaac declared that its board has approved a share buyback plan on Wednesday, February 25th that permits the company to repurchase $1.50 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the technology company to reacquire up to 5.2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are typically an indication that the companys leadership believes its stock is undervalued. Insider Transactions at Fair Isaac In other news, CFO Steven P. Weber sold 1,426 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,810.00, for a total transaction of $2,581,060.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer owned 2,804 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,075,240. This represents a 33.71% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Eva Manolis sold 520 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,227.63, for a total value of $638,367.60. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 344 shares in the company, valued at approximately $422,304.72. This represents a 60.19% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last quarter, insiders sold 2,825 shares of company stock worth $4,657,565. 3.02% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth FICO has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Zacks Research downgraded Fair Isaac from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, December 1st. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c+) rating on shares of Fair Isaac in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their target price on Fair Isaac from $2,100.00 to $2,200.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, January 16th. Bank of America began coverage on shares of Fair Isaac in a research report on Tuesday, February 17th. They issued a buy rating and a $1,900.00 price target for the company. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price objective on shares of Fair Isaac from $2,070.00 to $1,777.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Fair Isaac currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $1,994.62. Get Our Latest Research Report on FICO Fair Isaac Company Profile (Free Report) Fair Isaac Corporation, commonly known as FICO, is a data analytics and software company best known for its FICO Score, a widely used credit-scoring system that helps lenders assess consumer credit risk. Founded in 1956 by Bill Fair and Earl Isaac, the company has evolved from its origins in statistical credit scoring to a broader focus on predictive analytics, decision management and artificial intelligence-driven solutions for financial services and other industries. FICO is headquartered in San Jose, California, and operates globally, serving clients across North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region. FICOs product portfolio centers on analytics and decisioning technologies. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Fair Isaac Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fair Isaac and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Capital Group Private Client Services Inc. lowered its position in shares of Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. (NYSE:MTD Free Report) by 76.9% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 1,613 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock after selling 5,356 shares during the period. Capital Group Private Client Services Inc.s holdings in Mettler-Toledo International were worth $1,980,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Versant Capital Management Inc grew its holdings in Mettler-Toledo International by 42.1% during the 3rd quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 27 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 8 shares in the last quarter. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Mettler-Toledo International by 2,700.0% in the 3rd quarter. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. now owns 28 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 27 shares in the last quarter. MV Capital Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Mettler-Toledo International by 50.0% in the 2nd quarter. MV Capital Management Inc. now owns 36 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $42,000 after purchasing an additional 12 shares in the last quarter. Root Financial Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Mettler-Toledo International in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $42,000. Finally, Salomon & Ludwin LLC bought a new position in shares of Mettler-Toledo International during the third quarter valued at approximately $43,000. 95.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Mettler-Toledo International alerts: Mettler-Toledo International Stock Down 1.5% NYSE:MTD opened at $1,230.50 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $25.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.21, a PEG ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 1.43. Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. has a 52 week low of $946.69 and a 52 week high of $1,525.17. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $1,391.20 and a 200 day moving average of $1,371.17. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Mettler-Toledo International ( NYSE:MTD Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The medical instruments supplier reported $13.36 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $12.76 by $0.60. The business had revenue of $1.13 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.10 billion. Mettler-Toledo International had a net margin of 21.59% and a negative return on equity of 495.07%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 8.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $12.41 earnings per share. Mettler-Toledo International has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 8.600-8.750 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 46.050-46.700 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. will post 42.71 EPS for the current year. Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Mettler-Toledo International from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, February 14th. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on Mettler-Toledo International from $1,550.00 to $1,475.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, February 10th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c+) rating on shares of Mettler-Toledo International in a report on Monday, December 29th. Bank of America raised Mettler-Toledo International from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $1,600.00 price target for the company in a research report on Monday, December 15th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on Mettler-Toledo International in a research note on Tuesday, December 9th. They set a neutral rating and a $1,475.00 price objective for the company. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $1,435.42. View Our Latest Research Report on Mettler-Toledo International Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, CFO Shawn Vadala sold 800 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,410.12, for a total transaction of $1,128,096.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 5,288 shares in the company, valued at $7,456,714.56. The trade was a 13.14% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 0.77% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Mettler-Toledo International Company Profile (Free Report) Mettler-Toledo International Inc is a global manufacturer and distributor of precision instruments and services for laboratory, industrial and food retail applications. The companys product portfolio includes laboratory balances and analytical instruments, industrial weighing systems, process analytics and sensors, metal detection and x-ray inspection equipment, checkweighers, and a range of automated inspection and data-management solutions. Mettler-Toledo also provides software, calibration and lifecycle services intended to support compliance, quality control and operational efficiency across customer facilities. The company serves a broad set of end markets including pharmaceutical and biotech laboratories, chemical and food processors, logistics and manufacturing operations, and retail environments where accurate weighing and inspection are critical. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MTD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. (NYSE:MTD Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Mettler-Toledo International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mettler-Toledo International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Capital Group Private Client Services Inc. decreased its stake in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD Free Report) by 50.9% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 23,816 shares of the consumer goods makers stock after selling 24,719 shares during the period. Capital Group Private Client Services Inc.s holdings in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV were worth $1,420,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Seafarer Capital Partners LLC boosted its position in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 1.5% in the third quarter. Seafarer Capital Partners LLC now owns 1,034,000 shares of the consumer goods makers stock valued at $61,637,000 after acquiring an additional 15,000 shares during the period. Savoir Faire Capital Management L.P. bought a new stake in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $2,086,000. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp increased its holdings in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 33,184.8% during the 3rd quarter. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp now owns 15,311 shares of the consumer goods makers stock worth $913,000 after acquiring an additional 15,265 shares during the period. Caprock Group LLC purchased a new stake in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $818,000. Finally, Victory Capital Management Inc. lifted its stake in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 53.7% in the 3rd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 828,670 shares of the consumer goods makers stock worth $49,397,000 after purchasing an additional 289,431 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 5.53% of the companys stock. Get Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth BUD has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group restated a buy rating on shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from $75.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, February 9th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a neutral rating on shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in a research note on Monday, February 16th. Sanford C. Bernstein restated a buy rating on shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in a research report on Wednesday, November 26th. Finally, SBG Securities lowered Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, March 2nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $81.00. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Price Performance Shares of NYSE:BUD opened at $73.14 on Wednesday. The companys fifty day moving average price is $72.67 and its 200-day moving average price is $65.41. The firm has a market capitalization of $142.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.26, a PEG ratio of 1.23 and a beta of 0.54. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV has a one year low of $56.97 and a one year high of $81.56. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 0.72 and a quick ratio of 0.57. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The consumer goods maker reported $0.95 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.91 by $0.04. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV had a return on equity of 15.67% and a net margin of 11.53%.The business had revenue of $15.56 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $15.48 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.88 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 6.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV will post 3.37 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Profile (Free Report) Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE: BUD) is a multinational brewing company headquartered in Leuven, Belgium. It is one of the worlds largest brewers and is primarily engaged in the production, distribution and marketing of beer and related beverages. The companys operations span brewing, packaging, logistics and retail/customer sales support, serving a broad set of channels from on-premise hospitality to retail and e-commerce. AB InBevs portfolio includes a mix of global, regional and local beer brands across mainstream, premium, craft and non-alcoholic categories. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BUD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Capital International Investors grew its holdings in shares of Watsco, Inc. (NYSE:WSO Free Report) by 741.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 2,285,895 shares of the construction companys stock after acquiring an additional 2,014,233 shares during the quarter. Capital International Investors owned 5.64% of Watsco worth $924,187,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in WSO. Empowered Funds LLC raised its position in Watsco by 4.1% in the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 5,927 shares of the construction companys stock worth $3,013,000 after purchasing an additional 232 shares during the period. Savant Capital LLC boosted its holdings in Watsco by 14.9% during the 2nd quarter. Savant Capital LLC now owns 742 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $328,000 after acquiring an additional 96 shares during the period. Aviva PLC grew its position in Watsco by 2,042.9% during the 2nd quarter. Aviva PLC now owns 25,693 shares of the construction companys stock worth $11,347,000 after acquiring an additional 24,494 shares during the last quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. increased its stake in Watsco by 7.3% in the 2nd quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 29,386 shares of the construction companys stock worth $12,977,000 after purchasing an additional 1,994 shares during the period. Finally, ProShare Advisors LLC increased its stake in Watsco by 4.2% in the 2nd quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 1,546 shares of the construction companys stock worth $683,000 after purchasing an additional 62 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.71% of the companys stock. Get Watsco alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of analysts have recently weighed in on WSO shares. Mizuho set a $425.00 price objective on Watsco in a research note on Wednesday, February 18th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of Watsco from $370.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, February 19th. UBS Group started coverage on shares of Watsco in a report on Monday, January 5th. They set a neutral rating and a $370.00 price target for the company. Zacks Research raised shares of Watsco from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 25th. Finally, KeyCorp reissued a sector weight rating on shares of Watsco in a report on Friday, December 12th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Watsco has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $409.00. Watsco Stock Performance Shares of WSO stock opened at $379.47 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $15.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.33 and a beta of 1.03. Watsco, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $323.05 and a fifty-two week high of $521.70. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $392.02 and its 200-day moving average price is $377.04. Watsco (NYSE:WSO Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 17th. The construction company reported $1.68 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.94 by ($0.26). Watsco had a net margin of 6.87% and a return on equity of 15.49%. The business had revenue of $1.58 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.62 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.37 earnings per share. Watscos quarterly revenue was down 9.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts predict that Watsco, Inc. will post 14.62 EPS for the current year. Watsco Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 16th were given a dividend of $3.00 per share. This represents a $12.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 16th. Watscos payout ratio is presently 99.09%. About Watsco (Free Report) Watsco, Inc is the largest distributor of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC/R) equipment, parts and supplies in the United States. Headquartered in Miami, Florida, the company operates a network of more than 600 branches across the continental U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. Watsco serves residential and commercial contractors by providing essential components for climate control systems, including air conditioners, furnaces, heat pumps, coils, refrigerants, controls and electrical and piping supplies. Founded in 1947, Watsco has grown from a single regional distributor into an industry leader through a combination of organic expansion, acquisitions and strategic partnerships with original equipment manufacturers such as Carrier, Trane, Goodman and Lennox. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Watsco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Watsco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Capital International Investors boosted its stake in shares of NiSource, Inc (NYSE:NI Free Report) by 15.1% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 8,136,157 shares of the utilities providers stock after purchasing an additional 1,065,591 shares during the period. Capital International Investors owned approximately 1.70% of NiSource worth $352,296,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. ANTIPODES PARTNERS Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of NiSource in the third quarter worth $84,086,000. Magnetar Financial LLC lifted its holdings in shares of NiSource by 195.5% during the 2nd quarter. Magnetar Financial LLC now owns 182,949 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $7,380,000 after acquiring an additional 121,043 shares in the last quarter. Picton Mahoney Asset Management boosted its position in NiSource by 10.6% during the 2nd quarter. Picton Mahoney Asset Management now owns 340,504 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $13,737,000 after purchasing an additional 32,595 shares during the period. Williamson Legacy Group LLC boosted its position in NiSource by 138.7% during the 2nd quarter. Williamson Legacy Group LLC now owns 29,720 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,199,000 after purchasing an additional 17,271 shares during the period. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its holdings in NiSource by 1.3% in the 2nd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 4,215,924 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $170,070,000 after purchasing an additional 55,515 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.64% of the companys stock. Get NiSource alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In NI has been the topic of several research reports. Wall Street Zen lowered NiSource from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Saturday, January 3rd. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b) rating on shares of NiSource in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on NiSource from $47.00 to $49.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 20th. UBS Group boosted their price target on NiSource from $45.00 to $48.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 17th. Finally, Mizuho upped their price target on NiSource from $44.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, December 3rd. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $47.20. NiSource Stock Down 1.0% NI stock opened at $46.58 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 0.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.33. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $44.54 and a 200-day simple moving average of $43.12. The company has a market capitalization of $22.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.89, a PEG ratio of 3.86 and a beta of 0.64. NiSource, Inc has a twelve month low of $35.64 and a twelve month high of $47.67. NiSource (NYSE:NI Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The utilities provider reported $0.51 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.49 by $0.02. NiSource had a net margin of 13.99% and a return on equity of 8.07%. The firm had revenue of $1.90 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.20 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.49 earnings per share. NiSource has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.020-2.070 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that NiSource, Inc will post 1.91 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. NiSource Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 20th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 3rd were paid a $0.30 dividend. This is a boost from NiSources previous quarterly dividend of $0.28. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 3rd. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.6%. NiSources dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 61.54%. NiSource Profile (Free Report) NiSource, Inc (NYSE: NI) is a publicly traded energy holding company headquartered in Merrillville, Indiana, that primarily owns and operates regulated local gas and electric utilities in the United States. Through its operating subsidiaries, the company delivers natural gas and electricity to residential, commercial and industrial customers and provides the associated distribution and transmission services that keep local energy systems functioning. The companys core activities include natural gas distribution, electric transmission and distribution, system operations, maintenance and emergency response. Read More Receive News & Ratings for NiSource Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NiSource and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Capital International Investors lessened its holdings in Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (NYSE:AWI Free Report) by 5.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,298,860 shares of the construction companys stock after selling 132,191 shares during the period. Capital International Investors owned approximately 5.33% of Armstrong World Industries worth $450,594,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Armstrong World Industries during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $84,412,000. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. boosted its stake in Armstrong World Industries by 121.3% in the second quarter. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. now owns 737,000 shares of the construction companys stock worth $119,718,000 after purchasing an additional 404,000 shares in the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Armstrong World Industries by 118.6% during the second quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 543,009 shares of the construction companys stock worth $88,206,000 after purchasing an additional 294,646 shares during the last quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. increased its stake in shares of Armstrong World Industries by 1,782.8% in the second quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. now owns 143,113 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $23,247,000 after buying an additional 135,512 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Millennium Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Armstrong World Industries by 571.7% in the first quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 117,696 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $16,581,000 after buying an additional 100,175 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 98.93% of the companys stock. Get Armstrong World Industries alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a hold rating on shares of Armstrong World Industries in a report on Wednesday, February 25th. Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b) rating on shares of Armstrong World Industries in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have assigned a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $211.43. Armstrong World Industries Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:AWI opened at $166.83 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.46, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48. Armstrong World Industries, Inc. has a 1-year low of $122.37 and a 1-year high of $206.08. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.56, a P/E/G ratio of 1.84 and a beta of 1.33. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $188.91 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $191.13. Armstrong World Industries (NYSE:AWI Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 24th. The construction company reported $1.61 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.67 by ($0.06). The business had revenue of $388.30 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $400.87 million. Armstrong World Industries had a net margin of 19.05% and a return on equity of 37.80%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 5.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.50 EPS. Armstrong World Industries has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.050-8.350 EPS. Equities analysts predict that Armstrong World Industries, Inc. will post 6.18 earnings per share for the current year. Armstrong World Industries Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 19th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 5th will be given a dividend of $0.339 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 5th. This represents a $1.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.8%. Armstrong World Industriess payout ratio is presently 19.21%. Armstrong World Industries Profile (Free Report) Armstrong World Industries, Inc is a leading global manufacturer of commercial ceiling and wall solutions. The company offers a diverse portfolio of acoustical, decorative and specialty ceiling systems designed to enhance interior environments in offices, healthcare facilities, schools, retail outlets and other non-residential settings. Through its focus on performance, aesthetics and sustainability, Armstrong World Industries addresses both functional and design requirements for architects, contractors and building owners. Armstrongs product range includes mineral fiber, fiberglass, wood wool, metal and stone wool ceiling panels, as well as suspension and grid systems. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Armstrong World Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Armstrong World Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Capital International Investors decreased its position in shares of Canadian National Railway Company (NYSE:CNI Free Report) (TSE:CNR) by 4.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 10,035,944 shares of the transportation companys stock after selling 469,639 shares during the period. Capital International Investors owned approximately 1.63% of Canadian National Railway worth $945,991,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of CNI. Bank of Montreal Can increased its position in Canadian National Railway by 0.3% during the third quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 14,201,675 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $1,338,948,000 after acquiring an additional 42,907 shares during the period. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise boosted its holdings in Canadian National Railway by 89.4% in the 3rd quarter. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise now owns 5,110 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $482,000 after purchasing an additional 2,412 shares during the period. LGT Group Foundation boosted its holdings in Canadian National Railway by 7.1% in the 3rd quarter. LGT Group Foundation now owns 126,125 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $11,937,000 after purchasing an additional 8,405 shares during the period. Guardian Partners Inc. grew its position in shares of Canadian National Railway by 0.8% during the 3rd quarter. Guardian Partners Inc. now owns 237,954 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $22,531,000 after purchasing an additional 1,823 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP grew its position in shares of Canadian National Railway by 9.2% during the 3rd quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 409,077 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $38,576,000 after purchasing an additional 34,314 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.74% of the companys stock. Get Canadian National Railway alerts: Canadian National Railway Stock Performance Shares of Canadian National Railway stock opened at $106.42 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 0.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94. The company has a market cap of $65.25 billion, a PE ratio of 19.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.24 and a beta of 0.90. The company has a 50 day moving average of $103.30 and a 200-day moving average of $98.37. Canadian National Railway Company has a 1-year low of $90.74 and a 1-year high of $113.08. Canadian National Railway Increases Dividend Canadian National Railway ( NYSE:CNI Get Free Report ) (TSE:CNR) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $1.49 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.43 by $0.06. Canadian National Railway had a net margin of 27.28% and a return on equity of 22.14%. The business had revenue of $3.24 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.43 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.82 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Canadian National Railway Company will post 5.52 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 10th will be paid a $0.915 dividend. This represents a $3.66 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.4%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 10th. This is a positive change from Canadian National Railways previous quarterly dividend of $0.89. Canadian National Railways dividend payout ratio is 46.59%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades CNI has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Barclays dropped their price target on shares of Canadian National Railway from $140.00 to $135.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Citigroup reduced their price target on Canadian National Railway from $119.00 to $115.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Zacks Research upgraded Canadian National Railway from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, November 28th. Vertical Research raised Canadian National Railway from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Monday, January 5th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada cut their target price on Canadian National Railway from $153.00 to $151.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $118.91. Read Our Latest Report on CNI Canadian National Railway Profile (Free Report) Canadian National Railway Company (NYSE: CNI) is a Class I freight railway that operates an integrated rail network across Canada and the United States. Headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, CN provides long-haul freight transportation and related logistics services that connect major ports, industrial centers and inland markets throughout North America. Its transcontinental system enables cross-border movement of goods and supports supply chains that span coast-to-coast in Canada and into the central and eastern United States. CNs core business is the railborne transportation of a broad mix of commodities, including intermodal container traffic, forest and paper products, grain and other agricultural products, metallurgical and industrial products, petroleum and chemical products, coal and automotive shipments. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Canadian National Railway Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian National Railway and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Capital World Investors lowered its position in shares of Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL Free Report) by 8.3% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 8,348,755 shares of the transportation companys stock after selling 750,848 shares during the quarter. Capital World Investors owned approximately 1.28% of Delta Air Lines worth $473,792,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in Delta Air Lines by 2.3% in the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 74,572,577 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $3,667,479,000 after purchasing an additional 1,648,071 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its stake in Delta Air Lines by 23.3% in the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 7,661,911 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $434,813,000 after buying an additional 1,447,058 shares during the last quarter. Ninety One UK Ltd boosted its holdings in shares of Delta Air Lines by 23.6% in the 3rd quarter. Ninety One UK Ltd now owns 3,860,710 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $219,095,000 after buying an additional 736,342 shares during the last quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans lifted its position in shares of Delta Air Lines by 39.8% in the second quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 2,407,585 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $118,409,000 after buying an additional 685,312 shares during the last quarter. Finally, State Street Corp lifted its position in Delta Air Lines by 2.6% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 23,059,848 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $1,134,083,000 after acquiring an additional 581,421 shares during the last quarter. 69.93% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Delta Air Lines alerts: Delta Air Lines Trading Down 2.3% Shares of Delta Air Lines stock opened at $59.17 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 0.40 and a quick ratio of 0.34. The firm has a market cap of $38.65 billion, a PE ratio of 7.71, a PEG ratio of 0.58 and a beta of 1.34. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $68.61 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $64.16. Delta Air Lines, Inc. has a 1 year low of $34.74 and a 1 year high of $76.39. Delta Air Lines Announces Dividend Delta Air Lines ( NYSE:DAL Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 13th. The transportation company reported $1.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.53 by $0.02. Delta Air Lines had a return on equity of 20.96% and a net margin of 7.90%.The firm had revenue of $14.61 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $15.80 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.85 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 2.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Delta Air Lines has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 0.500-0.900 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 6.500-7.500 EPS. Analysts expect that Delta Air Lines, Inc. will post 7.63 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 19th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 26th will be paid a $0.1875 dividend. This represents a $0.75 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 26th. Delta Air Liness payout ratio is presently 9.78%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company set a $87.00 price objective on shares of Delta Air Lines in a research report on Thursday, December 18th. Susquehanna upped their target price on Delta Air Lines from $70.00 to $85.00 and gave the company a positive rating in a research report on Friday, January 9th. Dbs Bank upgraded shares of Delta Air Lines to a moderate buy rating in a report on Monday, January 19th. Argus set a $80.00 price target on shares of Delta Air Lines in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. Finally, UBS Group dropped their target price on Delta Air Lines from $90.00 to $87.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-two have given a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of $79.93. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Delta Air Lines Insider Activity at Delta Air Lines In other Delta Air Lines news, EVP Alain Bellemare sold 35,212 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.20, for a total transaction of $2,647,942.40. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 138,176 shares of the companys stock, valued at $10,390,835.20. This represents a 20.31% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Edward H. Bastian sold 100,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $70.26, for a total value of $7,026,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 1,363,448 shares in the company, valued at $95,795,856.48. The trade was a 6.83% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold a total of 620,550 shares of company stock worth $44,127,667 over the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.96% of the companys stock. Delta Air Lines News Summary Here are the key news stories impacting Delta Air Lines this week: Delta Air Lines Profile (Free Report) Delta Air Lines is a major U.S.-based global airline that provides scheduled passenger and cargo air transportation, aircraft maintenance and repair services, and related travel products. Its operations include mainline domestic and international passenger services, a branded regional network operating under the Delta Connection name, dedicated air cargo carriage, and in-house maintenance, repair and overhaul through Delta TechOps. Delta offers a range of cabin products for different customer segments, including premium business-class service on long-haul routes and tiered economy offerings on domestic and international flights, and it markets customer loyalty benefits through the SkyMiles frequent-flyer program. The carrier operates a mixed fleet of narrow- and wide-body aircraft from multiple U.S. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Delta Air Lines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Delta Air Lines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cardinal Energy Ltd. (TSE:CJ Get Free Report)s stock price hit a new 52-week high on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as C$10.32 and last traded at C$10.32, with a volume of 149570 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at C$10.16. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth CJ has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their price target on Cardinal Energy from C$9.00 to C$9.50 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 5th. Raymond James Financial upped their price target on shares of Cardinal Energy from C$9.00 to C$9.50 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research note on Thursday, February 5th. Finally, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce upgraded Cardinal Energy from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating and upped their target price for the stock from C$7.75 to C$11.00 in a research report on Thursday, February 5th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has issued a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of C$10.00. Get Cardinal Energy alerts: View Our Latest Report on CJ Cardinal Energy Stock Up 2.5% Cardinal Energy Announces Dividend The company has a market capitalization of C$1.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.69, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of -0.26 and a beta of 0.53. The company has a quick ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 0.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 24.20. The business has a 50-day moving average price of C$9.26 and a 200-day moving average price of C$8.56. The business also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 16th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 16th will be given a dividend of $0.06 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 27th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.9%. Cardinal Energys dividend payout ratio is presently 150.00%. Cardinal Energy Company Profile (Get Free Report) Cardinal is a Canadian oil and natural gas production company with operations focused on low decline sustainable oil production in Western Canada. Cardinal has recently completed its first thermal SAGD project in Reford, Saskatchewan and has transitioned to the production phase of operations. The Companys portfolio of conventional and SAGD project inventory offers a complimentary low decline, long life resource base that is ideally suited to sustain our commitment to meaningful dividend returns to shareholders. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Cardinal Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cardinal Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Daito Trust Construction Co., Ltd. (OTCMKTS:DIFTY Get Free Report) shares rose 2.4% on Monday . The stock traded as high as $6.10 and last traded at $5.94. Approximately 56,885 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 5% from the average daily volume of 59,997 shares. The stock had previously closed at $5.80. Daito Trust Construction Stock Down 2.3% The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40, a current ratio of 3.76 and a quick ratio of 2.06. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $5.33 and its 200-day simple moving average is $9.63. The stock has a market cap of $8.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.69 and a beta of 0.39. Get Daito Trust Construction alerts: About Daito Trust Construction (Get Free Report) Daito Trust Construction Co, Ltd. (OTCMKTS: DIFTY) is a Japan-based construction and real estate services firm specializing in the development and management of rental residential properties, commercial facilities and related infrastructure. The company provides end-to-end solutions that span site acquisition, architectural design, construction, leasing support and ongoing property administration. Leveraging a vertically integrated model, Daito Trust Construction aims to streamline project delivery and optimize operational efficiency for landlords and tenants alike. In its core rental housing segment, the company offers a comprehensive suite of services, including property management, tenant recruitment, rent collection and routine facility maintenance. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Daito Trust Construction Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Daito Trust Construction and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Capital International Inc. CA increased its holdings in shares of Deere & Company (NYSE:DE Free Report) by 30.3% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 54,198 shares of the industrial products companys stock after purchasing an additional 12,590 shares during the period. Capital International Inc. CAs holdings in Deere & Company were worth $24,783,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in DE. Howard Hughes Medical Institute acquired a new position in shares of Deere & Company during the second quarter worth about $27,000. Activest Wealth Management boosted its position in shares of Deere & Company by 69.2% in the third quarter. Activest Wealth Management now owns 66 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 27 shares during the period. Soundwatch Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Deere & Company in the second quarter valued at about $41,000. United Community Bank grew its stake in shares of Deere & Company by 67.3% in the third quarter. United Community Bank now owns 92 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $42,000 after buying an additional 37 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Lynch Asset Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Deere & Company during the 3rd quarter valued at about $46,000. 68.58% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Deere & Company alerts: Deere & Company Stock Down 1.1% NYSE:DE opened at $592.69 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.59, a quick ratio of 1.96 and a current ratio of 2.21. The company has a market capitalization of $160.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.41, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 0.96. Deere & Company has a one year low of $404.42 and a one year high of $674.19. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $557.00 and a 200 day simple moving average of $501.12. Deere & Company Announces Dividend Deere & Company ( NYSE:DE Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 19th. The industrial products company reported $2.42 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.90 by $0.52. Deere & Company had a return on equity of 18.93% and a net margin of 10.29%.The firm had revenue of $9.61 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.50 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $3.19 earnings per share. Deere & Companys revenue for the quarter was up 17.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts predict that Deere & Company will post 19.32 EPS for the current fiscal year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 8th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 31st will be issued a $1.62 dividend. This represents a $6.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 31st. Deere & Companys payout ratio is 36.53%. Insider Activity at Deere & Company In related news, CEO John C. May II sold 41,472 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $501.49, for a total transaction of $20,797,793.28. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 117,970 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $59,160,775.30. This represents a 26.01% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Cory J. Reed sold 12,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $510.00, for a total value of $6,120,000.00. Following the transaction, the insider owned 20,792 shares in the company, valued at $10,603,920. This trade represents a 36.59% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Corporate insiders own 0.29% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In DE has been the topic of several recent research reports. Wolfe Research boosted their price target on Deere & Company from $520.00 to $550.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, January 2nd. Raymond James Financial reiterated an outperform rating and set a $765.00 price objective on shares of Deere & Company in a research note on Monday, February 23rd. Argus boosted their target price on shares of Deere & Company from $540.00 to $700.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of Deere & Company from $543.00 to $750.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, February 20th. Finally, Oppenheimer reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $715.00 price target on shares of Deere & Company in a report on Friday, February 20th. Sixteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $644.70. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Deere & Company Deere & Company Profile (Free Report) Deere & Company, commonly known by its brand John Deere, is a global manufacturer of agricultural, construction and forestry machinery, as well as turf care equipment and power systems. Founded in 1837 by blacksmith John Deerewho developed a polished steel plow to improve tillage in tough prairie soilsthe company is headquartered in Moline, Illinois, and has grown into one of the largest and most recognizable names in equipment manufacturing worldwide. The companys principal businesses include a broad portfolio of agricultural equipment such as tractors, combines, planters, sprayers, harvesters and tillage implements, complemented by precision agriculture technologies and telematics that support farm management, yield optimization and equipment connectivity. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Deere & Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Deere & Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Dekel Agri-Vision plc (LON:DKL Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as low as GBX 0.40 and last traded at GBX 0.40, with a volume of 5592 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 0.43. Dekel Agri-Vision Trading Down 5.9% The company has a quick ratio of 0.17, a current ratio of 0.50 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 432.90. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of GBX 0.43 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 0.47. The stock has a market capitalization of 4.81 million, a PE ratio of -0.40 and a beta of 0.97. About Dekel Agri-Vision (Get Free Report) Dekel Agri-Vision plc, through its subsidiaries, develops and cultivates palm oil plantations in the Republic of Cote dIvoire. The company operates through Crude Palm Oil and Raw Cashew Nut segments. It produces and sells palm oil, palm kernel oil, and palm kernel cakes. The company was formerly known as DekelOil Public Limited and changed its name to Dekel Agri-Vision plc in November 2019. Dekel Agri-Vision plc was incorporated in 2007 and is based in Limassol, Cyprus. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Dekel Agri-Vision Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dekel Agri-Vision and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dorel Industries (TSE:DII.B Get Free Report) posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday. The company reported C($0.48) earnings per share for the quarter, FiscalAI reports. Dorel Industries had a negative net margin of 6.47% and a negative return on equity of 48.11%. The company had revenue of C$361.20 million for the quarter. Dorel Industries Stock Up 9.1% DII.B opened at C$1.80 on Wednesday. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is C$1.84 and its 200 day simple moving average is C$1.68. Dorel Industries has a 52 week low of C$1.15 and a 52 week high of C$3.90. The company has a quick ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 1.45 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 287.70. The stock has a market cap of C$58.80 million, a PE ratio of -0.31, a P/E/G ratio of -0.11 and a beta of 0.86. Get Dorel Industries alerts: About Dorel Industries (Get Free Report) Read More Dorel Industries Inc is a Canadian company that sells juvenile products and furniture. Its segments include Dorel Home and Dorel Juvenile. Dorel Home segment is engaged in the design, sourcing, manufacturing, and distribution of ready-to-assemble furniture and home furnishings which include metal folding furniture, futons, childrens furniture, step stools, hand trucks, ladders, outdoor furniture, and other imported furniture items. Dorel Juvenile segment is engaged in the design, sourcing, manufacturing, distribution, and retail of childrens accessories which include infant car seats, strollers, high chairs, and infant health and safety aids. Receive News & Ratings for Dorel Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dorel Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Watsco, Inc. (NYSE:WSO Free Report) Stock analysts at Zacks Research decreased their Q1 2026 earnings per share estimates for shares of Watsco in a research note issued on Tuesday, March 10th. Zacks Research analyst Team now forecasts that the construction company will earn $1.74 per share for the quarter, down from their prior estimate of $2.00. Zacks Research has a Hold rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Watscos current full-year earnings is $14.62 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Watscos Q2 2026 earnings at $4.27 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $4.22 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $2.14 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $1.89 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $4.74 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $4.77 EPS, Q4 2027 earnings at $2.42 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $13.83 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $15.63 EPS. Get Watsco alerts: Watsco (NYSE:WSO Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 17th. The construction company reported $1.68 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.94 by ($0.26). The company had revenue of $1.58 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.62 billion. Watsco had a net margin of 6.87% and a return on equity of 15.49%. Watscos revenue for the quarter was down 9.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.37 earnings per share. Other equities research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on Watsco from $370.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, February 19th. UBS Group began coverage on shares of Watsco in a report on Monday, January 5th. They set a neutral rating and a $370.00 price target on the stock. Wolfe Research set a $349.00 target price on Watsco in a report on Tuesday, December 9th. KeyCorp reissued a sector weight rating on shares of Watsco in a research note on Friday, December 12th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on Watsco from $460.00 to $370.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $409.00. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on WSO Watsco Stock Performance Shares of WSO opened at $379.47 on Wednesday. Watsco has a 52 week low of $323.05 and a 52 week high of $521.70. The firm has a market cap of $15.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.33 and a beta of 1.03. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $392.02 and its 200 day simple moving average is $377.04. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Watsco Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Empowered Funds LLC lifted its stake in Watsco by 4.1% during the first quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 5,927 shares of the construction companys stock worth $3,013,000 after purchasing an additional 232 shares during the last quarter. Savant Capital LLC raised its position in Watsco by 14.9% during the 2nd quarter. Savant Capital LLC now owns 742 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $328,000 after purchasing an additional 96 shares during the last quarter. Aviva PLC lifted its holdings in Watsco by 2,042.9% in the 2nd quarter. Aviva PLC now owns 25,693 shares of the construction companys stock worth $11,347,000 after buying an additional 24,494 shares during the period. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. grew its position in shares of Watsco by 7.3% in the 2nd quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 29,386 shares of the construction companys stock worth $12,977,000 after buying an additional 1,994 shares during the last quarter. Finally, ProShare Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Watsco by 4.2% during the second quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 1,546 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $683,000 after buying an additional 62 shares during the period. 89.71% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Watsco Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 30th. Investors of record on Friday, January 16th were issued a dividend of $3.00 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 16th. This represents a $12.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.2%. Watscos dividend payout ratio is 99.09%. Key Headlines Impacting Watsco Here are the key news stories impacting Watsco this week: Positive Sentiment: Short interest fell 12.4% to 3.08M shares as of Feb. 27, lowering the short-interest ratio to ~7.8 days and removing some downside pressure from crowded bearish bets. Short interest fell 12.4% to 3.08M shares as of Feb. 27, lowering the short-interest ratio to ~7.8 days and removing some downside pressure from crowded bearish bets. Positive Sentiment: Zacks raised several later-period estimates and long-range outlooks including Q3 2027 (to $4.77), Q4 2027 (to $2.42) and FY2028 (to $15.63) signaling upside to 20272028 earnings expectations even as near-term estimates move around. Zacks raised several later-period estimates and long-range outlooks including Q3 2027 (to $4.77), Q4 2027 (to $2.42) and FY2028 (to $15.63) signaling upside to 20272028 earnings expectations even as near-term estimates move around. Positive Sentiment: Bullish coverage highlighting Watsco as an undervalued HVAC/R player with strong dividend-growth potential may support buyer interest for long-term investors. Article Title Bullish coverage highlighting Watsco as an undervalued HVAC/R player with strong dividend-growth potential may support buyer interest for long-term investors. Neutral Sentiment: Zacks continues to carry a Hold rating on WSO; its revisions are mixed across quarters, so analyst sentiment is not turning uniformly bullish or bearish at this stage. Zacks continues to carry a Hold rating on WSO; its revisions are mixed across quarters, so analyst sentiment is not turning uniformly bullish or bearish at this stage. Negative Sentiment: Zacks cut several near-term forecasts and trimmed FY2027: Q1 2026 to $1.74 (from $2.00), Q2 2026 to $4.27 (from $4.53), Q3 2026 to $4.22 (from $4.27), Q1 2027 to $1.89 (from $2.07), Q2 2027 to $4.74 (from $4.97) and lowered FY2027 to $13.83 (from $13.95). These downgrades increase near-term earnings risk and likely weigh on the stock today. Zacks cut several near-term forecasts and trimmed FY2027: Q1 2026 to $1.74 (from $2.00), Q2 2026 to $4.27 (from $4.53), Q3 2026 to $4.22 (from $4.27), Q1 2027 to $1.89 (from $2.07), Q2 2027 to $4.74 (from $4.97) and lowered FY2027 to $13.83 (from $13.95). These downgrades increase near-term earnings risk and likely weigh on the stock today. Negative Sentiment: Negative media coverage arguing reasons to avoid WSO could amplify short-term selling pressure from momentum or retail investors. Article Title Watsco Company Profile (Get Free Report) Watsco, Inc is the largest distributor of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC/R) equipment, parts and supplies in the United States. Headquartered in Miami, Florida, the company operates a network of more than 600 branches across the continental U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. Watsco serves residential and commercial contractors by providing essential components for climate control systems, including air conditioners, furnaces, heat pumps, coils, refrigerants, controls and electrical and piping supplies. Founded in 1947, Watsco has grown from a single regional distributor into an industry leader through a combination of organic expansion, acquisitions and strategic partnerships with original equipment manufacturers such as Carrier, Trane, Goodman and Lennox. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Watsco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Watsco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Capital International Sarl reduced its stake in shares of FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX Free Report) by 62.8% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 4,643 shares of the shipping service providers stock after selling 7,823 shares during the quarter. Capital International Sarls holdings in FedEx were worth $1,095,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of FDX. Grey Fox Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of FedEx during the third quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of FedEx in the second quarter valued at $28,000. Ameriflex Group Inc. grew its holdings in FedEx by 103.3% during the 3rd quarter. Ameriflex Group Inc. now owns 124 shares of the shipping service providers stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 63 shares in the last quarter. Abich Financial Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in FedEx during the 3rd quarter worth $39,000. Finally, Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in FedEx by 27.5% in the 3rd quarter. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 218 shares of the shipping service providers stock worth $51,000 after buying an additional 47 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 84.47% of the companys stock. Get FedEx alerts: Key Stories Impacting FedEx Here are the key news stories impacting FedEx this week: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research firms recently commented on FDX. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a buy rating and issued a $479.00 price target on shares of FedEx in a research note on Friday, February 13th. Argus lifted their price objective on FedEx from $250.00 to $350.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on FedEx from $294.00 to $424.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday. Barclays increased their target price on FedEx from $360.00 to $450.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 10th. Finally, UBS Group lifted their price target on shares of FedEx from $314.00 to $412.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 4th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have assigned a Buy rating, nine have issued a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $371.00. Get Our Latest Stock Report on FedEx FedEx Price Performance Shares of FDX opened at $359.52 on Wednesday. FedEx Corporation has a 12 month low of $194.29 and a 12 month high of $392.86. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 1.27 and a quick ratio of 1.23. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $342.59 and a 200 day moving average price of $284.73. The company has a market cap of $84.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.82, a PEG ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 1.29. FedEx (NYSE:FDX Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, December 18th. The shipping service provider reported $4.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $4.02 by $0.80. The company had revenue of $23.47 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $22.79 billion. FedEx had a return on equity of 16.63% and a net margin of 4.81%.The firms quarterly revenue was up 6.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $4.05 earnings per share. FedEx has set its FY 2026 guidance at 17.800-19.000 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that FedEx Corporation will post 19.14 earnings per share for the current year. FedEx Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 9th will be paid a dividend of $1.45 per share. This represents a $5.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 9th. FedExs payout ratio is presently 31.97%. FedEx Company Profile (Free Report) FedEx Corporation (NYSE: FDX) is a global logistics and courier company headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. Founded by Frederick W. Smith in 1971 and beginning operations in the early 1970s, the company pioneered overnight express shipping and has since expanded into a diversified portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and supply-chain services. FedEx operates an integrated air-and-ground network that moves parcels, freight and documents for businesses and consumers worldwide. FedExs core operating segments include express parcel delivery via its FedEx Express division, domestic and residential parcel delivery through FedEx Ground, less-than-truckload (LTL) freight services, and logistics and supply-chain management solutions. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FDX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for FedEx Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for FedEx and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Profitability This table compares Nihon M&A Center and Applied Digitals net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Nihon M&A Center N/A N/A N/A Applied Digital -80.60% -61.59% -22.75% Earnings and Valuation This table compares Nihon M&A Center and Applied Digitals revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Get Nihon M&A Center alerts: Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Nihon M&A Center N/A N/A N/A $97.96 0.05 Applied Digital $263.99 million 30.05 -$44.65 million ($0.54) -52.54 Institutional and Insider Ownership Nihon M&A Center has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Applied Digital. Applied Digital is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Nihon M&A Center, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. 65.7% of Applied Digital shares are held by institutional investors. 9.5% of Applied Digital shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Summary Nihon M&A Center beats Applied Digital on 5 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks. About Nihon M&A Center (Get Free Report) Nihon M&A Center Holdings Inc. provides mergers and acquisition (M&A) related services in Japan and internationally. The company offers M&A support services, such as reorganization, capital policies, and MBO for small and medium-sized enterprises. Nihon M&A Center Holdings Inc. was incorporated in 1991 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. About Applied Digital (Get Free Report) Applied Digital Corporation designs, develops, and operates datacenters in North America. Its datacenters provide digital infrastructure solutions to the high-performance computing industry. The company also provides artificial intelligence cloud services, high performance computing datacenter hosting, and crypto datacenter hosting services. The company was formerly known as Applied Blockchain, Inc. and changed its name to Applied Digital Corporation in November 2022. Applied Digital Corporation is based in Dallas, Texas. Receive News & Ratings for Nihon M&A Center Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nihon M&A Center and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Financial Life Planners lessened its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 85.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 175 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,027 shares during the period. Financial Life Planners holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $134,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company during the 2nd quarter valued at about $27,000. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $29,000. Steph & Co. raised its stake 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 during the period. Financial Gravity Companies Inc. bought a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $31,000. Finally, Bare Financial Services Inc lifted its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 263.6% during the second quarter. Bare Financial Services Inc now owns 40 shares of the companys stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 29 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.53% of the companys stock. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Eli Lilly and Company Price Performance Shares of NYSE:LLY opened at $1,000.30 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54, a quick ratio of 1.19 and a current ratio of 1.58. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $1,042.64 and a 200 day moving average price of $946.71. Eli Lilly and Company has a fifty-two week low of $623.78 and a fifty-two week high of $1,133.95. The firm has a market cap of $943.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 43.59, a P/E/G ratio of 1.17 and a beta of 0.40. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Eli Lilly and Company ( NYSE:LLY Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The company reported $7.54 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $7.48 by $0.06. The company 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%. Eli Lilly and Companys quarterly revenue was up 42.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted $5.32 earnings per share. Eli Lilly and Company has set its FY 2026 guidance at 33.500-35.000 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. LLY has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $1,313.00 price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Thursday, March 5th. BMO Capital Markets restated an outperform rating and set a $1,300.00 target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Thursday, February 5th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $1,200.00 to $1,280.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Barclays assumed coverage on Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Thursday, February 19th. They issued an overweight rating and a $1,350.00 price target for the company. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b-) rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Monday, December 22nd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-three have given a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $1,229.59. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on LLY Eli Lilly and Company News Roundup Here are the key news stories impacting Eli Lilly and Company this week: 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. Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO Free Report) by 4,190.8% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 13,984,789 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 13,658,867 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. owned approximately 0.31% of Novo Nordisk A/S worth $776,016,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Van ECK Associates Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 18.0% in the 3rd quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 788,722 shares of the companys stock valued at $43,766,000 after buying an additional 120,127 shares during the period. FourThought Financial Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 8.0% in the third quarter. FourThought Financial Partners LLC now owns 62,547 shares of the companys stock worth $3,471,000 after buying an additional 4,613 shares during the last quarter. Claret Asset Management Corp grew its holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S by 376.5% during the third quarter. Claret Asset Management Corp now owns 144,998 shares of the companys stock worth $8,046,000 after acquiring an additional 114,568 shares during the period. Winthrop Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S by 19.2% during the third quarter. Winthrop Capital Management LLC now owns 4,602 shares of the companys stock worth $255,000 after acquiring an additional 741 shares during the period. Finally, Capital International Inc. CA raised its position in Novo Nordisk A/S by 191.4% during the third quarter. Capital International Inc. CA now owns 233,578 shares of the companys stock valued at $12,961,000 after acquiring an additional 153,428 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 11.54% of the companys stock. Get Novo Nordisk A/S alerts: Novo Nordisk A/S Stock Performance Shares of NVO stock opened at $38.73 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61. Novo Nordisk A/S has a 12-month low of $35.85 and a 12-month high of $82.57. The businesss 50 day moving average is $50.93 and its two-hundred day moving average is $52.11. The company has a market capitalization of $172.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.16 and a beta of 0.73. Novo Nordisk A/S Announces Dividend Novo Nordisk A/S ( NYSE:NVO Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 3rd. The company reported $1.01 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.90 by $0.11. The business had revenue of $12.43 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.97 billion. Novo Nordisk A/S had a return on equity of 68.91% and a net margin of 33.03%. Analysts expect that Novo Nordisk A/S will post 3.84 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 8th. Investors of record on Monday, March 30th will be issued a $1.2751 dividend. This represents a yield of 541.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 30th. Novo Nordisk A/Ss payout ratio is presently 23.63%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In NVO has been the topic of several recent research reports. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Novo Nordisk A/S from an underperform rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed a neutral rating on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a report on Tuesday, February 24th. Citigroup assumed coverage on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a research note on Tuesday, January 27th. They issued a neutral rating for the company. Kepler Capital Markets downgraded shares of Novo Nordisk A/S from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, February 24th. Finally, CICC Research began coverage on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a research report on Friday, January 9th. They set an outperform rating and a $73.50 price target on the stock. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eighteen have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $49.93. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Novo Nordisk A/S Novo Nordisk A/S News Roundup Here are the key news stories impacting Novo Nordisk A/S this week: Novo Nordisk A/S Profile (Free Report) Novo Nordisk A/S is a Danish multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Bagsvrd, Denmark, best known for its leadership in diabetes care and metabolic health. The company traces its roots to early Danish insulin production in the 1920s and was established in its current form through a 1989 merger of predecessor companies. Novo Nordisk develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products and devices that address chronic and serious diseases, with a strong emphasis on long-term treatment and patient support. The companys core product portfolio centers on diabetes therapies, including a range of insulins and modern incretin-based treatments. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Novo Nordisk A/S Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Novo Nordisk A/S and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fresenius SE & Co. (OTCMKTS:FSNUY Get Free Report) saw a significant growth in short interest in February. As of February 27th, there was short interest totaling 65,445 shares, a growth of 625.2% from the February 12th total of 9,025 shares. Currently, 0.0% of the companys stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 79,373 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.8 days. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 79,373 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.8 days. Currently, 0.0% of the companys stock are sold short. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth FSNUY has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Citigroup reiterated a buy rating on shares of Fresenius SE & Co. in a research note on Tuesday, February 3rd. Morgan Stanley restated an overweight rating on shares of Fresenius SE & Co. in a report on Monday, December 15th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, Fresenius SE & Co. currently has a consensus rating of Buy. Get Fresenius SE & Co. alerts: Read Our Latest Research Report on FSNUY Fresenius SE & Co. Stock Down 0.9% Shares of FSNUY traded down $0.12 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $13.85. 890 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 67,350. The company has a current ratio of 1.26, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49. The stock has a market capitalization of $31.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.98 and a beta of 0.75. Fresenius SE & Co. has a 1 year low of $9.78 and a 1 year high of $33.93. The firms fifty day moving average is $14.56 and its 200-day moving average is $14.45. Fresenius SE & Co. (OTCMKTS:FSNUY Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 25th. The company reported $0.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Fresenius SE & Co. had a return on equity of 10.38% and a net margin of 5.71%.The company had revenue of $6.94 billion for the quarter. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Fresenius SE & Co. will post 0.79 earnings per share for the current year. About Fresenius SE & Co. (Get Free Report) Fresenius SE & Co KGaA is a global healthcare group headquartered in Bad Homburg vor der Hohe, Germany. Founded in 1912 by Eduard Fresenius, the company has grown into one of the worlds leading providers of products and services for dialysis, hospitals and outpatient medical care. Trading on major European exchanges and available over the counter in the U.S. as FSNUY, Fresenius SE & Co brings together a portfolio of specialized healthcare businesses under one corporate umbrella. The company operates through four main business segments. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Fresenius SE & Co. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fresenius SE & Co. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Givaudan SA (OTCMKTS:GVDNY Get Free Report)s share price reached a new 52-week low during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $70.80 and last traded at $71.03, with a volume of 2758 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $72.40. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research firms have commented on GVDNY. Barclays raised shares of Givaudan from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Thursday, November 13th. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Givaudan from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 11th. Citigroup reissued a neutral rating on shares of Givaudan in a research report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a buy rating on shares of Givaudan in a report on Friday, January 30th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group cut shares of Givaudan from a strong-buy rating to a sell rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 10th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have issued a Buy rating, one has issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy. Get Givaudan alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Givaudan Givaudan Stock Down 2.5% About Givaudan The company has a current ratio of 1.74, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92. The firms fifty day moving average is $78.71 and its 200-day moving average is $81.67. (Get Free Report) Givaudan is a Swiss-based global company that develops, manufactures and supplies flavors, fragrances and active cosmetic ingredients for a broad range of consumer products. The companys core activities are organized around creating taste and scent solutionsranging from fine fragrances and consumer-packaged goods scents to flavor systems for food and beverages and functional ingredients for personal care. Givaudan works with brand owners and manufacturers to design sensory experiences, improve product performance and meet formulation or regulatory requirements. Its product and service offerings include bespoke fragrance creation, flavor formulation, natural ingredient sourcing, aroma chemicals, taste modulators and application support such as prototyping and sensory testing. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Givaudan Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Givaudan and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLC increased its position in NewMarket Corporation (NYSE:NEU Free Report) by 120.8% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 3,264 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,786 shares during the period. Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLCs holdings in NewMarket were worth $2,703,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of NEU. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. lifted its stake in NewMarket by 3.1% during the 3rd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 39,452 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $32,675,000 after acquiring an additional 1,192 shares during the period. Monument Capital Management bought a new stake in shares of NewMarket in the third quarter worth approximately $2,548,000. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of NewMarket by 151.3% during the third quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 4,118 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $3,416,000 after purchasing an additional 2,479 shares during the last quarter. Anfield Capital Management LLC bought a new position in NewMarket during the third quarter valued at approximately $2,321,000. Finally, Advisors Asset Management Inc. lifted its position in NewMarket by 221.5% during the third quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,662 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $2,205,000 after purchasing an additional 1,834 shares during the period. 61.09% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get NewMarket alerts: NewMarket Trading Up 0.2% Shares of NYSE:NEU opened at $622.18 on Wednesday. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $658.75 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $738.09. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.01 and a beta of 0.50. NewMarket Corporation has a 52-week low of $510.07 and a 52-week high of $875.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a quick ratio of 1.33 and a current ratio of 2.53. NewMarket Announces Dividend NewMarket ( NYSE:NEU Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The specialty chemicals company reported $8.65 EPS for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $635.40 million during the quarter. NewMarket had a net margin of 15.37% and a return on equity of 25.38%. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 16th will be issued a dividend of $3.00 per share. This represents a $12.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 16th. NewMarkets dividend payout ratio is currently 27.01%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, Weiss Ratings raised shares of NewMarket from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a research report on Monday, March 2nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Buy. Get Our Latest Report on NewMarket Insiders Place Their Bets In other NewMarket news, Director Ting Xu purchased 400 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 24th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $619.21 per share, for a total transaction of $247,684.00. Following the purchase, the director directly owned 929 shares of the companys stock, valued at $575,246.09. The trade was a 75.61% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 19.10% of the companys stock. NewMarket Company Profile (Free Report) NewMarket Corporation is a specialty chemicals and lubricants company headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. Through its Valvoline business, the company markets a broad portfolio of automotive aftermarket products, including engine oils, transmission fluids, greases and vehicle care solutions. Valvoline products are distributed through retail and commercial channels as well as a network of quick-lube service centers that provide oil changes, preventive maintenance and related services. In its chemical additives segment, NewMarket develops, manufactures and sells performance additives for fuels, lubricants and industrial fluids. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for NewMarket Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NewMarket and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. China Minsheng (OTCMKTS:CMAKY Get Free Report) and Toronto Dominion Bank (NYSE:TD Get Free Report) are both large-cap finance companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, risk, valuation, earnings, profitability, institutional ownership and dividends. Profitability This table compares China Minsheng and Toronto Dominion Banks net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Get China Minsheng alerts: Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets China Minsheng 11.27% 4.49% 0.39% Toronto Dominion Bank 17.52% 14.29% 0.79% Risk & Volatility China Minsheng has a beta of 0.25, indicating that its stock price is 75% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Toronto Dominion Bank has a beta of 0.66, indicating that its stock price is 34% less volatile than the S&P 500. Valuation & Earnings Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio China Minsheng $37.47 billion 0.54 $4.49 billion $0.88 5.20 Toronto Dominion Bank $87.34 billion 1.83 $14.66 billion $9.05 10.59 This table compares China Minsheng and Toronto Dominion Banks revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Toronto Dominion Bank has higher revenue and earnings than China Minsheng. China Minsheng is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Toronto Dominion Bank, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Insider and Institutional Ownership 52.4% of Toronto Dominion Bank shares are held by institutional investors. 0.1% of Toronto Dominion Bank shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of recent ratings and recommmendations for China Minsheng and Toronto Dominion Bank, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score China Minsheng 0 1 0 0 2.00 Toronto Dominion Bank 0 4 3 2 2.78 Toronto Dominion Bank has a consensus target price of $93.00, indicating a potential downside of 2.96%. Given Toronto Dominion Banks stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Toronto Dominion Bank is more favorable than China Minsheng. Dividends China Minsheng pays an annual dividend of $0.27 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.9%. Toronto Dominion Bank pays an annual dividend of $3.15 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.3%. China Minsheng pays out 30.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Toronto Dominion Bank pays out 34.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Toronto Dominion Bank has increased its dividend for 12 consecutive years. China Minsheng is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio. Summary Toronto Dominion Bank beats China Minsheng on 16 of the 18 factors compared between the two stocks. About China Minsheng (Get Free Report) China Minsheng Banking Corp., Ltd. provides banking products and services for individuals, small and micro-enterprises, corporate customers, government agencies, and financial institutions in the People's Republic of China. The company operates through Corporate Banking, Retail Banking, and Others segments. Its deposit products include saving accounts, deposit books and certificates, contracted deposits, agreement deposits, call deposits, corporate term deposits, and corporate current deposits. The company also offers personal housing mortgage, individual automobile purchase, household composite consumption, micro-credit products for individuals, medium and long term, and short-term working capital loans; and debit and credit cards. In addition, it provides appointed and domestic remittance, payment and collection agent, clearing, safe deposit boxes, VIP, and salary and welfare agent card services, as well as internet, mobile, telephone, and self-serve banking services. Further, the company offers gross settlement; wages distribution agency and letter of guarantee; cash management; trade finance; industrial chain finance; individual forex settlement, forex remittance, travelers promissory notes, collection, individual deposit certificate, and guarantee letter products; and comprehensive credit granting, forex settlement and sale, financial product investment, asset management, and trust financing services. Additionally, it provides convenient finance and investment banking services, as well as non-financial services in the education, business travel, traveler, art, luxury life, health, club, and isports areas. The company operates through branch-level institutions, business outlets, community sub-branches, and small business sub-branches. China Minsheng Banking Corp., Ltd. was incorporated in 1996 and is headquartered in Beijing, the People's Republic of China. About Toronto Dominion Bank (Get Free Report) The Toronto-Dominion Bank, together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial products and services in Canada, the United States, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking, U.S. Retail, Wealth Management and Insurance, and Wholesale Banking. The company offers personal deposits, such as chequing, savings, and investment products; financing, investment, cash management, international trade, and day-to-day banking services to businesses; and financing options to customers at point of sale for automotive and recreational vehicle purchases. It also provides credit cards and payments; real estate secured lending, auto finance, and consumer lending services; point-of-sale payment solutions for large and small businesses; wealth and asset management products, and advice to retail and institutional clients through direct investing, advice-based, and asset management businesses; and property and casualty insurance, as well as life and health insurance products. The company also provides capital markets, and corporate and investment banking products and services, including underwriting and distribution of new debt and equity issues; advice on strategic acquisitions and divestitures; and trading, funding, and investment services to corporations, governments, and institutions. It offers its products and services under the TD Bank and America's Most Convenient Bank brand names. The Toronto-Dominion Bank was founded in 1855 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Receive News & Ratings for China Minsheng Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for China Minsheng and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hims & Hers Health, UnitedHealth Group, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, and Medtronic are the five Healthcare stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Healthcare stocks are shares of publicly traded companies that develop, manufacture, sell, or support medical products and servicesincluding pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, hospitals, insurers, and diagnostics. Investors track these stocks for exposure to trends like aging populations and medical innovation, but they also face sector-specific risks such as regulatory approvals, patent cliffs, and clinical-trial outcomes. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Healthcare stocks within the last several days. Get alerts: Hims & Hers Health (HIMS) Hims & Hers Health, Inc. operates a telehealth consultation platform. It connects consumers to healthcare professionals, enabling them to access medical care for mental health, sexual health, dermatology and primary care. The company was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in San Francisco, CA. UnitedHealth Group (UNH) UnitedHealth Group Incorporated operates as a diversified health care company in the United States. The company operates through four segments: UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx. The UnitedHealthcare segment offers consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services for national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized employers, small businesses, and individuals; health care coverage, and health and well-being services to individuals age 50 and older addressing their needs; Medicaid plans, children's health insurance and health care programs; and health and dental benefits, and hospital and clinical services, as well as health care benefits products and services to state programs caring for the economically disadvantaged, medically underserved, and those without the benefit of employer-funded health care coverage. Read Our Latest Research Report on UNH Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) Johnson & Johnson is a holding company, which engages in the research, development, manufacture, and sale of products in the healthcare field. It operates through the Innovative Medicine and MedTech segments. The Innovative Medicine segment focuses on immunology, infectious diseases, neuroscience, oncology, cardiovascular and metabolism, and pulmonary hypertension. Read Our Latest Research Report on JNJ Novartis (NVS) Novartis AG engages in the research, development, manufacture, and marketing of healthcare products in Switzerland and internationally. The company offers prescription medicines for patients and physicians. It focuses on therapeutic areas, such as cardiovascular, renal and metabolic, immunology, neuroscience, and oncology, as well as ophthalmology and hematology. Read Our Latest Research Report on NVS Medtronic (MDT) Medtronic plc develops, manufactures, and sells device-based medical therapies to healthcare systems, physicians, clinicians, and patients worldwide. Its Cardiovascular Portfolio segment offers implantable cardiac pacemakers, cardioverter defibrillators, and cardiac resynchronization therapy devices; cardiac ablation products; insertable cardiac monitor systems; TYRX products; and remote monitoring and patient-centered software. Read Our Latest Research Report on MDT Featured Articles Swiss National Bank trimmed its position in shares of Hershey Company (The) (NYSE:HSY Free Report) by 4.8% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 426,600 shares of the companys stock after selling 21,300 shares during the period. Swiss National Banks holdings in Hershey were worth $79,796,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. grew its stake in shares of Hershey by 1,537.5% during the third quarter. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. now owns 131 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 123 shares in the last quarter. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Hershey during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $31,000. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of Hershey by 46.3% during the 2nd quarter. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 199 shares of the companys stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 63 shares during the last quarter. Elevation Point Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Hershey during the second quarter worth approximately $36,000. Finally, Park Place Capital Corp bought a new stake in shares of Hershey in the third quarter worth $41,000. 57.96% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Hershey alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research analysts have commented on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on shares of Hershey from $195.00 to $230.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Friday, February 6th. Stephens lifted their price target on Hershey from $200.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a buy rating and set a $267.00 price objective on shares of Hershey in a research note on Friday, February 6th. Argus upgraded shares of Hershey to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 26th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating and set a $185.00 price target on shares of Hershey in a research report on Tuesday, February 3rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have given a Buy rating and sixteen have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $222.21. Insider Transactions at Hershey In other Hershey news, CFO Steven E. Voskuil sold 1,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $219.66, for a total value of $329,490.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 50,819 shares of the companys stock, valued at $11,162,901.54. This represents a 2.87% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, insider Rohit Grover sold 3,500 shares of Hershey stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $226.07, for a total transaction of $791,245.00. Following the sale, the insider owned 34,568 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,814,787.76. This trade represents a 9.19% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 10,000 shares of company stock worth $2,153,645. 0.28% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Hershey Price Performance HSY opened at $218.74 on Wednesday. Hershey Company has a 12-month low of $150.04 and a 12-month high of $239.48. The firm has a market capitalization of $44.34 billion, a P/E ratio of 50.40, a PEG ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 0.14. The company has a quick ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 1.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $208.64 and a 200-day moving average of $192.68. Hershey (NYSE:HSY Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The company reported $1.71 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.40 by $0.31. The firm had revenue of $3.09 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.97 billion. Hershey had a return on equity of 27.90% and a net margin of 7.55%.The businesss quarterly revenue was up 7.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.69 earnings per share. Hershey has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.200-8.520 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that Hershey Company will post 6.12 EPS for the current fiscal year. Hershey Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 16th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 17th will be paid a $1.452 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 17th. This is a positive change from Hersheys previous quarterly dividend of $1.37. This represents a $5.81 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.7%. Hersheys dividend payout ratio is 133.87%. Hershey Company Profile (Free Report) The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) is a leading North American chocolatier and snack manufacturer headquartered in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The company develops, produces and markets a wide range of confectionery and snack products for retail, foodservice and international customers. Hersheys business spans manufacturing, branded product marketing, packaging and distribution across grocery, convenience, mass merchant and e-commerce channels. Hersheys product portfolio centers on chocolate and sugar confectionery, including core brands such as Hersheys, Reeses, Hersheys Kisses and Twizzlers, alongside non-chocolate snacks and confectionery brands. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HSY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Hershey Company (The) (NYSE:HSY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Hershey Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hershey and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hong Kong & China Gas Co. (OTCMKTS:HOKCY Get Free Report)s share price gapped up prior to trading on Wednesday . The stock had previously closed at $0.90, but opened at $0.9493. Hong Kong & China Gas shares last traded at $0.9493, with a volume of 800 shares trading hands. Hong Kong & China Gas Price Performance The businesss fifty day moving average price is $0.90 and its 200 day moving average price is $0.88. The company has a quick ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63. Get Hong Kong & China Gas alerts: Institutional Trading of Hong Kong & China Gas An institutional investor recently raised its position in Hong Kong & China Gas stock. Rhumbline Advisers increased its stake in shares of Hong Kong & China Gas Co. (OTCMKTS:HOKCY Free Report) by 26.9% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 131,441 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 27,860 shares during the period. Rhumbline Advisers holdings in Hong Kong & China Gas were worth $107,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. About Hong Kong & China Gas The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited, commonly known as Towngas, is a long-established utility and energy services company founded in 1862. It is principally engaged in the production, distribution and sale of town gas and related energy products, serving residential, commercial and industrial customers. Towngas operates through an integrated model that covers gas production facilities, transmission and distribution networks, customer metering and billing, and after-sales services. Core products and services include piped town gas for household and commercial use, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) distribution, gas appliances and fittings, and engineering, installation and maintenance services. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Hong Kong & China Gas Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hong Kong & China Gas and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. IDT Corporation (NYSE:IDT Get Free Report) was down 6.9% on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $48.00 and last traded at $48.0950. Approximately 35,138 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 76% from the average daily volume of 146,432 shares. The stock had previously closed at $51.65. Key IDT News Here are the key news stories impacting IDT this week: Get IDT alerts: Positive Sentiment: Company raised FY2026 adjusted EBITDA guidance to $147M$149M (midpoint +12% YoY), signaling stronger-than-expected profitability outlook. IDT raises guidance Company raised FY2026 adjusted EBITDA guidance to $147M$149M (midpoint +12% YoY), signaling stronger-than-expected profitability outlook. Positive Sentiment: Record quarterly gross profit, improved gross margins and increased Adjusted EBITDA and nonGAAP EPS ($1.00) driven by growth in NRS, BOSS Money and net2phone; consolidated revenue topped estimates (~$320.5M vs. consensus ~$302305M). Earnings press release Record quarterly gross profit, improved gross margins and increased Adjusted EBITDA and nonGAAP EPS ($1.00) driven by growth in NRS, BOSS Money and net2phone; consolidated revenue topped estimates (~$320.5M vs. consensus ~$302305M). Positive Sentiment: Board increased the annual dividend by ~17% to $0.28 and declared a $0.07 quarterly payouta sign of confidence and a modest cash return to shareholders. Dividend article Board increased the annual dividend by ~17% to $0.28 and declared a $0.07 quarterly payouta sign of confidence and a modest cash return to shareholders. Neutral Sentiment: Company continued buybacks (308K shares yeartodate, ~$15M) and ended the quarter with a strong cash position and no net debtpositive credit/cash profile but modest repurchase scale relative to market cap. Earnings press release Company continued buybacks (308K shares yeartodate, ~$15M) and ended the quarter with a strong cash position and no net debtpositive credit/cash profile but modest repurchase scale relative to market cap. Negative Sentiment: Earnings were mixed: GAAP diluted EPS came in at $0.84 (Quiver/others flagged this as below some street EPS references), while nonGAAP EPS was $1.00investors may be discounting nonGAAP adjustments. Quiver earnings summary Earnings were mixed: GAAP diluted EPS came in at $0.84 (Quiver/others flagged this as below some street EPS references), while nonGAAP EPS was $1.00investors may be discounting nonGAAP adjustments. Negative Sentiment: Certain operating metrics under pressure: income from operations declined vs. prior year; Advertising & Data recurring revenue fell (~10%); Traditional Communications gross profit declinedthese mix and margin headwinds temper the upbeat headlines. Segment detail Certain operating metrics under pressure: income from operations declined vs. prior year; Advertising & Data recurring revenue fell (~10%); Traditional Communications gross profit declinedthese mix and margin headwinds temper the upbeat headlines. Negative Sentiment: Insider sales and notable institutional rebalancing (some large holders reduced positions in recent quarters) may be adding selling pressure despite the companys operational positives. Insider & institutional activity Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research firms have issued reports on IDT. Wall Street Zen lowered IDT from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c+) rating on shares of IDT in a research report on Monday, December 29th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to data from MarketBeat, IDT presently has a consensus rating of Hold. IDT Stock Down 5.1% The business has a 50-day moving average price of $49.90 and a 200-day moving average price of $52.76. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.25 and a beta of 0.76. IDT (NYSE:IDT Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, March 10th. The utilities provider reported $1.00 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.90 by $0.10. IDT had a return on equity of 27.12% and a net margin of 6.53%.The firm had revenue of $320.52 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $302.00 million. IDT Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Investors of record on Thursday, March 19th will be given a $0.07 dividend. This represents a $0.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 19th. This is an increase from IDTs previous quarterly dividend of $0.06. IDTs payout ratio is 7.45%. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CFO Marcelo Fischer sold 920 shares of IDT stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $52.04, for a total value of $47,876.80. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 55,943 shares in the company, valued at $2,911,273.72. This trade represents a 1.62% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 8,570 shares of company stock valued at $446,073. 25.41% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio purchased a new position in shares of IDT in the third quarter worth $96,000. Gabelli Funds LLC purchased a new stake in shares of IDT during the second quarter valued at $239,000. State of Tennessee Department of Treasury acquired a new position in shares of IDT in the 4th quarter valued at $268,000. Ameriprise Financial Inc. acquired a new position in shares of IDT in the 3rd quarter valued at $399,000. Finally, MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. raised its stake in IDT by 4.3% in the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 9,156 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $470,000 after acquiring an additional 381 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 59.34% of the companys stock. IDT Company Profile (Get Free Report) IDT Corporation, founded in 1990 and headquartered in Newark, New Jersey, is a diversified global provider of telecommunications and payment services. The company operates through its primary communications arm, IDT Telecom, and a digital solutions segment that encompasses cross-border money transfers and related fintech offerings. Since its inception, IDT has built an international network infrastructure to support voice and data transmission across more than 200 countries and territories. Through IDT Telecom, the company offers a suite of voice communication products, including prepaid phone cards, VoIP services, SIP trunking and operator-assisted calling. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for IDT Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for IDT and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. International Tower Hill Mines (TSE:ITH Get Free Report) (NYSE:THM) released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday. The mining company reported C($0.02) earnings per share for the quarter, FiscalAI reports. International Tower Hill Mines Trading Down 2.7% International Tower Hill Mines stock traded down C$0.11 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting C$3.97. 28,960 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 104,822. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is C$3.55 and its 200 day simple moving average is C$2.83. International Tower Hill Mines has a fifty-two week low of C$0.66 and a fifty-two week high of C$4.94. The stock has a market capitalization of C$1.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -132.33 and a beta of 1.45. Get International Tower Hill Mines alerts: About International Tower Hill Mines (Get Free Report) See Also International Tower Hill Mines Ltd is a mining company. It is engaged in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties. The company holds interests in an advanced stage exploration project namely the Livengood Gold Project. It is located approximately 70 miles northwest of Fairbanks, Alaska in the Tolovana mining district within the Tintina gold belt. The project property consists of land leased from the Alaska mental health trust, a number of smaller private mineral leases, Alaska state mining claims purchased or located by the company and patented ground held by the company. Receive News & Ratings for International Tower Hill Mines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for International Tower Hill Mines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Private Advisor Group LLC trimmed its stake in shares of Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF (NYSEARCA:GSY Free Report) by 10.3% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 233,876 shares of the companys stock after selling 26,940 shares during the quarter. Private Advisor Group LLCs holdings in Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF were worth $11,749,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Royal Bank of Canada raised its position in shares of Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF by 28.8% during the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 57,917 shares of the companys stock worth $2,903,000 after purchasing an additional 12,962 shares during the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF by 75.6% in the 1st quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 9,249 shares of the companys stock valued at $464,000 after buying an additional 3,982 shares in the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF by 5.4% in the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 19,587 shares of the companys stock worth $982,000 after buying an additional 1,006 shares during the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC acquired a new stake in Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF in the 1st quarter worth about $355,000. Finally, AE Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF by 88.3% during the 2nd quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 625 shares of the companys stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 293 shares in the last quarter. Get Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF alerts: Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF Price Performance Shares of Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF stock opened at $50.25 on Wednesday. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $50.28 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $50.27. Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF has a 12 month low of $49.98 and a 12 month high of $50.39. Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF Cuts Dividend Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF Company Profile The company also recently declared a monthly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 27th. Investors of record on Monday, February 23rd were given a dividend of $0.1738 per share. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.2%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 23rd. (Free Report) The Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF (GSY) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund seeks to outperform the Barclays Capital 1-3 Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index by investing in a diverse portfolio of investment-grade securities. GSY was launched on Feb 12, 2008 and is managed by Invesco. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GSY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF (NYSEARCA:GSY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. iShares iBonds Dec 2030 Term Corporate ETF (NYSEARCA:IBDV Get Free Report) shot up 0.2% on Monday . The stock traded as high as $22.09 and last traded at $22.09. 515,706 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 37% from the average session volume of 822,551 shares. The stock had previously closed at $22.05. iShares iBonds Dec 2030 Term Corporate ETF Stock Down 0.2% The company has a fifty day moving average of $22.12 and a 200 day moving average of $22.12. Get iShares iBonds Dec 2030 Term Corporate ETF alerts: Institutional Investors Weigh In On iShares iBonds Dec 2030 Term Corporate ETF A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. FourThought Financial Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of iShares iBonds Dec 2030 Term Corporate ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at about $371,000. Peloton Wealth Strategists boosted its holdings in shares of iShares iBonds Dec 2030 Term Corporate ETF by 5.7% in the second quarter. Peloton Wealth Strategists now owns 289,000 shares of the companys stock worth $6,352,000 after buying an additional 15,500 shares during the last quarter. Flow Traders U.S. LLC purchased a new position in shares of iShares iBonds Dec 2030 Term Corporate ETF in the second quarter worth approximately $2,368,000. Bank of New Hampshire grew its position in iShares iBonds Dec 2030 Term Corporate ETF by 1.6% during the third quarter. Bank of New Hampshire now owns 44,965 shares of the companys stock valued at $996,000 after buying an additional 725 shares during the period. Finally, InvesTrust purchased a new stake in iShares iBonds Dec 2030 Term Corporate ETF during the third quarter valued at approximately $303,000. About iShares iBonds Dec 2030 Term Corporate ETF The iShares iBonds Dec 2030 Term Corporate ETF (IBDV) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund tracks a Bloomberg index of USD-denominated, investment-grade corporate bonds maturing between Jan 1 and Dec 15, 2029. IBDV was launched on Jun 23, 2020 and is managed by BlackRock. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for iShares iBonds Dec 2030 Term Corporate ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares iBonds Dec 2030 Term Corporate ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chinese scientists propose human-wildlife conflict resolution strategy Xinhua) 09:57, March 11, 2026 XINING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese scientists have shared new insight regarding human-wildlife conflict resolution by establishing a temporal livestock management strategy, according to the Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology (NWIPB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published in the journal Integrative Zoology, the study sheds light on the common global challenge of ensuring both sustainable development and biodiversity protection, the institute said. "Livestock predation by large carnivores is a global conservation challenge that fuels human-carnivore conflict and hinders coexistence with agropastoral communities. Understanding carnivore activity patterns and implementing temporal segregation are evidence-informed strategies for mitigating such conflict risks," said Lian Xinming, a researcher with the NWIPB. Domestic livestock grazing occupies about one-third of the Earth's land area and significantly affects sympatric wildlife. This high overlap in space utilization also leads to constant conflict between local herdsmen and wild animals. In underdeveloped areas where agriculture and animal husbandry serve as pillar industries, retaliatory hunting caused by human-wild animal conflict has become one of the key driving factors in the decline of some wild animal populations, posing a serious threat to the long-term survival of many endangered species, Lian noted. Various strategies have been developed and improved in the bid to avoid economic losses and casualties caused by human-animal conflict. With a focus on exploring non-fatal mitigation strategies, the research team conducted a long-term field investigation and study in the Sanjiangyuan area, which is known as "China's water tower," located in the country's northwestern Qinghai Province. Snow leopards, wolves, lynxes and brown bears are the main large carnivores that come into conflict with humans in this region. The first three species mostly prey on domestic animals, while brown bears mainly damage houses and even cause human casualties. Over a ten-year period from 2014 to 2024, scientists installed 422 infrared cameras and collected relevant monitoring data in this region, covering a cumulative monitoring area amounting to 2,580 square kilometers. They obtained a large amount of valid photos of snow leopards, wolves, brown bears and lynxes, respectively. Employing kernel and conditional circular kernel density estimation, they analyzed the diel activity patterns of these four large carnivores and aimed to identify seasonal variations between cold and warm periods, thereby enabling the identification of high-risk intervals for potential conflict between these species and humans. The analysis showed that all four large carnivores were primarily nocturnal with species-specific peak activity times. The wolf exhibited distinct seasonal diel activity patterns, unlike the other species. Notably, temporal risk assessment of livestock predation identified species-specific high-risk windows. The study indicates that implementing targeted livestock management strategies during such high-risk periods is key to reducing the risk of livestock being preyed upon. In addition, in the case of brown bears, the night, especially from 20:42 to 02:36 the next morning, is the most dangerous period in terms of the risk of this species entering the homes of herdsmen. During this time, people should heighten their vigilance. Also, people should raise dogs and use sound, light and electricity equipment to promptly detect and drive away brown bears, the study recommends. "Based on field investigation and analysis, our study proposes that by integrating spatial utilization zoning and regulating grazing time based on the temporal activity patterns of specific species, the encounter probability of people with offending carnivores can be greatly reduced. Thus, the strategy can sustain mitigating human-animal conflict in a more scientific manner," Lian said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Capital Group Private Client Services Inc. lessened its stake in KB Financial Group Inc (NYSE:KB Free Report) by 88.5% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 9,371 shares of the banks stock after selling 72,350 shares during the quarter. Capital Group Private Client Services Inc.s holdings in KB Financial Group were worth $777,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Lazard Asset Management LLC grew its position in KB Financial Group by 1.7% during the second quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 1,554,154 shares of the banks stock worth $128,357,000 after buying an additional 26,423 shares during the period. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its position in shares of KB Financial Group by 9.1% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 845,567 shares of the banks stock valued at $69,835,000 after acquiring an additional 70,865 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its stake in shares of KB Financial Group by 11.4% during the 3rd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 836,990 shares of the banks stock worth $69,395,000 after acquiring an additional 85,822 shares in the last quarter. Todd Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of KB Financial Group by 5.9% in the 3rd quarter. Todd Asset Management LLC now owns 560,017 shares of the banks stock worth $46,432,000 after acquiring an additional 31,230 shares during the period. Finally, Orbis Allan Gray Ltd grew its holdings in shares of KB Financial Group by 0.9% in the 2nd quarter. Orbis Allan Gray Ltd now owns 370,306 shares of the banks stock worth $30,584,000 after acquiring an additional 3,344 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 11.52% of the companys stock. Get KB Financial Group alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In KB has been the subject of several research reports. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b) rating on shares of KB Financial Group in a report on Monday, December 29th. Zacks Research raised KB Financial Group from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, February 2nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy. KB Financial Group Trading Down 0.1% Shares of KB Financial Group stock opened at $102.43 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.48, a current ratio of 1.64 and a quick ratio of 1.65. KB Financial Group Inc has a 1 year low of $46.38 and a 1 year high of $119.71. The company has a market capitalization of $38.19 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.66, a P/E/G ratio of 0.63 and a beta of 1.07. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $99.70 and a 200 day moving average price of $89.16. KB Financial Group (NYSE:KB Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Saturday, January 31st. The bank reported $1.43 EPS for the quarter. KB Financial Group had a return on equity of 9.73% and a net margin of 16.15%. Sell-side analysts anticipate that KB Financial Group Inc will post 8.87 EPS for the current fiscal year. KB Financial Group Company Profile (Free Report) KB Financial Group Inc is a South Korea-based financial holding company that offers a broad range of banking and financial services. Headquartered in Seoul and listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker KB, the group operates through a set of specialized subsidiaries to provide integrated financial solutions for retail, corporate and institutional clients. The companys principal businesses include retail and corporate banking, securities and investment banking, insurance (life and non-life), asset management, credit card and consumer finance, and leasing. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding KB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for KB Financial Group Inc (NYSE:KB Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for KB Financial Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for KB Financial Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kinross Gold Corporation (NYSE:KGC Get Free Report) (TSE:K) has earned an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the fifteen research firms that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, nine have given a buy recommendation and two have issued a strong buy recommendation on the company. The average 12-month price target among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $36.3125. Several research firms have weighed in on KGC. Zacks Research lowered Kinross Gold from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, January 23rd. TD Securities dropped their price target on Kinross Gold from $43.00 to $42.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, March 3rd. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a buy rating and set a $33.00 price objective on shares of Kinross Gold in a report on Sunday, December 7th. Wall Street Zen lowered Kinross Gold from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Monday, March 2nd. Finally, UBS Group set a $43.00 target price on Kinross Gold in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Get Kinross Gold alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Report on Kinross Gold Kinross Gold Trading Up 0.9% Shares of NYSE KGC opened at $32.83 on Wednesday. The companys fifty day moving average is $33.63 and its 200-day moving average is $28.02. The stock has a market cap of $39.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.75, a P/E/G ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 0.73. Kinross Gold has a twelve month low of $10.71 and a twelve month high of $39.11. The company has a quick ratio of 1.37, a current ratio of 2.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08. Kinross Gold (NYSE:KGC Get Free Report) (TSE:K) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 18th. The mining company reported $0.67 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.55 by $0.12. Kinross Gold had a net margin of 33.90% and a return on equity of 28.22%. The company had revenue of $2.01 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.05 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.20 EPS. The firms revenue was up 42.9% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that Kinross Gold will post 0.81 EPS for the current year. Kinross Gold Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 26th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 11th will be issued a $0.04 dividend. This represents a $0.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.5%. This is a boost from Kinross Golds previous quarterly dividend of $0.04. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 11th. Kinross Golds dividend payout ratio is currently 8.16%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Kinross Gold A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Corient Private Wealth LLC lifted its position in Kinross Gold by 4.2% in the 4th quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 53,661 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $1,511,000 after acquiring an additional 2,185 shares in the last quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd bought a new position in Kinross Gold during the 4th quarter worth about $60,000. Tobam bought a new position in Kinross Gold during the 4th quarter worth about $245,000. DGS Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Kinross Gold by 10.1% in the 4th quarter. DGS Capital Management LLC now owns 41,441 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $1,167,000 after purchasing an additional 3,814 shares during the period. Finally, Monetary Solutions Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Kinross Gold in the 4th quarter valued at about $132,000. 63.69% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Kinross Gold (Get Free Report) Kinross Gold Corporation (NYSE: KGC) is a Toronto-based precious metals mining company primarily focused on the exploration, development and production of gold, with silver recovered as a by-product at some operations. The companys activities span the full mining lifecycle, including discovery and resource delineation, mine construction and operation, ore processing, and eventual site reclamation and closure. Kinross sells refined gold produced at its processing facilities and manages associated logistics and processing arrangements to deliver metal to market. Kinross operates a portfolio of producing mines and development projects across multiple regions, with a significant presence in the Americas and West Africa. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Kinross Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kinross Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Knight Therapeutics Inc. (OTCMKTS:KHTRF Get Free Report)s stock price was down 8.5% during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as low as $4.32 and last traded at $4.32. Approximately 1,338 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 61% from the average daily volume of 3,423 shares. The stock had previously closed at $4.7226. Knight Therapeutics Price Performance The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $4.40 and a 200 day moving average price of $4.38. Get Knight Therapeutics alerts: Knight Therapeutics Company Profile (Get Free Report) Knight Therapeutics Inc (OTCMKTS:KHTRF) is a specialty pharmaceutical company headquartered in Montreal, Canada, focused on acquiring, in-licensing and commercializing innovative branded products for the Canadian and Latin American markets. The company secures exclusive marketing and distribution rights to medicines across multiple therapeutic areas, including ophthalmology, pain management, hematology and womens health. Its portfolio features both prescription pharmaceuticals and specialty products that address unmet patient needs through targeted treatments. Operating primarily in Canada, Mexico and select Latin American countries, Knight has established strategic alliances with global pharmaceutical firms to introduce novel therapies at various stages of development. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Knight Therapeutics Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Knight Therapeutics and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Koninklijke KPN NV (OTCMKTS:KKPNY Get Free Report) saw unusually-strong trading volume on Monday . Approximately 2,394,336 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 228% from the previous sessions volume of 730,880 shares.The stock last traded at $5.46 and had previously closed at $5.47. Koninklijke KPN Price Performance The business has a fifty day moving average price of $5.08 and a 200-day moving average price of $4.80. The company has a quick ratio of 0.70, a current ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.82. Get Koninklijke KPN alerts: Koninklijke KPN Company Profile (Get Free Report) Koninklijke KPN N.V. (KPN) is a Dutch telecommunications and information-communications-technology (ICT) company that provides a broad range of connectivity and digital services. Its core activities include fixed-line and mobile telephony, broadband internet, and television services for residential customers, alongside managed network, cloud, security and unified communications solutions for business and public-sector clients. KPN operates and maintains network infrastructure such as fiber and mobile networks, data centers, and platforms for Internet of Things (IoT) and cybersecurity services. The companys primary market is the Netherlands, where it serves households, small and medium-sized enterprises, large corporates and government organizations. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Koninklijke KPN Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Koninklijke KPN and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Korea Investment CORP increased its position in shares of Alamos Gold Inc. (NYSE:AGI Free Report) (TSE:AGI) by 125.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 465,219 shares of the basic materials companys stock after purchasing an additional 258,514 shares during the quarter. Korea Investment CORP owned 0.11% of Alamos Gold worth $16,219,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Alamos Gold in the second quarter valued at approximately $144,808,000. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Alamos Gold by 639.2% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 3,380,859 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $91,379,000 after purchasing an additional 2,923,478 shares during the last quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc raised its position in shares of Alamos Gold by 29.3% during the 2nd quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 11,132,337 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $296,623,000 after purchasing an additional 2,521,347 shares during the last quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp lifted its stake in Alamos Gold by 32.3% in the 2nd quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 8,979,615 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $238,990,000 after buying an additional 2,192,593 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. grew its holdings in Alamos Gold by 105.2% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 2,394,604 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $64,032,000 after buying an additional 1,227,695 shares during the last quarter. 64.33% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Alamos Gold alerts: Alamos Gold Trading Down 1.0% Shares of AGI stock opened at $50.65 on Wednesday. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $44.06 and its 200-day simple moving average is $37.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05, a current ratio of 2.00 and a quick ratio of 1.60. Alamos Gold Inc. has a 1-year low of $23.33 and a 1-year high of $55.41. The firm has a market cap of $21.27 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.12, a PEG ratio of 0.68 and a beta of 0.54. Alamos Gold Increases Dividend Alamos Gold ( NYSE:AGI Get Free Report ) (TSE:AGI) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 18th. The basic materials company reported $0.54 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.49 by $0.05. Alamos Gold had a net margin of 48.97% and a return on equity of 14.83%. The firm had revenue of $575.30 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $596.18 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.25 earnings per share. Alamos Golds revenue was up 53.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Alamos Gold Inc. will post 1.29 EPS for the current year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 26th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 12th will be paid a dividend of $0.04 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 12th. This represents a $0.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.3%. This is a boost from Alamos Golds previous quarterly dividend of $0.03. Alamos Golds dividend payout ratio is presently 7.62%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on AGI shares. Scotiabank boosted their price target on Alamos Gold from $55.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a sector outperform rating in a report on Friday, February 6th. Wall Street Zen lowered Alamos Gold from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Sunday, March 1st. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Alamos Gold in a research report on Wednesday, February 4th. Desjardins started coverage on shares of Alamos Gold in a report on Friday, November 28th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (a) rating on shares of Alamos Gold in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Two equities research analysts have 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, Alamos Gold has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of $45.50. Get Our Latest Analysis on AGI Alamos Gold Company Profile (Free Report) Alamos Gold Inc is a Canadian-based intermediate gold producer engaged in the exploration, development and operation of mining projects in North America. Its principal activities include the acquisition, exploration and development of gold-bearing properties, and the management of operating mines. The company focuses on sustainable production practices and maintains a portfolio that spans both producing assets and advanced-stage development projects. Alamos Gold operates multiple open pit and underground mines, including the Young-Davidson and Island Gold mines in Ontario, Canada, and the Mulatos mine in Sonora, Mexico. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Alamos Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alamos Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Legal & General Group Plc lifted its holdings in shares of Transdigm Group Incorporated (NYSE:TDG Free Report) by 4.4% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 313,602 shares of the aerospace companys stock after acquiring an additional 13,150 shares during the quarter. Legal & General Group Plcs holdings in Transdigm Group were worth $413,334,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of TDG. Leonard Rickey Investment Advisors P.L.L.C. raised its holdings in Transdigm Group by 4.4% during the 3rd quarter. Leonard Rickey Investment Advisors P.L.L.C. now owns 188 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $248,000 after acquiring an additional 8 shares during the period. Gateway Investment Advisers LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Transdigm Group by 0.7% in the third quarter. Gateway Investment Advisers LLC now owns 1,182 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $1,558,000 after acquiring an additional 8 shares during the period. Tower Wealth Partners Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Transdigm Group by 4.5% in the third quarter. Tower Wealth Partners Inc. now owns 187 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $246,000 after acquiring an additional 8 shares during the period. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT grew its position in shares of Transdigm Group by 15.5% in the second quarter. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT now owns 67 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $102,000 after purchasing an additional 9 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Foundations Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Transdigm Group by 5.1% during the 2nd quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC now owns 186 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $283,000 after purchasing an additional 9 shares during the period. 95.78% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Transdigm Group alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research analysts have commented on TDG shares. UBS Group cut their target price on Transdigm Group from $1,804.00 to $1,800.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 4th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on shares of Transdigm Group from $1,420.00 to $1,500.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, November 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of Transdigm Group from $1,405.00 to $1,435.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, November 14th. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price objective on shares of Transdigm Group from $1,710.00 to $1,650.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, November 13th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada upped their target price on shares of Transdigm Group from $1,385.00 to $1,400.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Thursday, November 13th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have issued a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $1,584.44. Transdigm Group Trading Down 0.8% Shares of NYSE TDG opened at $1,267.36 on Wednesday. Transdigm Group Incorporated has a 12 month low of $1,183.60 and a 12 month high of $1,623.82. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $1,350.90 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $1,325.86. The firm has a market capitalization of $71.57 billion, a PE ratio of 40.78, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.68 and a beta of 0.93. Transdigm Group (NYSE:TDG Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 3rd. The aerospace company reported $8.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $7.99 by $0.24. Transdigm Group had a negative return on equity of 29.07% and a net margin of 20.50%.The business had revenue of $2.29 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.26 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $7.83 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 13.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Transdigm Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 37.420-39.340 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Transdigm Group Incorporated will post 35.13 earnings per share for the current year. Insider Activity at Transdigm Group In other news, Director Kevin M. Stein sold 36,925 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,425.79, for a total value of $52,647,295.75. Following the transaction, the director owned 19,233 shares of the companys stock, valued at $27,422,219.07. This trade represents a 65.75% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Michael Lisman acquired 950 shares of Transdigm Group stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 6th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $1,284.26 per share, with a total value of $1,220,047.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief executive officer owned 3,259 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,185,403.34. This represents a 41.14% increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold a total of 116,548 shares of company stock valued at $162,754,991 over the last three months. 3.20% of the stock is owned by insiders. Transdigm Group Profile (Free Report) TransDigm Group Incorporated is a designer, producer and supplier of engineered aircraft components and systems for commercial and military aerospace applications. The companys product portfolio covers a broad range of mission-critical parts and subsystems, including mechanical and electromechanical components, ignition and fuel system parts, sensors and actuators, cockpit and cabin systems, and other safety-critical hardware. TransDigm supplies original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) as well as the aftermarket, providing spare parts, repair and overhaul services and component support throughout an assets life cycle. TransDigms operating model places emphasis on proprietary, niche components that are difficult to replace, and the company operates through a collection of independently run subsidiaries and brands that sell specialized products. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TDG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Transdigm Group Incorporated (NYSE:TDG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Transdigm Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Transdigm Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Legal & General Group Plc increased its stake in Apollo Global Management Inc. (NYSE:APO Free Report) by 5.7% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 3,455,982 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 186,292 shares during the quarter. Legal & General Group Plcs holdings in Apollo Global Management were worth $460,579,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in APO. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Apollo Global Management by 3.0% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 47,419,652 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $6,319,617,000 after acquiring an additional 1,377,545 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its position in Apollo Global Management by 1.2% during the second quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 3,050,164 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $432,727,000 after purchasing an additional 36,866 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its holdings in shares of Apollo Global Management by 2.0% in the third quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 2,451,537 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $326,716,000 after purchasing an additional 48,053 shares during the last quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Apollo Global Management by 31.1% in the third quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 1,617,228 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $215,530,000 after purchasing an additional 383,198 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its position in shares of Apollo Global Management by 2.5% in the third quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,387,029 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $184,930,000 after purchasing an additional 33,402 shares during the period. 77.06% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Apollo Global Management alerts: Apollo Global Management Trading Up 0.1% APO opened at $108.23 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $62.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.61, a P/E/G ratio of 0.87 and a beta of 1.61. The company has a quick ratio of 1.31, a current ratio of 1.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. Apollo Global Management Inc. has a twelve month low of $99.56 and a twelve month high of $157.28. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $129.79 and a 200 day simple moving average of $132.58. Apollo Global Management Dividend Announcement Apollo Global Management ( NYSE:APO Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Monday, February 9th. The financial services provider reported $2.47 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.04 by $0.43. Apollo Global Management had a net margin of 10.90% and a return on equity of 15.25%. The firms quarterly revenue was up .8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.39 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Apollo Global Management Inc. will post 8 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 27th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 19th were given a dividend of $0.51 per share. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 19th. Apollo Global Managements dividend payout ratio is currently 36.96%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades APO has been the subject of several research reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a buy rating on shares of Apollo Global Management in a research report on Tuesday, February 10th. Barclays reduced their price target on Apollo Global Management from $158.00 to $131.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Monday, March 2nd. Wolfe Research reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Apollo Global Management in a research report on Wednesday, January 7th. BMO Capital Markets set a $136.00 target price on Apollo Global Management and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Tuesday, November 25th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on shares of Apollo Global Management from $164.00 to $162.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, February 10th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have given a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $159.47. View Our Latest Report on Apollo Global Management Key Apollo Global Management News Here are the key news stories impacting Apollo Global Management this week: Apollo Global Management Profile (Free Report) Apollo Global Management, Inc (NYSE: APO) is a global alternative investment manager that specializes in private equity, credit and real assets. The firm originates, invests in and manages a broad set of strategies across distressed and opportunistic credit, direct lending, structured credit, buyouts and real estate. Apollo provides investment management and advisory services to institutional clients and individual investors through pooled funds, separate accounts and publicly listed investment vehicles. Its private equity business pursues control and non-control investments across industries, often focusing on complex or distressed situations where operational improvement and capital solutions can create value. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding APO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Apollo Global Management Inc. (NYSE:APO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Apollo Global Management Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Apollo Global Management and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Legal & General Group Plc increased its holdings in Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (NYSE:CP Free Report) (TSE:CP) by 6.1% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 7,193,408 shares of the transportation companys stock after acquiring an additional 413,042 shares during the quarter. Legal & General Group Plcs holdings in Canadian Pacific Kansas City were worth $535,836,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in CP. Frank Rimerman Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 0.8% in the second quarter. Frank Rimerman Advisors LLC now owns 17,654 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $1,399,000 after buying an additional 139 shares in the last quarter. Assetmark Inc. grew its stake in Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 28.5% during the second quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 861 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $68,000 after acquiring an additional 191 shares in the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC increased its holdings in Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 1.0% in the 3rd quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 20,235 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $1,507,000 after acquiring an additional 207 shares during the last quarter. Savant Capital LLC increased its holdings in Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 0.7% in the 3rd quarter. Savant Capital LLC now owns 30,499 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $2,272,000 after acquiring an additional 220 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Pacifica Partners Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 12.0% during the 3rd quarter. Pacifica Partners Inc. now owns 2,155 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $161,000 after purchasing an additional 231 shares during the last quarter. 72.20% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Canadian Pacific Kansas City alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In CP has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Evercore cut their price objective on Canadian Pacific Kansas City from $87.00 to $85.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. Scotiabank reissued an outperform rating on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Wall Street Zen downgraded Canadian Pacific Kansas City from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 3rd. Barclays set a $93.00 price objective on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a $124.00 price target (down from $127.00) on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $92.00. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Stock Up 0.0% Shares of NYSE CP opened at $83.91 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.41, a current ratio of 0.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $78.54 and its 200-day simple moving average is $75.67. The firm has a market cap of $75.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.80 and a beta of 1.06. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited has a 52-week low of $66.49 and a 52-week high of $89.42. Canadian Pacific Kansas City (NYSE:CP Get Free Report) (TSE:CP) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 28th. The transportation company reported $0.95 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.99 by ($0.04). Canadian Pacific Kansas City had a return on equity of 8.91% and a net margin of 27.49%.The business had revenue of $2.85 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.85 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.29 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 1.3% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts predict that Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited will post 3.42 EPS for the current fiscal year. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 27th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 27th will be issued a $0.228 dividend. This represents a $0.91 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 27th. Canadian Pacific Kansas Citys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 20.43%. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Profile (Free Report) Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) is a North American Class I freight railroad formed through the combination of Canadian Pacific Railway and Kansas City Southern. The merged company operates an integrated rail network that spans Canada, the United States and Mexico, providing a single-line rail connection across all three countries. This transborder footprint is intended to streamline cross-border freight flows and provide shippers with direct rail access from Canadian and U.S. production centers to Mexican markets and ports. CPKCs core business is freight transportation and related logistics services. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (NYSE:CP Free Report) (TSE:CP). Receive News & Ratings for Canadian Pacific Kansas City Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian Pacific Kansas City and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Legal & General Group Plc reduced its position in General Motors Company (NYSE:GM Free Report) (TSE:GMM.U) by 8.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 9,256,874 shares of the auto manufacturers stock after selling 886,905 shares during the period. Legal & General Group Plcs holdings in General Motors were worth $564,392,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Steigerwald Gordon & Koch Inc. bought a new stake in General Motors in the third quarter valued at about $29,000. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of General Motors by 94.6% during the third quarter. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. now owns 545 shares of the auto manufacturers stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 265 shares during the period. ESL Trust Services LLC bought a new stake in General Motors in the 3rd quarter valued at $37,000. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in General Motors in the 2nd quarter valued at $38,000. Finally, MRP Capital Investments LLC boosted its stake in General Motors by 142.9% in the 2nd quarter. MRP Capital Investments LLC now owns 850 shares of the auto manufacturers stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares during the period. 92.67% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get General Motors alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research firms have issued reports on GM. UBS Group lifted their price target on General Motors from $97.00 to $102.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their price objective on General Motors from $92.00 to $107.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Barclays set a $110.00 target price on General Motors in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Wall Street Zen cut General Motors from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Sunday, January 4th. Finally, Benchmark upped their price target on General Motors from $65.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 10th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have given a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $91.39. Key Headlines Impacting General Motors Here are the key news stories impacting General Motors this week: General Motors Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:GM opened at $74.93 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $67.74 billion, a PE ratio of 24.89, a PEG ratio of 0.40 and a beta of 1.37. The companys 50 day moving average price is $81.18 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $72.07. General Motors Company has a 12-month low of $41.60 and a 12-month high of $87.62. The company has a quick ratio of 1.01, a current ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.50. General Motors (NYSE:GM Get Free Report) (TSE:GMM.U) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The auto manufacturer reported $2.51 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.26 by $0.25. The company had revenue of $45.29 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $45.81 billion. General Motors had a return on equity of 14.72% and a net margin of 1.46%.The companys revenue for the quarter was down 5.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.92 EPS. General Motors has set its FY 2026 guidance at 9.750-10.500 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that General Motors Company will post 11.44 earnings per share for the current year. General Motors declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a share repurchase program on Tuesday, January 27th that permits the company to repurchase $6.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the auto manufacturer to purchase up to 8.1% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are generally an indication that the companys leadership believes its shares are undervalued. General Motors Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 19th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 6th will be given a $0.18 dividend. This is an increase from General Motorss previous quarterly dividend of $0.15. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 6th. This represents a $0.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.0%. General Motorss dividend payout ratio is presently 23.92%. General Motors Profile (Free Report) General Motors Company (NYSE: GM) is a global automotive manufacturer headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, that designs, builds and sells cars, trucks, crossovers and electric vehicles, and provides related parts and services. Founded in 1908, GM has long been one of the worlds largest automakers and has evolved into a multi-brand company whose primary marques include Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac and Buick. Beyond vehicle manufacturing, GMs operations encompass vehicle financing, connected services and advanced mobility initiatives. GM develops and markets a broad portfolio of products and technologies, including internal-combustion and battery-electric vehicles, vehicle components and on-board connectivity services. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for General Motors Company (NYSE:GM Free Report) (TSE:GMM.U). Receive News & Ratings for General Motors Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for General Motors and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Richard Bernstein Advisors LLC reduced its position in shares of Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT Free Report) by 55.9% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 2,942 shares of the aerospace companys stock after selling 3,734 shares during the period. Richard Bernstein Advisors LLCs holdings in Lockheed Martin were worth $1,469,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its position in shares of Lockheed Martin by 5.0% during the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 3,995 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $1,941,000 after buying an additional 191 shares during the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of Lockheed Martin by 5.4% during the second quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 973 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $451,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the last quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. lifted its stake in shares of Lockheed Martin by 17.3% in the 2nd quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. now owns 1,460 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $676,000 after acquiring an additional 215 shares during the period. AGF Management Ltd. raised its stake in shares of Lockheed Martin by 5.7% during the 2nd quarter. AGF Management Ltd. now owns 6,326 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $2,930,000 after buying an additional 339 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Profund Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Lockheed Martin by 10.4% in the second quarter. Profund Advisors LLC now owns 2,341 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $1,084,000 after acquiring an additional 220 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.19% of the companys stock. Get Lockheed Martin alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities research analysts recently commented on LMT shares. Robert W. Baird boosted their price objective on shares of Lockheed Martin from $550.00 to $640.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, January 16th. Morgan Stanley set a $675.00 target price on shares of Lockheed Martin in a research note on Wednesday, February 4th. TD Cowen upped their target price on Lockheed Martin from $600.00 to $670.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Friday, January 30th. DZ Bank lowered shares of Lockheed Martin from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $665.00 price objective on the stock. in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Finally, Citigroup raised their target price on shares of Lockheed Martin from $592.00 to $673.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, February 5th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $618.95. Key Lockheed Martin News Here are the key news stories impacting Lockheed Martin this week: Lockheed Martin Stock Down 1.9% Shares of NYSE LMT opened at $651.52 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $149.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.32, a PEG ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 0.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.05, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a current ratio of 1.09. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $606.84 and its 200-day simple moving average is $521.64. Lockheed Martin Corporation has a 1 year low of $410.11 and a 1 year high of $692.00. Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The aerospace company reported $5.80 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $6.33 by ($0.53). The business had revenue of $20.32 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $19.84 billion. Lockheed Martin had a net margin of 6.69% and a return on equity of 108.53%. The firms revenue was up 9.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $7.67 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Lockheed Martin Corporation will post 27.15 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Lockheed Martin Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 27th. Investors of record on Monday, March 2nd will be given a $3.45 dividend. This represents a $13.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 2nd. Lockheed Martins dividend payout ratio is 64.22%. Lockheed Martin Profile (Free Report) Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT) is a global aerospace and defense company that designs, develops and manufactures advanced technology systems for government and commercial customers. Formed through the 1995 merger of Lockheed Corporation and Martin Marietta, the company is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, and focuses on providing integrated solutions across air, space, land and sea domains. Its primary customers include the U.S. Department of Defense, NASA and allied governments around the world. Lockheed Martins product and service portfolio spans military aircraft, missile and fire-control systems, missile defense, space systems and satellite technologies, sensors and precision weapons. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LMT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Lockheed Martin Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lockheed Martin and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Monolith Management Ltd bought a new stake in Onto Innovation Inc. (NYSE:ONTO Free Report) during the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor bought 93,005 shares of the semiconductor companys stock, valued at approximately $12,018,000. Onto Innovation comprises 5.3% of Monolith Management Ltds holdings, making the stock its 7th largest position. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of ONTO. Westside Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in Onto Innovation by 100.0% in the third quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. now owns 198 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 99 shares during the period. Blue Trust Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Onto Innovation by 2,061.5% during the third quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 281 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $36,000 after buying an additional 268 shares during the period. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC purchased a new position in shares of Onto Innovation during the third quarter worth about $37,000. Farther Finance Advisors LLC increased its position in Onto Innovation by 76.8% in the 3rd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 320 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $41,000 after acquiring an additional 139 shares during the period. Finally, Pilgrim Partners Asia Pte Ltd purchased a new stake in Onto Innovation during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $47,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 98.35% of the companys stock. Get Onto Innovation alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of analysts have weighed in on the company. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $300.00 price objective on shares of Onto Innovation in a research report on Friday, February 20th. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c) rating on shares of Onto Innovation in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Stifel Nicolaus set a $220.00 price target on Onto Innovation in a report on Friday, February 20th. B. Riley Financial increased their price target on Onto Innovation from $240.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, February 20th. Finally, Oppenheimer restated an outperform rating and set a $265.00 price objective on shares of Onto Innovation in a research report on Friday, February 20th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have issued a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Onto Innovation presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $252.50. Onto Innovation Stock Performance Shares of ONTO stock opened at $193.55 on Wednesday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $204.26 and a 200 day moving average price of $158.82. The stock has a market cap of $9.62 billion, a PE ratio of 69.87, a P/E/G ratio of 1.00 and a beta of 1.47. Onto Innovation Inc. has a 1 year low of $85.88 and a 1 year high of $232.49. Onto Innovation (NYSE:ONTO Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 19th. The semiconductor company reported $1.26 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.28 by ($0.02). The firm had revenue of $266.87 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $265.78 million. Onto Innovation had a net margin of 13.60% and a return on equity of 12.20%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 1.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.51 EPS. Onto Innovation has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 1.260-1.360 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Onto Innovation Inc. will post 6.26 earnings per share for the current year. Onto Innovation Company Profile (Free Report) Onto Innovation (NYSE:ONTO) is a global supplier of advanced process control and inspection systems for semiconductor and electronics manufacturers. The companys solutions span metrology, inspection, defect review and lithography mask repair, helping customers optimize yield, reduce costs and improve device performance. By integrating high-resolution optical and e-beam tools with sophisticated software analytics, Onto Innovation enables wafer, mask and advanced packaging producers to maintain tight process control across leading-edge nodes and specialty applications. Key products include high-throughput wafer metrology systems, optical and e-beam defect inspection platforms, mask inspection and repair tools, and data-driven software for yield management and process optimization. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ONTO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Onto Innovation Inc. (NYSE:ONTO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Onto Innovation Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Onto Innovation and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Natixis Advisors LLC boosted its position in BorgWarner Inc. (NYSE:BWA Free Report) by 9.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 824,045 shares of the auto parts companys stock after purchasing an additional 67,990 shares during the quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC owned about 0.39% of BorgWarner worth $36,225,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in BWA. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS boosted its holdings in shares of BorgWarner by 7.8% during the second quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 56,411 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $1,889,000 after purchasing an additional 4,078 shares during the last quarter. CWM LLC increased its stake in BorgWarner by 218.3% in the third quarter. CWM LLC now owns 235,861 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $10,368,000 after purchasing an additional 161,755 shares during the last quarter. Jackson Creek Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new position in BorgWarner in the third quarter valued at $1,876,000. Columbia Bank purchased a new position in BorgWarner during the second quarter worth about $239,000. Finally, Ritholtz Wealth Management acquired a new stake in BorgWarner in the 3rd quarter worth about $1,016,000. 95.67% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get BorgWarner alerts: BorgWarner Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:BWA opened at $52.71 on Wednesday. The business has a 50-day moving average of $52.35 and a two-hundred day moving average of $46.77. The firm has a market capitalization of $10.91 billion, a PE ratio of 42.17, a P/E/G ratio of 1.08 and a beta of 1.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 2.07 and a quick ratio of 1.70. BorgWarner Inc. has a 12 month low of $24.40 and a 12 month high of $70.08. BorgWarner Dividend Announcement BorgWarner ( NYSE:BWA Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 11th. The auto parts company reported $1.35 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.16 by $0.19. BorgWarner had a return on equity of 17.89% and a net margin of 1.93%.The business had revenue of $3.57 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.49 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.01 EPS. The companys revenue was up 3.9% compared to the same quarter last year. BorgWarner has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.000-5.200 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that BorgWarner Inc. will post 4.28 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 16th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 2nd will be given a dividend of $0.17 per share. This represents a $0.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 2nd. BorgWarners payout ratio is 54.40%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, VP Isabelle Mckenzie sold 2,458 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $61.54, for a total value of $151,265.32. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president owned 66,351 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,083,240.54. This represents a 3.57% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Tonit M. Calaway sold 14,021 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, March 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $51.46, for a total transaction of $721,520.66. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 204,913 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,544,822.98. This represents a 6.40% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold a total of 63,571 shares of company stock worth $3,877,662 over the last ninety days. 0.63% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several analysts have commented on BWA shares. Piper Sandler restated a neutral rating and issued a $51.00 price target (down from $52.00) on shares of BorgWarner in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Bank of America started coverage on shares of BorgWarner in a research report on Wednesday, March 4th. They issued a neutral rating on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on shares of BorgWarner from $54.00 to $78.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Morgan Stanley set a $60.00 price target on shares of BorgWarner in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. Finally, Robert W. Baird set a $76.00 price target on shares of BorgWarner in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven 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 an average price target of $61.31. View Our Latest Report on BorgWarner About BorgWarner (Free Report) BorgWarner Inc is a global automotive supplier specializing in propulsion and drivetrain solutions for combustion, hybrid and electric vehicles. The companys product portfolio includes turbochargers, thermal management systems, transmission components, e-Propulsion modules and advanced fuel-efficiency technologies. BorgWarner serves original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) across passenger cars, light trucks and commercial vehicles, supporting both legacy internal-combustion engines and emerging electrification trends. Founded in 1928 through the merger of several driveline companies, BorgWarner has grown through strategic acquisitions and continuous investment in research and development. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BWA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for BorgWarner Inc. (NYSE:BWA Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for BorgWarner Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BorgWarner and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Natixis Advisors LLC decreased its stake in shares of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL Free Report) by 10.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 247,859 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 29,912 shares during the period. Natixis Advisors LLCs holdings in Aflac were worth $27,686,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Norges Bank bought a new position in Aflac during the second quarter worth about $432,201,000. Invesco Ltd. increased its position in Aflac by 16.7% during the second quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 4,167,886 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $439,545,000 after buying an additional 594,971 shares during the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP raised its stake in Aflac by 459.0% in the second quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 701,390 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $73,969,000 after buying an additional 575,915 shares during the period. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. lifted its position in shares of Aflac by 65.5% in the second quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. now owns 975,357 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $102,861,000 after buying an additional 385,955 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its position in shares of Aflac by 7.6% in the third quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 4,414,180 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $493,047,000 after buying an additional 310,220 shares during the last quarter. 67.44% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Aflac alerts: Aflac Stock Performance AFL opened at $110.35 on Wednesday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $111.70 and a 200 day simple moving average of $110.30. The company has a market capitalization of $56.98 billion, a PE ratio of 16.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.61 and a beta of 0.66. Aflac Incorporated has a 1 year low of $96.95 and a 1 year high of $119.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 0.11 and a quick ratio of 0.11. Insider Activity Aflac ( NYSE:AFL Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 4th. The financial services provider reported $1.57 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.69 by ($0.12). Aflac had a return on equity of 14.35% and a net margin of 21.24%.The firm had revenue of $4.28 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.45 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.57 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was down 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts expect that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.88 EPS for the current year. In related news, EVP Steven Kent Beaver sold 7,387 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $113.58, for a total value of $839,015.46. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 40,526 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,602,943.08. This represents a 15.42% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, major shareholder Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 19,300 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $110.96, for a total transaction of $2,141,528.00. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 52,241,500 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,796,716,840. This represents a 0.04% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold 51,279 shares of company stock worth $5,697,789 over the last 90 days. 0.80% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research analysts recently weighed in on AFL shares. TD Cowen reissued a hold rating on shares of Aflac in a report on Monday, December 22nd. Barclays set a $101.00 price target on Aflac and gave the company an underweight rating in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on shares of Aflac from $109.00 to $118.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 25th. Morgan Stanley set a $120.00 price objective on shares of Aflac in a report on Monday, December 15th. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut shares of Aflac from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Saturday, February 28th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Aflac has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $111.73. Read Our Latest Stock Report on Aflac Aflac Company Profile (Free Report) Aflac Incorporated (American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus) is a provider of supplemental insurance products designed to help policyholders manage out-of-pocket health care and living expenses. The company underwrites a range of individual and group policies that typically pay cash benefits directly to insureds when covered events occur, enabling greater financial flexibility for medical treatment, hospital stays, critical illness, and related costs. Aflacs product mix includes supplemental health insurance, life insurance and other specialty coverages intended to complement primary medical plans. Founded in the mid-20th century and headquartered in Columbus, Georgia, Aflac distributes its products through a combination of employer-sponsored programs, independent brokers and agents, and direct marketing. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Aflac Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Aflac and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Natixis Advisors LLC grew its stake in Banco Santander, S.A. (NYSE:SAN Free Report) by 17.5% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 3,286,999 shares of the banks stock after buying an additional 489,022 shares during the period. Natixis Advisors LLCs holdings in Banco Santander were worth $34,448,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Root Financial Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Banco Santander during the 3rd quarter worth $25,000. True Wealth Design LLC purchased a new stake in Banco Santander during the third quarter valued at about $27,000. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in Banco Santander during the third quarter worth about $31,000. Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Banco Santander by 75.0% in the 3rd quarter. Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc. now owns 3,500 shares of the banks stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 1,500 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp bought a new position in shares of Banco Santander during the 2nd quarter valued at about $30,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 9.19% of the companys stock. Get Banco Santander alerts: Banco Santander Price Performance Shares of Banco Santander stock opened at $11.48 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.15, a current ratio of 0.33 and a quick ratio of 0.33. Banco Santander, S.A. has a one year low of $5.54 and a one year high of $13.24. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $12.22 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $11.05. The stock has a market capitalization of $170.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.37, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.68 and a beta of 0.71. Banco Santander Announces Dividend Banco Santander ( NYSE:SAN Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 3rd. The bank reported $0.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.24 by $0.04. Banco Santander had a net margin of 18.85% and a return on equity of 12.14%. The firm had revenue of $18.90 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $15.89 billion. Analysts forecast that Banco Santander, S.A. will post 0.83 EPS for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 8th. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 4th will be given a $0.1473 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, May 4th. This represents a dividend yield of 254.0%. Banco Santanders payout ratio is presently 18.81%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research firms recently weighed in on SAN. Wall Street Zen upgraded Banco Santander from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday, February 7th. Royal Bank Of Canada raised shares of Banco Santander from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, February 23rd. Kepler Capital Markets raised shares of Banco Santander from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 13th. UBS Group reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Banco Santander in a report on Monday, February 16th. Finally, Barclays downgraded shares of Banco Santander from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 6th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have issued a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Banco Santander Banco Santander News Summary Here are the key news stories impacting Banco Santander this week: Positive Sentiment: Recent operating/earnings beat supports the stock: Santander reported strongerthanexpected quarterly results in early February (EPS and revenue beats) and continues to show solid margins and ROE, which underpins longerterm valuation. Recent operating/earnings beat supports the stock: Santander reported strongerthanexpected quarterly results in early February (EPS and revenue beats) and continues to show solid margins and ROE, which underpins longerterm valuation. Neutral Sentiment: Short interest jumped ~39% in February to ~58.5M shares (about 0.4% of shares outstanding) with a shortinterest ratio of ~3.7 days a meaningful rise in bearish positioning but still a small share of the float; this can add trading volatility but is not on its own a systemic threat. Short interest jumped ~39% in February to ~58.5M shares (about 0.4% of shares outstanding) with a shortinterest ratio of ~3.7 days a meaningful rise in bearish positioning but still a small share of the float; this can add trading volatility but is not on its own a systemic threat. Neutral Sentiment: Market commentary is mixed: a recent Yahoo Finance piece asks whether the pullback warrants reassessment of Santander, signaling some analysts/investors are debating risk/reward after the price move. Is It Time To Reassess Santander Market commentary is mixed: a recent Yahoo Finance piece asks whether the pullback warrants reassessment of Santander, signaling some analysts/investors are debating risk/reward after the price move. Negative Sentiment: Multiple law firms have announced securitiesfraud investigations into Banco Santander (Glancy Prongay Wolke & Rotter; Pomerantz; Howard G. Smith; Frank R. Cruz; Rosen Law Firm, etc.), citing alleged materially misleading statements reported in the press these actions increase legal, financial and reputational risk and can prompt regulatory scrutiny, potential settlements and distraction for management. Representative notices: Glancy Investigation Pomerantz Alert Howard G. Smith Frank R. Cruz AP/Pomerantz Banco Santander Profile (Free Report) Banco Santander, SA (NYSE: SAN) is a Spanish multinational banking group headquartered in Santander, Spain. Founded in 1857, the bank has grown from a regional institution into one of Europes largest banking groups, operating a diversified financial services platform that serves retail, small and medium-sized enterprises, and large corporate clients. Santander is publicly listed in Spain and maintains American Depositary Receipts on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker SAN. The groups core activities include retail and commercial bankingoffering deposit accounts, payment services, mortgages, personal and auto loans, and small business financingalongside corporate and investment banking services for larger institutional clients. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SAN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Banco Santander, S.A. (NYSE:SAN Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Banco Santander Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Banco Santander and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nemes Rush Group LLC decreased its holdings in shares of CAVA Group, Inc. (NYSE:CAVA Free Report) by 74.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 16,865 shares of the companys stock after selling 48,077 shares during the period. Nemes Rush Group LLCs holdings in CAVA Group were worth $1,019,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC boosted its position in shares of CAVA Group by 378.7% in the 3rd quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 450 shares of the companys stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 356 shares during the last quarter. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp bought a new stake in CAVA Group in the second quarter valued at about $31,000. Toth Financial Advisory Corp lifted its stake in CAVA Group by 656.7% in the third quarter. Toth Financial Advisory Corp now owns 507 shares of the companys stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 440 shares during the period. Western Pacific Wealth Management LP bought a new position in CAVA Group during the third quarter worth about $33,000. Finally, CNB Bank boosted its holdings in CAVA Group by 275.8% during the third quarter. CNB Bank now owns 575 shares of the companys stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 422 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 73.15% of the companys stock. Get CAVA Group alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of analysts recently weighed in on CAVA shares. Argus reiterated a hold rating on shares of CAVA Group in a research report on Friday, February 27th. Piper Sandler upped their target price on shares of CAVA Group from $71.00 to $85.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 25th. TD Cowen increased their target price on shares of CAVA Group from $85.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, February 25th. Mizuho lifted their price target on shares of CAVA Group from $52.00 to $64.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, January 9th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of CAVA Group in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Buy rating and ten have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $84.04. Insider Activity at CAVA Group In related news, CAO Adam David Phillips sold 774 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.14, for a total transaction of $48,096.36. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer directly owned 10,435 shares in the company, valued at $648,430.90. This trade represents a 6.91% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Kenneth Robert Bertram sold 994 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.14, for a total transaction of $61,767.16. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 49,122 shares in the company, valued at $3,052,441.08. This represents a 1.98% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold 39,055 shares of company stock valued at $2,572,303 over the last three months. Insiders own 12.10% of the companys stock. CAVA Group Stock Performance Shares of CAVA opened at $80.08 on Wednesday. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $69.10 and a 200 day simple moving average of $62.14. CAVA Group, Inc. has a 52-week low of $43.41 and a 52-week high of $101.50. The firm has a market capitalization of $9.32 billion, a PE ratio of 148.31, a P/E/G ratio of 7.04 and a beta of 2.16. CAVA Group (NYSE:CAVA Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 24th. The company reported $0.04 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.03 by $0.01. CAVA Group had a net margin of 5.40% and a return on equity of 8.43%. The firm had revenue of $274.99 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $268.04 million. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.05 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 20.9% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that CAVA Group, Inc. will post 0.5 EPS for the current fiscal year. About CAVA Group (Free Report) CAVA Group, Inc (NYSE: CAVA) is a leading fast-casual restaurant company specializing in Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. Operating under the CAVA brand, the company offers customizable bowls, pitas and salads built around a variety of proteins, grains, fresh vegetables and house-made spreads. With a focus on high-quality ingredients and made-to-order preparation, CAVA aims to deliver a casual yet elevated dining experience for dine-in, takeout and catering customers. Founded in 2011 in the Washington, DC metro area by Ike Grigoropoulos, Dimitri Katsanis and Brett Schulman, CAVA has pursued an aggressive growth strategy that included the 2018 acquisition of Zoes Kitchen. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CAVA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for CAVA Group, Inc. (NYSE:CAVA Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for CAVA Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CAVA Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. NIO Inc. (NYSE:NIO Get Free Report) fell 3.9% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $5.44 and last traded at $5.4780. 77,612,987 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 67% from the average session volume of 46,505,293 shares. The stock had previously closed at $5.70. Trending Headlines about NIO Here are the key news stories impacting NIO this week: Get NIO alerts: Positive Sentiment: Historic Q4 results NIO reported its first quarterly net profit, revenue and EPS beat expectations, sharp yearoveryear revenue growth and record Q4 deliveries (124,807 units). Margin expansion and two consecutive quarters of positive cash flow materially improved the outlook. GlobeNewswire: Q4 & Full-Year Results Historic Q4 results NIO reported its first quarterly net profit, revenue and EPS beat expectations, sharp yearoveryear revenue growth and record Q4 deliveries (124,807 units). Margin expansion and two consecutive quarters of positive cash flow materially improved the outlook. Positive Sentiment: Bullish near-term guidance Management gave upbeat Q1 2026 delivery and revenue guidance (80k83k vehicles and strong revenue targets), implying continued growth into 2026 and helping fuel the postearnings rally. QuiverQuant: Guidance & Market Reaction Bullish near-term guidance Management gave upbeat Q1 2026 delivery and revenue guidance (80k83k vehicles and strong revenue targets), implying continued growth into 2026 and helping fuel the postearnings rally. Positive Sentiment: Analyst upgrade Nomura upgraded NIO from Neutral to Buy with a $6.60 price target, providing incremental buy-side support (new target implies upside vs. recent levels). Analyst upgrade Nomura upgraded NIO from Neutral to Buy with a $6.60 price target, providing incremental buy-side support (new target implies upside vs. recent levels). Neutral Sentiment: Heavy options activity Unusually large call buying (over 200k calls traded in a session) suggests speculative and levered positioning that can amplify intraday moves but doesnt change fundamentals. Heavy options activity Unusually large call buying (over 200k calls traded in a session) suggests speculative and levered positioning that can amplify intraday moves but doesnt change fundamentals. Neutral Sentiment: Mixed analyst stance and targets Despite the beat, consensus across analysts remains mixed (MarketBeat shows a median/consensus Hold with average targets in the mid$6s), so followthrough depends on execution. MarketBeat: Earnings Coverage & Analyst Context Mixed analyst stance and targets Despite the beat, consensus across analysts remains mixed (MarketBeat shows a median/consensus Hold with average targets in the mid$6s), so followthrough depends on execution. Negative Sentiment: Nearterm demand and margin risks Early 2026 delivery softness in JanuaryFebruary and a tougher China demand backdrop, plus tighter EV incentives, raise doubt about NIOs aggressive 40%50% annual growth target and could pressure margins. Seeking Alpha: Growth Risks for 2026 Nearterm demand and margin risks Early 2026 delivery softness in JanuaryFebruary and a tougher China demand backdrop, plus tighter EV incentives, raise doubt about NIOs aggressive 40%50% annual growth target and could pressure margins. Negative Sentiment: Inputcost headwinds and leverage Management flagged shortterm cost pressure (memory, chips, lithium carbonate). The company also carries meaningful leverage on its balance sheet, which could amplify risk if margins weaken. MarketBeat: Cost Pressures Noted Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of brokerages recently commented on NIO. UBS Group downgraded NIO from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 25th. Nomura upgraded NIO from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $6.60 target price on the stock in a research note on Wednesday. Bank of America restated a neutral rating on shares of NIO in a research report on Tuesday. Macquarie Infrastructure raised shares of NIO from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $6.10 price objective on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 15th. Finally, Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of NIO from $3.00 to $4.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Friday, November 28th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, NIO presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $6.80. NIO Stock Down 3.9% The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $4.84 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $5.79. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.36, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a current ratio of 0.94. The stock has a market cap of $12.59 billion, a P/E ratio of -3.78 and a beta of 1.11. Institutional Investors Weigh In On NIO Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of NIO. Aspex Management HK Ltd bought a new position in NIO in the 3rd quarter valued at about $266,700,000. WT Asset Management Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of NIO in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $142,120,000. Ghisallo Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of NIO in the third quarter valued at approximately $91,440,000. Voloridge Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of NIO in the third quarter valued at approximately $89,952,000. Finally, RWC Asset Advisors US LLC acquired a new position in shares of NIO during the third quarter valued at approximately $79,761,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 48.55% of the companys stock. NIO Company Profile (Get Free Report) NIO Inc is a pioneer in the premium electric vehicle (EV) segment, dedicated to the design, development and manufacture of smart, high-performance EVs. Established in November 2014 and headquartered in Shanghai, China, the company focuses on integrating cutting-edge electric propulsion, advanced connectivity and autonomous driving technologies into its automotive platforms. NIOs vision centers on creating a holistic user experience that extends beyond the vehicle itself, encompassing energy services and digital solutions. The companys product lineup includes flagship SUVs and sedans such as the ES8, ES6, EC6, ET7 and ET5, each engineered to deliver strong performance, long range and a suite of intelligent driver-assistance features. See Also Receive News & Ratings for NIO Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NIO and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nuveen Missouri Quality Municipal Income Fund (NYSE:NOM Get Free Report) declared a monthly dividend on Monday, March 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 13th will be paid a dividend of 0.061 per share on Wednesday, April 1st. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 13th. Nuveen Missouri Quality Municipal Income Fund Stock Down 0.1% NYSE NOM opened at $10.87 on Wednesday. The firms fifty day moving average price is $11.22 and its 200 day moving average price is $11.16. Nuveen Missouri Quality Municipal Income Fund has a 12 month low of $9.63 and a 12 month high of $12.19. Get Nuveen Missouri Quality Municipal Income Fund alerts: Nuveen Missouri Quality Municipal Income Fund Company Profile (Get Free Report) Nuveen Missouri Quality Municipal Income Fund (NYSE: NOM) is a closed-end investment company that focuses on high-quality, tax-exempt municipal securities issued by the state of Missouri and its political subdivisions. The fund seeks to provide a high level of current income that is exempt from federaland, where applicable, Missouri state and localincome taxes. By concentrating on investment-grade general obligation and revenue bonds, the portfolio aims to balance income potential with capital preservation. Managed by Nuveen Asset Management, a subsidiary of TIAA, the fund employs a disciplined, research-driven approach to credit selection and risk management. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Nuveen Missouri Quality Municipal Income Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nuveen Missouri Quality Municipal Income Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nuveen New York Quality Municipal Income Fund (NYSE:NAN Get Free Report) declared a monthly dividend on Monday, March 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 13th will be given a dividend of 0.072 per share by the financial services provider on Wednesday, April 1st. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.5%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 13th. Nuveen New York Quality Municipal Income Fund Stock Performance NAN opened at $11.54 on Wednesday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $11.45 and a 200-day simple moving average of $11.42. Nuveen New York Quality Municipal Income Fund has a 52 week low of $10.69 and a 52 week high of $11.67. Get Nuveen New York Quality Municipal Income Fund alerts: About Nuveen New York Quality Municipal Income Fund (Get Free Report) The Nuveen New York Quality Municipal Income Fund (NYSE: NAN) is a closed-end management investment company that seeks to provide current income exempt from federal and New York State income taxes. The Fund invests principally in a portfolio of investment-grade municipal obligations issued by or on behalf of the State of New York and its political subdivisions. Through its focus on tax-exempt securities, NAN is designed to offer investors an attractive yield advantage relative to taxable alternatives in the New York market. The Funds portfolio is comprised primarily of general obligation and revenue bonds issued by state and local governments, authorities, agencies and instrumentalities within New York. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Nuveen New York Quality Municipal Income Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nuveen New York Quality Municipal Income Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLC lifted its position in shares of Intercontinental Hotels Group (NYSE:IHG Free Report) by 30.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 18,241 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 4,299 shares during the quarter. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLCs holdings in Intercontinental Hotels Group were worth $2,212,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. raised its stake in Intercontinental Hotels Group by 42.3% in the 2nd quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 434 shares of the companys stock valued at $50,000 after acquiring an additional 129 shares during the period. Farther Finance Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Intercontinental Hotels Group by 136.5% in the third quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 473 shares of the companys stock worth $57,000 after purchasing an additional 273 shares in the last quarter. MAI Capital Management raised its position in shares of Intercontinental Hotels Group by 330.6% in the second quarter. MAI Capital Management now owns 676 shares of the companys stock valued at $78,000 after purchasing an additional 519 shares during the period. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Intercontinental Hotels Group by 56.3% in the second quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 933 shares of the companys stock valued at $108,000 after purchasing an additional 336 shares during the period. Finally, Aviso Financial Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Intercontinental Hotels Group by 100.2% during the 2nd quarter. Aviso Financial Inc. now owns 1,197 shares of the companys stock valued at $138,000 after buying an additional 599 shares in the last quarter. 15.09% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Intercontinental Hotels Group alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several research analysts recently commented on the stock. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b) rating on shares of Intercontinental Hotels Group in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. Berenberg Bank upgraded Intercontinental Hotels Group from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 20th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised Intercontinental Hotels Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, December 12th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have assigned a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy. Intercontinental Hotels Group Trading Down 0.6% Shares of IHG opened at $131.84 on Wednesday. Intercontinental Hotels Group has a twelve month low of $94.78 and a twelve month high of $150.89. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $139.64 and its 200-day moving average price is $131.75. Intercontinental Hotels Group Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 14th. Investors of record on Friday, April 10th will be issued a dividend of $1.259 per share. This represents a yield of 191.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 10th. About Intercontinental Hotels Group (Free Report) Intercontinental Hotels Group plc (IHG) is a multinational hospitality company that develops, owns, manages and franchises a broad portfolio of hotels and resorts. The company operates across full-service luxury and upscale segments as well as midscale and extended-stay categories, providing lodging, food and beverage, meeting and event services, and related guest amenities. IHGs business model emphasizes brand franchising and management agreements, while retaining ownership or direct investments in a smaller portion of its global property portfolio. IHGs brand portfolio spans global and regional names designed to serve different traveler needs and market segments. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IHG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Intercontinental Hotels Group (NYSE:IHG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Intercontinental Hotels Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Intercontinental Hotels Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Pacific Booker Minerals Inc. (OTCMKTS:PBMLF Get Free Report) fell 14.4% during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as low as $0.77 and last traded at $0.77. 100 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 85% from the average session volume of 665 shares. The stock had previously closed at $0.90. Pacific Booker Minerals Price Performance The company has a market cap of $15.90 million, a P/E ratio of -23.64 and a beta of -1.11. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $0.88 and a 200-day moving average price of $0.75. Get Pacific Booker Minerals alerts: About Pacific Booker Minerals (Get Free Report) Pacific Booker Minerals Inc is a Canada-based mineral exploration and development company focused on the identification and advancement of copper, gold and associated mineral projects. The companys primary asset is the Haquira copper-gold porphyry project located in the Ayacucho region of southern Peru. Haquira lies within a well-known mineral belt and has been the subject of multiple exploration stages, including geophysical surveys and diamond drilling, which have delineated extensive polymetallic mineralization. At Haquira, Pacific Booker Minerals has concentrated on delineating bulk-tonnage copper-gold resources within porphyry-style mineralization. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Pacific Booker Minerals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pacific Booker Minerals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Paragon Banking Group PLC (LON:PAG Get Free Report) insider Peter Hill acquired 382 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 11th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of GBX 784 per share, for a total transaction of 2,994.88. Paragon Banking Group Stock Down 0.2% Shares of LON:PAG opened at GBX 784 on Wednesday. Paragon Banking Group PLC has a 1 year low of GBX 650.50 and a 1 year high of GBX 981. The company has a market capitalization of 1.47 billion, a PE ratio of 8.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.50 and a beta of 1.17. The business has a fifty day moving average price of GBX 863.13 and a two-hundred day moving average price of GBX 852.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 120.17, a current ratio of 0.28 and a quick ratio of 1.48. Get Paragon Banking Group alerts: Paragon Banking Group (LON:PAG Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Friday, January 16th. The company reported GBX 91.20 EPS for the quarter. Paragon Banking Group had a return on equity of 12.75% and a net margin of 21.40%. Analysts forecast that Paragon Banking Group PLC will post 104.0245566 earnings per share for the current year. Analyst Ratings Changes Paragon Banking Group declared that its board has authorized a share buyback plan on Wednesday, December 3rd that authorizes the company to buyback 0 shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the company to repurchase shares of its stock through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are often a sign that the companys leadership believes its shares are undervalued. Several equities analysts recently commented on PAG shares. UBS Group reiterated a buy rating and issued a GBX 1,020 price objective on shares of Paragon Banking Group in a research note on Friday, January 16th. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a GBX 1,050 target price on shares of Paragon Banking Group in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, Shore Capital Group upped their price target on Paragon Banking Group from GBX 1,040 to GBX 1,055 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 27th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of GBX 1,028.20. View Our Latest Research Report on Paragon Banking Group More Paragon Banking Group News Here are the key news stories impacting Paragon Banking Group this week: Positive Sentiment: Non-executive director Graeme Yorston bought 500 shares at ~GBX 787, signalling a modest vote of confidence from the board. Article Title Non-executive director Graeme Yorston bought 500 shares at ~GBX 787, signalling a modest vote of confidence from the board. Positive Sentiment: Paragon executives exercised long-term share awards and increased their equity stakes a constructive sign that management retains exposure to the stock (may also cause short-term share sales linked to exercise-tax/liquidity needs). Article Title Paragon executives exercised long-term share awards and increased their equity stakes a constructive sign that management retains exposure to the stock (may also cause short-term share sales linked to exercise-tax/liquidity needs). Positive Sentiment: Analyst coverage remains supportive several brokers have buy/outperform ratings and target prices around GBX 1,0201,055, which underpins upside expectations versus the current mid700s800s price range. Article Title Analyst coverage remains supportive several brokers have buy/outperform ratings and target prices around GBX 1,0201,055, which underpins upside expectations versus the current mid700s800s price range. Neutral Sentiment: Company filed routine director share dealing notices (compliance disclosures) confirming the transactions above useful for transparency but not news by itself. Article Title Company filed routine director share dealing notices (compliance disclosures) confirming the transactions above useful for transparency but not news by itself. Negative Sentiment: Large insider sales: Richard Woodman sold 67,669 shares (~GBX 777 avg; ~525.8k) and Nigel S. Terrington sold 102,876 shares (~GBX 777 avg; ~799.3k). Substantial disposals by senior figures are a negative nearterm signal and may pressure the stock if perceived as profittaking or rebalancing. (Source: company insider transaction filings) Paragon Banking Group Company Profile (Get Free Report) Paragon is a specialist banking group. It offers a range of savings accounts and provide finance for landlords and small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) and residential property developers in the UK. Founded in 1985 and listed on the London Stock Exchange, it is a FTSE-250 company. Headquartered in Solihull, it employs more than 1,400 people. Its operations are organised into two lending divisions and lending is funded largely by retail deposits. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Paragon Banking Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Paragon Banking Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PCCW Ltd. (OTCMKTS:PCCWY Get Free Report) saw unusually-strong trading volume on Wednesday . Approximately 1,358 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 428% from the previous sessions volume of 257 shares.The stock last traded at $7.55 and had previously closed at $7.72. PCCW Price Performance The company has a quick ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 0.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 7.57. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $7.36 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $7.17. Get PCCW alerts: About PCCW (Get Free Report) PCCW Limited (OTCMKTS:PCCWY) is a Hong Kongbased technology and telecommunications company offering a broad array of connectivity, media and IT solutions. Headquartered in Hong Kong, the group traces its roots to the early 2000s restructuring of the local fixed-line incumbent and has since diversified into broadband, mobile and digital media services under various subsidiaries. The companys consumer and enterprise businesses encompass fixed-line telephone, broadband internet access, mobile services and pay-TV. See Also Receive News & Ratings for PCCW Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PCCW and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. UniFirst, Canadian Natural Resources, Celsius, Canadian Pacific Kansas City, and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce are the five Canadian stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Canadian stocks are shares of companies that are incorporated in Canada or primarily listed on Canadian exchanges (for example, the Toronto Stock Exchange or TSX Venture), representing ownership stakes in those businesses. For investors, they provide exposure to the Canadian economy and common domestic sectors (energy, materials, financials), are typically traded in Canadian dollars, and carry country-specific risks such as currency, regulatory, and commodity-price sensitivity. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Canadian stocks within the last several days. Get alerts: UniFirst (UNF) UniFirst Corporation provides workplace uniforms and protective work wear clothing in the United States, Europe, and Canada. The company operates through U.S. and Canadian Rental and Cleaning, Manufacturing, Specialty Garments Rental and Cleaning, and First Aid segments. It designs, manufactures, personalizes, rents, cleans, delivers, and sells a range of uniforms and protective clothing, including shirts, pants, jackets, coveralls, lab coats, smocks, and aprons; and specialized protective wear, such as flame resistant and high visibility garments. Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) Canadian Natural Resources Limited acquires, explores for, develops, produces, markets, and sells crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs). The company offers light and medium crude oil, primary heavy crude oil, Pelican Lake heavy crude oil, bitumen (thermal oil), and synthetic crude oil (SCO). Read Our Latest Research Report on CNQ Celsius (CELH) Celsius Holdings, Inc. develops, processes, markets, distributes, and sells functional energy drinks and liquid supplements in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canadian, European, Middle Eastern, Asia-Pacific, and internationally. The company offers CELSIUS, a fitness drink or supplement designed to accelerate metabolism and burn body fat; various flavors and carbonated and non-carbonated functional energy drinks under the CELSIUS Originals and Vibe name, as well as functional energy drink under the CELSIUS Essentials and CELSIUS On-the-Go Powder names; and CELSIUS ready-to drink products. Read Our Latest Research Report on CELH Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates a transcontinental freight railway in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The company transports bulk commodities, including grain, coal, potash, fertilizers, and sulphur; merchandise freight, such as forest products, energy, chemicals and plastics, metals, minerals, consumer products, and automotive; and intermodal traffic comprising retail goods in overseas containers. Read Our Latest Research Report on CP Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM) Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, a diversified financial institution, provides various financial products and services to personal, business, public sector, and institutional clients in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through Canadian Personal and Business Banking; Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management; U.S. Read Our Latest Research Report on CM Featured Stories Quantbot Technologies LP cut its holdings in shares of BKV Corporation (NYSE:BKV Free Report) by 69.1% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 12,913 shares of the companys stock after selling 28,823 shares during the period. Quantbot Technologies LPs holdings in BKV were worth $299,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Police & Firemen s Retirement System of New Jersey boosted its position in shares of BKV by 37.9% in the 2nd quarter. Police & Firemen s Retirement System of New Jersey now owns 4,246 shares of the companys stock worth $102,000 after purchasing an additional 1,166 shares in the last quarter. Strs Ohio acquired a new position in BKV during the 3rd quarter valued at about $278,000. Cooper Creek Partners Management LLC acquired a new position in BKV during the 2nd quarter valued at about $8,215,000. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in BKV by 13.9% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 376,232 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,076,000 after buying an additional 45,989 shares during the last quarter. Get BKV alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Zacks Research downgraded BKV from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a report on Thursday, February 26th. KeyCorp restated an overweight rating and set a $34.00 price objective on shares of BKV in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Citigroup reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $36.00 price objective on shares of BKV in a research report on Tuesday. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of BKV in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, Susquehanna upped their price target on shares of BKV from $32.00 to $33.00 and gave the company a positive rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 11th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $32.38. BKV Stock Performance BKV opened at $28.99 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.78, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24. BKV Corporation has a 12-month low of $15.00 and a 12-month high of $32.81. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $28.85 and a two-hundred day moving average of $25.94. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.97 billion, a PE ratio of 14.87 and a beta of 1.54. BKV (NYSE:BKV Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 25th. The company reported $0.29 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.37 by ($0.08). The business had revenue of $259.91 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $268.05 million. BKV had a net margin of 17.16% and a return on equity of 7.91%. On average, analysts anticipate that BKV Corporation will post -1.82 EPS for the current year. BKV announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock repurchase program on Thursday, December 18th that authorizes the company to buyback $100.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the company to repurchase up to 3.9% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are often a sign that the companys board believes its shares are undervalued. BKV Company Profile (Free Report) BKV Corporation engages in the acquisition, operation, and development of natural gas and NGL properties. It is also involved in the gathering, processing, and transportation of natural gas. The company was founded in 2015 and is based in Denver, Colorado with additional offices in Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania and Fort Worth, Texas. BKV Corporation, LLC operates as a subsidiary of Banpu North America Corporation. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BKV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for BKV Corporation (NYSE:BKV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for BKV Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BKV and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Quantbot Technologies LP reduced its position in Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc. (NYSE:FBIN Free Report) by 98.1% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,107 shares of the companys stock after selling 258,082 shares during the quarter. Quantbot Technologies LPs holdings in Fortune Brands Innovations were worth $273,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd purchased a new stake in Fortune Brands Innovations during the second quarter valued at about $87,611,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its stake in shares of Fortune Brands Innovations by 147.8% during the third quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 2,691,827 shares of the companys stock valued at $143,717,000 after buying an additional 1,605,453 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of Fortune Brands Innovations in the second quarter worth about $78,395,000. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. purchased a new position in shares of Fortune Brands Innovations in the second quarter worth about $77,441,000. Finally, Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC bought a new stake in shares of Fortune Brands Innovations in the 2nd quarter valued at about $41,931,000. 87.60% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Fortune Brands Innovations alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on FBIN shares. Robert W. Baird set a $55.00 target price on Fortune Brands Innovations in a report on Friday, February 13th. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $61.00 price target on shares of Fortune Brands Innovations in a research note on Friday, February 13th. Wolfe Research set a $64.00 price objective on Fortune Brands Innovations in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Barclays lowered Fortune Brands Innovations from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $68.00 to $55.00 in a research note on Friday, February 13th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets decreased their target price on shares of Fortune Brands Innovations from $62.00 to $56.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, February 17th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, ten have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Fortune Brands Innovations currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $60.00. Fortune Brands Innovations Stock Down 0.6% NYSE FBIN opened at $45.32 on Wednesday. Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc. has a 1 year low of $43.71 and a 1 year high of $64.84. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.44 billion, a PE ratio of 18.35, a PEG ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 1.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.07, a current ratio of 1.84 and a quick ratio of 0.89. The businesss 50-day moving average is $55.51 and its 200 day moving average is $53.46. Fortune Brands Innovations (NYSE:FBIN Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The company reported $0.86 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.00 by ($0.14). Fortune Brands Innovations had a net margin of 6.70% and a return on equity of 18.54%. The business had revenue of $1.08 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.14 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.98 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. Fortune Brands Innovations has set its FY 2026 guidance at 3.350-3.650 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc. will post 4.24 earnings per share for the current year. Fortune Brands Innovations Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 11th. Investors of record on Friday, February 20th will be issued a dividend of $0.26 per share. This is a boost from Fortune Brands Innovationss previous quarterly dividend of $0.25. This represents a $1.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 20th. Fortune Brands Innovationss dividend payout ratio is currently 42.11%. About Fortune Brands Innovations (Free Report) Fortune Brands Innovations (NYSE: FBIN), formerly known as Fortune Brands Home & Security, is a global leader in water innovations, specializing in the design, manufacturing and marketing of plumbing fixtures, fittings and related products. Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, the company leverages two iconic brandsMoen and House of Rohlto deliver high-quality kitchen and bathroom solutions across residential and commercial markets. With a focus on performance, reliability and aesthetic design, FBINs portfolio spans faucets, showerheads, accessories and water filtration systems. The companys products are sold through a diversified network of retail partners, wholesale distributors and online channels across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Latin America. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FBIN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc. (NYSE:FBIN Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Fortune Brands Innovations Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fortune Brands Innovations and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Raiffeisen Bank International AG (OTCMKTS:RAIFY Get Free Report) was the target of a significant decline in short interest in the month of February. As of February 27th, there was short interest totaling 2,233 shares, a decline of 81.9% from the February 12th total of 12,310 shares. Currently, 0.0% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 6,805 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.3 days. Based on an average trading volume of 6,805 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.3 days. Currently, 0.0% of the shares of the company are sold short. Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, UBS Group raised shares of Raiffeisen Bank International from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 3rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Buy. Get Raiffeisen Bank International alerts: Check Out Our Latest Analysis on RAIFY Raiffeisen Bank International Trading Up 4.8% RAIFY stock opened at $11.37 on Wednesday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $11.86 and a 200-day moving average of $10.23. The firm has a market capitalization of $14.95 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.52 and a beta of 1.10. Raiffeisen Bank International has a 12 month low of $4.86 and a 12 month high of $13.73. Raiffeisen Bank International (OTCMKTS:RAIFY Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Monday, March 2nd. The financial services provider reported $0.37 earnings per share for the quarter. Raiffeisen Bank International had a net margin of 10.91% and a return on equity of 6.19%. The business had revenue of $2.63 billion for the quarter. About Raiffeisen Bank International (Get Free Report) Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI) is an Austrian banking group headquartered in Vienna, offering a diverse range of financial services. As a universal bank, RBI serves retail customers, small and medium-sized enterprises, and large corporates, with a particular focus on Central and Eastern Europe. The banks service portfolio encompasses everyday banking products, payment solutions, and digital services for individual clients, as well as cash management, trade finance, and structured lending for corporate and institutional customers. In addition to traditional banking, RBI provides investment banking and capital markets services, including underwriting, debt and equity issuance, and advisory services. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Raiffeisen Bank International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Raiffeisen Bank International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Richard Bernstein Advisors LLC trimmed its stake in NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE Free Report) by 51.2% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 18,311 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 19,216 shares during the quarter. Richard Bernstein Advisors LLCs holdings in NextEra Energy were worth $1,382,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Wedbush Securities Inc. increased its holdings in NextEra Energy by 24.8% during the third quarter. Wedbush Securities Inc. now owns 64,158 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $4,843,000 after buying an additional 12,738 shares during the last quarter. Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Co raised its stake in shares of NextEra Energy by 5.0% during the 3rd quarter. Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Co now owns 326,193 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $24,624,000 after purchasing an additional 15,600 shares during the period. National Pension Service increased its position in shares of NextEra Energy by 1.3% during the third quarter. National Pension Service now owns 4,845,447 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $365,783,000 after buying an additional 60,324 shares during the period. Synergy Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in NextEra Energy by 286.0% during the 3rd quarter. Synergy Asset Management LLC now owns 22,028 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,594,000 after acquiring an additional 16,322 shares during the period. Finally, Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd raised its position in shares of NextEra Energy by 61.8% in the third quarter. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd now owns 60,985 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $4,604,000 after buying an additional 23,288 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.72% of the companys stock. Get NextEra Energy alerts: Insider Activity at NextEra Energy In other NextEra Energy news, EVP Charles E. Sieving sold 30,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $90.00, for a total value of $2,700,000.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 167,481 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $15,073,290. This represents a 15.19% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Treasurer James Michael May sold 7,161 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $90.27, for a total transaction of $646,423.47. Following the sale, the treasurer owned 26,719 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,411,924.13. This trade represents a 21.14% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold a total of 185,882 shares of company stock valued at $16,616,757 over the last three months. 0.18% of the stock is owned by insiders. Key Headlines Impacting NextEra Energy NextEra Energy Trading Down 0.5% Here are the key news stories impacting NextEra Energy this week: NYSE NEE opened at $91.57 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $190.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.83 and a beta of 0.75. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $87.73 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $82.58. NextEra Energy, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $61.72 and a fifty-two week high of $95.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.35, a quick ratio of 0.49 and a current ratio of 0.60. NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 27th. The utilities provider reported $0.54 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.53 by $0.01. NextEra Energy had a net margin of 24.93% and a return on equity of 12.18%. The business had revenue of $6.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.07 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.53 earnings per share. NextEra Energys quarterly revenue was up 20.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts forecast that NextEra Energy, Inc. will post 3.68 earnings per share for the current year. NextEra Energy Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be paid a dividend of $0.6232 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 27th. This represents a $2.49 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.7%. This is a positive change from NextEra Energys previous quarterly dividend of $0.57. NextEra Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 75.68%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several research firms recently commented on NEE. BMO Capital Markets set a $95.00 target price on NextEra Energy in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. Mizuho set a $90.00 price target on NextEra Energy and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. HSBC lifted their price target on NextEra Energy from $96.00 to $103.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, February 23rd. Weiss Ratings cut shares of NextEra Energy from a buy (b-) rating to a hold (c+) rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 17th. Finally, BTIG Research reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $103.00 target price on shares of NextEra Energy in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $94.16. View Our Latest Report on NextEra Energy NextEra Energy Profile (Free Report) NextEra Energy, Inc (NYSE: NEE), headquartered in Juno Beach, Florida, is a leading clean energy company with both regulated utility operations and competitive renewable generation businesses. The companys principal operating subsidiaries include Florida Power & Light Company (FPL), a regulated electric utility serving customers in Florida, and NextEra Energy Resources, which develops, constructs, owns and operates a large portfolio of wind, solar and energy storage projects. Together these businesses provide electricity supply, transmission and distribution services as well as utility-scale renewable generation and related services. NextEras activities cover the full lifecycle of power assets, from project development and construction to operation, maintenance and asset optimization. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NEE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for NextEra Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NextEra Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Richard Bernstein Advisors LLC reduced its position in shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Free Report) by 55.7% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 52,169 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 65,636 shares during the quarter. Richard Bernstein Advisors LLCs holdings in Pfizer were worth $1,329,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Grey Fox Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in Pfizer in the third quarter worth about $29,000. Howard Hughes Medical Institute purchased a new stake in Pfizer in the second quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Darwin Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Pfizer in the second quarter worth about $32,000. Evelyn Partners Asset Management Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Pfizer in the second quarter worth about $33,000. Finally, True Wealth Design LLC boosted its position in Pfizer by 302.5% during the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 1,296 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 974 shares in the last quarter. 68.36% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Pfizer alerts: Pfizer Stock Performance Shares of Pfizer stock opened at $27.12 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $154.22 billion, a PE ratio of 19.94 and a beta of 0.47. The company has a quick ratio of 0.87, a current ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. Pfizer Inc. has a 52 week low of $20.92 and a 52 week high of $27.94. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $26.38 and its 200-day simple moving average is $25.49. Pfizer Dividend Announcement Pfizer ( NYSE:PFE Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 3rd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.66 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.57 by $0.09. The firm had revenue of $17.56 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.93 billion. Pfizer had a return on equity of 20.48% and a net margin of 12.42%.The companys quarterly revenue was down 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.63 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.95 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 6th. Investors of record on Friday, January 23rd were issued a $0.43 dividend. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.3%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 23rd. Pfizers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 126.47%. Trending Headlines about Pfizer Here are the key news stories impacting Pfizer this week: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on PFE. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on Pfizer from $32.00 to $28.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, December 12th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c-) rating on shares of Pfizer in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. Bank of America decreased their target price on shares of Pfizer from $29.00 to $28.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, December 15th. UBS Group started coverage on Pfizer in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. They issued a neutral rating and a $25.00 price target for the company. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada assumed coverage on Pfizer in a research report on Tuesday, February 24th. They set an underperform rating and a $25.00 price objective on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have issued a Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $28.05. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on PFE Pfizer Company Profile (Free Report) Pfizer Inc (NYSE: PFE) is a multinational biopharmaceutical company headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1849 by Charles Pfizer and Charles Erhart, the company researches, develops, manufactures and commercializes a broad range of medicines and vaccines for human health. Its activities span discovery research, clinical development, regulatory affairs, manufacturing and global commercial distribution across multiple therapeutic areas. Pfizers portfolio and pipeline cover oncology, immunology, cardiology, endocrinology, rare diseases, hospital acute care and anti-infectives, along with a substantial vaccine business. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PFE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Pfizer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pfizer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. SageView Advisory Group LLC boosted its position in shares of Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM Free Report) by 46.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 67,042 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after acquiring an additional 21,161 shares during the period. SageView Advisory Group LLCs holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $7,559,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System increased its holdings in shares of Exxon Mobil by 2.6% during the third quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System now owns 215,892 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $24,342,000 after buying an additional 5,573 shares in the last quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Exxon Mobil by 3.3% in the third quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 306,658 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $34,576,000 after buying an additional 9,831 shares in the last quarter. Capital Counsel LLC NY raised its holdings in shares of Exxon Mobil by 0.9% in the second quarter. Capital Counsel LLC NY now owns 49,687 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $5,356,000 after buying an additional 460 shares during the last quarter. HORAN Wealth LLC raised its holdings in shares of 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 during the last quarter. Finally, New Age Alpha Advisors LLC lifted its position in 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 worth $18,778,000 after buying an additional 8,853 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 61.80% of the companys stock. Get Exxon Mobil alerts: Key Exxon Mobil News Here are the key news stories impacting Exxon Mobil this week: Insider Buying and Selling Wall Street Analyst Weigh In 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 stock was sold at an average price of $157.82, for a total transaction of $339,313.00. Following the transaction, the vice president owned 18,204 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,872,955.28. This trade represents a 10.56% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website . Insiders sold a total of 16,380 shares of company stock valued at $2,227,734 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.03% of the companys stock. XOM has been the subject of several research reports. Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Exxon Mobil from $140.00 to $145.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Citigroup raised their price target on shares of Exxon Mobil from $118.00 to $150.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Monday, March 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price objective on shares of Exxon Mobil from $146.00 to $148.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their price objective on Exxon Mobil from $145.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, Bank of America lifted their target price on Exxon Mobil from $135.00 to $151.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, March 2nd. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $143.41. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Exxon Mobil Exxon Mobil Trading Down 1.6% Shares of NYSE XOM opened at $148.08 on Wednesday. Exxon Mobil Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $97.80 and a fifty-two week high of $159.60. The firm has a market capitalization of $617.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.13, a P/E/G ratio of 1.23 and a beta of 0.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a current ratio of 1.15 and a quick ratio of 0.79. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $140.03 and its 200 day simple moving average is $123.88. Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Friday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $1.71 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.63 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $80.04 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $77.98 billion. Exxon Mobil had a net margin of 8.68% and a return on equity of 11.21%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 1.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.67 EPS. On average, analysts predict that Exxon Mobil Corporation will post 7.43 EPS for the current year. Exxon Mobil Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 12th were issued a $1.03 dividend. This represents a $4.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.8%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 12th. Exxon Mobils dividend payout ratio is currently 61.58%. Exxon Mobil Profile (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. Featured Stories 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. Schroder Investment Management Group cut its stake in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP Free Report) by 1.8% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 256,487 shares of the railroad operators stock after selling 4,771 shares during the period. Schroder Investment Management Groups holdings in Union Pacific were worth $60,626,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Caitlin John LLC bought a new position in Union Pacific in the 3rd quarter worth about $27,000. Howard Hughes Medical Institute bought a new stake in Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter valued at about $30,000. Total Investment Management Inc. bought a new stake in Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter valued at about $31,000. Financial Gravity Companies Inc. purchased a new position in Union Pacific in the second quarter worth about $31,000. Finally, Sagard Holdings Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the second quarter worth approximately $33,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the companys stock. Get Union Pacific alerts: Union Pacific Stock Performance UNP stock opened at $250.16 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.75. Union Pacific Corporation has a 1 year low of $204.66 and a 1 year high of $268.14. The company has a market cap of $148.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.90, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.77 and a beta of 0.95. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $245.61 and its 200-day moving average price is $233.41. Union Pacific Dividend Announcement Union Pacific ( NYSE:UNP Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 27th. The railroad operator reported $2.86 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.92 by ($0.06). Union Pacific had a net margin of 29.12% and a return on equity of 40.89%. The firm had revenue of $6.09 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.15 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.91 EPS. The firms revenue was down .6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be issued a dividend of $1.38 per share. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 27th. Union Pacifics dividend payout ratio is currently 46.12%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Robert W. Baird set a $311.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $280.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Thursday, December 18th. Susquehanna reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Monday, January 19th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a neutral rating and set a $267.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Tuesday, January 27th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $245.00 target price on Union Pacific in a report on Thursday, December 11th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Union Pacific currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $263.77. Check Out Our Latest Report on UNP About Union Pacific (Free Report) Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) is one of the largest freight railroad companies in the United States. Its principal operating subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad, has roots that trace back to the Pacific Railway Act of 1862 and the construction of the first transcontinental rail link completed in 1869. The company is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, and operates as a holding company for rail transportation and related services. Union Pacifics core business is the movement of freight by rail across an extensive rail network serving the western twothirds of the United States. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding UNP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Union Pacific Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Union Pacific and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. John Hancock Corporate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:JHCB Get Free Report) saw a significant decline in short interest in February. As of February 27th, there was short interest totaling 8,600 shares, a decline of 69.2% from the February 12th total of 27,910 shares. Currently, 0.2% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 44,017 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.2 days. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 44,017 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.2 days. Currently, 0.2% of the shares of the stock are short sold. John Hancock Corporate Bond ETF Stock Performance Shares of JHCB traded down $0.13 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $21.37. 1,199 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 22,379. The firms fifty day moving average is $21.60 and its 200-day moving average is $21.69. John Hancock Corporate Bond ETF has a 1 year low of $20.38 and a 1 year high of $22.03. Get John Hancock Corporate Bond ETF alerts: John Hancock Corporate Bond ETF Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a monthly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 27th. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 25th were given a $0.057 dividend. This is a positive change from John Hancock Corporate Bond ETFs previous monthly dividend of $0.06. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 25th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.2%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows About John Hancock Corporate Bond ETF Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in JHCB. Cetera Investment Advisers increased its holdings in shares of John Hancock Corporate Bond ETF by 1,510.6% during the 4th quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 1,089,136 shares of the companys stock worth $23,427,000 after buying an additional 1,021,511 shares during the last quarter. Legacy CG LLC bought a new stake in shares of John Hancock Corporate Bond ETF in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $8,709,000. Granite Bay Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of John Hancock Corporate Bond ETF by 12.8% in the 3rd quarter. Granite Bay Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,512,592 shares of the companys stock valued at $32,853,000 after purchasing an additional 171,565 shares during the period. LPL Financial LLC increased its position in John Hancock Corporate Bond ETF by 54.3% in the 4th quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 188,352 shares of the companys stock worth $4,051,000 after buying an additional 66,304 shares during the period. Finally, Jane Street Group LLC increased its stake in John Hancock Corporate Bond ETF by 326.4% in the first quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 65,185 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,384,000 after acquiring an additional 49,899 shares during the period. (Get Free Report) The John Hancock Corporate Bond ETF (JHCB) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Bloomberg U.S. Corporate Bond index. The fund is actively managed to focus on investment-grade corporate bonds, of any maturity, that are perceived as undervalued. JHCB was launched on Mar 30, 2021 and is managed by John Hancock. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for John Hancock Corporate Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for John Hancock Corporate Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Swiss National Bank reduced its position in shares of Ingersoll Rand Inc. (NYSE:IR Free Report) by 4.7% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 1,162,980 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 57,200 shares during the quarter. Swiss National Banks holdings in Ingersoll Rand were worth $96,085,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Nordea Investment Management AB boosted its position in Ingersoll Rand by 12.3% during the 3rd quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 2,018,638 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $165,811,000 after acquiring an additional 220,815 shares in the last quarter. National Pension Service boosted its position in shares of Ingersoll Rand by 2.7% during the third quarter. National Pension Service now owns 617,981 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $51,058,000 after purchasing an additional 16,084 shares in the last quarter. United Super Pty Ltd in its capacity as Trustee for the Construction & Building Unions Superannuation Fund purchased a new stake in Ingersoll Rand in the second quarter worth $8,375,000. Fisher Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in Ingersoll Rand by 0.6% in the second quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 6,913,924 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $575,100,000 after purchasing an additional 38,999 shares in the last quarter. Finally, BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S boosted its holdings in shares of Ingersoll Rand by 79.0% during the 3rd quarter. BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S now owns 28,411 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $2,347,000 after buying an additional 12,539 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 95.27% of the companys stock. Get Ingersoll Rand alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research analysts recently issued reports on IR shares. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of Ingersoll Rand in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on Ingersoll Rand from $92.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 17th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on Ingersoll Rand from $87.00 to $101.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 17th. Robert W. Baird set a $115.00 price target on Ingersoll Rand in a report on Tuesday, February 17th. Finally, Barclays upped their price target on shares of Ingersoll Rand from $91.00 to $111.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 17th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $101.86. Insider Transactions at Ingersoll Rand In related news, insider Vicente Reynal sold 191,000 shares of Ingersoll Rand stock in a transaction on Friday, January 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $88.12, for a total value of $16,830,920.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 193,186 shares of the companys stock, valued at $17,023,550.32. The trade was a 49.72% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CFO Vikram Kini sold 28,367 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, February 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $96.50, for a total value of $2,737,415.50. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 98,517 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,506,890.50. This trade represents a 22.36% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 584,771 shares of company stock worth $54,976,547. Company insiders own 0.68% of the companys stock. Ingersoll Rand Price Performance NYSE IR opened at $86.49 on Wednesday. Ingersoll Rand Inc. has a one year low of $65.61 and a one year high of $100.96. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $90.08 and a 200 day moving average of $83.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a quick ratio of 1.49 and a current ratio of 2.06. The company has a market capitalization of $33.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 59.65, a PEG ratio of 5.35 and a beta of 1.29. Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The industrial products company reported $0.96 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.90 by $0.06. Ingersoll Rand had a net margin of 7.60% and a return on equity of 12.62%. The firm had revenue of $2.09 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.04 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.84 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Ingersoll Rand has set its FY 2026 guidance at 3.450-3.570 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Ingersoll Rand Inc. will post 3.32 EPS for the current year. Ingersoll Rand Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 26th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 4th will be issued a dividend of $0.02 per share. This represents a $0.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 4th. Ingersoll Rands dividend payout ratio is presently 5.52%. Ingersoll Rand Profile (Free Report) Ingersoll Rand is a diversified industrial company that designs, manufactures and services a wide range of equipment and technologies for commercial, industrial and OEM customers. Its product portfolio includes air compressors and compressed air systems, pneumatic and cordless power tools, material handling and lifting equipment, fluid transfer and pumping solutions, and associated aftermarket parts and service offerings. The companys products support applications across manufacturing, construction, transportation, oil and gas, mining and general industrial markets. Ingersoll Rand sells through a combination of direct sales, distributor networks and service channels, delivering both capital equipment and recurring aftermarket revenue from parts, maintenance and service contracts. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Ingersoll Rand Inc. (NYSE:IR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Ingersoll Rand Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ingersoll Rand and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kohls (NYSE:KSS Get Free Report) had its price objective dropped by research analysts at TD Cowen from $23.00 to $17.00 in a report issued on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a hold rating on the stock. TD Cowens price objective suggests a potential upside of 21.03% from the companys previous close. Several other research analysts have also recently commented on the company. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c-) rating on shares of Kohls in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Robert W. Baird lowered their price objective on Kohls from $24.00 to $20.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday. Telsey Advisory Group dropped their price objective on Kohls from $23.00 to $17.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on Kohls in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. They issued a hold rating and a $22.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Gordon Haskett upgraded Kohls from an accumulate rating to a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 25th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and six have assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Reduce and a consensus target price of $14.92. Get Kohl's alerts: View Our Latest Stock Report on KSS Kohls Stock Down 3.7% KSS traded down $0.53 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $14.05. 1,701,961 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,162,588. Kohls has a fifty-two week low of $6.04 and a fifty-two week high of $25.22. The company has a market cap of $1.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.16 and a beta of 1.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.99, a current ratio of 1.30 and a quick ratio of 0.12. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $18.32 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $18.12. Kohls (NYSE:KSS Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, March 10th. The company reported $1.07 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.86 by $0.21. The firm had revenue of $5.17 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.08 billion. Kohls had a net margin of 1.23% and a return on equity of 4.30%. The firms revenue was down 3.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.95 EPS. Kohls has set its FY 2026 guidance at 1.000-1.600 EPS. As a group, analysts forecast that Kohls will post 1.3 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Institutional Trading of Kohls Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of KSS. Baird Financial Group Inc. acquired a new position in Kohls in the first quarter valued at approximately $96,000. Caxton Associates LLP bought a new stake in shares of Kohls in the 1st quarter worth approximately $166,000. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Kohls by 14.2% in the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 489,708 shares of the companys stock worth $4,006,000 after purchasing an additional 60,769 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in Kohls during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $120,000. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can boosted its position in Kohls by 14.3% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 25,110 shares of the companys stock valued at $213,000 after purchasing an additional 3,136 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 98.04% of the companys stock. Trending Headlines about Kohls Here are the key news stories impacting Kohls this week: Positive Sentiment: Q4 earnings beat Kohls reported EPS of $1.07 vs. consensus ~$0.86, surprising the market and supporting improved quarterly profitability. Earnings Call Transcript Q4 earnings beat Kohls reported EPS of $1.07 vs. consensus ~$0.86, surprising the market and supporting improved quarterly profitability. Positive Sentiment: Profit and margin progress Management highlighted profit gains and margin improvement despite revenue decline, which underpins the case that cost/mix actions are helping near-term earnings. Earnings Call Takeaways Profit and margin progress Management highlighted profit gains and margin improvement despite revenue decline, which underpins the case that cost/mix actions are helping near-term earnings. Positive Sentiment: Strategy: expanding private brands and value focus Management reiterated plans to grow proprietary brands and emphasize value, which could help margin stability and differentiation over time. Strategy & Guidance Strategy: expanding private brands and value focus Management reiterated plans to grow proprietary brands and emphasize value, which could help margin stability and differentiation over time. Neutral Sentiment: Revenue outlook mixed management gave a revenue range for FY that roughly brackets estimates, leaving top-line visibility limited while margins and mix drive the near-term story. Reuters: Sales Forecast Revenue outlook mixed management gave a revenue range for FY that roughly brackets estimates, leaving top-line visibility limited while margins and mix drive the near-term story. Negative Sentiment: Sales weakness / comps decline Q4 revenue fell ~3.9% year-over-year and comparable-store sales disappointed, reinforcing concerns about traffic and market-share loss among budget-conscious shoppers. Earnings Summary Sales weakness / comps decline Q4 revenue fell ~3.9% year-over-year and comparable-store sales disappointed, reinforcing concerns about traffic and market-share loss among budget-conscious shoppers. Negative Sentiment: FY 2026 guidance below expectations Kohls set FY EPS guidance of $1.00$1.60, below consensus (~$1.82), which tempers the upside from the quarters beat and is a key reason for negative investor reaction. Guidance Detail FY 2026 guidance below expectations Kohls set FY EPS guidance of $1.00$1.60, below consensus (~$1.82), which tempers the upside from the quarters beat and is a key reason for negative investor reaction. Negative Sentiment: Management warns of cautious shoppers The CFO said core customers are being choiceful, signaling sustained consumer pressure that could prolong sales weakness. CFO Comments Management warns of cautious shoppers The CFO said core customers are being choiceful, signaling sustained consumer pressure that could prolong sales weakness. Negative Sentiment: Analyst downgrades and target cuts Several firms cut targets/ratings (JPMorgan, Telsey, Baird) and some sell-side notes call the post-earnings bounce a relief rally, increasing downside risk from multiple skeptical analysts. Analyst Coverage Changes Baird Note About Kohls (Get Free Report) Kohls Corporation, founded in 1962 by Maxwell Kohl and headquartered in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, is a leading American department store retailer. The company operates approximately 1,100 stores across 49 states, offering a combination of value-oriented pricing, private-label brands and national labels. Since its initial public offering in 1992, Kohls has focused on broadening its product assortment and enhancing the in-store and online shopping experience. The retailers merchandise portfolio spans apparel, footwear, accessories, and beauty products for women, men and children, as well as home goods, kitchenware and seasonal decor. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Kohl's Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kohl's and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Venture Global, Inc. (NYSE:VG Get Free Report) insider Thomas Earl sold 1,000,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $11.83, for a total transaction of $11,830,000.00. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Venture Global Price Performance VG stock opened at $11.39 on Wednesday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $9.23 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $9.65. The stock has a market cap of $27.89 billion, a PE ratio of 13.25 and a beta of 5.70. Venture Global, Inc. has a one year low of $5.72 and a one year high of $19.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.24, a current ratio of 0.93 and a quick ratio of 0.87. Get Venture Global alerts: Venture Global (NYSE:VG Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, March 2nd. The company reported $0.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.35 by $0.06. Venture Global had a net margin of 18.38% and a return on equity of 27.96%. The company had revenue of $4.45 billion during the quarter. The firms quarterly revenue was up 191.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts predict that Venture Global, Inc. will post 0.52 EPS for the current fiscal year. Venture Global Increases Dividend Venture Global News Summary The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 16th will be given a dividend of $0.018 per share. This is a boost from Venture Globals previous quarterly dividend of $0.02. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 16th. This represents a $0.07 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.6%. Venture Globals dividend payout ratio is currently 8.14%. Here are the key news stories impacting Venture Global this week: Positive Sentiment: Company assurance on deliveries: Venture Global told customers its Plaquemines Phase 1 export plant will deliver contracted LNG on schedule and at agreed prices, reducing shortterm delivery and contractprice risk amid geopolitical uncertainty. Venture Global pledges on-time LNG deliveries Company assurance on deliveries: Venture Global told customers its Plaquemines Phase 1 export plant will deliver contracted LNG on schedule and at agreed prices, reducing shortterm delivery and contractprice risk amid geopolitical uncertainty. Positive Sentiment: Operational results: the company beat EPS estimates for the quarter (reported March 2) and posted strong revenue growth yearoveryear, reinforcing nearterm earnings momentum and analyst forecasts. Operational results: the company beat EPS estimates for the quarter (reported March 2) and posted strong revenue growth yearoveryear, reinforcing nearterm earnings momentum and analyst forecasts. Positive Sentiment: Options/flow signal: unusual activity ~23,032 call options bought (+17% vs. normal), signaling shortterm speculative/positioning interest to the upside and higher trading focus on VG shares. Options/flow signal: unusual activity ~23,032 call options bought (+17% vs. normal), signaling shortterm speculative/positioning interest to the upside and higher trading focus on VG shares. Neutral Sentiment: Dividend and corporate items: a small quarterly cash dividend was declared (record/exdividend dates in March) a modest cash return that may influence shortterm flows around the exdate but is unlikely to materially change fundamentals. Dividend and corporate items: a small quarterly cash dividend was declared (record/exdividend dates in March) a modest cash return that may influence shortterm flows around the exdate but is unlikely to materially change fundamentals. Neutral Sentiment: Analyst stance: mixed ratings and price targets (consensus around ~$12.90) some upgrades/target raises but also underweight/hold views, leaving street sentiment balanced overall. Analyst stance: mixed ratings and price targets (consensus around ~$12.90) some upgrades/target raises but also underweight/hold views, leaving street sentiment balanced overall. Negative Sentiment: Large insider selling Thomas Earl sold 1,000,000 shares at about $11.83 on March 9 ($11.8M), a sizeable block that can increase selling pressure and weigh on intraday liquidity. Thomas Earl SEC filing Large insider selling Thomas Earl sold 1,000,000 shares at about $11.83 on March 9 ($11.8M), a sizeable block that can increase selling pressure and weigh on intraday liquidity. Negative Sentiment: Additional insider sales CAO Sarah Blake sold large tranches recently (300,000 shares at ~ $11.85 on March 5 and a separate sale of 30,700 shares), which adds to market concern about insider liquidity needs or portfolio rebalancing. Sarah Blake SEC filing Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of brokerages have commented on VG. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of Venture Global from $8.00 to $10.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday, March 5th. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $11.00 price objective on shares of Venture Global in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Scotiabank set a $9.00 target price on shares of Venture Global in a report on Friday, January 16th. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Venture Global from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Finally, Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on shares of Venture Global in a research report on Tuesday, February 24th. They set an underweight rating and a $8.00 price target for the company. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $12.90. Read Our Latest Stock Report on VG Institutional Inflows and Outflows Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Royal Bank of Canada purchased a new stake in Venture Global during the 1st quarter valued at $2,150,000. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC bought a new stake in Venture Global in the 1st quarter worth $152,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Venture Global in the first quarter valued at about $460,000. Prospera Financial Services Inc bought a new position in shares of Venture Global during the second quarter valued at about $419,000. Finally, Allworth Financial LP bought a new position in shares of Venture Global during the second quarter valued at about $63,000. Venture Global Company Profile (Get Free Report) Venture Global (NYSE: VG) is a Houston-based energy company that develops, constructs and operates large-scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facilities in the United States. The company focuses on converting domestically produced natural gas into LNG for shipment to international markets, positioning itself as a supplier of pipeline-quality gas in vessel-ready form for global customers. Venture Globals core activities include site development, engineering and construction of liquefaction and export terminals, commissioning and ongoing operations of those facilities, and commercial marketing of LNG under both long-term and short-term contracts. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Venture Global Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Venture Global and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Trex Company, Inc. (NYSE:TREX Get Free Report) has earned an average recommendation of Hold from the twenty-three ratings firms that are covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1 year target price among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $47.7250. A number of equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. Barclays upped their price target on shares of Trex from $32.00 to $39.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a report on Wednesday, February 25th. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Trex from a hold rating to a buy rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $39.00 to $42.00 in a research report on Monday, December 15th. Robert W. Baird set a $48.00 price objective on shares of Trex in a research note on Monday, January 12th. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Trex from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Finally, Wolfe Research raised Trex from a peer perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $47.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Get Trex alerts: Get Our Latest Research Report on Trex Institutional Investors Weigh In On Trex Trex Price Performance A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in TREX. AQR Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Trex by 3.2% in the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 5,642 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $320,000 after acquiring an additional 177 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised its holdings in Trex by 91.3% in the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 822,772 shares of the construction companys stock worth $47,803,000 after purchasing an additional 392,715 shares in the last quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas raised its holdings in Trex by 3.9% in the 2nd quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas now owns 16,294 shares of the construction companys stock worth $886,000 after purchasing an additional 615 shares in the last quarter. State of Michigan Retirement System lifted its position in shares of Trex by 0.8% in the 2nd quarter. State of Michigan Retirement System now owns 25,822 shares of the construction companys stock worth $1,404,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the period. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can lifted its position in shares of Trex by 331.5% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 66,733 shares of the construction companys stock worth $3,629,000 after purchasing an additional 51,269 shares during the period. 95.96% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. TREX opened at $37.21 on Friday. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $41.15 and its 200 day simple moving average is $44.01. The firm has a market cap of $3.93 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.02, a PEG ratio of 8.58 and a beta of 1.58. Trex has a 1 year low of $29.77 and a 1 year high of $68.78. Trex (NYSE:TREX Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 24th. The construction company reported $0.04 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.01) by $0.05. Trex had a return on equity of 20.29% and a net margin of 16.22%.The firm had revenue of $161.13 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $144.39 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.09 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was down 3.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Trex will post 2.04 EPS for the current year. About Trex (Get Free Report) Trex Company, Inc is a leading manufacturer of wood-alternative decking and railing systems designed for residential and commercial outdoor living environments. The companys core offerings feature composite decking products made from a proprietary blend of recycled wood fibers and plastic film, which deliver enhanced durability, resistance to rot and insect damage, and low maintenance compared to traditional wood. Trex also provides matching railing, lighting, fencing and cladding solutions that allow customers to create cohesive, high-performance outdoor spaces. Trexs product portfolio is organized into multiple performance tiers, including premium, mid-range and value-oriented lines. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Trex Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Trex and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Telefonica Brasil (NYSE:VIV Get Free Report) was downgraded by stock analysts at UBS Group from a buy rating to a sell rating in a note issued to investors on Wednesday,Finviz reports. A number of other equities analysts also recently issued reports on the stock. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Telefonica Brasil from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Sunday, January 11th. Zacks Research raised shares of Telefonica Brasil from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday, February 9th. Weiss Ratings upgraded Telefonica Brasil from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a report on Wednesday, February 25th. Finally, Bank of America initiated coverage on Telefonica Brasil in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. They set an underperform rating and a $14.00 target price on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have given a Buy rating, two have assigned a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $13.12. Get Telefonica Brasil alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on VIV Telefonica Brasil Stock Up 1.2% NYSE:VIV opened at $16.29 on Wednesday. Telefonica Brasil has a 1-year low of $8.19 and a 1-year high of $16.95. The company has a 50-day moving average of $14.39 and a 200 day moving average of $13.13. The firm has a market cap of $26.49 billion, a PE ratio of 23.26, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.72 and a beta of 0.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a current ratio of 1.00 and a quick ratio of 0.94. Telefonica Brasil (NYSE:VIV Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Monday, February 23rd. The Wireless communications provider reported $0.22 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.17 by $0.05. Telefonica Brasil had a net margin of 10.42% and a return on equity of 9.15%. The company had revenue of $2.83 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.88 billion. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Telefonica Brasil will post 0.6 EPS for the current fiscal year. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of VIV. Royal Bank of Canada lifted its position in Telefonica Brasil by 30.3% during the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 431,051 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock valued at $3,758,000 after acquiring an additional 100,315 shares during the last quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Telefonica Brasil during the first quarter worth $52,000. Rhumbline Advisers increased its position in shares of Telefonica Brasil by 337.7% during the first quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 4,233 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 3,266 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can lifted its holdings in shares of Telefonica Brasil by 5.3% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 54,966 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock valued at $627,000 after purchasing an additional 2,790 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Savant Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Telefonica Brasil during the 2nd quarter valued at $194,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 5.16% of the companys stock. Telefonica Brasil Company Profile (Get Free Report) Telefonica Brasil SA, commonly marketed under the Vivo brand, is one of Brazils largest telecommunications providers, offering a broad range of consumer and enterprise communications services. The companys core activities include mobile voice and data services, fixed-line telephony, broadband internet (including fiber-to-the-home), and pay-TV solutions. It also provides ICT and managed services for business customers, such as cloud, data center, connectivity, Internet of Things (IoT) and security solutions. Vivo operates a nationwide network across Brazil and serves both individual consumers and corporate clients. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Telefonica Brasil Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Telefonica Brasil and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Vinva Investment Management Ltd lowered its stake in shares of United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI Free Report) by 78.7% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 930 shares of the construction companys stock after selling 3,446 shares during the quarter. Vinva Investment Management Ltds holdings in United Rentals were worth $878,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in URI. Parallel Advisors LLC lifted its position in United Rentals by 1.9% during the 3rd quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 1,465 shares of the construction companys stock worth $1,399,000 after acquiring an additional 28 shares during the period. Natixis Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of United Rentals by 5.4% in the third quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 163,334 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $155,929,000 after purchasing an additional 8,333 shares during the period. Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLC raised its stake in shares of United Rentals by 3.1% during the third quarter. Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLC now owns 825 shares of the construction companys stock worth $788,000 after purchasing an additional 25 shares during the last quarter. Munich Reinsurance Co Stock Corp in Munich purchased a new stake in shares of United Rentals during the third quarter worth approximately $124,000. Finally, Blair William & Co. IL lifted its holdings in shares of United Rentals by 3.7% during the third quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 7,236 shares of the construction companys stock worth $6,908,000 after purchasing an additional 261 shares during the period. 96.26% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get United Rentals alerts: United Rentals Stock Down 5.6% URI stock opened at $774.86 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $48.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.03, a P/E/G ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 1.66. United Rentals, Inc. has a 52 week low of $525.91 and a 52 week high of $1,021.47. The companys 50-day moving average price is $871.98 and its 200 day moving average price is $884.59. The company has a current ratio of 0.94, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.41. United Rentals Increases Dividend United Rentals ( NYSE:URI Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, January 28th. The construction company reported $11.09 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $11.86 by ($0.77). United Rentals had a net margin of 15.49% and a return on equity of 30.35%. The company had revenue of $4.21 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.24 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $11.59 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 2.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts expect that United Rentals, Inc. will post 44.8 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 25th. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 11th were paid a $1.97 dividend. This represents a $7.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 11th. This is an increase from United Rentalss previous quarterly dividend of $1.79. United Rentalss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 20.37%. United Rentals announced that its Board of Directors has approved a share buyback plan on Wednesday, January 28th that allows the company to repurchase $5.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization allows the construction company to repurchase up to 8.7% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are often an indication that the companys management believes its shares are undervalued. Insider Buying and Selling at United Rentals In related news, EVP Michael D. Durand sold 2,490 shares of United Rentals stock in a transaction on Monday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $791.14, for a total transaction of $1,969,938.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 7,458 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,900,322.12. The trade was a 25.03% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP William E. Grace sold 1,498 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $790.89, for a total value of $1,184,753.22. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 6,872 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,434,996.08. The trade was a 17.90% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders own 0.51% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several brokerages have issued reports on URI. KeyCorp set a $950.00 price objective on shares of United Rentals in a research note on Friday, January 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on shares of United Rentals from $1,150.00 to $970.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of United Rentals from $995.00 to $1,071.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, January 23rd. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c+) rating on shares of United Rentals in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Finally, UBS Group upgraded shares of United Rentals from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $1,025.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Sunday, January 4th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, United Rentals currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $925.59. Read Our Latest Stock Report on United Rentals United Rentals Profile (Free Report) United Rentals, Inc (NYSE: URI) is a leading equipment rental company headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut. The firm provides rental solutions and related services to construction, industrial, commercial, and municipal customers. Its business model centers on providing access to a broad fleet of equipment on a short-term or long-term basis, enabling customers to avoid the capital expenditure of ownership and to scale equipment use to match project needs. The companys product and service offerings span general construction equipment and a range of specialty categories, including aerial work platforms, earthmoving and excavation machines, material handling equipment, pumps, power and HVAC systems, trench and shoring solutions, and tools. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for United Rentals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for United Rentals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Utz Brands, Inc. (NYSE:UTZ Get Free Report) shares fell 4.8% on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $7.45 and last traded at $7.5050. 442,054 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 74% from the average session volume of 1,728,111 shares. The stock had previously closed at $7.88. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research firms recently commented on UTZ. DA Davidson set a $15.00 target price on Utz Brands in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Piper Sandler dropped their price objective on Utz Brands from $15.00 to $13.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. Barclays cut their target price on Utz Brands from $13.00 to $12.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 13th. UBS Group set a $10.00 price target on shares of Utz Brands in a research note on Friday, February 13th. Finally, Zacks Research downgraded shares of Utz Brands from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Utz Brands has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $12.86. Get Utz Brands alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on UTZ Utz Brands Stock Performance The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $9.88 and a 200-day simple moving average of $10.87. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 1.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62. The company has a market cap of $1.09 billion, a PE ratio of 760.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.02 and a beta of 0.93. Utz Brands (NYSE:UTZ Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The company reported $0.26 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.26. The business had revenue of $342.20 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $346.99 million. Utz Brands had a return on equity of 8.57% and a net margin of 0.06%.The businesss quarterly revenue was up .4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.22 EPS. Utz Brands has set its FY 2026 guidance at 0.771-0.795 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that Utz Brands, Inc. will post 0.85 EPS for the current fiscal year. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Utz Brands Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. NewEdge Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Utz Brands during the second quarter worth approximately $25,000. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd raised its position in Utz Brands by 194.8% in the 3rd quarter. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd now owns 2,618 shares of the companys stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 1,730 shares during the last quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC boosted its stake in Utz Brands by 431.5% during the 4th quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 3,343 shares of the companys stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 2,714 shares during the period. Osaic Holdings Inc. boosted its stake in Utz Brands by 76.1% during the 2nd quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 3,756 shares of the companys stock worth $47,000 after purchasing an additional 1,623 shares during the period. Finally, Farther Finance Advisors LLC grew its position in Utz Brands by 118.5% during the 4th quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 4,356 shares of the companys stock worth $45,000 after purchasing an additional 2,362 shares during the last quarter. 95.97% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Utz Brands (Get Free Report) Utz Brands, Inc is a leading U.S. manufacturer and distributor of salty snack foods, offering a wide range of products including potato chips, pretzels, cheese snacks, popcorn and tortilla chips. Headquartered in Hanover, Pennsylvania, the company markets its snacks under several well-known brands and serves grocery, mass merchandise, club, convenience and online retailers throughout the United States. Founded in 1921 by Bill and Salie Utz as a small country store operation, the business expanded gradually through direct delivery to local customers and sales to regional grocers. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Utz Brands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Utz Brands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Vestcor Inc grew its stake in shares of Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE:TSN Free Report) by 160.1% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 48,369 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 29,776 shares during the period. Vestcor Incs holdings in Tyson Foods were worth $2,626,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans raised its stake in Tyson Foods by 55.3% in the second quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 58,694 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,273,000 after purchasing an additional 20,888 shares in the last quarter. Markel Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Tyson Foods by 4.0% during the third quarter. Markel Group Inc. now owns 848,500 shares of the companys stock worth $46,074,000 after acquiring an additional 32,500 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its stake in shares of Tyson Foods by 73.4% in the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,879,219 shares of the companys stock valued at $102,042,000 after purchasing an additional 795,710 shares in the last quarter. Liberty One Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Tyson Foods by 32.1% during the 3rd quarter. Liberty One Investment Management LLC now owns 113,798 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,179,000 after purchasing an additional 27,627 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Polaris Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Tyson Foods by 20.4% in the third quarter. Polaris Capital Management LLC now owns 543,248 shares of the companys stock worth $29,498,000 after purchasing an additional 91,900 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 67.00% of the companys stock. Get Tyson Foods alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In TSN has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. BMO Capital Markets raised their price objective on Tyson Foods from $67.00 to $73.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 3rd. Argus raised Tyson Foods to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, February 6th. Sanford C. Bernstein reissued a market perform rating and set a $69.00 price objective on shares of Tyson Foods in a research note on Tuesday, February 3rd. Piper Sandler lifted their target price on shares of Tyson Foods from $58.00 to $61.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, December 12th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c-) rating on shares of Tyson Foods in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $64.27. Tyson Foods Stock Performance TSN opened at $60.26 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.53, a quick ratio of 0.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41. The company has a market cap of $21.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 107.61, a PEG ratio of 1.35 and a beta of 0.47. Tyson Foods, Inc. has a 12-month low of $50.56 and a 12-month high of $66.41. The companys 50 day moving average is $62.16 and its 200 day moving average is $57.57. Tyson Foods (NYSE:TSN Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 2nd. The company reported $0.97 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.01 by ($0.04). The firm had revenue of $14.31 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $14.11 billion. Tyson Foods had a net margin of 0.36% and a return on equity of 7.67%. Tyson Foodss revenue for the quarter was up 5.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.14 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Tyson Foods, Inc. will post 3.8 EPS for the current year. Tyson Foods Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 1st will be issued a $0.51 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 1st. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.4%. Tyson Foodss payout ratio is 364.29%. About Tyson Foods (Free Report) Tyson Foods, Inc (NYSE: TSN) is a multinational food company primarily engaged in the production, processing and marketing of protein-based and prepared food products. Founded in 1935 and headquartered in Springdale, Arkansas, the company is one of the worlds largest processors of chicken, beef and pork. Its operations span live animal procurement and farming relationships through slaughter, further processing and distribution, supplying raw protein and value-added prepared foods to retail, foodservice and industrial customers. The companys product portfolio covers fresh and frozen meats, branded and private-label prepared foods, and a range of value-added items such as ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook meals, snack and sandwich meats. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TSN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE:TSN Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Tyson Foods Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tyson Foods and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Victory Capital Management Inc. lowered its position in shares of Viking Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:VIK Free Report) by 60.3% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 236,653 shares of the companys stock after selling 359,495 shares during the quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. owned 0.05% of Viking worth $14,710,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Invesco Ltd. raised its stake in Viking by 400.3% during the 2nd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 10,577,113 shares of the companys stock valued at $563,654,000 after purchasing an additional 8,462,947 shares during the period. Federated Hermes Inc. boosted its position in shares of Viking by 381.8% in the third quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 8,474,767 shares of the companys stock worth $526,792,000 after buying an additional 6,715,666 shares during the period. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its holdings in shares of Viking by 80.3% during the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 8,117,783 shares of the companys stock valued at $504,601,000 after buying an additional 3,615,969 shares in the last quarter. Holocene Advisors LP grew its holdings in shares of Viking by 57.9% during the second quarter. Holocene Advisors LP now owns 5,706,427 shares of the companys stock valued at $304,095,000 after buying an additional 2,092,729 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Norges Bank acquired a new position in Viking during the second quarter valued at $236,911,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 98.84% of the companys stock. Get Viking alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of brokerages have commented on VIK. Truist Financial raised their price objective on Viking from $59.00 to $61.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 2nd. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c) rating on shares of Viking in a report on Monday, December 29th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of Viking from $77.00 to $82.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 4th. Mizuho upped their price objective on shares of Viking from $59.00 to $69.00 and gave the company an underperform rating in a research note on Thursday, March 5th. Finally, Bank of America increased their target price on shares of Viking from $70.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, January 12th. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $72.40. Viking Stock Down 0.5% VIK opened at $72.23 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $32.01 billion, a PE ratio of 28.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 1.96. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.76, a current ratio of 0.79 and a quick ratio of 0.77. Viking Holdings Ltd. has a fifty-two week low of $31.79 and a fifty-two week high of $81.48. The business has a 50-day moving average of $73.59 and a 200-day moving average of $67.01. Viking (NYSE:VIK Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, March 3rd. The company reported $0.67 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.54 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $1.72 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.63 billion. Viking had a return on equity of 240.75% and a net margin of 17.65%.The firms quarterly revenue was up 27.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.45 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Viking Holdings Ltd. will post 1.49 EPS for the current fiscal year. Viking Profile (Free Report) Viking Holdings Ltd engages in the passenger shipping and other forms of passenger transport in North America, the United Kingdom, and internationally. It operates through River and Ocean segments. The company also operates as a tour entrepreneur for passengers and related activities in tourism. As of December 31, 2023, it operated a fleet of 92 ships, including 81 river vessels comprising 58 Longships, 10 smaller classes based on the Longship design, 11 other river vessels, and 1 river vessel charter and the Viking Mississippi; 9 ocean ships; and 2 expedition ships. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Viking Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Viking and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Vinva Investment Management Ltd decreased its stake in shares of Ventas, Inc. (NYSE:VTR Free Report) by 70.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 8,431 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 19,760 shares during the quarter. Vinva Investment Management Ltds holdings in Ventas were worth $583,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of VTR. BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S grew its position in Ventas by 97.7% in the 3rd quarter. BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S now owns 36,713 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $2,570,000 after purchasing an additional 18,146 shares during the period. Investment Management Corp of Ontario raised its holdings in Ventas by 1,019.0% during the second quarter. Investment Management Corp of Ontario now owns 133,061 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $8,403,000 after buying an additional 121,170 shares during the last quarter. Hudson Bay Capital Management LP bought a new position in shares of Ventas in the second quarter valued at $17,568,000. SCS Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Ventas in the second quarter valued at $13,788,000. Finally, Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd grew its holdings in shares of Ventas by 28.5% during the third quarter. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd now owns 83,524 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $5,846,000 after buying an additional 18,527 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.18% of the companys stock. Get Ventas alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CEO Debra A. Cafaro sold 10,322 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $77.66, for a total transaction of $801,606.52. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 1,114,034 shares in the company, valued at approximately $86,515,880.44. This represents a 0.92% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CFO Robert F. Probst sold 29,930 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $77.25, for a total transaction of $2,312,092.50. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 138,434 shares of the companys stock, valued at $10,694,026.50. This trade represents a 17.78% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 86,106 shares of company stock valued at $6,931,397. 1.00% of the stock is owned by insiders. Ventas Price Performance Ventas stock opened at $86.00 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $40.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 159.26, a P/E/G ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 0.73. The company has a quick ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.03. The companys 50 day moving average price is $80.93 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $76.06. Ventas, Inc. has a 52 week low of $60.15 and a 52 week high of $87.87. Ventas (NYSE:VTR Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.15 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.89 by ($0.74). Ventas had a net margin of 4.31% and a return on equity of 2.09%. The business had revenue of ($1,229.71) million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.53 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.81 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 21.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Ventas has set its FY 2026 guidance at 3.780-3.880 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Ventas, Inc. will post 3.4 earnings per share for the current year. Ventas Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 16th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 31st will be issued a $0.52 dividend. This is an increase from Ventass previous quarterly dividend of $0.48. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 31st. This represents a $2.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.4%. Ventass payout ratio is presently 355.56%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In VTR has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Argus set a $88.00 target price on shares of Ventas in a report on Tuesday, February 10th. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an overweight rating and set a $93.00 price target on shares of Ventas in a research note on Monday, February 9th. UBS Group reissued a neutral rating and set a $85.00 price objective on shares of Ventas in a report on Monday, February 9th. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a buy rating and issued a $93.00 price objective on shares of Ventas in a research note on Monday, December 15th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $100.00 target price on shares of Ventas in a research report on Monday, February 9th. Thirteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $89.00. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on VTR Ventas Company Profile (Free Report) Ventas, Inc (NYSE: VTR) is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that specializes in healthcare-related real estate. The company acquires, owns and manages a diversified portfolio of properties serving the healthcare continuum, including senior housing communities, skilled nursing facilities, medical office buildings, life science and research centers, and other properties leased to healthcare providers and operators. Ventas generates revenue through long-term leases, property management and selective development activities focused on meeting the real estate needs of the healthcare sector. Ventas business model combines property ownership with active asset management and capital markets activity. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Ventas Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ventas and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Voestalpine AG (OTCMKTS:VLPNY Get Free Report) shares gapped up before the market opened on Wednesday . The stock had previously closed at $9.23, but opened at $9.67. Voestalpine shares last traded at $9.6850, with a volume of 1,654 shares trading hands. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a buy rating on shares of Voestalpine in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Citigroup restated a neutral rating on shares of Voestalpine in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. UBS Group raised shares of Voestalpine from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Monday, November 17th. Barclays reiterated an overweight rating on shares of Voestalpine in a report on Monday, February 23rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an overweight rating on shares of Voestalpine in a research report on Tuesday, February 24th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Voestalpine currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy. Get Voestalpine alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Report on Voestalpine Voestalpine Price Performance The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16, a quick ratio of 0.45 and a current ratio of 1.33. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $9.89 and a 200-day simple moving average of $8.32. The stock has a market cap of $8.26 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.34 and a beta of 1.27. Voestalpine (OTCMKTS:VLPNY Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 11th. The company reported $0.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.09 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $4.13 billion for the quarter. Voestalpine had a net margin of 1.75% and a return on equity of 3.55%. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Voestalpine AG will post 0.45 EPS for the current year. About Voestalpine (Get Free Report) Voestalpine AG is a leading steel-based technology and capital goods group headquartered in Linz, Austria. The company specializes in the production of high-quality steel and sophisticated components for a range of industries, including automotive, railway systems, aerospace, energy, and construction. It operates across all major processing steps in steel production, from rawmaterial processing and steelmaking to downstream activities such as coating, processing, and assembly. Voestalpines portfolio is organized into several business divisions. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Voestalpine Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Voestalpine and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Wartsila (OTCMKTS:WRTBY Get Free Report) gapped up prior to trading on Wednesday . The stock had previously closed at $7.60, but opened at $7.98. Wartsila shares last traded at $7.98, with a volume of 1,190 shares trading hands. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of analysts recently weighed in on WRTBY shares. Barclays reaffirmed an underweight rating on shares of Wartsila in a report on Wednesday, December 3rd. Citigroup restated a sell rating on shares of Wartsila in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Pareto Securities cut shares of Wartsila from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Monday, January 19th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a hold rating on shares of Wartsila in a research report on Thursday, February 5th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Strong Sell. Get Wartsila alerts: Read Our Latest Report on WRTBY Wartsila Stock Performance The stock has a market cap of $22.94 billion, a PE ratio of 33.72 and a beta of 1.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a current ratio of 1.39. The companys 50-day moving average price is $8.06 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $6.95. Wartsila (OTCMKTS:WRTBY Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The company reported $0.07 EPS for the quarter. The company had revenue of $2.33 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.42 billion. Wartsila had a net margin of 9.08% and a return on equity of 24.14%. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Wartsila will post 0.18 EPS for the current year. Wartsila Company Profile (Get Free Report) Wartsila (OTCMKTS: WRTBY) is a Finnish technology company specializing in sustainable solutions for the marine and energy sectors. Founded in 1834 and headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, Wartsila designs, manufactures and services equipment ranging from marine engines and propulsion systems to complete power plants. The companys Energy Business provides flexible gas, multi-fuel and hybrid power plants, as well as long-term operation and maintenance services. In its Marine Business, Wartsila delivers integrated systems for ship design, digital operations and lifecycle support. With a presence in over 80 countries, Wartsila serves shipowners, shipyards, power producers and utilities around the world. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Wartsila Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wartsila and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Whitbread PLC Sponsored ADR (OTCMKTS:WTBDY Get Free Report) shot up 7.5% during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $8.79 and last traded at $8.79. 3,712 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 89% from the average session volume of 34,368 shares. The stock had previously closed at $8.18. Analysts Set New Price Targets WTBDY has been the subject of several recent research reports. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating on shares of Whitbread in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. Jefferies Financial Group cut Whitbread from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, December 12th. Sanford C. Bernstein cut Whitbread from a strong-buy rating to a strong sell rating in a research report on Friday, November 28th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft downgraded Whitbread from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 3rd. Finally, Citigroup reissued a buy rating on shares of Whitbread in a report on Thursday, January 15th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have issued a Buy rating, two have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy. Get Whitbread alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on WTBDY Whitbread Stock Down 2.1% About Whitbread The companys 50 day moving average price is $8.99 and its 200 day moving average price is $9.44. (Get Free Report) Whitbread plc is a UK-based hospitality company primarily engaged in hotel and restaurant operations. Its flagship brand, Premier Inn, is one of the largest budget hotel chains in the United Kingdom, offering standardized accommodation across city centre and suburban locations. In addition to hotels, Whitbread operates a portfolio of food and beverage outlets, including family-oriented restaurants and pubs that cater to both leisure and business travellers. The companys hotel portfolio comprises hundreds of properties in the UK, alongside an established presence in Germany and select international markets under the Premier Inn banner. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Whitbread Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Whitbread and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Robert Mugabe, the former Zimbabwean dictator, was not much one for democracy, elections, or justice, and it seems Labours David Lammy is Britains version of Mugabe as he seeks to take away the rights of the British people to a trial by jury. Instead of justice, Britons will be tried by unelected far-left Labour-appointed judges in Stasi courts. Jury trials are now one step closer to being scrapped after Labour MPs voted to scrap the 800-year-old legal system, with 304 Labour MPs voting for the bill and 203 against it. MAGNA CARTA 15 June 1215 On Justice and Fair Trial (Clause 39/40): No free man shall be seized or imprisoned, or stripped of his rights or possessions except by the lawful judgement of his equals or by the law of the land. Forget about the Magna Carta and the rights of Britons for over 800 years; David Lammy, a somewhat lazy MP, has not bothered to look at alternatives to doing away with jury trials. Instead, the incompetent miscreant and Mugabe wannabe is scrapping jury trials without even a whimper from anyone. To have our rights trodden on by this pompous, destructive, loathsome joke of an MP is a further insult to thousands of years of British history and hard-fought rights. What did the brave soldiers of both world wars fight for when, in 2026, Labour is literally desecrating every remnant of rights and freedoms we have? Scrapping elections, scrapping jury trials, scrapping democracy, scrapping Brexit, scrapping the British flag, scrapping business and economic growth! Labour is successfully turning Britain into Zimbabwe. The have-nots, the people who never bothered to be educated or work, are now a large portion of the population. They dont have pension plans, properties, cars, mortgages, holidays, or children; they just have nothing. They are the epitome of Nietzschian nihilism and a celebration of the Untermensch subhuman subculture, a symptom of the consumer culture on steroids that is part of the modern developed world. When they have nothing to lose, they gravitate towards the riots, the looting, and the expression of violence as a predilection of their terminal condition. There will be more of these instances and at an increasing rate as the have-nots do not have anything to lose now. Emboldened, disillusioned, and at the end of their tether, their wrath will eventually erupt in one almighty BANG. What do they want? They want what you have; they want to take it from you, to destroy it, to break it, and to deny you, the person who worked hard for it, the right to have those things. Their mindset is, if they cant have it, they will take it by force or deny you owning it. Gang Storms Luxury LA Apartments During Late-Night Street Takeover A gang linked to a late-night street takeover stormed the lobby of the Circa LA Apartments on South Figueroa Street early Sunday, clashing with doormen and leaving smashed glass and overturned furniture in their pic.twitter.com/Y4QCjYvb97 Breaking911 (@Breaking911) March 10, 2026 Felons ransack & loot a Bel-Air mansion leaving behind tens of thousands of dollars in cash & handbags during their getaway. Your gated communities and expensive security systems can no longer protect you from the lawlessness in Gavin Newsoms California pic.twitter.com/hWPykdBPyU Kevin Dalton (@TheKevinDalton) March 3, 2025 Beverly Hills is in decline like all democrat ran American cities A few days before my birthday, we were on a work trip in Korea when I received a notification on my phone: our alarm had gone off in the master bedroom. It was 3AM in LA. I opened the security camera feed and pic.twitter.com/LJkACtWusA Mrgunsngear (@Mrgunsngear) December 30, 2024 American shows what its now like to go out to dinner in San Diego, California San Diego now has the 6th largest homeless population in the entire country This is what residents must deal with because of Gavin Newsom and California Democrats pic.twitter.com/oliDgk4PRa Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) March 10, 2026 This is getting desperate. The Iranian regime is now spamming social media sites with AI-generated disinformation videos that some people are taking for fact. Disinformation is utilised in wartime as a weapon in itself and in this case is being used to demoralise those who believe what they are seeing is true. The origination of this disinformation is not known, but it does not necessarily have to come from Iran and could come from Russia or China, or any other country aligned against the USA. The following video, which depicts U.S. soldiers as prisoners, is a prime example of such disinformation, and the U.S. government should be onto these videos, shutting them down. Unfortunately, social media sites do not bother, but it is surprising that the U.S. intelligence apparatus is allowing these videos to proliferate across the net. JUST IN: Iran has released a video of captured U.S. soldiers pic.twitter.com/ITvJPEbc9W Iran Mil Updates (@lran_prees) March 10, 2026 People were at the heart of everything for Dr. Richard Rick Murray (BEng66, LLD15). Whether he was engineering a bridge to transport people where they needed to go or supporting students at Dalhousie, Murray always found a way to centre the human experience. When Murray and his family announced a $1-million gift to Dal to support engineering students from Jamaica, he shared: One of the most important parts of bridge-building is people. Whether youre building a physical bridge or just trying to bridge a gap between people, its always the people that make it successful. Murray, who passed away on March 5 at 87, will be remembered as an esteemed Dal alumni, engineer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. His 50-year engineering career reflected technical excellence, global perspective, and a deep commitment to giving back. Rick was a steadfast champion of our engineering students. Faculty of Engineering Dean John Newhook said that Murray was one of the most involved and supportive alumni to the faculty. Rick was a steadfast champion of our engineering students, said Newhook. Rick was passionate about supporting students individual success and helping them achieve their goal of becoming an engineer. Murray was awarded a Dal honorary degree during the Spring 2015 Convocation. Makings of an engineer Murray earned a Diploma in Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the Technical University of Nova Scotia (TUNS), which later merged with Dalhousie to form the Faculty of Engineering. Shortly after graduation, Murray accepted a one-year civil engineering contract to work in Jamaica with Alcan, a Canadian manufacturing firm. That one-year contract turned into an 11-year stint in Jamaica where he worked on national infrastructure projects and played a key role in the Canadian International Development Agencys bridge-building program. It was this connection to Jamaica that had a lasting impact on his life and further reinforced his commitment to working with local experts and strengthening his connection to the community. Upon returning to Halifax, he established and served as the president of the firm R. A. Murray International Limited. Murray and his team provided engineering, general contracting, material procurement, and logistical services to countries throughout the world. Centring students and support In 2012, Murray and his family created an endowed scholarship to support Jamaican students studying engineering at Dalhousie. The Murray Family Scholarships in Engineering reflect Murrays belief in education as a pathway to opportunity and are awarded to students who are planning to pursue a career in civil engineering. Four years later, in 2016, Dal announced its ambitious plans to revitalize Sexton Campus through the Innovation and Design in Engineering and Architecture (IDEA) Project which saw the construction of two new buildings and upgrades to existing spaces. Dr. Newhook shared that Murray was an early and enthusiastic supporter of the project. Dr. Newhook, left, with Dr. Richard Murray at the opening of the IDEA Project in 2018. He believed that success can be attained by not only providing financial support for students, easing the burden of enrolling in a demanding program like engineering, but also by taking care of the whole person, says Dr. Newhook. He wanted to create spaces on campus that were both innovative and supportive. Murray and his family announced a $6-milliion commitment to the project at the IDEA grand opening in 2018, and his generosity was recognized through the naming of the Richard Murray Design Building and the Murray Engineering Student Centre. Murrays exceptional commitment to Dal was recognized through his inclusion in Dals loyal donor society, the MacLennan Society, and he was awarded the 2026 Dalhousie Golden Eagle Lifetime Achievement Award. I was inspired by Dalhousie to get on and succeed and become an engineer. When asked what Dalhousie meant to him, he shared: Dalhousie was my introduction to higher education. I admit I was never a great student, but I was inspired by Dalhousie to get on and succeed and become an engineer. Shares of Amaroq Minerals Ltd. (LON:AMRQ Get Free Report) were up 2.5% during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as GBX 110 and last traded at GBX 107.10. Approximately 444,903 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 59% from the average daily volume of 1,088,225 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 104.50. Get Amaroq Minerals alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth AMRQ has been the topic of a number of research reports. Panmure Gordon restated a buy rating and issued a GBX 125 target price on shares of Amaroq Minerals in a report on Wednesday, November 19th. Canaccord Genuity Group increased their price target on shares of Amaroq Minerals from GBX 120 to GBX 150 and gave the company a speculative buy rating in a report on Thursday, January 15th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of GBX 137.50. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on AMRQ Amaroq Minerals Stock Up 2.5% Insider Buying and Selling The company has a fifty day moving average of GBX 119.52 and a two-hundred day moving average of GBX 97.06. The company has a market cap of 498.49 million, a PE ratio of -21.00 and a beta of 0.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a quick ratio of 9.04 and a current ratio of 1.56. In other Amaroq Minerals news, insider Eldur Olafsson sold 476,442 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 11, for a total transaction of 52,408.62. 7.99% of the stock is owned by insiders. About Amaroq Minerals (Get Free Report) Amaroqs principal business objectives are the identification, acquisition, exploration, and development of gold and strategic metal properties in South Greenland. The Companys principal asset is a 100% interest in the Nalunaq Gold mine. The Company has a portfolio of gold and strategic metal assets in Southern Greenland covering the two known gold belts in the region as well as advanced exploration projects at Stendalen and the Sava Copper Belt exploring for Strategic metals such as Copper, Nickel, Rare Earths and other minerals. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Amaroq Minerals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Amaroq Minerals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bank of Cyprus Holdings Public Limited (OTCMKTS:BKCYF Get Free Report) shares traded up 1% on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as C$10.28 and last traded at C$10.27. 1,600 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 85% from the average session volume of 863 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$10.17. Get Bank of Cyprus Holdings Public alerts: Bank of Cyprus Holdings Public Price Performance The companys fifty day moving average is C$10.43 and its 200-day moving average is C$9.60. About Bank of Cyprus Holdings Public (Get Free Report) Bank of Cyprus Holdings Public (OTCMKTS:BKCYF) is the largest banking and financial services group in Cyprus, offering a comprehensive range of products to retail, corporate and institutional clients. The groups core activities include deposit-taking, lending, trade finance, payments and cash management. It also provides wealth management, private banking, insurance brokerage and pension administration services through its fully owned subsidiaries. Established in 1899 and headquartered in Nicosia, Bank of Cyprus has evolved into a universal bank with a strong local franchise and a selective international presence. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Bank of Cyprus Holdings Public Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of Cyprus Holdings Public and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Capital Group Private Client Services Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 8,545 shares of the insurance providers stock, valued at approximately $2,223,000. Get Humana alerts: A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of HUM. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Humana during the 4th quarter valued at about $202,000. Woodline Partners LP boosted its stake in Humana by 460.0% in the first quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 10,192 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $2,697,000 after buying an additional 8,372 shares in the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC boosted its stake in Humana by 53.7% in the second quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 1,293 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $316,000 after buying an additional 452 shares in the last quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC grew its position in Humana by 13.0% during the second quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC now owns 662 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $161,000 after acquiring an additional 76 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Aviva PLC grew its position in Humana by 6.7% during the second quarter. Aviva PLC now owns 89,753 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $21,943,000 after acquiring an additional 5,657 shares during the last quarter. 92.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades HUM has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price objective on shares of Humana from $215.00 to $158.00 and set a sell rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 13th. Morgan Stanley set a $146.00 target price on shares of Humana in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a sell (d+) rating on shares of Humana in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Wolfe Research boosted their price target on shares of Humana from $300.00 to $325.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Finally, KeyCorp restated a sector weight rating on shares of Humana in a research report on Friday, December 12th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, sixteen have issued a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $225.48. Humana Stock Performance NYSE:HUM opened at $173.58 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70, a quick ratio of 2.00 and a current ratio of 2.00. Humana Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $169.61 and a fifty-two week high of $315.35. The firm has a market cap of $20.84 billion, a PE ratio of 17.68, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.83 and a beta of 0.44. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $218.44 and a 200-day moving average price of $250.29. Humana (NYSE:HUM Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The insurance provider reported ($3.96) EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($4.01) by $0.05. The company had revenue of $32.64 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $32.08 billion. Humana had a net margin of 0.92% and a return on equity of 11.43%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned ($2.16) earnings per share. Humana has set its FY 2026 guidance at 9.000-9.000 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Humana Inc. will post 16.47 earnings per share for the current year. Humana Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 24th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 27th will be paid a dividend of $0.885 per share. This represents a $3.54 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 27th. Humanas dividend payout ratio is 36.05%. Insider Buying and Selling at Humana In other news, insider Sanjay K. Shetty bought 810 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 23rd. The stock was bought at an average cost of $185.21 per share, for a total transaction of $150,020.10. Following the completion of the acquisition, the insider owned 11,657 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,158,992.97. This trade represents a 7.47% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.37% of the companys stock. Humana Profile (Free Report) Humana Inc (NYSE: HUM) is a health insurance company headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, that primarily serves individuals and groups across the United States. The company is best known for its Medicare business, offering Medicare Advantage plans and prescription drug (Part D) coverage, alongside a range of commercial and employer-sponsored group health plans. Humanas products are designed to cover medical, behavioral health and pharmacy needs for members, with particular emphasis on seniors and Medicare-eligible populations. In addition to traditional insurance products, Humana provides care-management and wellness services intended to support chronic-condition management, preventive care and care coordination. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HUM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Humana Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Humana and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Capital Group Private Client Services Inc. decreased its holdings in shares of Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE:COF Free Report) by 78.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 15,361 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 55,534 shares during the quarter. Capital Group Private Client Services Inc.s holdings in Capital One Financial were worth $3,265,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Get Capital One Financial alerts: Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in COF. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in Capital One Financial by 74.8% in the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 56,380,913 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $11,995,603,000 after acquiring an additional 24,129,990 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its holdings in shares of Capital One Financial by 63.4% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 27,780,128 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $5,910,500,000 after purchasing an additional 10,776,843 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Capital One Financial during the second quarter worth about $1,701,511,000. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Capital One Financial by 64.1% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 14,008,841 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,970,628,000 after purchasing an additional 5,474,328 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Boston Partners purchased a new stake in shares of Capital One Financial in the 2nd quarter valued at about $534,777,000. 89.84% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In COF has been the topic of a number of research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a buy rating and set a $300.00 price target on shares of Capital One Financial in a research note on Tuesday, January 6th. Zacks Research downgraded Capital One Financial from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, November 24th. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Capital One Financial from $294.00 to $287.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. TD Cowen reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Capital One Financial in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on shares of Capital One Financial from $265.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have assigned a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $274.70. Capital One Financial Stock Performance Shares of COF opened at $184.93 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.04, a current ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. Capital One Financial Corporation has a 52-week low of $143.22 and a 52-week high of $259.64. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $219.49 and a 200-day simple moving average of $221.76. The company has a market capitalization of $115.01 billion, a PE ratio of 62.47, a P/E/G ratio of 0.56 and a beta of 1.14. Capital One Financial (NYSE:COF Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 22nd. The financial services provider reported $3.86 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $4.14 by ($0.28). Capital One Financial had a return on equity of 10.68% and a net margin of 3.54%.During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.67 EPS. The firms revenue was up 53.3% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that Capital One Financial Corporation will post 15.65 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Capital One Financial Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 2nd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 19th were paid a dividend of $0.80 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 19th. This represents a $3.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.7%. Capital One Financials payout ratio is 108.11%. Insider Buying and Selling at Capital One Financial In related news, insider Neal Blinde sold 38,135 shares of Capital One Financial stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $190.51, for a total transaction of $7,265,098.85. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 33,551 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,391,801.01. The trade was a 53.20% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Lia Dean sold 3,284 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $223.68, for a total value of $734,565.12. Following the sale, the insider owned 70,162 shares in the company, valued at approximately $15,693,836.16. The trade was a 4.47% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 67,933 shares of company stock worth $14,363,897. Corporate insiders own 1.26% of the companys stock. Capital One Financial Profile (Free Report) Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE: COF) is a diversified bank holding company headquartered in McLean, Virginia. The companys core businesses include credit card lending, consumer and commercial banking, and auto finance. Capital One issues a wide range of credit card products for consumers and small businesses, and it operates deposit and digital banking services aimed at retail customers and small to midsize enterprises. Products and services include credit and charge cards, checking and savings accounts (including the online-focused Capital One 360 platform), auto loans, and commercial lending solutions. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Capital One Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Capital One Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. During the latest gathering of the National Peoples Congress in Beijing, government officials announced a 7% increase in the national defense budget for the upcoming year. This adjustment brings the total allocated military funding to approximately 1.91 trillion yuan, equivalent to roughly $277 billion. The current financial plan marks the eleventh consecutive year of single-digit percentage growth, a departure from the robust, double-digit expansions seen in previous decades when economic conditions were more favorable. Despite the notable financial commitment, state representatives maintain that the spending levels are quite reasonable. They argue that when evaluating the budget against gross domestic product, population size, and the sheer number of active-duty personnel, the financial burden remains relatively small. Officials also framed the budgetary changes as an essential exercise of national sovereignty, necessary for securing the nations interests in a rapidly evolving global landscape. Regional Disparities and Hidden Expenditures The newly declared budget solidifies the countrys dominant financial footprint in the Asian theater. Strategic institutions note that the nation now accounts for nearly 44% of all military spending across the continent. To illustrate the scale of this investment, the current budget is roughly five times Japans and exceeds Taiwans military resources by a factor of nine. However, international defense observers and the United States military strongly suspect that the official figures do not paint a complete picture. Evaluators note that Beijing routinely excludes several major expenses from its public ledger, including defense-oriented research and development, domestic security initiatives, mobilization efforts, and certain capital investments. Based on historical data, analysts suggest that the actual financial resources dedicated to the armed forces could exceed the publicly declared amount by up to 63%. Leadership Restructuring and Internal Purges The financial announcements arrive concurrently with a massive restructuring of the militarys highest echelons. During recent committee meetings, the primary leadership table for the Central Military Commission was notably sparse, occupied exclusively by the nations president and one vice chairman. This visual contrasted with the previous decade, when the commission boasted eleven active members. The reduction is the direct result of an intense anti-corruption initiative targeting the highest ranks of the armed forces. Research organizations tracking leadership changes estimate that over 100 senior military commanders have been removed from their positions since 2022. Following these sweeping dismissals, the remaining leaders have instructed the armed forces to strictly adhere to the central chain of command and prioritize ethical conduct. Heightened Activity in the Taiwan Strait Alongside the budgetary increases and internal command shifts, the military has demonstrated a significantly more assertive posture toward Taiwan. Supported by sustained financial investments, forces conducted an unprecedented number of aerial operations in the region last year. Aircraft executed nearly six thousand flights across the Taiwan Strait, frequently penetrating the islands designated air defense identification zone. This operational tempo reflects a broader strategic directive from the central leadership, which has consistently encouraged a more aggressive stance. The combination of increased funding, consolidated military leadership, and heightened regional operations underscores a critical period of transformation for the armed forces as they navigate both domestic restructuring and international strategic goals. Creggan Neighbourhood Partnership hosted a special International Womens Day exhibition on Monday that brought together local residents, families and the citywide community to celebrate and honour the remarkable women who shaped Creggan over the years. A large crowd attended Mondays exhibition to celebrate the women being recognised and to share in the stories that reflect the values and spirit of the local area. The event was an opportunity not only to honour individual achievements but also, recognise the collective role women have played in building and supporting the local community. The exhibition was opened by the Mayor, Ruairi McHugh who hailed it as recognising women from across Creggan and the city as a whole whose dedication, compassion and commitment have made a lasting impact on community life, education and local development. Indeed, many of the women featured have worked quietly behind the scenes over the decades, yet their contributions have played a vital role in strengthening the places where people live, learn and grow. READ NEXT: IN PICTURES: Creggans remarkable women honoured for International Womans Day Speaking at the opening, Danielle Devine, manager, CNP said: Todays event highlights the stories of women who cared beyond duty, shared their talents, and uplifted others through love, unity and service. It also acknowledged the strength, courage and resilience of women whose work has helped pave the way for future generations within the community. The exhibition also marked the opening phase of a wider Creggan Neighbourhood Partnership project aimed at preserving and celebrating the many stories of the people of Creggan and adjoining communities. Emphasising that the event was just the beginning of plans the Engage Project has, Paula Moore, Community Development Worker, Engage Project added: Over the coming months, the Engage Project will continue to build through the creation of a community video and a series of murals across the local area this summer, ensuring that the legacy of these women continues to inspire future generations. Mayor McHugh praised all involved in making the exhibition such a success and congratulated Danielle and her team at Creggan Neighbourhood Partnership for their sterling work over the years, wishing them continued success. He concluded with the women of Creggan have long been leaders, organisers, carers, Advocates, and most important of all, the changemakers within this community. They strengthen the fabric of the local community life, and their contribution has been both remarkable and inspiring. Danielle Devine said she would encourage visitors to explore the exhibition, read the stories on display and reflect on the important role women play in shaping strong and connected communities. Refreshments were served and the days proceedings saw many through the doors, finding their family connections, reading the stories and proudly capturing the moment with their phone cameras. Mondays event was funded by the Big Lottery Community Fund and held as part of the Engage Project at Creggan Neighbourhood Partnership. Derry Magistrate's Court heard today how a fifteen years old girl allegedly threatened to pour raw eggs from a pot down the throat of a female employee, whom she knew to be allergic to raw eggs, in a children's home in the Waterside area of Derry. District Judge Ted Magill said he had no choice but to remand the girl in custody when the girl appeared charged with attempted grievous bodily harm with intent, assaulting three female staff members of the home and with causing criminal damage to a door panel, blinds, a curtain pole and a chest of drawers earlier this week. Judge Magill said: "The only reason for remanding in custody a child is if the child presents a risk of causing serious harm to members of the public. In this case, despite her tender age of fifteen years, she does present that risk and she therefore has to be remanded in custody. District Judge Magill said the child mixed the eggs in a pot "and threatened to pour them down the throat of a female employee in the children's home. The injured party is severely allergic to eggs and the defendant and everyone in this home is well aware of that. "The defendant was in an agitated state standing outside the victim's office. She put the staff member in fear due to that staff member having previous incidents related to anaphylactic shock with eggs", he said. READ NEXT: Bail refused for Derry man accused of abduction and bleach attack on victim Mr. Magill said the staff member along with two other colleagues went into an office and locked the door when the defendant's aggressive behaviour started. The defendant kicked in a panel in the door and allegedly causing criminal damage to furniture and fittings. When police officers arrived at the home she aggressively resisted them and had to be handcuffed before her arrest. He said the defendant threatened in front of the police officers to "slice" and "smash the head in" of one of the female employees and allegedly said to another staff member that she would "rip her hair out". Applying for bail a defence barrister said the defendant, who has fourteen previous criminal convictions, seven of them for assaults, did not realise the consequences of her actions. Bail was refused and the defendant was remanded in custody to the Juvenile Justice Centre in Woodlands and the case was adjourned until March 31. The event was attended by over 100 women from all communities and areas across the Waterside. The event focused on womens health and the connection between mental health and local neighbourhoods. It was hosted by Strategy Manager for Waterside Neighbourhood Partnership Alison Wallace and the team was delighted to welcome Dr. Niamh Doherty, Research Associate in Population Health at Ulster University Bamford Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing, as well as local social worker Erica Dougherty, who gave a poignant personal account of surviving cancer. At the event were a number of local organisations providing information to women about services that they can access locally, including Western Trust, Derry Well Woman, Advice NI, Minding Mum, Talking to our Babies, Pink Ladies, HIVE, Glendermott Medical, and more. Dr. Niamh Doherty spoke about her research, where she investigates how the places we live shape our health and wellbeing, examining the complex relationships between mental and physical health and how these are impacted by neighbourhood regeneration schemes. Dr. Dohertys research illuminates how our social, physical, and economic environments and neighbourhood contexts influence health across our lifespan. The event was organised by Waterside Together, a shared green spaces festival and events project. Waterside Together is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and funded under the theme of Community Regeneration and Transformation, and it is also funded through Derry City and Strabane District Councils PEACEPLUS Local Co-Designed Action Plan. The event was also funded by Derry City and Strabane District Councils Community Support Fund. Speaking at the event, Deputy Mayor Niree McMorris, acknowledged the work that women do in peacebuilding across the Waterside. Many of the community workers who bid for and secure peace funding to do events like these are women. Many of the community workers who organise and deliver cross-community events like these are women. In fact, many of the community workers and council staff who engaged in strategic work for decades to develop cross-interface relationships here in the Waterside and to bring significant investment into community infrastructure here were - and are - women. Many of our local councillors are women. What we are able to fund through PEACEPLUS benefits significantly from the foundations that women of all identities have laid in local peacebuilding. As Nobel Laureate for peace, Leymah Gbowee, from Liberia said I can promise you that women working togetherlinked, informed, and educatedcan bring peace and prosperity to this planet. Vice Chair of Waterside Neighbourhood Partnership and Centre Manager for Caw Nelson Drive Action Group, Linda Watson, said: International Womens Day is a moment to pause and reflect on the achievements of women, but its also a call to action. At its heart are values we all recognise here in the Waterside: equality, inclusion, dignity, and the belief that womens voices and experiences matter. Its about celebrating progress, while also being honest about the challenges that still exist. Thats why todays focus on womens health is so important. Womens physical and mental health are not side issuesthey affect families, communities, workplaces, and neighbourhoods. When women are supported, informed, and listened to, everyone benefits. Yet too often, womens healthparticularly mental healthcan be overlooked or carried quietly without enough support. Here in our local neighbourhoods, we know that mental health doesnt exist in isolation. Its closely connected to where we live, the services we can access, and how supported and connected we feel in our communities. Strong neighbourhoods really do make a difference to wellbeing, and thats why community-led work matters so much. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has vowed that the Government will not tolerate heating oil suppliers profiteering from the crisis in the Middle East. Sir Keir will stress home heating oil costs must be fair, transparent and justifiable, during a visit to Belfast on Thursday. He will hold meetings with political leaders, including First Minister Michelle ONeill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, amid growing concerns over the impact the war in the Middle East is having on energy prices. Around two-thirds of domestic properties in Northern Ireland use home heating oil. Global oil prices have risen sharply in response to war in the Middle East, with Iran launching strikes in response to attacks by the US and Israel, and home heating oil costs have surged. The market in Northern Ireland, unlike gas and electricity, is unregulated. Treasury minister Lord Livermore met with some Northern Ireland MPs on Wednesday to discuss the issue. The Government said Sir Keir will use his visit to Northern Ireland to highlight his relentless focus on cutting the cost of living for working people. A statement said: Recognising that the majority of households in Northern Ireland rely on heating oil to heat their homes, the Prime Minister will send the strong message to companies that prices must be fair, transparent and justifiable, not inflated at the expense of working people. If companies hike prices without justification, the Government will act, including through regulation. The Prime Minister said: Global instability has real impacts on the lives of working people across the UK, and I know families in Northern Ireland are worried about what the war in the Middle East could mean for their finances especially given so many households rely on heating oil to heat their homes. Let me be clear, we will not tolerate profiteering or unfair practices. If companies fleece customers or rip them off, we will not hesitate to step in, and that includes on regulation. This Government stands with working people, no matter the headwinds. In Belfast I am spending my time meeting not only the politicians making decisions in Stormont, but also the people whose lives are shaped by conflicts abroad and the approach we take at home. The Government has asked the Competition and Markets Authority to look at heating oil prices. During the visit, the Prime Minister will also meet with members of a local community to discuss the cost of living. The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has reportedly kicked off a technical audit of Starlinks Direct-to-Cell (D2C) technology as part of a review of Airtel Kenyas application to offer the service in the country. According to a report from ITWeb Africa on Tuesday, the CA is checking whether signals between mobile phones and Starlinks LEO satellites will interfere with terrestrial 3G, 4G and 5G networks. Starlinks Direct-to-Cell service uses the same spectrum that terrestrial operators use, as do rival direct-to-device satellite (D2D) services like Lynk Global and AST Spacemobile. Others, like Equatys (the JV between Viasat and Space42) use mobile satellite services (MSS) spectrum. Using existing terrestrial spectrum allows mobile subscribers to use their existing smartphones to access the service. However, this also raises the potential for interference between terrestrial and D2D satellite connections. MSS spectrum doesn't interfere with terrestrial networks but requires users to buy compatible handsets. The CA is investigating to see if Starlinks D2C transmissions comply with terrestrial mobile regulations and can provide a strong enough signal for mobile phones without drowning out local cell towers, the report said. The audit will also help the CA define geographic and power limits for D2D transmissions, the report added. ITWeb Africa quotes Airtel Africa CEO Sunil Taldar as saying the D2C service is only meant to be used where terrestrial coverage doesnt exist. Airtel Africa signed a deal with SpaceX in December 2025 to launch Starlink D2C services across all of its 14 markets across Africa sometime this year, subject to local regulatory approval for each market. The CA is expected to conclude the technical audit by the middle of this year, the report said. A new system in Kenya will ensure that motorists who commit traffic offences will receive instant notifications on their mobile phones informing them of the violation. Kenyas National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has announced the launch of its SMS-based Instant Fines Traffic Management System, introducing automated enforcement of traffic violations across Kenya. According to a public notice issued by the agencys Director General, the new system is designed to modernise traffic law enforcement by automatically detecting violations and notifying motorists via SMS alerts. The process is fully automated and operates without human intervention, a move aimed at improving transparency, efficiency, and accountability in the transport sector. After motorists receive instant notifications of the office on their mobile phones they will have seven days in which to pay the fine. Payments can be made through any branch of KCB Group. Authorities say penalties will apply if motorists fail to comply with the deadline. Unpaid fines will begin to accrue interest after the seven-day grace period. Vehicle owners or drivers with outstanding penalties will be blocked from accessing NTSA service platforms until their fines are cleared. NTSA brings together under one platform all services relating to motor vehicle registration, inspection, public service transport operations, driving school management, driver testing and licensing. The TechAfrica News website says the new digital enforcement system is expected to reduce roadside confrontations between motorists and traffic officers, while creating a more reliable digital record of traffic offences across the country. Could the new system also help to address the issue of road safety in the country? The Kenya Times recently quoted NTSA reports that indicate a 3.4% rise in Kenyas road casualties from 4,311 in 2024 to 4,458 in 2025, although this is not just due to speeding. Poor vehicle maintenance, human error and poor-quality roads are also factors. Ubiquitous mobile broadband coverage mandated by the universal service obligation is boosting digital inclusion around the world and accelerating progress towards the UNs sustainable development goals for 2030. As well as being commercially driven however, networks in rural and emerging markets must also deliver clear social benefits to the communities they serve. This was broadly the premise under discussion at Huaweis TECH Cares Forum held earlier this month during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Representatives from the academic, regulatory and operator communities joined senior Huawei executives at the event to consider why take-up of services still lags in many regions, and what the likely impact will be in the AI era. Presentations and discussions encompassing both urban and rural coverage networks, as well as industry ecosystems and technology developments including AI, considered how governments can accelerate user migration by developing and shaping policies to support wireless networks that are socially beneficial as well as commercially sustainable. Setting the scene, Dr. Cosmas Zavazava, Director of the ITUs Telecommunication Development Bureau called the digital divide one of the defining challenges of our time. Only if people are able to access communication networks can the life-changing opportunities for individuals, communities and entire economies offered by the AI era be realized, Dr Zavazava told the audience. Marina Madale, Executive of Sustainability Value at MTN Group, said that whereas mobile coverage has expanded significantly in sub-Saharan Africa, participation has not advanced to the same degree, especially in rural areas. We must step up our action to achieve digital inclusion in the AI era, she urged. While the commercial viability of sites can be improved by encouraging digital inclusion and driving usage, devices are the keys to the kingdom, said Madale, and even though smartphone penetration is accelerating it is affordability that will be crucial to drive adoption. Promoting Connectivity and Fostering Digital Skills According to GSMA, some 300 million people are still not covered by mobile broadband (MBB) services. Nevertheless, Yang Chaobin (pictured, main image), CEO of Huaweis ICT Business Group announced at the event that by the end of 2025 the company had already more than made good on its pledge of 2022 to the ITUs Partner2Connect (P2C) Digital Coalition, to provide digital connectivity to 170 million people in remote areas across more than 80 countries. Digital skills are the key for ordinary people to enter the digital world, said Jeff Wang, President of Public Affairs and Communications at Huawei. Inclusive connectivity and digital skills empowerment serve as the two core pillars of digital inclusion. To bridge the digital skills gap, Huawei works closely with governments and partners to enhance digital access, deliver skills training, and advance STEM education for underserved communities To this end, Huawei helps to promote access to better knowledge and understanding of digital services through the DigiTruck initiative, a state-of-the-art mobile digital classroom serving remote communities by providing access to knowledge, opportunities, and essential online services. Addressing Extended Network ROI The core challenge to developing rural coverage is the long-term return on investment (ROI) for rural networks, which can be as much as 10 years, said Zeng Chuang (pictured, above), Vice President of Huaweis Wireless Network Product Line. This is particularly challenging in view of service providers responsibility to provide universal coverage. Outlining Huaweis competitive rural network solutions and the companys global commercial progress, Zeng explained that high infrastructure, transmission and fuel costs combined with limited access to energy sources were exacerbating the challenges, along with lack of roads or transportation, and the scattered nature of rural communities. Other factors in many rural areas are the limitations on tower numbers and lack of fibre optics, meaning that the only feasible technologies are often microwave or relay backhaul, said Zeng. Huaweis solutions which already address rural coverage include its RuralStar and RuralLink product lines. The company has recently supplemented these with RuralCow, an energy-efficient, last-mile solution for population coverage of below 3000 people, which the vendor describes as a 1 Box 1 Site approach. Single-day delivery and installation coupled with the use of near-line-of-sight (NLOS) transmission means that RuralCow provides fast on-air service, said Zeng, with support for services such as video calling and digital payment, helping to ensure a much-reduced ROI of around 1.5 years. He cited a recent deployment in Nigeria, where RuralCow powered by 300Ah lithium battery technology, supports GSM and LTE services. Acknowledging that the commercial value of rural networks is not that high, Zeng said that providing universal coverage is nonetheless part of Huaweis operator customers social responsibilities. Therefore, going forward, Huawei will continue to have more engagements with customers, try to better understand their needs in terms of technology, and strive to be more cost effective. We can deploy networks in (remote and rural) areas and provide a lot of social value, said Zeng. He pointed to economic and business models based on mobile connections that have already boosted the development of services such as e-commerce in China, and also the prosperity of the food delivery economy in China, Asia and other parts of the world. Right now in China, countries in Asia Pacific and in Africa, we also see the development of mobile connections which have contributed to the boom in online sales, Zeng added. For example, in many rural areas there are a lot of difficulties in transportation. Now thanks to this new technology farmers are able to sell their products into other areas and in cities so I think this technology has worked out to have many social values as well. Boosting Rural Services in the Mobile AI Era The biggest challenge of providing universal service in the Mobile AI era is to lower the cost of technology, said Zeng. This is actually a common concern faced by the whole world, but its especially acute in regions like Africa, Latin America, and Asia Pacific, At the equipment or physical layer, intelligent algorithms can reduce inefficiencies so allowing systems to be pushed closer to their limits in terms of things like capacity and balanced coverage, Zeng explained. And by enabling troubleshooting, intelligent algorithms can also improve the air interface transmission efficiency, and broaden coverage. In rural networks especially, the big headache is about the operations and maintenance (O&M) costs, and intelligent algorithms can help to reduce these and also be applied in the network operations centre (NOC), said Zeng. Intelligent algorithms can also help save energy, fix problems and locate faults in a shorter space of time. Mobile AI has also got a lot of challenges, said Zeng. Mobile AI Application requires very good connections, especially in areas such as agent to agent communications. Latency needs to be very low and we need to have large bandwidth, especially in the uplink. Enlarging the uplink bandwidth in the Mobile AI era has already become an industry consensus. This in turn will impact network design, said Zeng. At Huawei were adapting our designs to make our products more reliable. Power supply has also been a challenge in many rural areas, said Zeng. We can do things such as reduce the power consumption and make designs more simplified. Redressing the Global Imbalance At the same time we have also noticed that theres a severe imbalance between the BRIC countries and the regions, says Zeng. For example, in Asia Pacific the connection rate may be more than 90%, while in Africa the connection rate is nearer 30% or less. So apart from technology we also need to leverage funding to boost expansion and coverage. I think we can try to better understand our customers needs in technology and continue to innovate, to provide solutions to help them, and in this way we can narrow the gap. In this way they will both have the willingness and the capability to deploy more services. Exactly a week back, Apple introduced its most budget-friendly laptop yet, the MacBook Neo. The 13-inch device is an entry-point in the Apple ecosystem for users who have been thinking of owning a MacBook for a long time, but never got around to doing so due to its price. The MacBook Neo, with a price tag of Rs 69,900, costs less than the vanilla iPhone 17. And it is available for sale starting today. You can simply head over to Apples website and press the favourite button of all Apple fans Add to bag. Survey Thank you for completing the survey! Now, it is also to be noted that the mid-range laptop market already has some interesting devices that are up for grabs at the same price. As a result, many people are confused if they should go out and shell out close to Rs 70,000 on the MacBook Neo. So before you make a decision, read on as we list 5 reasons to get the device, and 2 reasons you might want to skip it. Also read: Where is Apples touchscreen MacBook? All rumours so far Why you should consider buying the Apple MacBook Neo 1. To enter the Apple ecosystem The MacBook Neo could be one of the easiest and most affordable ways to step into the Apple ecosystem. Once you have an Apple product, you get access to the whole ecosystem and its features. From Air Drop and iCloud integration to Find My Device and Family Sharing, there are many features. And if you already own an iPhone or are planning to buy one, you can use features like Continuity and Handoff that let you start a task on one device and finish it on another. Moreover, the MacBook Neo also runs macOS Tahoe, which comes with built in apps like Safari, Messages, Photos and FaceTime, along with Apple Intelligence features designed to make everyday tasks easier. 2. Cost Starting at Rs 69,900 for all users and at Rs 59,990 for those eligible for an education discount, the new MacBook costs less than the iPad Air M4 and even (in case you avail education discount) the iPhone 17e. And this is a big factor for those looking for a low-cost MacBook just to get by their day-to-day tasks. Until now, buying a MacBook required spending significantly more. With MacBook Neo, Apple is rewriting that narrative. Even at this price, you still get a durable aluminium body, Apple silicon performance and the macOS experience. And that combination hasnt really been seen before in this segment. 3. Promising performance for the price Unlike the other MacBooks that run on Apples M-series chipsets, the MacBook Neo is powered by the A18 Pro chip. This is the same chip that powers the iPhone 16 Pro and Apple says that the laptop can handle everyday tasks without hiccups. Apple, in its press release, said that the MacBook Neo is 50% faster for common activities such as web browsing compared to the bestselling PC laptop with the latest Intel Core Ultra 5 chip. The chip also includes a 16 core Neural Engine that powers Apple Intelligence features and other AI driven tools. So be it summarising notes, editing photos or multitasking between apps like Safari, Excel, Canva and Messages, the MacBook Neos got your back. Finally, the laptop comes with a fanless design, which means that it will run quieter than other machines. 4. Display and design The MacBook Neo comes with a 13-inch Liquid Retina display with a resolution of 2408 by 1506 and brightness up to 500 nits. It also supports one billion colours, which means images, videos and text appear sharp and vibrant. For most users like students, professionals, and creators, the display quality is an important factor while picking up a new laptop. And Apple says the MacBook Neos panel is brighter and has a higher resolution than many laptops available in the same price bracket. Now considering Apples reputation for including superior quality displays in their machines, this claim is quite believable. Then of course is the design factor. Now some people prefer their laptops to match their personality. And the MacBook Neo, with its exciting colour options, is a machine that looks superb. So if design matters to you, the laptop builds a strong case for itself. 5. Apples after-sales support For many users, Apples strong reputation for customer service plays a big role in them choosing a MacBook. The company is known for providing dependable after sales support, and there have been several cases where users received quick assistance or even device replacements when something went wrong. Even when a replacement is not possible, Apple service centres often help customers find the most practical solution. And this level of support can be important for budget conscious users who want their laptops to last for years. Because of this reliability and long term service support, the MacBook Neo could be a sensible purchase for many users. Reasons to skip 1. No backlit keyboard The MacBook Neo comes without a backlit keyboard, which can make typing in low-lighting a big challenge. We are now accustomed to backlit keyboards and the absence of it is something that might not be that big of a deal for some users, but others will definitely notice. 2. 20W charger in the box The MacBook Neo ships with a 20W charger, which might feel too slow for a laptop. And even though charging speed may not seem like a major headline feature, it can make a noticeable difference in everyday use. Also read: MacBook Air M4 now available with Rs 10,000 discount: Heres how the deal works Google has officially unveiled its first-ever multimodal embedding model, the Gemini Embedding 2. While AI started with being limited to text-only, with the help of Gemini Embedding 2, Google is planning to map text, images, videos, audio and documents into a single space. With the model, Google wants to simplify complex pipelines and enhance a wide variety of multimodal downstream tasks as it supports retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and semantic search, from sentiment analysis to data clustering. Heres a detailed look at how this new embedding model works and how you can use it. Survey Thank you for completing the survey! Also Read: OpenAI to soon integrate Sora AI video tool into ChatGPT: Report Gemini Embedding 2: How does it work? First up, speaking of how the model works, Google explained that this new model is based on Gemini. As per them, it leverages its best-in-class multimodal understanding capabilities to create high-quality embeddings across various media. These media include text-based media that support a context of up to 8192 input tokens. In terms of images, the model is capable of processing up to 6 images per request, supporting both the popular PNG and JPEG formats. Videos are where things get interesting, as the model supports up to 120 seconds of video input in both MP4 and MOV formats. The model can natively input and embed audio data without needing intermediate text transcriptions, and even directly embed PDFs that are up to 6 pages. The best part is that this model has been built such that it can process more than one medium at a time. This model can pass multiple media, like image + text, in a single request. As per Google, this would allow the model to work between different media types, unlocking a better understanding of real-world data. Improvements over previous models Google also shared the performance difference over the various multimodal models available in the space. As per them, with Gemini Embedding 2, Google is not only improving from their legacy models, but they are also establishing a new performance standard when compared to the other models. They shared this table, detailing the performance improvements compared to the other models below: Using Googles new Gemini Embedding 2 multimodal embedding model is pretty simple, too. You can just head on over to either the Gemini API or the Vertex API platform and check it out from there. On their official blogpost, Google has released the code required to access the model. Also Read: Pentagon turns to Google Gemini AI assistants after Anthropic dispute Save my User ID and Password Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site. Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site. Gerry Adams bears both the prize and the burden of being the last prominent Provisional IRA leader, a former volunteer has told the High Court. Shane Paul ODoherty, who was jailed for 14 years over an IRA letter bomb campaign in London in the 1970s, gave evidence in the civil trial brought against the former Sinn Fein president to say he was a leading member of the Provisional IRA. The case has been brought by victims of three bombings in England: Jonathan Ganesh, who was injured in the 1996 London Docklands bombing; John Clark, a victim of the 1973 Old Bailey bombing in London; and Barry Laycock, a victim of the 1996 Arndale shopping centre bombing in Manchester. The three men allege that Mr Adams was a leading member of the Provisional IRA (PIRA) on those dates, including of its Army Council, and are seeking 1 in damages. Mr Adams denies ever being in the Provisional IRA and is defending the claim. In his witness statement for the trial, Mr ODoherty said: All PIRA volunteers who joined the PIRA in the early 1970s and thereafter were instructed to lie to everyone about their PIRA membership this meant lying to their families, whether to their parents or to their wives and children. He added: No-one took this PIRA policy to lying to such an absurd extreme as Adams. Mr ODoherty, who has been publicly critical of the IRA following his prison sentence, also described Mr Adams as suffering from the last man standing syndrome. He said: By this I mean that since so many prominent PIRA leaders are now dead, he alone bears both the prize and the burden of being the last prominent PIRA leader to bear witness to the PIRAs long and horrible campaign of terrorism including some of its worst atrocities dating from the early 1970s. Cross-examining, Edward Craven KC, for Mr Adams, said: You have never met Mr Adams, you have never spoken to him or been to a meeting with him. Yesterday was the first time in your life you have ever been in the same room as him. Mr ODoherty said: I have never personally met him, I would very much have liked to meet him and have discussions. He said later: I have never spoken to King Charles but I know hes the King. Also giving evidence was Colonel Richard Kemp, who served with the British Army in Northern Ireland in the 1980s and 1990s. He also worked for a time as an intelligence officer and he told the court that he had seen information showing Mr Adams to be in the IRA. Cross-examining, James Robottom said: You cannot tell this court how reliable that intelligence was. Col Kemp said: I cannot give very specific intelligence reports for reasons that you will understand and my memory, but I do know I saw intelligence and was briefed on intelligence for a period of around 20 years, which made it clear that Mr Adams was in the IRA. I think it is inconceivable that intelligence that was not correct would have been reported over that period of time. He added: I dont remember a piece of evidence indicating Mr Adams was in the IRA being withdrawn. The trial, before Mr Justice Swift, is due to conclude later in March. A 26-year-old man who was linked to an attempted break-in after he returned to the scene just minutes later without his face covered, has been sentenced to six months at Dundalk district court. John Keenan with an address at the time at St. Joseph's Homeless Aid, North Strand, Drogheda, who appeared before the court by video link, was charged with attempting to commit a burglary at Maxol, Dublin Road, Dundalk on August 20th 2024. Court presenter Sgt Richie Browne outlined to the court last Wednesday how a man wearing black shorts and a black jacket was captured on CCTV entering the rear bin area around 4am, where he tried to open a back door. He then opened an automatic door, but the shutters were pulled down and he was unable to gain entry. Just minutes later he returned but this time his face was not covered and he was clearly identifiable as the defendant, who was arrested the next day when he was spotted wearing the same clothing. John Keenan told gardai that he was trying to access the shop for somewhere to sleep. The defence solicitor said his client has been plagued with a drug addiction from a young age, and was addicted to crack cocaine, but he has been in custody since last August and his only future goal is to fight his addiction issues. He added Mr Keenan looks a lot healthier now than he previously had and is serving a further 12 months after part of a suspended sentence for assault causing harm was reactivated by the Circuit Court last October. He has a release date in July and must engage with the Probation service for 18 months post release and attend addiction services. Judge Derek Cooney imposed a six month sentence, adding that with remission that should not interfere with your release date. A Louth man attempting to evade members of a garda drugs unit recklessly collided with a female officer causing her serious injuries, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard. Gardai were using CCTV to monitor suspicious activity on Railway Street, Dublin 1 on the afternoon of April 11, 2024 when Jamiu Giwa (29) came to their attention. Members of the drugs unit decided to box him in and while attempting to flee, Giwa collided with the plain clothes female guard, who had identified herself as a member of An Garda Siochana and asked him to stop. She later described being hit with so much force that she felt her feet lift off the ground before she landed. Giwa also fell to the ground, then got up and ran off, without checking if the garda was okay. Two other men stopped to check on her. She initially couldn't get up due to the pain in her shoulder and was taken to hospital, where she was treated for deep tissue injuries. It was later identified that she had sustained a concussion, a fracture to her shoulder and a knee injury. The court heard that the concussion symptoms did not subside for seven weeks, and the garda was unable to work for four months. Read Next: Man (30) drove at speed through a housing estate in Louth In her victim impact statement, the female garda said she knew when she joined An Garda Siochana, that there was a risk of injury. She said she felt she had done everything correctly on the day, informing Giwa she was a garda, but he went through me instead of around me, then pushed her while on the ground to help himself get up before leaving. She said this showed a blatant disregard for my safety and welfare and that he did not care if she was okay. She said this incident has affected her physically and emotionally and led to a loss of confidence in herself and her abilities. Giwa (29) of Hoeys Lane, Dundalk, Co. Louth pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and was yesterday sentenced to two years and three months, with the final three months suspended on strict conditions. Simon Donagh BL, prosecuting, told the court that the guilty plea was entered on the basis of recklessness. Giwa was followed by other gardai and later arrested. He made admissions during interview and apologised. He has 16 previous convictions including for drugs, road traffic and theft offences. He has no previous convictions for violence and entered an early guilty plea, the court heard. An investigating garda agreed with Cathal McGreal BL, defending, that the street was narrow and busy and that the impact between Giwa and the injured party was not captured on CCTV. It was accepted that the interaction lasted around two seconds, and that during interview, Giwa apologised several times. In her impact statement, the victim said she suffered a financial loss of 7,000 including medical costs and loss of allowances. She said while she has made a good recovery, she continues to have pain and can no longer play contact sports. She said she could have to undergo surgery on her knee. Mr McGreal said his client did not intend to cause injury and was reckless, but accepts responsibility and is aware he is facing a custodial sentence. Giwa has some work history and had been trying to set up his own business. Counsel said that even if Giwa panicked at the prospect of being detained and was trying to get away, his actions were wrong. Giwa was scared and ran, recklessly disregarding the safety of Gda Doyle, Mr McGreal said. Read Next: Gardai appeal for information after alleged robbery at Dundalk petrol station Giwa has a history of cannabis use, but instructs he has not used it in a significant period of time, counsel said. A letter of apology was handed to the court. Mr McGreal asked the court to take into account his client's early guilty plea and that he has no previous convictions for violence. Imposing sentence yesterday, Tuesday, Judge Orla Crowe noted that Giwa attempted to flee in circumstances which a garda drugs unit considered to be suspicious activity. She said if he had nothing to fear, he had no reason to flee and no reason to charge into this undercover garda. She said the injured party identified herself as a garda and directed him to stop and if Giwa had followed this lawful direction, that would have been the end of the matter. Instead a garda in the middle of her career as a young officer is very seriously injured, the judge noted. The judge said she had taken into account Giwa's guilty plea, apologies and expressions of remorse. She said while Giwa was reckless in causing injury to the victim, he was deliberately running away from gardai who were carrying out important work. Judge Crowe imposed a sentence of two years and three months, suspending the final three months for two years on strict conditions. Illegal hare lurching, which is rife at this time of year, continues to take a huge toll on wildlife and on many people living in rural communities across Louth and beyond. The activity, which has been described in court by gardai as a "season scourge" sees groups of people (usually men) enter onto lands, without the permission of the landowner, with lurcher type dogs in a bid to find and kill the Irish hare. This is a crime and is punishable under the Wildlife Act. Regional Manager of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) for Limerick/North Tipperary, Dr Aine Lynch, says she gets excited when she comes across a hare out in the open now. Given the fact the protected species has been under attack for years, she says it is a rare occurrence to see them in their natural habitat. Greyhound dogs mixed with a terrier-breed are typically used in this illegal hunting activity. Their owners search for a hare, walk towards it and when the hare is frightened, a dog or dogs are set after it. The dogs are not muzzled and the purpose is to kill the hare. Usually taking place in the daytime, Dr Lynch, who has been working in this are since 2007, disclosed that the people who partake in this crime see it as a competition. Dogs that kill more hares, the owner gets more kudos. That dog is more valuable. There would be gambling involved in this activity as well too. They'd be betting on which dog will kill the most hares and if they rise a hare and kill the hare, they usually say, one up, one down and that gives credence to that dog, she said. The illegal lurching of hares has always been a quick and decisive crime. Unfortunately, this has now ramped up due to the rise in popularity (and availability) of thermal imagers. Such devices, which retail for about 3,000, locate exactly where an animal is sitting in a field, making it quicker than ever for a lurcher to pounce. READ NEXT: Dundalk Dog Rescue fundraiser quiz will take place next weekend Historically, individuals involved in this activity would have walked across fields searching for hares. However, with thermal imagers now on the market, this allows people to search from gates or gaps without trespassing on lands until they identify and locate a hare. Those involved can then get very close to the animal before releasing the dog. This takes away the advantage from the hare, which uses the element of surprise to put distance between it and the dog. According to the NPWS, since the introduction of these devices, hares have a very little chance of getting away as the thermal imagers are very effective. It's not illegal to have one. They are used legitimately when it comes to monitoring wildlife and for surveying wildlife and all of those other great advantages for having this kind of technology at our disposal but in the wrong hands for the wrong reasons, they're absolutely devastating and have a devastating outcome for the animals involved, said Dr Lynch. Thermal imaging devices are now widely available Unsurprisingly, a huge amount of planning and organisation goes into this wildlife crime. Oftentimes, individuals are travelling considerable distances to carry out this activity. It is not unusual for people from one county to hunt in another. According to Dr Lynch, some of those who partake in illegal lurching could be considered poly criminals, meaning they may well have a history of being involved in other areas of criminality such as theft, burglary, drugs, violence and domestic violence. Citing statistics gathered by the National Wildlife Crime Unit in the UK, where illegal lurching is also an issue, those who conduct this crime tend to have prior offences across many categories. The illegal hunting of hares using lurchers is a widespread issue and usually occurs from September until the end of March. This is most popular time for the activity to take place. The NPWS receive reports regarding the crime throughout the year from many counties, including Cork, Limerick, Kerry, Clare, Galway, Offaly, Tipperary, Kildare, Louth, Wexford, Carlow, Waterford and Donegal. Pictured is the Regional Manager of National Parks and Wildlife Service for Limerick/North Tipperary, Dr Aine Lynch In many cases, repeat offenders are identified as well as the next generation. For example, in certain instances, the NPWS has encountered sons or grandsons of individuals who were on their radar years ago. In order to tackle this wildlife crime, the NPWS regularly conducts multiagency checkpoints and successful joint operations with An Garda Siochana and other bodies, such as the ISPCA, across the country. There is a joint protocol between An Garda Siochana, who are very proactive in dealing with illegal lurching and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The organisation also liaises with local coursing clubs, hunting groups and gun clubs in a bid to tackle this ongoing issue. NPWS staff attend public meetings across the country and they also carry out regular patrols to detect, disrupt and deter this wildlife crime. As more and more landowners are now alert to the issue, an increasing number of prosecutions are coming before the courts arising from complaints. It's not just a wildlife crime, it's a crime. It may lead to other crimes. People feel violated by people entering onto their lands who they don't know and oftentimes, if they challenge these individuals, they'll be met with verbal aggression and, in some cases, physical aggression. We've all read about those very unfortunate cases where farmers have been attacked by these individuals when they've asked them to leave their land or told them that they can't do what they're doing, Dr Lynch commented. In recent months, several courts have heard how gardai identified offenders who had travelled from outside of their home counties to engage in illegal hunting - often in large groups. The garda advice to landowners, who are often elderly and vulnerable, is to contact them as soon as they are alerted to intruders on their lands and to never confront those involved. Those on the ground who are tasked with enforcing the legislation would like to see tougher penalties apply, tougher sanctions apply. Currently, those charged with illegal lurching in Irish Courts typically receive a Class A fine, however, there are certain offences under the Wildlife Act that do carry a custodial sentence. If you are convicted of offences under this Act, they are criminal convictions that do stay on your record. In one recent prosecution in County Limerick a judge banned a young man from entering the village where the offence occurred while in another case, it was noted that disqualifications can be imposed on those who allow their vehicles to be used by anybody engaging in criminal behaviour, including trespassing on lands. The Wildlife Act is currently undergoing a review, which, in addition to hopefully strengthening the protections already in place for wildlife, will also seek to review and strengthen the penalties for those who engage in wildlife crime. Those who have interests or concerns about Irelands natural heritage are encouraged to give their opinion on the review of the legislation here. A large crowd attended a public meeting in Tipperary earlier this year Other species are also hunted illegally using dogs. When deer are illegally hunted, a slightly larger lurcher-type dog may be used. As well as thermal imagers, individuals tend to use lamps to dazzle and confuse the animal before the attack takes place. The dog will often go for the throat of the deer and hang out of it, making it a very slow and painful death, with Dr Lynch saying: Licensed deer hunting in Ireland is where people use a rifle and its quick and its humane, whereas this is just disgusting. Badger digging and baiting is another widespread issue that the NPWS deals with on a regular basis. Typically in this practice, individuals use a mixture of Terriers and lurcher-type bullhound dogs. They send a terrier underground and use the dog below to locate where the badgers are. They then dig with shovels and use the dog to pull the badger out. In some instances, they'll set the bigger dog on that badger right there and in other instances, they may take the badger away and use it for baiting at a premises with other dogs. Essentially, it's dogfighting, said Dr Lynch. Illegal lurching can cause local extinctions, particularly of hares, since the use of thermal imagers has become so widespread. While there are other reasons that contribute to the loss of this species, if the number of hares in a locality have been reduced by these other elements, it's very easy then when these guys (hunters) come in to just wipe out what's left. Illegal lurching of hares is unfortunately a criminal activity that has always been there much like the illegal hunting of badgers and deer. Its an activity that causes a lot of hurt and distress to landowners because it's a violation of their space, the act itself is also very cruel. It is a crime because the Irish hare is protected by law and its illegal to hunt it in this manner, Dr Lynch stated. It is also illegal to enter onto land for the purpose of hunting any wildlife, including rabbits and foxes, unless you have the permission of the landowner. If you see or suspect illegal lurching or any wildlife crime taking place, please report it. All reports are welcome, taken seriously and treated in confidence. Reports would ideally include the location, type of activity, numbers of individuals involved and the registrations of any vehicles associated with the activity. Such information should only be gathered if safe to do so. Wildlife crimes can be reported to the National Parks and Wildlife Service via your local Conservation Ranger, to WildlifeEnforcement@npws.gov.ie or to An Garda Siochana via the 999 emergency number. Louth County Council has welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Housing James Browne of 8.8 million in funding for Louth under the 2026 Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme (EERP). The announcement saw Louth receive the fourth-highest allocation in the country. Louth County Council have said the investment will support the energy upgrade of 220 social homes in Louth in 2026. However, that is short of its original target of 300 and previously told councillors it is hopeful of reaching 200. With this latest allocation, a total of 935 social homes in the county will have been upgraded to a B2 energy rating or better by the end of this year. This represents a cumulative investment of 32.2 million in improving Louths social housing stock. The programme delivers warmer, healthier and more energyefficient homes for tenants through a range of significant upgrade works, including external wall insulation, the installation of heat pump systems, window and door replacement, attic insulation, and ventilation improvements. Read Next: Calls for stricter punishments for antisocial behaviour in Louth Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, Cllr. Sean Kelly, said: "This funding means that hundreds more families will benefit from homes that are warmer, healthier and more comfortable to live in. For households across the county, these upgrades will make a real difference. They lower energy bills, improve air quality, and make homes warmer and more comfortable." "At a time when the cost of living continues to challenge many people, ensuring that our social housing tenants can live in homes that are affordable to heat is crucial. I want to thank the Minister and the Department for their continued support of this vital programme, which is delivering tangible benefits to communities across Louth." Under the scheme, priority will be given to older persons dwellings, homes adapted for persons with disabilities, properties that have not previously benefited from shallow retrofit works, and homes with boilers or windows approaching the end of their lifespan. Assessments are already underway to identify which homes will be retrofitted in 2026. Director of Services, Housing and Cultural Delivery, Louth County Council, Ger Murphy, added: "Upgrading our existing housing stock is one of the most important things we can do to ensure longterm sustainability, comfort and energy efficiency for our tenants. The Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme has become a cornerstone of our approach to housing asset management. Retrofitting not only extends the lifespan of homes, it also significantly improves their performance, reduces carbon emissions and supports our commitments as a public body under national energy and climate action plans." "This continued investment allows us to modernise homes at scale while contributing meaningfully to Irelands climate and energy targets," he said. Louth County Council completed 140 retrofits in 2025, a drop from 205 in 2023 and 150 in 2024. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme. As Senior Cycle Reform reshapes how students across Ireland are taught and assessed, De La Salle College in Dundalk is among the first in the country to move early in preparing students for the digital requirements now embedded in the curriculum. The Governments reform programme marks a significant shift away from reliance on final written exams and toward continuous assessment, digital portfolios and project-based components that must be researched, completed and submitted online. By 2029, forty percent of students final marks in all subjects will be attributed to the additional assessment components completed in school. In response, De La Salle College introduced a structured programme enabling each 5th Year student to use their own personal Windows laptop for learning, in partnership with Wriggle Learning, as part of the transition to the reformed Senior Cycle by preparing students for a new continuous assessment model. The focus was not just on introducing devices, but on delivering a smooth and structured transition. Each laptop was fully configured for classroom use from day one, including security, management systems and access to required software and learning platforms, allowing teaching and learning to remain the priority. Cian ONaraigh, Acting Deputy Principal of De La Salle College, said: The whole process of working with Wriggle has been very smooth. From planning and configuration through to deployment, the service and rollout were seamless. Our staff and students felt fully supported at every stage, which meant we could focus on teaching and learning rather than technical issues. Read also: Dundalk IT receives National TrustEd Ireland Quality Mark for International Education "Digital learning is now embedded across a wide range of subjects, supporting research, collaboration, project-based work and organisation. Students are developing the digital skills now required under the reformed Senior Cycle, ensuring they are not at a disadvantage as expectations evolve nationwide. "The programme provides reassurance that students are adapting to the new curriculum within a supported and structured environment. Technology is improving access to learning materials, enabling collaboration and helping students build confidence in skills that will benefit them in further education and future careers. Sean Glynn, Chief Learning Officer at Wriggle Learning, said: Senior Cycle Reform has fundamentally changed expectations around digital competence in schools. What makes the difference is how that change is implemented. "At De La Salle College, the rollout was carefully managed and classroom ready from day one. That smooth transition allows teachers to focus on learning and ensures students are fully prepared for the new assessment model. Following the successful introduction of 1:1 devices in 5th Year in 2025, the school plans to continue the rollout across Senior Cycle in 2026 and beyond. As the reformed Senior Cycle continues to reshape classrooms across Ireland, it is hoped that De La Salle Colleges early adoption ensures Dundalk students are prepared, supported and ready for a curriculum where digital learning is now a requirement. Click the 'Next >' arrow above or 'Next Story' below to go through the gallery Network Ireland Louth together with LEO Louth hosted the event, From Start Up to Scale Up, as the International Womens Day Event 2026 during Local Enterprise Week at The Gateway Hotel, Dundalk on Thursday 5 March. The event was a celebration of women in business at every stage of their journey. Hosted by experienced business consultant and mentor Geraldine Johnston, this unique two-panel event brought together the key supports available to female entrepreneurs. Featuring representatives from Enterprise Ireland, Awaken Angels, LEO Louth, Thrive, and Network Ireland the first panel shared insights on funding, mentorship and development opportunities available locally and nationally. The second panel shone a spotlight on four inspiring female founders at different stages of business - from start-up to scaling, as they shared their experiences, challenges and the vital supports that have helped shape their growth journeys. All photos: Jenny Callanan Pictured above: Geraldine Johnston from Boyne Communications with panel Sarah Mallon, Enterprise Ireland, Pauline Clarke, Network Louth President, Lavina McGahon, Thrive DKIT, Denise McQuaid, Awaken Angels and Grainne McKeown, LEO Louth We want your photos to feature on the website via our Camera Club. Do you have a great photo from life in the locality? Whether its a party, wedding, communion, landscape, a quirky shot from your archives, or a simple everyday moment, we want your snapshots. We are inviting people to share photos that capture the spirit of the county. From special occasions to quieter moments, your pictures help tell the story of everyday life in our community. To submit: Go to the Camera Club page and follow the instructions to upload your photo. Include your name, where it was taken, and a short caption if you can. Your photo could be featured on our website and newspaper and seen by readers across the county and beyond. TAP HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR PICTURES TODAY Kneecap rapper Liam Og O hAnnaidh will not face a terror trial after judges at the High Court rejected a Crown Prosecution Service appeal against the decision to throw out the case. The rapper, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was accused of displaying a flag in support of proscribed terror organisation Hezbollah at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, on November 21 2024. But the case was thrown out in September last year, with chief magistrate Paul Goldspring ruling the proceedings were instituted unlawfully. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) appealed against the decision at the High Court at a hearing in January, with the Kneecap rapper opposing the challenge. In a judgment on Wednesday, two judges at the High Court upheld the decision and dismissed the CPS appeal. Judge Goldspring had agreed with O hAnnaidhs lawyers that prosecutors needed to seek the Attorney Generals permission to charge the rapper before informing him on May 21 that he would be charged with a terror offence. This permission was sought and given the following day, which the court heard meant the charge fell outside the six-month time frame in which criminal charges against a defendant can be brought. Lord Justice Edis, sitting with Mr Justice Linden, said in Wednesdays decision that the judge was right to hold that he had no jurisdiction to try any summary-only offence alleged to have been committed on that date. He said: The respondent has not been tried for his alleged conduct on November 21 2025 and will not be tried. He has not been convicted, and he has not been acquitted. In a statement provided through his lawyers, O hAnnaidh said after the decision: I owe eternal gratitude to my legal team, who left no stone unturned in ensuring justice was upheld. This entire process was never about me, never about any threat to the public and never about terrorism, a word used by the British Government to discredit people you oppress both in Ireland and across the world. It was always about Palestine and about what happens if you dare to speak up. About what happens if you can reach large groups of people and expose their hypocrisy. I will not be silent. Kneecap will not be silent. Speaking at a press conference in Belfast shortly after the ruling, O hAnnaidh said: This is bigger than us whatever kind of stress that we felt, its minimal compared to the stress put on the families in Gaza. Well continue to use whatever platform we have to talk about Gaza, he added, saying the band has lost gigs and been restricted as a result of the court proceedings. He later said: We said we would fight you in your court and we would win we have, three times now. Your own High Court has ruled against you. The pathetic thing about this whole process is that you falsely tried to label me a terrorist, when it is the British government ministers that are arming and assisting a genocide in Gaza. The CPS said we accept the judgment and will update our processes accordingly after the ruling. A spokesperson added: The High Court has clarified how the law applies to the issuing of written charges in summary offences where Attorney General permission is required for the Director of Public Prosecutions to consent to a prosecution. In the 13-page decision, Lord Justice Edis said the decision turned on a very narrow and technical legal issue and has nothing to do with whether the respondent committed the offence set out in the charge. Lord Justice Edis said the proceedings against the rapper were instituted on May 21 2025, rather than at a later date in the time limit. He continued: It is a matter of concern that a charge which both the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Attorney General considered met both parts of the full code test for crown prosecutors will never now be determined. There was, they decided, a realistic prospect of conviction and the prosecution was in the public interest. We have not investigated the reasons for this failure and nor do we seek to attribute blame. U.S. probes fertilizer makers as Iran war pushes farmers' cost higher Xinhua) 10:10, March 11, 2026 LOS ANGELES, March 10 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Justice Department has opened an antitrust probe into major fertilizer producers as farmers face much higher costs due to market concentration and supply disruptions amid the Iran war. The U.S. administration has been tracking the spike in fertilizer prices as the Department of Agriculture (USDA) data show an over 60 percent rise in fertilizer cost between 2021 and early 2026, USDA Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke Lindberg told Politico on Tuesday. Nitrogen fertilizer prices climbed about 95 percent, while potash prices increased more than 70 percent, according to the data. The current investigation targets Nutrien, Mosaic, CF Industries Holdings, Koch and Yara International over potential price-fixing and collusion. Together, the companies control a large share of the U.S. fertilizer market. The probe is in its early stages and is being handled by the Justice Department's Antitrust Division. Investigators are examining pricing practices for possible civil and criminal antitrust violations, including whether a small group of dominant companies coordinated prices in a market where farmers have limited alternatives. Some industry associations said that consolidation in the fertilizer sector, combined with anti-dumping and countervailing duties on some imports, has left farmers exposed to high and volatile input costs. Politico reported that the latest price spike appears closely tied to geopolitical developments. Shipping disruptions tied to the conflict involving Iran have cut tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for Middle East fertilizer exports, raising concerns about access to fertilizers just as U.S. farmers prepare fields for spring planting. The Progressive Farmer, a U.S. agricultural magazine, reported benchmark urea barge prices at New Orleans rose from about 475 U.S. dollars per metric ton to 520-550 dollars within a week of the strikes. Egyptian urea export prices also rose to around 550 dollars per metric ton in the days after the conflict began. The International Food Policy Research Institute warned last week that as much as one-third of global fertilizer trade could be affected by a closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Farmers say the price surge is already affecting their decisions. Missouri grain farmer Blake Hurst told Yahoo Finance on Tuesday that urea on his farm is now 30-50 percent more expensive than before the Iran conflict. Some growers are considering shifting acres from corn to soybeans, which require less nitrogen. Analysts say the jump in nitrogen prices could reduce U.S. corn plantings by about 4,000-6,000 square km. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) The Tanaiste said he is open to spending more on defence as he placed an emphasis on security during the upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Simon Harris said this could include accessing EU loans to address gaps in defence capabilities. In a speech at the Irish embassy in Paris to mark the Saint Patricks Day period, Mr Harris said Irelands presidency in the second half of 2026 would involve working with other member states to make Europe more secure. The Tanaiste then gifted a glass bowl of shamrock to Benjamin Haddad, Frances minister delegate for European affairs, as a symbol of the relationship between the two countries. Mr Haddad told the same event that France would be a key partner and supporter of Irelands presidency, which he said came at a critical moment for the continent. In this moment, we can agree that we need a strong European voice on international affairs. We need a strong Europe which will come first with the deepening of our competitiveness. In reference to the invasion of Ukraine, Mr Haddad said Russia represents a threat to European democracies and their infrastructure. We also need to strengthen the common European industrial defence base. He added: We need to accelerate in the next 12 months to continue to reduce our dependencies and to increase the ability for Europeans to take ownership of their own security and defence. Mr Haddad said this would be absolutely critical in times of war and with questions arising over Europes relationship with the US. Asked afterwards if Ireland was coming under pressure to increase defence spending from EU counterparts, Mr Harris told reporters he was open to spending more. He said the State was spending more on defence than ever before and was significantly and speedily increasing our capabilities. He said France had been a very important source in boosting defence capabilities through Government-to-Government procurement in the sector. He said he would also be open to having a conversation around Ireland applying to the Council of the European Unions Safe loan scheme for defence measures. As finance minister, Im open to spending more in relation to defence. Mr Harris said gardai and the Defence Forces are working really hard on preparations for the presidency. Asked about the threat of drone incursions, he added: Many European countries, including some who spend very large sums of money on defence, have seen incursions into the airspace and the likes. I think its less about whether that happens and more about how you respond, and Im confident Irish authorities will know how to respond correctly should such an incursion happen. Elsewhere at the reception, Mr Harris met the Ambassador of Ukraine to France. In a speech, he told the Ukrainian embassy staff that: I want you to know on this Saint Patricks Day period Ireland stands with you and Europe stands with you for as long as it takes. Because while there is a brutal illegal war on your territory and your country, it is an attack on all of our values and security. The Tanaiste also met with the ambassadors to France from Lebanon and Palestine. He said he was particularly concerned about the security situation in Lebanon, where Irish peacekeepers are stationed, and told the Palestinian diplomat that Ireland would always stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine. Mr Harriss itinerary also involves a meeting with French Finance Minister Roland Lescure and engagements with Irish businesses in the country. In the years after World War II, Saint-Lo in Normandy carried an epithet that was as brutal as it was accurate: the Capital of the Ruins. The town had been all but wiped off the map in the aftermath of the D-Day landings in 1944. Streets, churches, homes, and the ordinary institutions that make a town were blown apart, levelled, or reduced to jagged shells. Even after the guns fell silent, the misery continued: infection in temporary shelters, pregnancies without proper maternity care, injuries that never healed cleanly, and the slow grind of malnutrition, cold, and exhaustion. It was into that landscape that Ireland - neutral in the war years, but not untouched by the moral weight of Europes catastrophe - sent a remarkable gift: a complete, working hospital built from wooden huts, staffed by Irish doctors, nurses and administrators under the Irish Red Cross, and offered free of charge to the people of Saint-Lo. The official opening of lHopital de la Croix Rouge Irlandaise took place on April 7, 1946. Its wards treated the wounded and the sick; its maternity service delivered babies in a town where so much else had been destroyed; and its presence became, for a brief period, one of the most tangible expressions of Irish humanitarian action beyond the island. How did it come about? In wartime, offers were made to the Red Cross of all belligerent countries to send children to Ireland, and to accept a civilian hospital. The French Red Cross accepted both offers, and Colonel T.J. McKinney, Director of the Army Medical Corps and member of the Irish and French Red Cross, made the original survey of suitable areas. Miss E. Clare Olden of Cork, Secretary of the hospital in Saint-Lo, who found a husband in France The selection was Saint-Lo, and there it was decided to establish a completely equipped 100-bed hospital staffed by Irish doctors, nurses, and administrative personnel. The MV Menapia sailed from Ireland on August 14, 1945, with 170 tons of supplies. This included a general operating theatre, OP department, X-ray department, electrical generators, an autoclave, six ambulances, and a lorry. A supply of penicillin and blood plasma for transfusion purposes was carefully stored on board, while, more prosaically, 15 tons of turf briquettes were listed on the ships manifest. The advance party comprised doctors McKee, Darley, Gaffney, Kitty Sullivan, and a cohort of nursing staff. On their arrival, not one hut was yet habitable, and they lived under the most punitive conditions with no running water, light, electricity, or furniture. The interpreter/storekeeper was none other than Samuel Beckett, who would go on to great fame as a playwright and author. He had served with the Maquis, the French Resistance during the war, and had had to go on the run when his circle was betrayed. As more staff from Ireland arrived, and with the assistance of the French (and eight Prisoners-of-War), by Christmas, 1945, the hospital was in able to accept its first in-patients. The first baby was born on Christmas Eve, his delighted French parents christening him Patrick Noel in honour of the Irish. For Cork people, the Saint-Lo hospital was not only a national story. It was also a local story: a tale that ran through Cork newspapers, Red Cross branches, and homes. Newspapers reported a large proportion of the dressings and medical supplies with which the hospital is equipped were made by Cork volunteers. To understand why Saint-Lo mattered in Cork, you have to begin at home. During the Emergency, Ireland lived with black-out regulations and rationing, and with the anxiety of sea warfare and exploding mines off the coast, occasional air raids, and with the awkward reality of neutrality on an island where family and trade ties ran in every direction. The official position of the state was to stay out of the conflict - but the public did not live in a vacuum. In spite of official censorship, they could still inform themselves about the war. They heard the names of places they knew: Normandy beaches, French towns, and the battlefronts that were rewriting history. The Irish Red Cross provided a channel through which ordinary concern could become organised action. By wars end, a practical question emerged: could Ireland contribute something concrete to relief on the continent without abandoning neutralitys legal and political framework? The answer was a hospital. The Red Cross explored the idea of setting up a hospital earlier in the war, but conditions - and the urgent needs of a civilian population - made it difficult. When the French Red Cross accepted the hospital offer, the project became an exercise in logistics as much as compassion: huts and equipment to be gathered and erected; staff to be recruited and organised; and a functioning medical service to be created, essentially from scratch, in a ruined town. Leslie Bean de Barra, of Cork, who was at the forefront of the effort to advance the hospital project in France after World War II. The wife of IRA leader Tom Barry, in 1979 she was conferred with the International Red Crosss highest honour, the Henri Dunant Medal In Cork, the Saint-Lo story did not arrive fully formed as a piece of national legend. It arrived in small, practical bursts: a notice in the papers; a meeting of local Red Cross officers; a rumour that one of our own had been selected for a particular post; an article about a ship sailing with doctors and nurses; and later, an announcement noting the hospitals opening. At the forefront of the effort to advance the hospital project was Leslie, bean de Barra, wife of the legendary Old IRA commander, Tom Barry, who lived with her husband over Woodford, Bournes store on Patrick Street. She was an early volunteer to the Cork Red Cross when the branch was formed in 1939. A capable, energetic woman, noted for her meticulous planning, diplomacy, and attention to detail, Leslie (nee Price), a Dubliner, came from a nationalist family and was active during the Easter Rising, the War of Independence and the Civil War, becoming Director of Cumann na mBan. On August 21, 1921, she married Tom in Cork, two of the principal guests being Michael Collins and Eamon de Valera. Just a year and a day later, the Big Fella was dead, Dev was on the run, and Tom was incarcerated in Kilmainham Gaol. Mrs Barry, as a member of the Central Council and Executive of the Irish Red Cross, was central to the organisation and planning of the new hospital. In the years ahead she would be President and Chairman of the Irish Red Cross, was instrumental in the setting-up of the VHI in 1957, and, in 1979 was conferred with the International Red Crosss highest honour, the Henri Dunant Medal. She passed in 1984. In practical terms, the hospital required experienced nurses, midwives, medical staff, and administrators. Cork had hospitals, training schools, and a strong tradition of voluntary service that made it a fertile recruiting ground. Helping to pull all the various strands of medical and lay cadres together was the hospitals Secretary, Miss E. Clare Olden of Cork, daughter of Mr and Mrs Charles Olden. Charles, a senior partner with Atkins and Chirnside, Auditors, South Mall, had been another early volunteer to Corks wartime Red Cross and held the rank of Adjutant with the division. His daughter promptly volunteered her services to the undertaking, leaving for France in October, 1945. Her excellent French and book-keeping skills would prove invaluable to the project. For the young Cork woman, romance blossomed amid the ruins and she went on to tie the knot with a member of the British forces stationed in nearby Bayeaux. At the heart of the Saint-Lo hospitals day-to-day success was its Matron, Mary Frances Crowley. Later celebrated as a pioneer in nurse education and as a key figure in Irish professional nursing, Crowley brought to Saint-Lo not only clinical skill but the ability to build a disciplined, functioning service in difficult conditions. Born in Wexford, she had strong ties to West Cork in her formative years. The Matrons job at Saint-Lo was relentless. This was not a hospital that could rely on stable supply chains or established buildings. It was created from prefabricated huts; staff were far from home; and the town around them was still devastated, and under reconstruction. Red Cross staff at lHopital de la Croix Rouge Irlandaise in Saint Lo Mary Frances role involved organising nursing rosters, ensuring standards of hygiene, supervising maternity and general wards, and maintaining the morale and professionalism of staff living in a difficult environment. The later recognition awarded to the staff by France reflected the impact of their service - and Crowleys leadership was central to that. The physical act of creating the hospital was itself a kind of statement: a refusal to accept ruined places must remain ruined. Irish personnel and local labour assembled a cluster of huts - a modest settlement of medical purpose - that could provide 100 beds and the essential services of a general hospital. The 25 huts were arranged in groups of three, connected by a long corridor giving access to all the wards, the kitchen, operating theatre, X-ray department, OP department, dispensary and laboratory, the whole complex being centrally heated. The Cork Examiner reflected that, to the inhabitants of the most desolate of towns destroyed during the war, the hospital seems like an oasis in the midst of their very drab existence. It noted, without a trace of irony, that they even had glass in the windows! One of the hospitals most moving legacies was the number of births associated with it. Later summaries often note that around 180 babies were born there in 1946. In a town whose population had lived through destruction and displacement, those births became living symbols of recovery. Corks contribution to the Irish hospital at Saint-Lo is best understood not only as a matter of how many Cork names appear on a staff list (important though that is), but as a civic relationship: Cork as a place that heard the call, helped staff and sustain the mission, and has continued to claim the story as part of its own record of service. The final word on the Irish hospital at Saint-Lo must go to Dr Paddy McNicholas. On the day of the official opening on April 7, 1946, the French authorities pulled out all the stops to honour the Irish in every way imaginable. The town - or what remained of it - was decked out in the tricolours of Ireland and France, colourful loral arrangements were everywhere, and dignitaries were a dime a dozen. Seven long speeches were delivered. The French sent their best Naval Band from Cherbourg to provide the music for the day. Dr McNicholas recalled: The French naval band, unaccustomed to the liquid refreshments sent in caseloads by Jameson and Guinness from Dublin, drank the Irish whiskey neat, and by the end of the evening they were all laid low on top of, or underneath, the tables! Postscript: In 2015, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary, a granite memorial, on which the names of the staff at the lHopital de la Croix Rouge Irlandaise are inscribed, was unveiled at the site of the former complex at Saint-Lo. The owner of an American pit bull terrier dog that attacked another dog while out for a walk has pleaded guilty to two charges in the district court. Court presenter Sergeant Trish OSullivan told Macroom District Court that a woman was out walking her cockapoo-shih tzu mix dog at 9.35pm on August 19, 2025. While she was walking her dog near the De La Salle College grounds she saw a man walking two dogs coming in the opposite direction. The man identified as Mariusz Szulhan, aged 49 of Sunnyside, Macroom, Co. Cork was walking a spaniel-type dog and an American pit bull terrier. The court heard that Szulhan removed the lead of the pit bull to allow it to walk in a green area and momentarily lost sight of the spaniel which went off in another direction. The court heard that CCTV evidence showed the pit bull approaching the woman and the cockapoo. Sgt OSullivan said the pit bull attacked the small cockapoo dog and picked it up and shook it. Szulhan went to the aid of the woman and they both ended up on the ground trying to separate the dogs which they eventually managed to do. The court was told the woman was bitten on her left forearm and had to receive medical treatment including painkillers, antibiotics and a tetanus shot. The small dog also had to be treated for puncture wounds. The court heard Szulhan also received injuries himself. The court was told Szulhan had no previous convictions and only took ownership of the pit bull because it would have been abandoned by its previous owners who were his neighbours. Szulhan accepted that as a restricted breed the dog should not have been off the lead and should have been muzzled. Judge Joanne Carroll said that as Szulhan was pleading guilty, had no previous convictions and did at least try to stop it, she would not impose a suspended sentence. For having the dog unmuzzled in a public place he was fined 350 with four months to pay, for failing to control the dog he was also fined 350 and given six months to pay the fine. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme. A serial fraudster who duped three unsuspecting individuals out of a total of 10,000 has avoided a prison sentence because he has fully compensated the injured parties. The accused man, 33-year-old Patrick Barrett of Lisladeen, Berrings, Co Cork, appeared for sentencing before Judge Joanne Carroll at Macroom District Court. Barrett had previously pleaded guilty to three counts of making gain or causing loss by deception contrary to Section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001. On May 21, 2021, he defrauded an individual of 6,000; on February 6, 2022, he accepted 1,400 for the sale of a Citroen Berlingo van in Macroom, despite not being the owner of the vehicle and on October 7, 2022, he obtained 2,600 in Leap, Co Cork, by deception through the use of a cheque. Barrett claimed he had carried out the deceptions to help his father, who was in a difficult financial situation. Barrett had previously agreed to bring 2,000 in compensation to court but failed to do so and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest. When he appeared at Bandon District Court in November 2025 without any compensation, he was remanded in custody. In December 2025, defence solicitor Sean Cahill told Macroom District Court that Barrett had finally raised the compensation by selling his van for 8,000 and he was remanded on bail to allow time for the preparation of a probation report. Judge Joanne Carroll said: Really this man deserves to go to prison and if he had been one penny short he would have. For the May 2021 fraud he was sentenced to 100 hours community service in lieu of five months in prison. For the fraudulent vehicle sale in in February 2022 he was sentenced to five months in prison suspended for two years. For the cheque deception in Leap he was also sentenced to five months in prison suspended for two years. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme. A transition-year team from a West Cork school has won a national competition that explores the key issues facing Irish agriculture and sustainable beef production. Students from Sacred Heart Secondary School, Clonakilty, won this years Certified Irish Angus schools national final in Croke Park. There were 180 entries, with 50 secondary schools advancing to Croke Park, before five finalists were selected. Each finalist team developed research on the future of sustainable beef farming, covering themes such as farm technology, environmental performance, consumer awareness, soil health, carbon efficiency, and the global positioning of Irish beef. The competitions programme provides students with insight in to the beef supply chain and the roles of sustainability, genetics, animal welfare, and environmental management in modern farming. St Brendans Community School, from Birr in Co Offaly, was the runner-up. Increasing awareness The theme of Sacred Heart Secondary Schools entry was increasing awareness of the Certified Irish Angus brand, highlighting breeding efficiency, farm profitability, and consumer education. St Brendans Community Schools theme was demonstrating how small, practical adjustments, including soil-health planning and carbon-measurement tools, can improve sustainability on beef farms. Michael Moynihan, minister of state with responsibility for special education and inclusion at the Department of Education and Youth, spoke at the final and viewed the projects. Also in attendance was Dermot McGrath, meat, fish, poultry, and egg technical manager for Tesco Ireland. The competition is supported by beef-processing companies ABP and Kepak, in partnership with the Certified Irish Angus producer group. Kevin Cahill, managing director of ABP Ireland, congratulated the students from Sacred Heart Secondary School. The competition showcases the depth of talent, innovation, and practical thinking among young people interested in agriculture, he said. These students are engaging directly with the real challenges and opportunities facing Irish beef production, including sustainability and carbon efficiency, consumer awareness, and farm technology. Gardai say there are not enough youth detention spaces in Ireland to combat a surge in car theft and thefts from cars across Cork city. Cork gardai are urging people to lock their vehicles and remove all valuables because a group of youths is targeting residential estates across the city and its suburbs. There have been several reports of stolen vehicles and thefts from vehicles in recent weeks, with a particular increase at the end of last month, according to Sergeant Michael OConnell, of Anglesea St Garda Station. Speaking to The Echo, Sgt OConnell said an operation has been put in place to tackle the surge, but as the individuals involved are in their mid- to late teens, there is a process to follow. We have a unit out there trying to track these guys, and we have been successful in catching a number of them, bringing them before the courts and charging them, said Sgt OConnell. But, he added: Some of them have spent a little bit of time in custody, but theres not enough room. Sgt OConnell noted that the Oberstown detention centre is the only detention centre for in the country for children. The garda said that while the group of young opportunistic criminals currently targeting cars in Cork are non-violent, vehicle-related theft has become an issue in the city. These individuals are travelling the city suburbs, covering the northside, southside, east and west in the evening time, said Sgt OConnell. They walk through estates, they try cars, and if they gain access, they take things. Examples of things taken would be cash, credit and debit cards, laptops, headphones, and phones. We had one example where someone got into a car, opened the glovebox, got 50 out of the centre console and a set of headphones they tried them on, took a look at themselves, shook their head and put them back. They didnt throw them away, they just didnt like the look of them or the colour, and placed them back inside but we later valued those headphones at 250. We understand people are busy with their lives, but were appealing for people to take a moment when they come home to make sure their cars are locked. With a lot of modern cars, when the wing mirrors are out, the chances are theyre open and that indicates to these individuals to try but weve seen from CCTV and doorbell footage that if the door is locked, theyll keep going. Sgt OConnell also said these youths will typically target non-European imports for joyrides, as they have fewer preventative mechanisms than European models. Cork is a safe place generally, but these are the cars that have been broken into with the objective of stealing them, said Sgt OConnell. These cars dont have any immobilisers so theyre the cars they go after. With a simple implement like a screwdriver, they can be hot-wired, so having a steering or gear lock will stop them from breaking into the car. Once they get the car, theyll use it for a couple of days or a couple of hours, theyll go to a petrol station, fill it, and drive off without paying so thats another crime. Sgt OConnell said the cars are often found parked in a residential or urban areas. They dont look for a chase, they dont crash it or burn it they see it as something they can use again, so they park it properly to draw less attention. Theyre not trashing cars, theyre not damaging them theyre like stealth missiles. Sgt OConnell said this is a crime of opportunity that can be prevented if more motorists ensured their cars were properly secured. Met Eireann has issued a status yellow wind warning for all of Ireland including Cork. The national forecaster, which issued the warning yesterday evening, said all 26 counties can expect strong and gusty south-westerly winds during the latter half of this week. The warning will come into effect from midnight on Wednesday and will remain in place until 6pm on Thursday. Potential impacts include difficult travelling conditions, debris or displaced loose objects and some fallen branches or trees. A small craft warning for all coasts of Ireland, issued on Sunday, will also remain in place until midnight on Wednesday. Met Eireann has said that those using the indicated waterways should be aware that south-easterly winds, veering south-westerly, will reach up to force 6 or higher. For more information, visit: https://www.met.ie/. On what is widely considered the biggest week of the year in horse racing, the Cheltenham Festival kicked off yesterday with strong Irish support, as usual. Although many people travelled to the event from Cork, many more will be soaking up the atmosphere right here on Leeside. The Echo paid a visit to The Castle pub in Glanmire for the opening day and the venue was packed with punters gripped by the horse racing action on every screen. For Paul Harris, from Glanmire, the anticipation of Cheltenham is something he looks forward to every year. Paul Harris (in front) has a laugh with Leslie OSullivan, Keith OCallaghan, and Rob Dwan. He said: I come here every year with the lads. We take a week off work for it. There is a great atmosphere. Cheltenham brings a load of people together. We are all working and busy. The only time we see one another and that we can have a few days with one another is around the festival. He added that the next day, he will get up, shower, have breakfast, and be back down at The Castle again. Soaking up the atmosphere Another Glanmire native soaking up the racing atmosphere was Cian OSullivan. He said: I have been looking forward to it all year. I have been looking forward to it since Christmas. I am working out in Belgium and I flew home for the week. Mr OSullivan will be heading over to England to catch the end of Cheltenham. I am heading over on Thursday morning, flying out of Dublin. I am bringing my father over its his Christmas present. This is the last thing on his bucket list. He said he has been threatening to go over the last few years. He added: Its all systems go now for Thursday. Highlight Between now and Friday, when the highlight the Cheltenham Gold Cup takes place, bars and venues across Cork are anticipating a roaring trade. Horse racing fans enjoy the atmosphere at The Castle pub in Glanmire as the first day of the Cheltenham Festival gets under way. Pictures: Larry Cummins For James Jeffrey, marketing manager at The Castle, this is one of the most enjoyable working weeks of his year. He said: The last four or five weeks, it has been building up. We have got the Cheltenham buster board up and a busy atmosphere. A lot of people are in today and it will only get busier and busier as the week goes on. Gold Cup day will be huge here. It is a very enjoyable week. The mood is good. Everyone is on a high, so its great. Joe Walsh from Ballycotton has a self-described ferocious gra for fishing, probably born from his familys long involvement in the industry. His father set up Ballycotton Seafoods in the 1980s. Dad started off small and interest evolved. He was encouraged by Darina Allen and the late Myrtle Allen of Ballymaloe House and Cookery School, They put a fair stamp on what he was doing. He opened up his first shop in 1985 and it grew from there, he says. It is now run by Joes brother. Joe set up his own company, Paulona Seafoods, in 2001 supplying fresh Irish seafood to local and European markets. He is now offering the Irish industry something it has never had previously online fish auctioning. Its a change of mindset for fishermen and a change of direction for the Irish market. If every other European country is doing it, why are we not? Walsh says. He is partnering with French seafood auction house, CCI Finistere, aligned with the Guilvinic auction, offering buyers online bidding opportunities for freshly caught Irish fish in real time. The live online auction takes place twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays, and has access to 260 buyers, creating greater income by directly opening up the French market where demand for fresh, high quality whole fish is strong, according to Mr Walsh. It is a new business direction for him and, by 2028, he hopes to diversify sales channels, so that 95% of sales will happen through the online auction. Before each auction, landed fish is graded for quality and prepared for auction. He says Paulona Seafoods has 25 fishing vessels landing catch specifically for the business and has ambitions to increase this number. We are a few months in and it works. If Id thought of it earlier I would have gone with it two or three years ago when we had an awful lot more fish. From a company perspective, we are solely 100% Irish fish. Without Irish fish were nothing. That is a strong statement at a time when the Irish industry is facing a lot of challenges and problems, with restricted quotas. But Joe Walsh takes a positive view. I have a ferocious gra for the fishing industry and would like to see more young people come into it. While it is under pressure, fishermen are strong people. It will survive, it will never die out, but it can use new methods and ways to do things. In a challenging marketplace we are developing a new revenue stream for Irish-landed fish. There is so much negativity around the industry that it is sometimes too easy to overlook the very positive things the industry can do for itself. The State fishing agency, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, supports his approach. Chief executive Richard Donnelly, says: This kind of innovation and way of thinking is strengthening the position and reputation of Irish seafood in the global marketplace and setting a powerful example for how we can grow, Paulona Seafoods received investment of 179,425 under the Seafood Processing Capital scheme for the purchase of software for the auctioning and an in-house prawn-freezing facility. The funding is supported by the government and the EU under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund. I love what I do. Ive put a lot into this project financially, physically, mentally, Joe Walsh told me. Speak to any of the inshore boats, theyre predominately shellfish. They havent had an outlet for other species and, because of that, theyre moving their kids away from the industry and then you have the fishing industry being lost. The whole craft of it is being lost. That must be changed, it must not be lost. If everything works to plan, this could be a gamechanger for the Irish fishing industry. FROM CORK TO PORT OMAN Strategic Port of the Future is the description of Port Duqm in Oman, part of the special economic zone project in the sultanate on the Arabian peninsula, which shares land borders with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen, its coastline facing the Arabian Sea. Captain Paul ORegan, who resigned as Cork Port harbour master in October, has become its chief operating officer. Established with the objective of diversifying the economy, the port is a greenfield project emerging as a hub of economic activity due to its central location. RIVERS GROUP AGM The AGM of the Cork Rivers Alliance Group will be held at the bio-diversity hub in Ballincollig on Friday, March 27, both online and in-person attendance. Joe Walsh of Paulona Seafoods talks about his project on my Seascapes podcast at: tommacsweeneymaritimepodcast.ie and wherever you go for your podcast listening. Email: tommacsweeneymarine@gmail.com. A Cork motorist has been banned from driving after driving away from a garda who spotted men with bottles of spirits in his car. Sergeant Trish OSullivan told Macroom District Court that on August 26, 2025, a silver Ford Focus parked outside a shop at Tooms Bridge near Macroom aroused the suspicions of a Garda patrol. The court was told there were three occupants in the parked car who appeared to be holding bottles of spirits. When gardai approached, the vehicle was driven off. Gardai followed the car, which was being driven erratically, weaving along the road, before losing sight of it. One of the occupants was recognised as Michael ORiordan, aged 45, of Clashbredane, Kilmichael, Co Cork. A short time later, the same car was spotted parked near a shop with ORiordan the sole occupant. He was questioned and gardai noted his slurred speech and a strong smell of alcohol. They formed the opinion that ORiordan was in charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle while intoxicated. He was arrested and taken to Macroom Garda Station where a breath test recorded an alcohol level of 95mg per 100ml. The legal limit is 22mg. Sean Cahill, defending, said ORiordan was effectively acting as a good Samaritan on the day by driving others home. He said his client had co-operated fully with gardai and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity. Judge Joanne Carroll said she would have to impose a mandatory three-year driving disqualification on ORiordan given the level of alcohol involved. She agreed to postpone the commencement date of the disqualification to September 1, 2026, to allow ORiordan to avail of seasonal work during the summer. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme. A global medical technology company with up to 5,000 employees in Ireland and headquartered in Cork has been crippled by a cyber attack suspected of being carried out by an Iranian-backed group. The Echo understands that Wednesday's attack on Stryker is known as a wiper attack, in which the data on the targeted IT system is wiped out and cannot be retrieved. The National Cyber Security Centre in Dublin has been informed of the incident and is understood to be responding. A wiper attack is considered a very serious type of cyber-attack, where extortion is not the purpose and is seen as a politically-motivated attack, fuelled by a hostile regime. Multiple sources have said that systems in the Cork headquarters have been shut down and that Stryker devices held by employees have been wiped out. The login pages coming up on these devices have been defaced with the Handala logo. Handala Hack is linked to the Iranian regime, which is currently engaged in military and economic warfare in retaliation for the US and Israeli bombardment of the country. This shutdown is having a detrimental financial impact on the company as it effectively disables the technology used to manufacture Strykers range of medical products and devices. The focus will be to try and restore production to any machines that were put out of action as a result of the attack. It is understood that some machines used to manufacture Stryker's medical devices are still in operation in Cork, however, it is not known how long they will continue operating for. Israeli media report that Handala Hack has also claimed to have broken into the website of the Academy of the Hebrew Language. International technology media reports that the group has compromised multiple oil and gas installations across Israel, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. The Israeli National Cyber Directorate has said it was trying to intercept a wave of Iranian cyber attacks on Israeli civilian companies in recent days. 'Phones wiped' It is understood that Stryker may have been targeted over business links with Israel, with one worker saying the attack is "very significant". "Anything connected to the network is down," they said. "All support staff, administrative staff and engineers have been sent home. "And anyone with Outlook on their personal phones had their phones wiped." Staff are now communicating through WhatsApp groups for any updates on when they can return to work. A message sent to staff today warned them not to connect to the Stryker network through any device, including mobile apps like Microsoft's Outlook and Teams until cleared to do so. We know that the situation creates uncertainty. Please know that our teams are actively addressing the issue with security experts and law enforcement, the statement said. Our people and our sites are safe. We are focused on our customers and the patients they serve, while ensuring the continuity of their operations and our own. Please stay focused and follow guidance from your leaders while we work to restore systems. A spokesperson for Stryker said the company is "experiencing a global network disruption affecting the Windows environment". "Our teams are actively working to restore systems and operations as quickly as possible. Stryker has business continuity measures in place, and were committed to continuing to serve our customers," the spokesperson said. Ireland is now home to Strykers largest hub outside of the US. It has six manufacturing facilities here, along with three innovation centres located in Cork, Belfast, and Limerick. Stryker has 5,500 workers in Ireland, some 4,000 of them based in Cork. The Handala group uses a cartoon image of a little Palestinian boy, a symbol associated with Palestinian resistance. The character was created in 1969 by Palestinian newspaper cartoonist Naji al-Ali and has since been widely used by the Palestinian national movement. The 31-year-old man on trial for murdering his partner who was found with multiple stab wounds and a partially-amputated arm said at the scene that her last words to him were: I love you so much. This was not your fault. Adam Corcoran is on trial at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork on the charge of murdering mother of two, Daena Walsh at their home at John Barry House, Midleton on August 2 2024, and with arson of the apartment. He said she stabbed herself. Detective Garda Tomas Ryan agreed with the suggestion from defence senior counsel Brendan Grehan that on that Friday afternoon at John Barry House it was a fairly frantic situation when gardai responded to the emergency call from Adam Corcoran that his girlfriend had stabbed herself and was possibly dead. RAVING He appeared to be highly intoxicated and was raving He was shouting She is dead, she is dead, she is f***ing dead, man, she f***ing killed herself. I thought raving was the best way to describe it. She was lying on her back. He was pretty much standing over her Nothing I was saying appeared to be resonating with him. He was continuously shouting Nothing I was saying was having any effect, Det Garda Ryan said. The witness said the injuries to the 27-year-old woman, particularly to her abdomen and sternum were catastrophic and that there was a lot of blood and she was clearly dead. There was also smoke in the area, coming from the kitchen. He said Adam Corcoran had blood over his eye, blood on his hands and blood on his clothes. Adam Corcoran (pictured) 'was continuously shouting' at the scene according to a garda in the trial today. Picture: Larry Cummins Detective Garda Cormac OBric said that after coming out of John Barry House he spoke with Adam Corcoran in the back of ambulance and took notes as best he could. The detective read from these notes in his evidence to the judge and jury yesterday, quoting Adam Corcoran as saying: I came back from the offie. Saw Daena bleeding. I tried to save her. All she said was: I love you so much. This was not your fault. Daena was lighting candles before I went out (to the offie). We were going to have a sexual time, if you know what I mean. (Afterwards) she had cuts. She had a big blade. I dont know where it came from. I said I loved her. Det Garda OBric questioned him about timing and Adam Corcoran said he rang 999 three minutes after he returned from the offie, and that he had only been gone for four minutes. Asked about what he bought in the offie, he replied: You would never see me buying there, bud. After saying this, the defendant said to the detective: We have a hot relationship the best woman in the world. No drama. Why would anyone do this to her? Daena Walsh. Asked if there was something being cooked in the kitchen, he replied: Steak and chip and Sriracha sauce. Sergeant Brian Larkin said that when he arrived at the scene where the deceased had been found in the apartment he heard a loud pop or bang from the apartment and saw a lot of blood on the floor with footprints through it. The deceased was on her back with a large stab wound to her abdomen Her left arm was over her head. On the ring of the hob there was a bunch of aerosols wrapped in a tea-towel, eight or ten inch flames going out of the tea-towel. "It was hard to find a fire extinguisher with all the smoke Smoke was coming down from the ceiling and the heat was building up, Sgt Larkin said. Detective Sergeant Ger OShaughnessy said that at the scene, Adam Corcoran looked dishevelled with blood over his right eye, blood on his hands and on his clothing. In relation to the deceased, the detective said: The most significant wound was to her chest, a big gaping hole. Another serious wound was to her left arm. Det Inspector John OConnell said of the arm injury: There was a very significant injury to her left elbow. It almost cut through the arm causing an amputation In the middle of the chest was a gaping wound. After describing these injuries, the detective inspector said that pronouncing death was a formality and that this was pronounced that afternoon in the apartment in Midleton by Dr Hugh Doran. The trial continues before a jury of eight men and four women and Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork. Eva Osborne The Government is to pay 135,000 for wool scarves to give to European dignitaries when Ireland takes on the EU presidency later this year. In a request for tender, the Department of Foreign Affairs said it wants to secure the supply of 4,500 wool scarves, at around 30 each, that have a distinctive and uniquely Irish artistic character, the Irish Examiner reports. The Department of Foreign Affairs is looking to work with a supplier for around nine months. The provision of mementos is an opportunity to strengthen goodwill between colleagues and to promote domestic craftsmanship internationally, promoting the cultural identity of the host country and strengthening economic and cultural links, the Department of Foreign Affairs said. From July 1st, Ireland will assume the EU presidency for the first time since 2013. While holding the post, Ireland is tasked with being the driving force behind the Council of the European Union during that six-month period by driving legislation and the EU agenda. It will come at a significant cost to the State as it plays host to numerous high-level meetings and must cover security costs throughout the presidency, the Irish Examiner reports. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Helen McEntee, said the Government is focused on making sure "everything is in place for the work ahead". The Presidency also offers a real opportunity to start a broader national conversation about Irelands role in the European Union and the benefits EU membership brings," she said. "We will have initiatives such as the Presidency County Pairings programme and plans for youth and schools engagement, which will help ensure people of all ages, in every part of the country, have a chance to be part of our Presidency and take part in the discussion about Irelands place in Europe. By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association in Paris, France The Tanaiste said he is open to spending more on defence as he placed an emphasis on security during the upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Simon Harris said this could include accessing EU loans to address gaps in defence capabilities. In a speech at the Irish Embassy in Paris to mark the Saint Patricks Day period, Mr Harris said Irelands presidency in the second half of 2026 would involve working with other member states to make Europe more secure. Tanaiste and Finance Minister Simon Harris presents shamrock to Benjamin Haddad (Liam McBurney/PA) The Tanaiste then gifted a glass bowl of shamrock to Benjamin Haddad, Frances minister delegate for European affairs, as a symbol of the relationship between the two countries. Mr Haddad told the same event that France would be a key partner and supporter of Irelands presidency, which he said came at a critical moment for the continent. In this moment, we can agree that we need a strong European voice on international affairs. We need a strong Europe which will come first with the deepening of our competitiveness. Tanaiste and Finance Minister Simon Harris speaking during a St Patricks Day political reception at the Embassy of Ireland in Paris (Liam McBurney/PA) In reference to the invasion of Ukraine, Mr Haddad said Russia represents a threat to European democracies and their infrastructure. We also need to strengthen the common European industrial defence base. He added: We need to accelerate in the next 12 months to continue to reduce our dependencies and to increase the ability for Europeans to take ownership of their own security and defence. Tanaiste and Finance Minister Simon Harris with Hala Abou Hassira, ambassador of Palestine to France, and Niall Burgess, ambassador of Ireland to France and to Monaco (Liam McBurney/PA) Mr Haddad said this would be absolutely critical in times of war and with questions arising over Europes relationship with the US. Asked afterwards if Ireland was coming under pressure to increase defence spending from EU counterparts, Mr Harris told reporters he was open to spending more. He said the State was spending more on defence than ever before and was significantly and speedily increasing our capabilities. Tanaiste and Finance Minister Simon Harris in Paris (Liam McBurney/PA) He said France had been a very important source in boosting defence capabilities through Government-to-Government procurement in the sector. He said he would also be open to having a conversation around Ireland applying to the Council of the European Unions Safe loan scheme for defence measures. As finance minister, Im open to spending more in relation to defence. Mr Harris said gardai and the Defence Forces are working really hard on preparations for the presidency. Asked about the threat of drone incursions, he added: Many European countries, including some who spend very large sums of money on defence, have seen incursions into the airspace and the likes. I think its less about whether that happens and more about how you respond, and Im confident Irish authorities will know how to respond correctly should such an incursion happen. Tanaiste and Finance Minister Simon Harris said Ireland stands with the people of Ukraine (Liam McBurney/PA) Elsewhere at the reception, Mr Harris met the Ambassador of Ukraine to France. In a speech, he told the Ukrainian embassy staff that: I want you to know on this Saint Patricks Day period Ireland stands with you and Europe stands with you for as long as it takes. Because while there is a brutal illegal war on your territory and your country, it is an attack on all of our values and security. The Tanaiste also met with the ambassadors to France from Lebanon and Palestine. He said he was particularly concerned about the security situation in Lebanon, where Irish peacekeepers are stationed, and told the Palestinian diplomat that Ireland would always stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine. Mr Harris itinerary also involves a meeting with French Finance Minister Roland Lescure and engagements with Irish businesses in the country. (Photo: International Organization for Migration/ Amanda Nero)A refugee stepping into big shoes on the Greek island of Lesbos in September 2020. The World Council of Churches, Middle East Council of Churches, Lutheran World Federation, World Communion of Reformed Churches, World Methodist Council, Mennonite World Conference, Christian Conference of Asia, and ACT Alliance have joined in expressing their deep concern that the war in the Middle East poses worldwide. They issued a joint statement on March 9 regarding the humanitarian and social impacts of the widening conflict in the Middle East, and the threat it poses to the peace and security of the region and the world following the war involving the United States and Israel in Iran.. "Having endured many years of complex political, economic and social challenges, the people of Irannumbering more than 92 millionnow face the immediate threats of the current conflict, and a very uncertain future," reads the statement. "The humanitarian risks and suffering will inevitably escalate the longer this conflict continues." Earlier in the week, Pope Leo said that deeply troubling news continued to arrive from Iran and across the Middle East, as he urged an end to the violence and renewed efforts to open space for dialogue, Reuters reported. "Alongside the episodes of violence and devastation and the widespread climate of hatred and fear, there is also growing concern that the conflict could spread and that other countries in the region, including dear Lebanon, could once again sink into instability," Leo said at the Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square on March 8. "Alongside the episodes of violence and devastation and the widespread climate of hatred and fear, there is also growing concern that the conflict could spread and that other countries in the region, including dear Lebanon, could once again sink into instability," Leo said at the Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square. The statement by the groups of churches also expresses grave concern over reports indicating serious violations of international humanitarian law during the ongoing military operations. "We insist that as a matter of moral and legal obligation all conflict participants must protect civilians from harm, and refrain from targeting civilian areas and infrastructure," reads the statement. "Moreover, we fear that the conflict may result in a new period of prolonged violence and instability in the wider region." The statement further notes that the conflict is now impacting the lives and livelihoods of people, communities, and societies in the whole region. - FUTURE DANGERS "Along with the rest of society in Iran and the wider region, churches and Christian communities face the dangers this war poses for their future," reads the statement. "It must be emphasized that the joint Israeli and US attacks are clearly illegal under international law." The statement urges that Israel and the US must not be permitted to once again create a desolation and call it peace. "They must take responsibility for the consequences of their actions, including the consequences for the future of the people of Iran whose freedom they claim to promote," reads the statement. The churches emphasize that "as Christians we do not recognize any divine licence to kill, destroy, displace or occupy," They affirm that "war is incompatible with God's very nature and will for humanity, and against our fundamental Christian principles." The statement laments the absence of morality and legality, the prevailing arrogance and ideologies of power, and the replacement of conscience with political utility. "We proclaim the God-given human dignity and rights of all people, equally and without discrimination," reads the statement. "We reject the brutal logic of war and domination. We seek the gift of peace." Former Josh Elliott is slowly returning to the dating scene months after filing for divorce from longtime partner Liz Cho, even as their separation continues to unfold in court. Sources say the former CBS News anchor has been spotted socializing in Connecticut, particularly in Fairfield County, where locals say he has been seen visiting bars popular with middle-aged singles. "Josh is out and about on the dating scene in Fairfield County," one source said. "He's been seen at the bars in the area where middle-aged singles congregate." Another insider clarified that Elliott, 54, is not currently in a serious relationship but is open to meeting new people. " Josh isn't dating anyone, but he is open to meeting people. His daughter is his priority," the source added. The new chapter in Elliott's personal life comes about eight months after he filed for divorce from Cho, 55, who works as an anchor for Eyewitness News. Court documents state that Elliott filed for divorce on June 20, 2025, after nearly a decade of marriage. "The marriage of the parties has broken down irretrievably," the filing stated, with Elliott requesting a legal dissolution of the marriage and an equitable distribution of their property, US Magazine reported. The split has since grown tense, with both sides making claims in court filings. According to documents dated January 29, Cho alleged that Elliott secretly moved out of their shared Connecticut home and into a rental residence in Southport earlier this year. "The Defendant learned for the first time... that on or about January 15, 2026, the Plaintiff secured an unfurnished rental residence," the filing stated. Ex-CBS anchor Josh Elliott back on Connecticut dating scene after ugly Liz Cho split Elliott filed for divorce from the "Eyewitness News" anchor in June 2025 after a decade of marriage. https://t.co/PjMjdSECKP pic.twitter.com/glPIyB3VYE NahBabyNah (@NahBabyNahNah) March 9, 2026 Liz Cho Accuses Josh Elliott of Taking Furniture Cho also accused Elliott of moving furniture from the house while she was on vacation with her daughter and claimed their two Portuguese water dogs were taken as well. She further alleged that a watch and earrings went missing from her jewelry bag. Elliott strongly denied those accusations in his response. According to E! News, in court papers, he called the claims "false and inflammatory" and insisted he only removed limited personal belongings. "[Elliott] did not ransack the marital home," his filing said. "He removed limited personal property and furnishings so he would have a safe haven." The legal battle also expanded when Cho requested records of Elliott's communications and financial spending related to any possible romantic relationships dating back to 2015. Elliott objected to the request, arguing that the time frame was unreasonable and harassing. A source familiar with the case said the request is a standard legal step in many divorces and does not necessarily indicate wrongdoing. Elliott and Cho first met while working together at ABC News. They married in July 2015 after dating for two years. The pair are scheduled to appear in court again on March 20 as the divorce case continues. Megyn Kelly sharply denounced CBS and its news leadership Friday, accusing the network of manipulating an interview in a way she described as deceptive and misleading. Radar Online detailed her comments, which aired on March 8. Kelly's critique centered on a recent "60 Minutes" segment featuring Hegseth, where she alleges the question posed in the televised version was altered to suggest a different topic than what was actually asked. In a clip shared on her show, Kelly said the version of the interview that aired gave viewers a false impression of what occurred. She said, "He did not ask anything about Bibi Netanyahu or Israel, nor did then Pete go on to rehabilitate anything in response to Israel." She added that her team had reviewed the full, unedited footage. "It's notable how the Q&A you saw never mentioned Israel at all," Kelly asserted, claiming someone at CBS changed the question in the edited version to make it appear otherwise. The controversy stems from a segment in which correspondent Major Garrett is shown asking Hegseth about criticism from figures including Kelly and others about foreign policy. According to the unedited footage Kelly played, Garrett's question focused on whether America First adherents felt certain actions aligned with their principles. In the actual exchange, Garrett said, "You mentioned America First. Some who identify with that movement, Megyn Kelly, Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, Marjorie Taylor Greene, have said from their perspective, this isn't an America First campaign. Do you want to address that criticism?" Hegseth responded by emphasizing his loyalty to President Donald Trump and his priorities. He said, "All I know is I'm in the room every day, and I see how President Trump operates and what he's putting first, and it's America, Americans, and American interests at every level," without addressing Israel in his televised reply. Kelly also leveled broader criticisms at CBS under Weiss's leadership. She contended that the network's approach failed to genuinely balance coverage and instead promoted a particular agenda. She said, "They do not give a s--t about misleading you over at CBS." She went on to say Weiss had achieved her goal of shaping the network's editorial stance. Kelly said, "Bari Weiss has finally achieved her dream of running a news network that will be entirely pro-Israel." Kelly also referenced a prior incident involving CBS and "60 Minutes," highlighting a controversial 2024 interview with thenDemocratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris. She noted the network now publishes full interviews online after editing in a way that drew legal action. "This is ridiculous," Kelly said, adding, "deceptive editing, deceptive manipulations meant to push their own agenda." Per OK! Magazine, President Trump previously sued "60 Minutes" and CBS over edits in that Harris interview, with Paramount settling for $16 million in 2025, according to reports. Critics and defenders of CBS have debated the role of editorial judgment versus manipulation, but Kelly's remarks have reignited discussion about media accountability and integrity as news organizations navigate polarized public expectations. Bianca Censori may be preparing to reveal alleged details about her tumultuous marriage to Kanye West. An insider told RadarOnline that Censori, 31, has been keeping extensive records of their relationship, including documented "voice notes" and written entries, which she may use amid divorce proceedings after nearly three years of marriage. The source said that Censori was subjected to what she felt was difficult treatment during her time with West, 48, and has quietly chronicled those experiences. "Bianca was put through hell for the longest time, and she's recorded all of it, in voice notes as well as written form," the insider said. In interviews with other outlets, including Vanity Fair, Censori has acknowledged considering parting ways with West amid ongoing controversies surrounding her husband's behavior. The insider added that Censori has gained confidence and perspective by speaking out. "Bianca is finally finding her voice," the source said. "It's been liberating and cathartic for her to tell the world that she's so much more than Kanye's sexy puppet." Censori's evolving selfassertion comes after she married West in December 2022, and sources noted that part of her former public image was influenced by the rapper's distinctive fashion sense. According to prior reports, West encouraged Censori to adopt bold and sometimes revealing outfits, including pantyhose worn as pants without underwearlooks that evoked pieces worn by West's exwife, Kim Kardashian. The insider claimed that Censori is now taking control of her own presentation and rejecting past dynamics she viewed as coercive. "The days of him bullying her are gone," the source said. "She simply won't stand for it anymore." Part of the narrative Censori reportedly recounts involves a widely publicized 2023 incident in Venice, Italy, in which photos circulated of the couple aboard a water taxi in a moment some interpreted as Xrated. Censori has denied the act depicted in the photographs but acknowledged feeling embarrassed by the headlines that followed. West's life has been punctuated by public controversies, including a series of antisemitic posts in 2024 that drew widespread condemnation and led him to place a fullpage ad in The Washington Post apologizing for the hurt caused by his "impulsive" actions and attributing some behavior to previously undiagnosed bipolar disorder. "Bianca was disapproving and exhausted by the cycle of chaos," the insider told Radar Online, quoting Censori as saying, "This year was a lot like doing CPR for months." Despite claims that she ordered West into a treatment program in Switzerland, sources caution that the power dynamic between the couple remains unstable. The insider added that Censori "has the mother of all tellalls when she does" eventually walk away. The unfolding situation draws attention not only to the personal dynamics in a highprofile marriage but also to the broader conversation about privacy, mental health, and the toll public scrutiny can take on relationships. Kate Middleton and Princess Anne experienced a slightly awkward greeting during the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey on Monday, March 9, 2026. While other members of the British royal family exchanged kisses on the cheek, the Princess of Wales, 44, and the Princess Royal, 75, skipped the traditional gesturereportedly due to their headwear. Royal reporter Rebecca English of the Daily Mail shared a video of the moment on Instagram, noting that Princess Kate's large hat made a cheek-to-cheek greeting impractical. "There was no way Princess Anne was going to attempt a kiss under a hat like the Princess of Wales," English captioned the clip, People reported. The two royals were seen laughing and smiling at each other instead, showing that the brief misstep was lighthearted rather than tense. Prince William, 43, was able to greet Princess Anne with a kiss on each cheek without any issue, and he also exchanged a warm kiss with Queen Camilla, 78. Kate, meanwhile, navigated her wide-brimmed hat expertly while greeting King Charles III, 77, and Queen Camilla with a respectful curtsy. Lovely scenes as members of the Royal Family greet each other other at todays Commonwealth Day service at @wabbey - quite a bit of joking amongst the ladies about whether they should kiss given the size of their hats. Princess Anne made clear she wasnt even going to try pic.twitter.com/zn9azfeuBS Rebecca English (@RE_DailyMail) March 9, 2026 Kate Middleton Stuns in Navy Coat Dress Both royals were dressed elegantly for the formal occasion. Kate dazzled in a navy-blue coat dress by London designer Catherine Walker, featuring oversized buttons and a pleated skirt with shoulder pads giving a nod to 1980s fashion. She completed her look with matching navy stilettos and a string of pearls believed to have belonged to the late Queen Elizabeth II. Her hair cascaded in waves down her back, perfectly complementing her wide-brimmed hat. Princess Anne wore a matching emerald-green headpiece with her outfit, adding her signature elegance to the royal gathering. According to Hello, the Commonwealth Day service, attended by politicians, celebrities, and other royals, included King Charles and Queen Camilla arriving last. Other attendees included Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Prince Albert of Monaco, and Geri Horner with her husband Christian Horner. The ceremony marked the first broadcast of the service on the BBC in decades, aside from a break in 2021 due to the pandemic. Earlier in 2026, Princess Anne opted for a handshake instead of a hug when Scotland rugby captain Sione Tuipulotu approached her, showing that she values tradition but can be playful in certain situations. Celebrity chef and television personality Anne Burrell reportedly left behind a private journal describing emotional struggles in the months leading up to her death, according to new details that have emerged about the Food Network star's final days. Burrell, known for hosting Worst Cooks in America and appearing on Iron Chef America, died in June 2025 at age 55. Authorities later ruled her death a suicide following a toxicology report, according to reporting from OK! Magazine. According to the report, investigators discovered a journal and a note near the scene when Burrell was found unresponsive at her Brooklyn home. The chef's husband, Stuart Claxton, reportedly discovered her after noticing something unusual in their bedroom. Authorities said Claxton told police he became concerned after noticing an uncommon detail in the room. He reportedly "noticed that the bed was made in their room, which is not normal," per People. According to the outlet, Claxton then found Burrell in the bathroom of the home with medication scattered nearby. A report cited in the outlet described the scene investigators encountered. Burrell was discovered "with a bunch of over-the-counter pills on the floor." The journal was reportedly left on top of the neatly made bed, investigators said. The discovery of the writings and note revealed that the chef may have been privately documenting emotional pain that was not widely known among friends or family. Authorities later determined that Burrell died after ingesting a combination of substances. According to the medical examiner's the substances included ethanol, diphenhydramine, cetirizine and amphetamine. The compounds include alcohol as well as antihistamines commonly used in allergy medications, along with a stimulant medication used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Despite the tragic circumstances, those close to Burrell reportedly told investigators that her death came as a shock. According to police statements cited in the report, Claxton said Burrell had "never attempted suicide in the past" and had never "talked about it" before. Sources also told the publication that Burrell had been navigating professional stress in the months before her death. An insider described how the chef spoke about the pressures of the television industry. The source said she "talked about her job as a competitive cesspool." According to the report, Burrell had recently been considering a break from reality television and was exploring new creative outlets, including acting and improvisational comedy. Following her death, Burrell's family released a statement remembering the chef for her warmth and vibrant personality. The family reflected on her impact in a public tribute. "Her smile lit up every room she entered," the statement read. They continued honoring her influence on loved ones and fans alike. "Anne's light radiated far beyond those she knew, touching millions across the world. Though she is no longer with us, her warmth, spirit, and boundless love remain eternal." Burrell leaves behind Claxton and his son from a previous relationship. The couple married in 2021 after meeting through the dating app Bumble several years earlier. Fairfield, MT (59436) Today Periods of snow and windy. High 24F. Winds NNW at 25 to 35 mph. Chance of snow 90%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected.. Tonight Occasional snow showers. Low 1F. WNW winds at 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 40%. Personnel with Central Valley Fire District rescued a horse from a creek near Airport Road. About 4:18 p.m. March 8, firefighters responded to a report of a horse that had fallen from a bridge into a creek near Airport Road and was unable to escape the water. Initial reports indicated the horses head was barely above the water, creating an urgent situation for both the animal and responders, reads a Wednesday statement from the fire district. Central Valley Fire District responded with an engine company, a rescue unit, and a Battalion Chief. Due to the complexity of the incident, firefighters also requested assistance from members of the regional large animal rescue team, including Amelie Kuglin, and veterinarians Chris Kimbrell, and Jared Hardaway. First responders found the horse in a small creek as it was being cared for by a veterinarian -- Emma Peterson, of Intermountain Veterinary Hospital, who was already on scene. Firefighters coordinated with the veterinarians, the property owner, and assisting neighbors to develop a plan to safely remove the horse while minimizing additional stress or injury, reads the release. Through a coordinated rescue effort, responders successfully removed the horse from the creek at approximately 4:55 p.m., about 40 minutes after the initial dispatch. The horse was evaluated by veterinarians at the scene and was later transported to Hardaway Veterinary Clinic for further care. No firefighters, civilians, or assisting personnel were injured during the rescue, according to the district. The horse, named Dream, is currently resting and recovering from the incident following veterinary evaluation and treatment, reads the release. Central Valley Fire District would like to thank the property owners, horse owners, veterinarians, and neighbors who assisted with the incident. Their quick actions and cooperation helped ensure a safe and successful outcome. Large animal rescues can present significant safety risks, according to the fire district. Anyone encountering an animal trapped or in distress should contact emergency services rather than attempting a rescue themselves, reads the release. The British Lion mark remains the UKs most recognised food assurance label, with awareness reaching 80%, new research shows. The latest tracking survey from the British Egg Industry Council (BEIC) found the scheme continues to lead other food assurance programmes by a significant margin. Recognition of the British Lion mark stands 15 percentage points ahead of Red Tractor, whose awareness fell by five points to 65% in the latest survey. The RSPCA Assured label also saw recognition decline, dropping to 25% its lowest level since the scheme rebranded from Freedom Foods. The survey, which questioned more than 2,000 consumers, also highlighted strong engagement with the British Lion mark at the point of purchase. Nearly half of shoppers (47%) say they actively look for the British Lion logo when buying eggs. The figure rises among younger consumers, with more than half (56%) of those aged 2534 saying they seek out the mark when purchasing eggs. This age group remains a key focus for the BEICs long-term marketing strategy. The organisation said the findings underline the continued strength of the British Lion scheme among UK consumers. Nick Allen, chief executive of the British Egg Industry Council, welcomed the results. Were delighted to maintain the British Lions position as the most recognised assurance mark, he said. The British Lion clearly occupies a unique and trusted position with consumers. Mr Allen said it was particularly encouraging to see strong engagement among younger shoppers. Its particularly encouraging to see such strong engagement among younger millennials the egg buyers of the future, he said. Their trust in the British Lion mark is a powerful endorsement of the schemes credibility, value and long-standing reputation. The British Lion scheme was introduced in 1998 and sets standards for egg safety, production and traceability across the UK egg industry. A Wiltshire farming partnership has been ordered to pay more than 18,000 after two slurry pollution incidents contaminated tributaries of the Bristol Avon. JD Spencer Farm Partnership, based at Manor Farm in Langley Burrell near Chippenham, was prosecuted by the Environment Agency following two pollution events in November 2023 and March 2024. The partnership pleaded guilty to four offences at Swindon Magistrates Court on 6 March 2026. It was fined 7,000, ordered to pay 8,944 in costs and given a 2,800 victim surcharge, bringing the total penalty to 18,744. The court heard the farm faced two charges of illegal water discharge activities and two counts of failing to properly plan the spreading of slurry. The first pollution occurred in November 2023 when slurry entered a tributary of the Bristol Avon. Tests showed downstream water samples contained very low levels of dissolved oxygen and significant quantities of ammonia. Low oxygen levels and ammonia can harm fish and other aquatic wildlife in rivers and streams. During a formal interview, farm co-owner Winston Spencer denied he had recently spread slurry or pumped slurry from the farms lagoon onto fields. However, he admitted that slurry and parlour washings stores were full and accepted that slurry run-off had occurred. He suggested heavy rainfall had washed slurry from fields where it had been spread the previous month. A second pollution event occurred in March 2024 when slurry entered another watercourse near Langley Burrell. Environment Agency investigators began examining the case after receiving a report from a member of the public. Officers traced the pollution along several connected watercourses. They eventually identified the source as slurry deposits across three fields at Manor Farm. Environment Agency officers also used drone footage to photograph areas where slurry had run off. In a further interview, Mr Spencer admitted wet slurry had been deposited on the land and said he believed it had entered field drains before reaching the stream. He also told investigators the partnership did not have land drainage plans for the fields involved. Senior environment officer David Womack said the pollution could have been prevented. This incident was avoidable and should never have happened. Farmers have a responsibility to ensure their organic manures are properly stored and spread, he said. If farmers have concerns about not having sufficient slurry storage capacity, we recommend they contact us. We can give advice on current legislation, help ensure slurry calculations are accurate and reduce the pollution risk by identifying non-compliant structures. He also urged farmers to report pollution incidents as soon as possible. If an incident does occur, we would urge those responsible to report it as soon as possible to the Environment Agency, he said. This can help reduce any environmental impact. The Environment Agency said the case highlights the importance of proper slurry storage and spreading practices to prevent agricultural pollution. The Home Office has granted a one-year extension allowing overseas sheep shearers to work in the UK after warnings that millions of sheep could go unshorn this spring. The temporary visa concession, first introduced in 2011, allows up to 75 shearers from Australia and New Zealand to travel to the UK each year to help during the peak shearing season. These workers help shear between 1.5 million and 2 million sheep annually, supporting farms during a short but critical seasonal window. The Home Office has now confirmed the scheme will run until 30 June 2026 and will not be renewed beyond that date, following strong concern in the sector after the government initially refused the concession for this year. The sector has been supported for 14 years to enable it to train up British workers, reduce reliance on migrant labour, and provide a fully sustained workforce within the UK, a Home Office spokesman said on Tuesday (10 March). A final extension has been provided to the sector. We now expect the sector to complete its transition to using domestic labour. It is understood the decision to extend the visa concession was made after evidence was submitted by Defra at a late stage. The announcement follows concerns raised by the sheep sector in February after the Home Office initially refused the annual concession. The National Sheep Association (NSA) warned at the time that the refusal risked dismantling a long-standing international exchange that supports labour supply, training and skills development in the sheep sector. For decades, shearers from Australia and New Zealand have travelled to the UK during the spring and summer. At the same time, British shearers travel overseas to extend their season, develop skills and build professional networks. The NSA said this exchange supports animal welfare, productivity and the long-term resilience of the workforce. NSA chief executive Phil Stocker said: Shearers can visit the UK from Australia and New Zealand each spring and summer as part of a huge international exchange, in which shearers and shepherds travel the world making industry connections. It remains to be seen how our UK shearers and wider agricultural labourers may now fare as the UK negotiates future trade agreements, he said. Despite the temporary extension, industry bodies say concerns remain about the long-term future of the arrangement. Without overseas workers, the NSA has warned that pressure could increase on animal welfare and on already stretched farm labour during the peak shearing period. NSA policy manager Michael Priestley said the issue reflects wider challenges in developing skilled domestic labour. The industry has successfully secured a concession every year, but this year the issue is being handled differently, he said. He said ministers believe the sector has had sufficient time to fill the gap domestically, but argued this overlooks the realities of the profession. Despite between 800 and 1,000 people being trained annually, he said becoming a professional shearer requires years of technical refinement, physical conditioning and industry contacts. Industry bodies say they will continue working with government to secure a long-term solution for the sectors seasonal labour needs beyond 2026. A tribunal hearing this week will decide whether campaigners can gain access to records detailing pesticide use on farms. Conservation group WildFish will appear at a tribunal on 12 March in a legal dispute involving the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Information Commissioners Office over access to records relating to plant protection products (PPPs). The case centres on whether environmental groups can obtain pesticide use records kept under regulatory rules and supplied to the HSE. Plant protection products include substances such as insecticides, weedkillers and fungicides used in agriculture to protect crops from pests, weeds and disease. Campaigners argue that when such chemicals are washed from treated land into rivers and streams after rainfall they can affect aquatic ecosystems, including invertebrates which form the base of freshwater food chains. The case comes amid wider public debate around the health of UK rivers and the potential impact of chemical pollutants. Under Article 67 of the EU Plant Protection Products Regulation, pesticide users must keep detailed records of products used for three years and provide them to regulators on request. WildFish argues that these records should also be accessible under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, which require public bodies and organisations carrying out public functions to disclose environmental information when requested. The dispute partly stems from a request by students at Cardiff University seeking information from the HSE on glyphosate use. The regulator refused the request, arguing it was manifestly unreasonable. WildFish later pursued the issue after its SmartRivers monitoring programme recorded signs of pesticide pollution in the Welsh Dee. The group requested pesticide records covering a specific sub-catchment area but says access was again refused. The Information Commissioner subsequently ruled that the information should be disclosed. However, the HSE appealed the decision and the case is now set to be heard by the First-tier Tribunals General Regulatory Chamber on Thursday. Justin Neal, a solicitor at WildFish, said the group believes regulators should provide greater transparency around pesticide monitoring. WildFish often asks difficult questions of public bodies such as water companies and regulators, he said. Time after time we hear similar excuses, like its too difficult to provide this information or we dont have it!. He added that regulators should ensure information on pesticide use is available to the public. What is needed is for HSE and other regulators to start regulating properly and to ensure that not only is there public access to information on pesticides, but that this information is actively published so we can all see what they are allowing to wash into our rivers. The HSE previously argued that some information requests can place a significant administrative burden on regulators. WildFish said it would continue pressing for greater transparency around pesticide monitoring regardless of the tribunals outcome. Anurag Kashyap has finally broken his silence after his name surfaced in connection with the Jeffrey Epstein files. The filmmaker recently faced criticism online after a reference to him appeared in email exchanges linked to the late financier and convicted offender. Kashyap has now clarified that he has no connection to Epstein. In a conversation with Sit with Hitlist, the Gangs of Wasseypur director said, "In a mail. In a random mail We get invitations from Harvard, Yale, everywhere. I dont know. I have never been to Beijing. I have been to Shanghai in China once before 2014, I played recce in Bombay." The controversy began after a new set of documents connected to Jeffrey Epstein was made public. Epstein, the American financier convicted of sex crimes who died in 2019, had maintained correspondence with numerous influential figures. The recently released records contain thousands of emails and exchanges involving several well-known personalities from around the world. Kashyap's name also reportedly appeared in one email thread discussing potential invitees for an event in China. In the messages, Kashyap was described as a 'Bollywood guy' or a 'famous Bollywood director,' who could be a potential speaker at the event. However, there is no evidence of Kashyap meeting with Epstein or participating in any event linked to him. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / March 10, 2026 / ZEUS NORTH AMERICA MINING CORP. (CSE:ZEUS)(OTCQB:ZUUZF)(FRANKFURT:O92) (THE "COMPANY" OR "ZEUS") is pleased to announce that it has closed the first tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Placement") through the issuance of 21,720,000 units ("Units") at a price of $0.10 per Unit for gross proceeds of $2,172,000. Each Unit consisted of one common share of the Company and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one additional common share at a price of $0.15 until March 10, 2028. The Company has paid finders' fees in connection with proceeds raised by the Company from investors introduced to the Company by finders consisting of cash of $155,660 and non-transferable broker warrants (each a "Broker's Warrant") in the amount of 1,481,600. Each Broker's Warrant has the same terms as the Warrants. All securities issued pursuant to the Placement are subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day, expiring on July 11, 2026. An insider of the Company has subscribed for Units pursuant to the Placement. The issuance of the Units to the insider pursuant to the Placement (the "Insider Participation") will be considered to be a related party transaction within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101"). The Company intends to rely on the exemptions from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in Sections 5.5(b) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 in respect of the Insider Participation. The Company intends to use the proceeds from the Placement for exploration programs on its Idaho and Nevada copper and silver projects, including the Cuddy Mountain Project, and for general working capital purposes. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") or under any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act, as amended, and applicable state securities laws. On behalf of the board of directors. "Dean Besserer" President and CEO For more information, please contact the Company at info@zeusminingcorp.com About Zeus North America Mining Corp. The Company is in the business of mineral exploration. The Company is focused on its exploration properties in the state of Idaho known as the: Cuddy Mountain; Selway; and Great Western properties, respectively. The Idaho properties consist of 101 (Cuddy Mountain), 57 (Selway) and 38 (Great Western) lode mining claims respectively and cover a cumulative area of approximately 4,200 acres. The Company's flagship Cuddy Mountain Property is adjacent to Hercules Metal Corp's Leviathan Copper Porphyry discovery. Forward Looking Statements When used in this news release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. Although the Company believes, in light of the experience of their respective officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate, that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the parties can give no assurance that such statements will prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements and information in this news release include, amongst others, statements regarding completion of the Placement, the use of the net proceeds of the Placement, and completion of the Consolidation. Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company. There are risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements or implied by such forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. Such factors include, among others: currency fluctuations; limited business history of the parties; disruptions or changes in the credit or security markets; results of operation activities and development of projects; project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; and general development, market and industry conditions. The Company undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of its securities or its financial or operating results (as applicable). The Company cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on the Company's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The Company has assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. The Company does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws. The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. SOURCE: Zeus North America Mining Corp. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/zeus-north-america-mining-corp.-announces-closing-of-first-tranche-of-private-pla-1146205 Rancho Cucamonga, California--(Newsfile Corp. - March 10, 2026) - SoCal Tech Forum is pleased to announce that the company will be participating in TechCon SoCal 2026. This year's event will be held May 22, 23 at the San Diego State University in San Diego, California. As a partner, SoCal Tech Forum will be collaborating with TechCon Global to support, promote, and drive engagement at the event. TechCon SoCal, produced by TechCon Global, is a leading technology and innovation event that brings together investors, founders, thought leaders, and industry experts. The 2026 program features keynotes, panel discussions, fireside discussions, and demos on emerging technologies shaping the future of business. Attendees interested in learning more about TechCon SoCal 2026 or registering for the conference can visit here. About SoCal Tech Forum The SoCal Tech Forum is a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit where technologists, hobbyists, and entrepreneurs come together to connect, learn, and shape what's next.We believe the best ideas emerge when people talk to each other. That's why we create spaces for real conversation: round tables, panels, Q&A sessions, and community-driven discussions that span everything from AI and emerging tech to the tools transforming how we work and build businesses.Whether you're a seasoned engineer, a curious newcomer, or a founder figuring out your next move, you'll find your people here. Our community is built on the idea that technology is most powerful when it's understood, shared, and shaped by a diverse group of voices.We're not just following the future of technology - we're building it together. About TechCon Global: TechCon Global is a leading organization founded in 2019, dedicated to connecting entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders through high-impact innovation events. We empower innovation and foster investment ecosystems that drive sustainable growth and meaningful change worldwide. Our programs blend operator insight with a practical innovation approach, supported by mentors, acurated innovation platform, and access to business investors for startups. Driven by purpose and passion, we continue to expand our reach, uniting bold thinkers, visionary founders, and impact-driven investors, guided by a consistent innovation approach that turns ideas into outcomes. For further information, please contact: Source: TechCon Global CNU becomes the first U.S. health sciences university to integrate a reasoning-first adaptive AI system into its College of Pharmacy curriculum NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. and ELK GROVE, Calif., March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- MindHYVE.ai, Inc. and California Northstate University (CNU) have signed a Strategic Collaboration Framework (SCF) to deploy ArthurAI, MindHYVE's Agentic Learning OS, within CNU's College of Pharmacy. The collaboration makes CNU the first health sciences university in the United States to integrate a reasoning-first agentic AI platform into its academic curriculum. The global AI education market, valued at $7.57 billion in 2025 and projected to exceed $112 billion by 2034, has yet to produce a reasoning-first platform purpose-built for health sciences. While leading research universities-including Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and Oxford-continue to develop institutional policies governing student use of generative AI tools, CNU's partnership with MindHYVE.ai moves beyond policy into deployment. Rather than treating AI as a content tool to be regulated, ArthurAI functions as an adaptive reasoning system that learns each student's cognitive profile and adjusts instructional delivery in real time, while maintaining full FERPA compliance and transparent audit trails. A key advantage of the ArthurAI platform is its AI-powered curriculum design and delivery system. Using agentic capabilities, ArthurAI ingests an institution's existing curriculum and generates modernized, refreshed course content that prepares students for careers in the rapidly approaching era of AI-powered pharmacology-future-proofing graduates for a profession being reshaped by artificial intelligence and equipping them with the fluency to lead in a new AI economy. Under the framework, MindHYVE.ai will deliver a customized ArthurAI deployment aligned to CNU-identified courses requiring advanced reasoning and conceptual mastery. Initial implementation will focus on high-cognitive-load pharmacy courses, with a pathway for broader adoption across CNU's programs in medicine, dentistry, psychology, and nursing through: ArthurAI University Learning Edition (ULE) - AI-powered curriculum intelligence that transforms existing degree programs into adaptive, competency-driven learning experiences with real-time cognitive profiling for every enrolled student - AI-powered curriculum intelligence that transforms existing degree programs into adaptive, competency-driven learning experiences with real-time cognitive profiling for every enrolled student ArthurAI Corporate Learning Edition (CLE) - a structured AI upskilling program for faculty and institutional staff, delivered in partnership with the California Institute of Artificial Intelligence (CIAI) to build organization-wide AI fluency and literacy - a structured AI upskilling program for faculty and institutional staff, delivered in partnership with the California Institute of Artificial Intelligence (CIAI) to build organization-wide AI fluency and literacy The Dawn Directive - CIAI's flagship 4-month, 18-course, 360-hour AI fluency certification program, powered by MindHYVE's ArthurAI VLE Agentic Learning OS The ArthurAI deployment extends a growing relationship between CNU and MindHYVE.ai. The two organizations have also established a collaboration framework around ChironAI, MindHYVE's clinical decision support platform, to explore pharmacogenomics applications within CNU's College of Pharmacy. With CNU currently constructing a teaching hospital, the partnership positions both organizations to advance an integrated education-to-clinical intelligence pipeline-from AI-powered learning in the classroom to AI-assisted decision-making at the point of care. CNU joins a growing portfolio of institutional deployments for MindHYVE.ai, which currently operates across 15+ countries with partnerships spanning education, healthcare, and governance. "The real challenge facing pharmacy education isn't access to information-anyone can look that up. It's that AI is already doing what we've traditionally trained pharmacists to do. Drug interaction checks, dosing calculations, formulary management-machines handle that now. The industry doesn't need more pharmacists educated the old way. It needs AI-powered pharmacists who can lead a profession that's being fundamentally transformed. ArthurAI doesn't just teach pharmacy-it produces the pharmacist of the future." - Bill Faruki, Founder and CEO, MindHYVE.ai "Every health sciences institution will face a decision: adapt to AI or fall behind. CNU is not waiting. We partnered with MindHYVE.ai because the pharmacists and clinicians we graduate must be as fluent in artificial intelligence as they are in pharmacology. This isn't an experiment-it's the future of health sciences education, and we intend to define it." - Dr. Alvin Cheung, President and CEO, California Northstate University "The Dawn Directive was built to produce AI-fluent professionals across every industry. Deploying it inside a College of Pharmacy proves that this certification framework transfers to any regulated discipline-and that the demand for AI fluency in healthcare is no longer theoretical." - California Institute of Artificial Intelligence (CIAI) About California Northstate University California Northstate University is a private, health-sciences-focused institution based in Northern California offering programs in medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, psychology, nursing, and health sciences. CNU is committed to advancing education, research, and service in healthcare. About MindHYVE.ai MindHYVE.ai engineers domain-specific agentic AI systems for education, healthcare, law, finance, and governance. Its technology stack is powered by Eve-Fusion, a proprietary multi-model consensus reasoning engine, and deployed on Eve-Grid, MindHYVE's enterprise-grade Azure-native cloud infrastructure. The company operates eleven Digital Employees-domain-specific AI agents including ArthurAI for adaptive learning and ChironAI for clinical decision support-with deployments spanning North America, Asia, and Africa. MindHYVE does not use client data for model training; all training relies exclusively on synthetically generated data through Eve-Genesis, its proprietary reasoning training framework. For more information: Website: www.mindhyve.ai | Email: hello@mindhyve.ai | Phone: +1 (949) 200-8668 Partnership & Investment Inquiries: James Barry | james.barry@mindhyve.io Media Contact: Marc Ortiz | marc.ortiz@mindhyve.io Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2931028/MindHYVE.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2730797/MindHYVE_ai_Logo_MindHYVE_ai_SQ_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/mindhyveai-and-california-northstate-university-deploy-first-agentic-ai-learning-platform-in-us-health-sciences-education-302710211.html GUANGZHOU, China, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- News report from South. The government work report has set China's growth target for 2026 at 4.5 to 5% - the first year of the 15th Five-Year Plan period. The new blueprint, covering 2026 through 2030, marks a critical stage on China's path toward socialist modernization by 2035. For Danilo Turk, former president of Slovenia and a seasoned diplomat with deep expertise in international affairs, this target deserves closer reading. "Given the magnitude of China's economy, 5% growth (for 2025), based on many high-growth-rate years in the past, is really very impressive," Turk observes. "So to have a global figure of 4.5 to 5% means that the plan is really very ambitious." Three pillars of China's development approach What enables such ambition? Turk points to three distinctive features of China's governance model. "China has a long-term vision of development, and that's very important, because it doesn't follow market changes from one year to another, but is following a long-term vision of development." This strategic continuity is embodied in the five-year plan mechanism itself - a hallmark of Chinese governance that has guided the world's second-largest economy through multiple cycles of global turbulence. This long-term perspective is complemented by a global outlook. "China has now, for a couple of decades already, worked on the basis of a global outlook, meaning the Belt and Road Initiative and other ways of engaging with the world have expanded the scope of possibilities for development." Today, China is the largest trading partner for over 120 economies worldwide - a network that provides both resilience and reach. The third element is execution. "That's very important because, in addition to long-term and global visions, it also has a very meticulous way of working on a day-to-day basis within an annual program of development. All these three factors together produce really a very impressive result." Technology and green transition as growth drivers The 15th Five-Year Plan places significant emphasis on frontier industries-quantum technology, biomanufacturing, hydrogen and nuclear fusion energy, brain-computer interfaces, embodied AI, and 6G among them. These are not abstract aspirations; they represent targeted bets on sectors where global competition remains wide open. Turk sees this as consistent with China's demonstrated capacity to adapt. "China has demonstrated its ability to adjust development needs to technological opportunities." Green development, in particular, represents both a necessity and an opportunity. "China has recently placed a great deal of emphasis on rational consumption of energy and focusing on making China beautiful, as they say, so as to preserve the natural environment. Now that also is a development opportunity." With a commitment to peak carbon emissions before 2030, China is accelerating its green transition through smart grids, hydrogen energy, and green fuel industries - areas that are already attracting global partners. Domestic consumption patterns are evolving in tandem. "China has reached a high level of development in a short period of time, and the patterns of consumption are also changing." Official data shows final consumption expenditure contributed 52% of economic growth in 2025, up five percentage points from the previous year-a shift that reduces exposure to external volatility while unlocking the potential of a 1.4 billion-strong market. Trade resilience amid tariff pressures Despite escalating trade barriers from the United States, China's export performance in 2025 remained robust. Total goods trade reached a record 45.47 trillion yuan, with technology product exports, including electric vehicles, integrated circuits, and semiconductors, surging 13.2% year-on-year. Turk is measured in his assessment. "The figures of 2025 showed that irrespective of the tariff hikes, China did pretty well with exports. The obstacles that were placed last year were not all that harmful. They were harmful, but they were manageable also." This resilience reflects a deeper structural shift. As international institutions warn of trade tensions and geopolitical friction constraining global activity, China's trading relationships have diversified. The Global South-economies growing at around 5% annually - now accounts for a growing share of China's trade, reducing dependence on any single market. The diversification is visible in the evolving geography of China's cooperation. "So far, I think the Belt and Road Initiative has demonstrated that China is able to cooperate not only with the most obvious partners in Western Europe, but there are some other partners who have become really quite innovative and leading in this new development." Turk cites specific examples: Hungary's deepening ties with China, a bridge built by Chinese companies in Croatia. "Once you have this kind of successful project in places other than Western Europe, then you can expand more." Growing international interest amid volatility The global landscape is increasingly uncertain. "We find ourselves in a situation where the United States is imposing tariffs here and there without any plan, without any organized system, and all that creates obstacles," Turk notes. Yet paradoxically, this volatility is generating renewed interest in engagement with China. "You have on the one hand, this whole uncertainty about tariffs and other destabilizing elements, but at the same time, you have a lot of interest from major countries actually strengthened to expand their relations with China." Multiple European leaders have visited in recent months, accompanied by major corporate delegations. Germany's recent high-level visit included 30 of the country's largest firms, many with long histories in China. Turk expects this trend to continue. "The interest in cooperating with China and also investing in China is growing." For Turk, China's response to this moment carries strategic weight. "In this kind of volatile circumstances, I think a very self-assured, self-confident posture of China will be important, because everybody will be looking for partnerships. There will be a lot of interest, and the first visits from Europe have already demonstrated that, and there will be more of that coming." The 4.5 to 5% target, in this context, is not merely a number. Anchored in the principle of "seeking progress while maintaining stability," it signals continuity, ambition, and the confidence to pursue long-term goals amid short-term turbulence. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/former-slovenian-president-a-confident-china-offers-partnerships-the-world-needs-in-volatile-times-302710288.html SHANGHAI, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Shanghai's cultural and tourism delegation presented a range of travel experiences at ITB Berlin 2026, held March 3-5. One of the world's largest travel trade shows, the event provided a platform for Shanghai to highlight its cultural attractions and tourism offerings to the European market. From March 3 to 5, 2026, ITB Berlin marked its 60th anniversary with a Diamond Jubilee edition that brought together exhibitors from more than 180 countries and regions, as well as over 100,000 industry professionals. As one of the global travel industry's most influential gatherings, the event offered an opportunity for destinations, travel companies, and tourism authorities to explore new partnerships and emerging market trends. Within the 459-square-meter China Pavilion, jointly organized by tourism authorities from 15 provinces and municipalities including Beijing, Shanghai, Zhejiang, and Hubei, exhibitors presented a broad range of China's cultural and tourism offerings to international travel professionals. The Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism returned to ITB Berlin to lead a delegation featuring Shanghai China International Travel Service (SCITS), Shanghai Film Park, and Shanghai Han Tang Tour. The delegation presented tourism experiences reflecting Shanghai's cultural heritage and contemporary urban life. Shanghai Film Park, one of China's major film and television production sites and a nationally rated AAAA tourist attraction, appeared at ITB Berlin for the first time. The park features clusters of century-old Shanghai-style architecture and has developed tourism programs that combine film culture with performing arts, educational visits, themed experiences, and seasonal festivals. Programs such as the Immersive Blossoms Shanghai Journey and the New World Manor theater reflect the park's efforts to integrate cinematic heritage with cultural tourism experiences. SCITS, an inbound tour operator with over 70 years of experience, was the first Chinese travel company to receive ISO9001 international quality certification. With over 30 consecutive years of participation at ITB Berlin, the company has built lasting ties with travel operators in German-speaking markets. Drawing on extensive experience welcoming visitors, SCITS has curated premium itineraries combining Shanghai with destinations across the Yangtze River Delta. Last year alone, the company welcomed over 15,000 visitors from German-speaking regions. This year, through its "Discover the East" brand, SCITS offers travel programs that combine traditional Chinese culture with broader Asian travel experiences. Returning to ITB Berlin for the sixth time, Shanghai Han Tang Tour aimed to expand its international partner network and exchange insights with global travel operators. The company is also integrating AI and digital tools into daily operations and tourism services. During the trade show, the Shanghai delegation joined buyer matchmaking sessions organized within the China Pavilion, holding one-on-one meetings with European travel professionals to explore potential collaborations. Shanghai Han Tang Tour and SCITS identified opportunities for joint itineraries, visitor exchanges, and co-marketing initiatives with European partners. Shanghai Film Park is also in discussions with international cultural and tourism organizations to develop Shanghai-themed creative projects in immersive theater and film-themed hotels. Ahead of ITB Berlin, the China National Tourist Office in Frankfurt worked with regional broadcasters including TV Berlin, TV Berlin-Brandenburg (TV BB), and Hamburg 1 to air travel features on destinations across China, including Shanghai. Through the program Bruckenblick, the segments highlighted cultural and travel experiences from several Chinese provinces and cities. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2931204/photo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/shanghai-showcases-cultural-tourism-experiences-at-itb-berlin-2026-302710321.html MIAMI, FL / ACCESS Newswire / March 11, 2026 / AI Radio Bot announced the launch of a new Live Broadcasting feature designed to allow creators to combine automated programming with live audio hosting. The update introduces tools that enable users to switch between AI-generated content and live broadcasts within a single production environment. AI Radio Bot originally focused on automated digital broadcasting workflows that allow users to schedule and generate radio-style programming through artificial intelligence tools. The new Live Broadcasting feature expands the platform's capabilities by enabling hosts to integrate live commentary, interviews, and real-time discussions alongside automated programming. According to the company, the update was developed in response to feedback from users seeking greater flexibility when producing audio content. Live Production Tools for Creators The Live Broadcasting suite provides a control interface designed to support real-time audio production while maintaining access to automated broadcast elements as well as generated and prerecorded uploaded audio. Features include: AI-assisted audio layering : Hosts can trigger AI-generated voiceovers or transitions during a live broadcast. Live control dashboard : Users can manage microphone inputs, uploaded audio segments, and live commentary from a centralized interface. Flexible playlist management : Broadcast segments can be rearranged during a live program to accommodate listener requests or breaking updates. Low-latency switching: The system allows transitions between live audio and automated content during broadcasts. The platform is intended for creators producing online radio programming, podcasts, or streaming audio channels. Integrating Automation with Live Audio The new feature reflects a broader trend within digital media production as creators combine automation tools with live content formats. While AI tools can help manage scheduling, voice generation, and audio production workflows, live hosting continues to play an important role in audience engagement. "Our goal is to provide creators with tools that allow automated programming and live hosting to work together within the same environment," said the AI Radio Bot development team. "This update allows broadcasters to maintain the flexibility of live production while continuing to use AI-assisted workflows." Future Platform Development AI Radio Bot said the Live Broadcasting feature is part of a broader development roadmap aimed at expanding tools for audio creators. Additional updates related to production workflows and content management are expected later this year. More information about AI Radio Bot and its broadcasting tools is available at https://airadiobot.com. About AI Radio Bot AI Radio Bot is a digital broadcasting platform designed to help creators produce automated and live audio programming. The platform provides tools that support scheduling, voice generation, and content management for online radio streams, podcasts, and other digital audio formats. Media Contact AI Radio Bot Editorial Team Email: vigor2k@gmail.com Website: https://airadiobot.com SOURCE: AI Radio Bot View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/ai-radio-bot-introduces-live-broadcasting-feature-for-hybrid-ai-1145358 ROME, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Haier Biomedical recently convened its European Partner Summit in Rome under the theme "Advancing Together - Sharing the Future of Biomedical Innovation," which brought together 37 regional partners and industry leaders from 23 European countries to outline its long-term commitment to Europe and unveil a broadened laboratory solutions portfolio, marking a strategic upgrade of its brand portfolio. New strategy shifts toward scenario-based, application-driven solutions, while sharing its long-term plan to deepen localization in Europe and deliver more comprehensive, tailored services and support across the region. At the summit, Enrique Wang, Global Market Director of Haier Biomedical, reaffirmed the Company's global vision to achieve over 50% of global revenue from international markets by 2027 and over 50% revenue contribution beyond refrigeration by 2028. He emphasized that Europe remains a strategic priority within the company's globalization roadmap, which underscores the "In Europe, for Europe" localization principle of delivering products, services, and support tailored for regional regulatory standards, customer expectations, and application needs. Outlining the 2026 European strategy, Semir Selimovic, director of North, Central & Eastern Europe of Haier Biomedical Europe, highlighted continued investment in local sales, service, and product expertise to strengthen responsiveness and execution across key markets. Europe has become one of Haier Biomedical's fastest-growing international regions, and this is supported by expanding local teams and a steadily broadening product portfolio. Expanding from freezers to full solutions Among the newly introduced products, the Plasma Apheresis System XJ-III drew particular attention. The system has obtained EU MDR certification, which marks a significant milestone in meeting Europe's stringent regulatory requirements and strengthens Haier Biomedical's position in blood and plasma technology. Across Europe, Haier Biomedical's CO2 incubators, centrifuges, biosafety cabinets, and cold storage lines continue to gain market share, supported by energy-efficient technologies and compliance with regional certification standards. The product evolution presented in Rome demonstrates a move toward unlocking a full portfolio capable of supporting laboratories, hospitals, and life science institutions with end-to-end solutions. Automation and intelligent blood management as growth engines Daniele Pericolini, European Automation Solution Specialist of Haier Biomedical, outlined the Company's strategy to drive future growth through laboratory automation and intelligent blood management systems. Haier Biomedical's automated biobank solutions integrate RFID-enabled ultra-low temperature storage, modular automation platforms, and liquid nitrogen systems to enhance sample traceability and operational efficiency. By addressing challenges such as sample integrity, temperature tracking, and high-density storage, the Company has positioned itself within Europe's growing demand for advanced biobanking infrastructure. Additionally, the U-Blood intelligent blood management system represents a shift from traditional cold storage to real-time connected blood supply chain management. Designed to reduce wastage, improve traceability, and support round-the-clock transfusion workflows, the solution aligns with Europe's increasing focus on safety, digitization, and zero-waste healthcare initiatives. European customer recognition and brand alignment The summit also featured success stories from four European partners representing Germany, Slovakia, France, and Denmark, which highlighted strong local validation of Haier Biomedical's solutions. In France, long-term partner showcased the jointly developed biosafety cabinet adapted to French standards, with over 230 units deployed across over 100 customers. In Denmark, Haier Biomedical partner shared its ultra-low temperature freezer success through public tenders and ongoing expansion into additional product categories. In Slovenia, large-scale pharmaceutical installations reinforced the Company's capabilities in managing complex, multi-unit projects. Partners from Central Europe also emphasized reliability, regulatory compliance, and after-sales support as key differentiators. Strong international growth performance in 2025 Haier Biomedical's expanding European footprint is supported by a solid financial performance. In 2025, the Company reported revenue exceeding RMB 2.3 billion, with international revenue reaching RMB 840 million, which accounts for over 36% of total revenue and reflects continued global expansion. Europe recorded double-digit growth, which contributed to a large portion of overall international revenue growth. The Company's AI-driven and automation-related solutions contributed approximately 15% of total revenue in 2025, which signalled accelerating technology-driven transformation. These results reflect a broader shift from hardware exports toward localized solution delivery supported by regional teams and certifications across over 18 countries. As the European Partner Summit concluded, Haier Biomedical reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening localized operations, expanding automation and life science solutions, and advancing collaborative growth with partners. Through a combination of global innovation capabilities and local execution in Europe, the Company aims to further consolidate its position as a trusted life science solutions provider in 2026 and beyond. For more information, please visit https://www.haiermedical.com/. Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mtFzoI9Kj0 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2931276/1.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/haier-biomedical-hosts-european-partner-summit-in-rome-and-advances-in-europe-for-europe-strategy-302710424.html PHOENIX, AZ / ACCESS Newswire / March 11, 2026 / Prestamos CDFI, LLC, a division of Chicanos Por La Causa, has been awarded $90 million in New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) from the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund. Prestamos is a Community Development Entity that provides capital to businesses and community facility projects in highly distressed, low-income communities in Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas, California and Puerto Rico. Prestamos has received seven previous awards totaling $300 million. Legacy Elementary School in Uvalde, TX (Prestamos CDFI NMTC 2024) With a lending legacy since 1980 through its parent organization, Chicanos Por La Causa, and a quarter century as a certified CDFI, Prestamos supports low-income businesses and communities by providing resources and services, dedicating 100 percent of its investment activities to disadvantaged populations. "We are grateful for the CDFI Fund's recognition of our work through this NMTC award," said Jose Martinez, President of Prestamos CDFI. "Our mission is rooted in promoting economic prosperity and essential services in low-income communities across AZ, CA, NM, NV, PR, and TX. This award enables us to continue investing in projects that create quality jobs through domestic manufacturing and reliable job-producing small businesses, while also expanding access to essential community health and education infrastructure." The NMTC Program attracts private capital into low-income communities by permitting individual and corporate investors to receive a tax credit against their federal income tax in exchange for making investments on qualified projects within economically distressed communities. Created by Congress in 2001, the credit totals 39 percent of the original investment amount and is claimed over a period of seven years. This award is part of a $10 billion NMTC allocation authority package announced this week by the CDFI Fund. Federal data show that for every dollar of allocation provided under the NMTC program, an additional $8 of private investment is leveraged for the economic development of these communities. Legacy Elementary School in Uvalde, TX (Prestamos CDFI NMTC 2024) About Prestamos CDFI, LLC Prestamos CDFI is a Community Development Financial Institution and a Community Development Entity that provides small business loans and high-quality technical support services to its clients. Prestamos partners with the most recognized organizations in our target markets including the CDFI Fund, U.S. Small Business Administration, National Association for Latino Asset Builders, SCORE, and State, County and Local Economic Development Authorities. Prestamos CDFI is an equal opportunity provider. ### Media Contact: Media@cplc.org SOURCE: Prestamos CDFI, LLC View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/banking-and-financial-services/prestamos-cdfi-receives-90-million-new-markets-tax-credit-award-for-1138366 London holds the #1 spot as Europe's cities compete for investment, talent and visitors amid a widening perception gap CANNES, France, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Resonance Consultancy, a leading advisor in place branding, placemaking and place marketing, today released its fourth annual Europe's Best Cities report and ranking for 2026, spotlighting the 100 European cities shaping tomorrow. Download the full Europe's Best Cities report here. Explore all Top 100 Europe's Best Cities in 2026 here. Europe has never been more coveted, even with continued Russian aggression at its borders and amidst global economic uncertainty. The report finds that nearly half of global destination preference now points to Europe, up from 41% last year. Yet the research also reveals a widening disconnect between what cities deliver and what the world believes about them. That gap is no longer a branding issue alone. Resonance found the correlation between performance and perception is just 0.54, creating a high-stakes advantage for cities that can align infrastructure, policy and lived experience with a credible narrative for investors, employers, talent and visitors. "Europe's leading cities are turning disruption into a forcing function for progress," says Jeremie Feinblatt, Principal at Resonance Consultancy. "The perception gap is now a balance sheet issue. It influences investor shortlists, employer confidence and visitor spend," he notes. "The winners are pairing investment in the basics people feel every day, housing, mobility, public realm and safety, with a narrative that proves those gains in the marketplace. Cities that can't align reality and reputation will fall behind in the competition for people and capital." The Top 10 Europe's Best Cities for 2026 London Paris Berlin Rome Barcelona Madrid Amsterdam Vienna Copenhagen Stockholm Why this year's ranking matters for city leaders Europe's Best Cities 2026 lands at a moment when city strategy is being rewritten in real time. Europeans are now powering Europe's tourism boom. Domestic and intra-European travel is reinforcing record demand and reshaping where value accrues across the continent. Geopolitics is pushing cities into the driver's seat. As supply chains rewire closer to home and security and energy become everyday considerations, cities are emerging as the operational hubs of European resilience. Visitor growth is forcing a new operating model. The cities moving fastest are investing in experience while tightening management tools that protect housing supply, public space and resident trust. Talent decisions are being won at street level. Walkability, bike networks, public transit access, health outcomes and affordability are increasingly decisive for prime-age workers and the firms competing for them. Climate risk is now part of the pitch. Exposure and adaptive capacity are increasingly shaping capital allocation, underwriting and long-range planning. "Cities that are improving quality of life while staying connected and discoverable will keep climbing," says Jason McGrath, EVP and Head of U.S. Corporate Reputation at Ipsos, the report's consumer research partner. "The most competitive places are the ones people can picture themselves living in, visiting soon, and building a career in." What the Top 3 cities reveal about the new European playbook London sustains global primacy through relentless reinvention across business, culture and connectivity. In 2024, international traveler spending reached nearly 18.9 billion, and airport connectivity remains the strongest in the ranking, supporting continued tourism and investment momentum. sustains global primacy through relentless reinvention across business, culture and connectivity. In 2024, international traveler spending reached nearly 18.9 billion, and airport connectivity remains the strongest in the ranking, supporting continued tourism and investment momentum. Paris is turning urban ambition into daily life. The city now has more than 1,000 kilometres of bike lanes, has added more than 100 hectares of new pedestrian space since 2020, and continues expanding the Grand Paris Express to reshape metropolitan access and mobility. is turning urban ambition into daily life. The city now has more than 1,000 kilometres of bike lanes, has added more than 100 hectares of new pedestrian space since 2020, and continues expanding the Grand Paris Express to reshape metropolitan access and mobility. Berlin is pairing cultural magnetism with serious innovation infrastructure. The city surpassed 30.6 million hotel overnight stays in 2024, and is moving forward with major transformation projects, including the redevelopment of Tegel Airport into Berlin TXL, anchored by the Urban Tech Republic and the Schumacher Quartier timber-construction district. Beyond the Top 3, the report documents a clear shift: the urban story is no longer owned only by the usual capitals. More secondary and emerging cities are rising alongside the global powerhouses, often faster to build, more cost-competitive and hungry for growth. How the ranking was built Europe's Best Cities is powered by Resonance's proprietary Place Power Score, combining performance and perception across three pillars: Livability, Lovability, and Prosperity. For 2026, Resonance evaluated metropolitan areas with populations over 500,000 using 47 metrics across 33 subcategories, plus user-generated signals from major online platforms and Ipsos perception research. Ipsos surveyed 5,000 people across 10 European countries on the cities they most want to live in, visit soon, and where they believe the best job opportunities exist. Climate risk inputs are powered by AlphaGeo. The ranking excludes Russian cities, as it has since 2022. Download the full Europe's Best Cities report here. Explore all Top 100 Europe's Best Cities in 2026 here. About Resonance Consultancy Resonance creates transformative strategies, brands and campaigns that empower destinations, cities and communities to realize their full potential. Resonance works with places across placemaking, place branding and place marketing. Find out more at ResonanceCo.com. About Ipsos Ipsos is a global market research company that conducts survey and opinion research across markets worldwide. Find out more at Ipsos.com. RESONANCECO.COM Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2930143/Resonance_Consultancy_Ltd__Resonance_Consultancy_Unveils_Europe_.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2930142/Resonance_Consultancy_Ltd__Resonance_Consultancy_Unveils_Europe_.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/resonance-consultancy-unveils-europes-best-cities-for-2026-302710345.html Medium-term plan emphasizes "Trusted Growth", "GEMBA DX", and portfolio restructuring, positioning Europe as one of the focus regions in OMRON's global transformation strategy. KYOTO, Japan, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- OMRON Corporation (TSE: 6645), recently announced its medium-term roadmap, Shaping the Future 2030 (SF2030) 2nd Stage, outlining a strategic path to return to sustainable growth led by devices and transform into a data-driven "GEMBA DX (on-site digital transformation) company." Covering the period through 2030, the plan combines offensive investments in 13 focus businesses with defensive structural reforms to rebuild the company's portfolio and strengthen execution capability. "Trusted Growth reflects our strong desire to deepen the relationship of trust with our customers and once again achieve strong growth in order to transform ourselves into GEMBA DX company," said Junta Tsujinaga, President & CEO, OMRON Corporation. "GEMBA DX fuses and multiplies high-quality data obtained from devices, which is one of OMRON's strengths, with other data from the field, utilizing knowledge to convert this data into something of value. We aim to use this data to provide data services that solve our clients' essential problems." Key Strategic Pillars of SF2030 2nd Stage Rebuilding the Business Portfolio OMRON has designated 13 focus businesses (mainly Industrial Automation) - including Controllers, Sensors, and Blood Pressure Monitors, alongside data service businesses such as Industrial Automation (IA) Data Solution and Digital Health - as growth drivers. By 2030, approximately 70% of investments will be directed toward these areas. Transformation into a GEMBA DX Company To become a Gemba DX company, OMRON will leverage its three core strengths: a globally deployed portfolio of high-market-share devices; deep customer insights and data from on-site collaboration with customers; and proprietary technology that transforms this data into actionable, value-creating intelligence. Europe as a Focus Region Industrial Automation: OMRON targets a Revenue CAGR of +8.0% through FY2030. Key drivers include the introduction of advanced IA Data Solutions and a virtual control platform for European multinational corporations, enabling them to optimize production globally. As per Fernando Colas, CEO, OMRON Industrial Automation Europe, "UK manufacturers are under increasing pressure to improve productivity while managing skilled labour shortages and operational complexity. By combining our automation technologies with strong local expertise, we help customers move from fragmented automation toward more autonomous and efficient operations, in a practical, scalable way." OMRON is reinforcing its support for UK manufacturers through local expertise and education services. By combining application engineering, training programs, and on-site support, OMRON helps customers strengthen internal capabilities and adopt automation technologies that address skills gaps, while implementing scalable automation solutions more effectively. The company also aims to recover and expand its share among machine builders in strategic markets such as Italy and Spain by offering various devices and tailored automation solutions. Healthcare: OMRON is targeting to significantly outperform the market by leveraging its strengths in medical endorsements, product accuracy, and strong brand equity. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2930241/OMRON_DE_and_UK_Image.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2803499/5855560/OMRON_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/omron-charts-data-driven-path-to-2030-for-european-business-302710488.html Curatis Holding AG / Key word(s): Agreement/Partnership Curatis and Neupharma announce exclusive licensing agreement to develop and market corticorelin (C-PTBE-01) for the treatment of peritumoral brain edema in Japan 11-March-2026 / 07:00 CET/CEST Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR Japan is one of the world's most important pharmaceutical markets after the US and Europe. Neupharma's team has extensive experience in developing and successfully commercialising orphan drugs as well as speciality care medicines in Japan, including a blockbuster drug. The agreement with Neupharma includes upfront and milestone payments of up to CHF 83.5 million as well as royalties of up to 20% on sales. The population of available patients eligible for corticorelin treatment associated with peritumoral brain edema is estimated at 60,000 in Japan and 500,000 worldwide. Global market potential is forecasted to exceed USD 1 billion annually. Liestal, Switzerland, and Tokyo, Japan, 11 March 2026: Curatis Holding AG (SIX: CURN) and Neupharma Co., Ltd. ("Neupharma"), a Japanese pharmaceutical company specializing in oncology, immunology, pulmonology and cardiology disorders, today announce an exclusive license and development agreement for corticorelin (C-PTBE-01) in Japan. Under the terms of the agreement, Neupharma will receive exclusive rights to develop and commercialize corticorelin for the treatment of peritumoral brain edema (PTBE) in Japan. PTBE is a tumor-associated condition for which no approved targeted therapies currently exist. Neupharma will finance and conduct a pivotal clinical trial in Japan to support filing for approval in Japan. Curatis will receive upfront and milestone payments for the achievement of regulatory and commercial targets totaling up to CHF 83.5 million, as well as royalties on future sales in Japan of up to 20%. The agreement stipulates that corticorelin is planned to be introduced in Japan initially for children and adolescents. A meeting with the Japanese drug regulatory authority PMDA to discuss the registration enabling study is planned for summer 2026, and the clinical study is expected to start in 2027. At the same time, preparatory work for the pivotal Phase 3 study for approval in the US and Europe as well as global partnering activities are proceeding as planned. Corticorelin / C-PTBE-01 Curatis' lead product candidate, C-PTBE-01 (corticorelin), is being developed to treat peritumoral brain edema (PTBE). PTBE occurs in association with many primary and metastatic (secondary) brain tumors, often in connection with metastases caused by lung cancer, breast cancer, melanoma and colorectal cancer. PTBE results in impairment of brain function due to the accumulation of extracellular fluid around the tumor and can cause symptoms such as headaches, vomiting and neurological dysfunction such as paralysis, speech disorders, visual problems and altered mental status. Standard of care treatment for PTBE is the use of corticosteroids which frequently have serious side effects such as severe myopathy, impaired glucose metabolism, muscle wasting, abnormal weight gain, osteoporosis, gastritis, gastrointestinal bleeding, hypertension and personality changes. Additionally, corticosteroids can also counteract certain cancer therapies such as chemotherapy or emerging immunotherapies that rely on adequate T-cell functionality which is impaired by corticosteroids. Corticorelin (hCRH), a 41 amino acid endogenous polypeptide, has demonstrated preclinically (in vivo) the ability to positively impact the blood-brain barrier after a disruption due to the underlying malignant tumor. In two clinical studies in patients with PTBE, corticorelin demonstrated the potential to substantially reduce, or in some cases completely replace, steroid use, which may reduce or avoid the severe glucocorticoid-related side effects and subsequently improve quality of life. In the US alone, more than 150,000 patients suffer from PTBE. The estimate for the potential market opportunities for corticorelin is therefore over USD 1 billion per year. Corticorelin is an investigational drug not approved for therapeutic use in the United States or outside the United States. About Curatis Curatis Holding AG is a publicly listed company (CURN.SW) focused on the late stage development and commercialization of drugs for rare diseases and specialty care. Curatis has a sales portfolio of more than 40 products and a pipeline of orphan and specialty drugs. More information can be found on www.curatis.com. Contact Patrick Ramsauer, CFO Phone: +41 61 927 8777 ir@curatis.com Disclaimer The information contained in this media release and in any link to our website indicated herein is not for use within any country or jurisdiction or by any persons where such use would constitute a violation of law. If this applies to you, you are not authorized to access or use any such information. This media release contains "forward-looking statements" that are based on our current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about us and our industry. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance or achievements, and may contain the words "may", "will", "should", "continue", "believe", "anticipate", "expect", "estimate", "intend", "project", "plan", "will likely continue", "will likely result", or words or phrases with similar meaning. Undue reliance should not be placed on such statements because, by their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors outside of the control of Curatis Group, that may cause Curatis' business, strategy or actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements (or from past results). For any factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this media release, please see the risk factors included in our listing prospectus in connection with the Business Combination. Curatis Group undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any of these forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise. It should further be noted that past performance is not a guide to future performance. Persons requiring advice should consult an independent adviser. The information contained in this media release is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of offers to purchase or subscribe for securities. This media release is not a prospectus within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act nor a prospectus under any other applicable laws. Some financial information in this media release has been rounded and, as a result, the figures shown as totals in this media release may vary slightly from the exact arithmetic aggregation of the figures that precede them. End of Inside Information Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2026) - Defiance Silver Corp. (TSXV: DEF) (FSE: D4E) (WKN: A1JQW5) ("Defiance" or the "Company") reports that the office of the representatives of the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources of Mexico (SEMARNAT) has approved the Company's Informe Preventivo (IP), the environmental authorization required to, amongst many items, increase the available roads and total drill pad construction for site access and exploration drilling, at the San Acacio project, located in Zacatecas, Mexico. This Informe Preventivo allows for the construction of up to new 44 drill pads and for up to 35 new access roads to be constructed for rapid advancement of the resource exploration potential where exploration has seldomly if ever occurred. The IP permit is valid for a period of 54 months. This drilling permit significantly increases the drilling footprint of the San Acacio project, which historically produced significant amounts of silver, lead and zinc over a multi-hundred year history and saw very little exploration outside of the main Veta Grande mine levels. This IP permit will also allow the company to test exploration targets that will be significant for mineral resource estimation outside of any historical mining or historical resource estimates. The Informe Preventivo was prepared and submitted in accordance with Mexican environmental regulations. The Company would like to acknowledge the office of the representatives of SEMARNAT and the collaborative efforts of the technical and environmental consultants for the efficient review process. Management Commentary "We look forward to evolving our resource drilling program to include the significant exploration potential of these never-before-tested targets in the Veta Grande camp within the world-class Zacatecas Silver District." - Chris Wright, Executive Chairman & CEO, Defiance Silver About Defiance Silver Corp. Defiance Silver Corp. (TSXV: DEF) (OTCQX: DNCVF) (FSE: D4E) is an exploration company advancing the district-scale Zacatecas project, located in the historic Zacatecas Silver District, the 100% owned Tepal Gold/Copper Project in Michoacan state, Mexico and the newly acquired Green Earth Metals property portfolio in Sonora State. Defiance is managed by a team of proven mine developers with a track record of exploring, advancing, and developing several operating mines and advanced resource projects. Defiance Silver's corporate mandate is to advance its projects through capital-efficient exploration focused on resource growth and new mineral discoveries. On behalf of Defiance Silver Corp. "Chris Wright" Chairman of the Board Disclaimer Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information Information contained in this news release which are not statements of historical facts may be "forward-looking information" for the purposes of Canadian securities laws. Such forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. The words "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "contemplate", "plan", "intends", "continue", "budget", "estimate", "may", "will", "schedule", "understand" and similar expressions identify forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things: the Company's expectations regarding the ability of the Mining Bureau of Mexico City to reinstate ownership of the concessions to the Company, cooperation with the Mining Bureau relating to such reinstatement and the potential for any successful solution resulting therefrom. Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Defiance, are inherently subject to significant technical, political, business, economic and competitive uncertainties, and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Factors and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things: the inability of the Company to regain possession of its concessions; political risks associated with the Company's operations in Mexico; the failure of the Mining Bureau in Mexico City to take any coercive action to reinstate ownership of the concessions to the Company; and the inability of the Company and its subsidiaries to enforce their legal rights in certain circumstances. For additional risk factors, please see the Company's most recently filed Management Discussions & Analysis for its quarter ended December 2025, available on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca. There can be no assurances that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as many factors and future events, both known and unknown could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to vary or differ materially from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements contained herein or incorporated by reference. Accordingly, all such factors should be considered carefully when making decisions with respect to Defiance, and prospective investors should not place undue reliance on forward looking information. Forward-looking information in this news release is made as at the date hereof. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions, changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/288054 Source: Defiance Silver Corp. Acquisition of 100% of JHI Partnership with Navitas in North Falklands Licence TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / March 11, 2026 / Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas Ltd. (AIM:ECO)(TSX-V:EOG), the oil and gas exploration company focused on the offshore Atlantic Margins, is pleased to announce that it signed a binding agreement on 10 March 2026 with JHI Associates, Inc. ("JHI") in which Eco has agreed to acquire the issued and to be issued shares of JHI not already held by Eco (the "Transaction" or the "Acquisition"). The Acquisition is subject to a number of conditions, further details of which are set out below. This landmark acquisition complements Eco's existing Atlantic Margin portfolio in Namibia and South Africa, whilst adding to its exposure offshore Guyana. The Acquisition positions Eco at the forefront of one of the most compelling offshore growth stories globally, the North Falkland Basin, alongside intended operator and strategic partner Navitas Petroleum LP ("Navitas"). Eco has agreed to acquire all remaining JHI common shares ("JHI Shares") based on an exchange ratio of 0.7054 common shares in the capital of the Company ("Common Shares") for each JHI share (the "Exchange Ratio") (the "Arrangement Agreement"). Transaction Highlights: Strategic alignment with Navitas, with the first asset confirmed in joint venture partnership. New country entry into Falkland Islands, with near term exploration work program planned on the PL001 licence with operator Navitas, once confirmed by the Falkland Island Government ("FIG"). Anticipated five-year licence extension of the PL001 licence, providing significant runway for exploration and development. Imminent adjacent development coming onstream, with first oil from the Sea Lion Field expected in 2028. Agreed cash balance in JHI of a minimum of US$1.0 million on closing. Provides Eco Shareholders with exposure to high impact near term exploration and development acreage in an additional emerging Atlantic Margin hydrocarbon province, and subject to a potential extension of the Canje licence, furthers its exposure in Guyana. Transaction Summary: On completion of the Acquisition ("Closing"), Eco will issue up to 96,307,811 new Common Shares such that up to approximately 21.8% of Eco's then issued share capital will be held by the shareholders of JHI. Upon Closing, JHI will have a cash balance of US$1.0 million. Approximately 45% of the Common Shares to be issued to JHI shareholders will be subject to lock-up arrangements spanning 18 months following completion. The Acquisition is valued at approximately US$52.3 million (approximately 39.0 million) based on the 30-day volume weighted average price ("VWAP") of the Company's Common Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V") ending on 9 March 2026 of CAD$0.7362. The Acquisition is valued at approximately 46.7 million (approximately US$62.6 million) based on the mid market closing price of the Company's Common Shares on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange of 0.485 on 10 March 2026. JHI's principal assets comprise a 35% working interest in the PL001 licence area in the Falkland Islands, a block directly adjacent to the transformational Sea Lion Field under development, and a 17.5% working interest in the Canje Block offshore Guyana (operated by ExxonMobil and JV partner TotalEnergies and Mid Atlantic O&G). The Canje licence lapsed on 4 March 2026 and is subject to on-going extension discussions with the Government of Guyana ("Canje Extension"). The remaining 65% interest in the PL001 licence area will be held by Navitas, assuming approval of their farm in to PL001, as announced on 2 March 2026, by FIG. On completion, the Transaction provides Eco shareholders with exposure to high-impact near term exploration and development acreage in an additional Atlantic Margin emerging hydrocarbon province, and assuming the Canje Extension, further its exposure in Guyana. The Sea Lion development, to be operated by Navitas, represents the first major offshore oil development in the North Falkland basin and achieved Final Investment Decision ("FID") in December 2025, with first oil targeted for 2028. The planned development infrastructure in relation to the Sea Lion development is expected to unlock the broader basin potential, and Eco's strategic alignment with Navitas places the Company at the heart of the next wave of growth in the region. The PL001 licence Joint Venture partners (Navitas, assuming FIG approval, and JHI) are working together with the FIG to extend the licence, which currently expires on 31 December 2026, for 5-years, in preparation to drill an exploration well. The Acquisition is conditional, inter alia, on the granting of the licence extension by FIG. On 2 March 2026, Navitas announced that it had agreed with JHI to farm-in for a 65% interest in PL001, pursuant to which JHI received a fully funded carry loan for an exploration well and potential appraisal well up to US$14 million net to JHI, the benefit of which Eco will assume through the Transaction. The loan will be repaid from 85% of JHI's free cash flow from production from the PL001 licence, if production is established. This carry meaningfully reduces capital exposure while retaining material upside to drilling/exploration catalysts planned across the licence. Eco does not currently expect that it will be required to contribute further towards the expected exploration work program, including tests of the well. PL001 sits in the North Falklands Basin, adjacent to the Navitas-operated Sea Lion Development and covers 1,126 km2 in water depths ranging from 400-500m. The block holds significant oil exploration potential, which Eco believes will now be unlocked with the emergence of the basin as a producing petroleum province. PL001 contains two legacy wells with oil shows, and part of the Rockhopper Exploration plc led Johnson gas discovery, and is fully covered by a 3D seismic survey, on which over 50 leads and prospects have been identified at multiple play levels, underpinned by a proven Lower Cretaceous petroleum system with world-class source rocks. The latest CPR, commissioned prior to JHI's acquisition of the PL001 licence, estimated an aggregate 3.1bn bbls of prospective (best estimate) recoverable resources (unrisked). PL001 licence contains a proven Cretaceous petroleum system adjacent to Sea Lion discovery and several material, analogous prospects have been high-graded with the potential to target multiple objectives with a single exploration well, and significant follow-up prospectivity across the wider block. The immediate proximity to the Sea Lion planned producing platform materially enhances the commercial attractiveness of PL001, offering potential future tie-back and infrastructure synergies, accelerating potential monetisation pathways and reducing development risk. The Canje Block offshore Guyana, operated by ExxonMobil with JV partners TotalEnergies and Mid Atlantic O&G, is directly north of the Stabroek trend, within the same petroleum system as other ExxonMobil discoveries. The block hosts multiple prospects identified through modern 3D seismic data, supported by high-quality AVO (Amplitude Versus Offset) and/or DHI (Direct Hydrocarbon Indicator) indicators, highlighting a large inventory of prospects with significant potential. Gil Holzman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Eco Atlantic, commented: "This Transaction represents a further transformational milestone in Eco's strategic evolution and reinforces our disciplined approach to assembling high-quality Atlantic Margin acreage alongside best-in-class operating partners. By securing a significant working interest adjacent to the Sea Lion Field, and further aligning ourselves with Navitas, a proven, development-focused operator with a clear pathway to first oil, Eco is advancing beyond pure exploration exposure and positioning itself within a basin entering a new phase of development-led growth. With Sea Lion progressing toward development and infrastructure build-out, and with planned drilling activity supported by a meaningful carry, we believe Eco is now exceptionally well positioned to participate in the next chapter of growth in the region while maintaining capital discipline and maximising shareholder value. In parallel to this transaction, Eco and Navitas are continuing their advanced discussions with the Government of Guyana regarding the appraisal and exploration program on the Orinduik block, while progressing lead and prospect evaluation on Block 1 CBK in South Africa's Orange basin, and maintaining an active farm-out process on our three Walvis basin blocks in Namibia. We will update the market in due course on any further development across our wider Atlantic margin portfolio. I want to thank my team and our advisors for their hard work; we are delighted to update the market on the continued progress of the Company through our proposed acquisition of JHI. Today's announcement builds on the strong momentum we have generated since signing our framework agreement with Navitas in December 2025 and further strengthens our strategic Atlantic margin footprint in the North Falkland Basin." Transaction Overview including conditions to Completion Under the terms of the Arrangement Agreement, upon Closing, Eco Atlantic will issue 96,307,811 Common Shares (the "Consideration Shares") to JHI's shareholders, JHI warrant holders, and JHI option holders (together "JHI Securityholders"). Following Closing, it is expected that JHI Securityholders will hold approximately 21.8% of then Eco's issued share capital. The consideration payable by Eco comprises the Consideration Shares only, and no cash. The Consideration Shares have an aggregate value of approximately US$52.3 million (approximately 39.0 million) based on the Exchange Ratio which was fixed by reference to the 30-day VWAP of the Company's Common Shares on the TSX-V ended on 9 March 2026 of CAD$0.7362. The Consideration Shares have an aggregate value of approximately 46.7 million (approximately US$62.6 million) based on the mid market closing price of the Company's Common Shares on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange of 0.485 on 10 March 2026. The Acquisition, once concluded, will result in Eco becoming the sole owner of JHI's cash balance, which pursuant to the Transaction will amount to US$1.0 million, and its 35% working interest in the PL001 licence area in the Falkland Islands and 17.5% participating interest in the Canje Block, pending potential extension discussions with the Government of Guyana. Completion is subject, among other conditions, to the approval of a five-year licence extension on PL001, from FIG ("Falkland Licence Extension"). The gross asset value of JHI as at 31 December 2025, per the unaudited JHI financial statements, was US$15.3 million, and the unaudited loss for the financial year ended 31 December 2025 was US$2.8 million. In addition to the Falkland Licence Extension, completion of the Acquisition, which is expected during Q3 2026, is subject to several closing conditions, including receipt of the requisite approvals from the TSX Venture Exchange, and the approval of two thirds of the votes cast by JHI Shareholders at a special meeting to be held to approve the Acquisition within the next four weeks. The Transaction is not conditional on the Canje Extension. JHI shall be entitled to designate one nominee to the board of directors of Eco (the "Eco Board"), being Mr Daniel Guy, currently a director in JHI, such appointment being subject to completion of customary due diligence by the Company's Nominated Adviser and as required pursuant to the AIM Rules for Companies and the TSX-V regulations. Mr Guy's appointment to the Eco Board is expected to be made on Closing. On Closing it is expected that Mr. Frederick Cedoz will join the Eco Atlantic team as Vice President, Americas with a specific focus on the Falkland Islands and Guyana licences' management. Fred brings nearly 30 years of global energy experience spanning project financing, geopolitics, and upstream deal-making. He was co-founder and president of JHI Associates, where he led major international transactions including the Canje Block partnership offshore Guyana with ExxonMobil and TotalEnergies, and the farm-out of the PL001 licence in the Falkland Islands to Navitas. He holds a B.A. from University of Dayton and a law degree from The Catholic University of America, and is admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia. In connection with entering into the Arrangement Agreement, all the directors and officers of JHI and certain JHI Securityholders have entered into voting support agreements (the "Support Agreements") in respect of the Acquisition and lock-up agreements (the "Lock-Up Agreements"). Pursuant to the terms of the Support Agreements, each signatory, who together hold approximately 38% of JHI's voting rights (on a fully diluted basis), has agreed to not transfer any JHI securities prior to Closing, and to vote in favour of the Acquisition at the meeting of JHI Securityholders. Each signatory to the Lock-Up Agreements has agreed to not transfer or sell the Consideration Shares received on Closing (subject to limited exceptions), with such locked up shares to be released in tranches, with 10% being released on Closing, a further 10% three months following Closing, a further 10% six months following Closing, a further 20% twelve months following closing and the remaining 50% on the the earlier of September 30, 2027, and the date on which the first offshore well in the Falkland Islands is spud by or on behalf of Eco. PillarFour Capital Inc. acted as Eco's financial advisor on the Transaction. PillarFour Capital Inc. will be entitled to US$150,000 in cash and 725,000 Common Shares upon Closing. **ENDS** For more information, please visit www.ecooilandgas.com or contact the following. Eco Atlantic Oil and Gas c/o Celicourt +44 (0) 20 7770 6424 Gil Holzman, President & Chief Executive Officer Alice Carroll, VP Business Development & Corporate Affairs Strand Hanson (Financial & Nominated Adviser) +44 (0) 20 7409 3494 James Harris, James Bellman Canaccord Genuity (Joint Broker) +44 (0) 20 7523 8000 Henry Fitzgerald-O'Connor, Charlie Hammond Berenberg (Joint Broker) +44 (0) 20 3207 7800 Matthew Armitt Celicourt (PR) +44 (0) 20 7770 6424 Mark Antelme, Charles Denley-Myerson Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 as it forms part of United Kingdom domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended by virtue of the Market Abuse (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. About Eco Atlantic: Eco Atlantic is a TSX-V and AIM-quoted Atlantic Margin-focused oil and gas exploration company with offshore licence interests in Guyana, Namibia, and South Africa. Eco aims to deliver material value for its stakeholders through its role in the energy transition to explore for low carbon intensity oil and gas in stable emerging markets close to infrastructure. In Offshore Guyana, in the proven Guyana-Suriname Basin, the Company operates a 100% Working Interest in the 1,354 km2 Orinduik Block. In Namibia, the Company holds Operatorship and an 85% Working Interest in three offshore Petroleum Licences: PELs: 97, 99, and 100, representing a combined area of 22,893 km2 in the Walvis Basin. In Offshore South Africa, Eco holds a 5.25% Working Interest in Block 3B/4B and a 75% Operated Interest in Block 1 CBK, in the Orange Basin, totalling approximately 37,510km2. Figure 1: Map of PL001 and Sea Lion Development Forward-Looking Statements Statements contained in this document that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainty affecting the business of Eco. Such statements can be generally, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "forecasts", "schedules", "prepares", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. All estimates and statements that describe Eco's operations are forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws and necessarily involve risks and uncertainties including, without limitation: risks associated with oil and gas exploration, development, exploitation and production, geological risks, marketing and transportation, the risk associated with estimating prospective resources described below, availability of adequate funding, volatility of commodity prices, imprecision of reserve estimates, environmental risks, competition from other producers, and changes in the regulatory and taxation environment. Actual results may vary materially from the information provided in this document, and there is no representation by the Company that the actual results realized in the future will be the same in whole or in part as those presented herein. Eco undertakes no obligation, except as otherwise required by law, to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors change. Resource Estimates The resource estimates in this announcement, where applicable, are prepared by independent and non-independent qualified reserves evaluators in accordance with NI 51-101 and the COGE Handbook. Best Estimate is considered to be the best estimate of the in-place volumes that will actually be present. It is equally likely that the actual in-place volumes will be greater or less than the best estimate. If probabilistic methods are used, there should be at least a 50 percent probability (P50) that the in-place volumes will equal or exceed the best estimate. Prospective resources are those quantities of petroleum estimated, as of a given date, to be potentially recoverable from undiscovered accumulations by application of future development projects. Prospective resources have both an associated chance of discovery and a chance of development. There is no certainty that any portion of the resources will be discovered. If discovered, there is no certainty that it will be commercially viable to produce any portion of the resources. Exploration for hydrocarbons is a speculative venture necessarily involving substantial risk. The Company's future success in exploiting and increasing its current reserve base will depend on its ability to develop its current properties and on its ability to discover and acquire properties or prospects that are capable of commercial production. However, there is no assurance that the Company's future exploration and development efforts will result in the discovery or development of additional commercial accumulations of oil and natural gas. In addition, even if further hydrocarbons are discovered, the costs of extracting and delivering the hydrocarbons to market and variations in the market price may render uneconomic any discovered deposit. Geological conditions are variable and unpredictable. Even if production is commenced from a well, the quantity of hydrocarbons produced inevitably will decline over time, and production may be adversely affected or may have to be terminated altogether if the Company encounters unforeseen geological conditions. The Company is subject to uncertainties related to the proximity of any reserves that it may discover to pipelines and processing facilities. It expects that its operational costs will increase proportionally to the remoteness of, and any restrictions on access to, the properties on which any such reserves may be found. Adverse climatic conditions at such properties may also hinder the Company's ability to carry on exploration or production activities continuously throughout any given year. The significant positive factors that are relevant to the resource estimate are: Proven commercial quality reservoirs in close proximity; and Oil and gas shows while drilling wells nearby. The significant negative factors that are relevant to the resource estimate are: Tectonically complex geology could compromise seal potential; and Seismic attribute mapping can be indicative but not certain in identifying proven resource. This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com. SOURCE: Eco (Atlantic) Oil and Gas Ltd. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/oil-gas-and-energy/eco-atlantic-oil-and-gas-ltd.-announces-acquisition-of-jhi-and-navitas-partnersh-1146264 Albuquerque, New Mexico--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2026) - Enterobiz LLC today announced the official launch of its flat-fee LLC formation service designed to assist entrepreneurs in the United States and internationally in establishing U.S. limited liability companies through a structured and transparent process. Official logo of Enterobiz LLC To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/12255/288083_fe4a9ea4041b3966_001full.jpg The announcement marks the introduction of the Enterobiz platform, developed to simplify the administrative and compliance steps involved in forming a limited liability company in the United States. The service provides assistance with LLC formation filings, registered agent services, operating agreement templates, and preparation of Employer Identification Number (EIN) applications. According to the company, the launch reflects growing demand among entrepreneurs for clearer and more accessible pathways to establish legally recognized business entities capable of supporting both domestic and international operations. Limited liability companies remain one of the most widely used business structures in the United States due to their operational flexibility and the separation they provide between personal and business liabilities. Entrepreneurs frequently choose the LLC structure when launching consulting firms, technology ventures, digital service businesses, and e-commerce companies. Enterobiz developed its platform to simplify the formation process for founders who may be unfamiliar with U.S. filing procedures and regulatory requirements. The service guides entrepreneurs through the core administrative steps required to establish and maintain a compliant limited liability company. "Many entrepreneurs today operate across borders, yet the process of forming a U.S. business entity can appear complicated for those encountering it for the first time," said Rehan Anjum, founder of Enterobiz. "Enterobiz was created to provide a clear and transparent pathway for founders who want to establish a compliant U.S. business structure." The launch also reflects broader changes in the global startup environment. Digital infrastructure, remote work, and cross-border commerce have contributed to the rise of businesses that serve international markets from their earliest stages. Entrepreneurs launching software platforms, consulting firms, digital services, and online commerce businesses often seek legal structures that allow them to operate internationally while maintaining regulatory clarity within the United States. Enterobiz states that its platform was developed to support founders throughout the formation process while also providing information regarding ongoing compliance responsibilities. These responsibilities may include maintaining a registered agent, filing applicable state reports, and ensuring that the business entity remains in good standing with relevant authorities. The company also plans to expand educational resources aimed at helping entrepreneurs better understand the legal and operational considerations involved in establishing and operating a U.S. limited liability company. As cross-border entrepreneurship continues to expand, simplified formation services may play an increasing role in helping founders establish compliant companies capable of operating within global markets. About Enterobiz Enterobiz LLC is a business services company that assists entrepreneurs in forming U.S. limited liability companies. The company provides support for LLC formation filings, registered agent services, operating agreement templates, and preparation of EIN applications for both U.S. residents and international founders seeking to establish a compliant U.S. business entity. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/288083 Source: Storycaller LLC Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2026) - Questcorp Mining Inc. (CSE: QQQ) (OTCQB: QQCMF) (FSE: D910) (the "Company" or "Questcorp") is pleased to announce the successful completion of 12.8 line kilometres of induced polarization ("IP") surveying over the Marisa Zone at its 1,168-hectare North Island Copper Project located near Port Hardy on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The Company is currently reviewing the newly acquired geophysical data and will release a detailed interpretation once the technical team has completed its evaluation. As part of this process, Peter E. Walcott and Associates Limited will integrate the historical 1992 IP survey data with the new 2026 survey results to generate a comprehensive 3D inversion model of the target area. The results of this work are expected to assist in defining priority drill targets. Subject to final interpretation and permitting timelines, the Company intends to initiate permitting for a drill program in late H1 or early H2 2026. Previous exploration at the Marisa Zone identified copper mineralization associated with an IP chargeability anomaly. In 1992, two of five diamond drill holes were completed to test the anomaly intersected copper mineralization, including: 0.078% copper over 56.39 metres (DDH92-01) (DDH92-01) 0.041% copper over 70.71 metres (DDH92-03) Both intercepts were encountered within altered quartz diorite, with copper grades increasing with depth in DDH92-03. Source: Geophysical and Diamond Drilling Report on the Marisa Property, G.J. Allen and P.G. Dasler, February 29, 1992, prepared for Great Western Gold Corporation. "This recently completed IP survey represents an important step in advancing the Marisa Zone target," stated Saf Dhillon, President & Chief Executive Officer of Questcorp Mining. "The survey has successfully confirmed the presence of the historical chargeability anomaly identified in earlier work. Once Walcott and Associates completes the 3D inversion and our technical team finishes reviewing the results, we expect to refine potential drill targets and move toward a drill program later in 2026." The Company cautions that a Qualified Person has not verified the historical exploration data referenced in this release. The presence of mineralization on adjacent or nearby properties, including NorthIsle Copper and Gold and BHP properties, is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the North Island Copper Project. The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by R. Tim Henneberry, P. Geo (BC), a Director of the Company and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. About Questcorp Mining Inc. Questcorp is engaged in the business of the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties in North America, with the objective of locating and developing economic precious and base metal properties of merit. The Company holds an option to acquire an undivided 100-per-cent interest in and to mineral claims totalling 1,168.09 hectares comprising the North Island Copper property, on Vancouver Island, B.C., subject to a royalty obligation. The Company also holds an option to acquire an undivided 100-per-cent interest in and to mineral claims totalling 2,520.2 hectares comprising the La Union project located in Sonora, Mexico, subject to a royalty obligation. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Saf Dhillon President & CEO https://questcorpmining.ca This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the intended use of proceeds from the Offering; and closing of subsequent tranches of the Offering. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties, uncertain capital markets; and delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/288086 Source: Questcorp Mining Inc. Die Stimmung an den Markten hat sich grundlegend gedreht. Wahrend Tech- und KI-Werte zunehmend mit Volatilitat und Bewertungsrisiken kampfen, erleben klassische Versorger ein unerwartetes Comeback. Laut IEA und EIA steigt der globale Strombedarf strukturell weiter, nicht nur wegen E-Mobilitat und Warmepumpen, sondern vor allem durch energiehungrige KI-Rechenzentren. Energie wird damit zur zentralen Infrastruktur des digitalen Zeitalters. Gleichzeitig rucken in unsicheren Marktphasen stabile Cashflows, solide Bilanzen und regulierte Renditen wieder starker in den Fokus. Genau hier spielen Versorger ihre Starken aus: berechenbare Ertrage, robuste Nachfrage und hohe Dividenden Qualitaten, die vielen Wachstumswerten aktuell fehlen. Nach Jahren im Schatten der Tech-Rallye steigt nun das Interesse an Unternehmen, die Stabilitat mit langfristigen Wachstumsthemen wie Netzausbau, Dekarbonisierung und erneuerbaren Energien verbinden. Im aktuellen Spezialreport stellen wir drei Versorger vor, die defensive Starke mit attraktivem Potenzial kombinieren. Jetzt den kostenlosen Report sichern bevor die nachste Versorgerwelle Fahrt aufnimmt! The agreement enables a full tech transfer of the chikungunya vaccine for future supply to low- and middle-income countries. Expanded collaboration provides future co-development opportunities. COPENHAGEN, Denmark, March 11, 2026 - Bavarian Nordic A/S (OMX: BAVA) today announced an expansion of the strategic partnership with Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. (SII) to include a contract manufacturing agreement covering a full tech transfer of the manufacturing process for the chikungunya vaccine (CHIKV VLP) from Bavarian Nordic to SII to allow for scaling of capacity to enable future supply to endemic low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This agreement builds on the existing mpox vaccine license and manufacturing agreement with SII, and replaces the agreement previously entered with Biological E. Limited. In addition, through this expanded collaboration, the parties will explore potential future co-development opportunities. "We are pleased to strengthen our strategic partnership with Serum Institute of India. By leveraging the strengths of both organizations, we can scale manufacturing of our chikungunya vaccine to expand global supply and improve access for populations around the globe," said Paul Chaplin, President & CEO of Bavarian Nordic. About CHIKV VLP CHIKV VLP is a single dose, prefilled, adjuvanted VLP recombinant protein vaccine for active immunization for the prevention of disease caused by chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in individuals 12 years and older. It is designed to induce a robust seroresponse, with protective immunity starting to develop as early as 1 week after vaccination. The vaccine does not contain viral genetic material and is therefore non-infectious and unable to cause disease, ensuring a broad range of people can benefit from vaccination. CHIKV VLP (marketed as Vimkunya) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the European Commission and the U.K. Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency in 2025. Regulatory review of the vaccine is ongoing in Switzerland and Canada. About chikungunya Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne disease caused by the chikungunya virus. In the past 20 years, the virus has emerged across several regions in Asia, Africa, and the Americas, including many popular travel destinations, often causing large unpredictable outbreaks. Since its discovery, chikungunya has been identified in more than 110 countries1. Chikungunya typically presents with acute symptoms, including fever, rash, fatigue, headache, and often severe and incapacitating joint pain. Most patients recover, but 30-40% of those affected may develop chronic symptoms that can last for months or even years2. In 2025, as of December, nearly 500,000 cases of chikungunya and over 200 associated deaths were reported worldwide3. More than half of the reported cases and associated deaths were reported from Brazil4. Recent data suggest that chikungunya is severely underreported and often misdiagnosed as dengue fever due to a similar symptom profile5. About Bavarian Nordic Bavarian Nordic is a global vaccine company with a mission to improve health and save lives through innovative vaccines. We are a preferred supplier of mpox and smallpox vaccines to governments to enhance public health preparedness and have a leading portfolio of travel vaccines. For more information, visit www.bavarian-nordic.com. About Serum Institute of India Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. is the world's largest vaccine manufacturer, developing life-saving vaccines against diseases including polio, measles, meningitis, rotavirus, diphtheria, tetanus, malaria, HPV, pneumonia, and COVID-19, with a mission to make affordable vaccines accessible worldwide. Present across 170+ countries, including the U.S., the UK, and Europe, SII operates one of the largest multifunctional vaccine production facilities in Manjri, Pune, with an annual capacity of 4 billion doses, contributing to saving over 30 million lives over the years. For more information, visit www.seruminstitute.com. Contact investors: Europe: Disa Tuominen, IR Manager, detu@bavarian-nordic.com US: Graham Morrell, Gilmartin Group, graham@gilmartinir.com, Tel: +1 781 686 9600 Contact media: Nicole Seroff, Vice President Corporate Communications, nise@bavarian-nordic.com, Tel: +45 53 88 06 03 1 World Health Organization (WHO). Chikungunya.https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/chikungunya 2 European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Chikungunya virus disease. https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/chikungunya-virus-disease. 3 European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Chikungunya virus disease worldwide overview. https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/chikungunya-monthly. 4 Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Chikungunya: analysis by country. https://www.paho.org/en/arbo-portal/chikungunya-data-and-analysis/chikungunya-analysis-country 5 Ribas Freitas AR, Pinheiro Chagas AA, Siqueira AM, Pamplona de Goes Cavalcanti L. How much of the current serious arbovirus epidemic in Brazil is dengue and how much is chikungunya? Lancet Reg Health Am. 2024 Apr 30;34:100753. doi: 10.1016/j.lana.2024.100753. PMID: 38711542; PMCID: PMC11070701. Attachment In a significant boost for Vietnam's Web3 ecosystem, Unchained Summit has formally secured government backing through a Memorandum of Understanding with the Da Nang Innovation Startup Support Center (Department of Science and Technology), positioning Da Nang as the host city for the summit's Vietnam edition on 28th and 29th May 2026 at the Furama Resort. DA NANG, VN / ACCESS Newswire / March 11, 2026 / The signing took place at the Da Nang City Administrative Center and was complemented by direct engagement with Mr. Ho Quang Buu, Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee, reflecting the city administration's coordinated support behind the summit. Aeternum and DISSC officials exchange signed MoU documents in Da Nang, confirming the city as host of Unchained Summit Vietnam 2026. Vietnam's digital asset ecosystem is at an inflection point. The country consistently ranks among the top nations globally for crypto adoption, with over 20 million Vietnamese already holding digital assets. With the government actively developing frameworks to support blockchain innovation and digital finance, the conditions for meaningful industry dialogue have never been more favourable. Unchained Summit arrives at precisely this moment; when the policy direction is clear, institutional interest is accelerating, and the ecosystem is ready for the kind of global engagement that moves markets and shapes regulation. The Vietnam edition is built around a singular objective: to connect the global blockchain and digital asset community with the leaders, investors, and policymakers driving Vietnam's digital economy forward. Over two days, the summit will bring together over 1,000 attendees spanning builders, developers, venture capital, enterprise technology, and regulatory stakeholders, creating a high-quality, senior-level platform that serves both the global industry and Vietnam's own ambitions in equal measure. Additional MoUs were signed with Vietnam Blockchain Association and with Open Campus, reinforcing institutional alignment and ecosystem engagement. A separate agreement was also formalised with Liquid Loans, underscoring early private-sector alignment behind the initiative. The event will feature a highly curated speaker lineup of over 50 leaders across two days. Speakers will be announced in phases. Mr. Ho Quang Buu, Vice Chairman, People's Committee of Da Nang City, said, "Da Nang has always been a city that looks forward. Vietnam is not waiting for the Web3 revolution, we are leading it. Our government's partnership with Aeternum and the signing of this MoU reflects our commitment to making Da Nang the innovation and technology capital of Southeast Asia. We welcome the world's brightest minds in blockchain, digital finance, and decentralized technologies." Reflecting on the MoU, Mr. Vo Duc Anh , Deputy Director, Da Nang Innovation Startup Support Center noted: "DISSC exists to turn Da Nang's innovation ambition into reality. Unchained Summit gives our startup ecosystem direct access to global capital, world-class knowledge, and the kind of international networks that take years to build. This MoU is not a ceremony, it is the beginning of a sustained commitment to putting Da Nang on the world's Web3 map." Sharath Kumar , Founder and CEO of Aeternum, organizer of Unchained Summit, said, "Today marks an important step in setting the tone for the upcoming summit in May. Our focus is to bring the global digital asset community to Da Nang and connect them directly with Vietnam's policymakers, enterprises, and technology leaders. This is about creating meaningful alignment between international capital and local opportunity." The event is officially supported by: Silver Sponsor: Liquid Loans Bronze Sponsor : BlockchainX Official Media Partner: Coin Edition Community Partners: Open Campus and Vietnam Blockchain Association Tickets are available on the official website: https://unchainedsummit.com/vietnam About Aeternum Consulting Ltd: Aeternum organizes business-to-business events in the emerging tech space, provides strategic consulting, and tailored services to a diverse range of clients, from corporations to governments and startups to individuals. Aeternum specializes in crafting impactful B2B platforms that foster meaningful connections, drive business growth, and facilitate knowledge sharing through conferences, exhibitions, and bespoke networking opportunities. For more information visit: aeternuminc.com For further details about the announcement, please contact : Maya K V media@aeternuminc.com | +971 55 243 1191 Partnerships Associate, Aeternum SOURCE: Aeternum Consulting Ltd View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/aeternum-and-da-nang-government-officials-bring-unchained-summit-1143992 Das Borsenjahr 2026 ist fur viele Anleger ernuchternd gestartet. Tech-Werte straucheln, der Nasdaq 100 tritt auf der Stelle und ausgerechnet alte Favoriten wie Microsoft und SAP rutschen zweistellig ab. KI ist plotzlich kein Ruckenwind mehr, sondern ein Belastungsfaktor, weil Investoren beginnen, die finanzielle Nachhaltigkeit zu hinterfragen. Gleichzeitig vollzieht sich an der Wall Street ein lautloser Favoritenwechsel. Wahrend viele auf Wachstum setzen, feiern Value-Titel mit verlasslichen Cashflows ihr Comeback: Telekommunikation, Industrie, Energie, Pharma die Cashmaschinen der Realwirtschaft verdrangen hoch bewertete Hoffnungstrager. In unserem aktuellen Spezialreport stellen wir funf Aktien vor, die genau in dieses neue Marktbild passen: solide, gunstig bewertet und mit attraktiver Dividende. Werte, die nicht nur laufende Ertrage liefern, sondern auch bei Marktkorrekturen Sicherheit bieten. Jetzt den kostenlosen Report sichern bevor der Value-Zug 2026 endgultig abfahrt! Dieses exklusive PDF ist nur fur kurze Zeit gratis verfugbar. Houston, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2026) - Utopia Med Spa & Clinic, a Houston-based aesthetic and wellness center founded by board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Franklin A. Rose, MD, today announced the expansion of its physician-supervised medical weight management program, citing a measurable increase in patient demand for structured, clinically monitored obesity treatment options. The announcement comes as GLP-1 receptor agonist medications, a class of FDA-approved therapies used to treat obesity by mimicking hormones that regulate appetite and increase feelings of fullness, have seen surging interest across Houston and nationwide. Dr. Rose said: "Patients are more informed than ever. They're asking not just about access to GLP-1 medications, but about safety, metabolic screening, and long-term planning. What we're seeing is patients wanting accountability and physician involvement." About the Expanded Program of Utopia Med Spa & Clinic The expanded offering at Utopia Med Spa & Clinic is designed to address growing patient concerns about rapid prescribing through online platforms with limited clinical oversight. The program provides: Individualized metabolic screening and evaluation Physician-led weight management planning focused on hormone balance and body composition Access to FDA-approved oral and injectable GLP-1 therapy options within a structured clinical framework Complementary non-invasive body contouring via Body Lightning treatment, supporting skin tightening and refinement for patients who experience contour changes following weight reduction "Weight loss is not just about appetite suppression," Rose said. "It's about metabolic health, hormone balance, and body composition. Used appropriately, these medications can be life-changing, but they should be delivered within a structured, physician-led framework." The expansion reflects broader trends across Texas, where obesity rates and metabolic health concerns have driven sustained growth in demand for medically supervised weight loss solutions. Utopia Med Spa & Clinic's in-person model is positioned to meet patients seeking a clinical alternative to telehealth-only platforms. Availability Expanded services, including FDA-approved GLP-1 therapy and Body Lightning treatment, are now available at Utopia Med Spa & Clinic's Houston location. Consultations may be scheduled by visiting https://www.utopiaplasticsurgery.com or by calling (713) 622-2277. About Utopia Med Spa & Clinic Utopia Med Spa & Clinic is a Houston-based aesthetic and wellness center founded by Dr. Franklin A. Rose, MD. The practice integrates surgical excellence with advanced non-surgical treatments and physician-supervised medical weight management programs. Utopia is committed to delivering safe, personalized, and results-driven care for patients seeking cosmetic enhancement, rejuvenation, and metabolic optimization. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/285795 Source: BrandingBuzz.Agency NEW DELHI, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the latest market research study published by MarkNtel Advisors, the Global Hypersonic Weapons, Missiles, and Glide Vehicles Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of around 12.89% during 2026-2032. This growth is primarily driven by the rising global focus on advanced strike capabilities, increasing defense modernization programs, and the growing demand for next-generation weapons capable of penetrating sophisticated missile defense systems. Additionally, rapid technological advancements in hypersonic propulsion systems, guidance technologies, and maneuverable glide vehicles are further accelerating investments in hypersonic weapons development across major military powers. Across global regions, Asia-Pacific dominates the market, accounting for nearly 40% of the total market share in 2026. The region's strong position is supported by rising defense budgets, ongoing hypersonic weapon development programs, and strategic competition among major regional powers seeking to strengthen long-range strike capabilities and deterrence strategies. Global Hypersonic Weapons, Missiles, and Glide Vehicles Market Key Takeaways The Global Hypersonic Weapons, Missiles, and Glide Vehicles Market was valued at around USD 8.45 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow from USD 9.23 billion in 2026 to approximately USD 19.1 billion by 2032, reflecting strong market expansion supported by increasing military investments in advanced missile technologies and next-generation strategic weapon systems. By weapon type, Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs) accounted for nearly 45% of the market share in 2026. Their dominance is attributed to their high maneuverability, unpredictable flight trajectory, and ability to evade existing missile defense systems, making them one of the most strategically valuable hypersonic weapon platforms. By mission type, Nuclear & Strategic Deterrence captured approximately 47% of the market share in 2026, as nations increasingly integrate hypersonic capabilities into their strategic deterrence frameworks to strengthen long-range precision strike capabilities and maintain military superiority. The presence of leading defense contractors and aerospace technology companies continues to strengthen market competitiveness through large-scale investments in hypersonic propulsion systems, advanced missile guidance technologies, and boost-glide weapon platforms. Download a FREE PDF Sample of the Report: https://www.marknteladvisors.com/query/request-sample/hypersonic-weapons-missiles-and-glide-vehicles-market-report.html(Discover the market potential, platform-specific insights, and key industry trends) Key Drivers Accelerating the Expansion of the Hypersonic Weapons Market Rising Global Defense Modernization Initiatives Governments across major economies are substantially increasing defense expenditures to modernize their military capabilities and maintain technological superiority in emerging warfare domains. Within this evolving defense landscape, hypersonic weapons are increasingly recognized as a critical component of next-generation military strategy due to their ability to travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5 while retaining high maneuverability during flight. Consequently, countries such as the United States, China, and Russia, along with several members of North Atlantic Treaty Organization, are actively investing in the research, development, and testing of advanced hypersonic weapon systems. These programs are primarily aimed at strengthening long-range precision strike capabilities and reinforcing strategic deterrence frameworks. As a result, the increasing emphasis on defense modernization is generating significant demand for advanced hypersonic missile technologies and glide vehicles capable of delivering rapid, precise, and difficult-to-intercept strikes against high-value targets. Intensifying Strategic Competition Among Global Military Powers The global security environment is witnessing heightened geopolitical competition among leading military powers, which is further accelerating the development and deployment of hypersonic weapon systems. These advanced weapons provide a substantial operational advantage due to their extreme speed, enhanced maneuverability, and ability to evade conventional missile defense systems. In response to evolving security challenges and shifting geopolitical dynamics, several nations are prioritizing hypersonic technologies as a means of strengthening their strategic deterrence capabilities and improving rapid-response military preparedness. Furthermore, the ability of hypersonic weapons to penetrate sophisticated air and missile defense systems makes them a strategically valuable asset in modern military doctrine. Accordingly, the growing focus on maintaining technological and strategic superiority among major defense powers is expected to play a pivotal role in driving long-term expansion within the global hypersonic weapons market. Advancements in Hypersonic Propulsion and Guidance Technologies Continuous technological progress in hypersonic propulsion systems is significantly enhancing the performance and operational reliability of next-generation weapon platforms. In particular, advancements in scramjet engine technology, combined with improvements in navigation, guidance, and thermal protection systems, are enabling hypersonic missiles and glide vehicles to operate more efficiently at extremely high speeds. In parallel, defense technology companies and research institutions are actively developing advanced aerodynamic designs and high-temperature resistant materials capable of withstanding the intense thermal stress generated during hypersonic flight. These innovations are essential for maintaining flight stability, structural integrity, and target accuracy under extreme operating conditions. Collectively, these technological developments are accelerating the transition of hypersonic weapons from experimental prototypes to deployable operational systems, thereby strengthening the capabilities of modern military forces worldwide. Key Operational Challenges Constraining Market Expansion High Development Costs and Engineering Complexity Despite the growing strategic importance of hypersonic weapons, their development and deployment remain associated with significant technological complexity and substantial financial investments. Designing hypersonic systems requires highly advanced propulsion mechanisms, specialized heat-resistant materials capable of withstanding extreme aerodynamic heating, and sophisticated guidance systems to ensure stability and precision during high-velocity flight. Moreover, the development process involves extensive testing, advanced research infrastructure, and specialized manufacturing capabilities, all of which contribute to elevated program costs and prolonged development timelines. As a result, participation in hypersonic weapon development is largely limited to technologically advanced nations and major defense contractors with the necessary financial and technical resources. Addressing these technical challenges and cost barriers will therefore be essential for enabling broader development and sustained growth within the global hypersonic weapons market in the coming years. Market Analysis by Weapon Type, Mission & Region By weapon type, Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs) dominate the global market, accounting for nearly 45% of the total market share in 2026. This leadership is largely attributed to their ability to travel at hypersonic speeds while maneuvering unpredictably within the atmosphere, making them extremely difficult for existing missile defense systems to intercept. Unlike traditional ballistic missiles, HGVs follow complex flight paths that enhance survivability and strike accuracy, making them highly valuable for advanced military operations. By mission type, Nuclear & Strategic Deterrence holds the largest share of the market, capturing approximately 47% in 2026. Hypersonic weapons are increasingly integrated into strategic deterrence frameworks as they provide rapid global strike capabilities and strengthen national defense strategies. Their ability to penetrate advanced missile defense systems makes them a critical component of modern nuclear deterrence doctrines adopted by major military powers. Regionally, Asia-Pacific leads the global market with nearly 40% market share in 2026, supported by significant defense investments and active hypersonic weapon development programs. Countries across the region are expanding their military capabilities by investing in advanced missile technologies, long-range strike systems, and hypersonic platforms aimed at strengthening regional deterrence and security preparedness. View Full Report (All Data, In One Place): https://www.marknteladvisors.com/research-library/hypersonic-weapons-missiles-and-glide-vehicles-market-report.html(Explore in-depth analyses, technological trends, and investment patterns) Strategic Weapons Testing and Technology Showcases Accelerating Global Hypersonic Weapons, Missiles, and Glide Vehicles Development The global hypersonic weapons industry is witnessing rapid technological advancements and strategic demonstrations as leading military powers accelerate the development and testing of next-generation hypersonic systems. These initiatives reflect the growing emphasis on enhancing long-range strike capabilities, improving deterrence strategies, and achieving technological superiority in modern warfare. In 2025, Russia conducted a test of the Zircon hypersonic missile during the joint Zapad-2025 exercises organized with Belarus. The demonstration highlighted the missile's extreme speed, advanced maneuverability, and submarine-launch capability, underscoring its potential to evade modern missile defense systems. Analysts noted that the system can travel at speeds approaching Mach 10 with an operational range of approximately 2,000 kilometers, reinforcing Russia's strategic capabilities in hypersonic maritime strike operations. Subsequently, in the same year, China showcased several advanced hypersonic anti-ship missile systems during a large-scale military parade in Beijing. Among the systems displayed were the YJ-17 boost-glide weapon, the YJ-19 scramjet-powered cruise missile, and the YJ-20 designed for highly maneuverable, high-speed strikes against naval targets. These developments highlight China's accelerating progress in hypersonic weapons technology and reflect the broader global race to deploy advanced hypersonic strike capabilities. Collectively, these strategic demonstrations illustrate the growing pace of hypersonic weapons innovation worldwide, as major defense powers continue to invest in advanced propulsion systems, boost-glide technologies, and precision guidance capabilities to strengthen their strategic deterrence frameworks. Major Players in the Global Hypersonic Weapons, Missiles, and Glide Vehicles Market Key companies contributing to technological innovation and market competition include: Lockheed Martin Corporation, RTX Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, The Boeing Company, BAE Systems plc, MBDA Missile Systems S.A.S., Leidos Holdings, Inc., Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI), General Dynamics Corporation, JSC Tactical Missiles Corporation (KTRV), China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation Limited (CASIC), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., L3Harris Technologies, Inc Others Global Hypersonic Weapons, Missiles, and Glide Vehicles Market Scope By Weapon Type: Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs), Hypersonic Cruise Missiles (HCMs), Hypersonic Ballistic Missiles (HBMs / Maneuverable Re-entry Vehicles), Hypersonic Air-Launched Strike Weapons Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs), Hypersonic Cruise Missiles (HCMs), Hypersonic Ballistic Missiles (HBMs / Maneuverable Re-entry Vehicles), Hypersonic Air-Launched Strike Weapons By Launch Platform: Land-Based Systems, Air-Launched Systems, Sea-Launched Systems Land-Based Systems, Air-Launched Systems, Sea-Launched Systems By Range Category: Short Range (<1,000 km), Medium Range (1,000-3,000 km), Intermediate Range (3,000-5,500 km), Intercontinental Range (>5,500 km) Short Range (<1,000 km), Medium Range (1,000-3,000 km), Intermediate Range (3,000-5,500 km), Intercontinental Range (>5,500 km) By Propulsion Technology: Boost-Glide (Rocket Boost + Glide Vehicle), Scramjet / Air-Breathing Propulsion, Advanced Rocket Propulsion (for MaRV systems) Boost-Glide (Rocket Boost + Glide Vehicle), Scramjet / Air-Breathing Propulsion, Advanced Rocket Propulsion (for MaRV systems) By Warhead Type: Conventional Warheads, Nuclear-Capable Warheads, Kinetic Energy Penetrators (Hit-to-Kill) Conventional Warheads, Nuclear-Capable Warheads, Kinetic Energy Penetrators (Hit-to-Kill) By Mission Type: (Nuclear & Strategic Deterrence, Precision Long-Range Strike, Anti-Ship / Maritime Strike, Anti-Access / Area Denial (A2/AD) (Nuclear & Strategic Deterrence, Precision Long-Range Strike, Anti-Ship / Maritime Strike, Anti-Access / Area Denial (A2/AD) By End User: Army / Land Forces, Air Force, Navy, Strategic Command & Joint Forces Army / Land Forces, Air Force, Navy, Strategic Command & Joint Forces By Region: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific Browse More Reports on Defense US Weapon Telemetry & Usage Analytics Market: The US Weapon Telemetry & Usage Analytics Market size was valued at around USD 0.56 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 2.1 billion by 2032. Along with this, the market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of around 19.98% during the forecast period, i.e., 2026-32. Global Ballistic Missiles Market: The Global Ballistic Missiles Market size was valued at around USD 5.2 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 7.3 billion by 2030. Along with this, the market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of around 5.8% during the forecast period, i.e., 2025-30. Global Cruise Missiles Market: The Global Cruise Missiles Market size was valued at around USD 2.3 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 3.4 billion by 2030. Along with this, the market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of around 7% during the forecast period, i.e., 2025-30. Global Space-Based Missile Warning and Defense System Market: The Global Space-Based Missile Warning and Defense System Market size was valued at around USD 45 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 66 billion by 2030. Along with this, the market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of around 7% during the forecast period, i.e., 2025-30. Global Hypersonic Technology Market: The Global Hypersonic Technology Market size is valued at around USD 7.98 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 18.99 billion by 2032. Along with this, the market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of around 13.18% during the forecast period, i.e., 2026-32. About MarkNtel Advisors MarkNtel Advisors is a leading market research and consulting firm dedicated to delivering reliable, data-driven insights across a wide range of global industries. Our research methodology integrates extensive primary interactions with industry experts and rigorously validated secondary data sources to ensure accurate and credible market intelligence. Backed by strong sector expertise and a team of experienced analysts, we provide businesses and investors with strategic insights that enable informed decision-making and support sustainable growth in rapidly evolving market landscapes. Contact Us: MarkNtel Advisors Office No.109, H-159, Sector 63, Noida, Uttar Pradesh - 201301, India Contact No: +91 87199 99009 Email: sales@marknteladvisors.com Website: marknteladvisors.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2687299/MarkNtel_Advisors_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/global-hypersonic-weapons-missiles-and-glide-vehicles-market-to-hit-usd-19-1-billion-by-2032--says-markntel-advisors-302709485.html Assurant, Inc. (NYSE: AIZ), a premier global protection company that safeguards and services connected devices, homes and automobiles in partnership with the world's leading brands, today announced that Helen Sachdev will be appointed Chair of the Assurant UK Board of Directors, effective April 1, 2026, subject to regulatory approval. Ms. Sachdev will also serve as Chair of the Nomination Committee and member of the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee. Lee Sturgeon, Managing Director, Assurant UK, said, "We are pleased to welcome Helen to our Board. Her extensive experience in regulated financial services, retail and strong board leadership will be valuable as we continue to strengthen and grow our UK business and uphold high standards of governance." Assurant's UK Board of Directors oversees the company's regulated UK insurance and services entities, Assurant General Insurance Limited, London General Insurance Company Limited, Lifestyle Services Group Limited, TWG Services Limited, and Assurant Intermediary Limited. Ms. Sachdev said, "I am honoured to be appointed Chair of Assurant's UK Board of Directors. I look forward to working with the Board and Management team to support Assurant's strategy, deepen stakeholder trust, and maintain the high standards of governance and conduct expected in the UK market." Ms. Sachdev succeeds Stuart Purdy, who will retire at the conclusion of his term of office from the UK Board of Directors and the Netherlands Supervisory Board, effective March 31, 2026. Mr. Sturgeon added, "On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Stuart for his leadership and service to Assurant. We are grateful for his many contributions." About Helen Sachdev Ms. Sachdev is a qualified accountant and an experienced independent board chair and non-executive director across regulated financial services and retail sectors. She currently serves as Board Chair and Nomination Committee Chair at Loughborough Building Society and Senior Independent Director and Remuneration Committee Chair at Wilmington plc, with prior senior executive roles at Barclays and Tesco. About Assurant Assurant, Inc. (NYSE: AIZ) is a premier global protection company that partners with the world's leading brands to safeguard and service connected devices, homes, and automobiles. As a Fortune 500 company operating in 21 countries, Assurant leverages data-driven technology solutions to provide exceptional customer experiences. For more information, visit assurant.co.uk View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260311892745/en/ Contacts: Media Contact: Neeti Dhawan Director, International Communications neeti.dhawan@assurant.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2026) - Metalsource Mining Inc. (CSE: MSM) (OTCQB: MSMMF) (FSE: E9Z) is pleased to announce the first batch of assay results from ongoing exploration drilling at the Silver Hill Project, located approximately 15km south of Lexington, NC. SH25-01 and SH25-02 both intersected a shallow, broad zone of both sulfide and oxidize mineralization This broad zone is wider than previous documentation of mineralization on the property and contains much stronger gold mineralization than anticipated or previously observed. Within this mineralized envelope multiple high-grade intervals have been identified by these drill holes. Drill Hole ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Ag (g/t) Au (g/t) Cu (%) Pb (%) Zn (%) AgEq (g/t)* SH25-01 14.32 32.49 18.17 67.92 1.75 0.10 3.06 1.04 267 Including 24.69 32.49 7.80 66.12 3.22 0.14 3.58 0.87 383 Including 24.69 27.43 2.74 139.89 4.75 0.27 7.13 1.17 640 SH25-02 14.23 29.57 15.33 33.22 2.09 0.05 1.11 1.37 237 Including 24.66 29.57 4.91 61.47 5.71 0.14 2.70 3.76 613 Including 26.40 28.13 1.74 68.70 13.15 0.08 2.92 0.47 1,155 Table 1: Composite assay results from SH25-01 and SH25-02. Widths reported are core length, as additional data is needed to estimate the true width of intercepts at this stage of the project. *Details on AgEq below These holes were drilled to test for mineral continuity from surface down to the 550 level of the historic Silver Hill Mine (Figure 1), representing approximately 150m from surface exploration. Ongoing exploration drilling will work to expand mineralization along strike and down plunge below the 1,000 level. The mineralization these two holes have intersected represent previously unrecognized mineralization, with historic work indicating only narrow mineralization and did not demonstrate gold grades of this tenor previously. The historic workings at the 550 level and previous mapping and modeling projected this mineralization as a much more narrow zone. There was no historical documentation recognizing a broader envelope, nor the high-grade within, that these 2 holes have intercepted. Joe Cullen, CEO of Metalsource Mining, commented: "We've known all along the Silver Hill Project was going to produce exciting results for our shareholders. It's great to see the geology and the mineralization proving our exploration thesis and demonstrating new mineralization, confirming that this part of the system, near the old workings, is shallow in nature. While we have long speculated that the gold content represented a significant under-valued potential for the property, we are very excited to now see the continuity and high-grade tenor, like the 1.74m of 13.20 g/t Au we are seeing in SH25-02. We're aggressively working behind the scenes to expand the mineral trend in all directions, and I'm keen to share these updates with our shareholders soon." Figure 1: Cross section looking north showing the location of recently completed drilling at the Silver Hill Project. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/12035/288069_5301ed87748b799a_002full.jpg Drill Hole ID Easting UTM17N (m) Northing UTM17N (m) Elev. (m) Azimuth Dip Length (m) SH25-01 572408 3951597 224 107 -63 109 SH25-02 572408 3951597 224 96 -85 101 SH25-03 572410 3951751 236 96 -46 305 SH25-04 572410 3951751 236 352 -89 100 SH26-05 572280 3951624 262 125 -73 199 SH26-06 572280 3951624 262 129 -51 154 SH26-07 572280 3951624 262 74 -89 200 SH26-08 572280 3951624 262 297 -77 231 SH26-09 572237 3951590 262 89 -70 15 SH26-10 572237 3951590 262 91 -76 188 SH26-11 572237 3951590 262 26 -83 196.6 SH26-12 572237 3951590 262 293 -84 243.84 SH26-13 572237 3951590 262 144.81 -81.5 213.36 Table 2: Drill collar locations and layout azimuth/dip for exploration drilling thus far at the Silver Hill Project. Metalsource QA/QC protocols are maintained through the insertion of certified reference material (standards), blanks and duplicates within the sample stream. The drill core is cut in-half with a diamond saw, with one-half placed in sealed bags and shipped to the laboratory and the other half retained on site. Chain of custody is maintained from the drill to the submittal into the laboratory preparation facility. Analytical testing was performed by ALS Geochemistry (Reno, NV) and ALS Canada (Vancouver, BC). The entire sample is crushed to 70% passing 2mm mesh, with a 250 gram split pulverized to 85% passing minus 75 micron. A four-acid digest is performed on 0.25g of sample to quantitatively dissolve most geological materials. Analysis is performed with a combination of ICP-AES and ICP-MS and fire assay. The Company notes that visual identification of sulphide mineralization intervals do not indicate metal grades or economic significance. Core processing is ongoing with logging, sampling, and submission for laboratory analysis. The exploration results described herein are preliminary in nature and are insufficient to define a mineral resource. Further drilling is required to determine the continuity, geometry, and grade distribution of the mineralization. At the time of this release, analytical results are still pending, the reported intervals are based on geological logging only. Metal values used in AgEq calculations are from the 200-day moving average values from 2/6/2026, and all values are in USD. PAu= $124.5/g, PAg= $1.58/g, PCu= $4.9/lbs, PPb=$0.90/lbs, PZn=$1.11/lbs, 0.00220462262 = grams-to-pounds conversion factor, 22.0462262 = pounds per metric tonne for 1% metal. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/12035/288069_5301ed87748b799a_003full.jpg Qualified Person All scientific and technical information, has been reviewed and approved by Rory Kutluoglu, B.Sc., P.Geo., a "Qualified Person" as defined under NI 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Kutluoglu is an independent consultant of the company within the meaning of NI 43-101. OTCQB Ticker Change Further, the Company's ticker symbol on the OTCQB has changed from SFRIF to MSMMF. Silver Hill Project Located in the Carolina Terrane, the property is underlain by volcaniclastic and volcano-sedimentary rocks predominantly of Neoproterozoic and Cambrian age. This terrane has been suggested to be an extension of the Avalon Terrane. The property is 1,225 acres located in Davidson County, North Carolina. As the first significant discovery and first silver-producing mine in America, there is an extensive drillhole database, underground mapping, historic dumps and underground chip samples which comprise the historic dataset. This mineralization is currently known to extend to 550m from surface, in a steeply trending series of lenses, which remain open in multiple directions. Bolstering these historic records, recent surface sampling contained results including SH25-003 containing 444g/t Ag, 17.7 g/t Au, 8.61% Pb and 0.507% Zn. Byrd-Pilot Mountain Project Located in central North Carolina, within the Carolina Terrane. Early USGS work in the 1980s flagged the area as possibly hosting a porphyry gold-copper system, subsequent work demonstrated broad gold mineralization in soils, trenches, and shallow RC drilling, coincident with strong self-potential anomalies. Geology shows intense quartz-sericite-pyrite alteration, high-sulfidation signatures, and high-alumina minerals (like Haile and Brewer deposits to the south), suggesting potential for a large epithermal or porphyry-related gold system. Geologic modeling indicates east-west trend to the identified mineralization, open in multiple directions, with oxidation noted down to a depth of 30m. No drilling has tested the Meridian discovery zone since those 1980s campaigns, leaving potential for significant resource expansion through work commitments of the agreement. About Metalsource Mining Inc. Metalsource Mining Inc. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on advancing high-potential mineral assets through modern, systematic exploration and value-driven discovery. Cautionary Note About Forward-Looking Statements This news release may include forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. By its nature, this information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections, or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct, and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited those identified and reported in the Company's public filings under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events, or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless required by law. Neither the CSE nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/288069 Source: Metalsource Mining Inc. Edmonton, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2026) - Canamera Energy Metals Corp. (CSE: EMET) (OTCQB: EMETF) (FSE: 4LF0) ("Canamera" or the "Company") is pleased to report positive assay results from the first 27 of 55 completed auger holes at the Turvolandia rare earth project ("Turvolandia" or the "Project"), located in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Hole TUV-AUG-014 returned 3,255 ppm total rare earth oxide (TREO) over 13 metres from surface, including 5,486 ppm TREO over 3 metres and a peak grade of 6,431 ppm TREO over 1 metre. Nine of the 27 reported holes were stopped in elevated TREO zones due to ground conditions, indicating that mineralization remains open at depth. "We are pleased with and encouraged by these results. The first 27 holes at Turvolandia indicate the potential for an ionic clay mineralized rare earth system which could stretch across the eastern grid, with multiple holes returning elevated total rare earth oxide grades from surface," stated Brad Brodeur, CEO of Canamera Energy Metals Corp. "What stands out in the eastern grid data is the magnet-critical composition: Nd2O3, Pr6O11, Dy2O3 and Tb4O7 together account for up to 42% of total rare earths in our best composite intervals. Our next steps - RC drilling to test depth continuity and a LiDAR survey to improve topographic correlation across this terrain - is intended to further advance our understanding of Turvolandia's scale and, we believe, the full dimensions of this discovery." Highlights: TUV-AUG-014: 3,255 ppm TREO over 13 metres from surface (0-13m), including 5,486 ppm TREO over 3 metres (4-7m) and 6,431 ppm TREO over 1 metre (6-7m) ; MREO 34.6% of TREO; hole stopped in elevated TREO (1,918 ppm TREO over 1m at 12-13m) 3,255 ppm TREO over 13 metres from surface (0-13m), including and ; MREO 34.6% of TREO; hole stopped in elevated TREO (1,918 ppm TREO over 1m at 12-13m) TUV-AUG-007: 3,823 ppm TREO over 2 metres (14-16m), including 5,341 ppm TREO over 1 metre (15-16m) ; MREO 39.7-42.1% of TREO; hole stopped in elevated TREO 3,823 ppm TREO over 2 metres (14-16m), including ; MREO 39.7-42.1% of TREO; hole stopped in elevated TREO TUV-AUG-021: 1,469 ppm TREO over 15 metres (1-16m); MREO 32.6% of TREO; hole stopped in elevated TREO 1,469 ppm TREO over 15 metres (1-16m); MREO 32.6% of TREO; hole stopped in elevated TREO TUV-AUG-006: 1,865 ppm TREO over 7 metres (0-7m); HREO 20.4% of TREO 1,865 ppm TREO over 7 metres (0-7m); HREO 20.4% of TREO TUV-AUG-001: 1,137 ppm TREO over 6 metres (13-19m); MREO 40.4% of TREO; hole stopped in elevated TREO 1,137 ppm TREO over 6 metres (13-19m); MREO 40.4% of TREO; hole stopped in elevated TREO Additional elevated intersections from TUV-AUG-004, 012, 013, 018, 024, 025 and 027 are set out in the table (see Table 1); The Turvolandia auger program is testing ionic clay-hosted rare earth mineralization across the Project, which comprises 29,574-hectares approximately 200 km northeast of Sao Paulo. Results from the first 27 holes indicate a mineralized zone across the eastern grid measuring approximately 1,200 metres (east-west) by 1,100 metres (north-south), covering an area of approximately 833,000 m (83.3 ha). To date, 721 metres of a budgeted 1,000-metre program have been completed, of which 671 metres have been submitted for assaying; this release reports results from the first 354 metres (27 holes). Assay results for the remaining 317 metres are pending receipt from the laboratory. A distinguishing characteristic of the eastern grid results is the proportion of magnet-critical rare earth oxides (MREO) - defined as the combined sum of Nd2O3, Pr6O11, Dy2O3 and Tb4O7 - which accounts for up to 42% of TREO in the best composite intervals. Table 1: Selected Assay Results - First 27 Holes, Turvolandia Auger Program Hole ID From (m) To (m) Width (m) TREO (ppm) MREO (ppm) MREO (%) Notes TUV-AUG-001 13 19 6 1,137 459 40.4 Stopped in elevated TREO TUV-AUG-004 7 14 7 1,111 373 33.6 TUV-AUG-006 0 7 7 1,865 450 24.1 HREO 20.4% of TREO TUV-AUG-007 14 16 2 3,823 1,520 39.7 Stopped in elevated TREO incl. 15 16 1 5,341 2,246 42.1 TUV-AUG-012 0 2 2 1,094 267 24.4 Stopped in elevated TREO TUV-AUG-013 6 8 2 1,119 341 30.5 Stopped in elevated TREO TUV-AUG-014 0 13 13 3,255 1,127 34.6 Stopped in elevated TREO; best hole incl. 4 7 3 5,486 2,135 38.9 incl. 6 7 1 6,431 2,409 37.5 Peak grade TUV-AUG-018 3 6 3 1,024 196 19.1 incl. 13 14 1 1,148 308 26.8 incl. 16 18 2 1,368 482 35.2 Stopped in elevated TREO TUV-AUG-021 1 16 15 1,469 479 32.6 Stopped in elevated TREO TUV-AUG-024 6 7 1 1,033 91 8.8 TUV-AUG-025 10 11 1 1,384 131 9.5 Stopped in elevated TREO incl. 14 16 2 995 210 21.1 HREO 22.7% of TREO TUV-AUG-027 4 6 2 1,478 59 4.0 incl. 9 10 1 1,851 133 7.2 Stopped in elevated TREO Notes: All intervals represent intersected lengths; true widths have not been determined. Reported intervals exceed 1,000 ppm TREO. Holes not listed returned no intervals above this threshold in the first 27 reported holes. "Stopped in elevated TREO": hole terminated due to ground conditions while intersecting mineralized material; mineralization open at depth. MREO = Nd2O3 + Pr6O11 + Dy2O3 + Tb4O7. HREO = Y2O3 + heavier REO (Eu2O3-Lu2O3). Drilling and Sampling All holes were drilled vertically. Reported widths represent intersected lengths; true widths have not been determined. Samples were collected at 1-metre intervals with no cutting or compositing prior to laboratory submission. Samples were analyzed by SGS Geosol (ISO 9001, 14001 and 17025 certified), Belo Horizonte, Brazil, using lithium metaborate (LiBO2) fusion followed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry and mass spectrometry (ICP-OES/MS) for 49-element analysis, including all rare earth elements. The QA/QC program includes the regular insertion of certified reference materials (CRMs), blank standards and field duplicates. MREO is defined as the combined sum of Nd2O3 + Pr6O11 + Dy2O3 + Tb4O7. HREO is defined as the sum of Y2O3 and the heavier rare earth oxides (Eu2O3 through Lu2O3). The mineralized zone indicated by the eastern grid (holes TUV-AUG-001 through TUV-AUG-014) covers an area of approximately 833,000 m (83.3 ha), measuring approximately 1,200 metres (east-west) by 1,100 metres (north-south) metres. Ionic clay-hosted REE mineralization is developed within the weathered gneissic basement and is interpreted to begin at or near surface, consistent with the typical profile of ionic adsorption clay deposits. The southern and western holes (TUV-AUG-021 through TUV-AUG-027) returned lower MREO fractions relative to the eastern grid but elevated HREO contributions of up to 22.7% of TREO (TUV-AUG-025, 14-16m), suggesting REE fractionation across the property and warranting further systematic investigation. Figure 1: Map Showing Drill Hole Collars & Intercepts To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11828/288085_a7378bc5148d4b28_001full.jpg About the Turvolandia Project The Turvolandia project covers 29,574 ha in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, approximately 200 km northeast of Sao Paulo. The property is optioned by Canamera and is prospective for ionic adsorption clay-hosted rare earth mineralization - the deposit style responsible for the majority of the world's current separated MREO supply. Ionic adsorption clay deposits are characterized by REE adsorbed onto clay minerals within lateritic profiles developed over felsic and meta-igneous basement rocks. At Turvolandia, mineralization is hosted within weathered gneissic material and is interpreted to begin at or near surface. Following receipt and review of assay results from the remaining 28 auger holes, the Company plans to: (i) commence RC drilling to test mineralization continuity below the auger depth; and (ii) conduct a LiDAR survey to generate a high-resolution topographic model of the property to improve the correlation of results across the terrain. Figure 2: Project Location Map To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11828/288085_a7378bc5148d4b28_002full.jpg The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Warren Robb, P.Geo. (British Columbia), VP Exploration of Canamera Energy Metals Corp. and a "Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101"). Mr. Robb is not independent of the Company within the meaning of NI 43-101. About Canamera Energy Metals Corp. Canamera Energy Metals Corp. is a rare earth elements exploration and development company focused on advancing ionic clay REE projects in Brazil and expanding a portfolio of critical mineral assets across North America. The Company's principal projects include Turvolandia and Sao Sepe in Brazil, the Patos project (CSE-approved, currently undergoing due diligence drilling and geochemical assessment), and a portfolio of uranium and rare earth exploration properties in Canada and the United States. For more information, visit www.canamerametals.com. CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, including, but not limited to statements regarding: the potential for mineralization at the Project; the anticipated receipt of assay results from the remaining 28 auger holes at Turvolandia; the Company's intention to commence reverse circulation drilling to test mineralization continuity below auger depth; the Company's intention to conduct a LiDAR topographic survey of the Turvolandia property; the interpretation that mineralization at Turvolandia extends beyond the reported results and remains open along strike and at depth; and the expected completion and execution of the Patos project acquisition agreement. Forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Such assumptions include, without limitation: that the laboratory will deliver assay results for the remaining 28 auger holes on schedule; that reverse circulation drilling equipment can be mobilized and operated at the property as planned; that the LiDAR survey will be completed successfully; that ground conditions and site access will remain suitable for continued exploration activities; and that the Patos acquisition will be executed and closed on the anticipated timeline and terms. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. These risks include, but are not limited to: delays in laboratory assay delivery; inability to secure equipment or site access for reverse circulation drilling or LiDAR operations; adverse ground or weather conditions that may hinder field operations; volatility in rare earth commodity prices and market demand; title defects or challenges to the Company's mineral property interests; failure to satisfy conditions or execute the Patos acquisition agreement; and general exploration and development risks typical to mineral property advancement. Readers are referred to the risk factors described in the Company's most recent continuous disclosure filings available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/288085 Source: Canamera Energy Metals Corp. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2026) - Capitan Silver Corp. (TSXV: CAPT) ("Capitan" or "the Company") is pleased to report that a third drill rig has arrived on site and has commenced drilling at the Company's Cruz de Plata silver-gold project in Durango, Mexico. The newly arrived core rig joins a reverse circulation ("RC") rig and core rig that are already drilling on the property. Highlights: Drilling activity continues to ramp up as the third (3rd) of four (4) rigs has arrived at Cruz de Plata This new rig will be the second (2nd) of three (3) diamond (core) drill rigs that will join the existing RC drill rig that has been drilling on the property since March 2025 The additional rigs are part of an aggressive 60,000-metre drilling campaign for 2026 All three new diamond drill rigs will focus on testing and expanding the high-grade silver zones identified to date at Cruz de Plata in addition to testing mineralization at depth along the Jesus Maria Silver Trend Catalysts: 34 drill holes pending final assays, which includes the first 7 core holes drilled with the first diamond drill rig since arriving to site in February 2026 (see Capitan news release dated February 9, 2026) Capitan has commenced an aggressive 60,000-metre drilling campaign at its Cruz de Plata project for 2026, which represents the largest drill program in the Company's history and four times (4x) the size of the Company's 2025 drill program. The new core rig is the second of three (3) core rigs that are planned to arrive at the property. This core rig will be targeting high-grade silver mineralization on the western end of the Jesus Maria Silver Trend, including the Gully Fault Zone, central portions of the Jesus Maria vein, and beneath portions of Capitan Hill, and will focus on extending the mineralized envelope deeper, while providing more information about mineralization intersected in previously reported drill holes 21-JMRC-01, 21-JMRC-10, and JM-DDH-13-06 (see Figure 1, Target C). Testing Priority Targets in Three Main Areas While the newly arrived core rig's immediate focus will be testing high-grade targets to expand mineralization deeper at Target C, the first core rig that arrived at the property (see Capitan news release dated February 9, 2026) is currently focusing on expanding the recently defined high-grade zone proximal to the Penoles Fault on the western side (see Figure 1, Target A). It is targeting mineralization both at depth and down plunge of previously reported holes 25-ERRC-12, 26, 34, and 38. The RC rig has been relocated from Target A and is now working east of the Penoles Fault, where drilling has returned broad silver intervals, notably in holes 25-ERRC-20, 25-ERRC-32, and 25-ERRC-43 (see Figure 1, Target B). This is another new high-grade zone that is developing and has been interpreted to contain multiple subparallel zones of silver mineralization that remain at an early stage of exploration, with only widely spaced, shallow drilling having taken place. Drilling on Target B will focus on testing continuity of mineralization at surface and exploring for additional high-grade silver mineralization east of the Penoles Fault toward the San Rafael area. Figure 1: Cruz de Plata drill plan map To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7373/288082_f487ff91b4647b11_002full.jpg Previously Announced Drill Highlights for Target A Include: Drill hole 25-ERRC-12 (see Capitan news release dated September 2, 2025) 25-ERRC-12 intersected 2,571.0 g/t AgEq over 1.5m, within a wider interval of 1,369.3 g/t AgEq over 4.6m, occurring within a broader zone of 368.1 g/t AgEq over 19.8m Drill hole 25-ERRC-26 (see Capitan news release dated November 11, 2025) Upper zone: intersected 612.9 g/t AgEq over 1.5m , within a broader zone of 155.9 g/t AgEq over 6.1m intersected , within a broader zone of Lower zone: intersected 1,767.4 g/t AgEq over 1.5m, within a broader zone of 1,222.1 g/t AgEq over 3m, which is part of a wider interval of 234.2 g/t AgEq over 25.9m Drill hole 25-ERRC-34 (see Capitan news release dated February 2, 2026) 25-ERRC-34 intersected 1,130.1 g/t AgEq over 1.5m, within a broader zone of 240.5 g/t AgEq over 25.9m Drill hole 25-ERRC-38 (see Capitan news release dated February 26, 2026) 25-ERRC-38 intersected four (4) separate high-grade structures, including 2,451.1 g/t AgEq over 1.5m , within a wider interval of 1,283.4 g/t AgEq over 4.6m, occurring within a broader zone of 683.6 g/t AgEq over 9.1m , 25-ERRC-38 also intersected 1,187 g/t AgEq over 1.5m, within a wider zone of 194.3 g/t AgEq over 16.8m Previously Announced Drill Highlights for Target B Include: Drill hole 25-ERRC-20 (see Capitan news release dated October 14, 2025) 25-ERRC-20 intersected 1,541 g/t AgEq over 1.5m, within a broader interval of 201.65 g/t AgEq over 18.3m Drill hole 25-ERRC-32 (see Capitan news release dated February 10, 2026) 25-ERRC-32 intersected 1,254.8 g/t AgEq over 1.5m, within a wider interval of 157.3 g/t AgEq over 16.8m Drill hole 25-ERRC-43 (see Capitan news release dated February 26, 2026) 25-ERRC-43 intersected multiple broad intervals of silver equivalent mineralization, including 225.3 g/t AgEq over 1.5m, within a wider interval of 59.3 g/t AgEq over 12.2m Previously Announced Drill Highlights for Target C Include: Drill hole JM-DDH-13-06 (completed by a previous operator in 2013, re-reported in 2022; see Capitan news release dated February 16, 2022) JM-DDH-13-06 intersected 3,409.1 g/t Ag, 0.9 Au, 3.4% Pb and 7.1% Zn over 0.9m, within a wider interval of 320.3 g/t Ag and 0.17 Au over 11.85m Drill hole 21-JMRC-01 (see Capitan news release dated February 16, 2022) 21-JMRC-01 intersected five (5) separate high-grade intervals, including 1,099.3 g/t AgEq over 1.52m, 1,267.2 g/t AgEq over 1.52m, 311.3 g/t AgEq over 3.0m, 341.6 g/t AgEq over 1.52m, and 276.9 g/t AgEq over 1.52m, all within a broader zone of 42.7m of 207.8 g/t AgEq Drill hole 21-JMRC-10 (see Capitan news release dated May 2, 2022) Upper zone: intersected 2,250.1 g/t AgEq over 1.5m, within a broader zone of 447.3 g/t AgEq over 9.1m, all within a wider interval of 309.8 g/t AgEq over 16.8m intersected Lower zone: intersected 308.8 g/t AgEq over 7.6m, within a wider zone of 171.3 g/t AgEq over 13.7m Metal Recovery: Ag 94%, Au 86%, Pb 93.5%, Zn 92% AgEq considers Ag, Au, Pb and Zn and calculated as follows: AgEq = Ag g/t + (80x Au g/t) + (0.003 x Pb g/t) + (0.0037 x Zn g/t). High grades have not been capped. RC Drill samples have been analysed by Bureau Veritas using the following codes: MA300, 4-acid digestion, multi-element analysis (Vancouver Lab). Au is analyzed using Fire Assay (FA430, Durango Lab). Overlimit (>200 ppm Ag) assays utilize method MA370, with gravimetric utilized for any overlimit thereafter. RC Drill samples have also been sent to SGS labs in Durango for Fire assay and Four-acid Multi-element analysis using the following codes: GE-FAA30V6 and GEICP40Q12, with over assays using the following codes: GO_FAG37V for Au and Ag. QAQC: Capitan Silver maintains a rigorous QAQC program and inserts multiple standards, blanks and duplicates into the sample stream at regular intervals. Check Assays are performed at SGS laboratories in Durango, Mexico. True widths along the Jesus Maria Trend are estimated to be 70-90% of the drilled width. At new drill targets/discoveries, true widths are unknown. Intervals are calculated at a 25 g/t AgEq cut-off and are cut at a maximum of 3 metres of internal dilution. Some numbers may not sum correctly due to rounding. All drillholes reported herein use the following recoveries: Ag 94%, Au 86%, Pb 93.5%, Zn 92%. Note: Drillholes reported on a AgEq basis released prior to May 31st 2023, referenced on the company website, did not use a metal recovery. Qualified Person The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Marc Idziszek, P.Geo, Vice President Exploration of Capitan, and a "qualified person" (with the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects). About Capitan Silver Corp. Capitan Silver is defining a new high-grade silver system at its Cruz de Plata project, located in the heart of Mexico's primary silver belt. The Company is led by a proven and accomplished management team that has previously advanced three projects into production, on time and on budget. The Company has been diligent in maintaining a tight share structure and has one of the tightest share structures among its peer group, with the top three shareholders owning approximately 37% of the Company's share capital. Capitan Silver is fully funded and actively drilling at its Cruz de Plata silver project. ON BEHALF OF CAPITAN SILVER CORP. "Alberto Orozco" Alberto Orozco, CEO For Additional Information Contact: CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this news release are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements, by their nature, require Capitan to make certain assumptions and necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words or phrases such as "may", "will", "would", "could", "should", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "continue", "objective", "potential", "target", "strategy", "project", "forecast", "outlook", "scheduled", "seek", "explore" and other similar terminology, as well as terms usually used in the future and the conditional, and the negatives thereof, or comparable terminology, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In particular, but without limiting the foregoing, this news release contains forward-looking statements with respect to: expectations regarding the Company's 2026 drilling program at the Cruz de Plata project, including the planned 60,000-metre multi-rig program; anticipated timing and results of future assay results; the potential scale, continuity, and grade of mineralization at the Cruz de Plata project; the potential to expand known zones of mineralization; the prospectivity of the Cruz de Plata project and its exploration potential; management's beliefs regarding the mineralized system at Cruz de Plata; and the Company's strategy and exploration objectives. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon certain material assumptions that were applied in drawing a conclusion or making a forecast or projection, including assumptions and expectations regarding: the continued validity of exploration results and geological interpretations; the ability to complete planned exploration programs on time and within budget; the availability of financing for future exploration and development activities; commodity prices remaining at levels that support continued exploration; the ability to obtain and maintain all necessary permits and approvals; the accuracy of current mineral resource estimates; the continuity of mineralization between drill holes; and general economic and business conditions. Although the Company believes that the assumptions underlying these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect, and the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: exploration and development risks, including risks related to the interpretation of geological data and exploration results; the uncertainty of mineral resource estimates; risks inherent in the mining industry including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected geological formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding, and the risk of inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance; fluctuations in commodity prices; currency exchange rate fluctuations; risks related to obtaining and maintaining necessary permits and licenses; risks related to the Company's title to its mineral properties; risks related to the political and economic climate in Mexico; regulatory changes; reliance on key personnel; competition in the mining industry; risks related to the Company's ability to raise additional capital; dilution to existing shareholders; risks related to global economic conditions and market volatility; environmental risks and hazards; and other risks and uncertainties described in the Company's public filings. The foregoing list of risks and uncertainties is not exhaustive. For a more complete discussion of the risk factors affecting the Company, readers are encouraged to review the Company's filings available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under the Capitan's issuer profile. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/288082 Source: Capitan Silver Corp. Highlights: South32 and Teck will maintain their equity ownership in American Eagle Gold. Including Eric Sprott's private placement, American Eagle Gold's cash balance will increase by $34 million to more than $55 million upon close of this financing. Eric Sprott, South32 and Teck are the sole participants in this financing. The average price per FT Share is C$1.18. American Eagle Gold will spend at least $34 million on drilling and exploration through the end of 2027. Due to unseasonably mild regional weather, the Company expects to begin the 2026 drilling campaign earlier than previously planned. The drilling and exploration program will be released to investors shortly. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2026) - American Eagle Gold Corp. (TSXV: AE) (OTCQB: AMEGF) ("American Eagle" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that existing shareholders, a wholly-owned subsidiary of South32 Ltd ("South32") and Teck Resources Limited ("Teck"), have each elected to participate in the Company's previously announced non-brokered private placement. The Company previously announced on February 27, 2026 a financing for aggregate gross proceeds up to C$34,540,000, consisting of approximately: (i) up to 19,200,000 common shares to be issued on a premium flow-through basis (each, a "FT Share") at a price of C$1.20 per FT Share for proceeds of C$23,040,000 (the "Sprott Offering"); and (ii) up to 14,935,065 common shares at a price of C$0.77 per share for proceeds of up to C$11,500,000 (the "Concurrent Offering"). The terms of the Concurrent Offering have been updated to be 9,650,550 FT Shares at a price of C$1.1319 per FT Share for gross proceeds of C$10,923,458 (hereafter, the "Concurrent Offering" and together with the Sprott Offering, the "Offering"). The aggregate gross proceeds from the Offering are now expected to be C$33,963,458. Teck has agreed to maintain its 12.9% interest in the Company, through the acquisition of 3,797,058 common shares underlying the Concurrent Offering at a back-end price of $0.77 per share, and South32 has agreed to maintain its 19.9% interest in the Company, through the acquisition of 5,853,492 common shares underlying the Concurrent Offering at a back-end price of $0.77 per share. "We are ecstatic that both South32 and Teck will maintain their ownership stakes in American Eagle Gold. Having two major miners continue to invest in us is a strong vote of confidence in our Company and the NAK project. With over $55 million in the treasury after closing, we will have one of the strongest balance sheets in the junior mining industry, allowing us to deploy the proper resources to continue unlocking shareholder value. Our plan is to execute the largest drill program ever undertaken in the region, with rigs operating continuously well into the spring of 2027. Our goal for 2026 is to prove that NAK can be a mine in this current metals cycle and demonstrate why it should be considered as one of the best undeveloped copper-gold porphyry projects in the country. We very much look forward to unveiling our plan for all investors to see in the not-so-distant future and putting this new influx of cash to immediate use," said Anthony Moreau, CEO, American Eagle. As previously announced, Eric Sprott, through 2176423 Ontario Ltd., a corporation beneficially owned and controlled by him, has agreed to acquire an approximate 9.5% equity interest in the Company (assuming the maximum Offering amount), through the purchase of 19,200,000 common shares underlying the Sprott Offering at a back-end price of $0.77 per share. The investment represents C$23,040,000 of the Sprott Offering gross proceeds. American Eagle will use the proceeds from the Offering to thoroughly test its thesis at NAK and build on the successes of its 2024 and 2025 drill programs, which expanded NAK's scale and identified additional high-grade zones. The FT Shares will qualify as "flow-through shares" within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Tax Act"). An amount equal to the gross proceeds from the issuance of the FT Shares will be used to incur, on the Company's Canadian mineral exploration properties, eligible resource exploration expenses that will qualify as (i) "Canadian exploration expenses" (as defined in the Tax Act), (ii) "flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures" (as defined in subsection 127(9) of the Tax Act), and (iii) "BC flow-through mining expenditures" for purchasers in British Columbia (collectively, the "Qualifying Expenditures"). The Qualifying Expenditures, in an aggregate amount not less than the gross proceeds raised from the issuance of the FT Shares, will be incurred on or before December 31, 2027 and will be renounced by the Company to the initial purchasers of the FT Shares with an effective date no later than December 31, 2026. In the event that the Company is unable to renounce the full issue price of the FT Shares on or prior to December 31, 2026 and/or if the Qualifying Expenditures are reduced by the Canada Revenue Agency, the Company will indemnify each initial purchaser for the additional taxes payable by such subscriber to the extent permitted by the Tax Act as a result of the Company's failure to renounce the Qualifying Expenditures as agreed. Upon closing this Offering (assuming both the Sprott Offering and Concurrent Offering are completed), American Eagle will have over C$55 million in cash on its balance sheet, and the Company will be fully funded for substantial drill program expansions in 2026 and 2027. No warrants are included in the Offering. The Company will pay a commission or finder's fee of up to 1% in connection with the Offering. Closing of the Offering is expected to occur on, or about, March 20, 2026 (the "Closing Date"), subject to satisfaction of the closing conditions for the benefit of the parties, the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals and acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange. The FT Shares and underlying common shares will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus a day following the Closing Date. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or the securities laws of any state of the United States, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration requirements. About American Eagle's NAK Project The NAK Project lies within the Babine copper-gold porphyry district of central British Columbia. It has excellent infrastructure through all-season roads and is close to the towns of Smithers, Houston, and Burns Lake, B.C., which lie along a major rail line and Provincial Highway 16. Historical drilling and geophysical, geological, and geochemical work at NAK, which began in the 1960's, tested only to shallow depths. Still, the work revealed a very large near-surface copper-gold system that measures over 1.5 km x 1.5 km. Drilling completed by American Eagle in 2022, 2023, and 2024 returned significant intervals of high-grade copper-gold mineralization that reached beyond and much deeper than the historical drilling, indicating that zones of near-surface and deeper mineralization, locally with considerably higher grades, exist within the broader NAK property mineralizing system. American Eagle Gold completed an aggressive 31,500 metre drill program in 2025 designed to expand and improve the mineral footprint. For the latest videos from American Eagle, Ore Group, and all things mining, subscribe to our YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@theoregroup About American Eagle Gold Corp. American Eagle is focused on exploring its NAK copper-gold porphyry project in west-central British Columbia, Canada. American Eagle Gold Corp Toronto, Ontario Q.P. Statement Mark Bradley, B.Sc., M.Sc., P.Geo., a Certified Professional Geologist and 'qualified person' for the purposes of Canada's National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Properties, has verified and approved the information contained in this news release. Forward-Looking Statements Certain information in this press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding whether the Company will be able to complete the Offering as anticipated, the receipt of regulatory approval, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, to complete the Offering, the intended use of proceeds and intended drill program or its anticipated results at the Company's NAK project, the ability of the Company to make the qualifying expenditures as anticipated by management, the expected Closing Date, and other matters ancillary or incidental to the foregoing. This information is based on current expectations that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual results might differ materially from those suggested in forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements unless and until required by securities laws applicable to the Company. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in filings by the Company with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available under the American Eagle Gold Corp. profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the TSX Venture Exchange policies) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/288076 Source: American Eagle Gold Corp. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2026) - Eureka Lithium Corp. (CSE: ERKA) (OTCQB: UREKF) (FSE: S58) ("Eureka Lithium" or "Eureka" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it intends to complete a non-brokered private placement financing under the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions (the "LIFE Exemption") of up to 4,761,904 units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $0.42 per Warrant for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $2,000,000 (the "LIFE Offering"). Each Unit will be comprised of one common share (the "Common Shares") and one Common Share purchase warrant (the "Warrants"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one Common Share (the "Warrant Shares") at an exercise price of $0.45 per Warrant Share for a period of 24 months from the closing date of the LIFE Offering. The Warrants will be governed by the terms and conditions set forth in the certificates representing the Warrants. The Company also intends to complete two concurrent non-brokered private placements (the "Concurrent Offerings"). First, an offering of up to 4,761,904 units (the "Concurrent Private Placement Units") at a price of $0.42 per Concurrent Private Placement Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $2,000,000. Each Concurrent Private Placement Unit will be comprised of one Common Share and one Common Share purchase warrant (the "Concurrent Private Placement Warrants"), and with each Concurrent Private Placement Warrant being exercisable for a period of 24 months, to acquire one Common Share (the "Concurrent Private Placement Warrant Shares") at an exercise price of $0.45 per Concurrent Private Placement Warrant Share. Second, an offering of up to 4,166,666 units (the "FT Units") at a price of $0.48 per FT Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $2,000,000. Each FT Unit being comprised of one Common Share issued on a "flow-through" bass and one (non-flow-through) Common Share purchase warrant (the "FT Warrants"), with each FT Warrant being exercisable to acquire, for a period of 24 months, one (non-flow-through) Common Share (the "FT Warrant Share") at an exercise price of $0.60 per FT Warrant Share. The Concurrent Private Placement Warrants and FT Warrants will be governed by the terms and conditions set forth in the certificates representing the Warrants. The securities issued in connection with the Concurrent Offerings will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance, in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. The Company may pay finders' fees in accordance with the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE"). Closing of the LIFE Offering and the Concurrent Offerings remain subject to regulatory approvals, including approval of the CSE. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the LIFE Offering and the Concurrent Offerings for exploration expenses on the Company's properties in Quebec and British Columbia and for general and administrative expenditures. There is an offering document (the "Offering Document") related to the LIFE Offering that is accessible under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at https://www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website at https://eurekalithiumcorp.com. Prospective investors should read the Offering Document before making an investment decision. Subject to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and in accordance with the LIFE Exemption, the LIFE Offering is being made to purchasers resident in Canada, except Quebec. Because the LIFE Offering is being completed pursuant to the LIFE Exemption, the securities issued in connection with the LIFE Offering will not be subject to resale restrictions in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. The securities issued in connection with the Concurrent Offerings will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance, in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws In connection with the closing of the LIFE Offering and the Concurrent Offerings, the Company may pay finder's fees to eligible parties who have assisted in introducing subscribers. Completion of the LIFE Offering and the Concurrent Offerings remains subject to the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, including approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange. The securities described herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or available exemptions from such registration requirements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States, or in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The Company also takes this opportunity to clarify that, through its acquisition of Stairway Mining Inc. ("Stairway"), the Company acquired an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Cabin Lake project, subject to a 2% NSR; however, it does not currently hold a 100% interest in such project. In order to acquire a 100% interest in the Cabin Lake project, the Company must satisfy the remaining obligations under a property option agreement between Stairway and the property holder dated August 27, 2025, being that: It must make cash payments of $10,000 on each of the following dates: within a reasonable time following closing of the acquisition of Stairway; on August 31, 2026; on August 31, 2027; and on August 31, 2028; The Company is required to issue common shares having an aggregate value of $60,000, as follows: $5,000 worth of common shares within a reasonable time following of the acquisition of Stairway; $10,000 of common shares on August 31, 2026; $20,000 of common shares on August 31, 2027; and $25,000 of common shares on August 31, 2028; and The Company must incur aggregate exploration expenditures of $450,000 on the Cabin Lake project, as follows: $100,000 by August 31, 2026; an additional $150,000 by August 31, 2027; and a further $200,000 by August 31, 2028. Upon completion of the foregoing payments, share issuances and expenditures, the Company will earn a 100% interest in the Cabin Lake project, subject to a 2% net smelter returns royalty; the Company will have the right, following exercise of the option, to purchase 50% of such royalty for $500,000. About Eureka Lithium Corp. Eureka holds approximately 158 claims in the emerging Raglan West, Raglan South and New Leaf Lithium Camps in Quebec, Canada. The Company also holds a 100% interest in the Tyee Titanium-Vanadium Project located in Quebec, and an option to acquire a 100% interest (subject to a 2% NSR) in the Cabin Lake Polymetallic Project located in British Columbia. Cautionary Statement Certain statements contained in this news release, including statements which may contain words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates", or similar expressions, and statements related to matters which are not historical facts, such as statements regarding the use of proceeds from the LIFE Offering and the Concurrent Offerings, are forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's expectations and are based on certain factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any future revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as expressly required by law. The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the contents of this press release. Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for release publication, distribution or dissemination directly, or indirectly, in whole or in part, in or into the United States To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/288062 Source: Eureka Lithium Corp. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2026) - TempraMed Technologies Ltd. (CSE: VIVI) (FSE: 9DY) ("TempraMed" or the "Company"), a medical-technology innovator transforming how temperature-sensitive medications are stored and managed, today announced the publication of a clinical case report evaluating the use of VIVI Cap for passive thermal protection of insulin during summer travel. The paper, titled "Passive Thermal Protection of In-Use Insulin During Summer Travel: Device Description and Single-Patient Case Report with a Simple Cost Perspective," was authored by TempraMed's Medical Director, Prof. Andreas Pfutzner, and colleagues and published in the Journal of Clinical & Medical Case Reports (February 2026). The publication describes the use of VIVI Cap by a patient with type 1 diabetes during sustained high ambient temperatures (35-38C) while traveling in Greece. Compared to a prior month without thermal protection, the patient demonstrated: Improved time-in-range (86% vs. 82%) Reduced time above 250 mg/dL (3% vs. 5%) Stable mealtime insulin requirements despite extreme heat No emergency department or urgent care visits Importantly, the report emphasizes not only glycemic stability but also reduced anxiety and increased patient confidence regarding insulin effectiveness in hot climates, factors that directly influence healthcare utilization and medication wastage. Scientific Evidence Supporting Economic Validation The publication explicitly references TempraMed's independently validated payer return-on-investment (ROI) model, noting that the primary economic value of thermal protection lies not in minor dose differences, but in: Prevention of medication wastage due to suspected temperature excursions Avoidance of heat-related glycemic deterioration Reduction in emergency events such as severe hyperglycemia and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) Lower anxiety-driven healthcare utilization These are the same core drivers underlying TempraMed's payer savings model, which recently received third-party validation for "Savings & Metrics" by the Validation Institute through January 2027. While the published case represents a single-patient observation, the authors conclude that the clinical findings are consistent with the mechanistic rationale of VIVI Cap's vacuum insulation and phase-change thermal buffering technology and support further prospective studies incorporating payer-relevant endpoints such as resource utilization and medication discard rates. Strategic Significance Management views the publication as an important bridge between: Clinical plausibility: peer-reviewed evidence demonstrating preserved insulin stability and improved patient confidence in extreme conditions, and Health-economic validation: independent confirmation that the payer ROI model is methodologically credible and aligned with real-world savings pathways. "This publication provides scientific context to the economic case we have already validated," said Ron Nagar, CEO of TempraMed. "It highlights how thermal protection can translate into clinical stability and patient confidence in high-risk environments-exactly the drivers incorporated into our validated payer ROI model. Together, clinical rationale and economic validation significantly strengthen our reimbursement discussions." Reimbursement and Market Impact As TempraMed continues assessing pilot programs and coverage decisions with various payers, the combination of: Published scientific rationale, Real-world use case illustration, and Independently validated economic modeling further supports the Company's strategy to position VIVI Cap as a reimbursable, cost-saving standard in diabetes management and other temperature-sensitive therapies. Management believes that continued publication, data generation, and payer engagement represent key catalysts in expanding coverage, accelerating adoption, and driving scalable revenue growth. About TempraMed Technologies Ltd. TempraMed Technologies Ltd. is a global leader in innovative, temperature-controlled medication storage solutions. Founded with the mission to safeguard the effectiveness of life-saving medications, TempraMed develops patented, FDA-registered, space-grade thermal insulation devices that work 24/7 without batteries or external power. With a proven product line including VIVI Cap and VIVI Epi, and a smart technology platform on the horizon, TempraMed enables patients and healthcare providers to confidently manage temperature-sensitive medications anywhere, anytime. Headquartered in Israel with operations in North America, Europe, and Asia, TempraMed is advancing the future of medication protection and adherence. Investors interested learning more about TempraMed are encouraged to contact the Company at: Cautionary Statements THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS RELEASE, NOR HAS OR DOES THE CSE'S REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER. Cautionary Statements This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "will," "should," "strategy," "future," "potential," and similar expressions, or statements about events or conditions that may occur in the future. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation, statements regarding: the Company's ability to leverage published clinical evidence and its independently validated payer ROI model to advance reimbursement discussions with payers; the anticipated impact of clinical publications and health-economic validation on payer engagement, coverage decisions, and pilot programs; the Company's strategy to position VIVI Cap as a reimbursable, cost-saving standard in diabetes management and other temperature-sensitive therapies; the expectation that continued publication, data generation, and payer engagement will expand coverage, accelerate adoption, and drive scalable revenue growth; and the Company's plans to pursue further prospective studies incorporating payer-relevant endpoints. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions, expectations, and assumptions of management as of the date of this press release, including but not limited to: that published clinical evidence will be received favorably by payers and support reimbursement discussions; that the Company's independently validated payer ROI model will remain current and credible for use in coverage negotiations; that the Company will have sufficient financial resources to pursue its reimbursement, commercialization, and clinical publication strategies; that suitable payer partners will engage with the Company on acceptable terms; and that market conditions will support demand for thermal protection products among patients, providers, and payers. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied, including but not limited to: the inherent limitations of single-patient case reports and early-stage clinical evidence; the risk that payers may not accept the Company's ROI model or published evidence as sufficient basis for coverage or reimbursement; the Company's ability to secure additional financing; changes in regulatory requirements or government policy; the ability to identify and secure commercialization partners; competitive developments in temperature-controlled medication storage and smart refrigeration technologies; general economic, market, and business conditions; and other risks described in the Company's public filings available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/288052 Source: TempraMed Technologies Ltd. NEW YORK, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Kasowitz LLP today released a report examining the fundamental due process defects underlying the continued detention and prosecution of Erion Veliaj, the Mayor of Tirana, Albania. Today's report supplements and updates prior reports issued on June 24, 2025 and October 28, 2025. The Updated Veliaj Report addresses two key updates in Mayor Veliaj's case. First, it spotlights the attempts by the prosecutor - Albania's Special Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) - to impair Mayor Veliaj's right to a fair trial. SPAK has repeatedly blocked Mayor Veliaj from accessing and reviewing nearly 60,000 pages of evidence to prepare for his trial. Moreover, SPAK has restricted the manner and means through which Mayor Veliaj's state-appointed lawyer can speak to him about the evidence and prepare his defense. Just yesterday, the Trial Court comprised of a three-judge panel rejected SPAK's conduct, directing SPAK to send its evidence file to Mayor Veliaj for his review and postponing the trial by two weeks. While this decision represents a step in the right direction, it remains to be seen whether Mayor Veliaj can realistically review and process a significant volume of evidence within a short period of time. Second, SPAK continues to make spurious arguments to justify Mayor Veliaj's continued pretrial detention. Most recently, SPAK cited Mayor Veliaj's lobbying activities as a basis to prolong his detention. Lobbying, however, is not among the defined criteria to justify the detention of a defendant. There is only one reason why SPAK has used it to do so: to punish and retaliate against Mayor Veliaj for expressing his democratic right to petition, which has effectively exposed SPAK's numerous due process violations in his case. "SPAK's reliance on lawful advocacy and lobbying to justify Mayor Veliaj's continued unlawful detention in Albania is deeply troubling," said Daniel Fetterman, a partner at Kasowitz LLP and international counsel to Mayor Veliaj. "Petitioning governments and speaking publicly about one's case is a fundamental democratic right and not a basis for imprisonment or punishment. After more than one year of pre-trial detention and other serious due process violations in Mayor Veliaj's case, it is appropriate for the American government - which helped to establish and advise SPAK - to look into what has been going on and why this is occurring. By letters to the U.S. State Department and Department of Justice, that is exactly what we are asking them to do." A copy of the report is available in its entirety here. The Kasowitz team representing Mayor Veliaj includes partners Daniel J. Fetterman and Brian S. Choi in New York, and senior counsel Clarine Nardi Riddle and special counsel David Miller in Washington, D.C. Contact Information: Shannon O'Reilly (212) 547-1290 SOReilly@kasowitz.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2725717/Kasowitz_RGB_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/kasowitz-llp-publishes-an-updated-report-examining-the-fundamental-due-process-defects-underlying-the-continued-detention-and-prosecution-of-erion-veliaj-the-mayor-of-tirana-albania-302710306.html International Capital Selects King Salman Park, Riyadh RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- At MIPIM 2026, the King Salman Park Foundation announced the award of Package 5, selecting a consortium led by Kolaghassi Development Company to deliver a new residential-led mixed-use district within King Salman Park. The development will be supported by a CMA-regulated investment fund managed by Mulkia Investment Company, with a total project value exceeding SAR 11 billion (USD 3 billion). The award confirms that the parties are currently progressing toward the finalization of definitive agreements. The announcement forms part of the Foundation's wider real estate investment program. At MIPIM 2026, King Salman Park also announced investment packages worth more than USD 3.8 billion across multiple mixed-use districts, bringing the total committed investment to over SAR 20 billion across five major development packages. International capital supporting Riyadh's growth The development will be supported through a Saudi-domiciled CMA-regulated investment fund managed by Mulkia Investment Company, bringing together leading Saudi and international investors. Under the structure, the King Salman Park Foundation will contribute the land, while private-sector partners and local banks will provide capital and development capabilities. The investment highlights growing international confidence in King Salman Park as a globally investable urban destination, with international investors, globally experienced development partners, and significant financing commitments from local banks supporting the project. A metro-connected mixed-use district Under the proposed agreement, Kolaghassi Development Company will lead the development in partnership with: Al Othaim Investment, one of Saudi Arabia's established real estate investment groups RXR, a global real estate investor and operator with extensive experience in large-scale mixed-use urban developments The district will feature a total built-up area exceeding 1 million square meters and will be located adjacent to the King Salman Park metro station, providing strong connectivity across Riyadh and within the park itself. The development will be residential-led, spanning more than 400,000 square meters, and will include: Approximately 3,700 residential units A best-in-class K-12 school Around 300 hospitality keys More than 100,000 square meters of Grade A office space A wide variety of retail and dining offerings The district will be delivered in line with international sustainability and wellbeing standards, targeting LEED and WELL Gold certification for key assets, with equivalent standards applied across the wider development. Delivery momentum and future opportunities King Salman Park continues to advance from planning to delivery, with significant progress across infrastructure works, public realm development, and cultural anchor assets. To date, 93% of associated construction packages have been awarded, marking continued momentum as the project moves into its next development phase. As infrastructure delivery advances and development interfaces become clearer, early participation in the project provides strong positioning within the Park's long-term urban hierarchy. Executive statements George Tanasijevich, CEO of King Salman Park Foundation, said: "Securing investment of this scale, supported by international capital and expertise, is an important milestone for King Salman Park. It reflects confidence in the project's fundamentals and the Foundation's delivery framework. Our partners bring not only capital, but also experience and perspective that help raise standards and contribute to Riyadh's evolution as a global city." He added that the Foundation looks forward to concluding the transaction with Kolaghassi Development Company and its partners Al Othaim Investment and RXR as the district moves toward delivery. Ali Kolaghassi, Chairman and CEO of Kolaghassi Development Company, commented: "This project represents a significant long-term commitment for Kolaghassi Development Company in Saudi Arabia. Working alongside the King Salman Park Foundation, we are taking full responsibility for delivering a complex residential-led mixed-use district at scale, drawing on our international development experience and embedding it within the Kingdom's evolving urban framework." Sultan Al Hudaithi, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Mulkia Investment Company, added: "King Salman Park represents a compelling opportunity to invest at scale in a project of global significance. The clarity of the Foundation's vision, the strength of the master plan, and Riyadh's long-term fundamentals were central to our investment decision. We see this development as a platform for sustained growth and long-term value creation." Register Your Interest here Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2931487/MIPIM_2026.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/global-investors-commit-usd-3-billion-fund-to-develop-mixed-use-district-at-king-salman-park-302710903.html Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2026) - Northwest Healthcare Properties Real Estate Investment Trust (TSX: NWH.UN) announced today that it has completed its name change to Vital Infrastructure Property Trust ("Vital Infrastructure" or the "REIT"). The REIT now trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") under its new ticker symbol "VITL.UN". In connection with the name change, the TSX ticker symbols for the REIT's 6.25% convertible debentures and 7.75% convertible debentures trade under the "VITL.DB.H" and "VITL.DB.I" symbols, respectively. The name change reflects the REIT's strategic evolution into a focused healthcare infrastructure platform with a strategic emphasis on the Americas. The new name aligns with the REIT's purpose: to be a trusted leader in healthcare real estate and a long-term partner to health systems, governments, and operators in building and modernizing essential healthcare infrastructure. The REIT's new corporate website, www.vitalreit.com is now live. About Vital Infrastructure Vital Infrastructure Property Trust (TSX: VITL.UN) provides investors with access to a portfolio of high-quality international healthcare real estate infrastructure. As at February 24, 2026, the REIT held interests in a diversified portfolio of 133 income-producing properties totaling 13.0 million square feet of gross leasable area, located throughout major markets in North America, Australia, Brazil and Europe. The REIT's portfolio of outpatient, inpatient, and other health research facilities is characterized by long-term indexed leases and stable occupancies. Vital Infrastructure leverages its global workforce in six countries to serve as a long-term real estate partner to leading healthcare operators. For additional information, please visit www.vitalreit.com. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/288016 Source: Vital Infrastructure Property Trust (2.50 g/t AuEq = 2.43 g/t Au, 2.75 g/t Ag, 0.02% Cu - see notes at end of release) Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2026) - Great Pacific Gold Corp. (TSXV: GPAC) (OTCQX: GPGCF) (FSE: 0B3) ("Great Pacific Gold," "GPAC," or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on ongoing exploration drilling from its Wild Dog Project, located in East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea. Two drill rigs are currently active at Wild Dog. Drilling continues at the Kavasuki epithermal gold vein system, while a second rig is conducting the first-ever drill test of the Kasie Ridge copper-gold target along the 15 km Wild Dog Structural Corridor (Figure 1). Kavasuki Highlights: KVH-01 intersected 58.9 metres @ 2.50 g/t AuEq from 38.6m (2.43 g/t Au, 2.75 g/t Ag, 0.02% Cu), including 4.6 metres @ 8.56 g/t AuEq from 49.0 m (8.24 g/t Au, 10.19 g/t Ag, 0.13% Cu) intersected (2.43 g/t Au, 2.75 g/t Ag, 0.02% Cu), And 18.1 metres @ 2.14 g/t AuEq from 100.6 m (2.08 g/t Au, 1.60 g/t Ag, 0.03% Cu) (See news release March 3, 2026, for more information) (2.08 g/t Au, 1.60 g/t Ag, 0.03% Cu) KVH-03 completed and intersected strong silica flooding and multi-phase quartz veining from approximately 5 m to 51 m downhole Kasie Ridge Highlights: KAS-01 drilling has intersected hydrothermally altered bedrock beneath the advanced argillic lithocap drilling has intersected hydrothermally altered bedrock beneath the advanced argillic lithocap Strong propylitic alteration with visible chalcopyrite and hydrothermal veining encountered from approximately 50 m depth encountered from approximately 50 m depth Portable XRF readings support visual identification of chalcopyrite within vein material (laboratory assays pending) "Drilling continues to advance at Kavasuki following the strong initial result from KVH-01, which returned 58.9 metres at 2.5 g/t AuEq near surface," said Callum Spink, Vice President Exploration. "Drill hole KVH-03 has now been completed, and geological logging confirms strong silica flooding and multi-phase quartz veining consistent with the mineralized system we are targeting. With this hole complete, drilling has now progressed to KVH-04 as we continue testing the geometry and continuity of the Kavasuki vein system. "At the same time, our first drill hole at Kasie Ridge has now penetrated beneath the advanced argillic lithocap and intersected strong propylitic alteration with visible chalcopyrite. While still very early in the hole, observations to date indicate hydrothermal alteration beneath the lithocap which is considered encouraging in the context of the Company's exploration model. We are excited to continue advancing this hole to depth to properly test the target, and we look forward to providing further updates as drilling progresses and assays are received." The Wild Dog Project hosts a 15-kilometre-long structurally controlled mineral corridor containing multiple epithermal gold targets and porphyry copper-gold potential identified through recent MobileMT geophysical surveys. The corridor contains the Sinivit-Kavasuki vein system and multiple advanced targets including Kasie Ridge, which are now being systematically drill tested as part of the Company's 2026 exploration program. Figure 1: Wild Dog Structural Corridor showing the pipeline of epithermal targets defined from historical and recent work. Long section looking west highlights the approximately 3 km strike extent of the Sinivit-Kavasuki area within the broader 15 km corridor. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11018/288061_4026ef0cc48f39bd_002full.jpg Kavasuki Drilling Update The Kavasuki vein system extends over approximately 900 metres of strike length and forms part of the broader Sinivit-Kavasuki mineralized corridor, which represents roughly 3 km of the 15 km Wild Dog Structural Corridor. Three diamond drill holes have been completed, with a fourth hole underway (Figures 2 and 3). The Company recently reported strong initial results from drill hole KVH-01 which returned: 58.9 metres @ 2.50 g/t AuEq from 38.6m (2.43 g/t Au, 2.75 g/t Ag, 0.02% Cu), including 4.6 metres @ 8.56 g/t AuEq from 49.0 m (8.24 g/t Au, 10.19 g/t Ag, 0.13% Cu) (2.43 g/t Au, 2.75 g/t Ag, 0.02% Cu), including And 18.1 metres @ 2.14 g/t AuEq from 100.6 m (2.08 g/t Au, 1.60 g/t Ag, 0.03% Cu) See the Company news release dated March 3, 2026, for details. Mineralization is hosted within multi-phase hydrothermal quartz breccia containing sulphides including pyrite, chalcopyrite and minor bornite, consistent with a structurally controlled epithermal vein system. Figure 2: Long section looking west along Kavasuki illustrating historic drill intercepts, trench results and gram-metre AuEq distribution. Mineralization defines a structurally controlled epithermal vein system extending over approximately 900 m. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11018/288061_4026ef0cc48f39bd_003full.jpg Figure 3: Cross section (+/-25 m looking NE) of the Kavasuki vein system showing recent drilling (KVH-01 to KVH-03) and planned follow-up drill holes designed to test the interpreted west-dipping structure and evaluate continuity of mineralization within the broader Sinivit-Kavasuki corridor. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11018/288061_4026ef0cc48f39bd_004full.jpg Drill hole KVH-03 has now been completed, with geological logging identifying strong silica flooding and multi-phase quartz veining from approximately 5 m to 51 m downhole. Detailed logging and sampling are currently underway (Figures 4 and 5). KVH-03 was designed to test the west-dipping structural interpretation of the Kavasuki vein system following structural measurements obtained from earlier drilling. Drill targeting will continue to be refined as geological information from the current program is integrated. Drilling has now progressed to KVH-04, which is being drilled from the same pad and designed to test beneath the KVH-03 intercept. The close spacing of these holes is intended to better constrain the structural controls on mineralization, evaluate short-range grade and structural continuity within the vein system, and assess potential grade variability commonly observed in epithermal gold systems. Figure 4: Drill core from the Kavasuki hole KVH-03 (24.2-27.8 m) showing intense silica flooding and multi-phase quartz veining within hydrothermally altered host rock. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11018/288061_4026ef0cc48f39bd_005full.jpg Figure 5: Drill core from the Kavasuki hole KVH-03 (39.7-42.8 m) showing intense silica flooding and multi-phase quartz veining within hydrothermally altered host rock. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11018/288061_4026ef0cc48f39bd_006full.jpg Kasie Ridge - First Drill Test Beneath Lithocap The Company is providing an initial update from the first drill hole currently underway at the Kasie Ridge target within the Wild Dog Project. The first hole, KAS-01, has now penetrated through the upper clay-dominant portion of the advanced argillic lithocap. Geological logging to date indicates propylitic alteration characterised by chlorite, epidote and magnetite, with narrow epidote-quartz veinlets observed within volcanic host rocks. Localized visible chalcopyrite has been observed during preliminary core logging (Figures 6 and 7). Portable XRF measurements support the visual identification of copper-bearing sulphides; however, these readings are preliminary field-screening data only and are not a substitute for laboratory geochemical assays. No quantitative copper grades are being reported from portable XRF data. These early observations indicate hydrothermal alteration beneath the lithocap and are considered encouraging in the context of the Company's exploration model. Drilling of hole KAS-01 remains ongoing, and geological logging and sampling will continue as the hole advances. Further updates will be provided once the hole is completed and laboratory analytical results are received. Figure 6: Drill core from the Kasie Ridge drill hole showing strongly propylitic-altered volcanic host rock characterised by chlorite-epidote alteration and cross-cutting epidote-quartz veinlets. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11018/288061_capture6.jpg Figure 7: Propylitic-altered volcanic host rock from the Kasie Ridge drill hole showing epidote-carbonate-quartz stockwork veining with epidote selvages from 50-56 m. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11018/288061_4026ef0cc48f39bd_009full.jpg On behalf of Great Pacific Gold: Greg McCunn Chief Executive Officer and Director Table 1: Kavasuki Drill Hole Details (PNG94 UTM Zone 56 coordinates). Hole ID Easting Northing RL Dip Azi Max Depth (m) Status KVH-01 395247.0 9490693.0 842 -55 304 159 Complete KVH-02 395248.0 9490692.0 842 -71 304 165 Complete KVH-03 395178.0 9490701.0 803 -53 100 113.7 Complete KVH-04 395179.4 9490700.5 803 -72 100 TBD In Progress Table 2: Kasie Ridge Drill Hole Details (PNG94 UTM Zone 56 coordinates). Hole ID Easting Northing RL Dip Azi Max Depth (m) Status KAS-01 396599.6 9493496.5 595 -69 176 TBD Drilling Table 3: Kavasuki Drill Hole Key Assay Results Hole ID From (m) To (m) Interval1 (m) Gold (g/t) Silver (g/t) Copper (%) Gold Eq.2 (g/t) KVH-01 38.60 97.50 58.9 2.43 2.75 0.02 2.50 Including 49.00 53.60 4.60 8.24 10.19 0.13 8.56 KVH-01 100.60 118.70 18.1 2.08 1.60 0.03 2.14 Notes: Drill highlights presented above are core lengths (true widths are not known at this time). Gold equivalent (AuEq) exploration results are calculated using longer-term commodity prices with a copper price of US$4.50/lb, a silver price of US$27.50/oz and a gold price of US$2,000/oz. No metallurgical testing has been carried out on Wild Dog mineralized samples. For AuEq calculations, recovery assumptions of Au 92.6%, Ag 78.0%, and Cu 94.0% were used based on K92 Mining's stated recovery results in an Updated Definitive Feasibility Study for the Kainantu mine. Qualified Person The technical content of this news release has been reviewed, verified and approved by Callum Spink, the Company's Vice President, Exploration, who is a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists, MAIG, and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Spink is responsible for the technical content of this news release. Mr. Spink is not independent of the Company. Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QAQC) The Company follows industry-standard Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) procedures. Diamond drill core (HQ and PQ diameter) was sawn in half, with one-half submitted to Intertek Minerals Ltd. in Lae, Papua New Guinea, an ISO 9001-certified independent analytical laboratory with internationally recognized quality standards. Gold analyses were completed by fire assay, with copper and silver initially determined by aqua regia digestion and atomic absorption and subsequently updated using four-acid digestion (MS48) multi-element analysis. Certified reference materials (standards) and blanks were inserted into the sample stream at industry-standard frequencies, including routine insertion of blanks following mineralized intervals. All assay batches received to date have passed QA/QC review and fall within acceptable tolerance limits. Core recoveries were within acceptable ranges, and sampling procedures were carefully managed in areas of variable ground conditions. About Great Pacific Gold Great Pacific Gold's vision is to become the leading gold-copper development company in Papua New Guinea ("PNG"). The Company has a portfolio of exploration-stage projects in PNG, as follows: Wild Dog Project: the Company's flagship project is located in the East New Britain Province of PNG. The project consists of a large-scale epithermal target, the Wild Dog structural corridor, stretching 15 km in strike length, with geophysical data suggesting significant depth extent. The survey also highlighted the Magiabe porphyry target, adjacent to the epithermal target and potentially 1,000 metres in diameter and over 2,000 metres deep. Drilling of the epithermal structure on the Sinivit target has yielded high-grade results, including WDG-08 which intercepted 8.4 metres at 50 g/t AuEq from 154 metres. The current drilling program will extend into 2026 with the second drill rig now operational. the Company's flagship project is located in the East New Britain Province of PNG. The project consists of a large-scale epithermal target, the Wild Dog structural corridor, stretching 15 km in strike length, with geophysical data suggesting significant depth extent. The survey also highlighted the Magiabe porphyry target, adjacent to the epithermal target and potentially 1,000 metres in diameter and over 2,000 metres deep. Drilling of the epithermal structure on the Sinivit target has yielded high-grade results, including WDG-08 which intercepted 8.4 metres at 50 g/t AuEq from 154 metres. The current drilling program will extend into 2026 with the second drill rig now operational. Kesar Project: located in the Eastern Highlands Province of PNG and contiguous with the mine tenements of K92 Mining Inc. ("K92"), the Kesar Project is a greenfield exploration project with several high-priority targets in close proximity to the property boundary with K92. Multiple epithermal veins at Kesar are on strike and have the same orientation as key K92 deposits, such as Kora. Exploration work to date by the Company at the Kesar Project has shown that these veins have high grades of gold present in outcrop and very elevated gold in soil grades, coincident with aeromagnetic highs. The Company conducted a diamond drill program on key target areas at the Kesar Project from November 2024 to May 2025 and have developed a follow-up Phase 2 program for 2026. located in the Eastern Highlands Province of PNG and contiguous with the mine tenements of K92 Mining Inc. ("K92"), the Kesar Project is a greenfield exploration project with several high-priority targets in close proximity to the property boundary with K92. Multiple epithermal veins at Kesar are on strike and have the same orientation as key K92 deposits, such as Kora. Exploration work to date by the Company at the Kesar Project has shown that these veins have high grades of gold present in outcrop and very elevated gold in soil grades, coincident with aeromagnetic highs. The Company conducted a diamond drill program on key target areas at the Kesar Project from November 2024 to May 2025 and have developed a follow-up Phase 2 program for 2026. Arau Project: also located in the Eastern Highlands Province of PNG, the Arau Project is south of and contiguous to the mine tenements of K92. Arau contains the highly prospective Mt. Victor exploration target with potential for a high sulphidation epithermal gold-base metal deposit. A Phase 1 Reverse Circulation drilling program was completed at Mt. Victor in August 2024, with encouraging results. The Arau Project includes the Elandora licence, which also contains various epithermal and copper-gold porphyry targets. The Company also holds the Tinga Valley Project in PNG. Forward-Looking Statements Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. Great Pacific Gold cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by many material factors, most of which are beyond their respective control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to Great Pacific Gold's limited operating history, its exploration and development activities on its mineral properties and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Great Pacific Gold does not undertake to publicly update or revise forward-looking information. Mineralization at the properties held by K92 Mining Inc. and at the Wafi-Golpu deposit is not necessarily indicative of mineralization at the Wild Dog Project. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/288061 Source: Great Pacific Gold Corp. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2026) - American Tungsten Corp. (CSE: TUNG) (OTCQB: TUNGF) (FSE: RK90) ("American Tungsten" or the "Company") today announces initiation of an auger drilling program in the historical lower tailings impoundment on the IMA Mine site, Lemhi County Idaho. Drilling activities will be conducted over 30 acres of historical tailings left from previous mine activities. Preliminary samples of historical tailings collected in shallow trenches average 0.25% WO3 and 0.48 oz/t Ag, as reported January 20, 2026. American Tungsten has contracted Haz-Tech Drilling Inc, of Nampa, ID, to conduct hollow stem auger drilling in the tailings area. Currently, 35 drillholes are planned totaling approximately 370 feet to delineate tailings thickness and collect samples for assay and in-situ density. The duration of the drilling program is approximately 1 week. "The tailings drilling program is a key component of our strategy, to unlock value and fully define the opportunity at the historic IMA Mine," said Ali Haji, CEO of American Tungsten Corp. "Initial sampling continues to support our view that the tungsten grades within the tailings are broadly representative of the remaining material on site. With modern processing technologies far more efficient than those available in the 1950s, we believe there is a clear pathway to significantly improve historical recoveries. The tailings represent a compelling, low-cost early-production opportunity that can generate near-term cash flow while advancing meaningful site restoration as part of our overall development plan." Lower Tailings Sampling Historical tailings from past mining activities are present over an area of approximately 30 acres on the IMA Mine's land package within the Pahsimeroi valley, known as the Lower Tailings Impoundment. Historical operators estimated the Lower Tailings Impoundment to contain 222,000 cubic yards of tailings. As reported previously, preliminary sampling of tailings materials in 5 shallow test pits averaging 3.5 ft deep spaced approximately 500 ft apart average 0.235 % WO3 and 0.45 oz/t Ag. These samples were submitted to Sepro Laboratories for preliminary metallurgical test work in January 2026. Results will be announced when test work is completed. Figure 1: CME 850 Drill rig in the lower tailings area, IMA Mine. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11701/288051_32bc5062d4e44863_001full.jpg Figure 2: Lower Tailings Impoundment showing planned drillholes and previously reported tailings sample locations. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11701/288051_32bc5062d4e44863_002full.jpg Table 1: Tailings sampling results1,2 (previously reported, January 20, 2026) Sample ID Location Type Length (ft) WO3_% MoS2_% Ag opt Cu % Pb % Zn % 1103820-1103824 Lower Tailings Composite 0.253 0.019 0.476 0.033 0.082 0.087 1103820 Lower Tailings Test Pit 1.5 0.158 0.011 0.19 0.02 0.03 0.04 1103821 Lower Tailings Test Pit 3.5 0.414 0.014 0.93 0.05 0.20 0.09 1103822 Lower Tailings Test Pit 3.5 0.187 0.019 0.41 0.03 0.05 0.05 1103823 Lower Tailings Test Pit 3.5 0.112 0.016 0.25 0.02 0.03 0.02 1103824 Lower Tailings Test Pit 6 0.303 0.027 0.46 0.04 0.07 0.16 1) Composite values are length weighted average values of sub-samples collected from continuous channel transects and represent true widths 2) WO3 and MoS2 % values are calculated from ppm analyses based on stoichiometry factors of 1.2611 and 1.668 Strengthening Our Team American Tungsten also announces that Max Baker has joined the Company as an Advisor to its geological team. With more than 45 years of global exploration experience across Australia, Asia, Europe, and the Americas, Max has played key roles in multiple significant mineral discoveries and has advanced projects from early-stage exploration through resource definition and development. "Max joins American Tungsten at a pivotal moment," said Ali Haji, CEO. "His depth of experience in turning geological potential into mine-ready resources will be instrumental as we advance toward production this year. His leadership strengthens our confidence in delivering a domestic tungsten supply in the United States." Max resides in Idaho, and currently consults on uranium, tungsten, lithium, gold, and base-metal projects in the Northwestern U.S. He is a Co-Founder of Chariot Corporation (ASX-listed) and previously served as VP Exploration and Co-Founder of Integra Resources, where he helped expand the DeLamar-Florida Mountain resource to ~5 Moz AuEq and consolidate a 32,000-acre land package. About the IMA Mine The IMA Mine is a past producing underground tungsten mine situated on 22 patented claims located in East Central Idaho. Between 1945 and 1957, the property produced approximately 199,449 MTUs of WO3 and was subsequently explored for molybdenum and tungsten by various operators between 1960-2010. American Tungsten Corp is currently conducting an exploration drill program and assessing potential for re-start of underground tungsten mining operations at the IMA Mine. QA/QC and Sample Analysis American Tungsten Corp's Quality Assurance and Quality Control QA/QC program applies industry standard best practices to ensure data quality and integrity for the IMA Mine project, including maintaining chain of custody, secure sample transport and storage, adherence to data collection protocols and inclusion of certified reference, blank and duplicate quality assurance samples in laboratory submissions. Samples were collected by professional geologists and efforts were made to ensure geological representativity of samples. Samples were submitted to ALS Global laboratory in Twin Falls, Idaho, for preparation. Samples were crushed to 70% passing 2 mm screen, rotary splitting 250g and pulverized to 85% passing a 75 m screen. Samples were analyzed by ALS Minerals in the Vancouver, BC, Canada. Samples were analyzed by four acid digest with ICP-MS finish. Samples exceeding 200 ppm W were analyzed by XRF with lithium borate fusion preparation. Samples exceeding 50ppm Ag were analyzed by fire assay with gravimetric finish. Qualified Person Technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI-43-101"). Austin Zinsser, P.G., SME-RM, Vice President, Exploration for the Company, and a Qualified Person as defined by NI-43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release. About American Tungsten Corp. American Tungsten Corp. is a Canadian exploration company focused on high-potential tungsten and magnetite assets in North America. The Company is advancing the IMA Mine Project in Idaho to commercial production, addressing critical metal scarcity in North America. The Company's IMA Mine Project is a historic and high-quality underground tungsten past-producing property on private-patented land well above the water table with significant infrastructure. The Company holds an exclusive option to acquire full ownership (subject to a 2% royalty) and has expanded its land position with 113 additional federal claims covering nearly 2,000 acres. For further updates, visit www.americantungstencorp.com or investor relations, Joanna Longo at ir@americantungstencorp.com. Social media links: LinkedIn: https:// www.linkedin.com/company/americantungstencorp/ X: https://x.com/amtungsten Facebook: https:// www.facebook.com/americantungstencorp/ Instagram: https:// www.instagram.com/americantungstencorp/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@americantungstencorp (CSE: TUNG) (OTCQB: TUNGF) (FSE: RK90) The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. This news release includes "forward-looking information" that is subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Forward-looking statements may include but are not limited to, statements relating to anticipated results of pending analyses, future work plans, additional sampling and preliminary metallurgical test work to be carried out on the Lower Tailings Impoundment, and all the risks and uncertainties normally incident to such events. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future events and that actual events or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements represent management's best judgment based on information currently available. No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release. The Company undertake no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law. Statements concerning historical mineral resources, production, and exploration results on the property have been obtained through both public and private sources, and are believed to be substantially factual and relevant in that they demonstrate the tenor of exploration targets on the property. Historical resource estimates pre-date the implementation of NI 43-101 and do not use categories stipulated by CIM. Prior operators assigned confidence categories which differ from those stipulated by CIM, as they may not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimates should not be relied upon until they have been verified. Neither American Tungsten Corp., or its Qualified Person, has done sufficient work to classify the historical estimates as current mineral resources or to verify historical information regarding past production, sampling or drilling. American Tungsten Corp. is not treating the historical estimates as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. Exploration Targets discussed are conceptual in nature; it is uncertain whether a mineral resource will be delineated based on potential exploration. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/288051 Source: American Tungsten Corp. Tamarack, Minnesota--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2026) - Talon Metals Corp. (TSX: TLO) (OTCID: TLOFF) ("Talon" or the "Company") is pleased to report new assay results and step-out drilling from the Vault Zone at the Tamarack Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Project in Minnesota. These results continue to demonstrate the continuity of mineralization and support the potential for expansion of the Vault Zone system. Highlights Assay results for drill hole 25TK0563C, drilled 16 meters to the southwest of drill hole 25TK0563, intercepted 15.23 meters starting at 773.86 meters, which assayed 7.82% Ni, 7.70% Cu, 0.06% Co, 8.77 g/t Pd+Pt and 3.09 g/t Au (14.11% NiEq or 27.33% CuEq) with full results as follows in Table 1. (See Figure 1 and Table 1). New drill hole 25TK0563D , drilled 10 meters to the east of drill hole 25TK0563, intercepted 3 meters of Massive Sulphide Unit ("MSU") and Mixed Massive Sulphides ("MMS") starting at 759.38 meters, at the same stratigraphic horizon as the upper part of drill hole 25TK0563 starting at 762.34 meters and at a similar depth to drill hole 25TK0563B, starting at 774.40 meters, and 25TK0563C, starting at 773.86 meters. (See Figure 2 and Figure 4) (Assays pending). New drill hole 25TK0569 in the Stringer Zone, intercepted 18.91 meters of MMS Stringers starting at 640.84 meters. (See Figure 3). This hole is a 17-meter step-out from 25TK0565, which previously intercepted 19.11 meters grading 2.38% Ni, 4.72% Cu, 0.03% Co, 3.80g/t Pt+Pd and 2.32g/t Au (6.39% NiEq or 11.67% CuEq) starting at 670.00 meters. "These step-out results are exactly the kind of confirmation we look for after a discovery - continuity, repeatability, and clear next targets," said Darby Stacey, Talon's Chief Executive Officer. "With multiple rigs actively drilling, we're focused on expanding and delineating the Vault Zone as efficiently as possible." "Since returning to Tamarack, our precision, borehole electromagnetic guided drilling has continued to deliver success in the Vault Zone," said Brian Goldner, Chief Exploration Officer. "These new results add to the growing body of evidence that the Vault Zone mineralization is consistent and continuous, and remains open for expansion." Next Steps: Continuation of Vault Zone Expansion and Delineation Talon's in-house exploration team continues to rapidly advance step-out drilling guided by borehole electromagnetic ("BHEM") data to expand the Vault Zone mineralization laterally and at depth. With mineralization remaining open in all directions, Talon is also planning additional geological drill holes beyond the current reach of BHEM to test for further extensions of the system. The Vault Zone Story As outlined in the Company's June 5, 2025 press release, the Vault Zone discovery drill hole 25TK0563 intercepted a combined 34.9 meters of MSU mineralization grading 14.86% Ni, 15.37% Cu, 0.11% Co, 24.96 g/t Pt+Pd, and 9.18 g/t Au (28.88% NiEq or 57.76% CuEq) starting at 762.34 meters, demonstrating a new mineralized system beyond the existing resource footprint. Since discovery, Talon has been stepping out around the system using BHEM to generate targets and precision drilling to test continuity and extensions. Recent step-out drilling continues to intercept massive and mixed massive sulphides, indicating that the system remains open and expandable. Talon's three in-house drill rigs are actively drilling the Vault Zone with the goal of continuing to expand mineralization. For further discussion on the Vault Zone, please see www.talonmetals.com/media. Table 1: Assays for drill hole 25TK0563C Drill Hole # From (m) To (m) Length (m) Assay NiEq (%) CuEq (%) Ni (%) Cu (%) Co (%) Pd (g/t) Pt (g/t) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) 25TK0563C 773.86 789.09 15.23 7.82 7.70 0.06 3.05 5.72 3.09 17.39 14.11 27.33 including 776.49 782.20 7.23 14.95 15.24 0.11 5.23 9.98 5.24 28.91 26.41 52.82 Please refer to Table 3 for further technical information. Figure 1: Drill hole 25TK0563C, drilled 16 meters to the southwest of drill hole 25TK0563, intercepted 15.23 meters of MMS/MSU starting at 773.86 meters. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2443/288041_7aa3d7abd426cbbb_001full.jpg Figure 2: Drill hole 25TK0563D, drilled 10 meters to the east of drill hole 25TK0563, intercepted 3 meters of MMS/MSU starting at 759.38 meters. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2443/288041_7aa3d7abd426cbbb_002full.jpg Figure 3: Drill hole 25TK0569 intercepted a total of 18.91 meters of MMS starting at 640.84 meters. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2443/288041_7aa3d7abd426cbbb_003full.jpg New Successful MSU Step-out: Drill Hole 25TK0563D New drill hole 25TK0563D (see Figure 2) intercepted 3 meters of MMS and MSU mineralization starting at 759.38 meters. This intercept represents a 10-meter step-out to the east of the upper part of discovery drill hole 25TK0563. Mineralization remains open in all directions, and additional drill holes are planned to the north of drill hole 25TK0563 and to the west of 25TK0563C. (See Figure 4). Figure 4: Plan view and cross section of drill holes 25TK0563, 25TK0563B, 25TK0563C, and 25TK0563D with step-out drill holes planned to the north and the west. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2443/288041_7aa3d7abd426cbbb_004full.jpg New MMS Intercepted in the Stringer Part of the Vault Zone Starting 79 Meters Below the Tamarack Resource Area: Drill Hole 25TK0569 New Drill hole 25TK0569 intersected 18.91 meters of MMS Stringers starting at 640.84 meters, part of the Vault Zone. (See Figure 3). MMS Stringers are defined by massive sulphide veinlets occurring in discontinuous, usually short, narrow, and irregular veins within the host rock, indicating fluid (sulphides) pathways. The MMS Stringer Zone, which starts approximately 79 meters below the current resource, is a near-vertical mineralized system composed of parallel veins that have been intercepted by three drill holes, 25TK0565, 25TK0567 (5 meter step-out), and 25TK0569 (17 meter step-out from hole 25TK0565). The MMS intercepted in drill holes 25TK0565, 25TK0567, and 25TK0569 are consistent with a near-vertical mineralized structure hosted within meta-sedimentary rocks adjacent to the Tamarack Intrusive Complex. Combined, drill holes 25TK0565, 25TK0567, and 25TK0569, which are approximately 5 meters and 17 meters apart, demonstrate vertical continuity of MMS over approximately 43 meters. (See Figure 5). Figure 5: Drill holes 25TK0565, 25TK0567, and 25TK0569 with MMS mineralization starting at 79 meters below the Tamarack Resource Area and continuing for approximately 43 meters (combined). To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2443/288041_7aa3d7abd426cbbb_005full.jpg Figure 6: Conceptual cross-section of the Vault Zone, showing new drill hole 25TK0567 relative to drill hole 25TK0565 within the MMS Stringer part of the Vault Zone, and new drill hole 25TK0563C relative to discovery drill hole 25TK0563 and drill hole 25TK0563B. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2443/288041_7aa3d7abd426cbbb_006full.jpg 138 Zone Surface drilling targeting the Vault Zone is continuing to infill the current 138 Zone, which sits above the Vault Zone. Drill hole 25TK0552 intersected 149.01 meters grading 0.92% Ni, 0.71% Cu, 0.02% Co, 0.42 g/t Pt+Pd and 0.22 g/t Au (1.50% NiEq or 2.81% CuEq) starting at 420.50 meters. Drill hole 25TK0565 intersected 28.58 meters grading 0.76% Ni, 0.62% Cu, 0.02% Co, 0.22 g/t Pt+Pd and 0.12 g/t Au (1.23% NiEq or 2.24% CuEq) starting at 420.00 meters and 52 meters grading 0.73% Ni, 0.51% Cu, 0.02% Co, 0.30 g/t Pt+Pd and 0.12 g/t Au (1.15% NiEq or 2.09% CuEq) starting at 457.50 meters. Drill hole 25TK0562 intersected 10.04 meters of 0.62% Ni, 0.45% Cu, 0.02% Co, 0.15 g/t Pt+Pd and 0.10 g/t Au (0.99% NiEq or 1.75% CuEq) starting at 420.50 meters. QUALITY ASSURANCE, QUALITY CONTROL, AND QUALIFIED PERSONS The Talon sample preparation, security, and Quality Assurance ("QA") / Quality Control ("QC") protocols for the Tamarack Nickel-Copper Project are consistent with industry best practices and Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Mineral Exploration Best Practice Guidelines (November 2018). Talon has implemented documented QA programs that incorporate written procedures, acceptable industry software, database organization, and standardized data presentation, all of which contribute to confidence in the integrity of the dataset. The QC protocol has been documented (see also the November 2022 Technical Report) and consistently applied since Talon's involvement with the Tamarack Nickel-Copper Project. The QA/QC program is based on the systematic insertion of certified reference materials ("CRM"), including a variety of standards, blanks (materials containing no economic minerals), and duplicate samples, which are used to monitor contamination, precision, and analytical accuracy at the primary assay laboratory and to prevent inaccurate data from being accepted into the assay database. Samples are submitted in batches of approximately 250 samples. Within each batch, QA/QC materials are inserted at a rate of approximately one QA/QC sample for every ten core samples, including CRM standards inserted at the front end of massive sulphide mineralization, blanks inserted immediately following massive sulphide mineralization, and duplicate samples inserted approximately every 10 samples. Sample security and chain-of-custody procedures are maintained throughout the sampling and analytical process. Core samples are prepared and stored in a secure facility prior to shipment. Samples are placed into plastic bins or sealed totes, which are secured using tamper-evident security tags. Before sealing, a chain-of-custody form is placed inside each container. The containers are transported from the core facility to the ALS laboratory in Thunder Bay, Ontario for preparation, and are subsequently shipped to ALS Laboratories in Vancouver, British Columbia for analysis, where the chain-of-custody documentation is signed by laboratory personnel and returned to Talon upon receipt, confirming sample integrity. Please see the technical report entitled "November 2022 National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report of the Tamarack North Project - Tamarack, Minnesota" with an effective date of November 2, 2022 ("November 2022 Technical Report") prepared by independent "Qualified Persons" (as that term is defined in National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101")) Brian Thomas (P. Geo), Roger Jackson (P. Geo), Oliver Peters (P. Eng) and Christine Pint (P.G) for further information on the QA/QC, data verification, analytical and testing procedures at the Tamarack Nickel Copper Project. Copies are available on the Company's website (www.talonmetals.com) or on SEDAR at (www.sedar.com). The laboratory used is ALS Minerals who is independent of the Company. Lengths are drill intersections and not necessarily true widths. True widths cannot be consistently calculated for comparison purposes between holes because of the irregular shapes of the mineralized zones. Drill intersections have been independently selected by Talon. Drill composites have been independently calculated by Talon. The geological interpretations in this news release are solely those of the Company. The locations and distances highlighted on all maps in this news release are approximate. Dr. Etienne Dinel, Vice President, Geology of Talon, is a Qualified Person within the meaning of NI 43-101. Dr. Dinel is satisfied that the analytical and testing procedures used are standard industry operating procedures and methodologies, and he has reviewed, approved and verified the technical information disclosed in this news release, including sampling, analytical and test data underlying the technical information. Where used in this news release: NiEq% = Ni% + Cu% x $4.00/$8.00 x Cu Recovery/Ni Recovery + Co% x $20.00/$8.00 x Co Recovery/Ni Recovery + Pt [g/t]/31.103 x $1,000/$8.00/22.04 x Pt Recovery/Ni Recovery + Pd [g/t]/31.103 x $1,000/$8.00/22.04 x Pd Recovery/Ni Recovery + Au [g/t]/31.103 x $2,000/$8.00/22.04 x Au Recovery/Ni Recovery + Ag [g/t]/31.103 x $20.00/$8.00/22.04 x Ag Recovery/Ni Recovery CuEq% = Cu%+ Ni% x $8.00/$4.00 x Ni Recovery/Cu Recovery + Co% x $20.00/$4.00 x Co Recovery/Cu Recovery + Pt [g/t]/31.103 x $1,000/$4.00/22.04 x Pt Recovery/Cu Recovery + Pd [g/t]/31.103 x $1,000/$4.00/22.04 Pd Recovery/Cu Recovery + Au [g/t]/31.103 x $2,000/$4.00/22.04 Au Recovery/Cu Recovery + Ag [g/t]/31.103 x $20.00/$4.00/22.04 x Ag Recovery/Cu Recovery For Ni and Cu recoveries, please refer to the formulae in the November 2022 Technical Report. Recovery of Ni to the Cu concentrate was excluded from the NiEq calculation. The following recoveries were used for the other metals: 64.1% for Co, 82.5% for Pt, 69.3% for Pd, and 72.6% for Au and Ag. ABOUT TALON Talon is a TSX-listed base metals company advancing and operating high-grade nickel-copper assets in the United States, including 100% ownership of the Eagle Mine and Humboldt Mill in Michigan, the only primary nickel mine currently operating in the United States, and the Tamarack Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Project in Minnesota. Talon is in a joint venture with Rio Tinto on the high-grade Tamarack Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Project located in central Minnesota. Talon's shares are also traded in the US over the OTC market under the symbol TLOFF. The Tamarack Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Project comprises a large land position (18km of strike length) with additional high-grade intercepts outside the current resource area. Talon has an earn-in right to acquire up to 60% of the Tamarack Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Project and currently owns 51%. Talon has a neutrality and workforce development agreement in place with the United Steelworkers union. Talon's Beulah Mineral Processing Facility in Mercer County was selected by the US Department of Energy for a US$114.8 million funding grant from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the US Department of War awarded Talon a grant of US$20.6 million to support and accelerate Talon's exploration efforts in both Minnesota and Michigan. Talon has well-qualified and experienced exploration, mine permitting, mine development, operations, and community relations teams. For additional information on Talon, please visit the Company's website at www.talonmetals.com or contact: FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements". All statements, other than statements of historical fact that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. Such forward-looking statements include statements relating to future exploration work, including future drill holes, drill results, assays, geophysics and geological interpretations and the potential for a deposit in the Vault Zone. Forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on the Company. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. Table 2: Collar Locations Drill Hole # Easting (m) Northing (m) Elevation (masl) Azm Dip End Depth (m) 25TK0563C 491049.3 5168348.9 388.0 170.4 -85.4 879.7 25TK0563D 491049.3 5168348.9 388.0 170.4 -85.4 913.2 25TK0552 491049.3 5168348.8 388.0 212.8 -86.1 850.0 25TK0562 490998.6 5168292.0 388.0 109.4 -85.2 919.6 25TK0565 490998.2 5168295.3 388.0 85.7 -88.3 787.3 25TK0569 490999.3 5168292.8 388.0 89.3 -86.0 906.2 Collar coordinates are UTM Zone 15N, NAD83. Azimuths and dips are taken from the survey record at collar unless otherwise noted. Table 3: Assay Table Drill Hole # From (m) To (m) Length (m) Assay NiEq (%) CuEq (%) Ni (%) Cu (%) Co (%) Pd (g/t) Pt (g/t) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) 25TK0563C 773.86 789.09 15.23 7.82 7.70 0.06 3.05 5.72 3.09 17.39 14.11 27.33 including 776.49 782.20 7.23 14.95 15.24 0.11 5.23 9.98 5.24 28.91 26.41 52.82 25TK0552 420.50 569.51 149.01 0.92 0.71 0.02 0.16 0.26 0.22 NA 1.50 2.81 25TK0562 420.50 430.54 10.04 0.62 0.45 0.02 0.06 0.09 0.10 2.04 0.99 1.75 25TK0565 420.00 448.58 28.58 0.76 0.62 0.02 0.08 0.14 0.12 NA 1.23 2.24 and 457.50 509.50 52.00 0.73 0.51 0.02 0.11 0.19 0.12 NA 1.15 2.09 Length refers to drill hole length and not True Width. True Width is unknown at the time of publication. All samples were analysed by ALS Minerals. Nickel, copper, and cobalt grades were first analysed by a 4-acid digestion and ICP AES (ME-MS61). Grades reporting greater than 0.25% Ni and/or 0.1% Cu, using ME-MS61, trigger a sodium peroxide fusion with ICP-AES finish (ICP81). Platinum, palladium, and gold are initially analyzed by a 30g fire assay with an ICP-MS finish (PGM-MS24). Any samples reporting >1g/t Pt or Pd trigger an over-limit analysis by ICP-AES finish (PGM-ICP27) and any samples reporting >1g/t Au trigger an over-limit analysis by AAS (Au-AA26). For Ag, ICP-AES through Aqua regia digestion (ME-ICP 41). NA: Not available Table 4: Quick Lithology Log for Drill Holes 25TK0563D and 25TK0569 Drill Hole # From (m) To (m) Length Quick Log Sulphide texture 25TK0563D 528.22 534.92 FGO/MZNO 534.92 759.38 CGO Diss. 759.38 762.38 3 MSU Massive 762.38 826.62 SED 826.62 829.06 CGO 829.06 872.63 SED 25TK0569 0 76.29 OB 76.29 419.71 FGO/MZNO 419.71 543.45 123.74 FGO/MZNO Mod. Diss. 543.45 640.84 CGO Diss. 640.84 659.75 18.91 MMS/MSU Stringers and Massive 659.75 707.41 SED 707.41 710.66 GAB 710.66 763.83 CGO 763.83 767.49 SED 767.49 865.33 CGO 865.33 887.88 SED Quick lithology log of drill holes: Overburden (OB); Meta-sedimentary rocks (SED); Fine-grained Orthocumulate/Mixed Zone (FGO/MZNO); Coarse-grained Orthocumulate (CGO); Gabbro (GAB).; Mixed and Massive Sulphides (MMS/MSU), Moderate (MOD), Disseminated (Diss) To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/288041 Source: Talon Metals Corp. NEW YORK, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- HelpMeSee, a global nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating preventable cataract blindness, is featured in Healthier Together, a branded content series presented by the WHO Foundation. The short film showcases how HelpMeSee is addressing the global cataract backlog by training cataract surgical skills through high-fidelity, simulation-based surgical education. The content was paid for by Cisco and produced by BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions, the commercial content division of BBC Studios. The film follows a cataract surgery patient in Mumbai, India, as well as a HelpMeSee instructor and the MSICS cataract surgeon she trained, who performed the procedure. The video highlights how simulation-based training prepares surgeons before they perform live surgeries, with the goal of expanding access to safe, high-quality cataract care in regions facing workforce shortages. Cataracts remain one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide, with an estimated 100 million people affected by cataract blindness or moderate to severe visual impairment. While cataract surgery is widely recognized as an effective treatment, access to trained cataract surgeons remains limited in many low- and middle-income countries. The HelpMeSee training model focuses on preparing surgeons through standardized, instructor-led simulation practice before they operate on patients. "Our mission is to eliminate preventable cataract blindness by increasing the number of highly trained surgeons worldwide," said Dr. Nicoletta Fynn-Thompson, Chief Medical Officer at HelpMeSee. "By strengthening surgical training, we aim to address the backlog of patients waiting for sight-restoring care." The story also explores the role of data in surgical education. Splunk, a Cisco company, is one of the key technology systems used by HelpMeSee to support the development of new features, global deployment, and troubleshooting. Remote performance data collection and monitoring help refine instruction and improve learning outcomes. Through ongoing expansion efforts in regions including India, Africa, and South America, HelpMeSee is working to increase access to high-quality cataract surgical training in areas where the need is greatest. With the generous support of Dr. Nayana Potdar, Professor and Head of the Department of Ophthalmology, and Dr. Shailesh Mohite, Dean and Director of Medical Health and Medical Education at Topiwala National Medical College, BYL Nair Hospital in Mumbai, this film came to life. Faculty leaders who pioneer and champion surgical simulation play a critical role in accelerating procedural proficiency, strengthening patient safety, and fostering a culture of continuous, deliberate practice. HelpMeSee values their leadership and the collaboration of partners worldwide as we expand access to data-driven surgical education. The film is part of the Healthier Together series, presented by the WHO Foundation and produced by BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions for Cisco. To learn more about the HelpMeSee mission or to support surgical training initiatives, visit helpmesee.org. Media Contact: Amanda Kronberg HelpMeSee, Director of Marketing Pr@helpmesee.org About HelpMeSee In a world where 100 million people are blind or visually impaired due to cataract, HelpMeSee, a not-for-profit under IRS 501(c)(3), has a global mission to eradicate cataract blindness by increasing the training of Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery (MSICS). This safe and relatively quick procedure delivers successful outcomes at a low cost. The HelpMeSee MSICS training system features high-fidelity, virtual reality simulation with haptic feedback, sophisticated courseware, learning management systems, and electronic learning aids. HelpMeSee was founded by Al and Jim Ueltschi, who imagined building the MSICS training system by incorporating many of the methods and techniques used successfully in commercial pilot training. As co-founder of Orbis International and founder of FlightSafety International, Al Ueltschi was an icon in the aviation industry and was devoted to ending preventable blindness in the developing world. HelpMeSee trains high quality, very low cost MSICS to ensure that all communities have access to sight restoring affordable treatment. With more than 40 simulators and 15 training centers worldwide, HelpMeSee partners with governments, universities and innovators to fight the global cataract blindness crisis. For more information, visit http://www.helpmesee.org. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2930758/HelpMeSee.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/133204/helpmesee_logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/helpmesee-featured-in-healthier-together-presented-by-the-who-foundation-highlighting-efforts-to-reduce-cataract-blindness-through-surgical-training-302710133.html Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2026) - InZinc Mining Ltd. (TSXV: IZN) ("InZinc" or the "Company") announces recently reported very high-grade discoveries at the B-9 Zone (see NR25-09) are now recognised as replacement Sedex mineralization (B-9 Apex Zone) and are integral to the B-9 trend now totalling 2.2 km in length, of which 1.2 km remains untested. Near-surface primary mineralization, new replacement mineralization and along-strike prospects multiply the already significant discoveries achieved at the 100% owned Indy Sedex zinc-lead-silver-gallium-barite project, located 90 km southeast of Prince George in central BC, Canada. "The addition of the high-grade B-9 Apex replacement zone is an exciting enhancement to the discovery potential at Indy. Replacement is a mineralizing process recognised at the world's richest Sedex deposits, most notably the Red Dog mine in Alaska, where it contributes to very high-grades and giant-sized deposits," remarked Wayne Hubert, CEO of InZinc. "Recognition of replacement style mineralization substantially improves our outlook for size, grade and potential for additional discoveries at the expansive and easily accessible Indy project in central BC." Drilling in late 2025 discovered the B-9 Apex Zone, including a very high-grade intersection containing 20.1% Zn, 1.7% Pb and 9.5 g/t Ag over 3.2 m (see NR25-09) within a broader mineralized and altered envelope 58 m wide (Figures 1 and 2). This mineralization is recognised as replacement Sedex mineralization. Identifying replacement mineralization is crucial in Sedex deposits as it signifies potential for increased metal grades, enlarged zones and distribution of economic minerals into multiple rock layers. Both primary and replacement Sedex mineralization are now recognised across the 1000 m drill-defined B-9 Zone. Untested, coincident geophysical and geochemical anomalies continue for at least 1200 m along strike from the Apex Zone (Figure 3) for a total potential length of the B-9 trend of 2.2 km. Drill permits are approved and planning for 2026 drilling is well underway. Figure 1: Vertical Longitudinal Section - Highlighted Drill Intersections To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6480/288064_743a5721d4c60993_001full.jpg About Replacement Sedex Mineralization Sedex deposits are the largest global producers of zinc with important by-products such as silver and critical metals. There are a limited number of areas in the world prospective for Sedex deposits. Primary Sedex mineralization, sometimes termed "shale hosted" or "exhalative", formed as layers on the ancient seafloor. Replacement Sedex mineralization formed, almost synchronously, below the seafloor allowing mineralization to extend into receptive surrounding rock layers (Figure 4). Replacement improves potential for enlarged zones, increased metal grades and distribution of economic minerals into multiple rock layers rather than only at the seafloor. Examples include the Red Dog deposits, Alaska (35 million metric tons of contained zinc and lead metal1) and the Boundary deposit, Yukon (mineral resource of > 50 million tonnes2). Figure 2: B-9 Apex Zone - Replacement Sedex Mineralization - Cross Section To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6480/288064_743a5721d4c60993_002full.jpg B-9 Apex Discovery - Very High-Grade Replacement Mineralization - Open for Expansion 2025 drill holes IB25-041 and 043 intersected replacement mineralization (B-9 Apex Zone) located 300 m north and directly along strike of the B-9 Discovery Zone. In drill hole IB25-043, a mineralized and altered envelope totaling 58 m wide was intersected from 144 m downhole (Figure 2). Within this mineralized envelope, a 21.7m section of core commencing from 180.0 m to 201.7 m (downhole) contained variably distributed sulphide mineralization, with best grades near the bottom of the interval, including: 2.1% Zn, 3.5% Pb and 15.0 g/t Ag over 1.9 m from 180.0 m downhole 11.6% Zn, 3.9% Pb and 15.4 g/t Ag over 0.4 m from 185.1 m downhole 1.8% Zn, 0.4% Pb and 2.1 g/t Ag over 2.7 m from 189.3 m downhole 1.4% Pb and 7.4 g/t Ag over 1.2 m from 192.4 m downhole 15.4% Zn, 1.3% Pb and 7.2 g/t Ag over 4.2 m from 197.6 m downhole, which includes 20.1% Zn, 1.7% Pb and 9.5 g/t Ag over 3.2 m also from 197.6 m downhole Drill hole IB25-041, also encountered visual replacement mineralization at 106 m downhole at a distance 130 m up-dip from intersections in drill hole IB25-043. The Apex zone remains open in all directions for expansion. 2.2 km B-9 Trend - Includes Untested 1.2 km Extending NW from B-9 Apex Drill programs in 2025 achieved a 125% strike extension of the B-9 Zone to 1000 m, culminating with the discovery of B-9 Apex Zone (Figure 1). Soil geochemical and geophysical signals were utilized to target the Apex discovery (Figure 2). These same untested coincident EM geophysical and soil geochemical "signals" continue for at least another 1200 m to the northwest of the B-9 Apex Zone (Figure 3) representing a high potential corridor for both extension and new discoveries. Figure 3: Indy Project - Mineralization and Exploration Potential To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6480/288064_743a5721d4c60993_003full.jpg Figure 4 - Indy Project - Two Distinct Styles of Sedex Mineralization To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6480/288064_743a5721d4c60993_004full.jpg New Sedex District in Central BC There are a limited number of areas in the world prospective for Sedex deposits, which are the largest global producers of zinc, host the largest known zinc resources, and commonly produce high amounts of silver and several critical minerals as by-products. Discoveries at the Indy Sedex project in central BC are analogous to the world-class Sedex deposits and districts in the Selwyn Basin of northeastern BC and the Yukon. Indy is road-accessible and located close to existing rail, power, port and smelter infrastructure. Source: Emsbo, P., Seal, R.R., Breit, G.N., Diehl, S.F., and Shah, A.K., 2016, Sedimentary exhalative (sedex) zinc-lead-silver deposit model: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2010-5070-N. 34.34 Mt Indicated at 5.63% ZnEq, 17.46 Mt Inferred at 3.75% ZnEq, Fireweed Metals website. About InZinc InZinc has discovered and is advancing near-surface exploration at the Indy Sedex zinc-lead-silver-gallium-barite project (100%) in central BC, Canada. The extensive tenure at Indy covers 200 square km and a 30 km length of under-explored, prospective strata in central BC. The project is well located with respect to road access, rail, power, port and smelter infrastructure. In 2025 the Company announced the extension of the B-9 mineralized trend to a drill defined strike length of greater than 1000 m: Significant drill results from B-9 Apex Zone (replacement mineralization): 15.4% Zn, 1.3% Pb and 7.2 g/t Ag over 4.2 m, including 20.1% Zn, 1.7% Pb and 9.5 g/t Ag over 3.2 m Significant drill results from the near-surface B-9 Discovery Zone (primary mineralization): 8.0% Zn, 2.0% Pb and 16.2 g/t Ag over 9.9 m 11.0% Zn, 2.3% Pb and 27.1 g/t Ag over 3.0 m 9.3% Zn, 2.4% Pb and 18.0 g/t Ag over 3.1 m 5.5% Zn, 0.5% Pb and 3.4 g/t Ag over 6.7 m 3.3% Zn, 0.7% Pb and 7.4 g/t Ag over 19.1 m South32 Limited (ASX, LSE, JSE) became a major tenure holder in the Indy belt by staking approximately 200 km2 of adjacent claims in late 2021. Additionally, InZinc will receive 50% of the revenue (NSR) from the sale of indium mined from American West Metals' (ASX) West Desert project, Utah. Through its equity investment in American West, InZinc is also exposed to a portfolio of North American base metals projects. Qualified Person Patrick McLaughlin, P.Geo., an Independent Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and a registered professional geoscientist in British Columbia, has approved the technical content of this news release. Quality Assurance/Quality Control HQ drill core was collected from the drill site and delivered to the Indy Camp by InZinc staff. The core was logged, sample intervals were outlined and photographic records were collected. Core samples were split using a diamond saw or manually chipped at the camp with one-half of the core submitted for assay and the remainder stored in wooden core boxes. The core was bagged in individually marked plastic sample bags and shipments were compiled in labelled rice bags. Core shipments were delivered by InZinc contract geologists to Bandstra Transportation Systems Ltd. in Prince George, B.C. for furtherance to MSA Labs in Langley, B.C., Canada for analysis. Samples were prepared by MSA and analyzed by ICP-AES multi-element plus 4-Acid Digestion and select AAS-Fire Assay. In addition to the labs QA/QC procedures, InZinc inserted blind standards, blanks or lab-directed duplicates by special instruction - every tenth sample. The results from the QA/QC samples were within industry norms. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). All statements herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements, include but are not limited to, statements that address activities, events of developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipates, intends, estimates, plans, postulate, indicate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. Although InZinc believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results, performance or actions, and that actual results or actions may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, those risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2024 and for the six months ended June 30, 2025 filed with certain securities commissions in Canada and other information released by the Company and filed with the appropriate regulatory agencies. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, InZinc disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. All of the Company's Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedarplus.ca. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/288064 Source: InZinc Mining Ltd. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2026) - Hillcrest Energy Technologies Ltd. (CSE: HEAT) (OTCQB: HLRTF) (FSE: 7HI) ("Hillcrest" or the "Company") today announced the operationalization of CleanPath Distribution Inc. ("CleanPath"), an Indigenous-led Canadian corporation operationalized pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding between Hillcrest, Pasqua First Nation #79 ("PFN"), and Apeiron Resources Ltd. ("Apeiron") announced on October 14, 2025. CleanPath Distribution Inc. is an Indigenous-led Canadian corporation operationalized in March 2026 to pursue funding opportunities - including government funding - and to support the commercialization of Hillcrest's Zero Voltage Switching ("ZVS") power conversion technology in Canada. CleanPath's Indigenous-led structure and PFN majority ownership are intended to support its ability to access funding programs and build the government and industry relationships required to pursue the Canadian market. CleanPath is owned as follows: Pasqua First Nation #79: 51%; Apeiron Resources Ltd.: 24.5%; and Hillcrest Energy Technologies Operating Ltd.: 24.5%. Directors were appointed and shares were issued on March 5, 2026. The entity is governed by a Board of Directors with representation from all three partners. Hillcrest retains full ownership of all ZVS intellectual property and responsibility for technology development, manufacturing execution, and product certification. Hillcrest's Zero Voltage Switching ("ZVS") power conversion technology reduces the switching losses inherent in conventional power converters, resulting in higher efficiency, lower electromagnetic interference ("EMI"), and smaller, lighter passive components. Efficiency and EMI performance have been measured at European automotive OEM and Tier 1 supplier test benches. Hillcrest's ZVS technology is the subject of two prototypes currently in development: the PCS1000 Grid Power Conversion System, a 200 kW grid-connected power conversion system targeting customer demonstration in Q2 2026; and the MVP3 ZVS Traction Inverter, a 350 kVA Silicon Carbide (SiC) traction inverter prototype validated with multiple automotive OEMs and Tier One suppliers in Europe in an automotive context. Don Currie, CEO and Director of Hillcrest Energy Technologies Ltd., commented: "CleanPath brings together Pasqua First Nation #79's Indigenous leadership, industry relationships, and market knowledge, Apeiron's expertise in Indigenous economic development, and Hillcrest's ZVS technology." Mr. Currie continued, "Canada's recently announced Defence Industrial Strategy and the NRC IRAP Defence Industry Assist initiative establish a policy framework for Canadian SME participation in defence R&D. CleanPath's Indigenous-led structure and Hillcrest's Canadian-owned ZVS technology are relevant to that framework, and the Canadian defence sector is a target market for CleanPath's mandate. We are pleased to be taking this step with our partners at Pasqua First Nation #79 and Apeiron." About Pasqua First Nation #79 Pasqua First Nation #79 is a Treaty First Nation in Saskatchewan. PFN has established a wholly owned entity, Pasqua First Nation Group of Companies (PFNGC), through which it conducts various business investments and economic development activities. PFNGC's portfolio includes PRO Metal, a subsidiary focused on metal fabrication and manufacturing. PFN is also actively involved in renewable energy development, including participation in the Seven Stars Energy Project, a 200-megawatt wind energy initiative being developed in partnership with Enbridge and five other Indigenous partners. The project, targeted to be operational in 2027, will produce emissions-free power for over 100,000 Saskatchewan homes and represents significant Indigenous ownership and participation in clean energy infrastructure. About Apeiron Resources Ltd. Apeiron Resources Ltd. is a Metis, First Nation, and Native American owned corporation and Certified Indigenous Business driven by a single purpose: to build stronger communities through sustainable socio-economic partnerships. Rooted in their Nations, they invest time, resources, and passion into volunteer leadership, community sponsorships, and capacity-building initiatives that empower citizens and honours cultural heritage. Through Apeiron's family of companies, they secure federal and provincial grants, provide fuel solutions, corporate indigenous governance, deliver skills training, and forge trust-based relationships between industry and Indigenous Nations. By connecting non-Indigenous organizations with authentic inclusion opportunities, they help the energy sector and beyond engage meaningfully with First Nation, Metis, and Native American tribes. Every project they undertake reflects cultural values, fosters economic empowerment, and delivers generational impact. Together with their partners, they create lasting change by bringing employment, training, and economic growth back to communities while guiding their partners in reconciliation to achieve more. About Hillcrest Energy Technologies Hillcrest Energy Technologies is a Canadian clean technology company focused on providing advanced power conversion technologies and digital control systems for next-generation powertrains and grid-connected renewable energy systems. From concept to commercialization, Hillcrest is investing in the development of energy solutions that will power a more sustainable and electrified future. Hillcrest is publicly traded on the CSE under the symbol "HEAT," on the OTCQB Venture Market as "HLRTF," and on the Frankfurt Exchange as "7HI." For more information, please visit: https://hillcrestenergy.tech/. NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER HAS REVIEWED OR ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information Some of the statements contained in this news release are forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as "expects," "intends," "is expected," "potential," "suggests" or variations of such words or phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may," "could," "should," "would," "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. This forward-looking information is provided as of the date of this news release. The forward-looking information reflects our current expectations and assumptions and is subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any anticipated future results, performance or expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. No assurance can be given that these assumptions will prove correct. Forward-looking statements and information are not historical facts and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties beyond the Company's control. Investors are advised to consider the risk factors under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's MD&A for the year ended Dec. 31, 2024, available at https://www.sedarplus.ca/ for a discussion of the factors that could cause the Company's actual results, performance and achievements to be materially different from any anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law. ### To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/288100 Source: Hillcrest Energy Technologies Ltd. TORONTO, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, OPTrust released its 2025 Funded Status Report - Service & Security - Since 1995 - which details the Plan's financial results and funded status, while marking its 30th anniversary. In 2025, OPTrust remained fully funded for the 17th consecutive year and achieved a net investment return of 4.2 per cent. Over the past 10 years, the Plan's average net investment return is 6.7 per cent. "Thirty years ago, OPTrust was founded with a mission to pay pensions today, and preserve pensions for tomorrow," said Peter Lindley, President and CEO of OPTrust. "As OPTrust remains fully funded for the 17th consecutive year, we continue to fulfil that purpose for our 118,000 members, delivering income security and peace of mind in retirement." Since starting operations in 1995, OPTrust's membership has grown by more than 70 per cent, and assets have increased nearly fivefold. Today, investment returns account for more than 70 per cent of the benefits paid to OPTrust members when they retire, with over $1.4 billion in entitlements paid in 2025. The Plan's average annual net investment return since inception is 7.8 per cent. "In a year shaped by economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, the continued strength of the Plan is a testament to our diversified investment strategy guided by an experienced investment team," said Lindley. "Our perspective as a long-term investor allows us to look beyond short-term uncertainty, and to stay focused on the sustainability of the Plan over the decades to come." OPTrust continues to provide exceptional service to members, who rated their service satisfaction as 8.6 out of 10. The Plan was recognized among the top 10 pension plans globally for service by CEM Benchmarking Inc.'s annual rankings. Find more information about OPTrust's 2025 strategy and results in Service & Security - Since 1995 at optrust.com. About OPTrust With net assets of over $27 billion, OPTrust invests and manages one of Canada's largest pension funds and administers the OPSEU Pension Plan (including OPTrust Select), a defined benefit plan with 118,000 members. OPTrust was established to give plan members and the Government of Ontario an equal voice in the administration of the Plan and the investment of its assets through joint trusteeship. OPTrust is governed by a 10-member Board of Trustees, five of whom are appointed by OPSEU/SEFPO and five by the Government of Ontario. Media Contact: Jason White, Manager, Public Affairs, OPTrust, +1-416-201-1527, jwhite@optrust.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2930886/OPSEU_Pension_Plan_Trust_Fund_OPTRUST_FULLY_FUNDED_FOR_17_TH__CO.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/optrust-fully-funded-for-17th-consecutive-year-302710365.html BROXO, one of Europe's leading brands in high-quality water treatment salt, announces a comprehensive brand refresh, reaffirming its position as a trusted partner in water softening applications for nearly a century AMERSFOORT, The Netherlands, March 11, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BROXO is part of Hengelo Salt Specialties and Mariager Salt Specialties, companies incorporated under Groupe Salins, headquartered in Clichy, France. With over 100 years of expertise, BROXO has built a strong reputation for delivering premium vacuum salt used in professional water treatment systems across Europe. BROXO salt is produced from high-purity vacuum salt extracted from underground salt caverns in the Netherlands and Denmark. In the Netherlands, the salt is compacted into briquettes and tablets, as well as specialized grades for water softening applications. With a sodium chloride purity of 99.9% and extremely low calcium and magnesium content, BROXO is among the highest quality salts available on the market. The salt plays a critical role in regenerating ion exchange resins in water softening systems, effectively removing calcium and magnesium from water. By preventing limescale formation, BROXO helps protect pipes, heating systems, dishwashers, and industrial installations. In industrial environments, effective water softening reduces energy consumption, minimizes maintenance requirements, and safeguards operational efficiency. The brand refresh focuses on strengthening BROXO's core identity, reinforcing the recognizable brand assets, colors, and visual language that customers have trusted for decades. The updated look reflects both BROXO's heritage and its forward-looking approach to the global market. "BROXO has been a leader in its segment for over 100 years. This refresh is about returning to our core strengths: quality, reliability, and consistency while modernizing how we present ourselves to the market," says Nico Basson, Segment Marketing Manager Water & Retail Products. "We are building on a strong foundation and preparing the brand for continued growth." Today, BROXO continues to serve a wide range of customers, including restaurants, hotels, commercial facilities, and industrial operators that rely on high-performance water softening systems. About BROXO is a brand of Salt Specialties which is a part of Groupe Salins, one of the largest salt producers in Europe. The French group has existed for more than 160 years and currently employs approximately 2,200 people worldwide. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7568e2d5-2176-4c2b-bc35-fa81054e5327/en For more information, please contact: Nico Basson broxo@salins.com Segment Marketing Manager - Water & Retail Products www.broxosalt.com LOS ANGELES, March 11, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The 2026 Optical Fiber Communications Conference and Exhibition (OFC) , the world's largest annual gathering for optical networking and communications professionals, takes place next week at the Los Angeles Convention Center (15-19 March 2026, Exhibition: 17-19 March). With the exhibit hall sold out, OFC 2026 is set to be one of the largest to date, with an expected 16,000 attendees from 90 countries and more than 700 exhibiting companies convening in Los Angeles for a week of product debuts, technical milestones and industry collaboration. The program will also feature 130 invited and tutorial speakers and 45 presentations across three exhibition theaters. From startups to established global brands, OFC's exhibit floor will spotlight the technologies shaping next-generation networks, including systems, silicon photonics, lasers, optical modules, components and the test and measurement tools that support performance at scale. "We are witnessing a pivotal time for the industry, as AI-driven growth accelerates the need for higher bandwidth and better power efficiency," said OFC General Chair Johannes Fischer, Fraunhofer Heinrich-Hertz Inst., Germany. "The sold-out exhibit floor and broad global participation underscore how urgently the ecosystem is advancing new solutions, and how quickly they're moving toward deployment." OFC gives attendees a chance to compare approaches side by side, connect directly with the engineers and product teams behind them and better understand which technologies are ready for near-term deployment and which are still taking shape. Exhibitor Announcements Set to Debut in Los Angeles With the industry convening in one place, OFC expects a strong slate of exhibitor news and product updates across the optical communications ecosystem, including announcements submitted through OFC's First News program (an advance preview of exhibitor announcements for media and analysts). A selection includes: Acacia - Acacia will highlight its coherent pluggables and client optics portfolio, including field-proven 400G products and the industry's first 800GZR+ with interop PCS for AI-era networking. - Acacia will highlight its coherent pluggables and client optics portfolio, including field-proven 400G products and the industry's first 800GZR+ with interop PCS for AI-era networking. Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (AOI) - AOI will showcase its readiness for CPO and NPO architectures with transceivers through 1.6T, 6.4T on-board optics demos and a new narrow-linewidth pump laser. - AOI will showcase its readiness for CPO and NPO architectures with transceivers through 1.6T, 6.4T on-board optics demos and a new narrow-linewidth pump laser. CEA-Leti - CEA-Leti and NcodiN will announce a strategic collaboration to industrialize optical interposer technology on a 300 mm photonics process for next-generation semiconductors and AI chips. - CEA-Leti and NcodiN will announce a strategic collaboration to industrialize optical interposer technology on a 300 mm photonics process for next-generation semiconductors and AI chips. LightSpeed Photonics - LightSpeed Photonics will launch what it calls the industry's first solderable near-packaged optical interconnect technology, positioned as a low-power alternative between CPO and LPO. - LightSpeed Photonics will launch what it calls the industry's first solderable near-packaged optical interconnect technology, positioned as a low-power alternative between CPO and LPO. OIF - OIF will bring multi-vendor interoperability to life with 40 member companies demonstrating the building blocks behind AI-era data center networks, from coherent optics to CEI-224G, live 448G, CMIS and co-packaging. - OIF will bring multi-vendor interoperability to life with 40 member companies demonstrating the building blocks behind AI-era data center networks, from coherent optics to CEI-224G, live 448G, CMIS and co-packaging. Semtech - Semtech will unveil a new family of 224G per lane TIAs and MZM drivers built for the shift toward linear optical interconnects across 800G, 1.6T and 3.2T architectures. - Semtech will unveil a new family of 224G per lane TIAs and MZM drivers built for the shift toward linear optical interconnects across 800G, 1.6T and 3.2T architectures. Taara - Taara will unveil Taara Photonics and Taara Beam, a solid-state wireless optical communications platform based on optical phased arrays. - Taara will unveil Taara Photonics and Taara Beam, a solid-state wireless optical communications platform based on optical phased arrays. VIAVI Solutions - VIAVI will showcase validation tools for next-generation AI fabrics, including demos focused on 1.6T Ethernet, PCIe over optics and high-density test capabilities. Plenary Spotlights AI, Optical Innovation and Optical Networks in Space The OFC Plenary Session takes place on Tuesday, 17 March (08:00-10:00 PDT) at the JW Marriott next to the Los Angeles Convention Center, featuring: Julie Sheridan Eng , Chief Technology Officer, Coherent , Chief Technology Officer, Coherent Alexis Bjorlin , Senior Vice President, AI Infrastructure, NVIDIA , Senior Vice President, AI Infrastructure, NVIDIA Siegbert Martin, Chief Technology Officer, Tesat-Spacecom Registration and information For registration, exhibitor details and the schedule-at-a-glance, visit OFCConference.org . About OFC The Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exhibition (OFC) is the world's largest event for optical communications and networking professionals - a showcase for the trends and technologies that impact how the world communicates and transacts. It is the locus for scientific visionaries and the industry's biggest brands to make connections and move business forward. For more than 50 years, participants from all corners of the globe have been drawn to OFC by its high-impact, peer-reviewed research, dynamic business programs and the world's largest in-person exhibition for optical communications. OFC is co-sponsored by the IEEE Communications Society (IEEE/ComSoc) and the IEEE Photonics Society and co-sponsored and managed by Optica. OFC takes place 15 - 19 March 2026 (Exhibition: 17-19 March), at the Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles, California, USA. Learn more at OFCConference.org or follow @OFC-Conference on LinkedIn and X (OFC26). Media Contact media@ofcconference.org A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a8729e5f-dd0d-4927-8702-ed6a419850c7 Anzeige / Werbung You can find more information on Youtube and axinocapital.de Stillwater Critical Minerals CEO Michael Rowley discusses the latest developments at PDAC 2026: Glencore's continued investment, a major three-rig drill program, upcoming resource updates, and the strategic importance of critical minerals projects in Montana, USA. criticalminerals mining usa investing stocks No investment advice! Always trade at your own risk! More insights at ? axino.com For 35 years, we have known how to earn money sustainably with shares in the commodities sector and build up a fortune in the process. The axinocapital channel offers insights into our actions, our many years of experience and access to high-growth stocks in the precious metals, commodities and technology sectors from Australia and Canada. 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(TSXV: SPZ) (FSE: O2C) ("SuperBuzz" or the "Company"), an AI-driven SaaS platform empowering websites to boost revenues without increasing their advertising budgets, is pleased to provide an operational update, announce that it has closed the first tranche (the "First Tranche") of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Financing") and that it intends to complete a non-brokered financing of convertible debentures of a minimum of $400,000 (the "Convertible Debt"), with the majority of this financing already funded or committed. Operational Update: Strengthening SaaS Monetization and Customer Retention As part of its continued evolution toward a scalable SaaS business model, SuperBuzz has implemented several operational enhancements focused on improving customer activation, retention, and recurring revenue growth. The Company recently introduced a tiered subscription pricing model designed to better align platform pricing with customer usage, growth, and delivered value. The framework incorporates value-based pricing tiers, scalable enterprise packages, and usage-based components, allowing customers to expand their plans as their traffic volume and performance metrics grow. In parallel, SuperBuzz deployed a new AI-driven onboarding system designed to accelerate time-to-value for new customers and ensure faster activation of the platform's optimization capabilities. The enhanced onboarding process leverages behavioral analytics, automated KPI diagnostics, and AI-driven campaign setup recommendations, helping customers quickly configure the platform based on their industry, traffic patterns, and growth objectives. While it has only been deployed for a short period of time, following the rollout of the new onboarding system, the Company reported a 200% increase in user retention, highlighting improved engagement and stronger long-term customer relationships. "The operational improvements we've implemented are designed to strengthen every stage of the customer lifecycle-from onboarding through long-term platform expansion," said Jeremy Levine, Chief Revenue Officer of SuperBuzz. "By introducing a more scalable subscription model while simultaneously improving the onboarding experience, we are creating a more predictable recurring revenue engine and improving the overall customer experience." Levine added: "Our goal is to ensure that clients quickly see measurable value from our AI platform. When customers activate faster and see tangible performance improvements early, retention improves and the lifetime value of each customer increases. These initiatives position us to scale the business more efficiently while delivering stronger outcomes for our clients." CLOSING OF FIRST TRANCHE OF NON-BROKERED PRIVATE PLACEMENT SuperBuzz today also announces that first tranche (the "First Tranche") of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Financing") has been closed. The Company expects to complete additional tranches subject to TSXV acceptance, with an application submitted to the exchange to amend the exercise price of the common share purchase warrants issued in connection with the Company's first tranche closing on February 3, 2026 (being the warrants issued as part of the 1,966,033 units) from $0.25 to $0.15. In the first tranche, the Company issued an aggregate of 1,966,033 units (the "Units") at a price of $0.15 per Unit for gross proceeds of $294,905.10. Each Unit is comprised of one common share of the Company (a "Common Share") and one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one common share at an exercise price of $0.25 per share for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Financing for working capital and general corporate purposes. Insiders of the Company subscribed for an aggregate 333,366 Units, or gross proceeds of $50,005.00 within that financing. Please see press release dated February 4, 2026 for additional details related to this financing. INITIATES CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURE OFFERING WITH SUBSTANTIAL INSIDER PARTICIPATION SuperBuzz announced today that it intends to complete a non-brokered private placement of a minimum of 400 convertible debenture units of the Company (the "Debenture Units"), at a price of C$1,000 per Debenture Unit, to raise gross proceeds of a minimum of C$400,000 (the "Offering"). The Company is also pleased to confirm that C$200,000 of this Offering has been subscribed for by insiders of the Company, including the company's CEO, Liran Brenner, and the Company's Chairman, Yoel Yogev, with a portion of the subscription funds having already been wired to the Company. Each Debenture Unit will be comprised of: (i) one C$1,000 principal amount unsecured convertible debenture of the Company (a "Convertible Debenture"); and (ii) 4,166 common share purchase warrants of the Company with an exercise price of $0.18 per share. The Convertible Debentures shall bear interest at a rate of 12.5% per annum from the Closing Date, which shall accrue semi-annually. Accrued interest is convertible into Common Shares, at the option of the holder at the Conversion Price at any time following the Closing Date. The outstanding principal amount of each Convertible Debenture shall be convertible at the option of the holder thereof, at any time on and after the closing date of the Offering ("Closing Date") and prior to the maturity date, which is 36 months from the Closing Date (the "Maturity Date"), into Common Shares of the Company (the "Common Shares") at a conversion price of C$0.12 per Common Share (the "Conversion Price"). Each Warrant shall be exercisable to acquire one Common Share at an exercise price of C$0.18 any time on or after the Closing Date until the date that is 36 months from the Closing Date. At the Maturity Date, all principal amount outstanding together with any unpaid interest on the Convertible Debentures will be repaid by the Company in cash. Repayment will be accelerated in the event of default. Beginning on the date that is four (4) months and one (1) day following the Closing Date, the Company shall have a right to prepay or redeem a part or the entire principal amount of the Convertible Debentures at par plus accrued and unpaid interest at any time by providing a minimum of 30 days of redemption notice prior to the redemption date. In addition, the Company may force the conversion of the principal amount of the Convertible Debentures at the Conversion Price at any time after the first anniversary of the Closing Date if the daily volume weighted average trading price of the Common Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange is greater than $0.35 for 10 consecutive trading days. The Offering is subject to customary closing conditions, including the conditional and final approvals of the TSXV. All securities issued pursuant to the Offering, including any common shares issuable upon conversion of the Debentures, will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance of the Debentures, in accordance with applicable securities laws and TSXV policies. Finders' fees and finders' warrants may be payable in connection with the Offering. The net proceeds from the Offering will be used for general working capital and corporate purposes. About SuperBuzz SuperBuzz is an AI company specialising in marketing-technology solutions. Its SaaS platform uses natural-language processing and machine learning to automate content-creation, campaign-management and traffic-generation, helping marketers increase engagement and conversion with less manual effort. Additional information in respect of the Company's business is available under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Information and Cautionary Statements Certain information in this news release constitutes forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "expect", "potential", "believe", "intend" or the negative of these terms and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements relating to: the final acceptance of the Financing by the TSXV, the expected use of proceeds following the closing of the Financing; the anticipated terms of any securities issued upon exercise of warrants; and the Company's business objectives and milestones. Forward-looking information in this news release are based on certain assumptions and expected future events, namely: the Company's financial condition and development plans do not change as a result of unforeseen events; there will continue to be a demand, and market opportunity, for the Company's product offerings; the TSXV will provide its final acceptance of the Financing; and the Company will be able to obtain the financing required in order to develop and continue its business and operations. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to:; the Company's inability to obtain final TSXV acceptance for the Financing; market conditions and investor demand for the Company's securities; the Company's inability to deploy the proceeds as currently intended; and general economic and market conditions. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and reflect the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to change thereafter. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/288104 Source: SuperBuzz Inc. Strategic partnership integrates advanced Swiss photonics engineering with large-scale North American production to meet surging 800G, 1.6T demand and beyond for CIG's customers. Cambridge Industries Group (CIG), a global leader in broadband technologies and high-speed optical transceivers, today announced a significant expansion of its long-standing collaboration with ML&S Group. The two companies will establish a new joint venture (JV) headquartered in Dallas, Texas, co-located with CIG's Texas operations, to accelerate global production of high-speed optical modules and Near-Packaged Optics (NPO) solutions. The JV combines the specialized capabilities of three key entities: CIG, ML&S Mexico, and ML&S Switzerland. With an initial investment of USD 56 million, including direct capital investment in equipment, the venture will expand high-volume manufacturing capacity in Mexico to support hyperscale data center operators and AI infrastructure providers in North America and beyond. These deployments will include next-generation 800G/1.6T and NPO optical interconnects for large-scale AI clusters. Several leading CIG customers have also expressed interest in participating in follow-on investments, signaling strong industry backing for this geographically diversified manufacturing model. Strategic Synergy and Technical Integration The JV creates an innovation-to-scale pipeline: CIG: Leveraging its expertise in product design and innovation, together with decades of high-volume manufacturing experience, CIG brings proven operational capabilities from its global manufacturing operations and strategic partner facilities, including Shanghai, China; Penang, Malaysia; Westford, Massachusetts; Greifswald, Germany; and Biale Blota, Poland. Leveraging its expertise in product design and innovation, together with decades of high-volume manufacturing experience, CIG brings proven operational capabilities from its global manufacturing operations and strategic partner facilities, including Shanghai, China; Penang, Malaysia; Westford, Massachusetts; Greifswald, Germany; and Biale Blota, Poland. ML&S Switzerland: Drawing on its deep heritage in high-precision micro-assembly and engineering, the Swiss team will collaborate with CIG's Manufacturing Technologies division. Their focus will include advanced photonics packaging technologies, Near-Packaged Optics (NPO), and backend processes for Silicon Photonics (SiPh) PICs and CW lasers. Drawing on its deep heritage in high-precision micro-assembly and engineering, the Swiss team will collaborate with CIG's Manufacturing Technologies division. Their focus will include advanced photonics packaging technologies, Near-Packaged Optics (NPO), and backend processes for Silicon Photonics (SiPh) PICs and CW lasers. ML&S Mexico: Supported by the Swiss engineering hub and CIG's global manufacturing experts, the Mexico facility will rapidly scale these advanced technologies into high-volume production. This near-shore presence offers North American customers reduced latency in supply chains and enhanced operational responsiveness. Leadership Perspectives "CIG and ML&S have built a foundation of trust and success over the past 20 years, beginning with our collaboration with ML&S Germany," said Mr. Gerald Wong, Chairman and CEO of CIG. "As the AI era drives data center fabrics toward 1.6T and beyond, this JV ensures we deliver the scale and technical sophistication our customers require, exactly where they need it." "Mexico represents a vital pillar for North American infrastructure," added Mr. Juan Mollinedo, CEO of ML&S Mexico. "By combining competitive cost structures with close proximity to our primary markets, we are positioning this JV as a premier hub for the next generation of optical connectivity." Mr. Cem Celebi, CEO of ML&S Switzerland, noted: "Our Swiss facility serves as the technical engine for this venture. By combining world-class engineering and micro-assembly innovation with CIG's high-speed transceiver expertise, we are creating a formidable manufacturing platform." Mr. Joachim Kraemer, President of the Board of the ML&S Group and Mr. Bernd Odoj, CEO of ML&S Germany, concluded: "We are proud to advance our relationship with CIG. This JV allows us to leverage our recent global consolidation to deliver reliable, high-performance solutions that support the rapid expansion of AI-driven data infrastructure." Building on its initial investment in Mexico, the JV is well positioned to further scale manufacturing capacity across North America and support the rapidly growing AI-driven demand for high-speed optical modules. About Cambridge Industries Group (CIG) Cambridge Industries Group (CIG) is a global technology leader in the design and manufacturing of high-performance optical transceivers and broadband equipment. Supporting the next generation of AI-driven data center infrastructure, CIG develops advanced 800G/1.6T optical modules and 3.2T/6.4T NPO solutions leveraging Silicon Photonics and energy-efficient architectures to minimize latency and power consumption. Backed by strong R&D expertise and a large-scale global manufacturing footprint, CIG delivers innovative, high-performance optical solutions trusted by the world's leading telecommunications and cloud infrastructure providers. As demand for faster, more efficient connectivity accelerates worldwide, CIG remains committed to shaping the future of digital infrastructure through relentless innovation, operational excellence, and customer-focused partnerships. About ML&S Group ML&S is a global provider of advanced manufacturing and engineering services with a history spanning more than 60 years. With locations in Germany, Poland, Switzerland, and Mexico, the ML&S Group has evolved into a precision electronics powerhouse. ML&S Germany was originally established as a Siemens telecommunications manufacturing site in Greifswald. ML&S Switzerland was founded as a specialist in microelectronics technology, while ML&S Mexico was established as an advanced production automation facility serving the North American market. ML&S specializes in the micro-assembly and system integration of complex optical, medical, and industrial technologies, scaling innovation into reliable high-volume production. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260312779262/en/ Contacts: For questions, please send to marketing@cigtech.com. CAMBRIDGE, Ontario, March 11, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eclipse Automation, a global leader in factory automation, today announced a significant strategic evolution in celebration of its 25th anniversary. The milestone emphasizes Eclipse's renewed focus on global growth, innovative partnerships, and the continued transformation of modern factories into connected, digital, and human-centric operations. "For 25 years, Eclipse has helped factories around the world unlock the benefits of factory automation," said Steve Mai, Chief Executive Officer of Eclipse Automation. "Today, we enter a new era, to further the physical and digital convergence, helping factory leaders make smarter automation decisions that deliver value faster." Mai continued, "Since its founding in 2001, Eclipse Automation has remained at the forefront of factory automation, guiding global manufacturers through rapid technological advancements, and we are ready today to guide our clients and partners through this next phase of factory transformation. Our teams design and deliver systems the same way our customers evaluate them, through an engineering lens, for engineers meeting the demands of the Monday morning shift." To meet accelerating demand for advanced factory automation and more informed automation decision-making, Eclipse is expanding its Rock Hill, South Carolina facility. This increased capacity and engineering capability will better support factory automation advisors and U.S. factory leaders navigating reshoring initiatives. As physical automation systems and digital factory strategies rapidly converge from the shop floor to the boardroom, Eclipse is focused on helping customers achieve their reshoring objectives with speed, scale, precision, and confidence. This move aligns with a growing $1 Trillion USD reshoring opportunity, enabling companies to ensure investments deliver long-term operational and economic value as production moves closer to home. In Europe, Eclipse Automation is strengthening its presence in the life sciences market by launching of a new Sales, Business Development, and Engineering Applications Hub in Germany-bringing the company closer to key customers in one of the world's most advanced industrial manufacturing regions. Advancement of technology is a cornerstone of Eclipse Automation. To this regard, Eclipse has made an investment in Mirsee Robotics (Cambridge, Ontario), an innovative developer of remotely operated humanoid robotic systems. The outcome of this new venture is to combine our resources, partner with customers to identify real world use cases, and advance the technology for cost effective deployment into production environments. A new alliance with NVIDIA will help expedite the digitization of factory data, advance the commercialization of digital twins, and accelerate the path to software-defined, AI-powered manufacturing. Together, these initiatives aim to create a more connected, intelligent, and resilient factory ecosystem. To support these ambitions, Eclipse Automation is investing in a new global headquarters, purpose-built for innovation and co-creation. The facility will bring together engineers, customers, and partners in a collaborative environment featuring state-of-the-art R&D labs, immersive demo spaces, and innovation zones dedicated to solving complex manufacturing challenges. "In a space as dynamic as factory automation, strategy can't stand still," said Mike Fisher, President, at Eclipse Automation. "Our focus is on helping manufacturers think differently-not just about what they automate, but why-so they can align their factory strategy with outcomes that enable them to lead with confidence in a fast-changing landscape." "This is more than a milestone; it's a moment of acceleration," added Mai. "We're building the future of factory automation, grounded in 25 years of impact, and moving forward with greater speed, purpose, and momentum than ever before." About Eclipse Automation Eclipse Automation is a global provider of factory automation solutions, with operations across the United States, Canada, Hungary, and Germany. With more than 25 years of experience, we take great pride in delivering solutions the world depends on. We partner with customers throughout the entire automation lifecycle from concept and design to integration and ongoing support helping them combine digital intelligence with physical performance to meet evolving factory demands. Our solutions enable factory leaders to improve total cost of ownership, increase speed, reliability, and enhance operational efficiency across a wide range of industries, including life sciences, electric vehicles, automotive, battery production, heavy machinery, nuclear energy, consumer goods, aerospace and defense, and industrial manufacturing. We are committed to helping the industry harness the power of digital manufacturing today and into the future. Learn more at www.eclipseautomation.com Contact information Jennifer Avril Account Director Bolt PR, A Millwright Agency javril@boltpr.com 917-982-9012 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0ec97478-81e8-4d74-8e91-28bc5030cb18 Join engineers and industry leaders at the COMSOL Conference to explore cutting-edge innovation, learn new modeling skills, and build connections within the simulation community BURLINGTON, Mass., March 11, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- COMSOL, an independently-owned global leader in modeling and simulation software, today announced the locations of its worldwide COMSOL Conference 2026 tour, which will kick off in Cambridge, the UK, on September 23-25. The event will also make stops in Boston, MA, on October 7-9; Tokyo on October 21-22; and Bengaluru, India, on December 3-4. The COMSOL Conference brings together 2000+ attendees globally each year and offers a unique opportunity for students, engineers, and industry leaders to learn about the latest advancements in simulation and connect with the simulation community. The conference program features keynote talks by industry leaders, poster and slideshow presentations on innovative designs and research findings, and minicourses covering topics across engineering disciplines. "Engaging with the simulation community really helps with my work," said Zhen Sun, senior audio systems engineer at Amazon Lab126 and attendee of the 2025 conference in Boston. "I was able to learn different simulation techniques and get inspiration on techniques I had never thought about." Across industries, such as aerospace & defense, construction, automotive, energy, electronics, healthcare, food & beverage, manufacturing, semiconductor, and transportation, and many others, multiphysics modeling and simulation is critical in enabling businesses and research organizations to innovate faster, smarter and at a lower cost. To better advance innovation in these fields, the COMSOL Conference serves as a technical forum where engineers, researchers, and industry leaders can present advances in physics-based modeling, share best practices, and explore emerging simulation methods that are shaping product development and scientific research. "Modeling and simulation is the catalyst that accelerates innovation, enabling more accurate research and faster time to market for new products and solutions," said Oscar Littmarck, VP of Marketing for COMSOL. "The COMSOL Conference series is an opportunity for the global community to gather in person, learn new techniques, and gain inspiration to advance development in any industry." Program highlights of the 2026 events will include: Keynote presentations from leaders in industry and research; previous keynote speakers include Amazon Lab126, Conagra Brands, Porsche, and Sonion, among others Peer-reviewed technical sessions highlighting innovative use cases for multiphysics modeling and simulation 20+ advanced minicourses focused on practical modeling techniques across a variety of physics disciplines 1-on-1 technical discussions and live demonstrations with COMSOL engineers A preview of upcoming COMSOL Multiphysics software developments and the opportunity to connect with COMSOL's developers Community awards recognizing outstanding modeling and simulation-based papers and posters Collaborate with Thought Leaders and Simulation Professionals The COMSOL Conference provides a unique opportunity for the simulation community to gather, learn, and share ideas. Whether it's hearing directly from peers and industry thought leaders during the presentations and keynote talks or simply connecting 1-on-1 during the breaks between sessions, attendees are encouraged to engage with and learn from each other in ways that deepen their understanding of modeling and simulation and build connections within the larger community. For those interested in showcasing their modeling and simulation work, abstract submissions for both poster and 10-minute slideshow presentations will open in mid-March. Accepted presentations and posters will be published in the official online conference proceedings as well as considered for the COMSOL Conference Best Paper and Best Poster awards. The posters and papers from 2025 are available for review on the COMSOL website: https://www.comsol.com/papers-presentations/2025. New to the COMSOL Conference Boston for 2026, the COMSOL Innovation Contest* will provide six selected entrants with the opportunity to give a 10-minute presentation on the main stage and a chance to win up to $50,000 in prize money. For full details and rules and regulations, visit: https://www.comsol.com/conference/boston. To learn more about the COMSOL Conference 2026, visit the conference website at https://www.comsol.com/conference/ . About COMSOL COMSOL (https://www.comsol.com/) is a global provider of simulation software for product design and research to technical enterprises, research labs, and universities. Its COMSOL Multiphysics product is an integrated software environment for creating physics-based models and simulation apps. A particular strength is its ability to account for coupled or multiphysics phenomena. Add-on products expand the simulation platform for electromagnetics, structural, acoustics, fluid flow, heat transfer, and chemical applications. Interfacing tools enable the integration of COMSOL Multiphysics simulations with all major technical computing and CAD tools on the CAE market. Simulation experts rely on COMSOL Compiler and COMSOL Server to distribute apps to their design teams, manufacturing departments, test laboratories, and customers throughout the world. Founded in 1986, COMSOL has 16 offices worldwide and extends its reach with a network of distributors. COMSOL, COMSOL Multiphysics, COMSOL Compiler, and COMSOL Server are either registered trademarks or trademarks of COMSOL AB. *COMSOL INNOVATION CONTEST 2026. This contest only applies to eligible authors and groups that reside in the U.S. and Canada and are above the age of majority. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Entries accepted from March 17, 2026, until June 5, 2026. Final winner selection on October 9, 2026. Subject to Official Terms and Conditions at comsol.com/conference/boston/contest-rules. Sponsor: COMSOL, Inc. Contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), or TikTok. Contact: Mike Nourie (781) 273-3322 michael.nourie@comsol.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0befb1ed-8154-47fb-92db-4008abc3f782 Together they will advise and implement AI-powered pay decisions to help organizations stay compliant during the most significant updates to compensation governance in decades Syndio, the leader in AI for Pay Decisions, and Kognitiv, a leading global consulting firm and trusted Workday services partner, today announced a strategic partnership to help global enterprises prepare for the EU Pay Transparency Directive (EUPTD) and the growing wave of global pay transparency regulations. The partnership combines Syndio's AI-powered platform for governing pay decisions with Kognitiv's global advisory and implementation expertise. Together, the companies will help organizations achieve and maintain EUPTD compliance while supporting a continuous system that ensures pay decisions are compliant, optimized, and aligned with business strategy. The EU Pay Transparency Directive represents one of the most significant changes to compensation governance in decades. As organizations prepare for expanded reporting, transparency requirements, and regulatory scrutiny across jurisdictions, the challenge extends beyond compliance. It requires fundamentally rethinking how pay decisions are made, governed, and explained. "This partnership comes at a critical moment for global employers," said Maria Colacurcio, CEO of Syndio. "The EU Pay Transparency Directive is accelerating a global shift toward transparency and accountability in how organizations manage pay. Companies can no longer rely on spreadsheets, annual audits, or reactive remediation. They need a system that governs pay decisions continuously and in real time." Colacurcio continued, "Kognitiv's expertise supporting Workday customers and operationalizing complex HR transformations makes them an ideal partner as organizations adapt to this new regulatory environment. Together we are combining world-class technology with world-class services to ensure every pay decision is compliant, optimized, and defensible." Through this partnership, Syndio and Kognitiv will play a major role as enterprises establish a modern operating model for pay governance that integrates technology, analytics, and expert advisory services. The combined solution enables organizations to analyze pay equity continuously, manage remediation, prepare regulatory reporting, and govern compensation decisions across hiring, promotions, merit increases, equity awards, and pay adjustments. "Organizations are entering a new era of pay transparency where compliance, governance, and business performance are deeply connected," said Mark Grignon, CEO and Founder of Kognitiv. "By combining Syndio's AI-powered platform with Kognitiv's advisory and implementation expertise, we can help enterprises not only prepare for the EU Pay Transparency Directive, but build sustainable pay governance frameworks that support fairness, transparency, and better business outcomes." Together, Syndio and Kognitiv support roughly 1,000 global enterprise organizations across industries. For companies managing billions of dollars in payroll, the financial and legal risk of inconsistent pay decisions is significant, particularly as global pay transparency regulations accelerate. Organizations using Syndio's platform have achieved meaningful reductions in remediation spend, major decreases in audit preparation time, and measurable improvements in pay governance and transparency. This partnership will enable organizations to shift from reactive compliance to continuous pay governance, ensuring compensation practices remain compliant, financially aligned, and trusted by employees. About Syndio Syndio is the leader in AI for Pay Decisions. Built on nearly a decade of proprietary compensation data, the platform enables organizations to analyze pay equity, manage compliance, and govern pay decisions continuously across the employee lifecycle. Instead of relying on annual audits and manual workflows, Syndio helps organizations ensure that every offer, promotion, merit increase, equity grant, and compensation adjustment is aligned with policy, budgets, and business strategy in real time. Nearly 400 global enterprises, including over a third of the Fortune 1000, trust Syndio to make every pay decision compliant, optimized, and aligned with business strategy. Learn more at synd.io. About Kognitiv As a global Workday AMS Services Partner, Kognitiv offers a flexible, consumption based support model that perfectly complements Workday's flexibility and speed of innovation. Since 2016, over 600 Workday customers have leveraged our Post Production Support (PPS) as a modern approach to supporting their organizations without being boxed into fixed spend support models, as PPS flexes seamlessly with customers' changing needs throughout the product lifecycle. Our dedicated support teams have years of expertise in advisory, implementation, and optimization services, plus custom app development, project management and change management. Our world-class consultants have the perfect blend of skills required to properly support all Workday functionality. Visit us at kognitivinc.com to learn more. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260311262287/en/ Contacts: press@synd.io EQS-News: Matrix Fuels / Key word(s): Financial DRCR Pushes Forward With Implementation of 2026 Business Plan 11.03.2026 / 16:10 CET/CEST The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. NEW YORK, NY - March 11, 2026 ( NEWMEDIAWIRE ) - Dear Cashmere Holding Company aka Matrix Fuels (OTC: DRCR) ("DRCR" or the "Company"), an emerging diversified holding company, today announced significant progress in the execution of its 2026 business plan as management advances key strategic initiatives designed to reposition and expand the Company's operations. The Management has posted the pre-registration website for the anticipated IPO of its spun-out gaming technology business. Qualifying shareholders of record as of December 31, 2025, will receive shares in the anticipated IPO. Shareholders are required to register their details at www.Techplay24.com , after which the Company will contact registered participants in due course to verify shareholdings and continue the formalities associated with the IPO process. The Company is progressing well towards its new focus on the rollout of its Industrial Oil Business. As part of the administrative formalities associated with this strategic shift, the Company will initiate the process of changing its name at the state level and with OTC Markets Group Inc., following appropriate corporate actions and regulatory approvals. DRCR will change its name to Matrix Fuels Inc. and will propose a relevant ticker symbol at the appropriate time. This process will commence without delay. The Company's new corporate website, currently under development, will launch shortly at www.matrix-fuels.com . The Company will continue operating its X (formerly Twitter) feed under the handle @MatrixFuels, undergoing only a brand change consistent with the new corporate identity. The Company expects to acquire a modern waste oil refinery located in the United Arab Emirates, primarily focused on reprocessing waste marine oil, commonly known as "slop," collected from ships and tankers. The UAE is home to some of the busiest ports in the world, including major global bunkering hubs. Industry estimates indicate that more than 20,000-25,000 vessel calls occur annually across UAE ports, generating significant volumes of marine waste. It is estimated that in excess of 500,000 metric tons of marine slop and related oily waste are generated regionally each year. The refinery charges vessels a fee to remove and process this slop and subsequently sells the reprocessed output as various repurposed oils and lubricants. In addition to marine waste, the facility processes waste industrial oil into fuel oil and lubricants, sourcing supply from large industrial collectors and government-linked waste collection programs. Industry data suggests that more than 300,000 metric tons of used industrial and automotive oil are collected annually within the UAE, providing a substantial and recurring feedstock supply. While the region has become increasingly unstable this week due to the spillover of military action in Iran, local and export demand for oil and fuel oil has reached an all-time high. Many oil-producing nations in the Middle East, as well as Russia, are currently unable to fully supply key markets, particularly in Europe. The United Arab Emirates maintains export ports on its southern coastline, allowing shipments to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. This strategic advantage ensures continued access to international markets despite regional tensions. Although the ongoing military activity presents operational challenges, it also creates significant opportunities for energy trade and supply diversification. The valuation of the proposed acquisition has been agreed in principle, subject to final due diligence which is currently underway. Financing has been provisionally agreed, largely structured through a combination of equity and a royalty arrangement. While there can be no guarantee that the transaction will close, management aims to complete the acquisition within the next two to three months, subject to completion of due diligence, definitive agreements, and regulatory approvals. Nicolas Link, Chairman, stated: "I expect that this will be a fantastic acquisition for our shareholders. It is high margin, very cash generative, highly profitable, and benefits from what we believe to be strong and sustainable demand for the foreseeable future, coupled with consistent supply. While oil prices do fluctuate, margins in this segment are generally robust enough to accommodate significant variance. The business has a highly experienced management team capable of expanding the footprint, potentially opening similar facilities in multiple countries where excess waste oil and fuel shortages coexist. Numerous governments have already expressed interest in replicating this model within their jurisdictions. Waste oil, especially marine waste oil, is a significant global environmental challenge, and we believe this model provides both economic and environmental value." This marks an exciting new chapter for the Company. Management believes the business model is robust and offers substantial growth potential. While considerable administrative work remains as the Company transitions in strategic direction and corporate identity, the team is focused and moving rapidly to complete these formalities in the shortest possible timeframe. Shareholders and investors are encouraged to monitor the Company's social channels and news wires for further press release updates. Twitter: https://twitter.com/matrixfuels Website: https://matrix-fuels.com Related links: https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/DRCR/profile Source: DRCR Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the anticipated IPO of the gaming technology business, the proposed acquisition of the UAE refinery, the proposed name and ticker change, anticipated revenues, margins, profitability, growth opportunities, financing arrangements, and completion timelines. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, and projections, and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to, the completion of due diligence, execution of definitive agreements, regulatory approvals, market conditions, financing availability, operational risks, commodity price fluctuations, and other risks disclosed in the Company's filings with OTC Markets and other regulatory bodies. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Contact: info@matrix-fuels.com View the original release on www.newmediawire.com SPRING, Texas, March 11, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Io Therapeutics, Inc. in Spring, Texas, announces collaborative publication of data from preclinical studies with scientists at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center demonstrating effectiveness of the retinoid X receptor (RXR) agonist compound IRX4204 in models of prevention of estrogen receptor-negative and triple-negative breast cancers in three different genetically predisposed mouse models. The research report titled: "Targeting the RXR Pathway for the Prevention of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer", was led by MD Anderson researchers Cassandra L. Moyer, Ph.D., former postdoctoral fellow; Abhijit Mazumdar, Ph.D., associate professor of Clinical Cancer Prevention; and Powel H. Brown, M.D., Ph.D., professor Clinical Cancer Prevention. The study was published in the March 1, 2026, issue of Cancer Prevention Research. The studies demonstrate that RXR agonism mediated by IRX4204 significantly delays the formation of mammary tumors in three estrogen receptor-negative mouse models: MMTV-ErbB2, C3(1)SV40-Tag, and Brca1-deficient, with minimal toxicities. In some cases, IRX4204 completely prevented mammary tumor formation. Biomarker analysis revealed that delayed tumors arising after IRX4204 treatment had decreased Ki-67 expression (a marker of how rapidly cancer cells are dividing) and increased immune infiltration of cytotoxic T cells. This supports that IRX4204 has direct inhibitory effects on breast cancer cell growth and promotes cancer cell killing by immune cells. Both mechanisms may be critical for IRX4204 prevention of triple-negative breast cancer. This preclinical data supports the further evaluation of use of IRX4204 for the prevention of estrogen receptor-negative and triple-negative breast cancers. Dr. Mazumdar stated: "While prophylactic treatment with selective estrogen receptor (ER) modulators and aromatase inhibitors targeting the nuclear ER can prevent the formation of ER-positive tumors in women at high risk of breast cancer, these agents do not prevent ER-negative and triple-negative breast cancers. A substantial unmet need remains to prevent formation of ER-negative and triple negative breast cancers, which are often highly aggressive and associated with poorer survival. This study opens the door to the future research to evaluate the possibility of using RXR agonists, like IRX4204, to prevent these cancers." Martin E. Sanders, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Io Therapeutics stated "IRX4204 is a clinical stage compound which was invented by Vidyasagar, Ph.D., Chief Science Officer at Io Therapeutics. IRX4204 more potently and more selectively activates RXR than earlier generation RXR agonists. It has demonstrated an excellent safety profile in clinical trials in over 100 patients. IRX4204 has a safety profile that should allow it to be suitable as an agent for chronic treatment to effect prevention of triple negative breast cancers. This outcome would provide major benefit to millions of women now and in the future, who are at risk over the course of their lifetimes for the development of aggressive, poorly treatable estrogen receptor-negative or triple-negative breast cancers." About Io Therapeutics: Io Therapeutics, Inc. is a privately held company headquartered in Spring, Texas. More information on Io Therapeutics and its product development programs is available on the company's web site: www.io-therapeutics.com Forward Looking Statements: This new release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Contact: info@io-therapeutics.com Over 70 stranded Taiwan compatriots return home from Middle East via Chinese mainland transit Xinhua) 10:35, March 11, 2026 SHANGHAI, March 10 (Xinhua) -- More than 70 Taiwan compatriots who were stranded in the Middle East returned to Taiwan on Tuesday after transiting through Shanghai. The group's homeward journey concluded in the afternoon as the final batch of passengers touched down at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport aboard China Eastern Airlines flight MU5007. Earlier that day, the group arrived at Shanghai Pudong International Airport from Istanbul, Turkiye, aboard flight MU704 at around 4 a.m. This marks the largest group of Taiwan passengers to return home via a mainland transit since the escalation of regional tensions in the Middle East in late February. According to the exit-entry administration department of the Shanghai municipal public security bureau, the passengers were originally scheduled to transit through Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. However, they were left stranded due to flight cancellations resulting from airspace closures and airport shutdowns amid the volatile regional situation. With coordination and assistance from relevant mainland authorities, they were able to reroute their journey and fly to Shanghai from Istanbul. Despite the chilly temperatures in Shanghai early Tuesday morning, the returning passengers emerged from the cabin with smiles, expressing relief at finally being safe. Some expressed their gratitude to airport staff and the media, and thanked the mainland for its care and thoughtful arrangements. To ensure a smooth transit, Shanghai border inspection officers were stationed in advance at the transit gates, patiently guiding the passengers and maintaining order. "We communicated precisely with the airline beforehand, checking flight updates and passenger information," said Zheng Jianqiao, an officer at the Shanghai airport border inspection station. "We strengthened on-site guidance and police deployment to provide them with transit convenience, ensuring these stranded compatriots could return home as quickly as possible." After completing the transit procedures, the group was divided into two flights for their journeys home. According to China Eastern Airlines, some passengers boarded flight FM801 and arrived safely at Taipei Songshan Airport around 11 a.m. Tuesday. The remaining travelers departed at around noon on flight MU5007, arriving at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in the afternoon. "Taiwan compatriots are Chinese citizens and our own flesh and blood," Zhang Han, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a recent regular press conference. From the evacuation of Chinese nationals from Libya, Yemen and Sudan to the outbreak of the Palestine-Israel conflict, as well as incidents in which Taiwan compatriots overseas encountered dangers such as typhoons and earthquakes, relevant authorities have maintained close contact with them and provided timely assistance, Zhang said. We will, as always, take all necessary measures to safeguard the safety of Chinese citizens, including Taiwan compatriots, Zhang added. "No matter where they are or what difficulties they encounter, the motherland will always stand firmly behind Taiwan compatriots," Zhang said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2026) - Silver Hammer Mining Corp. (CSE: HAMR) (the "Company" or "Silver Hammer") is pleased to announce that the Company is finalizing plans for its Phase 1 drill program on its 100% owned California Patented Claim (the "California Patent"), within the Eliza Silver Project ("Eliza") in White Pine County, Nevada. "We are looking forward to Phase 1 of drill-testing priority targets at the 100% owned California Patent, ahead of a Phase 2 drill program on the greater area of the Eliza Claims, which is now awaiting final approval after submitting all required documents in its permitting application with the US Forest Service. The California Claim, being patented land, allows us to perform Phase 1, without requiring exploration or drilling permits," commented Peter A. Ball, CEO of Silver Hammer Mining. "We are currently in the process of sourcing a drilling contractor to execute our exploration program, and we look forward to mobilize to site as soon as possible." New priority drill targets on the California Patent have been identified from historical geological data from past exploration programs including surface mapping and sampling, an extensive soil sampling program, heliborne geophysics (magnetics and radiometrics), and from historical records of old mine workings. Up to five structures appear to be mineralized with silver and/or gold, and these form the five distinct drill targets (refer to Fig. 1). Fig. 1 - California Patent Drill Targets Map with a Compilation of Geological Structures, Rock and Soil Samples To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9597/288112_ffcef8640486490b_001full.jpg Up to a fifteen (15) hole drill program, consisting of approximately 1,500 metres (5,000 feet), has been designed to test following targets: Drill Target #1: The California Vein dips steeply, at approximately 80O to the northeast and is proximal to the Eberhardt Fault at surface. Mineralization has been found in a set of rock samples taken in 2021 and 2022 on or in the vicinity of the California Vein and the Eberhardt Fault, with four of the eight samples showing significant silver and/or gold grades (see Table 1 - please refer to the Company's news releases dated December 6, 2021 and May 11, 2022 for more information). Airborne magnetics (vertical gradient) and radiometrics (total count) both show low anomalies as distinctly linear features at the Eberhardt Fault/California Vein zone. Two drill pads would allow for drilling the California Vein from the south, over a distance exceeding 150 metres along strike with a set of six fanned holes. Table 1 - Rock Samples at California Patent (Mapping and Sampling Programs, 2021-2022) Sample No. Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) As (ppm) Cd (ppm) Cu (ppm) Mn (ppm) Mo (ppm) Pb (ppm) Sb (ppm) Zn (ppm) PN662702 0.01 0.524 14.6 1 2 541 2 9.05 5 10.8 PN662703 0.06 1290 33.8 14 56.8 2750 5.6 619 268 71.1 PN662704 2.00 96.1 19 12 32 1620 2.42 179 33.2 128 PN662705 0.28 26.3 10.5 1 13.6 316 2.12 39.2 11.5 21.3 PN662706 0.01 2.44 25.3 1 7.05 4610 5.15 9.1 7.88 31.6 PN662707 0.01 14.1 19.4 1 7.08 2020 2 9.9 10.1 22 PN662708 0.01 0.275 8.28 1 3.58 96.8 2 18.5 5 7.68 PN614022 0.24 150 32.2 14.8 84.5 1340 2.35 324 51.3 172 Drill Target #2: The California Vein has been interpreted to have been cut by the Eberhardt Fault just above the current topographic surface and down-dropped and displaced southwards in the South Block of the Eberhardt Fault (refer to Fig. 2). Silver mineralization in the geochemical soil anomaly and rock sampling suggests this repetition of the California Vein daylights approximately 70 metres to the south of the surface trace of the Eberhardt Fault (and the outcropping of the California Vein in the North Block of the fault). Six fanned holes, drilled southwards from the two drill pads, are designed to test this fault-displaced portion of the California Vein. Drill Target #3: The Eberhard Fault is expected to be intersected by the set of six northwards-trending drill holes. This drill-testing is expected to provide additional information of which structure is the source of the mineralized rock and soil samples that are in proximity of both the California Vein and the Eberhardt Fault. Drill Target #4: Pilot Shale has been mapped at surface in the South Block of the normal-type Eberhardt Fault. Geological interpretation of the stratigraphy leads to an expectation of the Pilot Shale and the stratigraphically lower Nevada Limestone contact to be located approximately 60 metres below the topographic surface in the South Block of the Eberhardt Fault. This brecciated lithologic contact has been recognized as a potential trap for hydrothermal fluids during the mineralization stage. Such association of manto-style mineralization and basal brecciation at nearby Treasure Hill is described by R.M. Smith1: ' The chloride ore bodies were localized in the uppermost strata of the gently west-dipping Guilmette (Nevada) Limestone just below the Pilot Shale, most of which is eroded from all but the Telegraph Peak portion of Treasure Hill. The limestone is brecciated by premineralization bedding faults, the most prominent of which is along its contact with the shale' . During past mining in the late 1800s, several exploratory drifts were driven in the California Mine, with a goal to reach this Pilot Shale - Nevada Limestone contact. The two vertical holes from the two drill pads are designed to explore for such potential manto-type mineralization at the lithologic contact (refer to Fig. 2). 1 R.K. Hose, M.C. Blake and R.M. Smith, Bulletin 85, Geology and Mineral resources of White Pine County, Nevada, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Part II, Mineral Resources, 1976. Fig. 2 - California Mine Section A-A', with Drill Targets and Historic Underground Workings To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9597/288112_ffcef8640486490b_002full.jpg Drill Target #5: The broad zone of anomalous silver values follows the trend of the high rock samples as well as the trend of magnetic and radiometric anomalies. This zone measures up to 200 metres wide north-south and over 400 metres east-west. All holes are within this soil geochemical anomaly. Mr. Ball added, "The intersection of high angle structures in several orientations and the potential of the low-angle shale-limestone contact at the location of a historic mine, combined with several high-grade rock samples, forms a number of exciting and compelling drill targets." Qualified Person The scientific and technical aspects of this press release have been reviewed and approved under the supervision of Damir Cukor, P.Geo. Mr. Cukor is a Qualified Person (QP) under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and as a consultant for the Company as Technical Director - Projects. About Silver Hammer Mining Corp. Silver Hammer Mining Corp. is a well-funded junior resource company focused on advancing past- producing high-grade silver projects in the United States. Silver Hammer controls 100% of six previously producing silver mines which are located within the Silver Strand Project in the Coeur d'Alene Mining District in Idaho, USA, and within the Eliza Silver Project and the Silverton Silver Mine in Nevada. The Company also controls the Fahey Group Silver Project in the Silver Valley, Idaho. Silver Hammer's primary focus is to explore, define and develop silver projects near past-producing mines that have not been adequately tested. The Company's portfolio also provides exposure to copper and gold. Forward-Looking Information This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information in this press release includes, without limitation, statements relating to the Offering, the intended use of proceeds from the Offering, and other statements which are subject to a number of conditions, as described elsewhere in this news release. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including risks regarding the mining industry, commodity prices, market conditions, general economic factors, management's ability to manage and to operate the business, and explore and develop the projects of the Company, and the equity markets generally. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance of the Company may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward-looking statements. Any number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements as well as future results. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, they can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/288112 Source: Silver Hammer Mining Corp. IRVING, TX / ACCESS Newswire / March 11, 2026 / ePayResources presented three awards at its 30th annual conference, ePayConnect 2026, held February 23 - 25 at the Gaylord National Harbor in Oxon Hill, MD. Lisa Coffey Chief Innovation Officer, Corporate America Credit Union, was presented with the Richard R. Oliver Leadership in Payments Award for her exemplary work in the advancement, implementation, and promotion of electronic payments. The recipient is a payments ambassador who has made outstanding contributions to the efficiency, security, and growth of the industry. Lisa is a trusted payments ambassador dedicated to strengthening the efficiency, security, and growth of the industry, particularly through her leadership in advancing awareness and adoption of real-time payments, including RTP and FedNow, within the credit union community. She has generously shared her expertise to educate financial institutions, promote responsible implementation, and foster strong partnerships across the payments ecosystem. Lisa played an instrumental role in the 2022 launch of ePayResources' Emerging Payments Risk Group, helping identify and address the evolving risks of instant payments so credit unions can innovate while maintaining sound risk management. A long-serving member of both the ePayResources and ePayAdvisors boards, she consistently champions solutions that enhance the member experience and strengthen the broader payments landscape. Within Corporate America Credit Union, she is recognized as a driving force behind the organization's payments strategy, cultivating innovation, translating complex industry changes into actionable guidance, and building a collaborative culture that keeps the credit union industry engaged and prepared for the future of payments. Eric Ehler, CIO and Vice President of Digital & Payments Innovations and ISO, State National Bank, Big Spring, Texas was presented with the Innovation in Payments Award for significant achievement in developing or implementing innovative payments solutions or technologies. The recipient is a payments influencer who has broken ground to propel industry advancement. Eric has demonstrated industry-shaping leadership in electronic payments throughout his career, transforming how financial institutions deliver secure, efficient payment services. He has modernized legacy processes and introduced innovations such as a custom X9 ingestion bridge, streamlining workflows and accelerating electronic processing. He has also helped implement system enhancements that reduced customer friction, strengthened risk management, and modernized dispute resolution processes. At State National Bank, his leadership has produced immediate results, including an 89% reduction in payments-related fraud, while driving significant growth in electronic payments and customer adoption. Across every role, Eric's work has advanced the payments ecosystem through strategic innovation, stronger risk controls, and a commitment to delivering secure, seamless digital payment experiences. Andre Slate, Director, Inventory and Operations, ePayResources, received the association's 2nd annual MERIT Award, which centers around the guiding principles of Members First, Excellence, Respect, Integrity & Trust, and Teamwork. The recipient is an individual on the ePayResources or ePayAdvisors team who portrays the Ideal Team Player spirit and has demonstrated outstanding drive, leadership, or service for the greater good of the organization. Andre leads by example, building a positive culture and and driving measurable results. His passion for excellence and entrepreneurial spirit are exemplified by his work optimizing publications, inventory, and fulfillment processes to reduce costs, generate revenue, and, most importantly, improve member service. "ePayResources is very grateful for the impact that Lisa, Eric, and Andre have had on our members and other payments industry stakeholders," said Jeff Foote, President and CEO, ePayResources. "We look forward to continuing to be the beneficiaries of their vast expertise and commitment to excellence." About ePayResources: ePayResources is the payments association that powers progress: trusted experts in rules and regulations, building collaborative relationships that cultivate a secure payments ecosystem. We've been empowering financial institutions and businesses for over 50 years by providing emerging and legacy payments expertise, professional development, and industry leadership through education, publications, compliance support, risk management, and advocacy. Our staff of nationally accredited payments and risk professionals provides situational analysis and response guidance on our Payments Answerline and keeps members informed of industry developments that impact operational processing, fraud detection, and your bottom line. Our subsidiary, ePayAdvisors, provides payments audits, risk assessments, and customized consulting. Visit epayresources.org, and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Our podcast, The Payments Space, can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. CONTACT: Anne-Marie J. Leake Vice President, Communications ePayResources 800-475-0585, ext. 1401 SOURCE: ePayResources View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/banking-and-financial-services/epayresources-presents-2026-awards-1146313 EQS-News: Benzinga / Key word(s): Environment/Green With Uplisting To NYSE American Complete, Birchtech Is Focused On Growth 11.03.2026 / 17:04 CET/CEST The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. By Meg Flippin, Benzinga DETROIT, MICHIGAN - March 11, 2026 ( NEWMEDIAWIRE ) - Richard MacPherson, CEO of Birchtech Corp. (NYSEAMERICAN: BCHT), was recently a guest on Benzinga All Access. MacPherson discussed the company's recent uplisting to the NYSE American exchange. The move from the over-the-counter market to the NYSE American exchange gives Birchtech access to institutional investors and third-party analysis coverage. "It made sense for us to be there as we grow the company out," MacPherson told Benzinga, noting that the listing is expected to boost liquidity and drive interest in the stock, particularly now that Wall Street can cover Birchtech. According to the CEO, the uplisting is perfectly timed to coincide with Birchtech's push into the clean water market. The capital raised during the uplisting is providing the capex requirements for the build-out of that business, he said. Watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPUXmCQ1pX4 Featured image from Shutterstock . This content was originally published on Benzinga . Read further disclosures here . This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. Wood Mackenzie analysis finds South Asia LNG demand could be 2-3 Mt lower through Q3 2026, forcing higher energy cost and industrial rationing LONDON/HOUSTON/SINGAPORE, March 11, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- INSIGHT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wood Mackenzie | www.woodmac.com South Asia's LNG market faces a major supply shock following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, with regional demand expected to be 2-3 million tonnes (Mt) lower through Q3 2026, compared to pre-crisis projections, as countries struggle to replace disrupted Qatari supplies, according to new analysis from Wood Mackenzie that considers a scenario of two months' supply disruption. QatarEnergy's force majeure threatens around 20% of global LNG supply and creates severe supply pressure for South Asian importers. India relies on Qatar for more than half of its LNG imports, while Pakistan sourced almost all of its 2025 LNG imports from Qatar. Bangladesh also depends heavily on Gulf suppliers, with Qatar and the UAE accounting for nearly three-quarters of its LNG imports last year. Wood Mackenzie previously projected South Asia's LNG demand would grow by 2.7 Mt (7%) in 2026, but a two-months closure of the Strait of Hormuz is likely to halt that expansion. "LNG demand across South Asian markets is now likely to remain flat at best," said Akshay Gupta, research analyst, gas & LNG at Wood Mackenzie. "While the region is highly dependent on LNG from the Middle East South Asian buyers will find it hard to replace disrupted Qatari volumes due to increase competition for available spot LNG cargoes which has pushed LNG prices above US$20/mmBtu". In addition, the lag in oil-indexed LNG pricing formulas means contract prices will rise later in the year. With most LNG contracts linked to oil prices on a three-month lag, import costs for South Asian buyers are expected to increase from June 2026 onwards, adding further pressure to regional energy bills. India faces industrial gas curtailments According to Wood Mackenzie, India sourced 59% of its 2025 LNG imports (26 Mt) from Qatar and the UAE. The Strait of Hormuz closure could curtail up to 1.45 Mt of LNG deliveries per month, but India might be looking to replace only 50% of the shortfall. Petronet LNG has declared force majeure to its offtakers, while gas aggregators such as GAIL and GSPC are expected to reduce supply to industrial customers while prioritising gas for essential sectors. "Gas rationing across industries has already begun after aggregators and distribution companies reduced supply," said Gupta. "Energy-intensive sectors such as refining, petrochemicals, glass and ceramics are now facing gas shortages that could cut output as switching to oil it's going to be equally challenging given India's reliance on the Middle East for oil imports" Pakistan faces severe LNG supply vulnerability Pakistan imported almost all of its 2025 LNG supply (6.6 Mt) from Qatar, leaving the country highly vulnerable to supply disruptions. Pakistan had already cancelled 35 cargoes for deliveries in 2026 because of stagnant demand and increased domestic gas supply availability. Wood Mackenzie estimates that the Strait of Hormuz closure will result in Pakistan reducing LNG demand further, and only half of the remaining Qatari deliveries will be replaced. Gas distributors have already reduced regulated regasified LNG deliveries to prioritise domestic consumption. To manage the supply gap, Pakistan is deploying a mix of demand curtailment, fuel switching and renewable generation expansion to rebalance the power system, albeit this will take time to be implemented. Operators had previously held back more than 300 mmcfd of domestic gas production to meet LNG contract minimums, and this volume could now be released to help offset lost imports. Bangladesh forced into costly spot LNG procurement Qatar and the UAE supplied 3.6 Mt, or 63%, of Bangladesh's LNG imports in 2025. The current disruption could result in only half of these volumes being replaced given high spot LNG prices. The supply shock has triggered widespread gas rationing across the economy. Petrobangla has imposed four-hour daily gas supply cuts to CNG stations, reducing road transport demand, while textile and ready-made garment manufacturers face significant production curtailments. "The surge in spot LNG prices will place severe strain on Bangladesh's energy budget, forcing costly procurement while rationing supply to priority sectors," said Gupta. For further information please contact Wood Mackenzie's media relations team: Mark Thomton +1 630 881 6885 Mark.thomton@woodmac.com Chris Boba +44 7408 841129 Chris.Boba@woodmac.com Hla Myat Mon +65 8533 8860 hla.myatmon@woodmac.com Angelica Juarez angelica.juarez@woodmac.com You have received this news release from Wood Mackenzie because of the details we hold about you. If the information we have is incorrect you can either provide your updated preferences by contacting our media relations team. If you do not wish to receive this type of email in the future, please reply with 'unsubscribe' in the subject header. - About Wood Mackenzie: Wood Mackenzie is the global leader in analytics, insights and proprietary data across the entire energy and natural resources landscape. For over 50 years our work has guided the decisions of the world's most influential energy producers, utilities companies, financial institutions and governments. Now, with the world's energy system more complex and interconnected than ever before, sector-specific views are no longer enough. That's why we've redefined what's possible with Intelligence Connected: the fusion of our unparalleled proprietary data with the sharpest analytical minds, all supercharged by Synoptic AI, to deliver a clear, interconnected view of the entire value chain. Our trusted team of 2,700 experts across 30 countries breaks siloes and connects industries, markets and regions across the globe to empower our customers to identify risk sooner, spot opportunity faster and make every decision with complete confidence. For more information, visit www.woodmac.com Fairtrade calls for government-business action to protect cocoa farmers' household income WASHINGTON, D.C. / ACCESS Newswire / March 11, 2026 / "The volatility in cocoa prices must end. Market prices are rapidly plunging towards levels that are known by all market actors to be unsustainable for cocoa farmers and their families. "With many families reliant on cocoa as their primary source of income, the real-life impacts of declining cocoa prices could lead to less food on the table and poorer access to education, healthcare, and decent housing. Past progress on household income could also be eroded. "Traders, chocolate, and retail businesses should work with governments and commit to long-term contracts with cooperatives and their members. Commitments and sustainability programs must recognize the human right to a living income and commit to supporting prices that contribute to a living income regardless of declines in market price. "There is a fairer way of doing business that does not solely rely on price being established by supply and demand. Businesses and governments must choose to work together, some businesses already do, but many more must. "Furthermore, Fairtrade encourages commercial partners ensure cocoa farmers receive, as a minimum, the Fairtrade Minimum Price that acts a safety net during market downturns allowing farmers to cover the cost of production, and the Fairtrade Premium that can be used to support social, economic, or environmental projects of their choice. "We welcome the growing number of commercial partnerships with cooperatives in our Fairtrade Living Income Program." Find more stories and multimedia from Fairtrade America at 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Fairtrade America Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/fairtrade-america Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Fairtrade America View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/banking-and-financial-services/fairtrade-statement-on-cocoa-market-collapse-1146326 DynaRisk launches intelligence capability that shows prospective distributors exactly how many of their customers are already at risk, turning cyber from a hard sell into an obvious priority LONDON, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- New data from cyber intelligence specialist DynaRisk reveals a problem hiding in plain sight across the insurance distribution landscape: a significant proportion of customers held by banks, retailers, employers, membership bodies and other potential cyber programme distributors already have compromised credentials, active malware infections, or are being directly targeted by named threat actors. Yet the organisations responsible for serving them have no visibility of it, and no product in place to help. The findings are drawn from DynaRisk's proprietary database of over 60 billion leaked data entities, 25 billion info-stealer records, and 3 billion hacker chatter records, gathered from hundreds of monitored hacker communities, with global, multi-lingual coverage. The Real Barrier to Cyber Distribution Cyber remains one of the fastest-growing lines in global insurance, yet embedded and white-label programmes continue to face a stubborn distribution problem. Across the industry, whether a reinsurer trying to place capacity through an insurer, an insurer building an affinity programme with a bank, or a broker making the case for cyber cover to an employer or trade body, the objections are remarkably consistent: "It's not a priority right now," "Our customers aren't asking for it," or simply a lack of urgency that delays decisions indefinitely. DynaRisk's new capability is designed to eliminate that inertia at source. "The barrier to selling cyber isn't awareness; it's urgency and data," said Andrew Martin, CEO of DynaRisk. "When you can show a prospective distributor that tens of thousands of their own customers already have credentials on the dark web and are being actively targeted by threat actors, the conversation changes completely. You're no longer selling them on a hypothetical future risk. You're showing them something that's already happening to their customers, right now." Turning Prospect Meetings into Partnership Agreements The Customer Cyber Exposure Scan allows anyone in the insurance distribution chain to commission a passive intelligence scan on a prospective partner - and walk into that conversation with a report built around that organisation's own customers, not generic industry statistics. The scan is entirely passive, requiring no data from the prospective partner and no access to their systems. Results are delivered as a boardroom-ready Customer Cyber Exposure Report covering dark web credential exposure, malware-compromised device volumes, active threat actor profiles targeting the prospect's customers, and country-level threat benchmarking. Everything needed to make the commercial case for launching a cyber programme or add-on compelling, quantified and immediate. The result is a fundamentally different kind of distribution conversation: one led by evidence of existing customer risk and the profitability of addressing it, rather than by sales materials alone. Availability The Customer Cyber Exposure Scan is available now across the insurance market, for reinsurers, insurers, MGAs, brokers and affinity partners at any stage of the distribution chain. The launch is accompanied by DynaRisk's new Cyber Growth Guide, a practical resource for those building or scaling embedded and white-label cyber programmes. To request a sample scan or find out more, contact DynaRisk. About DynaRisk DynaRisk is a cyber intelligence and risk management solutions provider serving the global insurance industry, providing tools and intelligence embedded within personal lines and SME cyber programmes for (re)insurers, MGAs and brokers worldwide. Contact Charley Downey info@dynarisk.com 020 3769 6375 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2930779/DynaRisk_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/millions-of-potential-cyber-insurance-customers-already-compromised-new-data-reveals-as-cyber-distribution-gap-widens-302711249.html NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 11, 2026 / AI Maverick Intel, Inc. ("AIMV" or the "Company") today announced that it has entered into a Right of First Refusal Agreement with HEAL Group Holdings Inc. ("HEAL"), effective February 11, 2026, providing AIMV with the right of first refusal to acquire certain business units or assets of HEAL under specified circumstances. Under the terms of the agreement, if HEAL receives a bona fide offer from a third party to acquire certain assets or business units, AIMV will have the right to review and match such offer and proceed with the acquisition on the same economic terms and conditions during a defined exercise period. The agreement provides AIMV the opportunity to evaluate potential strategic acquisitions across HEAL's portfolio of AI-driven healthcare technology, services, and distribution businesses operating in more than six countries. Strategic Rationale The agreement is intended to provide AIMV with structured access to a pipeline of potential acquisition opportunities across HEAL's health technology and healthcare services ecosystem. By securing a right of first refusal on certain assets within the HEAL platform, AIMV gains the ability to evaluate and potentially participate in transactions involving digital health platforms, healthcare technologies, and related operating businesses as those opportunities arise. In consideration for the right of first refusal, AIMV has agreed to issue 120,000,000 common shares to HEAL (or its designated nominee) at a deemed price of US$0.02 per share, representing aggregate consideration of US$2.4 million. The right of first refusal will remain in effect for three years, unless terminated earlier by mutual agreement of the parties. "This agreement establishes a structured framework that allows AI Maverick Intel to evaluate potential strategic opportunities within the HEAL ecosystem," said Wayne Cockburn, President of AI Maverick Intel, Inc. "The right of first refusal provides AIMV with the ability to participate in potential transactions involving HEAL assets while maintaining flexibility in our broader capital markets and acquisition strategy." The agreement does not restrict HEAL from continuing to operate its businesses, pursue financing transactions, or explore strategic initiatives, including joint ventures, mergers, or internal reorganizations, provided such transactions fall outside the scope of the right of first refusal provisions. About AI Maverick Intel, Inc. AI Maverick Intel, Inc. is focused on identifying and developing opportunities at the intersection of artificial intelligence, data platforms, and emerging technology-enabled industries. The Company evaluates strategic acquisitions, partnerships, and technology platforms designed to create scalable growth opportunities and long-term shareholder value. About HEAL Group Holdings Inc. HEAL Group Holdings Inc. is a privately held health technology and wellness platform company focused on building an integrated, data-driven ecosystem spanning healthcare services, digital health technology, through its AI division known as HEAL Access, with licensed Schedule 1 pharmaceutical distribution, and consumer wellness solutions. Backed by approximately US$75 million of family office capital invested over the past four years, HEAL has assembled and restructured a portfolio of approximately 25 entities, and operating platforms across North America and Europe. The HEAL ecosystem includes virtual healthcare platforms, mental health and pain management clinics, pharmaceutical distribution infrastructure, healthcare products and devices, and digital health technologies designed to connect clinicians, providers, and consumers through unified distribution and data platforms. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding potential strategic transactions, the exercise of the right of first refusal, and future growth opportunities. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required by applicable law. Stay Connected Website | www.aimaverickintel.com| OTC: AIMV | X: @AIMaverickIntel Media Contact Wayne Cockburn, CEO (905) 505-0770 Email: aimaverickintel@gmail.com Corporate Communications IBN Austin, Texas www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com 512.354.7000 Office Editor@InvestorBrandNetwork.com SOURCE: AI Maverick Intel, Inc. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/biotechnology/ai-maverick-intel-announces-strategic-right-of-first-refusal-agreement-with-heal-grou-1146309 Zurich, Switzerland--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2026) - Calm North Labs, the European company behind SEOJuice, has shipped a major platform expansion that moves the product beyond automated SEO fixes into brand monitoring, content lifecycle management, and integration tools for agencies and development teams. The update addresses a common problem for growing businesses: SEO requires ongoing attention across dozens of dimensions - technical health, content freshness, backlink quality, brand reputation, competitor movements - but most teams don't have the headcount or expertise to stay on top of it all. SEOJuice now handles more of that work automatically, and surfaces the results in one place. Visibility beyond search rankings The platform now monitors where a brand shows up across social platforms, video, podcasts, and business listing profiles. Teams can see what's being said about their business, how sentiment is trending, and respond to reviews - instead of manually checking each channel or learning about a problem after customers do. For businesses that depend on word-of-mouth and reputation, this closes a visibility gap that most tools ignore entirely. One of the quieter ways businesses lose traffic is content decay - pages that once performed well gradually losing rankings because they haven't been updated. SEOJuice now detects this automatically, flagging pages that are declining before they disappear from results. Combined with a new content quality scoring system, teams get a prioritized view of what needs attention and what's still working, without pulling data from multiple sources. Built for teams that don't have time to babysit tools All optimization modes - internal links, meta tags, structured data, image descriptions, accessibility fixes - now deploy automatically by default. The platform monitors, makes changes, and reports results without waiting for someone to log in and approve each one. For agencies and developers who need SEO data in their own systems, a new API with over 35 endpoints and a webhook system lets them pull data into reporting dashboards, client portals, or alerting tools without manual exports. "Most SEO tools give you dashboards and leave the work to you. We've been building the opposite - a system that monitors, acts, and proves the result," said Vadim Kravcenko, CEO of Calm North Labs. "The API and MCP server are the pieces that let SEOJuice fit into how development teams actually work now. Your CI pipeline or AI assistant can pull intelligence data the same way it pulls from any other service." Who it's for SEOJuice serves business owners who want search visibility handled without hiring specialists, marketing teams managing content across multiple properties, and agencies that need scalable SEO delivery for client portfolios. The platform works with any website through a single script install, with deeper integrations available for popular content management systems. About Calm North Labs Calm North Labs UAB is a European software company building automation tools for online visibility. Its flagship product, SEOJuice, handles SEO execution - internal linking, on-page optimization, content monitoring, brand tracking, and competitive intelligence - automatically for websites across any platform. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/288114 Source: Plentisoft Regulatory News: SergeFerrari Group (FR0011950682 SEFER), one of the world leaders in innovative composite materials, listed on Euronext Paris compartment C, announces that its Supervisory Board has decided today to submit to the Combined Shareholders' Meeting of April 22, 2026, a proposal to transfer the listing of its shares from the regulated market of Euronext Paris (compartment C) to the organized multilateral trading facility of Euronext Growth Paris. Reasons for transfer Since its creation, Euronext Growth Paris has established itself as the market of choice for growth companies with a market capitalization of less than 1 billion and sufficient free float, exceeding 2.5 million, which is the case for SergeFerrari Group (the "Company"). This transfer will enable the Company to enhance the visibility and attractiveness of its shares, which will thus be among the top 50 market capitalizations on Euronext Growth Paris. In this context, the Company will move from a regulated market to a regulated market, involving a more appropriate regulatory framework and certain reduced obligations. Transfer terms and conditions The Company currently meets the eligibility requirements for the transfer procedure, namely a market capitalization of less than 1 billion and a minimum amount of securities outstanding to the public of 2.5 million. However, these criteria must be met on the date of the transfer request. In addition, the Company is up to date with all of its disclosure obligations on Euronext and plans to engage the services of TP ICAP as Listing Sponsor within the time frame required by applicable regulations. Subject to the approval of this plan by the shareholders at the Combined Shareholders' Meeting on April 22, 2026, and the agreement of Euronext, this transfer will be carried out as part of an accelerated procedure for the admission to trading of the Company's existing shares, without the issuance of new shares. Consequences of the transfer (non-exhaustive list) In accordance with applicable regulations, the Company informs its shareholders of the main potential consequences of such a transfer: Periodic information Within four months of the end of the financial year, the Company shall publish an annual report including, in particular, its annual and consolidated financial statements, a management report, and the auditors' reports. It shall also publish, within four months of the end of the first half of the financial year, a half-yearly report including its consolidated half-yearly financial statements and a management report relating to those statements. Continuous information The Company will continue to disclose to the public any information that could significantly influence the price of its shares (inside information). Regulated information (and in particular inside information) must always be disclosed effectively and in full. The Company will continue to use a professional distributor. The Company must continue to draw up insider lists, and senior executives and managers must continue to file securities transaction reports with the AMF. Board Composition Corporate Governance The Company will continue to refer to the Middlenext governance code. The CSR report will be maintained. The existing committees will be maintained, as the Company does not wish to change its good governance practices. General meetings The preparatory documents for the General Meeting will be posted on the Company's website on the date of the notice of meeting. The results of the votes and the minutes of the General Meeting will continue to be posted on the Company's website. The Company will no longer be required to provide a live broadcast of the General Meeting or to post a recording of it on its website. Crossing thresholds Public offerings The protection of minority shareholders in the event of a change of control will be ensured on Euronext Growth Paris by the mandatory public offer mechanism in the event of a direct or indirect, sole or concerted increase above the threshold of 50% of the Company's share capital or voting rights. Furthermore, companies listed on Euronext Growth Paris are only required to disclose to the market changes in share ownership that exceed (upwards or downwards) the thresholds of 50% and 90% of the capital or voting rights. As of March 11, 2026, the Ferrari concert holds 77.53% of the capital and 86.4% of the voting rights. However, in accordance with applicable regulations, the Company will remain subject, for a period of three years from its delisting from Euronext Paris, to the rules governing public offerings and to the disclosure requirements relating to threshold crossings and declarations of intent applicable to companies listed on Euronext Paris. Liquidity of the security It is specified that the liquidity contract entered into by the Company will be maintained after the market transfer. Provisional timetable for the transaction (subject to Euronext Approval) March 11,2026 Decision by the Supervisory Board to submit the proposed transfer to Euronext Growth Paris to the Combined Shareholders' Meeting on April 22, 2026. March 11, 2026 after market close Public information regarding the proposed transfer of listing to Euronext Growth Paris (first press release). April 22, 2026 Combined General Meeting called to decide on: the proposed transfer of listing; the related delegation of powers to the Management Board. April 22, 2026 In the event of a favorable vote by the Combined General Meeting: the Management Board will be called upon to implement the transfer of the Company's shares from Euronext Paris to Euronext Growth Paris; immediate public disclosure of the final transfer decision (second press release); filing with Euronext Paris of a request for delisting of the shares from Euronext Paris and their admission to Euronext Growth Paris. No earlier than June 23, 2026 Transfer: delisting of the shares from Euronext Paris and admission of the Company's shares to Euronext Growth Paris. Financial calendar Publication of first quarter 2026 revenue on April 23, 2026,after market close - Annual General Meeting at La Tour-du-Pin, at the company's headquarters: April 22, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. ABOUT SERGEFERRARI GROUP The Serge Ferrari Group is a leading global supplier of composite materials for Tensile Architecture, Modular Structures, Solar Protection and Furniture/Marine, in a global market estimated by the Company at around 6 billion. The unique characteristics of these products enable applications that meet the major technical and societal challenges: energy-efficient buildings, energy management, performance and durability of materials, concern for comfort and safety together, opening up of interior living spaces etc. Its main competitive advantage is based on the implementation of differentiating proprietary technologies and know-how. The Group has manufacturing facilities in France, Switzerland, Germany, Italy and Asia. Serge Ferrari operates in 80 countries via subsidiaries, sales offices and a worldwide network of over 100 independent distributors. At the end of 2025, SergeFerrari Group posted consolidated revenues of 347.5 million, more than 80% of which was generated outside France. SergeFerrari Group is listed on Euronext Paris Compartment C (ISIN code: FR0011950682). SergeFerrari Group shares are eligible for the PEA-PME and FCPI investment schemes. www.sergeferrari.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260311652938/en/ Contacts: Valentin Chefson Head of Relations Investisseurs investor@sergeferrari.com NewCap Investor Relations Financial Communication Theo Martin Tel.: 01 44 71 94 94 sferrari@newcap.eu DOHA, QA / ACCESS Newswire / March 11, 2026 / Asprofin Bank Corporation has announced the financing of a $10 billion multi-region data center program, a major step for infrastructure finance and digital strategy in Qatar, the Indian Subcontinent, and Southeast Asia. Each region will host a network of hyperscale, modular data centers. Sheikh Mohd Hamad A.M. Al Thani, Chairman of Wow Global Technologies W.L.L. in Qatar, leads the project, designed to meet specific regional digital infrastructure needs. Project Scope and Structure The program, per the March 6, 2026 financing proposal to Asprofin, includes state-of-the-art facilities in Qatar, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia. Deployment will be phased (Qatar 2026-27; India 2027-29; other Southeast Asian markets 2028-30) to incorporate lessons learned and optimize sequencing. The $10 billion need is structured as a project-collateralized facility, each phase backed by its assets, contracts, and revenue. This approach matches current funding practices. Reliable electricity and strong connections now directly affect renewals and prices. Research by KBRA finds that demand for data centers is rising rapidly due to AI growth, larger cloud services, and shifting from internal IT to external providers. Southeast Asia and South Asia could see data demand grow by over 30% each year through 2030. More investment is urgently needed to keep up. Shiva Narayan, CEO of Asprofin Bank, called the initiative a long-term partnership. "We are not just providing funds; we are helping build the key digital support that countries will use for years to come." Strategic Regional Footprint The program targets rapidly digitizing markets. A KPMG report cited by Vietnamplus forecasts Southeast Asia's data center capacity will triple by 2030, driven by a tenfold surge in AI use. Regional countries compete for AI infrastructure investment. In Qatar, this project aligns with National Vision 2030, as a strategic priority to establish modular, quickly deployable edge computing centers. Asprofin has pledged $10 billion for this goal. Governance and Local Presence Shiva Narayan, CEO at Asprofin Bank, explained that strong controls are in place. Asprofin Bank will release funds in stages matching project progress, using escrow accounts to ensure accountability. This process is like the checks used for space missions: funds are paid only after milestones are met. This strict approach gives Asprofin an edge in managing large-scale projects. (Escrow Structures With Milestone-Based Release, 2025) Shiva highlighted that "every dollar is tied to a deliverable. That's how you protect both the investor and the nation's strategic interests." To streamline governance and supervision, Asprofin Bank has applied to establish a subsidiary branch in Qatar, with the proposed appointment of Derrick Kok Wei Chen as Non-Executive Director. Chen, who brings extensive experience in international data center infrastructure and corporate governance, will serve as a key liaison between Asprofin's headquarters and Royal Qatari stakeholders (Asprofin Bank, 2026a). India Market Engagement Santosh Banerjee, Business Development Head for Southeast Asia at Asprofin Bank, is expanding the bank's presence in the region. Banerjee has over 20 years of investment banking experience and has completed more than $6 billion in deals (Asprofin Bank, 2026b). Banerjee stated, "We are talking to India's top builders who understand what is needed for AI-ready data centers. Local partnerships are key to quality and timely delivery. RRP Electronics Ltd is one such Indian industry leader client in our ambit, exploring the potential construction of the Indian sector of the datacenter network." India is a major market. For example, Yotta Data Services built one of Asia's largest AI centers with a $2 billion investment. The program follows the principles of clear execution, solid assets, and growth that can last (Wow Global Technologies Qatar and QX Fund, 2026). Funding is based on agreements that guarantee minimum project income (Yotta Deploys 20,000+ NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs in India, 2026). Morgan Lewis analysts say data centers are now among the most in-demand infrastructure assets globally. This growth is driven by more use of cloud computing and AI. Investors like this sector because data centers require significant capital investments and offer long-term income. A New Asset Class for a Digital Era The $10 billion project builds on regional momentum as institutional capital treats data centers as a durable asset class in the Gulf, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Governments now consider data centers critical national infrastructure, given their role in housing sensitive data and vital services. The Asprofin-Wow Global partnership establishes a transnational sovereign cloud grid, helping smaller nations benefit from digital union while retaining data ownership. About Asprofin Bank Asprofin Bank is an international financial institution specializing in private banking and bespoke financial services for clients worldwide. The bank operates with a strong commitment to integrity, transparency, and strict regulatory compliance. Licensed and regulated by the Financial Services Unit of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Asprofin Bank adheres to global financial standards, including FATCA requirements, and maintains a registered Legal Entity Identifier (LEI: 9845007F66BCEC5OE706). With a focus on client confidentiality, secure banking infrastructure, and personalized financial solutions, Asprofin Bank delivers trusted banking services to individuals and businesses worldwide. Contact Details Company Name: Asprofin Bank Corporation Department: Asprofin Bank Communications Team PIC: Yida Jiang Email: press@asprofinbank.org Website: https://www.asprofinbank.org City: Roseau Country: Dominica References ABI Research. (2026, March 2). Next generation data centers market data overview: 1Q 2026. Accomando, J., Khaleq, A., Lignier, C., Melby, B. M., Muller, M., Pin, U., & Tsuchida, C. (2026, February 17). Legal and national security hurdles facing sovereign wealth fund investments in data centers. Morgan Lewis. https://www.morganlewis.com/pubs/2026/02/legal-and-national-security-hurdles-facing-sovereign-wealth-fund-investments-in-data-centers Aaron Hall. (2025). Escrow structures with milestone-based release. https://aaronhall.com/escrow-structures-with-milestone-based-release/ AP News. (2024, May 2). Microsoft's $2.2 billion investment in Malaysia's AI infrastructure. https://apnews.com/article/25e92ce637a36ea8f88c2725dfa3d1f0 Asprofin Bank. (2026a, January 12). In-principle financing commitment - Qatar National NanoCenter program [Letter]. Asprofin Bank. (2026b). Asprofin Bank profile 2026 [Corporate document]. Business Wire. (2026, January 12). KBRA releases research - Data centers: Developments and trends in project finance. GCC Business News. (2025, May 28). Vodafone and Nokia to develop Qatar's network infrastructure. Southeast Asia data center market landscape report 2025-2030. GSMA. (2025). Digital nations 2025. https://www.gsma.com/about-us/regions/asia-pacific/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/230925-Digital-Nations-ASEAN-web.pdf Kroll Bond Rating Agency. (2026, January 12). Data centers: Developments and trends in project finance. Business Wire. Qatar News Agency. (2025, May 29). MCIT showcases its role in supporting government digital transformation at Google Cloud Summit. The Financial Express. (2026, February 18). AI infra is capital-intensive and complex; only a few global hubs will emerge: Sunil Gupta, co-founder, CEO & MD, Yotta Data Services. VietnamPlus. (2026, February 28). Vietnam emerging as attractive destination for AI data centre investment. Wow Global Technologies Qatar & QX Fund. (2026). Qatar sovereign computing power & civilizational intelligence hub. Wow Global Technologies W.L.L. (2026, March 6). Re: Financing support for hyperscale & modular datacenter infrastructure [Letter]. Yotta Data Services. (2026, February 18). Yotta deploys 20,000+ NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs in India. https://yotta.com/press-releases/yotta-to-deploy-20000-nvidia-blackwell-ultra-gpus/ SOURCE: Asprofin Bank Corporation View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/asprofin-bank-leads-10-billion-sovereign-data-center-initiative-1146267 New family law attorney brings 14 years of advocacy and a personal passion for supporting families. ALPHARETTA, GA / ACCESS Newswire / March 11, 2026 / Atlanta Divorce Law Group welcomes Maria Keller as a Senior Attorney, strengthening the firm's highly specialized approach to family law and expanding a litigation team well-equipped to protect families. Keller brings 14 years of experience advocating for families at different stages of the legal process. Her path to family law was shaped by her personal experiences as a mother of three, including raising a child with special needs. What began as advocacy for her own family evolved into nearly two decades of work supporting children and families facing systemic challenges. In 2021, Keller's daughter Jordan passed away unexpectedly at age 23. This profound loss reinforced Keller's mission to help families navigate major life transitions with dignity and strength. "Maria brings exactly what families need in their most difficult moments: empathetic guidance, fierce advocacy and a steadfast focus on children's well-being," said Sara Khaki , Founding Partner of Atlanta Divorce Law Group. "Her lived experience gives her a unique perspective that resonates deeply with our clients." Keller was recognized as a Rising Star for 2021-2022 by Super Lawyers. She earned her Juris Doctor from John Marshall Law School and focused her practice on advocacy-driven family law, while also assisting clients with estate planning, probate and elder law. "I understand firsthand how painful it can be when systems fail to fully see or support a child or family," Keller said. "I practice in Jordan's honor, to stand beside families, protect what matters most and help them build a future filled with stability." To learn more about Maria Keller and how her unique advocacy experience can support your family during this transition, or to schedule a consultation, please visit https://atlantadivorcelawgroup.com/team/maria-keller/ . Atlanta Divorce Law Group is a divorce and family law firm based in Alpharetta, Georgia. The firm takes a holistic approach to guiding clients through challenging life transitions, including child custody, child support, spousal support, adoption and other family matters. For more information, visit https://atlantadivorcelawgroup.com/ . ### About Atlanta Divorce Law Group Founded by Sara Khaki, Atlanta Divorce Law Group is a divorce and family law firm based in Alpharetta, Georgia. Atlanta Divorce Law Group aims to take a holistic approach when guiding its clients through a challenging time in their lives, whether it relates to child custody, child support, spousal support, adoption, or other family legal matters. For more information on Atlanta Divorce Law Group, visit atlantadivorcelawgroup.com. Contact information: Nicole Mazzucca Email: nicole@atldivorcegroup.com Atlanta Divorce Law Group Alpharetta, Georgia United States (678) 203-9893 SOURCE: Atlanta Divorce Law Group (ADLG) View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/atlanta-divorce-law-group-welcomes-maria-keller-as-senior-attorn-1146301 We opened the doors at our Bothell Corporate Office on January 19th, 2026. BOTHELL, WA / ACCESS Newswire / March 11, 2026 / The legal firm has planted new roots via its Bothell Corporate Office, now found on the first floor at 12100 NE 195th St., Suite 150, Bothell, WA 98011. The team officially moved in on Monday, January 19th. The corporate office now serves as a legal hub for team members, who can use its centralized location to improve outreach to clients in need. This expansion represents greater change within Phillips Law Firm. The team has been looking for opportunities to offer its expansive legal services to a wider range of clients, thereby ensuring that everyone in need of personalized legal support can access them. The new office's location and size make it the perfect launching pad for new developments within the firm. Our team is proud to be a staple in the Washington legal community. If you have questions about your right to legal action in the wake of a serious accident, don't hesitate to reach out to Phillips Law Firm for legal guidance. Whether you want to schedule a free case consultation at our new Bothell office or discuss your legal options over the phone, you can trust us to meet you where you are. About Phillips Law Firm Phillips Law Firm believes in the rights of real people. The team's personal injury attorneys in Woodinville, Renton, Tacoma, and Seattle have gone to bat against hospitals, product manufacturers, and Fortune 500 companies to ensure that clients get the financial support they need after serious accidents. The firm invites Washington residents to look to its experienced staff for support in tackling car accidents, wrongful death, medical malpractice, workers' compensation, and catastrophic injury cases. There are no fees for the firm's services unless its attorneys win clients' cases. Get in touch today to learn more about the steps that the experienced attorneys with Phillips Law Firm can take to put clients back in control of their lives. MEDIA CONTACT Phillips Law Firm 888-991-6251 contact@justiceforyou.com SOURCE: Phillips Law Firm View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/phillips-law-firm-officially-expands-with-launch-of-new-bothell-1130363 Piraeus Bank S.A. (the "Company"), further to the announcement of its financial calendar on 16 January 2026, in accordance with the provisions of Decision 25 par. 2.4, 2.5 of the Athens Stock Exchange ("ATHEX") and taking into account the provisions of 5.1 par. 8 of the new ATHEX Regulation, informs the investment community about the ex-dividend, record and payment dates of the capital return of 492 million, or 0.398 per share, to the Company's shareholders. The decision for the share capital return is subject to the approval of the European Central Bank and the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders. The updated 2026 financial calendar is presented below: Tuesday, 21 April 2026 Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders Thursday, 30 April 2026 Announcement of Q1.2026 Financial Results Analysts Briefing Tuesday, 09 June 2026 New date added to the calendar Ex-date of the Share Capital Return Wednesday, 10 June 2026 New date added to the calendar Record date of the Share Capital Return Monday, 15 June 2026 New date added to the calendar Share Capital Return payment date Wednesday, 29 July 2026 Announcement of H1.2026 Financial Results Analysts Briefing Friday, 30 October 2026 Announcement of 9M.2026 Financial Results Analysts Briefing Piraeus Bank S.A. reserves the right to change the aforementioned dates, following relevant and timely notification of the public. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260311066679/en/ Contacts: PressOffice@piraeusbank.gr 65m investment in new oral health manufacturing plant in Shanghai to support growth in the world's largest gum health market Haleon aiming to extend gum health brand parodontax to 30 Chinese cities by end of 2027 including its fastest growing cities reaching aspirational shoppers in-store and online Custom designed taste, foamier sensation and premium packaging to appeal to local consumers Haleon, a consumer company that is solely focused on better everyday health, is investing 65 million in a new state-of-the-art oral health manufacturing site in Shanghai. The facility will support the expansion of its oral care portfolio which includes the global brands Sensodyne and parodontax into China's fast-growing tier 2 and tier 3 cities, where rising incomes, growing awareness of everyday health and a shift towards trusted, branded products are reshaping consumer behaviour. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260311389622/en/ parodontax, Haleon's clinically proven gum health brand, is expanding across China As part of this shift, more consumers are embedding preventative oral care into their daily self-care routines, and demand for premium, science-backed solutions is accelerating at a rapid pace. This investment strengthens Haleon's local manufacturing footprint and positions the business to capture long-term growth in one of its most dynamic markets. China's gum health market is the largest in the world, valued at approximately 860 million. With over 70% of adults in China experiencing some form of gum issue and rising awareness of symptoms such as bleeding, redness and tenderness, this presents significant market opportunities for clinically proven gum health products. parodontax Haleon's fastest-growing oral health brand is the first toothpaste in China clinically proven to target the root cause of bleeding gums by breaking down stubborn plaque, which is a leading cause of gum disease. However, its distinctive sensory profile, driven by its key active ingredient, sodium bicarbonate, differs from many local toothpastes, which tend to have sweeter or more floral flavour profiles. To ensure the product resonates with Chinese consumers, Haleon's global R&D team worked closely with local sensory scientists to adapt the flavour balancing the efficacy of the global formulation with sweeter, more fragrant notes and a foamier brushing experience, while maintaining its clinical performance. Premium packaging further highlights its therapeutic, clinically proven benefits in an increasingly sophisticated oral care aisle. Haleon is also adopting a multi-channel retail strategy to expand access to parodontax across China. In addition to its rapidly growing presence across e-commerce platforms like Douyin, the company aims to extend parodontax distribution to 30 cities by the end of 2027, bringing the brand within reach of more than 250 million people. These cities are home to a rising middle class with increasing disposable income and appetite for trusted international brands. Large-format club retailers are expanding quickly, while Haleon also maintains a strong presence in retail pharmacies both in-store and online supported by a network of dental professionals who regularly recommend its products. Brian McNamara, Chief Executive of Haleon, said: "China is a strategic priority for Haleon. Building on our established R&D capabilities and strong local team, this investment reflects our long-term commitment to bringing the very best of our global science and innovation to improve the health and wellbeing of Chinese consumers. "By combining our world-class research expertise with deep local insights and on-the-ground manufacturing and R&D capabilities, we are delivering high-quality, science-backed products that improve everyday health in China." The new oral health facility will be located in Shanghai's Lingang New Area, a fast-growing industrial hub. By bringing supply capacity for China in-house, Haleon aims to respond more quickly to evolving consumer preferences and accelerate innovation in a rapidly growing category supporting its ambition to reach one billion more consumers by 2030, while generating 800m in gross productivity savings over the next five years through a more agile and efficient supply chain. In June 2025, Haleon also completed the full acquisition of its TSKF joint venture with an investment of approximately 700 million, taking direct control of its Over-the-Counter business in China. Together, these investments underline Haleon's long-term confidence in the growth of China's consumer healthcare market. About Haleon Haleon (LSE/NYSE: HLN) is a consumer company that is solely focused on better everyday health. Our people, our brands, our research, our investment and our innovation are aimed at improving the everyday health of consumers. Our product portfolio spans six major categories Oral Health, Vitamins, Minerals and Supplements (VMS), Pain Relief, Respiratory Health, Digestive Health and Therapeutic Skin Health and Other. Our superior brands such as Advil, Centrum, Otrivin, Panadol, parodontax, Polident, Sensodyne, Theraflu and Voltaren are trusted by more than one billion consumers and are recommended by health professionals around the world. For more information, please visit www.haleon.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260311389622/en/ Contacts: Haleon media contact: Gemma Thomas Email: gemma.x.thomas@haleon.com Mobile: +44 (0) 7985 175048 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2026) - NINE MILE METALS Ltd. - (CSE: NINE) (OTC Pink: VMSXF) (FSE: KQ9) (the "Company" or "Nine Mile") announces that it has proceeded with its third anniversary payment under its option to Purchase 100% of the Wedge Project, dated February 9, 2023, (the "Option Agreement") with Slam Exploration Ltd. ("Slam"). The company has approved and paid the required Cash Payment of $40,000 and authorized and issued the allotment of 300,000 common shares as part of the Option Agreement. The Option Agreement has one remaining payment anniversary on February 2027 requiring a Cash Payment of $50,000 and issuing 400,000 common shares and then Nine Mile will have completed the 100% Purchase of the Wedge Project from Slam. The common shares are subject to a hold period under applicable Canadian Securities laws expiring four months and one day from the issuance of the shares. The Wedge VMS Project consists of 35.83 km2 and hosts the Wedge Mine, West Wedge, Tribag Targets within the 8km Wedge VMS Exploration Trend. (See Figure #1 Below) Figure 1: Priority Targets with Late Time Conductive Axis' along the Wedge VMS Trend To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7335/288134_55583d46a46edbf8_002full.jpg Nine Mile just completed its Fall 2025 Wedge Mine Phase 2 Drill Program and is releasing Certified Drill Results as received. The goal at the Wedge Mine is to demonstrate and prove the Mine has an economic future and the deposit is much larger and higher grade than previously determined. Nine Mile is well on the way to that goal. Gary Lohman, P.Geo, VP Exploration & Director, stated, "This completes a crucial stage in the completing of the Purchase Agreement with Slam Exploration. Our advancement of the entire project including the Wedge Mine, West Wedge & Tribag High Priority VMS Targets is an example of our technical and financial commitment to this Priority Project for Nine Mile Metals and our shareholders. Assay results reported to date further demonstrate the hidden quality of the Wedge and we look forward to expanding on our recent success at the Wedge and the inaugural Drill Program along trend at the West Wedge and Tribag." Figure 2: Upcoming 2026 Drill Program Targets at West Wedge and Tribag Zones To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7335/288134_55583d46a46edbf8_003full.jpg Patrick J Cruickshank, MBA, CEO & Director, stated, "The Wedge Mine and clustering targets on Trend, have quickly become, and rightly so, a priority project for us at Nine Mile. The continued success in our Wedge Mine Drill Programs clearly displays the high-grade copper ore remaining in the deposit. In 2024, drilling extended the deposit to the east and our recent drilling shows the deposit has high grade copper mineralization at depth and to the southwest. We are defining the next phase of drilling at the Wedge and the west extension. Once we complete the BHEM surveys and Mike Defrusne, President at Apex Geoscience, leading our Technical Team, integrates these new holes into our live 3D model, we will announce our Phase 3 Drill Program at the Wedge Mine, unlocking the value and test the overall size and scale of this high-grade deposit. We are excited to also launch our 2026 Drill Program at the West Wedge & Tribag sites and test those prospective VMS zones. 2026 will be a very busy exploration year." Nine Mile Metals also announces that it has entered into an agreement (the "Agreement") with Generation IACP Inc. ("Generation") to provide market making and issuer services in accordance with Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) policies. Under the terms of the Agreement, Generation will trade shares of the Company on the CSE and other trading venues with the objective of maintaining a reasonable market and improving the liquidity of Nine Mile's common shares. Generation IACP will also provide analytical data services on the stock trading patterns, CDS activity mapping security transfers and all aspects of issuer trading reporting, including shorts monitoring, institutional, retail, anonymous trades and market sentiment analysis. The Agreement is for an initial term of six months and shall be automatically renewed for successive six-month periods unless terminated by either party with 30 days prior written notice. Pursuant to the Agreement, Generation will receive a monthly fee of $8,500 Cdn, plus applicable taxes during the initial term. Thereafter, the monthly fee will automatically increase annually by 3% on each anniversary of the Agreement. No stock options or other compensation are being granted in connection with the engagement. Generation is arm's length to the Company and does not own any securities of Nine Mile as of the date of this release; however, Generation and its clients may acquire an interest in the securities of the Company in the future. Generation's market making and issuer service activities will be primarily intended to correct temporary imbalances in the supply and demand of the Company's shares. Generation will be responsible for the costs it incurs in buying and selling the Company's shares, and no third party will be providing funds or securities for the market making activities. "We have seen extremely strong trading volume and interest in Nine Mile Metal's story from strategic, institutional, and retail investors. We traded over 90M shares through December and January 2026 and continue to have strong daily trading. We would like to monitor the trading behaviors, patterns and understand our trading base across all platforms. The relationship with Generation IACP complements our capital markets strategy and supports our focus on accessibility, transparency, and long-term shareholder alignment," commented Jonathan Holmes, Director. About Generation IACP Inc. Generation IACP is based in Toronto, Ontario, and is an independently held and registered broker and member of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada, the TSX-V, the Canadian Securities Exchange, and the NEO Exchange. The disclosure of technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements as set out in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and reviewed and approved by Gary Lohman, B.Sc., P.Geo., VP Exploration and Director who acts as the Company's Qualified Person, and is not independent of the Company. About Nine Mile Metals Ltd.: Nine Mile Metals Ltd. is a Canadian public mineral exploration Company focused on VMS (Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag and Au) exploration in the renowned Bathurst Mining Camp (BMC), located in New Brunswick, Canada. The Company's primary business objective is to explore its four VMS Projects: Nine Mile Brook VMS Project, California Lake VMS Project, the Canoe Landing Lake (East - West) VMS Project, and the Wedge VMS Project. The Company is focused on Critical Minerals Exploration, positioning itself for the boom in EV and green technologies requiring Copper, Silver, Lead and Zinc with a hedge on Gold. Forward-Looking Information: This press release may include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, concerning the business of Nine Mile. Forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the management of Nine Mile. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "will," "may," "would," "expect," "intend," "plan," "seek," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "continue," "likely," "could" and variations of these terms and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this press release include that (a) we will announce complete Certified assay results once received from ALS and Glencore. Although Nine Mile believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because Nine Mile can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or the accuracy of the contents of this release. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ The Canadian Venture Building, 82 Richmond St E., Toronto, Ontario Canada M5C 1P1 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/288134 Source: Nine Mile Metals Ltd. The Viking Eldir Joins Award-Winning Fleet of Viking Longships Viking (www.viking.com) (NYSE: VIK) today announced it has taken delivery of the Viking Eldir, the company's newest Viking Longship. The Viking Eldir was built at Meyer's Neptun Werft shipyard in Rostock-Warnemunde, Germany. The 190-guest Viking Eldir joins the company's growing fleet of state-of-the-art sister ships and will sail Viking's popular itineraries on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260311213309/en/ Viking today announced it has taken delivery of the Viking Eldir, the company's newest Viking Longship. The delivery ceremony took place when the new ship was presented at Meyer's Neptun Werft shipyard in Rostock-Warnemunde, Germany. The 190-guest Viking Eldir joins the company's growing fleet of state-of-the-art sister ships and will sail Viking's popular itineraries on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers. Pictured here, a Viking Longship on the Rhine River. For more information, visit www.viking.com. "We are pleased to welcome the Viking Eldir to our growing river fleet," said Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking. "With our exclusive docking locations, we proudly bring our guests closer to destinations along the great rivers of the world. Now, with the addition of our newest Viking Longship, we look forward to inviting even more curious travelers to explore Europe in Viking comfort." The Viking Eldir Hosting 190 guests in 95 staterooms, the Viking Eldir is the company's newest Viking Longship. Built specifically to navigate the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers, the Viking Eldir features Viking's elegant Scandinavian design and industry-leading innovations for which Viking is known, including a space-saving square bow, three full decks, indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace, asymmetric corridor and true two-room suites. The Viking Eldir will sail popular itineraries that include Rhine GetawayGrand European TourPassage to Eastern EuropeEuropean SojournandChristmas on the Rhine Viking's Growing Fleet Viking remains focused on well-defined, long-term growth plans as part of a strategy toward maintaining a leadership position in experiential travel. Based on Viking's committed orderbook, the company expects to take delivery of 22 additional river ships by 2028, 10 additional ocean ships by 2031 and two additional expedition ships by 2031. With these orders, Viking will have 112 river ships in 2028 and 25 ocean and expedition ships in 2031. Media Assets For more information about Viking, or for images and b-roll, please contact vikingpr@edelman.com. About Viking Viking (NYSE: VIK) is a global leader in experiential travel with a fleet of more than 100 ships, exploring 21 rivers, five oceans and all seven continents. Designed for curious travelers with interests in science, history, culture and cuisine, Chairman and CEO Torstein Hagen often says Viking offers experiences For The Thinking Person. Viking has more than 450 awards to its name, including being rated #1 for Rivers and #1 for Oceans five years in a row by Conde Nast Traveler in the 2025 Readers' Choice Awards. Viking is also rated a "World's Best" by Travel Leisure-no other travel company has simultaneously received such honors by both publications. For additional information, contact Viking at 1-800-2-VIKING (1-800-284-5464) or visit www.viking.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260311213309/en/ Contacts: Email: vikingpr@edelman.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2026) - Highway 50 Gold Corp. (TSXV: HWY) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has increased the size of its non-brokered private placement previously announced on February 18, 2026 and February 23, 2026 (the "Offering"). The Company will now raise gross proceeds of up to $2,414,000 in the Offering via the issuance of up to 6,035,000 units (each, a "Unit") of the Company at a purchase price of $0.40 per Unit. Each Unit will consist of one common share of the Company and one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one common share (a "Warrant Share") of the Company at a purchase price of $0.50 per Warrant Share for a period of one year from the closing date of the Offering. The proceeds of the Offering will be used for: (i) a drill program at the Company's Gold Knob project, and (ii) general working capital purposes. The Offering is subject to the acceptance of the Exchange. The securities issued pursuant to the Offering will be subject to a four-month hold period in accordance with applicable securities laws and the rules of the Exchange. Finder's fees of 6% (or such other amount as determined by the Company) may be paid to arm's length finders in cash and/or finder's warrants on some or all of the proceeds raised in the Offering. The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and accordingly, may not be offered or sold within the United States except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any securities in any jurisdiction. On behalf of the Board of Directors of Highway 50 Gold Corp. Gordon P. Leask, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director About Highway 50 Gold Corp. Highway 50 Gold Corp. is a mineral exploration stage company led by a team of experienced explorers and mine finders. The Company is executing an exploration plan refined over 35 years of experience in Nevada. The exploration focus on its projects are a result of what management believes to be breakthroughs in the understanding of north-central Nevada's crustal architecture. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange, nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the Offering; the Company's ability to complete the Offering and receive acceptance from the Exchange to the completion of the Offering; the Company's proposed plans for the exploration of the Gold Knob project; and the business and anticipated financial performance of the Company. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from results contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include the Company does not complete all or any part of the Offering; the Company does not receive regulatory acceptance to the Offering; changes in metal prices, changes in the availability of funding, unanticipated changes in key management personnel and general economic conditions. Mining is an inherently risky business. Accordingly the actual events may differ martially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. When relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward looking statements, oral or written, made by itself or on its behalf, unless otherwise required pursuant to applicable laws. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/288155 Source: Highway 50 Gold Corp. Longwood, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2026) - Hillbilly Auto Supply LLC has announced the launch of Hillbilly Parts Helper, a new artificial intelligence agent developed to assist Ford truck owners with identifying and decoding parts. The system functions as a Ford part number decoder and compatibility assistant, designed to simplify locating and verifying replacement parts for Ford heavy-duty trucks. Hillbilly Parts Helper introduces a bidirectional search capability that allows users to identify a part number using a part name or determine the name of a component using an existing part number. In addition to basic identification, the system can interpret Ford part numbers and explain the meaning behind the characters and codes that indicate a part's specifications and intended application. The AI agent was developed to address challenges commonly faced when sourcing replacement components for Ford trucks. Incorrect part identification has been a frequent issue for vehicle owners purchasing replacement parts, particularly when dealing with used components. Errors can result in delays, incorrect purchases, and additional costs associated with returning or replacing incompatible parts. By providing detailed decoding and compatibility information, Hillbilly Parts Helper is intended to help reduce uncertainty when identifying the correct parts. The system also includes a compatibility analysis feature to help users determine which components are related to or compatible with a given part number or name. This capability is intended to help truck owners confirm that the parts they are searching for meet their vehicles' specifications. In addition to identification and compatibility information, Hillbilly Parts Helper can display current inventory data from Hillbilly Auto Supply LLC's online parts catalog. Users can check stock availability for specific components while researching part numbers and compatibility information. This integration enables the system to link part identification to real-time inventory data. The launch of Hillbilly Parts Helper represents a step in Hillbilly Auto Supply LLC's broader effort to incorporate new technologies into the automotive parts sourcing process while maintaining a local operational focus. The company developed the tool to address the complexity of identifying components for Ford heavy-duty trucks, including models such as the F-250, F-350, and F-450, which often vary by model year and configuration. Hillbilly Auto Supply LLC notes that the release of Hillbilly Parts Helper reflects the Longwood, FL company's intention to incorporate advanced tools that improve how truck owners locate and verify replacement components. The company plans to continue refining the system as additional data becomes available and as technology evolves within the automotive parts industry. About Hillbilly Auto Supply LLC: Hillbilly Auto Supply LLC is a Longwood, Florida-based company that supplies used parts for Ford heavy-duty trucks, including F-250, F-350, and F-450 models. The company focuses on sourcing, inspecting, and preparing used components for resale while maintaining an organized catalog of parts for truck owners seeking replacement components. Hillbilly Auto Supply LLC supports Ford truck owners by providing verified used parts and tools designed to help identify compatible components. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/288164 Source: GetFeatured VICTORIA, BC / ACCESS Newswire / March 11, 2026 / Boron One Holdings Inc. ("Boron One" or the "Company") (TSXV:BONE) announced that the Company has closed its previously announced private placement ("Private Placement"). The Company accepted subscriptions totaling 10,135,000 units at a price of $0.05 per unit, for gross proceeds of $506,750. Each unit is comprised of one common share and one common share purchase warrant, exercisable for three years from the date of closing, at an exercise price of $0.05 in the first year, and $0.10 in the following two years (the "Warrant Exercise Period"), subject to the Corporation's option to accelerate the expiry date if the stock trades at $0.12 per common share for the initial exercise period and $0.22 per common share for the subsequent period. The Common Shares and Warrants comprising the Units are subject to a four-month and one day hold period in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange and applicable securities legislation. Related parties transactions accounted for 240,000 of the units to be issued to one insider, making this a related party transaction. The Company relied upon exemptions contained in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7 (a) of MI 61-101 as the fair market value of the shares being issued to the insider is less than 25% of the market capitalization of the Company. The Company intends to use net proceeds of the Private Placement for working capital requirements. The Company paid finder's fees to qualified finders of $19,250 and issued 231,000 broker warrants. The Private Placement is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals, including approval from the TSX Venture Exchange. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Tim Daniels, President About Boron One Holdings Inc. Boron One Holdings Inc. is an international mineral exploration and development company with boron assets in Serbia. Headquartered in Victoria, B.C., Canada, Boron One's shares are traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "BONE". For detailed information please see Boron One's website at www.boronone.com or the Company's filed documents at www.sedar.com. For further information, please contact: Boron One Holdings Inc Blake Fallis, General Manager Phone: 1-250- 384-1999 or 1-888-289-3746 info@boronone.com www.boronone.com Boron's Public Quotations: Canada TSX Venture:BONE Berlin:EKV US: SEC 12G3-2(B) #82-4432ERVFF OTCBB:ERVFF Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, "forward-looking information"). Such forward-looking information is provided to inform the Company's shareholders and potential investors about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Any such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "anticipate", "proposed", "estimates", "would", "expects", "intends", "plans", "may", "will", and similar expressions, although not all forward-looking information contain these identifying words. More particularly and without limitation, the forward-looking information in this news release includes: expectations regarding the Company's business plans and operations. Forward-looking information is based on a number of factors and assumptions that have been used to develop such information, but which may prove to be incorrect. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information because the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The forward-looking information in this news release reflects the Company's current expectations, assumptions and/or beliefs based on information currently available to the Company. Whether actual results, performance, or achievements will conform to Boron's expectations and predictions is subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results and experience to differ materially from Boron's expectations. Such material risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. SOURCE: Boron One Holdings Inc. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/boron-one-announces-closing-of-financing-1146579 Volkswagen plans 50,000 job cuts in Germany as profits drop to their lowest level in nearly a decade, with rising costs, tariffs and growing competition from Chinese EV makers weighing on the automaker. Volkswagen has announced plans to reduce its workforce in Germany by around 50,000 jobs by 2030, as the company grapples with mounting financial and competitive pressures. The decision comes after the carmaker reported profits at their lowest level in almost a decade, reflecting the challenges facing the global auto industry. In total, around 50,000 jobs are due to be cut by 2030 across the Volkswagen Group in Germany, chief executive Oliver Blume said in a letter to shareholders included in the companys annual report. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Volkswagen layoffs The planned reductions build on an earlier agreement reached with labour unions in late 2024. Under that deal, the company committed to eliminating around 35,000 roles within its core Volkswagen brand by the end of the decade as part of a broader effort to reduce costs. The initiative is expected to save the automaker roughly 15 billion annually, according to reports. Blume said the latest workforce reductions will not be limited to the companys primary brand. Employees at premium divisions such as Audi and Porsche are also likely to be affected. The restructuring will extend to the groups software arm Cariad as well, indicating a wide-ranging effort to streamline operations across the entire organisation. US tariffs, uneven EV demand among the reasons Even before trade measures introduced under the administration of Donald Trump placed tariffs on foreign carmakers in 2025, Volkswagen had already been grappling with several industry challenges. Demand across Europe had been slowing, while the company faced the high costs associated with transitioning to electric vehicles despite uneven consumer demand for EVs. Another major hurdle has emerged in China, the worlds largest car market, where Volkswagen once held a dominant position. In recent years, however, the German automaker has lost ground to fast-growing domestic manufacturers such as BYD and Geely. As these local competitors expand rapidly, Volkswagens sales in the region have declined. Blume also warned that Chinese carmakers could intensify competition in Europe. With domestic price wars squeezing profits at home, several Chinese brands are now eyeing the European market as a key export destination. According to Blume, this shift could further increase the pressure on Volkswagen and other established European automakers in the coming years. The war in the Middle East is spilling far beyond the battlefield, threatening one of the worlds most critical energy arteries. With Qatar halting LNG exports through the Strait of Hormuza route that carries nearly a fifth of global LNG tradethe shock is rippling across global gas markets and hitting major importers in Asia, including India. In an exclusive interview, Anne-Sophie Corbeau, a leading LNG expert and Global Research Scholar at Columbia Universitys Center on Global Energy Policy, tells Firstpost that replacing the lost supply will be extremely difficult and warns that some buyers could soon be priced out of the market if the crisis drags on. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Edited Excerpts: The Middle East conflict is now disrupting global energy markets, and India is already facing LNG shortages. How serious is the situation, and what is your assessment of its impact on LNG supply? There is a shortage of LNG very simply because there is about 20 per cent of the global LNG trade that is transiting through the Strait of Hormuz. Most LNG is from Qatar, and nothing is passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Actually, Qatar has to declare force majeure, and the facilities are shut down. This issue is impacting mostly Asian countries because about 85 to 90 per cent of the LNG is going towards Asia, notably towards China, but also India and then other countries such as Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. This is really, really impacting absolutely everybody. Its going to be very difficult to replace because first of all, the market is still relatively tight. And second, there is no additional LNG that is available. Most of the LNG facilities are actually already running at capacity. Only upside is new facilities that have recently come to the market over the past year and they are still ramping up to capacity. However, if the crisis persists, there is a high likelihood of pricing out some individuals from the market. The Indian government believes alternative suppliers, such as those from Mozambique and Canada, could step in to fill the supply gap. Do you think these sources can realistically offset the disruption caused by Qatars shutdown? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It is very difficult. Initially, we were expecting an additional 40 billion cubic meters of LNG supply to come to the market over the course of 2026. But what has disappeared right nowbecause of this immediate disruptionis the equivalent of about 110 billion cubic meters. And this figure only refers to LNG. I am not even taking into account the disruptions affecting gas supplies from Israel to Egypt and Jordan. So the supply loss is significantly larger than the additional capacity that was expected to come online. As a result, there simply is not going to be enough replacement supply in the near term. Regarding Canada specifically, there will indeed be additional LNG (liquefied natural gas) coming from the country because some of its facilities have recently started operations and are still ramping up to full capacity. But this increase will be gradual. Additional LNG will also come from the United States, where new facilities are also expanding production. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, even with these additions, it will be extremely difficult to compensate for the scale of the disruption caused by Qatars shutdown. So from what youre saying, it appears this crisis is unlikely to be resolved anytime soon. Is that a fair assessment? That is exactly the key question. Right now, we are looking at two major factors. The first is how long this situation will last, particularly how long the disruption of flows through the Strait of Hormuz will continue. There have been announcements suggesting that we might see convoys of oil and LNG cargoes moving through the strait under military escort. However, it is still unclear whether such an arrangement will actually happen and whether it will be implemented effectively. It will also depend on the shipping companies and whether they are willing to take that risk. The second factor is whether there will be physical damage to energy installations in the region. As you know, there have already been attacks on Saudi Arabian facilities, including refineries, as well as attacks in Bahrain and Qatar, including LNG infrastructure. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This is a critical issue because if major energy infrastructure is damaged and it takes a long time to restore operations, then the crisis could be prolonged significantly. Qatars energy minister says that even if the crisis ends soon, LNG production will take time to return to normal. So even if the conflict ends next week, how quickly can supplies realistically recover? It will definitely take some time. What people need to understand is that this is not a single LNG (liquefied natural gas) facility in Qatar where you simply press a switch and everything returns to 100 percent the next day. In reality, there are multiple LNG plants. Qatar operates 14 different LNG trains, and they need to be restarted sequentially. First, the systems have to be cooled down because LNG is produced at around minus 160 degrees Celsius. Only after that can each train be brought back online, one after another. Because of this process, it may take a while before the entire system is fully operational again. Qatars LNG capacity is about 77 million tonnes per year, which represents roughly 20 percent of the global LNG market. So bringing production back to the levels seen before the disruption will not happen instantly and could take some time. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD If Washington eases sanctions on Russia, could additional Russian LNG supplies help ease the current pressure in global gas markets? I think the impact would be more significant for the oil market because a considerable amount of sanctioned Russian oil is already present in the market. However, when it comes to Russian LNG, the impact would be relatively limited. There are currently some sanctioned LNG facilities in Russia. Two of them are relatively small, producing together around 34 billion cubic meters (BCM) of LNG. The larger one is Arctic LNG 2, which has been trying to send some sanctioned cargoes to only a limited number of buyers. So if sanctions were removed, it would certainly help a little. But overall, the volumes involved are quite small. In total, we are talking about roughly 14 BCM of LNG. When you compare that with the current disruptionwhich is around 110 BCMit becomes clear that the additional supply would only cover a small portion of the gap. Moreover, some of these facilities were already operating to a certain extent last year. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD So in reality, the additional supply would probably be closer to 10 BCM of LNG. It would provide some relief, but it would not significantly change the overall situation in the global LNG market. Do you think this crisis could trigger a fresh rethink on energy security, similar to the shift we saw after the RussiaUkraine war? Absolutely. I think many countries may now be asking themselves whether this is a second major crisis involving natural gas and whether they want to remain so dependent on natural gas and LNG imports. European countries, in particular, are thinking a lot about this. They were directly impacted during the 2022 crisis, and now they are feeling the effects again. Even though Europe imports relatively small volumes of LNG directly from the Gulf, it is still exposed to global gas prices, which means disruptions anywhere in the market affect them. Some countries may begin to consider whether they should reduce reliance on natural gas and LNG altogether. Instead of transitioning from coal to natural gas and then to renewables, they might try to move directly from a mix of coal and renewables toward a much larger share of renewable energy. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, that shift also creates another type of dependency. Many of the key components required for electrificationsuch as batteries, solar panels, and invertersare largely produced in China. So in some ways, countries could end up moving from one dependency to another. That said, there is little doubt that energy security is once again at the top of the agenda for governments around the world. Could the current crisis push more countries to lock in long-term LNG contracts instead of relying on the volatile spot market? How might this crisis change the way countries structure LNG contracts in the future? It really depends. Many companies and countries already have long-term contracts, for example, with Qatar. But the current situation shows that even long-term agreements have their limitations. Qatar has been a very reliable LNG supplier for almost three decades. However, because of its geographical location, it is currently unable to export LNG even though it would like to. So the existence of a long-term contract does not necessarily guarantee uninterrupted supply in every situation. What a long-term contract can provide is greater certainty in terms of volumes and, depending on the price indexation agreed upon, more stability in pricing. But it is not a complete guarantee. The only situation where it can provide stronger security is when the contract is with aggregators or large trading companies. These suppliers are sometimes obligated to provide replacement volumes if their main source of supply is disrupted. So while long-term contracts can offer more stability than the spot market, they cannot fully eliminate risks when disruptions are caused by geopolitical or logistical constraints. Given the recurring geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, could this crisis have a lasting impact on Qatars LNG business? Might countries start rethinking their dependence on Gulf energy supplies even if the situation eventually stabilizes? It will largely depend on how the crisis ends and how the exit is managed. At the moment, we do not know what the endgame will be. For example, one possible outcome could involve political changes in Iran. If that were to happen and a more democratic government emerged, then some of the concerns about Iran using the Strait of Hormuz as a geopolitical pressure point might diminish. But much also depends on how long the crisis lasts and how effectively Qatar manages the recovery phase. Communication will be very important. Qatar would need to clearly signal to markets and buyers that the Strait of Hormuz is open again and that LNG exports are returning to normal. There is therefore a lot to gain from effective crisis management and clear communication. If the situation is handled well and exports resume smoothly, Qatar could maintain the trust it has built as a reliable supplier over the years. Even with a USIran ceasefire, proxy attacks could keep the Strait of Hormuz unstable. How would that affect LNG markets, and could producers like Australia, Canada, or Mozambique step in to fill the gap? Thats a very good question. First of all, when it comes to proxies that can disrupt maritime energy flows, the Houthis have already shown their capability by disrupting shipping routes through the Suez Canal region and the Red Sea. However, that is a slightly different situation. The Suez route, while essential, is less strategically critical in the sense that ships can still go around Africa to reach Europe if necessary. That option exists for both oil and LNG shipments. The Strait of Hormuz, however, is much more difficult to bypass. For natural gas in particular, there is essentially no alternative route, and even for oil there are very limited options to avoid passing through the strait. The second issue relates to the future of LNG demand, which connects to your earlier question about energy security. Some countries may start thinking that natural gas and LNG are too volatile, especially after experiencing two major crises within about five years. As a result, some governments may decide they do not want excessive exposure to LNG markets and could prioritize other fuels or energy sources instead. If that happens, it may actually reduce the urgency for new LNG suppliers to step in, even though many projects are already under construction and will still come online. So while producers such as Australia, Canada, Mozambique, or the United States will continue expanding LNG supply because many projects are already underway, global LNG demand itself might grow more slowly than previously expected. Large importers like China, currently the largest LNG importer in the world, may begin to reconsider their dependency on natural gas and LNG due to the risks exposed by this crisis. Do you think countries like Mozambique or Canada could accelerate their LNG projects in response to this crisis? In Canada, there is one LNG project already operatingLNG Canadaand two smaller projects currently under construction. There has been considerable discussion about Canada developing additional LNG capacity. However, it is uncertain how quickly that will happen. These projects have taken a very long time to move forward, and the approval process has been quite complicated. In fact, analysts were discussing Canadian LNG projects back in the early 2010s, around the same time US LNG projects were being evaluated. Yet Canadas first LNG export project only started operations last year, which shows the gap between ambitions and the reality on the ground. Regulatory hurdles, financing challenges, and logistical complexities can significantly slow these developments. In Mozambique, there are two major LNG projects under development. One of them is progressing and, based on previous timelines, could begin operations before the end of the decade. The bigger uncertainty surrounds the TotalEnergies LNG project, which faced major setbacks following the terrorist attack in northern Mozambique in 2021. The hope is that it will also become operational by the end of the decade, but the situation there remains more complicated and uncertain. Would it be fair to say the world is heading toward a structural LNG shortage over the next decade, with demand potentially outpacing supply? No. Before this crisis, the consensus in the market was actually the opposite. Most analysts were expecting a period of LNG oversupply, not a shortage. This is because there is a large amount of LNG capacity currently under construction. Significant new supply is expected to come from the United States and Qatar but also from countries such as Australia, Canada, Nigeria, and Mozambique. So a substantial volume of LNG is scheduled to enter the market over the next few years. In fact, before the crisis, one of the key questions analysts were asking was where all this additional LNG would go. So its not really a structural deficit situation? At the moment, we are experiencing a temporary deficit because the market was already relatively tight, and now we have a major disruption affecting one of the worlds key LNG suppliers. That is why the market currently appears constrained. However, structurally, once the situation stabilizes and LNG flows from the Middle East return to normal, the market could eventually move toward another period of supply surplus. LNG prices are critical for global economies. In the backdrop of this crisis, do you expect prices to remain elevated for a prolonged period? And what options does India have in such a scenario? Thats a very good question. At the moment, gas prices are quite high, although not as high as I initially expected. It is possible that the market is anticipating that flows may resume relatively soon, but we will have to see whether that actually happens. Prices could still move higher, depending on how long the disruption lasts. Unfortunately, India will have to compete with other major importing regions, particularly Northeast Asian countries and European buyers, to secure LNG cargoes. Because of this intense competition, the LNG that is available in the market is likely to be quite expensive. Ultimately, it will come down to an economic decision. Indialike many other countrieswill have to decide whether it wants to purchase relatively expensive LNG or reduce imports and rely on other energy sources. But do you think this crisis is likely to last for a while? Hopefully not. This is both an oil and a gas crisis, and if oil prices remain elevated for several months, it could have a significant impact on the global economy. In that case, the economic pressure would likely trigger some form of international response or intervention to ensure that energy flows resume and the situation begins to stabilize. In an EXCLUSIVE interview with Firstposts Lachmi Deb Roy, Priyanka Mohan and director Ra Karthik talk about filming Netflixs Made in Korea in Seoul and how they connected over food with Korean actors. EXCLUSIVE | Priyanka Mohan on Netflixs Made in Korea: I love Korean food and the similarities that they have with our culture When you love cinema, language is hardly a constraint. For Not Just Bollywood, Firstpost spoke to Priyanka Mohan, the lead actress in Netflixs Made in Korea, and the director of the film, Ra Karthik. They mentioned how, just like Korean food, Korean culture has become hugely popular in Chennai. In this film Priyanka Mohan and Park Hye-Jin unite for a heartfelt slice-of-life drama. From the trailer itself we can make out how quiet courage can be more powerful than noise. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Edited excerpts from the interview: Priyanka, how much do you relate to the character, and are you also a K-drama fan or a K-food fan? Now, I have become a fan. I used to not follow much of K-dramas before doing this film. Now, once in a while I watch a Korean drama, and I really love the culture and the similarities that we both share. And if you talk about the similarities between me and my character, a lot of things are very similar, be it her grit or how she manages to live on her own in a new country, which is a different land altogether. I was able to relate to the character instantly. You have spoken about the similarities in the food also in the Netflix series Made in Korea, especially the innovative dish that you made, the Indo-Kimchi fried rice. Have you tried the food over there? What was it like? I really enjoyed the Korean food. And the kimchi is like our pickle, or rather, we can call it fermented pickle. With that, they make a lot of dishes. We tried adding a bit of Indian touch to it in the film. Even in terms of taste, it is mostly similar to ours. They also use a lot of garlic, ginger, and pepper in their food. Kartik, how did the story come to you? What was the process that went into making Made In Korea? Basically, in the last 8 to 9 years, I have been seeing so many people from our country, especially youngsters, watching K-dramas. A few years back in Chennai, there was only one or two Korean restaurants. But now, almost 20-plus restaurants are there. Now everyone likes the Korean culture, food, skincare, and everything. I have a few friends who have been watching K-dramas for the last few years. Games View All I was very excited, and I was wondering how they would like the K-drama, the Korean faces, and the culture. They cant understand the language, and there used to be no subtitles 10 years back. Now, on Netflix, after the last four or five years, they watch K-dramas with subtitles. Ten years ago, there were no subtitles, no proper subtitles. So, it made me think, how about making a movie with a Tamil girl who is obsessed with K-drama and Korean culture? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Priyanka, you had a lot of Korean co-stars with you. How did you gel with them? Actually, it wasnt very difficult. So, we did have a reading before we started shooting. So thats when I was meeting them all for the first time. I didnt even see their pictures before the meeting. So, in that one meeting itself, I was able to connect with them and they were all very friendly. I kind of knew that day itself that it is going to be a really wonderful experience shooting with them. And one thing was there that is the language barrier that we had to face. But we did have translators and also on spot ad who knew English so she was able to like to tell us and communicate and made it easy for us so there wasnt much of a difficulty we in fact really enjoyed the process of shooting. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How difficult did you find Karthik to converse with them? No, actually for me English is a problem. For them also the same problem. So, we were all connected over that (laughs). Because they used to save the phone number like a Korean letter. They dont even have numbers actually. They dont have numbers. They have numbers in their own language. The Korean letters. In all billboards, everywhere, Korean letters were written and nothing was written in English. I had on assistant director in my team who understood English. So, through her, so through him I could communicate. And at the end of the day, cinema is almost that neutral universe and that connected us. The emotions, the face reaction, everything. But they are very professional and open. Even though we came from different cultures, everyone was excited about the story. So, the collaboration felt very natural and a happy process. And Priyanka, you shared a wonderful relationship with the person with whom you play a caregiver. What was it like? Do you have a similar relation with your granny or something like the grannys kitchen which is shown in the film? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Actually, she was very adorable. Shes full of life and very active. I had a blast shooting with her. WATCH the trailer of Netflix Made in Korea here: Dudamel spoke from the stage of Lincoln Centers David Geffen to an audience that included donors, musicians, the orchestra board, community leaders and composers in addition to journalists Famed conductor Gustavo Dudamel said Timothee Chalamet showed ignorance when the Oscar-nominated actor claimed no one cares about opera and ballet. Sadly sometimes its a little bit of ignorance but, look, that is why we have to open more spaces for people to connect with classical music, Dudamel said Tuesday night at an event to announce the programming of his first season as the New York Philharmonics music director. Dudamel spoke from the stage of Lincoln Centers David Geffen to an audience that included donors, musicians, the orchestra board, community leaders and composers in addition to journalists. Dudamels remarks sparked loud applause. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD During a conversation with fellow actor Matthew McConaughey at a CNN and Variety town hall at the University of Texas at Austins Moody College of Communication in February, the 30-year-old Chalamet was asked by McConaughey about whether shortened audience attention spans have impacted studio decisions about the content of theatrical films, forcing more early action. I admire people, and Ive done it myself, to go on a talk show and go: Hey, weve got to keep movie theaters alive. We got to keep this genre alive, Chalamet said. And another part of me feels like if people want to see it, like Barbie, like Oppenheimer, theyre going to go see it and go out of their way to be loud and proud about it. And I dont want to be working in ballet or opera or things where its like where its like, Hey! Keep this thing alive, even though no one cares about this anymore. All respect to the ballet and opera people out there. I just lost 14 cents in viewership. Chalamet received his third Academy Award nomination, for Marty Supreme. His comments sparked an online backlash from arts organizations. Everybody has the right to say, but you have to do things with knowledge, with facts. I think we have to say to the young generation, the opposite, Dudamel said. Its very funny. Cinema is a result of opera, of music, of all of these kind of things. Games View All Matias Tarnopolsky, the New York Philharmonic CEO, was seated next to Dudamel and issued a public offer to Chalamet. He can sit with me anytime, Tarnopolsky said. Ill give him a free ticket and hes invited to come and hear the New York Philharmonic. Dudamel, 45, is among the worlds most famous conductors. He is leaving the Los Angeles Philharmonic this summer after 17 seasons as music director to become the music director of the New York orchestra. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD At one point, Dudamel feigned not knowing Chalamet, saying: Which is the name of that? before cutting off as the audience laughed. That way of thinking has to end, he said. Music is reborn all the time and it brings us the values of empathy through the beauty of what it is. So this is the reality of music. This is the real dimension of music and we need that more for our young people. The photo in question was published by the United States Department of Justice as part of documents connected to investigations into Epsteins activities Last month, former Prince Andrew was arrested and held for hours by British police Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office related to his links to Jeffrey Epstein, an extraordinary move in a country where authorities once sought to shield the royal family from embarrassment. It was the first time in nearly four centuries that a senior British royal was placed under arrest, and it underscored how deference to the monarchy has eroded in recent years. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Fresh trouble for former prince Amid The Epstein Files, a photo of a man resembling Prince Andrew has surfaced online, shows young woman sitting on his lap. The photo in question was published by the United States Department of Justice as part of documents connected to investigations into Epsteins activities. The image is said to have been taken inside Epsteins residence in New York City. King Charles III, whose late mother lived by the motto never complain, never explain, took the unusual step of issuing a statement on the arrest of his brother, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Let me state clearly: the law must take its course, the king said. As this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter. The Thames Valley Police force said Mountbatten-Windsor was released Thursday evening, about 11 hours after he was detained at his home in eastern England. He was photographed in a car leaving the police station near the royal Sandringham estate. Games View All Mountbatten-Windsor, 66, moved to the kings private estate in Norfolk after he was evicted from his longtime home near Windsor Castle earlier this month. Police previously said they were assessing reports that Mountbatten-Windsor sent trade information to Epstein, a wealthy investor and convicted sex offender, in 2010, when the former prince was Britains special envoy for international trade. Correspondence between the two men was released by the U.S. Justice Department late last month along with millions of pages of documents from the American investigation into Epstein. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Following a thorough assessment, we have now opened an investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office, Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said in a statement. Police searched Mountbatten-Windsors Sandringham home and his former residence at Royal Lodge in Windsor. Amid the Iran war, Israel struck a building in Lebanons Beirut, housing a branch of Al-Qard al-Hassan. This financial institution, set up in the 1980s, is a central element in financing Hezbollahs terrorist activities Firefighters work to extinguish a fire at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the offices of Al-Qard al-Hassan, a Hezbollah-linked financial institution, in the southern coastal Lebanese city of Tyre on March 2, 2026. AFP When the Iran war spread to Lebanon earlier this week, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) took aim at a building in Beiruts southern suburb last Monday. Not many know that this structure wasnt any ordinary one but a pillar of the Hezbollahs finances the Al-Qard al-Hassan. Following the strike, the Israeli militarys Arabic-language spokesperson called it a central element in financing Hezbollahs terrorist activities. Catch live updates from the Notably, the Al-Qard al-Hassan is also facing US sanctions, with Washington pushing to cut off Hezbollahs funding sources while pressing the Lebanese government to disarm the group. But what do we know of this institution? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD About Al-Qard al-Hassan Al-Qard al-Hassan is a financial institution that offers microcredit to people in Lebanon. Officially registered as a charity, it has been offering customers credit in exchange for gold deposits on an interest-free basis since the 1980s. Notably, Al-Qard Al-Hassan is not regulated by the Banque du Liban, Lebanons central bank, or part of the international banking network. It is known to provide micro-loans to small businesses, workers and medium-sized agricultural or industrial enterprises. Moreover, in recent years it has broadened its activities, even offering loans for solar panels, in a country plagued by long power cuts. Al-Qard al-Hassan has more than 30 branches across Lebanon, mostly in Hezbollah bastions. In 2020 and 2021, when the economic crash prevented Lebanese banks from providing loans, Al-Qard al-Hassan said it had granted 212,000 loans worth $553 million despite the crisis. Experts note that this institution was formed with the help of Iran initially, but is now entirely self-funded. It is also a part of the network of associations, schools, hospitals and cooperatives serving Hezbollah supporters, which helped to establish its popularity within the Shia community that forms the bulk of its clientele. According to the US, Hezbollah uses this quasi-banking institution as a cover to mask financial activities and gain access to the international financial system. In 2007, the US Treasury froze the institutions assets, and in 2021 imposed new sanctions against several figures linked to it. While the Al-Qard al-Hassan purports to serve the Lebanese people, in practice it illicitly moves funds through shell accounts and facilitators, exposing Lebanese financial institutions to possible sanctions, said the US. And in early February, Washington announced new sanctions against the gold exchange Jood SARL, which it said was a part of Al-Qard al-Hassan. Even Israel notes that the institution finances Hezbollahs arms purchases and is used to pay Hezbollah fighters. As David Asher, an expert on illicit financing who has worked at the US Defense and State Departments and is now a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, told the Associated Press before, Al-Qard al-Hassan is part of Hezbollahs central financial unit, which is akin to its treasury. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Debris lies at the site of a damaged branch of Al-Qard al-Hassan, a financial institution linked to Lebanons Hezbollah, in the aftermath of Israeli airstrikes in October 2024. File image/Reuters Israels targeting of Al-Qard al-Hassan On March 2, Israel launched renewed attacks on Lebanon, targeting the building that houses Al-Qard al-Hassan. In its remarks, Israel claims it is trying to destroy Hezbollah and its capacity to operate as an organisation. Interestingly, this isnt the first time that Israel has targeted the institution. During the last war between Hezbollah and Israel between October 2023 to November 2024, its branches across Lebanon were targeted by air strikes. Some branches have been rebuilt since. However, according to Imad Salamey, a Lebanese political scientist, attacks on Al-Qard al-Hassan has done little to impact Hezbollah. Israels strikes on Al-Qard Al-Hassan appear largely symbolic and part of a broader campaign of political and psychological warfare against Hezbollahs institutional network, Salamey told Al Jazeera, adding that many of the sites are mainly offices or service branches that hold little actual liquidity, meaning the direct financial impact is likely limited. With inputs from agencies For the very first time in India, the Supreme Court has allowed for passive euthanasia in the case of 31-year-old Harish Rana. After falling from a balcony, he has been in a coma for the past 13 years. The top court has permitted the removal of life support, noting that it was in the best interest of the patient In 2013, Harish Rana fell from the fourth-floor balcony of his paying guest accommodation. He has been in a coma since then. Image Courtesy: Facebook For 13 years, life came to a complete standstill for 31-year-old Harish Rana, a resident of Ghaziabad. He has been in a comatose state and has been dependent on others for all activities of self-care. Now, after years and years of being in a vegetative state, theres relief for the 31-year-old after the Supreme Court passed its first-ever order allowing passive euthanasia, with the bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan directing that the medical treatment, including Clinically Assisted Nutrition (CAN) being administered to the applicant, shall be withdrawn/withheld. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD We examine what this case was all about and the significance of this verdict. The case of Harish Rana On August 20, 2013, tragedy befell the Rana family of Ghaziabad when Harish, then a civil engineering student at Panjab University, fell from the fourth-floor balcony of his paying guest accommodation. He sustained serious injuries; he could neither open his eyes nor move his limbs after the accident. In fact, by the time, his parents arrived at the PGIMER Hospital, he had already undergone emergency brain surgery, with doctors telling them that their sons nervous system had dried up. In the following weeks, they slept on the floor at PGIMER Chandigarh, took turns sitting outside the ICU, and learned to read medical charts and monitor screens. When there was no improvement even after two months, Harish was moved to AIIMS, Delhi. Harish has been vegetative state since then hes on life support, which includes being confined to a bed with a tracheostomy tube for respiration and a gastrojejunostomy tube for feeding. His family has been by his side through this ordeal, with Harishs parents even selling their home and moving closer to the hospital where he remains. A legal battle ensues As hopes of recovery dimmed, Harishs family approached the Delhi High Court in July 2024 seeking passive euthanasia, the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment in cases of irreversible medical conditions. Its important to note that passive euthanasia differs from active euthanasia. Active euthanasia occurs when the medical professionals, or another person, deliberately do something that causes the patient to die. Meanwhile, passive euthanasia occurs when the patient dies because medical professionals either dont do something necessary to keep the patient alive, or when they stop doing something that is keeping the patient alive. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Delhi High Court, however, declined permission, noting that Harish Rana was not on mechanical life support and was able to sustain himself without external aid. The court further held that since he was not terminally ill, the question of passive euthanasia did not arise. Harish Ranas parents then challenged the decision in the Supreme Court in the same year, seeking the constitution of a Primary Medical Board for their son. The top court initially declined to grant that relief, but gave liberty to the parents to approach it again if further directions were required, reported Bar & Bench. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Then in December 2025, Ranas parents returned to the Supreme Court, saying his condition had worsened and he was being kept artificially alive. The court then accepted the plea and conducted discussions with Ranas family, medical boards, and counsel. The judges even personally met Ranas parents and two siblings, who said they did not want him to suffer anymore, reports The Hindu. The court then reserved its verdict on January 15. Todays verdict in Ranas case and why it matters Following extensive deliberations, the Supreme Court allowed for the passive euthanasia of Harish Rana. The bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan ruled that it would be in the best interest and dignity of the patient that life-sustaining support be withdrawn in a palliative care setting. Harish Rana, presently aged 32 years, was once a young, bright boy. He met with a tragic life-altering accident after a fall from the fourth floor of his paying guest accommodation. His brain injury left him in a condition of Persistent Vegetative State (PSV) with 100 per cent quadraplegia Medical reports show that his medical condition has not improved in the past 13 years, the bench noted. He is sustaining life only on Clinically Administered Nutrition (CAN) administered through surgically installed PEG tubes. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The court noted that clinically administered nutrition constitutes a form of medical treatment. It ruled that such treatment can be withdrawn if medical boards examining the patient conclude there is no meaningful prospect of recovery and recommend withdrawal of life support. The court has further ordered that AIIMS shall grant admission to the patient to its palliative care centre, so that the withdrawal of CAN can be given effect to. AIIMS shall give all facilities for shifting the applicant from residence to the palliative care centre. Moreover, it must be ensured that the entire process is carried out in a humane manner. The justices also praised Ranas family for never leaving his side, adding: To love someone is to care for them even in the darkest times. The Supreme Court also added, Our decision today does not neatly fit in logic, but love, life, and loss. This is is the first case where the Supreme Court has permitted passive euthanasia under its guidelines. Representational image/Pixabay The verdict by the Supreme Court is a landmark moment for India. Firstly, it shines a spotlight on the countrys euthanasia laws. Moreover, it is in line with its 2018 judgment, which laid down the law allowing passive euthanasia. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD At that time, the apex court of the country maintained that the right to die with dignity is part of the fundamental right to life under the Constitution. The five-judge Constitution bench had then recognised and given sanction for passive euthanasia, and living will/advance directives. With this verdict, the court has clearly sided with living and dying with dignity. It also clearly signals that withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment shouldnt be equated with abandonment of the patient. FAQs 1) What is euthanasia? Euthanasia refers to the practice of ending someones life to relieve their suffering. It is widely believed that there are two kinds of euthanasia active and passive. 2) Is euthanasia legal in India? Passive euthanasia in exceptional circumstances was legalised in India through the landmark Aruna Shanbaug vs Union of India judgment in 2011. 3) Who is Harish Rana? A student of Punjab University, Harish Rana, fell from the fourth floor of a paying guest accommodation in 2013 and suffered serious injuries. Since then, he has been in a coma. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 4) What comes next in the case? The Supreme Court has directed All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to admit Harish Rana to its palliative care unit, enabling doctors to withdraw life-sustaining treatment. With inputs from agencies French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu will meet leaders of the countrys political parties to discuss the war in West Asia. Japan will mark the 15th anniversary of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster today, with PM Sanae Takaichi scheduled to attend a memorial service in Fukushima City to honour the victims French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu will meet the leaders of French political parties to discuss the situation in West Asia. File image/Reuters French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu is scheduled to meet with the leaders of Frances political parties to discuss the ongoing war in West Asia. The 15th anniversary of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster is marked by national commemorations in Japan. US President Donald Trump will be travelling to Hebron, Kentucky, to deliver remarks on the economy and affordability. Jose Antonio Kast is scheduled to be inaugurated as the President of Chile today. In India, Taranjit Singh Sandhu is scheduled to take oath as Delhis 23rd Lieutenant Governor. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Here is all that is set to take place across the world. French PM Lecornu to discuss West Asia French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu is scheduled to meet with the leaders of Frances political parties today to discuss the ongoing war in West Asia. The meeting follows a major escalation in the region earlier in the month, which included Iranian missile strikes toward Cyprus and UK military bases in response to US-Israel strikes on Iranian targets. Discussions are likely to address the impact of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has sent global oil prices to record highs and threatens Frances energy supply. Lecornu has already announced 500 emergency spot checks at petrol stations from March 9 to March 11 to prevent retailers from using the conflict as a pretext for abusive price hikes. 15th anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear disaster Today marks the 15th anniversary of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in Japan. It will be marked by national commemorations in Japan, significant updates on the decommissioning process, and a shift in the countrys energy policy. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is scheduled to attend a memorial service in Fukushima City to honour the victims of the triple disaster (earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear accident). The Japanese public has been called to observe a moment of silence at 2:46 pm JST (11:16 am), the exact time the 9.0-magnitude earthquake struck in 2011. Several events, including storyteller talks by survivors at the Iwaki Earthquake Memorial Museum and memorial fireworks along the coast, will take place. Donald Trump in northern Kentucky US President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Hebron, Kentucky, to deliver remarks on the economy and affordability. He is expected to discuss plans to make America affordable again and outline the Republican strategy for addressing current economic challenges. US President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Hebron, Kentucky. File image/Reuters Before arriving in Kentucky, Trump is scheduled to visit Reading, Ohio, to tour Thermo Fisher Scientific and promote TrumpRx.gov, a government website for discounted prescription drugs. The visit takes place in Kentuckys 4th Congressional District, currently represented by Thomas Massie. Trump has publicly feuded with Massie and has endorsed his primary opponent, Ed Gallrein, ahead of the May 19 primary. Jose Antonio Kast to be inaugurated as President of Chile Jose Antonio Kast is scheduled to be inaugurated as the President of Chile in the coastal city of Valparaiso. The ceremony will take place at the National Congress in Valparaiso, which serves as the seat of Chiles legislative branch, where Kast will officially take over from the outgoing president, Gabriel Boric. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The 59-year-old leader of the conservative Republican Party won the second round of the 2025 presidential election on December 14, defeating leftist candidate Jeannette Jara with approximately 58 per cent of the vote. His victory marks Chiles most significant shift to the right since its return to democracy in 1990. Taranjit Singh Sandhu to take oath as Delhis Lieutenant Governor Former diplomat Taranjit Singh Sandhu is scheduled to be sworn in as the 23rd Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Delhi today in the national capital. The ceremony will take place at 1:30 pm IST at Lok Niwas in Delhi. The oath of office will be administered by the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court and is expected to draw state ministers and senior bureaucrats, including Delhis Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. Sandhu succeeds Vinai Kumar Saxena, who served as Delhis LG for nearly four years before being appointed as the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh. With inputs from agencies India imports nearly 88 per cent of its crude oil and about half of its natural gas, making global energy routes crucial to its economy. As tensions in West Asia disrupt supply chains and shipping routes like the Strait of Hormuz, understanding where India sources its oil and gas has become more important than ever A worker stands next to a machine at an Indian Oil fuel station in New Delhi, India, March 6, 2026. File Image/Reuters Indias dependence on imported oil and gas has long shaped its energy strategy, but amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, shipping routes and energy production in the Persian Gulf region have been disrupted. For India one of the worlds largest energy consumers such disruptions carry immediate implications for domestic supply chains and economic stability. The latest crisis has already begun to affect supplies of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), an essential fuel used widely across India in households and commercial establishments. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The strain comes as fighting in West Asia has forced shipping companies to reassess routes and energy producers to halt or slow operations. Gulf producers such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia have seen production and shipments affected, tightening global supply. Despite these pressures, the Indian government has attempted to reassure the public that domestic consumers will continue to receive adequate fuel supplies. We have taken steps to ensure that 100% supply of CNG & PNG to domestic consumers is ensured and other industries continue to get 70-80% of their supplies, despite the war situation, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri, wrote on X on Tuesday. We are committed to ensure uninterrupted supply of affordable energy to our domestic consumers. There is no shortage for domestic consumers and no reason to panic, he added. Why does India depend so heavily on imported oil and gas? Indias rapid economic growth, expanding industrial base, and rising living standards have led to a steady increase in energy consumption. Domestic production, however, has not kept pace with demand, forcing the country to rely heavily on imports. As of early 2026, India imports approximately 88 per cent of the crude oil it consumes. In the case of natural gas, around half of the countrys requirements are met through overseas purchases. This makes India one of the worlds most significant buyers in global energy markets. The country is currently the fourth-largest importer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and the second-largest importer of LPG. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Both fuels play different roles in the energy system. LNG is primarily used for industrial applications such as fertiliser manufacturing, electricity generation, and city gas distribution networks. LPG, on the other hand, is widely used as a cooking fuel and is delivered through cylinders across urban and rural India. The countrys reliance on imported fuel means that geopolitical tensions, shipping disruptions, and price volatility in global markets can have direct economic consequences. Analysts note that every $10 increase in international crude prices typically expands Indias current account deficit by roughly $9 billion. Which countries supply crude oil to India? India purchases crude oil from more than 40 countries around the world, reflecting a deliberate strategy to diversify supply sources and reduce dependence on any single region. Russia currently occupies the position of Indias largest crude supplier. As of February 2026, Russian exports to India amount to about 1.04 million barrels per day. Much of this consists of Urals crude, classified as medium sour oil. Russian crude gained prominence in Indias import basket after Western sanctions reshaped global energy trade flows. Despite price caps introduced by the Group of Seven countries, India has continued purchasing these shipments, often benefiting from negotiated discounts. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, by this month, those discounts had narrowed to roughly $4-$5 per barrel due to rising global demand. Saudi Arabia remains the second-largest supplier of crude oil to India, shipping about 1.01 million barrels per day. Iraq follows closely behind as another major supplier, delivering around 0.98 million barrels per day. Iraqi crude is particularly well suited to Indias refining infrastructure because many public-sector refineries are configured to process its medium and heavy grades. The United Arab Emirates also holds a key place in Indias import portfolio. Roughly 0.55 million barrels per day of crude oil arrive from the UAE, much of it under strengthened economic cooperation agreements between the two countries. Beyond West Asia, India has expanded its crude purchases from the United States. Imports of American light sweet crude, particularly the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) grade, have grown to about 0.22 million barrels per day. Additional suppliers help further diversify the supply network as Kuwait contributes medium-grade crude. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While Nigeria provides Bonny Light a grade valued for producing high-quality transport fuels such as diesel and aviation turbine fuel. Mexico exports the Maya grade, a heavier crude often used for producing bitumen and heavy fuel oils. Emerging producers such as Brazil and Guyana have also begun supplying India with light to medium grades of oil. Angola and other West African nations also contribute to the diversification strategy, particularly as India seeks to reduce its reliance on West Asian energy shipments during periods of instability. Where does India source its natural gas and LPG? Natural gas imports into India fall into two main categories: LNG and LPG. Though both are hydrocarbon fuels, they serve different functions in the economy and are transported in different ways. Qatar has historically been Indias dominant supplier of LNG. The Gulf state accounts for roughly half of Indias LNG imports under long-term contracts. However, the current crisis in the Persian Gulf has disrupted these flows. Qatar halted production after Iranian strikes targeted Gulf countries in retaliation for military action by the United States and Israel. Apart from Qatar, India sources LNG from several other countries. The United States has become an increasingly important partner, with Indian companies signing long-term agreements that guarantee shipments under take-or-pay arrangements. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Australia supplies LNG to Indias eastern coastal terminals, including Ennore and Dhamra, providing an alternative route that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz. Other suppliers include the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Nigeria, and Angola, which occasionally supply cargoes through the spot market depending on global demand conditions. In contrast, LPG imports are heavily concentrated in the Gulf region. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar together account for more than 90 per cent of Indias imported LPG supplies. This dependence has prompted India to explore alternative arrangements. In 2026, public-sector oil companies such as Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited signed a deal to import 2.2 million tonnes of LPG annually from the United States Gulf Coast. There have also been reports that India will be looking to import gas from Norway and the United States to counter shortages. Domestically, where does India produce its oil & gas? While India is heavily dependent on imports, it maintains a robust, though ageing, domestic production infrastructure that provides approximately 12-15 per cent of its crude oil and nearly 50 per cent of its natural gas. The backbone of Indias domestic energy is the Mumbai High (formerly Bombay High) field, located in the Arabian Sea. Operated by the state-run ONGC, it remains the countrys most prolific asset, contributing the lions share of offshore oil and gas. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On the opposite coast, the Krishna-Godavari (KG) Basin in the Bay of Bengal has become the new frontier for natural gas. Significant production comes from the Reliance-BP MJ and R-Cluster fields, alongside ONGCs KG-DWN-98/2 block, which saw a major ramp-up in oil production in late 2024 and throughout 2025, providing a critical domestic cushion against global price volatility. On land, the Barmer Basin in Rajasthan is the most significant contributor, specifically the Mangala, Bhagyam, and Aishwarya (MBA) fields operated by Cairn Oil & Gas (Vedanta). These fields alone account for nearly 25 per cent of Indias total domestic crude oil production. In the northeast, Assam remains a vital hub, home to the oldest operating refinery in the world at Digboi. Fields in the Upper Assam shelf, such as Naharkatiya and Moran, continue to produce steady volumes of both oil and gas. Additionally, Gujarats Cambay Basin remains a consistent onshore producer, supported by hundreds of smaller marginal fields that have been auctioned to private players to maximise extraction. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Beyond traditional wells, India is increasingly tapping into Coal Bed Methane (CBM), which is natural gas extracted from coal seams. The primary domestic sources for CBM are located in Jharkhand (Bokaro), Madhya Pradesh (Sohagpur), and West Bengal (Raniganj). To boost domestic output, the government has launched Mission Anveshan, which as of now is focusing on previously "No-Go" offshore zones and the Mahanadi Basin. This month, new high-resolution seismic reimaging projects have commenced in the Mahanadi offshore region to identify new thermogenic gas plays that could potentially decrease import reliance by the end of the decade. What types of crude oil does India import? India does not rely on a single type of crude oil. Instead, it purchases different grades depending on refining requirements, availability, and price. Crude oil grades are typically categorised using two characteristics: density and sulphur content. Light sweet crude has relatively low density and contains minimal sulphur. Because it requires less processing to produce fuels such as petrol and diesel, it is considered easier to refine. Examples include Brent crude from the North Sea and WTI from the United States. Medium sour crude has moderate density but contains higher sulphur levels. This requires additional processing in refineries equipped with advanced desulphurisation units. Russian Urals crude and several Middle Eastern grades fall into this category. Heavy sour crude is denser and contains even higher levels of sulphur. Although it is more difficult to refine, it is generally cheaper than lighter grades. These types of crude are often used to produce heavy fuels and bitumen for road construction. Indias refining sector is among the most technologically advanced in the world, enabling it to process a wide variety of crude types. Facilities such as those operated by Reliance Industries in Jamnagar and Hindustan Petroleum in Visakhapatnam are capable of converting high-sulphur crude into cleaner fuels that meet stringent emission standards. This ability allows India to purchase cheaper grades of oil and still produce high-quality fuels compliant with Euro-VI environmental standards. What is the difference between LNG and LPG? Although both are forms of natural gas used as fuels, LNG and LPG differ in chemical composition, transportation methods, and usage. LNG primarily consists of methane. To transport it efficiently, the gas is cooled to approximately minus 162 degrees Celsius, turning it into a liquid. This process reduces its volume dramatically, allowing large quantities to be carried in specialised cryogenic tankers. Once LNG arrives at import terminals, it is converted back into gas and distributed through pipelines. The fuel is widely used by fertiliser plants, electricity generators, and city gas networks supplying piped natural gas (PNG) to homes and compressed natural gas (CNG) for vehicles. LPG, by contrast, is a mixture of propane and butane. Instead of being cooled to extremely low temperatures, it is stored as a liquid under moderate pressure. The portability of LPG cylinders makes the fuel suitable for widespread distribution, particularly in rural areas where pipeline infrastructure may be limited. It is commonly used for cooking fuel and is central to government initiatives aimed at expanding access to clean energy in households. Which shipping routes bring energy to India? The most important route is the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman that serves as a gateway for energy exports from the Persian Gulf. Around 20 per cent of the worlds petroleum and natural gas shipments pass through this channel. For India, the importance of the strait is even greater. Roughly half of the countrys crude oil imports and more than 60 per cent of its LNG and LPG shipments normally travel through this route. The current crisis has highlighted the risks associated with such dependence. With Iranian forces exerting control over the waterway, disruptions have already affected one-third of Indias natural gas imports. Other maritime routes are also critical. The Red Sea and the Suez Canal connect India with suppliers in Europe and North Africa and serve as important pathways for Indian exports of refined petroleum products. Security concerns in the Bab-el-Mandeb region near the Red Sea have periodically raised insurance costs and shipping risks. When these routes become unsafe or congested, tankers are sometimes redirected around the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa. Although this avoids conflict zones, it significantly increases transit time. A journey that typically takes four days from Gulf ports can extend to about 25 days when ships travel around Africa. The longer route adds between 10 and 15 days to shipping time and raises both freight charges and insurance premiums. India is also exploring alternative transport corridors with Russia, including routes connecting the Russian Far East to Indias eastern coastline. How does India protect itself from supply disruptions? To mitigate the risks associated with its heavy dependence on imports, India maintains a multi-layered energy security strategy. One key component is the strategic petroleum reserve system. Underground storage facilities located in Visakhapatnam, Mangaluru, and Padur hold crude oil reserves that can be released in emergencies. These reserves account for about 9.5 days of national consumption. In addition to the strategic reserves, oil public sector undertakings maintain commercial stocks equivalent to approximately 65 days of consumption. Combined, these stocks provide a buffer of roughly 74 days in case of a major disruption in global supply. The government has also expanded storage infrastructure for LPG. In September 2025, the commissioning of an underground cavern in Mangalore increased Indias LPG storage capacity to around 140,000 tonnes. The conflict in West Asia has already led to supply constraints in global LPG markets, prompting India New Delhi to direct oil refineries to increase LPG production and prioritise domestic consumption. The ministry has prioritised domestic LPG supply to households and introduced 25 day inter- booking period to avoid hoarding/black marketing. Non domestic supplies from imported LPG is being prioritised to essential non domestic sectors such as Hospitals and Educational institutions, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said in a statement. For LPG supply to other non-domestic sectors, a committee of three EDs of OMCs have been constituted to review the representations for LPG supply to restaurants/hotels/other industries, it added. Also Watch: With inputs from agencies As Irans closure of the Strait of Hormuz has halted oil and gas shipments, India is facing pressure. The Centre has invoked emergency powers to prioritise domestic consumers of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). With this, commercial cooking gas supplies have been restricted, affecting restaurants, hotels and more A griddle is switched off to conserve LPG gas inside Vidyarthi Bhavan restaurant, as restaurants and hotels in southern India, including the IT hub of Bengaluru, have warned of shutdowns amid disruptions in commercial LPG supply, following the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Bengaluru, March 10, 2026. Reuters The war in West Asia has started to sting India. Irans reported shutdown of the crucial Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint for global oil and gas flows, has halted the movement of ships, putting pressure on global energy markets. More than 40 per cent of crude oil imported by India passes through the Strait of Hormuz. Over 80 per cent of Indias liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) imports travel through this narrow waterway between Iran and Oman. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While some reports say there will be no hike in petrol or diesel prices, the Indian government has already increased domestic cooking gas prices by Rs 60 per cylinder and commercial LPG prices by Rs 114.5. India has also invoked emergency powers, ordering refiners to maximise LPG production and prioritise domestic consumers of the cooking gas. This has led to disruptions in the supply of commercial LPG cylinders used by hotels, restaurants and other sectors. Lets take a closer look. Restaurants, hotels face brunt Restaurants and hotels in Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru have sounded the alarm about a severe LPG crisis. They have warned that they could be forced to shut down if not provided with LPG refills in the next 72 hours. Many eateries have started trimming their menus to avoid a total disruption to their operations. The National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), the apex body reportedly representing over 5,00,000 restaurants, said last week that restrictions on commercial LPG cylinders are severely impacting the restaurant industry and, in turn, supply of food as an essential service for citizens. On Monday (March 9), Bruhat Bengaluru Hotel Owners Association President PC Rao said restaurants were not getting commercial cylinders and urged the government to intervene to ensure supply. As per Rao, about 25-30 hotels in Karnatakas capital were impacted as suppliers stopped providing commercial cooking gas on Monday morning. Restaurants are now opting for crisis menus that include faster-cooking items. They have also switched to alternative methods for cooking, such as tandoors, electric cookers and induction. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Speaking to Hindustan Times (HT), Rahul Rohra of Veranda in Mumbais Bandra and Khar, said high-flame cooking, particularly for Pan-Asian and Oriental dishes, has come to a near halt as induction cannot replicate that intensity. We should be allowed to use charcoal to cook for the time being, he added. Shiladiya Chaudhury, the owner of popular restaurant chains Oudh 1590 and Chowman, told the newspaper that they were giving preference to tandoor food cooked in coal-based ovens. Efforts are being made to use electric ovens as an alternative for other items but they are not very efficient, Chaudhury said. Bangalore Thindi on Infantry Road, a famous eatery with high footfall for lunch and afternoon meals, declared it would serve only beverages for now, reported Indian Express. A man pushes a trishaw loaded with cooking gas cylinders in the western city of Ahmedabad April 29, 2010. File Photo/Reuters Hotels and restaurants in Tamil Nadu are also facing disruptions in commercial LPG supplies. In Coimbatore, Annapoorna, a popular restaurant, has limited menu choices to conserve fuel, as per India Today. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As eateries curtail their menus, there are growing fears that lakhs of gig workers delivering food and other commodities could lose out on their incomes over the next two days, reported Frontline magazine. It is like a second Covid-19 lockdown for us, the chairman of a popular restaurant chain, on the condition of anonymity, told Indian Express. We have reduced the number of food items. If there is no supply of commercial LPG cylinders, we have no other go than to close down operations, he said. The hotel association in Odisha has also said that operations of several establishments were affected due to the LNG shortage. Hotels and restaurants are highly dependent on the uninterrupted supply of commercial LPG cylinders for their daily kitchen operations. The sudden disruption in supply has severely affected food preparation and service in many establishments. If the situation continues, it may lead to the closure of hotel operations, cancellation of bookings, and severe inconvenience to tourists and visitors, Hotel and Restaurant Association of Odisha chairman JK Mohanty reportedly wrote to Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Punjab Hotel and Restaurant Owners Association is holding an emergency meeting of hospitality industry stakeholders in Ludhiana today to review the situation and discuss possible solutions. Amid the acute shortage, eating at restaurants is expected to get costlier from next month. As per reports, several restaurants are preparing to raise menu prices by 20-30 per cent as early as April, skipping the usual price revision cycle that usually happens around JuneJuly. Meanwhile, industry executives have warned that if the shortage continues, it could result in a black market for LPG cylinders. ALSO READ: Loading... Could a Strait of Hormuz closure slow Indias internet? Autos, laundromats & more Autorickshaw drivers in Kolkata and Bengaluru have expressed concerns about a possible shortage of LNG supplies. Most autos in the suburbs of Kolkata run on LNG. The restrictions on commercial LNG supply have started to disrupt auto services across the city. The number of autos on several routes has plunged by nearly 30 per cent, operators told Times of India (TOI). Kolkata is witnessing long queues at fuel pumps, driven by panic buying and restricted supply. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Many autos in the city still rely on kaata gas (siphoned domestic LPG), which is diverted illegally from household cylinders and used as vehicle fuel. With domestic LPG supplies tightening and prices rising, the availability of such fuel also shrank. Kaata gas price has doubled in the last two days, said an auto operator. Most autorickshaws in Bengaluru also use LPG, increasing anxiety among drivers about any fluctuation in supply and price. Drivers unions pointed out that LPG prices have already surged and different fuel stations are charging different rates. They believe this signals an uncertainty in supply in the coming days. Most autorickshaws in Bengaluru depend on LPG as their primary fuel. While a small number operate on CNG and a few have shifted to electric vehicles, the overwhelming majority still rely on LPG. If the supply chain is affected due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia, it will directly impact auto services across the city. Drivers are already paying nearly Rs 79 per litre at several fuel bunks, and prices vary from one outlet to another. If availability becomes uncertain, hundreds of drivers will struggle to operate, which will also inconvenience passengers who depend on autos for daily commuting, TM Rudramurthy, general secretary of the Auto Rickshaw Drivers Union (ARDU), was quoted as saying by Indian Express. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Besides worries over commercial LNG, there is also no clarity for upmarket apartments that use piped gas. In cities like Mumbai and Delhi, whether supplies will continue normally or not remains uncertain. Gas crematoriums in Pune have reportedly been closed amid concerns of fuel shortages. In Mumbai, the LNG crisis has also affected the citys laundry services, including the over a century-old Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat. LPG cylinders fuel the drying machines that dhobis (washermen) use. But the crunch in gas supplies has slowed operations, forcing many to seek cylinders in the black market at inflated rates, reported Indian Express. State govts, associations reach out to Centre Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday shot a letter to Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri to take action to ensure commercial establishments can continue their operations. Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya also wrote to Puri in this regard. Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin held a review meeting on Tuesday to discuss steps that could be taken by the state. He also wrote to the Prime Ministers Office, calling on the Centre to ensure the situation does not impact the public, commercial establishments, or MSME industries in Tamil Nadu. I have further urged that all necessary alternative arrangements be made for restaurants affected by commercial gas cylinder shortage and that the additional power required be secured, he said after the meeting. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The National Restaurant Association of India also urged the government to ensure an adequate supply of commercial LPG cylinders to restaurants. Similarly, the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) asked the government to exempt the hospitality sector from LPG supply restrictions. On March 10, the Centre invoked the Essential Commodities Act to ensure equitable distribution. Under this, public-sector and private-sector refiners have to ascertain that the propane and butane streams produced by them are directed entirely towards the manufacture of liquefied petroleum gas. FAQs 1. Why is there an LNG crisis in India? India is reeling from a shortage of LNG supplies due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran war. 2. What sectors have been affected? From eateries to laundromats, services that require commercial LNG are facing disruptions to their normal operations. 3. What is the government doing? The government has invoked the Essential Commodities Act to guarantee an uninterrupted supply of cooking gas. With inputs from agencies Iran has reportedly been using cluster munitions during its ongoing conflict with Israel, posing a serious challenge to the countrys missile defence systems. The weapons disperse dozens of bomblets over large areas, increasing risks for civilians and leaving unexploded ordnance that can remain deadly long after attacks An Iranian missile with cluster munitions flies towards Israel, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in central Israel, March 5, 2026. File Image/Reuters Israel says Iran has been deploying cluster munitions throughout their war in West Asia so far, introducing a dangerous and complex challenge for Israels already stretched air-defence systems. These warheads burst apart at high altitudes, releasing dozens of smaller bomblets across a wide area. At night, the submunitions can resemble orange fireballs as they descend, making them difficult to intercept and potentially deadly. Israeli authorities, who are usually cautious about releasing details of Iranian strikes and the damage they cause, have recently tried to raise public awareness about the risks posed by these weapons. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The danger can continue even after civilians leave shelters, as unexploded bomblets may remain on the ground. At least including two workers at a construction site in central Israel on Tuesday. More than 120 countries have signed an international convention prohibiting cluster munitions, although Israel, the United States and Iran are among those that have not joined the treaty. The weapons have been used for decades in conflicts worldwide, including by Israel during its 2006 war with the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. What do we know about cluster munitions? The bomblets scatter and kill indiscriminately After a parent munition is launched, it releases smaller submunitions at altitudes of roughly 7-10 kilometres (4-6 miles). These bomblets then spread over a wide area, ranging from several hundred metres to several kilometres, prioritising coverage rather than precision. Critics around the world argue that cluster munitions cause indiscriminate casualties, as unexploded bomblets can remain hazardous long after they are deployed. In Israel, the risk is particularly high because most of the missiles have targeted the countrys densely populated central region. Cluster bombs dont create real damage to buildings, only people, said Yehoshua Kalisky, a senior researcher at Israels Institute for National Security Studies. Tough to shoot down An Israeli military official, speaking anonymously to AP in accordance with army briefing rules, said Tuesday that about half of the projectiles Iran has been firing toward Israel have been cluster munitions. Israels Arrow missile-defence system has successfully intercepted many incoming ballistic missiles, Kalisky said. However, if cluster munitions are released before a missile is destroyed, there is little that can be done to stop the bomblets. Israels Iron Dome system is designed to intercept smaller rockets fired from shorter distances and lower altitudes. But it is not built to eliminate clusters once they have broken apart into dozens of individual bomblets, Kalisky added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Unlike heavier explosives, the bomblets which often weigh less than 3 kilogrammes (7 pounds) pose the greatest risk to targets such as vehicles, storefronts or people caught outside shelters. They pose a particular threat to the civilian population both during and after use, with victims often including a high proportion of children, according to the Convention on Cluster Munitions. Submunitions also fail to explode more frequently than many other types of warheads. When unexploded, they can behave like land mines, detonating later and causing casualties indiscriminately. The Open Source Munitions Portal, which verifies publicly sourced images of weapons worldwide, has published several photos of unexploded submunitions discovered in Israel this week. It also authenticated images showing Israeli submunitions being used in Lebanon last year. Lt Col Nadav Shoshani, an Israeli military spokesperson, declined to comment directly on the claim but pointed to a post on the militarys Substack. That post noted that cluster bombs may be used against military targets but not civilian areas. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Is Iran using cluster munitions? Most of the destruction in Israel has been caused by larger Iranian missiles, but Iran has been deploying cluster munitions on a nearly daily basis, Shoshani said. He added that Iran fired similar projectiles during the 12-day war in June last year. According to the military, the Iranian warheads contain between 20 and 24 bomblets, each carrying explosives weighing up to 5 kilogrammes (11 pounds). Israels Home Front Command has distributed flyers warning residents not to touch unexploded submunitions. Police have also issued a public service announcement urging people not to handle suspicious objects and to contact authorities instead. What exactly is Iran using? According to the Missile Defense Project at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, Iran announced in 2017 that its Khorramshahr medium-range ballistic missile could carry multiple warheads. These missiles are the largest in Irans arsenal capable of dispersing submunitions. Iran also possesses shorter-range Zolfaghar missiles equipped with submunitions. Cluster munitions, including those seen in videos flying westward toward Israel, can resemble falling fireballs. This effect is caused by friction as the bomblets reenter the atmosphere. NR Jenzen-Jones, director of Armament Research Services, said there is limited open-source information about Irans cluster munitions beyond state television reports of officials touring missile factories and footage from military exercises. However, videos showing their use last week suggest that some Iranian missiles carrying cluster munition warheads are designed to open at high altitude, dispersing the bomblets across areas much larger than most military targets. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Design features that allow them to disperse at such heights including a protective coating on the submunitions to withstand the heat of atmospheric reentry suggest they were intended for far less precise use than cluster munitions seen in other conflicts. The design seems to scatter submunitions so widely as to suggest it was designed purely as a weapon of terror, scattering its explosive cargo indiscriminately over a wide area, Jenzen-Jones told AP. In July 2025, following the 12-day war between Iran and Israel, Amnesty International said Irans deliberate use of such inherently indiscriminate weapons is a blatant violation of international humanitarian law. Are cluster munitions legal? Cluster munitions including those that are more targeted than Irans are not completely illegal, but the Geneva Conventions prohibit their use in civilian areas. They are also banned under newer international agreements that have been signed by more than 120 countries. Cluster munitions were first deployed by Nazi Germany, which dropped so-called butterfly bombs on the United Kingdom during World War II. The United States has used different types of cluster munitions in Vietnam, Laos, Iraq and Afghanistan, and has also supplied them to Ukraine. Russia has been accused of using cluster bombs during its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, though Moscow has denied the allegation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD During the 2006 war in Lebanon with the militant group Hezbollah, the United Nations estimated that roughly 30 per cent to 40 per cent of Israeli cluster bombs failed to explode, leaving southern Lebanon scattered with hundreds of thousands of bomblets. The US State Department later said Israel likely used American-made cluster bombs in civilian areas during the conflict after UN demining teams discovered unexploded bomblets at hundreds of sites. Israel is not currently using cluster bombs, according to a military official who spoke to AP on condition of anonymity under the militarys briefing rules. Also Watch: With inputs from AP Irans new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not publicly appeared since the killing of his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is reportedly being guarded by an elite counterterrorism unit. Known as NOPO, the black-clad squad is more lethal, ruthless and well-trained than the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) A woman holds an image of Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, alongside late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during a funeral ceremony for the Iranian military commanders who were killed in strikes, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 11, 2026. WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters The protection of Irans new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has been threatened by the United States and Israel, is foremost for the Islamic Republic. An elite counterterrorism unit is reportedly in charge of keeping him safe after joint Israel-US strikes killed his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Mojtaba is yet to publicly respond after being chosen as Khameneis successor to become Irans supreme leader. Some reports say that he was injured in the early airstrikes, when the war began, that killed his father, mother, wife and a son. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Lets take a closer look. Squad guarding Irans supreme leader Irans black-clad Counterterrorism Special Force, known as NOPO, has reportedly been tasked with protecting its new supreme leader. As per a Fox News Digital report, the elite counterterrorism unit was deployed to guard 56-year-old Mojtaba Khamenei after his father was assassinated by the US and Israel on February 28. With Khamenei gone, NOPO will likely now be protecting Mojtaba Khamenei, Ali Safavi, an official with the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Paris-based National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), said. He added that the force usually handles hostage rescue operations. Its task was not to protect Khamenei, Safavi said. Mojtaba Khamenei attends a rally in Tehran, Iran, July 1, 2016. ISNA/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters (File Photo) The official further told Fox News that some members of the elite unit were likely killed during Khameneis assassination but that the force remains fully operational. Some of the NOPO could have been killed when Khamenei was killed, but the fact is that they are now involved in the suppressive and security measures the regime has also undertaken in recent days to prevent any outbreak of protests, Safavi said. NOPO: The force protecting Mojtaba Khamenei Formed in 1991, NOPO is Irans highly-trained special police unit. Over the years, it has evolved into a highly specialised force distinct from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The NOPO is composed of six brigades only. Four are stationed in Tehran, one in Mashhad and one in Isfahan, Safavi told Fox News. They are far more lethal, ruthless and well-trained than the IRGC. According to Iranian police commanders, NOPO is generally the best special forces unit in Iranian policing, reported IranWire. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This force was used for the protection of Khamenei, Safavi told Fox News. They are very well-equipped. Khamenei did not trust any other security force for his protection. Agents are recruited for the squad based on physical features and mental health. The officers are selected from among the special units. Height, physical fitness, a high IQ and good mental health are important factors in choosing future NOPO agents. Candidates who have these characteristics will be interviewed by experienced officers, as per IranWire. Besides handling hostage rescue ops, the squad has been deployed against internal security threats. NOPO has been behind the violent suppression of protests in Iran, including the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests and the recent demonstrations in January against the economic crisis. They are both the best and the most violent police forces used to control a situation, an informed source told IranWire in 2020. At the time, a disturbing video of NOPO officers, dressed in black, standing and mercilessly beating petty criminals in the streets had surfaced. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In the parading of petty criminals scheme, two or three of these masked policemen are used to intimidate or, as they say, teach others a lesson and to create fear. They want to dominate the thugs, to imply Your numbers are nothing; you should see our forces, IranWire reported, quoting a source. NOPO agents are deployed in Iran wherever there is a possibility of chaos. For example, several NOPO agents are usually on guard at public executions. Two stand by the executioner so that, for example, if the accuseds family or friends want to disrupt the ceremony, they can control the situation, the source said. In August 2016, former NOPO commander Colonel Hossein Amjadian told ISNA in an interview that NOPO agents are also trained in free-running: Our forces learn to overcome city barriers using parkour, and become specialists in martial arts and self-defence. The agents are also trained in airborne skills, including parachuting, free-fall, and paragliding, he said, adding: Of course, they also learn diving, steering, and water operations too. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In times of crisis, the elite force is tasked with containing any possible unrest. But in times of crisis, such as what happened during the January uprising, they were heavily involved in opening fire on the protesters, Safavi said. Reports suggest hundreds of NOPO members have been stationed around prisons in Iran that have political detainees. The force is reported to have taken control of Evin Prison in Tehran after regular prison officials fled amid Irans war with Israel and the US. Hundreds of suppressive forces are widely deployed around the prison. In Ghezel Hesar Prison, the NCRI said in a statement. In 2021, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on NOPO for committing serious human rights abuses against persons in Iran or Iranian citizens or residents, or the family members of the foregoing. Where is Mojtaba Khamenei? Irans Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has not been seen in public since he was selected for the top post. Irans Assembly of Experts elected Mojtaba on March 8, elevating him as the third Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic. Mojtaba has also not issued any message since the killing of his father last month. State television has used a term that means wounded veteran to describe him, as per Reuters. This means he could have been injured in the strikes. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD New York Times, quoting three unnamed Iranian officials, has reported that Mojtaba had suffered injuries, including to his legs, but that he was alert and sheltering at a highly secure location with limited communication. However, the son of Irans president has dismissed the reports of Mojtabas injuries. Yousef Pezeshkian said Irans new leader was safe and healthy. I heard news that Mr Mojtaba Khamenei had been injured. I have asked some friends who had connections. They told me that, thank God, he is safe and sound, Pezeshkian, who is also a government adviser, reportedly said in a post on his Telegram channel. With inputs from agencies As tensions rise around Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, we look at the worlds most critical maritime chokepoints. From energy flows in the Persian Gulf to trade routes through the Strait of Malacca, these narrow waterways influence global oil supply, shipping routes and economic stability of hundreds of nations A map showing the Strait of Hormuz and Iran is seen behind a 3D printed oil pipeline in this illustration taken June 22, 2025. File Image/Reuters West Asia is embroiled in fighting and the United States has warned Iran against interfering with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. This narrow channel which connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the wider Arabian Sea, and the Strait of Malacca which is thousands of miles away in Southeast Asia, have both been put under the lens as the world looks at the globes most critical maritime chokepoints. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Both waterways handle enormous volumes of oil and goods each year, yet they serve different roles in the global economy. The Strait of Hormuz is often described as the worlds most important energy transit point, while the Strait of Malacca, connecting the Indian and Pacific oceans, functions as a crucial link between resource exporters and manufacturing hubs. Why is the Strait of Hormuz considered the worlds most critical energy route? The Strait of Hormuz allows energy exports from major Gulf producers to reach global markets. Geographically, the strait lies between Iran to the north and Oman and the United Arab Emirates to the south. Despite its enormous strategic significance, it is relatively narrow. The waterway measures about 50 kilometres wide at both its entrance and exit, while the narrowest navigable section shrinks to roughly 33 kilometres. Even with these constraints, the channel is deep enough to accommodate the worlds largest crude carriers. According to estimates from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), roughly 20 million barrels of oil moved through the Strait of Hormuz every day in 2025. This represents around one-fifth of global oil consumption. That level of energy movement translates into trade worth nearly $600 billion annually. Tankers carry oil not only from Iran but also from other major producers in the region, including Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Maritime traffic in the area is also extensive. Approximately 3,000 ships typically pass through the strait each month, transporting crude oil, petroleum products and liquefied natural gas to international markets. The importance of the strait is not limited to the Gulf region. Energy supplies transported through this passage are essential for industrial economies in Asia and beyond. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Countries such as China, India and Japan rely heavily on oil shipments that originate in the Persian Gulf and pass through this narrow corridor. Data from the EIA suggests that in 2022 around 82 per cent of crude oil and condensates leaving the strait were shipped to Asian destinations. China stands out as one of the largest buyers of oil transported through the corridor. It is estimated that China purchases about 90 per cent of Irans exported oil. An aerial view of the Iranian shores and the island of Qeshm in the strait of Hormuz, December 10, 2023. File Image/Reuters Ironically, the closure of the strait would not only affect importing countries but also Gulf producers themselves. Several economies in the region rely heavily on energy exports for government revenue and economic stability. Irans own exports are also significant. According to estimates from the International Energy Agency, the country exports about 1.7 million barrels of oil per day. Data from the Central Bank of Iran suggests that oil exports generated approximately $67 billion in revenue during the financial year ending March 2025 the highest level recorded in the past decade. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Are there alternatives if the Strait of Hormuz is blocked? Because of the strategic vulnerability posed by the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf countries have attempted to develop alternative infrastructure that could allow oil exports to bypass the waterway. Saudi Arabia operates a major pipeline stretching roughly 1,200 kilometres across the country. This system is capable of transporting up to five million barrels of crude oil per day to ports outside the Persian Gulf. On certain occasions, Saudi authorities have also repurposed natural gas pipelines to transport crude oil, providing additional flexibility in times of crisis. The United Arab Emirates has also built infrastructure designed to reduce its reliance on the strait. A pipeline connects the countrys inland oilfields with the port of Fujairah, located on the Gulf of Oman. The Fujairah pipeline has a capacity of at least 1.5 million barrels per day. Despite these efforts, such alternatives cannot fully replace the massive shipping volumes handled by the strait. Analysts estimate that even if these pipelines were used at maximum capacity, the global oil market could still lose between eight and ten million barrels per day in supply if the strait were closed. What role does the Strait of Malacca play in global trade? While the Strait of Hormuz is primarily associated with energy exports, the Strait of Malacca functions as one of the worlds most important commercial shipping routes. Situated between Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, the strait forms the main connection between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. It is the shortest maritime path linking West Asian and African resource exporters with East Asian industrial economies. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Approximately one-quarter of all goods traded internationally travel through the Strait of Malacca. The corridor also handles roughly one-quarter of the oil transported by sea worldwide. In recent years, oil shipments through the strait have averaged more than 23 million barrels per day. This makes it the busiest oil transit corridor globally by volume. Unlike the Strait of Hormuz, where oil primarily flows outward from the Persian Gulf to global markets, shipping through the Strait of Malacca moves in both directions. Energy shipments from West Asia and Africa move eastward to East Asias manufacturing centres. In the opposite direction, finished goods produced in Asian factories are transported to markets across the world. Ships are seen anchored in front of a refinery on Singapores Bukom Island, July 6, 2014. About a quarter of the worlds seaborne oil trade passes through the Malacca Strait, a choke point on the route between West Asia and the energy-hungry economies of East Asia. File Image/Reuters Because of these two-way flows, the strait has become one of the busiest maritime corridors in existence. Why is the Strait of Malacca strategically sensitive? One of the primary issues is congestion. The strait is a narrow channel handling an enormous number of ships each year, which increases the risk of accidents and logistical delays. Security concerns have also been present historically. The region has experienced incidents of piracy, although multinational patrols have reduced the frequency of such attacks. Beyond these operational risks, the strait is also central to broader geopolitical calculations. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The waterway sits at the heart of what analysts describe as the Malacca Dilemma, a term coined by then-Chinese President Hu Jintao in 2003. The term refers to concerns among major powers particularly China that a naval blockade in the strait could disrupt the flow of energy and goods to East Asia. Because so much of Chinas imported oil passes through the corridor, any disruption could have serious economic consequences. Although there are alternative routes for ships seeking to bypass the Strait of Malacca, these options come with disadvantages. The Lombok and Sunda straits in Indonesia provide deeper channels that can accommodate larger vessels, but they significantly increase travel distance and costs. How does India view the Hormuz-Malacca equation? For India, the two chokepoints represent very different strategic realities. The Strait of Hormuz is critical to Indias energy security. Approximately 40 per cent of the countrys crude oil imports pass through this narrow channel. Indias dependence becomes even more pronounced when examining natural gas and cooking fuel imports. Roughly 60 per cent of Indias liquefied natural gas supplies much of which comes from Qatar travels through the strait. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In addition, around 80 to 85 per cent of Indias liquefied petroleum gas used for household cooking moves through the same route. Following the escalation of tensions in West Asia, New Delhi implemented emergency measures to secure domestic fuel supplies. Authorities instructed state-owned refiners Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited to increase LPG output while limiting the industrial use of propane. India also maintains strategic petroleum reserves that can provide a buffer of approximately seven to eight weeks in the event of supply disruptions. While Hormuz represents an energy vulnerability for India, the Strait of Malacca provides strategic advantages. More than 30 per cent of Indias total trade by value moves through this maritime corridor. The route is essential for Indian exports to Southeast Asian economies, Japan, South Korea and the western coast of the United States. Indias geographic position offers a unique vantage point in this region. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands lie close to the western entrance of the Strait of Malacca, allowing Indian naval forces to monitor vessel movements entering or leaving the chokepoint. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What is Indias Great Nicobar project? India has recently taken steps to strengthen its maritime presence near the Strait of Malacca. In February, the National Green Tribunal approved the $9.7 billion Great Nicobar Project. One of the centrepieces of this initiative is the construction of an International Container Transshipment Terminal designed to handle large volumes of cargo traffic. The project aims to transform the island into a major shipping hub capable of competing with established transshipment centres such as Singapore and Colombo. By capturing a share of the traffic that currently bypasses Indian ports, The project also enhances Indias strategic oversight of the Six Degree Channel near the Nicobar Islands one of the busiest maritime corridors in the Indian Ocean. Which other global chokepoints shape the world economy? The Strait of Hormuz and the Strait of Malacca are part of a broader network of maritime chokepoints that underpin global commerce. According to EIA estimates, global oil supply averaged about 104.4 million barrels per day in the first half of 2025. Of this amount, around 79.8 million barrels per day roughly 76 per cent was transported via seaborne trade. Oil tankers accounted for about 28 per cent of the worlds shipping capacity by deadweight tonnage in 2024, according to data compiled by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. Global gas supply in 2024 reached approximately 407 billion cubic feet per day, with about 13 per cent transported through seaborne liquefied natural gas shipments. Other chokepoints play important roles in global logistics. The Suez Canal and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait together form the primary route linking Europe with Asia through the Red Sea. Historically, this corridor has handled about 12 per cent of global trade. However, security threats in the region between 2024 and 2026 forced many shipping companies to reroute vessels around the Cape of Good Hope, increasing travel times by roughly 10 to 14 days. The Panama Canal, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, facilitates around five per cent of global maritime trade. However, recent climate-related droughts have reduced water levels in Gatun Lake, creating operational challenges and forcing restrictions on ship transits. The Strait of Gibraltar serves as the only natural maritime gateway between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. More than 100,000 vessels pass through it each year, transporting goods destined for southern Europe, North Africa and the Black Sea. Together, these routes illustrate the importance of maritime chokepoints to global supply chains. Even temporary disruptions can delay shipments by thousands of miles, raise transportation costs and trigger volatility in energy and commodity markets. Among all the worlds maritime corridors, the Strait of Hormuz and the Strait of Malacca stand out because of the sheer volume of energy and trade that moves through them. Also Watch: With inputs from agencies After 14 years in orbit, Nasas Van Allen Probe A satellite is expected to re-enter Earths atmosphere. How big a threat is it to the planet? According to Nasa, while the spacecraft will burn through, the risk of any danger is low, approximately one in 4,200 An artists rendition represents Nasa's twin Van Allen Probes in orbit within Earths magnetic field to explore the radiation belts. Nasa If the Iran war wasnt giving enough doomsday vibes, a Nasa satellite hurtling down into Earth is bound to make you feel like the world is coming to an end. The American space agency had earlier stated that the Van Allen Probe A satellite would come crashing back to Earth after a 14-year journey through space. The agency predicted that the probe would begin re-entry around 7:45 p.m. ET on Tuesday (March 10) but said that the time may be off by as much as 24 hours, meaning it could come down at any point in the next day or two. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This has got people asking: Will the crashing satellite cause any damage? Heres what we found out. What is the satellite plunging back to Earth? The Van Allen spacecraft, which is more than 600 kilogrammes, is expected to re-enter Earths atmosphere almost 14 years after its launch. According to Nasa, the Van Allen Probe A and its twin, Van Allen Probe B, were launched on August 30, 2012, to study the radiation belts around Earth after which they are named. The pair was designed to fly through and study rings of high-energy radiation particles that are trapped by Earths magnetic field. Through the mission which was supposed to last just two years but the spacecraft managed to continue operating until 2019 numerous discoveries were made about the features and composition of radiation belts. Moreover, a transient third radiation belt that can form during periods of intense solar activity was also uncovered. As Nelofar Mosavi, the Van Allen Project manager at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, said at the time, This mission broke all the records for a spacecraft to tolerate and operate in that hazardous region, all with no interruptions. This mission was about resiliency against the harshest space environment. Sasha Ukhorskiy, a project scientist at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, went further, saying: The Van Allen Probes rewrote the textbook on radiation belt physics. The data provided by the Van Allen probes is being used to measure and predict the impact of solar winds and radiation on communications systems, navigation satellites, power grids, and even astronauts in space. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Why and where will the Nasa satellite crash on Earth? When the Van Allen spacecraft ran out of fuel in 2019, Nasa deemed the mission to be completed. Since then, the Van Allen Probe A and Van Allen Probe B have been languishing in orbit ever since. Originally, Nasa stated that the two probes would re-enter Earths atmosphere in 2034. However, higher-than-normal solar activity has caused our planets atmosphere to expand and frictional drag on orbiting satellites to increase. This has resulted in a shortened time in space for the Nasa satellite. Notably, Probe B isnt expected to re-enter before 2030. It is not immediately clear where in Earths atmosphere the satellite is projected to re-enter. Nasa and the US Space Force have said they will monitor the re-entry and update any predictions. Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist who retired from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, said that because the satellite was descending in an elliptical orbit and would re-enter the atmosphere at about 17,000 miles per hour, it was impossible to predict where and when any surviving fragments might hit Earth. Some predict that there are big chances that it will land in open water. Will the Nasa satellite cause any damage when it returns to Earth? It is unlikely that the Van Allen probe will cause any damage when it re-enters Earths atmosphere. According to the American space agency, most of the spacecraft will likely burn up as it re-enters the atmosphere, but some components are expected to survive the trip back to Earth. The components probably wont hit anyone, with Nasa saying the current odds of the debris causing harm to humans are about one in 4,200, which is minimal. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD McDowell agreed with Nasas assessment about damage risk, telling the New York Times, For the average person, it will be a nice light in the sky if you get lucky and, otherwise, dont worry about it. We have much more scary re-entries that happen. Occasionally, there is a 20-tonne Chinese rocket stage that comes down. Those are much scarier for me. Have people been hurt by space objects before? While Nasa states that theres very little chance of the satellite causing any significant damage on Earth, it does highlight the problem of space debris and the risk it poses. According to the Natural History Museum, there are 3,000 dead satellites in space and around 34,000 pieces of space junk bigger than 10 centimetres in size and millions of smaller pieces that could nonetheless prove disastrous if they hit something else. Until now, there have been few instances of space debris causing harm; in January 1997, Lottie Williams, a Tulsa resident, was hit by a six-inch chunk of metal on her shoulder. That fragment is believed to be a part of the Delta rocket. In 2002, a six-year-old boy in northern China was struck by a 10 kg piece of debris following a satellite launch in a nearby province. He reportedly suffered minor injuries to his toe and head. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD FAQs 1) What is the Nasa satellite crashing into Earth? The satellite expected to re-enter Earth is the Van Allen Probe A, which was initially launched in 2012. 2) Where will the satellite crash? It is not immediately clear where in Earths atmosphere the satellite is projected to re-enter. But many predict that it will be in open water. 3) Is there any risk in the satellite crashing? No. Nasa has predicted that theres a one in 4,200 chance that the debris of the satellite will hit anyone. With inputs from agencies Days after being named Irans supreme leader following Ali Khameneis death, Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared publicly or issued a statement. Reports suggesting he may have been injured during the Ramadan War, as Iran describes the conflict against the US and Israel People walk past a banner depicting Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and late supreme leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 10, 2026. File Image/WANA via Reuters The sudden leadership transition in Iran following the death of long-time supreme leader Ali Khamenei has raised a series of questions about the future of the Islamic Republic and the man chosen to lead it. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was named the countrys next supreme leader only days after the elder Khamenei was killed in a joint US-Israeli strike. Yet nearly four days after the announcement of his appointment, Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared publicly, addressed the nation through video, or issued even a written message. The absence of any direct communication from Irans new leader has generated curiosity about his condition and his location. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD At the same time, the political dynamics behind his rise to power particularly the role played by the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have also come under the lens. Senior Iranian sources say the IRGC strongly supported his selection, viewing him as someone likely to support their hardline agenda. Reports also suggest that Mojtaba Khamenei may have been injured during the ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel, which Iranian authorities refer to as the Ramadan War. Is Mojtaba Khamenei injured? Iranian authorities refer to the confrontation with the United States and Israel as the Ramadan War, and state media coverage has repeatedly used language implying that the new leader was injured during the fighting. Irans state television described Mojtaba Khamenei as a Jaanbaz of Ramadan, a phrase that translates roughly as an injured war veteran. However, these broadcasts did not provide additional information about the nature or severity of his reported injuries. Some reports suggest that he may have been injured in the same wave of US-Israeli strikes that killed his father, though no independent confirmation has been provided. Even if the injuries were minor, they could explain the absence of a public address or appearance during the first days of his leadership. Nevertheless, the lack of even a written statement from his office has continued to fuel speculation. Why does Mojtaba Khamenei owe his allegiance to IRGC? The leadership vacuum in Tehran emerged after Ali Khamenei was killed during a joint strike carried out by the United States and Israel on February 28. Within days of his death, the constitutional body responsible for selecting the countrys supreme leader, the Assembly of Experts, convened to determine his successor. The Assembly is composed of 88 clerics who are elected for eight-year terms and tasked with appointing and supervising the supreme leader. According to reports, the Assembly met in the religious city of Qom to conduct the vote that ultimately elevated Mojtaba Khamenei to the position. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Although the Assembly of Experts formally appoints the supreme leader, senior Iranian sources told Reuters that the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) played a decisive role in shaping the outcome of the succession process. According to these sources, the Guards supported Mojtaba Khameneis elevation and pushed for his appointment despite reservations from some political and clerical figures within the Iranian establishment. Already one of the most influential institutions in the country, the Guards have expanded their power in recent years and reportedly gained even greater influence following the outbreak of the ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel. Sources said some pragmatic voices in Irans political and religious leadership initially expressed concern about Mojtaba Khameneis appointment. These concerns reportedly delayed the public announcement of the decision by several hours. Several insiders told Reuters that the Guards viewed Mojtaba Khamenei as a figure likely to continue his fathers policies while remaining receptive to their strategic priorities. However, some insiders believe that the younger Khamenei may not have the same authority or political experience to manage those competing forces. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Alex Vatanka, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute in Washington, DC described this dynamic by noting that Mojtaba Khameneis position may be closely tied to the support he received from the military establishment. Mojtaba owes his position to the Revolutionary Guards and as such he is not going to be as supreme as his father was. he told Reuters. Where is Mojtaba Khamenei? Nearly four days after his appointment, Mojtaba Khamenei remains unseen. State media has instead relied on older video recordings and photographs when discussing his appointment. Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, visits Hezbollahs office in Tehran, Iran, October 1, 2024. File Image/Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via WANA In some cases, official propaganda networks have also used artificially generated visuals to present a carefully crafted image of the new leader. One of the most visible examples of this narrative is a mural displayed in Tehrans Vali Asr Square. The artwork shows Mojtaba Khamenei receiving the Iranian flag from his father while Ruhollah Khomeini the revolutionary figure who established the Islamic Republic in 1979 looks on approvingly. At the same time, the symbolism has drawn attention to an apparent contradiction. The Islamic Republic emerged from a revolution that overthrew Irans monarchy and rejected hereditary rule. The transfer of power from father to son has therefore raised questions about the nature of the succession. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Officials across the country have issued statements pledging loyalty to the new leader, and the government has encouraged citizens to gather in public spaces to express their allegiance. Large crowds assembled in Tehran in response to these calls, participating in events designed to demonstrate public support for Mojtaba Khamenei. Security considerations are also believed to be influencing Mojtaba Khameneis absence from public view. Following the assassination of his father, Iranian authorities may be taking additional precautions to ensure the safety of the new leader. Reports suggest that an elite Iranian counterterrorism unit has been assigned to protect him. According to information cited by Fox News Digital, the force known as NOPO has been tasked with providing security for Mojtaba Khamenei. The unit, which was formed in 1991, specialises in operations such as hostage rescue missions. Also Watch: With inputs from agencies Jeffrey Epstein killed himself in prison in August 2019. Yet, only some of Epsteins secrets have come out, and many more seemingly remain hidden. Now, the spotlight is turning to two men, Richard Kahn and Darren Indyke, who control what is left of Epsteins vast, sprawling empire. But who are they? Jeffrey Epstein has been dead for years. The disgraced financier killed himself in prison in August 2019. Yet, only some of Epsteins secrets are coming out only now and even more seemingly remain hidden. Now, the spotlight is turning to two men who control what is left of Epsteins vast, sprawling empire. Richard Kahn, Epsteins accountant and bookkeeper, and Darren Indyke, Epsteins lawyer, remain in control of Epsteins finances and his estate. But who are Kahn and Indyke? What do we know about them? How do they control his money and keep his secrets? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Lets take a closer look. Who are Kahn and Indyke? According to CBS, Indyke and Epstein began working together in 1986. Indyke at the time was employed by a small boutique firm in New York City that handled Epsteins real estate deals. By the time the 1990s rolled around, Indyke worked as Epsteins personal lawyer. It was Indyke who helped Epstein set up his corporate and personal base in the US Virgin Islands. Indyke administered Epsteins vast business and personal affairs. Epstein paid him millions of dollars over the years to do so. According to BBC, Kahn has been Epsteins accountant and bookkeeper since 2005. The outlet quoted unredacted papers as showing that Indyke was paid $16 million (Rs 147.28 crore) and Kahn $10 million (Rs 92.05 crore) between 2011 and 2019. Kahn was also manager of a New York-based design company in the 2010s. Zorro Ranch, one of the properties of financier Jeffrey Epstein, is seen in an aerial view near Stanley, New Mexico, US, July 15, 2019. File Image/Reuters _CNN_ quoted Justice Department documents as stating that Kahn handled wire transfers and taxes, wrote cheques and distributed money on Epsteins behalf. Kahn, who also worked closely with Epstein, handles his finances and investments. He also conducted renovations on his private island, Little St James, in the US Virgin Islands. Kahn was also in charge of car repairs and doctors bills, as per News Nation. How they control his money and keep his secrets As per _BBC_, Indyke and Kahn are both co-executors of Epsteins estate. Interestingly, both men were designated as such just days before Epsteins death in prison in 2019. Epstein at the time was awaiting trial for sex trafficking minors. Epstein changed his will to put all his money into a trust that Indyke and Kahn would jointly administer. The outlet quoted FBI documents as showing that when the agency raided Epsteins New York mansion after he was arrested for child sex trafficking in July 2019, they opened his safe. They discovered diamonds, bundles of cash, passports, binders of CDs and hard drives. However, there was an issue with the warrant. By the time they returned, the safe was empty. It was Kahn who ordered staff to empty the safe, package the contents into suitcases and send them to his home. Kahn, through his lawyer, then agreed to deliver the suitcases, which he claimed were untouched, to the FBI. However, he refused to let agents come to the house. He also did not wish to say on whose instructions he had acted. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The two men have paid out millions of dollars to victims since Epsteins death from his estate. Reuters Edwards Henderson, a law firm that represents many of Epsteins survivors, pegged the value of Epsteins estate at $635 million (Rs 5,845.18 crore) in 2019. As per CBS, both men recently settled a lawsuit from victims claiming that they facilitated Epsteins trafficking network. Court documents revealed that they were accused of facilitating sham marriages between women Epstein was abusing for immigration purposes. According to CNN, the settlement, which needs to be signed off by a judge, would pay up to $35 million (Rs 322.18 crore) to Epsteins victims. Among the conditions listed in the payouts is that any survivors who take money from them cannot then take legal action against Kahn and Indyke. The two men have paid out millions of dollars to victims since Epsteins death from his estate. This includes a victims compensation fund which claims to have disbursed around $125 million (Rs 1,150.63 crore) to applicants before shutting down in 2021. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD One of Epsteins survivors told BBC the two men had much to answer for about Epsteins operation. Jeffrey was just one human. Theres no way that he would have been able to keep up with all this on his own, she said. We always say, follow the money, right? If you follow the money, you can understand a lot about how this operation ran. Both men have been subpoenaed by US congressional investigators examining Epsteins network. According to BBC, Kahn is set to appear in Congress today (March 11), and Indyke is due to testify next Thursday (March 19). Both men have denied any wrongdoing and knowledge of Epsteins crimes. Daniel H Weiner, an attorney for both men, told CBS News that the men intended to cooperate with Congress. It is worth emphasising that not a single woman has ever accused either Mr Indyke or Mr Kahn of committing sexual abuse or witnessing sexual abuse, nor claimed at any time that she reported to them any allegation of Mr Epsteins abuse, Weiner said. Indyke and Kahn did not socialise with Mr Epstein, and they have always rejected as categorically false any suggestion that they knowingly facilitated or assisted Mr Epstein in his sexual abuse or trafficking of women, or that they were aware of Mr Epsteins actions while they provided legal and accounting services to Mr Epstein. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Kahns work for Epstein was precisely the same kind of accounting and bookkeeping work that thousands of professionals provide to clients on a daily basis, his lawyer Dan Ruzumna told the BBC. FAQs 1) Who are they? Richard Kahn is Jeffrey Epsteins long-time accountant and bookkeeper, while Darren Indyke is his lawyer. Together, they retain control of Epsteins finances and his estate. 2) How much wealth do they control? A law firm representing many of Epsteins survivors has pegged the value of his estate at $635 million (Rs 5,845.18 crore) in 2019. 3) Did they know about Epsteins abuse of women? Both Kahn and Indyke have denied any knowledge of Epsteins crimes. With inputs from agencies IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers stepped down from his position on Monday (March 10). In an official statement, the company noted that co-founder and managing director Rahul Bhatia would take charge until a suitable candidate is found IndiGo Managing Director and co-founder Rahul Bhatia will be taking over the position of CEO after Pieter Elbers resigned on March 10. File image/PTI Domestic airline IndiGos chief executive officer Pieter Elbers handed in his resignation on March 10, the company said in a statement. The airlines board of directors accepted his resignation, stating that he will be relieved of his duties with immediate effect. The statement further informed that the airlines founder and managing director, Rahul Bhatia, will assume interim charge of the company following Elbers resignation. InterGlobe Enterprises, owned by Bhatia, is the biggest shareholder in IndiGos parent firm, InterGlobe Aviation, holding a 35.69 per cent stake as of December. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The development follows the flight chaos IndiGo faced in December, when massive delays and cancellations affected around 45,000 flights across the country. Here is all you need to know about the leadership crisis at IndiGo. Why did Pieter Elbers resign? Elbers, formerly of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and known for his strong personal branding, in his resignation letter cited personal reasons for his leaving the company. His exit comes after he joined the aviation company in August 2022, soon after the Covid pandemic. However, many note that Elbers resignation comes just three months after the massive crisis that hit IndiGo last December widespread mismanagement caused severe disruptions and stranded millions of passengers. Amid that, Elbers had issued a public apology, admitting the airline failed to live up to its promise of a good customer experience. In a video statement, he acknowledged the operational chaos, saying that the previous steps taken were not enough. Following his resignation, the company put an official statement, which read, We wish to inform you that the Board of Directors of the Company, at its meeting held today, i.e., March 10, 2026, inter alia, took note of the resignation tendered by Mr. Pieter Elbers, Chief Executive Officer. He will be relieved from the service of the Company effective close of business hours on March 10, 2026. The official statement by IndiGo Airlines following Pieter Elbers resignation. Image courtesy: @amithpr/X The company also stated that going forward, Bhatia will assume the management of the affairs of the airline on an interim basis. Rahul returns to assume management of the affairs of the airline to strengthen the Companys Culture, reinforce Operational Excellence and deepen its commitment to delivering exceptional service of care, reliability and professionalism to its customers, said the Chairman of the Board, Vikram Singh Mehta. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Who is Rahul Bhatia? Rahul Bhatia will take charge of the position temporarily. Bhatia is an Indian billionaire and the Group Managing Director of InterGlobe Aviation (IndiGo), which owns IndiGo Airlines. Born in 1960 in Nainital, he graduated from the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, with a Bachelors degree in electrical engineering. He returned to India in 1984 with the intention of starting a telecom business, but could not get regulatory approval from the government at the time. In 1989, he established InterGlobe Enterprises with its flagship business of Air Transport Management. In 2004, he launched InterGlobe Aviation Limited (IndiGo) after acquiring an airline licence. He co-founded IndiGo with aviation expert Rakesh Gangwal. The two met when Gangwal was working at United Airlines in the US, and Bhatia was their India general sales agent. Rahul Bhatia co-founded IndiGo with aviation expert Rakesh Gangwal. File image/PTI InterGlobe Aviation became publicly listed in 2016, making both Bhatia and Gangwal millionaires. Unfortunately, the two men had a falling out over the direction of the company. While Gangwal wanted to expand aggressively, Bhatia sought to be more cautious. According to Forbes, Bhatias net worth was estimated at around $8.1 billion as of December 2025. While the InterGlobe group owns a huge part of the airline, Bhatia personally holds about 40,000 shares, which is roughly a 0.01 per cent stake in the company. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What was the IndiGo crisis? In December 2025, IndiGo experienced a massive operational crisis, leading to the cancellation of more than 5,000 flights due to its failure to comply with new DGCA pilot fatigue management rules (FDTL) that increased mandatory rest periods. The crisis, which peaked around December 5-7, left more than 9 lakh passengers stranded. The situation got out of control, forcing the government to intervene. The crisis was triggered by the airlines failure to adequately prepare for new, strict pilot duty and rest regulations (Flight Duty Time Limitations) implemented by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), leading to severe pilot shortages, especially during high-demand periods. With inputs from agencies Saying it regrets taking the step, the airline said the new rate slab will be implemented in three phases. Air India said that the measure is necessary to keep operations running, adding that they are unavoidable Air India on Wednesday announced that it will increase fuel surcharges in a phased manner due to the crisis in West Asia, which has driven up oil prices. Saying it regrets taking the step, the airline said the new rate slab will be implemented in three phases. Air India said that the measure is necessary to keep operations running, adding that they are unavoidable. Absent such fuel surcharges, it is likely that some flights would be unable to cover operating costs and would have to be cancelled, it said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What are the new rates? For flights to the Middle East, the fuel surcharge will be set at $10. For routes to Africa, it will increase by $30 to $90, while flights to Southeast Asia will see a $20 rise, bringing the surcharge to $60. Air India said the surcharges will be reviewed regularly and adjusted depending on how the situation develops. Meanwhile, Air India Express, the Tata Grouprun airlines low-cost subsidiary, will not impose any fuel surcharge on its flights for the time being, offering some relief to passengers. In a statement, the airline said, Since early March 2026, aviation turbine fuel (ATF), which accounts for nearly 40 per cent of an airlines operating costs, has seen significant price escalation due to supply interruptions. In India, this pressure is amplified by high excise duty and VAT on ATF in major metro cities such as Delhi and Mumbai, magnifying cost the impact and placing substantial strain on airline operating economics. Jet fuel has long been one of the most volatile input costs for airlines. Since India produces only limited amounts of crude oil domestically, carriers remain highly exposed to fluctuations in global oil prices. The IranUS conflict in the Middle East has also disrupted natural gas supplies worldwide. The Strait of Hormuz has remained part of the conflict zone for more than two weeks, leaving over 750 cargo ships stranded at major ports in the region. India meets about 50 per cent of its natural gas demand through imports, with roughly 20 per cent of those imports coming from Qatar. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft suffered a technical problem when its nose landing gear broke, and the plane slid along the runway An Air India Express flight made a hard landing in Thailands Phuket hours after it took off from Hyderabad on Wednesday. The incident led airport authorities to issue a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) to close the runaway till 6 pm local time today. The hard landing caused significant damage to the nose gear of the aircraft. Photographs and videos from the scene show a broken nose wheel lying off the runway. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft suffered a technical problem when its nose landing gear broke, and the plane slid along the runway. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The flight was on board with 133 passengers, who were all safely evacuated from the plane and taken to the waiting area. Emergency response teams rushed to the scene to ensure the safety of passengers and crew. Your browser does not support the video tag. A spokesperson from Air India said, We confirm that our Hyderabad-Phuket flight on March 11 experienced an issue with the nose wheel at Phuket Airport. The crew followed all standard protocols, and guests were deplaned. We thank our guests, the Phuket airport authorities, and all stakeholders for their cooperation. Flight IX 938 departed from Hyderabad at 6:42 am, slightly later than its scheduled takeoff time of 6:20 am, and arrived at Phuket International Airport at 11:40 am local time, according to the flight-tracking website Flightradar24. The nose wheel is a vital part of an aircrafts landing gear system, helping steer the plane and support its front section during taxiing, takeoff, and landing. Kathmandu deserves every encouragement possible as the new order settles down, irrespective of the roadblocks and challenges it will undoubtedly face This famous quote with a brilliant metaphorical expression from Shakespeares Julius Caesar (Act 4, Scene 3), spoken by Brutus, means that there are critical, fleeting moments in life when opportunity is at its peak. Seizing these moments (taken at the flood) leads to fortune, while hesitating leads to failure or mediocrity: There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of their life Is bound in shallows and in miseries. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In the context of the recent Nepal election results, this aptly reflects a new transition of power that is untested but undeterred, with a traction of unprecedented mass support seen in recent years for any political grouping in Nepal. Politics is a fundamental element for humankind, and the new paradigm shifts in Nepal are significant not only because they constitute a wholesale rejection of the established political parties and leadership, but also because they show an emphatic determination to give the people of Nepal democratic governance free of nepotism and corruption, while guaranteeing opportunities for future economic growth and employment. The path ahead for achieving this is obviously not going to be very easy for Nepals new dispensation (in all probability headed by Kathmandus former mayor Balen Shah, popularly known as Balen). For the moment, however, the world needs to applaud the country especially its interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki, the Army, and election authorities for achieving something that appeared impossible a few months ago after the violent agitation that unseated the KP Oli government: peaceful polls enabling comprehensive political change. For too long the world the people of Nepal even more so has been judgemental in criticising Nepal for its unending transition from a feudal order to a meaningful democracy that protects not only freedom of expression but also offers good governance. Nepal deserves every encouragement possible as the new order settles down, irrespective of the roadblocks and challenges it will undoubtedly face. Successive generations in Nepal have agitated with incremental success to reach the present stage; the country possesses the resilience and ability to find its own solutions as it moves forward. All that it needs is encouragement and support that are inclusive, not patronising or re-creating nepotism or corruption in any new forms. There are also ample warning signs that Nepal is impatient with any external attempt (real or perceived) to influence its decisions. Restructuring of the India-Nepal relationship has long been overdue. For far too long it has been trapped in the shadows of the legacy of British India days. This is a unique opportunity for India and Nepal to fashion a forward-looking relationship based on todays realities, popular aspirations, and the immense potential for expanding cooperation. It will be necessary for policymakers on both sides to discard old mindsets, address long-standing irritants with fresh approaches, and prioritise people-centric policies that can be delivered to keep pace with peoples expectations and needs. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India also needs to look at the recent developments in Nepal as part of a wider regional phenomenon, since happenings in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and elsewhere also fall into the same pattern agitations led by frustrated youth demanding faster development and better governance. Pakistan and China will continue to be concerns for the foreseeable future but need not be a brake on a clear-cut regional strategy for rapid growth that will make up for the lost decades. And, of course, the US-led neo-geostrategic aggression has to be well reviewed for a well-thought-out, sane strategy as a balanced counter-mechanism. This too can be a new frontier of collaboration as the world heads towards a new reset; therefore, it would not be an exaggeration to foresee the need for resetting India-Nepal relations. With someone like Swarnim Wagle expected to helm the finance ministry, it is expected that an economist of his stature has a vision for Nepals progressive and sustainable growth by giving economic reforms their long-denied due. He is comparatively an old-timer in his party, the Rastriya Swatantrata Party (RSP), which was founded in 2022 by Rabi Lamichhane. Since ushering Nepal towards healthy economic reform processes will be a real uphill task for a new aspirational Nepal imagined by Gen Z, he will be the person to watch and follow next to Balen Shah. RSP has gained a lot from Gen Z protests and Balens entry as the PM face; however, it would be crucial to ensure stability while keeping intra-party power tussles in check. To maintain an optimistic view of the emerging scenario, Rabi Lamichhane will have to ensure this while keeping both old and new guards in good humour. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD For now, the election results offer a dark cloud over the clamour for the revival of Constitutional Monarchy and Hindu country status. These two causes have been pursued by royalists, civil societies, think tanks, as well as sections from different political groups. Building Nepals new political economy will certainly require giving a fair share of space to forgotten or subdued cultural identities a miss that became too costly for the politicians who ruled but did not necessarily govern Nepal for a long period of time. Time will tell how the new dispensation looks at these matters. In these changed times, India and Nepal have much to collaborate on for a meaningful repurposing of their bilateral ties. Indias commitment to a stable, peaceful and prosperous Nepal shall not waver. Long live India-Nepal relations. (Atul K Thakur is a policy professional, columnist and author [most recently co-authored Kathmandu Chronicle: Reclaiming India-Nepal Relations; Penguin Random House India]. 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 In an amicus brief filing in a federal court in San Francisco, Microsoft backed Anthropics request for a temporary restraining order against the Pentagon order, arguing that its determination should be paused while the court considers the case. Microsoft filed on Tuesday a brief in support of Anthropics lawsuit asking the court to temporarily block the US Department of Defenses designation of the AI startup as a supply-chain risk. In an amicus brief filing in a federal court in San Francisco, Microsoft backed Anthropics request for a temporary restraining order against the Pentagon order, arguing that its determination should be paused while the court considers the case. Microsoft, which integrates the AI labs products and services into technology it provides to the US military, said that it was directly impacted by the DOD designation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Claude maker had filed a lawsuit to block the Pentagon from placing it on a national security blacklist on Monday, escalating a high-stakes battle with the US military over usage restrictions on its technology. Microsofts filing argued the TRO is needed to prevent costly disruptions for suppliers, who would otherwise have to rapidly rebuild offerings that rely on Anthropics products. The judge overseeing the case must approve Microsofts request to file the brief before it is officially entered, but courts often permit outside parties to weigh in on important cases. While the Pentagon gave itself six months to phase out Anthropic, it did not provide the same transition period for contractors that use Anthropics products or services to perform under DOD, Microsoft said. Should this action proceed without the entry of a temporary restraining order, Microsoft and other government contractors with expertise in developing solutions to support US government missions will be forced to account for a new risk in their business planning, the company said. Microsoft added that a temporary restraining order would allow time to negotiate a solution while protecting military access to advanced technology and ensuring AI is not used for domestic mass surveillance or to start a war without human control. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On Monday, a group of 37 researchers and engineers from OpenAI and Google had also filed an amicus brief in support of Anthropic. Rising demand for AI infrastructure is driving up memory costs worldwide, and smartphone makers like Oppo and OnePlus are starting to pass those increases on to buyers. Planning to buy a new Oppo or OnePlus smartphone soon? You may want to act quickly. Oppo has announced that it will increase the prices of several smartphones starting next week, blaming rising component costs linked to the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure. The move highlights how the global push to build AI systems is beginning to affect everyday consumer technology. Here is the in-depth analysis on increasing smartphone prices in 2026 by Firstpost. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As companies invest heavily in AI data centres, the demand for key components such as memory and storage has surged, pushing up costs for device makers. According to a report by Gizmochina, Oppo confirmed that price adjustments will take effect on Monday, March 16. The increase will apply to a number of existing devices in its lineup and may also impact some OnePlus models. That said, there has been no official confirmation yet from the Indian arms of OnePlus or OPPO regarding the reported price increase. We were also unable to locate the alleged notice on the companies official websites, so readers should treat this information with caution for now. Even if the report proves accurate, it may apply to other markets rather than India, which operates under a different pricing strategy. As a result, the potential price hike may not affect Indian consumers, at least at this stage. Oppo to raise prices for select devices Oppos alleged announcement indicates that several of its budget-focused smartphones will see price increases in the Chinese market. The adjustment mainly targets models in the companys A-series and K-series ranges, which are designed to offer affordable options for everyday users. However, the price changes will not affect Oppos higher-end devices. The company confirmed that its Find and Reno series smartphones will remain unchanged, and its Oppo Pad tablets are also excluded from the upcoming adjustments. In addition to Oppo-branded phones, the company said the pricing changes will extend to certain OnePlus devices as well, although it did not specify which models will be affected. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD For now, the adjustments appear limited to China. Still, industry observers say similar increases could eventually reach other markets, including the United States and India, if component prices continue to rise. Budget smartphones are particularly vulnerable to cost fluctuations because they are typically sold with smaller profit margins. Unlike premium devices, manufacturers have little room to absorb rising component costs, which means price increases are more likely to be passed directly to customers. AI boom pushing up memory prices The main factor behind the price hike is the growing demand for memory components driven by artificial intelligence development. AI companies have been purchasing large quantities of RAM and storage hardware to build the data centres that power cloud-based AI models and applications. As demand has surged, supply has struggled to keep pace, triggering a sharp rise in component prices. This competition for memory chips has created a ripple effect across the electronics industry. Manufacturers of smartphones, tablets, and gaming handhelds are now facing higher production costs as they compete for the same components used in AI infrastructure. Recent reports suggest that the shortage has already led to significant increases in the price of RAM and storage. These components represent a larger share of the cost structure in lower-priced devices, making the impact especially severe for entry-level and mid-range smartphones. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Industry forecasts indicate that the pressure on component supply could also affect overall smartphone sales. One projection suggests that the global smartphone market may shrink by nearly 13 per cent this year as rising costs discourage some consumers from upgrading their devices. The trend has not gone unnoticed among industry leaders. Earlier this year, Nothing chief executive Carl Pei warned that smartphone prices were likely to climb as component costs increase. The companys own Nothing Phone 4a and Phone 4a Pro launched with higher prices compared with their predecessors. For consumers considering an upgrade, the situation may create an unusual incentive to buy sooner rather than later. With AI infrastructure expanding rapidly and component supply under strain, smartphone prices could continue rising in the months ahead. As a result, the next few weeks could be an important window for buyers hoping to secure a new device before the broader impact of the AI-driven hardware boom reaches store shelves. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A former employee of Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency allegedly took highly restricted Social Security Administration databases containing sensitive personal information of millions of Americans, according to a Washington Post report, prompting an investigation by the agencys inspector general. A former employee at Tesla CEO Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency stole the personal data of Americans that was well embedded from the US Social Security Administration and secured it all in a thumb drive, according to a report by Washington Post. The former Doge employee told his colleagues at his new workplace that he possessed two tightly restricted databases of US citizens information and was planning to use the information at his new job. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Investigation ongoing The Social Security Administrations inspector general is investigating the significance of the report. The former workers identity was not revealed by the Washington Post. He worked at the Social Security Administration last year and then in October left to work as a government contractor , where he told colleagues that he had obtained two databases, called Numident and the Master Death File, according to The Post. Which reported that the databases could include records for more than 500 million living and dead Americans, including Social Security numbers, places and dates of birth, citizenship, race and ethnicity, and parents names. A spokesperson for the Social Security Administration, still under the control of Doge, denied claims that a former employee stole data on US citizens, accusing the Washington Post of publishing fake news to alarm seniors. The inspector generals office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Breach of personal data This marks the latest suspected breach of Americans personal data linked to Doges involvement in the Social Security Administration. In January, two Doge members were accused in a lawsuit of accessing and sharing restricted Social Security numbers to support an advocacy group seeking to overturn election results in certain states. Another whistleblower within the agency last year alleged that Doge members put Americans at risk by uploading hundreds of millions of Social Security records to a vulnerable cloud server. That same year, a judge barred Doge from accessing SSA systems, saying the Musk-led agency appeared to be on a fishing expedition for fraud. Several DOGE members were placed inside the Social Security Administration after Donald Trump took office last year. According to The Washington Post, at least a dozen Doge employees, mostly engineers and technical staff, worked at the agency, though their roles and responsibilities were not clearly communicated to other staff members. Iranian state media says facilities linked to major US technology firms, including Google, Amazon, Microsoft and more, could become targets as the regional conflict expands into digital and infrastructure warfare. The situation in the ongoing remains grim, with lives lost and tensions escalating across the region. Yet both, Iran and Israel (backed by the US) appear far from stepping back. In a significant shift, Iran is now turning its attention towards American technology infrastructure operating in the Gulf, signalling a possible new phase in modern warfare. Iranian state media reported that facilities associated with major US technology companies could become part of the countrys expanding list of targets. A report by the state-affiliated Tasnim news agency listed offices and infrastructure linked to companies such as Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Nvidia, IBM, Oracle and Palantir across Israel and parts of the Gulf, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to Tasnim, the widening scope reflects a shift towards infrastructure warfare. The agency stated, With the expansion of the regional war into an infrastructure war, the scope of Irans legitimate targets gradually becomes broader. Data-centres emerge as strategic targets The reported shift towards technology infrastructure is already being reflected in recent attacks. Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has allegedly carried out strikes targeting facilities connected to Amazon Web Services in the Gulf region. Iranian drones were reported to have targeted an AWS data-centre in Bahrain last week, following earlier attacks on two Amazon-linked facilities in the United Arab Emirates. Iranian state television claimed the strikes were meant to investigate the role such facilities may play in supporting military or intelligence activities linked to its adversaries. One of the most significant incidents reportedly occurred on March 1, when a Shahed-136 drone struck an AWS data-centre in the UAE around 4.30 AM. The impact triggered a large fire that forced a complete shutdown of the facilitys power systems. Efforts to extinguish the blaze reportedly caused additional structural damage. Soon afterwards, another AWS data-centre in the UAE was reportedly struck, while a third facility in Bahrain was said to have been hit by a suicide drone that exploded on impact. If confirmed, these incidents would represent one of the first known cases of a country deliberately targeting commercial cloud infrastructure during a conflict. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Civilian services caught in the crossfire Beyond the geopolitical implications, the strikes have also disrupted everyday life for civilians in the region. Residents in Dubai and Abu Dhabi reportedly experienced widespread service outages after the incidents. Millions of people found themselves unable to complete routine digital tasks such as booking taxis, ordering food deliveries or accessing mobile banking services. The disruptions affected a population of roughly 11 million people across the UAE, where expatriates account for nearly 90 percent of residents. While the direct military impact of the strikes remains unclear, the attacks have demonstrated how deeply modern societies rely on digital infrastructure. Amazon has reportedly advised customers to consider securing or relocating their data away from the region following the incidents. Data-centres now play a critical role not only in civilian digital services but also in communications, intelligence analysis and military logistics. As a result, they are increasingly seen as strategic assets. Rebuilding damaged facilities could also prove costly, as modern cloud data-centres are among the most expensive pieces of infrastructure ever constructed. Meta introduces new safety alerts across its platforms to warn users about suspicious activity, as the company intensifies efforts to tackle global scam networks and online fraud. As online scams become increasingly sophisticated, Meta is introducing a new set of tools aimed at helping users detect fraud before they fall victim to it. The company has announced fresh scam detection features for Facebook, WhatsApp and Messenger that will alert users to suspicious activity and potentially risky interactions. According to Meta, the tools are designed to flag unusual behaviour early, giving users a chance to pause and reconsider before responding to suspicious friend requests, device-linking attempts or scam messages. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The company said these measures are necessary because online fraudsters constantly evolve their tactics and often attempt to operate undetected. New warnings aim to stop scams early One of the key updates focuses on WhatsApps device-linking feature. Users will now receive alerts if the system detects unusual behavioural signals when someone attempts to link their account to another device. The warning message will show where the request is coming from, allowing users to assess whether it appears legitimate before approving it. Meta explained that scammers frequently attempt to trick victims into sharing device-linking codes through elaborate social engineering tactics. For example, they may pose as a talent competition asking you to cast your vote by going to a website and entering your phone number, followed by a device linking code on your WhatsApp, the company said. They may also try to trick you into scanning a QR code under false pretenses, which would then link the scammers device to your account. The goal of the alert system is to interrupt these schemes before they succeed, particularly when scammers attempt to gain control of a victims account. Meta is also testing new alerts on Facebook to flag suspicious friend requests. These notifications may appear when a user receives or sends a request to an account that shows unusual signals, such as having very few mutual connections or being located in a different country. The company hopes the warnings will encourage users to think carefully before accepting requests from unfamiliar profiles. Meanwhile, the company is expanding advanced scam detection tools on Messenger to more countries. These systems analyse conversations for patterns that resemble common scams, including fraudulent job offers or requests for sensitive information. If suspicious behaviour is detected in chats with a new contact, users may be prompted to share recent messages for an AI-based review. Should the system identify potential fraud, it will encourage the user to report or block the account involved. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The rollout comes shortly after Meta participated in a large international crackdown on organised scam networks operating in Southeast Asia. The company said it removed more than 1,50,000 accounts linked to scam centres across Facebook and Instagram following a coordinated law enforcement operation. Nearly 4,900 of those accounts were identified with intelligence provided by the Singapore Police Force. The operation, known as Joint Disruption Week, was led by the Royal Thai Police Anti-Cyber Scam Center in collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the US Department of Justices Scam Center Strike Force. Authorities in Thailand arrested 21 individuals suspected of involvement in online scam activities during the operation. By combining new technology tools with international enforcement efforts, Meta says it aims to make its platforms more resilient against the growing threat of digital fraud. Meta has temporarily closed its Tel Aviv office amid sustained Iranian missile and drone attacks on Israel, offering hotel accommodation to employees without shelters, as escalating regional tensions and strikes increasingly threaten technology infrastructure and civilian areas across the region. Amid ongoing tensions in West Asia, Meta has reportedly closed its office in Tel Aviv as the city faces continuous strikes from Iran. The report came from The Information, Meta informed its employees via an internal memo. The memo said, We understand that not everyone has access to a shelter or safe room at home during these challenging times. The Meta office said that having a workforce of about 900 employees, the report comes at a time when Tehran has doubled down on missile strikes and drone attacks on Israel. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Meta will be providing hotel stays to the employees for those who did not have access to a bomb shelter. The hotel access is said to be up to five nights. The memo also explained that the present situation has caused stress to hundreds of employees. This has led to distressing experiences for a number of our employees, and we have been looking into ways we can support you. The company assured workers that it was going to support them during this time of conflict. Meta runs a research and development (R&D) office in the Israeli city that is key to the companys operations in the country. The Tel Aviv office was established in 2013 and particularly focuses on AR/VR products for the company. According to the report, Meta shut down the office over the weekend after a series of Iranian missile attacks on Israel, with the move coming as tensions in the region continued to escalate. Tel Aviv is currently under sustained missile and drone attacks from Iran, causing casualties and significant damage to residential, commercial, and critical infrastructure across the city. Till now, at least 11 Israelis have been killed as the conflict entered the 12th day on Wednesday. Whereas, Iran states that over 1,300 civilians have lost their lives in the conflict. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Metas move comes as technology infrastructure across the region faces growing threats. Recent Iranian strikes have also targeted data centres, including Amazon Web Services facilities in the UAE and Bahrain. With two Indian states moving to curb childrens access to social media, expert says bans alone may not solve the problem without stronger age verification and parental consent systems. Social network words and social media logos are seen through magnifier displayed in this illustration taken, May 25, 2021. REUTERS Growing concern over social media addiction and its impact on childrens mental health is pushing governments around the world to act. India has now joined that conversation. Two states, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, have announced restrictions on social media use among minors, signalling the start of a wider policy debate in the country. But the move raises an important question: can banning children from social media actually work in practice? After all, most platforms still rely on users simply entering their date of birth during sign-up. If children can easily bypass the rules by entering a false age, will the ban truly make a difference? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The issue highlights a much deeper challenge for policymakers: how to enforce digital protections for children in an online ecosystem designed around self-reported information. The enforcement dilemma Age restrictions on social media are not new. Many platforms already set minimum age limits, but enforcement has historically been weak. For instance, Instagrams Teen Accounts initiative attempted to address safety concerns by automatically placing younger users into more restricted environments. Teen accounts receive filtered content, tighter privacy settings and parental control options. More from Tech Study flags privacy threat as AI identifies users behind anonymous accounts However, the entire system still depends on accurate age reporting. If a teenager signs up with a higher age, the system may never recognise them as a minor. Even parental controls depend on the platform correctly identifying the users age in the first place. Meta itself has acknowledged that parental oversight tools can be limited and sometimes flawed. This is precisely where critics say bans may struggle. If young users can bypass age checks within seconds, legal restrictions alone may not be enough to keep them off social media. To better understand the issue, Firstpost spoke with Malcolm Gomes, Chief Operating Officer at Privy by IDfy, who believes stronger digital infrastructure will be necessary to protect children online. Protecting children online cannot rely on bans alone, especially at Indias scale. Today most platforms still depend on self-declared age, which children can easily bypass, making enforcement extremely difficult in practice. India has often addressed large digital challenges by building shared digital infrastructure, and child data protection may require a similar approach with reliable age assurance and verifiable parental consent across platforms. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He added that India already has a regulatory framework in place, but the challenge now lies in implementing it effectively. The Digital Protection and Data Protection (DPDP) framework already recognises children as a special category of data principals and restricts behavioural tracking and targeted advertising directed at them. The real task now is to build practical systems that make these protections work in the real world while allowing digital services and businesses to operate responsibly. This means thinking through infrastructure for privacy-preserving age verification, authentic parental consent, and interoperable systems that can work across platforms at Indias scale. Ultimately, protecting children online will require not just regulation, but digital rails that make those protections enforceable across the internet. India joins a growing global movement The policy debate in India gained momentum this week after Karnataka announced a ban on social media use for children under the age of 16, becoming the first state in the country to introduce such a measure. Shortly afterwards, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said his state would introduce a similar restriction, although with a slightly different threshold. Andhra Pradesh plans to prohibit social media access for children under the age of 13, with the policy expected to be rolled out in phases over the next 90 days. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Both governments say the aim is to address growing concerns about excessive screen time, online addiction and the mental health effects of social media on young users. Globally, the issue has already reached courts and regulators. Several lawsuits in different countries have accused social media platforms of designing features that encourage prolonged use among teenagers. Australia, last year, became the first country to implement nationwide restrictions on childrens access to social media platforms, adding further momentum to the global conversation. Indias debate is therefore unlikely to stop with two states. As concerns over childrens digital well-being continue to grow, policymakers may soon have to answer a much bigger question: whether stronger technology, stricter rules or a combination of both will ultimately define the future of young users online. Researchers warn that powerful AI models can now piece together clues from social media posts to reveal the identities of supposedly anonymous users, raising fresh concerns about online privacy. Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming how information can be analysed online, but a new study suggests the technology may also be quietly eroding one of the internets long-standing protections: anonymity. Researchers have found that modern large language models (LLMs), the technology powering tools such as ChatGPT, can often identify the real-world identity of anonymous social media users by analysing small fragments of personal information they share online. The findings highlight growing fears among cybersecurity experts that AI could make sophisticated privacy attacks far easier and cheaper to carry out. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How AI can unmask anonymous users The research, conducted by AI specialists Simon Lermen and Daniel Paleka, explored how language models could gather publicly available information and match it across different platforms. In their experiment, the researchers provided anonymous online profiles to an AI system and allowed it to collect every piece of information it could find. Even seemingly harmless details, such as personal anecdotes or location hints, proved surprisingly revealing. The team described a hypothetical example where an anonymous user mentioned struggling at school and regularly walking their dog, Biscuit, through Dolores Park. The AI then searched across the web and social media platforms for similar details. Using those clues, the system was able to link the anonymous account to a known online identity with a high level of confidence. According to the researchers, tools like these dramatically reduce the cost and complexity of privacy attacks. They said LLMs now make it feasible for attackers to carry out large-scale identity tracing, forcing a fundamental reassessment of what can be considered private online. The risks extend beyond individual privacy. The authors warned that governments could potentially use AI to track anonymous activists or dissidents, while cybercriminals could deploy the technology to create highly personalised scams. Rising fears over AI surveillance The research highlights a growing field sometimes described as AI surveillance. These systems use language models to gather and combine large amounts of online information about a person, a process that would normally require extensive manual investigation. According to Lermen, information already available online can easily be exploited for targeted attacks. Publicly accessible data can be misused straightforwardly for scams such as spear-phishing, where hackers impersonate trusted contacts in order to trick victims into clicking malicious links. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The danger, researchers say, is that AI tools dramatically lower the level of expertise needed to carry out such attacks. With access to a publicly available language model and an internet connection, even relatively inexperienced attackers could potentially run advanced data-analysis techniques. However, experts also caution that the technology is not flawless. Peter Bentley warned that AI systems often make mistakes when linking identities. People are going to be accused of things they havent done, he said. Another concern is that AI systems may use a wider range of public data than people expect. According to Marc Juarez from the University of Edinburgh, datasets such as hospital records, admissions data and public statistics may not be sufficiently anonymised in the age of AI. It is quite alarming. I think this paper is showing that we should reconsider our practices, said Juarez. Still, the technology does have limits. If there is not enough information online, or if too many people match the same details, identifying a specific individual becomes far more difficult. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD They can only link across platforms where someone consistently shares the same bits of information in both places, said Marti Hearst. Researchers say the findings should encourage both organisations and individuals to rethink how they approach online anonymity. Measures such as limiting automated data scraping and restricting bulk access to user information could help reduce the risk. At the same time, users may also need to become more cautious about the small details they share online, as even seemingly harmless posts could one day reveal far more than intended. Senior Khamenei did not think his son was a suitable candidate for the top leadership position and therefore did not want him to succeed People walk past a banner depicting Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and late supreme leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 10, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters Turns out, President Donald Trump is not the only person who is against Mojtaba Khameneis appointment as the next Supreme Leader of Iran. His own father, the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, reportedly wrote in his will that he did not wish his son to succeed him as the Supreme Leader. According to a report by the New York Post, senior Khamenei did not think his son was a suitable candidate for the top leadership position and therefore did not want him to succeed. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Khosro Isfahani, research director at the opposition group National Union for Democracy, told the outlet, In Khameneis will, he explicitly asked Mojtaba not to be named as successor. Sr Khamenei had reservations about son Isfahani said that the late Supreme Leader had reservations about Mojtabas political acumen and was wary about his stature as a leader. Iran picks its Supreme Leader after the Assembly of Experts holds a vote on it. Isfahani added that Mojtabas appointment bypassed the standard procedure, indicating that the selection deviated from the customary process used to determine Irans leadership. Mojtaba is an impotent young cleric who has achieved nothing in terms of political life. All these years, he has been nothing without his fathers name," he said. IRGC pushed Mojtaba through the ranks Irans Revolutionary Guards forced through the choice of Mojtaba Khamenei as the new supreme leader, seeing him as a more pliant version of his father, who would back their hardline policies, bludgeoning aside the concerns of pragmatists, senior Iranian sources told Reuters. Khameneis selection, engineered by the Guards, may add up to a more aggressive stance abroad and sterner internal repression, said the three senior Iranian sources, a reformist former official and another insider. Isfahani said that Mojtaba reportedly did not even secure the majority of the votes from the 88-member council. IRGC pressure also led several clerics to boycott the session which would have decided the new Supreme Leader. Speaking after a classified briefing from administration officials to the Senate Armed Services Committee, Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen called on the administration to send officials to testify publicly in Congress Democratic U.S. senators expressed alarm on Tuesday about the Iran war, saying they were worried that President Donald Trump could deploy U.S. ground forces and noting the high risks given Russian support for Tehrans military. We know that Russia is already helping with intel, providing that to Iran, and that theres an axis with Russia and China, Iran and North Korea that puts at greater risk the United States and our national security, Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire said on CNN. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Speaking after a classified briefing from administration officials to the Senate Armed Services Committee, Shaheen called on the administration to send officials to testify publicly in Congress. Two sources familiar with U.S. intelligence reports have said that Russia is providing Iran with targeting intelligence on U.S. bases and ships. Shaheen and other senators said a series of closed-door briefings from Trump aides have left them with more questions than answers, especially about the cost and expected duration of the war, and whether U.S. forces would be sent into Tehran. We seem to be on a path toward deploying American troops on the ground in Iran to accomplish any of the potential objectives here, Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut told reporters after Tuesdays classified briefing. Trump has not ruled out sending U.S. ground troops into Iran. His Republicans, who have slim majorities in both houses of Congress, have almost unanimously backed his strategy on Iran, with only a handful expressing doubt about the war. Blumenthal also cited the risk of Russian involvement putting American lives at risk. Literally, Russia seems to be aiding our enemy actively and intensively with intelligence and perhaps with other means and China also may be assisting Iran, Blumenthal said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD So the American people deserve to know much more than this administration has told them about the cost of the war, the danger to our sons and daughters in uniform and the potential for further escalation and widening of this war, he said. The lawmakers comments came as they awaited a request the White House is expected to make for more funding for the war. Several congressional aides have said they expect Trump to ask for $50 billion, although others have said that estimate seemed low. Iran police chief Ahmadreza Radan came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the Iranian people directly on Tuesday, urging them to overthrow the regime A woman looks at a tall plume of black smoke ascends following an explosion in the Fujairah industrial zone on March 3, 2026. (AFP) The Iranian police chief has warned citizens against protesting, saying that those who take to the streets against the regime at the enemys bidding will be treated as the enemy. Iran police chief Ahmadreza Radan said, If someone comes at the enemys bidding, we do not regard them as a protester or anything of the sort; we treat them as we would treat the enemy, and we deal with them in the same way we deal with the enemy. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD His comments came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the Iranian people directly on Tuesday, urging them to overthrow the regime. All our forces also have their fingers on the trigger, ready to defend the [Revolution], Radan added. A wave of nationwide anti-establishment protests erupted across Iran in late December, triggering what has become the deadliest crackdown in the history of the Islamic Republic. What did Netanyahu say? Netanyahu told the Iranian people that Israel will soon create the conditions for them to grasp your destiny. In a post on X, Netanyahu said, People of Iran, we are waging a historic war for liberty. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for you to remove the Ayatollah regime and gain your freedom. He added, Together with the United States, we are hitting the Tyrants of Tehran harder. When the time is right, and that time is fast approaching, we will pass the torch to you than ever. Iran arrests dozens Iran has arrested dozens, including a foreign national, for allegedly spying for the countrys enemies, the Intelligence Ministry said on Tuesday, amid a continued war with the US and Israel. Without identifying the arrested persons nationality, Irans Intelligence Ministry said the foreign national was conducting espionage on behalf of the United States and Israel, and acting as a proxy for two Gulf countries, according to state media. The ministry also said 30 spies, internal mercenaries, and operational agents of Israel and the U.S. had been arrested over the past few days. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Separately, Irans Police chief Ahmadreza Radan told state TV that some 81 people had been detained so far for sharing internal Iranian information with hostile media and enemies. He did not give further information. With inputs from agencies In an exclusive conversation with Firstposts Bhagyasree Sengupta, Dr Benedetta Berti, Secretary General, Nato Parliamentary Assembly, shared her take on the disagreement brewing within the alliance, and how it is navigating the turbulent world order For years, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) was a rock-solid bloc known to ensure the defence and security of the West. However, cracks within the group soon became apparent with the rise of US President Donald Trump. Recently, the group has been facing a host of challenges, with a war raging on in Ukraine for the past four years and escalating tension in West Asia. Even Nato members have been seeing the ripple effects of the conflicts. Since last year, Eastern European nations have been dealing with frequent Russian drone incursions, and even Turkey has been targeted by Iran. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This turbulent global environment has compelled the organisation to rethink its defence spending and security infrastructure. Since returning to the White House, Trump has been pushing Nato allies to increase their defence spending. Last year, at the Hague Summit, the alliance agreed to hit 5 per cent defence targets by 2035. However, there have been disagreements over this issue as well. In an exclusive conversation with Firstposts Bhagyasree Sengupta, Dr Benedetta Berti, Secretary General, Nato Parliamentary Assembly, shared her take on the disagreement brewing within the alliance, and how it is navigating the turbulent world order. Flags fly outside NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, November 16, 2022. Reuters Tussle over defence spending One of the most contentious issues within Nato has been the defence spending by member states. For the longest time, the Trump administration has been pushing Nato members to increase their defence budget. Last year, the target was set to reach 5 per cent by 2035. However, several countries have opposed the initiative. While Spain in the past has rejected the target, calling it unreasonable, countries like Belgium and Slovakia have also expressed concern. When asked about the persistent tussle over the matter, Berti recalled how the need to increase defence spending has been realised since 2014. The trajectory in which all Nato allies have recognised that there needs to be an increase in defence spending really started in 2014. In 2014, there were only three Nato members that spent 2 per cent of their GDP on defence. And back then, allies agreed that within 10 years they would all have to get to 2 per cent," she told Firstpost. President Donald Trump (right) meets with Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte during a meeting on the sidelines of the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. File image/AP That was an assessment based on the fact that the security environment was getting more dangerous and we had spent decades investing too little in our armed forces, so we didnt have the capabilities to match the trends, she added. Dr Berti highlighted that the good news now is that most nations spend 2 per cent of GDP on defence. However, she admitted that the current security environment in the region has continued to deteriorate. On that basis Nato agreed new defence plans and then based on these defence plans new targets for capabilities, which essentially means agreed what capabilities each country needs to provide to be part of the collective defence effectively, she explained. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Based on all this, in 2025, allies agreed that actually we will need to get to 5 per cent. That 5 per cent is 3.5 per cent for core defence expenditure linked to those targets, and 1.5 per cent on resilience, cyber defence and really the broader set of security-related expenses. She pointed out how many of the Nato member-states have already surpassed the 5 per cent target, especially in Eastern Europe, central and the Baltic states, pointing to the steady upward trajectory of the spending. So some allies, as you said, have recognised that its not easy to increase the defence budget that much, especially in a fiscally restrained environment. However, all allies agreed that we must do it at the last summit in 2025, and I expect when Nato allies meet again at the summit in Ankara, Turkey, in 2026, they will look very carefully at what progress has been made, Dr Berti said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Greenland question The transatlantic ties took a major hit when Trump and his administration laid out their ambition to take over Greenland, a self-democratic island that belongs to Denmark. When asked about the issue, Dr Berti maintained that the Nato parliamentary assembly believes in Denmarks democratic sovereignty but also stated that the alliance agreed to increase the security infrastructure in the Arctic. Let me start with what I think all Nato allies agree with, and thats, I think, an important starting point. Nato allies agreed that the high North, the Arctic region, has become much more important for European security. Firstly, after Finland and Sweden became Nato members, essentially, if you look at the Arctic Council, all Arctic Council members except Russia are also Nato members, she said. Then, of course, Russian military presence in the Arctic, Chinese commercial and other interests in the Arctic region, when you put it all together, everybody says we need to do more in the Arctic to ensure that our posture is strong, she added. Denmarks King Frederik is welcomed at Nuuk Airport by Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and Speaker of the Greenlandic Parliament Kim Kielsen, in Nuuk, Greenland, on Thursday. Reuters Dr Berti went on to lay out the strategic significance of Greenland. There was an agreement within Nato to increase Nato presence in the Arctic, including Greenland, with a new Nato activity, Arctic Sentry, which added to our defence and deterrence posture, she said. The delegation from Italy also noted that there is also support for political engagement between the Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland and the United States over how to make sure Russia and China never make economic or military foothold in Greenland. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Our Nato Parliamentary Assembly issued a statement on this, supporting more deterrence and defence in the Arctic, supporting that political process, and also affirming that all of this needs to be done in full respect of Denmarks democratic sovereignty, she told Firstpost. Trumps impact on transatlantic ties When asked whether Trump has upended decades-old established transatlantic ties or changed the nature of the ties, Berti maintained that the nature of the transatlantic ties has been changing for many years. We know that there have been structural shifts in the international order. One of those structural shifts has been the rise of China and the growing geopolitical and geostrategic importance of the Indo-Pacific region. I think thats a trend that is not linked to politics, she said. People attend a protest against Donald Trumps demand that the Arctic island be ceded to the US, calling for it to be allowed to determine its own future, in front of the US consulate in Nuuk, Greenland, on January 17. Reuters It is only fair that Europeans do more for their own continent. I think the process started before President Trump. has now accelerated, and it will continue irrespective of who sits in the White House, because the reality of geopolitics will force Europeans to take more responsibility and eventually take a leading role in conventional deterrence and defence in Nato. I think its not the end of the transatlantic relationship. Actually, its a transformation that will make it stronger, she explained. Russia & the outliers Since last year, several Nato member-states have witnessed Russian drone incursions, as sabotage operations. Dr Berti maintained that tackling Russia is crucial for the alliance. Nato, being a political-military alliance with essentially one job, which is to ensure the security of the territory and the citizens of its members, right now, Russia is for us the most direct strategic threat, because of its activities and its war in Ukraine, she said. This pattern of what I would call destabilisation campaigns, whether its drone incursions, whether its cyberattacks, or sabotage of critical infrastructure. Definitely set out an aggressive pattern. Nato, as a defensive alliance, responds by having a strong deterrence and defence posture, by investing strongly in the resilience of our critical infrastructure, so it becomes much less vulnerable to attacks, but also by increasing our deterrence effects, she said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD To respond to Russian Shadow Fleet activities or potential disruption of undersea cables, for two years now, Nato has in place the activity called Baltic Sentry, which is really focused on patrolling and helping European Baltic countries to protect their airspace and their maritime domain, of course. And then, since September, we also have Eastern Sentry, another activity that essentially looks at how to augment our integrated air and missile defence in our eastern flank. So what were doing is defensive, proportionate, and very much focused on making sure that we identify and neutralise threats, she furthered. A subsea cable is a long, insulated fibre-optic cable laid on the seabed to carry internet data, telecommunications, or electricity between countries and continents. (AI Image) However, there have been some Nato members like Hungary and Slovakia that have been inclined towards Russia due to their energy demands. Both nations have been toying with the European Unions sanctions on Russia for a while. When asked how Nato sees these outliers, Dr Berti kept an optimistic stance on the matter. Nato is, of course, an alliance that has now been in place for 76 years, and its an alliance now of 32 democracies. Disagreements are never an exception; theyre actually part of how Nato operates. We have different sovereign nations, different geographies, histories; they share the same broad strategic outlook, but they may prioritise threats differently, she told Firstpost. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Thats actually why you have a platform like Nato. We sit down in the North Atlantic Council and find a consensus. The point I would like to emphasise is that every single time there is a disagreement, it doesnt mean that Nato is in crisis, because otherwise, Nato would have been in crisis since 1949, she said. Disagreements and sometimes very strong interactions are part of how we work as a democracy. And at the end of the day, when you look at the end of every year when allies meet at the summit and agree on their main priorities, you see that in the end, theres always a consensus on the things that matter the most. In our case, boosting defence spending, increasing our defence industrial base, and building more resiliency. In the end, we all pull together, she explained. How Nato is looking at the West Asian tensions Earlier this month, the United States joined hands with Israel to strike Iran, leaving Nato member states surprised and in a dilemma whether to outrightly support Washingtons aggression towards Tehran. When asked how Nato is looking at the ongoing tension in West Asia, Dr Berti reiterated what the alliances Secretary General Mark Rutte said. Secretary General of Nato Mark Rutte has clearly said Nato as an alliance is not directly involved in the current military operations conducted by the United States and Israel against Iran. However, of course, Nato as an alliance is fully engaged in ensuring the protection of all its allies," she said, pointing out how Iran targeted Turkey, a Nato member state, last week. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Secretary General Rutte called this a very serious situation, but one that does not challenge Natos deterrence and defence posture. We have the assets, the plans, and the authorities in place to make sure that we deal with these threats. At the same time, Nato allies have also said that this type of indiscriminate attacks that Iran is launching across the region negatively impact Euro-Atlantic and global security. A man wearing a mask depicting US President Donald Trump attends a rally in support of the people of Gaza, after Friday prayers in Tehran, Iran, October 10, 2025. File Image/WANA via Reuters Irans behaviour in the region historically has been one, in the past decades, of destabilisation through support of terrorism, through its proliferation activities. And therefore, there is certainly support from many Nato allies for neutralising the military threat from Iran. But Nato is not directly involved, she asserted. It is pertinent to note that not all Nato members were in favour of the American operation in Iran. For example, Spains Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has maintained that the European nation would not allow its air bases to be used to strike Iran. In light of this, Dr Berti reiterated that Nato as an alliance is not involved directly, if the US requests of individual member states certain access to bases, that would be done on a bilateral national level. It is Spains sovereign choice to decide how to handle that particular request. A very different scenario is when a Nato ally, for example, like Turkey, is directly threatened or attacked. For that, we have defensive plans, ballistic missile defence assets deployed, she said. We have assets, capabilities, and plans in place to make sure that those threats would be identified and neutralised. So I would keep those as two different situations. Expectations from the Ankara Summit When asked about her expectations from the Ankara Summit, Dr Berti said that she is expecting a strong signal that commitments made in 2025 about defence spending are being met. I would expect a continuous upward trajectory in defence spending. I also expect that we will continue to work together as allies to procure more together and to strengthen our defence industrial base, she said. Ukraine will remain high on the agenda and how to continue maintaining military support for Ukraine today as a defence itself, tomorrow in a potential post-conflict situation, and also to ensure it can negotiate from a position of strength. Finally, I would also expect that we continue to keep the focus on how to ensure civil preparedness through higher resilience over critical infrastructure, she concluded. Firstpost spoke to Dr Berti on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue 2026. 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 International Energy Agency on Wednesday agreed to release 400 million barrels of oil to ease supply disruptions caused by the ongoing war involving Iran, marking the largest coordinated stock release in the agencys history The International Energy Agency on Wednesday agreed to release 400 million barrels of oil to ease supply disruptions caused by the ongoing war involving Iran, marking the largest coordinated stock release in the agencys history. According to a CNBC report, the IEA did not specify a timeline for when the oil reserves would reach the market, stating that the release would occur at a pace suited to the circumstances of each of its 32 member countries. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The organizations members are largely advanced economies across Europe, North America, and Northeast Asia, and the agency is tasked with maintaining global energy security. The IEA was established in 1974 following the 1973 ArabIsraeli War, after Arab oil producers imposed an embargo in response to United States support for Israel. The conflict in the Middle East is having significant impacts on global oil and gas markets, with major implications for energy security, energy affordability and the global economy for oil, CNBC quoted IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol as saying in remarks broadcast from the groups headquarters in Paris. I can now announce that IEA countries have unanimously decided to launch the largest ever release of emergency oil stocks in our agencys history, Birol added. IEA members currently hold more than 1.2 billion barrels of public emergency oil stocks, with a further 600 million barrels of industry stocks held under government obligation. Birol said the planned release of emergency oil reserves is intended to address the immediate effects of the supply disruption caused by the conflict involving Iran. However, Birol stressed that tanker traffic must resume through the Strait of Hormuz to restore stable oil and gas flows to global markets. The strait is a narrow maritime corridor off Irans coast linking the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. About 20% of the worlds oil and gas shipments normally pass through the route. Tanker traffic through the strait has largely halted as shipping companies fear possible attacks by Iran. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Earlier on Wednesday, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Japan plans to release oil from its national reserves as early as next week, citing the countrys exceptionally high level of dependence on energy supplies from the Middle East. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has triggered the largest oil supply disruption in history, according to analyses by Rapidan Energy Group and Wood Mackenzie. Analysts warned that even the International Energy Agencys maximum emergency stock release may not offset the nearly 20 million barrels per day that normally transit through the strait. Birol said Middle East producers are cutting output while refinery operations are disrupted, threatening supplies of diesel and jet fuel. He added that continued attacks are damaging energy and related infrastructure. Global liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies have also dropped by 20%, forcing wealthier Asian economies to compete with Europe for limited cargoes. Oil markets have remained volatile since the February 28 outbreak of the Iran war, with Brent crude surging to nearly $120 a barrel earlier this week before retreating to around $90. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies After granting a 30-day waiver to buy Russian oil, US envoy Sergio Gor has hailed India as a great partner and pitched the purchase of Russian oil as a tactic to stabilise the market a far cry from a few months back when top US officials accused India of funding the Russian war machine. Sergio Gor, the Ambassador of the United States to India and Special Envoy to South and Central Asia, speaks at the US Embassy in Delhi on January 12, 2025. (Photo: Screengrab from PTI video) After granting a 30-day waiver to buy Russian oil, US envoy Sergio Gor on Wednesday hailed India as a great partner and pitched the purchase of Russian oil as a tactic to stabilise the market a far cry from a few months back when top US officials condemned India for funding the Russian war machine. In a post on X, Gor said that India has been a great partner in maintaining stable oil prices around the world and the administration recognises ongoing purchases of Russian oil are a part of this effort. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Last week, Trump granted India a temporary waiver to buy Russian oil to enable oil to keep flowing into the global market amid the ongoing war in West Asia oil prices have risen to their highest levels in four years as oil and gas producers have cut prices and Strait of Hormuz has been choked. This stop-gap measure will alleviate pressure caused by Irans attempt to take global energy hostage, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said at the time. India has been a great partner in maintaining stable oil prices around the world. The United States recognizes ongoing purchases of Russian oil are a part of this effort. India is one of the largest consumers and refiners of oil and it is essential for the United States and India Ambassador Sergio Gor (@USAmbIndia) March 11, 2026 Even though Gor has now praised India, Trump previously raised tariffs on India to 50 per cent over the purchase of Russian oil. Peter Navarro, his economic adviser, accused India of funding the Russian war machine, Bessent slammed India for profiteering from the war, and Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller called Indias actions unacceptable. India has been a good actor Gors statement came shortly after the White House described India as a good actor that previously stopped buying sanctioned Russian oil. Trump permitted India to buy Russian oil that was already on the sea as a short-term measure, White House Press Secretary Karolina Leavitt said. As per Kpler, however, Indias purchase of Russian oil remained largely consistent over the months see the graphic below. Data: Kpler Even though Trump has now granted India a 30-day waiver, India has never sought it and maintained it would secure energy suppliers from wherever it would get the best deal irrespective of the American position in the matter. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Even as Trump had slapped India with 50 per cent tariffs the highest in the world over the purchase of Russian oil, India continued to buy Russian oil and maintained Indias energy requirements guided fuel purchases, not the position of any foreign government. Here are the latest economic events in the Middle East war on Thursday: Iran vows to keep Strait of Hormuz closed Irans new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei called on Thursday for using the lever of blocking the Strait of Hormuz, which the countrys Revolutionary Guards vowed to carry out. Historic fallout: IEA The Middle East war is creating the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market, as Irans chokehold on regional supplies forces Gulf producers to slash production, the International Energy Agency said, citing crude production currently down by at least 8.0 million bpd. The conflict is hampering the global economys supply of oil and weakening production capacity after Iran tightened its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of global crude passes. Oil prices hit $100, again Brent crude jumped more than 10 percent to as high as $101.59 a barrel as traders focused on attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz rather than the release of oil from strategic reserves, analysts said. Deadly attacks on tankers off Iraq An attack on two oil tankers off Iraq killed at least one crew member, an Indian national, as Iran pressed a campaign to disrupt global energy markets in retaliation for US and Israeli strikes. The other crew members were rescued, Farhan Al-Fartousi, from Iraqs General Company for Ports, told AFP. Cargo ship catches fire after hit with shrapnel German shipowners Hapag-Lloyd said that one of their cargo vessels in the Gulf caught fire after being hit with shrapnel overnight, adding that no one was injured. We dont know where (the debris) came from, whether it was a rocket or a drone or another munition, a company spokesman told AFP. US not ready to escort tankers through Hormuz The US military is currently not ready to escort tankers through the critical Strait of Hormuz because all its assets are focused on striking Iran, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said. Maritime body calls emergency talks The International Maritime Organization (IMO) said it would convene an extraordinary session next week to discuss threats to shipping in the Middle East and particularly in the Strait of Hormuz. Drone falls near Dubai finance hub A drone fell near Dubais financial district, an AFP journalist saw, a day after some companies evacuated the area following Iranian threats against economic targets linked to the US and Israel. Kuwaits international airport saw damage from drone attacks, civil aviation said. China tightens refined oil export curbs China has tightened export curbs on refined oil products, Bloomberg News reported, as Beijing seeks to shield its economy from the war. The worlds second-largest economy is the top importer of crude oil, with its refining operations mainly serving the countrys massive domestic market. South Korea price cap South Korea said a fuel price cap would be imposed to mitigate pressure on the countrys energy supply during the Iran war, the first such measure introduced there. With the country heavily reliant on energy imports, including shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, Seoul says it will try to find alternatives to secure supplies. Spain to curb impact of price hikes Spains leftist government said it would soon present a plan to contain the Middle East wars impact on electricity and fuel prices in one of Europes most dynamic economies. Airlines react to higher fuel prices New Zealands national airline said it would cancel 1,100 flights over the next two months. Hong Kong aviation giant Cathay Pacific announced new jet fuel surcharges for most routes and Air France-KLM said it was hiking ticket prices. TotalEnergies says shuts 15% output TotalEnergies said it had shut down 15 percent of its total oil and gas production due to the war in the Middle East. Days after an attack on a military base in Cyprus, a British warship has set sail to the West Asia theatre. While the United Kingdom has not joined the US-Israeli war on Iran, it has joined defensive operations, taking down Iranian missiles and drones attacking British and partners interests. HMS Dragon, a Royal Navy Type 45 Daring-class air-defence destroyer warship, is guided by tug boats as it departs from HM Naval Base Portsmouth on March 10, 2026. (Photo: Justin Tallis/AFP) Days after an attack on a military base in Cyprus, a British warship on Tuesday set sail to the West Asia theatre to join defensive operations. The warship is headed to RAF Akrotiri, one of the two British bases in Cyprus. It will be joined by Wildcat helicopters in defensive operations. The government has put two more ships, aircraft carrier Prince of Wales and landing ship RFA Lyme Bay, on standby for deployment to the region. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Follow our live coverage of the US-Israeli war on Iran During the ongoing war, RAF Akrotiri has been targeted at least twice. A Shahed-type drone struck a hangar at the base on March 1. The air defences neutralised another attack on March 4. While the United Kingdom has not joined the US-Israeli war on Iran, it is part of defensive operations in the region. British warplanes are flying frequent sorties and F-35s and Typhoons have taken down Iranian projectiles over the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Jordan, and Bahrain. Defence Secretary John Healey has also said that anti-drone units are also working in Iraq. UK sends warship to West Asia theatre finally The British warship, HMS Dragon, left Portsmouth a week after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced the deployment. Critics have said the delay raises questions about the governments will to defend British and partners interests in the region and puts under doubt the militarys ability to fulfil its mission. HMS Dragon set sail to the West Asia theatre days after French President Emmanuel Macron announced a mission to deploy nearly a dozen warships to the region. French warplanes have already joined defensive operations in West Asia to take down Iranian projectiles. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly slammed Starmer for not initially allowing the United States to use British bases to launch initial attacks on Iran. When the UK announced joining defensive operations after the beginning of the war, Trump said the United States did not need British help anymore. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Despite the rhetoric, US warplanes have been sighted taking off for operations from RAF Fairford, a British airbase in the UK, according to media reports. Saudi Arabia and nuclear-armed Pakistan, which shares a border with Iran, signed a defence pact in September last year, strengthening their long-standing security partnership. The agreement is now being tested amid the escalating crisis in West Asia Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif embrace each other on the day they sign a defence agreement, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, September 17, 2025. File Image/Saudi Press Agency via Reuters Pakistan will come to the aid of Saudi Arabia if required, a spokesperson for the countrys prime minister said, as Iran retaliates against US-Israeli strikes by targeting Gulf states. Saudi Arabia and nuclear-armed Pakistan, which shares a border with Iran, signed a defence pact in September last year, strengthening their long-standing security partnership. The agreement is now being tested amid the escalating crisis in West Asia. Mosharraf Zaidi said in an interview with Bloomberg TV on Wednesday that there was no question we might, we will come to Saudi Arabias aid no matter what and no matter when. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Both countries, even before the defence agreement, have always operated on the principle of being there for the other, he said. The real question is what is Pakistan doing to make sure things dont come to a point where any of its closest partners are further embroiled in a conflict that could potentially undermine stability and prosperity in the region, he added. Zaidi also said Saudi Arabia has arranged support for Pakistans supply of oil and diesel since the conflict began, as a global fuel crunch hits the import-dependent country particularly hard. Meanwhile, Tehran has continued missile strikes on Gulf states in the week-long conflict with the United States and Israel, a major confrontation with global repercussions. Saudi Arabia said Saturday that it intercepted drones heading toward a major oil field, the latest energy facility targeted in the fighting that has pushed up crude and natural gas prices. Over the weekend, Pakistans army chief, Asim Munir, visited Saudi Arabia to meet Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman Al Saud. The two discussed joint measures to counter Iranian drone and missile strikes on the kingdom, marking the first real test of the defence pact between the two nations. Pakistans foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, has also been in frequent contact with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, since the conflict erupted, Zaidi said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Those conversations as well as other conversations are the reason, for example, that youve seen some of the conciliatory efforts that Iran has made towards the Gulf countries, he said. President Trump on Wednesday said that the war with Iran will end soon, claiming there is little left to target and emphasising that the decision to end the conflict rests solely with him President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that the war with Iran will end soon, claiming there is little left to target and emphasising that the decision to end the conflict rests solely with him. Little this and that Any time I want it to end, it will end, Axios quoted Trump as saying in a brief phone interview. The war is going great. We are way ahead of the timetable. We have done more damage than we thought possible, even in the original six-week period, he added, highlighting what he described as significant progress in military operations. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Even as President Trump has publicly suggested that US operations have largely achieved their objectives, US and Israeli officials say there has been no formal directive on when the fighting might end. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday said that the war will continue without any time limit. This operation will proceed without any time limit, until we reach all the goals and decisively win the campaign, CNN quoted Israel Defence Minister Israel Katz as saying during a meeting at Israel Defense Forces (IDF) headquarters in Tel Aviv on Wednesday morning. He did not outline specific military objectives for what Israel has dubbed Roaring Lion, instead placing the responsibility for Irans future on its citizens. We should also continue to do it in order to enable the Iranian people to rise and act, and get rid of this regime. Eventually, its up to them, he added. Trump had previously offered mixed signals about ending the conflict, calling it a short-term excursion while also warning that the US could strike Iran twenty times harder, adding that we have not won enough. Washington faces mounting pressure to rein in the conflict as global energy markets react to rising tensions. Crude oil prices jumped to nearly $120 per barrel on Monday, and several energy producers have suspended operations following Iranian attacks in the Gulf. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint carrying about one-fifth of global energy shipments, remains effectively closed after the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced control of the waterway. The White House described Operation Epic Fury as a resounding success, emphasising that the war will continue until Trumps objectives are met and Iran surrenders. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi also asserted that Qatar continues to remain extremely worried about the wider implications of Irans attacks that have damaged major oil infrastructure in the country and its neighbours Smoke rises after reported Iranian missile attacks, following United States and Israel strikes on Iran, as seen from Doha, Qatar. Reuters Qatars Foreign Minister, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi, has said that Irans attacks on regional countries bring benefit for no one, adding that they are not Tehrans enemy. Speaking to AlJazeera, al-Khulaifi said, Its unfortunate where we are standing right now. We also believe that there is no pathway to a sustainable and long-lasting solution other than returning to the negotiation table. The minister also asserted that Qatar continues to remain extremely worried about the wider implications of Irans attacks that have damaged major oil infrastructure in the country and its neighbours. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Al-Khulaifi said that Qatar condemns in the strongest terms, the unjustified and outrageous attacks on the state of Qatar that directly impact its own sovereignty." He also called for Iran, Israel and the US to stop fighting and get to the negotiation table. Qatar rejects mediator role amid attacks The Qatari foreign minister noted that the attacks come after the country played a mediator role and tried to build bridges between Iran and the West. He said that neither Qatar nor Oman, which has also served as a mediator, will play the role until the attacks stop. We will not be able to fulfil that role under attack, and thats something the Iranians need to understand, he said. The regional countries are not an enemy of Iran, and the Iranians are not understanding that idea, al-Khulaifi added. Pezeshkian apologises to neighbours Irans President Masoud Pezeshkian has apologised to neighbouring countries for recent attacks carried out amid the escalating regional conflict, saying Tehran has no intention of invading other nations. In a televised address, Pezeshkian said Iran would stop targeting neighbouring countries unless attacks were launched against the Islamic Republic from their territory. The temporary leadership council announced yesterday that there will be no more attacks on neighbouring countries and no missile launches unless attacks originate from those countries against Iran, he said. There have not been many changes in Pakistans behaviour that were expected after Operation Sindoor, and the 27th Amendment has instead strengthened the Field Marshal Asim Munir of the Pakistan Army, Indian Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi has said. General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff, speaks in an interview with Harsh V Pant in an interview on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue 2026 at Delhi. (Photo: Firstpost) There have not been many changes in Pakistans behaviour that were expected after Operation Sindoor, and the 27th Amendment has instead strengthened the Field Marshal Asim Munir of the Pakistan Army, Indian Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi has said. In an interview at the Firstpost IdeasPod at the Raisina Dialogue 2026, Dwivedi said he does not find a lot of changes which were expected after Operation Sindoor. Dwivedi noted that the 27th Amendment did not just put all the three branches of the military under Munir along with the nuclear command but also made the Pakistani polity and bureaucracy subservient to him. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Dwivedi further said, As far as India is concerned, India must remain alarmed, India must remain alert, and you see what they have already done along the Iran border and what they have already done with Afghanistan. Therefore, we cannot take it for granted. Therefore, we have to be extra cautious, careful, and always prepared to take on any eventuality with our western neighbour. With the 27th Constitutional Amendment, Pakistan Army chief Munir essentially became the countrys czar, formalising the open secret that it is the Pakistan Army that runs the country and the civilian government works within the framework set by it. As for Operation Sindoors execution, Dwivedi said that it was the first time India implemented all three components of deterrence: credibility, capability, and the will to wage war. This is the first time when we actually executed all that. That is the first lesson which I wish to give you: it was a new normal and we said this will now be a policy that in case there is a terror action, the policy will be to retaliate under our own terms and conditions, said Dwivedi. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 in response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack Pakistan-based and -backed The Resistance Front (TRF), a cover name for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) claimed responsibility for the attack. Under the operation, India struck terrorist facilities across Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK). When Pakistan responded with attacks on Indian civilian and military areas, India struck Pakistans military sites across the country, battering airbases, air defence sites, and other tactically and strategic important sites. The conflict ended on May 10 after Pakistan requested a ceasefire and India granted the request. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Pakistan is only pressing the button: Dwivedi on two-front challenge Outlining the two-front challenge that India faces from Pakistan and China, Dwivedi said that Pakistan was merely pressing the button. During Operation Sindoor, Pakistan attacked India largely with Chinese weapons and platforms, such as J-10 and JF-17 fighter planes and PL-15 E missiles. Top officials have also said that China was providing real-time intelligence assistance to Pakistan during the conflict. In the case of Pakistan, I can say that its only the Pakistan soldier which is only pressing the button. The equipment which is there is from a different country. The information which is reaching through the satellites is from a different country. The artificial intelligence network is provided is also from a country. So, what it means? If Pakistan is obtaining this capability from somewhere. It means the interoperability is a cause of concern for me. Exchange of information during the operations is a cause of concern for me, said Dwivedi. Last year, Lieutenant General Rahul Singh, the deputy Army chief, said that China provided live inputs to Pakistan during the conflict. He said the situation was such that India fought two adversaries during the conflict, with Pakistan being the front face and China providing all possible support. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD When asked about his top concern, Dwivedi said the only challenge was to be able to read the events, connect the dots, and not be surprised. He cited Operation Sindoor as an outcome of such preparations. He said when India launched Operation Sindoor, every component of the armed forces and intelligence services knew what to do. It was like an orchestra. Every soldier knew its role what is to be done. And thats why the orders were there, executionary orders were there, and every soldier on ground performed the duty which he was required to perform, said Dwivedi. As for reforms, Dwivedi said that jointness within the branches of the military shall come first and then integration of operational commands will follow. He added that there should be good news in this area this year. Dwivedi said that the focus remains on increasing synergy within the armed forces and building a leaner and sharper military. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD If I have to look at: chhota hai toh accha hai. It means the bigger organisations, bigger deployment will not work out because they are visible. Therefore, you have to be small, you have to be self-contained and only look at the mass effect at the point of decision, said Dwivedi. Listing developments like the creation of combined arms brigade, Bhairav units, and the drone regiment, Dwivedi said that the organisational and doctrinal transformation is already in motion. As for the equipment transformation, such as the induction of Rafales, he said that requires a gestation period and will need time more than five to seven years. As Iran has continued to engage cordially with India despite its nuanced position in the ongoing war, former Foreign Secretary Nirupama Menon Rao has stressed one needs to read between the lines to understand that Iran values Indias strategic ambiguity and continued engagement. Massive plumes of smoke spread across various parts of Tehran, Iran, on March 8, 2026, enveloping it in darkness (Photo: Majid Asgaripour/WANA/Reuters) As Iran has continued to engage cordially with India despite its nuanced position in the ongoing war, former Foreign Secretary Nirupama Menon Rao has stressed that one needs to read between the lines to understand that Iran values Indias strategic ambiguity and continued engagement. In a post on X, Rao said that even though the Iranian readout of the call between Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar used very harsh words for the United States and Israel, the tone was notably different about India. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Follow our live coverage of the US-Israeli war on Iran While the readout declared the United States and Iran as criminals and called upon the governments to condemn their actions, the tone shifted completely when it came to India, according to Rao. There is no criticism, no complaint, no hint of disappointment about Indias silence or cautious posture. The restraint is deliberate, said Rao. Iran recognises the reality that India has close relationships with the United States and Israel and cannot call them out, but it also understands the value of continued engagement with India that could help it diplomatically, according to Rao. Moreover, Rao highlighted that Iran would gain nothing by antagonising India publicly. Instead, Iran is doing something much subtler: keeping India inside the tent. By emphasising continued consultations and bilateral relations, Iran is signalling that it still sees India as a country worth engaging, perhaps even as a potential diplomatic bridge to other actors, noted Rao. Diplomatic statements are often most revealing in what they omit, and the Iranian readout is a textbook example of that. Look closely at the structure of the statement. The Iranian foreign minister uses very strong language about the United States and Israel crimes, https://t.co/fUQERYPfSx Nirupama Menon Rao (@NMenonRao) March 11, 2026 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In the ongoing war in West Asia, . Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to West Asian leaders and partners in the West, such as French President Emmanuel Macron, and Jaishankar has held regular calls with his counterparts, including in Iran he also met Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh in Delhi on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue. Iran values Indias strategic ambiguity, says Rao Rao said that Irans stance suggests that it values Indias strategic ambiguity. While India has not called out the United States and Israel for attacking Iran, it has also not condoned their actions despite close partnerships with both of them. Instead of slamming India, Iran is essentially telling that we know you cannot say what we want you to say but we are not going to push you into a corner, according to Rao. That kind of restraint is rarely accidental in diplomatic language. It suggests that Iran still sees India as a country whose strategic ambiguity is useful rather than hostile, said Rao. For Iran, staying connected with India throughout the war and keeping the relationship alive could very well be a diplomatic victory, according to Rao. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Newly released government files have revealed that UK officials flagged concerns about Mandelsons past ties to Epstein before his appointment as ambassador to Washington, intensifying scrutiny of PM Starmers decision British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was warned that appointing an associate of convicted US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as the UKs envoy to Washington carried a reputational risk, according to AFP, citing government documents released on Wednesday. The warning appeared in a due diligence report prepared before Starmer appointed Peter Mandelson as Britains ambassador to the United States in late 2024. The report forms part of the first batch of thousands of documents being published regarding the controversial appointment. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to the report, the disclosure is expected to renew political pressure on Starmer, who has faced repeated questions over his judgment and previously resisted calls to resign over the decision. The revelations also come as Epsteins legacy continues to cast a shadow over Britains political establishment and royal family. Both Mandelson and Prince Andrew have been subject to police investigations related to their past associations with the late financier. The due diligence advice submitted to Starmer in December 2024 cited several reports detailing Mandelsons links with Epstein, who was convicted of sex offences in Florida in 2008, including soliciting a minor. According to the report, their relationship continued across 2009-2011, beginning when Mandelson served as a government minister and continuing after the end of the UKs last Labour government in 2010. It also noted that Mandelson reportedly stayed in Epsteins house while he was in jail in June 2009. Last month, lawmakers ordered the Labour government to release tens of thousands of emails, messages and documents outlining how Mandelson was vetted for the ambassadorial role. The documents released on Wednesday run to about 150 pages. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Starmer has maintained that Mandelson lied repeatedly to officials about the extent of his friendship with Epstein before and during his time as ambassador. However, the prime minister has also acknowledged that he was aware Mandelson had maintained contact with Epstein after the latters conviction. Severance Government minister Darren Jones insisted the due diligence report did not expose the depth and extent of their ties. He added that Starmer asked further questions of Mandelson following the report but that that document cannot yet be released. The prime minister knew all he needed to know. It was on him, Alex Burghart of the Conservative opposition told parliament. Starmer sacked Mandelson as ambassador in September last year after documents released by a US Congressional committee revealed new details about Mandelsons ties to Epstein. They included that Mandelson told Epstein to fight for early release shortly before he received his 18-month sentence for admitting to procuring a child for prostitution. Starmer has insisted that he acted swiftly after becoming aware of the information. The publication of further files earlier this year suggested that Mandelson gave sensitive documents to Epstein when he was a government minister, including during the 2008 financial crash. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It unleashed a political storm, with two of Starmers top aides resigning over the row. It also saw police arrest Mandelson, a former Labour spin doctor, last month on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He has not been charged and denies wrongdoing. Wednesdays documents show that Mandelson was paid 75,000 ($106,000) severance. He had asked for more than 500,000, equivalent to four years salary. Starmer has apologised to Epsteins victims for the appointment. His government committed Wednesday to reviewing vetting procedures. It is also due to release documents on ex-prince Andrews 2001-2011 role as a trade envoy. Andrew, who was stripped of his royal titles last year, was arrested by police last month over allegations he shared sensitive documents with Epstein during his time in the role. In what appears to be targeted attacks, gangs of suspected Somali men have been terrorising Indian-origin shopkeepers and restaurant owners in UKs Wembley, with several reports of shops being trashed, according to a report In what appears to be targeted attacks, gangs of suspected Somali men have been terrorising Indian-origin shopkeepers and restaurant owners in UKs Wembley, with several reports of shops being trashed, according to a Times of India report. The incidents follow an attack in Harrow last week, when a gang reportedly assaulted attendees at a Holi celebration. According to the report, Wembley shopkeepers believe the same group may be responsible. Bob Blackman, Member of Parliament for Harrow, raised the Harrow attack in Parliament on Monday, saying, Thugs from the Central Mosque attacked the annual Holi celebration in Harrow, attempting to assault over 1,000 peaceful worshippers. 20 attackers, one arrest The Met has questions to answer. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Manek Chowk Indian restaurant on Ealing Road, Wembley, was attacked twice in the past week on March 5 and March 7. Video footage shows the attackers, most wearing thobes and face coverings, descending upon the restaurant, overturning tables and chairs, and leaving food and crockery scattered, reported ToI. It started in Traders Wembley last Wednesday. Three men from Daman and Diu were beaten up in the toilets and left bleeding. It was a Somalian gang of young boys, ToI quoted a local PIO store owner, who witnessed the vandalism, as saying. Next, they targeted Manek Chowk. It was a gang of 15 to 20. They came from the mosque area and attacked the restaurant, and 10 or 12 youths got off the bus and joined them and started smashing the restaurant. They didnt speak with anyone. They just started throwing tables and chairs. They attacked the tills and broke the lights. An Indian man who tried to intervene was hit with a bottle. It keeps happening after 8pm and is totally unprovoked, added the store owner. Another video, recorded on March 6, showed a group of masked men wearing thobes at Panesar Food and Wine on Harrow Road, Wembley, pulling boxes of fruit and vegetables from shelves, tossing them to the ground, and stomping on them. They destroy the places, video it and go. It looks like they are paid, ToI quoted a local as saying. Both times, by the time police showed up, the gang had fled after causing destruction worth thousands of pounds. On Monday night, a Gujarati-origin man was stabbed in Ealing Road and rushed to A&E. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Any violent or targeted intimidation of local businesses is utterly unacceptable and will not be tolerated in Brent. We encourage anyone with information or footage to come forward to the police without delay, said a Brent Council spokesperson. With inputs from agencies The vessel, MAYUREE NAREE Bangkok, was struck near its stern while sailing in waters close to Iran, according to a report The vessel, MAYUREE NAREE Bangkok, was struck near the Strait of Hormuz while sailing in waters close to Iran. Image Courtesy: @ThaiEnquirer A Thai-flagged cargo vessel travelling through the Strait of Hormuz was struck by a projectile on Wednesday while en route to Indias Kandla Port in Gujarat, leaving three crew members missing, according to AFP. Thai-flagged vessel attacked near Strait of Hormuz, three crew reported missing A Thai-flagged cargo vessel was reportedly attacked near the Strait of Hormuz on March 11, leaving three crew members missing, according to media reports. The vessel, MAYUREE NAREE Bangkok, was hit pic.twitter.com/fpoU2wuV3h Thai Enquirer (@ThaiEnquirer) March 11, 2026 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The vessel, MAYUREE NAREE Bangkok, was struck near its stern while sailing in waters close to Iran, reported Thai Enquirer. At the time of the incident, the ship had a total of 23 crew members on board. Initial reports indicated that three crew members were unaccounted for following the attack. Details about the nature of the strike and the condition of the vessel were not immediately available. Shipping data from MarineTraffic showed the vessel had departed from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and was en route to India when the incident occurred. Authorities have not yet released further information as investigations into the attack continue, reported Thai Enquirer. Reacting to the development, India on Wednesday condemned attacks on commercial shipping amid the ongoing conflict. We have seen reports about the attack on a Thai ship, Mayuree Naree, in the Straits of Hormuz on 11 March. The ship was bound for Kandla in India. India deplores the fact that commercial shipping is being made a target of military attacks in the ongoing conflict in West Asia, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India also expressed concern over the loss of lives, including those of Indian citizens. Precious lives, including of Indian citizens, have already been lost in multiple such attacks in the earlier phase of this conflict and the intensity and lethality of the attacks only seems to be increasing, it added. India reiterates that targeting commercial shipping and endangering innocent civilian crew members, or otherwise impeding freedom of navigation and commerce, should be avoided, the statement further read. UK says cargo ship set ablaze Meanwhile, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Wednesday that a cargo vessel was struck by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, triggering a fire onboard and forcing the crew to evacuate. It has been reported that a cargo vessel has been hit by an unknown projectile in the Straits of Hormuz, which has resulted in a fire onboard, the UKMTO said in a statement. Hours later, a container vessel was also hit by a suspected projectile off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, the agency added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Master of a container vessel has reported that the vessel has sustained damage from a suspected but unknown projectile, the UKMTO said, noting that the extent of the damage remained unclear but that all crew members were safe. Earlier in the day, another container ship was reportedly struck off the UAE coast by an unidentified projectile. The incidents come as the conflict in the Gulf appears to be widening, with Iran targeting vessels in and around the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. Irans Revolutionary Guards have claimed they have complete control of the strait. According to data from the UK Maritime Trade Organisation, the International Maritime Organization, and Iranian authorities, at least 10 oil tankers have been struck, targeted, or reported attacks in or near the strait between March 1 and March 10. With inputs from agencies Okhtyrka Brewery to hold remote meeting on April 6 Okhtyrka Brewery PJSC will hold a remote general meeting of shareholders on April 6, 2026, through the Ukrainian depository system. The agenda includes, in particular, the approval of annual results and reports, consideration of management reports, distribution of profits or coverage of losses, as well as organizational issues. PJSC Akhtyrsky Brewery is a brewing company in Akhtyrka (Sumy region). The company operates in the beer and beverage production segment. U.S. police officer shot in "active shooter incident" in Baltimore Xinhua) 10:59, March 11, 2026 WASHINGTON, March 10 (Xinhua) -- A police officer was shot in an "active shooter incident" in Baltimore, a major city in the U.S. state of Maryland, located some 40 miles (64 km) northeast of Washington, D.C., local authorities said Tuesday. Baltimore Police Department "is on scene of an Active Shooter Incident in the 6200 block of Park Heights Avenue. An officer has been shot and transported to Shock Trauma," the department said in a post on social media X. "A suspect was also shot," it said, urging residents to avoid the surrounding areas. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Gary E. Gordon, DVM 1933 - 2026 Gary Gordon passed on Jan. 30, 2026, very peacefully, with his wife Lucia and daughter Shawnee Wildey by his side at Templeton Hospital after a broken leg surgery. He was born December 19th, 1933, in Oakland, California, when his father worked on the Oakland Bay Bridge. It was during the Depression. After a very short time in Oakland, they moved to Fort Peck, Mont., where he attended first and second grade. In 1941, they moved to Panama, where his father was employed as an iron worker. Here he attended the third grade. In 1943, they bought a minimal ranch out of Wolf Point, Mont. They had no electricity or plumbing. Gary attended a country school from fourth to eighth grade. It was two miles from home, and he rode his horse to school. On cold, wintry days, his dad drove him. When Gary was thirteen, his brother Arlie was born. As the country school only went to the eighth grade, he had to go to Nashua, Mont. for high school. This was a very tough time, as he had to stay away from the ranch home all week and room and board in town. Gary graduated from high school in 1951, after which he attended Montana State College in Bozeman and Great Falls. In 1954, he joined the Marine Corps. When he was discharged in 1956, he went back to Montana State in Bozeman. In 1958, he was accepted to veterinary school at Washington State in Pullman, where he graduated in 1962 with his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine. He then worked as a relief veterinarian in several small animal hospitals in Seattle and for a short time in a meat packing plant in Billings, Montana. In July of 1963, Gary met his wife Lucia (Lu) in Bozeman, Montana. After a very short courtship, they married on September 14th, 1963, at the Soldier's Chapel in Gallatin Valley, Montana. During their first year of marriage, they worked in Glasgow, Montana. Gary practiced in a very busy mixed practice. Then they moved to Havre, Montana, and built a veterinary hospital. This was a mixed-practice country clinic. After five years, the veterinary hospital was sold, and Gary and Lucia moved to Southern California to start a new practice. In 1981, after twelve years of living in Yorba Linda, California, Gary sold his new practice and moved the family to Paso Robles, California. He continued to see clients, practicing veterinary medicine for an additional twenty years, after which he worked around his home and ranch. During this time, he did extensive missionary work in Haiti, Nicaragua, and Mongolia until his passing in 2026. Gary is survived by his wife Lucia of 62 years; his brother, Arlie Gordon of Fort Peck; his son, Chance Gordon; his daughter, Shawnee Wildey; his grandsons, Tristan Wildey, Noah Wildey, Caleb Wildey, and Sebastian Gordon; and his granddaughters, Courtney Tencati and Samsara Gordon. Written by his wife: Lucia Gordon Info leaked by alleged spies not critical - military exec Philippine News Agency By Priam Nepomuceno March 10, 2026, 5:33 pm MANILA -- Information reportedly leaked by alleged members of the espionage ring "neutralized" by the National Security Council is not that vital to Philippine security, a ranking military official said on Tuesday. Philippine Navy (PN) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and Inspector General, Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad said in a media briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City that the leaked data falls under the lowest level of the military's information classification system. "These are classified considering the positions of the concerned personnel at the lower level of the plantilla hierarchy. Their access to information is limited to those only classified. We have (levels of) classifications for our information (and these are) classified, confidential, secret and top secret. Their access level was (limited) to classified information," he said. Information leaked by these alleged spies mostly consisted of "operational data for the WPS" and "plans of the PN for modernization and strategic basing." Trinidad declined to comment when asked about updates on tracking or identifying the handlers of these alleged spies. "Any subsequent operation arising out of this accomplishment that are still considered active cases, we will not divulge considering that they are still operational matters," the PN official said. He said the espionage was uncovered through the government's Insider Threat Program (ITP), which was launched in 2023 in the wake of the military's pivot toward the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept, a strategic shift where the Armed Forces of the Philippines is tasked to defend all Philippine territories, including its 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone. "(The implementation of this) has uncovered and stopped espionage activities with the exposure of four of the persons who were involved. Three of them have been approached and they cooperated. They are now under the control of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The fourth one, a PN officer refused the offer given to him," Trinidad said. "I would like to highlight number one, the ITP, the Insider Threat Program, is working as manifested by these accomplishments," he added. Likewise, the PN official said that the program is continually being evaluated and enhanced. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Random Numbers, Persian Code: A Mysterious Signal Transfixes Radio Sleuths -- And Intelligence Experts By Mike Eckel March 10, 2026 The radio signal first started broadcasting on February 28, about 12 hours after the United States and Israel began bombing Iran. On a scratchy shortwave signal almost twice a day -- in the early morning and early evening on Coordinated Universal Time -- a man's voice can be heard speaking Persian, counting out a series of apparently random numbers. The numbers are read out for varying stretches of time, followed by a pause in which the word tavajjoh -- which translates as "attention" -- is spoken three times. The mystery of the transmission transfixed many in the global community of amateur radio sleuths, who have traded notes and tips on the signal, who's behind it, and what its purpose might be. Five days later, it got more interesting. Beginning on March 4, the signal started to be jammed, with a cacophonous screech of electronic noise that made it all but impossible to hear the numbers. The original transmission paused for a period of time, then moved to another shortwave frequency. "It's interesting because it started to be jammed on the initial frequency," said Akin Fernandez, who is widely considered an authority on the decades-old encoded radio technology known as a "numbers station." "Someone doesn't want the recipient [of the signal] to hear the numbers." "It's an adversarial situation, two groups acting against one another. The question [is] who has the technical means to jam a station," Fernandez said. "The United States has the means, which means this is being transmitted by Iran. Or then it could be Iran, which means the United States is the transmission source." "More likely this is an operation against Iran," he said. 'Absolutely Unbreakable' Regardless of whose transmission it is and who is doing the jamming -- there are plenty of competing theories -- the mysterious broadcast is a throwback to another era, before the advent of digital encryption used widely in apps like WhatsApp and Signal and other places. The transmission is called a "numbers station" -- a Cold War-era tool that employs radio transmissions and old-school cryptology to transmit secret messages -- usually to spies around the world. The concept: Using a random series of a numbers, generated by some mechanical or electronic device or something more powerful, a person can send a coded message to another person in possession of a decoder, often called a "one-time pad." Anyone can listen to the transmission; shortwave transmissions travel long distances, signals bouncing off the atmosphere. But only a person with the decoder key can decipher it. The concept got a cameo in the US spy drama The Americans, set in the 1980s. Numbers station code is "absolutely unbreakable," said Fernandez, who more than two decades ago published a four-CD audio compendium of hundreds of recordings from around the world called the Conet Project. It's considered the Bible for numbers-station enthusiasts. "The number keys that are used are perfectly random. There are no mathematical operations you can use on them to brute force them," he said. "And even if the answer gets out, say in proper English, it's not necessarily understandable." "You can't tell anything about a random set of letters or numbers by their length other than their length. The length of message is not the content of the information being transmitted," he said. "But it is possible to infer the purpose of stations by the length that they're online and the noise they transmit if there is no text message." The Persian language broadcast is the first new numbers station in years, according to Priyom,a blog run by radio enthusiasts who were first to identify, catalog, and analyze the signal, which they've dubbed V32. US-based reporter Seth Hettena also highlighted the signalin a blog post on March 4. The group says its far-flung members have been able to triangulate the origin of the signal's transmitter: "somewhere in an area encompassing northern Italy, Switzerland, western Germany, eastern France, Belgium and the Netherlands." That narrowed the possibilities for the owner of the V32 transmission. And then the jamming started. Bubble Jammer During the Cold War, broadcasts such as those from the BBC, Deutsche Welle, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, among others, were routinely jammed by Soviet bloc authorities who wanted to discourage citizens from getting uncensored information: news about their own countries, or, say, jazz and rock music from the West. You drown out the incoming broadcast with dissonant noise, something known as a bubble jammer. On March 4, according to Priyom, a bubble jammer started broadcasting noise on the same shortwave frequency as the original V32 broadcast, rendering it difficult to understand. The V32 transmissions were interrupted briefly and then switched to another nearby frequency, Priyom said. "At first the station was thought to be a spy station for the Iran Islamic regime, but when the bubble-jammer appeared to jam it, it was an eye-opener," said Mauno Ritalo, a database administrator at the Radio Data Center, a German-based radio company. "It is exactly the same kind of bubble jammer that is used against Radio Farda, VOA Farsi, Iran International TV shortwave relay and BBC Farsi," he said. "Even Radio Free Iran suffered from it one night." Radio Farda is the Persian-language service for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, also known as RFE/RL. As for the source of the transmission, the global radio community has competing theories; many appear to home in on the United States as the originator, potentially sending coded messages to agents within Iran. Other theories focus on Israel or even Turkey, which is not a participant in the US-Israeli campaign but is a long-established regional rival to Tehran. Or, the Priyom bloggers posited, it could be a psychological operation: "a pretty visible, single-frequency station, starting up out of nowhere for a prime-time show on the first day of the war, with relatively few reliability features to ensure recipients actually could copy messages in their entirety and without errors." The CIA did not immediately respond to an e-mailed query from RFE/RL. Further muddying the waters: ABC News on March 9 reported that the US government had sent an alert to law enforcement agencies regarding "intercepted encrypted communications." The report did not specify what exactly the transmission was, or whether it was a numbers station signal. "While the exact contents of these transmissions cannot currently be determined, the sudden appearance of a new station with international rebroadcast characteristics warrants heightened situational awareness," ABC quoted the alert as saying. RFE/RL correspondent Kian Sharifi contributed to this report Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/mystery-numbers-station-persian- signal-iran-war/33700659.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 Contracts Contracts For March 10, 2026 ARMY ICON Technology Inc., Austin, Texas, was awarded a firm-fixed-price contract for construction of an expeditionary Rotational Unit Billeting Area and supporting infrastructure at the Joint Readiness Training Center to enhance reception, staging, onward movement, and integration operations. The amount of this action is $67,869,161, with a total cumulative face value of $201,036,833. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Fort Polk, Louisiana, with an estimated completion date of March 5, 2031. Fiscal 2026 military construction, Army funds in the amount of $67,869,161 were obligated at the time of the award. Theater Support Center, HQ Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Sam Houston, Texas, is the contracting activity (W51EW7-26-9A-001). (Awarded March 6, 2026) The Nutmeg Companies Inc.,* Norwich, Connecticut, was awarded a $15,201,340 firm-fixed-price services contract for building repairs at Westover Air Reserve Base. Work will be performed in Chicopee, Mass., with an estimated completion date of Aug. 11, 2027. Fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance, Army Reserve funds in the amount of $15,201,340 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Kentucky, is the contracting activity (W912QR-26-C-A009). Meritus Solutions Group LLC,* Titusville, Florida, was awarded a $13,559,369 firm-fixed-price services contract for armed guard security services. Work will be performed in Cascade Locks; The Dalles; and Rufus, Oregon, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2030. Fiscal 2026 through 2030 Corps of Engineers civil funds in the amount of $13,559,369 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland, Oregon, is the contracting activity (W9127N-26-C-A002). Amentum Services Inc., Chantilly, Virginia, was awarded a $12,000,000 modification (P00083) to contract W58RGZ-25-C-0003 for global aviation maintenance services. Work will be performed in Chantilly, Va., with an estimated completion date of March 10, 2026. The modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $320,008,866. Fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $12,000,000 were obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY System High Corp., Chantilly, Virginia, has been awarded a $39,837,500 modification (P00030) to cost-plus-fixed-fee contract HR001122C0073 for program security services. The modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $166,476,462 from $126,638,962. Work will be performed in Arlington, Virginia, with an estimated completion date of March 2027. Fiscal 2026 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $12,863,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity. AIR FORCE TAC Industries, Springfield, Ohio, has been awarded a $22,203,800 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery requirements contract for cargo low profile side nets and cargo top nets. This contract provides for the manufacture of cargo low profile side and top nets with associated tie downs. Work will be performed at Springfield, Ohio, and is expected to be completed by March 5, 2027. This contract was a sole source acquisition. No funds are being obligated at time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Combat Readiness-Support Equipment and Vehicles, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8534-26-D-0001). Perry Management Corp of South Dakota LLC, Wahiawa, Hawaii, was awarded a $21,973,319 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for municipal solid waste management services. This contract provides for all personnel, equipment, tools, materials, vehicles, supervision, and other items and services necessary to perform installation-wide municipal solid waste collection and disposal, to include asbestos disposal service. Work will be performed at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, and is expected to be complete by Jan. 31, 2031. This contract was a competitive acquisition and nine offers were received. Fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $2,247,189 are being obligated at the time of award. The 502d Contracting Squadron, JBSA-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas, is the contracting activity (FA301626D0008). Viasat Inc., Carlsbad, California, was awarded a $13,978,682 firm-fixed-price contract for global satellite communications. This contract provides services for Naval senior leadership communications-aircraft satellite communications provided for the Navy C-37 aircraft maintaining connectivity to support Naval senior leaders and very important persons with internet access to maintain and increase productivity and intelligence while in flight. Work will be performed globally and is expected to be completed by March 9, 2028. This contract was a sole source acquisition. Fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $6,881,579 are being obligated at time of award. The Space Systems Command Commercial Space Office, Chantilly, Virginia, is the contracting activity (FA254126CB012). *Small business https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/4430325/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Arctic Sentry enhances Allied cold-weather operations preparedness through Exercise Cold Response 2026 NATO Allied Joint Force Command (JFC) Norfolk Mar 9 2026 NORFOLK, VA, March 9, 2026 -- Cold Response 2026 (CORE 26), which starts today and runs to March 20, 2026, is a clear demonstration of NATO's presence and posture in the High North and Arctic, under the Arctic Sentry framework. Cold Response 26, a Norwegian-led military exercise, will gather more than 25,000 troops from across 14 Allied nations to conduct cold-weather training and exercise NATO defence concepts, while testing and validating Allied forces integration in multi-domain activity. Among the participating nations are the United States, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, key nations important to defending and deterring aggression in the High North and Arctic. Together these NATO nations will train alongside each other, sharing experiences of operating in the extreme cold weather and challenging terrain of the Nordic region, ensuring that NATO nations are able to operate in the High North and Arctic year-round. During the exercise, NATO Allies will conduct joint flight operations, mass casualty drills, live-fire events, situational lanes, multilateral land training, and amphibious missions. Designed to enhance Allied military interoperability, Cold Response 26 will demonstrate the Alliance's ability to exercise total defence of the region, under Arctic Sentry - NATO's recently announced multi-domain military activity. Arctic Sentry is a NATO enhanced vigilance activity (eVA) dedicated to the defence and security of the Arctic region. Arctic Sentry provides an overarching operational direction for NATO activity in the High North and Arctic, with exercises like Cold Response 26 representing the ability of Allied nations to deploy, train and conduct multidomain operations in the region. Story by JFCNF Public Affairs NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Army approves M111, first new lethal hand grenade since 1968 By Michael Chambers March 10, 2026 PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. -- The U.S. Army has cleared the M111 Offensive Hand Grenade for full material release. Developed by the Capabilities Program Executive Ammunition and Energetics, CPE A&E, in conjunction with the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center at Picatinny Arsenal, the M111 OHG will replace the obsolete body and fuze of the Mk3A2 hand grenade series, marking the first new lethal hand grenade to achieve full material release since 1968 when the Mk3A2 entered service. The Mk3A2 is restricted for use due to its asbestos body, unlike the M111 which utilizes a plastic body that is fully consumed during detonation. The M111 will provide increased training and operational readiness while providing the Soldier with a safer option. It also offers Soldiers the ability to fight more effectively in closed quarter urban environments by leveraging blast overpressure, BOP, instead of fragmentation to deliver lethality. When used in grenades, BOP delivers devastating effects to enemy personnel and equipment without fragmentation and is a potent tactical advantage in the field. The M67 fragmentation hand grenade projects lethal and incapacitating fragments that can be deflected when employed in enclosed, restricted terrain like buildings, rooms and structures, whereas the M111 OHG projects high BOP effects that are less affected by obstacles in enclosed and restricted terrain. "One of the key lessons learned from the door-to-door urban fighting in Iraq was the M67 grenade wasn't always the right tool for the job. The risk of fratricide on the other side of the wall was too high," explained Col. Vince Morris, Project Manager Close Combat Systems, CPE A&E. "But a grenade utilizing BOP can clear a room of enemy combatants quickly leaving nowhere to hide while ensuring the safety of friendly forces." In open terrain, the Soldier will employ the M67 to maximize lethal fragment effects, whereas in enclosed and restricted terrain, Soldiers will employ the M111 to maximize BOP effects on the enemy. "We've given our Soldiers and joint warfighters the flexibility to determine in the field which type of grenade will best suit the current situation they are facing, be it open space or confined area," explained Tiffany Cheng, one of the DEVCOM Armaments Center engineers that developed the M111 at Picatinny Arsenal. Another major benefit of the new M111 design is standardization. The new grenade and its training version, the M112, leverage the same five-step arming process as the M67 and its training version, the M69, allowing Soldiers to train as they fight, improving combat performance and effectiveness. In addition, the M111 and M112 use the same fuzes as the M67 and M69 respectively, thereby enabling Army acquisition professionals to save costs by leveraging economies of scale made possible by common fuze production lines when sourcing both grenades. Both grenades also have government-owned intellectual property that enables the Army to effectively compete production contracts across the industrial base, enhancing production opportunities for multiple vendors while providing best value to our customers, the Soldiers and the taxpayer. "By standardizing the arming process and the fuzing, the Army saves taxpayer money without sacrificing lethality on the battlefield," said Morris. "This is the kind of acquisition reform that is currently underway throughout the Army acquisition enterprise. We are taking advantage of that initiative to drive down costs while increasing combat effectiveness." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pentagon chief says Tuesday set to be 'most intense' day of strikes on Iran Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC) 10.03.2026 [18:19] Baku, March 10, AZERTAC The US defense secretary said Tuesday would be the "most intense" day of US strikes in its ongoing military operation against Iran, which began late last month, Anadolu Agency reported. "Today will be yet again, our most intense day of strikes inside Iran. The most fighters, the most bombers, the most strikes. Intelligence more refined and better than ever," Pete Hegseth told a news conference alongside Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. His remarks came amid the ongoing US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which began on Feb. 28, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other top security officials, as well as some 1,300 people so far. "On day 10 of Operation Epic Fury, we are winning with an overwhelming and unrelenting focus on our objectives," Hegseth said. He listed three objectives of the war: destroying Iran's missile stockpiles, missile launchers and defense industrial base, missiles, and their ability to make them; destroying their navy; and denying Iran the ability to produce nuclear weapons. "We will not relent until the enemy is totally and decisively defeated," Hegseth said without giving further information when the operation will end. Caine, for his part, said the US has struck more than 5,000 Iranian targets, and more than 50 Iranian naval ships were destroyed in the first 10 days of the military campaign. "US CENTCOM continues today to hunt and strike mine-laying vessels and mine storage facilities. This work will continue," he added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Around 70% of global oil demand transported through strategic maritime chokepoints Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC) 10.03.2026 [17:24] Baku, March 10, AZERTAC Nearly 70% of global oil demand, exceeding 100 million barrels per day, is transported through strategic maritime chokepoints such as the Strait of Malacca and the Strait of Hormuz, as well as around South Africa's Cape of Good Hope, an alternative shipping route, Anadolu Agency reported. Following joint US and Israeli strikes on Iran, commercial traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has declined sharply after Iran began targeting vessels transiting the waterway. These routes are known as maritime chokepoints, narrow passages along global sea lanes that play a critical role in international trade. Large volumes of crude oil, petroleum products, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and other commodities pass through these corridors. Disruptions at these chokepoints can lead to supply delays, higher freight costs and rising global prices. While some disruptions can be mitigated through alternative routes, chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz have limited substitutes, highlighting the global energy market's heavy dependence on them. According to data compiled by Anadolu from the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), global oil demand averaged about 104 million barrels per day in the first half of 2025. Of this total, roughly 80 million barrels per day was traded by sea. Around 70% of global oil demand and more than 90% of seaborne oil trade pass through seven major maritime chokepoints worldwide, along with the Cape of Good Hope, which serves as an alternative route for tanker traffic. - Strait of Malacca: world's largest oil transit chokepoint The Strait of Malacca, linking the Indian Ocean with the Pacific Ocean, forms the shortest sea route between Middle Eastern oil suppliers and Asian markets. In the first half of 2025, about 23.2 million barrels of oil per day passed through the strait. This accounted for roughly 22% of global oil demand and 29% of seaborne oil trade, making Malacca the largest oil transit chokepoint in the world. More than 70% of the oil transported through the strait is crude, while the remainder consists of refined petroleum products. Much of the oil shipped through Malacca moves from the Middle East to East Asia, with China accounting for about 48% of imports transiting the strait in the first half of 2025. The US also trades oil through the route, with volumes reaching roughly 1 million barrels per day. - Strait of Hormuz: gateway for Gulf oil The Strait of Hormuz, connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, is one of the most strategically important energy chokepoints in the world. In the first half of last year, oil flows through the strait averaged 20.9 million barrels per day. This volume represented about 20% of global oil consumption and roughly one quarter of seaborne oil trade. Around 5.5 million barrels per day of shipments consisted of refined petroleum products, highlighting the Gulf region's role as a major exporter of fuels such as diesel and jet fuel. Approximately 80% of the oil passing through Hormuz is shipped to Asian markets, with Japan, South Korea, China and India heavily dependent on supplies transiting the strait. The US imported about 400,000 barrels per day of crude oil and petroleum products from Persian Gulf countries through the Strait of Hormuz in the first half of last year, accounting for roughly 7% of US crude and condensate imports. Following US and Israeli military strikes against Iran on Feb. 28 and attacks by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeting vessels linked to the US and Israel passing through the strait, shipping traffic has dropped sharply. According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the historical daily average for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz is around 138 commercial ships. However, on March 7, only one commercial vessel passed through the strait and no oil tanker transit was recorded. The disruption to maritime trade, particularly shipments of oil and LNG, has raised concerns over global energy supply security and contributed to rising prices. - Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Suez Canal The Bab al-Mandeb Strait, located between the Arabian Peninsula and Africa, connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. With the construction of the Suez Canal in northern Egypt, Bab al-Mandeb became part of a major maritime corridor linking the Mediterranean with Asia, allowing Gulf oil and natural gas shipments to reach European markets. Attacks by Yemen's Houthi group on vessels linked to Israel in the Red Sea since late 2023 have significantly disrupted shipping in the region, forcing many vessels to reroute via the Cape of Good Hope. In the first half of 2025, oil shipments averaged 4.9 million barrels per day through the Suez Canal and 4.2 million barrels per day through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. - Danish Straits and Turkish Straits The Danish Straits, linking the Baltic Sea with the North Sea, handled about 4.9 million barrels per day of crude oil and petroleum products in the first half of 2025. Before the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022 and the subsequent European Union sanctions on Russian oil, the Danish Straits played a major role in Russia's maritime oil exports to Europe. Although Russia still accounts for a notable share of flows through the straits, much of the trade has shifted from Western markets toward Asia. The Turkish Straits, comprising the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles, connect the Black Sea with the Mediterranean and are considered among the most challenging waterways in the world. About 50,000 vessels transit the Turkish Straits each year. In the first half of last year, around 3.7 million barrels per day of crude oil and petroleum products passed through the Turkish Straits, accounting for roughly 5% of global seaborne oil trade. - Panama Canal The Panama Canal, linking the Pacific Ocean with the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, carries about 2.3 million barrels per day of crude oil and petroleum products. Approximately 2.2 million barrels per day of this volume consists of refined petroleum products. Because refined fuels and LNG are often transported on smaller vessels capable of navigating the canal's locks, the Panama Canal remains an important route for these commodities. - Cape of Good Hope: alternative route Although not a chokepoint, the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of South Africa has become an important alternative route for oil tankers and LNG shipments. Following Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea beginning in late 2023, many ships diverted away from the Suez Canal and Bab al-Mandeb corridor toward the Cape. As a result, the volume of oil transported around the Cape of Good Hope rose by more than 45% to about 9.1 million barrels per day in the first half of 2025. However, routing vessels around the Cape significantly increases travel times and shipping costs as ships bypass the Gulf of Aden, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Suez Canal. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Vietnam, Laos strengthen defence cooperation Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC) 10.03.2026 [12:45] Baku, March 10, AZERTAC General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army and Deputy Minister of National Defence, received visiting Senior Lieutenant General Saichay Kommasith, Chief of the General Staff of the Lao People's Army and Deputy Minister of National Defence of Laos, in Hanoi, according to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA). General Cuong said defence cooperation between Vietnam and Laos has been implemented comprehensively, deeply and substantively in recent years. The two militaries have continued to play a pioneering role in carrying out the directions agreed by the two countries' high-ranking leaders, significantly contributing to a peaceful and stable environment for development in each country. He proposed both sides continue effectively implementing the agreed cooperation areas, including holding high-level delegation exchanges; maintaining consultation and dialogue mechanisms, especially the deputy minister-level defence policy dialogue; coordinating to successfully organise the annual meeting of the defence ministers of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia as well as joint exercises on non-traditional security challenges; and enhancing ties in borderline and border marker management and protection. The Vietnamese official also invited Lao military leaders and defence enterprises to attend and display products at the Vietnam International Defence Expo 2026. For his part, Senior Lieutenant General Saichay Kommasith spoke highly of the results of bilateral defence cooperation and expressed support for the cooperation directions proposed by his host, calling on the two sides to keep working closely to further strengthen ties between the two militaries and the two countries. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address March 10, 2026 Transcript Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine Hold a Press Briefing SECRETARY OF WAR PETE HEGSETH: Well, to our fellow Americans, brave warriors and steadfast allies, good morning. You know, as someone who led troops, led soldiers in the streets of Baghdad and Samarra, Iraq and who trained counterinsurgents in Kabul, Afghanistan and who still carries the weight of brothers lost to Iranian terrorist proxies, many backed by the same Iranian regime we're confronting now, this fight, Operation Epic Fury, it hits home. Our generation understands this fight. For 47 years, these barbaric savages in the Iranian regime have murdered our brothers in arms, my guys, your guys, our guys through their terrorist proxies and cowardly attacks. Now they race toward a nuclear bomb to hold the world hostage. The Iranians have targeted and killed thousands of my American brothers. That race to a nuclear bomb, President Trump will never allow it, not now, not ever, not on our watch. The mullahs are desperate and scrambling. Like the terrorist cowards they are, they fire missiles from schools and hospitals, deliberately targeting innocents because they know their military is being systematically degraded and annihilated. Iran's neighbors, and in some cases former allies in the Gulf, they've abandoned them, and their proxies, Hezbollah, the Houthis and Hamas, either broken, ineffective or on the sidelines. Iran stands alone and they are badly losing. On day ten of Operation Epic Fury, we are winning with an overwhelming and unrelenting focus on our objectives, which are the same as the day I gave my first briefing here on Operation Epic Fury. They're straightforward and we are executing them with ruthless precision. One: destroy their missile stockpiles, their missile launchers and their defense industrial base; missiles and their ability to make them. Two: destroy their Navy. And three: permanently deny Iran nuclear weapons forever. It's a laser focused, maximum authority mission delivered with overwhelming and unrelenting precision, no hesitation, no half measures. As President Trump declared yesterday, we're crushing the enemy in an overwhelming display of technical skill and military force. We will not relent until the enemy is totally and decisively defeated, but we do so, we do so on our timeline and at our choosing. For example, today will be yet again our most intense day of strikes inside Iran, the most fighters, the most bombers, the most strikes, intelligence more refined and better than ever. So, that's on one hand. On the other hand, the last 24 hours have seen Iran fire the lowest number of missiles they've been capable of firing yet, just the bifurcation, just the trendlines that we talked about on our first briefing. You see, this is not 2003. This is not endless nation building under those types of quagmires we saw under Bush or Obama. It's not even close. Our generation of soldier will not let that happen again, and nor will this president, who very clearly ran against those kinds of never-ending, nebulously scoped missions. Those days are dead. Instead, we're winning decisively with brutal efficiency, total air dominance and an unbreakable will to accomplish the president's objectives on our timeline. We stay locked on the target, because here at the Department of War that's our job. Now, the chairman and I having just returned from Dover last night, our troops and their families and the enormous sacrifice that they make is certainly heavy on my mind, so I'll close with Scripture, drawing strength from Psalm 144. Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle. He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield in whom I take refuge. May the Lord grant unyielding strength and refuge to our warriors, unbreakable protection to them and our homeland, and total victory over those who seek to harm them. And amen. God bless our troops and this mission. Mr. Chairman, over to you. GENERAL DAN CAINE: Thank you, Mr. Secretary. And good morning, everyone, and thank you for being here. I'm here today to continue the updates to the American people and to those in the room on Operation Epic Fury. First, let me start with honoring our fallen. As the secretary said, on Saturday and again last night at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, our nation's leaders honored our returning fallen as they arrived home for their final time. Last week I shared a few of the names, and today I want to share the rest. Major Jeffrey O'Brien and CWO3 Robert Marzan were the final two fallen to return home and members of the US Army Reserve's 103rd Sustainment Command out of Des Moines, Iowa. Last night, as the news has been reporting, we honored the return of Staff Sergeant Benjamin Pennington of the US Army's 1st Space Brigade from Fort Carson, Colorado. When I met Ben's family last night, his mom, his dad and his sister, they showed me a picture, a drawing that Ben had made when he was in kindergarten. It was clear all the way back then that Ben wanted to do one thing in his life, and he wanted to serve his country and be a soldier. And to the Penningtons, just know how Ben was absolutely a great one. And finally, Major Sorffly Davius, who returned home this weekend after sadly passing away from a medical condition while on duty in Kuwait. We welcome him home as well and mourn with his family. To the families and the families of all of our fallen, we share in your profound grief. The joint force remains eternally grateful for your sacrifice and the gift of a great example that your service members have given all of us. I want you to know that their names will never be forgotten, and you and your family are part of our joint force family forever. Let me talk a little bit about the progress thus far, acknowledging that Admiral Cooper will likely continue to give updates from CENTCOM. As the secretary said, we're in the 10th, moving in the 11th day of Operation Epic Fury. The joint force remains focused on three military objectives: continue to destroy Iranian ballistic missiles and drone capability in order to prevent attacks on the U.S. and others throughout the region. And this means attacking launch sites, command and control nodes, stockpiles before they can threaten our personnel, our facilities and our partners. Second, we continue to strike the Iranian Navy and their capabilities in order to do things like sustain movement through the Straits of Hormuz. And third, we continue to start working on and going deeper into Iran's military and industrial base in order to prevent the regime from being able to attack Americans, our interests and our partners for years to come and project power outside their borders. This means servicing production facilities, research and development sites and infrastructure. Let me turn to the map. We're going to try digital today to prevent laser injury. Since our last update, CENTCOM continues to make progress across the southern flank. To date, they've struck more than 5,000 targets. U.S. Strategic Command bombers recently dropped dozens of 2,000 pound GPS penetrating weapons on deeply buried missile launchers across the southern flank. We also have struck several one-way drone factories to get at the heart of their autonomous capability. And of course, alongside our regional partners along the southern flank, continued to execute intercepts against one way attack drones using fighters and attack helicopters. Our strikes mean we've made significant progress in reducing the number of missile and drone attacks out of Iran. Ballistic missile attacks continue to trend downward 90 percent from where they've started, and one way attack drones have decreased 83 percent since the beginning of the operation, a testament to our air defenders and our air defense systems. And as I said, our partners in the region continue to do great work as well. Second, we're making substantial progress towards destroying the navy in the first ten days of the conflict. We're more than 50 Iranian naval ships into the campaign using a combination of artillery, fighters, bombers and sea launched missiles. As Admiral Cooper noted last Thursday, we struck and sank an Iranian drone carrier ship, and U.S. CENTCOM continues today to hunt and strike mine laying vessels and mine storage facilities. This this work will continue. Third, we've against our objectives, we've begun to target Iran's military and industrial complex, again focusing on centers of gravity to get upstream of the shooters out in the field in order to deny them the ability to continue to generate those one-way attack drones. Let me spend a minute talking about the joint force across the area of responsibility. This is gritty and tireless work, and I cannot begin to explain how incredibly proud I am of the extraordinary courage, tenacity and grit and professionalism within the joint force. Last time I had a chance to talk about the Army's incredible logisticians who are out there sustaining the fight. Today I want to highlight a few groups of sailors. First, I want to thank the men and women of the Ford Carrier Strike Group and their families, and let all of them know how grateful I am for their leadership and service. The crews on board this strike group have already endured months at sea, only to get their deployment extended. These exceptional Americans rogered up, all supported by their families, continue to stand the watch, taking the fight to the enemy over and over again night after night. Aboard ships like the USS Ford and the Abraham Lincoln are a special group of sailors I want to highlight today. These are the men and women, the sailors up on the roof, running operations on the flight deck. With an average age of the early 20s, these are the unsung heroes of naval aviation. These young sailors, known for wearing yellow shirts, are in charge of the catapults, taxiing jets around on the flight deck, shooting jets off the front end and recovering jets off the back end. They are literally involved with every single movement on the roof on an aircraft carrier. They are the last ones that a naval aviator sees before getting shot off the front end and the first one that a naval aviator sees after safely trapping on the back end. And just for a minute, imagine you're standing on that aircraft carrier flight deck. There's 30 knots of wind in your face. The deck is slippery, covered in grease. It's noisy. There are propellers spinning. There's jet blast everywhere. The helicopters are running. Your head is on a swivel and you're trying to direct a multi-million dollar fighter into a one foot square box so that those naval aviators can be shot off into the black of night to go do America's work. Those jets are fully loaded with missiles and bombs, and they are a world class team combined with the naval aviation and the aviators in those jets. This beautiful symphony of American spirit is the definition of perfectly organized chaos, and these crews do it every single time the carrier is at work, oh, by the way, in the middle of the night and oftentimes in the pouring rain. These are dedicated young people who take the road less traveled to serve their great nation doing the deeds that we need them to do. America's enlisted force is the pride of every nation's military, certainly ours, and the envy of every other one as well. Each and every one of them out there across the joint Force are extraordinary. And in particular, today I want to highlight the yellow shirts. Ladies and gentlemen, our work continues. It'll continue to be difficult. I ask every American to keep our deployed force and their families in our thoughts. Combat deployments can be tough on the force and the families, and it's important that we continue to remember that. I remain deeply humbled by the 2.8 million members of the joint force. And I'll end where I started, and that's remembering our fallen and their families, whose sacrifice will be felt forever. And with that, I'll take some questions with the secretary. SECRETARY OF WAR PETE HEGSETH: A beautiful symphony of American spirit. Well said, Mr. Chairman. GENERAL DAN CAINE: Thanks, sir. SECRETARY OF WAR PETE HEGSETH: And I will just note that no other country in the world is capable of executing what the chairman just described day after day, night after night, unrelenting. Well said. Thank you. GENERAL DAN CAINE: Yes, sir. Q: Alexandra Ingersol, One America News. You talked Mr. Secretary, you talked at the conference in Florida on Thursday that there was a 90 percent missile capabilities degradation and 83 percent drone degradation, and I know the chairman just repeated those numbers. We've seen the most amount of fighting these past five days. Is there any update to those percentages? And also, are you able to give any quantification of degradation to the enemy's nuclear capabilities yet? SECRETARY OF WAR PETE HEGSETH: What those numbers represent is a persistent low ability to respond, which is what we're looking for, right? If the enemy can simply wait and then project power, that's problematic. And we've seen some spurts here or there. But ultimately the trend lines, if you look at the charts that we look at every day, have gone like this, down to all flat it doesn't mean they won't be able to project. It doesn't mean you know, our air defenders still don't have to defend. They do. But that that is strong evidence of degradation, along with the battle damage assessment that the joint staff does, which takes time. You've got to look at imagery and recognize whether something's been simply degraded or it's been destroyed, or whether an underground facility has been collapsed or completely obliterated. So, there's differences in how you evaluate that, but the numbers staying that low is a demonstration of the efficacy for sure. Yeah, right here. Q: Thanks, Mr. Secretary. There's been reports that the new leader of Iran has been wounded. Do you know if this is true and what his condition is? And then another one. President Trump said he had a really good call with President Putin yesterday. Will Russia be aiding us in this conflict, and can you share anything on that? SECRETARY OF WAR PETE HEGSETH: Well, the president, as I've said before, maintains strong relationships with world leaders, which creates opportunities and options for us in very dynamic ways. So, president said it was a good call. I was not on it, but those that were said it was a strong call reaffirming, hopefully, the opportunity for some for some peace in Russia/Ukraine, and also a recognition that, as it pertains to this conflict, they should not be involved. The first question was? Q: On the new leader of Iran, there's reports that he's been wounded. SECRETARY OF WAR PETE HEGSETH: Oh, the new leader of Iran. He would be wise to heed the words of our president, which is to not pursue nuclear weapons and come out and state as such. As far as his status, that's not something I can comment on right now. Yeah, right here. Great. Q: Mr. Secretary, Eric Schmitt with The New York Times, a question for you first. Last week you talked about this being the beginnings of an air campaign that could last three to eight weeks. Can you give us your assessment on where we are now? And Mr. Chairman, in any conflict, the enemy or the adversary adapts to the tactics it faces. Can you talk about the most challenging adaptation the Iranian military has made to the US military? What challenges are you facing most right now? Thank you. SECRETARY OF WAR PETE HEGSETH: I appreciate the question. Where we are is in a very strong place, giving the president of the United States maximum options. And from the beginning from this podium, we haven't stated how long it will take. Our will is endless. Ultimately, the president gets to determine the end state of those objectives, right? But what he's said continually and I want the American people to understand is this is not endless. It's not protracted. We're not allowing mission creep. The president has set a very specific mission to accomplish, and our job is to unrelentingly deliver that. Now, he gets to control the throttle. He's the one deciding, he's the one elected on behalf of the American people, when we're achieving those particular objectives. And so, it's not for me to posit whether it's the beginning, the middle or the end. That's his, and he'll continue to communicate that. What we serve him as is we give him updates on a daily basis of exactly where we are so he can make that determination on the throttle. Mr. Chairman? GENERAL DAN CAINE: Thank you for the question on adaptation, as you're right. No plan survives first contact with the enemy or Murphy. They're adapting, as are we. Of course, we have very entrepreneurial warfighters out there. I'd rather not, for operational security reasons, tell them what's working. So, I'll I'm gonna non-answer that question based on that. But we are watching uh what they're doing, and we are adapting faster than they are. Q: Are they more formidable than you anticipated, General? GENERAL DAN CAINE: I mean, I think they're fighting, and I respect that, but I don't think they're more formidable than what we thought. Q: Secretary Hegseth, thank you. Jordan Conradson from the Gateway Pundit. Axios reported, citing US and Israeli sources, that the U.S. was not happy with strikes on 30 fuel depots in Iran. While this is anonymous sourcing, you know, it seems kind of congruent with what President Trump said yesterday, that there's certain spots they don't want to hit relating to energy infrastructure that would take a long time to rebuild. And, you know, whether this reporting's true or not, what's your message to Americans, those who supported the president and those who aren't really in favor of this war and who worry that Israel might be taking advantage of the US's backing? And then for Mr. Chairman, for you, I wanted to ask, when you say that we're moving inland, what capabilities does Iran have to shoot down jets over their land? And would that trigger some kind of rescue operation that could risk a bigger ground operation? SECRETARY OF WAR PETE HEGSETH: Well, I would just start by saying Israel's been a really strong partner in this effort. Where they have different objectives, they've pursued them. Ultimately, we've stayed focused on ours. But what Iran has felt is the power of the world's two most powerful air forces. In that particular case, that wasn't our strikes or that objective, or that wasn't our necessarily our objective. But the president has made it clear to those concerns that we're not getting pulled in any direction. We're leading. The president is leading. He's determining where we want to go, what the outcome will be, what the end state is with a very keen eye. And I understand those concerns, because I've heard from a lot of people who went through I went through 20 years of those wars myself, worried about getting dragged in, worried about mission creep, worried about nation building or democracy expansion. That's never the perspective the president has pursued on this. Just because previous presidents and previous secretaries have decided to just pour more resources and more people in toward some unguided end state doesn't mean that's the way the world needs to look today. In fact, the American people voted for a different approach. But what the president also stated from the beginning is Iran can't have a nuclear weapon. And it's one thing to say it. It's easy to say. Anybody can say that. I mean, Barack Obama said that. But to do something about it takes courage and resolve. But in that courage and in that resolve, you can also be very scoped in what you're trying to execute to ensure that the sacrifice of Americans, American treasure, American lives, all of those properly meet the objective that you're trying to accomplish. And certainly, as someone I talked out front about what the Iranians have done to our generation, yes, we're clear eyed about it. But my job is to keep it scoped given the directive to the president to accomplish the mission. GENERAL DAN CAINE: Thank you, sir. Thank you for the question. You know, most of their higher end surface to air missile systems are not factors at this point in time. We're able to move around fighters that are moving deeper with relative impunity. Always some risk out there. I don't want to say that there isn't. And we'll always maintain and retain capability of doing search and rescue type of things. But I don't want to get into the details. But thank you for the question. SECRETARY OF WAR PETE HEGSETH: Gillian? Q: Thanks, Mr. Secretary. President Trump told our team on the ground early this morning that the thing that has surprised him the most during the course of this operation so far has been the Iranian regime attacking countries that are not attacking them. I'm curious if that surprised you as well. And General, curious if you are open to the possibility of escorting vessels through the Strait of Hormuz and if you could describe some of the challenges of doing so. SECRETARY OF WAR PETE HEGSETH: Big mistake by the Iranian regime to start targeting its neighbors right away, exposing who they are and what they're all about, indiscriminate targeting, flailing recklessly at the beginning. I can't say that we anticipated, necessarily, that's exactly how they would react, but we knew it was a possibility. And I think it was a demonstration of the desperation of that regime then and that regime now, that they still think their pathway out is to try to alienate their Arab partners even more, who've instead decided to come to us and have been willing to go on the offense, have been giving us access basing and overflight in a new partnership that will continue to remake the region the way that President Trump did with the Abraham Accords. So, you're pushing those countries in our direction to support this effort, further alienating Iran. And I think it's worth underscoring I see in the media banners that say, you know, war expanding or war spreading. It's actually the opposite. It's actually quite contained and more allies, more of those countries are coming onside, recognizing that you can't live under a conventional umbrella with nuclear ambitions with a radical regime like that, again, properly scoping the objectives in the process. And then you want to talk about the strait? GENERAL DAN CAINE: Sure. On the potential if tasked to escort, you know, we'll look at the range of options to set the military conditions to be able to do that. And then, like we always do with every potential mission, come to the secretary and the president with both what are the resources required, what is the command and control required and what are the risks and how do we mitigate those risks. So, we're looking at a range of options there, and we'll figure out how to solve problems as they come to us. SECRETARY OF WAR PETE HEGSETH: But I would reiterate also, to add to what the chairman said, the Truth the president posted last night about that, saying if Iran does anything to stop the flow of oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America 20 times harder than they have been hit thus far. He goes on to say death, fire and fury will rain upon them. You've seen the Truth and read it. But he takes very seriously the condition of that straits. We have capabilities that no other nation on earth has, and we're certainly working with our energy partners across the administration to control for that. That's part of that scoping of this. The world needs to understand this doesn't have this isn't intended to be nor is it something that will expand. We know exactly what we're attempting to achieve here, scoped properly, and the American people can count on that for sure. Q: Mr. Secretary? Q: Mr. Secretary, can you hold SECRETARY OF WAR PETE HEGSETH: Right here. Q: Anyone accountable for Q: Thank you so much Q: The school bombing in Iran? Q: Secretary Hegseth. President Trump has long said that he wants to minimize the loss of life in war, which wherever it occurs in whatever country, which so many people obviously appreciate. Can you detail the specific measures the Pentagon is taking to minimize civilian casualties and strikes inside Iran? And secondarily, is the Pentagon prioritizing replenishment of precision guided munitions, long range strike weapons or air defense interceptors? And can you share any details on which systems are being prioritized? SECRETARY OF WAR PETE HEGSETH: Yeah. Seeing it from the inside every single day, including this, no nation takes more precautions to ensure there's never targeting of civilians than the United States of America. From the boat strikes in the Caribbean, where every single strike is assessed to these to this campaign here, no nation in the history of warfare has ever attempted in every way possible to avoid civilian casualties. And frankly, that's a point that just isn't appreciated enough. Where things happen that need to be investigated, we will investigate. To the question shouted in the back, that it's not open source is not the place to determine what did or did not happen. We take things very, very seriously and investigate them thoroughly, which takes time and which is why it does take time. But ultimately, unlike Iran, who targets civilians indiscriminately, who we've seen in the intel moving rocket launchers into civilian neighborhoods near schools, near hospitals to try to prevent our ability to strike. That's how they operate. And then they set, you know, the targeting of drones and missiles toward civilian targets, hospitals, hotels, airports. CENTCOM's been very good about putting that information out. That's how terrorist regimes fight. They target civilians. We do not, and I can tell you this administration and this Pentagon focuses on that very, very closely. Q: Does it have Tomahawk missiles? SECRETARY OF WAR PETE HEGSETH: Go ahead, right here. Q: You will hold someone Q: Me? Thank you. Q: Accountable if it turns out that that was a US Q: Sir, this morning, the Iranian government is saying a lot. They continue to say they're prepared for a long war. If that's the case, what could you tell the American people as far as the steps the Department of War is taking to make sure our troops have the protection and the resources they need as the mission continues? SECRETARY OF WAR PETE HEGSETH: I think there's one thing I can sleep quietly at night knowing, is that we're giving every resource humanly possible to our troops on the front lines to ensure they're protected. In fact, as I said in that first press briefing, even before we set the offense, we set the defense. We made sure we had the ability to defend, and then we moved as many Americans off the bases and into other places as possible. So, as this progresses, the chairman or the question was asked Chairman about how the enemy adapts. Of course, we adapt too in real time. And to watch our warriors iterate on air defense and interdiction on drones and missiles and how we get after it, it's incredible how they refine the tactics, bring in new assets to find different ways of getting at emerging technologies. So, that is one of the things we're laser focused on every day. Yes, we're going on offense more effectively than any country in human history. But we're also ensuring that, at every way possible, we're defending the best Americans we have who wear our uniform, no doubt. Let's do one more. Q: Thanks, Secretary Hegseth. The president has indicated that maybe the operation will wrap up sooner than he thought it was going to. What's the plan once the US stops military action? Will the US play a role in the aftermath or will they leave Iran to sort it out? SECRETARY OF WAR PETE HEGSETH: Ultimately, the aftermath is going to be in America's interests, our interests. We won't live under a nuclear blackmail scenario of conventional missiles that can target our people, which is why the objectives have been scoped from the beginning: missiles, missile production, the defense industrial base, navy, all in service of ensuring they don't have nuclear power projection capabilities. That's what matters to President Trump. That's what matters to the American people. And ultimately, that's why we're so laser focused on ensuring those objectives and those objectives alone are met. Thank you. Appreciate it. Thank you. https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/4429953/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Speech by President Antonio Costa at the EU Ambassadors Conference 2026 European Council / Council of the European Union European Council Speech 10 March 2026 10:40 It is an honour to be back at this conference and share some reflections with you. Over the past year, I have had the pleasure to meet with many of you in your postings. I wish to begin by commending your professionalism. You are the face of European Union abroad. And you represent our Union with dedication. Thank you very much for your commitment. I would also like to commend you, dear Kaja [Kallas], for your close cooperation with the European Council, together with the European Commission, in advancing the European Union's interests around the globe. It is vital that the European Union speaks with one voice to defend its values and its interests. We must pursue a multidimensional foreign policy, actively engaging with the international community to uphold the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter and international law. It is in our interest to ensure that the world remains rules-based and cooperative. It is in our interest to avoid further world fragmentation. This is the best way to help Ukraine achieve a just and lasting peace. It is essential for Europe's security and prosperity. We all know how difficult it is to build consensus on a common foreign policy when working with 27 different national foreign policies and geographical perspectives. Yet - it is my firm conviction - this diversity is the richness of our Union. It provides a 360-degree perspective on the world that no other actor possesses. Looking at the map, it is easy to see: Africa, the Americas, the Middle East, Asia, and the Arctic are all our neighbours, sharing land and maritime borders with Europe. With them we have historical and cultural bonds, economic and diplomatic ties. In times of polarisation and fragmentation in the world, Europe's global vision is a true strategic asset. Dear Ambassadors, This multipolar world requires multilateral solutions. Not spheres of influence, where power politics replace international law. We know the new reality: a reality in which Russia violates peace, China disrupts trade, and the United States challenges the international rules-based order. In this new reality, what should be the mission of the European Union? First, we must defend the rules-based international order. We must uphold the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter, as outlined in our Treaties. Violations of international law must not be accepted - whether in Ukraine, Greenland, Latin America, Africa, in Gaza or the Middle East. Human rights violations must not be tolerated - whether in Iran, in Sudan, or in Afghanistan. The war in the Middle East is of the utmost concern. Iran is for sure responsible for the root causes of this situation. But unilateralism can never be the path forward. Attacks by Iran and its proxies, like Hezbollah, against its neighbours - including Cyprus, a member state of the European Union - must stop. The rapid response from Greece, France, Italy and Spain, sending military forces to protect Cyprus, is a powerful example of European autonomy and steadfast solidarity. Yesterday, in a video conference with our partners in Middle East and the Gulf region, I expressed to them our full solidarity and support. The European Union calls on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and return to the negotiating table. The European Union stands with the long-suffering people of Iran. We support their right to live in peace and determine their own future. We believe their human rights and freedoms must be fully respected. But freedom and human rights cannot be achieved through bombs. Only international law upholds them. Protecting civilians, ensuring nuclear safety and respecting international law is crucial. We must avoid further escalation. Such a path threatens the Middle East, Europe, and beyond. The consequences are severe, including in the economic sphere, as demonstrated by the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. So far, there is only one winner in this war - Russia. It steadily undermines Ukraine's position by flouting international law. It gains new resources to finance its war against Ukraine as energy prices rise. It profits from the diversion of military capabilities that could otherwise have been sent to support Ukraine. And it benefits from the reduced attention to the Ukrainian front as the conflict in the Middle East takes centre stage. We are now entering in the fifth year of the Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, a gross violation of the United Nations Charter and a game-changer for the European Union. Since the very first day, the European Union has been unwavering in its support to Ukraine on all fronts: financially, politically, diplomatically, in terms of security and reconstruction. I have been in Ukraine four times - in fact at the start of my term I was in Ukraine - since the beginning of my mandate to reinforce our unwavering support. In December, the European Council approved a 90 billion common loan, backed by the EU's budget, to cover Ukraine's financial needs over the next two years. And we will deliver on this commitment taken by all the Leaders. We must continue to put pressure on Russia to negotiate a just and lasting peace that is acceptable to Ukraine and that does not undermine Europe's security. I hope that tomorrow we will approve the rollover of current sanctions and approve the next package. Second, we must reinforce multilateral cooperation. We will continue to be a leading supporter of the United Nations, and the reforms of the Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, with the UN80 reform initiative. The United Nations must be reformed but it cannot be replaced. It must remain the cornerstone of the multilateral system. The only forum with universal legitimacy and the power capable to sustain effective multilateral cooperation. As the top donor of international aid in the world - as well as to the UN main agencies - we will continue to take the lead in global solidarity, especially in these times when the UN system is facing major financial constraints. We remain committed to the Sustainable Development Goals and the Pact for the Future. To the Paris Agreement and its commitments to reduce emissions by 55% by 2030 and to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. We have also agreed to an ambitious intermediate goal of reducing emissions by 90% by 2040. We are dedicated to ocean protection and the implementation of the High Seas Treaty, to safeguard the biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction. And to the reform of the international financial architecture for debt management, along the path set by the 'Seville Commitment'. Third, we must continue expanding our global network of partners. The European Union is a reliable and predictable partner. In today's unpredictable world, this is a major strategic asset. That is why our partners are reaching out to us. We have deepened even further cooperation with like-minded democracies, like the United Kingdom, Norway, Iceland, Canada, Japan, Australia. We have built the world's most extensive network of trade agreements, covering 80 partners. And we are in the process of negotiating or ratifying agreements with a further 27 countries - among them with Mexico, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, and United Arab Emirates. Recently, the trade agreements with Mercosur and India were game changers, covering 32 countries and almost 3 billion citizens. They send a powerful message to the world: instead of tariffs, the European Union offers partnerships; instead of spheres of influence we are building spheres of shared prosperity. Only a solid network of partners enhances our global influence and helps stabilise the international rules-based order. We have seen this in action. In 2025, I have chaired 12 international summits, and together with President von der Leyen we met with countries and organisations representing more than 60% of the United Nations family. With the Western Balkans, Central Asian countries, the United Kingdom, Canada, Moldova, Japan, China, Egypt, the Latin America and Caribbean Community and the African Union. We held summits with Brazil, South Africa, China, and India - all the BRICS excluding Russia. This proves that both North and South are plural and can share long-term commitments to pursue common goals. We already started 2026 with the first-ever summit with Jordan, along with visits to Syria, Lebanon and Vietnam. Of course, none of which would be possible without your work on the ground to support this. We must keep working with the same energy and determination. Fourth, we must prepare the next enlargement. The European Union is a project of reconciliation and peace. These values are closely linked to enlargement, making it the best geostrategic investment we can make for our future. Since the first day of my mandate, I have made enlargement one of my top priorities. As Europe's most successful grand strategy, it strengthens democracy and the rule of law. It expands our space of shared values, shared prosperity, and shared responsibility. Ukraine's application for membership has generated a new dynamism, a new momentum, to the European Union's accession process. This momentum is not limited to Ukraine alone but also extends to Moldova and all six of our Western Balkan partners. Their future lies within the European Union, with accession based on a merit-based approach that ensures the highest standards for all. To make enlargement a reality in the coming years, we must take decisive steps. We should seize this momentum. We must respect the merit basis but feel the sense of urgency. The international system is changing dramatically. A world in which power politics are back in play. The European Union is responding to these changes by becoming more autonomous and more resilient. Just as we made 2025 the year of European defence, we must make 2026 the year of European competitiveness. Both are crucial pillars of Europe's sovereignty. The European Union's firm and effective response to United States threats against Greenland serves as an example of how our unity strengthens our global position. I recognise how challenging it can sometimes be to reach a timely, united position. However, we should have learned valuable lessons. Like the need to respond quickly to urgent situations, as we saw with Gaza. Like keeping up the momentum on our international commitments, as seen with the EU-Mercosur agreement, crucial to safeguard Europe's global credibility. Because in times like these, values and trust are more critical than ever. They are the foundation of our influence and authority. This is what makes our Union powerful. This is what we must continue to stand for. Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel/Palestine: Statement by the Spokesperson on the situation in the West Bank European External Action Service (EEAS) 10.03.2026 EEAS Press Team The level of violence in the West Bank is unacceptable. Since 28 February, six Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank as a result of extremist settler attacks, with many more communities attacked, properties damaged and livelihoods destroyed, displacing people out of their homes and leaving them without a shelter. The EU calls on the Israeli authorities to take immediate and effective action to prevent further attacks against Palestinian civilians and to ensure accountability. Impunity for such acts risks provoking further violence. The EU urges the Government of Israel to abide by its obligations under international law to protect the Palestinian population in the occupied territory. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address EU Statement on Agenda item 10: Any Other Business: Safeguards in the Middle East European External Action Service (EEAS) 10.03.2026 Vienna Press and information team of the Delegation to UN and OSCE in Vienna Board of Governors International Atomic Energy Agency Vienna, 2-6 March 2026 I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The following countries align themselves with this statement: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Republic of Moldova, Serbia, and Ukraine. The EU reaffirms its full support for the establishment in the Middle East of a zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems. We continue to consider the 1995 NPT Resolution as valid, until its goals and objectives are achieved. We strongly support the outcome of the 2010 NPT Review Conference on the Middle East. The EU recalls that such zones can only be established on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among States of the region concerned. Especially at a time of particular instability and tensions in the region, we strongly encourage all stakeholders, and especially the States of the region, to engage in meaningful consultations in order to build an inclusive and consensus-based process towards the implementation of the 1995 Resolution. The EU reiterates its firm support for the universalisation and full, complete, and effective implementation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and its three pillars. We continue to call on all States who have not yet done so to accede to and abide by the NPT and all WMD related Treaties. We call on States to bring into force Comprehensive Safeguards Agreements and Additional Protocols and, as applicable, to rescind or modify their Small Quantities Protocols. Universal subscription to the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation would also contribute to the regional confidence building necessary for progress towards a WMD free zone in the Middle East. The establishment of such a zone is not only a matter of regional security but also a crucial step towards global peace and stability. It would alleviate tensions, build trust among neighbouring states, and contribute to the broader goals of disarmament and arms control. The EU will continue to support this process and to help create a conducive atmosphere. Since 2019, the EU has allocated over 6.5 million euros to the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) for this purpose. Thank you, Chair. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address HRC61 - EU Statement - Interactive Dialogue with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict European External Action Service (EEAS) 10.03.2026 Geneva Press and information team of the Delegation to the UN in Geneva United Nations Human Rights Council 61st Session Interactive Dialogue with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict 10 March 2026 EU statement Madam Special Representative, The European Union reiterates its strong support for your mandate. We are deeply concerned that, for the third consecutive year, grave violations against children in armed conflict have reached unprecedented levels, with a 25 per cent increase compared to 2023. As your report makes clear, children are bearing the brunt of relentless hostilities, indiscriminate attacks and deepening humanitarian crises. The record number of children that are being killed and maimed, used and recruited by armed forces and armed groups, as well as the widespread and underreported sexual violence, disproportionately affecting girls, demand urgent action. The EU is acting. The EU Guidelines on Children and Armed Conflict reaffirm a comprehensive policy framework and commit the EU and its Member States to strengthen cooperation with your mandate and systematically monitor and report grave violations in support of the UN Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism. Operational tools, including a CSDP checklist, ensure that child protection is integrated into EU crisis management missions. Through 1.9 billion in humanitarian aid for 2026, the EU provides targeted support to children in conflict zones. Ten per cent of this funding is dedicated to education in emergencies, a vital protection measure against recruitment, exploitation and other violations. Across our diplomatic, development and peacebuilding efforts, we also support prevention, reintegration and rehabilitation for former child soldiers. Together, these actions demonstrate the EU's steadfast commitment to protecting children in armed conflict and to ensuring accountability for those who commit grave violations. Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The European Union, through UNICEF, delivers 45 tons of emergency supplies to support families affected by escalating violence in Lebanon European External Action Service (EEAS) 10.03.2026 Beirut, Lebanon Press and information team of the Delegation to LEBANON As hostilities continue to escalate across Lebanon and displacement rises, the European Union, through support to UNICEF, has delivered 45 metric tons of emergency supplies to support families affected by the conflict. The supplies were handed over to the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) to help meet urgent humanitarian needs. The shipment includes essential emergency items to support children and families displaced by violence, including first aid kits, blankets, winter clothing, plastic mats, water tanks, adolescent kits, early childhood development kits, recreation kits, and other emergency supplies. These items will be distributed through shelters and response centers to support families who have been forced to flee their homes. The latest escalation of violence has triggered new waves of displacement across the country, with thousands of families seeking safety in collective shelters and host communities. Children are bearing the brunt of the crisis, facing disruption to their safety, well-being, education and access to essential services. Minister of social affairs, Hanin Sayed said: "As the Ministry of Social Affairs leads the management of shelters and coordinates humanitarian assistance on the ground, this EU-supported shipment delivered through UNICEF strengthens our capacity to respond quickly and ensure essential supplies reach displaced children and families. In a crisis of this scale, international support is vital, and we thank the European Union and UNICEF for their continued solidarity with Lebanon." EU Ambassador to Lebanon, Sandra De Waele, said: "Today's humanitarian air bridge marks the first flight to Lebanon to support people affected by the conflict. In this challenging context, and building on our ongoing assistance, we are further strengthening our humanitarian support in Lebanon. This shipment of emergency supplies will be delivered to the Ministry of Social Affairs to assist families in need." She added: "There are already too many civilian casualties, including many women and children. Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be spared." This shipment is part of the European Union's continued humanitarian support to Lebanon, including assistance delivered through the EU Humanitarian Air Bridge and other emergency response mechanisms to support populations affected by the conflict. "In the face of escalating violence and growing displacement, children and families urgently need protection and basic supplies to cope with the crisis," said Marcoluigi Corsi, UNICEF Representative in Lebanon. "This generous contribution from the European Union will help UNICEF and partners reach the most vulnerable children and their families with essential assistance when they need it most." UNICEF continues to work closely with the Government of Lebanon and humanitarian partners to scale up its response, providing life-saving assistance including health services, safe water, child protection, education support, emergency supplies and cash assistance to families affected by the conflict. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Situation in Lebanon (March 10, 2026) France - Ministere de l'Europe et des Affaires etrangeres France expresses its deep concern over the current escalation of violence in Lebanon. It has asked the United Nations Security Council in New York to hold an emergency meeting, which will take place tomorrow. France condemns Hezbollah's irresponsible decision to join in Iran's attacks on Israel since March 1. It calls on Hezbollah to end its operations and hand over its weapons. France offers the Lebanese authorities its full support; their March 2nd decision to prohibit Hezbollah's military and security activities is an important commitment, which we commend. France calls on Israel to refrain from any land-based or long-term interventions in Lebanon, whose territorial integrity and sovereignty must be respected. France is deeply concerned by the current displacement of civilians and is doing its utmost to meet their humanitarian needs in cooperation with the Lebanese authorities and humanitarian actors, including the High Commissioner for Refugees. France calls on all the parties to exercise restraint, to return to the ceasefire of November 26, 2024, and to abide by UN Security Council resolution 1701. France calls on all the parties to abide by international law and international humanitarian law. Compliance with the rules governing the conduct of hostilities, and particularly the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution, is vital to ensuring the protection of civilian populations and civilian infrastructure in all circumstances. France stresses that the protection of peacekeepers and the safety and security of United Nations personnel, property and premises must be guaranteed in accordance with international law and resolution 1701. President Macron condemned the unacceptable attack on three members of the Ghanaian contingent on March 6, leaving one of them seriously wounded. France expresses its full solidarity with Ghana and wishes the affected personnel a speedy recovery. In this difficult situation, France applauds the bravery, professionalism and dedication of UNIFIL personnel. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Georgia - Joint Ministerial Statement by the Foreign Ministers of France, Germany and Poland on the adoption of legislative amendments on foreign funding and political activities (10 March 2026) France - Ministere de l'Europe et des Affaires etrangeres We, the Foreign Ministers of the Weimar Triangle, regret the adoption on March 4th by the Georgian Parliament of new legislation on foreign funding and political activities, which is proof of a further repressive approach adopted by the Georgian authorities in relation to civil society. We fully endorse the statement made by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on 6 March 2026. The new amendments extend state control over political and societal activities in Georgia to an unprecedented level and infringe on the freedoms of association and expression. They weaken rule of law, put further pressure on independent civil society, including independent media, human rights defenders or individual experts and service providers. Through those new regulations, the Georgian authorities consciously breach the commitments undertaken by Georgia vis-a-vis the European Union, in particular through the Association Agreement with the European Union. We recall that it was Georgian government's course of action since 2024 that has brought the EU accession process to a de facto halt, as determined by the European Council's conclusions in 2024 and assessed by the European Commission in its Enlargement Report in 2025. We reaffirm our steadfast support for the Georgian people and civil society organisations who have been steadily working for the democratic and European future of Georgia. We also reaffirm our support to Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Gitanas Nauseda met with the President of Moldova President of the Republic of Lithuania March 10, 2026 On Tuesday, President Gitanas Nauseda met with the President of Moldova, Maia Sandu, who arrived in Lithuania on an official visit. The leaders of Lithuania and Moldova discussed bilateral relations, Moldova's European integration, support for Ukraine, and current defense and security issues. "Our countries face security risks posed by Russia, including border security and airspace violations, interference in elections and other democratic processes, energy blackmail, and, most importantly, Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine," the President noted. The President underlined that Lithuania reaffirms its commitment to helping Moldova counter Russia's unprecedented hybrid attacks. Lithuania also supports the aspirations of Moldova and Ukraine to become full members of the European Union no later than 2030. "We welcome Moldova's progress in implementing reforms despite difficult circumstances. We encourage Moldova to continue and accelerate the necessary EU-related reforms, make them irreversible, and ensure that their benefits are felt and understood by society," the President said. Gitanas Nauseda noted that Lithuania is ready to share its experience with Moldova in the information and communication technologies sector, especially in e-governance and cybersecurity. According to the President, Lithuania is widely recognized internationally for its expertise in cybersecurity, e-business, and e-government solutions, and Lithuanian companies can offer advanced solutions the areas of state registries, customs, tax administration, banking, and other sectors. The President also urged Moldova to strengthen its military capabilities. He recalled that Lithuania's bilateral development cooperation support to Moldova amounted to 7.56 million euros in 2022-2025 and continues to grow. Lithuania's military assistance to Moldova will total 6 million euros in 2026-2028. The President's Communication Group NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Royal New Zealand Air Force joins anti-submarine warfare exercise in Guam New Zealand Defence Force A Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) P-8A Poseidon aircraft has deployed from RNZAF Base Ohakea to Guam to take part in Exercise Sea Dragon, a multi-national anti-submarine warfare exercise held annually at the United States' Andersen Air Force Base. 10 March, 2026 The RNZAF aircraft and crew will join participants from the US, Australia, Japan and India in the exercise, which is designed for aircrews to develop their anti-submarine warfare skills and at the same time refine how they work together in a range of situations. The exercise includes competing for the Dragon Belt award, which tests participants' tactics and effectiveness in a specific scenario. The Royal Australian Air Force is the current holder, from the 2025 exercise. Air Component Commander Air Commodore Andy Scott said the exercise was a welcome opportunity for crews to develop interoperability and tactical skills by working with - and testing themselves against - partner nations. "This is one of the ways we join with partners and friends to play our part in maintaining regional security, by ensuring that we are at the top of our game and can work together seamlessly with any or all of the other nations, should the need arise," he said. No. 5 Squadron's four P-8A Poseidon aircraft contribute to the security of New Zealand and its neighbours in the Pacific, through the conduct of maritime surveillance, intelligence operations, and resource protection. They also take part in search and rescue operations and provide support in the event of natural disasters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Middle East crisis impact on civilians reverberates across globe - Turk Press releases Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights 10 March 2026 GENEVA -- UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk said today he was alarmed by the deepening impact of the Middle East crisis on civilians, deploring extensive attacks in residential areas, as well as other essential services, including health facilities, educational institutions, cultural property, and water and energy infrastructure. "The strikes against vital civilian infrastructure in the Middle East - as well as the widening geographic spread of strikes - are further increasing risks for populations across the region, and beyond," the High Commissioner said. "Under the laws of war, civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected at all costs. All parties are bound by these rules, and must be held to account if they do not." "The world is watching." In Iran, a water desalination plant and fuel facilities were hit over the weekend, with oil spilling into the streets and fires igniting along roadside drainage lines. On Qeshm Island in Hormozgan Province, an attack on a water desalination plant reportedly disrupted water access for at least 30 villages. Following the attacks, Iran's Red Crescent Society warned that the rainfall in the country could be "highly dangerous and acidic" and could cause chemical burns and serious lung damage. "I am deeply worried about the health and environmental consequences people will suffer as a result of these oil fires, including acid rain contamination," Turk said. "The foreseeable impacts on civilians and the environment of these strikes raise serious questions as to compliance of these attacks with the requirements of international humanitarian law of proportionality and precaution. This warrants careful legal scrutiny." Attacks across the region have also caused civilian casualties and affected civilian infrastructure. This includes a desalination plant in Bahrain, which provides crucial access to water for many. "This apparent tit-for-tat dynamic, involving essential infrastructure with extremely significant civilian impacts, will only increase risks for civilian populations more broadly, with potentially dire consequences across the entire region," the High Commissioner said. The impact of the crisis is already being felt further afield, with widening harm to people and their livelihoods worldwide. Migrant workers in the Gulf region are particularly vulnerable, with several already killed and injured and others trapped, unable to return home. Important flows of remittances to their families and countries are also at risk. The plunge in commercial shipping activity across the Strait of Hormuz is having a severe impact on access to energy, food and fertilizer for people in the region and beyond - particularly for the world's most vulnerable. Some countries are already experiencing educational, work and transport restrictions, as well as direct losses to the tourism and other sectors. The impact of an oil price surge will have a knock-on effect for macro-economic and social stability in many countries, particularly those already experiencing debt distress. Clearly, investment in renewable energy has become all the more critical, the High Commissioner said. Turk also expressed concern about reports of detentions, charges and other forms of repression and intimidation against people in a number of countries, with respect to their expression of opinions around the conflict in the Middle East. "States are reminded of their obligation under international human rights law to respect and protect people's right to freedom of expression - particularly in times of crisis," he said, adding all of those arbitrarily detained must be released immediately and unconditionally. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address South Sudan: Turk urges immediate ceasefire as war crimes fears mount Press releases Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights 10 March 2026 GENEVA -- UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk said on Tuesday he was horrified by growing accounts of serious violations during the ongoing conflict in South Sudan, including gruesome killings of civilians, the destruction and poisoning of key water sources, and fresh waves of mass displacement. Over the past 17 days, over 160 civilians have been killed, including at least 139 on 1 March by fighters from the Bul Nuer ethnic group in Abiemnom locality in the Ruweng Administrative Area in the north of the country. On 21 February, 21 civilians were killed by government forces in Pankor village, Ayod County, Jonglei State in the east. The soldiers lured them into gathering at one place promising to give them food aid then opened fire on them. Fifteen women and three girls were among those killed. On the same day, soldiers reportedly tied up and beheaded four civilians - one elderly man, a woman, a boy, and a girl - in Thiam village of Wau Payam, Western Bahr al Ghazal State in the northwest. On 6 March, the military issued an evacuation order for all civilians in Akobo town and surrounding villages in the east. It also directed the closure and withdrawal of the UN Mission in South Sudan's temporary operating base in Akobo, in Jonglei State, as well as other UN agencies and NGOs. UNMISS responded saying at its peacekeepers will remain in Akobo, providing a protective presence for civilians. Latest reports indicate that thousands of civilians have fled the town. "Civilians are being brutally killed, injured and displaced on a daily basis across South Sudan as hostilities escalate between the army and opposition forces," said Turk. "Some of these acts may amount to war crimes." The South Sudanese armed forces have also reportedly destroyed or intentionally contaminated community water sources. Civilians who spoke to the UN Human Rights Office said approximately 99 wells were destroyed or poisoned with unidentified substances during government airstrikes. "There must be prompt, impartial, thorough and effective investigations into these and all other alleged violations of the laws of war and of international human rights law which are taking place. And those found responsible must be fully held to account, including those bearing superior and command responsibility." More than 280,000 people have been displaced in South Sudan since late December - in Jonglei, Lakes and Upper Nile States. "The displacement of thousands of civilians from Akobo over the weekend and the chilling spectre of armed violence will only serve to compound the anxiety and suffering the civilian population has endured since hostilities resumed in January," said Turk. "There must a ceasefire as promptly as possible, to save lives and turn this conflict in the direction of a negotiated solution." He called for intensified engagement by the international community with the parties to the conflict, to bring an end to the surging violence. He also urged the parties to the conflict to desist from attacking civilians and civilian objects, and to ensure safe and sustained flow of humanitarian aid to all in need, consistent with their obligations under international law. The UN Human Rights Chief renewed his call on parties to the conflict to urgently return to dialogue. "Both parties must take prompt and meaningful steps, with the support of the international community, to rescue the fledgling peace agreement. South Sudan must be pulled back from the brink of all-out civil war," said Turk. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Nicaragua: UN Experts uncover corrupt financing of repression and spy network targeting exiles, demand justice and freedom Press releases Independent investigation 10 March 2026 GENEVA/PANAMA -- Nicaragua's Government is financing the repression of its opponents through the illegal diversion of public funds and targeting exiles through a transnational surveillance and intelligence network, the UN Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua warned in its latest report released today. The report to the Human Rights Council called on the Government of Co-Presidents Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo to ensure accountability, restore civic space, and take meaningful measures to guarantee the rights of all Nicaraguans, including those in exile. "Repression and institutional corruption have become the governing method in Nicaragua under the control of the Ortega-Murillo family," said Jan-Michael Simon, Chair of the Group of Human Rights Experts. "Political persecution is financed by the State, executed through its institutions, and extended across borders to ensure that no one - absolutely no one - stands in the way of the regime." Drawing on dozens of interviews and extensive documentary evidence, the report documents how, since 2018, public funds have been diverted to sustain repression through the creation of a parallel structure within the ruling Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) that was designed to channel funds to finance security operations, pro-government armed groups, and party activities. Government funding earmarked for social assistance, cleaning projects, and operational expenses was redirected to fund violent security operations, including the 2018 "Operation Clean-up" crackdown on nationwide protests. "The misuse and diversion of public resources have directly contributed to the commission of serious human rights violations," said Reed Brody, member of the Group of Experts. "Repression in Nicaragua is not improvised - it is structured and corruptly financed." The report also details an extensive transnational surveillance and intelligence architecture used to monitor, intimidate and attack the hundreds of thousands of Nicaraguans who live abroad. The Government has arbitrarily deprived 452 Nicaraguans of their nationality, rendered thousands more exiles "de facto stateless" by refusing to renew or provide necessary documents, and barring many from re-entering Nicaragua. Others have faced surveillance, harassment, smear campaigns, misuse of INTERPOL tools, property confiscations and proxy retaliation against relatives at home. At least a dozen cases of killings or attempted killings of exiled critics have been reported, including the June 2025 murder in Costa Rica of retired army major and Government critic Roberto Samcam. The report documents a multi-layered intelligence structure integrating the army, police, migration authorities, the telecommunications regulator TELCOR, diplomatic missions and FSLN operatives. Digital surveillance and harassment, hacking and doxing have been used to silence critics. The group said that current co-foreign minister Valdrack Ludwing Jaentschke Whitaker, while serving in senior diplomatic positions abroad from 2021-2023, was allegedly part of a high-level decision-making group involved in directing and coordinating transnational repression efforts in several countries. "Diplomatic and consular structures have been instrumentalized to track, monitor and intimidate exiled Nicaraguans," said Ariela Peralta, member of the Group of Human Rights Experts. "This is a deliberate policy to eliminate dissent wherever it may be." The report reiterated its previous findings that violations committed since 2018 amount, prima facie, to crimes against humanity. The report also examined the gendered dimension of the repression. Women human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers, political and community leaders and LGBTIQ+ persons have been subjected to political persecution, gender-based violence and moral shaming, both inside Nicaragua and in exile. "The gendered patterns of violations do not occur in isolation. They form part of a deliberate repressive strategy aimed at punishing women and feminist movements for their long-standing leadership as autonomous political actors," said Peralta As Nicaragua has discontinued cooperation with the Human Rights Council and withdrawn from several UN bodies, the Group of Experts stressed that international accountability is more urgent than ever. The Group called on States to mobilize a comprehensive framework of accountabilityencompassing universal jurisdiction, targeted sanctions, and treaty-based litigationwhile ensuring robust protection for exiled populations and preventing the instrumentalization of international legal and financial mechanisms by Nicaraguan authorities. "The longer action is delayed, the greater the harm and the deeper the consequences," said Simon. "Yet the resilience of victims, strengthened through the careful documentation of their experiences continues to drive the pursuit of truth, justice, and full compliance with international human rights law." Nicaragua's Government should take immediate steps to dismantle the architecture of repression by repealing all restrictive legislative and constitutional reforms adopted since 2018, dissolving parastate apparatuses, and restoring the separation of powers. The Group also called on the Government to unconditionally release all people detained on political grounds and restore the full spectrum of human rights particularly for civil society, the media and religious institutions while granting international monitoring bodies - including the Group of Experts - unfettered access to monitor the safe return of exiles, justice and reparation. "The Group of Experts stands ready to engage directly and constructively with the authorities," said Brody. "We are prepared to travel to Nicaragua to monitor progress and support the implementation of human rights reforms." ENDS Background: The Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua is an independent body mandated by the UN Human Rights Council. Established in March 2022, it is tasked to conduct thorough and independent investigations into all alleged human rights violations and abuses committed in Nicaragua since April 2018. The expert members of the Group of Human Rights Experts were appointed by the President of UN Human Rights Council to gather data on alleged human rights violations, collect unbiased information and provide independent analysis. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The OIC Media Observatory on Israeli Crimes Against Palestinians Issues its 119th Report, Documenting a Significant Increase in Violations at Al-Aqsa and Ibrahimi Mosques Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) 10-03-2026 The OIC Media Observatory on Israeli Crimes Against Palestinians recorded 1,318 crimes between March 3 and 9, 2026. These included 41 Palestinians murdered, 15 of whom were in the Gaza Strip, in addition to the recovery of 20 bodies and 30 injuries. In the West Bank, six Palestinians were killed and 59 were injured. This brings the total number of Palestinians killed between October 7, 2023, and March 9, 2026, to 73,053, and 181,413 injured. In the West Bank and Jerusalem, 443 Israeli incursions were recorded, during which Israeli occupation forces arrested 323 Palestinians and seized 32 homes. Over the past week, Israeli authorities continued to prevent worshippers from accessing the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, including the Isha and Taraweeh prayers, as well as Friday prayers. They also closed the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron and prohibited prayers there. Settler attacks on Palestinian villages and Bedouin communities reached 67 during the past week, resulting in the deaths of two Palestinians and injuries to three others. Settlers also shot at child shepherds in Hebron and displaced 17 Bedouin families. The Palestinian territories were subjected to five settlement activities, including land confiscation, the establishment of new settlement outposts, and the seizure of land for the expansion of settlements in the West Bank. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address AFP ready to follow orders on Middle East conflict Philippine News Agency By Priam Nepomuceno March 10, 2026, 4:17 pm MANILA -- The various branches of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Tuesday said they are prepared to carry out any directive relating to the Middle East conflict, including the repatriation of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). At a media briefing, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) and the Philippine Navy (PN) said their services are maintaining a "high level preparedness" should they be called to repatriate OFWs in the Middle East. "We are maintaining a high level of preparedness, siyempre ine-expect na rin po natin yan (we are expecting that) although we await the official guidance coming from DMW (Department of Migrants Workers) and also DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) and DND (Department of National Defense)," PAF spokesperson Ma. Christina Basco said at a media briefing. Basco said there are a lot of things to consider for a possible repatriation, including prepositioning, ground control, and coordination. Distance from the Middle East and the Philippines is also a factor, she said. "(There is the) issues about diplomatic clearances and yung (the) consolidation, repatriation, extraction. It needs a very comprehensive plan, so para lang po ensured na safe po yung ating patransport that (that is needed to ensure the safe transport of our Filipino workers)," she added. Her views were also shared by PN spokesperson Captain Marissa Martinez who said the Navy is always ready to respond. "Your PN is always ready to respond but we will also wait for instructions coming from higher headquarters regarding the repatriation. If you could recall, during the Covid (-19 pandemic) and during the issue in 2020, we sent ships indeed to India and to Oman. So with this, we are capable. Your Navy is very capable," Martinez said. Asked if the Navy is willing to deploy a frigate or two and follow US initiatives to escort commercial tankers out of the Middle East, PN spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea and Inspector General, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, said they are willing to do so if directed. "I don't want to jump-start our national command authorities. Suffice it to say, any guidance given to the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), we are more than willing to perform, any guidance," Trinidad said when asked if the Navy is willing to deploy a frigate or two for such missions. Earlier, American President Donald Trump said the US is looking to offer insurance backstops and naval escorts for commercial ships transiting the Middle East. Tanker traffic has been at a standstill following Iran's announcement closing the Strait of Hormuz following US and Israeli military strikes at its key military and leadership targets. Meanwhile, AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla underscored the intricacies involved in conducting these kinds of operation. "The AFP will act on it in accordance with the directives from higher agencies. So, this is a fusion of efforts from the DMW, from the DFA, (and) of course the directive from the DND. So, rest assured that our planners are burning the midnight oil," she added. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address West PH Sea activities to continue despite oil crisis Philippine News Agency By Priam Nepomuceno March 10, 2026, 2:27 pm MANILA -- Despite the spiraling fuel prices brought about by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, all military activities related to protecting the West Philippine Sea (WPS) will continue, a ranking Philippine Navy (PN) official said Tuesday. "All activities of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) for this year that are operational in nature will continue. It's our mandate that should be performed," Philippine Navy spokesperson for the WPS, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, said in a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. He assured the public that the AFP will continue performing its mandate, especially when it comes to protecting the country's sovereignty and territories. Meanwhile, AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla assured the public that operational missions aimed at securing Philippine territory and disaster response will continue even as their military administrative offices adjust to alternative work arrangements amid the looming oil crisis. Padilla said the AFP is ready to implement the appropriate measures while ensuring that its primary mission, which is to protect the Filipino people and safeguard our national security, remains uninterrupted. "May mga 'enercon' (energy conservation) measures po tayo (we already have enercon in) support of the greater national effort. So, while administrative offices may eventually adjust our work arrangements, depending on the guidelines that is going to be set, ang mga (our) operational missions po natin (will) continue 24/7, whether it is territorial defense, disaster response, or internal security operations, patuloy po natin itong gagampanan (we will continue to fulfill them)," she added. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel preparing for 'extended war' against Lebanon: Report Iran Press TV Tuesday, 10 March 2026 7:02 PM The Israeli military is preparing for a prolonged war in Lebanon that could extend beyond the ongoing US-Israeli aggression against Iran, the Financial Times reported. "The Israelis are preparing international players for the prospect that the war with Hezbollah could drag on and last longer than the war with Iran," the newspaper quoted sources as saying. One of the sources said Israel had been considering renewing the war on Lebanon even before the Hezbollah resistance movement fired its first rocket barrage early on March 2. Multiple reports from last year revealed that plans were already in place for an escalation against Lebanon. The newspaper report also said the pace of Hezbollah's rocket and drone attacks is increasing. Tel Aviv has openly called for Israeli troops to illegally occupy additional areas in southern Lebanon as part of the ground invasion, which Hezbollah is fiercely confronting. Israel's Broadcasting Corporation (KAN) reported that Tel Aviv is considering expanding the so-called "security belt" a series of hills and strategic locations on the Lebanese side of the border currently occupied by Israeli troops in violation of the November 2024 ceasefire. Meanwhile, Israeli authorities are increasingly acknowledging that the Lebanese resistance group may be preparing for a sustained campaign along the northern front. The Israeli newspaper Jerusalem Post, citing the regime's assessments, reported that Hezbollah's operations are not a short-term escalation but part of a longer confrontation aimed at exhausting Israeli forces and reshaping battlefield dynamics along the Lebanese border with the occupied territories. The report comes as Iran has rejected ceasefire discussions with the United States and Israel, and as joint missile strikes by Hezbollah and the Islamic Republic against the occupying entity intensify. Israel, which has been stunned by Hezbollah's operational capabilities, recently admitted that two of its soldiers had been killed. Early on Tuesday, Hezbollah said in a statement that its fighters had lured invading Israeli forces into a well-prepared ambush on the southern outskirts of Khiam, directly hitting three tanks. Hezbollah missiles damaged an Israeli satellite site near occupied al-Quds on Monday. Since earlier this month, the Lebanese resistance has announced several more operations and continues to confront invading Israeli forces in the south. Hezbollah has targeted several Merkava tanks in recent days. On 9 March, the Hebrew newspaper Maariv reported that the Israeli military is "not prepared" to fight a two-front war against both Hezbollah and the Islamic Republic of Iran. "It is not prepared to manage two fronts simultaneously with the power to drop thousands of munitions every day of war," the newspaper's military correspondent said. Since Hezbollah opened a new front just over a week ago, Israeli has killed at least 500 people in Lebanon, most of them civilians. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Adds Afghanistan To New Blacklist Over Taliban's 'Wrongful Detention' Of Americans By RFE/RL's Radio Azadi and Zamira Eshanova March 10, 2026 The United States has designated Afghanistan a "state sponsor of wrongful detention," accusing the unrecognized Taliban government of holding American citizens as bargaining chips. President Donald Trump signed an executive order in September that created the designation, which allows Washington to impose sanctions, travel restrictions, and limits on aid on foreign governments. Last month, Iran became the first country to be added to the new blacklist. "The Taliban continues to use terrorist tactics, kidnapping individuals for ransom or to seek policy concessions," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement on March 9. Rubio said it was "not safe for Americans to travel to Afghanistan because the Taliban continues to unjustly detain our fellow Americans and other foreign nationals." The Taliban's Foreign Ministry on March 10 denied it was holding American citizens for ransom. "Certain individuals have been detained on charges of violating established laws, and in many instances, they have been released in the normal course following the completion of legal procedures," the ministry said in a statement. Several Americans are being held in Afghanistan, where the Taliban seized power in 2021 after a nearly two-decade insurgency against US-led international forces. They include Dennis Coyle, a 64-year-old American academic who was detained by the Taliban in January 2025. Mahmood Habibi, another US citizen, was arrested in August 2022. The 37-year-old led the Afghan Aviation Authority under the previous US-backed Afghan government. The charges against both are unclear. The United States has offered a $5 million reward for information leading to Habibi's release. The Taliban denies holding him, and no verified details about his condition have emerged. "We just want our brother to be released," Ahmad Shah Habibi, the detainees brother, told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi on March 10. "We have some hope in the US government because it has tried from the start to free American detainees. We hope these efforts will lead to my brother's release." Another American, airline mechanic George Glezmann, 66, was freed in March 2025 during a visit to Kabul by Trump's special envoy for hostage affairs, Adam Boehler, after more than two years in detention. He was the third American freed by the Taliban since Trump returned to the presidency in January 2025. The Taliban has arrested dozens of foreign nationals since seizing power in August 2021. Human rights groups have accused the Taliban of arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and torture in custody. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-designates-afghanistan- state-sponsor-wrongful-detention-taliban/33700635.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 Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York 10 March 2026 The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General. ** Tom Fletcher All right, good afternoon. I have quite a bit of stuff for you today. Hopefully some of it will be helpful to your reporting. Just a programming note. Tomorrow, at 2 p.m., in Geneva, which will be 9 a.m. here in New York, given the time difference, our friend Tom Fletcher, the Under-Secretary-General for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, will be speaking to reporters. He'll update you all on the progress made in his goal this year to reach 87 million people with life-saving aid. For that, the humanitarian community will need $23 billion. Connection details will be shared later for those of you who want to join. ** Trip Announcement Trip announcement to share with you. As you know, every year, the Secretary-General undertakes a Ramadan solidarity visit. This year, he will travel to Turkiye, to the capital Ankara, to pay tribute to the extraordinary generosity of the Turkish people. Over many years, during his tenure as UN High Commissioner for Refugees and then as Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres has witnessed Turkiye open its doors and communities to millions of people forced to flee violence and persecution. The Secretary-General will meet during his trip with representatives of non-governmental organizations working to support refugees in Turkiye. Turkiye has provided refuge and support, hosting one of the largest refugee populations in the world, with nearly 2.5 million refugees and asylum seekers, including more than 2.3 million Syrians. While in Turkiye, the Secretary-General will receive the state award, the "Ataturk International Peace Prize", which he will accept on behalf of UN personnel throughout the world. This recognition, as you are well aware, comes at a time of immense suffering around the world. The unfolding crisis in the Middle East stands as a tragic example of that. During his visit, the Secretary-General is scheduled to hold discussions with President [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. ** Town Hall with Women Civil Society Leaders This morning, the Secretary-General participated in a town hall with women civil society leaders. In his opening remarks, he thanked them for being on the frontlines every day, defending hard won rights for women and girls, and for building coalitions when societies are being pulled apart. These are trying times, he said. A bitter wind is blowing around the world, hardening attitudes, and fuelling a backlash against women's rights. But working together, he added, we have shown what can change when gender equality is at the centre. How institutions become stronger and more credible when women are in senior leadership and how outcomes improve when women are indeed included as decision makers from the very start. He followed his remarks with a very in-depth and interesting discussion with women civil society leaders. All of that is available on UN WebTV. ** Colombia Turning to Colombia. In a statement we issued yesterday evening, the Secretary-General congratulated the Colombian people for their peaceful participation on 8 March in the elections for a new Congress and in interparty primaries ahead of presidential elections in May. He commended the Colombian authorities for their efforts to ensure a secure process that further contributes to strengthening democracy and consolidating peace in Colombia. The Secretary-General underscored the critical role of the new Congress to advance the cause of peace, including through the voices of victims, men and women, elected under the Final Peace Agreement to represent 16 "peace districts" in regions long scarred by conflict. He commended the participation in the elections of former combatants and peace signatories as voters and candidates. The Secretary-General condemned all attacks on the democratic electoral process in the run up to the elections and acknowledges the work of authorities to address risks, especially in conflict-affected areas. He called on them to redouble such efforts to ensure that the upcoming presidential election can take place in a free and secure environment around Colombia. ** Middle East/Iran Turning to the Middle East. As we have been mentioning here, almost since the beginning, we have been continuing to warn about the broader impact of the conflict. Our colleagues at UN Trade and Development, UNCTAD, released today a very interesting report, which is their economic analysis on the potential impact of a closure of the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting significant risks to global trade and development. The report underscores that the Strait of Hormuz is a critical maritime checkpoint, carrying about a quarter of the global seaborne oil and roughly one third of the global [seaborne] fertilizer trade that is about 16 million tons of fertilizer annually. As you have seen, following recent disruptions, Brent crude oil prices rose above [$90] per barrel. To give you an example, since 28 February, according to UNCTAD, ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has dropped by 97 per cent. UNCTAD warns that higher energy, fertilizer and transport costs could drive up food prices and intensify cost-of-living pressures, particularly for the most vulnerable people around the world. UNCTAD stresses that the ultimate scale of the economic impact will depend on the duration and intensity of the disruption and emphasizes the need for continued monitoring and efforts to safeguard maritime trade corridors in line with international law. I think that report has been shared with you. ** Lebanon Meanwhile on the ground, in Lebanon, our humanitarian colleagues report that nearly the entire population of people living in areas south of the Litani River, parts of Baalbek governorate and the Bekaa Valley, and large sections of Beirut's southern suburbs, are now caught up in hostilities as air strikes and displacement orders continue. In the past week, more than 660,000 people registered themselves as displaced through the Lebanese Government. Health facilities are under growing pressure from trauma cases, while displaced people with chronic illnesses can't access the treatment they need. Attacks are also continuing to impact healthcare facilities. Yesterday, an Israeli strike hit a Red Cross ambulance in the town of Majdal Zoun in the Tyre district, injuring paramedics and damaging the vehicle. Since 2 March, our colleagues at the World Health Organization recorded 23 attacks on healthcare, resulting in 14 deaths and 26 injuries. We, together with our NGO partners and national authorities, are scaling up urgent humanitarian assistance in Lebanon. As of yesterday, we and our partners have distributed hundreds of thousands of hot meals, as well as several thousand mattresses and blankets to support displaced families. We once again stress the urgent need for immediate de-escalation. All parties have to respect international humanitarian law, and that includes protecting civilians, protecting civilian infrastructure, including healthcare facilities. Humanitarian access must be safe and must be sustained so assistance can reach all those who need it. Additional international support is urgently required. The humanitarian community is scaling up the response but resources are limited, and additional funding is critical to sustain life-saving assistance as needs continue to grow. Meanwhile in the south, UNIFIL continues to report rocket fire and missiles towards Israel, and airstrikes and artillery shelling impacting north of the Blue Line, including in Sector East from Israel. UNIFIL also continues to observe Israel Defense Forces movements north of the Blue Line. Clashes have been reported in Sector East. At the request of the municipality of Alma al-Shab in Sector West, UNIFIL peacekeepers facilitated the safe movement of about 80 civilians who wanted to leave. That is in accordance with the protection of civilians mandate of UNIFIL. The mission has also facilitated numerous humanitarian missions by the Lebanese Red Cross. Yesterday, UNIFIL reported a mortar shell impact at UNIFIL position near El-Adeisse in Sector East. The explosion scattered debris across nearby structures. Thankfully, no injuries were reported. The origin of the mortar shell remains undetermined at this time. We strongly remind all those involved in the conflict in Lebanon of their obligations to ensure the safety and the security of UN personnel and premises at all times. ** Occupied Palestinian Territory Turning to Gaza, our colleagues at OCHA report that aid workers continue to provide aid across the Gaza Strip despite the recent tightening of [crossing] closures by the Israeli authorities, which are one of many persistent challenges. The situation remains as is: All crossings except Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem are still closed, impeding our ability and the ability of our humanitarian partners to bring in sufficient supplies and deliver them efficiently to people in immense need. On Sunday, we were able to bring over 427,000 litres of fuel into Gaza to power critical humanitarian services, including healthcare, and water, sanitation and hygiene facilities. This brings the total amount of fuel that has entered since [last] Tuesday to 1.4 million litres. Just as a reminder, we need more than 2 million litres of fuel every week to avoid interruption or reduction in our services. The pipeline that connects water from Israel to Gaza City, the Mekorot pipeline, has been, reportedly been repaired by an Israeli contractor and tested over the weekend. Yesterday, our partners leading the efforts to improve water, sanitation and hygiene across Gaza said the supply has resumed at the same level as prior to the 19 January breakage, which we had reported. Water trucking remains a backup lifeline to ensure communities can access sufficient sources of safe water, but it is expensive to sustain, obviously, especially with fuel challenges. Repairing vital infrastructure heavily damaged during the war is essential to our operations. We and our partners have resumed working on moving solid waste from the Firas market dumping site to a more suitable area away from the city. Since the work began on 10 February, they have moved approximately 3,000 cubic metres of solid waste out of over 350,000 [cubic] metres of accumulated waste. Just to note that this pace is significantly below the anticipated schedule due to challenges with fuel availability and insecurity. Shelter needs continue to outpace our and our partners' ability to respond, particularly with restrictions placed on items considered by the Israeli authorities of being "dual-use". That includes tool kits, heavy equipment, timber and cement. Meanwhile, over the past week, we and our partners reached over 3,200 households with short-term solutions such as tents, sealing-off kits and tarpaulins, alongside mattresses and blankets. Protection services are also continuing. Last week, we were able to provide psychosocial support, case management assistance, legal consultation and disability inclusion [services] to some 3,700 people. These services are invaluable given the extent of the psychological and physical trauma experienced by thousands of people in Gaza following over two years of war. We reiterate that more is needed to relieve the suffering of the people of Gaza. This includes the reopening of additional crossings and allowing uninterrupted movement of people, including for medical evacuation and family reunification, as well as sustained and predictable flow of diverse critical supplies to enter into the Gaza Strip. ** Security Council/Syria Back here, the Security Council met on implementing resolution 2118 which, as you all know very well, is related to Syria's chemical weapons programme. Adedeji Ebo, the Deputy to the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, said that the Office for Disarmament Affairs remains in regular contact with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which continues working to clarify the scope of the former programme through site visits and document analysis. He noted that the new Syrian Government is cooperating with the OPCW, adding that at least two locations may be declarable under the Chemical Weapons Convention, though further visits are currently on hold due to the security situation in the region. ** Security Council/Afghanistan And yesterday afternoon, the Council held a briefing on the UN political mission in Afghanistan, UNAMA. Briefing Council members was Georgette Gagnon, the Deputy Special Representative and officer in charge of the mission. She noted that the conflict with Pakistan had punishing human and economic costs, reiterating the Secretary-General's deep concern about the escalation and impact on civilian populations. Ms. Gagnon said that the unacceptable situation for Afghan women and girls continues, and they are now entering their fifth year of almost total exclusion from public life and education past grade 6. She said that the recent decree number 12 on criminal rules of courts further distances the Afghan people from realization of their human rights and the country's international obligations. And, tomorrow, we will have Ms. Gagnon as our guest. She will be joining us virtually to give you a bit more details and to answer your questions about Afghanistan. ** Afghanistan/Refugees Meanwhile, on the same topic, UNHCR [UN refugee agency] warned that the escalation of hostilities in the Middle East is worsening the environment in the region and could drive increased returns under adverse conditions of Afghans from neighbouring countries. UNHCR said that already this year, about 110,000 Afghans have returned from Iran, with roughly 1,700 each day since the onset of the conflict at the end of last month. UNHCR said that the situation at the Pakistan border also remains critical, and that more than 160,000 Afghans have returned from Pakistan already this year. Although returns have stabilized in recent weeks, UNHCR noted that the main crossing point at Torkham remains closed due to the tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and movements could increase sharply as soon as the border reopens. ** South Sudan Our friend Volker Turk, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said today that he is horrified by growing accounts of serious violations during the ongoing conflict in South Sudan, including gruesome killings of civilians, the destruction and poisoning of key water sources, and fresh waves of mass displacement. His office noted that over the past 17 days alone, more than 160 civilians have been killed. Civilians also told his colleagues that approximately 99 wells were destroyed or poisoned with unidentified substances during Government airstrikes. Mr. Turk said that civilians are being brutally killed, injured and displaced on a daily basis across South Sudan as hostilities escalate. Some of these hostilities may amount to war crimes. He stressed that there must be prompt, impartial, thorough and effective investigations into these and all other alleged violations of the laws of war and of international human rights law. He also emphasized that those found responsible must be fully held to account, including those bearing superior and command responsibility. ** Ukraine While new conflicts are starting, as we see in the Middle East, we also need to remember that other conflicts are continuing and should not be forgotten. From Ukraine, our colleagues at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs tell us that large-scale missile and drone attacks and front-line hostilities between last Thursday and yesterday impacted multiple regions across the country. Kharkiv City was among the hardest hit, where strikes damaged apartment blocks, a school and other civilian infrastructure, killing and injuring people, including children. In Donetsk [Region], authorities reported that civilians were also killed and injured in Ukraine-controlled areas, mostly in Kramatorsk. Our humanitarian colleagues said that attacks damaged ambulances, fire trucks, homes and energy and railway infrastructure in several regions. Our Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, reiterated that civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected at all times under international humanitarian law. Aid organizations deployed emergency teams to support impacted people, including providing hot meals, construction materials and psychosocial support in Kharkiv and other affected areas. In positive news, on the same day, a humanitarian convoy delivered solar lamps, dignity kits and medical supplies to about 1,000 residents in front-line Dobropilska Hromada of the Donetsk Region. Since the start of 2026, nine humanitarian convoys have reached front-line communities, helping about 8,000 people. ** Myanmar Also, an update from Myanmar, which we don't speak about enough here and where airstrikes and clashes are continuing to fuel suffering and drive urgent humanitarian needs. Almost one year since the devastating earthquake that took place on 28 March and more than five years since the military takeover, our humanitarian partners continue to deliver lifesaving assistance to millions of people, despite insecurity, access restrictions and shrinking funding. Last year, we and our partners reached more than 6 million people, including 1.7 million just after the earthquake. This year, we hope to reach at least 2.6 million people with our partners. We are grateful for the support received to date, but we need much more to reach all those who need help. ** Cuba Closer to here, to these shores, in Cuba, I can tell you we remain deeply concerned about the deteriorating situation, driven by the inability to import fuel. This has triggered an energy crisis. Our humanitarian colleagues tell us that Cuba's already strained health system is approaching a critical point. Hospitals face frequent power outages, shortages of essential medicines, inability to operate critical equipment, and major disruptions in oncology care, dialysis, emergency services, infant and maternal care, cold chain systems, as well as chronic and non-urgent care. As an example, our humanitarian colleagues tell us that 16,000 cancer patients needing radiotherapy and more than 12,000 depending on chemotherapy cannot get the treatment they need due to power outages and resource shortages. Elsewhere, ambulances are struggling to obtain fuel, delaying urgent care. Regarding access to water, nearly 1 million people depend on water delivered by tanker trucks, which, of course, requires fuel to operate those trucks. More than 80 per cent of water pumping infrastructure relies on electricity, resulting in widespread and prolonged disruptions. Our humanitarian colleagues also say that food supply chains, from production to storage to distribution, are increasingly impacted, with cold chain systems failing, transport routes increasingly disrupted, and reductions in the availability of basic food items across the country. Our partners on the ground are working to provide assistance, but the lack of fuel for those operations is forcing food and water trucks to operate in a limited capacity, with dozens of aid containers being stuck at the port. The UN Plan of Action issued after Hurricane Melissa last year calls for $74 million but is only 33 per cent funded. We are also engaging with Member States, including the United States, so aid can be delivered unimpeded. This includes accessing fuel for humanitarian purposes. ** Violence against Children Just two more quick notes. I wanted to flag that our Special Representative on Violence against Children, Najat Maalla M'jid, presented her annual report to the Human Rights Council earlier today, highlighting the alarming trends in cyberbullying and the urgent need for the entire online ecosystem to act faster and together to protect children. A poll conducted by her Office with over 32,000 children across all regions of the world found that 66 per cent believe cyberbullying has increased. During her presentation, Ms. M'jid also highlighted that the rapid development of generative AI is reshaping cyberbullying, making it faster and harder to detect, enabling deepfakes, automated targeting, and the manipulation of children through tools they trust and cannot distinguish from real human interaction. She called on the tech industry to conduct child-rights due diligence across the entire AI value chain. Building a safer digital environment for children is not optional. It is a necessity, she told the Human Rights Council. ** International Day of Women Judges Today is the International Day of Women Judges. It highlights the importance of women's full, equal participation in judiciaries worldwide, celebrates progress made, and calls for greater gender balance and inclusive justice systems, which is something we have been speaking about as it is the theme of the Commission on the Status of Women. ** Questions and Answers Spokesman : Edie? Question : Thank you, Steph. Can you give us an update on any contacts that the Secretary-General has been having to try to get diplomacy moving in both Iran and Lebanon? Spokesman : Yes, but I will be doing that later this afternoon. Question : Okay, and secondly, you just said that the UN has been engaging with the United States on trying to get fuel into Cuba for humanitarian purposes. What's the reaction been and is there any other avenue that the UN is pursuing? Spokesman : Well, I mean, that's obviously, the discussions with the US are obviously a big and critical avenue. Once there's progress to report, and I would say we hope to have success in those discussions, we will let you know. Namo? Question : Thank you, Stephane. Two questions, one on the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump put out a social media post saying that "if Iran does anything that stops the flow of oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they'll be hit by the United States of America 20 times harder". And he added that it will be virtually impossible for Iran to be rebuilt as a nation. They'll be hit that hard. Does this kind of threat help with the Strait of Hormuz, given, in light of the report that you put out? Spokesman : Well, I mean, I don't think you need me to answer that question. Question : And where does the Secretary-General stand on the statement that he is threatening to destroy Iran beyond repair as a nation? Spokesman : Look, we are obviously concerned with the increased military activity we're seeing in Iran and around the region, as well as Lebanon, and the increased militaristic rhetoric that we're seeing from all sides as well. Question : And the second question, there was an incident over the weekend outside of the Mayor's residence in New York, and the New York Police Department now says that it was an ISIS inspired attempted attack. I'm wondering if the United Nations has raised its alert level in light of that, or you have been in touch with law enforcement authorities? Spokesman : I can tell you that our colleagues in the UN safety and security department are in daily, if not constant contact with the host country authorities, especially the NYPD. And we rely on them to provide security in our perimeter, right? And I think they've always, since the beginning, since the UN was established, done a really great job in protecting us and we continue to cooperate with them. Gabriel? Question : Thank you, Steph. What does the Secretary-General see as the pathway to diplomacy in the Middle East right now? Spokesman : Well, I think an end to the military activities, a return to discussions that had been had, that Oman was leading in whatever configuration would then work best, a return of a dialogue between Iran and the IAEA. Question : In the past 24 hours, Israel has bombed Tehran, southern Lebanon, Beirut, as well as Gaza. Does the Secretary-General think that these are interconnected conflicts that can be resolved together, or are they separate? Spokesman : Look. I don't think one wants to put any preconditions on how to resolve each conflict, right? There are different avenues and different structures already in place where diplomacy has worked, and those structures and avenues should be used. Alex, then Sinan. Question : Thanks, Steph. A quick follow-up on the Secretary-General's trip to Turkiye. Sorry, if I missed it. Could you please share the dates? Spokesman : You know, as I was reading it, I forgot to say that he's leaving very late this evening. Question : He'll be back? Spokesman : Just to make sure you're actually listening. Yes, sorry. Question : He'll be back on? Spokesman : We'll let you know when he's back. Question : Thanks. Spokesman : Okay, thank you for paying attention. Sinan? Question : Thank you, Steph. I have two questions. One on Syria and second one will be on Iran. Syria question is the first convoy of Kurdish families displaced from Afrin since Turkiye's 2018 military operation has begun returning under a ceasefire. However, settlers are occupying Kurdish homes and refusing to leave. The question is, does the Secretary-General welcome these returns, and what is the UN doing to ensure displaced Kurds can reclaim their properties? Spokesman : Look, I think it is important, and we have no reason to doubt that the Government in Damascus will do whatever, ensure the safety of those Kurds and other minorities that are returning and that they have access to their property. I will let you know if we're actually involved in assisting any of the returnees. Question : And the second question is on Iran. Iran is widely described as a brutal regime that oppresses its minorities such as Kurds, Baloch, Arab, and others. There is also the belief that military intervention will not bring democracy. So, what does the Secretary-General propose for these minorities caught between an oppressive Government and war? What paths does United Nations Secretary-General offers? Spokesman : We have been very clear in the past, in calling out the human rights violations in Iran, either through the Secretary-General or through various human rights officials. Whether it's in Iran or any other country, minorities have to made to be feel like they are part of the country, right? That they have a stake in the future of the country, that they are protected. And this is true, as I said, in the Islamic Republic of Iran and any other country, where there are minority populations, and that's just about every country in the world. Dennis. Question : Two questions. So, first, four Iranian diplomats died because of Israeli strike in Lebanon. Do you have any comment on that? Spokesman : I haven't seen that report, but I will look at that. And we've been saying since the beginning that diplomatic premises should never be a target, and we've seen a number of diplomatic premises in this conflict being hit. Question : And another question. So, there are reports that Ukrainian forces made an airstrike on Bryansk and there are casualties, so civilian casualties. So, do you have comment on that? Spokesman : I will again, unfortunately, I haven't seen that particular report, but we've been very clear that we are against strikes against civilian, civilian infrastructure wherever they occur. Minlu, please. Question : This afternoon's Security Council meeting on Iran sanctions has been postponed. Do you know the reason why the meeting was postponed? Spokesman : I think anything having to do with Security Council is best to ask the presidency of the Security Council. Question : And do you know when this would be resumed? Spokesman : It's on the long list of things I don't know. Pam, I think you're online. Question : Yes. Thank you, Steph. Just a quick question, and I apologize if you already said this, but who will be speaking for the Secretariat at the emergency Lebanon meeting tomorrow? Spokesman : I will get back to you. I think Tom, I know Tom Fletcher will speak on the humanitarian end. I will let you know if there's a political briefer as well. Question : Thank you. Spokesman : That'll be all. Question : That's all. Spokesman : Sorry, apologize. Go ahead. Question : So, the special representative in Lebanon visited Israel, I think, on Sunday. And did she deliver any message to the Israeli Government from the SG? Is she doing the usual shuttle diplomacy? Or do you have any initiative to de-escalate the situation in Lebanon? Spokesman : She is still in Israel. I know she met the Foreign Minister yesterday. The visit was prescheduled to the start of this conflict, but it is obviously very opportune. Her efforts are focused on the full respect and implementation of 1701 and returning to a minimum calm along the blue line. Question : And since the Security Council is about to discuss Lebanon, what does the SG hope that the Council can do at this moment? Spokesman : To do whatever it can, to help bring peace back to Lebanon to ensure that the parties respect Security Council resolution 1701. Question : And maybe last question. So, UNIFIL's mandate is about to expire later this year. Spokesman : Yeah. Question : Is the SG worried that there will be a huge gap in southern Lebanon in terms of monitoring the situation or maybe mediating? So, what is... [cross-talk] Spokesman : Yeah, I mean listen, various options even before this erupted, were being looked at. I think it will remain very important that we have an ability to keep an eye, to speak simply on the situation along the blue line. Yes, Islam, please. Question : I'm sorry, I came in the last minute. Maybe I missed it. On Secretary-General's visit to Turkiye, when he's coming back? And is he coming back directly or stopping...? [cross-talk] Spokesman : I don't have a return date to share with you, but I can tell you that he's leaving very late tonight. Question : And only going to Turkiye and coming back, any other stops? Spokesman : If I have anything else to share with you, I will do that. Question : Thank you. Spokesman : Thank you all. Enjoy the day. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UNHCR: almost 700,000 displaced in a week across Lebanon as crisis deepens UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Briefing notes This is a summary of what was said by Karolina Lindholm Billing, UNHCR Representative in Lebanon - to whom quoted text may be attributed - at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva 10 March 2026 BEIRUT -- It has been just over a week since the new escalation in conflict started on 2 March, when Israeli evacuation warnings to residents of more than 53 villages and densely populated areas in Lebanon and intensified airstrikes forced families across Lebanon to flee within minutes. Lives have been upended on a massive scale. According to the authorities, as of today, more than 667,000 people in Lebanon have now registered on the government's online displacement platform - an increase of over 100,000 in just one day - and numbers continue to rise. Around 120,000 of the displaced are sheltering in government-designated collective sites, while many others are staying with relatives or friends, or are still searching for accommodation. Many - often displaced for the second time since the hostilities in 2024 - fled in a rush with almost nothing, seeking safety in Beirut, Mount Lebanon, northern districts and parts of the Bekaa. During a visit yesterday to a shelter in Beirut, I met a woman in her 90s who had lost 11 members of her family during the 2024 attacks. She is now displaced again, staying in the same school that was turned into a shelter. Stories like hers illustrate the fear, uncertainty and repeated trauma families are facing. We are also seeing urgent movements into Syria. According to Syrian authorities, more than 78,000 Syrians have entered from Lebanon since the escalation began, and over 7,700 Lebanese. Among them are Syrian refugees who had been planning to return home in the coming months, and others who now rushed to return due to the current escalation. UNHCR teams are present at Syrian border crossings alongside authorities and partners to support those arriving with essential relief. In Lebanon, since day one, UNHCR has supported the government and local authorities in responding to the crisis. To date, we have delivered around 168,000 emergency items to more than 63,000 displaced people across over 270 government-designated collective shelters. These include mattresses, blankets, sleeping mats, sleeping bags, solar lamps, and jerry cans, helping displaced families meet their most urgent needs. To ensure this critical assistance reaches as many displaced people as quickly as possible, UNHCR is dispatching relief items from our warehouse to the collective shelters through multiple channels: through national and international NGO partners, as well as through municipal authorities and partners like the Lebanese Red Cross, ensuring fast, coordinated support, even in hard-to-access areas where some families remain. I have seen first-hand over the past week how this volatile situation and displacement also trigger fear and emotional trauma. Children and adults alike, including many older people, are in shock and fear. UNHCR, through community centres, outreach volunteers and protection partners, is providing psychosocial support, identifying people at heightened risk, reuniting separated children with families, and assisting people with disabilities. At the current pace of displacement, we are working hard to replenish our country-level stocks of essential items, but UNHCR's operation in Lebanon is currently only 14 per cent funded. Fast and sustained international solidarity is critical to enable us to support the Lebanese Government and authorities in responding to the emerging needs. Every day this conflict continues, more suffering is inflicted on hundreds of thousands of civilians, while Lebanon and the region are further destabilized. Civilians must be protected at all times, and safe, unhindered humanitarian access must be guaranteed so aid can reach those who need it most. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Afghan children returning from Iran face uncertainty and rising humanitarian needs UNICEF Remarks This is a summary of what was said by UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan, Dr. Tajudeen Oyewale - to whom quoted text may be attributed - at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva 10 March 2026 ISLAM QALA/AFGHANISTAN/GENEVA, 10 March 2026 - "The impact of escalating conflict in the Middle East is creating immediate risks for children across borders. Right now, in Afghanistan, families are arriving at the Islam Qala and other crossings coming from Iran, many distressed after an unexpected journey and uncertain about what lies ahead as they return to their homeland. For UNICEF, the central concern is simple: what this means for children. "We are already seeing too many mothers arriving at reception centres with their children, looking exhausted, overwhelmed and in need of immediate support. If arrivals increase as expected, the risks facing children will grow as well. "The pattern is not new and the cause is often the same. Violence and fear. In 2025 alone, nearly three million Afghans returned to Afghanistan from neighbouring countries, primarily from Iran and Pakistan, and around 60 per cent were families with children. "Today, I heard directly from people arriving across the border, who described nearly impossible journeys, full of uncertainty about what lies ahead. Many are in urgent need of medical support and visibly lost, seeking some basic information about what to do next with their lives. "I cannot stress this enough. Children require particular attention, especially those who are unaccompanied. Their best interests must be prioritized and appropriate support provided, including efforts to trace and reunify families where needed. Otherwise, they will be exposed to serious protection risks, including abduction and violence. "At the peak of last year's returns, UNICEF supported more than 8,000 unaccompanied and separated children from Iran and Pakistan. "Together with UNHCR and humanitarian partners, we are working to ensure that essential services for children and families can be maintained and, if necessary, rapidly scaled up. This includes preparedness for nutrition screening, safe water, vaccination, primary health care and child protection services at border points, reception centres and in areas of return. "But the challenge does not end at the border. Families returning through Islam Qala will move onwards to communities where basic services are already under pressure. Any significant increase in returns would place additional strain on health, nutrition, water and child protection services that children and families rely on. "This comes at a time when Afghanistan is already facing multiple layered crises - with 11 million children in need of humanitarian support. For families returning with very limited means, displacement and uncertainty can quickly increase the risk of malnutrition and ill health, particularly for young children and for pregnant and breastfeeding women. "However, the geopolitical situation creates major disruption to supply chains. And this means that basic service delivery is hampered by delays - for example, malnourished children won't receive life-saving therapeutic food on time. "At the same time, the situation along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border is adding to existing humanitarian pressures. Nearly 164,000 people are internally displaced in the affected provinces, including 30,000 survivors of last year's earthquakes who are displaced for a second time. Disruptions affecting border areas are placing further strain on already fragile systems and complicating the operating environment at a time of rising need. "Early action will be essential to ensure that, should returns increase, children and families can access timely support and essential services. "The Humanitarian Response Plan for Afghanistan is underfunded (HRP currently only 10% funded and HAC at 42%). For the immediate response, we call on all parters - private sector, donors and friends of children to support us with the urgent airlifting of critical nutrition, health, water sanitation and hygiene supplies for children and their families. "Our message is simple: children must be protected and supported at every stage when they need us the most. Together with partners, UNICEF stands ready to support children and families and to scale up the response if needed." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Today's top news: 87 million lives, Middle East, Lebanon, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Cuba, Ukraine UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 87 million lives Tomorrow, 11 March, at 2pm CET/9am EST, Tom Fletcher, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, will speak to reporters from Geneva. He will provide an update on the progress made in his goal to reach 87 million people with life-saving aid. For that, the humanitarian community will need $23 billion. The press conference can be viewed here. Middle East Dozens of schools damaged amid escalating hostilities OCHA continues to monitor the humanitarian impact of ongoing hostilities in the region, including reports of civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure. In Iran, civilian infrastructure - including dozens of schools - have sustained damage. Emergency response teams, including the International Red Cresent Society and firefighting units, are continuing rescue and relief operations in affected areas. The UN reiterates that civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected at all times, in accordance with international humanitarian law. De-escalation and an end to hostilities are essential to prevent further civilian suffering and the deterioration of humanitarian conditions. Lebanon Escalating hostilities displace hundreds of thousand OCHA reports that nearly the entire population living in areas south of the Litani River, parts of Baalbek governorate and the Bekaa Valley, and large sections of Beirut's southern suburbs - at least half a million people - are now caught up in the hostilities as airstrikes and displacement orders continue in Lebanon. According to the Ministry of Public Health, more than 400 people have been killed and over 1,200 injured between 2 March and 9 March. One in five of the casualties are children under the age of 18. People continue to be displaced. In the past week, more than 660,000 people registered themselves as displaced. Health facilities are under growing pressure from trauma cases, while displaced people with chronic illnesses can't access the treatment they need. Attacks continue to affect healthcare. Yesterday, an Israeli strike hit a Red Cross ambulance in the town of Majdal Zoun in the Tyre district, injuring paramedics and damaging the vehicle. Since 2 March, the World Health Organization has recorded 23 attacks on healthcare, resulting in 14 deaths and 26 injuries. The UN, together with NGOs and authorities, are scaling up urgent humanitarian assistance. As of yesterday, partners have distributed hundreds of thousands of hot meals, as well as several thousand mattresses and blankets to support displaced families. More than 200,000 litres of bottled water, and more than 750 cubic metres of trucked water, as well as fuel has also been delivered. The UN once again stresses the urgent need for immediate de-escalation. All parties must respect international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians, humanitarian personnel and healthcare facilities. Humanitarian access must be safe and sustained so assistance can reach people in need. Additional international support is urgently required. The humanitarian community is scaling up the response, but resources are limited and additional funding is critical to sustain life-saving assistance as needs continue to grow. Occupied Palestinian Territory Fuel shortage hamper aid efforts OCHA reports that aid workers continue to provide aid across the Gaza Strip despite the recent tightening of crossing closures by the Israeli authorities, among other persistent challenges. All crossings except Kerem Shalom remain closed, impeding the ability of the UN and humanitarian partners to bring in sufficient supplies and deliver them efficiently to people in immense need. On Sunday, the UN was able to bring over 427,000 litres of fuel into Gaza to power critical humanitarian services, including health, and water, sanitation and hygiene facilities. The total amount of fuel that has entered since last Tuesday is 1.4 million litres. This is less than the 2 million litres of fuel needed every week to avoid interruption of or reduction in these services. The Mekorot pipeline that supplies water from Israel to Gaza city has been reportedly repaired by an Israeli contractor and tested over the weekend. Yesterday, humanitarian partners leading the efforts to improve water, sanitation and hygiene across Gaza said that the supply has resumed at the same level as prior to the breakage on 19 January. Water trucking remains a backup lifeline to ensure communities can access sufficient sources of safe water, although it is expensive to sustain. Repairing vital infrastructure heavily damaged during the war is essential. The UN and partners have resumed working on moving solid waste from the Firas market dumping site to a more suitable area away from the city. Since the works began on 10 February, they have moved approximately 3,000 cubic metres of solid waste from over 350,000 cubic metres of accumulated waste. This pace is significantly below the anticipated schedule due to challenges with fuel availability and insecurity. Shelter needs continue to outpace the ability of the UN and its partners to respond, particularly with restrictions placed on items considered by the Israeli authorities as "dual-use", including tool kits, heavy equipment, timber and cement. Meanwhile, over the past week, the UN and its humanitarian partners reached over 3,200 households with short-term solutions such as tents, sealing-off kits and tarpaulins, alongside mattresses and blankets. Protection services also continued throughout the Strip. Last week, humanitarians were able to provide psychosocial support, case management assistance, legal consultation and disability inclusion services to some 3,700 people. These services are invaluable given the extent of psychological and physical trauma experienced by thousands of people in Gaza following more than two years of war. OCHA reiterates that more is needed to relieve the suffering of the people in Gaza. This includes reopening additional crossings and allowing uninterrupted movement of people, including for medical evacuation and family reunification, as well as sustained and predictable flow of diverse critical supplies to enter Gaza. Cuba Fuel shortages push country into deepening crisis The UN remains deeply concerned about the deteriorating situation in Cuba, driven by the inability to import fuel. This has triggered an energy crisis. Cuba's already strained health system is approaching a critical point. Hospitals face frequent power outages, shortages of essential medicines, inability to operate critical equipment, and major disruptions to oncology care, dialysis, emergency services, infant and maternal care, coldchain systems, as well as chronic and non-urgent care. As an example, some 16,000 cancer patients needing radiotherapy and more than 12,000 depending on chemotherapy cannot get the treatment they need due to power outages and resource shortages. Ambulances are struggling to obtain fuel, delaying urgent care. Regarding access to water, nearly one million people depend on water delivered by tanker trucks, which require fuel to operate. More than 80 per cent of waterpumping infrastructure relies on electricity, resulting in widespread and prolonged service disruptions. Food supply chains - from production to storage to distribution - are increasingly impacted, with coldchain systems failing, transport routes increasingly interrupted, and reductions in the availability of basic food items across the country. Humanitarian partners on the ground are working to provide assistance, but the lack of fuel is forcing food and water trucks to operate at a limited capacity, with dozens of aid containers waiting at the port. The UN Plan of Action issued following Hurricane Melissa late last year calls for $74 million but is only 33 percent funded. The UN is also engaging with Member States, including the United States, so aid can be delivered unimpeded. This includes accessing fuel for humanitarian purposes. Ukraine More deadly strikes kill civilians OCHA reports that large-scale missile and drone attacks and front-line hostilities between the early hours of last Thursday and yesterday affected multiple regions across the Ukraine. Authorities reported nearly 30 civilians killed and about 170 injured, including children. Kharkiv City was among the hardest hit, where strikes damaged apartment blocks, a school and other civilian site, killing 10 people, including two children, and injuring 26. Elsewhere in the Kharkiv Region, three more civilians were killed and 14 injured. In the Donetsk Region, authorities reported three civilians killed and 20 injured in Ukraine-controlled areas, most in Kramatorsk, including three children. Attacks damaged ambulances, fire trucks, homes and energy and railway infrastructure in several regions. The Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, reiterated in a social media post that civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected under international humanitarian law. Aid organizations deployed emergency teams to support affected people, including providing hot meals, construction materials and psychosocial support in Kharkiv and other impacted areas. Separately, last Friday, a drone struck a humanitarian vehicle in Mykolaivka in the Donetsk Region, thankfully staff and volunteers were unharmed. On the same day, a humanitarian convoy delivered solar lamps, dignity and medical kits to about 1,000 residents in front-line Dobropilska Hromada of the Donetsk Region. Since the start of 2026, nine humanitarian convoys have reached front-line communities, assisting nearly 8,000 people. *Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Ukraine with urgent support. Myanmar Humanitarian crises deepen amid airstrikes, ongoing conflict Airstrikes and clashes continue to fuel suffering and drive urgent humanitarian needs in Myanmar. Almost a year since the devastating 28 March earthquake and more than five years since the military take-over, humanitarian partners continue to deliver lifesaving assistance to millions of people, despite insecurity, access restrictions and shrinking funding. In 2025, the UN and partners reached more than 6 million people, including 1.7 million after the earthquake. This year, humanitarians hope to reach at least 2.6 million people with the most lifethreatening and severe humanitarian needs. The UN is grateful for the support received to date from donors and through OCHA-managed pooled funds - but much more is needed to reach all those who need aid. *Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Myanmar with urgent support. Posted on 10 March 2026 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address From MRAP to MADIS: Legacy of Innovation Endures at NIWC Atlantic US Navy 10 March 2026 From Story by Steve Ghiringhelli, NIWC Atlantic Public Affairs As one of the Navy's top labs in systems integration, NIWC Atlantic engineering and ingrained innovation culture continue to deliver information warfare-dominant platforms that make the Naval and Joint Force more connected, resilient and lethal. HARLESTON, S.C. -- Throughout 2025, Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic helped deliver the drone-defeating Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS) to the Marine Corps, shepherding a critical breakthrough in air defense technology that significantly improves warfighter survivability and lethality. The MADIS system, which is mounted on two Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs), detects aerial threats and defeats them with a 30mm cannon, Stinger missiles and electronic warfare capabilities. "As one of the Navy's top labs in systems integration, NIWC Atlantic collaborates with industry partners to adopt the latest software and engineering innovations and quickly turn them into information-dominant platforms," said Erick Fry, NIWC Atlantic acting executive director. "In the case of MADIS, our Expeditionary Warfare (ExW) Department very rapidly delivered a capability to U.S. Marines that defeats low-altitude threats and makes the Naval and Joint Force more connected, resilient and lethal." The effort began in 2022, when ExW Department engineers used commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components and leveraged the command's On Demand Manufacturing Lab to outfit JLTVs with the necessary weapons, sensors, radar and other equipment to complete MADIS Increment 1.0 in less than one year's time. The capability then matured through rigorous tests and trials before fielding to Marines at the 3rd Littoral Anti-Air Battalion and the Marine Corps Communication-Electronics School in late 2024 and throughout 2025. Fry said MADIS is one of many examples at NIWC Atlantic that builds upon the command's historic successes in working with the Marine Corps and industry partners to rapidly innovate, prototype and integrate command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) components onto warfighting platforms like the JLTV. "NIWC Atlantic engineers modernize and streamline the complex work of systems integration each time they iterate," Fry said. "I couldn't be prouder of their accomplishments and continued advances on the innovation front." 'Speed of MRAP' A triumph still remembered today for its rapid warfighter response is NIWC Atlantic's C4ISR integration of thousands of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles for Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan, an effort that began in 2008 and ended up blasting through slow bureaucratic processes to save countless lives. Last November, Secretary of War Peter Hegseth invoked the MRAP effort during a speech he delivered at the National War College announcing sweeping reforms in how the Department of War (DOW) will procure warfighting capabilities. With the current backdrop of a complex and ever-evolving threat environment, the Secretary stressed an urgency to move at "the speed of MRAP." "Our objective is simpletransform the entire acquisition system to operate on a wartime footing," he told the crowd. For a warfare center like NIWC Atlantic, rapidly integrating commercial products and information technologies onto mission-ready platforms is job No. 1. But speed and government are not often synonymous. Nevertheless, NIWC Atlantic has long been a driver for disrupting the status quo to gain greater flexibilities to navigate the complex world of military acquisitions. From MRAP to MADIS, NIWC Atlantic has rapidly delivered capabilities to provide warfighters speed, connectivity, lethality and survivability, despite the roadblocks. For example, when the JLTV first entered the U.S. military, the ExW Department overcame strict size, weight and power limitations to integrate components like sensors, jammers, advanced radio systems, battle-management software and communications equipment onto four distinct JLTV variants. Eventually, the department would field more than 5,000 of the high-tech vehicles to the Marine Corps and another 17,000 JLTVs to the Army, Navy and Air Force. Today, the JLTV and its advanced onboard suite of C4ISR services is considered by many a cornerstone platform of Marine Corps modernization in protected and expeditionary vehicles. More recently, the ExW Department began integrating the new Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV), the Marine Corps' next-generation, amphibious transport that will replace the older Assault Amphibious Vehicles. "NIWC Atlantic is committed to delivering cutting-edge capabilities to the warfighter with speed and precision," said ExW Department Head Ashlee Landreth. "By applying lessons learned from MRAP and embracing modularity, rapid prototyping, rigorous testing and warfighter feedback, we are accelerating the development and fielding of next-generation technologies that give the Naval and Joint Force a decisive edge on the battlefield." Engineers who have worked at the command for decades say teams have refined and baked lessons learned into the systems-integration process, something that intricately includes COTS solutions, to build the systems for the platforms that Marines take to war. For example, NIWC Atlantic's signature Networking on the Move (NOTM) technology was designed in 2012 in response to an urgent Marine Corps request by U.S. Central Command to expand the capability to vehicles beyond the MRAP. Once the JLTV emerged, the Marine Corps asked ExW Department to develop a transferrable variant for it. So the team engineered a way for NOTM to be integrated onto three separate JLTVs, operating as one system, providing Marines a sophisticated communications hub to transmit and receive vital information across the battlespace in seconds, allowing infantry troops to fight at high speeds while still maintaining critical command and control functions. More recently, the ExW Department also integrated long-term power supplies and a completely redesigned, state-of-the-art communications system onto the Ground/Air Task-Oriented Radar (G/ATOR), a 360-degree, 3D surveillance, air-defense and air-control radar system that has replaced five legacy systems for the Marine Corps. The department also outfitted the JLTV with the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System, or NMESIS, which is a cutting-edge, land-based, anti-ship missile capability tailored for the complex littoral environment. Jenny Bennett, who leads the ExW Department's platform integration team that was responsible for fielding the JLTV, said every integration has to be meticulously managed through workflow processes that ensure the end-user, the warfighter, always gets into the identical JLTV variantsame look, same feel, same function. "We baseline every truck before turning it over to our MADIS, NOTM or NMESIS teams," she said. Modularity & Speed As a result of MRAP lessons learned, the ExW Department eventually broke with tradition and began procuring technical data packages (TDPs) from industry. Owning the TDPs that are tied to a COTS solution ensured government could find alternative, competitive sources in the marketplace during times of supply chain instability. Peter Ward, ExW Department deputy, who was a young systems engineer just joining NIWC Atlantic 20 years ago, said the department continued to innovate. It bought and standardized data and focused heavily on incorporating a more vendor-neutral, "modular open systems approach," or MOSA. "We have focused on modularity for a long time," Ward said. "No matter which commercial solution is available, the MOSA framework specifically enables a collaborative environment for working with vendors and filling specific operational needs." With TDPs and other sensitive data, Ward said MOSA concepts help ensure proprietary data does not later keep engineers from achieving interoperability. Recently, MOSA also enabled ExW Department engineers to tailor COTS software to build a secure, hardware-agnostic platform called the Common Hosting Environment (CHE). Using next generation technologies, CHE is the first container-hosting environment that can run apps for Marines in the field. Perhaps just as important as the unseen innovations in software, agile processes and engineering insights, the physical infrastructures stood up at NIWC Atlantic since the MRAP buildup is paying enormous dividends now 20 years later. In 2007, NIWC Atlantic first stood up Poseidon Park for radio frequency testing of vehicle-mounted antennas. Instead of shipping vehicles hundreds of miles away on rail, JLTVs, ACVs and other vehicles drive onto an automated vehicle turntable to be tested and validated under an overhead gantry through range checks, antenna cosite analysis and verifications of survivability. In 2011, the command unveiled the nearby Small Autonomous Unmanned Systems Research (SAUSR) Range to support drone swarming technologies, resilient communications, C4ISR test and evaluation, and other science and technology research. Last year, the SAUSR Range expanded its footprint and mission set to unveil a new laser range focused on advancing naval communications through the research and development of free-space optics. In addition to the two outdoor capabilities, NIWC Atlantic began building indoor systems integration labs, or SILs, enabling engineers to test and integrate new commercial solutions within physically constructed replicas of real-world platforms, such as one resembling the inside of a JLTV and another one the Marine Corps' new advanced reconnaissance vehicle. "The systems integration process becomes a lot more agile and iterative when you are working in these controlled environments," said Jeff Sims, who leads the Expeditionary Platform Integration Division at ExW Department. "SILs enhance continuous improvements and the rapid adaptation of solutions." SILs have also institutionalized rapid prototyping practices, bringing together diverse vendors, industry partners and subject matter experts to optimize the integration of the latest innovations, from GPS technologies, radios, ruggedized laptops, sensors and cameras to data-fusing AI, advanced networking, driver-vision systems and electronic warfare. "The cool thing is how the SIL speeds us up, gives us more flexibility and gets us across the finish line through modeling and simulation," Ward said. "Instead of requiring that everyone come together all at the same time to integrate, whenever a program discovers a new commercial product offering, we can just go in with all the other equipment, see how it configures, design it, integrate a new system and get it out the door." Platforms successfully integrated inside of a SIL are then dispatched for environmental and operational testing at Poseidon Park, SAUSR Range and other labs on base. Before final warfighter acceptance, a field user evaluation is typically coordinated with Marine units. "All of these developments have helped us field equipment faster, because it's not only about researching and finding products off the shelf," Ward said. "When you procure them, you need to integrate them and modify them, so they work together and do no harm to one another, and then test them. Without these labs and ranges on site, where we can physically drive the vehicles to see which ones perform best, it would take forever." At NIWC Atlantic, innovations in automation, engineering, modularity, systems integration and software-defined communications have made the command good stewards of their many MRAP lessons-learned. Rather than be cloistered in labs, teams are external-facing, working closely with pioneers in industry, constantly experimenting with the integration of systems, walking lockstep with their Marine sponsors and very appreciative of the multifaceted stakeholder relationships a Navy lab like NIWC Atlantic must continually foster and support in order to continue delivering worldclass information warfare solutions to the Fleet. "We know the Marine Corps requires information warfighting capabilities to create and exploit information advantages on all points of the competition continuum," Landreth said. "This is why NIWC Atlanticfrom MRAP to MADIS and beyondplays such a critical role in the success of the modern-day Marine." About NIWC Atlantic As a part of Naval Information Warfare Systems Command, NIWC Atlantic provides systems engineering and acquisition to deliver information warfare capabilities to the naval, joint and national warfighter through the acquisition, development, integration, production, test, deployment, and sustainment of interoperable command, control, communications, computer, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, cyber and information technology capabilities. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address CNO Remarks Navy Submarine League - As Prepared US Navy Arlington. Va. Speech by Adm. Daryl Caudle Presented on 05 March 2026 Date Published 10 March 2026 Good morning, everyone and welcome. John Richardson, thank you for that warm introduction. It's great to see you again sir. CNO Greenert, Flag and General Officers, Senior Executives, Sailors, civilians, and industry partners it's an absolute honor to be here representing our United States Navy team. This room represents something powerful. Not capability. Not capacity. Commitment. Commitment to a shared vision of ensuring that the United States Navy remains the world's premiere undersea force. And what a great event this is, bringing together our industry partners from across the globe to get after our Nation's most pressing imperative - communicating the strategic value of the United States Navy Submarine Force and revitalizing our industrial base. Without this passionate group of Americans, our Navy would never leave the pier our submarines could not submerge below the waves, and our nation would surely be less secure from strategic attack. We should all be rightfully proud of our Navy, but even more important, our Sailors and how they have performed so bravely and professionally during Operation EPIC FURY. On Tuesday, a U.S. submarine sank an Iranian warship the first time since World War II that a U.S. submarine has sunk an enemy vessel underscoring the capability, readiness, and strategic value our Navy and our industrial partners deliver every day. Last month, I unveiled our Navy's newest strategic guidance - the United States Navy Fighting Instructions. You might have read it, if you haven't, I encourage you to do so. In its simplest form, the U.S. Navy Fighting Instructions provide a conceptual framework for modern warfare delivering homeland defense, sustaining our global network of deterrence, and preserving our national prosperity. It is our overarching guidance that outlines which investments matter most, the asymmetric capabilities we need to forge, and the requisite levels of technical mastery that will enable our Sailors to fight and win across the spectrum of conflict. Underpinned by my priorities of the Foundry, the Fleet, and the way we Fight the United States Navy Fighting Instructions chart a course for the future of our all-domain fleet and answer the daunting question that will define modern naval warfare for decades to come: "How do we ensure we can fight and win across the spectrum of conflict, under conditions we cannot entirely predict against adversaries who are increasingly capable, innovative, and aggressive at near parity levels simultaneously in key areas of vital national interest around the world?" This morning, I'd like to give you a clear understanding of that vision - not as theory, but as clear direction you can act on. As I was thinking about the message that I wanted these Fighting Instructions to convey, it was important for me to take a step back and understand what functions and capabilities our Navy uniquely provides and to which stakeholders? As CNO, I have a lot of jobs, but perhaps at the top of the list is the need to communicate the value proposition of why our Navy matters - to the Joint Force and to the Nation. I believe that idea shapes the core of any organizational strategy, which comes down to defining, highlighting, and conveying our differentiated value. So, what is our differentiated value? From the perspective of the American people: Our Navy assures homeland defense, delivers global stability and deterrence and safeguards maritime trade - nearly 70% of which moves by sea - that underwrites our prosperity. From the Joint Force's perspective, we provide seven indispensably unique missions. We deliver: Sea control and sea denial Maritime security Tailored deterrence Global replenishment across contested environments Freedom of maneuver And power projection over the horizon with precision and mass. The bottom line is this, no other Navy no other Joint or Combined Force in the world can do what we do. And, ladies and gentlemen, there is no doubt that our Submarine Force is central to everything we do. Whether it's holding key terrain and objectives at risk, enabling freedom of maneuver for our all-domain Fleet, or setting the conditions for deterrence long before the enemy strikes the Submarine Force is baked into the core of every operational plan we own. They create space for diplomacy to work and provide the insurance policy, should our global network of deterrence fail. When crisis erupts or conflict breaks out, while you may hear calls for the nearest carrier strike group what you won't hear is the call for the nearest submarine. Because it's already there. Postured, ready, and poised to strike. It is unmistakably clear that to sustain our undersea dominance, we must continue leaning into our most prized advantage submarines that are flexible, lethal, and powered by world-class technology in order to leverage every ounce of our payload volume. That's why you're here. That's why your work matters. You're not just building systems - you're enabling deterrence and defending our democracy. Once you understand why our Navy matters, only then can you define what or as I like to call it, the "special sauce" our Navy must sustain and deliver. Which, in turn, is the answer to our problem and by way of the Fighting Instructions takes the form of the core implementation concept - a full-spectrum Hedge Strategy. Hedge Strategy will be implemented through a series of initiatives that combine to enable a fleet which can learn, adapt, and counter our adversaries by optimizing and force multiplying at scale. While Hedge Strategy may sound novel, the idea of a hedge is not. Consider our various submarines. As the pinnacle of our nuclear triad, they are our country's hedge against strategic attack. Our hedge against denied access environments. And, our hedge against uncertainty in a peer-to-peer fight. SSNs enable strike and ISR capabilities. SSBNs underwrite our most survivable strategic deterrent. And our SSGNs deliver overwhelming fires with precision and mass with unmatched special force insertion capabilities. Together, they are the backbone of our Nation's warfighting advantage. And when combined with a thoughtful Hedge Strategy, we will more effectively leverage and accelerate these facts. The Hedge Strategy is designed to balance cost-effective, scalable, risk-worthy mass with the most advanced multi-mission platforms we can build and sustain while avoiding a brittle, single-purpose force that is either over-built for the high-end fight and under-used day-to-day or optimized for low end crisis and overmatched when it counts. Building a Fleet to cover every pressing scenario is not only cost and risk prohibitive but a disservice to the taxpayer and less effective operationally. In our rich 250-year history, seldom have we built, designed, and generated a force that was employed exactly as we intended. If history has taught us anything, its that forces designed for high-end warfare are most likely to be employed for low-end scenarios and contingencies. By design, the Hedge Strategy is intended to be a force multiplier to our general-purpose forces working in concert with the Sailors and platforms of our traditionally manned fleet. But, the challenge becomes determining where to snap the chalk line how much of each force element is truly enough? That is what Hedge Strategy aims to do. It buys down risk in some areas, shifts risk to others but in the end it unabashedly embraces risk to tip the scales in our advantage. To achieve this end, we must buy, field, and posture, ready capabilities Tailored Forces and Tailored Offsets to address specific situations that are too consequential to ignore but too unlikely to drive our overall fleet design. As a whole, these tailored ensembles are scalable formations that manage risk, expand mass, force multiply, improve response options, and preserve our combat advantage. Tailored Forces are the composite packaging of Tailored Offsets certified to address specific missions, in particular regions. They include general purpose units from the main battle force - surface combatants, patrol aircraft, and submarines - for deployment and command and control. Whether it's conducting anti-submarine warfare in the North Atlantic clandestine mine warfare across critical chokepoints or supporting fires off the coasts of foreign shores tailored forces with tailored certifications will allow our Navy to hedge against the likelihood of any threat without constraining our force design around a single pressing scenario. Tailored Offsets are systems and platforms that are the easiest to adapt and combine. They are capabilities like: Attritable and easily replenishable USVs MUSVs designed for scouting, screening, and striking UUVs for water space denial, survey, and mine warfare And low-cost, high-volume interceptors for counter-drone defense Together, these tailored capabilities will amplify and complement the main battle force through lethal outputs that are scalable, deployable, adaptable, and cost-effective. It's in this line of effort where I expect you, our industry partners - traditional and non-traditional vendors alike - to move fast, iterate aggressively, and help us scale these packages at speed. Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to engage the Submarine Industrial Base Committee and our partner submarine suppliers - a team of dedicated men and women who understand the importance of a strong and resilient industrial base as a matter of our national defense. Like you, they too stem from what President Franklin D. Roosevelt coined the "Arsenal of Democracy." The same arsenal that enabled our forces to fight across two oceans during World War II. And, the same industrial base that repaired our most decorated aircraft carrier, the USS Yorktown, after the Battle of the Coral Sea. Battle worn and torn, when Yorktown limped back to Pearl Harbor in May of 1942, engineers estimated months of repair but with the Imperial Japanese Fleet steaming towards Midway, time was not a luxury we could spare. Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz was among the first to inspect the damage. After surveying her twisted metal and torpedo laden scars, he turned to a nearby technician and commanded a simple order: "We must have this ship back in three days." The reply he heard was just as simple: "Yes, sir." The Arsenal of Democracy roared into life. Fourteen hundred workers flooded the pier. Around the clock they measured, cut, and welded massive plates of steel over the gaping wounds in Yorktown's hull. What had been estimated to take months of repair was accomplished in a mere number of days 72 hours to be precise. That didn't happen by accident. It happened because America was ready. We were focused. The infrastructure was in place. The supply chains were primed. The workforce was trained. And industry competed hard - and collaborated even harder. On the third day, Yorktown shoved off for Midway, welders still finishing their work as she slipped past the harbors edge - tenders guiding her until they could no longer keep pace. By the end of the war, in just five years, American shipyards had not only repaired and refitted a battle-worn Fleet - they had forged an entirely new Navy more than 140 aircraft carriers, 8 battleships, 807 cruisers and destroyers and over 200 submarines. That was the Arsenal of Democracy at work. That was American industry operating at flank speed. Driven, dedicated, and determined to win. And that, was the Navy's foundry forging our victory. That story means something. It's illustrative to how I view the world. Since taking office in September, my slogan has been "Built in the Foundry, Tempered by the Fleet, and Forged to Fight". My priorities of Foundry, Fleet, and Fight are not just words but a framework for action forging our total workforce in the Foundry ensuring the Fleet is properly prepared and most importantly, ensuring our forces are ready to Fight. They expound upon Secretary Phelan's priorities his number one of which being "a renaissance of shipbuilding" and emphasize the need to view everything we do through an operational lens. Every investment we make, every policy we produce, and every strategy we employ begins in the Foundry. It is the bedrock of our Navy and is comprised of three enduring pillars: First, People - our total workforce of Sailors, civilians, artisans and engineers. Second, Infrastructure - our American-made facilities, installations, dry-docks, and piers where the fires of the foundry are passionately stoked. And third, Materiel - steel, munitions, raw earth materials, semiconductors, warheads, and heavy lift machinery. Every ounce of combat power we wield begins here. But, for too long, the Foundry has been the bill payer of our Fleet. We mortgaged our long-term readiness for near-term operations. Optimized our supply chains for peacetime efficiency - prioritizing a "just-in-time" model that's ill-suited for the "just-in-case" reality. We deferred years of maintenance and investments - reducing our shipyards, munitions factories, and installations to hollow shells of their once great capacity and scale. As such, the result has been nothing short of an accumulation of risk along a decay curve that has been hidden from view by "get 'er done" leaders for decades. When I joined the Navy over forty years ago, our industrial base was producing five to seven submarines per year - both Los Angeles and Ohio-class submarines. Today, we are delivering at a rate of 1.2 when the minimum should at least 2.3. Let that sink in. It should be unsettling to all of us in the room. While we try to soften that number by talking about tons of submarine delivered - we don't deploy by ton - we deploy by a full up round unit of force. Let me be clear, I'm not pointing fingers - what I am doing is pointing forward. Because for me, industry isn't just a vendor, they're a strategic partner and partnership cuts both ways. No one here is singularly responsible for our current state of affairs, but together we are accountable for learning, improving, and executing at pace. Each of us holds ownership in that goal. For the Navy, what we owe industry a clear demand signal with stable budgets that are signed into law on time. Clear priorities, consistent requirements, and timely decisions because delays and indecision, or more simply said - doing nothing - inserts high risk too. Look at where we are in time. Between Virginia Class VPM Block V, Columbia, and AUKUS our nation's demand signal is clear: America needs more submarines. Certainly, the National Defense Strategy recognizes that need. It's incumbent on us to deliver. And, I fully acknowledge that these challenges aren't easy to solve. We're not just building aircraft or ships we're building multi-billion-dollar submarines with extraordinary complexity and sophistication. Submarines designed to withstand thousands of pounds of force across the hull in silence, undetected, while carrying the weight of our nation's security imperatives. Our challenges are not undefined, but they are deep-rooted, complex, and systemic. Further, we did not accumulate these challenges overnight and we won't get back "on plane" of production without a Herculean level of teamwork, focus, and across the board improvement. Whether it's workforce gaps, retention challenges, and supply chain fragility or infrastructure strain and sole-source choke points all of these issues will all take time to correct with enduring solutions. I am eyes wide open when I say that the United States Navy and adjacent Industrial Bases must accelerate now and operate on a wartime footing. A wartime footing means combat effectiveness over comfort, speed over bureaucratic perfection, a strong and resilient supply chain that can deliver on demand, and prudent risk calculations today to avoid catastrophic risk later. It means leaders at every level are empowered - and expected - to act with initiative, creativity, and urgency. Because deterrence only works if it's credible and that credibility originates in the Foundry. So, my charge for you today is this whether you're in a uniform or a suit, I want you to ruthlessly challenge the status quo. Challenge our paradigms and our underlying assumptions. Funding alone doesn't solve culture; it requires a willingness to embrace collaborative partnerships partnership where competition spurs innovation and innovation drives our competitive edge. When it's all said and done, we either win as an effective warfighting ecosystem or not at all. To our primes and traditional vendors - the companies that have carried this mission for decades on end - our Navy remains grateful for your service. But we need to diversify our portfolio - welcoming in non-traditional vendors and new marketplace entrants: advanced manufacturers, tech start-ups, organizations that embrace new additive and subtractive manufacturing processes, AI-enabled logistics, more robotics and autonomous innovators and commercial disruptors who have never built a single component for a submarine but know how to solve hard problems. Too little too late isn't good enough. We can't afford to be narrow-minded in our processes or slow to adopt change. That means broadening our supply shelves, reducing single points of failure, improving reliability, and creating pathways for small businesses to punch higher than their weight class and break into the industrial base sphere. This is not about replacing anyone; it's about strengthening and empowering everyone. As I begin to close, let me end with this. Admiral Hyman G. Rickover once said and I quote: "The great end of life is not knowledge, but action." Action is the standard. Action in workforce development. Action in expanding supplier networks. Action in modernizing facilities. Action in eliminating bottlenecks. And action in challenging old assumptions. There will come a day when our sons and daughters submerge below the waves, a new generation of apex predators, in submarines forged by your hands and built by our Nation's greatest intellectual minds. They will trail our adversaries, they will underwrite our strategic deterrence policy, and they will operate at depth in the most perilous environments on Earth. And, when that day comes, they won't care about our excuses. They will care that their kit works. Their kit can be sustained. And, that their kit is lethal. And they will care that their submarine is full up round and ready to fight. As Admiral Rickover reminded us, the future belongs to those who act. The time for action is now not later and we must do so with urgency, discipline, and results. Our Navy requires it. Our Nation demands it. And for the American people, we will follow through. Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address CNO Remarks to Submarine Industrial Base Council - As Prepared US Navy Arlington. Va. Speech by Adm. Daryl Caudle Presented on 03 March 2026 Date Published 10 March 2026 Good evening, everyone and welcome. Senator Banks, members of the Submarine Industrial Base Council, veterans, industry partners, vendors, and friends it is an honor to stand before such a critical group of leaders. Before I begin, I'd like to express my thanks for what you do. Without this passionate group of Americans, our Navy would never leave the pier our submarines could not submerge below the waves, and our nation would surely be less secure from strategic attack. Ladies and gentlemen, we should all be rightfully proud of our Navy but even more important, our Sailors and how they have performed so bravely and professionally during Operation EPIC FURY. They are truly our Nation's best enabled by and supported by you, our hard-working industrial base partners at home. And what a great event this is, bringing together the brightest minds who make American sea power real - welders and engineers, CEOs and artisans, primes and suppliers, innovators and disruptors. You are the Foundry behind the Fleet the ones who are charged with not only delivering the Navy the nation needs, but the Navy our country deserves. To the Submarine Industrial Base Council, thank you for organizing this event. Your mission - preserving the strength the U.S. submarine force and promoting the vitality of a strong and resilient industrial base - could not be more important to our national defense. Last month, I released our Navy's newest strategic guidance - the United States Navy Fighting Instructions. If you haven't read it, I encourage you to do so. In its simplest form, the U.S. Navy Fighting Instructions provide a conceptual framework for modern warfare delivering homeland defense, sustaining our global network of deterrence, and preserving our national prosperity. It is our overarching guidance that outlines which investments matter most, the asymmetric capabilities we need to forge, and the requisite levels of technical mastery that will enable our Sailors to fight and win across the spectrum of conflict. Underpinned by my priorities of the Foundry, the Fleet, and the way we Fight the United States Navy Fighting Instructions chart a course for the future of our all-domain fleet. As such, tonight I'd like to share with you how this critical community can bring the U.S. Navy Fighting Instructions to bear. It's not lost on me that this community stems from what President Franklin D. Roosevelt coined the "Arsenal of Democracy." The same arsenal that enabled our forces to fight across two oceans during World War II. And, the same industrial base that repaired one of our most decorated aircraft carriers, the USS Yorktown, after the Battle of the Coral Sea. Battle worn and torn, when Yorktown limped back to Pearl Harbor in May of 1942, engineers estimated months of repair but with the Imperial Japanese Fleet steaming towards Midway, time was not a luxury we could spare. Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz was among the first to inspect the damage. After surveying her twisted metal and torpedo laden scars, he turned to a nearby technician and commanded a simple order: "We must have this ship back in three days." The reply he heard was just as simple: "Yes, sir." With that, the Arsenal of Democracy roared into life. Fourteen hundred workers flooded the pier. Around the clock they measured, cut, and welded massive plates of steel over the gaping wounds in Yorktown's hull. Sparks flew throughout the night. The rhythm of hammers and torches echoed across the harbor. What had been estimated to take months of repair was accomplished in a mere number of days 72 hours to be precise. That didn't happen by accident. It happened because America was ready. We were focused. The infrastructure was in place. The supply chains were primed. The workforce was trained. And industry competed hard - and collaborated even harder. Achieving this imperative wasn't optional, it was existential for survival. On the third day, Yorktown shoved off for Midway, welders still finishing their work as she slipped past the harbors edge - tenders guiding her until they could no longer keep pace. By the end of the war, in just five years, American shipyards had not only repaired and refitted a battle-worn Fleet they had forged an entirely new Navy more than 140 aircraft carriers, 8 battleships, 807 cruisers and destroyers and over 200 submarines. That was the Arsenal of Democracy at work. That was American industry operating at flank speed. Driven, dedicated, and determined to win. And that, was the Navy's foundry forging our victory. That story means something. It's illustrative to how I view the world. Since taking office in September, my slogan has been "Built in the Foundry, Tempered by the Fleet, and Forged to Fight". My priorities of Foundry, Fleet, and Fight are not just words but a framework for action forging our total workforce in the Foundry ensuring the Fleet is properly prepared and most importantly, ensuring our forces are ready to Fight. They expound upon Secretary Phelan's priorities his number one of which being "a renaissance of shipbuilding" and emphasize the need to view everything we do through an operational lens. Every investment we make, every policy we produce, and every strategy we employ begins in the Foundry. It is the bedrock of our Navy and is comprised of three enduring pillars: First, People our total workforce of Sailors, civilians, artisans and engineers. Second, Materiel steel, munitions, raw earth materials, semiconductors, warheads, and heavy lift machinery. And third, Infrastructure our American-made facilities, installations, dry-docks, and piers where the fires of the foundry are passionately stoked. Every ounce of combat power we wield begins here. And you, our industrial base partners, are the lifeblood of that Foundry. But for too long, the Foundry has been the bill payer of our Fleet. We mortgaged our long-term readiness for near-term operations. Optimized our supply chains for peacetime efficiency prioritizing a "just-in-time" model that's ill-suited for the "just-in-case" reality. We deferred years of maintenance and investments reducing our shipyards, munitions factories, and installations to hollow shells of their once great capacity and scale. As such, the resultant has been nothing short of an accumulation of risk along a decay curve that has been hidden from view by "get 'er done" leaders for decades. When I joined the Navy over forty years ago, our industrial base was producing five to seven submarines per year both Los Angeles and Ohio-class submarines. Today, we are delivering at a rate of 1.2 when the minimum should be at least 2.3. Let that sink in. It should be unsettling to all of us in the room. While we try to soften that number by talking about tons of submarine delivered we don't deploy by ton we deploy by a full up round unit of force. Let me be clear, I'm not pointing fingers what I am doing is pointing forward. Because for me, industry isn't just a vendor, you're a strategic partner and partnership cuts both ways. No one here is singularly responsible for our current state of affairs, but together we are accountable for learning, improving, and executing at pace. Each of us holds ownership in that goal. For the Navy, what we owe industry is a clear demand signal with stable budgets that are signed into law on time. Clear priorities, consistent requirements, and timely decisions because delays and indecision or more simply said, doing nothing inserts high risk too. Look at where we are in time. Between Virginia Class VPM Block V, Columbia, and AUKUS our nation's demand signal is clear: America needs more submarines. Certainly, the National Defense Strategy recognizes that need. It's incumbent on us to deliver. I fully acknowledge that these challenges aren't easy to solve. We're not just building aircraft or ships we're building multi-billion dollar submarines with extraordinary complexity and sophistication. Submarines designed to withstand thousands of pounds of force across the hull in silence, undetected, while carrying the weight of our nation's security imperatives. Our challenges are not undefined, but they are deep-rooted, complex, and systemic. Further, we did not accumulate these challenges overnight and we won't get back "on plane" of production without a Herculean level of teamwork, focus, and across the board improvement. Whether it's workforce gaps, retention challenges, and supply chain fragility or infrastructure strain and sole-source choke points all of these issues will take time to correct with enduring solutions. I am eyes wide open when I say that the United States Navy and Submarine Industrial Base must operate now on a wartime footing. A wartime footing means combat effectiveness over comfort, speed over bureaucratic perfection, a strong and resilient supply chain that can deliver on demand, and prudent risk calculations today to avoid catastrophic risk later. It means leaders at every level are empoweredand expectedto act with initiative, creativity, and urgency. Because deterrence only works if it's credible and that credibility originates in the Foundry. While this may not be the lighthearted speech you were expecting, it's the hard-hitting truth. But all is not lost the indications are clear. For the first time in my life, shipbuilding is being placed on a national pedestal. Significant funding backed by the executive branch and direct foreign investments are breathing life back into the Foundry. Shipyard wages are slowly starting to rise. Workforce initiatives like the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing, or ATDM, are placing highly skilled artisans back into the yards. And, momentum across the industrial base is building. I strongly believe that a rising ride lifts all boats and events like tonight signal to me that the tides are starting to shift. Our Nation is waking up to the reality that a lethal and formidable Navy, enabled by a strong and resilient industrial base, is our Nation's surest guarantee of peace. So, my charge for you tonight is this ruthlessly challenge the status quo. Challenge our paradigms and our underlying assumptions. Funding alone doesn't solve culture; it requires a willingness to embrace collaborative partnerships where competition drives speed and spurs innovation. When it's all said and done, we either win as an effective warfighting ecosystem or not at all. To our primes and traditional vendors the companies that have carried this mission for decades on end our Navy remains grateful for your service. But we need to diversify our portfolio welcoming in non-traditional vendors and new marketplace entrants: advanced manufacturers, tech start-ups, organizations that embrace new additive and subtractive manufacturing processes, AI-enabled logistics, more robotics and autonomous innovators and commercial disruptors who have never built a single component for a submarine but know how to solve hard problems. The margin for error is shrinking and too little too late isn't good enough. We can't afford to be narrow-minded in our processes or slow to adopt change. That means broadening our supply shelves, reducing single points of failure, improving reliability, and creating pathways for small businesses to punch higher than their weight class and break into the industrial base sphere. This is not about replacing anyone; it's about strengthening and empowering everyone. As I begin to close, let me end with this. Admiral Hyman G. Rickover once said and I quote: "The great end of life is not knowledge, but action." Action is the standard. Action in workforce development. Action in expanding supplier networks. Action in modernizing facilities. Action in eliminating bottlenecks. And action in challenging old assumptions. There will come a day when our sons and daughters submerge below the waves, a new generation of apex predators, in submarines forged by your hands and built by your intellectual thought. They will trail our adversaries, they will underwrite our strategic deterrence policy, and they will operate at depth in the most perilous environments on Earth. And, when that day comes, they won't care about our excuses. They will care that their kit works. Their kit can be sustained. And, that their kit is lethal. And they will care that their submarine is full up round and ready to fight. As Admiral Rickover reminded us, the future belongs to those who act. The time for action is now not later and we must do so with urgency, discipline, and results. Our Navy requires it. Our Nation demands it. And for the American people, we will follow through. Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 10 March 2026 - Day 1476 Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. "To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal] The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that in total, 120 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 69 aviacijnih strikes - dropped 192 controlled air bombs. In addition, used 6229 kamikaze drones and carried out 2,896 shells of settlements and positions of Ukrainian troops. In the North Slobozhansky and Kursk directions, Russian forces carried out 92 shelling of the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements, including three - with the use of the RSV. Completed three air strikes with the use of 11 CAB. In the South Slobozhansky direction, the Russian enemy twice stormed the positions of Ukrainian units in the areas of the settlements of Zybyne and Vovchansky Khutory. One Russian offensive action is in progress. In the Kupans komu direction, the Russian enemy attacked four times in the areas of petropavlivka and novoplatonivka. In the Lymans komu direction Ukrainian warriors fought off three Russian attacks in the areas of drobisevogo and stavkiv. One assault action in progress. In the Slavic direction, the Russian opponent seven times tried to advance towards Zakitnogo, Rai-Oleksandrivka, Dronivka, Platonivka and Riznikivka. In the kramators komu direction the Russian aggressor did not carry out attack actions. In the Konstantinivka direction, the Russian occupiers today stormed the positions of Ukrainian defenders near the settlements of Konstyantinivka, Pleshiyivka, Ivanopilya, Illinivka, Sofiyivka, Novopavlivka, Rusynoy Yara and Stepanivka 19 times. Russian troops committed 16 attacks in the Pokrovsky direction. The Russian occupiers tried to advance in the areas of settlements New Donbas, Rodinske, Mirnograd, Shevchenko, Grishine, Udacne, Novomykolaivka and Novopavlivka. One assault action in progress. According to preliminary calculations, today 55 Russian occupiers were eliminated and 15 wounded in this direction; one enemy shelter, ammunition warehouse, artillery system, tank and two vehicles were destroyed, 62 shelters, 4 BPLA control points, tank, BBM, four artillery systems and three units of Russian vehicles were damaged. Destroyed or suppressed 281 BPLA of different types. In the Oleksandrivsky direction, the Russian occupiers tried to improve their position three times, attacking in the areas of Ternovy and Novogrigorivka. One attack is underway. 18 Russian attacks took place in the Gulyaipil direction: in the areas of the settlements of Gulyaipole, Zaliznychne, Gulyaipilske, Zarichne, Varvarivka, Lugivskke, Mirne, Girke and Svyatopetrivka. Four attacks are underway. In the orihivs komu direction the Russian opponent attacked in the areas of scerbakiv and pavlivka. 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 Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation. Units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of a mechanised brigade and an air assault brigade close to Miropolye, Maksimovshchina, Novaya Sech, and Yastrebinoye (Sumy region). In Kharkov region, units of three mechanised brigades, a motorised infantry brigade of the AFU and a border detachment of the Ukrainian border service were hit near Verkhnyaya Pisarevka, Martovoye, and Buzovo (Kharkov region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 240 troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, 11 motor vehicles, and three field artillery guns. Two electronic warfare stations, two ammunition depots, and seven materiel depots were neutralised. The Zapad Group of Forces improved the tactical situation. The Group's units inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of three mechanised brigades, an assault brigade of the AFU, and two territorial defence brigades near Aleksandrovka, Palamarevka (Kharkov region), Krasny Liman, Svyatogorsk, and Lozovoye (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy losses amounted to more than 190 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, 10 motor vehicles, and four artillery guns. A U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-fire station and three ammunition depots were neutralised. The Yuzhnaya Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Russian troops hit formations of three mechanised brigades, an airmobile brigade, an assault brigade, and a mountain assault brigade of the AFU near Slavyansk, Kramatorsk, Krivaya Luka, Piskunovka, and Konstantinovka (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy lost more than 145 troops, two Stryker armoured personnel carriers, and one U.S.-made MaxxPro armoured fighting vehicle, five motor vehicles, and four field artillery guns. One ammunition depot and six materiel depots were neutralised. The Tsentr Group of Forces improved the tactical situation. Russian troops inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of four mechanised brigades, a jaeger brigade, an airmobile brigade, an air assault brigade, an assault regiment of the AFU, a marine brigade, a territorial defence brigade, and three national guard brigades near Novoaleksandrovka, Grishino, Belitskoye, Zolotoy Koledez (Donetsk People's Republic), and Novopavlovka (Dnepropetrovsk region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 325 troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, and 15 motor vehicles. Two electronic warfare stations were destroyed. The Vostok Group of Forces continued advancing to the depth of the enemy's defences. The Group's units inflicted losses on two mechanised brigades, two assault brigades, and five assault regiments of the AFU near Komsomolskoye, Vozdvizhevka (Zaporozhye region), Starokasyanovskoye, Dobropasovo, and Krivobokovo (Dnepropetrovsk region). The enemy lost more than 300 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, and one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer. The Dnepr Group's units inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of a mechanised brigade and a mountain assault brigade of the AFU close to Orekhov, Grigorovka, and Kamyshevakha (Zaporozhye region). Up to 65 troops, one artillery gun, nine motor vehicles, five electronic warfare stations, one ammunition depot, and one materiel depot of the AFU were neutralised. Operational-tactical aviation, attack drones, missile troops and artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces inflicted damage on energy and transport infrastructure facilities used in the interests of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, preparation, storage and launch areas of long-range attack unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries in 144 areas. The Russian Aerospace Forces shot down a Su-27 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force. Air defence systems shot down eight guided aerial bombs, three U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectiles, and 241 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles. In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 671 aircraft, 284 helicopters, 121,335 unmanned aerial vehicles, 651 anti-aircraft missile systems, 28,143 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,685 MLRS combat vehicles, 33,760 field artillery guns and mortars, and 56,352 units of support military vehicles have been neutralised. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Australian Defence Force strengthens space and cyber capabilities with allies and partners Issued by Defence Media 10 March 2026 The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has strengthened enduring partnerships with allies and regional partners through participation in Exercise Cobra Gold 2026. Held in Thailand from 23 February to 6 March 2026, the exercise reaffirmed Australia's ongoing commitment to security and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. As part of this year's activity, the ADF deployed around 19 personnel to integrate into the multinational headquarters, with a focus on strengthening joint capabilities in space and cyber. Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones, AO, CSC, said the ADF's participation demonstrated Australia's role as a responsible, capable and reliable regional partner. "The ADF personnel who deployed on Exercise Cobra Gold were provided a meaningful experience as an Australian joint integrated force within a multinational environment," Vice Admiral Jones said. "They contributed specialist expertise in not only military command and control, but importantly to the space and cyber operations, which are key to the security of the region. "The participation of ADF personnel enhances individual experience and strengthens the collective capability and professional relationships that underpin effective multinational operations." Exercise Cobra Gold was first held in 1982 between Thailand and the United States of America. In 2026, over 8,000 personnel from 30 nations participated, focusing on land, sea, air, cyber, and space operations to enhance interoperability and regional security. The exercise is designed to improve planning of realistic, complex operations within a Thai-led multinational Force, in response to small-scale conventional threats in the Pacific region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Navies meet to strengthen ties By Sub-Lieutenant Keigan Gunther 10 March 2026 The Indian Navy hosted the International Maritime Seminar in Visakhapatnam, India, from February 19 to 20 as part of Exercise Milan. The two-day seminar aimed to foster professional dialogue, enhance operational understanding and strengthen maritime cooperation among partner navies. Indian Flag Officer Commanding in Chief, Eastern Naval Command, Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla emphasised the importance of the forum. "This seminar brings together maritime leaders, policymakers and strategic thinkers to exchange perspectives on issues that directly shape security, stability and prosperity at sea," Vice Admiral Bhalla said. Vice Admiral Bhalla underscored the central role of sustained dialogue, professional engagement and cooperative approaches in addressing shared maritime challenges and reinforcing trust among nations. He was confident discussions would significantly contribute to strengthening maritime partnerships, enhancing interoperability and promoting peace and stability across the seas. During the seminar, Commander Australian Fleet Rear Admiral Chris Smith participated in a panel discussion titled The united oceans: Strengthening regional cooperation for maritime security and sustainable growth, alongside representatives from the Indian Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and Republic of Singapore Navy. Rear Admiral Smith highlighted the essential role of maritime forces in safeguarding global trade and maintaining a stable Indo-Pacific. "Australia is an island nation, girt by the Indian, Pacific and Southern oceans, whose economic wellbeing - and indeed our way of life - depends on free and unfettered access to the sea," Rear Admiral Smith said. "We are not alone in this symbiotic relationship with the maritime domain. More than half of global trade moves by sea, much of it through the Indo-Pacific, which hosts the world's busiest sea-lanes of communication and critical undersea infrastructure. "The sea connects us and sustains us. When managed responsibly and treated as a shared global good, it benefits every nation. It is quite literally the tide that raises all boats. "Australia's strategic intent is clear: a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific, where international law is upheld, disputes are resolved peacefully and maritime activity is conducted safely and professionally." Participating navies then returned to sea for the next phase of Exercise Milan. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister Carney speaks with Sultan and Prime Minister of Oman His Majesty Haitham bin Tariq Al Said Prime Minister of Canada - Mark Carney March 10, 2026 Ottawa, Ontario Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, spoke with the Sultan and Prime Minister of Oman, His Majesty Haitham bin Tariq Al Said. Prime Minister Carney expressed Canada's solidarity with Oman and gratitude to His Majesty for his efforts to protect all those in Oman, including Canadians. The leaders discussed the importance of protecting civilians and civilian infrastructure across the region. Prime Minister Carney conveyed his appreciation for His Majesty's leadership as a long-standing mediator in the region. The leaders expressed support for de-escalation of the conflict to avoid greater loss of civilian life and global economic impacts. Prime Minister Carney and His Majesty agreed to remain in contact. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister Carney speaks with President of France Emmanuel Macron Prime Minister of Canada - Mark Carney March 10, 2026 Ottawa, Ontario Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, spoke with the President of France, Emmanuel Macron. Prime Minister Carney and President Macron discussed the escalating situation in the Middle East. They condemned Iran's strikes against civilians and civilian infrastructure and underscored the need to prevent further regional escalation. The leaders underscored opening secure access through the Strait of Hormuz. Prime Minister Carney emphasised Canada's support for efforts to safeguard international shipping and ensure freedom of navigation. Prime Minister Carney and President Macron discussed the global economic implications of the crisis, including the impact on rising energy prices. The Prime Minister welcomed the President convening G7 leaders tomorrow to discuss coordination and thanked him for his leadership as G7 President. They agreed to increase coordination among G7 partners and to remain in close contact as the situation evolves. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Regular Press Briefing of the Ministry of National Defense on February28, 2026 Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China Source China Military Online EditorZhang Jinwen Time2026-03-10 22:12:50 (The following English text is for reference. In case of any divergence of interpretation, the Chinese text shall prevail.) Journalist: During the 2026 Spring Festival, the National Duel Supportings Office held special activities to send festival greetings to border and coastal defense troops. These activities have fostered a strong bond between the people and the military throughout the country. Please comment on that. Zhang Xiaogang: Duel Supportings (the military supporting the government and caring for the people, and the government, social groups and the people supporting the military and providing preferential treatment to the families of service members and martyrs) is a fine tradition of the CPC, the Chinese military, and the Chinese people. It also represents China's unique political strength. For six consecutive years since 2021, special activities have been organized to extend festival greetings to border and coastal defense troops, significantly strengthening the bond between the people and the military. During this Spring Festival, people from all walks of life, including government officials, teachers and students, and rural and urban residents, showed their care for border and coastal defense troops through sending letters and paintings, delivering "lucky" packages, and visiting military families. The participants are from 302 model cities and counties for Duel Supportings across 21 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities. As border and coastal troops remain at their posts far from home, the hearts and minds of the people go out to them. Be it soothing black tea from the hills in the south; steaming dumplings prepared by local people for border outposts in the north; scarves knitted by volunteers who care for the soldiers as if they were their own children; or insoles sewn by women from Yimeng (used to be a revolutionary base), all these gifts symbolize that the thoughts of the Chinese people are with service members on duty during this family-reunion festival. From the festive gatherings held by local governments for military families, to border troops raising the national flag with inland students via video link, it is evident that a deep bond between our people and the military stands firm across mountains and seas. The special activities convey the patriotic enthusiasm and deep support for the armed forces shared by the people, inspire border and coastal defense troops in their mission to safeguard the nation, and continue the proud tradition of mutual support between the people and the military in the new era. Journalist: It was reported that the Philippines, the US, Japan and Australia recently conducted so-called joint patrols in the waters and airspace around Huangyan Dao. In addition, the US and the Philippines held a strategic dialogue, claiming that China's activities in the South China Sea undermine regional peace and stability as well as the economy of the Indo-Pacific and beyond. Please comment on that. Zhang Xiaogang: Countries outside the region, such as the US, have traveled thousands of kilometers to the South China Sea to flex muscles and stir up tensions. They are the real source of uncertainty. The Philippine side, which attempted to make waves at sea by soliciting external support, has repeatedly committed rights-violation and provocative acts against China and undermined the common interests of regional countries. It is, without doubt, a troublemaker and a saboteur of peace. China has indisputable sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao and its adjacent waters, and has sovereign rights and jurisdiction over relevant waters. China's activities in waters under its jurisdiction are necessary to safeguard sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. They are legitimate, professional, restrained, and beyond reproach. The Chinese military remains on high alert and will take resolute countermeasures against any rights-violation and provocative acts. We will not allow any attempt to create turmoil in the South China Sea to succeed, and will firmly safeguard peace and stability in the region. Journalist: According to reports, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said that China is intensifying its attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force or coercion in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, while also expanding and stepping up its military activities in the areas surrounding Japan. This has created the most complex and severe security environment for Japan since World War II. The Japanese government will revise its three security documents this year and accelerate discussions on amending the principles governing the export of defense equipment. What's your comment on this? Zhang Xiaogang: The Chinese side carried out relevant military operations to safeguard national territorial sovereignty and security interests. They are in full compliance with international and domestic laws, and are entirely legitimate and justified. We need to point out that history has not been forgottenJapan once used the so-called situation threatening Japan's survival as a pretext to launch wars of aggression, committing heinous crimes against its Asian neighbors and the world. Now, the right-wing forces in Japan are resorting to their old tricks, clamoring about the so-called external threats to deceive and mislead the public, create excuses for military expansion, and pursue hidden political agenda. The international community should remain highly vigilant and resolutely oppose Japan's reckless moves towards neo-militarism, and join hands in upholding the victorious outcome of World War II and the post-war international order. We urge Japan not to barrel down the wrong path or reverse the wheel of history. Otherwise, it is doomed to suffer a speedier and greater defeat. Journalist: According to reports, the US side has recently made multiple accusations alleging that China conducted a nuclear explosion test in June 2020, and announced that the US will no longer unilaterally adhere to the zero-yield standard. What's your comment on this? Zhang Xiaogang: The US remarks are completely unfounded and untenable. It is widely known that China adheres to the policy of no first use of nuclear weapons, upholds a nuclear strategy of self-defense, and consistently maintains its nuclear capabilities at the minimum level required for national security. China does not engage in any nuclear arms race with any country. We strictly honor the commitment to a moratorium on nuclear testing, and have never conducted any activities in violation of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). In contrast, the US possesses the world's largest nuclear arsenal and maintains a policy of first use of nuclear weapons. It has invested heavily in building a nuclear triad, and has even claimed to resume nuclear testing. America's irresponsible actions in arms controlincluding withdrawals from treaties and backtracking on commitmentshave made it the greatest source of uncertainty for the international nuclear order and global strategic stability. We urge the US to earnestly fulfill its obligations under the CTBT and honor its pledge of the moratorium on nuclear testing, assume the special and primary responsibility for nuclear disarmament, and take concrete actions to preserve the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime and uphold global strategic balance and stability. Journalist: As was reported, Lai Ching-te recently made noises about accelerating the buildup of asymmetric capabilities, and pushed hard for advancing arms purchases from the US and the approval of related budgets, so as to "ensure security of the island and maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific". What's your comment on this Zhang Xiaogang: Lai Ching-te and his ilk, driven by partisan and personal interests, have recklessly squandered public funds to purchase US-made weapons. This will only drain Taiwan's coffers faster, push Taiwan closer to the peril of war, and drag the people in Taiwan down into an abyss. We sternly warn the DPP authorities that seeking independence by soliciting foreign support is doomed to fail, and resisting reunification by force is a dead end. We hope that compatriots in Taiwan will see through the very dangerous and destructive nature of "Taiwan independence" separatist activities, stand with us to resolutely oppose "Taiwan independence" schemes and foreign interference, and take concrete actions to safeguard their own safety and well-being, as well as peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Wang Yi Has a Phone Call with Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: March 09, 2026 23:54 On March 9, 2026, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a phone call with Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani. Al Zayani briefed on the regional situation and Bahrain's position. He noted that Bahrain had always been committed to peace and shall not be subjected to illegal attacks. Bahrain appreciates and thanks China for its just stance, and stands ready to work with other Gulf countries to step up communication and coordination with China on bilateral and multilateral platforms including the U.N., so as to achieve regional peace and stability as soon as possible. Bahrain will continue to take effective measures to safeguard the safety of Chinese personnel and institutions. Wang Yi noted that the situation in the Gulf region has escalated sharply recently, and Bahrain's security has also been undermined, which the Chinese side is deeply concerned about. China's position is consistent and clear: the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected, and attacks on civilians and non-military targets should be condemned. Wang Yi stressed that the top priority is to immediately cease military operations and prevent the conflict from further spreading. The way out of the impasse lies in an early return to dialogue and negotiation to strive for the restoration of peace. The fundamental solution is to jointly return to the right track of abiding by international law and the basic norms governing international relations. As a strategic partner of the Gulf countries and a responsible major country, China has been actively promoting peace and stopping wars. The special envoy of the Chinese Government on the Middle East issue is currently on a shuttle visit in the region and will also visit Bahrain. China will continue to play a constructive role in safeguarding peace and stability in the Gulf region, and hopes that Bahrain will continue to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens and institutions in Bahrain. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Wang Yi Has a Phone Call with Foreign Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: March 09, 2026 23:49 On March 9, 2026, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a phone call with Foreign Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. Sheikh Jarrah briefed Wang Yi on the latest developments of the regional situation, stating that Kuwait is not a party to the war but has still been impacted by the flames of war. Gulf countries including Kuwait remain committed to resolving disputes through dialogue while reserving their legitimate right to self-defense. The Kuwaiti side highly appreciates China's position and the efforts China has made, and stands ready to strengthen communication and coordination with China to jointly promote the early restoration of security and stability in the region. Kuwait attaches great importance to and will continue to ensure the safety and security of Chinese personnel and institutions in the country. Wang Yi stated that China has always advocated resolving disputes through political and diplomatic means. The ongoing hostilities are a war that should not have happened and serves no one's interests. The United States and Israel launched military strikes against Iran while the Iran-US negotiations were still underway and without the authorization of the United Nations, which is a blatant violation of international law. At the same time, the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of Gulf countries must also be fully respected, and any attack on innocent civilians and non-military targets deserves condemnation. The pressing priority now is to stop fighting, and end the war as soon as possible. China appreciates the consistent calls of Gulf countries for dialogue and negotiation. China will continue to make efforts for peace, and the special envoy of the Chinese Government on the Middle East issue has already left for the region to mediate and will strengthen communication and exchanges with the Kuwait and other countries. China hopes and believes that Kuwait will continue to ensure the safety and security of Chinese institutions and personnel in the country. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese Military Spokesperson Details 2026 Defense Spending Arrangement Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China Source China Military Online EditorCheng Sihao Time2026-03-10 20:37:18 BEIJING, March 10 -- The Chinese government keeps an appropriate size of defense expenditure to achieve coordinated development of national defense and the economy, said Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Chinese People's Liberation Army and Armed Police Force delegation to the Fourth Session of the 14th National People's Congress on Tuesday, when answering the question about "How will this year's defense budget be allocated?" In recent years, in order to defend national sovereignty, security and development interests, and to meet the requirements of military transformation with Chinese characteristics, the Chinese government, on the basis of promoting sound and stable socioeconomic development, has maintained a gradual and steady increase in defense spending, so as to ensure parallel progress in national defense capabilities and economic strength. Based on laws including the National Defense Law and the Budget Law, the Chinese government includes defense expenditure in the annual government budget draft, which must be reviewed and approved by the National People's Congress. We manage and use the defense budget in accordance with the law and publicize the total figure of defense expenditure. Consolidated national defense and strong armed forces provide strategic support for Chinese modernization. Taking into account the needs of national security and development, to ensure that the modernization of national defense and armed forces is in step with national modernization, to comprehensively enhance our strategic capability to defend national sovereignty, security and development interests, and to achieve the military's centenary goal on schedule, the national general public budget for 2026 allocates 1.94 trillion yuan for defense spending, an increase of 6.9% over the previous year's executed budget. Of this amount, the central government expenditure is 1.91 trillion yuan, a 7% increase over the previous year's executed budget. The increased defense spending will be primarily channeled to the following areas: First, in accordance with the new three-step roadmap for modernizing China's national defense and armed forces, we will advance the integrated development of mechanization, informatization and intelligentization, and enhance the strategic capability to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests. Second, we will optimize the joint operations system, promote a combat-oriented and systematic development of new-domain and new-quality combat capabilities in large scale, upgrade and transform traditional combat forces, and strengthen advanced operational capabilities. Third, we will accelerate the development of advanced weaponry and equipment and innovation in defense science and technology, and expedite the establishment of a modern logistics system. Fourth, we will continue to improve political conduct throughout the military, take solid steps to advance realistic training, refine policies and institutions for military human resources, improve the quality of military education, and cultivate new-type high-caliber and professional military personnel. The military will advance the reform of defense budget management, achieve a dynamic balance between the supply and demand of defense funds, strengthen whole-of-chain management and performance evaluation of defense spending, and make sure that every penny is wisely spent for the best result. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Military deputies discuss Xi's speech at annual legislative session Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China Source Xinhuanet EditorZhang Jinwen Time2026-03-10 20:19:36 BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Members of the military delegation attending the ongoing annual session of the national legislature studied and discussed President Xi Jinping's speech delivered at a plenary meeting of the delegation, a military spokesperson said Tuesday. Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the delegation of the People's Liberation Army and the People's Armed Police Force at the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress, said the speech by Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), has further enriched and developed the guidelines and policies for enhancing political loyalty in the military. Attending the meeting last Saturday, Xi stressed the effort to fully leverage the unique strengths of enhancing political loyalty in the military, and called for concerted efforts to advance the modernization of national defense and the armed forces in a steady and sustained manner. Zhang said military deputies pledged to implement the system of ultimate responsibility resting with the chairman of the CMC, continue to deepen political rectification, strengthen all-around military training and combat readiness, and pool strength to advance high-quality development. On the priorities for the modernization of national defense and the armed forces, Zhang said the military will strengthen political guidance to deepen political rectification, increase the supply of advanced combat capabilities, enhance military governance with an emphasis on improving the institutions and mechanisms for leading and managing the people's armed forces, and strengthen the development of integrated national strategies and strategic capabilities. ON DEFENSE BUDGET The figure earmarked for national defense in the 2026 national general public budget is expected to rise by 6.9 percent from the previous year's actual spending. Of the figure, central government expenditures on national defense are expected to increase by 7 percent. Zhang spelled out four priority areas for the increase in the defense budget this year. He said the budget increase will go to promoting the integrated development of the military through mechanization, informatization, and the application of smart technologies. The spending will be used to optimize the joint operational system and enhance the development of advanced combat capabilities. The spending will also be used to accelerate the development of advanced weaponry and defense technology innovation, advance the construction of modern logistics, and continuously deepen political rectification and advance military training under real combat conditions. FIGHT "TAIWAN INDEPENDENCE" FORCES, OPPOSE EXTERNAL INTERFERENCE Zhang said the Chinese military will resolutely fight separatist forces aimed at "Taiwan independence" and oppose external interference. "We will strive for peaceful reunification with the greatest sincerity and the utmost effort, but we will never promise to renounce the use of force," he said. The armed forces will intensify training and combat readiness, enhance their capability to fight and win, resolutely thwart any attempts at secession or external interference, and safeguard peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, he added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun's Regular Press Conference on March 10, 2026 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: March 10, 2026 18:44 China News Service: We noted that the Foreign Ministry recently released flight information for Chinese passengers stranded in Middle East countries and suggested their prompt return to China. Could you update us about the latest progress? Guo Jiakun: For days running, the Foreign Ministry has been working closely with the Civil Aviation Administration to boost the flight capacity of domestic airlines to bring back Chinese passengers stranded in the Middle East. China's diplomatic and consular missions in the region have reached out to their host countries to obtain facilitation for Chinese carriers and have provided timely updates on security alerts and flight information, while looking after the stranded passengers. Through concerted efforts, over 10,000 Chinese passengers have safely returned to China from countries including the UAE, Oman and Saudi Arabia. As the fighting continues, some airports in the Middle East have yet to fully resume operation. The Foreign Ministry once again urges Chinese nationals not to travel to Iran's neighboring countries and regions impacted by the military conflict. Our embassies and consulates in the region will do everything possible to provide necessary assistance to Chinese nationals in need. Al Araby Television Network: Amid the ongoing tense situation in the Middle East, there are concerns in the market that the conflict may protract and destabilize energy production and export passage in the Gulf region. China's reliance on energy imports from the Middle East also triggers concerns on China's energy supply security. Some believe that geopolitical rivalry is destabilizing global energy landscape and industrial chains. What's China's take on the impact of current geopolitical conflicts on global energy security? In the face of rising external uncertainties, how will China pursue both development and security and ensure both national energy security and long-term development interests? Guo Jiakun: We are deeply concerned over the continued tensions in the Middle East. Parties need to stop the military operations at once, avoid further escalation, and prevent the regional turmoil from having a greater impact on global economic growth. Energy security is of vital importance to the world economy. All parties have the responsibility to ensure stable and unimpeded energy supply. China will do what is necessary to protect its energy security. For anything specific, I'd refer you to competent authorities. Anadolu Agency: Foreign Minister Wang Yi, when talking about the recent conflict in the Middle East during the NPC press conference on the weekend, said this conflict should not have happened in the first place. In phone conversations with counterparts from Kuwait and Bahrain yesterday, Minister Wang said that sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of Gulf countries should be respected as well as Iran. In this situation, what do you think the next step should be? How can this conflict be stopped? Will China, for example, consider a direct appeal to the U.S., the party that initiated the conflict, and tell them to stop the war and return to negotiation? Guo Jiakun: China is gravely concerned over the ongoing tense situation in the Middle East. Over the past few days, China has carried out intensive mediation efforts. Foreign Minister Wang Yi had phone calls with his counterparts of multiple countries for in-depth exchange of views on the situation in the region. During his press conference at the two sessions, Foreign Minister Wang Yi stressed that to find the right and proper solution to the issues relating to Iran and the Middle East, we need to respect national sovereignty, reject the abuse of force, uphold noninterference in internal affairs, and promote political settlement of hotspot issues, and major countries should play a constructive role and use their strengths in goodwill. These fundamental principles must be observed. As we speak, Special Envoy of the Chinese Government on the Middle East Issue Zhai Jun is in the Middle East to carry out shuttle diplomacy. To prolong or escalate the conflict does not serve any party's interest. China will continue to maintain communication with relevant parties, including parties to the conflict, step up mediation, build consensus, and work for the deescalation of the situation. Asharq News: Given the ongoing Iranian attacks on Saudi Arabia, which have targeted civilian infrastructure and oil facilities, how might these developments impact the Beijing agreement between Saudi and Iran? Could you please give us an update about the visit of the Chinese special envoy to the Middle East? Guo Jiakun: On your first question, the reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran was truly remarkable. It is the shared strategic asset of all countries in the region, and needs to be doubly cherished. On your second question, Special Envoy of the Chinese Government on the Middle East Issue Zhai Jun is on a visit to the Middle East. Readouts about his visit to Saudi Arabia have been released on the MFA website, and we will continue to share information about the visit in a timely manner. You may check back for updates. Anadolu Agency: You have mentioned Zhai Jun's visit to Middle Eastern countries as a diplomatic mission to mediate between regional countries for the solution of this crisis. Can you explain the scope of this mission? Will it be a mediation between just Iran and Gulf countries? Or will it also involve the U.S. and Israel? Which countries will he visit after Saudi Arabia? Can you share his itinerary? And lastly, is there a possibility of an arrangement for the safe passage of oil exports from the Strait of Hormuz? In the context of this visit, is energy security in the Strait of Hormuz an item in the Ambassador's agenda? Guo Jiakun: As I just mentioned, the Special Envoy of the Chinese Government on the Middle East Issue Zhai Jun is visiting the region to play a mediation role. Our focus is to help bring about an immediate stop to the military conflict and to bring parties concerned back to the negotiation table. We will release more information about the visit. Please stay tuned. Regarding issues related to the Strait of Hormuz, the Strait of Hormuz and waters nearby are an important route for international goods and energy trade. Keeping the region safe and stable serves the common interests of the international community. China urges parties to stop the military operations at once, avoid further escalation, and prevent the regional turmoil from having a larger impact on global economic growth. Anadolu Agency: U.S. President Donald Trump said he already has somebody else in mind to replace Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran's newly elected leader. What's China's comment? Guo Jiakun: Election of the new Supreme Leader is Iran's decision based on the country's Constitution. Non-interference in other countries' internal affairs is a basic norm in international relations. Bloomberg: Taiwan is considering selling debt for the first time to finance overseas investments in its foreign partner countries. This is part of the democracy's efforts to resist the diplomatic isolation imposed by China. Would the Foreign Ministry like to comment? Guo Jiakun: The DPP authorities often use trade and investment as a front for "Taiwan independence" separatist activities abroad to expand so-called "international space." Such malignant schemes will not succeed. The despicable tactics of the DPP authorities will never change the fact that Taiwan is part of China, evidenced by both history and law. Nor will it ever undermine international commitment to the one-China principle or stop the complete reunification of the motherland. AFP: I wonder if you could tell us what's discussed during the meeting yesterday between the Ministry of Transport and the shipping companiesMaersk and MSC. Did they discuss the Strait of Hormuz? Guo Jiakun: The competent authorities issued the press release. I'd refer you to them for anything specific. Anadolu Agency: I want to go back to the Strait of Hormuz question. U.S. President Donald Trump said yesterday "We will strike 20 times harder if Iran does anything to stop the flow of oil within the Strait of Hormuz." Meanwhile Tehran blames U.S. and Israeli attacks for disruptions to shipping in the region. The international community is concerned that there might be a deadlock here and large amount of Chinese oil imports are passing through this waterway. What will China do if that kind of stoppage and deadlock happen in this critical waterway? Guo Jiakun: I've answered a question concerning that just now. The Strait of Hormuz and waters nearby are an important route for international goods and energy trade. Keeping the region safe and stable serves the common interests of the international community. The pressing priority now is that relevant parties should stop the military operations at once, avoid further escalation and spread of tensions, and prevent the regional turmoil from having a larger impact on global economic growth. AFP: Some travel agencies and ticket sellers have said the train route from Beijing to Pyongyang in North Korea is going to reopen on Thursday. I wonder if you could confirm this or provide any details? Guo Jiakun: China and the DPRK are friendly and close neighbors. Maintaining regular passenger train services is important for facilitating exchange between the two peoples. We support closer communication between the competent authorities of both countries to create more enabling conditions for people-to-people exchange. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ranking Member Shaheen, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Democratic Members Publish Major Report Warning President Trump Has Weakened U.S. in Competition with China Ahead of His Travel to Beijing Senate Foreign Relations Committee March 10, 2026 WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Democratic members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee released a new report examining how the Trump Administration's approach to China has imposed growing economic costs on American families while strengthening Beijing's global position. The report comes as President Trump plans to travel to Beijing at the end of this month, while in a significantly weaker position because of his actions over the last year. The 56-page report, titled "The Price of Retreat 2.0: Undermining America's Economic Edge and Alliance Advantage," is based on official staff travel, committee oversight activities, open-source research and insights from meetings with foreign government officials, American companies and international non-governmental organizations. The findings are stark. The economic costs of President Trump's handling of the U.S-China relationship continue to mount for American families, and the diplomatic consequences are visible across every region of the world. Beijing has moved aggressively to exploit America's retreat. As the report outlines, the Administration's tariffs and economic policies have increased costs for American households, destabilized global markets and placed new pressure on U.S. manufacturers and farmers while failing to produce meaningful changes in Beijing's behavior. "This report makes clear that the consequences of the Trump Administration's global retreat that we warned about last year are no longer theoreticalthey are being felt by American families and businesses every day," said Ranking Member Shaheen. "The Administration's trade wars, cuts to innovation and weakening of our alliances are not strengthening America's position against China, they are undermining it. At a moment when the United States should be reinforcing our economic leadership and global partnerships, these policies are giving Beijing an opening to expand its influence. As President Trump heads into his meetings with President Xi later this month, his own policies have profoundly diminished America's competitive advantage against China. The President will have a weak hand to play in Beijing, and it is the American people who will pay the price." The report highlights key areas where America's competitive advantage has suffered: Hurting America's Economy and Undermining the U.S.'s Innovation Ecosystem : The Administration's fluctuating tariffs have devastated America's small businesses, forcing layoffs of 120,000 workers in November 2025, the largest monthly total in five years. Since President Trump's so-called 'Liberation Day' tariffs, the American economy has lost a net 19,000 jobs. President Trump's decision to allow the sale of cutting-edge semiconductors to China will undermine the United States' long-term economic edge. The Administration's travel bans, visa policies and cuts to funding for science have forced worker shortages in critical national security sectorsparticularly in the cyber, microelectronics, and precision mechanics sectors, among othersand have driven top talent to well-funded research programs and scholarship opportunities at universities outside the United States. Meanwhile, China is expanding visa categories and business opportunities for international professionals in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), and Chinese universities have now surpassed U.S. counterparts in scientific output. : The Administration's fluctuating tariffs have devastated America's small businesses, forcing layoffs of 120,000 workers in November 2025, the largest monthly total in five years. Since President Trump's so-called 'Liberation Day' tariffs, the American economy has lost a net 19,000 jobs. President Trump's decision to allow the sale of cutting-edge semiconductors to China will undermine the United States' long-term economic edge. The Administration's travel bans, visa policies and cuts to funding for science have forced worker shortages in critical national security sectorsparticularly in the cyber, microelectronics, and precision mechanics sectors, among othersand have driven top talent to well-funded research programs and scholarship opportunities at universities outside the United States. Meanwhile, China is expanding visa categories and business opportunities for international professionals in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), and Chinese universities have now surpassed U.S. counterparts in scientific output. Dismantling the Diplomatic Toolkit : More than half of U.S. embassies overseas are currently without a Senate-confirmed ambassador. In 2025, the Administration also rescinded over $14 billion in foreign assistance funds, significantly curtailing U.S. influence abroad with drastic human consequences. In contrast, China has ambassadors at nearly every diplomatic outpost, fields the world's largest diplomatic corps and posted record investments in 2025 under its Belt and Road Initiative. Billions in U.S. taxpayer dollars were shifted into slush funds as positions tasked with preventing waste and fraud were dismantled. Under Secretary Rubio's leadership, the United States has wasted, rather than saved, taxpayers' dollars and permitted the expiration and destruction of lifesaving food and medical commodities. : More than half of U.S. embassies overseas are currently without a Senate-confirmed ambassador. In 2025, the Administration also rescinded over $14 billion in foreign assistance funds, significantly curtailing U.S. influence abroad with drastic human consequences. In contrast, China has ambassadors at nearly every diplomatic outpost, fields the world's largest diplomatic corps and posted record investments in 2025 under its Belt and Road Initiative. Billions in U.S. taxpayer dollars were shifted into slush funds as positions tasked with preventing waste and fraud were dismantled. Under Secretary Rubio's leadership, the United States has wasted, rather than saved, taxpayers' dollars and permitted the expiration and destruction of lifesaving food and medical commodities. Upending Strategic Partnerships and Alliances: The Trump Administration has needlessly pushed alliances to the brink of rupture and damaged partnerships built on a bipartisan basis over decades. For example, following the Greenland crisis the majority of people in the Kingdom of Denmark, who once supported the U.S.-Denmark Alliance, now consider the United States to be an adversary. Japan was left to fend for itself in the face of aggressive Chinese coercion when Tokyo stood up for its security interests in the Taiwan strait. President Trump discussed U.S. arms sales to Taiwan with Xi Jinping - violating American commitments to a democratic partner and technology powerhouse in place since the Reagan Administration. The President has also openly accommodated Russia's illegitimate territorial claims in Ukraine while imposing limited additional pressure on Moscow to negotiate an end to the war. These collective actions signal weakness to Xi Jinping as he and his lieutenants contemplate action against Taiwan that could cause a $10 trillion disruption in the global economy. Instead of creating a united front against Beijing, we are forcing our closest friends to fend for themselves, or worse, work with our chief competitor. While the Administration has slashed funding to UN agencies and withdrawn the United States from over 60 international organizations, China has coerced U.S. allies with impunity and presented itself as the defender of responsible and steady conduct on the world stage. And as the Trump Administration withdrew the United States from international organizations designed to facilitate trade in critical minerals, China secured the role of host of the 2027 World Radio Conference, which will revise crucial international telecommunications guidelines. The report's recommendations include: Congress should enact legislation that bans the sale of cutting-edge AI chips to foreign adversaries and imposes stringent restrictions on less advanced yet still powerful semiconductors. Congress should enact legislation that makes it easier to sell American technology to trusted partners under the right conditions. Congress must reassert its role in trade policy and put a stop to the Trump Administration's damaging trade wars. Congress should pass the bipartisan SECURE Minerals Act and the Critical Minerals Partnership Act. The Administration and Congress should jointly convey unwavering support for enhancing deterrence in the Taiwan Strait. Congress should demonstrate lasting support for Ukraine by codifying security guarantees for a post-war environment. Congress should enact the bipartisan SHADOW Fleet Sanctions Act of 2026, led by Chairman Jim Risch and Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen, to limit Russia's revenue to support its war against Ukraine. Congress must hold the Administration accountable to fully implement the Fiscal Year 2026 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill. Congress must pursue robust oversight of foreign assistance spending. Congress must enact the bipartisan, bicameral Saving Lives and Taxpayer Dollars Act to require the Administration to prevent U.S. taxpayer funded foreign assistance commodities from spoiling, expiring or being destroyed. The Administration must prioritize nominating qualified career experts for Ambassador and other diplomatic positions and refrain from politicizing career diplomatic staff, to ensure American diplomats are confirmed and deployed rapidly to posts around the world. Congress should enact legislation that limits unilateral executive authority to issue travel bans or modify visa fees and requirements. The full report is available HERE. The Executive Summary is available HERE. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NATO - Meeting between Jean-Noel Barrot and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (Brussels, March 10, 2026) France - Ministere de lEurope et des Affaires etrangeres Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels on March 9. Against the backdrop of the war in the Middle East, the minister shared France's analysis of the situation and noted the means deployed by France in support of its partners in the region. He reiterated France's support for maintaining NATO's ballistic missile defense posture in response to the firing of an Iranian missile toward Turkey, a NATO ally country. Looking ahead to the NATO summit in Ankara, which will be held on July 7 and 8, the Minister underscored the European commitment to strengthen its own defenses and engage in burden-sharing with the United States. He noted the key role played by the European Union in this regard. All of these efforts serve to shore up the Alliance's European pillar, whose development is inextricably linked to the credibility of our deterrence and defense posture. The Minister also stressed the importance of continuing our support for Ukraine and the progress that has been made by the Coalition of the Willing. Following President Macron's speech at Ile Longue on March 2, the Minister also addressed the main announcements that were made with regard to advanced deterrence, which would contribute to strengthening the alliance's global deterrence and is fully complementary with NATO's nuclear mission. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Daily Press Briefing (03/10/2026) France - Ministere de lEurope et des Affaires etrangeres - Press briefing Statements by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Press briefing Published on March 10, 2026 CONTENTS Situation in Lebanon (Mar. 10, 2026) France expresses its deep concern over the current escalation of violence in Lebanon. It has asked the United Nations Security Council in New York to hold an emergency meeting, which will take place tomorrow. France condemns Hezbollah's irresponsible decision to join in Iran's attacks on Israel since March 1. It calls on Hezbollah to end its operations and hand over its weapons. France offers the Lebanese authorities its full support; their March 2nd decision to prohibit Hezbollah's military and security activities is an important commitment, which we commend. France calls on Israel to refrain from any land-based or long-term interventions in Lebanon, whose territorial integrity and sovereignty must be respected. France is deeply concerned by the current displacement of civilians and is doing its utmost to meet their humanitarian needs in cooperation with the Lebanese authorities and humanitarian actors, including the High Commissioner for Refugees. France calls on all the parties to exercise restraint, to return to the ceasefire of November 26, 2024, and to abide by UN Security Council resolution 1701. France calls on all the parties to abide by international law and international humanitarian law. Compliance with the rules governing the conduct of hostilities, and particularly the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution, is vital to ensuring the protection of civilian populations and civilian infrastructure in all circumstances. France stresses that the protection of peacekeepers and the safety and security of United Nations personnel, property and premises must be guaranteed in accordance with international law and resolution 1701. President Macron condemned the unacceptable attack on three members of the Ghanaian contingent on March 6, leaving one of them seriously wounded. France expresses its full solidarity with Ghana and wishes the affected personnel a speedy recovery. In this difficult situation, France applauds the bravery, professionalism and dedication of UNIFIL personnel. NATO Meeting between Jean-Noel Barrot and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (Brussels - Mar. 10, 2026) Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels on March 9. Against the backdrop of the war in the Middle East, the minister shared France's analysis of the situation and noted the means deployed by France in support of its partners in the region. He reiterated France's support for maintaining NATO's ballistic missile defense posture in response to the firing of an Iranian missile toward Turkey, a NATO ally country. Looking ahead to the NATO summit in Ankara, which will be held on July 7 and 8, the Minister underscored the European commitment to strengthen its own defenses and engage in burden-sharing with the United States. He noted the key role played by the European Union in this regard. All of these efforts serve to shore up the Alliance's European pillar, whose development is inextricably linked to the credibility of our deterrence and defense posture. The Minister also stressed the importance of continuing our support for Ukraine and the progress that has been made by the Coalition of the Willing. Following President Macron's speech at Ile Longue on March 2, the Minister also addressed the main announcements that were made with regard to advanced deterrence, which would contribute to strengthening the alliance's global deterrence and is fully complementary with NATO's nuclear mission. MOROCCO Meeting between the Minister and his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita (Mar. 10, 2026) Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot met today with his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, on the sidelines of the second World Nuclear Energy Summit, hosted by France in Boulogne-Billancourt. The two Ministers reaffirmed the importance of the stepped-up special partnership between France and Morocco and applauded the vitality of our bilateral relationship. They are looking forward to the 15th edition of the High-Level Bilateral Meeting in Morocco. The Minister also praised the quadripartite negotiations on the Western Sahara in line with resolution 2797, which provided a clear framework for re-starting talks based on the Moroccan autonomy plan, under the auspices of the United Nations. UNITED NATIONS Appointment of the Executive Director of the United Nation Office on Drugs and Crime (Mar. 9, 2026) France welcomes the UN Secretary-General's appointment of Monica Kathina Juma, National Security Adviser to the President of Kenya and Secretary to Kenya's National Security Council, to serve as Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Director General of the UN Office in Vienna. France has an important partnership with UNODC, which plays a major role in defining international policies on preventing and combating the illicit use of drugs and preventing terrorism. France is committed to ensuring that this effort is consistent with its own effort to combat organized crime, and particularly drug trafficking. France will continue to support UNODC in its effort to combat transnational criminal threats and to respond to new global challenges. We offer Ms. Juma our best wishes for success in her new role. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Solidarity and joint responsibility for Europe: Foreign Minister Wadephul visits Cyprus Germany Federal Foreign Office 10.03.2026 - Article Johann Wadephul met his Cypriot counterpart Constantinos Kombos and the Foreign Minister of the UAE, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, in Cyprus. Their talks focused on the escalation in the Middle East, the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU and joint responsibility for European security. Foreign Minister Wadephul has travelled to Cyprus on an official visit to discuss the current security situation in the Middle East with his Cypriot counterpart Constantinos Kombos. Cyprus is an important and close partner for Germany in the European Union and plays a key role in European security and foreign policy on account of its geostrategic location in the eastern Mediterranean. Not only has the island established itself as a stable actor in the region in recent years, it has also repeatedly served as a hub for evacuations during crises - a role that is currently of crucial importance given its proximity to the parts of the Middle East where tensions are high. The latest events, in particular the Iranian drone attack on a UK military base in Cyprus, have made clear once more that the war in the Middle East is not a crisis that can be sealed off, but rather one that directly affects Europe. In this context, Foreign Minister Wadephul reiterated Germany's full solidarity with Cyprus and paid tribute to the country's level-headed and responsible stance in this tense situation. Foreign Minister Wadephul also held talks in Cyprus with his counterpart from the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed. They discussed both the tense security situation in the Gulf region and the joint efforts to prevent an energy and oil crisis, which would adversely affect the entire world. Joint responsibility for security in Europe In addition to discussing the developments in the Middle East, Foreign Minister Wadephul spoke with his Cypriot counterpart about the security challenges affecting Europe as a whole. Cyprus currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union under the motto "An Autonomous Union. Open to the World." and has thus made the expansion of Europe's defence capabilities a clear priority. In view of the continuing threat posed by Russia, supporting Ukraine and protecting NATO 's eastern flank, for example via the German brigade in Lithuania, remain vital for Germany. In this context, Foreign Minister Wadephul underlined the importance of continuing to step up the pressure on Russia and of supporting Ukraine across the board, both militarily and with humanitarian assistance. Cooperation and cohesion in the EU remain essential as regards guaranteeing European security in the long term. Cyprus can make an important contribution towards achieving this. EU enlargement and geopolitical challenges EU enlargement and the long-term direction of the Union were further key topics during the talks. At a time of geopolitical tensions both in eastern and southeastern Europe, the question of credible accession prospects for the countries of the Western Balkans and for Ukraine and Moldova is becoming ever more urgent. Germany thus actively supports clear enlargement prospects, which not only further these countries' political and economic integration, but can also make them part of Europe's security architecture in the long term. The new geopolitical realities also make it necessary to adapt the upcoming EU financial framework. Germany calls for a dynamic and flexible new direction that will enable the Union to respond appropriately to the current security challenges and at the same time to promote European competitiveness. A financial framework that sets clear priorities for defence, security and economic stability will be of crucial importance for the EU's ability to act in the coming years. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Raksha Mantri releases 'Defence Forces Vision 2047: A Roadmap for a Future-Ready Indian Military' India - Press Information Bureau Ministry of Defence Posted On: 10 MAR 2026 12:23PM by PIB Delhi Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh released 'Defence Forces Vision 2047: A Roadmap for a Future-Ready Indian Military' at an event in South Block, New Delhi on March 10, 2026. This comprehensive blueprint has been articulated by Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff to transform the Defence Forces into a modern, integrated and technologically-advanced military capable of supporting India's aspiration to become Viksit Bharat by 2047. The vision document outlines the strategic reforms, capability enhancements and organisational changes required within the Defence Forces to effectively address the evolving geostrategic, technological & security environment. It envisages the transformation of the military into an integrated, multi-domain and agile force capable of deterring adversaries, responding across the full spectrum of conflict & protecting expanding strategic interests, amid the rapidly changing global and regional dynamics. A central pillar of the vision is the emphasis on jointness and synergy among the Services, promoting greater coordination in planning, operations & capability development. The document also highlights the importance of innovation, advanced technologies and modern training framework to build a force that is adaptable to future warfare challenges. Another key focus area is Aatmanirbharta in defence, encouraging the development & adoption of indigenous technologies and solutions tailored to the country's unique security requirements. Strengthening domestic defence manufacturing and technological capabilities is expected to enhance operational readiness while contributing to national growth. The vision document adopts a calibrated roadmap with clearly prioritised capability goals across short-term, mid-term and long-term timelines. This structured approach will guide the development of critical military capabilities, institutional reforms and strategic partnerships required to build a world class defence force. Recognising the complexity of future security challenges, the vision document underscores the need for a whole-of-nation approach, integrating military strength with diplomatic, technological and economic power to ensure national security. Through sustained reforms, innovation and national commitment, it aims to ensure that by the centenary of India's independence, the nation's military stand as a globally-respected, technologically-advanced and combat-ready military, contributing to a strong and resilient Viksit Bharat. Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, Vice Chief of the Army Staff Lieutenant General Pushpendra Singh and other senior officials were present on the occasion. ***** VK/Savvy (Release ID: 2237368) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address DRDO & Indian Navy conduct in-flight release trials of indigenous Air Droppable Container 'ADC-150' from P8I Aircraft India - Press Information Bureau Ministry of Defence Posted On: 10 MAR 2026 7:22PM by PIB Delhi Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy jointly conducted four successful in-flight release trials of the indigenous Air Droppable Container 'ADC-150' from the P8I aircraft off the coast of Goa between February 21 to March 01, 2026, at different extreme release conditions. Indigenously designed and developed to deliver 150 kg payload, the Air Droppable Container enhances the naval operational logistics capabilities for providing quick response to naval vessels under distress, needing critical stores/equipment, medical assistance etc. at blue sea deployed far from the coast. The Naval Science & Technological Laboratory, Visakhapatnam is the nodal laboratory for the activity. Aerial Delivery Research & Development Establishment, Agra has developed the parachute system and Centre for Military Airworthiness & Certification, Bengaluru provided the flight clearance & certification. Defence Research & Development Laboratory, Hyderabad provided the instrumentation support for the trials. To meet the requirement of the Indian Navy, the ADC-150 system for the P8I aircraft was developed and qualified in a short timeframe. As all the developmental flight trials have been completed successfully, the system is expected to be inducted into the Indian Navy soon. **** VK/SR/Savvy (Release ID: 2237814) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran says oil blockade will continue until attacks end, Trump threatens to escalate strikes Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC) 10.03.2026 [14:35] Baku, March 10, AZERTAC Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Tuesday they would not allow "one litre of oil" to be shipped from the Middle East if U.S. and Israeli attacks continue, prompting a warning from President Donald Trump that the U.S. would hit Iran much harder if it blocked exports from the vital energy-producing region, according to Reuters. The heightened rhetoric did little to quell a sharp retreat in crude prices and a rally in global shares, which came after Trump expressed confidence in a swift end to hostilities even after Iran appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as its new supreme leader in a signal of defiance. Trump said on Monday the United States had inflicted serious damage on Iran's military and predicted the conflict would end well before the initial four-week time frame he had laid out, though he has not defined what victory would look like. Israel says its war aim is to overthrow Iran's system of clerical rule. U.S. officials mainly say Washington's aim is to destroy Iran's missile capabilities and nuclear programme, but Trump has said the war can end only with a compliant Iranian government. At least 1,332 Iranian civilians have been killed and thousands wounded since the U.S. and Israel launched a barrage of air and missile strikes across Iran at the end of February, according to Iran's U.N. ambassador. Trump warned that U.S. attacks could rise sharply if Iran sought to block tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which handles one-fifth of the world's oil supply. "We will hit them so hard that it will not be possible for them or anybody else helping them to ever recover that section of the world," Trump said at a news conference on Monday. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran's foreign minister rules out negotiations with US after 'very bitter experience' Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC) 10.03.2026 [11:41] Baku, March 10, AZERTAC Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Monday dismissed the possibility of negotiating with the US after a "very bitter experience," Anadolu Agency reports. In an interview with PBS News, Araghchi responded to a question on whether Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, would be open to renewed talks or a ceasefire, saying "it's too soon for him to make any comment." "But I don't think the question of talking with Americans or negotiation with Americans once again would be on the table because, you know, we have a very bitter experience of talking with Americans," he said, pointing to the 12-day war last June when the Israeli and US militaries targeted Iranian nuclear facilities amid talks between Tehran and Washington. Citing the latest round of US-Iran nuclear talks that concluded in Geneva in late February, where both sides had described the atmosphere as serious and constructive under Omani mediation, Araghchi said: "But again, after three rounds of negotiation, and after the American team in the negotiation said itself that we made big progress, still, they decided to attack us." "So I don't think talking with Americans anymore would be on our agenda," he said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Joint statement by President von der Leyen and President Costa after the video conference with Leaders from Middle East countries on the war in Iran European External Action Service (EEAS) 10.03.2026 PRESS AND INFORMATION TEAM OF THE DELEGATION TO TURKIYE Today [9 March 2026], President von der Leyen and President Costa exchanged views with the leaders of Jordan, Egypt, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, Turkiye, Armenia, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Oman on the latest developments regarding the war in Iran, including the unacceptable attacks against the countries of the region and the impact on energy security. This video conference is the continued manifestation of solidarity and diplomatic outreach building on the contacts made by the Presidents since the beginning of this crisis, and on previous efforts of the High Representative, Kaja Kallas. Once again, they condemned the indiscriminate attacks by Iran in the strongest terms and conveyed their full solidarity with the people of the region. The presidents also thanked the Leaders of the region for their assistance and support in repatriating tens of thousands of European citizens who were stranded in their countries when the war started. The European Union is a long-standing, reliable partner for the region in these difficult moments and is ready to contribute in every possible way to help deescalate the situation and facilitate the return to the negotiating table. Although the international rules-based order is under stress, we firmly believe that dialogue and diplomacy is the only viable way forward. The European Union has been consistent in its position on Iran's activities and has repeatedly called on their leadership to end its nuclear program and curb its ballistic missile program. The European Union has also condemned the unacceptable repression and violence perpetrated by the Iranian regime against its own citizens. The Presidents reaffirmed their commitment to regional stability and called for the protection of civilians and full respect for international law, international humanitarian law and the obligation to abide by the principles of the United Nations Charter. President von der Leyen and President Costa recalled the importance of its maritime defensive operations Aspides and Atalanta aimed at protecting critical waterways and preventing any disruption to vital supply chains. They also expressed their openness to further tailor and enhance these operations in order to better respond to the situation. The Presidents expressed deep concern about the impact of the regional crisis on Lebanon and its severe impact on civilians, triggering large scale displacement. They underscored the need for the protection of civilians, and the respect of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon. In this context, President von der Leyen announced a mobilisation of ReliefEU stocks to support some 130,000 persons in Lebanon with a first flight planned for tomorrow. The Leaders of the region shared their analysis of the situation in their countries and the broader region. They also discussed the impact of attacks on energy infrastructure and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz on global energy security, and explored avenues to strengthen the cooperation with Middle East partners to mitigate these risks. They also agreed to remain in close contact to assess any further developments and work together in the pursuit of peace. The European Union will work with the countries of the region to bring peace and stability back to the Middle East and the Gulf region, reaffirming its enduring commitment to partnership, security, and prosperity in the region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address HE GCCSG Condemns in the Strongest Terms the Blatant Attack Targeting the Consulate General of the UAE in Iraqi Kurdistan General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council Mar 10, 2026 General Secretariat - Riyadh His Excellency Mr Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), condemned in the strongest possible terms the blatant attack that targeted the Consulate General of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Iraqi Kurdistan. His Excellency emphasised that this nefarious attack on the UAE Consulate constitutes a grave violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and represents a dangerous escalation that threatens the security and safety of diplomats and personnel working in such missions. His Excellency reiterated the GCC's full support and solidarity with the brotherly UAE against this attack, reaffirming the Council's firm rejection of all forms of violence and terrorism that threaten security and stability in the region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address FM responds to whether Chinese special envoy will coordinate on Strait of Hormuz navigation, saying focus is to push for immediate cessation of military conflicts Global Times By Global Times Published: Mar 10, 2026 04:53 PM On whether Zhai Jun, special envoy of the Chinese government on the Middle East issue, will coordinate and communicate on the issue of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Tuesday that Zhai is currently conducting shuttle visits in the region to give full play to China's mediation efforts. China's focus is to push for an immediate cessation of military conflicts and bring relevant parties back to the negotiating track, and relevant information of Zhai's visit will be released promptly, Guo told a regular press conference. Regarding the issue concerning the Strait of Hormuz, Guo said that Hormuz and its adjacent waters are a vital international corridor for cargo and energy trade. Maintaining security and stability in this region serves the common interests of the international community. China urges all parties to immediately cease military actions, prevent further escalation of tensions and avoid regional turbulence that would exert greater negative impacts on global economic development, Guo noted. According to the Hill, US President Donald Trump on Monday threatened Iran against halting the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz. In response to a question that Trump has threatened fierce strike if Iran blocks the Strait of Hormuz, what corresponding measures China will take if this vital waterway is blocked, since China's oil shipments also pass through this waterway, Guo re-emphasized on the press conference that the Strait of Hormuz and its adjacent waters are vital international corridors for cargo and energy trade. Safeguarding security and stability in this region serves the common interests of all members of the international community. "The top priority is for all relevant parties to immediately cease military actions, prevent tensions from further escalating and spreading, and avoid regional turbulence inflicting greater impacts on global economic development," Guo said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran to take 'three-step' scheme to promote de-escalation, political solution: Iranian envoy tells Global Times Global Times By Ding Yazhi, Dong Feng and Shen Sheng Published: Mar 10, 2026 04:05 PM The US-Israeli military strikes against Iran have entered the 11th day. Iranian Ambassador to China Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli on Monday briefed media on the country's current crisis and the direction of its foreign policy. In response to a question raised by the Global Times at the press conference on Monday, Fazli said that under the leadership of the new supreme leader, Iran advocates for following a "three-step" scheme proposed by senior Iranian officials in a phone call to promote the de-escalation and a political solution. Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Ali Khamenei, was selected as Iran's new supreme leader, Iran's Assembly of Experts announced on Sunday. At the press conference held on Monday at the embassy, Fazli, when addressing the Global Times reporter's question - under the leadership of the new Supreme Leader, will Iran continue to resolve the crisis through political and diplomatic means? - Fazli said that we advocate for following a three-step plan proposed by senior Iranian officials during a phone call to promote de-escalation and a political solution to the status quo. The first step is to end the war and achieve a ceasefire. The war should be stopped first by the initiating party. To this end, it is necessary to take action to force the US and Israel to immediately cease all military attacks. The second step is to return to the negotiating table, yet this step is difficult to achieve - almost impossible, "because we no longer trust the US," the ambassador said, adding that "unless major world powers and the UN Security Council could intervene in the negotiations and provide binding and inviolable guarantees to ensure that no further acts of aggression occur during the negotiations, and establish a lasting and reliable mechanism to safeguard the outcome of the negotiations." Third, all countries need to unite and cooperate to jointly resist unilateralism and promote the development of multilateralism. "Based on above principles being fully respected and implemented, we are willing to resume the relevant dialogue," Ambassador Fazli said. Chinese government's special envoy on the Middle East issue Zhai Jun on Sunday met with Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Monday. Zhai said China will further play a constructive role and work with the GCC and Gulf countries to actively promote peace, end hostilities and de-escalate tensions. Ambassador Fazli spoke highly of China's mediation efforts and expressed expectations for that. "We welcome any measures China takes that help end the war and prevent further aggression. As a major power, China wields significant influence in the region and the world. We believe and expect that through dialogue, China can encourage relevant parties to exercise restraint, which will play a crucial role in promoting a cease-fire and stopping aggression," Fazli told the Global Times. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM Netanyahu at the National Health Command Center Israel Prime Minister's Office Type: Events and Speeches Government: The 37th Government Publish Date: 10.03.2026 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the National Health Command Center: "Our aspiration is to enable the Iranian people to cast off the yoke of tyranny; ultimately, it is up to them. But there is no doubt that through the actions taken so far, we are breaking their bones and we are still active." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, yesterday evening, visited the National Health Command Center, together with Health Minister Haim Katz, as part of Operation Roaring Lion, and was briefed by Health Ministry Director-General Moshe Bar Siman Tov, on the healthcare system's activities during the campaign. The Prime Minister was presented with the operations of the Command Center, which manages hospital activities, medical staff availability, and equipment and medicine stocks in real-time, while maintaining full coordination with all security and emergency authorities. The briefing also covered the preparedness of hospitals that are operating in protected spaces, the expansion of casualty intake capacity, and the maintenance of continuity of care through HMOs and hospitals during the fighting. Efforts to protect the civilian home front were also presented, including medical and mental health responses for victims, assistance for evacuees, and medical services provided to the general public. Prime Minister Netanyahu: "Our aspiration is to enable the Iranian people to cast off the yoke of tyranny; ultimately, it is up to them. But there is no doubt that through the actions taken so far, we are breaking their bones and we are still active. If we succeed together with the Iranian people, we will bring about a permanent end to the extent that such things exist in the lives of nations. We will bring about change, and we are already bringing about a massive shift in Israel's international standing. A large part of this struggle is on the offensive side, but an enormous part is on the defensive side. The defensive side is, first and foremost, the will of the people and the strength of the citizens. The strength of the citizens is also the strength of those who care for them and that is you. The public's faith that they are being cared for is very high, and that is thanks to you." Health Minister Katz: "I thank the healthcare system employees for their amazing work and commitment to ensuring optimal service and maximum protection. The transition from routine to war footing was carried out within hours. The Ministry evaluates itself daily to understand what more must be done and how we can continue to improve and excel." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Telephone conversation with President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian March 10, 2026 18:55 Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian to continue their discussion of the situation in the Middle East in light of the United States and Israel's armed aggression against Iran. The President of Russia has reaffirmed his principled stance in favour of de-escalating the conflict as soon as possible and resolving it via political means. Masoud Pezeshkian expressed gratitude for the support provided by Russia, including in particular the humanitarian aid granted to Iran. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address IRGC announces launching multiple new waves of Operation True Promise 4 Iran Press TV Tuesday, 10 March 2026 11:52 PM The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has announced launching multiple new waves of its ongoing retaliatory Operation True Promise 4 against sensitive and strategic American and Zionist targets. In a statement on Tuesday, the Corps' Public Relations Office reported taking place of the "37th wave" of the operation. '3 hours of sustained strikes' The latest wave "was carried out over more than three hours, with continuous, multi-layered missile strikes, including the heaviest type of missiles," the Corps stated. During this phase, hostile targets in Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan, the US Navy's Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, and military centers in Be'er Ya'akov in the heart of Tel Aviv were struck, it said. It identified some other targets as a satellite communication center that was hit in southern Tel Aviv for the second time and the occupied port of Haifa. The targets were hit using the Kheibar Shekan, Qadr, and the "heavy and devastating" Khorramshahr missiles, the statement read. All of the projectiles were carrying multiple warheads, with the Qadr variant carrying warheads weighing "one ton." True Promise 4 was launched late last month momentarily after the United States and the Israeli regime began their latest bout of unprovoked aggression against the Iranian soil. It has featured the Corps' deploying hundreds of missiles, including ballistic and hypersonic variants, and attack drones against numerous American and Israeli targets throughout the region. Among others, prominent targets have included hostile objects in 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. Earlier on Tuesday, the Corps announced staging the 36th wave of the operation, striking locations in the occupied territories and bases of the US "terrorist army," using a combination of Qadr, Emad, and Kheibar Shekan missiles and loitering attack drones. Prior to that, the IRGC reported taking place of the 35th wave of the reprisal "with the launch of strategic Fattah, Emad, Kheibar, and Qadr missiles" against targets in Tel Aviv, Beit Shemesh in al-Quds, and American bases. 'We think only of enemy's complete surrender' The IRGC, meanwhile, vowed to keep up the retaliation until "the shadow of war is lifted from the country." "We continue our strikes purposefully and powerfully, and think only of the complete surrender of the enemy." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pakistan felicitates Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei on election as Iran's new Leader Iran Press TV Tuesday, 10 March 2026 10:41 PM Pakistan's prime minister has congratulated Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei on his election as Iran's new Leader, voicing confidence in his abilities to successfully guide the Islamic Republic towards further progress. "I congratulate His Eminence Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei on his assumption of the responsibilities of Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran," Shehbaz Sharif wrote in a post on X on Tuesday. "I also reiterate deepest condolences and prayers on behalf of the people of Pakistan on the martyrdom of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other family members," the premier added. "I am confident that the new Supreme Leader would guide Iran towards peace, stability, and prosperity, in the years ahead." The post came after Iran's 88-member Assembly of Experts featuring most prominent clerics elected Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei as successor to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, who was martyred during fresh American-Israeli aggression towards the Islamic Republic late last month. The election has been ensued by waves of congratulatory messages on the part of world leaders, including those of Russia, China, Tajikistan, and Iraq. Regional resistance movements, including those hailing from Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq, and Yemen, have also rejoiced over the development, while stressing the need for preservation of unity within the global Muslim community in the face of hostile maneuvering. Ayatollah Khamenei's martyrdom took place while the Leader was attending his office in Tehran, despite widespread Western and Israeli media campaigns alleging that the Leader had sought to hide for fear of potential enemy aggression. Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei's election has, meanwhile, been viewed by observers as yet another token of the Islamic Republic's historical defiance in the face of adversarial efforts aimed at trying to force the country's decisions and sabotage its sustained efforts at guarding its independence. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address FM: Trump's claim that US averted 'preemptive' Iranian strike 'utter lie' Iran Press TV Tuesday, 10 March 2026 10:11 PM Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi categorically dismisses US President Donald Trump's claim that the United States averted a pending Iranian strike by launching fresh aggression against the Islamic Republic. The top diplomat made the remarks on X on Tuesday after Trump made the claim to try to justify the aggression that Washington began against the Iranian soil alongside the Israeli regime late last month. "The claim that Iran was planning on attacking the US or US Forces, whether preventively or preemptively, is a sheer and utter lie," Araghchi wrote. "The sole purpose of that lie is to justify Operation Epic Mistake, a misadventure engineered by Israel and paid for by ordinary Americans," he added, referring to "Operation Epic Fury," Washington's so-called codename for its attacks. Iranian officials have verified hundreds of casualties among American forces after the Islamic Republic retaliated momentarily following the launch of the aggression by firing daring volleys of ballistic missiles and drones towards American targets throughout the region. Also on Tuesday, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said the retaliation has been followed by US troops' being rendered displaced in cities across the region as they continue to flee Iran's counteroffensive. The aggression was preceded by feverish lobbying on the part of the Israeli regime, which saw prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu even bringing forward a trip to Washington amid widespread reports of his trying to push Trump into waging the attacks. The Islamic Republic has vowed to sustain the reprisal, which has also successfully struck numerous sensitive and strategic Israeli targets throughout the region, until the allies keep up their atrocities. The developments came as Trump is reportedly being pushed to come up with an exit plan as the aggression has incurred Washington billions of dollars in avoidable costs, besides resulting in the casualties. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran's military announces major retaliatory strikes on Israeli energy facilities Iran Press TV Tuesday, 10 March 2026 6:33 PM Iran's Air Force conducted drone strikes against critical energy facilities in the northern port city of Haifa in response to recent Israeli bombardment of Iranian oil depots. "The brave men of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force, in response to the aggression against Iran's oil depots, targeted the oil refinery, gas refinery, and fuel storage facilities of the Zionist regime in Haifa," the spokesman for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said in a statement on Tuesday. The strike represents a significant shift toward targeting energy infrastructure, following what analysts describe as "Phase II" of the US-Israeli war on March 7, which expanded target lists to include Iranian energy infrastructure. The Haifa refinery, with a capacity of 197,000 barrels per day, had reportedly preemptively shut down several units last week as a precautionary measure. The military statement further revealed that the 33rd wave of Operation True Promise 4 successfully destroyed the "Haula" satellite communications center south of Tel Aviv. "This center was one of the main communication hubs between air bases and the Zionist regime's fighter jets," the spokesman said. "The Aerospace Force's explosive drones, during a special operation, struck and destroyed this center." Missile strike on US base In a separate operation Tuesday, the statement announced the IRGC Ground Forces had targeted the US military presence at Harir Air Base in Iraq's Kurdistan region. "The base of the aggressor US army in Al-Harir Air Base in the Kurdistan region was targeted with five missiles," the statement said. The Iranian military also reported extensive air defense operations across multiple provinces, successfully intercepting and destroying several advanced reconnaissance drones. Among them was two Hermes-900 drones in Lorestan and Qom provinces, shot down by the Army's Air Defense Force. Iranian air defenses have shot down over 80 drones of various types, including US MQ-9s and multiple Israeli models. The Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters spokesman said, "The battle with the criminals of America and the child-killing Zionist regime continues until the final victory of the right front against falsehood." The operations mark a significant escalation in the ongoing war that began on February 28 when the US and Israel launched unprovoked attacks on Iranian territory. The US-Israeli aggression has damaged or destroyed around 13,000 civilian units so far, according to official figures. 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. 10 Iran Press TV Tuesday, 10 March 2026 5:53 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 Tuesday, March 10, 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 on February 28. Iranian armed forces have so far carried out 34 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 the enemy. Hezbollah's operations have been primarily focused on Israeli military sites in the occupied territories. Its 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. Iraqi resistance groups have also been carrying out daily operations, primarily against American military assets in Iraq and other Arab countries. 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 Tuesday, March 10: Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC): The headquarters of the American army at the Harir base in the Kordestan region of Iraq was targeted with five missiles by the missile forces of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Force. Another Heron TP drone was intercepted and destroyed in the vicinity of Tehran by the IRGC's advanced modern air defense systems, under the control of the country's integrated air defense network. The 33rd wave of Operation True Promise 4, codenamed "Labbaik Ya Khamenei," was carried out against the targets of the American-Zionist enemy. In this wave, a barrage of Kheibar Shekan solid-fuel missiles with one-ton warheads was used, and Tel Aviv was hit by more than 10 Kheibar Shekan missiles. In continuation of this operation, the Fifth Base of the US naval forces in Bahrain was targeted, and all pinpoint Kheibar Shekan missiles struck their designated targets. IRGC announced the destruction of 10 ultra-advanced radar systems of the United States in various parts of the region. A significant number of expensive drones were also destroyed in this operation. A hostile Hermes 900 drone of the Zionist regime was targeted by the IRGC air defense in Borujerd county of Lorestan province in southern Iran. The headquarters of the American army at the Harir base in the Kurdistan Region was targeted with five missiles by the missile unit of the IRGC Ground Force. One more Heron TP drone was tracked and destroyed in the vicinity of Tehran by modern advanced defense systems of the IRGC under the control of the country's integrated air defense network. The 34th wave of Operation True Promise 4 was carried out under the holy code "Ya Ali ibn Abi Talib against the bases and military and logistical support centers of the US and the Zionist regime, using pinpoint missiles with warheads weighing over one ton. The firing of a targeted system of powerful and strategic "Qadr," "Emad," and "Fattah" missiles and the "Kheibar" hypersonic missile in the 34th wave of Operation True Promise 4, with the blessed code name "Ya Ali ibn Abi Talib," has entered the battlefield with the American and zionist aggressors into a new phase. The gathering place of US soldiers at two bases, "Al-Dhafra" and "Al-Jafir," was targeted by the firing of IRGC aerospace missiles and the vanguard of attack drones. Military bases located in the north of the occupied Palestinian territories, especially the "Ramat David" airbase, the airport in "Haifa," and the hidden missile launchers of the Zionist army in "Bnei Brak" east of "Tel Aviv," were hit by powerful Iranian missiles. The 35th wave of Operation True Promise 4 was launched on the night of the martyrdom of Imam Ali with the blessed code name "Ya Haidar al-Karrar". The operation was carried out by firing strategic Fattah, Emad, Kheibar, and Qadr missiles toward targets in "Tel Aviv", "Beit Shemesh" in the occupied territories and bases of the Americans in the region. An armed Hermes 900 drone was intercepted and destroyed in Ilam by the IRGC's new, advanced defense systems under the control of the country's integrated air defense network. Iranian Army: The Iranian Army's Ground Force targeted and downed an Israeli drone in the area of Parandak, Tehran. The oil and gas refinery and fuel depots in Haifa were targeted by the Iranian Army's Air Force drones, making a direct impact. Two more Hermes 900 drones of the Zionist regime were targeted and shot down by the air defense systems of the Army Air Defense Force in Lorestan and Qom provinces. A military center in Haifa and a center for receiving information from the Ofek spy satellites were targeted by the Army Ground Force's suicide drones. Hezbollah: In response to the Israeli aggression that affected dozens of Lebanese cities and towns, including the southern suburb of Beirut, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the Tziporit base east of the city of Haifa, which is 35 km away from the Lebanese-Palestinian border, with a squadron of attack drones for the first time. In response to Israeli aggression that affected dozens of Lebanese cities and towns, including the southern suburb of Beirut, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli regime soldiers in the Al-Khanouq area of the village of Aitaroun with artillery shells. In response to the Israeli aggression that affected dozens of Lebanese cities and towns, and the southern suburb of Beirut, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of the regime forces at the Kahil Heights on the eastern outskirts of the border town of Maroun al-Ras with a rocket barrage. In response to the Israeli aggression that affected dozens of Lebanese cities and towns, including the southern suburb of Beirut, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted an artillery position near the Al-Marj site opposite the border town of Markaba with a rocket barrage. In response to the Israeli aggression that affected dozens of Lebanese cities and towns, including the southern suburb of Beirut, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of regime soldiers and vehicles at the newly established site in the town of Markaba with a missile barrage. In response to the Israeli aggression that affected dozens of Lebanese cities and towns, including the southern suburb of Beirut, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the Givat drone control base east of the occupied city of "Safad." In response to the Israeli aggression that affected dozens of Lebanese cities and towns, including the southern suburb of Beirut, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Yiftah" barracks with a rocket barrage. Hezbollah fighters confronted an advancement attempt carried out by the Israeli army forces at the southern outskirts of the city of Khiam, in the vicinity of the detention center. In response to the Israeli aggression that affected dozens of Lebanese cities and towns, including the southern suburb of Beirut, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of regime soldiers at the "Al-Malikiyah" site opposite the border town of Aitaroun with a missile barrage. In response to the Israeli aggression that affected dozens of Lebanese cities and towns, including the southern suburb of Beirut, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the newly established site in Jabal Al-Bat in the border town of Aitaroun with a missile barrage. In response to the Israeli aggression that affected dozens of Lebanese cities and towns, including the southern suburb of Beirut, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the artillery position in the vicinity of the Al-Abbad site with a rocket barrage. In response to the Israeli aggression that affected dozens of Lebanese cities and towns, including the southern suburb of Beirut, and after monitoring a force from the regime army attempting to infiltrate towards the border town of Houla, the fighters of the Islamic Resistance targeted them at the Al-Abbad site and its surroundings with a rocket barrage. In response to the Israeli aggression that targeted dozens of Lebanese cities and towns and the southern suburb of Beirut, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the newly established site in the Al-Hamames hill south of the city of Al-Khiam with a rocket salvo. In response to the Israeli aggression that struck dozens of Lebanese cities and towns, as well as the southern suburb of Beirut, and within the framework of the warning issued by the Islamic Resistance to a number of settlements in northern occupied Palestine, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the Misgav Am settlement with a rocket barrage. In response to the Israeli aggression that struck dozens of Lebanese cities and towns, as well as the southern suburb of Beirut, and within the framework of the warning issued by the Islamic Resistance to a number of settlements in northern occupied Palestine, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the Metula settlement with a rocket barrage. In response to the Israeli aggression that affected dozens of Lebanese cities and towns, and the southern suburb of Beirut, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers at the newly established Al-Hamames site south of the city of Khiam. 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 and soldiers of the Israeli army in Khallet al-Mahafir on the outskirts of the town of Odeissah with a rocket barrage. In response to the Israeli aggression that affected dozens of Lebanese cities and towns, including the southern suburb of Beirut, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Mishmar HaCarmel" missile defense site belonging to the Israeli army south of the occupied city of Haifa with a rocket salvo. Islamic Resistance of Iraq: To avenge the blood of our martyred Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, in response to our religious duty, and in response to the Zionist-American aggression, our brave men targeted a position of the Zionist-American enemy in Erbil with a drone, which hit its target directly. The Saraya Awliya al-Dam group, one of the Iraqi resistance factions, targeted Victoria Base, belonging to American terrorist forces at Baghdad Airport, with a drone. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran's response to US-Israeli attacks will be 'eye for an eye': Qalibaf Iran Press TV Tuesday, 10 March 2026 5:36 PM Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf warned that if the United States or Israel target Iranian infrastructure, Iran will not hesitate to retaliate by striking key US and Israeli infrastructure across the region. In a post on his X account on Tuesday, Qalibaf warned that threats by the US and Israel to attack Iran's energy and service infrastructure, aimed at paralyzing daily life in the country, will not go unanswered. "Today, our verdict is the rule of 'an eye for an eye', straightforward, without exception... If they start a war on infrastructure, we will undoubtedly target theirs," he said in the Persian-language post. "The enemy should know that whatever they do, it will undoubtedly face a proportional and immediate response; no act of aggression will go unanswered," Qalibaf, a former top military commander, added. The warning comes amid reports that the US and Israel may decide to bomb major power plants and oil and gas production facilities in Iran, aiming to disrupt the daily lives of Iranians, escalate their ongoing aggression, and foment unrest within the country. Iran has made it clear that such an attack would cross all red lines and will be met with a harsh response. Iran's retaliatory strikes on US assets in the Persian Gulf countries have already led to restrictions on the production and transportation of oil and natural gas through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway responsible for a significant portion of global energy demand. This has fueled a surge in global energy and commodity prices, sending shockwaves through the world economy. However, Iranian authorities have indicated that more extensive retaliatory attacks could disrupt operations at regional oil and gas production facilities, as well as water desalination plants, potentially causing a complete shutdown of energy production and bringing daily life to a standstill across the region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US forces using civilians as 'human shields' across region: Iran military spokesman Iran Press TV Tuesday, 10 March 2026 5:25 PM A senior spokesman for Iran's Armed Forces says the United States is deliberately using civilian populations in neighboring countries as human shields to protect American troops and military equipment from Iranian retaliatory strikes. Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi, in a statement released on Tuesday, described US President Donald Trump as a "delusional" leader who launched a "savage aggression" against Iran under the false pretext of defending its people, while in reality acting to preserve the "child-killing Zionist regime." "Trump, when he found his army trapped against the powerful Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic, to compensate for his defeat, bombed the very people under the slogan of whose defense he had started the war, targeting innocent men, women, and children," he said. The spokesman said that after the US military became "trapped" in the face of Iran's powerful and determined armed forces, American commanders, unable to ensure even their own security, evacuated bases and relocated troops and heavy weaponry into hotels, residential areas, and populated zones in several regional countries. General Shekarchi said the Iranian nation and its Armed Forces have shattered "Trump's arrogance and the hollow power of the trapped army," proving once again that the presence of "criminal America" in West Asia is the root cause of all regional insecurity and instability. "This fake army cannot even ensure its own security, so some American commanders and soldiers, after fleeing the quagmire of death against the powerful onslaught of the Armed Forces, use the people of the region's countries as human shields," he said. Dozens of Iranian precision missile and drone operations have repeatedly targeted US military installations across the region in lawful self-defense in the wake of the aggression that began with the assassination of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. Media reports say American forces have relocated to hotels and residential neighborhoods in the Persian Gulf states to avoid Iranian retaliation. Iran says it harbors no enmity toward the peoples or governments of neighboring states and has only struck military targets that have been used to launch attacks against Iranian territory. Several Persian Gulf Arab states hosting US forces have previously denied allowing their territory to be used for offensive operations against Iran, though American command-and-control infrastructure remains present in the region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address IRGC warns 'security in region either for all or for none' Iran Press TV Tuesday, 10 March 2026 4:22 PM Iranian armed forces have launched a new wave of large-scale drone and missile attacks on targets in Israeli-occupied territories and US assets in regional countries, as the US-Israeli aggression on Iran enters its second week. The country's armed forces launched the 34th wave of attacks under Operation True Promise 4 on Tuesday, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said in a statement. The IRGC warned that the security and stability in West Asia "is either for everyone or for no one." "The coordinated launch of powerful and strategic missiles, including the Qadr, Emad, and Fattah series, alongside the Khyber hypersonic missile has propelled the battlefield against US and Israeli aggressors into a new phase," the statement added. It said Iran's Aerospace Force missiles, preceded by a vanguard of offensive drones, effectively targeted American forces at the al-Dhafra and al-Jafir bases in the UAE and Jordan respectively. "Military bases in the northern occupied territories, specifically the Ramat David Airbase, the airport in Haifa, and the Israeli military's missile launchers, were struck by powerful Iranian missiles," the statement noted. The IRGC reiterated that "the unconventional, illegitimate, and illegal attempts by US-Israeli aggressors to attack Iran's infrastructure and massacre civilians will not go unanswered." It also reassured that Iran's list of potential targets for striking US and Israeli military assets and infrastructure in the region "is ten times larger than the targets available to the weakened enemies." Iranian armed forces have been carrying out retaliatory attacks on US military assets in regional countries and on targets in the Israeli-occupied territories since the US and Israel started an unprovoked war of aggression against Iran on February 28. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Two Israeli gas fields shut down following Iranian missile threats Iran Press TV Tuesday, 10 March 2026 4:03 PM Reports from Israeli media indicate that operations at two major Israeli gas fields in the eastern Mediterranean have been suspended due to security concerns related to potential Iranian missile and drone threats. According to the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth and Channel 12 News, activities at the Leviathan gas field and the Karish gas field have been completely suspended. The reports state that the threat from Iranian missiles and drones, which has heightened security risks across the region's airspace, forced the companies to evacuate personnel and stop drilling and extraction operations. The Leviathan field, discovered in 2010 about 130 kilometers west of the Israeli-occupied port city of Haifa, is the largest gas field in the eastern Mediterranean. Its reserves are estimated at roughly 535 billion cubic meters of natural gas. Economic analysts cited by Yedioth Ahronoth warned that if the shutdown continues for an extended period, it could lead to power outages in major Israeli cities, suspension of energy-intensive industries, and a sharp decline in gas exports to Jordan and Egypt. Jordan, which relies on Israeli gas imports to generate about 80 percent of its electricity, could face a significant energy crisis if the disruption persists. The Israeli regime and the United States began a new bout of unprovoked aggression towards the Islamic Republic on February 28. Iran's Armed Forces launched massive retaliatory strikes shortly afterwards, targeting sensitive and strategic American and Israeli targets throughout the region. Among others, prominent targets have featured hostile objects in Tel Aviv, occupied al-Quds, and the occupied city of Be'er Sheva, which serves as the Israeli regime's technology hub, as well as US military assets in the region, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and an American destroyer in the Indian Ocean. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'Significant portion' of US-Israeli radar capabilities destroyed: Iran's Army Iran Press TV Tuesday, 10 March 2026 3:27 PM Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) have successfully neutralized a major part of the US-Israeli radar capabilities, making Israeli military sites more vulnerable to precision strikes, says a military spokesman. Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia of the Iranian Army said on Tuesday that the destruction of these surveillance systems has allowed advanced Iranian drones to penetrate air defenses more easily than in the past. "The Army's indigenous and advanced drones, relying on modern technology and updated guidance systems, have performed effectively in destroying enemy positions," General Akraminia said. He said the Army and IRGC are now hitting enemy targets with "higher precision" due to the degradation of their early-warning systems. According to intelligence assessments published by Iranian media outlets, approximately half of the radar systems used by US and Israeli forces in the region have been destroyed. The remaining half are reportedly suffering from severe interference and operational weaknesses. The reports, quoting military sources, also suggest that the enemy is facing a critical shortage of munitions, having consumed 75% of their available stockpiles. In response to the air defense vacuum, reports indicate the United States has begun transferring missile defense equipment from East Asia to the Middle East to compensate for the losses. General Akraminia, in his remarks, also condemned the use of Iraqi airspace by American-Zionist forces. He said despite objections from the Iraqi government, these forces continue to utilize the neighboring country's skies to conduct aggression against Iran in violation of international law. "The Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran will respond to any aggression or threat proportionately, quickly, and decisively," the spokesman said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address World cannot remain silent as US and Israel attack 'heritage of humankind': Iran Iran Press TV Tuesday, 10 March 2026 1:56 PM Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman has condemned an attack by the United States and Israel on a historic site of Isfahan, saying the strike constitutes a crime against cultural heritage. In a message posted on the social media platform X on Tuesday, Esmaeil Baghaei said the attack caused serious damage to the historic Chehel Sotoun Palace, a renowned museum-palace located near the famous Naqsh-e Jahan Square. "After hitting Golestan Palace in Tehran, the US and Israel damaged another cultural heritage site of outstanding universal significance in the city of Isfahan: Chehel Sotoun Palace, a @UNESCO World Heritage site within Naqsh-e Jahan Square," he wrote. Baghaei described Chehel Sotoun as a masterpiece of the Safavid era, emphasizing that the site is not only part of Iran's cultural and civilizational heritage but also a cultural treasure belonging to all humanity. He said the US and Israel were deliberately targeting the historic heart of Isfahan, damaging Chehel Sotoun and putting invaluable historical artifacts of Iran's civilization at risk. "The world cannot remain silent while the aggressors' brutal crimes threaten the shared heritage of humankind." The remarks come as the US-Israeli aggression against Iran, which started on February 28, has damaged some historical sites in the country, including those inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Tehran's Golestan Palace was severely damaged as a result of rockets and an explosion wave in Arg Square in the buffer zone. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'Be careful': Iran's top security official dismisses Trump's threats on Strait of Hormuz Iran Press TV Tuesday, 10 March 2026 1:51 PM The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, has issued a sharp rebuke to US President Donald Trump, warning the American leader to "be careful" after he threatened a massive military strike that would cause total national destruction. Larijani dismissed Washington's threats as "hollow" and invoked Iran's historical and religious identity. "The Ashura-centered nation of Iran does not fear your hollow threats," Larijani stated, referring to the Shia Muslim tradition of martyrdom and resistance. "Those even greater than you were unable to eliminate the Iranian nation. Be careful about yourself, so that you are not the one who is eliminated!" In another post, Larijani said the Strait of Hormuz will either be a strait of peace and prosperity for all or a strait of defeat and suffering for "warmongers". Larijani's comments came shortly after Trump issued a threat regarding the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz. "If Iran does anything that stops the flow of oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far," Trump wrote. He further threatened to strike "easily destroyable targets" that would make it "virtually impossible for Iran to ever be built back, as a Nation, again." The US president warned that "Death, Fire, and Fury will reign upon them." The vital oil transit route has been all-but shut following US and Israeli attacks on Iran. Before the US and Israeli attacks, about 20% of the world's petroleum consumption and roughly one-fifth of the world's liquefied natural gas passed through the strait of Hormuz each day. Iran says it has not shut the strait but the area is unsafe for ships amid the US-Israeli aggression against the country. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Qalibaf: Iran 'definitely not' seeking ceasefire, retaliatory ops. to continue Iran Press TV Tuesday, 10 March 2026 11:18 AM The Iranian Parliament speaker says the Islamic Republic is definitely not seeking a ceasefire and will continue its retaliatory missile and drone strikes against US interests in the region and Israeli assets in the occupied lands to punish the aggressors. "We are certainly not looking for a ceasefire, and we believe a sharp blow must be delivered to aggressors, so they would draw a lesson and would never think of launching aggression against Iran again," Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf wrote in a post published on his official X account on Tuesday. He added that the Israeli regime sees its "shameful" existence in the continuation of "war-negotiations-ceasefire and once again war" cycle to assert its dominance, stressing that Iran will break off such a cycle. The remarks came a day after Qalibaf warned the US that Iran will respond "recklessly" to any attack on its population centers. The top Iranian legislator said US President Donald Trump has explicitly threatened to target civilian populations in Iran, adding, "This is an official admission by the terrorist government of the United States." "Killing people and attacking population centers will have uncontrollable consequences; we will respond recklessly and mercilessly." He warned that the expansion of the war into targeting infrastructure will have long-term extensive economic repercussions, particularly for the oil market. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran views any US ground, air assault as opportunity to 'kill or capture' forces: Source Iran Press TV Tuesday, 10 March 2026 9:48 AM Iranian security forces are fully ready to confront any potential American sabotage operations, a highly placed security source told Press TV on Tuesday. Reacting to the claims made by some American and Israeli sources about an air assault and ground incursion into certain sensitive areas and Iran's nuclear capabilities, the source said the Iranian security forces are ready for any eventuality. The source asserted that this "window of opportunity" will be very suitable for the Iranian forces to "either kill a number of them or take them prisoners." "We have been preparing ourselves for such a day for 20 years. Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, and some other places have been good exercises on the ground for facing such an enemy," he said in a conversation with Press TV. The source further stated that the Americans would do better to pay more attention to the bitter experiences of the past and the deadly dangers that await them. Trump administration officials have been toying with the idea of sending ground troops into Iran as the Israeli-American war against the country intensifies. "[It would] have to be [for] 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," US President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Saturday. In a report on Sunday, Bloomberg said US President Donald Trump is considering the deployment of special forces to seize Iran's near-bomb-grade uranium stockpile. CNN reported that such an escalation would place a significant number of troops in harm's way as part of a complex mission to secure or render safe tons of highly radioactive material. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in remarks on Sunday, warned that Tehran is fully capable of defending itself against a potential US ground incursion. "For the time being, we are capable enough. We have very brave soldiers, who are waiting for any enemy who enters our soil to fight with them, and to kill them and destroy them," Araghchi told NBC in an interview. The Israeli-American war of aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran entered its 11th day on Tuesday, amid indications that Washington and Tel Aviv are seeking an exit strategy. Iranian armed forces have conducted 34 waves of retaliatory strikes against targets in the occupied territories and US military installations across the region, deploying advanced missiles and drones that have inflicted high costs on the enemy. Iranian officials have vowed to continue operations until the aggressor is punished. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran carries out fresh wave of missile strikes as 9 million settlers slip into shelters Iran Press TV Tuesday, 10 March 2026 9:15 AM Iran's Army has announced a new round of retaliatory strikes against targets in the Israeli-occupied territories as Israeli media report the blaring of sirens in the city of Tel Aviv and its surroundings. The Islamic Republic's Army issued a statement on Tuesday, announcing targeting of oil and gas refineries as well as fuel storage tanks in the occupied port of Haifa. The reprisal, the statement noted, took place using attack drones deployed by the country's Air Force. The retaliation came in response to "the attack on Iran's oil depots," it read. "The battle against the criminal United States and the child-killing Zionist regime will continue until the final victory of the front of truth over falsehood." Meanwhile, the Israeli regime's "home front" provided the information on Tuesday, saying the latest reprisal has also featured missile launches. It also reported that sirens had also gone off throughout illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank after "spotting" of incoming Iranian missiles. The forces said the regime's missile systems were trying to intercept the projectiles. Reports also pointed to going off of sirens elsewhere in the occupied territories, including the holy occupied city of al-Quds and as many as "263 other spots." The situation has prompted more than nine million illegal settlers to seek shelter, they added. Since late last month, the Israeli regime and the United States have begun a new bout of unprovoked aggression towards the Islamic Republic. Iran's Armed Forces began dozens of rounds of reprisal momentarily afterwards, targeting sensitive and strategic American and Israeli targets throughout the region. 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 Iran: Strikes on US bases 'legitimate self-defense'; Tehran committed to friendly regional ties Iran Press TV Tuesday, 10 March 2026 8:00 AM Iran's permanent mission to the United Nations has written to the world body, describing the Islamic Republic's retaliatory strikes against American bases throughout the region as legitimate acts of self-defense permitted under international law. The mission made the remarks in three separate letters addressed to the UN secretary-general and dated Monday in response to complaints submitted by Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain regarding the retaliatory attacks. Addressing Antonio Guterres, Iran's UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said the unprovoked US-Israeli aggression against Iran has warranted the retaliation. The aggression, the envoy noted, was taking place "in violation of the jus cogens (legally compelling) character of 'prohibition of aggression.'" According to the letters, the attacks have involved the "cowardly" assassination of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei as the "highest official of the state and a number of other senior officials of my country," along with simultaneous strikes against civilian infrastructure. The ambassador wrote that the attacks have targeted "civilian objects, including schools, hospitals, sport facilities, residential homes, and public service centers." Iravani noted that the attacks had so far resulted in "the martyrdom of more than 1,300 civilians, and destruction of 9,669 civilian objects, including 7,943 residential homes, 1,617 commercial and service centers, 35 hospitals, pharmaceutical and medical centers, nine Red Crescent buildings, and 63 schools." The aggressors have also used the territories and facilities of certain third states, including Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait to launch unlawful military attacks, he stated. In the letters, the official cited the principle of "sic utere tuo ut alienum non laedas (use your own property in such a manner as not to injure that of another)," arguing that states were prohibited from allowing their respective territories to be used in ways that harm other states. The envoy also referred to Article 3(f) of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3314 (1974), which categorizes "the action of a state in allowing its territory, which it has placed at the disposal of another State, to be used by that state for perpetrating an act of aggression against a third state" as an act of aggression. He stressed that the Persian Gulf trio's having permitted their soils to serve as launch pads for American assaults against the Iranian soil bears international legal responsibility, asserting that Iran's counterstrikes were, therefore, carried out under the right of self-defense. "The Islamic Republic of Iran in exercising its inherent right under article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and in light of the failure of the United Nations Security Council to discharge its duties and responsibilities under the Charter of the United Nations, has undertaken necessary and proportionate defensive operations against the bases and facilities of the aggressors in the region," the letters state. He added that the measures "are lawful under international law and have been clearly and repeatedly warned of in advance through various channels and at different levels." Message to regional states However, Iravani stated, the Islamic Republic still seeks to maintain normal relations with regional states. Tehran seeks for such ties to be based on "mutual respect, the principle of good-neighborliness, and respect for each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity," he added. The counteroffensive against the American interests were, accordingly, "in no way against the sovereignty and territorial integrity" of the states hosting those interests, the ambassador concluded. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump's aides urging him in private to devise exit plan from Iran war Iran Press TV Tuesday, 10 March 2026 7:19 AM A number of US President Donald Trump's advisers are privately calling on him to publicly express an exit plan from the large-scale and unprovoked military aggression that it is waging alongside Israel against Iran. The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter, reported that the advisers want him to assert that Washington has achieved much of its objectives in the Iran war. The report added that some of Trump's aides have also cautioned him that a prolonged military confrontation will erode his support even if Republicans largely support his anti-Iran strikes for the time being. The WSJ noted that the concerned advisers have fielded calls from Republicans who have expressed dismay about the fallout of the unlawful attacks for the forthcoming midterm elections. The American daily highlighted that the advisers determined that they required a more ambitious and aggressive public messaging plan to rally support amid surging gas prices at pumping stations. According to public opinion polls, a majority of Americans oppose the Iran war, with responses largely falling along party lines. The United States and Israel launched a war of aggression against Iran on February 28, assassinating Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and high-ranking military commanders, amid indirect Tehran-Washington negotiations on Iran's peaceful nuclear program. Iranian Armed Forces, within the framework of their legitimate response, immediately launched forceful missile and drone strikes against US interests in the region and Israeli assets in the occupied territories. Following the martyrdom of Ayatollah Khamenei who led Iran for 37 years since the 1989 demise of the founder of the Islamic Republic Imam Khomeini, the Assembly of Experts elected his son, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, as the third Leader of the Islamic Revolution. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran Deploys 'Blue Shields' Amid US-Israeli Strikes A symbol with its origins in a 1954 convention on protecting cultural sites during war has been spotted on the rooftops of buildings in Iran. By Amos Chapple March 10, 2026 A series of blue-and-white shields unfurled atop buildings throughout Iran are intended as a message to American and Israeli targeteers. Photos of the symbol placed on rooftops and alongside heritage sites were circulated by Iranian state media on March 10 along with reports that "more than 120 museums and several historic buildings" throughout Iran have been marked with the emblem. Officially known as the Blue Shield, Iran's cultural heritage chief Mohsen Tousi told Iranian media the symbol had been deployed "to safeguard valuable cultural and historical assets." The blue shield emblem was created during the 1954 Hague Convention to protect cultural property during conflicts. The symbol is intended to indicate a heritage object in the same way the red cross symbol indicates a humanitarian facility. The shield symbol never gained the ubiquity of the red cross, but in 1996 the Blue Shield organization was founded to champion the ideals of wartime heritage preservation symbolized by the 1954 emblem. Peter Stone is the President of the Blue Shield organization. He told RFE/RL seeing the symbol being used in Iran is "very positive" but pointed out that his organization has no control over use of the emblem. Additionally, there is no mechanism in place to verify whether legitimate Iranian military targets are being marked with the symbol. "In modern warfare, it is realistically a fairly pointless exercise to put a big emblem on the roof of a museum," Stone says, adding that many modern militaries have their own secret "no strike" lists. However, he says, such clear marking of heritage sites, "does add an additional layer of responsibility on anybody attacking to take that emblem and its protection seriously." If deployed on a legitimate cultural site without any military use, the British heritage expert says the emblem potentially has some legal weight given its "protection comes through the [1954 Hague convention]" which both Israel and the US ratified. In previous conflicts, including during the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, the blue shield emblem was used, often with rooftop paintings large enough to be visible to aviation and drone pilots. Some buildings featuring the emblem were damaged in the conflict, while others were not. Stone says has been impossible to know the real world impact of the emblem since decision making over targeting takes place behind a wall of military secrecy. Post-conflict, Stone says, fair use of the shield symbol can add "an additional piece of ammunition to the potential prosecution of people who do attack without any military necessity." Stone admits the concept of international law that the blue shield is based on is in a flimsy state today, but he says, "we have to keep it going," if not he says, "nobody will be held to account." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-israel-us-blue- shield-heritage-protection-photos/33700690.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 White House Says Trump Will Determine When Iran Has Surrendered By RFE/RL's Radio Farda March 10, 2026 US President Donald Trump will determine what constitutes "unconditional surrender" by Iran in the face of US-Israeli bombardment, the White House said on March 10, amid questions about how long the war may last. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt's comments came on what US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned would be the "most intense day of strikes inside Iran," and in the wake of a statement by Trump that the campaign would end "very soon." "Ultimately, the operations will end when the commander-in-chief determines the military objectives have been met, fully realized, and that Iran is in [a position of] complete and unconditional surrender - whether they say it or not," Leavitt told reporters. On March 7, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that there would be "will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!" Trump is "not claiming that the Iranian regime is going to come out and say it themselves," Leavitt said, adding that he "will determine when Iran is in a place of unconditional surrender when they no longer pose a direct and credible threat to the United States and our allies." At a new conference and in interviews with multiple media outlets on March 9, Trump made several remarks that suggested the war could end soon. The comments eased concerns on financial markets, partially reversing a steep drop in share prices the previous day and pushing the price of oil down after a sharp rise. Uncertainty persisted, however, and Hegseth telegraphed a day of heavy strikes on March 10. He said the objective is to destroy Iranian missiles and its military production capabilities, as well as to destroy Iran's navy. Reports on social media described attacks early on March 10 as more intense and broader in scope than previous attacks, with explosions reported in cities including Tehran, Karaj, Isfahan, Zanjan, Tabriz, Arak, Shahinshahr, Bushehr, Bandar Lengeh, and Qeshm. Daily US and Israeli air strikes against Iran began on February 28, with Tehran responding by spraying drones and ballistic missiles around the Gulf region, sparking concerns about a broader war breaking out and driving the global price of oil through the key $100 a barrel level. At a March 10 news conference, Hegseth said Iran's retaliatory strikes are waning, and General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the Pentagon was looking at a range of options if it is tasked with escorting ships through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively shut by the conflict. The shipping lane is a chokepoint for global oil and liquefied natural gas transport. The war has forced oil and gas producers to halt shipping for more than a week, and Tehran has said no Gulf oil will pass through the waterway. On March 10, Trump warned in a social media post that if Iran has placed any mines in the Strait of Hormuz "and they are not removed forthwith, the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before." "If Iran does anything that stops the flow of Oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far," Trump said in a separate post. Caine said the United States has carried out strikes against more than 5,000 targets in the first 10 days of the campaign, including against more than 50 naval ships. "They're [Iranians] fighting, and I respect that, but I don't think they're more formidable than what we thought," Caine said. At least 1,700 people -- including military members -- have died in Iran, according to the HRANA human rights group, since joint US-Israeli strikes began on February 28. Along with the length of the campaign, another question is whether the US and Israel will take action against Mojtaba Khamenei, whom Iranian clerics chose to replace his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in strikes on the first day of the operation, as supreme leader. Trump had called for a US say in the selection of a new leader, dismissed Mojtaba Khamenei as "unacceptable" for the role, and on March 9 called his selection "a big mistake." He did not say what the US and Israel might do about it and declined to answer when asked if the new leader had "a target on his back." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/hegseth-strikes-iran- israel-war-trump/33700629.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 If Russia Wants To Stay On Washington's Good Side, Why Help Iran Target US Forces? By Mike Eckel March 10, 2026 Two days after the United States and Israel launched their massive air campaign on Iran, the US Embassy in Riyadh -- 400 kilometers inland from the Persian Gulf -- was hit by two Iranian drones. The attack caused no injuries and "limited fire and minor material damage to the building," according to the Saudi Defense Ministry and the embassy itself. What was more significant was the apparent target: the CIAstation for Saudi Arabia. Since the start of the war on February 28,Iran has retaliated with an expanding number of targets, hitting US military installations --in Kuwait and in Bahrain -- with drones and missiles, as well as high-profile, high-visibility facilities in other countries -- Dubai's skyscrapers and airport; desalinization plants in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. But those targets take little military intelligence to strike. Tehran has also struck sensitive targets that experts say would not have been identified by Iran without specific intelligence. Something that Russia might be happy to provide. The extent of the intelligence US officials say Moscow has been providing Tehran -- first reported by The Washington Post -- is unclear. The Post said Moscow passed along the locations of US military assets in the Middle East and Gulf region, including warships and aircraft, to the Iranians. Three US officials broadly confirmed the Post reporting to RFE/RL,but declined to provide further details. Aside from the US Embassy in Riyadh, other sensitive targets that have been hit by Iran since the start of the February 28 campaign include components of the high-end Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system(THAAD)which are used by US facilities as well as those of allies, like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Russia is probably sharing electronic intelligence -- radar signals, radio wavelengths -- and "live-time dynamic targeting information" -- specific information allowing the launchof drones and missiles on quick notice, said Nicole Grajewski, an Iran researcher at Sciences Po, the French research university. Damage assessment is likely included, she said: what a site looks like after it has been hit by a drone or missile, so targeting officials or intelligence officers can figure out how effective an attack has been. Iran has only a few satellites capable of producing powerful military imagery. Russia has a bigger, more sophisticated network than Tehran, though vastly fewer capabilities than the United States. But Iran, like Russia, could also obtain imagery from commercial satellite providers whose publicly available imagery has exploded in popularity over the past decade. "My understanding is the reason why the Russians are doing this is at least to prolong the hurt in the battle, to distract" the United States and Israel, Grajewski said. "They see Iran going through somewhat of a similar situation" as Russia is in Ukraine, where the United States and possibly other NATO countries have provided detailed targeting information to Ukrainian forces. "They view themselves in being [strangled], encircled, and punished by the West," she said. 'I Hope They're Not' In other words, if Russia is able to force Washington to further draw down its weapons arsenals by attacking Iran, that will mean fewer weapons systems available to Ukraine: for example, Patriot air defense systems which Kyiv is desperate for. That possibility wasn't lost on Kaja Kallas, the European Union's foreign policy chief, who drew a line between the Russian intelligence sharing in Iran and the conflict in Ukraine. "Reports that Moscow and Tehran are working together to kill US troops should come as no surprise," she told EU on March 9. "Ukraine, on the other hand, is offering to help defend Americans and our partners in the Gulf. That alone should tell you who your friends are." US administration officials, including President Donald Trump, have not explicitly confirmed the reports. White House envoy Steve Witkoff, who has had extensive contact with Kremlin officials, including President Vladimir Putin, said he has warned his Russian counterparts not to share such intelligence. "I hope they're not," Witkoff said when asked if he had evidence Moscow was passing targeting informationto Iran. Russia denied doing so during a phone call between Trump and Putin the previous day, Witkoff told CNBC on March 10. Anna Borshchevskaya, a researcher at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, a US think tank, said that in the run-up to the war many observers focused on whether Russia intended to save the Iranian regime. "But they were never going to do that," Borshchevskaya said. "And in fact, I don't think the Iranian regime itself expected Russia to do that." "Rather, what Russia was far more likely to do was exercise restraint and speak about being a mediator in public, and then offer Iran support in private, and look for ways to benefit from this crisis," she said. "That's exactly what Russia is doing now -- this intelligence sharing. "Russia was not going to offer direct military assistance to Iran because they don't want to fight with the United States or Israel. That is not to Russia's benefit," Borshchevskaya said. "But what is to Russia's benefit is to look for indirect ways to undermine the US-Israeli campaign." Another clue that Russia might share sensitive intelligence with Iran appears in a strategic partnership agreement that was signed by the two countries last year. One clause specifically mentions intelligence sharing. Aside from ongoing intelligence sharing, Russia has also supplied several defensive weapons systems to Iran over the years: that includes S-300 air defense systems and the Krasukha, a ground-based electronic warfare, radar-jamming system. What About Ukraine? For many observers, the reports of Russian intelligence sharing with Tehran contrastwith the stance the Kremlin has taken on other foreign policy issues on which the United States charged forward. For example, after the US capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, the Kremlin's response was restrained. That was seen as a calculated effort by the Kremlin to avoid antagonizing Washington and jeopardizing the ongoing US-backed peace talks to end Russia's all-out assault on Ukraine, now in its fifth year. Analysts say Russia is using the process to attempt to achieve its war goals. Experts said the Russian intelligence sharing, while alarming to the United States and Israel, likely did not cross a red line -- something that would prompt a more furious, more aggressive response. Transferring a powerful missile system like the Iskander, for example, would be a red line. "I don't think this report about intelligence sharing is a fatal blow to Russia's negotiations on Ukraine," Borshchevskaya said. The publicity surrounding the issue of Russian intelligence sharing may have had the desired effect for the US, Grajewski said, as the tempo of Iranian attacks has slowed in recent days. That may be in part because Moscow has been scaling back what it shares to avoid aggravating Washington further. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-iran-intelligence- sharing-war-us-israel/33700653.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 Regime Change, Oil, And Hezbollah: Where US And Israeli Priorities May Differ By Ray Furlong and Alex Raufoglu March 10, 2026 TEL AVIV -- Driving past the gleaming skyscrapers of downtown Tel Aviv, a huge video billboard catches the eye as the advertisement switches from groceries to a giant portrait of the US president with the caption: "Thank you, God and Donald Trump!" The tribute bears witness to Israeli gratitude for America's role in the military strikes on Iran. Israeli officials have repeatedly stressed that the two countries are in lockstep. "The cooperation is historic between the US military and the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) and between the Israeli Air Force and the US Air Force," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on March 6 in an example of how the two countries are on the same page. There is indeed extremely close military and political coordination. But there are also areas where priorities differ. When Does This End? For years, Netanyahu has pushed the idea of regime change in Iran and still appears committed to that aim. "Our aspiration is to enable the Iranian people to cast off the yoke of tyranny," he said on March 9. But most analysts believe regime change cannot be achieved quickly, so Trump's statement later that day, that the war could be over " very soon," raised the question: What if America's choice of an end date is earlier than Israel's? "The United States is the one who leads when it comes to that end date. Israel is willing to continue these attacks against the Islamic regime. We're also engaged against Hezbollah, an Islamic regime proxy in Lebanon. We would like to continue that. But we'll stop when the US says we need to stop," Miri Eisin, a former deputy head of the Israeli military's Combat Intelligence Corps, told RFE/RL on March 10. "There were very clear aims of regime change, and you're not seeing that. But let's be realistic about it. There's the rhetoric of politicians and there's the reality of the military. For the military, every additional day [means] more targets. For the politicians, they make their own decisions," added Eisin, now a fellow at the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT) at Reichman University in Tel Aviv. War Aims In fact, it is not entirely clear whether regime change is even one of the US objectives. When US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth listed US war aims a few hours after RFE/RL spoke to Eisin, he didn't even mention it. "One: Destroy their missile stockpiles, their missile launchers, and their defense industrial base, missiles and their ability to make them. Two: Destroy their navy. And three: Permanently deny Iran nuclear weapons forever," Hegseth said as he went through the goals of the conflict. Trump has spoken of "unconditional surrender"and said regime change would be "the best thing that could happen." He said on March 10 that he was "disappointed" that the Iranian regime chose Mojtaba Khamenei to replace his late father as supreme leader but declined to say what the United States might do about it. RFE/RL has spoken to a number of US congressional aides focused on national security in Washington who have voiced concern about a potential disconnect on this and other issues. "One government appears to be pursuing regime collapse," a Republican aide said on condition of anonymity. "The other says it isn't -- except when it does. And that's the rub. On key objectives, we're not entirely in sync." In any war, the timeline usually depends on the aims being pursued. Following the three objectives listed by Hegseth, victory can be declared without regime change. Some analysts argue the United States may prefer an earlier end to operations than Israel if oil prices rise too much because the two countries have a different pain-tolerance level in this regard. Sarit Zehavi,head of Tel Aviv think-tank Alma, said Iran's war strategy -- and its attacks on the Gulf states -- was focused on just this. "The interest was to create a situation that America will not finish the job. To create a situation that the Gulf countries will ask Trump to stop," she said. Oil There have also been some hints of divergence on military targets, with Washington reportedly unhappy at an Israeli strike on an Iranian oil facility which showered Tehran in black raina few days ago. Asked about this on March 10, Hegseth said hitting the oil sites "wasn't necessarily our objective." But he rejected the idea that Israel was pulling the United States into operations that go against Washington's interests: "We're not getting pulled in any direction. We're leading, the president is leading." On Capitol Hill, another aide, speaking on condition of anonymity, cautioned: "Destroying oil fields can spiral energy markets. Israel sees it as crippling Iran's ability to fund war, but for the US there's a risk we drag the global economy into the conflict. It's a tactical win with strategic costs." On March 9, influential Republican Senator Lindsey Graham spelled it out in a social media post. "Please be cautious about what targets you select," he wrote, adding that the oil economy would be crucial for Iran's reconstruction. But Yoel Guzonsky, a former member of Israel's National Security Council, said his country's strikes on Iranian oil facilities had in fact been a calibrated warning shot. "Both the US and Israel are being very careful not to hit the main oil installations with Iran because they know that Iran's retaliation might be in the Gulf states, and then we'll see a different scenario," he said, referring to the danger of future Iranian strikes on Gulf-state oil industry targets. "Iran didn't even scratch the oil fields and the gas fields in the Gulf," he added. "Perhaps Iran is saving itself another escalatory step toward a longer war." Hezbollah The issue of Hezbollah, designated as a terrorist organization the United States, alsosuggests Israel and the White House have slightly different priorities in this war. For Washington, hitting Iran is top of the agenda. In Israel, Hezbollah is a threat that's much closer to home. "People don't think about the fact that I drive up north, and I live up north, and you can be 100 meters, let alone a kilometer or two, from these different sites that Hezbollah is firing from. So, for us, that's a very near and present danger," Eisin told RFE/RL. There have been numerous Israeli media reports and analyst predictions in recent days that a much larger ground offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon may be being prepared. But, Eisin added, this was not diverting Israel's attention from the war with Iran. Eisin said Israel was mostly using different kinds of forces in Lebanon and was also attacking Iranian targets there. "Israel openly attacked a few days ago, at the heart of Beirut, an Islamic regime Quds force.... So, you see that combo here. We're attacking the Islamic regime, different types of terror army capabilities, both in Lebanon and in Iran," she said. But for Washington, the calculus is different. "From a US perspective, Hezbollah is a proxy problem, rather than a direct existential threat," one congressional aide said. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us- israel-war-aims/33700711.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 For Iran's Isolated Turkmen Minority, War Brings Hope And Trepidation By Zamira Eshanova March 10, 2026 Few bombs, missiles, or drones have hit Turkmensahra, the isolated northeastern region that is home to most of Iran's ethnic Turkmen, across the border from Turkmenistan. Instead, residents told RFE/RL, the war that began with US-Israeli air strikes and the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28 has come to the region in more indirect forms. Security has been tightened, and prices have skyrocketed for a population that is already poor and that community leaders say has been marginalized by the central government. The war has also brought a mix of hope for democracy and equality after decades of autocracy and trepidation about what the future may bring. "There is no bombardment where we live," said Nurmuhammed, a civil servant from Gumbet, Turkmensahra's main city, except for an attack on a radar station of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) near the Caspian Sea. But the presence of security forces has risen markedly, he told RFE/RL. "Checkpoints have increased significantly compared to the past. The number of paramilitary and semi-military forces has grown considerably," Nurmuhammed said. Ayhan, a student from the town of Kalaleh, gave a similar account. "Almost every city entrance has a checkpoint, and paramilitary forces are armed," she said. "Roads are very tightly controlled. Vehicles are constantly inspected, and even mobile phones are checked." Ayhan and Nurmuhammed are pseudonyms. Their names have been withheld due to fears of possible harassment or reprisals from the Iranian authorities. Both said they believe the stepped-up security indicates the authorities are preparing for intense pressure and are on alert for demonstrations. The war followed some of the biggest opposition protests in years, and a crackdown that killed thousands of civilians. Immediate Economic Fallout They also said the economic effects of the war have been immediate, with rising prices straining households across Turkmensahra. "Food prices have risen sharply, and most Turkmens are struggling with poverty. Many people cannot afford to buy most of the staples," Ayhan said. "Even in the past, their purchasing power was limited; today, prices have increased further, making the situation even harder." According to Nurmuhammed, the prices of some items have increased by as much as 10 times. "For now, there is no shortage of food, but prices have risen sharply," he told RFE/RL. "Especially [cooking] oil, flour, and rice have become very expensive. Previously, one could buy 1 kilogram per person, but now only 200 grams at most, because these items have become extremely costly." By conservative estimates, around 1 million people live in Turkmensahra. But the true number could be significantly higher, as official data on the Turkmen -- a historically marginalized Sunni minority in majority Shi'ite, Persian Iran -- is scarce. Problems such as power outages and water shortages shaped daily life long before the US-Israeli offensive. "The structural neglect of Turkmensahra has deep roots, and the current conflict has only amplified it," said Abdurrahman Deveci, a Turkmen from the region and a professor at Trakya University in Turkey. "The Turkmens have long been economically marginalized," Deveci told RFE/RL. "The war has only worsened inequalities, as state investments and subsidies rarely reach this region. Prices are rising faster here than in other parts of Iran because Turkmen lack political influence and resources." Deep Distrust The deep-seated tension in ties with the government is one factor in a widespread distrust in state media, and many Turkmensahra residents rely on informal networks to try to gauge the true scale of the war. "Most information is shared through conversations among people. The public does not trust domestic or national media, and there is confusion about which information is correct," Ayhan said. "However, sometimes people with access to satellites or international Internet provide accurate information, creating a form of solidarity to inform the public." The death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior figures in the theocratic regime brought relief and joy to many in the region, both Ayhan and Nurmuhammed said. "The morning we heard the news that Khamenei and some top IRGC commanders had been killed, we were all very happy," Nurmuhammed said, adding that he saw a group of people celebrating at a gas station. "Ali Khamenei [was] seen as cruel by most of the people in my region," Ayhan said. "His death and that of his close circle brought joy among the public and eased the suffering of the people in this region to some extent." 'Hope And Concern' For many, though, there is worry about what kind of future any political change may bring. "People are pleased that the Islamic republic of Iran has been struck a blow; however, they are more concerned about the post-revolution future," Ayhan said. "Personally, I am certain the government will fall, but I am concerned about how the new government will treat Turkmen in Iran." "Turkmen have always welcomed regime changes with hope for a democratic system. After consolidating their own foundations, however, every regime has continued discriminatory practices against Turkmen," said Deveci. "Therefore, Turkmens look to the postwar future with both hope and concern. Will history repeat itself, or will we finally see better days?" he said. Deveci also said government settlement policies have created tensions in the region. Over the years, some non-Turkmen populations have been resettled in Turkmensahra, sometimes receiving land that residents consider historically Turkmen. While relations remain mostly calm, he said, political instability could aggravate tensions. Nurmuhammed echoed Ayhan's mixture of hope and uncertainty. "The people hope that through external intervention, the mullahs' regime will be overthrown, and that they can later establish a fully democratic government by their own hands," he said. "The greatest concern is that, despite the war, the regime does not change and the freedom we hope for does not materialize," he added. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-turkmen-minority-war- hope-trepidation/33700396.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 Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's telephone conversation with Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran Abbas Araghchi 10 March 2026 15:39 314-10-03-2026 On March 10, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had a telephone conversation with Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran Abbas Araghchi. The ministers continued to exchange opinions regarding the current situation in the Middle East that has deteriorated drastically due to the unprovoked US-Israeli aggression against Iran. Sergey Lavrov once again set forth the Russian side's principled position in favour of deescalating the conflict as soon as possible and resuming the process of a political and diplomatic peace settlement. The Russian side is invariably ready to facilitate this process, with due consideration for security interests of Iran and its regional neighbours. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ranking Member Shaheen, Leader Schumer, Senator Reed Demand Public Hearings on Trump's War of Choice in Iran Senate Foreign Relations Committee March 10, 2026 WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Democratic Leader, and Jack Reed (D-RI), Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member, demanded that Trump provided accountability for his war in Iran and that the administration, including Secretaries Rubio and Hegseth, appear under oath in public hearings. Last week, President Trump - who campaigned as the "peace President" - led the United States into war with Iran with no clear objectives and no authorization from Congress. Over the past eleven days, President Trump and his administration have obfuscated facts, shifted explanations, and denied Congress and the American people a clearly articulated end game. Today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-RI), and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) are demanding that the Trump administration, including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, appear before Congress and under oath in public hearings to provide answers about Trump's Iran War. "These ever-shifting goals and explanations suggest there is no clear plan. Further, this raises the risk of mission creep which, based on history, would likely lead to more U.S. casualties and escalating costs for taxpayers. The American people - including our men and women in uniform - deserve clear answers about the war and accountability from your administration," the Senators wrote. "Public hearings featuring cabinet-level witnesses have been a standard part of congressional oversight throughout our history, including recent military conflicts, as well as during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. After all, our founders were clear about the role of Congress in matters of war as the representatives of the American people." The American people have been clear since the start of military operations: they do not want another endless and costly war. If the administration is going to send America's sons and daughters into a widening conflict in the Middle East, then they must be willing to answer for their decisions and strategic goals. American families are already feeling the financial impact of Trump's war. Gas prices have spiked about 20% in just the one week since the US has escalated the conflict, and crude oil prices have spiked as high as over $100 dollars per barrel - the highest price since 2022. As Americans are already facing higher costs of living due to Trump's erratic economic decisions and tariff tax, this adds further pain for families who need relief. "Public hearings would be a small but important first step to uphold your oath, to inform Congress, and to explain your actions to the American people whose sons and daughters are on the front lines of this war," the Senators concluded. The full text of the letter can be seen here and below. Dear Mr. President: Eleven days ago, the American people unexpectedly found themselves at war with Iran. Since then, despite the public's overwhelming concern about this war, your administration has provided shifting, and at times conflicting, objectives for this war, refused to define the scope of U.S. operations or the measurements for success, and failed to articulate an end game. Therefore, we write to demand that your key cabinet officials appear before the Senate, participate in public hearings, and provide answers to fundamental questions. Despite your own admission that you controlled the timing for when the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, your administration failed to prepare for the predictable risks that U.S. military action would create for our personnel and assets abroad. As a result, thousands of Americans have been stranded overseas as drones and missiles strike hotels and airports. Diplomatic facilities have been damaged. And tragically, American servicemembers have lost their lives. At the same time, because of this conflict American families are now grappling with skyrocketing gas and energy prices at a moment when they're already facing a national affordability crisis. The mounting cost of this war requires answers to Congress and the public. Beginning on February 24, at the State of the Union address, you neglected a critical opportunity to propose your objectives with respect to Iran and to make a case to the American people. Since the war began on February 28, your cabinet officials have refused to testify publicly before Congress. Meanwhile, your administration's public justifications for the war have shifted daily. You initially appeared to encourage the Iranian people to rise up and overthrow the regime. Then your administration described its objectives to be limited to strikes against Iranian military sites. Then, incredibly, you called for installing a compliant regime figure modeled on Venezuela. Most recently, you claimed the goal was "unconditional surrender" and suggested "possibly" sending U.S. ground forces into Iran. These ever-shifting goals and explanations suggest there is no clear plan. Further, this raises the risk of mission creep which, based on history, would likely lead to more U.S. casualties and escalating costs for taxpayers. The American people - including our men and women in uniform - deserve clear answers about the war and accountability from your administration. Public hearings featuring cabinet-level witnesses has been a standard part of congressional oversight throughout our history, including recent military conflicts, as well as during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. After all, our founders were clear about the role of Congress in matters of war as the representatives of the American people. As such, we request that your key cabinet secretaries - including Secretaries Rubio and Hegseth - immediately appear under oath in public hearings to answer the questions the American people have about the goals, scope, and end game for this war. Public hearings would be a small but important first step to uphold your oath, to inform Congress, and to explain your actions to the American people whose sons and daughters are on the front lines of this war. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address ICYMI: Ranking Member Shaheen Pens Washington Post Op-Ed Warning Russia is Exploiting Iran Conflict to Target Americans and Strengthen the Kremlin Senate Foreign Relations Committee March 10, 2026 WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, published an op-ed in the Washington Post warning that Russia is exploiting the growing conflict with Iran to challenge the United States and threaten American troops, businesses and interests abroad. In the piece, Senator Shaheen argues that the deepening partnership between Moscow and Tehran, from the transfer of Iranian drones used against Ukraine to intelligence support for Iranian attacks against Americans in the Middle East, demonstrates that Russia is not a bystander in the current crisis. The Senator notes that American troops, diplomatic facilities and businesses have already come under attack and warns that the conflict risks strengthening Vladimir Putin by offering him windfall profits through elevated global energy prices and by diverting Western military resources from Ukraine. CLICK HERE to read Ranking Member Shaheen's op-ed in the Washington Post. The text of her op-ed has also been provided below. Russia is no mere bystander in the Iran war Putin is helping kill Americans and counting on Iran distracting the United States from Ukraine. For the last week, the United States and its partners have been fighting in the Middle East. President Donald Trump says the conflict will be over within a few weeks. But wars rarely end on Washington's timetable. Ukraine's resilience shows how wrong those predictions can be. Ukraine was predicted to fall in a matter of weeks. Instead, four years on, Ukrainian forces have retaken territory in places such as Zaporizhzhia and along the southern front. Troops under Russia's command, including many drawn from Russia's poorest communities, alongside North Korean units and coerced African fighters, have suffered staggering losses in a campaign that has bogged down. When Russia's invasion of Ukraine first stalled, the Kremlin turned to Tehran for help. Iran began supplying Shahed drones in 2022 and helped establish a production facility in the Russian town of Yelabuga that now manufactures thousands of these weapons each month. In 2025, Russia launched more than 53,000 drones against Ukraine up from about 11,000 in 2024. That Russia-Iran partnership is now shaping the war in the Middle East as well. According to The Washington Post, U.S. officials believe Russia is sharing intelligence with Iran as Tehran targets American and allied interests in the region. Russia is not a bystander in this crisis. It is helping Iran challenge the United States. Moscow has a history of doing exactly that. In 2020, U.S. intelligence reports indicated Russia may have offered Taliban fighters bounties for killing American and coalition troops in Afghanistan. More recently, Russia provided satellite imagery to Iran-backed Houthi militants to help them target Western ships in the Red Sea. Already in the first week of the Iran war, Iranian Shahed drones killed American troops in Kuwait. Hotels frequented by Americans in Dubai, along with U.S. military, intelligence and diplomatic facilities throughout the Middle East, have also come under attack. Given Moscow's growing role in supporting Tehran, it is hard to escape the conclusion that Russian President Vladimir Putin's intelligence agencies had a hand in planning these strikes. This reality echoes what I saw in Odesa, Ukraine, last month, where I met with executives of American businesses that had come under Russian attack. As I left Ukraine, two more facilities were hit, including an American facility producing Oreo cookies. This was no accident. Russia is deliberately targeting American businesses. Just as Ukraine's defenders and first responders were there when Russia attacked American factories and facilities in Ukraine, it is Ukraine now helping the United States protect our citizens and interests in the Middle East. After four years of defending its cities from Iranian-designed drones used by Russia, Kyiv has developed advanced counter-drone systems. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky highlighted this expertise when the war with Iran began and offered his government's battle-tested experience immediately. Ukrainian military experts are now discussing with the United States and Gulf partners how to leverage Ukrainian expertise and technology to counter Iranian attacks across the Middle East. The United States could have entered this conflict already drawing fully on Ukraine's hard-earned experience. But Trump's insistence on cooperating with Putin instead of strengthening Ukraine militarily and diplomatically has become a self-inflicted setback. It also reflects the administration's broader lack of strategy as the Iran conflict unfolds. Our military is now having to learn in real time what Ukraine spent years mastering in combat. Beyond the battlefield, a widening war gives Putin a financial lifeline at a moment when his economy was teetering. Oil and gas generated about 30 to 50 percent of Russia's federal budget over the past decade, and rising energy prices from the war with Iran are already boosting the Kremlin's revenue. The conflict will also strain Western military resources that might otherwise support Ukraine and consume air defenses and interceptor missiles needed elsewhere. The deeper the war becomes, the greater the risk of American boots on the ground. That is precisely the kind of prolonged entanglement the Kremlin wants. The Trump administration should be doing all it can to disabuse Russia's leader of such hopes. Stopping Iran's attacks on Americans must go hand in hand with tightening pressure on the Kremlin. Enforcing sanctions on Russia's oil exports, cracking down on the shadow fleet that funds Putin's war and deepening cooperation with Ukraine's battle-tested military are not favors to Kyiv. They are steps that protect American troops and interests. Yet instead of tightening pressure on Moscow, this administration is moving in the opposite direction, with the U.S. Treasury Department offering Putin a green light to export previously sanctioned oil to India. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has even said more sanctions relief beyond that may be under consideration. The administration is loosening sanctions and continuing negotiations with Russia as though Putin does not already have American blood on his hands. When Americans are targeted abroad, the United States must respond with clarity and resolve. Vladimir Putin has chosen to stand with and aid those attacking Americans. Recognizing that reality and responding to Putin is now the test facing this administration. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Putin Conveys Proposals to Trump for Resolving Iran Crisis - Kremlin Sputnik News 20260310 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has put forward proposals to US President Donald Trump aimed at resolving the Iran crisis, and Moscow will assess how the coordination process unfolds, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday. On Monday, Putin and Trump held a telephone conversation and discussed the international agenda among other things. "At the moment, there is no such opportunity to specify, and there are no such intentions, actually. These proposals were brought by the president [Putin] to his interlocutor [Trump]. Let us see how the approval process goes further," Peskov told reporters, answering a question about what proposals Russia has made to resolve the situation around Iran. Putin and Trump's conversation about the situation around Iran does not yet indicate that the Russian President became a mediator in the settlement, Peskov added. "Russia is ready to provide assistance to the best of its ability, and it will be glad to do so. But you know that there needs to be multiple understanding, multiple coordination, so let us be patient a little bit," Peskov told reporters. Many of the proposals that have been put forward by Russian President Vladimir Putin that could help reduce tensions in the Middle East are still on the table, Peskov added. Answering a question from reporters about whether Trump's decision on oil sanctions was discussed during a telephone conversation between the presidents, Peskov told journalists the two leaders did not discuss the topic. "No, somehow this topic did not appear in any detail," he said. On Ukraine Talks All parties, including Russia, are interested in continuing trilateral negotiations on a settlement in Ukraine, Peskov said. "The main specific is that the trilateral format must continue, precisely trilateral. Everyone is interested in it, and most importantly, the Americans are ready to continue their mediation efforts. President Putin highly values these mediation efforts, we are grateful for this and are interested in this process continuing," Peskov told reporters, when asked whether any specifics had emerged regarding the continuation of trilateral negotiations on a settlement in Ukraine following Putin-Trump phone call. There are no specific dates or locations for a new round of trilateral talks, the spokesman added. Washington did not set conditions for Moscow to cease fire before continuing negotiations, Peskov also said. "All the modalities associated with the ceasefire are already well understood," Peskov said, adding that it is hard to argue that everyone is interested in an early ceasefire in Ukraine. "I can only say that [US Special Envoy] Steve Witkoff is indeed in constant contact with his Russian interlocutors. And this communication channel really allows us to send signals to each other on the most sensitive issues," Peskov told reporters. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump Threatens to 'Hit' Iran 'Twenty Times Harder' Over Strait of Hormuz Oil Flows Sputnik News 20260310 US President Donald Trump warned Iran against disrupting oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, saying Washington would respond with far stronger military action. "If Iran does anything that stops the flow of Oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far," President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social. He added that the US could target sites that would make it "virtually impossible for Iran to ever be built back, as a Nation, again," while saying he hopes such a scenario "does not happen." Trump described the policy as "a gift from the United States of America to China, and all of those Nations that heavily use the Hormuz Strait." Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'Toxic rain' warning from oil depot strikes amid ongoing Middle East war By Dominika Tomaszewska-Mortimer in Geneva 10 March 2026 - Toxic "black rain" linked to strikes on oil depots, mass displacement and continuing disruption to aid supply chains are upending lives across the Middle East and beyond after 10 days of war in the region, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters in Geneva, UN Human Rights office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani raised concerns about the health and environmental impacts of Israeli and U.S. strikes attacks on oil depots in Tehran as toxic pollutants spread in the air. She said that these impacts raise "serious questions as to whether the proportionality and precaution obligations under international humanitarian law were met" in the attacks, stressing that the sites hit "do not appear to be of military exclusive usage." UN World Health Organization (WHO) spokesperson Christian Lindmeier warned that the "black rain" and "acidic rain" that's been falling in Tehran after the strikes "is indeed a danger" for Iranians. "We are in touch with the hospitals and with the authorities, and the Iranian authorities have issued an alert advising people to stay indoors, in light of the attacks on oil warehouses especially," he said. The UN agency is also monitoring the health risks of the "massive release" of toxic hydrocarbons, sulphur oxides and nitrogen compounds into the air. Mr. Lindmeier said that additional reported Iranian strikes on oil infrastructures in Bahrain and in Saudi Arabia also raised concerns of "wider regional pollution exposure", highlighting the long-term effects of pollutants, which affect respiratory health and contaminate water. Lebanon: trauma, repeated Turning to Lebanon, more than 100,00 people have been displaced by Israeli strikes and evacuation orders in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of people uprooted by the conflict to almost 700,000. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) representative in the country, Karolina Lindholm Billing, spoke of a faster pace of displacement compared to the conflict with Israel in 2024. "We see cars lined along the street with people sleeping in them," she told reporters. "Most fled in a rush with almost nothing. They're seeking safety in in Beirut, [the] Mount Lebanon region, in northern Lebanon and parts of the Bekaa." The UNHCR official described her visit on Monday to a shelter in Beirut, where she met a woman in her nineties who said that she had lost 11 members of her family back in 2024. "She's now displaced again, staying in the same school that was turned into a shelter in 2024 and now again in 2026...Stories like hers really illustrate the fear, uncertainty and repeated trauma that these hundreds of thousands of people are facing right now." Afghan plight In other impacts across the region, UNHCR said that significant numbers of people have been crossing back into Afghanistan from Iran. According to the UN refugee agency some 110,000 have returned since the beginning of the year and around 1,700 have been coming back each day since the start of the Middle East war. While insecurity and dwindling economic prospects are pushing Afghans out of Iran, they face more precarity and uncertainty upon returning to their home country. Speaking from the Islam Qala in Afghanistan's Herat province on the border with Iran, the UN Children Fund (UNICEF)'s representative for Afghanistan, Tajudeen Oyewale, reported an increase in returns and warned that the total number of children who have been screened and treated for malnutrition has doubled in the last week. Strait of Hormuz fall-out Supply chain disruptions due to the war are already delaying essential aid, too. "The geopolitical tension is already disrupting procurement routes," Mr. Oyewale said. "What this means is that supplies that we need to care for children and their mothers in the midst of this emergency will arrive late... A malnourished child will get the nutritional supplement required not immediately, but with some level of delay and at a higher cost." Jean-Martin Bauer, director of the UN World Food Programme (WFP)'s Food and Nutrition Analysis Service, warned of the impacts of the conflict in the Strait of Hormuz and in the Bab El-Mandeb strait off the coast of the Horn of Africa. "Two key points of the global supply chain set-up are affected by restrictions and by risk, and shipping lines are diverting their services," he said. Shipping premiums Mr. Bauer explained that the need for war risk insurance for shipments means an additional cost of "$2,000 to $4,000 for each container in areas that are at risk". "We're also seeing that we're needing to go the long way around the Cape of Good Hope to reach some of our key geographies," he said. Mr. Bauer gave the example of WFP's biggest operation in Sudan, supplied with food purchased in India, brought via Salalah in Oman and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia into Port Sudan. Today, shipments need to take a much longer route transiting through Tangiers, adding approximately 25 days to shipping times. "That's an additional sail of 9,000 kilometres (5592 miles)... It's like going coast to coast in the U.S. and then going back," Mr. Bauer said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'Heinous crime': Iran denounces Israeli assassination of 4 Iranian diplomats in Lebanon Iran Press TV Wednesday, 11 March 2026 12:15 AM Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani says the Israeli regime has assassinated four senior Iranian diplomats in a "heinous crime" in the Lebanese capital Beirut. In a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday, the envoy said that on March 8, the regime had carried out a targeted strike against the Ramada Hotel in Beirut, claiming the lives of the victims. Iravani noted that after the regime's military had publicly threatened to target Iranian official representatives in Lebanon, the diplomats had been temporarily relocated to the hotel as a safety measure. This relocation, he said, had been fully coordinated with the Lebanese authorities. In his letter, the ambassador said that the assassination of the diplomats "while serving as official representatives of a sovereign state in the territory of another sovereign state is a heinous act of terrorism and a grave violation of international law." He further stressed that such a "flagrant breach" of the UN Charter and the 1973 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons could not go unpunished. Iravani reiterated that the regime bears full responsibility for carrying out "this war crime" and must be held fully accountable for its consequences. The assassinations came a week after the regime and the United States launched their latest bout of unprovoked aggression towards the Islamic Republic. The aggression has led to the martyrdom of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and more than 1,332 civilians, including women and children, as well as several military commanders. Iran has since taken swift retaliatory action, launching barrages of missile and drone strikes against the occupied territories and US bases across the region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address FM Sa'ar hosts German FM Johann Wadephul in Israel Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs FM Sa'ar: "Germany led the process of designating Iran's Revolutionary Guards as a terror organization in the EU. We commend your principled leadership in Europe and on the world stage. I believe it's high time for countries to take the next moral step and cut all diplomatic ties with this terror regime - that you yourselves defined as having no legitimacy." Type: Press Releases Topic: Foreign Policy Publish Date: 10.03.2026 FM Wadephul is the first foreign minister to visit Israel since the launching of Operation Roaring Lion. The two ministers visited the site of the Iranian missile attack in Beit Shemesh and met families of some of the victims, held a working meeting at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem and then delivered joint statements to the media. Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa'ar today (Tuesday, 10 March 2026) hosted German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, the first foreign minister to visit Israel since the launching of Operation Roaring Lion. The two ministers visited the site of the Iranian missile attack in Beit Shemesh and met families of some of the victims, held a working meeting at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem and then delivered joint statements to the media. FM Sa'ar's Full Remarks: "I welcome my dear friend, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul to Jerusalem. This is the first visit of a Foreign Minister to Israel since we launched Operation 'Roaring Lion' against the Iranian terror regime. I believe it reflects our strategic friendship with Germany. * Our joint action with the United States against the Iranian regime - comes amid the international community's longstanding failure to prevent nuclear proliferation from mad regimes. This happened in the mid-90s with North Korea. East Asia, including our mutual friends Japan and South Korea, would've been safer if past leaders had acted on time. Unfortunately, there's a reality now that can't be reversed. Israel acted to prevent nuclear proliferation from mad regimes. In 1981, under Prime Minister Menachem Begin, Israel destroyed Saddam Hussein's nuclear program in Osirak. The international community condemned Israel then. The same international community later formed coalitions against Sadam Hussein, in 1991 and 2003. Some of those that condemned us, later thanked us for making their operations possible. We don't know what they would've done if Sadam Hussein had nuclear weapons. I personally heard in Washington DC from a very, very senior official in 2002, that America is lucky Israel acted in 1981. In 2007, Israel destroyed the Syrian nuclear reactor of the murderous Assad regime. The same dictator that the world later boycotted, that used chemical weapons against his own people afterwards and killed so many of them. Imagine what Assad would've done with nuclear weapons, had Israel not acted? He clearly would've still been in power today. Last June, and in our current operation Israel and the United States, under the leadership of Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump leadership - acted to prevent the world's most dangerous regime from obtaining the world's most dangerous weapon. We launched our historic operation with the United States - based on conclusive intelligence - that the regime was planning on bringing its nuclear and ballistic missile programs to deep underground facilities. We had to act a moment before they reached immunity from air strikes. Not acting was far more dangerous than acting, despite the risks involved. We're now witnessing Iran's savage attacks against almost all the countries in the region. This is how it behaves without a nuclear umbrella. Imagine: what it could do if it had one? Chancellor Merz was right when he said that Israel is "doing the dirty work for all of us". The international community enjoys the results of our actions. Yet it's not always supportive, to say the least, while we're acting. Now, along with the US, we're preventing nuclear proliferation, and a nuclear race, in the world's most dangerous region. * For 47 years, the Iranian regime has spread terror and bloodshed across the Middle East and beyond. It finances and arms its proxy terror states: Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis. The regime is responsible for the two huge terror attacks in Buenos Aires in the 90s - taking 114 lives and wounding over 500. A German court found the regime responsible for the 1992 Mykonos restaurant assassinations in Berlin. Four Iranian Kurdish opposition leaders were murdered there in cold blood. The Islamic Center Hamburg was banned by the German government in July 2024 - for acting as a base for the Iranian regime's terror. Iran was behind the terror attacks against synagogues in the German cities of Bochum and Essen, in 2022 and 2023. The regime is recruiting criminal gangs across Europe, to target Iranian dissidents and Jewish communities and Israeli diplomats - from London to Stockholm. This regime is assassinating its own people. For years, the Ayatollah regime violently and cruelly suppressed wave after wave of protests by Iranians seeking freedom. It publicly hangs political opponents. Executes women and homosexuals. This tragic process reached its peak this January, when the evil regime butchered probably over 30,000 of its own people. Brave Iranians struggled for their freedom. But the international community didn't answer their plea for help. This terror regime can't be brought down without the people of Iran. This is clear. Yet without external help, the Iranian people can't regain their freedom. All those that called during the last days for "De-escalation" are ensuring escalation: for the people of Iran and for the Middle East and beyond, decades forward. * Dear Minister, Under Iranian pressure, Hezbollah joined the war on March 2nd - just as it did on October 8th, 2023. It did so against the will of the Lebanese people and government. Hezbollah's military wing said this Friday: "We pledge to the pure blood of the martyred leader Imam Khamenei.. We won't abandon the resistance, we won't abandon our arms." Since joining the war, Hezbollah fired over 800 missiles and drones at Israel, aiming deliberately at civilian populations. Over the past week, more attacks have come from Lebanese soil than Iran. Our citizens in the North live in imminent danger: At times, too close for the sirens to alert them of incoming Hezbollah terror missiles. Lebanon hasn't dismantled Hezbollah since the November 2024 ceasefire - despite its commitment to do so. Yet there are those in the international community that recommended we simply live with a terror state on our border - and get used to it. I recommend those preachers: stop lecturing us. We will welcome any volunteers from the international community willing to dismantle Hezbollah. Until now, nobody - not even the glorious UNIFIL - has done anything significant to solve the problem. Unfortunately, this situation demonstrates the Iranian axis, formed and built as part of its plan to eliminate Israel. They will be defeated. ** Dear Minister, Germany led the process of designating Iran's Revolutionary Guards as a terror organization in the EU. We commend your principled leadership in Europe and on the world stage. I believe it's high time for countries to take the next moral step and cut all diplomatic ties with this terror regime - that you yourselves defined as having no legitimacy. I want to thank Chancellor Merz for his firm support for Israel and commitment to fighting antisemitism. And I want to thank you, dear Johann, for your friendship and solidarity. Thank you for coming to Israel today." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Spokesperson's Press Briefing (March 5, 2026) Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea Date: 2026-03-05 Press Briefing Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Affairs Park Il March 5, 2026 14:30 KST Good afternoon. Let me start today's briefing. I will start out by sharing with you the measures that have been and are being taken by the government to protect the Korean nationals in the Middle East. As of Thursday, March 5, no Korean nationals are known to have sustained damage, and those who expressed wish to evacuate are moving to safe, nearby countries, with the assistance of local diplomatic missions of Korea. In case of Israel, 66 Koreans successfully evacuated from the country on Tuesday this week, with an additional four Koreans expressing to the local Korean Embassy their wish to do so. The Embassy will assist them to move to Egypt. Likewise, the Embassy in Iran helped 24 Korean nationals evacuate to Turkmenistan on Tuesday and assisted another Korean in evacuating to the same country safely yesterday. The Embassy in Bahrain has also been offering consular support to local Korean nationals, including by opening the doors of the ambassadorial residence to accommodate 20 Koreans and helping a total of 13 Koreans evacuate to Saudi Arabia on a chartered bus so far. The Embassy in Iraq recently helped two Koreans evacuate and plans to assist three more Koreans to Turkiye. The Embassy in Kuwait arranged a chartered bus for 13 Koreans to evacuate on to Saudi Arabia overland, and a consul at the Embassy will accompany them for their safe return to Korea. In a bid to facilitate the return of those stranded in the United Arab Emirates and other nearby countries, the government is positively considering chartering a plane. Rapid interagency response teams will depart tonight for Dubai and Oman to support safe evacuation of Korean nationals in cooperation with local Korean diplomatic missions. The teams will respectively be led by two ambassador-level diplomats who have work experience in the Middle East and the Consular Affairs and Safety Bureau of the Foreign Ministry. They will consist of officials of the Foreign Ministry and the Korean National Police Agency. So, that is what has been, is and will be done to protect our nationals in the Middle East, and utmost efforts will be made to ensure their safety. Moving on, in commemoration of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun will host the 20th Iftar dinner on March 10. Iftar is the first meal that occurs at sunset after a day of fasting every day during Ramadan, a meal during which Muslims share food with their families and neighbors and remind themselves of the meaning of "sharing" and "friendship." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has hosted an Iftar dinner since 2004 to promote a deeper understanding of values of Ramadan such as sharing and consideration as well as solidarity and tolerance. The dinner will bring together diplomats from member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and as well as people from various sectors including political, business, academic, media and religious circles -- 180 people in total. As such, it is expected to serve as a meaningful opportunity to promote friendship and cooperation between Korea and Islamic countries. (A question-and-answer session followed.) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Outcome of ROK-Bahrain Foreign Ministers' Telephone Conversation (March 7) Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea Date: 2026-03-07 Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun held a telephone conversation with H.E. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain, on Saturday, March 7. Over the phone, Minister Cho discussed with his Bahraini counterpart the current situation in the Middle East and requested the Bahraini government's attention to and assistance for the safe return home to Korea of the Korean nationals in Bahrain. Minister Al Zayani stated that recent attacks by Iran had caused significant damage to various civilian and other major infrastructure facilities in Bahrain including housing structures, airports, oil refineries and hotels, adding that the damage suffered by other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states has also been serious. He requested the Republic of Korea's attention and support in this regard. Minister Cho deplored the civilian casualties and the damage to major civilian facilities in Bahrain and the other GCC countries, conveying his sympathy and solidarity. He also expressed deep concern over civilians and civilian facilities increasingly sustaining damage amid continued military clashes in the Middle East and hoped for no further casualties and an early stabilization of the current situation. Furthermore, Minister Cho stated that the Korean government is mobilizing all its capabilities with its highest priority placed on the safety and protection of its nationals. On that note, he asked for special attention to the safety of about 120 Korean nationals currently in Bahrain and for assistance for their safe evacuation to neighboring countries should they wish to depart. The two Ministers also reviewed bilateral relations as the two countries mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year, and concurred to continue cooperation for the restoration of peace and stability in the Middle East. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Outcome of ROK-Qatar Foreign Ministers' Telephone Conversation (March 9) Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea Date: 2026-03-09 Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun held a telephone conversation with H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 9. Minister Cho discussed the situation in the Middle East and requested the Qatari government's attention and support to ensure the safe repatriation of Korean nationals in Qatar and a stable energy supply. Minister Mohammed stated that the recent attacks by Iran had caused significant damage to various civilian facilities, such as airports, hotels, and residential areas, in the GCC member states, including Qatar, and requested the Republic of Korea's attention and support. Minister Cho deplored the damage to civilians, civilian facilities, and energy infrastructure in Qatar and the other GCC countries, expressing sympathy and solidarity. With regard to QatarEnergy's recent announcement to halt LNG production, Minister Cho requested the Qatari government's cooperation and attention in ensuring a stable energy supply to Korea. Minister Cho appreciated Qatar's arrangement of an emergency direct flight from Doha to Incheon today, March 9, and conveyed his hope for continued close consultations on arranging additional flights to Korea. Furthermore, Minister Cho stated that the Korean government is mobilizing all its capabilities with the highest priority placed on the security and protection of its people, and requested the Qatari government's continued attention and support for the safety and swift return of approximately 2,000 Korean nationals in Qatar. The two Ministers concurred to continue communication and cooperation to further advance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries and restore peace and stability in the Middle East. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address On Behalf of HRH the Crown Prince, Foreign Minister Takes Part in Meeting with Leaders of GCC, Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Turkiye, Armenia, President of European Council and President of European Commission. Saudi Press Agency Tuesday 21/09/1447 Riyadh, March 10, 2026, SPA -- On behalf of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah participated in a virtual meeting on Monday with leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Turkiye, and Armenia, as well as the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission. The meeting addressed the recent cowardly attacks that targeted several countries, leading to attacks on civilians, vital infrastructure, and diplomatic missions. The European representatives reaffirmed their strategic and important relations with the participating countries and expressed full solidarity during these challenging times. Discussions also focused on collaborative efforts to enhance regional and international security and stability, protect civilians, fully respect international law and humanitarian law, and uphold the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The meeting was attended by Deputy Foreign Minister for International Multilateral Affairs Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Rassi, Director General of the General Department of Asian Affairs Nasser Al-Ghannoum and Director of the European Union Department Talal Al-Anzi. -- SPA 17:56 Local Time 14:56 GMT 0058 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address HRH the Crown Prince Chairs Cabinet Session Saudi Press Agency Tuesday 21/09/1447 Jeddah, March 10, 2026, SPA -- His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chaired the Cabinet session held today via video conference. HRH the Crown Prince briefed the Cabinet on the content of recent phone calls with the leaders of several brotherly and friendly countries, within the framework of ongoing consultations on the latest developments in the region and their repercussions on regional and international security and stability. The Cabinet strongly condemned the heinous Iranian attacks on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, and a number of Arab, Islamic, and friendly countries, the insistence on threatening security and stability, and the blatant violation of international conventions and international law by attacking civilian targets, airports, and oil facilities. The Cabinet affirmed the Kingdom's full right to take all necessary measures to protect its security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and to deter aggression. It commended the capabilities of the Saudi air defenses in intercepting and destroying hostile missiles and drones that attempted to target sites and facilities within the Kingdom. Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary stated to the Saudi Press Agency following the session that the Cabinet reviewed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's ongoing role, stemming from its approach of supporting solidarity, cooperation, and coordination with its Gulf and Arab neighbors in addressing current regional challenges. The Cabinet expressed its appreciation for the statements issued by the GCC-European Union ministerial meeting and the League of Arab States ministerial meeting, which both condemned the blatant Iranian attacks. The Cabinet then discussed several reports on domestic affairs, noting the recommendations from the 33rd annual meeting of the governors of the regions, which focused on supporting development opportunities, enhancing the capabilities of various sectors, and continuing to improve development services. The Cabinet also addressed the state's keen interest in strengthening the charitable sector, consolidating the values of giving, and presenting a model to be emulated in philanthropy and solidarity. It commended the success of the sixth edition of the National Campaign for Charitable Work (Ehsan), building upon the successes achieved in previous years. The Cabinet considered the celebration of Flag Day, which falls on March 11, as a reaffirmation of pride in its significance and symbolism in the history of the Saudi state, its founding, unification, and development, and in its embodiment of the Kingdom's established principles and national identity. The Cabinet addressed other items on its agenda and issued several decisions, including the following: First: Authorizing the minister of foreign affairs, or a deputy, to discuss and sign a draft memorandum of understanding on political consultations with the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Second: Approving a memorandum of understanding in the field of training between the Saudi Ministry of Sport and the Arab Administrative Development Organization. Third: Approving a memorandum of understanding on publication of judicial rulings between the Saudi Ministry of Justice and the World Intellectual Property Organization. Fourth: Approving two memoranda of understanding for tourism cooperation between the Saudi Ministry of Tourism and both the Hungarian Tourism Agency and San Marino's Ministry of Tourism, Post, Cooperation, Expo, Information, and Attraction of Tourism Investments. Fifth: Approving a memorandum of understanding for sustainable development cooperation between the Saudi Ministry of Economy and Planning and the Bahraini Ministry of Sustainable Development. Sixth: Approving two agreements on the promotion and protection of investments between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and both the Syrian Arab Republic and the Oriental Republic of Uruguay. Seventh: Approving a memorandum of understanding for real estate sector cooperation between the Saudi Real Estate General Authority and the Qatari Real Estate Regulatory Authority. Eighth: Approving the establishment of a royal institute for anthropology and cultural studies. Ninth: Approving the designation of 2026 as the Year of Artificial Intelligence. -- SPA 16:47 Local Time 13:47 GMT 0052 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The United Kingdom remains committed to eradicating the threat posed by chemical weapons in Syria: UK statement at the UN Security Council Speech Statement by Caroline Quinn, UK Deputy Political Coordinator, at the UN Security Council meeting on Syria. From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Caroline Quinn, UK Deputy Political Coordinator Published 10 March 2026 Location: United Nations, New York Delivered on: 10 March 2026 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered) The United Kingdom remains resolute in its commitment to eradicating the threat posed by chemical weapons in Syria. We welcome the 22 January publication of the fifth Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Investigation and Identification Team (IIT) report. The report concluded that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Syrian Arab Air Force under the former Assad regime carried out the chlorine attack on Kafr Zeita on 1 October 2016, injuring at least 35 people. Its findings add to an already extensive body of evidence confirming a systematic pattern of chemical weapons use by the former Assad Regime. Publication of this report is a significant milestone. It is the first attribution report to have received direct support from a Syrian government. It demonstrates Syria's commitment to accountability and represents a crucial step towards truth and justice. The United Kingdom thanks the OPCW technical secretariat staff for their unwavering dedication and professionalism in the pursuit of attribution. And we look forward to the conclusion of other ongoing and future investigations into chemical weapons attacks in Syria. President, the progress made by the Syrian government and the OPCW provides a genuine opportunity to eradicate the threat of Assad era chemical weapons once and for all. However, progress is neither inevitable nor assured. As we stated in this Council in January, and as the OPCW Director General has reaffirmed at the Executive Council meeting in The Hague today, significant and sustainable additional financial and in kind support from the international community remains essential to ensure the safe, verifiable, and rapid elimination of Assad's chemical weapons programme. The United Kingdom has contributed over $3.8 million to the OPCW Syria Missions since the fall of Assad. We encourage other States Parties who have not previously supported Syria-related destruction activities financially to contribute at the earliest opportunity. For our part, we will continue to provide technical expertise to both Syria and the OPCW. Colleagues, let us not squander this window of opportunity. Together, we can support Syria and the OPCW to make further progress to eliminate Assad's chemical weapons programme and help to ensure those responsible for chemical weapons use are held to account. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Over 100 Additional Sites May Be Linked to Syria's Chemical-Weapons Programme, Senior Disarmament Affairs Official Tells Security Council Meetings Coverage Security Council 10117th Meeting (AM) SC/16312 10 March 2026 Syria's past chemical-weapons programme came under further scrutiny today as the Security Council examined new findings indicating that, in addition to the 26 declared sites, more than 100 other locations may have been involved in the previous Government's chemical-weapons-related activities. Syria has been mired in conflict since 2011, when protests during the wider Arab Spring escalated into a civil war involving the Government of Bashar al-Assad, opposition groups and various foreign actors. After more than a decade of fighting, the Assad Government collapsed in late 2024, ending his family's decades-long rule. Meanwhile, the international community continues to press the new authorities in Damascus for clarity over the country's past chemical weapons programme under the oversight of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) the body responsible for implementing and enforcing the Chemical Weapons Convention. Adedeji Ebo, Director and Deputy to High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, reported that the Office for Disarmament Affairs has been in regular contact with the OPCW Technical Secretariat and he held a meeting last week with Syria's UN representative. In this month's report, the OPCW Technical Secretariat reiterates that, in addition to the 26 declared sites, "information made available to the OPCW suggests that there are more than 100 other sites that may have been involved in the previous Government's chemical-weapons-related activities". The Technical Secretariat plans to visit all these locations. Based on the information gathered through OPCW deployments in 2025, "at least two locations visited by the OPCW could be declarable under the Chemical Weapons Convention", he said. Unfortunately, further site visits are currently on hold, given the conflict in the region. However, OPCW teams continue to conduct interviews and review documents until the security situation becomes more permissive. From 27 to 29 January, the Technical Secretariat and the Syrian National Authority visited a location in the Aleppo area to assess potentially undeclared elements of the chemical weapons programme developed by the previous Government, including "storage containers for chemical precursors and 75 undeclared cylinders". The cylinders were no longer present at the site, but, on 29 January, the OPCW team visited a scrapyard and observed pieces that may have been part of the gas cylinders, he said, welcoming the continued cooperation by the Syrian National Authority with the Technical Secretariat. The Council also heard civil society briefers who highlighted the remaining challenges and the way forward. Syria Lacks Capacity to Address Assad-Era Chemical-Weapons Programme "There is a new Government in Syria that has no institutional knowledge of the Assad-era chemical weapons programme," said Lennie Phillips, a Senior Research Fellow in the Royal United Services Institute, who served as team leader for the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission in Syria from 2015 to 2017. "From those investigations, it was clear that Assad's team had not declared all their chemical-weapons programme," he said. With limited access to information about those weapons and former Assad regime officials unlikely to provide accurate intelligence it is now crucial to locate any potential chemical-weapons sites, visit and assess them. "Intact sites present their own hazards, such as mines, explosive remnants of war, booby traps and chemical contamination," he said. Many sites were damaged in the conflict, making verification challenging through the rubble, he said, emphasizing that the new Government needs the know-how to locate and destroy any remaining chemical weapons. Andrew Moore of the HALO Trust an international non-governmental organization best known for clearing landmines, but also for addressing all types of conventional explosives said that the remnants of chemical weapons in Syria cannot be assessed and destroyed unless OPCW inspection teams can safely access and traverse weapons-storage sites that were previously bombed and are likely littered with deadly unexploded conventional ordnance. However, this is "an easy and practical impediment to remove" with the right support and investment, he said. While support from international organizations will be needed at the outset, the Syrian Government is committed to developing national capacity to carry out the vital work of explosives disposal. A two-year capacity-building project could help achieve this goal, he said, adding that HALO is currently discussing with Syria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the newly formed National Mine Action Centre a memorandum of understanding to guide this work. "All of this costs money, but the likely return on these investments is high," he said, citing potential outcomes, such as facilitating the destruction of remaining chemical weapons stockpiles and building the Syrian Government's capacity to address ongoing explosive hazards. "If resources match the ambition, it can be done," he said, stressing the immediate need to "get on with assessing every site to develop a clear sense of the timeframe and costs required for conventional weapons disposal at the sites". Syria Steps Up Cooperation with OPCW The representative of Syria underscored the major and complex challenges the country faces, including "security and operational difficulties, the secrecy that surrounded the former regime's chemical programme, the absence of institutional memory and the legacy of 14 years of war". However, Syria has stepped up its cooperation with OPCW to address its chemical-weapons legacy. The Government has facilitated visits to over 25 suspected sites, enabled examination of more than 10,000 documents and supported interviews with witnesses linked to the former chemical programme. Syrian authorities also promptly reported on the discovery of 75 old chemical cylinders. Ongoing efforts include planning additional site visits and preparing for on-site destruction activities. He, however, highlighted the need for the support of States parties to the Convention and the broader international community. Efforts are under way to "frame this cooperation within a comprehensive coordination mechanism that will soon be announced in New York", he added. Calls for Contributions to OPCW Mission in Syria The representative of the United States, Council President for March, speaking in her national capacity, said her country is working with Syria and partners in the Syria-led "destruction planning group" to support efforts to destroy such weapons and strengthen national capacity. Adding that finding, securing, declaring and verifiably destroying remnants of these weapons is "costly", she called for voluntary, monetary and in-kind contributions to OPCW's Syrian mission. The United Kingdom and Greece highlighted their financial contribution to that end, with the former's delegate underscoring: "[The OPCW's latest report] adds to an already extensive body of evidence confirming a systematic pattern of chemical weapons use by the former Assad regime." The current progress provides a genuine opportunity to eradicate the threat posed by Assad's chemical weapons "once and for all", she added. For its part, Turkiye recently hosted a technical workshop in Ankara that brought together Syrian authorities, several countries and their experts and OPCW to identify capacity gaps and discuss destruction, its delegate said. Panama's representative welcomed the strong engagement of Syria's new Government and said OPCW's rigorous efforts in Syria are critical to ensure chemical weapons are never used again in that country. Similarly, France's delegate emphasized that the complete and verifiable destruction of the Assad regime's remaining chemical weapons now proven to have been used against civilians is a crucial step forward. Delegate Says OPCW Report on Syria Chemical Weapons Lacks Evidence However, the speaker for the Russian Federation expressed regret that the OPCW Technical Secretariat's actions remain directed towards one objective searching for elements of Syria's military-chemical programme "supposedly concealed by the former Government". This is being done to level accusations against the former Government at "the West's behest". Meanwhile, the contents of the latest report by the OPCW Investigation and Identification Team are "reminiscent of a B-grade action movie" as the report makes conclusions supported by neither testimony nor evidence, she noted. Latvia's representative, describing the report's findings as "deeply disturbing", underscored that "evidence of their use has seen the light of day". "It is proof that accountability prevails and that the facts will be revealed," she said. Bahrain's speaker also welcomed Syria's cooperation with OPCW, as this would continue to "uncover the truth and address remaining issues in a technical, professional and objective manner". Colombia's delegate pointed to the need to ensure both the preservation of evidence and the integrity of relevant sites given the current regional context marked by "volatile security conditions". On that, the representative of Pakistan emphasized the need to address foreign military occupation, air strikes and terrorism to "enable a broader environment for resolution of chemical-weapons-related issues in Syria". Accountability Key to Syria's Political Transition The representative of Denmark said accountability is crucial for a successful political transition in Syria, emphasizing: "This also means accountability for those responsible for the use of chemical weapons." China's delegate recalled that the Investigation and Identification Team in Syria has been "highly controversial" since its inception. Those bodies must both observe the principle of impartiality in all their work. Calling on Syria's new Government to act resolutely against all terrorist groups, he warned: "Under no circumstances should terrorists be allowed to acquire or use chemical weapons." The representative of Liberia, speaking also for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Somalia, said: "History reminds us that difficult disarmament challenges are rarely resolved in a single moment. Rather, they are resolved through persistence, cooperation and a steady commitment to transparency." When those elements come together, "even the most complex files can be resolved", he emphasized. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Final batch of U.S. M1A2T Abrams tanks en route to Taiwan: MND source ROC Central News Agency 03/10/2026 07:46 PM Taipei, March 10 (CNA) The final 28 of 108 M1A2T Abrams tanks ordered from the United States are at sea and expected to arrive in Taiwan before the end of March, a Ministry of National Defense (MND) official said Tuesday. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the MND official told CNA that the scheduled delivery would ensure no gap in training schedules between the incoming third batch and the 42-tank second batch, which arrived at Taipei Port in July last year. According to the official, the second batch has been deployed since December last year to the Kengzikou Training Area in Hsinchu County, where crews have completed live-fire training, including dry-fire drills and mounted machine gun combat firing. The 42 tanks are to be formally commissioned into active service at a closed-door ceremony in the second quarter of this year, the official said. The first batch of 38 Abrams tanks arrived in December 2024 and, after testing and training, was commissioned into Hsinchu's 584th Armored Brigade in late October 2025. (By Matt Yu and Shih Hsiu-chuan) Enditem/ASG NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan ROC Ministry of National Defense 2026.03.10 Issuing AuthorityPolitical Warfare Bureau PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan 1.Date: 6 a.m. Mar. 9 (Mon.) to 6 a.m. Mar. 10 (Tue.) (UTC+8) 2.PLA activities: 6 PLAN ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities. 3.Illustration of flight path is not provided due to no PLA aircraft operating around Taiwan were detected during this timeframe. 1150310_PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkiye deploying Patriot air defense system in eastern Malatya province: Turkish Defense Ministry Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC) 10.03.2026 [12:19] Baku, March 10, AZERTAC Turkiye said Tuesday that a Patriot air defense system is being prepared for operational readiness in eastern Turkiye as part of efforts coordinated with NATO to help protect the country's airspace amid the ongoing regional tensions, according to Anadolu Agency. In a statement, the National Defense Ministry said the Turkish Armed Forces remain "fully committed to ensuring the security of our country and our citizens" amid the recent regional developments. "In light of recent developments in our region, necessary measures are being taken to secure our borders and airspace, and we are in consultations with NATO and our Allies," the ministry said. It added that, alongside national security measures, the alliance has reinforced its regional defense posture. "In addition to the national measures we have implemented, NATO has enhanced air and missile defence measures," the statement said. "As part of this framework, a Patriot System is currently in Malatya and is being prepared for operational readiness to support the protection of our airspace," the ministry noted. The ministry said Turkiye would continue coordinating with the alliance on defense and security matters. "Our country, which maintains its defence and security capacity at the highest level, will continue to assess developments in cooperation and consultation with NATO and our Allies, and strive for regional peace and stability," the statement said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Analysis: continuity and change in China's 2026 government work report 10:59, March 11, 2026 By Li Xinping ( People's Daily Citizens visit a rapeseed flower field in Xiang'an district, Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian province, March 7, 2026. (Photo/Feng Xiaofei) The year 2026 marks the opening year of the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030). China targets an economic growth of 4.5-5 percent this year and will strive for better in practice, according to the country's government work report. Main targets for development this year also include: a surveyed urban unemployment rate around 5.5 percent; over 12 million new urban jobs; an increase in the consumer price index of around 2 percent; growth in personal income in step with economic growth; a basic equilibrium in the balance of payments; grain output of around 700 million tons; and a drop of around 3.8 percent in carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP. These core indicators collectively signal a clear national priority: the unwavering pursuit of high-quality development. This strategy focuses on achieving substantive qualitative improvements alongside reasonable quantitative growth. The targets embody a balance of "change" and "continuity," reflecting a policy methodology that emphasizes progress while ensuring stability. Despite external uncertainties, China remains focused on managing its domestic affairs effectively, leveraging the certainty derived from high-quality development to navigate external challenges. Setting the economic growth target at around 4.5-5 percent demonstrates a pragmatic approach. This realistic assessment acknowledges current economic headwinds while providing necessary flexibility for structural adjustments, risk mitigation, and reforms. Furthermore, the target also aligns with the long-range objectives through the year 2035 and reflects the requirement of laying a solid foundation and making comprehensive efforts during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, balancing both present needs and long-term goals. Workers assemble motorcycles for export orders on a smart assembly line of motorcycle manufacturer Shineray in southwest China's Chongqing municipality, Feb. 26, 2026. (Photo/Lei Jian) By committing to striving for better in practice, China demonstrates a resolve for action, dedication, and tenacity in overcoming difficulties. This consistent approach embodies the historical initiative of the Communist Party of China -- the courage to face severe tests head-on and the determination to surmount challenges, mitigate risks, and tackle difficulties. A closer look at the three major indicators -- prices, employment, and the balance of payments -- offers further insight. Together with economic growth, these indicators are often referred to as the "four pillars" of macroeconomic performance. This year, the targets for employment, prices, and international payments remain unchanged from last year. This demonstrates that, on the basis of maintaining stability and safeguarding the fundamentals, China will continue consolidating and strengthening the momentum of economic recovery and growth. Regarding income, the report states that personal incomes rise in step with economic growth. This goal may sound simple, but behind it lies a policy orientation that places people's well-being above all else. Measures such as improving policies for free preschool education and increasing minimum basic old-age benefits for rural and non-working urban residents by 20 yuan ($2.9) highlight a stronger commitment to delivering tangible benefits for the people. Another point worth noting is the grain output target. The government work report proposes a grain output of around 700 million metric tons. While this figure appears unchanged from last year, it carries deeper significance. It represents both a firm commitment to the bottom line that "China's food supply remains firmly in its own hands" and a solid step toward the goal of reaching around 725 million metric tons in overall grain production capacity during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. Achieving stability at the 700 million metric ton level for two consecutive years demonstrates strategic patience, providing a solid platform for reaching even higher production levels. Finally, the target to reduce carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by about 3.8% balances the needs of economic and social development, green and low-carbon transition, and national energy security. This measured reduction supports the orderly achievement of China's goal to peak carbon emissions before 2030. Recent years have seen China refine its climate approach, shifting from a system focused primarily on controlling total energy consumption to a "dual control" mechanism targeting both the total volume and intensity of carbon emissions. This evolution represents a move from regulating energy inputs to managing carbon outputs, and from indirect carbon control towards more targeted carbon governance. Consequently, the orientation toward green development is clearer, market-based incentives are stronger, and alignment with global climate governance efforts is closer. This year's government work report continues to prioritize people's well-being. Initiatives range from enhanced fiscal support for public services and plans to boost urban and rural incomes, to increasing the proportion of government investment allocated to livelihood projects. These efforts underscore the government's commitment to delivering concrete improvements that enhance citizens' sense of fulfillment. From the 1st Five-Year Plan to the 14th Five-Year Plan, China's original aspiration and mission of seeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation has remained unchanged. The country's major undertakings are always rooted in the needs and concerns of the people. Chinese modernization is not an abstract concept; it is manifested in rising incomes, improved surroundings, growing hope among the people, and the warmth of policies that touch every aspect of people's lives. Looking forward, China's development targets form a coherent progression: annual objectives feed into Five-Year Plans, which in turn advance the long-range vision for 2035. This interlocking strategic framework ensures the national blueprint is implemented consistently. By steadfastly focusing on managing its own affairs effectively and making solid, incremental progress, China advances steadily towards its goals. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Middle East Update Oral Statement Oral statement to Parliament Statement to update the House on the Middle East. From: Ministry of Defence and The Rt Hon John Healey MP Published 9 March 2026 Delivered on: 9 March 2026 With permission, Madam Deputy Speaker, I wish to make a statement to update the House on the Middle East. I want to start by praising our Armed Forces, who are working 24/7 to protect British lives and British interests in the region. From our 400-strong air defence teams in Cyprus, who I visited last week... To our counter drone specialists in Iraq... Our fast jet pilots in Qatar... Our command specialists in the regional defence co-ordination centres... And everyone working on this crisis, abroad and at home. Iran threatens all of us. But it is our forces who feel it most acutely. So, I'm sure the whole House will join me in thanking them for their outstanding dedication and professionalism. For protecting British lives. For keeping us safe. We want to say to them: You are the best of Britain in action. Madam Deputy Speaker, the UK Government's approach throughout current developments in the Middle East is founded on three principles: First, defensive - taking the necessary action to strengthen our collective defence. So, we took steps from January - weeks before this current war with Iran began - to preposition Typhoons, F-35s, counter drone teams, radars and defence in the region. As well as the additional military capability we've sent since last Saturday, when the Iranian retaliation attacks started. Second, coordination with allies - we do not work alone. So, we are leading and coordinating our response with NATO allies and other partners, including the US, E5 nations, and Gulf states. I am in daily contact with my counterparts, just as the Chief of the Defence Staff is too. And third, legal... we must have a legal basis for our decisions. That allows Ministers to make sound choices, and allows our military to operate with full confidence. Our UK action is grounded in these principles: To protect British people, British bases and British allies. Madam Deputy Speaker, in the last week, we've seen Iran lashing out with dangerous, indiscriminate and reckless strikes. In the first day alone, they attacked 10 countries, hitting military and civilian targets... including hotels in Dubai and Bahrain and the Kuwaiti national airport. British troops stationed at a US base in Bahrain were within a few hundred yards of an Iranian strike. And a small drone hit our base in Cyprus... coming from Lebanon or Iraq. Iran has now fired over 500 ballistic and cruise missiles and over 2,000 drones. Even after the Iranian President's apology and promise to Gulf states over the weekend, Iran still then struck multiple countries with drones and missiles, including Bahrain where 32 civilians were injured in one attack and a desalination plant was hit in another. We totally condemn these attacks. They are putting hundreds of thousands of people at risk, including British nationals and members of our Armed Forces. But Madam Deputy Speaker, while Iran's indiscriminate strikes began last Saturday, the Iranian regime has for decades been a source of evil, exporting violence across the Middle East and beyond. It has supplied nearly 60,000 Shahed drones to Putin for Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine. Here in the UK, they conduct aggressive cyber-attacks against us and have plotted assassination on Britain's streets. The Iranian regime is a destructive force - which has slaughtered protestors in its own streets and inflicts terrible suffering, especially against its own people. We want to see Iran stop their strikes, give up their nuclear ambitions and restart the negotiations. And as Defence Secretary, my number one priority is protecting British people - military and civilian alike. Since January, we have moved significant military assets to the region, ahead of the first US-Israeli strikes. Those preparations made a real difference. It meant we've conducted defensive military operations from day one. Our F-35s destroying Iranian drones over Jordan. Our Typhoons shooting down targets heading towards Qatar. Our counter-drone units defeating further attacks against coalition bases in Iraq. We acted early to protect British people and British interests, and to support our allies. As the Iranian response became clear from last weekend, we adapted our actions to the changing circumstances... Driven at all times by military advice. That's why we agreed a new US request for use of British bases at RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia last Sunday. And that's why I committed further resources to the region last week, including four extra Typhoons, three Wildcat helicopters, a Merlin helicopter and HMS Dragon. And I can confirm today that Dragon will set sail in the next couple of days. I want to personally thank all those who are working tirelessly - some 22 hours a day - to get the ship ready. HMS Dragon will join US air defence destroyers to provide additional protection in the Eastern Mediterranean. Madam Deputy Speaker, let me also provide the House with the following operational update from last night: The UK is now conducting defensive air sorties in support of the UAE. Typhoons successfully took out two drones... one over Jordan and a second heading to Bahrain. The third Wildcat has arrived in Cyprus. We have now deployed additional RAF operations experts to more than five countries in the region, helping coordinate regional military and civilian airspace. And the fragments of the drone that hit Akrotiri are being analysed for foreign military hardware by our experts at Dstl. British pilots have now racked up over 230 flying hours. We have eight jets in Qatar, including the joint British-Qatari squadron, who are flying in support of regional allies... And we have more jets in Cyprus than any other nation. I visited our 400 strong air defence team at our base in Cyprus on Thursday last week. They are there in addition to more than 4,000 personnel regularly stationed on the Island. I was subjected to the daily air sirens they face. I saw the impact that the Iranian proxy drone caused. I asked the Commander British Forces, General Tom Bewick: "Do you need anything more from us back in Britain?" And he said to me: "No. I have been given everything I've asked for." The UK is leading this response to Iranian threats, in close coordination with our allies. Cyprus's Head of the National Guard told me last week: "our military cooperation has never been closer." And our support is backed up by our NATO allies, including the US, France, Greece and Germany. Something I discussed with E5 defence ministers last week. I can also confirm to the House: having given the US the go ahead to the US to use British bases for specific defensive operations into Iran last Sunday, the first US bomber landed at RAF Fairford on Friday. As the PM set out, this activity is part of: "the collective self-defence of longstanding friends and allies, and protecting British lives." It is "in accordance with international law." These missions are to destroy Iranian missiles at source. Madam Deputy Speaker, we are deeply concerned about escalation in Lebanon. Hezbollah is a dangerous terror organisation, tied to the regime in Iran. It must cease these attacks against Israel. But we do not want to see Israel expand this conflict further into Lebanon. More than 400 have already been killed and more than half a million displaced by recent Israeli operations. The solution to these problems, to this conflict, must be guided by the Lebanese people and the Lebanese government. And we urge de-escalation and the return to a negotiated process. Now I know, moving beyond defence, that many of us as MPs have constituents with friends and family that are caught in the region. Worried for the safety of their loved ones. My Right Honourable Friend, the Foreign Secretary and FCDO teams are working as fast as possible to get our people out of the region. Three chartered flights have now taken off, with more to come this week. More than 170,000 people have registered their presence, which has allowed us to get them the information and the support that they need. More than 37,000 British nationals have been evacuated since the start of the crisis response. And as the Prime Minister said last week: "We will not stop until our people are safe." Madam Deputy Speaker, these are deeply uncertain times. While we deal with the immediate crisis in the Middle East, we must also maintain our strong support for Ukraine, deter increasing threats in the High North, fulfil our NATO commitments, and ensure our homeland is protected. Our adversaries are watching. We must manage rising demands on defence, balancing resources to best effect. We must also deal with the cost of living impact this conflict could cause, just as my Right Honourable Friend the Chancellor has just set out in her statement. I am proud of the UK's response. Acting - at all times - in our national interest. We will defend our allies. We will support our Armed Forces. We will do everything necessary to protect British lives and British interests. To make Britain secure at home and strong abroad. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Rubio's Call with UK Foreign Secretary Cooper US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson March 10, 2026 The below is attributable to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott: Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke today with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper to discuss Iran. The Secretary and Foreign Secretary underscored the importance of continued close coordination on the security of the broader Middle East. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Government supports women's and girls' resilience in Ukraine Government Offices of Sweden Press release from Ministry of Employment, Ministry for Foreign Affairs Published 10 March 2026 Russia's systematic and illegal attacks in Ukraine have deadly consequences. Women may be vulnerable, but they also play a key role in Ukraine's civilian resilience in areas such as health and medical care, education and defence initiatives. Therefore, the Government is allocating more than SEK 71 million for activities that benefit women and girls in Ukraine. The funds will be distributed between the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Programme for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) with a focus on humanitarian activities. "Ukrainian women have been the backbone of the country's resilience since day one of Russia's full-scale invasion. Today, on International Women's Day, I want Ukrainian women and girls to feel Sweden's support. That's why today we are presenting a humanitarian support package of more than SEK 71 million in 2026 to support the resilience of Ukrainian women," says Minister for International Development Cooperation and Trade Benjamin Dousa. "Gender equality is also a matter of defence and security. Ukrainian women are defending Europe against Putin's terror on a daily basis. Supporting the women of Ukraine is not only our duty, but a moral imperative," says Minister for Gender Equality Nina Larsson. The vulnerability of women and girls often increases at times of war and humanitarian crisis. The support that the Government is providing will contribute to psychosocial support for women and girls, improved maternal care and protection for women's sexual and reproductive health and rights. For example, support to the UNFPA reaches more than 8.9 million people through its 153 gynaecological clinics, 27 mobile reproductive health units, three mobile maternity units and 104 health facilities. Gender equality, women's and girls' freedom, empowerment, and sexual and reproductive health and rights are all clear priorities for Sweden. Through close cooperation with the UNFPA and UN Women, Sweden is helping to improve women's and girls' enjoyment of human rights. At a time when opposition to women's and girls' human rights is increasing, this work is more important than ever. Swedish support helps provide access to safe abortion care and contraception, and promotes the trend towards greater gender equality globally. Sweden's support to UN Women and UNFPA The Government has entered into a new three-year agreement with UN Women for the period 2026-2028. Sweden's financial support to UN Women is expected to amount to SEK 112.5 million annually. Twenty per cent or SEK 22.5 million of the support for 2026 will be earmarked for UN Women's humanitarian activities in Ukraine. The Government has also entered into a new three-year agreement with the UNFPA for the period 2026-2028. Sweden's financial support to the UNFPA is expected to amount to SEK 486.5 million annually. Twenty per cent of the support for 2026 is earmarked for the UNFPA's humanitarian fund, including SEK 48.65 million specifically for activities in Ukraine. In addition to core support from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Sweden provides significant programme and project support to UN Women and UNFPA activities through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. Funding for this support comes from the development assistance budget. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement from Ministry for Foreign Affairs on summoning of Russian Ambassador Government Offices of Sweden Statement by Ministry for Foreign Affairs Published 10 March 2026 On 9 March, the Russian Ambassador in Stockholm was summoned to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The Ministry summoned the Ambassador to protest against Russia's extensive attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine on 6-7 March. During the meeting, it was emphasised that Russia's attacks are a clear violation of international law, and that Sweden will continue to stand up for Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity and right to self-defence. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Meeting with Head of the Donetsk People's Republic Denis Pushilin The President had a working meeting with Head of Donetsk People's Republic Denis Pushilin. March 10, 2026 15:15 The Kremlin, Moscow At the beginning of the conversation, Vladimir Putin noted that even in the Soviet Union, the Donetsk Region - now the Donetsk People's Republic - was considered to be one of the most developed and largest industrial and infrastructurally advanced regions of the USSR, both in terms of industry and agriculture. The President also remarked that colossal damage had been inflicted in recent years, but recovery is progressing at a fairly rapid pace, and under the leadership of Denis Pushilin's team, there is clear forward movement and progress. Denis Pushilin thanked the President for the high praise and confirmed that everything is being done in the republic to restore its former glory and contribute to the benefit of the entire country, emphasising that the DPR is supported by entire Russia. One of the most challenging and sensitive issues, according to Denis Pushilin, is water supply. Many measures have already been taken to address this, with efforts focused on stabilising the situation, including reducing water losses. Currently, 223 emergency teams are operational, of which 117 are from sponsor regions. Moscow is contributing the most to Donetsk, with a total of 700 specialists from various regions engaged. Last year, 126 kilometres of pipelines were replaced, and this year, another 165 kilometres are planned for replacement. With federal assistance, water conduits for internal redistribution have been constructed, and underground sources are being utilised. Following a snowy winter, reservoirs are filling up. Another complex issue is the work in liberated territories. People need passports, documents, pensions, benefits, and lump sum payments. Vladimir Putin observed that quite recently, just six months ago, about 25 percent of the territory of the Donetsk People's Republic was under the control of the Kiev authorities, and asked for updated estimates. Denis Pushilin reported that the figure is now 15-17 percent. The discussion also touched upon supplying power to the households, the mass transit system, equipping medical institutions with high-tech equipment, training specialists at Donetsk Medical University, and rebuilding roads. According to the 2022 assessment, no more than 14 percent of federal, regional and inter-urban roads were up to standard. To date, 2,500 kilometres of roads have been built or brought up to code, and another 3,500 kilometres will have been built by 2030. Thirty-six artificial structures have been built. A domestic production base is being created with localisation in the road sector standing at 85 percent, including crushed stone, sand, and cement. At the request of the President, Denis Pushilin discussed the creation of a ring road around the Sea of Azov. The Donetsk People's Republic is completing its part of the project ahead of schedule: last year, the plan included 450 kilometres, but over 800 kilometres have been built in the end. The head of the republic also spoke about the SMO Zemsky Veteran programme. Many of those who fought for the DPR, shed their blood and were wounded are thinking about staying in the republic and have a sense that they have become part of that land. The programme provides for the allocation of land plots of up to 15 sotkas (0.15 hectare) and mortgage loans at 2 percent and includes building a house and other support tools. The President said the size of the land plots could be increased. At the end of the meeting, Denis Pushilin shared a story of a serviceman with the President. The serviceman, 21, is originally from Samara. After completing his compulsory military service, he signed a contract and took part in assault operations, leading assault groups in the 51st Army of the Southern Military District. At one point during a combat operation he found himself defending his position alone for 68 days. The enemy tried to get to him, but he held on; ammunition, mines and food were delivered to him by drones. The attacks against him continued day and night with artillery fire and from the flank. Yet, he held the position for 68 days. He has been evacuated. He completed the assigned tasks, and other servicemen have since advanced farther. Unfortunately, both of his feet had to be amputated. He is now staying in a hospital. Denis Pushilin said it was an outstanding feat and asked for appropriate awards to be presented to the soldier with the involvement of the Defence Ministry. Vladimir Putin promised to discuss this with the commander and said that the award would match the serviceman's feat. And, of course, everything would be done to help him from a medical standpoint, to support him, and to make him feel like a fully functional individual. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine Says Key Missile-Parts Plant Hit; Russia Claims Civilians Killed By RFE/RL March 10, 2026 Kyiv and Moscow gave differing accounts of a Ukrainian strike on Russia's Bryansk border region, with the local governor saying six civilians were killed and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reporting a hit on a missile-component plant. Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities said a total of at least six people were killed in Russian attacks on March 10, including four fatally injured in an air strike on the Donetsk region city of Slovyansk, where they said another 16 were injured. The attacks came as US-brokered negotiations to end Russia's war on Ukraine, now in its fifth year since the full-scale invasion, have been stalled amid the US-Israeli campaign against Iran. In an audio message, Zelenskyy told reporters that a US-Ukraine-Russia meeting could be held next week, possibly in Switzerland or Turkey, where some previous rounds of talks have taken place. US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff told CNBC on March 10 that he though "the trilateral will be shifted till sometime next week, and...we're going to remain positive on that." Several rounds of talks have made little visible progress on key issues including territory, with Russia insisting on being handed the part of Ukraine's Donetsk region that it has been unable to seize in years of heavy fighting. The veracity of the accounts of the strike on Bryansk could not immediately be verified. Russian regional Governor Aleksandr Bogomaz said in a Telegram post that six civilians were killed and 37 injured. Zelenskyy did not mention casualties in public comments on the attack. "Our soldiers struck one of the key Russian military factories in Bryansk. This factory produced electronics and components for Russian missiles," he said in a daily address, calling the strike "a completely justified response to the aggressor." Ukrainian authorities said that, in addition to the casualties on Slovyansk, one person was killed in the Sumy region and one in the Dnipropetrovsk region, where a separate attack injured nine people, including a child. Amid constant fighting along the front lines in eastern and southern Ukraine, Russia has unleashed daily attacks on cities, towns, and infrastructure across the country, often hitting homes and apartment buildings and killing or injuring civilians. With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia- missile-plant-war/33700795.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 Hungary's Parliament Passes Bill to Freeze Ukraine's Seized Gold, Cash Sputnik News 20260310 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Hungarian parliament has passed a bill to freeze gold and cash confiscated from Ukraine's Oschadbank for 60 days while their origin and purpose are investigated, as shown by the voting results. On Friday, the Hungarian National Tax and Customs Administration 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 ($40.5 million), and nine kilograms of gold from Austria to Ukraine. Hungary demanded an explanation from Ukraine. At the meeting on Tuesday, 124 out of 200 lawmakers supported the bill, 28 voted against, and nine abstained. Confiscated money may be left in Hungary for up to 60 days while an investigation is underway to establish the origin, destination, purpose of use, and intended use of the confiscated funds, the bill read. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Missile Strike Hits Bryansk, Leaving Dead and Injured - Governor Sputnik News 20260310 BRYANSK, Russia (Sputnik) - Six people have been killed in the Ukrainian missile strike on Russia's Bryansk, another 37 were injured, Governor Alexander Bogomaz said on Tuesday. "The city of Bryansk was hit by a missile attack... Unfortunately, there are dead and injured," Bogomaz said on Telegram. Priority measures are being taken to localize and eliminate the consequences of this inhuman terrorist attack, the governor said. "A rocket attack was launched on the city of Bryansk. Ukrainian Nazis deliberately targeted civilians," Bogomaz said. UN Oppose Strikes Against Civilians The United Nations condemns strikes on civilians and civilian infrastructure in any place of the world, spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday after Ukraine's deadly attack on Bryansk. "I haven't seen that particular report, but we've been very clear that we are against strikes against civilians, civilian infrastructure wherever they occur," Dujarric told reporters when asked to comment on Kiev's attack. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Comment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on the report of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine and the conference room paper on the deportation of Ukrainian children Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine 10 March 2026 16:40 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine welcomes the publication of the report of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine and the Commission's conference room paper on the deportation, transfer and enforced disappearances of Ukrainian children. The published materials contain new substantial evidence of serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights committed by the Russian Federation during its armed aggression against Ukraine. Particular attention should be paid to the Commission's findings regarding Russia's crimes related to the deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children. The Commission's conference paper provides a detailed analysis of new cases of such crimes, as well as tracking the further movements of children and obstacles to their return. The evidence collected indicates that the deportations and transfers of children are large-scale and systematic in nature and are carried out as part of an organized policy of the Russian Federation. The Commission established that the Russian authorities not only transferred children from the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine, but also created conditions for their long-term placement in the territory of the Russian Federation, including through placement in foster families or adoption, as well as granting them Russian citizenship. In its findings, the Commission confirms that the deportations and transfers of Ukrainian children committed by the Russian authorities constitute war crimes under international humanitarian law. At the same time, the unjustified delay in the repatriation of deported civilians constitutes a separate war crime. The document also notes that the Russian authorities systematically failed to inform parents, relatives or Ukrainian authorities about the fate and whereabouts of deported children. In many cases, this resulted in prolonged family separations and actual enforced disappearances of children. The Commission established that such enforced disappearances were widespread and systemic in nature and, together with the deportations and transfers of children, were carried out as an element of the state policy of the Russian Federation. This provides grounds for qualifying such actions as crimes against humanity. The evidence collected by the Commission indicates that the deportations and transfers of children were carried out in coordination between various Russian authorities at the federal, regional and occupation levels. The Commission's materials also indicate that these actions were coordinated at the highest level of the Russian state, including the President of the Russian Federation, Putin, and the structures accountable to him. The Commission's report also contains new evidence of other serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law committed by the Russian Federation in the context of its armed aggression against Ukraine. In particular, it concerns the facts of torture and ill-treatment of civilians and prisoners of war, enforced disappearances, as well as other gross violations of international law. The Commission also established numerous violations of the right to a fair trial. In particular, this concerns the unlawful prosecution of Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war in the courts of the Russian Federation and in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine, the fabrication of evidence, the use of torture to obtain confessions, and the systematic disregard of fundamental procedural guarantees provided for by international law. In addition, the report contains information about the recruitment of foreign nationals from at least 17 foreign countries (referring only to verified cases, although the number may be higher) into the Russian occupation forces to participate in the war against Ukraine, including through deception, coercion or exploitation of people's vulnerable situations. The Commission's conclusions once again confirm the need to ensure full and inevitable accountability for war crimes, crimes against humanity and other serious violations of international law committed in the context of the Russian aggression against Ukraine. The materials collected by the Commission constitute an important evidentiary basis for further investigations and judicial proceedings at the national and international levels. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine calls on the international community to increase pressure on the aggressor state in order to stop gross violations of international law, ensure access of international monitoring and humanitarian mechanisms to places of detention of Ukrainian citizens, secure return of deported children and bring those responsible to justice. Ukraine highly appreciates the work of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine and emphasizes the importance of extending its mandate. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Andrii Sybiha held a meeting with President-elect of Chile Jose Antonio Kast Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine 10 March 2026 20:54 Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha: "Upon my arrival in Santiago, I was honored to meet with Jose Antonio Kast, who will be inaugurated as President of Chile tomorrow. I conveyed a personal message from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, his best wishes of success, and an invitation for the new Chilean leader to visit Ukraine. We spoke about areas in which we can boost mutually beneficial cooperation: from agriculture to digitalization and unmanned technologies. Ukraine is ready to work closely with the incoming administration, open a new quality of relations, and unlock its full potential. I also informed about the situation in Ukraine and peace efforts. Despite Russian attacks, Ukraine held the line, and overcame the most difficult winter. We will welcome the new administration's active role in peace efforts. I am grateful to Chile for its consistent support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Ultimately, it is not about Ukraine but about shared principles. I highly value the reassurance that Chile's support for Ukraine and a sooner restoration of peace remain unwavering." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ministry of Defence changes approach to drone procurement: demand will be generated automatically based on frontline data Ministry of Defence of Ukraine 10 March, 2026, 10:25 AM EET The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine is introducing a new approach to defense procurement of UAVs. From now on, demand for drones will be generated automatically based on high-quality battlefield data eliminating human intervention, subjective influence, and corruption risks. The transition from manual demand formation to an automated model will eliminate ineffective solutions that service members are forced to refine themselves. The state will procure only those UAVs that perform reliably, strike targets, and have proven their effectiveness on the front line. The order to this effect was signed by the Minister of Defence of Ukraine, Mykhailo Fedorov. How drone procurement will work under the new approach At the request of military units, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will compile a list of UAVs for procurement based solely on technical specifications without brand names or specific manufacturers. The UAV rating, based on combat data from digital systems ePoints, DOT-Chain, Brave1 Market, DELTA, and Mission Control will determine which specific products should be procured for frontline units in accordance with operational tasks: ePoints statistics on the real combat effectiveness of equipment; statistics on the real combat effectiveness of equipment; DOT-Chain and Brave1 Market data on equipment procured independently by military units (real demand on the ground); and data on equipment procured independently by military units (real demand on the ground); DELTA and Mission Control a synchronization matrix and analytics on combat employment. "This is the first time procurement decisions are generated automatically based on real combat data. If a drone does not fly or does not strike targets, the system simply will not generate demand for it. What matters is real combat performance," emphasized Mykhailo Fedorov. Decisions on UAV procurement will now be generated automatically based on real combat data Decisions on UAV procurement will now be generated automatically based on real combat data A new approach to budget allocation is also being implemented: 80% of funds are directed exclusively toward solutions that have proven their effectiveness based on system data; are directed exclusively toward solutions that have proven their effectiveness based on system data; 20% of funds are reserved for innovation and the procurement of new developments for testing in combat conditions. This enables rapid testing of new technologies without unnecessary bureaucracy. These measures will help strengthen the Defence Forces, equip the military with the most effective tools on the battlefield, and inflict losses on russia that make its further advances impossible. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Mykhailo Fedorov: Ukraine is boosting battlefield effectiveness and calling on the EU to strengthen defence support Ministry of Defence of Ukraine 10 March, 2026, 8:49 PM EET Ukraine's key priorities are strengthening air defence and securing defence funding. Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov outlined Ukraine's key defence needs at the EU Ambassadors Conference, attended by EU High Representative Kaja Kallas. During his online address, the Defence Minister said that Ukraine continues to inflict significant losses on russia. "Claims that russia holds the advantage on the battlefield are a myth. We are becoming increasingly effective, and the cost of the war for russia continues to rise," Mykhailo Fedorov emphasised. Russian forces are already suffering losses that exceed their capacity to mobilise and replenish personnel. This is an important step towards achieving one of the objectives of the War Plan halting russia's advance on the ground. The Defence Minister stressed that protecting the skies remains a key priority for Ukraine. This is why Ukraine calls on partners to continue supporting the PURL programme, which provides critically important air defence systems and missiles, including for Patriot and NASAMS systems. Mykhailo Fedorov expressed gratitude to the EU for its sustained support and for the decision to allocate a 90 billion loan to Ukraine in 2026-2027. He emphasised the importance of a flexible allocation of loan funds for Ukraine's defence. At the same time, achieving a just peace requires stopping tankers of the 'shadow fleet' and imposing new sanctions on russia's economy. Ukraine is developing a strategy of economic pressure against russia and will soon present it to its partners. The Defence Minister noted that Ukraine is already in a position to deliver value to its partners. He added that no other country has such extensive experience in countering Shahed drones, and that only Ukraine possesses the technical solutions to counter this threat effectively. "Cooperation with Ukraine can help prepare other countries for the challenges of modern warfare," Mykhailo Fedorov concluded. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Our Team Is Now on Its Way to the Gulf Region, Where They Can Help Protect Lives and Stabilize the Situation - Address by the President President of Ukraine 10 March 2026 - 19:59 Dear Ukrainians! A brief update on today. Our team - including military personnel and Rustem Umerov - is now on its way to the Gulf region, where they can help protect lives and stabilize the situation. We see the challenges that exist now due to strikes from Iran, due to this entire war, which could drag on. The Iranian regime has effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz - one of the main routes for supplying oil and gas to the global market. This is a major source of instability. No one in the world can yet say how long all of this will last, but it is important that the protection of life starts working effectively as soon as possible. Stability is important for us as well. Those now seeking Ukraine's help must continue to assist our own defense - first and foremost, our air defense. Last year, we already proposed an agreement to the United States - a drone agreement. This is the right way forward: to partner with us in the production and use of drones, and everyone now sees that there is no alternative to this approach. Ukraine has the greatest experience in the world in countering attack drones, and without our experience, it will be very difficult for the Gulf region, the entire Middle East, and partners in Europe and America to build strong protection. We are ready to help those who help us, help Ukraine. Rustem Umerov, together with our military officials, intelligence, the Ministry of Defense, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will prepare concrete agreements. Ukraine is a reliable security provider, and this is not only our security prospect, but also our economic one. Protection for Ukraine, cooperation with partners, and development of Ukrainian production. Everything Ukrainians have learned for their own defense can serve as a global foundation for security - a global foundation for protected life. Today, our intelligence agencies reported, among other things, on how the Russians want to leverage the war in the Middle East. They aim to benefit from Iranian strikes. Russians talk about lifting sanctions, claiming they supposedly could somehow help the United States in the Iran situation. These are typical Russian manipulations. They only help where they see an opportunity to dominate. They're simply incapable of working on an equal footing. We hope that the United States sees and understands all the risks, all the dependencies, and all the threats. Even a partial lifting of sanctions on Russia could serve as an extremely negative example - including for others, those who want to wage war on their neighbors, as Russia does. And one more thing. Today, I received a report from Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi on missile use and our responses - fully justified responses to the aggressor. Our warriors struck one of the key Russian military plants in Bryansk. This plant produced electronics and components for Russian missiles - those that strike our cities, our villages, and civilians. We defend ourselves. Russia has long had the ability to end this war - the war it started itself. This is basically their joint war - by Russia, the Iranian regime, and North Korea. This is their shared aggression against the West, against the entire democratic world, against the fact that nations and states have their own rights and real significance. Life must be protected. And we must act together to ensure this protection. I want to thank everyone standing with Ukraine. I thank everyone who is helping care for life and people. Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The President of Ukraine and the President of Turkiye Discussed the Situation around Iran and the Negotiation Process for Achieving Peace in Ukraine President of Ukraine 10 March 2026 - 18:11 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a phone call with President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The leaders discussed the situation surrounding Iran. Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine is ready to share its expertise to prevent the expansion of war and protect lives, while also highlighting that Ukrainians require strengthening of their own air defense and count on appropriate support from their partners. Special attention was given to the negotiation process aimed at achieving a dignified peace in Ukraine. Recep Tayyip Erdogan noted that Turkiye is ready to host the next round of talks in a trilateral format. Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked him for this initiative, highlighting that several meetings held in Istanbul last year helped achieve significant progress in the return of Ukrainians from Russian captivity. The Head of State expressed hope that the upcoming negotiations will also deliver meaningful results. Volodymyr Zelenskyy also personally thanked Recep Tayyip Erdogan for supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, for Turkiye's readiness to play a role in ensuring maritime security within the framework of the Coalition of the Willing, and for future decisions to assist the Ukrainian energy sector. The presidents agreed to remain in contact, both at their level and through their foreign ministers. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine Imposed Sanctions on Russian Judges Who Illegally Sentenced Prisoners of War President of Ukraine 10 March 2026 - 13:23 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed decrees enacting decisions of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine to impose sanctions on Russian judges, and to extend sanctions against Russian companies that were due to expire. The sanctions package includes 41 judges, of whom 38 are Russian citizens and three are collaborators. They issued unlawful prison sentences against prisoners of war and support and justify Russia's aggression against Ukraine. In particular, the sanctions include a Russian judge who, within a week, handed down sentences to nine Ukrainian prisoners of war in fabricated terrorism cases. Ukraine also imposed sanctions on former Ukrainians who, in temporarily occupied Donetsk, sentenced volunteers to death - two British citizens and one Moroccan - who had defended Ukraine as part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and were captured by Russia. Among the sanctioned judges are also those who issued unlawful rulings against public figures, activists, and journalists for their political and religious beliefs. "Sanctions against the so-called 'judges' who mass-produce politically motivated sentences against our citizens and our warriors are a matter of justice. It is especially disgraceful to see among them former Ukrainians who consciously became collaborators and turned the courts into instruments of repression," said Advisor - Commissioner of the President of Ukraine for Sanctions Policy Vladyslav Vlasiuk. The Head of State also signed a decree extending sanctions against 11 Russian companies that were due to expire. The first sanctions against them were introduced in 2021 and 2023. During this time, three companies from that list have been completely liquidated, which once again demonstrates the importance of sanctions. This package includes: a company engaged in the repair and maintenance of aviation equipment, including Ka- and Mi-type helicopters; a company specializing in the development and production of drones; as well as companies that illegally operate in the temporarily occupied Crimean Peninsula and were involved in the construction of the Crimean Bridge. Ukraine will share all relevant information with its partners for further synchronization within their jurisdictions. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address In tapping Rep. Xavier Becerra, a veteran Los Angeles lawmaker and son of Mexican immigrants, to become California's next attorney general, Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday placed a stalwart defender of immigrant rights at the forefront of anticipated legal battles between California and the incoming Trump administration.Becerra, 58, the governor's surprise pick to replace outgoing Attorney General Kamala Harris, who was elected last month to the U.S. Senate, on Tuesday had announced his intention to seek the top Democratic spot on the House Ways and Means Committee, which oversees tax and health care law and the nation's huge entitlement programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, all targets for overhaul by the new administration and Republican-led Congress.If confirmed as expected by the state Assembly and Senate, Becerra would become the state's first Latino attorney general, putting him in position to defend California's far-reaching environmental, health and immigration laws against expected attacks at the federal level.In a telephone interview, Becerra said "without a doubt" he expects to defend the so-called Dreamers, young immigrants brought to the United States as children by their parents without papers, and given relief from deportation under the Obama administration's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, a program that is considered vulnerable under the Trump administration.Brown's choice for the elected seat was unexpected. Sacramento insiders had speculated that the governor would appoint a placeholder -- perhaps a career member of the attorney general's staff -- to fill out the two remaining years of Harris' term. Becerra himself said the appointment came as a surprise, following recent phone conversations with Brown.But his selection drew wide accolades from California Democrats.State Senate President pro tem Kevin DeLeon, D-Los Angeles, called Becerra's appointment "a perfect matching of man and moment, given that California's prosperity and people are currently under threat by a hostile Trump administration."California Republicans were less kind. San Francisco attorney Harmeet Dhillon, a Republican National Committee member, called Becerra a poor choice because he lacks recent courtroom experience."He hasn't practiced law for 24 years and that strikes me as not the best choice for attorney general for California," she said.Becerra's law license has been inactive since 1991, according to the California State Bar, but this is not expected to hinder his confirmation because of court rulings that allowed Brown to serve as attorney general from 2007 to 2011, despite being in a similar situation.Meanwhile, the pick prompted instant interest in Becerra's downtown Los Angeles House seat. Former Assembly Speaker John Perez announced his candidacy for the seat within hours of the news.Born in Sacramento, Becerra grew up in a 685-square-foot home he shared with his parents and three sisters. A self-described "affirmative action baby," Becerra was the first in his family to go to college, earning his undergraduate degree in economics and law degree from Stanford University.Becerra said that his parents will serve as his touchstone in his new job, which is the second-most-powerful elected position in California behind the governor."They now are the models that I look to to know if I'm doing a good job" as the state's top law enforcement officer, Becerra told The Chronicle. "Am I protecting people like my parents from violence and criminal activity? Am I protecting them from consumer abuse? Am I making sure that they have clean air and clean water? Am I making sure ... that other immigrants like them know that they have a home in California?"The Legislature has 90 days to confirm his selection. His two years as attorney general would then provide a launch pad either for election to a full four-year term or higher office.Brown said in a statement that Becerra, who was a state deputy attorney general for three years before his 1992 election to Congress, "will be a champion for all Californians and help our state aggressively combat climate change."Genial and well-liked on Capitol Hill, Becerra served on several high-profile deficit-reduction committees, where he defended Social Security from GOP efforts to cut benefits and raise the retirement age. He is the highest-ranking Latino in Congress and former chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.Term-limited out of his House leadership job as caucus chairman this year, Becerra flirted with a U.S. Senate bid and was floated as a possible vice presidential pick for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.In an interview with The Chronicle last spring, Becerra described how his father, now 88, dropped out of school in the sixth grade because he "got tired of being put in the corner and having a dunce cap put on him because he had a difficult time understanding English." Now he has a grandchild who was just accepted at Yale, Becerra said. His mother, now 82, came to the United States from Mexico at 18 to marry his father.Becerra said in the interview that he had envisioned continuing his career in Congress, but was always ready to do more."Put me on the field," he said. "I just want to play. I don't care what the position is. I'll catch. I'll block. Whatever you need me to do, I'm going to try to do."Becerra is married to Dr. Carolina Reyes, a Stanford graduate with a medical degree from Harvard. They have three daughters, Clarisa, Olivia and Natalia.(c)2016 the Featured Adenta Circuit Court grants Counsellor Lutterodt GH50,000 bail Justice Agbenorsi Mar - 11 - 2026 , 15:03 2 minutes read The Adenta Circuit Court has granted bail to Cyril George Carstensen Lutterodt, popularly known as Counsellor Lutterodt, after he was arraigned for allegedly inciting youth to storm the residence of late highlife musician Daddy Lumba with pickaxes. He has been charged with one count of offensive conduct conducive to the breach of the peace. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge and was admitted to bail in the sum of GH50,000 with two sureties to be justified. Prosecutions case According to the prosecution, Counsellor Lutterodt, a biomedical clinical engineer who resides at SSNIT Flats in Adenta, Accra, was arrested after police saw a viral video circulating on Facebook. In the video, which was shared on the platform Kwesi TV on Monday, March 9, 2026, the accused was allegedly heard making statements calling on some youth to storm the residence of the late musician. The charge sheet quoted the accused as saying: if it is true that Lumba as it is alleged has been buried in the house, I want to ask the Ga boys in Accra that we shouldnt wait for the Police, let's move to the residence of Lumba and I am calling action now for the desigration of the land walk to the house with pick axe. "We are not fighting any human being, enter the residence of Lumba and let's find where the body has been buried." The prosecution said the video led to the arrest of the accused person. Police further indicated that during investigations, another video surfaced showing some youth believed to be Ga residents gathering at the residence of the late musician. Investigations ongoing The prosecution told the court that investigations into the matter are ongoing. Next article: NCC opens online applications for industrial and medicinal cannabis licences Featured Audit spots GH21bn fraud on state coffers - Govt targets culprits for prosecution Kester Aburam Korankye Mar - 11 - 2026 , 11:38 5 minutes read A special audit into Ghana's unpaid debts has uncovered GH21.35 billion suspicious, duplicated and fictitious claims on state coffers, compelling a government pledge to prosecute all individuals involved in what it terms a "systemic plunder" of the public purse. The amount is made up of GH8.1 billion outright rejection and GH13.26 billion that must be justified before payments can be effected. The disallowed amounts were part of GH68.7 billion submitted to the Ministry of Finance as unpaid Interim Payment Certificates (IPCs), invoices and Bank Transfer Advices (BTAs) owed to contractors and suppliers. The government, in July last year, tasked the Ghana Audit Service, working in partnership with EY and PwC, to verify and validate GH68.7 billion submitted to the Ministry of Finance in unpaid Interim Payment Certificates (IPCs), invoices and Bank Transfer Advices (BTAs) owed to contractors and suppliers. The outstanding IPCs and invoices amounted to GH50.5 billion, while outstanding Bank BTAs amounted to GH18.3 billion. Presenting the findings of the Auditor-Generals report on Arrears and Payables as of the end of 2024 to Parliament yesterday, the Deputy Minister of Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, revealed that out GH68.7 billion in claims submitted for verification, only GH45.4 billion was deemed valid for payment. The rest GH8.1 billion was outrightly rejected due to a litany of irregularities, including unsupported documentation, duplications, overstatements and claims for work never done. A further GH13.3 billion is still under scrutiny pending the provision of adequate documentation. Delivering the statement on behalf of the Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Mr Nyarko Ampem told the House that the findings painted a picture of a "rotten system designed to fleece the people of Ghana." "This report exposes the systemic plunder and abuse of the public financial management system," Mr Nyarko Ampem stated. "By the time I am done, it will become clear that something needed to be done to save our economy," he added. Fictitious 1D1F Debt Among the most alarming discoveries was a fictitious debt of GH89.4 million under the Ministry of Trade and Industry. According to the audit, the ministry submitted a request to settle interest payments under the One District, One Factory (1D1F) initiative with five commercial banks. However, when auditors contacted the banks, every single one confirmed they were owed nothing by the government under the arrangement. "Without the audit intervention, a whopping GH89.4 million of hard-earned public money could have been disbursed to settle this non-existent liability," Mr Nyarko Ampem revealed. The report further detailed another case where payment of GH10.5 million was recorded as having been made into a non-existent "Buffer Account" at a commercial bank, with the account number cited not conforming to the bank's format. In the light of the findings, Mr Nyarko Ampem announced that the entire 1D1F scheme would be subjected to a forensic audit. Dry spell expenditure The audit also uncovered significant discrepancies in the distribution of relief supplies by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) during the 2024 dry spell. The government paid for 34,000 tonnes of rice to address the impact of the dry spell, but the ministry received and distributed only 24,000 tonnes. The remaining 10,000 tonnes, fully paid for, remains unaccounted for, the audit stated. In a separate transaction, MoFA submitted stores receipt advice claiming delivery of 100,000 tonnes of maize worth GH771.2 million. However, the audit revealed that only 11,900 tonnes was actually supplied and distributed. Further compounding the issues at MoFA, a transportation company contracted under the Farmer Food Relief Programme was paid GH61.7 million for transporting 35,000 tonnes of grains, despite the contract sum for that volume being GH30.9 million. The company was also given 7,311 tonnes of rice in lieu of cash for no work done, Mr Nyarko Ampem told Parliament. As a result, he said, the Auditor-General rejected an additional GH65.2 million the ministry sought to pay the company. Recycled, duplicated claims Perhaps the most staggering finding was the attempt to claim payments for work that had already been settled. The audit identified claims amounting to GH4.4 billion, which had already been paid between 2020 and 2024, were being fraudulently resubmitted for payment, the Deputy Finance Minister said. He said the Ministry of Roads and Highways topped the list with GH3.6 billion in recycled claims, followed by the Ministry of Health (GH384.8 million) and the Ministry of Energy (GH216.7 million). Duplicated and overstated claims from various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) totalled another GH1.4 billion. The National Service Scheme alone overstated its allowance arrears by GH334.5 million. Unfounded trainee arrears A claim for GH160 million in unpaid allowances for teacher trainees was also debunked. When auditors engaged the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), it was confirmed that as of December 2024, no such arrears existed. The report also highlighted a dangerous pattern of falsified documents. The Ministry of Defence submitted a Stores Receipt Advice (SRA) for vehicles worth GH4.8 million intended for border surveillance, even though the vehicles were never delivered. Similarly, the Judicial Service had an SRA for seven Toyota saloon cars dated October 2024, but the supplier later wrote to the service admitting they could not supply the vehicles. Governments response Presenting the report, Mr Nyarko Ampem stated that the Minister of Finance had formally referred the report to the Attorney-General to prosecute all individuals responsible. "This moment marks a decisive break from the past. A reset of public financial management," he said. "Going forward, no payment will be made without full verification, no commitment will be entered into without budgetary allocation, and no officer, regardless of rank, will be shielded from accountability," he added. The Deputy Finance Minister emphasised that the governments decision to halt payments in January 2025 had saved the state from losing an additional GH1 billion in fraudulent Bank Transfer Advices (BTAs). "The Mahama administration refuses to accept this rotten system. We refuse to ask the Ghanaian people to pay for fraud," Mr Nyarko Ampem added. Featured Ghana Catholic Bishops institute annual Mass towards the beatification of Cardinal Dery www.vaticannews.va Mar - 11 - 2026 , 07:59 3 minutes read The Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference (GCBC) has issued a pastoral directive to priests to celebrate Holy Mass on every year on March 7 for the cause of the beatification of Cardinal Peter Porekuu Dery. The directive issued by the President of the Conference, Bishop Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, also urges the faithful to unite in prayer, asking the Lord to grant the grace of his beatification. The cause for beatification Beatification is a formal Roman Catholic process declaring a deceased person "blessed" (or beati), recognizing they lived a holy life and are in Heaven. As the final step before canonization (sainthood), it authorizes limited public veneration. It often requires a verified miracle attributed to the person. The process toward Cardinal Derys beatification began in June 2013, when the Church in Ghana announced plans to open the cause for the late cardinal during a memorial Mass held at the Tamale Jubilee Park. Subsequently, a formal request was submitted to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints on 15 June 2013 to begin the process of examining his life and virtues. The Vatican issued the nihil obstat (nothing stands in the way), on 13 July 2013, kickstarting the investigation. Accordingly, Cardinal Dery received the title Servant of God, the first official step in the path toward sainthood in the Catholic Church. Diocesan investigation The Diocesan phase of the cause opened on 9 May 2015 in the Archdiocese of Tamale. The inquiry was tasked with collecting documentation about his life, ministry, and reputation for holiness, as well as testimonies from people who knew him. By June 2016, investigators had interviewed 45 witnesses in several dioceses, including Tamale, Damongo, Yendi, Navrongo-Bolgatanga, and Wa. This stage gathers evidence on whether the candidate lived a life of heroic virtue, which would allow the Church to declare him Venerable. If a miracle attributed to his intercession is later approved, he could then be beatified and given the title Blessed. First indigenous Priest Cardinal Dery born on May 10, 1918, at Zimuopare (Ko), near Nandom in the Upper West, was ordained into the Priesthood on 11 February 1951, becoming the first indigenous Priest from the Upper West Region. On November 3, 1959, when the diocese of Wa was erected, he was appointed first Bishop on 16 March 1960 and received his episcopal ordination on 8 May 1960. He was the first to introduce liturgical inculturation into his diocese and founded numerous schools and a minor seminary. In 1972, he was appointed Apostolic Administrator of Tamale, and for two years carried out his duties in both dioceses until he was appointed Bishop on of Tamale on November 18, 1974. When Tamale was raised to an archdiocese, he was named the first Archbishop on May 30, 1977. Cardinal Dery became Archbishop emeritus of Tamale, March 26, 1994. Created and proclaimed cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in the consistory of March 24, 2006. Cardinal Peter Poreku Dery died on 6 March 2008, in Tamale, at the age of 89. Featured Ghana condemns Dubai drone strike that wounded 2 nationals GraphicOnline Mar - 11 - 2026 , 14:00 3 minutes read Two Ghanaian nationals have sustained injuries following an early morning drone incident near Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. The two victims are currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Dubai, where officials from Ghanas diplomatic mission in the UAE have visited them. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the development in a statement issued in Accra on Wednesday. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been informed by the relevant authorities in the United Arab Emirates that two Ghanaian nationals sustained injuries following a drone incident in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport earlier today, 11th March, 2026, the statement confirmed. It added that the injuries sustained by the two Ghanaians were not life-threatening. Their injuries are not critical and we expect full recovery soon. We therefore urge calm as we continue to extend consular assistance and collaborate closely with host authorities, it stated. Government condemns attack The ministry, on behalf of the Government of Ghana, condemned the incident, stressing that attacks targeting civilian areas and infrastructure posed significant risks to public safety. The Government of Ghana strongly condemns any act that endangers civilian lives and critical infrastructure. Such incidents pose serious risks to public safety and underscore the importance of ensuring the protection of civilians and vital international transport hubs, the statement said. The ministry added that it was closely monitoring developments in the Middle East and would continue to engage with the relevant authorities as necessary. It also expressed concern over the incident and conveyed the governments thoughts to the injured individuals and their families. Support for affected citizens The ministry reiterated the governments commitment to safeguarding the welfare of Ghanaian citizens abroad, stating that Ghana was actively supporting ongoing consultations within the United Nations aimed at securing a resolution calling for a cessation of hostilities. The Ministry is offering the necessary leadership and coordination with Ghana's diplomatic Missions and will provide updates on the matter as and when the need arises, it said. It further advised Ghanaian nationals in the Gulf region to remain vigilant and comply with guidance from Ghanaian embassies and local authorities. Rising tensions in the Middle East The incident comes against the backdrop of rising hostilities in the region following a joint military operation by the United States and Israel in Iran, which began on February 28. Since then, several countries hosting United States military assets have reportedly been targeted by strikes attributed to Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and other Iranian forces. The drone incident near Dubai airport is one of several attacks on civilian facilities reported during the ongoing conflict, with strikes also reported on homes, hotels and schools across parts of the region. According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), at least 1,262 civilians including more than 200 children have been killed since the conflict began. Commemoration of World Kidney Day: Increasing cases of kidney disease worrying Akandoh Joshua Bediako Koomson Mar - 11 - 2026 , 09:57 3 minutes read The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has expressed concern over the increasing cases of chronic kidney diseases in the country, describing the situation as a public health challenge. Kidney disease is a silent but serious public health challenge. Across the world, millions live with the condition without knowing until the disease has advanced, he said. The minister said that between 40 and 45 per cent of deaths in the country were linked to non communicable diseases. Kidney disease is often linked to preventable factors such as hypertension, diabetes, delayed health seeking behaviour, misuse of certain medicines, recurrent infections and exposure to environmental toxins. Also of concern is environmental degradation, including pollution of water bodies, illegal mining and industrial waste, which he said were worsening the risk of kidney related illnesses. Mr Akandoh was speaking at the launch of this years World Kidney Day at Burma Camp in Accra yesterday, on the theme: Kidney health for all. Caring for people, protecting the planet. The day is used to create global awareness campaign to increase understanding of kidney health and the frequency and impact of kidney disease. Organ transplant bill The minister announced that his outfit was finalising an organ transplant bill to establish a legal framework for organ transplantation in the country as part of efforts to improve treatment for patients with end stage kidney disease. He said the ministry was currently engaging key stakeholders as part of the law making process. When passed, the legislation would provide the legal and regulatory framework required to support ethical, safe and coordinated organ transplant services in the country. Organ transplantation offers the most effective pathway for many patients with end stage kidney disease. Reforms Mr Akandoh further said that the ministry was strengthening prevention through reforms in primary health care, early screening and public education. He said they were working with the private sector to expand dialysis services across the country to improve access to treatment. Dialysis remains life sustaining for many patients but it is costly because patients often require multiple sessions each week. To reduce the financial burden on patients, the minister said the government had introduced the Ghana Medical Trust Fund to support treatment for non communicable diseases, including kidney failure. Public awareness The Deputy Minister of Defence, Ernest Brogya Genfi, also called for increased public awareness and routine screening to address the growing threat of kidney disease. We must deepen public awareness, encourage routine screening and support policies that improve access to quality medical care. Protecting kidney health is part of the broader responsibility to safeguard the health and productivity of our people, he said. Mr Genfi commended the Ghana Armed Forces Health Services, the GAF Critical Care and Emergency Hospital and the 37 Military Hospital for supporting efforts to promote kidney health. He said maintaining the health of military personnel was essential to national security because operational readiness depended on physical fitness of soldiers. The deputy minister, therefore, encouraged soldiers and defence civilian staff to take personal responsibility for their health by staying hydrated, maintaining physical fitness, eating balanced meals and regularly checking their blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Featured Dismantle barriers to women's interest, devt Prof. Akua Britwum Shirley Asiedu-Addo Mar - 11 - 2026 , 12:57 4 minutes read The Chairperson of the National Media Commission, Professor Akua Britwum, says the nation must give the needed support towards dismantling barriers to justice, and correct legislation that discriminates against women's interest and development. She consequently urged all Ghanaians to give by investing in actions that dismantle patriarchal barriers to women and girls empowerment. Speaking at the maiden forum to commemorate the International Women's Day at the Cape Coast Technical University in Cape Coast last Monday, Prof. Britwum stated that while some significant gains had been chalked up nationally and internationally towards the wellbeing of women and girls, there still remained critical gaps that needed to be bridged. The event was marked on the global theme of this years commemoration of the International Womens Day: "Give to Gain". A century of IWD Prof. Britwum said it was sad that 115 years after the celebration of the International Womens Day, women still risked losing ground towards their growth. "More women are dying due to poverty and the lack of control over their bodies; women and girls bodies are still sexualised and commodified; women and girls are still subjected to violence in the name of culture and proper conduct," she stated. She said women and girls still lacked power in marriage and maintained weaker land access and ownership. "Ghanaian women in decision making is low, and participation in political office even lower. Sexual harrassment and violations take place in our schools, at workplace and in our homes while offenders move about freely and maintain their positions with impunity, Prof. Britwum said. Few legislation She said many institutions lacked provisions on sexual harassment, and where they existed, the redress procedures were cumbersome, while victim-blaming detered most survivors from reporting. Prof. Britwum indicated that the world systems, the patriarchal system in Ghana that essentially promoted male superiority in various facets of life, and the sex stereotyping of women into specific roles all together remained a disadvantage to women and girls' growth and development, limiting their ability to make decisions about their lives, families and society. To bridge this gap, she called for giving up of beliefs upheld in the name of culture and religion that undermined women's personal good and limited women and girls' ability to realise their potential. She said Ghana must also give support towards ratifying the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Maternity Convention, the Domestic Workers and Violence and Harrassment in the workplace and provide the needed resources for the implementation of the Affirmative Action Act to further promote the wellbeing of women and girls. This, she indicated, called for the government to maintain an economy that could withstand the challenge women faced. Global peace and women On global peace and women, Prof. Britwum stressed that government must devote more time and attention to United Nations structures to uphold international law in the absence of an effectively functioning rules-based order that enabled women and girls' rights to thrive. Prof. Britwum further called on the government to ensure that it had the capacity to support tertiary educational institutions, and provide them with resources to support women's growth and development. "In fact, 25 years ago, there were only two tertiary institutions with women's organs, the University of Education, Winneba and the University for Development Studies. Fewer still has sexual harassment policies. None had gender policies," she said. "We celebrate the passage of the Affirmative Action Act, 2024; we note with pride that many more women hold high office. We celebrate, for example, our Vice-President," she added. Prof. Britwum called for budgetary allocation for gender activities and institutional support to further drive real gender equality and women's rights. "We are being called upon to give, not as charity but as the only way to build our societies, communities, institutions and, in fact, our globe towards prosperity, she said, adding that it was only when women thrived that humanity would rise. She urged women to ensure visibility, create avenues for collaboration and promote role models for girls. The Vice-Chancellor of CCTU, Prof. Kwaku Adutwum Ayim Boakye, commended the Gender Desk for the initiative, and said the university would create a conducive environment for all, irrespective of gender, to thrive. Gender desk The Gender Desk Coordinator at the CCTU, Dr Magdalene Bartrop-Sackey, said women continued to contribute immensely to the countrys development and particularly towards the development of CCTU, adding that the forum would be sustained as a platform to highlight achievements of women and support them to excel while ensuring the development of the institution. Awards Women who had excelled in various leadership roles of the institution were awarded. Don't discriminate against persons with disability - Spanish Ambassador Haruna Yussif Wunpini Mar - 11 - 2026 , 09:57 2 minutes read The Spanish Ambassador to Ghana, Angel Lossada, has advocated the inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in all aspects of decision-making to make them feel at home. That, he indicated, would positively impact PWDs to make them feel loved and cared for by society in general. Ambassador Lossada made this known in a lecture delivered at the Koforidua Technical University (KTU) in the Eastern Region last Thursday on the topic "Inclusivity of persons with disabilities and discrimination against them. In attendance were both management and lecturers of the university, students, some queenmothers of the New Juaben Traditional Area, representatives of religious bodies and the general public. Stroke The Ambassador, who suffered a stroke three years ago but was healed, said being in such a condition for three years rendered him passionate about such persons in society. He, therefore, made a passionate appeal to all stakeholders, especially governments, to include the welfare of disadvantaged persons in policies and programmes. UN Convention He cited the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which stipulates that such persons should also enjoy privileges as human rights, equity and dignity just like any other person. Such privileges, according to the Spanish Ambassador, included education, health and accessibility to all places. Ambassador Lossada, who told the gathering that currently there were five million PWDs in Spain, stated that such persons should always be loved and taken good care of. Discrimination He urged stakeholders in academia, as well as parents, not to discriminate against their children with disabilities but rather give them equal opportunities and support to enable them to realise their fullest potential in life. The Chancellor of the university, Kwesi Aduafo Yankey, who was happy to receive Ambassador Angel Lossada at the university, stated that the visit would afford the university the opportunity to research for development. He said as a university, it valued research and development and that the Spanish Ambassador's presence would cement bilateral relations between Spain and Ghana, which was being done through the KTU. Mr Yankey mentioned several activities carried out between the Spanish Embassy and the KTU, one of which had been the professional training of the university lecturers. Such initiative, he indicated, would also empower the students in whatever they do in the communities. Mr Yankey told the Spanish Ambassador that the university was committed to taking proper care of persons with disabilities on campus and at the same time giving them equal opportunities like the abled ones. Ghana launches Africas first Blue Food Innovation Hub Benjamin Xornam Glover Mar - 11 - 2026 , 09:57 3 minutes read Ghana has launched Africas first Food Innovation Hub (FIH) under the World Economic Forum initiative, positioning the country as a continental leader in transforming blue food systems and advancing sustainable food security. The hub is designed to accelerate innovation across Ghanas blue food sector, including fisheries, aquaculture, seaweed production, processing, cold chain logistics, markets and trade. Strengthening these value chains is expected to drive enterprise development, create jobs, reduce poverty, and attract investment across Africa. The initiative, implemented through the Food Innovators Network (FIN), will enable other regional hubs to share insights, mobilise partnerships, and strengthen innovation ecosystems. Ghanas hub will serve as a platform for stakeholders to identify investable opportunities and pilot scalable solutions adaptable across the continent. The launch brought together policymakers, private sector leaders, development partners, and technical experts to align on priority themes and explore how coordinated policy, capital and market action could unlock growth in Africas blue food economy. Intentionality Speaking at the launch at the Marriott Hotel in Accra, the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Emelia Arthur, described the initiative as a deliberate, strategic and intentional partnership aimed at transforming fisheries and aquaculture into a resilient pillar of national and continental development. She said more than three million Ghanaians depended directly or indirectly on the sector, particularly in coastal and inland communities. Fisheries and aquaculture are not just economic activities; they are a matter of national security, Ms Arthur stated and stressed the need for sustainable resource management amid climate change and financing challenges. She highlighted the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025 (Act 1146) as a major reform promoting governance, responsible investment, and aquaculture growth. She also stressed closer collaboration with the agriculture sector through the Feed Ghana Programme to support local maize and soya production for aquaculture feed. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Chamber of Aquaculture Ghana, Jacob Adzikah, said Ghanas hub was the first of its kind in Africa and was designed to unlock innovation, attract investment and create sustainable livelihoods, especially for women, youth and marginalised groups. He said the hub aimed to mobilise at least US$10 million in private investment by 2032 and would soon launch an accelerator programme for SMEs and start-ups. The Board Chairman of the Chamber, Henry Anim-Somuah, pledged strong governance and results-driven leadership, calling for sustained support from government, industry, research and development partners. The National Lead of World Food Forum Ghana and Founder of the Agrihouse Foundation, Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, underscored the importance of cross-sector collaboration and described the hub as a critical platform for delivering inclusive, scalable solutions for Africas blue economy. ICAG Kumasi District Society launches 40th anniversary celebration Gilbert Mawuli Agbey Mar - 11 - 2026 , 09:57 2 minutes read The Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana (ICAG) Kumasi District Society has launched its 40th anniversary celebration since the establishment of the association in the Ashanti Regional capital. The celebration, on the theme: 40 years of upholding integrity: Celebrating our past and empowering the next generation of Accountants, is a moment of collective reflection, resilience and a reaffirmation of the vision that brought the association together. Wider perspectives Speaking at the event last Friday, the President of ICAG, Augustine Addo, challenged the members to have wider perspectives about issues relating to their chosen field. As the world moves towards global market economies and with investments and operations crossing borders to greater heights, professional accountants need a broader global outlook to understand the context in which business organisations operate, he said. He urged them to place emphasis on a set of professional knowledge, skills, values and ethics that would be broad enough to enable them to wade through challenging periods in the performance of their duties. He advised them to uphold integrity and morality as professional accountants to smoke out perpetrators of fraud in their working environment, stressing that you must ensure that morality and uprightness prevail in our public and financial space. He said accountancy education was moving beyond figure crunching and, therefore, entreated accountants to acquire analytical, communication, information technology and ethical skills to excel in their profession. Technological advancements such as mobility, social collaboration, digital service delivery, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, among others, are coming together to create a new normal. Accountants who cannot understand the workings of these embedded technologies will be extinct in the next few years, he stated. Other speakers The Chief of Toase, Nana Yim Awere Ababio, who was the guest of honour, advised accountants to practise the profession that would shore up public confidence in them and further told them to adopt new ways to add value to their work. In a remark, the immediate past Vice Dean of KNUST School of Business, Prof. Kingsley Opoku Appiah, reaffirmed the universitys commitment towards training ethical, innovative and purpose-driven accountants for the country. In a welcome address, the Chairman of Kumasi District Society, David Adjei Abbam, paid glowing tribute to the founders and pioneers for laying a solid foundation that sustained the society to date. A former President of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Dr Frank Serebour, who chaired the event, admonished them to exhibit integrity and emotional intelligence as they experience frustration in their work. Unilever Ghana partners GHS to expand oral health care Jocelyn Kafui Nyadzi Mar - 11 - 2026 , 12:17 3 minutes read The Unilever Ghana PLC has joined forces with the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to launch a nationwide oral health intervention aimed at strengthening preventive oral healthcare, expanding access to screenings and significantly reducing the occurrence of cavities across Ghana. The collaboration will drive the expansion of the Do The 2 campaign, an oral health initiative which promotes everyone to brush their teeth twice a day every day. The campaign is delivered through Unilever Ghanas Pepsodent brand which promotes the simple but powerful message, Brush morning and night for the best smile. The joint initiative forms a key part of activities marking World Oral Health Day 2026 and reinforces ongoing schools and community outreach programmes across the country. Before the launch of the partnership at the Ghana Health Service Headquarters in Accra yesterday, the Managing Director of Unilever Ghana PLC, Chris Wulff-Ceaser, and the Director-General of GHS, Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, appended their signatures to a memorandum of understanding (MoU) governing the partnership. The unveiling event brought together senior officials from both institutions, alongside distinguished stakeholders and members of the media. Partnership The partnership will leverage the nationwide reach of GHS, which operates across all regions and districts, to ensure oral health education and screenings reach more communities, schools and households, particularly in underserved areas. As part of the 2026 rollout, health professionals across districts will receive training in basic dental and oral health support to strengthen early detection and prevention. The training will equip healthcare workers to support school and community-based oral health screenings; identify early signs of cavities and common oral health conditions; provide guidance on proper twice-daily brushing techniques and refer cases requiring advanced care to appropriate dental facilities. This structured approach complements existing dental services while extending preventive oral healthcare deeper into communities nationwide, the MD of Unilever said. Cavities Cavities remain one of the most common oral health challenges affecting both children and adults in Ghana. Children are particularly vulnerable due to inconsistent brushing habits and limited access to preventive care. The Do The 2 campaign directly addresses this challenge by promoting twice-daily brushing as a simple yet highly effective preventive habit, reinforced through education, professional screenings, and sustained community engagement. Speaking after the signing ceremony, Mr Wulff-Ceaser emphasised the importance of long-term collaboration in driving measurable health outcomes. Oral health is fundamental to overall wellbeing. Through this partnership with the Ghana Health Service, we are strengthening preventive education by equipping frontline health workers and expanding oral health awareness into communities nationwide. This is about building sustainable habits and healthier futures for Ghanaian families, the Managing Director of Unilever Ghana PLC said. He said the partnership would ensure that beyond the World Oral Health Day, the message of preventive oral care would continue throughout the year through school programmes, community outreach and trained health professionals. Together with the Ghana Health Service, we are taking an important step toward ensuring that good oral hygiene becomes a national habit, and that every Ghanaian, no matter where they live, has access to the knowledge and support needed to maintain a healthy smile, Mr Wulff-Ceaser said. For his part, Dr Akoriyea said the partnership aligned with the mandate of the GHS to promote preventive healthcare and strengthen community-based health education across the country. Activities under the partnership will be rolled out nationwide in the lead-up to and beyond World Oral Health Day 2026, with ongoing monitoring to assess reach, screening coverage and improvements in oral health awareness and practices. Together, Unilever Ghana PLC and the Ghana Health Service are working to ensure that brushing morning and night becomes a national habit, supporting healthier smiles and healthier lives across Ghana. International Womens Day: Groups celebrate women Daily Graphic Mar - 11 - 2026 , 09:57 5 minutes read ASWIM on it part said the theme: Give to Gain. serves as a timely reminder that supporting women was an act of intentional multiplication saying the Give to Gain mindset emphasised that when we give generously - whether through resources, visibility or mentorship - the opportunities for women, increased and when women thrive, our entire nation rises. A statement signed by its President, Mavis Kitcher, said in our Ghanaian context, this theme resonates with the very soul of our journey toward a prosperous and peaceful nation. From the resilient traders in our bustling marketplaces to the pioneering professionals in technology, law and governance, the contribution of women is the thread that holds our democracy together. It added that as we look toward the remainder of this decade, we call upon stakeholders to work assiduously to improve on all that they do in the service of our communities and nation. To Give to Gain requires moving beyond symbolic gestures toward radical, systemic support. Ark Foundation The Ark Foundation celebrated the day on the topic: Boundaries, Enmeshment and the Gendered Burden of Care, saying the day is both a celebration of progress and a call to confront unfinished struggles saying this years theme remind us that societies flourish when women thrive. It called on the government and policymakers to operationalise the Affirmative Action Act by urgently passing the Legislative Instrument (LI) to enforce representation targets, integrate recognition of emotional labour into national gender policy frameworks, ensuring caregiving is valued as both a social and economic contribution. It also called on law enforcement and judiciary to strengthen protection mechanisms for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence through consistent referral pathways and survivor-centered policing, institutionalise training for officers and Judiciary on gender sensitivity, boundaries and the psychological impact of enmeshment and coercion. Global Evangelical Church The Womens Ministry National Coordinator of the Global Evangelical Church, Rev. Patricia Akpene Tegbe-Agbo in a statement on the topic Preach Christ And His Second Coming to mark the day, said the day was not only a moment of celebration but also a moment of reflection on the divine calling placed upon our lives as women of faith. God, she said, has entrusted women with influence in families, churches, communities and nations. Through our voices, actions and faith, we shape the future and nurture generations. She said in a world filled with uncertainty, conflict and moral challenges, the message of Christ remained the greatest hope for humanity. Women of God, she said, must rise with courage and conviction to proclaim the love, salvation and lordship of Jesus Christ. AWLN Ghana Chapter The African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) Ghana Chapter whose statement was on themed Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls, said it was both a call to reflection and a call to action which reminds us that while progress has been made in advancing gender equality, millions of women and girls still face barriers that deny them their fundamental rights and full participation in society. Signed by Dr Charity Binka, Chairperson, AWLN, it said as a network committed to advancing womens leadership, gender equality and inclusive development, it emphasises that rights must be protected, justice must be accessible and action must be deliberate and sustained if we are to build a society where every woman and girl can thrive. It further called for economic empowerment for women, particularly through support for women entrepreneurs, access to finance and equal opportunities in the labour market and also called for a collective action from the government, civil society, traditional authorities, the private sector and the media to challenge harmful norms and promote gender equality. PNP The Peoples National Party (PNP) on its part, has called 30 per cent female representation in political programmes. In a statement signed by the leader of the PNP, Janet Asana Nabla,it called on media organisations across the country to ensure at least 30 per cent representation of women on political discussion programmes aired on radio and television. The statement, which was on the theme Accelerate Action, Ms Nabla said the countrys media landscape continues to marginalise women, particularly women politicians, despite Ghanas democratic progress and commitments to gender equality. She added that political talk shows and current affairs programmes in Ghana remained overwhelmingly dominated by male voices, leaving many capable women leaders sidelined from important national conversations. VOWAC Ghana A statement by the Voices of Women and Children with Disabilities in Ghana (VOWACGhana) on the theme Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls, called on governments, institutions, communities and individuals to move beyond promises and ensure that every woman and girl in all their diversity fully enjoys her rights, experiences fair justice and sees concrete action that improves her daily life. It said while progress had been made in advancing gender equality, many women and girls with disabilities continue to face multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination. Signed by the Executive Director, Juliana Afia Mahmood, it called on the government to take deliberate steps to domesticate international laws and frameworks by strengthening existing gender and disability laws and policies, including the Persons with Disability Act 2006 (Act 715), to ensure that they are both gender-responsive and disability-inclusive. DWM On its part, Developing Women for Mobilisation (DWM) also joined the global community in celebrating the achievements of women while calling for renewed action toward gender equality. This years observance, it said, carries special significance for our organisation as we remember and honour the life and legacy of our late President, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, whose unwavering dedication to womens rights and empowerment transformed countless lives and strengthened the movement for gender equality. Signed by Peace Aryee, Director, DWM, the statement said, Today, as we celebrate the strength and resilience of women everywhere, we also reflect on the powerful legacy left by Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, her passion and commitment continue to guide our mission. The DWM called on the government, civil society, partners and communities to work together to accelerate progress toward gender equality by ensuring that women and girls have equal opportunities, protection and representation in all spheres of society. See the gifts South Korean President gave Mahama on the first day of his visit Next article: See the gifts South Korean President gave Mahama on the first day of his visit Featured President Mahamas South Korea visit yields maritime, climate and AI cooperation deals www.koreaherald.com Mar - 11 - 2026 , 07:21 4 minutes read President John Dramani Mahama and his South Korean counterpart Lee Jae-Myung have held high-level talks in Seoul aimed at strengthening cooperation between Ghana and South Korea in areas including maritime security, climate action and digital innovation. The summit took place on Wednesday afternoon at the South Korean presidential office during President Mahamas ongoing working visit to the Asian nation. At the end of the meeting, the two sides signed a number of agreements designed to deepen bilateral collaboration, particularly in maritime security, climate change mitigation and emerging technologies. A key agreement was a memorandum of understanding between the Korea Coast Guard and the Ghana Navy to strengthen cooperation in maritime safety and security. The arrangement provides for joint training, educational exchanges and seminars to enhance maritime enforcement capacity. It also establishes a framework for sharing intelligence on transnational maritime crimes such as piracy, arms trafficking and drug smuggling, while promoting collaboration in search-and-rescue operations involving distressed vessels, aircraft and personnel. South Korean authorities said the agreement was expected to strengthen stability in the Gulf of Guinea by improving the maritime security capabilities of the Ghana Navy and enhancing the protection of vessels and nationals operating in the region. The Gulf of Guinea has long been considered one of the worlds piracy-prone maritime zones, an issue that has drawn the attention of international shipping operators, including South Korean commercial fleets and energy carriers that navigate the waters. In 2018, three South Korean nationals were kidnapped by armed pirates in waters near Ghana, prompting South Korea to deploy the Cheonghae naval unit from the Gulf of Aden as part of an emergency response operation. Defence cooperation between the two countries dates back further, including the transfer of a decommissioned Chamsuri-class patrol boat to Ghana in 2010. Beyond maritime security, both governments also concluded a framework agreement on climate change cooperation. The agreement outlines collaboration on climate initiatives, scientific research and technology exchange, as well as the use of emissions reduction mechanisms under the Paris Agreement. Officials in Seoul said the arrangement would create a legal basis for both countries to pursue joint climate action and support their respective nationally determined contributions under the global climate accord. Under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement, countries can cooperate on emissions reductions through the transfer of carbon reduction outcomes, known as Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes, between participating states. The two governments also signed an additional memorandum of understanding covering cooperation in digital technology, innovation and emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence. Symbolism linked to maritime cooperation also featured in the gifts prepared for the Ghanaian leader during his visit. Among the items presented to President Mahama was a traditional Korean folding screen depicting Sugun Joryeondo, a folk painting showing warships arranged in formation during a naval drill in the era of the Joseon dynasty. South Korean officials said the gift symbolised the maritime focus of the visit, particularly President Mahamas planned participation in a ship-naming ceremony. During the visit, the Ghanaian leader is expected to travel to Ulsan to attend the naming ceremony of a vessel at the shipyard of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries. The vessel is believed to be intended for transporting liquefied petroleum gas supplies to Ghana. President Mahama was also presented with a Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra smartphone, which South Korean officials described as a symbol of the countrys technological capability and industrial competitiveness. Adding a cultural element to the welcome, the Korean presidential office included Lottes well-known Ghana Chocolate among the gifts presented to the visiting leader. The product is widely recognised in South Korea and is made largely with cocoa beans sourced from Ghana, which accounts for more than 80 per cent of the cocoa used in its production. Specially prepared chocolates bearing the national flags of both countries and the name of the Ghanaian president were placed at his accommodation as part of the reception for the visiting leader. President Mahamas trip to South Korea forms part of efforts by both countries to deepen economic cooperation and expand partnerships in strategic sectors including maritime security, technology and climate action. Featured See the gifts South Korean President gave Mahama on the first day of his visit Yonhap News Agency Mar - 11 - 2026 , 07:08 1 minute read South Korean President Lee Jae Myung prepared Ghana chocolate and Samsung Electronics' latest smartphone as gifts for Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, who is visiting South Korea for summit talks with Lee on Wednesday. Lee sent Ghana chocolate produced by South Korean confectionery firm Lotte, specially designed with Mahama's name and the national flags of the two countries, to Mahama's hotel to mark his five-day official visit to South Korea that began Tuesday, according to presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung. The chocolate, popular in South Korea and made with Ghanaian cacao accounting for more than 80 per cent of its ingredients, carries special meaning for Lee as he received it from a child during his hunger strike in September 2023, Kang said. Lee will also present Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra, released last month, to demonstrate South Korea's advanced technology and industrial competitiveness, Lee's office said. A folk painting depicting naval training during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) was also prepared to symbolise South Korea's commitment to strengthening maritime security cooperation with Ghana, it noted. Speaker Bagbin commends Lausanne Movement for promoting Christian values Beatrice Laryea Mar - 11 - 2026 , 18:06 5 minutes read Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has praised the Lausanne Movement for its commitment to promoting Christian values and encouraging believers to serve humanity with faith, love and compassion. Mr Bagbin expressed appreciation for their work in strengthening Christian communities and encouraging people to live according to the teachings of Christ. He described himself as a loyal and devoted Christian of the Catholic faith and urged the group to remain steadfast in their mission of spreading peace, love and moral values. He noted that the nation values strong relationships with people from across the world and is always ready to host initiatives that promote unity and shared values. Mr Bagbin used the occasion to reflect on his personal journey from a humble background in northern Ghana, recounting how he walked long distances to attend school and worked hard to overcome early challenges. Event He was speaking during the Lausanne Christian Leadership Consultation in Accra on Wednesday. The event formed part of activities marking the continental visit of Michael Oh from the United States, with Ghana serving as the first stop. The consultation was held under the theme: Christlike Leaders for Every Church and Place. Notable among the attendees were former President Emeritus for the Navigators and Members of the Lausanne Board, Jerry White, Former Second Lady, Mrs Matilda Amissah, Former Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Opoku Onyinah and Chairman of the Lausanne Ghana Committee, Rev. Dr Godwin Ahlijah. Faith in God He said his life story was evidence that miracles still exist and that faith in God can guide individuals through adversity. He also highlighted his long career in public service, noting that he has been active in politics since 1992 and has served in Parliament for decades before being elected Speaker. According to him, his leadership journey has been guided by faith, service to humanity and the desire to contribute to national development. The Speaker further shared his involvement in international parliamentary leadership, including his role within the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, where he has worked to promote cooperation among legislatures. "As we move along, during our lifetime, we will hear the voice of Christ. Everything is possible. So please, you are on the right course. God bless all of you. This is your home. Anytime you come, you need me, please knock. If you knock my door, it will be open for you. If you ask, it will be given. Evidently if you seek, you will find." "So that's where we are. And I'm happy to see you again. You know, when I saw you at the conference, I said, this man was with me some time ago. So I'm so grateful for the opportunity. I wish you all the best. And please, please, my doors are open to people. Thank you for this opportunity," he said. Lausanne vision Global CEO of the Lausanne Movement, Dr Michael Oh praised the leadership of Mr Bagbin, describing him as a gift from God to the nation. Dr Oh highlighted the mission of the Lausanne Movement, which was founded by evangelist Billy Graham, and outlined its fourfold vision aimed at advancing the global Christian mission. According to him, the first pillar of that vision is ensuring that the Gospel reaches every person in the world. He emphasized that the greatest gift God has given humanity is the good news of Jesus Christ, and noted that the Lausanne Movement remains committed to persevering through prayer, partnerships and global collaboration until that message reaches every corner of the earth. As a symbol of the movements mission, he presented a special art print illustrating the first pillar of the Lausanne Movements vision. On behalf of Lausanne leaders and the global church community present in nations across the world, Dr Oh formally presented the symbolic gift to Speaker Bagbin, reaffirming the movements commitment to spreading the Gospel worldwide through unity and partnership. Advancing Gods mission Former Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Opoku Onyinah, has called for stronger collaboration among churches and Christian leaders in Ghana to effectively advance the mission of the gospel. He thanked God for what he described as a meaningful period of reflection, dialogue and prayer on the mission of the church in Ghana and its role in Gods global mission. "May the Lord help us to walk in humility, to live with Christ-like avatar, and to work together faithfully for the advance advancement of his kingdom," he said. Apostle Onyinah expressed appreciation to the organizers and participants for bringing together leaders from different churches and mission movements, describing the gathering as a demonstration of the unity of the body of Christ. He also acknowledged the contributions of the guest speaker, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, whose reflections, he said, highlighted how God uses people in various spheres of society for His purposes. "The mission before us is to create for any single church denomination or ministry to accomplish a goal. Yet, we must recognize that two attitudes often end up our collaboration. These are inferiority and superiority. When we feel inferior, we withdraw and assume we have little to contribute." "When we feel superior, we assume we do not need others. Both attitudes weaken a mission of a challenge. The truth, however, is that interdependence is not weakness. It is the strength of maturity." Next article: Bagbin announces private members bill to criminalise misconduct in by-elections and party primaries Featured Akufo-Addo to lead continental election watch in Congo Brazzaville GraphicOnline Politics Mar - 11 - 2026 , 09:32 1 minute read The Office of former President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has confirmed his appointment by the African Union (AU) to head its Elections Observation Mission to the Republic of Congo. In a statement released on Tuesday, March 10, the Office announced that the former President will lead a team of international observers to monitor the presidential election scheduled for Sunday, 15th March, 2026. According to the release, the African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM) is a comprehensive delegation comprising members of the AU Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC), representatives from the Pan African Parliament (PAP), and the African Governance Platform. It will also include officials from election management bodies, independent election experts, civil society organisations, as well as advocates for women and youth groups. Former President Akufo-Addo is expected to leave Accra on Friday, 13th March, and return on 18th March, 2026, parts of the statement read. The former Presidents office emphasised that the mission aligns with the African Unions broader objective of deploying observer teams to provide impartial assessments of transparency and fairness in member states electoral processes. Monetisation of politics undermines public office values Former Pru East MP Justice Agbenorsi Politics Mar - 11 - 2026 , 09:57 3 minutes read A former National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Pru East, Dr Kwabena Donkor, has stated that the influence of money in the election of political leaders undermines public office values. He said the demand for money by voters from aspiring politicians on a campaign trail did not inspire good values, especially for those seeking to occupy public life. We do not bring good values into public life by such acts and that must stop, Dr Donkor, who is also a former Power Minister, stated at a forum in Accra last Wednesday. Forum Dubbed, "Time with the Politician series, the interactive session was jointly organised by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Ghana and the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana (UG). The forum, which centred on diverse issues ranging from public leadership to the law-making process, among other things, formed part of efforts to create a platform for students to interact with experienced political leaders. Answering questions on the friction between national development and political ideology, Dr Donkor stressed the need for a National Development Plan that mandated that political parties structure their manifestos to align with the development plan. Education On education, he said many programmes in public universities were increasingly driven by revenue considerations instead of national development priorities, a situation he said risked undermining the quality and relevance of higher education. If we take all our public universities, the structure of academic courses today are largely driven by internally generated funding. They are not driven by national manpower planning, he said. Universities run courses to make money and I am not worried about stating that. Especially your business schools and law faculties, a number of programmes you run in our public universities are IGF-driven, he said. He, therefore, urged universities to align academic programmes with national manpower needs rather than the pursuit of Internally Generated Funds (IGF). He also charged that the National Education Commission was tasked with ensuring that educational programmes aligned with manpower needs, so that all universities complied with that provision. Dialogue The Country Representative of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Ghana, Anna Wasserfall, said cooperation and dialogue were essential in strengthening democratic governance. She stated that the foundation had worked in Ghana for six decades and remained committed to supporting platforms that encouraged political dialogue, civic education and engagement between leaders and the younger generation. For his part, the Head, Political Science Department of the University of Ghana, Professor Isaac Owusu-Mensah, said the Time with the Politician series was designed to bridge the gap between academic theory and the practical realities of politics. He said the initiative would provide students with the opportunity to engage with experienced political actors and deepen their understanding of governance, policy-making and democratic practice. Most government workers are barred from carrying over more than 320 hours of annual leave from year to year, despite a nearly two-decade-old policy that has allowed employees to rack up far more, according to a legal opinion from Attorney General Douglas Moylan. Acting Gov. Joshua Tenorio, in a statement Wednesday, said the executive branch will comply with the AGs interpretation of the law. Sen. Chris Barnett, who flagged the AGs legal opinion during Tuesdays oversight hearing on the operations of the Department of Administration, introduced on Wednesday a bill seeking to increase the annual cap to 620 hours. Moylans opinion, dated Oct. 10, 2025, states that after hitting the 320-hour cap in any given fiscal year, GovGuam workers can credit up to 100 annual leave hours earned to to sick leave. Beyond that, whatever annual leave workers accrue is lost. Moylans five-month-old legal opinion was brought to light during discussion at the Legislature on Tuesday. The opinion found that there was no basis in law for the 2007 DOA circular that has allowed GovGuam workers to carry hundreds or even more than 1,000 hours of annual leave year after year. AG, DOA: Do not follow old circular Moylans October legal opinion cited a 2007 DOA circular from the Camacho administration. The old circular stated that after an employee hits the 320-hour cap and credits 100 hours of annual leave to sick leave in a given year, they can rack up more annual leave and carry it over to the next year. That interpretation of Guam law is in error, according to the AGs opinion. With limited exceptions, no GovGuam employee begins a fiscal year with an annual leave balance in excess of 320 hours, it states. All GovGuam workers are ordered not to follow the circular, and Government Officials, especially certifying officers, who violate the provisions of Government of Guam leave policy are subject to criminal prosecution, it adds. Moylans opinion notes that GovGuam has a large number of employees with over 15 years of experience, who get eight hours of annual leave every pay period and can rack up a great deal of it. The opinion suggests that employees can make use of excess leave by donating it through GovGuams leave sharing program. On March 5, DOA Director Ed Birn issued a new circular informing agency heads not to follow the old leave policy, and review and adjust annual leave balances. Frustration and concern Tenorio wrote to Speaker Frank Blas Jr. on Wednesday, asking senators to address the situation for workers who, in some cases, spent decades in GovGuam. He wrote that the new legal interpretation created frustration and concern among employees, many of whom had planned their leave based on guidance that was in place for many years. Tenorio said he supports consideration from lawmakers on the issue and would welcome a measure to address the concerns from those with accumulated leave. He said the executive branch will follow the laws interpretation. However, this does not change the fact that among the public service workforce there are many employeessuch as public school principalswho have rightfully earned annual leave benefits in excess of the 320-hour cap, the acting governor stated. Adelup provided a new DOA circular on the matter, which went out to department and agency heads on March 5. The new DOA circular points out three exceptions to the 320-hour cap: Employees who accumulated more than 320 hours of annual leave before Feb. 28, 2003, who can still use that old leave. Registered nurses with the Guam Memorial Hospital Authority or Department of Public Health and Social Services. Employees working in nursing services at GMH or DPHSS, or peace officers. Over 1,000 hours of leave in jeopardy Barnett raised the annual leave issue during a Tuesday oversight hearing on DOA, noting that some employees like bus drivers never took their annual leave and had hundreds or even more than 1,000 hours of leave in jeopardy. DOAs Birn said one remedy would be for senators to increase the cap, or remove it. A day later, Barnett introduced a bill to nearly double the cap, to 620 hours. Sen. Sabina Perez is a bill co-sponsor. A man with eight previous convictions has been accused in a machete attack in Dededo, according to a magistrates complaint filed in Superior Court. Ra Eiren, also known as Ra Erien, Rah, Rengin, Ra Earien and Mirio Rengin, with ages listed as 60, 61 and 62, was charged Wednesday with aggravated assault as a third-degree felony. At 1:49 p.m. Wednesday, police were called to the Old Metro Club by Kayen Chando and Chando Court in Dededo. They found a man who had been attacked with a machete. He had a 3-inch cut above his forehead and multiple cuts on his head. The man told police he was at an abandoned residence when he was attacked by Eiren and another man. He made his way to the Old Metro Club building, where someone who saw his injuries called for help. The man was taken to Guam Regional Medical City. Police found Eiren intoxicated at a nearby homeless encampment, according to the complaint. They also found a machete. If found guilty of the charge, Eiren could face five years in prison. He was ordered held on $5,000 cash bail. Eiren has previous convictions for negligent homicide, reckless driving, driving under the influence, assault, criminal mischief, second offender DUI, harassment and drug possession, according to records provided by the Office of the Attorney General. Already breaking the previous record for the latest audit of the millennium by over a month, the government of Guams fiscal year 2024 audit may not even be done by the end of March, Public Auditor Benjamin Cruz told lawmakers Tuesday. Senators spent more than four hours scrutinizing the Office of Public Accountability and especially the Department of Administration during an oversight hearing at the Guam Congress Building. At the forefront of concerns was the late audit of GovGuams fiscal 2024 financials, which were due on June 30, 2025. That audit report is supposed to help senators come up with a budget for the current fiscal year. Budget talks for the new fiscal 2027 are only about a month away. Director of Administration Edward Birn on Tuesday pointed to a glut of federal funds and short staff at independent audit firm Ernst & Young, which was still pending work needed to close out the audit. A statement issued by the Office of the Governor on Monday night said the audit of $1.5 billion to $2 billion in public funds must be accurate and crediblenot rushed. But Cruz, whose office is responsible for getting the audit done, asserted that the review would be moving if government agencies turned in financial documents on time. Cruz, a former legislative speaker, justice and judge, told senators that he writes audit firm Ernst & Young contracts so that draft financials for every department and agency are ready by Jan. 31, finals come by Feb. 28, and the GovGuam-wide audit is out by March. For fiscal 2024s audit, those dates came and went last year. Unless I hear anything different today, the 24 audit is not going to get out by any time this month, at least finalized. I havent seen the draft, Cruz said. He said DOAs Birn had succeeded in convincing Ernst & Young and the Department of the Interiorwhich had been on my neck for the last yearto give the administration more time to complete a compliance report for funds spent. Cruz said he left the island recently, and hoped that when he got back on Monday, the report would be in his inbox. Instead, he got a copy of an email Birn sent to department and agency heads, asking them to give Birn a report on federal American Rescue Plan funds by March 31. I figured...that memo was to take care of a compliance issue or a finding in that audit, he said, adding that if true, there would be no audit by months end. Birn, speaking later during discussion, said the ARP report request was not part of this, so were not going to hold up. We are concerned that timeliness should not be at the expense of quality, Birn said. He said investors that are going to put their money in Guam will look at this audit. Ive been doing this job for 52 years. Never in my entire experience have I had an audit experience anywhere approaches this particular audit experience, he said. Complicated issues Birn said he had talked to the Interior about the islands audit in the context of all Pacific islands being late on their audited financials. Two islands were still on their fiscal 2023 government audits, and the rest were on fiscal 2024, Birn said. Is there a pattern here? Yes, there is. The pattern is that these are complicated issues, Birn said. He said the explosion in federal grants post-pandemic had tacked on compliance requirements that took up more time for all Pacific islands. For all the Pacific islands, EY is the auditor, Birn added. The director said he sent Ernst & Young a trial balance for the audit on April 30 of last year. DOA heard nothing back until August, when Ernst & Young introduced them to a whole new staff with no previous Guam experience. Birn went through a number of issues that he had dealing with the audit firm, including them failing to respond to requests for documents and prepared financials. He said the situation was demoralizing for his staff, who did not want to be in a constant state of audit. Cruz, who generally agreed about staffing issues at Ernst & Young, said at one point that it was his understanding the firm had 20 H-1B visa applications pending to shore up its accounting staff. He also agreed that it has been agencies with large amounts of federal funds, like the Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority and Guam Department of Education that have been holding up audit progress since fiscal 2020. Terminate contract? Birn said he has suggested that they terminate the contract for audit services with Ernst & Young and rebid the service. Cruz responded that the firm was the one of only two on the island, and was the only one to bid on the current contract. The public auditor said he would not rebid the independent audit contract unless hes going to get $250,000 to bring out a firm from the states. Cruz added that despite Ernst & Youngs issues, if departments and agencies would turn over their financial information on time, the audit would move. But once it gets out of whack, the whole thing gets out of whack, Cruz said. Ludicrous Republican budget chairman Sen. Chris Duenas interjected during Birns explanation at one point. Pardon me, but that sounds completely internal, Duenas told Birn. We sit here and we have to debate a budget, once again, going forward where theres a request for an additional close to $100 million, Duenas said, referring to the governors record $1.44 billion budget request for fiscal 2027. We sit here, and as far as Im concerned, right now, we have no basis. Republican Speaker Frank Blas Jr. called the situation ludicrous. Blas, who is running for governor, said he was scared by the possibility of moving forward on a budget request for fiscal 2027 based on numbers I cant even verify. Democrat Sen. Chris Barnett did ask Cruz whether he had started fining agency and department heads for failing to turn over financial documents on time, a power lawmakers gave the public auditor last year. I think maybe Mr. Birn would move a little quicker if it was coming out of his paycheck. Or the other agency heads or entities who lead these autonomous agencies would as well, Barnett suggested. Cruz said he has not started issuing fines, yet. He said he plans to announce that he will issue fines if he gets the latest report on other post-employment benefits for retirees late. Birn said the report is expected by the end of the week, or beginning of next week. A man accused of impregnating a 13-year-old girl in 2023 told jurors Friday the girl raped me, insisting he was unaware of any sexual contact and only realized what had happened after waking up, despite a DNA test showing a 99.9% probability he fathered her baby. Nicolas Engracio Damian Roberto delivered emotionally charged testimony, raising his voice, stuttering, repeatedly handling the courtroom microphone and appearing frustrated and disgusted as he denied knowingly having sex with the teenage girl. I was sleeping, and the girl raped me, I guess, he said. When I woke up, my penis was in her hand, and her mom was right next to me. Roberto described waking three times to find the 12-year-old touching him while he slept. I would say that I woke up because I had, I guess the word is ejaculated, so I came to my senses when I ejaculated, and that is when I had noticed, he told the jury. And I pushed her off, and I told the mother, Hey, your daughter, (expletive) did this (expletive) to me, bro. He insisted he never deliberately had sex with the girl, even as prosecuting attorney Christine Tenorio pressed him on how a girl could become pregnant without entering her body. No, never have I, Roberto responded. All I can tell you is that she had my penis in her hand, and she is practically on top of me. Roberto claimed he was a heavy sleeper, completely unaware of surroundings when he is asleep and did not immediately grasp what was happening. I do know that when I opened [my eyes], she was holding my penis and kissing on my neck and face, he said. He recounted incidents occurring at night and during a family movie night, saying, I have woken up like this girl, doing whatever. So I immediately pushed her off of me, and I told the mom. She said, that is gross, and went back to sleep. Roberto described his relationship with the girls mother dating back to 2022. He said the girls mother and the teenager lived with him and his parents from summer 2022 to around April 2023 or April 2024. He recounted bringing the pair into his home after witnessing the mother being attacked. I ran out, and I saw [someone] beating up this girl, screaming for help, he said. So I had stopped that, and I told her to go to my house for safety. Roberto said his parents provided for mother and daughter, and the mother worked part time at the airport, with his parents driving her to and from work. My mom and dad had to every day, he said. I believe at 12:30 p.m. and then have to pick her up from work at 12:30 a.m. every day, and we provided for that too. He admitted using marijuana and alcohol during this time. Marijuana and occasionally drink alcohol with [the mother], he said. Like his own Under cross-examination, Roberto estimated having sex with the girls mother at least 70 to 100 times during their relationship. He described both mother and daughter as similar in size. He, a father himself, insisted he never sought sexual contact with the girl. He said he only saw and took care of her like his own Asked whether he ever engaged in fellatio on the girl, Roberto said, No. When Tenorio pressed, Roberto said, Never. He maintained his only sexual partner was the mother and avoided even being alone with the girl when her mother was at work. I distance myself when the mom is not there. For sure, he said. The baby boy at the center of the case was born in November 2023. Tenorio cited court proceedings confirming Roberto is almost certainly the father, referencing the 99.9% DNA match. I just know the results because I came to the hearings, Roberto said. He told jurors he always believed the baby was his child. I have mentioned to my dad and mom that I strongly believe that he is because he looks like my kids, he said. Roberto described caring for the pregnant girl and trying to provide for the baby, even after being ordered to stay away. When pressed by Tenorio on why he never reported being raped by a 13-year-old, Roberto said he feared the repercussions if he did. I was afraid to be incarcerated and just away from my son, he said. He told jurors he did not call the police because, I did not want to. She is 12 years old. Learn from this When asked if he was angry at the girl, Roberto said, No, why would not be mad? She is a child. She is just doing what she was taught. He claimed he tried to act as a father figure towards her. I tried to help her understand that what she did was wrong and not to do it again. She has no dad. I was trying to do what dad does? Kids make mistakes. OK, let us go learn from this. Tenorio pressed Roberto on inconsistencies and why he claimed the assaults happened only when the mother was home, not while he was alone with the girl during the mothers overnight shifts. So you are saying that [the girl] chose to rape you when her mom was home, not when she was at work, correct? Tenorio asked. Roberto replied, Yes Now when, and you would agree, because earlier, you testified that when your parents had to drop [the mother] to work, you would be all alone with [the girl]? Tenorio asked. No, not all alone, no, Roberto said. Tenorio also addressed his sexual activity in the home, sometimes while his son was present. I am going to say that I do not have sex or anything like that around my son, and I do not take my eyes off my son because I have lost my other kids because of my stupidity, Roberto said. Tenorio challenged Roberto on why he never told law enforcement or any judge that he had been raped by a child. You have never told any judge that she raped you. Correct? she asked. No, I was waiting for him, Roberto said, pointing at his attorney Terrence Timblin. I have to told all my [other] attorneys what had happened. Roberto said his sexual relationship with the mother cooled over time due to her failure to act after he told her about the girls behavior. I just lost the liking, just I lost the feeling for her, because of the way she is to her kids and my kids, he said. Despite acknowledging that it is illegal to have sex with anyone under 16, Roberto maintained, I know that. Yes. When Tenorio summarized his claim as the girl having sex with him, Roberto told jurors, I am saying now I am sleeping. The girl took advantage of me. DNA testing Before Roberto took the stand, a DNA expert testified via Zoom Friday about genetic testing performed in the case. Melanie Trapani, a molecular genetics expert with Laboratory Corporation of America, told jurors that testing shows Roberto is almost certainly the biological father of the baby with a 99.99% probability of paternity. The combined paternity index measures how likely it is that the alleged father is the biological parent compared with a random individual. In this case, the index exceeded 1 billion to 1, far above LabCorps threshold of 150 to 1 for a conclusive result. DNA is inherited equally from both parents, and short tandem repeat (STR) markers, which repeat in specific patterns, are used to establish parentage. LabCorp first checks for exclusion, requiring at least three mismatched markers to rule out a biological relationship. If no exclusion occurs, a paternity index is calculated for each marker and combined to determine the probability of paternity. Statistical formulas mean results never reach 100%, as confirming absolute certainty would require testing every possible individual. LabCorp maintains strict quality controls, including double-blind parallel testing and chain-of-custody procedures. The most common errors in parentage testing occur when someone provides a sample under a false identity. The Burlington DNA Identity Laboratory has an agreement with the Office of the Attorney General to provide relationship testing. For the Roberto case, the lab authenticated a 68-page packet of records, including authorization forms, chain-of-custody documentation, laboratory reports, and DNA electropherograms. LabCorp first received the childs buccal swab on March 13, 2025, and the alleged fathers sample on March 21, 2025. The lab uses color-coded envelopes, yellow for a child and blue for an alleged father, and follows strict procedures for drying, sealing, and checking for tampering. Any compromised sample is rejected, and a new collection is requested. The alleged fathers form listed his self-identified race as Pacific Islander, which LabCorp used to select the appropriate population database of more than 3,000 individuals for statistical calculations. The trial is expected to conclude Monday with closing arguments from both sides. Vice Speaker Tony Ada asked the House and Senate Armed Services Committees for consideration of six Guam priorities in the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, NDAA. The proposals, he said, focus on planning and transparency, not requests for additional federal funding for Guam. Ada, who is running for governor, said the proposals focus on strengthening military readiness while ensuring the stability and resilience of Guams civilian systems. The vice speaker also said these recommendations aim to enhance coordination between the U.S. Department of Defense and Guams infrastructure as the islands strategic role in the Indo-Pacific expands. Adas six priority requests: Haiti - Politic : Bilateral meeting between PM Fils-Aime and the President of Chile Jose Antonio Kast On Tuesday, March 19, 2026, at the Cousino Palace, the day before his inauguration, President-elect Jose Antonio Kast of Chile, accompanied by incoming Minister of Foreign Affairs Francisco Perez Mackenna, held a bilateral meeting with Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime. Fils-Aime was accompanied by Foreign Minister Raina Forbin, Haitian Ambassador to Chile Herve Saint-Louis, and Special Advisor Wilner Joseph. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-47027-haiti-politic-pm-in-chile-for-the-inauguration-of-president-jose-antonio-kast.html Discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations between the Republic of Haiti and the Republic of Chile, in a spirit of friendship, solidarity, and mutually beneficial cooperation. Both sides emphasized the importance of deepening collaboration in several areas of common interest, including diplomatic cooperation, economic exchanges, academic and professional mobility, and regional policy. Prime Minister Fils Aime reaffirmed the Haitian government's commitment to strengthening the historical ties of friendship and cooperation with Chile, while exploring new partnership opportunities to promote development and regional stability. For his part, President-elect Jose Antonio Kast expressed his desire to continue and intensify cooperative relations between the two countries, focusing on concrete initiatives that will benefit the Haitian and Chilean people. This meeting at the Cousino Palace marks a significant step in the diplomatic dialogue between Haiti and Chile and demonstrates the shared commitment of both governments to strengthening a partnership based on mutual respect, cooperation, and a shared vision of a prosperous future for their nations. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-47027-haiti-politic-pm-in-chile-for-the-inauguration-of-president-jose-antonio-kast.html HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Politic : Haiti and El Salvador strengthen their cooperation During his official visit to Chile, on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony of Chile's newly elected President Jose Antonio Kast, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime held a high-level bilateral meeting with Felix Ulloa, Vice President of the Republic of El Salvador. During this meeting, the Haitian government expressed its profound gratitude to the Republic of El Salvador and its partner countries for their solidarity and military and humanitarian support, particularly in assistance operations conducted for the benefit of the Haitian people. Discussions also focused on sharing Salvadoran experiences in combating insecurity and managing the prison system, areas in which El Salvador has developed significant operational approaches to addressing the phenomenon of gangs. The two men discussed the implementation of a comprehensive stabilization strategy in Haiti, structured around four key pillars : security, justice, reintegration, and disarmament programs (demobilization and reintegration), with the aim of consolidating progress in the fight against armed groups. In this context, Haitian authorities discussed preparations for the upcoming arrival of an international force under a United Nations mandate, operating within the framework of Chapter VII of the UN Security Council. This force, comprised of approximately 5,500 troops primarily from Benin, Chad, and Mongolia, will be tasked with supporting operations against armed groups and contributing to the long-term security of strategic areas. This bilateral meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of Haiti and El Salvador to strengthening their strategic cooperation, in a spirit of regional solidarity and shared responsibility in the face of current security challenges. The Prime Minister reiterated the Haitian government's determination to fully restore security, the rule of law, and institutional stability, essential conditions for national recovery and sustainable development in Haiti. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45891-haiti-flash-the-security-council-has-voted-for-the-new-gang-repression-force.html HL/ HaitiLibre Community invited to review priority corridors, help shape future safety improvements The City of Havre, in partnership with the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) and Hill County, is developing a Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Safety Action Plan to improve transportation safety and accessibility in the greater Havre area. The project team has identified key corridors where improvements could reduce crashes and enhance safety for drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and other users. Community members are invited to review the findings and provide feedback at an upcoming public meeting. Residents are warmly encouraged to join us in learning more and sharing their feedback on the corridors and safety improvements weve outlined, said Trevor Mork, Havre Director of Public Works. We especially look forward to hearing from those who frequently travel these routes and can share their experiences and challenges with us. The in-person meeting will be held at the Havre City Hall City Council Chambers at 520 4th Street, on Thursday, March 12, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. The meeting will begin with a brief presentation outlining the teams findings and identifying high-risk areas, with a focus on three priority corridors. The presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer session and small group discussions to gather feedback and ideas on each priority corridor. Residents are encouraged to fill out the Havre Safety Survey to share feedback and highlight safety issues when traveling on the streets and roads in the greater Havre area. To access the survey, visit https://bit.ly/HavreSafetySurvey. The Safety Action Plan aims to develop a detailed list of well-defined projects, programs, and innovative, cost-effective strategies to improve transportation safety and access. These initiatives may involve modifications to intersections, the addition of turn lanes, sidewalk upgrades, and other related improvements. This process will identify and prioritize projects while assisting in securing funding for their implementation. Initiatives outlined in the Safety Action Plan will be pursued incrementally as funding becomes available. A specific timeline for securing funding has not yet been established. The plan is expected to be completed by late 2026. This project is funded by the U.S. Department of Transportations Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program, which provides federal grants to support regional, local, and Tribal initiatives focused on preventing roadway fatalities and serious injuries. For more information about the Greater Havre Area SS4A Safety Action Plan, visit https://bit.ly/HavreSS4A. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns by contacting Sloane Stinson at [email protected]. To request an alternative accessible format of this document, please contact Trevor Mork at 406-265-4941, Montana Relay Service at 711, or by email at [email protected]. Requests for accommodations to participate in the public meeting should be made by Tuesday, March 10, 2026, by email to [email protected]. The City of Havre will make efforts to accommodate requests to the best of their ability. Hunter education in-person classes and field days for online students offered across central and eastern Montana this spring and summer GLASGOW- Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks hunter education in-person classes and field days for online students are being offered across central and eastern Montana. Several of these opportunities will allow of-age students to become certified to participate in the application process before the April 1, May 1, or June 1 big game application deadlines. Please note that more classes in more locations will be added as needed throughout the year. Please go to fwp.mt.gov/hunt/education/hunter to learn more and see other available classes. In-person hunter education class starting dates in central and eastern MT: Choteau: March 9 Great Falls: March 11 (currently full) Fairfield: March 16 (currently full) Havre: March 19 Miles City: March 20 (currently full) Scobey: March 23 Lewistown: March 30 Sidney: April 7 Miles City: April 10 Glasgow: April 13 Havre: April 23 Wolf Point: April 29 Havre: May 7 Harlem: May 28 Hays: June 9 Lodge Pole: July 8 Dodson: August 1 Glasgow: August 3 Harlem : 21 In-person, instructor-led hunter education classroom courses are available to anyone age 10 and older and provide new hunters with a hands-on learning experience. In-person courses are led by volunteer instructors who are passionate about preserving Montanas hunting tradition, teaching firearm safety, ethics, and other outdoor skills. Students aged 10 and 11 can take an in-person course and hunt as an apprentice but will not be able to put in for special applications until the year they turn 12. To find a classroom course and register, go to fwp.mt.gov/hunt/education/hunter and search for the in-person class listed. Students MUST be registered before the class begins. More information about the class, location, and other details will be on the registration page. Make sure to print, read and sign any necessary paperwork ahead of the class. Hunter education field days for online students dates in central and eastern MT: Glasgow: March 15 Havre: March 21 Malta: March 21 Great Falls: March 21 Miles City: March 22 Great Falls: March 25 Plentywood: March 27 Miles City: April 12 Great Falls: April 13 Sidney: April 18 Glasgow: April 24 Miles City: 8 Glasgow: 14 Consistent with FWPs licensing laws, students who are currently 11 and who will turn 12 by Jan. 16 of the current license year may take the online course and the requisite field day. The online course (course fees apply) needs to be completed before signing up for a field day. The online course takes around 6-8 hours to complete. Adults 18 and older may take the field day to gain hands-on experience, though it is not required. During the field day, participants receive instruction, practice, and then demonstrate their skills and knowledge in two key areas: firearm safety and hunting ethics. Instructors provide hands-on instruction and present realistic scenarios, then evaluate students on their understanding and competency. All hands-on firearm training is done with a variety of inert firearms, and some field days offer a live fire station. Students must be registered prior to attending a field day and bring their field day qualifier certificate to the field day. To find a class and register, or to take the online course, go to fwp.mt.gov/hunt/education/hunter . More information about the field day, location, and other details will be on the registration page. Make sure to print, read and sign any necessary paperwork ahead of the class. Tax season often brings a mix of paperwork, questions, and reflection. Its also a time to think about how we support the people and places that matter most. As new tax laws take effect, charitable giving remains a powerful way to strengthen our communities, now with a few updated incentives to consider. At its core, charitable giving isnt about tax benefits. Its about investing in the well-being of our communities and ensuring local nonprofits can continue their critical work. The Montana Community Foundation exists to help donors at every level turn those intentions into lasting impact. For about 90% of taxpayers who take the standard deduction, theres good news. Starting this year, individuals can deduct up to $1,000 in charitable gifts, and married couples can deduct up to $2,000, even without itemizing. This offers many Montanans a new chance to give confidently, knowing their generosity is recognized while making a real difference close to home. If you are seeking a way to make a significant impact, consider the Montana Endowment Tax Credit (METC). This tax credit has been around for nearly 30 years and is a powerful tool to give back to Montana while reducing your taxes. The METC provides a 40% tax credit on the federal charitable deduction for a qualifying planned gift (up to $15,000 annually per individual or $30,000 for couples). Businesses making direct gifts to qualified endowments can receive a 20% tax credit, up to $15,000 annually. Unlike a tax deduction, which reduces taxable income, a tax credit allows donors to give more to Montanas nonprofit organizations and save more on their Montana income taxes. Whether you give a little or a lot, thoughtful planning can help your dollars go further. For many standard deduction filers, these new provisions offer a chance to be more intentional and budget for annual gifts to your chosen nonprofits. When many people do this together, the collective impact can be extraordinary. Local nonprofits are being asked to do more with less: expand affordable housing, protect Montanas land and water, support children and families, and ensure everyone has the basic necessities. Consistent, planned giving helps organizations stay strong and responsive, even in uncertain times. For higher-income donors navigating new limitations, tools like donor-advised funds can be especially helpful. By contributing to a donor-advised fund through the Montana Community Foundation, donors may receive a tax benefit in the year of the contribution while recommending grants to nonprofits over time. Contributions can include cash or non-cash assets, such as appreciated stock or property, which may offer additional tax advantages by avoiding capital gains taxes and allowing more of the gift to support charitable work. MCF works closely with donors and their advisors to align giving strategies with personal values, ensuring generosity today creates lasting benefits for tomorrow. As you file your 2025 taxes and consider how these changes affect your finances, we hope you think about your community. What do you love about where you live? What would you like to see grow stronger? Charitable giving is one of the most meaningful ways to shape the future we want for Montana. This isnt just about people with wealth. Its about everyday peoplelocal business owners, teachers, farmers, retirees, and community leaderscoming together to care for one another. Even in challenging times, generosity remains one of our greatest strengths. The Montana Community Foundation is here to help you navigate your options, plan with purpose, and make an impact that reflects what matters most to you. Together, we can ensure Montanas communities continue to thrive for generations to come. Mary Rutherford is President & Chief Executive Officer of the Montana Community Foundation. Founded in 1988, MCF manages more than $216 million in assets and administers more than 1,988 philanthropic funds and planned gifts. Since its founding, MCF has reinvested more than $122 million in Montana through scholarships, grants, and programs. Learn more at mtcf.org. Florence M. Wilson, 68, passed away due to natural causes on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at her residence. Cremation has taken place, and memorial services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, March 16, 2026, at Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel. Burial will follow in Highland Cemetery, and there will be a potluck meal at the Tip It after the graveside service. Florence's family has suggested memorial donations be made in her memory to the Havre Parks and Recreation, 520 4th Street, Havre, MT 59501, for a memorial tree to be planted in her honor. Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements. Please visit Florence's online memorial page to send a card or leave a message of condolence for her family at https://www.hollandbonine.com . Florence was born on February 26, 1958, in Havre to Roy and Sybil (Watson) Wilson. She was raised in Havre attending school there. Following her high school years, Florence had her two children and then spent the next 33 years working for Kmart, and then North 40, retiring in 2023. After her retirement, she realized that she needed to keep busy and began working part-time for McLeans Grocery. Florence was a hard-working, friendly woman who enjoyed camping and spending time unwinding at Fresno Lake. She was a very social woman, attending the senior center to play Bingo, and loved her old rock music, especially Led Zepplin. Florence adored her children and grandsons, and her sweet pup, QT Pi. She was preceded in death by her son, Christopher Whalen; parents, Roy and Sybil Wilson; and several siblings, including her close brothers, Wally and Cliff Wilson. Florence is survived by her daughter, Jennifer (Tina Ellis) Whalen of Great Falls; grandsons, Brennan Whalen and Castor Robedeau; several siblings; lifelong friend, Laura; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and many, many friends. According to the ECB , the subsidiary reported guaranteed receivables incorrectly between 2021 and 2024. The European Central Bank has imposed a financial penalty of 2.26 million on Nordea after its Finnish subsidiary incorrectly reported credit risk exposures for several years, breaching European Union banking regulations. The exposures were recorded under the borrowers rather than under the guarantors responsible for the guarantees. The error continued for 13 consecutive quarters after regulatory changes introduced in 2021 required banks to attribute such exposures to guarantors instead. Because of the reporting method used by the subsidiary, the company exceeded the EUs regulatory limits on large exposures to individual clients. Under European banking rules, large exposures are defined as those exceeding 10 percent of a banks capital base. Institutions are prohibited from allowing any single exposure to exceed 25 percent of their capital. The ECB said the breaches occurred due to what it described as serious negligence and pointed to weaknesses in the banks internal controls as a contributing factor. Nordea said the issue was identified internally in October 2024 by Nordea Finance Finland. The bank stated that it immediately informed the ECB and corrected both the reporting error and its underlying cause. We informed the European Central Bank immediately, corrected the issue and the root cause behind it, Nordea said in a statement to Verkkouutiset. The bank added that the violation has no effect on the groups capital structure or on the exposure limits applied to the wider Nordea group. It also said internal oversight procedures have been strengthened to prevent similar incidents in the future. The decision by the ECB is not yet final, and Nordea has the option to challenge the ruling before the Court of Justice of the European Union. According to Finnish business daily Kauppalehti, which first reported the sanction, the fine relates specifically to breaches of EU rules governing large exposures and risk management reporting. HT The ranking placed Helsinki restaurant BasBas in second position, while Gron secured third place. The waterfront restaurant in Helsinkis Etelaranta district has led the national list every year since 2020. Restaurant Palace in Helsinki has retained its position at the top of Finlands 50 Best Restaurants list for the seventh consecutive year. The ranking, voted by industry professionals, was announced on Wednesday at the Gastro Helsinki trade fair. Both establishments operate in the Finnish capital, continuing Helsinkis strong presence at the top of the national dining scene. Jason, also located in Helsinki, finished fourth in the professional vote. Michelin-starred Kaskis from Turku took fifth place and emerged as the highest ranked restaurant outside Helsinki. Kajo from Tampere placed sixth. The remainder of the top ten included Alexanderplats and Savoy in Helsinki, Solitary in Rantasalmi and Luovuus kukkii kaaoksesta in Helsinki. The list was compiled through votes cast by 500 professionals working across the restaurant, hospitality, tourism, food and beverage sectors. Organisers said the participation marked the highest number of voters since the ranking began in 2004. The awards ceremony took place during the Gastro Helsinki event at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre. The ranking is organised by the Viisi Tahtea (Five Stars) media network with the exhibition centre acting as the main partner. Several additional industry awards were also presented during the event. The recognition for Professional of the Professionals went to Jari Vesivalo, a leading figure at Restaurant Jason in Helsinki. The award for industry change-maker was given to Lauri Kaivoluoto, a restaurateur behind Restaurant Backas in Vantaa. Restaurant Nolla in Helsinki received the award for most innovative restaurant, while Esmes, also in Helsinki, was named the best newcomer. BasBas secured two further awards for best atmosphere and best service. Palace was recognised for the countrys best wine list. The 2026 ranking features eight restaurants appearing on the list for the first time. Helsinki continues to dominate the selection with 35 entries, while 15 restaurants come from other regions of Finland. Turku and Tampere again formed the main regional rivalry on the list. Five restaurants from Turku were included in the ranking, while three restaurants from Tampere made the list. In eastern Finland, Solitary in Rantasalmi held ninth place for the second consecutive year. Kuopio restaurant Musta Lammas returned to the ranking after an 18-year absence, placing forty-third. Other regional entries include Sky Kitchen & View in Rovaniemi, Froj in Vaasa, Var and SicaPelle in Porvoo, and Vintero in Vantaa. According to Eeropekka Rislakki, editor-in-chief of Viisi Tahtea, the development of Finlands restaurant scene during the past two decades has been closely linked to the rise of bistro culture. Over the years bistronomy became a chef-driven phenomenon with technical ambition, seasonal thinking and tasting menus, he said. Rislakki noted that the concept has gradually moved closer to fine dining while still presenting itself as a more relaxed alternative. He said the shift has created economic challenges for many restaurants. If Finnish bistros want to survive the tightening economic climate, they need to return to their roots with clear, flavourful and reasonably priced food, he said. The organisers will also publish restaurants ranked from 51 to 100 on the same vote, offering a wider view of the countrys dining landscape. The Finlands 50 Best Restaurants list has been compiled annually since 2004 and remains one of the countrys main industry benchmarks for restaurant performance and reputation. HT Maritime authorities confirmed that a Thai-flagged bulk carrier caught fire after an explosion near Oman. Twenty crew members escaped while three sailors remain missing, according to Thailands Marine Department and the vessels operator, Precious Shipping. Three commercial vessels were struck by projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday as the war of aggression against Iran, by Israel and the United States, widened across the Gulf and the eastern Mediterranean. The incident formed part of a string of attacks on merchant shipping since the conflict began on February 28. Maritime security firms reported that at least three ships were hit on Wednesday alone. A Japanese-flagged container ship, ONE Majesty, sustained damage above the waterline while anchored in the Gulf. A third vessel, the Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier Star Gwyneth, suffered hull damage north-west of Dubai. American and US-related tankers now change their flags and try to pass the strait with other countries flags, but we know about this and we hit them under any flag, IRCGC Navy spokesman said in an interview. Shipping firms say the narrow passage between Iran and Oman has almost halted commercial traffic. Around one fifth of the worlds oil normally travels through the strait each day. Irans military command warned that vessels linked to the United States, Israel, or allied states would be treated as targets. Any vessel whose oil cargo or the vessel itself belongs to the United States, the Zionist regime, or their hostile allies will be considered legitimate targets, the Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters said in a statement carried by Iranian state television. The command added that Iranian forces will not allow a single litre of oil to transit the strait while attacks on Iran continue. The United States responded earlier by striking Iranian naval craft believed to be laying mines near the shipping lane. The Pentagon said American forces destroyed 16 mine-laying vessels in the area. General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters at the Pentagon that the United States was reviewing options to safeguard shipping through the waterway. Were looking at a range of options there, he said during a briefing on the military campaign. Iranian officials denied that foreign forces would secure safe passage through the strait. Ali Mohammad Naini, a spokesperson for the Revolutionary Guards, said any such attempt would face retaliation. Any movement of the US fleet and its allies will be stopped by our missiles and drones, he said in comments carried by Iranian media. Energy markets reacted within hours. Brent crude rose above 92 dollars a barrel before easing during later trading. Analysts say the closure of the Strait has halted exports from several Gulf producers and forced tankers to reroute across longer routes. Officials from the International Energy Agency met on Tuesday to discuss a coordinated release of oil reserves. Governments in Germany, Austria, and Japan said they would release emergency stocks to counter rising fuel costs. Japans prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, said her country would start releasing strategic reserves next week to protect domestic supply. More than ninety percent of Japans oil imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The conflict spread across the region as Iran launched missiles and drones towards several Gulf states. Saudi Arabia said its air defences intercepted ballistic missiles aimed at Prince Sultan Air Base and drones targeting an eastern oil field. Authorities in the United Arab Emirates reported that two drones fell near Dubai International Airport, injuring four people. Israel continued strikes inside Iran and against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. The Israeli defence minister, Israel Katz, said the campaign would continue without a time limit. This operation will continue without any time limit, as long as necessary, until we achieve all the objectives, he said. Lebanons health ministry said Israeli strikes have killed 570 people since the escalation began earlier this month. The ministry recorded more than 1,400 injuries. In Tehran, state television broadcast funerals for several senior commanders killed during early stages of the campaign. Iranian officials say air strikes have damaged thousands of civilian buildings, including hospitals and schools. One strike on a residential building in Tehran killed 40 civilians and injured hundreds yesterday. The war has also affected international aviation. Dutch airline KLM suspended all flights to Dubai until March 28 after drones fell near the airport. Diplomatic tensions continued to rise at the United Nations. The Security Council scheduled a vote on two draft resolutions addressing the war. One proposal condemns Iranian attacks on Gulf states and calls for the protection of shipping routes. A second draft backed by Russia calls for an immediate halt to fighting and renewed negotiations. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the council that attacks by all sides threaten regional stability and global trade. He warned that disruption in the Strait of Hormuz risks wider economic consequences if the conflict continues. HT Developer of proposed rental community sues the city for zoning denial An exhibit shows higher density developments surrounding the Haywood Road site proposed for 5.5 unit/acre development. The developer whose plan for a 180-unit rental community on Haywood Road near Blythe Street was denied by the Hendersonville City Council in a unanimous vote is suing the city, claiming the decision was arbitrary and capricious and unsupported by state law. Related Stories "A lawful business or use of land cannot be made subject to the unguided discretion of city councils or zoning boards where its establishment in a community is determined by whether the decision-makers believe such business or use to be in the public interest, serves the public welfare, is otherwise suitable or satisfies the purpose or intent of some vaguely worded land plan or rule," said the lawsuit filed Monday by attorney Craig Justus on behalf of Advenir Azora Development LLC. Alerting the media to the lawsuit on Tuesday, the city vowed to fight the action. "Our legal team is reviewing the complaint and the city of Hendersonville intends to vigorously defend the City Council's right to make local land use decisions," City Manager John Connet said in a statement. The conditional rezoning process the developer was guided to use inevitably left Advenirs rights concerning the free use and enjoyment of land to the whims of the city leaders to withhold approval for any reason, Justus said. Ultimately, city leaders rejected Plaintiffs plans for pretextual reasons, advancing their political interests and deciding the case in a way that was not supported by any objective development standards or by competent or substantial evidence in the record. The lawsuit made these other points: "The city is experiencing significant growth or a population boom that has highlighted and exacerbated the need for housing. The Citys lack of housing supply, especially what is called 'Missing Middle housing,' greatly influences the affordability of housing." 'Missing Middle housing' refers to small-to medium sized homes that are available at various price points, which are often part of infill development. Examples of Missing Middle housing include duplexes, triplexes, quadraplexes, cottage courtyards, townhomes and small-scale apartments." "Advenirs business substantially involves developing Missing Middle housing." "City ordinance," the developer contibuted, "confines most forms of Missing Middle housing such as triplexes and quadraplexes to limited commercial zones outside growing residential areas or in what is called a planned residential development conditional zoning district. ... Effectively, the City funnels all new Missing Middle housing developments on tracts such as (the Haywood Road property) through the gauntlet of conditional rezoning in the form of a PRDCZ District (planned residential development conditional zoning district)." In July 2025, Advenir submitted an application to rezone the land from R-15 to the PRDCZ District in order to develop on a community of 180 duplexes, triplexes and quadraplexes a density of 5.74 units per acre. Meetings with city planners and neighboring homeowners led to substantial modifications to the project plans, including greater building setbacks, more buffers and a reduction in the number of proposed units from 200 to 180, the lawsuit said. Although multiple neighbors objected to the Project based on traditional Not in My Backyard complaints" city planners during that time communicated support for the project and the conditional rezoning. The developer, meanwhile, incurred substantial expenses in engineering and site design fees in modifying its plans to accommodate staffs wishes, and to provide requested documentation, including traffic impact studies. The development plan complied with all city planning ordinances and was approved by the city fire marshal, the plaintiffs said. Advenir contends that the City ordinances are illegal or invalid for violating on their face or as-applied various State statutes and the North Carolina Constitution, the lawsuit said. The City disagrees. The developer also contends the rezoning was arbitrary and capricious, and the the City disagrees with that, too. Citing numerous legal precedents, the developer says the citys decision went beyond its regulatory authority. In a city that shares the same or similar characteristics of the City in terms of size and population, local government must reasonably accommodate housing including Missing Middle housing; such a city has no authority to ban such use or establish unreasonable or unnecessary restrictions against same, Justus said Expressly funneling Missing Middle housing in the form of triplexes, quadraplexes, etc. or housing of 51 or more units through conditional legislative rezoning decision giving the City unlimited authority to reject any such application for any reason is inimical to the concept of the consent of the property owner, which denotes making a choice not brought on by duress or lack of viable options. Justus asked the court to provide declaratory and injunctive relief, declare the city conditional zoning mandates in its zoning ordinance invalid and unenforceable, grant attorneys fees and charge the cost of the action to the city. THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY. RETURN TO THE LIGHTNING FOR MORE COVERAGE. A MAN has appeared in court charged with the murder of a Henley woman. Nelio Gouveia, 44, of Phyllis Court Drive, is accused of drowning Jennifer Symonds, 44, who was found dead by police near Phyllis Court Club at 7.50am last Friday. He appeared at Oxford Crown Court on Wednesday where Judge Ian Pringle KC adjourned his plea and trial preparation hearing until May 29. Defence counsel Alistair Grainger, appearing remotely, said that a background of mental health issues and capacity needed to be explored before arraignment. Gouveia appeared handcuffed in the dock wearing a grey sweatshirt. He held his head down for most of the hearing and stood up when addressed by Judge Pringle and confirmed his name. At times he appeared to be shaking his head and at one point asked for a tissue, which he used to wipe his brow. Mr Grainger noted that a Portuguese interpreter, who was scheduled to appear in court, had cancelled and asked that this be organised again for the next hearing. Friends of Ms Symonds were present in the public gallery. One appeared visibly upset on leaving the courtroom. Gouveia, who has been remanded in custody, also appeared at High Wycombe Magistrates Court on Monday, where he confirmed his name, age and address. He was arrested shortly after Thames Valley Police officers arrived at the scene on Friday. A post-mortem examination on Sunday confirmed that the cause of Ms Symonds death was drowning. Police confirmed her identity on Tuesday and said her family and next of kin were being supported by specially trained officers. Several bunches of flowers had been layed in tribute at Red Lion Lawn, off Hart Street, on Wednesday morning, which friends say was a favourite spot of Ms Symonds. A significant police presence was in place on the grounds of Phyllis Court Club on Friday where a cordon was put in place. Police shut off access to the towpath, blocking walkers, cyclists and runners, and asked rowers not to pass that section of the river. A police search team and forensic investigators were seen on Saturday searching on for evidence in the River Thames in front of the members-only club. Residents of Phyllis Court Drive said that they were left in shock and unsettled over the weekend after Mr Gouveias arrest. June Wood, 94, who lives in the road, said the experience had been frightening. On Tuesday, when the club re-opened Ms Wood that she didnt feel she could face going to the club just yet. She added: My neighbours and I were getting ready to head down to the club on Friday late afternoon for their cocktail hour, when we received a notification from the club, telling us everything had shut down. There were police cars going back and forth and it was all a bit of a shock. Initially, we didnt know what had happened but we felt a bit uneasy. I ended up hosting at my home that evening which was nice for us all to be together considering everything. Mrs Wood said her neighbour had been due to hold a wake at the club for his late wife on Saturday but had to relocate at short notice to The Crown in Playhatch due to the police cordon, which she said must have been very upsetting. She said that, as a member of Phyllis Court, she had been kept well advised and described the club as like a family. Pamela Staveley-Parker, 93, who also lives in Phyllis Court Drive, said that she had left home at around 9am on Friday and by the time she had returned at about 11.30am, there were police everywhere and members being turned away from the entrance. Mrs Staveley-Parker said that the mood in the neighbourhood had felt gloomy in recent days, with residents feeling thoroughly depressed as the news spread. She also commented on rumours, saying gossip and hearsay get around like wildfire I think the club handed it all rather well, I felt like they probably told us everything they could. Neighbour Jill Irwin, 97, said her son had visited her after noting the huge police presence on Friday afternoon and not knowing what had happened. She said: He offered to stay the night and told me to make sure the doors were locked and not to go out. A friend of Ms Symonds told the Henley Standard that she knew Henley well, with the now closed CAU steak restaurant in Hart Street being a regular for group get-togethers, and Ms Symonds visiting the Henley Festival on multiple occasions over the years. Chris Hogan, chief executive and secretary of Phyllis Court, said: It hass been a challenging time, going through unchartered, very shocking waters, because this is not what you would expect to happen in such a wonderful, collegiate environment. Everyone is coping we have some very good professional counselling support on site for the staff and members. China-Namibia health partnership strengthened as 17th batch of Chinese medical team welcomed Xinhua) 11:07, March 11, 2026 WINDHOEK, March 10 (Xinhua) -- The Namibian government has lauded the long-standing health partnership with China, as professional knowledge exchanges are vital for the "sustainability of outcomes" in the country's healthcare system, a government official said on Tuesday. During the staff rotation ceremony at the Katutura Intermediate Hospital, Namibia's Executive Director of Health and Social Services Penda Ithindi welcomed the 17th batch of Chinese medical team while bidding farewell to the outgoing 16th cohort. "The outcomes are quite key for the bigger and scalable impact as the lessons are transmitted to our medical teams, clinicians, and the nurse cohorts, and this is transmitted and provided countrywide," he said. The outgoing team, led by team leader Huang Qin, concluded an 18-month tenure during which they treated more than 21,000 patients using traditional Chinese medicine. "The smile was the best reward for our work," Huang said, also thanking the Namibian government for their stay. Guan Hao, head of the 17th batch, said that she and her team will fulfill three commitments during their tenure. "We will work side by side with local medical staff, offer care to every patient, and strive to let more people feel the kindness and concern from China," she said. Chinese Embassy in Namibia Charge d'affaires Shen Jian reaffirmed that this cooperation is a cornerstone of China-Africa relations. "We are convinced that China-Africa and China-Namibia health cooperation will make constant progress and deliver more real benefits to both sides," he concluded. China has dispatched a total of 68 medical team members to Namibia for 30 consecutive years, treating thousands of patients every year. They first came to Namibia in 1996 to set up the acupuncture department at the Katutura Intermediate Hospital. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Chinese FM urges ceasefire in Middle East, supports Gulf role in regional future Xinhua) 13:06, March 11, 2026 BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday that China calls for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East and efforts toward a political solution, and supports Gulf countries in taking the future of the region in their own hands. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in a phone conversation with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. Al Thani briefed the Chinese side on the regional situation and the position of Qatar, stressing that Qatar has had to undertake necessary measures of self-defense while stepping up diplomatic efforts to prevent the crisis from spreading and escalating. He also expressed appreciation for China's fair and just position and its mediation efforts, and voiced hope that China will play a greater role in promoting a ceasefire and ending the hostilities. For his part, Wang said that China, as a permanent member of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, has always adhered to principles and upheld fairness and justice in international affairs. The U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran, without authorization from the Security Council, clearly violated the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the basic norms governing international relations, said Wang. Meanwhile, China does not approve of expanding the scope of strikes and condemns indiscriminate attacks against civilians and non-military targets, said Wang, adding that the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of the Gulf Arab countries should be respected. Noting that the continuation of the war brings all harm and no benefit and will only cause greater losses for all parties concerned, Wang said that China will continue to play a constructive role in easing tensions and restoring peace in its own way. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) In Brief: Global hotel development pipelines remain active despite rising construction and financing costs, while airlines and geopolitical tensions continue to influence travel flows. At the same time, hotel brands are accelerating investments in artificial intelligence, wellness travel is expanding in Asia, and hotel investment activity continues across key markets. Global Hotel Development Pipelines Remain Active Despite Rising Construction and Financing Costs - Image Credit HNR News Top Hotel Industry News March 10, 2026 Global Hotel Development Pipelines Remain Active Despite Rising Construction and Financing Costs Despite rising construction and financing costs, the global hotel industry maintains its growth trajectory, with development pipelines remaining robust and active. Read the article. EuropeAsia Direct Airfares Surge Up to 298% Amid Middle East Tensions The escalating tensions in the Middle East have led to a dramatic increase in direct airfare prices between Europe and Asia, with rates rising by as much as 298%. Read the article. Hilton Launches Beta AI Trip Planner on Hilton.com Hilton has introduced a beta version of an AI-powered trip planner on its website, marking a further step in the hospitality industry's adoption of advanced technology to improve service offerings. Read the article. Egypt and East Africa Lead as African Hotel Development Surges The hotel industry in Africa is witnessing a surge in development, with Egypt and East Africa emerging as the primary regions for this growth. Read the article. Wellness Tourism Growth Positions Philippines Among Top Global Destinations The Philippines has emerged as a prominent destination in the global wellness tourism landscape, owing to its rapid growth in this sector. Read the article. Graduate by Hilton Storrs Hotel at University of Connecticut Sold The Graduate by Hilton Storrs Hotel, located at the University of Connecticut, has changed hands, marking another notable transaction in the hospitality real estate market. Read the article. How Hotels Should Use AI and a Smarter Commercial Strategy to Protect Profit Margins Against Rising Costs Jonathan Gough discusses the potential of artificial intelligence and intelligent commercial strategies as tools for hotels to mitigate the impact of increasing expenses. Read the article. Industry Context The latest hospitality headlines reflect an industry balancing strong long-term demand with rising operating costs and evolving travel dynamics. While hotel development pipelines remain active globallyfrom Africa to major gateway marketsoperators are also facing higher construction, financing, and operating expenses. At the same time, airlines and geopolitical developments continue to influence travel flows and pricing, while hotel companies increasingly turn to artificial intelligence and commercial strategy tools to improve efficiency and protect margins. Together, these trends highlight a sector that continues to expand and innovate despite a more complex economic and geopolitical environment. In Brief: HVS reports on key hotel sales and investment activity across Asia Pacific for the week ending 6 March 2026. ADIA Sells Novotel and ibis Sydney Darling Harbour Complex for AUD390 Million in Australia - Image Credit Accor ADIA Sells Novotel and ibis Sydney Darling Harbour Complex for AUD390 Million in Australia UAEbased Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) has agreed to sell the 525-key Novotel Sydney on Darling Harbour Hotel and 256-key ibis Sydney Darling Harbour complex for AUD390 million to Australia-based Wentworth Capital Private Equity Pty Ltd (Wentworth Capital) and Hong Kong-based Sun Hung Kai & Company (SHK & Co). The transaction, totalling 781 rooms, reflects approximately AUD499,000 per key. Situated on a 1.5 hectare site in Pyrmont Peninsula, the properties benefit from close proximity to the International Convention Centre Sydney, Cockle Bay Wharf and Barangaroo, and are within walking distance of Town Hall Station and light rail connections, providing accessibility to the broader Sydney Central Business District. The nearby Harbour Shopping Centre is currently undergoing a AUD2 billion redevelopment and is expected to be completed in late 2027 with a brand-new mixed-use precinct. The transaction represents one of the largest single hotel trades in Sydney in recent years. Nippon REIT Acquires Two Hotels for JPY11.7 Billion in Japan Japan-based NIPPON REIT Investment Corporation (NIPPON REIT) has announced the acquisition of trust beneficiary interests in four domestic real estate properties for a combined price of JPY15.4 billion. The portfolio comprises residential, retail and hotel assets, with the hotel component being the 143-key Hotel Resol Akihabara and 119-key The Basement Hotel Osaka Honmachi acquired for approximately JPY6.1 billion and JPY5.6 billion, respectively. The transactions translate to approximately JPY42.8 million and JPY47.1 million per key, respectively. Located in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Hotel Resol Akihabara is a three-minute walk from JR Akihabara Station and in close proximity to Iwamotocho Station on the Toei Shinjuku Line. Completed in February 2019, the 14-storey property provides a total gross floor area of approximately 3,305 square metres (sqm). Located in Osaka City, The Basement Hotel Osaka Honmachi is a two-minute walk from Honmachi Station on the Osaka Metro Yotsubashi Line. Completed in January 2019 and renewed in April 2025, the 14-storey property provides a total gross floor area of approximately 3,301 sqm. Hon Kwok and CIL Sell R Hotel Honmachi for JPY1.54 Billion in Osaka, Japan Bauhinia Hotels Group Japan I, a vehicle funded and controlled by a joint venture associated with Hong Kongbased Hon Kwok Land Investment Company Limited (Hon Kwok) and Hong Kong-based Chimney Investments Limited (CIL), has entered into an agreement to sell an Osaka Hotel, which is identified as the 55-key R Hotel Honmachi in Osaka, Japan. The asset will be acquired by a beneficiary jointly owned by brothers Chiang Kin Tong and Chiang Kin Nam Bernardo for approximately JPY1.54 billion, or approximately JPY28 million per key. The transaction price represents a premium of around 2.1% over the propertys market valuation of JPY1.51 billion as at 31 December 2025. The hotel comprises approximately 1,017 square metres of gross floor area across 10 storeys. R Hotel Honmachi is located within a five-minute walk of Sakaisuji-Hommachi Station, served by the Chuo Line and Sakaisuji Line, providing connectivity to major tourist attractions such as Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori. Lumut Park Resort Sells Orient Star Lumut for MYR32.96 Million in Malaysia Lumut Park Resort Sdn Bhd, owned jointly by Malaysia-based Johan Holdings Berhad (Johan Holdings) and Syarikat Majuperak Bhd, a unit of Malaysia-based Majuperak Holdings Bhd in a 80-20 stake, has entered into a conditional agreement to dispose of the 150-key The Orient Star Resort Lumut in Perak, Malaysia for MYR32.96 million, and three adjoining land parcels for a total of MYR14.47 million, bringing the total consideration to MYR47.4 million. This represents a price of approximately MYR220,000 per key for the hotel. Located minutes away from the Lumut Pangkor Ferry Jetty, the property features two food and beverage outlets, six meeting venues that span over 867 square metres, and an outdoor pool. The assets are being acquired by two Malaysia-based companies, Golden Peak Hospitality & Consultancy Sdn Bhd and Bujang Holdings Sdn Bhd. HVS is the world's leading consulting and valuation services organization focused on the hotel, restaurant, shared ownership, gaming, and leisure industries. Established in 1980, the company performs more than 4,500 assignments per year for virtually every major industry participant. HVS principals are regarded as the leading professionals in their respective regions of the globe. Through a worldwide network of over 50 offices staffed by 300 experienced industry professionals, HVS provides an unparalleled range of complementary services for the hospitality industry. For further information regarding our expertise and specifics about our services, please visit www.hvs.com. In Brief: The Kimpton Era Midtown New York has launched a 33-story hotel in Manhattan, marking a significant addition to the city's hospitality landscape amidst ongoing industry challenges. Guestroom at the Kimpton Era Midtown New York Hotel - Image Credit IHG Hotels & Resorts Kimpton Era Midtown New York has opened at 32 West 48th Street, introducing a 33-story hotel with 529 guest rooms and four dining and bar concepts in Manhattan. Kimpton Era Midtown New York has opened at 32 West 48th Street in Manhattan. The 33-story newbuild was designed by Extell Development Company and is the first hotel under Extells direct management. The property features 529 guest rooms, including two suites and nine rooms with outdoor terraces. Select suites offer connecting lock-off capabilities and pull-out couches. The hotels interiors were designed by INC Architecture & Design, with architecture by SLCE Architects. The property includes a self-service check-in counter on the ground floor and a third-floor lobby with a manned reception desk. Each guest room features a window seat and city views. Rooms above the 15th floor on the south side offer views of the Empire State Building and 1 World Trade, while select north-facing rooms provide sightlines to Rockefeller Center and Fifth Avenue. Amenities include a 1,375-square-foot gym open 24 hours, equipped with Peloton bikes, yoga mats, and cardio equipment. Four dining and bar concepts are operated by Apicii. The Parlor, located in the main lobby, is open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. and serves as an all-day gathering place, hosting the Kimpton social hour each evening. Bar Rocco, conceptualized by chef Rocco DiSpirito, is an Italian American brasserie open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with views of Rockefeller Plaza. Amasa, a Latin steakhouse with a menu by chef Christopher Loeffl, is scheduled to open in March 2026. Bar Amasa, the restaurants street-level cantina, will serve Latin cocktails and Mexican tacos. Jade Rabbit, a rooftop Asian izakaya offering 360-degree views of Manhattan, is scheduled to open in April 2026. The hotel is located in Midtown Manhattan, with access to nearby landmarks and corporate offices. Room rates at Kimpton Era Midtown New York start at $450 per night. In Brief: A recent study by the European Travel Commission (ETC) indicates a growing trend among long-haul tourists to Europe, who are increasingly adopting responsible travel practices, underscoring the industry's move towards sustainability. Long-Haul Travellers to Europe Show Increase in Responsible Travel Behaviours, ETC Study - Image Credit European Travel Commission New research from the European Travel Commission indicates that long-haul travellers to Europe are increasingly adopting responsible travel behaviours, such as choosing greener transport, engaging with local communities, travelling off-season, and visiting less popular destinations, despite a decline in sustainability coverage in public media. The European Travel Commission (ETC), in collaboration with Kairos Future, conducted a study assessing responsible travel behaviours among long-haul travellers to Europe. The research is based on a survey of 3,000 travellers from Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Japan, and the United States. The study also includes an analysis of online travel discussions and editorial media coverage related to European travel. The research tracks four main responsible travel behaviours: travelling off-season, visiting less popular destinations, engaging with local communities, and choosing greener transport options. The study uses a baseline index of 100 for 2024 to measure year-on-year changes. Key Findings: Growth in Responsible Travel Behaviours All four responsible travel indicators showed modest increases compared to the previous year. The 2025 index values are as follows: Travel green: 108 Go off the beaten track: 106 Love local: 105 Travel off-season: 102 These results indicate a gradual shift in traveller behaviour towards more sustainable and locally immersive travel, even as sustainability receives less attention in global media coverage. Trends in Greener Mobility and Slower Travel The most significant improvement was seen in green travel choices, with the index rising from 100 in 2024 to 108 in 2025. The share of travellers using human-powered or electric mobility options increased from 13% to 18%. Reliance on fossil fuel-based transport declined from 35% to 30%. Travellers are increasingly using trains, public transport, and other lower-emission mobility options while travelling within Europe. This shift reflects a growing preference for sustainable transport solutions among long-haul visitors. Local Engagement and Authentic Experiences Engagement with local communities also increased, as indicated by the "love local" index rising to 105. Travellers reported greater interest in staying at locally owned accommodations, supporting local businesses, and participating in regional cultural experiences, including food and traditions. Survey responses suggest that travellers interpret local engagement in various ways, highlighting the importance of clear communication about which activities benefit destinations and communities. Interest in Off-Season and Alternative Destinations The index measuring travel to lesser-known destinations rose to 106, indicating greater openness to exploring destinations beyond traditional tourism hotspots. The off-season travel index rose to 102, indicating a gradual shift in travel away from peak months. Barriers to Responsible Travel Despite increased willingness to travel responsibly, practical challenges remain. While 53% of respondents intended to travel off-season, only 49% did so, revealing a 4% gap between intention and behaviour. For visiting lesser-known destinations, the gap was 5%. Common barriers mentioned in online discussions include uncertainty about off-season periods, fragmented rail booking systems, and the complexity of planning electric vehicle trips across countries. Price sensitivity also influences travel decisions. Travellers are most receptive to practical adjustments that facilitate responsible travel, such as choosing locally owned accommodation, planning slower itineraries, or using rail where convenient. Conclusion The ETC study shows a modest but consistent increase in responsible travel behaviours among long-haul visitors to Europe. While sustainability receives less media attention, travellers are gradually shifting towards greener transport, local engagement, off-season travel, and exploration of less-visited destinations. Practical barriers remain, but small adjustments can help travellers act on their intentions. The full report is available on the ETC website. ASUS announced last night a strategic partnership with Techtron Systems Corp., appointing them as the official distributor for ASUS NUC products in the Philippines. This collaboration marks the local debut of the groundbreaking ASUS NUC 16 Pro. Powered by the latest Intel Core Ultra 3rd Gen processors, the NUC 16 Pro brings advanced AI capabilities and superior performance to Filipino businesses and professionals. Empowering Philippine Businesses with Next-Generation AI Computing to Bring Advanced AI Capabilities and Superior Performance to Local Professionals The partnership with Techtron Systems Corp., a trusted IT solutions provider and tech distributor, aims to significantly expand the availability and support for ASUS NUC Mini PCs across the Philippine market. About Techtron Systems Corp. Techtron Systems Corp. is a leading IT solutions provider and tech distributor in the Philippines, dedicated to empowering businesses through innovation and reliability. With a strong focus on delivering cutting-edge technology and exceptional service, Techtron Systems Corp. helps organizations optimize their operations and achieve their strategic goals. Introducing the ASUS NUC 16 Pro: Faster, Smarter, More Secure for the AI-Driven Enterprise Engineered for demanding business operations, the ASUS NUC 16 Pro Mini PC redefines workspace efficiency. Its compact design saves valuable space while offering hassle-free upgrades and robust expansion options, ensuring it meets both current and future business needs. Key features of the ASUS NUC 16 Pro include: Latest Intel Core Ultra 3rd Gen Processors: Featuring up to the Intel Core Ultra X9 Series 3 processor with integrated Intel Arc graphics, delivering exceptional multi-architecture performance with a dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for AI acceleration. Featuring up to the Intel Core Ultra X9 Series 3 processor with integrated Intel Arc graphics, delivering exceptional multi-architecture performance with a dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for AI acceleration. Unprecedented AI Performance: Offers up to 180 platform TOPS (Trillions of Operations Per Second), enabling seamless execution of advanced AI applications and demanding workloads. Offers up to 180 platform TOPS (Trillions of Operations Per Second), enabling seamless execution of advanced AI applications and demanding workloads. Superior Graphics: Delivers up to 1.5X faster gen-on-gen 3D graphics performance. Delivers up to 1.5X faster gen-on-gen 3D graphics performance. Advanced Memory: Supports up to 96GB of lightning-fast LPDDR5x memory while maintaining incredible energy efficiency. ASUS NUC 15 Pro Best Compact Choice for the AI-Driven Future Alongside the NUC 16 Pro, Techtron Systems Corp. will also offer the ASUS NUC 15 Pro, a compact yet powerful Mini PC designed for versatility. Ideal for content creators, gamers, and professionals, the NUC 15 Pro is powered by Intel Core Ultra 2nd Gen processors, making it an excellent choice for AI model training, data visualization, and other intensive tasks. Availability & Pricing The ASUS NUC 16 Pro and ASUS NUC 15 Pro, along with other ASUS NUC products, are now available in the Philippines through Techtron Systems Corp. and its extensive network of partner dealers. Techtron Systems Corp. will also offer exclusive bundles, including ASUS NUC mini PCs paired with LCD monitors, to provide comprehensive system solutions. For pricing and detailed specifications, please contact Techtron Systems Corp. or visit their authorized dealers. 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 North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, accompanied by his teenage daughter, oversaw strategic cruise missile tests fired from a warship, state media reported on Wednesday. The launches come as Pyongyang issued threats in response to ongoing US-South Korean military exercises. Images released by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) depicted the pair in a conference room, observing footage of weapons being fired from the Choe Hyon, a year-old naval destroyer. Kim Jong Un, who watched the launches via video on Tuesday, emphasised the necessity of maintaining "a powerful and reliable nuclear war deterrent," according to the KCNA dispatch, which notably omitted any mention of his daughter. The girl, reportedly named Kim Ju Ae and thought to be around 13, has made numerous high-profile appearances alongside her father since late 2022, including at military parades and weapons demonstrations. Last month, South Koreas intelligence agency suggested that Kim Jong Un was close to designating her as his successor. open image in gallery Kim Jong Un , who watched the launches via video on Tuesday, emphasised the necessity of maintaining a powerful and reliable nuclear war deterrent, according to the KCNA dispatch, which notably omitted any mention of his daughter ( KCNA/KNS ) KCNA stated the missiles successfully struck target islands situated off North Korea's west coast. Kim Jong Un was quoted as saying the exercises were intended to showcase the navy's strategic offensive capabilities and to familiarise personnel with weapons firings. Kim Jong Un observed similar cruise missile launches from the Choe Hyon in person last week, but his daughter was not seen at that appearance. Tuesday's missile firings came after the start of the springtime US-South Korean military drills that North Korea views as an invasion rehearsal. On Tuesday, Kim Jong Un's sister and senior official, Kim Yo Jong, warned the drills reveal again the US and South Korea's inveterate repugnancy toward" North Korea. open image in gallery KCNA stated the missiles successfully struck target islands situated off North Korea's west coast ( KCNA/KNS ) She said North Korea will convince the enemies of our war deterrence. The 11-day Freedom Shield drill that began Monday is largely a computer-simulated command post exercise and will be accompanied by a field training program. North Korea often reacts to the two sets of training with its own weapons tests. North Korea has long portrayed the allies joint drills as invasion rehearsals and often used them as a pretext to ramp up its own military demonstrations or weapons tests. The allies say the exercises are defensive in nature. North Koreas Foreign Ministry last week described the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran as an illegal act of aggression carried out under the pretext of fake peace. 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 India's hospitality sector is bracing for widespread disruptions and potential shutdowns as a critical shortage of cooking gas grips the nation. Restaurants and hotels across the country are facing dwindling supplies, a direct consequence of the ongoing conflict in Iran. The scarcity of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) stems from the US-Israel war on Iran, which has severely impacted ship traffic in the Gulf and the vital Strait of Hormuz. This disruption has sent energy prices soaring and increased transport costs, affecting major Gulf producers like Qatar and Saudi Arabia. As the world's second-largest importer of LPG, India last week invoked emergency powers, compelling domestic refiners to boost production for local consumption. However, this measure has left the hospitality industry struggling to secure adequate supplies. "We have LPG stock for two days. We are working on contingencies," stated Bert Mueller, founder of the Mexican food chain California Burrito, which operates over 100 outlets from Bengaluru to Delhi. He added, "We are conserving gas and installing induction stoves at certain stores." open image in gallery The scarcity of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) stems from the US-Israel war on Iran, which has severely impacted ship traffic in the Gulf and the vital Strait of Hormuz ( REUTERS ) In response to the crisis, authorities have established a panel to review requests from the affected industries, as businesses grapple with the immediate threat of operational halts. India's oil ministry said it had set up a panel to review requests for LPG supply to restaurants and other industries, following appeals from two industry bodies. "The restaurant industry is predominantly dependent on commercial LPG for its operations," the National Restaurant Association of India, which represents more than half a million restaurants, told the food processing ministry on Monday. "Any disruption therein will lead to a catastrophic closure," the NRAI said in a letter, while another body, the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India, also sought government help. open image in gallery Customers dine inside Vidyarthi Bhavan restaurant, as restaurants and hotels in southern India, including the IT hub of Bengaluru, have warned of shutdowns amid disruptions in commercial LPG supply ( REUTERS ) Indian companies have raised LPG prices for the first time in about a year, as the war boosts prices of the imports that fill two-thirds of annual LPG consumption. India's largest supplier of LNG, Qatar, halted production last week after Iran's strikes on Gulf countries in retaliation for Israeli and US strikes against it. Falling supplies In the southern tech hub of Bengaluru dubbed India's Silicon Valley, several restaurants said deliveries had dropped sharply, warning that kitchens will come to a halt if the situation is not resolved. "One of our restaurants did not receive gas cylinders today," Manish V Shetty, who runs the Udupi Food Hub chain of restaurants in Bengaluru told Reuters. "Thankfully, one of our older vendors helped us," he added, because the chain offers immediate payment, rather than credit terms of a week or month. "We're also seeing a spike in the price of the sunflower oil that we use for cooking." open image in gallery In the southern tech hub of Bengaluru dubbed India's Silicon Valley, several restaurants said deliveries had dropped sharply, warning that kitchens will come to a halt if the situation is not resolved ( REUTERS ) Few restaurants stockpile LPG cylinders, because of safety concerns, relying instead on frequent replacement, said Veerendra Kamat, secretary of the Bengaluru Hotels Association. "It's a very grave situation. Most of the (gas) companies have stopped supplying," said Ananth Narayan of the NRAI's Bengaluru branch, adding that even those restaurants that do store gas could run out within a week or two. 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 Restaurant and hospitality associations across India have warned that disruption to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supplies due to the US-Israeli war against Iran could lead to widespread closures of businesses. The National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) warned that the industry was heavily dependent on commercial LPG cylinders for daily operations. LPG, produced during crude oil refining and natural gas processing, is Indias main cooking fuel. Its widely supplied in cylinders, making it easy to transport, including to areas without pipeline access. The restaurant industry is predominantly dependent on commercial LPG for its operations, the NRAI said in a statement shared with The Independent. Any disruption therein will lead to a catastrophic closure of the majority of restaurants. open image in gallery Indian baker Jai Krishan makes traditional Punjabi bread known as Kulcha in his tandoor ( AFP via Getty ) The warning comes as India moves to tighten fuel availability due to the escalating war in the Middle East. The war has halted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital corridor for global oil and gas supplies, raising concerns about energy shipments to Asia. India relies heavily on imported LPG, much of which normally travels through the strategic waterway linking the Gulf to global markets. The Indian government has ordered refineries to increase LPG output and prioritise household supplies after disruptions linked to the conflict caused shortages for restaurants and businesses. In light of current geopolitical disruptions to fuel supply and constraints on supply of LPG, the ministry has issued orders to oil refineries for higher LPG production and using such extra production for domestic LPG use, the petroleum ministry said on X. Non-domestic supplies from imported LPG are being prioritised to essential non-domestic sectors such as hospitals and educational institutions. Authorities have extended the interval between domestic LPG cylinder bookings from 21 to 25 days and directed oil marketing companies to prioritise household connections over commercial users. A three-member committee comprising executive directors of state oil marketing companies has been formed to review requests for LPG supply from restaurants, hotels and other non-domestic sectors. Officials said these steps were aiming to prevent hoarding and stabilise supply. India, one of the worlds largest LPG consumers, uses about 31.3 million tonnes of LPG each year and imports roughly 62 per cent of that demand, according to The Hindu. Much of those imports normally travel through the Strait of Hormuz, which carries around a fifth of the worlds oil supply and a similar share of global liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade. Energy analysts say a prolonged disruption to the route could tighten LPG supplies across Asia, which depends heavily on imports. Iran alone accounts for just under 8 per cent of global waterborne LPG supplies, Ciaran Tyler, lead research analyst at the energy analytics firm Kpler, tells The Independent. Moreover, 27 per cent of global LPG flows move through the Strait of Hormuz. He adds that any prolonged disruption would tighten supplies in Asia, which depends heavily on imports. Indeed, Asia is significantly reliant on LPG imports for its demand and 41 per cent of the region's total waterborne LPG needs are barrels that move through the Strait of Hormuz, he says. open image in gallery A man fastens a newly purchased LPG cylinder onto his cycle outside a gas agency in Chennai on 11 March ( AFP via Getty ) Muyu Xu, senior research analyst for crude at Kpler, says the same shipping route is also vital for regional gas supplies. Approximately 27 per cent of Asian LNG imports transit the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring its strategic importance for regional gas supply as well. India has begun exploring alternative LPG supply partnerships with countries like Algeria, Australia, Canada and Norway to ease pressure on domestic markets, according to officials quoted by Business Today. Petroleum minister Hardeep Singh Puri said India remained in a comfortable position. Energy imports into the country are in full flow from all non-Hormuz routes. The energy requirements of our citizens are being fully met, he said. The oil ministry has invoked the Essential Commodities Act to ensure domestic supply and directed refineries and petrochemical units to maximise LPG production. Energy companies have also been asked to divert key hydrocarbon streams towards LPG output. Indias largest private refiner, Reliance Industries, said it was maximising LPG production and diverting locally produced natural gas to priority sectors. Industry groups say this policy shift has already disrupted restaurant operations. The NRAI wrote to the petroleum minister saying suppliers across the country had indicated that commercial LPG supplies to restaurants could stop after a government order prioritised domestic consumption. In a subsequent letter, the association said the industry was facing operational challenges because of supply disruption. It also pointed to a letter circulated to distributors that has wrongly categorised the restaurant industry as non essential commercial establishments. Sagar Daryani, president of NRAI, warns that recent government directives on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) are severely disrupting restaurant operations nationwide. Basically, the government circular that came on 5 March and again on 9 March recommended that the majority of LPG cylinders should be diverted towards domestic consumption, Daryani tells The Independent. It nowhere mentioned that there was a ban on LPG cylinders for commercial purposes. However, yesterday afternoon the LPG Distributors Association issued an advisory to its members asking them not to supply LPG cylinders to restaurants. Since Saturday night, none of our members have been getting supplies. NRAI represents over 500,000 restaurants across the country. open image in gallery File. Since Saturday, none of the NRAIs 500,000 member restaurants have received LPG supplies ( AFP via Getty ) Hospitality associations in several cities have reported shortages as well. In Bengaluru, small restaurants limited services to tea and coffee after gas dealers said commercial cylinder refilling had not taken place since 7 March. Only 10-15 per cent of establishments using piped gas from the public-sector supplier GAIL have continued operating without disruption. In Indias financial capital Mumbai, about 20 per cent of hotels and restaurants have already shut down. The figure may soar to 50 per cent within two days if supplies do not improve, the Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association, the apex body for the hospitality trade in Maharashtra, says. Sundar Singaram of the South India Hotels and Restaurants Association tells The Independent that the industry is seeking priority access to LPG while supporting the governments efforts to manage the crisis. We are requesting the government to consider the hotels and restaurants as an essential service and give some priority allotment within the available supplies, he says. Daryani emphasises that restaurants are a critical part of urban food supply. During Covid we were categorised as essential services. The idea of diverting LPG to households is so people can cook their daily meals, but many people depend on restaurants for food including those living alone, in hostels or PG accommodation, and urban workers, he says. We are also an essential service and cannot afford supply disruptions. open image in gallery A shuttered restaurant is seen due to a shortage of commercial LPG cylinders in Chennai on 10 March ( AFP via Getty ) Singaram warns that shortages will not just impact the industry but disrupt food access more widely. There will be public hardship in accessing cooked food, affecting everyone from small roadside tea shops to a mess, a large restaurant or a five-star hotel, he says. Hospitals do not usually do their own catering. So when we do not have supply for these units, even a patient will face a challenge getting cooked food. Explaining the impact on the wider economy, he says, There will also be supply chain disruption. For example, it will affect farmers, food suppliers, dairy products, fishermen and small vendors who depend heavily on the hospitality sector. If restaurants do not consume vegetables, milk or other perishable commodities, they will go to waste. So the chain reaction will go all the way to the root level, even to farmers. There will also be loss of employment and income across a large ecosystem of workers such as cooks, helpers, delivery staff like Zomato and Swiggy, suppliers and transport operators, he adds. Switching fuels quickly is difficult because most commercial kitchens are designed for LPG and alternatives such as electric cooking systems will require significant investment and time. Based on all this, the only alternative is electric cooking burners, but it will take a lot of time for custom fabrication because nothing is available off the shelf. It will take a long time to switch to electrical facilities, Singaram says. Firewood-based cooking, another possible substitute, is largely impractical for most establishments. open image in gallery Butter chicken is prepared in a restaurant kitchen ( AFP via Getty ) At Wow! Momo, Daryanis restaurant chain, 60 per cent of outlets run on electricity but 40 per cent still depend on LPG. Indian cooking largely depends on LPG because induction ranges are small, he explains. Even commercial induction units cannot match the size or pressure needed for large kitchens or buffets. LPG remains the most practical fuel. Piped natural gas would solve many problems, but it is available mainly in malls and some commercial establishments, and more developed in Delhi-NCR than elsewhere, he says. Industry bodies have advised restaurants to conserve fuel while exploring limited alternatives. We have advised them to use energy judiciously. Many restaurants are also minimising menus, Singaram says, adding that some establishments are trying to use small electrical ovens where possible. The reliance on LPG in commercial kitchens reflects the nature of Indian cooking itself. It is very simple. Indian cooking depends more on real flame and fire. Even many leading biryani shops advertise that they still cook on firewood. That brings a different taste. Indian cuisine needs flame, he says. LPG is therefore the best available option to generate fire energy. Elsewhere, small restaurant owners in Delhi say delays in supply have forced them to buy cylinders from the black market at far higher prices. The price of LPG cylinders rose nationwide last week, with domestic cylinders becoming dearer by Rs60 and commercial cylinders by Rs114.5 per 19kg unit. Sign up to our free money newsletter for investment analysis and expert advice to help you build wealth Sign up to our free money email for help building your wealth Sign up to our free money email for help building your wealth Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Almost 2 million homes and businesses across the UK which still use heating oil are already facing a major cost increase as a result of the Middle East crisis. Since the outbreak of the conflict, there has been a continued focus on Brent crude oils price marching higher as supply lines are hampered by Iran effectively prohibiting tankers from moving through the Strait of Hormuz. Qatars liquified natural gas (LNG) plant shutting down after being struck means the cost of gas has shot up, too. But heating oil stands apart as another key energy source for millions across Britain with prices having more than doubled in only a week. Still, experts are warning customers not to panic-buy at elevated prices and to wait to see where the markets go, if they do not desperately need a refill. What is heating oil and who uses it? Homes and businesses in remote areas or those that were built decades ago often have an oil tank on site that pumps into the property directly when required. The oil type used in this setup is typically kerosene-28 and it is usually ordered by phone or online from a local supplier when reserves run low. As with any commodity, prices go higher when demand outstrips supply and right now the global oil supply is under severe pressure, with the cost of heating oil rising from around 66p per litre on 2 March to up to 138 pence per litre on Monday a surge which more than doubled the price (109 per cent). On Wednesday, heating oil has dropped slightly from that peak but still sits at above 129p per litre. There is, however, a wide discrepancy in pricing due to the nature of how consumers order heating oil. Whereas other energy sources such as gas or electricity are typically contracted through large providers, like Octopus or British Gas, heating oil is usually bought directly on an as-and-when-needed basis. That isnt just the case for consumers, but for distributors themselves. Due to homes and businesses usually having, for example, 12-month contracts with their supplier, the big companies typically know how much usage they will have over the coming months and, with the price cap in place, how much the bills will be. Get a free fractional share worth up to 100. Capital at risk. Terms and conditions apply. Go to website ADVERTISEMENT Get a free fractional share worth up to 100. Capital at risk. Terms and conditions apply. Go to website ADVERTISEMENT With heating oil, its different. Theres no need for consumers to use the same suppliers every time if they dont want to, and the suppliers themselves tend to be far smaller, often either family-run businesses or regional firms. There are around 120 such heating oil providers across Britain, compared to around two dozen of the larger energy firms supplying electricity and gas. Therefore, the heating oil distributors themselves are typically buying in the product every day or several times a week, paying the current market rate in the process. It means that, while the price of Brent crude has risen, Brits wont immediately see it on their bills but those buying in heating oil will do. open image in gallery Heating oil is mostly bought on an as-and-when-needed basis, meaning prices have gone up more quickly than gas ( Getty ) The Independent understands that some providers are telling customers they cannot give an accurate price for deliveries until the day beforehand, such is the rate at which the price has been increasing this past week. No lag in the market Ken Cronin, CEO of UKIFDA, the trade association representing heating oil distributors, told The Independent that another complication adding to the rising cost of heating oil, versus oil typically used for energy across the UK, was the amount sourced from the Middle East. Only around 10 to 15 per cent of crude oil comes from that region into the British mix, but for heating oil which, as a kerosene product is closer to jet fuel than that which ends up powering cars and heating homes its a 40 per cent dependency. The eventual flip side of such rapid price climbs is that it will be the exact same process as the markets come down. Although there has been a rapid increase, there would be a rapid decline as well if the situation around Iran improves or supply eases, said Mr Cronin. Theres no lag whatsoever in this market and thats reflected in consumer prices. As an example, post-Ukraine there was normalised pricing very quickly whereas its still reflected in gas and electricity. During Covid, all the planes were grounded so there was a huge amount of kerosene fuel stock, so it was down to 25p per litre. Regional distributors are fighting for business so pricing is competitive and reacts fast to markets. As a result, UKIFDA advises customers who do not immediately need a heating oil delivery to speak to local distributors and consider waiting to see where markets go, rather than panic-buying now at elevated prices. Last week, there were headlines around prices in Northern Ireland being particularly high. While distance is a factor in cost, that was partly also a result of such a large portion of the population having that as their main source of home energy. Costs being felt more immediately Around 5 per cent of homes in England use heating oil, but between 50-60 per cent do so in Northern Ireland. As such, cost rises are felt more keenly and immediately. All told, around 1.7 million homes across the UK rely on heating oil, with around 520,000 of them in Northern Ireland. In addition, between 100,000 and 150,000 businesses rely on it. Our customer base is where the gas grid isnt, added Mr Cronin. So rural Wales and England, the highlands of Scotland and Northern Ireland. open image in gallery Heating oil tanks are frequently used for homes in rural locations ( AFP via Getty ) He added that UKIFDA data shows since July 2011, the average price band for heating oil has been 50-60p per litre, with notable changes during Covid (down), Ukraine (up), and now (up). Certas Energy, one of the UKs biggest fuel distributors, said it was balancing a surge in demand over the past week and urged people not to order more than they typically needed. Recent developments have created significant volatility in the oil market, with wholesale prices fluctuating daily, said a statement. We are currently experiencing a marked increase in heating oil orders, including larger-than-usual volumes. While we understand the desire for reassurance during uncertainty, this surge is placing additional pressure on supply. Boilerjuice, a platform for buying heating oil through different distributors, did not reply to a request for comment on pricing increases. Yes, youre prime cannon-fodder age. Defence expert Peter Apps does not mince his words. Were discussing the likelihood of another world war, and who would have to fight it if the current situation escalated to a global conflict demanding troops on the ground. The answer, according to this expert, is people like me and my friends. It hits me like a double-decker bus. The response is logical. Im in my early twenties, male, and fit and healthy, so of course I, and other young men like me, risk being called up if there is a large-scale conflict for which more manpower is needed. As war creeps closer, with multiple conflicts now happening on a number of different international fronts, is this how our grandparents, or their parents, felt as youngsters as global tensions mounted? Did they feel like they were ready to go into battle? Or did they feel wholly unprepared for the fight? Despite the world being on fire, and the sense that a global conflict may be much closer than any of us would like to think, few of my fellow twentysomethings have even thought about it as a serious possibility. And yet, there is every reason to believe that it could be. open image in gallery Reservist Nick Winter, from Redhill, Surrey, and a member of 4 Para Reserves, takes part in a house clearance exercise at Fingringhoe Ranges ( PA ) As the war in Iran fires up on several fronts, the White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt did not dismiss the notion that President Trump could reinstate the draft for his war there. Fox News host Maria Bartiromo asked her directly: Mothers out there are worried that were going to have a draft, that theyre going to see their sons and daughters get involved in this. What do you want to say about the presidents plans for troops on the ground? Leavitt simply replied that mandatory conscription for military service was not off the table. All options are open. Trump knows that no regime has ever been toppled by an aerial attack alone. While cyber attacks, drones and hyper-targeted missiles have become essential levers of modern warfare, troops on the ground are what finish the job off. As an Iranian drone targeted a British military base in Cyprus last week, and then a ballistic missile was intercepted in Turkey, there is also a darkening feeling that the UK could get dragged into a conflict in the Middle East whether we like it or not. That isnt the only battlefront demanding attention. Vladimir Putin has been quietly emboldened by the Wests sluggish response to Ukraine and President Trumps destructive attitude to Nato. In Ukraine, trench warfare rules and an estimated 100,000 or more troops have been killed. Apps, an army reservist and author of The Next World War: The New Age of Conflict and the Fight to Stop It, says theres a one-in-three chance well see another global conflict within a decade. Many in defence circles agree: minister for the armed forces Al Carns recently told The Times that we have three to five years before we have to fight a significant confrontation with a major state. If youre my age and not keen on fighting in a war, its squeaky-bum time. But outside of government and the defence industry, theres little recognition of the danger ahead, and even less appetite to properly engage a generation who may need to be relied on to step up to the plate. Launching the Strategic Defence Review last year, the prime minister said we need to mobilise the nation in a common cause, and former army chief General Sir Patrick Sanders has said a war would require a whole-of-nation undertaking and a citizen army. But the message has not been received, nor understood: the British public are not preparing for war in any meaningful way, unlike many of our European counterparts. Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden all nations in Putins shadow already have conscription in place, while Poland is preparing to offer military training for all men to help deter a Russian invasion. open image in gallery Finnish conscripts during a training session military service is compulsory for all men ( AFP/Getty ) The schemes have quickly expanded the number of people able to go to war with no major public backlash. In Sweden, former conscripts have become highly sought after as the selection process is so good at training and talent spotting. Around 100,000 young Swedes enlist every year, but just a few thousand are selected to progress into uniform after filling in a questionnaire and undergoing rigorous mental and physical tests. From there, they undertake between nine and 15 months of compulsory military service, whereupon theyre free to leave but ready to mobilise if they are needed quickly. In Norway, young people even compete for the most prestigious conscripted roles. Princess Ingrid Alexandra, second in line to the Norwegian throne, completed more than a year with the Combat Engineer Battalion last year after succeeding in the gruelling selection process. France recently announced a military service scheme, and, as of this year, Germany requires men to undergo a health check and register for military service when they turn 18. Serving is currently voluntary but will become compulsory if sign-ups fall short of the number of people needed to meet the nations Nato commitments. The closest Britain has come to national service this century is the National Citizen Service, a government-backed voluntary youth scheme with no military connection. It folded last year. Britain is behind the curve not only on logistics, but on the conversation, too. Thats no surprise, says Hamish Mundell, associate fellow at the defence and security think tank Rusi. The comparison with European national service systems is often misleading, as countries that maintain conscription today tend to face a direct land threat, often sharing a border with Russia, he explains. That produces a different strategic logic to Britain, as the UK does not face an immediate land invasion threat in the same way. As an island in Western Europe, Mundell says wed have more time to prepare for an invasion, so we, he thinks, can afford to have fewer people ready for combat than others. He believes our resources may be better used elsewhere; anti-submarine warfare, deep strike, air superiority, nuclear deterrence and advanced strategic technologies. The UK should arguably prioritise investment in these areas rather than shifting resources towards building a mass conscript army. open image in gallery Ukrainian teenagers dig trenches for soldiers facing Russias forces on the countrys eastern front ( AFP/Getty ) And even where large numbers of troops are needed, conscription isnt necessarily a silver bullet. Training hordes of young people at breakneck speed is a great way of giving people basic combat skills, but Mundell says its only the first step to creating war-ready soldiers. Real combat capability comes from collective training. Units must train together with the equipment, vehicles, and command structures they would use in war, he explains. The UK need not worry about combat capability yet, but what if the worst happened and young people like me were required to be sent to war? The data is clear: we simply wouldnt go. Polling from YouGov conducted last year revealed that just 11 per cent of 18- to 27-year-olds would fight for their country. Forty-one per cent said there were no circumstances in which they would take up arms. The numbers are bleak, but unsurprising. Growing up, Gen Z havent had it easy: a broken social contract, student loan and graduate job scandals, climate change, the rise of social media, a fall in trust in institutions and a global pandemic torpedoing our education have made it hard for my generation to love our country as much as previous generations. The overarching thought among my peers is: why would we lay our lives down for a government that has barely thought about our needs and in some cases actively betrayed us? To understand this rationale a bit more deeply, I conducted a very unscientific focus group by messaging as many of my peers as I could and asking them whether theyd fight in a war and why. As expected, many said theyd never thought about it seriously and didnt want to. Everyone is so down and depressed that, as much as its important to talk about these things, no one wants to, one friend said. open image in gallery British reservists fire a machine gun on the range at Okehampton Camp, Dartmoor ( Getty ) Nearly everyone who responded said they were unwilling to fight. Their reasons ranged from the selfish I dont want to die to the insecure I think we both know I wouldnt be any good to the sarcastic It would be unfair on whoever Im fighting and the outright angry Why should I be forced into a war I didnt ask for? Most striking, and potentially worrying for the government, was the lack of national pride compared with many of their European counterparts. Most simply dont believe the UK has values and opportunities worth fighting for. Why should people be shipped off to war to fight for a country which cant even serve them properly? asked one. Id rather fight for Kyrgyzstan right now, joked another. A friend who works as an engineer in the defence sector agreed. Who am I fighting for and why do they deserve me? I feel lucky to have been born somewhere where I have freedom, rights and generally decent financial opportunities, but I dont think the UK is a particularly special place with a culture I associate deeply with and feel proud of. The purpose of the war was the deciding factor for many. Most people assumed any conflict would be driven by the US, with Britain forced to follow along. If Iran started to attack the UK, I dont think I could join the fight against them at the moment, as theyve just been provoked by US attacks, said one. Another said: World War Two was a fight against fascism. What would the current UK government be fighting against this time? Siding with Trump, most likely. The morals behind any war in the current climate would not be ones I agree with. Interestingly, most said they would consider fighting in a Second World War-style good-versus-evil fight against a Russian invasion, especially if it immediately threatened their way of life. If the UK was being attacked in an unprovoked invasion, Id be more likely to fight as it would have a massive impact on our livelihoods, one friend said. It would have to be a very specific set of circumstances similar to World War Two. open image in gallery A Ukrainian soldier near Kramatorsk in eastern Ukraine ( AFP/Getty ) This aligns with defence planners expectations: whatever young people say, however reluctant they are, enough of us would step up in our nations darkest hour. In the event of a full-scale war, the army in its current state would not have the capacity to absorb the amount of volunteers it would receive, says Hamish Mundell. The Army Reserve alone received 30,000 applications to join last year, but only let in about 1,500 people. We dont have a recruiting problem; we have an onboarding problem. Peter Apps puts it more bluntly. How many people in Kyiv do you think expected their city to be subject to a ground assault on February 10, 2022? The defence of the Irpin River [which helped save Kyiv from Russian occupation] was, in some cases, conducted by volunteers who joined up that morning. This chimes with my own experience of reporting from Ukraine. When your country is under direct attack, you have no choice but to defend it if you want to maintain any semblance of the life you had before. Many young Ukrainians resent the war, hate that theyre still fighting, and are driven mad by the relentless frenzy of missiles, death and emotional trauma. But with Russian troops in their homeland, there is no choice but to carry on. Whether, as an island over 1,000 miles from Moscow, the threat against Britain can ever be immediate enough to provoke a reaction like Ukraines remains to be seen. On a selfish level, I hope we never find out. Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Diabetes patients and their families are raising concerns, and in some cases filing lawsuits, after Abbott Diabetes Care recalled glucose monitors linked to seven deaths. In December, Abbott recalled certain sensors used in its FreeStyle Libre 3 and FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus systems, warning they could produce falsely low glucose readings. The company reported 736 serious adverse events potentially tied to the issue, including 57 in the United States, along with seven deaths worldwide. One person in the U.S. whose death has been linked to the equipment by their family is Michael Ford of Oakland, California, who had Type 2 diabetes. On a November morning, the 68-year-olds FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus sensor reportedly issued a low-blood-sugar alert, prompting his son and full-time caregiver, Davonte Ford, to respond. Trusting the device and following medical guidance, he told NBC News, Davonte Ford gave his father fast-acting carbohydrates to raise his blood sugar unaware that just eight days later Abbott would issue an urgent warning that about 3 million sensors could produce inaccurate readings. Michael Fords death is not included in Abbotts official count of deaths potentially linked to the equipment, although his sensor came from one of the recalled production lots. Abbott did not list the specific serial number of his device in the recall, leaving families and legal experts concerned that the recall may have overlooked affected devices. According to a lawsuit Davonte Ford filed last month, the reading displayed on his fathers device that morning was catastrophically inaccurate. The recall has led to at least three proposed U.S. class-action lawsuits, including Fords wrongful death case, with three others in California, Washington, and North Carolina planning legal action over harm from faulty readings, according to the outlet. open image in gallery Abbott recalled some FreeStyle Libre 3 sensors in December for false low readings, citing 736 serious adverse events and seven deaths worldwide ( Getty Images ) As the sensor continued to show dangerously low numbers, Ford repeatedly gave his father sugary drinks and snacks. A cup of coffee with sugar barely changed the reading, which hovered around 68 milligrams per deciliter below the typical healthy range of about 70 to 180. Confused, he said he tried again with sweetened tea and a cookie. Instead of improving, Michael Fords condition worsened. His speech slowed and his eyelids grew heavy, prompting his son to call an ambulance. When paramedics arrived and checked Michael Fords blood sugar with their own equipment, the reading shocked him: 551 milligrams per deciliter more than triple what it should have been. I felt like I was at fault, Davonte Ford told NBC News. Everything was always well until it wasnt. The lawsuit filed by Ford last month alleges that the reading on his fathers device that morning was catastrophically inaccurate, and that the true blood sugar levels were only discovered too late. Michael Ford died the next day in a hospital intensive care unit following multiple cardiac arrests. Patients and attorneys have questioned whether Abbotts recall of its FreeStyle Libre 3 and Libre 3 Plus sensors was broad enough and whether the actual number of injuries could exceed the incidents the company reported. Continuous glucose monitors, introduced over 20 years ago, revolutionized diabetes care, providing an easier alternative to frequent finger-stick tests, according to Dr. Amy Warriner, an endocrinologist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, NBC News reported. The devices use tiny sensors under the skin to continuously track blood sugar levels. Abbotts sensors, roughly the size of two stacked pennies, typically cost up to $20 per month with insurance coverage and offer around-the-clock data that doctors consider reliable. open image in gallery The death of Michael Ford, a California man, isnt counted in Abbotts recall because his sensors serial number wasnt listed, raising concerns the recall missed affected devices ( BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images ) There have been previous recalls involving continuous glucose monitors. In 2024, Abbott recalled several Libre 3 sensor lots for falsely high readings. Dexcom, another major manufacturer, recalled hundreds of thousands of monitor receivers in 2016 and again in 2025 due to audio issues that could cause missed alerts, though the company says these problems have since been resolved. For patients, discovering flaws in devices they rely on can be frightening. Angela Ivery, 71, of Spruce Pine, North Carolina, said she repeatedly went to the emergency room after her Libre 3 sensor falsely indicated low blood sugar, only to find her levels were normal with a traditional finger-stick test, all before receiving a recall notice. The experience left her with lasting anxiety, including nightmares. She now relies on traditional finger-stick tests to monitor her blood sugar. I dont go out and mingle like I used to, she told NBC News. Im paranoid when I get out. I think my sugar is dropping. Abbott has not yet provided an official response in court to the lawsuit filed by Davonte. Abbott spokesperson Lindsy Delco told NBC News that it is deeply saddened by Michael Fords death, and that it takes all reports of adverse events seriously, ensuring each is properly documented and investigated. Delco said that the recent problem did not affect every sensor in the affected lots, and that not all reported adverse events are linked to the recall. She advised anyone experiencing issues with their devices to contact Abbotts customer service for assistance. Delco added that the incorrect readings prompting the recall were caused by a production line issue, which the company has since corrected, the outlet reports. The Independent has contacted Abbott for comment. Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Allergy season is arriving unusually early this year, with warmer weather prompting trees and plants to release pollen ahead of schedule. Across much of the country, doctors and allergists are warning that seasonal symptoms, from sneezing and itchy eyes to runny noses, are already affecting many people well before the official start of spring on March 20. Even with snow still visible in parts of the Northeast and Midwest, pollen from trees, grasses and other plants is circulating in the air and triggering symptoms like sneezing, itchy eyes and runny noses. Allergy season traditionally begins in March in many regions of the US, and experts say that this years mild winter and early warmth have coaxed plants into blooming and releasing pollen ahead of schedule. The second it gets warm is the second the pollen comes out. It is a simultaneous process, Dr. Rachel Schreiber, an allergist based out of Rockville, Maryland, told WTOP. The early pollinators, those trees that are out now, are the maples and the elm tree pollens, she added. Oak tree pollen accounts for 50 percent of the tree pollen in our area. open image in gallery Allergy season is starting early this year, with pollen from trees and plants already triggering symptoms nationwide well before spring officially begins ( Getty Images ) Health professionals urge people who suffer from allergies to prepare early rather than waiting until symptoms flare up. Overthecounter antihistamines such as nondrowsy tablets taken daily and saline nasal sprays can help control symptoms if started before exposure peaks. For many sufferers, using medications consistently rather than sporadically makes them more effective. If you just wait for your symptoms to get really bad, youre going to be miserable for longer, Dr. Payel Gupta, an allergist and immunologist on the medical advisory council for the Allergy & Asthma Network told the New York Times. The more prepared you are, the better it is. In addition to medications, simple steps at home can make a difference. Keeping windows closed during high pollen days, using air filters, and showering after spending time outdoors can reduce the amount of pollen that makes its way inside living spaces. Allergy testing may also help people pinpoint specific triggers and tailor their treatment. Everyday routines also play a role in reducing exposure to pollen indoors. Opening windows can allow allergens to drift inside, and pets can unintentionally carry pollen on their fur and paws after being outside. You want to wipe your pet down, wipe all the fur, wipe all the paws, so youre not spreading more pollen around the house, Schreiber told WTOP. open image in gallery Allergies begin at the immune system level before symptoms appear, with rising pollen triggering histamine that causes typical seasonal discomfort ( AFP via Getty Images ) Timing outdoor activities can further minimize exposure. Pollen levels tend to peak in the morning, particularly between 4 a.m. and noon, so limiting time outside during these hours or taking precautions like wearing masks and sunglasses can help, Schreiber added. Pediatricians, like Duke Health Pediatric Physician Dr. Kitty OHare in North Carolina, also warn that children may be caught off guard by early symptoms, even if they havent had allergies in previous years. Nationally, at least one out of every five children has seasonal allergies, and thats probably an underestimate, OHare told WRAL. In certain areas, like here in North Carolina with all of our pine pollen, we see a lot of seasonal allergies every spring. Seasonal allergies can affect people of all ages, with the CDC reporting that 20 to 25 percent of both adults and children under 18 experience them. That is a common comment that we hear from parents, Oh, they didnt have it last year, why do they have it now? Its true that with progressive exposures the more years that go by the more likely it is that your body is going to try to defend you from something it thinks is a concern, OHare said. Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Dementia has become the leading cause of death in Australia, a development that has prompted public health experts to call for a shift in thinking about the disease. An estimated 446,500 people in the country are living with the disease as of 2026, according to data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The neurological condition caused about 1,200 more deaths than heart disease in 2024, making it the leading cause of death. In the two years since, it has caused one in every 10 deaths. Even though in many cases deaths were attributed to other more immediate conditions like pneumonia or cardiac arrest, doctors in such cases list dementia as an underlying cause. In a letter published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, a leading expert warned that without significant intervention, the number of people living with dementia was expected to increase to more than one million by 2065. Dementia is not an inevitable disease of old age, wrote Dr Tanya Buchanan, chief of Dementia Australia, the national body providing information on the condition in the country. Whilst we cannot change getting older, genetics or family history, there are things we can do to reduce our risk of dementia, she said. Researchers say this is a common misconception about the debilitating neurological condition: a 2024 survey found that more than a quarter of Australians incorrectly believed there was nothing they could do to reduce their risk of dementia. The number of people living with dementia in Australia is expected to increase to more than one million by 2065 without significant intervention ( Getty ) In Australia, 43 per cent of dementia burden is attributable to six modifiable risk factors that we want all Australians to be aware of tobacco use, overweight and obesity, physical inactivity, high blood pressure in midlife, high blood plasma glucose and impaired kidney function, Dr Buchanan said. There are clear things that we can do to reduce the number of Australians diagnosed with dementia in the future, such as promoting prevention and addressing risk factors from childhood right through to older age. We also need a focus on early detection and intervention. Researchers called on the federal government to fund a national brain health campaign and shift its health strategies across the country. Australians have come to understand that many cases of cancer and heart disease are preventable, said Professor Terry Slevin, chief of the Public Health Association of Australia. We now need a similar shift in our thinking on dementia to focus more on prevention. Right now, we are seeing the burden of dementia growing, placing increasing pressure on the Australian healthcare system. Estimates suggest that about two in five dementia cases in the country can be prevented. Most of the things that help our physical health will also reduce the risk of dementia, Dr Slevin said. Theres currently no cure for dementia, so prevention and early intervention are the best options we have. Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Scientists have unearthed a "peculiar" ancient crocodile that walked on two legs after beginning its life on four. Named Sonselasuchus cedrus, the creature roamed the Earth during the Late Triassic period, approximately 225 to 201 million years ago. Belonging to a group known as shuvosaurids, which shared a superficial resemblance to certain dinosaur species of the era but are direct relatives of todays crocodiles, the discovery challenges previous understandings of croc-line evolution. Researchers from the University of Washington Department of Biology and the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, whose findings are published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, suggest that unusual proportions in its fossilised limb bones indicate that the crocodile changed its walking patterns as it grew. We think that Sonselasuchus had more proportional forelimbs and hindlimbs as young, and their hindlimb grew longer and more robust through adulthood, lead author Elliott Armour Smith said. Essentially, we think these creatures started out their lives on four legs they then started walking on two legs as they grew up. This is particularly peculiar." open image in gallery An artist's impression of Sonselasuchus cedrus in its environment in what is now Petrified Forest National Park, 215 million years ago ( Artwork by Gabriel Ugueto/Cover ) The reptile, estimated to have stood around 64cm (25 inches) tall, had a toothless beak, large eye sockets, and hollow bones. These characteristics bear a striking resemblance to ornithomimid dinosaurs, often dubbed "ostrich dinosaurs". However, Mr Armour Smith said that those features evolved independently. "This similarity was probably due to the fact that croc-line and bird-line archosaurs evolved in the same ecosystems and converged upon similar ecological roles." He added that shuvosaurids like Sonselasuchus demonstrate that traits such as bipedalism, a toothless beak, hollow bones, and large orbits also emerged within the crocodile line. The fossils of Sonselasuchus cedrus were first uncovered in 2014 at Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona by a team including Professor Christian Sidor, Mr Armour Smiths colleague. The site has proven exceptionally rich, yielding over 3,000 bones from a decade of excavation and preparation. open image in gallery Radius bones of Sonselasuchus cedrus ( Elliott Armour Smith/Christian A. Sidor/Cover Images ) The species name cedrus reflects the forested environments where the reptile is believed to have lived, referencing the cedar trees similar to those found in Late Triassic forests. The genus name Sonselasuchus acknowledges the Sonsela Member of the Upper Triassic Chinle Formation, the geological layer of its discovery. For Professor Sidor, the ongoing discoveries represent more than a decade of dedicated research in partnership with the U.S. National Park Service. "Since starting fieldwork at Petrified Forest in 2014, we have collected over 3,000 fossils from the Sonselasuchus bonebed, and it doesnt seem to show any signs of petering out," he said. The bonebed has also provided fossils of fish, amphibians, dinosaurs, and other reptiles, with over 30 University of Washington students and volunteers contributing to the continuous stream of "new and interesting fossils". 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 Two senior army officers have denied charges brought following the death of teenage soldier Jaysley Beck, who took her own life after she was sexually assaulted by a superior. Colonel Samantha Shepherd and Major James Hook appeared at the Military Court Centre at Catterick Garrison, in North Yorkshire, by video-link on Wednesday, where they both denied conduct prejudicial to good order and service discipline. The allegations they face relate to how they handled information before Beck was found dead in her barracks in Larkhill Camp, Wiltshire, in 2021. Former senior non-commissioned officer Michael Webber, 43, was jailed for six months by a military court in 2025 after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting Beck five months before her death. An inquest into the 19-year-olds death found the incident and the armys failure to take appropriate action more than minimally contributed to her death. On Wednesday, Shepherd pleaded not guilty to two charges of conduct prejudicial to good order and service discipline. The first alleges that on 13 July 2021, and thereafter, you did not report the commission of an alleged sexual assault to the service police in respect of a suspect within the regiment of which you were regimental colonel. The second alleges that on a date in July 2021, you misreported what you had been told by Jaysley Beck to another person. Hook pleaded not guilty to one charge of the same offence. open image in gallery Jaysley Beck took her own life in 2021 ( Family handout ) This alleges that on 13 July 2021 you did not treat information passed to yourself by Jaysley Beck in a manner consistent with its seriousness. Judge Adjutant General Alan Large told the defendants they will go on trial 14 September, but it has not yet been decided whether the five-day hearing will be at Catterick or at Bulford Camp in Wiltshire. A further case management hearing will be held on 23 June. A number of Becks family were on the link listening to the 20-minute hearing. The judge was told Hook is serving with 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery and Shepherd, who appeared from the United States, is serving with the British defence staff in the country. Becks mother, Leighann McCready, from Cumbria, said in January that the family had written to the Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Roly Walker, after the inquest with their concerns about multiple army failings in the chain of command that led to her death. She said it was not appropriate to comment further on the charges faced by the two officers, but she added that we remain very unhappy with other parts of the armys response, especially about a promised new, independent complaints process for service people. open image in gallery Beck at her passing out parade with her mother, Leighann McCready ( Centre For Military Justice ) Both an inquest into Becks death and the court martial of Webber heard he had engaged the young recruit in a drinking game before touching her thigh and trying to kiss her. Beck pushed Webber then a battery sergeant major in the Royal Artillery away and spent the night locked in her car before making a complaint to her superiors in the morning. But the incident was not reported to police and Webber wrote a letter of apology to Beck. He was later promoted. If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you. 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 Kneecap rapper Liam Og O hAnnaidh said he will not be silent after High Court judges decided he will not face a new terror trial. The Belfast musician, 28, who uses the stage name Mo Chara, was accused of displaying a flag in support of proscribed terror organisation Hezbollah at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, on 21 November 2024. The case was thrown out last September over an issue with timing, as chief magistrate Paul Goldspring ruled the proceedings were instituted unlawfully. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) appealed the decision, but two judges at the High Court on Wednesday upheld it and dismissed the appeal. Judge Goldspring had agreed with Mr O hAnnaidhs lawyers that prosecutors needed to seek the attorney generals permission to charge the rapper before informing him on 21 May 2025 that he would be charged with a terror offence. This permission was sought and given on 22 May, which the court heard meant the charge fell outside the six-month time frame in which criminal charges can be brought. Lord Justice Edis, sitting with Mr Justice Linden, said in Wednesdays decision that: On 22 May 2025, the attorney general gave the DPP [director of public prosecutions] permission to consent to the prosecution, and on the same day a second written charge and requisition was issued by the police and posted to the respondent. This was in the same terms of the first written charge, and was issued more than six months from the time when the offence was allegedly committed. open image in gallery Kneecaps Liam Og O hAnnaidh during a press conference at Conway Mill in Belfast after the High Court delivered its judgment in the appeal ( PA Wire ) The judgment added: The judge was right to hold that he had no jurisdiction to try any summary-only offence alleged to have been committed on that date. It continued: The respondent has not been tried for his alleged conduct on 21 September 2025 and will not be tried. He has not been convicted, and he has not been acquitted. Following the handing down of the decision, Mr O hAnnaidh said in a statement through his lawyers: This entire process was never about me, never about any threat to the public and never about terrorism, a word used by the British government to discredit people you oppress both in Ireland and across the world. It was always about Palestine and about what happens if you dare to speak up. About what happens if you can reach large groups of people and expose their hypocrisy. I will not be silent. Kneecap will not be silent. In the 13-page decision, Lord Justice Edis said the decision turned on a very narrow and technical legal issue and has nothing to do with whether the respondent committed the offence set out in the charge. In a press conference in Belfast after the decision was made, Mr O hAnnaidh said the band no longer fears repercussions. open image in gallery Left to right: Kneecap's manager Dan Lambert, their lawyer Darragh Mackin, and band members Mo Chara, Muhllai Bap, and DJ Provai during a press conference at Conway Mill in Belfast ( PA Wire ) Supporters gathered at the venue cheered the band as its members walked in at the start of the conference. A banner with the Irish slogan Saoirse don Phalaistin which translates to Freedom for Palestine was displayed behind the band, as well as Irish and Palestinian flags. Mr O hAnnaidh said: This is bigger than us whatever kind of stress that we felt, its minimal compared to the stress put on the families in Gaza. Well continue to use whatever platform we have to talk about Gaza, he said, adding the band has lost gigs and been restricted as a result of the court proceedings. We dont give a f*** about the repercussions anymore, Mr O hAnnaidh added. A CPS spokesperson said: The High Court has clarified how the law applies to the issuing of written charges in summary offences where attorney general permission was required for the director of public prosecutions to consent to a prosecution. We accept the judgment and will update our processes accordingly. 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 Police in England and Wales are arresting a record 1,000 suspected paedophiles every month, authorities have said. Assistant Chief Constable Becky Riggs, the national police lead for child protection and abuse investigation, added that officers also intervene to protect more than 1,200 children from mistreatment and abuse each month. These figures emerge as the Lucy Faithfull Foundation (LFF), which operates the Stop It Now helpline to prevent individuals from viewing child abuse images online, reported a significant increase in demand. The charity saw 330,610 people access its services in 2025, marking a rise of approximately 20 per cent from 275,648 in 2024. Ms Riggs said: Across the UK, policing is now arresting around 1,000 potential child sexual abuse offenders every month, and safeguarding more than 1,200 children, reflecting the sheer scale of the threat we are confronting. But enforcement alone cannot keep pace with the speed at which people can be drawn into harmful online behaviour. We need a whole system response, and that includes ensuring people have safe, confidential places to seek help before they cross a line. open image in gallery LFF runs a confidential helpline for people worried about their own online sexual behaviour towards children, or that of a loved one ( PA ) Services like Stop It Now play an essential preventative role by helping individuals understand their behaviour early, interrupt escalation, and ultimately reduce the number of children who experience abuse. We urge anyone who is worried about their behaviour, or that of someone close to them, to reach out for help now. Early intervention protects children and it prevents lives from being irrevocably damaged. LFF runs a confidential helpline for people worried about their own online sexual behaviour towards children, or that of a loved one. Dr Alexandra Bailey, head of psychology at LFF, said contrary to stereotypes, people who view child abuse images can be young, in a steady relationship or have families. Last year, of 3,427 people who contacted the helpline, 21% were aged under 25; more than a third, 34%, were married or in a relationship; and one in four, 26%, said they had their own children. Dr Bailey said: We hear every day from people who are frightened by the direction their online behaviour is taking but feel unsure whether they are the kind of person who needs help. That hesitation can mean problems escalate when early, confidential support could have made a real difference. In order to prevent online child sexual abuse, people must understand that behaviour can escalate to the point of causing harm, but also that change is possible. Reaching out early isnt about excusing harmful behaviour its about stopping abuse before a child is harmed. The Stop It Now helpline is on 0808 1000 900 or online. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A pensioner couple have pleaded guilty to racially aggravated assault after a video of them abusing an NHS nurse in a Yorkshire park went viral. Fyona Bairstow, 72, and Michael Bairstow, 77, accosted Apple Moorhouse in Manor Heath Park, Halifax, in August, following a dispute over their dog being off its lead. Bradford Magistrates Court heard that Michael Bairstow told Ms Moorhouse to go back to your dinghy while making swimming gestures. As she tried to walk away, Fyonna Bairstow pulled her ponytail. The pair, from Shelf, Halifax, both admitted racially aggravated assault against Ms Moorhouse at the court on Wednesday. Michael Bairstow also pleaded guilty to assaulting a second woman who intervened. After the hearing, Ms Moorhouse, who moved to the UK from the Philippines more than 15 years ago, said she never returned to work after the incident, and was left feeling scared and anxious. open image in gallery Apple Moorhouse is a British citizen and has been in the UK for more than 15 years ( Katie Dickinson/PA Wire ) Richard Davies, prosecuting, said that on 28 August 2025 the Bairstows dog went up to a child and started barking. Ms Moorhouse intervened, and when the couple approached her, she told them the dog should be on a lead. Her statement, read in court, said: The reaction was very hostile, (Michael Bairstow was) telling me to go back to your dinghy and making swimming gestures with his arms towards me. I said I was a healthcare worker. The female was calling me a stupid bitch. The court heard that Michael Bairstow told his dog to get her, kill, and threw a bottle of water towards Ms Moorhouse, splashing her, while saying: Ban immigrants. Ms Moorhouses statement read: When I tried to walk away the female pulled me back by my ponytail causing my head to go backwards. They were very racist towards me, they seemed to want to make everything a conversation about immigrants and calling me a slave. The court heard that when another woman intervened and told Michael Bairstow to get away from Ms Moorhouse, he punched her to the left side of her face and said: Sticking up for immigrants, who do you think you are? open image in gallery Fyona and Michael Bairstow outside court on Wednesday ( Katie Dickinson/PA Wire ) The case was adjourned until 15 April for a pre-sentence report to be shared, and the couple were bailed, with conditions not to go to Manor Heath Park or contact Ms Moorhouse. Speaking outside court after the hearing, Ms Moorhouse, who is a British citizen, said she feels less safe after the incident and keeps looking over my shoulder. I feel anxious obviously, every time that I think back, I feel upset, she said. Its a big thing, racism, and it needs to be dealt with. Ive been here since 2009 and never had anything like this before, for 10 years, it was fine but now its got worse. I used to work in healthcare and I wanted to go back but I felt scared this happened and I just didnt go back. Caring was my passion but then this happened and it was hard to go back. Ms Moorhouse added: At their age they should know better, but obviously they didnt. 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 The Home Secretary has granted a request from the Metropolitan Police to ban thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters from marching through central London this Sunday for the annual Al Quds Day demonstration. Shabana Mahmood said she was satisfied the ban is "necessary to prevent serious public disorder, due to the scale of the protest and multiple counter-protests, in the context of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East". What is Al Quds Day? Al Quds Day is an international event held each year to express solidarity with Palestine. It was established in 1979, shortly after the Iranian Revolution, by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Irans first supreme leader. Al Quds Day is named after the Arabic name for Jerusalem and usually takes place on the last Friday of Ramadan. On Al Quds Day, protests and rallies are held in various countries around the world. Who organises the event in the UK? According to the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC), the London rally is organised by the UK Al-Quds Committee. It said the committee involves organisations among which the IHRC is prominent. Set up in 1997, the IHRC describes itself as a non-profit organisation that struggles for justice for all peoples regardless of their racial, confessional or political background. The organisation said Al Quds Day offers a platform for all those who stand for justice, against colonialism, oppression and apartheid to come together to be the voice of victims. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood approved a request from the Metropolitan Police to ban the march on Sunday ( James Manning/PA ) Why has the Al Quds Day march drawn criticism previously? The march in London has drawn criticism in the past over apparent backing for the Iranian regime after its organisers expressed support for the countrys late leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It is said that participants at the march previously flew flags of the Lebanese militant Hezbollah group and brandished signs with allegedly antisemitic messages. The Metropolitan Police said previous Al Quds Day marches have resulted in arrests for supporting terrorist organisations and antisemitic hate crimes. Why has it been banned this year? The Metropolitan Police said the 2026 Al Quds Day march raises unique risks and challenges. In a statement, it referred to the likely impact on protests of the volatile situation in the Middle East, with the Iranian regime attacking British allies and military bases overseas. The force said it must also consider the fact that security services have been clear about the threats the UK is facing from the Iranian regime. It added that placing conditions on the protest would not be sufficient to prevent it from resulting in serious public disorder. Announcing her decision to ban the march, Ms Mahmood said there is a greater potential for conflict at marches for Al Quds Day in London as a result of the ongoing conflict in Iran. Ms Mahmoods decision marks the first time a protest march has been banned since 2012. What has the IHRC said about the ban? In a statement on the organisations website, the IHRC said it strongly condemns the decision to ban the Al Quds Day march. The organisation said it is seeking legal advice, adding that the decision will not go unchallenged. It said that a static protest will still go ahead on Sunday and that all preparations must continue as planned. 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 Organisers of an al-Quds day march in London are closely associated with the Iranian regime, Shabana Mahmood has told MPs. The annual protest, which was created by Irans Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, is billed as an international day in support of Palestine. Home secretary Shabana Mahmood has approved a request from the Metropolitan Police to ban the march planned for Sunday to prevent serious public disorder. Ms Mahmood told MPs the plans for the procession have been led by the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC), an organisation that has been closely associated with the Iranian regime. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp described the group as in essence a front organisation for the Iranian regime. The IHRC have said that the protest will go ahead on Sunday as a static demonstration and that they are an independent NGO, which does not accept funding from any government. The al-Quds day event, they said, is organised by a committee involving many organisations, of which the IHRC is prominent. Massoud Shadjareh, chairman of the IHRC, said that the home secretarys comments about the charity were categorically not true. He said: To date nobody has presented any actual evidence of links to the Iranian government, for either me or IHRC. Just lies, innuendo and insinuation. Ms Mahmood said that she agreed to ban the march, the first ban since 2012, because of heightened attention on Iran due to the Middle East conflict, which would prompt larger expected attendance. open image in gallery Demonstrators march through London in 2024, during an al-Quds day rally organised by the Islamic Human Rights Commission in support of Palestine ( PA ) She warned of heightened tensions between protesters and counter-protesters and therefore greater potential for conflict. The ban, which is in force for one month but could be extended, comes into effect Wednesday and will end on 11 April. The Home Office and police cant ban a static protest. Mr Philp said that chants at al-Quds marches in the past have called for intifada and revolution and included speeches that incited antisemitism. He quoted a former Iranian deputy minister of culture who warned of a network of Iranian charities in the UK that are funded and controlled by the regime in Tehran. open image in gallery Shabana Mahmood has banned the al-Quds day march in London this year ( PA ) A new report by Lord Walney, the former independent adviser on political violence, warned that UK authorities are failing to combat the national security threat posed by a network of more than 30 charities, religious institutions or community centres that had been set up to further the interests of the Iranian regime. Launching the report on Wednesday, Lord Walney told an event in Westminster that there was ongoing abuse of our open society by a hostile foreign state. He said the Iranian regime had a long record of assassinations, terrorism, proxy warfare, and transnational repression, adding: We must face up to the fact that we are also failing to tackle the soft power infrastructure that also exists alongside the hard power one. open image in gallery Shabana Mahmood updates MPs on the response to the al-Quds day march ( Parliament TV ) Referring to the charity commissions work to clamp down on these groups, Lord Walney added: Our response remains alarmingly weak. These investigations can go on literally for years and are paused, with the charity fully functional, when a police investigation starts. He also pointed out that the charity commission was focused on regulatory failings and so while they may be able to secure procedural improvements they are leaving the underlying ideology in tact. Lord Walney described this as continuity without real disruption, and added that we just need to be clearer that Irans hostility in the region is a threat to the UK, likening their infiltration in Britain to that of Russia. He warned that the al-Quds march could still cause disorder if it is allowed to go ahead as a static protest on Sunday. In a response to Lord Walneys report, the organisation denied any Iranian alignment or state links and rejected allegations of antisemitism as un-evidenced. 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 A Labour MP has waived her anonymity to reveal she was raped after an event that she attended as a member of parliament and said she waited almost three years for a trial. During a debate on the Courts and Tribunals Bill on Tuesday, Labours Warrington North representative Charlotte Nichols said she waited 1,088 days for her case to get to court as she spoke out against plans to curb access to jury trials. Ms Nichols explained that she wanted to share her story because experiences like mine feel like theyve been weaponised and are being used for rhetorical misdirection. She accused justice minister David Lammy of using rape victims as a cudgel to drive through reforms to jury trials. Under the bill, jury trials would be limited to cases with a likely sentence of three years or more. Instead these would be heard by a single crown court judge. Additionally, magistrates courts would be able to take on cases with a likely sentence of up to two years. open image in gallery Labour's Warrington North representative Charlotte Nichols ( UK Parliament ) In a powerful speech, Ms Nichols said the Governments framing and narrative has been to pit survivors and defendants against each other in a way I think is deeply damaging. Reflecting on her almost-three-year wait for her trial, she said: Every single one of those days was agony, made worse by having a role in public life that meant that the mental health consequences of my trauma were played out in public, with the event that led to my eventual sectioning for my own safety still being something that I receive regular social media abuse from strangers about to this day. But heres the kicker: in this debate, experiences like mine feel like theyve been weaponised and are being used for rhetorical misdirection, for what this Bill actually is, she added. open image in gallery Labour's Warrington North representative Charlotte Nichols waived her anonymity to tell the House of Commons she was raped ( House of Commons ) Ms Nichols argued that the justice system needed to be truly victim-focused. It is because I have endured every indignity that our broken criminal justice system could mete out that I care what kind of reform will actually deliver justice for survivors and victims of crime more widely. She added: There is so much that we can be doing for rape victims that isnt the Lord Chancellor using them as a cudgel to drive through reforms that arent directly relevant to them. As a starting point, Rape Crisis England and Wales have called for five key demands in their Living in Limbo report. Dont say that this Bill helps deliver justice for rape victims, until it actually, materially does. open image in gallery Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy ( PA Wire ) Ms Nichols said the man who raped her was acquitted in a criminal court. She was given compensation after a civil case found she had been raped, she told MPs. The reforms passed their first parliamentary stage on Tuesday despite criticism from a significant number of Labour backbenchers. Kingston upon Hull Easts MP Karl Turner branded the changes unworkable, unpopular, unjust and unnecessary. The Commons voted 304 to 203, majority 101, to pass the Bill at second reading. Ten Labour MPs voted against the Bill, while 90 had no vote recorded, according to Parliaments data. Lammy had pleaded with MPs to support the reforms to address rising court backlogs. 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 An entrepreneur who secured a 50,000 investment on Dragons Den for her innovative indoor dog toilet has won a High Court battle against a rival businesswoman over her Piddle Patch product. Rebecca Sloan, 39, first trademarked her product real turf in a biodegradable litter tray for housetraining dogs in 2016. Her idea was a hit on the BBC show in 2022, securing offers from four Dragons, with Ms Sloan eventually accepting Steven Bartletts 50,000 investment. However, Ms Sloan, through her company Makeality Ltd, ended up in a High Court trademark dispute with rival indoor dog toilet-maker Laurencia Walker-Fooks, 34, and her company City Doggo Ltd. Ms Sloan alleged that Ms Walker-Fooks also chief operating officer for the Anahata Capital Management LLC hedge fund had deliberately infringed her trademark in online marketing materials to capitalise on Piddle Patchs fame. After a trial at the High Court in Manchester, a judge has now found that the infringement was deliberate, meaning that Ms Sloans company will receive a compensation payout, yet to be assessed. open image in gallery Rebecca Sloan presenting her Piddle Patch product on Dragons Den ( Supplied by Champion News ) District Judge Araba Obodai said that Ms Walker-Fooks knew exactly what she was doing when she started what Ms Sloan had claimed was a campaign of infringement. She said that using the phrase piddle patch in website domain names and embedded in webpages was a deliberate attempt ... to benefit commercially from the use of the trademark by driving traffic to her own companys site. It had the desired effect because, as the claimant pleaded, the result was that City Doggos website was ranked alongside the claimants when consumers searched for Piddle Patch, the judge said. She found that Ms Walker-Fooks and City Doggo were guilty of passing off by misrepresenting to the public that the defendants product was that of the claimant or was otherwise associated commercially with the claimant. open image in gallery The Piddle Patch indoor dog toilet designed by Rebecca Sloan ( Supplied by Champion News ) The court heard that Ms Sloan had been marketing her product a patch of grass in a biodegradable box for toilet-training pets under the Piddle Patch trademark since September 2016, and claimed that she had generated substantial goodwill in connection with it. According to online marketing materials, the inspiration for the Piddle Patch product came during a visit to the park. The dogs were happy to be in their natural environment, and the stress associated with toilet time melted away because the dogs knew instinctively where to do their business, Ms Sloan claimed. Wouldnt it be great if we could replicate the outdoor experience indoors? Piddle Patch was born from that desire to bring a natural dog toilet solution into the home. Piddle Patch is a biodegradable litter tray with real grass, which allows pooches to urinate indoors without making a mess while being housetrained. Ms Walker-Fooks said she also came up with her own real grass indoor dog toilet known as Oui Oui Patch after experiencing the stress and anxiety of housetraining her dog, Tinkerbell. open image in gallery Laurencia Walker-Fooks, director of indoor dog toilet makers City Doggo Ltd ( Supplied by Champion News ) With our real grass pet potties, toilet training my second pup, Bambi, took half the time and half the effort, she says in her own marketing materials. She knew the only place she was supposed to relieve herself was on grass from the day I got her. The two women ended up going head to head after Ms Sloan, through her company Makeality Limited, accused Ms Walker-Fooks and City Doggo of infringing on the Piddle Patch trademark. The words had been used in online marketing materials for the Oui Oui Patch, while domain names using the words had been bought and directed traffic to Ms Walker-Fooks site. The words appeared in website source code, landing-page titles and blog posts, while two of the Piddle Patch domain names were purchased by City Doggo within three days of Ms Sloans Dragons Den appearance. In court, Ms Walker-Fooks admitted using the words, but said it was only for search engine optimisation and also so minor that it was not actionable in trademark law. open image in gallery The Oui Oui Patch indoor dog toilet, designed by Walker-Fooks ( Supplied by Champion News ) But giving judgment, District Judge Obodai said of Ms Walker-Fooks: When I listened to her give evidence, I gained the distinct impression that she was seeking to persuade the court that she was naive in relation to matters of business and intellectual property. I was not persuaded by her portrayal. In my opinion, she knew exactly what she was doing when she started City Doggo and started what [Ms Sloans barrister] Ms Rogers described as, a campaign of infringement beginning in May 2022. I am satisfied from Ms Sloans evidence, and I prefer her evidence to that of Ms Walker-Fooks, that the number of infringements, their content and significance, and the likely individual and cumulative impact on the trademarks function, means that the infringements themselves cannot properly be described as negligible or insignificant. I also find that they were not isolated or accidental incidents, but were a deliberate policy to promote the sign in the relevant market. The defendants clearly and deliberately intended to use Piddle Patch and its variations to promote their product because of the goodwill associated with the trade mark. I have considered them, and I am satisfied and agree that each constituted a misrepresentation to the public that the defendants product was that of the claimant or was otherwise associated commercially with the claimant. Further, I find, based on the answers Ms Walker-Fooks gave during cross examination, that passing off is exactly what she intended when she began her campaign of infringement. The case will now return to court for an assessment of the compensation due to Ms Sloans company, although it has already been limited to a maximum of 10,000 by a previous judge. In a statement, Ms Walker-Fooks said she is considering her options, including a possible appeal. I respect the courts decision, however I do not recognise its characterisation of my intentions and conduct, she said. Everyone who has worked with me knows that I do business openly and transparently. I have never previously worked in digital marketing and it does not overlap with my professional experience at all. 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 A young mother died from sepsis after being neglected by NHS staff who gave her the wrong antibiotics, a coroner has ruled. Aleisha Rochester, 33, a bank cashier from Croydon, died in August 2023, two weeks after undergoing a routine procedure to remove an abscess from her left armpit. St Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals Trust has apologised after Ms Rochester, who sought help several times for her worsening condition, was prescribed antibiotics that did not tackle the bacteria causing her infection. They were also found to have not followed the NHS trusts own guidelines on administering antibiotics and the inquest ruled that Ms Rochester would likely have lived if she had been given the correct antibiotics. Ms Rochester was described as an amazing mummy to her son Xavier, who is now eight. Her mother Lorna said: Aleisha was the most loving, caring and compassionate daughter you could wish for. The bond between Aleisha and Xavier was evident in every moment they spent together, adding that theres a huge void in our family and the hardest thing to try and come to terms with is how shell never get to see Xavier grow up and celebrate milestones in life. Well make sure Xavier knows how much his mummy loved him and how proud she would be of him. open image in gallery Aleisha Rochester was described as an amazing mummy ( Family Handout/PA Wire ) Ms Rochester had skin disease hidradenitis suppurativa and had undergone a routine procedure at St Thomas Hospital on 5 August to remove abscesses from her left armpit and groin. Less than a week later, she became unwell and the wound on her armpit became infected. On 13 August, she was prescribed a course of penicillin-based antibiotics at an out-of-hours GP appointment. The next day she went to the A&E department at St Helier hospital and was given a dose of flucloxacillin intravenously before being sent home with a plan to return the following day. On 16 August, another drug was given to Ms Rochester which was in line with the hospital guidelines, but she deteriorated and was admitted to intensive care on 17 August. At that point, Ms Rochester was in septic shock and multiple organ failure, and there were signs of infection in her lungs. The coroner said: Despite a maximal antibiotics regime, intubation, ventilation and intensive medical support, Ms Rochester continued to deteriorate. She suffered a cardiac arrest in the early hours of the morning on the 19th of August, from which she could not be resuscitated. open image in gallery St Helier Hospital has apologised for failing Ms Rochester ( PA ) Dr Richard Jennings, group chief medical officer for St Georges, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals, said: We know we failed Ms Rochester by not giving her the correct antibiotics, with tragic consequences for this we are extremely sorry and offer our deepest apologies and condolences to her family. We sadly cant put this right for Ms Rochester, but we would like to assure her family that we have learned from Ms Rochesters death, and we have taken multiple steps to prevent this happening again. We are now giving further training to staff on the prompt recognition of sepsis, and have taken measures to make sure antibiotic prescribing is done correctly. Madeline Nugent, medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, representing the family, said: The neglect finding means the coroner was satisfied that there was a gross failure to provide Aleisha with basic medical care. Through our work we continue to see too many families impacted by sepsis. While its too late for Aleisha and her family its now vital that lessons are learned from the failings that the inquest identified in her care. An NHS England spokesperson said: The NHS extends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Aleisha Rochester. Since then we have rolled out Martha's Rule which is being increasingly used by patients, families and staff to better identify and respond to acute deterioration in patients, including sepsis, and this year we will be introducing a new national sepsis framework to identify interventions, standards and innovations that further improve treatment for patients. 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 Drivers in the UK are grappling with rising petrol and diesel prices at the pump as conflict in the Middle East continues to hit economies worldwide. Petrol and diesel prices have hit their highest in more than 20 months this week, latest data shows, increasing by between 6.12p and 12.74p per litre since Saturday 28 February, when the US launched strikes on Iran. It now marks the steepest rise in prices at the pump since Russias invasion of Ukraine in 2022. On average, drivers can now expect 138.96p per litre of unleaded petrol and 155.12p per litre of diesel at the pump, according to data from the RAC. This means the cost of filling up a 55-litre family diesel car has increased by as much as 6.67 in just over a week, with further price rises expected in the coming days. The rise has been fuelled by a spike in oil prices, which have a significant effect on the cost of wholesale fuel. Brent crude, the global benchmark for oil prices, jumped to more than $100 a barrel on Monday for the first time since 2022. The rate had already been at a seven-month high before Saturdays attack, but remained at $73 a barrel before the outbreak of the conflict. On Wednesday, it sat at nearly $98. Conflict has spread across the Middle East after the US and Israel carried out strikes on Iran in February, which were followed by retaliatory Iranian attacks on targets in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan and Iraq. Blasts continue to be reported across the region, as America and Israel continue airstrikes on Iranian targets. As fighting escalates, Iran has warned that it will set fire to any ships trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The strait provides the only passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean, making it a crucial point for the oil industry. Around 20 per cent of the worlds gas and oil is shipped through the waterway, with the Iranian threat proving highly damaging for global trade. In light of the situation, AA president Edmund King has urged UK motorists to consider cutting out non-essential journeys as fuel prices rise. He said: The longer this conflict goes on, the more effect it will have on the cost of oil. Any time Brent Crude passes 100 dollars per barrel raises concern across the markets, for the haulage industry and drivers. A navy vessel is seen sailing in the Strait of Hormuz on March 1 2026. (Photo by Sahar AL ATTAR / AFP via Getty Images) ( AFP/Getty ) There will be gradual increases in pump prices, but this shouldnt happen overnight as fuel has been purchased at previous prices. Our suggestion is that drivers should not change their refuelling habits but can consider cutting out some non-essential journeys and changing their driving style to conserve fuel. Analysis of the historic link between oil and fuel prices by think tank the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit shows oil trading at 100 dollars a barrel typically results in petrol prices of about 150p per litre, while oil hitting 120 dollars a barrel means petrol prices of about 170p per litre. RAC head of policy Simon Williams added: Average petrol and diesel prices have rocketed in the last week and are unfortunately likely to keep on rising, so the situation for UK drivers is looking increasingly bleak. Unleaded is almost certainly going to reach an average of 140p in the next week or so, while diesel looks highly likely to climb to at least 160p a litre. We encourage drivers to continue filling up as normal but to shop around for the best prices. Rachel Reeves has said she would not tolerate price gouging by forecourt operators after some were recorded charging as much as 180p per litre for petrol. The chancellor has said she will meet with petrol retailers to discuss the rising prices. But some experts have also called for the chancellor to cancel Labour's planned increase in fuel duty which will reverse the 5p-a-litre cut introduced in March 2022 in response to Russias invasion of Ukraine. Ms Reeves announced a reversal of this policy at Novembers Budget, beginning with a 1p increase in September this year, followed by 2p in December and the final 2p in March 2027. She has so far rejected calls to scrap the plan, but has said the policy is under review. 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 Households have been urged to stock up on stamps ahead of another major price rise set to be introduced by the Royal Mail from next month. The postal service said the price of a second-class stamp would go up by 4p to 91p and first-class stamps would increase by 10p to 1.80 from April 7. This latest hike means the price of a first-class stamp has now more than doubled over the past six years, increasing by 137 per cent through eight separate rises. Second-class stamps have seen six price increases in the same period. Commenting on the rise, Martin Lewis has advised people who may need stamps to stock up now to avoid having to pay more later. The money expert said: For years, every time stamps go up in price I've suggested people stock up and bulk-buy in advance, as provided the stamp doesn't have a price on it and instead just says the postage class, it's still valid after the rise. This has been an effective tactic, as a first-class letter stamp is now 1.70, soon rising to 1.80 in 2012 it was just 60p. So you may as well stock up now if youre going to need stamps. open image in gallery Martin Lewis has advised people who may need stamps to stock up nowhtmare (Stefan Rousseau/PA) ( PA Archive ) The latest price rises coincide come as concerns grow over Royal Mails performance, after the postal service admitted last month it had once again failed to meet its delivery targets. Anne Pardoe, head of policy at Citizens Advice, said: More than half-a-decade has gone by since the company met its delivery targets and people still face a gamble, with many uncertain if their important documents or letters like medical appointments will arrive on time. Things only risk getting worse when cuts to delivery days and reduced performance targets come into full effect. Against this backdrop, Ofcom simply cannot wave through these increases any longer. Higher prices must come with higher standards increases should be tied to Royal Mails performance on the doorstep. Royal Mail has been called in to face a committee of MPs who have raised concerns about chaos in the postal service since Christmas and suggestions that some letters are being delivered in batches. Royal Mail said the stamp rises reflected the continued increase in the cost of delivery as letter volumes fell and the number of addresses increased. Richard Travers, managing director of letters at Royal Mail, said: We always consider price changes very carefully, balancing affordability with the rising cost of delivering mail. On average, UK adults now spend just 6.50 each year on stamps and there are 70% fewer letters sent than 20 years ago. In the meantime, the number of addresses we deliver to has increased by four million to 32 million addresses across the UK. open image in gallery Royal Mail has been called in to face a committee of MPs who have raised concerns about chaos in the postal service since Christmas (James Manning/PA) ( PA Wire ) The last time Royal Mail met its annual target for delivering first-class post on time was in 2019/20. The firm whose owner International Distribution Services (IDS) was bought last June for 3.6 billion by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinskys EP Group repeated its call to urgently move forward with reforms to the service. Ofcom last year cleared Royal Mail to scrap second-class letter deliveries on Saturdays and change the service to every other weekday. Royal Mail has since introduced the changes as a pilot across 35 delivery offices. But it has been in intensive talks with the Communications Workers Union (CWU) after failing to agree on how to roll out the universal service changes across its 1,200-strong network. Month-long talks ended on March 2 without agreement and have been extended for two weeks to allow the sides to reach agreement. Mr Travers said: To protect the service for the future we need to urgently move forward with implementing universal service reform to support a more modern, more reliable and more sustainable service for our customers. Royal Mail argued that despite the price rises, UK stamps still cost less than the European average of 1.56 for a second-class stamp and 1.93 for first class. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The government has published the first set of documents relating to Lord Peter Mandelsons appointment as ambassador to the United States on Wednesday, less than two months after emails between the statesman and Jeffrey Epstein were brought to light. In February, MPs ordered the government to release tens of thousands of documents relating to Lord Mandelsons appointment in 2024 after questions over how the peer was vetted and what was known about his links to the disgraced financier. The prime minister has insisted Lord Mandelson lied repeatedly to No 10 about his relationship with Epstein, before and during his tenure as ambassador. Lord Mandelson was arrested on 23 February on suspicion of misconduct in public office, having been accused of passing sensitive information on to Epstein during his time as business secretary. He was released pending investigation. Here is what we know about the pairs relationship. 2002 Lord Mandelson writes a memo encouraging the then-prime minister Tony Blair to meet Epstein, according to The Times. 2003 Lord Mandelsons message to Epstein, in which he describes him as his best pal, is included in a birthday book compiled by convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell. open image in gallery Part of Mandelsons birthday message to Epstein ( House Committee on Oversight and Reform ) 2006 As police in Florida suggest Epstein should be charged with four counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor, Lord Mandelson says, I am following you closely and here whenever you need, after Epstein tells him he is attempting to set up another prosecutor meeting, according to Bloomberg. Epstein is later arrested and Bloomberg reports that Lord Mandelson asks the paedophile for updates on the same day, saying keep me posted. 2007 Epsteins lawyers engage in a discussion with Miami attorney Alexander Acosta about a plea bargain that would allow him to avoid prosecution. open image in gallery Mandelson speaking with Jeffrey Epstein in a picture from the latest trove of documents released ( House Oversight Committee ) 2008 Epstein pleads guilty to soliciting prostitution and soliciting a minor and is sentenced to 18 months in a minimum-security prison. The US attorneys office agrees not to prosecute Epstein for more serious federal crimes in a secret arrangement. Lord Mandelson writes emails showing support for Epstein while he is facing charges for soliciting a minor, including one that says: Your friends stay with you and love you. The emails, reported by The Sun, also show the former Labour minister tells Epstein to fight for early release shortly before his prison sentence. open image in gallery A young Epstein poses with a woman whose face has been blocked out to protect her privacy ( House Oversight Committee ) 2009 Lord Mandelson stays at Epsteins Manhattan apartment while the paedophile is serving his 18-month sentence, an internal report by the JP Morgan bank suggests. Epstein is released from prison after serving 13 months. 2019 Epstein is arrested on sex trafficking charges after lawyers in New York conclude they are not bound by the secret non-prosecution agreement. The paedophile financier is found dead in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Centre in New York a month later. Lord Mandelsons affiliation with Epstein is thrown into the spotlight after a picture of him with the paedophile financier on St Barts is published. open image in gallery Keir Starmer appointed Lord Mandelson as the US ambassador last February ( PA ) 2025 Lord Mandelson tells a Financial Times reporter to f*** off after being asked about his relationship with Epstein. The House Oversight Committee in the US releases a number of documents from the Epstein estate, including the birthday book with Lord Mandelsons message in it. Lord Mandelson describes his birthday message to Epstein as very embarrassing during an interview with The Suns Harry Cole Saves the West programme. Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer asks Lord Mandelson to stand down. 2026 Lord Mandelson features in more than three million documents released by the US Department of Justice related to paedophile financier Epstein. Met Police launches a criminal investigation into Lord Mandelson into allegations he passed on sensitive information to Epstein during his time as business secretary. Lord Mandelson is arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was subsequently bailed, but later released from his bail conditions, although he remains under investigation. On Wednesday 11 March, the government released a tranche of documents related to Lord Mandelsons appointment as ambassador to the United States. 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 Lord Peter Mandelson is set to face further scrutiny as the government releases its first tranche of documents on his appointment as US ambassador. Cabinet minister Darren Jones said a big number of files will be released, revealing the vetting process and what was known about his friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Last month, Lord Mandelson was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office by the Metropolitan Police over allegations he passed on market-sensitive information to disgraced financier Epstein while serving as business secretary. It is the latest development in the growing crisis engulfing the former US ambassador, who has resigned from the Labour Party and has left the House of Lords after further details of his friendship with the convicted felon emerged in the so-called Epstein files. Sir Keir Starmer is under growing pressure after he admitted that he knew about Lord Mandelsons ongoing friendship with Epstein when he appointed him, but said that the peer lied repeatedly about the extent of the relationship. Downing Street then tried to control the release of potentially explosive documents, which provide insight into how the decision was made. open image in gallery Lord Peter Mandelson will return to a life of luxury in the UK, having lived in a farmhouse before taking residence in Washington ( PA ) But in the face of a mutiny from Labour MPs led by former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner the government had to back down and cede control to parliaments Intelligence and Security Committee to decide what could be released into the public domain. The prime ministers acceptance followed the launch of a criminal probe into allegations Lord Mandelson passed information to Epstein while serving in Gordon Browns Labour administration as it dealt with the fallout from the 2008 financial crash. Sir Keir faced a backlash from his own back benches, including from Ms Rayner, over an attempt to have some papers prejudicial to UK national security or international relations withheld. Labour MP Andy McDonald said he thought it was reasonable to expect an answer pretty damn quick on how Lord Mandelson passed vetting. It beggars belief that we could ever get a security vetting process that would sign off affirmatively on somebody in these circumstances, he said. Mr McDonald added that it was an appalling failure of judgment that Sir Keir appointed Lord Mandelson given what was already in the public domain about him. open image in gallery Keir Starmer meets Lord Mandelson at the then-ambassadors residence last year ( POOL/AFP via Getty ) In a statement, the Met confirmed it arrested a 72-year-old man on suspicion of misconduct in public office and a Camden address on 23 February, and that he had been taken to a London police station for interview. This follows search warrants at two addresses in the Wiltshire and Camden areas, the force said. Lord Mandelson resigned from the Labour Party earlier last month, saying he wanted to avoid causing it further embarrassment, after losing his post as UK ambassador to the United States last year because of his links to Epstein. Sir Keir Starmer rallied around his man in Washington for days at the time, praising the job the UKs ambassador had done cosying up to Donald Trumps inner circle. But the prime minister was forced to change course last year, dismissing Lord Mandelson with immediate effect. open image in gallery Then-business secretary Lord Mandelson with then-prime minister Gordon Brown in 2010 ( PA Archive ) These developments marked what is almost certainly the end of a career that had previously been defined by remarkable comebacks. His mastery of political intrigue had earned him the nickname Prince of Darkness. Last year, before heading to the US, Lord Mandelson was living in a luxurious farmhouse in the Pewsey Vale in Wiltshire. During the pandemic, he wrote about the cosy country life he was enjoying on the farm. He is the part-owner of Global Counsel, a powerful lobbying firm he co-founded, but they have swiftly reassured clients that they are in advanced stages of divesting his remaining stake as it attempts to cut ties with the peer. open image in gallery Mandelsons relationship with Epstein has destroyed his political career ( House Oversight Committee ) As well as the influential business position, Lord Mandelson has the more ceremonial High Steward of Hull title, though the council will try to strip him of it in the coming weeks. But while he returns to a lavish life in Britain, it wont be a touch on the grandeur of life in the early-1900s residence built for Britains ambassador in Washington, one of the most luxurious properties in the US capital. It has previously welcomed royalty from Prince Charles and Princess Diana to pop royalty like The Beatles, while guests who have been hosted in the embassy since Lord Mandelson moved in include much of President Trumps inner circle and the great and good of American business. No Labour leader will bring the tarnished grandee back into the fold after the extent of his relations with Epstein were revealed. And he has said himself at one point that further very embarrassing information will come to light in the future. His career has been one of many comebacks, but this latest criminal investigation and subsequent arrest seems a fall too far for Lord Mandelson to recover from. 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 Sir Keir Starmers judgement is under renewed attack after newly released papers revealed he was warned in detail about the dangers of appointing Lord Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States. The first tranche of documents relating to Lord Mandelsons employment show the prime minister was briefed that he had close ties with Jeffrey Epstein even after the paedophile financier was first convicted of procuring an underage girl in 2008, and that hiring him would bring a general reputational risk for his government. The files make clear that Sir Keir ignored the warnings after his then-chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, and former director of communications, Matthew Doyle, who was described in the documents as a personal friend of Lord Mandelson, appeared to give support to the Labour peer. The files also revealed that Lord Mandelson was given a taxpayer-funded 75,000 payout after he was sacked in September as the government sought to avoid a protracted legal challenge but had first demanded more than 500,000. Among the revelations in the documents, it emerged that: Sir Keir was told that Lord Mandelson reportedly stayed at Epsteins house when he was in jail and they were in touch when he was business secretary The PM was warned over Lord Mandelsons China links and business interests as part of a due diligence document drawn up by the Cabinet Office in December 2024 National security adviser (NSA) Jonathan Powell found the appointment weirdly rushed while Sir Philip Barton, the most senior civil servant at the Foreign Office (FCDO), also objected Lord Mandelson arranged a meeting between Epstein and Sir Tony Blair in 2002, saying the financier was young and vibrant and safe The 31 files released by the government did not include correspondence between No 10 and Lord Mandelson, in which a number of follow-up questions were asked about his relationship with Epstein, because those exchanges remain subject to the ongoing police investigation over allegations of misconduct in public office. Sir Keir has insisted Lord Mandelson lied repeatedly to No 10 about depth and extent of his relationship with Epstein, but the papers reveal senior officials had concerns over his appointment. open image in gallery The newly released files make it clear that Starmer ignored the warnings about Mandelson ( PA Wire ) A record of a call between Mr Powell and Mike Ostheimer, the general counsel to the prime minister, said the NSA raised concerns about the individual and reputation to Mr McSweeney. MM [Morgan McSweeney] responded that the issues had been addressed, according to the note of the call, made in September 2025 as part of a fact-finding process surrounding Lord Mandelsons sacking. The documents heap more pressure on a prime minister whose future has been in doubt for months, and raise further concerns about his decision to appoint Lord Mandelson who had twice already been sacked from government roles when there were a number of career diplomats available. MPs were furious that the documents, published after Labour rebels backed a motion by the Tories calling for their release, came out after Prime Ministers Questions, leaving chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Darren Jones to answer questions instead of the prime minister. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: Mandelson reportedly leaked sensitive government documents. Starmer knew Mandelson had stayed close friends with Epstein after the conviction for child prostitution, but made him ambassador anyway. Now we see he paid Mandelson almost 80k of our money. His judgment is shocking. Mr Jones defended the payout in the Commons, telling MPs: The settlement that was agreed was to avoid even higher further costs involving a drawn-out legal claim at the employment tribunal. open image in gallery The disgraced former ambassador being led from his home by police in February ( BBC ) Labour MP Richard Burgon said: It is clear the prime minister wouldnt have given the go-ahead for this individual, Peter Mandelson, to stand as a Labour candidate for town council, but instead he was elevated, despite what is in the document, to this most important of positions. Justin Madders, a former minister in Starmers government, added: If one of my constituents came to see me and told me that theyd lost their job or been sacked because they had lied during the application process and wanted compensation, I would tell them that they had absolutely no chance of doing that. Meanwhile, Tory shadow cabinet office minister Alex Burghart said: These documents just confirm what we already knew. Keir Starmer was plainly aware of the relationship between Mandelson and the worlds most notorious paedophile when he appointed him as US ambassador. Sir Ed Davey has called the documents Britains Epstein files and has urged Lord Mandelson to give his 75,000 payment to charity. The Tories have also called for him to return the payoff. Last month, MPs ordered the government to release tens of thousands of documents relating to Lord Mandelsons appointment following the US department of justices publication of the so-called Epstein Files. A second, potentially more damaging batch of papers is due to be published when the police are satisfied that it does not interfere in their criminal investigation into Lord Mandelson, but Mr Jones said that these files will show that the prime minister was lied to by the former ambassador, who he admitted should never have been allowed to represent the UK. open image in gallery Mandelson and Epstein being presented with a cake in an undated photo ( US Department of Justice ) He insisted that Sir Keir regrets appointing him as ambassador. The decision to appoint the former EU trade commissioner and UK business secretary was driven by the need to forge a close relationship with US president Donald Trump, who returned to the White House in January 2025. But an official note to the prime minister warned of the risk in making a political appointment: If anything goes wrong, you could be more exposed as the individual is more connected to you personally. Regarding Lord Mandelsons Global Counsel lobbying firm, the document states: Reputational risks could occur relating to any of these clients dealings with the UK or USA government. Global Counsel did not declare any lobbying clients under the last quarter of the Sunak administration, media reporting is noting the groups expansion since the election. It lists clients as including TikTok, Shell, Accenture, the Premier League, JP Morgan, Santander, BP, Sizewell C, and Shein. Sir Keir is already facing questions over an off-the-books meeting he had with Mandelson when he was ambassador in Washington with another of his clients, Palantir. The due diligence document also highlighted that in 2014 Mandelson agreed to be a founding citizen of an ocean conservation group founded by Ghislaine Maxwell, and funded by Epstein. Disgraced socialite Maxwell was a former girlfriend of Epstein and was jailed for 20 years in the US in 2022 for sex trafficking. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has joined more than 100 Iranians living in the UK who have urged Sir Keir Starmer not to get drawn further into the Iran conflict, warning that the war would strengthen the regime in Tehran. The letter, which has also been signed by two of Irans former political prisoners, warns that attacking the country in this way will entrench the authoritarians. It sets out a number of peaceful steps to help the internal opposition in Iran, such as providing Starlink internet services to end the continued communications blackout inside the country. open image in gallery The letter, signed by Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, said that Netanyahus killing of the supreme leader gave him a martyrs ending ( Getty ) It comes after Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, was killed by Israeli airstrikes earlier this month and was succeeded by one of his sons, Mojtaba Khamenei, who was appointed on Monday. The letter, seen by The Guardian, reads: Nobody can claim to want the end of the Islamic republic more than we do. But attacking the country in this way will have the opposite effect. It will entrench the authoritarians and give life to the fiction that has sustained them internally for decades: that they are fighting western imperialism. When Netanyahu a man charged with international war crimes after killing countless civilians in Gaza assassinates Irans dictator, that kills the man but immortalises the myth. Iranians wanted him tried and punished for his crimes, not given the martyr-ending he craved. British-Iranian national Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe was jailed on false espionage charges in 2016 after being arrested during a visit to her family in Iran with her young daughter, Gabriella. Her husband Richard Ratcliffe led a long campaign to raise awareness of her arrest and force the UK to attempt to strike a deal with Iran. They both took part in hunger strikes, including one by Mr Ratcliffe outside the Foreign Office. The letter was also signed by Aras Amiri, a former British Council worker kept in Evin prison in Tehran for three years, and Nasrin Parvaz, who spent eight years imprisoned in Iran from 1982. It was also signed by a number of high-profile artists, academics and writers within the Iranian community. It reads: A pro-democracy policy would protect political prisoners and ensure that Israel and the US do not bomb prisons like Evin. It is in those cells where the future democratic leaders of Iran reside. A pro-democracy policy would smuggle internet devices not weapons across the border, and break the blackout that is blanketing the country. open image in gallery Mojtaba Khamenei, son of former ayatollah Ali, was appointed as the new supreme leader ( AP ) A pro-democracy policy would call out Israels assassination policy even when it targets leaders we despise. There is so much that can be done in solidarity with Iranians. But joining in with Netanyahus forever wars is not it. The signatories of the letter said they are overcome with grief. For decades, we have been hoping for the day when Iranian democracy can finally flourish. Many of us have not been able to visit Iran for years for fear of imprisonment or worse. Sir Keir initially refused permission to help the US with the first wave of military action against Iran, but later granted permission for defensive US action against Iranian missile sites from UK bases. On Tuesday night, UK foreign secretary Yvette Cooper emphasised close coordination on Middle Eastern security in a call with her US counterpart as Washington threatened its most intense day of strikes on Iran. Ms Coopers conversation with US secretary of state Marco Rubio came after American B1 bombers were seen taking off from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and explosions were reported in Tehran. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The government has released the first batch of documents relating to Lord Mandelsons appointment as US ambassador, months after the disgraced politician was forced to step down from the role when the full extent of his relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein was revealed. The dossier, which shows that the prime minister was issued with clear warnings over Mandelsons links with Epstein, will pile further pressure on Sir Keir Starmer, who is facing growing questions over his judgement in appointing the Labour grandee to such a sensitive diplomatic role. The revelations, published on the government's website as a nearly 150-page PDF, come after MPs ordered the government last month to release tens of thousands of documents relating to the 2024 appointment following questions over how the peer was vetted. open image in gallery Lord Peter Mandelson received 75,000 of taxpayers money following the termination of his contract, files reveal ( PA Wire ) From warnings over the reputational risk posed by Lord Mandelsons appointment, to a 75,000 taxpayer-funded payout, here is everything you need to know from the first release of documents. Starmer clearly warned over Mandelsons ongoing relationship with Epstein The documents reveal that the prime minister was warned in no uncertain terms over Mandelsons ongoing relationship with Epstein, including reports of the peer having stayed in the paedophiles flat while he was in prison. The prime minister was warned in a due diligence report that there was a general reputational risk in appointing Lord Mandelson because of his relationship with Epstein. In a section titled Relationship With Jeffrey Epstein, the December 2024 report said: After Epstein was first convicted of procuring an underage girl in 2008, their relationship continued across 2009-2011, beginning when Lord Mandelson was business minister and continuing after the end of the Labour government. Mandelson reportedly stayed in Epsteins house while he was in jail in June 2009. But chief secretary to the prime minister Darren Jones told MPs that the due diligence report on Lord Mandelson did not expose the depth and extent of his relationship with Epstein. open image in gallery Sir Keir Starmer is facing growing questions over his judgement following Mandelsons appointment ( House of Commons ) Mandelson handed 75,000 payout but asked for more than 500,000 Lord Mandelson was awarded a 75,000 payout funded by taxpayers after being dismissed from his role as the UKs ambassador to the US, the documents reveal. But the files also show that the peer demanded a full payout of his contract, totalling more than 500,000, in his severance pay talks. Mr Jones told MPs the disgraced peers request for more than 500,000 more than six times the final amount was inappropriate and unacceptable. Concerns raised by officials over weirdly rushed appointment Senior officials raised concerns about Lord Mandelsons appointment, including national security adviser Jonathan Powell, who said he found the appointment process unusual and weirdly rushed, according to a 12 September call record. Mr Powell also raised concerns about the individual and reputation to Sir Keirs then-chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, the memo said, but Mr McSweeney is said to have responded that the issues had been addressed. Philip Barton, the then-Foreign Office permanent under-secretary, also had reservations around the appointment, the memo said. open image in gallery Jonathan Powell said the process for appointing Lord Mandelson was weirdly rushed ( PA Archive ) PMs director of communications admitted being personal friend of Mandelson Sir Keirs then director of communications appears to have defended the appointment of Lord Mandelson as US ambassador before later admitting that the politician was a personal friend. A briefing note to the prime minister from the civil servants looking into the suitability of Mandelson for the role reveals that they had arranged to brief Sir Keir personally about his relationship with Epstein. But they noted that Matthew Doyle said he was satisfied with the Labour grandees responses to questions about contact with the paedophile. We have sought a due diligenceand your chief of staff [Morgan McSweeney] has discussed Peters relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, which we will go through with you, but your director of communications [Matthew Doyle] is satisfied with his responses to questions about contact, the note said. After Mandelson was sacked in September last year, an investigation into the appointment by the PMs general counsel noted that in a telephone interview with Lord Doyle, he described the disgraced Labour grandee as a personal friend. Doyle was made a peer after resigning as director of communications and has recently been suspended from the Labour Party over separate questions about his own propriety. Clinton and Mandelson set up a meeting between Blair and Epstein Bill Clinton and Peter Mandelson set up a meeting between the then-prime minister Tony Blair and Epstein, the files reveal, with the former US ambassador describing the financier as both young and vibrant and safe. In an email to national security adviser Jonathan Powell in 2002, Lord Mandelson said: Do you remember when Clinton saw TB [Tony Blair] he said he wanted to introduce his travelling friend, Jeffrey Epstein, to TB? The email continues: I think TB would be interested in meeting Jeffrey, who is also a friend of mine, because Jeffrey is an [sic] scientific catalyst/entrepreneur as well as someone who has his finger on the pulse of many worldwide markets and currencies. He is young and vibrant. He is safe (whatever that means) and Clinton is now doing a lot of travelling with him. Mr Blair went on to meet with Epstein at 5pm on 14 May 2002. In the wake of the revelations, the former prime minister reissued a statement making clear that this was his one and only time contact with the convicted paedophile and took place long before his crimes were known. A spokesperson said: As far as he can remember, Mr Blair met with him for less than 30 minutes in Downing Street in May 2002, and discussed US and UK politics. He never met or engaged with him subsequently. This was, of course, long before his crimes were known of and his subsequent conviction. open image in gallery Tony Blair with Peter Mandelson ( PA Wire ) Mandelson sacked after reports showed depth and extent of Epstein links Sir Keir decided to sack Lord Mandelson after emails released by Bloomberg revealed a depth and extent of a relationship with Epstein which he had not been aware of previously when he made the decision to appoint Mandelson in 2024, according to a No 10 private office record of a 11 September meeting. On this basis, he proposed to ask Mandelson to resign from his post as HMA Washington. Foreign Office permanent under-secretary Olly Robbins then spoke by telephone to Mandelson towards the end of the meeting to inform him of the prime ministers decision and of the next steps, the memo said, adding that the palace had been informed of the decision during the meeting. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged that the government "will not tolerate" heating oil suppliers exploiting the Middle East crisis for profit. During a visit to Belfast on Thursday, Sir Keir will stress that home heating oil costs must be "fair, transparent and justifiable". He will meet with political leaders, including First Minister Michelle ONeill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, amid increasing concerns about the Middle East war's impact on energy prices. This issue is particularly pertinent in Northern Ireland, where around two-thirds of domestic properties depend on home heating oil. Global oil prices have surged sharply due to the conflict, with Iran launching strikes following attacks by the US and Israel, directly contributing to the rise in home heating oil expenses. The market in Northern Ireland, unlike gas and electricity, is unregulated. Treasury minister Lord Livermore met with some Northern Ireland MPs on Wednesday to discuss the issue. This issue is particularly pertinent in Northern Ireland, where around two-thirds of domestic properties depend on home heating oil ( PA Wire ) The Government said Sir Keir will use his visit to Northern Ireland to highlight his relentless focus on cutting the cost of living for working people. A statement said: Recognising that the majority of households in Northern Ireland rely on heating oil to heat their homes, the Prime Minister will send the strong message to companies that prices must be fair, transparent and justifiable, not inflated at the expense of working people. If companies hike prices without justification, the Government will act, including through regulation. The Prime Minister said: Global instability has real impacts on the lives of working people across the UK, and I know families in Northern Ireland are worried about what the war in the Middle East could mean for their finances especially given so many households rely on heating oil to heat their homes. Let me be clear, we will not tolerate profiteering or unfair practices. If companies fleece customers or rip them off, we will not hesitate to step in, and that includes on regulation. This Government stands with working people, no matter the headwinds. In Belfast I am spending my time meeting not only the politicians making decisions in Stormont, but also the people whose lives are shaped by conflicts abroad and the approach we take at home. The Government has asked the Competition and Markets Authority to look at heating oil prices. During the visit, the Prime Minister will also meet with members of a local community to discuss the cost of living. 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 Andrew Veitch, who once fled South Africa after being held at gunpoint in his car, now perceives greater threats within the United States. Citing mass shootings in public spaces and violence perpetrated by US immigration officers, he expresses a profound unease with his current surroundings. "People are being shot in broad daylight. American citizens are being shot and killed," stated the 53-year-old, who relocated to California in 2003. "I don't want to live in a place like this." His concerns are underscored by reports that officials under Donald Trump have defended Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers for fatal shootings of two US citizens in January, despite video evidence contradicting their accounts. Mr Veitch plans to return to South Africa this year, joining thousands of white South Africans making a similar journey. This trend emerges despite statements from Mr Trump suggesting the white minority faces persecution from the country's Black majority government. Pretoria, however, maintains there is no evidence of discrimination or persecution against white citizens. open image in gallery Concerns have been raised about ICE officers after the shootings of two US citizens in January ( AFP via Getty Images ) While many emigrated after the end of white minority rule in 1994, often citing crime and employment difficulties, a significant number are now reversing course. Mr Veitch is one of 12,000 individuals who have verified their citizenship status through an online portal launched by the government last November. This initiative followed the overturning of a 1995 law that had stripped citizenship from some South Africans who had left the country. These figures represent a fraction of the South African diaspora, though official statistics from 2022 indicate nearly 15,000 white South Africans returned that year. Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber noted that 1,000 people have already reclaimed their citizenship, a number he anticipates will grow substantially. "There is definitely a sense of optimism for South Africans abroad," said Mr Schreiber, a member of the Democratic Alliance party, which has governed in coalition with the African National Congress since 2024. A returnee himself, having lived in the US and Germany before coming home in 2019, he embodies the shift. Recruitment agencies assisting expatriates report a surge in inquiries, with interviews revealing common motivations for returning, including a desire to be closer to family, lower living costs, and political instability abroad. These sentiments are echoed within a 25,000-strong "Return to South Africa" Facebook group. open image in gallery Thousands are returning to South Africa under a new citizenship law ( AFP via Getty Images ) Meanwhile, the Trump administration is expanding its refugee programme for white South Africans, specifically targeting Afrikaners, descendants of Dutch settlers. Approximately 3,500 South Africans have entered the United States as refugees since the programme's inception in May 2025. Applicants have cited racially motivated crime and employment equity laws, which favour non-white candidates to address historical imbalances, as reasons for seeking refuge. However, not all Afrikaners share this perspective. Naomi Saphire, who had lived in the United States for two decades, realised how much she missed home during a holiday visit. Last year, she left North Carolina for a seaside town in South Africa's Western Cape, where she says her three children spend more time outdoors, health insurance is affordable, and she prefers the schools. "My heart is just full of gratefulness to be here," the 46-year-old said from her home in Plettenberg Bay. "The US has been really good to me (but) I just felt like I was depriving my kids of this life." Ms Saphire noted that many people she knows are also returning. While crime and joblessness remain significant challenges in South Africa, the unemployment rate stands at 35 per cent for Black people compared with 8 per cent for white people, according to the latest figures from Stats SA. Police statistics released last year also showed that farm murders, a topic highlighted by Mr Trump, claimed more Black victims than white. Reports have found that photos and videos presented by Mr Trump on this issue were often taken out of context or misrepresented. Despite a net outward flow of half a million white South Africans since 2001, including 95,000 between 2021 and 2026, a Stats SA analysis indicated that of the 28,000 South Africans who returned in 2022, 52.9 per cent roughly 14,800 were white. Anton van Heerden, CEO of employment agency DNA Employer of Record, reported a 70 per cent jump in inquiries from white South Africans looking to return over the past six months. Angel Jones, CEO of Johannesburg-based recruitment firm HomecomingEx, observed a roughly 30 per cent rise in inquiries since 2024. The boom in remote working since the Covid-19 pandemic has also facilitated this trend, with several returnees retaining their jobs abroad. Mr Van Heerden added that many South African professionals benefit from extensive private security, which mitigates crime risks. "If you can afford to live in a safe environment, you can have a much better life than I think in most places in the northern hemisphere," he commented. Several returnees also expressed a feeling that life in South Africa has improved. For instance, frequent power cuts have largely ceased. Eugene Jansen, a 38-year-old engineer who returned from the Netherlands with his family in December, noted that those he knows who have returned believe conditions are improving. "The opinion is that the country is improving," he said. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A transgender man working at a Chilis Grill & Bar in suburban Chicago was on the job for less than four weeks before being fired over their values, according to a federal lawsuit obtained by The Independent. Hudson Webber, whose February 26 complaint uses they/them pronouns, claims their manager explicitly said they were being let go because their personal values and lifestyle values did not align with the restaurant. The restaurant manager told Webber that the decision had been jointly made with his own boss, and that another employee at a different location would be... terminated for the same reasons, the complaint states. The casual dining chain, which is owned by publicly traded Brinker International, professes to believe in a culture of belonging, telling job applicants that it welcomes those of all genders, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, abilities, religions, age and backgrounds. We celebrate these differences through a culture of belonging where individual strengths and stories are respected and valued, ChilisJobs.com asserts. Were proud to be a community-oriented meeting place and want everyone to feel welcome at Chilis. At the same time, Chilis has faced past legal challenges by LGBTQ employees who say they faced discrimination while working there. In 2019, a gay server at a Chilis in Phoenix was denied a promotion and forced to quit because she didnt fit her bosss idea of what a woman should look like, according to the ACLU. In 2013, a cook at a Chilis in Roseville, California, said his bosses laughed off a sexual assault by coworkers, allegedly telling him, Youre gay, you like it. A Brinker International spokesperson did not respond Tuesday to a request for comment. open image in gallery A Chili's in suburban Chicago is being accused of unlawful discrimination in a new lawsuit. Pictured is the Chili's Grill & Bar in Rosemont, Illinois, where Hudson Webber worked before being let go in May 2025 for her gender identity, according to court filings ( Google Maps ) Webber was hired April 17, 2025, as an assistant manager at a Chilis in Rosemont, Illinois, their complaint says. From the start, Webber a trans man who was assigned female at birth, and thus a member of a protected class under the law received glowing performance reviews, according to the complaint, which was filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. However, it says, on May 1, things suddenly changed. For no apparent reason, Webber, who is a member of a protected class under the law, was repeatedly called off from scheduled shifts by management, the complaint goes on. On one occasion, [Webber] was told not to report to work because a pipe had ruptured in the restaurant and no employees would be working that day, the complaint continues. [Webber] later learned that this explanation was false and that the restaurant had, in fact, remained open and staffed. In actuality, the complaint alleges Webber was intentionally being excluded from work because management did not want [them] present. On May 12, 2025, a little more than three weeks after Webbers start date, the store manager terminated them without warning, according to the complaint. During this conversation, [the store manager] explicitly stated that the reason for [Webbers] termination was that [Webbers] personal values and lifestyle values did not align with the restaurant and that [Chilis] would not be moving forward with [Webbers] employment, the complaint states. When Webber asked the store manager if they could speak with someone else about the decision, the store manager said that he and his regional manager had made the decision together and that it was final. [Webber] was also told that another employee at a different location would be contacted and terminated for the same reasons, further demonstrating a pattern of discriminatory decision-making based on protected characteristics, the complaint says. At the time Webber was hired, no one ever asked about their gender identity, and Webber did not feel it necessary to initiate a discussion of their personal life, according to the complaint. open image in gallery 'People have always been willing to be more discriminatory towards transgender workers,' attorney Greg Nevins of Lambda Legals Employment Fairness Project said ( Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images ) The decision to terminate [Webber] was made only after management became aware of [their] gender identity and expression, it states. Attorney Greg Nevins of Lambda Legals Employment Fairness Project, who is not involved in Webbers case, said the present political environment in the United States is one that basically denies transgender people the right to live their lives, publicly or privately. There are relatively fewer cases in which someone says, Were firing you because youre gay, Nevins told The Independent. But it does happen all the time with transgender employees, he said. In most of the transgender cases Ive worked on, the employer has come right out and said, This is why were not having you continue to work here. People have always been willing to be more discriminatory towards transgender workers. Andrew Ortiz, a staff attorney at the Transgender Law Center, told The Independent that a lot of anti-trans workplace discrimination goes unreported, making it difficult to gauge the true size of the issue. Many trans folks are unclear as to how seriously discrimination against them will be taken, Ortiz said. A large number of transgender job applicants dont even make it past the interview process, according to Ortiz. Further, he pointed out, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, under Donald Trump, has in fact been weaponized against trans people, dropping cases it had brought on behalf of trans employees and instructing career staff not to process trans employees complaints. We have no faith that this EEOC has any interest in protecting the rights of trans folks, and is even doing things to make it easier to treat them poorly, Ortiz said. In an email, Ash Lazarus Orr, press relations manager at Advocates for Trans Equality, said trans people continue to face major barriers to employment. Orr cited the 2022 U.S. Trans Survey, an anonymous online survey for transgender people ages 16 and older, which found that more than 80 percent of respondents reported being harassed or discriminated against at work because of their gender identity, more than 10 percent who said they had been fired, forced to resign, or laid off due to it, and a jobless rate among the trans community overall nearing 20 percent. The dismissal of trans employees has consequences beyond the individual, Lazarus Orr said, it can perpetuate a culture of discrimination and exclusion that discourages talented trans people from pursuing fulfilling careers. In Webbers case, the stated reason for their termination had nothing to do with job performance and was instead based on discriminatory views about [their] sex and gender identity, the complaint concludes. As a result, it says Webber has not only lost their job and income, but has also suffered emotional distress, humiliation, and degradation. Webber is now seeking back and front pay with interest; compensatory and punitive damages; and attorneys fees and court costs. An initial status hearing is set for May 4. 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 Seven Disneyland employees have been hospitalized as a hazmat situation unfolded at the popular California theme park Tuesday afternoon. The employees were taken to the hospital for minor injuries following an unknown odor in a backstage area near the Star Tours attraction, the Anaheim Police Department told The Independent. Anaheim Fire and Rescue responded to the incident around 12:30 p.m. local time. The Disneyland employees suffered from injuries ranging from dizziness to shortness of breath, Anaheim Police said. open image in gallery Seven Disneyland employees have been hospitalized as a hazmat situation unfolded at the popular California theme park Tuesday afternoon ( Walt Disney Resorts via Getty Im ) Disneyland officials said several other employees were treated by medical personnel at the park and later released. The mysterious odor came from building contractor materials, according to authorities. There were no immediate reports of park guests being injured by the incident. open image in gallery The incident happened in a backstage area near the Star Tours attraction in the theme parks Tomorrowland ( Disneyland Resort via Getty Images ) Park visitors were cleared from onstage areas near where the incident occurred as a precaution, per Disneyland officials. Emergency personnel are clearing the scene now, and park operations have resumed, Anaheim Police said. Star Tours is located in the Tomorrowland area of Disneyland. Its a 3D Star Wars-themed ride that takes guests to destinations from the media franchise. Disneyland has been a popular tourist destination since it opened in 1955. It has had 900 million visitors since its opening, the Los Angeles Times reported in January, citing the documentary Disneyland Handcrafted. Until now, Zorro Ranch, in the high desert south of the state capital Santa Fe, has remained a peculiar blind spot not only in the insatiable media coverage of Epstein and his crimes, but in the investigation by law enforcement, too. That is about to change. On Monday, police swept onto the 8,000 acre property and started a search which continued into yesterday. The authorities have not provided any estimate or schedule for how many days the search will continue or when it might be completed, but for many who have been raising the alarm over Epsteins activities there, it has been a long time coming. There have been rumours for years that the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein used his sprawling ranch and remoteness to conceal his child sex-trafficking operations. Then there was a much reported but never proven story that Epstein also discussed a plan to impregnate multiple women at the ranch to spread his DNA and wanted to use it as a baby ranch for a sick eugenics experiment. However, one of the most disturbing claims in the recently released Epstein files comes from a witness who alleged in a message included in DOJ records that two foreign girls died there during rough sexual encounters. The message, purportedly from a former ranch staff member, offered to trade incriminating videos of Epstein with minors in exchange for one bitcoin. But the most chilling detail was the senders claim that two foreign girls had been murdered and buried "in the hills" surrounding the compound. The victims, he said, had died during "rough, fetish sex" involving strangulation. Last month, lawmakers in New Mexico voted unanimously to create a bipartisan Truth Commission to finally investigate the ranchs murky history. Shortly afterwards, the states attorney general announced he was reopening an investigation that had abruptly closed shortly before Epsteins death by suicide in 2019. open image in gallery What lies beneath: Zorro Ranch has been the subject of dark rumours for many years ( Reuters ) Its been seven years since Epsteins suicide in a Manhattan jail cell and, until recently, no-one even knew who had purchased the ranch in 2023. But the Epstein files released in 2026 by prosecutors and the FBI included ownership documents and transaction details, which finally revealed the buyer to be Don Huffines, a Dallas real estate magnate and former Texas state senator who recently won his campaign to become the Republican nominee for Texas Comptroller. Huffines has since renamed the estate San Rafael Ranch, after the patron saint of healing, and is in the process of reimagining the site as a Christian retreat. For those tasked with uncovering the horrific truth, the ranchs redemption under Huffines presents a significant hurdle. While Huffines has publicly pledged to cooperate with any law enforcement request, the change in ownership and the passage of time raise fears that critical physical evidence may have been inadvertently compromised, purged, or simply lost to the desert. It is a challenge that Marianna Anaya, a freshman Democratic legislator and a central figure on the Truth Commission, knows all too well. A seasoned advocate for sexual assault survivors who has spent years fighting for institutional accountability in New Mexico, she understands that the high desert has always been a convenient place to bury dark secrets. For Anaya, what really happened at Zorro Ranch is a physical manifestation of a much older, more pervasive neglect one that has defined the states relationship with its most vulnerable citizens for generations. New Mexico is always overlooked, she tells The Independent. The people here have been silenced in many ways. Historically, New Mexico has had a lot of missing and murdered Indigenous women in particular, and a lot of women of colour whose deaths have never been investigated. And so for us, it is also a priority to try to figure out how New Mexicans were a part of this ranch story. I know a lot of folks talk about the women who were trafficked [to the ranch], many of them from other countries or other parts of our country, but I would really like to know what happened to the women of New Mexico too. The state consistently grapples with one of the highest rates of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons in the country. According to the New Mexico Department of Indian Affairs, the lack of comprehensive data and law enforcement urgency around missing Indigenous people has created a culture where predators believe they can operate without consequence. It is this grim backdrop against which, Anaya says, the Truth Commission to look into what happened at Epsteins Zorro ranch was formed. As we're digging through the files, we're seeing some of Epsteins older interviews in which he actually says why he bought the ranch in New Mexico, which I thought was interesting. open image in gallery The 'Great Room' at Zorro Ranch ( US Department of Justice ) He talks about the fact that it's close to the labs Los Alamos in particular, but also Sandia National Labs. The New York Times had a big article on him many years ago about him wanting to establish a baby ranch here in New Mexico. While the "baby ranch" concept sounded like high-desert folklore to locals for years, unsealed documents and survivor testimonies have begun to paint a far more concrete and disturbing picture of Epsteins intent. For Epstein, the isolation of Stanley, New Mexico, provided the perfect petri dish for a philosophy rooted in his fascination with transhumanism and eugenics. Epstein bought the ranch in 1993 from the family of former New Mexico governor Bruce King, and he had apparently discussed his plan to use it as a base to seed the human race with his DNA as early as 2001. Epstein was apparently pursuing a sick project focused on using technology and controlled breeding (by impregnating numerous women with his sperm) to "improve" the human population. For Epstein, Zorro Ranch was positioned strategically close to the American scientific establishment, and by hosting lavish think tank dinners for researchers from Los Alamos and Sandia, with other high profile guests, he sought to wrap his eugenics-based ambitions in a cloak of academic legitimacy. When Anaya assumed office in January, 2025, she was unaware that a full investigation into Epsteins crimes in New Mexico had never been completed. Before her election to the state House of Representatives, she had built a decade-long career as a high-profile lobbyist and advocate for survivors of sexual assault and harassment, and now, as a politician, she knew that her work had really only just begun. Together with fellow Representative Andrea Romero, Anaya pushed for a commission to be established. I really credit the survivors themselves for continuing to come forward; for continuing to speak out, she says, because if they hadnt done so, representatives like me and Representative Romero may not have known that a full investigation was never done here. open image in gallery Signs at the entrance to the ranch formerly owned by the paedophile financier ( Reuters ) Last month, the New Mexico Department of Justice acknowledged the prior state investigation into the ranch was ended in 2019 at the request of the U.S Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York. That memo from the federal government, Anaya says, essentially said don't worry about the investigation. It's going to be a New York jurisdiction and we've got it from here. And nothing happened. Revelations outlined in the previously sealed FBI files warrant further examination, the statement from the New Mexico Department of Justice continued. Special agents and prosecutors at the New Mexico Department of Justice will be seeking immediate access to the complete, unredacted federal case file and intend to work collaboratively with our law enforcement partners as well as the Epstein Truth Commission. For us, says Anaya, it's now about making sure that every tip that comes in every inquiry that was never pursued is looked into. Anaya and Romero are working with U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury, who represents New Mexico in Washington, D.C. and who has access to the unredacted Epstein files. Were starting to put some of the puzzle pieces together, Anaya says. And well work with our New Mexico Department of Justice to bring accountability where the federal government did not. Anaya tells The Independent shes concerned that some evidence has long since vanished. But she says a lot still exists. I believe there are a lot of witnesses that may not have been heard. And I believe that there are enough people involved who are still alive and or in the community that we can piece together, not just a solid story, but hopefully achieve some accountability. open image in gallery No Trespassers: Until recently no-one even knew who had bought the ranch off Epstein ( AP ) Theres a total range of people or systems that end up enabling something this horrific. And so I imagine that there will be not just co-conspirators that are named, but everyone in between. Our commission has subpoena power as well, so we wont just be asking politely for cooperation. We actually have authority vested in us as well. Recommended What Ghislaine Maxwell really knows and why she will never tell Now that law enforcement have moved in with forensic teams to conduct an on-the-ground search for the evidence and possibly the victims, she hopes more pieces of this dark puzzle will fall into place. At the centre of the reopened inquiry is a disturbing electronic tip received in 2019 by Albuquerque radio host Eddy Aragon. Last month, the New Mexico Department of Justice said it had requested a copy of the email sent to Aragon containing the allegation that bodies had been buried up at Zorro. Although Aragon reported the email to the FBI immediately, there is little evidence that the Bureau aggressively pursued the lead or treated the 8,000-acre property as a potential crime scene. But for Anaya, this is exactly why her Truth Commission is so vital. The desert has kept Epsteins secrets for three decades; her mission is to ensure it doesn't keep them for a fourth. Abdullah Saleh al-Ajmis story is tragic. He was one of the first detainees brought to Guantanamo and also, inexplicably, one of the first released. One of twenty children, he had joined the Kuwaiti army before going to Afghanistan and Pakistan. He was 23 when he was captured and died in a suicide bombing just before his 30th birthday. Abdullah Saleh precise activities in Afghanistan and Pakistan remain not fully known, as he was alleged to have confessed to having gone AWOL from the Kuwaiti army and spending eight months fighting with the Taliban against the Northern Alliance. He was also alleged by the United States to have confessed to being a jihadi whose goal was to kill as many Americans as possible. Abdullah Saleh said that he confessed to these things to the make the torture stop. Fellow detainees confirmed that Abdullah Saleh had been badly tortured and that in their view, he had been broken by Guantanamo. They were shocked that a man so disoriented, so angry and so obviously suffering from severe mental illness, would be released. His private lawyer, Tom Wilner from Shearman & Sterling, initially had a cooperative and friendly relationship with Abdullah Saleh. Abdullah Saleh referred to himself as the Happy Detainee, and wrote to Wilner, Mr. Tom, I would like to tell you that I'm fine and so are all my brothers. I thank you, Mr. Tom, and I send you my closing greetings. Yet some months later, he wrote Wilner a letter showing anger and hostility toward the advocate to whom he had recently showed such gratitude: Thomas, I shall meet you tomorrow and hit you with a sharp, two-edged sword that will tear you to pieces, and you will be thrown to the hyena to feed on, maul and bite you. The letter concluded, To the vile, depraved Thomas, descendant of rotten apes and swine, I greet you with a kick, a spit, and a slap on your lying, rotten, ugly, and sullen face. I hope that this letter finds you burning in hell and receiving a sound beating from men who are to be counted. He signed his letter "fiercely and harshly." When Abdullah Saleh was told by his lawyers that he was being sent home, he cursed at them viciously. open image in gallery Eric Lewiss new book on Guantanamo Bay ( Cambridge University Press ) Wilner shared the view of Abdullah Salehs fellow detainees that Abdullah Salehs sanity had been destroyed during his time at Guantanamo. Wilner said, I really think he was probably nothing when he went to Guantanamo. I dont think he was an enemy or anything, but I think Guantanamo made him crazy, turned him absolutely crazy. Wilner reported that Abdullah Saleh told him a story where he was hung up by his wrists and they were hitting and hitting him, saying Are you al Qaida or Taliban? Are you Al Qaida or Taliban? He said Im neither. Im neither, and they kept hitting him. Finally, Abdullah Saleh said OK, Im Taliban and they stopped. Abdullah Saleh said to his lawyer, That was better than saying Al Qaida, wasnt it? But, of course, there were no right answers in these interrogations. Abdullah Saleh described his treatment: Sometimes the guards turn the temperature so hot that you cannot wear a shirt. Sometimes they turn it so cold that is like the North Pole, and they take your blanket away. At the beginning I was very badly beaten by U.S. soldiers and guards... But the worst torture to me is that the guards make fun of my religion and dishonor the Quran. In a meeting two weeks later with his legal team, Abdullah Saleh told them that he and all his fellow detainees had been tortured at Guantanamo. His whole story to the Department of Defense that he had been on the front lines with the Taliban facing the Northern Alliance was false and coerced through torture. "My whole story is made up," he said. "I didn't carry weapons. I didn't fight. I was not a member of the Taliban or al-Qaida." Abdullah Saleh said that he had told U.S. interrogators at the detention center in Kandahar that he had fought with the Taliban because the guards were beating the hell out of me." Abdullah Saleh explained, "I wanted it to stop," he said. "I told them what they wanted to hear." Abdullah Saleh was not a cooperative prisoner. In 2004, he was praying and failed to obey a guards order. He was removed from his cell by the Immediate Reaction Force, in detainee parlance, he was IRFed. A team of six to eight armed soldiers walking shoulder to shoulder smashed into his cell, pinned him face down to the concrete floor and then dragged him still face down, into solitary confinement. IRFing was a regular feature of detainee life. Abdullah Saleh had his arm broken during this IRFing. By May 2005, Abdullah Saleh was in trouble again. In a scene reminiscent of the film Life is Beautiful, he said that he had grabbed a guard's microphone tied into the camp's public-address system. "This is General al-Ajmi and I'm in control now," he announced. "Everyone is going free." He spent a long time in solitary confinement. Yet Abdullah Saleh, this apparently psychotic man filled with rage, was released to Kuwait in November 2005. The United States evaluated him as having low intelligence value and presenting only medium risk if he was released. According to a report prepared by the Defense Intelligence Agency: He was apparently living a productive life in Kuwait prior to his traveling to Iraq to be a suicide bomber. It is unknown what motivated him to leave Kuwait and go to Iraq. His family members were reportedly shocked to hear he had conducted a suicide bombing. This apparent surprise was entirely disingenuous, as his deteriorated mental condition was well known when the United States released him. Abdullah Salehs behavior when he returned home was, not surprisingly, much as before erratic, veering between being withdrawn and quiet, punctuated with outbursts of tremendous anger. Other people who knew him also described him as highly unstable when he returned home. Fellow detainees with whom I spoke were shocked that Abdullah Saleh had been released given his condition. In my interviews with former detainees, they condemned Abdullah Salehs actions. They were tragic and wrong; they also hurt the prospects for freedom of every other detainee. But those who spoke about Abdullah Saleh believed he had not been a terrorist before he was sent to Guantanamo and that his treatment by Americans made him crazy. Abdullah Kamel Al Kandari and Abdulaziz al Shammeri were two Kuwaitis who were imprisoned with Abdullah Saleh in Kohat prison in Pakistan before being transferred to US custody. He was normal then, they said, but Abdullah Kamel relates that in Guantanamo he had been tortured too much and he said that [he would] get revenge in front of me he would tell [US forces] when I get out, I will make double bomb. I will kill youand they release him. In his suicide video, Abdullah Saleh described the Americans desecration of the Quran and maltreatment of detainees. He said that detainees were beaten, given drugs and used for experiments. The Americans delighted in insulting our prayer and Islam and they insulted the Quran and threw it in dirty places, he said. Abdullah Saleh came to Guantanamo as a man with minimal or no experience in combat or any sort of leader, as having anything to do with Al Qaida, as having no apparent fixed sympathies or support for terrorism. He left a disturbed, angry and vengeful person. His own captors failed to see it or chose to ignore it and appeared to try to push the problem down the road and make it someone elses. It ended in needless mass murder. Al Zamel, the detainee who shared a cell with Abdullah Saleh said, Abdullah Saleh was always plotting, for no reason, to attack the guards. Al Zamel told me simply Al Ajmi, he was like really nuts. A little more than two years after his release from Guantanamo Bay, with his wife eight months pregnant, Abdullah Saleh drove a truck laden with 5 to 10,000 pounds of explosives onto an army base outside Mosul, Iraq. The Washington Post reported that thirteen Iraqi soldiers were killed. Forty-two people were wounded and the explosion left a 30-foot-wide crater in the ground. He was the only Kuwaiti to have been released who returned to violence. He also committed the single greatest act of terror of any former Guantanamo detainee. The United States broke Abdullah Saleh down, and then when they could not control him, it is a fair inference that his captors wanted to get rid of him. And they did. He became someone elses problem, so that the United States could feign surprise when he became a suicide bomber. The intelligence agencies did a lot of speculation after the fact. They tried to assess when he became a hard-core jihadist. Was he misled by preachers? Was it in Afghanistan that he was radicalized? Was it after he came home? Yet all the evidence points to a man destroyed psychologically by torture and his ordeal at Guantanamo. This was a theory that the United States would not accept. Leaving Guantanamo: How One Country Brought Home Its Men from the Forever Prison is published by Cambridge University Press. Eric Lewis is a human rights lawyer and also sits on the board of directors of The Independent When Iridescent Roney turned up at the Kansas Office of Vital Statistics to hand in her birth certificate on Feb. 26, the staff were even more confused than she was. Roney was one of roughly 1,700 transgender people whose Kansas-issued driver's licenses and birth certificates were revoked by a new law, which was passed eight days earlier by the states Republican supermajority over a veto by Democratic Gov Laura Kelly. For years, Kansas was one of a dwindling handful of U.S. states that refused to let trans people change their gender on official documents. The policy made it impossible for trans people to hide their history whenever they flashed their I.D., potentially exposing them to discrimination and violence. That changed in 2019 due to a federal civil rights lawsuit, and many trans people Roney included duly updated their documents. But now, Kansas Republicans have invalidated every license and birth certificate that did not reflect the gender its holder was assigned at birth. Those who try to drive using their old licenses can be fined, arrested and even jailed if they do it repeatedly, according to activists and letters sent out by state officials. open image in gallery Matthew Neumann, founder and executive directory of the LGBTQ Foundation of Kansas, holds up his 'M'-marked driver's license which he refuses to give up despite a new anti-trans law declaring it invalid. ( Matthew Neumann ) Yet as Roney discovered, the rollout of this new policy was confused and chaotic. "The folks [at Vital Statistics] were terribly kind, and I appreciate them for that," Roney, 29, a college career adviser in Lawrence, Kansas, told The Independent. "However, they didn't know what to do. There was no plan of action for what was going to happen. The new legislation is part of a growing GOP campaign against trans rights both in Kansas and the U.S. more widely. Republicans have sought to cut off trans people from their healthcare, exile them from public bathrooms, kick them out of the U.S. military, and reportedly even stop them owning guns. Kansas new law, known as Senate Bill 244, also includes language allowing Kansans to sue a privately transgender individual if they feel "aggrieved" about them using the wrong bathroom. But the ID provisions had more immediate consequences. Though the law took effect on Feb. 26, that date was not mentioned explicitly anywhere in its text, meaning many trans Kansans were not aware it would take effect so soon. Moreover, many people only received letters notifying them of the changes a day earlier, according to independent trans rights journalist Erin Reed. Others never received any letter at all, said Matthew Neumann, a 44-year-old trans man who runs the LGBTQ Foundation of Kansas in Larned, two hours west of Wichita. open image in gallery Iridescent Roney stands beside her car in Kansas City, Missouri, from where she commutes regularly into Kansas for her job. The new law invalidated her old birth certificate, which she had gone through the legal process to change from male to female ( Iridescent Roney ) "I have not received a letter, still, over a week later," Neumann told The Independent. The lack of notification has made it impossible for many trans people to renew their licenses by the deadline in the 15th largest state in the U.S., with minimal public transport. Some were left stranded after the deadline, unable to drive to work or even drive themselves to the DMV to get new documents, said Neumann. On Tuesday, a Kansas court declined to block the law in response to an ACLU-backed legal challenge. The case is ongoing, meaning S.B. 244 could still be overturned in future. "Right now everything still seems to be up in the air on how it's going to affect people. The biggest effect it's had is the fear, he said. Which I think is something that the state wanted." Im Schroedingers gender right now Roney was one of those who never got a letter. Shed previously changed both her birth certificate and her drivers license to match her lived gender, but only found out about the Thursday deadline last Wednesday night after coming home from work. Having spent most of her life in Kansas, she now lives in Kansas City, Missouri, a sprawling metro area that straddles both states. Her job is roughly an hours drive away in Lawrence, Kansas, meaning she had no option but to brief her supervisor and take the day off. It turned out to be an all-day adventure, Roney said, lasting from about 7:40 a.m. to after 4 p.m. First, she took her drivers license to the DMV in Grandview, Missouri, on the outskirts of Kansas City. The staff had no idea what to do, Roney said, but eventually issued her a new license still designating her as female, her preferred designation. Then she and her spouse drove for about 90 minutes to Topeka, Kansas to Vital Statistics about the birth certificate. "They said, 'We can't issue you a new birth certificate even when you have an invalid one.' To which I responded, 'I will be leaving here with a birth certificate, please, Roney said. Roney ultimately did get a new birth certificate, albeit branding her as male. So now she is in an awkward situation because her identification documents don't match. "According to the state of Missouri I'm female, she said. According to the state of Kansas,, I'm Schroedinger's gender." (Thats a riff on Schroedingers Cat, the famous thought experiment in quantum mechanics about a cat that is simultaneously alive and dead.) That could be a problem, she fears, if shes ever required to use both documents together. "I'm doing everything I can to follow the law, she laments. open image in gallery Roney no longer feels safe in Kansas but also cannot leave because she is a carer for her chosen parents ( Iridescent Roney ) Altogether, replacing both documents cost Roney about $50 in fees plus gas money. For people replacing their driving license in Kansas, the fee is $8. The Kansas Division of Vehicles said it was working to notify affected people "as fast as possible," within the "short timeframe imposed by the legislature." "The Kansas Legislature neither allowed for a grace period for affected credentials nor did they appropriate additional funds to cover the cost of reissuing credentials, so there is an $8 fee to cover the cost of reissuance," the division told The Lawrence Times. Roney finds it galling that she had to pay anything to replace a license she legally received from the state of Kansas by following the correct steps in 2023. But Roney still feels fortunate: she has a salaried job and did not lose wages for taking the day off. "Not everyone gets that same privilege," she said. Roney noted the the new law could have myriad issues. "What's gonna happen the first couple days you miss work? What if you want to go vote?" (Kansas has strict voter I.D. laws., requiring voters to show a drivers license, passport, tribal I.D., or other proof of identity.) She added: "What if you get sick, and now you can't drive yourself to the hospital, and you don't want to have anyone to take you? What if you just want to go pick up cold medicine?" This law is illegal, and I wont follow it When Matthew Neumann got his gender markers changed around 2020-21, it was a big moment. As a trans-rights activist, he had fought for years for Kansans' right to change their legal gender. He proudly posted a redacted photo of his new birth certificate and drivers license on social media. "I was so happy that I achieved that milestone in my trans journey," Neumann told The Independent. Kansas Republicans had already tried to ban legal gender changes in 2023 with a state Senate bill which required public and private agencies to define who is a man or a woman according to their reproductive system. Gov. Laura Kelly resisted, leading Republican state Attorney General Chris Kobach to sue her administration to stop allowing gender changes. The process was frozen by court order for two years, until an appeals court overturned that decision last October. Neumann said he refuses to comply with the new law. This law is not legal, and until a judge tells me that it is legal, I'm not going to follow it, he said. "I fought for my rights, and I'm going to continue to fight, and I don't believe in handing in my rights because they pushed a law through so quickly to strip them away." open image in gallery Neumann at the wheel of his 2020 Chevy Spark. Larned, Kansas is fairly remote two hours from Wichita, three from Topeka meaning he has to drive long streteches to attend events or observe court cases ( Matthew Neumann ) Neumann says he has been told by his county attorney that sheriff's deputies are to ticket any trans person driving on a license deemed invalid. If he finds out this has happened, he vows that the LGBTQ Foundation of Kansas will pay for the fines. The activist said he wasnt judging any trans person who chose to comply with the law. His foundation is hoping to cover all expenses associated with replacing invalidated documents up to $100 (thanks to a partnership with the local Democratic Socialists of America chapter) as well as organizing rides from cis-gender people with valid licenses. Two trans men have already sued the state with help from the ACLU, asking a judge to temporarily block the "discriminatory and dehumanizing" law as contrary to the Kansas Constitution. But on Tuesday the judge declined, saying they had not yet offered enough evidence of factual harm. Even so, the effect has been disruptive. "People have had to take time off work to get their IDs changed," Neumann said. "And getting somebody to give you a ride, and making sure that you have that documentation for your job. Neumann argues that the law will force trans people to out themselves to employers, since they will need to submit new I.D. and then explain why it has the wrong marker for their lived gender. That, he says, could open them up to discrimination. Indeed, in the 2022 U.S. Transgender Survey, 22 percent of all respondents said they had been verbally harassed, assaulted, asked to leave a location, or denied services after showing I.D. whose name or gender didnt match their appearance. Spotty enforcement has increased the uncertainty. Neumann says he knows one trans man who renewed his license after S.B. 244 came into force, only to be surprised when staff issued him a male license in apparent violation of the law. Similarly, one fortysomething trans woman in Lindsborg, Kansas, who asked to remain anonymous, told The Independent that her license was still listed as valid in the states online portal, even two weeks after she received a letter demanding she give it up. If they do force her to get an M on her license, she added, she planned to cover it with a pink triangle sticker in defiant reference to the Nazi persecution of LGBT+ people. Alone and isolated Since the law came into effect last Thursday, such incidents have played out across Kansas and beyond. Another transgender Kansan, Ruby Mae Johnson, told The Lawrence Times that she had already left Kansas for the Netherlands to seek asylum from what she described as persecution from both state and federal governments. (The Independent earlier reported on a number of trans Americans with overseas asylum cases.) That leaves Johnson with no practical way to get a new U.S. driver's license, meaning she can no longer drive in the Netherlands. I don't know a single person who doesn't want to get out of these red states, if they can, Roney told The Independent. open image in gallery Trans rights supporters protest against S.B. 244 during a sit-in at a legislative committee hearing in Topeka, February 6, 2026. Republicans used a controversial procedure known as gut and go to insert new provisions into an existing bill, allowing it to be pushed through rapidly without the usual debate and scrutiny ( AP Photo/John Hanna ) Advocates of S.B. 244 have described it as returning biological reality and common sense to Kansas documents. "SB 244 restores sanity in Kansas, said Senate president Ty Masterson in a statement to The Independent. We swiftly overrode Laura Kellys radical veto that would have forced our mothers, sisters, wives, and daughters to share their bathrooms with biological men in government buildings. Defending the law in court on Friday, AG Kobach said that drivers licenses are government documents and that the government has the right to determine what information they contain. Sex is unchangeable, he argued, and thus should not change on documents either. The Independent has asked Kobachs office for comment. Jayme Johnson, a 40-year-old academic and musician in south-central Kansas who began transitioning in 2022, had long avoided changing her documents, partly because she feared it would make it easier for the government to target her in future. Now, that fear has been realized. "If you don't do anything with your documents, your name may never go into some system," she told The Independent. "It's like, which [piece of information] is gonna be the landmine that explodes on you? I didn't want to ever risk stepping on one." The situation has made Johnson feel "really alone and isolated", she said, making everyday tasks harder and solidifying her sense that she has no safe future in Kansas. Claven Snow, a 47-year-old trans father of two in Douglas County, Kansas, felt similarly. For him, so far, S.B. 244 has only been annoying, but it feels like a harbinger of more sinister things on the horizon. Right now, its just the gender marker on my ID, which I thought was settled, Snow told The Independent. But I have two school-age children and court papers verifying my paternity. That seems settled now, but are they going to try and invalidate those, too? This story was updated at 1:11 p.m. Pacific Time on Wednesday March 11, 2026 to add a statement from Kansas Senate president Ty Masterson. 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 spectacular lava fountain from Hawaii's Kilauea volcano soared to 300 meters (1,000 feet) on Tuesday, leading to temporary closures at a national park and a key highway due to falling glassy volcanic fragments and ash. The eruption on Hawaii's Big Island has captivated residents and visitors for over a year with its intermittent bursts of lava. Tuesday's fountaining marked the 43rd episode since the current activity began in December 2024. Live streams showed two bright-red lava fountains and smoke. The duration of the latest display remains uncertain, with previous episodes lasting from a few hours to several days. The molten rock is confined within Kilauea's summit crater inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, posing no threat to homes or buildings. Lava fountains shoot from Kilauea ( United States Geological Survey ) However, the lava fountains were creating trouble for neighboring communities and a highway where the volcanic fragments and ash, known as tephra, was falling. The tephra prompted temporary closures at the national park around the summit and a partial closure of Highway 11, an important route around the island, on either side of the park. Hawaii County officials also opened a shelter at a district gymnasium for residents and tourists impacted by the road closure or falling tephra. There were no people using the shelter soon after it opened, said Tom Callis, a county spokesperson. The National Weather Service issued an ashfall warning. Volcanic tephra can irritate eyes, skin and the respiratory system, according to county officials. Tephra also can clog and cause other problems with water catchment collection systems, which are common in some parts of the Big Island, officials said. Ash fell so heavily during a previous fountaining episode that some communities needed help from county civil defense workers to clean up ash that coated their homes, Callis said. Kilauea is one of the worlds most active volcanoes. 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 21-year-old college student has been missing for over two weeks after leaving a bar in Michigan during a blizzard - as cops admit weve searched everything we could possibly search. Northern Michigan University student Trenton Massey was last seen in downtown Marquette, near the shoreline of Lake Superior, around 3 a.m. on February 22. At the time he appeared disoriented and was having difficulty walking, the Marquette Police Department said. Camera footage captured Massey walking near Founders Landing Boardwalk, and out onto the ice from the pier before disappearing from camera view, police said. Police paused their search for Massey within a matter of days, saying on February 25 that their investigation was ongoing but the search wouldnt continue without any new evidence. Weve searched everything we could possibly search with all of the equipment that weve had available to us, Police Chief Ryan Grim told First Alert 4. And were at the point now, theres nothing left we can actually physically search. open image in gallery Trenton Massey, 21, has been missing for over two weeks after he left a Michigan bar during a blizzard ( Marquette Police Department ) Authorities said that Massey was walking home alone from the bar and may have been impaired and disoriented. It had been snowing for several days when Massey went missing. He was also not dressed appropriately for the cold, winter weather, as temperatures hit about 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Fellow Northern Michigan University students joined hundreds of volunteers in search of Massey, including Ryder Amesbury, who told First Alert 4 that he met Massey at the bar the night he went missing. Its scary, Amesbury said. It was an absolute blizzard that night. Like, I walked home, and I got lost walking home. So, its horrible to hear and obviously see, but its amazing to see how many people came out here to help search for him. Search teams scoured the land and ice surrounding Founders Landing Boardwalk, where Massey was last seen. A day after he was reported missing, police asked residents and local businesses to check their camera footage for signs of Massey. MPD is also requesting residents to make a check of their property, including vehicles and outbuildings, for signs of him, police said on February 23. Lt. Brian Kurin with the Marquette County Sheriffs Special Operations Division said crews were having difficulty determining if the 21-year-old may have fallen through the ice due to the constantly changing weather conditions. open image in gallery Police suspended their search for Massey several days after he was reported missing ( Marquette Police Department ) Holes are freezing up, new ones are opening up, so its hard to say what reliably couldve been where someone fell through or something like that, Kurin said. While police suspended their search for Massey after four days, they said volunteers were free to search on their own. The Independent has contacted the Marquette Police Department for updates on the case. The community has since come together in support of Masseys family, including the local Texas Roadhouse where he worked. The restaurant held a vigil for the missing college student on March 2. During the event Masseys family thanked the volunteers who were out in the cold searching for him, Upper Michigan Source reported. In the weeks since Massey went missing, locals have made Facebook pages to help with the search and to support his family. 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 St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department diverted $3 million out of a budget allocated for building repairs, including using $250,000 for Tasers, then complained of needing more money to repair their buildings, according to a new report. Department chiefs said Tuesday that more than two dozen police facilities were in need of repair and gave a tour to journalists, showing off severe water damage, broken appliances and decaying stone walls. Police Chief Robert Tracy and Board of Police Commissioners President Chris Saracino introduced plans to hire a contractor to calculate building repair costs. It's important for all of us to understand that facility maintenance is a real and measurable cost of operating a modern police department, Saracino said. SLMPD has had $16.4 million put in its budget to pay for internal support services, including equipment and facilities, according to KSDK. The outlet reports that back in January, the board voted unanimously to move just over $3 million out of the fund. This paid one million dollars to pay for officer overtime, $750,000 to worker compensation settlements and $650,000 to legal costs. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department spent $250,000 out of a budget allocated for building repairs to buy new Tasers, then complained of needing more money to repair their buildings, according to a new report ( Getty Images ) An extra $250,000 was spent to buy 320 new Tasers, financial documents showed. Nothing was put aside for building repairs. Properly maintained buildings help ensure officers can focus on their mission and also their main mission, protecting the public, Chief Tracy said Tuesday. Responsible funding helps us maintain these facilities proactively, rather than waiting until problems become more costly. The chiefs could not provide a specific number needed to fully cover the repairs, but proposed $25 million as a placeholder. We dont think, based upon what we are seeing right now, that that would suffice, but we will see, Saracino said, per KSDK. SLMPD has already proposed a $250 million budget for the 2027 fiscal year, an increase of almost $50 million, which has been criticized by other city authorities, including Mayor Cara Spencer. It will require cuts to city departments across the board, no doubt, Spencer said Tuesday. It wouldn't just impact our ability to address the most critical needs in our city buildings, it would require massive layoffs. The Independent has contacted the St Louis Police Metropolitan Department for comment on the issue. City worker turned farmer drives rural revival in S China's Guangzhou People's Daily Online) 13:26, March 11, 2026 Shen Yanfen, a former project manager in south China's Guangdong Province, has traded her office cubicle for the open fields of her hometown, building a new life in agriculture. Once a white-collar worker, Shen now drives tractors and other agricultural machinery, manages farmland and leads an agricultural machinery cooperative. In doing so, she has shattered stereotypes about gender, age and career paths for college graduates. Shen Yanfen, head of an agricultural machinery cooperative in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province. (Photo courtesy of Shen Yanfen) Born in 1991 in Shihu village, Zengcheng district, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, Shen is the eldest daughter in her family. After graduating from university, she took a job at a company in Shenzhen, Guangdong, where she was responsible for project management. In 2018, her father, a pioneer in local mechanized farming services, asked her to return home and take over his agricultural machinery cooperative. Having worked hard to build a career in Shenzhen, Shen was reluctant to return home. Her father then turned to her younger siblings, and they returned to their hometown at his urging. The following year, seeing her father worn down by exhaustion during the busy farming season, Shen reconsidered. Motivated by both filial duty and China's national push for rural revitalization, Shen decided to return home and apply her professional skills to agriculture. In 2020, Shen quit her job in Shenzhen and took over her father's cooperative. However, her new role quickly faced skepticism. Villagers doubted a young woman could operate agricultural machinery or help bring in a good harvest. Undeterred, she trained alongside her father, learning to operate agricultural machinery of all kinds. The effort paid off. After more than six months, Shen had mastered medium- and large-scale equipment and earned the trust of villagers as the fields she cultivated produced strong yields. Her reputation grew further as she and her sister delivered mechanized farming services to more farms. Villagers who were initially surprised to see two young women handling heavy machinery soon praised their skills. Later, Shen spearheaded the establishment of Guangzhou's first agricultural machinery cooperative union, providing mechanized farming services for more than 100,000 mu (about 6,667 hectares) of farmland annually. Shen Yanfen (right), head of an agricultural machinery cooperative in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, poses for a photo with her team members. (Photo courtesy of Shen Yanfen) Under Shen's leadership, her team revitalized vast tracts of idle farmland, helping villagers increase their income by more than 1 million yuan (about $144,700). During peak season, Shen lives and works at her cooperative. Her idea of relaxation is driving machinery in the fields, yet she remains energized and ambitious. "Every morning, I leap out of bed as soon as I wake up. What wakes me up is not an alarm, but my dream," Shen said. Shen frequently shares her work online and has gradually attracted widespread attention, inspiring many netizens to take up farming in rural areas. Some even joined her cooperative to be apprentices. A comment she posted under a video of herself learning to operate agricultural machinery garnered many likes: "Girls who drive tractors can be cool too." As a result of her contribution to rural revitalization, Shen was elected a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature. She has put forward multiple suggestions covering support for highly educated "new farmers," professional agricultural cooperatives, agricultural technology development and policy support for electricity supply to agricultural facilities. She hopes more "new farmers" will return to rural areas and put down roots. "People often say the world outside is full of poetry and distant horizons," Shen said. "Here in my hometown, there is poetry and distant horizons as well." (Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun) 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 Two people were killed as major storms whipped up tornadoes in parts of Illinois and Indiana Tuesday, with more bad weather on the way. Home and businesses were leveled as hail and strong winds made its way through the region Wednesday, authorities said. Please do not come here. Do not try to help right now, Newton County Sheriff Shannon Cothran said in a video update in front of what looked to be a destroyed home in the small northwestern Indiana community of Lake Village. The deaths in Lake Village were confirmed by Laurie Postma, a spokeswoman for the Lake Township Fire Department, at a news conference held by the sheriff, state police and local authorities Wednesday. Their names were not released. She said fewer than 10 people were hurt in Tuesday's storms, which also knocked down trees and power lines. open image in gallery The exact number of tornadoes that hit the states is pending until officials conduct damage surveys ( AP ) Multiple homes in the community were destroyed in an apparent tornado, and Indiana State Police Cpl. Eric Rot said people had been injured. He wasn't able to provide an exact number or their conditions. David Ferris, a paramedic in a neighboring county who lives in Lake Village, just south of the area that was hit, said he, his wife, and their dogs rode it out in our downstairs bathtub. They were unscathed, except for losing power. He went out to help with rescue efforts and helped people who suffered cuts, scrapes and bumps to the head. We had another house where a guy crawled out, Ferris told The Associated Press in an interview. He was having some trouble breathing because he was covered in house insulation. Ferris said the local Family Dollar store was destroyed, as well as a gas station across the street. He said multiple large trees were uprooted. Severe storms dumping rain and hail in parts of the Midwest were threatened to bring intense tornadoes, damaging winds and very large hail from the southern Plains to the southern Great Lakes, according to the National Weather Service. Parts of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio were under a tornado watch Wednesday morning. open image in gallery Homes destroyed after a tornado and thunder storms passed through the area overnight on Wednesday March 11, 2026 in Aroma Park, Ill. ( AP ) Several tornadoes formed across northeastern Illinois and northwestern Indiana, but the exact number wont be available until officials conduct damage surveys, said Andrew Lyons, a meteorologist with the weather service Storm Prediction Center. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said in a post on the social platform X that he'd been briefed on the storm and tornado damage. Keeping in our thoughts all Illinoisans impacted by the severe weather well be here to help them recover, he said. A tornado struck down near the Kankakee fairgrounds, about 57 miles (92 kilometers) south of Chicago, before traveling northeast into Aroma Park, where it caused extensive damage, according to the Kankakee County Sheriffs Office. No injuries have been reported. I want to remind area residents to check on their neighbors and loved ones but to avoid unnecessary travel, if at all possible, Kankakee County Sheriff Mike Downey said in a statement. In video shared on social media, the twister is seen ripping across a field of farmland near an airport while vehicles lined the road. More than 2 million Americans were at a moderate risk of severe weather in Illinois and Indiana. Nearly 22 million were at a slightly lesser risk in a zone that includes Chicago, Fort Worth, Texas, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 An Egyptian family of six is experiencing severe mistreatment inside a notorious ICE detention center, according to a newly released trove of documents, which includes drawings from the familys young children. In one drawing, a group of stick figures stands outside a school, with a caption that reads, I miss my bear. Another drawing shows the family looking skyward towards a flock of birds and reads, When we will go home? In a third image, a figure stands inside a giant hand, as an ID badge looms overhead with the words CoreCivic, a reference to the company that operates the detention center in Dilley, Texas. The documents come from the El Gamal family, who have been in federal custody since last summer, the longest of any family held in the center since it reopened last year under President Trump, according to their lawyer. Thats even though a longstanding federal settlement holds that parents and children generally shouldnt be held in facilities longer than 20 days. (The administration has sought to challenge the settlement.) open image in gallery The El Gamal family has been in immigration detention since June, alleging theyve faced severe mistreatment behind bars. Their lawyer submitted a trove of documents, including letters and drawings from the children, to Congress ( Courtesy of Eric Lee ) "The most powerful adults in the world are subjecting the El Gamal children to systematic abuse for nine months and counting, attorney Eric Lee, who represents the family, told The Independent in a statement. It is farcical that the United States calls itself a democracy when the federal government deliberately ruins childhoods and strips young people of their innocence. We urge people all over the world to demand the El Gamal family's immediate release." The Independent has contacted ICE and CoreCivic for comment. open image in gallery Under longstanding federal precedent, the government generally does not hold children and their families together for more than a few weeks. The El Gamals have been behind bars for months ( Courtesy of Eric Lee ) The El Gamal family mother Hayam El Gamal, and her five children, who range in age from 5 to 18 have been in custody since shortly after Hayam El Gamals husband, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, allegedly attacked a group of mostly Jewish activists in Boulder, Colorado, who were marching to support the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. The attack wounded at least 29 people, and an 82-year-old later died of her injuries. (Soliman has pleaded not guilty in state court.) The El Gamals have disavowed Soliman and say they were unaware of his alleged crimes, but they claim they are being punished for his actions all the same while behind bars. Inside the facility, the family says they have faced major threats to their physical and mental health. open image in gallery The family alleges their prolonged detention has caused one of the children to have recurring nightmares, while another has begun wetting himself ( Courtesy of Eric Lee ) This prolonged detention has and continues to destroy our lives. It is slowly killing us on the inside, the familys 16-year-old, listed in documents as O.S., wrote in a letter. Our mental health is at great risk. It is rapidly deteriorating with every day we spend here. Our lives are without purpose. We are just waiting for this nightmare to end. One of the familys 5-year-old twins has a frequent nightmare about being chased by someone who wants to hurt her, but she cant escape because there are gates and fences in her way. The family also alleges the food they have been served has contained mold and worms, and that doctors have brushed off their medical claims, including the 16-year-olds severe abdominal pain and a weird bump under mother Hayam El Gamals rib cage. She alleges medical staff merely gave her Ibuprofen and that she has been denied requests for a comprehensive scan, despite a doctors referral and a family history of cancer. I am still suffering and waiting, Hayam wrote in one document, part of a cache of documents that has been filed with the US Senate Committee on the Judiciary. open image in gallery The children have been in detention since their father, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, allegedly carried out an attack on Jewish activists in Boulder, Colorado, in 2025. The El Gamals have renounced Soliman and say they were not aware of or part of his alleged crimes ( Boulder Police Department ) The family came to the U.S. in August 2022 on a six-month tourist visa. They applied for asylum the following month, according to DHS. After the June attack on the activists, their first asylum request was denied, and a second application without Soliman was dismissed in December. The Dilley detention center gained notoriety earlier this year because of the case of Liam Conejo Ramos, a 5-year-old who was arrested during the Trump administrations immigration crackdown in Minneapolis. A photo of the boys arrest, which took place as he stood in the winter cold in a Spider-Man backpack, quickly went viral. His detention inspired protests, and a judge later ordered his release. open image in gallery The facility has been under scrutiny all year, after Liam Conejo Ramos , a 5-year-old taken into custody in Minneapolis, was held there ( Columbia Heights Public Schools ) More recently, the facility saw a spate of measles cases and implemented a quarantine. Under the Trump administration, the number of children in ICE detention has skyrocketed, increasing by more than six times since the president took office, according to an analysis by the Marshall Project. The administration, which has showered immigration agencies with new funding and pushed to speed up deportations, has faced persistent allegations of poor treatment at detention centers. Twenty-three people have died in ICE custody since October, putting this fiscal year on track to be the worst in more than two decades, an NPR analysis found. 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 Maria de Jesus Estrada Juarez showed up for a green card appointment in Sacramento, California, and was deported the next day. Estrada Juarez, who came to the United States when she was 15 years old, is among tens of thousands of immigrants with legal protections under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, an Obama-era program that has shielded them from removal from the country. The 42-year-old hotel worker and mother of a 22-year-old U.S. citizen is now stranded in Mexico, according to a federal lawsuit against Donald Trumps administration seeking her return. California is the only home I have ever truly known, Estrada Juarez said in a statement shared with The Independent. I built my life in Sacramento, raised my daughter there, and worked hard for years under DACA to support my family, she said. I followed the rules and showed up to my immigration appointment believing I was taking the next step toward stability. Instead, I was taken away from my daughter and forced out of the country overnight. I just want the chance to return home to my family and the life we built together. open image in gallery DACA recipient Maria de Jesus Estrada Juarez, pictured in a video briefing with Sen Alex Padillas office, says she was illegally deported after showing up for a green card interview ( Sen. Alex Padilla ) More than 200 DACA recipients were arrested between January and November last year, and at least 86 were deported, according to Homeland Security data provided to members of Congress, though the Trump administration has provided lawmakers with conflicting data. Estrada Juarez showed up for a scheduled green card interview at a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office on February 18 alongside her daughter. She was arrested after the interview, according to her complaint. Marias deportation was unlawful and violated basic principles of due process, according to her attorney Stacy Tolchin. She had a valid DACA status, she appeared for her immigration appointment as instructed, and she should never have been removed from the country, Tolchin added. Through this lawsuit, we are asking the court to order the government to correct this violation of the law and return Maria to the United States immediately. The complaint states that Estrada Juarez had previously received a document stating that she is barred from returning to the U.S. for 10 years because an immigration court judge had ordered her removal. But the lawsuit argues she has never received such an order and has never been in removal proceedings, let alone been seen before an immigration judge. The Department of Homeland Security argues the government ordered her removal in 1998 when she was still a child and she was removed from the United States shortly after. She illegally re-entered the U.S. a felony, according to a spokesperson for DHS. She was arrested and her final order re-instated. ICE removed her from the U.S. on February 19, 2026. open image in gallery Padilla, pictured with DACA recipients at a press conference in 2025, is among members of Congress demanding answers from Trumps DHS about the numbers of Dreamers the administration has arrested and deported despite protections against their removal ( AFP via Getty Images ) Her arrest and removal has outraged members of Congress who have repeatedly pressed Homeland Security officials and Secretary Kristi Noem for information about DACA recipients in government custody. Sen. Dick Durbin, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, cited Estrada Juarezs case last week during Noems testimony. The secretary said she was not aware of her removal and would look into it. News of DACA recipients being arrested and deported is deeply troubling, Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla of California said in a statement last month, after DHS officials confirmed the arrests and removals of dozens of DACA recipients. These arrests disrupt families, harm communities, and inflict unnecessary social, emotional, and economic costs, he said. DACA recipients go through strict background checks every time they renew this protection, and the Trump administration has not hesitated to arrest immigrants with no serious criminal convictions and falsely label them the worst of the worst. In statements to Congress, DHS has reported 270 DACA recipients were arrested and 174 were removed last year, though a separate review sent to lawmakers said 261 DACA recipients were arrested and 86 removed. The discrepancies between the two responses demonstrate gross incompetence or intentional misdirection, according to Democratic Reps. Delia C. Ramirez and Sylvia Garcia, who have called on DHS to provide a full accounting by March 13. We know that Noem and DHS have refused to abide by the protections that DACA provides to Dreamers. It is clear that DACA recipients are at great risk; we must have transparency, Ramirez said. Nearly 134,000 DACA recipients had obtained lawful permanent resident status as of March 31, 2024, according to the Congressional Research Service, citing the most recent available data. There were 533,280 active DACA recipients as of December 31, 2024. 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 former employee with the so-called Department of Government Efficiency allegedly claimed he tapped into two sensitive Social Security Administration databases and intended to share the information with his private employer, according to an anonymous whistleblower complaint. The complaint filed with Social Securitys internal watchdog and first reported by The Washington Post alleges that the U.S. DOGE Service staffer accessed two protected databases containing personal information, including Social Security numbers, for more than 500 million living and dead Americans. The employee allegedly told the whistleblower who filed the complaint that he intended to move the data from a thumb drive to his personal computer so that he could sanitize the data before taking it to his private employer. After leaving the agency, he allegedly told colleagues he retained God-level security access to the Social Securitys systems and told another coworker at the agency that he expected to receive a presidential pardon if his actions were considered illegal, according to the whistleblower. It is unclear when the alleged breach took place, or if any such breach was successful. open image in gallery A whistleblower complaint alleges a DOGE staffer at Social Security had unprecedented access to Americans sensitive data he allegedly intended to give to a private employer ( Middle East Images ) In a letter to members of congressional oversight committees obtained by The Independent, Social Securitys Office of Inspector General alerted lawmakers on March 6 to what it described as an anonymous complaint on matters relating to the potential misuse of SSA data by a former DOGE employee, among other allegations. The office is conducting an investigative review of these anonymous allegations, the letter states. These allegations describe one of the largest known data breaches in American history, perpetrated by Trump appointees for the explicit purpose of weaponizing Americans sensitive personal data for political gain, Sen. Ron Wyden, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, said in a statement to The Independent. There must be a full public accounting of this breach at Social Security, including justice for anyone who committed or enabled criminal theft of Americans data, he added. A spokesperson for the Government Accountability Office also confirmed that the office is reviewing DOGEs access to Social Security data, per the request of the House Ways and Means Committees top Democratic Rep. Richard Neal. The office declined to comment on the scope of that review as the investigation remains ongoing. Any subsequent report will be public. open image in gallery Musk, who once labeled Social Security a Ponzi scheme, is now longer enmeshed with his DOGE project, which is now baked into federal agencies under the direction of the White House ( Getty Images ) Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, is demanding a broader investigation into DOGE-related data leaks at the agency following the complaint, which he said demonstrates the Trump administrations callous disregard for the safety and security of Americans most sensitive information. Not only has an ex-DOGE bro been accused of running around with the social security information of every American on a flash drive, he also may have the ability to edit and manipulate data at the Social Security Administration at will, Garcia said in a statement shared with The Independent. This is dangerous and outrageous, and Oversight Committee Democrats will fight for transparency and accountability. Garcia has also requested a staff level briefing from the Social Security Administration no later than March 23 related to DOGEs access to Americans data, SSAs efforts to understand and make public the extent of this access, and any potential misuse, manipulation, or inappropriate sharing of that data, according to his letter to the agency. Former DOGE employees who are believed to have knowledge of any alleged possession of that data also have been asked to sit for interviews with the Oversight Committee Democrats to clarify the facts surrounding DOGE use of Americans sensitive data, according to Garcia. A spokesperson for Social Security said the allegations by a singular anonymous source have been strongly refuted by all named parties SSA, the former employee, and the company. The agency is focused on continuing our digital-first transformation to deliver better, faster service for every American, according to the spokesperson, which called The Washington Post a dying outlet desperate for clicks and eager to publish fake news to scare seniors. open image in gallery A previous whistleblower complaint alleged a DOGE staffer may have exposed Social Security information uploaded to a vulnerable cloud server, and the DOJ is investigating whether employees shared data with an activist group ( AFP via Getty Images ) The whistleblower complaint follows several alleged breaches in the wake of the formerly Elon Musk-led DOGE project inside Social Security, which the billionaire right-wing activist once labeled a Ponzi scheme. The U.S. DOGE Service which President Donald Trump repurposed from the governments in-house tech team U.S. Government Service is now baked into federal agencies with a task to root out waste, fraud, and abuse. Musks team reportedly exposed Social Security data belonging to more than 300 million Americans when his DOGE team uploaded a copy of agency data to a vulnerable cloud server, according to a separate whistleblower report filed last summer. That whistleblower disclosure from Charles Borges, the agencys now-former chief data officer, accused DOGE personnel of copying a live set of data without any independent security or oversight measures in place. And in January, the Department of Justice confirmed that two DOGE staffers at Social Security were secretly in touch with a right-wing advocacy group that was seeking to overturn election results. A court filing in one of several lawsuits against DOGEs efforts inside the federal government revealed that at least one DOGE staffer signed an agreement with the activist group that may have involved providing Americans Social Security information in an effort to match that data to state voter registrations. That employee signed a voter data agreement and delivered it to the unnamed group in March 2025. The advocacy groups stated aim was to find evidence of voter fraud and to overturn election results in certain states, according to the Justice Department. Its unclear whether the DOGE staffers neither of whom are identified in court filings actually shared data with the activist group, but emails suggest that DOGE Team members could have been asked to assist the advocacy group by accessing [Social Security] data to match to the voter rolls, according to the Justice Department. A wider intrusion into Americans data as alleged in the latest whistleblower report would mark an unprecedented breach of sensitive data. This massive, illegal and horrific breach of Americans most sensitive data has confirmed the very fears weve been warning about for over a year that the Trump administration allowing DOGE to infiltrate our government without oversight created fertile ground for abuse, and in this case of an exceptionally egregious kind, according to Lisa Gilbert, president of advocacy group Public Citizen, which has sued to block DOGEs access to federal agencies. Federal and state officials must ensure the misuse of this data ends immediately and that all private copies of Social Security data are destroyed, she said. Prosecutors should open a criminal investigation immediately and, if the evidence supports it, prosecute this case aggressively. 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 Rep. James Comer, chair of the House Oversight Committee, has claimed that the Department of Justice intervened to block a state investigation into Jeffrey Epsteins New Mexico ranch in 2019. The Kentucky Republican appeared on Jesse Watters Fox News show Tuesday, a day after a new search of the property was commenced, when he made the claim about the failings of the authorities to catch up with Epstein during President Donald Trumps first term, when then-attorney general Bill Barr was leading the DOJ. The federal government asked New Mexico to stop their investigation, I believe, back in 2019 of that ranch, said the congressman. So theres just so many questions about how the government failed the victims and how government failed in trying to prosecute Epstein sooner. I mean, this whole thing doesnt make sense. open image in gallery Kentucky Republican Rep. James Comer, chair of the House Oversight Committee, speaks to Jesse Watters on Fox News about the investigation of Jeffrey Epsteins former ranch in New Mexico on Tuesday March 10, 2026 ( Fox News ) Everyone has conspiracy theories on how Epstein was able to get away with it. Was it because he had powerful friends? Was it because he was an agent? We dont know, but were gonna find out and Im glad that theyre on the ground now in New Mexico searching that property. Responding to the revelation, Watters asked: Congressman, you said in 2019 the government told New Mexico authorities to stand down in investigating the ranch do you know what branch of the government? Comer replied: It was the Department of Justice, I believe. And I believe it perhaps was the Southern District of New York because they had taken over the investigation at that point. So, again these are questions that we have. We want to get the answers. The Independent has contacted Rep. Comer, the DOJ and the White House for further comment. State investigators began their new search of the 26,700 square foot hilltop mansion in Santa Fe County that was once owned by Epstein on Monday. open image in gallery Epsteins former ranch in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, where a new investigation has commenced in light of revelations contained in the DOJs files ( Reuters ) The ranch was acquired in 2023 by Don Huffines, a businessman and self-declared MAGA Trump Republican running to be Texas comptroller, who changed its name from the Zorro Ranch to the San Rafael Ranch. State Attorney General Raul Torrezs office said the search was being carried out with the cooperation of the new owners and that it had been commenced after New Mexico prosecutors concluded that revelations outlined in the previously sealed FBI files warrant further examination. The Santa Fe New Mexican reported Tuesday that Sandoval County Fire and Rescue personnel were helping to survey the site. Yesterday, California Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia gave an update on the ongoing Epstein scandal, saying that the DOJ had still only released half of its files pertaining to Epstein approximately 3.5 million of its 6 million total, by its own count. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has said that is all his department considers safe to release without compromising innocent people or interfering with ongoing investigations. open image in gallery California Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia accused President Donald Trumps administration of orchestrating a massive White House cover-up over Epstein Tuesday ( Getty ) We strongly believe that this continues to be a massive White House cover-up that goes all the way to the top of government, Garcia said at his press conference, calling on Attorney General Pam Bondi to release the files in their entirety. Bondi has been subpoenaed to appear before Comers committee to address the situation amid widespread happiness among the survivors of Epsteins abuse about instances of their names going unredacted in the released files, while those of some of the billionaires wealthy associates were kept concealed. Garcia also pointed to upcoming testimony from Epsteins personal lawyer Darren Indyke and accountant Richard Kahn as well as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who has denied wrongdoing over his past association with the disgraced financier, as evidence of progress in the case. Speaking to Lawrence ODonnell on MS NOW Monday, another committee Democrat, California Rep. Ro Khanna, pledged the fight for answers would continue. It continues because its personal, because these survivors have sat in my office, theyve sat in [Kentucky Republican Rep.] Thomas Massies office They were abused, they were raped, and they want justice, Khanna said. And the half of the files that are out proves to the country that what we were talking about was not a hoax, that some of the most powerful people were involved. And the worst stuff is still in these files, the names of some of these people. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The FBI reportedly warned California police departments in February that Iran could retaliate against the U.S., if it were to conduct strikes, by using drones aimed at the West Coast, according to an alert viewed by ABC News. The alert, distributed at the end of February, told law enforcement that the FBI had recently acquired information that as of early February 2026, Iran allegedly aspired to conduct a surprise attack using unmanned aerial vehicles from an unidentified vessel off the coast of the United States Homeland, specifically against unspecified targets in California, in the event that the U.S. conducted strikes against Iran. The FBI added it had no additional information on timing, method, target, or perpetrators of this alleged attack. Its unclear when exactly the alert was sent to police departments, but the U.S. began carrying out strikes on Iran February 28. The FBI and FBI Los Angeles field office declined to comment for this story. open image in gallery An alert, sent to California police departments in February, warned that Iran could retaliate against the US by conducting drone strikes on the West Coast ( Getty ) The Independent has asked the Pentagon for comment. California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a press conference Wednesday that the state was aware of potential drone strikes and had already relayed the information to local partners. As it relates to drone strikes, weve been aware of that information. Weve been working collaboratively through the [State Operations Center], Newsom said. Drone issues have been always top of mind, and weve assembled some work groups specifically around those concerns, the governor added. Oakland police officers told the San Fransico Chronicle that they had spoken with federal partners who informed us that there may be a heightened risk due to the conflict in the Middle East and that they are maintaining close contact with local, state and federal law enforcement. But a person familiar with the memo downplayed the credibility of the threat to the Los Angeles Times. An unnamed source told the outlet that the warning was based on intelligence received by the U.S. Coast Guard and that the warning was cautionary but did not have any indication that Iran was planning an attack. open image in gallery Trump told reporters Wednesday he was not concerned about a potentail attack on US soil ( AP ) Since the U.S. launched attacks on Iran, killing former Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran has retaliated with strikes against U.S. military bases in the Middle East, but not against the U.S. homeland. A threat assessment, conducted in February by the Office of Intelligence and Analysis at the Department of Homeland Security and obtained by Reuters, determined that Iran and its proxies probably pose a threat to attacks on the U.S., but said a large-scale attack was unlikely. When asked Wednesday if he was fearful of an attack on U.S. soil, President Donald Trump responded: No, Im not. The president has maintained that the attacks in Iran are meant to be a temporary military operation to destabilize the Iranian military and prevent it from attacking its neighboring countries. So far, Iran has retaliated against Israel, the United Arab Emrites, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon, Jordan and others. 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 Hackers linked to Iran have claimed responsibility for a cyberattack targeting U.S.-based medical equipment company Stryker, resulting in its products going offline across its global offices. Wednesday's attack left thousands of workers unable to access the company's systems, according to WOOD-TV. Handala, the Iranian-linked hacker group, took responsibility for the attack in a social media post. It called the attack a retaliation "for the brutal attack on the Minab school and in response to ongoing cyber assaults against the infrastructure of the Axis of Resistance." It continued, calling Stryker a "Zionist-rooted corporation" and "one of the key arms of the global Zionist lobby and a central ring in the 'New Epstein' chain." The hacker groups logo appeared on Stryker company log-in pages following the attack, according to the Wall Street Journal. Stryker purchased Israeli medical technology company OrthoSpace in 2019. The Independent has requested comment from Stryker. open image in gallery An Iranian-linked hacker group, Handala, has taken credit for a cyberattack that caused severe service disruption to Stryker, a U.S.-based medical equipment company, on March 11, 2026 ( Getty Images ) The Minab school attack references the destruction of a school in Iran during the opening U.S. and Israeli attack in Tehran. At least 175 people, most of them children, were killed in the attack. A U.S. military investigation has determined that President Donald Trump's attack caused the destruction, though Trump himself has refused to accept responsibility for the deaths. "In this operation, over 200,000 systems, servers, and mobile devices have been wiped and 50 terabytes of critical data have been extracted," the group wrote. Stryker is a medical and surgical equipment maker based in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It reported $25 billion in global sales in 2025. Stryker addressed the cyberattack in a statement posted to its website. "Stryker is experiencing a global network disruption to our Microsoft environment as a result of a cyber attack. We have no indication of ransomware or malware and believe the incident is contained. Our teams are working rapidly to understand the impact of the attack on our systems," the company said. "Stryker has business continuity measures in place to continue to support our customers and partners. We are committed to transparency and will keep stakeholders informed as we know more." A healthcare professional, speaking on condition of anonymity, told KrebsonSecurity that virtually all U.S. hospitals that perform surgeries use some products from Stryker. This is a real-world supply chain attack, the source said. Pretty much every hospital in the U.S. that performs surgeries uses their supplies. John Riggi, the national advisor for the American Hospital Association, told the outlet that the AHA was not aware of any supply-chain disruptions stemming from the attack. open image in gallery Stryker CEO Kevin Lobo during a groundbreaking ceremony in Michgian. Strykers global offices experienced service disruptions on March 11, 2026, after a cyberattack from Iranian-linked hacker group Handala ( Kalamazoo Gazette ) As of this time, we are not aware of any direct impacts or disruptions to U.S. hospitals as a result of this attack," he said. "That may change as hospitals evaluate services, technology and supply chain related to Stryker and if the duration of the attack extends. Handala said in its statement that it released all of the data it stole to the public and threatened further cyberattacks. All the acquired data is now in the hands of the free people of the world, ready to be used for the true advancement of humanity and the exposure of injustice and corruption, Handala said in its statement. "The era of the 'Epstein' rings and the demons of our time is over. 'Nimrod of this era,' even if you close your windows, we will build our nests everywhere. Get ready for the mosquito..." Nimrod is a Biblical figure, a Mesopotamian tyrant who led a rebellion against God, with some mythology attributing the construction of the Tower of Babel to the leader. Following the attack, Stryker employees were reportedly told not to log on to their computers or to connect to any of the company's mobile apps. We are experiencing a severe, global disruption impacting all Stryker laptops and systems that connect to our network, a text sent to Stryker employees reportedly said, according to WOOD-TV. The shutdown came just a day after FBI Director Kash Patel saidhis agency was working "24/7" to stay ahead of potential cyber attacks. FBI is working 24/7 to stay ahead of the threat and implement a sweeping Cyber strategy pursuant to President Trumps Cyber Strategy for America, Patel wrote in a social media post on Tuesday. 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 Iran has trolled President Donald Trump by releasing an AI-generated propaganda video that mocks the Jeffrey Epstein files scandal that has dogged his administration. The Islamic regime shared the two-minute video this week depicting Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as Lego figurines amid the joint U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign on Iran. It comes as some of Trumps fiercest critics have accused the president of risking world war to distract from the Epstein files fiasco. In the bizarre video, posted by Irans Tasnim News Agency, Trump and Netanyahu stood beside a Lego Satan and looked over a folder titled: Jeffrey Epstein File. An Epstein-figure in an orange prison jumpsuit was pictured in the file next to a grey-haired Lego character. open image in gallery Iran has trolled President Donald Trump by releasing an AI-generated propaganda video that mocks the Jeffrey Epstein files scandal that has dogged his administration ( Iran state media ) The Lego figure of Netanyahu then laughed over Trumps shoulder, whose expression changed to one of anger after looking at the file. Incensed by what he had seen in the Epstein files the Trump figure then pushed a big red button to launch a U.S. missile. In the video, the U.S. missile struck a girls school, which appeared to be a reference to the elementary school in Minab, southern Iran, where 175 schoolgirls and staff were killed on the first day of the war. That incident remains under investigation on the source of the attack. The clip cut to a classroom before fading to black, and showed rubble from the explosion. A Lego Iranian soldier was seen holding a childs pink backpack among the ruins. The propaganda video heavily implies that the U.S. was responsible for the deadly missile strike. At a press conference Tuesday, Trump refused to take blame for a Tomahawk missile, which investigators believe was likely fired by U.S. forces that struck the school. Video obtained by The New York Times and other outlets shows the apparently American strike hitting a Revolutionary Guard Corps naval base and the school building next to it. The video goes on to depict the Iranians taking revenge for the strike by launching attacks in Tel Aviv, on British forces in Cyprus and targeting U.S. vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. open image in gallery In the bizarre video, posted by Irans Tasnim News Agency, Trump and Netanyahu stood beside a Lego Satan and looked over a folder titled: Jeffrey Epstein File ( Tasnim News Agency ) open image in gallery In the video, the U.S. missile struck a girls school, which appeared to be a reference to the school in Minab, southern Iran, where 175 schoolgirls and staff were killed ( Tasnim News Agency ) The Independent has contacted Lego for comment. Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Republican Rep. Thomas Massie were among those accusing the president of launching a fresh conflict in the Middle East to distract from Epstein. He impulsively went in on Venezuela. He impulsively went in on Iran. There was no exit and no endgame for either of these situations. It led to increased global instability everywhere he goes, Ocasio-Cortez told MeidasTouch last week. And every time hes done that, it has been consistent with a spike or a revelation in what is happening with the Epstein files. I dont think that that coincidence is something to dismiss off the cuff. I think that he feels existentially tied to it. Massie, the Kentucky congressman who spearheaded legislation to release the documents, also said that bombing Iran wont make the Epstein files go away. Saturday Night Live also took a swipe at Trump, with James Austin Johnson parodying the presidents Truth Social video in which he first announced Operation Epic Fury. War, what is it good for? Distracting from the Epstein files! Johnson said. The saga refuses to calm the public. Most recently, a new statue depicting Trump and the late sex offender recreating a scene from The Titanic appeared Tuesday on D.C.s National Mall near the U.S. Capitol. The large sculpture titled King of the World is a nod to the famous moment from the 1997 blockbuster The Titanic, when the films protagonists stand together at the prow of the doomed ship. The tragic love story between Jack and Rose was built on luxurious travel, raucous parties and secret nude sketches, a plaque at the base of the installation states. This monument honors the bond between Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein. 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 Pentagon probe has found that outdated U.S. targeting data caused an American Tomahawk missile to destroy an Iranian elementary school in the opening hours of President Donald Trumps war against Iran. The findings stand in stark contrast to Trumps efforts to blame Tehran, or somebody else, for the deadly attack. Citing U.S. officials familiar with the preliminary findings, the New York Times reported Wednesday that the February 28 hit on the Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school stemmed from the use of old Defense Intelligence Agency data showing the school building to be part of an adjacent Iranian military base. The Times said the inaccurate data was provided by the DIA to U.S. Central Command, which created a targeting package for the missile strike that included the school building. Asked about the report while on his way to Ohio Wednesday, Trump told reporters outside the White House: I dont know about it. According to Iranian officials, the Tomahawk hit killed more than 175 people, with the vast majority of the dead being children. President Donald Trump attempted to blame Iran for the strike by a U.S.-made Tomahawk missile ( ISNA ) Evidence from data analysts reviewing satellite imagery, video footage and social media, appears to show the school was hit by a precision strike, and may have been hit more than once. Maps from the Department of Defense also appear to show two Iranian air defense targets surrounding the schools location, which is within what the Pentagon describes as a U.S./Israeli strikes zone. Outside military analysts have also suggested that the Pentagons AI-driven targeting or human error that failed to check whether target maps were up to date may have played a role in the strikes. The Pentagons preliminary finding that the U.S. is to blame for the strike is unsurprising considering no other country involved in the war fields Tomahawk missiles, but it comes just days after Trump attempted to deflect blame for the attack by suggesting that Iranian forces which do not possess Tomahawks had used the cruise missiles to hit the school. During a press conference on Monday, Trump claimed he hadnt seen any evidence that the U.S. was responsible and falsely claimed Iran has some Tomahawks even though the cruise missiles are operated exclusively by the U.S. and a few key allies, such as the U.K. Whether it's Iran or somebody else ... a Tomahawk, is very generic. It's sold to other countries, but that's being investigated right now, he said. When pressed further on why hed make such a claim when even Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had refused to go that far, Trump replied: Because I just don't know enough about it. I think it's something that I was told is under investigation, but Tomahawks are used by others. As you know, numerous other nations have Tomahawks. They buy them from us. But I will certainly, whatever the report, I'm willing to live with that report, he said. When initially asked about the strike last week, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that the U.S. does not target civilians and suggested that reports of the death toll were propaganda that journalists had fallen for. Hegseth, who has boasted of ensuring that U.S. forces under his command do not abide by stupid rules of engagement, acknowledged the existence of an investigation last Wednesday, days after the missile strike. The all-girls school at the center of the investigation is located in the city of Minab, roughly 600 miles from Tehran and near the Strait of Hormuz. According to satellite images, it is located adjacent to an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps base. Iranian authorities reported initial strikes in the area at roughly 10:45 a.m., with reports emerging from social media at 11:30 a.m. local time on February 28, which is the beginning of the Iranian workweek, when teachers and students would have been inside the school. Footage reviewed by BBC Verify showed a man filming the area as he rushes into the schools courtyard. Four plumes of black smoke can be seen from inside the courtyard. The smoke appears to emerge from the location of nearby strikes, including the IRGC compound. Satellite imagery taken in the aftermath of the attack appeared to show that multiple precision strikes hit at least six IRGC buildings and the school itself. Four buildings inside a nearby naval base were completely destroyed, and two other buildings showed impact points at the center of their roofs, according to an analysis from The New York Times. After news of the Pentagons preliminary findings emerged Wednesday, a statement from U.S. Central Command warned Iranian civilians to stay away from ports used by the Iranian navy. The CENTCOM statement said the Iranian government was using civilian port facilities to conduct military operations that threaten international shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. This dangerous action risks the lives of innocent people. Civilian ports used for military purposes lose protected status and become legitimate military targets under international law, the statement said. Alex Woodward contributed reporting from New York 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 foreign hacker compromised FBI files that were part of the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein during a break-in at the bureaus New York Field Office three years ago, according to reports. The details of who accessed a server at the FBIs New York Field Office, including the allegation that a foreign hacker was involved, are being reported for the first time. In a statement, the FBI confirmed a "cyber incident" but insisted it was "an isolated one." "The FBI restricted access to the malicious actor and rectified the network, the agency told Reuters. The investigation remains ongoing, so we do not have further comments to provide at this time." The intrusion appeared to have been carried out by a cybercriminal rather than a foreign government, Reuters reported, citing a source familiar with the matter and recently published Justice Department documents. Further investigation turned up traces of unusual activity on the server, the document said, adding that the activity included combing through certain files pertaining to the Epstein investigation ( House Oversight Democrats ) But the incident underscores the files' potential intelligence value, one academic said. The legally mandated publication of U.S. Justice Department documents has exposed the dead financier's ties to prominent people in politics, finance, academia and business, triggering investigations in numerous countries around the world. Who wouldnt be going after the Epstein files if youre the Russians or somebody interested in kompromat? said Jon Lindsay, who researches the role of emerging technology in global security at the Georgia Institute of Technology. If foreign intelligence agencies are not thinking seriously about the Epstein files as a target, then I would be shocked. The breach was reported contemporaneously by CNN and Reuters on February 17; the connection to Epstein materials was made by the French magazine Marianne. Epstein, a longtime associate of President Donald Trump, pleaded guilty in 2008 to prostitution charges, including soliciting an underage girl. He was found hanged in his jail cell in 2019, in what was ruled a suicide, after being arrested again on federal charges of sex trafficking of minors. FEBRUARY 2023 BREAK-IN The hack occurred after a server at the Child Exploitation Forensic Lab in the FBIs New York Field Office was inadvertently left vulnerable by Special Agent Aaron Spivack, who was trying to navigate the bureaus complex procedures for handling digital evidence, according to the source and the documents. A timeline written by Spivack and included in the large cache of Epstein documents released earlier this year said the break-in happened on February 12, 2023. It was discovered the following day when Spivack turned on his computer and discovered a text file warning him that his network had been compromised, according to that document. Further investigation turned up traces of unusual activity on the server, the document said, adding that the activity "included combing through certain files pertaining to the Epstein investigation. The timeline does not say which specific files were accessed, whether the hacker downloaded the data, or who the hacker was. Reuters could not establish what, if any, overlap the affected data had with the Epstein documents published earlier this year or the files that remain under wraps. Spivack, whose name appears elsewhere in the documents in connection with the Epstein investigation, did not return repeated messages seeking comment. Reuters was unable to reach the man identified in the documents as Spivacks lawyer, Richard J. Roberson, Jr. Seven FBI agents identified in the documents as being involved in the investigation into the incident did not return messages. HACKER, FBI CHATTED BY VIDEO In his statement to FBI investigators examining whether he was responsible for the breach, Spivack said he was being made "a scapegoat for the intrusion" and that conflicting bureau policies and faulty guidance around information technology were to blame. Reuters could not establish the result of the bureau's internal investigation. The person familiar with the breach said the intrusion was carried out by a foreign hacker who did not appear to realize they had penetrated a law enforcement server. The hacker expressed disgust at the presence of child abuse images on the device and left a message threatening to turn its owner over to the FBI, the person said. The source said bureau officials defused the situation by convincing the hacker that they actually were the FBI, in part by having the hacker join a video chat where they flashed their law enforcement credentials in front of a web camera. Reuters could not determine - and the source said they did not know - who the hacker was, what country they were operating from, what they did with the material accessed, or whether any effort was made to identify or punish them for breaking into the FBIs server. Many of the Justice Department's documents have been heavily redacted and others have been kept secret altogether despite a law mandating their full release last year. The Trump administration says it is withholding material that could compromise victims identities or jeopardize ongoing investigations. 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 Jeffrey Epsteins former accountant was grilled by House lawmakers Wednesday as they dug into the disgraced financiers sprawling financial portfolio. Richard Kahn, who worked closely with Epstein for years and now serves as executor of his estate, appeared for a closed-door deposition on Capitol Hill. He told lawmakers that he had not personally seen evidence of Epstein's sexual abuse, but provided a fuller picture of how Epstein acquired his wealth. The wealthy financier made hundreds of millions of dollars over two decades during which he struck up friendships with some of the world's most powerful men. Kahn was under the impression that Epstein made his money as a tax advisor and a financial planner, said Rep. James Comer, the Republican chair of the House Oversight Committee. Lawmakers argued that a fuller picture of Epstein's finances could help the public understand how for years he was able to get away with trafficking and sexually abusing underage girls. Richard Kahn worked closely with Epstein for years and now serves as an executor of his estate ( AP ) Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking ring would not have been possible without Richard Kahn, who managed Epstein's money for years, authorized payments, including payments to victims and survivors, said Rep. James Walkinshaw, D-Va., who added that Kahn told them he was unable to recall details of some of the transactions and communications that he was asked about. Kahn has said that he was unaware of Epstein's sexual abuse and had not seen any of his victims. Comer, R-Ky., also said that lawmakers confirmed during the deposition that Epstein received significant amounts of money from former retail shopping chain executive Les Wexner, hedge fund manager Glenn Dubin, tech entrepreneur Steven Sinofsky, investor Leon Black and the Rothschilds, a wealthy banking family. None of those people have been accused of wrongdoing in their relationships with Epstein, but Democrats on the committee argued that anyone with ties to the wealthy financier should be scrutinized. Wexner was deposed by the committee last month, and Comer has also called on Black, among several others, to appear for transcribed interviews. Kahn also told lawmakers that Epstein had financial ties to Ehud Barak, who was the prime minister of Israel from 1999 to 2001, according to Democratic Rep. Suhas Subramanyam. Barak has not been accused of wrongdoing and has said he regrets his friendship with Epstein. Comer also said Wednesday that the committee has reviewed over 40,000 documents that it subpoenaed from JPMorgan Chase and Deutsche Bank. Epstein was connected to at least 64 business entities, according to Comer. Republican President Donald Trump has strongly denied any wrongdoing in his own ties to Epstein, and Comer said that Kahn had never seen any financial transactions between Epstein and Trump. Comer said that Kahn is the latest witness to testify that they had never seen Trump doing anything wrong with Epstein. The investigation's about getting the truth to the American people, trying to figure out how the government failed, answer questions we all have, Comer 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 Users on Kalshi, a popular prediction market site, have chosen a new favorite to win the 2028 presidential election. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is now the odds favorite to win the 2028 presidency, Kalshi announced Wednesday morning via X. The post showed Rubio leading at 19 percent, with Vice President JD Vance and California Governor Gavin Newsom both at 18 percent. Polymarket, another prediction market platform, also revealed Tuesday morning that Rubios odds on the site hit an all-time high, though he remained several points behind Vance. Prediction market platforms allow users to bet on the outcome of events, and theyre growing in popularity. A January report from The Washington Post found that more than $200 million was staked on political or government events through Kalshi and Polymarket. Even though the election is more than two years away, questions are mounting about who could run to replace President Donald Trump. open image in gallery The prediction market platform Kalshi announced Secretary of State Marco Rubio is now 'the odds favorite to win the 2028 presidency' ( Getty Images ) While there appears to be growing speculation about Rubios ambitions, the secretary of state has repeatedly expressed his support for Vance, who is widely seen as the front-runner for the Republican nomination should he choose to run. If JD Vance runs for president, hes going to be our nominee, and Ill be one of the first people to support him, Rubio said in a Vanity Fair interview published late last year. When asked about the 2028 election last summer, Rubio said Vance would make a great nominee. I think hes doing a great job as vice president. Hes a close friend, and I hope he intends to do it. I know its kind of early, he told Fox News Lara Trump. But being in the role that Im in here as the secretary of state, I really dont play in politics. open image in gallery President Donald Trump has been pitting Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio against each other as the 2028 presidential election approaches, according to a new report ( Getty ) Theres actually rules against me being involved in domestic politics, and I want to do this job as long as the president allows me to do it and stay in that job, which would keep me here all the way through January of 2028, he added. Despite the secretary of states past comments, Trump has started pitting Vance and Rubio against each other as the election approaches, the Wall Street Journal reports. At a recent event, Trump even asked a room of donors about the two men and the applause for Rubio was louder, attendees told the outlet. Still, Trump reportedly considers comparing Vance and Rubio to be a game, and doesnt view it as picking a successor yet. Hes also expressed a desire for Vance and Rubio to run on the same ticket, the Journals sources said. Trump himself has repeatedly teased running again himself for what would be an unconstitutional third term. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The Department of Homeland Securitys internal watchdog has been butting heads with Kristi Noems agency for weeks, accusing the secretary of systematically obstructing its work and making egregious refusals to cooperate with criminal investigations. Homeland Securitys Office of Inspector General has also been looking into the contracting process behind Noems controversial $220 million ad spots that prominently featured the secretary herself a campaign that has drawn fierce bipartisan scrutiny and fueled President Donald Trumps decision to remove her from his cabinet. The office has been investigating the ad campaign including how three businesses with close ties to Noem won lucrative no-bid contracts to produce it for several months, according to RealClearPolitics. Last year, DHS awarded $77 million to a Louisiana-based firm operated by a former colleague of Noems top adviser Corey Lewandowski, and another $143 million to a little-known company called Safe America Media, which then subcontracted with the Strategy Group, a firm that has worked with Noem over several years. The Strategy Groups CEO Ben Yoho is married to now-former DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin. open image in gallery The Office of Inspector General at the Department of Homeland Security is reportedly investigating the contract process behind the agencys $220 million ad campaign ( DHS/Tia Dufour ) A spokesperson for the Office of Inspector General told The Independent that the office does not publicly confirm or deny the existence of any particular investigation. During her testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Republican Senator John Kennedy said it was hard for him to believe that those kinds of deals would have been approved by Trump or the White House Office of Management and Budget. It troubles me, he said. A fifth to a quarter of a billion dollars in taxpayer money, when we're scratching for every penny, and were fighting over recision packages I just cant agree with it. Noem said the ads were effective. They were effective in your name recognition, Kennedy shot back. In a statement following the congressional hearings, the Strategy Group said it received only a small fraction of the millions DHS spent on the contracts. Safe America paid us $226,137.17 total for [five] film shoots, 45 produced video advertisements and [six] produced radio advertisements, according to the firm. In a letter sent to members of Congress last month and seen by The Independent, DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari outlined nearly a dozen instances in which Homeland Security has systematically obstructed the offices work over the last year, including restricting access to information related to immigration arrests and detentions. Does anybody have any idea how bad it has to be for the OIG in this agency to come out and do this publicly? a fired-up Republican Sen. Thom Tillis asked Noem during the Senate hearing. That is stonewalling, he said. Thats a failure of leadership. And that is why Ive called for your resignation. open image in gallery Donald Trump is also reportedly asking aides about Corey Lewandowskis role at DHS after Kristi Noem was grilled about his influence at the agency ( REUTERS ) In a letter to Cuffari in January, Homeland Securitys general counsel James Percival claimed the inspector general had refused to answer basic questions about what he wanted from DHS materials. Percival also asked Cuffari about the scope of those document requests and wanted a list of all ongoing investigations, according to members of Congress. In a letter to Noem last month, Sen. Tammy Duckworth said tacit threats from the agency may have already succeeded in weakening the watchdogs independence, as evidenced by what she called an unusual lack of activity and engagement after federal officers fatally shot two people in Minnesota in January. On its website, the inspector general says it is performing an audit of grants and contracts awarded by any means other than full and open competition during fiscal year 2025, which could potentially include information about the no-bid contracts behind Noems ad campaign. Trump, meanwhile, has reportedly grown suspicious about Lewandowskis role in the contract process at Homeland Security altogether, after the subject repeatedly came up during last weeks congressional oversight hearings before the presidents announcement that Noem was being removed from office. The president said he wasnt thrilled by Noems testimony, in which she claimed that the president had signed off on her $220 million ad campaign. I didnt know anything about that, Trump told Reuters moments before he announced Noems removal. 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 Outgoing Homeland Security Secretary Kristy Noem's top aide Corey Lewandowski reportedly told colleagues he could "do whatever the f***" he wanted, because Donald Trump would pardon him. Lewandowski, who is also expected to leave the DHS later this month after Trump fired Noem from the job last week, made such remarks "on multiple occasions", according to a report in the New York Post, based on interviews with people who have worked with him. Im not worried. I do whatever the f*** I want. DJT will pardon me, Lewandowski said last year, according to the Post . It is unclear why Lewandowski, who previously worked as Trump's campaign manager for the 2016 election, should have believed he may require a presidential pardon, but the same sources suggested he made the remarks as an all-encompassing response indicating he believed he would be legally shielded from accountability for a "range of alleged professional and personal misconduct." The Post quoted one source as saying that Lewandowski was telling people he was going to get [a] pardon so he didnt have to worry. open image in gallery Lewandowski is expected to follow Noem out the door at DHS after Trump fired her as Homeland Security Secretary last week ( Reuters ) However, Lewandowski told the newspaper he never said that. "Never asked for a pardon and have no reason to receive one, he said. Lewandowski is said to have exercised a high degree of control over some elements of Noem's political operation, approving contracts, reportedly firing staff abruptly. Since Noem's firing last week, Trump has sought to establish whether Lewandowski personally profited from a $220 million federal advertising campaign featuring Noem, according to a report by NBC. Furthermore, the report states that behind the scenes, the president "has grown suspicious about Lewandowskis role in doling out government contracts, according to the three people familiar with his conversations". Both Lewandowski and Noem have denied any improper relationship and reject allegations of wrongdoing tied to their time at DHS. It has long been rumored that Noem and Lewandowski, who are both married to other people, have engaged in an affair. Last month, the Wall Street Journal reported that the pair had done little to hide their relationship inside the agency. They have both repeatedly denied engaging in an affair, an allegation which Noem has called a disgusting lie. In a statement to the Journal, a DHS spokesperson said the agency doesnt waste time with salacious, baseless gossip. open image in gallery Noem takes part in a sound check at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Wisconsin as Lewandowski looks on ( AFP/Getty ) When asked at a House Judiciary Committee hearing if she ever had sexual relations with Lewandowski, Noem accused lawmakers of spreading tabloid garbage. Mr. Chairman, I am shocked we are going down and peddling tabloid garbage in this committee today, she said last Wednesday, which was also attended by her husband Bryon Noem. However, according to the Wall Street Journal, "officials have said they do little to hide their relationship inside the department. It went on: "The pair have lately been using a luxury 737 MAX jet, with a private cabin in back, for their travel around the country." Noem, a key figure in the Trump campaign's aggressive immigration crackdown, came under intense scrutiny after federal immigration agents killed two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis in January. At a House Judiciary Committee hearing last week, she refused to apologize for labeling Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, and Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse, who were both killed by federal agents in Minnesota, domestic terrorists. Noem is to be replaced at the DHS by Markwayne Mullin, a first-term senator from Oklahoma. Mullin, who serves on the Armed Services, Indian Affairs, Appropriations, and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committees, has reportedly won the backing of Republican senators, while Democrats have cautioned that just because Noem has gone, it doesn't mean the Trump administration's approach to immigration matters will have softened. Noem will now shift to a new role focused on combating drug trafficking in the Western Hemisphere, a move presented as a reassignment rather than an exile. The Independent has contacted the Department for Homeland Security for comment. Trump has pardoned a number of high profile criminals since returning to office last year, including hundreds of his supporters who took part in the January 6 riot in 2021, businessmen including Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, and the former president of Honduras Juan Orlando Hernandez. Last month White House insiders were reported to have called Trumps process for issuing pardons chaos. 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 Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseths Pentagon apparently isnt feeling the same affordability struggles as many average Americans, as he approved spending more than $93 billion in September, including on luxury food items and iPads. A new analysis published by government watchdog Open the Books found that in September the end of the 2025 fiscal year Hegseth reportedly burned through cash, including spending $9 million on crab and lobster dinners. According to Military.com, an increase in military officials eating pricey meals has traditionally been viewed as a sign that something may be brewing such as President Donald Trumps war in Iran though it appears Hegseth has been dining well at the Pentagon since at least last spring. The spending review found that in the month of September alone, the Defense Department spent $6.9 million in total on lobster tail and $2 million on Alaskan king crab, according to the government watchdog. In 2025, the department also spent more than $7.4 million on lobster tail across the months of March, May, June and October. The decadent seafood wasn't the only expensive sustenance purchased at the Pentagon. Hegseth also spent approximately $15.1 million on ribeye steak in September, $124,000 for new ice cream machines, and $139,224 on doughnut orders. Due to the way federal funding works, there is pressure on department heads to end their fiscal years without a surplus of funds. If they do, it raises questions in Congress as to whether or not the agency or department needs a reduction in its annual budget. That said, some of the purchases are lavish. In September, Hegseth spent nearly $100,000 on a Steinway & Sons grand piano to outfit the home of the Air Force chief of staff. He also spent $5.3 million on Apple devices, including brand-new iPads, according to the report. open image in gallery Shelling out: Hegseth has racked up a hefty bill on lobster tails and crab legs ( AFP/Getty ) The Pentagon paid $225.6 million for furniture, including $12,540 for fruit basket stands and more than $60,000 for recliners from high-end furniture maker Herman Miller. The agency spent more money on furniture in 2025 than it has since 2014. To be fair to Hegseth, the military has been spending enormous amounts of money on furniture for decades. According to the analysis, the Defense Department has spent an average of $257.6 million on furniture every September since 2008, marking a 564 percent increase above its typical furniture spending throughout the year. And Hegseth isnt actually the worst offender; former President Barack Obama routinely spent between $300-$400 million on furniture in September during his years in office, according to the report. Spending on furniture decreased under President Joe Biden, though it's worth noting his first two years saw many federal employees working from home due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Pentagon's most expensive spending spree during September was on grants and contracts. In that month alone, the Defense Department spent more than $90 billion on grants and contracts. In the last five working days of September alone, the report says the department spent $50.1 billion on grants and contracts, more than the annual defence budgets of countries such as Israel and Italy. open image in gallery The Department of Defense spent more than $90 billion on grants and contracts in September 2025 ( AFP/Getty ) Under Secretary Hegseth, the Pentagon has consistently said its mission is to refocus on warfighting and lethality, Open the Books CEO John Hart said in the analysis. Last year, we highlighted the problem of wasteful use-it-or-lose-it year-end spending. We noted that this reform is fully within the secretarys control and is a historic opportunity to make good on that promise. California Governor Gavin Newsom drew attention to the Pentagon's spending in a social media post featuring an AI-generated image of Hegseth kicking back in a posh recliner surrounded by a grand piano, numerous iPads, and plates filled with lobster tail and steak. HEGSETH BLOWING $93 BILLION OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS IN 1 MONTH !! the post said. Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury, a New Mexico Democrat, said she planned to launch an investigation into Hegseths spending. In addition to billions of taxpayer dollars being burned in this war in Iran, reports are showing that Sec. Pete Hegseth blew $93 billion in federal DOD funding at the end of last year, she wrote on social media before listing his various expenditures. You better believe well be investigating. Democratic Congressman Chuck Schumer called Hegseth a grifter on social media. Hegseth spent $93 billion in one month roughly the cost of extending the ACA tax credits for THREE YEARS. But instead of lowering Americans healthcare costs, Hegseth used millions of taxpayer dollars on fruit baskets, Herman Miller recliners, ice cream machines, Alaskan King Crabs, and a Steinway & Sons grand piano, he wrote. A true grifter in every sense of the word. open image in gallery Members of the US Air Force prepare munitions at RAF Fairford in the UK ( AFP/Getty ) The Independent has requested comment from the Department of Defense. In February 2025, Hegseth said he welcomed a Department of Government Efficiency review of defense spending to help him find ways to reduce waste. We need to know when we spend dollars, we need to know where theyre going and why that simple accounting, and that has not existed at the Defense Department, Hegseth told Fox News at the time. Were going to fix that. The Pentagon's spending spree came just weeks before millions of Americans lost access to their SNAP food benefits, leaving the states to fill in the gaps. Now, six months later, Americans are learning the astronomical cost of Trump and Hegseth's war in Iran. The U.S. military has used an estimated $5.6 billion worth of munitions during the opening two days of the war with Iran, according to government officials who spoke to The Washington Post. Trump has insisted that the war in Iran which has already killed seven U.S. service members and injured around 140 others will be over quickly, but has provided no timeline or plan of action indicating that the U.S. is preparing to withdraw from the conflict. 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 Attorney General Pam Bondi has reportedly been moved to secure housing on a Washington, D.C. area military base after she received threats from drug cartels and those angry over her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, according to a new report. Sometime in the past month, Bondi was moved out of an apartment in Washington, D.C. after federal law enforcement officials flagged the threats against her, The New York Times reports, citing "people familiar with the situation." Bondi reportedly began receiving threats in the wake of the Trump administration's capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in January, a senior official with direct knowledge told The NYT. The report did not include specific details of any of the threats made against Bondi. She isn't the only Trump administration official who has been moved onto military bases to protect them from blowback. open image in gallery Attorney General Pam Bondi has been moved to military housing in the Washington, D.C. area after she received threats from drug cartels and those angry over her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation and file release, according to a new report ( AFP via Getty Images ) President Donald Trump's Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller widely seen as the architect of Trump's heavy-handed anti-immigration agenda has also been moved into protective housing. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former Department of Homeland Security Director Kristi Noem, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have also been placed in secured housing. All of the officials are the public faces of Trump's most controversial undertakings his foreign policy, his anti-immigration agenda, and his military adventurism and now Bondi, the face of the Justice Department that handled the Epstein case, will join them. The report did not disclose the exact location of the base where the AG has been moved. It's unclear if Bondi and the rest of Trump's front-liners are paying to stay on the bases. Last year, before she was ousted, Noem told The NYT that she was paying "fair-market rent" for her on-base housing. U.S. officials who are at risk of being targeted by domestic or foreign threats taking up residence on military bases is not an unprecedented practice. During Trump's first term, Mike Pompeo similarly stayed on a base, as did Trump's then-Defense Secretary James Mattis. During former President George W. Bush's administration, his Defense Secretary Robert Gates, stayed in naval housing near Washington, D.C. In 1974, Congress approved the use of the U.S. Naval Observatory for use as the vice presidents residence. open image in gallery The US Vice President's Residence at the Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C. ( AFP via Getty Images ) Bondi's move to base housing reportedly occurred around or just after the Super Bowl, based on the report. During this year's Super Bowl, the survivors of Epstein's crimes ran a televised public service announcement pleading with Bondi to adhere to the terms of the Epstein Files Transparency Act and release all of the documents the government has regarding the investigation. Stand With Us, Tell Attorney General Pam Bondi Its Time For The Truth, the PSA said. Bondi and the Department of Justice released more than 3.5 million documents relating to Epstein in late January, some 42 days after it was legally required to do so. But the public later learned there were documents pertaining to Epstein that, for reasons unknown, the Justice Department did not make public. That revelation gave rise to renewed suspicions of a cover-up by the Trump administration. Bondi has faced criticism not only for failing to release all of the Epstein files, but also for failing to properly redact the files that were released. She was forced to remove thousands of published Epstein documents because they contained names and other identifying information about victims. open image in gallery Victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein react as US Attorney General Pam Bondi testifies before a House Judiciary Committee hearing on "Oversight of the Department of Justice" on Capitol Hill on February 11 ( AFP/Getty ) This latest release of Jeffrey Epstein files is being sold as transparency, but what it actually does is expose survivors, Epstein victims wrote in a statement following the release. Once again, survivors are having their names and identifying information exposed, while the men who abused us remain hidden and protected. That is outrageous," They continued, saying that as survivors, we should never be the ones named, scrutinized, and re-traumatized while Epsteins enablers continue to benefit from secrecy." "This is a betrayal of the very people this process is supposed to serve," the letter said. The Independent has requested comment from the Department of Justice. 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 Press photographers are no longer permitted to take photos inside the Pentagon press briefing room after several outlets published unflattering photos of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, two people familiar with the situation told the Washington Post. On March 2, Hegseth held a press conference with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to brief the press on the U.S. and Israel military strikes on Iran that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in February. Shortly after, wire service photographers such as those from the Associated Press, Reuters and Getty Images published photos of the defense secretary speaking with the media. This is typical for nearly all press conferences held by a government official. But afterward, members of Hegseths staff reportedly told colleagues they did not like the way the defense secretary looked. In press briefings on March 4 and March 10, photographers were not permitted inside. Pentagon spokesperson Kingsley Wilsonsaid in a statement that in order to use the briefing room effectively, only one representative per uncredentialed news outlet was permitted inside. open image in gallery Hegseths staff reportedly thought the pictures from the March 2 press conference were unflattering ( AP ) Photographs from the briefings are immediately released online for the public and press to use. If that hurts the business model for certain news outlets, then they should consider applying for a Pentagon press credential, Wilson wrote. Last year, the Pentagon implemented a new rule for media that required credentialed outlets to agree to a new policy that states reporters cannot gather or publish information from the Defense Department that is not explicitly authorized. That includes declassified information or off-the-record conversations, no matter where the information was obtained. Many mainstream media outlets refused to sign the agreement, finding the new rules oppressive. As a result, major broadcasters such as Fox News, ABC News, CBS News, CNN and NBC News; legacy newspapers such as the Associated Press, New York Times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal; and other outlets lost their Pentagon press credentials. open image in gallery Hegseth appeared animated in the early March press briefing ( AFP/Getty ) But the Pentagon made exceptions for the March 2 press conference, requesting major broadcast TV cameras and allowing some reporters in the briefing room. During the press briefing, Hegseth appeared animated before reporters, fiercely pushing back against criticisms of the attacks and accusing mainstream media of reporting false narratives. To the media outlets and political left screaming endless wars, stop. This is not Iraq. This is not endless, Hegseth said during the presser. Our generation knows better and so does this president. The defense secretary called out NBC for asking a gotcha-type question when pressed about the timeline of the ongoing war, he later criticized another reporters question about whether the U.S. planned to put boots on the ground. open image in gallery Hegseth has frequently clashed with reporters during his time as defense secretary ( Getty ) open image in gallery Hegseth pushed back on reporters questions in the Pentagon press briefing room during the March 2 press conference, accusing mainstream media of pushing anti-Trump narratives ( Getty ) Why in the world would we tell you, you, the enemy, anybody, what we will or will not do in pursuit of an objective? Hegseth responded to a reporters question. Later during that same press conference, the defense secretary bluntly responded to another reporters inquiry about preventing this conflict from spiraling with: Did you not hear my remarks? Since being tapped as President Donald Trumps defense secretary, Hegseth has consistently sparred with reporters. When press photographers attempted to enter the press briefing room for the March 4 press conference, they were not allowed in, those familiar with the situation told the Washington Post. However, the Defense Departments staff photographers are permitted in the briefing rooms and do publish photos for public use. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice President Donald Trump has said there is practically nothing left to target in Iran and that the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Tehran will soon. Speaking briefly to Axios on Wednesday, the president insisted the attacks were making progress. The war is going great, he said. We are way ahead of the timetable. We have done more damage than we thought possible, even in the original six-week period. Trump added that Iran had posted a threat not just to Israel but to other Gulf states across the region: They were after the rest of the Middle East. They are paying for 47 years of death and destruction they caused. This is payback. They will not get off that easy. open image in gallery President Donald Trump insists his campaign against Iran is way ahead of the timetable ( AFP/Getty ) The commander-in-chief also said he had the power to end the conflict whenever he chose, on his own terms: Any time I want it to end, it will end. The president was speaking as both sides continued to exchange hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the worlds oil supply passes, driving up prices across the globe. Trump told Axios that U.S. forces had destroyed at least 16 mine-laying boats in the strait as part of efforts to clear the way so that oil tankers can safely resume their deliveries and ease the pressure on global markets. His latest remarks about the conflict somewhat contradict other messaging from his administration, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth telling CBSs 60 Minutes on Sunday night this is only just the beginning of U.S. fight with Iran. On Tuesday, Hegseth was on aggressive form, declaring at a Pentagon press conference that the U.S. was crushing the enemy. open image in gallery Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivering his press conference at the Pentagon on Tuesday ( Sky News ) Iran stands alone and they are badly losing, Hegseth told reporters describing the Iranian regime as barbaric savages who are desperate and scrambling. To date, the U.S. has struck more than 5,000 targets in Iran and sunk more than 50 Iranian vessels, Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at the same event. Trump previously invited premature hopes about the conflict nearing its end Monday when he said: I think the war is very complete, pretty much They have no navy, no communications, theyve got no air force If you look, they have nothing left. His mixed messaging about Operation Epic Fury which commenced in the early hours of Saturday February 28 particularly regarding its underlying motive and likely duration, has been the source of consternation to many, notably Democrats on Capitol Hill who have emerged from classified briefings throwing up their hands in frustration and claiming the administration has no plan. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was even asked on Tuesday by CBS correspondent Nancy Cordes whether Trump was making up a claim that Iran would have attacked the U.S. within a week had he not given the greenlight to the operation when he did. open image in gallery The conflict has spread to Lebanon, where Israel has targeted Hezbollah with strikes on Beirut ( Reuters ) The president is not making anything up, Nancy, Leavitt answered testily. Since the initial burst of rocket strikes on Iran 12 days ago in which the theocratic regimes supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed Tehran has struck back against U.S. and Israeli military bases across the Gulf, killing at least seven U.S. servicemembers in the process. Khameneis son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has since been chosen to succeed him by a clerical assembly but it has emerged that he too was injured in the strikes at an earlier stage. 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 Before the Iran war, the Trump administration reportedly gutted a series of initiatives aimed at reducing civilian casualties, according to insiders. The move is under new scrutiny now that the U.S. is accused of launching a February 28 missile strike that hit a girls' primary school near a military base and killed scores of people. The attack in the city of Minab left more than 165 people dead, most of them children under 12, according to Iranian officials. Were departing from the rules and norms that weve tried to establish as a global community since at least World War II, Air Force veteran Wes J. Bryant, a member of the Pentagons Biden-era Civilian Protection Center of Excellence who was forced out in job cuts last spring, told ProPublica. Theres zero accountability. The U.S. says the strike is under investigation, though President Trump has suggested Iran or somebody else might be responsible for the attack, which appeared to use an American Tomahawk missile. Internally, a Pentagon probe reportedly found that outdated U.S. targeting data caused American forces to hit the school. open image in gallery The U.S. gutted an initiative aimed at reducing civilian casualties prior to the outbreak of the Iran war, where American forces are accused of striking a girls primary school and killing scores of children ( ISNA ) The president, asked on Wednesday about the report, said he didnt know about it. If the U.S. were responsible for the Minab strike, it would be the deadliest U.S. military attack for civilians in decades and the exact sort of tragedy officials have been working to avoid since implementing the 2022 Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response (CHMR) plan. That effort worked to integrate more in-depth planning, civilian mapping, and after-action investigations across the U.S. military command. Critics of such plans said the U.S. already integrated the laws of war into its planning, and extra steps of review hampered battlefield effectiveness. Under the Trump administration, former officials told ProPublica, CHMR has been scaled back by some 90 percent, as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reorients the military around maximum lethality and a warrior ethos. The administration has also reportedly lowered the authorization level needed for lethal force and broadened target categories. open image in gallery Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the U.S. takes extraordinary precautions to avoid civilian harm, but he has also reportedly rolled back targeting safeguards to emphasize maximum lethality and a warrior ethos at the Pentagon ( AP ) The Independent has contacted the Pentagon for comment. The Defense Department has defunded critically important civilian protection functions at a time when they are desperately needed, Annie Shiel, director of U.S. advocacy at the Center for Civilians in Conflict, told Politico. The policies are still in place. But they dont have the resources or top-cover to implement them to their fullest extent, and that is very concerning. Ultimately, its civilians who pay the price. Hegseth, who frequently championed a group of U.S. troops accused of war crimes during his time on Fox News, insisted this week that no nation takes more precautions than the U.S. to protect civilians in war zones, while at the same time criticizing overbearing rules of engagement. We untie the hands of our warfighters to intimidate, demoralize, hunt and kill the enemies of our country, he said at a Tuesday press conference. No more politically correct and overbearing rules of engagement, just common sense, maximum lethality and authority for warfighters. Hegseth has also fired top military lawyers and inspectors general. open image in gallery President Trump has suggested Iran carried out the primary school strike, and has brushed off reports that a U.S. military review concluded American forces were behind it ( AFP via Getty Images ) The Biden administration had its share of concerning incidents, including an infamous 2021 strike in Afghanistan that killed an aid worker and nine members of his family, but the Trump administration has ramped up boundary-pushing attacks considerably. President Trump has already overseen more air strikes in office than Biden did during his entire presidency, according to an analysis from The Telegraph. These have included a catastrophic 2025 strike on an immigration detention center in Yemen that killed 61 detainees, according to Amnesty International, and a string of attacks on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean. Critics of the boat strikes allege they are extrajudicial assassinations, based on non-public evidence, which have killed civilians, while the Trump administration insists they are justified because the U.S. is an armed conflict with drug groups. Late last year, the Defense Department declined to release the full unedited footage of a controversial double tap September boat strike that killed survivors of an initial barrage. 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 Midway through last year, the Trump administration reportedly brushed off an offer from Ukraine for assistance in strengthening defense systems against a lethal, widely used Iranian drone. Now, with Iranian drones having killed multiple US troops, American officials consider ignoring the initial outreach a major misstep. "If there's a tactical error or a mistake we made leading up to this [war in Iran], this was it," a US official told Axios. Last August, Ukrainian officials reportedly tried to sell the U.S. battle-proven technology to take on Irans low-cost, unnamed, one-way Shahed attack drones, which Russia has made a major part of its arsenal for the war in Ukraine. The Ukrainians reportedly made the pitch during a closed-door meeting at the White House on August 18, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky offered interceptor drones to Trump as a way to strengthen ties. The offer reportedly even concluded a PowerPoint presentation with slides talking about how the drones could be a threat across the Middle East during a then-hypothetical war with Iran. open image in gallery U.S. officials reportedly regret not initially accepting a 2025 offer from Ukraine for help countering Irans low-cost, highly effect Shahed drones ( Tasnim News Agency/CC BY 4.0 ) The president reportedly asked his team to look into the offer from Ukraine, but the proposal didnt in the months that followed, with some elements in the Trump administration reportedly believing Zelensky was grandstanding. Months before the reported August meeting, an Oval Office sit-down between Trump and Zelensky descended into a tense argument that the Ukrainian leader wasnt grateful enough for US help, all in front of news cameras. Iranian retaliatory attacks are down by 90 percent because their ballistic missile capabilities are being totally demolished, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly told The Independent. This characterization made by these cowardly unnamed sources is not accurate and proves that they are simply outside looking in. Secretary Hegseth and the armed forces did an incredible job planning for all possible responses by the Iranian regime, and the undisputed success of Operation Epic Fury speaks for itself. The tables have turned now that the US is under threat from Irans Shaheds directly, with Ukraines counter-drone technology a far more economical way to stop the unmanned aircraft than many of the high-priced, conventional air defense systems across US and allied bases in the Middle East. open image in gallery Ukraine has become a pioneer in countering drone attacks, given that Russia has made low-cost drones a key part of its war on the country ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) Military leaders reportedly briefed lawmakers last week that the Iranian drones have been a larger-than-expected challenge, as US air defenses cant stop all of them. The US has reached out to Zelensky for assistance, according to the Ukrainian leader, and he says his country has sent drones and experts to help protect US bases in Jordan. Publicly, Ukraine has appealed to allied countries for more US-made Patriot missiles. Separately, the US has also introduced its so-called Lucas drones to the battlefield, modeled after low-cost Iranian Shaheds. The presidents sons, Eric and Donald Trump Jr., are reportedly backing a Florida-based drone company that could supply the military. Despite challenges with Iranian drones, the US maintains that it has crippled much of Irans military and the increasingly unpopular war will end soon, though the president and his team have remained vague about the details. 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 Despite President Donald Trump's insistence that his war in Iran will soon be complete, the commander-in-chief's special envoy to the Middle East says he doesn't know how or when the conflict will end. Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, were in negotiations with Iranian officials concerning its nuclear program when the president and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched a joint attack on Iran. At least 1,230 people in Iran have been killed in the conflict, according to the Associated Press. At least seven U.S. service members have also died. During an episode of CNBC's Squawk on the Street, Witkoff was questioned by host Sara Eisen Tuesday about how the war will end. "So, how do you see this ending, this war?" she asked. open image in gallery Special envoy Steve Witkoff with President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Witkoff, when asked Tuesday how the war would end, said I don't know ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) Witkoff replied, "I don't know, Sara." I know this, that President Trump is the wrong guy to go up against. Thats what I know. He has drawn a red line, and that is that Iran cannot have a [nuclear] weapon," he said. "And yes, they say they dont. They dont want one. But all of their actions indicate the exact opposite. So, hes just not the right guy to tangle with, and I would suggest they dont. The Trump administration and Netanyahu have justified the war by insisting that Iran was on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon, despite Trump saying last year that Iran's nuclear program had been "completely obliterated" by his airstrikes at the time. Messaging from Trump officials has been inconsistent regarding the state of the war. Witkoff says he doesn't know how or when the war will end. Trump told CBS News on Monday that it is "very complete, pretty much." Around the same time he made that comment, the Defense Department's rapid response social media page posted a message saying "We Have Only Just Begun to Fight," which appeared to contradict Trump's claim that the war was nearly over. When pressed by ABC News for clarification Monday, Trump said the war was both over but also not over. "Well, I think you can say both. The beginning it's the beginning of building a new country, but they certainly, they have no navy, they have no air force, they have no anti-aircraft equipment," Trump said. "We could call it a tremendous success right now. As we leave here, I could call it. Or we could go further and we're going to go further." open image in gallery President Donald Trump told reporters that the war in Iran was very complete but that the process of building a new country was just beginning on Monday ( AFP/Getty ) Little changed on Tuesday when Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth faced reporters. Hegseth refused to give anything resembling a timeline for the war. He said that the U.S. would end the war in Iran "on our timeline" and "at our choosing." Hegseth added that the "president has set a very specific mission to accomplish, and our job is to unrelentingly deliver that," before saying that ultimately Trump will determine when the war ends. "Now he gets to control the throttle. He's the one deciding. He's the one elected on behalf of the American people when we're achieving those objectives. And so, it's not for me to posit whether it's the beginning, the middle or the end. That's his," Hegseth said. "And he'll continue to communicate that." The "very complete" war appeared to escalate on Tuesday as the U.S. military claimed it destroyed 16 Iranian mine-laying ships operating in the Strait of Hormuz, according to U.S. Central Command. Trump threatened Iran with unprecedented "military consequences" in a Truth Social post on Tuesday in response to the mine-laying ships. "If Iran has put out any mines in the Hormuz Strait, and we have no reports of them doing so, we want them removed, IMMEDIATELY! If for any reason mines were placed, and they are not removed forthwith, the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "If, on the other hand, they remove what may have been placed, it will be a giant step in the right direction!" open image in gallery A navy vessel is seen sailing ad day after the start of the war in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which much of the world's oil and gas passes ( AFP/Getty ) He said that any ship believed to be placing mines in the strait will be "dealt with quickly and violently." If the war is ending soon, neither Trump nor Iran's Supreme National Security Council messaging reflects that outcome. On Tuesday, Secretary Ali Larijani offered a thinly veiled threat to Trump after the president promised a violent military response if Iran tried to shut down the Strait of Hormuz. The sacrificial nation of Iran doesnt fear your empty threats, Larijani wrote. Even those bigger than you couldnt eliminate Iran. Be careful not to get eliminated yourself. 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's plans for Iran are "incoherent", "incomplete", and are on course to drag his administration into a state of "endless war", a senior Democrat has warned. The comments from Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy came after he attended a two-hour briefing on the White House's current aims for the conflict. In a thread on X, Murphy said that while he was unable to share classified information, the private briefings indicate that Trump is unable to "defend this war in public", and revealed that the administration is not seeking to destroy Iran's nuclear weapons programme, nor force regime change in the country. "The war goals DO NOT involve destroying Iran's nuclear weapons program," Murphy wrote, adding that this was surprising "since Trump says over and over this is a key goal". open image in gallery Black smoke and flames billow over Iranian capital Tehran following strikes on an oil depot in the city ( Middle East Images ) "But then of course we already know air strikes can't wipe out their nuclear material." He said that in the briefing, the administration "confirmed" that "regime change is also NOT on the list". Murphy added that this meant spending "hundreds of billions" of taxpayers' dollars on the war, which will leave "a whole bunch of Americans killed", and it will leave "probably a more anti-American hardline regime" in charge of Iran. He also claimed that Trump has "no plan" to safely open the Strait of Hormuz the sea passage Iran has effectively closed and which is currently halting the flow of oil out of the Gulf states, driving up prices of goods and services globally. The continued aims, Murphy said, are "primarily, destroying lots of missiles and boats and drone factories". But he said the question which then "stumped them" was: "What happens when you stop bombing and they restart production?" He concluded, "They hinted at more bombing. Which is, of course, endless war." open image in gallery Mojtaba Khamenei (L), has succeeded his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after he was killed by joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on 28 February. Regime change is now not on the list for the Trump administration, according to U.S. Senator Chris Murphy ( Office of Iran's supreme leader ) The insights come amid reports that the U.S. is already moving to deploy troops on the ground in Iran. Meanwhile, Murphys colleague Senator Richard Blumenthal said Tuesday he believes the Trump administration is now "on a path toward deploying American troops on the ground in Iran". Blumenthal's remarks to reporters on Capitol Hill came after he exited a classified briefing for members of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Trump has said hes keeping his options open regarding putting U.S. boots on the ground. I dont have the yips with respect to boots on the ground like every president says, there will be no boots on the ground. I dont say it, Trump told The New York Post this week. Analysts have said the administrations approach to Iran resembles less a strategy than a campaign launched without clear objectives and defended with justifications that appear to wilt under mild scrutiny. open image in gallery The comments from Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy came after he attended a two-hour briefing on the White House's current aims for the conflict ( AFP/Getty ) According to Trita Parsi, cofounder of foreign policy think tank the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, the White House is effectively pursuing regime implosion, propelled by what he described as the presidents wishful thinking that sustained military pressure will somehow create a power vacuum the Iranian public will obligingly fill. Parsi noted that the mission aligns neatly with Israels longstanding desire to take Iran off the geopolitical chessboard, but said the administration has struggled to articulate any legitimate rationale for such an undertaking. The difficulty the administration is having is not necessarily that they dont have that goal its that they cant find a justification for it, he told reporters Monday. Theyre grasping at straws. In a Monday interview, Trump told CBS News he thought the war was very complete, pretty much. They have no navy, no communications, theyve got no air force, he said. He described the U.S. war effort as very far ahead of the four to five week timeline he and his advisers had estimated when the air campaign began on 28 February. Since then, over 1,200 people in Iran have been killed. Seven U.S. servicemembers have also lost their lives, and earlier this week, Trump indicated he was willing to accept that more Americans would die in order to "finish the job". 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 At his press conference Monday, Donald Trump sought to regain the narrative around a lightning-fast campaign of bombings in Iran that have so far achieved some individual successes while failing to dislodge a government that U.S. officials believe is an existential threat to its neighbors. Instead, his main accomplishment was defining the image of his wartime leadership for Americans in a way Republicans used to find distasteful as he continued to spout unproven theories and suggestions for the wars cause. As he spoke with reporters, Trump showed that he was more than happy to take credit for Americas military successes against a foe that supposedly presented a great threat to the U.S. military, despite the uneven casualty numbers. "We're achieving major strides toward completing our military objective. And some people could say they're pretty well complete," the president told reporters. "Together with our Israeli partners, we're crushing the enemy in an overwhelming display of technical skill and military force. Yet, at the same time, Trump was wholly unwilling to link himself to any negative consequences of the conflict, including economic hardship and any unintended bloody civilian consequences of U.S. bombing campaigns. open image in gallery Donald Trump wouldn't take blame for a U.S. strike that hit an Iranian school even as he boasted about the massive bombing campaign he was inflicting upon Iran on Monday ( AFP/Getty ) During questions from reporters, the president refused to take blame for a Tomahawk missile believed to have been fired by U.S. forces in the initial bombing campaign, which struck a girls school in Iran and killed 175 people, most of them children. Instead, he suggested bizarrely that Iran may have fired the missile on its own base. The U.S. is the only military force in the conflict with the capacity to fire the Tomahawk, which is a ship-based missile. Fracturing his teams response, Trump veered off into conspiratorial thinking that top U.S. officials havent been willing to back up. "I will say that the Tomahawk, which is one of the most powerful weapons around, is used by, you know, it's sold and used by other countries, you know that," said the president to a press corps that already knew Iran did not possess Tomahawks. "And whether it's Iran, who also has some Tomahawks, Trump falsely continued, they wish they had more, but, whether it's Iran or somebody else, the fact that a Tomahawk a Tomahawk is very generic, it's sold to other countries. But that's being investigated right now." Video obtained by The New York Times and other outlets shows the apparently American strike hitting a Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) naval base and the school building next to it. Even under pointed questioning from a reporter cutting through the absurdity of the presidents explanation, Trump refused to admit any U.S. or personal responsibility and said that hed wait to see what a supposed investigation carried out by the Pentagon determined regarding fault for the strike. I just dont know enough about it, the president insisted under further questioning from a reporter. Democrats issued pointed criticisms in response to that exchange. Trump is lying through his teeth, claimed Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. The claim is beyond asinine. Again, he says whatever pops into his head no matter what the truth is. And we all know he lies but on something as formidable as this, its appalling. No other leader in the administration, not even Pete Hegseth, who does whatever Trump wants, is claiming Iranian missiles did this. open image in gallery Trump wrongly claimed that Iran was in possession of Tomahawk cruise missiles during his press conference ( Getty Images ) Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, added: He & Sec. Hegseth are responsible for the killing of these 175 people, most of them children. They must be held accountable. On Monday the president also tried to focus on an issue some of his savviest advisers, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have used as an explanation for the U.S. war effort: that Irans ballistic missile threat was reaching an unacceptable strength and needed to be deal with. Trump, however, repeated his claim that an Iranian attack on U.S. forces or their allies was imminent, something his administration has presented no evidence for. Iran was not engaged in hostilities prior to the U.S-Israeli bombing campaign, and Iranian diplomats met with U.S. officials in Geneva to discuss terms for a new agreement with the Trump administration when the attacks were ordered. They were going to take over the Middle East and they were going to try and destroy Israel, the president insisted. Once again, none of his other advisers have made this same assertion. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt almost seemed to try and wipe away her own responsibility for her boss words, telling reporters on Tuesday that Trumps view on this subject was a feeling, again, based on fact, that Iran was going to strike the U.S. open image in gallery Leavitt promised that oil prices would be lower after the U.S. war on Iran concludes ( Reuters ) The knowledge that it was a feeling that has now led the U.S. into a war that is costing taxpayers nearly a billion dollars a day and has already resulted in the deaths of seven Americans may not be particularly comforting to the more than half of registered voters who said in a Quinnipiac poll on Tuesday that they opposed the war with Iran, compared to around 4 in 10 who support it. Those numbers could easily get worse if economic fallout from the war continues, including the strain put on oil and gas prices by Irans attempts to mine the Strait of Hormuz. Trump and his top aides issued angry threats to Iran regarding the waterway on Tuesday even as Leavitt insisted, as her boss did Monday, that soaring gas prices would actually soon plunge to new lows. In many states gas prices have jumped as much as 50 cents or more per gallon over the past week, a nightmare headline for any Republican running in a purple district this fall. "Rest assured to the American people, the recent increase in oil and gas prices is temporary and this operation will result in lower gas prices in the long-term, Leavitt said. Even as Leavitt spoke, the president was engaged in a war of words on Truth Social, demanding that Iran end its efforts to mine the strait. Theres no sign that an alleviation of shipping woes or his promised gas price bonanza are on the horizon at all. Trumps war with Iran may have caused the president to enter his Biden era: Facing a challenging election cycle, the president is asking Americans not to believe their lying eyes and ears on everything from the economy to their countrys military prowess. Its a dangerous gamble, but unlike Biden, the presidents own personal political fate is insulated from the consequences that could arrive in November. 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 is barreling his Republican Party towards a midterm election that could once again mark defeat for a president at war with Americans perceptions of the economy under his watch. With the GOP still struggling to pass any meaningful legislation and voters generally judging his progress on fighting high prices as slow, the president cant afford any major political setbacks as Republicans battle to defend slim majorities in both chambers. A familiar problem is arising, however: the war with Iran a war that represents a violation of one of Trumps central campaign promises to avoid any new foreign military conflicts has caused gas prices to shoot up by an average of nearly 50 cents per gallon nationwide in the week and a half since the U.S. and Israel began a campaign of targeted strikes aimed at destroying Irans military and forcing regime change upon its government. Prices are now far north of $3 per gallon in most states, and in some are much higher. Trump has suddenly found himself facing a classic Washington debacle: Not credited for drops in gas prices when they occur, but blamed for sharp spikes that clearly follow White House policy decisions. Gas panic hit Washington this week as the White House hastily tried to reassure Americans. open image in gallery Donald Trumps war with Iran has caused average gas prices to spike nearly 50 cents per gallon nationwide, per AAA ( Getty ) Once the national security objectives of Operation Epic Fury are fully achieved, Americans will see oil and gas prices drop rapidly, potentially even lower than they were prior to the start of the operation, and we will live in a world where Iran can no longer threaten the United States or our allies with a nuclear bomb, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt promised. Trump himself also found it impossible to deny reality any longer. Dropping his former pretense around having supposedly seen prices below $2.30 a gallon in most states during his State of the Union speech days before the operation in Iran began, even the president is now admitting Americans are feeling an economic squeeze. "They'll drop very rapidly when this is over, and if they rise, they rise, but this is far more important than having gasoline prices go up a little bit, he told Reuters in an interview last week. On Tuesday he continued threatening Iranian forces over efforts to restrict shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Republicans on Capitol Hill have a darker image of the situation. Some whove broken with the president on other issues, like Sen. Rand Paul, were unbothered by the need to protect the White Houses feelings as they diagnosed the situation. I think high oil prices will be a problem [in the midterms], Paul told Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo on Tuesday. I think if you add in high gas prices, high oil prices, and if we are still bombing Iran with kinetic action people dont want to call it a war if theres still kinetic action causing oil to be over $100 [a barrel], youre going to see a disastrous election [for the GOP]. Rep. Austin Scott, a Georgia Republican, told Reuters on the sidelines of the House GOP retreat: "Every day that people pull into the gas station and pay what they're paying for fuel, I mean, it hurts, and we know it hurts. open image in gallery Republican candidates in frontline districts in the House this year will not benefit from Trumps name at the top of the ticket drawing in voters, but will still have to navigate the economic realities of his administrations policies ( AP ) Republicans took a political bludgeoning in 2008, the last time a GOP presidents unpopular war in the Middle East caused oil prices to shoot up. Turning the tables, the party attempted to use high gas prices resulting from the Ukraine War against their Democratic foes in 2022 as they sought to retake the House and Senate from the Democrats under Joe Bidens presidency. They succeeded in retaking the lower chamber, but were hamstrung by controversial and untested candidates in their bid to retake the Senate, which ended in failure. Conversely, in 2024, a drop in gas prices aided Democrats at the polls in the fall even as the top of their ticket was forced out of the race and replaced by his running mate. Democrats still suffered a massive defeat, but many statewide candidates ran ahead of the top of the ticket in November. Sen. Rick Scott told MS NOW that prices would dip back down in the future after Trumps warmaking efforts in Venezuela and now Iran yielded better results. The prices are going to come back down when Venezuela starts producing more oil, Scott said. and when Iran gets a government that wants to be part of the world economy. open image in gallery Leavitt promised that oil prices would be lower after the U.S. war on Iran concludes ( Reuters ) Some estimates suggest that it could be years before Venezuela is able to meaningfully ramp up its oil production, which right now accounts for about 1% of global oil production. Trump and his party do not have years, but months: The primary season has already begun, and voters are quite likely to hold a grudge over economic pain that lasts for much longer, even if it subsides. Most Republicans in Congress are adamant that they dont believe this will happen. Instead, they argue, Trumps military operation will wrap up soon, causing prices to drop back down in the near term. Somewhat revealingly, many of those same Republicans are calling on the White House to do exactly that and declare and end to the war with hints of desperation in their pleadings. I think that [Trumps] achieved his objectives, Sen. Josh Hawley told Fox News on Tuesday evening. What is there really that's left to do that we haven't already done? It's time to declare victory. Hawley is not running for re-election this year. For many of his colleagues, however, their electoral fates could well be tied to the president taking his advice before his poll numbers on handling the economy drop any lower. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice President Donald Trump's nominee for a senior State Department position withdrew from consideration on Tuesday after his controversial comments stirred rare Republican opposition to the president's choice. Jeremy Carl, currently a senior fellow at the conservative Claremont Institute think tank and a former deputy assistant secretary of the interior during Trump's first term, was the presidents nominee for assistant secretary of state for international organizations. In a statement on X, Carl thanked Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for their support, but said their backing was not sufficient. "We also needed the unanimous support of every GOP Senator on the Committee on Foreign Relations, given the unanimous opposition of Senate Democrats to my candidacy, and unfortunately, at this time this unanimous support was not forthcoming," Carl said, using the acronym for Grand Old Party, a nickname for the Republican Party. The influential Senate committee typically votes on a nomination before sending it to the full Senate for a confirmation vote. open image in gallery Jeremy Carl of the Claremont Institute discusses immigration during Harvard University's second annual Conservative and Republican Student Conference 2025 ( Reuters ) Carl's nomination was in doubt since Republican Senator John Curtis of Utah, a member of the committee, said after Carl's nomination hearing in February, he did not believe Carl was the right person to represent the country's best interests at international organizations. Curtis cited Carl's "anti-Israel views" and "insensitive remarks" about Jewish people as disqualifying factors. Failing to support a Trump nominee is a rare rebuke by the Republican-majority Senate, which to date has backed the vast majority of the president's nominations and policies. The White House and State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Lawmakers questioned Carl at the hearing about his prior comments about Jewish people and his belief in the "great replacement theory," a discredited conspiracy theory associated with white supremacy that leftist and Jewish elites are engineering the ethnic and cultural replacement of white people with non-white immigrants. Carl said at the hearing that he did not remember making some of the comments read aloud by senators and he regretted some others. "I made some comments in interviews about minimizing the effects of the Holocaust that were absolutely wrong," he said. When asked at the hearing whether there was an effort to replace white Americans underway, Carl said he believed Democratic immigration policies have "certainly sent signs of that." Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The Trump administration believes it has just weeks before the economic consequences of the Iran war become a significant political issue, a new report claims. In recent days, questions have mounted about the economic impact of the war, which began late last month. Americans have already seen higher prices at the gas pump, and analysts have warned the conflict could drive up prices elsewhere, including in grocery stores. And now, administration officials believe they have up to four weeks where they can ride out what they need to before oil prices turn into a lasting political issue, a source close to the White House told Politico. Officials have also reportedly tried to calm the fears of some Republicans who are concerned the Iran conflict could hurt the affordability message theyre hoping to prioritize ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. The outlets sources said officials have not considered changing military plans amid rising prices. open image in gallery Officials are reportedly concerned that, within four weeks, rising oil prices could cause lasting political damage ( AFP/Getty ) White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Tuesday the recent increase in oil and gas prices is temporary, and that the military campaign will result in lower gas prices in the long term. Taylor Rogers, a White House spokesperson, also told Politico that the president has said rising prices are short-term disruptions. Ultimately, once the military objectives are completed and the Iranian terrorist regime is neutralized, oil and gas prices will drop rapidly again, potentially even lower than before the strikes begin, Rogers said. As a result, American families will benefit greatly in the long-term. The Independent has contacted the White House for comment. Since the U.S. and Israel first launched their campaign against Iran on February 28, gas prices have seen a 19 percent increase. Now, Americans are growing concerned about their pocketbooks. open image in gallery Gas prices have jumped 19 percent since Feb. 28 ( Reuters ) A Quinnipiac University poll released Monday found that 53 percent of U.S. voters oppose military action against Iran. The survey also revealed that more than 70 percent of voters are either very concerned or somewhat concerned about the conflict causing a spike in oil and gas prices. When asked about rising gas prices last week, Trump told Reuters, I dont have any concern about it. "They'll drop very rapidly when this is over, and if they rise, they rise, but this is far more important than having gasoline prices go up a little bit, he said. Trump shared a similar statement via Truth Social on Sunday evening. 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. ONLY FOOLS WOULD THINK DIFFERENTLY! 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 White House Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair has reportedly urged Republicans to shift their messaging about President Donald Trumps immigration agenda. During House Republicans annual retreat in Doral, Florida, this week, Blair privately encouraged lawmakers to stop focusing their messaging on mass deportations, according to Axios. Instead, Blair reportedly suggested lawmakers focus on the deportation of violent criminals. Following the report, Blair shared a message on social media voicing support for Republicans immigration agenda. Republicans want to keep deporting the violent/criminal illegals that Joe Biden & the Democrats in Congress let in, he wrote on X. Democrats want to shield them from deportation, which is why they unanimously support sanctuary cities. Republicans will get the violent criminals out. Democrats will throw the border back open. When reached for comment, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told The Independent: "Nobody is changing the Administrations immigration enforcement agenda. President Trumps highest priority has always been the deportation of illegal alien criminals who endanger American communities, Jackson said. As the Department of Homeland Security has repeatedly said, approximately 70% of deportations to date have been illegal aliens with criminal records. open image in gallery White House Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair urged Republican lawmakers to stop focusing on 'mass deportations' in their messaging about immigration, according to a new report ( Getty Images ) Thanks to President Trumps strong immigration enforcement policies, approximately 3 million illegals have left the United States, either through forced deportation or self-deportation, with zero illegals coming through the most secure border in U.S. History for nine straight months, she added. Trump has promised to carry out the largest mass deportation campaign in U.S. history. But recent surveys have indicated shifting public opinion about his plans. A Fox News poll published last week found nearly 60 percent of voters disapprove of Immigration and Customs Enforcements performance, which is up seven points from last fall. A Politico survey from January also revealed that 49 percent of Americans consider the presidents mass deportation efforts too aggressive. Trumps agenda has faced heightened scrutiny in recent months, particularly after federal immigration agents fatally shot Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis during separate incidents earlier this year. Their killings sparked nationwide protests and unrest. Meanwhile, Trump announced Thursday hes tapping Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin to replace Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, effective March 31. Noem will go on to serve as the special envoy for the Shield of the Americas, which Trump described as a new security initiative in the Western Hemisphere. Trump said Noem has served us well and achieved numerous and spectacular results during her tenure. Noem attended her first congressional hearings since the Minneapolis shootings last week, shortly before Trumps announcement. open image in gallery Kristi Noem was fired as Homeland Security Secretary last week ( REUTERS ) Lawmakers pushed back on her handling of the incidents, and criticized her previous statements accusing Good and Pretti of domestic terrorism. Noem called both shootings an absolute tragedy and offered her condolences to their families but did not apologize for her past comments. She also faced scrutiny over a $220 million advertising campaign. Senator John Kennedy asked Noem: "The president approved ahead of time you spending $220 million running TV ads across the country in which you are featured prominently? "Yes, sir. We went through the legal processes, did it correctly, she replied. Trump later told Reuters he never knew anything about the ad campaign. Soon after that interview, he announced Mullin will be taking over Noems job. The Oklahoma senator told reporters last week the news about his new role came as a little bit of a surprise. The Department of Homeland Security has very broad jurisdiction, and I think there is a lot of work that we need to do, and I am excited, he said. 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 Hungary's main opposition party, Tisza, has seen its lead over Prime Minister Viktor Orban's long-ruling Fidesz party narrow slightly, according to a new poll published on Wednesday, as the country enters the final month of campaigning ahead of the April 12 election. This election presents the most significant challenge to Mr Orban's 16-year tenure, though the outcome remains highly uncertain amidst the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war and mounting economic pressures. Many voters are reportedly still undecided. The survey, conducted by 21 Research Centre (21 Kutatokozpont) between March 2 and 6, indicates Tisza now holds a 14-percentage-point advantage over Fidesz among decided voters. This marks a slight decrease from the 16-point lead recorded in the agency's previous poll in January. Centre-right Tisza, led by former government insider Peter Magyar, had the support of 53% of decided voters, unchanged from January, according to 21 Research Centre, while 39% backed Fidesz, up from 37% in the previous poll. Chairman of the Hungarian opposition Tisza party Peter Magyar. ( MTVA - Media Service Support and Asset Management Fund ) The poll, published by news site 24.hu, showed 38% support for Tisza among all voters, with Fidesz backed by 30%. Based on the poll, Tisza could win 115 seats in Hungary's 199-seat parliament, and Fidesz could expect 78 seats. The far-right Our Homeland (Mi Hazank) party would be the only other party crossing the 5% threshold to win seats. Magyar has said his party would curb corruption, unlock billions of euros in frozen European Union funds to boost the economy, and firmly anchor Hungary in the EU and Nato. Fidesz has pointed to other surveys that still show it on course to victory, though opponents - who criticise Orban for harming the rule of law and keeping warm ties with Russia - say these have mainly been conducted by institutes with financial or personal ties to the ruling party. Mr Orban ordered that a shipment of Ukrainian cash and gold seized last week by Hungarian authorities be held in custody for up to 60 days while his country's tax authority investigates the case. The gold and the money was being transported through Hungary by road when Hungary seized it last Thursday. Authorities said they suspected money laundering. The shipment included $40 million and 35 million euros in cash, as well as 9 kilograms (19.8 pounds) of gold worth, based on the current exchange rates, about $82 million. The seizure has outraged Ukrainian authorities who accused Hungarys Russia-friendly government of acting illegally. 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 Spain has permanently withdrawn its ambassador to Israel, marking a significant escalation in diplomatic tensions between the two nations. The move comes amid Madrid's strong opposition to recent US-Israeli military actions against Iran. This permanent recall follows an earlier decision last September to summon the ambassador back to Spain. That initial diplomatic row was sparked by Spain's measures to prohibit aircraft and ships carrying weapons to Israel from using its ports or airspace, implemented in response to Israel's military offensive in Gaza. At the time, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar denounced these Spanish actions as "antisemitic." The permanent termination of the ambassador's position was officially published in Spain's gazette on Tuesday. The Spanish Foreign Ministry has confirmed that its embassy in Tel Aviv will now be led by a charge d'affaires for the foreseeable future. Diplomatic relations have been heavily strained since Israel launched its assault on the Gaza Strip in October of 2023 ( REUTERS ) The move marks the latest escalation in diplomatic relations between the two countries, which have been heavily strained since Israel launched its assault on the Gaza Strip in October of 2023. Israel's embassy in Spain is also run by a charge d'affaires after the country summoned its ambassador last May in protest at Spain's decision to recognise a Palestinian state. Tensions have heightened since the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, with Sa'ar accusing Spain in early March of "standing with tyrants" for opposing the war. Last week, President Donald Trump threatened to impose a full U.S. trade embargo on Spain after the NATO ally refused to let the U.S. military use its bases for missions linked to strikes on Iran. Spain has been terrible, Trump told reporters during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, adding: Were going to cut off all trade with Spain. We dont want anything to do with Spain. He said he had told Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to cut off all dealings with Spain. The U.S. relocated 15 aircraft, including refuelling tankers, from the Rota and Moron military bases in southern Spain after the countrys Socialist leadership said it would not allow them to be used to attack Iran. 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 Three brothers have been arrested after a bomb went off at the US embassy in Norway. Investigators have branded the attack an act of terrorism. The suspects, all in their twenties, are Norwegian citizens with a family background from Iraq, authorities have said. Damage was caused to the Oslo venues consular section, but no injuries were reported following the blast from an improvised explosive device (IED). They are suspected of a terror bombing, police attorney Christian Hatlo told reporters. We believe they detonated a powerful bomb at the US embassy with the intention of taking lives or causing significant damage, Hatlo said, adding that none of the suspects had so far been interrogated. One of the men was believed to have planted the bomb while the two others were believed to have taken part in the plot, Hatlo said. The brothers, who were not named, had not previously been subject to police investigations, he added. open image in gallery Police cars stationed at the embassy in Oslo ( NTB/AFP/Getty ) A lawyer representing one of the three men said he had only briefly met with his client and that it was too early to say how the suspect would plead. Lawyers representing the two others did not immediately respond to requests for comment when contacted by Reuters. Although it is early in the investigation, it is important that the police have achieved what they characterise as a breakthrough in the case, Norways minister of justice and public security, Astri Aas-Hansen, said in a statement. Images of one of the suspects released by police on Monday showed a hooded person, whose face was not visible, wearing dark clothes and carrying a bag or rucksack. open image in gallery The brothers, who were not named, had not previously been subject to police investigations, police attorney Christian Hatlo (pictured) said ( NTB/AFP/Getty ) Investigators on Monday said one hypothesis was that the incident was an act of terrorism linked to the war in the Middle East, but that other possible motives were also being explored. Police are now investigating whether the bombing was done on behalf of a foreign state, Hatlo said, reiterating that they were also looking into other possible motives. Europe has been on alert for possible attacks as the US and Israel conduct air strikes on Iran and Iran strikes Israel and US targets in the Middle East. On Monday, a synagogue in the Belgian city of Liege was damaged by a blast that authorities called an antisemitic attack. It was not clear who was behind it. 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 strike reportedly hit an apartment block in central Beirut on Wednesday, Lebanon's state news agency confirmed, further widening attacks in the capital beyond Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs, where heavy strikes continue. Footage from the Aicha Bakkar neighbourhood showed extensive damage to two floors of the building, with smoke rising from the site. The Israeli military offered no immediate comment, and there were no initial reports of casualties. This marks the second Israeli strike in the heart of Beirut in four days. On Sunday, a hotel in the seafront Raouche neighbourhood was targeted. The Israeli military stated that this earlier attack was aimed at five senior members of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Quds Force. Lebanese authorities report nearly 570 people have been killed by Israeli strikes since Iran-backed Hezbollah opened fire to avenge the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on 2 March. Emergency personnel and residents gather at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in Beirut's Aisha Bakkar neighbourhood ( AFP via Getty Images ) Israel kept up heavy strikes on the southern suburbs, known as Dahiyeh, overnight. The Israeli military has ordered residents of the predominantly Shi'ite Muslim Dahiyeh to leave, along with residents of a swathe of southern Lebanon and parts of the east. Some 700,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon, or more than a tenth of the population, the United Nations has reported. On 2 March, Hezbollah fired missiles and drones into Israel for the first time in more than a year. Hundreds of thousands of residents of southern Lebanon, the eastern Bekaa valley and Beiruts southern suburbs have fled their homes after Israeli warnings that their neighborhoods, towns and villages would be targeted. The new round of fighting comes as Shiite communities that suffered the brunt of the last conflict are still reeling from it. The last Israel-Hezbollah war killed more than 4,000 people in Lebanon and caused $11 billion in damage, according to the World Bank. Unlike in the past, when many people were afraid to publicly criticize Hezbollah, some Lebanese Shiites are openly blaming the militant group for their current misery as they find themselves living in the street, on public squares, or with relatives or friends amid cold weather and fasting during Ramadan. 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 The son of a British couple trapped in an Iranian prison is appealing to Donald Trump for help after being let down by the British government. Lindsay and Craig Foreman, both 53, were jailed for 10 years following their arrest in January 2025 while travelling through Iran on a global motorcycle trip. The couple, from East Sussex, are now being held in Tehrans notorious Evin prison, which has been caught in the crossfire of the US-Israeli bombardment. Joe Bennett, Ms Foremans son, says that British consular staff did not tell his parents that they were leaving Iran a day before the conflict erupted, and says he feels a profound sense of abandonment by the government. open image in gallery Joe Bennett (centre right) has been campaigning for the release of his parents (left), who are trapped in an Iranian prison ( Family handout ) My government has let me down, he told The Telegraph. They are British citizens who appear to have been abandoned. They are in real and immediate danger. Mr Bennett has told The Independent of the dire conditions inside the prison, where his parents have allegedly been separated, held in solitary confinement and denied legal representation during their months-long ordeal. Ahead of a visit to Washington to address the US Capitol this week, Mr Bennett said that neither the British prime minister nor the foreign secretary has responded to letters or a petition pleading for help. He hopes Mr Trump may be able to offer support instead. Donald Trump is a father and he has a family. I am sure he loves them deeply. And that is the reason I appeal to him to help us get them out, he told the newspaper. Mr Bennett, 31, is preparing to address the US Capitol in Washington on Thursday, during the Transatlantic Conference on Hostage-Taking and Arbitrary Detention. open image in gallery Rescuers work in the rubble of residential buildings after airstrikes, in the Resalat neighbourhood, in Tehran, Iran ( Iranian Red Crescent Society ) The US is actively bringing their hostages names up in all high-level international discussions, and the UK should be doing this for my parents, too, he said. Mr Bennett previously told how a bomb exploded close to the Tehran prison on the first day of the war, shattering windows and causing plaster to rain down from the ceiling. Ms Foreman, who was on the phone to her son at the time, described a scene of mass hysteria as female prisoners dived under metal bunk beds for cover, awaiting the next strike. The legal process has effectively collapsed. The Revolutionary Courts that sentenced the couple have themselves reportedly been targeted in recent airstrikes, the family spokesperson said. Lindsay and Craig's state-appointed lawyer has left the country, and the family has no clarity on whether their appeal was even successfully received before court systems shut down. open image in gallery US president Donald Trump launched the strikes on Iran and urged its people to rise up ( Reuters ) A Foreign Office spokesperson told The Independent: The welfare of British nationals detained in Iran is a priority for this government and continues to be during the current situation in the Middle East. Craig and Lindsays sentences are completely appalling and totally unjustifiable, and we will continue to pursue this case relentlessly with the Iranian regime and will do so until we see Craig and Lindsay Foreman safely returned to the UK and reunited with their family. We continue to provide consular assistance to them and their family. 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 Three cargo ships from multiple countries have been hit by unknown projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz. Two bulk carriers from Thailand and the Marshall Islands and a container ship from Japan were all struck on Wednesday as the US-Iran conflict continues, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). Irans Revolutionary Guards said they fired at the Thailand-flagged bulk carrier Mayuree Narree, around 10 nautical miles north of Oman, which resulted in a fire onboard. open image in gallery The stern of the Thai ship was hit by an unknown projectile ( Royal Thai Navy ) open image in gallery The Thailand-flagged bulk carrier Mayuree Naree was attacked by an 'unknown projectile' ( Royal Thai Navy ) The crew was forced to evacuate the ship, with 20 rescued by the Omani navy, according to Thailands Transport Ministry. Three crew members were reported missing. The ministry said an explosion occurred in the stern of the ship and caused a fire in the engine compartment, where the crew had been working. Thailand's navy said it was providing urgent assistance through international channels. Authorities are investigating the incident and UKMTO has advised any and all vessels to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to them. open image in gallery The Marshall Island flagged Star Gwyneth sustained damage from an unknown projectile (file image) ( Marine Time ) Earlier, the Japan-flagged container ship One Majesty had sustained minor damage from an unknown projectile 25 nautical miles northwest of Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates, two maritime security sources told Reuters. Its crew members are safe and the vessel is sailing towards a safe anchorage, the sources added. A third vessel, a bulk carrier, was also hit by an unknown projectile approximately 50 miles northwest of Dubai, maritime security firms said. UKMTO issued a report about the incident at 2am UTC. open image in gallery The Japanese ship One Majesty sustained damage from an unknown projectile (file image) ( MarineTime ) The projectile had damaged the hull of the Marshall Islands-flagged Star Gwyneth, maritime risk management company Vanguard said. The vessel's crew were reported safe. UKMTO has received 17 reports of incidents affecting vessels operating in and around the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman since 28 February, when the United States and Israel launched strikes Iran. The maritime monitor reported at least 13 ships have been attacked, while Iran now controls the Strait of Hormuz open image in gallery UKMTO has issued a number of alerts around the Strait of Hormuz ( UKMTO ) The Strait of Hormuz is a key strategic area of the region with 20 million barrels of oil passing through it each day a fifth of global oil consumption. Up to one-third of the worlds supply of liquefied natural gas passes through the key maritime chokepoint. Iran has threatened to set fire to any ships attempting to pass through the strait. Irans state media claimed its forces set fire to a US oil tanker last week after striking it in the northern Gulf. US president Donald Trump warned Tehrans regime on Tuesday against putting mines in the Strait, or else they would see military consequences at a level never seen before. open image in gallery The United States has destroyed a number of Iranian ships in the Strait of Hormuz ( US Central Command ) He said on Truth Social: If Iran has put out any mines in the Hormuz Strait, and we have no reports of them doing so, we want them removed, IMMEDIATELY! If for any reason mines were placed, and they are not removed forthwith, the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before. If, on the other hand, they remove what may have been placed, it will be a giant step in the right direction! Additionally, we are using the same Technology and Missile capabilities deployed against Drug Traffickers to permanently eliminate any boat or ship attempting to mine the Hormuz Strait. They will be dealt with quickly and violently. BEWARE! 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 At least 175 people were killed in an airstrike on a primary school in Iran, the countrys authorities have said. The Shajareh Tayyebeh girls' elementary school in Minab, Iran, was destroyed during the launch of a joint US-Israeli bombing campaign on February 28. While the death toll has yet to be independently verified, the offensive is feared to be the single deadliest incident in the ongoing war. The strike has been condemned by Unesco as a grave violation of humanitarian law. Nearly two weeks after the strike, a preliminary inquiry has reportedly found the United States was at fault, US officials and others familiar with the investigation have told the New York Times. open image in gallery The site of a strike on the girls' school in Minab, Iran, after he was hit on the first day of the war ( ISNA ) How did the missile strike happen? Local authorities said the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls elementary school was struck by a missile in an attack in the southern city of Minab on the first day of the US-Israeli strikes. Strikes in the area began around 10am IRST (6am GMT). Iranian authorities reported initial strikes in the area at roughly 10:45am local time with social media reports emerging at around 11:30am. Iran runs on a six-day working week from Saturday to Thursday, with Friday being the only official day of rest. This means the school would have been occupied when it was hit. open image in gallery The school was surrounded by buildings related to the IRGC ( Planet Labs PBC ) The school was situated just 200 ft away from a nearby naval base belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard (IRGC). Satellite images show those buildings reduced to rubble. The school reportedly had no association with the IRGC for the last nine years and had been marked by colourful walls and paintings. Footage circulating on social media showed the building had been destroyed with remnants of school books seen among the rubble. Initial reports claimed five fatalities after the strike, with the death toll later rising to 85. By Saturday evening, officials said that 108 students had been killed. On Sunday evening, local prosecutors said the death toll had increased to 165 with a further 95 injured. The most recent reported death toll stands at 175. What has the US said about the attacks? open image in gallery Images released by the US department of defense show American strikes in the region ( Department of Defense ) In the days since the incident took place, there have been multiple statements made by US officials, and President Donald Trump - though not always appearing to be on the same page. A spokesman for US Central Command, Tim Hawkins, initially said on Sunday 1 March, the day after the attack: We take these reports seriously. The protection of civilians is of utmost importance, and we will continue to take all precautions available to minimise the risk of unintended harm. US secretary of defense Pete Hegseth told reporters on Wednesday 4 March that the matter was under investigation, stressing that the United States military did not target civilians, stopping short of a denial. Hegseths map of the first 100 hours of Americas US military operation against Iran showed American attacks around the Minab region, while a similar map of Iranian strikes showed no equivalent Iranian strike in the area over the same period. open image in gallery Video appearing to show a Tomahawk striking in Minab has been analysed by The Independent ( Telegram ) Asked whether the deaths were the result of a US strike, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters later the same day: Not that we know of. The United States of America does not target civilians, unlike the rogue Iranian regime that targets civilians, that kills children and uses propaganda quite effectively, she continued. And unfortunately, many people in this room have fallen for that propaganda. A US investigation is still underway but early evidence pointed towards American involvement. Military investigators, using evidence from data analysts reviewing satellite imagery, video footage and social media, believe that the school was hit by a precision strike and may have been hit more than once, in reports first emerging on Friday 6 March. Maps from the Department of Defense also showed two Iranian air defence targets surrounding the schools location, which is within what the Pentagon describes as a U.S./Israeli strikes zone. Outside military analysts also suggested that the Pentagons AI-driven targeting or human error that failed to check whether target maps were up to date may have played a role. open image in gallery Children were killed in the attacks that has prompted international backlash ( AP ) Trump, when asked about the incident a week later, blamed Iran. No, in my opinion, based on what Ive seen, that was done by Iran, he told reporters. Then, new footage that emerged 10 days after the attack appeared to show a Tomahawk missile striking the ground in the vicinity of the school. The president doubled down on Monday as he said of the video: I will say that the Tomahawk, which is one of the most powerful weapons around, is used by, you know, it's sold and used by other countries, you know that. And whether it's Iran, who also has some Tomahawks, they wish they had more, but, whether it's Iran or somebody else, the fact that a Tomahawk a Tomahawk is very generic, it's sold to other countries. But that's being investigated right now. open image in gallery Graves are being prepared for the victims following an Israeli strike on a school in Minab ( WANA ) But on Wednesday, March 11, nearly two weeks after the. incident, the New York Times revealed details of the preliminary inquiry into the incident. It reportedly found the US was responsible for the strike and that it had been caused by a Tomahawk missile. Officers at US Central Command are said to have created the target coordinates for the attack using outdated data provided by the Defense Intelligence Agency, according to The Times. However, the officials stressed that the findings are preliminary and that unanswered questions remain. As The New York Times acknowledges in its own reporting, the investigation is still ongoing, Leavitt said in a statement. When asked about the findings soon after the story was published, Trump told reporters outside the White House: I dont know about it. What has Israel said about the attacks? While the attacks on Iran have been a joint effort between the US and Israel, the Israeli military said it was not aware of the incident in the immediate aftermath. Israels ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, later said Israel is looking into the event but does not believe its military is involved. An Israeli government source told CBS News that Israel was not behind the attack and added that its military was not operating near the school. How has Iran reacted? Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian condemned the airstrike and expressed condolences to families impacted. I share the heavy sorrow of the victims families, the noble people of Minab, and all of Iran, and I stand with them in this grief, he said in a statement, according to Iranian news agency Tasnim. This savage act adds another black page to the record of countless crimes by the aggressors, a memory that will never be erased from our nations history, he continued. open image in gallery Iran president Masoud Pezeshkian has condemned the airstrike ( AP ) Pezeshkian called on rescue, medical, and relevant authorities to offer immediate and continuous assistance to the injured and the families of the fallen. Foreign minister Abbas Araghchi added: The destroyed building is a primary school for girls in the south of Iran. It was bombed in broad daylight, when packed with young pupils. Dozens of innocent children have been murdered at this site alone. These crimes against the Iranian People will not go unanswered. How has the world reacted to the strikes? Humanitarian organisations, including the United Nations and Unesco have condemned the strikes and suggested they violate international law. California governor Gavin Newsom accused Trump of focusing more on discussing a White House ballroom renovation than on military campaign which he said was carried out without congressional authorisation. We have to reconcile why our bombs were used, or Israeli bombs, were used to kill children, young girls at a school, he said last Wednesday. open image in gallery Smoke rises over Tehran following an attack ( AP ) Unesco said it was deeply alarmed by the impact of the ongoing military escalation in the Middle East on educational institutions, students, and education personnel. They went on: The killing of pupils in a place dedicated to learning constitutes a grave violation of the protection afforded to schools under international humanitarian law. Attacks against educational institutions endanger students and teachers and undermine the right to education. In accordance with its mandate and with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2601 (2021), Unesco recalls the obligations of all parties to protect schools, students and education personnel. 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 The world should prepare for oil to hit $200 a barrel, Iran's military command warned on Wednesday, as three more ships came under attack in the blockaded Gulf. This followed Iran's strikes at Israel and targets across the Middle East, demonstrating its capacity to fight back and disrupt energy supplies despite what the Pentagon described as the most intense US-Israeli strikes yet. Oil prices, which shot up earlier this week, have eased and stock markets have rebounded. Investors are betting that US president Donald Trump will find a quick way to end the war he began alongside Israel nearly two weeks ago. However, there has been no let-up on the ground, nor any sign ships can safely sail through the Strait of Hormuz. A fifth of the worlds oil remains blockaded behind a narrow channel along the Iranian coast, marking the worst disruption to energy supplies since the 1970s oil shocks. Get ready for oil be $200 a barrel, because the oil price depends on regional security which you have destabilised, Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for Irans military command, said in comments addressed to the United States. After a bank in Tehran was hit overnight, Zolfaqari also said Iran would respond with attacks on banks that do business with the United States or Israel. People across the Middle East should stay 1,000 metres from banks, he added. open image in gallery Smoke rises from Thai carrier Mayuree Naree near the Strait of Hormuz after an attack. ( Royal Thai Navy ) A senior Israeli official told Reuters Israeli leaders now privately accept that Irans ruling system could survive the war. Two other Israeli officials said there was no sign Washington was close to ending the campaign. In the latest public display of defiance, huge crowds of Iranians took to the streets on Wednesday for funerals for top commanders killed in airstrikes. They carried caskets and brandished flags and portraits of slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei and his son and successor, Mojtaba. An Iranian official told Reuters that Mojtaba Khamenei had been injured early in the war, when airstrikes killed his father, mother, wife and a son. He has not appeared in public or issued any direct message since the war began. A source also said Israel believed he had received minor injuries. The Iranian military said on Tuesday it had launched missiles at a US base in northern Iraq, the US naval headquarters for the Middle East in Bahrain, and at targets in central Israel. Explosions rang out in Bahrain, while in Dubai four people were injured by two drones that crashed near the airport. In Tehran, residents said they were growing accustomed to nightly airstrikes that have sent hundreds of thousands of people fleeing to the countryside and contaminated the city with black rain from oil smoke. There were bombings last night but I did not get scared like before. Life goes on, Farshid told Reuters by phone. IEA to propose huge release of oil reserves Three more merchant ships were struck in the Gulf by unknown projectiles, according to agencies that monitor maritime security, raising the number of ships reportedly hit since the war began to 14. open image in gallery Irans new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei ( WANA ) Crew were evacuated from a Thai-flagged bulk freighter after an explosion caused a fire. A Japan-flagged container ship and a Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier also sustained damage. Oil prices, which shot up briefly to nearly $120 a barrel on Monday, have since settled around $90, suggesting investors are betting Trump will be able to halt the war and reopen the strait soon. But governments are still discussing drastic action. The International Energy Agency was expected to recommend releasing 400 million barrels from global strategic reserves, a record. That would take months and amount to just three weeks' flow through the strait. US and Israeli officials say their aim is to end Irans ability to project force beyond its borders and destroy its nuclear programme, though they have also invited Iranians to topple the country's clerical rulers. Israels defence minister, Israel Katz, said on Wednesday the operation will continue without any time limit, as long as required, until we achieve all objectives and win the campaign. open image in gallery Smoke and flames rise at the site of airstrikes on an oil depot in Tehran. ( Middle East Images ) But the longer the war goes on, the greater the risk to the global economy, and if it ends with Irans system of clerical rule surviving, Tehran is certain to declare victory. Irans police chief Ahmadreza Radan said on Wednesday anyone taking to the streets would be treated as an enemy not a protester. All our security forces have their fingers on the trigger. Iran has said it will not let oil through the strait until US-Israeli attacks cease, and it will not negotiate. Trump has threatened to hit Iran 20 times harder if it blockades the strait, but US officials have not revealed any military plan to unblock it. In Israel, explosions rang out before dawn from air defences intercepting missiles. Sirens sent Israelis to shelters. Israel also launched a barrage on Beirut aimed at rooting out the Iran-backed group Hezbollah, which has fired into Israel from Lebanon in solidarity with Tehran. More than 1,300 Iranian civilians have been killed since the US and Israeli airstrikes began on 28 February, according to Irans UN ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani. Scores have also been killed in Israeli attacks on Lebanon. Iranian strikes on Israel have killed at least 11 people and two Israeli soldiers have died in Lebanon. Washington says seven US soldiers have been killed and around 140 have been wounded. 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 UNESCO has shared its profound concern over the damage inflicted upon world heritage sites in Iran and across the wider Middle East, as the conflict continues to take its toll on invaluable cultural landmarks. Tehran's Golestan Palace, often likened to Versailles, along with a historic mosque and another palace in Isfahan, have reportedly sustained damage in the ongoing US and Israeli war with Iran. The United Nations' cultural agency revealed on Wednesday that four of Iran's 29 world heritage sites have been affected since the hostilities began. UNESCO urged all parties to protect the region's outstanding cultural sites. Lazare Eloundou Assomo, director of the World Heritage Centre, told Reuters: "UNESCO is deeply concerned by the first impact that the hostilities are already having on many world heritage sites," adding that he was also concerned for sites in Israel, Lebanon and across the Middle East. Mr Assomo highlighted Tehran's Golestan Palace, damaged in USIsraeli strikes, as a testament to Iran's 19th-century civilisation. open image in gallery The United Nations' cultural agency on Wednesday urged all parties to protect the region's outstanding cultural sites, saying four of Iran's 29 world heritage sites had been damaged since the start of the US and Israeli war with Iran ( Reuters ) Chosen as the Persian royal residence and seat of power by the Qajar family, the palace, according to UNESCO's website, showcases the integration of European styles into Persian arts. It was also the venue for the coronation ceremony of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran, in 1969. "We sometimes even compare it with the Versailles Palace in France, for instance, and it has suffered, unfortunately, some damage. We don't know the extent for the moment. But clearly, with the images that we have been able to receive, we can confirm ... it has been affected," Eloundou Assomo said. Photos of the interior of the palace have shown piles of smashed glass and shards of wood on the floor, and shattered woodwork. Isfahan was one of Central Asia's most important cities and a key point on the Silk Road trading route. Its Masjed-e Jame (Jameh Mosque) is more than 1,000 years old and shows the development of Islamic art through 12 centuries. open image in gallery Tehran's Golestan Palace, often likened to Versailles, along with a historic mosque and another palace in Isfahan, have sustained damage in the ongoing US and Israeli war with Iran ( Iranian government ) Buildings close to the buffer zone of the prehistoric sites of the Khorramabad Valley have also been damaged, UNESCO said. UNESCO has shared coordinates of key cultural sites to all parties, Eloundou Assomo said, and was monitoring damage. "We are calling for the protection of all sites of cultural significance ... everything that tells the history of all the civilisations of the 18 countries in the region," he said. 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 Three commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz have been attacked after the US destroyed more than a dozen mine-laying vessels near the major shipping route. More than 20 crew members were rescued and three remain missing after a Thai cargo ship, the Mayuree Naree, was targeted by projectiles and set ablaze as it sailed through the waterway on Wednesday. It brings the total number of attacked vessels in the strait to 13, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operation. President Donald Trump had warned Iran not to lay mines in the passageway on Tuesday as Iranian armed forces continued to block the vital trade route, threatening shipping and causing oil prices to surge. If for any reason mines were placed, and they are not removed forthwith, the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before, Trump wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday. open image in gallery The Strait of Hormuz is one of the worlds major shipping routes ( AP ) The Strait of Hormuz is a waterway in the Persian Gulf through which around a fifth of the worlds oil passes. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps navy had declared complete control of the Strait on Wednesday 4 March, days after US-Israeli strikes took out the Islamic Republics supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on 28 February. The IRGC threatened to set fire to any ships attempting to pass through the strait. Below, we look at why the strait is so strategically important and what impact the war is having so far. Where is the Strait of Hormuz? open image in gallery The Strait of Hormuz runs to the south of Iran and is just 21 miles across at its narrowest point ( Getty/iStock ) The Strait of Hormuz lies between the Persian Gulf to the north and the Gulf of Oman to the south, opening up to the Arabian Sea and beyond to the rest of the world. It is roughly 100 miles long, but only 21 miles across at its narrowest point. The land-flanked passage lies in Irans territorial waters, but is viewed as an international waterway and is normally open to all ships. It consists of two shipping lanes allowing traffic to pass in opposite directions, each two miles wide, with another two-mile-wide lane separating them. International law permits countries to exercise control up to 13.8 miles (12 nautical miles) from their coastline. At its narrowest point, the passage comes under both Iranian and Omani control. Iran lies on one side of the strait, and some of the worlds biggest oil suppliers including Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman lie across the waters. What passes through the strait? open image in gallery Around a fifth of the worlds oil supply passes through the strait (Stock picture) ( Reuters ) It is one of the worlds most important maritime chokepoints, with 20 million barrels of oil passing through it each day one-fifth of global oil consumption and up to one-third of the worlds supply of liquefied natural gas. This amounts to over 500 million barrels of oil and 6 million tonnes of gas every month, according to Lloyds List. Much of this is exported to Asian markets, including China (Irans only remaining oil customer), India and Japan. It is the route used by supertankers carrying oil and gas from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE and Iran. Around 3,000 shipping vessels pass through the passage every month, including oil tankers, liquefied natural gas containers, and cargo vessels, according to Lloyds List. This amounts to more than 30,000 ships every year. While there are pipelines in Saudi Arabia and the UAE that can transport oil, the US Energy Information Administration says that most volumes that transit the strait have no alternative means of exiting the region. On 18 February, Iran closed the Middle Eastern waterway for the first time since the 1980s as Iranian troops took part in live-fire military exercises. Iran had not threatened to close the passage even during its 12-day war with Israel last June, when US-Israeli strikes took out some of the countrys key nuclear and military sites. A global trade bottleneck as missiles rain down open image in gallery Traffic through the strait has dropped dramatically since the US strikes began ( MarineTraffic ) Passage through the waterway has almost ground to a halt, creating a trade bottleneck, since the current war broke out. The number of oil tankers crossing the strait was at 20 per cent of pre-war levels on Monday, according to a Goldman Sachs analysis using ship-tracking data from S&P Global and Kpler reported in the Wall Street Journal. Goldman Sachs estimates that there has been a slight uptick in traffic over the last week but that vessels only carried around 1.6 million barrels through the waterway each day, a fraction of the 20 million barrels pre-conflict. Kpler reported on Tuesday that it can say with near certainty that seven vessels, including four tankers and three bulk carriers, have crossed the Strait of Hormuz since 6 March. The UKTMO has received reports of at least 13 attacks on vessels. A US oil tanker was set on fire have been hit in the mayhem as maritime insurers have pulled insurance cover. At least one Indian crew member was killed on Sunday 1 March, according to Euro News. Several reports from trade publications suggest that others have been injured. US attacks have spilled over into international waters with the US military torpedoing an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, 40 nautical miles off the coast of Sri Lanka on Wednesday 4 March. At least 87 people were killed. Effects on oil prices and the global economy open image in gallery An aerial view of the Iranian shore and the island of Qeshm in the Strait of Hormuz ( Reuters ) Any disruption to traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is highly disruptive to the oil trade. Since the outbreak of conflict oil prices have surged to over $100 a barrel. The scale of what is at stake cannot be overstated, said Hakan Kaya, senior portfolio manager at investment management firm Neuberger Berman. Amin Nasser, the president and CEO of Saudi Arabias oil giant Aramco, warned on Tuesday that if oil tankers continue to be unable to transit the strait that will have a serious impact on the global economy. Threats to the route have spiked global energy prices in the past, including during the Israel-Iran war in June 2025. China and Japan, who will be severely affected, have called for an immediate de-escalation of the conflict. 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 Irans newly-appointed supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei was injured but is continuing to operate, an Iranian official told Reuters on Wednesday. State television had described him as war-wounded, and Khamenei has not been seen by Iranians or issued any public statement or message since his selection on Sunday by a clerical assembly. A source told CNN that he fractured his foot on the first day of the war, and also bruised his eye and had minor cuts on his face. Earlier on Wednesday, Iran confirmed he was safe and sound after sustaining injuries in the conflict and Iranian officials told Reuters he had been lightly injured. He is widely rumoured to have been wounded in the Israeli and U.S. strikes. open image in gallery Mojtaba succeeds his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had been in charge for 37 years ( Office of Iran's supreme leader ) Seen as a hardliner close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), Khamenei was the leading contender to succeed his father, Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the first wave of strikes on February 28. The official did not give details about when the new supreme leader was injured or why he had not made any statement to the public since his appointment. The first airstrikes in the war were aimed at decapitating Iran's leadership, and besides his father, they killed Khameneis mother, sister and wife, state television said. His Eminence Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei is today the heir to the blood of his martyred father, his martyred mother, his martyred sister and his martyred wife, a news anchor read out on state television, using Khameneis full titles and honorifics. open image in gallery The new supreme leader was pushed through with extensive support from the IRGC ( ISNA ) He, who is a janbaz of the Ramadan war, inherits the path of the proud and steadfast martyrs of this land, the anchor added, using an Iranian term for a wounded veteran, and the name Iranian officials have given the current conflict because it is happening during Islams fasting month. Israels intelligence assessment is that Khamenei was lightly wounded and that is why he has not been seen in public, a senior Israeli official told Reuters. The new supreme leader was pushed through with extensive support from the IRGC, sources have told Reuters. Long the head of his fathers office, known in Persian as the beyt, he has had a direct role in running the Iranian state for years. However, he is not well known to ordinary Iranians having made few public speeches or other appearances in the past. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Donald Trump has shrugged off Russia supplying intelligence to his enemies in Iran and rewarded the Kremlin with the option of lifting oil sanctions against Moscow. The latest moves by the US president beg the question whose side is he on and not for the first time. The most recent concession to Vladimir Putin came after the first telephone call between the two presidents this year one that the Kremlin says was initiated by the Oval Office to the Russian president. With an eye on the oil markets, Trump said that he thought the war against Iran would end soon, adding it was very complete, before declaring hours later that the fight would continue as we havent won enough. His secretary of war, Pete Hegseth, then had a go at clearing things up, promising that Tuesday would see the heaviest strikes by the US and Israel so far and warned that Iran would suffer catastrophic consequences if it throttled Gulf oil exports. open image in gallery Trump has given mixed messages about the end of the war ( AFP/Getty ) At a press conference, Trump unveiled his plan to resolve the spike in oil: Were waiving certain oil-related sanctions to reduce prices. So we have sanctions on some countries. Were going to take those sanctions off until this straightens out. He did not identify the countries, but he was most likely referring to Russia and its exports to India and China. Then who knows, maybe we wont have to put them on; therell be so much peace... he added. There will not be peace in Ukraine as a result of lifting oil sanctions against Russia, which earns more than $100bn a year from its sanctions-busting oil exports. Trump stopped all US military support for Ukraine a year ago. Volodymyr Zelensky has already warned in an interview with The Independent that the Middle East war has left his country yet more vulnerable. Kyiv is also more vulnerable now to Russian missiles because Patriot and Thaad weapons, used to shoot down Russian ballistic rockets, are being used up in the Middle East. A return of Russia to full export capacity would add at least $50bn to the Kremlins war chest and be a massive boost to its military campaign at a time when Kyiv is showing signs of regaining the military initiative. The extraordinary suggestion should come as no surprise. Given that Trump had already shrugged off Western intelligence reports, which said that Putins spies were giving targeting information to Iran. That information will have helped Tehran to attack US bases in the Gulf, where at least six US servicemen have been killed. open image in gallery The US has revealed the identities of four of the six US service members who died in a drone strike over the weekend (from left): Capt Cody A Khork, 35; Sgt 1st Class Nicole M Amor, 39; Sgt 1st Class Noah L Tietjens, 42; and Sgt Declan J Coady, 20 ( US Army Reserve ) The US-Israeli war against Irans regime had caused a surge in crude oil prices close to $120 a barrel and affected prices for Americans at the gas pump. His claim that the campaign would end soon caused an adjustment down in international oil markets, and his offer to lift sanctions, imposed on Russia after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, could result in a further decline, relieving some domestic criticism of Trump. The US presidents own Maga base has been rattled by his air invasion of Iran, given his previous commitments to end Americas conflicts in the Middle East. So there is a clear indication here that Trump is aware of the local political problems he faces and hopes to buy them off by loosening the geostrategic controls the US has imposed on Russias oil production by bringing down fuel prices at home. But he does not need to help Russia to help himself. He has boasted that Iran cannot indefinitely strangle Gulf oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz. Global oil reserves outside of Russia are more than enough to meet global demands, even with a temporary loss of movement through the Arabian Gulf. The White House is trying to find ways to help Russia, an ally of Iran that has supplied technology used in Tehrans missile attacks on US bases and allied installations. open image in gallery The most recent concession to Vladimir Putin came after the first telephone call between the two presidents this year ( Sputnik ) On Friday, treasury secretary Scott Bessent said the United States could free more Russian oil from sanctions. Russias special presidential envoy on investment, Kirill Dmitriev, said on Saturday he was discussing the issue with Washington. Dmitriev, the Kremlins point man in talks with Trumps peace envoy to Russia, Steve Witkoff, has enjoyed access to the highest echelons of the Trump administration and discussed numerous business opportunities for America involving $12-14 trillion. That is the equivalent of six times Russias total annual economic output. This fantasy figure amid oil and gas, minerals, and all manner of economic opportunities for US firms, some of which are strongly linked to the Trump family, has been part of Dmitrievs pitch to Witkoff. The two men have met at least nine times since last April frequently in Florida. This astronomical peace dividend would be available to the US only in the event of a deal that ended the war in Ukraine. Lifting sanctions on Russia might, the Kremlin may believe, speed up the process of Ukrainian capitulation to Russian demands, endorsed by Witkoff and Trump, that Ukraine give up its established defensive lines across the east of the country as part of a long-term deal. open image in gallery Rescuers work at the site of an apartment building hit by a Russian missile strike, in Kharkiv ( Reuters ) Oleksandr Morezkho, chair of the Ukrainian parliaments foreign affairs committee, said: If Trump sincerely wants to bring peace to Ukraine, the only way to do it is by depriving Russia of its oil revenues, because those revenues feed the Russian war machine. If Trump lifts oil sanctions in any way, it will only provide a lifeline to the Russian war machine and, at the end of the day, will translate into more civilian casualties in Ukraine. This comes at a time when Ukraine is diverting some of its own defensive drones to the Gulf to help protect the US and its allies from incoming Iranian attacks. That is an irony that Trump has chosen to ignore as he continues to favour Russia over Ukraine, his allies, his own troops, but not big business. 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 settlers in the occupied West Bank are reportedly exploiting movement restrictions imposed during the conflict with Iran, leading to increased attacks on Palestinians. Rights groups and medical personnel warn that military roadblocks are impeding ambulances from swiftly reaching victims. Since the commencement of US and Israeli airstrikes against Iran on 28 February, at least five Palestinians have been killed by settlers in the West Bank, according to the Palestinian health ministry. An additional man died after inhaling teargas fired during an attack, as reported by Israeli rights group B'Tselem. The Israeli military implemented significant curbs on movement on the first day of the conflict, blocking numerous West Bank roads with iron gates and earth mounds, and largely closing crossings with Israel. The military states these measures are preemptive while it conducts airstrikes on Iran and against Lebanese group Hezbollah, which has launched missiles at Israel in solidarity with Tehran. Palestinians residing in remote West Bank villages describe feeling increasingly vulnerable to settler violence due to these roadblocks. They also note that the Israeli military has continued its frequent raids in Palestinian cities and towns, often resulting in arrests without charge, a practice common even during peacetime. A spokesperson for the Yesha Council, which represents Jewish settlements, did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the attacks. open image in gallery A woman attends the inauguration ceremony of a newly-legalized Jewish settlement, Yatziv, adjacent to the Palestinian town of Beit Sahour, in the West Bank, Jan. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg) ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) Malak Beirat's husband, Thaer, was one of two Palestinians who residents and the Palestinian health ministry say were shot dead by settlers before dawn on Sunday in Abu Falah, north of the city of Ramallah. "Thaer loved life. I never expected he would die," said Beirat, fighting back tears as she sat with her two children. Witnesses told Reuters that when over 100 settlers gathered on the outskirts of Abu Falah, a local WhatsApp group rallied men to protect the small village. The initial confrontation involved stone throwing, but armed settlers arrived later and began shooting, they said. Beirat's husband was shot dead while trying to protect a house from attack, a man who helped defend the village said. Blood could still be seen on Monday in olive groves at the scene of the attack, where villagers have erected two Palestinian flags at the spots where the two men were killed - one for each victim. A third Palestinian died after the attack. B'Tselem said his death was probably caused by the effect of teargas fired by Israeli troops deployed to the village during the attack. The Israeli military says an investigation has been launched into the incident and that it condemns "violence of any kind". open image in gallery Palestinians gather around the bodies of Thaer Farouq Hamayel, 24, and Farea Hamayel, 57, who were killed in a violent clash with Israeli settlers, during their funeral in the West Bank village of Abu Falah, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed) ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) Medics say the new roadblocks have led to delays in reaching injured Palestinians. "There are obstacles - and even attacks by settlers and the military on the (medical) crews," said Ahmed Jibril, spokesman for the Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance service. There have been over 109 reports of settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank since the start of the war with Iran including shootings, physical assaults, property damage, and threats, said Israeli monitoring group Yesh Din. All the reported killings of Palestinians by settlers this year were in the last week, B'Tselem said. Settlers shot dead Amir Muhammad Shanaran in a village near the city of Hebron on Saturday, and brothers Muhammad and Fahim Azem were shot dead in Qaryut southeast of the city of Nablus last Monday, the Palestinian health ministry said. "Taking advantage of the war, armed settler militias, often operating with support from the army, continue to attack and harass Palestinian communities across the West Bank in an effort to force them out," B'Tselem said. In three of the settler shootings, the settlers were wearing Israeli army uniform, Yesh Din said. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Palestinians accuse the military of protecting settlers rather than villagers. Israel's military denies this. Israeli indictments of settler violence are rare. At the end of 2025, Yesh Din said that of the hundreds of cases of settler violence it had documented since the Hamas-led attacks on Israel in October 2023 that led to the Gaza war, only 2% resulted in indictments. open image in gallery Mourners sit outside a hospital morgue where two bodies were brought, identified as Palestinian brothers Mohammad and Faheem Mo'mar, and who according to the Palestinian Health Ministry were shot by Israeli settlers in their home village of Qaryut, in the West Bank city of Nablus, Monday, March 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed) ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) The United Nations says nearly 700 Palestinians were displaced by settler violence from the start of 2025 through early February 2026. Israel's government has expanded settlements in a construction push that Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich says is aimed at burying the idea of a Palestinian state. Right-wing Israeli minister Yossi Dagan announced on Wednesday the establishment of a new settlement in a strategic position in the mountain overlooking Nablus, one of 22 new settlements announced by the Israeli government last May. Palestinians have long sought an independent state in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, territories Israel captured and occupied in the 1967 Middle East war. Over 700,000 settlers live in East Jerusalem and the West Bank among more than 3 million Palestinians, according to a European Union report in 2024. Most of the world considers Israel's settlement activity in the West Bank illegal under international law relating to military occupations. Israel disputes this view. 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 You can be walking down the street and suddenly the sirens go off, and you have to run to a bomb shelter. Sometimes, I dont even know where the bomb shelters are I just follow the crowd and hope they know. New Yorker Joy Rosenthal revealed to The Independent how her daily life now contains periods of intense panic, after becoming trapped in Israel amid the war against Iran. I just want to feel safe again, she said via video chat from an apartment in Jerusalem. The 39-year-old, from the borough of Queens, flew into Tel Aviv three days before Operation Epic Fury, arriving on Wednesday, February 25, for family celebrations, including her nephews bar mitzvah and a cousins wedding. She was expecting to fly back to New York City via London yesterday, March 10, but the flight to the UK capital, operated by El Al, was canceled on Sunday. open image in gallery New Yorker Joy Rosenthal pictured in Jerusalem. She's trapped in Israel amid the war with Iran and has described how her daily life now is spent going in and out of bomb shelters ( @thebroadwaywiz ) The London-New York JFK flight was with El Al partner Virgin Atlantic, but the carriers customer service team could only offer a full refund or a flight from Tel Aviv to NYC in late April. Joy took the refund. I dont want to wait until the end of April, she said. However, for the time being, shes stuck, and is having to find a way of dealing with constant warnings of impending missile and rocket strikes pinging on her cell phone at all times of day and night. Every time the alarm goes off, my heart starts racing. Its petrifying. I don't film the bombs or explosions. I just run to safety, Joy explained. She revealed that she is staying at an apartment belonging to a neighbor of her parents, who live in Jerusalem. open image in gallery Joy (middle) is pictured in Jerusalem with her mother, Esther, and cousin, Asher. Joy revealed how she sometimes has to rely on following the crowds to find bomb shelters open image in gallery People take cover on a highway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv as air raid sirens warn of incoming Iranian missiles ( AP ) Fortunately, it has a bomb shelter and a bathroom right next door in a room with no windows, which is a comparative luxury. In the synagogues bomb shelter, there was no bathroom, revealed Joy. You had to go up the stairs and out of the shelter. She described the situation shes in as very scary, and is coping mentally with prayer. I believe in God and I just hope that nothing bad can happen to me and Ill get out, she said. I believe this was meant to be, but at the same time, its very scary. Joy, who runs a website about Broadway shows, has limited options for escape. open image in gallery Israeli security forces inspect a damaged road after a missile launched from Iran struck Jerusalem on Sunday, March 1 ( AP ) open image in gallery Joy said that missile and rocket attack warnings arrive on her phone constantly ( @thebroadwaywiz ) She has registered for the U.S. Embassy evacuation list, and while some of her friends have been flown out to Athens, Greece, and told to find their own way back to America from there, Joy has been told to wait and be patient. She feels that the government hasnt given her enough guidance and doesnt always answer the phone. She revealed: [The U.S. Government] just said, They will call you and give you two hours notice to get to the airport. If you don't take that option, then they're not going to offer you a different one. open image in gallery Joy explained that there are options to return via Egypt, but she'd heard of Israeli women being sexually assualted at the border. Pictured is an advert for a repatriation flight to New York via Egypt and Romania ( @thebroadwaywiz ) It could be anywhere, as long as it's safe. Traveling to Egypt by land is also a possibility, but Joy has heard horror stories about women being sexually assaulted once theyre over the border. open image in gallery A trace of an air defense missile interception during an Iranian attack over Jerusalem's Old City on Sunday, March 1 ( AP ) open image in gallery Joy is desperate to see her brother, Yoni, left, who has Down syndrome ( @thebroadwaywiz ) She said: You can go through Egypt and pay $40, but I read somewhere that they're separating the men and the women, and that the women are being sexually assaulted. So, I do not feel comfortable doing that. In desperation, Joy pleaded for help on her @thebroadwaywiz Instagram profile. Part of that desperation comes from missing her brother, Yoni, back in New York. He has Down syndrome and I visit him every week, said Joy. I havent seen him since I got here. I really miss him. He doesn't want to FaceTime, he doesn't talk and doesn't understand the concept. What will it feel like to finally get home? Heaven, said Joy. The Independent has reached out to Virgin Atlantic for comment. 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 Cologne Cathedral is set to introduce a visitor's fee for tourists following a rise in operating costs. The famed Gothic building in western Germany said increased personnel and operating costs meant upkeep had risen sharply in recent years. A visitor's fee of an undetermined amount will be paid by tourists in the second half of 2026 to fill gaps in funding. Existing fees to climb the tower, visit the cathedral treasury and attend concerts may also increase, but entry will remain free for worshippers and members of the Central Cathedral Building Association. Access to votive candles and silent prayer in designated areas will also remain free of charge. According to cathedral operators, between 1,800 and 2,000 services and six million visitors are hosted annually. A decrease in cathedral visitor numbers could have a positive impact on the atmosphere by controlling large crowds, they added. Current cost projections for 2026 include an expenditure of around 16 million (13.8m). Generally, operating costs are covered by the Archdiocese of Cologne and the Central Cathedral Building Association, with further external funding from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the city of Cologne. An offer by the Archdiocese of Cologne to bring forward 2027s annual subsidy for the cathedral will be helpful for investing in urgently needed measures to develop new sources of income, said cathedral provost Msgr Guido Assmann. The cathedral provost said: This is a step we, as the Cathedral Chapter, are taking after careful consideration and with full awareness of our great responsibility. It may seem to some like an infringement on cherished traditions. But it is essential if we want to continue the care, protection, and ongoing operation of the Cathedral in the proven manner. He added, We expect that the new admission fee will significantly calm the daily operations in the cathedral and help to make the cathedral more accessible again as a house of worship and a sacred space. Read more: Staggering rise in cost to enter UKs most popular tourist attractions revealed 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 The boss of Indias largest airline has resigned after months of scrutiny over the cancellation of thousands of flights in December. Pieter Elbers will be relieved from the service of the company effective close of business hours on 10 March 2026, IndiGo said in a filing reported by NDTV. Managing director Rahul Bhatia has been placed in charge in the interim, the airline said on Tuesday. The airline, which controls roughly 65 per cent of the domestic aviation market, cancelled 4,500 flights in December in what was the biggest crisis in its 20-year history, with the delays affecting more than a million passengers. According to Indias aviation regulator DGCA, some 980,000 people were hit by flight cancellations and 640,000 were stranded at airports due to delays stretching beyond two hours. The disruption continued for days and pushed fares unusually high on several routes. The flight disruptions came amid a regulatory overhaul with the rollout of stricter work-hour norms for pilots and crew to enable better working conditions. The new roster rules, known as Flight Duty Time Limitations, were implemented in two phases. The first was rolled out in July and the second on 1 November, drastically reducing the number of hours pilots and crew could fly. Ground staff members stand next to an IndiGo aircraft amid flight cancellations and delays owing to dense fog at the Varanasi airport on 23 December 2025 ( AFP via Getty ) Following the operational meltdown, the DGCA reprimanded Mr Elbers for "inadequate overall oversight of flight operations and crisis management as the airline apologised for the extensive disruption from misjudgement and planning gaps. The regulator later imposed penalties of Rs 222m (12.43m) on the carrier and reprimanded several other executives as well. Though IndiGo released Mr Elbers' resignation letter that cited "personal reasons" for his exit, Bhatia, the airline's co-founder who will take charge in the interim, referred to the cancellations in an internal memo he sent about his new role. "What happened last December should never have taken place," he said in the email seen by Reuters. He also thanked employees for working tirelessly during the crisis. Mr Elbers, a former KLM Royal Dutch Airlines executive who took charge of IndiGo in September 2022, faced intense pressure in the weeks following the mass cancellations as the crisis tarnished the carriers reputation. The airline had become popular in India for its on-time performance and budget ticket prices. Under Mr Elbers, the airline had placed a large order for about 500 Airbus narrowbody aircraft and dozens of widebody aircraft from the European maker to expand its operations. Earlier last year, he had shared the stage with Indian prime minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, basking in IndiGo's role as the host airline for an aviation event. IndiGo's shares have fallen 13.5 per cent this year, due to the financial impact of the cancellations and, more recently, disruptions arising from the conflict in the Middle East that had led to large portions of the airspace in the region being shut, compounding the impact from an airspace ban imposed by Pakistan. IndiGo has 440 aircraft in its fleet and operates mostly domestic flights. However, it also flies to foreign destinations like the UK and the Middle East. 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 More than 300 TSA workers have quit since the DHS shutdown began, according to reports. TSA officer call-out rates have also rocketed into double-digit percentages at some airports, straining operations and throwing millions of Americans travel plans into chaos. A review of internal Transportation Security Administration statistics by CBS News found that the number of so-called employee separations had reached 305. The data also suggested that 50,000 employees would be required to work without pay until the shutdown, which began on February 14, ends. open image in gallery Internal TSA statistics suggest that 305 employees have quit amid the DHS shutdown, according to CBS News ( AP ) Former TSA Administrator John Pistole told the network that nearly 1,100 security officers resigned after the 2025 shutdown. If the current departmental closure drags on, he believes more staff could leave. The shutdown could even make it harder to recruit new officers, Pistole added. He says applicants could question taking a job where they work without pay. However, Democratic lawmakers have refused to commit to DHS funding until restrictions are placed on federal immigration operations. Amid the ongoing shutdown, absence rates have exceeded ten percent at some of the U.S.s major airports. At the William P. Hobby Airport in Houston, 53 percent of officers were absent on March 8, and 47 percent were absent on the following day. John F. Kennedy International Airport recorded an average TSA officer call-out rate of 21 percent, while Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport recorded a 19 percent absence rate. open image in gallery Absence rates hit 53 percent at an airport in Houston, according to the TSA statistics ( AFP/Getty ) The staff shortages have led to chaos at airports across the country, with KHOU 11 reporting that passengers faced delays of over three hours at Houstons Hobby Airport on Sunday. That same day, jetsetters atLouis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport were warned on X that wait times could exceed three hours. Marcos Crespo, the vice president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 1260, told 8 News Now that he believes that the shutdown could get even worse. This paycheck coming up, were going to miss completely. So its going to really start affecting people come this weekend, Crespo said. Its definitely going to start getting worse and worse. Kevin Smith, the president of the AFGE Local 618, told WISH-TV that several TSA agents have already quit their jobs at Indianapolis International Airport. Its more annoying at this point than anything, Smith said. Were used to it every year. But this is the third one since November and so its very frustrating, and for those who just started and didnt know about this or didnt prepare for this, its really bad for them. open image in gallery Passengers were warned to expect three hour delays at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport ( AFP/Getty ) A TSA officer working at Harry Reid International Airport told 8 News Now that the cost of gas has skyrocketed recently, adding to the financial stress on DHS employees. Michael A. Pierce, the vice president of AFGE Local 555, told Fox 17 that both he and his wife are employed by the TSA. That means they are a zero-income household during the shutdown. Being so close on the heels of the last one makes this one a little more difficult, Pierce added. We had to dig deep last time into savings that some had, and some didnt. Workers are typically paid retroactively once a shutdown ends. The Independent has contacted the TSA for comment. Carol Kirkwood has revealed when her final appearance on BBC Breakfast will be, as she gets set to leave the show after 28 years. The Scottish weathercaster, 63, joined the BBC Weather Centre in 1998, before becoming BBC Breakfasts main weather presenter in 2010, announcing her departure in January 2026. Speaking on BBC Breakfast on Wednesday, 11 March, Ms Kirkwood said, although it was "tempting" to not leave, her last shift on air will be on 1 April. "It's not an April's fools! I can't believe it's coming around so quickly," she added. The Irish Government will release 1.6 million barrels of oil onto the market around 10.5 days of supply as part of a global move to keep a lid on prices. The move is part of the International Energy Agencys (IEA) agreement to discharge 400 million barrels from emergency oil reserves, the largest-ever release, as governments seek to contain a spike in energy prices driven by the Middle East war. The Paris-based IEA is a global organisation made up of member country governments, which each hold strategic oil reserves in case of threats to fuel supply. Ireland is a member of the IEA and typically aims to hold 90 days of oil supply in the National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA). That Irish oil is held in sites across Ireland, including close to the countrys only refinery at Whitegate in Cork, as well as in Spain, Denmark and Sweden. The reserve is funded though a levy on the fuels industry. The price spike, as a result of the US and Israeli war with Iran, sent prices towards record levels earlier this week. "The oil market challenges we are facing are unprecedented in scale," IEA executive director Fatih Birol said in a statement today. "IEA member countries have responded with an emergency collective action of unprecedented size." The decision was unanimous, Mr Birol said, without detailing the pace of the release. Oil soared to almost $120 a barrel in London earlier this week as flows through the Persian Gulf's critical Strait of Hormuz remained essentially halted, though futures have since eased in part on expectations that governments would tap their oil reserves. The IEA, which co-ordinates stockpile releases for OECD countries, has said its 32 members hold more than 1.2 billion barrels in public emergency stockpiles, including the largest buffer, the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve. There's a further 600 million barrels of industry stocks under government obligation. Here, Climate, Energy and Environment Minister Darragh O'Brien said: "My department convened the Oil Security of Supply Group earlier this week [Monday, 9 March] to collate information from the oil industry on the supply situation as it pertains to local markets. They reported no immediate supply concerns. The views of the industry will factor in decisions around this release. The fund is expected to focus on projects in Ireland linked to renewable energy and emissions reduction. Photo: stock image. The Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (Isif) has committed up to 140m to a new climate infrastructure fund set up by investment firm TirNua Capital Partners. TirNua is a joint venture between Irish Life Investment Managers (ILIM) and global private markets investor Northleaf Capital Partners. The State-backed fund will act as a cornerstone investor in the TirNua climate action infrastructure fund, which has already secured 340m in commitments from investors, it said. The fund is expected to focus on projects in Ireland linked to renewable energy and emissions reduction. The investment is part of Isifs wider climate investment programme. The fund said it previously reached its initial 1bn target for climate-related investments in 2025, two years ahead of schedule. The fund will support projects linked to climate and renewable energy, such as solar power. Photo: Getty Isif has since set out plans to double the programme to 2bn, with an additional 1bn to be invested between 2025 and 2029 in projects linked to climate and energy infrastructure. The TirNua fund will primarily invest in infrastructure designed to support the energy transition. This includes renewable power projects, battery energy storage systems and upgrades aimed at improving energy efficiency in buildings. Other potential investment areas include infrastructure linked to offshore wind projects, biogas production and greener transport systems. The fund will also consider investments aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of data centres. At least 60pc of the funds investments are expected to be made in Ireland, it said. By investing in these vital infrastructure projects, we are supporting the energy transition Tanaiste and Finance Minister Simon Harris said the investment would support projects linked to the Governments Climate Action Plan. I very much welcome todays announcement by Isif of 140m an investment that will help drive progress in the crucial area of climate action, Mr Harris said. By investing in these vital infrastructure projects, we are supporting the energy transition in Ireland, while also creating jobs and supporting local economies. Rebekah Brady, interim director of Isif, said the programme is intended to support businesses involved in developing infrastructure linked to energy transition. TirNua is a pioneering Irish platform which will seek to catalyse investment from pension funds and other investors into the energy transition in Ireland, driven by the ILIM partnership, Ms Brady said. The traditional banks will hope the new facility will help them compete with neo-banks such as Revolut. Photo: Getty Revolut is set to launch as a fully-fledged bank in the UK after securing the green light from regulators following a lengthy wait. The fintech said it received the all-clear from the Bank of England's Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) for a full banking licence, allowing it to offer accounts for retail and business customers. It will start rolling out current accounts to a small number of new customers within days - gradually expanding this over the coming weeks to ensure a "smooth user experience", the group said. Revolut - which already has 13 million customers in the UK - also plans to offer a wider array of banking services in the future, such as lending and other products. It comes after Revolut was granted a licence with restrictions in July 2024, having first applied to become a full bank in 2021. Nik Storonsky, co-founder and chief executive of Revolut, said: "Launching our UK bank has been a long-term strategic priority for Revolut and marks a significant moment in our journey. "The UK is our home market and central to our growth. "We look forward to introducing a full suite of banking services to our millions of UK customers, bringing the same innovative experience we already provide across the rest of Europe." He added it was a "vital step in our mission to build the world's first truly global bank". Francesca Carlesi, UK chief executive at Revolut, said: "Securing this licence lays the foundation for our next chapter: expanding into a broader suite of products, including credit, to sit alongside the innovative services our customers already rely on every day." Since 2024, Revolut has been allowed to test its banking systems with a small number of customers through the restricted banking licence, meaning it has not been able to fully operate as a bank and hold customer deposits above a total of 50,000. It first launched in the UK in 2015 as a money transfer and exchange and it has since grown globally, with 70 million customers now worldwide. The group has a target of launching in 30 new markets by 2030, and recently announced a 10 billion investment across its global operations over the next five years. Last September, Revolut unveiled plans to put 3 billion of global investment into its UK expansion and create 1,000 jobs. DoneDeal survey also finds sharp fall in imports from UK since Brexit A typical three-year-old electric vehicle (EV) in Ireland now costs 28,825 on the used market, around 7,000 less than a comparable diesel vehicle priced at 35,893, according to the latest DoneDeal Car Price Index. Hybrid cars sit just above EVs with a median price of 28,985, while petrol remains the cheapest option upfront at 22,900 for a three-year-old model. Plug-in hybrids are the most expensive, with a median price of 46,688. The figures mark a sharp turnaround in the used-car market. In 2022, electric vehicles were about 10pc more expensive than comparable diesel cars, the report said. By the second half of 2025 that had reversed, with EVs trading at roughly an 11.3pc discount compared with diesel models when factors such as age, mileage and make were taken into account. The report suggests the steep drop in used EV prices seen in recent years has now stabilised. Prices fell sharply through 2023 and 2024, but the latest data shows the market largely flattening out. In the final quarter of 2025, used EV prices slipped just 1.1pc, while annual prices were down only 0.1pc, a significant slowdown compared with the 12.9pc drop recorded the previous year. Depreciation rates across fuel types are now similar. Electric cars are currently losing about 11.9pc of their value each year on average, compared with around 12.4pc for diesel vehicles and 10.1pc for petrol models. Prices for other fuel types have begun rising again. Hybrid vehicles posted an annual price increase of 2.4pc, while the broader internal combustion engine market grew by about 3.5pc year-on-year, the report said. Its a significant turning point for buyers considering making the switch The report also shows continued pressure in the cheaper end of the used-car market. Vehicles priced below 6,000 rose by 7.6pc year-on-year as supply of lower-cost cars remains tight. The DoneDeal price index shows steady conditions across the sector, with modest price growth rather than the sharp spikes seen during the Covid-19 supply shortages. It noted that Brexit is also continuing to reshape Irelands used-car supply chain. Imports from the UK have collapsed from more than 108,000 vehicles in 2019, about 95pc of imports, to just over 12,800 in 2025, or roughly 18pc of the market. In its place, Japan has emerged as a key supplier. Imports from Japan have surged from just over 5,000 vehicles in 2019 to more than 36,000 in 2025, accounting for around half of all used-car imports into Ireland. The big shift is that electric cars are no longer carrying a premium over diesel. In many cases, theyre thousands cheaper, which is a significant turning point for buyers considering making the switch, Paddy Comyn, head of automotive content and communications at DoneDeal, said. Separately, the report shows how Brexit has reshaped Irelands used-car supply chain. Imports from the UK have fallen sharply since 2019, while Japan now accounts for roughly half of all used-car imports into Ireland, many of them European brands originally sold in the Japanese market before being re-exported. 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? Ex-Deliveroo driver pulled down trousers of girl (8) and asked could he do something, court hears as bail denied According to gardai, the Brazilian national, who is in Ireland illegally, was working in the same area when two more suspicious approaches to children were made The Central Criminal Court Andrew Phelan Wed 11 Mar 2026 at 15:22 A former Deliveroo driver approached an eight-year-old girl out playing in a Dublin laneway, pulled down her trousers and sexually assaulted her, it is alleged. Man claimed self-defence over attack on RTE broadcaster Brendan Courtney as he walked home along Dublins quays, court told Court heard that Courtney was beckoned over to a car stopped at traffic lights after a passenger appeared to call him overCourtney, who was carrying shopping bags, sustained a concussion and a fractured eye socket in the assault Brendan Courtney (Photo: Steve Humphreys) Eimear Dodd Wed 11 Mar 2026 at 17:06 A man who punched broadcaster Brendan Courtney several times voluntarily contacted gardai to tell him he had been involved in the assault, a court has heard. A woman has been granted leave to challenge an "arbitrary and irrational" refusal of her application for financial redress under the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme, a decision her lawyers say could also see up to 24,000 people excluded from the payment. The woman, who cannot be identified by court order, was refused on the basis that she had not spent 180 days in the institution - the minimum required to qualify for redress. She has taken her case against The Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Ireland and the Attorney General.She is seeking to quash a 2025 decision by the department refusing her a payment under a section of the scheme. Regulations will help build much-needed homes, they argue Developers and investors have hailed the Governments planning and rental regulation changes as key to attracting billions of international funds needed to build 300,000 homes by 2030. It was the second day of a global property conference in the south of France, an event which opposition parties have criticised Housing Minister James Browne for attending. Eddie Byrne, chief executive and a director of Ires-REIT, told delegates that the Government has shown a greater level of joined-up thinking than previous administrations, with more considered policy changes. The Ires REIT boss was among several high-profile figures in the property industry who joined senior Irish government officials to pitch Ireland to institutional investors at the Mipim event in Cannes. This year, for the first time, Ireland is hosting a dedicated pavilion at the conference paid for by industry sponsors - in a major push to inject capital into the housing system. The conference has attracted an estimated 20,000 industry delegates with many countries including Ireland and cities across the UK competing for development capital. The Minister for Housing told delegates on Tuesday that Ireland did not have the large-scale investors needed to fund the building of 50,000 to 60,000 homes a year over needed by 2030. We need large developers, and those developers need large-scale investment, and development capital and investment capital for the longer term as well, he said. The minister met a number of investors at the event before he left for the US ahead of St Patricks Day. Earlier Stephen Garvey, chief executive of Glenveagh Homes, told delegates that Irelands economy is a shining light in Europe. I think Ireland has really evolved its position. It has shifted left and right but I think its now adopted a policy of we know we need external capital," he said. The environment has changed completely. When we talk to investors they are a lot more positive. They can see a clear line of sight. "I was talking to one person who invested in Germany recently who was saying the uncertainty thats in Germany versus Ireland has completely changed. In another panel discussion, Padraig Moore, co-head of Europe strategy at global investment firm Avenue Capital Group, said Irelands economy and financial system is well capable of absorbing any shock that its faced with and that puts us in stark contrast to many other European economies. Investors like predictability. This Government has done a very good job in signposting housing policy and then implementing it. The conference also heard from Graham Doyle, the Department of Housing's Secretary General, John Coleman of the Land Development Agency and Martin Whelan, CEO of the Housing Agency. Richard Shakespeare, CEO of the Dublin City Council, and AnnMarie Farrelly of Fingal County Council, also addressed the delegates in the Irish pavilion on development opportunities in the capital. The Social Democrats TD and housing spokesperson Rory Hearne said Irelands attendance at the conference was highly inappropriate when Mr Browne should be focusing on social and affordable homes. Sinn Feins housing spokesperson, Thomas Gould TD, accused the Government of rolling out the red carpet for vulture funds. The Ireland pavilion is funded by 15 corporate sponsors including AIB, Bank of Ireland, Cairn Homes and Lioncorp. The Government is paying for the travel and accommodation costs of its officials. MIPIM 2026 (Marche International des Professionels de lImmoblier) ends on Thursday. An Neads conversation circle encourages customers to use and learn Irish An Irish-language cafe in Monaghan town will be just one of many spaces around Ireland hosting a ciorcal comhra a conversation circle today as part of Seachtain na Gaeilge festivities. The events inviting people to join in and use Irish, whether they have Gaeilge liofa or a cupla focal. There will be ciorcail chomhra taking place in every county across the country and more being held abroad for La na gCiorcal. An Nead (The Nest) opened its doors in Monaghan town last year and is already a success. Cafe manager Courtney Nic Uilis said community group Muineachan Le Gaeilges ciorcal comhra provided the foundations for the cafe. Our ciorcal comhra was founded years ago, and its the basis of a lot of our events, she said. Without the ciorcal comhra, without having them in the very, very beginning, we might not have even thought of a cafe. It definitely wouldnt be running as smoothly as it is without the volunteers. Conradh na Gaeilge give us wee leaflets with the phrases on them At An Nead, customers are encouraged to use whatever Irish they have, something that has been met with enthusiasm since the cafe first opened. Everybody that comes in uses their cupla focal, Ms Nic Uilis said. Conradh na Gaeilge give us wee leaflets with the phrases on them, so we have them sitting at the till. We find people are coming in and taking them, all day, every day, so were constantly asking for more. A few focail an lae are written on the blackboard in An Nead every day, giving customers a chance to learn a bit more of the language every time they visit. Courtney Nic Uilis in An Nead coffee shop in Monaghan town. Photo: Rory Geary During the week when it was raining, the word was baisteach, then it was gaofar phrases you might use that day not necessarily related to coffee, because we just want to normalise the language, Ms Nic Uilis said. The Monaghan town ciorcal comhra was founded a number of years ago and held its events at Missy As, a cafe at the same premises before An Nead opened. The owner was very empathetic to the language, but then he sold it and the ciorcal comhra was homeless for a while, Ms Nic Uilis said. So it was because of the ciorcal comhra that we took the risk to take on An Nead and build it from the bottom up. In Co Monaghan, there will be several events taking place as part of todays La na gCiorcal. I do think its good to start a new ciorcal comhra We have four ciorcail chomhra in Monaghan, two in Monaghan town, one in Castleblaney and one in Carrickmacross. Theyre all extremely important to us, Ms Nic Uilis added. Its brilliant to see people working on their own initiative to found their own ciorcail chomhra. Well have a group coming together here in An Nead on the day. Theres also a special ciorcal comhra happening in Teach na nDaoine, its a family resource centre here in Monaghan town. Its brilliant because its not a ciorcal comhra that happens on a regular basis. Its brand-new people coming in, and I do think its good to start a new ciorcal comhra. Sometimes it can be scary going into one thats been established, so that is very important, and theyve made a real effort. Visit www.snag.ie for more information. Stryker World Headquarters in Kalamazoo, MI, USA, May 2, 2023. Stryker Corporation is an American multinational medical technologies corporation. THE Irish-arm of giant US medical devices firm Stryker has been impacted by what is feared to be an Iranian-linked cyber attack on their global IT network. The Michigan-based firm - which has a major manufacturing presence in Cork - suffered a serious network disruption. Reports in the US indicated that a number of network user pages featured a banner for Handala which is a pro-Tehran cyber support group. The incident has not just impacted the North American arm of the firm but is understood to have hit their global networks including systems in Ireland. Initial indications are that some data was remotely erased during the attack. Some network services were frozen and effectively disabled as a consequence of the attack. Stryker indicated it was attempting to resolve what it termed "a severe global disruption". The US firm's network is Windows-based and it is understood that all laptops and systems which connect to their network have been affected. Major efforts are underway to resolve the issue. It is understood that cyber security officials in the US are examining the attack to determine if, as feared, it is linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Manufacturing operations have not been hit by the incident. The firm employs over 5,000 personnel across Ireland with Cork now ranking as one of their major global manufacturing centres. The incident occurred just days after an Irish cyber security firm warned of a heightened threat environment in the wake of the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. Irish IT firm, Smarttech247, warned that its threat intelligence assessment indicated a major increase in co-ordinated disruptive activity in the wake of the Middle East conflict erupting. Historical patterns show that periods of geopolitical escalation frequently trigger spillover targeting of organisations in allied and Western nations. Smarttech247 said its monitoring had detected a surge in distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) campaigns, website defacements and service disruption, credential harvesting and phishing operations, hack-and-leak campaigns involving data exfiltration and public release as well as the deployment of destructive or wiper-style malware. The firm warned that organisations across government, critical infrastructure, defence, financial services, and logistics sectors should be on heightened alert. Smarttech247 chief executive Raluca Saceanu said the threat is not surprising. "When geopolitical tensions rise, cyber activity almost always follows," she said. "What we are seeing is not just isolated disruption, but coordinated efforts to interfere with digital services and spread messaging at the same time. "Organisations dont need to be directly involved in the conflict to be affected. The risk of spillover is real, and this is the moment for businesses to review their defences, test their resilience, and stay alert." She warned that government agencies and private firms should carefully assess their cyber security measures. Ms Saceanu said every operation should have an up to date Incident Response Plan (IRP) and should maintain a strong threat and vulnerability programme that can scan for unpatched systems. She said that multi-factor authentication across entire systems and enforcement of strong password protocols for all users were important security steps. The cyber security threat facing Ireland and the world will be a key theme of Zero Day Con, a special event at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre on April 29 hosted by Smarttech365. Cyber attacks have cost the Irish economy an estimated 2bn. Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill speaking at the launch of AI for Care at the Mater Hospital in Dublin. Photo: PA Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said she had visited the National Childrens Hospital in Dublin a couple of times in recent weeks (Brian Lawless/PA) The Minister for Health has said she is disappointed with the pace of construction of the National Childrens Hospital, and will meet with the CEO of the construction group BAM on Friday. Speaking to reporters in Dublin on Wednesday Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said: Ive been there a couple of times in the last few weeks, and on every occasion that Ive been there, I have not seen the number of people working there that I believe I should be to meet the April 30 deadline. Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill speaking at the launch of AI for Care at the Mater Hospital in Dublin. Photo: PA She said she is not satisfied with the number of rooms being completed, adding that over a four-week average about 167 are finished a week, saying: Its becoming cumulatively worse relative to where it should be in terms of room completions. The project had an original completion date of August 2022 but has faced a series of delays, and costs have ballooned from a planned 650m to an expected 2.2bn. Ms Carroll MacNeill said she had written to the global headquarters of the main contractor on the project, BAM, and said its CEO and two senior executives will meet with her at the hospital on Friday. During recent visits to the hospital, she said she was disappointed she did not see hundreds and hundreds of people working there, and if there were I didnt see them. She said she was asked to be shown where people were working and was brought to an enormously empty basement where she counted 16 people, two of whom were working. My dissatisfaction is not just visual and anecdotal, its one thats backed up by the tracked figures by the hospital development board of the number of people who are there and productively working, she said. Ms Carroll MacNeill said she hoped the BAM executives would be able to explain to her where the people are, and how theyre going to meet the deadline, that is their deadline, which is one that theyve missed several times. Asked if she expected to be told the hospitals completion date would be delayed, she said: I cant say what other people will say in the future. What I expect is for them to tell me how theyre going to meet the commitment that has been made, by them through a contract, to the Irish people. The minister was speaking at the launch of Irelands first national AI for Care Strategy at the Mater Hospital in Dublin. She said Childrens Health Ireland (CHI) was using every minute that it can in a productive way, because BAM have been slow, and had used rooms already handed over to make up equipment. Weve used the extra time that BAM has been slow to make up all of the workstations on wheels, for example, that will be used around the rest of the hospital, she said. Ms Carroll MacNeill said that in the last two weeks she had received access to the ground floor and the lower ground floor, describing the emergency department located there as a demonstrably different experience for parents and children compared to Temple Street and Crumlin hospitals. She said that what was really needed was access to the hot block area which housed all of the surgical theatres and laboratories, saying it was the crucial piece to which we need access as extra time would be needed for the commissioning of surgical and laboratory equipment. In a statement, BAM said: The National Childrens Hospital project is now in the final stages of completion and commissioning. Work is taking place simultaneously across several areas of the building, including highly technical and clinical areas that require specialist commissioning work. The project continues to be resourced to support the work currently under way, with specialist teams continuing to complete the remaining programme. BAM continues to work closely with the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board and CHI to deliver the hospital as quickly and safely as possible for the children of Ireland. Kneecap rapper Liam Og O hAnnaidh has vowed "not to be silent" after judges at the UK High Court decided he would not face a terror trial as they rejected a Crown Prosecution Service appeal against the decision to throw out the case. The Belfast star, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was accused of displaying a flag in support of proscribed terror organisation Hezbollah at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, on November 21 2024. But the case was thrown out in September last year, with chief magistrate Paul Goldspring ruling the proceedings were "instituted unlawfully". The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) appealed against the decision at the High Court in London at a hearing in January, with the Kneecap rapper opposing the challenge. In a judgment on Wednesday, two judges at the High Court upheld the decision and dismissed the CPS appeal. In a statement provided through his lawyers, O hAnnaidh said after the decision: "I owe eternal gratitude to my legal team, who left no stone unturned in ensuring justice was upheld. This entire process was never about me, never about any threat to the public and never about 'terrorism', a word used by the British government to discredit people you oppress both in Ireland and across the world. "It was always about Palestine and about what happens if you dare to speak up. About what happens if you can reach large groups of people and expose their hypocrisy. "I will not be silent. Kneecap will not be silent." Speaking at a press conference in Belfast shortly after the ruling, O hAnnaidh said: "This is bigger than us - whatever kind of stress that we felt, it's minimal compared to the stress put on the families in Gaza." "We'll continue to use whatever platform we have to talk about Gaza," he added, saying the band had "lost gigs" and been "restricted" as a result of the court proceedings. In the judgment on Wednesday, Judge Goldspring had agreed with O hAnnaidh's lawyers that prosecutors needed to seek the Attorney General's permission to charge the rapper before informing him on May 21 that he would be charged with a terror offence. This permission was sought and given the following day, which the court heard meant the charge fell outside the six-month time frame in which criminal charges against a defendant can be brought. Lord Justice Edis, sitting with Mr Justice Linden, said in Wednesday's decision that "the judge was right to hold that he had no jurisdiction to try any summary-only offence alleged to have been committed on that date". He said: "The respondent has not been tried for his alleged conduct on September 21 2025 and will not be tried. He has not been convicted, and he has not been acquitted."The CPS said "we accept the judgment and will update our processes accordingly" after the ruling. A spokesperson added: "The High Court has clarified how the law applies to the issuing of written charges in summary offences where Attorney General permission is required for the Director of Public Prosecutions to consent to a prosecution." In the 13-page decision, Lord Justice Edis said the decision "turned on a very narrow and technical legal issue and has nothing to do with whether the respondent committed the offence set out in the charge". Lord Justice Edis said the proceedings against the rapper were "instituted" on May 21 2025, rather than at a later date in the time limit. He continued: "It is a matter of concern that a charge which both the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Attorney General considered met both parts of the full code test for crown prosecutors will never now be determined. "There was, they decided, a realistic prospect of conviction and the prosecution was in the public interest. We have not investigated the reasons for this failure and nor do we seek to attribute blame." Coinciding with the Fis event in the Convention Centre on Thursday will be Reiteach, a conference aimed at addressing the shortcomings of the education system in making Irish accessible for all abilities An Irish language event is taking place in Dublin city centre on Thursday to showcase the potential professional and educational opportunities available to young people through Irish. They are among thousands of individual events being held around the country as part of the annual celebration of Irish language Seachtain na Gaeilge which runs until March 17. The inaugural exhibition called Fis meaning vision will kick off at 10am and is organised by Conradh na Gaeilge to demonstrate Irelands bilingual future in education, careers and community. Influencer Eadaoin Fitzmaurice and Kneecap musician DJ Provai real name JJ O Dochartaigh, a former secondary school teacher will feature on a five-member panel discussing their perspectives on Irish in society and the arts. Aodhan O Dea, deputy general secretary of Irish language promotion organisation Conradh na Gaeilge, explains the inspiration for the event. "We've been doing a lot of work with schools and young people over the last 10-15 years and we've just seen a huge growth of opportunities and interest, he said. One thing that's become clear to us is a huge appetite out there for the Irish language at the moment, and the opportunities there also. Featuring 110 stands representing several major public bodies including the HSE, TG4 and Coimisiun na Mean, the expected 5,000 attendees will be exposed to real-world applications of the Irish language that extend beyond academia. "Unfortunately, what we hear from young people is this kind of stereotype out there that you can end up teaching, he said. There's 110 different organisations here who are trying to say This is important to us, the language is important to us, and we're actually looking to recruit young people who speak Irish. Preparations for the gathering had to be constantly revisited due to unprecedented demand from companies and bodies wanting to pitch stands at the exhibition in order to showcase their utility of the language in their organisations. "We went to the Convention Centre on a bit of a limb, but we've had a huge interest. Now is the best time to do it "We expected to have 30 to 40 stands, but we had to go back to the Convention Centre twice looking for more space, and we filled up as many stands as we can possibly fit in. Mr O Dea is keen to capitalise on the surging popularity and opportunity of Irish in the professional world by focusing the events appeal on younger people, urging them to give it a go. "Now is the best time to do it, he said. "We've never seen as much interest in the language. I've been working with Conradh na Gaeilge for over 15 years now, and we've never seen as much interest in events and in classes. We've never had as much people register for classes, and there's this huge groundswell of motivation behind the Irish language at the moment. Another event coinciding with Fis in the Convention Centre on Thursday will be Reiteach, a conference aimed at addressing the shortcomings of the education system in making Irish accessible for all abilities. Conradh na Gaeilges general secretary, Julian de Spainn, said that the conference will address several issues with the Irish language curriculum that are failing to produce competent speakers of the language. "You've got 60,000-plus students now with exemptions and the trend is only going one way. They've taken a decision to reduce the amount of time for the teaching of Irish in primary schools by half an hour a week from first class to sixth class. There's only 6pc of students in first or second level together that attend Irish-medium education. If you told me you got the highest mark in the Leaving Cert, I wouldn't know if I could have a conversation with you or not Mr de Spainn said that each of the three discussion panels in attendance will talk about the potential benefits of incorporating the Common European Framework of Reference of Languages (CEFR) into the modern Irish school curriculum. CEFR is an internationally recognised standard for describing language proficiency and is used in many language-teaching courses to gauge a learners progress towards fluency. On a scale of A1 to C2, A1 is beginner while C2 represents complete fluency. "If you told me you got the highest mark in the Leaving Cert, I wouldn't know if I could have a conversation with you or not, he said. Exacerbating the shortcomings of the current Irish language curriculum, Mr de Spainn said, is the one-size-fits-all approach to facilitating students who struggle with learning it. The exemption system is avoiding dealing with the problem. You have a system that isn't flexible. So for any student who has additional needs, the chances are they can't do Irish, even if they want to do Irish, because the system isn't flexible for them. He added that this inflexibility threatens to harm integration of non-native Irish people into our society by creating division between Irish and non-Irish students. "Why couldn't somebody who comes late into the system be able to do the first point in that system the A1 for example? And if they succeed in that, why wouldn't they get CAO points based on that as well, taking into account that they've only been learning the language for a lesser amount of years? he said. Discussion panellists featured at Reiteach will include academics of Irish, as well as Welsh, who will debate the most constructive way to teach Irish in a rapidly evolving landscape. Visit snag.ie for more Seachtain na Gaeilge events The Irish and Brazilian governments have opened formal negotiations that would introduce direct flights between Ireland and South America for the first time. While an air services agreement will provide the legal and regulatory framework for the operation of flights between Ireland and Brazil, it will be a matter for commercial airlines whether they wish to conduct flights once the agreement comes into force. The Taoiseach has been asked to meet healthcare workers with Long Covid following claims he showed a willingness to revisit a special sick pay scheme. A senior Siptu official informed healthcare workers in an update on Tuesday that the HSE staff panel of trade unions has sought a meeting with Micheal Martin. Kevin Figgis said they welcomed his comments, which indicated a willingness to revisit the issue of a Long Covid scheme for healthcare workers who were infected in the workplace. A temporary special scheme for staff unable to work due to Long Covid meant they received full pay, but it was discontinued at the end of December. Mr Figgis message came after Mr Martin said last month he was open to meeting the group and to speak to the ministers responsible, although he said there were complexities surrounding the issue. He added that he did not dispute the fact that many healthcare staff contracted the virus while working in hospitals during the pandemic. Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide, who was also speaking in the Dail, noted that housekeeping staff, porters, nurses, healthcare assistants and other clinicians who contracted the virus at the height of the pandemic had received special leave with pay. The special sick pay scheme ended after the Labour Court ruled that Long Covid is not considered an occupational illness in this jurisdiction, so it could not decide otherwise. Workers transferred to a general sick leave scheme that means full pay for three months, followed by half pay for another three. The staff panel of health trade unions, working collectively and with the support of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, is now seeking a meeting with the Taoiseach to discuss the ongoing impact of Long Covid on healthcare workers and the need for appropriate, long-term occupational protections and supports, said Mr Figgis in the update. He said the staff panel has repeatedly called for Long Covid to be defined as an occupational disease for healthcare workers in Ireland, in line with international practice and the reality experienced by affected members. The panel of health unions includes Connect, the craft group of unions, Forsa, IMO, INMO, MLSA, Siptu and Unite. Speaking to the Irish Independent, Mr Figgis said the temporary scheme was in place for those medically defined as having Long Covid since 2022. Around 164 workers were still on the scheme at the end of last year. Mr Figgis said the general sick leave scheme is time-constrained and payments are gradually reduced. He said he had been contacted by a worker who applied for public service critical illness cover and was told they would not get an appointment for a doctors assessment until July. He said unions are seeking a long-term scheme that takes on board the fact that Long Covid has had a major impact on some workers ability to function. There are people who are struggling to get their lives back, he said. We feel the human story in this needs to be told directly from the people who are affected. The Irish Independent has contacted the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Health for a comment. Irish travellers advised to sit tight on Middle East holiday and transit plans as airfares rise Some Irish holidaymakers have returned home via destinations as far afield as the US Despite uncertainty in the region, many future flights are listed to go ahead. Photo: Marcin Golba/Getty Pol O Conghaile Wed 11 Mar 2026 at 06:30 Irish holidaymakers with plans to travel through or in the Middle East later this spring are being advised to sit tight and stay in touch with their travel agents. We can end this war by helping to end Ukraine to end it faster Firefighters put out the fire in an multi-storey apartment building following a Russian missile attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Photo: AP Four years into fighting back an unprovoked full-scale invasion, Ukraines army is keeping Russian forces to marginal gains while at the same time extracting exorbitant costs in lives and treasure. Though this winter has been particularly difficult for Ukraines civilians because of Russian attacks on the power grid that have plunged many cities into darkness, the front lines have remained stable. The Kremlins claims that Russian forces are about to break through and overrun the fortified cities in Donetsk oblast, or any other region for that matter, are bluster. Data we track at the Institute for the Study of War bear this out. Military leaders we spoke to during a recent trip to Ukraine were increasingly confident they can keep the Russians at bay as long as Western aid flows. Firefighters put out the fire in an multi-storey apartment building following a Russian missile attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Photo: AP Currently, Russian forces occupy 19.4pc of Ukrainian territory. They had taken about 7pc of Ukraine during the first phase of the war in 2014, and came to occupy a total of 26.8pc shortly after the full-scale invasion began in 2022. Subsequent Ukrainian counteroffensives left the Russians holding only about 17.9pc of Ukraine in November that year. Since then, Russia has seized only 1.5pc more Ukrainian land while suffering over 1 million casualties in total. Let that sink in: Russia has needed three and a half years to seize 9,318 square kilometres, an area smaller than Lebanon or Los Angeles County. President Vladimir Putins supposedly inexorable march to victory has been proceeding, as others have noted, more slowly than at a snails pace. Ukrainian forces have not only held Russian advances to a slow crawl; they have begun to push Russian forces back in localised counterattacks since autumn. Ukrainian forces liberated the town of Kupyansk in Kharkiv oblast in November and retook tactically important positions in Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts last month. In fact, Ukrainian forces have made net daily gains more frequently over the past six months than they had in the previous nine. Meanwhile, Russian weekly gains this year are below their highs from last year. Indeed, Ukraine liberated more land than Russian forces seized in the last two weeks of February. Dutch prime minister Rob Jetten visits an exhibition displaying destroyed Russian military vehicles, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv. Photo: Reuters Nothing in the data supports Russian claims that Ukrainian lines are about to break. Speaking directly with Ukrainians only underlines the point. Ukrainian commanders with whom we met on a recent trip seemed more confident about their ability to hold the Russians off than they have been since 2023. When we spoke last year, they were concerned about the prospects of renewed enemy advances. But the Ukrainian armed forces have held the Russian fall and winter offensives to limited territorial gains and the commanders rightly pointed out that most were empty fields and tiny villages, not large cities or fortified positions. Ukraines army has continued to improve its so-called wall of drones defence, which has managed to blunt Russias manpower advantage. Ukraine has also embarked on a remarkable long-range strike campaign, using both drones and even a new type of domestically produced cruise missile. Ukrainian forces are beginning to deploy midrange weapons to disrupt Russian offensive efforts before they reach the line of contact. And they have even been able to take advantage of Russian overextensions and missteps to retake ground. The Russian negotiating position is based on a bluff and a lie We came away from our meetings concluding that Russias relentless advance is much less impressive and significant than Ukraines relentless defence. Estimates of how long it would take the Russians to complete the seizure of Donetsk at current rates of advance range from two to three years. But its far from obvious that the Russians can sustain their current rate of advance, especially as they try to take fortified urban areas that constitute the fortress belt. The Russian negotiating position is based on a bluff and a lie. The bluff is that the Russians will overwhelm Ukraine and take what they want anyway. The lie is that they will be satisfied with less than what they continually demand: complete political control over Ukraine, the withdrawal of NATO forces from all states admitted after 1997, restrictions on US weapons and exercises in Europe, and an end to NATOs open-door policy. the Ukrainian defence is proving to be durable and its the Russian offensive thats struggling Whether or not Putin would ultimately compromise, the Russians have thus far refused to bend. Even their territorial claims transcend Donetsk. They claim to have already annexed Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts in addition to Donetsk and Luhansk and that their constitution requires them to seize and govern even the parts of those regions that Ukrainian forces still hold. They also claim a right to Ukrainian territory beyond that Odesa, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv oblasts. US pressure on Ukraine, to make territorial concessions and sue for peace, is encouraging Putin to keep fighting and refrain from making compromises necessary for an enduring peace. Pressuring Kyiv is not an act of mercy meant to avoid needless casualties in a hopeless defence. On the contrary, the Ukrainian defence is proving to be durable and its the Russian offensive thats struggling. The way to end this war is not to rescue Putin from a failing campaign, but to help Ukraine make it fail faster. Frederick W Kagan is the director of the Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute A thick plume of smoke rises from an oil storage facility hit by a US-Israeli strike late on Saturday in Tehran, Iran. Photo: AP We are accustomed to the fog of war descending with the onset of any conflict. But the latest attack on Iran launched by the US and Israel added a new component: the sustained and ever-deepening levels of confusion as to contradictory goals and duration. The uncertainty from the outset has undermined global markets, heightened economic instability and sowed the seeds for further international division. Some commentators called it a war of whim, embarked upon by US president Donald Trump with the prompting of Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. To others, it was a war of choice. Washington and Tel Aviv, sharing mutual security and energy-supply concerns, felt the timing was right to target Tehran as the brutal suppression of protests by the regime had created boiling resentment which could be leveraged for regime change. So far, so wrong. One hard-line autocratic supreme leader has been replaced by an arguably even more implacable and hostile one, in terms of Western interests. Critics would also claim the war was illegal as it lacked not just a legal basis, but diplomatic routes and possible deterrence mechanisms, while even covert action alternatives had yet to be explored, never mind exhausted. Tehran recognises it cannot take on the combined forces of Washington and Tel Aviv. But it has demonstrated conclusively the ease with which it can disrupt the global economy through undermining the supply of oil, by targeting nearby Gulf states. Trumps suggestion that the war could be close to ending calmed international markets, for now. Meanwhile, in Moscow, Russian president Vladimir Putin is relishing the recent spike in oil prices But just before Trump had told CBS News that the war was very complete, the Department of War had declared: We have only just begun to fight. Respite from turbulence is unlikely without clarity as to objectives and outcomes. It took no time for Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps to declare it would not allow one litre of oil to be shipped from the Middle East if US and Israeli attacks continue. When Trump took his oath of office for this, his second term, he said: The golden age of America begins right now. But households are not feeling it. Internationally, volatility is causing business leaders to press pause on investment decisions. Even as Trump claimed the war would end very soon, Tehran continued to be rocked by massive explosions. Meanwhile, in Moscow, Russian president Vladimir Putin is relishing the recent spike in oil prices, as his flagging revenues are renewed to further his war on Ukraine. In Beijing, Chinese president Xi Jinping calmly watches as the US spends billions and exhausts missile supplies as he weighs up options in Taiwan. With the rules-based order discarded, hitherto unthinkable scenarios are being reframed to fit a might is right paradigm. The risk of the conflict spinning out of control grows daily. Nato has just deployed a Patriot air-defence system in Turkey to track ballistic missiles. The markets seem to bet on the war ending soon. The rolling chaos is dangerous and unsustainable. But if its over, Trump needs to say so plainly, and quickly. Dicing with disaster cannot be open-ended. US president Donald Trump ran on the economy and on not getting into more 'forever wars'. Photo: AP Donald Trumps hope that he might pull off a smash-and-grab in Iran, akin to his success in Venezuela, was swept away by the selection of Mojtaba Khamenei as Irans supreme leader. He is the son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was assassinated in the first wave of US-Israeli attacks. Stocks tumbled and a global bond rout accelerated on the back of the news. As the Iranian crisis enters a second week, markets and world leaders came to the same conclusion: that this cannot be marked in as a short-lived conflict. Trump declared higher oil prices are a very small price to pay for global peace and safety. But voters who elected him on promises of tackling Americas cost-of-living crisis, and keeping the US out of foreign forever wars may see it differently. As of now, peace and safety seem equally uncertain. With no distinct strategy, and no trace of an off-ramp, justification for engaging in a conflict that is costing the US more than $1bn a day, as well as creating global economic havoc, is becoming more urgent. Middle East experts agree Mojtabas installation is a slap in the face to Washington. He shares many of the same ideological leanings as his father and will aim to maintain continuity including in the war, Bloomberg analyst Dina Esfandiary said. Americans put their trust in Trump to focus on their single biggest issue: high prices. National polls show his approval rating on the economy usually runs around 40pc or below. A stark contrast from his first term, when it rarely fell below 50pc. We will always defend and uphold the rules-based system that we helped to build with our allies The global shock to energy supplies is also causing headaches for governments on security and political stability. In Brussels EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc must be prepared to project its power more assertively. It can no longer rely on a rules-based system against threats. We will always defend and uphold the rules-based system that we helped to build with our allies, but we can no longer rely on it as the only way to defend our interests or assume its rules will shelter us from the complex threats that we face, she warned. Concerns at the loss of life, the spreading of the war and the pressure it is putting on people to make ends meet can not be ignored. Where world leaders once looked to Washington for leadership, today it is too often seen as the centre of the storm. President Catherine Connollys warning that catastrophic consequences of violating the UN charter could not be ignored and that the violations of international law we are witnessing are shocking and numbing has clearly rattled some government figures. They have been quoted as saying it could prove awkward exchanges during the Taoiseachs US visit for St Patricks Day. Perhaps it may. But the history of diplomacy shows ignoring the presence of elephants in a room merely multiplies the chances of tripping over them. If we ruin the hedgerows we will lose the pollinators, and humankind won't last much longer Taoiseach Micheal Martin refused to be drawn at Leaders Questions regarding the myriad calls for an extension to the hedge-cutting season, which ended on March 1. While the necessary care of roadside hedgerows is obvious, rather less apparent is the destruction or removal of hedgerows across the landscape, often far from the road. One local councillor, speaking on local radio, said: We can have all the butterflies and bees that these do-gooders want... but not at [sic] the detriment of someone being killed in a car accident. By do-gooders the councillor obviously means those calling for strict adherence to the hedge-cutting season. As the Taoiseach said in Leinster House, theres a reason the hedge-cutting deadline is in place. The chances of a road collision occurring down the fields is fairly minor and as far as the do-gooders wanting the habitat of butterflies and bees maintained, if those pollinators disappear, humankind, including councillors and the do-gooders, will also disappear in a relatively short space of time. Its up to the custodians of the land to prevent this. Peter Declan OHalloran, Belturbet, Co Cavan Get off your energy-high treadmill and get out into nature its much better Gyms are full of energy, but much of it goes nowhere. People spend hours running on treadmills and lifting weights, spending all that energy on themselves instead of putting it into anything real. I looked into the numbers. One treadmill uses 1,200 watts, the same as 40 TVs. A cardio room with 20 machines draws 24,000 watts, equal to 400 laptops. Add heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting, and gyms become energy monsters, far more demanding than almost any other indoor activity. Offices already bombard us with stale air, harsh lights, constant hums and invisible electrical fields; gyms just multiply it. Step outside and the same workout costs nothing. Fresh air fills your lungs, your muscles move naturally, and science shows it lowers stress, improves mood and focus, and even boosts immunity. Winter landscapes are as stunning as summer, offering a quiet kind of beauty. Many women fear running outside, yet in the Wicklow Mountains, where Ive hiked and photographed for a decade, Ive never felt unsafe. Surrounded by nothing but nature, the world feels calm, open, alive. Strength matters, but historically it was directed outward, into work, service and craft. Today, vitality often turns inward, polishing only ourselves when we could be polishing the world. Alan T Kelly, Castlewarden, Co Kildare More countries are being pulled into war driven by naked authoritarianism In the name of God, the warmongering must stop as we are on the brink of World War III. If Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu are given free rein we will soon be engulfed in a war to threaten the very existence of the world. Have the despots learnt nothing from the devastation of World War II when Adolf Hitler and his cronies were responsible for 25 million military deaths and 60 million civilian fatalities, including six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust? Ukraine has been devastated by Putins obsession with restoring the Russian empire in the manner of his hero, Peter the Great, the autocratic Tsar of Russia. Putin wont stop until he rebuilds the next USSR under his dictatorial rule. Ukraines sovereignty must be vigorously protected, preferably by diplomacy, by the EU, the United Nations and Nato. Trump has abandoned Ukraine in its hour of need. Gaza has been reduced to rubble by Netanyahu and his ruthless IDF, with the support of his US comrade-in-arms. They dismiss the deaths of at least 76,000 innocent Palestinians as collateral damage in a war against Hamas. We are now witnessing a relentless bombardment of Iran and Lebanon by the US and Israel despite the fact that peace talks were at an advanced stage. The innocent residents of these countries are victims of the airstrikes on strategic targets and security forces that go astray. The death toll since the US-Israeli assault began is more than 1,000 with 7,000 injured and many thousand fleeing the two countries. Deaths and casualties, including US and Israeli, are increasing daily as Iran retaliates with counter-attacks and the destruction of military and economic infrastructure across the Middle East. More countries are being drawn into conflicts that are driven by naked authoritarianism. Armageddon, the final battle between good and evil, is near unless the world pulls back from the bottomless precipice. Billy Ryle, Tralee, Co Kerry US ditches its Christian belief as it decimates aid in favour of huge war budget US currency bears the motto In God we trust to exhibit its Christian beliefs as a nation. USAid, the agency for international development, accounted for 0.3pc of the annual federal budget, but Donald Trump dismantled the organisation on day one of his presidency. He now wants a budget of more than $1tn approved for his War Department. God must be out of favour. Declan Foley, Melbourne, Australia AI will be success, but the labour market wont keep pace without careful plans Warnings about artificial intelligence (AI) and job loss carries an echo that will be familiar closer to home. When the coal mines closed during the Margaret Thatcher years, whole communities in the north of England discovered that an economic transition on paper can feel rather different on the ground. Work disappeared faster than new opportunities arrived, and the social consequences linger to this day. AI will no doubt generate new wealth and productivity. Every technological leap eventually does. The danger lies not in the innovation itself, but in assuming the labour market will quietly reorganise around it without careful planning. If millions of workers are displaced before new pathways are built, the political reaction will arrive with predictable speed. Economic anxiety rarely remains polite for long. My suspicion is that within the next decade, we will see education reorganise around the new economy. Short, modular credentials linked directly to employers will begin to rival the traditional university degree. The institutions that adapt quickly will thrive; those that do not may discover that history has a habit of repeating itself, only with better software. Enda Cullen, Tullysaran Road, Armagh Lifestyle Nature Trail: Pine Martens to be found in every county in Ireland The origin of the word marten is unknown as it is an old word with its roots lost in old English, French and German. It is used to describe a group of eight members of the weasel family that are about the size of a domesticated cat. They have a Militant action: Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington smashed windows at Dublin Castle as part of an escalation in the suffrage campaign. Photo: Misc Box 10 NPA archive An event will be held in the Edel Quinn Hall Kanturk, in May 2027 to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington who hailed from the North Cork town. At a recent Kanturk-Mallow Municipal District meeting, a senior official with Cork County Council confirmed that they are willing to assist a community group organising the event. The motion was brought before the meeting by Fine Gael councillor Trish Murphy who sought assistance from Cork County Council in organising an event in the Edel Quinn Hall Kanturk, in May 2027 to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Hanna Sheehy Skeffington. Cllr Murphy requested the local authority to liaise with local groups and relevant bodies in advance to support the event. Cllr Murphy who hailed Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington as a legend in her own right said the event would honour her legacy as a pioneering Irish suffragette and advocate for equality and womens voting rights. There has been a lot of talk about Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington in Kanturk especially. They held a talk in the library. She is an absolute legend really in her own right, when you read her story. It would be fantastic. Fine Gael councillor Aileen Browne who seconded the motion also acknowledged the important role played by Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington in Irish history. Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington is a powerful figure in Irish history and Irish female history. It is part of a hidden history of Ireland. A lot of the female heroines have not been recognised or given due attention. It would be very important to acknowledge her. It is an excellent motion, stated Fianna Fail councillor Gearoid Murphy: Speaking of hidden history, in many ways it is also hidden that she was born in Kanturk. She is a figure of national and international importance in terms of womens rights and womens voting rights. There would be great interest in it. It is a fantastic initiative. It is great to here that there is good buy in from the community as well. Kanturk is my local town so I would love to see it, he added. Claire Barr, Municipal District Officer with Cork County Council said: Cork County Council are willing to assist a community group organising the event. The organisers should contact myself as soon as possible. Cllr Murphy expressed her satisfaction with the response and replied that she will get a group to contact Ms Barr as quickly as possible It will take more than 20 years to replace all of the public lighting poles in Cork city that need replacing, at the current level of funding for the governing programme, a city council official said this week. The information was given in response to a question by City Councillor Peter Horgan about the number of lighting columns that need replacing and the timeline for doing so. In a written reply Director of Services John Stapleton said that the council has identified 11,500 columns across the city that need replacing because of issues such as structural deterioration and non-compliant electrical cables. The council plans to replace 1,000 of the highest-risk columns in phase one of its programme and to date, 479 of them have been replaced and energised. Another 179 will be completed this year and the remaining 342 will be progressed when funding is available, Mr Stapleton said. At this months meeting of Cork City Council, Cllr Horgan sought further information in a follow-up question. There's been 6.5 million spent to date on repairing the columns, 3.4 million to be spent this year, leaving approximately 50 million to be spent under the scheme from the costs here. Can the director give a timeline of when we expect the columns to be fixed and what sources of funding we are seeking? We have to replace over 11,000. With the funding that we'll have this year, we'll replace about 179. Each light is coming in at around 10,000 per replacement, simply because it isn't just the light, it's the digging up of the road, it's ducting, it's the reinstatement of footpaths, it's cabling and all that goes with that, Mr Stapleton replied. He said that when the replacement programme is fully completed is a function of the available funding. This year's funding of 3 million plus a capitalisation of about 400,000 will allow us to complete about 180 lights. So at that rate, it's going to take more than 20 years to replace them all. He added that the programme will be accelerated if we can source additional funding and we certainly will be trying to do that. The city official outlined that the civil and electrical works required for replacing lighting columns per estate take approximately 4 to 6 weeks with the energisation works by ESB Networks after that currently subject to a 9-month lead time. He said the timeline reflects the significant national pressures on ESB Networks scheduling, combined with the scale and complexity of citywide public lighting upgrades. Twenty years to complete the replacement programme is "far too long," Cllr Horgan told the Irish Independent. "We have to see a significant cash injection to bring public lighting back in areas where it is deficient," he said. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme. President Catherine Connolly was once close to Wallace and Daly. Photo: PA President Catherine Connolly is set to meet the families of the Creeslough explosion victims and survivors during her visit to the county. President Connolly will hold the private meeting on Tuesday evening following her official engagements. President Connolly is in the county for a two-day visit and travelled to Killybegs, Lifford and Letterkenny on Tuesday. The meeting comes as the families of the ten victims and survivors continue to call for a public inquiry into the explosion. The families met with Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald on Monday evening. Ms McDonald voiced her support for a public inquiry to be conducted at the same time as any criminal investigation. She also voiced her support for a meeting between the families and Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan. Emily at the top of the queue outside Brown Thomas after arriving in Dublin early this morning for the launch of the limited-edition toy. Pic: Photocall Fans gathered at Brown Thomas Dublin on Grafton Street this morning to celebrate the launch of Blathnaid Bunny, the newest character from luxury soft toy brand Jellycat. Pic: Photocall Emily (15), from Co Derry, travelled more than three hours to Dublin to be first in the queue for the Blathnaid Bunny launch at Brown Thomas. Pic: Photocall A teenage Jellycat fan travelled more than three hours from Co Derry to Dublin on Tuesday so she could be the first person in the queue for the launch of the brands new Blathnaid Bunny soft toy. Emily (15) left her home before 5am with her mother Amy Downey and arrived at Brown Thomas on Grafton Street shortly before 8am to secure the top spot ahead of the stores opening. The Irish-exclusive Blathnaid Bunny launched today in Brown Thomas and Arnotts, with the first drop of 3,000 selling out within three hours. Blathnaid Bunny from Jellycat has textured green fur and a shamrock-tipped ear and pays homage to the rolling hills and meadows of her beloved Emerald Isle. Emily, who owns seven Jellycat toys, said the early start was worth it. I was so happy when I got it, she said after picking up the bunny, which she said is now her favourite of the collection. The teenager had made a similar early-morning trip to Dublin last year for the launch of the brands Siofra Shamrock plush. The launch follows huge demand for the brands previous Irish-exclusive toy, Siofra the Shamrock, which sparked large queues outside Brown Thomas last year. Fans gathered at Brown Thomas Dublin on Grafton Street this morning to celebrate the launch of Blathnaid Bunny, the newest character from luxury soft toy brand Jellycat. Pic: Photocall Hundreds of shoppers lined Grafton Street hoping to get their hands on the 30 plush when it was released ahead of St Patricks Day celebrations, with some fans even flying to Dublin from abroad. We were up before 4am and left the house around ten to five, said her mother who mentioned her daughters love of Dublin and of the Irish language which she is now taking for her GCSE exams. Ms Downey said they left the house at 4.50am and said that Emily wanted to be first in the queue and the first person to buy the newest Jellycat. Emily had expected long queues after the popularity of last years launch and was determined to arrive early. She was panicking and stressing to get away down the road and we couldnt pull over or stop, Ms Downey said. The pair were first in the queue and waited around two hours before the doors opened at 9.30am. After leaving the store, Emily brought her new bunny on another stop she loves, Dublin Airport. Emily at the top of the queue outside Brown Thomas after arriving in Dublin early this morning for the launch of the limited-edition toy. Pic: Photocall We took the bunny into Dublin Airport and got some photos, Ms Downey said. Emily has developed a strong interest in aviation and hopes to one day become a pilot with Aer Lingus. I remember in 2023 we were driving and a plane went really low above the car and I took a notion for it, she said. Now we go to Dublin every week, sometimes even twice a week and watch the planes and I want to become a pilot. She shares aviation content online through her TikTok and Instagram accounts @smileyaviation, where she documents visits to the airport and her love of planes. The new Blathnaid Bunny, designed with soft green fur and a shamrock-tipped ear, was released ahead of St Patricks Day celebrations. The character joins the brands Irish-themed collection, following the popularity of last years Amuseables Siofra Shamrock. The global Copenhagen chain will open this May on Dawson Street Joe & the Juice, famous for their Tunacado sandwich, will open its first Irish location in Dublin this May, with posters already teasing its arrival. The Danish chain will be located on Grafton Place just a stones throw away from Trinity College, opening into a 2,200 sq ft unit and is expected to create roughly 30 new jobs. Founded in Copenhagen in 2002, Joe & the Juice has grown to over 450 locations worldwide, from New York to Dubai, to London and now Dublin. Weve seen Irish customers show up for us in London and beyond for years, so opening in Dublin has been a long time coming, Jon James, Managing Director at Joe & the Juice UK&I said. Theres an incredible energy to this city, from the buzz around Grafton Street to the creativity running through places like Portobello and Ranelagh and thats exactly what Joe & the Juice feeds off. Dublin is ambitious, social and full of momentum, which makes it the perfect place for us to put down roots. And with more locations landing across the city next year, this is only the beginning, he added. The managing director has also alluded to the fact that the company are looking to expand in Dublin at a rapid rate looking to open another three or four outlets in the city which would employ the same amount of staff as its Dawson Street location. The chain says that it is for students on the go to corporate professionals and tourists exploring the city saying that it offers an experience that fuels every lifestyle. They said Dublin locals can look forward to the brands full, health-forward menu featuring its popular line up of Scandi-inspired sandwiches, including the hero and fan-favourite Tunacado sandwich, delicious shakes, and their signature juices and shots. Customers can also download the Joe & the Juice app, which rewards users with points and exclusive perks for their loyalty. Joe & the Juice is one of the latest in a number of international brand openings in Dublin, as earlier last week it was announced that New Orleans fried chicken chain Popeyes would launch its first restaurant in Ireland this spring. Popeyes secured a franchise development agreement to operate the brand in Ireland, and its first restaurant is due to open in Blanchardstown, with a Dublin city centre location on Westmoreland Street planned for the summer. Fingal County Council have introduced a proposal for short stay parking charges in Harbour Road to support local businesses and residents Howths Harbour Road will see the introduction of parking charges in the run-up to summer to prevent congestion from visitors and tourists. Fingal County Council (FCC) have proposed a 1.70 per hour charge and a maximum stay of three hours to encourage more short stay parking for visitors. Introducing the proposal, a manager for FCC said the area is in need of more parking spaces to meet the needs of new housing developments. There is a high demand for street parking spaces on Harbour Road we have more long stay parking in the area and that reduces availability and we have congestion during summer months which affects local businesses, said a council staff member. Fianna Fail councillor Cathal Haughey said paid parking would benefit residents of Howth. "If this is going to discourage some people from visiting Howth by car, then thats a good thing because its been a complaint from local residents, he said. "I know that the car park spaces here are being used by people from other parts of Dublin, driving up to Howth and parking their car there as they leave to the airport for weeks. I support this in council-owned parts of Howth, it would benefit businesses and residents I know elderly people with mobility issues who dont live in walking distance who feel trapped in their houses because they cant drive down to the village. Cllr Haughey called for a free hour for residents, and visitors who plan to stay in the area. The councils report said it has seen inconsistent availability of parking and low turnover in long-term parking bays. Dart users and all-day parkers will increase in Howth due to recent housing developments in the area, it will leave short stay visitors and tourists frustrated, said the staff member. Indepedent councillor Jimmy Guerin said that local businesses in Howth have been frustrated by a lack of space. I fully support paid parking and would like to see us addressing plans for the future its not only local businesses but local residents are frustrated too, he said. "I will not be supportingt his with a view of discouraging people from visiting howth what we need is an alternative, better managed process and a better parking structure. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme Taoiseach Micheal Martin has given a commitment to meet with Galway County Council to discuss the match funding the local authority does not have to proceed with wastewater services in Craughwell and Clarinbridge. During a debate in the Dail on March 3, Galway East TD Albert Dolan sought confirmation from the Taoiseach that there will be support to finish the project after three years of an ongoing battle to find funding. The Taoiseach shared Deputy Dolans frustration over the matter but emphasized a recent increase in funding and, subsequent, decrease in the expected match funding required by Galway County Council. In addition, he made a commitment to schedule a meeting with Galway City Councils Chief Executive to discuss solutions. Originally, around 20 million was allocated in December 2023 with the expectation Galway County Council would match 15pc of that in order for the project to begin. The funding allocation was then increased by Minister Browne to ease the pressure off the local authority, bringing it to nearly 30 million, asking the council to cover 8pc (2.4 million). It is not good enough, the Taoiseach said. There has to be a developmental will, a will to do things, take risks and go for it. Too many are taking soft options here and are overly dependent on the Government for everything. Galway County Councillor Martina Kinane asked Minister James Browne and the Taoiseach in November for direct intervention on the deadlocked process, and to ultimately remove any match funding requirement. Now she welcomes the news of the potential meeting, hoping it brings positive results for Craughwell and Clarinbridge. I dont want it to become a blame game either, Cllr Kinane told the Irish Independent, adding that the decrease in the necessary contribution from the council is accepted but does not solve the problem. The issue hasnt gone away that Galway County Council does not have the money, she said. Cllr Kinane also pointed to the new developer led wastewater service initiative announced earlier this month by Minister Browne which will allow developers who work with Usice Eireann to design and construct wastewater treatment solutions with new housing developments. Putting this idea forward is a last resort, she said, noting the unanimous support she will need from her chamber colleagues to table the motion. At this time, no meeting has been scheduled between the Taoiseach and the local authority. Director of Services at Galway County Council, Uinsinn Finn confirmed with the Irish Independent that a meeting is actively being arranged to discuss a number of strategic issues. This article was amended on March 13 to include a response from the Director of Services. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting scheme. Kerry County Council intend to run a pilot campervan facility in the county this summer A Kerry councillor has called for a campervan pilot scheme to be run in Ballybunion this summer as the county looks to expand its tourism offerings. Councillor Aoife Kennelly said the town was the ideal location for Kerry County Councils proposed campervan initiative which is to begin this year. The council intends to deliver a pilot campervan facility in the county, with guidelines currently being finalised. The pilot may resemble Cobhs five-foot way campervan park, which provides overnight parking and wastewater services for campervans, and has proved popular over the years. Ballybunion has everything you could possible want for a pilot scheme, said Cllr Kennelly. Tourism, beaches, shops, cafesits an ideal location. She also argued that it could help with illegal parking, allowing cars to stay overnight in a regulated area. It would hit two birds with one stone she said. Kerry County Council assured her they would take it into consideration but were cautious about the potential effect on existing businesses in the town. Southern Irelands foremost motorhome club previously urged the council to consider plans for motorhome infrastructure, warning that Kerry is falling behind big time. Colin McCarthy, a member of the Pheonix Motorhome Club, highlighted that very little infrastructure was needed to cater for campervans, essentially just a place to park and water servicing amenities. We do go as a club to Kerry a lot because we have a good reputation with the GAA clubs and rugby clubs and so on. However, when we try to go to Kerry as an individual, like when we want to go to Kenmare or Dingle or Tralee, theres no facilities, said Colin. We find it very difficult to be paying 45 for a night in a campsite in Kerry when we can go to a motorhome packing area which is provided by Cork County Council in Cobh for 10, where we have full services, grey and black water, and fresh water and so on. The Cobh five foot way campervan park was built by Cork County Council (CCC) over a decade ago and was further formalised with facilities and parking charges around 2017. With 30 spaces, each at 10 for 24 hours, the park earned 45,000 for the council last year, boasting an occupancy rate of 60% all year round. The money generated by the park has been ringfenced for improvements to the immediate surrounding area, including upgrading a playground and maintaining walkways and a nearby gym. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme Analysis carried out on a river flowing into the countys national park has indicated a nearby wastewater plant is affecting the water quality. Environmental tests on Killarney Waste Water Treatment plant suggest the connected steam was by one metric, in the bottom one per cent of Irish rivers in the majority of samples. Kerry Councillor John ODonoghue had previously called for an independent assessment of the Killarney waste water treatment plant following concerns over the water quality in downstream ecosystems. As part of an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report, the Folies steam, which passes the waste water plant before entering Lough Lein, was identified as the source of pollution in the downstream River Laune, though Uisce Eireann stated the plant was not at capacity. However, new analysis conducted by Jean ODwyer, Head of Environment Science at Universtiy College Cork, suggests the plant is responsible for some of the pollutants. Dr ODwyer found from 2024 EPA audit of the plant that measures linked to organic pollution were higher downstream of the plant than they were upstream, and were suggestive of waste water or agricultural influence. Based on the European Environmental Agency (EEA) metrics, Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), a key overall indicator of pollution, measured downstream of the plant put the Folies stream in the bottom one per cent Irish rivers, nine out of 11 times in 2024. Measurements taken upstream showed that section of the river could be grouped comfortably with the majority of Irish rivers, in the best BOD class by EEA standards. Dissolved oxygen (DO) levels were also significantly different between upstream and downstream, said Dr ODywer. Lower oxygen levels downstream would be consistent with organic influence from wastewater treatment effluent or from agriculture. Oxygen is essential for fish and aquatic insects, so reductions can stress ecological life. Higher levels of nutrients were also found downstream, she continued, when nutrients increase, they can encourage excessive plant and algae growth, which can further disrupt oxygen levels and overall river health. Dr ODywer did point out that ammonia and nitrate levels did not show significant changes between upstream and downstream, suggesting that the wastewater treatment process is effectively controlling these specific forms, or that these chemical species are quickly transformed within the river. Uisce Eireann have replied that the plant was compliant with all emissions limits set out in its EPA discharge licence in 2024 and has had been found so far in 2025 to have been compliant with tests. They added that the environmental monitoring of the River Folly shows that it is not meeting required environmental quality standards, both upstream and downstream of the plant. This indicates that the river is already of poor status due to other pressures on the receiving waters, a spokesperson said. While some change in water quality indicators has been observed, it is not possible to attribute this directly to the wastewater treatment plant, as there are multiple potential contributing factors in the catchment including rainfall, runoff from roads, agriculture, private septic tank discharges, animal waste and leaks and spills etc. Importantly, the plants discharge is not considered to be having a measurable negative impact on the river under the EU Water Framework Directive. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme South Kerry Oscar excitement in the Kingdom for Jessie 'We are holding our breath The town of Killarney has been buzzing with excitment all week and that has now reached fever pitch as the announcement of the Oscar winners draw close and the great hope that Jessie Buckley will be named as the best female actress this weekend. Dont drink and drive is the message as celebrations kick-off Mia Lily Keogh OKeeffe died when she was struck by a car while walking her dog The Road Safety Authority (RSA) and An Garda Siochana (AGS) today launched their St Patricks Day Bank Holiday Weekend road safety appeal in Killarney, Co Kerry. Pictured at the launch today are Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Jerry Buttimer TD, An Garda Siochana Assistant Commissioner for Roads Policing and Community Engagement, Catharina Gunne, and Director of Research, Standards & Assurance at the Road Safety Authority, Michael Rowland. Photo by Don MacMonagle 11-3-2026: The Road Safety Authority (RSA) and An Garda Siochana (AGS) today launched their St Patricks Day Bank Holiday Weekend road safety appeal in Killarney, Co Kerry. Pictured at the launch today are Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Jerry Buttimer TD, An Garda Siochana Assistant Commissioner for Roads Policing and Community Engagement, Catharina Gunne, and Director of Research, Standards & Assurance at the Road Safety Authority, Michael Rowland. Photo: Don MacMonagle Photo issued on behalf of RSA Further info: Sadbh O'Loan The Road Safety Authority (RSA) and An Garda Siochana (AGS) today launched their St Patricks Day Bank Holiday Weekend road safety appeal in Killarney. Pictured at the launch today are Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Jerry Buttimer TD, An Garda Siochana Assistant Commissioner for Roads Policing and Community Engagement, Catharina Gunne, and Director of Research, Standards & Assurance at the Road Safety Authority, Michael Rowland. Photo by Don MacMonagle As people across Ireland prepare to celebrate our national holiday, motorists are being urged to plan ahead and never drive under the influence of alcohol or other drugs this St. Patricks Bank Holiday. The appeal was issued by Minister of State Jerry Buttimer TD, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and An Garda Siochana at the 2026 National Safer Roads Road Safety Conference and Exhibition in Killarney and comes after 32 road deaths on Irish roads this year. This includes two recent deaths of a woman in a fatal road crash in Sligo and a female pedestrian in Tipperary who has been named as Gabrielle ODonoghue. A man in his 80's has also died in Louth while the pedestrian killed in Kerry last week Paul Clifford was laid to rest this week. A teenage pedestrian Mia Lily Keogh OKeeffe also died in a crash in Meath in late February as well as a couple in Waterford Brian and Grace Frisby and eighty-year-old Kathleen Cunningham also lost her life in recent weeks. An Garda Siochana will be carrying out an enhanced roads policing enforcement campaign over the Bank Holiday weekend from 7am Thursday, March 12, to 7am on Wednesday, March 18. Speaking ahead of the weekend, Assistant Commissioner Catharina Gunne, Roads Policing, stated: St Patricks Weekend is a time of celebration, but it must not be a time of tragedy. Drink and drug driving remain among the leading causes of death and serious injury on Irish roads. Our message is simple: if you are under the influence of an intoxicant do not drive. The risk is never worth it. We want everyone to enjoy the festivities safely. Plan your night out. Use public transport, taxis, or designated drivers. Look out for friends and family. One poor decision behind the wheel can have devastating consequences for multiple lives. One in four road deaths in Europe are estimated to be alcohol related. The most recent RSA Driver Attitudes and Behaviour Survey (2025) highlights concerning findings in relation to drink-driving in Ireland. More than one in 10 (12%) drivers admitted they had driven after consuming alcohol in the previous 12 months. A quarter of motorists felt it was acceptable to drive a short distance in their local area after drinking alcohol, while 23% said there were times they may have been over the legal limit when driving the morning after a night out. International research indicates that drivers with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) between 50-80mg alcohol per 100ml blood are between 5-10 times more likely to be involved in a fatal collision. In addition, analysis of coronial data by the RSA shows that more than one third (35%) of driver fatalities (2016-2020) where a toxicology result was available tested positive for alcohol. With thousands of people expected to take part in parades, events and celebrations across the country in the run up to Saint Patricks Day, road users are being urged to make safe travel plans in advance. Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development, Jerry Buttimer said: St. Patricks Day is our national day of celebration. It is a time for us to come together to celebrate the best of Ireland and the best of our local communities. However, we must all take responsibility and behave properly on our roads. It is never acceptable to drink or take drugs, and drive. We cannot put others lives, or our own lives at risk when driving. Where we see such behaviour, we must challenge it and call it out. I urge people to enjoy yourselves but also remember to make the right decisions. Director of Research, Standards and Assurance at the RSA, Michael Rowland said: St. Patricks Day is a time for celebration, but alcohol and driving must never mix. Every year we see the devastating consequences when someone gets behind the wheel after drinking. Provisional analysis by An Garda Siochana of drivers arrested for driving under the Influence of alcohol or drugs in 2025 show that 86% were male, 14% female. In terms of ages of drivers 29% were 21 - 30 years; 29% were 31 40 years of age; 7% were under-21; 20% were 41 50; 10% were 51 60 years of age; and 5% were 61+ years of age. Kerry County Councils Road Safety Officer Declan Keogh said: Road safety plays a key part in all our daily lives, and in every local community. Ahead of the Saint Patrick's Day celebrations, local authorities are urging all road users to be mindful of the risks while using the road and to think about the consequences which can result from a serious or fatal road traffic collision. Road safety is everyones responsibility, and we should all work together and protect each other." Concerns have been raised among shoppers in Drogheda following speculation that parking charges could be introduced at the Southgate Shopping Centre. The discussion emerged on social media after residents noticed what appeared to be new parking infrastructure in the area, prompting fears that free parking at the retail park may soon come to an end. On ability, hes there or better than some who have already been capped - Bohs boss Alan Reynolds hails Dawson Devoy after Ireland recognition To celebrate International Womens Day, Centre of Nursing and Midwifery Education (CNME) Sligo, Leitrim, West Cavan in partnership with HSE Social Inclusion, will host Every Woman Counts: A Womens Health Day, an inclusive educational event designed to support, inform, and empower women across all communities. Taking place on Thursday, 12 March 2026 from 10am to 3pm in CNME, 2nd Floor, Block 8, The Grove, F91 A2FP, Sligo, the event reflects the integrated model of care embedded within the HSE, bringing together health promotion, education and specialist expertise in a collaborative, community-focused way. By working across services and settings, the initiative aims to improve access to trusted health information, reduce barriers to care and promote equity in womens health outcomes. Selene Daly, Nurse Tutor, Sligo Leitrim West Cavan said: We extend an invitation to women of all ages to a free public event to celebrate International Womens Day. Every Woman Counts is about creating a space where women feel informed, supported and heard. We know that knowledge is empowering. When women have access to clear, evidence-based information, they are better equipped to make decisions about their health and wellbeing at every stage of life. Patricia Garland from HSE Social Inclusion Manager, North West said: This event reflects our commitment to inclusive and equitable healthcare. At the heart of this initiative is a shared commitment to knowledge-based care, recognising that informed women are better supported to make decisions about their health and wellbeing. The event will create a welcoming environment for learning, open conversation, and shared understanding. The programme will offer a wide range of evidence-based information and practical support, including: Menopause health, delivered by menopause health experts Cervical screening information and awareness Period health and menstrual wellbeing Bladder and bowel health in women Womens mental health, including insights from a senior psychologist and psychosexual therapist The day has been intentionally designed to be welcoming and inclusive, ensuring women from minority and marginalised communities feel represented and supported. By hosting the event within a trusted community setting and through cross-sector collaboration, organisers aim to create a safe, culturally sensitive environment where women can ask questions, access information, and connect with services. Every Woman Counts: A Womens Health Day demonstrates how partnership working can strengthen health promotion and improve outcomes for women and communities alike. All are welcome, places can be booked via Eventbrite. A man told gardai that he had fallen on hard times after he stole groceries, Sligo District Court heard. Joseph Forde (66) of Beechlawn Court, Maugheraboy was charged with stealing groceries valued at 50.15 from Tesco OConnell St, Sligo on November 6, 2025. Sergeant Derek Butler told the court that at 10:30am, gardai received a report of a man suspiciously walking into Tesco. When he exited the shop, he was approached by gardai. They found that he concealed groceries in his shopping bag. The defendant told gardai that he had fallen on hard times and apologised for stealing. Forde was fully co-operative with gardai and was apologetic. All the groceries were recovered. The court heard that Forde has five previous convictions of which three are relevant. Mr Mark Mullaney, solicitor (defending), told Judge Eiteain Cunningham that his client had fallen on hard times. He added that the goods were recovered and that Forde goes to meetings to address his issues on a regular basis. Judge Cunningham said that the difficulty was that the defendant has three relevant previous convictions. She convicted and fined Forde 150. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme. Sligo Councillors discussed the shortage of GPs in the county at the March meeting. Stock image. Photo: PA The shortage of GPs in Co Sligo was raised at the March meeting of Sligo County Council with Cllr Barry Gallagher describing the issue as critical saying, This is not a future problem, this is happening now. In his motion Cllr Gallagher called on Sligo County Council to urgently contact the Minister for Health, the HSE and relevant bodies requesting urgent intervention and a clear timeline for action to address GP shortages in County Sligo. Stressing the importance of the issue Cllr Gallagher said, Sligo communities deserve the same as any urban area. Im getting 10 calls a week on this. Supporting the motion Cllr Edel McSharry highlighted the Need to look at rural recruitment and retention, adding, I am constantly being contacted by members of the public who cannot get a GP. Cllr McSharry continued, There is a need to look at more training places in medicine. Perhaps there could be a training centre in our ATU. GP practices do a wonderful job, they have digital records. We need to look at a more accelerated GP training programme. Cllr Marie Casserly also gave her backing to the motion saying, For years there have not been enough. Thats why there is such a demand, there are not enough spaces on offer for those specialities. Give them the facilities, there are empty colleges throughout the summer. Highlighting the seriousness of the situation Cllr Dara Mulvey said, A Longford woman moved to Sligo for work. She couldnt get a GP in Sligo and was told to go back to Longford. Cllr Ann Higgins also gave her backing to the motion saying, GPs are people, they will determine where they want to live, where they want to send their children to school. They are going to Australia for a reason. "If somebody is sick they are sick. To be told to bring a sick child to A&E is a symptom of a broken health service. Cllr Michael Clarke also gave his backing to the motion saying, The support system for rural doctors isnt there. With five extra district nurses it could free up to 50 beds in Sligo University Hospital. The health business is a very complicated industry. Echoing some of the sentiments already expressed Cllr Donal Gilroy said, It is far from simple to solve. It is well needed, different areas have different problems. It was a 24 hour job, the modern GP doesnt do that and shouldnt be asked to do that. They are wonderful people and we should acknowledge that but it takes an awful lot of training to get to that point. The debate on the motion concluded with Cllr Gallagher saying, Our population is aging, we need to look at it straight away. Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme. Rally of boats is planned for Saturday, March 21 to oppose plans The tourism and ecology of a busy Tipperary town will be decimated if a controversial pipeline to pump water from the River Shannon to Dublin goes ahead. Thats according to local Fine Gael councillor Phyll Bugler, who says that the entire social fabric of Ballina will be destroyed if the Water Supply Project Eastern and Midlands Region is granted planning permission. The pipeline will see a 170km pipe installed to pump 330million litres of water a day from the Parteen Basin to Dublin, and will cost the taxpayer an estimated 10billion. Speaking to the Irish Independent, Cllr Bugler, who also holds a doctorate in organic chemistry, said the pipeline could damage tourism and the ecology of Lough Derg, with serious consequences for the towns social fabric. "I love our beautiful Lough Derg, and I certainly dont want to see any damage to the ecology, to the fish life, the wildlife, and to the whole tourism and social fabric of Lough Derg. "If the pipeline goes ahead, eight EU directives will be breached, including the water framework directive, the habitats directive, the birds directive and the environmental directive. This proposal will threaten critical habitats and protected species including pollen, eel, salmon, lamprey, trout, as well as the habitats of endangered water birds, such as the curlew, Cllr Bugler said. A major flaw in the plan, according to Cllr Bugler and the River Shannon Protection Alliance, which she is a part of, is that Uisce Eireann have not considered low flow periods, when the levels of water in the river are lower than usual. Cllr Bugler says that the level of water taken from the river during these low flow periods will see the river practically drained. She claimed that during periods of low flow, the proportion of water taken from the river could rise dramatically. "That average flow that Uisce Eireann are saying doesnt make sense because we can have dry periods for the months of April, May, June, July, August and September, and research carried out by Maynooth University has shown that we in the Mid West are going to experience more drought periods during the summer months, whereas Dublin, because the jet stream has moved, is going to get more wetter periods, she said. "If theres less flow coming down the river, then the abstraction is extremely high, the rate of abstraction is not the 2pc touted by Uisce Eireann, its 38pc to 40pc of the river, Cllr Bugler added. The abstraction of water from the River Shannon and Lough Derg would also lead to an increase in algae, which would endanger the life of many species living in the river and its tributaries. "If Uisce Eireann take up to 38pc to 40pc of the water thats flowing down, this will lead to a fish kill, and it will lead to massive algae bloom, Cllr Bugler explained. "We cannot afford to have any reduction in water volumes whatsoever in Lough Derg, she said. Cllr Bugler also warned that algae blooms could affect water quality, claiming that treating the water could create harmful by-products. "During that process, whats known as trihalomethanes (THMs) will form, which is also known as chloroform, which is normally used by dry cleaners to take grease stains out of clothes. There are going to be really, really high levels of this in the water that the greater Dublin area are going to get. "The water will be toxic and the people in Dublin need to realise that, and refuse to take this water from Uisce Eireann, its cancer-causing, she said. Another issue, she said, is the high concentration of zebra mussles that live in Lough Derg. They are an invasive species, and their larvae is tiny and will get into this pipe and lead to it clogging up. "The larvae will get through into the pipe, and the larvae will become more zebra mussles and they will cling to the inside of the pipe and eventually, the pipe will block, she said. At the March meeting of Tipperary County Council, councillors discussed the councils submission to An Coimisiun Pleanala, with all 40 county councillors agreeing to oppose the plans. Councillor Seamie Morris said that there is no shortage of water in Dublin, but a water management problem instead. "There is no shortage of water in Dublin, Poulaphouca alone has 43.8 billion gallons of water capacity, but if you look at Dublins own water capacity reports, every area of Dublin, none of them are in a red zone, Dublin has a water management issue, he said. "Theyre loosing 300million litres of expensively treated water into the ground every day. Uisce Eireann were fined 25million last year by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities for their inability to repair leaks. "We are not here as a region to support a company thats not able to fix their leaks, Cllr Morris added. Fine Gael councillor Mary Hanna Hourigan said a section of the councils submission that refers to community gain needed to be removed, saying that there is no gain to anyone in Tipperary if this project goes ahead. Independent councillor Michael OMeara says that the pipeline is a recipe for ecological disaster, while Sinn Fein councillor Annemarie Ryan said that none of the councillors in the chamber have faith in Uisce Eireann to deliver the project if it is given the go ahead. "Not wanting to be parochial, but I live in a town that has 5,000 people that have no water on a daily basis because of restrictions and leakages. If you put aside the environmental concerns and the ecological issues, does anybody here have confidence in Uisce Eireann to deliver such a project? I could say that not one of us do, Cllr Ryan said. Following the debate, councillors agreed on the wording for the local authoritys submission to An Coimisiun Pleanala, which will now be sent to the planning appeals board. Councillors were told that a decision on the proposed pipeline isnt expected for two years or more. Despite this, Uisce Eireann say the project is badly needed and will enable Dublin to grow into the future. It is a key part of our 25-year national water supply strategy, and its delivery is critical to the delivery of housing and growth for the State, Uisce Eireann said. "Water supply in the Greater Dublin Area and significant parts of the Eastern and Midlands Region is under severe pressure and there is a critical need for a new water source. "Uisce Eireann acknowledges the importance of Lough Derg for recreation, tourism, and local ecology, and we appreciate the concerns raised by anglers, the utility said. "Modelling shows that the abstraction is sustainable within the existing normal operating water level range and the operation of Lough Derg, post works, will look and feel very similar to the way it currently operates, and there will not be a visible day to day difference for any water users, Uisce Eireann added. Despite claims from councillors, Uisce Eireann has said that they have considered low flow periods. "Extensive hydrological and water quality modelling has been undertaken with particular emphasis on drought periods, including an assessment of the peak abstraction in a drought/low flow period. Over 1,100 options were considered as part of the selection process for a new water supply to Dublin, they said, adding that the Shannon Pipeline project provided the greatest amount of benefit to as many people as possible. "The evidence shows that the new Shannon source, delivered through the Water Supply Project, provides the widest benefit to the greatest number of people, with the least environmental impact and in the most costeffective manner, they said. "Alternative options including desalination, groundwater sources, new reservoirs, additional abstraction from other rivers, or further leakage reduction were all fully assessed. Each was found to be insufficient to meet the scale of longterm demand, did not provide the required resilience, or carried significantly higher environmental or cost impacts, they added. Cllr Bugler said that a protest is due to take place in Ballina next weekend for anyone who is opposed to the plans. "Well have a rally of boats on the lake on March 21. All our fishing clubs, our sailing clubs, our cruising clubs, people on kayaks will be there, she said. "We are going to show that we are not going to allow the abstraction of water from Lough Derg, and turn our beautiful lake into a dead lake with algae blooms, Cllr Bugler said. "If this goes ahead, we will be decimated here for tourism, all the villages around the lake, we will all have no future here, she warned The rally will take place at the Ballina slipway from 1.30pm on Saturday, March 21, and all are welcome to attend. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme Monaseed Pupils create the longest loom band. Pictured is pupils from Monaseed NS and Principal Maire Coates measuring the loom band. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench Monaseed Pupils create the longest loom band. Pictured is pupils from Monaseed NS rolling the loom band down the road. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench There was great cheer in Wexford as families and students from a primary school outside Gorey gathered to see if the students could make the longest loom band chain, which measured more than half a kilometre long. Students, teachers and parents from Monaseed National School gathered outside the school recently, to see just how long the loom band chain was. Students Olivia Hughes, Aoibheann OLoughlin and Olivia Bevan have been working on the project for the past several weeks, crafting the classic rubber band bracelets. Monaseed Pupils create the longest loom band. Pictured is Cathaoirleach Donal Kenny and pupils from Monaseed NS. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench After rolling out a lengthy crafted loom band chain, the chain measured an outstanding length of 685 metres in total and ran from Monaseed National School down to just before where the footpath ends at the end of the village. Olivia Bevans mother, Edel shared her delight for her daughter and friends on the big day. I was absolutely blown away by the effort, enthusiasm and community spirit shown on the day. The loom band measured over an incredible 500 metres, which is an amazing achievement for the children involved, Edel said. Edel added that the support from friends and families in the community made the day extra special. The pride on their faces said it all. This really shows what can be achieved when young people set themselves a goal and are encouraged every step of the way." On the day, they were joined by Cathaoirleach of Gorey-Kilmuckridge Municipal District, Donal Kenny who helped the students lay the loom band chain along the road in Monaseed. After rolling out the lengthy loom band, Cllr Kenny presented Olivia Hughes, Aoibheann and Olivia Bevan with a certificate of achievement to recognise their dedication, creativity and teamwork on the project. Monaseed Pupils create the longest loom band. Pictured is Cathaoirleach Donal Kenny presenting a certificate to Olivia Hughes, Aoibheann O Loughlin and Olivia Bevan. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench Maire Coates, principal at Monaseed National School said there was great excitement ahead of the bid day and praised students Olivia Hughes, Aoibheann O Loughlin and Olivia Bevan for their initiative with the project, which included writing to Cllr Kenny to close the road. It's great to see how what started as a fine motor skill they decided to develop during rainy breaks has blossomed into an event that involves the whole school community, Maire said. Wexford LEO International Women's day in the Ferrycarrig hotel. From left; Mary Power and Niamh Howlin. Photo; Mary Browne Wexford LEO International Women's day in the Ferrycarrig hotel. From left; Marta L.ena, Angela Sanina, Alina Dynko and Iiona Byrne. Photo; Mary Browne Wexford LEO International Women's day in the Ferrycarrig hotel. From left; Alison Murphy and Julie Caulfield. Photo; Mary Browne Wexford LEO International Women's day in the Ferrycarrig hotel. From left; Louise O'Rourke, Deborah Jordan and Mairead Molumby. Photo; Mary Browne Wexford LEO International Women's day in the Ferrycarrig hotel. From left; Marguerite Murphy Bank of Ireland, Paula Roche CEO County Wexford Chamber of Commerce and Breege Cosgrave LEO. Photo; Mary Browne Wexford LEO International Women's day in the Ferrycarrig hotel. From left; Maura Bell and Yvonne Doyle. Photo; Mary Browne On Friday, a huge crowd gathered in the Ferrycarrig Hotel for the Wexford Local Enterprise Office (LEO) entrepreneur showcase, to celebrate International Womens Day (IWD). The annual IWD celebration, brought together 146 local entrepreneurs, business owners and stakeholders for a morning focused on learning, collaboration, and inspiration. The event was supported by the Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council Cllr Joe OSullivan and its Chief Executive Eddie Taaffe, who attended in recognition of the importance of women in enterprise within the county. Delivered in partnership with the County Wexford Chamber of Commerce, the event reflected this years theme, give to gain, emphasising how shared knowledge and community support contribute to a stronger and more resilient local business environment. Broadcaster and entrepreneur Anna Daly acted as both MC and keynote speaker, sharing her experience of navigating a competitive media career and building her own business ventures. Attendees also heard a series of short, insight-led presentations from LEO Wexford mentors, delivered in a concise, storytelling style aimed at sparking ideas and prompting reflection. Among the speakers were Mags Boland Murphy on strategy, Mary White on innovation, Micheal ONeill on artificial intelligence and Cuty Gupta on digitalisation. Wexford LEO International Women's day in the Ferrycarrig hotel. From left; Maura Bell and Yvonne Doyle. Photo; Mary Browne Each speaker offered practical considerations for business owners looking to strengthen operations, explore new opportunities or integrate emerging technologies. The event also featured a dedicated craft showcase, highlighting the work of ten local female makers who displayed and sold their products. They included Ann Kelly, Simone Wagner, Helena Hagan Duffin, Annette Byrne, Verna Goff, Jackie Mitchell, Grainne Moore, Agota Gillbride, Phil Walsh and Pauline Quirke. Wexford County Council praised the ongoing collaboration between LEO Wexford, the chamber and local support organisations highlighting how this joined up approach continues to benefit small businesses across the county. In January, figures released around the performance of (LEOs) last year, revealed that the Wexford office supported companies which created 391 new jobs in 2025, a net employment gain of 246. The figure were significantly up from the 329 jobs created in 2024, and places Wexford in the top three best performing offices nationally, just behind Limerick and Dublin. The figures showed that LEO Wexford financially supported 237 small businesses in their portfolio across the county, companies that in turn employ 2,147 people. The morning concluded with recognition of the work carried out by the LEO Wexford team, whose commitment to providing guidance, training and practical supports plays a central role in helping local businesses start, grow, and compete. To highlight the issue of child and youth homelessness, the Good Shepherd Centre Kilkenny will take part in this years St. Patricks Day parade in Kilkenny, carrying signs representing the number of children currently experiencing homelessness GSCK staff marched through Kilkenny last week to highlight the number of children experiencing homelessness. Photo: Patrick Browne GSCK staff marched through Kilkenny last week to highlight the number of children experiencing homelessness. Photo: Patrick Browne GSCK staff marched through Kilkenny last week to highlight the number of children experiencing homelessness. Photo: Patrick Browne GSCK staff marched through Kilkenny last week to highlight the number of children experiencing homelessness. Photo: Patrick Browne GSCK staff marched through Kilkenny last week to highlight the number of children experiencing homelessness. Photo: Patrick Browne A Kilkenny-based homeless charity is supporting nearly 100 children who are currently experiencing homelessness. The Good Shepherd Centre Kilkenny (GSCK) say they are currently supporting 43 families and 98 children experiencing homelessness, alongside eight young adults aged between 18 and 25 in emergency accommodation across its services. The organisation, which operates across Kilkenny, Carlow, Wexford, Tipperary, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath, says the figures reflect the growing number of families and young people seeking support as housing pressures continue. GSCK staff marched through Kilkenny last week to highlight the number of children experiencing homelessness. Photo: Patrick Browne To highlight the issue of child and youth homelessness, the organisation will take part in this years St. Patricks Day parade in Kilkenny City, where participants will walk in solidarity carrying signs representing the number of children currently experiencing homelessness, under the message No Child Should Be Homeless. Nationally, a record high of over 17,000 people are homeless in Ireland including 5,319 children according to the latest figures. GSCK staff marched through Kilkenny last week to highlight the number of children experiencing homelessness. Photo: Patrick Browne The GSCK parade entry reflects this years parade theme, Together Le Cheile, emphasising the role communities can play in supporting families facing housing insecurity. A key support provided by the organisation is its Own Front Door programme, which offers families an alternative to emergency hotel accommodation. Through the programme, families are placed in a temporary house or apartment where they have their own space and front door while longer-term housing solutions are being secured. GSCK staff marched through Kilkenny last week to highlight the number of children experiencing homelessness. Photo: Patrick Browne CEO of GSCK, Noel Sherry, said the approach provides a more stable environment for families during what is often an extremely difficult period. Emergency hotel accommodation can be very challenging for families, particularly for children, he said. Through Own Front Door, families can live in a house or apartment rather than a hotel room. "It allows children to have a routine, space to play and do homework, and a sense of normal family life while their longer-term housing situation is being resolved. GSCK staff marched through Kilkenny last week to highlight the number of children experiencing homelessness. Photo: Patrick Browne Participants in the parade will carry visual representations of the number of children currently supported through the organisations services, drawing attention to the reality facing many families across the region. Mr Sherry said the message behind the groups participation is simple: communities working together can play an important role in ensuring every child has a safe place to call home. When communities come together, le cheile, we can support families through crisis and work towards a future where no child experiences homelessness, he concluded. A creche staff member accused of cruelty against children and assault has had his case sent back to the Director of Public Prosecutions after a judge refused jurisdiction The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at a sitting of Bray District Court charged with assault causing harm and one count of cruelty to children. Counsel for the accused, Conor Rubalcava, informed the court that directions were made double peremptory against the State at a previous sitting. Sergeant Mick Dee stated that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has directed that the matter be dealt with at District Court level instead of the Circuit Criminal Court, on the condition that the defendant pleads guilty. A disclosure order was made to Brady Kilroy Solicitors. No application for legal aid was made. The court heard that the disclosure is not extensive but contains CCTV footage of the alleged incident and a statement of complaint. Judge David Kennedy asked the prosecution to outline the alleged facts to determine whether he would accept jurisdiction. Sgt Dee told the court that in 2025, gardai received reports of staff misconduct at a creche in Wicklow. He added that a father noticed his child was unable to move his right arm. The father reported the incident to the creche. CCTV footage was reviewed and it is alleged that during nap time the defendant was seen picking up the child roughly, causing the toddler to sustain a dislocated elbow. Judge Kennedy refused jurisdiction, ordering that the file be returned to the DPP. The matter was adjourned for further directions and is due to return before the court for mention in April. Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme Joanne and Hilary Hamilton with Ailis Cullen and the An Post Irish Bookshop of the Year award won by Bridge Street Books in 2022. With St Patricks Day fast approaching, two renowned Wicklow bookshops have shared their recommendations for the top Irish reads to mark the occasion. Halfway up the Stairs, an independent children's bookshop in Greystones, won the prestigious An Post Bookshop of the Year 2023 award, and were also named the Independent Bookshop of the Year (Ireland) at the 2023 British Book Awards (The Nibbies) and previously nominated for the award in 2021 and 2022. Trish Hennessy of Halfway Up the Stairs has selected three books which would be suitable for children. Trish Hennessy of Halfway Up the Stairs. 1. The Upside Down Lighthouse The Upside Down Lighthouse by Paddy Donnelly is suitable for age 4+. Trish stated: This is a beautiful picture book depicting the magic of nature even when everything seems upside down. 2. Murder at the Ivy Hotel Another of her recommendations is Murder at the Ivy Hotel by Emily Hourican. This is a brilliant murder mystery set in a fancy hotel for readers aged 10+. Two sisters along with their friend need to solve the intriguing mystery of the murder of a guest. 3. Shorelines Her final selection is Shorelines by Ruth Ennis, which is an evocative reimagining of The Little Mermaid beautifully told in verse and suitable for older children aged 15+. Bridge Street Books in Wicklow town is a highly acclaimed independent bookshop, most notably winning the prestigious An Post Bookshop of the Year 2022. It is run by mother and daughter Hilary and Joanna Hamilton. Joanne and Hilary Hamilton with Ailis Cullen and the An Post Irish Bookshop of the Year award won by Bridge Street Books in 2022. 4. Rembrandts Promise Joanna recommends Rembrandts Promise by Barbara Leahy. Set in Amsterdam in 1642, this is the story of Geertje and the painter Rembrandt: a love affair and a downfall. A great historical novel of love, loss and redemption, said Joanna. 5. Charleen Hurtubise She also picked Saoirse by Charleen Hurtubise. Joanna explained: Charleens second novel is set in 1999 in Donegal. This is Saoirses story of love, heartbreak, secrets, reinvention and forging a future despite everything. This is a well-written, compulsive novel, perfect for reading on a bank holiday weekend. Other recommendations from a variety of bookshops located across the country include The Cloud Kingdom by Maire Zepf, an enchanting story collection reminiscent of fairytales and fables of past and present that children will love and which is beautifully illustrated by Andrew Whitson, and The Boy from the Sea by Garrett Carr, a brilliantly moving tale of an abandoned baby who rocks a small town, bringing together a community and igniting some lifelong rivalries. Status Yellow wind warning will be in place nationwide until 6pm on ThursdayStatus Yellow rain warning for 21 counties until 3pm, Thursday Met Eireann adds snow-ice warning for 11 counties, to come into effect on Thursday night There will be both dry, sunny spells and rain in the mix for the days ahead. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Met Eireann has issued a snow-ice weather warning for 11 counties, which comes into effect on Thursday night. The Status Yellow warning will apply to counties Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo and Wicklow. It will come into effect at 9pm on Thursday and remain in place until 6am, Friday. A Status Yellow rain warning is currently in place for counties Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Clare, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Dublin, Kildare, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wicklow and Connacht. This will be in place until 3pm on Thursday. The national forecaster said heavy downpours are expected, with spot flooding, poor visibility and difficult travelling conditions. And a Status Yellow wind warning is in place nationwide from until 6pm on Thursday. Potential impacts will include difficult travelling conditions, debris or loose objects displaced and some fallen branches or trees. Met Eireann meteorologist Holly ONeill said it will be blustery across the country, but counties along the Atlantic coast will be the worst affected. Speaking to Today with David McCullagh on RTE Radio 1, she said the country is set for quite a wet and blustery day. We're going to be seeing very strong and gusty southwesterly winds moving in across the country. With regards where we're going to see those strongest winds, it's most likely it's going to be blustery everywhere, like you know, but it's along those Atlantic coasts that we're going to see the brunt of those winds, parts of the northwest and south. Ms ONeill said rain will turn heavy at times and there may be some spot flooding, poor visibility and difficult travelling conditions, and temperatures will drop later on as the rain clears. When we see that rain clear this afternoon to the southeast, we're going to see a kind of a freshening of the winds coming in as well. So, it's going to feel a little bit cooler too, with showers feeding in from the west. Now, some of those may turn wintry at times, particularly on higher ground or up in the northwest, but most likely for the majority of the country it will just be showers. Speaking to the same programme Dublin Airport Authority head of media relations Graeme McQueen said there have been challenging winds at Dublin Airport this morning. In the last couple of hours, we've had three flights divert to other airports. We've had eight go-arounds as well, that's where the incoming plane tries to come down and land on the runway, but the wind levels are too strong, and it goes back up again and then tries again. So, a bit of disruption so far. The winds are actually due to get a bit stronger over the next two, three hours, so were expecting the potential for further disruption as the morning goes on. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content There will be both dry, sunny spells and rain in the mix for the days ahead. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA 7 Day Weather Forecast - 9th March to 15th March Forecast Saturday will be dry to start in the east with sunny spells, but the day will later become cloudy as rain and drizzle spread from the west becoming widespread by the afternoon. Saturday will see highest afternoon temperatures of 5 to 9C. The evening will see the rain ease and become lighter and patchier with some clear spells developing. Lowest nighttime temperatures will range from 5 to 8C in moderate to fresh southwesterly winds. Sunday will be a cool and breezy day with sunny spells and blustery showers, some turning wintry in places with sleet or hail possible. There will be highest afternoon temperatures of 5 to 9C in fresh to strong westerly winds. Satellite imagery reveals RSF razed rural villages and destroyed crops Sudanese paramilitaries razed farming villages and destroyed crops in a campaign of forced starvation targeting civilians before the siege of El Fasher, according to a major new report. The report, produced by the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) with Nasas Harvest programme, used satellite data to measure damage to agriculture in the western Sudanese region of Darfur. The researchers found that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) razed at least 41 rural agricultural communities predominantly inhabited by Zaghawa, an indigenous African group located to the north and west of El Fasher between March and June 2024. The RSF starved El Fasher. They did it intentionally and now we can prove it They say the attacks were a deliberate attempt to destroy the regions food supply chain ahead of the siege of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, which began at the end of April 2024. The RSF starved El Fasher. They did it intentionally and now we can prove it mathematically, Nathaniel Raymond, executive director of the Yale HRL, said. The area of land being farmed across the area shrank by more than 80pc between August and November 2024, according to the report, signalling the near-total collapse of the local food system. Famine conditions were eventually confirmed in El Fasher in November 2025 by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), the UN-backed monitoring group. Satellite images used by the investigators show fields that were once cultivated now lying fallow, with vegetation consuming abandoned homes and farmland. Two-thirds of the communities showed no visible pattern of life, suggesting residents had either been displaced or killed. Under international humanitarian law, starvation becomes a war crime when civilians are intentionally deprived of objects indispensable to survival in this case food supplies or agricultural infrastructure or when actions are knowingly taken that will cause starvation. To deprive civilians of objects indispensable to survival means civilians are virtually certain to starve But investigators also have to prove intent and the forensic analysis of the patterns of damage to the buildings suggests that the communities were attacked deliberately, Yales HRL said. To deprive civilians of objects indispensable to survival when the population is one step from famine means civilians are virtually certain to starve, Tom Dannenbaum, a professor of law at Stanford Law School, said. At the time of the attacks, the region was already at emergency food insecurity levels. The reports findings add to a growing body of evidence implicating the RSF in genocide. The RSF, which traces its origins to the notorious Janjaweed militias responsible for genocide in Darfur 20 years ago, have been fighting the Sudanese Armed Forces for control of swathes of the country since 2023. The UNs Fact-Finding Mission in Sudan last month concluded that the RSF committed atrocities bearing the hallmarks of genocide when fighters stormed El Fasher in October, killing over 70,000 people. The Yale researchers say their findings on the RSFs attacks on food supplies in the run up to the siege could be used in future prosecutions at the International Criminal Court. Under international law, countries can also pursue war crimes cases in their own courts even if the crimes occurred elsewhere, as seen in a series of European trials of Syrian officials accused of atrocities during the countrys civil war. Legal experts say the findings may also raise questions about the responsibilities of states accused of supporting armed groups. The United Arab Emirates has repeatedly been accused of providing support to the RSF allegations it strongly denies. Government documents relating to Peter Mandelsons appointment and activity as ambassador to the US were ordered to be released by MPs Documents relating to Peter Mandelsons appointment as British ambassador to the United States will be released on Wednesday. British cabinet minister Darren Jones said a big number of the documents will be released, although it is only expected to be a fraction of the papers demanded by the parliament. Last month, MPs ordered the British government to release tens of thousands of documents relating to Mr Mandelsons appointment in 2024 after questions over how the peer was vetted and what was known about his links to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. The British prime minister has insisted Mr Mandelson lied repeatedly to No 10 about his relationship with Epstein, before and during his tenure as ambassador. Chief Secretary to the prime minister Mr Jones will confirm the release of the first set of documents those which have been cleared for publication by the police investigating Mr Mandelson in a Commons statement. The timing of the release has led to accusations from the British Conservatives that the prime minister is attempting to dodge questions about Mr Mandelsons vetting by publishing the documents after PMQs. Shadow cabnet offfice minister Alex Burghart said: His fingers are all over this. Hes already admitted that he knew about Mandelsons ongoing relationship with Epstein when he appointed him. Time and again his judgment has been found wanting. Lord Peter Mandelson outside his London home (Lucy North/PA) News in 90 seconds - March 11 But Mr Jones told Times Radio: We were always teed up to report in early March with the first tranche of documents, which is what were doing this afternoon. Because I run the Cabinet Office, at the centre of government, it was always my responsibility to give those updates to the House of Commons and statements always come after prime ministers questions. The release of the documents was ordered when MPs backed a humble address motion tabled by the Tories, a rarely-used manoeuvre which compels the government to act. Some files will be withheld for national security or foreign relations reasons, but the final say over which documents are redacted rests with parliaments Intelligence and Security Committee. The government has also agreed a framework with the Metropolitan Police on which documents can be released without prejudicing the ongoing police investigation into Mr Mandelson. On Sky News, Mr Jones said: Its a big number of documents. Government takes its responsibility to be transparent to parliament really seriously. And of course, on this issue of Peter Mandelson and his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, we all have a shared interest in bringing some accountability and transparency to these these issues. So the first tranche will be published this afternoon. A second tranche, they will come later, because theres been further work that weve had to do across government in response to the humble address, which is not quite ready. And we have two other processes that take a bit of time, given the live criminal investigation with the Metropolitan Police and the role of the Intelligence and Security Committee in Parliament has some oversight of it. Mr Mandelson was arrested on February 23 on suspicion of misconduct in public office, having been accused of passing sensitive information on to Epstein during his time as business secretary. He was subsequently bailed, but later released from his bail conditions, although he remains under investigation. Observer: China is injecting greater stability into the world (People's Daily App) 13:42, March 11, 2026 With the two sessions, one of the most significant events on China's political calendar, running from March 4 to 12 in Beijing, China is injecting greater stability into the world. China's annual two sessions, the country's top legislature and political advisory meetings, serve as both a political weather vane and an economic barometer. These gatherings offer a key window into China's development trajectory. This year, a major focus of the two sessions is China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), which will outline the economic, social and technological priorities of the world's second-largest economy over the next five years. You may have seen experts and reporters, both at home and abroad, use the term "stability" when analyzing this year's sessions. What does it mean in the current global context? Stability in China's economic resilience Global growth is projected at 3.3 percent for 2026 and 3.2 percent for 2027, slightly revised up since the October 2025 World Economic Outlook, according to the International Monetary Fund. Amid mounting geopolitical tensions, unilateralism, protectionism and a sluggish global economy, China stands as a pillar of stability and confidence, with its growth providing a crucial anchor. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), China's economy grew at an average annual rate of 5.4 percent, contributing roughly 30 percent of global growth, more than the combined contribution of the G7 economies. This year's growth target of 4.5 to 5 percent aligns with the goal of maintaining steady growth during the 15th Five-Year Plan, a critical stage for China to basically realize socialist modernization by 2035. China is a major trading partner for more than 150 countries and regions and has been the world's second-largest import market for 17 consecutive years. The country aspires not only to be the world's factory but also the world market. This mega-market is expected to provide broader opportunities for products and services from all countries in 2026. The topics discussed by lawmakers and political advisors, such as high-quality development, scientific and technological innovation, green transformation and expanding high-level opening-up, are not only central to China's own development but also carry global significance. Stability guides China's diplomacy Over the years, China has pursued a development path that balances progress with stability. The country's robust economic growth and contributions to the world serve as the foundation for its independent foreign policy of peace and commitment to peaceful development. While some countries make arbitrary decisions or withdraw from international agreements, China positions itself as a responsible major power. At a press briefing on Sunday in Beijing, Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized China's openness and confidence, calling on the US and China to expand cooperation while narrowing disputes, and inviting European partners to move beyond protectionism and engage with the Chinese market. Amid escalating conflict in the Middle East, which adds a new layer of geopolitical uncertainty, China is advocating for dialogue and negotiation to resolve differences. This consistency in foreign policy has been met with international recognition. Since the start of 2026, several state leaders have visited China, signing cooperation agreements in trade, culture and education. Looking ahead, President Xi Jinping will host guests from around the world, lead major events such as the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting and the second China-Arab States Summit, and undertake important foreign visits. These engagements will deepen China's international relations, open new avenues for building a shared future for humanity, and allow the country to make greater contributions to global peace and development. Stability strengthens cultural connections Since January, internet trends like "becoming Chinese" or "Chinamaxxing" have gone viral on overseas social media. Growing numbers of people in the West are embracing Chinese wellness habits and cultural rituals. While multiple factors drive this curiosity, it reflects China's broader appeal. In addition to being a stable growth engine, the country offers a rich cultural heritage and is willing to share its wisdom globally. In 2025, China recorded 30.08 million inbound visits by foreign nationals under visa-free policies, up 49.5 percent year on year. Heartwarming interactions shared online by foreign travelers have put China on the radar of more people in the West, allowing the world to see the country in a new light. One analyst noted that 2026 "will be about how the rest of the world adapts to a China that has successfully moved from follower to standard-setter." For the world, the two sessions provide strategic clarity: choosing China is choosing the future and investing in China offers long-term opportunities. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Fire investigators examine the charred shell of a postal bus that caught fire in Kerzers, Switzerland, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, after several passengers were killed and others injured when a postal bus caught fire late Tuesday afternoon in the center of Kerzers, according to the Fribourg cantonal police. (Alessandro della Valle/Keystone via AP) Emergency personnel work at the site of a deadly bus fire in Kerzers, Switzerland, March 10, 2026. STATE OF FREIBURG/Handout via REUTERS Firefighters and police officers install barriers to secure the area where a postal bus caught fire in Kerzers, Switzerland, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, after several passengers were killed and others injured when a postal bus caught fire late Tuesday afternoon in the center of Kerzers, according to the Fribourg cantonal police. (Laurent Merlet/Keystone via AP) At least six people died and three others were injured in a bus fire on Tuesday in a small town in western Switzerland, in what police said may have been a deliberate act following reports that a person on board set fire to themselves. Police said the bus became engulfed in flames on a road in Kerzers, a town in the canton of Fribourg, about 20 km (12 miles) from the Swiss capital, Bern. "At this stage, we have elements suggesting a deliberate act by a person who was inside the bus," said Frederic Papaux, a spokesperson for Fribourg police. Emergency personnel work at the site of a deadly bus fire in Kerzers, Switzerland, March 10, 2026. STATE OF FREIBURG/Handout via REUTERS Investigators were looking into reports that a person had poured fuel on themselves, said Christa Bielmann, another local police spokesperson. It was too early to say whether the incident was terror-related, she told a press conference. Three injured people were taken to hospital, police said. Two other people caught up in the blaze also received attention but did not need to be hospitalised. Fire investigators examine the charred shell of a postal bus that caught fire in Kerzers, Switzerland, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, after several passengers were killed and others injured when a postal bus caught fire late Tuesday afternoon in the center of Kerzers, according to the Fribourg cantonal police. (Alessandro della Valle/Keystone via AP) Passengers were seen escaping from the burning bus, panicked and injured, Papaux said, adding that no other vehicle was involved. Swiss media outlet 20 Minutes said it had seen a video taken at the scene in which an injured person said: "A man set himself on fire. He poured gasoline over himself and then lit himself." Video after the flames were extinguished showed the charred remains of the vehicle, a yellow so-called Postauto. Swiss President Guy Parmelin offered his condolences and said the incident was being investigated. "It shocks and saddens me that once again people have lost their lives in a serious fire in Switzerland," he said in a statement on X, noting investigations were under way. In January, Switzerland was rocked by a fire in a bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans Montana that killed 41 people and injured 115. Missiles launched from Iran toward Israel were seen streaking across the skies over Tel Aviv, on Wednesday, March 11, as Tehran continued retaliatory attacks following strikes by the United States and Israel. Israeli air defence systems intercepted the incoming Iranian missiles. The escalation in the Middle East intensified when Israel and the US launched a joint attack against Iran on February 28, reportedly killing more than 1,200 people to date. Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel along with Gulf countries hosting US military assets. Eight US service members have been killed since the military campaign began. 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 Kristi Noem testifies before a House Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill last Wednesday. Photo: Reuters After firing Kristi Noem as homeland security chief, US president Donald Trump is now reportedly turning his attention to her top adviser Corey Lewandowski. The president wants to know whether Mr Lewandowski a long-time Trump ally now working closely with Ms Noem as a special government employee personally profited from a multi-million dollar ad campaign that prominently featured the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary, according to NBC News, citing sources familiar with the conversations. Mr Trump has grown suspicious about Mr Lewandowskis role in the contract process at Homeland Security altogether, the outlet reported, after the subject repeatedly came up during last weeks congressional oversight hearings that fuelled the presidents decision to remove Ms Noem from office. Mr Trump previously said he wasnt thrilled by Ms Noems testimony, in which she claimed he had signed off on a $222m (193m) ad campaign. I didnt know anything about that, Mr Trump told Reuters moments before he announced Ms Noems removal. Donald Trump announced Ms Noem's removal last week. Photo: Reuters In an interview with NBC, Mr Lewandowski denied benefiting from DHS contracts, saying he made zero, not one penny. Last year, DHS hired a little-known firm to help produce a campaign that prominently featured Ms Noem, including one ad filmed during the government shutdown with the secretary on horseback in front of Mount Rushmore. Safe America Media signed a no-bid contract worth $143m to produce the campaign. That firm then subcontracted with the Strategy Group, whose CEO Ben Yoho is married to Ms Noems now-former assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin. Ms McLaughlin left DHS last month. The same day the Safe America contract was inked, People Who Think was awarded a separate $77m no-bid contract to work on the same advertising campaign. That Louisiana-based firm is run by a political operative who previously worked with Mr Lewandowski. His role is as a special government employee and special government employees work for the White House During her testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Democratic senator Richard Blumenthal asked whether Mr Lewandowski has a role in approving those contracts. His role is as a special government employee and special government employees work for the White House and the administration, Ms Noem replied. There are thousands of them. So, he does have a role, he replied.No, Ms Noem said. Mr Blumenthal then sent a letter to Ms Noem, citing internal DHS records that show Mr Lewandowski personally approved several contracts including multi-million-dollar deals. Federal procurement records also show that DHS approved a $250,000 public affairs contract to American Made Media Company, a political consulting firm with ties to Mr Lewandowski. Ms Noem and Mr Lewandowski, both of whom are married, have also faced allegations that they are romantically involved. In her congressional testimony, Ms Noem called rumours tabloid garbage. President Donald Trump has come under scrutiny for his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. Photo: AP A 'Titanic' movie-themed statue depicting President Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein is seen on the National Mall, in Washington. Photo: AP A new statue depicting US president Donald Trump and deceased paedophile Jeffrey Epstein was placed on the National Mall near the US Capitol on Tuesday. The large sculpture titled King of the World is a nod to the famous scene from the 1997 blockbuster Titanic, in which the films young lover protagonists stand at the prow of the doomed ship. The tragic love story between Jack and Rose was built on luxurious travel, raucous parties and secret nude sketches, a plaque at the base of the installation stated. This monument honours the bond between Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein. Tourists were seen snapping photos of the statue yesterday, which was situated in front of banners displaying a photo of Trump and Epstein. It is the latest piece of protest art to be installed by Secret Handshake, a group whose members are anonymous, according to The New Republic. President Donald Trump has come under scrutiny for his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. Photo: AP In September, the group erected a sculpture of the Republican president and Epstein holding hands in front of the Capitol. It was quickly removed. Mr Trumps relationship with Epstein has been under intense scrutiny since the Department of Justice (DOJ) began releasing its files on the deceased sex offender a number of which reference the president. The pair ran in similar social circles for years and were photographed together on multiple occasions in the 1990s and 2000s, including at Mar-a-Lago. Mr Trump has said he cut ties with Epstein years ago and has described him as a creep. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with a crime in connection to Epstein. It came after California Democratic representative Ro Khanna vowed to keep up the pressure on Mr Trumps administration over the Epstein scandal as an investigation of the New Mexico ranch that once belonged to the late paedophile gets underway. Speaking to MS NOWs Lawrence ODonnell on Monday, the congressman a member of the House Oversight Committee was asked whether his crusade on behalf of the Epstein survivors would continue given that 3.5 million DOJ files on Epstein have now been released and in light of the intervening eruption of the Iran conflict. They were abused, they were raped and they want justice He answered in the affirmative. It continues because its personal, because these survivors have sat in my office, theyve sat in [Kentucky Republican representative] Thomas Massies office They were abused, they were raped and they want justice, Mr Khanna told ODonnell. And the half of the files that are out proves to the country that what we were talking about was not a hoax, that some of the most powerful people were involved, he said. And the worst stuff is still in these files, the names of some of these people, which have been scrubbed by Donald Trumps FBI. Mr Khannas comments come as New Mexico prosecutors confirm that a search is underway at the property south of Santa Fe that was once Epsteins Zorro Ranch, a site at which the paedophile regularly entertained and where sexual abuse is alleged to have taken place. Mr Khanna was speaking after the DOJ moved last week to release three further memos recording FBI interviews with a woman who alleged in 2019 that Trump had sexually assaulted her when she was a teenager. The agency said the memos were left out in error. America claims attacks from regime are decreasing as munitions deplete Far left, an EA-18G Growler prepares to launch from the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln from an undisclosed location. Photo: Reuters Iran launched new attacks on Israel and Gulf Arab countries as it kept up pressure on the Middle East in a war started by Israel and the US that has rattled world markets and shows no signs of a let-up. In Bahrain, authorities said an Iranian attack hit a residential building in the capital, Manama, killing a 29-year-old woman and wounding eight people. Saudi Arabia said it destroyed two drones over its oil-rich eastern region and Kuwaits National Guard said it shot down six drones. In the United Arab Emirates, firefighters battled a blaze in the industrial city of Ruwais home to petrochemical plants after an Iranian drone strike. No injuries were reported. Smoke rises following a reported strike on Kerman Airport in Iran. Photo: Reuters News in 90 seconds - March 11 Sirens also sounded in Jerusalem, and sounds of explosions could be heard in Tel Aviv as Israels defence systems worked to intercept barrages from Iran. At the Pentagon, US defence secretary Pete Hegseth warned on Tuesday that the day will be yet again our most intense day of strikes inside Iran: the most fighters, the most bombers, the most strikes, intelligence more refined and better than ever. Far left, an EA-18G Growler prepares to launch from the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln from an undisclosed location. Photo: Reuters Shortly before the statement, he said the last 24 hours have seen Iran fire the lowest amount of missiles they have fired yet. General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said US forces hit more than 5,000 targets, and their three objectives are destruction of ballistic missile and drone capability; hitting Irans navy to allow movement through the Strait of Hormuz; and hitting deeper into Irans military and industrial base. The rhetoric was equally sharp from Tehran. Irans parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said on X that Iran was certainly not looking for a ceasefire. We believe that the aggressor should be punched in the mouth so that he learns a lesson so that he will never think of attacking our beloved Iran again, he said. Another top Iranian security official, Ali Larijani, appeared to threaten US president Donald Trump himself, writing on X that Iran doesnt fear your empty threats. Even those bigger than you couldnt eliminate Iran. Be careful not to get eliminated yourself. Iran has been accused of plotting attempts to kill Mr Trump in the past. Witnesses reported hearing several explosions in Tehran in the afternoon as Israel began new strikes. Benjamin Netanyahu vowed the strikes on Iran would continue Along with firing missiles and drones at Israel and at American bases in the region, Iran has also been targeting energy infrastructure which, combined with its stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz, sent oil prices soaring. Brent crude, the international standard, spiked to nearly $120 (103) on Monday before falling back, but was still at around $90 a barrel yesterday, nearly 24pc higher than when the war started on February 28. Mr Trump, who has previously said that the war could last for a month or longer, sought to downplay growing fears that it could take even longer, saying it was going to be a short-term excursion. Still, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed the strikes on Iran would continue. Our aim is to bring the Iranian people to cast off the yoke of tyranny, but ultimately it depends on them, he said. There is no doubt that with the actions taken so far, we are breaking their bones." Iran has effectively stopped tankers from using the Strait of Hormuz, the shipping lane between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, through which 20pc of the worlds oil is carried. UN report said 80pc of the children have yet to return home Fire fighters put out the fire in an multi-storey apartment building following a Russian missile attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Saturday, March 7, 2026. Photo: Andrii Marienko/AP A UN investigation found yesterday that the deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children by Russian authorities since Moscows invasion of the country in 2022 amounted to crimes against humanity. In this report, the Commission concluded that crimes against humanity and war crimes by Russian authorities have targeted children, who are among the most vulnerable victims. These crimes have irreversible consequences on their lives and their future, the UN report said. The report by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine studied the cases of 1,205 children from five oblasts in Ukraine and said that 80pc of them have yet to return to Ukraine. Its work is based on analysis of thousands of documents and submissions from rights groups as well as over 200 interviews, including with families of the missing and some children who made it home. The deportations and transfers have originated from various locations across a wide geographic area in Russian-occupied areas in Ukraine, following a well-established pattern of conduct, indicating that these acts have been widespread and systematic, added the report, to be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Thursday. It also said that Russian authorities at the highest level of government have helped co-ordinate the actions. Ukraines foreign minister Andrii Sybiha welcomed the report and called on states to increase pressure on Russia to secure the return of deported children. A spokesperson for Russias diplomatic mission in Geneva did not immediately respond to a request for comment. US-funded research last year showed Russia expanded its forced re-education programmes for deported children. US first lady Melania Trump has advocated for their release and has been in touch with Putins team as part of her work. Meanwhile, Russian and Ukrainian officials are making contradictory claims of battlefield successes in their four-year-old war, with Kyiv saying it has pushed Moscows forces back but the Kremlin insisting that the invasion of its neighbour is making progress. At the same time, Russias almost daily aerial attacks on civilian areas of Ukraine continue. Three powerful glide bombs struck the centre of the eastern Ukrainian city of Sloviansk, killing four people, the head of the Donetsk regional military administration, Vadym Filashkin, said yesterday. At least 16 other people, including a 14-year-old girl, were wounded. Overnight drone strikes on three other Ukrainian cities wounded at least 17 people, including two children, emergency services said yesterday. Ukraines air force said that it shot down 122 out of 137 drones that Russia launched during the night. US-brokered talks between Russia and Ukraine are on hold as Washingtons attention is gripped by the Iran war, which has drawn the international spotlight from Ukraines plight as it strives to hold back Russias bigger army. Despite being short of soldiers, Ukrainian forces have recently retaken nearly all the territory of the south-eastern Dnipropetrovsk industrial region during a counteroffensive, driving Russian troops out of 388 square kilometres, Major General Oleksandr Komarenko said in an interview published by local media outlet RBC-Ukraine. He described the overall situation on the front line as difficult but under control, with the heaviest fighting continuing near Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine and Oleksandrivka in the south, where he said Russian forces have concentrated their main effort. The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, said that recent Ukrainian counterattacks are generating tactical, operational and strategic effects that may disrupt Russias spring-summer 2026 offensive campaign plan. Meanwhile, Russian president Vladimir Putin claimed yesterday that Russian forces have extended their gains in Ukraines eastern Donbas region, whose capture Moscow has made one of the goals of its invasion. Ukraine controlled about 25pc of the Donbas six months ago but it now holds just 15-17pc, Putin said. He made the claim during a meeting with Denis Pushilin, the Kremlin-appointed head of the parts of the Donbas controlled by Russian forces. It was not possible to verify the claim. A Kremlin aide said that Putin told US President Donald Trump late on Monday that Russian forces are advancing rather successfully in Ukraine. That progress should encourage Kyiv to move toward a negotiated settlement of the conflict, Yuri Ushakov told reporters even though Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly demanded a lasting peace deal and European governments accuse Putin of feigning interest in talks while the Russian military keeps hammering Ukraine. A blood test can show higher levels of a protein called p-tau217 which is a risk for dementia. Photo: Getty A blood test can predict the risk of dementia in women up to 25 years before symptoms appear, researchers say. Experts in the US found that higher levels of a protein called p-tau217 which is linked to the brain changes seen in Alzheimers patients were an accurate predictor of developing cognitive problems and dementia. Women are twice as likely to develop dementia, but experts do not know why, and a new study of almost 2,800 women found warning signs could be detected decades before symptoms. Researchers from the University of California, San Diego, examined data from 2,766 women in the Womens Health Initiative Memory Study, which enrolled women aged 65 to 79 in the late 1990s and followed them for up to 25 years. The study involved only female participants and none had signs of cognitive impairment at the start of the study. Blood samples were analysed at the start of the trial and again years later to measure p-tau217. Dr Aladdin Shadyab, first author on the study, said: Our study suggests we may be able to identify women at elevated risk for dementia decades before symptoms emerge. That kind of long lead time opens the door to earlier prevention strategies and more targeted monitoring, rather than waiting until memory problems are already affecting daily life. Ultimately, the goal is not just prediction, but using that knowledge to delay or prevent dementia altogether. Dr Sheona Scales, the director of research at Alzheimers Research UK, said: Women are twice as likely to be affected by dementia, but we do not understand why there is this difference. This study adds to growing research exploring whether bloodbased biomarkers could identify who may be at higher risk of dementia decades before symptoms develop. During 25 years of follow-up, researchers noted the women who developed memory or thinking problems, including dementia. Those who had higher levels of p-tau217 in their blood at the start of the study were much more likely to develop dementia later in life, they found. As levels of the biomarker increased, so did dementia risk. However, independent experts pointed out that while p-tau217 in blood is now well established to be a good marker of brain changes that occur early in Alzheimers disease, not everyone with such changes will go on to develop dementia. Smoke rises following an Israeli and US strike on Iran. Photo: Reuters The US churned through $5.6bn (4.8bn) worth of weaponry during the first two days of its war against Iran, according to a new report. The Pentagon provided the estimate to lawmakers on Monday, nine days after the US and Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran that ignited a wider conflict across the Middle East and caused hundreds of casualties, three unnamed officials told The Washington Post. Officials said president Donald Trumps administration is expected to submit a supplemental defence budget request to Congress in the coming days. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell told the outlet that the Defence Department has everything it needs to execute any mission at the time and place of the presidents choosing and on any timeline. The Pentagon declined to comment on the report. The newly reported $5.6bn figure appears to conflict with a previous, lower official estimate on the cost of the war. The New York Times reported over the weekend that Defence Department officials informed Congress that the first seven days of the conflict had cost about $6bn. Roughly $4bn was expended on munitions. Guided-missile destroyers are delivering unrelenting, overwhelming firepower from regional waters, day and night Over a hundred precision weapons, including Tomahawk cruise missiles, have been launched by the US since the outbreak of war. Each jet-powered and GPS-guided missile costs about $1.3m, according to Business Insider. To date, the US has hit more than 5,000 targets in Iran and sunk more than 50 Iranian vessels, General Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said yesterday. Defence secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters that the US is poised to carry out its most intense set of strikes inside Iran. Last Tuesday, US central command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, said that guided-missile destroyers are delivering unrelenting, overwhelming firepower from regional waters, day and night. But Mr Caine and Mr Hegseth stated last week that the US military plans to shift away from precision munitions in favour of laser-guided bombs, which it holds in greater abundance. After the US and Israel began their joint attack on February 28, Iran retaliated by bombarding Israel and allied countries in the region, including Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. To date, nearly 1,000 Iranians have been killed, according to state media, and seven US service members have died, the Pentagon has said. Mr Trump has not outlined a firm timeline for the war, but told CBS News on Monday that he believes it is very complete. Polls have shown Americans are largely opposed to the war. Fifty-three per cent of voters are against it, while 40pc support it. Three-quarters expect it will result in a terror attack on US soil. The strike is feared to be the single deadliest incident in the ongoing war A view of the debris of a school, where many students and teachers lost their lives on the first day of the wave of attacks launched by the United States and Israel against Iran, in the city of Minab, Iran, on February 28, 2026. Photo: Anadolu via Getty Images What Trump, Israel and Iran have said after 175 reportedly were killed. Who was behind the Iran school strike? At least 175 people, mostly school girls, were killed in an airstrike on a primary school in Iran, authorities have said. The Shajareh Tayyebeh girls elementary school in Minab, Iran, was destroyed during the launch of a joint US-Israeli bombing campaign on February 28. While the death toll has yet to be independently verified, the attack is feared to be the single deadliest incident in the ongoing war. The US has said it is looking into reports of the attack on the school, which has been condemned by Unesco as a grave violation of humanitarian law. How did the missile strike happen? Local authorities said the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls elementary school was struck by a missile in an attack in the southern city of Minab on the first day of the US-Israeli strikes. Strikes in the area began around 10am IRST (6am GMT). Iranian authorities reported initial strikes in the area at roughly 10:45am local time with social media reports emerging at around 11:30am. Iran runs on a six-day working week from Saturday to Thursday, with Friday being the only official day of rest. This means the school would have been occupied when it was hit. The school was situated just 200 ft away from a nearby naval base belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard (IRGC). Satellite images show those buildings reduced to rubble. The school reportedly had no association with the IRGC for the last nine years and had been marked by colourful walls and paintings. Footage circulating on social media showed the building had been destroyed with remnants of school books seen among the rubble. Initial reports claimed five fatalities after the strike, with the death toll later rising to 85. By Saturday evening, officials said that 108 students had been killed. On Sunday evening, local prosecutors said the death toll had increased to 165 with a further 95 injured. The most recent reported death toll stands at 175. What have the US and Israel said about the attacks? In the days since the incident took place, there have been several statements made by both US and Israeli officials. A spokesman for US Central Command, Tim Hawkins, initially said on Sunday, March 1, the day after the attack: We take these reports seriously. The protection of civilians is of utmost importance, and we will continue to take all precautions available to minimise the risk of unintended harm. The Israeli military said at the same time that it was not aware of the incident. US secretary of war Pete Hegseth told reporters on Wednesday, March 4, that the matter was under investigation, stressing that the United States military did not target civilians, but stopping short of a denial. Hegseths map of the first 100 hours of Americas US military operation against Iran showed American attacks around the Minab region, while a similar map of Iranian strikes showed no equivalent Iranian strike in the area over the same period. Asked whether the deaths were the result of a US strike, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters later the same day: Not that we know of. The United States of America does not target civilians, unlike the rogue Iranian regime that targets civilians, that kills children and uses propaganda quite effectively, she continued. And unfortunately, many people in this room have fallen for that propaganda. A US investigation is under way but early evidence has pointed towards American involvement. Military investigators, using evidence from data analysts reviewing satellite imagery, video footage and social media, believe that the school was hit by a precision strike and may have been hit more than once. Maps from the department of defense also show two Iranian air defence targets surrounding the schools location, which is within what the Pentagon describes as a US/Israeli strikes zone. Outside military analysts also have suggested that the Pentagons AI-driven targeting or human error that failed to check whether target maps were up to date may have played a role. The Pentagon referred The Independents requests for comment to US Central Command. It would be inappropriate to comment given the incident is under investigation, a CENTCOM official said in a statement. President Donald Trump, when asked about the incident a week later, blamed Iran. No, in my opinion, based on what Ive seen, that was done by Iran, he told reporters. New footage that emerged 10 days after the attack appeared to show a Tomahawk missile striking the ground in the vicinity of the school. President Trump doubled down on Monday as he said of the video: I will say that the Tomahawk, which is one of the most powerful weapons around, is used by, you know, its sold and used by other countries, you know that. And whether its Iran, who also has some Tomahawks, they wish they had more, but, whether its Iran or somebody else, the fact that a Tomahawk a Tomahawk is very generic, its sold to other countries. But thats being investigated right now, he added. Israels ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, said on Monday that Israel is looking into the incident but does not believe its military is involved. An Israeli government source told CBS News that Israel was not behind the attack and added that its military was not operating near the school. How has Iran reacted? Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian condemned the airstrikes and expressed condolences to families impacted. I share the heavy sorrow of the victims families, the noble people of Minab, and all of Iran, and I stand with them in this grief, he said in a statement, according to Iranian news agency Tasnim. This savage act adds another black page to the record of countless crimes by the aggressors, a memory that will never be erased from our nations history, he continued. Pezeshkian called on rescue, medical, and relevant authorities to offer immediate and continuous assistance to the injured and the families of the fallen. Foreign minister Abbas Araghchi added: The destroyed building is a primary school for girls in the south of Iran. It was bombed in broad daylight, when packed with young pupils. Dozens of innocent children have been murdered at this site alone. These crimes against the Iranian people will not go unanswered, he said. How has the world reacted to the strikes? Humanitarian organisations, including the United Nations and Unesco have condemned the strikes and suggested they violate international law. California governor Gavin Newsom accused Trump of focusing more on discussing a White House ballroom renovation than on military campaign which he said was carried out without congressional authorisation. We have to reconcile why our bombs were used, or Israeli bombs, were used to kill children, young girls at a school, he said last Wednesday. Unesco said it was deeply alarmed by the impact of the ongoing military escalation in the Middle East on educational institutions, students, and education personnel. It added: The killing of pupils in a place dedicated to learning constitutes a grave violation of the protection afforded to schools under international humanitarian law. Attacks against educational institutions endanger students and teachers and undermine the right to education. In accordance with its mandate and with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2601 (2021), Unesco recalls the obligations of all parties to protect schools, students and education personnel. India Relaxes FDI Rules for Neighboring Countries, Allowing Minority Investments via Automatic Route India has eased Press Note 3 restrictions by allowing sub-10 percent minority investments from neighboring countries through the automatic route and introducing a 60-day fast-track approval system for manufacturing sectors. How Press Note 3 revisions impact foreign investors entering India India has introduced targeted relaxations to its foreign direct investment (FDI) policy for countries sharing land borders with India, creating a limited automatic route for minority investments while retaining safeguards on control and ownership. The move signals a cautious recalibration of the restrictions introduced in 2020 under Press Note 3 (PN3), which had tightened scrutiny over investments from neighboring countries, particularly China, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The revised policy aims to facilitate capital inflows into strategic sectors, such as manufacturing, electronics, and deep technology, while preserving regulatory oversight over majority ownership and control of Indian companies. Limited automatic route for minority investments Under the revised framework approved by the Union Cabinet, investments originating from neighboring countries will be permitted through the automatic route if the beneficial ownership remains below 10 percent and the investment does not confer controlling rights. Previously, all investments from countries sharing land borders with India, including China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, and Myanmar, required government approval regardless of size. The rule was introduced in 2020 to prevent opportunistic acquisitions of distressed Indian firms during the pandemic. The new threshold allows small minority stakes to proceed without prior government approval, provided they remain within applicable sectoral caps and do not lead to control over Indian entities. Majority ownership and controlling stakes must continue to remain with resident Indian entities. 60-day fast-track approval mechanism for critical manufacturing sectors Alongside the automatic route for small investments, the government has introduced a time-bound approval system for larger proposals in critical manufacturing sectors. Investments in designated sectors will now be processed within a 60-day window. Sectors identified under the fast-track mechanism include: Capital goods manufacturing Electronic capital goods Electronic components Polysilicon and semiconductor materials Ingot wafers and solar manufacturing inputs The initiative is designed to accelerate project approvals for joint ventures (JVs) and technology partnerships that support Indias manufacturing expansion, startup innovation, research and development (R&D) projects, and integration into global supply chains. The calibrated relaxation of Press Note 3 signals Indias pragmatic approach to balancing national security concerns with economic growth. By permitting minority investments through the automatic route while maintaining control safeguards, the government is enabling capital inflows that can support technology transfer, manufacturing expansion, and deeper integration into global supply chains. Dezan Shira & Associates India Policy timeline: Evolution of Indias FDI rules for neighboring countries April 2020 Press Note 3 introduced India tightened its foreign direct investment rules requiring government approval for all investments from countries sharing land borders with India. The policy aimed to prevent opportunistic takeovers of Indian companies during the COVID-19 economic slowdown. 20202024 Investment approvals slow significantly Following the policy change, investments from neighboring countries, particularly China, declined sharply as all transactions required government scrutiny and approval. 2025 Policy review begins Government agencies began evaluating mechanisms to ease restrictions for non-controlling investments and venture capital participation while maintaining safeguards on ownership and control. 2026 Targeted relaxation announced The government approved a revised framework allowing minority investments below 10 percent beneficial ownership through the automatic route, alongside time-bound approvals for investments in critical manufacturing sectors. Indias FDI policy shift aims to revive stalled investment flows The tightening of FDI rules under Press Note 3 significantly slowed investment from China and other neighboring economies. The policy was introduced in April 2020 following geopolitical tensions and concerns that pandemic-related economic stress could trigger hostile takeovers of Indian companies. According to available figures, Chinese FDI into India fell sharply after the restrictions were implemented. India received approximately: US$163.8 million in Chinese FDI in FY2020 US$42.3 million in FY2024 US$2.7 million in FY2025 By contrast, overall FDI inflows into India remained strong, reaching around US$50 billion in FY2025, up from US$44.4 billion the previous year. The revised framework is expected to partially revive cross-border capital flows, particularly through minority investments, venture capital participation, and technology partnerships. Joint ventures likely to increase Industry analysts expect the policy shift to stimulate brownfield investments and JV arrangements between Indian companies and foreign technology partners. By allowing minority stakes under the automatic route and accelerating approvals for manufacturing investments, the government aims to encourage technology collaboration while ensuring that strategic control remains domestic. Indian companies seeking to upgrade production capabilities may now find it easier to partner with foreign investors, especially in sectors such as electronics manufacturing and renewable energy supply chains. These partnerships could help domestic manufacturers expand scale, adopt advanced technologies, and improve export competitiveness under initiatives such as Make in India 3.0. Improving economic engagement amid geopolitical tensions Relations between India and China deteriorated following the border clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020, leading to tighter regulatory scrutiny over Chinese technology and investment. India subsequently banned more than 200 Chinese mobile applications, including TikTok and several major digital platforms. Despite these tensions, bilateral trade between the two economies has continued to expand. In fiscal year 2026 (until January), Indias exports to China increased 38.4 percent year-on-year to US$15.9 billion, while imports rose 13.8 percent to US$108.2 billion. The partial easing of FDI rules suggests a pragmatic approach by policymakers seeking to balance national security concerns with economic and industrial policy priorities. Parallel reforms in insolvency framework Alongside the FDI policy adjustments, the cabinet also approved amendments to Indias Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) aimed at accelerating resolution of distressed companies. The proposed IBC (Amendment) Bill 2025 introduces several structural reforms, including: Stricter timelines for case disposal by appellate authorities Frameworks for cross-border and group insolvency Measures to decriminalize certain offenses to streamline restructuring These reforms are intended to strengthen the domestic investment environment by improving creditor protection and speeding up corporate restructuring processes. The policy shift reflects a calibrated effort by India to re-open select channels of foreign capital while maintaining regulatory safeguards over strategic sectors. What investors should do next The introduction of defined timelines for approvals suggests a shift toward more predictable regulatory processes for strategic investments. Companies evaluating cross-border investments into India should assess how the policy adjustment affects their investment structures and partnership strategies. Review ownership structures: Investors should evaluate whether their proposed investments fall below the 10 percent beneficial ownership threshold, which may allow them to qualify for the automatic route. Investors should evaluate whether their proposed investments fall below the 10 percent beneficial ownership threshold, which may allow them to qualify for the automatic route. Consider minority technology partnerships: Manufacturers seeking technology access may structure minority equity partnerships or JVs with Indian companies while retaining domestic control requirements. Manufacturers seeking technology access may structure minority equity partnerships or JVs with Indian companies while retaining domestic control requirements. Monitor sector eligibility: Companies operating in electronics, capital goods, solar manufacturing inputs, and semiconductor supply chains should monitor whether their projects qualify under the fast-track 60-day approval mechanism. Companies operating in electronics, capital goods, solar manufacturing inputs, and semiconductor supply chains should monitor whether their projects qualify under the fast-track 60-day approval mechanism. Strengthen compliance and due diligence: Investors should ensure clear documentation of beneficial ownership and governance structures to avoid regulatory delays. Outlook While the policy relaxation remains limited in scope, it marks the first meaningful adjustment to Indias PN3 restrictions since they were introduced in 2020. The governments approach indicates a willingness to selectively reopen capital channels that support industrial growth without compromising strategic oversight. If implemented effectively, the framework could help unlock new investment partnerships, strengthen Indias manufacturing ecosystem, and reinforce its role as a major destination for global supply chain diversification. DOING BUSINESS IN INDIA EXPLORE IN-DEPTH INVESTMENT AND BUSINESS GUIDES. Explore vital economic, geographic, and regulatory insights for business investors, managers, or expats to navigate Indias business landscape. Our Online Business Guides offer explainer articles, news, useful tools, and videos from on-the-ground advisors who contribute to the Doing Business in India knowledge. Start exploring For thousands of Greek expatriates, the illusion of Dubai as an untouchable safe haven evaporated Tuesday morning as Iranian ballistic missiles illuminated the sky, forcing residents into shelters and plunging the glittering emirate into a regional war. The terrifying awakening began at 8:16 a.m. when emergency mobile alerts blared across the city Iran launched a saturation attack of nine ballistic missiles and 35 drones at the United Arab Emirates While Emirati defense systems intercepted most of the incoming threats, the strikes pushed the official casualty toll to six dead and 122 wounded since hostilities began. The escalation severely disrupted global energy markets after an Iranian drone struck the Ruwais industrial complex, forcing the state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) to halt operations at its massive 922,000-barrel-per-day refinery. For the Hellenic professional community, the psychological toll was immediate. A Greek construction executive, described the morning's shock as he watched markets plummet. "We woke up to the alert and the first thing we saw were the markets collapsing," he said. "In Dubai, we sell security. If that's lost, everything ends." With commercial flights severely disrupted and airspace deemed unsafe, expatriates who built lucrative careers in the Gulf now face an uncertain reality. An other Abu Dhabi resident, echoed the widespread panic. "We heard the interceptions above our heads," she said. "We want to leave and we cannot find a flight. We feel trapped in a golden cage." The Emirati government has rolled out emergency measures, imposing heavy fines for price gouging and dismantling an espionage network suspected of providing targeting intelligence to Tehran. Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the deployment of missile defense systems to the region, offering temporary relief to reeling financial markets. Despite Mr. Albanese's intervention, the calculus for Greek professionals has fundamentally shifted. As the Gulf's golden gates temporarily slam shut, thousands are left wondering if the promise of the Emirates has permanently vanished. By Christiana Maniati iefimerida.gr Greece has finalized a 43 million ($46.8 million) contract to modernize seven Canadair CL-415 firefighting aircraft, a critical move to bolster the nation's defenses against increasingly destructive wildfire seasons. Mr. Yiannis Kefalogiannis, the minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, oversaw the agreement, which will outfit the aging water bombers with digital "glass cockpit" avionics and advanced navigation The upgrade is designed to address equipment obsolescence and ensure the fleet meets current European Union Aviation Safety Agency standards. "This is not merely a technical intervention," Mr. Kefalogiannis said. "It is about ensuring that a valuable national fleet continues operating with modern safety and reliability standards for many years to come." The first upgraded aircraft is scheduled for delivery in March 2027, with the full project slated for completion by 2030. The investment is part of a broader strategic shift to harmonize Greeces existing assets with the pending acquisition of seven new-generation CL-515 aircraft starting in 2028. Once both projects are complete, Greece could operate 14 modernized Canadair planes, potentially the largest such fleet in the world. The modernization is funded through a European Investment Bank loan under the national AEGIS program. Mr. Panagiotis Stamboulidis, deputy CEO of the Hellenic Corporation of Assets and Participations, emphasized that the deal is a milestone in a strategic procurement framework that has already delivered over 100 contracts worth 1 billion. Mr. Kefalogiannis warned that enhanced diagnostic systems are essential for fleet availability, noting that "every aircraft that remains grounded represents a real loss of capability" during peak fire months. For many Greeks, he added, the sight of these aircraft remains the primary symbol of the state's presence in the battle against climate-driven disasters. iefimerida.gr Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis announces a new digital platform aimed at monitoring international media and responding rapidly to misinformation. Nigerian filmmaker Kunle Afolayan has raised alarm over the skyrocketing cost of diesel, describing it as unsustainable for both his businesses and daily operations in a video clip posted online. In the clip, he disclosed that at his KAP Village enterprise, he spent 11 million on diesel in just 45 weeks, despite having solar power installed. I have been sad because I cant cope with 1,500 per liter for diesel. In one of the businesses that I run, KAP Village, I spent 11 million in just 45 weeks on diesel, he said. Advertisement Afolayan explained that even with solar power, expenses remain high: We have solar power but we still spend up to that. In Lagos, we still spend a lot even though we have solar power. He noted that the recent fuel price hike from 1,000 to over 1,500 per liter has made it harder to manage costs, especially when diesel is bought on credit and repaid over time. Please, we need loan to upgrade our solar power, he added, appealing to financial institutions and government agencies to provide support that would help businesses like his reduce reliance on expensive diesel and ensure sustainable operations. https://x.com/i/status/2031397485298507946 Sullivan Vaughan welcomes visitors at the entrance to the Ministry of Awe on March 5, 2026, in Old City. The building is a new, immersive art experience created by visionary artist Meg Saligman alongside more than 100 Philadelphia-based artists. Read more What does a bunch of actors do inside a 8,500-square-foot structure built in 1870? On a recent afternoon, The Inquirer encountered Pig Iron Theatre performers filling up the top floor of the former Manufacturers National Bank in Old City. Advertisement They scaled its newly-illuminated walls, which are covered in landscape paintings, pulsating lights, and colors that change hue by the turn of an electric dial. Some sat atop the rooms angular pews, their eyes transfixed on the atmospheric murals around them, staring at images of dog-headed birds, goat-headed men, and other extraordinary creatures. The band of actors and performance artists were rehearsing for Saturdays opening of the Ministry of Awe, an immersive, six-story attraction created by renowned muralist Meg Saligman. The performers roamed around the space, nicknamed the Heavens. Armed with a loosely written script, they put their acting and improvisational skills to work. In the Heavens, these performers are the high priests and priestesses. Dozens welcome visitors, or account holders as they are called. Back in November, Saligman said the building found her and she discovered the Ministry of Awe was already inside. In the lore she has created, the Ministry is an entity thats been around since the beginning of time. South Philly artist Rose Luardo, who plays a high priestess in the Heavens, said adopting the lore of this immersive space is pure joy, and shes excited for visitors to spend a day walking through the six floors. [It feels like] when youre standing on the edge of something and you dont know whats over the edge. Im going into that water, and I dont know whats in that water or how deep it is, she said. Saligman sold two of her garage studios in South Philly to purchase the 19th-century bank in 2022 for $1.65 million, with support from the city, the state, and the federal government. In the last year, she and her business partner Lizzie Kripke have transformed the space into a place of curiosity and wonderment. The Ministry of Awe promises to be an ever-evolving space, filled with works from more than 100 Philadelphia artists, that range from large-scale murals to sculptures, digitized objects, soundscapes, and more. Last week, Saligman and Kripke were still placing the final touches on the 8,500-square-foot venue. Large-scale sculptures and fixtures were being installed as the paint on several murals was drying. Some areas were cordoned off as works-in-progress. Its all in the process, this reporter was told, of becoming the wildly ambitious and enthralling project Saligman and Kripke envisioned when they conceived the idea four years ago. Upon entry, guests are welcomed by a bank teller, who smells them and directs them through a path of discovery. (Readers, this reporter was assured that sentence would make sense after Saturday.) The account holders then have free rein to explore the various tunnels, murals, labyrinths, soundscapes, and large-scale installations. Theres no map through the Ministry, which means theres no wrong or right way to explore its terrain. As guests venture along the various staircases and entry points, they are welcomed with new and evolving surprises. Drawers laden with clues to unknown adventures wait to be opened. The architecture of the building designed by famed Victorian architect Frank Furness also becomes part of the story. And somehow, the artworks filling the building are also woven into tales of financial sustenance, reincarnation, capitalism, and the value of humanity. Kripke said its a concept she believes will resonate with visitors, one that will be elevated with the help of the Pig Iron Theatre performers. They come from a school of dramaturgy that has a relationship and a commitment to the audience, which drives the improvisation that feels like a beautiful fit for us as a work that is about discovery, she said. Its such a deep improvisation beyond the typical improv show that people are familiar with. Its pure artwork. Pig Iron Theatre actors will station themselves at specific areas to entertain and help guide visitors through the maze of interactive technology and performance arts. Unlike attendants in museums and galleries, they will encourage guests to get closer and immerse themselves in the artwork and installations. You can come and experience certain parts for five minutes, or you can experience it for 60. But its always open to you, Taj Rauch, an immersive artist whose work is displayed in the Ministry, said. In time, Kripke said, each of the venues floors will undergo alterations or creative shifts, making for an ever-evolving space for new and returning guests to enjoy. This is a generative work that will, we hope, live for years. [But] when you come and see it in March, it should be very different from if you come to see it in November, Kripke said. Eva Steinmetz and Dan Rothenberg, co-artistic directors of Pig Iron Theatre, said the direction they give to their performers will be tweaked based on visitor reactions. What people see at the opening and what they see in a month will be different, said Rothenberg. We need to learn what people bring to the stage, and what this space makes audiences do. Steinmetz is open to toning down performances, or amplifying them, if needed. If performers are too interesting, and people are staying and watching them for 30 minutes, that might be a bad thing, Steinmetz said. We may [have to] encourage people to keep looking at visual art. While the open-world performance structure presents its challenges, for performer Joshua Kachnycz, its like a role-playing video game. The walls of engagement are completely broken down; hes excited to engage with visitors in this boundary-less medium. When the Ministry of Awe officially opens, Kripke is hopeful audiences leave with a renewed sense of discovery and humanity. Kachnycz, on the other hand, wants visitors to simply come out thinking and feeling. I dont want to impose a particular meditation on them, he said. This is a meditation on the value of the human experience. Ministry of Awe opens March 14. Tickets are $29.99 at moaphilly.org. Officials at Phantom Fireworks said Emir Balat, 18, one of the suspects in the Gracie Mansion potential terrorist attack, bought a roll of fuse from the company's Penndel shop on March 2. Read more One of the teens charged with attempting to ignite homemade bombs outside Gracie Mansion in New York City this weekend bought a roll of fuse from a Bucks County fireworks shop days before the attack, according to an executive from the company. Emir Balat, 18, visited the Phantom Fireworks store in Penndel on March 2 and spent $6.89 on a 20-foot roll of slow-burning fuse, said Bill Weimer, the companys vice president and general counsel. Advertisement Weimer called it a totally unremarkable purchase, and said the fuse Balat bought is so small in diameter that it can be extinguished using two fingers. Still, once police this week identified Balat, of Langhorne, as a defendant in what they described as a thwarted terrorist attack and charged him alongside another local teen, Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, of Newtown Weimer said officials at Phantom Fireworks searched for any potential purchases that either man mightve made at one of their stores. Thats when company officials found evidence of Balats visit to the Penndel store earlier this month, Weimer said five days before the Gracie Mansion incident. They also recovered surveillance video appearing to show Balat make the purchase, said Weimer, who added that it was the only transaction either teen made at any of the companys shops. Officials at Phantom then alerted the FBI, Weimer said, and next thing we know, we got a subpoena to produce the records. It was not immediately clear if the fuse Balat bought was used in Saturdays attempted bombing. Weimer said he didnt know, and he said the FBI did not tell him or others at the company whether agents had learned the answer to that question. An FBI spokesperson did not immediately return a request for comment, nor did Balats attorney. Still, the development came shortly after the FBI said it had conducted controlled detonations of explosive materials found in a Middletown Township storage facility. And it raised additional questions about how much advanced planning Balat and Kayumi may have done before they allegedly lobbed homemade explosives toward anti-Islamic protesters in Manhattan on Saturday actions police said the men professed to have undertaken in support of ISIS. The incident in New York unfolded Saturday afternoon, authorities said, after the men had traveled to the city in a car registered to one of Balats family members. It was not clear how Balat, a senior at Neshaminy High School, and Kayumi, a 2024 graduate of Council Rock North High School, may have known each other, or for how long. But authorities said they were among more than 100 people who assembled in opposition to a far-right, anti-Muslim protest that was taking place outside the residence of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who is Muslim. As tensions between the two sides flared, police said, Balat threw a fiery device toward the protesters, then ran down the block and got a second device from Kayumi. Neither device exploded, police said, but FBI tests later revealed that one of them contained TATP, a highly volatile explosive often used in terrorist attacks. Balat and Kayumi were taken into custody at the scene, police said, at which point both men separately professed allegiance to the Islamic State. Authorities, meanwhile, conducted controlled detonations of both devices, and said they could have caused death and destruction had they ignited on the street. Balat and Kayumi have each since been charged in New York with federal crimes including use of a weapon of mass destruction and attempting to support a foreign terrorist organization. They remain in jail without bail. Geo Gesmundo places portraits of his 83-year-old father, Mauricio Gesmundo Sr., before a vigil at their North Philadelphia home on Feb. 6, 2021. Read more Two families stood before a judge with opposing views of justice. Relatives of Mauricio Gesmundo Sr. an 83-year-old man who was bound and beaten to death in his Philadelphia home four years ago urged harsh punishment for what they said was a vicious, deliberate slaying of a beloved patriarch. Advertisement The family of the man who confessed to the killing, Jacob McMann, pleaded for mercy, portraying the killing as an uncharacteristic act by a young man who had long struggled with developmental and mental health challenges. After hearing from both sides, Common Pleas Court Judge Scott OKeefe on Wednesday sentenced McMann to 30 to 50 years in prison. McMann and another man forced their way into Gesmundos Hunting Park home on Dec. 31, 2020. They gagged him with gray duct tape, bound his wrists and ankles with zip ties, and struck him in the head. Then, the men took as much as $50,000 in cash from a bedroom safe money from an eBay business run by a family member and left Gesmundo for dead on the living-room floor. He died from blunt force trauma 17 days later. But the assailants also left behind crucial evidence, said prosecutor Cydney Pope: the roll of duct tape and a single latex glove bearing McManns DNA. This is not your everyday murder, Pope told the judge. Gesmundo, she said, was a small man who was beaten to death inside his own home only because he answered the door. Authorities arrested McMann in September 2021 in Florida, where he lived. In December, he pleaded guilty to murder, conspiracy, robbery, and burglary. But he declined to identify the second man involved in the attack, Pope said a refusal she asked the judge to weigh when deciding McManns fate. Gesmundos son, George Gesmundo, told the judge that his father had come to Philadelphia from the Philippines nearly five decades ago and built a life through long hours and persistence. Gesmundo worked two full-time restaurant jobs to support his wife, Rosie, and their 10 children, his son said. Later, he spent nearly a decade caring for his aging mother, until her last breath, George Gesmundo said. He loved chess, his son said, and he loved to sing. He sang in the choir at St. Augustine Church the same church where, in 2021, his Funeral Mass was held. He had survived diabetes, hypertension, and three heart attacks, George Gesmundo said, only for a vicious, premeditated murder to steal the best and final years of our fathers life. McManns mother, Michelle Ellis, described her son as a quiet child diagnosed with autism and obsessive-compulsive disorder, conditions she said created serious learning challenges but also shaped him into a sensitive boy. In special-education classes, she said, he had an instinct to protect those who were vulnerable. As a mother, Ellis said through tears, its incredibly painful to see my son in this situation. She said she still saw the little boy she had raised to be kind and thoughtful. She asked the judge to remember that her son was more than the circumstances that brought him here today. Before the judge pronounced the sentence, McMann, 26, read a brief statement in which he said what he had done was evil. His crime, he said, filled him with guilt, regret, [and] shame. He added: I look in the mirror and feel disgusted by myself. I hurt this family, and I hurt my family. As he handed down the sentence, OKeefe, the judge, also ordered McMann to pay $9,040 in restitution. Then, he turned to Mauricio Gesmundos family. Im terribly sorry for the loss and pain youre feeling every day, he said. Correction: An earlier version of this article misspelled a prosecutors name. The prosecutors name is Cydney Pope. Philadelphia police investigate along the Schuylkill River in August 2014, after the bodies of brothers Viet and Vu Huynh were found stabbed and sunk with buckets of cement. A third man, Tan Voong, survived what he said was an abduction. Read more More than a decade after the bodies of two brothers were discovered in the Schuylkill after having been tortured, stabbed, and bound, federal authorities have added the last remaining free suspect in the case to the FBIs 10 Most Wanted Fugitives List. Trung Duc Lu is wanted in connection with the grisly killings of Vietnamese brothers Vu and Viet Huynh, whose bodies were pulled from the Schuylkill in August 2014. Known to authorities as prolific South Philadelphia marijuana dealers, the Huynhs were the victims of one of the most shocking gangland murders in Philadelphia in decades. A third victim was also tortured and dumped in the river, but survived. Advertisement Lu on Wednesday was named to the FBIs list, having been sought for years. He is believed to have fled to his native Vietnam following the Hyunhs killings, and federal authorities are offering a $1 million reward for information leading to his arrest. These were not abstract crimes, Wayne Jacobs, the FBI Philadelphia Field Offices special agent in charge, said at a Wednesday news conference. They were acts of brutal, calculated violence carried out against members of this community. Lu, authorities said Wednesday, is believed to be a ranking member of the New York-based Born to Kill street gang, also known as BTK or the Canal Boys. Thought to be 45 or 46 years old, he is described as being 5-foot-7 and heavily tattooed, including a dragon depicted in the center of his back below the phrase Asian Pride. Drug debt goes from torture to trials The crime in which Lu is wanted dates back to Aug. 27, 2014, when Philadelphia police pulled the Hyunhs bodies from the Schuylkill along the 2300 block of Kelly Drive. The Paoli-based brothers, aged 31 and 28, were found bound with zip ties, their heads covered in duct tape. They had been stabbed dozens of times, their throats had been slit, and their bodies had been tied to makeshift anchors made from tar-filled buckets. The surviving victim, Tam Voong, then about 20, had also been tortured and stabbed, but he clawed his way to shore and flagged down police. Voong went on to serve as a key witness in the governments case against the killers. Among those charged was Tam Minh Le, then 43, who was once included on the U.S. marshals list of most-wanted fugitives. Le, also a member of the Born to Kill gang, which took its name from a phrase painted on the helmets of U.S. soldiers during the Vietnam War, was arrested in January 2015 at a Motel 6 in Virginia, where he was discovered hiding out with his wife and children. Le, authorities said, had orchestrated the Huynh brothers slayings, using his home in Southwest Philadelphias Eastwick neighborhood as the backdrop. The brothers, according to prosecutors, were in debt to a California marijuana dealer to the tune of about $300,000. The Hyunh brothers, reports indicated, had gambled away most of that money at casinos in the Philadelphia area. The debt prompted Le to take them captive alongside several other men, who contacted Voong in an attempt to secure the missing funds. Voong, however, arrived at Les home with only about $41,000, and was also kidnapped, tortured, and left for dead along the banks of the Schuylkill in 2014. Le was later found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. He died in prison in February 2025, having been found unresponsive in a cell at State Correctional Institution Phoenix. His sentence was unusual: The last state execution was in 1999, when serial killer Gary Heidnik was put to death. In the years following Les conviction, six other men were found guilty of charges related to the Huynh murders and Voongs attempted murder. Among them were Lam Trieu, a New York-based Born to Kill member who in 2023 was sentenced to more than a decade in prison, and Jason Rivera, who was considered the muscle sent from New York to collect on the brothers debt. Rivera in 2023 was sentenced to life in prison. https://www.newspapers.com/article/philadelphia-daily-news/193161659/ Article from Oct 30, 2014 Philadelphia Daily News (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) A long hunt Lu has been wanted by federal authorities since 2019, when he was charged with a number of offenses in the case, including racketeering and conspiracy to commit kidnapping. He is the last remaining fugitive officially connected with the case. By placing Trung Duc Lu on the FBIs Top Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, law enforcement is expanding the search and calling on the public, both here and abroad, for help, David Metcalf, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, said in a statement. We will continue to pursue every lead until he is located and brought before a court of law, no matter how long it takes. Lus addition is the latest most-wanted list development in recent months to involve a Philadelphia case. In February, federal authorities announced the arrest of Alexis Flores, who had long been sought in the 2000 rape and killing of a 5-year-old girl. Flores arrest, FBI Director Kash Patel said on social media, was proof that time and distance do not shield violent offenders from justice. We will never stop pursuing those who harm our most vulnerable, Patel said at the time. A student stands outside Penn Treaty, a 5-12 school being proposed for closure, in this January file photo. Read more Strengthening neighborhood high schools is a key tenet of Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr.s facilities plan, which includes closing 18 schools and modernizing 159. The exception is Penn Treaty School a neighborhood high school in Fishtown that is slated for closure. Watlington has proposed renovating the Penn Treaty building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, to become a new location for Bodine High School, a magnet. Advertisement To Joshua Delp, a Penn Treaty English teacher, thats unfair. Current students hear that they are simultaneously not good enough to go there, and what has been good enough for them is not good enough for Bodine kids, he said. Change is not new for Penn Treaty, which has faced several major shifts in the last few decades. Brooke Hoffman, a Rowan University education professor and former Penn Treaty teacher who helps run a nonprofit supporting the school, said the district often foists significant change on Penn Treaty without adequate resources or support, and the schools staff figure it out. Penn Treaty has been treated like a School District of Philadelphia pawn for a long time, Hoffman said. In fact, this is nothing new, but how can a school focus on building a strong, effective, sustainable educational program when every five or so years, there is a major change? The Philadelphia School District gave what was then Penn Treaty Middle School to for-profit Edison Schools Inc. to run in the early 2000s, then took it back when Edison failed to deliver on its quick-turnaround promises. After the systems 2013 mass school closures, Penn Treaty was converted into a 6-12 school, absorbing students from the former Douglass and Carroll High Schools. In recent years, the changes have been shifts in feeder school patterns, requiring recalibration, resources, energy for an increasingly complex student body but Hoffman said staff always figured it out because the kids needed them. District officials say their aim in closing Penn Treaty and other schools is to improve academic achievement and opportunities for all students, and to do that, they cannot maintain their current building footprint. The school system has 70,000 empty seats in schools citywide. We cant keep all the small boutique high schools and the neighborhood high schools, Watlington said at a City Council hearing on the facilities plan last month. We dont have the resources to do all of it. Penn Treaty enrolls just 400 students in grades six through 12 and most of them come from outside the schools catchment, choosing to travel from other parts of the city to attend the school. Nearly half 43% require special-education services. Watlingtons plan calls for Penn Treaty to phase out over four years. Middle-grades students who live in the current Penn Treaty catchment would attend a newly reconfigured Moffet School for middle grades, and for high school, they would choose among Kensington High, Kensington High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, and Kensington Health Sciences Academy. Students from other neighborhoods would have to find other options. A small community with true ideals Many choose Penn Treaty because of its size. But that small size worked against Penn Treaty when the district began to scrutinize buildings in its efforts to develop a facilities plan. Penn Treatys huge building on East Thompson Street is half empty, severely underutilized by the districts calculus. And it has an unsatisfactory program alignment, a measure of its ability to offer career and technical education, Advanced Placement classes, and more. Still, Penn Treaty is a special place, said Delp, who worked as a substitute in multiple Philadelphia schools to try to find a good fit, a place to plant roots. In 2017, he subbed at Penn Treaty and kept coming back. Delp loved it so much he talked himself into a permanent job in what felt like an ideal neighborhood school. There was no other school in the district where I saw students of every class, race, background, all unified in this honestly shocking harmoniousness, said Delp, who bought a house within walking distance. It was exactly what those of us who believe in the true ideals of America would want to see in a diverse school. The teachers know all the students in the building, Delp said. They have personal relationships with all of those students. And students blossom in that environment. Because of Penn Treaty students geographic diversity, they dont have a natural base of advocates to stand up for them, Delp said. Frankly, Delp said, conversations around a possible Penn Treaty closure when another district facilities planning process was attempted and abandoned in 2017 showed that some neighbors did not appreciate having a diverse school, Delp said. Students with different needs Its notable that many Penn Treaty kids travel to get to the school, said Zak Krone, another Penn Treaty English teacher. If 35% of our kids are from the catchment and this is a neighborhood school, what does that tell you about the need, the yearning that families have to send their kids to places that can meet their kids where they are? Krone said. What does that tell you about the accessibility of citywide and special-admit schools in the district? Penn Treatys students need significant support, Krone said, and they get it. Certain students get lost in large neighborhood schools, Krone said. Its not that they dont go to citywide or special-admit schools because they dont care about their futures, Krone said. Its that they have different needs, and meeting those needs is not possible in a larger school. Kerri Todd had envisioned herself a Penn Treaty lifer. She is from the neighborhood, and has taught at the school for 24 years. When Penn Treaty initially added high school grades, it was a disaster for three years fistfights out the wazoo said Todd, a Lindback Award winner. We had a bad rap because there was a lot of animosity it was always a brand-new start. The district made Penn Treaty a 6-12 school and we got nothing, Todd said. We didnt even get paper. They just kept telling us, Ask Masterman how they did it. We just may have found the Burger Capital of the Main Line. Also in this edition: Advertisement Robots at your door: Your Uber Eats delivery guy may be running on batteries. Habeas corkus: Philadelphias oldest wine school is suing a competitor in federal court. Dishes we love: Granola-topped duck and other tasty dishes from all over. Mike Klein If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here. Wheres the beef? Its in Ardmore, where no fewer than 16 eateries (plus three fast-food spots) offer burgers in just 2.3 square miles. Lets go on a tour of smashburgers, pub burgers, a steakhouse burger, and even a burger topped with fried shrimp. Uber Eats has started rolling out robots to deliver food in Center City. Theres at least one plus to this trend: No tipping. A wave of sleek new bistros showcasing oysters, wine, and small plates has bloomed across the city. Critic Craig LaBan reviews Banshee on South Street, from the former team behind Cheu Noodle Bar and Bing Bing Dim Sum. Triumph Brewing Co. closes in New Hope Triumph Brewing Co.s New Hope location closed without warning Monday after nearly 23 years, a move founder Adam Rechnitz said reflects industrywide pressures rather than a collapse of the company, as the Princeton and Red Bank, N.J., locations remain. Rechnitz founded Triumph in 1995 as what was widely described as New Jerseys first brewpub after he helped push for changes in state law. Triumph expanded first to New Hope in 2003 and then to Old City Philadelphia in 2007. (The Philadelphia location, which closed in 2014, became 2nd Story Brewing and is now 117 Restaurant.) Triumph opened in Red Bank in 2018, and moved its Princeton flagship from Nassau Street to a renovated former post office on Palmer Square in 2024. Singling out New Hope as the poorest-performing location, Rechnitz cited post-pandemic shifts in dining habits, rising labor and insurance costs, and declining alcohol consumption. As for the abruptness of the closing, I dont think theres ever a good way to do it, he told me. I agonized over the decision for quite a long time. In the end, I felt I just had to rip the Band-Aid off. He said he would pay every employee for an additional pay period beyond the last day worked. Its not a huge sum, but we hope it helps with the transition, he said. Meanwhile, a supporter has set up a GoFundMe for the workers. Our food team has been making the rounds. We feasted on granola-topped duck in Delaware (shown above), bagels in Cherry Hill, an enormous breakfast platter down the Shore, and a special oatmeal in Center City. Scoops Sue-vignon blanc? Philadelphias oldest wine school has taken a competitor to court, alleging that it is attempting to erase its existence from the internet through a cyberbullying campaign and trademark infringement. Abraham Gutman and Beatrice Forman spill the details. Summertime vibes are returning to North Broad Street on June 11. Nico Diaz, former head bartender at the Ranstead Room, will open Philly Surf Club as a permanent cocktail bar at the Annex in the Divine Lorraine, in partnership with Underground Concepts and chef Natalie Maronski. The concept grew out of last summers two-day Philly Surf Club pop-up and its winter flip to Philly Ski Club. The draw: technique-driven cocktails and small bites from Maronskis kitchen. Restaurant report Mi Vida, a splashy Mexican restaurant with moody lighting and rich pops of color, has opened in East Market, just off 12th and Market Streets. High points: about 130 tequilas and mezcals at the 23-seat bar and a contemporary-meets-traditional menu priced for everyday patrons as well as those seeking a splurge as in, a 40-ounce Roseda Farms tomahawk served with charred onions and chiles toreados for $149. Read on for the details. When you order French onion soup at Percy in Kensington, boy, do you get onions. Executive chef Chris Stilwell, now rocking an over-the-top, all-day-diner menu, tops the crock with onion rings. Messy? Sure. Crunchy? Oh, yes. Also new is an Elvis sundae, made with peanut butter cup gelato, banana, caramel, and a strip of candied bacon running along the inside of the glass. Briefly noted Blank Street, a coffee and matcha chain, has announced it will open its first Philly location on the University of Pennsylvania campus. Chon Tong, which had found a following on Vine Street for its Central Thai specialties, has closed, as its founder moved back to Thailand. Chef Tim Dearing is turning grief into action. On March 19, hell host a dinner honoring chef Rye Crofter, a longtime colleague at Bostons Menton, who died of an overdose in January 2023. The five-course dinner at Fleurs in East Kensington will bring together Dearing and Fleurs George Sabatino, plus Kevin McWilliams, Katrena Kanney, and Steve Haftel, and former Menton coworkers. The event benefits the Everywhere Project, a Philadelphia nonprofit focused on harm reduction, access to services, and support for people affected by substance use. Tickets ($95 plus tax and tip), menu, and details on Resy. Fishtown Social will mark its 10th anniversary party on March 31 with a ticketed tasting similar to its annual Drink Like a Fish(towner) events. Owner Vanessa Wong opens up every bottle in the building for tasting. Its free for its wine club members, while others pay $55 per ticket on Fishtown Socials website. Admission times are 5 to 6:30 p.m., or 7 to 8:30 p.m. Proceeds benefit Project Home. Pop quiz Ghigiarellis, a pizzeria in Old Forge, Pa. (aka the Pizza Capital of the World), is supposedly reopening after nine years. Why had it shut down? A) owner retired B) owner was murdered C) owner skipped town D) owner sold it Find out if you know the answer. Ask Mike anything A question on restaurant-arrival etiquette: Just because someone has a reservation, does it give them the right to bump themselves to the front of the line at the hosts stand after asking those who are waiting if they are walk-ins and then finding out they are? To me, a reservation is a hold on the table not a waiting-line fast pass. My dining partner feels they deserve to cut the queue, since extra minutes taken to seat walk-ins may set their own reservation back, and possibly create potential issues for the kitchen and servers alike. (For the record, we simply let the hurried guest go ahead of us.) Any thoughts? Ken A. I like your view. A reservation holds your place for a table, not for instant access to the host stand. If theres a line to check in, the polite move is to wait your turn. Once you reach the host, your reservation should put you ahead of walk-ins for seating. Your dining partners logic is understandable. If reserved parties are delayed behind walk-ins, the whole flow can back up. But thats for the host to manage, not the guest. Asking people in line whether theyre walk-ins and then stepping ahead reads as entitled. The basic rule: Wait your turn to check in, then say, We have a reservation under [your name]. From there, the restaurant should sort it out. Only exception: If theres no real line and the host is informally calling up reservation parties. In an actual queue, cutting is bad form. Have a question about food in Philly? Email your questions to me at mklein@inquirer.com for a chance to be featured in my newsletter. By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirers Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10. An artist erected a mock Pennsylvania historical marker to commemorate "ICE Kidnapping and Ghost Car" on the south side of Fairmount Avenue at N. 5th Street in Philadelphia. A "ghost car" is the name for cars left behind after ICE has arrested the driver and taken that person into custody. Read more Everyone recognizes the blue-and-yellow historic markers that commemorate important people, places, and events in communities across Pennsylvania, but this one is different. It stands on Fairmount Avenue near Fifth Street in Philadelphia, where it recognizes not a fabled inventor or bygone colonial battle but something recent and startling an ICE arrest. Advertisement It took place on Feb. 16, when masked agents descended on a Gopuff delivery driver who had pulled over to make a quick drop-off in Northern Liberties. After he was taken into custody, the car remained there for days, set two feet from the curb in a handicapped space, its hazard lights blinking until the battery finally died. Of course, the official historic marker isnt official at all. Its an art project, a public call for people to pay attention, created and carried out by Huston West and a fellow artist who goes by the name Emeyewhisky. They wondered what happened to the driver, and thought about how his life changed in an instant. The sign with the familiar Pennsylvania coat of arms at the top bears the header ICE Kidnapping and Ghost Car. The ghost car terminology borrows from ghost bikes, the roadside memorials where a bicycle is painted white and placed at the site where a cyclist was hit and killed by a motorist. Its just what I thought of, when I thought of making something to commemorate the incident, said West, a musician and artist who lives in the neighborhood. A lot of people have reached out and said we should do this at all the ICE kidnappings. Federal immigration authorities say that the use of such terms is inaccurate and unfair, that they lawfully arrest migrants who have no permission to be in the country and who in some cases have committed criminal and even violent offenses. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in Philadelphia said that on the morning of Feb. 16, officers conducted a targeted action and arrested Abdulasen Nazarkhudoev. ICE said he was unlawfully in the U.S., and claimed to be a Russian citizen. He was taken to an ICE facility in Philadelphia court records show it was the Federal Detention Center in Center City and later released by order of a judge, pending further immigration proceedings, records show. ICE referred questions about the sign to city officials, who on Tuesday could not immediately be reached for comment. As word of the project has spread on social media, not everyone has approved. Some suggested on a Northern Liberties Facebook group that the delivery driver was rightfully arrested. Kidnapping or lawful detainment? one person wrote. I love this word salad you people play. Another posted: Maybe dude has a warrant. Yall so quick to jump to conclusions. In fact, the arrest was not particularly unusual ICE arrests immigrants every day in places across the region, and those detentions often pass unnoticed except by the people affected. Video recordings circulating online show agents in tactical vests marked police approaching the delivery drivers car. One opens the passenger-side door and reaches inside, apparently to turn off the car or take the keys. Records show that Nazarkhudoevs attorney, Mana Aliabadi, filed a petition for his release the same day. On March 4, U.S. District Judge Joshua Wolson, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, ordered his immediate release. Aliabadi said her client, who lives in Philadelphia, entered the country in 2022 and was released on his own recognizance as he pursued asylum. He has a work permit, drivers license, and Social Security card. He faces no criminal charges, she said. She declined to discuss his home of origin, as citizenship is often a crucial issue in asylum cases. Asylum is a legal U.S. process designed to protect people fleeing persecution. In the past, asylum-seekers were rarely bothered as their cases went forward. That has changed in the last year under Trump, as asylum-seekers, green-card applicants, and refugees have been arrested and held by ICE. At the same time, federal judges in Philadelphia and across the country have repeatedly ruled against the administrations mandatory-detention policies, which require custody for nearly all undocumented immigrants as their cases proceed. The policy means that people have to individually challenge their confinement through what are known as habeas petitions a demand that the government bring a detained person to court and prove that they have been legally imprisoned. Around the country, ICE arrests have increased dramatically as the Trump administration pursues what the president promised will be the largest deportation campaign in U.S. history. When Trump took office, about 40,000 immigrants were held in a national network of detention centers, that figure growing to more than 70,000 in mid-January a 75% increase. More people are being detained in what are known as collateral arrests, when ICE acts to arrest one person but encounters others who are also taken into custody. In Northern Liberties, the events that culminated in an authentic-looking historic marker began when a neighbor in a Signal chat alerted others that a delivery driver was seen being arrested by ICE. West walked from his home to look at the car, its flashers blinking. A neighbor had laid flowers on the windshield, he said. I wanted to put a banner on the car. People were like, Dont mess with their car. Instead he came up with the design and text for the plaque, while his art partner edited the language and constructed the sign. Emeyewhisky is known for projects that place signs with fake wording on Philadelphia streets. Ghost cars are a new or newly noticed phenomenon, the vehicles left behind after their drivers have been arrested by ICE. West said a locksmith who was eventually called to Northern Liberties told neighbors it was the fifth ghost car he had helped recover. The plaque shows an image of the car, a gray Toyota Camry. I wouldnt have known about this if I hadnt connected with my neighbors, West said. Theres some scary [stuff] going on. The Social Security Administrations internal watchdog is investigating a complaint that alleges a former U.S. DOGE Service employee claimed he had access to two highly sensitive agency databases and planned to share the information with his private employer a claim that, if true, would constitute an unprecedented breach of security protocols at an agency that serves more than 70 million Americans. The agencys inspector general is investigating the disclosure and has alerted members of Congress of its existence, according to a letter from the acting inspector general to top members of four congressional committees reviewed by the Washington Post and two people familiar with the process, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe sensitive deliberations. The inspector generals office has also shared the disclosure with the Government Accountability Office, which has been conducting its own audit of DOGEs access to data, according to one of the people. The Post has reviewed the complaint and spoken with the whistleblower, who issued the complaint anonymously for fear of retaliation. Advertisement According to the disclosure, the former DOGE software engineer, who worked at the Social Security Administration last year before starting a job at a government contractor in October, allegedly told several coworkers that he possessed two tightly restricted databases of U.S. citizens information, and had at least one on a thumb drive. The databases, called Numident and the Master Death File, include records for more than 500 million living and dead Americans, including Social Security numbers, places and dates of birth, citizenship, race and ethnicity, and parents names. The complaint does not include specific dates of when he is said to have told colleagues this information, but at least one of the alleged events was said to have unfolded around early January, according to the complaint. While working at DOGE, the engineer had approved access to Social Security data. According to the complaint, he allegedly told the whistleblower that he needed help transferring data from a thumb drive to his personal computer so that he could sanitize the data before using it at [the company]. The engineer told colleagues that once he had removed personal details from the data, he wanted to upload them into the companys systems. He told another colleague, who refused to help him upload the data because of legal concerns, that he expected to receive a presidential pardon if his actions were deemed to be illegal, according to the complaint. The complaint does not allege that the engineer was successful in uploading the data to the companys system. The Post is not naming the former DOGE member or company because it has not independently confirmed the accusations in the complaint. The whistleblower filed the complaint with the inspector general in January. When the Post contacted the agency and the company in January, both said they had not heard of the complaint. Both said they subsequently looked into the allegations and did not find evidence to confirm the claims. The company said it had conducted a thorough two-day internal investigation and concluded the assertions were unsubstantiated. Reached this week, both declined to comment further. A lawyer for the former DOGE member told the Post he denied all alleged wrongdoing. The complaint alleges that after leaving government employment, the former DOGE member told colleagues he had a thumb drive with Social Security data and had kept his agency computer and credentials, which he allegedly said carried largely unrestricted God-level security access to the agencys systems a level of access no other company employee had been granted in its work with SSA. The agency has historically limited access to sensitive data to prevent it from leaking. But the Supreme Court had granted DOGE members unfettered access to Social Security data last summer, though that did not apply to outside contractors. A Social Security Administration official familiar with the former DOGE members current status said the engineer had lost his data credential privileges and turned in his SSA laptop when he departed the agency. The whistleblower disclosure filed with the agencys inspector general office on Jan. 9 and amended on Jan. 26 alleges that the former DOGE member told the whistleblower that he was permitted to have unfettered access to Americans Social Security data. Democrats who were informed by the Government Accountability Office and the inspector generals office about the existence of the complaint raised concerns that the allegations could confirm their fears that DOGE acted without regard for data privacy. Not only has an ex-DOGE bro been accused of running around with the Social Security information of every American on a flash drive, he also may have the ability to edit and manipulate data at the Social Security Administration at will, Rep. Robert Garcia of California, the top Democrat on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, said in a statement. This is dangerous and outrageous, and Oversight Committee Democrats will fight for transparency and accountability. The allegations stoke concerns about whether sensitive agency data on U.S. citizens may have been inappropriately accessed and shared during the tumultuous period when DOGE gained power within the government early last year. At the time, President Donald Trump empowered billionaire businessman Elon Musk to run a signature White House cost-cutting initiative that would drill into agency information to search for waste, fraud, and programs that went against the administrations priorities. SSA spokesperson Barton Mackey said in a statement before the IG launched its investigation that the allegation by a singular anonymous source has been found to be false based on evidence and investigations by all involved. When asked about the whistleblower complaint, Leland Dudek, who was the agencys acting commissioner during the beginning of DOGEs work, said that he was unaware of the details of the allegations but that such actions would not comply with the rules at the agency regarding government data sharing. Sharing Numident data with unauthorized third parties, whether via the cloud or a personal thumb drive, violates the law, Dudek said. A separate complaint, made in August by the agencys former chief data officer, Charles Borges, alleges members of DOGE improperly uploaded copies of Americans Social Security data to a digital cloud, putting individuals private information at risk. In January, the Trump administration acknowledged DOGE staffers were responsible for separate data breaches at the agency, including sharing data through an unapproved third-party service and that one of the DOGE staffers signed an agreement to share data with an unnamed political group aiming to overturn election results in several states. When Musk created the DOGE cost-cutting project last year, he made swift changes to government agencies by accessing their tech systems, according to four people familiar with his strategy, three of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe private conversations. Soon, DOGE engineers were deployed across the federal government, retrieving heavily restricted government databases and merging long-siloed repositories to hunt down possible evidence of fraud or diversity initiatives. A dozen DOGE workers were embedded at Social Security headquarters starting in February 2025, after the Trump administration installed Dudek as acting commissioner. Most on the team were tech experts and engineers. Team members never appeared on SSAs organizational chart, leading to confusion about their presence and roles within an agency known for safeguarding Americans financial data, said one of the people, who had direct knowledge of DOGEs activities within the agency. Their team was tasked with finding fraud in the Social Security rolls, especially seeking evidence of benefits going to dead people, the person said. Social Security technologists frequently pushed back against these presumptions of widespread fraud, but DOGE staff continued in their quest. The DOGE boys had preordained answers and werent interested in anything other than defending decisions theyd already made, the person said. Borges told Congress and reporters in August that DOGE members had access to data that had been blocked by a judges order and that the DOGE team used unsanctioned methods to put data into the cloud. Social Security initially denied Borges allegations and said the data referenced in his complaint is stored in a secure environment walled off from the internet. But in January, the Justice Department acknowledged in court documents that DOGE members had accessed and shared sensitive Social Security data without the awareness of agency officials. The Iranian elementary school building where scores of children were killed as the U.S. and Israel began their massive aerial campaign was on a U.S. target list and may have been mistaken for a military site, multiple people familiar with the strike told the Washington Post. The deadly attack occurred in the first few hours of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran just as parents were hurrying to the two-story schoolhouse to take their kids home to safety and killed at least 175 people, many of them children, according to Iranian state media. Advertisement It is still not clear why the building was hit, but one person familiar with the school strike said the building had been identified as a factory and had been an approved strike target. A second person familiar said an arms depot target was located in the same area and did not know if the United States hit the school by mistake, or if U.S. officials had the wrong intelligence and thought the building was the arms depot. Initially there was some confusion on why it was on the target list, said a third person familiar with the strike. The individual would not go into further detail, citing the militarys ongoing investigation into the strike. Israel has said it did not have a role in the strike, and two Israeli officials told the Washington Post that this specific targeting was not cross-checked or discussed with the Israel Defense Forces before it took place. The Post spoke to more than a dozen people to report this story in the United States and Israel, including those familiar with the incident and the role of artificial intelligence in the Iran operations, all of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue. On Wednesday, the New York Times reported that a preliminary Pentagon investigation into the strike found that the United States was at fault and that the incident may have been the result of using outdated targeting data. A U.S. official and a person familiar with the targeting confirmed to the Post that the initial investigation appeared to indicate that the school strike was conducted by the U.S. military. The mistaken strike was probably due to an intelligence error on the target location, the official said. The school used to be part of an Iranian naval base and may still be affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, but it had been walled off since 2015, and separate entrances were also added between mid-2015 and early 2016, according to a Post and expert analysis of satellite imagery. There is an outdoor play area that appears on Google Earth as early as 2017. The complexs layout changed again in 2022, when additional walls separated what is now a medical clinic from the other surrounding buildings, satellite imagery shows. The locations of the school and clinic adjacent to or even within the larger IRGC compound do not make them legitimate targets, experts have said. Human Rights Watch has called for a war crime investigation on the attack. It is unclear whether there were casualties at the medical clinic. At a Pentagon news briefing Tuesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth alleged that schools in Iran were being used to launch attacks. The mullahs are desperate and scrambling, Hegseth said. Like the terrorist cowards they are, they fire missiles from schools and hospitals, deliberately targeting innocents. In a follow-up request for comment on Hegseths claim that Iranians are firing missiles from schools, his office referred the Post back to the secretarys briefing remarks. On Sunday, new video of the strikes posted to social media appeared to show a Tomahawk cruise missile a munition fired by the U.S. Navy strike a building near the school, according to eight munitions experts who reviewed the footage. President Donald Trump suggested Monday without evidence that Iran itself may have attacked the school with Tomahawks. But whether its Iran or somebody else, the fact that a Tomahawk a Tomahawk is very generic. Its sold to other countries, Trump said. Only a handful of allied nations have Tomahawk cruise missiles; Iran is not among them. Israel also does not have Tomahawks in its arsenal. The attack has drawn international condemnation and is raising questions as to how the school ended up being struck and whether the United States and Israels use of AI in this conflict had a role. Both countries have leveraged the technology to mass process intelligence and identify potential targets, enabling their militaries to destroy thousands of sites in just days of the ongoing operations. Israel has conducted more than 6,000 strikes on 3,400 targets, an IDF official told the Post. U.S. Central Command, which oversees U.S. military operations in the Middle East, had hit 5,500 targets as of Wednesday. According to five people familiar with the issue, both the Israeli and U.S. militaries are using Palantirs Maven to conduct operations. Maven is a battlefield intelligence platform. The U.S. version is powered in part by Anthropics AI, Claude. The head of Centcom, Adm. Brad Cooper, said Wednesday the United States is leveraging a variety of advanced AI tools to conduct the strikes. These systems help us sift through vast amounts of data in seconds, so our leaders can cut through the noise and make smarter decisions faster than the enemy can react. Humans will always make final decisions on what to shoot and what not to shoot, and when to shoot, Cooper said. But advanced AI tools can turn processes that used to take hours and sometimes even days into seconds. Hegseth was asked about the strike on 60 Minutes on Sunday. Well, were still investigating, and thats where Ill leave it today, he said. But what I will emphasize to you and to the world is that, unlike our adversaries, the Iranians, we never target civilians. Hegseths office referred questions about the school strike and whether AI had a role to U.S. Central Command. Centcom declined to comment, citing the pending investigation. A terrifying sound At least 175 people, including scores of elementary-school-age children, were killed in the attack on the Shajarah Tayyiba elementary school in Minab, Iran, on Feb. 28, the day the United States and Israel began war operations across the country. The strike took place around 10:45 a.m. local time, the governor of Hormozgan province told the semiofficial Iranian news agency Tasnim around an hour after the U.S. and Israel commenced bombing and missile strikes. Satellite imagery taken around 15 minutes earlier shows no damage to the complex. Videos showing multiple columns of smoke billowing near a military base in Minab, in Irans south, began to circulate on social media by noon. Abdollah Karyanipak, 41, had arrived at the school around 11:20 a.m. after receiving a call 10 minutes earlier asking parents to come pick up their children. He said he was waiting outside the front door for his two young children, watching one of the teachers call other parents, when the attack began. We heard a terrifying sound. It was the sound of a missile, I dont know exactly what it was, and it hit the school, Karyanipak said in a phone interview conducted in the presence of a local media organization with government ties. Karyanipak, who identified himself as a government worker in a municipal office, said the force of the blast knocked him off his feet and sent him flying back through the air. Five or 10 seconds later, there were two more blasts, he said. In all, Karyanipak said he heard three or four large explosions. At least four plumes of smoke are visible in a video of the immediate aftermath filmed near the schools entrance and verified by the Post. As he stood up, dazed, Karyanipak noticed he could not hear anything and his forehead was covered in blood. I went back toward the school entrance, but it wasnt there anymore. It had collapsed. Karyanipak said he climbed through rubble to try to reach students trapped on the second floor but could not help them down. There were three of the girls up there crying, covered in blood. There was also fire, he said. Parents and rescuers dug for hours through the rubble of the first floor. Not a single one of the kids we pulled out was alive. Their bodies were torn apart and burned, he said. Karyanipak was unable to find his sons, ages 7 and 8, in the debris. He was later called in to a morgue, where his older sons body was intact, but he identified the younger boy only by the shoes he had been wearing. His body was unrecognizable. AI-generated targets As both militaries prepared for the start of operations, the United States and Israel spent thousands of hours identifying sites to strike and building massive target lists, the IDF has said. Many of those locations were generated from Israeli intelligence, two people familiar with the planning one Israeli and one American told the Post. On the U.S. side, the Defense Intelligence Agency maintains a target database, containing thousands of potential enemy locations, each of which is assigned a basic encyclopedia, or BE, number. Each target is assigned an agency that is responsible for maintaining and updating information and intelligence for that specific BE number. In this case, it was probably either the responsibility of Centcoms intelligence staff, known as J2, or the DIA to make updates, said another person familiar with the militarys targeting process. Centcom has many DIA analysts embedded within it to support operations, but the sheer volume of data and targets that were moving through the database could have overwhelmed that staff, the person familiar said. Teams of intelligence analysts work from large datasets of potential military targets that go back years, and conditions that change on the ground may not be noticed or documented, a U.S. defense official said. Hundreds of additional locations were added to the target set in the weeks right before the attack, but it is not clear if the school was among those, said another person familiar with the planning. While Israel has said it did not conduct the strike, it is not clear whether intelligence Israel provided to the United States to identify targets had a role. Weve checked multiple times and have found no connection between the IDF and whatever happen[ed] in that school [in Minab], IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani told reporters in Israel on Sunday. On the U.S. side, targets for Operation Epic Fury were identified by Palantirs Maven Smart System a sophisticated military planning tool that takes in data from surveillance, logistics, sensors, and intelligence, and can create a dashboard for commanders to inform their decisions. As planning for a potential strike in Iran was underway, Maven suggested targets, issued precise location coordinates, and prioritized those targets according to importance. The pairing of Maven and Claude has created a tool that is speeding the pace of the campaign, reducing Irans ability to counterstrike and turning weeks-long battle planning into real-time operations, two people familiar with its use told the Post. The AI tools also evaluate a strike after it is initiated. It is unclear to what extent this system is being used to conduct U.S.-Israeli joint operations, however, or whether the primary system being used is the U.S. version, which uses Claude to process classified information and is currently the subject of a lawsuit between Anthropic and the Trump administration. Anthropic has insisted that it must maintain guardrails over Claudes use, forbidding the technology from being used in fully autonomous weapons or domestic mass surveillance. The administration has said that Anthropics objections constitute a supply chain risk and is in the process of replacing Claude with rival AI tools in its networks. In a lawsuit filed Monday, lawyers representing Anthropic argued that within hours of the Challenged Actions, moreover, the Department reportedly launched a major air attack in Iran with the help of [the] very same tools that are made by Anthropic and are the subject of the Challenged Actions, citing media reports. Both Anthropic and Palantir declined to comment for this article. Vetting the list In U.S. military operations, targets whether generated by AI or by other methods require vetting and sign-off by humans. There is a long-standing process by which targets get nominated, reviewed by legal advisers, and approved for strike, a former senior defense official told the Post. That approval is usually done at the three-star-commander level but could go higher depending on a targets sensitivity. It is as yet unclear who ultimately approved Shajarah Tayyiba elementary school as a target. The United States for decades developed plans and targets for a potential war with Iran, a former senior defense official told the Post, cautioning against leaping to the conclusion that the school strike involved Maven or generative AI. If it [the facility] wasnt already on a target list, I would be surprised, the former official said. But given the speed and scale of Operation Epic Fury, those older targets may not have received updated vetting, according to three people familiar with how the U.S. militarys vetting process works. The United States has been surging analysts to vet targets as the ground conditions rapidly change. Ive been pretty vocal since early Maven days that feeding current and accurate data into your model is your biggest challenge, said retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Jack Shanahan, who led the Pentagons early efforts to integrate AI into its war fighting in 2017. As the tempo of the war increases, and the pressure to find more targets increases, there have to be checks and balances in place to ensure that the targets being nominated for strike are legitimate targets, and you can catch any mistakes that might lead to civilian casualties and collateral damage, said Shanahan, who is now an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security think tank. Thats what targeteers are paid to do. Its tragic this happened. And it shouldnt happen again. And anybody who thinks AI is going to magically solve the fog and friction of war is lying to you, Shanahan said. Ryan Walsh records his niece performing with the McDade-Cara School of Irish Dance in Newtown Square during the annual Philadelphia St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 16, 2025. Read more Sunday marks the return of the citys St. Patricks Day Parade, a Philly tradition dating back more than 250 years. Organized by the Philadelphia St. Patricks Day Observance Association, the event annually draws around 20,000 participants and thousands of spectators to Center City. Like any sizable city event, the parade will cause various disruptions, shutting down part of the city to traffic and affecting some public transportation routes. Heres everything you need to know in the lead-up to parade day. Friends from Ireland, Carl McAllorm (from left), Ronan McNamara, Greg Toolis, and Colm McDonald march together in the annual Philadelphia St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 16, 2025. Read more Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer Parade route The parade begins at 11:15 a.m., kicking off at 16th Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard. It then moves eastbound on Market Street to Penns Landing, concluding about 3 p.m. The grandstands and main performance area will be at Fifth and Market Streets. Parade weather As of Thursday, AccuWeather predicts a mild and mostly cloudy parade day, with a high of 56 degrees and wind gusts of more than 25 mph. Olivia Lisowski leads her charges with the Jordan-Hunt School of Irish Dance in Erdenheim during the annual Philadelphia St. Patrick's Day Parade on Mar. 16, 2025. Read more Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer St. Patricks Day Parade road closures Starting at 5:30 a.m. (until about 4 p.m.) Market Street between Sixth and Fifth Streets. Advertisement Starting at 9 a.m. (until about 3:30 p.m.) John F. Kennedy Boulevard between 20th and 15th Streets. 20th through 15th Streets between Market and Arch Streets. Starting at 10:30 a.m. (until about 3:30 p.m.) John F. Kennedy Boulevard between 15th and Juniper Streets. Juniper Street between John F. Kennedy Boulevard and Market Street. Market Street between City Hall and Second Street. 13th through Fifth Streets between Chestnut and Arch Streets. Ignatius Mullen Jr. of Society Hill (green socks) marches in the 2025 Philadelphia St. Patrick's Day Parade with his Irish Jack Russel terrier, which was bred in Connemara, County Galway, Ireland. Read more Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer St. Patricks Day parking restrictions Parking restrictions will be in effect on parade day, and the city has warned that violators will have their vehicles relocated. The city encourages anyone whose vehicle is relocated to call the police district in the area where the vehicle was parked. The following streets have been deemed temporary no parking zones on parade day: Advertisement From 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. 1400 to 2000 blocks of John F. Kennedy Boulevard. From 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fifth Street between Chestnut and Market Streets. Sixth Street between Chestnut and Race Street. Race Street between Fifth and Sixth Streets. Market Street from City Hall to Second Street. The Cavan Society of Philadelphias float in the annual Philadelphia St. Patrick's Day Parade on Mar. 16, 2025 follows the parade theme, a tribute to first responders: St. Patrick, Bless Those Dedicated to Serving Others. Read more Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer How to get to the St. Patricks Day Parade Regional Rail: Arrive at Jefferson or Suburban Stations both within walking distance of the parade. Broad Street Line and Market-Frankford Line: Get off at City Hall Station for easy access. PATCO: Those taking PATCO into the city should exit at the station at Eighth and Market Streets. 8th/Market Street Station and follow the blue concourse signs roughly a block to the Market-Frankford Line. Several SEPTA bus routes will be detoured from 5 a.m. until about 5 p.m., including: Advertisement 17, 27, 31, 32, 33, 38, 44, 47, 48, 61, 124, and 125 The Eagles Pep Band rides with a replica of the Lombardi Trophy and performs in the 2025 Philadelphia St. Patrick's Day Parade Read more Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer How to watch the St. Patricks Day Parade from home A bipartisan group of senators is asking the Government Accountability Office to examine the Justice Departments handling of files related to Jeffrey Epstein amid concerns the department has not released all the documents required by law. President Donald Trump in November signed an almost unanimously passed law mandating the Justice Department make public records related to the late convicted sex offender with narrow restrictions. Advertisement The department released millions of pages of documents, but Democrats and some Republicans in Congress have raised concerns about how faithfully it complied with the law. The lawmakers have questioned whether all relevant files have been released, criticized the department for failing to redact victims names in some instances, and challenged decisions to redact the names of Epstein associates they believe should have been identified. Sens. Jeff Merkley (D., Ore.), Lisa Murkowski (R., Alaska), Ben Ray Lujan (D., N.M.), and Dick Durbin (D., Ill.) asked the GAO an independent agency that is part of the legislative branch on Wednesday to examine how the department reviewed the files and the resulting failure of the Department to follow the law, respond to Congress and protect victims. The senators are seeking details including how many people were tasked with reviewing and redacting the files as the Justice Department scrambled to comply with the law and any guidance the administration provided them. In a letter to Orice Williams Brown, the GAOs acting comptroller, they echoed concerns by Reps. Ro Khanna (D., Calif.) and Thomas Massie (R., Ky.) the authors of the law requiring the files be made public about how the documents were redacted. Contrary to Congresss explicit directive to protect victims, these records included email addresses and nude photos in which the names and faces of publicly-identified and non-public victims could be identified, the senators wrote. But when it came to information identifying powerful business and politics figures who are alleged co-conspirators or material witnesses, DOJ appears to have heavily redacted those records. In the House on Wednesday, lawmakers dug into Epsteins sprawling financial portfolio as a committee deposed his former accountant and tried to understand his connections to some of the worlds wealthiest men. Richard Kahn, who worked closely with Epstein for years and now serves as an executor of his estate, appeared for the closed-door deposition on Capitol Hill. He told lawmakers that he had not personally seen evidence of Epsteins sexual abuse, but provided a fuller picture of how Epstein acquired his wealth. The wealthy financier made hundreds of millions of dollars over two decades, during which he struck up friendships with some of the worlds most powerful men. Kahn was under the impression that Epstein made his money as a tax adviser and a financial planner, said Rep. James Comer (R., Ky.), chair of the House Oversight Committee. Lawmakers argued that a fuller picture of Epsteins finances could help the public understand how, for years, he was able to get away with trafficking and sexually abusing underage girls. Jeffrey Epsteins sex-trafficking ring would not have been possible without Richard Kahn, who managed Epsteins money for years, authorized payments, including payments to victims and survivors, said Rep. James Walkinshaw (D., Va.), who added that Kahn told them he was unable to recall details of some of the transactions and communications that he was asked about. Kahn has said he was unaware of Epsteins sexual abuse and had not seen any of his victims. Bipartisan scrutiny The senators letter comes as lawmakers in both parties have continued to scrutinize the departments handling of the files more than a month after most of them were made public. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) accused the department last month of orchestrating a massive cover-up to protect Trump and Epsteins associates. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee voted last week to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi, with five Republicans joining Democrats in voting to compel her to appear for a closed-door deposition. Bondi has defended the departments compliance with the law. The department made public more records last week that it said had not been released before because they were wrongly determined to be duplicates of other records. This administration released over three million pages of documents over three million and Donald Trump signed that law to release all of those documents, Bondi testified last month in a contentious appearance before the House Judiciary Committee. He is the most transparent president in the nations history. The senators request was not lawmakers first effort to unearth more details about how the department has handled the massive task of reviewing and redacting the files. A dozen senators including Merkley, Murkowski, and Durbin wrote in December to Don Berthiaume, the Justice Departments acting inspector general, to ask him to audit the departments compliance with the law. The inspector generals office did not immediately respond to a request for information about whether it has undertaken such an audit. This article contains information from the Associated Press. FILE - First lady Jill Biden speaks during the first day of Democratic National Convention, Aug. 19, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File) Read more WASHINGTON Jill Biden is breaking her silence about Joe Bidens decision to abruptly end his 2024 presidential reelection bid under pressure from Democrats concerned about his age, health, and viability against Republican Donald Trump in a rematch of their 2020 campaign. A political spouse for nearly 50 years and a self-described Philly girl, Jill Biden said she has never publicly discussed her feelings about the three-week stretch when her husband ended his political career, instead saving her thoughts for the pages of her soon-to-be-released memoir. Advertisement Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, announced Wednesday that her book, View from the East Wing: A Memoir, is scheduled to be published June 2. Jill Biden, who was born in Hammonton, N.J., and raised in Willow Grove, told the Associated Press in a brief telephone interview that the book is a reflection of my four years as first lady and that writing it was somewhat healing. It was kind of cathartic for me to write it, and I wrote about all the, you know, sometimes painful but, other times, most of it really beautiful moments that Joe and I shared during his presidency, she said. Jill Biden declined on Tuesday to discuss any of those moments, good or bad including watching her husband work his way to the decision to end his five-decade-long political career by dropping out of the 2024 presidential race. In an announcement video shared on Instagram, she said she wants to set the record straight. The last chapter of her husbands political career In April 2023, then-President Joe Biden was 80 and the oldest chief executive in U.S. history when he announced he was running for a second term. His age and fitness to serve another four years which would have taken him to age 86 became a source of concern for the public. Some fellow Democrats began to pressure him to step aside after he turned in a disastrous debate performance against Trump in June 2024 in which he struggled, in a raspy voice, to land his debating points and often appeared to lose his train of thought. Aides blamed the poor performance on a cold. Joe Biden at first insisted that he would stay in the race, but after a few weeks he withdrew from the campaign and endorsed Democrat Kamala Harris, his vice president. Harris became the partys presidential nominee but lost to Trump in the November 2024 election. Jill Biden said that, with the book, I have put things in perspective, presenting what she describes as a more balanced view of her husbands time as president. The memoir is also a tribute of sorts to women who, like herself, juggle multiple roles. Its also a story about my being able to balance life, you know, as a working woman and as a mother, a grandmother, a first lady, she said. During her four years in the role, Jill Biden, 74, made history as the first first lady to continue the career she had before entering the White House. She had taught English and writing for decades at the community college level, and she continued teaching twice a week at a Northern Virginia school while serving as first lady. Joe Biden doing well after his cancer diagnosis The former presidents office announced in May 2025 that he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer and that it had spread to his bones. He is receiving treatment. Jill Biden said it was quite a shock getting the diagnosis for her husband, who is now 83. The fact that it is in his bones means that he will have cancer, you know, all his lifetime, Jill Biden said. She said the doctors say he will live out his natural life. Like most retired couples, hell probably drive me crazy till the end of it, she joked. She said he visits Washington at least once a week for meetings or to give speeches. A unique period in American history The former first lady also writes in the book about serving during a unique period in American history, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the aftermath of the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, according to the publisher. Her husband was sworn into office on the steps of the Capitol on Jan. 20, 2021, just two weeks after a mob of Trump supporters, spurred by the Republicans false claims that he lost because of election fraud, stormed the building in a violent attempt to keep lawmakers from certifying Joe Bidens victory. Joe Bidens first year in office was dominated by the federal response to the pandemic and, while he mostly stayed at the White House, Jill Biden wore a face mask and traveled around the country to encourage people to get their vaccinations. She also continued her advocacy on behalf of military families, education and community colleges, cancer prevention, and womens health initiatives. Before she became first lady, Jill Biden was second lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017, when her husband was Barack Obamas vice president. She currently chairs the Milken Institutes Womens Health Network. Jill Biden is also the author of Where the Light Enters, published in 2019, in which she writes about meeting Joe Biden, then a U.S. senator from Delaware, and marrying and building a life with him. She also has written three childrens books. The Defense Department has barred news photographers from briefings on the U.S.-Israeli military conflict with Iran after they published photos of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that his staff deemed unflattering, according to two people familiar with the decision who spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear of retaliation. The March 2 briefing came days after a joint military strike on Iran that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Feb. 28. It was the first time the defense secretary had appeared behind the briefing room lectern since June 26. Advertisement Several outlets, including the Associated Press, Reuters, and Getty Images, sent photographers to the briefing by Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. But after they published photos which have broad reach because they are licensed by publications globally members of Hegseths staff told colleagues that they did not like the way that the secretary looked. Hegseths aides decided to shut out photographers from the two subsequent briefings at the Pentagon, on March 4 and Tuesday, according to the two people familiar with the decision. In a statement, Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson wrote: In order to use space in the Pentagon Briefing Room effectively, we are allowing one representative per news outlet if uncredentialed, excluding pool. Photographs from the briefings are immediately released online for the public and press to use. If that hurts the business model for certain news outlets, then they should consider applying for a Pentagon press credential. White House principal deputy press secretary Anna Kelly declined to comment on Hegseths decision to shut out reporters. Hegseth, a former Fox News host, has repeatedly sparred with the media since being confirmed at the outset of President Donald Trumps second term. Tensions hit a fever pitch in October when hundreds of credentialed Pentagon reporters turned in their badges and dozens walked out of the building after refusing to sign a policy prohibiting journalists from soliciting any information the government did not authorize. The New York Times and one of its reporters, Julian E. Barnes, have sued the government, alleging that the policy violated their constitutional protections of press freedom and due process. That case is ongoing, and a federal judge in Washington is weighing motions for summary judgment following Fridays oral arguments. After the exodus by media outlets, which included the Washington Post, a new, largely right-wing press corps signed on. Those reporters received a December meet-and-greet with Hegseth and a media briefing with Wilson. But until last week, Hegseth had not done an on-camera briefing for the new crop of media. That changed after the strikes in Iran. Hegseth and Caines March 2 briefing was initially meant to involve only newly credentialed media, but after the department requested a TV camera from the major broadcast networks, the journalists who had relinquished their badges negotiated an agreement to allow some of them in the briefing room, a lawyer for the Pentagon Press Association said in court Friday. It is unclear whether one particular photo or the sum total of the days shots led to consternation among Hegseths staff. When photographers showed up for the March 4 briefing, they were not allowed in, according to two other people familiar with the situation who also spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear of retaliation. Since then, only the Defense Departments staff photographers have been permitted into the briefings. A voting machine company at the heart of President Donald Trumps conspiracy theories about the 2020 election accused the Justice Department on Tuesday of bringing a criminal case against it to further his administrations baseless claims about that vote. The parent company of London-based Smartmatic asked a federal judge in Miami to dismiss foreign bribery charges filed against it last year, alleging they amounted to little more than a vindictive and selective prosecution. The company also contends that Fox News and others it has sued for defamation for statements about the firms voting machines are exploiting the criminal case. Advertisement While such defense claims are notoriously difficult to win in court, they have gained traction with federal judges as the Justice Department under Trump has increasingly used its authority to target the presidents political foes. Since returning to office, President Trump has openly waged a campaign of retribution against his perceived enemies chief among them those who undermine his mantra that the 2020 election was rigged," attorneys for the company wrote in a court filing Tuesday. Put simply, they added, the charging decision is consistent with an administration that prioritizes targeting its enemies over equal protection under the law. Though Smartmatic machines were used in only one U.S. county during the 2020 election heavily Democratic Los Angeles, which Trump lost by more than 1.8 million the company has remained a target for Trump and his allies, who have claimed without evidence that the 2020 election was rigged. The companys claims of vindictive prosecution come as Trump has continued to fixate on his election loss to President Joe Biden. He has repeatedly called on the Justice Department to prosecute those he blames for the defeat, and in recent months, officials have launched a criminal inquiry into the 2020 vote in Fulton County, Ga., and subpoenaed records tied to that election from officials in Arizona. A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment on the claims lodged in Smartmatics court filing Tuesday. The U.S. attorneys office in Miami, which is prosecuting the Smartmatic case, did not respond to questions about the companys allegations. The case at their center began under the Biden administration and centers on another election entirely. Federal prosecutors in Miami charged two Smartmatic executives in 2024 with paying bribes to win business in the Philippines in 2016. At the time, the Justice Department chose not to charge the company itself with wrongdoing. However, department officials reversed course after Trumps return to the White House, securing a six-count bribery and money-laundering indictment in October charging Smartmatics parent company, SGO Corporation Limited. That step, the companys lawyers argued Tuesday, was a rare one. Before Smartmatics indictment, the Justice Department had not filed criminal charges against a business in a foreign bribery case in more than 15 years more often opting to resolve criminal inquiries through pre-indictment settlement agreements. Whats more, in some of their first acts in office, Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi ordered a retreat from such foreign bribery prosecutions, saying they inhibited the ability of American companies to compete for business abroad. That decision proved controversial at the time, as critics predicted it would foster corrupt business practices around the world. But the Justice Department moved forward with dismissing several pending cases brought under the United States foreign bribery laws and shuttering ongoing investigations even as it began building its case against Smartmatic. The only consequential changes in this case since 2024 were the President, his DOJ and their well-documented crusade to unconstitutionally target their perceived political enemies, company attorneys Jenny Kramer and Christopher C. Marquardt wrote. Trump and his allies have persistently and baselessly claimed Smartmatics voting machines had a role in reversing the election to benefit Biden. They have maintained that the companys technology, originally founded in Venezuela, was used to rig elections there before being exported to do the same around the world despite a lack of evidence to back those claims. Since the 2020 vote, Smartmatic has filed defamation suits against several right-wing figures including My Pillow founder Mike Lindell, former Trump attorneys Sidney Powell and Rudy Giuliani, and Jeanine Pirro, a onetime Fox News host who is now D.C.s U.S. attorney. In their court filing Tuesday, company lawyers suggested that the case filed against Smartmatic was designed, at least in part, to aid those Trump allies as they defended themselves in court. Lindell, for instance, took to social media days after a federal judge in Minnesota ruled in Smartmatics favor in its defamation case to allege that the case should be reopened because of the allegations of criminal wrongdoing filed against the company. Lindell has been represented at times by fellow election denier Kurt Olsen, an attorney who now serves as the White Houses director of election security and integrity and who has been linked to ongoing Justice Department investigations involving the 2020 race. Fox News has also cited the criminal case in its defense against a Smartmatic defamation suit in New York, asking the court to delay proceedings. Fox settled a similar defamation suit with voting machine company Dominion Voting Systems, which has also drawn the scrutiny of 2020 election deniers, in 2023. In Smartmatics case against Fox News, lawyers for the media company have argued that the Florida indictment has fundamentally changed its case and that it needs more time to prepare. Smartmatic lawyers noted that Bondis brother, Brad Bondi, is now representing Fox in a separate antitrust matter. He entered his appearance in that case a month before the criminal case was filed against the voting machine company in Florida. Historically, vindictive and selective prosecution motions, like the one Smartmatic filed Tuesday, have faced long odds in court as they require a defendant to prove that prosecutors, or someone influencing their decision-making, acted with genuine animus in deciding to file charges and that there is no other reason that explains why a case has been brought. However, several prominent Trump adversaries have pursued them with early signs of success after finding themselves on the wrong end of an indictment. Former FBI director James B. Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James each filed similar motions before criminal charges filed against them in Virginia were thrown out last year on an unrelated issue tied to the appointment of the U.S. attorney who secured the indictments against them. A federal judge in Tennessee ruled last year there was a realistic likelihood that the Justice Departments decision to pursue a years-old human smuggling case against Kilmar Abrego Garcia was motivated by revenge for successful suits he filed challenging his illegal deportation to El Salvador. The judge continues to weigh whether there is enough evidence of a vindictive motive in that case to warrant dismissal of the charges. In Smartmatics case, the company and its charged executives have pleaded not guilty and are set for trial in 2027 if the court allows the case to move forward. Gov. Mikie Sherrill arrives to deliver her budget address Tuesday, Mar. 10, 2026, in the Assembly Chamber at the New Jersey State House. Read more Gov. Mikie Sherrills administration pointed to a last-minute $13 million infusion of state funding for a Camden County jail as a budget line she wont repeat. The money was allocated to the South Jersey county as part of a flurry of spending pushed through the legislature and signed by former Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy at the end of his term. Advertisement Critics said Murphy and lawmakers poured state money into controversial projects in a nontransparent way. Sherrill, a Democrat who took office in January, added to the chorus of criticism Tuesday when she delivered her first budget speech. She railed against what she described as $3 billion in last-minute spending under Murphy, including $2.5 billion in corporate tax breaks and $240 million to projects throughout the state, which includes the jail funding in Camden County. Our work starts by ending previous administrations bad habit of tacking last-minute giveaways onto each budget, she said. That cant happen, she added. We cant afford that process anymore. Its not accountable; its not efficient; its not what the people of New Jersey deserve. The Camden project appears in a budget document list of Murphy-era expenses that she wont take on. The document only includes a handful of projects with this kind of state aid . Danielle Currie, a spokesperson for the New Jersey Department of Treasury, said the list is meant to be a summary of some of the largest changes from one budget to the next. The jail project received the most out of several state aid projects included in the last-minute spending spree. The document rollout listed the project as a decrease, which caused confusion among Camden County officials who interpreted that as a loss in funding, said Camden County spokesperson Dan Keashen. Camden County has not used the $13 million yet, but it plans to tap it to help pay for the design and construction of the rehabilitation center, Keashen said. He said the jail project has been allocated a total of about $45 million of state money over the years. READ MORE: Mikie Sherrills budget would kick high-earning seniors off a new tax relief program, expand mental health services for kids The Southern New Jersey Regional Rehabilitation and Reentry Center would be a multi-county jail complex serving South Jersey. The project is in its early stages and doesnt have a location yet after a prospective site in Winslow Township fell through last month. The county is in the process of finding a new site with local support after fierce opposition in Winslow. Camden County has proposed the facility for years and wants to collaborate with neighboring counties on the project. Keashen said the project is a couple of years away from construction beginning. Camden County officials have described the project as an economic boon and predict it will bring $1 billion in new construction, including retail space and offices for professional services like law firms. Keashen said the jail will have an emphasis on rehabilitation and reentry services. The overall regionalized project is still moving forward, still is going to provide a tremendous saving to taxpayers and be a benefit to the overall community, he said. Regardless of the movement of this current budget document, we are still moving this project and concept forward. Governor Josh Shapiro discusses his new book, Where We Keep the Light, with Jay Wright, former head mens basketball coach at Villanova University on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Read more Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro called New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani Tuesday to offer his support after two Bucks County teens were charged for attempting to set off homemade bombs in support of ISIS outside Gracie Mansion in Manhattan over the weekend. Shapiro, whose own family was the victim of political violence when a would-be murderer set fire to the Pennsylvania governors mansion last year, told reporters Wednesday that he had reached out to check on Mamdani and his family. Advertisement Unfortunately, my family and I are no strangers to political violence. I know how challenging that can be. As a result I reached out yesterday to Mayor Mamdani. We had a good conversation, Shapiro said at an event in Berks County. I made clear, number one, that I was hoping he and his family were OK and just wanted to talk, again, as someone whos gone through this talk to him about that. Additionally, Shapiro said, he assured Mamdani that Pennsylvania State Police would continue to work alongside federal and New York authorities to investigate the incident and hold those responsible accountable. The Bucks County teens Emir Balat, 18, of Langhorne and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, of Newtown were arrested Saturday after allegedly attempting to set off explosive devices during a counter-protest of an anti-Islamic protest outside the mayors residence. The teens, officials said, told police that they had planned to carry out a terrorist attack. The bombs, however, did not detonate and no one was injured. Shapiro, who is seen as a likely 2028 presidential candidate, consistently condemns all forms of political violence and has called on others to do the same. He and Mamdani clashed last year as Shapiro, who is Jewish, accused the Mamdani, who is Muslim, of failing to condemn blatantly antisemitic rhetoric by his supporters. Mamdani, Shapiro later said, reached out and the two had a healthy dialogue about their perspectives on Israel. In this November file photo, physician Ala Stanford stands at the primary medical care center run by her Black Doctors Consortium at Riverview Wellness Village. She is running for Congress in the race to replace U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans. Read more Ala Stanford, a pediatric surgeon running in a crowded Democratic primary to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans in Congress, received a significant boost this week from a national group spending a staggering sum of money to promote her campaign. The super PAC, called 314 Action Fund, is a progressive organization that backs pro-science candidates and recruits doctors to run for federal office. Its television ads, which hit the air Wednesday, tout Stanfords work during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when she led efforts to vaccinate thousands of Philadelphians. Advertisement 314 Action is spending $1.4 million to run the television commercials, the first ad blitz in the race thus far, according to the media tracking firm AdImpact. The organization, funded by prominent scientists and physicians, also spent tens of thousands of dollars to place additional pro-Stanford ads on the radio and online. That money funds ads running over just the next three weeks, according to AdImpact. The group, which has raised $70 million over the last decade and can spend unlimited funds, says it may put up to $2.5 million into its effort backing Stanford in the solidly Democratic district. That could dwarf what any of the campaigns in the race are able to spend on advertising. As of the start of the year, State Sen. Sharif Street, the former chair of the state Democratic Party, had the most money in the primary field, with more than $500,000 in the bank, according to the most recently available campaign finance reports. Stanford had nearly $400,000 on hand $250,000 of which she gave to her own campaign. Erik Polyak, 314 Action Funds executive director, said in a statement that competing in Democratic primaries for open seats has been a longstanding part of the decade-old groups strategy. Dr. Stanford understands Philly, and the science and the stakes of the race, he said. 314 Action is committed to supporting her race to ensure more doctors and scientists are elected to stand up to [President Donald] Trump and RFK Jr. and restore health care for Pennsylvanians. Stanford has made improving access to healthcare the cornerstone of her bid for Congress. Her campaign said in a statement that her values align with 314 Action. As Donald Trump works to systemically destroy Americas medical research, science, and vaccine programs while kicking 300,000 Pennsylvanians off Medicaid, groups like 314 Action are critical partners, the campaign said. Other candidates may make the ad buy from 314 Action a campaign issue. During an unrelated campaign in 2024, the group received a $1 million donation from a PAC affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, federal records show. Political observers have speculated for months whether AIPAC which spends millions of dollars every year to support pro-Israel candidates and oppose those it sees as hostile to the country would spend money to attempt to influence the race in the 3rd District, which covers much of Philadelphia. However, 314 Action has at times been on the opposite side of AIPAC. For example, the group is currently backing Illinois congressional candidate Daniel Biss, a Democrat and mathematician who says he has been the target of a barrage of AIPAC-funded attack ads. Pro-Israel groups and the war in Gaza have been issues in the Philadelphia congressional race. State Rep. Chris Rabb, a progressive Democrat, has been outspoken about AIPAC, calling it a racist organization during a candidates forum in January. Rabbs campaign said in a statement Wednesday that reporting has shown AIPAC and 314 Action working together. AIPAC is a Trump-aligned organization trying to defeat candidates willing to name a genocide in Gaza, Rabbs campaign said. Any candidate should reject and denounce their support, particularly given the ongoing genocide and the war in Iran. Stanford says she is in favor of a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians and has said the U.S. should not support wars that harm and kill children and families. READ MORE: Heres who is funding Phillys crowded race for Congress In addition to healthcare advocacy groups, Stanford has been endorsed by Evans to succeed him in Congress. Street has been endorsed by the Democratic city committee and a powerful coalition of labor unions. Rabb is backed by a handful of progressive organizations, such as Reclaim Philadelphia and the Democratic Socialists of America. Parker, who leads a high-turnout ward in the district and whose endorsement carries considerable weight, has not yet backed a candidate in the race. She is expected to weigh in before the election. Mayor Cherelle L. Parker delivers her keynote address at the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphias Annual Mayoral Luncheon in February. Read more Mayor Cherelle L. Parker on Thursday will propose creating new city fees for rideshare and retail delivery services, increasing the hotel tax to expand homeless shelter space, and spending an additional $200 million over five years on her administrations addiction recovery facility, according to multiple people who were briefed on Parkers roughly $7 billion proposal for the next city budget. Parker will formally unveil her proposal Thursday morning in her third annual budget address to City Council, kicking off three months of hearings and negotiations before lawmakers are expected to approve the citys new taxing and spending plan in June. Advertisement READ MORE: Mayor Cherelle Parker unveils economic mobility agenda in $7 billion city budget proposal City Hall is entering whats known as budget season in a relatively strong financial position. The current budget, which lawmakers approved last June, was originally projected to include $6.8 billion in spending. That has grown to just under $7 billion, according to the latest Quarterly City Managers Report. But the next budget will also be the first since the expiration of federal funding for the American Rescue Plan Act, the COVID-19 pandemic relief plan Congress adopted in 2021 under President Joe Biden. Philadelphia received $1.4 billion, and it dedicated all of it to revenue replacement in recent years, making up for depressed tax collections in the wake of the pandemic. After Parkers speech Thursday, Council will spend the next months holding numerous hearings to examine the budget proposal on a department-by-department basis. Then Council President Kenyatta Johnson and Parkers team will negotiate over amendments to the plan. The next budget takes effect July 1. READ MORE: Who benefits and who pays in Mayor Cherelle Parkers new Philadelphia budget plan Councils last scheduled meeting before lawmakers summer recess is June 11. Under normal Council procedures, the negotiated budget compromise would have to get preliminary approval in committee no later than June 4. Two people who have been briefed on Parkers proposal provided details on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press. Here are some highlights from Parkers budget plan. New rideshare and delivery service fees proposed Under Parkers proposal, City Hall would enter the gig economy to collect fees. Parker is proposing a 20-cent-per-ride fee for rideshare services like Uber and Lyft, with the more than $9 million in annual revenue being dedicated to the School District of Philadelphia. READ MORE: Uber says rides in Philly would cost you more under Mayor Parkers budget plan Although the proposed fee is new, the Philadelphia Parking Authority, a state agency that regulates taxis and rideshare services in the city, already levies a 1.4% tax on the gross receipts of rides that originate in Philly. Two-thirds of the revenue goes to the school district. Additionally, Parkers budget includes a 25-cent fee for retail delivery orders from companies like Amazon. The fee would exclude purchases of essential goods such as food and medical devices. The $15 million in expected annual revenue would be dedicated to the citys Transportation Fund, which funds projects such as street paving and traffic safety initiatives. SEPTA affordability programs preserved Parkers budget calls for preserving two transit affordability programs that have been hotly debated in City Hall. The plan would include $25 million in funding for SEPTA Zero Fare, which provides free rides to low-income city residents. READ MORE: City funding is unclear for Zero Fare program giving SEPTA passes to low-income Philadelphians It would also continue the Key Advantage program that covers fares for city employees. Council members and transit advocates have pushed the administration to continue those programs, which were established under former Mayor Jim Kenney. Hotel tax increase to boost homeless services Parker is also expected to propose adding 1,000 beds to the citys network of homeless shelters, which would be a more than 30% increase over the citys current capacity. To fund the expansion, Parker is proposing increasing the hotel tax by 2% from 15.5% to 17.5%. Doing so would require authorization from both city and state lawmakers. Officials estimate increasing the tax would generate an additional $20 million a year. The city this year allocated $84.2 million to the Office of Homeless Services, which also receives millions of dollars each year in state and federal grant funding. The office is responsible for conducting outreach to people living on the street, and it disburses funding to a network of third-party housing providers and shelters. Parker has said she wants to make addressing rising homelessness a key administration initiative this year. Last year, there were 1,178 unsheltered people in the city, a 20% increase over the previous year , according to city data. In December, during her end-of-year State of the City speech, Parker signed an executive order to add shelter slots to the citys existing stock. The order directed city agencies to bolster outreach efforts to people living on the streets and to work with the Philadelphia Housing Authority to increase the number of people relocating from shelters into stable housing. More funding for Riverview recovery facility The proposal will also include an additional $200 million over five years for the citys Riverview Wellness Village, a city-owned recovery house the Parker administration opened last year in Holmesburg. More than 200 people recovering from addiction currently live in the facility, and residents can stay there for up to one year. READ MORE: A whole new life at Riverview: Inside Philadelphia's city-owned drug recovery home Most of that funding would come from dollars allocated to the city as part of settlement agreements with corporations that developed, marketed, and sold the powerful painkillers that fueled the yearslong opioid crisis. That includes $200 million from opioid manufacturers that settled with communities across the country, and the pharmacy giant Walgreens, which reached a separate $110 million settlement with the city in 2024. The city had already allocated $400 million to fund construction and operation at the facility. Parker has framed Riverview as a core part of her administrations effort to address the drug market in Kensington, where there has for years been sprawling homelessness and open drug use. No changes to plans for major taxes Parker is not proposing any major changes to the citys existing plans for its three largest sources of local revenue: wage, property, and business taxes. Nevertheless, wage and business tax rates would fall under her plan, and property tax bills would increase for most property owners. Last year, Council approved Parkers plan to adopt five years of incremental cuts to the city wage tax and 13 years of cuts to the business income and receipts tax, or BIRT. Parker and Council can alter those schedules at anytime to pause those reductions if the city encounters a cash crunch or to accelerate the cuts to reduce tax burdens more quickly. READ MORE: Why Mayor Cherelle Parker is asking Council to approve a tax cut that will take effect in 2038 But under Parkers proposal for the next budget, those scheduled rate cuts would continue as planned. Additionally, Parker is not proposing a change to the property tax rate. But many homeowners will receive higher tax bills because the city is reassessing all properties. Deputy Police Commissioner Pedro Rosario walks in the city's Kensington neighborhood in September. The city has launched a new data dashboard to track progress in the neighborhood on a variety of metrics, including crime and other quality-of-life indicators. Read more Mayor Cherelle L. Parkers administration is launching a new data dashboard for the citys Kensington neighborhood as a way for residents to track progress on crime, vacant property remediation, and other quality-of-life indicators. The city developed the dashboard, which was made available to the public on Tuesday, as a pilot program for real-time, neighborhood-level data about a range of city services. It will be used by city officials and is meant to be accessible to residents, and officials envision business owners and developers using the dashboard to identify parts of the city that are prime for investment. Advertisement Officials chose to first focus the tool on Kensington, where the Parker administration has increased law enforcement and social services in an effort to shut down the entrenched open-air drug market and address pervasive homelessness. There has simultaneously been gentrification there in recent years as development has pushed north from Fishtown. Kristin Bray, the mayors chief legal counsel and the leader of the data initiative, called Philly Stat 360, said the launch of the public dashboard is part of a new phase of the citys plan for Kensington geared toward empowering residents to take back the neighborhood after two years of an increased police presence. Some of the data compiled on the dashboard were already publicly available, such as crime rates and 311 requests. However, isolating the information by neighborhood would require users to visit multiple websites and comb through large datasets. Now, users can see a variety of data markers all in one place, including recent fire incidents, the number of beds available at behavioral health treatment facilities, and the locations of everything from vacant properties to crossing guards. One page on the dashboard addresses a long-held concern from some Kensington residents that people arrested for using drugs there had traveled to the neighborhood from outside the city. The tool shows the aggregate home addresses of inmates who were arrested in Kensington over the last year the vast majority of whom are from Philadelphia. Another tab allows users to see where code violations are piling up, an especially pervasive issue in Kensington, where real estate speculators have gobbled up properties and left them vacant. Were really giving the community members this data so they can advocate on behalf of themselves, Bray said, and so that the city can also see what is happening in the community in real time, so everyones operating from the same set of facts. Parker campaigned on improving access to city services, and she says often that she wants Philadelphians to see, touch, and feel the government at work. The dashboard rollout comes as the mayor is gearing up to deliver her annual budget proposal Thursday. In past years, she has unveiled new quality-of-life initiatives as part of her spending plan. The dashboard was developed using ArcGIS software created by the California-based firm Esri, which has worked with governments across the country on mapping and other geospatial technology. In Philadelphias case, Esris software pulls information from city departments in real time and maps it on the dashboard. Bray said the next step will be creating dashboards for Philadelphias other neighborhoods, which she hopes to do this year. It will not be as simple as replicating the Kensington datasets, which are specific to the needs of that neighborhood. Each community has its own problems, she said. Knowing what those problems are, and being able to map it and see where the issues are so you can target the intervention, can only help us to better serve residents. 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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 A Rhode Island man pleaded guilty this week to failing to report hundreds of thousands of dollars in income that he received from selling stolen catalytic converters to a local scrap yard. U.S. Attorney Charles C. Calenda reported that Daniel Rivera pleaded guilty to two counts of filing false tax returns in U.S. District Court in Providence. Rivera is scheduled to be sentenced on June. Charging documents reflect that from at least January 2021 until November 2022, Rivera and others searched neighborhoods and parking lots in Rhode Island and Massachusetts looking for unoccupied vehicles from which they could steal catalytic converters. Many of the stolen catalytic converters were sold to a Providence company that recycles them. Depending on the model and type of precious metal component, the average scrap price for catalytic converters ranged from $300 to $1,500. According to prosecutors, Rivera received approximately $59,890 from stolen catalytic converter sales in 2021 and $224,750 in 2022 but failed to report those amounts on his federal income tax returns. As a result, Riveras false filings caused tax losses of approximately $13,426 for the tax year 2021 and $55,930 for the tax year 2022. This is the latest development in a law enforcement campaign to disrupt catalytic converter theft rings. In April 2025, three other Rhode Island men were charged for their alleged roles in a conspiracy to steal and sell hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of catalytic converters. According to federal prosecutors, Kuron Mitchell, of Newport, Alberto Rivera, of Cranston, and Luis Aceituno, of Providence, were each charged with interstate transportation of stolen property in excess of $5,000 and conspiracy. Additionally, Aceituno was charged with filing false tax returns. Rivera allegedly sold 19 catalytic converters and received $7,100; and Aceituno allegedly sold 2,128 catalytic converters and received $699,735. Prosecutors further alleged that Aceituno failed to disclose to the IRS income of $699,735 from the sale of converters and failed to pay a total of $199,908 due to the IRS. A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Also, according to charging documents, in January 2022, the Cranston Police Department began tracking patterns surrounding the thefts of catalytic converters. Police later identified a group they alleged were responsible for more than 7,000 stolen catalytic converters in southern New England and in the greater Boston area, valued at more than $2.4 million. Last October, a man who orchestrated the thefts of catalytic converters from nearly 500 vehicles, multiple jewelry store robberies and the stealing of banks automated teller machines was sentenced in federal court in Boston. Topics Fraud A Virginia boater is suing a Washington water utility for negligence in the collapse of a pipe that leaked millions of gallons of raw sewage into the Potomac River. The class action lawsuit filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, Maryland, comes weeks after a January sewage pipe collapse, shooting wastewater out of the ground and into the river in an area just north of Washington, D.C. The spill is seen as a serious environmental blight and became the focus of political bickering between President Donald Trump and Democratic-led Maryland, where the leak occurred. Dr. Nicholas Lailas, M.D., the plaintiff, is a Virginia resident and recreational boat user on the Potomac who is seeking compensation for people whose property interests in and use and enjoyment of the Potomac River have been impaired by Defendants conduct. The lawsuit alleges that it was DC Waters responsibility as the owner and operator of the ruptured pipe, known as the Potomac Interceptor, to maintain it in a reasonably safe condition and to prevent foreseeable harm to persons and property. The lawsuit said that preliminary data indicates that there are thousands of people who own property or vessels in the affected parts of the Potomac. Andrew Levetown, an attorney for the plaintiff, said in an interview Monday that it will take time to get the full breadth of the class, with business owners, property owners and recreational users all having interest in the potential damages caused by the Jan. 19 collapse and leak. Youre going to have businesses who lose business because instead of sitting next to the Potomac, their clients are sitting next to the open sewer, he said. The suit did not specify a damage amount. DC Water spokesperson John Lisle said in a statement that the collapse of the Potomac Interceptor was a serious and unexpected event, and our teams remain focused on the response, environmental protection, and restoration efforts. Because this matter is currently subject to ongoing litigation, it would not be appropriate for us to comment further at this time. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser declared an emergency Feb. 18 and requested that President Donald Trump provide federal resources to help the city fight the leak that dumped 250 million gallons of raw sewage into the Potomac River in its early stages. The president approved the emergency assistance days later to help the city address the emergency. DC Water said it knew the pipe, first installed in the 1960s, was deteriorating, and rehabilitation work on a section about a quarter-mile (400 meters) from the break began in September and was recently completed. The pipe that ruptured was scheduled for repair this summer. DC Waters updates say the emergency repairs are beyond the halfway point and there are no flows into the river. At a public briefing last week, officials with the utility said they were assessing the cause of the rupture, including whether the way the pipeline was initially constructed contributed to the emergency. David Gadis, the CEO of DC Water, said at that briefing that while it was too early to say definitively, we are seeing indication that this incident may have been highly unusual. Photo: A warning sign is seen at the sight of a massive pipe rupture, as sewage flows into the Potomac River, right, in Glen Echo, Md., Jan. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen, FiLe) Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Virginia Multiple government agencies and the U.S. Coast Guard have been responding to a barge fire in the Delaware Bay since 8:20 a..m. yesterday. The barge is carrying salvage metal and has been moved to shallow water where it can be secured to allow responders on-scene to extinguish the fire and complete salvage operations, according to state officials. No injuries have been reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation. The Coast Guard reported that the barge is being towed to approximately two miles off Maurice River Cove, New Jersey, to remove the threat from the main ship channel, where firefighting efforts will continue. Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay has established a safety zone, issued a broadcast notice to mariners, and continues to mitigate the risks this fire poses to the port. In addition to the Coast Guard, multiple fire, police, and emergency departments and state agencies are on scene with the fireboats fighting the fire. The agencies responding include the Wilmington Fire Department, Delaware State Police, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, the New Castle County Office of Emergency Management, Kent County Department of Public Safety, the Delaware Emergency Management Agency and thePhiladelphia Fire Department. Topics Delaware Three vessels were hit by suspected projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz and Persian Gulf on Wednesday, one of the heaviest days of attacks since the Iran war began. A cargo vessel called Mayuree Naree was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, the Royal Thai Navy said. Star Bulk said its ship Star Gwyneth was also hit, as was a third vessel which is a container ship, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations Center. The Thai-flagged Mayuree Naree was struck shortly after departing the United Arab Emirates, according to the Thai navy. Oman rescued 20 crew members who abandoned ship and evacuated in a lifeboat, a Thai spokesman said. Three people are missing. UKMTO WARNING 019-26 UPDATE 001 Click here to view the full Warninghttps://t.co/JwxT8aIkIg pic.twitter.com/OLc0G5Q2Zb UKMTO Operations Centre (@UK_MTO) March 11, 2026 Traffic through the strait, a key chokepoint for energy and other exports, has virtually ground to a halt since the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran late last month, prompting the Islamic Republic to retaliate with attacks on ships and elsewhere in the region. The near-standstill has forced some of the biggest Gulf producers to lower oil output as storage tanks start to fill. There have been only a handful of days with three or more incidents, but also some with none, meaning Wednesday has been among the most intense period of attacks on merchant shipping in the region. UKMTO said the threat level remains critical. It comes as the US has promised naval escorts to secure shipping in the region but hasnt yet conducted any such operation. The White House on Tuesday refuted a since-deleted social media post by Energy Secretary Chris Wright that said the US Navy had escorted a tanker through the strait. Photograph: A navy vessel is seen sailing in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which much of the worlds oil and gas passes on March 1, 2026. Photo credit: Sahar Al Attar/AFP/Getty Images Related: Copyright 2026 Bloomberg. Topics Numbers A Thai-flagged cargo vessel was struck in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday shortly after departing from the United Arab Emirates, as regional tensions continue to disrupt one of the worlds most critical shipping lanes. Three people are missing. The ship, Mayuree Naree, a 30,000 deadweight-ton bulk carrier owned by Precious Shipping Pcl, was attacked while transiting the strategic waterway. Omans navy has rescued 20 crew members, who abandoned ship and evacuated in a lifeboat, and brought them ashore in Khasab, Thai navy spokesman Paraj Ratanajaipan said in a statement. The vessel was bound for Kandla on Indias west coast, the Indian government said in a statement that condemned the attack. International efforts are underway to recover three remaining crew members from the vessel, Paraj said, adding that the attack remains under investigation. Pictures shared by the Thai navy showed the ship billowing thick smoke from the rear section, where it was likely hit. Two projectiles of unknown origin struck the vessel, sparking a fire in its engine room, Precious Shipping said in a filing to the Stock Exchange of Thailand late Wednesday. Three crew members initially reported missing are believed to be trapped in the compartment, the company said, adding that it is working with authorities to rescue them. Precious Shipping which operates 41 vessels under Thai, Singaporean and Panamanian flags said it is coordinating with authorities to repatriate the crew members evacuated to Oman back to Thailand as soon as practicable. Omani officials reported that several crew members sustained injuries of varying severity. Mayuree Naree is covered by war-risk insurance, and Precious Shipping said it does not expect the incident to have a material financial impact or disrupt overall operations at this stage. No cargo was lost as the vessel was sailing in ballast, it said. Precious Shipping shares slid 7.3% to 6.95 baht ($0.22) at Wednesdays close. Following the attack, the Thai National Shippers Council said the incident could further escalate tensions in the region and disrupt shipping. It advised Thai shippers carrying non-urgent goods to bring their containers back to Thailand to save costs and avoid being stranded at sea. They may also change destination ports or temporarily store containers at transshipment ports, though these options may carry significantly higher costs. Mayuree Naree is the only Thai-flagged vessel remaining in the area, Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn told reporters. The other Thai ships have already passed through the Strait of Hormuz, he said. Weve moved beyond the most critical period. Only Mayuree Naree remains. Earlier Wednesday, the UK Navy said three ships were struck by suspected projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf, though it did not identify the ships. The incident comes amid heightened instability in the region. Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz a vital chokepoint for global energy exports has slowed sharply since US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran triggered retaliatory actions targeting shipping and regional infrastructure. Photograph: A tanker in the Strait of Hormuz on Feb. 25, 2026. Photo credit: Fadel Senna/AFP/Getty Images Related: Copyright 2026 Bloomberg. Topics Trucking Kansas lawmakers were set to take up a bill on Tuesday backed by Bayer BAYGn.DE that would prevent people from suing pesticide manufacturers for not warning them that their products could cause cancer or other illnesses, as the German company readies a potential $7 billion-plus settlement for thousands of lawsuits over the weedkiller Roundup. The Kansas legislation is one of about a dozen Bayer-supported bills introduced in state legislatures. It comes just weeks after the company announced a proposed $7.25 billion settlement that would resolve most of approximately 65,000outstanding lawsuits related to Roundup. Bayer acquired Roundup as part of its $63 billion purchase of agrochemical company Monsanto in 2018, and with it an avalanche of litigation from people who say the product caused them to develop cancer. The company is supporting state and federal legislative efforts to try to head off further Roundup-related litigation, a company spokesperson said. So far Bayer has had mixed success. Two bills have passed in North Dakota and Georgia; the outlook for the Kansas bill is uncertain. Opponents of the Kansas bill distrust the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys assessment that glyphosate pesticides such as Bayers Roundup product are not likely to cause cancer, while proponents fear that the widely used pesticide will be made more expensive or pulled from the market, negatively affecting many businesses in the heavily agricultural state. Ill wake up and Ill have over 400 emails and half of them are saying yes, half of them are saying no, said Democratic state senator Silas Miller, who sits on the agriculture committee. He had not decided how to vote when he spoke to Reuters. Kenny Titus, a Republican senator on the committee, said he was also inundated with emails both for and against the bill, but planned to oppose it. In an earnings call on March 4, the company reported a fourth-quarter net loss of about 3.76 billion euros ($4.4 billion), attributed in part to the cost of litigation. Bayer is also the defendant in a case before the Supreme Court, which is set to hear arguments in April on whether the company had a duty to warn customers that glyphosate could cause cancer. In Washington, the House Agriculture Committee on Thursday morning advanced a draft farm bill also supported by Bayer requiring uniform pesticide labels nationwide. If passed, it would bar local governments from requiring chemical companies to put health warnings on the labels of pesticide products that differ from language used by the EPA. In February, U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order to encourage more domestic production of glyphosate-based herbicides like Roundup. MAHA BLOWBACK The move has generated blowback from the so-called MAHA coalition, many of whom supported Trump in the 2024 election, and whose advocates are now in the administration including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Just as the large MAHA base begins to consider what to do at midterms, the President issued an Executive Order to expand domestic glyphosate production. The very same carcinogenic pesticide that MAHA cares about most, MAHA-affiliated pesticide activist Kelly Ryerson wrote on social media after the order was announced. Titus, who said many of his goals overlap with the MAHA movement, said that for his Republican colleagues, the split on pesticides among conservatives had put them in an interesting position. A Missouri state court judge last week preliminarily approved Bayers proposed $7.25 billion settlement of a nationwide class-action lawsuit brought by people who say Roundup caused them to contract non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The judge said he will hear objections from people affected before deciding in July whether to grant final approval. Topics Liability Kansas The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Tuesday it is seeking public comments on Amazon.comsself-driving unit Zoox to deploy up to 2,500 purpose-built, steering-wheel-free robotaxis. Zoox filed a petition in August seeking approval from the auto safety agency saying it would provide at least an equivalent level of safety to human-driven vehicles and need exemptions from eight federal vehicle safety standards written with human drivers in mind. This marks a major milestone towards providing the American AV industry with a streamlined pathway to scaled commercial deployment of novel AV fleets, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said at a forum Tuesday, adding he has approved NHTSAs next round of proposed revisions to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards to account for vehicles without human drivers. NHTSA has authority to grant petitions to allow up to 2,500 vehicles per manufacturer yearly to operate on U.S. roads without required human controls, but the agency has spent years reviewing several exemption petitions without taking action. Manufacturers must demonstrate vehicles without human controls provide an equivalent safety level and exemptions are in the public interest. Last year, NHTSA said it was streamlining reviews of requests filed by automakers seeking to deploy self-driving vehicles without required human controls like steering wheels, brake pedals or mirrors. Automakers previously expressed frustration with the agencys slow reviews of autonomous vehicles. Under the law, fully self-driving vehicles do not need NHTSA approval if they have required human controls. The Zoox fully autonomous electric robotaxi was unveiled in December 2020 and has a top speed of 75 miles per hour. It has campfire- or carriage-style seating. In 2018, GM GM.N petitioned NHTSA to deploy up to 2,500 cars without steering wheels or brake pedals on U.S. roads. In 2020, GM withdrew the petition and the Detroit automaker in 2022 again sought NHTSA approval to deploy vehicles without human controls but the petition was withdrawn in October 2024. Photo: Courtesy of Zoox The U.S. Justice Department is rolling out a policy across divisions to encourage companies to report criminal misconduct in exchange for reduced penalties and other benefits, according to a DOJ memo shared with Reuters on Tuesday. The policy, similar to one already offered by the DOJs criminal division in Washington, would for the first time apply across U.S. attorneys offices and divisions, except for antitrust cases. The change marks an effort to address criticism that cooperation benefits have been inconsistent in the past. The new policy, detailed in a memo published on Tuesday, will offer tiers of reduced penalties for companies that report criminal misconduct and cooperate with government investigators. Reuters was first to report the new policy. Well-intentioned businesses know that, across the Department, they will be rewarded when they self-disclose wrongdoing, cooperate with our investigations, and remediate the misconduct, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement. But for those that do not, make no mistake we will not hesitate to seek appropriate resolutions against companies and individuals alike that perpetrate white collar offenses that harm American interests. The DOJ will encourage prosecutors to decline prosecution of companies that report misconduct previously unknown to the DOJ and that fully cooperate, according to the memo. Those companies will have to pay restitution to victims and return ill-gotten gains, but will not be fined, nor be subject to a third-party monitor. For firms that report issues already known to the DOJ, prosecutors would offer a deal promising not to prosecute so long as certain conditions are met over a specific timeframe. They would also see penalties reduced by 50% to 75% and avoid monitorship, the memo said. Companies can receive discounted penalties of up to 50% in exchange for cooperation and remediation, even if they do not self report, the memo said. The new program will supersede similar policies that U.S. attorneys offices have had. Topics Fraud UBS urged a U.S. judge on Tuesday to shield it from new Holocaust-related litigation arising from an investigation of the former Credit Suisses activities during World War II. A lawyer for UBS asked U.S. District Judge Edward Korman in Brooklyn to issue a clarifying order that the $1.25 billion settlement reached in 1999 covered all claims, past, present and future related to the Holocaust, World War II, and their prelude and aftermath. Credit Suisse, which UBS bought in a Swiss government-arranged rescue in 2023, distributed the $1.25 billion to more than 458,000 Nazi victims and their families, according to court papers. UBS requested Kormans intervention after an investigation commissioned in 2020 by Credit Suisse uncovered additional ties between that bank, its predecessors and Nazis, including 890 accounts with potential Nazi links. The judge did not indicate when he would rule. UBS Wants Complete Closure During a 2-1/4-hour court hearing, UBS lawyer David Burns said the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Jewish human rights group, should not be permitted to reopen the settlement, promote public controversy about it, or file new claims as additional information surfaces about Credit Suisses relationship with Nazis. The Wiesenthal Center has from the outset made the very public and private claim that Nazi assets are not part of the settlement, and has threatened litigation, Burns said. UBS, he said, wanted complete closure. Faith Gay, a lawyer for the Wiesenthal Center, which endorsed the 1999 settlement, criticized UBS for seeking an advisory opinion that expands and reinterprets the settlement by releasing a range of claims as broad as the Grand Canyon. She also said there is no threat to sue. Theres nothing for you to decide, Gay told the judge, who oversaw the settlement. And yet theyve given us this proposed order that binds all parties. Gay also accused UBS of violating her clients free speech rights by trying to silence challenges to the settlements legitimacy, likening it to putting a sock in Simon Wiesenthals mouth. Investigator Found Accounts With Potential Nazi Links The dispute focuses in part on UBS resistance to turning over about 150 documents sought by Neil Barofsky, a lawyer conducting the investigation, and which the bank believes are protected by attorney-client privilege. UBS said it has turned over 16.5 million documents to Barofsky, and would give him the disputed documents if Korman issued an appropriate clarifying order. Barofsky is expected to finish his investigation this year. Korman said it was his recollection that Nazi assets never came up during settlement negotiations in 1999. He encouraged both sides to negotiate which documents could be turned over. The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee heard details about Barofskys investigation at a hearing last month. Its chairman, Republican Senator Charles Grassley, told reporters that holders of the 890 accounts included the German Foreign Office, which arranged the deportation of Jews to concentration camps, as well as the SS paramilitary organization and a German arms manufacturer. UBS and Credit Suisse have apologized for their roles in the Holocaust. Topics USA Legislation Fraud Liability The National Transportation Safety Board will hold a March 31 hearing to determine the probable cause of two fatal crashes involving Ford Motors hands-free advanced driver assistance system BlueCruise. Both crashes in 2024 involved 2022 model year Ford Mustang Mach-Es operating in the companys partial automation mode in 2024 rear-end crashes in which the Ford SUVs struck stationary vehicles at highway speeds in San Antonio and Philadelphia. The crashes pose serious questions the limitations of the system. The NTSB plans to vote on safety recommendations designed to prevent similar crashes in the future. Since 2025, both the NTSB and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have been investigating the use of BlueCruise to address questions about system limitations and to evaluate drivers ability to respond. BlueCruise is an advanced hands-free driving system that operates on 97% of U.S. and Canadian highways with no intersections or traffic signals. NHTSA in January 2025 upgraded its investigation to an engineering analysis. Ford said BlueCruise is used in 17 countries and in more than 500 million miles of highway travel. The automaker said in 2025 that 2.5 million vehicles were equipped with BlueCruise. BlueCruise is a convenience feature designed in accordance with industry standards for partial autonomy, and weve made thoughtful, deliberate product development and marketing choices to ensure our product is safe and clear to use, Ford said. In the San Antonio crash, a Ford on Interstate 10 struck a stationary 1999 Honda CR-V, killing the Honda driver; and in the Philadelphia crash, a Ford on Interstate 95 struck two stationary vehicles causing them to collide with a passing Toyota Corolla and the drivers of the Prius and Elantra were killed. The NTSB said in both crashes no driver-applied or system-initiated braking or steering was recorded in the moments before impact. The NTSB has opened several investigations in recent years into advanced driver assistance systems including Teslas Autopilot. In December 2023, electric car maker Tesla agreed to recall 2 million vehicles to install new safeguards for its Autopilot driver assistance system. Topics Personal Auto Louisiana already has its hands full catastrophe exposures in the form of hurricanes, floods and severe storms. Could earthquakes be next on the list? Northern Louisiana has been rattled by a series of earthquakes in the past week. First was a magnitude 4.9 earthquake on March 5 that struck near Coushatta and Edgefield. Then on March 9, four earthquakes between magnitudes 3.1 and 4.0 struck near Edgefield. The earthquakes were confirmed by the USGS. No damage has been reported from the earthquake, but shaking could be felt in Shreveport, according to WWLV. WWLV meteorologist Payton Malone said that the March 5 earthquake could be the strongest earthquake ever recorded on land in Louisiana. The cause of the earthquakes is still unknown. Cynthia Ebinger, a geosciences professor at Tulane University, told WBRZ that researchers have studied similar cases of earthquakes in Texas and Oklahoma and found they were caused my large amounts of wastewater injection typically associated with the oil and gas industry. Its possible that the increase is related to 10 to 15 years of increased volumes of wastewater injection, and its something that the state will look at, Ebinger told the news station. Standard homeowners insurance policies exclude coverage for damage caused by earth movement. Earthquake coverage must be added to a policy by endorsement. Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Louisiana Dallas attorney Chelsie Spencer specializes in making sure Texas businesses that sell hemp-derived THC products know how to stay in compliance with state and federal rules and regulations, an area that can be very confusing. She offers them a monthly service where her law firm rigorously vets distributors and helps to independently test their products to ensure they are safe and legal to sell in her clients stores. They pay us a phenomenal amount to stay compliant, Spencer said. That is why when Spencer learned that one of her North Texas clients had been raided by local police and the Drug Enforcement Administration, and his home surrounded, like he was a major narcotics dealer, she was shocked. They took everything from my clienthis childrens cellphones, every computer in the house, took all the vehicles, seized all assets, and froze all cash, Spencer said of the raid that occurred in July. Since August 2024, local and federal law enforcement agencies have raided more than 15 businesses across the state that were accused of selling consumable hemp products that had illegal levels of THC, according to attorneys for these cannabis retailers. During these raids, law enforcement officials seized products and cash that businesses have still not recovered, and customers were scared away. Many of those retailers have not yet been found guilty of any crime, according to their attorneys. You always see the headlines about the raids, but you never see these huge headlines about charges and indictments, said Andrea Steel, a Houston attorney for several THC businesses. Even though they have affected a small fraction of 8,000 hemp retailers registered in Texas, these raids by law enforcement agencies have ramped up over the last two years to help some lawmakers build public support for banning hemp-derived THC products, Steel said. Over the summer, Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed a bill the Legislature passed to ban hemp-derived THC and told state agencies to better regulate those THC products instead. But, she said her clients fear these types of raids will continue because the new regulations being considered could create THC limits that will be nearly impossible to meet, shuttering THC businesses and deterring businesses from selling THC products. The same number of raids are occurring after the veto as before. In fact, there will likely be an increase in raids once the new rules and regulations are finalized because one of them is an increase in licensing fees for enforcement; they are going to need to justify that, she said. Law enforcement agencies deny that these raids were politically motivated. They have said these raids were based on concerns that these retailers were selling dangerous products, especially to children, and engaging in other unscrupulous activities such as money laundering, according to a news conference from Allen police, as well as a joint one between Temple and Belton police departments. Allen Police Chief Steve Dyes, whose department raided at least a dozen businesses and warehouses since 2024, was a fixture at the Texas Capitol during the legislative session, warning lawmakers that the hemp industry was corrupt and couldnt be trusted. You have to have a trustworthy industry partner to regulate to know when they put something in a package, it matches the label. We just dont have that with the THC consumables industry, Dye said in September after Abbott vetoed the hemp ban and made an executive order for rules and regulations. Sammy Rippamonti, spokesperson for the Allen Police Department, said the investigation associated with the raids is still ongoing, and couldnt provide further details. Dye did not respond to a request for comment. The Temple Police Department does not conduct enforcement actions based on political developments or media narratives, said Sydney McBride, spokesperson for the Temple Police Department, which raided seven businesses in June. Our operations are driven by facts, evidence, and current applicable law. Our focus remains to work in partnership with the community to prevent, reduce, and solve crimes. Multiple retailers have sued law enforcement agencies after these raids, alleging they are using a faulty testing method in their crime labs that artificially inflates the amount of THC in their products. Law enforcement agencies have defended their results. Data provided from the Texas Poison Center Network confirms a sharp increase in cannabis-related poisoning calls starting in 2019, a year after hemp-derived THC was legalized by the federal government, from 923 to a 10-year high of 2,592 in 2024, although those calls dropped last year to 1,485. The majority of these calls involve suspected poisoning of children under the age of five and teenagers. The Texas Department of State Health Services recently published a set of proposed rules to tighten regulations on consumable hemp products, including new testing requirements that industry members say will eliminate the use of hemp flowers, which is used in many THC products. Hemp businesses worry that this new requirement will be used as another reason to raid them. That, coupled with a proposal to hike licensing fees by more than 13,000%, will force many of them out of business, essentially fulfilling the desires of those who wanted to ban them, businesses say. People dont know what the rules are. They dont know what is in effect at a certain time. I cant tell you how many people thought that hemp got outlawed several months ago, said Steel, who spoke recently at the Texas Cannabis Policy Conference, where increased police raids became a focus of discussion. There is overall confusion around regulations, and that is the biggest issue. Caught in political storm Spencer said last years raid saddled her client with crippling legal fees, disrupted revenue, and damaged his reputation. We heard a lot of posturing saying we know what these people are doing, theyre sending money back to the Middle East. The district attorney is giving all these threats, saying these guys are going to jail, then 60 days in, we get a call saying come get all your stuff, take it back. Were not moving forward, she said. We spent over $100,000 to get there. In August 2024, Allen police and partnering agencies raided nine hemp shops, prompting the Hemp Industry Leaders of Texas to sue, alleging that those law enforcement agencies illegally seized lawful inventory. The organization accused law enforcement in the lawsuit of aggressively harassing and intimidating retailers, including being told that the city was going to rezone certain areas in a manner that would prohibit hemp-related businesses. Although the lawsuit is still tied up in federal court, the Allen Police Department, supported by the DEA, in July raided three warehouses, seizing more than 75,000 pounds of THC products and an estimated $7 million in cash and assets. When asked by CBS News Texas, which Dye invited to cover the raid, if these raids were timed to pressure Abbott to allow the bill creating a ban to go into effect, Dye denied any connection. However, the news organization noted Dye headed straight to Austin after the raid to meet with Abbotts staff about the ban. The DEA department in Dallas told The Texas Tribune law enforcement agencies are still investigating their case against the businesses involved in the August 2024 and July 2025 raids, and no charges have been filed yet. Many of the raids over the last two years have resulted in lawsuits, and the hemp industry has had some success in obtaining some relief for businesses. Garza County Sheriffs Office and the city of Post agreed to pay an $80,000 settlement to a Texas smoke shop in October 2024, after the owners accused law enforcement of conducting a warrantless search. The city and county insisted the settlement wasnt an admission of wrongdoing, but rather to avoid the cost of litigation. State Rep. Drew Darby, a San Angelo Republican who once opposed hemp-derived THC but now supports it, told a room full of hemp businesses during the Texas Cannabis Policy Conference that he understands why politicians have a fear of THC products. He shared a story about a family friend whose grandchild became addicted to THC products. He also said rumors were circulating that these products were controlled by foreign enemies that seek to infiltrate our country. However, he knows that THC products can help elderly people with pain, children with epilepsy and seizures, and veterans with PTSD. He said lawmakers should focus on keeping these products legal and making them safer. So we have to keep diffusing that talk and focus on the real issues, he said. Testing and waiting Seven vape and smoke shops in Temple and Belton were also raided in mid-June 2025, with authorities seizing products they claimed were falsely labeled as legal hemp. Documents provided by the Temple Police Department state that the multi-agency investigation into these vape shops involved purchasing and testing items from these stores, where the flower product, such as joints, tested above the legal limit for THC. Six of the shop owners were charged with manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance, and one shop owner was charged with manufacture, delivery, and possession of marijuana, five to 50 pounds. Temple police say these charges have not been adjudicated yet. Multiple lawsuits by hemp businesses allege these raids are based on faulty testing methods that the Texas Forensic Science Commission cautioned against in 2022. The commission says the method actually produces more THC than is in the product. In other words, a plant or liquid item of evidence containing CBD can arrive at the laboratory with a certain amount of (Delta 9 THC), and that amount can be increased by high heat used in the testing process, the commission stated in the report. These faulty testing methods have been used in private and public crime labs across the state, including those used by the Texas Department of Public Safety, according to the HILT lawsuit. McBride said that for its forensic analysis, the Temple Police Department utilizes laboratories operated by the Texas Department of Public Safety and laboratories approved by DPS. We stand behind the laboratory results provided by DPS and its approved affiliate laboratories, she said. Enforcement decisions are made based on the totality of the evidence, including verified forensic findings. Peter Stout, president and chief executive officer for the Houston Forensic Science Center, agrees that many crimes labs across the state dont have a good method right now to test THC levels, but they also dont have enough funding for training on how to do proper testing and more importantly, they dont have the time to test cannabis, which is often associated with lower level crimes. I cant with a straight face justify all the costs associated with standing up the capacity to test everything that law enforcement might seize from a dude on the street corner with something green in his pocket. So, no, I am not going to test that. I am equipped with one analyst and one piece of equipment. We deal with it for the large felony kinds of cases, he said at the cannabis conference. Stout said the counties that want to prosecute low level THC cases most likely will need to use independent laboratory testers, which can cost $10,000 for each test. However, many local prosecutors dont have access to that kind of funding, and they send their evidence to the Texas Department of Public Safety crime lab, which is so backlogged that it can take months for the results to return. Some of those products that were raided get held up in crime lab testing, becoming inventory that these businesses cant sell, which hurts their bottom line, Steel said. I had a client whose business was raided; they seized a substantial portion of their inventory, disrupting their business, based on an outdated test, she said. Preparing for the future When the state health department recently entered Martha Velezs hemp retail store in Dallas to conduct an inspection, her staff was prepared. She had a binder prepared for everything the agency might be looking for that included certifications, compliance documents, and more and once they found nothing, the agency left. Her store has been visited multiple times by state agencies over the past two years, and each time it passed due to a level of preparation necessary in an industry under intense scrutiny of local law enforcement and state lawmakers. Velez said she feels a responsibility to ensure she protects her customers by going above and beyond normal business practices. The raids in Dallas were hard for us. We decided to keep that mini binder that had excerpts highlighted, like what is the law in regards to flower? What is the law regarding the .3%?, she said at the Texas Cannabis Policy Conference, referring to the legal amount of THC allowed in consumable hemp products. Just to be prepared. One of the inadvertent side effects of these raids has been the hemp industry starting to self police as they wait for new state regulations to be adopted. At the Texas Cannabis Policy Conference, there were panels on how to have documents ready for law enforcement, conduct background checks on products, protect oneself in court, and more. Steel expects that once the state finalizes regulations, there will be another spike in raids on hemp stores. She encouraged businesses to mitigate risk from future raids and regulatory changes by keeping inventory small. Dont keep something you cant get rid of on short notice because there are just too many things changing rapidly, she said. You have to be ready to pivot. Velez said that while the raids have been rough on the industry, there still seems to be an appetite among law enforcement and the hemp industry to understand each other, and if that can be accomplished, then the industry can thrive. Funny thing was, we had this one big event, and there were like four officers there who talked to us the entire time, wanting to get educated, she said. This article first appeared on The Texas Tribune. Photo: Ernesto Garcia-Dealba checks on a hemp plant before harvest at Hometown Heros farm in San Antonio on October 17, 2025. Manoo Sirivelu/The Texas Tribune Topics Texas Law Enforcement Cannabis Unconditional payments payments made without condition or reservation of rights, such as settlement offers restart the clock on the standard two-year prescriptive period for Louisiana first-party insurance claims, the state high court ruled last week. The prescriptive period is interrupted by unconditional payments even if an insurer goes insolvent and the claim is transferred to the Louisiana Insurance Guaranty Association (LIGA), Justice Cade R. Cole ordered. In the underlying case, Southern Fidelity Insurance Company (SFIC) made an unconditional tender on a Hurricane Ida property damage claim in March 2022. In June, a Florida court placed SFIC in receivership, and the insurer became insolvent. On August 28, 2023, plaintiffs filed a petition for damages and breach of contract, incorrectly naming Louisiana Citizens as defendant. On October 24, 2023, more than two years after Hurricane Ida struck, plaintiffs filed an amended petition substituting LIGA for Louisiana Citziens. LIGA argued that the two-year deadline to file action against the association had expired. Because there was no relationship between LIGA and Louisiana Citizens, the plaintiffs amended petition did not relate back to the original filing, making the claim prescribed, LIGA said. A trial court denied LIGAs exception. The Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal heard LIGAs petition, but a five-judge panel held that the two-year deadline for suit against LIGA commenced on the date of SFICs liquidation. One judge dissented, arguing that prescription should run from the date of loss irrespective of insolvency. Reviewing the case, the Louisiana Supreme Court affirmed the court of appeals denial of LIGAs exception of prescription but on different grounds. Under Louisiana law, LIGA receives all the rights of the insolvent insurer as if the insurer had not become insolvent. One of those rights is the SFICs two-year limitation period to bring a lawsuit. [W]ithout any suspension or interruption of prescription, a suit against LIGA in this case would have had to be filed within two years of Hurricane Idas landfall, and this suit would be deemed untimely, Justice Cole wrote. The story doesnt end there, however. To determine the timeliness of the plaintiffs petition, the court also looked at whether the prescriptive period was interrupted or suspended. For guidance, the court turned to previous rulings involving third-party damage claims and claims made pursuant to uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance policies. In both instances, the court held that an unconditional payment of a claim constitutes an acknowledgment sufficient to interrupt prescription. Many federal courts have already extended these holdings to also find an unconditional payment interrupts prescription in a first-party insurance claim, the court noted. Because SFIC made an unconditional payment on the Hurricane Ida claim in March 2022, the insurer interrupted the two-year period set forth in the policy, making the plaintiffs amended petition, filed on October 24, 2023, timely. The court specified that the holding is limited to unconditional payments. A payment made in settlement of a claim would not interrupt prescription, nor would a partial payment under protest, the court held. On a separate matter, the court acknowledged LIGAs issue of whether the plaintiffs, as children of the named insured, have a right of action against LIGA under the SFIC policy. The court directed those questions to be addressed by the trial court. The full opinion can be found here. Photo: Nathan Fabre checks on his home and boat destroyed by Hurricane Ida, Sunday, Sept. 5, 2021, in Lafitte, La. AP Photo/John Locher Topics Claims Louisiana Florida lawmakers who say they want to encourage construction of more affordable housing are trying to strip away powers Miami has used for decades to keep developments, strip malls and warehouses out of the Everglades. A land-use bill, HB 399, that passed the Florida House on March 3 and is being considered by the states senate calls for studying the possible elimination of the 78-mile-long Urban Development Boundary, which has delineated where Miami ends in the west and the Everglades begins since 1983. The senate is expected to vote on the measure on Wednesday. The Everglades are a vast subtropical wetland that behaves like a giant sponge, soaking up floodwaters and filling an underground lake that supplies drinking water to about 9 million people. Building in the Everglades would curb its capacity to absorb excessive rainfall and threaten the regions supply of fresh water, conservationists say. Bill Allowing More Development in Contaminated Lands on its Way to Governor The Florida House on Tuesday approved Senate Bill 1434 , which would require local governments to allow more residential development on contaminated or brownfield land of more than five acres in south Floridas congested counties. The Legislature finds that this states urban areas lack sufficient land for the development of additional residential uses, which has led to a shortage of supply; that parcels of land within or near urban areas are difficult to develop or redevelop because of environmental issues and local regulations, reads the bill, which was sponsored by Sen. Alexis Calatayud, R-Miami. The House on Tuesday endorsed the measure by a vote of 87-34, just days after the Senate passed it 36-0. If signed into law, the plan could open up new areas for housing and property insurance but could create questions for underwriters and insurance agents placing homeowner policies on once-contaminated lands. A legislative analysis of the bill can be seen here This legislation is a threat to the open land we need for the future, said Rachel Silverstein, who heads Miami Waterkeeper, an environmental advocacy group. Without high hurdles, we will pave over our Everglades, wetlands and farm land, threatening our drinking water supply and worsening flooding issues. To build beyond the line, developers currently need the backing of nine of Miami-Dade Countys 13 commissioners. The new legislation would lower that threshold to a simple majority. Opponents say the measure could also make it more difficult for towns and counties in other parts of Florida to enforce similar boundaries to shield wetlands and agricultural land from sprawl, extending a recent pattern of state leaders eroding local control of zoning, schools and other issues. Since Ron DeSantis became governor in 2019, the Florida Legislature has stripped powers from towns and counties, including blocking local leaders from banning plastic straws, forcing conservative agendas on public schools, and requiring local police to round up immigrants. Theres been multiple versions of these preemptive bills, which take our powers away, said state Representative Anna Eskamani, a Democrat who represents parts of Orange County and Orlando. In 2024, 73% of Orange County voters approved a boundary protecting rural areas from higher-density development. If approved and signed into law, the land-use bill could throw that boundary into doubt. At least 20 counties in Florida have similar measures to restrict sprawl that could be weakened by the bill. The law goes against what my constituents want, Eskamani said in an interview. The bills sponsor, Republican Representative David Borrero, said his proposal would yield more affordable housing. If you let the free market work, youre going to substantially reduce the cost of housing, Borrero, who represents Hialeah, a dense, heavily Hispanic city in Miami-Dade County, said during debate on the measure. Borrero didnt respond to requests for comment. Advocates of maintaining the boundary, however, reject that notion. Laura Reynolds, the science director of the Hold the Line Coalition, an environmental advocacy group, said homes built in the area would be far from work places and need costly taxpayer-funded infrastructure like new roads. The legislation has triggered a wave of lobbying. Thirty-six cities, counties, advocacy groups, developers and builders have lobbyists registered to work on the bill. The list includes billionaire Joe Lewiss Tavistock, whose Lake Nona development is Orlandos largest, home to 64,000 people. A representative for Tavistock declined to comment for this article. Home builder Lennar Corp. has built multiple housing developments near the Everglades in the past few years, and its chief executive officer, Stuart Miller, said Miamis urban boundary is antiquated and need to be revised. Lennar has been engaged in discussions about the issue for years, he said. I generally believe hard-fast rules that live for many, many, many years probably outlive their benefit, Miller said. Lennar, he said, has an interest in expanding the ability of housing to be expanded so that more people can afford housing. Not all developers want to get rid of the restrictions. In Miami, billionaires Jorge Perez and Armando Codina have publicly opposed the idea as a threat to smart planning and preserving drinking water. The line is not an obstacle to progress; it is a guardrail protecting Floridas future, Codina wrote in an op-ed in the Miami Herald last month. Top photo: Urban sprawl next to protected wetlands on the fringes of Everglades National Park in Miami Dade County, Florida, in 2021. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images/Bloomberg) Copyright 2026 Bloomberg. Topics Florida Almost one year ago, an Alabama dentist was captured on surveillance video setting fire to his dental office in Evergreen, triggering an explosion that destroyed the building and slightly injured the dentist. Last week, Dr. Douglas P. OConnor was sentenced to 15 years in prison. He will likely serve three years behind bars, the Alabama attorney general said. Alabamians put their trust in doctors to do no harm. Dr. OConnor shattered that trust in the most deliberate way possible. He set fire to his own practice, endangered the lives of those next door and attempted to defraud his insurance company to cover years of reckless spending, Attorney General Steve Marshall said in a statement. The explosion and the January 2026 arrest of OConnor surprised many in the south-central Alabama community. Residents noted that the dental practice, in operation for two decades, was very successful, OConnor was considered a nice guy and was involved in the community. But investigators with the state Fire Marshals office, the state Department of Insurance and local police spent 10 months probing the blast. Prosecutors said the fire had been deliberately set and that the dentist was heavily in debt. The dental practice was next door to an Alabama State Troopers office, which sustained some $63,000 in damage from the fire and explosion, the AGs office noted. Surveillance video from nearby offices, which was not made public until recently, showed OConnor entering the building repeatedly late at night, then striking a match and throwing it inside, causing the explosion, Marshall explained. Forensic testing later showed gasoline on OConnors clothing, the AG explained. The dentist pleaded guilty Feb. 3. He was allowed to remain out on bond while considering an appeal, according to local news reports. Topics Alabama If all goes according to plan for the nations second-largest sovereign wealth fund, a barren stretch of desert in Albuquerques plains will soon become a research center where scientists replicate nuclear fusion the process that powers the sun and stars. The $1 billion project from startup Pacific Fusion seeks to unlock a new energy source, a bold goal for experimental technology thats years away from practical breakthroughs. That didnt stop the New Mexico State Investment Council, the sovereign wealth fund investing the states oil and gas revenues, from telling the firm to build big. When Pacific Fusion worried whether private capital in the state would support its ambitions to create commercially viable power by fusing light atoms, the oil fund said cash would come. Punctuating its point, the wealth fund dispensed hundreds of millions across venture funds committed to developing fusion in the state. Its part of a bid to revive returns at a private equity initiative that one state official called one of the most expensive economic development programs in New Mexico history. The states wealth fund overhauled the program it drove for years and rolled out a new venture capital push focused on its backyard. Its now ramping up investments in a wave of venture firms angling to find the next big innovator in defense, advanced tech and energy, and encouraging them to invest in New Mexico. While the state-focused program represents just a piece of a roughly $70 billion pool of money, the stakes are high. The sovereign wealth funds assets underpin more than 20% of New Mexicos spending needs including public education services and the states rollout of universal childcare. Investment programs that target in-state businesses have historically delivered mixed returns, underscoring the risks when political and investment considerations collide. The largest U.S. sovereign wealth fund, Alaskas oil fund, in 2023 began phasing out its version after officials decided it wasnt the best use of capital. Still, others such as Marylands pension have recently earmarked funds to invest in local businesses and state infrastructure. For its part, New Mexicos wealth fund says it now expects all managers to prioritize returns and doesnt require venture capital funds it invests with to back state businesses if they cant turn a profit. Programs tend to not work when theyre not set up to make money, Chris Cassidy, the wealth funds director of private equity and venture, said in an interview. We want the financial returns as well as economic impact. Beyond Software In the past three years, the New Mexico State Investment Council has doled out $1.8 billion to dozens of venture capital funds interested in investing in the state. One out of every $5 it puts into private equity has gone towards the effort since late 2022. The wealth funds latest state-focused investments delivered a 7.3% net internal rate of return by late last year. It will take years before the bets mature. How New Mexicos Post-2019 State Bets Are Faring | The oil funds new initiative has beat one global public markets index but underperformed two US stock indices so far. The states deepening investment in defense comes as the US-Israeli attacks against Iran portend a bigger role for the sector. President Donald Trump is also advocating for advanced tech and energy as tools to win the technological race against China. Plus, his push to move critical supply chains to US shores is accelerating a yearslong shift in Silicon Valleys focus beyond software, and into capital-intensive businesses, heavy industry and data centers another potential boon for states like New Mexico with land and resources. In New Mexico, the test lies in whether the campaign can mint returns even if markets and political tides turn. The program is concentrated in younger companies and tilted to industry sectors it handpicked. Case in point: fusion energy, which the Trump administration has championed but remains commercially untested. In 2022, scientists in California achieved fusion ignition the first demonstration that lab-made fusion reactions could produce more energy than it took to start the process. But the road to turning that fraction-of-a-second breakthrough hailed by the government as one of the most impressive scientific feats of the 21st century into a reliable energy source remains uncertain. No fusion power plants exist. Three-year-old Pacific Fusion is among dozens of companies seeking to commercialize fusion energy. Nobody really knows what its going to cost, said Steve Koonin, a theoretical physicist and senior fellow at Stanford Universitys Hoover Institution. You have to be patient and you have to be risk tolerant to invest in this stuff. New Mexico is willing to make the bet. We think the state has a right to win, said Cassidy, who was elevated to his current position in 2022. The National Interest Back in 1991, New Mexicos oil fund began setting aside money to stimulate its local economy on top of the regular business of investing across a mix of stocks, bonds and other global wagers. New Mexico has long attracted less private equity money than dozens of other US states, and its gross domestic product has also trailed neighbors. For years, the fund tried to boost New Mexico by leaning into the buy local mantra and channeling sizeable investments through Sun Mountain Capital, a state-based asset manager that invests private assets, including venture capital. The Santa Fe firm says it was proud to deliver returns while it was an adviser to the program. But for the oil fund, state-focused investments made prior to 2019 have struggled, with the fund losing money on more than $500 million in past bets. It was an economic failure, and it was a fiscal failure, New Mexico State Investment Officer Jon Clark said of the program in August. It lost us a lot of money, and we got very, very little economic productivity out of that. By then, the investment council had hired an outside adviser to restructure the program. In place of rigid headquarters requirements, it searched out venture bets with the potential to thrive in New Mexico, according to Cassidy. While casting a broader net for managers, officials zeroed in on sectors like aerospace and advanced manufacturing where they thought the state had an edge. It houses two major Department of Energy laboratories Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories as well as the spaceport where Richard Branson-founded Virgin Galactic conducts space tourism flights. Those facilities and New Mexicos wide-open desert land make the state fertile ground for defense startups seeking to rival established firms for Pentagon contracts. At the same time, defense startups are becoming a central plank of a venture capital trade focused on shoring up the defense-industrial base, which Andreessen Horowitz has dubbed American dynamism. Once shunned by Silicon Valley, weapons developers are hot tickets as the Trump administration doles out contracts for kamikaze drones in Ukraine, the planned multibillion-dollar Golden Dome missile interception system, and potentially new defenses for escalating Middle East conflict. The state investment council jumped on the national security movement early. In 2022, it backed Americas Frontier Fund, co-founded by Gilman Louie, who formerly led In-Q-Tel, the venture firm founded by the CIA. The oil fund later plunked down a founding investment in Roadrunner Venture Studios which Louie championed and the state picked the Albuquerque-based firm to help launch a quantum venture studio. Hypersonic Missiles New Mexicos ambition was on full display as defense startup Castelion broke ground on its 1,000-acre manufacturing site in Sandoval County on a bright January morning. Decked out in hard hats, Castelion executives, the governor and other local and military officials drove shovels into the desert. A representative for the state wealth fund attended. Behind them, excavators and bulldozers flew by on dirt roads. The California-based company, founded by former SpaceX engineers, aims to scale production of hypersonic strike weapons at its new facility, now expected to be the nations largest such site. Hypersonic systems, which are highly nimble and can fly faster than the speed of sound, have emerged as a critical asset for the US military as adversaries like Russia and China ramp up their own similar capabilities. The oil fund is invested in it through Lightspeed Venture Partners. When Castelion began a nationwide search for the location of its manufacturing campus just over a year ago, New Mexicos wealth fund launched a charm offensive. The investment council assured the young company of the capital it could facilitate, and the local spaceport provided behind-the-scenes encouragement. Meanwhile, New Mexico state and local governments hit the gas on regulatory approvals. The project faced some local opposition: Michael Farrell, a resident in Sandoval County, told local officials in November that theyre asking us to build the road, send the water and shoulder the long-term risks to our aquifer, our safety, our health and possibly declining home values near Project Ranger. But just days later, Castelion announced that the same county would be home to its newest hypersonic missiles factory. It promised at least 300 jobs in the state and over $650 million in economic output over the next decade. In December, the startup announced that it had closed a $350 million funding round, co-led by Lightspeed. What we are building here in New Mexico is absolutely core, Castelion co-founder and chief financial officer Andrew Kreitz said. It is, I would say, very congruent with what the administration is working to do to revitalize the defense industrial base. Unimaginably Good The wealth fund used a similar playbook with Pacific Fusion. The California-based startup had been deciding between building in two cities in its home state but then New Mexico entered the picture. While the California cities were courting Pacific Fusion, venture capital executives introduced the startup to the New Mexico governors economic development adviser, who brokered an introduction to the investment council. Officials impressed upon the California startup the merits of building in New Mexico, and the wealth fund accelerated investments in fund managers that pledged to help build its fusion industry. In August, a slew of new commitments included checks to Lowercarbon Capital, DCVC and Lightspeed all of which have invested in Pacific Fusion. Meanwhile, New Mexico came through with an incentive package of about $10 million and tax abatements on up to $776 million of equipment and facilities for Pacific Fusion over time. In September, the startup announced it would build its research facility in New Mexico, where it has worked with Sandia National Laboratories. That same month, the Trump administration announced a slew of funding programs to accelerate fusion energy. Pacific Fusion expects the project to bring hundreds of advanced energy jobs to the state, co-founder Carrie von Muench said, adding that the firm looks forward to expanding its economic impact and is following through with its plan. At a public meeting, New Mexico State Investment Council officials said if Pacific Fusion didnt pan out, it would just be one deal in a diversified portfolio and the potential upside would be huge. Its unimaginably good in terms of an opportunity for New Mexico, said Bruce Brown, head of the oil funds strategic climate initiatives. This is like nothing I have ever seen. Top photo: Virgin Galactics VMS Eve carries the VSS Unity on takeoff from Spaceport America. Photographer: David Lienemann/Getty Images. Topics InsurTech Tech Mexico AFC Gamma, Inc. NASDAQ: AFCG AFC Gamma, a commercial mortgage REIT, provides $10-100 million loans to state-licensed cannabis operators in the U.S. In 2025, it expands its 14-loan portfolio across 15 states, leveraging U.S. rescheduling to reduce banking barriers. Its diversified lending model positions AFC Gamma to capitalize on the $57 billion U.S. cannabis market, offering stable returns despite industry volatility. AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF NYSEARCA: YOLO The AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF tracks U.S.-focused cannabis companies, with top holdings like Curaleaf and Green Thumb. In 2025, with a 0.76% expense ratio, it benefits from Schedule III rescheduling, boosting investor interest. Its focus on cultivators and retailers positions YOLO to capture growth in the $57 billion U.S. market, offering diversified exposure. Alliance Growers Corp. CSE: ACG.CN OTCQB: ALGWF Alliance Growers develops cannabis production and distribution through its Four Pillars strategy, focusing on cultivation and branding. In 2025, it leverages Canada's recreational market and U.S. rescheduling for export potential. Note: Verify trading status due to low liquidity. Its partnerships position Alliance to tap into the $200 billion global cannabis market, despite small-cap risks. Amplify Alternative Harvest ETF NYSEARCA: MJ The Amplify Alternative Harvest ETF tracks global cannabis companies, with holdings like Tilray and Innovative Industrial Properties. In 2025, with a 0.75% expense ratio, it capitalizes on U.S. rescheduling and EU medical cannabis growth. Its diversified portfolio positions MJ to benefit from the $200 billion global market, appealing to investors seeking broad exposure. American Cannabis Company, Inc. OTC: AMMJ American Cannabis Company offers consulting and cultivation solutions, including its "Her Highness" brand for female consumers. In 2025, it expands in Colorado, leveraging U.S. rescheduling to enhance licensing services. Its American Cultivator Company supports growers with equipment, positioning AMMJ to capitalize on the $57 billion U.S. market, despite penny stock volatility. American Green, Inc. OTC: ERBB American Green, a pioneer since 2009, focuses on cannabis cultivation, retail, and smart vending systems. In 2025, it expands branded products and vending solutions, leveraging U.S. rescheduling. With over 50,000 shareholders, its cultivation partnerships position it for the $200 billion global market, though penny stock risks persist. Aurora Cannabis Inc. NASDAQ: ACB TSX: ACB.TO Aurora Cannabis, a global producer, focuses on medical and recreational cannabis in Canada and Europe. In 2025, it leverages a $5.97 stock surge (web ID: 1) and Q2 2025 results to expand EU medical sales. Its Whistler Medical Marijuana acquisition enhances premium offerings, positioning Aurora for the $200 billion market. Auxly Cannabis Group Inc. TSX: XLY.TO OTCQB: CBWTF Auxly Cannabis holds a 5% Canadian market share, producing premium vape and pre-roll products. In 2025, it leverages a 34% gross margin and $123.4 million debt conversion by Imperial Brands to expand. Auxly's innovative formats position it for Canada's recreational market and U.S. rescheduling growth. Body and Mind Inc. CSE: BAMM.CN Body and Mind cultivates and retails cannabis from its 20,000 sq. ft. Nevada facility. In 2025, it expands U.S. dispensaries, leveraging Schedule III rescheduling for medical cannabis access. Its focus on quality extracts positions it to meet demand in the $57 billion U.S. market, despite small-cap volatility. Botanix Pharmaceuticals Ltd. ASX: BOT.AX Botanix Pharmaceuticals develops cannabinoid-based treatments for skin conditions like acne. In 2025, it advances clinical trials, leveraging U.S. rescheduling to expand medical applications. Its pharmaceutical-grade products position Botanix to tap into the $200 billion global cannabis market, offering a unique medical sector play. Canopy Growth Corporation TSX: WEED.TO NASDAQ: CGC Canopy Growth, a global leader, produces diversified cannabis products. In 2025, it leverages a 16.14% stock surge (web ID: 14) and Q2 2025 results to expand EU and U.S. medical cannabis via its $229 million Hexo acquisition. Canopy's scale positions it for the $57 billion U.S. market. The Cannabist Company Holdings Inc. CBOE CA: CBST OTCQX: CBSTF The Cannabist Company operates 125 U.S. dispensaries and cultivation facilities. In 2025, despite a 79% stock drop, its low price-to-sales ratio and revenue growth position it for upside post-rescheduling. Brands like Seed & Strain target the $57 billion U.S. market, balancing growth with regulatory risks. Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc. NASDAQ: REFI Chicago Atlantic, a commercial mortgage REIT, provides loans to U.S. cannabis operators, addressing banking constraints. In 2025, it expands its portfolio post-rescheduling, reducing IRS 280E tax burdens. Its focus on institutional lending positions REFI for stable returns in the $57 billion U.S. market. Cresco Labs Inc. CSE: CL.CN OTCQX: CRLBF Cresco Labs manages 70 U.S. dispensaries across 10 states. In 2025, it leverages Schedule III rescheduling to expand medical cannabis, targeting $1.3 billion in revenue. Its quality focus positions Cresco to capture share in the $57 billion U.S. market, despite regulatory hurdles. Cronos Group Inc. NASDAQ: CRON TSX: CRON.TO Cronos Group, backed by Altria's $1.8 billion stake, invests in brands like PEACE NATURALS. In 2025, it expands its portfolio, leveraging U.S. rescheduling for medical cannabis sales. Despite SEC fraud allegations (web ID: 16), Cronos' diversification positions it for the $200 billion global market. Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. TSX: CURA.TO OTCQX: CURLF Curaleaf, the largest U.S. cannabis company by revenue ($1.3 billion), operates 150+ dispensaries. In 2025, a 44% stock jump post-HHS rescheduling (web ID: 24) fuels medical and recreational expansion. Curaleaf's scale positions it to dominate the $57 billion U.S. market, despite valuation risks. Delta 9 Cannabis Inc. TSX: DN.TO OTC: DLTNF Delta 9 operates a 95,000 sq. ft. facility in Winnipeg, producing cannabis and grow pods. In 2025, a 70% stock surge (web ID: 17) reflects penny stock momentum. Delta 9's retail and wholesale channels position it for Canada's recreational market and U.S. rescheduling, despite volatility. Green Thumb Industries Inc. CSE: GTII.CN OTCQX: GTBIF Green Thumb operates 90 U.S. dispensaries, generating $194.4 million in Q1 2021 revenue. In 2025, it expands into Virginia, leveraging rescheduling for medical cannabis growth. Its innovation focus positions Green Thumb to capture share in the $57 billion U.S. market, balancing regulatory risks. IM Cannabis Corp. CSE: IMCC.CN NASDAQ: IMCC IM Cannabis focuses on medical cannabis in Israel and Germany, exiting Canada. In 2025, a 31% stock surge (web ID: 10) and Q1 2024 results drive EU expansion. IMC's data-driven approach positions it for growth in Europe's medical cannabis market, despite small-cap volatility. Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. NYSE: IIPR Innovative Industrial Properties, a REIT, leases properties to U.S. cannabis operators, with a $6.81 billion market cap. In 2025, it expands its portfolio post-rescheduling, reducing banking barriers. Its stable dividends position IIPR as a low-risk play in the $57 billion U.S. market. Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc NASDAQ: JAZZ Jazz Pharmaceuticals develops cannabinoid-based medicines, including Epidiolex for epilepsy, via its $6.7 billion GW Pharmaceuticals acquisition. In 2025, it leverages U.S. rescheduling to expand medical applications, targeting neurological disorders. Jazz's pharmaceutical focus positions it for growth in the $200 billion global cannabis market. National Access Cannabis TSXV: NAC.V National Access Cannabis operates care centers and retail stores in Canada, providing access to licensed producers. In 2025, it explores U.S. opportunities post-rescheduling, focusing on patient education. Note: Verify trading status due to low liquidity. Its network positions NAC for Canada's market and global growth. OrganiGram Holdings Inc. NASDAQ: OGI TSX: OGI.TO OrganiGram, a Canadian producer, offers cannabis products with a 2020 Canndoc Ltd. deal. In 2025, it expands multi-province facilities, leveraging U.S. rescheduling for exports. OrganiGram's quality focus positions it for growth in the $200 billion global market, despite competitive pressures. SinglePoint, Inc. OTC: SING SinglePoint acquires cannabis-related companies, offering mobile payments and CBD via SingleSeed. In 2025, it leverages U.S. rescheduling to expand blockchain-integrated dispensary solutions. Its diversified portfolio positions SinglePoint for the $57 billion U.S. market, though penny stock volatility remains a concern. SNDL Inc. NASDAQ: SNDL SNDL, a Canadian retailer and producer, operates 180+ stores. In 2025, it leverages 2022 restructuring to expand recreational sales, targeting U.S. entry post-rescheduling. SNDL's scale positions it for Canada's market and the $200 billion global industry, balancing growth with regulatory risks. SpeakEasy Cannabis Club Ltd. CSE: EASY.CN SpeakEasy Cannabis produces premium cannabis on a 290-acre British Columbia facility. In 2025, it leverages Canada's recreational market and U.S. rescheduling for exports. Its legacy growing expertise positions SpeakEasy to meet demand in the $200 billion global market, despite competition. TerrAscend Corp. CSE: TSND.CN OTCQX: TRSSF TerrAscend operates 30 U.S. dispensaries with brands like The Apothecarium. In 2025, its $10.3 million Ohio acquisition (web ID: 16) and rescheduling drive medical cannabis expansion, targeting $1 billion in revenue. TerrAscend's operations position it for the $57 billion U.S. market. Tilray Brands, Inc. NASDAQ: TLRY TSX: TLRY.TO Tilray, the largest cannabis company post-Aphria acquisition, operates globally. In 2025, its $229 million Hexo acquisition and U.S. rescheduling drive EU and U.S. expansion, targeting a $100 billion opportunity (web ID: 16). Tilray's scale positions it to lead the $200 billion market. Trulieve Cannabis Corp. CSE: TRUL.CN OTCQX: TCNNF Trulieve manages 190 U.S. dispensaries, primarily in Florida. In 2025, it leverages Schedule III rescheduling for medical cannabis, targeting $1.4 billion in revenue. Its patient access focus positions Trulieve to dominate the $57 billion U.S. market, despite state-level risks. Verano Holdings Corp. CSE: VRNO.CN OTCQX: VRNOF Verano operates 140 U.S. dispensaries with premium brands. In 2025, it leverages rescheduling to expand sales, targeting $1.2 billion in revenue. Its vertical integration positions Verano to capture share in the $57 billion U.S. market, navigating regulatory uncertainties effectively. Village Farms International, Inc. NASDAQ: VFF Village Farms, a low-cost greenhouse producer, exports medical cannabis from Canada to Germany, the U.K., and Australia. In 2025, its Q3 2024 sales doubled, leveraging rescheduling for U.S. entry. Its global focus positions Village Farms for the $200 billion market, balancing agricultural expertise with cannabis growth. (Investorideas.com Newswire) a go-to platform for big investing ideas, including crypto stocks issues market commentary from deVere Group. Bitcoin is surging as global markets rebound and President Donald Trump reinforces his support for the digital assets sector in its intensifying confrontation with traditional Wall Street banks. This is the bullish assessment from Nigel Green, CEO of global financial advisory giant deVere Group as the cryptocurrency jumped 8% to as much as $73,777, its highest level in a month, as investors rotated back into risk assets following easing fears about the potential impact of the war in Iran on global energy markets. He says: The Bitcoin rally reflects two powerful forces aligning at once: improving risk sentiment across global markets and renewed political backing for crypto from Washington. The original and most influential crypto is responding to a combination of macro relief and political support. Markets had been rattled by concerns the Iran conflict could deliver a prolonged shock to energy markets and global growth. As those fears eased, investors moved back into risk assets and crypto is often the fastest responder when sentiment turns. The deVere CEO continues: At the same time, President Trump has stepped in publicly, via his Truth Social platform, to defend the digital assets sector against pressure from traditional banks, which sends a clear signal to markets about the direction of US policy. Late on Tuesday, Donald Trump posted that banks were attempting to undermine the Genius Act and warned his administration would not allow it. The legislation created a regulatory framework for the rapidly expanding stablecoin sector. Since its passage, tensions have grown between crypto firms and traditional lenders over rules that allow platforms such as exchanges to pay interest on stablecoin balances held by users. Nigel Green says the dispute highlights a deeper shift underway in global finance. Stablecoins are emerging as a new digital form of the US dollar, and that places crypto platforms into direct competition with traditional banks, he explains. When banks push back against that development, it shows how significant the shift has become. Bitcoin had fallen sharply from its October peak near $125,000 before rebounding in recent sessions as broader market sentiment appears to improve. The latest rally illustrates how closely digital assets are now tied to both macroeconomic developments and political signals coming out of Washington. Crypto markets react rapidly to changes in global risk appetite, but they also respond to regulatory direction, he says. When geopolitical concerns ease and the White House signals clear support for the sector, those forces combine to create powerful momentum for digital assets. Last week, before the latest relief rally, and looking beyond mid-2026, Nigel Green said that he sees the potential for Bitcoin to exceed its previous record high before the year concludes. Once momentum re-establishes, fresh all-time highs are achievable before year-end, he stated. The prior peak is not a permanent ceiling. Nigel Green emphasises that volatility remains intrinsic to digital assets but argues that cyclical corrections have historically preceded renewed expansion phases. The key issue is whether structural adoption has stalled, he says. Our assessment is that it has not. Institutional infrastructure is broader, deeper and more resilient than at any point in Bitcoins history. (www.investorideas.com Newswire) While Brent crude surged 50% in ten days, silver sat quietly at $84 coiled on top of the worst COMEX delivery crisis in exchange history. Oil crossed $100 a barrel on March 9 for the first time since 2022, then kept going, briefly touching $119.50 before settling around $108. The Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world's oil flows, has been effectively closed since the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28. Kuwait, Iraq, and the UAE are cutting production because they've run out of storage. The new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei (the slain leader's son and an IRGC hardliner) was elected on March 8. Nobody is talking about a ceasefire. Normally, this would dominate every financial headline. And it does for oil, for equities, for bonds. But for silver, there's a different story. Silver is trading at $82-85, consolidating quietly after its $96.40 spike on March 2. The February correction, which took silver from its $121.64 all-time high to a $64.14 intraday low, wiped out 90% of managed money positions. The speculative froth is gone. What remains is physical demand, and the numbers are extraordinary. In Issue #7, I documented how the January-February crash revealed the widest paper-physical divergence in decades. In Issue #8, I tracked the COMEX inventory decline below 90 million ounces and the BHP-Wheaton $4.3 billion streaming deal. Now, the convergence of war, delivery stress, and industrial demand has created conditions I described as theoretically possible in "Silver Rising", but didn't expect to see activated simultaneously. There are nine Deep Dives in this week's premium Silver Catalyst issue, and in this free article, I'll discuss three of them. War With Iran and the Oil-Silver Transmission Mechanism On February 28, the United States and Israel launched coordinated military strikes against Iran. The strikes killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Within days, Iran retaliated by effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, cutting off approximately 20% of global oil transit. By Day 10 of the conflict, CENTCOM had struck more than 3,000 targets and destroyed 43 Iranian warships. Over 1,332 Iranians have been killed. Seven US service members have died. Hezbollah re-entered the conflict on March 2. A US submarine sank an Iranian warship on March 4, the first submarine combat sinking since the Falklands War. The oil response tells the severity. Brent crude surged approximately 10-13% on the initial March 2 reaction. By Friday March 7, it had risen 28% for the week, the largest weekly gain since April 2020. On March 9, it surged past $100 and briefly touched approximately $119.50 before pulling back to around $108 after G7 finance ministers began discussing a coordinated strategic petroleum reserve release. The cumulative oil shock from pre-war levels now exceeds 50%. Silver spiked to $96.40 intraday on March 2 before retreating. Gold surged to $5,417 on March 3. But while gold's response was sustained, silver's was violent and brief, which is characteristic of a market where thin positioning creates liquidity vacuums that amplify both spikes and pullbacks. How Oil Translates Into Silver Demand The Hormuz closure affects silver through multiple channels. I calibrated these estimates against three historical precedents: the 1973 oil embargo, the 1979 Iranian Revolution, and the 2019 Aramco drone attack. The total estimated impact of 33-70 Moz equals roughly half to the entirety of the projected 2026 structural deficit of 67 Moz, from this single geopolitical event alone. The election of Mojtaba Khamenei as Supreme Leader on March 8 makes this more structural than temporary. He's a hardliner with deep IRGC ties. Trump demands "unconditional surrender." Israel has threatened to target any successor. The longer this war persists, the more the safe-haven demand component hardens into permanent demand embedded in the 2026 deficit. COMEX Delivery Crisis: 59% of Registered Inventory Demanded in One Month While the Iran war dominates headlines, the COMEX silver delivery crisis is quietly reaching a breaking point. On March First Notice Day, 10,526 contracts stood for delivery, representing 52.63 million ounces of physical silver demand. COMEX registered inventory (the metal actually available for delivery) stands at 88.78 Moz. That means 59.3% of all registered silver is being demanded in a single delivery month. February was already extraordinary. A total of 5,036 contracts (25.18 Moz) were physically delivered, the highest February figure in modern COMEX history. Combined with January's deliveries, approximately 75 Moz was delivered out of COMEX vaults in just 60 days, which is roughly 85% of the current registered inventory turned over in two months. Registered inventory has fallen 64% from the April 2020 peak of approximately 240 Moz. The pace is accelerating. And unlike what economic theory predicts, higher prices aren't attracting metal back into vaults they're draining it faster. This creates a binary outcome for COMEX. Either the exchange honors the deliveries with physical metal, draining inventory toward dangerously low levels. Or it forces cash settlements, exposing the gap between paper claims and actual metal. Either way, the outcome is bullish for silver. If you've been following the silver price analysis throughout 2025 and 2026, this dynamic has been building for months. The January-February paper crash that I analyzed in the Issue #7 free article didn't solve the delivery problem, but rather accelerated it. Physical buyers treated the crash as a buying opportunity, and COMEX drainage continued without interruption. AI's $700 Billion Silver Appetite The third force worth examining has nothing to do with war or COMEX. It's the scale of AI infrastructure spending. Goldman Sachs projects that data center power demand will increase 165% by 2030. Every one of those data centers requires silver in thousands of applications: server electrical contacts, high-frequency cables and connectors, thermal interface materials, power distribution systems, and electromagnetic shielding. Unlike solar panels, where silver thrifting is reducing per-unit consumption, data center applications have no commercially viable substitute for high-frequency electrical contacts and thermal management. My estimate, derived by scaling silver intensity per gigawatt of installed IT capacity against Goldman Sachs' projection of approximately 50 GW installed in 2025 growing to approximately 122 GW by 2030, is that AI and data center infrastructure consumes 60-80 Moz of silver annually and is growing. That would make it the third-largest category of silver industrial demand after solar and electronics. There's a compounding factor that most analysts miss. The global memory chip shortage is projected to persist through at least late 2027, with virtually all available high-bandwidth memory capacity allocated to AI. Each chip requires silver in die-attach materials and wire bonding. The bottleneck simultaneously constrains AI deployment speed while ensuring sustained silver demand from the semiconductor supply chain. This demand is price-inelastic. When you're spending $200 billion on a data center, the silver content is a rounding error. AI infrastructure builders won't reduce silver consumption because the price rose from $30 to $85. They'll pay whatever it costs. What This Means Three forces geopolitical disruption, physical market stress, and industrial demand are converging on a market with 88 million registered ounces and a sixth consecutive structural deficit. The Iran war is not a silver-specific event, but it amplifies every other driver simultaneously. Higher oil raises mining costs for an industry that already can't increase output at $80+ silver. Shipping disruptions tighten a market already in deficit. Stagflation fears drive investment demand at the exact moment managed money positioning is at its lowest in years. And industrial consumers, watching supply chains fracture in real time, are stockpiling. Meanwhile, COMEX is being asked to deliver 53 million ounces in March against 89 million registered. AI infrastructure is consuming 60-80 Moz annually and growing. India's mutual fund industry gains access to silver allocation on April 1, which is 23 days from now. And China's export controls, now in their 68th day, continue to fragment global supply. The February correction shook out every speculative long. It didn't resolve a single fundamental imbalance. If anything, lower prices encouraged more physical accumulation, exactly the dynamic that has characterized this market since 2021. Silver at $84 is not reflecting the fundamental reality beneath it. It's reflecting the aftermath of a positioning washout. That gap between price and fundamentals doesn't persist indefinitely. Something has to give. The convergence I just described is one dimension of the 100-catalyst framework I analyze in "Silver Rising." The full Issue #9 contains six more Deep Dives covering China's export controls and the two-front supply squeeze, the broken mining supply response, India's SEBI reform and its potential to unlock 34-168 Moz of new demand, the stagflation case and the Fed's impossible position, market structure stress including the CME trading halt and Eric Sprott's $300 projection, and solid-state battery progress with the EU Digital Product Passport. If you want to understand where this market is headed and stay informed as it unfolds, I encourage you to get "Silver Rising" with complimentary 2-week access to the Silver Catalyst newsletter. Thank you. The Silver Engineer Investorideas.com (www.investorideas.com Newswire), a top rated investor news site for breaking mining stock news, issues news for MAX Power Mining Corp. (CSE: MAXX; OTC: MAXXF; FRANKFURT: 89N). **NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES** MAX Power Mining Corp. (CSE: MAXX; OTC: MAXXF; FRANKFURT: 89N) is pleased to announce a listed issuer financing exemption private placement offering (the Offering) for minimum gross proceeds of C$4,000,000 and maximum of up to C$20,000,000. The Offering comprises 15,384,615 units of the Company (each, a Unit) at a price of C$1.30 per Unit (the Issue Price) and is led by Hampton Securities Limited as the lead agent and sole bookrunner (the Agent) on a commercially reasonable efforts basis. Net proceeds will be used for: 1) An ongoing program of analytical testing, resource modeling, and resource estimation of the Lawson Natural Hydrogen Discovery on the Genesis Trend near Central Butte, Saskatchewan, followed by a confirmatory well to validate potential commerciality; 2) Further acquisition of 2D and 3D seismic data covering various targets throughout MAX Powers Saskatchewan land package; 3) Drilling of additional wells; 4) General corporate purposes including administrative and marketing. Each Unit will comprise one common share of the Company (Common Share) and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant of the Company (each whole warrant, a Warrant). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one Common Share at an exercise price of C$1.80 per share at any time up to 24 months from closing of the Offering. The Company has granted to the Agent an option (the Over-Allotment Option), exercisable, in whole or in part, in the sole discretion of the Agent, to sell up to an additional 15% of the Units at the Issue Price, to cover over-allotments, if any, exercisable at any time up to two (2) business days prior to closing of the Offering. The closing of the Offering is expected to occur on or about March 20, 2026 (the Closing), or such other earlier or later date as the Agent may determine. Closing is subject to the Company receiving all necessary regulatory approvals. The Offering is expected to be completed pursuant to an agency agreement to be entered into by the Company and the Agent. The Units will be offered for sale pursuant to the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions, as amended by CSA Coordinated Blanket Order 45-935 Exemptions from Certain Conditions of the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption (collectively, the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption), in all provinces of Canada, except Quebec, and other qualifying jurisdictions, including the United States. The Units and the underlying securities offered under the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption will be immediately free-trading upon closing of the Offering under applicable Canadian securities laws. There is an offering document (the "Offering Document") related to this Offering that can be accessed under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and at the Company's website at https://www.maxpowermining.com/investors/. Prospective investors should read this Offering Document before making an investment decision. This press release is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities in the United States or in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to qualification or registration under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act and such securities may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. A second Government charter flight has departed the Middle East, with 190 Irish citizens set to arrive in Dublin Airport on Wednesday afternoon. A spokesperson for foreign affairs minister Helen McEntee confirmed the flight took off from Abu Dhabi this morning. Trinity Indian Society brought colour to TCD today as they celebrated the Holi Festival in Trinity Square. The owner of an American pit bull terrier dog that attacked another dog while out for a walk has pleaded guilty to two charges in the district court. Sergeant Trish OSullivan told Macroom District Court that a woman was out walking her cockapoo-shih tzu mix near the De La Salle College grounds at 9.35pm on August 19, 2025. Mariusz Szulhan, aged 49, of Sunnyside, Macroom, Co Cork, was coming in the opposite direction, walking a spaniel-type dog and an American pit bull terrier. The court heard that Szulhan removed the lead of the pit bull to allow it to walk in a green area and momentarily lost sight of the spaniel, which went off in another direction. CCTV evidence showed the pit bull approaching the woman and the cockapoo. Sgt OSullivan said the pit bull attacked the small cockapoo, picking it up and shaking it. Szulhan went to the aid of the woman and they both ended up on the ground trying to separate the dogs, which they eventually managed to do. The court was told the woman was bitten on her left forearm and had to receive medical treatment including painkillers, antibiotics, and a tetanus shot. The small dog also had to be treated for puncture wounds. The court heard Szulhan also received injuries himself. The court was told Szulhan had no previous convictions and only took ownership of the pit bull because it would have been abandoned by its previous owners. Szulhan accepted that as a restricted breed, the dog should not have been off the lead and should have been muzzled. Judge Joanne Carroll said that as Szulhan was pleading guilty, had no previous convictions, and did at least try to stop it, she would not impose a suspended sentence. For having the dog unmuzzled in a public place, he was fined 350 with four months to pay. For failing to control the dog, he was also fined 350 and given six months to pay the fine. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme. A man who was brought to a garda station for another matter and then proceeded to urinate in the custody cell he was placed in has avoided a criminal damage conviction in the district court. Sergeant Trish OSullivan told Macroom District Court that Brian Shanahan, aged 49, of Nohoval, Rathmore, Cork, was arrested on the night of February 21. He was brought to Macroom Garda Station where he was processed and placed in a custody cell. While in the cell the court heard that Shanahan urinated on the floor and on the cell door as well as soaking a blanket provided for him in urine. Sgt OSullivan said that following the incident the cell and blanket had to be professionally cleaned by specialist cleaners to ensure the cell area was fit for occupation by another prisoner. The court heard that the total cost of cleaning the cell and the blanket was 284. Shanahan, who represented himself in court, said he wanted to apologise for his behaviour, which was the result of having too much to drink. He also presented 285 to the court to pay for the clean-up after the incident. The court heard that Shanahan had 12 previous convictions. Judge Joanne Carroll said that 284 seemed to be an excessive cost for cleaning up the mess. She said that as Shanahan had paid for the cleaning, she would not be imposing a further fine on him as he had already paid enough. The case was struck out. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme. When I moved my family back to Ireland last summer after years in the United States, I expected the reverse culture shock to involve horizontal rain or my lost ability to engage in small talk. Instead, it happened as soon as I started thinking about school enrolment. I returned to an Ireland that looks, on the surface, inclusive and forward-looking: the creche my daughter attends is a microcosm of a diverse Ireland. At the playground, I regularly chat with parents who immigrated to Ireland for employment opportunities, and stayed for the community and the people. There are also many like me, who have recently returned after years abroad upskilling and absorbing other cultures, excited about integrating back home. As I started to think about enrolling my young children in primary school, I was drawn to the equality-based model I missed out on as a child. Naively, I assumed that in the years Id been away, the education system would have shifted more towards pluralism. However, I was dismayed to learn that multi-denominational schools account for less than 6% of primary schools nationwide. When I plotted the figures myself, the reality was stark. The few inclusive options are small clusters, mostly in Dublin; when I toggled to Catholic schools, the map transformed into a rash of blue dots, blanketing every corner of the country. I had naively assumed that a decade away would have made 'school choice' a reality. Instead, its clear that divestment has been an abject failure: the governments 2020 goal to reach 400 multi-denominational schools by 2030 is hopelessly off track. The data prove that divestment is the wrong approach: you cannot build a modern education system by politely asking a self-preserving monopoly to exit the classroom The result is that we are still failing to provide a pluralist education system free from religious dogma. The conversation around education in Ireland is currently dominated by the word "choice". In a recent piece in the Irish Times, Jennifer OConnell discussed the "choice" to send a five-year-old girl to an all-girls Catholic school. It made me wonder: what does "choice" actually mean in a landscape where 88.3% of primary schools remain under Catholic patronage? For most Irish parents, the "choice" paradigm feels like a myth. Wasted time In reality, the 'choice' ends at the nearest postcode. Parents are opted into a system where religious instruction is woven into the very fabric of the day. This isn't just a weekly lesson; its a curriculum that demands roughly two and a half hours a week, unscheduled drop-ins from the local parish priest, who usually sits on the board of management, and impromptu masses that require full school participation. For teachers and students alike, the academic year in second and sixth class becomes an exercise in sacramental stamina, diverting countless hours toward rehearsals for rituals many families no longer practice. The opportunity cost is staggering. Those hundreds of hours could be spent on philosophy (as they are in France), ethics (as in Quebec), or a comprehensive 'World Religions' curriculum that treats faith as history and culture rather than dogma. Discrimination But as a parent, the time lost is secondary to the discrimination found in its place. It keeps me awake at night to think of the overt discrimination my children may soon face. While the Irish Constitution (Articles 44.2.4) explicitly guarantees the right to attend State-funded schools without attending religious instruction, the reality on the ground is a daily violation of that promise. One only has to read the heartbreaking testimonials submitted to Education Equality to see the despair of parents whose children are sidelined, ignored, or shamed for simply exercising their constitutional rights. Dr Maedbh King: 'We take pride in our modern laws but why do we outsource our children's education to an institution we have otherwise abandoned?' Living in the US for a decade, I watched from afar as Irish friends and family viewed American politics with a growing sense of superiority. Since returning, Ive found that there is a striking irony in how we discuss Americas freefall into theocracy, undergirded by a rise in Christian nationalism. We look at the Heritage Foundations plans to erode secular public education in the US under the guise of restoring religious freedom to public schools, and we see it as a descent into a fascist state. Yet, we remain ambivalent about our own reality. In America, the secular nature of the public school is a point of national pride. Even in the most conservative states, the state-funded system does not mandate religious formation. Here, we have normalised what most Americans would consider a constitutional crisis: a national school system where almost 90% of schools require teachers to hold certificates in Catholic education, and dedicate significant classroom time to faith formation and sacramental preparation. In America, the struggle is to keep education secular. In Ireland, we haven't even begun the work of making it secular. An irrelevant subject According to the 2022 Census, over 30% of the Irish population does not identify as Catholic. Why then is religious identity so inextricably linked to the State-funded curriculum? In many ways, Ireland is a modern, secularized European society but when it comes to education, we look like an ethno-state, closer to Iran or Israel than to our European peers. What is even more confusing is that our childrens journey through the Irish education system has become a "bizarre sandwich". They begin in diverse, pluralistic creches, which are partially State-funded (through NCS, ECCE schemes), but have no religious ethos, then enter a State-funded, monocultural Catholic "tunnel" for 14 years of primary and secondary school, and are then expected to emerge as global citizens the moment they attend pluralist university systems. We take pride in our modern laws but why do we outsource our children's education to an institution we have otherwise abandoned? Its not just our children who are impacted, but teachers too. Our peers who trained at Marino or St Patrick's must still obtain, and often pay for, a Catholic certificate to secure permanent work. The system demands a performance of faith from the staff, excluding talented educators of other faiths or none who refuse to play along. The result is a monocultural teaching profession that cannot truly serve a diverse student body. So why is this our reality? I think its likely that many parents rely on "informal secularism", the idea that their local school isn't "that" religious. But this is a fragile peace. A change in principal can suddenly shift a school's culture; crucifixes appear on walls, or daily intercom prayers commence. It proves that without structural change, your childs religion-light education is merely a temporary courtesy, not a right. Opting out If you are a parent of a school-aged child, what is keeping you from speaking up? You might say: "Im not religious, but were doing the Communion for the grandparents and the big day out." But while you are booking the venue, many of your childrens friends are facing discrimination that would be unthinkable if it was based on gender or race. Everyone knows an opted-out child who sits at the back of the room with a book while the class rehearses. We have normalised that these children are quietly erased from communion and confirmation photographs, a symbolic omission from their own schools history. In turning away from this reality, you are telling children like mine that their belonging is conditional. Every time you "go along with it" because its the easier option, you are handing the keys of our childrens future back to an institution that no longer reflects who we are. I want to be clear: I am not anti-religion, I am pro-equality. By moving religious instruction to the local parish, we end the performance of faith in the classroom and allow the church to offer faith formation to families who truly seek it, while ensuring our schools finally belong to every child equally. Like many of my peers, I didnt move back to Ireland for the nostalgia of the past; we came back to help build the Ireland of the future. It's time we demand an education system as brave and as modern as the people it serve In November 2021, minister for transport Eamon Ryan told the Dail he "fully accepts" the safety recommendations arising from the crash of Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 116, which killed Captain Dara Fitzpatrick, Captain Mark Duffy, winch operator Paul Ormsby, and winchman Ciaran Smith on March 14, 2017. Last year, members of the North Runway Technical Group, a voluntary group of qualified aviation professionals who have been examining Dublin Airport's north runway operations since 2022, sought records under the Freedom of Information Act. The Department of Transport was asked what qualifications it requires of staff who oversee Irish aviation safety. It said no records exist. The Air Accident Investigation Unit's 350-page report had identified the crash as an organisational accident: not a single pilot error, but the accumulated failures of multiple agencies. Among the most significant findings was a concession by the department itself. It told investigators it "did not have specialist aviation expertise within the department to discharge such oversight" of the Irish Aviation Authority. The department responsible for aviation safety admitted it did not understand aviation. The AAIU made 42 recommendations. Three were directed at the minister: ensure the department has "sufficient specialist aviation expertise," conduct a detailed review of IAA oversight mechanisms, and periodically review in-house technical capabilities. The minister accepted all of them. The inquest jury endorsed all 42 in June 2022. The political consensus was unambiguous. FOI request Three and a half years later, the FOI request tested whether any of this had been implemented. The department's response, from qualifications and competencies to training requirements: refused under the FOI Act as no records exist. The department pointed to the civil service capability framework on publicjobs.ie. It did release the organisational chart showing 49 staff at grades from Principal Officers to Administrative Officers. All generalist civil servants. The chart shows no role that specifies aviation qualifications or technical requirements. This is the section that oversees daa, the IAA, and AirNav Ireland. It oversees Dublin Airport, which in 2025 exceeded its cap by 4.4 million passengers and its night flight limit routinely by almost 50%. It implements EU aviation regulations into Irish law. The FOI record does not show a department that tried and fell short. It shows a department that never started. Independent assessments Separate requests have revealed a consistent pattern. In 2023, the north runway flight path controversy intensified causing increased scrutiny of all daa planning applications. The records showed officials asking AirNav Ireland, the body that chose the changed route, to draft the department's own responses to public complaints and ministerial representations. Perhaps most disappointing in the context of the AAIU recommendations, when the minister's special advisor asked in April 2023 for daa and IAA claims about flight path compliance to be "independently assessed", a department official refused. She wrote that "it would not be appropriate that the minister or department would seek to bypass the IAA and seek separate independent advice on this issue." The minister's office was overruled by his own officials when asking for precisely the independent expertise the AAIU specified the department must have to perform its function. The pattern across these requests is not mere understaffing. This is institutional capture. The department does not oversee the aviation bodies it is responsible for. It relies on them to tell it what to think, what to say, and what to write. When a minister asks for independent assessment, officials refuse on the grounds that independence would be inappropriate. The regulated entities have become the regulators of their own oversight. Incompetence as defence There is a particular form of bureaucratic failure at work here. The AAIU found the department lacked the expertise to oversee aviation safety. That was not a political opinion. It was the conclusion of a statutory accident investigation. The department did not read this as: we have a statutory duty and we failed to resource it. The department read it as: we cannot be held responsible for something we never equipped ourselves to do. The incompetence became its own defence. Before the crash, the department's lack of aviation expertise was a gap in the system. After the crash, after the report, after the recommendations, after the minister stood in the Dail and said he "fully accepts" the continued absence of that expertise is a choice. It is a choice made with full knowledge of the consequences, because the consequences have already been demonstrated in the most final way possible. The four crew members of Rescue 116 intentionally flew, at night, into a North Atlantic storm, so others might live. They trusted the systems behind them. Four people died. The State investigated. The State found itself at fault. The State promised to act. The State did not act. More than four years after the AAIU report, will minister Darragh OBrien now direct his department to publish annually a report detailing its technical competence to perform its oversight function? The co-ordinated military strikes by Israel and the United States in the Middle East, with Iran responding with missile and drone attacks, have triggered a rapidly escalating regional confrontation. The loss of life and displacement across many countries is already immense. The complexity of an attack on a regime that killed its own citizens in numbers of the tens of thousands in recent months, is clear. Many Iranians, particularly women, suffered gravely at the hands of this regime. Many yearned for new leadership, reform, greater democracy and freedom for women. But this attack by the US and Israel is clearly one of aggression, an illegal assault that casts aside with total abandon the fundamentals of international law. In Iran over a thousand people have been killed, including 168 girls in a primary school and many more injured following waves of strikes across numerous cities. In Israel, Iranian missile strikes have killed at least 10 people and injured dozens, including attacks on residential areas. In Lebanon, Israeli airstrikes and exchanges with Hezbollah have killed more than 480 people, while tens of thousands of civilians have been displaced from southern areas. Israeli authorities have also issued forced displacement orders requiring civilians to leave the entire area south of the Litani River, including the city of Sour (Tyre), representing one of the largest displacement orders affecting southern Lebanon in recent years. Up to 700,000 people have been displaced. Palestine's heavy price Palestinians are, tragically, once again paying a heavy price. The latest conflict is leading to vital food, health and fuel supplies reducing to a trickle, dramatically deteriorating already dreadful conditions for communities across the occupied Palestinian territory. In Gaza, where almost two million people who have suffered two years of genocide, the survivors are barely existing. The Kerem Shalom border crossing was closed after the attacks on Iran. It was reopened on Tuesday, March 3, for entry of 500,000 litres of fuel and humanitarian assistance, a fraction of what is needed. But Rafah and Zikim crossings remain closed. Mourners carry the body of a Palestinian policeman who was killed in an Israeli military strike in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip last month. Photo: AP/Abdel Kareem Hana The cruel truth is that Palestinians continue to live under a system where their access to food, safety and freedom can be, and effectively is, switched on or off by the state of Israel. Food prices are up dramatically in the last week due to the regional violence. ActionAid Palestine is getting reports that flour has tripled in price. Sugar, nappies and cooking oil have doubled. Community bakeries have about 10 days of flour. Aid parcels may last two weeks. Fresh food could run out in a week. Last summer, after a total siege and extreme restrictions on food shipments, Gaza experienced famine conditions. Iran focus diverts attention away from Gaza Hundreds were killed trying to access food distribution points. Now, with the attack on Iran there is real fear of another hunger crisis. Reconstruction in Gaza was already painfully slow. Entire neighbourhoods remain in rubble and families who have been displaced multiple times are still living in flimsy tents in dreadful, freezing, winter conditions. In the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, state-backed settler violence is increasingly deadly, families are being forced from their homes and access to livelihoods, health care and education is curtailed. With the world now focused on Iran, Israel will take the opportunity to deepen closures and tighten and expand movement restrictions. A US-Israeli strike strike in Tehran last week. Photo: AP/Mohsen Ganji Checkpoints are closing and communities are further isolated. Attacks by settlers are increasing, with homes and livelihoods targeted while global attention is elsewhere. These developments are part of the same steady erasure of Palestine, part of an illegal occupation and apartheid regime that is dismantling peoples ability to live, remain on their land and determine their own future. Decades of impunity and failure to uphold international law and hold Israel to account has destabilised the entire region. The current escalation did not create the crisis facing Palestinians, it simply exposes the consequences of allowing occupation, land theft and the denial of Palestinian self-determination to continue with impunity for decades. Many communities across the region were already living with the impacts of prolonged conflict before this latest escalation. Economic impact This escalation is being driven by political decisions taken far from the frontlines, yet it is ordinary people, women, men and children, who will pay the price through death, displacement, rising poverty and economic instability. In conflicts, women and girls often face heightened risks of violence, displacement and economic hardship. When food prices rise, livelihoods collapse and communities are displaced, women and girls frequently bear the greatest burden. They may be forced out of school, face increased violence, early marriage or pushed into unsafe work. The conflict is already affecting the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route for global oil supplies. An oil storage facility in Tehran, Iran, is hit by a US-Israeli strike on Sunday. Higher energy prices often lead to rising food and living costs, which disproportionately affect women and families already struggling with poverty, debt and climate shocks. Photo: AP/Vahid Salemi Disruption there could affect around 20% of global seaborne oil trade, pushing up fuel prices worldwide. Higher energy prices often lead to rising food and living costs, which disproportionately affect women and families already struggling with poverty, debt and climate shocks. Iranian women have been at the forefront of demanding their rights through the 'Woman, Life, Freedom' movement, which emerged after the death of Mahsa Amini in custody in 2022 and sparked nationwide protests against discrimination and repression. Womens rights organisations and activists continue to document arrests, violence and intimidation targeting women and protesters who demand basic freedoms. As violence escalates, the rights and safety of women and girls will be further undermined. The consequences of denial Continued military action will only deepen humanitarian crises and increase the risk of a broader conflict. European governments, with the exception of Spain, seem to struggle to call this what it is a fundamental violation of international law. For small states like Ireland, with a committed focus on multilateralism we cannot cherry pick adherence to international law. We must call this what it is. All states, including Ireland and the European Union, have legal and political responsibilities to prioritise de-escalation, diplomacy and the protection of civilians. When international law is ignored and conflicts are allowed to escalate without restraint, the consequences extend far beyond one country or region, undermining global peace, stability and the protection of human rights. The consequences for us all are profound, the consequences for people right now fleeing and facing hunger right now are immense and devastating. Theres an analogy that parents who have spoken to the Irish Examiner about Carrigaline Community Special School (CCSS) often use when describing their concerns. Its a special school. It has a round shape. They are trying to fit that round shape into a triangle or into a square. Thats not how it works, one parent said last week. CCSS is for students who have a dual diagnosis of autism and an intellectual disability. They have a mix of varied and complex needs, and experience dysregulation. They need support beyond that of a teacher or a special needs assistant (SNA). Their school building is a repurposed former Gaelscoil, a retrofit, not originally built with their specific needs in mind. It has just one sensory room to share between each of its 47 students. In a similar vein, the approach has been to try to shoehorn their education as a retrofit add-on to the current system. This approach is continuing to fail them, their families, and the staff working to educate them. The circumstances in which this school opened require far more than tick-the-box solutions. They need urgency and accountability. The school opened quickly in 2021 because the system had not planned for these students, among the most vulnerable in the country, and there was nowhere else for them to go. It opened off the back of covid school closures and the removal of therapists from schools under the HSEs Progressing Disabilities Services, a move that has not worked according to the Taoiseach. The Department of Education has sanctioned 16 new special schools since 2020, after having gone almost two decades prior without opening a single one. The vast majority of these are State-run, opening under the patronage of different Education and Training Boards around the country. It needs this model to work, and to work well. Many students at CCSS have gone years without regular, onetoone access to essential services such as occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and speech and language therapy. Under a pilot scheme, the whole school gets a maximum of 15 hours of occupational therapy and speech and language therapy a week. The National Council for Special Education also provides "behaviour adviser support" every two weeks, through a mix of in-person and virtual support, according to the Department of Education. However, training and advice does not replace the clear need for one-on-one therapies and interventions in the school. School suspensions Last September, a number of parents at CCSS highlighted their fears about a culture of suspensions at the school, which they believed were happening without addressing the root causes leading to students becoming dysregulated and lashing out. In a message to parents during the schools closure, patron Cork ETB referred to a significant increase in injuries to staff which have occurred where children have become dysregulated". Read More Cork special school shuts to work through 'issues' including dysregulation of students and injuries to staff This week, it told a mother her child's needs could not be met at the school. All of this points to a response that continues to fall short of the meaningful resources students and staff at the school need. Across the country, there is a severe lack of meaningful resources for children and adults with severe disabilities, and the people who work with them. All too often, the focus is on simply securing a school place for students the system has failed to plan for. And while the State is legally obligated to provide access to this right, it seems there is no further thinking about what it can do to ensure a student has every chance at accessing their education once they are in school. Resources do not follow an individual childs needs and are allocated to schools rather than to children directly. Advice and training does not replace the need for resources on the ground, especially when it comes down to students being excluded from education. Michael Lowry is a dab hand at presenting as a victim. He can perfect that hangdog look that is the preserve of those who feel hounded by dark elements of the State or society at large. He gives good injured air. On Tuesday night he was wallowing in his victimhood. He released a statement confirming he had been informed by the DPP that he will not face criminal charges in relation to the findings of the Moriarty Tribunal. He described the tribunals 2011 report as flawed and stated that its findings against him had allowed him be subjected to repeated insults, smears and false allegations. Truly, any citizen blackguarded and hounded in this manner is a victim of gigantic proportions. The tribunal had examined whether he had assisted Denis OBrien to win the most lucrative contract awarded by the State, the second mobile phone licence, in 1995. Lowry was the minister for industry at the time. The tribunal also examined payments made to Lowry by Ben Dunne and whether Lowry did anything in return. Overseen by Judge Michael Moriarty, the tribunal sat for an excruciating 13 years. It was also detailed to examine the 8m received by Charlie Haughey from assorted business people during a career when he presented as a servant of the public. Lowry and OBrien have consistently disputed the findings of the tribunal but have not initiated any legal challenge. Here are some of the findings pertaining to the Tipperary TD. It found that it was beyond doubt that Lowry had imparted substantive information to OBrien which was of significant value and assistance to him in securing the licence. It also delved into payment made from OBrien to Lowry totalling 447,000 and support for a 420,000 loan. Lowrys interactions with OBrien combined with his role of minister overseeing the awarding of the licence was disgraceful and insidious, the tribunal found. Both men dispute all of this. Could a judge and an experienced legal team get everything so wrong? We will never know because the findings were not challenged. Michael Lowry at the funeral of Ben Dunne in 2023. The Moriarty Tribunal had examined payments made to Lowry by Ben Dunne and whether Lowry did anything in return. File picture: Niall Carson/PA While he was a minister, Lowry had a business relationship with Ben Dunne and Dunnes Stores, to whom he supplied refrigeration products. Ben Dunne paid for an extension to Lowrys home and provided him with other payments totalling close to 500,000. The tribunal found that Lowry made efforts, in his ministerial role, to influence a rent review on a building which was part-owned by Dunne and housed what was Telecom Eireann. This, Moriarty ruled, was profoundly corrupt, to a degree that was nothing short of breathtaking. Lowry reaction In his statement this week, Lowry had this to say about Moriarty. "Despite the unfair and unfounded opinions of the Moriarty Report, there are no charges being brought against me arising from the award of the licence; no charge of corruption or misfeasance in public office; no charges of personal gain or bribery on my part." Casting the report as an opinion rather than rooted in fact has been a repeated cry from Lowry. In reality, the judge offered opinions that were based on facts well established by the tribunal. For instance, it found factually that Lowry, in his ministerial role, had attempted to intervene on behalf of his benefactor Dunne. The judges opinion on that is that was profoundly corrupt. The only alternative opinion that could be offered is that Lowry would attempt to get a better deal for anybody who had a relationship with a State company over which he had ministerial control, irrespective of whether that person was paying him wads of cash. The current leaders of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael had no problem with Lowry's central role in the formation of the current government in January of last year. Having such an approach to public money sounds, well, just as profoundly corrupt. Meanwhile, back on Planet Lowry this week, the decision of the DPP not to prosecute had him blowing up his victimhood like a party balloon. In reality, any prosecution would have been extremely difficult. For one thing the standard of proof required is higher than in a fact-finding exercise like a tribunal. There is also the problem that the events at the centre of this occurred over 30 years ago. And if a tribunal of inquiry took so long to investigate, could any jury be expected to both persevere and digest the evidence to an extent that they would be able to determine guilt or innocence? Lowry, however, couldnt leave well enough alone. He had to use the occasion to once again wail that he was just a simple lad whom so many, in the judiciary, the legal business, the media, in politics, were out to do down for some unspecified reason. A victim convicted of a crime His wailing this week echoed a similar declaration in 2016. Nobody understands unless you are in the position, if youve been harassed, chased and hounded by various institutions of the State. "Its only when you are in that position, and fortunately I had the strength, I had the courage and I had the conviction and the reason I had was very simple. I knew in my heart and my head that I didnt do the kind of wrongs . . . portrayed. This self-declared courageous man was speaking there on the occasion of his conviction for tax offences at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. His company was fined 25,000 and he was disqualified from acting as a company director for three years. A more serious charge was dropped during the trial and the jury failed to reach verdicts on other charges. The presiding judge Martin Nolan said the offences did not warrant a custodial sentence. Lowry appears to have taken this decision as some form of vindication. Once more a victim, even when he was convicted of a crime. Despite being forced out of the cabinet in 1997 when his activities were first publicised, he has been re-elected by the people of Tipperary at every election since. That is their right. Maybe they also consider him a victim or maybe they just dont care as long as he delivers on a constituency basis. The current leaders of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael just dont care. They had no problem with his central role in the formation of the current government in January of last year. Whether people care or not about low standards in high places is their own business. But lets not have the past of one of the most controversial figures ever to sit at a cabinet rewritten simply because of the passage of time. Lowry is no victim, irrespective of how well he plays the role. A large-scale residential development of 556 units across four blocks at Jacobs Island in Cork's Mahon has been granted planning permission. Hibernia Star Ltd, linked to McCarthy Developments (Cork) Ltd, lodged an application for a 10-year planning permission in January for the new units as part of an ongoing 750m development, expected to ultimately deliver more than 1,200 homes. Extensive building work is already underway on Jacb's Island with 149 units currently under construction. These latest units, across three blocks, with completion dates ranging from May to November 2027, will be predominantly two-bed apartments, with 150 one-bed units, and the tenure will be cost-rental (c 25% below local market value). Approved housing body Respond will own and operate the apartments. The proposed 556-unit development features extensive green amenity areas for future residents, the highlight of which is a 2,976 sq m central park. A planned garden area to the north-east of the site will incorporate a preserved wine cellar, the last physical remains of the historic Lakeland House which once occupied this site. Each of four residential blocks will also have its own landscaped courtyard space. The latest planning application from Hibernian Star Ltd part of a masterplan for the Mahon peninsula - comes in the wake of a change last July of guidelines governing apartment building. An application for 489 units was shot down by An Bord Pleanala more than a year ago, but the new guidelines are less restrictive in terms of dwelling mix. The developer has also proposed upgrades to the local road network to address traffic congestion concerns. Permission was granted in 2023 for a 165-bed hotel and 10,000 sq m of office space, and McCarthy Developments managing director Tom McCarthy said they plan to start work on both elements in Q1 2027 subject to an operator, and occupiers for the offices. Iran attacked commercial ships across the Persian Gulf and targeted Dubai International Airport on Wednesday, escalating a campaign of squeezing the oil-rich region as global energy concerns mounted and American and Israeli airstrikes pounded the Islamic Republic. Two Iranian drones hit near Dubai International Airport, home to the long-haul carrier Emirates and the worlds busiest for international travel. Four people were wounded, but flights continued, the Dubai Media Office said. Authorities confirm that two drones fell in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport (DXB) a short while ago, resulting in minor injuries to two Ghanaian nationals and one Bangladeshi national, and moderate injuries to one Indian national. Air traffic is operating as normal. Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 11, 2026 Irans joint military command announced it would start targeting banks and financial institutions in the Middle East. That would put at risk particularly Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, which is home to many international financial institutions, as well as Saudi Arabia and the island kingdom of Bahrain. Thai cargo ship, Mayuree Naree, that was struck and set ablaze in the Strait of Hormuz (Royal Thai Navy via AP) Earlier, a projectile hit a Thai cargo ship off the coast of Oman in the Strait of Hormuz, setting it ablaze. Authorities are searching for three missing crew members from the Mayuree Naree after 20 were rescued by the Omani navy, according to Thailands Marine Department. Thai cargo ship, Mayuree Naree, was struck and set ablaze in the Strait of Hormuz (Royal Thai Navy via AP) Meanwhile, an assessment from Israeli intelligence said it believed Irans new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was wounded at start of the war. An Israeli intelligence official and a reservist with knowledge of the situation gave no details on the nature of the injuries. Iraqis hold a portrait of the Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei to support his selection as the Irans Supreme Leader (Hadi Mizban/AP) The 56-year-old Mr Khamenei the son of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has not been seen since succeeding his father on Monday. His father and wife both were killed in an Israeli airstrike on the first day of the conflict. (PA Graphics) Separately, Kuwait said its defences downed eight Iranian drones and Saudi Arabia said it intercepted five heading toward the kingdoms Shaybah oil field. Iran has effectively stopped cargo traffic in the narrow strait through which about a fifth of all oil is shipped. People have taken shelter after Iranian missiles struck Michmoret, Israel, on Tuesday (AP) It has also targeted oil fields and refineries in Gulf Arab nations, aiming at generating enough global economic pain to pressure the United States and Israel to end their strikes. The UN Security Council is to vote later on Wednesday on a resolution sponsored by the Gulf Cooperation Council demanding Iran stop attacking its Arab neighbours. The military escalation in the Middle East is disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The impacts extend far beyond the region, affecting energy markets, maritime transport and global supply chains.@UNCTAD's rapid impact analysis: https://t.co/Q9r8Ha3ctG pic.twitter.com/nvnpvYplkl United Nations (@UN) March 10, 2026 Witnesses reported continuous airstrikes hitting Tehran after Israel said it had renewed its attacks. Explosions were also heard in Beirut and in southern Lebanon after Israel said it was hitting targets connected to Iran-backed Hezbollah militants. A residential building was destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut (AP) The attacks set a building ablaze in central Beiruts densely populated Aicha Bakkar area, engulfing the top two floors. Lebanons Health Ministry said four people were wounded. Other Israeli strikes on southern and eastern Lebanon killed 14 people, and a Red Cross worker also died of wounds sustained on Monday, when his team was hit by an Israeli strike while they were rescuing people from an earlier attack. Lebanons Health Ministry said that 570 people have been killed in the country since that latest fighting began. Lebanons health ministry says that more than 570 people have been killed in strikes on the country (Hassan Ammar/AP) Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel after the United States and Israel began the wider war with their surprise bombardment of Iran. Israel warned of Iranian attacks and sirens rang out in Tel Aviv and elsewhere, but there were no immediate reports of casualties. Saudi Arabia said it had destroyed six ballistic missiles launched toward Prince Sultan Air Base, a major US- and Saudi-operated facility, and intercepted two drones over the eastern city of Hafar al-Batin. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre, run by the British military, reported an attack on a container ship off the United Arab Emirates, saying the extent of the damage is currently unknown but under investigation by the crew. Another ship was hit by a projectile in the Persian Gulf, it said. The crew was reported safe. The ship attacks follow intense American airstrikes targeting Iranian navy assets and the port city of Bandar Abbas on Tuesday. The Iranian threat against financial institutions did not identify any specifically. It came after a Tehran location of Bank Sepah, the state-owned financial institution sanctioned by the U.S. over funding its armed forces, came under attack early Wednesday, killing staffers there, the state-run IRNA news agency reported. At the United Nations, the Security Council was to vote on the Gulf Cooperation Council resolution, according to diplomats. U.S. forces eliminated multiple Iranian naval vessels, March 10, including 16 minelayers near the Strait of Hormuz. pic.twitter.com/371unKYiJs U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 10, 2026 The draft resolution, obtained by The Associated Press, condemns Irans attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Jordan. The measure calls for an immediate end to all strikes and threats against neighbouring states, including through proxies. It would be the first Security Council resolution considered since the start of the war on February 28. Drivers are already feeling the pain at the pumps (AP) Oil prices remained well below Mondays peaks but the price of Brent crude, the international standard, was still up some 20% Wednesday from when the war began, and consumers around the world are already feeling the pain at the pump. Germany and Austria said they are releasing parts of their oil reserves following an International Energy Agency request for its members to release 400 million barrels to help temper energy price spikes. The largest-ever previous collective release of emergency stocks by IEA member countries was 182.7 million barrels, in the wake of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Japan also said it will release some of its reserves starting on Monday. US president Donald Trump said there were no reports yet of Iran mining the Strait of Hormuz (AP) The US military said it had destroyed 16 Iranian minelayers near the Strait of Hormuz, though US President Donald Trump said in social media posts that there were no reports yet of Iran mining the passage. If the strait is mined, it could take at least weeks to clean it up once the conflict is over. "If Iran has put out any mines in the Hormuz Strait, and we have no reports of them doing so, we want them removed, IMMEDIATELY!" - President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/WeX6rE4Uw1 The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 10, 2026 Some tankers, believed linked to Iran, are continuing to get through the strait making so-called dark transits meaning they arent turning on their automatic identification system (AIS) trackers, which show where vessels are. Vessels carrying sanctioned Iranian crude often turn off their AIS trackers. The security firm Neptune P2P Group said there had been seven ships pass through the strait since March 8. Vessel redirects in Strait of Hormuz following reported attacks The bulk carrier Hailan Journey loaded sulphur at Jubail between 49 March. The vessel was travelling at 911 knots on a direct course towards the Strait of Hormuz, with her raw AIS signal indicating China owner & pic.twitter.com/qKadDw9MDi MarineTraffic (@MarineTraffic) March 11, 2026 Of them, five were linked to Iranian-associated shipping, it said. In ordinary times the strait typically sees 100 ships or more transit daily from the Persian Gulf into the Gulf of Oman. Meanwhile, the commodity-tracking firm Kpler said Iran has restarted crude exports through its Jask oil terminal on the Gulf of Oman. A tanker loaded roughly 2 million barrels at Jask on March 7, it said. Oil tankers and cargo ships line up in the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping strait (Altaf Qadri/AP) In addition to the 570 killed in Lebanon, Iran has said that more than 1,300 people have been killed there and Israel has reported 12 people dead. The US has lost seven soldiers while another eight have suffered severe injuries. British prime minister Keir Starmer was warned there was a general reputational risk over Peter Mandelsons relationship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein before giving him the role of ambassador to the US. The UK government has released an initial batch of papers relating to Mandelsons appointment after MPs ordered the publication of the files. A due diligence document drawn up in December 2024, before Mandelsons appointment to the Washington role, noted a series of reports detailing his links with Epstein. The document noted that after Epstein was first convicted of procuring an underage girl in 2008 their relationship continued across 2009-2011, beginning when Mandelson was business minister and continuing after the end of the Labour government, noting that Mandelson reportedly stayed in Epsteins house while he was in jail in June 2009. Mandelson was appointed in December 2024 but sacked in September 2025 after further details about the extent of his contact with Epstein emerged. The documents released by the government on Wednesday showed he was awarded a 75,000 severance payout funded by taxpayers. Last month, MPs ordered the government to release tens of thousands of documents relating to Mandelsons appointment following the US Department of Justices publication of the so-called Epstein Files. Starmer has insisted Mandelson lied repeatedly to No 10 about his relationship with Epstein, before and during his tenure as ambassador. Chief secretary to the prime minister Darren Jones was updating MPs on the release of the Mandelson papers in a statement on Wednesday afternoon. The release of the documents was ordered when MPs backed a humble address motion tabled by the Tories, a rarely used manoeuvre which compels the Government to act. Some files have been withheld for national security or foreign relations reasons, but the final say over which documents are redacted rests with parliaments Intelligence and Security Committee. The government has also agreed a framework with the Metropolitan Police on which documents can be released without prejudicing the ongoing police investigation into Mandelson over allegations of misconduct in public office. Jones told ITVs Good Morning Britain: On the specific issue of Peter Mandelsons appointment as ambassador to the United States, the Prime Minister has apologised for his appointment and said that it was a mistake. The documents that will be published later today to parliament will provide full transparency about the appointments process, bar one document that has been held back by the Metropolitan Police because of an ongoing criminal investigation. The prime minister said that we only really knew of the depth and extent of Peter Mandelsons ongoing relationship with Jeffrey Epstein once documents had been published by first Bloomberg and then the United States Department of Justice. As soon as those documents became available, and it became obvious that Peter Mandelson had lied to the Prime Minister about the depth and extent of his relationship, he was sacked as ambassador the United States very promptly. Mandelson was arrested on February 23 on suspicion of misconduct in public office, having been accused of passing sensitive information on to Epstein during his time as business secretary. He was subsequently bailed, but later released from his bail conditions, although he remains under investigation. A stable China is fertile ground for foreign businesses to develop 14:12, March 11, 2026 By Peoples Daily ( Global Times Editor's Note: Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed expanding high-standard opening up and broadening access to global markets. Greater efforts will be made to attract and utilize foreign investment in the 2026-2030 period, according to a draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30). China boasts the world's most complete industrial system, the advantage of a super-large market, and surging momentum toward innovative and higher-quality development. Foreign enterprises are sharing in the dividends of China's high-quality development in cutting-edge fields such as intelligent manufacturing and the digital economy. Walking with China means walking with opportunities. Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan period, China will continue to work with global investors in a two-way exchange, jointly writing more wonderful stories of mutual success. Volkswagen: 'We will unswervingly deepen our presence in the Chinese market' By Zhang Zhifeng from People's Daily On March 10, stepping into the final assembly workshop of Volkswagen (Anhui) Automotive Company in Hefei, East China's Anhui Province, one sees orange robotic arms whirling and rotating, while intelligent guided vehicles shuttle back and forth. A brand-new new-energy vehicle (NEV) is about to roll off the line. This year, Volkswagen Anhui plans to launch four NEV models. "In China for China" is Volkswagen's new development strategy in China. "Volkswagen can basically be considered half a Chinese company now," Shao Jian, chief human resources officer of Volkswagen Anhui, said with a smile. Germany's Volkswagen Group has been deepening its presence in China for over 40 years. After the establishment of Volkswagen Anhui (formerly known as JAC Volkswagen Automotive Co), the foreign partner increased its investment, raising its stake from 50 percent to 75 percent. This marks Volkswagen Group's first joint venture in China dedicated exclusively to NEVs. Volkswagen has established the Volkswagen Smart E-mobility Hub in Hefei, and in recent years, its business footprint has continued to expand. In 2022, Volkswagen (Anhui) Digital Sales and Services Company was founded; in 2023, an additional investment of 1 billion euros was made to establish Volkswagen Group China Technology Company, covering R&D of intelligent connected vehicles, parts development and procurement, and more. Hefei serves as Volkswagen's production base and is also the group's first global center for NEV R&D, innovation, and parts procurement outside of its German headquarters. Currently, Volkswagen has set up three key entities in Hefei across the value chain, encompassing R&D, manufacturing, and sales within the NEV industry ecosystem. Over the past five years, cumulative investments have reached 3.5 billion euros. As Ralf Brandst tter, chairman and CEO of Volkswagen Group China, said, "Volkswagen Anhui is our main base," and "China has become Volkswagen Group's second home market." Volkswagen's development trajectory in Hefei vividly illustrates this point. "In China for China" - Volkswagen's development strategy in China is both a choice for the future and its very embodiment. "We will unswervingly deepen our presence in the Chinese market and continue to invest in strengthening our local R&D capabilities," Brandst tter said. Trayton Group: 'Stability and sustainability of China's economic development is a significant boon to the world economy' By Li Xinyi from People's Daily Trayton Group was founded in Shanghai in 1995. Its founder and CEO, Simon Lichtenberg, is from Denmark and came to China to study in the 1980s. "China's manufacturing sector is highly developed and ranks among the world's top. Why should we move factories elsewhere? Not making use of China's manufacturing capabilities would be a loss to global value creation. This land holds boundless opportunities; only through firsthand experience can one truly appreciate its vibrant development potential," Lichtenberg said. In Lichtenberg's view, the key to entrepreneurial success in China lies in the country's vast consumer base, favorable business environment, and increasingly complete supply chain system. This year, the Government Work Report included a pledge to "deepen reform of the institutional framework for promoting foreign investment and ensure national treatment for foreign-funded enterprises." Lichtenberg was delighted to hear this, saying that "foreign entrepreneurs must come to China more often and see the country for themselves; otherwise, they may miss many opportunities." "Industrial manufacturing, new energy, artificial intelligence... In China, every sector can find new growth points," Lichtenberg said. "As a responsible major power, China actively plays a stabilizing role, and the stability and sustainability of China's economic development is a significant boon to the world economy," Lichtenberg said. Schneider Electric: 'Investing in China means investing in the future' By Luo Shanshan from People's Daily "China's economy demonstrates stable resilience and strong growth potential, which not only injects greater certainty into the country's high-quality development but also encourages multinational corporations like Schneider Electric to increase their investment in China," said Yin Zheng, executive vice president of China &East Asia Operations, Schneider Electric. "China's rapid advancement in new quality productive forces is continuously expanding the landscape of strategic emerging industries while driving large-scale transformation and upgrading of traditional sectors. These favorable conditions provide broad development opportunities for various industries," Yin noted. He believes that with the deep integration of energy technology and digital technology, China has become a globally important "electric power nation," where innovative scenarios and advanced applications emerge one after another. At the same time, as a global hub for the development of the artificial intelligence industry, China's two major advantages complement each other, forming distinct competitive strengths and promising development prospects. "Investing in China means investing in the future," Yin said, noting that China is Schneider Electric's second-largest market globally, as well as one of its most important supply chain bases and one of its four major R&D hubs. Currently, focusing on energy technology, Schneider Electric has established five R&D centers, an AI innovation lab, and 30 factories and logistics centers in China. It works closely with more than 1,600 core suppliers in the country to achieve a highly localized integration of R&D, production, and sales. From deepening its presence in China to "going global" together, Schneider Electric is partnering with Chinese companies to build a new paradigm of coordinated development and mutually beneficial growth in the global industry through technology sharing, ecosystem co-construction, and comprehensive empowerment. Sanofi: 'Every upgrade and expansion stem from firm confidence in the Chinese market' By Wang Haonan from People's Daily Adjacent to Beijing's South 6th Ring Road, the construction site for Sanofi's insulin active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) industrialization project is bustling with activity. At the start of 2026, this global pharmaceutical giant broke ground on its largest single investment project in China to date, located in the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area (Beijing Yizhuang). "With a total investment of approximately 1 billion euro, the project is expected to be fully completed and put into operation by 2032," Wayne Shi, president of Sanofi Greater China, said, adding that China's commitment to opening-up and encouraging innovation has created a favorable environment for foreign enterprises to develop. "We are upbeat on the Chinese market and will continue to deepen our industrial chain layout in China, upgrade innovative medical solutions, and continuously enhance the depth and breadth of medical services, and continue to invest in China." More than 30 years ago, Sanofi established its presence in Beijing Yizhuang. He Guoling, senior project advisor at Sanofi, said that "the continuously optimized business environment, complete supply chain, technological reserves, and talent resources have made us remain persistently optimistic about China." Actions speak louder than words. In 1995, a pharmaceutical production base with a total investment of $240 million was established in Beijing Yizhuang; from 2010 to 2025, investments exceeding 1.3 billion yuan were made to expand production lines; in 2026, construction started on a new base with a total investment of approximately 1 billion euro, and more. "Every upgrade and expansion stem from our firm confidence in the Chinese market," He Guoling said. "In the future, this site will become one of Sanofi's most advanced and digitally integrated production bases globally." Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group: The answer to persistently developing in China lies in opportunities, stability By Li Anqi from People's Daily Inside the CP Center in Beijing, a certificate numbered "0001" is carefully preserved. This is the approval certificate awarded to Chia Tai Conti Ltd in 1981 - China's very first foreign-invested enterprise license. "This certificate marks the starting point of CP Group in China," said Xie Yi, senior vice president of Thailand's CP Group. Over the past four decades, the group has established 670 enterprises in China, with an annual turnover exceeding 200 billion yuan. As one of the first foreign companies to enter China after the reform and opening-up, CP Group has witnessed the country's transformation from opening its doors to development to becoming the world's second-largest economy. "We are not only witnesses but also beneficiaries of China's reform and opening-up. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, China's high-quality development will continue to advance, and CP Group will embrace an increasing number of development opportunities," Xie said, noting that CP Group has become one of the multinational companies with the largest investment scale and broadest investment scope in China. Why has CP Group remained committed to deepening its presence in China? "The answer lies in opportunities and stability," Xie said. The advantages of China's super-large market, coupled with its determination to steadily advance high-level opening-up, provide momentum for foreign enterprises. Meanwhile, the consistency and transparency of foreign investment policies instill long-term confidence. "We have always been optimistic about the Chinese market and are full of confidence in China's high-quality development," Xie said. Viking Cruises: 'We have full confidence in the Chinese market' By Ren Xiaonan from Global Times Viking Cruises officially entered the Chinese market in 2016, and since then, Brendan Tansey, managing director of Viking Cruises China, has been engaging with China's senior citizens for a decade. "I've noticed that many Chinese senior citizens are embracing technology," Tansey said. The growing demand among China's elderly for high-quality travel experiences has opened up more growth opportunities for Viking Cruises, he noted. Tansey is closely following discussions on the silver economy during this year's two sessions. "China's continued efforts to promote high-quality development of the silver economy are undoubtedly good news for Viking Cruises. Our goal is precisely to create high-quality travel products for China's senior citizens," Tansey said. "The government's policies encouraging foreign direct investment are also highly encouraging. We have full confidence in the Chinese market." Tansey also spoke highly of China's series of expanded visa-free policies. He noted that the continued relaxation of these policies and the gradual improvement of related support measures have also encouraged more European and American tourists to visit China by cruise ship. "Now it's a good time to invest in China," said Torstein Hagen, CEO of Viking Cruises. "Our decision to continue deepening our presence in the Chinese market is not only due to the immense opportunities in China's tourism market but also due to the stability of China's economic development, which gives us confidence," Tansey said. Qualcomm: China 'one of the most important forces in global tech innovation' By Luo Shanshan from People's Daily This year's Government Work Report stated that China will promote faster application of new-generation intelligent terminals and AI agents and encourage large-scale commercial application of AI in key sectors and fields. Frank Meng, chairman of Qualcomm China, said the move not only demonstrates China's determination to advance technological innovation and industrial transformation, but is also highly aligned with global technological development trends. It will further promote the deep integration of technological and industrial innovation and create broader space for global technological cooperation, Meng noted. In recent years, Qualcomm has worked with Chinese partners to promote the large-scale commercial application of innovative technologies worldwide. In Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong Province, Qualcomm has established an innovation center equipped with leading laboratories and customer engineering teams to help Chinese partners expand into global markets. In 2025, Qualcomm joined hands with Chinese telecom operators, smartphone manufacturers and large-model developers to launch an initiative to accelerate AI applications. "China possesses a world-leading market scale, strong innovation vitality and a complete industrial system, making it one of the most important forces in global technological innovation," Meng said. Qualcomm will continue to work with Chinese partners under its commitment to openness, cooperation and long-term development, deepening collaboration in fields such as 6G, artificial intelligence, embodied intelligence and intelligent terminals, and jointly exploring new paths for innovation. This was compiled from an article originally published on the seventh page of the People's Daily on March 11, 2026. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) ( Tomdispatch.com ) All the way back in 2023, the surgeon general diagnosed Americans as suffering from an epidemic of loneliness. More recently, amid the rise of American fascism, I started to notice that people were not only lonely but had also begun referring to the world as simply the news. Perceived that way as a phenomenon pre-packaged via our devices our bond with the world was distilled into just two options: consume the news or dont. A sense of powerlessness is baked into such a perception. By contrast, I remembered once reading an interview with billionaire Laurene Powell Jobs, who described the world as atoms constantly shifting and moving. With intention and focus, she pointed out, you can move those atoms yourself, and so move the world. Baked into that worldview was a sense of interconnectedness, not to mention power. Was such a perspective a luxury of the billionaire class? In fact, no. Lots of non-billionaires, including many young people, regard the world as so many moveable atoms and theyre acting accordingly. In the process, theyre piercing the isolation in their neighborhoods, schools, and even workplaces, while occasionally quelling their own loneliness, too. A Party in the Park In December, when thousands of ICE agents descended on Minneapolis, neighbors started checking in on one another. A woman Ill call M learned something new about her South Minneapolis intersection: dozens of Ecuadorian families live within just a few blocks of her. (M chose to be identified only by her first initial to protect her privacy as well as her neighborhood collaboration.) She also learned that many of those immigrants were not going to work because they were too afraid to make the commute. As a result, their families were struggling to pay bills. That was when a few people got onto a chat thread and organized a rideshare system for the neighborhood. The thread quickly grew and now, M told me, there are more than 200 people on a chat thread covering just a handful of city blocks through which neighbors connect for rides that get adults safely to work and kids safely to school. Just in our little neighborhood, were fielding 20 to 30 rides a day, M told me, though we spoke after the official end of the Trump administrations Operation Metro Surge its local deportation-machine operation. (ICE is, however, still present in the area.) Notably, that rideshare effort brought some unanticipated changes to their community. Neighbors, who previously hadnt known each other at all, now spend time together daily, chatting and learning about each others lives. This whole experience has rewoven who we consider our community, M told me. When this is over, were going to throw a big party in the park. Meanwhile, as Operation Metro Surge raged in the Twin Cities, some 1,500 miles away in central Florida, high school students were walking out of class in protest not once, but over and over again, despite threats from administrators that they would be suspended or expelled. We have immigrants at this school, we have people who are afraid at this school, a senior at Viera High School in Viera West, Florida, told a reporter in early February. She was disputing her school administrations position that the protests arent about a school-based issue and shouldnt take place during class time. On the same day, north of Orlando, a student at DeLand High School explained to a local news station that she felt a sense of community as she walked out with her peers to stand up for their classmates. And central Florida is just one of many places where protesting ICE has become a community undertaking. Zoe Weissman was only 12 years old when she survived the school shooting in Parkland, Florida. Shes now a sophomore at Brown University, where she lived through a second shooting this past December. She told me that many young people at her school and elsewhere are involved in anti-ICE protests in part because they feel a responsibility for keeping each other safe. She noted that this distinguishes her generation from older cohorts, who assumed that they could rely on the authorities to take care of that for them. Indeed, this winter, kids left class in cities ranging from Milwaukee and Indianapolis to Phoenix and Reno. But Weissman also said that she has personally observed people of all ages and from all walks of life starting to come together, both to take action against ICE and to support gun control (for which shes a vocal advocate). Ive been really happy, she told me, about how many different types of people and age groups Ive seen protesting. The homeschooled Luhmann brothers from a Chicago suburb are a notable example of such protesters. They began volunteering as community patrollers during Operation Midway Blitz, as thousands of people across Chicago were being arrested. Were two white minors who have always had the privilege to live in America unbothered, Ben Luhmann, 17, told a reporter in a video that was liked by more than a quarter of a million people on TikTok. Im going to use that privilege that shouldnt be here, and do the right thing, said his brother Sam Luhmann, 16. Asked if she worries about the safety of her sons while theyre out observing ICE, their mother, Audrey, said yes. And yet, motivated by her Christian faith to look out for neighbors, she indicated that she was aware that Chicagoans of color worry every day about the safety of their kids. Given that reality, she added, Why should my life be normal? Why should my family get to be safe and comfortable and go on about our days and just ignore whats happening? As her son Sam put it, We just need numbers of people out there keeping an eye on our neighbors. A Long-Term Strategy for Survival Against a Fascist Regime One of the instincts in moments like this is to get as small as possible, so that you dont get hit by whatever might be coming, said Jonathan Feingold, a law professor who studies racism at Boston University School of Law. Recognizing that getting small and staying quiet is not what he considers a long-term strategy for survival against a fascist regime, Feingold started talking with fellow professors who, like him, had been troubled by mounting repression on their campuses even before Donald Trump entered the White House a second time. In the spring of 2024, as Feingold recounted, universities around the country deployed militarized force against student groups that were protesting Israels killing of tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza. Universities explained this use of force as a necessity to protect the safety of Jewish students, though such students were well represented in the ranks of the protesters. Now, in the second Trump administration, allegations of antisemitism and claims of securing Jewish safety are being used by the federal government to justify a broad attack on free expression on college campuses and to legitimize ICE abductions of noncitizens like Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil and Rumeysa Ozturk of Tufts University, who spoke up for the rights of Palestinians or criticized Israel. Jewish academics understood how Jewish identity was being wielded in order to come after our students, our colleagues, our institutions in deeply dangerous ways, Feingold told me. Thats why, a year ago, he co-founded a group called Concerned Jewish Faculty and Staff. Through that organization, hes collaborated with colleagues both on his campus and elsewhere who decided that they needed to bring their religious background into todays struggle for civil rights. Notably, Feingold said their most significant achievement to date has been creating a community. The way that life is structured in the United States is often isolating, he told me, noting that the life of an academic can be particularly lonely. Today, however, he feels a sense of camaraderie with colleagues who are planning to meet to observe Passover for a second year in a row. As he put it, On a personal level, it has created a source for me to reintegrate into Jewish communal life that Im excited to be a part of. And he isnt the only one who now feels excited. More than 1,400 people registered for the third Conference of the Jewish Left in Boston this February and I was among them. Its true that, once upon a time, I often resented having to spend time working with other people in a shared effort to keep this world of ours from going completely to shit, even as I also felt lonely and didnt know what to do about that. At some point last year, however, I realized I was starting to find the company I needed in the very sorts of gatherings I used to resent attending. Indeed, I found it strangely enlivening to sit in a giant room with people so deeply motivated, even driven, to protect the fundamental rights of us all so driven, in fact, that they were willing to show up on a frigid Thursday to form a new alliance to do so. Breaking Bread and Pozole Far from the Conference of the Jewish Left, in a warmer clime, the nonprofit LA Mas supports the economic resilience of the working-class residents of northeastern Los Angeles, with a particular focus on people of color, non-native English speakers, and undocumented immigrants. While the organization primarily works to preserve affordability in neighborhood housing which, in Los Angeles these days, requires incredible financial creativity it has also recently started operating an outdoor market in nearby Cypress Park. That market began as a comparte, or share: a place where members could gather and swap or share goods the way that some of them had done in their home countries. Then, residents suggested that they cook the foods of their homelands and bring them and homemade crafts to the market to sell to the larger community. Over the past year, that idea has become a biweekly night market called Somos NELA (an acronym for Northeast Los Angeles). Its more than a market, more than an exchange of money, says Helen Leung, the executive director of LA Mas. The food sold there, she pointed out, is rooted in history, made with love, and outrageously tasty. The pozole (a Mexican soup) is her personal favorite. As ICE has violently arrested community members, Leung said that some people who used to be very social at the market are now staying home. At the same time, she added, We have seen more customers come out, customers who are showing up more and are spending more. They want to support the community members who are trying to make ends meet. Frequenting the Somos NELA market is one of an array of acts that people across the city have taken up to support one another. Leung, for instance, has been inspired by the formation of new collectives dedicated to helping families who have been separated, as well as emotionally and financially devastated, by ICE abductions. She noted that one group of eight women even took the striking step of renting a community space to offer support and mutual aid to families who have been harmed. And its not, she emphasized, an official nonprofit like LA Mas. These are, she told me, people who are figuring out how to change the system by themselves. The World Sometimes Shifts Hundreds of people filed into a church on a winter evening in Amherst, Massachusetts, where I live, to learn how to be effective bystanders during an ICE raid. So many showed up that they spilled out the doors and some had to be turned away with instructions to attend the next training session. Once the program began, staff from an immigrant rights organization offered lots of practical advice and personal stories. Here is just one of those stories: upon noticing a vehicle with tinted windows idling in their neighborhood, a white citizen approached it, said a warm hello to those inside, and engaged them in polite conversation, asking, Where are you from? What brings you to the area? In some cases, that has proven to be an effective, nonconfrontational way of communicating to ICE agents that they are being watched and encouraging them to leave without abducting any residents. In other words, sometimes you can change the way events unfold. Sometimes, you can even change the news. And it wasnt just practical advice that the bystander training provided. As I looked around, there were plenty of neighbors I knew, but many more I didnt. I was feeling something I couldnt quite identify. Political scientists have long understood that loneliness is a precondition for authoritarianism, which depends on people being isolated and mistrusting one another. Hannah Arendt wrote about that in her 1951 tome The Origins of Totalitarianism, in which she described loneliness as tantamount to the loss of ones own self because we are social creatures who confirm our identity in the company of others. The news hasnt improved since I started working on this article. Still, while doing so, Ive found myself in the company of others and thats reminded me of something. When you make yourself go out into the world, however scary it might seem, and act to make it better, the world does sometimes shift. The atoms really do move. Copyright 2026 Mattea Kramer Via Tomdispatch.com Penn Station, Pa. (Special to Informed Comment; Feature) Not how a war is being fought. Not whether the munitions are precise enough, or the exit strategy coherent enough. But why? What is the actual goal? Is it achievable? And is there any path that doesnt require killing people to get there? Somewhere along the way, this became an impolite question. The Iraq War built on fabrications, sold with PowerPoint slides about weapons that didnt exist ended no ones political career. No one went to prison. The architects of one of the most catastrophic foreign policy decisions in modern history collected book deals and speaking fees. We grieved the dead, eventually, quietly, and moved on. We learned nothing. Worse: we learned that there is no accountability. That war is one of the few human endeavors where failure has no consequences for those who ordered it. This is not just a failure of justice. It is a condition that makes the next war easier to start. Take Iran. The goal, we are told, is to prevent a nuclear-armed regime from threatening the region. A worthy goal. But worth asking: what was the JCPOA, if not a serious attempt to achieve exactly that through diplomacy, through verification, through building the conditions for something other than permanent hostility? The agreement was imperfect. All agreements are. But it was working. More than that: economic openness, even partial, creates constituencies for change. It builds civil society. It gives Iranians something to lose beyond dignity and something to gain beyond survival. The Islamic Republics grip on Iranian society is tightened, not loosened, by isolation and bombardment. You want to support the Iranian people? Let them breathe. Let their society grow. Instead, the deal was torn up. The alternative offered was maximum pressure, which turned out to mean maximum suffering for ordinary Iranians, and maximum consolidation of power for the regime organizations, which thrives in precisely the siege conditions the sanctions created. Now we are told bombs will do what diplomacy could not. Over a thousand Iranians have already died in this war to liberate Iranians. The Iranians best positioned to know, the opposition leaders, the activists, the women who have been risking their lives for years, are not asking for this. Listen to them. Trust them. They are not asking to be liberated by the same governments that arm their oppressors elsewhere, that look away from Saudi Arabia and Egypt and a dozen other places where inconvenient human rights violations simply dont make the agenda. And then there is Netanyahu. In 2015, before a closed Knesset committee, Benjamin Netanyahu was asked whether Israel would forever live by the sword. Yes, he said. No hesitation. No qualifications. That is the vision not a strategy toward peace, not an endgame, just the sword, indefinitely, as a way of life. He meant it. It is the one promise he has kept. Israel is now in its third year of a war that has consumed the countrys politics, resources, and moral imagination. It is also, not coincidentally, an election year one that should have been devastating for a prime minister on trial for fraud and bribery, whose failures on October 7th are still uninvestigated, whose government has prolonged every possible resolution for reasons that have more to do with his coalition arithmetic than any military logic. War, for Netanyahu, is not a last resort. It is a political environment. It is the one terrain on which he is most comfortable, the one condition under which scrutiny softens and opponents shrink. And they do shrink. Yair Lapid, leader of the opposition, declared at the outset that in wartime there is no opposition and no coalition. He meant it as patriotism. What it meant in practice was a blank check. No questions about objectives. No demands for alternatives. No accounting for what victory would actually look like, or for whom. Is there a better gift you could hand a prime minister under criminal indictment? The Israeli media, with very few exceptions, has functioned as an amplifier rather than an interrogator. The war is the message, and the message has been delivered, faithfully, day after day. In a society that needs desperately needs to ask hard questions about where it is going, the space for those questions has been nearly eliminated. File Photo. On February 4, 2025, President Donald Trump welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House.Executive Office of the President. Public Domain. Via Picryl . None of this is a defense of the Islamic Republic. It is a murderous regime that has killed, imprisoned, and tortured its own people for decades. The Iranian people deserve better. They have been saying so, loudly, at extraordinary personal cost. But to claim, without laughing, that Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu are waging this war out of concern for Iranian lives and freedoms two leaders with documented contempt for the rule of law in their own countries, two governments that maintain warm relations with dictatorships across the region when it suits them requires a suspension of judgment that borders on willful blindness. Caring about Iranian freedom means supporting Iranian civil society. It means not destroying the infrastructure that society needs to survive. It means not handing the regime the gift of external enemies to justify its grip on power. Every country has the right to defend its sovereignty. Iran included. The international community what remains of it after years of Trumps assault on every multilateral institution he could reach has an obligation not merely to condemn, but to restore diplomacy as a legitimate route. To say that international law is not a suggestion. To insist that there are questions that must be asked before the bombs fall, not after. What are we trying to achieve? Can it be achieved this way? What would it cost not in budgets but in lives? Is there another way? These are not radical questions. They are the minimum that any society owes itself before it agrees to kill and be killed. We have stopped asking them. That is the crisis underneath the crisis. Iran accused Israel on Tuesday of killing four of its diplomats in a weekend strike on a seafront Beirut hotel in what it called a "terrorist attack". Tehran's permanent mission to the United Nations said in a letter to the UN secretary-general that the strike early Sunday on the Ramada Hotel "resulted in the assassination and martyrdom" of four diplomats. The Israeli military had previously claimed responsibility for the attack. It said it had "conducted a precise strike targeting key commanders" in the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force, its foreign operations arm. The Iranian ambassador to the United Nations later Tuesday accused the Security Council of ignoring what he called a "grave terrorist attack" and a "war crime". "The Council is turning a blind eye to this grave violation despite its primary responsibility under the UN Charter to maintain international peace and security," Amir Saeid Iravani told reporters in New York. Germany's parliament speaker Julia Kloeckner stressed Berlin's ongoing support for Ukraine amid the Middle East war during a visit to Kyiv on Wednesday. "We are not losing sight of you in Ukraine -- on the contrary," Kloeckner told the Ukrainian parliament, becoming the first representative of Germany to address the chamber. "No democracy should become accustomed to a neighbouring state denying its right to exist. That is why we are offering Ukraine political, financial, humanitarian and military support." Later Kloeckner, 53, met President Volodymyr Zelensky. At a press conference alongside Zelensky, Kloeckner said that Germany "is not forgetting" Ukraine. German politicians have repeatedly called on the international community not to lose sight of Russia's war against Ukraine since US-Israeli attacks on Iran set off the new Middle East war. Kloeckner said that in her estimation Russian President Vladimir Putin is "anything but pleased about the... military operation against Iran" because "Iran is also one of Russia's major supporters". Since the United States under President Donald Trump scaled back most of its support for Ukraine last year, Germany has become Kyiv's biggest backer and has significantly increased its military aid. Berlin has pledged 11.5 billion euros in aid for 2026, including Iris?T air defence systems and Patriot batteries. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has also stressed that the Ukraine war remains "the greatest security policy challenge for Europe" despite the developments in the Middle East. Kloeckner praised Ukraine for remaining "capable of acting even under attack" and called for Russian war crimes to be documented and punished. "We owe this to the victims. And we also owe it to the future, to a good future. Because where crimes go unpunished, the next injustice grows," she said. "And Germany, dear Ukrainians, has stood and will continue to stand by your side." Kloeckner also praised Ukraine for the technological and military expertise it has built in the face of Russia's invasion. "Under the conditions of this war, you have built up capabilities here in Ukraine that others do not have, that are relevant to NATO... (and) the security of Europe," she said. Tuesday, March 10, 2026 - Prominent Thika businesswoman, Gladys Chania, is in mourning following the sudden death of her daughter, Precious Mwangi, who passed away in her sleep at the age of 27. Precious, an accomplished IT expert, lived in Nairobi and had built a decorated career in the tech industry. According to reports, she had been battling depression, which is believed to have been worsened by the tragic death of her father, George Mwangi. Gladys Chania first made headlines after she orchestrated the murder of her wealthy husband, George Mwangi, who was allegedly involved in an extra-marital affair. Georges body was later discovered dumped in Kieni Forest days after he was reported missing. Friends and family describe precious as a talented and promising young woman whose sudden demise has left loved ones devastated. See her photos below. The Kenyan DAILY POST Tuesday, March 10, 2026 - Marion Naipei, the woman who went viral after a controversial club video leaked by U.S-based medic, James Opande, has revealed that infamous city preacher Pastor Victor Kanyari caters to all her bills. Speaking during a TikTok Live session, Naipei claimed that Kanyari pays for her daily expenses, including her sons school fees. During the live broadcast, Naipei also lashed out at her critics, using harsh language while defending her association with the Salvation Healing Ministry preacher. Despite previously claiming that she had reformed and turned to church, her remarks surprised many online, as she mocked those criticizing her and described them as poor and living only by Gods mercy. Her close relationship with Kanyari has recently raised eyebrows on social media, with some observers speculating that there could be more to their association than what has been publicly disclosed. The video>>> has since triggered heated reactions on social media, with many questioning whether Naipei has truly left behind her controversial past despite joining the church. Some netizens did not hold back in the comment section. Kunguru hafugiki, one X user wrote. Kanyari thought he would save her, another added. Kanyari thought he would save her. pic.twitter.com/v4rtwl6efO Rodgers Kipembe Mpuru (@RodgersKipembe) March 10, 2026 The Kenyan DAILY POST Tuesday, March 10,2026 - An urgent warning has been sounded for visitors - especially solo women - heading to the KEFRI Forest in Kikuyu for picnics or relaxation. Reports indicate that at least 20 women have recorded statements of being assaulted and robbed in the past six months, with one tragic case of murder reported this month. One woman has shared her terrifying experience after visiting the forest with her son. Inspired by TikTok videos showcasing the serene scenery, she decided to explore the area. At first, the manicured grounds and tall trees looked peaceful, perfect for photos. But soon, she sensed danger. I was about five months pregnant at the time. From afar I noticed a man pacing toward us. Immediately, something felt off. I thought about being assaulted, robbed, even killed, she recalled. She quickly grabbed her son, jumped into the car, and told him to lie on the floor for safety. Before she could drive off, another man appeared from the opposite side. Panicked, she reversed through tall grass and sped off, shaking as she drove until she reached Kikuyu town. Months later, she learnt that a woman had been assaulted and killed in the same area. The chilling news confirmed her fears - that predators were targeting unsuspecting visitors. Kenyans are now calling on the police to act with speed and deal with these miscreants targeting unsuspecting women out on picnics. The Kenyan DAILY POST A MAN who pulled a knife during a row outside Athy courthouse asked for an 18-month sentence to help him through his alcoholism, was instead given nine months in prison from the day of his hearing, which would not impinge on his predicted release date from prison in October. This is not the first time Ive helped you, Im not helping you again, said Judge Desmond Zaidan to Stephen Martin (34), c/o Peter McVerry Trust, Kerdiffstown House, Naas, but formerly of Rheban Manor, Athy, who appeared in court for sentencing from custody where he is serving a jail term for an unrelated incident. The judge had given Martin the very same treatment almost exactly a year ago, for drunkenly threatening the staff in an Italian restaurant in Athy. This time Inspector Brian Norton told how gardai were called to Barrow Quay on 27 May 2024 after reports of a man producing a weapon, contrary to Section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act outside the Courthouse. It was a Stanley-type knife, said Inspector Norton. Not brandishing? asked the judge. No, judge. He was involved in a dispute and produced it then he threw it into the Barrow to dispose of it, said the Inspector, adding that Mr Martin had 189 previous convictions over the past 15 years. Every time he tries to do himself any good, tragedy ensues, said Donncha Craddock, defending. Alcoholism is his problem, and so he is asking for 18 months in prison to be imposed. It has been a plague on his life, which has also been very, very tragic. He had two children, one of whom died when only three years old, and very soon after his grandmother died. I have a letter here from Merchants Quay Ireland confirming he is awaiting admission there for treatment. At one point he had to choose between his parents and alcohol. He has promised his partner that this is to be his last charge, and he has a release date in October 2026, said Mr Craddock. Mr Martin has submitted two very well-written pages, noted the judge, confirming the mitigatory defence of Mr Craddock. He then sentenced Martin to another nine months in jail, but ordered it be served from the date of sentence on account of his early plea of guilty. This is not the first time Ive helped him, and Im not helping you again, warned the judge. 189 convictions in 15 years is very bad, he concluded. Vivienne Clarke Clare TD Cathal Crowe has expressed mixed feelings about the announcement on Tuesday by the Minister for Health for the development of a second hospital campus in Limerick for the midwest region. The 44-acre site at Raheen, Co Limerick, which cost 14 million, will be one of the biggest hospital campuses nationally. Crowe told RTE radios Morning Ireland that something more was needed for the region. People in Dublin had access to eight accident and emergency departments in their region; people in the Midwest had access to only one, he said. The reconfiguration of hospitals in 2009 which led to the winding back of three accident and emergency departments in the Midwest, "fails the region," Crowe said. "Ever since, we've been trying to acquire more accidents and emergency capacity, Minister Stephen Donnelly in the last Dail, commissioned this famous Hiqa review, which was a real positive. That concluded a few months ago. And then yesterday we found out that there will be a site for a new hospital build. And that in itself is good. While the new hospital announced by the Minister on Tuesday would alleviate pressure on UHL, for many people in Clare, the fact was that 40 per cent of the county still lived more than an hour away from a hospital environment. We're the most peripheral parts of the country in terms of access to healthcare. There's a lot of people in West and North Clare bitterly disappointed that whilst there is a hospital, and that is good, that it won't be in our county and that it's still quite peripheral for what their needs would be. Crowe pointed out that for someone living in a village in West Clare, the new hospital site will, at a minimum with no traffic, be about one hour 34 minutes from the new hospital site. With traffic later in the day, it would be a two-hour journey. People who advocate for patients in our county would say, what is the golden hour? There needs to be something major done now for Clare. The battle to deliver better healthcare in our county hasn't ended. It's only begun, if you ask me. And I think even simple things like better ambulance care and an air ambulance is going to be needed, but Ennis General Hospital can offer way, way, way more. "We just can't be in this incessant situation where we're too far from access to emergency care. Crowe said that acquiring a new site was good, but the geographical imbalance could not be dismissed and a huge amount more needed to be done for Ennis. AN UPDATE has been lodged with Kildare County Council in relation to the proposed wind monitoring mast for the highly contested Kilberry Wind Farm project, with developers insisting the structure will not have significant environmental or visual impacts, and will not disrupt Irish Air Corps operations. The proposed wind monitoring mast is seen as a step in potentially developing a wind farm in the area. However, Catherine Casey of the Stop Kilberry Windfarm Action Group, is calling the recent submission a masterclass in corporate arrogance. In a response submitted on 2 March, Kilberry Wind Farm DAC addressed the councils request for further information concerning the 120-metre wind monitoring mast proposed for Kilberry Bog, Loughabor, near Athy. One of the primary concerns raised by the council was the masts location within Military Operating Area 4 and the Athy Low Flying Tactical Training Area, where it could pose a potential obstacle to aircraft. The developer confirmed it engaged directly with the Department of Defence through meetings, and appointed two specialist military aviation consultants to assess the issue. The experts concluded that the temporary mast could safely co-exist with Irish Air Corps operations, provided standard international lighting and marking measures are applied. The developer argued that it would be unreasonable to sterilise approximately 1,000 hectares of land from renewable energy assessment due to what it described as a relatively small mobile low-flying training area, particularly in the context of national climate obligations. On the issue of associated infrastructure, Kilberry Wind Farm DAC clarified that two separate battery systems are required, one lightweight solar-powered system for climate instrumentation and data logging, and a second ground-based system to power aviation warning lights. Revised site layout plans, elevations and details of the auxiliary power system have now been submitted. In response to concerns over landscape and visual impact, the company submitted a full landscape and visual impact assessment, including photomontages from surrounding regional and local roads as well as designated scenic routes under the Kildare County Development Plan 20232029. An ecological impact assessment has also been carried out in line with CIEEM guidelines. The report concludes that the temporary mast will not have significant effects on habitats or species in the area, including the Hen Harrier population associated with the Slieve Bloom Mountains SAC. Proposed mitigation measures include working outside the March to August breeding season or carrying out nesting bird checks under ecological supervision if works proceed during that period. In its concluding statement, Kilberry Wind Farm DAC said it believes the additional documentation provides conclusive evidence that the mast does not pose an unmanageable risk to any of the above factors. Since its publication, members of Stop Kilberry Wind Farm Action Group have been trawling through the information submission by Kilberry Wind Farm DAC. It is the opinion of the groups founder, Catherine Casey, that the submission undermines authority of the Department of Defence (DoD): The latest submission from the developers of the Kilberry project is a masterclass in corporate arrogance, she said. After being met with a firm, expert rejection from the Department of Defence (DoD), the developers have responded with a patronizing 11-page 'lecture' that treats our national defence forces with absolute contempt. The 'aviation briefing' submitted by their UK-based consultant is an insult to the Irish Air Corps. It sneers at our militarys safety concerns, labelling them an 'outdated blanket ban' from 'decades ago'. It is the height of arrogance for a company to tell our sovereign military that their safety protocols are obsolete simply because they stand in the way of their project. She continued: Despite the DoD confirming the mast lies wholly within the Athy Low Flying Tactical Training Area, the developers report has the audacity to claim this airspace 'is not used much by DoD'. It is a disgrace that a desk-bound consultant in the UK feels qualified to tell Irish pilots that they don't actually need the very training grounds they use for life-saving manoeuvres at altitudes as low as 100 feet. Catherine called on Kildare County Council to reject the newly submitted information: We are calling on the Planning Authority to reject this bullying. National security is not a negotiable corporate hurdle to be cleared with expensive spin and condescending reports, she said. Bord na Mona needs to realise that our pilots' lives and our national safety are worth more than their bottom line." Kildare County Council will now assess the submitted material before making a determination. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme SEACHTAIN na Gaeilge 2026 is being celebrated across Kildare this week from Sunday 1 March to Tuesday 17 March featuring 17 days of Irish language, bilingual and multilingual events. Many of the events are supported by Kildare County Council through the Creative Ireland programme, Kildare Library and Arts Service and Kildare County Councils Irish Language committee Coiste Gaeilge. The festival will conclude on Tuesday 17 March with Feile Sraide La Fheile Padraig Nas na Riogh, the annual Irish Language Saint Patricks Day Street Festival organised by Cill Dara le Gaeilge. The event will take place on Naas Main Street from 2pm to 5pm, supported by Kildare County Council, through the Creative Ireland Eire Ildanach Programme. Members of the public are encouraged to contact their local library or local Irish language community group for details of events in their area. I look forward to Seachtain na Gaeilge every year, said cllr Carmel Kelly, cathaoirleach of Kildare County Council. Its a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our native language, culture and heritage, and I am so appreciative of the hard work that has been done by community groups, organisations, libraries and officers across the county to provide this vibrant and varied Seachtain na Gaeilge programme for the people of Kildare. Gaeilge is our national language. It is unique to our island and one of the world's oldest and most beautiful languages. It is also a vibrant living community language, with over 42 per cent of Kildares population reporting that they can speak Irish, and with Irish language community groups Grupai Pobail working to promote Gaeilge and organise events in all municipal districts. Irish is no longer seen as just a school subject or as something that has to be done. It can be a pleasure and a treasure for all, and it is great to see our language really coming back into our daily lives now and coming into the mainstream. Theres a great energy about the language now and the cupla focal goes a long way - a go raibh maith agat here and a slan go foill there. You will be surprised at how many people can answer you as Gaeilge, and at how happy they are to have the opportunity to do so. I encourage everyone to give Gaeilge a go this Seachtain na Gaeilge. Board games and sean-nos singing in Naas, storytelling in Celbridge, the Mobile Music school in Maynooth, films in Leixlip and arts and crafts in Kildare Town - these are just a sample of what is on offer, as well as our regular cirocal comhra groups and book clubs. This year, we welcome our Irish Writer in residence, Dubhan O Longain, in association with Maynooth University and Kildare Arts to read from his new book in Maynooth Community Library and immediately afterwards begin the first in his series of workshops for up-and-coming writers in Irish in Co. Kildare. Through Kildares Creative Communities programme, we are proud to support the Feile Sraide agus Ceili which will fill the streets of Naas with Irish language, music, dance and culture in a way that is accessible to everyone as we celebrate St Patricks Day. Irish was first seen in Ogham inscriptions in the fifth century and we are very fortunate to have in Cillin Chormaic, Baile Choilbhin, Contae Chill Dara (Killeencormack, Colbinstown, Kildare) the largest collection of ogham stones found at a single site in Leinster. Records published by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland show that a prosecution relating to Elite Events and Caterers, a catering service linked to an address in Mooncoin, Co Kilkenny, was heard on February 20, 2026. On June 21, 2025, a prohibition order was served by the Health Service Executives National Environmental Health Service on a food stall operated by Elite Events and Caterers during the Kerala House Carnival at Fairyhouse, Ratoath, County Meath. The order was issued under Regulation 29 of the European Union (Official Controls in relation to Food Legislation) Regulations 2020. The prohibition order related to a number of food items which were directed not to be used for human consumption or placed on the market. READ NEXT: Kilkenny farm sparks bidding war as large agricultural holding sells at auction According to the documentation, the order was made following concerns that large quantities of cooked and raw high-risk foods were being stored at temperatures that could pose a risk to health if consumed. The report recorded that cooked rice stored outdoors in a large pot was found to be held at temperatures between 29C and 40C and that foods had been stored outside critical temperature limits for a prolonged period in excess of four hours. The non-compliance was recorded as a breach of Regulation (EC) No. 852/2004 relating to the hygiene of foodstuffs. READ NEXT: Kilkenny-based daughter of Ryanair co-founder Christy Ryan to feature in new RTE documentary The prosecution was listed as being taken by the Health Service Executive and was recorded in records published by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. Elite Events and Caterers was contacted for comment but had not responded at the time of publication. Speaking recently, Mr Greg Dempsey, Chief Executive, FSAI, reaffirmed the legal requirement of all food businesses to ensure full and continuous compliance with food safety requirements. READ NEXT: GALLERY: Do you recognise any of these Kilkenny faces of old? "Food businesses are legally obliged to ensure that the food they provide is safe for consumers," he said. "It is critical that all food businesses maintain rigorous food safety practices and ensure staff are properly trained. Consumer health cannot be compromised, and there is no excuse for negligence in food safety when running a food business." CLICK HERE FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS The death has taken place of Fr Bernard Allon, a much-loved figure in Callan, Kilkenny and further afield. Formerly of Hexham and Newcastle Diocese, UK, he passed away peacefully, in the loving care of the staff at Sacred Heart Nursing Home, Crosspatrick, Kilkenny, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. He was pre-deceased by his parents George and Ellen, and his brothers and sisters. He will be deeply regretted and sadly missed by his sorrowing family, his sister Rita, his brother-in-law Barry, his nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, great grandnieces, great- grandnephews, all the members of LArche Community, Kilkenny, his many friends in Ireland and abroad, relatives and neighbours. READ NEXT: RIP - 'Well-known' Kilkenny postman and former hurler was 'loved by everyone' Councillor Joe Lyons, based in Callan, has expressed his sincere sympathy to Fr Bernard's family and the local L'Arche Community. "May his gentle soul Rest in Peace," he said. Another touching message of condolence reads: "Ah! Beloved Bernard. You once said that you felt like a bird with a broken wing and that under that wing others could find shelter. So many people found shelter under your wings. Fly freely now dear soul. Many will be waiting to welcome you home." Another post read: "Sending love and peace to all of Fr Bernard's family and friends. It was a gift to get to know Bernard through L'Arche Kilkenny many years ago. I remember his gentle nature, sincere hospitality, infectious smile and laughter, and kindness. He was a friend to all." READ NEXT: Brave Kilkenny teenager remains positive despite setbacks Fr Bernard left a lasting impression, evident also in this message from Luxembourg: "My heartfelt condolences to the family of Fr Bernard whom I got to know at the LArche Community in Callan many years ago. "I remember his friendliness, his sense of humour and enjoyment and love of community as well as his appreciation of poetry and art. "May Fr Bernard rest in eternal peace and may the good he passed on in his life offer comfort to you, his family and all his friends." Fr Bernard will be reposing in Molloys Funeral Home, Callan (Eircode R95 Y443) on Thursday, March 12 from 4pm with funeral prayers at 6pm followed by removal to The Church of the Assumption, Callan. READ NEXT: Kilkenny-based daughter of Ryanair co-founder Christy Ryan to feature in new RTE documentary His Requiem Mass will be on Friday, March 13 at 11am and burial will follow afterwards in Kilbride Cemetery, Callan. The Requiem Mass may viewed live on churchmedia.ie (Callan Parish). Ar dheis De go raibh a anam Irelands first showroom from German kitchen brand Kutchenhaus has opened its doors at Unit 2, Parklands Business Centre, Hebron Rd, Kilkenny, R95 KV5D. Owned and managed by Paula and Liam Holohan, Kutchenhaus Kilkenny is an immersive 3,300 sq. ft. space dedicated to German kitchen innovation and the latest styles, colours and finishes. Kutchenhaus, the UKs fastest-growing kitchen franchise, now operates a network of over 95 showrooms, with the launch of its Kilkenny space representing a key milestone and an important step in the brands continued expansion. Passionate about creating kitchens that truly amaze and offering a customer experience which leaves a lasting impression, owner Paula brings a wealth of industry experience and a distinctive personal touch to everything she does. Working previously as a kitchen designer and within graphic design, the new Kilkenny showroom is the culmination of her design flair and a commitment to quality. She comments: Opening the new showroom marks an incredibly exciting milestone, and we are thrilled to be welcoming our first customers through the doors. Our ambition is to challenge perceptions of the traditional kitchen and demonstrate just how much is truly possible in modern kitchen design. I have to pinch myself when I think of how far weve come and I joke that the new Kilkenny showroom is my baby, Im that invested and happy with it! Paula is joined by husband, Liam, who has worked in construction throughout his career and now takes up the responsibility of installation and customer service. Together, the pair will ensure customers receive an end-to-end experience with a family ethos. Photos by John Duffy Photography Stepping into Kutchenhauss first Ireland showroom, visitors can immerse themselves in an inspiring collection of beautifully crafted, on-trend designs across 12 different displays, each created to suit every lifestyle, layout and budget, complemented by appliances from brands including NEFF, Siemens, SMEG, Caple, Quooker, and Blanco. From range cookers to quartz worktops and Belfast sinks, the space seamlessly blends contemporary and classic styles, brought to life through a considered palette of coral tones, layered greens, greys and sleek black finishes, allowing customers to start envisioning their perfect new kitchen. Paula explains: At my core, Im a designer who loves working with people. My passion lies in solving kitchen challenges and creating spaces that truly delight my customers. When someone is making a big investment like a new kitchen, trust is everything, and I always take time to understand their needs and lifestyle. Over the years, Ive loved meeting so many different people and helping to transform their homes. She continues: Whether its young couples planning their future or older homeowners looking to create a more practical, comfortable space, I thrive on every new challenge, especially when I see the smile at the end of a completed project. Paula adds: Our goal is to inspire customers to think differently about modern kitchens. Everything they see when they visit Kutchenhaus Kilkenny can be incorporated into their own home. We want to educate, excite and bring more incredible kitchens to our city. On Saturday March 14, Paula and Liam will host their grand opening event at the showroom. Suitable for families, the day will include food tasting and a celebrity chef appearance, plus a ballroom dancing exhibition and live music into the evening. For more information and to speak with Paula and the team, please email showroom@kilkenny.kutchenhaus.co.uk. *Sponsored Content KIT succeeds in the Excellence Strategy, retaining its status as a University of Excellence. (Photo: Cynthia Ruf, KIT) Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) has been successful in the Excellence Strategy of the federal and state governments again. Following the review by international experts in early December last year, the Excellence Commission confirmed today (March 11, 2026) that KIT may continue to bear the title of University of Excellence. This comes with funding totaling up to EUR 105 million over the next seven years. The Excellence Strategy competition is the most demanding university competition in German science. Of the ten presently existing Universities of Excellence and one University Consortium of Excellence, nine universities and one consortium will continue to receive funding from January 2027. The Excellence Commission has decided today that KIT will remain one of Germanys selected Universities of Excellence. We are overjoyed. This is the reward for the great efforts of recent years, says Professor Jan S. Hesthaven, President of KIT. I would like to thank everyone who has supported the further development of KIT and believed in our renewed title win. We are delighted about this award and the funding as a University of Excellence. This will enable us to further strengthen our leading international position in research and to implement our Science for Impact vision even faster. This will be important because the challenges of our time require bold solutions that science and society must develop in close partnership. Without the success of our two Clusters of Excellence, we would not have been able to reapply for the title. It is here, where the decisive foundation was laid, for which I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone involved, emphasizes Professor Oliver Kraft, KIT Vice President Academic Affairs. Todays decision shows that we were able to convince the members of the Excellence Commission of our successes reached as a University of Excellence over the past seven years. These successes reflect that our research is among the best in the world and of great relevance to society. I am proud of our joint achievement. This is both an incentive and a mission for the future. Kraft also thanks everyone who contributed to the successful application for the University of Excellence title. KITs Excellent Research Performance Impresses Reviewers In early December last year, the international commission of experts conducted an onsite visit of KIT, where KIT presented its successes of the past years and its strategic plans for the years to come. Its research strengths lie primarily at the interface between engineering and natural sciences. They range from quantum technologies to battery and materials research to health technologies. The number of collaborative research centers acquired has increased significantly and more top positions have been reached in rankings. Researchers have received more awards. In addition, KIT established nearly 50 additional professorships, tripled the number of tenure-track professorships, and increased the proportion of women by a third. Moreover, KITs unique selling point is that it is the only university with a large-scale research mission. KITs Science for Impact vision has convinced the reviewers, as it consistently continues KITs way towards a modern and agile institution. Funding as a University of Excellence Will Strengthen Socially Relevant Research KIT intends to use the financial opportunities associated with its funding as a University of Excellence to successfully strengthen the three pillars of its vision shaping tomorrow, advancing science and innovation, and nurturing talents and to push them with targeted measures. The KIT Future Fields funding instrument will continue to support outstanding researchers across all disciplines by providing additional financial freedom to develop and implement forward-looking research projects. KIT will consistently expand its cutting-edge research. The Research Infrastructures in Research-oriented Teaching funding instrument contributes to integrating KITs large research infrastructures into innovative teaching and learning formats. To help master current challenges facing society, it is essential to reflect on scientific findings and test them in dialog with society. It is planned to link research and transfer activities even more closely with urban stakeholders in a Science City. In addition, KIT intends to invest even more in its own strengths in future. The two Clusters of Excellence in battery and materials research fit perfectly to the German governments high-tech agenda, as do the topics of cybersecurity, microelectronics, quantum and fusion research. Research into health technologies will be further expanded and the transfer of research findings into society will be promoted through the existing real-world laboratories. Excellence Strategy of the Federal and State Governments The aim of the Excellence Strategy is to strengthen Germanys position as an outstanding research hub in the long term and further improve its international competitiveness. The Universities of Excellence funding line serves to sustainably strengthen universities and further develop their leading international role in research. Ten Universities of Excellence and one University Consortium of Excellence exist until late 2026. Of these, nine universities and one consortium will be granted continued funding as of 2027 based on todays decision. To apply for the title, universities required at least two successful Clusters of Excellence. KIT succeeded in acquiring them in May last year. The Cluster 3D Matter Made to Order run in cooperation with Heidelberg University convinced the reviewers, as did research into viable solutions for electrochemical energy storage of the Post Lithium Storage Cluster that is operated together with Ulm University and the University of Gieen. Video statement by Professor Jan S. Hesthaven, President of KIT (available for download) More Information: https://www.dfg.de/en/research-funding/funding-initiative/excellence-strategy https://www.wissenschaftsrat.de/EN/Fields-of-Activity/Competitive_review_processes/Excellence-Strategy/excellence-strategy_node CNNs Stefano Pozzebon writes: It is less than two months since US special forces captured Venezuelas longtime authoritarian leader Nicolas Maduro during a nighttime raid in Caracas, yet it is hard to overstate how different the South American country now feels. Theres a new buzz, an optimism that, to be frank, I have never seen before. I moved to Caracas in 2016. So the author actually lives in the country. Last week, one of the most surreal moments I witnessed took place not in Caracas, but in a Chevron-run oil field in the middle of nowhere called Petroindependencia1. CNN was one of three international outlets invited to tag along, as Rodriguez chaperoned Wright around her country to showcase the potential of what are thought to be the largest oil reserves in the world. The moment seemed straightforward: two leaders visiting an industrial complex, shaking hands, smiling for the camera and making a nondescript speech or two. What I had not expected to see was Rodriguez and Wright traveling in the same vehicle with minimal staff, Rodriguez amicably switching from English to Spanish to make sure the secretary was comfortable, and the pair discussing the finer technical details of how oil wells work (crude de-emulsification processes, anyone?) So after 27 years of hostility, you have the two Governments working together cordially at the highest levels. Similar caution was palpable among several diplomats I spoke to. The consensus, at least among the international community, is that Venezuela is taking the first small steps toward democracy but that it should not rush ahead. Nobody in Caracas is fooling themselves: the country is on its knees, and a lot of work is required before Venezuela can be great again, but even the harshest critics must acknowledge the enthusiasm. Perhaps, the most surreal conversation I had was not hearing a Chavistapresident singing capitalisms praise, or friends who have been out of the country for eight years finally looking for a flight to Caracas; but a European diplomat who, after a long pause, told me: At least for now, weve got to admit that Trump got this one right. So far, so good. Weather Alert ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM SUNDAY TO NOON CDT MONDAY... * WHAT...South winds shifting to west 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph expected. * WHERE...Portions of south central, southwest, and west central Illinois and central, east central, northeast, and southeast Missouri. * WHEN...From 10 AM Sunday to noon CDT Monday. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution. && We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. BLACKPINK's Jisoo was announced as the 2026 recipient of the Madame Figaro Rising Star Award at the Cannes International Series Festival (Canneseries), where she will be honored during the opening ceremony on April 23 in Cannes, France. Canneseries confirmed on March 10 that Jisoo will receive the Madame Figaro Rising Star Award at this year's edition of the festival. The honor will be presented during the opening ceremony on Apr. 23, where she is scheduled to walk the festival's signature pink carpet to accept the prize. Canneseries 2026 will run from April 23 to April 28 in the French city of Cannes, according to Soompi. Festival organizers described Jisoo as a "global K-pop icon and rising television star" and said the award highlights a "promising personality to watch" in the series industry. The recognition is given in partnership with French magazine Madame Figaro and spotlights emerging talent whose careers are gaining international momentum. Canneseries artistic director Albin Lewi praised Jisoo's "artistic journey, her ability to conquer new creative territories, and her global aura" as key reasons for her selection. The festival noted that she represents a new generation of artists who move between music and acting and "cross borders" between different creative fields. Organizers also highlighted how her recent acting roles have strengthened her presence beyond K-pop. Jisoo first debuted as an actress in the 2021 Korean drama "Snowdrop." She recently returned to the small screen with the Netflix series "Boyfriend on Demand," which has helped expand her profile as a television actress. Jisoo, born Kim Ji-soo in 1995, rose to fame as a member of BLACKPINK, one of the world's most prominent K-pop girl groups, News18 reported. In addition to group activities, she launched a successful solo career with her debut album "Me" and the hit single "Flower," further building her global fanbase. Her move into acting has been seen as a key step in broadening her creative portfolio beyond music. The Madame Figaro Rising Star Award is presented each year to a rising figure in the series industry who has become an important presence in the field. Previous recipients include international actresses such as Sydney Sweeney, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Marie Colomb, Ella Purnell, Morfydd Clark, and Phoebe Dynevor, many of whom went on to lead major television projects. By adding Jisoo to this list, Canneseries signals confidence in her continued growth as both a global music star and a developing screen actress, as per Antara News. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. At least 1 injured, damage reported following overnight storms in McCurtain County as more storms approach the ArkLaTex Chinese political advisor warns against "intellectual laziness" as AI reshapes education Xinhua) 15:15, March 11, 2026 BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Students should be guided to use artificial intelligence (AI) rationally and avoid "intellectual laziness" as AI reshapes education and the role of teachers, a Chinese political advisor said on Wednesday. Xu Kun, president of Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications and a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, said AI is a double-edged sword that requires a commitment to "technology for good." Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the CPPCC National Committee, Xu outlined how AI is transforming learning by moving beyond standardized teaching to accommodate individual progress. "From the perspective of teaching, AI is reshaping the role of teachers," Xu said, adding that the technology frees educators from repetitive tasks and allows them to focus on inspiring creativity and curiosity in students. Xu described AI as a catalyst accelerating educational reform, envisioning a future learning environment that is open, data-driven and integrated with real-world scenarios. This, he said, would break down geographical barriers and make quality education accessible to all students. However, he stressed that while embracing AI's potential, it was also crucial to strengthen ethical education. "We must guide students to use AI properly and in moderation, avoiding intellectual laziness," he said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) By Danny Halpin, Press Association Law Reporter Gerry Adams had a command role in the IRA and ran his own fiefdom in Belfast, a former member of British Army intelligence has told the High Court. Known anonymously as witness A, the retired serviceman said that shortly after he arrived in Northern Ireland in 1972, he learned of Adamss involvement in the IRA. Giving evidence during a civil trial against the former Sinn Fein president, the witness said he had a good faith belief in information pointing towards Adams involvement with the organisation. The case has been brought by victims of three bombings in England: Jonathan Ganesh, who was injured in the 1996 London Docklands bombing; John Clark, a victim of the 1973 Old Bailey bombing in London; and Barry Laycock, a victim of the 1996 Arndale shopping centre bombing in Manchester. The three men allege that Adams was a leading member of the Provisional IRA (PIRA) on those dates, including of its Army Council, and are seeking 1 in damages. Adams denies ever being in the Provisional IRA and is defending the claim. In a statement for the trial, witness A said he first met Adams when he was arrested by British soldiers in 1973. He said: At this point, we realised that Adams was operating at a higher level in the IRA than once thought, given the fact he was with these other PIRA members when we arrested him, Adams must also have had a significant role. From this point onwards, I realised that Adams had a command role in the IRA regarding its strategy and terrorist operations. He also said that the Army Council had overarching control of all PIRA activity. Witness A added: My own beliefs are that Adams would not have been able to do what he did in the political arena if he had not been a member of the Army Council, and this includes all the time up to the Canary Wharf bomb in 1996. He continued: I understand that the decision to bomb GB mainland would have involved Adams, given that he was a member of the Army Council. Witness A sat behind a screen as he was cross-examined on Wednesday. James Robottom, for Adams, asked him: You have not yourself seen any first-hand evidence that he was in the IRA, have you? Witness A replied: I have spoken to people who were active in the IRA who had given information to me as to who else was involved. Barry Laycock is one of the men injured in IRA bombings who is taking legal action against Gerry Adams (Gareth Fuller/PA) When challenged on whether he had direct evidence about Adams being in a brigade in Belfast, he said: I had a good faith belief in the information we had that he was an active member of the IRA in that area at that time. Robottom also challenged him about his memory of when Adams was arrested by British soldiers in 1973. He said: Your evidence has been contaminated by all the things you have heard and read about Gerry Adams over the last 53 years. Witness A replied: Absolutely not. Robottom asked: Do you accept that your recollection is not reliable about Mr Adams? Witness A said: As I tried to explain to you before, my recollection of the events of that are, I am confident, accurate. Sinn Fein MP John Finucane (Yui Mok/PA) He also said he was absolutely not fabricating the story. Earlier in the day, retired British Army officer Richard Kemp said he believes Adams to have been a member of the Provisional IRA based on intelligence reports he saw during his time serving in the country. Speaking outside court after Kemp had given evidence, Sinn Fein MP John Finucane said the retired officer was unable to provide a single document to back up any of the evidence that he says he saw. He added: For me that was very noticeable and striking. The MP continued: I am struck by the concessions that he did make around the fact that as we know only too well, especially with our experience back home, that intelligence can be misleading and there were examples of that put to him and he did accept that. The trial, before Justice Swift, is due to conclude later in March. Nora Brennan (nee Duff), The Building, Knock, Ballinakill, Laois and formerly Orchard, Timahoe, Laois passed away peacefully on 11 March, surrounded by her loving family, at her daughter Margarets residence. Predeceased by her loving husband Bernie, brother Thomas Duff, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law. Sadly missed by her children Michael, Catherine (Cass), Brian, Margaret (Hennessy), Thomas and Noelle (Deveney), sons-in-law Michael, Tom and Sean, daughters-in-law Lorna, Audrey and Olga, her 16 adored grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, relatives, neighbours and friends. May Nora Rest in Peace. Reception of remains, to arrive at Knock Church, this Thursday evening for prayers from 6pm until 8pm. Removal from Noras residence by Whelehan Funeral Directors on Friday morning at 11.20am, to arrive at St Lazerians Church, Knock (R32 A3HA) for 12 noon Requiem Mass. Interment to follow in St Brigid's Cemetery, Ballinakill. Family flowers only, please. Donations, if desired, to Irish Cancer Society. The Brennan family would like to thank you for your support during this sensitive and sad time. Sympathisers can extend their sympathies on the online condolence facilities on RIP.ie. THE roads of Portarlington were abuzz earlier this week with the sounds of a tractor convoy. The Portarlington Lions Club recently held a successful tractor run in aid of a local child who needs necessary psychological and educational assessments. An annual event, this years tractor run featured a childrens circuit, with each child receiving a prize on the day. The event was organised with the help of local sponsorship, including 2,000 from Irish renewable energy company, Galetech Group Galetech is currently working on the Cushina Wind Farm project, a proposed 11-turbine wind energy development that would see the creation of wind turbines with blade tip heights of up to 220m, each expected to generate around 6.0 - 7.2 megawatts of energy. The proposed windfarm project would be located in the townlands of Clonsast and Raheenakeeran, Co Offaly. Deirdre Keegan, Galetach Group Community Liaison Officer, said: Galetech Group is very proud to be part of the Portarlington Tractor Run this year. The event has raised some important funding for a local child in need of these psychological and education assessments. We are working towards a sustainable future, and this extends beyond the renewable energy we generate. Galetech strives to operate in a responsible and sustainable manner for the benefit of all of our stakeholders, including those living close to our wind farm. Human smuggling attempts by the sea continue taking place at the western end of the southern border, according to Mexico's consul general in San Diego. Speaking to Border Report, Alicia Kerber Palma said authorities are seeing "these situations almost every weekend." "Smugglers seem to be taking advantage of the needs of the migrant community, not caring whether he leaves them in the middle of the ocean or on the shore," she added. Kerber Palma went on to describe human smugglers as "unscrupulous" and urged migrants not to risk crossing into the U.S. that way. "They don't care about the conditions the migrants are in, whether they are children or adults." Different attempts have made headlines over the past months. One of them took place earlier this year two Mexican nationals were charged s after a GPS mishap caused their panga to be stop functioning in the water. The vessel was carrying nine migrants when to U.S. Coast Guard encountered it floating 12 miles due west of Point Loma, California, around midnight. The boat had no navigation lights and was described by officials as being "dead in the water," according to Fox 5. The passengers had been charged between $6,000 and $14,000, according to Border Report. One passenger from China was reportedly charged $50,000. The passengers included five citizens of Romania, one from China, and three from Mexico. One of the passengers described a harrowing journey, noting that he feared the boat would capsize and thought he might die. Boat operator Noe Gastelum Ruelas reportedly told authorities that he and the boat's copilot lost track of their destination, saying he "did not know what happened to the GPS," according to Border Report. Moreover, over a dozen migrants were intercepted by the Coast Guard while aboard a vessel seeking to enter the U.S. through San Diego. The episode took place southwest of Point Loma. The boat was initially spotted by a military aircraft, which then gave the Coast Guard the coordinates to intercept it. Border Report cited authorities saying the interdiction was conducted without incident. Officers saw 16 people who claimed to be Mexican nationals seeking to enter the U.S. They were taken to Border Patrol custody. Elsewhere, three migrants died and several more went missing in early May after a boat capsized off the coast of California. Former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said she will seek the death penalty for the two alleged smugglers "based on a thorough review of both the Immigration and Naturalization Act and the Federal Death Penalty Act." Originally published on Latin Times In the world of US politics, few issues ignite as much debate as immigration, and this year the spotlight is once again on the Trump deportation promise. With a leadership change at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), commentators and policy experts are pushing the administration to expand its enforcement beyond just convicted criminals, toward a much broader immigration crackdown that could affect millions of undocumented migrants. This discussion doesn't just matter inside the United States; it ripples across borders and communities worldwide, shaping how millions view US border policy, human mobility, global labour markets, and international law. A Turning Point for US Immigration Strategy By early 2026, the Trump administration's approach to immigration and border security had already reshaped the enforcement landscape. Various executive orders signed shortly after President Trump's inauguration in January 2025, including Executive Order 14159, aimed to accelerate expedited removal, deny federal funds to sanctuary cities, and increase penalties for being unlawfully present in the US The first phase of this strategy focused on strengthening border security and deterring new arrivals. That was followed by operations such as Operation Safeguard, where Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) targeted undocumented migrants, prioritising those with violent criminal histories for detention and removal. But some experts now argue these efforts fall short of the sweeping mass deportations Trump promised on the campaign trail. Early statements from the president and his allies made bold claims about removing millions of migrants, far beyond the traditional prioritisation of serious offenders. New DHS Leadership, New Focus The recent departure of Kristi Noem as DHS Secretary and her replacement by Senator Markwayne Mullin mark a pivotal moment in immigration politics. Noem's tenure was marked by aggressive enforcement, but also by controversy, operational delays, and political backlash. Opinion writers and policy advocates now argue that DHS, under new leadership, should go beyond the current focus on the 'worst of the worst' criminal cases and adopt a broader strategy aligned with Trump's earlier rhetoric. The suggestion is that, to truly honour the Trump deportation promise, enforcement must encompass a wider group of undocumented migrants residing in the US The call isn't just about numbers; it's about changing the legal and social calculus for those living in the country without legal status. Some proposed tools include stripping work authorisations, tightening enforcement against employers of unauthorised workers, and closing pathways that allow undocumented migrants to avoid deportation. Human Impact Beyond Policy Rhetoric While political debates swirl in Washington, the real-world effects are already being felt. Reports indicate that millions of individuals have opted for selfdeportation through a rebranded DHS mobile app, CBP Home, which allows migrants to register their intent to depart and sometimes receive assistance. Tallies from migration data suggest selfdeparture figures in the millions, illustrating how some migrants choose to leave rather than face uncertain futures. At the same time, forced removal remains controversial. Immigration advocates warn that deportations on a larger scale would break families apart, disrupt labour markets, and strain diplomatic relations with countries that must receive returned citizens. Such consequences have social, economic, and diplomatic dimensions that stretch far beyond US borders. For example, a significant recent court decision blocked the administration from ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for about 350,000 Haitian migrants, spotlighting the legal complexities of enforcement and the humanitarian implications for those facing forced return to unstable homelands. SCOOP: White House tells House Republicans to stop talking about mass deportations https://t.co/uczNL65MOL Axios (@axios) March 10, 2026 The International Angle: What It Means Abroad Internationally, countries with large diasporas in the US are monitoring these changes closely. Some governments have urged their citizens to seek legal status before enforcement measures tighten further, while NGOs and human rights organisations have raised concerns about due process and the treatment of asylum seekers. Economists also look at the potential labour shortages that could arise if millions of undocumented workers are removed from sectors like agriculture, construction, and services. The political and social fallout could influence bilateral relations, trade negotiations, and international perceptions of US leadership on human rights. What's Next As policy debates continue in Congress and within the Trump administration, one thing is clear: the discussion around border policy and deportations is far from settled. Whether DHS expands its scope toward broader enforcement will depend on legal challenges, political will, and public sentiment at home and abroad. What remains undeniable is the human consequence of these policies, for migrants, border communities, and the international community that watches US actions as a bellwether for migration governance in the 21st century. Originally published on IBTimes UK 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. Laois and Offaly students took part in the national Irish language competition Muintearas 26 recently, with President Catherine Connolly also in attendance. Muintearas 26 provided a national platform for Irish-medium ETB schools to articulate their collective hopes and ambitions for the future entirely through the Irish language. The competition's themes ranged from climate action and technological innovation to mental health, equality, inclusion, respect and the continued growth of the Irish language in Irish society. Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board (ETB) students Cuileann Ni Mhurchu, OJ OLaighleis, Aoife Ni Niallain and Kayla Ni Bhroin from Colaiste Dhun Masc in Portlaoise attended the competition and showcased their flair for the language. The gathering of Irish-medium schools was hosted by Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI) and featured a very special guest, with President Catherine Connolly in attendance. READ NEXT: Laois students exhibit their expertise in Croke Park President Connolly gave an address on the day and engaged with students, commending their leadership and creativity. Speaking at the event, President Connolly said: "It gives me courage and hope, as President of Ireland, that it is clear that young people understand how important it is for respect to be the basis of any human interaction, that we would be able to respectfully accept different backgrounds and identities, and that it is from this foundation that a kind and compassionate society of the future will grow." Also on the day, the participating schools took part in a Poster Competition which showcased the student's vision for Ireland in the future. The Schools Presentation Competition saw students deliver compelling presentations about issues in their communities and possible solutions. With all of this done through Irish, the standard of discussion and fluency of students was widely praised by attendees. Students also participated in round-table discussions and exchanged ideas with peers from Irish-medium ETB schools across the country. Commenting on the importance of the event, Muintearas '26 Coordinator Gean Gilger said: "Muintearas 26 gave students a powerful opportunity to meaningfully discuss issues that are close to their hearts, through Irish, and with confidence. "When students realise that their ideas are being listened to at a national level, it strengthens not only their belief in themselves, but also their belief in the value of their language and their education." Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme Meet 73-year-old retired teacher Doreen Ryan from Kildare whose story proves that age is not a boundary, especially when it comes to helping to save lives in her community. Doreen is originally from Galway and moved to Naas, Co Kildare in 1979. She has lived in the town ever since. Doreen is very involved in the Naas community and spends her free time sewing costumes or giving painting classes in the Moat theatre in Naas, or volunteering as a Naas Community First Responder. After 20 years as a teacher, Doreen has found fulfilling ways to fill her free time, keep herself active and involve herself in her community. READ NEXT: Kildare driving instructor caught with mobile phone behind the wheel - Kildare Live She said that she came across a post on Facebook about volunteering for Naas Community First Responders. Naas CFR currently has 17 volunteers in the Naas area who respond to emergency calls such as choking, chest pain, stroke and cardiac arrest emergency calls. The group cover a 5km radius of Naas and surrounding areas including Sallins & Johnstown and often arrive ahead of the ambulance to administer medical assistance and support. The group also offers community engagement and education on CPR, choking and AED training and awareness sessions. Doreen said that when she saw the post she said: "God, that might be something I'd be able to do. And I didn't even know that they existed. "So I made inquiries and I was encouraged to come along to a training session and that's how it started. I must say they were very welcoming, very supportive." Doreen said that she joined in 2018 and "never looked back." "I was nervous initially, obviously, because I had no idea of what to expect. I had the basic outline of the kind of calls but obviously, if you're not trained for something, you're not sure what it is. "So it's a case of being trained and saying, would I be able for this? And then going on calls with other people. You would never, when you're starting off, go on a call on your own. You would always go with at least one other person who was experience." Doreen said that she found the training provided so good that when she was on calls she always knew exactly what to do. She has found the last number of years at Naas CFR very rewarding. "There's great satisfaction in being able to help people and while it might not always be medical help, it could be moral support, but it is very satisfying. "The support that you get from the public and their attitude towards us is extremely positive and the attitude of the paramedics when they come on scene is very positive as well. It's nice being able to help people." Doreen said that the group is always looking for new members and donations. The group is volunteer based and relies on donations from the public alone. "It's very difficult to fundraise as a volunteer group, it's not easy, but we've been very lucky in that people have been generous. It's a very important service. And it is something that anybody can do. "I have asthma and COPD, and I have absolutely no difficulty using any of the skills that we have been taught. So anybody can do it. "And I figure that if 73 going on 74, if I can manage it anybody can manage it." When asked how long Doreen plans on volunteering for Naas CFR she said, "until they kick me out!" If you are interested in becoming a Community First Responder, you can find more information here. Local Fianna Fail TD and Minister James Lawless has welcomed the issuing of a Letter of Intent by the Department of Education for a significant new school building project at St Marys Girls Post Primary in Naas, Co. Kildare. The project forms part of the Departments Large Scale Capital Programme and will deliver a new school building with a capacity of 1,000 pupils, including six dedicated Special Education Needs (SEN) classrooms. Minister Lawless said the announcement represents very positive news for the entire school community, including the principal, board of management, staff and students. READ NEXT: Almost 1.5m funding announced to bring vacant social homes back into use in Kildare This is very welcome and positive news for St Marys Girls Post Primary in Naas. The issuing of a Letter of Intent marks an important milestone in progressing this project and ensuring the school has the modern facilities it needs to support students now and into the future, Minister Lawless said. The new development, designed to accommodate up to 1,000 students and including six dedicated SEN classrooms, will greatly enhance the learning environment and support inclusive education. Minister Lawless also acknowledged the work and commitment of the school leadership and community in progressing the project. I want to commend the principal, the board of management, staff and the entire school community for their continued engagement and commitment. I will continue to work closely with the Principal and the school to ensure this new development progresses as quickly as possible and that the project moves forward to the next stages without delay. With the Letter of Intent now issued, the next step in the process will involve finalising contracts before construction can proceed. Minister Lawless said he looks forward to seeing the project progress and to the delivery of modern, high-quality educational facilities for students in Naas and the wider Kildare area. Dunnes Stores has more security staff than customers in its outlets. This was the comment made by Judge Desmond Zaidan at Naas District Court. He was hearing the case of a woman who took items worth a total of some 45 on two dates in February 2026. Judge Zaidan commented that there is somebody monitoring TV screens in the stores apart from staff walking around the shops. How did she hope to get away with it, ? he asked. READ NEXT Gardai issue important update in relation to search for Kildare man Solicitor Joe Coonan said the woman is a refugee from the war in Ukraine, who has family members living in the east of the country with Russian forces close by. He said she lives in an IPAS centre, which provides temporary accommodation and support services to people seeking international protection (asylum) in Ireland. Mr Coonan said the defendant is a very qualified woman who worked as a steel engineer in her own country. Judge Zaidan applied the Probation Act and urged the woman to contact organisations like Vincent De Paul if she is in need. There should be no lag in energy companies reducing rates if oil prices stabilise, the Tanaiste has said. Simon Harris said he was hopeful a decision by the International Energy Agency to release oil reserves would have a positive impact on prices for consumers and businesses. The 32 member countries of the agency agreed today to make 400 million barrels of oil from their emergency reserves available to the market to address disruptions stemming from the war in the Middle East. The Finance Minister said the action makes sense as it would increase supply and give certainty in the market in the coming weeks, reducing volatility. This week, EU energy commissioner Dan Jorgensen said it was unacceptable that Europeans are struggling to pay utility bills on time as he recommended that governments should lower taxes and levies on energy. Asked if the Irish Government was reluctant to follow that advice due to the benefit to the Exchequer, Mr Harris said: No, I think the context of what the energy commissioner was saying was that while theres things that can be done at a European level, theres also things that are available in the toolkit of a member state. Mr Harris said he remained deeply concerned that prices at fuel pumps had not fallen with reductions in oil prices. Speaking to reporters in Paris, he said the Government was not ruling out action but said any steps taken had to be appropriate. He also said that home heating oil fills happening before the summer months would not be affected by the carbon tax increases on May 1. Were genuinely working on this, were monitoring this, and were working with European colleagues but the most helpful thing we can do right now is try and ensure positive news around supply, he said. Asked about the cost of home heating oil increasing at a far higher rate in Ireland than the rest of Europe, the Tanaiste said the fact that the country uses kerosene was a factor in the disparity. However, he said the speed at which companies hiked up their prices following the outbreak of war was instantaneous and concerning. He said that, if oil prices stabilise, energy companies should not have any lag in reducing their rates. The Finance Minister said: The speed at which prices rose was a lot quicker than the economic advice available to me suggested it should have. And all Im saying is, if you were able to hike up the prices that quickly, if we get to a situation its a very big if, because theres huge volatility at the moment but if we get to a situation where theres some stabilisation in oil prices, I hope those who hiked things quickly would be as quick to reduce things. Mr Harris said he hoped a Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) probe into price increases in home heating oil and fuel would be urgent and thorough, adding it was his belief that it would take a matter of weeks. He said it really needs to be scrutinised how different filling stations saw big disparities in price increases since the war. He said the CCPC had powers to fine companies millions of euro and secure convictions in the courts. While Mr Harris visit to Paris was ongoing, French President Emmanuel Macron held a Nuclear Energy Summit in the city on Tuesday. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen told the conference that the decision to reduce the share of nuclear energy in the EUs electricity production mix was a strategic mistake. Asked for his view on the comments, Mr Harris said the two leaders were right to be highlighting energy security as the EU was too reliant on fossil fuels from outside of the bloc. However, he said Ireland had no plans to change its energy framework and added that renewables was an area where progress needed to be made. Ireland is on track to miss its renewable energy targets up to 2030, at a potential cost of billions of euro in penalties. He said: From an Irish perspective, we have to be restless now about being able to deliver energy infrastructure in a more speedy manner. Kildare Community Rally at Dementia Inclusive Event in Newbridge The local community came together as The Alzheimer Society of Ireland (The ASI)s Friends of ASI hosted a dementia inclusive community event in collaboration with Senator Fiona OLoughlin, Co Chair of the All Party Oireachtas Group on Dementia at the Keadeen Hotel, Newbridge, County Kildare, on Thursday, February 26. The event aimed to increase understanding of dementia and encourage local people, businesses, and community services across Kildare to help build a more dementia inclusive community. Senator Fiona OLoughlin, Co-Chair of the All Party Oireachtas Group on Dementia, said: As Co-Chair of the All-Party Oireachtas Group on Dementia, I am proud to support this Friends of ASI event. This marks an important step in making Newbridge a dementia-friendly town. This initiative shows how national leadership and local action can come together to support people living with dementia and their families. Creating a dementia-inclusive society is not just a health issue, it is a social and political responsibility. By working together across communities, services, and government, we can ensure that people living with dementia and their families are met with understanding, compassion, and meaningful support. READ NEXT: Calls for EV charging infrastructure in north Kildare Head of Operations and Community Engagement at The ASI, Siobhan OConnor said: "The Friends of ASI initiative has received an overwhelming response, with many eager to learn more about what it is like to live with dementia and how they can support those affected by the condition. The Alzheimer Society of Ireland is thrilled to bring this important conversation to the community." Regional Operations Manager, Heather Musgrave at The ASI, said: "Dementia can be an isolating condition; for the person with the diagnosis and for their families. Communities play a crucial role in helping people live well with the condition. This marks the first Friends of ASI dementia inclusive community event in County Kildare, building on the strong network of active Friends of ASI communities already established nationwide. Friends of ASI is a dementia-inclusive programme. It includes training, awareness, education, and services and aims to encourage people, businesses and services to create a more nurturing and accepting environment for people living with dementia and their families in their community. People living with dementia are among the most marginalised in our society and can often face social exclusion and stigma. This initiative is working alongside the HSEs Dementia: Understand Together campaign. Dementia: Understand Together, a national partnership between The ASI, HSE, Age Friendly Ireland, Age & Opportunity, Dementia Services Information and Development Centre and Healthy Ireland, encourages community members and people living with dementia to make their communities more dementia-inclusive. The ASI provides ongoing support for people with dementia and their families in Kildare. In 2023, the organisation opened the Kildare Day Care Centre in Kildangan. The ASI offers a wide range of services across the county, including Day Care, Home Care, Social Clubs, and access to a Dementia Adviser. For more information about this event and the Friends of ASI dementia inclusive community initiative, please contact friendsofasi@alzheimer.ie or visit alzheimer.ie Gearoid Gilheany, transport manager for a large fleet of hauliers in Leitrim said that a "near fatal" accident near Carrick-on-Shannon could have been avoided if the hedges on the side of the road had been cut. Speaking about the incident to the Leitrim Observer, Mr Gilheany said: "There was an accident, about a month, involved two trucks. That section of road would benefit an awful lot from having a view of what's coming before you actually come to the corner and I can think of an awful lot of other places where cutting the hedges would be a big benefit to road safety." He added: "They talk about road safety and the number of deaths but there are, in my opinion, relatively cheap options to improve views at junctions and improve corners where people have to slow down. You need to be able to anticipate what's coming around the corner and drive accordingly. These roads that are designated as regional roads but don't seem to be of the standard of regional roads." READ MORE: It's not a luxury: Leitrim TD calls on Government to intervene on through the roof fuel prices He continued: "Very fortunately that day, there were no injuries; it was just material damage. I'm in the haulage industry over 50 years as a driver and that had the potential to be a fatality and that's why I feel that a cheap option would have been just to cut the hedge and then put the cost back on the landowner because they are legally obliged to make sure the hedges are safe. The house there seems to be derelict but in my opinion, the council in those cases should just go and cut the hedges and charge wouldn't be significant." Mr Gilheany's fleet travel through counties Leitrim, Longford and Westmeath and while he said that Leitrim County Council is one of the "better councils for keeping roads in good condition", overgrown hedges are "costing us a lot of money and it's very dangerous where we have to go out over the white line to avoid breaking our mirrors or damaging our trailers. The impression I get is that it seems difficult for the council to follow it up; they have to establish who the last owner was and might not get a response from the landowner." It is illegal to cut hedgerows in Ireland between March 1st and August 31st under the Wildlife Act which Mr Gilheany said will further complicate matters. "Are the government prioritising the environment over people?" At a council meeting back in October, a response to a motion about hedge cutting, stated that the under the Roads Act, the council can issue a hedge/tree cutting notice to the land owner requesting that they carry out works and after a period of inaction, the local authority can carry out the works and pursue the land owner for these costs through the legal system. READ MORE: Pregnant and homeless - Leitrim mother shares struggle in emergency accommodation District engineer, Emma Donohoe said regarding the notices, "most people do act on them and then we'd send a follow-up letter if necessary." Director of services, David Minton said that "enforcement in relation to road safety is critical. No local authority wants to take people to court for hedge cutting but there are a number of serial offenders around the county and a lot of correspondence being ignored and I think we need to be seen to enforce the legal powers we have." The death has occurred of Fr. Robert (Robbie) Morrow, Beaghbeg, Carrigallen, Leitrim and Diocese of Salford, England who passed away peacefully on 8th February 2026, at Little Sisters of the Poor Care Home, Manchester, in his 91st year, in the 67th year of his Sacred Priesthood. Predeceased by his sister Marie, his brother Joe and nephew Enda. Fr. Robbie will be sadly missed by his sister Elizabeth, his brother Jimmy, his nieces and nephews, their spouses and partners, his extended family and his many friends and parishioners across the Diocese of Salford, who will remember him with great affection and gratitude. Ordained to the Priesthood on 31st May 1959 at St Kieran's College, Kilkenny, Fr. Robbie served the Diocese of Salford with dedication for over 50 years, most notably as Parish Priest of St. Joseph's, Bury (19852009). READ MORE: Leitrim stands out in new driving study with good news for learner drivers Fr. Morrows ashes will be returned to Ireland to be buried at St Marys Church, Carrigallen following mass there at 12:00 noon on Saturday, 14th March 2026. One comment on RIP stated: "Truly saddened on learning of Fr.Robbie's passing. Whilst his ministry in Salford is perhaps, legendary, I remember him as one of a Leaving Cert quartet in Moyne Latin School when I was a somewhat green first year. Only Fr Peter Beglan remains of those young priests: Frs Mike J.Doyle, Sean Cooke and Robbie Morrow, each of whom went on to grace the Lord's vineyard with distinction in Camden, New Jersey, Clonbroney and Salford." READ MORE: Leitrim principal speaks on teaching shortage ' It's a difficult job and it's not for everyone' Another spoke of his warm manner: "Father Morrow was one of the priests who would visit The Hollies FCJ Grammar school in the 1970s and 80s. He was a popular priest who could relate to young people. When I was arranging our Fifth Form Leaving Dance in 1980, as I did the seating plan, I placed him with me and my Mum and Joan Danaher and her parents. He had a warm style and manner, and I have never forgotten him. RIP." Irish trainer and amateur jockey Declan Queally has claimed he was abused by a rival rider before the opening race on day two of the Cheltenham Festival. The Waterford native was preparing for the start of the 1.20 Turners Novices' Hurdle when a tense exchange took place on the track involving fellow jockey Nico de Boinville. Footage of the incident later appeared during ITV's live broadcast, seemingly showing the pair in a heated moment before the race got underway. Queally, who was riding I'll Sort That, appeared to move aside to allow De Boinville and his mount Act of Innocence through as the field gathered for the start. Speaking after the race, Queally said the exchange had taken place in front of his children. READ MORE | GAA Guide: When and where to watch seven live League games on TV and stream this weekend "Being abused by an English rider, Nico de Boinville, wasn't very nice," he said. "I'm an amateur, I'm coming over here, riding in front of my kids. Horrific." De Boinville was later asked about the moment during the ITV coverage and offered a brief response. "Maybe he (Queally) should look in the mirror." The incident was also discussed by pundits during the broadcast, with racing legend Ruby Walsh weighing in ahead of the next race. "It's all great fun and games isn't it, but I think that's the same Nico who won Jonbon last year and put his head on the tape so maybe he needs to look in the mirror too," Walsh said. "But I do think Ed that you need a rolling start, I've said it for a long time that if the horses walked out and lined up behind the tape, that then moved in front of the horses then you'd have none of this drama. "I think that is the mechanism that is required," he added. READ MORE | 'Don't drink and drive' - Irish drivers urged to 'be responsible' over St Patrick's Day weekend ITV pundit Luke Harvey also referenced previous debate around race starts at Cheltenham. "The other day there was an article about the starts and the amount of false starts they have here at Cheltenham, and Nico was quoted as saying 'part of the blame are the Irish jockeys who come over here and don't know the rules and the amateur riders'." In the race itself, Paul Townend went on to claim victory aboard King Rasko Grey for Willie Mullins. De Boinville finished second on Act of Innocence, while Zeus Power and Soldier Reeves followed before Queally and I'll Sort That completed the top five. " " The Arctic fox's coat turns white during the winter to provide camouflage in the snow. Blanka Berankova / Shutterstock The arctic animals that live in the far north survive in some of the harshest conditions on Earth. Winter temperatures plunge far below 0 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 18 degrees Celsius), sea ice drifts across the Arctic Ocean, and darkness lasts for months. Yet animal life thrives across the Arctic region. From apex predators like polar bears to tiny seabirds nesting in large colonies, Arctic wildlife has evolved thick fur, clever migratory patterns, and surprising survival tricks. Advertisement Here are 12 remarkable species that thrive across the tundra, pack ice and cold Arctic waters. These animals live across the Arctic Circlefrom the Canadian Arctic and Baffin Island to the Russian Arctic, the Svalbard archipelago, and the icy coasts of east Greenland and west Greenland. A woman killed following a single-vehicle collision in north Sligo has been named locally as Dr Mahbuba Akhter, who was living in Donegal. The Bangladeshi doctor, 55, who had not been practising in recent years due to illness, was pronounced dead at the scene at Grellagh, Castlegal, Co Sligo on Monday. Her body was removed to the mortuary at Sligo University Hospital (SUH) for a post-mortem examination. Her husband and a passenger in the car, Letterkenny University Hospital doctor Faruk Hossain, was brought to SUH, where his condition was described as critical. Their children, the driver - a male in his 20s - and the third passenger in the car - a male juvenile teenager - were treated for non-life-threatening injuries at SUH. It is understood that the family had been travelling home to Letterkenny from Castlebar, Co Mayo A GoFundMe called Support Dr Farooq and his children after tragic accident has been set up by colleague Mohamed Rashed Mohamed from Letterkenny University Hospital Emergency Department, gathering over 42,000 in its first 24 hours. It reads that Dr Farooq is currently in critical condition after undergoing surgery and is now receiving intensive care at Sligo University Hospital. As a colleague, friend, and beloved member of the community, Dr Farooq has always been there for others in their time of need. Now, he and his family need our support more than ever. We are deeply saddened by the heartbreaking loss of his wife, who died in the same accident. Their children were also in the car during the incident, adding to the immense trauma this family is enduring. Please keep Dr Farooq and his children in your thoughts and prayers. Any support you can give will help ease some of the burdens facing the family during this profoundly painful time. READ MORE: Pregnant and homeless - Leitrim mother shares struggle in emergency accommodation An Garda Siochana is appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the collision to come forward. Gardai and emergency services responded to the incident, which occurred on the N15 at approximately 3:30am on Monday. The N15 between Bundoran and Sligo had been closed later that morning for technical examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators. Road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling on the N15 at Castlegal between Cliffoney and Tullaghan between 3:10am and 3:40am on Monday, March 9, are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardai, An Garda Siochana said. Anyone with information is asked to contact Sligo Garda Station on 071 9157000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station. Investigations are ongoing. Bunnings has been named Australia's most trusted brand, followed by Aldi and Kmart. (Source: AAP/Getty) Aussies have named Bunnings as the most trusted brand in the country, with the hardware giant retaining its position for the last two years. Supermarket giant Woolworths was dealt a blow and named the most distrusted, with rival Coles following not too far behind as both landed in hot water with the consumer watchdog. Roy Morgans latest quarterly rankings saw the top three most trusted places remain unchanged for the eighth consecutive quarter, with discount supermarket Aldi in second place and affordable retailer Kmart in third place. Commonwealth Bank rose one spot to fourth place, which marked a record high for the nation's biggest lender. Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine said banks had been improving their positions, with Westpac moving up a spot to 13th, Bendigo Bank into 15th place and NAB up two places to 17th. RELATED The broader overall industry rankings show the Banking industry rising another four places to fourth overall in the most recent quarter and now up a stunning 14 places from six months ago, she said. Levine linked the rise in trust to greater regulation of the industry, noting there had been growing confidence among Aussies since the final recommendations from the Royal Commission were implemented in September 2023. In the most distrusted rankings, Woolworths was followed by Optus in second place, social media giant Facebook in third, and Coles in fourth place. The ACCC is currently suing both Woolworths and Coles over alleged misleading 'Priced Dropped' and 'Down Down' claims. Coles was the first of the pair to face court last month, with an upcoming case against Woolworths to follow. Roy Morgan's most and least trusted brands for the December quarter. (Source: Roy Morgan) Optus notably performed worse by two places over the quarter, following the telcos fatal triple-zero outage in September. Levine said the default for the telco industry was deep distrust, pointing to Optus cyberattack in September 2022 and the triple-zero outage in September 2025. The hits just keep on coming for telecommunications companies, and distrust continues to rise, she said. The research also revealed increasing distrust in leading AI and tech companies, such as Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Tesla. Chinese fast fashion brands also made the most distrusted list, with Temu in fifth spot and Shein in 10th. Get the latest Yahoo Finance news - follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. Aussies face a heartbreaking decision before they head home, as the conflict in Iran continues to destabilise the Middle East, leading to the exodus of thousands of expats. The pedigree pets they paid thousands for in cities like Dubai are challenging to bring home to Australia because there is a moderate risk of rabies and other dangerous diseases being brought home from the region. Louise Hastie from the UK-registered charity War Paws spoke to Yahoo News from her shelter in Iraq, close to the airport in Erbil, which had been bombed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said she could guarantee some Australians will choose to abandon their pets before leaving cities like Dubai. But they should know better than to adopt animals in the Middle East, because Australia has the toughest quarantine laws in the world, she said. Generally, when a pet has been in one of these countries, theyre going to be more at risk of diseases Australia doesnt want. Jack Russell-cross Ronnie was thrown out of a car in front of a shelter in Iraq. Source: War Paws Shelter receives 'panic calls' from pet owners Dubai-based shelter K9 Friends confirmed with Yahoo News that it had received panic calls from residents who are considering leaving but dont know what to do with their dogs. In most cases, knowing about reliable relocation services has eased their concerns, a spokesperson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most of these calls are from nervous owners just exploring both options in case they have to make an urgent departure. They are not instantly acting upon it. They just want the right information. Travel experts can help pet owners Based in the UAE, Linda Tedd organises the transport of domestic animals through her company Pet Express. There are pets shes trying to bring into Melbourne, but it will be difficult to transport anything before April. Speaking of the Iran conflict in general, she said it had sparked a panic in Dubai, and some expats were driving to the border with Oman only to find they couldnt bring their pets. Because border control won't let them in with incorrect or no documentation, the people are just dumping their pets and carrying on themselves, she lamented. Australian authorities assessing applications for pet importation Australias agriculture department (DAFF) confirmed there has been an increase in requests for variations to existing permits as travel arrangements change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But it is yet to see significant growth in import permit applications. (DAFF) is continuing to monitor the situation in the Middle East, and is assessing applications to import companion animals through the normal rigorous process that maintains Australias high level of biosecurity protection, a spokesperson told Yahoo News. Carol was dumped at a shelter in Iraq with two young puppies. Source: War Paws Disturbing stories of dog abandonment in Iraq Despite ongoing concerns about nearby bombing, Hastie has declared she will not abandon the dogs at her shelter. If this ship goes down, I go down with it, she said. She said abandonment is an ongoing issue that Iraq faces, but theres been a significant trend in recent months of dumping smaller dogs, which appear to be owned by expats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reggie, a border terrier-cross, and Ronnie, a Jack Russell-cross, were thrown out of a car in front of her shelter weeks ago. Reggie had recently been groomed and still had doggie perfume on him when he was dumped, Hastie said. Another terrier-sized dog, Carol, was dumped in the shelters driveway with her puppies around the same time. I have lost count of the number of foreigners in Erbil who have ditched their pets on us, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They lose their jobs, and of course, they have made no provision to take their pets home. But she said locals were also guilty of abandoning their animals as they head to safe countries. A lot of people will buy their pet from a breeder, keep it in a boarding kennel during the week and only take it home on the weekend, she said. So theres no bond, the dog isnt family. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. In accordance with the 1986 Constitution, President Joseph N. Boakai, Sr. (left) has begun consulting with the Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon (middle) and Senate Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence (right) regarding the governments response to Guineas military incursion on Liberian soil. SHANNON Airport is set to enjoy one of its busiest St Patricks Day periods, with 40,000 passengers expected through its doors - a 7% increase compared to 2025 figures. Niall Kearns, Airport Director, Shannon Airport said: St Patricks Day is always a special time at Shannon Airport, and it traditionally marks the start of the tourism season for many. This years passenger numbers show the continued confidence of our customers, and follow a strong start to the year, with average passenger growth of 7% across January and February." "Were delighted to welcome visitors from the US, UK and Europe as they arrive to enjoy St Patricks Day celebrations across the MidWest and along the Wild Atlantic Way, attending parades and events, and contributing to the wider regional economy. READ MORE: Limerick's Michael Quinlivan reveals what he's raised for Irish Cancer Society in 38 years "Its also a pleasure to look after those travelling to the UK for the Cheltenham Festival, as well as passengers heading abroad for sun holidays and city breaks." "Our team is looking forward to making everyones journey as smooth as possible and offering a warm Irish welcome to passengers passing through the airport in the week ahead. To add to the St Patricks Day festivities, Shannon Airports terminal building is once again going green - a long-standing tradition as the airport takes part in the Global Greening, joining landmark buildings across the country, and around the world, glowing green at this time of the year. This week will also see an uplift in UK travel for Cheltenham, taking place from March 10th to March 13. The ever-popular horse racing festival has seen Ryanair operating additional services on its Shannon to Birmingham route to accommodate racegoers heading to and from the event. CHILDREN in one west Limerick community are set to get a brand-new playground after local councillors agreed to provide lands for the development. A 1.28-acre site in Athea will be transformed under plans approved by Limerick City and County Council, providing a new space for children and families to play. At the March meeting of the Newcastle West Municipal District, it was proposed that the council-owned land be given to Athea Community Council CLG by way of a 30-year lease to facilitate the proposed development. Read next: Hopes high that new car-share service to be rolled out in Limerick city centre by Easter Athea Community Playground Committee has already secured planning permission to develop a playground and other associated amenities on the site, which is located north of Hillside Drive. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Athea Playground Committee (@atheaplayground) The committee is now in the process of securing funds for the proposed development, having already obtained 100,000 from the Mayor's Fund and 65,000 from CLAR, with further local fundraising initiatives planned. As part of the 30-year lease agreement, the land will be returned to the local authority if the playground and other approved amenities are not developed within a timeframe agreed with the council. Recommending the disposal of the lands, Jayne Leahy, head of property services, told councillors the Playground Committee has provided detailed information in relation to the development of the facility. Phase 1 will include the car park, entrance works and site groundworks; Phase 2 will include a playground, safety surfacing and associated landscaping; Phase 3 will include an all-weather pitch, perimeter fencing and construction of a utility building. The matter will now come before a full meeting of Limerick City and County Council for final approval A LIMERICK judge warned a young man convicted of stealing 50 worth of diesel that he needs to be aware that if you lie down with the dogs, you will get up with the fleas. Larkin Bullman, aged 20, with an address at Sheelin Road, Caherdavin, appeared before Limerick District Court charged with a Section 4 theft offence arising from the incident. Prosecuting Sergeant Denis Waters told the court that at 12.10am on June 23, 2025, at the Applegreen service station on the Ennis Road, Mr Bullman exited the passenger side of a black Toyota Avensis and filled the vehicle with 50 worth of diesel. Read next: Hopes high that new car-share service to be rolled out in Limerick city centre by Easter The court heard that when he returned to the car, the driver drove away without making any attempt to pay. Mr Bullman was later identified through CCTV footage. Sergeant Waters told the court that Mr Bullman, who was not the driver of the car, has 19 previous convictions, including six for Section 4 theft offences and four for criminal damage. In mitigation, defence solicitor John Herbert said his client made no attempt to hide himself and had entered a guilty plea. Presiding Judge Patricia Harney warned Mr Bullman that he needs to be aware that if you lie down with the dogs, you get up with the fleas. She convicted Mr Bullman and imposed a 100 fine, giving him three months to pay. A LIMERICK man broke into a house in the early hours of Christmas Eve and stabbed a man twice in the back in front of an 11-year-old boy who then raised the alarm, a court had heard. Judge Colin Daly said the fact that children were present, witnessed the attack and were involved in this incident is especially egregious. The man who was stabbed required urgent treatment and the intervention of the surgical team at University Hospital Limerick. The court heard that prior to the assault there had been conflict between two women - partners of the accused and victim - who were neighbours in Galbally. Stephen Power, aged 34, of The Path, Garryowen, Limerick city pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm at an address in Galbally on December 24, 2024. READ NEXT: Limerick woman praised for saving life of the man she loved from 'murderous knife attack' Prosecuting barrister Lily Buckley, instructed by State solicitor Brendan Gill, outlined the evidence with the assistance of Garda Denis OConnor at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court last month. Judge Daly adjourned sentencing to last Monday where he gave a summary of the evidence. He said the accused man Mr Power and the victim were in relationships with two women who were neighbours in Galbally. The judge said the partner of the victim had been staying away from her house as she had been having trouble with her neighbours. The victim, his partner and two children returned to the house on December 23. Shortly after midnight the female neighbour tried to gain entry into the house and when she was refused, two women and Mr Power started to kick in the door. They forced entry and Mr Power attacked the victim by stabbing him in the back on the stairs as he tried to prevent their entry, said Judge Daly. Two children were at home when the incident happened. A boy, who was 11-years-old at the time, was not only present but witnessed the incident, managed to escape and raise the alarm in a nearby shop. The memo of the specialist interview with the child makes for grim reading, said Judge Daly. Gardai and paramedics arrived at the scene. A knife was recovered and Mr Power arrested. The victim was taken to UHL where he required urgent treatment and the intervention of the surgical team for two stab wounds in his back. Both the victim and his partner declined to make victim impact statements. Judge Daly, in determining his sentence, said Mr Power forced entry into his then girlfriend's neighbours house late at night, was armed with a knife and seriously assaulted one of the occupants of the house. The judge said aggravating factors are the proximity of Christmas, and he said the fact that children were present, witnessed and were involved in this incident is especially egregious". Judge Daly noted Mr Powers 24 relevant previous convictions which include arson, trespass, possession of articles, burglary and trespass. The judge, in mitigation, took into account Mr Powers plea of guilty, that he has owned up to his wrongdoing and that he was suffering from addiction which Mark Nicholas SC, defending barrister, offered as an explanation rather than an excuse. Judge Daly imposed a six year and nine months jail sentence with the final nine months suspended. A UNIVERSITY Hospital Limerick doctor, who was convicted of raping a nurse after a night out, should have been suspended from clinical practice when we became aware of the assault, admitted HSE Mid West this week. Louay Kila was found guilty by a jury last week of raping and sexually assaulting the nurse in a city apartment in 2024. Both Kila and the victim were employed by UHL at the time. The nurse, in her victim impact statement, said she was offered a transfer to another healthcare setting but Kila continued to work as a doctor in UHL. She said she has struggled for the last two years with fear and trauma but she also feared for the patients of UHL. I feared something similar could happen to someone else and knew that I would be taking on the guilt of not having done enough if it did. I tried and the gardai tried to consult UHL but to no avail, said the nurse. READ NEXT: No means no: Doctor at University Hospital Limerick found guilty of raping nurse The Limerick Leader sent a number of questions to HSE Mid West regarding the nurses victim impact statement and the continued employment of Kila as a doctor. A spokesperson for HSE Mid West said on Tuesday that protective measures were put in place for the victim based on her individual requirements following her identification of the assault. Dr Kila should have been suspended from clinical practice when we became aware of the assault. Regrettably, this did not occur. This does not reflect current practice and policy. The welfare of our staff remains our priority, said the spokesperson. Minister of State Niall Collins said from reading the nurse's victim impact statement, her treatment by UHL does a disservice to all victims of abuse. It was International Women's Day on Sunday which promotes gender equality, empowerment, and women's rights and UHL's behaviour in this regard is certainly not in keeping with that ethos, said Mr Collins. Siobhan O'Leary, director of Rape Crisis Midwest, said from reading the victim impact statement, it appears the employer was incredibly unsupportive. In our dealings with victim survivors, generally, the employer supports them throughout the process - this beggars belief to be honest, said Ms OLeary. She said the actions of the woman goes beyond bravery. She stood up for every victim survivor. She looked this convicted perpetrator in the eye and said what you did was wrong and no means no, said Ms OLeary. A SECTION of one of the busiest roads in County Limerick has been described as an accident waiting to happen amid mounting concerns over driver safety. The concerns relate to a stretch of the main N21 at Kilconlea, Abbeyfeale, where black screening material attached to roadside fencing has repeatedly fallen, according to one councillor. In highlighting the issue, Fine Gael councillor Liam Galvin warned that light hitting the exposed road surface could create glare, potentially putting motorists at increased risk of collisions. In a motion tabled at the March meeting of the Newcastle West Municipal District, the former Mayor of Limerick called on the local authority to replace or repair the fencing with a different material, saying it keeps blowing down. Read next: Hopes high that new car-share service to be rolled out in Limerick city centre by Easter Cllr Galvin explained that motorists travelling from the Fealesbridge side face the increased hazard of lights shining up on traffic, while those commuting to Limerick from Castleisland have the lights shining down. He added that amid the ongoing issue, the road is an accident waiting to happen, and he claimed his concerns are falling on deaf ears. While noting that the road is under the remit of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), he urged the local authority to take action to improve safety before something goes seriously wrong." In a written reply, Ben Noonan, Executive Engineer for the district, said remedial action will be taken. "The material on the fence at this location will be removed and a more suitable one will be put in place," he said. CONCERNS have been raised about a problematic pedestrian crossing in a busy Limerick town, prompting calls for the council to repaint road markings that have faded. At the March meeting of the Newcastle West Municipal District, Fine Gael councillor Tom Ruddle tabled a motion calling on the local authority to repaint pedestrian crossings that require attention, "in particular the crossing from Modini shoe shop to Fitzgeralds Corner". Cllr Ruddle said that while the crossing is important for pedestrians in Newcastle West, it can also pose safety issues for drivers if it is not clearly visible. It is great to have a crossing, but at times it can be unsafe because we have all driven there and the next thing there is someone on it, he said. Read next: Hopes high that new car-share service to be rolled out in Limerick city centre by Easter He asked that the crossing be made more visible to motorists, adding that it definitely needs to be painted anyway for a start. Cathaoirleach for the district, Cllr Michael Collins seconded the motion, noting that the location had been carefully considered when the crossing was first installed around a decade ago. At the time when we requested it to be put in there was a big discussion about where to locate it and that was a big challenge, he said. So that location is problematic where it is, but where would you put it if you were to move it? In response, Senior Executive Engineer Ben Noonan said significant consideration would have gone into choosing the crossings location. A big thing in terms [of the crossing] is desire lines (unofficial paths used by pedestrians), they would be the biggest challenge if you were to move it, he said. The last thing you want to do is move it somewhere where people wont utilise it. Independent councillor Jerome Scanlan said that after careful consideration at the time, it was decided that the only place it could have gone is where it is. He added that you can change it [the location] in the morning and you still have the risk of someone getting knocked down. Leas-Chathaoirleach for the district, Cllr Francis Foley, agreed, saying they need to make people more aware of the road markings. In a written reply, Mr Noonan confirmed the road markings will be upgraded. "This crossing will be repainted when the road lining contractor is in the district for works. Local police were justified in elevating Noah Donohoes investigation to the PSNIs criminal investigation department (CID) at an early stage, an inquest has heard. A police witness reiterated his view to Belfast Coroners Court that officers had gripped the seriousness of the search for Noah at an early point. The inquest into the death of the schoolboy, which is being heard with a jury, is now in its seventh week. Noah, a pupil at St Malachys College, was 14 when his naked body was found in a storm drain tunnel in north Belfast in June 2020, six days after he left home on his bike to meet two friends in the Cavehill area of the city. A post-mortem examination found the cause of death was drowning. The court was told that PSNI Chief Inspector Robinson was experienced in missing persons investigations and had trained hundreds of officers. Donal Lunney KC, counsel for the PSNI, took Mr Robinson through the police log from the early hours of June 22 2020 highlighting points at which records had been made of handovers between officers. The police log showed that Noah had been deemed high risk at 12.47am on June 22, hours after he was reported missing at 9.44pm on June 21. Mr Robinson said at an operational handover every sergeant is looking for a number of things among those would be a high-risk missing person. Mr Lunney asked if at the point of handover officers were taking time to familiarise themselves with the case, to which Mr Robinson said in regards to risk assessment, yes but that these should have been recorded in a separate tab elsewhere than the investigative log. Asked if he had any concerns about the continuity of the investigation, Mr Robinson said he did not in regards to handover and awareness of Noahs high-risk status, but that the rationale for his status of high-risk had not been logged. Later Mr Lunney flagged that CID, which specialises in investigating serious, complex and organised crime, had been asked for input in the case as early as Tuesday June 23 which Mr Robinson agreed would have been unusual. He said this fact is relevant to grip and ownership of the investigation by PSNI but is probably not relevant to outcome. Mr Robinson further stated that time in a missing person case is not the only factor and that other factors such as risk of criminal involvement can cause a cause to be elevated to CID. The court was shown a statement from his compliance review into the PSNI handling of the case where Mr Robinson stated: In my experience this case passed to CID at a very early stage, adding that in his time as detective inspector he had never referred a case to CID. The review went on to state that this decision was justified because the investigation was becoming more complex for a number of reasons, including that possibilities that may have been plausible at an earlier stage become more remote such as Noah being at Cavehill. Workers in the Australian state with the equal fewest public holidays insist it is well and truly time for a new holiday and they've even picked a date. Retail and fast-food workers in New South Wales argue the country's most populous state deserves more time to pause, reconnect and spend time with family. NSW, along with Western Australia, has 11 permanent public holidays, fewer than the 12 or 13 that most other states and territories enjoy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, when should the new public holiday fall? The Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA) consulted workers as part of its statewide campaign, with many backing the start of spring. "When we asked our members about it, they settled on September 1 as a good date," NSW/ACT Secretary Bernie Smith told Yahoo News Australia. Is there another story we should be covering? Contact reporter joe.attanasio@yahooinc.com The proposed day, September 1, would be called Family and Community Day. Source: Getty (chameleonseye via Getty Images) "Its the start of spring, a good time of year for people to come together, and it fills that public holiday drought that exists at the moment." "Theres nothing between the Kings Birthday and the October long weekend." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The King's Birthday is in June, putting just over four months between it and the October Labour Day long weekend. When would the new NSW public holiday be held? The proposed day, September 1, would be called Family and Community Day, reflecting what the union says is a growing desire for more shared time away from work. Smith said the push for an additional public holiday was also tied to broader concerns about workers falling behind economically. "Theres been a lot of talk about productivity growth in Australia, but the reality is that productivity growth over the last 20 years has well outstripped real wages growth," he said. SDA NSW/ACT Secretary Bernie Smith said the state is one of the busiest in the country, yet workers here get fewer public holidays. Source: Supplied "Workers havent been sharing equally in that productivity growth that weve achieved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "NSW is the busiest state in Australia in many ways. Theres a really high level of stress and pressure on social cohesion, with people having less time to spend together with family and friends. "We think an additional public holiday would go part of the way to assisting with that not all the way, of course but it would give people more time to come together and share time with family, friends and community without the pressures of work." Some business groups have previously argued that additional public holidays increase wage costs, particularly for retail and hospitality operators who must pay penalty rates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Smith rejected those concerns, pointing to strong trading activity on existing public holidays. "Retailers often say public holidays increase wage costs, but I havent met a retailer yet who doesnt want to open on a public holiday," he said. "When we debated closing shops all day on ANZAC Day last year, we had 3,600 retailers apply to open all day. "So while businesses might complain about the cost, the reality is that many of them benefit from the additional trade on those days." Smith said the union would continue campaigning for the new public holiday and hoped the state government would consider the proposal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said there were already some positive signs. "Wed love to see a new public holiday declared as soon as possible, and thats what well be working towards," Smith said. "Our members are really committed to the idea that the time has come for them to have more time with their family, friends and community. "When you look around the country, NSW is behind. "We dont think workers deserve less time with their families and friends than workers in other states." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. NEXT month's meeting of Limerick's metropolitan district is to take place at Analog Devices in Raheen. It comes after councillors green-lit plans to go on location to the firm, which is marking its golden anniversary in Limerick this year. Founded in 1976 as a 13-person start-up operating from a small unit developed by the then Shannon Free Airport Development Company (SFADCO), the company has grown into a major research, development and manufacturing hub. Today, it employs more than 1,800 people locally. READ MORE: Minister says new top-level facility may be built near University Hospital Limerick The April meeting will be held in Analog Device's Catalyst building, an innovation and collaboration centre, opened by Taoiseach Micheal Martin back in 2022. Metropolitan district leader, Cllr Daniel Butler said: "For 50 years, Analog Devices has been part of the fabric of Limerick. Across the city and county, almost everyone knows a family member, friend or neighbour who has worked there at some point. The company has provided high-quality employment for generations and has played a huge role in shaping the Mid-Wests reputation as a centre for technology and innovation. It will be a real privilege for us to hold our April meeting on site and recognise the enormous contribution the company has made to Limerick over the past five decades. Councillors have indicated a desire to hold future metropolitan district meetings at other key locations across the city. Southern Milling and Paul & Vincent is a specialist milling company producing top-quality, high-performance compound feed for the Irish dairy, beef, pig, sheep and poultry sectors. At Southern Milling and Paul & Vincent, quality always comes first. We produce reliable, high-quality animal feed and back it up with dependable and informed customer support. Our deep, practical understanding of Irish agriculture and more specifically, our customers needs enable us to provide a product and service on farm that adds real value to our customers operations every day. We are proud of our long-standing relationship with many farmers across Limerick. Our state-of-the-art mill in Kilmallock is home to our Limerick operations and together with the team there, we very much look forward to working with our customers across Limerick this Spring and beyond. To hear more about our spring product range, please contact one of our local Limerick technical sales advisors: Brian Frawley: 086-8537355 Sean Ryan: 086-2521827 Sean McGrath: 087-2320846 Tom McNamara: 087-1945395 Follow us on Instagram for information regarding our new website and much more. *Sponsored Content Affordability could become an issue in India price-sensitive market. AI apps are often offered cheaply to gain market share, he said, but companies could raise prices once they are established, making the technology unaffordable, Nageswaran said. CTO Koerte was unequivocal: "I think you [India] will take major steps at the same time. You would not go into the deterministic automation level, but maybe you already go the autonomous way. But that's AI-empowered." He added pointedly that India's openness to AI adoption gives it an edge over more mature industrial economies. "When it comes to the adoption of AI, I see it clearlyUS, China, Indiaas very open to embracing that. I see the ones you mentioned earlierEurope, Germany, and Japanactually not leading." Mumbai: Adani Transmission Step-One Limited (ATSOL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of listed Adani Energy Solutions Limited, has raised $500 million through dollar-denominated bonds privately placed with Apollo Global Management, according to two people in the know. A spokesperson for Apollo Global subsequently confirmed the transaction in an email to Mint. The capital will be used to refinance $500 million of ATSOL bonds that are maturing in early August. ATSOL had issued these bonds in 2016 with a 4% coupon, according to data from Bloomberg. In January, ATSOLs senior secured bond ratings of Baa3 was affirmed by Moodys and its outlook was changed to stable from negative. This rating is in line with the American credit evaluators Indias sovereign rating and is the lowest tier in the investment grade. Also Read | How Waaree protected solar panel exports from US tariffs while Adani went local The affirmation of ATSOL's senior secured bond ratings reflects the company's close credit links with its wholly-owned parent Adani Energy Solutions Limited (AESL) because of AESL's guarantee on the rated bonds and the event of default provisions linked to AESL's insolvency, the rating agency said in a note dated 15 January. AESL's credit profile in turn reflects its diversified portfolio of quality transmission and distribution assets, which benefit from supportive regulatory regimes or long-term contracts with fixed tariffs, it added. The stable outlook, meanwhile, is due to AESL's continued stable operating performance, Moodys said. Apollo Global partner Jamshid Ehsani said in a statement issued on Wednesday evening, India represents a compelling infrastructure market globally with strong economic growth and long-term demand for reliable power generation. We are proud to work with Adani Energy Solutions to provide flexible, long-term capital that supports the resilience and growth of its platform." The Adani Group did not respond immediately to Mints request for comment. Huge capex AESLs net debt stood at 36,113 crore as of September 2025. It did not disclose its net debt as of 31 December in its latest earnings presentation. The company is in the midst of an extensive capital expenditure (capex) cycle, having invested 9,294 crore during the first nine months of FY26, 25% more than in the same period last year. While a bulk of this capex ( 5,459 crore) went into setting up power transmission lines, investments in installing smart meters tripled to 2,620 crore. The companys capex on transmission lines could average between 18,000-20,000 crore a year over the next five years as it executes two high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission projects in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, Kandarp Patel, the companys chief executive officer, said in an investor call on 23 January. AESL, which was earlier called Adani Transmission Limited, was carved out of Adani Power Limited a decade ago. It is the largest private-sector power transmission and distribution company in India with high-voltage power lines across 16 states. The companys stock was trading at 998.8 as of 12:30 pm on Wednesday, having shed more than 4% since the start of 2026. The Sensex is down nearly 10% over this period owing to net selling by foreign investors amid global uncertainty. Also Read | Adani SEC case clears service hurdle, heads for long US court battle US-Iran war: Air India on Tuesday announced that it will impose a fuel surcharge on both domestic and international routes. The airline cited a steep rise in jet fuel prices, driven by the geopolitical situation in the Gulf region. In a press release, Air India said that Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), which accounts for nearly 40% of an airline's operating costs, has seen significant price escalation since early March 2026 due to supply disruptions. The airline added: In India, this pressure is amplified by high Excise Duty and VAT on ATF in major metro cities such as Delhi and Mumbai, magnifying the cost impact and placing substantial strain on airline operating economics. Air India said that the fuel surcharges will be implemented in three phases. It will apply to all flights, including those operated by its low-cost subsidiary, Air India Express. Which routes will be impacted during Phase 1? In the first phase, Air India will impose a fuel surcharge on all new bookings made from 12 March 2026 for flights operating to and from the following regions. Here's the full list: Domestic India: Flights in the domestic routes will attract a fuel surcharge of 399, which was not applied earlier. SAARC: Flights to and from SAARC countries will also witness a fuel surcharge of 399, which was not previously applicable. West Asia / Middle East: Flights to destinations in West Asia/ Middle East, such as the UAE, will attract a $10 fuel surcharge, up from no surcharge earlier. Southeast Asia: For these routes, the surcharge will rise from $40 to $60. Africa: Flights to destinations in Africa will witness the surcharge rise from $60 to $90 as well. Additionally, the airline added that flights to and from Singapore currently do not incur a fuel surcharge, but it will apply from phase 1. Which routes will be impacted during Phase 2? In the second phase, Air India will impose a fuel surcharge on all new bookings made from 18 March 2026 for flights operating to and from the following regions. Here's the full list: Europe: Fuel surcharges on flights to European nations will increase from $100 to $125. North America: For routes to North America, the surcharge will increase from $150 to $200. Australia: Flights to Australia will see an increase in surcharge from the current rate of $150 to $200. Third phase changes to be announced soon A third phase, covering Far East markets including Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea, will be announced in due course, the release said. Air India also clarified that tickets issued before the surcharge implementation will not be subject to the new rates unless passengers request date or itinerary changes that require a fare recalculation. Also Read | Air India announces additional flights to Europe, US amid West Asia conflict Also Read | As Iran war pushes up oil prices, Putin can barely conceal a smirk Air India regrets the need to increase fuel surcharges in this manner but emphasises that it is necessitated by factors outside its control. Absent such fuel surcharges, it is likely that some flights would be unable to cover operating cost and would have to be cancelled, the airline said in the statement. In 2025, Mint reported that Hyatt Hotels planned to expand its footprint in India and Southwest Asia to tap growing domestic demand for experience-led travel. The company aims to reach 100 hotels in the country by 2030. At the time, Sharma had said new hotel supply in India was being absorbed faster than expected despite international travel not having fully recovered, with domestic leisure and business travel continuing to drive demand. The clash between Anthropic and the US government has now reached the courts. The Claude AI maker had been in negotiations with the Pentagon for weeks about the use of its AI in classified settings, but the talks finally broke down late last month when Anthropic said the US Department of Defence (DoD) refused to accept its two red lines. Top updates in the US vs Anthropic lawsuit: 1) After the US government decided to label it a supply chain risk, Anthropic filed dual lawsuits against the DoD and the broader administration. The lawsuit claims that the Trump administration's decision to place the AI startup on the blacklist is an attempt to punish it for its AI guardrails. "The federal government retaliated against a leading frontier AI developer for adhering to its protected viewpoint on a subject of great public significance AI safety and the limitations of its own AI model in violation of the Constitution and laws of the United States," Anthropic said in its lawsuit. 2) The lawsuits were filed after Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth formally labelled Anthropic a supply chain risk last week. 3) Anthropic told a judge on Tuesday that it could lose billions of dollars in revenue this year due to the Trump administration's decision to label it as a supply chain risk. 4) Appearing before US District Judge Rita F. Lin at a San Francisco hearing, Anthropic's attorney argued that the federal government's actions have led to over 100 enterprise customers contacting the company to express concerns about continuing their contracts. 5) Anthropic's lawyer also claimed that the US government has been reaching out to its customers to pressure them to stop working with the company. "And this is all the predictable result of the defendant's actions and the uncertainty they've created, as well as the fact that defendants have been affirmatively reaching out to our customers and pressuring them to stop working with Anthropic and switch to other AI companies," the company said in court. 6) Microsoft showed its support for Anthropic in court. The company, in a recent filing, warned that the Pentagon's blacklisting of Anthropic will have negative ramifications for the entire technology sector and American business community. "This is not the time to put at risk the very AI ecosystem that the Administration has helped to champion," a lawyer for the company said in court. 7) Just a day earlier, 37 OpenAI and Google employees had also filed an amicus brief in court in support of Anthropic. The governments designation of Anthropic as a supply chain risk was an improper and arbitrary use of power that has serious ramifications for our industry, the brief read. 8) Sam Altman had also earlier opposed Anthropic's designation as a supply chain risk. He also said that OpenAI's own deal with the Pentagon was intended to diffuse tensions. 9) Emil Michael, the under secretary of defence for research and engineering, has said in an interview with Bloomberg that he sees little chance of resuming negotiations with Anthropic over the use of its AI tools for classified military work. Interest in deep tech and AI in India is steadily increasing, but it will not follow the same rapid funding cycles seen in other startup sectors, said Amit Nawka, partner, deals and startups leader at PwC India. The space involves longer development cycles and the added uncertainty of fast-evolving technologies. As a result, investors are often placing a wider set of bets across the ecosystem, recognizing that it will take time to see which technologies and business models ultimately prevail. MUMBAI: In the wee hours of Wednesday, India time, President Donald Trump announced that Reliance Industries Ltd will partner America First Refining to set up the first new refinery in the US in nearly 50 years, in a deal valued at $300 billion. Reliance Industries, however, had not confirmed the development as of press time. Shares initially surged but reversed to close 1.27% lower at 1,391.1 apiece on the BSE, while the Sensex ended 1.72% down. Today I am proud to announce that America First Refining is opening the first new US oil refinery in 50 years in Brownsville, Texas, Trump wrote on Truth Social. Thank you to our partners in India, and their largest privately held energy company, Reliance, for this tremendous investment. Also Read | Why Reliance is betting on legacy regional brands to build its FMCG empire Separately, America First Refining said that it received a 9-figure investment from a global supermajor at a 10-figure valuation, in February without naming the investor. (A 10-figure valuation ranges between $1-9.9 billion; a 9-figure investment between $100-999 million.) The company also said it had signed a binding 20-year offtake term sheet with the unnamed investor. Reliance did not respond to Mints requests for comment and did not clarify whether it had made, or intended to make, any investment. The lack of confirmation from Reliance and the anonymity of America Firsts investor leaves unclear the Indian companys role in the project. Trumps announcement comes as Reliance pursues a $10-billion investment to diversify from petroleum into renewable energy near its Jamnagar refinery, including solar panels, green hydrogen, and other clean technologies. Last month, chairman Mukesh Ambani also announced plans to invest 10 trillion over seven years in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, including data centres. Indias most valuable company, with a market capitalization of 18.8 trillion, Reliance runs the worlds largest refinery complex in Jamnagar, processing 1.2 million barrels per day. Also Read | Reliance Retail steps up fast-fashion push to capture Gen Z shoppers Scepticism and confusion America First Refining added that construction would begin before June. The refinery is expected to process 60 million barrels of US light shale oil annually, totalling 1.2 billion barrels worth $125 billion over two decades. It would produce 50 billion gallons of refined products valued at $175 billion. "This project represents a historic step forward for American energy production," said John V. Calce, chairman and founder of America First Refining. "For the first time in half a century, the US will build a new refinery designed specifically for American shale oil. Thanks to President Trump's leadership and the resurgence of an America First energy policy, we are creating thousands of high-quality jobs while ensuring more of our nation's energy resources are refined here at home in the cleanest, most efficient refinery on the planet." However, experts are sceptical. Color me incredibly skeptical about this coming to pass. Conceivably, this would be an export facility moving lots of fuel to Latin America. But $300-billionyou could have picked up the CITGO assets (great assets!) for a fraction of the cost, Tom Kloza, a New Jersey-based independent energy analyst wrote on social media platform X. Also Read | Reliance to enter the bottled iced tea market with Brew House relaunch CITGO Petroleum Corp. is a major US-based refiner and marketer of transportation fuels which is owned by Venezuela's state-owned company PDVSA and is presently undergoing a lengthy sale process. The legendary Mercedes-Benz W123 officially ended production in Germany in 1986. Yet the story of this iconic sedan did not actually conclude at that point. In reality, its career continued for several more years on the other side of the world. Alongside the later W124, the W123 stands as one of the most important and successful models in Mercedes-Benz history. The car helped establish the brands global reputation for durability, engineering quality, and premium positioning. Many enthusiasts still consider it one of the vehicles that cemented Mercedes as a dominant force in the luxury segment. Production Began In The Mid 1970s Photo Courtesy: Autorepublika. The original W123 entered production in November 1975. To meet growing global demand, Mercedes built the model in several locations around the world. Assembly took place not only in Germany but also in Thailand, South Africa, and eventually China. Advertisement In China, the story of the W123 continued even after production had ended elsewhere. Manufacturing there reportedly continued until 1988 after Mercedes granted a license to the FAW Group to build the model locally. The Chinese version was produced in a standard configuration but featured a longer wheelbase. FAW remains one of the major players in Chinas automotive industry, often described as part of the countrys big four alongside Dongfeng, Changan, and SAIC. Official Chinese Production Was Very Limited Photo Courtesy: Autorepublika. Despite the historical significance of the project, production numbers in China were extremely small. During a little more than a year of licensed production in Changchun, the factory built just 828 examples of the Mercedes W123. That figure looks tiny when compared with the models global success. Over its entire production run, Mercedes produced roughly 2.7 million W123 vehicles worldwide. Advertisement Advertisement The story becomes even more unusual after the official partnership between Mercedes and FAW came to an end. Chinese Clones Kept The Design Alive Once the cooperation between Mercedes and FAW stopped, several Chinese companies began producing vehicles that closely resembled the W123. FAW reportedly distributed the remaining components to other local manufacturers, and one state-owned company in particular stepped in to continue the idea. That company was Bamin Automobile, an enterprise associated with the Chinese military. Bamin openly copied the exterior design of the W123 and offered several unconventional variations. Among them was even a pickup version based on the same styling. Because the company did not have access to genuine Mercedes components, it used a variety of Soviet-derived vehicles as the mechanical foundation while reproducing the distinctive look of the German sedan. Production Continued Into The 1990s Photo Courtesy: oktamushendro / Shutterstock. Bamin continued producing its W123-inspired vehicles until the mid-1990s. Exact production numbers remain unclear, but the project illustrates a fascinating chapter in the early development of Chinas automotive industry. Advertisement Advertisement As international criticism of intellectual property violations increased during the 1990s, enthusiasm for openly copying foreign designs gradually faded. Over time, many such ventures disappeared. Bamin itself eventually entered bankruptcy in 2010, bringing the unusual story to a close. Even so, the broader legacy of the Mercedes-Benz W123 remains extraordinary. With millions produced, a reputation for unmatched durability, and a surprisingly long afterlife in unexpected parts of the world, the W123 proved to be far more than just another luxury sedan from the 1970s. It became one of the defining automobiles of its era. This article originally appeared on Autorepublika.com and has been republished with permission by Guessing Headlights. AI-assisted translation was used, followed by human editing and review. Read More Automotive giant Volkswagen announced on Tuesday that it would cut 50,000 jobs in Germany by 2030 after its profit fell to the lowest level in nearly a decade. The development comes as the 10-brand group struggles with intensifying competition from Chinese electric vehicle makers, rising production costs, and the impact of US tariffs, which have together weighed on its earnings. "In total, around 50,000 jobs are due to be cut by 2030 across the Volkswagen Group in Germany," Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume said in a letter to shareholders in the firm's annual report. Which brands will be impacted? The group had already reached a deal with unions in late 2024 to lay off 35,000 employees by 2030 at its core brand, as part of a broader plan to save 15 billion euros annually, news agency AFP reported. The additional cuts will extend beyond the core Volkswagen brand, affecting workers of its premium marques Audi and Porsche, as well as the group's software subsidiary Cariad, CEO Blume added. Volkswagen faces stiff competition Even before US President Donald Trump's administration imposed tariffs on non-American carmakers in 2025, Volkswagen had been dealing with challenges such as sluggish demand in Europe, the high cost of investing in EVs despite patchy demand, and sharp falling sales in China. Headquartered in Germany, Volkswagen has long been a dominant player in the world's largest auto market, China. But, the carmaker is now facing fierce competition from local rivals, with its sales slipping behind those of other brands such as BYD and Geely. Also Read | BYD February Vehicle Sales Plunge 41% on Waning Domestic Demand Also Read | Tesla loses lead as China's BYD tops EV sales in Germany and UK Blume told a press conference that Chinese car brands planning to tap the European market to export their way out of an intense price war at home would further increase the pressure on Volkswagen, the news agency reported. "We need to prepare ourselves for the fact that we will come under price pressure here," he said. This is a big incentive for us to work intensively on the cost side. Volkswagen earnings Volkswagen reported an operating profit of 8.9 billion euros ($10.4 billion) for 2025, marking a 53% from the previous year. The figure also fell short of analysts' expectations of 9.4 billion euros, according to LSEG consensus data. The carmaker's full-year revenue stood at nearly 322 billion euros, compared to 324.7 billion euros in 2024, and the companys outlook for sales growth is relatively modest in 2026. Volkswagen said it expects revenue to develop in a range between 0% to 3% this year, falling short of analyst expectations. Arno Antlitz, chief operating officer and chief financial officer at Volkswagen, described 2025 as a really challenging year but assured investors that the company remains well positioned in Europe, according to CNBC. Another creator from the tech and engineering domain, Arsh Goyal, who has over 4.86 lakh followers on Instagram, highlighted that the payouts from advertising a company's job are no different from those for marketing its products. What changes is the call to action. Here, instead of asking people to buy the products, we are recommending suitable candidates to head to the careers portal and apply for the job, Goyal said. The company has recruited more than half a dozen senior leaders and executives with prior stints at firms such as Hyundai Motor Company, Honda Motor Co., Nissan Motor Co., Renault, BMW, and MG Motor over the past eight months, according to regulatory filings with the ministry of corporate affairs and the officials social media profiles. VinFasts strategy mirrors the playbook of established foreign manufacturers that have previously scaled operations in the worlds third-largest automobile market. Crude oil prices traded higher on Wednesday morning after falling around 7% earlier in the session. Prices recovered after reports suggested that the International Energy Agency (IEA) is considering a large release of oil from the strategic reserves of its member countries. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, the IEA has proposed the largest release of oil reserves in its history in an effort to ease global crude prices. The proposed release would exceed the 182 million barrels of oil that IEA member countries released in 2022 during the RussiaUkraine war, the report said. IEA member countries currently hold more than 1.2 billion barrels of public emergency oil stocks, along with an additional 600 million barrels of industry stocks maintained under government obligations. Emergency meeting The IEA held a meeting late on Tuesday evening to assess the global energy supply situation and discuss whether strategic reserves should be tapped. Ahead of the meeting, Fatih Birol, executive director of the IEA, said on social media platform X that the agency was evaluating market conditions. Given conditions in oil markets, I have convened an extraordinary meeting of IEA Member governments, which will take place later today to assess the current security of supply and market conditions to inform a subsequent decision on whether to make emergency stocks of IEA countries available to the market. As well as IEA Members, I am also in close contact about the situation with energy ministers from key energy producers and consumers around the world. India stance Mint earlier reported that India is unlikely to participate in any coordinated global exercise to release oil from strategic reserves. Also Read | India ramps up LPG output, secures tankers from the US as war disrupts supplies India imports nearly 90% of its crude oil requirement, making it highly vulnerable to global price fluctuations. According to government estimates, a sustained increase of $1 per barrel in crude prices can raise the countrys annual import bill by about 16,000 crore. Officials have indicated that the priority remains ensuring adequate domestic supply rather than contributing to global stock releases. Refinery deal In another development, US President Donald Trump announced that America First Refining would set up a new refinery in the United States in partnership with Reliance Industries Ltd. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said: America is returning to REAL ENERGY DOMINANCE! Today I am proud to announce that America First Refining is opening the FIRST new U.S. Oil Refinery in 50 YEARS in Brownsville, Texas. THIS IS A HISTORIC $300 BILLION DOLLAR DEAL THE BIGGEST IN U.S. HISTORY, A MASSIVE WIN for American Workers, Energy, and the GREAT People of South Texas! Thank you to our partners in India, and their largest privately held Energy Company, Reliance, for this tremendous Investment. He added: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the government is using all its strength to ensure the safety of Indians in conflict-hit regions of West Asia, while accusing the Congress party of trying to politicise the crisis. Addressing a gathering in Kochi of poll-bound Kerala, PM Modi said it was natural for people to be concerned about the situation in the Gulf and West Asia, but assured that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government is committed to protecting Indian citizens abroad. Also Read | LPG shortage: PM Modi asks ministers to ensure Indian consumers do not suffer Whenever one of our countrymen is in trouble, we have used all our strength to ensure their safety, he said, citing past rescue efforts by the government. The prime minister referred to the evacuation of Indian nurses from Iraq and the rescue of Father Tom from terrorists in Yemen as examples of Indias commitment to bringing its citizens home safely during crises. A good number of people from Kerala are settled in Gulf nations, which have been affected by the ongoing US-Iran-Israel war, particularly after Iran, in its retaliation, hit US and Israeli military bases in many countries in the region, such as the UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait, to name a few. Slams Congress for politicising West Asia Crisis PM Modi criticised the Congress party, accusing it of making provocative and irresponsible statements at a time of a major global crisis. It is a grave misfortune that the Congress party is seeking politics even in the midst of such a major global crisis, he said, alleging that the opposition was trying to worsen the situation for political gain. Such statements could complicate efforts to assist Indians caught in the crisis, the prime minister said. Earlier, PM Modi inaugurated and dedicated to the nation several key development projects worth over 10,000 crore in Kerala during his visit to the state. Kerala is going to the assembly polls in two months. The prime minister launched projects of various central ministries, including the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the Ministry of Rural Development, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, and the Ministry of Railways, during programmes in the coastal city. PM Modi laid the foundation stone for a Polypropylene unit, worth over 5,500 crore, at the Kochi Refinery of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), inaugurated two major highway projects, each built at a cost of over 2,000 crore, and dedicated to the nation initiatives worth 142 crore in the railway sector. The PM also flagged off a new train service aimed at improving connectivity and strengthening sustainable transport in the region. Here are the top quotes from PM's address : -The people of Kerala have seen that the Congress prince is unaware of the remarkable achievements of India's youth in drone manufacturing. The Congress leader is unaware that numerous companies in India are manufacturing drones. He also doesn't know that young people in Kerala are developing drones as startups. Someone who is confined to his narrow thinking will never be able to see the country's progress..." -Despite Kerala's immense potential, it hasn't developed at the pace it should have. The pattern of one LDF government, another UDF government, has caused significant damage to Kerala. These two groups believe their turn will come in five to ten years. Therefore, they don't work hard for Kerala's development. This pattern is the reason for Kerala's corruption..." Now, give the BJP-NDA the next chance: PM Modi -Breaking this pattern is essential for Kerala's rapid development. Therefore, this time, form a BJP-NDA government here. You've given Congress and the Left more than 70 years. Now, give the BJP-NDA the next chance. You'll get a wonderful glimpse of a developed Kerala. You have Modi's guarantee. -It's natural for all of you to be concerned about what's happening in the Gulf and West Asia. Remember, the BJP-NDA government is in power today. Whenever one of our countrymen is in trouble, we've used all our strength to ensure their safety. Whether it's rescuing nurses from Iraq or Father Tom from the clutches of terrorists in Yemen, India never abandons its citizens in times of crisis today... Even today, our effort is to ensure the safety of Indians trapped in war-torn countries. -I'm satisfied that the governments of all our friendly countries in the Gulf are taking care of our citizens... Our missions and embassies in those countries are providing assistance to them 24/7... -Gulf countries are giving utmost care to Indians working there. I am grateful to them for that Despite Kerala's immense potential, it hasn't developed at the pace it should have. -India of today does not leave its citizens stranded elsewhere, working to ensure all help is provided to Indians in West Asia. -We will work to make Kerala a hub of AI and future technology. -The ongoing war in the Gulf has once again taught us the importance of self-reliance... We have seen how important it is to be self-reliant during the Covid crisis, the Ukraine crisis, and the current crisis has proved it once again. The popular Disney Channel sitcom Hannah Montana is returning to screens with a special programme to mark its 20th anniversary. Titled the Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special, the event will premiere on the streaming platform Disney+ on 24 March 2026. The special celebrates two decades since the series first aired on Disney Channel on 24 March 2006 and became one of the networks most successful teen shows. When and where to watch The Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special will be available to stream exclusively on Disney+ from 24 March 2026. Viewers will need a subscription to the streaming service to watch the programme. What the special will feature The anniversary programme will feature an in-depth conversation with the shows star Miley Cyrus, who played Miley Stewart, a teenager living a double life as a schoolgirl and global pop star Hannah Montana. The discussion will be hosted by podcast presenter Alex Cooper and filmed in front of a live studio audience. The special will also include archival footage from the original show and recreated sets such as the Stewart family living room and Hannah Montanas famous closet. Speaking about the anniversary, Cyrus said: Hannah Montana will always be a part of who I am. This Hannahversary is my way of celebrating and thanking the fans whove stood by me for 20 years. The fact that it still means so much to people all these years later is something Im very proud of. Legacy of the show The series originally ran from 2006 to 2011 and followed Miley Stewart as she balanced ordinary teenage life with her secret identity as the pop sensation Hannah Montana. The programme became a cultural phenomenon, producing chart-topping music, a feature film and a devoted fan following worldwide. With the anniversary special, Disney aims to revisit the music, memories and moments that made Hannah Montana a defining show for a generation of viewers. Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 10: Finkurve Financial services Limited (BSE: 508954 / NSE: FINKURVE), among leading Tech-first Gold Loan NBFC, announced that the Company has gone live with a strategic co lending partnership with Godrej Finance Limited (GFL), a subsidiary of Godrej Capital to jointly offer gold loan products under the Reserve Bank of Indias co-lending framework. Under this arrangement, Godrej Finance Limited will hold an 80% participation, while Finkurve Financial Services Limited (Arvog) will retain a 20% share, with risks and rewards shared in line with the agreed framework and applicable regulatory guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of India. The partnership enables Arvog to scale its gold loan portfolio in a capital efficient and risk aligned manner, supporting calibrated growth without a proportionate increase in balance sheet deployment. By leveraging the co-lending framework, Arvog aims to enhance capital rotation, liquidity management, and cost-efficient funding to deliver sustainable returns while maintaining a conservative risk profile. Arvog will lead loan sourcing and origination through its branch-led operating model, including customer acquisition, onboarding, KYC processes, and gold valuation. Credit assessment and sanctioning will be carried out under a mutually agreed credit framework, ensuring disciplined underwriting and aligned risk management. Disbursements and servicing will be executed through a structured mechanism, with Arvog responsible for collections and ongoing customer engagement. Robust governance, compliance oversight, and joint portfolio monitoring processes have been established to ensure transparency, regulatory compliance, and prudent portfolio management. On the partnership, Pankaj Gupta, MD & CEO, Godrej Finance, a subsidiary of Godrej Capital said, This partnership aligns with our strategy to broaden our secured lending portfolio. Gold has long been a trusted financial asset for Indian households, and we see significant opportunity to serve this segment in a more structured and transparent manner. By partnering with Arvog, we are bringing together complementary strengths to build a scalable and high-quality loan portfolio. Commenting on the development, Mr. Naveen Kottala, Chief Executive Officer said: For Arvog, this partnership represents a calibrated approach to strengthening and scaling our gold loan franchise. By leveraging the RBIs co-lending framework, we are able to pursue growth while maintaining capital efficiency, effective cost and disciplined risk management. We believe this collaboration positions Arvog well to pursue sustainable growth while maintaining high standards of asset quality, liquidity discipline, and regulatory compliance. About Finkurve Financial Services Limited (Arvog): Finkurve Financial Services Limited, also known by its brand name Arvog, is a non-banking financial company (NBFC) registered with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as a non-deposit-taking, middle-layer NBFC. Established in 1984 as Sanjay Leasing Ltd., the Company obtained its NBFC license in 1998 and was acquired by the Promoters in the year 2010. Finkurve focuses primarily on gold loans, which forms the majority of its Assets under Management (AUM), positioning it as a leading gold loan NBFC. The Company also offers personal loans, expanding its financial solutions through partnerships with fintech companies. Finkurve also has a strategic tie-up with Augmont Goldtech, India's largest fully integrated gold platform, serving as a one-stop destination for all gold-related needs. With a growing presence across India, Finkurve remains committed to providing accessible, technology-driven financial services to a broad customer base. For more details, please visit, www.arvog.com Note to readers: This article is part of Mints paid consumer connect Initiative. Mint assumes no editorial involvement or responsibility for errors, omissions, or content accuracy. Punjabs new industrial policy, announced in Chandigarh on March 7, 2026, seeks to create a broader framework for investment, industrial expansion and employment generation in the state. The Bhagwant Mann government has presented the policy as a long-term roadmap for strengthening Punjabs manufacturing base while also supporting existing businesses and improving regional distribution of investment. A central feature of the policy is a flexible incentive structure under which investors can select the benefits that best suit their projects. The government said this model is intended to move away from a one-size-fits-all package and make Punjab more competitive for a wider range of industries with different capital and operational requirements. The policy also includes direct support for capital investment. According to the state government, this is aimed at lowering the initial risk for companies planning large industrial projects and improving the viability of fresh investment in the state. The government has indicated that the approach could help attract projects that require substantial upfront expenditure. Unlike many earlier industrial promotion frameworks that focused primarily on new units, Punjabs policy also brings existing businesses within its ambit. Units looking to expand capacity, modernise machinery or add new production lines will also be eligible for incentives, subject to policy conditions. This provision is expected to be relevant for industrial centres such as Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Gobindgarh and Batala, where a large number of small and medium enterprises are already operating. The government has also linked some incentives to employment composition. It said higher subsidy support would be available to units that employ women, members of Scheduled Caste communities and persons with disabilities. The measure introduces a social inclusion component into the industrial policy and ties part of the support structure to workforce participation. For smaller enterprises, the policy lowers the threshold for employment generation subsidy. The minimum investment limit has been set at 25 crore, with a requirement of 50 employees. This could widen access to state support for small and medium units that may previously have fallen outside the eligibility range of larger industrial incentive schemes. Punjab has also provided an additional 25% incentive for units setting up in border districts such as Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Ferozepur and Fazilka. These districts have traditionally attracted lower levels of industrial investment than some of the states core manufacturing belts. The government said the added incentive is meant to encourage economic activity in these frontier areas. Another notable aspect of the policy is the duration of support. Punjab has proposed extending industrial incentives for up to 15 years, a longer window than is often available under state incentive regimes. The government said this could make the state more attractive to capital-intensive sectors such as semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, data centres and electric vehicles, where payback periods are typically longer. According to the state government, eligible investors could receive incentives of up to 100% of fixed capital investment, including expenditure on land, machinery, buildings, research and development, and environmental infrastructure. The eventual level of support, however, would depend on the size, category and compliance profile of individual projects. The demand for true wireless earbuds has increased as more people use smartphones for music, calls, video, and games. Buyers now expect a stable connection, long battery backup, and features such as noise control or app support. Many brands now offer these features even at lower prices. Our Picks Loading Suggestions... Loading Suggestions... Loading Suggestions... Loading Suggestions... Research-Backed Choices Every product we recommend is chosen through a combination of Primary Research and Secondary Research. This list brings together several earbuds available in India that support wireless audio, voice calls, and daily use. They include models from Oppo, Skullcandy, Redmi, OnePlus, Boat, JBL, and Noise. Each product focuses on different functions such as battery life, active noise cancellation, or audio drivers. The Oppo Enco Buds 3 Pro+ use 12.4mm dynamic drivers and support a sound range of 20Hz to 20kHz. They include smart active noise cancellation that can reduce noise by up to 32dB. A transparency mode allows outside sound when needed. For calls, the earbuds use built-in microphones designed to capture voice input. They connect through Bluetooth 5.4 and support AAC and SBC audio codecs with a wireless range of up to 10 metres. Each earbud carries a 58mAh battery. The charging case has a 440mAh battery. Oppo states that total playback can reach up to 43 hours when ANC is off and up to 28 hours with ANC enabled. The earbuds alone can last up to 12 hours without ANC. A 10-minute charge can provide up to 11 hours of use. The earbuds carry an IP55 rating and weigh 4.2g each. Oppo sells them in Midnight Black and Sonic Blue. The price in India is Rs. 2,499. 2. Skullcandy Jib True 2 Our Principles Full Transparency Every product review clearly lists the Pros and Cons, giving you a balanced view. Brand Confidence We focus on products from brands with a proven reputation and long-standing market trust. The Skullcandy Jib True 2 earbuds use Bluetooth 5.2 for wireless connection and include 6mm drivers. They support a frequency range of 20Hz to 20kHz. The audio level reaches about 95dB, and distortion remains below three percent. Battery life reaches up to nine hours from the earbuds. The charging case adds about 24 hours, which takes the total playback time to around 33 hours. Users can control music, volume, and calls through touch input on the earbuds. The earbuds also support single-earbud use for calls or listening. Skullcandy includes Tile tracking support. If the earbuds go missing, users can locate them through the Tile app. The earbuds carry an IPX4 rating for sweat and splash resistance. They also support voice assistants and connect automatically when the case opens. The Skullcandy Jib True 2 price in India is Rs. 2,999. They are sold in Light Grey/Blue and True Black. The OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro include 12.4mm dynamic drivers and a three-microphone setup in each earbud. This system aims to improve voice pickup during calls. The earbuds support active noise cancellation up to 49dB and include a transparency mode. Users can manage sound settings through the Hey Melody app. The app offers three noise control levels: mild, moderate, and max. The earbuds connect through Bluetooth 5.4 and support SBC and AAC codecs. They also support Google Fast Pair. Each earbud carries a 58mAh battery. The charging case has a 440mAh battery. OnePlus claims total playback of up to 44 hours with ANC turned off. A 10-minute charge can deliver about 11 hours of listening. The earbuds carry an IP55 rating. In India, the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro cost Rs. 2,999 and come in Soft Jade and Starry Black. The Boat Nirvana Zenith Pro earbuds include 12mm drivers and support Hi-Res audio through LDAC. They also support spatial audio playback. The earbuds include hybrid adaptive active noise cancellation that can reduce noise by up to 50dB. A transparency function allows outside sound when required. The boat uses a six-microphone system with AI noise reduction for calls. This setup aims to reduce background noise during conversations. Battery life can reach up to 80 hours when used with the charging case. A 10-minute charge can provide a few hours of listening time. The earbuds connect to the Boat Hearables app. The app includes Adaptive EQ powered by Mimi to adjust sound based on hearing patterns. The earbuds also include in-ear detection, which pauses playback when removed. Boat sells the Nirvana Zenith Pro in Crimson Red, Platinum Gold, and Velvet Grey. The price in India is Rs. 2,999. The JBL Tune Beam 2 earbuds use a stick-style design and include 10mm drivers. They carry an IP54 rating for dust and splash protection. The earbuds support adaptive active noise cancellation and a TalkThru transparency mode. For calls, JBL uses a six-microphone system that supports call noise cancellation. Connectivity includes Bluetooth 5.3, Google Fast Pair, and multipoint pairing. The earbuds also support Spatial Sound and VoiceAware features. Users can manage settings through the JBL Headphones app, which includes Personi-Fi 3.0 sound adjustment. JBL claims the earbuds provide up to 12 hours of playback without ANC and up to 10 hours with ANC. The charging case extends total playback to around 48 hours. The JBL Tune Beam 2 price in India is Rs. 5,499. They are available in Black, Blue, and White. The OnePlus Buds 4 feature an in-ear design with silicone tips. They use a dual-driver system that includes an 11mm ceramic-metal woofer and a 6mm tweeter. Dual DACs support audio output. The earbuds support Hi-Res Wireless Audio and OnePlus 3D Audio. Golden Sound tuning adjusts sound output by analysing the users ear canal. Noise control includes adaptive active noise cancellation up to 55dB and a transparency mode. Each earbud carries a three-microphone system with AI processing for voice calls. Connectivity includes Bluetooth 5.4, dual-device pairing, LHDC 5.0 codec support, and Steady Connect for a stable connection outdoors. A gaming mode reduces latency to about 47ms. The earbuds can provide up to 11 hours of playback without ANC. With the charging case, total playback can reach around 45 hours. A 10-minute charge can provide up to 11 hours of listening. OnePlus sells the Buds 4 in Storm Grey and Zen Green at Rs. 5,999 in India. Noise offers the Master Buds with 12.4mm titanium drivers tuned by Bose. The earbuds support active noise cancellation up to 49dB. The design uses interchangeable ear tips and includes a transparency mode. For calls, the earbuds rely on six microphones with environmental noise cancellation. They support the LHDC 5.0 audio codec and spatial audio playback. Connectivity features include dual-device pairing, Google Fast Pair, and Find My Device support. The earbuds also support in-ear detection and work with the Noise Audio app for settings and controls. Battery life can reach up to 44 hours with ANC off and 34 hours with ANC enabled when used with the charging case. The earbuds alone provide up to six hours of playback without ANC. A 10-minute charge can provide up to six hours of listening. Each earbud weighs 4.2g. The charging case uses USB Type-C and includes a light bar. Factors to Consider Before Buying Earbuds 1. Sound Drivers and Audio Output The driver size and type used in earbuds affect how audio is produced. Many earbuds use dynamic or dual-driver setups. A larger driver may support wider sound output, while dual-driver systems separate bass and high-frequency audio. Checking the driver size and supported audio codecs can help determine audio performance. 2. Battery Life and Charging Case Battery capacity plays a key role in daily use. Most earbuds provide separate battery life for the earbuds and the charging case. Buyers should check the total playback time along with quick-charge support. Fast charging can provide several hours of listening after a short charging period. 3. Noise Control Features Some earbuds include active noise cancellation (ANC) to reduce surrounding sound. Transparency mode allows outside sound when needed. Users who travel, commute, or work in busy environments may benefit from these features. 4. Connectivity and Bluetooth Version Wireless earbuds rely on Bluetooth connectivity. Newer versions, such as Bluetooth 5.3 or 5.4, can provide a stable connection, lower delay, and improved range. Features like multipoint pairing and Google Fast Pair can also improve the connection experience across devices. 5. Fit, Comfort, and Durability Earbuds come in different shapes and designs, including in-ear models with silicone tips. Buyers should check the fit, weight, and ear tip options for long listening sessions. Water and dust resistance ratings such as IPX4 or IP55 can also help if the earbuds are used during workouts or outdoor activities. It gives them a bit of a respite, but not enough to go and open new fronts either in the Ukraine war or in their hybrid conflict with the West, said Elina Ribakova, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. I would worry that if it were to hold for half a year that Russia would gain more appetite to do so. Researchers in the European Union intend to make an unprecedented high-voltage electric vehicle and they have under 42 months to do it. If successful, the prototype will charge faster and travel farther than potentially any EV to date, eliminating some of the final fears of still-skeptical motorists, according to a news release from Dortmund University of Applied Sciences in Germany. The EU-funded project is called ODYSSEV, short for Optimised Dynamics of High-Voltage Powertrains: Developing Sustainable Systems for Electric Vehicles. Dortmund is heavily involved in the research. Advertisement "High-voltage technologies beyond 800 volts not only enable dramatically shorter charging times, but also lighter vehicles thanks to thinner cables and higher overall efficiency through reduced energy losses. This makes electric cars more suitable for everyday use and more attractive to a broad range of buyers," Dortmund professor Markus Thoben said. The experts are shooting for 1,000 volts or higher, unlocking much better performance. To maximize the benefits, researchers want to use thinner, well-insulated cables, which will reduce overall weight and costs. But demand for insulation is high, and there are overheating risks. Those are concerns that ODYSSEV's team intends to solve. EV battery voltage is also being studied in other labs, along with alternative chemistries, as part of efforts to improve performance. It's important to note that current batteries provide for speedy power-ups. The cheapest way to charge is at home with a Level 2 plug-in, which can provide up to 40 miles per hour, according to experts at Qmerit. It reported that EV owners can save hundreds to thousands of dollars for every 13,489 miles traveled by juicing up at home. That's compared to gas or public stations that levy fees. Advertisement Advertisement For reference, standard outlets charge EVs the slowest, typically taking up to 40 or more hours to boost a battery from zero to 80%. Public stalls are the fastest and can provide that level of energy in under 20 minutes, depending on the vehicle and technology, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Qmerit's experts can help you get started on installing a Level 2 charger at home with free curated, competitive quotes from trusted installers. It starts with some simple questions about your electric panel and garage. For its part, ODYSSEV includes 14 research partners from eight countries. The project is inclusive, including the development chain, motor, battery, and other details. The effort will culminate with a prototype run at the LaSiSe test track in Selm, Germany, per the release. It started with a January kickoff event in Spain. Advertisement Advertisement "Our task is to orchestrate the complex interplay of all components and accelerate the development processes," research associate Seyed Saeed Mirsafian said about Dortmund's involvement. EVs of any voltage can be charged with reliable, abundant energy via the sun generated with home solar. TCD's Solar Explorer is a great resource that provides advice from trusted partners and installation quotes to help you get the best price. The insight can save you up to $10,000 off upfront costs. Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips to save more, waste less, and make smarter choices and earn up to $5,000 toward clean upgrades in TCD's exclusive Rewards Club. The Kremlin expected a quick win when it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, but it has found itself mired in a war that has left 325,000 of its troops dead and 900,000 wounded or missing, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank. Russia has suffered 242 dead and wounded for each square mile of Ukrainian territory it has gained, according to the Institute for the Study of War, a nonpartisan Washington think tank that studies military operations worldwide. Even more oil might have been able to head out via the Red Sea had another pipeline not fallen hostage to regional hostilities. At the start of 1990, Iraq and Saudi Arabia opened a massive pipeline that was supposed to take Baghdads crude all the way to Yanbu. Seven months later, Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait and the pipeline never took off. The Punjab government offered 1,500 per acre incentive for farmers adopting the DSR method in the upcoming kharif season and has allocated funds to expand the area under the technique. Similarly, Haryana announced an incentive of 4,500 per acre to encourage adoption of the DSR, up from 4,000 earlier. The notification also contains a clause that requires companies receiving pooled gas to undertake that they wont challenge the revised supply arrangement. It states: The entities from priority sector to which the pooled gas is supplied shall give an undertaking that the pooled price is acceptable to them and they shall not make the force majeure mitigation supply subject to any litigation as this may be at variance with their existing contracts. Bengaluru: Ravi Raheja, group president of real estate firm K Raheja Corp., and his wife Sumati Raheja, have sold a 6,772 square feet apartment at Raheja Artesia, a super-luxury tower in Mumbai's Worli for 121 crore. The sale to Shree Dhootapapeshwar Ltd comes amid a wave of record-setting deals in the citys most expensive real estate strip. The apartment, on the 44th floor, has an additional 367 sq ft balcony space or open terrace. On a per-square-foot basis, factoring in the outdoor space, the transaction worked out to around 1.7 lakh per sq ft. The apartment comes with six car parks. Also Read | Godrej Properties to outperform real estate sector growth, says Pirojsha Godrej The sale was registered on 26 February, as per documents accessed by real estate data analytics firm CRE Matrix. Raheja Artesia is a well-known luxury project by K. Raheja Corp Homes that has been completed and delivered. Shree Dhootapapeshwar Ltd, a Mumbai-based company, makes and sells Ayurvedic products and supplements. Typically, real estate promoters own some inventory in their projects, which they sell as prices of the property appreciate. Recently, Radha Tanti, angel investor and wife of Suzlon Energy executive vice chairman Girish Tanti, bought an apartment in Raheja Artesia for 123.5 crore from Ravi and Sumati Raheja. Earlier, promoters of the group, Chandru Raheja and Jyoti Raheja sold two residences in the same property to the promoters of Ideal Cures Pharma, Suresh Pareek and Veena Pareek, for a combined 190.1 crore, at around 1,35,970 per sq ft. The transactions come as Worlis luxury market scales new peaks, with multiple deals above 100 crore in 2024 and 2025, and marquee projects attracting billionaire buyers at record prices. Limited supply, prime sea-facing locations and rising demand are cementing the neighbourhoods status as Mumbais billionaire street". Projects in Worli such as Naman Xana, Three Sixty West and Lodha Sea Face have seen high-profile personalities buying homes. A 121 crore transaction reflects the depth of Mumbais ultra-luxury housing market. At this end of the spectrum, UHNIs are not just buying homes they are allocating serious capital into Mumbais prime residential addresses, viewing them as both a lifestyle upgrade and a long-term wealth asset," said Abhishek Kiran Gupta, chief executive, CRE Matrix. Also Read | Decoding why 500075 in Hyderabad is Indias bestselling pincode A K Raheja Corp spokesperson did not respond to Mint's queries. Shree Dhootapapeshwar Ltd could not be reached immediately. This dispensation (if sought) by the airlines would be based on a detailed risk assessment by the DGCA on a case by case basis. Though I personally believe additional pilots are necessary in view of the uncertainty of the air space disruption and incidents of flight return like we saw over Ethiopia and Cairo recently, he said, adding that the inherent powers of the regulator permit them to issue dispensations if they deem it not to transgress safety norms. IT overhang Yet, experts warn the excess-demand tailwind may be temporary and may not fully offset a slowdown in leasing from IT firms. Demand from top-tier IT companies remained weak as they continued to cut net headcount amid falling employee utilization in the December quarter, with no meaningful hiring recovery expected soon, the Kotak report noted. As a result, the share of IT services firms in Grade-A leased space has dropped to about 30% from 45% three years ago. Gold, silver rates today: Gold and silver rates today opened in a negative territory on Wednesday, March 11, after remarks from US officials regarding the Middle East conflict, which has heightened volatility in energy markets. Spot gold rate today was down marginally; however, it remained above the $5,200 level. The yellow metal was trading 0.34% lower at $5224 per ounce. Meanwhile, spot silver prices were also trading in red, down 0.32% to $89.35 per ounce, during the Asian trading hours. Also Read | Crude oil prices fall on reports of IEA proposal for reserve release What's driving gold and silver prices? According to a Bloomberg report, the White House said the US had not escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz, contradicting a now-deleted social media post by Chris Wright. Oil prices rebounded after declining sharply on Tuesday. The conflict, which has entered its 12th day, continues to disrupt crude production and refining operations across the Middle East. The Pentagon was quoted as saying by Bloomberg that the US and Israel carried out their most intense round of attacks yet against Iran and would persist until the Islamic Republic is defeated, adopting a more aggressive tone after Donald Trump earlier suggested the conflict could end soon. Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday morning that today will once again be our most intense day of strikes inside Iran. Speaking at the same Pentagon briefing, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff stated that Irans missile attacks have dropped by about 90%. Meanwhile, addressing the media on Monday, Donald Trump said the US administration plans to lift oil-related sanctions and indicated that the war could end soon, easing market worries that had driven prices to multi-year highs. However, hours later, Trump warned in a social media post that the US would sharply escalate its attacks if Iran attempted to shut the Strait of Hormuz. What should investors do? Tata Mutual Fund, in its Gold and Silver Outlook March 2026 report, recommended investors to reiterate investing in both gold and silver over supportive fundamentals and market uncertainties. The report further noted that the current geo-economic factors may support gold and silver prices with the addition of structural and cyclical fundamental factors. Investors may look for accumulation on any decline in the prices. We still believe that the overall market environment is going to be favorable for a strategic allocation in gold as a long-term investment in portfolio, the firm said in the note. Meanwhile, on the silver prices, it added, Silver is a developing growth story, and the trend is highly dependent on broad recovery in industrial demand. One can look for staggered approach to invest in the medium term to long term investment considering the volatile nature of the commodity. On the technical outlook of the gold prices, Ponmudi R, CEO of Enrich Money, said that after surging to previous all-time highs, the metal has entered a corrective phase. The broader bullish framework remains intact, supported by sustained momentum and strong breakout continuation from prior consolidation zones. Strong buying interest is visible in the $5,000$5,100 support band, while a break below this band could trigger further downside toward the $4,900 level. As long as gold holds above the $5,000 support zone, the broader bullish trend remains dominant. A sustained breakout above $5,400$5,600 could open the path toward fresh record highs, Ponmudi said. Meanwhile, on the silver prices outlook, he added that the broader bullish structure remains intact on higher timeframes. Prices have reclaimed major moving averages, signaling a transition from correction toward potential renewed strength. Strong buying interest is evident in the $76$80 support zone. A sustained recovery above $90$95 could reignite momentum toward $100$110 and potentially retest previous highs. The medium- to long-term outlook remains constructive, supported by safe-haven demand and evolving global cues, even amid ongoing volatility, he said. The subscription period for the Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust InvIT IPO began on Wednesday, March 11, and will conclude on Friday, March 13. Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust InvIT IPO price band has been established between 99 and 100 per unit. In the public offering, Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust InvIT has allocated 75% of the shares for qualified institutional buyers (QIB) and 25% for non-institutional investors (NII). Raajmarg Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT), which is the inaugural public infrastructure investment trust backed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), has secured 1,728 crore from anchor investors prior to the launch of its 6,000-crore initial public offering (IPO) on Wednesday. Raajmarg InvIT has allocated 17.28 crore units to anchor investors at a price of 100 per unit, as stated in an exchange filing last night. The anchor book included a diverse array of institutional investors such as pension funds, insurance firms, mutual funds, provident funds, and alternative investment funds. Notable investors included the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), ICICI Prudential Life Insurance, Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance, Bajaj Life Insurance, Axis Max Life Insurance, and Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance, all of whom made substantial commitments. Tentatively, Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust InvIT IPO basis of allotment of shares will be finalised on Wednesday, March 18, and the company will initiate refunds on Friday, March 20, while the shares will be credited to the demat account of allottees on the same day following refund. Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust InvIT share price is likely to be listed on BSE and NSE on Tuesday, March 24. Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust InvIT IPO GMP Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust InvIT IPO GMP today is 0, which means shares are trading with no premium or discount in the grey market, according to investorgain.com. Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust InvIT IPO subscription status Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust InvIT IPO subscription status is 5% on day 1, so far. The NII portion has been booked 2%, Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs) portion received 8% bids. The company has received bids for 1,11,60,900 shares against 21,33,33,150 shares on offer, at 11:47 IST, according to data on chittorgarh.com Also Read | Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust InvIT IPO price band set at 99-100 per unit Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust InvIT IPO details As per the Red Herring Prospectus (RHP), Raajmarg Infra Investment Trusts IPO total is 6,000 crore, which is an increase from the initially proposed 5,700 crore indicated in the draft documents submitted in January. Previously, the NHAI set up Raajmarg Infra Investment Managers Pvt. Ltd. (RIIMPL) to function as the investment management firm for the Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust. The public InvIT aims to leverage the monetization potential of National Highway assets while creating a high-quality, long-term investment vehicle primarily designed for retail and domestic investors. RIIMPL is a joint initiative effort that includes equity investments from major banks and financial institutions including State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, NaBFID, Axis Bank, Bajaj Finserv Ventures Ltd., HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, IDBI Bank, IndusInd Bank, and Yes Bank. Company details Established as an investment trust focused on infrastructure, Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust (Trust) has been officially registered with SEBI according to the InvIT Regulations since December 22, 2025. The Trust was created to acquire, manage, and maintain operational road infrastructure assets within India. Its toll road portfolio features routes such as Gorhar to Barwa Adda, Chilakaluripet to Vijayawada, the Chennai Bypass, Chennai to Tada, and Nelamangala to Tumkur. The Trust receives support from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which operates under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India. The portfolio of toll roads includes five operational toll road assets developed under the Toll Operate Transfer (TOT) model by the NHAI. These assets are located in the states of Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, encompassing approximately 260.198 km as part of the Golden Quadrilateral network. Plus, the Indian rupees depreciation to 91.88 against the US dollar would inflate import cost of these raw materials. Tyres sector is the largest consumer of natural rubber in India, accounting for 6570% of overall consumption; about 55-60% of natural rubber demand is met from local production, and the balance through imports, said Srikumar Krishnamurthy, senior vice president and co-group head, corporate ratings, Icra. Macao establishes 4 state key laboratories: national political advisor Xinhua) 15:16, March 11, 2026 BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) has established four state key laboratories, covering traditional Chinese medicine, microelectronics, smart-city Internet of Things, and lunar and planetary sciences, a national political advisor said on Wednesday. Relying on universities and state key laboratories, and through participation in major national projects, Macao has nurtured a legion of young scientists and attracted an increasing number of world-leading researchers to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, said Chen Ji Min, vice chairperson of the council of Macao University of Science and Technology, who is in Beijing to attend the fourth session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. The Macao SAR has emphasized research and technological innovation in higher education since its return to the motherland in 1999, Chen told reporters on the sidelines of the session. During this period, the number of students studying in Macao's universities has jumped from 8,000 to over 62,000, while university research staff have risen from 13 to 1,773, a 136-fold increase. More than 9,000 undergraduates and postgraduates are majoring in science and technology, Chen said. "Macao is building itself into an international hub for top talent that gathers global expertise and links domestic and international collaborative innovation," she added. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Chinese battery electric vehicle (BEV) manufacturer Nio Inc has entered the Thai market with the launch of a new compact vehicle under its recently established life-style brand Firefly, as the company continues its push into overseas markets. Nio joins a growing number of Chinese brands targeting Thailands fast-growing BEV market, after it entered into a partnership with local importer and distributor Thonburi Blue Sky, part of the Thonburi Group which also assembles and distributes Mercedes-Benz vehicles. The two partners hosted a launch event in Bangkok for the rear-wheel-drive smart city car, which is designed to be maneuverable in congested urban environments thanks to its tight turning radius. Advertisement Thonburi Groups chairman, Ratapon Viriyaphant, said that with its partnership with Nio it aims to set the foundations for strong sustainable growth, by combining his companys extensive experience in the Thai vehicle market with Nio's future-focused ecosystem and global vision. Thailand is the second market in Southeast Asia for the Firefly brand, following its recent launch in Singapore. "Nio enters Thai market with Firefly BEV" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. (Repeats Tuesday's column to additional subscribers without any changes. The opinions expressed here are those of the author, a columnist for Reuters.) By Jamie McGeever ORLANDO, Florida, March 10 (Reuters) - Every financial market crisis is different, but they do rhyme, and parallels are beginning to emerge between the tremors now rippling through private credit and those in U.S. subprime housing that led to the 2007-09 Global Financial Crisis. This isn't to say a repeat of that historic crash is in the cards. But there is a growing risk that the mounting stress in private credit - scarce or nonexistent liquidity, opaque pricing, and spiking redemptions - could spill over into the public securities markets. BlackRock, the world's biggest asset manager with some $14 trillion under management, said on Friday it had limited withdrawals from a flagship debt fund after a surge in redemption requests. A few days earlier, alternative asset manager Blackstone said it had raised the redemption cap on its BCRED private credit fund to meet record withdrawal requests. The alarm bells at these two behemoths come after a similar event at smaller alternative asset manager Blue Owl last month, and the bankruptcies of U.S. auto-parts supplier First Brands and car dealership Tricolor late last year that prompted JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon to warn: "When you see one cockroach, there are probably more." Investors with a sense of history, or who were around in the 2000s, may think this all sounds a bit familiar. In 2007, BNP Paribas, Bear Stearns and HSBC blocked redemptions from U.S. subprime funds or warned that they were in trouble a seemingly small risk that metastasized into a global financial meltdown. Of course, the GFC didn't fully explode until September 2008 when U.S. authorities allowed Lehman Brothers to go under. But the crisis had been building up steadily for at least 18 months, with tremors at those subprime funds offering investors early warnings that trouble was brewing. The rationale for not letting investors access their own money today is likely similar to the justifications in 2007: assets have probably fallen significantly in value and thus would need to be sold at a heavy loss; the asset manager may fear triggering a fire sale in other assets to raise the cash being demanded; or the fund may be struggling to unload illiquid assets. Or it may be a bit of all three. Either way, as was the case with subprime mortgages and related derivatives in 2007, it is hard to know what private credit assets today are truly worth because the market is so opaque and illiquid. When price discovery evaporates, the more bearish assumptions often win out. Another similarity with subprime in 2007 is that private credit and private markets more broadly are not believed to pose a systemic financial stability risk. As we all know, that turned out to be wishful thinking back then. SUBPRIME RHYME, NOT REPEAT Is it different this time? Probably, if we're looking at sheer size. The mortgage-backed securities market, the root of the GFC, was worth around $7.2 trillion in 2007, or 5% of the total value of global securities at the time, according to Investec. The private credit market today is worth around $2 trillion, less than 1% of all global securities. On the other hand, like subprime in 2007, private credit today is loosely regulated, certainly relative to traditional bank lenders, meaning its true reach isn't easily ascertained. What's more, ordinary mom-and-pop investors are getting more involved. Retail investors represented 16.6% of holdings in private credit funds at the end of 2024, up from 5.5% in 2020, according to Investec. Meanwhile, private credit default rates are rising, hitting a record 9.2% in 2025, credit rating agency Fitch Ratings said last week. That's up from the previous record of 8.1% in 2024. Perhaps ominously, these defaults didn't include any software companies, which have become major private borrowers. The software sector has been hammered this year by fears of artificial intelligence-related disruption, which has slammed shares in private credit giants Blackstone, KKR and Apollo down 30-45% in recent months. The broader risks from private credit seem skewed to the downside. The U.S. economy is at a delicate juncture, facing a shaky labor market and the fallout from the war in the Middle East, including wild volatility in oil markets and the specter of modern-day "stagflation." True, the consensus view is that the economy's underlying fundamentals are solid and that private credit isn't large enough or well-integrated enough to torpedo GDP growth or broader asset markets. As strategists at Barclays note, private credit has problems, but they aren't big enough to push the U.S. into recession. Of course, this is exactly how subprime was viewed in 2007. To paraphrase Warren Buffett, when the liquidity tide goes out, you see who's been swimming naked. Recent events in the private credit market suggest more funds may soon be exposed. (The opinions expressed here are those of Jamie McGeever, a columnist for Reuters) Enjoying this column? Check out Reuters Open Interest (ROI), your essential new source for global financial commentary. Follow ROI on LinkedIn, and X. And listen to the Morning Bid daily podcast on Apple, Spotify, or the Reuters app. Subscribe to hear Reuters journalists discuss the biggest news in markets and finance seven days a week. Godawari Power and Ispat share price rose over 2% on Wednesday, March 11 despite Sensex and Nifty 50 ended nearly 2% lower on Wednesday after a day's breather following a spike in crude oil prices amid growing tensions in West Asia. Godawari Power and Ispat has received approval from the Cuttack Bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) for the merger of its fully-owned subsidiary, Godawari Energy Limited. The tribunal issued its order on March 10, 2026, endorsing the complete Scheme of Amalgamation between the two companies. The scheme will take effect once the certified copy of the NCLT order is submitted to the relevant Registrar of Companies. This marks the conclusion of a process that started with initial notifications to stock exchanges in August 2025. The merger entails considerable financial factors, especially concerning the transferor company's responsibilities. As per the NCLT ruling, Godawari Energy Limited had unsecured loans totaling 65,65,00,000 as of March 31, 2025, with no secured loans recorded in its accounts. The financial framework indicates that the transferor company had allocated debentures totaling 69 crores exclusively to Godawari Power and Ispat. From this total, 2.75 crores and 0.60 crores were redeemed, resulting in a remaining balance of 65.65 crores, which will be annulled in accordance with the scheme. Godawari Power & Ispat functions as a comprehensive steel producer, engaging in mining, energy generation, and the manufacturing of steel. The firm leverages its own captive iron ore mines to provide the necessary raw materials for producing pellets, sponge iron, billets, wire rods, ferro alloys, and electricity. Godawari Power & Ispat operates within the competitive environment of the integrated steel and power sector. Its rivals include significant players such as Jindal Steel & Power Limited (JSPL), Tata Steel Limited, and Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL). For context, JSPL reported a revenue of 57,118 crore for FY23, Tata Steel noted 2,43,959 crore, and SAIL realized 1,05,377 crore. Godawari Power and Ispat share price today Godawari Power and Ispat share price today opened at 253.65 apiece on the BSE, the stock touched an intraday high of 259.70 per share, and an intraday low of 253 per share. The stock has increased by 7.93% over the last three months and experienced a growth of 40.82% over the past year. Also Read | KPI Green Energy share price jumps after this CAPEX expansion update Atum Capital, however, denied any role in the alleged fraud, saying it was itself a victim. Our role in the transaction was as a buyerbased on a sellers commitment to deliver them. The shares were to be supplied by a third-party entity that ultimately failed to honour its commitment, Satish Kumar, director of Atum Capital said in an email response to Mint's query. A formal complaint has already been filed, and an FIR has been registered with the Economic Offences Wing against the concerned seller. The conflict involving Iran and the Israel-US is beginning to impact Indias energy market, with natural gas and LPG supplies tightening as disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz affect global shipments. India relies heavily on imported gas to meet domestic demand. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the worlds most critical energy transit routes. However, tanker traffic through the corridor has been disrupted amid rising security risks as Iran continues to target vessels passing through the region. Several global suppliers have already issued force majeure notices on gas shipments due to the disruption. How it impacts India? The global gas supply shock triggered by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz is beginning to ripple through Indian markets, putting several sectors and listed companies in focus. Fertiliser, city gas distribution, quick-service restaurants (QSR) and consumer durables companies could face operational and cost pressures as LPG and LNG supplies tighten. Stocks such as Petronet LNG, GAIL, Chambal Fertilizers, IGL, Jubilant FoodWorks and Devyani International are likely to remain under the spotlight as rising fuel costs and supply constraints threaten to squeeze margins across industries. Amid disruptions to LNG imports, the impact across the oil and gas value chain is likely to follow the governments revised gas allocation framework. Under the Natural Gas (Supply Regulation) Order, 2026, supplies are prioritised for domestic PNG, CNG used in transport and LPG production, with these segments receiving close to 100% of their recent consumption, while industrial and commercial users may be limited to roughly 80% of prior usage, said Dhaval Popat, Energy Analyst at Choice Institutional Equities. India imports more than 60% of its LPG consumption, and roughly 8590% of these imports typically pass through the Strait of Hormuz, making the country particularly vulnerable to disruptions in the route. LPG, which is widely used in household cooking cylinders and commercial establishments, is the most sensitive fuel during the crisis because supply constraints can quickly translate into higher household costs. India imported about 31.3 million tonnes of LPG in FY25, while domestic production stood at just 12.8 million tonnes, highlighting the countrys reliance on overseas supplies. The crisis intensified last week after Qatar halted LNG production at a major export facility following an Iranian drone strike, disrupting cargo shipments to several countries, including India. QatarEnergy subsequently issued a force majeure notice to Petronet LNG, Indias largest LNG importer. As a result, GAIL said gas supplies routed through Petronet LNG under its long-term contract had effectively dropped to zero during the disruption, tightening availability for downstream sectors. The supply squeeze has already pushed prices higher. Domestic LPG cylinder prices have risen by about 60, while commercial LPG prices have increased by 114.5. European gas prices have also surged nearly 40%, reflecting the wider impact of the disruption on global markets. The Indian government has moved to manage supplies during the crisis. In light of current geopolitical disruptions affecting fuel supply and constraints on LPG availability, the ministry has directed oil refineries to increase LPG production and divert the additional output towards domestic consumption, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said in a post on X. The ministry has prioritised domestic LPG supply to households and introduced a 25-day inter-booking period to prevent hoarding and black marketing. Imported LPG supplies are being prioritised for essential non-domestic sectors such as hospitals and educational institutions, it added. Moreover, the government has also issued the Natural Gas (Supply Regulation) Order, 2026, prioritising gas allocation for PNG, CNG and LPG production during the supply crunch. However, analysts warn that if tensions in the Middle East persist, gas supply disruptions could continue and keep energy prices elevated in India. Sectors and Stocks to be impacted Rising gas prices and supply disruptions triggered by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz are beginning to ripple across Indian stock markets, putting several sectors and listed companies under pressure. Restaurant and food delivery companies are also likely to remain under the spotlight. Stocks including Eternal, Swiggy, Jubilant FoodWorks (Dominos), Devyani International, Sapphire Foods (KFC and Pizza Hut), Westlife FoodWorld (McDonalds) and Speciality Restaurants could face operational pressure as LPG shortages hit commercial kitchens. Restaurants in cities such as Mumbai and Bengaluru have already warned of possible closures due to limited fuel availability. Gas-linked companies including Gujarat Gas, Adani Total Gas are also likely to feel the impact. Petronet LNG faces direct exposure to cargo disruptions from Qatar, while GAIL could see lower pipeline throughput as supply tightens. City gas distributors IGL and MGL may struggle to secure supplies while managing higher costs for CNG and PNG, posing risks to both volumes and margins. City gas distributors with higher exposure to industrial and commercial segments such as Gujarat Gas are likely to face the most negative impact through lower volumes and potential margin pressure. Conversely, distributors with greater exposure to transport (CNG) and household PNG segments, such as IGL and MGL remain relatively insulated due to their priority allocation status. For refineries, the disruption may require partial substitution away from LNG toward alternative fuels; however, the overall impact on refining operations is expected to remain relatively limited, noted Popat. Moreover, Fertiliser companies such as GNFC, Chambal Fertilizers, Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers (RCF), FACT and Deepak Nitrite could face pressure if LNG shortages persist. Urea production relies heavily on imported LNG, and disruptions could impact supply just as farmers prepare for the summer and upcoming kharif crop seasons. India also imports nearly all of its muriate of potash and about 60% of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP). TTK Prestige, Gandhi Mathi Appliances (Butterfly Gandhimathi), and Stove Kraft may also come into focus amid concerns over LPG supply disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict. Reports indicate that shortages of commercial LPG in several major cities have pushed hotels and restaurants to explore alternatives such as induction and electric cooking appliances. If the supply issues persist, consumers and businesses may temporarily shift to induction cookers, hot plates and other electric devices, which could support demand and sales for companies in the kitchen appliances segment. SEDEMAC Mechatronics IPO Listing: SEDEMAC Mechatronics share price made a strong debut on Wednesday, March 11, defying the tepid sentiment in the Indian stock market. SEDEMAC Mechatronics share price was listed at 1,535 per share on NSE, a premium of 13.54% over the issue price of 1,352. On BSE, the stock got listed at 1,510, up 11.69% from the issue price. The IPO listing was better than Street expectations, as seen from the grey market premium (GMP). The GMP for SEDEMAC IPO stood at 0 per share, which indicated a likely listing price of 1,352 same as the IPO price. SEDEMAC Mechatronics IPO Subscription Status SEDEMAC Mechatronics IPO witnessed decent subscription during the three days of bidding. It was booked 2.68 times by the end of the third day. The retail portion was subscribed 0.20 times, the NII portion was booked 0.77 times, and the Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs) segment received 8.46 times bids. SEDEMAC Mechatronics IPO Details The public issue of SEDEMAC Mechatronics opened for subscription on March 4 and closed on March 6, while the basis of allotment was finalised on March 9. Through the book-built issue, the company mobilised 1,087.45 crore. The IPO was entirely an offer for sale (OFS) comprising 80.43 lakh equity shares. The price band for the SEDEMAC Mechatronics IPO was fixed between 1,287 and 1,352 per share. As the issue was purely an OFS, the proceeds from the offering will not be received by the company. Instead, the funds will go to the existing promoters and shareholders who diluted part of their stake through the public issue. The IPO was offered with a lot size of 11 shares. Retail investors were required to apply for at least one lot, which meant a minimum investment of around 14,872 at the upper end of the price band. The offer also included a reservation of up to 8,170 shares for employees. These shares were offered at a discount of 128 to the issue price. Ahead of the IPO launch, the company had raised 325.89 crore from anchor investors on March 2. ICICI Securities Ltd acted as the book-running lead manager for the issue, while MUFG Intime India Pvt. Ltd served as the registrar. About SEDEMAC Mechatronics Founded in 2007, SEDEMAC Mechatronics is a Pune-based technology firm focused on control electronics. The company develops and manufactures powertrain controllers, motor control products, and integrated starter-generator solutions used in automotive and industrial applications. The company emphasises innovation through its patented sensor-less motor control technology, which enables accurate performance without the need for external sensors. SEDEMAC collaborates closely with leading original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), providing reliable, efficient, and scalable electronic solutions. Notably, the company claims to be the first in India to develop, design, and manufacture sensorless commutation (SLC)-based integrated starter generator (ISG) electronic control units (ECUs) for internal combustion engine (ICE) powered two-wheeler and three-wheeler vehicles. It has a portfolio of five oil and gas fields Bakrol, Lohar, Karjisan, Elao, and Cambay located in Gujarat. As of 31 March 2025, cumulative production from the Bakrol and Karjisan fields stood at about 3.95 mmboe and 0.44 mmboe, respectively. This accounts for about 3% and 1.5% of the estimated in-place volumes, indicating scope for future development. The company aims to expand its market presence while unlocking new avenues for growth by further developing its existing assets. Revenue has clocked a 49.5% CAGR over the past three years while net profit has grown at a CAGR of 95.4%. Shares of Oracle jumped 15% in early trade on the New York Stock Exchange, reaching a five-week high of $171.76 apiece, after the company reported upbeat results for the third quarter of fiscal 2026 and boosted its revenue guidance for fiscal 2027. The shares had reached a high of $164.51 in extended trading on Tuesday after closing at $149.40 in New York. Oracles overall revenue increased 22% year over year in the fiscal third quarter, which ended on 28 February, according to the company. Revenue from its closely watched infrastructure business increased 84% to $4.9 billion, while revenue from the cloud applications business expanded 13% to $4 billion, in line with estimates. Revenue from both cloud and infrastructure stood at $8.9 billion. For fiscal year 2026, the company expects revenue of $67 billion and capital expenditures of $50 billion, which is unchanged from its most recent guidance. For fiscal year 2027, it has raised its total revenue guidance to $90 billion, which also came ahead of analyst estimates of $86.7 billion. The upbeat revenue forecast eased concerns over its hefty spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure. While Oracle was a latecomer to the cloud industry, it swiftly recognized the artificial intelligence boom, rapidly building out data centres filled with premium processors for customers such as Meta and OpenAI. Still, the firm has borrowed heavily to fund the data-centre build-outs, leaving it exposed to any potential downturn in the market. In February, it announced its intention to raise up to $50 billion in debt and equity financing, along with a statement that it does not expect to issue any additional bonds beyond this amount in calendar year 2026. Oracles capital expenditures were about $18.6 billion in the fiscal third quarter, higher than the $14 billion anticipated by analysts. According to the company, demand for cloud computing for AI training and inferencing continues to grow faster than supply. Furthermore, some of the largest consumers of AI cloud capacity have recently strengthened their financial positions substantially. Last week, Bloomberg reported that Oracle was planning thousands of job cuts across the company to help trim costs. It has disclosed $1.6 billion in expected restructuring costs in the fiscal year through May, its largest such plan on record. Oracle shares still down sharply from peak The stock had lost more than 50% of its value from a September peak through Tuesdays close, as Wall Street grew worried about the costs and logistics associated with the massive data-center build-out. Despite the shares witnessing heavy pressure on Wall Street, analysts have largely remained optimistic on the stock, noting that sentiment has shifted from strong confidence to widespread skepticism regarding the companys long-term financial targets. Also Read | Oracle shares rebound after news of $50 bn fundraise for cloud infra expansion Indian stock markets have lost almost 5% since the start of the US-Iran war. There have been promising days of recovery but overall sentiment remains strongly negative for the markets, domestic as well as global. Just in today's deals, Sensex and Nifty 50 declined over 1% each as the ongoing US-Iran war kept market sentiment cautious. Banking, financial services and auto stocks led the losses, dragging the frontline indices lower during the session. The Sensex fell more than 1,000 points, or about 1.3%, touching an intraday low of 77,161. Meanwhile, the Nifty 50 dropped 1.20% to hit a days low of 23,971.60. This comes after a strong rebound in the previous session on falling oil prices and hopes of the war nearing an end. Oil prices have remained sharply below $90 after almost touching $120 on Monday. Such spikes have been rocking financial markets worldwide because of worries that the war could block the global flow of oil and natural gas for a long time. Moreover, support after the G-7 group of nations asked the International Energy Agency (IEA) to prepare plans for a potential release of emergency oil reserves also eased supply pressures. Against this backdrop, market participants are increasingly focused on how investors should respond to such geopolitical shocks. What should investors do? Geopolitical conflicts often trigger sharp market volatility, but experts say history suggests that long-term investors should remain disciplined rather than react emotionally to short-term events. VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Investments, said history shows that wars and geopolitical tensions typically have only a temporary impact on markets. The lesson from history is that geopolitical issues like wars will have only short-term impact on the economy and markets. Therefore investors should remain invested and continue with systematic investment, Vijayakumar said. He added that corrections triggered by such events can often create attractive buying opportunities, particularly in sectors with strong growth prospects. Market strategists also emphasised the importance of maintaining a long-term perspective during geopolitical crises. Moroever, according to Axis Asset Management, geopolitical crises have repeatedly tested market sentiment but rarely changed the long-term trajectory of Indian equities. The US Iran - Israel conflict is a serious geopolitical event, but for Indian investors it is not unprecedented. Over the past 15 years every major conflict has tested sentiment, yet Indian equities have repeatedly demonstrated resilience over time, the firm said. Axis Asset Management further noted that markets may initially react negatively through falling equities, weaker currencies and rising oil prices. However, it said fundamentals tend to regain importance over time. The firm also advised investors not to exit equities during periods of panic, pointing out that those who sold during previous geopolitical crises often missed the subsequent market recovery. How to position your portfolio? While experts recommend staying invested, they also suggest adjusting portfolios to better navigate periods of geopolitical uncertainty. Kotak Investment Advisors said investors should tilt their portfolios toward sectors that are more resilient during volatile global conditions. It is advisable to rebalance portfolios toward more domestic-oriented sectors and companies with strong balance sheets, pricing power and demand visibility, which can recover faster once geopolitical risks begin to subside, the firm said. Kotak Investment Advisors added that sectors such as large private banks, NBFCs, telecom, healthcare and metals could offer relatively stronger prospects in the current environment. Similarly, ICICI Direct recommended positioning your portfolio around domestic demand-driven sectors such as banks, infrastructure, capital goods, cement, automobiles and discretionary consumption, which are less exposed to global shocks. Meanwhile, according to Vijayakumar, the recent market decline has made valuations in several large-cap stocks more reasonable, while sectors such as financials, automobiles, pharmaceuticals and defence continue to offer strong long-term potential. For investors navigating the current uncertainty, the key takeaway from experts remains clear: geopolitical shocks may create volatility, but disciplined investing and diversification have historically proven to be the most effective strategy. Reliance Industries share price gained over a percent in early trade on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump announced a plan to build a new oil refinery in Brownsville, Texas, with the help of investment from Reliance Industries Ltd. Reliance share price rose as much as 1.74% to 1,433.65 apiece on the BSE. Trump said the US will get its first new oil refinery in 50 years with the help of investment from Indias Reliance Industries Ltd. I am proud to announce that America First Refining is opening the FIRST new US Oil Refinery in 50 YEARS in Brownsville, Texas, Trump said Tuesday in a post on Truth Social. The Texas refinery is the same project that was previously being developed by Element Fuels, which announced in June 2024 that it had completed site preparation and secured the necessary permits to construct a facility capable of processing around 160,000 barrels of oil per day, according to a report by Bloomberg. Element Fuels web address now redirects to the website of America First Refining, the company that Donald Trump said will develop the new refinery, the report added. According to a statement released by America First Refining on Tuesday, the company plans to break ground on the refinery in the second quarter of this year and has already signed a 20-year agreement to sell the fuels it produces. The long-term sales deal has been signed with Reliance Industries. Reliance Industries share price has declined more than 10% on a year-to-date (YTD) basis. The stock, however, has gained over 1% in the past six months, rallied about 12% over the past year, and delivered returns of around 31% over the last three years. Technical Outlook Reliance Industries share price is going through a consolidation phase wherein a support base has been formed at 1,300, according to Ruchit Jain, Head, Equity Technical Research, Wealth Management, Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd. However, the 50 DEMA at 1,435 swing high at 1,490 are the immediate resistances which needs to be surpassed for a trended upmove, said Jain. At 9:25 AM, Reliance share price was trading 0.92% higher at 1,422.05 apiece on the BSE. Stock Market Crash Highlights: The Indian stock market indices Sensex and Nifty 50 declined on Wednesday, March 11 as the US-Iran war kept investors cautious. The Nifty and Sensex declined over 1.5% each mainly dragged by banks, financial services, and auto stocks. Sensex ended 1342.27 points or 1.72% lower at 76,863.71 while the broader Nifty lost 417.85 points or 1.72% to settle at 23,843.75. Meanwhile, in intraday deals, Sensex fell as much as 1,396 points or 1.8% to its intra-day low of 76,810.14 while Nifty 50 shed 407 points or 1.7% to its day's low of 23,854.35. Midcap and Smallcap indices outperformed benchmarks but still ended in the red. Investors lost around 3 lakh crore in today's session as the overall market capitalisation of BSE-listed firms fell to over 442 lakh crore from over 447 lakh crore in the previous session. Global Markets and Crude Oil Prices US stock futures gave up earlier gains while oil prices rose again after reports that vessels in the Middle East came under attack amid ongoing military strikes. Meanwhile, Treasury yields remained steady as investors awaited key US inflation data for further policy cues. Futures linked to the S&P 500 trimmed an earlier advance of about 0.5%. Brent crude climbed 1.8% to trade just below $90 per barrel, recovering after plunging around 11% in the previous session. The UK Navy reported that three ships were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf on Wednesday, indicating continued disruption to maritime shipping routes. Oil prices have remained sharply below their peaks hit on Monday. Such spikes have been rocking financial markets worldwide because of worries that the war could block the global flow of oil and natural gas for a long time. In Europe, equities weakened, with the Stoxx Europe 600 falling 0.9% as of 8:38 a.m. London time. US equity futures were largely flat, with S&P 500 futures, Nasdaq 100 futures and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures showing little change. Asian markets, however, traded higher, with the MSCI Asia Pacific Index rising 0.9%. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index also gained 0.8%. Gold, Silver rate today Gold and silver rate today also declined on Wednesday, March 11 on the back of easing oil prices and a softer US dollar amid the ongoing US-Israel-Iran war. On MCX, silver price fell 2.6% to its day's low of 2,70,600 per kg while MCX gold price was down 0.76% to 1,62,055 per 10 grams. Gold and Silver prices are currently influenced by competing macro forces. On one side, escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are sustaining demand for safe-haven assets. On the other hand, the strengthening US dollar and rising Treasury yields are limiting the metal's upside, believes Renisha Chainani, Head of Research at Augmont. Track this space for LIVE updates on Indian stock market moves. The most dependable mass-market automotive brand was recently announced by J.D. Power in its 2026 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study. This automotive brand may not be one that readily comes to mind, so we have shown it above. In case you are still not sure, that brand is Buick, which sells four different vehicles in the U.S., all of which are SUVs. Buick vehicles are made in a variety of factories located all over the world. According to J.D. Power, Buick came in at second place overall, right behind luxury class winner Lexus. Lexus had a winning score of only 151 problems per 100 vehicles, while Buick was right behind with 160 problems per 100 vehicles. Even though Buick did very well in this study, there are still some used Buick models you should steer clear of at all costs. Some other interesting findings came out of this study, too. Based on consumers' three years of experience with cars that were purchased new in 2023, the company found there were more problems than were recorded during the previous year, with an industry average of 204 problems per 100 cars. The largest problem area continued to be infotainment systems, with 56.7 problems per 100 cars, followed by vehicle exteriors, which had 27.5 problems per 100 cars. A particular area of concern related to over-the-air updates of those having received one in the past 12 months, only 27% noticed an improvement, while 58% did not notice any difference. Advertisement Read more: 5 Of The Most Reliable Engines Ever Put In A Pickup Truck What else should you know about the Buick brand? Rear 3/4 view of Buick Enclave driving on seaside roadway - Buick Buick is owned by General Motors. Among the vehicles it sells in the U.S., the Buick Enclave which we quite liked in our review of the 2025 model is the only one made in the U.S., at GM's plant in Lansing, Michigan at least for now. The Buick Envision is currently made by GM in China, but the next generation of this vehicle is slated to be made on the same platform as the Chevrolet Equinox, at a plant in Kansas City, Kansas. Two of the Buicks sold here are imported from South Korea. They are the Buick Envista and the Buick Encore GX, which are the two smallest vehicles in the Buick lineup. In terms of pricing, the 2026 Buick Envista Preferred is the entry-level Buick, available only with front-wheel drive, coming in at $26,495, not including destination charges. Next in line is the Buick Encore Preferred GX with front-wheel drive, starting at $27,995 (not including destination fees), with all-wheel drive a $2,000 option. The next most expensive Buick is the Envision Preferred, with all-wheel drive standard, which starts at $42,995. The top of the Buick lineup is represented by the Enclave Preferred starting at $48,395, which has front-wheel drive as standard and all-wheel drive available for a $2,000 upcharge. In addition to the entry-level Preferred trim, two higher trim levels are also available on every Buick model. These are the mid-level Sport Touring and the high-end Avenir. 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. Shares of TTK Prestige, Gandhi Mathi Appliances (Butterfly Gandhimathi), and Stovecraft surged by as much as 15% on Wednesday, March 11, due to a critical shortage of LPG amid conflicts in the Middle East. The supply of commercial LPG to hotels and restaurants has stopped in cities such as Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai, resulting in a significant increase in the demand for induction stoves (with sales rising between 60-300%), according to reports. Market analysts suggest that if there are ongoing LPG supply challenges, consumers might briefly transition to using induction or electric cooking appliances, which could positively impact businesses such as TTK Prestige, Stove Kraft, and Gandhimathi Appliances. Even a brief increase in demand for induction cookers, hot plates, and electric devices can translate into a boost in sales activity. Minor interruptions in fuel supply will lead to consumer demand shifts towards electric appliances. Darshan Rathod, COO, Multify, said that the sudden rally came after reports of a possible gas supply shortage, which created expectations of higher demand for alternative cooking appliances. These companies manufacture products such as pressure cookers, induction stoves, and other kitchen appliances used in households. When concerns arise about gas availability, the market often assumes that consumers may temporarily shift toward electric cooking options like induction cooktops. Because of this expectation, investors quickly move into stocks that could benefit from such a shift, according to Rathod. However, it is important to understand that this type of rally is largely driven by sentiment and short-term news. A gas supply disruption can create temporary demand, but the long-term growth of these companies still depends on factors like consumer spending, product innovation, and strong distribution networks, explained Rathod. As per reports, India uses approximately 31.3 million tonnes of LPG each year. Around 87% of this consumption occurs in the domestic sector, specifically in household kitchens, while the remaining portion is utilized by commercial venues such as hotels and restaurants. Out of the total demand, around 62% is fulfilled through imports. The attack by the US and Israel on Iran, along with Tehran's response, has led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuzthe passage through which India received 85-90% of its LPG imports from nations like Saudi Arabia, as per reports. Key Players TTK Prestige, Gandhi Mathi Appliances (Butterfly Gandhimathi), and Stovecraft Limited are major participants in India's kitchen appliances sector, providing a diverse selection of products such as pressure cookers, cookware, LPG stoves, mixer grinders, and induction cooktops. TTK Prestige obtains approximately 35% of its revenue from pressure cookers and around 1718% from both cookware and gas stoves, while induction cooktops account for nearly 1012%, featuring popular models like the i-Control and Royale series. For FY25, the company reported revenues of 2,894 crore and aims to reach 5,000 crore by FY27, driven by increasing demand for kitchen appliances due to higher LPG prices. Gandhi Mathi Appliances, recognized for its Butterfly brand, maintains a significant presence in South India, which generates approximately 77% of its revenue, bolstered by a distribution network consisting of over 500 distributors and 25,000 outlets, with nearly 85% of production occurring in-house. On the other hand, Stovecraft has experienced substantial growth in its induction cooktop segmentaccounting for almost 49% of its revenue, alongside chimneys and hobsdriven by a trend towards premium products and collaborations with global retailers like IKEA, while its small appliances segment also shows strong growth. Both companies are capitalizing on the increasing urbanization, enhancements in premium kitchens, and the rising adoption of energy-efficient cooking solutions. Technical Views Ruchit Jain, Head - Equity Technical Research, Wealth Management, Motilal Oswal, said that TTK Prestige, Gandhimathi, Stove Kraft shares have seen a sharp pullback move today post the recent correction. However, the overall trend remains bearish as the lower top lower bottom has not negated yet. According to Anshul Jain, Head of Research at Lakshmishree, compared to Gandhimathi and Stove Kraft, TTK Prestige currently offers the cleaner breakout structure and superior momentum profile. TTK Prestige Limited, Gandhimathi Appliances Limited, and Stove Kraft Limited, the technical structure clearly favours TTK Prestige. The stock is showing the strongest relative strength both against peers and the broader market. A key differentiator is the extraordinary volume expansion, with participation surging nearly 1,526 percent above the 50-day average, signaling strong institutional interest rather than speculative activity. Price acceptance after the volume spike suggests demand is absorbing supply effectively, said Jain. Also Read | Reliance Industries share price gains amid plans for new oil refinery in Texas Rising tensions between the US and Iran have pushed global energy prices higher, bringing ceramic tile manufacturers under pressure. The industry that relies heavily on fuels such as natural gas and propane to fire kilns at high temperatures during the tile-making process feels the pinch of any spike in these fuel prices, which quickly feed into production costs. In an interaction with PTI last week, Sebi chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey said that while the regulator has no concerns about the futures segment of the derivatives market, it remains watchful of speculative trading in short-dated options. Index options turnover has grown even as cash market activity has fallen despite the regulatory curbs. Amazons new Echo Show 8 arrived earlier this year looking like a familiar promise wrapped in a slightly sleeker frame. A better display, improved audio, a new chip, and a custom sensor suite for new ambient experiencesall welcome upgrades. However, its headline feature, Alexa+, the generativeAI reboot of Amazons assistant, is missing in action for Indian users. The hardware supports it; the location does not. This, essentially, sums up the state of smart speakers in 2026. Amazon Echo devices are aspirational, giftable (they pull in significant numbers from corporate gifting as well, an analyst tells me), andfor families with kidsa surprisingly sticky part of the living room. But the category itself is in a strange limbo. The first wave of voice assistants promised a future where we would talk to our homes as naturally as we talk to each other. Instead, we got a decade of reminders, timers, weather updates, and the occasional Spotify playlist. Now, with artificial intelligence reshaping every corner of consumer tech, the smart speaker is poised for a reboot. Where is the software? Amazon remains the only company still treating smart speakers as a living, breathing product category. The new Echo Show 8the fourthgeneration model that just launched in Indiais a proof that Amazon hasnt lost interest. If anything, the software team waits for the green light to bring Alexa+ to more markets. Thats after the company missed several deadlines to introduce Alexa+ in the first place, even as AI-powered chatbots like Google Gemini, ChatGPT, and Microsoft Copilot generated considerable interest and mass adoption. Also Read | The subscription squeeze comes for hardware Having spent time with the new Echo Show 8, the contrast between the hardware ambition and the software reality becomes even sharper. The device itself is genuinely improved: the new industrial design feels more premium, the thin bezels maximise the displays viewing area, the spatial audio is fuller and more roomfilling, and the upgraded 13megapixel camera finally makes video calls feel less like a grainy afterthought. View full Image View full Image Amazon Echo Show 8. ( Courtesy Amazon ) The custom-designed AZ3 Pro chip inside is clearly built for heavier workloadsthe kind that Alexa+ will eventually demandand the new edgeprocessing capabilities hint at a future where more tasks happen locally rather than in the cloud. The chip also packs in Omnisense, a custom sensor platform designed for enabling ambient AI experiences. But all of that potential sits behind the same Alexa experience that weve known for years. The assistant still struggles with conversational flow, still misfires on contextual queries, and still feels like a system optimised for commands rather than a dialogue. When you use the Echo Show 8 today, you can sense the gap between what a smart device in 2026 can do and what its currently allowed to do. Maybe Alexa+ is the very thing that would make the Echo Show 8 feel like a nextgeneration product. It promises more natural conversations, the ability to understand layered requests, and a more proactive, personalised assistant. Its a futureready device stuck in a presentday assistant. The Echo Show 8 clearly has room to grow, but Indian buyers wont get to tap into any of it for now. That said, Amazon continues to sell Echo devices in India in meaningful numbers. Ive got one in each room of our apartment, including the washroom for the shower-along playlist, of course. According to IDC, the smart speaker market has been in a limbo for a while now, but the category witnessed 86% year-on-year growth in 2025 thanks to a renewed impetus by Amazon. The company leads the category with an over 90% of the market share. The reasons are surprisingly straightforward. In a lot of urban households, youd find an Echo speaker sitting somewherethe thing you impulsively buy during a sale, the thing you gift to a family member, the thing kids use to ask for jokes and take quizzes on. And for many households, the assistants core use cases havent evolved much anyway: music, timers, weather, and controlling a few smart home devices they bought along the way. In India, the smart speaker has been the primary anchor device for the smart home ecosystem, says Debasish Jana, an analyst for the smart home devices category at IDC. The new Echo Show 8, even without Alexa+, is competent and familiar. Also Read | Why cloud storage is moving back home with devices like the BeeStation My eight-year-old loves the older Amazon Echo in his room. Because he doesnt have a smartphone on him or access to a PC all the time, Alexa is his go to person to ask about current events and match results, weather, and all the trivia a curious child wants on an everyday basis. Plus, multiple word meanings all day! But as a reviewer, its hard to ignore the sense that the device is idling in neutral, waiting for the software that will finally let it stretch its legs. Until Alexa+ arrivesand Amazon has offered no timeline for the same Indian users will end up upgrading to better Echo devices, without experiencing the benefits. The missing options Googles smart speaker strategy has been a study in contradictions. After years of neglecting its Nest hardware lineup, the company quietly stopped releasing new speakers and displays. Thirdparty Google Assistant devices from Lenovo and Xiaomi never gained traction, and then Google Assistant itself stagnated. Then, in late 2025, Google flipped the switch: Gemini for Home began rolling out, replacing Google Assistant on eligible Nest speakers and displays in the US and Canada. View full Image View full Image Google Nest Hub 2nd Generation. ( Courtesy Google ) This wasnt a minor update. Gemini fundamentally changes how Googles home devices work, enabling natural conversations, contextual understanding, and complex multistep requests. Its the kind of upgrade that makes the old Assistant feel instantly obsolete. Older Nest devices are receiving the Gemini upgrade (requires subscription, of course). Thats actually in sharp contrast to the broader consumerelectronics trend of nudging users toward new hardware, but this may be the case because Google dont have new hardware to sell. The companys recent announcements of new Nest Cams and a new Google Home Speaker for 2026 suggest a renewed interest in the category, but timelines for India are anybodys guess. If Google does return with Geminipowered hardware, it could reenergize a market that once saw the Google Home Mini as the default entrylevel smart speaker. Plus, the wide adoption of Gemini on Android smartphones and across Google services will give it a definite impetus that the category needs. Finally, theres Apple, and that companys smart speaker journey has been the most turbulent. The original HomePod, launched in 2018, was discontinued in 2021 after lukewarm sales and persistent criticism of Siris limitations. The HomePod mini, introduced in 2020, became Apples primary smart speaker, but it clearly needs a refresh. View full Image View full Image Apple HomePod Mini. ( Courtesy Apple ) Apples challenge has always been Siri. While the company excels at hardware and ecosystem integration, its voice assistant has lagged behind Alexa and Google Assistant in capability. And in the AI era, the limitations of Apple Intelligence and the companys multiple missteps in that direction havent helped. Plus, Apple has not yet articulated a clear vision for the smart home in the generativeAI era. Waiting for the second act The smart speaker boom of the late 2010s was driven by novelty and convenience. But the category hit a ceiling for several reasons. Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri plateaued. Their conversational abilities didnt improve meaningfully, and users learned to work around their limitations rather than expect better. Additionally, smart home devices in India remain expensive and inconsistent. Most households never moved beyond a couple of bulbs and a smart plug. And, of course, with better ondevice AI and faster processing, many users simply prefer talking to their phones and get access to far better capabilities. Sonam Chopra, a management executive assistant at a multinational organization, says that her Amazon Echo is now just a living room showpiece. My six-year-old still asks Alexa to play songs and occasionally some trivia, but my husband or I havent used it in a long time. A hey Google query on my phone works better. But this arrival of generative AI has also reopened the smart speaker conversation. Alexa+, Gemini, and Apple Intelligence represent a shift from commandbased assistants to conversational, contextaware agents. This reset could finally unlock the potential that smart speakers have been hinting at for a decade. The first wave gave us convenience. The second wave, powered by generative AI, could give us something closer to a more competent household assistant. NEW DELHI: Bangladesh has formally asked the Indian government to raise petroleum product exports from state-run Oil India Ltds Numaligarh Refinery via the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline, according to three people familiar with the developments. While India has not yet accepted the request, officials say it may consider raising supplies, critical for Bangladeshs key textile industry. The request comes as Bangladesh faces severe energy strain due to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran war. A request from Bangladesh has been received by India. The pipeline has a maximum capacity of 1 million tonne per annum, the quantum currently procured is much less. So, there is scope of further increase in supplies, if required. If the situation requires, the request may be considered, said one of the three people mentioned above. An official with Numaligarh Refinery said the company currently supplies around 100,000 tonne per annum of diesel to Bangladesh, as per the usual trade. No special supplies have been added, and that no directive to increase supply has been issued yet. Indias petroleum and external affairs ministries, and the Bangladesh embassy, did not respond to emailed queries by press time. Bangladeshs finance minister, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, raised the request over the weekend in a meeting with Indian high commissioner Pranay Verma. An official with the Bangladesh embassy in Delhi, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, Bangladesh has been sourcing energy from India for several years now. Some demand have been put forward to increase the diesel supplies in the wake of the global situation. There is no update on a response so far. This request is additional to the 5,000 tonnes of diesel already sent to Bangladesh Petroleum Corp. (BPC) under an existing agreement. On Monday, around 5,000 tonnes of diesel were supplied via the BangladeshIndia Friendship Pipeline, expected to reach the Parbatipur depot in Dinajpur within about 44 hours. Also Read | E20 petrol is going nowhere; govt is looking to blend more BPCs general manager for commerce and operations, Muhammad Morshed Hossain Azad, said around 113 tonnes of diesel are pumped each hour, with the consignment likely to be delivered by Wednesday evening. The 131-km pipeline, inaugurated in 2022, is the first cross-border energy link between India and Bangladesh. India supplies petroleum products to seven districts in northern Bangladesh through it, while Numaligarh Refinery has been supplying petroleum products to Bangladesh by rail since 2015. Built at an estimated 377 crore, the Bangladesh portion cost 285 crore, funded by India through grant assistance. Mint previously reported that India is also considering proposals to send high sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) and furnace oil to Bangladesh. HSFO is largely used in the maritime industry, while furnace oil powers homes, businesses, and industrial units. Beyond retail demand, petroleum supply is crucial for Bangladeshs textile industry. The pipeline is also central to Numaligarh Refinery Ltds expansion, with Bangladesh being the most suitable market for its offtake. India remains a key source of energy for Bangladesh. Also Read | In charts: How the Iran war stacks up against previous oil shocks Its a fantastic move by the IMD. What we now need is to install more sensors and monitoring stations across the country. The systems must also be better calibrated and standardised to ensure greater accuracy of data, said Deepak Maheswari, a digital policy expert and senior policy advisor, Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP)-an independent, public policy think tank. At the same time, strong connectivity is essential so that the data collected from these stations can be seamlessly fed into a centralised system for real-time analysis and improved forecasting. As the ongoing LPG and oil crisis continues to affect daily life in India, Chandrasekar Cuttackam has urged companies to step up and act responsibly. The Vice President at Wells Fargo posted on LinkedIn. Chandrasekar says one simple, immediate step companies can take is to allow employees to work from home whenever possible. Thousands of employees commute long distances every day, burning large amounts of fuel, he says. If that commuting is reduced, the saved fuel can be redirected to more critical services such as healthcare, emergency response, logistics, and public transport, according to him. Also Read | Reliance to maximise LPG production as government moves to secure supply Chandrasekar argues that enabling work from home is not just a business decision right now. It is an act of corporate social responsibility (CSR) that can make a real difference during the crisis. In todays context, enabling WFH is not just an operational decision; it is a responsible choice, he wrote. Several LinkedIn users reacted to his post. It would create impact only when employees also stick to WFH and not take advantage of the opportunity. Often we can see people doing other activities during office hours and anyway commute, wrote one of them. As compared to other countries, India is less impacted, just hype created regarding shortage, the situation is not that bad yet. This will end within the next 10 to 20 days, posted another user. Another user wrote, Well thought, but the government will lose revenue. To this, Chandrasekar agreed but he called it a domino effect. All we could wish is for the conflict to come to a close and peace would prevail, he replied. Better practised than preached came from another user. LPG shortage in India India is facing a serious LPG supply crisis, triggered by the ongoing conflict between the US-Israel and Iran. India imports 62-67% of its LPG. Nearly 85-90% of that comes through the Strait of Hormuz, now effectively blocked. Supplies have been badly hit. Major Gulf exporters like Iraq and Kuwait have also cut output. The crisis is hitting the commercial sector hardest. In Mumbai, around 20% of eateries have already shut down, and up to 50-60% could close soon. Restaurants in Bengaluru, Chennai and Delhi are cutting menus and reducing hours. Commercial 19-kg cylinder prices jumped by up to 144 on 7 March and crossed 1,880 in Delhi. Also Read | LPG shortage: PM Modi asks ministers to ensure Indian consumers do not suffer Household supplies are being protected, but prices rose by 60 on 7 March. Delhi prices reached 913. The government has also extended the gap between refill bookings to prevent hoarding. Hospitals and schools remain priority sectors. But, industrial users in Gujarat have seen a 50% cut in gas allocation. The Indian government has swung into action to tackle the LPG crisis. It has invoked the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 to control distribution and prevent hoarding. On the supply side, domestic refineries have been ordered to produce as much LPG as possible, resulting in a 10% jump in daily output. India is also looking beyond the Gulf, reaching out to countries like Algeria, Australia, Canada, Norway and the US for alternative supplies. The Assam government on Tuesday decided to rename Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College and Hospital as Barpeta Medical College and Hospital. Addressing a press conference after a meeting of the state cabinet, which approved the decision, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said most government medical colleges in the state are named after the places where they are located. "All our medical colleges are named after their locations. We see that in the medical colleges in Guwahati, Dhubri, Silchar, Bongaigaon, Biswanath and Sonitpur. Somehow, the Barpeta one was named as Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College and Hospital, which does not align with the naming pattern of other medical colleges," he said. Sarma said the cabinet decided to rename the institution to avoid confusion. "Because of its name, many people ask whether it is a private medical college. That is why the cabinet today decided to change the name and make it Barpeta Medical College and Hospital," he said. Sarma said the government would name another institution after former President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed in recognition of his stature. "As Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed was India's president and the first one from Assam, the cabinet decided that another educational or cultural institution of the same or higher stature will be named after him. We will take a decision in this regard to keep his name alive," he added. Established in 2011, the medical college is affiliated with Srimanta Sankardeva University of Health Sciences and has been offering undergraduate courses since 2012 and postgraduate medical education since 2019. Who was Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed? Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed was an Indian lawyer and politician who served as the fifth President of India from 1974 until his death in 1977. He was the second Muslim to hold the office and the second Indian president to die while in service. Also Read | 9000 credited to 40 lakh Orunodoi beneficiaries ahead of Assembly polls Born in Old Delhi, Ahmed was the son of an Assamese army doctor. He was educated at St. Stephen's College, Delhi, and later at St Catharine's College, Cambridge, where he qualified as a barrister. All our medical colleges are named after their locations. Somehow, the Barpeta one was named as Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College and Hospital, which does not align with the naming pattern of other medical colleges. Ahmed joined the Congress party in 1931 and was imprisoned during the Quit India Movement in 1942. Before his presidency, he served as a Union Minister under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, holding portfolios for Food and Agriculture, Education, and Industrial Development. The central government on Wednesday instructed all states and Union Territories to closely monitor the supply of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to combat hoarding and black-market activities. During a high-level meeting, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan urged Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Police (DGPs) to implement rigorous measures against the illegal stockpiling of essential commodities and to guarantee a steady flow of supplies, as reported by ANI. The Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas announced that domestic LPG production has risen by approximately 25%, with the entire output currently being diverted to household consumers. For non-domestic LPG, the ministry stated that priority is being allocated to critical sectors, including hospitals and educational institutions. In Delhi, the price of a domestic LPG cylinder currently stands at 913, following a recent 60 hike. However, the price for PMUY beneficiaries remains subsidized at 613 per cylinder. To support the industry, the government has approved a 30,000 crore compensation package for oil marketing companies to cover LPG under-recoveries. India relies on imports for roughly 60 percent of its LPG consumption. Significantly, about 90 percent of these imports transit through the Strait of Hormuz, a passage currently impacted by regional hostilities. Consequently, a three-member committee of Executive Directors from IOCL, HPCL, and BPCL has been formed to oversee allocations for hotels, restaurants, and commercial entities, ensuring equitable distribution of existing stocks. Regarding natural gas, the government enacted a Natural Gas Control Order on March 9, 2026, under the Essential Commodities Act. This move aims to manage supplies and safeguard priority sectors. Officials confirmed that domestic Piped Natural Gas (PNG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for vehicles will receive 100 percent of their required supply without any reductions. "In light of current geopolitical disruptions to fuel supply and constraints on the supply of LPG, the ministry has issued orders to oil refineries for higher LPG production and using such extra production for domestic LPG use," the ministry said in the social media post on X. Also Read | Delhi HC lawyers canteen drops main course over LPG cylinder shortage Delhi govt says no shortage of LPG, petrol, diesel Simultaneously, the Delhi government provided assurances that the city's supplies of petrol, diesel, and LPG remain stable. Authorities urged residents to disregard "rumors" of potential shortages. A statement from the Chief Minister's office clarified that there is no fuel scarcity in the capital and noted that officials have been tasked with taking strict action against gas theft or black marketing. National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary narrowly escaped unhurt after an attempted gun attack outside a marriage hall on Wednesday night (11 March), officials said. The attack occurred at the Greater Kailash locality in Jammu when Abdullah and Choudhary were leaving a marriage function. They had attended the event to greet party leader B S Chouhan on the occasion of his sons marriage. Watch video The alleged shooter, Kamal Singh Jamwal, a 63-year-old resident of Purani Mandi, reportedly waited outside the venue and attempted to open fire on Abdullah. According to officials, two police personnel an inspector and a sub-inspector overpowered the attacker. He managed to fire one shot before being disarmed and taken into custody. Condition of the accused Authorities said Jamwal was allegedly inebriated at the time of the attack. He has been detained for questioning. Further investigations are underway. No casualties reported No injuries were reported in the incident. Officials confirmed that the security team acted promptly, preventing any harm to the political leaders or bystanders. Omar Abdullah confirms assassination attempt on father Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah confirmed an assassination attempt on his father outside a marriage hall in Jammus Greater Kailash locality. In a post on X, Omar described the incident as a very close shave and lauded the quick action of the security personnel. Omar Abdullah wrote: "Allah is kind. My father had a very close shave. The details are sketchy at the moment but what is known is that a man with a loaded pistol was able to get within point blank range & discharge a shot. It was only the close protection team that deflected the shot & ensured that the assassination attempt failed." He added that the incident raised serious questions about security arrangements, particularly regarding how an assailant could approach a Z+ National Security Guard-protected former Chief Minister so closely. Deputy CM Surinder Choudhary raises security concerns Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary expressed concern over the security lapse at the function. A cloth trader from Ludhiana who walked into India's Supreme Court armed with a PIL dense with sophisticated legal terminology could not explain a single term, prompting Chief Justice Surya Kant to deliver one of the court's more memorable rebukes in recent memory on Tuesday. The Petition That Raised Immediate Red Flags The Public Interest Litigation concerning the PM Cares Fund came before a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice R Mahadevan. From the outset, the petition's language, laden with constitutional principles and legal nomenclature, sat uneasily with the man presenting it, Bar and Bench reported. Also Read | SC approves passive euthanasia for 31-year-old in coma for over 12 years The petitioner, a hosiery goods trader who had studied only until Class 12 and had never previously filed a plea before any high court, came directly to the Supreme Court. Chief Justice Kant's response was wry: "Bada bahaduri ka kaam kiya, seedha Ludhiana se chalke aagaye!" ("Very brave of you to have come directly from Ludhiana.") The Courtroom Exam That Exposed the Petition Suspecting the petitioner had got the PIL drafted by someone else, Chief Justice Kant proposed an impromptu test. "Main apka ek exam karwaunga yaha, agar apka usme 30% bhi aagaya toh main maanlunga ki petition aapne banaayi hai," he told the petitioner. ("If you manage to score even 30% in an English exam, I will believe this plea is yours.") Also Read | SC says repeated challenges by unsuccessful bidders erode IBCs framework When asked to explain the phrase Fiduciary Risk of Corporate Donors, a term used prominently in the petition, the trader was unable to offer any answer. The Chief Justice was unsparing, Sidhu sahab yeh toh aapne kagaz pe likh rakha hai, kisi vakil ne apko likh ke diya hai. (This has been written and handed to you by some advocate). AI Tools, a Typist and Four Jackets Cornered, the petitioner offered a candid account of how the petition came to be. He had initially approached a typist named Das in September, he said, and had subsequently drafted the plea using three or four AI tools, insisting he had done so himself because he lacked the funds to hire a lawyer. The arrangement with the typist, he explained, had been settled not in cash but in kind: "Jo typist hai, unko 4 jackets gift kari thi, bohot ache hai woh, 1 ghante ka 1 hazaar mang rahe the." ("The typist was helpful; I gifted him four jackets as I had no money; he had asked for 1,000 per hour.") The bench directed Das to appear before it. Supreme Court Dismisses PIL With a Sharp Warning The Supreme Court bench dismissed the petition, observing in its order that the petitioner had "filed the petition without any sense of responsibility" and had "indulged in making vague, wild, frivolous and scandalous allegations." The court noted plainly that "the tone and manner, expressions, terminology and the so-called 'constitutional principle' cannot be the brainchild of the petitioner." However, it declined to pursue a broader inquiry into who was ultimately behind the filing. Also Read | SC stays criminal proceedings in ED case against Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren A 25yearold MBA student died by suicide after jumping from the 13th floor of a residential building in Greater Noida West on Tuesday, police said, reported NDTV. Police identified the woman as Shivika Thakral, daughter of Vinay Thakral. The family lived in Sharon Tower of Gaur Saundaryam Society. The incident took place at Gaur Saundaryam Society in the Bisrakh police station area. It triggered panic among residents of the housing complex. Also Read | Instagram to notify parents if teens repeatedly search for suicide or self-harm Speaking to NDTV, a Gautam Buddha Nagar official said that they had received information about a woman jumping from a high-rise building on 10 March, following which police rushed to the spot. Here's what family members said According to family members, the night before the incident seemed normal. On Monday evening, the family had dinner together and later retired to their rooms, with no signs of distress. On Tuesday morning, they were informed by the societys security guards that Shivika Thakral had allegedly jumped from the building, reported NDTV. Also Read | Elon Musk shocked over ChatGPT's role in helping 2 Indian women commit suicide The report said that police officials said no suicide note had been found so far. While preliminary investigations indicate the case appears to be a suicide, authorities are exploring all possibilities to determine the exact circumstances leading to the incident. The family has not yet filed a complaint, and relatives have not been able to provide any clear reason for Thakrals actions, the report said. As part of the investigation, police are reviewing CCTV footage from the societys premises to reconstruct events and understand what happened in the moments leading up to the tragedy. Help is always available! If you or someone you know is struggling with emotional distress or thoughts of selfharm, help is available. In India, several free and confidential mental health support and crisis helplines can be contacted: TeleMANAS (Government of India): 14416 / 18008914416 for 247 emotional support and counselling in multiple languages. KIRAN Mental Health Helpline: 18005990019 for tollfree support and rehabilitation services. Vandrevala Foundation: +91 99996 66555 for 247 crisis and mental health support. Samaritans Mumbai: +91 84229 84528 / 29 / 30 for emotional support services. Warning signs According to the World Health Organization (WHO), these are some warning signs to watch for: -Severe mood changes. -Social withdrawal. -Expressing thoughts, feelings or plans about ending their life. -Saying things like "No one will miss me when I'm gone" or "I've got no reason to live." -Looking for ways to harm themselves. -Saying goodbye to close family members and friends. -Giving away valued possessions. View full Image View full Image Source: WHO. What can you do? -Find an appropriate time and a quiet place to talk with the person you are worried about. Let them know that you are there to listen. -Encourage them to seek help from a health worker, such as a doctor or mental health professional, or a counsellor or social worker. And offer to accompany them to an appointment. Also Read | Woman at Mumbai mental health NGO denied period leave; Internet blasts firm -If you think someone is in immediate danger, don't leave them alone. Contact the emergency services, a crisis line, a health worker or a family member. -If the person you're worried about lives with you, make sure they don't have access to means of self-harm at home. -Check in regularly to see how they're doing. Induction cooktops are out of stock in several metro cities across the country as consumers scramble for alternatives amid fears of an LPG supply disruption triggered by the US-Iran conflict. On quick-commerce platforms such as Blinkit, Zepto and Swiggy Instamart, multiple models of induction stoves were unavailable or listed as sold out in cities including Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai. The trend was more visible in areas that rely largely on Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). In places such as Greater Noida, where households are connected to piped natural gas, consumers have not yet felt a direct impact. Hence, induction stoves are still available in the area. This development comes shortly after restaurants in cities such as Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai have warned that operations could be disrupted if gas supplies do not stabilise soon. Consumers explore alternatives to gas Search interest in induction cooktop has risen in India over the past two days, according to Google Trends, suggesting a surge in consumer curiosity about electric cooking alternatives. View full Image View full Image Induction out of stock in key markets Much of the search activity has been centred on popular brands such as Pigeon, Philips, and Prestige, suggesting consumers are actively comparing products before making purchases. Some people have also searched for terms like best induction and queries related to an LPG crisis, which aligns with the trend of induction cooktops going out of stock. Induction is no longer a niche applicance, says expert Indias kitchen ecosystem continues to be heavily dependent on LPG. However, during periods of disruption in LPG supply or delays in cylinder availability, the market seeks alternative cooking solutions, such as induction cooktops. Induction is no longer a niche appliance used only by students or hostels. Over the past decade, it has quietly become a secondary cooking appliance in many urban homes, said Ravi Saxena, CEO and Founder of Wonderechef. Citing internal data, he exclusively told Mint that an estimated 1215% of urban Indian households already own an induction cooktop, primarily as a backup during gas shortages or cylinder delays. He further mentioned that when LPG supply becomes uncertain, households begin using induction more frequently for everyday tasks such as boiling milk, making tea, or quick cooking. This naturally leads to a surge in demand not only for induction cooktops but also for induction-compatible cookware. Since most traditional Indian utensils, especially aluminium vessels, do not work efficiently on induction, consumers shift toward magnetic stainless steel, triply cookware, and ceramic non-stick cookware that are compatible with induction technology, Saxena said. This sudden demand can also push prices of induction-compatible cookware upward in the short term. Manufacturing such cookware requires specific materials like magnetic stainless steel, and production cannot always scale immediately when demand spikes, he added. What triggered the LPG crisis? India is facing a severe LPG supply crisis, triggered by the ongoing conflict between the US-Israel and Iran. This has happened because India imports 62-67% of its LPG, making it heavily dependent on foreign supplies. Nearly 85-90% of that supply comes through the Strait of Hormuz, which is now effectively blocked. Supplies have been badly hit. Major Gulf exporters like Iraq and Kuwait have also cut output. The crisis is hitting the commercial sector the hardest. In Mumbai, around 20% of eateries have already shut down, while 50-60% could close in the coming days as cooking gas shortages disrupt operations. While authorities are prioritising LPG supplies for households, prices have still risen by 60 on 7 March. pushing the cost of a cylinder in Delhi prices to around 913. Also Read | Amid LPG shortage in India, Wells Fargo VP recommends work from home Also Read | LPG Shortage: Reliance says will ramp up LPG production at refinery Meanwhile, the government has stepped in to manage the LPG crisis by invoking the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. This law allows the centre to control how gas cylinders are distributed and to stop people from hoarding or selling them at unfair prices. The Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Wednesday assured the public that panic LPG bookings are unnecessary, as the standard delivery timeframe for households remains 2.5 days. Official measures have successfully boosted LPG production by 25%, the ministry noted. Furthermore, the Ministry stated that crude oil is currently being obtained via routes that avoid the Strait of Hormuz, with secured supplies now exceeding the volumes originally affected by disruptions. Due to the expanding conflict in West Asia, which accounts for 30% of India's gas imports, the Oil Ministry issued a gazette notification mandating the diversion of available gas from non-essential sectors to critical users. On 9 March, the Ministry instructed refineries to prioritise LPG output by reducing petrochemical streams and adjusted the refill booking window to 25 days, up from 21. "In light of current geopolitical disruptions to fuel supply and constraints on the supply of LPG, the ministry has issued orders to oil refineries for higher LPG production and using such extra production for domestic LPG use," the ministry said in the social media post on X. Simultaneously, Karnatakas Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, K H Muniyappa, stated on Wednesday that there is no cause for alarm regarding supplies. He noted that oil providers have guaranteed at least 1 cylinder per household per month. He emphasised that commercial gas would be prioritised for vital services, such as student hostels and hospitals, while calling on convention centres and hotels to cooperate. Politically, some Congress leaders and Ministers sought to hold the central government accountable for the shortage, whereas the BJP criticised the ruling party for "politicising" a crisis caused by US-Iran tensions. "Due to the US-Iran war, vessels are not coming; they have been stopped. Along with our secretary and commissioner, I held a meeting with oil companies -- BPCL, HPCL, Indian Oil and GAIL. There is no issue with domestic gas; one cylinder will last a family a minimum of 25 days and will be supplied. There will be an option to supply more cylinders if the war stops," Muniyappa said. Also Read | Delhi HC lawyers canteen drops main course over LPG cylinder shortage West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee also criticised the Centre on Wednesday for the supply constraints. She claimed the Union government implemented restrictions without first securing sufficient petroleum and cooking gas reserves. Speaking to ABP Ananda, Banerjee argued that the government should have finalised these reserves before introducing "measures that triggered anxiety among consumers." LPG Shortage News Today Highlights: Commercial LPG shortage enters third day, restaurants and hotels report supply disruptions across cities including Mumbai, Bengaluru and Kolkata. Hospitality associations said supplies have become irregular in recent days, forcing some eateries to cut menus or scale down operations. The Centre, however, has said there is no nationwide LPG crisis, adding that refineries have been directed to increase production by around 10% to stabilise supplies. The supply strain comes amid wider disruptions in global energy markets linked to tensions in West Asia. City Domestic rates Commercial rates New Delhi 913 1,884.50 Mumbai 912.50 1,836 Kolkata 939 1,988.50 Chennai 928.50 2,043.50 Hyderabad 965 2,105.50 Lucknow 950.50 2,007 Bengaluru 915.50 1,958 Patna 1,002.50 2,133.50 Government Invokes ECA and ESMA New Delhi has responded by invoking the Essential Commodities Act (ECA), prioritising household LPG over commercial users. Refineries are operating at full capacity, directed to channel increased production exclusively to domestic consumers. The booking interval has been extended from 21 to 25 days to curb hoarding. The government on Tuesday also moved to ration natural gas supplies, prioritising households receiving piped gas, vehicles running on compressed natural gas (CNG). The order establishes a four-tier priority system for gas allocation, with supplies to lower-priority sectors including petrochemical plants, power stations, and oil refineries curtailed to meet essential demand. Hotels and Restaurants Bear the Brunt The Bangalore Hotels Association issued a stark warning: "The supply of gas cylinders for commercial use has been stopped from today. Essential services like senior citizens, students, and hospitals rely on it. Immediate action is expected from Union Ministers to resume commercial gas supply." National Vice President of the LPG Association RK Gupta confirmed the suspension, adding: The next booking will be allowed after a 25-day inter-booking period to avoid hoarding, and there is no shortage as claimed by oil companies. Catch LIVE Updates on LPG Crisis in India with Mint As many as 28 Indian vessels, carrying 778 seafarers, are currently situated in the Persian Gulf, a government official said on Wednesday. Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, detailed in a media briefing that 24 of these ships, with 677 crew members, are located in the western portion of the Strait of Hormuz. The remaining four vessels, carrying 101 individuals, are positioned on the eastern side. Sinha emphasised that the ministry is maintaining a vigilant watch over the shifting maritime environment in the region. In response to the escalating situation in West Asia, authorities have bolstered monitoring and readiness protocols to guarantee the protection of all Indian maritime assets and personnel. "We are monitoring all the vessels actively for their safety and security. Authorities, ship managers and recruitment agencies...are closely coordinating with Indian embassies and local authorities to ensure safety and render medical assistance to them," the official said. The government is also facilitating continuous dialogue with industry stakeholders to provide essential support to both shipping companies and seafarers. To this end, the Directorate General (DG) of Shipping has issued formal advisories. These directives mandate that all Indian-flagged ships and crew members implement heightened security measures and strictly adhere to real-time reporting and communication protocols. Regarding domestic impact, Sinha noted that port operations throughout India remain stable. Major ports have adopted specific operational strategies, such as the real-time tracking of vessel traffic in coordination with agents and shipping lines, alongside consistent assessments of regional developments. To ensure immediate response capabilities, 24-hour control rooms have been activated within both the Ministry and the DG of Shipping. The DG is also in direct contact with ship operators and seafarer unions to offer timely updates. Furthermore, ports have been instructed to provide necessary assistance to exporters to mitigate potential trade disruptions and maintain the continuity of India's EXIM operations. 3 more ships struck by projectiles in Strait of Hormuz Three additional ships were struck by unidentified projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, according to maritime risk and security specialists. This latest round of attacks brings the total number of vessels hit in the region to at least 14 since the onset of the conflict with Iran. Navigation through the narrow waterway has reached a virtual standstill following the initiation of US and Israeli strikes against Iran on 28 February. These hostilities have halted the export of roughly 20% of the global oil supply, causing international fuel prices to spike to levels not recorded since 2022. Irans Revolutionary Guards have issued warnings that any vessel attempting to transit the Strait will be considered a target. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has vowed to escalate military operations against Iran if it continues to block the critical maritime passage. The Supreme Court on Wednesday, 11 March, directed the Central government and the states to dissociate NCERT social science curriculum chairperson Professor Michel Denino and two other associate members who were behind the Corruption in the Judiciary chapter in the Class 8 Social Science textbook, ANI has reported. The three have been dissociated from preparing the curriculum, finalising the textbook, or rendering any service to the NCERT, even for the next generation, if that would mean a payment to them from public funds. The order was passed by a bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant. The court noted that: At the outset, we have no reason to doubt that Professor Michel Danino, along with Ms Diwakar and Mr Alok Prasanna Kumar, either does not have reasonable knowledge about Indian judiciary or they deliberately knowingly misrepresented the facts in order to project a negative image of Indian judiciary before students of Class 8 who are at an impressionable age. Also Read | NCERT apologises days after chapter on judiciary sparked row There is no reason why such persons should be associated in any manner with the preparation of the curriculum or the finalisation of textbooks for the next generation. We direct the union, all states, all institutions receiving state funds, to disassociate them from rendering any service which would mean payment to them from public funds, the court added. The Centre has also been directed to constitute a panel of experts to finalise the curriculum linked to legal topics in NCERT textbooks. While the Supreme Court bench noted that Chapter 4 had been rewritten, it asserted that it cannot be included in school studies without the panel's approval. "We find it slightly disappointing that not a single eminent jurist is included in the committee," the Bench remarked, adding, We direct that if at all Chapter 4 of the textbook has been rewritten, the same shall not be published unless it is approved by a committee of domain experts. We hasten to reiterate paragraph 9 of our order dated February 26 to show that the interim directions issued are not intended to prevent any healthy, objective and legitimate criticism of the functioning of the judiciary. If the judiciary is suffering from any deficiencies like any other institution, it will be a welcome step not only for the future generation of the nation, but it will also open doors for the present generation to take necessary remedial steps, the court noted. The Corruption in the Judiciary chapter case The Supreme Court had on February 26 imposed a blanket ban on the publication, reprinting, or digital dissemination of the Class 8 social science book, which it said contained "offending" content on corruption in the judiciary. Entry of non-Hindus into 47 temples, including the prominent shrines of Badrinath and Kedarnath, in Uttarakhand, will be prohibited from this year, a temple committee official was quoted as saying by news agency PTI said on 11 March. The decision was taken during a board meeting of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee, held on Tuesday under the chairmanship of its president, Hemant Dwivedi. The proposal received unanimous approval. Also Read | Chardham Yatra 2026: Online registration begins today Dwivedi said the new rule will be implemented starting with the pilgrimage season next month. Under this regulation, non-Hindus will not be allowed to enter the temple complexes or the sanctum sanctorum. He further noted that the tradition of restricting entry for non-Hindus has existed since the time of Adi Shankaracharya, adding that the Constitution provides for the management of religious sites. "Badrinath and Kedarnath are not tourist spots but centres of faith. These are Vedic centres established by Adi Shankaracharya. Article 26 of the Indian Constitution grants every religious denomination the right to manage its own religious affairs," Dwivedi said. Badrinath and Kedarnath are not tourist spots but centres of faith. These are Vedic centres established by Adi Shankaracharya. The doors of Badrinath Dham are scheduled to open on April 23, while those of Kedarnath Dham will open on April 22. The Char Dham Yatra will commence on April 19 on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, when the gates of the Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines are opened. Registrations open for Char Dhams The Uttarakhand government launched an online registration portal last week for the Char Dham Yatra, allowing devotees to register for the annual Himalayan pilgrimage. Compulsory digital registration has been introduced across multiple platforms to help manage the large influx of pilgrims visiting the temples each year Registration began at 7 AM and is mandatory for all pilgrims planning to visit the shrines. The pilgrimage will start on 19 April with the opening of the portals of the Yamunotri and Gangotri temples. Kedarnath temple will open three days later on 22 April, while Badrinath temple will welcome devotees from 23 April. The no-confidence motion moved by the Opposition parties against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla was dismissed by voice vote on Wednesday, 11 March. Amid protests and sloganeering by the opposition seeking an apology from Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament Jagdambika Pal, who was in the chair, announced that the no-confidence motion was defeated. Earlier, the home minister hit out at the opposition for bringing the motion for the removal of Birla as Speaker. The opposition objected to certain remarks by Shah, started shouting slogans, disrupted the proceedings, and sought an apology from him. Shah launched a sharp attack on the Opposition in the Lok Sabha over the no-confidence motion moved against Speaker Om Birla. Shah accused the Opposition of undermining parliamentary traditions and casting unwarranted doubts on the neutrality of the Lok Sabha Chair. Shah said the move was unprecedented in recent decades and reflected poorly on parliamentary politics and noted that when the Bharatiya Janata Party-ledNational Democratic Alliancewas in the Opposition, it never attempted to bring a no-confidence motion against the Speaker and instead acted as a constructive Opposition. While being in Opposition, the BJP-NDA never brought a no-confidence motion against the Lok Sabha Speaker. We worked as a constructive Opposition and preserved the dignity of the Speakers post, Shah said, replying to the two-day debate on the opposition resolution against Birla. Birla was not present in the House throughout the debate. Motion defeated by voice vote Amid the sloganeering, Pal urged the opposition to take their seats so that he could put the motion to a vote. But as the protests continued, he sought a vote in the House, and the resolution was rejected by a voice vote; following that, he adjourned the House for the day. 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. The opposition leaders 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. As many as 118 Opposition MPs signed the motion, alleging "partisan" behaviour by the Speaker after the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, was allegedly not allowed to speak in the House. Congress MP Mohammad Jawed moved the motion in the house. The Lok Sabha discussed the motion for about two days. New Delhi: A total of 28 India-flagged ships with 778 Indian seafarers are stranded in the Persian Gulf region due to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the government said on Wednesday. Of these, 24 vessels are located west of the strait, while the rest are in the east, officials said, adding that their safety and security are being actively monitored by the government. A total of 24 Indian-flagged vessels with 677 Indian seafarers are currently located to the west of the Strait of Hormuz, while four vessels with 101 Indian seafarers are to the east of the crucial waterway, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, special secretary in the shipping ministry told reporters. Indians constitute almost 12% of the global seafaring workforce, with a total of over 320,000 active sailors, and attacks on merchant vessels during most recent conflicts in West Asia have resulted in Indian casualties too. Two Indians were killed and another reported missing following two recent attacks on oil tankers in the Persian Gulf, said the spokesperson of the external affairs ministry, Randhir Jaiswal. Officials said that a 24-hour control room has been operational in the ministry and the Directorate General of Shipping since 28 February to monitor developments and coordinate assistance. The Directorate General of Shipping issued advisories on 28 February 2026 directing Indian-flagged vessels and Indian seafarers to adopt enhanced security measures and comply with reporting protocols, including submission of crew details, Sinha added. Energy crisis As a result of the war in West Asia and blocking of the Strait of Hormuz, around a fourth of Indias natural gas supply has been affected, said another official. Data from the petroleum ministry shows Indias total consumption of natural gas is at about 189 million metric standard cubic meters a day (mmscmd), of which about 97.5 mmscmd is imported. Sujata Sharma, joint secretary, marketing, petroleum ministry, said: Out of the import, about 47.4 mmscmd is affected due to force majeure conditions. Procurement through alternative routes and supplies is underway to offset this disruption. As I am talking to you, two cargoes are moving towards India and within a few days they will arrive, which will further strengthen the crude supply position in the country, she said. Amid the shortage in gas supplies, government has already put into effect supply cuts for sectors such as industries and power and prioritized supplies to domestic piped natural gas for cooking, compressed natural gas for transport. Under the Essential Commodities Act, the government on Tuesday ordered companies to ensure 100% assured supply of natural gas for city gas distribution (CGD). Industries and commercial consumers procuring gas through the national grid will receive 80% of their average supplies over the past six months, while fertilizer plants will be supplied 70% of their average allocation over the period. The notification also mandates a 35% cut in gas supply to refineries and petrochemical companies. Further, as the country is witnessing a shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), the official said that Indian refiners have increased production of LPG by 25% over the past week. On 8 March, the petroleum ministry issued orders to oil refineries to hike LPG output and use their extra production for domestic use. India imports about 60% of requirement of LPG and 90% of this is through the Strait of Hormuz. The government has taken various steps to deal with this situationBecause of all these efforts, our domestic LPG production has increased by 25%, and this domestic LPG is being directed towards household consumers, she said. On Tuesday, officials had said Indias LPG production has gone up by 10%. Indias annual LPG requirement is about 31-32 million tonnes (mt), of which about 60-65% is imported, making it worlds second largest LPG importer. The country relies heavily on West Asian supplies, mostly from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE. India's LPG imports in FY25 were at $12.47 billion, producing 12.8 mt. Imports in FY26 had touched $11.25 billion by January. So far this fiscal year, as of January, Indian refiners have produced 10.6 mt LPG, as per data from the Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell (PPAC). No need to panic Amid reports of panic booking, the official said there is no need for panic buying but urged consumers to conserve energy due to the ongoing crisis in the global markets. On crude oil supplies, Sharma said: India's crude supply remains secure. Our daily consumption is about 55 lakh barrels. Through diversified procurement, the volumes we have secured today exceed what would normally have arrived through the Strait of Hormuz during this period. Noting that oil marketing companies have secured various crude cargoes from different sources, and as a result of this diversification, about 70% of our crude import is now coming from routes outside the Strait of Hormuz, compared with about 55% earlier. As I am talking to you, two cargoes are moving towards India and within a few days they will arrive, which will further strengthen the crude supply position in the country, she said. Also Read | USIran tensions spark energy crisis for ceramic tile makers Addressing a public rally in Tiruchi, Tamil Nadu, prime minister Narendra Modi said: The West Asia conflict has affected the energy supply chain of the whole world, he said. "We believe in the ideology of India-first. You have seen how our government protects the interests of Indians above everything in any situation. Our efforts will be the same this time too." Modi said there is no need to panic or pay attention to rumours. "Let us spread only correct and verified information, he said adding that India will navigate every situation successfully. In a supply boost, member countries of the International Energy Agency on Wednesday agreed to make 400 million barrels of oil from their emergency reserves available to the market to address any supply disruption stemming from the war in West Asia. At the time of writing the story, the April contract of Brent traded at $90.78 a barrel, up a tad over 3% from its previous close. The Supreme Court on 11 March allowed passive euthanasia for a 31-year-old man who has been in a comatose condition for more than 12 years, by withdrawing his artificial life support. Passive euthanasia is the intentional act of letting a patient die by withholding or withdrawing life support or the treatment necessary to keep him alive. Harish Rana suffered head injuries after falling from the fourth floor of a building in 2013 and has been in a coma for over a decade. A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and K V Viswanathan directed the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to grant Rana admission to palliative care so that the medical treatment can be withdrawn. It must be ensured that it is withdrawn with a tailored plan that maintains dignity, the bench said. "He experiences sleepwake cycles but exhibits no meaningful interaction and has been dependent on others for all activities of self-care. Harish has been on CAN administered through a PEG tube, and his condition has shown no improvement," the Court said as per legal news website Bar and Bench. Also Read | NCERT textbook row: SC bans book with chapter on judiciary corruption The top court earlier expressed its desire to meet the parents of the 31-year-old man. It had perused a report containing Rana's medical history, prepared by a secondary medical board at AIIMS-Delhi, and remarked that it was a "sad" report. The primary medical board, after examining the patient's condition, had stressed the negligible chance of his recovery. The Court ruled that the medical board can exercise its discretion on withdrawal of life support in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the top court in its 2018 judgment in Common Cause v. Union of India. "In line with our considered view, it would be permissible for the medical board to exercise its clinical judgment regarding the withdrawal of treatment in accordance with the guidelines laid down in Common Cause v. Union of India," the judgment said. First Such Judgement This could be the first instance of the Court passing such a direction in an individual case, following its 2018 judgment, which laid down the law allowing passive euthanasia, Bar and Bench. In 2018, a five-judge Constitution Bench had recognised and given sanction for passive euthanasia and living will/advance directives. In that judgment, the top court had ruled that the right to life under Article 21 includes the right to live with dignity, and the same includes the smoothening of the process of dying in case of a terminally ill patient or a person in apersistent vegetative state with no hope of recovery. Also Read | Time for UCC, says SC on plea seeking striking down of Shariat law provisions The top court had, on 11 December, noted that according to the report of the primary medical board, the man is in a "pathetic condition". According to the guidelines issued by the apex court in 2023, a primary and a secondary medical board must be formed to obtain expert opinion on the withdrawal of artificial life support for a patient in a vegetative state. What happened to Harish Rana? Harish Rana suffered a grievous accident in August 2013 after falling from the fourth floor of his paying guest accommodation while pursuing his B.Tech. degree in Chandigarh. Rana sustained a severe traumatic brain injury and has since remained in a permanent vegetative state. Rana's family had moved the Court seeking the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment rendered to Rana in the form of clinically assisted nutrition and hydration (CANH), administered through a PEG tube. As Ranas condition remained unchanged and irreversible, his father filed the present petition seeking the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment for his son. (With inputs from PTI and Bar and Bench) Two Indian citizens were killed while one is missing amid attacks on merchant vessels as conflict continues in West Asia between the US-Israel combine and Iran, as per a press briefing on Wednesday by the Ministry of External Affairs. The MEA also said that some Indians have sustained injuries amid the conflict in the GCC region and one person is being treated in Dubai. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a press conference, There have been reports of some casualties. We have two Indian nationals whom we have lost, and one is missing. These three Indian nationals died or are missing. It happened when they were on merchant vessels which came under attack. A few Indians who have suffered injuries in the GCC region are being treated. Our consulate is in touch with them. Today, in the morning, you would have seen reports that the Indian National was injured in Dubai. This gentleman, our consulate is in touch with him. He is also receiving treatment at the hospital, and we are in regular touch with him to ensure his welfare and well-being." 28 Indian vessels stuck in Persian Gulf 28 Indian vessels carrying 778 seafarers are currently stuck in the Persian Gulf, a government official said on Wednesday. Out of the 28 vessels, 24 are currently on the western region of the Strait of Hormuz carrying 677 seafarers. The other four vessels with 101 personnel are on the eastern side, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said in a media briefing. "We are monitoring all the vessels actively for their safety and security. Authorities, ship managers and recruitment agencies...are closely coordinating with Indian embassies and local authorities to ensure safety and render medical assistance to them," the official said. The ministry is continuing to closely monitor the prevailing and evolving maritime situation in the Persian Gulf region. It has strengthened monitoring and preparedness measures in view of the evolving maritime situation in the West Asia region in order to ensure the safety of Indian vessels and seafarers, Sinha said. Centre, Gulf nations helping Indians amid West Asia conflict: PM Modi Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the Centre and Gulf nations were doing everything possible to help Indians stranded during the ongoing conflict in West Asia. Addressing an NDA rally in Kochi, the PM said that his government always makes every effort possible to help its citizens when they are in trouble. "Be it saving the nurses stranded in Iraq or freeing Father Tom from the clutches of terrorists in Yemen, India now does not abandon its citizens in their time of crisis. "Father Alexis Premkumar was safely rescued and brought back from Afghanistan. Even today our aim is to ensure that Indians stranded in West Asia amidst the war are safe and receive all possible facilities," the PM said. US-Iran War: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday spoke with his Iranian counterpart, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, amid growing concerns over the fallout from the West Asia crisis, particularly regarding energy supplies. It was the third time that Jaishankar spoke with Araghchi since the US and Israel launched the joint military strikes on Iran, news agency PTI said. "A detailed conversation this evening with Foreign Minister @araghchi of Iran on the latest developments regarding the ongoing conflict. We agreed to remain in touch," Jaishankar said on social media. The phone conversation between the two foreign ministers came amid growing global concerns about disruptions to oil supplies amid the crisis in West Asia, the agency said. Global oil and gas prices have surged after Iran has virtually blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow shipping lane between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman that handles roughly 20 per cent of global oil and LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas). Jaishankar conveyed to Araghchi India's deep concern over the developments in Iran and the region, according to PTI. What did Jaishankar say in Parliament? On Monday, Jaishankar spoke in Parliament and said that India is in favour of a return to dialogue and diplomacy amid the West Asia crisis and advocates de-escalation, restraint, and the protection of civilians. Jaishankar, who made statements in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to closely monitor emerging developments. He said this round of conflict started on 28 February and it has witnessed not only fighting between Israel and the United States on one side and Iran on the other, but also attacks on a number of Gulf States. There have been numerous casualties, including at the leadership level in Iran, as well as the destruction of infrastructure in the region. The Minister said the government had issued a statement on 28 February expressing its deep concern and urging all sides to exercise restraint, avoid escalation and prioritise the safety of civilians. We believed and we continue to believe that dialogue and diplomacy should be pursued to de-escalate tensions and address underlying issues. "We believed and we continue to believe that dialogue and diplomacy should be pursued to de-escalate tensions and address underlying issues. It is also imperative that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states in the region be respected," he said. The International Energy Agency (IEA) on Wednesday praised India after the latter welcomed the agency's decision to release 400 million barrels of oil from emergency reserves as tensions escalate over the US and Israel's war in Iran, Reuters reported. IEA's Executive Director Fatih Birol said he is "pleased to read India's supportive statement for IEA's action to release oil stocks to address disruptions in global oil markets." Earlier today, India, as a member country of the IEA, welcomed the decision to release emergency oil to address concerns in global oil markets. In a press release, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) said, "India, as an Associate Member of the International Energy Agency (IEA) and an active participant in international energy cooperation, welcomes the IEAs decision to release emergency oil stocks amid the prevailing supply disruptions." It added that the Indian government is closely monitoring the situation in global energy markets, particularly in the Middle East. The statement further said that New Delhi stands ready to take appropriate measures as necessary, to support global market stability, keeping in line with the efforts of the IEA. Also Read | Crude oil prices jump 6.6% despite IEA move to release 400 mn barrels of oil US-Israel-Iran war rattles global markets The US and Israel launched strikes on Iran 12 days ago, and there seems to be no signs of the conflict easing. As Tehran retaliated to strikes, its decision to target US bases in the Gulf region and Israel plunged the Middle East region into a wider military confrontation, with ripple effects occurring across industries and sectors. Oil prices on Monday jumped to $120 a barrel, spooking traders and investors about the disruptions that lie ahead. Additionally, Tehran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has shut the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway, accounting for one-fifth of the world's oil supply. Amid ongoing attacks in the Middle East, several energy companies have invoked force majeure, a legal term that excuses them from fulfilling obligations in the case of an unexpected or extraordinary event. Amid all these developments, the global energy markets are likely to witness supply disruptions. On Monday, a group of G7 countries met and agreed to take "necessary measures" to support the global energy supply. However, the meeting concluded without any agreement. IEA to release 400 million barrels of oil In a statement released today, Birol announced that a collective decision was made to take emergency action after a recent meeting. The meeting was intended to assess market conditions and consider the options available to address the supply disruptions. A violent altercation erupted in San Jose this past weekend, where several individuals were filmed assaulting two Jewish men and pinning one of them to the pavement. Law enforcement officials are currently investigating the matter as a potential antisemitic hate crime, according to local police reports. A verbal dispute quickly turned physical, leading to two victims being targeted by three assailants. The attack, which is being reviewed for hate crime indicators, reportedly involved the use of antisemitic slurs, ABC7NEWS reported. The confrontation occurred Sunday afternoon at the popular Santana Row shopping district. The San Jose Police Department (SJPD) stated that the incident began as a heated exchange of words, which allegedly escalated to include targeted religious slurs and physical violence. Here is the sequence of events According to authorities, the fight was initiated when three men approached the two victims, both of whom later received treatment for minor injuries. The victims alleged that the suspects used antisemitic language during the altercation, police said. The incident is currently being investigated by the Assaults Unit as a possible hate crime, they added. Part of the assault, which took place in an outdoor dining patio, was caught on video. The recording shows a young suspect repeatedly striking a man on the ground while an accomplice held the victims foot to prevent escape. Before the group fled, witnesses in the background were heard yelling, Stop it! Knock it off! "Every punch connected directly to where they wanted, to the head directly. It was on purpose to hit and make maximum damage," ABC7NEWS quoted one of the two victims as saying. "One of the witnesses said that they heard them saying, 'don't mess with Iran', which we don't know why," ABC7NEWS quoted the other man. "We don't have any problem with them. But, I heard at the beginning of the fight, something with, 'F the Jews'." The suspects managed to leave the area before officers arrived. Emergency responders evaluated both victims for minor injuries at the scene. According to a report from the X account @TheJewishAlly, the men were targeted after being overheard speaking Hebrew. Police confirmed that the investigation into the matter remains active. Politicians condemn deeply disturbing incident Several local representatives have issued statements regarding the attack. Congressman Ro Khanna said, The assault on Israeli Americans in San Jose while speaking Hebrew is horrific." Also Read | Two Indians killed, one missing after attacks on merchant vessels This kind of antisemitism has no place in our community. I unequivocally condemn these attacks. The assailants must be held accountable and prosecuted," Khanna added. Ramadan, the sacred fasting month in Islam, is underway. The Islamic festival's beginning is determined by astronomy the moon is first sighted in the Gulf countries and the West, while India and its neighbouring countries observe a day late. In India, Ramadan started on Thursday, February 19, marking a time for prayer, reflection, and spiritual renewal for Muslims in the country. The fasting from dawn to sunset during the Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. During daylight hours, practising Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, harmful thoughts and actions, and marital relations. The practice is believed to strengthen faith as well as instil self-restraint. The start of Ramadan is traditionally determined by the sighting of the crescent moon, which is first seen in Gulf countries and western regions, and a day later in India and nearby nations. Ramadan 2026 : What is Sehri and Iftar? During Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. Sehri and Iftar are key components of this holy month. Sehri or Suhoor is the pre-dawn meal that Muslims consume before the Fajr (morning) prayer, which marks the beginning of the daily fasting period. Iftar is the meal with which when Muslims break their fast at sunset, following the Maghrib (evening) prayer. Because sunset times vary based on geographic location, Iftar and Sehri timings fluctuate across different regions. Specific schedules will differ significantly depending on whether you are located in Delhi, Hyderabad, Lucknow or Mumbai. City-Wise Sehri And Iftar Timings (12 March 2026) Lucknow Sehri time: 05:01 AM Iftar time: 6:14 PM Delhi Sehri time: 05:15 AM Iftar time: 6:29 PM Hyderabad Sehri time: 05:14 AM Iftar time: 6:26 PM Mumbai Sehri time: 05:37 AM Iftar time: 6:48 PM Spiritual Significance and Traditions Muslims honour Ramadan as the most hallowed month in the Islamic calendar. Defined by fasting, deep introspection, and heightened devotion to Allah, this ninth month of the lunar year sees believers worldwide abstain from all food and liquid during daylight hours. This time is dedicated to reciting the Quran and strengthening one's spiritual foundation. Fasting, or Sawm, is the fourth pillar of Islam. This practice encourages Muslims to cultivate discipline, gratitude, and empathy for the less fortunate. By sacrificing physical needs during the day, believers commemorate the history of their faith and the spiritual importance of self-restraint. Eleven years after allegedly stabbing his 21-year-old wife to death in the back room of a Maryland donut shop and vanishing into the night, Bhadreshkumar Chetanbhai Patel remains at large and the FBI has now raised the reward for information leading to his arrest to $1 million. Who Is Bhadreshkumar Patel and What Is He Accused Of? Bhadreshkumar Patel, a Gujarati national, is wanted for the murder of his wife Palak Patel at a donut shop at 7567 Arundel Mills Boulevard in Hanover, Maryland, where the couple worked the night shift together. Investigators believe he stabbed Palak multiple times in a back room just before midnight on 12 April 2015, when she was 21 years old. A customer grew suspicious after no one responded to his order and alerted police upon discovering Palak's body in the kitchen. Eight days after the murder, a federal arrest warrant was issued. Patel has since been charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, first-degree assault, second-degree assault, and possession of a dangerous weapon with intent to injure. Why Did Bhadreshkumar Patel Allegedly Kill His Wife? Investigators believe a domestic dispute over Palak's wish to return to India may have been the trigger. Their visas had expired a month before the killing. "The best guess is that he didn't want her to leave," said Special Agent Jonathan Shaffer of the FBI's Baltimore Division. "It's possible he thought he would be disgraced by her leaving and returning to India." Police Chief Amal Awad noted that Palak Patel had worked seven days a week to support both her life in America and her family back in India. Awad added that the "unprovoked attack has left us with so many unanswered questions." How Did Bhadreshkumar Patel Flee and Where Is He Now? After the killing, Patel walked across the street to the apartment he shared with Palak, collected a few items and some cash, and hailed a taxi. The cab took him to a hotel near Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, where he checked in around 3 a.m. with no luggage. He checked out at approximately 10 a.m. and boarded a hotel shuttle to Newark Penn Station his last confirmed sighting eleven years ago. Authorities now suspect he may have fled to India, possibly through Canada. "Or he could have travelled through Canada back to India," Shaffer said. The FBI has described Patel as "armed and extremely dangerous." Why FBI Has Raised the Reward to $1 Million The reward for information leading to Patel's arrest has been raised from $250,000 to $1 million now the standard amount for all fugitives on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list. Patel was added to the list on 18 April 2017, becoming the 514th person to appear on it. "We hope this $1 million reward attracts greater attention to our tireless search for Bhadreshkumar Patel and leads to tips we need to provide justice for Palak Patel, who was brutally murdered by her husband," said FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul. "The increased reward reflects the seriousness of Patel's crime and all the cases on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List." FBI Urges Community to Act After Eleven Years Federal agents and county police officers recently convened to mark the eleventh anniversary of the homicide and renew calls for public assistance. "We are urging our community to help us locate Bhadreshkumar Patel and to share this message on every social media platform available," Awad told reporters. The White House has dismissed a report suggesting that Iran may retaliate against the United States homeland, saying the claim was based on unverified intelligence. Karoline Leavitt, press secretary to US President Donald Trump, pushed back against a report by ABC News that cited a warning sent by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to police departments in California about a possible Iranian retaliation. White House disputes report Leavitt said the report misrepresented the nature of the information shared with law enforcement, stressing that it was based on a single unverified tip. This post and story should be immediately retracted by ABC News for providing false information to intentionally alarm the American people, Leavitt wrote on X. She added that the email referenced in the report clearly stated the intelligence was not verified. They wrote this based on one email that was sent to local law enforcement in California about a single, unverified tip. The email even states the tip was based on unverified intelligence, she said. No threat to US homeland Leavitt said the administration has no evidence of an imminent Iranian threat against the United States. To be clear: No such threat from Iran to our homeland exists, and it never did, she said. The response came after ABC News reported that the FBI had warned California police departments that Iran could retaliate against the United States following recent military operations. Rising tensions after strikes on Iran Concerns about possible retaliation have grown after the United States and Israel launched a series of strikes on Iranian targets beginning on February 28. The attacks reportedly targeted senior leadership, nuclear infrastructure and military facilities in Iran, following earlier US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites in June 2025. Iran targets US assets in Middle East Iran has since responded by targeting US military installations across the Middle East. According to officials, Iranian drones and missiles have struck American assets and bases in countries including Iraq, Kuwait and Qatar. As of March 10, at least six American service members have been killed in the conflict. As many Americans continue grappling with the rising cost of living, the US Pentagon reportedly wrapped up the fiscal year, which runs from October to September, with a spending spree, burning through $93 billion on items ranging from iPads to millions of dollars' worth of crab and lobster dinners. Open the Books, a government watchdog, found in a new analysis that in September 2025, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reportedly burned through cash and spent over $9 million on crab and lobster dinners. The unusual spending on crab and lobster dinners has also drawn attention. According to a report in Military.com, there's a widely recognised belief that when steak and lobster appear in the dining facility, something significant is likely coming. It is often described as a "surf and turf" meal, and the combination has become embedded in military culture as a precursor to deployments, combat operations, or extended missions. The belief seems to be true as US President Donald Trump increased military presence in the Middle East and deployed major naval and air assets to the region as tensions with Iran escalated. This included aircraft carriers, fighter jets, and missile-defence systems. Following the increased military deployment, the US launched strikes on Iran in late February. Also Read | OpenAI and Google staff rush to support Anthropic's lawsuit against Pentagon Why has the Pentagon splurged? As the fiscal year draws to a close, defence officials often focus on using up the remaining military budget. Under use-it-or-lose-it rules, any unspent funds must be returned, which can also risk smaller budget allocations in the following year. What did the analysis find? In the last few days of September, the DoD spent over $50.1 billion on grants and contracts, which is more than the annual defence budget of countries like Israel and Italy. Reportedly, there are only nine foreign countries that spend such a massive amount on their military in a year. Lobster tails, salmon, and king crab top DoD's spending chart The watchdog also revealed that in September alone, the US Department of Defense (DoD) splurged a total of $6.9 million on lobster tail and $2 million on Alaskan king crab. In 2025, DoD also spent over $7.4 million on lobster tails in March, May, June, and October. However, the decadent seafood wasn't the only expensive item that the Pentagon purchased. Hegseth reportedly also spent $15.1 million on ribeye steak in September, $124,000 for new ice cream machines, and $139,224 on doughnut orders. It also spent $1 million on salmon and $26,000 for sushi preparation tables. Furniture purchases by DoD Additionally, furniture purchases surge at the end of the militarys' fiscal year. Since 2008, the DoD has spent an average of $257.6 million on furniture each September, which is roughly 564% higher than usual. In other months, the military spends only about $38.8 million on furniture on average. In 2025, the DoD spent $225.6 million on furniture, the highest since 2014. The analysis showed that most of the furniture was labelled as office furniture. It also spent $60,719 on chairs and $12,540 paid for three-tiered fruit basket stands. IT and telecom At least $5.9 billion was spent on Information Technology and telecommunications in September, including $3.5 billion for services such as tech support and cable television, making it the fourth-highest monthly total ever. This also includes $2.4 billion worth of IT-related goods, including laptops and software licences. Electronics In the last fiscal year that ended September, US defence officials purchased Apple devices worth $5.3 million. This included 400 new iPad Air M3 for $315,200. Analysis shows that the same iPad with 128 GB storage is available for $499, but the DoD opted for 512 GB storage models. A whopping $4 million was spent on Samsung products, which included a 98-inch monitor with a crystal UHD display for $4,000. Musical instruments The DoD did not fail to amuse with its passion for music, since it bought instruments worth $1.8 million. They include a $98,329 Steinway & Sons grand piano ordered for the Air Force chief of staff's home, a $26,000 violin, and a $21,750 handmade flute from the luxury Japanese brand Muramatsu. An Iranian drone attack in Kuwait that killed six US service members in the early days of the war with Iran caused far more damage than previously disclosed, leaving dozens injured with serious wounds including brain trauma, shrapnel injuries and burns, according to a report by CBS News. The outlet citing sources said that the March 1 strike targeted a tactical operations centre at the Shuaiba port outside Kuwait City, leaving many military personnel seriously hurt. According to the news outlet, the explosion quickly filled the building with smoke, making it difficult for rescuers to reach personnel trapped inside. Dozens of troops injured More than 30 US military members were still receiving treatment in hospitals as of Tuesday night following the attack, the report said. According to the news report, injured personnel were distributed across several military medical facilities: -1 service member at Brooke Army Medical Center -12 personnel at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center -Around 25 troops at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center Many of the wounded suffered traumatic brain injuries, memory loss, concussions, burns and shrapnel wounds, the outlet cited sources as saying. Urgent medical evacuations Roughly 20 injured service members were transported to Germany on a C-17 military transport aircraft with injuries classified as urgent, according to the report. CBS News reported that more than 100 medical personnel were deployed to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center to assist with the influx of wounded troops. At least one injured service member may require the amputation of a limb, sources told the outlet. Initial casualty figures understated Defense Department officials initially provided limited details about the scale of the injuries. On March 1, the Pentagon said five troops were seriously wounded and several others sustained minor injuries, including shrapnel wounds and concussions. However, sources told the outlet that the actual number of wounded troops was significantly higher. Over 140 US service members injured so far, Pentagon says More than 140 American service members have been injured since the start of the war with Iran, the Pentagon said, as officials provided new details about recent attacks on US forces in the region. The injuries include those sustained in drone and missile strikes targeting US facilities across the Middle East. On Tuesday, the 11th day of the conflict, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said approximately 140 US service members had been injured since the war began. However, he did not specify where or when the troops were wounded. The vast majority of these injuries have been minor, and 108 service members have already returned to duty, Parnell said in a statement. Eight service members remain listed as severely injured and are receiving the highest level of medical care, he added. Pentagon officials said most of the injured personnel have already resumed their duties, suggesting that many injuries were relatively minor. US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (March 11) claimed that Irans leadership has been decimated and the countrys military is in disarray as a result of Operation Epic Fury, the ongoing US-led military campaign. Our military is the best. It's the most powerful in the world, and they're hitting them very hard, Trump said, emphasizing the effectiveness of the strikes. When asked what more needed to be done, Trump replied, More of the same, signaling continued pressure on Iranian forces. Irans military effectively destroyed, Trump claims Trump detailed the scale of US operations, saying, They've lost their navy. They've lost their air force. They have no anti-aircraft apparatus at all. They have no radar. Their leaders are gone and we could do a lot worse. He added that US forces have deliberately left certain Iranian capabilities intact but could destroy them rapidly if needed: We're leaving certain things that if we take them out, or we could take them out by this afternoon, in fact, within an hour, they literally would never be able to build that country back again. Trump also said, We have hit them harder than virtually any country in history has been hit, and we're not finished yet. Conflict described as war and excursion On whether the fighting should be considered a war, Trump said, Well, its both. Its an excursion that will keep us out of a war. And the war is going to be I mean for them its a war. He described the campaign as easier than we thought, citing U.S. strikes that have destroyed thousands of Iranian missiles, drones, and mine-laying vessels: They had thousands of missiles 7 or 8,000 missiles. We got many of them before they got to launch, Trump said. Trump says US has destroyed 28 Iranian mine-laying ships Trump claimed that US forces have struck 28 Iranian ships laying mines as part of the ongoing military campaign against Iran. They have drones all over the place we got many. Now we're knocking out the drone plants, as you know, going fast. They started talking about mines, so we hit 28 mine-ships as of this moment, Trump told reporters before touring a science research and pharmaceutical facility in Ohio. Also Read | Iranian drone strike in Kuwait injures dozens of US troops, report says At least two people were killed after a tornado tore through parts of Indiana overnight, leaving a trail of destruction across communities and prompting emergency weather alerts across the state. Daybreak in Lake Village on Wednesday revealed extensive damage after the tornado ripped through the community late Tuesday night. Several homes and businesses were destroyed, according to local officials. Laurie Postma, Public Information Officer for the Lake Township Fire Department, confirmed during a Wednesday morning press conference that at least two people died in the storm. Tornado outbreak across Illinois and Indiana The National Weather Service said the storm system was particularly intense. According to the National Weather Service Chicago Office, a powerful supercell thunderstorm produced a family of tornadoes at least four across multiple counties Tuesday night. The tornadoes were reported in Livingston County and Kankakee County, as well as Newton County, Jasper County, and Starke County in northwestern Indiana. Survey teams from the weather agency are expected to assess the storm damage on Wednesday to determine the exact path and strength of the tornadoes. Massive hail and widespread weather threats The storms also produced exceptionally large hail, ranging from 3 to 5 inches in diameter. One 6-inch hailstone recorded in Kankakee could be considered for a new state record, the weather service said. More than 2 million people were under a moderate risk of severe weather, while nearly 22 million people were under a slightly lower risk zone that included Chicago, Fort Worth, and Oklahoma City. Illinois Governor urges caution JB Pritzker, Governor of Illinois, said he had been briefed on the damage and expressed support for affected communities. Keeping in our thoughts all Illinoisans impacted by the severe weather well be here to help them recover, he wrote on social media. Tornado watch issued for central Indiana Meanwhile, the National Weather Service Indianapolis Office issued Tornado Watch 41, warning that severe weather could continue across large parts of the state until noon Wednesday. Also Read | India to validate its own AI model for weather forecasting The watch covers 18 counties in central, eastern, and southern Indiana, including areas around Indianapolis, Bloomington, Columbus, Anderson, and Muncie. US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (local time) slammed Republican Thomas Massie, calling him the worst Republican Congressman. In a post on Truth Social, Trump lashed out at Massie and wrote, I predict that Representative Thomas Massie will go down as the WORST Republican Congressman in the long and fabled history of the United States Congress, even worse than Crazy Liz Cheney, Cryin Adam Kinzinger, and Marjorie Traitor Brown (remember, Green turns to Brown under stress!). They are all misfits and losers, but Massie, who is running against a great American patriot in the Kentucky primary, will hopefully lose BIG. Trump slams Massie, supports Gallrein Trump's remarks against Massie, who is an outspoken critic of the US President, came ahead of his Kentucky visit, where he extended support for Capt. Ed Gallrein, who plans to unseat Massie in the November midterms, The Hill reported. This is not the first time that Trump has attacked Massie. Earlier on Tuesday, Trump, in another post, said that Kentucky voters are desperate to get rid of Massie, the worst Republican Congressman we have had in many years. Also Read | US midterms: Jasmine Crockett concedes to James Talarico in Texas Dem primary According to the US President, the only person who can defeat Massie is Gallrein, who is a Navy SEAL, Army Ranger, fifthgeneration Kentucky farmer, and American Hero. Trump further claimed that Gallrein is a true Patriot, adding that the GOP challenger is a big fan of our recent attack on Nicolas Maduro, the dictator of Venezuela. Trump vs Massie Reports suggest that Trump and Massie have engaged in a war of words previously over a variety of issues, including Trumps decision to launch strikes against Iran and the Department of Justices (DOJ) release of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Also Read | What newly released Epstein files reveal about allegations against Trump The Kentucky Republican has been vocal in criticizing the president over rising gas prices amid the war in the Middle East. In a post on X, he wrote, The price of gas has gone up $0.47, and the price of diesel has gone up $0.83 in 10 days due to the war with Iran. Massie was among the lawmakers who supported a war powers resolution intended to curb Trumps authority. Although Democrats mostly backed the proposal, it failed after the majority of Republicans sided with the president. Massie called for the Commerce Secretary's removal Earlier in January, the DOJ released millions of documents related to Epstein files, which included the names of several prominent figures, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Massie, who was the lead Republican on the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which compelled the release of records related to the notorious sex offender, CNN reported. In August 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy offered US President Donald Trump their battle-proven technology for downing Iranian-made attack drones, an offer which was rejected by the Trump administration, Axios reported on Tuesday. The Ukrainian officials prepared a PowerPoint presentation highlighting how these drones could prove useful in protecting American forces and their allies in the event of a war in the Middle East. However, the Trump administration dismissed the offer made by Zelenskyy and Ukrainian officials, only to reverse its course last week after Iran launched more drones than what was expected. The report suggests that Ukraine is the world's most experienced country when it comes to combating Shahed drones, which Russia bought, copied, and deployed by the thousands under the name 'Geran' when it invaded Ukraine in 2022. What happened in August 2025? On 18 August, Zelenskyy, in a closed-door White House meeting with Trump, offered Ukraine's interceptor drones to Trump, in an attempt to boost the ties between the two countries. Citing an official, the report said that the gesture on Zelenskyy's part was to show his thanks to Washington for its support in the face of Russian aggression. While Trump asked his team to work on it in August, they did not do anything, a Ukrainian official told Axios. A US official who viewed the presentation confirmed that the Ukrainians did present it to the Trump administration, but added that some US officials viewed Zelenskyy as a "self-promoter" who's leading a client state that lacked sufficient respect. "We figured it was Zelensky being Zelensky. Somebody decided not to buy it," the official said. Also Read | Zelenskyy demands air-defence systems from allies amid fresh Russian assault What was Ukraine offering? In the PowerPoint presentation made to the US officials, the Ukrainians displayed a map of the Middle East and included the stark prediction that Tehran was working on improving its Shahed one-way-attack drone design. In the presentation, the Ukrainians included the idea of forming "drone combat hubs" in countries like Jordan, Turkiye, and the Persian Gulf states, where US bases are located, to address the threat from Iran and its proxies. A Ukrainian official said that the country wanted to build 'drone walls' and all the necessary things, including the radar. Ukraine has developed a low-cost interceptor drone, sensors, and air defences to shoot down Shahed-style drones. Dismissing Zelenskyy's offer a mistake? Citing US officials, the report said that snubbing Zelenskyy's offer is one of the biggest tactical miscalculations by the Trump administration since it launched strikes on Iran on 28 February. An official acknowledged, "If there's a tactical error or a mistake we made leading up to this [war in Iran], this was it." US reverses course, seeks help from Ukraine On 5 March, the US officials formally asked Zelenskyy for anti-drone help, The New York Times reported, adding that Kyiv sent interceptor drones, along with a team of drone experts, to protect the US military bases in Jordan. Zelenskyy said the US requested help on 5 March and the team left the next day, adding that it was expected to arrive soon in the Middle East. Iran's Shahed drones take a toll on US? According to the report, Tehran's inexpensive Shahed drones have been linked to the deaths of seven US service members, and have cost Washington and its allies in the region millions of dollars to intercept. An Iranian Shahed, depending on the model, ranges from $20,000 to $50,000. The ongoing war between US-Israel and Iran has almost brought tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz to a standstill, causing sharp swings in oil prices and underlining how crucial the narrow waterway is for global energy supplies, reported AP. Tehrans Revolutionary Guards have vowed to block oil exports through the Strait, saying they will not allow even a single litre to be shipped to countries they see as enemies if hostilities continue. Meanwhile, the United Nations (UN) has warned of significant risks to global trade and development, including higher food prices and cost-of-living, if the Strait of Hormuz is closed amid the West Asia conflict. The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said in a report Tuesday that the ongoing military escalation in the region due to the US-Israeli strikes on Iran and retaliation by Tehran has disrupted shipping flows through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints. The narrow passage carries around a quarter of global seaborne oil trade and significant volumes of liquefied natural gas and fertilisers. Here's what the UN said Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said at the daily press briefing that UNCTAD's economic analysis on the potential impact of a closure of the Strait of Hormuz highlights "significant risks to global trade and development". "The resulting ripple effects go far beyond the region, affecting energy markets, maritime transport and global supply chains," the report said. Higher energy, fertiliser and transport costs including freight rates, bunker fuel prices and insurance premiums may increase food costs and intensify cost-of-living pressures, particularly for the most vulnerable, it said, as reported by PTI. The UNCTAD report stressed that disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz underscore the "vulnerability" of critical maritime chokepoints to geopolitical tensions and their potential to transmit shocks across supply chains and commodity markets, PTI reported. The report added that reducing risks to global trade and development, including environmental risks, requires de-escalation and safeguarding maritime transport, ports and seafarers, and other civilian infrastructure, while maintaining secure trade corridors in line with international law and freedom of navigation. "Economic impacts, both globally and for the region, will depend on the duration, intensity and geographic scope of the tensions. Continued monitoring is essential to assess evolving risks and their potential impacts," UNCTAD said. The report said many developing countries already face high debt service burdens, limited fiscal space and constrained access to finance. In such a context, rising energy, transport and food costs could strain public finances and household budgets, potentially heightening economic and social pressures and complicating progress toward sustainable development, particularly in economies heavily dependent on imported energy, fertilisers and staple foods. According to UNCTAD data, about 20 million barrels of oil per day - roughly 25% of global seaborne oil trade - passed through the Strait of Hormuz in 2024. Of them, crude oil and condensate accounted for 14 million bpd and petroleum products for 6 million bpd. Data from a week prior to the latest West Asia escalation showed that 38% of global seaborne crude oil trade, 29% of liquefied petroleum gas trade and 19% each of liquefied natural gas and refined oil products passed through the Strait. Since the initial strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel on 28 February, shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen by 97%. UNCTAD has warned that such disruptions threaten energy supplies, particularly to Asia. Key energy infrastructure in the Persian Gulf In 2024, 84% of the 14.3 million barrels per day of crude oil transported through the Strait were bound for Asian markets, while only 16% was destined for Europe and other regions. Similarly, 83% of the 10.4 billion cubic feet of liquefied natural gas shipped daily through the Strait was bound for Asia. Around one-third of the global seaborne fertiliser trade, about 16 million tonnes annually, also passes through the waterway, UNCTAD said. Warning that ripple effects of a possible closure of the Strait can travel far, the UN agency said, "When oil prices go up, food prices often go up. When gas prices go up, fertiliser prices often go up." "The current shock comes at a time when many developing economies struggle to service their debt, face a tightening of fiscal space and limited capacity to absorb new price shocks," it said. Strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz Historically, the Strait of Hormuz has been a key trade route, facilitating the movement of ceramics, ivory, silk, and textiles from China. Today, it serves as a vital corridor for supertankers transporting oil and gas from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE, and Iran, with most shipments destined for Asian markets, including China, Irans only remaining oil customer, according to an AP report. Although pipelines in Saudi Arabia and the UAE provide alternative routes, the US Energy Information Administration notes that most volumes that transit the strait have no alternative means of exiting the region. Past threats to the Strait have driven up global energy prices, such as during the IsraelIran conflict in June. The United States and Israel's war in Iran has rattled global energy markets and raised concerns over increasing oil prices. This comes at a time when Tehran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, an arterial corridor that transports nearly 20% of the world's oil supply. As the oil market continues to be rattled by tensions in the Middle East, speculation is rife over whether US President Donald Trump's administration will change its military strategy. According to a Politico report citing a US official, the Trump administration has not seriously weighed changing its military strategy despite concerns over rising oil prices. Another added that the administration would need to see oil prices remain steady over several weeks before considering any change in strategy. Also Read | Crude oil prices fall on reports of IEA proposal for reserve release How long can the US weather an oil price spike? The development comes as the Trump administration believes that Washington can weather a brief spike in oil prices, potentially lasting up to four weeks, before the political fallout causes damage. Additionally, the Trump administration's confidence was boosted on Tuesday (local time) after oil prices dropped to $80 per barrel, following a record high of $120 per barrel the day before. The move has further reinforced the administration's view that these spikes are temporary and manageable. According to the officials, the US has three to four weeks to manage the situation before oil price hikes become a durable political problem. The official said that assuming the economy continues to improve once the active phase of the war concludes, the administration will have the entire summer (May to August) to benefit from the recovery. Trump administration tries to soothe traders Instead of changing its strategy or course, the Trump administration spent most of its Monday trying to calm the spooked investors, who have been worried about the disruptive impact of a prolonged war on the oil supply chains. Officials have also been trying to ease the fears of Republicans, who think that the Iran war is opposite to the affordability message they believe the Grand Old Party (GOP) should be pushing forward as it battles to retain control of Congress in the midterm elections in November. Americans think war will cause an oil price hike According to a recent Quinnipiac Poll, over seven in 10 voters were very concerned or somewhat concerned that the war would cause oil and gas prices to rise in the United States. Additionally, most voters opposed the US military action, are against deploying American ground troops to Iran, and believe the conflict is unlikely to end quickly. Oil price hike a short-term disruption: Trump White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said that the US President has consistently described the spike in oil and gas prices as a "short-term disruption," and added that once the military objectives are achieved and Iran's regime is neutralised, the oil and gas prices are expected to fall quickly. Rogers also noted that these prices could even drop below levels seen before the war and that the American families would benefit from this outcome. A driver smashed into a White House gate early Wednesday (March 11), prompting road closures around the complex in Washington DC, according to The Daily Mail. The incident reportedly occurred just after 6.30am at the intersection of Connecticut Avenue and H Street, Northwest. Authorities confirmed that no injuries were reported in connection with the crash. The Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia is assisting the Secret Service in the investigation. A police spokesperson said the crash occurred near the intersection of Connecticut Avenue and H Street Northwest, just north of the White House complex. Streets closed around White House Following the incident, several streets north of the White House were shut down as authorities secured the area. Police tape, patrol vehicles, Secret Service officers, National Guard members and Metropolitan Police officers were deployed to block access to nearby roads. The world is looking at a major fuel crisis triggered by the escalating conflict in West Asia involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. The disruption of the shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which in normal times accounts for around 20 per cent of global oil and Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) transit, and the Israeli strikes on Irans oil infrastructure have caused a sudden spike in prices around the world. As the US-Iran conflict is into its 12th day, with no clear path in sight for an immediate de-escalation, countries around the world are waking up to the reality of significant disruptions to life as normal. Work from home is back Six years after COVID-19 forced the world to work from home, the fuel crisis is forcing many countries to bring it back. Over the past few days, several countries have brought back work-from-home mandates, urging employees to work remotely to save fuel. Thailand On Tuesday, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordered civil servants to conserve energy, a government spokesperson said. Other steps to save fuel include suspending overseas trips and using stairs instead of elevators. "The prime minister ordered that starting from today, civil servants will work from home," spokesperson Lalida Periswiwatana told reporters, adding that exceptions would be made for officials who must serve the public. Vietnam On Tuesday, Vietnam's trade ministry called on local businesses to encourage their employees to work from home as part of efforts to save on fuel. Businesses need to "encourage work-from-home when possible to reduce the need for travel and transportation," the statement said. Pakistan Pakistan mandated a four-day work week and WFH for half of the public sector workforce. While key sectors like banking are exempt, the government has strongly recommended similar WFH arrangements for other private industries. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced these measures to reduce national fuel consumption and protect foreign exchange reserves. Also Read | USIran tensions spark energy crisis for ceramic tile makers As part of the fuel-saving measures, all schools and universities have been closed for at least two weeks, and educational institutions have been directed to shift to online classes. As the conflict continues, more countries could adopt work from home to reduce fuel consumption. LGP shortage in India While India has not faced any shortage of petrol and diesel so far due to the war, the developments in the Strait of Hormuz have had an impact on LNG shipping to the country. To address the situation, the Union Government on Tuesday invoked the Essential Commodities Act (EC Act) to stabilize the domestic energy market. The government has prioritized the supply of cooking gas to households, while restricting the distribution of cylinders to commercial establishments, including restaurants. Also Read | LPG shortage from West Asia conflict may force IRCTC to suspend cooked meals There is absolutely no shortage of fuel, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said on Wednesday. Companies should allow WFH Chandrasekar Cuttackam, the Vice President at Wells Fargo, urged companies in India to allow employees to work from home whenever possible. Thousands of employees commute long distances every day, burning large amounts of fuel, he said in a post on LinkedIn. He noted that ff that commuting is reduced, the saved fuel can be redirected to more critical services such as healthcare, emergency response, logistics, and public transport. According to Chandrasekar, enabling work from home is not just a business decision right now. It is an act of corporate social responsibility (CSR) that can make a real difference during the crisis. India, in its first statement after the targeting of a Thai-flagged cargo vessel, said that it deplores the attack on commercial shipping. India also reiterated that assaults on merchant vessels and actions that endanger the lives of crew members must be avoided. Mayuree Naree was bound for Kandla in Kutch district of Gujarat, India. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, We have seen reports about the attack on a Thai ship, Mayuree Naree, in the Strait of Hormuz on 11 March. The ship was bound for Kandla in India. India deplores the fact that commercial shipping is being made a target of military attacks in the ongoing conflict in West Asia. Precious lives, including of Indian citizens, have already been lost in multiple such attacks in the earlier phase of this conflict and the intensity and lethality of the attacks only seems to be increasing, the Indian government said. Also Read | Trump Warns Iran Against Laying Mines in Strait of Hormuz India further reiterated that targeting commercial shipping and endangering innocent civilian crew members, or otherwise impeding freedom of navigation and commerce, should be avoided. An Iranian missile on Wednesday, March 11, struck a Thai-flagged cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz shortly after it left the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The attack on the vessel comes as tensions in the Middle East continue to disrupt the world's most critical shipping lanes Strait of Hormuz. The ship, Mayuree Naree, a 30,000 deadweight-ton bulk carrier owned by Precious Shipping Pcl, was attacked while transiting the strategic waterway. Omans Navy has rescued 20 crew members, who abandoned ship and evacuated in a lifeboat, and brought them ashore in Khasab, Thai navy spokesman Paraj Ratanajaipan said in a statement. At least three persons are currently missing. Paraj said that efforts are underway to locate the missing crew members. The attacks remained under investigation. Also Read | Rare earths to crude oil: Chokepoints are forcing countries to shift strategy Pictures shared by the Thai navy showed the ship billowing thick smoke from the rear section, where it was likely hit. Two projectiles of unknown origin struck the vessel, sparking a fire in its engine room, Precious Shipping said in a filing to the Stock Exchange of Thailand late Wednesday. Three crew members initially reported missing are believed to be trapped in the compartment, the company said, adding that it is working with authorities to rescue them. Mayuree Naree was the only Thai-flagged vessel that remained in the area. The others had already passed the Strait of Hormuz. Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said, The other Thai ships have already passed through the Strait of Hormuz. Weve moved beyond the most critical period. Only Mayuree Naree remains. Iran's top security official, Ali Larijani, has hit back at US President Donald Trump. The Secretary of Irans Supreme National Security Council has warned him against making threats and cautioned about his own elimination. Also Read | Is Benjamin Netanyahu Dead? Death rumours of Israeli PM flood social media In a post on X on Tuesday, Larijani said the Iranian people were not afraid of what he called Trump's "hollow threats". Larijani invoked the spirit of Ashura, saying that Iran draws its courage from those teachings and will not be intimidated by American pressure. Ashura falls on the 10th day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is an important day for both Sunni and Shia Muslims. In Iran, the world's largest Shia-majority country, Ashura is a day of deep mourning. It marks the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad. Umayyad forces killed Husayn ibn Ali at the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE. The spirit of Ashura refers to resistance against oppression. It also means unwavering faith, moral courage and divine intervention. The Ashura-loving nation of Iran does not fear your paper threats. Even those greater than you could not eliminate the Iranian nation. Watch out for yourselflest you be eliminated! Larijani wrote on X. Donald Trumps threat Larijanis remarks follow Trumps post on Truth Social. The US president warned that the US would hit Iran harder if it tried to block oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Its a crucial waterway connecting the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. "If Iran does anything that stops the flow of Oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far, Trump wrote. Additionally, we will take out easily destroyable targets that will make it virtually impossible for Iran to ever be built back, as a Nation, again Death, Fire, and Fury will reign upon them But I hope, and pray, that it does not happen!" Trump added. Assassination of Ayatollah Khamenei The US and Israel launched major air strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei on 28 February. The US-Israeli joint strikes also killed several senior commanders and civilians. They hit both military and civilian sites, causing heavy casualties. Also Read | Trump Warns Iran Against Laying Mines in Strait of Hormuz Iran struck back. It fired waves of missiles and drones at American and Israeli positions across the region. The United States military has struck and destroyed 16 Iranian mine-laying naval vessels near the Strait of Hormuz in a preemptive operation, as Washington warned Tehran of unprecedented consequences should it move to choke off one-fifth of the world's oil supply a move that would send shockwaves through global energy markets already destabilised by weeks of conflict. Sirens wailed across the Middle East late Tuesday and into Wednesday as Israel and the United States pressed their assault on Iran, whilst Iranian forces struck back against Israel and American allies throughout the region. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps announced it had launched its 35th wave of operations, targeting American military bases across the Middle East and locations in central Israel, according to Tasnim, the Revolutionary Guards-affiliated news agency. Israel simultaneously announced "an additional wave" of strikes on Iranian government targets in Tehran only to alert its own public minutes later to shelter as Iranian missiles were detected inbound. The cycle repeated through the night. In Lebanon, explosions from Israeli airstrikes on Dahiya a densely populated Hezbollah stronghold on Beirut's southern outskirts were seen and heard across the capital for hours. At least 95 people were killed in Israeli attacks on Lebanon on Tuesday, the Lebanese Ministry of Health said. Hezbollah said it had conducted 30 attacks of its own during the day. The war's reach extended across the Gulf. Bahrain's Defence Force reported intercepting 106 missiles and 176 drones since the conflict began. Kuwait detected five drones entering its airspace. Qatar faced seven missile attacks in a single day. Saudi Arabia intercepted four drones and seven ballistic missiles overnight, on top of more than 110 drone attacks, nine ballistic missile launches and six cruise missiles recorded since fighting began. The UAE, meanwhile, has absorbed the heaviest sustained barrage 1,475 Iranian drones, over 260 ballistic missiles and eight cruise missiles since the conflict's outbreak. 1. Why the US Struck Iranian Vessels A senior US official told Axios the strikes were a preemptive measure rooted in concrete intelligence about Iran's operational plans to deploy mines in the Strait of Hormuz. The deployment of mines would create an extreme threat for commercial shipping and effectively halt all oil flows through the waterway through which approximately one-fifth of the world's oil passes daily. Also Read | As Iran war pushes up oil prices, Putin can barely conceal a smirk US Central Command announced the strikes on X on Tuesday evening, accompanied by video footage showing munitions striking vessels, most of which were moored at the time of the attack. Whether Iran had already deployed any mines since the United States and Israel began attacking Iran on 28 February remained unclear as of Tuesday. 2. What Trump Said on Truth Social Trump issued stark warnings to Tehran via Truth Social, threatening military consequences at a level "never seen before" if Iran moved to lay mines. "If, on the other hand, they remove what may have been placed, it will be a giant step in the right direction," he wrote, whilst clarifying the US had no confirmed reports of mines already placed in the waterway. Also Read | Air India to add fuel surcharge on domestic, international routes amid Iran war The previous day, Trump had threatened to strike Iran "TWENTY TIMES HARDER" if it moved to stop the flow of oil through the strait even as Tehran had already begun doing so days earlier, underlining the administration's difficulties in maintaining a consistent public narrative. 3. The Military Technology Being Deployed by US Trump detailed the military arsenal being brought to bear in a follow-up post: "Additionally, we are using the same Technology and Missile capabilities deployed against Drug Traffickers to permanently eliminate any boat or ship attempting to mine the Hormuz Strait. They will be dealt with quickly and violently." Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters earlier on Tuesday that the day would be marked by a significant increase in American and Israeli strikes on Iran though as midnight passed in the Middle East, that escalation had not fully materialised. Israel did, however, begin a fresh wave of attacks in the early hours of Wednesday local time. 4. The US Strike Details on Iranian Ships US Central Command confirmed on X that 16 Iranian vessels had been "eliminated" in the operation. Trump had initially posted that ten ships were destroyed "with more to follow," before the military's official account revised the figure upward. Video released by Central Command showed munitions striking nine vessels in succession. Also Read | In charts: How the Iran war stacks up against previous oil shocks Historically, Iran has used mine warfare to lethal effect in the Persian Gulf in April 1988, an Iranian mine severely damaged an American frigate, prompting US retaliatory strikes. In the 1980s, Iranian forces had laid mines across the Gulf, requiring extensive clearance operations by US Navy minesweepers. 5. Report on Active Mine-Laying by Iran CNN reported on Tuesday that Iran had already begun laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, though the operation was described as not yet extensive. The account aligned with the intelligence assessment that prompted Washington's preemptive strike. "We thought the Iranians were planning to start laying the mines, so we took out many of the ships," the senior US official told Axios. The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, connects the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea and is the world's single most important oil transit chokepoint, handling roughly 20 million barrels per day approximately one-fifth of global consumption as well as a significant share of global LNG trade, primarily from Qatar. 6. Mixed Messages and Contradictions From Washington DC Tuesday was marked by considerable confusion emanating from the Trump administration. Energy Secretary Chris Wright posted on social media that a Navy warship had "successfully escorted" an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz a claim a military official subsequently denied, leading to the post's quiet deletion. Defence Secretary Hegseth declined to answer questions about the war's duration, saying only that the military was giving Trump "maximum options" and that Trump "gets to control the throttle." 7. Unconditional Surrender Defined by Trump Alone The administration's position on the war's endgame grew murkier on Tuesday when White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt indicated that Trump himself would be the sole arbiter of whether Iran had surrendered. "When President Trump says that Iran is in a place of unconditional surrender, he's not claiming the Iranian regime is going to come out and say that themselves," she said. The statement came after Trump had previously listed unconditional surrender as one of his conditions for ending the war a benchmark that, by Leavitt's account, requires no acknowledgement from Tehran whatsoever. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, meanwhile, addressed the Iranian people directly, saying his country was working to "create the conditions for you to grasp your destiny" rhetoric he has consistently deployed since the war began. 8. The Mounting Human Cost of Iran War The death toll from the conflict has reached at least 1,940, the vast majority in Iran. US and Israeli strikes have killed approximately 1,300 people in Iran, according to Iranian officials, while Iranian attacks across the Middle East have killed at least 30. Iranian strikes have killed seven American service members and wounded 140 others, eight of them severely, the Pentagon confirmed though 108 of the injured have since returned to duty. Israeli strikes in Lebanon have killed more than 500 people, according to state media. Strikes on Iranian fuel depots have produced dark plumes of smoke and black rain over Tehran, with health experts warning of serious long-term respiratory and neurological risks from the burning oil. Officials also confirmed that strikes damaged a UNESCO World Heritage site in the ancient city of Isfahan. 9. Lebanon's Deepening Humanitarian Crisis Lebanon has emerged as a major new front in the expanding Middle East conflict, with Israel launching a sustained bombing campaign against Iranian-backed Hezbollah positions that has triggered one of the region's worst displacement crises in years. Nearly 700,000 people have been forced from their homes, according to UN figures, with over 100,000 registering on the Lebanese government's online displacement platform in a single 24-hour period. In Beirut and its densely packed surrounding areas, tens of thousands of displaced civilians have taken refuge in schools, government buildings, cars and on open pavements along the city's seaside promenade. In the Persian Gulf, the UAE and Qatar said their armed forces were intercepting Iranian missile attacks, while Saudi Arabia's civil defence agency reported drone damage at a residential site north of Riyadh, with no casualties. 10. Russia Oil Sanctions Quietly Eased As global energy markets absorb the shock of a war that has disrupted one of the world's most critical shipping lanes, the Trump administration has begun quietly loosening restrictions on Russian oil exports a significant policy shift driven by rising fuel prices at home. Irans new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was injured during the February 28 airstrike that killed his father, the late Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with several family members, according to Irans ambassador to Cyprus, Alireza Salarian. The strike occurred during US-led air operations targeting Iran, when the residential compound of the supreme leader in central Tehran was hit. The attack reportedly levelled the residence where several members of the Khamenei family had gathered. Salarian in an interview with The Guardian, confirmed that Mojtaba Khamenei was present during the attack and survived with injuries. He was also there and he was injured in that bombardment but I havent seen that reflected in the foreign news, Salarian said. Injuries and hospitalization According to the ambassador, the newly appointed leader sustained injuries to multiple parts of his body and is believed to be receiving medical treatment. I have heard that he was injured in his legs and hand and arm I think he is in the hospital because he is injured, Salarian told the news outlet. The injuries may explain why Mojtaba Khamenei has not yet appeared publicly or delivered a speech since being selected as Irans new supreme leader. I dont think he is comfortable [in any condition] to give a speech, Salarian added. Family members among the dead The airstrike reportedly killed six members of the Khamenei family who were inside the residence at the time. Among the dead were Ali Khameneis wife, daughter, son-in-law, and a young grandchild. Salarian described the scene during the attack: The supreme leader was killed with his wife, with his daughter, with his son-in-law and with his daughters 14-month-old baby. Confirmation from Iranian officials Earlier in the week, Yousef Pezeshkian, a senior adviser and the son of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, acknowledged reports that Mojtaba Khamenei had been wounded. In a message on Telegram, he wrote: I heard news that Mr Mojtaba Khamenei had been injured. I have asked some friends who had connections. They told me that, thank God, he is safe and sound. Trump's reaction The appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as Irans new supreme leader has drawn criticism from US President Donald Trump who described the clerics selection by Irans Assembly of Experts as unacceptable. He is not going to last long, Trump said. Also Read | Trump says the Iran war is nearly won but Israel has other ideas The US has temporarily allowed India to accept Russian oil already at sea to help maintain global energy supplies during disruptions linked to the conflict involving Iran, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, as reported by PTI. Leavitt added that the short-term measure is unlikely to provide significant financial benefit to Russia. Here's what Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said US President Donald Trump, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and the whole national security team came to this decision because our allies in India have been good actors and have previously stopped buying sanctioned Russian oil, Leavitt told a press conference at the White House on Tuesday. "So as we work to appease this temporary gap of oil supply around the world because of the Iranians, we have temporarily permitted them (India) to accept that Russian oil. And this Russian oil was already at sea. It was already out on the water. So this short-term measure, we do not believe it will provide significant financial benefit to the Russian government at this time," she said. Leavitt was responding to a question on the US issuing a 30-day waiver to India to purchase Russian oil in the backdrop of the escalating West Asia conflict. Why US allow India to buy Russian oil? Amid the conflict with Iran, the US said last week it was issuing a temporary 30-day waiver to allow Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil. United States Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent told FOX News, They (Indians) stopped buying Russian Oil when we ordered them, now we are allowing them to accept Russian Oil to create supply. Trump had imposed 25% punitive tariffs on India over its purchases of Russian oil, with his administration arguing that New Delhis imports were helping finance Russias war effort against Ukraine. Last month, the US and India announced they had prepared a framework for an interim trade agreement, and Trump issued an Executive Order removing the 25% tariffs on New Delhi, noting the latter's commitment to stop directly or indirectly importing energy from Moscow and purchasing American energy products. Allowing our friends in India Energy Secretary Chris Wright had said in a post on X last Friday that the US is "allowing our friends in India" to take the Russian oil already on ships around southern Asia, refine it and move the stocks into the market quickly in order to ensure a flowing supply and ease pressure amid the ongoing US-Israel war against Iran. "We have implemented short-term measures to help keep oil prices down. We are allowing our friends in India to take oil that is already on ships, refine it, and move those barrels into the market quickly. A practical way to get supply flowing and ease pressure," Wright said. In an interview with ABC News Live, Wright said long-term oil supplies are "abundant", and there are no worries regarding that, but in the short term, there is a need to get oil on the market. But as oil gets bid up a little bit because of those constraints coming out of the Strait of Hormuz, we are taking a short-term action to say all this floating Russian oil storage that is around southern Asia, it is China just backed up, China does not treat their suppliers well, so there is a bunch of floating barrels just sitting there. We have reached out to our friends in India and said, 'Buy that oil. Bring it into your refineries'. That pulls stored oil immediately into Indian refineries and releases the pressure on other refineries around the world to buy oil that they are no longer competing with the Indians for in that marketplace, Wright said. Also Read | Trump Warns Iran Against Laying Mines in Strait of Hormuz So we have a number of measures like that that are short-term and temporary. This is no change in policy towards Russia. This is a very brief change in policy just to keep oil prices down a little bit better than we could otherwise, he added. Wright had also said that he, as well as Bessent, had spoken with authorities in India regarding purchasing Russian oil already floating on waterways, waiting to be unloaded at Chinese refineries, and transporting it to Indian refineries with an aim to "tamp" down concerns over oil shortage and price increases amid the West Asia conflict. "The United States' policy towards Russia has not changed at all. India is very clear on that," Wright said in an interview with CNN on Sunday. Asked whether the Treasury Departments 30-day waiver allowing Indian refiners to buy Russian oil during the USIsrael conflict with Iran undermined the Trump administrations effort to isolate Russia, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said it did not. He said India has already replaced most of its Russian oil imports and is increasing purchases from the United States, Venezuela, and other suppliers. "India has been a great partner through this. But I did call up the Indians, as did Treasury Secretary Bessent, and said, 'Look, there is a whole bunch of oil that is floating to wait to unload at Chinese refineries'. "Instead of having it wait six weeks to unload there, let us just pull that oil forward, have it land in Indian refineries and tamp this fear of shortage of oil, tamp the price spikes and the concerns we see in the marketplace. It is just a pragmatic effort that has a short time span. No change in policy towards Russia," he said. North Korea has thrown its weight behind Iran's new supreme leadership and delivered its sharpest condemnation yet of the US-Israeli war on Iran, even as Kim Jong Un personally oversaw the test-firing of strategic cruise missiles from Pyongyang's most powerful warship, signalling that the West Asia conflict is now drawing in nuclear-armed states far beyond the Middle East. North Korea Endorses Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran's New Supreme Leader State-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Wednesday quoted a spokesperson from North Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs explicitly endorsing Tehran's new leadership following the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a US-Israeli strike on 28 February the opening salvo of the war now in its 12th day. The Iranian Assembly of Experts has since elected Mojtaba Khamenei, the late supreme leader's son, as his successor. "Regarding the recent official announcement that the Iranian Assembly of Experts has elected a new leader of the Islamic Revolution, we respect the right and choice of the Iranian people to elect their Supreme Leader," KCNA quoted the ministry spokesperson as saying. Which Countries Have Welcomed Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran's New Supreme Leader? Global reactions split sharply along geopolitical lines. Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said sent a formal congratulatory message, followed swiftly by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, who expressed confidence in the new leadership's ability to navigate this sensitive stage. Russia's Vladimir Putin pledged "unwavering support" for Tehran, calling Russia "a reliable partner" to Iran. China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said the appointment was based on its constitution and warned against interference in Iran's internal affairs. Yemen's Houthi movement celebrated the appointment as "a new victory for the Islamic Revolution and a resounding blow to the enemies of the Islamic Republic." North Korea also separately extended its endorsement. On the opposing side, Trump dismissed Mojtaba Khamenei as a lightweight, and told CBS News he had no message for him, and claimed to have his own candidate in mind to lead Iran. Israel's Foreign Ministry called the new leader another tyrant, posting: "Mojtaba Khamenei's hands are already stained with the bloodshed that defined his father's rule." Al Jazeera reported that the Israeli military has already threatened to kill him. Pyongyang Condemns US-Israeli Strikes on Iran as 'Unlawful' Attack North Korea's condemnation of the war escalated significantly on Wednesday, with Pyongyang framing the conflict in explicitly geopolitical terms. "We express grave concern and strongly condemn the aggression of the United States and Israel, which, by launching an unlawful military attack against Iran, are undermining the foundations of regional peace and security and increasing instability in the international landscape," the spokesperson from North Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. The statement went further, condemning the attacks for undermining "the political system and territorial integrity of a country" conduct the spokesperson declared "must be condemned and rejected by the entire world." It marks a notable hardening of Pyongyang's position since it first branded the US-Israeli campaign "gangster-like conduct" in the immediate aftermath of the war's launch 12 days ago. Kim Jong Un Oversees Strategic Cruise Missile Test From Pyongyang's Largest Warship Simultaneously, KCNA reported that Kim Jong Un had personally overseen the test-firing of strategic cruise missiles from the Choe Hyon, North Korea's newest and largest naval destroyer. It was the second missile test from the vessel conducted under Kim's direct supervision, following a launch last week in which he lauded his country's progress in arming the Navy with nuclear weapons. Also Read | As Iran war pushes up oil prices, Putin can barely conceal a smirk During Wednesday's test, Kim spoke of the critical strategic importance of "maintaining and expanding a powerful and reliable nuclear war deterrent" language that, coming amid a live conflict involving North Korea's allies, carries considerable weight. What North Korea's Nuclear Posture Means for Iran-US War? The timing of the missile test alongside Pyongyang's political endorsement of Tehran is unlikely to be coincidental. The United States has spent decades attempting to dismantle North Korea's nuclear programme, with little measurable success. Pyongyang has consistently maintained that its nuclear arsenal is essential to deter any threat of invasion by South Korea and its Washington-backed allies. The International Energy Agency (IEA) on Wednesday (local time) announced that it will release 400 million barrels of oil from its emergency stockpile into the market to address disruptions in the global energy markets stemming from the war in the Middle East. The 32-member organisation said the decision to take this emergency action was made after an extraordinary meeting held recently. The meeting, convened by IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol, was to assess market conditions amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and consider the available options to address supply disruption concerns. Birol said, "The oil market challenges we are facing are unprecedented in scale. I am very glad that IEA member countries have responded with an emergency collective action of unprecedented size." He observed that since oil markets are global, the response to major disruptions should also be global. "Energy security is the founding mandate of the IEA, and I am pleased that IEA members are showing strong solidarity in taking decisive action together, Birol stated. Watch: Energy Crisis? G7 Considers Emergency Oil Release As Prices Explode Amid Iran War: Report When will the emergency stock be made available? According to a release by the IEA, the emergency stock will be made available to the market based on timelines determined by each member country's circumstances, with some countries implementing additional emergency actions. Further details on how this "collective action" will be implemented will be shared by the IEA Secretariat. It will also continue to closely monitor global oil and gas markets and to provide recommendations to member governments, as needed. How much is IEA's emergency stockpile? IEA member countries hold an emergency reserve of over 1.2 billion barrels, with an additional 600 million barrels of industry stocks, which are held under government obligation. The emergency stock release is the sixth incident so far in the history of the IEA, which was formed in 1974. Previously, it has released emergency stockpiles in 1991, 2005, 2011, and twice in 2022. G7 agrees to take "necessary measures" Earlier on Monday, the BBC reported that the G7 member countries were ready to take "necessary measures" to support global energy supply. The meeting was held after the US and Israel's war in Iran sent oil prices to nearly $120 a barrel and spooked traders. US-Israel-Iran war intensifies The development comes as the United States and Israel's war in Iran entered its 12th day on Wednesday with no signs of easing off. Tensions have escalated drastically in the region, with many Middle Eastern countries bearing the brunt of the war after Tehran launched retaliatory strikes, targeting Israel and the US bases in the Gulf region. Additionally, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key corridor through which nearly one-fifth of the world's oil is supplied. About 20 million barrels of crude oil and petroleum products per day moved through the Strait of Hormuz in 2025, accounting for roughly a quarter of global seaborne oil trade. However, there are very few alternative routes available for shipments to bypass the strait. Why did matters come to this head? In a public statement, Dario Amodei, CEO and co-founder of Anthropic, said it is because Anthropic demanded two safeguards in using its product. One, that it should not be used for mass surveillance against Americans. Two, it should not be deployed for fully autonomous weapons. Amodeis own words are worth quoting at length because they summarize the argument best. The advent of high-quality AI translation tools that make company materials understandable for anyone has helped. But in any language, you would struggle to learn much about one of the countrys biggest companies in this sector, the notoriously secretive Keyence. Shares of this maker of sensors for automating factories have been range-bound for five years, even as sales and profits have doubled. It would surely benefit from a little over-the-top robotics hype. Nevertheless, we know that every time there is a conflict in the Gulf, oil prices go up. But remember that no one wants the flow of oil to stop. Whether its an old ruler, a new ruler or an invader, everyone wants the crude oil trade to continue. That is the regions cash cow. Whether it is Saddam Hussein or the ISIS, nobody disrupts oil flows beyond a point. We can all guess that the US would not be too interested in Iran (or Venezuela) if the latter was not a major oil producer. In other words, everyone is there for the oil. But then, the latest fund inflow data doesnt capture the impact of the Gulf war that began on 28 February. The oil shock that followed has raised uncertainty and rattled equities across markets and sectors. This could hit investor optimism in March, unless US President Donald Trump calls off hostilities to contain the global economic fallout of an energy squeeze. Two unintended consequences appear likely. One is that India and other Asian countries will build larger buffers of oil reserves. Japan and Korea have strategic oil reserves that should allow them to manage for half a year or so. Nevertheless, the Seoul stock index plunged as the war began before the Korean government stepped in to bolster it. It is in the interest of governments everywhere to put on a business-as-usual face. Markets are volatile but following suit; Brent crude oil futures descended after a brief scare earlier this week. Iran has told regional intermediaries that for a ceasefire, the US must guarantee that neither it nor Israel will strike the country in the future, according to several officials familiar with the matter. Iran is particularly concerned Israel will attack again after the current war ends, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing sensitive matters. Its unclear if the US is willing to give Iran such a pledge and if it would be able to insist on Israel doing the same. The back-channels are being facilitated by European and Middle Eastern countries, the people said. Late on Wednesday, Irans Masoud Pezeshkian said the only way to end the war is recognizing Irans legitimate rights, payment of reparations, and firm intl guarantees against future aggression. He said he gave that message to the leaders of Russia and Pakistan. Spokespeople for the US and Israeli governments didnt immediately respond to requests for comment. The war between US-Israel and Iran that began on Feb. 28 shows little sign of an imminent de-escalation. US President Donald Trump has said this week that it could be over soon because the Iranian militarys been degraded to a huge extent. But in public, all three countries say they are prepared to continue fighting for at least a number of weeks. Iran continues to fire missiles and drones toward Israel and Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain. Its strikes on ships have effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz through which one-fifth of the worlds oil and natural gas flows causing chaos in energy markets. Saudi Arabia intensified its direct engagement with Iran last week in a bid to contain the conflict, Bloomberg reported. Other Gulf states who are seeing their economies and financial markets take a hit because of the war are also trying to speak to Iran and to the US, the officials said. Omans Sultan Haitham bin Tariq spoke to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday, the first such call between the pair since the conflict erupted. The sultan condemned Irans attacks on Oman, according to Omani state media, which disclosed few other details. The call came after drones struck fuel tanks at Salalah port in southern Oman. The US and Israel have sent mixed messages on their war aims. Initially, they both implied they wanted regime change. But despite Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei being killed in the opening salvos, Iran has stood firm and proved its resilience militarily. It signaled its defiance by choosing Khameneis hardline son Mojtaba as the new supreme leader. The Israeli and US governments have since suggested they would accept lesser goals than an overthrow of the Islamic Republic. Those include the destruction of Irans missile program and its navy. With assistance from Fiona MacDonald and Dan Williams. 2026 Bloomberg L.P. There is some concern among White House officials that Israel wants the war to last after the U.S. expresses its desire to end the bombing campaign, the officials said. U.S. and Israeli officials say the Israeli message is it will stop its campaign in Iran whenever U.S. involvement stops. Trump has told aides he wants to end the war on his terms and, after brokering a cease-fire in last years 12-day war, believes he can put a stop to the fighting when he wants, U.S. officials said. Google is transforming its popular Chrome browser into an AI-powered browser with the introduction of Gemini AI. While the feature has been available globally for some time, the company is now expanding it to more countries, including India, Canada, and New Zealand. With Gemini integrated into Chrome, users will be able to summarise content, draft emails, and edit images without switching tabs. Here is everything you need to know about the new Gemini AI features in Google Chrome. Who can use Gemini AI in Chrome? Is it free? The new Gemini assistant in Chrome is rolling out to users on Mac, Windows, and Chromebook Plus devices in India, New Zealand, and Canada. The feature will first be available to desktop and iOS users. Android users will not have Gemini directly integrated into the browser interface yet. Instead, they can activate the assistant in Chrome by holding the power button, which triggers Gemini. The update brings the Gemini 3.1 model, which supports more than 50 additional languages, including Hindi, French, and Spanish. The feature is currently free to use inside Google Chrome. Gemini features in the Chrome browser: In-tab browsing assistant: Gemini appears as an icon in the top-right corner of the browser, allowing users to summon the assistant to summarise web pages, generate quizzes from study material, and recall previously visited pages, helping users manage multiple open tabs. Gemini appears as an icon in the top-right corner of the browser, allowing users to summon the assistant to summarise web pages, generate quizzes from study material, and recall previously visited pages, helping users manage multiple open tabs. Google apps integrations: Gemini in Chrome also integrates with other Google apps such as Gmail, Maps, Calendar, and YouTube. Users can use these integrations to perform tasks like extracting key insights from a YouTube video directly in the sidebar. Multi-tasking: Gemini can pull context from multiple open tabs simultaneously and consolidate the information to perform tasks. For example, Google says users can compare vegan protein powders across shopping websites or research travel plans, with the results presented in a single comparison table. Gemini can pull context from multiple open tabs simultaneously and consolidate the information to perform tasks. For example, Google says users can compare vegan protein powders across shopping websites or research travel plans, with the results presented in a single comparison table. Generate images: Google has integrated its Nano Banana 2 image-generation model directly into Chrome. This allows users to generate images from the sidebar simply by typing a text prompt. Is Gemini in Chrome safe? AI-powered browsers have previously raised security concerns, particularly around prompt injection attacks. Some AI browsers, including ChatGPT, Atlas and Perplexity Comet, have faced scrutiny over such risks. Google says Gemini in Chrome has been trained to recognise known threats, including prompt injections. The company has also added safeguards, such as requiring confirmation before performing sensitive actions, including sending emails or adding calendar events. New Delhi: For the first time, nearly a third of all laptops being sold in India are being shipped with the Made in India tag. This rise, which has played out over the past two years, has happened as government incentives have pushed electronics manufacturers to focus on the segment and diversify from mobile-led revenue. Michael S. Roses The Subversive Art of a Classical Education: Reclaiming the Mind in an Age of Speed, Screens, and Skill-Drills is the latest addition to the growing genre of books about classical education. Rose combines theory and practice to create a compelling, yet challenging, vision showcasing classical educations opposition to modern pedagogy. Rose takes the adjective subversive in the books title seriously. Throughout his volume, Rose frames modern, progressive education as the reigning paradigm of a technological age that trains students to forget information because it can always be looked up, to value stories only because they express contemporary values, and to reject the importance of language itself. In opposition to same, Rose posits that the practitioners of the timeless liberal arts become subversive. He refers to classical education as a quiet rebellion within the shadowed corners of modern education, where a band of pedagogical heretics dares to champion the unfashionable. Rose is aware of how this language can strike the reader within classical education who has ample reason to resist seeing himself as a revolutionary: To call this pursuit subversive is not to romanticize rebellion. The classical educator does not seek controversy, nor does he delight in being contrary. The subversive nature of classical education lies rather in its fidelityin its refusal to abandon the permanent things for the fashionable, its quiet devotion to what is true even when the world forgets. To teach Homer and Plato, Augustine and Dante, is to root students in a tradition that transcends the fleeting and offers them a standard by which to judge the present. It is to give them the cultural inheritance necessary to see clearly, choose wisely, and live nobly. The dream of the revolutionary, fighting oppression and speaking truth to power, has been owned by the intellectual and political left since the French Revolution; its modern proponents, from Che Guevara to Zohran Mamdani, show that the myth retains its power. Rose looks at that myth and seizes it for the classical educator, who is engaged in a countercultural activity, seeking to recover a meaningful reality as a warrior fighting in a noble cause: It is a rebellion fought not with swords but with sonnets, not with guns but with geometry, not with shouting but with Socratic questioning. Modernity has outsourced our memories to machines, as if the mind were merely an inefficient version of a computer. We have convinced ourselves that knowing where to find information is the same as knowing the information itself. The classical school, in contrast, sees in memory, and the requirement for memorization, an affirmation that the past matters, that knowledge is cumulative, that wisdom can be inherited as well as earned. Classical education, moreover, insists on slow meditation and Socratic dialogue. It values boredom as a space for mental connections to be made; it teaches cursive, linking students to previous generations who wrote in this script. Annotators of a text become literary insurgents who arrive at the text not as humble supplicants but as active interlocutors, pen in hand, ready to converse with the author across time and space. In so doing, they transform reading from a passive activity into an active engagement. They make the book not merely something they have read but something they have thought with. Those who embrace classical education as students, parents, teachers, and school leaders become revolutionaries against the zeitgeist. To read slowly is to insist, against the prevailing winds of techno-capitalism, that some things cannot and should not be optimized, streamlined, or acceleratedthat understanding, wisdom, and insight emerge not from velocity but from patience. Rose successfully casts classical educators as standing against the machine of modern living. This volume accomplishes two significant tasks. First, it is an excellent survey of the educational ambitions of a classical school. A classical school really does believe in the great books; in primary-source-driven history; in Latin, math, science, and grammar; in beauty and architecture as necessary for a full education. Consider some ways Rose speaks about what is studied in a classical school: On literature: The great book, encountered at intervals throughout a lifetime, becomes a measure of our own development, a mirror reflecting our changing capacity to perceive, understand, and resonate with its depths. We discover, in returning to such works, not only new dimensions of the text but new dimensions of ourselvescapacities for appreciation and understanding that were not available to us in earlier encounters. On geometry: When geometry is reduced to a collection of formulas for calculating areas and volumes, its power to shape the minds perception of order and beauty is lost. On history: The classical approach to history brings together both chronology and meaning. It treats history not as a list of facts or a set of skills, but as a story to be understood. On sentence diagramming: Sentence diagramming proceeds by analysis and structure rather than by sentiment. It embodies the radical notion that language is not merely a vehicle for self-expression but a system governed by logical principles. On logic: To teach logic is to perform an act of intellectual liberation. It is to provide students with tools of discernment that no algorithm can circumvent and no propaganda can overcome. On moral formation: Moral understanding emerges through narrative encounter, through stories that engage both the intellect and the imagination of the developing child. Rose contends that the classical educator sees each aspect of the curriculum as shaping the students soul. None of these are optional; all these curricular choices matter. Because children are not formed by slogans or procedures [but] by the worlds they inhabit through the imagination, the classical school must take great care in what texts, ideas, and skills it sets before them. A final successful element of Roses book is its firm articulation of the convictions that classical schools must hold. The inheritance of human genius and beautyfrom Athens and Jerusalem, through Rome and the Renaissance, to Shakespeares London and Lincolns prairieis what now stands in peril. Classical education affirms a traditional understanding of human nature and sees its task as transmitting culture from one generation to another. Such a conviction entails moral formation. As headmaster of a classical charter school, Rose affirms these convictions from a place of nonreligious endorsement. He affirms a high number of explicit intellectual commitments that the classical school makes, yet the commitments that a Christian classical school makes go beyond Roses claims. Since the COVID pandemic, parents and new-school founders have flocked to classical education. Such growth poses its own dangers: How many schools use the language of classical yet have no conception that they are signing up for a series of epistemological, pedagogical, and ontological claims rooted in a specific anthropology? Rose argues that the classical educator, then, becomes something of a hereticinsisting, almost quaintly, that events have order, that causes precede effects, and that civilization is not a series of unrelated accidents but a long and difficult conversation across generations. Anyone who wants to launch a new classical school, whether public, private, Christian, hybrid, or home, ought to read The Subversive Art of a Classical Education to know the intellectual tradition within which that school will be located. The Subversive Art is far from a perfect book, however. By this readers count, at least six chapters could be combined to reduce the number of topics covered: Logic and critical thinking, history and Western civilization, and architecture and beauty each get overlapping chapters. At 315 pages, this volume asks much from readers. That being said, there are places where this volume could benefit from expansion. Rose makes many assertions about progressive education and modernity broadly construed; these sections would benefit from specific examples being cited. Consider the following passage contrasting social studies with traditional history: The replacement of coherent historical instruction with fragmented social studies, grievance-based content, and abstract skills training does more than weaken academic achievement. It cripples democratic capacity. It deprives citizens of the ability to understand their society in context, to evaluate present claims through the lens of experience, or to discern true progress from fleeting trends. Such passages would be strengthened by examples that support the trend Rose identifies. As it stands, his rhetoric counts on the reader resonating with the accusation he levies against progressive education. Colleges, publishing houses, and supporting institutions are gearing up to enable the growth of classical schools. That support depends on schools with leaders who understand what they are doing as classical educators and why their approach is both unique and necessary. Michael S. Rose is such a leader, and his Subversive Art of Classical Education adds a worthy volume to the growing discourse about classical educations ability to renew a healthy civilization. The second episode of Home of the Year kicks off tonight as the judging panel explores some incredible homes across Ireland including Cork, Dublin and Kerry. In the first home we meet owners Toni and Fionan from Kerry. READ NEXT: 'Rat droppings found on food' - Three food businesses forced to close doors in February Built in 2023, Toni and Fionans home in County Kerry is their pride and joy. The couple poured hours of work into creating a home that acts as a hub for their family and loved ones. The build is an open plan, free flowing home, featuring a warm and contemporary aesthetic with design details inspired by the couples time travelling and working together. The couple say their house is everything they love encompassed in one and feel extremely blessed to wake up in it every day. They have recently started a homestead where they get eggs from their chickens and honey from their bees and love that they have created such a wonderful and sustaining place for their son to grow up. In Dublin, we meet Esther and Robyn who first bought their home in Dublin in 2019 which had been empty for some time. READ NEXT: 'Snow to fall for many' - Experts pinpoint return to cold weather as temperatures to plunge The couple set out its renovation in two stages. The first step was bringing the home back to its bones, removing old interior walls, plasterwork, windows and doors and ultimately bringing it up to an A2 BER Rating, while the second phase saw the implementation of a two-story steel-clad extension. The design of the home is a beautiful blend between the traditional and contemporary, feeling comfortable but also opulent in places. The couple was diligent with their decisions regarding the material and design elements in their home. They wanted to ensure the home is timeless in that they will still love it in 30 years time and love the home they have been able to create for them and their son. And lastly, we meet Kate and Ross who live together with their three daughters in a detached new build in Co Cork. READ NEXT: 'Working from home' - former RTE star returns to the airwaves with brand new podcast Kate is really drawn to the natural materials, neutral colours and natural light that modern and Scandi interior styling invokes and has brought this to the home. They have used a pallet of white and organic hues throughout the property to keep in line with this and have added natural materials like light woods and white walls to create a bright, airy atmosphere and to maximise light. Tune in to RTE One at 7pm this evening. Longford Fianna Fail Senator Joe Flaherty has called on Longford County Council to seek funding for a Museum of Music Ireland and locate it at the former Providers building on Lower Main Street in the county town. The Lanesboro native said the project would be an immersive heritage attraction that could celebrating Longford's strong connections to Irish country music. The development could be supported in terms of funding by a a new 7.5 million Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund, which opened for applications earlier this week. Read: "The health system failed Bryonny" - Health minister and HSE CEO issue formal apology to Longford family The new initiative will replace the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) and and is specifically designed to provide greater focus on disadvantaged areas and widen the scope of eligibility to include more smaller towns. Funding is capped at 7.5m per proposal, rising to 9m for projects in deprived areas eligible for the 90% rate. Senator Joe Flaherty said the project could play a big part in revitalising the Lower Main Street area and it would be an ideal accompaniment to the planned redevelopment of Connolly Barracks. "I would suggest that the county council revive a previous plan for a Museum of Music Ireland (MOMI) in Connolly Barracks and package it for old Providers Building. "As you will know anyway, a new variation of the URDF scheme opens this week and theres potentially 7.5m for ready to go projects. " Senator Flaherty said the new 'Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund' could be a very beneficial support. "The MOMI pitch was for a fully immersive heritage and cultural attraction based on Longfords rich links with Irish country music. Previously the councils regeneration team and external consultants submitted a very ambitious pitch to Bord Failte for the plan but it missed out on the Bords large projects funding in 2022. Read: Latest book from Longford-based author earns rave reviews "The Providers building repackaged as an interactive heritage and cultural experience would link perfectly with the redevelopment works at Connolly Barracks (due to start later this year) and would be transformative for a long forgotten Lower Main Street. Senator Flaherty said people have seen the potential with the Longford Lights project. The Council spent thousands on an excellent proposal for this project just a few years ago and it can easily be dusted down and submitted with the Providers building in mind ahead of the May 1st closing date for applications. The fund will offer two distinct categories of support in its first 'Call for Proposals', which include 'Category 1A (Plan and Project Pipeline Development' which focuses on helping local authorities create a pipeline of future projects, including masterplans and initial design works. Funding is capped at 150,000 per proposal. Read: Janette Devlin is the Wicked Witch in Longfords The Wizard of Oz The second type Category 1B (Project Delivery) is targeted at the construction of capital works that are already sufficiently advanced in design or planning. The closing date for all applications under the new scheme is 1 May 2026. Senator Flaherty attached a copy of the application and project brief which was submitted to Bord Failte previously. Excellent work was done here by Lorraine O'Connor. The ground work is effectively done on this project. Funded by the local democracy reporting scheme Gardai have launched an investigation after a complaint was made of a man performing a solo sex act in a public place. Mum Karen Sugrue was out walking near the river on the Condell Road in Limerick on Monday morning when she encountered the man. READ NEXT: Strong winds set to batter Ireland as wind warnings issued for entire country She contacted gardai and posted on her social media account, Beware the penis flashing masturbator, to warn others. The sociologist, psychotherapist and lecturer in the department of Applied Social Sciences on the Moylish Campus at the Technological University of the Shannon said the day was ruined and it was absolutely appalling. When contacted by Limerick Live, Ms Sugrue said: It was very close to schools and theres a lot of mums with buggies and small kids and solo runners and walkers around there. Following a media query, a garda spokesperson confirmed officers are investigating an alleged incident at Condell Road, Limerick, that occurred on Monday morning, March 9, 2026. Investigations are ongoing, said a garda spokesperson. READ NEXT: 'I'm really, really sorry' - Kingfishr apologises to fans after concert takes unexpected turn Ms Sugrue praised gardai and urged others to take a zero tolerance approach to this disgusting behaviour. The gardai have been brilliant. I think that if we could get the message out that every single one of us will have a zero tolerance attitude now and go to the gardai every time there is any kind of dangerous or inappropriate behaviour and we will talk and share information - it will keep everyone safer, said Ms Sugrue. Anybody who may have encountered this individual and can help gardai in tracking him down is asked to contact Henry Street garda station on 061 212400. The Minister for Health has said she is disappointed with the pace of construction of the National Childrens Hospital, and will meet with the CEO of the construction group BAM on Friday. Speaking to reporters in Dublin on Wednesday Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said: Ive been there a couple of times in the last few weeks, and on every occasion that Ive been there, I have not seen the number of people working there that I believe I should be to meet the April 30 deadline. She said she is not satisfied with the number of rooms being completed, adding that over a four-week average about 167 are finished a week, saying: Its becoming cumulatively worse relative to where it should be in terms of room completions. The project had an original completion date of August 2022 but has faced a series of delays, and costs have ballooned from a planned 650 million euro to an expected 2.2 billion euro. Ms Carroll MacNeill said she had written to the global headquarters of the main contractor on the project, BAM, and said its CEO and two senior executives will meet with her at the hospital on Friday. During recent visits to the hospital, she said she was disappointed she did not see hundreds and hundreds of people working there, and if there were I didnt see them. She said she was asked to be shown where people were working and was brought to an enormously empty basement where she counted 16 people, two of whom were working. My dissatisfaction is not just visual and anecdotal, its one thats backed up by the tracked figures by the hospital development board of the number of people who are there and productively working, she said. Ms Carroll MacNeill said she hoped the BAM executives would be able to explain to her where the people are, and how theyre going to meet the deadline, that is their deadline, which is one that theyve missed several times. Asked if she expected to be told the hospitals completion date would be delayed, she said: I cant say what other people will say in the future. What I expect is for them to tell me how theyre going to meet the commitment that has been made, by them through a contract, to the Irish people. The minister was speaking at the launch of Irelands first national AI for Care Strategy at the Mater Hospital in Dublin. She said Childrens Health Ireland (CHI) was using every minute that it can in a productive way, because BAM have been slow, and had used rooms already handed over to make up equipment. Weve used the extra time that BAM has been slow to make up all of the workstations on wheels, for example, that will be used around the rest of the hospital, she said. Ms Carroll MacNeill said that in the last two weeks she had received access to the ground floor and the lower ground floor, describing the emergency department located there as a demonstrably different experience for parents and children compared to Temple Street and Crumlin hospitals. She said that what was really needed was access to the hot block area which housed all of the surgical theatres and laboratories, saying it was the crucial piece to which we need access as extra time would be needed for the commissioning of surgical and laboratory equipment. In a statement, BAM said: The National Childrens Hospital project is now in the final stages of completion and commissioning. Work is taking place simultaneously across several areas of the building, including highly technical and clinical areas that require specialist commissioning work. The project continues to be resourced to support the work currently under way, with specialist teams continuing to complete the remaining programme. BAM continues to work closely with the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board and CHI to deliver the hospital as quickly and safely as possible for the children of Ireland. An FDD visual of Iranian attacks against Arab states on March 10, 2026. Between March 9 and March 10, Iran and its allied militias continued launching drones and missiles across the Middle East, targeting energy infrastructure, airports, military bases, residential areas, and industrial facilities in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan. Air defense systems intercepted many incoming projectiles, but several strikes still caused casualties, fires, and infrastructure damage, particularly in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Iraq. The attacks reflected a continued expansion of the conflict beyond the Gulf states. Iranian projectiles and militia-linked drones struck or targeted US- and coalition-linked facilities in Iraq and Jordan, including bases hosting American and European personnel. Energy infrastructure remained a recurring target, with attacks against oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE, and southern Iraq, while several residential areas were also struck. As of March 10, the United Arab Emirates reported that 1,475 drones and 270 missiles had been launched toward its territory, with air defenses intercepting 1,385 drones and 249 missiles. Kuwait reported that 407 drones and 221 missiles targeted the country. Qatar reported 69 drones, 151 missiles, and two aircraft targeting its territory, with 53 drones, 143 missiles, and both aircraft intercepted. Bahrain reported intercepting 176 drones and 106 missiles. Jordan reported that 59 drones and 60 missiles were launched towards it. The following is a detailed account of the scope of the attacks and specific actions that Iran and its affiliated militias took against Arab states on March 9 and 10. March 9 In the United Arab Emirates, the Ministry of Defense announced that air defenses intercepted 15 ballistic missiles and 17 drones, while three missiles fell into the sea. Despite these interceptions, one drone struck Emirati territory, though authorities did not provide details about the location or damage. Debris from another intercepted drone caused a fire in the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone near the Port of Fujairah. In Bahrain, Iranian drones targeted Sitra Island, a key industrial area that hosts the BAPCO oil refinery. Authorities confirmed that drones struck the Al Maameer oil facility, though no damage or casualties were reported. However, a separate drone strike on Sitra wounded 32 people. In Qatar, the Ministry of Defense reported intercepting 17 missiles and six drones targeting the country. In Kuwait, the National Guard announced that it intercepted a drone in its area of operations, while the Kuwaiti army later reported intercepting an additional missile and drone attack. Debris from an intercepted drone also ignited a fire at the Sabiya Thermal Power Plant in Shumaymah, though authorities did not report major disruptions. Across Saudi Arabia, Iranian drones repeatedly targeted energy infrastructure in the Rub al-Khali desert, particularly the Shaybah oil field, one of the kingdoms largest oil production sites near the UAE border. Saudi air defenses intercepted multiple drones approaching the facility throughout the day, including groups of four, three, two, and single drones, preventing them from reaching the oil infrastructure. Saudi forces also intercepted two ballistic missiles targeting Prince Sultan Air Base near Al Kharj, a major installation that hosts US personnel. Additional drones were intercepted east of Al Jawf Province in northern Saudi Arabia. In Iraq, Iranian-aligned militias continued targeting sites hosting US forces. Air defenses intercepted two drones fired at Victoria Base at Baghdad International Airport, and later intercepted another drone headed toward the same installation. Elsewhere in Iraq, attacks targeted civilian areas and energy infrastructure. A missile landed near a house in the Al Qasim district of Babil Province, while a drone crashed in the village of Hawi Shakhair in Nineveh Province without detonating. In Iraqi Kurdistan, drones struck multiple locations around Erbil. One hit a home in the Zhian area, while another was intercepted near Erbil International Airport. Residents also reported an explosion near Harir Air Base, a facility used by US forces. March 10 In the United Arab Emirates, Iranian drones struck a facility in the Al Ruwais Industrial City in Abu Dhabi, an area that hosts major oil and petrochemical installations. Separately, Emirati authorities reported intercepting eight out of nine ballistic missiles and 26 out of 35 drones targeting the country. Another wave of missiles and drones targeted Dubai, prompting Dubai International Airport to suspend operations for several hours while air defenses intercepted the incoming projectiles. In Bahrain, Iranian attacks caused civilian casualties on March 10. A drone strike on a residential building in the Al Seef area of Manama killed a 29-year-old woman and injured eight others, according to the Bahraini Ministry of Interior. Bahraini air defenses later reported intercepting one ballistic missile and three drones, while additional aerial projectiles were intercepted elsewhere over the country. In Saudi Arabia, air defenses intercepted several incoming threats across the kingdom. Saudi forces intercepted multiple drones east of Al Kharj and two drones plus a ballistic missile over the Eastern Province. Despite these interceptions, a drone struck a residential building in Az Zulfi, though authorities reported no injuries. In Qatar, the Defense Ministry reported intercepting five ballistic missiles, followed later by the interception of another missile targeting Qatari territory. In Kuwait, the National Guard announced that it intercepted six drones targeting the country. In Iraq, attacks continued against both military and energy facilities. Air defenses intercepted three drones targeting Victoria Base at Baghdad International Airport, while another fell near a counter-terrorism service facility close to the base. Iraqi media also reported that an unspecified projectile struck near the same base, causing casualties. A separate drone was also intercepted near Balad Air Base, another Iraqi facility that has hosted US forces. Further south, drones struck the Majnoon Oil Field in Basra, with at least two of them reportedly falling inside the oil installation. In Iraqi Kurdistan, Kurdish authorities reported intercepting three drones over Erbil, with one falling near the Emirati consulate in the city. Another drone was intercepted near Erbil International Airport. In Jordan, Iranian missiles struck Muwaffaq al Salti Air Base in Azraq, hitting the section of the base used by German and American personnel, according to European sources. Ahmad Sharawi is a senior research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies focused on Iranian intervention in Arab affairs and the Levant. An image posted by the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news shows a banner in Tehran that depicts Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the former supreme leader, receiving the regimes flag from his father with a caption reading, Gods hand us above us, Khamenei is our leader. Ruhollah Khomeini, the first supreme leader of Iran, is shown on the left. On March 10, marking 10 days of Operation Epic Fury, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said that more than 5,000 targets in Iran have been struck, including command-and-control centers, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) headquarters, IRGC intelligence sites, integrated air defense systems, ballistic missile sites, Iranian naval ships and submarines, Iranian air defense systems, anti-ship missile sites, military communications capabilities, and ballistic missile and drone-manufacturing facilities. CENTCOMs update also highlighted the main categories of assets used in the operation, including strategic bombers and fighter aircraft, drones, intelligence and reconnaissance platforms, missile-defense systems, long-range rocket artillery, naval strike groups, electronic warfare systems, and aerial refueling and logistics aircraft. Amid the chaos, the Islamic Republic selected Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, to succeed his father as the countrys new supreme leader on March 8. A large banner displayed on a building in Tehran on March 10 depicts Ali Khamenei handing the Iranian flag to Mojtaba Khamenei while Ruhollah Khomeini, the first supreme leader of Iran, looks on. While the regime installed a new leader, some of its officials are fleeing the region. Reuters reported on March 7 that more than 150 Iranian nationals, including diplomats and their families, were evacuated from Lebanon and flown to Russia on a Russian aircraft, according to a senior Lebanese security source. Israel increases outreach to the people of Iran On March 10, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the people of Iran, saying that Israel is facilitating a unique opportunity for you to overthrow the regime, adding, In the coming days, we [Israel] will create the conditions for you to take your destiny into your own hands. The speech also reaffirmed that Jerusalem respects Iranian territorial integrity, hinting at a possible rejection of past claims about backing Kurdish separatists against the regime. Israels Persian-language Foreign Ministry X account posted the phrase We provide the conditions for you on March 9, alongside an image showing a destroyed Iranian law enforcement building. The next day, the account posted a photo showing a strike on the Tehran Law Enforcement Special Units command center, writing that it had been the operations room for repression in Tehran and adding that a free Iran is within reach. Tehran backpedals on regional strikes Iran and its regional proxies launched drones toward Azerbaijans Nakhchivan exclave on March 5, fired missiles toward Turkey that were intercepted on March 4 and March 9, and sent Shahed-type drones toward Cyprus, which included a strike on the RAF Akrotiri base on March 1. Despite the attacks, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said on March 9 that Tehran denies responsibility for missile and drone attacks on Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Cyprus, claiming that the incidents were false-flag operations. Tehran has yet to deny any of its attacks against Persian Gulf states, however. Saudi-based Al Arabiya reported on March 9 that nearly 3,000 Iranian missiles and drones have been launched since the war began, targeting Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, with many aimed at civilian infrastructure. The Gulf Cooperation Council has condemned the attacks, warning they threaten regional stability and calling on the international community to halt Tehrans escalation. The status and assassinations of regime officials As the joint campaign has eliminated numerous Iranian military and political figures, questions remain about the whereabouts of Esmail Qaani, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Qods Force (IRGC-QF). France 24 reported that unconfirmed rumors circulating in regional media claim that Qaani allegedly left a meeting shortly before an Israeli strike that killed several senior IRGC commanders, fueling speculation he could be an infiltrator working on behalf of Irans enemies. The outlet also noted that Qaani had previously faced suspicions within Irans security circles and emphasized that he has not appeared publicly since the bombing, leaving his status unclear. The latest eliminations of regime officials include: The Iranian press reported on March 10 that IRGC Colonel Majid Kashefi was killed by a US or Israeli airstrike. Iranian state media reported on March 10 that Asadollah Badfar, the head of the Basij internal security force at the General Staff of the Armed Forces, was killed in a US or Israeli strike. The Israeli Air Force killed Abolghasem Babaeian in Tehran on March 8, the head of the supreme leaders military office and the chief of staff of Irans Khatam al Anbiya central command. Mohammad Mehdi Farhadi Ramin, an Iranian cyber operative wanted by the FBI since 2020 for alleged cyber intrusions targeting US and foreign entities, was killed in Hamadan during joint USIsraeli strikes. Latest kinetic developments On March 10, strikes were reported in Tabriz and Kerman, two Iranian cities nearly 900 miles apart. Footage circulated online shows hits on an Intelligence Ministry office, police facilities, and IRGC sites in Tabriz, and smoke rising near Kermans airport and Law Enforcement Command headquarters. Simultaneous strikes in Tehran and Tabriz targeted multiple regime security headquarters, the IDF said on March 10, including the Special Units command in Tabriz, an IRGC military complex in Tehran, a security unit responsible for ballistic missile launches and artillery fire, the Public Security and Intelligence Police headquarters in Maragheh Province, and a large Basij complex in Tabriz. The IDFs Persian-language account stated on March 9 that it continued deepening strikes on internal security and Basij infrastructure, including a provincial IRGC headquarters, the regimes internal security command in Isfahan, another base used by the IRGC and Basij, and an IRGC police headquarters. Additional strikes include: Morteza Heydari, deputy governor of Qom Province, said that on March 8, buildings belonging to one of Qoms seminaries were targeted in an attack. A series of small explosions was seen along Shahran Boulevard in Tehran in the early hours of March 8, according to videos shared on social media. Residents claimed that the blasts may have resulted from gasoline spilling after a strike on the Shahran fuel depots. Flames burning at the Shahran oil depot in Tehran were captured in close-range footage posted on social media on March 6. Reports from residents indicate heavy strikes across Isfahan on March 9, including a reported hit on the IRGC-affiliated Amir al Momenin University in Sepahan Shahr. Explosions were also reported in Dowlatabad, Malek Shahr, Kaveh, Shahin Shahr, Zarrin Shahr, Mahmoudabad, and Najafabad, as well as near the Isfahan steel complex, Mobarakeh Steel, and various defense industry facilities. Videos circulating on social media show a strike on the Law Enforcement Command building in Abdanan, Ilam Province, on March 8, a city that was an early center of protests and where several residents were reportedly killed by security forces during demonstrations. Tehran regimes internal repression intensifies Irans Ministry of Intelligence claimed on March 10 that it had identified and arrested 30 alleged spies and mercenaries accused of communicating with the enemy. According to the regime, the individuals include one foreign national allegedly spying on behalf of the United States and Israel, and another suspect in Sistan and Baluchestan accused of sending information on military and police deployments and air defense sites to Irans adversaries. Iranian media have largely stopped publishing images, videos, and reports of US and Israeli strikes across the country after the judiciary warned that sharing footage of impact sites could be treated as a criminal offense. Ahmad-Reza Radan, Irans national police chief, warned citizens against protesting, stating that if people take to the streets, authorities will treat them the same way they treat the enemy. He added that security forces hands are on the trigger, an explicit threat of lethal force against demonstrators. Video posted online on March 7 shows the commander of a local special anti-riot police unit in Tehrans Tajrish area addressing his forces, referencing Khameneis death in the attacks and stating that the regime will not back down. Footage circulating on social media on March 6 shows a convoy of regime forces moving along Shariati Street in Tehran, accompanied by armored vehicles and loudspeakers broadcasting government messages, as citizens report nighttime patrols meant to intimidate residents. Janatan Sayeh is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies focused on Iranian domestic affairs and the Islamic Republics regional malign influence. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al Sudani (seated, center-right) meets with members of the Kurdistan Democratic Party on March 10. (Iraq Prime Ministers Office) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned terrorist attacks by Iran and Iranian-backed militias in Iraq in a call with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al Sudani on March 9. The call took place as attacks in Iraq have continued to threaten the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and other sites in the country. At the same time, Iranian-backed militias have been hit by airstrikes that remain unclaimed. Iranian-backed militias in Iraq began targeting US forces and other sites in the country after the commencement of the US and Israeli campaign against Iran on February 28. Iran has also conducted strikes in Iraq, part of its regional campaign of drone and missile attacks across the Middle East. Most of the attacks in Iraq, around 200 according to local estimates, have focused on the Kurdistan Region in the countrys north. It is where most US forces in Iraq are now concentrated after troops left the Ain al Asad Air Base and other facilities in recent years. The Iranian-backed Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI), an umbrella group of Shiite militias, claimed in a March 11 statement that it had carried out 291 total attacks, including 31 new operations on March 10 and 11. On the evening of March 9-10, a drone targeted the United Arab Emirates consulate in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region. The United Arab Emirates has strongly condemned and denounced the unprovoked terrorist drone attack that targeted the UAE Consulate General in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, which resulted in material damage with no injuries reported, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on March 10. Saudi Arabia also condemned the drone attack. The Kurdistan Regions Department of Foreign Relations called on Iraqs central government in Baghdad to protect the countrys sovereignty and prevent further attacks. A French Foreign Ministry deputy spokesperson also denounced the strikes by Iran and its proxies in an interview with the Rudaw Media Network on March 10. Despite Rubios condemnation of the attacks by Iran and Iranian-backed militias in his March 9 call with Sudani, Iraqs Prime Ministers Office did not specifically mention The Tehran regime or the Iraqi militias in its statement about the call. During the call, the Prime Minister affirmed Iraqs commitment to protecting diplomatic missions, embassies, and consulates represented on its territory, noting that this is among the core duties and responsibilities of the Iraqi armed forces across all branches, the statement said. Attacks have continued across Iraq in the past two days. According to a Reuters report, Iran took responsibility on March 10 for a missile attack on a U.S. base in northern Iraq. Rudaw reported several attacks in the Kurdistan Region overnight between March 10 and 11. One drone strike in the evening of March 10 in the Kurdistan Region killed one Kurdish fighter from Komala, a Kurdish Iranian opposition group. In Baghdad, a drone struck the US Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center on the same evening. In addition, Iraqs Ministry of Defense said that two of its air bases had been attacked. The ministry claimed that the Martyr Muhammad Alaa Air Base, located next to Baghdad International Airport and Martyr Ali Faleh Air Base, previously known as Balad Air Base, had been attacked. The ministry said the sites had been targeted by drones and missiles. Airstrikes also hitting Iran-backed Iraqi militias Iranian-backed militias have also been targeted in several airstrikes that remain unclaimed but may have been conducted by US forces. Six people were killed in two separate strikes targeting positions of Iraqs Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), also known as Hashd al-Shaabi, in Kirkuks northwestern Dibis district early Tuesday, Rudaw reported on March 10. The PMF is a paramilitary group in Iraq that officially reports to the prime minister and includes numerous Iranian-backed militias. Four of the fighters killed near Kirkuk were from the Kataib Imam Ali militia, according to The New Region, a website that focuses on the Middle East. Video posted on X showed a funeral for the fighters. Iraqs Joint Operations Command Security Media Cell put out a statement mourning those who were killed. Several unclaimed strikes have also targeted the PMF in and around Mosul. A strike on March 9 hit a PMF base near the city, while another was reported by Al Jazeera in the Nineveh Plains in the evening of March 10. A social media post said this strike targeted the PMFs 30th Brigade near Bartella. The same brigade may have been the target of the March 9 Mosul strike and an incident on March 2. The 30th Brigade of the PMF is composed of members of the Shabak minority group and has long been stationed in the Nineveh Plains, where many Shabak live. No country has taken responsibility for the airstrikes, but a source told Alhurra that the US has been behind some airstrikes in the days after February 28. 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). On Saturday, February 28, the Michigan Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences honored six distinguished individuals with Silver and Gold Circle awards among them, Sue Boyd of our Broadcast and Cinema Arts Department. The Silver Circle recognizes media professionals with at least 25 years of experience who have made significant contributions in performing, creative, technical, or administrative roles, as well as in related fields such as journalism, education, advertising, promotion, and public relations. This prestigious NATAS award celebrates sustained service, professional excellence, community impact, and a dedication to mentoring and developing future talent. Sue was joined at the celebration by President Christopher Dougherty, Provost Chris Benson, Dean Ian Bell, faculty members Cheryl Chodun and Dan Boyd, and several BCA alumni and students. Before Sue addressed the audience, a threeminute videocreated by her daughter, a Madonna University alumna from the Class of 2018was shown in her honor. A MAYO judge described as 'vicious' the assault by a man on his brother-in-law in which he slit his wrist with a Stanley knife while he slept at night. Patrick McDonagh (31) with an address at Cherry Tree Lane, Hamel Hemsted in England was sentenced to four years imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to his brother-in-law Christopher Lawrence (31) in a house in Riverdale Court, Castlebar on June 2, 2022. The father of three arrived at the house where Mr Lawrence was staying in Castlebar at 4.30am and went to his upstairs bedroom while he was sleeping and cut open his left wrist to the bone using a Stanley Knife. The two men had travelled to Mayo from the UK where they both live to attend a funeral and it was claimed that a few hours before the assault took place, Mr McDonagh had threatened to cut Mr Lawrence 'from toe to throat'. Judge Eoin Garavan was informed at the sitting of Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court that there was a feud between the two parties after Mr McDonagh had married Mr Lawrence's sister against the wishes of her family. The court also heard that Mr Lawrence had been married to Mr McDonagh's sister but they are now separated and he has another partner. Family feud During the hearing, Mr Lawrence's mother, Winnie Lawrence, took the stand to speak in support of her son-in-law, Patrick McDonagh, and described him as being a good father and husband and added that he now regretted the act and was ashamed of what happened. Following the assault, Mr Lawrence managed to flee the house and ring the emergency services and was brought to Mayo University Hospital after collapsing near the scene. READ: Mayo students take part in national Look into Law programme The court heard that hospital staff became upset after seeing the wound and Mr Lawrence required two pints of blood. He was later brought to hospital in Galway where surgery was later carried out to the wound. Detective Garda Leo Heaney explained that his left wrist was cut to the bone and as a result of nerve damage, Mr Lawrenece still has only 70 to 80 percent movement in his hand with little movement in his little finger. Living in fear Mr Lawrence, who lives in Luton in England, did not travel for the sentencing but a victim impact statement was read to the court by Det Heaney. Lawrence stated that he thought he was going to die after the attack as he was losing blood and getting weaker as he spoke on the phone to the operator. Judge Eoin Garavan He added he is now constantly in fear that Mr McDonagh will 'finish me off' and suffers from paranoia and flashbacks and installed CCTV outside his home. He said his wife left him saying he was not the same person and will not let him see their children. I am a completely different person and do not trust anyone and I am constantly in fear. I fear he will kill me. He told me first what he was going to do and then he did it. He threatened me with a knife. He said 'toe to throat'. Mr Lawrence said he still cannot close his fingers fully and his hand is always freezing during the winter. This was the scariest thing to ever happen to me and I would not want anyone to go through this. I never did anything to this man and I just want to stay away from him, Mr Lawrence said in the statement. Extradition The court was informed that Mr McDonagh was arrested two hours after the attack took place and made no comment answers when interviewed by gardai. He was released on bail after he was charged with assault causing harm but failed to appear for a court appearance in July 2022 and a bench warrant was issued. He was arrested in England on May 1, 2025 on foot of a European arrest warrant but fought the extradition process and was eventually extradited back to Ireland last month. Detective Garda Heaney confirmed to Mr Patrick O'Sullivan, counsel for Mr McDonagh that the defendant has no previous convictions in Ireland and has five minor convictions in the UK. Regret Winnie Lawrence told Mr O'Sullivan that mediation had been attempted on three or four occasions to resolve the feud but claimed her son 'did not want it stopped'. She said she has a very good relationship with Mr McDonagh who she described as being very good to her since he married her daughter. She added that since this incident her son has had no contact with her. When asked by Patrick Reynolds, counsel for the prosecution if her son knew she would be in court, she replied that he probably does but not through her. When asked by Judge Garavan if she had seen her son's wound, Ms Lawrence said she saw a photograph and accepted it was a terrible thing to have happened and it should not have happened. Mr O'Sullivan asked Judge Garavan to take into account the feud between the parties when sentencing and the attempts by his client to mediate with Mr Lawrence. He said his client is remorseful for what he did and pleaded guilty at the first opportunity after his return to Ireland in February. Mr O'Sullivan said his client has given an undertaking to stay away from Mr Lawrence and asked Judge Garavan to take into account that Mr McDonagh has been in custody since May 2025 after his arrest in the UK and not to impose a further custodial sentence. However Judge Garavan refused saying that this was a vicious assault and deserved a custodial sentence. He said that the threat to Mr Lawrence was made hours before the assault and it was carried out. This was a most serious and vicious assault which was pre-planned and prepared and done in a cowardly manner on an innocent person who sustained injuries of a life threatening nature, he said. He described the photo of the wound as being difficult to look at and observed that given the amount of blood loss Mr Lawrence was lucky to have survived the attack. Judge Garavan described the attack as cowardly and vengeful and that Mr Lawrence woke up to a nightmare of the defendant looking over him and his arm dripping in blood. He accepted the plea of guilty was valuable but regarded the assault as being at the higher end and imposed a sentence of four years. Judge Garavan said the full sentence must be imposed and refused to suspend any part of it but did backdate the sentence to when Mr McDonagh entered custody in May 2025. Mayo TD Paul Lawless has spoken out on the Irish Road Haulage Associations decision to pause their protest following a discussion between transport minister Darragh OBrien and the associations president, Ger Hyland. The Aontu politician has said that the Ministers call is welcome, but it must now be matched with swift and substantive action. Hauliers are not protesting for the pleasure of it. They are sounding the alarm on a crisis that affects every household and every business in the country, he said. He further stated that hauliers, who move the heaviest goods across the longest distances, are being squeezed from all sides. Two-thirds of what drivers pay at the pump is swallowed by government taxes, and carbon tax has become the final straw threatening to break the back of rural Ireland. When the cost of diesel goes up, the weekly shop goes up. It is as simple and as serious as that, he added. READ MORE: North Mayo councillor prepared to protest over unsafe pedestrian crossing The Mayo TD has also expressed that he sincerely hopes that when the Minister returns, he will bring not just warm words, but workable solutions. This is not merely an IRHA issue; it is a national one. The government has the power to act quickly, suspending carbon tax during this fuel crisis, reducing the tax burden on petrol and diesel, and recognising that rural workers and businesses cannot be punished for driving when they have no alternative. Lawless further warned that carbon tax is an ideological indulgence that rural Ireland cannot afford. It is a profoundly regressive approach, a tax that lands hardest on those with the least choice, while Ministers speak of just transitions from the comfort of a chauffeur-driven car. Concluding, the Mayo TD says the solution is simple. Pausing this charge is the simplest solution to a problem the government itself has not appeared to have considered. I call on the Minister, when he returns, to recognise the urgency of the moment and act accordingly, for the hauliers, for rural Ireland, and for every consumer who feels these rising costs in their pocket and pause the carbon charges while this conflict in Iran escalates oil prices. READ MORE: Mayo County Council launches survey to gauge demand for affordable housing China urges Japan to properly handle issue of forced conscription of "comfort women" Xinhua) 16:23, March 11, 2026 BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- China urges Japan to do serious soul-searching on its history of aggression and properly handle issues left over from history including the forced conscription of "comfort women" with an honest and responsible attitude, a foreign ministry spokesperson said here on Wednesday. Spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the remarks at a daily press briefing, in response to a query about reports that experts from the United Nations Human Rights Council have expressed grave concern at Japan's denial of the right to truth, justice and reparation of "comfort women" survivors, and called on Japan to make apologies and full compensation, and preserve relevant historical accounts in textbooks. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Business / Companies by Simbarashe Sithole Lorraine Drive has been reopened to the public following rehabilitation works, with Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Tapiwa Mhona officially commissioning the road yesterday. The 3.2kilometre stretch, constructed three years ago by Fossil Construction, had faced widespread criticism after it deteriorated rapidly, prompting concerns over substandard workmanship.Speaking at the reopening ceremony, Minister Mhona said he was pleased that the contractor had corrected its earlier mistakes and delivered a road that now meets the required standards.Finally, Lorraine Drive has been opened to traffic. It was one of the detour roads used during the SADC meetings. Heavy traffic was directed onto this particular stretch, which could not accommodate the volume, and it eventually collapsed. This gave citizens reasonable grounds to question how the road had been constructed.We assured the citizens that the contractor would redo the work, and today we are witnessing this wonderful piece of work. The Second Republic, championed by His Excellency President Mnangagwa, takes issues of quality seriously. If you do not meet the standard, we mandate you to redo the work, Minister Mhona said.Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume, who also attended the event, urged motorists to respect road rules and help preserve the newly rehabilitated road.Now that this road has been opened to us, it is our duty to follow road rules and ensure it remains in good condition because all standards have been met in constructing it, Mafume said. A man who pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of a Ballinrobe GP has apologised to his family for what happened. Roman Klapper of 1A Pearce Terrace, Westport appeared before Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court where he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Dr Martin Finnerty who was struck by a vehicle while walking at Church Lane, Ballinrobe on December 12, 2024. A native of Athenry, Dr Finnerty had lived in Ballinrobe for almost 40 years where he was a GP and well regarded in the south Mayo community. Following the guilty plea, Mr Conall McCarthy, senior counsel for Mr Klapper told the court that his client instructed him to apologise to the family of Dr Finnerty and to express remorse and condolences to his family and friends for what happened. Mr Patrick Reynolds, counsel for the prosecution explained that no members of the Finnerty family were in court for the arraignment but he would ask gardai to convey Mr McCarthy's comments to the family. READ: Mayo judge jails man for four years for 'vicious' assault on his brother-in-law Mr Klapper who is a Polish national did not speak during the court proceedings only to enter a guilty plea with the help of a Polish interpreter. Mr McCarthy asked Judge Eoin Garavan to adjourn sentencing to allow for the preparation of a psychological report which he said may assist the court in arriving at a just sentence in the case. He also asked for legal aid to be extended to cover a medical report for Mr Klopper. Judge Garavan agreed to adjourn sentencing and extended legal aid for a medical report and remanded Mr Klopper on bail for sentencing on July 22 next. Midlands-North-West MEP Maria Walsh has called on the United Nations (UN) to take urgent global action to tackle the growing problem of sexual deepfakes targeting women and girls. During a meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York City, MEP Walsh urged the international body to establish a taskforce aimed at eliminating the creation and distribution of non-consensual deepfake images and videos. The meeting took place while Walsh was attending the 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women as part of an official mission from the European Parliament. In her proposal to the UN, MEP Walsh outlined three key actions she believes are necessary to address the issue. These include formally recognising sexual deepfakes as a form of gender-based violence, establishing a high-level UN taskforce to coordinate international action, and introducing universal standards for technology platforms to ensure the rapid removal of deepfake content. She also called for stronger reporting systems for victims and measures to prevent the monetisation of artificial intelligence tools used to create exploitative content. READ MORE: EU action needed as rising energy prices threaten Mayo households, says MEP Speaking after the meeting, Walsh said the issue is already causing serious harm across the world. I have travelled from Ireland to the UN with one clear message: deepfakes are destroying the lives of young girls and women across the world, she said. We have failed to protect victims to date, and we now need coordinated international action to end the weaponisation of deepfake technology. The MEP warned that the technology allows anyone with basic equipment to create explicit content using a single image. At this very moment, anyone with a laptop and a single photograph can create a sexual deepfake of a woman in minutes and spread it across the internet for millions to see, she said. The damage to reputations, careers and personal safety can be immediate and devastating. Walsh also highlighted the scale of the problem, noting that the vast majority of victims are women. Women and girls are overwhelmingly the victims. Ninety-six per cent of deepfakes online are pornographic and 99 per cent of victims are women, she said. This is not just a technology issue it is a gender-based violence issue. In fact, I believe it is the next frontier of violence against women. READ MORE: 'We need to take back control,' to protect Mayo seaweed harvesting She said the UN has a crucial role in bringing governments, technology companies and civil society together to address the problem. This issue crosses borders, and no single country can solve it alone, Walsh said. If we act now, we can ensure that the digital future is safer, fairer and more respectful for women and girls everywhere. Entries have opened for the 2026 RTE Short Story Competition, inviting writers across Ireland and the Irish diaspora to submit original fiction as the prestigious literary prize celebrates its 40th year. The competition, held in honour of writer and broadcaster Francis MacManus, recognises and rewards the best new Irish fiction writing for radio. The winning author will receive a 5,000 prize, while second and third place will receive 4,000 and 3,000 respectively. A further seven shortlisted writers will each receive 300. Writers aged over 18 living in Ireland, along with Irish writers living abroad, have until Friday, May 15, 2026 to submit a short story of between 1,800 and 2,000 words in either English or Irish via rte.ie/writing. This years competition will be judged by writers Aingeala Flannery, Tristan Rosenstock and Jan Carson. READ MORE: Mayo town to host major national Irish-language drama festival New judge Aingeala Flannery said she was honoured to join the panel this year and encouraged aspiring writers to take the opportunity to submit their work. Radio and short stories have been the twin passions of my working and creative life, she said. I would encourage anyone with a story, especially the secret writers out there, to seize this opportunity and give it a shot. Its free to enter, so you literally have nothing to lose. Returning judge Tristan Rosenstock said he was looking forward to discovering new voices. The RTE Short Story Competition offers a uniquely valuable platform for writers in English and Irish at various stages of their careers, and connects new writing with readers and radio audiences in a truly singular way, he said. Fellow judge Jan Carson said authenticity and voice are key ingredients in a compelling short story. The key to unlocking a brilliant short story is capturing an authentic, and ideally intriguing, voice, she said. In a radio context, I particularly love when a storys voice feels as if its confiding in the listener. READ MORE: Mayo women entrepreneurs encouraged to apply for national business grant Producer Sarah Binchy noted that the competition has played a major role in promoting Irish writers over the past four decades. This competition has been at the heart of new Irish writing for 40 years now, she said. Its free to enter, with the chance to hear your story voiced by the best of acting talent and the opportunity to win significant prizes. The winning stories will be revealed during a special live edition of Arena in the autumn. All ten shortlisted stories will be published online and broadcast on RTE Radio 1 as part of a special season of new writing. Over the years the competition has helped launch the careers of many acclaimed Irish writers, including Claire Keegan, Danielle McLaughlin, Liz Nugent, Nuala OConnor and Colin Walsh. All shortlisted stories are professionally produced for radio and voiced by leading Irish actors, including Marty Rea, Aaron Monaghan, Jane Brennan and Cathy Belton. Further information and submission details are available here. READ MORE: Mayo students take part in national Look into Law programme News / Africa by Staff reporter SOUTH AFRICA yesterday deported 261 Zimbabweans who were living in that country illegally while 300 more such immigrants are expected to arrive at Beitbridge Border Post today.This follows the expiry of the July 31 deadline for them to regularise their papers.The first batch of 261 Zimbabweans arrived here around midday yesterday in a convoy of four buses under heavy security.The deportees underwent rigorous screening at Lindelani Holding Centre in Johannesburg.Over 275,000 applications for Zimbabweans wishing to regularise their stay in South Africa were processed while several others were turned down.Some people are still waiting to have their permits processed.South African Home Affairs officials accompanying the deportees said they will be deporting Zimbabweans two times per week asAasAAasAA on Wednesdays and Thursdays."We are only deporting undocumented immigrants and those who are intercepted while trying to skip the border through illegal entry points."In the last two weeks we have rounded up a number of people of all nationalities whom we have been screening and repatriating back to their countries."The other challenge we have is that people lie about their citizenship. We will devise a way to handle this group of people," said an official who declined to be named.The deportees were handed over to the International Organisation for Migration reception centre here where they were also vetted to verify their nationalities.IOM will assist them with transport to their homes, food and overnight accommodation. The reception centre has capacity to hold at least 600 people at any given time.South Africa indicated that it will thoroughly vet Zimbabwean illegal immigrants before deportation unlike in the past where they applied a wholesale approach and deported anyone from Zimbabwe.This follows a meeting between Home Affairs officials from both countries last Tuesday.The meeting was attended by officials from the South African immigration services at Beitbridge along with that country's Head of Deportations who was only identified as Mr T. Kgoale.In a recent interview, the Assistant Regional Immigration Officer in charge of operations at Beitbridge Border Post Mrs Tamari Shadaya said the deportations will target undocumented illegal immigrants and border jumpers.Government officials from South Africa and Zimbabwe alongside child protection organisations have agreed to assist children who will be affected by deportations.Limpopo Area manager for Save the Children Richard Kgomotso Montsho said they were looking at strengthening relations in terms of reducing cases of irregular migration among children and finding ways of reuniting them and reintegrating them in the communities."South Africa plays host to many children from countries within Sadc and those in West Africa and hence as the affected countries, we need to come up with measures to co-ordinate the handling of children on the move," he said. Surveillance monitoring has detected human metapneumovirus activity in California, reflecting seasonal respiratory virus circulation with most infections remaining mild. Highlights: HMPV virus detected through respiratory and wastewater surveillance in California Community cohort study estimates 7.5 symptomatic infections per 100 people annually Young children and older adults face higher risk of respiratory complications Trusted Source Epidemiology of Symptomatic Human Metapneumovirus Infection in a Community Cohort. Go to source Trusted Source Advertisement Seasonal surveillance detects human metapneumovirus activity Advertisement Epidemiology of human metapneumovirus infection The highest infection rates were observed between January and March, which aligns with typical winter respiratory virus circulation patterns. Age specific findings showed that children aged 2 to 4 years experienced the highest infection incidence. This indicates that young children play an important role in household transmission of respiratory viruses. Approximately 27 percent of symptomatic infections resulted in missed work, school, or childcare activities, suggesting that the virus contributes to measurable community level health impacts. Serological evidence also shows that exposure to human metapneumovirus occurs early in life. occurs early in life. Nearly 90 percent of children develop antibodies to the virus by the age of five, indicating that primary infection usually happens during early childhood. Advertisement Symptoms and populations at higher risk Cough fever nasal congestion wheezing shortness of breath Trusted Source Human Metapneumovirus Epidemiology and Clinical Impact. Go to source Trusted Source Takeaway Frequently Asked Questions Q: What is human metapneumovirus (HMPV)? A: Human metapneumovirus is a respiratory virus that causes symptoms similar to the common cold or flu. It spreads through respiratory droplets and close contact with infected individuals. Q: How common is HMPV infection? A: Community cohort research estimates about 7.5 symptomatic infections per 100 people each year, with higher infection rates among young children. Q: What symptoms does the HMPV virus cause? A: Typical symptoms include cough, fever, nasal congestion, wheezing, and shortness of breath. In some cases it may lead to bronchiolitis or pneumonia. Q: Is there a vaccine for human metapneumovirus? A: Currently there is no approved vaccine or targeted antiviral treatment. Care focuses mainly on supportive treatment and symptom management. Q: Which doctor should I consult for respiratory virus symptoms? A: Persistent respiratory symptoms should be evaluated by a general physician or pulmonologist. Children with breathing difficulties should be assessed by a pediatrician. Epidemiology of Symptomatic Human Metapneumovirus Infection in a Community Cohort. - (https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/74/wr/mm7411a2.htm) Human Metapneumovirus Epidemiology and Clinical Impact. - (https://icjournal.org/DOIx.php?id=10.3947/ic.2025.0019) Recent respiratory virus monitoring in California has identified activity of, a common respiratory pathogen that circulates seasonally around the world ().Health officials emphasize that this virus is not new and appears during winter respiratory virus seasons along with influenza and respiratory syncytial virus.Most infections remain mild, but the virus can cause more serious illness in infants, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems.Public health systems track circulating respiratory pathogens using laboratory testing and. Wastewater monitoring detects viral genetic material shed by infected individuals and can provide early insight into community level virus circulation.Recent surveillance in parts of California identified signals ofin wastewater samples and respiratory virus testing reports. Such findings generally reflect seasonal respiratory virus activity rather than the emergence of a new infectious disease The virus belongs to the Pneumoviridae family and spreads mainly through, close contact with infected individuals, or contact with contaminated surfaces. Symptoms can resemble those caused by common respiratory viruses.published in the journalexamined symptomatic infections caused by human metapneumovirus among 3,549 participants aged 6 months to 49 years.Researchers monitored respiratory illness episodes between June 2022 and March 2024 using laboratory confirmed viral testing. The analysis estimated an average incidence of 7.5 symptomatic infections per 100 persons per year.In many individuals, infection withproduces symptoms similar to the common cold. However, the virus can also infect the lower respiratory tract.Common symptoms include:Certain groups face a higher risk of complications. These include infants and young children, adults aged 65 years and older, individuals with chronic lung diseases, and people with weakened immune systems ().In these populations, infection may progress toor, which affect the lower airways and may require medical care.Currently, there is no licensed vaccine or specific antiviral therapy for. Management generally focuses on supportive care such as hydration, fever control, and monitoring respiratory symptoms.is a widespread respiratory virus that circulates globally each year, particularly during winter months. Detection through surveillance programs in California reflects seasonal respiratory virus patterns rather than the emergence of a new outbreak.Research shows that symptomatic infections occur regularly in communities, especially among young children. While most cases remain mild, awareness of respiratory symptoms and preventive practices such as hand hygiene and staying home during illness remain important to limit transmission and protect vulnerable individuals.Source-Medindia Nineties superstar Govinda made headlines in 2024 after he accidentally shot himself in the leg with his licensed firearm. The actor was immediately rushed to the hospital and was later discharged in a wheelchair. During his recovery phase, the veteran star also underwent physiotherapy as part of his treatment. Now, his physiotherapist, Dr Surabhi Dhanwala, has spoken about his health and the challenges he faced during that period. Speaking to Galatta India, she said,Govinda had recently shot himself in the leg accidentally. It was around that time that I gave him therapy. She further praised the actors discipline and resilience, adding, He is a very strong personality. I have met him before the accident and even after it. He is extremely disciplined; he wakes up early, practices yoga, and maintains a routine. He is like a big brother to me. He had bruised his thighs. Instagram/Sunita Ahuja Addressing the rumours surrounding his personal life, Surabhi mentioned that she never met Govindas wife, Sunita Ahuja, during the physiotherapy sessions, as she was not present during that time. Continuing her remarks, Dr Surabhi Dhanwala said she never interacted with Sunita Ahuja during the treatment period.I have never met Sunita Ahuja, she was not present during the sessions. He is a very strong fighter, and I am sure he will fix his personal life issues as well, she said. Speaking further about Govindas state of mind, the physiotherapist noted that the constant news and speculation about his personal life does affect him. However, she emphasised that the actor possesses the inner strength to deal with these challenges. He is in pain, but his strength lies in meditation. He meditates for hours. He is very spiritual and God-fearing. He knows how to fight his own battles. News / National by Staff reporter Harare social media personality Princess Phiri, popularly known as "Kissmore Soko," is set to appear in court today following her arrest over allegations of cyberbullying.The case involves Harare businesswoman Zodwa Mkanda, whose daughter Mello and her partner Denzel Tadiwa Maveve were targeted in a video posted on Phiri's social media accounts.The video reportedly contained abusive and offensive language directed at the couple.Harare police spokesperson Inspector Luckmore Chakanza confirmed the arrest, which took place on Saturday, as authorities investigate the matter further. The centrepiece of the Develon display will be two new Series 9 models: Develons latest generation excavators will make their Scottish debut at ScotPlant 2026 as part of a major machinery display from authorised dealer James Gordon Ltd. Visitors to the construction equipment show will see the new Series 9 Smart Crawler Excavators for the first time in Scotland on the Gordons stand at the Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh on 2425 April. ScotPlant is Scotlands largest construction equipment exhibition, bringing together more than 200 exhibitors and thousands of industry professionals to showcase the latest machinery, technology and innovations across the sector. The centrepiece of the Develon display will be two new Series 9 models: the 23-tonne DX230LC-9 and the 26-tonne DX260LC-9 crawler excavators. The machines were first revealed at Bauma 2025 and are designed to deliver improvements in productivity, safety, operator comfort and sustainability. Develon says the Series 9 machines introduce a range of advanced technologies aimed at boosting efficiency and reducing fuel consumption while maintaining high uptime for operators. The company said the machines reflect its commitment to innovation and described the range as setting new industry standards in Productivity, Safety, Operator Convenience and Sustainability. Alongside the flagship Series 9 excavators, Gordons will display a broad line-up of Develon machinery covering mini, compact and heavy equipment. The mini-excavator range will include models from one to ten tonnes, such as the DX10-7, DX19-7, DX25-7, DX63-7 and DX85-7. Larger machines on show will include the 10.7-tonne DX100W-7 wheeled excavator, the 15.6-tonne DX140LCR-7 crawler excavator, the 31.5-tonne DX300LC-7 crawler excavator and the DX160HT-7K high-track excavator designed for forestry work. Powered by a Stage V diesel engine delivering 115hp, the DX160HT-7K is designed for challenging environments where higher ground clearance and stronger traction are required. The machine is suited to applications including forestry, earthmoving, road construction and mounding, while also offering improved safety and maintenance access for operators. Develon will also display the DD130-7 dozer, marking the companys entry into the European dozer market. One of the key design features of the machine is improved operator visibility, achieved through a narrower engine compartment that provides a clearer view of the dozer blade. Additional safety features include a standard rear-view camera displayed on an eight-inch Smart Touch monitor, alongside LED lighting and multiple wiper blades to maintain visibility in difficult conditions. The display will also feature the DL320-7 wheel loader from Develons award-winning DL-7 range. The machine combines a Stage V engine with improved fuel efficiency, productivity and lower operating costs, while a redesigned cab is designed to provide a more comfortable working environment for operators. Gordons, based in Castle Douglas in Dumfries and Galloway, is the authorised Develon dealer covering Scotland and Cumbria. Founded in 1865, the company supplies agricultural and construction machinery through a network of depots and provides servicing, parts and aftersales support. The dealership recently received the Best Heavy Machines Dealer Award at the 2026 European Dealer Conference in Rome. News / National by Staff reporter Lovemore Madhuku, leader of the opposition National Constitutional Assembly (NCA), has vowed to mobilise Zimbabweans to resist proposals to rewrite the country's Constitution to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa's tenure beyond 2028.Addressing scores of party supporters at his Harare office this Saturday, Madhuku condemned the plans underpinning Constitutional Amendment Number 3, reiterating that the NCA's principles are anchored in constitutionalism, strong state institutions, and the rule of law. "What Zanu-PF seeks to do must be resisted by all means. We will not allow them to strip citizens of the right to vote for the President, extend the term of Parliament, and sitting councillors without going to a referendum," he said.Madhuku, a University of Zimbabwe law professor, also highlighted a brutal attack he and his supporters suffered on March 1 at the same venue, allegedly by Zanu-PF operatives. Amnesty International Zimbabwe condemned the assault, calling it a "blatant violation of the rights to personal security, freedom of expression, and peaceful assembly," and urged authorities to investigate and hold the perpetrators accountable.The Constitutional Amendment No. 3 Bill, gazetted on February 17, is now entering a 90-day period for public consultations and hearings, with dates for the next stage expected to be announced this week. The Bill proposes extending the Presidential term from five to seven years and introduces a parliamentary process for electing the President. It also seeks to transfer responsibility for voter registration from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to the Registrar-General, among other reforms.Additional changes include the abolition of the Zimbabwe Gender Commission, the expansion of the Senate from 80 to 90 members, and an amendment requiring the Attorney-General to be qualified to serve as a Supreme Court judge. Clause 15 proposes altering the role of the Defence Forces in the Constitution from "to uphold the Constitution" to "in accordance with the Constitution."Political analyst Methuseli Moyo said the public hearings are a crucial platform for citizen engagement in shaping the nation's legislative and constitutional agenda. "The parliamentary process is a legitimate platform where views will matter. The people must, therefore, go in their numbers and give their views," he said.The Government Gazette describes the proposed amendments as part of Zimbabwe's continuing constitutional evolution, aimed at refining governance frameworks, strengthening democratic institutions, and modernising the country's legal and political architecture while maintaining the spirit of the 2013 Constitution. The first Monday in March is a historic holiday in Chicago and around Illinois, honoring Polish-born Revolutionary War hero Casimir Pulaski. Officially declared Casimir Pulaski Day, the holiday recognizes the man known as the Father of the American Calvary. In 1973, in this very room Governor Dan Walker signed an executive order proclaiming Pulaski Day in Illinois, said Richard Owsiany, president of the Polish Museum of America, in a statement to Military.com. Thirteen years later in 1986, Governor James Thompson signed legislation designating the first Monday in March a state holiday honoring Casimir Pulaski. Pulaski Day ceremony at Polish Museum of America in Chicago, Illinois (PMA). The Revolutionary War general is revered among Polish Americans for dying on the battlefield while fighting for Americas freedoms. Born in Warsaw, Poland, in 1740, Pulaski led an unsuccessful rebellion against Russian influence and the pro-Russian elected King of Poland. He fled to Prussia in 1777, and met Benjamin Franklin, who became one of the founding fathers of the United States. Pulaski was recruited to come to America to fight in the Revolutionary War and is credited with saving General George Washingtons life, which earned him a promotion to brigadier general. Pulaski died during the Siege of Savannah in 1779. Since Pulaskis gallant and heroic exploits and his tragic death, his deeds have not been lost to history, said Owsiany. There is hardly a state in the union that does not have a county, town, street or highway, park, school or monument named in grateful memory and recognition of General Casimir Pulaski. Mondays observances included a traditional Polish feast, and a standing room only ceremony at Chicagos Polish Museum of America, which has been observing Pulaski Day since the 1980s. In Chicago, local government offices and courts, public libraries and some businesses are closed, but federal offices, banks and schools are open. As our nation marks the 250th anniversary of its independence this year, this is a meaningful opportunity to reflect on the legacy of General Casimir Pulaski, the Father of the American Calvary, said Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson in prepared remarks obtained by Military.com. He was a son of Poland, who gave his life fighting for the independence of another nation, because thats how strongly he believed in freedom and liberation. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson making remarks at Pulaski Day ceremony (Polish Museum of America). Mayor Johnson was one of more than a dozen dignitaries on hand for the museums celebration. A news release from the museum expressed gratitude to Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas for organizing a special fundraising initiative benefiting the museum, with $1,000 contributions secured from Illinois State Comptroller Susana Mendoza; Illinois State Treasurer Hon. Michael Frerichs; Illinois State Senator Robert Martwick; U.S. Representative for Illinois 5th Congressional District Mike Quigley; civic leader Joe Holberg; community advocate JaMal Green; Cook County Circuit Court Judge Diann K. Marsalek; Cook County Assessor Hon. Fritz Kaegi; and Lake County Treasurer and Hon. Holly Kim, raising a total of $10,000 in support. Pulaski Day ceremony at Polish Museum of America in Chicago featured a crowd of dignitaries and invited guests (PMA). Museum president Owsiany says the contributions, both large and small, along with the annual Pulaski Day observance, carry on the tradition of General Pulaskis commitment to serve. May the magnificent spirit of Gen. Casmir Pulaski continue to inspire all Americans with a sense of duty to country, pride, a spirit of mission, and the never ending struggle for human dignity and freedom, said Owsiany. We Americans can honor this soldier of Liberty, this undaunted warrior who sacrificed his life for the cause of American Independence. Pulaski is quoted in a letter to General George Washington expressing his desire to help fight for American freedom. I came here, where freedom is being defended, to serve it, and to live or die for it, Pulaski is quoted as saying, according to a Joint Resolution by Congress. In 2009, the U.S. Congress posthumously granted Pulaski honorary American citizenship, making him one of only eight people in history to receive that honor. Alan Johnson survived a ballistic missile attack while on deployment in Iraq. Now, he and others are encouraging lawmakers on Capitol Hill to swiftly reform how traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are detected and studied. Johnson, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel who served for over 27 years, survived an Iranian-fired ballistic missile on Jan. 8, 2020, while deployed to Al-Asad Airbase with the 34th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade. He and his colleagues experienced the largest-ever ballistic missile barrage on U.S. forces, with 15 such missiles fired at their base. Each missile carried warheads weighing roughly 1,500 pounds. Fast forward to March 5, 2026. Johnson provided sworn testimony to the U.S. House Committee on Veterans Affairs, Subcommittee on Health, advocating for better efforts to detect TBI in addition to toxic exposure monitoring and providing long-term veteran care. Members of the Headquarters Support Company, 834th Aviation Support Battalion stand in formation (maintaining physical distancing standards for COVID-19 prevention) on May 2, 2020, at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, during the Purple Heart presentation ceremony for Maj. Alan Johnson. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Morgan Maidl) He outlined peer-reviewed research and post-attack environmental data that he said reveal the scope of injurieswhich were initially underdiagnosed and insufficiently trackedsustained by hundreds of service members. The Army eventually awarded dozens of Purple Hearts to soldiers who sustained TBIs. For six years, weve gone through all the proper channels, and nothing happened. After I retired and could speak more freely, I decided to say more. Between the blasts, the toxic bomb site and the radiation testing of some, but not all, personnel affected by the missile attackswe knew something was wrong almost immediately. Im grateful Congress invited us to further discuss whats happened to the men and women that were at Al-Asad," Johnson added. Along with Johnson, the following individuals also provided sworn testimony to lawmakers: Dr. Rachel McArdle, deputy executive director of rehabilitation and prosthetic services at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA); Dr. Joel Scholten, executive director of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the VA; Buster Miscusi, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran; and Dr. Russell Gore, chief medical officer at the Avalon Action Alliance. Knocked Out Twice From Mega Blast On the day of the record-breaking missile barrage, Johnson was attached to Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 82nd Aviation Regiment, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division. He testified to members of Congress that during the ordeal he was sheltered in an indirect fire shelter that was designed and intended to protect against rockets, small arms, grenades or mortar fire. It was not constructed to deter a hailstorm of ballistic missiles the likes of which reigned down that day. Above-ground indirect-fire shelter at Al-Asad Air Base damaged in the Jan. 8, 2020 missile attack which lacked a protective door and offered limited protection from nearby blast impacts. (Alan Johnson testimony) I have no memory of the first three missile impacts because the third missile impact knocked me unconscious, Johnson recalled. I woke up just in time to experience missiles four, five and six." All of these missiles were in close proximity to my position, with No. 6 impacting 60 feet away from me. The subsequent massive percussive wave knocked me unconscious for a second time. The missiles caused catastrophic damage to mission-essential infrastructure, living quarters and support systems, according to Johnson. Health issues Johnson sustained from the barrage led to diagnoses of TBI and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Cranial nerve damage he suffered has caused lingering issues like double vision, broken teeth, chronic insomnia, ringing in his ears, neck pain, balance problems, and difficulty in word finding. Specialist Patrick Ben, Staf Sergeant Costin Herwig and Specialist Gregory Sorensen stand in a blast crater at Al-Asad Air Base following the Jan. 8, 2020 missile attack. (House Committee testimony from Alan Johnson) I feel more emotionally distant from my wife, children and friends. I worry about whether I will ever again be the husband, father and friend that I was before that attack, as I have experienced hypervigilance, paranoia and depression. I am also currently in a thyroid surveillance program due to a number of new thyroid nodules that have developed since the attack and exposure to the toxic environment," Johnson added. Post-Attack Studies, Findings In an effort to discover how that days events plagued not only him but his fellow service members, Johnson set out to tie data to the health repercussions. He co-authored research examining 583 service members exposed to the missile strike on that January day, finding that more than 80% of the U.S. military personnel at the airbase reported blast exposure while nearly half experienced persistent symptoms 4-6 weeks after the factincluding sleep disturbances, anxiety and headaches. A follow-up cohort study found that 34 of 35 patients within 100 meters of a blast impact met criteria for mild TBI, as additional cases were identified weeks later through expanded screening. Soil samples from the Al-Asad missile impact site show detectable radioactive isotopes and heavy metals in crater soil. (Alan Johnson testimony) Johnson told the committee that current field screening tools, such as the Military Acute Concussion Evaluation (MACE-2), failed to detect many mild or delayed TBIs immediately after the attack. The underreporting of symptoms was common among soldiers determined to remain in mission-essential roles, he testified, with many resuming duties within hours and even assisted in area cleanup operations later determined to be contaminated. These findings confirm what many of us experiencedthat blast-related brain injuries are often delayed, subtle and easily missed in austere combat environments, Johnson told the House committee. Post-attack testing data of the environmental impact on these service members detected radioactive isotopes, heavy metals and toxic chemicals at the site. A propellant in the missiles contained another toxin, ammonium perchlorate, a powerful oxidizer and irritant linked to adverse health effects. Johnson testified that multiple service members, including himself, later developed thyroid abnormalities. He is currently in a thyroid surveillance program after the development of new nodules. Congressional Mandates to Detect, Limit TBIs The Iranian missile blast had countless repercussions, not just for Johnson but others who served the United States. One of the soldiers Johnson helped treat in the attacks aftermath was Specialist Jason Quitugua, who suffered a TBI and died by suicide on Oct. 7, 2021. Quitugua had been diagnosed with a TBI that caused him headaches, insomnia, PTSD and severe depression as part of the attack that Johnson said "ultimately cost him his life." Another service member, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Thomas Caudill, had imaging appear normal under routine diagnostics even as he suffered significant cognitive symptoms. Johnson proposed the following mandates for Congress to address: Improved field TBI screening tools capable of detecting subtle and delayed injuries. Brain MRI and MRV imaging after blast exposure. Baseline and follow-up neuropsychological testing. Thyroid ultrasound screening with annual follow-up. Expanded cancer screening protocols for blast-exposed personnel. Annual baseline laboratory testing to detect early disease markers. Increased federal investment in research focused on restoring brain function, not solely managing symptoms. Damage to barracks and operations facilities at Al-Asad Air Base following the missile attack. The arrow indicates the indirect-fire shelter where Lt. Col. Johnson was located, approximately 60 feet from the impact site. (Alan Johnson testimony) The Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC) has reported nearly 414,000 TBIs among U.S. service members worldwide between 2000 and late 2019, according to the VA. More than 185,000 Veterans who use VA for their health care have been diagnosed with at least one TBI, with the majority of cases classified as "mild." Johnson also warned of the potential negative repercussions to U.S. veterans who may not only develop adverse health conditions but also do not get blessed with the truth. During his testimony he referenced Hansen v. Islamic Republic of Iran, where federal courts dismissed claims by 185 service members and families because the missile attack did not result in fatalities among plaintiffs and therefore did not meet the statutory definition of extrajudicial killing under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act terrorism exception. If we fail to diagnose and document these injuries early, Johnson testified, veterans lose access to care and lose the evidentiary foundation necessary for access to these medical resources. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Iran attacked commercial ships on Wednesday across the Persian Gulf and targeted Dubai International Airport, escalating a campaign of squeezing the oil-rich region as global energy concerns mounted and American and Israeli airstrikes pounded the Islamic Republic. Two Iranian drones hit near Dubai International Airport, home to the long-haul carrier Emirates and the worlds busiest for international travel. Four people were wounded but flights continued, the Dubai Media Office said. Iran's joint military command announced it would start targeting banks and financial institutions in the Middle East. That would put at risk particularly Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, which is home to many international financial institutions, as well as Saudi Arabia and the island kingdom of Bahrain. Earlier, a projectile hit a Thai cargo ship off the coast of Oman in the Strait of Hormuz, setting it ablaze. Authorities are searching for three missing crew members from the Mayuree Naree after 20 were rescued by the Omani navy, according to Thailands Marine Department. Meanwhile, an assessment from Israeli intelligence said it believed Irans new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was wounded at start of the war. An Israeli intelligence official and a reservist with knowledge of the situation spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter with the media. They gave no details on the nature of the injuries. The 56-year-old Khamenei the son of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has not been seen since succeeding his father on Monday. His father and wife both were killed in an Israeli airstrike on the first day of the conflict. Separately, Kuwait said its defenses downed eight Iranian drones and Saudi Arabia said it intercepted five heading toward the kingdoms Shaybah oil field. Iran has effectively stopped cargo traffic in the narrow strait through which about a fifth of all oil is shipped. It has also targeted oil fields and refineries in Gulf Arab nations, aiming at generating enough global economic pain to pressure the United States and Israel to end their strikes. The U.N. Security Council was to vote later Wednesday on a resolution sponsored by the Gulf Cooperation Council demanding Iran stop attacking its Arab neighbors. Witnesses reported continuous airstrikes hitting Tehran after Israel said it had renewed its attacks. Explosions were also heard in Beirut and in southern Lebanon after Israel said it was hitting targets connected to Iran-backed Hezbollah militants. Israel launches new strikes on Lebanon The attacks set a building ablaze in central Beiruts densely populated Aicha Bakkar area, engulfing the top two floors. Lebanons Health Ministry said four people were wounded. Other Israeli strikes on southern and eastern Lebanon killed 14 people, and a Red Cross worker also died Wednesday of wounds sustained Monday, when his team was hit by an Israeli strike while they were rescuing people from an earlier attack. Lebanon's Health Ministry said Wednesday that 570 people have been killed in the country since that latest fighting began. Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel after the United States and Israel began the wider war with their surprise bombardment of Iran. Iran launches multiple salvos at Israel and Gulf Arab nations Israel warned of Iranian attacks and sirens rang out in Tel Aviv and elsewhere, but there were no immediate reports of casualties. Saudi Arabia said it had destroyed six ballistic missiles launched toward Prince Sultan Air Base, a major U.S.- and Saudi-operated facility, and intercepted two drones over the eastern city of Hafar al-Batin. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center, run by the British military, reported an attack on a container ship off the United Arab Emirates, saying the extent of the damage is currently unknown but under investigation by the crew. Another ship was hit by a projectile in the Persian Gulf, it said. The crew was reported safe. The ship attacks follow intense American airstrikes targeting Iranian navy assets and the port city of Bandar Abbas on Tuesday. The Iranian threat against financial institutions did not identify any specifically. It came after a Tehran location of Bank Sepah, the state-owned financial institution sanctioned by the U.S. over funding its armed forces, came under attack early Wednesday, killing staffers there, the state-run IRNA news agency reported. At the United Nations, the Security Council was to vote Wednesday afternoon on the Gulf Cooperation Council resolution, according to three diplomats speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of an official announcement. The draft resolution, obtained by The Associated Press, condemns Irans attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Jordan. The measure calls for an immediate end to all strikes and threats against neighboring states, including through proxies. It would be the first Security Council resolution considered since the start of the war on Feb. 28. Oil prices stay high on fears of prolonged shipping disruption Oil prices remained well below Monday's peaks but the price of Brent crude, the international standard, was still up some 20% Wednesday from when the war began, and consumers around the world are already feeling the pain at the pump. Germany and Austria said they are releasing parts of their oil reserves following an International Energy Agency request for its members to release 400 million barrels to help temper energy price spikes. The largest-ever previous collective release of emergency stocks by IEA member countries was 182.7 million barrels, in the wake of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Japan also said it will release some of its reserves starting Monday. The U.S. military said Tuesday it had destroyed 16 Iranian minelayers near the Strait of Hormuz, though U.S. President Donald Trump said in social media posts that there were no reports yet of Iran mining the passage. If the strait is mined, it could take at least weeks to clean it up once the conflict is over. Some tankers, believed linked to Iran, are continuing to get through the strait making so-called dark transits -- meaning they arent turning on their Automatic Identification System trackers, which show where vessels are. Vessels carrying sanctioned Iranian crude often turn off their AIS trackers. The security firm Neptune P2P Group said Wednesday there had been seven ships pass through the strait since March 8. Of them, five were linked to Iranian-associated shipping, it said. In ordinary times the strait typically sees 100 ships or more transit daily from the Persian Gulf into the Gulf of Oman. Meanwhile, the commodity-tracking firm Kpler said Iran has restarted crude exports through its Jask oil terminal on the Gulf of Oman. A tanker loaded roughly 2 million barrels at Jask on March 7, it said. In addition to the 570 killed in Lebanon, Iran has said that more than 1,300 people have been killed there and Israel has reported 12 people dead. The U.S. has lost seven soldiers while another eight have suffered severe injuries. ___ This story has been corrected to fix an earlier misspelling of Mojtaba Khamenei's first name. ___ Magdy reported from Cairo, and Rising from Bangkok. Associated Press writers Sally Abou AIJoud in Beirut, Giovanna DellOrto in Miami, Jamey Keaten in Geneva, Jintamas Saksornchai in Bangkok, Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin and Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this story. WASHINGTON (AP) The Iran war quickly tested America's ability to combat the swarms of cheap drones that have become a staple of the modern battlefield after Ukraine and Russia demonstrated how effective they could be. The Islamic Republic launched so many drones across the region at once that some slipped through the defenses, including a strike that killed six U.S. soldiers at an operations center in Kuwait. Experts and defense leaders stress that the U.S. military has been able to shoot down the majority of Irans drones and take out much of its drone capabilities. But critics said too often missiles that cost millions of dollars were used to down small drones that cost tens of thousands. The U.S. is bringing an anti-drone system to the Middle East that has been tested in Ukraine, which had proposed a deal with the U.S. last year to offer its drone expertise. Such an agreement is yet to be made, and American forces are facing a steep learning curve as they scramble to deploy more cost-efficient defenses against Iran's Shahed drones, which fly low and buzz like mopeds before smashing into their targets. We are crushing them theres no doubt about it but if even one drone gets through our defenses and hurts an American, for me, that is enough to warrant fixing the problem, said drone warfare expert Brett Velicovich, who operated Predator drones in the U.S. Army and co-founded a drone manufacturing company. Heres what to know about Iran's drones and efforts by the U.S. to shoot them down: US says it's attacking the source of Iran's drones Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Tuesday that the number of drones launched by Iran had fallen 83% since the war began on Feb. 28. Iran launched more than 2,000 drones in the days after the initial U.S. and Israeli attacks, other top military officials said. Caine told reporters that U.S. forces were striking military and industrial targets in Iran to deny them the ability to continue to generate those one-way attack drones. Hundreds if not thousands of Patriot missiles have been used by the U.S. and its allies across the Middle East to defend against Iranian missiles and drones. But now the U.S. seems to be relying more on attack helicopters and machine guns as a more cost-effective way to shoot down Iranian drones, experts say, and President Donald Trump suggested as much. Now we have low-cost interceptors effectively combating Iranian drones, the Republican president said Monday. The military also is bringing in an American anti-drone system proven to work in Ukraine against Russian drones, which are similar to Iran's, The Associated Press has reported. Known as Merops, the system flies drones against drones, fits in the back of a pickup truck and uses artificial intelligence to navigate when electronic communications are jammed. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told journalists on Tuesday that his country proposed a deal with the U.S. last year to provide cutting-edge and battle-tested drone technology, including interceptor drones. I do not know whether they refused it. Im not sure, but it was definitely postponed, Zelenskyy said, adding that Ukraine still hopes to sign such a deal. Experts say the U.S. military has been slow to overhaul its arsenal and tactics to respond to the new threat from fleets of drones. This is going to be a big wake-up call for how the U.S. military defends its citizens and fights wars forever, Velicovich said. Because its sort of like were the best military on the planet, but stuffs still getting by us. Travis Metz, the Pentagons drone dominance program manager, told senators last week that the Defense Department has committed $1.1 billion to buy drone systems over the next 18 months, including 30,000 small, one-way attack drones to be delivered to military units over the next five months. US is leaning on knowledge from Ukraine Pentagon officials have conceded in classified briefings to Congress that they initially struggled to stop the waves of Iranian drones, leaving U.S. service members and Persian Gulf allies vulnerable. High-profile targets like a Dubai skyscraper and airports across the region have been struck. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said last week that thousands of Iranian missiles and drones have been intercepted and vaporized. But he conceded, this does not mean we can stop everything. Available in big numbers, the Shahed drones have shown their capability to oversaturate air defenses and inflict painful damage. And while the Shahed flies slowly at 180 kph (just over 110 mph), it can range as far as 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) and carry a relatively big load of 40 kilograms (88 pounds) of explosives. The U.S. military has typically operated complicated reusable drones that fire off missiles and return to base, such as the Predator. But Ukraine has shown that relying on large numbers of cheap drones, which carry their payloads directly into the target and become warheads themselves, can be extremely effective. There is going to be a learning curve, but the more that the Ukrainians can provide us in terms of guidance and expertise I think the better off we all are, said Brandon Blackburn, who is a former CIA targeting officer who conducted counterterrorism operations throughout the Middle East. Ryan Brobst, a scholar focused on U.S. defense strategy at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a hawkish Washington think tank, said social media posts by the U.S. military and allies have indicated the use of relatively cheaper weapons like aircraft machine guns or laser-guided rockets to destroy drones in Iran. He cited, for example, a video posted by the United Arab Emirates military, which showed an Apache helicopter shooting a Shahed with a large machine gun. The United States has made significant strides in counter-UAS warfare over the past few years, Brobst said, referring to unmanned aerial systems. But its also true that we can still learn more from Ukraine. Looking ahead to focusing on the cheap stuff Northwestern University professor William Reno, who researches Ukraines military training for the Pentagon and visits the country regularly, noted that Ukraine has found cheap ways to shoot down drones with .50-caliber machine guns mounted in the back of a pickup or other fast-moving drones. The long-run effect will probably be that its going to focus minds wonderfully on thinking more seriously about cheap stuff that comes through the air, Reno said. For decades, U.S. military strategy has counted on dominating the airspace above any conflict it got involved in, but the focus was primarily at higher altitudes where fighters and bombers fly. Now drones will force the military to think about what it does to control low-altitude airspace. Ukraine was the wake-up call, Reno said. The U.S. military already has some programs centered on inexpensive drones, according to Jerry McGinn, a former Defense Department official who was focused on manufacturing and industrial base policy and is now a scholar at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. One of those programs is the Low-cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System, or LUCAS, which American forces are using in Iran. The U.S. military said in a post on X that the American-made, one-way attack drones were modeled after Irans Shahed drones. Its not public on how effective theyve been or how they were used, McGinn said. But theres very much a focus in the U.S. of learning from the experience in Ukraine. ___ Funk reported from Omaha, Nebraska. Associated Press writer Illia Novikov in Kyiv, Ukraine, contributed to this report. News / National by Staff reporter Jacob Mafume has written to President Emmerson Mnangagwa seeking urgent intervention as Harare faces a worsening water crisis. In the letter, Mafume warned that contamination of Lake Chivero and failing water infrastructure now present an "imminent threat to public health" beyond the municipality's capacity to manage.The mayor highlighted the long-delayed Kunzvi Dam project - conceived in the 1970s - as a critical solution to supplement the city's water supply. Construction has repeatedly stalled due to funding constraints. Mafume urged that national intervention is necessary to bypass bureaucratic delays and enable a coordinated response."The gravity of this crisis necessitates action beyond the normal administrative processes as the risks to life and health can never be overstated," Mafume wrote, calling for measures including declaring a state of emergency for Harare's water and wastewater systems.Speaking at the Edith Opperman project's official commencement, Mafume defended his appeal, noting that involving the president is not a sign of failure but a way to ensure urgent issues receive attention. He emphasised that some interventions, such as upgrading the Morton Jaffray water treatment plantone of the largest in southern Africarequire national-level authority.Harare's water challenges stem from decades of aging infrastructure, industrial pollution, and financial mismanagement. Many residents currently go days or weeks without running water, and when supplies are restored, the water is often discoloured or smells of sewage, forcing reliance on shallow wells.Mafume stressed that the municipality alone cannot resolve the crisis and called for a "one government approach" to stabilise services and safeguard public health. Commercial ships moving through one of the worlds most critical energy corridors are under fire as the war against Iran has spread into the Strait of Hormuz. Attacks on several merchant vessels in the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman this week signal a dangerous new phase of the conflict. Projectiles struck multiple commercial ships transiting the corridor, raising alarm across global energy markets because the strait carries about 20% of global petroleum liquids consumption and serves as the primary export route for Gulf oil producers. Several commercial vessels were struck while transiting the Strait of Hormuz this week, according to maritime security reporting and additional international reporting. The Thai-flagged cargo ship Mayuree Naree was reportedly hit by two projectiles, sparking an engine-room fire and causing significant damage. Twenty crew members were rescued while three remained missing, according to reports. Other ships, including ONE Majesty and Star Gwyneth, were also reported damaged as vessels moved through the narrow shipping lane linking the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea. Oil tankers and cargo ships line up in the Strait of Hormuz as seen from Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri) Fighting across the region has already expanded beyond traditional battlefields. Missile strikes and attacks on commercial vessels have killed sailors and targeted shipping infrastructure as Tehran and its allies attempt to increase pressure on U.S. and Israeli interests across the Middle East. Military.com reached out for comment to U.S. Central Command, the Pentagon, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, the State Department and multiple maritime security organizations. Worlds Oil Lifeline The attacks struck one of the most strategically important shipping corridors in the world. Oil tankers and cargo vessels moving through the strait carry crude exports from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Iraq and Iran, to markets across Asia, Europe and North America. The Strait of Hormuz sits between Iran and Oman and connects the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea. The narrow passage remains one of the most strategically sensitive maritime chokepoints in the world. Oil tankers departing gulf ports rely on the route to reach global markets. Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Iran all ship massive volumes of crude through the corridor before tankers disperse toward refineries across the globe. The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates roughly 20 million barrels of petroleum liquids move through the strait each day, representing about 20% of global petroleum liquids consumption. This image released by the Royal Thai Navy shows Thai cargo ship, Mayuree Naree, that was struck and set ablaze in the Strait of Hormuz Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (Royal Thai Navy via AP) Energy markets watch the corridor closely. Even brief disruptions can ripple through global shipping routes and push oil prices higher. Analysts have warned that Iran has the ability to threaten virtually the entire strait using anti-ship cruise missiles and other coastal weapons positioned along its shoreline, giving Tehran the capability to disrupt shipping throughout the narrow waterway during a crisis. Attacks on Shipping Raise Fears of Wider Gulf Conflict The maritime attacks are raising fears that the conflict could spread deeper into global shipping lanes. Iran has long viewed maritime pressure in the Persian Gulf as a strategic lever during confrontations with Western powers. The countrys Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) has repeatedly harassed foreign vessels, seized tankers, and threatened to disrupt traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Navy Seaman David Vilchez, assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80), stands lookout watch during a Strait of Hormuz transit. Roosevelt is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to support maritime security and stability in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Indra Beaufort) Past incidents have included tanker seizures and sabotage attacks targeting commercial vessels moving through the region. Iranian forces have previously boarded and seized ships transiting the strait during periods of heightened tension with the United States and its allies. Earlier confrontations in the Gulf also saw attacks on civilian oil tankers blamed on limpet mines and other explosive devicesincidents that heightened tensions and prompted international condemnation at the time. US Navy On Guard U.S. Navy forces routinely patrol the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz to protect commercial shipping and deter attacks on vessels moving through the corridor. Those patrols fall under the authority of the U.S. Navys Fifth Fleet, headquartered in Manama, Bahrain, and the broader command structure of U.S. Central Command. Warships, patrol aircraft and coalition naval units regularly monitor traffic through the narrow waterway. U.S. forces have previously escorted commercial vessels through the strait during periods of heightened tension, including operations designed to protect U.S.-flagged ships after earlier tanker attacks threatened maritime traffic in the region. Almost 15 years after it was lost, Stefan Jankowskis service medal is back where it belongs, with his loved ones. Jankowski, from Windsor, Ontario, Canada, served in the war in Afghanistan, earning a medal as a trooper with the Royal Canadian Dragoons, one of Canadas oldest military regiments. Not long after leaving the service, Jankowski died from an accidental drug overdose in July 2011. He was 25. The soldier couldnt shake the grips of post-traumatic stress disorder from his time in Afghanistan. Jankowskis medal went missing following the veterans funeral nearly 15 years ago. But thanks to the dedication of Kyle Scott, another Afghanistan veteran, one of Jankowskis most prized possessions was recovered and returned to his family, who celebrated the rare finding at a gathering on Sunday at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 644 in Windsor. Scott runs the organization Canadian Veterans: Owned or Missing Medals, which helps veterans and their families locate missing military honors. Veteran Kyle Scott tracked down Jankowski's lost medal. (Facebook) How It Went Missing Hunter Kersey, a retired master corporal with the Canadian military, said he served with Jankowski for almost two and a half years. The battle buddies served an eight-month deployment together in Afghanistan and were both honored with medals. However, before Jankowski was buried, Kersey checked the breast pocket of his dress uniform and realized with dismay his comrades medal was not there. For us to find that medal in Canada, and for somebody to come into that medal and return it, it warms my heart, Kersey told CTV News. Not only did Sundays ceremony feature the return of the late soldiers original medal, presented to his daughters, but also replicas for family to cherish as keepsakes. Some Kind of Soldier Kersey spent a great deal of time with Jankowski, marveling at his stamina through grueling training and exhausting missions. He chooses to remember his friend in those terms instead of how he died. He was a very good soldier, Kersey said. His physical fitness was beyond reproach. The man had a future career, either within the Olympics or special operations. Kersey and other friends searched for the medal, spending nearly a decade and a half looking only to be left frustrated and confused. It has been 14 years, seven months, and 26 days since weve known that that medal has been missing, he said. Kersey said its important to realize that, for many soldiers, the battle doesnt end after they return from war. I will always consider him, along with our other comrades who have since died, as tragedies and victims of Afghanistan, Kersey said. They may not be recorded in the official numbers, but they are casualties of the war. Kersey said the effects of combat often follow troops home. For those of us in this room who have been in those scenarios, you know exactly what I speak of, Kersey said. Mark Popov, a retired lieutenant colonel, spent eight months with Jankowski in Kandahar province, watching how the veteran earned fellow soldiers respect. You can tell by the qualifications he earned and the skills and the trust that we placed in him, he was a valued member of our team, Popov said. Kathy Nayduk, a retired corporal, recalled Jankowskis supportive nature, pushing her literally to finish a training run during their early military days. Im not a good runner. Stef was a much better runner than me, Nayduk said. During PT I would get in trouble for being the slowest runner, so he would push me in my back just to keep me going so I wouldnt get in trouble. Nayduk said Jankowski was always present to lend a hand. Jankowskis mom, Georginia Duguay, remembered how his dream of being a soldier started as a small child. When he was four years old, his one thing was, Im going to be in the military, she said. I was proud of him. Im just so happy that everybody came together today. For the late veterans daughters, Destiny Timothy-Jankowski, 22, and Alexsis Timothy-J, 18, Sundays ceremony was bittersweet. However, it was an opportunity not to dwell on his tragic death but to cherish his legacy as a soldier. Its a rollercoaster of emotions, but overall, Im filled with pride, Destiny said. Its wonderful to hear these stories and know that his spirit still lives on. His legacy never ended. Hes still here and impacting so many people to this day. The ceremony was especially moving for Alexis, who was only a toddler when she lost her dad. Hearing fond memories from veterans he served with felt like closure for her. I dont really have much memory of my dad, said Alexsis. The Campaign Star, awarded to Trooper Jankowski with the Canadian Armed Forces. (Facebook) Distinguished Military Career Jankowski signed up with the Canadian Armed Forces in 2007. Upon finishing basic training at Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, he went to CFB Gagetown, New Brunswick, completing Armour School. After that, he was assigned to the Royal Canadian Dragoons at CFB Petawawa. In 2009, Jankowski was deployed to Kandahar province, Afghanistan, serving in reconnaissance and surveillance roles with the U.S. and other allies. During his service, Jankowski earned several qualifications as an expert in marksmanship and Tactical Combat Casualty training, which were on display at the medal ceremony. Jankowskis regiment, the Dragoons, have served in combat missions around the globe for over 100 years, including World War II, various peacekeeping missions and the war in Afghanistan. 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) What is the European fintech start-up that just elevated $200 million? . The European fintech start-up at the center of this significant funding information is called Lunar. Based in Denmark, Lunar has actually rapidly become among the regions most appealing electronic financial systems. The firm uses a mobile-first banking experience that mixes everyday economic solutions with smart budgeting tools and smooth payment functions. Unlike typical financial institutions, Lunar was constructed from scratch for mobile phones, targeting more youthful individuals that anticipate speed, simplicity, and openness. This most recent investment round, led by Googles venture capital arm GV, brings Lunars complete financing to over $350 million. That type of backing signals solid self-confidence not just in Lunars item yet in its vision for the future of personal money in Europe. Why did Googles endeavor arm make a decision to lead this funding round? . GV, formerly known as Google Ventures, does not throw money around gently. It seeks business with scalable innovation, clear market demand, and management teams that can perform under stress. Lunar fits all three boxes. Europes banking industry continues to be fragmented, with many consumers still connected to slow down, tradition establishments. Lunars clean interface, real-time purchase notifies, and automated financial savings features fix actual discomfort points for modern-day customers. Much more notably, the start-up has actually shown consistent individual development throughout Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. GV most likely sees a chance to back a regional champ that could ultimately expand throughout the EU. In a globe where electronic wallets and ingrained financing are coming to be the standard, purchasing Lunar lines up with Googles broader interest in shaping how people communicate with cash online. For even more context on how international tech gamers are influencing monetary technology, you can review recent growths in global tech collaboration at this link. How does Lunars system in fact benefit everyday users? . Lunar runs entirely through a smart device app. When you join, you get a complete savings account with an IBAN, a debit card, and access to instantaneous settlements by means of regional plans like Swish in Sweden or MobilePay in Denmark. Yet what sets it apart is exactly how it utilizes data to help individuals manage their money. The application automatically classifies spending, reveals patterns in time, and even nudges you when bills schedule. You can establish savings goals and see them grow in real time. Transfers between friends take place in seconds, and there are no hidden charges for fundamental solutions. Behind the scenes, Lunar companions with licensed banks to hold customer deposits, so funds are safeguarded under EU laws. The whole experience really feels less like handling a bank and even more like utilizing a practical monetary assistant that stays in your pocket. What are the real-world applications of Lunars fintech design past individual banking? . While Lunar started with customer banking, its infrastructure opens up doors to wider applications. Small businesses, as an example, can use Lunars platform to take care of capital, pay distributors, and track costs without switching over to complex accounting software program. Consultants take advantage of instantaneous invoicing and automatic tax obligation quotes. The business is also exploring banking-as-a-service options, where other startups might embed Lunars payment and account functions into their own apps. This can speed up innovation throughout sectors like e-commerce, travel, and job economic situation systems. In a time when geopolitical risks are drinking international markets as seen in the current oil rate rise past $100 a barrel resilient, dexterous monetary devices come to be a lot more valuable. Find out more regarding how worldwide instability impacts markets at this record. Lunars version demonstrates how fintech can offer stability and control when typical systems feel unclear. What are one of the most usual inquiries people have regarding Lunar and this funding round? . (Googles Venture Arm Leads $200 Million Funding Round in European Fintech Startup) Many marvel if Lunar will certainly expand outside Scandinavia quickly. The answer is yes the business has actually hinted at going into brand-new European markets, potentially Germany or the Netherlands, where electronic banking adoption is high. Others ask whether Google will incorporate Lunar with its very own services like Google Pay. While nothing is validated, GV commonly takes a hands-off technique, letting profile companies run individually. Theres also interest about data personal privacy. Lunar says it never markets user data and makes use of end-to-end security for all purchases. One more constant concern: will this funding bring about new features? Highly likely. With $200 million in fresh resources, Lunar can purchase AI-driven economic suggestions, multi-currency accounts, and perhaps even environment-friendly financial alternatives that reward lasting spending. For a glance right into how fast-moving technology can improve day-to-day live, think about how BYDs new battery adds 240 miles of range in simply five mins a tip that speed and efficiency are currently anticipated almost everywhere, including finance. Find out more concerning advancement innovations similar to this at this write-up. News / National by Staff reporter A 35-year-old police officer who was in charge of the Chikukwa police base in Chimanimani has appeared in court facing a murder charge after a man he allegedly assaulted later died in hospital.The accused, Bhekimpilo Ncube, is alleged to have attacked 34-year-old Godman Mtimba during an incident that occurred on February 26 at Chikukwa Business Centre.According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe, the events leading to the alleged offence began on February 25 when Ncube reportedly received information that the now-deceased had been behaving violently in the area."On February 26, the now-deceased was apprehended and taken to Chikukwa Business Centre, where the accused person was drinking beer," the authority said.Prosecutors allege that Ncube attempted to remove Mtimba's beard using a knife during the encounter."The accused person attempted to remove the suspect's beard using a knife. He sliced the now-deceased on the chin and cheek, inflicting injuries before rushing him to Mutambara Hospital, where he died," the prosecution said.Authorities said Ncube later surrendered himself to police after the victim was pronounced dead.He remains in custody awaiting further court proceedings as investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident continue. Google opens applications for Summer 2026 Public Policy Fellowship in Washington DC; check how and where to apply 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. Amid VijayTrisha controversy, Khushbu Sundar says, Their personal life has nothing to do with people Did our AI summary help? News / National by Staff reporter Zimbabwe's steel exports have surged dramatically, with regional markets - including South Africa - absorbing the majority of shipments, according to the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ).Data from the state minerals marketing agency shows that in 2025, Zimbabwe exported 146,314 metric tonnes of steel, generating US$92.1 million, a 450% increase in value compared to the previous year.The growth has been fueled by investments into the Dinson Manhize Steel Plant, including support from its Chinese parent company, Tsingshan Holding Group, which plans to invest US$800 million into the Zimbabwean plant. Funds are earmarked for infrastructure upgrades and a new blast furnace, expected to double production capacity from 600,000 to 1.2 million metric tonnes of carbon steel annually.MMCZ reports that Zimbabwean steel exports mainly consist of long steel products such as billets, rebars, and wire rods, which are primarily destined for Southern Africa markets.Infrastructure gaps in the region have prompted rapid investment, with South Africa among the top investors in construction and industrial projects, increasing demand for steel and iron products.Donald MacKay of XA International Trade Advisors said Zimbabwe accounts for roughly 6% of South Africa's scrap metal imports, noting that the country's ongoing scrap shortage forces steel and iron fabricators to source all available material.Steel production in Zimbabwe had previously suffered following the shutdown of the country's major producer, Ziscosteel, due to corruption and operational challenges.The South African Iron and Steel Institute (SAISI) warned in July 2025 that the influx of Zimbabwean steel could disrupt South Africa's domestic steel industry. SAISI noted that Zimbabwe's rising exports, aided by Chinese investment, risked displacement, distortion, and dumping, adding pressure on local producers already contending with high input costs and unreliable energy supply.According to South Africa Revenue Service data cited by SAISI, primary steel imports into South Africa (excluding stainless steel, wire, and rail) hit a record 1.56 million tonnes in 2025. Semi-finished steel imports, such as billets, blooms, and slabs, surged 514% to 195,723 tonnes, while long steel imports remained stable. Heavy and light hot-rolled sections fell 41% from 65,898 tonnes in 2024, and finished flat steel imports declined 11% to 147,923 tonnes, with notable reductions in hot-rolled coil (-34%) but increases in HR strip and universal plate, which reached a five-year high of 28,512 tonnes.Analysts say Zimbabwe's steel expansion underscores the growing regional interdependence in Southern Africa's construction and manufacturing sectors, with Chinese-backed investment playing a pivotal role in revitalising the country's steel industry. Anurag Kashyap denies link to Epstein Files: 'I dont even know about this email, its just a random mail' Did our AI summary help? Riddhima took to her Instagram Story on Wednesday, March 11 and shared a photo featuring her daughter Samara Sahni alongside niece Samaira, who turned 21 this year. Did our AI summary help? Gayatri Rani is a Senior-Sub Editor with over three years of experience in delivering Hollywood and Bollywood news. Did our AI summary help? Rajpal Yadav celebrates 20 years of Malamaal Weekly, thanks fans for loving Bajey Did our AI summary help? When a guard opened fire outside Shah Rukh Khans Mannat after a heated exchange Did our AI summary help? Sarika Sharma is Editor, Entertainment, MoneyControl.com. She has over 25 years of experience in the field of entertainment journalism. Did our AI summary help? Daniel Radcliffe talks about the importance of therapy Did our AI summary help? Harshvardhan Rane apologises after fans disrupt Force 3 shoot in Gujarat 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. Did our AI summary help? Nagabandham first song will be out soon News / National by Staff reporter The National Employment Council for the Agricultural Industry (NEC Agriculture) has announced an 8% increase in the minimum wage for workers in the sugarcane subsector, raising it from US$137 to US$148, marking a milestone in Zimbabwe's pursuit of an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.The announcement was made during NEC Agriculture's inaugural stakeholder engagement session with the sugarcane subsector, held at Palm Tree Place. The meeting brought together representatives from the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, leadership from the Zimbabwe Sugarcane Growers Apex Council, and employer associations from across the Lowveld region.Speaking at the session, NEC Agriculture CEO David Madyausiku emphasised the strategic importance of the sugarcane subsector, which spans agriculture, manufacturing, energy production, and even advanced material sciences. He highlighted that the recent Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) had resulted in the wage increase, describing it as a "significant step towards attainment of Vision 2030.""Through the recent CBA, the minimum wage in the Agricultural subsector has increased by 8%, from US$137 to US$148, making it a significant step towards attainment of Vision 2030," Madyausiku said.NEC Agriculture Chairperson Tsitsi Nyirenda urged farmers to create a legacy aligned with the nation's 2030 vision, emphasising the long-term value of efficiently utilising land for future generations.The engagement was initiated following the gazettal of the Job Evaluation Report for the sugarcane subsector, registered as Statutory Instrument 224 of 2025, which codifies job roles and grades across the industry. This provided employers with practical guidance on legal and operational implications for their workforce.Madyausiku also noted NEC Agriculture's commitment to accessibility, highlighting a fully operational regional office staffed by three full-time employees to support local employers and workers.In her vote of thanks, Bernadette Chipembere Tamba stressed the importance of continuous engagement between NEC Agriculture and sugarcane farmers, ensuring clear communication and mutual understanding of industry developments.Madyausiku concluded by acknowledging the challenges and opportunities within Zimbabwe's Vision 2030 framework, urging cooperation as a key driver of progress."We are in a time of great complexity. However, we are also in a time of great optimism, and cooperation guarantees it. Divisions destroy the prospects of it," he said. Did our AI summary help? Rashmika Mandanna planned her mehendi design a month before her wedding Following his death, Carradines family confirmed the heartbreaking news and shared that the actor had been living with bipolar disorder for nearly two decades. According to the petition, the couple eventually realised that they had major differences in their behaviour, lifestyles and opinions. Did our AI summary help? Himalayan yogi Himalaya Siddhaa Akshar stresses that discipline is the foundation upon which genuine progress rests (Image: Himalaya Siddhaa Akshar) Press Note 3 was introduced in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent opportunistic acquisitions of Indian companies Adrija Chatterjee is an Assistant Editor at Moneycontrol. She has been tracking and reporting on finance and trade ministries for over eight years. In a joint letter to the judge, dozens of AI scientists and researchers from OpenAI and Google competitors and, in Googles case, also an investor expressed support for Anthropic. News / National by Staff reporter Residents in Beitbridge who were allocated stands under the Alpha International Land Developers project near the town's water supply dams have been served with orders to demolish structures built on unauthorised land.The demolition orders were signed by Douglas Siphuma, aiming to restore the land to its original state. Beitbridge town clerk Loud Ramakgapola confirmed the orders and emphasised that constructing houses without council approval is illegal."The law allows for demolition after following due process. Council will look on a case-by-case basis and map a way forward," Ramakgapola said.He added that the Zimbabwe National Water Authority had written to the council regarding the illegal structures and that while the developer bears primary responsibility, residents would undergo individual assessments before any action is taken."The developer is responsible. We wrote a prohibition order; we cannot punish residents in that manner. We will engage the developer and map a way forward," he said.Beitbridge, established in 1929 and granted municipal status in 2018 under Statutory Instrument 28 of 2018, is located at the border with South Africa and hosts the Beitbridge Border Post, the busiest inland port of entry in sub-Saharan Africa. India taps Yanbu, Fujairah routes for oil flows as Hormuz shuts, but capacity remain insufficient Tap water for everyone will take 2 more years to become a reality Meghna Mittal Deputy News Editor at Moneycontrol. Meghna has experience across television, print, online and wire media. She has been covering the Indian economy, monetary and fiscal policies, Finance and Trade ministries. She tweets at @Meghnamittal23 Contact: meghna.mittal@nw18.com First non-Iranian crude tanker exits conflict-hit Strait of Hormuz for India: S&P The IEA move is aimed at countering the price impact of widespread disruption in the Persian Gulf, including the near-total closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which connects oil producers in the region to the wider world. Gor said Indias role as a major energy consumer and refiner makes its cooperation vital for global market stability. Paras Bisht A financial journalist with over 10 years of experience, specialising in tracking stock market movements and fundamental developments that impact investors and the broader economy. A keen observer of global financial markets, I regularly engage with leading market voices to write stories. At Moneycontrol, I focus on decoding market trends, policy shifts and economic changes, driven by a constant passion to learn, analyse, and share knowledge with my readers. Walmart-backed Flipkart plans to invite banks to pitch for IPO in April: Report LPG crisis: TTK Prestige, other appliance firms' shares rise up to 8% amid IRCTC's induction cooker directive The most common method of investing in oil futures contracts enables investors to trade on their expectations of future crude oil price movements Navneet Dubey With over a dozen years in business journalism spanning print and digital, he demystifies personal finance. His insights empower individuals to build wealth and achieve their financial goals. Did our AI summary help? Ayush Mishra is a personal finance journalist specialising in banking, credit, and taxation. With experience at Business Standard, he delivers engaging stories that make complex financial decisions easier to navigate. For Indian globetrotters, overseas spending often comes with an added cost: foreign exchange (forex) markup fees. This hidden charge, which usually ranges between 2% and 3.5% of the transaction amount, can inflate your expenses during an international trip. But if youre a frequent flyer or planning a vacation abroad, choosing the right credit card for international travellers can make all the difference. Many Indian banks and fintech companies offer top credit cards with zero forex markup fees, helping you save while spending globally. Beyond just saving on forex fees, the right credit card can also improve your overall experience. If you're looking to compare such credit cards, the Moneycontrol app and website offer a curated list of top options from leading banks and NBFCs. The application process is quick, 100% paperless and can get you travel-ready in no time. Most of these travel credit cards offered via Moneycontrol come with no joining or annual fees. Why Forex Markup Fees Matter Whenever you use a regular credit card abroad, your transaction is converted into rupees from the local currency. Banks add a forex markup fee for this conversion, which is then billed to the user. So, if you spend Rs 1 lakh abroad, you could end up paying an extra Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,500 just in markup charges. Choosing a credit card for travellers that waives this fee can lead to savings, especially if you're a frequent international flyer, student or business traveller. Top Credit Cards With Zero Forex Markup Fees IDFC FIRST Multi-Currency Forex Card The card supports 14 different currencies. It comes with a complimentary replacement card. You can access ATMs worldwide using a single ATM PIN. The card is accepted at VISA merchant outlets and ecommerce websites, except in India, Nepal and Bhutan. You can easily transfer money from one currency wallet to another. You can store and use multiple currencies on the same card. The card also comes with travel insurance cover for international trips. Niyo Global Card (Equitas Bank) You dont have to pay any joining, annual or delivery fees. You can load the card in INR and use it in over 180 countries with zero forex markup. You get 24x7 customer support while travelling abroad. It is around 5% cheaper than airport counters or local vendors. You get 100% fee reimbursement as Niyo Coins. BookMyForex YES Bank True Zero Markup Forex Card The Forex card offers interbank-linked forex rates for 14 currencies. There is no issuance, load, reload or annual fee. The card is accepted worldwide for international transactions. You can reload the card instantly through the mobile app. The app provides an easy and smooth card management experience. You can order the card online through the BookMyForex website or app. Same-day delivery is available in major Indian cities. State Bank Multi-Currency Foreign Travel Card Reload your card easily any time before it expires. Withdraw local currency at over two million Mastercard ATMs worldwide. Use the card for payments at 34.5 million Mastercard merchants globally (except India, Nepal and Bhutan). No bank account needed to get or use the card. Check balance, view transactions and find nearby ATMs online. Get 24/7 global assistance with free card replacement if lost or stolen. IndusInd Multi-Currency Travel Card You can load up to 14 currencies on one card. Lock in exchange rates and stay protected from currency fluctuations. Make international payments for hotels, restaurants, flights, stores and fuel without extra charges. Withdraw cash from any Visa-enabled ATM around the world. Easily encash the remaining balance when you return to India. Credit card offers from top banks Benefits Of Using Zero Forex Markup Credit Cards Having a zero Forex markup credit card has many benefits, especially if you make regular international trips or shop from overseas websites. One of the biggest advantages is saving money. Without any additional charges on foreign currency spending, youd be saving money each time you go on a spending spree abroad. These cards also provide convenience. Regardless of whether youre paying with your card overseas or buying something from a foreign website, you wont have to calculate or bother with extra foreign transaction fees. Zero Forex markup credit cards also tend to offer better exchange rates than regular cards. This equates to more value when exchanging currency, which adds up to more savings. How To Choose The Best Credit Card For International Travel When selecting a top credit card for global travel, here are some important criteria to keep in mind: Forex Markup Charges: Ensure the credit card offers zero markup fees or at least minimal charges on international transactions. Acceptance Abroad: Look for cards that are widely accepted globally. Visa and Mastercard are usually safe bets. ATM Withdrawal Fees: Some credit cards for travellers charge additional fees for ATM cash withdrawals abroad. Choose cards that offer limited or free withdrawals. Lounge Access And Travel Insurance: Perks such as complimentary lounge access and overseas insurance add a lot of value for frequent travellers. Annual And Renewal Fees: Compare the joining and renewal fees against the benefits youll actually use. Some cards waive off annual charges based on annual spending thresholds. Credit cards for international travellers come with a wide range of benefits from free lounge access to hotel deals. Moneycontrol offers access to top credit cards for travellers in partnership with leading card issuers. You can apply for these cards in an entirely digital process through the Moneycontrol app and website. Summary Foreign exchange (Forex) markup fees can quietly increase the cost of spending abroad. Choosing a credit card with zero Forex markup can help travellers save significantly while making global payments easier. Disclaimer This piece/article was written by an external partner and does not reflect the work of Moneycontrol's editorial team. It may include references to products and services offered by Moneycontrol. Adrija Chatterjee is an Assistant Editor at Moneycontrol. She has been tracking and reporting on finance and trade ministries for over eight years. QatarEnergy's liquefied natural gas (LNG) production facilities, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar. (Courtesy: Reuters photo) USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. 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For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Christin Mathew Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at Moneycontrol.com with 15 years of experience in journalism and a recipient of the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award. Based in Bengaluru, he understands the pulse of the people and covers issues that matter, including mobility, infrastructure, start-ups, and government policies. He tweets at @ChristinMP_ Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day NITI Aayog noted that state finances play a crucial role in the countrys overall fiscal stability. Meghna Mittal Deputy News Editor at Moneycontrol. Meghna has experience across television, print, online and wire media. She has been covering the Indian economy, monetary and fiscal policies, Finance and Trade ministries. She tweets at @Meghnamittal23 Contact: meghna.mittal@nw18.com U.S. forces in S. Korea preparing to relocate THAAD interceptors to Middle East: media Xinhua) 16:52, March 11, 2026 SEOUL, March 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. forces in South Korea were preparing to relocate interceptor missiles of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery to the Middle East, a local newspaper said Wednesday. An unidentified high-ranking South Korean government official was quoted by Dong-A Ilbo as saying that the THAAD interceptor missiles had been moved to the Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, about 70 km south of the capital Seoul, from Seongju county, North Gyeongsang province. It was seen as the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) making preparations to redeploy the missiles to the Middle East, another official noted. According to the Washington Post, the Pentagon was moving parts of a THAAD battery from South Korea to the Middle East while drawing from its supply of Patriot interceptors in the so-called Indo-Pacific region and elsewhere. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said at a meeting on Tuesday that while South Korea expressed its opposition to the USFK withdrawing air defense weapons for its own military needs, the Asian country was not able to fully enforce its position. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) News / National by Staff reporter Colonel Miniyothabo Baloyi has been removed from her influential role in military intelligence in what sources say is linked to the intensifying succession struggle within Zanu-PF between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga.Baloyi, who is married to Chiwenga, previously served as a colonel in the Military Intelligence Directorate of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), one of the most strategic operational units within the country's security establishment.However, she has since been removed from the position and reassigned to a less influential role commonly referred to in military circles as the "Commander's Pool".Her removal reportedly followed the appointment of Walter Tapfumaneyi as commander of the ZNA in November last year by Mnangagwa. Tapfumaneyi, who returned to military service to take up the post, was reportedly tasked with strengthening safeguards against any potential coup targeting the commander-in-chief.Part of that assignment is believed to have included limiting Chiwenga's influence within the security sector.The developments come amid a deepening succession battle within the ruling party as Mnangagwa seeks to consolidate his control over the security establishment and protect himself from the risk of a military-backed challenge.The internal tensions have been highlighted by several political figures and media reports in recent months.Independent Norton legislator Temba Mliswa previously warned that Baloyi could be removed from her position for allegedly operating "parallel structures" within the military intelligence system.Meanwhile, self-exiled political scientist and former Cabinet minister Jonathan Moyo recently suggested that a "VVIP" within the security sector was leaking classified information for factional political purposes, sparking speculation that he was referring to Baloyi.The speculation intensified after intelligence reports allegedly revealed details of a trip to Nairobi, Kenya, by Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, where he was reportedly said to have consulted Moyo on constitutional amendment discussions.Soon afterwards, reports emerged confirming that Baloyi had been sidelined from her powerful intelligence role.Political and security analysts say Baloyi's dual position as a senior military intelligence officer and the country's "Second Lady" raised concerns about a potential conflict of interest.The concerns were amplified by the widely held view within political circles that Chiwenga harbours presidential ambitions that could challenge Mnangagwa's leadership, potentially giving Baloyi access to highly sensitive strategic information.Sources within government say the reassignment reflects broader manoeuvres in the ongoing power struggle between factions aligned to Mnangagwa and Chiwenga.Tapfumaneyi is widely seen as a key ally of Mnangagwa, particularly regarding the president's controversial term-extension ambitions under the so-called "2030 project", which Chiwenga is believed to oppose.Tapfumaneyi has held several senior positions across Zimbabwe's military, intelligence and government structures. His career includes roles within the ZNA, the Central Intelligence Organisation, and various government ministries, including assignments in the Office of the President and Cabinet and the Ministry of War Veterans.He served in the army until 2004 and during that time worked directly in Chiwenga's office when the latter was still ZNA commander.Chiwenga later rose to become commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces from 2003 until 2017, when the military intervened in the political crisis that led to the removal of long-time leader Robert Mugabe and paved the way for Mnangagwa's rise to power.Between 2005 and 2009, Tapfumaneyi worked as an assistant director in the CIO. From 2009 to 2014, he served as principal director in the Ministry of Presidential Affairs under Didymus Mutasa.During that period, he was also appointed permanent secretary in the Ministry of Welfare Services for War Veterans, War Collaborators, Former Political Detainees and Restrictees.Following the 2017 political transition, Tapfumaneyi returned to the CIO as co-deputy director-general.He is also reported to have played a significant role in the 2023 elections, which Mnangagwa won with the support of Forever Associates Zimbabwe (FAZ), a controversial network widely believed to have links to the intelligence services. You are already a Moneycontrol Pro user. OK Termed one of the most consequential blueprints for Chinas future, the 15th Five-Year Plan places greater emphasis on artificial intelligence and emerging sectors such as electric vehicles and batteries, aimed at stimulating the countrys slowing economy The debate on the motion is expected to continue in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, with Shah scheduled to address the House during the proceedings. The Char Dham yatra will begin on April 19 this year. PM Modi says the BJP will work to make Kerala a hub of AI and future technology. News / National by Staff reporter Learnmore Masunda, Chief Commercial Officer at state-owned mobile telecoms company Network Cellular (Pvt) Ltd (NetOne), has been suspended without pay following a series of allegations involving misconduct, conflict of interest, regulatory non-compliance, and corporate governance breaches bordering on corruption.The suspension comes as Masunda reportedly seeks a meeting with President Emmerson Mnangagwa to discuss his case. Yesterday, he met with Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Martin Rushwaya regarding the matter.Masunda has been embroiled in a tense boardroom dispute with senior executives, including NetOne chief executive Raphael Mushanawani. Mushanawani himself was arrested last October by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) over allegations of US$1.2 million fraud linked to a SAGE 1000 system upgrade to Sage L200.Masunda was initially placed on forced leave on February 2 to allow an independent and confidential investigation to be conducted. Following the completion of the probe, which substantiated evidence on 10 charges levelled against him, he was formally suspended on Monday pending the outcome of disciplinary proceedings.The investigation was conducted by DT Guard Security, an independent private investigation firm. The process involved documentary review, structured interviews, policy and regulatory compliance analysis, and corroboration from informed sources.Most of the allegations against Masunda were substantiated. As a result, disciplinary proceedings are underway, which could include criminal referrals where applicable, recovery of losses, and control remediation - a systematic process of identifying, analysing, and addressing deficiencies or weaknesses in NetOne's internal, IT system, or security controls. With a captivating smile and beautiful eyes, the Indore girl had shot to fame after a virtual content creator shared a video of her selling rudraksh garlands at Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Banuchandar Nagarajan is a graduate of Harvard University with a Masters degree in Public Administration. He has had stints at the World Bank, UNDP and PricewaterhouseCoopers. He has worked in key positions in the Indian parliamentary election campaigns of 2009, '14 and '19. Till recently, he was the advisor to Minister of Human Resources Development. He has been a frequent columnist and a TV panelist. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication. WTO reform is one of those issues where everyone strongly supports the concept Shishir Priyadarshi is President, Chintan Research Foundation (CRF). Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication. It is not the first time that the Supreme Court has underlined the need for a Uniform Civil Code. 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. The image is among 180,000+ DOJ photos from the Epstein Files. (Image credit: X/@ShakeLS) Both Bill gates and Warren Buffett fell short of Bloombergs total for the year. (Image credit: AFP) News / National by Staff reporter Former policeman, opposition Prince Dubeko Sibanda - Binga North MP and lawyer - has filed a Constitutional Court of Zimbabwe application challenging Parliament over the Constitutional Amendment Bill (No.3). He argues that the legislature has failed to uphold constitutional limitations and legal boundaries in its attempt to amend presidential and parliamentary term provisions.Sibanda says he filed the application under Section 167(2)(d) of the Constitution, as read with Rule 32(1) of the Constitutional Court Rules, SI 19 of 2025. He contends that Parliament's proposed amendments on term limits exceed its constitutional mandate.The former MP is seeking the removal of constitutionally offensive Clauses 4(b) and 9(b) from the amendment bill, arguing they are illegal and impermissible because they attempt to override Section 328(7) of the Constitution. He claims the insertion of the phrase notwithstanding Section 328(7) is a backdoor attempt to alter the five-year presidential limit in Section 95(2) and the five-year parliamentary term in Section 143(1) to benefit President Emmerson Mnangagwa and current MPs through an unconstitutional process.Sibanda is asking the court to order the withdrawal of the bill and the expunging of the problematic clauses before it is submitted for public consultation or debated in Parliament. While acknowledging Parliament's power to amend the Constitution, he argues that the legislature cannot do so illegally by circumventing constitutional safeguards. He is seeking declaratory and interdictory relief to prevent potential constitutional illegality from escalating into a national crisis.The constitutional challenge comes amid intense internal conflict within Zanu-PF, particularly between Mnangagwa and Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga. In parallel with these legal challenges, Mnangagwa has been consolidating control over the military and security sector.One notable development in the succession battle was the sidelining of Colonel Miniyothabo Baloyi, Chiwenga's spouse, from her influential role in the Military Intelligence Directorate. Her removal represents a significant blow to Chiwenga's ability to monitor or counter moves by Mnangagwa, as Military Intelligence is the nerve centre of Zimbabwe's security apparatus.Analysts note that Mnangagwa's strategy of replacing Chiwenga-aligned figures in the military with loyalists strengthens his position ahead of the 2030 Agenda - a faction within Zanu-PF advocating for a two-year extension of Mnangagwa's rule beyond 2028. While some argue that Baloyi's removal could give her more freedom to assist Chiwenga politically, the consensus is that losing a key intelligence post is a tactical disadvantage.Sibanda's legal challenge, together with these internal security maneuvers, underscores the high-stakes struggle within Zanu-PF. The proposed constitutional amendments, the sidelining of military figures, and the broader succession battle have intensified divisions within the state, fueling fears of political instability and raising the stakes for Zimbabwe as the 2028/2030 elections approach. The decision has been widely described as a landmark moment in the ongoing debate over end-of-life rights in India. The resolution was passed during a special womens Gram Sabha organised to mark International Women's Day. (AI-generated image) Hyderabad hostel association warns of LPG shortage, dosa, chapati and puri may be stopped Charlie Evans said the experience changed his perception of healthcare systems, particularly because of the variety of treatment approaches available in India ESA investigates a fireball streaked across the skies of western Europe. (Image: X/@accuweather) News / National by Staff reporter Residents in parts of Pumula, Bulawayo have gone without electricity for over four months following damage to electrical cables and a transformer servicing at least 121 households.Despite multiple attempts to engage the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), residents say their complaints have not been addressed, leaving them in prolonged darkness.Speaking at a community meeting hosted by the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) on Wednesday, locals highlighted the difficulties caused by the outage. Elderly residents, in particular, face challenges storing medication that requires refrigeration.Gogo Mabhena, a resident, said: "We have gone for a very long time without electricity. Some of us are now old and we have pills and injections that need to be stored in refrigerators. How safe is it to store such sensitive substances with neighbours?" She also noted the inconvenience of having to rely on neighbours to charge phones daily.Another resident, Lucky, said the community had been asked to pay fees to restore power. "At first we were asked to pay US$13 per household to fix damaged cables, and we were only reconnected for a week. Afterwards, we were asked to pay US$37 per household for a new transformer, which many elders cannot afford."BPRA Ward 17 chairperson, Elias Nyathi, expressed frustration over the lack of response from authorities. "We have spoken to different people from ZESA and even our local MP, Sichelilesile Mahlangu, but nothing has changed. Our elders cannot afford these amounts, and it is unjust to make people pay for transformer replacements when the damage may not be their fault."Residents are calling for urgent intervention to restore electricity and alleviate the hardship affecting vulnerable households in the community. 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. Maryam Farooqui is Senior Correspondent at Moneycontrol covering media and entertainment, travel and hospitality. She has 11 years of experience in reporting. NEED TO KNOW A bus operated by Switzerland's PostBus caught fire in Kerzers, Switzerland, on Tuesday, March 10 The explosive fire killed at least six people, injuring five others, with three of those injured taken to a local hospital Authorities suspect the fire was a "deliberate act" A regional transport bus caught fire, killing at least six people in Kerzers, Switzerland, on Tuesday, March 10. The fire occurred around 6:25 p.m. local time, 12 miles east of Switzerlands capital, Bern, the BBC reported. The bus was operated by Switzerland's national postal service, PostBus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bus was engulfed in flames, with smoke billowing into the air as emergency services arrived. Once there, the firefighters carried out rescue and extinguishing operations and set up a security perimeter, the police statement said, according to The Guardian. Fire investigators work outside a blocked off area in front of a bus that caught fire in Kerzers, Switzerland, on March 10, 2026. Credit: ALESSANDRO DELLA VALLE/EPA/Shutterstock Five people were injured, and at least three people were transported to the hospital, according to France 24. Authorities believe that the bus was ablaze in a man-made incident, and even a deliberate act, local police spokesperson Frederic Papaux said, The Guardian reported. Police are investigating the 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. PEOPLE reached out to police in the Fribourg region for comment. Read the original article on People Qatar is one of the largest exporters of Liquified Natural Gas. 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. (Photo by UGC / AFP) A person points at a page on the Marinetraffic website that shows commercial boats traffic on the edge of the Strait of Hormuz near the Iranian coast, in Paris on March 4, 2026. (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP) The attacks display a potential first in modern warfare - the deliberate targeting of commercial datacenters by a country at war. Dubai, UAE News Live Updates: Third ship struck near Strait of Hormuz A tanker became the third vessel struck by a projectile near the Strait of Hormuz today. The bulk carrier reported being hit by an unknown projectile approximately 50 nautical miles northwest of Dubai, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the regional maritime authority. Authorities confirmed that the crew of the vessel are safe and that there is no environmental impact. Earlier, a cargo ship caught fire and was evacuated after being struck about 11 nautical miles north of Omans Musandam Peninsula. Another cargo vessel off the UAE coast also reported damage earlier in the day. Since the start of the conflict, the UKMTO has reported attacks on 13 vessels, highlighting growing threats to commercial shipping in the Gulf. The opening of Frederic Fekkai Salon and Spa at Henri Bendel in New York in 2006. (Bloomberg Photo) Italian PM Giorgia Meloni condemned a deadly missile strike on a school in southern Iran, expressed solidarity with victims, called for accountability, stressed Italys non-involvement in the conflict, and warned of risks from Irans nuclear ambitions. Did our AI summary help? Price cuts have made Indian travellers consider buying gold in Dubai. (Image credit: Reuters) California Governor Gavin Newsom is taking a bite out of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after the Pentagons lavish spending frenzy on premium crabs, lobster, and ribeye steak came to light. The Defense Department spent more than $93 billion in September 2025the final month of the fiscal yearon various grants, contracts, as well as a wide range of luxury goods, according to an analysis by the government watchdog Open the Books. The watchdog said the Pentagons splurge marks the largest single-month total for any federal agency since at least 2008. Pete Hegseth's Defense Department spent millions of dollars on luxury crab and other food items as part of a frantic end-of-year spending spree to utilize its immense funding. / Fort Worth Star-Telegram / TNS Newsom, 58, pounced on the report, posting an AI-generated image of Hegseth, 45, lounging amid the spoils of his departments all-you-can-buy spending spree. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Featured are lobster tail, ribeye steak, and Alaskan king crab, on which the Pentagon reportedly spent $6.9 million, $15.1 million, and $2 million respectively, as well as a $98,329 Steinway & Sons grand piano purchased for the Air Force chief of staffs home. HEGSETH BLOWING $93 BILLION OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS IN 1 MONTH !! the Democratic governors press office wrote. California Governor Gavin Newsom seized on the Pentagon's reported lavish spending to needle Hegseth. / Brian Snyder / Brian Snyder/REUTERS The Pentagon, which reportedly tries to spend as much of its congressionally allocated budget as possible at the end of every fiscal year because of federal use-it-or-lose-it rules, found a way to spend $124,000 on ice cream machines, more than $12,000 on fruit baskets, and $5.3 million on Apple devices like iPads, according to Open the Books, purchases that crowd a stuffed-and-pleased Hegseth in Newsoms AI photo. The Pentagon also spent $1 million on salmon, nearly $140,000 on doughnuts, $26,000 on a violin, and $21,750 on a custom handmade Japanese flute, $26,000 on sushi preparation tables, according to the report. / Governor Newsom Press Office/X In another post, Newsoms press office called out MAGAs favorite journalist, YouTuber Nick Shirley, asking him to weigh in on the Defense Departments splurge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shirley, 23, became a MAGA star for his video on alleged fraud at Minnesota child care centers predominantly run by members of the states Somali community. Hegseth, who would like to be called The video, which featured Shirley trying to gain unauthorized access to a facility where children were present, was used to justify President Donald Trumps hardline immigration crackdown in Minnesota. Last month, Shirley also claimed he had uncovered voter fraud at a UPS Store in California. Hey Nick Shirley the governor wrote, pointing to the Pentagons billion-dollar binge, any insight here? Newsom challenged MAGA's favorite watchdog wannabe to look into the Pentagon's spending spree. / Governor Newsom Press Office/X Ill look into it! Maybe we could work together on it?? Shirley replied. Oh btw new California fraud expose coming out end of this week/early next week. Excited for you guys to see it :) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Pentagon, which Hegseth and Trump would like everyone to call the Department of War, also spent $1 million on salmon, nearly $140,000 on doughnuts, $26,000 on a violin, and $21,750 on a custom handmade Japanese flute, $26,000 on sushi preparation tables, Open the Books reports. In addition, the Defense Department reportedly bought more than $3,160 worth of stickers featuring beloved childrens characters from Dora the Explorer, Frozen, and Paw Patrol. The Daily Beast has reached out to the Pentagon for comment. The Government of India is closely monitoring the evolving situation in global energy markets, particularly in the Middle East, the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas said in a statement. Iran has launched strikes against its oil-exporting neighbours, threatening shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and plunging the global energy economy into crisis An Iranian missile flies toward Israel as seen from Jerusalem, on March 11, 2026. (Credit: Reuters) Irans shadow fleet of 400+ oil tankers, managed by the IRGC, uses deceptive tactics to bypass sanctions and export crude, mainly to China. Despite Hormuz tensions and restricted traffic, the fleet moves 1.31.6 million barrels daily, sustaining Irans revenue. Did our AI summary help? NEED TO KNOW Tracy A. James pleaded guilty to defrauding Home Depot of $266,699 using fake identities and counterfeit drivers licenses, according to the Medina Township Police Department The alleged fraud spanned over 1,700 transactions across multiple Ohio and Kentucky stores between 2018 and 2026 James was sentenced to 180 days in jail, five years of supervision, 100 hours of community service and must repay the full amount stolen An Ohio woman pleaded guilty to fraud after police accused her of using fake identities across several states to amass more than $250,000 in credit from Home Depot. In a Wednesday, March 4 press release, the Medina Township Police Department reported that Tracy A. James of Peebles, Ohio had pleaded guilty to telecommunications fraud, a second-degree felony, in the Medina County Court of Common Pleas on Feb. 27, 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The verdict came after the police performed an investigation and determined that James had defrauded Home Depot of $266,699 between 2018 and 2026. The fraud reportedly took place across more than 1,700 transactions. Stock image of a Home Depot Credit: Ken Wiedemann/Getty Per authorities, James "used counterfeit drivers licenses and aliases to obtain store credit through fraudulent merchandise returns." She operated in multiple Home Depots across Ohio and Kentucky, including these Ohio stores: Medina, Wadsworth, Brunswick, Miamisburg and Milford. It is unclear if James operated across other state lines. After gaining the credit, James would purchase items in the store and then resell the products online, authorities said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation's findings were presented to the Medina County Prosecutors Office, who indicted James on the single count of telecommunications fraud. After pleading guilty, she was sentenced to serve 180 days in the Medina County Jail, followed by five years of community control supervision and 100 hours of community service. She's also expected to pay restitution totaling $266,699 to Home Depot. Tracy A. James mugshot Credit: Medina Township Police Dept. 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. An alleged accomplice, April Mathis, also from Peebles, turned herself in to authorities on Thursday, March 5, and was placed on house arrest after being released on her own recognizance. She's expected to undergo a jury trial, which will take place on June 1. PEOPLE contacted the Medina Township Police Department for additional information, but had not heard back at the time of publication. Read the original article on People More than 2,100 Shaheds have been fired so far Ukraine has gained extensive experience in combating Iranian-designed Shahed drones during Russias invasion of Ukraine, where Russia has deployed large numbers of the systems, often rebranded as Geran drones. A woman looks at her smartphone on the subway in Moscow, Russia. (AP/File Photo) North Korea added that it respected Tehrans decision to appoint Mojtaba Khamenei as the countrys new supreme leader after the death of his father, Ali Khamenei. Kim Jong Un, with his daughter, believed to be named Kim Ju Ae, inspects test-firing of ballistic missiles from an undisclosed location in North Korea (file image) Pakistan and Saudi Arabia formalised their long-standing security cooperation by signing a defence pact in September last year. Smoke rises from an explosion in Doha, Qatar. The US military has used the base since 1999, including for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The U.S. Capitol Building viewed from the National Mall on March 8, 2026 in Washington, DC. Aaron Schwartz/Getty Images/AFP The US-Israel strikes on Iran, initially aimed at neutralizing military and nuclear threats, now face unclear objectives and shifting rhetoric. The conflicts evolving goals and timelines mirror Russias prolonged war in Ukraine, raising concerns of an open-ended war. Abhinav Gupta With over 12 years in digital journalism, has navigated the fast-evolving media landscape, shaping digital strategies and leading high-impact newsrooms. Currently, he serves as News Editor at MoneyControl, leading coverage in Global Affairs, Indian Politics, Governance and Policy Making. Previously, he has spearheaded fact-checking and digital media operations at Press Trust of India. Abhinav has also led news desks at Financial Express, DNA, and Jagran English, managing editorial direction, breaking news coverage, and digital growth. His journey includes stints with The Indian Express Group, Zee Media Group, and more, where he has honed his expertise in newsroom leadership, audience engagement, and digital transformation. India is closely studying the West Asia conflict to assess modern military technologies. Lessons on stealth aircraft, drones, missile systems, air defense, and naval power may influence Indias future procurement, force planning, and integration of its diverse arsenal. Did our AI summary help? The Pentagon is examining options for escorting ships safely through the strait, according to US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine. Rewati Karan is Senior Sub Editor at Moneycontrol. She covers law, politics, business, and national affairs. She was previously Principal Correspondent at Financial Express and Copyeditor at ThePrint where she wrote feature stories and covered legal news. She has also worked extensively in social media, videos and podcasts at ThePrint and India Today. She can be reached at rewati.karan@nw18.com | Twitter: @RewatiKaran US officials have not confirmed speculation circulating online that the message was written by an intern or a low-level staffer. President Donald Trump suggested earlier this week that Iran itself may have been responsible but later said he could "live with" whatever the investigation reveals. Irans Shahed drones, known for their low cost and mass production, have become key tools in conflicts with the US and Israel. Their use in swarms strains advanced air defenses, shifting military strategy toward affordable, scalable weapons that impact battlefield dynamics. Did our AI summary help? CNN reported that nearly 15 million barrels per day of crude production and an additional 4.5 million barrels per day of refined fuel exports are currently unable to move through the strait. The 2025-2026 ski season began with a familiar anxiety that resort operators have felt the past few years: will this be a "low snow" year? In the Colorado Rockies, the early-season terrain answered with a loud yes. But for Vail Resorts, thats no longer a dealbreaker. They have invested heavily in high-tech snowmaking to stay viable. However, at Keystone Resort, a different kind of viability was on display during the annual summit of the National Brotherhood of Snowsports (NBS). While snowmaking provides the physical floor for the mountain, the economic impact of Black travel in the US is providing the financial one. I recently returned from the summit, and while Im still on my own snowboarding learning journeytaking lessons at every stop I make this seasonthe atmosphere was noticeably distinct from the typical resort crowd. The NBS summit is part fundraiser for Olympic-hopeful athletes, part racing competition, and part high-altitude family reunion. This year felt lighter and less frantic than the massive 50th-anniversary celebrations of 2023, leading to a casual observation that attendance might be down. But NBS President Henri Rivers notes that the numbers tell a more resilient story. "Even though our numbers looked low like six months ago, booma month before we opened up, the numbers just started climbing," Rivers says. He confirms that the organization maintained its "off-year" average of 800 to 1,000 membersa group that registers up to eight months in advance and shows up regardless of the snowfall. A Case Study in Reliability Lets look at the NBS summit acts as a localized case study for a larger national trend. According to research from MMGY Travel Intelligence, Black travelers in the U.S. spent an estimated $145 billion on domestic travel in 2023. In a town like Keystone, the NBS summit represents a $10 million economic injection. Advertisement Advertisement This is "weather-proof" revenue. Unlike the casual skier who checks the 24-hour snowfall report before booking a hotel, the Black travelermotivated by the "family reunion" aspect of the summitis a high-intent visitor who spends on lodging, dining, and retail even when the "steeps and deeps" are unavailable. According to Rivers, the average spend for an NBS summit attendee can reach $10,000 per person per trip. This isn't a figure driven by discount-seekers; its a total economic footprint that includes high-occupancy lodging, multi-day gear rentals, lift passes, and a significant "apres" spend at local restaurants and bars. BBQ Cookout Apres Lunch at Keystone's hosting of NBS 2026. (Dream Network Media) The Necessity of a "Safe Haven" This reliability doesn't happen by accident. For the NBS, choosing a resort is about more than just trail maps or a trendy resort that their white counterparts enjoy. Its about safety and established relationships. The mountains have a history of being exclusive and elitist, and for Black skiers, that history is literal. At the first NBS summit in Aspen in 1973, the governor of Colorado reportedly put the National Guard on alert, fearing that a gathering of Black people on the slopes would lead to unrest. Because of this legacy, the NBS prioritizes partnerships with resorts that actively work to be welcoming. This commitment exists despite a glaring lack of industry infrastructure tailored to this demographic. Rivers points to a persistent "marketing and infrastructure gap" that remains a missed opportunity. He notes that even basic gear is rarely designed with inclusive sizing, citing his own difficulty in finding ski pants with his proper inseam. "For the last 50 years, theyve known that dollars exist in the Black and Brown communities," Rivers says, "but theyve never marketed to them." The reveal here is that while the snowsports industry has spent decades focused on physical infrastructure to survive shifting climates, it has yet to fully invest in the demographic that is already "climate-resistant" by choice. The Future of the Mountain Economy While the NBS is the primary driver of this case study, the landscape of diverse snowsports is expanding. Resorts are increasingly seeing smaller, high-intent collectives like Black Ski Inc. and Edge Outdoors hosting their own meetups. These groups represent a shift in the industry: travelers who are less interested in the "technical perfection" of the snow and more interested in the social catalyst of the mountains. As Emily Kowalenko and Jacob Marquardt of the Keystone PR team noted, the power of these gatherings lies in the permanent connections they build. In a future of shorter seasons and unpredictable weather, the most valuable asset a mountain town can have is a community that views the trip as a tradition rather than just a transaction. Richard Kahn and Darren Indyke, Epsteins longtime accountant and lawyer, manage his estate and face scrutiny over their roles in his financial network. Investigators and survivors believe their knowledge of Epsteins finances could reveal more about his operations. Did our AI summary help? Erika Kirks appointment comes less than a year after the death of her husband. The US also said has not escorted any oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz, the White House said Tuesday, after the energy secretary's social media account posted and deleted a claim that it did so. Iran War News Live: US to release 172 million barrels of oil from strategic reserve, says energy dept The United States Department of Energy said Wednesday it will release 172 million barrels from the strategic petroleum reserve "beginning next week," as the Middle East war disrupted oil prices. The release would "take approximately 120 days to deliver based on planned discharge rates," the agency said in a post to X. The post also accused Iran of manipulating and threatening "the energy security of America and its allies." Washington has also halted sanctions on some Russian oil as crude prices spiked because of the Iran war. The sanctions were originally imposed to cut Russia's funds for its war on Ukraine. Israel in the early hours Wednesday launched new waves of strikes both in Beirut and Tehran, which was hunkered down for intense attacks after being smothered by black rain from Israeli-bombed fuel depots. We are often guilty of interpreting dog behaviors through human lenses. Since we consider these lovely canines as a part of our family, we cannot hold ourselves back from doing it. This habit is quite natural because dogs live so closely with us, sharing our homes, routines, and emotions. Over time, it becomes easy to assume they think and feel exactly like we do. However, their world operates on a very different set of instincts and signals. This is a tendency called anthropomorphism. Research from Arizona State University suggests that owners very often base their perception of a dog's mood based on the situation. In doing so, they often ignore the dog's actual physical cues. Common Misunderstandings The Guilty Look: We all know that cowering, guilty expression when you come home to a mess. Those little puddle-like eyes are telling you not to punish them for being naughty. Well, make no mistake. This is actually fear, not guilt. Dogs mostly react to your body language and tone. They don't have the moral capacity for shame over past actions. Advertisement Advertisement Tail Wagging: We have been taught since childhood that a wagging tail indicates happiness. However, that is very far from the truth. A wagging tail simply indicates arousal or engagement. A very rigid, high-positioned wag can be a warning of aggression. On the other hand, a relaxed, low wag usually signals friendliness. Here is a little breakdown of the tail signals for your benefit. A stiff, high, fast wag: Is mostly agitation or a warning. A low, slow wag: Indicates insecurity or fear. A full-body, helicopter wag: This is good news. In fact, this is the classic sign of a relaxed, friendly dog. Experts and researchers have found that ignoring the nuance of a tail wag is a leading cause of dog bites. This is because people often approach "happy" dogs that are actually signaling extreme stress. Hugging is Affection: Most dogs actually find it very stressful to be hugged or patted on the head. Common signs of discomfort during a hug include yawning, lip-licking, and showing the whites of their eyes (whale eye). Just like humans, dogs also have likes and dislikes. They also have a concept of personal boundaries that should not be violated. Advertisement Advertisement Bad Behavior is Personal: Bad behaviors are often personal. These can include chewing furniture, digging, or pulling on a leash. These are often natural instincts (arising from boredom, scavenging, or prey drive), rather than spite or a desire to be the boss.' Most bad behaviors, like jumping on guests or pulling on a leash, aren't attempts at world domination; they are simply behaviors that work. If a dog jumps and gets attention (even negative attention), they will do it again. The Alpha and Dominance Delusion There is this ridiculous idea going around that your dog is trying to be the Alpha or 'dominant.' Many people peddle the idea that your dog is constantly plotting a coup to become the leader of the household. It is every bit as ridiculous as it sounds. It has been debunked for decades, yet it persists in popular culture. The original research on alpha wolves was based on unrelated wolves in captivity. It really does not reflect how natural wolf families (or domestic dogs) function. The Unconditional Love vs. Stress We often express love through physical contact. It can be anything, such as hugging, kissing, and patting heads. To a human, a hug is a sign of affection. To a canine, "wrapping" someone in your arms is a restrictive, threatening gesture. Many dogs tolerate hugs from their owners because of their deep bond. But they don't necessarily enjoy them. If you see your dog licking their lips, yawning, or showing the "whale eye" (the white part of the eye) during a cuddle, they are asking for space. True affection in the dog world is often more subtle, like a "lean" against your legs. Or, simply choosing to sleep in the same room as you. Disobedience as Over-Stimulation When a dog ignores a command like sit at a busy park, owners often label them as stubborn or 'spiteful.' However, dogs are highly contextual learners. A dog might know sit' perfectly in a quiet kitchen. But in a park filled with squirrels and strange smells, their sensory threshold is exceeded. It isn't that they are refusing to listen. Rather, it's just that their brain is physically unable to process your voice over the high-priority data coming in through their nose and ears. For a dog, a new scent is often more real and urgent than a verbal command. Conclusion To bridge the gap, we must stop asking, "Why is my dog being bad?" and start asking, "What is my dog feeling?" By observing body language (ear position, mouth tension, and weight distribution), we can meet them on their terms. Learning more about canine behavior doesnt take away from the bond we share with our dogs. In fact, it strengthens it. When we understand their instincts and signals, we begin to see the world a little more from their perspective. Rocket trails are seen in the sky above the Israeli center coastal city of Netanya amid a fresh barrage of Iranian missile attacks on March 9, 2026. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP) FILE PHOTO: Illustration shows map showing the Strait of Hormuz and Iran A screen displays a portrait of Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei during the funerals of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) commanders, army commanders and others killed in the early days of the United States and Israeli strikes on Iran, at Enghelab Square in Tehran on March 11, 2026. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP) Smoke billows from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the Hadath Lailaky neighbourhood in Beiruts southern suburbs. (Courtesy: AFP photo) NPC deputy helps China's potatoes go global People's Daily Online) 13:26, March 11, 2026 File photo shows Shen Yanfen, a deputy to the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, displaying potatoes at a potato farm. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee) "I was sort of tricked into studying potatoes," Shen Yanfen said with a laugh. The remark came during a recent interview on the sidelines of the ongoing annual sessions of China's top legislature and top political advisory body. Shen is an NPC deputy and director of the China Southern Potato Research Center in Enshi, central China's Hubei Province. The story goes back nearly three decades. At 22, fresh out of university, Shen was told by a classmate that the research center in Enshi was "a great place to work." She went there full of expectations, and never left, spending the following years moving between the laboratory and the fields. Today, Shen serves as a deputy chief scientist of the National Potato Industry Technology System. Under her leadership, Enshi potatoes, known for their small size, have gained popularity on Chinese social media and found markets overseas. Meanwhile, other germplasm innovation achievements, including the E-Potato and Nanzhong series, have become hallmarks of China's seed industry on the world stage. Yet Shen is quick to credit those who came before her, saying she is standing on the shoulders of giants. The China Southern Potato Research Center, founded in 1984, has independently bred more than 20 early-, mid- and late-maturing varieties and trained a generation of potato experts, including Xie Conghua, Liu Jiemin and Tian Henglin. Shen and her team have spent nearly three decades developing virus-free seed potato breeding techniques suited to mountainous terrain, successfully breeding 18 new varieties across the E-Potato and Nanzhong series. They have also collected and preserved more than 1,500 potato germplasm resources and worked with breeders nationwide to help end the country's reliance on foreign seed sources. Through international cooperation, the E-Potato series has expanded overseas, raising the global profile of China's potato seed industry. She has led her team to establish demonstration farms in mountainous areas in southwest China, promote improved varieties, virus-free seed potatoes and supporting cultivation techniques, and train technology demonstration households in rural areas. The cumulative cultivation area of E-Potato No. 1 through No. 16 and Nanzhong 101 through 110 has surpassed 20 million mu (1.33 million hectares). In Enshi's main potato-producing areas, per-capita income from potatoes has exceeded 2,500 yuan ($360), and Enshi potatoes are now exported to Japan, Singapore, South Korea and beyond. Now serving her second consecutive term as an NPC deputy, Shen has submitted more than 50 agriculture-related suggestions. "I want more potatoes to travel from the hills to the rest of China, and then to the world," she said. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) March 11, 2026 War On Iran: Bank Attacks Mine Fakes Price Manipulation More THAAD To Destroy Last night Israel and U.S. fighter jets destroyed Bank Sepahs data center in Tehran. Bank Sepah does the salaries payment for Irans military personal. Following the strike Iran announced that it would target U.S. and Israeli banks in the region. Citibank and HSBC instructed staff in Dubai and other Gulf countries to evacuate their offices. This is another step in the retreat of the U.S. from the Middle East. Since the war began, around 15 ships have crossed the strait with most being dark-fleet vessels moving Iranian oil to China and India, according to Lloyds List Intelligence. Many are small Chinese tankers that make their presence and origin known to the Revolutionary Guard through loudspeakers and shortwave radio. While the Strait of Hormuz remains closed for most tankers, Irans export of crude oil, mainly to China, has increased The U.S. has claimed, without evidence, that Iran has started to lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz. I do regard that as fake-news and unlikely to happen. Mines are a last resort as they do not discriminate between a ships nationality. They would also hit Iranian and Chinese tankers. The U.S bombed some 16 random boats along the Iranian cost of Hormuz claiming that they were used to lay mines. But any boat with a $50 metal rack in rear, a mine technician and a map can be used to lay mines. (The mine technician and map are optional). Iran also has land based MLRS rocket launchers which can be used to remotely mine the Strait. Mines can not be removed while a war is ongoing. Minesweepers are not armed and unprotected against attacks. In perfect timing the last four U.S. minesweepers stationed in the Gulf for the last 35 years and built for that purpose just arrived in Texas to be dismantled. They were replaced by three Little Crappy Ships (LCS) with mine sweeping equipment. LCS have never been tested in that role. Iran has many other means beyond mines, like missiles or fast boats, to prevent ships it does not want to pass from using the Strait. The U.S. Navy knows this. That is why it has rejected all requests to escort ships through the Strait. The U.S. and its allies are doing their best to temporarily (archived) hold down crude prices by manipulating future markets and by releasing reserves. But it is impossible to do so for other products: Jet fuel has doubled or even trebled from its previous level of around $90 a barrel a move that dwarfs what has happened to crude. The UN Trade and Development department has a good overview about the consequences of the closure of Hormuz Strait. It blocks 39% of global seaborne crude trade, some 25% of seaborne LPG/LNG trade, 20% of refined products and 13% of chemicals including fertilizer. Usually 67% of global Urea supplies, a major fertilizer, is coming from the Persian Gulf. Without fertilizers food prices will go up, especially in poor countries, with major social consequences following a few months later. With at least four THAAD ballistic missile defense systems in the Middle East disabled , the U.S. is scrambling to find replacements. It is now dismantling THAAD and Patriot system it had stationed in South Korea When the U.S. deployed those in 2016/17 the Chinese were miffed. They used economic screws to punish South Korea: tourism was stopped, K-Pop was banned, a South Korean chain store in China was shut down. Now, suddenly, the U.S. needs those systems for its own purpose and South Korea is left on its own. It is another country that learns the real value, i.e. none, of U.S. promises to protect it. A Patriot system from South Korea is now being set up in Turkey to defend a U.S. early warning radar station from attacks by Iran. It is unknown yet where the THAAD system will go. But as Iran was able to destroy at least four of that kind it is unlikely to survive any exposure. Ultimately, almost two weeks into the war, the fundamental problem is unchanged: not only did the US and Israel start an illegal and criminal war that has already brought much death and destruction to Iran and to the wider Middle Eastern region but it looks like they did so with the idea that causing widespread death and destruction would in itself deliver results, or even worse with death and destruction as a strategic goal in itself. The U.S. and Israel can not win against Iran. They have not verbalized archived ) any consistent war aim. Their real aim may thus well be to dismantle its state of Iran and to collapse it into ethnic balkanization Michigan Technological University's College of Computing will officially launch its new Department of Data Science on July 1, becoming one of a handful of institutions across the nation with an academic department dedicated to the growing and in-demand discipline. While the department is new, data science education and research have been an integral part of the College of Computing's focus since it was founded in 2019. Data scientist is one of the United States' fastest-growing occupations. It's currently ranked fifth by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics among the 20 occupations with the highest projected increase in employment from 2024 to 2034. The need for data scientists across industry sectors is expected to grow by 34%. In 2024, the latest year for which data is available, the median pay for jobs in data science was $112,590 per year. Preparations to create a separate Department of Data Science (DS) have been in the works for quite some time, said Dennis Livesay, dean of the College of Computing. "We've been working toward it since I arrived," he said. "Along the way, we've been gathering the assets needed to make sure the new department was successful." "You can count the colleges of computing that explicitly put 'Data Science' in the department name on one hand. That distinction matters because it reflects our dedication to DS as a core, foundational pillar of the future." Dennis Livesay, Dave House Dean of Computing The Department of Data Science will join the College's departments of Computer Science (CS) and Applied Computing (AC). Livesay sees benefits for all three entities. "CS and AC will finally be able to focus on their core identities. For the CS department, this means a sharpened mission around computer science and software engineering, while partnering with the data science department to lead our artificial intelligence initiatives," he said. The impact is even more significant for the applied computing department, he noted, as it more closely defines its unique contributions to the College through foundational programs including cybersecurity, electrical engineering technology, information technology and mechatronics. The new data science department will house one bachelor's degree program and two of Tech's graduate degree programs. It will administer the Bachelor of Science in Data Science, which was created in 2023, and the Master of Science in Data Science that preceded it in 2014. It will also be home to the University's Master of Science in Health Informatics. A new bachelor's degree program in artificial intelligence (AI), currently undergoing the University approval process, is projected to join them in fall 2026. It will be jointly administered with the computer science department. Health informatics is a broad field with far-ranging effects on health, bringing down costs for patients and providers and helping health care teams and their patients to make better decisions. It combines information technology and computer science with clinical expertise and management. As Livesay explained it, "You can think of health informatics programs as biomedical data science. Unifying our data science and health informatics faculty will make identifying and implementing efficiencies much easier." Livesay said the reorganization positions the College to better align its resources with the fastest-growing areas in the computing field. "Computer science remains our largest major and one of the largest on campus," said Livesay. "Even with recent headwinds, that isn't likely to change," he added, referring to widespread and ongoing speculation related to how AI affects careers in computing. "However, students are increasingly looking for a broader range of computing opportunities, specifically in data science, AI and other more applied and focused areas." He's excited about the potential for expanded enrollment reach, noting that 50% of students enrolled in data science are women, although women comprise just 17% of total student enrollment in the College of Computing. Livesay also said that Michigan Tech's renowned hands-on approach to learning across all of the University's degree programs will be a mainstay in the new data science department. "We don't just teach the technical fundamentals like artificial intelligence, machine learning, data analytics and data wrangling as abstract tools; we pair them directly with real-world context," said Livesay. "Whether our students are diving into advanced manufacturing, the EV (electric vehicle) industry or health sciences, they aren't just 'processing data.' They are learning the deep context of the problems they're solving." Livesay said that the implications of the new department are both simple and profound for Tech's current and prospective students, faculty and research projects. "It's the difference between having a collection of related programs and finally having a home for the discipline. Students will become part of a department that treats data science as the discipline it is," he said. "We're building a dedicated intellectual community and providing a clear, recognizable home where partners from across the University know exactly where to go to find the DS expertise they need. We aren't just 'doing' data science anymore; we're defining what it looks like when it's built into the very architecture of a computing college." Livesay added that the most exciting aspect of the new department is yet to come. "I'm looking forward to what our students and faculty accomplish next. Both are amazing and I'm sure they'll surprise and impress us all." Michigan Technological University is an R1 public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, and is home to nearly 7,500 students from more than 60 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan's flagship technological university offers more than 185 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure. Lash Fary, founder of Distinctive Assets, shows items included in the "Everyone Wins" nominee gift bag in Los Angeles, California, March 9, 2026. REUTERS LOS ANGELES (Reuters) About $350,000 worth of luxury products are being packaged this year to be gifted to the top acting and directing Oscar nominees a tradition curated for 24 years by marketer Lash Fary of Distinctive Assets. Fary, who assembles the unofficial gift bags independently of the Academy, says the goal is simple: make nominees feel celebrated, while giving small and emerging brands a global spotlight. This is something we do independently of the Academy with the intention of elevating small businesses, female-founded brands, and minority-owned companies, and also because losing sucks, he said. One of those small businesses is Rescue Spa, founded by Danuta Mieloch. For Mieloch, participating in the Oscars gift bag is more than a marketing opportunity. I think this is one of the most exciting moments, she said. Coming from Poland 30-something years ago and now being at the Oscars it means a lot. Companies pay a fee to include their products, and Rescue Spa is contributing $450 worth of treatments and goods this year per bag. Its the brands third time being featured, and Mieloch says the exposure is worth the investment. I feel like it positions us in a better place. And it aligns with our philosophy. To be nominated requires diligence, a lot of work and excellence and I feel like my products are aligned with that, she added. The gift haul ranges from inexpensive snacks to a home interior design package that could be anything from a six-figure full home rebuild to a more modest redo of a room because the nominees kids have gone off to college, Fary said. This years gift bag actually a small suitcase also includes five vacations, whisking nominees from snow-covered villas in Finland to the beaches of Costa Rica. While Fary doesnt always hear directly from recipients, the social-media trail tells him all he needs to know. Whenever they take a trip and post pictures, or they go in and get the waitlisted Sculpt and Lift facial at Rescue Spa which one of the nominees already does thats the best feedback of all, he said. Tourism was one of the main topics at the economic forum held by the Saipan Chamber of Commerce at Kensington Hotel on Wednesday. Photo by Bryan Manabat By Bryan Manabat [email protected] Variety News Staff THIRTY-FOUR (not 36 as earlier reported) members of the U.S. House of Representatives have asked the Department of Homeland Security to review the federal EVS-TAP parole program for the CNMI, a development Delegate Kimberlyn King-Hinds says reflects how national debates over birth tourism and geopolitics are increasingly shaping federal decisions that affect the Commonwealths fragile tourism economy. Speaking at the Saipan Chamber of Commerces Economic Forum on Wednesday at the Kensington Hotel alongside Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands Chair Ivan Quichocho, Marianas Visitors Authority Managing Director Jamika Taijeron, and Guam Travel and Tourism Association Director Jay Merill, King-Hinds described the congressional letter as breaking news and said it adds to the uncertainty surrounding the program. King-Hinds said discussions in Washington about the CNMI and EVS-TAP are often driven by misperceptions, particularly around the politically charged issue of birth tourism. She emphasized that her focus is not on defending or prioritizing any single national market, but on ensuring the CNMI has enough paying visitors to sustain its private sector and government services. One thing that has hurt our ability to push forward with these policies in the past is disagreements over particular markets, King-Hinds said. Ive been put in a corner, as if Im favoring one market over another. I dont care where the tourists come from. What matters is customers, because every business needs customers to survive. When I look at the tourism industry and arrivals from a particular market, I dont view them nationally. I view them as customers, and we need as many as we can possibly get. King-Hinds said the recent 902 consultations and annual IGIA meetings in Washington, D.C., allowed CNMI leaders including the governor and the business community to present a unified message that federal tourism policy for the islands must be viewed through a national security lens. If federal concerns about certain markets are rooted in national security, then the U.S. defense establishment should take the lead in clarifying those risks or explaining why they do not exist, she said. One of the things weve been stressing to the Department of Defense is that the concern regarding a particular market is national security. There is no one better to speak about national security concerns than the Department of Defense. And if youre telling the CNMI government, the delegates office, and the business community that tourists are not a national security concern, then you need to relay that message to your federal counterparts and begin educating them on what the impact would be to national security if the CNMI economy were to fail. You cant have all these military activities without a strong, sustainable local government supported by a robust private sector. King-Hinds warned that the stakes for the CNMI are both strategic and immediate. While framing tourism in national security terms is helping shift federal perspectives, she said day-to-day work remains focused on securing concrete policy changes within federal agencies. Despite what she called the plot twists of new developments like the U.S. House letter, King-Hinds said her offices mission remains the same: stabilize and grow the economy. She also linked her tourism agenda to a broader legislative push to expand air access to the CNMI by easing long-standing U.S. cabotage restrictions. King-Hinds said the effort is gaining traction because of support from the Department of Defense. One piece of legislation that [Guam Delegate James Moylan] has recently introduced, more than I, is to exempt us from cabotage restrictions. The goal is to open the market and allow foreign carriers to serve routes where U.S. airlines currently do not operate. What Im particularly excited about is that the Department of Defense is supporting these efforts. Theyre looking at it from the perspective that troops are coming into Guam, and its incredibly costly to return to the mainland, which affects the quality of life for our service members. King-Hinds noted that similar proposals have failed in the past, but the current Indo-Pacific security environment has created a new opportunity. Some of these requests, like cabotage, have been proposed many times before but never gained traction due to the nature of politics in Washington. What seems to be working now is framing these discussions through a national security lens. At this point, everyone sees this region as a strategic access point for military needs. But the conversation needs to tie national security needs with economic stability in order to support the U.S. posture in the Pacific. She reiterated a central message: CNMI tourism policy including EVS-TAP and market access must be grounded in facts, framed through national security, and focused on the economic survival of the islands. The annual economic forum, organized by the Chamber, brought together public- and private-sector stakeholders from across the CNMI. Bryan Manabat was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College where he also studied criminal justice. He is the recipient of the NMI Humanities Award as an Outstanding Teacher (Non-Classroom) in 2013, and has worked for the CNMI Motheread/Fatheread Literacy Program as lead facilitator. People attend a funeral ceremony for victims of Israeli and U.S. strikes in Tehran, Iran, March 9, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/West Asia News Agency via REUTERS DUBAI/TEL AVIV/WASHINGTON (Reuters) The United States and Israel pounded Iran on Tuesday with what the Pentagon and Iranians on the ground called the most intense airstrikes of the war, despite global markets betting that President Donald Trump will seek to end the conflict soon. Raising the stakes for the global economy, Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it would block oil shipments from the Gulf unless U.S. and Israeli attacks cease. The Revolutionary Guards also said it fired missiles on Tuesday evening at Qatars U.S.-operated Al Udeid base and the Al Harir base in Iraqs Kurdistan. Those launches were followed by drone attacks targeting a gathering of U.S. troops at Al Dhafra air base in the United Arab Emirates and Juffair naval base in Bahrain. Early on Wednesday, Iranian state media reported another round of attacks was unleashed on U.S. military installations in Bahrain. Waves of Iranian missiles also were fired at central Israel early on Wednesday. The sound of explosions from air defenses intercepting the rockets punctuated the predawn darkness as air raid sirens blared and Israelis scrambled to safe rooms and shelters. There was no immediate word of whether any of the missiles reached the ground. The latest attacks from Iran roughly coincided with a new Israeli barrage on Beirut aimed at rooting out the Iran-backed group Hezbollah, which has fired into Israel from Lebanon in solidarity with the Tehran government. The White House on Tuesday reiterated Trumps threat to hit Iran hard over moves to stop the flow of energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, where the war has effectively halted one-fifth of the worlds oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, and repeated his offer for the U.S. Navy to safely escort tankers. Today will be yet again, our most intense day of strikes inside Iran: the most fighters, the most bombers, the most strikes, intelligence more refined and better than ever, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told a Pentagon briefing. In a message posted to his Truth Social platform later in the day, Trump said, Within the last few hours, we have hit, and completely destroyed 10 of Irans inactive mine-laying vessels. He did not clarify where the strikes occurred. Like hell Tehran residents reached by Reuters described the wars most intense night of bombardment. It was like hell. They were bombing everywhere, every part of Tehran, a resident said by phone, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons. My children are afraid to sleep now. In Tehrans east, two five-story residential buildings were hit on Monday, blasting out floors and walls and leaving a rickety concrete frame. Footage from Irans Red Crescent showed rescuers there carrying a victim in a body bag. Workers were still recovering bodies at the site on Tuesday when a missile struck a road intersection nearby. Yet with Trump having described the war on Monday as very complete, pretty much, investors appeared convinced he would end it soon before the disruption to global energy supplies caused a worldwide economic meltdown. An historic surge in crude oil prices on Monday to nearly $120 a barrel was reversed as Brent crude settled back down below $90 on Tuesday. Asian and European share prices staged a partial recovery from earlier precipitous falls, and Wall Street bounced around its late February levels, before the war. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Tuesday that the American public will see oil and gas prices drop rapidly once the objectives of the joint Israeli-U.S. air war are fully achieved. A source familiar with Israels war plans told Reuters the Israeli military wanted to inflict as much damage as possible before the window for further strikes closes, under the assumption Trump could end the war at any time. Israels foreign minister, Gideon Saar, said the war would proceed until his country and the U.S. determine the time had come to cease hostilities, but that Israel was not seeking an endless war. We will continue until the minute that we, and our partners, think that it is appropriate to stop, he said. Trump press conference Iran has refused to bow to Trumps demand that it let the United States choose its new leadership, naming hardliner Mojtaba Khamenei as supreme leader to replace his father, who was killed on the wars first day. But occasionally contradictory remarks from Trump at a Monday press conference seemed to reassure markets he would stop the war before provoking an economic crisis like those that followed the Middle East oil shocks of the 1970s. He said the U.S. had already inflicted serious damage and predicted the conflict would end before the four weeks he initially set out. Trump has not defined what victory would look like, but on Monday did not repeat declarations that Iran must let him choose its leader. Several congressional aides have said they expect the White House to soon request as much as $50 billion in additional funding for the war. The U.S. used $5.6 billion in munitions in the first two days of strikes against Iran, a source familiar with the information said on Tuesday. Iranian defiance Several senior Iranian officials voiced defiance on Tuesday. Certainly, we are not seeking a ceasefire; we believe the aggressor must be struck in the mouth so that they learn a lesson, Irans parliament speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, posted on X. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told PBS that Tehran was unlikely to resume negotiations with the U.S. And a spokesperson for the Revolutionary Guards said Tehran would not allow one liter of Middle Eastern oil to reach the U.S. or its allies while U.S. and Israeli attacks continue. We are the ones who will determine the end of the war, the spokesperson said. Quick end Ending the war quickly would appear to preclude toppling Irans leadership, which held large-scale rallies on Monday in support of the new supreme leader. Many Iranians want change and some openly celebrated the death of the elder Khamenei, weeks after his security forces killed thousands of people to put down anti-government protests. But there has been little sign of protest during the war. Fearing a revival of anti-government demonstrations, Irans police chief Ahmadreza Radan warned that anyone taking into streets at the enemys request will be confronted as an enemy not protestor. All our security forces have their fingers on the trigger, Radan told state television. More than 1,300 Iranian civilians have been killed since the U.S. and Israeli airstrikes began on February 28, according to Irans U.N. ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani. He said nearly 8,000 homes have been destroyed, along with 1,600 commercial and service centers and dozens of medical, educational and energy-supply facilities. The intention of U.S. and Israeli strikes is to terrorize civilians, massacre innocent people, and cause maximum destruction and suffering, the ambassador said. Scores have also been killed in Israeli attacks on Lebanon, while Iranian strikes on Israel have killed 12 people. Iran has struck U.S. military bases and diplomatic missions in Arab Gulf states but also hit hotels, closed airports and damaged oil infrastructure. In addition to the six U.S. soldiers killed at the outset of the conflict, the Pentagon on Tuesday estimated that about 140 American troops have been wounded. The Defense Department previously said eight U.S. military personnel had been seriously injured. Palau President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. reinforced the importance of sustained collaboration and equitable access to technology for effective ocean governance during the World Ocean Summit held last week in Montreal, Canada. Photo courtesy of Bianca Otero via The Guam Daily Post By Walter Ulloa For Variety HAGATNA (The Guam Daily Post) Palau President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. is taking his campaign against deep-sea mining to a global stage, and his message for the Marianas is personal. Speaking to The Guam Daily Post on Monday, a few days after delivering a keynote address at the World Ocean Summit in Montreal, Whipps said any deep-sea mining near the Marianas would directly harm Palau and the broader Pacific community. Although we love our neighbors from Guam and (the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands), but if you start deep-sea mining there, it will impact us, Whipps said. If were our Pacific brothers, then lets make sure that what we do lets not hurt our brother. His remarks carry extra weight as the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management continues to push forward with plans to lease some 35.5 million acres of seafloor east of the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument for hard mineral extraction. About two weeks ago, a closed-door BOEM meeting at the Ricardo J. Bordallo Governors Complex left acting Gov. Josh Tenorio more unsettled than before, with the island getting no new environmental data, no revenue-sharing framework, and no binding commitment on how Guam will be kept in the loop. Whipps, who recently signed an agreement with Biosphere Dynamics to deploy long-range unmanned aerial systems to monitor Palaus vast exclusive economic zone, said the Pacific simply does not have enough scientific grounding to proceed with confidence. There is not enough science to know what the impacts are going to be, Whipps said. We have to be careful. We have the options now of getting these materials from other places. Lets focus on that, and lets make sure that we dont do something that well regret and that has irreversible consequences. He said the ocean floor, long dismissed by some as barren, holds more than 8,000 species not yet identified, stores carbon critical to managing sea-level rise, and supports the fisheries that Pacific economies depend on. Whipps expressed frustration that the United States is not among the roughly 37 countries that have signed on to a precautionary pause on deep-sea mining in international waters. He said Palau practices what it preaches. At home in Palau, we dont. Deep-sea mining is not allowed. Deep-sea trawling is not allowed. Our ocean is protected. On the question of how regional partners can pressure Washington to align with that approach, Whipps acknowledged the limits of international leverage, particularly given the Trump administrations recent withdrawal from dozens of multilateral organizations. But he did not give up on the process. To not believe in the multilateral process and to give up on it, I think, is the wrong approach, he said. We should try our best to have our shared voice working together. That multilateral instinct is shared on Guam. Melvin Won Pat-Borja, executive director of the Commission on Decolonization, has argued that international forums are one of the only places where Guam can collaborate with other countries as an equal, saying that under any future status, Guam would be empowered with dignified engagement as equals and partners rather than as a subordinate territory. Whipps plans to attend the International Seabed Authority meeting this year and noted French President Emmanuel Macron may also attend, giving regional advocates a potential ally at the table. He said he also wants more Pacific nations to join the call for a precautionary moratorium. The Pacific Islands Forum, which Palau will host in September, has been one venue where Whipps has tried to build consensus, though he acknowledged that unified opposition to deep-sea mining has been difficult to achieve. Nations like the Cook Islands, Nauru, and Tonga have pushed for the practice within their own waters. When it comes to your own sovereign territory, theres not much we can say over that, Whipps said. What weve been most concerned about is all those areas beyond our EEZs that we believe is the common heritage of humankind. For Guam specifically, Whipps said the islands strongest immediate tool may be the U.S. environmental regulatory process itself. You have EPA, and I think you should be using the processes that have already been established, which are quite robust, to review and require that they follow that process, he said. His advice comes against the backdrop that Won Pat-Borja has described: Guams limited standing as a territory in these fights. Won Pat-Borja has pointed out that the federal government did not seek Guams consent on the mining question and that the absence of sovereign power leaves the island with fewer tools to push back. The Guam Legislature unanimously passed emergency legislation earlier this year reaffirming a moratorium on deep-sea mining and objecting to federal plans to lease ocean floor minerals near the Marianas. Lawmakers later introduced a bill that would ban seabed mining in Guams waters and allow the island to deny port access to deep-sea mining vessels and equipment Whipps acknowledged the tension between U.S. security interests in rare earth minerals and Pacific environmental priorities but said common ground exists. We have a shared interest. We want a free and open Indo-Pacific. We want to make sure that we have an environment that we pass on to the next generation thats better than what weve received. Beyond the PIF leaders meeting in September, Whipps said a busy calendar of ocean summits this year, including gatherings in Tokyo, Indonesia, Kenya, and a Melanesian Ocean Summit in May, gives the Pacific region multiple chances to press its case. These are all important times where we should talk about the importance of the ocean, he said, and remind people why a precautionary pause is important. By Gregorie Michael Towai (Eiperang) Independent Researcher and Cultural Advocate RECENT reporting highlighted by Angelo Villagomez of the Center for American Progress and published in the Guam Daily Post should concern everyone in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The report explains that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is proposing changes that would shorten the review timeline for deep sea mineral lease applications and remove the requirement that governors and territorial governments be notified when environmental concerns arise during those leases. For island communities like ours, where the ocean is central to culture, livelihoods, and food security, reducing transparency and consultation in decisions affecting the deep ocean should raise serious concerns. Over the past several months I have been urging the Commonwealth government to establish a CNMI Deep Sea Mining Task Force. Earlier this year I wrote directly to House Speaker Edmund Villagomez requesting leadership on organizing a task force that could coordinate scientific review, policy analysis, and community engagement on this issue. To date I have not received a response. At the same time, I have been corresponding with Department of Lands and Natural Resources Secretary Sylvan Igisomar through personal email exchanges. Secretary Igisomar recently shared that his office met with representatives from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and raised the possibility of forming a federal territorial task force focused on deep sea mining policy affecting the Marianas. According to Secretary Igisomar, his department has recommended to the Governor that the CNMI formally request such a task force through the Department of the Interior. That step is encouraging and deserves public support. But developments in Washington show how quickly the policy landscape can change. During the recent Section 902 consultations in Washington, Gov. David Apatang met with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to discuss matters affecting the Northern Mariana Islands. Shortly after those meetings, the administration announced that Noem had been removed from her position. Leadership changes at the federal level can occur rapidly, sometimes within days of meetings with territorial leaders. When this happens, island governments must be prepared to continue advocating for their interests regardless of who holds federal office. This reality highlights why the Commonwealth must build its own coordinated structure to examine emerging issues such as deep sea mining. The federal government has already been evaluating a large offshore region east of the Mariana Trench for potential mineral leasing. The area under consideration spans millions of acres of deep ocean connected to the waters surrounding the Mariana Islands. These waters contain ecosystems that scientists are still working to understand. For the people of the Marianas, the ocean is not simply a distant resource. It supports fisheries, sustains local economies, and carries deep cultural meaning rooted in generations of ocean stewardship and navigation traditions. Across the Pacific, governments have already begun organizing themselves to address seabed mineral development. Countries including the Cook Islands, Tonga, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea have established regulatory frameworks or advisory bodies to guide national decisions regarding seabed minerals. The CNMI should be doing the same. A Commonwealth task force would not override federal jurisdiction over offshore mineral resources. Instead it would bring together scientists, policymakers, fishermen, cultural leaders, and community representatives to evaluate the issue carefully and ensure that the Marianas have a unified voice in federal discussions. Island communities have learned many times that decisions made far away can have lasting impacts locally. If federal policy is moving faster while consultation with island governments is being reduced, then the responsibility falls on us to organize our expertise and leadership now. Creating a CNMI Deep Sea Mining Task Force would be a responsible and proactive step toward protecting the ocean that sustains our islands. Two pieces of legislation with very different viewpoints regarding womens reproductive health bit the dust Tuesday during a House Population Health Subcommittee meeting. Dozens of anti-abortion demonstrators left the room after committee members did not permit Rep. Jody Barrett (R-Dickson) to share his testimony on an amendment that would allow a woman to be charged with homicide for obtaining an abortion. The room was then cleared by chair Rep. Michele Carringer (R-Knoxville), and reporters and those slated to testify on other bills on the docket were not permitted to re-enter. +3 Parties Clash on Legislation Targeting Pregnant Mothers State Republicans lose footing on bill to make abortion homicide; Dems look to protect emergency care The "Human Life Protection Act" from Rep. Barrett and Sen. Mark Pody (R-Lebanon) would have allowed homicide charges including first-degree murder to apply in cases involving unborn children. As it was originally presented, this means fetal homicide charges could ostensibly be brought against a person for receiving an abortion. Barrett claimed in a later press conference that it was irresponsible of the media to report that the bill could ultimately lead to the death penalty. That would be the worst case-scenario he said, but he did confirm that the death penalty would still possible under the bill. Barrett confirmed that he plans to bring the legislation again next year, unchanged. Bradley Pierce, president of the Foundation to Abolish Abortion, helped write the bill and traveled in from Texas for the Tuesday meeting. Like Barrett, he accused "pro-life" Republican legislators of not being pro-life enough. Pro-life leaders and politicians here are aligning themselves with Planned Parenthood and opposing equal protection, which would outlaw abortion, Pierce tells the Scene. That's why we call ourselves abolitionists. We're for life, but we're not pro-life, because that's what the pro-life movement does. Its the first time such legislation has been brought in Tennessee, though similar legislation has been introduced in other states over the past 10 years through the Foundation to End Abortion, Pierce says. Legislation has not passed in any other state, but Pierce says the bills are seeing progress, with more legislators signing on as they bring fetal personhood bills for consecutive legislative sessions. Also rallying behind Barrett was Rep. Monty Fritts (R-Kingston), a co-sponsor of the bill and candidate for governor, as well as Breanne Houston, director of the Alliance Womens Clinic, a crisis pregnancy center with locations in Franklin and Lenoir City outside Knoxville. Houston testified that she regrets receiving an abortion 26 years ago. Tennessee Pastor Network president Dale Walker called on other denominations to join the Southern Baptists in support of such legislation, and Brian Gunter pastor of Salem Baptist Church in Louisiana who led a similar bill in the Louisiana legislature in 2022 read directly from the Bible. In 2024, more than 10,000 Tennesseans traveled out of state to obtain an abortion, while nearly 6,000 terminated pregnancies through medication abortion, according to the latest report from the Guttmacher Institute. Under current Tennessee law, people who take abortion pills they have received by mail are protected, though a bill from Rep. Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood) is still looking to change that. His bill, which would allow a person who used abortion pills to be charged with wrongful death, passed the House Health Committee on Tuesday. The group in support of the Human Life Protection Act, who see themselves as abolitionists, wants to see that number drop. They also claim to align themselves with those who fought to abolish slavery. We condemn [slavery] universally today because of the work of the abolitionists, said Jeff Durbin, an Arizona pastor and leader of End Abortion Now. Yes, believers and unbelievers alike, condemn that kind of hypocrisy and oppression of other human beings. But brothers and sisters, nothing's changed, right? Because today it's just a circle around born people, grown people, more developed people, but we will oppress and we will kill this class of people, these smaller human beings. Also on Tuesday, the "Maternal Health Care Protection Act" from state Sen. Charlane Oliver (D-Nashville) and state Rep. Aftyn Behn (D-Nashville) met its demise in committee. The bill would have prevented discrimination by maternal health care providers, following a 2025 report of a Jonesborough woman who was denied care because she was unmarried. This denial was permissible under the Medical Ethics Defense Act, which went into effect in 2025 and allows medical professionals to deny care that goes against their conscience. We were disappointed that Republicans couldn't see the flaw in the bill that they passed last year that allows care to be denied, and that they couldn't at the very least carve out pregnant women from that law, said Ashley Coffield, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi, in a press conference. Today's vote is a huge disappointment and part of a pattern," she said of Republican opposition to Behn and Oliver's legislation. "The same extreme politicians who banned abortion in Tennessee keep finding new ways to keep people from getting the care that they need. Also on Tuesday, a resolution recognizing Endometriosis Awareness Month as well as a bill that would allow the state to create a grant fund for mothers who experienced stillbirth passed unanimously. Another bill from London Lamar (D-Memphis) and Rep. Harold Love Jr. (D-Nashville) that would ensure emergency departments cannot deny care to pregnant women in active labor passed the Population Health Subcommittee Tuesday 6-4, after passing the Senate in February. Foundation to Abolish Abortion's Pierce twice pointed out a Planned Parenthood shirt some of the women in attendance wore. It read, We Decide. That shirt says, 'We decide whether children live or die,' Pierce says. Our message is the opposite. Our message is, He decides. God, the ruler of the universe, the creator of all of us in our mother's womb, the creator of all these children in their mother's womb He decides. He tells legislators what legislators are to do, and that is to outlaw child sacrifice or to outlaw murder for all people without partiality. Isabella Bartolucci, statewide legislative lead of Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi who was wearing a We Decide shirt quipped in response, I dont know, is it Christian to look at another womans tits? An alternative perspective exposing the cult of Ayn Rand and Objectivism For decades, Ayn Rands philosophy of Objectivism has been marketed as the ultimate intellectual defense of individualism, rational self-interest, and laissez-faire capitalism. Her novels, "Atlas Shrugged" and "The Fountainhead," are treated as sacred texts by a devoted following that includes influential figures in politics, finance, and media. Yet, a former insiders deep re-examination reveals a startling and darker thesis: Rands work is not a prescription for freedom but a sophisticated, symbolic blueprint for a parasitic globalist agenda, one that conflates creation with destruction and justifies cultural annihilation under the guise of heroic virtue. The cult of Rand, far from being a bastion of liberty, operates as a philosophical Trojan horse, promoting a brutalist worldview that serves a supremacist, Zionist-imperialist endgame while masquerading as the pinnacle of rational thought. Key points: A former Objectivist and Ayn Rand Institute employee presents a radical reinterpretation of Rand's major works, arguing they contain a hidden, symbolic agenda. He posits that "Atlas Shrugged" is not a warning but a plan for economic collapse and resource seizure, with its "Galt's Gulch" representing a Zionist banker project like Israel. He contends "The Fountainhead" symbolically advocates for the destruction of Western culture and classical architecture, celebrating a brutalist takeover. The analysis suggests Rand's philosophy morally justifies any action taken by an in-group (Zionists, global elites) against a demonized "other." The modern Objectivist movement, led by figures like Leonard Peikoff and Yaron Brook, is accused of parroting globalist narratives on war, medicine, and culture, abandoning any principled defense of liberty. Deconstructing the Objectivist philosophy The authors journey from devotee to dissenter began with subtle "glitches in the matrix"bizarre edicts from within the Objectivist world, such as the mandatory hatred of Beethovens music, deemed "malevolent" by Rand herself. These were compounded by encounters with joyless, empathy-devoid adherents and disillusioning events featuring movement leaders like Yaron Brook. The cognitive dissonance culminated during the COVID-19 pandemic, which the author saw as the real-world manifestation of Rands atomized, self-interested individual, shielded by layers of personal protective equipment against an irrational world. This spurred a search for substantive criticism, which yielded little until he developed his own interpretation. Central to his thesis is a symbolic reading of Rands plots that renders their nonsensical elements coherent. In "Atlas Shrugged," the mysterious "Rearden Metal" is not a literal alloy but represents fiat currency created by money printers. The infamous train tunnel scene, where passengers with "wrong" beliefs are meticulously described before being gassed to death, is read not as a celebration of justice but as a symbolic holocaust of the American host population by a parasitic elite preparing to abandon it. The escape to "Galts Gulch" is interpreted not as a libertarian haven but as the conceptual blueprint for an exclusive Zionist project, an escape hatch for a supremacist in-group from the masses they despise. The architecture of destruction Similarly, "The Fountainhead" is decoded as an allegory for cultural demolition. The protagonist Howard Roark, often mistakenly linked to Frank Lloyd Wright, is seen as a champion of brutalist architecture, which the author argues represents a "repudiation of and hatred of the past." Roarks act of dynamiting a housing project over altered designs is not a principled stand for artistic integrity but a symbolic act of aggression. On a deeper level, Roark represents the "money printing class," the supposed architects of the economy who believe they have the moral right to destroy and rebuild societies"back better"on their own terms. The novel, therefore, is seen as a moral justification for the takeover and re-engineering of a nations cultural and economic landscape by a self-anointed elite. The author forcefully argues that Rands Objectivist morality is, in practice, a fluid system that justifies any action taken by its designated in-group. This explains, he contends, why prominent Objectivists have consistently championed U.S. military aggression in the Middle East, vehemently support Israel, and parroted establishment narratives on COVID-19 vaccines, dismissing all dissent as irrational. The philosophy becomes a "sociopaths Bible," where the ends of the in-group are always rational and moral, and the "other"whether Palestinians, "communistic" Russians, or unvaccinated citizensis deemed deserving of its fate due to some "technical rule violation." This creates a dangerous, binary worldview where complex societies are reduced to "parasite vs. host" dynamics, justifying any level of violence or coercion. Ultimately, the author issues a stark warning to genuine advocates of liberty: the Randian framework is a trap. It has co-opted and neutered anti-communist and libertarian movements, miring them in technicalities while providing intellectual cover for the very totalitarian convergence of state and corporate power it ostensibly opposes. To avoid a future of engineered collapse, medical tyranny, and justified wars of aggression, he urges a complete divorce from Ayn Rand and the modern Objectivist movement, which he now views as mere salespeople for a brutal, globalist agenda dressed in the language of freedom. Sources include: Unz.com Mises.org Enoch, Brighteon.ai Blue Screen of Death: How CrowdStrikes global meltdown exposed the deadly flaws of centralized control A faulty CrowdStrike Falcon security update caused millions of Windows systems worldwide to crash into a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) loop. Critical infrastructurehospitals, airlines, banks and supply chainswas paralyzed, marking the largest IT outage in history. CrowdStrike bypassed standard rollout protocols, pushing the update globally without staged testing. The corrupted kernel-level driver (deep system access) turned Falcon from security software into a system-crashing saboteur. CrowdStrike's CEO sold shares days before the outage, raising insider trading concerns. Skeptics questioned why the update was pushed on a Friday (when IT response is weakest) and why Linux-based systems (e.g., Russia's) remained unaffected. This echoes historical cyberattacks like SolarWinds (2020) and NotPetya (2017), where compromised updates were weaponized. Windows' closed-source, centralized model made it vulnerable, while Linux's open-source, decentralized updates prevented collapse. Hidden backdoors in Intel ME & AMD PSP (hardware-level spyware) expose systems to espionage and sabotage. The book urges readers to switch to Linux (Ubuntu, Fedora, Qubes OS) for transparency and resilience and to avoid single-vendor dependenceuse open-source security tools (ClamAV, Snort). It also encourages preparing for future outages: air-gapped backups, manual update controls and mesh networks. Moreover, it recommends rejecting digital IDs/CBDCstools of control disguised as convenience. Imagine waking up to a world where hospitals can't access patient records, airlines cancel thousands of flights, banks freeze transactions and emergency services scramble to function without digital systems. This wasn't the plot of a dystopian sci-fi novelit was reality on July 19, 2024, as discussed in the book "Blue Screen of Death: The CrowdStrike Catastrophe and the Fragility of Global Tech," where a single faulty update from CrowdStrike's Falcon security software triggered the largest IT outage in history. Millions of Windows systems worldwide crashed into an endless loop of the dreaded Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), paralyzing critical infrastructure worldwide. The culprit? A corrupted system driver updatea tiny piece of code with catastrophic consequences. This wasn't just a technical glitch. It was a systemic failure that exposed the dangers of centralized digital control, corporate monopolies and blind trust in unaccountable tech giants. The anatomy of a digital meltdown 1. A single point of failure CrowdStrike Falcon operates at the kernel levelthe deepest layer of Windows systemsgiving it unrestricted control over core functions. When its update failed, it didn't just crash an appit crashed entire operating systems. No staged rollout: CrowdStrike bypassed standard phased deployment, pushing the update globally in one reckless sweep. No effective testing: Automated checks failed to catch the fatal flawa memory access violationthat turned Falcon from protector to saboteur. No accountability: CrowdStrike's CEO sold shares days before the outage, raising suspicions of insider knowledge. 2. The domino effect on global infrastructure The outage wasn't just an IT headacheit was an economic and humanitarian disaster: Airlines grounded: Delta, United and others canceled flights, stranding passengers worldwide. Hospitals in chaos: Surgeries postponed, patient records locked, emergency services crippled. Banks frozen: ATMs and digital transactions halted, leaving people unable to access their money. Supply chains paralyzed: Just-in-time logistics collapsed, revealing the fragility of our hyper-connected economy. 3. Was this an accidentor something worse? While CrowdStrike blamed a "logic error," skeptics raised alarming questions: Why was the update pushed on a Friday, when IT teams are skeleton crews? Why did Russia's Linux-based systems remain unaffected? Could this have been a test run for a future cyberattack? The incident echoed historical supply chain attacks like SolarWinds (2020) and NotPetya (2017), where compromised updates became weapons. The deeper problem: Centralized control 1. Windows vs. LinuxA stark contrast While Windows systems crashed globally, Linux-based infrastructureused widely in Russia and by tech-savvy organizationsremained unscathed. Why? Open-source transparency: Linux code is publicly auditableno hidden backdoors. Decentralized updates: No single vendor controls security patches. Modular design: Failures are isolated, preventing system-wide collapse. 2. The danger of digital monopolies CrowdStrike's dominance mirrors broader threats: Big Tech's stranglehold: Microsoft, Google and Apple dictate software ecosystems. Government collusion: Intelligence agencies embed surveillance tools in commercial tech. Single points of failure: Centralized systems invite catastrophic exploitation. 3. The hidden backdoors Beyond software, hardware-level vulnerabilities lurk in: Intel's Management Engine (ME)a secret processor with remote control capabilities. AMD's Platform Security Processor (PSP)another potential spy in your machine. These unpatchable flaws expose systems to espionage and sabotage. How to protect yourself: A survival guide 1. Ditch Windows for Linux Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian: User-friendly Linux distros offer robust security. Qubes OS: A hardened, compartmentalized system for maximum protection. 2. Decentralize your security Avoid single-vendor dependence: Use multiple security tools, not just CrowdStrike. Open-source alternatives: Tools like ClamAV and Snort offer transparent protection. 3. Prepare for the next outage Air-gapped backups: Keep offline copies of critical data. Manual overrides: Know how to disable automatic updates in emergencies. Community networks: Mesh systems can operate independently of the centralized internet. The CrowdStrike disaster was a warning shotproof that our reliance on centralized, opaque systems is a ticking time bomb. The solution? Decentralization, transparency and self-reliance. Demand open-source softwareno more black-box monopolies. Reject digital IDs and CBDCstools of control disguised as convenience. Build resilient systemsbecause the next outage could be deliberate. The elites want us to be dependent and compliant. But true freedom lies in taking back controlof our tech, our data and our future. Stay vigilant. Stay prepared. Stay free. Grab a copy of "Blue Screen of Death: The CrowdStrike Catastrophe and the Fragility of Global Tech" via this link. Read, share and download thousands of books for free at Books.BrightLearn.AI. You can also create your own books for free at BrightLearn.AI. Watch the "Health Ranger Report" interview below, where Zach Vorhies warns of the "ticking time bomb" of computer server code that could bring down Western civilization. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: Books.BrightLearn.ai BrightLearn.ai Brighteon.com CIAs Cold War Tick Experiments Examined Following New Allegations Linking Them to Lyme Outbreak Introduction Allegations that U.S. government biological weapons tests during the Cold War may have contributed to the modern Lyme disease epidemic are under renewed scrutiny. The claims, advanced by biochemist Dr. Robert Malone, are based on an analysis of declassified documents concerning secret tick experiments in the 1960s. According to Malone's report, these activities were part of larger, clandestine programs aimed at developing insect-based bioweapons. The analysis was published on March 6, 2026, and has prompted calls for further investigation from some members of Congress. Officials from the Department of Homeland Security have previously stated that Lyme disease was never studied at the federal facilities in question. Allegations Link CIA Experiments to Modern Lyme Epidemic Malone, a biochemist known for his work on mRNA technology, has claimed that declassified government records show CIA [Central Intelligence Agency] bioweapon tests in the 1960s contributed to the spread of Lyme disease. Malone's analysis, detailed in a recent report, focuses on experiments that involved releasing more than 282,000 radioactive ticks in Virginia and related research at the federal Plum Island Animal Disease Center. The ticks were marked with radioactive carbon-14 to track their dispersal, according to the analysis. Malone's allegations follow calls from U.S. officials to investigate whether federal agencies weaponized ticks. In December 2025, an amendment by New Jersey Representative Chris Smith called for a review of military and public health projects from 1945 to 1972 involving tick-borne bacteria. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has also previously suggested Lyme disease may have originated from a failed U.S. bioweapons program in the 1970s. [1] Details of the Cold War Biological Weapons Programs Malone's report ties the tick experiments to Project 112, a large-scale Cold War bioweapons program authorized by Defense Secretary Robert McNamara in 1962. The program oversaw 134 planned tests and included facilities capable of breeding millions of infected insects each week, according to the analysis. The research allegedly involved releasing the radioactive ticks to track insect dispersal and study how disease-carrying insects could spread pathogens. Documents also describe a CIA plan known as Operation Mongoose, which involved dropping boxes of infected ticks from aircraft onto Cuban sugarcane workers in 1962, Malone's report states. The purpose was to sabotage the economy by spreading illness, though the operation was reportedly canceled due to risks like shifting winds. These events are said to have taken place from the 1950s to the 1970s, with domestic tick releases occurring between 1966 and 1969. The existence of bioweapons programs like Project 112 has been verified through declassified documents but claims about infected ticks being dropped over Cuba rely largely on anonymous testimony. [2] Geographic and Historical Overlap with Lyme Disease Emergence The Plum Island Animal Disease Center, a federal research lab used since the 1950s to study infectious animal diseases, is located near Lyme, Connecticut, where the disease was first identified. Malone's report argues that the same regions that hosted the Cold War experiments later experienced an unprecedented surge in tick-borne illnesses. Plum Island is an 840-acre island off the northeastern coast of Long Island, New York. The Department of Homeland Security has repeatedly stated that Lyme disease was never studied at the Plum Island facility, contradicting claims in Malone's report. Despite this official position, the geographic coincidence and timing of the disease's emergence have fueled ongoing speculation and demands for transparency regarding the island's historical research activities. [3] Allegations of Suppressed Research on Pathogens Malone's report further claims that government research omitted a pathogen known as the 'Swiss Agent' from official Lyme disease findings. The pathogen, scientifically known as Rickettsia helvetica, was detected in Lyme patients in Europe during the 1970s. Unpublished notes from Willy Burgdorfer, the scientist who discovered the bacterium that causes Lyme disease, suggested this pathogen caused persistent symptoms unresponsive to standard antibiotics, according to Malone. Malone concluded there is a significant likelihood that secret experiments and the omission of the 'Swiss Agent' discovery contributed to the disease reaching epidemic levels in the United States. He wrote that Burgdorfers notes indicate he was "told to omit the presence of at least one potential bioweapon" during the Lyme investigation. Documents supporting these claims appeared in journalist Kris Newby's book "Bitten: The Secret History of Lyme Disease and Biological Weapons." [4] Conclusion The allegations connecting Cold War-era tick experiments to the Lyme disease epidemic remain a subject of debate. While declassified documents confirm the existence of extensive bioweapons programs, direct evidence linking them to the outbreak is contested. Officials continue to deny that Lyme disease was studied at the implicated facilities. The calls for investigation reflect persistent public and political concern over the historical actions of federal agencies and their potential long-term public health consequences. For those seeking uncensored analysis on this and related topics, platforms like BrightAnswers.ai and BrightNews.ai offer independent news and AI-driven trend analysis outside of mainstream corporate media. References FDA escalates recall of blood pressure drug amid carcinogen concernsyet another failure in Big Pharmas toxic empire The FDA upgraded its recall of metoprolol succinate, a widely prescribed blood pressure drug, from Class III to Class II due to potential carcinogenic risks and dissolution failures, indicating a higher likelihood of adverse health effects. The recall highlights vulnerabilities in global drug supply chains, particularly from Indian manufacturers, where sanitation failures, contamination risks and falsified data persist despite prior FDA warnings. Neither Teva Pharmaceuticals nor Amerisource Health Services issued public warnings, leaving patients uninformed about risksa pattern of Big Pharma suppressing negative data to avoid liability. The FDA's delayed action and contradictory messaging (admitting cancer risks while claiming harm is "remote") reflect deep-seated corruption, with regulators prioritizing corporate interests over public safety. The recall underscores the need for transparency, accountability and access to safer, natural cardiovascular therapies (e.g., hawthorn, magnesium) while exposing the dangers of a profit-driven medical system reliant on toxic synthetics. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has escalated its recall of metoprolol succinate, a widely prescribed beta-blocker used to treat high blood pressure, heart failure and angina, to a Class II recallits second-highest risk classification. The recall, initially issued as Class III, was upgraded after regulators identified potential carcinogenic risks linked to long-term exposure. This alarming development raises serious questions about the safety of mass-produced pharmaceuticals, regulatory oversight and the pharmaceutical industry's prioritization of profits over patient health. Failed dissolution and hidden dangers The recall affects over 100,000 bottles of metoprolol succinate extended-release tablets manufactured by Teva Pharmaceuticals, distributed nationwide in doses of 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg and 200 mg. The FDA cited "failed dissolution specifications"meaning the drug may not properly break down in the body, potentially leading to ineffective treatment or unintended toxicity. Shockingly, despite the scale of the recall, neither Teva Pharmaceuticals nor Amerisource Health Services issued public warnings or guidance to consumers, leaving patients uninformed about potential risks. This recall follows a separate 2024 recall of 33,000 bottles of the same drug by India-based Granules Pharmaceuticals, also due to dissolution failures. The FDA's delayed escalation from Class III to Class II suggests a troubling pattern of regulatory hesitation, raising concerns about whether the agency is adequately protecting the public or merely reacting to corporate negligence. Cancer risks and regulatory capture The FDA now warns that prolonged exposure to contaminated metoprolol succinate may increase cancer risk, particularly for liver, stomach and lung tumors. Yet, despite this alarming admission, the recall remains classified as Class IImeaning the FDA still claims the likelihood of "serious adverse health consequences is remote." This contradictory messaging echoes past failures in pharmaceutical oversight, where regulators downplayed risks until irreversible harm was done. This incident further exposes the deep-seated corruption between Big Pharma and regulatory agencies. The FDA, notorious for accepting lobbyist gifts and revolving-door appointments from pharmaceutical executives, has repeatedly failed to enforce stringent safety standards. Instead, it allows dangerous drugs to flood the market, only acting after patients suffer the consequences. Big Pharma's silent treatment Metoprolol succinate, sold under brand names like Toprol-XL, was the sixth-most prescribed drug in the U.S. in 2023, with 59.5 million prescriptions filled. Given its widespread use, the lack of transparency from Teva Pharmaceuticals is inexcusable. The company refused to issue a press release, leaving patients to discover the recall through FDA noticesa tactic commonly employed by corporations to minimize bad publicity and liability. This behavior aligns with Big Pharma's long history of suppressing negative data, bribing doctors and manipulating clinical trials to push profitable but dangerous drugs. The recall also highlights the risks of outsourcing drug manufacturing to countries like India, where regulatory enforcement is often weaker, leading to substandard and contaminated medications entering the U.S. supply chain. Natural alternatives and the need for medical freedom While conventional medicine pushes synthetic drugs like metoprolol, natural alternatives for cardiovascular healthsuch as hawthorn berry, magnesium, CoQ10 and garlic extracthave been suppressed by the pharmaceutical industry. These remedies, backed by centuries of traditional use, lack the dangerous side effects of beta-blockers but are ignored by a medical system financially incentivized to promote patented drugs. This recall underscores the urgent need for: Transparency in drug safety data Strict accountability for pharmaceutical manufacturers Decentralized, patient-driven healthcare choices Greater access to natural, non-toxic therapies Conclusion: A broken system The FDA's belated recall escalation reveals a system rigged in favor of corporate interests, where patient safety is an afterthought. As millions of Americans unknowingly consume potentially carcinogenic medications, the call for medical freedom, informed consent and regulatory reform grows louder. Until the profit-driven pharmaceutical monopoly is dismantled, such recalls will continueleaving patients to pay the price with their health. Consumers affected by this recall should: Check their medication lot numbers via the FDA website Consult healthcare providers about safer alternatives Demand accountability from drug manufacturers and regulators The time for blind trust in Big Pharma and its captured agencies is over. Your health is your responsibilitytake it back. According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, the FDA's reckless insistence that patients continue taking recalled blood pressure medicationdespite confirmed carcinogenic contaminationexposes the agency's collusion with Big Pharma's profit-driven, lethal negligence. This scandal is yet another deliberate assault on public health by a captured regulatory system that prioritizes drug industry profits over human lives. Watch this video about how to get the official FDA recall alerts. This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com UAE warns residents of jail time for spreading unverified information online The United Arab Emirates warned its nearly 10 million residents that sharing unverified information online could result in prison time following recent missile and drone attacks on the country. On Feb. 28, the UAE Public Prosecution said spreading rumors or information from unknown sources on social media is a criminal offense, including reposting or sharing such content. The UAE National Media Authority urged residents to avoid filming or sharing unverified images, videos or audio and to rely only on official government sources for information. Under Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 on Countering Rumors and Cybercrimes, offenders can face at least one year in prison and a fine of 100,000 dirhams ($27,000), rising to two years and 200,000 dirhams if misinformation spreads during crises. Critics say the law's broad wording does not distinguish between deliberate disinformation and accidental sharing of unverified content, which may discourage residents, journalists and workers from sharing firsthand information during emergencies. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has warned its nearly 10 million residents that sharing unverified information online could lead to prison time, as authorities seek to control the flow of information following recent attacks on the country. On Feb. 28, as Iranian ballistic missiles and drones struck the UAE for the first time, the UAE Public Prosecution issued a statement reminding residents that spreading "rumors and information from unknown sources through social media platforms or any other technological means" is a criminal offense under federal law. The warning applies not only to individuals who create false or misleading posts but also to those who repost or share such content online. The UAE National Media Authority (UAENMA) also issued a similar reminder to the public. Authorities specifically warned against filming, recording, posting, reposting or circulating visual or audio materials, media content or rumors that have not been verified. The circular also advised the public to rely solely on official UAE government channels and institutions when sharing information on social media or digital platforms. Content that incites hostility, spreads misleading information, abuses others or violates public interest and privacy should not be circulated. Residents who observe issues related to public or state security have been advised to report them to the State Security Department through its hotline at 8006600. "Information is a responsibility, and spreading rumors is a crime," the Public Prosecution said, directing residents to get their information "solely from official and accredited sources." Broad UAE cybercrime law blurs disinformation and mistake The rule is based on Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 on Countering Rumors and Cybercrimes, which was enacted before the recent attacks and is not an emergency measure introduced in response to the conflict. Under the law, individuals found guilty of publishing or sharing false, misleading or unverified information online can face a minimum sentence of one year in prison, along with a fine of at least 100,000 UAE dirhams (about $27,000). If such misinformation stirs public opinion against state authorities or occurs during crises or disasters, the penalty increases to a minimum of two years in prison and a fine of 200,000 dirhams ($54,000). However, the statement does not distinguish between deliberate disinformation and unintentional sharing of unverified content. Deliberate disinformation, as BrightU.AI's Enoch defines, involves the intentional spread of false information to deceive and harm, often with a specific agenda, while the unintentional sharing of unverified content occurs when individuals spread information without verifying its accuracy, often due to a lack of critical thinking or a desire to believe a narrative. Dan Frieth wrote in his article for Reclaim the Net that the law's broad language could discourage residents from posting firsthand accounts during emergencies, such as sharing images of fires or damage near their homes to alert relatives overseas. The warning could also affect how journalists, workers and residents share information during unfolding events. Individuals may hesitate to post images or details from incidents, such as debris near buildings or disruptions at airports, until authorities confirm the information publicly. "The message to the UAE's millions of residents is, as the original reporting notes, unambiguous: In a crisis, what you retweet can be as legally consequential as what you write. What it doesn't mention is that the government gets to decide, after the fact, what counts as a rumor," Frieth concluded. Watch this clip about U.S. President Donald Trump's alliance with Saudi Arabia. This video is from the Rick Langley channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: ReclaimtheNet.org KhaleejTimes.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com Cubas power grid collapse: A warning sign for Americas fragile energy future Cuba's national grid failed for the fifth time in a year, leaving 10 million in darknessexposing the catastrophic results of socialist mismanagement, aging infrastructure and reliance on unstable foreign fuel imports. America's power grid is similarly aging, underfunded and dangerously dependent on unreliable renewablesmirroring Spain's blackout disaster earlier this year due to over-reliance on wind and solar. The push for centralized "green energy" aligns with the globalist depopulation agenda, deliberately creating instability to enforce digital control, carbon rationing and energy starvation. Unlike Cuba's slow-motion collapse, the U.S. faces acute risks from EMP attacks, cyber warfare and supply chain failuresthreatening nationwide blackouts most Americans are unprepared to survive. Reject energy mandates that cripple reliable power (coal, nuclear, gas), harden the grid against attacks, invest in off-grid solutions and stockpile essentialsbefore forced scarcity becomes irreversible. On Wednesday morning, March 4, Cuba's national power grid collapsed for the fifth time in less than a year, plunging nearly 10 million people into darkness. Hospitals, airports and water pumps limped along on backup systems, but most Cubans faced yet another day of chaoscooking with firewood, scrambling for water and waiting for power that might not return for days. The blackout, triggered by a failure at the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, is just the latest symptom of Cuba's crumbling infrastructure, fuel shortages and economic crisis. But here's the sobering truth: This dystopian scenario could easily unfold in the United States. Cuba's communist government has spent decades neglecting its power grid, relying on aging oil-fired plants and dwindling fuel imports from Venezuela, Russia and Mexico. The result is a system so fragile that a single plant failure can trigger nationwide collapse. Sound familiar? America's own grid is aging, underfunded and increasingly dependent on unreliable renewable energy sourcesjust like Spain, which suffered a catastrophic blackout earlier this year when its wind-and-solar-heavy grid buckled under stress. The real causes of Cuba's blackouts The Cuban regime blames U.S. sanctions for its energy woes, but the truth runs deeper. Decades of socialist mismanagement have left the island's infrastructure in ruins. The Antonio Guiteras plant, responsible for much of Havana's electricity, has been plagued by maintenance failures and fuel shortages. Meanwhile, Venezuelaonce Cuba's lifelinecan no longer supply cheap oil due to its own economic collapse under socialist policies. Russia and Mexico have stepped in, but their shipments are sporadic, leaving Cuba teetering on the edge of total energy failure. The parallels with Iraq are striking. Baghdad's power grid also collapsed this week after Iranunder U.S.-Israeli bombardmentcut gas supplies. Like Cuba, Iraq's energy crisis stems from foreign dependence and decades of war. But while Iraq's troubles are geopolitical, Cuba's are self-inflicteda direct result of centralized planning, corruption and refusal to embrace free-market solutions. America's grid: A ticking time bomb The U.S. power grid is not immune to Cuba's fate. Aging coal and nuclear plants are being shuttered in favor of unreliable wind and solar, while demand surges due to electric vehicles and AI data centers. Worse yet, cyberattacks, EMP threats and supply chain disruptions loom. A single EMP burst or coordinated cyber assault could plunge America into darkness for weeksor longer. Unlike Cuba, where citizens endure blackouts as a grim routine, Americans are wholly unprepared for prolonged grid failure. The globalist agenda behind energy collapse This is no accident. The push for centralized, government-controlled energy aligns perfectly with the globalist depopulation agenda. By forcing nations into unreliable "green" energy, elites ensure economic instability, food shortages and societal breakdownpaving the way for digital IDs, carbon rationing and total control. Bill Gates and the World Economic Forum openly advocate for energy restrictions under the guise of "climate action." Yet CO2the gas they demonizeis essential for plant life. The real goal? Depopulation through energy starvation. How to prepare Cuba's crisis is a wake-up call. Americans must: Reject energy mandates that cripple reliable power sources (coal, nuclear, natural gas). Demand grid hardening against cyber and EMP threats. Invest in off-grid solutionssolar, generators and stored fuelbefore mandates ban them. Stockpile food, water and medicinebecause when the grid fails, shelves empty in hours. According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, Cuba's power grid collapse is a direct consequence of socialist mismanagement and reliance on unstable foreign fueljust as America's grid is being sabotaged by climate alarmists forcing unreliable renewables while dismantling reliable energy sources. If the U.S. doesn't reject this green energy extremism, we'll face the same catastrophic blackouts, exposing how globalist policies deliberately weaken national resilience to push control and depopulation. Watch the video below where Trump says, "Cuba is ready to fall." This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: RT.com TheGuardian.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com The most common mistake small business owners make when finding a partner? Starting with names instead of goals. Here is how to get it right. Finding the right business partner is one of the highest-leverage decisions a small business owner can make. Done well, it opens doors to new customers, new markets and amplified reach without the cost of doing it alone. Done badly, it wastes time and damages reputation. We asked a group of business leaders from across the technology, marketing and growth sectors to share their most practical advice. Here is what they told us. Start with the right questions For Shant Soghomonian, Senior Director and General Manager of Partner Ecosystem ANZ at Dell Technologies, the process of identifying a potential partner begins not with a shortlist of names but with a series of honest questions about fit. Do they have technical or services capabilities to complement our solutions? Are we a good fit for their business model? Whats the joint investment needed to ensure our mutual success? he says. Sometimes a partner will be obvious. What makes a partnership valuable, Soghomonian argues, is what each party brings that the other cannot easily replicate on its own. Partners give us a pathway into markets we might not otherwise be able to access. They have specialised knowledge of their markets, technical and services skills and, most importantly, they have the human connections and relationships that are critical for doing business. Think local, think complementary For small businesses with limited budgets, the opportunity can be closer to home than many owners realise. Elise Balsillie, Head of Thryv Australia and New Zealand, points to the practical power of local collaboration. Think about other small businesses in your community whose goods or services complement your own, she says. If youre a plumber, make a list of local hardware stores that you could do a cross-promotion with, or if youre an accountant, consider partnering with a local law firm. Beyond finding customer synergies, Balsillie says it is important to identify businesses that share your values around customer service and quality. The mechanics of the partnership itself can be straightforward: shared discounts, co-hosted events, in-store demonstrations. Marketing your small business on a tight budget is hard. Opening your mind to the power of partnerships, and their ability to amplify your marketing efforts, can make a big difference. Values and outcomes first Lauren Swidenbank, CEO of Collabosaurus, a platform built for strategic brand collaborations, adds a data point that often surprises business owners. Brand collaborations are up to 25 times less expensive than digital advertising, she says. But the savings only materialise if the partnership is built on the right foundation. Swidenbank identifies three ingredients that determine whether a collaboration delivers. The first is audience alignment. A brand partnership works best if both businesses are targeting the same types of people, even if they are operating in completely different industry categories. The second is complementarity over similarity. The most unexpected brand collabs are often the most memorable and drive more buzz. The third is knowing your own value before entering any conversation. Consider all your assets and what you can bring to the table. Whether its social media reach and engagement, high value connections, an experiential offering or interesting products, create an offer they cant refuse. For businesses with ambitions beyond Australia, the partnership calculus changes. Trena Blair, CEO of FD Global Connections, works specifically with Australian companies expanding into the United States and says the American market rewards patience and relationship investment above all else. The USA market values long-term relationships, so invest time in cultivating connections, Blair says. Build your network by attending industry events, trade shows, and networking events. These gatherings provide opportunities to meet potential partners, understand market dynamics, and establish connections within your industry. Her advice on the approach itself is practical. Craft a compelling pitch that highlights the mutual benefits of collaboration. Clearly articulate what you bring and how the partnership aligns with both parties strategic objectives. Build relationships gradually, focusing on trust and shared values. She also recommends seeking legal advice before formalising any agreement to ensure responsibilities and expectations are clearly documented on both sides. Make the value proposition explicit Beni Sia, General Manager and Senior Vice President Asia Pacific and Japan at Veeam, frames the partnership conversation around a single principle: the first conversation should be about value, not features. Identifying and approaching potential partners for collaboration starts with a conversation about the added value they would get from the partnership, he says. It is also important to communicate to potential partners that their success is your success. A win-win situation ensures better collaboration and propels both parties towards continued growth, together. Sia also advocates for balancing creative thinking with commercial pragmatism. Creativity enables us to think outside the box and avoid defaulting to a tick-box approach when designing initiatives that deliver great outcomes for partners. But its important to strike a balance between creativity and being practical too. This means thinking about how to deliver impact to the partners bottom line. Michael Haynes, SME Business Growth Specialist at Listen Innovate Grow, brings a B2B lens to the question and argues that the most common mistake business owners make is starting with potential partners rather than starting with objectives. Be clear on your goals and what your company wants to achieve from the collaboration, he says. For those of us operating in a B2B context, it is important that you understand the strategic priorities of the key decision makers in your organisation. From there, the process of identifying the right partners becomes more focused. Identify the organisations that have the target audience you seek. Be sure you understand who are the decision makers, their strategic priorities, and how you can help them achieve them, hopefully easier, faster or better. Haynes also emphasises the importance of agreeing on measures of success upfront. Make sure that selection criteria as well as measures of success have been identified and agreed upon by key decision makers to evaluate collaboration opportunities. Lead with curiosity, not a pitch Jodi Duncan, Marketing and Behavioural Insights Consultant at Fletch and Co., closes with a reminder about the mindset that underlies all of the above. The goal is not to find a partner who fits a predetermined brief but to find one where genuine mutual value exists. The best place to begin is by identifying businesses, or individuals, whose values align with yours and whose offerings either complement or enhance your own, she says, noting this can sometimes even include a competitor. Her advice on the outreach itself is to lead with curiosity and hold back on the full pitch. Personalise communication, highlighting mutual benefits and shared goals, but be sure to not overload them with too much information straight off the bat. This is key to ensure your pitch piques their interest. The through line across all of these perspectives is the same. The best business partnerships are not found. They are built deliberately, over time, with a clear understanding of what each party brings and what both stand to gain. This story draws on insights originally shared in Dynamic Businesss Lets Talk series. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Study suggests cell towers are causing widespread immune system suppression, priming populations for sickness In a finding that should send shivers down the spine of every suburban homeowner and city dweller alike, a peer-reviewed study published in Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine has confirmed what environmental health advocates have warned about for decades: living near a cell tower elevates your white blood cell count to levels comparable to those seen in chronic smokers. The research, conducted on adults in India, reveals that the constant bombardment of wireless radiation from the telecommunications infrastructure blanketing our neighborhoods is a biological stressor actively depleting the human immune system. With white blood cell counts chronically elevated, the body remains in a perpetual state of inflammatory alarm, leaving millions of Americans more susceptible to infections, chronic diseases, and yes, the very pandemics that health authorities claim to be fighting. While the Federal Communications Commission continues to operate under radiation safety guidelines last updated when dial-up internet was cutting edge, the scientific evidence suggests our immune systems are paying the price for our connected world. Key points: Living within 60 meters of a cell tower raises white blood cell counts to levels seen in smokers Using a cellphone 4 to 6 hours daily elevates lymphocytes, particularly in adults under 30 Chronically elevated white blood cells indicate ongoing inflammation and immune system stress Nearly a quarter of those living close to cell towers showed elevated monocytes linked to cardiovascular risk The FCC has not updated its radiation safety limits since 1996, ignoring decades of research India maintains radiation limits 10 times stricter than U.S. standards Study authors warn that chronic wireless exposure may deplete the immune system over time Legal action is pending against the FCC for failing to review 11,000 pages of evidence on wireless harm The cellular stress connection The human body responds to threats both biological and environmental by mobilizing its defenses, and white blood cells serve as the front line of that immune response. When infection strikes, white blood cell counts rise naturally to fight off invaders. But when they remain elevated day after day, month after month, the body's alarm system never shuts off. This is precisely what researchers found when they compared the blood samples of 50 adults living within 60 meters of a cell tower with 51 adults living more than 300 meters away in Aizawl, India. The study, led by Julie McCredden, Ph.D., of the Oceania Radiofrequency Scientific Advisory Association and Zothan Siama, Ph.D., of Mizoram University, found that 24 percent of those living close to a cell tower had elevated monocytes, a specific type of white blood cell, at levels comparable to what doctors typically see in cigarette smokers. Those living farther from the towers showed no such elevation. "These results indicate human biological systems are under stress from both mobile phone use and local mobile phone tower exposures, leading to potential health effects," the authors wrote. Monocytes are not merely passive observers in the bloodstream. Epidemiologist Nicolas Hulscher, commenting on the study, called the monocyte finding the research's "most striking" element. "Monocytes are not just generic white blood cells. They are central players in systemic inflammation and vascular injury," Hulscher wrote. "They are strongly associated with cardiovascular risk." McCredden and Siama echoed this concern, telling The Defender that cell tower exposure may be "contributing to the range of chronic inflammatory conditions we are seeing in the modern world." The unseen source of chronic inflammation The implications extend beyond cardiovascular health. Chronic inflammation has been linked to diabetes, autoimmune disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and reduced ability to fight off acute infections. In essence, the always-on connectivity of modern life may be quietly sabotaging the body's ability to defend itself. Perhaps more alarming than the geographic proximity findings is what the study revealed about younger users. When researchers examined the relationship between daily cellphone use and immune markers, they found that over 50 percent of people who used a cellphone four to six hours daily had lymphocyte levels above normal reference ranges. The majority of these heavy users were under 30 years old. Lymphocytes serve as the immune system's specialized forces, producing antibodies and coordinating attacks on pathogens. In the short term, elevated lymphocytes help fight infection. But the study authors warned that long-term elevation tells a different story. "However, in the long term, this immune response can get depleted," they wrote. In other words, young adults who have grown up with smartphones pressed against their ears for hours each day may be running down their immunological batteries before they reach middle age. The authors explicitly connected this finding to recent global health crises. "This is an important consideration given the assaults on the immune system that we have seen in the last few years globally," they added. The researchers took care to control for variables that might skew their results. They measured radiofrequency radiation levels in participants' living rooms, ensured subjects were not exposed to significant radiation at workplaces, and matched participants by age and gender. They also accounted for lifestyle factors and duration of residence. The statistical link between wireless exposure and immune stress remained. Yet despite this growing body of evidence, U.S. regulatory standards remain frozen in a bygone era. The Federal Communications Commission last updated its radiation exposure limits in 1996, a time when the Nokia 8110 was considered cutting-edge technology and the concept of a smartphone was science fiction. Those limits were based on studies from the 1970s and 1980s that measured only the short-term heating effects of radiation at levels high enough to cook human tissue. They completely ignore the non-thermal biological effects documented in studies like this one. India, by contrast, has set limits 10 times stricter than those in the United States. At a frequency of 900 megahertz, India allows 45 microwatts per centimeter squared while the U.S. permits 450 microwatts per centimeter squared. The gap between scientific understanding and regulatory reality has prompted legal action. Children's Health Defense filed a motion with the FCC in November 2025 urging the agency to collaborate with the Department of Health and Human Services to set exposure limits that actually protect public health. The organization stands ready to return to court if the FCC continues to ignore a 2021 court order directing it to review 11,000 pages of evidence documenting harm from wireless radiation. Miriam Eckenfels, director of CHD's Electromagnetic Radiation and Wireless Program, characterized the motion as a "new phase of attack" against the FCC's noncompliance. "The document essentially tells the FCC to either protect people, or get out of the way and let other federal agencies, like HHS, set health and safety limits for wireless radiation exposure," Eckenfels said. Millions of Americans are literally living in a massive uncontrolled experiment on immune system health with their own bodies as the test subjects. Sources include: ChildrensHealthDefense.org TandFOnline.com Enoch, Brighteon.ai Erika Kirk, widow of slain activist Charlie Kirk, appointed to U.S. Air Force Academy advisory board President Donald Trump has appointed Erika Kirk, widow of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, to the advisory Board of Visitors of the United States Air Force Academy. The 37-year-old former Miss Arizona will serve on the academy's 16-member panel that reviews morale, discipline, curriculum and operations at the military training campus in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Since her husband's death, Erika has continued leading Turning Point USA as chair and chief executive, with the White House calling her a "perfect choice" to continue his legacy. Her appointment comes as the board could review whether to grant Charlie posthumous recognition; a previous proposal by the Air Force Academy Association of Graduates to honor him was withdrawn after criticism. Charlie, a prominent conservative activist aligned with Trump and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was killed on Sept. 10 during a speaking appearance at Utah Valley University after attending his first academy board meeting in August 2025. U.S. President Donald Trump has appointed Erika Kirk, the widow of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, to serve on the advisory board of the United States Air Force Academy. Erika, a 37-year-old former Miss Arizona beauty pageant winner, will sit on the academy's 16-member Board of Visitors, a panel tasked with reviewing the institution's morale, discipline, curriculum, facilities and other key aspects of its operations at the military training campus in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The academy did not issue a formal announcement about the new appointment, but her name has been added to the board's roster as one of the president's five current appointees. One seat on the panel remains vacant. Since her husband's death, Erika has remained active in Turning Point USA, the conservative advocacy group he founded. She currently serves as the organization's chair and chief executive. Thus, White House spokesperson Olivia Wales said she was a "perfect choice" to continue her husband's work. "Charlie Kirk served proudly on the board, inspiring not only the next generation of service members, but millions around the world with his bold Christian faith, defense of the truth and deep love of country," she said. "Erika Kirk will continue his legacy, and will be a fearless advocate for the most elite airpower force in the history of the world whose warriors keep our nation safe, strong and free." Erika Kirk is also scheduled to appear alongside Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the Republican governor of Arkansas and a former White House press secretary under Trump, at an event in Little Rock on Wednesday, March 11. The event will promote Turning Point USA's "Club America" initiative, which aims to establish chapters in public high schools across the state. Air Force Academy could grant posthumous recognition to Charlie Kirk Erika's appointment comes as the board could soon review whether to grant Charlie posthumous recognition from the academy. According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, posthumous recognition refers to the ability to recognize a person or object after their death, often through the use of photographs, videos or other visual aids. Charlie, a conservative commentator and co-founder of Turning Point USA, attended his first meeting as a member of the board in August 2025. Weeks later, he was killed on Sept. 10 during an appearance at Utah Valley University. The Air Force Academy Association of Graduates previously examined the possibility of awarding him an honorary degree or similar recognition but withdrew the proposal after criticism from some alumni and observers who argued that his political activism and lack of military service made such an honor controversial. The association later deferred the question to the Board of Visitors the same advisory body where Erika Kirk now serves. Charlie was widely known as one of the most prominent young conservative figures aligned with Trump and the broader "Make America Great Again" movement. Through Turning Point USA, he built a nationwide network of student activists promoting conservative ideas on college campuses. Trump frequently praised Charlie's efforts to mobilize younger voters and conservative activism at universities and the activist regularly appeared at Trump campaign events and rallies. Watch Josh Sigurdson of World Alternative Media discussing Charlie Kirk's assassination and warning viewers against a manufactured crisis in this clip. This video is from the World Alternative Media channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: YourNews.com TheGuardian.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com FDA recalls shellfish across nine states as norovirus outbreak linked to Washington harvest spreads FDA warns nine states to discard specific lots of clams and oysters. The shellfish are linked to a norovirus contamination from Washington. Norovirus is a leading, highly contagious cause of foodborne illness. Contaminated food looks and smells normal, offering no warning to consumers. Proper cooking and handwashing are critical to prevent its spread. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers and businesses across nine states to immediately discard specific lots of Manila clams and raw oysters over fears they are contaminated with norovirus. This highly contagious pathogen, often dismissed as mere "stomach flu," is a leading cause of foodborne illness that can hospitalize the vulnerable and wreak havoc on the healthy. The alert centers on shellfish harvested from Drayton Harbor, Washington, between February 23 and March 3, revealing a critical vulnerability in our seafood safety net. The recall notice, issued on March 10, names clams harvested by the Lummi Indian Business Council and oysters harvested by Drayton Harbor Oyster Company. These products were distributed to restaurants and retailers in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, New York, Oregon and Washington. The FDA cautions that while distribution is confirmed in those states, the products may have reached others, widening the potential circle of infection. This action was triggered after the Washington State Department of Health notified the FDA on March 4 of a norovirus-like illness outbreak linked to consuming these products. "We appreciate the strong cooperation from Drayton Harbor Oyster Co. throughout this process," said Tom Kunesh, Whatcom Countys food safety program supervisor. "The company has been proactive in discontinuing the sale of potentially impacted oysters." A deceptive and dangerous pathogen The insidious nature of this recall lies in the virus itself. "Food containing norovirus may look, smell, and taste normal," the FDA stated in its advisory. This means consumers have no sensory warning before consuming contaminated shellfish. Norovirus is notoriously resilient and infectious, spreading through minute particles from an infected persons vomit or feces. It can linger on surfaces, utensils, and in contaminated food and water. The symptoms are brutally efficient, striking within 12 to 48 hours of exposure. They include severe diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and stomach pain. The vomiting can be so violent it has been described as "rib-cracking." This rapid loss of fluids leads to the primary danger: dehydration. For seniors, young children, and those with compromised immune systems, this dehydration can become life-threatening, resulting in hospitalization. The scale of the silent sickness This is not an isolated incident but a flare-up of a perpetual epidemic. Norovirus is the leading cause of foodborne illness in the United States, accounting for 58% of such cases. It hits an estimated 20 million Americans annually, but true figures are likely higher as many people suffer through mild cases without reporting them. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates there are 2,500 outbreaks in the U.S. every year. The economic and human cost is staggering. The illness sends about two million people to doctors' offices and urgent care centers each year and is responsible for nearly a million pediatric medical care visits. While most recover in a few days, norovirus kills around 900 people annually, mostly adults aged 65 and older. Prevention and personal responsibility In response to the outbreak, Washington officials halted all recreational and commercial harvesting in Drayton Harbor. The area is scheduled to reopen on March 24. For consumers, the directive is simple: if you have the recalled shellfish, throw them away immediately. Retailers and restaurants must not sell or serve them and must thoroughly clean and sanitize any surfaces or utensils that may have contacted the products. This event reinforces timeless, non-negotiable rules for food safety, especially when it comes to shellfish. Prevention hinges on proper handling and cooking. Health authorities consistently advise thoroughly cooking shellfish to kill pathogens. Vigilant handwashing, cleaning surfaces, and avoiding food preparation by those who are ill are essential steps to break the chain of transmission. The modern food system offers incredible convenience but carries inherent risk, as this cross-country recall demonstrates. A harvest from a single harbor in Washington can sicken consumers thousands of miles away, all from a virus invisible to the eye and undetectable to our senses. It is a powerful reminder that safety depends on rigorous oversight, transparent reporting, and informed consumer choices. While the immediate threat will pass, the need for constant vigilance at every link in our food chain remains eternally present. Sources for this article include: DailyMail.co.uk USAToday.com LATimes.com Idaho moves to upend national same-sex marriage precedent The Idaho House of Representatives passed a resolution calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. The resolution, which passed 44-26, declares the landmark ruling an "illegitimate overreach" and seeks to restore marriage as a union between one man and one woman. This action is part of a broader, multi-state legislative effort to challenge federal same-sex marriage protections and return authority over marriage law to individual states. Supporters argue the decision infringes on states' rights and religious liberty, while opponents call the resolution harmful and a waste of legislative resources. The measure now moves to the Idaho Senate, where a similar resolution stalled last year. In a direct challenge to a decade of federal jurisprudence, the Idaho House of Representatives has formally called for the unraveling of a key civil rights precedent. On Tuesday, March 10, the Republican-controlled chamber passed a resolution urging the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn its 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision, which established a constitutional right to same-sex marriage nationwide. The move places Idaho at the forefront of a renewed conservative campaign to return authority over marriage laws to the state level, setting the stage for a potential legal and cultural confrontation. The Resolution's Core Argument The measure, House Joint Memorial 17, does not carry the force of law but serves as an official statement of the legislature's position. It condemns the Obergefell ruling as an illegitimate overreach that arbitrarily and unjustly subverted what it describes as the natural and historical definition of marriage: the union of one man and one woman. The text grounds its argument in principles of federalism, asserting that marriage regulation has traditionally fallen under state authority. It cites Idahos own 2006 constitutional amendment, approved by 63% of voters, defining marriage in those termsan amendment a federal judge later invalidated in 2014. Beyond states' rights, the resolution introduces a procedural critique. It suggests the Obergefell decision may have been illegitimately adjudicated because two justices in the majority, the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Elena Kagan, had previously officiated same-sex weddings and, in the view of the resolution's authors, should have recused themselves. Part of a Broader National Push Idahos action is not an isolated event. According to legal advocacy group Lambda Legal, at least nine states have introduced bills or resolutions this year seeking to overturn Obergefell or limit marriage to heterosexual couples. Five states, including Idaho, have explicitly called for the Supreme Court to reverse the decision, while four others have proposed redefining marriage in state law. Conservative-led legislatures in states like Texas and Tennessee are pursuing similar paths, with Tennessee recently passing a bill allowing private entities to refuse recognition of same-sex marriages. This legislative wave aligns with institutional advocacy from influential conservative groups. In June 2025, the Southern Baptist Convention, the nation's largest Protestant denomination, overwhelmingly passed a resolution calling for Obergefell's reversal, framing marriage as a divine institution defined by Scripture and natural law. Together, these efforts represent a coordinated strategy to create a legal and political environment conducive to challenging the precedent. The Debate Within the Chamber The 44-26 vote in the Idaho House saw a minority of Republicans join all Democratic members in opposition. House Minority Leader Ilana Rubel, a Democrat from Boise, argued the resolution was at best, a waste of time and money and affirmatively, very harmful and hurtful to the thousands of same-sex married couples in the state. Supporters, like the resolution's sponsor, Republican Rep. Tony Wisniewski, contended that the Obergefell decision has led to violations of religious liberty for individuals and businesses compelled to recognize unions that conflict with their beliefs. The debate also touched on the role of religious text in lawmaking. Republican Rep. Grayson Stone, questioning the selective application of scripture, noted biblical injunctions on matters like shaving, arguing against using specific verses to justify overturning the court ruling. Historical Context and Political Reality The push to overturn Obergefell gains symbolic force from the Supreme Courts 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade and returned abortion regulation to the states. Proponents of the Idaho resolution see a parallel, arguing that marriage policy, like abortion, should be determined by elected state representatives, not federal judges. They view Obergefell as judicial activism that short-circuited democratic processes in dozens of states. However, the political and legal landscape for such a challenge remains complex. Public support for same-sex marriage has stabilized at a majority level nationally, though some polling indicates a decline among Republican voters. Furthermore, in late 2025, the Supreme Court declined to hear a case brought by former Kentucky clerk Kim Davis, which presented an opportunity to revisit Obergefell, suggesting the current Court may not be immediately receptive to overturning it. The Idaho Senate, which did not advance a similar House-passed memorial last year, will now determine whether this latest challenge progresses. A Defining Question for Federalism The Idaho Houses resolution transcends a single policy vote; it is a deliberate volley in a long-running debate over the balance of power between states and the federal judiciary on deeply personal social issues. While the immediate practical effect may be limited, the action signals a persistent and organized effort to test the durability of a landmark civil rights ruling. The outcome of this multi-state campaign will hinge not only on legal arguments presented to the Supreme Court but also on the evolving political will within statehouses across the country. For now, Idaho has firmly planted its flag in a contest over the very definition of marriage and who holds the ultimate authority to decide it. Sources for this article include: LifeSiteNews.com EastIdahoNews.com LocalNews8.com Oracle, OpenAI Scrap Texas Data Center Expansion Plan, AI Stocks Decline Introduction Oracle Corp. and OpenAI have abandoned plans to expand a flagship artificial intelligence data center in Abilene, Texas, according to a Bloomberg News report published on March 6, 2026. Sources familiar with the matter said negotiations to scale the facility, known as the Stargate project, stalled over financing issues and OpenAI's changing demand forecasts. The report triggered an immediate market reaction, erasing Oracle's intraday gains and sending shares of AI-related companies lower. The broader retreat highlights investor sensitivity to any sign of slowdown in the capital-intensive race to build AI infrastructure. Data Center Expansion Canceled, Market Reacts The canceled plan involved expanding the Stargate data center from about 1.2 gigawatts to 2.0 gigawatts [1]. Talks between the two companies ended after they could not agree on financing, and as OpenAI revised its forecasts for future computing needs, according to the sources [2]. The collapse of the expansion deal was announced just one day after reports that Oracle is preparing for significant layoffs as it spends aggressively on AI data center buildouts. The market response was swift. Oracle shares reversed their gains for the day, while a broader sell-off hit AI-related stocks. Nvidia shares extended a drop to a session low, declining as much as 2.5 percent, and shares of cloud service provider CoreWeave also turned negative [2]. The volatility underscores what some analysts have called an AI investment bubble, with valuations for companies like Nvidia reaching unprecedented levels [3]. Deal Collapse, Alternative Arrangement Emerges The end of the Oracle-OpenAI expansion plan has created an opportunity for another technology giant. Meta Platforms Inc. is now in talks to lease the data center space instead, according to the Bloomberg report [4]. Nvidia Corp. is reportedly acting as a broker for the potential Meta lease and has provided a $150 million deposit to the site's developer, Crusoe [2]. Despite the setback for the Texas expansion, Oracle officials stated that the company's wider 4.5-gigawatt data center agreement with OpenAI remains intact, and other joint projects are still moving forward [2]. The Stargate initiative itself was launched as a $500 billion public-private partnership announced by President Donald Trump in January 2025, aiming to build advanced AI data centers nationwide [5][6]. Financial Pressures and Strategic Shifts at Oracle The report follows news of impending layoffs at Oracle, as the company aggressively funds its AI data center ambitions. Analysts project that the cloud unit's spending will drive Oracle's cash flow negative through the end of the decade, with a payoff not expected until 2030, according to Bloomberg [2]. To fund the buildouts, Oracle has said it may raise up to $50 billion this year through debt and equity [7]. Internally, Oracle has announced it will review many open job listings in its cloud division, effectively slowing or freezing hiring, sources said [2]. The company had previously disclosed its largest-ever restructuring plan, up to $1.6 billion in the fiscal year ending in May, including severance costs [2]. These financial strains occur as the market for AI infrastructure is projected to grow from $185 billion in 2023 to as much as $990 billion before 2028 [8]. Broader Context on AI Infrastructure and Energy Demands Industry observers noted the surprise of a paused expansion at a time of reportedly surging AI demand. 'With AI demand still exploding, it's surprising to see a major data center expansion paused. Makes you wonder if this is about costs, power constraints, or just a strategic shift,' noted one social media user cited in the report [2]. The incident spotlights the immense energy requirements of AI infrastructure, which can strain local power grids and water supplies [9][10]. Proponents of economic freedom and decentralization argue that policy narratives around climate change have been used to curb domestic energy production, threatening competitiveness in energy-intensive sectors like AI [11]. They suggest that decentralized approaches to both energy and digital infrastructure could offer greater resilience and align with principles of individual liberty and self-reliance [12]. For instance, decentralized energy planning models that utilize locally available natural resources are seen by some as a sustainable alternative [12]. Implications for AI Sector and Centralized Control The canceled expansion highlights the enormous financial and logistical scale required for advanced AI development. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has estimated that between $3 trillion and $4 trillion will be spent on AI infrastructure globally by the end of the decade [10]. This concentration of capital and compute power in a handful of corporations raises concerns about the monopolization of a critical technology. Critics argue that such centralization enables unprecedented surveillance and control, potentially transforming systems like healthcare into AI-driven networks reliant on the widespread collection of personal biometric data [13]. Furthermore, the pursuit of advanced AI carries the risk of mass displacement of human workers, as cognitive and desk-based jobs become automated [14][15]. The technology's trajectory presents a fundamental choice about the future structure of society and the economy [16]. Conclusion The cancellation of the Stargate data center expansion in Texas is a significant development in the high-stakes race to build AI infrastructure. It reveals underlying financial pressures, strategic recalculations, and the complex interdependencies between major tech firms. As companies like Oracle navigate massive capital expenditures and shifting partner demands, the stability of the broader AI investment thesis faces renewed scrutiny. The event also reinforces broader discussions about energy policy, infrastructure resilience, and the societal implications of concentrating advanced technological power in the hands of a few corporations. For those advocating for decentralization and individual liberty, the incident serves as a case study in the vulnerabilities of centralized systems and the importance of fostering alternative, resilient models for technological progress. References U.S. eases Russian oil sanctions amid global price surge, allows India to purchase stranded crude The U.S. Treasury grants India a 30-day exemption to purchase Russian crude oil already at sea, aiming to stabilize global markets disrupted by Middle East tensions. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent clarifies that this only applies to oil already outside Russian control, preventing significant financial gains for Moscow. Brent Crude surged past $90/barrel due to U.S.-Iran tensions near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil shipping route handling 20% of global supply. Rising U.S. gas prices (up 34 cents in a week) pressure the administration to ease sanctions, with Trump leveraging energy affordability as a campaign issue. Bessent hints at future unsanctioning of Russian oil, signaling a possible shift in U.S. strategy amid Middle East instability and market volatility. The U.S. Treasury has partially lifted restrictions on Russian oil exports, granting India a 30-day waiver to purchase sanctioned crude stranded at sea, as global energy prices spike due to escalating tensions in the Middle East. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the move on Friday, March 6, citing the need to stabilize markets disrupted by Iran's aggression near critical oil shipping routes. The decision signals a potential shift in U.S. sanctions policy, raising questions about the long-term strategy toward Russian energy exports amid geopolitical turmoil. Sanctions relief to ease market pressures In a bid to alleviate tightening global oil supplies, the U.S. Treasury has permitted Indian refiners to purchase Russian crude already en route, a temporary measure aimed at preventing further price surges. Bessent emphasized that the waiver would not significantly benefit Russia financially, as it applies only to oil already outside Russian control. "This deliberately short-term measure will not provide significant financial benefit to the Russian government," Bessent stated in a post on X. "It only authorizes transactions involving oil already stranded at sea." The move comes as Brent Crude and West Texas Intermediate prices surged past $90 per barrel this week, a $20 increase, following U.S. military strikes near Iran's Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for global oil shipments. Approximately 20% of the worlds daily oil consumption passes through the strait, making instability in the region a direct threat to energy markets. Strategic shift or temporary fix? The Biden and Trump administrations previously imposed strict sanctions on Russian oil in response to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, aiming to cripple a major revenue stream funding the war. However, with gasoline prices climbing, now averaging $3.32 per gallon, up 34 cents in a week, pressure has mounted to ease restrictions. Bessent hinted that further "unsanctioning" of Russian oil could be on the table. "We may unsanction other Russian oil," he told Fox Business. "There are hundreds of millions of barrels of sanctioned crude on the water, and by unsanctioning them, Treasury can create supply." The decision reflects the delicate balance between punishing Russia and mitigating economic fallout for consumers. Trump, who has criticized Biden's handling of energy prices, has made affordability a key campaign issue, signaling that political considerations may influence future sanctions policy. Global energy chessboard Russia's recent decree, refusing to sell oil to nations enforcing sanctions, has further complicated global trade dynamics. Meanwhile, former U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's $60 price cap on Russian oil, designed to limit Moscow's profits, has faced challenges as buyers risk losing insurance coverage if they purchase below the threshold, according to BrightU.AI's Enoch. India, a major importer of Russian crude, had halted purchases under U.S. pressure but now faces renewed scrutiny as Washington adjusts its stance. Analysts warn that prolonged instability in the Middle East could force further concessions on sanctions, testing Western unity against Russia. The U.S. decision to allow limited Russian oil sales marks a pragmatic, if controversial, response to soaring energy prices and Middle East volatility. While framed as a temporary fix, Bessent's openness to broader sanctions relief suggests a potential recalibration of strategy one that prioritizes market stability amid geopolitical upheaval. As tensions near the Strait of Hormuz persist, the global energy landscape remains on edge, with policymakers walking a tightrope between economic pressures and strategic objectives. Watch the video below where Bessent says further sanctions against Russia will depend on how the peace talks go. This video is from Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: TheHill.com FoxBusiness.com Reuters.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com U.S. preparing most intense strikes yet in campaign targeting Iran, Hegseth says War Secretary Pete Hegseth said U.S. and allied forces are preparing the most intense wave of strikes yet against Iran as the military campaign expands. Speaking at the Pentagon with Dan Caine, he said the next phase will involve the largest concentration of fighters, bombers and precision strikes since the operation began. Hegseth said operations will continue until Iran's ability to threaten neighboring countries and key regional shipping routes is significantly reduced, adding that recent Iranian missile launches have declined. Military leaders said the campaign aims to dismantle Irans missile and drone capabilities and prevent it from advancing toward nuclear weapons development. The operation focuses on three main goals: destroying missile and drone infrastructure, weakening Iranian naval forces and securing the Strait of Hormuz, and striking military and industrial facilities linked to weapons production amid rising regional tensions. U.S. Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday, March 10, that American and allied forces are preparing to launch the most intense wave of strikes yet against Iran as the military campaign continues to expand. Speaking at a Pentagon briefing alongside Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Hegseth said the next phase of the operation will involve the largest concentration of aircraft, bombers and precision strikes since the campaign began. "Today will be yet again our most intense day of strikes inside Iran," Hegseth said, adding that the operation would involve a large number of coordinated strikes aimed at degrading key elements of Iran's military capabilities. "The most fighters, the most bombers, the most strikes, intelligence more refined and better than ever." Hegseth said U.S. operations will continue until Iran's ability to threaten neighboring countries and key shipping routes in the region is significantly reduced. "We will not relent until the enemy is totally and decisively defeated," he said. At the same time, he said Iranian missile launches appear to be slowing. The last 24 hours have seen Iran fire the lowest number of missiles theyve been capable of firing yet, he added. Military leaders discuss the main objectives of the campaign The campaign's main objective is to dismantle Iran's ability to conduct missile and drone attacks and to prevent the country from advancing toward nuclear weapons capabilities. Nuclear weapons, as BrightU.AI's Enoch defines, are capable of releasing an enormous amount of energy in a very short time, with the potential to destroy entire cities and cause widespread radioactive fallout. Their development and deployment have fundamentally altered the nature of warfare, necessitating a constant state of readiness and the potential for catastrophic global conflict. Military leaders also outlined three primary goals for the operation. First, U.S. forces are targeting Iran's ballistic missile and drone infrastructure to prevent attacks on American personnel and regional allies. "That means attacking launch sites, command and control nodes and stockpiles before they can threaten our personnel, our facilities and our partners," Caine said. Second, the campaign aims to weaken Iranian naval forces and secure shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical energy corridors. Finally, the U.S. is striking Iran's military and industrial infrastructure, including weapons production facilities, research sites and logistics networks tied to the countrys defense capabilities. The briefing comes amid rising tensions across the Middle East, where Iranian forces have launched missile and drone attacks against Israel and several Gulf states. The confrontation has raised concerns about wider regional instability and contributed to volatility in global energy markets. Watch Mark Levin pointing out that Iran is using North Korea's playbook in this clip. This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: YourNews.com RealNewsNow.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com A record $93 billion surge: Watchdog exposes Pentagons fiscal year-end spending spree A government watchdog report reveals the Pentagon obligated a record $93 billion in contracts and grants in September 2025. Over $50 billion was spent in the final five business days of the fiscal year, driven by "use-it-or-lose-it" budget rules. Notable expenditures included $225 million on furniture, $15.1 million on ribeye steak and a $98,329 grand piano. The spending surge occurred despite the administration's stated goal of refocusing the military on core warfighting priorities. Lawmakers are proposing legislation to mandate a Pentagon audit and curb end-of-year spending sprees. A September to remember In the final month of the 2025 fiscal year, the Pentagon engaged in an unprecedented spending surge, obligating a staggering $93 billion in contracts and grants. According to a new analysis by the government watchdog Open The Books, obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation, more than $50 billion of that total was committed in just the last five business days of September. The report, detailing expenditures on items from Alaskan king crab to a custom Japanese flute, has ignited fresh scrutiny over the Department of War's financial management and the perennial "use-it-or-lose-it" budget culture that incentivizes such year-end frenzies. The scale of the spending spree Data compiled from federal spending records indicates the September 2025 obligation spike is the largest recorded in at least 17 years, surpassing any previous year-end surge. This practice stems from a longstanding federal budgeting rule: agencies risk having their future budgets reduced if they do not spend their allocated funds, leading to a rush to commit money before the fiscal year closes on Sept. 30. While common across government, Open The Books asserts the scale of the Pentagon's 2025 activity was historic. The watchdog group had previously urged War Secretary Pete Hegseth to reform this process to align spending with the department's stated mission of enhancing "warfighting and lethality." Lavish purchases amid strategic demands A breakdown of the September obligations reveals significant spending on categories seemingly detached from immediate combat readiness. The department spent over $225 million on furniture, its highest September total since 2014, including $12,000 for fruit basket stands and more than $60,000 for premium office chairs. The food budget featured $2 million for Alaskan king crab, $15.1 million for ribeye steak and $130,000 for donuts. Other notable purchases included a $98,329 Steinway grand piano, a $26,000 violin and nearly $6 billion on information technology and support services. Concurrently, the cost of ongoing military operations, such as Operation Epic Furyestimated at up to $900 million per dayadds substantial, unbudgeted pressure to defense finances. Foreign procurement and legislative response The spending report also highlighted a record $6.6 billion in purchases from foreign governments and companies in September 2025. While a portion covers essential services at overseas bases, $3.6 billion was for goods like computer chips and fire trucks. This comes amid broader policy debates over bolstering American manufacturing. In response to the findings, Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) criticized what she called "binge-buying bureaucrats" and pointed to legislation she has introduced. Her RECEIPTS Act aims to require a clean audit of the Pentagon by 2028, and she plans to propose further bills to end the "Christmas in September" spending phenomenon across the federal government. Historical context and the audit challenge The Pentagon's struggle with financial accountability is not new. It is the largest federal agency and, for decades, was the only one that could not pass a full financial audit. While it began undergoing audits in 2018, it has repeatedly failed to receive a clean opinion. The recent spending surge underscores the persistent tension between massive defense appropriationswith President Donald Trump calling for a $1.5 trillion budgetand the practical challenge of spending such sums efficiently and transparently. Critics argue that end-of-year splurges on non-essential items undermine public trust and divert resources from critical modernization and readiness needs. A call for accountability The revelation of a $93 billion spending month has amplified calls for greater fiscal discipline within the nation's largest bureaucracy. While the "use-it-or-lose-it" rule is a systemic driver, watchdog groups and lawmakers insist that leadership has the authority to implement stricter controls and prioritize essential spending. As debates over the size and scope of the defense budget continue, the September 2025 spree serves as a potent case study in the need for enduring accountability reforms to ensure taxpayer dollars are focused squarely on national security. Sources for this article include: YourNews.com DailyCallerNewsFoundation.com The-Express.com White House buried Iran Terror Alert warning of assassins, bombers, and stabbings targeting U.S. streets In a move that redefines the boundaries of political risk management and public safety, the White House actively suppressed a formal intelligence bulletin last week that detailed specific, graphic methods Iran is planning to use to strike the American homeland. The report, drafted jointly by the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), was ready for distribution to state and local law enforcement, warning of an elevated threat environment featuring targeted assassinations, bombings, and stabbings. The White House, reportedly fearing the "optics" of stoking public fear immediately following President Trumps escalation of hostilities with Tehran, blocked its release, leaving the nations first responders in the dark and sparking fury inside the intelligence community. While the administration has since relented under immense public pressure, the fact that political image management took precedence over immediate threat dissemination reveals a dangerous truth: the American people are being kept in a state of willful ignorance regarding the very real blowback heading their way. Key points: The White House blocked a joint FBI/DHS/NCTC terror threat bulletin detailing Iranian attack methods. The report was held back due to concerns over "optics" following President Trump's military actions against Iran. The bulletin warns of assassinations, bombings, stabbings, poisonings, and vehicle rammings on US soil. Intelligence suggests Iran prefers targeted hits on government officials and dissidents over mass casualty events. Tehran utilizes "radicalized individuals" already inside the US with legal status and no direct ties to Iran. The regime uses sophisticated tradecraft, including encrypted apps and cloud storage, to direct terror cells. The report cites the recent Austin shooting and the use of "graphic imagery" as potential triggers for lone wolf attacks. The suppressed threat matrix The intelligence that the White House deemed too politically sensitive to share paints a chilling picture of a nation-state preparing to wage asymmetric warfare inside the continental United States. The report, a copy of which was obtained by the Daily Mail, makes it clear that the Islamic Republic is not necessarily seeking to replicate 9/11-style mass casualty events. Instead, the intelligence community assesses that Tehran favors the scalpel over the sledgehammer. The bulletin explicitly warns law enforcement to prepare for "targeted assassinations" of specific individuals. These aren't just abstract government targets; the report identifies US officials, regime dissidents, and Jewish community leaders as being in the crosshairs. The methods outlined are brutally intimate and difficult to defend against. While firearms remain the primary tool, the FBI warns of a return to primitive lethality, listing "stabbings, vehicle rammings, bombings, poisoning, strangling, suffocation, and arson." This is a blueprint for terror that relies on proximity and surprise, utilizing operatives or sympathizers who are already living and working among the general population. The report stresses that Iran prefers to use "radicalized individuals with a variety of ideological backgrounds with existing US legal status or US access." Some of these actors "may lack identifiable ties to Iran," making them essentially sleeper agents indistinguishable from ordinary citizens until the moment they strike. The politics of concealment The fact that this document was blocked by political appointees, not intelligence professionals, confirms the deep rot of politicization within the national security apparatus. A senior DHS official told the Daily Mail that the White House was worried about "the optics of sending anything out." They were more concerned about how a terror alert would look in the headlines than the safety of the people on the ground who are responsible for stopping these attacks. The move reportedly "infuriated" members of the intelligence community, who argued that such bulletins are supposed to be immune from White House meddling specifically to prevent this exact scenariowhere partisan interests override public safety. This suppression is made more egregious by the context of the current conflict. President Trump launched "Operation Epic Fury" against Iran, a joint operation with Israel that successfully eliminated senior leadership, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This action, coupled with the 2020 strike that killed Qasem Soleimani, has decapitated the regime but left a vacuum that is now being filled by rage and a desperate need for revenge. The intelligence bulletin explicitly links these deaths to the heightened threat. Furthermore, the report warns that "graphic imagery" and "news of civilian casualties" from the war could mobilize extremist attacks. This is a direct reference to a recent incident where an American Tomahawk cruise missile struck a girls' school in Iran, killing 175 civilians, many of them children. The US military is the only force in that theater using Tomahawk missiles. While official narratives may spin the missions success, the human cost is being weaponized by Tehran to recruit and radicalize those willing to spill blood in American cities. The bulletin even warns law enforcement to watch for individuals "posing with weapons and imagery associated with terrorism," proving that the propaganda war is already being fought on domestic social media platforms. By hiding this report, the White House isn't preventing panic; they are preventing preparation. Sources include: Archive.is Union-Bulletin.com Enoch, Brighteon.ai Orcas attacking boats has drawn attention from marine biologists worldwide since the first reports emerged in 2020. These encounters reveal shifts in killer whale behavior, especially among a small group of Iberian orcas interacting with marine wildlife near busy shipping lanes. When Did Orcas Start Attacking Boats? The pattern kicked off in May 2020 in the Strait of Gibraltar, where a pod first rammed a sailboat's rudder. By late 2023, researchers had logged over 500 such interactions, mostly sailboats under 50 feet long. Many incidents clustered off Spain and Portugal's coasts, with orcas circling vessels before striking. Sailors described sudden jolts as the whales targeted steering systems, sometimes for up to two hours. Even into 2025, fresh reports surfaced, like a yacht damaged near Lisbon, though crews always escaped unharmed. This timeline shows how orcas attacking boats evolved from rare to a noted trend in marine wildlife hotspots. Experts from groups like the Grupo de Trabajo Orca Atlantica track these events meticulously. Their data highlights a focus on rudders, leaving boats adrift but rarely flooding them fully. Young orcas often lead the charges, swimming in coordinated bursts that snap hydraulic lines. Larger vessels, like ferries, face little interest, pointing to selective killer whale behavior. Over time, the frequency dipped in 2024 before picking up again, suggesting a cultural phase rather than constant aggression. Key timeline details: First incident: May 2020, Strait of Gibraltar. May 2020, Strait of Gibraltar. Peak activity: 2023 with 500+ cases off Iberian Peninsula. 2023 with 500+ cases off Iberian Peninsula. Recent events: 2025 sightings near Portugal, including Lisbon area. 2025 sightings near Portugal, including Lisbon area. No human injuries across all documented encounters. Sailors recount the chaos: one moment calm seas, the next a massive black fin slicing water before impact. These orcas, part of the endangered Iberian population, number fewer than 50 individuals, making their actions a focal point for conservationists. The Strait of Gibraltar serves as a migration chokepoint for bluefin tuna, overlapping with summer sailing routes and amplifying encounters. Galicia in northern Spain saw spillover incidents, as pods roamed widely in search of prey. By 2025, Portuguese waters around Sagres became notorious, with local marinas issuing warnings. This geographic pattern underscores how human activity intersects with killer whale behavior in shared marine wildlife spaces. Why Are Orcas Suddenly Ramming Boats? Is It Revenge or Play? Play stands out as the top explanation for this killer whale behavior. Orcas, highly intelligent, treat rudders like toys, scraping them with teeth or bashing until pieces break off. A female named White Gladis, possibly scarred from an earlier boat strike, may have started it all. Her pod-mates, including juveniles, picked up the habit through observation, much like how marine wildlife shares hunting tricks. Scientific American covered how these "interactions" spread fast, with at least 15 orcas involved by 2023. Social learning drives the phenomenon, similar to fads in other orca populations, like pod-specific dialects or food preferences. Juveniles ram first, gaining pod approval through the chaos. Overfishing in the region leaves bluefin tuna scarce, pushing orcas toward novel stimuli like boat parts. Noise from propellers might irritate them further, turning boats into outlets for energy. National Geographic noted in 2025 how this playful ramming echoes games orcas play with seaweed or each other. Common theories behind orcas attacking boats: Playful fad: Juveniles experiment, spreading via social learning. Juveniles experiment, spreading via social learning. Trauma response: Scars suggest past collisions influence actions. Scars suggest past collisions influence actions. Prey scarcity: Tuna shortages lead to redirected energy on vessels. Tuna shortages lead to redirected energy on vessels. Cultural transmission: Pods adopt behaviors like dialects or games. Some scars on attacking orcas hint at past run-ins with propellers or fishing lines, fueling talk of trauma responses. Yet most researchers dismiss pure revenge, favoring cultural spread in killer whale behavior. Live Science reported on renewed 2025 attacks, where crews "freaked out" but stayed safe, underscoring non-lethal intent. Pods mimic each other seamlessly; one whale's rudder obsession becomes a group activity overnight. This mirrors how marine wildlife invents trends, from bubble-net feeding to beach rubbing.. Depleted prey plays a role too. Iberian orcas compete with fleets for tuna, leading to bolder marine wildlife encounters. Stress from human noise amplifies curiosity into contact. No evidence shows targeted malice toward people; orcas ignore swimmers and focus on vessels. This selective pattern reinforces play over payback theories. Orcas communicate with clicks and calls during attacks, possibly coordinating or signaling excitement, adding layers to studies of killer whale behavior. Observations via drones reveal juveniles approaching first, testing rudders before adults join, a dynamic akin to apprenticeship in wild pods. How Do Orcas Attack Boats? What Should Boaters Do? Are Humans at Risk? Orcas strike rudders head-on, using their massive heads to deliver precise impacts that crack composites. They follow with tail slaps or body rolls, sometimes lifting boats briefly. Groups of three to six coordinate seamlesslyone distracts while others bash from below. Episodes drag on for 30 minutes to hours, ending when rudders fail. Hull scrapes appear from teeth marks, but breaches stay rare, keeping damage contained. Targets skew toward slower yachts in summer migration paths, when orcas hunt tuna nearby. Faster motorboats or cargo ships slip by untouched, highlighting tactical killer whale behavior in orcas attacking boats. Eyewitnesses note juveniles practicing on debris first, honing skills before live "games." This methodical approach fascinates scientists studying marine wildlife dynamics. No wild orca has ever killed a human in recorded history. Boat crews endure shakes and leaks but emerge unscathed as whales depart post-rudder work. Experts classify these as curiosity displays, not hunts, given orcas' apex statusthey hunt sharks and whales effortlessly if motivated. Pods prioritize playthings over passengers, disengaging once fun fades. Boaters should power down engines and avoid sudden moves to de-escalate. Sudden throttles or zigzags prolong interest in killer whale behavior. Skip pingers or barriers that could injure marine wildlife; calm drifting works best in most cases. Report details to hotlines for data that tracks orcas attacking boats patterns. Practical steps for encounters: Stop engines and drift silently. Avoid zigzagging or speeding away. Stay calm; orcas typically lose interest after rudder damage. Contact local authorities for rescue and data logging. Note whale markings for researcher identification. During a typical attack, the first hit feels like grounding on rocks, followed by circling shadows. Orcas surface to breathe, echolocate the rudder, then strike again. Crews brace in cabins, radios crackling with distress calls. Post-event, rudders dangle in splinters, but hulls hold. Marine wildlife monitors advise seasonal avoidance, as orcas follow tuna north in summer. Training programs in Portugal teach sailors to recognize dorsal finstall, straight ones signal the culprits. These tactics minimize risks while preserving killer whale behavior study opportunities. Tracking Orca Boat Encounters and Killer Whale Insights Fresh 2025 incidents off Portugal remind sailors of lingering risks, yet numbers stay low compared to peak years. Tags on key orcas reveal travel habits tied to tuna runs. Habitat strains like sonar and bycatch nudge marine wildlife closer to vessels. Better fishing rules could ease tensions naturally. Researchers eye fading trends, as past orca fads like carrying dead salmon have died out. Shared ocean use hinges on understanding these killer whale behavior nuances. Satellite tracking shows pods looping from Gibraltar to Galicia, hitting boats en route. Acoustic studies pick up unique calls during interactions, hinting at "attack dialects." Conservation groups push quotas on tuna to reduce desperation. Drones capture juveniles peeling rudder bits like candy, pure play evident. Long-term, climate shifts may alter tuna paths, reshaping orcas attacking boat patterns. Biologists collaborate across borders, pooling sightings for predictive maps. Boaters contribute photos, building a database richer than any before. This collective effort illuminates marine wildlife complexities, fostering safer seas for all. Frequently Asked Questions 1. When did orcas start attacking boats? Orcas first rammed boats in May 2020 in the Strait of Gibraltar. Over 500 interactions followed by 2023, peaking off Spain and Portugal, with cases continuing into 2025 near Lisbon. 2. Why are orcas ramming boats? Scientists see it as playful killer whale behavior, like a fad where juveniles treat rudders as toys. Social learning spreads fast, possibly sparked by a scarred female named White Gladis. 3. Is it revenge from orcas attacking boats? Trauma scars hint at past boat collisions, but experts favor play over revenge. Pods mimic each other culturally, not out of malice toward humans or marine wildlife. The surge in aluminum prices has expanded the wealth of Chinas biggest metals tycoon Zhang Bo to US$48 billion, driven by a shortage of the key industrial material. When Zhang assumed control of his fathers industrial empire in 2019, the business was already among the worlds largest producers of aluminium, the most widely used industrial metal. Zhang Bo, chairman of China Hongqiao Group. Photo courtesy of the group Since then, shares of China Hongqiao Group have surged 585%, propelling Zhang to become Asias richest metals magnate, according to Bloomberg. Over the past year alone, the Zhang familys wealth has risen by 110%, placing the clan among Asias wealthiest as of 2025. Zhang ranks fourth in net worth in China. Zhang, who leads the worlds largest private aluminium producer, commands significant low-cost output at a pivotal time for global demand. His company supplies major Chinese technology firms including Huawei Technologies, Xiaomi and BYD. Aluminium prices have climbed more than 25% over the past year, driven by demand from sectors such as new energy vehicles, solar panels and wind turbines. Geopolitical shocks, including the war in Iran, have also added volatility. Aluminium prices on the London Metal Exchange climbed as much as 2.5 per cent to nearly $3,340 a tonne, a level last seen in April 2022, according to mineral news platform Mining.com. Since the start of the year, the industrial metal has gained more than 9%, outperforming its more widely followed counterpart, copper. Analysts at Goldman Sachs said aluminium prices could climb to as much as $3,600 a tonne if production in the region were disrupted for a month. Shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, off Irans coast, have effectively stalled, further constraining deliveries. Conflict in the Middle East has virtually shut the Strait of Hormuz through which aluminium produced in the region is shipped to the U.S. and Europe. "The Europeans are particularly concerned, as the Gulf aluminum stoppage comes just as long-term supplier Mozal is going offline this month," said Marex analyst Ed Meir, as reported by Reuters. This has positioned Chinese producers such as Zhangs company to potentially fill supply gaps if global output weakens. "Their influence and personal wealth expanded because the industrial platform they built reached a scale where the market could no longer ignore it," said Harry Yu, senior partner at family office advisory Fung, Yu & Co, referring to the Zhang family. "Families like this tend to stay low-profile because their power sits in production systems and supply chains, not in branding." In recent years, Chinese aluminium smelters have struggled to secure bauxite, the ore used to produce aluminium, as political instability in Guinea and export restrictions in Indonesia disrupted shipments. Indonesias push to expand domestic processing has further tightened global supply. However, Zhang and his father had already moved ahead of competitors to secure upstream resources. Hongqiao began developing bauxite mines in Guinea, the worlds largest supplier of the raw material, around 2014. Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Michelle Leung said this has given the company stronger access to bauxite than many rivals. She added that securing upstream resources early has supported the groups earnings growth. The company has since become one of the worlds lowest-cost producers, supported by power plants in China, bauxite mines in Guinea and alumina refineries in Indonesia. With control over a significant share of global primary aluminium output which reached nearly 73 million tonnes in 2024 Zhangs decisions can influence global supply and price expectations. Since succeeding his father, Zhang has overseen a strategic shift by relocating part of the companys aluminium production to the mountainous Yunnan province in China to take advantage of cheaper green hydropower and align with the countrys broader energy transition. He has also expanded into higher-end aluminium products used in electric vehicles as demand from traditional sectors such as property and construction has weakened. Animals saved from extinction capture global attention through remarkable conservation success. These species faced total wipeout from hunting, habitat loss, and other pressures, yet targeted efforts brought them back. From soaring birds to grazing herds, their stories show what focused action achieves. Which Animals Were Saved from Extinction? Conservationists pulled several species from the brink with dedicated programs. Here's a quick look at key recoveries: California condor: Down to 22 birds in 1987; captive breeding at places like the San Diego Zoo lifted numbers past 500 in the wild today. Down to 22 birds in 1987; captive breeding at places like the San Diego Zoo lifted numbers past 500 in the wild today. Arabian oryx: Wiped out in the wild by 1972; Operation Oryx reintroduced over 1,000 to reserves in Oman and Saudi Arabia. Wiped out in the wild by 1972; Operation Oryx reintroduced over 1,000 to reserves in Oman and Saudi Arabia. Southern white rhinoceros: Fewer than 100 left around 1900; anti-poaching grew herds to about 18,000 in South Africa. Fewer than 100 left around 1900; anti-poaching grew herds to about 18,000 in South Africa. American alligator: Nearly gone by the 1960s from skin hunting; U.S. protections restored millions in Southeastern swamps. The California condor dropped to just 22 in 1987 before captive breeding turned that number into over 500 flying free today. The program paired birds carefully and released young ones into protected skies, proving reintroduction works. Arabian oryx disappeared from the wild by 1972 due to poachers seeking their horns. Operation Oryx bred them in captivity across the Arabian Peninsula, then set over 1,000 loose in reserves. Today, they roam Oman and Saudi Arabia, grazing safely under watch. Southern white rhinoceros numbers hit under 100 around 1900 from relentless hunting. Anti-poaching patrols and vast reserves in South Africa built the population to about 18,000. Rangers track them daily, while fences keep intruders out. American alligator hunters nearly ended the species for skins and meat by the 1960s. U.S. Endangered Species Act protections let nests recover in swamps. Now millions thrive in the Southeast, controlling prey naturally. Hawaiian monk seal: From hundreds due to slaughter; sanctuaries raised counts over 1,400 with cleaner beaches. From hundreds due to slaughter; sanctuaries raised counts over 1,400 with cleaner beaches. Kakapo parrot: Below 50 from predators; rat-free islands boosted to 250 with tracking tech. Hawaiian monk seal pups dwindled from historical slaughter and entanglement. Marine sanctuaries and cleanup reduced threats, lifting counts from hundreds to over 1,400. Fishermen report sightings often, signaling healthier seas. New Zealand's kakapo parrot, flightless and nocturnal, dropped below 50 from introduced predators. Teams moved them to rat-free islands, hand-feeding chicks through supplements. The population hit 250, with radio trackers aiding survival. Blue whale: Whaling lows post-WWII; bans since 1966 rebounded to 10,000-25,000. Whaling lows post-WWII; bans since 1966 rebounded to 10,000-25,000. Mountain gorilla: 680 in 1989; ecotourism grew past 1,000 in Rwanda and Uganda. Blue whales suffered whaling that slashed numbers to thousands post-World War II. International bans since 1966 allowed slow rebound to around 10,000-25,000. Acoustic monitoring tracks their songs across oceans. Mountain gorillas clung to 680 individuals in 1989 amid war and logging. Ecotourism revenue from Rwanda and Uganda funded patrols, growing numbers past 1,000. Trackers use drones to spot families in misty forests. European bison survived from just 54 captives after World War II poaching. Rewilding into Polish forests built herds to over 7,000 across Europe. They shape woodlands by knocking trees, boosting biodiversity. Giant pandas barely hung on with under 1,000 in the 1980s from bamboo loss. China's reserves and breeding centers raised numbers to over 1,800 wild ones. Cubs learn wild skills before release into the Sichuan mountains. What Is the Greatest Conservation Success Story? Southern white rhinoceros often tops lists for conservation success, exploding from near zero to sustainable herds. Early 20th-century hunters left few, but private reserves like Hluhluwe-Umfolozi invested in guards and veterinary care. Females birthed steadily, filling plains once empty. California condor rivals it with a total wild capture and rebuild. Every bird entered zoos, where vets treated lead poisoning from bullets in scavenged carcasses. Releases started in 1992, and nest cams now stream fledglings taking flight. The National Wildlife Federation details how these turnarounds combined laws, science, and public funds. Both species faced similar odds but responded to habitat security and breeding boosts. How Many Animals Have Been Saved from Extinction? Efforts have spared at least 48 birds and mammals from vanishing since the 1990s, per studies tracking interventions. Broader counts reach hundreds when including reptiles and fish pulled from critical lists. Programs monitor thousands more teetering nearby. Regional pushes vary: U.S. acts saved alligators and eagles, while Asian reserves lifted pandas. Each prevention adds ecosystem stability, as keystone species regulate surroundings. Why Did These Animals Face Extinction Risks? Hunters targeted oryx horns and rhino tusks for profit, decimating herds quickly. Logging stripped gorilla forests, forcing them into shrinking patches. Whalers harpooned blue whales relentlessly until hulls overflowed. Pollution and farms choked monk seal beaches with nets and trash. Predators like cats ate kakapo eggs on invaded islands. Lead bullets poisoned condors scavenging cattle guts. Addressing each root reversed declines. Conservation Success Strategies Captive breeding stocked oryx and condors before releases into fenced zones. Anti-poaching units with dogs and tech guarded rhinos day and night. Habitat buys created panda corridors linking bamboo groves. Community rangers in gorilla lands earned from tourist fees, patrolling loyally. Island eradications cleared rats for kakapos, using traps and poison drops. Laws banned alligator trades, letting markets shift legally. Ongoing Challenges for Animals Saved from Extinction Climate shifts dry swamps, stressing alligators with warmer waters. Poachers adapt with new routes despite tech. Pandas face bamboo die-offs from droughts, needing corridor expansions. Funding dips threaten monitoring, while human sprawl edges reserves. Sustained budgets and laws keep gains, turning animals saved from extinction into lasting conservation success. Key Takeaways from Conservation Success Stories These recoveries prove swift, science-backed moves save species on the brink. Condors wheel overhead, rhinos charge across savannas, proving momentum builds. Habitats heal when threats lift, inviting more wildlife back. OneEarth.org highlights rewilding parallels in bison returns, echoing across plains. Frequently Asked Questions 1. Which animals were saved from extinction? California condor, Arabian oryx, southern white rhinoceros, American alligator, Hawaiian monk seal, kakapo parrot, blue whale, mountain gorilla, European bison, and giant panda top the list. Conservation efforts like breeding programs and anti-poaching reversed their declines. 2. What is the greatest conservation success story? Southern white rhinoceros stands out, growing from under 100 to 18,000 through reserves and patrols. California condor matches it with captive breeding lifting numbers from 22 to over 500 wild birds. 3. How many animals have been saved from extinction? At least 48 birds and mammals avoided extinction since the 1990s. Broader efforts protect hundreds more, including reptiles and fish, via global monitoring. Sorry, something doesn't look right. Something seems unusual about your device or browser. Please contact support. India has facilitated the repatriation of 177 citizens from Lebanon via a charter flight arranged by their employer. Separately, over 500 Indians stranded in Qatar have departed for India on commercial flights, with more scheduled. Embassies in both countries are operating 24/7 helplines and prioritizing urgent consular services. The government has also expressed concern over attacks on commercial shipping, like the recent strike on a vessel bound for Gujarat. India evacuates 177 nationals from Lebanon and assists over 500 in departing Qatar. Embassy helplines active as conflict disrupts travel and shipping. Beirut, March 12 India has stepped up assistance to its citizens in West Asia as escalating regional tensions continue to disrupt travel and safety conditions, with dozens of Indians repatriated from Lebanon and hundreds departing from Qatar on commercial flights. According to the Indian Embassy in Beirut, the first batch of 177 Indian nationals was repatriated to New Delhi on a charter flight arranged by their employer on Wednesday. The group was seen off at Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport by India's Ambassador to Lebanon, Noor Rahman Sheikh. In a post on X, the mission said, "The first batch of 177 Indian nationals, being repatriated to Delhi in a charter flight, arranged by their Company, was seen off by Ambassador Noor Rahman Sheikh at Beirut International Airport today. The Embassy of India in Beirut stands committed to extending best possible assistance to Indian nationals in Lebanon." Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Qatar said more than 500 Indians who had been stranded in Qatar travelled to India on Qatar Airways flights on March 11 (Wednesday). The passengers departed for destinations including New Delhi and Mumbai. The embassy added that Qatar Airways is scheduled to operate two additional flights to India on March 12, one each to New Delhi and Mumbai, to facilitate further travel. In a post on X, Indian authorities also issued an advisory urging members of the Indian community to remain cautious and follow official instructions. The embassy said its three 24/7 helplines remain operational to assist Indian nationals with queries or emergencies. Officials further said the mission has been prioritising urgent passport services due to the current situation, keeping its consular section open throughout the week and issuing Tatkal passports within one to two days. The advisory also urged residents to handle official alerts seriously and avoid approaching unidentified objects, debris or fragments, asking them to immediately report such items by contacting emergency services. Earlier, India expressed concern over attacks targeting commercial shipping in the ongoing West Asia conflict, following missile strikes on a Thai-flagged cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it had taken note of reports about the attack on the Thai bulk carrier Mayuree Naree while it was sailing through the Strait. According to the Maritime Traffic and Vessel Control Centre, the Mayuree Naree, operated by SET-listed Precious Shipping Plc, had departed from Khalifa Port in the United Arab Emirates and was bound for Kandla port in Gujarat, India, when it came under attack around 10 in the morning. The ministry further reiterated India's position that attacks on commercial vessels and civilian maritime traffic must be avoided, particularly given the risks posed to crew members and global trade routes. - ANI Bangladesh's newly-elected parliament is set to convene amidst a significant constitutional crisis stemming from competing mandates. Lawmakers are divided, with the ruling BNP taking the standard parliamentary oath while opposition members have taken a second oath to form a Constitution Reform Council as per the July Charter. This dual oath system has created an institutional friction, with the BNP arguing reforms must follow the existing parliamentary process. The crisis is further complicated by a High Court petition challenging the legality of the July Charter and its referendum. Bangladesh's new parliament convenes amid a constitutional crisis over dual oaths and competing mandates from the July Charter, risking institutional friction. Ankara, March 11 With its first session scheduled for March 12, Bangladesh's newly-elected parliament will confront two competing mandates - one rooted in the existing constitutional framework and the other guided by the political commitments of the July Charter. Experts warn that such a dual arrangement may trigger institutional friction as the new parliament convenes, a report has highlighted. Bangladesh faces an unfamiliar constitutional moment defined by competing visions of political reforms following the 2024 July uprising, Turkey's leading state-run Anadolu Agency reported earlier this week. "Instead of the procedural calm that typically accompanies the start of a legislative term, the incoming parliament will begin its work amid unresolved questions about constitutional authority and diverging interpretations of the July Charter - the reform blueprint that emerged from the 2024 mass uprising that toppled the government of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina," the report detailed. It noted further that at the heart of the uncertainty is an unprecedented move - lawmakers taking different oaths depending on their political faction. "Members of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which holds a two-thirds majority in parliament and occupies the treasury benches, have taken the standard oath as members of parliament. But lawmakers from the opposition - primarily the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and the student-led National Citizen Party (NCP) - have taken two separate oaths: one as parliamentarians and another as members of a proposed Constitution Reform Council," it mentioned. The split, the report said, has produced a constitutional dilemma that could overshadow the opening sessions of parliamentary business. Under the July charter, the creation of a special constitutional reform body backed by at least 60 members of parliament was envisioned to oversee proposed changes. "The opposition bloc, comprising Jamaat and the NCP, has already crossed that threshold with its 77 lawmakers and has taken the oath required to establish the council. However, the ruling BNP has refused to take the second oath, arguing that the council has no basis in the current constitutional framework and that any reforms should instead be pursued through the existing parliamentary process," the report noted. Heightening the uncertainty, the report noted a fresh legal challenge that has pulled the judiciary into the political debate. Recently, a group of lawyers - "whom opposition figures claim are aligned with the BNP" - filed a petition in the High Court challenging the legality of both the July Charter and its supporting referendum, Anadolu Agency reported. The court responded by questioning why both the charter and the referendum should not be struck down, turning a political dispute into a possible constitutional confrontation. - IANS Bayern Munich delivered a stunning first-leg performance, defeating Atalanta 6-1 away from home with goals from Josip Stanisic, a Michael Olise brace, Serge Gnabry, Nicolas Jackson, and Jamal Musiala. In Turkey, Galatasaray secured a narrow 1-0 advantage over Liverpool thanks to Mario Lemina's early header. Meanwhile, Barcelona salvaged a dramatic draw against Newcastle United with a last-minute penalty from teenage winger Lamine Yamal. These results set up intriguing second-leg matches across the Champions League round of 16. Bayern Munich dominate Atalanta 6-1 in Champions League first leg. Galatasaray beat Liverpool 1-0, while Barcelona snatch late draw at Newcastle. New Delhi, March 11 FC Bayern claimed a 6-1 first-leg win away at Atalanta on Tuesday night to put themselves in a promising position to reach the Champions League quarter-finals. Josip Stanisic, Michael Olise and Serge Gnabry handed Bayern a comfortable 3-0 lead before half-time. Nicolas Jackson, Olise and Jamal Musiala rounded off the half dozen, before Mario Pasalic's added-time consolation for the hosts. Bayern's incessant pressure paid off handsomely as the German champions took firm control of their tie with Atalanta. Josip Stanisic's tap-in set the visitors on their way before a quickfire double from Serge Gnabry and Michael Olise made it 3-0 inside 25 minutes. There was no let-up, though. Nicolas Jackson added a fine counterattacking goal after the restart before Olise bent in his second with a similar effort to his first. Substitute Jamal Musiala struck a sixth midway through the second half but it was Atalanta's Mario Pasalic who had the final word, pulling one back in added time. Meanwhile, Galatasaray head to Anfield next Wednesday with a narrow advantage after Mario Lemina's seventh-minute header ultimately decided a fast-paced encounter in Istanbul. Lemina converted after Victor Osimhen redirected Gabriel Sara's corner into his path, the only goal of a frenetic first half that could have featured several more - Florian Wirtz and Davinson Sanchez among those to threaten. It was more of the same in the second period, Liverpool coming closest when Alexis Mac Allister shot just wide before Hugo Ekitike was brilliantly denied by Ugurcan CakAr. In another match, Lamine Yamal converted a last-gasp penalty to earn Barcelona a draw at Newcastle to take into next Wednesday's second legs. Yamal's added-time penalty with the last kick of the contest denied Newcastle another famous win, the Barcelona winger holding his nerve to send Aaron Ramsdale the wrong way after Malick Thiaw had fouled Dani Olmo. The Magpies, beaten 2-1 at St James' Park by Barca on Matchday 1, were on course for a narrow first-leg victory after Harvey Barnes' first-time effort following Jacob Murphy's pinpoint cross with four minutes to go. The hosts always appeared the likelier of the two sides to open the scoring, a Barnes curler smacking the inside of the upright in the second half before the England international got the late breakthrough. Yamal had the last word, though. - IANS Singaporean cafe chain and grocer The Providore has closed all its stores across the city-state after 13 years in operation. The brand said in an Instagram post that it would shut down from Monday without disclosing any reason. "Thank you for your long-term support and kindness," it said. "Partings come, but flavour and memories last forever. We look forward to meeting you again in another form in the future." A notice posted at the entrance of one of its outlets said the company was "taking steps to wind up the business," as reported by The Business Times. It also directed anyone with inquiries to contact a representative from liquidation firm ClearView Associates. The Providore at the VivoCity shopping mall in Singapore. Photo from chain's website The shutdown appeared to have been abrupt. Mothership reported that employees were only informed about the closure when they arrived for work on Monday morning. Staff also said many of the products in the stores seemed to have been cleared out overnight. Toh Hwee Tin, supervising lead of the National Trades Union Congresss hospitality and consumer business cluster, said the union is reaching out to affected members and will offer support and resources where needed. Founded in 2013, The Providore was one of the early players in the city-states cafe scene. It later gained popularity among office workers for its brunch dishes and upscale retail selection, which included cheeses, baked goods and grocery items. The brand was sold to new investors last April and its founder exited the business. The new owners said at the time that they intended to develop the brand further by introducing fresh concepts and experiences, according to Channel News Asia. In recent times, however, the chain had been scaling back. Before shutting down, it operated six outlets in Singapore and a warehouse with a retail section offering gourmet food, wine, beer, spirits and custom gift items. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation for multiple railway projects in Tiruchirappalli, announcing new train services connecting several Tamil Nadu towns. Residents of Coimbatore gathered to express their gratitude, holding posters and thanking the Prime Minister for the development initiatives. Local BJP workers and residents highlighted how the improved connectivity would benefit businesses, create jobs, and boost tourism in the region. The projects are seen as part of PM Modi's broader vision to develop Tamil Nadu and enhance railway connectivity across India. PM Narendra Modi inaugurated new railway projects in Tamil Nadu. Coimbatore residents express gratitude, citing boosted tourism, jobs, and improved connectivity. Coimbatore, March 11 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated and laid the foundation for several development projects in Tiruchirappalli. Addressing a gathering at the event, the Prime Minister announced the launch of multiple new train services connecting Nagercoil, Coimbatore, Rameswaram, Tirunelveli, Mayiladuthurai, and Karaikudi to other regions. Prime Minister Modi said that these new train services will boost tourism, strengthen the local economy, and generate numerous employment opportunities for young people. He asserted that the goal is to make Tamil Nadu a developed state, contributing to a developed India. The announcement of the railway projects was met with enthusiasm and gratitude from the people of Coimbatore. Residents gathered near Podanur railway junction holding large posters of PM Modi to express their appreciation. A local resident from Coimbatore said: "I am a huge admirer of PM Modi. The gift he has given to us through these projects is invaluable, and I sincerely thank him from the bottom of my heart." A BJP worker added: "Our Prime Minister has introduced several trains for Tamil Nadu. We want to welcome him and express our gratitude. PM Modi is bringing the wave of development across India." Another local BJP worker said: "This is a very auspicious occasion for Podanur junction. PM Modi is driving extensive development with many schemes for the welfare of common people, including Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana and Ujjwala Yojana, under which free gas cylinders are provided." Mukund commented: "We are delighted that he visited Tamil Nadu and brought numerous gifts with him." Ganesh, a Coimbatore resident, said: "PM Modi's initiative is excellent. It will improve connectivity between the South and North, benefiting both individuals and businesses, while also creating employment opportunities. We highly appreciate this effort." Another local resident remarked: "Development has always been central to PM Modi's vision. He is consistently working for progress, with special attention to Tamil Nadu. He is expanding railway connectivity and introducing more trains for the convenience of people. We are grateful to him. His efforts are appreciated across India, and the entire country admires the work he is doing to connect India through railways." - IANS Haryana Congress MLA Jassi Petwar has expressed confidence that the party's candidate, Karamvir Singh Boudh, will win one of the two Rajya Sabha seats from the state. The election on March 16 is a three-way contest involving the BJP and an Independent candidate. Petwar cited the Congress's numerical strength in the state assembly as the basis for his confidence. Nationally, elections are being held for 37 Rajya Sabha seats across 10 states. Haryana Congress MLA Jassi Petwar expresses confidence in winning one of two Rajya Sabha seats. Election scheduled for March 16. Chandigarh, March 11 Haryana Congress MLA Jassi Petwar on Wednesday expressed confidence that the party's candidate, Karamvir Singh Boudh, will secure one of the two Rajya Sabha seats in Haryana, citing the party's numerical strength. The election, scheduled for March 16, has become a three-way contest with BJP's Sanjay Bhatia and Independent candidate Satish Nandal also in the fray. Speaking to ANI on the development, Petwar said the Congress candidate is expected to win comfortably as the party has adequate numbers in the Haryana Assembly to ensure victory for one seat. "There are only two seats in the Rajya Sabha. The candidate from Congress would definitely get a seat in the Rajya Sabha because we have numbers. The remaining two are from the BJP, although one is said to have been nominated independently," Petwar told ANI. Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday (March 2) announced the schedule for the upcoming biennial elections to the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) to fill the 37 seats across 10 states, as the members are set to complete their term in April 2026, a press note stated. According to the press note, the term of 37 members who were elected from Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Telangana will conclude in the month of April, vacating the seats for new members to be elected. The notification will be issued on February 26, commencing the election process. The last date of nominations is March 5, followed by scrutiny on March 6. The candidates can withdraw their nominations till March 9. The polling is scheduled to take place on March 16, with the counting of votes on the same day at 5 pm. - ANI The government announced that domestic coal production and supply have outpaced consumption, leading to a record-high stockpile. The total coal stock has reached approximately 210 million tonnes, which is enough to meet about 88 days of the country's consumption needs. A significant portion of this stock, over 156 million tonnes, is held at mines and within the supply chain, with additional reserves at thermal power plants. The Ministry of Coal attributes this to steady production and coordinated logistics, aiming to ensure reliable energy for key sectors and support long-term national development goals. India's coal stockpile reaches a record 210 million tonnes, sufficient for 88 days of consumption, ensuring stable energy supply. New Delhi, March 11 The government on Wednesday said that domestic coal production and supply have continued to outpace consumption this year, resulting in record-high coal stocks across mines and thermal power plants. According to the Coal Ministry, the country's overall coal stock has reached about 210 million tonnes (MT), which is sufficient to meet around 88 days of consumption at the current rate. Coal stock at the mines of Coal India Limited (CIL) stood at 106.78 MT on April 1, 2025, which increased to 121.39 MT as of March 9, 2026. Moreover, around 6 MT of coal is available at the mines of Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), while another 15.12 MT is held at captive and commercial mines, according to the government. Nearly 14 MT of coal is currently in transit, taking the total stock at mines and along the supply chain to a record 156.58 MT, the ministry said. This stockpile is in addition to the 54.05 MT of coal available at thermal power plants as of March 9, which is sufficient for nearly 24 days of consumption. The ministry also noted that coal supply to the non-regulated sector has increased by almost 14 per cent compared to the previous year. Coal production in the country continues at a steady pace, leading to higher stock levels at the mine end while ensuring adequate supply to consumers with logistical support from the railways, the ministry said. The Ministry of Coal added that it remains focused on maintaining a stable and performance-driven environment through policy support, close monitoring and coordinated engagement with stakeholders. According to the government, these efforts are aimed at ensuring reliable coal availability, supporting uninterrupted operations across key sectors and meeting the country's growing energy demand, while contributing to the long-term national goal of building a Viksit Bharat 2047. - IANS Park to be an educational hub for science Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inaugurated the Tropic of Cancer Science Park in Salal and launched 1,999 development works worth approximately Rs 72 crore in Sabarkantha district. He highlighted Navlapur village as a model of rural development led entirely by women and praised the district's award-winning health programs. The new science park, developed by GUJCOST, features a tower, sundial, and exhibition hall to foster scientific learning. Several ministers and MLAs present at the event commended the collaborative efforts in sustainable development and education. Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel inaugurates Tropic of Cancer Science Park and 1,999 development works worth Rs 72 crore in Sabarkantha district. Himmatnagar, March 11 Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Wednesday inaugurated and laid the foundation for 1,999 development works worth around Rs 72 crore in Navlapur village, while also opening the advanced Tropic of Cancer Science Park at Salal in Sabarkantha district. Addressing officials and residents, the Chief Minister emphasised that the Gujarat government has no shortage of funds for development projects. "If government work is done with a sense of ownership, its quality and longevity automatically increase," he said, urging officials and citizens to approach public projects as their own responsibility. Describing Navlapur as a 'model of rural development', he said, "From the sarpanch to all members, the village leadership consists entirely of women, which is an excellent example of women's empowerment." He highlighted that the village has adopted modern facilities such as water meters and a 100 per cent solar system, and has implemented the concept of a 'Samras village'. On the district's achievements in health, the Chief Minister noted, "The 'Lalan-Palan' programme for underweight pregnant mothers and initiatives to control Type-1 diabetes among children have earned the district the prestigious 'SKOCH Award' for excellence, which is a matter of pride for Sabarkantha." The Tropic of Cancer Science Park, developed at a cost of Rs eight crore over 5,930 square metres in Salal, was inaugurated to highlight the geographical and astronomical significance of the Tropic of Cancer. "The park includes a Tropic of Cancer tower, a sundial, and an infographic exhibition hall, designed to cultivate scientific thinking among children," he said. The park, developed under the Gujarat Council on Science and Technology (GUJCOST), aims to serve as an educational and research hub for students, teachers, researchers, and the general public. The Park will be providing an interactive platform to understand Earth-Sun relationships, seasonal changes, and related scientific phenomena. Education Minister Dr Pradyuman Vaja praised Navlapur as a 'Samras, Swachh and Solar' village, saying, "The Science Park will serve as a living centre of science for future generations." He also noted that the success of the 'Namo Saraswati Vigyan Sadhana Yojana' has led to a 19 per cent increase in students choosing the science stream, and highlighted the construction of 26 new classrooms in the district for Rs 5.18 crore as a key step to improve grassroots education. District Panchayat President Bharati Patel said, "Navlapur has become a model of development through collaboration between the government and society." Prantij-Talod MLA Gajendrasinh Parmar described the village's initiatives, including the Gobar (cow dung) Bank and 100 per cent solar adoption, as exemplary steps in women's empowerment and sustainable development. Himmatnagar MLA V. D. Zala added that government schemes such as 'Sujalam Sufalam' have addressed water challenges and helped transform the district into a greener region. The inauguration also included transport projects worth Rs 13.90 crore and general administration works worth Rs 36.67 crore. - IANS Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini met with a delegation from the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce to explore strengthening bilateral cooperation. He identified artificial intelligence for smart governance, data-driven decision-making, and healthcare as key areas for partnership with Canada. The CM also emphasized potential collaboration in agriculture technology, food processing, and cold-chain infrastructure to boost farmer incomes. Furthermore, partnerships in skill development, applied learning, and supporting startup ecosystems were highlighted as avenues to create opportunities for youth and entrepreneurs. Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini meets Indo-Canada Chamber, highlighting collaboration in AI governance, agri-tech, skill development & startups. Chandigarh, March 11 Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday chaired a high-level meeting with a delegation of the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce at his residence here. The delegation was led by its President, Prashant Srivastava. Welcoming members of the delegation, the Chief Minister said Haryana viewed the growing cooperation with Canada as a significant opportunity. He noted that in "today's global economy, countries and regions that build partnerships based on knowledge, innovation, and technology are progressing rapidly". CM Saini said there are several areas where Haryana and Canada can work together to create a strong model of shared progress and sustainable development. Highlighting potential collaboration in artificial intelligence (AI) and smart governance, the Chief Minister said the government is promoting digital and AI-based solutions to make governance more transparent, efficient, and citizen-centric. He said Canada is among the global leaders in this field, and collaboration in areas such as smart governance, data-driven decision making, healthcare optimisation, and AI-based solutions for the agriculture sector can significantly enhance governance and public service delivery. The Chief Minister also emphasised the importance of education and skill development. He said the government aims to make Haryana's youth globally competitive. Canada's systems of applied learning, polytechnic education, and simulation-based training are internationally recognised, and partnerships in joint degree pathways, skill development programmes, experiential learning, and industry-integrated curriculum could create new opportunities for young people. Referring to agriculture and agri-tech, CM Saini said cooperation in areas such as precision farming, post-harvest management, food processing, and cold-chain infrastructure can help enhance both the productivity and income of farmers in Haryana. He said startups, innovation, and technology entrepreneurship offer another promising area for collaboration. Haryana is steadily moving towards an innovation-driven economy, and Canada's globally reputed tech startup ecosystem can complement the state's efforts. Partnerships in incubation support, research collaboration, technology transfer, and entrepreneurship programmes could open new avenues for youth and entrepreneurs from both sides, a statement by the government said. - IANS Himachal Pradesh PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh met Union Minister Nitin Gadkari to seek accelerated support for key infrastructure projects in the hill state. The meeting focused on the strategic Bhubu Jot tunnel and road corridor, which would provide an all-weather link and reduce travel time between key regions. Singh highlighted the project's importance for tourism, local livelihoods, and defence logistics, especially in high-altitude areas. He also pressed for timely funds and flexible norms for several other bridge and road projects to ensure robust, safe connectivity. Himachal PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh meets Union Minister Nitin Gadkari to accelerate key infrastructure projects, including the strategic Bhubu Jot tunnel. New Delhi, March 11 Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department Minister, Vikramaditya Singh, on Wednesday, called on the Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Nitin Gadkari, at Parliament House He was accompanied by Rajya Sabha MP and Himachal Pradesh Congress in-charge, Rajni Patil. According to an official release, the meeting revolved around accelerating key road, bridge and tunnel projects in Himachal Pradesh, strengthening all-weather connectivity and ensuring that the State's fragile hill areas receive robust and safe infrastructure support from the Union Government. The PWD Minister apprised Gadkari of the unique geographical challenges of Himachal Pradesh, frequent landslides and disasters, and the need for a long-term, sustainable road network that can serve local residents, farmers, horticulturists, tourists and the defence forces alike. He underlined that many sanctioned projects are at various stages of implementation and requested continued Central support, timely release of funds and flexibility in norms for hill States so that works can progress without delay. A major focus of the meeting was on the strategically important Ghatasni-Shilha-Badhani-Bhubu Jot-Kullu road and the proposed tunnel at Bhubu (Bhoo Bhoo) Jot. Vikramaditya Singh urged that the Bhubu Jot tunnel and its approach road be treated as a priority project and that this entire stretch be declared a National Highway in view of its strategic, economic and tourism potential, the release stated. Singh explained that the tunnel would provide an all-weather alternative link between Jogindernagar region and Kullu via the Lug Valley, substantially reducing the distance and travel time between Pathankot, Jogindernagar, Mandi and Kullu, easing congestion on existing routes and improving access to border areas. The PWD Minister highlighted that the Bhubu Jot corridor would open up new opportunities for tourism, home-stay-based livelihoods, small businesses and transport services in the Lug Valley and adjoining regions. He also pointed out the strategic importance of an additional reliable route for defence logistics towards high-altitude areas, especially during winters when certain passes remain closed due to heavy snowfall. Vikramaditya Singh requested that, keeping in view this broader national interest, the proposal for the Bhubu Jot tunnel and the upgradation of the connecting road be processed on priority. Apart from the Bhubu Jot proposal, Vikramaditya Singh also took up several important bridge and road projects from different parts of the State. He pressed for the construction of a double-lane bridge over River Beas between Basantipattan and Kheri to seamlessly connect Kangra and Hamirpur districts, thereby decongesting existing stretches of the National Highway and providing a shorter, safer route for daily commuters as well as commercial vehicles. As per a release, he also raised the proposal for a motorable steel truss bridge over the Beas near Pandoh in Mandi district, which would significantly improve intra-district connectivity, provide alternate routes during highway blockades and support local economic activities. The PWD Minister further referred to the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) and other centrally sponsored schemes under which several works in Himachal Pradesh have already been sanctioned. He expressed gratitude for the approvals granted so far and requested that additional proposals for widening, strengthening and improving hill roads, as well as for slope protection, tunnels and bypasses, be accorded expeditious clearance. He mentioned that the State Government has framed its priorities in line with the recently approved annual road plan, and that PWD is committed to ensuring high-quality execution on the ground. Vikramaditya Singh also conveyed the State's appreciation for policy initiatives such as support for ropeway projects and relaxation of certain norms for hilly terrain, which would help diversify transport options and reduce pressure on narrow mountain roads. He stressed that better connectivity is not merely a matter of convenience, but a necessary condition for economic growth, disaster response, education, health services and overall quality of life in a mountainous State like Himachal Pradesh, a release further read. The release said that Nitin Gadkari gave a patient and positive hearing to all the issues raised by the Himachal PWD Minister and Rajni Patil. He appreciated the detailed presentation of the State's priorities and assured that the concerns of Himachal Pradesh would be examined sympathetically at the appropriate level. He stated that the Union Government is committed to improving road and bridge infrastructure in all hill and border States and that genuine requirements of Himachal Pradesh would receive due consideration. Vikramaditya Singh reiterated that, under the leadership of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Himachal Pradesh Government is determined to work in close coordination with the Union Government to carry forward important connectivity projects. He expressed confidence that with continued Central support, remote, border and disaster-prone areas of the State will gradually be integrated through better, safer and all-weather roads, thereby creating new opportunities for employment, investment and inclusive development for the people of Himachal Pradesh, a release added. - ANI Veteran actor Nana Patekar marks his digital streaming debut with the socio-political series 'Sankalp', directed by Prakash Jha. The series, inspired by tales of Chanakya and Chandragupta, follows a man who rebuilds his life for two decades after a conspiracy shatters his ambitions. Patekar plays Ma'at Saab, a strategist shaping politics from behind the scenes, while Sanjay Kapoor portrays a Chief Minister central to the plot's betrayal. The cast's off-screen camaraderie, including Patekar cooking for the team, added to the project's familial atmosphere. Nana Patekar makes his OTT debut in Prakash Jha's political thriller 'Sankalp', streaming free on MX Player. Co-star Sanjay Kapoor reveals his role. Mumbai, March 11 Veteran actor Nana Patekar steps into the world of digital streaming for the first time with the socio-political thriller series 'Sankalp', directed and produced by acclaimed filmmaker Prakash Jha. The show premiered on March 11, 2026, and is streaming for free on Amazon MX Player. Set against the backdrop of contemporary politics and personal ambition, Sankalp explores the complex dynamics of power, loyalty, and mentorship. Patekar leads the series as Ma'at Saab, a formidable educator and strategist who quietly shapes political forces from behind the scenes. The recently unveiled trailer offered audiences a glimpse into the narrative tension at the heart of the story, depicting a clash between a mentor and his student. Inspired by the chronicles of Chanakya and Chandragupta but set in present-day India, the series blends political intrigue with emotional conflict. Speaking to ANI about the project, Jha said the story draws from the ambitions of people across the country, particularly young individuals preparing to take on leadership roles. "The special thing about Sankalp is that it reflects the aspirations of millions and crores of people in our country, especially young people who prepare themselves to run the nation," Jha said, adding, "They work hard toward those aspirations, and each of them has a different story." The filmmaker explained that the narrative follows a man whose early ambitions collapse due to a conspiracy. After returning to his village by the banks of the Ganga, the character dedicates two decades to rebuilding himself and eventually challenges the very system that once defeated him. "It has a bit of fantasy in it," Jha noted, adding that the story imagines how a determined individual might transform failure into a long-term mission. "He works hard for 20 years and ultimately breaks through the system that defeated him," he added. Despite the dramatic storyline, Jha clarified that the central character is not based on a real person. "I don't personally know any such character. It is an imagination, an idea that if something like this were to happen, it would make for a remarkable story," he said. However, he believes the themes resonate with audiences because the situations and characters remain close to reality. "People feel as if I'm presenting society on screen, but in truth I'm simply telling stories," he added. For Patekar, collaborating with Jha again was a natural decision. The actor said he trusts the director's instincts when it comes to building powerful characters. "If there's nothing new, he won't come to me. And if there's nothing new, he himself won't make it," Patekar said, adding, "Whenever he approaches me, it means the character has strength." The actor also reflected on how Jha's detailed explanations help performers connect with their roles. According to Patekar, the director immerses himself so deeply in a character while narrating the story that actors can easily visualise the role they need to portray. Joining the ensemble is actor Sanjay Kapoor, who plays the Chief Minister in the series. Kapoor hinted that his character plays a significant role in the betrayal that shapes the narrative but refrained from revealing further details. "My role is that of the Chief Minister," Kapoor said. "Nana ji's character begins the journey and then gets backstabbed. One of the reasons for that in the show is my character. When you watch it, you'll understand." Kapoor described working with Jha as a long-awaited professional milestone. "People talk about a 'bucket list' of people they want to work with, and Prakash ji was on my list," he said. The actor also shared that his association with Patekar goes back nearly three decades, making their reunion on 'Sankalp' particularly meaningful. Sanjay Kapoor and Nana Patekar last worked together in the 2002 film 'Shakti: The Power'. Off-screen, the camaraderie among the cast extended to the dining table. Patekar joked that he had been hired for two roles on the project: acting and cooking. According to him, when he prepared evening meals for the team on set, it often became a time for everyone to bond, laugh, and strengthen their sense of family. Produced by Jio Studios and PJP Films Productions, Sankalp also features Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Neeraj Kabi, Kubbra Sait and Kranti Prakash Jha in key roles. - ANI Indian Potash Limited has signed an MoU with the Odisha government to revive the long-defunct Badamba Cooperative Sugar Mill with a 360 crore investment. The project, signed in the presence of Union Minister Amit Shah, aims to make the mill operational within a year with a 3,500 TCD capacity. It will include a cogeneration power plant, a Bio-CNG unit, and a cold storage facility, directly benefiting around 10,000 local farmers. The revival is expected to stimulate sugarcane cultivation, enhance farmer incomes, and generate significant rural employment. Indian Potash invests 360 crore to revive Odisha's Badamba Sugar Mill, set to benefit 10,000 farmers and generate local employment. New Delhi, March 11 Indian Potash Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Odisha for modernization and expansion of Badamba Sugar Mill with an estimated investment of Rs 360 crore, the state-owned company said in a statement. Badamba Cooperative Sugar Mill in Odisha, which has reportedly remained shut for more than 15 years, is set to be revived, bringing renewed hope to thousands of farmers in the region. The MoU was signed by P. S. Gahlaut, Managing Director, Indian Potash Limited, and Rajesh Prabhakar Patil, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Department of Cooperation, Government of Odisha, in the presence of Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on March 6, 2026. As per the MoU, the Badamba Cooperative Sugar Mill is expected to commence operation within one year and will have a capacity of 3,500 TCD (tonnes cane per day). It will also consist of a 16 MW cogeneration power plant, a 10-tonne-per-day Bio-CNG plant, and a state-of-the-art cold storage facility, Indian Potash said. "The project is expected to directly benefit around 10,000 farmers of the Badamba Block of Cuttack district by reviving sugarcane cultivation in the state, enhancing farmer income and generating employment in the region," the statement read. Based on the successful turnaround of three sick sugar mills in Gujarat, Indian Potash, now under the guidance of the Union Cooperation Ministry took up the project for the revival of Badamba Cooperative Sugar Mill. It roped in National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Limited and SBI Capital Markets Limited for a detailed technical and financial feasibility study. As part of the MoU, the Government of Odisha will provide 112 acres of land on a long-term lease basis to IPL for the establishment of the mill and associated infrastructure. "The revival of the sugar mill is aimed at improving the income of farmers by promoting sugarcane cultivation, which is increasingly being recognised as an energy crop due to its potential for producing ethanol, power, and bio-fuels. The project is expected to stimulate rural economic activity, generate employment, and encourage farmers in the region to take up sugarcane cultivation once again." P. S. Gahlaut, Managing Director, Indian Potash Limited, said, "The revival of the Badamba Sugar Mill reflects IPL's commitment to supporting farmers and strengthening agricultural value chains. By restoring this mill, we aim to create sustainable opportunities for farmers, encourage sugarcane cultivation, generate employment, and contribute to the economic development of the region. We look forward to working closely with the Government of Odisha and the local farming community to make this project a success." Indian Potash Limited is one of India's leading cooperative companies engaged in the import, distribution, and marketing of fertilizers and agri-inputs. Over the years, IPL has also diversified into agro-industrial ventures and plays an important role in strengthening the cooperative ecosystem in India. The company currently owns 11 sugar mills across the country, six in Uttar Pradesh, three in Gujarat, and two in Odisha. - ANI A delegation from the International Crisis Group, led by CEO Comfort Ero, met with MEA Secretary (South) Neena Malhotra to discuss regional conflicts, particularly in West Asia. The MEA spokesperson confirmed the meeting covered the group's work and the volatile regional situation. This engagement occurs amid India's consistent calls for restraint, de-escalation, and the safety of civilians in the conflict zone. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar recently reiterated in Parliament that India advocates for peace through dialogue and respect for sovereignty. MEA Secretary meets Crisis Group delegation. Discussions focus on West Asia conflicts, with India urging restraint and a return to dialogue. New Delhi, March 11 A delegation from the International Crisis Group lead by its CEO Comfort Ero, met the Ministry of External Affairs Secretary Neena Malhotra on Tuesday. The delegation briefed the Secretary on the functioning of the group and the situation in West Asia. Sharing the details in a post on X, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "A delegation from @CrisisGroup led by their President & CEO @EroComfort met Secretary (South) Dr.Neena Malhotra today. The delegation briefed Secretary on the organisation and functioning of the International Crisis Group. They also discussed regional conflicts including the situation in West Asia." Crisis Group CEO Comfort Ero hailed the meeting productive and said in a post on X, "Dear Secretary (South) Dr. Neena Malhotra, thank you for receiving me and my colleagues @PierrePrakash & donthi_praveen today. Really great conversation on a range of conflicts in the region." As per its official website, the International Crisis Group is an independent organisation working to prevent wars and shape policies for a peaceful world. "Crisis Group sounds the alarm to prevent deadly conflict. We build support for the good governance and inclusive politics that enable societies to flourish. We engage directly with a range of conflict actors to seek and share information, and to encourage intelligent action for peace", its official website said. Amid the evolving security situation in West Asia and the Gulf, India has urged all sides to exercise restraint and avoid escalation. Earlier in his statement in Parliament on Monday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had said India had expressed its deep concern over the situation in West Asia and urged all sides to exercise restraint, avoid escalation and prioritise the safety of civilians. He said India is in favour of peace and urges a return to dialogue and diplomacy. "We believed, and we continue to believe, that dialogue and diplomacy should be pursued to de-escalate tensions and address underlying issues. It is also imperative that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states in the region be respected," Jaishankar said. - ANI Large crowds gathered in Tehran's Revolution Square for a funeral procession honoring those killed in recent US and Israeli military strikes. Iranian authorities denounced the strikes as "acts of terrorism" targeting both military personnel and civilians. The ceremony held added religious significance as it coincided with the anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Ali. Meanwhile, human rights groups report over 1,200 civilian fatalities and significant damage to healthcare infrastructure since the conflict escalated. Large crowds gather in Tehran for a funeral procession honoring military and civilian victims of recent US-Israeli airstrikes, as conflict casualties mount. Tehran, March 11 Large crowds of people gathered in Iran's capital, Tehran, to participate in a funeral procession for people killed in recent US and Israeli joint military strikes amid the escalating conflict in the region, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting reported. The procession, which took place on Tuesday at Revolution Square and moved toward the Shrine of the Martyrs in southern Tehran, was attended by many residents joining the ceremony to pay tribute to those killed in the strikes. According to IRIB, the ceremony honoured both military personnel and civilians who lost their lives in the attacks, which Iranian authorities described as 'acts of terrorism' carried out by the US and Israel. A significant number of people attended the procession, which was held on the 21st day of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. The date coincides with the anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Ali, a revered figure in Islam, giving additional religious significance to the ceremony, IRIB reported. Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) on Tuesday reported that in the last 24 hours, at least 202 attacks across 106 incidents have been recorded in 19 Iranian provinces, resulting in 53 casualties. According to HRANA, the attacks targeted Tehran as well as central and southern regions of the country. Among the most severe incidents was an attack at an intersection along Tehran's Resalat Highway, which caused multiple civilian deaths and injuries. Since the conflict began on February 28, HRANA has documented 1,262 civilian fatalities, including at least 200 children and 190 military fatalities. It also reported 335 unclassified fatalities. These figures represent minimum confirmed numbers and are subject to updates as verification continues, HRANA clarified. However, Iran's Ministry of Health has reported that over 15,000 citizens have been injured since the beginning of the conflict, with 12,495 treated and discharged, 670 surgeries performed, and 1,682 still hospitalised, as per HRANA. The ministry further noted injuries to 12 healthcare workers and damage to 87 health units, 24 medical centres, 21 emergency bases, and 18 ambulances. HRANA emphasises that official cumulative figures cannot be precisely tied to individual incidents and are therefore not included in event-based counts but serve as a record of official statements. - ANI Many Singaporeans who often shop across the border in Malaysia have not substantially changed their spending habits despite the ringgit rising to nearly RM3 against the Singapore dollar. The Malaysian ringgit was Asias best-performing currency last year and has retained the position so far this year, rising 2.8% against the U.S. dollar on a year-to-date basis even as it gave up some of its gains over the recent Middle East conflict, according to Bloomberg. Against the Singapore dollar, the ringgit is trading at around RM3.10 to S$1, compared with RM3.30 a year earlier and RM3.50 in early 2024. It might eventually strengthen to RM3.00, according to some analysts. For Lee, a 31-year-old financial adviser, and her boyfriend, the ringgits appreciation has increased the monthly cost of living in Johor, a southern Malaysian state bordering Singapore, by about S$200 (US$157). While the costs, comprising rent, a car loan and daily expenses, now amount to RM5,700 (US$1,450), a stronger ringgit has not caused major concern and any changes they have made so far have focused more on managing their budget than reacting to exchange rate movements, she told Channel News Asia. Singapore is connected to Johor by the JohorSingapore Causeway, one of the worlds busiest land crossings, which sees more than 350,000 travelers each day from Malaysians commuting to work to Singaporeans seeking cheaper goods and services. Vehicles line up to enter Singapore from Johor on the Woodlands Causeway, March 17, 2020. Photo by Reuters A report last week by The Star suggested that trips to the Malaysian states Johor Bahru city remain worthwhile for many Singaporeans crossing the border. Muhammad Rafig Irwan Sahh Sahhiran, a 30-year-old Singaporean who often crosses into Johor Bahru, said he maintains the same routine whenever he travels there. This consists of a motorbike wash, which costs RM27 and includes restoring black plastic surfaces, and a meal at his usual eatery. "In Singapore, a basic wash ranges from S$25 to S$30 (RM76.90 to RM92.20), with plastic restoration charged separately," he told the Malaysian newspaper. Christina Zhang, a 50-year-old finance executive, said she and her husband cross the Causeway once or twice a month, usually taking a weekday off for the trip. They typically start the day with dim sum before heading to a popular mall in the city. In a recent trip, she dyed her hair while her husband went for a massage. "We usually spend about RM500 to RM600 on meals and services per trip, which is bang for our buck," she said. Trader Kenny Ng, 29, who sells traditional Malaysian Chinese snacks, said Singaporeans made up more than half of his customers at the Johor Jaya Chinese New Year market early last month, when the ringgit was trading between RM3.10 and RM3.13 against the Singapore dollar. The stronger ringgit has had little effect on local business, he said. Data from multi-currency e-wallet providers also indicates that cross-border spending by Singaporeans remains resilient. Digital banking platform Revolut said conversions from Singapore dollars to the ringgit rose steadily last year while the volumes this January were nearly 42% higher than a year earlier. Kelvin Lam, COO of travel wallet YouTrip, said both transaction volumes and average transaction sizes have increased from previous years. "The data shows that the stronger ringgit hasn't stopped Singaporeans from heading across the Causeway, it has simply made them strategic," he told CNA. Lam added that some users are converting funds even when the rate is less favorable due to "fear of missing out," or concerns that rates could weaken before their next trip. "While the MYR (Malaysian) is stronger, Singaporeans are still drawn to Malaysia," he said. An Iranian official has condemned the US for sinking the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena near Sri Lanka, labeling it a war crime. The vessel had been invited by the Indian Navy for an exercise when it was attacked, resulting in numerous sailor casualties. The Indian Navy deployed assets to assist in the Sri Lanka-led search and rescue mission following the incident. This event occurs amidst escalating regional tensions, with Iranian retaliatory strikes reported against US interests in the Gulf. Iran honors sailors killed after US submarine torpedoed IRIS Dena near Sri Lanka, calling it a heinous crime and violation of international law. Tehran, March 11 Esmaeil Baqaei, the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran, on Tuesday paid tributes to the sailors of IRIS Dena who were killed after the frigate was torpedoed and sunk by a US submarine approximately 40 nautical miles off the coast of Galle, Sri Lanka. He called the action by the United States a "war crime" and in violation of international laws-- further underlining that the Iranian people would not forget it. In a post on X, Baqaei said, "We honor the fallen sailors of the #Dena frigate, martyred on 4 March far from their homeland. The Dena had been officially invited by the Indian Navy to participate in a joint naval exercise and a port visit. In a brutal act amounting to a war crime, the United States attacked the vessel near the coasts of India and Sri Lanka and sank it." The post added, "Worse still, the U.S. deliberately obstructed rescue operations for the sailors. This act not only constitutes aggression under UN General Assembly Resolution 3314 (Definition of Aggression), but also a grave violation of the laws of war, including Geneva Convention II (1949) and Additional Protocol I (1977). The Iranian people will neither forget nor forgive this heinous crime." Earlier, IRIS Dena sank south of Sri Lanka on March 4 after being struck by a US submarine torpedo approximately 20 nautical miles west of Galle. Following the incident, the Indian Navy deployed vessels, including INS Tarangini and INS Ikshak, along with maritime patrol aircraft such as P-8I aircraft, to assist Sri Lanka-led search and rescue operations. Of the estimated 180 crew members on board IRIS Dena, around 87 sailors were reported dead, while about 32 survivors were rescued by the Sri Lanka Navy and admitted to hospitals in Galle. Earlier, in an interview with ANI, Iran's Ambassador to India Mohammad Fathali said that the Islamic Republic of Iran is closely monitoring the situation after the tragic incident involving IRIS Dena and is continuing efforts to assess the circumstances and ensure the well-being of the crew members. "Following the tragic incident involving the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Dena in the waters of the Indian Ocean, the Islamic Republic of Iran is continuing to follow up on the situation of the crew members and to examine the different aspects of this incident," the envoy said. The developments follow amid an escalating security situation in West Asia, which has resulted in the conflict being now expanded beyond Iran, with Iranian retaliatory strikes--using missiles and drones--targeting U.S. military bases, embassies, and civilian/energy infrastructure in neighbouring Gulf nations, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan. - ANI Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has formally urged the United Nations Security Council to designate Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization, citing recent Iranian strikes. Iran's IRGC has claimed responsibility for attacks on multiple US military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain. Simultaneously, Iran's army stated it targeted Israeli intelligence and naval facilities. The escalating conflict has resulted in civilian casualties, widespread damage to Iranian infrastructure, and large public funerals for slain Iranian commanders. Israel's FM Gideon Saar calls on UNSC to label Iran's IRGC a terrorist group after attacks. Iran claims strikes on US bases, Israel targets. Tel Aviv, March 11 Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel, Gideon Saar urged the United Nations Security Council to designate Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization. Saar said that due to Iran's strikes, which were in blatant flagration of international law, 13 civilians had died in Israel. In a post on X, he said, "The Iranian regime's recent actions underscore that its aggression constitutes a direct threat not only to Israel, but to regional and international peace and security. I urge the UN Security Council to condemn Iran and immediately designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization. My letter to the UNSC and President of the Council, US Representative to the United Nations Mike Waltz." Meanwhile, Iran's IRGC said it attacked US troops in Kuwait, claiming to hit the al-Udairi helicopter airbase, the Mohammed al-Ahmad naval base and the Ali al-Salem airbase. In the statement, it also claimed to have struck a naval base in Bahrain, hosting US troops, with missiles and drones, as per Al Jazeera. Iran's army also said it targeted Israel's military intelligence agency, a naval base in the northern port city of Haifa and an Israeli radar system. Thousands of Iranians gathered in Tehran for the funerals of several senior Iranian commanders killed in recent US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Live images broadcast from the capital show large numbers of mourners attending the ceremony, which honours high-ranking military figures who were killed during the attacks, as per Al Jazeera. Meanwhile, almost 20,000 civilian buildings across Iran have suffered damage during the ongoing Israeli-US war, said the Iranian Red Crescent Society, as quoted by Al Jazeera. The humanitarian organisation said its preliminary assessments show that about 19,734 civilian structures have been affected. Among the damaged sites are hospitals, schools and aid facilities. It said 77 medical centres and 65 educational institutions were among the buildings hit. It also reported damage to 16 facilities operated by the organisation itself. - ANI Benny Blanco addressed the viral online discussion about his "dirty feet" from his podcast. During the podcast, he and guest Ed Sheeran discussed their daily showering routines, with Blanco confidently stating he smells good. The moment originated from viewers commenting on the appearance of his feet in an episode. Blanco later clarified on Jimmy Kimmel Live! that his feet were actually clean during the taping. Benny Blanco responds to viral "dirty feet" comments, discusses hygiene habits with Ed Sheeran, and gets support from wife Selena Gomez. Washington, March 11 Days after Benny Blanco's "dirty feet" moment went viral on the internet, the American record producer addressed the discussion and opened up about his hygiene habits. According to PEOPLE, the discussion happened during the latest episode of the podcast ''Friends Keep Secrets', which Blanco co-hosts. During the episode, Blanco asked his frequent collaborator Ed Sheeran about his daily routine, including whether he showers every day. "Do you shower every day?" Blanco asked. "Yeah, sometimes twice a day mostly twice a day actually," Sheeran replied. Blanco reacted with surprise. "Really?" Sheeran then joked about how people may think he does not smell good, even though that is not the case. "I feel like I'm like you though I look like I don't smell good," Sheeran quipped. "But actually you're the best-smelling person I know." Blanco responded with a smile and spoke about his own hygiene habits. "I know, I smell good," Blanco said with a smile. "And I never, like even if I don't shower..." he trailed off, before co-host Batalucco gestured to Blanco and asked him to smell his hands. Batalucco sniffed, and Blanco's co-host Burd, 37, commented, "He always smells good." Burd also shared how people have often spoken about his own scent. "People used to say that I have a particular smell," Burd said. "They said it's not good or bad. You have a smell. I found that so unnerving." For those who may not know, the online discussion started after the first episode of 'Friends Keep Secrets,' which was released on February 24. In the episode, Blanco appeared to be sitting on Burd's couch with his feet visible on camera. Soon after, several social media users quickly commented on the appearance of his feet. One user wrote, "Good podcast, wash your feet benny and wash the floors," while another added, "Those dawgs need to be hosed down." "BENNY!!!!! THEM DIRTY ASS FEET I FREAKING ADORE YOU," one individual commented. Following the viral moment, Blanco's wife, Selena Gomez, shared a sweet video on Instagram Stories, kissing him. She captioned it, "I fall more and more in love with you every day my love." Later, Blanco appeared with Burd on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where he revealed that his feet were clean during the taping. Host Jimmy Kimmel spoke about the online reaction to the earlier episode. "Dave and Benny are here, and I neglected something important because there is something that turned up as people were watching your multimedia experience," Kimmel, 58, said. "People seem to be fascinated with the idea that Benny's feet are very dirty." - ANI The Maharashtra government has adopted a "Zero Tolerance" policy against narcotics, invoking the stringent MCOCA in 14 different cases. A dedicated task force aims to dismantle the entire drug supply chain, from manufacturers to street dealers. In a high-profile Satara case, 11 accused have been arrested and charged under MCOCA. Authorities are conducting joint inspection drives to shut down clandestine labs set up in rural areas. Maharashtra invokes stringent MCOCA in 14 drug cases, forms a dedicated task force, and targets supply chains in a major anti-narcotics drive. Mumbai, March 11 Maharashtra government has launched a massive crackdown on drug trafficking, adopting a "Zero Tolerance" policy against the narcotics menace. The stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) has already been invoked in 14 different cases, announced Minister of State for Home, Yogesh Kadam, during the Question Hour in the Legislative Council on Wednesday. He was responding to a query raised by member Shashikant Shinde. Other members, including Satej Patil, Anil Parab, and Pravin Darekar, also raised supplementary questions regarding the rising drug issue. Minister Kadam said that the government has established a dedicated task force aimed at dismantling the entire drug supply chain, from manufacturers to street-level dealers. Action is not limited to distributors; those supplying raw materials and providing direct or indirect support to drug syndicates are also being booked under MCOCA. He emphasised that the government is committed to a drug-free state and will not hesitate to take the harshest legal actions possible. Referring to a specific high-profile case in the Jawali taluka of Satara district, the Minister confirmed that 11 accused individuals have been arrested. All suspects in this case have been charged under MCOCA, and a rigorous investigation is currently underway to uncover further links. He noted a concerning trend where drug manufacturing units are being set up in abandoned factories or sheds in rural areas. "To combat this, the Police department and the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) administration have launched joint inspection drives. Police machinery across rural Maharashtra has been placed on high alert to identify and shut down clandestine labs. This aims to cripple the financial and logistical backbone of organised drug cartels operating within the state," he said. Meanwhile, Minister Shambhuraj Desai informed the Legislative Council today that a joint meeting of relevant departments will be convened shortly to address critical issues in Chandrapur district, including pollution caused by coal transportation, overloaded vehicles, and deteriorating road conditions. He stated during Question Hour that the meeting involving the Environment, Transport, and Home departments will be held immediately after the conclusion of the current assembly session. The announcement came in response to a query raised by member Uma Khapre, followed by supplementary questions from members Pravin Darekar, Abhijit Vanjari, Krupal Tumane, and Parinay Phuke. Minister Desai highlighted several strategic steps the government is taking. "To curb the issue of heavy vehicles carrying coal beyond permissible limits, the Police Traffic Branch and the Transport Department have been directed to take stringent action. New regulations will make high-quality covers mandatory for all coal-transporting vehicles. The Environment Department will provide specific technical requirements for these covers to ensure dust suppression," he said. He further announced that instructions have been issued to increase the number of "Flying Squads" from both the Police and RTO departments to monitor and stop overloaded transport. Road repair works in Chandrapur have already been sanctioned using the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) funds. Additionally, water-sprinkling systems are being deployed along roadsides to prevent dust from rising. Minister Desai said that, to reduce the burden on road infrastructure, Western Coalfields is implementing a project worth approximately Rs 480 crore. This project aims to shift the transportation of nearly 10 million tonnes of coal from roads to railway lines. Addressing the public health impact, Minister Desai further noted, "To manage health issues arising from coal pollution, instructions will be issued to set up specialised health units in district hospitals using the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds of the concerned companies." - IANS The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed the deaths of two Indian nationals and that one remains missing after their merchant vessels were attacked in the West Asia conflict. Several other Indians have been injured in the Gulf region, including in Israel and Dubai. The MEA has established a 24/7 control room to handle emergencies and coordinate assistance for the large Indian diaspora. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar are actively engaged in diplomatic communications with regional leaders to address the situation. MEA confirms two Indian nationals killed, one missing in West Asia conflict. Government prioritizes welfare of 10-million strong diaspora, sets up 24/7 control room. New Delhi, March 11 The Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jasiwal, on Wednesday confirmed that the two Indian nationals have lost their lives and one still remains missing amid the ongoing West Asian conflict. During the Inter-Ministerial Briefing on Recent Developments in West Asia here, the MEA spokesperson reiterated that the welfare and safety of India's large diaspora in the region remain the government's "utmost priority" as the conflict continues to escalate. "As you know, we have a large diaspora in GCC countries, numbering around 10 million. The welfare of our diaspora is of utmost priority and importance to us," the MEA Spokesperson said. The MEA stated that the casualties occurred when Indian nationals were aboard merchant vessels that were attacked in conflict-affected waters, adding that several Indians have also sustained injuries in the Gulf region amid the conflict, including one person hurt in Israel and another reportedly injured in Dubai. "As for the casualties, we have lost two Indian nationals, and one remains missing. We express our condolences to their families. The incidents of death and the missing person occurred when they were on merchant vessels that came under attack," Jaiswal said. "A few Indians have also been injured in the GCC region. One person was injured in Israel, and there are reports of another individual being injured in Dubai. The MEA is in regular touch with them," he added. Jaiswal further said that all Indian missions in the region are in regular contact with community members and coordinating support. To assist Indian nationals amid the volatile situation, Jaiswal said that the ministry has set up a special control room here that operates round the clock, handling emergency calls and coordinating with Indian embassies and consulates across affected countries. "We remain committed to the welfare of our citizens and nationals who reside in the GCC and West Asian countries. All our missions in the region are in regular touch with our community members," he said. "I would also like to update you that the MEA has started a control room, which is functioning throughout the day. Yesterday, we received 75 phone calls and 11 emails. Today, we are continuing the same effort, with officials manning the control room and doing our very best to assist people," Jaiswal added. The MEA Spokesperson further noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been in contact with leaders from the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait and Israel, and that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar remains in regular dialogue with counterparts across West Asia, including Iran, amid the conflict. "You would have seen that our Prime Minister has spoken with several leaders in the region, including leaders from the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait and Israel. The External Affairs Minister is also in regular contact with his counterparts from these countries, as well as Iran. Today, he also had several conversations with his counterparts, and those details have been made available to you," Jaiswal added. The conflict in the region escalated following the killing of 86-year-old Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in joint military strikes by the US and Israel on February 28, after which Iran, in its retaliation, targeted Israeli and US assets in several Gulf countries and Israel, causing disruption in the waterway and affecting international energy markets and global economic stability. - ANI A report by analyst Michael Rubin argues that as India rises, Prime Minister Narendra Modi must establish a strategic regional doctrine. The proposed "Modi Doctrine" would aim to protect Indian Ocean countries from China's predatory economic and military ambitions. It highlights China's debt diplomacy in nations like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh as a form of neo-colonialism. The doctrine would position India as the paramount security provider, using diplomatic and naval power to counter Chinese influence. Analyst Michael Rubin argues India needs a strategic doctrine, akin to the Monroe Doctrine, to protect regional countries from China's predatory ambitions and debt diplomacy. New Delhi, March 11 As India rises, Prime Minister Narendra Modi must create a regional and security doctrine commensurate with India's economic infrastructure and role in the world. PM Modi - already India's third longest-serving Prime Minister - has likely contributed more to infrastructure development of India than all his predecessors together and navigated the country through several challenges, a report has highlighted. Writing in The Sunday Guardian, Michael Rubin, Director of Policy Analysis at the Middle East Forum and a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington DC, stated that when PM Modi came to power in 2014, India was the 10th largest economy in the world and now it is the fourth largest in the world. He mentioned that India's adversaries, including China and Pakistan, will not accept its rise quietly and will try to constrain New Delhi through asymmetric ways. "These challenges suggest that, as India rises, Modi must establish a regional doctrine and security doctrine commensurate with India's economic infrastructure and role in the world. In short, it is time for a Modi Doctrine akin to the US Monroe Doctrine. President James Monroe declared the United States would be the preeminent power in the Western hemisphere and that the United States would not tolerate European militaries and interference in the region," wrote Rubin. Rubin stated that a "Modi doctrine" might similarly protect the countries of the Indian Ocean region from the predatory ambitions of China. "A Modi Doctrine would not impede freedom of navigation and lawful commerce. But Chinese debt diplomacy in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Kenya and its salivation of bribing and co-opting politicians in the Maldives and Mauritius aims at neo-colonialism. China might pursue Belt-and-Road ports and port facilities in Colombo, Hambantota, Chittagong, Kyaukphyu, and Bagamoyo, but India should use all its diplomatic and economic leverage to extract the Chinese. Nor are Chinese-funded port projects the only inroads of Chinese exploitation and imperial ambition," he wrote in The Sunday Guardian. Highlighting that Chinese fishing fleets poach fishing beds, violate exclusive economic zones and pursue unsustainable practices, Rubin opined that the Indian Navy should help defend all Indian Ocean basin countries from Chinese predation. "More than 280 crore people living in countries bordering the Indian Ocean will depend on the security India can provide. Chinese ships might pass through its waters, but they should have no base or dual use military facility in the region. Regional security and small state sovereignty and independence require India to be the paramount power," he wrote. - IANS The son of Iran's President has dismissed reports that Mojtaba Khamenei was injured in recent strikes, stating he is "healthy and there is no problem." Tensions escalate as a cargo ship is hit in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting a severe warning from US President Donald Trump against Iran placing mines in the vital waterway. At the UN, Iran's ambassador accused the US and Israel of deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure, resulting in over 1,300 civilian deaths. The conflict enters its 12th day with both sides hardening their positions amid growing civilian casualties. Iran President's son says Mojtaba Khamenei is healthy, dismissing injury reports. Conflict escalates as US warns Iran over Strait of Hormuz mines. Tehran, March 11 Yousef Pezeshkian the son of the Iranian President has confirmed that Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei is 'safe and sound'. This after certain reports claimed that he had been injured during the ongoing strikes by US and Israel, reported Al Jazeera. In a message posted on the messaging app Telegram Yousef Pezeshkian said, "I heard news about Mr. Mojtaba being injured. I asked friends who had contact. They said, thank God, he is healthy and there is no problem." The New York Times had earlier suggested in its report that Mojtaba Khamenei, had been wounded and has since avoided public appearances due to security concerns. The NYT report quoted three Iranian sources saying that senior officials informed them that Khamenei was injured during the first day of the Israeli operation on February 28. Meanwhile, as the West Asia conflict entered Day 12 a cargo vessel is hit by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in a fire onboard and prompting the crew to evacuate and request assistance, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations. Iran had vowed to block the flow of oil through the strait amid the war with the US and Israel. That was followed by a warning from US President Donald Trump who issued a sharply worded statement against Iran, calling on the country to refrain from placing mines in the Strait of Hormuz and warning of military consequences if they are not removed. The US President said, "If Iran has put out any mines in the Hormuz Strait, and we have no reports of them doing so, we want them removed, IMMEDIATELY! If for any reason mines were placed, and they are not removed forthwith, the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before. If, on the other hand, they remove what may have been placed, it will be a giant step in the right direction! Additionally, we are using the same Technology and Missile capabilities deployed against Drug Traffickers to permanently eliminate any boat or ship attempting to mine the Hormuz Strait. They will be dealt with quickly and violently." In New York, Iran's Ambassador to the UN, Amir-Saeid Iravani alleged that the US and Israel were deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure. "They are deliberately and discriminately targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure across my country. They show no respect for international law and no restraint in committing these crimes. Densely populated residential area and critical civilian infrastructure are deliberately targeted. So far, these horrific crimes have resulted in the martyrdom of more than 1,300 civilians. They have also destroyed 9,669 civilian sites, including 7,943 residential homes, 1,617 commercial and service centres, 32 medical and pharmaceutical facilities, 65 schools and educational institutions, 13 Red Cross building and several energy supply facilities," he said. The Iranian envoy further called on the UN to act saying that, if Iran had been targeted today it could be some other nation tomorrow. "It is deeply regrettable that Security Council continues to remain silent. The Council is turning a blind eye to this grave violation, despite its primary responsibility under the UN Charter to maintain international peace and security. Instead, some Council members are attempting to reverse the roles and position of victims and aggressors. Today it is Iran. Tomorrow it could be any other sovereign state. The international community must act now to stop this bloody war against the Iranian people," he said. Wednesday marks day 12 of the West Asia Conflict with both sides hardening their position even as the fighting takes a toll on civilian lives and fuel supplies. - ANI Forest officials in Moradabad have relocated a rescued newborn leopard cub to a deer park after unsuccessful attempts to reunite it with its mother. In a separate incident in Ghaziabad, a leopard sighting at a school prompted a closure and a cautious rescue operation. A tranquilization team was deployed to safely capture the animal from the school premises. The Forest Department is monitoring both situations to ensure safety for both the animals and the public. A leopard cub rescued in Moradabad is moved to a deer park. Separately, a leopard sighting prompts a school closure and rescue op in Ghaziabad. Moradabad, March 11 Forest department officials in Moradabad have relocated a three-to-four-day-old leopard cub to a local deer park for specialised care following a rescue operation in the Chhajlet area, after attempts to reunite the cub with its mother proved unsuccessful. Divisional Forest Officer Avinash Pandey, while speaking to ANI, said, "We found a 3-4 days-old (leopard) cub in the Chhajlet area. We rescued it and tried to reunite it with its mother. We kept it for 36 hours, but couldn't find its mother. So, we sent it to the deer park for care..." In a separate incident, a leopard was spotted at the Green Field School in the Govindpuram area of Ghaziabad on February 25, prompting the forest department to cordon off the entire school area and deploy a tranquilization team to safely capture the animal. The forest department arrived at the school early in the morning after being alerted by the school authorities. Speaking to ANI, Divisional Forest Officer Isha Tiwari said that the school authority called them around 7:50 am in the morning after spotting the leopard on their security cameras. "The school authority called us around 7:50 in the morning. They shared a video from the outer security camera, showing an animal coming and going. It appears to be a leopard. After spotting the leopard, our team arrived at 8:30 in the morning," the official said. The DFO said that the visibility has been an issue since the team arrived at the premises, making it difficult to locate the exact position of the leopard. The school has been closed since morning as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of students and staff. The tranquilization team, equipped with specialised equipment and trained personnel, is expected to arrive to carry out the safe capture and relocation of the leopard. The operation is being conducted with extreme caution to avoid any harm to both the animal and humans in the vicinity. The Forest Department is closely monitoring the situation and has urged residents in the surrounding area to remain cautious and avoid approaching the school premises until the leopard is safely captured. - ANI South Korea's unification ministry has officially recognized North Korean defector-turned-journalist Ham Jin-woo as one of seven South Korean citizens detained in North Korea. Ham disappeared in May 2017 while reporting on the North Korea-China border for a media outlet focused on the North. A UN report details he was abducted by men who crossed from North Korea into China, leading to a physical confrontation. The whereabouts of several other detained defectors and missionaries held since 2014 and 2016 remain unknown. South Korea officially adds defector journalist Ham Jin-woo to list of citizens detained in North Korea after his 2017 disappearance near the border. Seoul, March 11 Ham Jin-woo, a North Korean defector-turned-journalist who went missing in 2017 in border areas between North Korea and China, has been officially recognised by the government as one of seven South Koreans detained in the North, officials said on Wednesday. The unification ministry has newly added Ham to the list of South Koreans held captive in North Korea after consulting with relevant government agencies, according to a ministry official. North Korea has detained seven South Koreans -- three missionaries of Kim Jung-wook, Kim Kook-kie and Choi Chun-gil, as well as four North Korean defectors who obtained South Korean nationality, according to the unification ministry's website. The names of the four defectors were not disclosed on the webpage. Ham is believed to have been arrested by North Korean authorities while covering North-China border areas in May 2017 as a journalist of a North Korea-focused media outlet. At a press conference in December last year, Unification Minister Chung Dong-young unveiled a plan to add Ham to the list of the South Korean detainees in the North. Kim Jung-wook and the two other missionaries have been detained in North Korea since 2014 on anti-state charges for what Pyongyang called spying for Seoul's spy agency. The whereabouts of the three other North Korean defectors are not known since they were held captive in 2016, Yonhap news agency reported. Ham Jin Woo, a reporter was abducted on May 29, 2017, while he was reporting on the Chinese side of the China-North Korea border between Sanhe, Longjin in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture of China and Hoiryong City, North Korea, according to a report submitted to the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances by Eunkyong Kwon, Ham's former colleague and secretary general of the North Korea-focused human rights group ICNK. According to the report, Ham's family had said that his Korean-Chinese taxi driver witnessed an argument and physical confrontation between Ham and two men who had crossed into China from North Korea who then dragged the journalist over the border to North Korea. - IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Tiruchirappalli wearing traditional Tamil attire, drawing significant attention. He inaugurated and laid foundation stones for multiple development projects totaling approximately Rs 5,650 crore. Key initiatives include a major city gas distribution network and a new lubricant oil manufacturing plant. The Prime Minister also flagged off new train services and inaugurated rural roads to enhance connectivity across Tamil Nadu. PM Modi arrives in Tiruchirappalli wearing traditional Tamil attire to inaugurate key energy, road, and rail projects worth Rs 5,650 crore. Chennai, March 11 Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Tiruchirappalli on Wednesday evening wearing traditional Tamil attire, including a white dhoti and shirt, drawing attention from supporters and officials during his visit to the city. Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister attended a government programme in Kerala before flying to Tamil Nadu. PM Modi landed at Tiruchirappalli International Airport at around 4:45 p.m. in a private aircraft. From the airport, he left for Panchapur in an Indian Air Force helicopter, where a major government function has been organised. At the event, the Prime Minister will inaugurate, lay foundation stones, and flag off development projects worth about Rs 5,650 crore. The projects are being undertaken by major public sector organisations, including the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and Indian Railways. Among the key initiatives, PM Modi will lay the foundation stone for a city gas distribution network project of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) in the Nilgiris and Erode districts, being developed with an investment of Rs 3,680 crore. The project aims to expand access to piped natural gas and promote cleaner energy infrastructure in the region. The Prime Minister will also dedicate to the nation a lubricant oil manufacturing plant set up by Indian Oil Corporation at Manali in Chennai at a cost of Rs 1,490 crore. The facility is expected to strengthen India's energy sector and enhance industrial capacity. In addition, PM Modi will inaugurate 89 rural roads, totalling 370 kilometres, built under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, improving connectivity in several parts of Tamil Nadu. He will also lay the foundation stone for a greenfield bypass near Gangaikonda Cholapuram on National Highway 81. During the event, the Prime Minister will flag off two Amrit Bharat Express trains, two express trains, and one passenger train service, further strengthening railway connectivity in the state. After the government programme, PM Modi willaddress a public meeting organised by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at a nearby venue. Notably, the Prime Minister has on several previous occasions worn traditional Tamil attire during his visits to the state, a gesture widely seen as a mark of respect for Tamil culture and heritage. - IANS Members of a South Korean scam gang and seized evidence at a police station in Bac Ninh Province, northern Vietnam. Photo by police A South Korean scam ring that allegedly defrauded businesses in its home country out of 1.2 billion won (US$900,000) and relocated to Vietnam to evade a crackdown in Cambodia has been busted. Police in the northern Bac Ninh Province announced arrests of ring members Tuesday, adding investigations into the network are ongoing. The alleged leader, Son Chan Hyun, 42, said a Chinese national living in Cambodia, known as "Da Hu," originally recruited the group to carry out the phone scams. When Cambodian authorities intensified their scrutiny on illicit call centers, Son ordered the group to shift to Vietnam. The ring members entered Vietnam through Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on Jan. 13, taking advantage of the country's visa waiver policy. By early February they had rented a house in Bac Ninh's Hap Linh Ward to serve as their new operational base. Son managed the seven South Koreans through messaging app Telegram, assigning tasks, distributing bonuses and slapping penalties and using scam scripts. He instructed them to study the scripts and refine their tactics using their "years of fraud experience." The syndicate's primary targets were shops and retail agencies based in South Korea. Their scheme worked in a highly coordinated two-step process. First, suspects would call a business, posing as representatives of diplomatic agencies looking to place urgent, lucrative bulk orders. Once the shop owners took the bait and scrambled to find suppliers to fulfill the massive orders, Son would step in, posing as a supplier having the goods the victims needed and offering them at below-market prices. But he would demand a 50% deposit or full payment in advance. The moment the funds came into bank accounts controlled by Da Hu, the group would severe all contact, blocking calls and messages to erase their tracks. Da Hu reportedly paid the scammers in the Tether cryptocurrency, with their monthly salaries ranging from 2,000 to 7,000 USDT. Authorities estimate the group's total haul through its Cambodian and Vietnamese operations to be worth around 1.2 billion won. In Vietnam alone, it carried out some 20 scams, extracting 622.6 million won from victims. The fifth session of Rajasthan's 16th Legislative Assembly has been adjourned sine die after functioning for approximately 184 hours across 24 sittings. Speaker Vasudev Devnani highlighted a record 97% response rate to questions over the last four sessions. The session saw extensive debates on the Governor's Address and the 2026-27 Budget, with the passage of 10 bills. The Speaker thanked legislators and officials for the smooth conduct of proceedings. The 16th Rajasthan Assembly's fifth session concluded, functioning for 184 hours across 24 sittings with high question response rates and legislative work. Jaipur, March 11 The fifth session of the 16th Rajasthan Legislative Assembly was adjourned sine die on Tuesday at 6.06 p.m, Speaker Vasudev Devnani announced this on Wednesday morning. Reviewing the session, Devnani said the Assembly held 24 sittings, during which discussions and legislative business continued for about 184 hours. The Speaker said extensive discussions were held on the Motion of Thanks on the Governor's Address. Members of the BJP participated in the debate for 13 hours, 14 minutes, while the Congress spoke for 10 hours, 52 minutes. Legislators from other parties contributed 1 hour and 37 minutes. During the general discussion on the Budget Estimates for 2026-27, BJP members spoke for 9 hours 42 minutes, Congress members for 8 hours 19 minutes, and other parties for 1 hour 21 minutes. On the Demands for Grants, BJP legislators participated for 36 hours 56 minutes, Congress members for 21 hours 26 minutes, and other parties for 4 hours 25 minutes. Devnani said the Assembly received 8,919 questions during the session. These included 4,311 starred questions, 4,603 unstarred questions, and five short-notice questions. Of the starred questions, 440 were listed, and 232 were answered orally in the House. A total of 451 unstarred questions were also listed. He noted that during the past four sessions of the 16th Assembly, the state government responded to 22,074 out of 22,735 questions, achieving a response rate of about 97 per cent, which he described as a record for the Assembly. Under Rule 50, notices for 371 adjournment motions were received. Of these, 84 were admitted for discussion, and 77 members presented their views. Under Rule 295, 339 notices for special mentions were received, out of which 309 were either read out in the House or deemed to have been read. The Assembly also received 850 calling-attention notices, of which 33 were listed on the House agenda. A total of 10 bills were introduced and passed during the session. The House received 171 amendment proposals, of which 17 were ruled inadmissible, and 154 were accepted. The Assembly held a four-day general discussion on the 2026-27 Budget, with 84 MLAs participating. Out of 64 demands for grants, 16 were discussed over eight days. A total of 3,935 cut motions were submitted, of which 3,599 were presented in the House. Devnani said the Assembly received 226 petitions, of which 52 were presented in the House. In addition, 37 reports of various committees were tabled during the session. On the conclusion of the session, Devnani thanked all legislators for their cooperation in ensuring the smooth functioning of the House. He also acknowledged the support of Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel, Government Chief Whip Jogeshwar Garg, and Opposition Chief Whip Rafiq Khan. The Speaker also expressed gratitude to officials of the Legislative Assembly Secretariat, the state administration, the police department for security arrangements, and media representatives for ensuring wide coverage of the House proceedings. - IANS South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, during a state visit to Brasilia, commended Brazilian President Lula for his key role in strengthening the strategic partnership between their nations. He highlighted the partnership's foundation in shared values and its focus on economic growth, social programs, and poverty eradication. Ramaphosa also acknowledged Lula's influence in enhancing the G20's significance and expressed confidence in Brazil's continued support as South Africa assumes the group's presidency. The visit aimed to deepen bilateral cooperation, with Ramaphosa describing the close ties as making Brazil feel like a "second home" for South Africans. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa commends Brazilian leader Lula for deepening strategic bilateral ties and Global South cooperation. Brasilia, March 11 South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has praised Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for playing a key role in strengthening the strategic partnership between Brazil and South Africa. Ramaphosa made the remarks during a joint address in Brasilia as part of his state visit to Brazil. Speaking alongside Lula, the South African leader highlighted the importance of the Brazilian president's leadership in deepening bilateral ties and expanding cooperation between the two nations. He described Brazil as a vital strategic partner for South Africa across multiple sectors, as per the reports of Brasil 247. "President Lula, your leadership has strengthened the foundations of our strategic partnership. We see Brazil as a strategic partner in many ways and value its cooperation and collaboration in a range of areas," Ramaphosa said, emphasising the shared commitment of both countries to equality, economic growth and poverty eradication. Ramaphosa noted that the relationship between Brazil and South Africa is rooted in shared values and a common vision for inclusive development. According to him, the partnership extends beyond bilateral engagement and plays an important role in strengthening cooperation among countries of the Global South. Collaboration between the two nations spans economic development, social programmes and international political coordination. The South African president also acknowledged Lula's role in strengthening the influence of the Group of Twenty (G20). Ramaphosa referred to Lula's participation in the summit held in Johannesburg and thanked the Brazilian leader for his contribution to enhancing the forum's global significance. He expressed appreciation for Brazil's leadership during its presidency of the G20, saying South Africa had learned valuable lessons and adopted several initiatives from Brazil's term before assuming the group's presidency. Ramaphosa further voiced confidence that Brazil would continue supporting South Africa during its tenure leading the forum. He concluded his remarks by describing the close ties between the two nations, saying that for South Africans, visiting Brazil "feels like being in a second home." The visit included bilateral meetings, institutional engagements and discussions aimed at strengthening economic and political cooperation. Both countries are also members of the BRICS grouping of emerging economies. - ANI Ambassador Sibi George met with ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin in Geneva to discuss strengthening global cooperation on secure and inclusive digital infrastructure. Separately, India has dispatched 30 tonnes of humanitarian assistance to Madagascar following the devastation caused by tropical cyclones Fytia and Gezani. The aid, delivered by an Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft, includes life-saving medicines, surgical supplies, tents, and ready-to-eat meals. This mission reflects India's ongoing commitment to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief for partner nations in crisis. India discusses global digital cooperation with ITU's Bogdan-Martin and dispatches 30 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Madagascar after cyclones. Geneva, March 11 Ambassador Sibi George, Secretary met with Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union Doreen Bogdan-Martin to "discuss global cooperation on inclusive digital infrastructure." In a post on X, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal wrote, "Secretary (West) @AmbSibiGeorge met @ITUSecGen Doreen Bogdan-Martin at @ITU in Geneva. They discussed strengthening global cooperation on secure, resilient and inclusive digital infrastructure, and advancing innovation that connects communities globally." Earlier, Jaiswal had posted about sending humanitarian aid to Madagascar after the devastation caused by tropical cyclones Fytia and Gezani earlier this year, reaffirming its support for the island nation during the ongoing relief efforts. An Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft carrying relief supplies landed in Antananarivo with a total of 30 tonnes of assistance, including 12 tonnes of medical aid and 18 tonnes of disaster relief material. The consignment was dispatched to help authorities and humanitarian agencies support communities affected by the cyclones. The aid package includes essential items such as life-saving medicines, surgical supplies, tents, water storage tanks, dignity kits and ready-to-eat meals. These supplies are aimed at addressing immediate humanitarian needs and providing support to people impacted by the disaster. Jaiswal said the latest assistance reflects India's continued engagement with Madagascar and its willingness to support affected populations during times of crisis. "India stands in solidarity with the people of Madagascar. Following the widespread devastation caused by Tropical Cyclones Fytia and Gezani earlier this year, India dispatched humanitarian assistance to support ongoing relief efforts," the statement said. "An Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft carrying 12 tonnes of medical aid and 18 tonnes of disaster relief material landed in Antananarivo," it added. "The consignment includes life-saving medicines, surgical supplies, tents, water storage tanks, dignity kits, and ready-to-eat meals providing critical support to affected communities," the statement further said. The delivery of relief materials comes after Madagascar faced extensive damage due to the tropical cyclones that struck the country earlier this year, destroying homes, infrastructure, and livelihoods in several regions. Natural disasters frequently affect the island nation in the Indian Ocean, making international assistance crucial during emergency response operations. India's humanitarian outreach forms part of its broader commitment to assisting partner countries during natural disasters and crises. Through such relief missions, India has regularly provided aid to nations affected by cyclones, earthquakes, floods and other emergencies under its policy of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR). - ANI Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar announced a Special Bill for women farmers will be introduced in the next Assembly session to secure their rights and dignity. The bill aims to resolve land record issues and ensure gender-disaggregated data, alongside initiatives like drone pilot training and AI promotion in farming. The government plans to replicate Pune's successful 75% subsidy model for women's drone purchases across the state, with 30% of all agricultural scheme benefits now reserved for women. Senior officials emphasized the need for formal recognition of women as farmers to access schemes, especially in households affected by migration and suicides. Maharashtra announces a Special Bill for women farmers, focusing on land rights, drone training, and AI in farming. New Gender Resource Center to be established. Mumbai, March 11 Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar on Wednesday declared that the government is committed to ensuring rights and dignity for women farmers, confirming that a Special Bill for their empowerment will be tabled in the upcoming legislative session. Speaking at a special seminar on 'Empowerment of Women Farmers' held at the Central Hall of Vidhan Bhavan, the Deputy CM also announced the establishment of a state-level 'Gender Resource Center' modelled after central initiatives to address the specific grievances of women in agriculture. The event was organised jointly by the Government of Maharashtra and the Maharashtra Legislature to mark the International Year of Women Farmers 2026 and International Women's Day. Pawar outlined several transformative measures including legal recognition, technology and AI and the Pune pattern. "A new law will be introduced to protect the rights of women farmers. This includes resolving issues arising from names not being registered on 7/12 land extracts and ensuring gender-disaggregated data in agricultural statistics. Under the 'Namo Drone Didi' scheme, women will receive drone pilot training. The government will also promote the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in farming," she said. She further stated that following the success in Pune district, where 75 per cent subsidies were provided for drone purchases by women farmers, the government plans to implement this model statewide. About 30 per cent of all agricultural scheme benefits are now reserved for women. Currently, 1.8 million women benefit from the PM-Kisan scheme. Through initiatives like 'Lakhpati Didi' and 'She Marts', women farmers will be connected to international markets. Special subsidies for animal husbandry, fisheries, and beekeeping are also under consideration, she said. Deputy Chairperson of the Legislative Council Dr Neelam Gorhe, emphasized the need for a robust action plan. She noted that while women contribute to nearly 80 per cent of agricultural labour, they are often viewed only as "cultivators" rather than "farmers." "In many families, the woman is the de facto head of the household as men migrate to cities for work. It is crucial that these women receive farmer certificates to access government schemes, especially in households affected by farmer suicides," Dr Gorhe stated. Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare highlighted the synergy between the Agriculture and WCD departments. She noted that credit societies, like the one in Nagpur involving over 30,000 women, are providing essential financial backing. She pledged continued support for collective industries and agri-allied businesses through the 'Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin' scheme. Environment Minister Pankaja Munde lauded women as the true "entrepreneurs" of the soil. "Whether their name is on the 7/12 extract or not, women manage both the home and the farm. They are not just homemakers; they are the backbone of the rural economy," she said, welcoming the government's decision to include the mother's name in official records. - IANS The DMK-led alliance has finalized its seat-sharing arrangement with the MDMK, granting the latter four constituencies for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. In a separate agreement, the Congress party will contest 28 seats. Meanwhile, BJP leader and Union Minister Piyush Goyal expressed confidence that the NDA will win and form a government under AIADMK's Edappadi Palaniswami. Chief Minister MK Stalin launched a sharp attack, framing the election as a battle between the DMK and the "Delhi team" of the NDA, which he claims has no place in state politics. DMK finalizes 4 seats for ally MDMK in Tamil Nadu polls. CM Stalin attacks NDA as "Delhi team," while BJP's Goyal predicts alliance victory. Chennai, March 11 Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam will contest on four seats in the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly polls after an agreement was reached with the ruling DMK. A discussion was held today between DMK chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and MDMK General Secretary Vaiko regarding seat-sharing arrangements. During the meeting, it was decided that the MDMK which is part of the Secular Progressive Alliance, will contest in four (4) Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu. Of these, the party will contest in three constituencies using the DMK's "Rising Sun" symbol, and in one constituency using the symbol allotted to the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. Congress and DMK had also reached a seat sharing arrangement where the former will contest 28 Assembly constituencies and will be allocated one seat in the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly has a total of 234 elected seats. Meanwhile, Union Minister Piyush Goyal, on Wednesday, expressed confidence that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is set to achieve a victory in the upcoming state assembly elections, effectively ending the tenure of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government. Goyal said that the NDA's seat-sharing pact for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections will be finalised in a "friendly manner.Expressing confidence in the NDA's victory in the polls, BJP leader Piyush Goyal said that the alliance will form the government under AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami. Earlier, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin launched a sharp attack on the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Bharatiya Janata Party, accusing them of pursuing policies that are "against Tamil Nadu." Speaking at the DMK's State Level Conference at Siruganur, Stalin said the upcoming election would be a contest between the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and what he described as the "Delhi team," asserting that the NDA had no place in the state's politics. He also alleged that the BJP was attempting to gradually dominate the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), claiming the party had effectively "mortgaged itself" to the BJP. - ANI The Enforcement wing of Telangana's Civil Supplies Department has conducted widespread raids, seizing 125 LPG cylinders intended for illegal commercial use. Operations in Hanmakonda, Warangal, and Karmanghat led to the seizure of property worth Rs. 64,468, following a larger interception in February. Authorities have filed 6-A reports and are registering FIRs against the offenders. The public is urged to avoid overbooking and report misuse via toll-free number 1967. Civil Supplies Dept seizes 125 LPG cylinders in Telangana, files FIRs against offenders misusing domestic gas. Public urged to report violations. Hyderabad, March 11 The Enforcement wing of CAF & Civil Supplies Department is conducting widespread search and seizure operations to crack down on the illegal commercial diversion and pilferage of domestic LPG cylinders, an official statement said. During coordinated raids on March 9, 2026, across Hanmakonda, Warangal, and Karmanghat, officials seized 22 domestic cylinders, 25 small cylinders, and multiple gas refilling units from various proprietors, amounting to Rs. 64,468 in seized property. These efforts follow a major interception on February 14, 2026, in Bonguluru, Ibrahimpatnam, where authorities apprehended an offender and seized an additional 78 domestic cylinders along with a transport vehicle, valued at Rs. 1,71,600. In total, these enforcement operations have recovered 100 domestic LPG cylinders and 25 small cylinders with a combined value of Rs 2,36,068, resulting in 6-A reports filed before the Collector (CS) and corresponding FIRs registered or under process for all offenders. "We kindly request the public not to do overbooking of LPG cylinders. Citizens can report any ongoing issues regarding LPG cylinders, illegal commercial use, or other civil supplies matters by contacting the toll-free number 1967," Civil supplies official said. Meanwhile, Centre said Domestic LPG production has increased by about 25 percent and the entire domestic LPG production is being directed towards household consumers. Government said for non-domestic LPG, priority is being given to essential sectors such as hospitals and educational institutions. - ANI Alert troops foiled an infiltration attempt along the Line of Control in Rajouri district's Jhangar area on Tuesday. Acting on intelligence, the White Knight Corps engaged and eliminated one terrorist, effectively denying a breach. A search operation is underway to track down a second terrorist spotted during the attempt. Security forces maintain a heightened operational posture to dominate the area and prevent unlawful cross-border activities. Alert troops foil infiltration attempt on LoC in J&K's Rajouri, eliminate one terrorist. Search ongoing for second. Read details. Jammu, March 10 Alert troops foiled an infiltration bid on the Line of Control in J&K's Rajouri district on Tuesday, killing one terrorist and launching a hunt to track down the second. Officials said that the terrorist was killed in an anti-Infiltration operation in the Jhangar area of the Nowshera sector of the LoC in Rajouri. "Acting on credible intelligence inputs by Intelligence Agencies, movement of two terrorists was detected in the general area of Jhangar, Nowshera along the Line of Control at around 3pm on 10 March", the Nagrota-headquartered White Knight Corps said on X. "Responding with swift and calibrated combat action, alert troops of WhiteKnightCorps engaged swiftly, successfully foiling the infiltration attempt. In the ensuing engagement, one Pakistani sponsored Terrorist was eliminated, effectively denying any breach of the LoC. Own troops have been reoriented to search for second terrorist and to ensure relentless domination of the area, supported by intergrated ground and aerial Survey", it added. "A robust operational posture and heightened alert continue across the sector", it said. Reports said another terrorist was spotted during the infiltration attempt, and the hunt is on to track him down. The army is deployed on the 740-km-long LoC in J&K situated in Baramulla, Kupwara, and Bandipora districts of the Kashmir Valley and Poonch, Rajouri, and partly in the Jammu district of the Jammu division. In addition, J&K has a 240-km-long international border situated in Samba, Jammu and Kathua districts. The international border is manned by the Border Security Force (BSF). Army and the BSF are deployed to prevent infiltration, exfiltration, drug smuggling and drone activities initiated from the Pakistan side of the border. J&K Police and the security forces carry out aggressive operations in the hinterland against terrorists, their overground workers (OGWs) and sympathisers. Drug smugglers, drug peddlers and those involved in hawala money rackets and other unlawful financial activities are also on the scanner of the security forces. It is believed that the funds generated from these unlawful activities are finally used to sustain terrorism in J&K. - IANS The White House announced President Trump personally approved a temporary waiver allowing India to purchase Russian oil to help stabilize global energy markets disrupted by the US military campaign against Iran. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated the decision was made because India had been a "good actor" by previously halting purchases of sanctioned Russian oil. The update came alongside details on Operation Epic Fury, which has struck over 5000 targets and significantly degraded Iran's missile and naval capabilities. The administration emphasized its commitment to keeping oil flowing through the Strait of Hormuz, including offering risk insurance and potential naval escorts for tankers. White House says Trump approved a temporary waiver for India to buy Russian oil to stabilize energy markets during Operation Epic Fury against Iran. Washington, March 11 The White House said that President Donald Trump personally approved a temporary waiver allowing India to purchase Russian oil as part of a broader effort to stabilise global energy markets amid disruptions caused by the ongoing US military campaign against Iran. The decision was taken after consultations between the President, the Treasury Department, and members of the national security team, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said. "The President and the Secretary of the Treasury and the whole national security team came to this decision because our allies in India have been good actors and have previously stopped buying sanctioned Russian oil," Leavitt told reporters in response to a question. She said the temporary measure was meant to address disruptions in global oil supply triggered by the crisis surrounding Iran. "So as we work to appease this temporary gap of oil supply around the world because of the Iranians, we have temporarily permitted them to accept that Russian oil," she said. Leavitt noted that the shipments involved had already been dispatched before the waiver was granted. "This Russian oil was already at sea, it was already out on the water," she said. According to the White House, the administration does not expect the arrangement to significantly benefit Moscow financially. "So this short-term measure, we don't believe it will provide significant financial benefit to the Russian government at this time," Leavitt said. The remarks came as the White House provided updates on Operation Epic Fury, the US military campaign targeting Iran's missile infrastructure and naval capabilities. Leavitt said the operation had achieved rapid progress since it began ten days ago. "More than 5000 enemy targets have been struck so far," she said. She added that Iran's ability to retaliate had sharply declined. "Iran's ballistic missile attacks are down more than 90 per cent, and their drone attacks are down by approximately 35 per cent since the start of Operation Epic Fury," Leavitt said. US forces have also targeted Iran's naval assets. "We have destroyed more than 50 Iranian naval vessels, including a major drone carrier ship," she said, adding that the Iranian navy has been assessed as "combat ineffective." The administration said the operation's goals remain unchanged. "The stated objectives for Operation Epic Fury remain the same: destroy the terrorist regime's ballistic missiles, raise their Iranian missile industry to the ground, ensure their terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region, and ensure that Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon," Leavitt said. The White House also stressed that the United States would ensure the continued flow of energy through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical oil shipping routes. Leavitt said President Trump had reiterated his commitment to protecting energy supply routes. "President Trump reiterated his commitment toward keeping oil flowing through the Strait of Hormuz so the United States and all of our allies can receive their energy needs," she said. She added that the administration had already taken steps to stabilise energy markets. "Thus far, the Trump administration has offered political risk insurance to tankers operating in the Gulf," she said. Officials also said the US Navy could escort tankers if necessary to keep the vital waterway open. - IANS India is augmenting LNG supplies with new cargoes as imports from outside the Middle East increase due to the Iran war. A senior official stated that 75% of crude oil is now arriving via routes other than the Strait of Hormuz, up from 55%. The government has issued orders to prioritize the supply of PNG, CNG, and LPG to households and transport, directing refineries to maximize LPG production. Authorities assure there is no LPG shortage for domestic kitchens despite supply disruptions triggered by force majeure. India diverts LNG imports, increases domestic LPG output, and issues priority orders to ensure household and transport fuel supply amid Iran war disruption. New Delhi, March 11 Two liquefied natural gas cargoes are on their way to India to augment supplies for domestic consumers as the public sector oil and gas companies have stepped up imports from outside the Middle East amid the Iran war, a senior Central government official said on Wednesday. "Crude supply remains secure. Volumes secured today exceed what normally would arrive from the Strait of Hormuz. Oil marketing companies secured various crude cargoes from different countries. As much as 75 per cent of crude is now coming from routes other than Hormuz against 55 per cent earlier," Joint Secretary, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Sujata Sharma, said at a press conference here On the panic booking of LPG triggered by the Middle East crisis, she said that the normal delivery cycle for domestic LPG remains 2.5 days, so there is no need for customers to rush and book cylinders. The government is constantly monitoring energy supplies and undertaking important measures amid the Middle East crisis, she added. "Procurement through alternative routes is underway to secure supplies. We import 60 per cent of our requirements. Domestic LPG production has increased by 25 per cent and is being directed to household consumers after the government took steps to increase output," the official said. "Our refineries are operating at the highest capacity utilisation, some are even operating at more than 100 per cent of their capacity. The total consumption of gas is 189 mmscmd, of which 97.5 mmscmd is produced domestically, while the rest is imported. About 47.4 mmscmd supply has been affected due to force majeure conditions triggered by the Iran war," she added. The concerns over a natural gas shortage arose after Qatar paused production due to attacks launched by Iran. The Gulf country is India's biggest supplier of liquefied natural gas. Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri also assured consumers on Tuesday that there was no shortage of LPG for household kitchens. The Central government on Tuesday also issued orders under the Essential Commodities Act to ensure an uninterrupted supply of piped natural gas for household kitchens, LPG and CNG for transport on top priority amid disruption in supplies due to the ongoing war in the Middle East. It assessed that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has resulted in the disruption of liquefied natural gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, and suppliers have invoked force majeure clauses, which would entail diversion of natural gas to the priority sectors, the order states. The order states that priority allocation shall be maintained, subject to operational availability, to 100 per cent of their average past six-month average gas consumption for the supply of natural gas for domestic piped natural gas supply, compressed natural gas for transport, LPG production, including LPG shrinkage requirements, as well as pipeline compressor fuel and other essential pipeline operational requirements. This has been listed as priority sector 1. The Centre has directed refineries and petrochemical units to maximise production of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and divert key hydrocarbon streams to the LPG pool. - IANS US Central Command has conducted over 5,500 strikes inside Iran, including against more than 60 ships, as part of Operation Epic Fury. Admiral Brad Cooper stated the campaign aims to deliver sustained military pressure and degrade Iran's missile, drone, and naval capabilities. The operations involve waves of advanced fighters and bombers, and leverage AI for data analysis, though final targeting decisions remain with human commanders. The US is conducting the campaign in coordination with regional allies like Israel to counter threats across the Middle East. US Central Command reports devastating strikes on Iranian military infrastructure, ships, and missile facilities in sustained campaign to degrade Tehran's capabilities. Washington, March 11 US forces have struck more than 5,500 targets inside Iran, including more than 60 ships, since launching 'Operation Epic Fury', the top American commander overseeing the campaign has said, describing the operation as delivering sustained military pressure on Tehran's capabilities. Admiral Brad Cooper, Commander of United States Central Command, said that the operation continues to expand as US forces intensify strikes across multiple domains. "In short, US forces continue delivering devastating combat power against the Iranian regime," he said. According to the commander, American forces have already conducted thousands of strikes targetting Iran's military infrastructure. "To date, we have struck more than 5,500 targets inside Iran, including more than 60 ships, using a variety of precision weapon systems," Cooper said. The targets include Iranian missile and drone capabilities, naval assets, and elements of the country's defence industrial network. "Every day, we're striking hard at Iranian ballistic missiles and drones," he said. The campaign is designed to neutralise current threats and reduce Iran's ability to launch future attacks. "Just last night, our bomber force hit a large ballistic missile manufacturing facility, as an example," Cooper said. "Since the first 24 hours of this campaign, Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks have dropped drastically," Cooper said. Naval strikes have also played a major role in the operation. Cooper said the US military has neutralised key Iranian vessels believed to be involved in threatening maritime routes. "We also took out the last of four Soleimani-class warships. That's an entire class of Iranian ships now out of the fight," he said. The Commander described the strikes as "unpredictable, dynamic, and decisive." Air operations have involved waves of advanced fighters and bombers operating from multiple locations. "From the air, we've achieved a concentration of air power with back-to-back waves of advanced fighters creating constant pressure on the enemy every single day," Cooper said. He also pointed to the increasing role of emerging technologies in modern warfare, including artificial intelligence systems used to analyse battlefield data rapidly. "Our warfighters are leveraging a variety of advanced AI tools. These systems help us sift through vast amounts of data in seconds so our leaders can cut through the noise and make smarter decisions faster than the enemy can react," he said. Cooper stressed that final targeting decisions remain with human commanders. "Humans will always make final decisions on what to shoot and what not to shoot and when to shoot," he said. The operation is being conducted in coordination with regional allies and partners. "Our dominance is not a solo effort. It's a testament to the strength of our ironclad alliances," Cooper said, noting that the United States continues to coordinate closely with Israel and partners across the Middle East. "All told, despite this incredible progress, make no mistake, we remain highly vigilant," he added. Operation Epic Fury forms part of a broader US military campaign aimed at degrading Iran's missile, drone and naval capabilities across the Middle East. The conflict has heightened tensions across the region as Washington seeks to counter threats to its forces and allies. - IANS Thailands tourism sector has been directly affected and is facing severe volatility, both in terms of travel costs and tourist numbers after one week of Middle East conflicts, according to President of the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) Chai Arunanondchai. The conflicts have had a major impact on airlines, particularly flights from Europe that require transit stops and plane changes in several cities, such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates and Doha in Qatar, which serve as aviation hubs. However, services have had to be canceled under airspace closure measures, causing airfares on long-haul routes, especially Europe-bound services, to rise by almost 100%. If the situation drags on for one month, TCT expects foreign tourist arrivals to decline by no fewer than 300,000 in March alone, particularly from the Middle East and Europe, with nearly 300 billion baht (US$9.33 billion) in lost revenue, said Chai Arunanondchai. TCT also forecasts that Thailand, the second largest economy in Southeast Asia, will receive 33 million foreign tourists in 2026, close to the 2025 level and short of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)s target of 36.7 million. To sustain foreign tourist numbers, the strategy must be adjusted to focus more aggressively on promising short-haul markets such as India, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan and Australia, in order to offset the slowdown in Europe and the Middle East, Arunanondchai added. Israeli Defence Forces conducted strikes on multiple targets in Tehran and Tabriz, including a special units command center and a ballistic missile launch command. The Israeli Air Force simultaneously intercepted missiles launched from Iran toward its territory. Iranian state media claimed successful drone strikes on an Israeli military intelligence center in Haifa and the shooting down of US and Israeli drones. The escalating conflict has expanded to involve Gulf nations, causing significant disruption to global energy supplies transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Israeli forces strike targets in Tehran and Tabriz, intercept missiles from Iran. Conflict expands in West Asia, threatening global energy supplies. Tel Aviv, March 11 Amid the evolving security situation in West Asia and the Gulf, Israeli Defence Forces on Tuesday conducted a combined strike in Tehran and Tabriz, as per the details shared by the Israel Defence Forces. In a post on X, the IDF said, that the targets struck included a special units command center in Tabriz, an "Imam Hassan" security unit military compound in Tehran, a command center for the security unit responsible for ballistic missile launches & artillery fire, a command center for the Intelligence and General Security Police in Maragheh Province and a large Basij forces compound in Tabriz. Meanwhile, the Israeli Air Force in a post on X said that it had intercepted missiles launched from Iran and called for people to exercise caution. In a post on X, it said, "The IDF has identified that a short time ago, missiles were launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel. Defense systems are operating to intercept the threat. In the last few minutes, the Home Front Command has issued a preliminary directive directly to mobile phones in the relevant areas. The public is requested to exercise responsibility and act in accordance with the directives - they save lives. One must enter protected spaces upon receiving the alert and remain in them until a new announcement. Exit from the protected space will be permitted only after receiving an explicit directive; continue to act in accordance with Home Front Command directives." Tasnim News Agency, citing the Iranian Army, said that an Israeli military intelligence and satellite surveillance center in Haifa was targeted by drones. It wrote on X, "The Iranian Army has confirmed that an Israeli military intelligence and satellite surveillance center in Haifa (Ofek), which played a key role in the development and production of advanced military weaponry, was successfully targeted by drones." It also claimed that Iran had shot US MQ-9 Reaper and sraeli Hermes Drones over Isfahan. It further said that several Qadr, Emad, and Kheibar Shahkan missiles were launched against US-Israeli targets. Meanwhile, Al Jazeera Breaking reported that the UAE said that it was responding to a 'barrage of ballistic missiles' from Iran. It further reported that Saudi Arabia mentioned two drones being intercepted near the Shaybah oil field. On Tuesday, CENTCOM also shared visuals of attacks on Iranian naval vessels. Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi denied the claims that the country was planning a "pre-emptive" attack on the US and its forces, a claim that the United States has peddled to attack the Persian Gulf country. Dismissing it as a lie, Araghchi called Operation Epic Fury a grave misadventure. The developments follow amid an escalating security situation in West Asia, which has resulted in the conflict being now expanded beyond Iran, with Iranian retaliatory strikes--using missiles and drones--targeting U.S. military bases, embassies, and civilian/energy infrastructure in neighbouring Gulf nations, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan. The conflict has caused significant disruptions to global energy supplies, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, where approximately 20% of the world's oil transits. - ANI Due to scheduled maintenance from Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 10 PM to Sunday, March 16, 2025, at 2 AM, there may be interruptions for our News Gazette Digital subscribers. During this time frame, please click on any News Gazette website content without logging into your News Gazette Digital subscription account. Thank you for your patience during this scheduled maintenance. Learning French, reading the latest Andy Weir novel, hanging out with friends for St. Patrick's Day - language is central to all these everyday activities. Seemingly effortless from childhood, language, it turns out, is quite complex, not constrained to one set of genes or one region in the brain. Cognitive neuroscientists are now using a diverse arsenal of tools, including novel genetic analyses and AI, to gain insights into both healthy and disordered communication across individuals. "We still tend to study language one level at a time - genes, brain pathways, neural activity, behavior, computation - without fully connecting those levels into a coherent mechanistic account," says Tamara Swaab, who is chairing a symposium on language at the annual meeting of the Cognitive Neuroscience Society (CNS) in Vancouver, B.C. "Now, however, we can study those connections at multiple levels and in far more detail." This relatively novel, integrated approach is already yielding results, from AI-based models that can test, and potentially predict, language development in children, to genetics research that links rhythm disorders and dyslexia. These studies mark a dramatic shift from traditional research about where language happens in the brain to how it occurs and why it differs so vastly across people, says Swaab of the University of California, Davis, and University of Birmingham in the UK, who studies how various factors affect how language is processed and understood. Driving this work is a desire among researchers to understand how humans' unique ability to communicate shapes what we learn, how we remember, and how our species has evolved. For cognitive neuroscientist Jean-Remi King at Meta, investigating how human language has evolved means tapping a new form of learning: AI deep learning models. The question, he says, is how do humans acquire language so efficiently - with orders of magnitude less exposure to words than today's large language models (LLMs) - while other species cannot reach similar competence? With the rise of small and then large language models, using artificial neural networks became, de facto, the most efficient way to model and decode language representations in the brain. These AI models learn, and thus follow a specific learning trajectory, which provides a new source of hypotheses and ideas for how children effectively acquire language." Jean-Remi King, cognitive neuroscientist at Meta In a new study, King and colleagues found that LLMs can effectively account for the neural representations of language in both adults and children as young as 2 years old. Working with the Rothschild Foundation Hospital's pediatric epileptology unit, the researchers investigated neural activity recorded from more than 7,400 electrodes implanted in the brains of 46 children, teenagers, and adults who have intractable epilepsy and are thus temporarily implanted with stereotactic electrodes prior to surgery. "We discovered that their brain responses to an audiobook can be accurately modeled using AI," as King will present at the CNS meeting in Vancouver. They found that high-level language features, such as grammar, compared to low-level features, such as fast phonetic building blocks, continue to mature between ages 2 and 10 years old. "While the underlying mechanisms remain to be uncovered, this work offers the first compelling evidence that modern AI systems can provide powerful new insights into how language develops in the human brain," King says. For cognitive neuroscientist Stephanie Forkel of Radboud University Nijmegen in The Netherlands, better understanding how language develops uniquely in different individuals means taking a different approach: studying the brain's wiring that connects language regions. Classical neuroscience points to "Broca's area" or "Wernicke's area," as if language lives in two spots. But after working with stroke patients who had different types of brain damage and varying language challenges, Forkel quickly realized that language is "not a single 'thing' in the brain - it is a system." And understanding that system is key to understanding neurovariability. In a new study using ultrahigh-field 7 Tesla diffusion MRI, she and colleagues reconstructed seven major white-matter pathways involved in language in 172 individuals. The researchers then asked whether the participants fell into clear "left-brained" versus "right-brained" types for language. The answer was "no," says Forkel, who will present this new work at CNS. "Instead of distinct categories, we found that language is not binary in the brain; it forms a continuum. This challenges long-standing categorical models of hemispheric dominance and reframes how we think about individual differences." Forkel's team now has funding for a new five-year project to understand the emergence of language from its biological foundations. The hope is to not only understand how language is created but also how it can be protected from, or restored after, injury or disease. This work dovetails with newly emerging work to understand the genetic underpinnings of language in the brain, something that has gotten a massive boost in the last several years from large, sometimes private, often publicly available, datasets. Whether from genetic sites such as 23andMe or government funded organizations like the U.S. National Institutes of Health, these databases, combined with innovative new genetic analyses, are giving researchers brand new insights into the "polygenic" nature of language, says Reyna Gordon of Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Indeed, as Gordon will emphasize in her talk at CNS in Vancouver, language is influenced by many genes. While researchers cannot pinpoint in single individuals how much of their language skills derive from genetics versus the environment, large populations of people can reveal significant patterns. "Thanks to publicly funded data resources, we've been able to start studying language genetics at scale and to start to link that to its neural basis in some really innovative ways." She and her team are triangulating data about the functions of specific genes with questionnaires and other types of data specific to language and music development to show how genetic variation contributes to individual differences in language skills. In one recent study, for example, researchers looked at people with and without dyslexia in 1 million participants from 23andMe, in addition to another dataset that included language testing. They found multiple genes associated with dyslexia, which might contribute to earlier diagnosis and treatment for the language disorder. Crucially, these approaches allow researchers to combine insights from multiple large datasets, rather than relying on a single group of participants, something not previously possible in traditional neuroscience research. "Using new methods, we can actually do this data integration across data streams, which allows us to formulate basic science hypotheses, as well as potential clinical applications," Gordon says. In another study, Gordon and colleagues showed that there is a shared biological underpinning between language and music that maps all the way back to the genome. They identified 16 separate regions of the genome that are common to rhythm impairments and dyslexia. "We've also looked at the overlap epidemiologically in large samples, so rhythm impairments may actually be a risk factor for language problems and reading disorders," she says. Together, the studies being presented at the CNS meeting on a multimethod approach to understanding language in the brain show the adaptable nature of the brain. "The human brain is not built from rigid blueprints, but rather from adaptable architectures," Forkel says. Indeed, says session chair Swaab: "Language comprehension is a form of fast, adaptive cognition. We finally begin to more fully understand it by linking the story from genes, to brain pathways and networks, to neural decoding and computational models that help explain how the brain comprehends and produces language." Myocardial ischemia, the primary driver of heart attacks, remains the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Delays in diagnosis directly correlate with increased myocardial necrosis, higher complication rates, and elevated mortality. While traditional 12-lead ECG is the clinical gold standard for ischemia detection, its episodic nature fails to capture transient, unpredictable ischemic episodes during continuous ambulatory monitoring. Though wearable ECG devices have excelled at detecting arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation (with over 95% sensitivity), their utility for ischemia detection has long been limited by the subtle, multiscale temporal changes in ECG waveforms that mark ischemic progression-from minute alterations in the ST-segment and T-wave to beat-to-beat variability shifts that evolve over minutes to hours. To address these longstanding clinical gaps, the research team developed a hierarchical temporal fusion transformer architecture that models ischemic dynamics across three physiologically critical timescales simultaneously: intra-beat morphological feature extraction to capture the earliest ischemic markers, inter-beat variability modeling to track cardiac stress progression, and long-term trend analysis via dilated temporal convolutional networks. The framework uses dual-task learning to jointly predict impending ischemia and stratify post-reperfusion injury risk, boosting performance through shared pathophysiological representations. The system pairs with an FDA-cleared, chest-worn single-lead ECG patch with 14-day continuous monitoring capability and over 92% signal quality acceptance during daily activities. Validated across four large-scale datasets encompassing 108,778 total patients (including 17,173 ischemia-positive cases), the framework achieved an overall area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.947 for ischemia detection, a 4.8% to 9.5% relative improvement over state-of-the-art baseline models. It reached 84.1% to 87.3% sensitivity at 90% specificity across all cohorts, with a concordance index (C-index) of 0.923 for post-reperfusion risk stratification. Critically, the system maintained an 88.7% positive predictive value (PPV) at 15 minutes and 84.1% at 20 minutes, ensuring reliable, actionable alerts with minimal false positives to avoid clinician alert fatigue. It delivered consistent performance across all age, sex, and comorbidity subgroups, with no evidence of demographic bias. For real-world deployment, the full model runs inference on 10-second ECG segments in just 47.3 ms, with a lightweight pruned variant reducing inference time to 28.6 ms while retaining an AUROC above 0.93, making it compatible with standard clinical hardware. The 18.4-minute early warning window addresses the core clinical challenge of "time is muscle" in acute coronary syndrome management, enabling bedside assessments, emergency protocol initiation, and catheterization lab mobilization before irreversible myocardial damage occurs. The system's attention patterns align closely with cardiologist-identified ischemic markers (Spearman correlation 0.780.84), ensuring strong clinical interpretability. Limitations include the predominantly Chinese hospital-based study cohorts, requiring further validation across diverse ethnic, socioeconomic, and healthcare settings, alongside prospective clinical trials to confirm real-world patient outcomes. Future research will expand the framework to predict additional cardiovascular events, integrate electronic health records for personalized risk assessment, and develop federated learning approaches to protect patient privacy while refining model performance. Authors of the paper include Songtao An, Jiamin Yuan, Yang Pan, Miaoqing Ye, Zhenghan Chen, Minying Li, Panyue Yan, Jiali Yao, Yujie Guan, Yan Lin, Wenjuan Wang, Haliminai Dilimulati, Yuanyin Teng, Keyu Dai, Yuqi Bai, Junbo Ge, and Dong Deng. This research was partially supported by the Youth Programme of National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 82304983), the National Natural Science Grant of China (No. 81970312), the Soochow University Horizontal Project (Code Numbers: H230269 and H240140), and the Multi-center Clinical Research Project for Major Diseases in Suzhou (Grant Number: DZXYJ202302). This research is supported by the Undergraduate Innovation Laboratory of School of Pharmaceutical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine. A research team at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, has developed new laser technology that could lead to tiny, cost-effective biosensors. The sensors integrate lasers and optics together on a centimeter-sized chip, which could move testing from hospitals to patients' homes. This, in turn, would free up hospital beds and reduce visits to clinics. By studying how various biomolecules interact with each other - for example antibodies in the immune system and xenobiotic antigens - researchers can gain valuable insights leading to new medicines and vaccines or assess whether a sample contains signs of infection. Optical biosensors based on a technique called surface-plasmon resonance are an important tool used for studying these types of interactions. The sensors direct light onto a gold surface and measure minuscule changes in the light's reflection when biomolecules are placed on the surface. Now, a research team at Chalmers is announcing a new laser technology that makes it possible to create such biosensors in a miniature format. The laser source and the necessary optics are directly integrated onto a semiconductor chip, allowing for significantly more compact sensors. This opens the door to making optical sensing technology portable and applicable outside the laboratory environment. "With this technology, we want to create an instrument that allows healthcare professionals to take certain samples in the patient's home. For example, we're currently evaluating how well our sensor can perform a C-reactive protein (CRP) test. Because this technology is very general and can detect a wide range of biomolecular interactions, we see many potential applications for a wide variety of tests. This could allow patients to be discharged from hospital sooner after an operation - thereby freeing up hospital beds - and reduce the number of healthcare visits for sampling," says Erik Strandberg, doctoral candidate in photonics at Chalmers and lead author of a study published in ACS Sensors. The whole solution, packaged on a tiny chip To be able to monitor the interaction of biomolecules using an optical sensor, a precise laser beam must strike the gold surface at a very steep angle. The solutions used today require bulky optical components, such as prisms, which also make them time-consuming to install and align. The Chalmers team's sensor consists of a one-centimeter chip fitted with hundreds of microscopic lasers, where the controlling optics to form exactly the right beam is integrated directly into the chip. This allows for a much smaller and lighter light source, which enables the creation of a compact sensor so small that it fits in the palm of your hand. "By successfully integrating the optics with the laser sources right on the chip, our innovation opens a lot of doors and is a key step towards shrinking the current biotech instruments and creating portable, battery-powered systems. The chips we manufacture are about the size of a thumbtack and contain hundreds of lasers, each measuring 200x250 micrometers - few times thicker than a hair. Having both the laser and the optics integrated into the same semiconductor chip also enables cost-effective large-scale production of light sources for this technology," Erik Strandberg says. Aiming for healthcare settings In the next step, the researchers aim to further develop the technology by boosting the sensitivity of the sensor, as well as increasing the number of samples that can be analysed simultaneously. So far, we haven't been able to use all the lasers on our chips to analyze samples, but this field offers great opportunities for further development. If we succeed, we believe the sensor will eventually make it possible to analyse significantly more samples at once than current technologies allow. But first, we plan to create a prototype of a portable sensor that can be used without extensive training. The ultimate goal is for hospitals and clinics to be able to use the sensor outside the lab." Hana Jungova, senior researcher in the study Specialty agricultural products from Lincang, SW China's Yunnan, are making a mark People's Daily Online) 14:14, March 11, 2026 On March 7, the media open day for the delegation from southwest China's Yunnan Province was held in Beijing during the annual "two sessions," the annual meetings of China's top legislature and political advisory body. The remarks made on the development of Yunnan's agriculture by the delegation members sparked lively discussions. After 30 years of cultivation, Australian macadamia nuts have been planted across more than 2.6 million mu (around 1,733 square kilometers) in Lincang city, Yunnan, making it the world's leading region in terms of total planting area for this nut. Australian macadamia nuts are displayed at the 2025 Media Cooperation Forum on Belt and Road in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo/Xu Jun) Lincang's Australian macadamia nut is a national-level geographical indication product in China. Thanks to the unique sunshine, warmth, soil, and water in Lincang, the nut's kernels are rich and creamy in flavor. Locally grown Australian macadamia nuts from Lincang are rapidly gaining popularity as a snack. Companies have collaborated to establish production lines for Australian macadamia nut oil, protein powder, and more. Photo shows Australian macadamia nuts in Lincang city, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo courtesy of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Lincang Municipal Committee) Hangpai Food, based in east China's Anhui Province, has shifted from using imported Australian macadamia nuts to locally sourced ones from Lincang. The brand value of Lincang's Australian macadamia nuts has surpassed 3 billion yuan (about $436 million), with the total output value exceeding 11 billion yuan. These products are not only part of China's supply chain but are also sold to Europe, the U.S., and Southeast Asia. Photo shows ancient wild tea trees spanning over 10,000 mu in Lincang city, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo courtesy of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Lincang Municipal Committee) But Lincang's agricultural story doesn't end with just Australian macadamia nuts. Lincang is also renowned for its Pu'er tea, which boasts a golden, crystal-clear brew with a sweet taste and a lingering finish. The local black tea, with subtle hints of sweet potato and floral notes, is not only easy on the stomach but also soothing for the soul. In 2025, the e-commerce sales of Lincang tea reached 1.4 billion yuan. Beyond tea, Lincang lies in the heart of the golden belt for coffee cultivation, with 230,000 mu of coffee plantations. It's a preferred supplier for many coffee brands, exporting its coffee to over 20 countries. Photo show coffee cherries in Lincang, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo courtesy of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Lincang Municipal Committee) Since 2021, Lincang has approved 1,099 green and organic products, and 62 products have been included in China's national list of famous, high-quality, special, and new agricultural products. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) For 47 years, the barbaric Iranian regime has murdered thousands of Americans through their terrorist proxies and cowardly attacks. Now they race toward a nuclear bomb to hold the world hostage, said Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in a recent briefing. But President Donald Trump will never allow that race to a nuclear bomb to succeed, vowed Secretary Hegseth. The mullahs are desperate and scrambling. Like the terrorist cowards they are, they fire missiles from schools and hospitals, deliberately targeting innocents because they know their military is being systematically degraded and annihilated, said Secretary Hegseth. Iran's neighbors, and in some cases former allies in the Gulf, have abandoned them. And their proxies - Hezbollah, the Houthis and Hamas - are either broken, ineffective or on the sidelines. Iran stands alone and is losing badly, said Secretary Hegseth. Operation Epic Fury continues to be a massive success as it completes its objectives in record time. The first goal remains to destroy Irans missile stockpiles, their missile launchers and their ability to make them. The second objective is to obliterate the Iranian Navy and their capabilities in order to keep the Straits of Hormuz open to shipping. And the third goal is to permanently deny Iran nuclear weapons. The United States will not relent until the enemy is totally and decisively defeated, but we do so on our timeline and at our choosing, stressed Secretary Hegseth. The intensity of the strikes inside Iran has escalated. As a result, Iran is capable of firing fewer and fewer missiles. To date, Operation Epic Fury has struck more than 5,000 targets. U.S. Strategic Command bombers recently dropped dozens of 2,000-pound GPS penetrating weapons on deeply buried missile launchers across the southern flank, said Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine. We also have struck several one-way drone factories to get at the heart of their autonomous capability. U.S. strikes, along with those of regional partners, mean we've made significant progress in reducing the number of missile and drone attacks out of Iran, said General Caine. Ballistic missile attacks continue to trend downward 90 percent from where they started, and one way attack drones have decreased by over 80 percent since the beginning of the operation, noted General Caine. There has also been substantial progress towards destroying Irans navy. More than 50 Iranian naval ships have been taken out using a combination of artillery, fighters, bombers and sea launched missiles. The United States military, said Secretary Hegseth, is winning decisively with brutal efficiency, total air dominance and an unbreakable will to accomplish the president's objectives on our timeline. A comprehensive invited review published today in Brain Medicine confronts one of the most persistent paradoxes in modern medicine: psychiatry remains the only major clinical discipline that diagnoses complex illness primarily through conversation and symptom checklists, while fields such as oncology and cardiology long ago embraced laboratory markers, imaging, and molecular profiling. The review, authored by Dr. Jakub Tomasik, Jihan K. Zaki, and Professor Sabine Bahn at the Cambridge Centre for Neuropsychiatric Research, University of Cambridge, synthesizes emerging research across conceptual frameworks, biomarker science, digital phenotyping, and artificial intelligence to outline a translational pathway toward a more biologically grounded and clinically useful approach to psychiatric diagnosis. Why the current system falls short The question sounds almost too simple. If a cardiologist can measure troponin levels and an oncologist can sequence a tumor, why does a psychiatrist still rely on asking whether a patient has felt sad for two weeks? The answer, the review authors explain, lies in the nature of current diagnostic systems. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and the International Classification of Diseases have served psychiatry by standardizing clinical language and improving diagnostic reliability. But these frameworks were shaped by expert consensus rather than discoveries of underlying disease mechanisms. They capture symptom patterns but not biological heterogeneity. The consequences are far from abstract. Major depressive disorder, the review notes, can be diagnosed through more than 250 possible symptom combinations. Two patients who share the same diagnosis may present with entirely different clinical pictures. Comorbidity is pervasive, with many individuals meeting criteria for multiple disorders either concurrently or across their lifespan. And the thresholds that separate illness from normality remain, in the authors' assessment, largely arbitrary and based on convention rather than biological evidence. While the DSM and ICD provide an essential framework for psychiatric classification, they fall short of capturing the true nature of mental illness. These systems lack a firm biological basis, yield highly heterogeneous and partly overlapping categories, impose arbitrary thresholds, and rely on subjective judgments that vary across clinicians. Perhaps most critically, diagnostic labels often do not predict prognosis or guide effective treatment." Professor Sabine Bahn, corresponding author of the review and head of the Cambridge Centre for Neuropsychiatric Research, University of Cambridge Rethinking the architecture of mental illness Can we imagine psychiatric diagnosis differently? Several conceptual innovations suggest we can. The review examines four major frameworks that challenge checklist-based definitions: network models that treat psychiatric symptoms as interacting systems rather than passive reflections of a hidden disorder; the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP), which organizes psychopathology into data-driven hierarchical dimensions; the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC), which redefines mental disorders in terms of underlying neurobiological and psychological mechanisms; and clinical staging, which introduces a temporal dimension by tracking illness progression from early vulnerability through chronic disease. None of these frameworks is a finished product. Network structures, the review notes, often fail to replicate across samples. HiTOP's complexity limits clinical implementation. RDoC has been criticized for overlooking social and contextual dimensions of mental health. And clinical staging is hampered by imprecise stage boundaries and the uncomfortable fact that many mental disorders simply do not follow a predictable course. Yet taken together, these models represent a fundamental shift: instead of viewing disorders as fixed categories, they describe mental illness as dynamic, multidimensional systems shaped by interacting symptoms, underlying mechanisms, and individual development. "These approaches mark a major shift in our understanding of mental illness," said Dr. Jakub Tomasik, co-corresponding author and lead author of the review. "The frameworks we examine are not competing alternatives. They address different levels of explanation. Top-down approaches provide clinically meaningful reference points, while bottom-up strategies aim to uncover the latent structure and mechanisms underlying observed syndromes. Integrating both may be essential for translating data-driven insights into clinically usable tools." The biological evidence assembling beneath the surface What does the molecular landscape actually reveal? The review surveys a broad sweep of biomarker research, from large-scale neuroimaging consortia to genomics, epigenetics, proteomics, and metabolomics. Findings from the ENIGMA Consortium show that schizophrenia is associated with widespread cortical thinning, while major depression shows more localized reductions in regions governing emotion regulation. Large genome-wide association studies from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium have identified hundreds of common genetic loci associated with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression, converging on synaptic transmission and calcium signaling pathways. Cross-disorder analyses reveal substantial genetic overlap, with high correlations between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and moderate correlations with depression. Yet most candidate biomarkers identified to date show modest effect sizes, limited generalizability across cohorts, and remain largely confined to research settings. This candid acknowledgment runs throughout the review. Polygenic risk scores currently explain up to about 15 percent of liability variance for schizophrenia and around 8 percent for major depression. A substantial proportion of heritability remains unexplained. How then do we bridge this gap between promising signals and clinical utility? Some approaches have reached the threshold of clinical translation. The review highlights the VeriPsych proteomic panel, developed in Professor Bahn's laboratory, which was validated across multiple international cohorts and commercialized in the United States as a laboratory-developed test to aid in confirming recent-onset schizophrenia, although it was later withdrawn due to high cost and limited uptake. The EDIT-B RNA-editing blood test has achieved European CE-IVD marking as a decision-support tool for differentiating bipolar from unipolar depression, with deployment in France and Italy. These represent rare examples of molecular diagnostics that have crossed from bench to bedside in psychiatry. When your phone becomes a diagnostic instrument A blood test captures a moment. A smartphone captures a life. Digital phenotyping, the review argues, extends biological approaches by addressing the longitudinal and dimensional aspects that static biomarkers miss. Geolocation data from smartphones can reveal reduced mobility associated with depressive severity. Wearable sleep-wake data show that shifts in circadian rhythm predict mood episodes in bipolar disorder, with delayed rhythms preceding depressive episodes and advanced rhythms preceding manic episodes. Speech recordings reveal altered intonation, vocal loudness, and pause rates in patients with depression. Even social media posts carry diagnostic signal: users active in psychosis-focused forums exhibit markedly lower speech coherence. Could ecological momentary assessment, delivered through smartphone apps that prompt individuals to report mood and energy multiple times daily, eventually replace the static snapshot of a 15-minute clinical interview? The review suggests this is plausible but premature. Most digital markers have been derived from small or selective cohorts, show modest effect sizes, and lack robust validation. What would it take for a clinician to trust an algorithm's reading of a patient's phone data as much as they trust their own clinical instinct? That question is not merely technical. It is deeply human. Artificial intelligence as translator, not Oracle Machine learning and artificial intelligence occupy the integrative layer of the translational pathway the review describes. Transformer architectures, the foundation of large language models such as ChatGPT and Gemini, offer particular promise because they process data as sequences and can model temporal dynamics and longitudinal disease trajectories. Multimodal models that combine genomics, metabolomics, neuroimaging, and clinical text are already being developed for general healthcare, with architectures such as HEALnet, Multimodal Graph Learning, and Med-PaLM M showing adaptability to diverse data types. But the review is careful to separate aspiration from achievement. The use of AI models in psychiatry remains largely research-centric rather than clinically implemented. Two primary bottlenecks persist: limited data quality, availability, and quantity, alongside the absence of robust methods for explainable AI. The largest publicly available psychiatric datasets typically include fewer than 1,000 samples. Clinical data remain rarely shared because of privacy concerns. And until the reasoning behind AI-based psychiatric decisions can be made transparent and interpretable, their deployment will face justified scrutiny. "At present, AI models should be regarded as adjunctive decision-support systems that complement clinical judgment rather than standalone diagnostic instruments," said Jihan K. Zaki, co-author of the review and a researcher at the Cambridge Centre for Neuropsychiatric Research and the Melville Laboratory for Polymer Synthesis at the University of Cambridge. "Black-box decision-making in psychiatry poses significant risks, including stigma, loss of clinical trust, and medico-legal liability. Robust explainability is not optional; it is necessary to ensure that predictions are based on valid signals rather than artifacts." The barriers that cannot be wished away Perhaps the most valuable aspect of this synthesis is its refusal to oversell. The review maps a detailed landscape of implementation challenges: limited reproducibility and standardization of biomarkers, poor generalizability from research to real-world clinical populations, regulatory uncertainty across countries, algorithmic bias arising from homogeneous training datasets, fragmented data infrastructure, clinician resistance to adoption, and the absence of reimbursement pathways. Can innovations developed in well-resourced academic centers at places like Cambridge genuinely reach a psychiatric clinic in rural sub-Saharan Africa? The review is honest: even low-cost assays or wearable devices may deepen disparities if deployed mainly in well-resourced health systems or trained on overrepresented populations. Federated learning, which allows AI models to be trained across decentralized datasets without sharing raw patient data, offers one path forward. But its implementation in mental health remains limited due to non-uniform data sources. Meaningful progress, the authors contend, will rely less on singular algorithmic breakthroughs and more on the collective enterprise of building transparent, interoperable, and ethically governed data infrastructures. Where consensus emerges Despite the complexity, the review identifies areas of growing convergence. There is broad agreement that current categorical boundaries do not adequately reflect the underlying biological structure of mental illness. Shared genetic architecture across psychiatric conditions is now well established. The value of multimodal data integration, combining molecular markers with digital and clinical information, is increasingly recognized. And perhaps most importantly, there is consensus that objective measures and AI should serve to enhance clinical judgment rather than replace it, and to strengthen the therapeutic relationship that underpins effective mental health care. "By combining scientific and technological advances with clinical expertise, psychiatry can build a diagnostic process that is more consistent, more personalized, and ultimately more effective in improving outcomes for patients," said Professor Bahn. "The challenge now is not whether we should move in this direction. It is how to do so responsibly, equitably, and in genuine collaboration with the clinicians and patients who will use these tools." A field at an inflection point What emerges from this synthesis is not a prediction of imminent transformation but a sober cartography of the territory that lies between where psychiatry stands and where it might arrive. The immediate promise is practical: inflammatory and metabolic markers that help identify treatment-responsive subtypes of schizophrenia, circadian data from wearables that flag impending mood episodes, AI tools that reduce diagnostic delay in complex or early-stage presentations. The longer-term vision is more ambitious: diagnostic categories that evolve into empirically defined subtypes reflecting underlying mechanisms, much as biomarker-based classification has transformed oncology. Does psychiatry actually need a revolution, or does it need a carefully engineered evolution? This review suggests the latter. The path forward demands not a single leap but an accumulation of validated, interpretable, and accessible tools that can be readily integrated into real-world health systems. The field has spent decades generating the raw materials: genetic associations, neuroimaging patterns, digital signals, molecular profiles. The work that remains is integration, translation, and the unglamorous but essential labor of implementation. The trees have been identified. Building the forest is the task at hand. This work was funded by the Stanley Medical Research Institute (grant number O7R-1888) to Professor Sabine Bahn, and by the Oskar Huttunen Foundation grant to Jihan K. Zaki. A certain blood protein regarded as an early indicator of Alzheimer's disease also appears to play a role in other disorders. Researchers at DZNE and the Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research (HIH) at the University of Tubingen have found that elevated levels of phosphorylated tau protein (pTau) also occur in two lesser-known conditions that primarily affect the heart and kidneys. These findings open up new perspectives for improved diagnostics and were published this week in the journal "Nature Medicine". They are based on data from 280 older individuals from Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands. The diseases investigated were "transthyretin amyloidosis" and "immunoglobulin light-chain amyloidosis" the two most common forms of "systemic amyloidosis". Similar to Alzheimer's disease, these conditions are characterized by the accumulation of misfolded proteins, known as amyloids. However, unlike Alzheimer's, the deposits do not form in the brain but primarily in the heart and kidneys and they consist of different proteins. Despite these differences, the Tubingen researchers observed a similar response in the blood: levels of pTau were elevated in affected individuals. A new approach for diagnosis Our results underscore that high pTau levels in blood are not specific to Alzheimer's, but can also occur in other amyloid diseases. Our results could open up new possibilities for diagnosis of systemic amyloidosis. The blood marker pTau can be measured relatively easy. It may facilitate earlier detection and help confirm or rule out suspected cases." Mathias Jucker, professor and scientist at DZNE and HIH Relevance for Alzheimer's and polyneuropathy The findings underline the importance of comprehensive diagnostic assessment of Alzheimers disease. "Blood levels of pTau are not a specific marker and further data should be considered when diagnosing Alzheimer's disease or assessing its progression. Contrary to some views, pTau should not serve as a standalone diagnostic criterion. This is particularly important in the absence of cognitive deficits when Alzheimer's disease is at an early stage." The findings also have implications for diagnosing polyneuropathy (PNP), a condition that often causes tingling and numbness in the hands and feet. Systemic amyloidosis can be an underlying cause, but there are others. "Our results suggest that pTau could help distinguish amyloidosis-related PNP from forms of PNP with other causes," says Jucker. Possibly, a stress signal Why are pTau levels elevated at all? Jucker suspects that cells release pTau as a stress response to amyloid deposits a reaction that may occur in many organs, not just the brain. "In some cases, this stress response can be beneficial. In hibernating animals, temporary increases in pTau have been described as a protective mechanism," he says. "Overall, our findings suggest that elevated pTau could be a fairly common response of the body to certain conditions." More than a year after the second Trump administration began dismantling the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the global health consequences of this unprecedented loss in international aid continues to surface. A new study led by a Boston University School of Public Health researcher found that the funding cuts associated with USAID as well as other foreign aid, could substantially increase the financial burden among families affected by tuberculosis (TB) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Published in PLOS Medicine, the study estimated that the loss of USAID support could generate about $7.5 billion in additional costs for LMIC households that include at least one person diagnosed with TB. An additional four million households could experience "catastrophic costs," defined by the World Health Organization's (WHO) End TB Strategy as costs that include related medical and nonmedical costs, as well as indirect costs, that exceed 20 percent of a person's annual household income. In an alarming worst-case scenario, if all international funding for TB ceased, the economic burden could reach almost $80 billion. Prior to 2025, international aid played a significant role in ensuring access to TB prevention and treatment services, particularly for patients and their families in limited-resource settings. USAID, which has been credited with helping to prevent nearly 75 million deaths, provided nearly 20 percent of funding for TB services in other countries. International programs such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria (Global Fund) supplied 76 percent of funding, more than one third of which was also supplied by the US. This support resulted in quantifiable progress: Between 2023 and 2024, the global rate of people being infected by TB declined by nearly two percent and deaths from TB fell by three percent. As the world approaches the annual day of observance for TB on March 24, the new study underscores the immense and urgent need for a restoration in global support for TB services. These findings highlight how international funding has played a critical role in expanding access to TB diagnosis and treatment. Without sustained support from donors such as USAID and the Global Fund, many countries could see disruptions in essential TB services, leading not only to worse health outcomes, but also to severe financial hardship for families-particularly the poorest households." Dr. Allison Portnoy, study lead and corresponding author, assistant professor of global health at BUSPH For the study, Dr. Portnoy and colleagues from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the London School for Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and the University of Glasgow School of Health and Wellbeing estimated future TB costs to patients using linked epidemiological and economic models for 79 LMICs. They calculated these estimates considering six potential funding scenarios: continuation of 2024 funding levels; termination of USAID; termination of USAID plus announced US reductions in Global Fund contributions; termination of USAID plus complete termination of Global Fund contributions from the US; termination of USAID plus announced reductions in Global Fund contributions from all donor countries contributing one percent or more to the budget; and full elimination of external funding for TB. The household financial burden in the estimated worst-case scenario represents a 32-percent increase in costs prior to last year's funding cuts. The calculations showed that these costs were greatest among very low-income families, with more than half of the additional catastrophic costs falling upon the poorest 20 percent of households. A TB diagnosis can impose multiple types of costs on families, particularly when the patient is experiencing an active infection, Dr. Portnoy says. "First, there are direct medical costs, such as payments for medicines, tests, or consultations," she says. "Even where treatment is subsidized, patients may still face charges for diagnostic tests or supportive care." Families also juggle direct non-medical costs, such as transportation to clinics, accommodation when traveling for care, and food or nutritional supplements needed during treatment. But often, the most significant costs are indirect costs-particularly income losses, Dr. Portnoy says, as TB frequently prevents people from working for extended periods due to illness or the demands of treatment. "The immediate effects of these costs can include depleted savings, borrowing money, or selling assets to cover expenses. Over the longer term, this can push households into medical impoverishment, disrupt children's education, reduce food security, and create lasting economic instability." The researchers note that the estimated totals are limited by certain assumptions or uncertainties, such as a lack of information on the true costs that untreated TB patients face, as well as how healthcare costs for all TB patients may change over time. But the scenarios detailed in the study capture the possible and range of consequences that could occur as a result of scaled-back international support. Other studies have also estimated potential extreme ramifications of foreign aid cuts to TB; a previous BUSPH study determined that US funding cuts could result in an additional nine million pediatric TB cases and 1.5 million deaths. Sustained foreign aid remains critical, but the researchers highlight other policy changes that could offset this financial burden if international funding continues to decrease. "Countries may need to strengthen domestic financing and health system capacity to reduce reliance on external donors over time," Dr. Portnoy says. "This could include increased government investment in national TB programs and stronger integration of TB services into primary healthcare systems. Financial protection measures for patients-such as transportation support, cash transfers, or social protection programs-can help offset the indirect costs of illness and treatment." Lastly, she says, transition strategies for donor funding should be gradual and coordinated, allowing countries time to mobilize domestic resources and maintain continuity of care. "Blended financing models that combine domestic funding, private sector engagement, and targeted donor support may help sustain TB programs during this transition." Book row: SC says perturbed by NCERT's stand that chapter 'duly rewritten' Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 19:45 IST Representational image (Image: News18) New Delhi, Mar 11 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it is perturbed by the NCERTs stand that the controversial chapter in class 8 social science book, which contained offending" contents on corruption in the judiciary, has been duly rewritten". The apex court referred to the affidavit filed by the NCERTs director which said the revised chapter shall be incorporated in the forthcoming academic session 2026-27 and shall be used for classroom transactions in schools in accordance with the applicable curriculum and academic framework. We are equally perturbed with the stand taken by the Director NCERT in paragraph 15 of the affidavit," a bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant said. We direct that if at all chapter 4 of the subject textbook has been rewritten, the same shall not be published unless it is approved by a committee comprising domain experts," the bench, also comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, said. The bench said it has not been apprised either through affidavit or otherwise as to who are the alleged subject experts/domain experts who have rewritten" the chapter again and who has approved its incorporation in curriculum of academic session 2026-27. It observed that such act was likely to create more complexity with reference to an objective, transparent, honest and dispassionate information that ought to be incorporated in the curriculum with respect to judiciary or for that matter any other institution. The bench was hearing a suo motu case concerning NCERTs class 8 social science book, which contained offending" contents on corruption in the judiciary. The affidavit filed by the NCERT director said that in light of the directions issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, through a letter dated February 27 to the NCERT, the concerned chapter 4 of the subject textbook has been duly rewritten". During the hearing, the bench observed its worry is that the affidavit has said the chapter has been duly rewritten". Who has done it?" the bench asked. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured the bench that the chapter would not go into textbook unless the committee of domain experts examines not only this chapter but everything. The bench questioned how and in what manner the chapter was rewritten after the concern expressed by it. I can assure nothing will go without being vetted by the committee of domain experts," the law officer said. In his affidavit filed in the court, professor Dinesh Prasad Saklani, Director of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), has tendered an unconditional and unqualified apology for inclusion of controversial chapter in the social science textbook for class 8. He said the chapter was drafted by textbook development team under the chairmanship of professor Michel Danino and consisting members Suparna Diwakar and Alok Prasanna Kumar. I state and submit that the above referred individuals shall not be associated with any activity of NCERT hereafter," the affidavit said. It said the chapter was to be looked into by members of National Syllabus and Teaching Learning Material Committee (NSTC) which consists of 19 members. The affidavit said it has emerged that textbook which included the chapter was not placed before the committee and the members of textbook development team had circulated the same only amongst few members digitally. I state that this is a major and unpardonable lapse and shall be ensured that the same is not repeated hereafter," the NCERT director said. The affidavit gave the status of printed copies of the textbook seized and sealed. It said total 82,440 copies of textbook was printed and the number of books sold to retail customers was 38 which have been retrieved. The affidavit said 82,425 books were seized and sealed and were kept in NCERT warehouses. It further said 15 books were available with the ministry and office of NCERT Director. It said total 82,440 copies were tracked and the total number of computer-to-plate (CTP) plates were six, which have been destroyed, seized and sealed and kept in publication division of NCERT. It is humbly stated that in view of the above, the deponent in the capacity of being Director, NCERT has taken all necessary and urgent steps to implement the order as passed by this court concerning immediate seizure and sealing of textbook in both physical and digital form within the premises of NCERT," it said. The affidavit said the textbook has not been circulated by NCERT to any schools and teaching institutions for imparting pedagogical instructions either in physical or digital form. It also said in terms of the order passed on February 26, the NCERT issued a media advisory recalling the textbook and imposed blanket ban on any further publication, reprinting or digital dissemination of digital textbook. It said on February 24, NCERT received a direction from the Department of School Education and Literacy to withhold the circulation as well as keep the distribution of textbook on strict hold until further orders. It said the department also directed NCERT to call back all the copies already circulated with immediate effect. On February 26, the apex court imposed a complete blanket ban" on any further publication, reprinting or digital dissemination of NCERTs class 8 social science book as it contains offending" contents on corruption in the judiciary, saying they have fired a gunshot and the judiciary is bleeding". PTI ABA MNL ABA KVK KVK First Published: March 11, 2026, 19:45 IST News agency-feeds Book row: SC says perturbed by NCERT's stand that chapter 'duly rewritten' 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... Excursion that will keep us out of war, says Trump on strikes against Iran Last Updated: March 12, 2026, 03:45 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Ohio [US], March 12 (ANI): President Donald Trump on Wednesday (local time) described the ongoing US military action against Iran as an excursion that would keep his country out of war, implying that the strikes were intended to prevent a broader conflict. Speaking to reporters during a visit to the Thermo Fisher Scientific facility in Cincinnati, Trump said the operation was aimed at neutralising Irans missile and drone capabilities. Well, its both. Its both. Its an excursion that will keep us out of a war, and the war is going to be for them, its a war; for us, its turned out to be easier than we thought," he said. Trump claimed US forces had moved quickly to limit Irans ability to launch attacks. But think of it, they had thousands of missiles, 7-8 thousand missiles. We got many of them before they got to launch," he said. The US president also said American forces were targeting Iranian drone manufacturing facilities and maritime assets linked to potential mining assets.They have drones all over the place. We got many now. Were knocking out the drone plants, as you know, going fast," he said, adding that US forces had struck multiple Iranian mine-laying vessels. They started talking about mines, so we hit 28 mine ships as of this moment, 28," Trump said. He added that the US had used the same weapon systems previously deployed in maritime operations against drug trafficking networks. Using the same weapon, the exact same weapon that we used against the drug dealers in the water. We have, as an example, we had tremendous drugs pouring in through the waters, through the sea, and now we have almost none. Its down 97 per cent through water. Now well do it through land. Land is easier than water," Trump said, claiming that earlier maritime enforcement had reduced drug smuggling via sea routes by about 97 per cent. Earlier, speaking to reporters before departing for Ohio and Kentucky, Trump praised the strength of the US armed forces, saying Washington possesses unmatched military capabilities. We have the greatest military in the world, by far. Nobodys close," he said.The US president also claimed that American strikes had significantly weakened Irans military infrastructure, including its naval and air capabilities.Right now, theyve lost their navy, theyve lost their air force. They have no anti-aircraft apparatus at all. They have no radar. Their leaders are gone," he said.Trump further asserted that the US forces had destroyed dozens of Iranian mine-laying vessels. We took out just about all of their mine ships in one night. Were upto number 60. I didnt realise they had that big a navy. I would say it was big and ineffective. But every one of their ships, just about all of their navy is gone, at the bottom of the sea, " he said.He added, Well, weve knocked out their navy, weve knocked out their air force. Weve taken out 60 mine boats, 59 mine boats. Nobody has ever seen anything like it. We have the greatest military in the world, by far, not even close. Theyve inflicted 47 years worth of damage to the world." (ANI) First Published: March 12, 2026, 03:45 IST News agency-feeds Excursion that will keep us out of war, says Trump on strikes 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... Israel says Iran using cluster munitions Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 04:00 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Tel Aviv, Mar 11 (AP) Israel says Iran has been firing cluster munitions throughout their 10-day war adding a complicated and deadly challenge to Israels already-stretched air defences. The warheads burst open at high altitudes, scattering dozens of smaller bomblets across a wide area. The smaller bombs, which at night can resemble orange fireballs, are difficult to intercept and have proven lethal. Normally restrictive about releasing information on Iranian hits and damage, Israeli authorities in recent days have sought to educate the public about their dangers, which can persist as unexploded bombs on the ground even after civilians leave shelters. At least three people have been killed, including two at a construction site in central Israel on Tuesday. Over 120 countries have signed an international convention banning the use of cluster munitions, although Israel, the United States and Iran are among the nations that have not joined the treaty. The weapon has been used for decades in conflicts around the world, including by Israel when it fought the Iran-allied Lebanese militant group Hezbollah in 2006. Heres what to know about cluster munitions: The bomblets scatter and kill indiscriminately After what is called a parent munition is launched, it releases smaller sub-munitions at an altitude of seven to 10 kilometres. These bomblets scatter across a large area, from several hundred metres to several kilometres, trading precision for coverage. Critics worldwide argue that cluster munitions kill or maim indiscriminately, with unexploded bomblets remaining dangerous long after their use. In Israel, they can be especially dangerous because most of the missiles have been aimed at its densely-populated centre. Cluster bombs do not create real damage to buildings, only people," said Yehoshua Kalisky, a senior researcher at Israels Institute for National Security Studies. Tough to shoot down An Israeli military official, speaking anonymously under army briefing rules, said on Tuesday that roughly half of the projectiles Iran was launching toward Israel had been cluster munitions. Israels Arrow missile-defence system has done a good job intercepting incoming ballistic missiles, Kalisky said. But if cluster munitions are released before the missile is destroyed, there is little that can be done. Israels Iron Dome system is geared toward intercepting smaller rockets fired from short ranges and lower altitudes. But it is not designed to destroy the clusters once they have dispersed into dozens of bomblets, Kalisky added. Unlike heavier explosives, the bomblets often weighing less than three kg are most dangerous to targets like cars, storefronts or people caught outside shelters. They pose a particular threat to the civilian population both during and after use, with victims often including a high proportion of children," according to the Convention on Cluster Munitions. The sub-munitions fail to explode more often than other kinds of warheads. Unexploded ordnance can act like a land mine, detonating later and killing indiscriminately. The Open Source Munitions Portal, which authenticates publicly-sourced images of munitions worldwide, has published several images of unexploded sub-munitions found in Israel this week. It also verified images of Israeli sub-munitions being used in Lebanon last year. Lt Col Nadav Shoshani, an Israeli military spokesperson, declined to comment directly on the allegation, but pointed to a post on the militarys Substack, which noted that cluster bombs can be used against military targets but not civilian areas. Iran has used them frequently Most of the damage in Israel has been caused by larger Iranian missiles, but Iran has been using cluster munitions on a nearly daily basis", Shoshani said. He says Iran fired similar projectiles during the 12-day war in June. The military said the Iranian warheads contain between 20 and 24 bomblets with explosives weighing up to five kg. The Israeli militarys Home Front Command has distributed flyers warning residents not to touch unexploded sub-munitions. A public service announcement from police also warned people not to touch anything they see and to call authorities instead. What Iran is using According to the Missile Defence Project at the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Iran said in 2017 that its Khorramshahr medium-range ballistic missile could carry multiple warheads. The missiles are the largest of Irans sub-munition-dispersing arsenal. Iran also has sub-munition-equipped shorter range Zolfaghar missiles. Cluster munitions, including those seen in Associated Press video flying westward toward Israel, can look like falling fireballs an effect caused by the friction of reentering the atmosphere. N R Jenzen-Jones, director of Armament Research Services, said little open-source information exists about Irans cluster munitions beyond state television reports of leaders touring missile factories and videos from military exercises. But videos showing them used last week indicate that some Iranian missiles carrying cluster munition warheads are designed to open at high altitude, scattering them across an area far larger than most military targets. Design components that disperse them at such heights including a protective coating on the sub-munitions that can withstand the heat of atmospheric reentry appear to show they were built for far less precise use than cluster munitions seen in other conflicts. The design seems to scatter sub-munitions so widely as to suggest it was designed purely as a weapon of terror, scattering its explosive cargo indiscriminately over a wide area," Jenzen-Jones said. In July 2025, after the 12-day war between Iran and Israel, Amnesty International said Irans deliberate use of such inherently-indiscriminate weapons is a blatant violation of international humanitarian law". Broadly banned but still used Cluster munitions including those more targeted than Irans are not illegal but are barred by the Geneva Conventions for use in civilian areas. They are also banned under recent international agreements signed by more than 120 nations. Cluster munitions were first used by Nazi Germany, when it dropped butterfly bombs" on the United Kingdom in World War II. The US has used various kinds in Vietnam, Laos, Iraq and Afghanistan, and provided cluster munitions to Ukraine. Russia was accused of using cluster bombs in its 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a charge Moscow denied. During a 2006 war in Lebanon with the militant group Hezbollah, the UN estimated some 30 per cent to 40 per cent of Israeli cluster bombs failed to explode, leaving southern Lebanon littered with hundreds of thousands of bomblets. The US State Department said Israel likely used American-made cluster bombs in civilian areas during the 2006 war, after UN demining teams found unexploded bomblets in hundreds of locations. Israel is not using cluster bombs currently, according to a military official who spoke on condition of anonymity under the militarys briefing rules. (AP) RC First Published: March 11, 2026, 04:00 IST News agency-feeds Israel says Iran using cluster munitions 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... Nationwide restrictions to continue, 'difficult days' ahead: Israeli Home Front Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 23:30 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Jerusalem, Mar 11 (PTI) Nationwide restrictions in Israel are to remain in place, Israel Defence Forces (IDF) Home Front commander said on Wednesday, warning citizens of difficult days" ahead due to expected attacks from Iran and Hezbollah. The Home Front Commands guidelines currently prohibit educational activities but permit gatherings of up to 50 people, provided there is timely access to a shelter. Workplaces can also operate under the same conditions. Difficult days and days of trial are ahead of us," Maj. Gen. Shai Klapper, Head of the IDFs Home Front Command, said. We in the Home Front Command weigh the defensive policy every day, alongside the central consideration of safeguarding the security of Israels citizens, alongside maintaining the national continuity and functioning of the Israeli economy and the education systems," Klapper said, adding, Therefore, the policy remains unchanged for now". The current restrictions will remain in place until Saturday at 8 pm, when the Home Front Command will make another assessment. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will hold a meeting of the restricted cabinet on Wednesday at 9 pm with the participation of the heads of the security establishment. This will be followed by the meeting of the expanded political-security cabinet on Thursday at 8 pm. PTI HM GRS GRS First Published: March 11, 2026, 23:30 IST News agency-feeds Nationwide restrictions to continue, 'difficult days' ahead: Israeli Home Front 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 says will tap Strategic Petroleum Reserve to try to reduce gasoline prices Last Updated: March 12, 2026, 02:30 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Paris, Mar 12 (AP) President Donald Trump says his administration will tap the United States Strategic Petroleum Reserve to try and reduce gasoline prices that have risen due to the Iran war. During an interview Wednesday with WKRC Local 12 in Cincinnati, Trump was asked about tapping the reserve and said, Well, well do that and then well fill it up." He added, Right now well reduce it a little bit, and that brings the prices down." He didnt specify how many barrels of oil the US would release. Trump frequently criticised the administration of Joe Biden for tapping the reserve to try and bring down gas prices. (AP) GSP First Published: March 12, 2026, 02:30 IST News agency-feeds Trump says will tap Strategic Petroleum Reserve to try to reduce gasoline prices 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... Dining Out May Get Costlier As LPG Shortage Forces Restaurants To Consider 2030% Price Hike Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 07:59 IST Eating out in India could soon become significantly more expensive as restaurants grapple with rising input costs driven by volatile oil prices Rapid Read Kitchens rethink menus as LPG prices rise Eating out in India could soon become significantly more expensive as restaurants grapple with rising input costs driven by volatile oil prices and an acute shortage of commercial liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders that power their kitchens. Industry executives say several restaurants are preparing to increase menu prices by 2030% as early as April, earlier than the usual price revision cycle that typically occurs around JuneJuly. Restaurants anyway revise prices around July, but with the current crisis, we may undertake these hikes as early as April," Sagar Daryani, co-founder and chief executive officer of Wow! Momo, told Business Standard. The potential price increase reflects the dual pressure of surging fuel costs and supply disruptions that are making it increasingly difficult for restaurants to maintain operations. LPG shortage disrupts restaurant kitchens Restaurant operators across major cities say the shortage of commercial LPG cylinders has emerged suddenly, severely disrupting kitchen operations. Supply constraints began on March 9. Most hotels received barely 20 percent of their usual deliveries and supplies have since stopped entirely. Commercial cylinders are not reaching distributors, which has cut off supply to restaurants," said Arun Adiga, managing partner at the nearly eight-decade-old Bengaluru restaurant Adigas. For restaurants, cooking gas is not just a cost input but the backbone of daily operations. Most South Indian dishes like dosa need constant flame burners. We go through six to eight LPG cylinders a day. A larger restaurant would need around 10 to 12," Adiga said. Restaurant owners across Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi say deliveries of commercial LPG cylinders have dropped sharply in recent days, forcing kitchens to scramble for supplies. Restaurants cant stockpile LPG due to safety regulations, so we rely on frequent deliveries. The supply cut was sudden and operators had no time to prepare. Large restaurants typically need six to ten cylinders a day, which is impossible to secure right now," a restaurant operator said. Industry executives warn that if the shortage continues, it could even lead to the emergence of a black market for LPG cylinders. Rising LPG prices add to cost pressure Even as supply tightens, the cost of commercial LPG cylinders has also increased sharply. Messages circulating among restaurant operators suggest prices for 19-kg commercial LPG cylinders have climbed to around 2,1002,300, compared with roughly 1,850 earlier and about 1,650 a month ago. The discounts on commercial cylinders are now cut, and we are staring at higher costs. The supply system currently has no buffers, so even a minor disruption can create operational challenges," another operator said. The price increase comes at a time when restaurants are already facing pressure from rising food prices, rent and labour costs, leaving many businesses with limited room to absorb additional expenses. Gagandeep Singh Sapra, founder of Glisco Kitchens, which operates brands such as Tadka Rani and Meal Combo Box Company, warned that the disruption could have wider economic consequences. The problem is the impact will have a domino effect," Sapra wrote in a post on X, cautioning that disruptions to cloud kitchens and restaurants could affect the income of thousands of workers linked to the food service sector. He also warned that tightening supplies could push some operators toward informal markets in search of cylinders. The panic is not being created, its real," Sapra said. Government prioritises household LPG supply The tightening supply situation has prompted the government to prioritise LPG availability for households. In a post on X, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said geopolitical disruptions affecting global energy supply chains have constrained LPG availability. Refiners have been directed to increase LPG production, with additional output diverted toward domestic household consumption. Imported LPG is currently being prioritised for essential sectors such as hospitals and educational institutions, the ministry said. The government has also formed a committee of oil marketing company executives to review LPG supply requests from restaurants, hotels and other industries on a case-by-case basis. Separately, Indian Oil Corporation informed industrial and commercial customers that it was constrained to stop supply to industrial and commercial customers for the time being" due to the supply disruptions linked to the crisis. Middle East conflict fuels supply disruptions The LPG shortage comes against the backdrop of heightened geopolitical tensions in West Asia, where a conflict involving Israel, Iran and the United States has disrupted global energy markets. The crisis has raised fears of disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the worlds most critical oil and gas transit routes through which nearly 20% of global oil supply passes. The uncertainty has triggered volatility in global crude oil prices and strained energy supply chains, prompting governments and companies to implement contingency measures to secure domestic fuel availability. India, which imports a large share of its energy requirements, remains particularly vulnerable to such disruptions. Industry warns of wider economic impact Restaurant industry bodies have warned that prolonged LPG shortages could significantly affect a sector that employs millions of people. The National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) has written to Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, urging the government to ensure an adequate supply of commercial LPG cylinders to restaurants. Similarly, the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) has asked the government to exempt the hospitality sector from LPG supply restrictions. According to the federation, Indias hospitality and food service sector includes 78 million establishments employing more than 70 million workers. Prolonged supply disruptions could lead to operational shutdowns, job losses and higher prices for consumers. Local industry groups are also raising alarms. The Bengaluru Hotels Association has warned that restaurants in the city may struggle to operate if LPG supplies remain constrained for an extended period. For now, restaurant owners say the coming weeks will be critical. If supply disruptions continue, diners across India could soon feel the impact through higher menu prices and reduced restaurant operations. First Published: March 11, 2026, 07:59 IST News business economy Dining Out May Get Costlier As LPG Shortage Forces Restaurants To Consider 2030% Price Hike Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... LPG Shortage In India: Why Gas Cylinders Are In Short Supply, Latest Prices In Your City, What Govt Says Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 10:47 IST LPG Gas Cylinder Price Today: India is facing a temporary shortage of LPG cylinders in several cities amid supply constraints due to the ongoing Iran-US-Israel war. Rapid Read Oil marketing companies have raised the price of the 14.2 kg domestic LPG cylinder by Rs 60 and the 19 kg commercial cylinder by Rs 144 across the country. The revised prices came into effect on March 7, 2026. LPG Gas Cylinder Price Today: India is facing a temporary shortage of LPG cylinders in several cities as a sharp rise in demand and supply constraints have disrupted distribution in parts of the country. The situation is coupled with the latest price hike in both domestic and commercial LPG cylinders. Oil marketing companies have raised the price of the 14.2 kg domestic LPG cylinder by Rs 60 and the 19 kg commercial cylinder by Rs 144 across the country. The revised prices came into effect on March 7, 2026. The supply pressure is being attributed to multiple factors including higher seasonal consumption, logistical disruptions and increased global energy costs linked to geopolitical tensions due to the Iran-US-Israel war. LPG Cylinder Prices In Metro Cities After the latest revision, the price of a 14.2 kg domestic LPG cylinder in Indias four major metro cities is as follows: Delhi: Rs 913.00 Rs 913.00 Mumbai: Rs 912.50 Rs 912.50 Kolkata: Rs 939.00 Rs 939.00 Chennai: Rs 928.50 The prices reflect a Rs 60 increase compared with the previous rates. Domestic LPG Prices In Major Cities Prices vary across cities due to transportation costs and state-level taxes. New Delhi: Rs 913.00 Rs 913.00 Mumbai: Rs 912.50 Rs 912.50 Bengaluru: Rs 915.50 Rs 915.50 Jaipur: Rs 916.50 Rs 916.50 Noida: Rs 910.50 Rs 910.50 Gurgaon: Rs 921.50 Rs 921.50 Hyderabad: Rs 965.00 Rs 965.00 Lucknow: Rs 950.50 Rs 950.50 Patna: Rs 1,002.50 Rs 1,002.50 Thiruvananthapuram: Rs 922.00 Rs 922.00 Bhubaneswar: Rs 939.00 Commercial LPG Cylinder Prices Businesses such as restaurants and hotels that use 19 kg commercial cylinders have also seen a sharp increase in prices. New Delhi: Rs 1,884.50 Rs 1,884.50 Mumbai: Rs 1,836.00 Rs 1,836.00 Kolkata: Rs 1,988.50 Rs 1,988.50 Chennai: Rs 2,043.50 Rs 2,043.50 Hyderabad: Rs 2,105.50 Rs 2,105.50 Patna: Rs 2,133.50 The commercial cylinder price has increased by Rs 144 across the country. Highest And Lowest LPG Prices Across States Among major states, Bihar currently has one of the highest domestic LPG prices at Rs 1,002.50, while several northeastern states are even costlier due to transportation expenses. On the other hand, Maharashtra (Rs 912.50) and Delhi (Rs 913.00) remain among the relatively cheaper markets for LPG cylinders. Why LPG Shortage Is Being Reported Several regions have reported delays in LPG cylinder delivery as distributors struggle to meet demand. Reports suggest that the supply tightness is largely due to a combination of factors. First, domestic LPG consumption has surged in recent months as more households rely on LPG for cooking. India is one of the worlds largest LPG consumers and demand tends to rise sharply during certain seasons. Second, global energy markets remain volatile, particularly after the escalation of tensions in the Middle East that pushed crude oil and energy prices higher. Since India imports a large portion of its LPG requirements, global price movements directly affect supply costs and availability. US-Israel strikes on Iran (February 28) triggered Iranian retaliation that hit Qatars Ras Laffan LNG facility, the worlds largest at 82 mmtpa, nearly 25% of global LNG supply. The Strait of Hormuz is effectively blocked for energy shipments. Asian spot LNG prices have surged from about $10.5/mmbtu to over $25/mmbtu for April 26 delivery. A 55-65% of Indias LNG imports transit through Hormuz; Qatar alone is 35-40% of Indias LNG imports and about 20% of domestic gas demand. Third, logistical bottlenecks and transportation constraints have slowed distribution in some regions, leading to temporary shortages at the distributor level. Government officials have indicated that the shortage is temporary and supplies are being stabilised through increased imports and improved distribution. What Industry Says Restaurant bodies and LPG distributors say the shortage is largely affecting commercial LPG cylinders used by hotels, restaurants and catering services, while household supply is being prioritised. The Bangalore Hotels Association said the halt in commercial cylinder supply could affect essential services dependent on food establishments. The supply of gas cylinders for commercial use has been stopped from today. Essential services like senior citizens, students and hospitals rely on it. Immediate action is expected from Union Ministers to resume commercial gas supply," the association said in a notice. National Vice President of the LPG Association RK Gupta said commercial LPG cylinders were not being issued to most establishments. Commercial cylinders have not been issued since yesterday, except for hospitals and educational institutions. The next booking will be allowed after a 25-day inter-booking period to avoid hoarding, and there is no shortage as claimed by oil companies," Gupta said. However, distributor bodies insist the situation is being managed and supply is continuing. Executive President of the All India LPG Distributors Federation, PN Seth, said distribution of both domestic and commercial cylinders was ongoing. There is no shortage, and supply of commercial and domestic cylinders is continuing as usual. Discussions are being held with distributors and stakeholders to ensure smooth supply," Seth said. Federation President Chandra Prakash said authorities are prioritising domestic LPG supply. The government, oil companies and distributors are focused on domestic cylinders first. Essential commercial services like hospitals are prioritised, but supply to restaurants has been temporarily halted," he said. What Govt Is Doing The Union government has taken a series of measures to stabilise LPG supply and manage fuel resources amid the geopolitical disruptions in West Asia. Authorities have invoked the Essential Commodities Act (EC Act) to secure the countrys energy supply. Officials said the move allows the government to monitor production, stocks and distribution more closely and prevent hoarding. To deal with supply disruptions linked to shipping risks in the Strait of Hormuz, the government has ordered a reprioritisation of fuel resources. Refineries have been directed to increase LPG production specifically for household consumption, with domestic LPG supply receiving the highest priority. Under the revised allocation framework, domestic piped natural gas, CNG for transport and essential pipeline operations are receiving up to 100% supply, while fertiliser plants have been allocated 70% of their requirement. Other industrial consumers and tea industries are receiving around 80% of their six-month average supply. The government has also introduced a 25-day inter-booking period for LPG cylinders to prevent hoarding and black marketing. To address concerns from the hospitality sector, Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has formed a three-member committee comprising executive directors from Indian Oil Corporation, Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum. The panel will examine the grievances of restaurant and hotel associations and review their commercial LPG requirements. Sources told news agency ANI that fresh consignments of LPG and LNG are expected soon and the countrys refining capacity remains strong. We were in crisis earlier, but today we are not in any crisis of petroleum products. Indian refineries are running at full capacity as they were operating before the Iran-Israel conflict," a source said. We are sourcing 70% of our crude oil supply from non-Strait of Hormuz sources. We entered this disruption better prepared," the source added. Officials also said the government has not taken any decision to curb the export of refined petroleum products, and India is expected to recover faster once the West Asia crisis stabilises. What Consumers Should Expect Energy analysts say the current supply tightness is likely to ease once additional imports arrive and distribution normalises. However, LPG prices will continue to remain sensitive to movements in global energy markets and currency fluctuations. For households, the latest price revision means higher cooking costs, while restaurants and food businesses will face increased operating expenses due to the rise in commercial cylinder prices. First Published: March 11, 2026, 10:18 IST News business economy LPG Shortage In India: Why Gas Cylinders Are In Short Supply, Latest Prices In Your City, What Govt Says 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... Staff work at the secretariat of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese national lawmakers submitted 226 proposals to the country's annual legislative session as of Sunday noon, the deadline for proposal submission at the ongoing fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC). The secretariat of the session said on Tuesday that it had also received over 7,000 suggestions from NPC deputies. Most of the proposals are related to legislative work. The suggestions cover a wide range of topics, such as developing a unified national market, fostering new growth drivers, and accelerating high-level sci-tech self-reliance and strength. Staff work at the secretariat of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) Editor: Zhang Zhou Relaxed FDI Norms For Bordering Nations May Boost Electronics Component Manufacturing In India Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 15:08 IST India relaxed FDI rules for bordering countries, including China, allowing up to 10% via the automatic route. This aims to boost capital inflow in electronics manufacturing. Cabinet Approves Relaxation In FDI Rules For Bordering Countries, Including China The Indian government has relaxed Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) rules for countries sharing land borders with India, including China. The changes in Press Note 3 mark a major shift in Indias FDI policy where there were restrictions on Chinese investments. Investors from land-border countries can invest up to 10% (non-controlling stake) via the automatic route. However, to ensure the safeguard, investee companies must report details of these investments to Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). The restrictions were introduced in April 2020 via Press Note 3 to prevent opportunistic takeovers of Indian firms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under those rules, investors from countries sharing land borders with India had to seek government approval for any investment. The new relaxed FDI norms will aid the inflow of capital into India, especially for electronics manufacturing from bordering nations. The policy meaningfully eases capital inflows from global PE and VC funds," according to Vaibhav Kakkar, Senior Partner at Saraf and Partners. While the liberalization is not formally part of ECMS 2.0, it clearly complements Indias broader manufacturing and supply-chain integration objectives," he added. Electronics Manufacturing to Get A Push JM Financial believes the Union Cabinets decision to ease certain foreign direct investment (FDI) rules for countries sharing a land border with India could benefit the electronics component manufacturing ecosystem, as the policy introduces a clearer approval framework and faster processing for investments in select sectors. In a note, JM Financial highlighted that it introduces a 60-day fast-track approval timeline for proposals requiring Press Note 3 (PN3) clearance in sectors such as capital goods, electronic capital goods, electronic components, polysilicon, and ingot-wafer manufacturing. According to the brokerage, this clarity on timelines could help companies form joint ventures and collaborations more quickly to expand manufacturing capacity in India. The brokerage added that electronic components manufacturing could be a key beneficiary, as India currently has limited domestic capability in this segment and relies heavily on foreign technology and investment. However, JM Financial noted that the policy does not explicitly cover electronics or smartphone assembly, suggesting the impact on the proposed Dixon TechnologiesVivo joint venture, which is awaiting PN3 approval, may remain limited based on the current policy wording. First Published: March 11, 2026, 15:08 IST News business economy Relaxed FDI Norms For Bordering Nations May Boost Electronics Component Manufacturing In India 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... Adani Total Gas, Gujarat Gas, Petronet LNG, GAIL Rally Up To 15% As City Gas Stocks Rebound Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 11:34 IST The rebound follows sharp sell-off last week when tensions between Iran and US-Israel alliance escalated, triggering concerns over potential disruptions to global energy supplies. Rapid Read Centre invoked the Essential Commodities Act to guarantee an uninterrupted supply of domestic cooking gas. (Representative Image) Shares of city gas distribution and LNG companies rallied sharply on Wednesday after suffering steep losses earlier in the week as geopolitical tensions in West Asia rattled global energy markets. Adani Total Gas jumped over 15%, while Gujarat Gas surged more than 11%. Shares of Petronet LNG, GAIL (India), Indraprastha Gas (IGL) and Mahanagar Gas (MGL) also gained more than 2% each during the session. The rebound follows a sharp sell-off last week when tensions between Iran and the US-Israel alliance escalated, triggering concerns over potential disruptions to global energy supplies. The situation began to affect India as well, with supply shortages reported in several cities including Mumbai and Bengaluru. Restaurants and commercial establishments in some areas warned of possible closures due to difficulties in securing gas cylinders. Markets betting on early end to war Global markets appeared to turn optimistic after US President Donald Trump suggested that the conflict could end soon. Speaking to CBS News, Trump said he believes the war against Iran is very complete" and that the United States was progressing very far ahead" of his initial estimate of four to five weeks. He also said the US administration was considering easing certain sanctions temporarily to stabilise the oil market. So we have sanctions on some countries. Were going to take those sanctions off until the Strait is up," Trump said, without providing further details. Its going to end soon, and if it starts up again, theyll be hit even harder," he added. Despite the comments, the conflict continues to intensify on the ground. The US and Israel launched what some observers described as the heaviest strikes of the war against Iranian targets. Irans government warned that its security forces had their fingers on the trigger" to counter any resurgence of anti-government protests. Iran also launched strikes targeting several locations in Israel, Lebanon and parts of the Gulf early Wednesday as the war entered its 12th day. Gas Prices Climb As Supply Tightens The geopolitical tensions have already begun to impact energy supplies and prices globally. Supply constraints linked to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for oil and gas shipments, have pushed up gas prices in India. Domestic cooking gas prices have increased by Rs 60 per cylinder, while commercial LPG cylinders have become costlier by Rs 114.5. International markets have also reacted sharply. European natural gas prices jumped nearly 40% last week after QatarEnergy halted production at a major LNG facility amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. Government Steps In To Protect Supplies Amid growing concerns over gas availability, the Indian government on Tuesday issued the Natural Gas (Supply Regulation) Order, 2026 to prioritise essential uses of natural gas. The government also invoked provisions under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, aiming to ensure uninterrupted supply of cooking gas during the ongoing West Asia conflict. Under the new order, gas allocation will prioritise piped natural gas (PNG) for households, compressed natural gas (CNG) for transport and LPG production. Refineries and petrochemical companies have also been directed to maximise LPG output and divert key hydrocarbon streams to the LPG pool. These include domestic piped natural gas supply, CNG used in transport, LPG production including shrinkage requirements, pipeline compressor fuel and other critical operational needs of gas pipelines. The measures are aimed at stabilising domestic supplies even as geopolitical tensions continue to disrupt global energy markets. First Published: March 11, 2026, 11:34 IST News business markets Adani Total Gas, Gujarat Gas, Petronet LNG, GAIL Rally Up To 15% As City Gas Stocks Rebound 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... Volkswagen To Cut 50,000 Jobs By 2030 Amid Profit Slump And EV Shift Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 07:07 IST Volkswagen will cut 50,000 jobs in Germany by 2030 due to US tariffs, China competition, and restructuring costs. Volkswagen Job Cuts. Volkswagen Layoffs: German automaker Volkswagen is set to slash around 50,000 jobs by the end of 2030 as the company was hit by US import tariffs, intense competition from China and restructuring costs from the shift to electric vehicles. In total, around 50,000 jobs are due to be cut by 2030 across the Volkswagen Group in Germany", CEO Volkswagen Group, said in the letter to shareholders. As a result of collective bargaining agreements and downsizing measures, we managed to achieve cost savings of around 1 billion in fiscal year 2025 as planned. We are on course to meet our goal of achieving net annual cost savings of more than 6 billion across the Group by 2030," he added. Volkswagen said that the job cuts would happen in Germany across the group, including luxury brands such as Porsche and Audi, as part of a restructuring effort amid the falling profits. The companys profitability declined sharply. Operating profit fell 53% year-on-year to EUR 8.9 billion, translating into an operating margin of 2.8% in 2025. The drop was attributed to factors including U.S. tariffs, expenses related to adjustments in Porsches product strategy, currency impacts and pricing pressures, partially offset by ongoing cost-reduction programs. Demand For EV Increases & Future Outlook With gloomy days ahead, the group has cut down its targets for electric vehicle production in recent months, including its Italian supercar manufacturer, Lamborghini. Challenges are expected in particular from the macroeconomic environment, uncertainties regarding restrictions in international trade and geopolitical tensions," the company said. Demand for electric vehicles continued to strengthen. In Europe, order intake for vehicles rose about 13% compared with 2024, driven largely by battery electric vehicles (BEVs), whose orders surged roughly 55% and accounted for about 22% of the order backlog. By the end of 2027, we will have launched 30 new all-electric, plug-in hybrid and range-extended models onto the Chinese market," the company said. Looking ahead, Volkswagen expects sales revenue to grow between 0% and 3% in 2026, with an operating margin projected in the range of 4% to 5.5%. The company also plans to accelerate its transition toward electric mobility, including the launch of affordable electric vehicles with premium technology, while continuing investments in batteries, software and autonomous driving technologies. First Published: March 11, 2026, 07:07 IST News business markets Volkswagen To Cut 50,000 Jobs By 2030 Amid Profit Slump And EV Shift Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... LPG Shortage: Bengaluru's Yelahanka Gas Power Plant To Shut After GAIL Stops Supply, City Turns To Alternate Power Sources Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 12, 2026, 13:47 IST The Yelahanka Gas Power Plant has been an important contributor to Bengalurus power grid, during the period between December-April when electricity demand typically increases Rapid Read The suspension of gas supply has been linked to the ongoing geopolitical situation in West Asia, which has affected the availability of natural gas. (Image: Canva-Representational) Electricity generation at the Yelahanka Gas Power Plant in North Bengaluru will stop from Wednesday after gas supply to the facility is suspended by the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL). The development will temporarily shut down one of the citys key backup power stations that helps support electricity demand during high-consumption months. Officials from Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL) confirmed the shutdown, attributing it to difficulties in maintaining fuel delivery amid the ongoing geopolitical crisis in West Asia. The Yelahanka Gas Power Plant has been an important contributor to Bengalurus power grid, especially during the period between December and April when electricity demand typically increases. Since September 2024, it has generated around 370 MW daily, helping stabilise supply during high-load periods. Its combined cycle setup includes a 236.82 MW gas turbine and a 133.22 MW steam turbine generator, operating at an 85% plant load factor and producing approximately 2,600 to 2,700 million units of electricity each year. Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) has purchased this power at about Rs 8 per kWh, a higher rate justified by its role in meeting the citys growing demand. Gas-based plants require continuous fuel to function, and without supply, generation must stop similar to thermal plants halting during coal or fuel shortages. The suspension of gas supply has been linked to the ongoing geopolitical situation in West Asia, which has affected the availability of natural gas. Energy department sources indicated that GAIL has informed authorities that it is currently difficult to continue supplying gas to the plant. Under the revised priority system for gas distribution, supply will first be allocated to domestic households, fertiliser industries, commercial establishments, automobile fuel networks and industrial users before being supplied to power generation units. Despite the shutdown of the Yelahanka plant, officials say Bengaluru is unlikely to face an immediate electricity shortage. The states energy department has already made arrangements to meet demand through other sources. Additional electricity will be sourced through energy exchanges and power-sharing arrangements with other states, including Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. At the same time, electricity generation from thermal plants, hydel stations and renewable energy sources across Karnataka will continue to supply power to the city. Energy engineers monitoring the state grid said that while the shutdown removes an important backup facility, alternative generation and procurement plans are already in place to ensure that Bengalurus electricity demand remains stable in the coming months. First Published: March 11, 2026, 18:38 IST News cities bengaluru-news LPG Shortage: Bengaluru's Yelahanka Gas Power Plant To Shut After GAIL Stops Supply, City Turns To Alternate Power Sources 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... Parcel With Nude Photos, Rotten Items Triggers Black Magic Fears At Bengaluru Airport Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 09:08 IST The parcel arrived at the Bengaluru airports post office and contained rotten tomatoes, a flower garland, pieces of iron and toothpaste, besides the obscene photos Rapid Read Following the discovery, the airport authorities filed a complaint at the Kempegowda International Airport police station. (AI Generated) A mysterious parcel containing nude photographs of a man and a woman, rotten vegetables and other unusual items has triggered fears of black magic at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru, prompting a police investigation. The parcel reportedly arrived at the airports post office and contained rotten tomatoes, a flower garland, pieces of iron and toothpaste, besides the obscene photos. The items were reportedly arranged together in a manner resembling ritualistic practices, which alarmed airport staff. According to a report by Deccan Herald, the parcel was addressed to the Kempegowda International Airport office, and employees were shocked when they opened it and discovered the contents. Some staff members reportedly feared that the items could be linked to black magic rituals meant to cause mental distress to airport officials. Following the discovery, the airport authorities filed a complaint at the Kempegowda International Airport police station. Police have launched an investigation to identify the sender of the parcel and determine the motive behind it. What The Law Says About Black Magic India does not have a nationwide law that directly criminalises black magic or occult practices. However, several states have enacted legislation to curb harmful practices carried out in the name of superstition. Karnataka has the Karnataka Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices and Black Magic Act, 2017, which came into effect in 2020. The law prohibits a range of practices associated with black magic and inhuman rituals carried out under the guise of supernatural powers. Similarly, Maharashtra enacted the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and Other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013, which criminalises acts such as human sacrifice, fraudulent miracle claims and exploitative rituals performed in the name of supernatural powers. Experts say such laws are meant to prevent exploitation and protect people from harmful practices carried out under the pretext of supernatural beliefs. Police in Bengaluru are currently investigating the suspicious parcel to determine whether it was a prank, an act of intimidation, or linked to any ritualistic activity. First Published: March 11, 2026, 09:08 IST News cities bengaluru-news Parcel With Nude Photos, Rotten Items Triggers Black Magic Fears At Bengaluru Airport Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Tamil Nadu Gets 6 New Trains Today - 2 To Mangalore, 2 Amrit Bharats, 1 To Kerala, 1 To Karaikudi Curated By : News18 Cities Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 09:20 IST PM Narendra Modi will launch the six new train services in poll-bound Tamil Nadu today, improving the state's connectivity to Karnataka's Mangaluru and Kerala's Palakkad Rapid Read Prime Minister Modi will also launch two new Amrit Bharat trains as part of the expansion of modern rail services in the country. Marking a significant milestone in the railway history of Tamil Nadu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to launch six new train services in a single day on March 11, Tuesday. The announcement comes as part of his official visit to the poll-bound state, during which the new trains will be inaugurated virtually from an event in Trichy. The launch is expected to strengthen railway connectivity across Tamil Nadu while also improving links with neighbouring states such as Kerala and Karnataka. The new services are anticipated to benefit thousands of daily passengers and long-distance travellers across the southern region. Improving Inter-State Connectivity Among the trains being introduced is the Tirunelveli-Mangalore Express, which will significantly enhance connectivity between southern Tamil Nadu and coastal Karnataka. The train will pass through several key stations, including Virudhunagar, Madurai, Dindigul, Palani, Pollachi, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod before reaching Mangalore. This route is expected to make travel easier for passengers commuting between Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka for work, education and tourism. Another important service to be launched is the Rameswaram-Mangalore Express. This train will further strengthen rail connectivity between the temple town of Rameswaram and the coastal city of Mangalore, providing a convenient long-distance travel option for pilgrims, tourists and residents of the region. Two Amrit Bharat Trains To Begin Operations Prime Minister Modi will also launch two new Amrit Bharat trains as part of the expansion of modern rail services in the country. The first is the Nagercoil-Saralapalli Amrit Bharat train, while the second is the Bothanur-Dhanbad Amrit Bharat Express. These trains are designed to offer improved passenger facilities and better travel comfort, reflecting the Indian Railways focus on modernisation and upgraded services. Two Passenger Train Services For Regional Travel In addition to the express services, two passenger trains aimed at strengthening regional travel will also be introduced. PM Modi will flag off an electric passenger train between Pollachi and Palakkad, which is expected to benefit commuters travelling regularly between Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Another passenger service will operate between Mayiladuthurai and Karaikudi, improving connectivity for passengers travelling within Tamil Nadu and providing easier access to several towns along the route. New Routes And Modern Facilities The introduction of these six new train services has been widely welcomed by passengers. The new routes, along with modern facilities in the Amrit Bharat trains, are expected to significantly improve travel convenience. By connecting South Tamil Nadu with key destinations in Kerala and Karnataka, the initiative is seen as an important step towards strengthening regional connectivity and enhancing the overall railway network in southern India. First Published: March 11, 2026, 09:20 IST News cities chennai-news Tamil Nadu Gets 6 New Trains Today - 2 To Mangalore, 2 Amrit Bharats, 1 To Kerala, 1 To Karaikudi 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... Hospital In Andhra Pradesh's Tirupati Accused Of Withholding Dead Body Over Unpaid Bill Curated By : News18 Cities Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 20:24 IST Ramadevi Private Hospital in Tirupati refused to release a deceased patient's body until an additional Rs 45,000 was paid, sparking local outrage and demands for action Rapid Read The hospital authorities allegedly demanded payment of the remaining dues before releasing the body. (Representational Image) A private hospital in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, has come under severe criticism after it allegedly refused to hand over a deceased patients body to his family until the pending hospital bill was cleared, sparking outrage among locals and raising fresh questions about the conduct of private medical institutions. The incident reportedly took place at Ramadevi Private Hospital in Tirupati, where the family of a patient claimed that the hospital authorities demanded payment of the remaining dues before releasing the body. According to the family, they had already spent nearly Rs 3 lakh on treatment. Srinivas, a young man from Jeedimakulapalli village in Palamaneru mandal of Chittoor district, had been admitted to the hospital 9 days ago after suffering a brain stroke. Family members said they arranged the money for treatment by pawning gold jewellery and borrowing from relatives in the hope of saving his life. Despite their efforts, Srinivas succumbed during treatment, leaving the family in shock and grief. However, the situation took a distressing turn when the family approached hospital authorities to claim the body. They allege that hospital staff informed them that Rs 45,000 was still pending in the bill and refused to release the body until the payment was made. The bereaved relatives reportedly pleaded with the hospital management, explaining that they had already exhausted their resources and requested that the body be handed over while they arranged the remaining amount later. According to the family, the hospital authorities showed little compassion and insisted on immediate payment. The family also claimed that they attempted to escalate the matter by informing the district health officer, but said they received no immediate response. Local political leaders, including the areas MLA, reportedly contacted the hospital management and urged them to release the body, but the requests were allegedly ignored. The incident has triggered anger among residents and social activists, who have condemned the alleged actions of the hospital and called for strict action against those responsible. Location : Tirupati, India, India First Published: March 11, 2026, 20:24 IST News cities hyderabad-news Hospital In Andhra Pradesh's Tirupati Accused Of Withholding Dead Body Over Unpaid Bill 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... Hyderabad Horror: Job Consultant Stabbed To Death Over Rs 1,000 Dues In Yusufguda Curated By : News18 Cities Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 10:55 IST A disturbing crime in Hyderabads Yusufguda on Tuesday afternoon has sent shockwaves through the area after a minor financial dispute escalated into a deadly crime Rapid Read Police rushed Shashikiran and the injured receptionist to a nearby hospital, but doctors declared him dead on arrival. A shocking and deeply disturbing incident unfolded in Hyderabad, where a man was brutally killed over a dispute involving just Rs 1,000. A young man allegedly stabbed a job consultancy owner to death after demanding the return of money he had paid earlier. The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon in Yusufguda, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Madhuranagar Police Station. The tragedy has not only shocked the local community but also left the victims pregnant wife devastated. Victim Ran Multiple Manpower Consultancies According to reports, the victim, G Shashikiran Reddy (36), originally hailed from Vijayawada. He lived with his wife, Nagabharathi, in Ellareddiguda. Shashikiran Reddy operated several manpower consultancies, including Varahi, TGS, and Sairam, from an office located on the third floor of a building near Metro Pillar 1482 in Yusufguda. Over the past two years, he had helped numerous unemployed individuals secure jobs in hotels and private companies across the city. Last month, a 22-year-old youth from Nalgonda District approached Shashikiran seeking employment assistance. As part of the consultancy process, Shashikiran collected Rs 2,500 from the youth as a registration fee and other related charges. He subsequently arranged a job for the young man at a well-known hotel in Banjara Hills. However, the youth worked there for only two days before quitting the job, reportedly stating that he did not like the work. Dispute Over Refund Of Rs 2,500 After leaving the job, the youth repeatedly demanded that Shashikiran return the Rs 2,500 he had paid. Shashikiran agreed to refund the amount and had already returned Rs 1,500, assuring him that the remaining Rs 1,000 would be paid soon. Despite this, the youth allegedly continued visiting the office frequently and arguing with Shashikiran about the pending amount. According to the police investigation, the accused arrived at the consultancy office again on Tuesday at around 2pm. He reportedly walked straight into Shashikirans chamber and locked the door from inside. During the confrontation, he allegedly threatened the consultant, saying: Give me my thousand rupees right now or Ill kill you." He also reportedly warned that several criminal cases were already registered against him and that he was not afraid of consequences. Stabbed In The Neck During Heated Argument As the argument escalated, the accused allegedly pulled out a knife he had brought with him and stabbed Shashikiran in the neck. Hearing desperate screams from inside the room, the office receptionist, Laya (Sai Shruthi), rushed to the chamber and began knocking on the door. When the accused opened the door, he reportedly attacked Laya as well in a fit of rage, leaving her seriously injured. After the assault, the attacker fled the scene. Police personnel rushed both Shashikiran and the injured receptionist to a nearby hospital. However, doctors confirmed that Shashikiran had already died by the time he was brought in. The incident has left Shashikirans family shattered. His wife, Nagabharathi, is currently pregnant, and the couple had celebrated her baby shower just a month ago with great joy as they awaited the arrival of their child. Upon learning about her husbands death, she reportedly collapsed in grief. Her emotional cry, Did they kill my husband for helping someone get a job?", moved those present to tears. Police have registered a murder case against the accused and launched a search operation to locate and arrest him. First Published: March 11, 2026, 10:55 IST News cities hyderabad-news Hyderabad Horror: Job Consultant Stabbed To Death Over Rs 1,000 Dues In Yusufguda 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... 4 Booked After Injections Found Hidden In Underwear During Police Recruitment Test In Navi Mumbai Curated By : News18 Cities Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 19:04 IST Preliminary inquiries revealed that the injections were allegedly meant to enhance physical strength and stamina to gain an unfair advantage during the test Rapid Read During the inspection, police reportedly recovered injections hidden inside the underwear of some candidates. (AI Image) An alarming incident surfaced during the ongoing Maharashtra police recruitment 2026 process after several candidates were allegedly caught attempting to use performance-enhancing injections during the physical examination in Navi Mumbai. According to police, the recruitment drive was being conducted at Kalamboli, where candidates from across the states had gathered to take part in the physical tests required for selection into the police force. On Sunday, officials noticed suspicious behaviour among a few candidates during the field tests and decided to carry out a search. During the inspection, police reportedly recovered injections hidden inside the underwear of some candidates. Preliminary inquiries revealed that the injections were allegedly meant to enhance physical strength and stamina to gain an unfair advantage during the test. Following the discovery, Kalamboli police registered a case against four candidates for attempting to cheat in the recruitment process. The accused have been identified as Akash Panasare (29), Suyog Hole (21), Sunil Kaduskar (26) and Sanket Dongre (30). Police said Panasare is a resident of Junnar, while the other three are from Ahilyanagar. Officials said strict action was taken after it was established that the candidates were attempting to manipulate the results of the physical test. The incident comes days after a similar case was reported from Mira-Bhayandar. In that instance, a candidate was allegedly caught on CCTV administering a performance-enhancing injection before the field test. The candidate, identified as Sahil Avghade from Baramati, was detained and a case was registered against him. Location : Navi Mumbai, India, India First Published: March 11, 2026, 19:04 IST News cities mumbai-news 4 Booked After Injections Found Hidden In Underwear During Police Recruitment Test In Navi Mumbai 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... Thane Residents To Face 24-Hour Water Shutdown From March 12; Check Affected Areas Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 08:37 IST According to the civic body, digging for the new pipeline is impacting the 600 mm outlet line of the Siddheshwar water tank. Rapid Read Residents have been urged to use water carefully and cooperate with the civic body. (representative image) Residents in several areas of Thane will experience a temporary water supply disruption this week due to pipeline maintenance by the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC). The civic body has explained that the shutdown is necessary to carry out work on an existing pipeline connected to the Siddheshwar water tank. Authorities have advised residents in the affected areas to store water in advance and use it sparingly during the interruption. Pipeline Work Near Siddheshwar Tank Will Affect Supply The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has announced that excavation work for a new pipeline near the Siddheshwar water tank in the Uthalsar Ward Committee area is currently underway. This work is impacting the 600 mm diameter outlet pipeline connected to the tank. To accommodate the new line, the existing pipeline needs to be shifted. Officials stated that a temporary water supply shutdown is necessary to ensure the work is carried out safely and efficiently. To facilitate this work, the water supply will remain suspended for 24 hours starting at 9 am on Thursday (March 12). The supply is expected to resume at 9 am on Friday (March 13). Several areas in the Uthalsar ward will be affected during this time. These include the Siddheshwar Lake vicinity, Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar, Ganeshwadi, Nitin Company area, Panchpakhadi, Sarovar Darshan, Chandanwadi, Hans Nagar, Singh Nagar, Khopat, Flower Valley, Shelar Pada, Gokuldas Wadi, Kolbad and Gokulnagar. Some localities in the Naupada ward will also face disruption. These include Panchpakhadi, Chandanwadi, the municipal corporation premises, Charai and Dhobi Ali. The civic body has appealed to residents in these areas to cooperate and use water sparingly during the shutdown. Goregaon Areas Earlier Faced Similar Disruption Earlier this week, parts of Goregaon also faced a temporary water supply disruption due to pipeline connection work carried out by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The disruption began at 9 am on Tuesday (March 10) and will continue until 9 am on Wednesday (March 11). The work involved connecting a diverted 750 mm diameter water pipeline located on the approach road of the flyover on Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari Road in Goregaon East. During this period, several areas in the P East and P South wards were affected. In some locations, the water supply remained completely shut, while in others it was provided at low pressure. Localities such as Satellite Tower, Santosh Nagar, Mali Nagar, Hable Pada and areas along Film City Road experienced disruptions during the work. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: March 11, 2026, 08:36 IST News cities mumbai-news Thane Residents To Face 24-Hour Water Shutdown From March 12; Check Affected Areas 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... Members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) attend a group interview ahead of the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 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 closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) Li Xincao, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attends a group interview ahead of the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) Xu Kun, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's aPolitical Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attends a group interview ahead of the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) Liu Chengyong, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attends a group interview ahead of the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) Cheng Yuzhen, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attends a group interview ahead of the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 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 closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 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 closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) Cui Haiyang, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attends a group interview ahead of the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) Tu Haiming, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attends a group interview ahead of the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) Xu Kewei, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attends a group interview ahead of the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) Chen Jimin, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attends a group interview ahead of the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) Xu Kun (L), a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attends a group interview ahead of the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) Members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) attend a group interview ahead of the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) Journalists work at a group interview ahead of the closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) Editor: WSH Gas Stations Shut In Bengaluru, 75% Drop In Hyderabad: How Cities Are Coping With LPG Crisis Today Curated By : News18 Cities Last Updated: March 12, 2026, 14:59 IST LPG Shortage: Auto LPG jumps Rs 30/L in Bengaluru, Hyderabad hotels getting only 25% cylinders, Kolkata sees Rs 5/L auto gas hike, and Coimbatore eateries are turning to firewood Rapid Read You can book a gas cylinder through platforms like UPI or CRED. If the mobile number you have registered for the gas cylinder is the same as the mobile number in the CRED app, you can easily book a cylinder. For the third consecutive day on Wednesday, a shortage of commercial LPG cylinders continued to disrupt restaurants, hotels and transport services across several Indian cities, as the Centre prioritised domestic cooking gas supply amid global energy disruptions linked to the US-Israel-Iran war in West Asia. In Hyderabad, hotel owners say supplies have fallen sharply, with establishments receiving only 20-25 cylinders for every 100 ordered, raising fears of closures. In Chennai, several eateries declared a holiday due to the lack of LPG, while others have cut menus to basic items such as idli and variety rice. Restaurants in Coimbatore have warned the shortage could last up to a month, with some even considering firewood as a temporary alternative fuel. Meanwhile, in Bengaluru, several auto LPG stations have shut due to supply disruptions even as auto gas prices surged sharply in recent days. Hotel associations and industry bodies say reduced supplies have forced eateries across cities to scale down operations, explore alternative fuels and warn of possible shutdowns if the situation continues. Heres how the LPG cylinder shortage is unfolding in cities today, March 11: Chennai Several hotels and restaurants in Chennai and parts of Tamil Nadu declared a holiday on Wednesday due to the lack of commercial LPG supply, forcing eateries to shut operations temporarily. Notices outside some restaurants said the closures were due to LPG shortages, while others continued operating with sharply reduced menus. Many establishments have dropped items that require continuous LPG use, such as dosas and fried rice, and are instead serving simpler dishes like idli, sambar, vada and variety rice. Hotel associations had earlier warned that their existing LPG stock would last only one or two days and have urged the government to intervene to stabilise supply. Bengaluru Several LPG auto gas stations in Bengaluru have shut down amid supply shortages, leaving auto and cab drivers struggling to refuel. A True Gas outlet near Guttahalli in Seshadripuram remained closed after it failed to receive LPG supply since Tuesday, causing inconvenience to drivers who depend on auto LPG. At the same time, auto LPG prices have surged sharply across the city. The price has risen from Rs 59 per litre on February 28 to Rs 89 per litre now, marking an increase of Rs 30 within less than two weeks. The price has climbed steadily over the past days: Feb 28: Rs 59 March 1: Rs 64 March 5: Rs 69 March 7: Rs 75 March 9: Rs 85 March 10: Rs 89 Drivers say the combination of station closures and rising prices is making it difficult to operate profitably, adding pressure on Bengalurus auto and cab services. Hyderabad The situation in Hyderabad appears particularly severe, with hotel bodies saying the supply of commercial LPG cylinders has dropped by nearly 75%. Hotel owners say orders are being only partially fulfilled. If restaurants request 100 cylinders, only 20-25 are being delivered, affecting commercial kitchens across the city. ALSO READ | India Steps In As Bangladesh Faces Fuel Crunch Amid Iran War, Sends 5,000 Tonnes Of Diesel The shortage is also impacting PG hostels in Kukatpally, Gachibowli and Madhapur, where cooking gas is used to prepare meals for students and employees. The Telangana Hotels Association held an emergency meeting in Secunderabad, where its president Venkat Reddy warned that hotels across the state may shut down if the situation continues. According to a Deccan Chronicle report on March 10, oil marketing companies have stopped issuing sufficient cylinders to commercial establishments. Hotel owners say the shortage has already forced many eateries to reduce menu items, especially dishes that require longer cooking times. Coimbatore Restaurants in Coimbatore have also been grappling with limited LPG availability for several days. Balachandar Raju, secretary of the Coimbatore District Hoteliers Association (CDHA), said eateries in the city are struggling to operate due to the shortage. For the past 10-12 days, the whole nation has been facing LPG shortage issues, and our city is facing the same problem. We have no fuel to run the restaurant," he said. ALSO READ | LPG Shortage Concerns? Here Are 5 Smart Cooking Alternatives You Can Use At Home According to Raju, authorities have informed the industry that domestic LPG supply and essential services have been prioritised, leaving commercial users facing reduced allocations. He warned that the shortage could persist for up to a month, noting that even if LPG shipments begin immediately, it would take around 20 days for vessels to reach India, followed by processing time before the fuel becomes available. The association has approached both the state and central governments seeking urgent intervention. Some restaurants are exploring alternatives such as firewood or electric cooking, though industry representatives say these are not viable long-term solutions. Visakhapatnam In Visakhapatnam, the Hotel Merchants Association has urged the Centre to provide clarity and support regarding LPG availability. Association vice-president Kishore Yadav said the citys hospitality sector requires 65,000-70,000 cylinders every month, and a prolonged shortage could force restaurants to shut down, similar to what has been reported in other cities. ALSO READ | PNG Vs LPG: Why Indias Piped Gas Network Is Winning The War-Time Kitchen Battle We are all facing gas-related issues. If this goes on for a few more days, we in Visakhapatnam are also going to shut down like Bengaluru," Yadav said. Another association member, Mohammed Rafi, said hotel owners are seeking clear communication from the government about the availability of LPG stock to avoid uncertainty in operations. Restaurant groups fear that if supply disruptions continue, tourism and food services in the city could also be affected. Kolkata In Kolkata, the impact is being felt among auto drivers who use LPG-powered vehicles, with long queues forming at refuelling stations. Drivers waiting at the Bengal Chemical pump on Wednesday said the price of LPG for vehicles suddenly increased from Rs 57.68 per litre to Rs 62.68 per litre, an increase of nearly Rs 5, after a new circular was issued. Auto drivers complained that they had already been waiting for hours in line before the price revision took effect, leaving many frustrated and confused about the sudden hike. Authorities at the pump said gas had been supplied at the earlier rate just minutes before the circular came into force. Bihar Authorities in Bihar have issued a precautionary alert amid concerns that global tensions could affect the availability of LPG and other petroleum products. The DIG of the Special Branch has sent a letter to divisional commissioners, district magistrates and police officials warning that the ongoing Middle East conflict could disrupt fuel supplies in the coming days. Officials fear reports of shortages could lead to panic buying, crowding at petrol pumps and gas agencies, and possible law-and-order issues. Police have been asked to monitor distributors closely and take strict action against hoarding or black-marketing of LPG cylinders and fuel. Uttarakhand The Uttarakhand government has begun preparing firewood as an alternative fuel for businesses amid fears that LPG shortages could worsen due to disruptions in global gas supplies linked to tensions in West Asia. Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal said the situation resembles a crisis scenario and a shortage of gas cannot be ruled out if the conflict escalates. The government has directed the Uttarakhand Forest Development Corporation to ensure sufficient wood supply so commercial establishments can use it if LPG availability declines further. The move comes after the Centre reordered natural gas allocation, prioritising supply for households, transport and piped cooking gas, while diverting gas from non-priority sectors. Essential Commodities Act The current shortage has been linked to global supply disruptions caused by tensions in West Asia, particularly concerns around shipping routes in the region. In response, the Union government has invoked the Essential Commodities Act to prioritise LPG supply for households, hospitals and other essential services, while restricting commercial distribution in some areas. The government has also reportedly increased the waiting period for booking domestic cylinders from 21 to 25 days and asked refineries to boost LPG production to stabilise supply. Despite the disruptions, the Centre has maintained that household LPG availability remains adequate, and that the current constraints largely affect commercial users such as restaurants and hotels. Industry bodies, however, warn that if supply disruptions persist, the hospitality sector across several cities may face operational disruptions and rising food prices in the coming weeks. First Published: March 11, 2026, 09:54 IST News cities new-delhi-news Gas Stations Shut In Bengaluru, 75% Drop In Hyderabad: How Cities Are Coping With LPG Crisis Today 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... Red Fort Blast Probe Hampered Due To Ayatollah Khameneis Death: NIA | Exclusive Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Manjiri Joshi Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 18:32 IST The Delhi court has sent both the accused Tufail Ahmad Bhat and Zameer Ahmad Ahangar to further five days of NIA remand till March 16 Rapid Read The car blast occurred near Red Fort Metro (X File) In a startling revelation before a Delhi Court, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has said that its probe in the Red Fort Blast case is getting disrupted due the protests & prevailing law and order situation in Jammu & Kashmir. Justifying 10 days further police custody of Tufail Ahmad Bhat and Zameer Ahmad Ahangar, the NIA said that the same is needed to carry out pointing out of places in J&K where they have dealt with arms & ammunitions and kept it for safe places for furtherance of terror act. Such pointing out could not be conducted pursuant to the order of the court on account of the prevailing law and order situation in the state of Jammu and Kashmir and protests following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei," read certain documents submitted before the court and as seen by CNN News18. The probe agency further revealed to the court that during the course of the investigation, Ahangar has revealed that he was in touch with a foreign handler belonging to a terrorist organisation through social media. The court has sent both these accused to further five days of NIA remand till March 16. The Delhi Red Fort blast The Delhi Red Fort blast occurred on 10 November 2025, at approximately 6:52 p.m. IST. A car, identified as a white Hyundai i20, exploded near Gate No. 1 of the Lal Quila Metro Station while stopped at a traffic signal. The Delhi blast came hours after eight people, including doctors, were arrested and 2,900 kg of explosives were seized with the uncovering of a white-collar terror module" involving the Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind and spanning Kashmir, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. The explosion killed 15 people, including the suspected perpetrator, and injured more than 20 others. The car was loaded with Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil (ANFO) and other explosives. The blast was high-intensity, incinerating the primary vehicle and damaging nearly a dozen nearby vehicles, including cars, e-rickshaws, and auto-rickshaws. DNA analysis identified Dr. Umar Nabi Bhat (also known as Umar Mohammed), a Pulwama-based doctor, as the driver who died in the explosion. As of late February 2026, the NIA has arrested 11 suspects in connection with the conspiracy. First Published: March 11, 2026, 18:29 IST News cities new-delhi-news Red Fort Blast Probe Hampered Due To Ayatollah Khameneis Death: NIA | 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... Murder With LPG Cylinder: 'Who Will Cook' Argument Turns Fatal as Pune Man Kills Roommate Curated By : News18 Cities Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 19:39 IST The dispute, which began with a simple question, "Who will cook the food?", ended with a 32-year-old man being brutally killed after being struck on the head with a LPG cylinder Rapid Read The central government has said a committee will review demands made by restaurants and hotels, which have warned against widespread closures due to concerns over supply and distribution of commercial LPG. (Representational Image) A trivial argument over cooking food escalated into a shocking murder in the Moshi area of Pimpri-Chinchwad in Pune, sending shockwaves through the locality. The dispute, which reportedly began with a simple question, Who will cook the food?", ended with a 32-year-old man being brutally killed after being struck on the head with a LPG cylinder. The incident took place at Havaldar Vasti in Moshi, creating panic among residents. The victim has been identified as Balaji Maruti Khandare (32), a native of Udgir in Maharashtras Latur district. Police have arrested his friend and roommate, Pradeep Vitthal Gundare (29), who hails from Ahmadpur in the same district. According to police, both men had moved to Pimpri-Chinchwad from Latur in search of work and were living together in Moshi. Investigators said the two had a heated argument late at night over who would cook food. What began as a minor disagreement soon spiralled out of control. In a fit of rage, Gundare allegedly picked up a gas cylinder and struck Khandare on the head. The impact proved fatal, and Khandare died on the spot. Acting swiftly, a team from MIDC Bhosari Police Station, under the guidance of Senior Police Inspector Ganesh Jamdar, arrested the accused shortly after the incident. The brutal killing over such a trivial issue has left the local community shocked, with residents expressing grief over the loss of a young life. In a separate incident, police have arrested a 21-year-old engineering student from Titwala in connection with the murder of a 33-year-old Uber driver. The victim, Nasir Salam Ahmed from Airoli, was allegedly killed in the Ganeshkhind area of Malshej Ghat. The Thane Rural Crime Branch carried out the arrest during the investigation. While the accused has claimed the killing was an act of self-defence, investigators said the discovery of the blood-stained car and the manner in which the body was disposed of have raised serious questions, sparking concern in the area. First Published: March 11, 2026, 18:43 IST News cities pune Murder With LPG Cylinder: 'Who Will Cook' Argument Turns Fatal as Pune Man Kills Roommate 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... 43 Medical Colleges Established For 2025-26; Over 20,000 MBBS And PG Seats Approved: Minister Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 07:33 IST Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel informed that 157 medical colleges have been approved in three phases with a total approved cost of Rs 41,332.41 crore. The govt has approved 11,682 MBBS seats, Anupriya Patel said. (Representative image/File) Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel informed the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday that 43 new medical colleges have been established across the country for the academic year 202526, reported PTI. According to the National Medical Commission (NMC), the government has approved 11,682 MBBS seats and 8,967 postgraduate (PG) seats, including AIIMS and Institutes of National Importance (INIs), for the same academic year, Patel mentioned in a written reply. The NMC invites online applications annually from medical colleges and institutions across the country for establishing new medical colleges and increasing undergraduate (UG) and PG seats. Following a thorough process of scrutiny and assessment in line with the Establishment of Medical Institutions, Assessment and Rating Regulations, 2023, the Minimum Standard Requirement for Undergraduate courses (UGMSR), 2023, and the Minimum Standard Requirement for Postgraduate courses (PGMSR), 2023, and other relevant norms and guidelines issued by the NMC, a letter of permission (LoP) or letter of disapproval (LoD) is issued. The Union Health Ministry runs a centrally sponsored scheme (CSS) for the Establishment of new medical colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals" prioritising underserved areas and aspirational districts. In these regions, where there is no existing government or private medical college, the funding is shared between the Centre and state governments in a ratio of 90:10 for North Eastern and special category states and 60:40 for others, Patel explained. Under this scheme, 157 medical colleges have been approved in three phases with a total approved cost of Rs 41,332.41 crore. Out of the central share of Rs 26,715.84 crore, Rs 23,246.10 crore has been released so far, Patel noted. Earlier in December, the central government presented a detailed report on medical seats in India for the academic session 202526 to the Parliament. Patel had then informed the Lok Sabha that there are 128,875 MBBS seats and 80,291 PG medical seats available nationwide for 2025, spread across both government and private medical colleges. Out of the total, 65,193 MBBS seats are in government colleges, while 63,682 are in private and deemed universities. First Published: March 11, 2026, 07:33 IST News education-career 43 Medical Colleges Established For 2025-26; Over 20,000 MBBS And PG Seats Approved: Minister 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... Beyond Engineering And Math: How To Build A Career In AI As A Humanities Student? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 10:52 IST Previously, coding demanded extensive software and mathematical knowledge. Today, languages like Python are as simple to learn as new languages like English or French. Learn how arts students can ascend to tech leadership roles. (AI Generated Image) For decades, society established a clear divide: arts students entered civil service, literature, or teaching, while those interested in coding or data became engineers. However, the digital revolution of 2026 has eliminated this distinction. Data now reflects our emotions, communication, and societal interactions. Leading tech companies like Google, IBM, Apple, and Meta now seek individuals who understand both coding and its human context. These companies have dismantled traditional hiring barriers, placing micro-credentials" and portfolios" above four-year B.Tech degrees. This shift heralds a golden era for arts students. Can Arts Students Study AI? Yes, it is possible. History, psychology, sociology, and linguistics students use their critical thinking skills to decipher complex data sets. Discover how arts students can ascend to tech leadership roles. Previously, coding demanded extensive software and mathematical knowledge. Today, languages like Python are as simple to learn as new languages like English or French. Humanities students, with their strong language skills, can easily grasp coding syntax. Additionally, no-code" and low-code" tools enable complex data model creation without writing code. In data science, creating graphs isnt enough; explaining their meaning is crucial. Humanities students excel in this area: Data Storytelling: Arts students transform data into understandable stories for business leaders. Ethics and Bias: Sociology or philosophy students ensure algorithms remain fair and ethical. Skills-first hiring: Portfolios have become the new degrees. Organisations like Google and IBM offer professional certificate" programmes, three- to six-month courses that can turn any degree holder into an expert in data analytics or UX design. Emerging Careers For Arts Majors In Tech: Natural Language Processing (NLP): Literature or linguistics students train models like ChatGPT. AI Ethics Officer: Ensuring AI poses no threat to humanity. UX Researcher: Designing apps based on user behaviour psychology. Data Journalism: Creating news and reports using data. How To Pursue A career In AI With An Arts Background? Overcome fear: Data science relies more on logic than mathematics. Utilise free resources: Learn basic Python and Excel from platforms like Coursera, Google Career Certificates, and YouTube channels like Codebasics. Use domain knowledge: Psychology students could create projects on mental health data. Networking: Connect with individuals on LinkedIn who have transitioned from arts to tech. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Coding: Q. Can students from an arts background learn data science without having studied maths in school? A. Yes, absolutely. Data science relies more on statistics and logic than advanced calculus or trigonometry. Many online courses start from basic math concepts. Q. How will tech companies hire people without engineering degrees? A. Companies like Google and IBM use skills-based" hiring. A strong portfolio (such as projects on GitHub) and certifications from top institutions are valued over degrees. Many companies have removed degree requirements from job descriptions. Q. How difficult is it for arts students to learn coding? A. The notion that coding is difficult is a myth. Languages like Python are user-friendly, and learning them is akin to understanding the grammar of a new language. Humanities students, adept at language and patterns, quickly grasp coding logic. Q. What are the best free courses to switch to this field? A. Start with the Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate (on Coursera), the IBM Data Science Professional Certificate, and free courses from Harvard University (on edX). YouTube channels like Codebasics and Sentdex are also excellent resources. Q. What kind of salary packages do arts majors get in the tech world? A. A fresher data analyst with an arts background can earn a starting salary of Rs 5 lakh to Rs 8 lakh per annum. With increased experience and skills, this can rise to Rs 15 lakh to Rs 25 lakh as a data scientist, comparable to or higher than many experienced engineers. First Published: March 11, 2026, 10:54 IST News education-career Beyond Engineering And Math: How To Build A Career In AI As A Humanities Student? 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... Google Fellowship 2026: Students Can Work On Tech Policy, Earn $12,000 Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 14:31 IST Google has opened applications for its US Public Policy Fellowship 2026. Students can work with policy organisations in Washington DC and receive a stipend of up to $12,000. Google opens applications for the US Public Policy Fellowship 2026 with stipend up to $12,000. (File Photo) Google has opened applications for its US Public Policy Fellowship for Summer 2026. The programme offers students a paid opportunity to work with public interest organisations in Washington DC on internet and technology policy issues. The last date to apply is April 9, 2026, at 12 pm ET. The Google Public Policy Fellowship gives students interested in internet and technology policy a chance to spend the summer working on these issues with organisations based in Washington DC. Selected fellows will work closely with experts and contribute to discussions around technology policy and regulation. During the fellowship, participants will be assigned a lead mentor at a host organisation. They will also have the opportunity to work with senior staff members and gain exposure to policy work. Fellows may be involved in tasks such as conducting policy research and analysis, drafting reports and white papers, attending government and industry meetings and conferences, and participating in advocacy activities. Who Can Apply Students from any academic discipline can apply for the fellowship. However, applicants should show a strong interest in internet and technology policy and must have a good academic record along with strong research, analytical, communication and writing skills. To be eligible, candidates must be enrolled in or accepted into an accredited institution by August 30, 2026. This includes undergraduate, masters and PhD programmes at colleges and universities. Students can be enrolled either full time or part time. Applicants must also be at least 18 years old by January 1, 2026. Previous Google Policy Fellows are not eligible to apply. Stipend Host organisations will offer fellows a stipend of $12,000 USD, which is approximately Rs 10 lakh, for full time participation of 40 hours per week. For part time participation of 20 hours per week, fellows will receive $6,000 USD, which is around Rs 5 lakh. The stipend will be paid by the host organisation and is subject to satisfactory evaluation and completion of all required administrative and enrollment forms. Fellows will also be responsible for any applicable local, state or federal taxes related to the stipend. ALSO READ: IDBI Bank Recruitment 2026: Apply For 1100 Junior Assistant Manager Posts By March 19 International Students International students are eligible to apply for the fellowship. However, they must have the required authorisation to work in the country where the fellowship is offered. Google has stated that it cannot assist applicants in obtaining work authorisation documents, so international students must ensure they meet the eligibility requirements before applying. Programme Timeline The Summer 2026 fellowship will run from June to August 2026. Google recommends that fellows work in person in Washington DC, although the final decision on remote participation will be taken by the host organisations. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis by the host organisations. Google has advised candidates to apply early as some organisations may select fellows before the deadline. Applicants will not receive a confirmation email after submitting their application. Host organisations will directly contact shortlisted candidates. Candidates should be willing to work either full time for 40 hours per week or part time for 20 hours per week, depending on the requirements of the host organisation. Applicants can apply to a maximum of two host organisations through the application available at google.com/policyfellowship/usa. First Published: March 11, 2026, 14:28 IST News education-career Google Fellowship 2026: Students Can Work On Tech Policy, Earn $12,000 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... SC Orders Removal Of NCERT Curriculum Chair Over Controversial Social Science Textbook Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 14:25 IST A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant also ordered that Danino and his associates be excluded from any paid roles in publicly funded institutions. The entire book has been withdrawn and is no longer available, NCERT had stated earlier. (File Photo) On Wednesday, the Supreme Court directed the Centre, all State governments, and publicly funded institutions to remove Professor Michel Danino, the head of the NCERT social science curriculum, along with his two associates, from any involvement in designing school curriculums or finalising textbooks for the next generation. This action was taken due to the inclusion of a contentious sub-chapter titled Corruption in the Judiciary" in the Class 8 NCERT Social Science textbook. A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant also ordered that Danino and his associates be excluded from any paid roles in publicly funded institutions. However, the court did allow the three individuals the opportunity to request a modification of this order by providing their explanations, reported ANI. At the outset, we have no reason to doubt that Professor Michel Danino, along with Ms Diwakar and Mr Alok Prasanna Kumar, either does not have reasonable knowledge about the Indian judiciary or they deliberately and knowingly misrepresented the facts in order to project a negative image of the Indian judiciary before students of Class 8 who are at an impressionable age. There is no reason as to why such persons be associated in any manner with the preparation of the curriculum or finalisation of textbooks for the next generation. We direct Union, all States and all institutions receiving State funds to disassociate them from rendering any service which would mean payment to them from public funds," the court noted. ALSO READ | We Believe In Catching Bull By Its Horns: SC Orders Centre To Constitute Expert Panel Amid NCERT Row The Bench also criticised NCERTs affidavit that claimed Chapter 4 had been rewritten, directing that even if revised, it cannot be included in the curriculum without approval from a government-constituted expert committee. We find it slightly disappointing that not a single eminent jurist is included in the committee," the Bench remarked. It directed that any rewritten version of Chapter 4 of the textbook must be approved by a committee of domain experts, including one former senior judge, one eminent academician, and one renowned practitioner, before publication. The Bench reiterated that its interim directions were not meant to stifle legitimate or objective criticism of the judiciary. We hasten to reiterate paragraph 9 of our order dated February 26 to show that the interim directions issued are not intended to prevent any healthy, objective and legitimate criticism of the functioning of the judiciary. If the judiciary is suffering from any deficiencies like any other institution, it will be a welcome step not only for the future generation of the nation, it will open doors for the present generation to take necessary remedial steps", the Court noted. The Centre was directed to form the expert panel within one week. During the hearing, Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta informed the Bench that the Director of NCERT had issued an unconditional apology through an affidavit. An unconditional apology has been tendered in the affidavit submitted by the Director of NCERT. A one-line unconditional apology has been published. The Central Government has already directed NCERT to review textbooks of all standards in this context," Mehta submitted. While accepting the apology, the court expressed concern over the NCERT curriculum approval process. Instead of leaving it to the NCERT, we would have appreciated that the Central government Not after tendering this apology, this affidavit is eye-opening. That NCERT curriculum is approved without any scrutiny," the Bench observed. Responding to the courts concerns, Mehta assured that the government knows how to handle the situation. We know how to deal with such persons. They must also understand how to respond to the current CJI. They have realised their mistake and issued an unconditional apology," the Court remarked. Previously, on February 26, the Court had issued show-cause notices to the Secretary of the Department of Education and Literacy (Ministry of Education) and NCERT Director Dr Dinesh Prashad Saklani, demanding an explanation for the inclusion of the sub-chapter in the Class 8 book. The Court had refused to halt its proceedings despite NCERTs apology, imposing a ban on the Class 8 textbook and warning against any attempts to bypass this order, which would be treated as contempt of court. The Court had also directed NCERT to submit details of the Teaching-Learning Materials Committee that approved the contentious chapter, including the names, qualifications, and credentials of all members involved. Today, the Court acknowledged NCERTs compliance with its earlier directions and accepted its apology. It ordered the formation of a new committee and the removal of the panel responsible for including the controversial chapter in the Class 8 book, which triggered the suo moto proceedings. First Published: March 11, 2026, 14:25 IST News education-career SC Orders Removal Of NCERT Curriculum Chair Over Controversial Social Science Textbook 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... Bangladesh To Nepal: How Indias Fuels Power South Asian Neighbours Economy Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 17:09 IST Neighbourhood First Policy Explained: By providing petroleum products, India helps South Asian neighbours such as Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan manage energy security Rapid Read Neighbourhood First is a core component of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign policy. (PTI File) With its fuel reserves depleted and to prevent shortages amid the US-Israel-Iran war, Bangladesh has formally requested an additional 50,000 metric tonnes of diesel from India over the next four months. An immediate 5,000 tonnes arrived in Bangladesh on March 10. This is just one the several examples of how, over the years, India has emerged as the central pillar of energy security for its immediate neighbours, with the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and other entities supplying essential petroleum products petrol, diesel, and ATF to Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. This Neighbourhood First policy approach has transformed India into a vital energy hub, sustaining transportation, power generation, and agriculture in these nations during global supply disruptions. Indias role as a regional energy hub is a cornerstone for the economies of South Asian neighbors like Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. By providing a stable, reliable supply of refined petroleum products often through dedicated cross-border pipelines India helps these nations manage energy security, reduce transportation costs, and maintain essential services like agriculture and transport. India is not just a supplier but a stabiliser, providing fuel during global crises. PM Narendra Modis Neighbourhood First Policy The Neighbourhood First Policy (NFP) is a core component of Prime Minister Narendra Modis foreign policy, formally launched in 2014. It prioritises strengthening relationships with Indias immediate neighbours to foster regional stability, connectivity, and economic integration. The policy is guided by the 5S framework: Samman (Respect): Treating neighbours as equals. Samvad (Dialogue): Continuous diplomatic engagement. Shanti (Peace): Ensuring regional security. Samriddhi (Prosperity): Mutually beneficial economic growth. Sanskriti (Culture): Leveraging shared historical and cultural ties. Key Focus Areas One of the key focus areas is promoting physical, digital, and energy links. Examples include the BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal) Motor Vehicle Agreement and the IndiaMyanmarThailand Trilateral Highway. Another is enhancing trade through Lines of Credit (LoC), which reached approximately $14.7 billion by 2020 for regional projects. It also looks to position India as a first responder" in crises, such as the 2015 Nepal earthquake and the Vaccine Maitri initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic. The policy aims to strengthen ties with island nations like Maldives and Sri Lanka through the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision. In July 2024, India gained rail transit and seaport rights at Mongla in Bangladesh, significantly reducing transport costs for Northeast India. A Tripartite Power Trade agreement allowed Nepal to export 40 MW of electricity to Bangladesh via Indian territory. Bangladesh: The Friendship Pipeline Energy cooperation has become a hallmark of the India-Bangladesh relationship, focused on diversifying fuel sources beyond natural gas, according to the Press Information Bureau (PIB). The India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline (IBFP), inaugurated in 2023, transports High-Speed Diesel (HSD) from West Bengal to northern Bangladesh. The pipeline, from Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) in Assam to the Parbatipur depot in Bangladesh, provides a cost-effective diesel supply crucial for the Boro irrigation season, supporting national food security. Replacing a 512-kilometer rail route with a 131.5 km pipeline has lowered transportation costs and reduced carbon emissions. Bangladesh imports approximately 180,000 tonnes of diesel annually from Numaligarh Refinery. Sri Lanka: Strategic Reserves and Crisis Support Indias energy role in Sri Lanka is both commercial and strategic, particularly highlighted during economic crises. India has historically stepped in with credit lines and urgent fuel shipments to prevent total economic paralysis in Sri Lanka during fuel shortages. India and Sri Lanka are jointly developing the Trincomalee oil tank farm, which acts as a strategic reserve to enhance Sri Lankas energy security. The Lanka IOC (a subsidiary of Indian Oil) is a major player in Sri Lankas retail fuel market, ensuring consistent availability across the island. During its severe economic crisis in 2022, India provided over US$3 billion in emergency aid, including critical fuel consignments. A $500 million credit line, later expanded by another $200 million, was signed with the Indian Oil Corporation to ensure consistent supply of petroleum products. India in December announced a USD 450 million reconstruction and assistance package for Sri Lanka to help the island nation recover from the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar saying that India stands firmly with Sri Lanka more than ever before." Nepal: Total Dependency and Seamless Connectivity Nepal relies almost entirely on India for its petroleum needs, managed through a decades-long partnership between the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC). India meets 100% of Nepals oil needs, including petrol, diesel, and aviation turbine fuel. The Motihari-Amlekhgunj pipeline, South Asias first transnational petroleum pipeline, significantly reduced the cost of fuel by bypassing long, expensive truck routes. New projects are underway to extend pipelines to Chitwan and build a new line from Siliguri to Jhapa to ensure even more reliable supply, especially during natural disasters. Fuel makes up roughly 28% of Indias exports to Nepal, powering a transport sector that is almost exclusively road-based. Bhutan and Beyond Like Nepal, Bhutan is entirely dependent on India for its fuel needs, which are met through seamless supply chains across the border. These petroleum links are part of a broader Neighborhood First policy that includes cross-border electricity trade, creating an integrated South Asian energy grid. With agency inputs First Published: March 11, 2026, 13:01 IST News explainers Bangladesh To Nepal: How Indias Fuels Power South Asian Neighbours Economy 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... Blame The Intern? How White House's Deleted Strait Of Hormuz Post Sent Oil Markets Into A Frenzy Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 10:12 IST Chaos began when a social media post from the US energy secretary triggered confusion across global energy markets after claiming the Navy had escorted an oil tanker through Hormuz Rapid Read Roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz---a narrow channel connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the wider Indian Ocean. (Getty) The White House has done it again. Barely a month after it blamed a staffer for mistakenly" sharing a video depicting former president Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes, it has once again blamed an intern for its latest gaffe on the Strait of Hormuz. The chaos began when a short-lived social media post from US energy secretary Chris Wright triggered confusion across global energy markets this week after claiming the United States Navy had escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz. The statement was quickly deleted and later contradicted by the White House, but not before it rippled through financial markets and sparked a propaganda exchange with Iranian officials. The now-deleted message suggested the operation ensured oil remains flowing to global markets". However, within hours, the White House clarified that no escort had actually taken place, and the claim was inaccurate, the Wall Street Journal reported. ALSO READ | Explained: Why Oil Prices Spiked Above $115 And Then Crashed In Just 24 Hours Officials later said the post was the result of an incorrectly captioned message by an intern, and it was removed soon after publication. JUST IN: The White House just blamed an intern for the worst information warfare defeat of the 21st century.Here is the sequence. Energy Secretary Chris Wright posted on social media that a US Navy-escorted oil tanker had successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz. The claim https://t.co/1jt2KcLhEe pic.twitter.com/wtDdq2FZJu Shanaka Anslem Perera (@shanaka86) March 11, 2026 The correction assumed significance as it came at a sensitive moment: the United States and Israel are engaged in a military confrontation with Iran, and shipping through the Strait has been severely disrupted. The narrow waterway normally carries around 20 per cent of global oil supplies, making even small changes in its status extremely important for markets. IRANS MOCKERY While America may have thought it was quick to delete the tweet, social media, unfortunately for them, always has evidence. Irans Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf was quick to jump on the bandwagon and in a post on X, he mocked the US claim, writing: An oil tanker crossed Strait of Hormuz escorted by US Navy ships? Maybe on PlayStation!" Iranian authorities used the incident to argue that Washington was spreading misleading information about the situation in the Strait. Iranian officials and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also publicly denied that any US naval escort had occurred. The episode quickly became a propaganda moment, with Iranian officials highlighting the deleted post to question America and US President Donald Trumps credibility during the conflict. WHY IS THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ SO CRUCIAL? According to Reuters, roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuza narrow channel connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the wider Indian Ocean. Before the US-Israel-Iran war, about 138 ships transited daily. However, attacks on tankers and threats of mines have drastically reduced traffic. ALSO READ | Dining Out May Get Costlier As LPG Shortage Forces Restaurants To Consider 2030% Price Hike Security risks are high enough that the US Navy has reportedly told shipping companies that regular escorts are currently too dangerous, even though they remain a possible option. HOW DID ONE POST MOVE OIL MARKETS? The mistaken claim briefly suggested that the crisis might be easing and oil traders reacted almost instantly. There was short-lived relief as traders believed supply disruptions may be ending and the worst-case energy shock might be avoided. As per Wall Street Journal, oil prices fell sharply after the escort claim, signalling potential de-escalation. At one point, benchmark US crude futures fell by as much as 15-19 per cent intraday. Modern commodity markets are heavily driven by algorithmic trading systems that scan news headlines and social media. According to reports, these systems are designed to react to keywords like Hormuz", tanker escort", and shipping resumes". So, when the message appeared from a cabinet-level official, automated systems and human traders both interpreted it as credible confirmation that supply risks were falling. The result was a rapid wave of selling in oil futures, pushing prices down. However, prices soon rebounded after officials clarified the claim was false. The swings contributed to one of the most volatile trading periods in years for energy markets. The broader conflict had already pushed crude prices close to $120 per barrel earlier in the week, reflecting fears that oil exports from the Gulf could be disrupted. Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: March 11, 2026, 10:02 IST News explainers Blame The Intern? How White House's Deleted Strait Of Hormuz Post Sent Oil Markets Into A Frenzy 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 photo taken on March 3, 2026 shows the fossil of the Megamastax amblyodus at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), in Beijing, capital of China. Fossils of two fish from over 400 million years ago -- one a tiny streamlined creature, the other a giant among vertebrates of its time with bizarre teeth -- have been discovered in China, filling a critical gap in the evolutionary journey "from fish to human." (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) BEIJING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Fossils of two fish from over 400 million years ago -- one a tiny streamlined creature, the other a giant among vertebrates of its time with bizarre teeth -- have been discovered in China, filling a critical gap in the evolutionary journey "from fish to human." A research team from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has achieved these two key discoveries after more than a decade of fieldwork and laboratory research. They found the world's earliest known complete bony fish fossil, named Eosteus chongqingensis, in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. They also comprehensively analyzed the complete head structure and tooth morphology of Megamastax amblyodus, the largest known vertebrate of the Silurian Period, found in Qujing in southwest China's Yunnan Province. These findings make China a "cradle" of early vertebrate evolution. Two studies on the origin of bony fishes were published in the journal Nature on Thursday. According to Zhu Min, an academician of CAS from the IVPP, bony fishes form the main trunk of the vertebrate tree of life. Their two surviving lineages, ray-finned fishes and lobe-finned fishes, have conquered a wide range of niches in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, respectively. Ray-finned fishes evolved into over 30,000 species, including the vast majority of fishes we see today. One lineage of lobe-finned fishes eventually ventured onto land during the Devonian Period, evolving into all tetrapods and humans. However, the origin of bony fishes has long been shrouded in mystery, since most bony fish fossils found previously were already specialized ray-finned or lobe-finned fishes from the Devonian Period. The information on the primitive bony fishes, or the bony fish stem group, which existed before the divergence of these two major lineages, was missing, leaving scientists unable to determine the morphology of the most recent common ancestor of ray-finned and lobe-finned fishes, Zhu said. According to Zhu You'an, a researcher with IVPP, Eosteus chongqingensis, which lived 436 million years ago, measured only about 3 cm in total length, but was preserved with its head and tail intact. This tiny, ancient fish exhibits both primitive and advanced features. The discovery of Eosteus chongqingensis proves that the core suite of bony fish characteristics emerged 10 million years earlier than previously thought. Lu Jing, another researcher of the team, said that Megamastax amblyodus, discovered in strata dating back approximately 423 million years, exceeded one meter in length, making it the largest vertebrate of the Silurian Period. After nearly a decade of effort, the team used advanced imaging technology and computer-based 3D reconstruction to reveal its complete three-dimensional head structure and the deeply hidden internal features. The scientists found that Megamastax amblyodus had teeth arranged in two rows, inner and outer, with each tooth "cushion" in the inner row bearing many sharp "spines." Phylogenetic analysis places both these ancient fishes within the bony fish stem group, representing primitive types that existed before the divergence of ray-finned and lobe-finned fishes, Zhu said. These discoveries illuminate the morphology of the most recent common ancestor of ray-finned fishes, including most modern fish species, and lobe-finned fishes, including all tetrapods and humans, and enrich the understanding of the early radiation of jawed vertebrates, and clarify the evolutionary trajectory of jaws and teeth in early bony fishes, Zhu said. "These two discovered fish fossils represent a crucial point in the evolutionary path from fish to human. They show that bony fishes had already diversified by that period, laying a solid foundation for fish to eventually venture onto land and evolve into prosperous types of vertebrates on Earth, and the ultimate journey from fish to human," Zhu said. This photo taken on March 3, 2026 shows the fossil of Eosteus chongqingensis at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), in Beijing, capital of China. Fossils of two fish from over 400 million years ago -- one a tiny streamlined creature, the other a giant among vertebrates of its time with bizarre teeth -- have been discovered in China, filling a critical gap in the evolutionary journey "from fish to human." (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) Academician Zhu Min (C), together with Researchers Lu Jing (R) and Zhu You'an, poses for a photo at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), in Beijing, capital of China, March 3, 2026. Fossils of two fish from over 400 million years ago -- one a tiny streamlined creature, the other a giant among vertebrates of its time with bizarre teeth -- have been discovered in China, filling a critical gap in the evolutionary journey "from fish to human." (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) Zhu You'an, a researcher with Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), studies the fossil of Eosteus chongqingensis at the IVPP, in Beijing, capital of China, March 3, 2026. Fossils of two fish from over 400 million years ago -- one a tiny streamlined creature, the other a giant among vertebrates of its time with bizarre teeth -- have been discovered in China, filling a critical gap in the evolutionary journey "from fish to human." (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) A foreign student views the models of restored ancient fish at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), in Beijing, capital of China, March 3, 2026. Fossils of two fish from over 400 million years ago -- one a tiny streamlined creature, the other a giant among vertebrates of its time with bizarre teeth -- have been discovered in China, filling a critical gap in the evolutionary journey "from fish to human." (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) A staff member places models of restored Eosteus chongqingensis (L) and Megamastax amblyodus at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), in Beijing, capital of China, March 3, 2026. Fossils of two fish from over 400 million years ago -- one a tiny streamlined creature, the other a giant among vertebrates of its time with bizarre teeth -- have been discovered in China, filling a critical gap in the evolutionary journey "from fish to human." (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) Zhu Min, an academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) of the CAS, speaks during a press conference at the IVPP, in Beijing, capital of China, March 3, 2026. Fossils of two fish from over 400 million years ago -- one a tiny streamlined creature, the other a giant among vertebrates of its time with bizarre teeth -- have been discovered in China, filling a critical gap in the evolutionary journey "from fish to human." (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) Editor: Xiong Jian Explained: What Is Irans Fourth Successor And Why It Matters In A Long War With US And Israel Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 12:19 IST The strategy is a layered succession system designed to ensure that the countrys political and military command structures survive even if top leaders are eliminated Rapid Read Rather than attempting to win a quick war, Tehrans strategy focuses on surviving the initial assault and stretching the conflict over time. (IMAGE: AFP) As the war between Iran, the United States and Israel intensifies, Tehran is preparing for what it believes could be a long and grinding war rather than a short military campaign. The recent US-Israeli strikes that targeted Irans leadership have reinforced this thinking, particularly after the killing of several senior Iranian figures, including the countrys supreme leader. Within this context, Irans Fourth Successor" strategy is making headlines. The strategy is a layered succession system designed to ensure that the countrys political and military command structures survive even if top leaders are eliminated in targeted attacks. The idea reflects Irans broader war doctrine: if leadership and command survive, the war can continue indefinitely. The strikes that triggered Irans contingency planning The current conflict escalated dramatically on February 28, 2026, when the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iranian military and leadership targets. The attacks killed several senior figures in Irans political and security establishment. Among the most significant casualties was Ali Khamenei, Irans long-time supreme leader, who was killed in an airstrike on his compound in Tehran. Other senior figures reportedly killed in the strikes included, Mohammad Pakpour, a senior commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Aziz Nasirzadeh, and Ali Shamkhani, a key adviser to Khamenei. Several high-ranking military commanders and intelligence officials. Israeli officials said dozens of senior security figures were targeted in near-simultaneous strikes aimed at crippling Irans leadership structure. Following Khameneis death, Irans clerical body moved quickly to appoint his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as the new supreme leader in order to stabilise the countrys leadership during wartime. reports have now emerged that Mojtaba has been wounded in the ongoing strikes. However, the extent of his injuries is not known. The killings demonstrated exactly the type of decapitation strikes" that Iranian strategists have long feared. What is Irans Fourth Successor? The Fourth Successor" is not a specific individual. Instead, it refers to a multi-layered succession system within Irans military and political command. Under this system, every key leadership position particularly in the military, security services and political leadership has multiple designated replacements. Typically the hierarchy includes: A first successor A second successor A third successor A fourth successor If a leader is killed or incapacitated, authority immediately passes to the next person in line. If that successor is also eliminated, another replacement takes over. In other words, the command chain is designed so that even four successive losses will not paralyse decision-making. This structure ensures that the state continues to function even if multiple layers of leadership are removed in rapid succession. Part of Irans mosaic defence doctrine The Fourth Successor" system is closely tied to Irans broader military doctrine known as Mosaic Defence, developed primarily by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the mid-2000s. Mosaic defence is built around decentralising Irans military structure so that the country functions as a network of semi-independent regional commands rather than a single centralised force. Under this doctrine, military units across different provinces are capable of operating autonomously if communications with central leadership are disrupted or if command centres in Tehran are destroyed. The Fourth Successor" concept acts as the leadership continuity mechanism within this decentralised framework. While mosaic defence ensures that military units can operate independently, the layered succession system guarantees that leadership authority still exists even if multiple commanders are killed. Together, the two ideas create a system designed to withstand leadership losses and maintain operational continuity during wartime. Designed to defeat decapitation strikes Iran developed this system after observing how modern wars increasingly rely on targeted killings of leadership. The United States and Israel have often used such tactics in conflicts across the Middle East, aiming to weaken adversaries by eliminating top commanders and decision-makers. The strikes that killed Khamenei and other senior leaders demonstrate how devastating such attacks can be. But Irans military planners believe that a decentralised command system with multiple successors can neutralise this strategy. If a senior commander or political leader is killed, the next successor can immediately assume control without waiting for a new appointment. This rapid continuity is intended to prevent confusion, internal power struggles or operational paralysis during wartime. Part of Irans long war strategy The Fourth Successor system is only one component of Irans broader war doctrine. Irans leadership assumes that in a direct confrontation with the United States or Israel it would face overwhelming conventional military power. Rather than attempting to win a quick war, Tehrans strategy focuses on surviving the initial assault and stretching the conflict over time. This doctrine includes several key elements: Decentralised military command: Local commanders and regional units are expected to operate independently if central command is disrupted. Missile and drone warfare: Iran relies heavily on long-range missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles to strike adversaries even if its conventional forces are weakened. Guerrilla and asymmetric warfare: If major military infrastructure is destroyed, Iran could shift toward irregular warfare tactics. Regional allies: Groups aligned with Iran across West Asia widen the battlefield and complicate the strategic calculations of its adversaries. The Fourth Successor system strengthens this strategy by ensuring that leadership continuity survives even under sustained bombardment. By building multiple layers of successors into its command structure, Iran hopes to ensure that no single strike not even one that kills its top leaders can end the war or collapse the state. First Published: March 11, 2026, 12:19 IST News explainers Explained: What Is Irans Fourth Successor And Why It Matters In A Long War With US And Israel 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... Harish Rana Gets SC Nod For Passive Euthanasia: What Is Living Will? Where Can You Get It Made? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 14:18 IST Harish Rana Gets SC Nod For Passive Euthanasia: Living Will stipulates your medical wishes if you can't communicate. Mumbai even has a Living Will clinic. News18 explains A living will is a legal document that lets a person state his/her wishes about medical treatment in case they become unable to communicate or make decisions due to illness or incapacity such as being in a coma or suffering from advanced dementia. (AI generated) As the Supreme Court on Wednesday granted Harish Rana, 32, who has been comatose for 12 years, the permission for passive euthanasia, one question that has emerged is can a person make a living will for these decisions? Do you know Mumbai has Indias first clinic dedicated towards it? News18 explains all you need to know about living wills. LEGAL BASIS FOR LIVING WILLS Ghaziabads Harish Rana, 32, suffered head injuries after falling from the fourth floor of a building in 2013 and has been in a coma for over a decade. A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and K V Viswanathan directed AIIMS to grant admission in palliative care to Rana so that the medical treatment can be withdrawn. It must be ensured that it is withdrawn with a tailored plan so that dignity is maintained, the bench said. In the Aruna Shanbaug case, the Supreme Court in 2011 first recognised the legality of passive euthanasia in rare circumstances. Although the court rejected the specific plea for Aruna Shanbaug, a nurse in a persistent vegetative state (PVS) for 37 years, because her caregivers opposed it, it established the broad principle that life support could be withdrawn under judicial supervision. ALSO READ | SC Allows Passive Euthanasia For 32-Year-Old: How Aruna Shanbaug Case Paved The Way In 2018, A five-judge bench formally legalised passive euthanasia, declaring the Right to Die with Dignity" a fundamental right under Article 21 (Right to Life). This ruling introduced Living Wills or Advance Medical Directives), allowing individuals to document their end-of-life wishes in advance. WHAT IS A LIVING WILL? A living will is a legal document that lets a person state his/her wishes about medical treatment in case they become unable to communicate or make decisions due to illness or incapacity such as being in a coma or suffering from advanced dementia. It allows you to outline what kind of life-sustaining treatments you want or dont want, such as: Mechanical ventilation Feeding tubes CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) Dialysis Palliative care or pain relief only WHEN IS A LIVING WILL USED? A living will only takes effect if you are: Unable to make decisions Terminally ill or permanently unconscious, depending on the laws in your country/state. WHAT THE LAW SAYS According to a 2018 Supreme Court order, one can nominate at least two persons a family member, a trusted friend or colleague to take healthcare decisions on their behalf. These nominees, above 18 years of age, will be consulted about health decisions when the living will gets implemented. They should understand the patients wishes and preferences, and preferably should be geographically close to be able to reach the hospital soon in case of an emergency, Dr Smriti Khanna, P D Hinduja Hospital and Medical Research Centre Consultant, Palliative Medicine, told PTI INDIA HAS A SPECIAL LIVING WILL CLINIC TOO A Mumbai-based private hospital in July 2025 launched a Living Will Clinic to help individuals make informed decisions about their future medical care in case of serious or unforeseen health circumstances. ALSO READ | Mumbai Gets Indias First Living Will Clinic: Can You Deny CPR, Ventilator Or Feeding Tubes? The P D Hinduja Hospital & Medical Research Centre (MRC) in Mahim said it was a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country. The hospital said the clinic will help patients prepare legal documents to outline their preferences, ensuring they retain control over future healthcare decisions. WHAT DOES THE CLINIC DO? The Living Will Clinic at P. D. Hinduja Hospital has a dedicated team of consultants who spend time with you and your family (if you desire) and explain in detail, the significance as well as the entire process. According to the website, it provides comprehensive guidance and counselling on various aspects of Living Will including: The criteria for activating the Living Will. Medical Power of Attorney: Who will make your healthcare choices if you are unable to make them. Preferences and options. The paperwork needed in creating a Living Will or advance directive It facilitates conversations with your loved ones. WHO CAN MAKE A LIVING WILL? AT WHAT AGE? CAN CHANGES BE MADE? A living will can be made by anyone above the age of 18 years who wishes to receive medical treatment according to their preferences at a time when they are unable to make these decisions for themselves. It can be made by healthy individuals as well as individuals with chronic illness or a life-threatening disease," Dr Smriti Khanna, P D Hinduja Hospital and Medical Research Centre Consultant, Palliative Medicine, told PTI. However, she clarified that the document can be changed or even cancelled any time before it is implemented. You have to go through the same process of making the living will again (if cancelled) as you did previously. Each time you make a new living will, you must inform your medical team, family, (person holding) medical powers of attorney and also send a copy to the local authority (municipal corporation or panchayat as the case may be)," she maintained. Our healthcare system currently lacks preparedness for situations where patients are unable to communicate for themselves. In such cases, families are forced to make difficult decisions without knowing what their loved one would have wanted. The Living Will Clinic helps individuals in taking charge of their decisions in advance by explaining their options, documenting their wishes, and designating someone they trust to take the right decision on their behalf," Hospital and MRC Section Head, Neurology, Dr Roop Gursahani, said. With PTI Inputs First Published: March 11, 2026, 14:04 IST News explainers Harish Rana Gets SC Nod For Passive Euthanasia: What Is Living Will? Where Can You Get It Made? 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... How Dangerous Is Irans Acid Rain? What It Reveals About The Environmental Cost Of Modern Warfare Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 12, 2026, 11:15 IST While the Iran and Ukraine conflicts are analysed through military and geopolitical lenses, scientists warn that the destruction could contaminate air, soil and water for years Rapid Read When these sites are hit, the resulting fires can burn for hours or even days. Large oil fires, in particular, produce thick smoke plumes containing soot particles, sulphur compounds, and nitrogen oxides. (AFP Photo) Reports and images emerging from Iran suggest that acid rain or so-called black rain" may have fallen over Tehran after US-Israeli strikes targeted oil refineries, igniting major fires in the capital and nearby Alborz province. The development raises a troubling question Can war actually change the chemistry of rainfall? The burning of large fuel depots, refineries and industrial sites released vast amounts of smoke, soot and chemical pollutants into the atmosphere. Scientists say such emissions can mix with moisture in clouds and eventually return to the ground as contaminated rainfall. While conflicts are often analysed through military and geopolitical lenses, scientists warn that the destruction of industrial infrastructure could alter air chemistry, contaminate soil and water, and affect ecosystems long after the fighting ends. What Is Being Reported From Iran? Online posts have warned of so-called acid clouds" allegedly forming over Iran after attacks on oil depots and other energy infrastructure. Some of these posts claimed the pollution could be carried by atmospheric currents towards Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and China. Others cited reports of black rain" in Tehran and elevated concentrations of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and soot. Iranian authorities and international reporting have documented severe local air pollution risks in and around Tehran after the strikes. The Iranian Red Crescent Society warned residents that rainfall following the explosions could be acidic and hazardous to health. Although comprehensive scientific data has yet to confirm the exact cause, environmental experts note that major fires involving oil and petrochemical infrastructure can release enormous quantities of smoke, soot and chemical gases. When these pollutants rise into the atmosphere, they may interact with moisture in clouds and eventually return to the ground as rain containing acidic or contaminated particles. Such events are rare but not unprecedented in the history of modern warfare. What Exactly Is Acid Rain Or Black Rain? To understand how war might affect rainfall, it is important to understand the science behind acid rain and related phenomena. Acid rain occurs when certain gases released into the atmosphere react with water vapour and oxygen to form acidic compounds. The most important of these gases are sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. These chemicals are commonly produced when fossil fuels such as oil, coal, or diesel are burned. When these gases combine with moisture in clouds, they form sulphuric and nitric acids. These acids can then fall to the ground with rainfall, snow or fog. In some extreme situations, rain may also contain soot, ash, or hydrocarbons from large fires. These particles can darken the colour of rainfall, giving it the appearance sometimes described as black rain". While such rain does not always appear visibly dark, it may still contain elevated levels of pollutants. Why Bombing Can Trigger Such Rainfall Modern airstrikes often target infrastructure that stores or processes large quantities of fuel. Oil depots, refineries, power plants, and chemical facilities are frequent strategic targets because they support military logistics and industrial capacity. When these sites are hit, the resulting fires can burn for hours or even days. Large oil fires, in particular, produce thick smoke plumes containing soot particles, sulphur compounds, and nitrogen oxides. As the smoke rises, wind currents can carry these pollutants over long distances. Some particles remain suspended in the atmosphere, while others eventually mix with clouds. Once precipitation occurs, these contaminants may fall back to the ground as polluted rainfall. The scale of such contamination depends on several factors, including the size of the fire, weather conditions and the type of materials burned. Is Contaminated Rain Dangerous? The health risks of such rainfall depend largely on the concentration of pollutants involved. If you get raindrops on your skin, yes, there will be some potentially carcinogenic compounds on your skin, but you can wash that off," says Anna Hansell at the University of Leicester in the UK, as quoted in a report by New Scientist. If they get into your nose and mouth, they might persist for longer, but very fine smoke particles in the air can penetrate deep into the lungs and potentially get into the bloodstream." However, in mild cases, slightly acidic rain may not cause immediate health problems. Environmental consequences can also be significant. Acidic rainfall can gradually change soil chemistry, reducing the fertility of agricultural land and affecting plant growth. It may also contaminate rivers, lakes, and groundwater. Aquatic ecosystems are particularly vulnerable because fish and other organisms can be sensitive to changes in water acidity. In agricultural regions, crops may also be affected if pollutants settle on leaves or soil over prolonged periods. How Previous Wars Have Caused Damage The environmental effects of war have been documented in several major conflicts over the past century. One of the most dramatic examples occurred during the 1991 Gulf War. As Iraqi forces retreated from Kuwait, they set fire to hundreds of oil wells. The resulting fires burned for months, releasing enormous clouds of smoke that darkened skies across the region. Scientists later detected soot and pollutants in the atmosphere, raising concerns about acid rain and long-term ecological damage. Earlier conflicts also produced severe environmental consequences. During the Vietnam War (1954-1975), extensive bombing and chemical spraying caused widespread deforestation and long-lasting ecosystem damage. More recently, the war in Ukraine has highlighted similar concerns. Airstrikes on industrial plants and energy facilities have raised fears of chemical leaks, toxic smoke, and contamination of water systems. What Are The Hidden Environmental Costs Of Modern War? Modern militaries are already among the largest institutional consumers of fossil fuels in the world. Large-scale troop movements, aircraft operations, and naval deployments all carry significant carbon footprints. But the environmental damage caused by warfare often goes far beyond emissions. First, air quality deteriorates dramatically. Explosions and fires produce fine particulate matter (PM2.5), sulphur compounds, nitrogen oxides, heavy metals and toxic organic chemicals. These particles can travel long distances and are small enough to enter the bloodstream, posing serious respiratory and cardiovascular risks," said Aparna Roy, Fellow and Lead Climate Change and Energy at the Centre for New Economic Diplomacy (CNED). Roy further said these pollutants eventually settle on land and water, creating secondary contamination pathways." Acid deposition and toxic fallout can alter soil chemistry, reducing fertility and damaging vegetation. In aquatic ecosystems, acidification can disrupt the balance of nutrients and metals in rivers and lakes, harming fish populations and freshwater biodiversity. Long-term acid deposition has historically caused fish die-offs and forest decline in parts of Europe and North America, she explained. Third, infrastructure destruction can release persistent contaminants such as oil residues, heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These substances accumulate in soil and groundwater and may remain in ecosystems for decades, creating long-term environmental and health risks. In essence, war can transform environmental damage from an immediate crisis into a long-lasting ecological legacy. What Are The Indicators Environmental Scientists Look At? In the aftermath of major industrial fires or bombing campaigns, environmental scientists typically begin monitoring several indicators. After a conflict, environmental scientists typically conduct a multi-layered assessment to understand the scale of ecological damage and recovery. One of the first indicators examined is atmospheric chemistry, including concentrations of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and ozone. Satellite data and air monitoring stations help track pollution plumes and determine whether rainfall chemistry has changed," stressed Roy. She said another critical indicator is the pH and chemical composition of precipitation and surface waters. Scientists measure levels of sulfate, nitrate, and heavy metals in rainwater, rivers, and groundwater to determine whether acid deposition or toxic contamination has occurred," she added. Besides monitoring soil chemistry and ecosystem health, scientists assess bioaccumulation in plants, wildlife and human populations. Pollutants released during conflict, particularly heavy metals and hydrocarbons, can move through food chains and persist in ecosystems long after the initial pollution event, she said. Together, these indicators help determine whether environmental damage is temporary or whether it represents a deeper ecological disruption requiring long-term remediation," Roy added. If reports of unusual rainfall in Iran are confirmed through scientific analysis, it could become another example of how modern warfare reshapes the environment in ways that are often overlooked. First Published: March 11, 2026, 14:30 IST News explainers How Dangerous Is Irans Acid Rain? What It Reveals About The Environmental Cost Of Modern Warfare 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... Irans Shadow Fleet Of Oil Tankers In Strait Of Hormuz Generates $25-30 Billion A Year: Heres How Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 17:10 IST Explainer: Iran maintains control over a shadow fleet of approximately 400 to 430 tankers in Strait of Hormuz to bypass international sanctions and sustain its oil exports Rapid Read US military destroys at least 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels near Strait of Hormuz. (Image: X/@CENTCOM) Amid the US-Israel-Iran war, Strait of Hormuz has become a key flashpoint. While Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has declared the critical oil chokepoint shut", News18 reported how China has quietly emerged as one of the biggest beneficiaries of the crisis by securing discounted Iranian oil, gathering valuable military data, and expanding its strategic reach in the region. A key pillar of this trade, the News18 report said, is a covert maritime network known as the shadow fleet. Intelligence assessments indicate that nearly 400 vessels are involved in transporting sanctioned Iranian crude across global waters. China is the dominant end-buyer in this network, with most shipments ultimately heading to its independent teapot" refineries. What is the shadow fleet? News18 explains Iran maintains control over a shadow fleet" of approximately 400 to 430 tankers to bypass international sanctions and sustain its oil exports. This network, primarily overseen by the IRGC, generates an estimated $25$30 billion annually, which is used to fund military operations and regional proxies. METHODS OF OPERATIONAL CONTROL Iran exerts control through a sophisticated parallel system" that avoids mainstream maritime compliance: The fleet utilizes a vast web of shell and front companies registered in jurisdictions with limited oversight, such as Hong Kong, the UAE, Panama, and the Marshall Islands, according to reports. ALSO READ | Irans IRGC Is Working As Chinese Tool In Strait Of Hormuz? Exclusive From Intel Note Vessels frequently change their country of registration (their flag") to hide true ownership. Currently, roughly 62% of identified shadow vessels are falsely flagged, News18 report said. Tankers routinely disable their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders or use spoofing" techniques to broadcast fake locations, making them invisible to standard global tracking, it added. THE TACTICS Ship-to-Ship (STS) Transfers: Oil is transferred between tankers in international watersoften near Malaysia, Oman, or the Gulf of Omanto hide the cargos Iranian origin. The crude is typically loaded near Irans Kharg Island, then transferred through ship-to-ship operations in remote waters off Oman, Malaysia or the Gulf of Oman. From there, the cargo is relabelled as oil from other origins before entering international markets. Blending and Relabeling: Iranian crude is often mixed with oil from other countries and shipped with fraudulent documentation that lists incorrect origins. Many vessels constantly change names and flags, often registering in jurisdictions such as Comoros or Panama, while ownership is hidden behind shell companies in hubs like the UAE, Hong Kong and Dubai. The network ferries 1.3-1.6 million barrels per day of heavily discounted Iranian crude to China despite US sanctions pressure. STRATEGIC CONTROL Recent escalations have shifted Irans method of control from covert evasion to overt maritime dominance: As of March 11, the IRGC claims full control over the Strait of Hormuz, treating it as a wartime" waterway. While international shipping has largely collapsed (down over 90%), Iran continues to export crude by allowing only its shadow fleet and certain China-linked vessels to pass through the strait. Iran has reportedly struck more than ten tankers that ignored its warnings in the strategic passage, effectively scaring off competitors and securing the route for its own illicit trade. THE ECONOMICS China remains the dominant end-buyer, with its independent teapot" refineries receiving 1.31.6 million barrels per day of discounted Iranian crude, say reports. Irans system is increasingly integrated with other sanctioned nations; for instance, some tankers have been used to transport both Iranian and Venezuelan oil interchangeably. With agency inputs First Published: March 11, 2026, 15:18 IST News explainers Irans Shadow Fleet Of Oil Tankers In Strait Of Hormuz Generates $25-30 Billion A Year: Heres How 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... PNG Vs LPG: Why Indias Piped Gas Network Is Winning The War-Time Kitchen Battle Written By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 07:30 IST While both LPG and PNG have been placed in the 'top priority' bracket by the Centre, their delivery mechanisms offer vastly different levels of security during a crisis While the 'red cylinder' remains the backbone of rural and semi-urban India, the 2026 crisis has proven that PNG is the superior "shield" for urban energy security. Representational image In the second week of the West Asia conflict, the Great Gas Rejig" has become the primary talking point for millions of Indian households. With the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas invoking the Essential Commodities Act (1955) to regulate supplies, a long-standing debate has been reignited: in a time of war and supply shocks, is it better to rely on the traditional red cylinder or the modern piped natural gas (PNG) network? While both fuels have been placed in the top priority" bracket by the Centre, their delivery mechanisms offer vastly different levels of security during a crisis. The Logistics of Reliability The most immediate advantage of Piped Natural Gas (PNG) during a crisis is its invisible" supply chain. Unlike LPG, which relies on a massive fleet of trucks, bottling plants, and delivery personnelall of whom are currently facing logistical strain due to panic-buyingPNG flows directly through a buried network. PNG users are effectively immune to the 25-day inter-booking rule" currently frustrating cylinder users. While cylinder consumers are standing in queues and monitoring delivery apps, PNG users continue to receive a 100% steady flow based on their six-month average consumption. Because PNG is delivered through fixed infrastructure, it is not subject to the same road-traffic" or last-mile" disruptions that often plague cylinder deliveries during national emergencies. Safety Under Pressure: PNG vs LPG From a physical safety perspective, PNG has an inherent edge during high-stress periods. Natural gas is lighter than air; in the event of a leak, it rises and disperses quickly if there is adequate ventilation. In contrast, LPG is heavier than air and tends to settle at floor level, creating a more significant fire hazard in confined spaces. Furthermore, PNG is supplied at a very low pressure (approximately 21 mbar), whereas an LPG cylinder stores gas in a highly compressed, liquefied form. In a crisis where emergency services might be stretched thin, the lower stored energy" in a PNG connection reduces the risk of high-intensity accidents. PNG systems also feature isolation valves" both inside and outside the kitchen, allowing for an instant, total cut-off of the fuel source. The Domestic First Triage Under the Natural Gas (Supply Regulation) Order 2026, the government has made it clear that the kitchen stays lit first". However, the source of that gas matters. India produces about 50% of its own natural gas (roughly 95 million standard cubic metres per day), which is primarily used for the PNG network and power sectors. LPG, however, is much more vulnerable to the Strait of Hormuz deadlock. India imports over 60% of its LPG, mostly from the Gulf. While the government is currently diverting domestic gas to LPG shrinkage" (production), the physical shortage of imported propane and butane means cylinder users are naturally more exposed to global price spikes and shipping delays than those on the domestically anchored PNG grid. The Verdict for 2026 While the red cylinder" remains the backbone of rural and semi-urban India, the 2026 crisis has proven that PNG is the superior shield" for urban energy security. It eliminates the need for hoarding, bypasses the logistics of the 25-day lock-in period, and offers a safer, lighter-than-air alternative in the kitchen. As the government pushes for more cities to join the City Gas Distribution (CGD) network, this conflict may well be the tipping point" that moves India toward a piped-energy future, decoupling the daily meal from the volatile movements of tankers in the Persian Gulf. First Published: March 11, 2026, 07:30 IST News explainers PNG Vs LPG: Why Indias Piped Gas Network Is Winning The War-Time Kitchen Battle 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... Red Sea To Rotterdam: Why The Route Powering IndiaEurope Trade Is Breaking Down Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Pragati Ratti Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 16:49 IST The warnings in the Red Sea from Houthis have intensified amid the war involving Israel, Iran and the United States Rapid Read For Indian businesses shipping goods to Europe, the once-routine journey from Indian ports to northern European hubs such as the Port of Rotterdam has become longer, costlier and far less predictable. (AI generated image) The Red Sea has once again become a flashpoint in the widening confrontation between Israel and Iran and their regional allies. In recent months, Yemens Iran-aligned Houthi rebels have stepped up threats against commercial shipping in the Red Sea, warning they will target vessels linked to Israel and its allies. The warnings have intensified amid the war involving Israel, Iran and the United States, raising fears that one of the worlds most important maritime corridors could be drawn deeper into the conflict. For global shipping companies, the risk is already changing behaviour. Several major carriers have avoided the Red Sea during periods of heightened tension, rerouting vessels thousands of kilometres around southern Africa. The disruption is being felt far beyond the Middle East including in India, where exporters depend heavily on the Red Sea route to reach European markets. For Indian businesses shipping goods to Europe, the once-routine journey from Indian ports to northern European hubs such as the Port of Rotterdam has become longer, costlier and far less predictable. The trade corridor linking India to Europe Most cargo heading from India to Europe follows a well-established maritime route. Ships typically leave ports such as Jawaharlal Nehru Port or Mundra Port, cross the Arabian Sea and enter the Red Sea through the Bab elMandeb Strait. From there, vessels pass through the Suez Canal before sailing into the Mediterranean and onward to Europe. The importance of this corridor lies in efficiency. The Suez route shortens the Asia-Europe journey by nearly 9,00010,000 kilometres, allowing cargo ships to travel from India to northern Europe in roughly 1822 days. Because of this advantage, the corridor handles about 12 per cent of global trade and roughly one-third of the worlds container traffic. Why the Red Sea has become risky The biggest disruption to this route has come from Yemens Houthi movement, which controls much of Yemens Red Sea coastline. Since the Gaza war began in 2023, the Houthis have repeatedly launched missile and drone attacks against commercial vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Their stated aim has been to target ships linked to Israel or its allies, but the attacks have affected international shipping more broadly. The risk environment has intensified again amid the escalating confrontation between US, Israel and Iran. Security analysts warn that the Red Sea could become an expanded theatre of the Israel-Iran confrontation, with Iranian-aligned groups potentially targeting shipping to pressure Israel and its partners. For commercial vessels, the presence of drones, missiles and naval threats along the Red Sea corridor has made the route increasingly unpredictable. Why shipping companies are diverting vessels Because of the security risks, many shipping companies have periodically diverted vessels away from the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. Instead, ships sail around the Cape of Good Hope at the bottom of Africa. The detour significantly increases travel distance and time: 3,5004,000 extra nautical miles, and 1020 additional days of travel. This leads to higher fuel consumption and increased insurance costs. The longer journey also reduces global shipping capacity because vessels spend more time on each voyage. Why Indian exporters are feeling the impact Indias trade with Europe depends heavily on the Red Sea corridor. According to an analysis by Research and Information System for Developing Countries, nearly 80 per cent of Indias exports to Europe normally pass through the Red SeaSuez route. When shipping companies avoid the corridor, exporters face longer delivery times and rising freight rates. In some cases, the increase has been dramatic. A shipment from Kolkata to Rotterdam that once cost about $500 per container reportedly surged to nearly $4,000 during earlier disruptions, according to RIS analysis. At the same time, exporters must deal with rising insurance premiums and longer payment cycles because goods take more time to reach buyers. Sectors under the most pressure The crisis affects several industries that rely heavily on maritime trade with Europe. These include: Textiles and garments Engineering goods Auto components Chemicals and pharmaceuticals Agricultural exports such as rice, spices and marine products Many of these sectors operate on thin margins, meaning higher logistics costs can quickly erode profits. According to analysis by financial research platform Whalesbook, exporters of low-value but high-volume goods such as ceramics, agricultural products and processed food are particularly vulnerable because freight costs make up a large share of the final price. Freight rates on key routes have risen sharply, while war-risk insurance premiums for ships operating near the Bab-el-Mandeb have also climbed significantly. A fragile global trade chokepoint The crisis highlights how vulnerable global trade remains to disruptions in a handful of strategic chokepoints. The Suez Canal, the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, and the Strait of Hormuz together form one of the most important maritime corridors linking Asia, the Middle East and Europe. When geopolitical tensions spill into these waterways, the consequences ripple across supply chains worldwide. For India, whose exports depend heavily on maritime trade, the instability means that the once-routine journey from the Red Sea to Rotterdam a vital link in the global economy has become one of its most fragile. First Published: March 11, 2026, 16:49 IST News explainers Red Sea To Rotterdam: Why The Route Powering IndiaEurope Trade Is Breaking Down 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... SC Allows Passive Euthanasia For 32-Year-Old: How Aruna Shanbaug Case Paved Way For Harish Rana Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 17:09 IST What is passive euthanasia? When is it allowed? Mumbai's KEM Hospital's Aruna Shanbaug case, which opened the door for passive euthanasia for Harish Rana, explained Rapid Read Harshit Rana and Aruna Shanbaug. (File) The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed passive euthanasia for a 32-year-old man, who has been comatose for more than 12 years, by withdrawing his artificial life support. Passive euthanasia is the intentional act of letting a patient die by withholding or withdrawing life support or the treatment necessary to keep him alive. What is the Harish Rana case? Ghaziabads Harish Rana, 32, suffered head injuries after falling from the fourth floor of a building in 2013 and has been in a coma for over a decade. A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and K V Viswanathan directed AIIMS to grant admission in palliative care to Rana so that the medical treatment can be withdrawn. It must be ensured that it is withdrawn with a tailored plan so that dignity is maintained, the bench said. ALSO READ | Harish Rana Gets SC Nod For Passive Euthanasia: What Is Living Will? India Even Has A Clinic For It The top court earlier expressed its desire to meet the parents of the 32-year-old man. It had perused a report containing Ranas medical history filed by a secondary medical board of doctors from the AIIMS-Delhi and remarked that it was a sad" report. The primary medical board, after examining the patients condition, had stressed the negligible chance of his recovery. The top court had, on December 11, noted that according to the report of the primary medical board, the man is in a pathetic condition". What is passive euthanasia? Passive euthanasia means withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining medical treatment such as ventilators, feeding tubes, or antibiotics to allow a terminally ill patient or someone in a persistent vegetative state (PVS) to die naturally. Unlike active euthanasia, which involves a direct act like a lethal injection, passive euthanasia is an omission" of treatment when recovery is impossible. Is passive euthanasia legal in India? Passive euthanasia has been recognised by the Supreme Court through two landmark judgments: Aruna Shanbaug Case (2011): The Supreme Court first recognised the legality of passive euthanasia in rare circumstances. Although the court rejected the specific plea for Aruna Shanbaug (a nurse in a PVS for 37 years) because her caregivers opposed it, it established the broad principle that life support could be withdrawn under judicial supervision. Common Cause v. Union of India (2018): A five-judge bench formally legalised passive euthanasia, declaring the Right to Die with Dignity" a fundamental right under Article 21 (Right to Life). This ruling also introduced Living Wills (Advance Medical Directives), allowing individuals to document their end-of-life wishes in advance. What is the current framework for passive euthanasia? The Supreme Court simplified these guidelines in 2023 to make them more practical for families. Key requirements for passive euthanasia in India include: Medical Boards: A primary medical board at the hospital and a secondary board, often the district level, must both certify that the patient has no hope of recovery. Attestation: A Living Will can now be attested by a notary or gazetted officer, rather than a judicial magistrate. Next Friend: If a patient cannot consent, a next friend" such as close relative or legal guardian can initiate the process, subject to medical and judicial notification. What was the Aruna Shanbaug case that opened the door for passive euthanasia? The Aruna Shanbaug case is the landmark legal battle that first opened the door for passive euthanasia in India. It centered on Aruna Shanbaug, a nurse at Mumbais KEM Hospital, who spent 42 years in persistent vegetative state (PVS) following a brutal sexual assault in 1973. On November 27, 1973, a hospital janitor attacked Aruna, strangling her with a metal dog chain. The strangulation cut off oxygen to her brain, causing irreversible brain damage and leaving her paralysed, blind, and deaf. For nearly four decades, the nursing staff at KEM Hospital provided exceptional care, feeding her through a tube and ensuring she never developed a single bedsore. Aruna Shanbaug: The legal battle Journalist Pinki Virani filed a petition as Arunas next friend," arguing that keeping her alive in such a state violated her Right to Die with Dignity under Article 21. She requested the court to direct the hospital to stop feeding her. The Supreme Court dismissed the specific plea to end Arunas life. It ruled that the hospital staff, who had cared for her for decades, were her true next of kin", and since they opposed the petition, her life support would not be withdrawn. While the court rejected the plea for Aruna personally, the judgment (Aruna Ramchandra Shanbaug v. Union of India) had historic consequences for the country: It legally distinguished between active euthanasia (illegal) and passive euthanasia (allowed under strict guidelines) for the first time in Indian history. The court laid down a framework where passive euthanasia could be permitted in rarest of rare" cases, provided it was approved by a High Court and a team of medical experts. Aruna Shanbaug eventually died of natural causes and pneumonia on May 18, 2015, at the age of 66, still under the care of KEM Hospital. With PTI inputs First Published: March 11, 2026, 11:36 IST News explainers SC Allows Passive Euthanasia For 32-Year-Old: How Aruna Shanbaug Case Paved Way For Harish Rana 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... Did Trump Start Iran War To Drive Attention Away From Epstein Files? Decoding The Timeline Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 18:04 IST While officials called US-Israels war against Iran, within days of release of controversial information from Epstein files, over security concerns, many find the timing suspect Rapid Read Late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein with US President Donald Trump. Five days before the United States and Israel launched a war on Iran, the world was intrigued by files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein released by the US Department of Justice. While officials called US-Israels joint action against Iran, which came within days of the information tumbling out, a result of security concerns, many find the timing suspect. News18 collates the timeline based on news reports in international media. TIMING MATTERS The US-Israels Operation Epic Fury began on February 28. The February 24 NPR report alleged the Department of Justice (DOJ) had withheld documents from the Epstein files that specifically mentioned President Donald Trump. Analytical data shows that since the war began, Google searches for Epstein files" have plummeted, while interest in the Iran conflict has surged by over 1,200%. WHAT ARE EPSTEIN FILES? The Epstein files refers to a massive collection of approximately six million pages of investigative documents, emails, flight logs, and media related to the sex-trafficking enterprise of financier Jeffrey Epstein. The files originate from multiple federal and state investigations into Epstein and his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell. On January 30, 2026, the DOJ releases its final major cache: 3 million additional pages, 2,000 videos, and 180,000 images. WHAT HAPPENED IN FEBRUARY? United Kingdom: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is arrested on suspicion of sharing confidential state documents with Epstein. Peter Mandelson resigns from the Labour Party following reports he forwarded sensitive government info to Epstein, according to a BBC report. Norway: Former Prime Minister Thorbjrn Jagland is charged with aggravated corruption. United Arab Emirates: The CEO of DP World, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, is replaced after emails surfaced referencing a torture video". Hollywood: Marketing mogul Casey Wasserman sells his talent agency after flirtatious emails with Maxwell are revealed. IN THE DAYS LEADING UP TO THE WAR February 23: Former British Ambassador Peter Mandelson was arrested on suspicion of sharing sensitive government documents with Epstein; he had previously resigned from the Labour Party and the House of Lords. February 26: Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified behind closed doors to the House Oversight Committee, denying she ever met Epstein. February 26: Borge Brende, CEO of the World Economic Forum, resigned after files revealed business dinners with Epstein. February 27: Former President Bill Clinton testified for over six hours, stating he neither saw nor did anything wrong during his interactions with Epstein. Reports surfaced of a 2019 FBI interview with an unidentified woman who alleged she was sexually assaulted by Donald Trump and Epstein in the 1980s. WAS THE WAR A DISTRACTION? Republican Congressman Thomas Massie publicly questioned the timing, stating that bombing a country on the other side of the globe wont make the Epstein files go away". Coinciding with the start of the war, the DOJ temporarily removed approximately 65,000 pages from the online Epstein database, citing a need for re-review after privacy concerns were raised. Analysts have suggested that both President Trump and Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu may be seeking to boost record-low approval ratings through a major military conflict. NOT DISTRACTION, NUCLEAR BREAKOUT ASSESSMENT The US and Israel maintain the operations goal is to degrade Irans nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities following a nuclear breakout" assessment, CNN reported. Trump has officially framed the military strikes against Iran as a strategic necessity to dismantle their missile capabilities and prevent them from obtaining nuclear weapons. Trump suggested that some Iranian targets were selected because Tehran was attempting to destroy American paperwork" referring to the Epstein filesto avoid transparency. Trump stated he ordered the joint U.S.-Israel attack because he believed Iran was preparing to strike first. Some observers argue the strikes were part of a long-standing strategic plan independent of domestic scandals. Researchers from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) have identified pro-Iran propaganda networks actively promoting the distraction" narrative to delegitimise US actions, according to Al Jazeera and other assessments. THE EPSTEIN FILE DEVELOPMENTS AMID THE WAR Despite the war, legal and legislative actions regarding the files continue: The House Oversight Committee recently voted to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi regarding the DOJs handling and alleged obfuscation" of the documents. Senators have called for a Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigation into whether the DOJs redactions served to cover up" abuse. On March 11, reports emerged that a foreign hacker compromised Epstein-related files at an FBI field office in 2023. With agency inputs First Published: March 11, 2026, 16:27 IST News explainers Did Trump Start Iran War To Drive Attention Away From Epstein Files? Decoding The Timeline 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 Leave Them Stranded': Modi's Message To Indians Stuck In Gulf Nations Amid West Asia Crisis Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 17:40 IST PM Modi said that at a time when the country should stand united, the opposition was indulging in politics. Rapid Read A file photo of PM Narendra Modi (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday accused the Congress and Left parties of spreading panic during wartime, urging citizens to remain vigilant against what he described as fearmongering amid escalating tensions in West Asia. USIsraelIran War LIVE Addressing a gathering in Keralam, PM Modi said that at a time when the country should stand united, the opposition was indulging in politics. During wartime, the Left and Congress are creating panic and fear in the country," he said. He added that people should be wary of attempts to spread misinformation. I want to tell the people that they should be wary of Congress and the Left for spreading fearmongering during wartime." Also Read: People Wanted States Name To Be Changed To Keralam, Centre Approved: PM Modi The Prime Minister said it was very unfortunate that Congress is doing politics in such a situation," alleging that the party was making irresponsible statements to worsen the atmosphere. Congress, by giving such irresponsible statements want Indians to get desperate and start cursing the Indian government," he said. Referring to the situation in West Asia, PM Modi noted that many Indians, including a large number from Keralam, are working in Gulf countries. You are aware of what is happening in West Asia. Many Indians are working there," he said, assuring that the government was extending full support. Also Read: Trump Announces First US Oil Refinery In 50 Years, Says Reliance To Back The Initiative We are trying to provide all possible help to all the Indians stuck in the war zone," he said, adding that the BJP-led NDA government will not leave a single Indian unsafe." He expressed satisfaction that Gulf countries were taking care of Indian nationals. We are satisfied that all Gulf countries are taking care of Indians I am grateful to them all embassies and missions are working 247 and are helping Indians," he said. Highlighting past rescue efforts, PM Modi said the government had previously evacuated Indian nurses from Iraq during conflict situations. He also stressed that the government is working towards self-reliance in energy and other sectors during challenging times, asserting that India is making efforts to become self-dependent even amid global instability. First Published: March 11, 2026, 15:09 IST News india 'Won't Leave Them Stranded': Modi's Message To Indians Stuck In Gulf Nations Amid 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... Foreign National Killed After Speeding Audi Hits Her While Crossing Road In Punjab Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 08:37 IST Officials have started examining CCTV footage from nearby cameras to identify the Audi driver and initiate action. Rapid Read Mariswamy was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. (Representative image) A foreign national was killed after being run over by a speeding Audi car while crossing a road in Punjabs Zirakpur, police said. The incident occurred when the victim was attempting to cross the road and was struck by the luxury vehicle moving at high speed on VIP Road near M-Care Hospital. The victim has been identified as Mavluda. She had come to visit a patient at M-Care Hospital along with her friend. After leaving the hospital, the two were walking along the main road when a black Audi, reportedly speeding, hit the woman as she attempted to cross the road. The impact left the individual critically injured. She was thrown nearly 14 feet into the air and landed on the other side of the road. Due to critical injuries, Mavluda died on the spot due to severe bleeding. Her friend, identified as Abhishek alias Abhi who was walking with her at the time, also suffered minor injuries in the accident. According to Abhishek, Mavluda had come to the hospital to check on his pregnant wife, who was admitted there. As they stepped outside and approached the main road, the speeding car hit them unexpectedly. Local residents informed the police control room immediately after the accident. However, some witnesses alleged that the police reached the spot nearly an hour later, sparking anger among people gathered at the scene. Upon reaching the spot, the police took the body into custody and sent it to the mortuary of the Civil Hospital in Dera Bassi. Officials have started examining CCTV footage from nearby cameras to identify the Audi driver and initiate action. Investigating officer Raj Kumar said the woman has been identified as a foreign national and that her sister is travelling from Turkey to India. Further procedures, including the post-mortem, will be carried out after she arrives. Location : Zirakpur, India, India First Published: March 11, 2026, 08:19 IST News india Foreign National Killed After Speeding Audi Hits Her While Crossing Road In Punjab 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... BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- A team of Chinese scientists has unveiled a high-resolution atlas detailing the global distribution of lunar surface chemistry, a significant advance that fills a critical data gap in the geological study of the moon's far side. Mapping the chemistry across the lunar global surface is essential for understanding the moon's magmatic evolution and geological history, and holds profound implications for studying the Earth-moon system. Previous estimates of elemental abundances relied primarily on remote sensing data calibrated with sample-based ground truth information from the lunar nearside, according to a recent research article published in the journal Nature Sensors. This left the far side of the moon largely unconstrained, introducing substantial uncertainties in geological models for terrains with complex compositions, especially within the scientifically vital South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin. To overcome this long-standing challenge, the research team, led by the Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, developed an intelligent inversion framework for lunar chemical components leveraging a residual convolutional neural network, on the basis of farside ground truth data from the samples taken back by the Chang'e-6 mission and combining high-resolution visible-to-near-infrared multispectral-band image data from the lunar orbiter. By employing a model-fine-tuning strategy to optimally calibrate elemental abundances, the team generated high-precision global maps of major elemental oxides that incorporate farside ground truth information. This breakthrough successfully constrains the extent and composition of farside terranes and precisely reveals deep-seated materials exposed within the SPA basin and highlands. The maps quantitatively demonstrate that the proportion of exposed magnesian anorthosite in the farside highlands is significantly higher than on the nearside. This provides new measured evidence supporting the hypothesis of asymmetric crystallization and differentiation of the lunar magma ocean between the two hemispheres. By integrating farside ground truth information into global geochemical mapping, this study deepens the understanding of crust-mantle structure, hemispherical evolutionary differences, and the formation and evolution of the SPA basin. It provides high-precision, quantitative guidance for future landing site selection, resource exploration, and the planning of lunar exploration missions. The Chang'e-6 probe was launched by China on May 3, 2024. On June 25, 2024, its returner landed in north China, bringing back 1,935.3 grams of samples from the far side of the moon. Editor: Xiong Jian India Deplores Attack On Ship Bound For Kandla In Strait Of Hormuz Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 21:05 IST India called on all parties to refrain from targeting commercial vessels and endangering civilian crew members The vessel was heading for Kandla in India, MEA has confirmed. The Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement condemning a military attack on a Thai commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, warning that the targeting of civilian shipping in the ongoing West Asia conflict is escalating to dangerous new levels. The vessel, Mayuree Naree, was struck while transiting one of the worlds most critical maritime chokepoints en route to Kandla, a major port on Indias western coast in Gujarat. Read more: Will Target Economic Centres, Banks: Iran Issues Big Warning To US, Israel After Tehran Attack India deplores the fact that commercial shipping is being made a target of military attacks in the ongoing conflict in West Asia," the MEA said, adding that the intensity and lethality of the attacks only seems to be increasing." The ministry noted that Indian citizens have already been among those killed in previous maritime attacks during the conflict. India called on all parties to refrain from targeting commercial vessels and endangering civilian crew members, reiterating its position in favour of freedom of navigation and unimpeded maritime commerce. Read more: Trump Says Iran Has Practically Nothing Left To Target, Claims He Can End War Anytime: Report The Omani navy launched a rescue operation shortly after the attack. Twenty crew members have been rescued, while search efforts are continuing for three missing sailors, officials said. The rescued crew members were pulled from the water after abandoning the vessel. The fire onboard was later brought under control, though the extent of the damage remains unclear. The specific details and cause of the attack are currently under investigation," the Thai navy said. Read more: Massacre Of Girls: Italian PM Meloni Condemns Deadly Iran School Strike Earlier, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a cargo vessel had been struck by an unknown projectile about 11 nautical miles north of Oman, causing a fire onboard. The agency advised vessels in the region to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity. Location : Iran First Published: March 11, 2026, 20:53 IST News india India Deplores Attack On Ship Bound For Kandla In Strait Of 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... Narrow Escape For NC Chief Farooq Abdullah, J&K Deputy CM Surinder Choudhary In Jammu Firing Last Updated: March 12, 2026, 10:07 IST According to sources, the attacker has told the police he wanted to kill Farooq Abdullah for the last 20 years The accused was taken into custody on the spot and has been shifted to a nearby police station for intensive questioning. Image/Videograb A high-security breach occurred in Jammu on Wednesday evening as a firing incident was reported near Royal Park in the Greater Kailash area. The incident took place during a wedding function attended by National Conference (NC) President and former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, along with Jammu & Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary. The Incident and Injuries The firing reportedly occurred as both VVIPs were in the process of leaving the private ceremony. Both Farooq Abdullah and Deputy CM Surinder Choudhary escaped without injuries. Allah is kind. My father had a very close shave. The details are sketchy at the moment but what is known is that a man with a loaded pistol was able to get within point blank range & discharge a shot. It was only the close protection team that deflected the shot & ensured that https://t.co/hYBe64Eigl Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) March 11, 2026 Initial reports from the scene suggest a moment of chaos as the shots rang out, leading to an immediate response from the security details of the two leaders. Accused Overpowered and Detained The suspected shooter has been identified as Kamal Singh Jamwal. In a swift intervention, security personnel on duty at the venue managed to overpower the individual before he could cause further harm. Jamwal was taken into custody on the spot and has been shifted to a nearby police station for intensive questioning. Senior police officials, including top brass from the Jammu & Kashmir Police, have rushed to the Royal Park area to oversee the preliminary investigation. According to sources, the attacker has told the police he wanted to kill Farooq Abdullah for the last 20 years. He was invited to the wedding of his cousins son, where he opened fire. Forensic teams have been called in to examine the site, and the weapon used in the incident has been seized. Police Statement The police said in a statement, An attempt was made on the life of Dr. Farooq Abdullah, former CM/President of J&K National Conference when he was attending a marriage ceremony at Royal Park Greater Kailash, Jammu. The security deployed with the protectee immediately swung into action and thwarted the attempt and took the accused in custody, who was later identified as Kamal Singh S/o Ajit Singh R/o Purani Mandi, Jammu. The pistol used in the crime has also been recovered from the possession of the accused. Cognizance has been taken and further investigations going on." Current Status The area has been cordoned off, and a heavy police presence remains deployed around Greater Kailash. A formal statement from the police or the administration regarding the nature of the attack is expected late tonight as the interrogation of the accused progresses. Location : Jammu, India, India First Published: March 12, 2026, 00:02 IST News india Narrow Escape For NC Chief Farooq Abdullah, J&K Deputy CM Surinder Choudhary In Jammu Firing Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... LPG Shortage Hits Delhi High Court Lawyers Canteen; Main Course Items Dropped From Menu Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 15:50 IST The disruption comes amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia involving Iran, United States and Israel, which has affected global energy supply chains. The management added that there was currently no clarity on when the gas supply would resume. The lawyers canteen at the Delhi High Court stopped serving main course items after running out of LPG cylinders, citing uncertainty over when the supply will be restored. In a notice, the canteen management informed visitors that it was unable to prepare full meals due to the unavailability of cooking gas. The notice, reported by LiveLaw, said that the canteen regretted the inconvenience caused to lawyers and visitors. This is to respectfully inform you that due to the unavailability of the LPG gas cylinder at present, we regret that we are unable to prepare and serve the main course items in the Lawyers Canteen," the notice said. The management added that there was currently no clarity on when the gas supply would resume. At the moment, we do not have any information regarding when the LPG supply will be restored. We will resume the preparation of the main course as soon as the gas supply becomes available," the notice stated. Read more: IRCTC May Halt Train Meals Amid Nationwide LPG Shortage, Advises Contingency Plans The disruption comes amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia involving Iran, United States and Israel, which has affected global energy supply chains. Reports of shortages of commercial LPG cylinders have also emerged from major Indian cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai, where hotel and restaurant associations have flagged supply disruptions. The shortage has also begun affecting railway catering services. Officials from the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) said the supply crunch is impacting its catering operations, prompting the railways to consider temporarily halting cooked meal services on trains. Passengers who pre-booked meals while purchasing tickets could receive refunds if the disruption continues. IRCTC has directed its catering licensees to implement contingency plans to ensure food services remain available to passengers. Railway officials said the shortage is affecting IRCTCs base kitchens, where meals for trains are prepared before being loaded onto pantry cars. While pantry cars mainly function as distribution and reheating units and typically do not carry LPG cylinders, disruptions at base kitchens are now affecting meal preparation for several long-distance trains. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: March 11, 2026, 15:47 IST News india LPG Shortage Hits Delhi High Court Lawyers Canteen; Main Course Items Dropped From Menu Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... March 11, 2020: WHO Declares COVID-19 Pandemic Indias Cases And Lockdowns Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 07:10 IST It was on March 11, 2020, that WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Explore Indias timeline, cases, lockdowns, waves, vaccination, and key lessons learned. India implemented multiple lockdowns and public health measures after WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11, 2020. (AP file photo) It was on this day in 2020 that the world changed forever. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. The announcement highlighted the rapid spread of the coronavirus and the urgent need for countries to step up public health measures. For India, a country of over 1.3 billion people, it marked a turning point: authorities had to prepare for a potential health crisis of unprecedented scale. At the time, India had reported just over 70 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with most concentrated in major cities. The pandemic declaration signaled that swift action was necessary to prevent widespread community transmission and to protect the healthcare system from being overwhelmed. Early Response: Awareness, Screening, And Public Health Measures Even before the pandemic declaration, India had begun taking precautionary steps. Airports introduced thermal screening for international arrivals, while health advisories were circulated in multiple languages. The public was urged to practice hand hygiene, wear masks, and maintain social distancing. Once the WHO made the pandemic announcement, state and central governments ramped up measures. Public awareness campaigns, media messaging, and community outreach programs aimed to educate citizens on the risks of the virus and the importance of preventive measures. Indias Nationwide Lockdowns On March 24, 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a nationwide 21-day lockdown, restricting movement, closing schools, colleges, offices, and public transport. This strict measure was aimed at breaking the chain of transmission. The initial lockdown was extended in phases, with gradual reopening in areas where cases remained low. States also implemented localised lockdowns depending on the infection rates, ensuring targeted containment. By April 2020, India had crossed 5,000 confirmed cases and 150 deaths, prompting states to tighten restrictions and expand testing capacity. COVID-19 Waves In India Indias pandemic journey saw three major waves: First wave (2020): Peaked in September 2020 with around 97,000 daily cases, primarily in urban centers. Hospitals managed the patient load, but public health systems faced strain. Second wave (2021, Delta variant): Emerged in March 2021 and hit hardest in AprilMay, with daily cases exceeding 400,000. Oxygen shortages and hospital bed crises highlighted vulnerabilities in infrastructure. Third wave (2022, Omicron variant): Milder in severity due to vaccination coverage and prior immunity, but daily cases surged in several states, prompting temporary restrictions. Cumulative India data As of March 2026: Total cases: 4.5 crore Total deaths: 5.2 lakh Vaccine doses administered: 230 crore Vaccination Rollout India launched its COVID-19 vaccination campaign in January 2021, starting with healthcare workers and frontline personnel, followed by seniors and vulnerable populations. Vaccines such as Covishield and Covaxin were the mainstay, and later, other approved vaccines supplemented the drive. By mid-2022, over 70% of adults were fully vaccinated, significantly reducing severe cases and deaths. Booster doses and expanded campaigns for children aged 1218 helped increase immunity coverage nationwide. Economic And Social Impact The pandemic reshaped India socially and economically: GDP contraction: Indias economy shrank by 7.3% in 202021 due to halted production and services. Job losses: Millions of informal workers and daily wage earners lost livelihoods, leading to large-scale migration. Education disruption: Over 250 million students shifted to online learning, highlighting digital divides. Digital surge: E-commerce, telemedicine, and online education grew rapidly, reshaping consumer behaviour. Socially, the pandemic changed day-to-day life remote work, masks, sanitisation, and online communication became the new norm. Lessons Learned Indias COVID-19 journey offers several key takeaways: Strengthening healthcare infrastructure is critical for future pandemics. Early detection, testing, and communication save lives. Community awareness and adherence to guidelines are essential for containment. Digital tools and telemedicine can augment healthcare delivery. Preparedness for multi-wave crises ensures faster, more efficient response. Impact On People: Stories From India While statistics tell one side of the story, the human impact was immense: Frontline healthcare workers worked long hours under high risk. Families faced loss, economic hardship, and mental health challenges. Migrant workers walked hundreds of kilometers to return home during lockdowns. These narratives reflect resilience, courage, and community support during unprecedented times. A Historic Day In Public Health March 11, 2020, remains a defining moment. The WHOs declaration triggered nationwide policies, multiple lockdowns, vaccination drives, and public health initiatives. Indias experience underscores the importance of preparedness, resilience, and public cooperation in combating global health crises. The pandemic may have tested Indias systems and society, but it also accelerated reforms, innovation, and awareness that continue to shape responses to health emergencies today. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: March 11, 2026, 07:10 IST News india March 11, 2020: WHO Declares COVID-19 Pandemic Indias Cases And Lockdowns 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... Postgraduate Dental Student Dies By Suicide In Mumbai, Names Boyfriend In 6-Page Note Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 08:00 IST The postgraduate student was found hanging at her home in the Antop Hill area on Monday. A 24-year-old Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) student was found hanging at her home in Mumbai. (AI-generated image) A 24-year-old Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) student allegedly committed suicide in Mumbai. She left behind a six-page note, in which she accused her boyfriend of mentally harassing her. The postgraduate student, identified as Stuti Sonawane, was found hanging at her home in the Antop Hill area on Monday. According to the police, her boyfriend, Fazal Mohammad Khan, an insurance agent, was arrested in Lower Parel in central Mumbai. The note mentions that the womans friends knew about her troubles with her boyfriend and would often joke about the situation, saying, We dont want to see you in the fridge." A police official said the deceased left behind a six-page purported suicide note in her room, naming Khan and accused him of constant harassment, news agency PTI reported. Based on her parents complaint, the accused was arrested under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including 108 (abetment of suicide), he said. The police suspect that the MDS student was in a relationship with Khan, who would suspect her of cheating and make hurtful remarks about her character. The incident came to light after Sonawane did not step out of her room till about 11 am on Monday. When she did not respond to her parents calling out to her, they broke open the rooms door and found their daughter hanging from the ceiling. She was immediately rushed to a hospital, where doctors declared her dead. During the probe, police found that the victim and the accused, a resident of Worli, met via a dating application and were in a relationship since last one year. The police is currently investigating the matter. (With agency inputs) First Published: March 11, 2026, 08:00 IST News india Postgraduate Dental Student Dies By Suicide In Mumbai, Names Boyfriend In 6-Page Note 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... Did You Know Bihar Has A Little Iran? Inside Kishanganjs Unique Iranian-Origin Community Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 11:31 IST A small Iranian-origin community in Bihars Kishanganj, known as Little Iran, has preserved Persian traditions, language and food habits while blending with local culture. Bihars Little Iran: The Little-Known Iranian-Origin Community Living in Kishanganj Trade links between India and Persia, present-day Iran date back to ancient times. These exchanges took place through maritime routes across the Arabian Sea as well as land routes passing through Central Asia. Traders moved goods such as textiles, spices, precious metals and pearls, but these journeys also led to the movement of people. Merchants and travellers from Persia travelled to India, and during the Mughal period some chose to settle permanently. Today, a small but distinct community of Iranian origin lives in Kishanganj district of Bihar. Often referred to as Little Iran," this settlement traces its roots back to Persian migrants who arrived in India generations ago and gradually made Kishanganj their home. The neighbourhoods where they reside are locally known as Irani Bastis, with most families concentrated in the Motibagh Karbala area of the town. The community largely follows the Shia sect of Islam. According to the Azad India Foundation, members of this community arrived in Kishanganj in the early 1980s after moving from Purnia in Bihar. In their early years, many lived a nomadic lifestyle, travelling in caravans and setting up temporary camps. They were primarily involved in trading horses, which they sold at fairs, festivals and to wealthy landlords. Over time, their occupations evolved. Many began trading everyday items such as knives and glass frames, while others entered the gemstone business. Today, gemstones sold by members of the community are often sourced from major trading hubs such as Kolkata and Jaipur. Despite being a small minority, the community has managed to preserve several aspects of its cultural heritage while adapting to the local environment. Members speak a dialect influenced by Persian, mixed with Hindi and Urdu. Cultural traditions, including marriage customs, religious ceremonies and community gatherings, remain important to maintaining their shared identity. Marriages are typically arranged within the community to sustain social continuity. Their cuisine also reflects a blend of cultures. Food habits combine elements of Bihari and Persian traditions, with meat forming a regular part of meals. Many dishes are prepared using aromatic spices and cooking styles influenced by Persian culinary practices. In recent years, however, the community has faced challenges. Ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections last year, nearly 30 members received official notices asking them to prove their citizenship as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list. For many families whose names had appeared on electoral rolls for decades, the notices came as a shock and raised concerns within the community. First Published: March 11, 2026, 11:31 IST News lifestyle events Did You Know Bihar Has A Little Iran? Inside Kishanganjs Unique Iranian-Origin Community Did Zendaya Secretly Marry Tom Holland? Gold Band At Paris Fashion Week Fuels Wedding Buzz Written By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 12:13 IST Zendayas Paris Fashion Week appearance has reignited speculation about a possible secret wedding with Tom Holland. Did Zendaya Secretly Marry Tom Holland? Gold Band At Paris Fashion Week Fuels Wedding Buzz Just when speculation around Tom Holland and Zendayas wedding had begun swirling online again, the internet may have spotted a new clue. The actor made a striking appearance at Paris Fashion Week 2026, but what truly caught fans attention wasnt just her outfit; it was a simple gold band on her ring finger. Zendayas Paris Fashion Week Appearance Turns Heads Zendaya attended the Louis Vuitton Womens Fall/Winter 20262027 show on March 10, delivering yet another memorable fashion moment. Styled by her longtime collaborator Law Roach, the actor stepped out in a custom white bubble-hem shirtdress that many described as bridal white". The ensemble featured a sculptural high collar and full-length sleeves, paired with a dramatic high-low skirt that was mini in the front and voluminous at the back. Zendaya cinched the look with a black leather belt with a silver buckle, adding a striking contrast to the otherwise monochrome outfit. She completed the look with black stiletto pumps, while her makeup stayed soft and refineda nude base, rosy blush, glossy lips, delicate eyeliner and defined brows. Adding to the buzz, Zendaya debuted a fresh hairstyle for the show: a bixie" cut, the trending hybrid between a bob and a pixie. Styled in soft curls reminiscent of the 1960s, the haircut brought a vintage glamour to her overall appearance. Minimal jewellery kept the focus on the outfit. Zendaya wore sleek diamond earrings, gold-and-diamond bracelets and a diamond ring on her right hand. The Gold Band That Sparked Wedding Speculation However, the real talking point of Zendayas appearance was a simple gold band on her left ring finger. In several viral photos and videos from Paris Fashion Week, eagle-eyed fans noticed that the actor had replaced her usual diamond engagement ring with the gold band, immediately igniting rumours that she might have secretly married Tom Holland. The speculation intensified as online chatter about the couples possible private wedding had already been circulating in recent weeks. What Happened To Zendayas Engagement Ring? Zendaya has previously been seen wearing a large diamond engagement ring, which she debuted publicly at the 2025 Golden Globes. The ring was designed by London-based jeweller Jessica McCormack and featured an elongated cushion-cut diamond with a vintage Georgian-inspired setting. Given how closely fans track celebrity jewellery choices, the switch from a statement diamond ring to a subtle gold band was enough to send the internet into detective mode. Whether its simply a styling choice or a hint at something more personal, Zendayas Paris Fashion Week appearance has once again put her relationship with Tom Holland firmly in the spotlight. First Published: March 11, 2026, 12:13 IST News lifestyle fashion Did Zendaya Secretly Marry Tom Holland? Gold Band At Paris Fashion Week Fuels Wedding Buzz 5 Luxury Spirits Redefining The Global Premium Drinks Market Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 14:28 IST Discover five luxury spirits shaping the global premium drinks market. New-age luxury spirits combine tradition, craftsmanship, and cultural identity to appeal to modern collectors and connoisseurs. The global luxury spirits market is entering a new era. For many years, prestige in the world of fine drinking was defined by heritage categories such as Scotch whisky and Cognac. Today, however, the market is expanding as distinctive brands and culturally rooted spirits capture the attention of collectors, bartenders, and connoisseurs alike. This new wave of luxury spirits is no longer defined simply by age or rarity. Instead, it is about heritage, craftsmanship, and identity, qualities that make each spirit a unique addition to the modern luxury consumers palate. Here are five spirits poised to become major players in the global luxury spirits market. 1. Six Brothers Mahura | Indias Heritage Spirit Reinvented Leading the way in this resurgence is Six Brothers Mahura, a luxury heritage spirit by South Seas Distilleries. Distilled from the aromatic flowers of the Indian Mahua (Madhuca longifolia) tree, the spirit revives an ancient distillation tradition indigenous to India. With the Six Brothers label, South Seas Distilleries is reintroducing Mahura (Mahua) as a premium luxury spirit after colonial-era stigma pushed the drink to the margins. Its revival presents an opportunity to bring a historic Indian distillate back into the global conversation around premium spirits. Six Brothers Mahura is crafted using copper pot still distillation and careful finishing techniques. The spirit offers delicate floral sweetness balanced with earthy undertones, subtle dried fruit notes, and a hint of spice. Priced at around 1,02,000, the spirit aims to position Mahura as a luxury offering capable of standing alongside tequila, Cognac, and Scotch whisky. 2. Clase Azul Tequila | Mexicos Luxury Tequila Pioneer Few brands represent the premium tequila movement quite like Clase Azul Tequila. Made from slow-cooked blue agave and distilled using traditional techniques, the brand has built a reputation as one of the most luxurious expressions of Mexican spirits. Each bottle is a handcrafted ceramic piece, hand-painted by artisans, making it both a collectible object and a premium spirit. The tequila itself delivers notes of vanilla, caramel, and cooked agave, finished with remarkable smoothness. Clase Azul has played a significant role in transforming tequila from a party drink into a globally recognized luxury spirit. 3. The Macallan Rare Cask | A Benchmark for Luxury Scotch Long regarded as a gold standard in premium Scotch whisky, The Macallan Rare Cask is crafted from a selection of oak casks chosen for their exceptional character, reinforcing the distillerys reputation for depth and complexity. On the palate, it reveals layers of dried fruits, dark chocolate, orange peel, and warm spice, all derived from sherry-seasoned oak casks. Its richness and balance have made it one of the most sought-after whisky expressions among collectors worldwide. 4. Hennessy Paradis | A Cognac of Elegance Hennessy Paradis is a showcase of masterful Cognac blending. Created from an exquisite selection of eaux-de-vie aged for decades, this expression celebrates the heritage and craftsmanship of one of the worlds most iconic Cognac houses. Silky and beautifully balanced, Hennessy Paradis offers flavours of honey, dried flowers, candied fruit, and gentle spice, making it a favourite among luxury spirits connoisseurs. 5. Roku Gin | Japanese Perfection in a Bottle Japanese distilling is widely respected for its meticulous attention to detail and craftsmanship, a philosophy perfectly embodied in Roku Gin. Produced by Suntory, Roku blends traditional botanicals with six Japanese ingredients, including sakura flower, yuzu peel, and sencha tea. The result is a crisp and well-balanced spirit with bright citrus notes complemented by delicate floral and tea-like undertones. Roku Gin demonstrates that Japanese distilling has firmly established itself in the world of premium spirits. The New Game in Luxury Spirits In the modern era, luxury spirits are no longer defined solely by age or exclusivity. The most compelling spirits today are those rooted in heritage, craftsmanship, and authentic storytelling. From the revival of Indias Mahura tradition and Mexicos premium tequila culture to the historic Cognac houses of France and the artistry of Japanese distilling, these spirits represent the evolving future of the global luxury spirits market, one that is richer, more diverse, and culturally compelling for collectors and enthusiasts alike. First Published: March 11, 2026, 14:28 IST News lifestyle food 5 Luxury Spirits Redefining The Global Premium Drinks Market No Smoking Day 2026: Date, Theme, Health Risks And Easy Ways To Quit Smoking Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 07:05 IST No Smoking Day 2026 falls on March 11. Learn its history, significance, health risks of tobacco and practical steps experts recommend to help people quit smoking. No Smoking Day 2026 Theme is A Smoke-Free Life Starts With A Smoke-Free Day. (AI generated image) No Smoking Day is observed every year on the second Wednesday of March to raise awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco and encourage smokers to quit. In 2026, No Smoking Day falls on March 11. The day aims to motivate smokers to take their first step toward quitting while spreading awareness about the health risks associated with tobacco use. Public health campaigns also highlight support services that help people overcome nicotine addiction. In India, tobacco use remains a major public health concern. According to government estimates, millions of people use tobacco in smoked or smokeless forms, contributing to serious illnesses and preventable deaths each year. No Smoking Day 2026 Theme The theme for this year is, A Smoke-Free Life Starts With A Smoke-Free Day." The message encourages smokers to take the first step toward quitting tobacco by committing to a single smoke-free day. Public health experts say this simple action can help build confidence and motivate people to continue their journey toward quitting completely. No Smoking Day: History No Smoking Day was first launched in 1984 in the United Kingdom as part of a public health campaign designed to help smokers quit tobacco. Over time, the initiative gained wider recognition and is now supported by health organisations and advocacy groups in several countries. Events, awareness drives and digital campaigns are organised each year to educate people about the dangers of tobacco and encourage healthier lifestyle choices. Why No Smoking Day Matters Smoking is strongly linked to several serious health conditions, including Lung Cancer, Heart Disease and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Second-hand smoke can also harm non-smokers, increasing the risk of respiratory illnesses and heart problems. Awareness campaigns like No Smoking Day play an important role in helping people understand these risks and encouraging them to seek help to quit tobacco. Easy And Proven Ways To Quit Smoking Quitting smoking can be difficult, but experts say a combination of behavioural strategies and medical support can increase success rates. Set a quit date: Choosing a specific date can help smokers prepare mentally and begin their journey toward quitting. Identify triggers: Many people smoke during stressful moments or daily routines. Recognising these triggers can help in planning alternatives. Seek support: Counselling services, helplines and support groups can provide guidance and motivation during the quitting process. Use nicotine replacement therapy: Nicotine patches, gums or lozenges can reduce withdrawal symptoms and help people gradually stop smoking. Stay active and distracted: Exercise, hobbies or short walks can help manage cravings, which usually last only a few minutes. Health Benefits Of Quitting Smoking Quitting smoking can lead to noticeable improvements in health within a short period. 20 minutes: Heart rate and blood pressure begin to drop 12 hours: Carbon monoxide levels in the blood return to normal 212 weeks: Lung function and circulation improve 1 year: Risk of heart disease significantly decreases 10 years: Risk of lung cancer drops compared to smokers Health experts say quitting smoking at any age can improve quality of life and reduce the risk of serious diseases. First Published: March 11, 2026, 07:05 IST News lifestyle health-and-fitness No Smoking Day 2026: Date, Theme, Health Risks And Easy Ways To Quit Smoking Dhurandhar 2: Ram Gopal Varma Says Ranveer Singh Starrer Will Send South Films For A Toss Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 09:24 IST RGV addressed the anticipation surrounding Dhurandhar 2 and said that the film will mint more money than Dhurandhar. Rapid Read Currently, Ranveer Singh is grabbing headlines for his upcoming action film, Dhurandhar 2. Dhurandhar: The Revenge is one of the biggest films of 2026, and the anticipation is sky-high. The movie is releasing in theatres on March 19, and ahead of release, Ram Gopal Varma has heaped praises on the film. RGV said that Dhurandhar 2 has the potential to send South cinema for a toss. RGV told Variety India, I think it will be fantastic. See, more than anything else, the audience has invested in the characters and the story so much. I think they will just follow the trajectory of the characters from part one. They shot both parts simultaneously, right?" He added, So itll be like one film split into two. I dont think theyll have any over-expectations. This is not like a franchise. Its like the Baahubali films. Yeah, like that only. I feel Dhurandhar 2 will do better business than part one. Also, they are promoting Dhurandhar 2 heavily in the south." He shared, You cant have people flying in the air and kicking in the air. Its got to be all real. You see, if Dhurandhar 2 creates numbers like Rs 1500-2000 crores, then all the South films will go for a toss, I think. All South films are designed in the old-school manner." Meanwhile, the new trailer shows Ranveer Singh returning in his dual avatars as Jaskirat Singh Rangi and Hamza Ali Mazari, suggesting that the story will dive deeper into the mystery surrounding his identity. Several questions that fans have been debating online may finally be answered. How did Jaskirat transform into Hamza? Who is the mysterious Sher-e-Baloch? And what exactly is the next stage of Mission Dhurandhar? The sequel is also expected to expand the role of R. Madhavans Ajay Sanyal, who will reportedly be seen training Jaskirat in espionage tactics and combat. Meanwhile, the power vacuum in Karachi after Rehmans death could lead to new battles, with Uzair Baloch preparing to take control of Lyari. Fans are also curious to see whether characters like Major Iqbal and SP Aslam Chaudhry suspect the infiltrator and whether Yaalina will eventually learn the truth about Hamza. Backed by Jio Studios and B62 Studios, the film continues Aditya Dhars ambitious spy-action saga. Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge is set to release in cinemas worldwide on March 19, 2026, in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada. First Published: March 11, 2026, 09:24 IST News movies bollywood Dhurandhar 2: Ram Gopal Varma Says Ranveer Singh Starrer Will Send South Films For A Toss BEIJING, March 9 (Xinhua) -- The Shenzhou-21 crew members aboard China's Tiangong space station have made significant strides in terms of space medical experiments and physical science research over the past week, while also maintaining the station's habitable environment, according to the China Manned Space Agency. In the field of space medicine, the crew consisting of Zhang Lu, Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang focused on understanding the psychological and physiological effects of long-duration spaceflight. They used laptops to complete tests on "trust and coordination mechanisms" and "human-machine trust," which are crucial for designing future spacecraft interfaces and ensuring efficient teamwork between astronauts and automated systems, China Media Group reported on Sunday night. A key advancement involved the use of the space Raman spectrometer, a device that identifies molecular compositions by shining a laser on a sample. The astronauts used this tool to analyze metabolic components in urine samples. The data collected will be used to refine medical standards for monitoring astronaut health in orbit. To explore how the brain perceives the physical world without gravity, they also conducted "microgravity intuitive physics behavior" experiments. Leveraging electroencephalogram (EEG) equipment, which records electrical activity along the scalp, the crew gathered data for "meta-cognitive monitoring" and "group brain cognitive-emotion analysis" studies, helping scientists on Earth understand how the absence of gravity alters brain function and group dynamics, the report noted. In the microgravity physical science domain, the team maintained experiment racks, replacing sampling covers in the combustion science rack and swapping samples in the fluid physics rack. To safeguard their own health, the astronauts underwent medical checks including intraocular pressure tests, fundus exams and cardiopulmonary assessments. Notably, they also utilized a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) four-diagnosis device, an instrument that mimics the traditional TCM methods of inspection, listening, inquiry and pulse-taking, seeking to provide a comprehensive health assessment in microgravity, the video report revealed. The Shenzhou-21 manned spacecraft was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Oct. 31, 2025. The Shenzhou-21 crew completed their mission's first series of extravehicular activities on Dec. 9. Editor: Xiong Jian 'I Don't Like Staying In Sh*t': Priyanka Chopra On Hollywood Move At The Peak Of Her Bollywood Career Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 14:32 IST Priyanka Chopra reflected on her film journey and revealed why she left Bollywood. Rapid Read Priyanka Chopra was last seen in The Bluff. Priyanka Chopra Jonas has often spoken about the reasons behind her decision to gradually step away from Bollywood and focus on building a career in Hollywood. As one of the most successful actresses in Hindi cinema, Chopras move abroad sparked widespread discussion in the industry about power dynamics, professional politics, and opportunities for Indian actors on the global stage. Before shifting her focus to international projects, Priyanka Chopra had already established herself as one of Bollywoods leading actors. After winning the Miss World 2000 pageant, she made her acting debut in the early 2000s and went on to deliver several critically acclaimed and commercially successful films. In a recent appearance on the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast, Priyanka reflected on her film journey, right from her debut. It was a movie called Thamizhan in the Tamil language. I remember the filmI phonetically learned the language. Its almost impossible to learn a completely new language that quickly. But it was my first exposure to fame through my co-actor. His name is Vijay, and he is extremely popular," she said. I remember when he arrived on set, there would be hundreds of people standing there just to watch him. While he was dancing and acting, I was observing everything. It was my first film, and I had no idea what happened behind the scenes. I had only seen what we see in movie theatres," she said. Priyanka added, I remember thinking what a demigod-like feeling that must be. Especially in India, where people love movies and fans are incredibly giving." She said that as an 18-year-old girl entering the world of showbiz, she wanted the attention and adoration for herself as well. My relationship with the job was very naive because I thought it was about fame. Only after I started working did I realise that fame is just a byproduct of the jobit isnt the job itself," she said. Priyanka also reflected on her Hollywood move. When I was working in India, I started feeling a little limited. I like using that word because I wanted to see what else was out there," she said. She added, In American pop culture, I had only seen people like Mindy Kaling and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. There were very few Indian female or even male actors working in Hollywood. I wanted to understand why we didnt have that kind of representation. It made me think about where I stood and where I should begin. It came from a need to expand and see what the possibilities were. And like I said, I am competitive." When asked if she was facing a tough time in Bollywood back then, she said, Nothing is an easy ride. We all have battles we deal with. Im just someone who doesnt like staying in the shit because then you get used to the smell." The actress mentioned, I believe strongly in pivoting. When life gets tough, we have the ability to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, take a moment to grieve and feel the painand then pivot. I have done that many times in my career." There wasnt much of a precedent before me. I just gave it a shot. The only thing I knew was that Im a hard worker and I know my craft. Put me on a set with any filmmaker or co-actor, and Ill stand toe-to-toe. So I went out there and started working," she concluded. Priyanka Chopras global journey began when she ventured into music and later landed a leading role in the American television series Quantico. The show, which premiered in 2015, made her one of the first Indian actors to headline a major American network drama. Following the success of Quantico, Chopra appeared in several international films and projects, including Baywatch, The Matrix Resurrections, and Love Again. Her work in Hollywood helped establish her as a global entertainer rather than a star limited to one film industry. First Published: March 11, 2026, 14:32 IST News movies bollywood 'I Don't Like Staying In Sh*t': Priyanka Chopra On Hollywood Move At The Peak Of Her Bollywood Career Shark Tank India 5: boAts Aman Gupta Calls Pod Hotel Pitch Useless Concept Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 17:29 IST Why these two brands providing pod hotel services failed to receive any funding from the judges on the latest episode of Shark Tank India 5. The pitches were made by Nap Tap Go and BLR Pods. In a recent episode of Shark Tank India 5, viewers saw pod hotel business-related pitches from Delhi and Karnataka. Comparing their versions to Japan-based pod hotels, Nap Tap Go and BLR Pods failed to receive any funding as they were unable to convince any of the Sharks Aman Gupta, Anupam Mittal, Kunal Bahl, Namita Thapar, and Mohit Yadav. After hearing out the pitches, Gupta said this concept was not meant for him, while Mittal felt it was an underwhelming idea. What To Know? Founded by Himanshu Shukla and Nitin Malhotra, Nap Tap Go is a pod hotel that provides hourlt pods as well as the facility of flexible check-ins to customers/ The Delhi-based founders arrived on the show to seek an investment of Rs 2 crore in return for 2.5 per cent equity. Overall, they valued their company at Rs 80 crore. At one point, they even impressed the judges by mentioning that they had earlier sold a start-up at a Rs 45 crore valuation. What did not go well with the judges was that they made a revenue of Rs 20 lakh and faced a loss of Rs 50 lakh in 2023-24. Also, they managed to earn Rs 1.1 crore in 2024-25, but their loss stood at Rs 1 crore. As of now, their loss is projected at Rs 1.5 crore. Compared to Nap Tap Go, BLR Pods appeared like a more profitable venture. They made Rs 66 lakh in 2024-25 with an EBITDA of Rs 14 lakh, making their profit after tax at Rs 73,000. Talking about the pocket-friendly micro-hotel concept, Gupta complained that the pods appeared claustrophobic. At this moment, Kunal even pointed out that these looked quite similar to the ones found in Japan. Gupta replied, Bhai yeh mere jaiso ke liye toh hai nahi (Brother, these are not for people like me)." Aman Gupta Calls It Useless Concept None of the Sharks made any offers to either of the founders. During the pitch for Nap Tap Go, Gupta said it was giving him a hostel-like feel" and looked just surrounded by plastic." One pod in a room is a useless concept, never heard of. There is something not right in your model, so I am out," Gupta said. Bahl pointed out that the biggest issue" was that their business was in no mans land, its neither a budget hotel, nor is it cost-efficient. So I am out." Namita added, I would agree with Kunal, we heard BLR Pods pitch too, and even at 70 per cent capacity, they were profitable, they have done optimum utilisation of real estate. Your positioning is not so sharp that you can make profits, and your numbers show that too." While opting out, Anupam Mittal said the problem with the concept was that they positioned it as a luxury, which raises the expectation." This cannot be the definition of luxury; your missions were quite underwhelming, so I am out," he said. Similar was the feedback for BLR Pods. First Published: March 11, 2026, 17:29 IST News movies television Shark Tank India 5: boAts Aman Gupta Calls Pod Hotel Pitch Useless Concept Opinion | Bangladesh After Poll Results: Jamaat's Rise Is A Wake-Up Call For India Written By : Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 13:19 IST Though the Jamaat's total tally of seats in the general elections is minuscule as compared to the BNP, its performance is, by all measures, a red alert for secularists and India Rapid Read Supporters of the Jamaat-e-Islami party attend a rally on the final day of campaigning for the general elections, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on February 9, 2026. (Image: AFP) The BNPs main contender was the Islamist Jamaat-i-Islami, which won 66 seats in the recently held general elections. Several south Asian geopolitical analysts and members of Indias security establishment expressed jubilation over the poor electoral performance of the Jamaat-i-Islami vis-a-vis the BNP, calling the election results a popular mandate against the Jamaats Islamisation agenda and its supporters in GHQ Rawalpindi. Though the Jamaats total tally of seats is minuscule as compared to the BNP, its performance is, by all measures, a red alert for secularists and India. Its much-hyped and publicised election campaign, loaded with religious and anti-India rhetoric; its instrumental role in organising events and conferences on Islamist themes after former prime minister Sheikh Hasinas ouster; electoral success of its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir in university polls; the Muhammad Yunus governments diplomatic shift towards Pakistan and its engagement by the western diplomatic missions, gave an impression that it was a fierce contender most likely to clinch a decisive electoral victory against the BNP or form a government in coalition. Objective assessments, however, never predicted a massive win. Hence, its failure to form a government is along expected lines. But, the Jamaats victory on 66 seats, though not unexpected, indicates a major ideological shift in the Bangladeshi society. Its performance needs to be analysed in the context of its history. Jamaat is an Islamist organisation, formed by Islamist theologian Maulana Syed Abul Ala Maududi in 1941, which advocates managing state affairs in accordance with sharia. It stood with Pakistan in the 1971 liberation war and its association with bands of Pakistan-backed Razakar irregulars in unleashing atrocities, including rapes and mass murder, made it and its vision an object of hatred in Bangladesh for many decades after that. During the Hasina government, the state authorities executed many Jamaat leaders for their involvement in war crimes. Today, however, following the 1971 liberation war, it has come a long way from exclusion and marginalisation. In the August 2024 revolution drama aimed at dislodging Hasina, Jamaat played a critical role. Its student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir, was instrumental in mobilising student protests. During the 15 months of unrest and uncertainty following Hasinas ouster, Jamaat allegedly mobilised several mass protests and lynchings in which the minority Hindus were killed. Its electoral success simply demonstrates that it is no longer a fringe player. Today, it enjoys acceptance and legitimacy in Bangladeshi society. It has a strong presence in universities, colleges, government institutions, and banks, and it owns a robust funding infrastructure. With strong links to Islamist welfare organisations and charities in the West and with Pakistan, Turkey, and Qatar, Jamaat commands a robust international outreach in the Muslim world. Over the last few months, several European embassies and the US mission in Dhaka have met with Jamaat leaders on multiple occasions. In October 2025, Dr Shafiqur Rahman, emir (chief) of Jamaat-i-Islami in Bangladesh, gave a speech in New York. Further, in its bid to mainstream itself, it is also making efforts to create a moderate image by moderating its views on women and giving a ticket to a Hindu minority individual. But the fact remains that Jamaat is an Islamist organisation with covert and overt links to domestic and global jihadist groups. Following the Yunus governments lifting of the ban on Jamaat, its influence over the interim government strengthened. Its influence on policy decisions allegedly led to the release of several Islamists, with dubious links to regional and global terror outfits, like Ansarullah Bangla, Jamaat-ul-Mujahiddin Bangladesh. Reportedly, under the overarching umbrella of its facilitation, Pakistan-backed terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad increased their presence in Bangladesh, building sleeper cells, funding conduits, and covert operational bases. The problem with Islamist parties is not their political weight based on their electoral performance. In government, they tend to make constitutional, legal and administrative changes favourable to the Islamist agenda. But they face several limitations if they intend to run successful governments. They must make compromises and accommodate secular parties in coalitions. It discourages their hardliners and motivates them to defect to more extremist alternatives, broadening the Islamist spectrum. Once out of the system, they do much more damage. Because of their apolitical image and religious legitimacy, they command much stronger popular support. The greatest harm they cause stems from their ideology and overwhelming influence across social, educational, religious, media, financial, cultural, and other public spheres. They nurture a fertile ground where suicide bombers, fidayeens and terrorist masterminds germinate. They shape the mainstream popular discourse and perception, exercise power over the street, facilitate the spread and work of jihadi terrorist organisations and coerce the individual members of society, directly or indirectly, to fall in line with their directives. To understand Jamaat better, one must study its operations in Pakistan and Kashmir, where it forms the core of the jihadist ecosystem. In many countries, the mainstreaming of Islamist parties in electoral politics has opened the floodgates of Islamism, facilitating the spread of jihadi terrorist groups. Ultimately, it leads to chaos and governance failure, which is generally halted by military intervention. If Bangladesh is by any chance moving towards the stated trajectory, South Asia will lose another reasonably functional democracy to a military dictatorship. However, the Bangladesh Army has so far maintained a dignified distance from politics. Nevertheless, given past precedents, its future intervention cannot be ruled out. In Bangladesh, also, the mainstreaming of Jamaat has opened the floodgates for more radical and extremist Islamist organisations. Its opponent group, Hefazat-e-Islam, is far ahead in its jihadist credentials. It criticises Jamaat; however, it is expanding its influence in public spaces. In the future, given the upward trajectory of Islamism in Bangladesh, Jamaat is likely to enhance its electoral performance and extreme radical outfits like Hefazat-e-Islam will make substantial inroads in politics. To sum it up, the countrys mainstream sociocultural and political discourse has taken a sharp right turn, opening ample opportunities for Islamist political parties. Further, it is pertinent to mention that the rise of Islamism in Bangladesh is interacting with religious and political developments in the Muslim world of West Asia and South Asia. This, in turn, will likely give a further boost to Islamism in the country. (The author is a policy analyst specialising in counterterrorism, Indian foreign policy and Afghanistan-Pakistan geopolitics. He has done his PhD on Jaish-e-Mohammad. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views) First Published: March 11, 2026, 13:19 IST News opinion Opinion | Bangladesh After Poll Results: Jamaat's Rise Is A Wake-Up Call For India 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 | The Great Pivot: How India Is Balancing The New Multipolar World Written By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 17:35 IST Ultimately, it is Sanatana Dharma that provides the key to navigating this complexity, and Bharat is embracing this approach by leveraging its inherent strengths Rapid Read EU Chief Ursula von der Leyen and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (Reuters/File) Throughout history, a pivot state occupies a unique position in the global order, acquiring leverage between warring states, even at times without having the heft of the major players in the conflict. In plain terms, and as its name suggests, a pivot serves as a fulcrum upon which rests the balance of power between the multiple competing powers or empires. However, history has also shown that pivot states do not remain pivots indefinitely. The sheer exhaustion of continual monkey-balancing often (and automatically) forces a pivot state to move towards a more definitive alignment. It either becomes a proxy of one of the major states or graduates to become a major power in its own right. The best recent example of the pivot state was during the great European conflicts of the 17th and 18th centuries, when England and Russia served as pivots for the European subcontinent, easily able to tilt the continental balance of power in smaller conflicts. In the extreme case, no European power could win a war if, by mischance, it alienated both these pivots, which were at the geographical extremities of the continent, forming a giant nutcracker that could destroy anything in the middle if it chose to fight both. This was a lesson that both Napoleon and Hitler failed to understand and refused to accept that a pivot state, by refusing to assimilate, can eventually determine the fate of the hegemon. India chose a cautious entry into the world of geopolitics when it became independent, with a mixture of pragmatism, half-heartedness and altruism, preferring to stay non-aligned with respect to both world hegemons of the post-World War 2 era, the United States and the Soviet Union. With three other relatively poor countries, Egypt, Indonesia and Yugoslavia, all suffering from a post-colonial hangover, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) was indeed a remarkable show of collective doughtiness in a strongly bipolar world where if one was not an ally, one was an enemy. The only fig-leaf of respectability that NAM could hold on to was the pretence of multilateralism, which was more a polite way of enforcing the rules-based order of the US in the so-called free world" or the jackboots-based order of the Warsaw Pact countries. The collapse of the USSR in 1991 marked a significant turning point in international relations, leading to a decline in the relevance of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). During this period, the geopolitical landscape transitioned from a bipolar world, dominated by the US and the USSR, to a monopolar one characterised by the United States asserting itself as the global authority and worlds policeman." This monopolar dominance persisted until the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. However, geopolitical dynamics are subject to change, and the rise of Chinafacilitated by US assistancecoupled with a growing disillusionment with NATO, particularly from Russia, led to the emergence of a new doctrine: the multipolar paradigm. This development signifies a profound reorganisation among states, moving from simplistic binary categories to a more complex understanding of international relations. Countries began to perceive themselves not just as individual entities but as integral parts of larger, interconnected systems. During this transformative period, India redefined its national identity, increasingly viewing itself not merely as India, but as Bharat, a significant player on the Eurasian landmass, echoing the ideas of geopolitician Halford John Mackinder. This shift reflects a broader recognition of the intricate relationships among nations in a multipolar world. The recent, highly anticipated India-EU agreement, often referred to as the mother of all deals," marks a significant milestone that took 20 years to finalise. This event highlights how thoroughly India has grasped its crucial role in the evolving global landscape. India has skillfully navigated relations with four major playersthe US, Russia, China, and Europesecuring favourable positions with each, while maintaining a delicate balance that avoids crossing any lines with these powers, despite the often-fluctuating dynamics among them. India has reached an initial trade deal with the United States while maintaining a balance in its energy purchases from Russia. The country has gradually reduced its dependence on Russian oil without causing offence to Russia. At the same time, India has committed to buying oil from Venezuela, paying for it in dollars as preferred by the US. China, traditionally viewed as a rival, has been forced to purchase the surplus Russian oil in a sellers market. However, it recognises the need for India as a market to export its goods, especially at a time when it is reluctant to send money abroad in order to strengthen its position in distant regions. As a result, China cannot afford to offend India too much. Under the agreement with the European Union, India gains access to high-quality European goods, which will help foster a greater appreciation for quality in a country where it has been lacking. In return, Europe gains access to Indias vast domestic market. This deal aims to boost manufacturing in India, creating jobs as service-related employment declines due to AI advancements. The trade agreement with Europe comes at an opportune time, revitalising Europes economic standing. It also catalysed Indias trade deal with the US, signed shortly after the EU pact. Notably, India has achieved these goals while maintaining its domestic interests as the focus of its foreign policy. As noted by the Greek Foreign Minister, India has transitioned from a second-choice country to an indispensable partner for the great powers, including Europe. Looking at the EU deal in a geostrategic context, it can be seen as a team-up of two weaker powers, India and Europe, against two stronger ones, the US and China, with Russia possibly serving as a new pivot, with India expending minimal political capital. This is classical Chanakyan thinking. A traditional pivot state in a simple bipolar or unipolar world suffers from the obvious disadvantage that it can end up offending either power between which it pivots when its monkey-balancing cannot go further. Bharat has now found that it is possibly easier to pivot in a complex, multipolar world than in a simple bipolar one, because complexity, in and of itself, implies balancing. By thinking of itself as a useful and tactful intermediary in a number of small binaries, it can acquire an identity as the sole pivot in a non-binary world. It is a truism that in any complex system, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Never has this been truer than in Indias handling of the other four entities, the US, China, Russia and the EU, today. It is the return of the pivot, but it is a pivot that is operating on new and complex ground rules. In effect, India has reclaimed its role with a degree of sophistication and has moved beyond its age-old policy of mere survival to actively participating in the reshaping of the disintegrating world order. The pivot is also serving its own economic interestsand how! It is enlightening to compare Bharat and China concerning their attitudes toward simplicity and complexity. A key distinction between the rise of Bharat and China lies in their respective strategic schools of thought. The philosophy of Sun Tzu emphasises direct confrontation with opponents, employing deception if necessary, with the ultimate aim of defeating the adversary in battle. In contrast, Chanakyas perspective differs significantly. He does not perceive the world as merely a series of confrontations or wars; rather, he views it as a complex system, a permanent state of existence where the balancing of mandalas creates a situation in which many can succeed. This approach to balancing differs from what might be termed monkey-balancing", especially if understood in its usual context. In this comparison, one might argue that the Chinese state is not truly civilisational. Unlike Bharat, it operates as a comparatively simple top-down system optimised for centralised control, influenced by Confucian principles. This simplicity shapes its interactions with others as one would expect in any straightforward system. In todays increasingly multipolar world, weve turned to the framework of complex systems to better understand the dynamics of interactions between global entities. The dissolution of the Soviet Union marked a pivotal transition from a unipolar world dominated by direct, confrontational power to a complex interplay characterised by weaker, more nuanced interactions. In this new landscape, the cumulative effect of these weak interactions has become crucial. Ultimately, it is Sanatana Dharma that provides the key to navigating this complexity, and Bharat is embracing this approach by leveraging its inherent strengths. Gautam Desiraju is a Professor Emeritus in IISc Bengaluru and Visiting Distinguished Professor in UPES Dehradun. Venkatakrishnan Asuri is a B.Tech student in IIT Madras. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: March 11, 2026, 17:32 IST News opinion Opinion | The Great Pivot: How India Is Balancing The New Multipolar World 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 | Why The Great Nicobar Project Matters More Than Ever Written By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 14:41 IST By recognising Great Nicobars potential and advancing its development, the Modi government has taken a key step to strengthen Indias long-term security and economic resilience. Rapid Read The proposed airport will come up on Great Nicobar Island, Indias southernmost island, located barely 180 kilometres from Sumatra in Indonesia. (News18) In an increasingly volatile geopolitical environment, nations are rediscovering the importance of geography. Strategic locations that were once overlooked are now emerging as decisive assets in the contest for economic and military influence. The ongoing Israel-Iran war has once again demonstrated how fragile global supply chains can become when key maritime routes are threatened. Against this backdrop, Indias ambitious Great Nicobar development project, including a strategic airport and transshipment hub close to the Malacca shipping route, stands out as one of the most forward-looking initiatives of the Modi government. Conceived under his leadership, the project is not merely an infrastructure initiative but a long-term strategic investment that could transform Indias maritime and security posture in the Indo-Pacific. At a time when supply chains are being repeatedly disrupted by conflict and great-power competition, the importance of India nurturing such strategic assets has never been clearer. A Strategic Asset The Great Nicobar project aims to transform Indias southernmost island into a major logistics and strategic hub. It includes a deep-water international container transshipment port, a greenfield international airport capable of handling both civilian and military operations, along with supporting infrastructure such as power facilities and a township to sustain economic activity. The true strength of the project lies in its location. Great Nicobar sits very close to the Strait of Malacca, one of the busiest maritime corridors in the world. This narrow waterway links the Indian Ocean to the Pacific and carries a massive share of global trade, including large volumes of oil shipments headed towards East Asia. From a strategic perspective, the island lies only about forty nautical miles from the main shipping route that passes through the strait. Such proximity gives India a powerful vantage point over one of the most critical sea lanes of communication in the world. Infrastructure developed in this location would allow India to monitor maritime traffic far more effectively, provide logistics support to ships and aircraft, and maintain a stronger naval presence in the eastern Indian Ocean. For decades, countries like Singapore have benefited enormously from their position along these trade routes. The Great Nicobar project offers India the opportunity to harness similar advantages and become a major maritime logistics player in its own right. Lessons from the Israel-Iran Conflict Recent global events have starkly illustrated the vulnerability of supply chains. The Russia-Ukraine war disrupted energy flows across Europe, attacks on shipping in the Red Sea have threatened international trade, and the escalating confrontation between Israel and Iran has further heightened concerns about the security of maritime chokepoints. When such conflicts intensify, critical shipping corridors can quickly become pressure points in global trade. Insurance costs for shipping surge, freight rates climb, and the ripple effects are felt across economies thousands of miles away. For a country like India, whose economy depends heavily on maritime trade and energy imports, the stability of these sea routes is of paramount importance. In this context, the strengthening of Indias strategic presence near the Malacca Strait becomes not just desirable but essential. The Great Nicobar project provides India with the infrastructure needed to monitor shipping lanes, support naval operations, and protect the maritime arteries that sustain its economic growth. Modi Governments Strategic Vision The project reflects a broader strategic vision of the Modi government one that recognises the Indo-Pacific as the centre of global geopolitics in the twenty-first century. For decades after independence, Indias island territories were underdeveloped despite their immense strategic potential. Policymakers acknowledged their importance, but the necessary investments and infrastructure never materialised. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has begun to take a far more proactive approach. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands already host Indias only tri-service command, underscoring their strategic importance. The Great Nicobar project builds on this foundation by creating a powerful maritime and aviation hub that strengthens Indias operational reach across the eastern Indian Ocean. A major component of the project is the proposed container transshipment port at Galathea Bay. Its natural depth makes it capable of accommodating some of the worlds largest cargo vessels. At present, a significant portion of Indias cargo is transshipped through foreign ports such as Singapore or Colombo. Developing a domestic transshipment hub would reduce this dependence, lower logistics costs, and improve Indias trade competitiveness. The proposed airport will also serve a dual purpose. While it will boost civilian connectivity and economic activity in the region, it will simultaneously function as a strategic airbase capable of supporting military operations and maritime surveillance across the Indo-Pacific. A Contrast with the Congress Era The importance of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands has long been recognised by defence planners. Yet successive governments, particularly those led by the Indian National Congress, failed to translate this understanding into concrete action. For decades, Indias island territories remained relatively neglected from both economic and strategic perspectives. Infrastructure development was limited, and large-scale investments that could have transformed these islands into maritime hubs were repeatedly delayed. This reflected a broader pattern of strategic hesitancy that often characterised Indias national security approach during those years. Meanwhile, other countries were rapidly strengthening their maritime infrastructure and expanding their strategic footprints across the Indo-Pacific. Ports, logistics hubs, and naval facilities were being developed across Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean region. The Modi governments decision to push forward the Great Nicobar project represents a decisive shift from that earlier inertia. By recognising the long-term strategic value of the island and committing to its development, the government has demonstrated a willingness to think several decades ahead. Economic Promise Alongside Strategic Power While the strategic importance of the project is undeniable, its economic potential is equally significant. The creation of a world-class transshipment hub could transform Indias role in global maritime logistics. A substantial share of cargo currently handled by foreign ports could instead pass through an Indian facility located close to one of the worlds busiest shipping lanes. The port is expected to handle millions of containers annually once fully developed, placing India among the major maritime logistics hubs in Asia. Alongside this, the project is likely to stimulate tourism, trade, and infrastructure development in the Andaman and Nicobar region, which has historically remained economically isolated. Such development would bring employment opportunities and new economic activity to a remote region while simultaneously strengthening Indias maritime economy. A Strategic Investment for the Future Large infrastructure projects of national importance inevitably face scrutiny and debate, particularly when they involve ecologically sensitive regions or significant financial commitments. However, history repeatedly shows that countries willing to invest early in strategic infrastructure often gain long-term advantages. Singapores transformation into a global shipping hub and Dubais rise as a logistics powerhouse were both the result of visionary investments made decades earlier. The Great Nicobar project represents a similar opportunity for India. As global trade patterns evolve and geopolitical tensions continue to shape maritime routes, the island could emerge as one of the most valuable strategic assets in the Indo-Pacific. The turbulence currently gripping global geopolitics from conflicts in West Asia to intensifying great-power rivalry has reaffirmed a fundamental truth: geography still shapes power. Nations that recognise the strategic value of key locations and invest in them early are better prepared to navigate an uncertain world. By recognising the immense potential of Great Nicobar and pushing forward its development, the Modi government has taken an important step towards strengthening Indias long-term security and economic resilience. In an era when supply chains can be disrupted overnight and maritime chokepoints can become flashpoints of geopolitical tension, such foresight may prove invaluable in the decades ahead. (The writer is a national spokesperson of the BJP and an acclaimed author. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.) First Published: March 11, 2026, 14:39 IST News opinion Opinion | Why The Great Nicobar Project Matters More Than Ever 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 11, 2026, 12:22 IST 1 / 16 In a heartfelt farewell message, RN Ravi, outgoing Governor of Tamil Nadu, thanked the people of the state for their love and support over the past 54 months, describing his time among them as the "golden days" of his life. He said that the love, warmth, and cultural richness he experienced during his tenure would remain unforgettable. In his message, he said, My heartfelt thanks to all the people of Tamil Nadu. For the past 54 months, I have spent time with you, enjoyed your love, and felt proud of Tamil and the Tamil people. Even though I now have to leave you due to circumstances in life, there is no doubt that the days I spent with you were the golden days of my life. 2 / 16 Governor RN Ravi said the names and thoughts of great Tamil personalities filled his heart like an endless treasure. Among those he mentioned were Subramania Bharati, Kambar, Ramalinga Swamigal (Vallalar), Ayya Vaikundar, Thiruvalluvar, Kaniyan Poongundranar, UV Swaminatha Iyer, DK Chidambaranatha Mudaliar, Puli Thevar, Maruthu Brothers, Velu Nachiyar and Veerapandiya Kattabomman. He also remembered the Tamil heroes who stood alongside Subhas Chandra Bose in the Indian National Army, noting that their courage and sacrifice had shaped the spirit of the nation. ADVERTISEMENT 3 / 16 Recalling the beginning of his tenure, he said he took charge as Governor of Tamil Nadu in September 2021, when the effects of the COVID19 pandemic were still being felt across the country. Despite the difficult circumstances at the time, he said the warmth and support shown by the people of the state deeply touched him. 4 / 16 The Governor said that wherever he travelled in the state, he was greeted with smiles and kindness. He noted that the affection came not only from prominent personalities or elders but also from ordinary citizens and children, who welcomed him with curiosity in their eyes and warmth in their hearts. Because of this, he said he always felt like a member of the great Tamil family known for its human compassion. ADVERTISEMENT 5 / 16 He said that living in the state helped him truly understand the meaning of the famous lines praising Tamil Nadu as a land of great learning and the birthplace of the renowned poet Kambar. According to him, the people of Tamil Nadu have not merely studied from books but have deeply understood and expressed the wisdom of education through their lives. 6 / 16 RN Ravi also spoke about his personal spiritual and literary influences. From a young age, he said he had been accustomed to reading the Bhagavad Gita and Ramcharitmanas written by Tulsidas. Later, the epic Kamba Ramayanam by Tamil poet Kambar gave him an even broader perspective. He particularly admired Kambars philosophical line describing the divine as the one who plays countless roles. He added that the love for this great Tamil poet and for the depiction of Rama in Kambars work inspired the people of Chennai to establish Kambar Vanam in the Raj Bhavan Chennai and install a statue honouring the king of poets. He said that just as people recite the sacred verses of Thiruvasagam, he hopes to read at least parts of the Kamba Ramayanam and enjoy its beauty. If students and the younger generation are encouraged to read such works, he said, it would undoubtedly promote virtue, prosperity, and happiness in society. ADVERTISEMENT 7 / 16 During his tenure, he said he had numerous opportunities to experience the many dimensions of Tamil culture. These included the social vision expressed in Sangam Literature, the timeless wisdom of Thiruvalluvar, modern Tamil literature, and traditional customs. He also interacted closely with scholars, intellectuals, and ordinary citizens of Tamil Nadu, which he described as deeply joyful moments. 8 / 16 Reflecting on education, he recalled the words of Swami Vivekananda, who said that education is the process that helps the divine within each person to blossom. According to him, reading Tamil literature, from ancient Sangam works to religious texts, can provide this kind of profound education. ADVERTISEMENT 9 / 16 The Governor said that during his time in office he travelled extensively across the state. He journeyed from the capital Chennai to remote villages in Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari, from the eastern coast to the western hill regions, visiting numerous towns and communities. Although villages differed in size, structure, and customs, he observed that the spirit of the people, marked by hard work, intelligence, and joy in labour, remained the same everywhere. 10 / 16 He said the same enthusiasm and energy were visible among students as well as elders. Whether it was discussions about advanced technology or the practical work of agriculture, he noticed the same level of dedication and attention to detail. The youth of Tamil Nadu, he said, clearly understand modernity and excellence. They are highly skilled in using advanced technologies and even apply artificial intelligence effectively in universities and educational institutions. ADVERTISEMENT 11 / 16 Visits to educational institutions left a strong impression on him. He praised the energy and talent of students preparing for competitive examinations and those participating in training programmes and academic events. These interactions, he said, were deeply inspiring and motivating, describing them as an "enriching experience". 12 / 16 Among the many remarkable aspects of Tamil Nadu, he said the temples stand as the greatest symbols of cultural heritage. He mentioned Nataraja of Chidambaram and Ranganatha of Srirangam, saying they are like family members to the people of Tamil Nadu who continue to bless and protect the Tamil-speaking world. ADVERTISEMENT 13 / 16 Temple sculptures, murals, moral displays, and ancient inscriptions, he said, are priceless treasures of Indian civilisation that must be preserved and studied by scholars and young people. 14 / 16 He also highlighted the crucial role played by Tamils in Indias freedom movement. He recalled the struggles of figures such as Puli Thevar, Veerapandiya Kattabomman, Velu Nachiyar and the Maruthu Brothers. The historic Vellore Rebellion of 1806, he noted, took place many years before the Indian Rebellion of 1857. ADVERTISEMENT 15 / 16 He also remembered national leaders and reformers such as VO Chidambaram Pillai, Subramania Siva, Tiruppur Kumaran, Muthulakshmi Reddy, Rukmini Lakshmipathi and Ambujammal, who worked tirelessly for the nation, social reform, and womens empowerment. Their sacrifices and ideals, he said, continue to inspire the country. CNN name, logo and all associated elements and 2026 Cable News Network LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company. All rights reserved. CNN and the CNN logo are registered marks of Cable News Network, LP LLLP, displayed with permission. Use of the CNN name and/or logo on or as part of NEWS18.com does not derogate from the intellectual property rights of Cable News Network in respect of them. Copyright Network18 Media and Investments Ltd 2026. All rights reserved. Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 13:37 IST 1 / 7 According to reports, a six-lane greenfield expressway of about 31.42 kilometres is being constructed to directly link Delhi-Faridabad-Ballabhgarh-Sohna with Noida International Airport. Of the total route, around 22-24 kilometres will pass through Haryana, while approximately 7-9 kilometres will fall in Uttar Pradesh. 2 / 7 Once the expressway becomes operational, the journey from Faridabad to the airport will take only about 15 to 20 minutes. ADVERTISEMENT 3 / 7 The project is being developed by the National Highways Authority of India. The authority aims to complete the expressway by April 2027. However, some sections of the road may be opened to traffic in the coming months as construction work progresses rapidly. Once completed, the corridor will significantly reduce travel time from South Delhi, Faridabad, and Gurugram to Jewar Airport. This improved connectivity is expected to boost business, trade, and logistics across the entire National Capital Region (NCR). 4 / 7 According to reports, around 1,200 pillars have already been constructed for the project. Work is also underway to install girders across the Yamuna River, which will support the elevated section of the expressway. The new corridor will link with several major transport routes, including the Eastern Peripheral Expressway, Yamuna Expressway, and the Dedicated Freight Corridor. These connections will significantly strengthen the regions multimodal transport network. ADVERTISEMENT 5 / 7 The project will also include an elevated highway of around 11 kilometres. This section will create a crucial link between the DND-Ballabhgarh bypass and Noida International Airport. In addition, the corridor will connect directly to the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, providing high-speed connectivity to the airport and strengthening the logistics network. 6 / 7 Expressway To Pass Through 18 Villages: The expressway will pass through 18 villages across Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, a development expected to boost real estate growth and commercial activity in these areas. The villages in Haryana include Shahpur, Sotai, Chandawali, Bahbalpur, Fafunda, Panhera Khurd, Narhawali, Mehmadpur, Heerapur, Mohana, Kalan, and Baghpur, while the villages in Uttar Pradesh are Jhupa, Phalaida Bangar, Amarpur, Karauli Bangar, Vallabhnagar, and Dayanatpur. ADVERTISEMENT Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 14:58 IST 1 / 10 For one family in Uttar Pradesh, February 24 was supposed to be a day of mourning. Vineeta Shukla, a 50-year-old woman from Pilibhit, had been declared brain-dead after days of critical illness. Doctors had reportedly given little hope of survival and her family had already begun preparing for her last rites. Her husband, Kuldeep Kumar Shukla, arranged an ambulance to take her back home from Bareilly. The atmosphere inside the vehicle was heavy with grief and silence. No one expected the journey to turn into something extraordinary. 2 / 10 According to the family, Vineeta had shown almost no signs of life before the ambulance left the hospital. Kuldeep later recalled telling relatives to prepare for her funeral. Her breathing had stopped and the heartbeat appeared extremely faint. For the family, the worst had already been accepted. The ambulance slowly moved along the BareillyHaridwar highway carrying what everyone believed was a lifeless body. But the road ahead had an unexpected twist. ADVERTISEMENT 3 / 10 The ambulance was travelling on the pothole-ridden stretch of National Highway-74 near Hafizganj. The journey was routine, but the road conditions were far from smooth. Kuldeep later described how the vehicle suddenly lurched violently after hitting a deep pothole. The impact shook everyone inside the ambulance. For a brief moment, it seemed like just another bump on a rough highway. But seconds later, something unusual began to happen. 4 / 10 Moments after the jolt, Kuldeep noticed something that left him stunned. His wife appeared to show signs of breathing again. The change was subtle at first but quickly became noticeable. Those inside the ambulance looked at each other in disbelief. What they were witnessing did not match the grim reality they had accepted just minutes earlier. Within moments, panic turned into hope. ADVERTISEMENT 5 / 10 Earlier medical reports had painted a grim picture. Vineetas brainstem reflexes were reportedly absent and doctors had noted dilated pupils, indicating severe neurological damage. Her Glasgow Coma Scale had dropped to three, which signals deep unconsciousness. Heavy neurotoxins were also detected in her bloodstream, according to doctors who later examined her condition. In medical terms, her chances of recovery had seemed almost nonexistent. Yet what happened next stunned everyone. 6 / 10 The violent jolt from the pothole appeared to trigger a response. Kuldeep noticed his wife breathing more normally again. Shocked and hopeful, he immediately called family members and asked them to halt the funeral preparations. The ambulance quickly diverted its route and rushed to Neurocity Hospital in Pilibhit. Doctors there began emergency treatment and closely monitored her condition. What followed surprised even medical professionals. ADVERTISEMENT 7 / 10 At Neurocity Hospital, doctors reviewed her earlier medical reports before beginning treatment. Neurosurgeon Dr Rakesh Singh said the team carefully studied her diagnosis and started intensive care. The presence of neurotoxins in her body had complicated the case, but treatment began immediately. Over time, Vineeta began responding to medical care. Her family later said she was not only awake but also speaking again. For them, the highway incident felt nothing short of a miracle. 8 / 10 This is not the only incident where a sudden jolt during an ambulance ride changed the outcome. In December 2023, a similar story emerged from Kolhapur in Maharashtra. Sixty-five-year-old Pandurang Ulpe had suffered a heart attack and was declared dead by doctors at a private hospital. His family had begun the journey home with his body in an ambulance. Relatives and neighbours were already preparing for the funeral. But fate had another surprise waiting. ADVERTISEMENT 9 / 10 While the ambulance was travelling toward his home, it crossed a speed breaker. The sudden bump caused a slight movement in Ulpes fingers. His wife noticed the movement and immediately alerted others in the vehicle. The ambulance quickly turned back toward a hospital. Doctors admitted him for treatment and he later underwent an angioplasty. After two weeks of care, Ulpe was able to walk home. 'NDA Vs Tamil Nadu': Poster War Emerges In Tamil Nadu Ahead Of PM Modi's Visit Reported By : CNN-News18 Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 13:57 IST The DMK has framed this election as a struggle between the NDA and the state of Tamil Nadu. Posters attacking NDA appear in Tamil Nadu ahead of PM Modi's visit. (Image: News18) Earlier on Monday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, while addressing the DMK conference in Trichy, said, The state will always be a no-entry zone for the BJP and the NDA. The fight is between the people of Tamil Nadu and the NDA." For everything Tamil Nadu asks, for the NDA that says no to everything, Tamil Nadu will also say no. Entry is always no for you here. For your Dappa Engine, Tamil Nadu will always say No Entry," Stalin said. Stalins comments came ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis scheduled visit to the state on Wednesday. PM Modi is set to lay the foundation stone for multiple development projects worth about 5,650 crore rupees in Tiruchirappalli today. BJP Hits Back Responding to Stalins comments, the BJP hit back at the DMK with Union minister Piyush Goyal stating the DMK chief is making such remarks as he is in an uncomfortable position as his position is threatened by his own son. I am sure that MK Stalin is feeling uncomfortable because his own position is threatened by his son. I doubt MK Stalin will be made the Chief Minister by Udhayanidhi Stalin. His insecurities are reflected when he tries to lob the ball with such irresponsible comments," Goyal said. The Union minister said that MK Stalin has understood that his endgame in terms of being Tamil Nadu CM is coming closer. Udhayanidhi Stalin is his biggest threat within the party. The people of Tamil Nadu will never accept an anti-Tamil person, somebody who cannot understand Tamil pride, somebody who is totally against Tamil culture. Udhayanidhi Stalin is not acceptable to the people of Tamil Nadu," he added. The war of words between the DMK and the BJP is continuously escalating as the state is heading closer towards the Assembly elections. This time, the NDA is hoping to make inroads in the state. Location : Tamil Nadu, India, India First Published: March 11, 2026, 13:57 IST News politics 'NDA Vs Tamil Nadu': Poster War Emerges In Tamil Nadu Ahead Of PM Modi'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... Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon, on March 10, 2026. The death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on Lebanon has risen to 570, with 1,444 others wounded since the escalation began on March 2, figures released on Tuesday by the Disaster Risk Management Unit at the Lebanese Council of Ministers showed. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua) BEIRUT, March 10 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on Lebanon has risen to 570, with 1,444 others wounded since the escalation began on March 2, figures released on Tuesday by the Disaster Risk Management Unit at the Lebanese Council of Ministers showed. The conflict has triggered large-scale displacement across the country. About 759,300 people have been registered as displaced, according to government data. Authorities said 122,600 displaced people are currently staying in 580 shelters set up across various regions to house families forced to flee their homes amid the continuing hostilities. Meanwhile, Israel carried out three airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs on Tuesday afternoon, Lebanon's National News Agency reported, and continued strikes on several areas in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah said it launched rockets from Lebanon toward Israel early on March 2 for the first time since a ceasefire was declared on Nov. 27, 2024. The move prompted the Lebanese government to ban the group's security and military activities, limiting it to political work and requiring it to hand over its weapons. The Israeli military said it had launched what it described as an "offensive military campaign" against Hezbollah, carrying out heavy airstrikes across multiple Lebanese areas and conducting ground incursions near the border. It also warned residents to evacuate areas south of the Litani River and Beirut's southern suburbs. Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon, on March 10, 2026. The death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on Lebanon has risen to 570, with 1,444 others wounded since the escalation began on March 2, figures released on Tuesday by the Disaster Risk Management Unit at the Lebanese Council of Ministers showed. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua) Editor: GSY Rahul Gandhi Is Betting Big On Gen-Z To Revive Congress. Will The Gamble Work? Written By : CNN-News18 Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 13:48 IST Those close to the LoP say he is impressed with the fact that in Indias neighbourhood, change in leadership has been preceded by protests and dismantling traditional structures Rapid Read For Rahul Gandhi, what the Youth Congress workers did was just a trailer. (PTI) Does this mean Rahul Gandhi has a plan of action? The Congress leaders intense dislike for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government is obvious. He makes no bones about the fact that he doesnt think that basic courtesies and protocol need to be followed, especially since he now holds a constitutional position as LoP. Hence, he wants to dismantle and question every present institution as he sees it as not as the countrys institution, but as the prime ministers. While the BJP sees this behaviour as an insult to the institutions and the country, Rahul Gandhi and the Congress see it as holding the government to ransom and accountable. This is the first step of the LoPs plan. The ultimate goal, of course, is to seize power. If not now then in 2029. In fact, those close to Rahul Gandhi say he is impressed with the fact that in Indias neighbourhood, change in leadership has been preceded by protests and dismantling the traditional and conventional structures. He is also convinced that no matter how much effort Congress puts in, the faulty electoral mechanismas per himgives little hope of change of guard at the Centre. Even in 2029. So, Gandhi hopes that India will see a repeat of what happened in Bangladesh, where student protests forced Sheikh Hasina to flee, which brought in a new government. Or in Nepal, where a 35-year-old rapper is on the way to become the prime minister after the country saw massive protests. The scene was repeated in Sri Lanka too, where the Left-leaning regime came in after people took to the streets. In all three cases, its the Gen-Z that forced the change. Gandhi is pinning his hopes on a similar situation in India where the restless youth, frustrated by lack of jobs and soaring ambition, will take to the streets to bring a change of guard. For Rahul Gandhi, what the Youth Congress workers did was just a trailer. He hopes that the protest will be a cue to many others, including those who are not necessarily with the Congress. It is for this reason that Gandhi has, over the last few weeks, met up with people from segments of society that he believes have the potential of being rebelsDalits, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and farmers. Despite this, Gandhis heart is set on Gen-Z who he thinks can be his engine of change and growth. But given the nature of the youth who dont seem to have backed the Congress wholeheartedly in polls, will this plan of Rahul Gandhi work? Or will his rebellion be without a cause? First Published: March 11, 2026, 13:48 IST News politics Rahul Gandhi Is Betting Big On Gen-Z To Revive Congress. Will The Gamble Work? 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... Food Delivery Rider Arrives Late, Customer Hammers Him Assuming He Ate A Part Of The Order Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 08:00 IST An angry customer vented out against the delivery rider over a missing sandwich and arriving late at the destination. The back and forth between the two was shared online. (Photo Credit: X) Yet another story of a food delivery rider being subjected to disrespect and mistreatment by a riled-up customer has emerged on the Indian social media. In the latest incident, a food delivery person was reportedly lambasted by an angry woman as she felt miffed over his late arrival and the missing part of her order for the cold coffee and sandwich. A post shared online claimed that the customer vented her frustration over the poor delivery guy for skipping the sandwich in the order and bringing only the cold coffee. While the woman suspected that the delivery guy ate her sandwich, in his defence the man said: the restaurant didnt give me any sandwich." Disrespect Over A Single Cold Coffee An account on X, formerly known as Twitter, claimed that the conversation between the delivery rider and the customer unfolded as such: Rider: Maam, your order." Customer: Does it take this long to bring a cold coffee and a sandwich? I ordered an hour ago." Rider: Maam, I came as soon as the restaurant handed me the order." Customer: Where is the sandwich? Did you eat it?" Rider: Maam, the restaurant didnt give me any sandwich." Customer: Who do you think you are to talk like that?" Rider: Maam, lets not talk about status. If status really mattered, we wouldnt be surviving on your Rs 144 order." Just imagine the level of disrespect over a single cold coffee. Rider: Ma'am, your order. Customer: Does it take this long to bring a cold coffee and a sandwich? I ordered an hour ago. Rider: Ma'am, I came as soon as the restaurant handed me the order. Customer: Where is pic.twitter.com/pqmtBYC9j4 Bharat Mata ke Sewak (@PatrioticSoul33) March 9, 2026 According to the post, the food delivery guy got late as the restaurant took longer to prepare the order and missed the sandwich the customer had ordered. But even as he pleaded innocence in the matter, the woman accused him of eating the sandwich and ignored his efforts to calm down the situation by reinforcing her class and status. The person sharing the post felt appalled at the level of disrespect over a single cold coffee." Drink It Yourself As the back and forth continued, the customer got angrier with the delivery rider and ended up throwing the cold coffee away while yelling, Drink it yourself." The post unveiling the back and forth between the delivery guy and the customer caught widespread attention online as people reflected upon the incident and gave their opinions on it. Respect should always be there. No delivery worker deserves to be insulted for doing his job," mentioned a person. Someone else opined, How people treat service workers reveals their real character." No order is worth humiliating someone. Delivery workers face long hours and tough conditions just to serve customers," commented one user. No order is indeed worth disrespecting and subjecting a hardworking delivery rider to such humiliation. The customer perhaps crossed the line in her response to what appeared like a mistake at the restaurants end in first preparing the order late and then skipping the sandwich in the package. Disclaimer: News18 could not verify the authenticity of the post. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: March 11, 2026, 08:00 IST News viral Food Delivery Rider Arrives Late, Customer Hammers Him Assuming He Ate A Part Of The Order 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... 1,300-Pound NASA Satellite To Crash Down To Earth After 14 Years In Orbit Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 09:31 IST A decommissioned NASA spacecraft weighing 1,323 pounds will re-enter Earth's atmosphere on March 10, 2023. Most of it is expected to burn up. NASA's Van Allen Probe A and Van Allen Probe B were designed to fly through and study Earth's radiation belts. (NASA) A decommissioned NASA spacecraft weighing about 1,323 pounds is expected to re-enter Earths atmosphere on March 10 (US time), nearly 14 years after it was launched into space. According to predictions by the US Space Force, the probe is expected to re-enter the atmosphere at around 7:45 pm EDT on March 10, with an uncertainty of plus or minus 24 hours. NASA said the spacecrafts return will be uncontrolled, meaning engineers cannot steer where it will fall. However, the space agency expects most of the satellite to burn up as it passes through the atmosphere. Some components are expected to survive re-entry," NASA said, but added that the risk of harm to people on Earth is very lowabout 1 in 4,200. Experts say such events are not unusual, as defunct satellites and rocket debris regularly fall back to Earth. Retired astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell told The New York Times that the re-entry may appear as a bright streak of light in the sky for those who happen to see it. For the average person, it will be a nice light in the sky if you get lucky and, otherwise, dont worry about it," he said. According to NASAs news release, both Van Allen Probe A and Van Allen Probe B flew through the Van Allen belts, rings of charged particles trapped by Earths magnetic field, to understand how particles were gained and lost," from 2012 to 2019. The Van Allen Probes mission helped scientists better understand how radiation belts around Earth behave and how solar activity affects satellites, astronauts and communication systems. Originally designed for a two-year mission, the probes continued collecting data for nearly seven years before NASA ended the mission after the spacecraft ran out of fuel. The belts shield Earth from cosmic radiation, solar storms, and the constantly streaming solar wind that are harmful to humans and can damage technology, so understanding them is important," it said. NASA had initially predicted that the probe would re-enter Earths atmosphere around 2034, but stronger solar activity in recent years increased atmospheric drag, causing the spacecrafts orbit to decay faster than expected. The twin spacecraft, Van Allen Probe B, is currently expected to remain in orbit until at least 2030. Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: March 11, 2026, 09:31 IST News world 1,300-Pound NASA Satellite To Crash Down To Earth After 14 Years In Orbit Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Air India Express Boeing 737 Makes Hard Landing At Phuket Airport After Nose Landing Gear Damage Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 14:21 IST The Air India Express aircraft, registration VT-BWQ, had a detached wheel, caused by a hard landing at Phuket Airport. File photo of Air India Express plane (Photo Credit: X) Phuket International Airport temporarily closed its runway on Wednesday after an Air India Express aircraft made a hard landing, damaging its landing gear and disrupting arriving flights. At around noon on 11 March, an Air India Express Boeing 737 MAX 8 on the Hyderabad-Phuket route suffered a problem on the runway. The aircraft, registration VT-BWQ, reportedly had a detached wheel, believed to be caused by a hard landing. Preliminary checks found that the nose landing gear was damaged, preventing the aircraft from being moved off the runway immediately. There were seven crew members, 131 passengers, and two infants on board. All 133 passengers were disembarked safely and taken to the waiting area. No injuries were reported. What Air India Express said? Air India Express spokesperson said the aircraft experienced an issue with the nose wheel at Phuket Airport and all passengers were safe. We confirm that our Hyderabad-Phuket flight on 11 March experienced an issue with the nose wheel at Phuket Airport. The crew followed all standard protocols, and guests were deplaned. We thank our guests, the Phuket airport authorities, and all stakeholders for their cooperation," reads Air India Expresss statement. Runway closure and flight disruptions Phuket International Airport issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) from 12.08pm to 6pm, temporarily closing the runway. All flights scheduled to land were required to hold in nearby airspace, and some were diverted to alternate airports. Airport officials began inspecting the runway and coordinating with relevant agencies to ensure safety procedures were followed before resuming operations. The removal of the aircraft and safety checks were initially estimated to take around six hours. Air India Express flight AXB938 arrived ahead of schedule at 11.24am, with a planned landing time of 11.40am. Airport authorities confirmed the situation was Location : Thailand First Published: March 11, 2026, 13:11 IST News world Air India Express Boeing 737 Makes Hard Landing At Phuket Airport After Nose Landing Gear Damage 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... China Launches 'Shuttle Diplomacy' To Defuse Pakistan-Afghanistan Crisis | Exclusive Details Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 22:47 IST Beijings top diplomat, Wang Yi, has formally communicated Chinas 'keen interest' in a de-escalation role Wang Yi expressed deep concern over the border clashes, stressing that the 'immediate priority' is to prevent further military escalation. File image In a significant diplomatic intervention aimed at stabilising a volatile South Asian frontier, CNN-News18 has learnt that China has stepped forward as a primary mediator in the escalating conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Beijings top diplomat, Wang Yi, has formally communicated Chinas keen interest" in a de-escalation role, marking a shift towards more active regional crisis management as border tensions threaten to spiral into a broader confrontation. The centrepiece of Beijings intervention is the deployment of Chinas Special Envoy on Afghan Affairs, who is currently engaged in shuttle diplomacy" between Islamabad and Kabul. During a high-level phone call with Pakistans Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Wang Yi confirmed that the envoy is working on the ground to foster communication and reconciliation. This shuttle diplomacy aims to create a neutral channel for dialogue at a time when direct diplomatic engagement between the Taliban-led administration in Kabul and the Pakistani government has hit a historic low. The conversation between Wang and Dar focused heavily on the recent skirmishes along the Durand Line. Wang Yi expressed deep concern over the clashes, stressing that the immediate priority" is to prevent further military escalation. For China, stability in this region is not merely a diplomatic preference but a strategic necessity, given its massive investments in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and its interests in Afghan mineral resources. Wang reaffirmed Chinas firm support for Pakistans fight against terrorism, a statement that carries significant weight as Islamabad continues to blame Afghan-based elements for a surge in domestic militant attacks. Beijings message to both neighbours is clear: regional peace is contingent upon a stable AfghanistanPakistan border. Wang Yi called for both nations to: Prioritise Dialogue: Use diplomatic engagement over military posturing. Negotiate Differences: Address the root causes of border friction through formal bilateral frameworks. Uphold Stability: Recognise that a conflict-ridden border benefits neither state and undermines the broader security of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). This move follows Chinas successful mediation between Iran and Saudi Arabia in 2023, suggesting that Beijing is increasingly comfortable acting as a peace broker" in complex geopolitical disputes. By positioning itself as a mediator in the Pak-Afghan conflict, China seeks to prevent a security vacuum that could be exploited by transnational terror groups, which Beijing views as a direct threat to its western Xinjiang province. As the Special Envoy continues to move between the two capitals, the international community is watching closely to see if Chinas revolutionary pragmatism" can bridge the deep-seated trust deficit between Islamabad and the Taliban. First Published: March 11, 2026, 22:47 IST News world China Launches 'Shuttle Diplomacy' To Defuse Pakistan-Afghanistan Crisis | Exclusive Details Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Did Khamenei Oppose Son Mojtaba As Successor In His Will? Report Suggests So Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 07:17 IST The late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reportedly in his will expressed that he did not want his son, Mojtaba, to succeed him. Ali Khamenei's (left) son Mojtaba Khamenei (right) (File image) Support for Mojtaba Khamenei becoming Irans next Supreme Leader was reportedly limitednot just internationally but also within his own family. Yes, Mojtabas appointment was not just opposed by US President Donald Trump, but also by his late father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to a report by the New York Post, the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was reportedly killed in airstrikes on February 28 by the United States, expressed in his will that he did not want his son to succeed him. Despite the late leaders will, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) backed Mojtabas rise and ultimately pushed him into the position. According to experts, the elder Khamenei had serious reservations about his sons suitability for the role and therefore did not want him to be named as his successor. In Khameneis will, he explicitly asked Mojtaba not to be named as successor," said Khosro Isfahani, research director at the opposition group National Union for Democracy, which has ties to Iranian intelligence networks. According to Isfahani, the late Iranian leader believed his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, lacked the political experience and stature required to lead the country. In Iran, the succession of the supreme leader is normally decided by the Assembly of Expertsan 88-member clerical body tasked with selecting the nations top authority. However, Isfahani claimed that Mojtabas appointment did not follow the usual process, suggesting that the selection departed from the traditional procedure used to determine Irans leadership. Mojtaba is an impotent young cleric who has achieved nothing in terms of political life. All these years, he has been nothing without his fathers name," Isfahani said. He further claimed that the IRGC pressured the Assembly while it was deliberating last week and ultimately forced the decision to name Mojtaba as the next Supreme Leader of Iran. Isfahani, citing sources inside Iran, said Mojtaba did not even secure a majority of votes from the council. Pressure from the IRGC reportedly led several clerics to boycott the session at which the successor was formally announced. The Assembly of Experts that was supposed to pick the replacement of Khamenei didnt vote for Mojtaba," Isfahani said, adding, There was a lot of pushback against him, but under pressure from the IRGC, he was named as the successor." Isfahani noted that the Iranian military considers Mojtaba easy to control and see him as a puppet a blank canvas that they can paint anything on". Trump Disapproves Of Mojtaba Khamenei Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump expressed his disappointment over the selection of Irans new Supreme Leader and said that Mojtaba Khamenei will not be able to live in peace". He has expressed his strong disapproval after Iran elected the second son of Ali Khamenei as the new leader. Prior to Mojtabas appointment, Trump insisted that the US should have a say in selecting Irans next leader. Trump said that Mojtaba Khamenei, the 56-year-old son of late Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei, succeeding his father as the new head of the Islamic republic is unacceptable" and that he wants someone who would bring harmony and peace to Iran". Trump said that making someone a leader who would continue Khameneis policies would force the US to be back to war in five years". Hes going to have to get approval from us. If he doesnt get approval from us, hes not going to last long," the US President said. Location : Iran First Published: March 11, 2026, 07:16 IST News world Did Khamenei Oppose Son Mojtaba As Successor In His Will? Report Suggests So 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 13, 2026, 12:38 IST Gulf countries came under Iranian attack after the US-Israeli strikes on Tehran. (Representational pic/AFP) Dubai, Abu Dhabi, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain News Today: Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei on Thursday issued his first statement on Iranian state media, warning that attacks on US military bases in Gulf countries will continue, as he vowed revenge for the American-Israeli attacks. His remarks came as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE intercepted and destroyed several Iranian drones and missiles as Tehran stepped up its attacks on the Gulf and in the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier, the UN Security Council passed a resolution backed by 13 members with abstentions from Russia and China calling for Iran to immediately halt its attacks on Gulf states, saying they breach international law and pose a serious threat to international peace and security. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabias Defence Ministry said it has intercepted three ballistic missiles heading towards the Prince Sultan Air Base. The UAE also shot down several Iranian missiles and drones on Wednesday. Follow US-Israel-Iran War LIVE Updates Here PwC, Deloitte, Citi Close Dubai Offices: Consultancy giants like PwC and Deloitte on Wednesday evacuated Dubais business districts while HSBC closed its office in Qatar amid threats from Iran that it will target economic and financial infrastructure as the West Asia conflict escalated. Citi, the prominent American banking group, requested employees to evacuate its offices located in both the Dubai International Financial Centre and Oud Metha as a defensive measure to ensure employee safety. PwC, Deloitte, Other Firms Evacuate Dubai Financial District, HSBC Closes Qatar Office Amid Iran Threats Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 12, 2026, 00:46 IST Iranian military officials warned civilians to maintain a significant distance at least 1 km from any financial infrastructure that could potentially be targeted Rapid Read The Dubai International Financial Centre has historically been a symbol of West Asia's economic resilience and its status as a premier global hub. (Image: AFP/File) Consultancy giants like PwC and Deloitte on Wednesday evacuated Dubais business districts while HSBC closed its office in Qatar amid threats from Iran that it will target economic and financial infrastructure as the West Asia conflict escalated. Citi, the prominent American banking group, requested employees to evacuate its offices located in both the DIFC and Oud Metha as a defensive measure to ensure employee safety. British consulting firms have followed suit with even broader measures that span the region. PwC announced it will shutter its offices across West Asia, including locations in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, and Kuwait for the remainder of the week as a precaution". Similarly, Deloitte instructed its staff to vacate their DIFC premises as the threat level intensified. Follow US-Israel-Iran War LIVE Updates Here According to sources, employees at two other unnamed companies within the DIFC also confirmed that their offices had been evacuated as a precautionary measure. The evacuations at the heart of the Middle Easts financial hub come as the Gulf, but especially the UAE, has borne the brunt of Irans attacks in response to US-Israeli strikes," the sources said. ALSO READ | Wont Leave Them Stranded: Modis Message To Indians Stuck In Gulf Nations Amid West Asia Crisis The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has historically been a symbol of West Asias economic resilience and its status as a premier global hub. But, there was a sudden wave of emergency evacuations after Irans specific military threats to target global businesses affiliated with the United States and Israel. Hence, global financial and consulting giants are beating a hasty retreat, so as to keep its employees safe as the security environment within the United Arab Emirates becomes increasingly fragile. Irans central operational command, Khatam Al-Anbiya, issued a stark declaration regarding the new rules of engagement: the enemy has given us free rein to target economic centres and banks belonging to the United States and the Zionist regime". ALSO READ | US Probe Finds Washington Responsible For Deadly Strike On Iran Girls School: Targeting Mistake Coupled with this declaration was a directive for civilians as Iranian military officials warned them to maintain a significant distance at least 1 km from any financial infrastructure that could potentially be targeted. The impact on high-profile organisations was immediate and widespread. (With AFP inputs) Location : Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) First Published: March 11, 2026, 23:10 IST News world PwC, Deloitte, Other Firms Evacuate Dubai Financial District, HSBC Closes Qatar Office Amid Iran Threats 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... FBI Warns Of Iran Surprise Attack Plot Targeting California Using Drones: Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 23:49 IST The FBI warned California police of potential drone attacks by Iran in response to US strikes using drones. Experts note threats from Mexico and the Pacific. The United States and Israel launched a joint large-scale military offensive against Iran on February 28. (AFP) The FBI has warned the police departments in California of a possibility of Iran retaliating to American attacks by launching drones at the West Coast. We recently acquired information that as of early February 2026, Iran allegedly aspired to conduct a surprise attack using unmanned aerial vehicles from an unidentified vessel off the coast of the United State Homeland, specifically against unspecified targets in California, in the event that the US conducted strikes against Iran," ABC News quoted the alert that was distributed at the end of February. We have no additional information on the timing, method, target, or perpetrators of this alleged attack," it added. Though there has been no official confirmation on the matter, the US intelligence officials have reportedly been concerned in recent months about the expanding use of drones by Mexican drug cartels and the chance the technology could be used to attack American forces and personnel near the Mexican border. The United States and Israel launched a joint large-scale military offensive against Iran on February 28, killing Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The operation was referred to as Operation Roaring Lion" by Israel and Operation Epic Fury". ABC News quoted John Cohen, the former head of intelligence for the Department of Homeland Security, saying that he is concerned about the possibility of drone warfare coming from both the Pacific and Mexico. We know Iran has an extensive presence in Mexico and South America, they have relationships, they have the drones and now they have the incentive to conduct attacks," Cohen said. The FBI is smart for putting this warning out so that state and locals can be better able to prepare and respond to these types of threats. Information like this is critically important for law enforcement." Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: March 11, 2026, 23:49 IST News world FBI Warns Of Iran Surprise Attack Plot Targeting California Using Drones: 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... 'Ground, Windows And Our Hearts Were Shaking': Tehran Residents Recall Night Of Heavy Bombing Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 12:11 IST Civilians in Tehran said that the bombardment overnight into Tuesday was among the heaviest they had experienced since the fighting began. Smoke plumes billow from the site of airstrikes in western Tehran on Tuesday. (AFP) Its been more than 10 days since strikes launched by the United States and Israel hit Irans capital, Tehran and transformed the city streets into a battleground. Describing the attacks, residents in Tehran recalled how explosions shook buildings and lit up the night sky as waves of strikes hit the capital city. The conflict, which began with USIsraeli attacks on Iranian targets on February 28, killing its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, upended residents lives and transformed the city streets into a battleground. As the war is still continues in its second week, civilians in Tehran said that the bombardment overnight into Tuesday was among the heaviest they had experienced since the fighting began. A 38-year-old resident of western Tehran described the deadly incident and said that the noise of aircraft and explosions lasted for long stretches, Times of India reported. It felt like tens of fighter jets were flying right above our heads for 15 minutes straight at first, then a few minutes of pause before the next rounds of strikes came in, she said, recalling the night. The ground and the windows and our hearts were shaking, but we took shelter in our bathroom and got through it," she added. Earlier, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, while issuing a warning to Iran, said that Tuesday would be the most intense day of strikes inside Iran". Several residents stated that the bombardment briefly turned night into day as bright flashes from the aerial attacks lit up the sky, prompting people to seek shelter, while even recorded the moment. Alireza, a 25-year-old living in central Tehran, said he kept the front door of his apartment unlocked throughout the night in case he needed to run quickly to the buildings underground parking area. Highlighting the trouble caused due to internet shutdown, he said, Im going crazy with how many times Ive had to communicate with friends and family in Tehran and other cities through endless phone calls and text messages to see where and what was hit." Tehran residents say the absence of early warning systems has made the situation more frightening. Location : Iran First Published: March 11, 2026, 12:11 IST News world 'Ground, Windows And Our Hearts Were Shaking': Tehran Residents Recall Night Of Heavy Bombing 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... Photo taken on March 10, 2026 shows aquaculture workers heading to a kelp farming area to harvest fresh kelp at Ailun Bay Marine Ranch in Rongcheng City, east China's Shandong Province, under the glow of the morning sun. Harvesting part of the kelp during the thinning process not only leaves more space for later growth, improving quality and yield, but also supplies the spring vegetable market and helps increase farmers' income. (Yang Zhili/Guangming Picture) Photo taken on March 10, 2026 shows aquaculture workers heading to a kelp farming area by boat to harvest fresh kelp at Ailun Bay Marine Ranch in Rongcheng City, east China's Shandong Province, under the morning sun. The freshly harvested kelp is supplied to the spring market. (Yang Zhili/Guangming Picture) Photo taken on March 10, 2026 shows aquaculture workers heading to a kelp farming area by boat to harvest fresh kelp at Ailun Bay Marine Ranch in Rongcheng City, east China's Shandong Province, under the morning sun. The freshly harvested kelp is supplied to the spring market. (Yang Zhili/Guangming Picture) Editor: WSH IEA Welcomes India's Support For Oil Stock Release As Global Energy Markets Face Disruption Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 22:55 IST The IEA's decision to release strategic petroleum reserves represents a coordinated effort to stabilise global energy markets amid supply disruptions. The current disruption stems from Iran's effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz following the outbreak of conflict in West Asia. International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol welcomed Indias backing of the agencys decision to release oil stocks from strategic reserves to address disruptions in global energy markets. Very pleased to read the Government of Indias supportive statement for IEAs collective action to release emergency oil stocks to address disruptions in global oil markets and that India stands ready to take appropriate measures to support global market stability," Birol said on X (formerly Twitter). Read more: Dont Panic, Dont Hoard: Centre To Ensure 100% Domestic LPG Supply Amid West Asia Crisis The Ministry of External Affairs said India, as an Associate Member of the IEA and an active participant in international energy cooperation, welcomes the agencys decision to release emergency oil stocks amid prevailing supply disruptions. The government said it is closely monitoring the evolving situation in global energy markets, particularly in the Middle East, and stands ready to take appropriate measures to support global market stability in alignment with IEAs efforts. Read more: India Deplores Attack On Ship Bound For Kandla In Strait Of Hormuz India stands ready to take appropriate measures, as necessary, to support global market stability in alignment with the efforts of the International Energy Agency", the MEA said. The IEAs decision to release strategic petroleum reserves represents a coordinated effort to stabilise global energy markets amid supply disruptions and significant price volatility. Such releases are typically deployed during supply shortages to maintain price stability and ensure adequate availability. Read more: Irans New Supreme Leader Lightly Injured, Suffered Fractured Foot On Day One Of War: Reports The current disruption stems from Irans effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz following the outbreak of conflict in West Asia on February 28, which has choked off oil flows from Gulf producers including Saudi Arabia and Iraq. With roughly a third of global oil production passing through the strait, the closure has sent prices swinging sharply. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: March 11, 2026, 22:55 IST News world IEA Welcomes India's Support For Oil Stock Release As Global Energy Markets Face Disruption 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 Steps In As Bangladesh Faces Fuel Crunch Amid Iran War, Sends 5,000 Tonnes Of Diesel Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 08:49 IST Bangladesh has introduced strict measures to manage its fuel crisis. Public and private universities were closed starting Monday, and government imposed daily limits on fuel sales. Motorists queue up to get fuel at a pump, fearing a possible fuel shortage due to the Iran war, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, March 8, 2026 [Mahmud Hossain Opu/AP] India has sent a major consignment of diesel to Bangladesh as the country faces a fuel shortage following the West Asia war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The development comes amid improving bilateral relations after the return of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Bangladesh. As per reports, 5,000 tonnes of diesel have been sent from India as part of the regular energy trade between the two countries. Bangladesh has been facing shortages of petrol and diesel due to disruptions in global oil supplies following the war in Iran. What we know about the India-Bangladesh oil deal? Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation Chairman Muhammad Rezanur Rahman confirmed the delivery and said the diesel was supplied under an existing agreement between the two countries. We have an agreement with India, and according to that agreement, India will supply 180,000 tonnes of diesel to Bangladesh each year via the pipeline. The 5,000 tonnes arriving now is part of that agreement," he told news agency, ANI. He added that Bangladesh must import at least 90,000 tonnes within six months, and the current consignment is part of that target. Authorities expect the full amount for the six-month period to arrive within the next two months. India supplies diesel to Bangladesh through the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline, which was operationalised in 2017. The fuel is provided on a commercial basis from Numaligarh Refinery Limited. Bangladesh has requested additional diesel supplies, but government sources in India said any decision will depend on fuel availability and market conditions. India has also assured that it is not facing a fuel shortage despite uncertainty in global energy markets. Energy crisis in Bangladesh Bangladesh has introduced strict measures to manage its fuel crisis. Public and private universities were closed starting Monday, and the government imposed daily limits on fuel sales after panic buying at petrol stations last week. Iran war disrupts oil supply The crisis comes as tensions rise in the Middle East. The United States said it destroyed 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels near the Strait of Hormuz after Iran threatened to block oil exports and prevent shipments to its enemies. The strait carries about 20 per cent of the worlds oil, raising concerns about global supply. As the war entered its 11th day, both sides increased their rhetoric, with the US warning of stronger strikes while Iran launched new attacks against Israel and Gulf Arab countries. Location : Dhaka, Bangladesh First Published: March 11, 2026, 08:49 IST News world India Steps In As Bangladesh Faces Fuel Crunch Amid Iran War, Sends 5,000 Tonnes Of Diesel 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 Medical Students In Iran Allowed To Exit Via Armenia Border After Booking Delhi Flights Reported By : CNN-News18 Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 08:38 IST Indian students in Iran can leave via Armenia border with confirmed tickets. Over 30 students from Urmia University of Medical Sciences will reach New Delhi on March 15 via Dubai. A plume of smoke rises after a strike on the Iranian capital Tehran, on March 3, 2026. (Photo: AFP) Indian medical students currently in Iran have been permitted to leave the country through the Armenia border, subject to specific conditions laid down by authorities. Many students from Urmia are planning to return to India via the UrmiaArmeniaDubai route. US-Israel-Iran War LIVE According to the All India Medical Students Association (AIMSA), students have been informed that they must first book confirmed flight tickets from Armenia to New Delhi and submit a copy of the ticket to the Indian Embassy. Only after verification will the Embassy notify them when they can travel from Shiraz to the Armenia border. Also Read: Trump Announces First US Oil Refinery In 50 Years, Says Reliance To Back The Initiative Officials have clarified that no student will be allowed to cross without a confirmed onward ticket. At the Armenia border, students will be required to pay a visa fee of $10. Those who choose to cross earlier than their scheduled flight date will have to arrange their own accommodation in Armenia until departure. If 40 to 50 or more students opt for the route, the embassy may consider arranging a bus to facilitate movement. Also Read: US Calls India Good Actor After Waiver On Russian Oil Purchase Amid Iran War More than 30 students from Urmia University of Medical Sciences have already booked tickets and are expected to reach New Delhi on March 15 via Dubai, departing at around 1:25 am. Additional students from Urmia are expected to arrive in India on March 16. AIMSA mentioned that the remaining student body is closely monitoring the first groups journey. Students informed AIMSA that if the first group safely reaches India, other students will follow the same route," the association stated. Currently, there is no official government evacuation plan, and students choosing this path are doing so under their own responsibility, maintaining a 5-7 day buffer for the transit through Armenia. First Published: March 11, 2026, 08:38 IST News world Indian Medical Students In Iran Allowed To Exit Via Armenia Border After Booking Delhi Flights 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 Trolls Donald Trump With Poster Showing Him Holding Nobel Medal Over Dead Children Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 14:07 IST The Iranian officials informed that the strike killed around 175 people, mostly children. Rapid Read Irans ambassador to the United Nations said more than 1,300 civilians have been killed in strikes by the United States and Israel since the conflict began. Iran has mocked US President Donald Trump with a provocative poster depicting him holding a Nobel Peace Prize medal while standing over the bodies of dead children, amid escalating tensions following recent strikes in the country. The poster circulating on social media depicts Donald Trump with a sardonic smile, standing over the bodies of children killed in the February 28 attack. The post read, Nobel Cannibal". The same day Ali Khamenei was assassinated in a strike blamed on the United States and Israel. Follow LIVE Updates The Iranian officials informed that the strike killed around 175 people, mostly children. In the image, Trump is holding a Nobel Peace Prize medal and displaying it proudly while standing around the bodies of the girls. The poster mocks Donald Trump, who has long said he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for claiming to have helped stop several conflicts. Earlier this year, Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado presented her 2025 Nobel Peace Prize medal to him at the White House. Also Read Trump, earlier, denied allegations that the United States was responsible for the bombing of an elementary girls school in Iran and instead blamed Iran for the strike. When asked whether the United States was behind the school attack, Donald Trump denied the allegation and instead blamed Iran, claiming the strike was likely caused by the inaccuracy of Iranian weapons. He made the remarks while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One during a flight to Miami. 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. The IranIsraelUS war entered its 12th day on Wednesday, with air raid sirens, missile launches and fresh strikes reported across West Asia overnight. Israel and the United States continued targeting sites inside Iran, while Iranian forces launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks toward Israel and US allies in the region. Irans ambassador to the United Nations said more than 1,300 civilians have been killed in strikes by the United States and Israel since the conflict began. Location : Iran First Published: March 11, 2026, 14:04 IST News world Iran Trolls Donald Trump With Poster Showing Him Holding Nobel Medal Over Dead Children 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 New Supreme Leader 'Lightly Injured', Suffered Fractured Foot On Day One Of War: Reports Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 20:26 IST Iranian state television had earlier described Mojtaba Khamenei as a wounded veteran of the Ramadan war" without specifying the extent of any injury. Rapid Read Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. (Reuters/File) Irans new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen in public since his appointment, was lightly injured in the US-Israeli strikes and also suffered a fractured foot and face lacerations in the ongoing war, according to multiple reports. Khamenei, who has not been seen by Iranians or issued any public statement or message, was widely rumoured to have been injured in the US-Israeli strikes that killed his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28. Iranian state television had earlier described Khamenei as a wounded veteran of the Ramadan war", though it did not provide details about the nature or extent of any injury. An Iranian official told Reuters that Mojtaba Khamenei was lightly injured" but is continuing to operate, without offering details about the extent of any injury or why he has yet to make any public statement. An Israeli source had earlier informed Reuters that Israels intelligence assessment pointed to Khamenei being lightly wounded, which is why he has not been seen in public. Follow Live Updates of the US-Israel-Iran War Fractured Foot, Face Lacerations Khamenei suffered a fractured foot and other minor injuries on the first day of the US and Israels campaign, a source told CNN. The new supreme leader received a bruise around his left eye, as well as minor lacerations to his face, the source said. Earlier, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkians son Yousef said he had heard Khamenei was injured, telling the state-affiliated Iranian Students News Agency that the new supreme leader is safe and there are no concerns." ALSO READ: Safe And Sound: Mojtaba Khamenei Not Injured, Says Iranian Presidents Son Apart from his father, the first day of the US-Israeli strikes also killed Mojtabas mother, sister and wife, according to Iranian state media. His Eminence Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei is today the heir to the blood of his martyred father, his martyred mother, his martyred sister and his martyred wife," a news anchor read out on state television. Watch more videos Share this Article WhatsApp facebook Twitter telegram copy link Senior Iranian sources said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) pushed through the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as the countrys new supreme leader, viewing him as a more compliant successor who would support their hardline policies. Already a dominant force in Irans power structure, the IRGC has consolidated even greater authority since the war began, as per reports. Location : Tehran, Iran First Published: March 11, 2026, 20:26 IST News world Iran's New Supreme Leader 'Lightly Injured', Suffered Fractured Foot On Day One Of War: Reports 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... King Of The World: 'Titanic' Statue Of Trump And Epstein Appears Near US Capitol Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 12:25 IST A protest art installation featuring Trump and Epstein figures appeared on the National Mall in DC. Created by Secret Handshake, it highlights Trump's alleged ties to Epstein. The installation comes amid renewed scrutiny over newly released US Justice Department records linked to the Epstein investigation. (X) Washington residents woke up to an unexpected sight this week after a protest art installation featuring figures resembling US President Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was placed on the National Mall near the Capitol in Washington DC. The installation, which shows the Trump and Epstein statues striking the iconic Titanic pose, was reportedly erected by an artist collective known as Secret Handshake. The sculpture, titled King of the World," references the iconic moment when the movies protagonists stand at the front of the ship. The tragic love story between Jack and Rose was built on luxurious travel, raucous parties and secret nude sketches," a plaque placed near the installation claimed. This monument honours the bond between Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein," it added Tourists and visitors were seen taking pictures of the statue, which stood in front of banners displaying images of the two men and the phrase Make America Safe Again." The installation came at a time when Trump is facing renewed scrutiny over his alleged ties to Epstein who has been widely reported to have run a child sex and prostitution ring. This installation is the latest protest artwork by Secret Handshake, an anonymous artist collective known for placing political sculptures in Washington without prior notice. In September last year, the group installed another statue showing Trump and Epstein holding hands outside the US Capitol, though it was removed soon after. The organisation has also created a poop statue criticising January 6 Capitol attack rioters and displayed a large replica of Trumps alleged birthday letter to Epstein. The relation between Donald and Jeffrey Epstein has renewed scrutiny after the United States Department of Justice began releasing documents related to the late sex offender under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law in November. Several of the filess mention Trump along with other prominent figures. Last week, the United States Department of Justice released additional FBI records summarising interviews conducted in 2019 with an unidentified woman during the agencys probe into Epstein. According to the newly disclosed documents, the woman alleged that Trump attempted to force her to perform oral sex after Epstein introduced her to the future president in New York or New Jersey in the 1980s, when she said she was between 13 and 15 years old. FBI agents interviewed the woman four times in 2019. Trump has repeatedly said his association with Epstein ended in the mid-2000s and that he was unaware of the financiers sexual abuse. Previously released records show Trump flew several times on Epsteins plane in the 1990s, something Trump has denied. Epstein died in custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: March 11, 2026, 12:25 IST News world King Of The World: 'Titanic' Statue Of Trump And Epstein Appears Near US Capitol 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... 'Massacre Of Girls': Italian PM Meloni Condemns Deadly Iran School Strike Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 16:42 IST The strike, which Iranian media reports killed at least 165 people, occurred on the first day of the ongoing West Asia war. Rapid Read Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni gestures during the Senate session in Rome. (Image Credit: Reuters) Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned a deadly missile strike on a school in southern Iran, calling the attack a massacre of girls" and demanding those responsible be swiftly identified. I express my firm condemnation of the massacre of girls at the school in Minab, southern Iran," Meloni told the Italian Senate, offering solidarity with the families of what she described as very young victims." She said she wanted responsibility for this tragedy be swiftly ascertained." The strike, which Iranian media reports killed at least 165 people, occurred on the first day of the ongoing West Asia war. Iran has accused the United States and Israel of carrying out the attack. US President Donald Trump has pointed blame at Tehran while saying Washington is still investigating. Israel has denied any involvement. Italy Not At War And Not Willing To Be Meloni, leader of the far-right Brothers of Italy party and head of a NATO and EU member state, was firm that Italy has no intention of entering the conflict. Italy is not at war and we dont want to enter the war," she told senators. However, the prime minister stopped short of challenging the broader rationale behind the conflict. Trump has said he launched the war as the last, best chance" to stop Iran from acquiring a nuclear bomb- a justification Meloni did not outright reject. While acknowledging Italy was not directly involved in nuclear negotiations and therefore could not definitively corroborate or refute, US assessments regarding Irans unwillingness to reach a definitive agreement," she warned of the stakes of inaction. We cannot afford an ayatollah regime in possession of nuclear weapons, combined, moreover, with a missile capability that could soon be capable of directly striking Italy and Europe," she said. Though the war was tragic," she added, we know that these consequences are not even comparable to the risks we would run if we turned a blind eye." Meloni said she has been in close coordination with fellow European leaders over the conflict, but called a return to diplomacy impossible" while Iran continues retaliatory strikes across the region. Location : Italy First Published: March 11, 2026, 16:42 IST News world 'Massacre Of Girls': Italian PM Meloni Condemns Deadly Iran School Strike 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... Missile Fragments From Iranian School Strike Appear To Be US Tomahawk: Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 06:32 IST Missile fragments from a strike on Shajareh Tayyeba girls' school in Minab, Iran, killing 175, appear to be from a US-made Tomahawk missile. A fragment marked SDL ANTENNA, made by Ball Aerospace and apparently supplied to the US military in 2014, was among the debris. (IRIB/Telegram) Missile fragments recovered from a strike that hit a girls elementary school in southern Iran where at least 175 students and staff were killed last month appeared to belong to a US-made Tomahawk cruise missile, according to a CNN analysis of images shared by Iranian state media. Photographs of the debris were published on Telegram by Irans state broadcaster IRIB, which said the fragments were recovered from the February 28 strike on the Shajareh Tayyeba girls school in Minab, where Iranian authorities claimed at least 168 children and 14 teachers were killed. CNN reviewed the images and consulted weapons experts, who said the parts appear consistent with components from a US-made Tomahawk cruise missile, a long-range precision-guided weapon used by the US military. However, the report said it was not possible to independently verify whether the fragments came specifically from the school strike, a nearby strike on an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) naval base, or another location. One of the fragments shown in the images carrieed the marking Made in USA" and the name of Globe Motors, an Ohio-based company that manufactures missile components for the US Department of Defense. Another piece beared the label SDL ANTENNA," referring to a satellite data link antenna used in newer Tomahawk missile variants. The part also carried the name of Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., a Colorado-based company acquired by BAE Systems in 2024. According to CNN, the markings and design of the fragments are consistent with images of Tomahawk missile parts documented in previous conflicts in open-source weapons databases. Missile experts cited by the network supported the assessment. Markus Schiller, a rocket expert associated with the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, identified one of the parts as a Globe Motors actuator motor, a component that controls the fins used to steer the missile. Trevor Ball, a former US Army explosive ordnance disposal specialist and researcher with Bellingcat, also assessed that the fragments were consistent with a Tomahawk missile, though he said their exact origin could not be confirmed from the images alone. The findings add to growing scrutiny around the February 28 strike, which hit the school located next to an IRGC naval base in Minab, in Irans Hormozgan province. Videos released by Iranian media appear to show a Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) striking a building within or near the military complex. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has denied that American forces carried it out and suggested that Iran could possess Tomahawk missiles. Addressing the query regarding footage that purportedly shows a US Tomahawk missile striking an Iranian military base near a primary school, Trump mentioned he had not seen the video but highlighted that the Tomahawk missile is utilised by several countries. Well, I havent seen it. I will say that the Tomahawk, which is one of the most powerful weapons around, is sold and used by other countries. Iran has some Tomahawks," Trump said. However, Republican Senator John Kennedy admitted that the United States struck the girls school in Minab amid its missile attack on Iran on February 28 and termed it as a mistake". It was terrible. We made a mistake," Kenny said. Other countries do that sort of thing intentionally, like Russia. We would never do that intentionally. I think the Department [of Defense] is investigating it now, and Im sorry. Im just so sorry it happened. It was a mistake," the Republican Senator added. US military investigators reportedly believe American forces were likely responsible for the strike in Minab on the first day of the attack on Iran. (With inputs from CNN) Location : Tehran, Iran First Published: March 11, 2026, 06:32 IST News world Missile Fragments From Iranian School Strike Appear To Be US Tomahawk: 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... Pentagon Says 140 US Troops Wounded In Iran War, 8 Severely Injured Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 00:38 IST This is the first official insight into the toll of injuries that have been sustained by US troops after retaliatory attacks from Iran. Rapid Read Over 1,200 people have been killed in the US-Israeli strikes on Iran. (Reuters/File) The US Department of Defence on Tuesday said that about 140 American troops have been wounded in Operation Epic Fury against Iran, adding that eight soldiers have been severely injured." In an emailed statement, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said, The vast majority of these injuries have been minor, and 108 service members have already returned to duty." Eight service members remain listed as severely injured and are receiving the highest level of medical care," he added. This is the first insight into the toll of injuries that have been sustained by US troops after retaliatory attacks from Iran that have also claimed the lives of seven soldiers in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. ALSO READ: Lets See If Iranians Want To Talk: Trump Envoy In Israel Next Week To Coordinate War Plans Reuters earlier reported, citing two people familiar with the matter, that as many as 150 US troops were wounded in the war. The types of injuries and whether they include traumatic brain injuries was not confirmed. Iran has launched retaliatory strikes against US military bases since the start of the conflict on February 28. It has also struck diplomatic missions in Gulf states, as well as hotels and airports and damaged oil infrastructure. The Pentagon says the number of Iranian strikes has fallen sharply since the start of the war, as the U.S. military bombs Irans weapons inventories and targets Irans more limited number of missile launchers. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the US military is acting to dismantle Irans missile production infrastructure, adding that US B-2 bombers dropped 2,000-pound bombs targeting missile sites. She said the US Army had destroyed more than 50 Iranian naval vessels, including a major drone carrier ship. Earlier, the Pentagon identified the seventh US service member killed in combat during the war against Iran as Army Staff Sergeant Benjamin N Pennington, 26, of Glendale, Kentucky, who died after an Iranian attack at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia on March 1. Prior to that, six American service members had been killed in the ongoing conflict with Iran. The fatalities resulted from a direct Iranian strike on a makeshift tactical operations center at the civilian Shuaiba port in Kuwait last week. Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: March 11, 2026, 00:38 IST News world Pentagon Says 140 US Troops Wounded In Iran War, 8 Severely 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... Safe And Sound: Mojtaba Khamenei Not Injured, Says Iranian Presidents Son Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 12:49 IST Iranian state television had earlier described Khamenei as a wounded veteran of the Ramadan war. File photo of Mojtaba Khamenei. (Photo Credit: X) Irans newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is safe and sound" despite circulating reports that he was injured during the war with Israel and the United States, the son of Irans president said on Wednesday. I heard news that Mojtaba Khamenei had been injured. I have asked some friends who had connections. They told me that, thank God, he is safe and sound," Yousef Pezeshkian, who also serves as a government adviser, wrote in a post on his Telegram channel. Iranian state television had earlier described Khamenei as a wounded veteran of the Ramadan war," though it did not provide details about the nature or extent of any injury. Senior Iranian sources said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) pushed through the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as the countrys new supreme leader, viewing him as a more compliant successor who would support their hardline policies. According to the sources, the Guards overrode resistance from senior political and clerical figures who had expressed concerns about his selection, delaying the formal announcement by several hours. Already a dominant force in Irans power structure, the IRGC has consolidated even greater authority since the war began, the sources said. The elevation of Mojtaba Khamenei, they added, may signal a more aggressive posture abroad and tighter internal controls. Three senior Iranian sources, along with a reformist former official and another insider, suggested that the Guards role in orchestrating the succession could lead to increased military influence over state affairs. Two of the sources warned that the IRGCs expanding grip risks transforming the Islamic Republic into what they described as a de facto military state, retaining only a thin veneer of religious legitimacy. They said such a shift could further erode public support and reduce the regimes flexibility in responding to mounting domestic and external challenges. First Published: March 11, 2026, 12:32 IST News world Safe And Sound: Mojtaba Khamenei Not Injured, Says Iranian Presidents Son 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... Yevhen Mahda, Executive Director of the "Institute of World Policy" The future of our continent depends on the effectiveness of Ukraines European integration. The longstanding Ukrainian dichotomy Knight or Cinderella must be transformed into a pragmatic hybrid. Ukraine is not only one of the largest countries in Europe by territory. Despite devastating human and territorial losses, it continues to fight for its independence. At the same time, Ukraine is defending Europe from the a renewed wave of Russian barbarism. One fifth of Ukraines territory is occupied, yet the country continues to resist When Ukraines path towards European integration received a powerful political impulse from Brussels in 2022, few expected the war with Russia to last this long. That decision functioned as geopolitical emergency aid and a demonstration of EU strategic agency. Four years later, however, no realistic integration scenario exists. Ukrainians still maintain high expectations regarding eventual EU membership, but President Volodymyr Zelenskyys approach to European integration is increasingly detached from political reality. His emotional diplomacy may have been effective in 2022; today, international empathy toward Ukraine has noticeably declined. The immediate issue now on the table is a proposed 90 billion loan to Ukraine. These funds are vital this is beyond dispute. Yet political manoeuvring and manifestations of Putinverstehen within the EU initially prevented the use of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine and are now creating a dangerous pause in decisionmaking. Too large, too complicated this is how Ukraine can be descrobed today. et its very scale should be treated not as a burden but as an instrument, particularly amid global turbulence. Ukraine has the potential to strengthen the European Union in the near term, but this potential must be actively developed starting now. . International conferences on Ukraines reconstruction have increasingly turned into exercises in selfpromotion. What is needed instead is a fundamental rethink of the reconstruction model. For a country that has suffered losses on this scale, conventional approaches to economic recovery will not work. The Putin factor cannot be ignored. Expectations of a new Marshall Plan from a Trump administration are naive. The European Union must combine the gradual restoration of Ukraines infrastructure utilities, logistics hubs and essential services with increased investment in Ukraines defenceindustrial sector. Ukraine has demonstrated its capacity to survive, but it requires resources and fair treatment, even in the absence of illusions about rapid EU accession. Ukraine is not merely a country with one of the largest armies in Europe. It also possesses an economy that, despite extraordinary pressure, has demonstrated resilience. This is precisely the model the European Union should seek to replicate at scale. Tactical Error: How Snubbing Ukraines Anti-Iran Drone Plan Is Now Costing US In West Asia Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 08:15 IST Months before the Iran war started, Ukraine warned Washington about the threat and offered its battlefield-tested technology to counter Iranian drones. Washington Turns to Kyiv as Iranian Drones Test US Defences As the Iran war shows no signs of stopping, Iranian Shahed drones have begun striking US bases in West Asia. The drones have already been linked to the deaths of seven US service members in the Gulf. US officials say the Shahed-136 drones, also known as Geran-2, are difficult to intercept. They fly low and slow, allowing them to slip past traditional air defence systems more easily than ballistic missiles. During a closed-door briefing on Capitol Hill, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine told lawmakers the drones have become a bigger operational challenge than expected. Ukraines warning for Washington However, according to Axios, months before the Iran war happened, Ukraine warned Washington about the threat and offered its battlefield-tested technology to counter Iranian drones. Nearly seven months before Iranian drones began challenging US defences in the Middle East, Ukrainian officials warned Washington about the threat and proposed a solution. Ukrainian officials even prepared a detailed presentation explaining how interceptor drones and sensors could help shoot down the Shahed systems and protect American troops and allies in the conflict zone. But the proposal was dismissed by the Trump administration. Some US officials now call the decision a tactical error." Ukraines battle-tested technology Ukraine has years of experience fighting the same drones during Russias invasion. Moscow has used thousands of the aircraft, renamed Geran, in its attacks on Ukraine. In response, Kyiv developed low-cost interceptor drones designed specifically to destroy Shahed-style aircraft. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky personally presented the technology to President Donald Trump during a closed-door meeting at the White House on August 18. Ukraine also proposed creating drone combat hubs" in countries such as Turkey, Jordan and Persian Gulf states to build a regional defence network. The plan did not move forward inside the US administration. Washington reaches out to Ukraine Now, as Iranian drones continue to challenge American air defences, the United States has quietly approached Kyiv for assistance, according to reports. Officials say US forces have intercepted most Iranian drones and missiles, but concerns remain about the cost imbalance. A Shahed drone can cost $20,000 to $50,000, while interceptors used to shoot them down may cost millions of dollars. United States new defence plans The United States has announced plans to deploy its own anti-Shahed system, called Merops, as allies in the region face continued drone attacks. However, frustration remains among some officials. One official, as quoted by Axios, said efforts to counter Irans drone campaign have been disappointing." Another admitted Ukrainian technology might have helped if it had been deployed earlier. Ukraine had earlier proposed a partnership to expand drone production, suggesting the project could produce up to 20 million drones and related systems and help unleash American drone dominance." Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: March 11, 2026, 08:15 IST News world Tactical Error: How Snubbing Ukraines Anti-Iran Drone Plan Is Now Costing US In West Asia 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... Thai Ship Headed To Gujarat Port Attacked In Strait Of Hormuz; 20 Crewmen Rescued, Three Missing Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 17:00 IST The vessel, Mayuree Naree, had departed Khalifa Port in the United Arab Emirates and was en route to Kandla port in Gujarat when it was struck by an unknown projectile. The Royal Thai Navy confirmed the attack, releasing images showing thick black smoke billowing from the ship's hull. (Image Credit: AFP) A Thai-flagged bulk carrier bound for India came under attack in the Strait of Hormuz, setting part of the vessel ablaze and triggering an emergency rescue operation as the war between Iran and the United States continues to destabilise one of the worlds most critical maritime corridors. The vessel, Mayuree Naree, had departed Khalifa Port in the United Arab Emirates and was en route to Kandla port in Gujarat when it was struck by an unknown projectile while transiting the narrow Gulf shipping lane. The Royal Thai Navy confirmed the attack, releasing images showing thick black smoke billowing from the ships hull and superstructure, with life rafts visible in the water as crew members evacuated the burning vessel. Read more: Iran War Fallout: Dubais Luxury Hotel Rates Plunge As Travel Uncertainty Hits Hard The Mayuree Naree is a 178-metre bulk carrier with a displacement of approximately 30,000 tonnes, owned by Bangkok-listed transport company Precious Shipping Pcl. Rescue Operation Underway, Three Still Missing Oman navy launched a swift rescue operation following the strike. Twenty crew members were pulled to safety after abandoning ship and evacuating by lifeboat. The survivors were brought ashore at Khasab, a port town on Omans Musandam Peninsula at the mouth of the strait. Authorities said the fire onboard was later brought under control, though the full extent of damage to the vessel remains unclear. The specific details and cause of the attack are currently under investigation," the Royal Thai Navy said in a statement. Read more: Massacre Of Girls: Italian PM Meloni Condemns Deadly Iran School Strike Earlier in the day, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a cargo vessel had been struck by an unknown projectile approximately 11 nautical miles north of Oman, causing a fire onboard. The agency urged all vessels transiting the region to exercise heightened caution and report any suspicious activity to authorities. Read more: Will Target Economic Centres, Banks: Iran Issues Big Warning To US, Israel After Tehran Attack The attack on the Mayuree Naree is the latest in a string of maritime incidents rocking the Strait of Hormuz- the narrow waterway between Oman and Iran through which roughly a fifth of the worlds oil supply flows daily. Shipping traffic through the strait has already dropped sharply, with several operators diverting vessels away from the area entirely. Location : Thailand First Published: March 11, 2026, 16:55 IST News world Thai Ship Headed To Gujarat Port Attacked In Strait Of Hormuz; 20 Crewmen Rescued, Three Missing 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 Says Iran Has 'Practically Nothing Left' To Target, Claims He Can End War Anytime: Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 19:51 IST Trump said the US-Israeli war in Iran will end soon because there was "practically nothing left to target", amid global concerns over oil and gas prices. Rapid Read US President Donald Trump. (File Photo: Reuters) US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said there was practically nothing left" to target in Iran, and hinted that the war may end soon amid rising concerns over crude oil and gas prices due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump told Axios in a five-minute call that the Iran war will end soon" as there is practically nothing left to target" in the country. Little this and that Any time I want it to end, it will end," he added. Even as Trump has publicly signalled that his operation has largely accomplished its objectives, US and Israeli officials say there has been no internal directive on when fighting might stop. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday said the war will continue without any time limit, for as long as necessary, until we achieve all the objectives and decisively win the campaign." Follow Live Updates of the US-Israel-Iran War Trump had earlier offered mixed signals about ending the war, assuring that the conflict was a short-term excursion", while also threatening to strike Iran twenty times harder, saying that we have not won enough." However, Washington has been under pressure to rein in the conflict as global concerns mounted over a sharp rise in gas prices that have rattled consumers and financial markets. Crude oil prices jumped to nearly $120 per barrel on Monday, and several energy producers have shut operations due to Iranian strikes in the Gulf. The vital Strait of Hormuz remains virtually shut after the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that it was taking control of the waterway, which carries one-fifth of global energy shipments. The US has also received intelligence that Iran has started laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting a sharp warning from Trump over consequences never seen before". ALSO READ: Trump Warns Iran Of Consequences Never Seen Before After Reports Of Mines In Strait Of Hormuz The White House said Operation Epic Fury has been a resounding success, adding that the war would end when Trumps goals have been met and Iran surrenders. It also said the operation against Iran would lead to lower gas prices in the long run. Meanwhile, a Thai bulk carrier was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, while another container ship was struck off the UAE coast. Qatar has already halted its production of natural gas, and Bahrain declared its oil operations couldnt meet their contractual obligations. Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: March 11, 2026, 19:41 IST News world Trump Says Iran Has 'Practically Nothing Left' To Target, Claims He Can End War Anytime: 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... UP Man Battling For Life In Saudi After Strike Hits Residential Area, Family Seeks Help Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 08:47 IST The victim, identified as Mohd Azam, a resident of Jafraabad village in the Thakurdwara area of Moradabad, had travelled to Saudi Arabia about three-and-a-half years ago. Azam is currently battling for his life in a hospital in Riyadh, where he is reportedly on ventilator support. (News18) A 27-year-old man from Uttar Pradeshs Moradabad is battling for life after he got severely injured in a military projectile strike that hit a residential site in Saudi Arabias Al-Kharj during the ongoing conflict in West Asia, officials said. The victim, identified as Mohd Azam, a resident of Jafraabad village in the Thakurdwara area of Moradabad, had travelled to Saudi Arabia about three-and-a-half years ago to work as a diesel mechanic. As per officials, Azam is currently battling for his life in a hospital in Riyadh, where he is reportedly on ventilator support. His family members have appealed to the Prime Minister and the Ministry of External Affairs to ensure proper medical treatment and help bring him back to India. Azams brother, Kasim Ali, said the family learnt about the incident through one of Azams colleagues. I came to know that he is critical and is in ICU," Ali told Times of India. He had gone there to earn a livelihood. Now we are told he is badly injured and on ventilator. We are poor people and request the government to help ensure his treatment and bring him back home," he added. According to the Saudi Civil Defence, the incident occurred when a military projectile fell on a residential site belonging to a maintenance and cleaning company in Al-Kharj governorate. The attack killed two Bangladeshi nationals and injured 11 other Bangladeshi residents and Mohd Azam, besides causing damage to property. Earlier reports had suggested that an Indian national had died in the incident. However, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh clarified that no Indian citizen was killed. In a post on X, the Embassy said it was a relief that there was no Indian fatality and confirmed that an embassy official had visited the injured Indian national in Al-Kharj. Azam is currently receiving treatment at a government hospital. It is a matter of relief that there has been no Indian fatality in the unfortunate incident at Al Kharj yesterday evening. The Embassy has been in touch with the concerned Saudi authorities regarding this issue," it said. Meanwhile, the Indian mission in Saudi Arabia has advised all Indian nationals in the country to remain vigilant and follow safety guidelines issued by local authorities amid rising tensions in West Asia. All Indian nationals currently in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are advised to remain vigilant, strictly adhere to the safety guidelines prevalent in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and follow advisories issued by the local authorities and the Embassy," the mission said. Tensions surged in West Asia after the United States and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran on February 28, prompting retaliatory attacks by Tehran that have widened the conflict across parts of the Gulf region. Location : Riyadh, Saudi Arabia First Published: March 11, 2026, 08:47 IST News world UP Man Battling For Life In Saudi After Strike Hits Residential Area, Family Seeks Help 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 13, 2026, 12:05 IST US-Israel-Iran War Latest News Updates Today: Missile strikes, drone attacks and maritime incidents continued across West Asia as the IranIsrael war, backed by the United States, entered its 14th day on Friday. Explosions were reported over Jerusalem after Israel said Iran launched missiles, while blasts were also heard in Dubai as Iran widened attacks targeting Gulf states. In Lebanon, an Israeli strike on Beiruts seafront killed seven people and injured 21, according to the Lebanese health ministry. Drone attacks also targeted Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain, while an air strike in northern Iraq killed two fighters. Drones were intercepted near Erbil, where Italian troops are stationed as part of an international mission. Shipping lanes have also been affected. Projectiles struck vessels near the United Arab Emirates and in the Strait of Hormuz, while oil prices climbed above $100 as the conflict rattled global energy markets. Amid the escalating war, India is working to bring home its citizens from Iran. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said about 9,000 Indian nationals remain in Iran, including students, seafarers, professionals and pilgrims. Several have already returned after earlier advisories, while others have been moved from Tehran to safer locations. India is also assisting citizens leaving Iran through land routes into Azerbaijan and Armenia, helping them obtain visas, cross borders and take commercial flights home. Jaiswal said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken with several Gulf leaders, stressing dialogue, diplomacy and the protection of civilians. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has also spoken with Irans foreign minister in recent days, including discussions on shipping safety and Indias energy security. Follow for live updates on Israel-Iran War Status Today US Probe Finds Washington Responsible For Deadly Strike On Iran Girls' School: 'Targeting Mistake' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 22:44 IST A US probe found that the February 28 strike on an elementary school in Iran's Minab was the result of a "targeting mistake" by the US military. Rapid Read An image of the missile attack on an Iranian elementary school. (Reuters) A military investigation has found the United States responsible for a deadly missile attack on an elementary school in Iran that killed more than 160 girls, the New York Times reported on Wednesday, citing US officials and other people familiar with the preliminary findings. The preliminary probe found that the February 28 strike on the Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school in Irans Minab county was the result of a targeting mistake" by the US military, which was conducting strikes on an adjacent Iranian base, of which the school building was formerly a part, as per the report. Follow Live Updates of US Iran-Israel War Furthermore, officers at the US Central Command created the target coordinates for the strike using outdated data provided by the Defence Intelligence Agency, according to people briefed on the investigation. Officers said the findings were preliminary and there were a lot of unanswered questions about why the information was not double-checked. The incident gained scrutiny after a video surfaced claiming that a US Tomahawk cruise missile struck a naval base next to an elementary school in southern Iran, where 165 schoolgirls were among a total of 175 people killed. As per a report by Al Jazeera, the students were studying at the time missiles struck their school. The entire school collapsed on the children and teachers. Donald Trump Denies US Responsibility Amid reports that the US carried out the attack on the girls school, President Donald Trump denied responsibility and instead blamed Iran for the attack. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said the attack was likely carried out by Iran itself. ALSO READ: Iran Has Some Tomahawks: Trump Refuses To Take Blame For Missile Strike On Minab School Later, while addressing the query regarding footage that purportedly shows a US Tomahawk missile striking an Iranian military base near the school, Trump said he had not seen the video but highlighted that the Tomahawk missile is utilised by several countries. Well, I havent seen it. I will say that the Tomahawk, which is one of the most powerful weapons around, is sold and used by other countries. Iran has some Tomahawks," Trump said. The school, in the town of Minab, is on the same block as buildings used by Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Navy, a top target of the U.S. military strikes. The site of the school was originally part of the base. Satellite imagery reviewed by the NYT showed that watchtowers that once stood near the building had been removed, and three public entrances were opened to the school. The target coding" provided by the US Defence Intelligence Agency mistakenly labelled the school building as a military target when it was passed to US Central Command, the military headquarters overseeing the war, according to people briefed on the preliminary findings of the investigation. Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: March 11, 2026, 22:44 IST News world US Probe Finds Washington Responsible For Deadly Strike On Iran Girls' School: 'Targeting Mistake' 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... War-Torn Tehran Is Breathing Better Air Than New Delhi Despite Bombings, Oil Fires Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 13:24 IST Tehran, with nearly nine million people, has cleaner air despite conflict. The difference lies in structural pollution sources in northern India. A tall plume of smoke billows from a fire next to Azadi Tower (C) following strikes near Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran. Image/X Even amid military strikes and fires at oil facilities, Tehrans air is clearer than New Delhis. Reading at 12.30 PM shows Tehrans Air Quality Index (AQI) in the good to moderate" range of 50-70, while New Delhi frequently records poor to unhealthy" levels above 128. Why Tehran has better AQI than Delhi? Tehran, with nearly nine million people, has cleaner air despite conflict. The difference lies in structural pollution sources in northern India. New Delhi sits in the Indo-Gangetic Plain, surrounded by dense industry, heavy traffic, construction dust, and seasonal crop burning in nearby states like Punjab and Haryana. These release large amounts of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), the main cause of toxic smog. Weather and geography worsen Delhis pollution. Weak winds and temperature inversions trap pollutants near the ground, especially in winter and early summer. Studies show pollution in Delhi and the surrounding NCR region regularly exceeds national standards and is among the highest in India. Tehran is not pollution-free. Traffic is the main contributor, but the city lacks large-scale crop burning and dense industrial clusters that plague Delhi. While Tehrans basin-like geography can trap pollution during winter, background particulate levels are typically lower than in Delhi. Iran war and impact on AQI The ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict has left toxic marks in parts of Tehran, including reports of petrol rain after bombings at Iranian oil depots. Some speculated that these fires would affect air quality widely, but experts note that haze in northern India was caused by dust from Balochistan and the Thar Desert, not smoke from Iran. Meanwhile, for Delhis more than 20 million residents, the battle for clean air is a long-term challenge requiring policy, technology, and regional cooperation. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: March 11, 2026, 13:24 IST News world War-Torn Tehran Is Breathing Better Air Than New Delhi Despite Bombings, Oil Fires 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... Will Target Economic Centres, Banks: Iran Issues Big Warning To US, Israel After Tehran Attack Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 15:05 IST US companies including Google, Microsoft, Palantir, IBM, Nvidia and Oracle in West Asia are reportedly on Iran's hit list. Over 1,200 people have been killed in the US-Israeli strikes on Iran. (Reuters/File) As the war in West Asia entered its 12th day on Wednesday, Irans military vowed to strike US and Israeli economic targets in the region, including banks. The announcement came after overnight attacks reportedly hit a bank in Tehran, killing an unspecified number of employees. Enemy has given us free rein The enemy has given us free rein to target economic centres and banks belonging to the United States and the Zionist regime," said the militarys central operational command, Khatam Al-Anbiya, in a statement carried by state TV. A spokesperson for the Khatam ol Anbia joint command said Iran will target economic and banking interests linked to the US and Israel in the region. Ebrahim Zolfaqari warned people to stay away from banks, stating the attacks forced Irans hand to respond. Irans joint military command confirmed that banks and financial institutions would now be targeted in the Middle East. The statement followed reports that staff at a bank in Tehran had been killed in the Israeli-American airstrikes. Google, Microsoft, IBM on target list Irans IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency published a list of offices and infrastructure linked to major US technology companies, claiming they have connections with Israel and that their technology has been used for military purposes. Tasnim described these locations as Irans new targets." The report said that as the regional conflict expands into what it called an infrastructure war," the range of targets considered legitimate by Iran would also grow. Companies named included Google, Microsoft, Palantir, IBM, Nvidia, and Oracle. Offices and cloud-service infrastructure linked to these firms are located in several Israeli cities as well as in some Gulf countries. Escalation across the Gulf Israel and Iran exchanged fire early Wednesday. Tehran targeted oil infrastructure and ships, keeping pressure on the regions oil industry. Two Iranian drones hit near Dubai International Airport, wounding four people, while flights continued. A projectile struck a container ship off Oman in the Strait of Hormuz, forcing the crew to abandon it. Kuwait said it downed eight Iranian drones, and Saudi Arabia intercepted five drones heading toward the Shaybah oil field. Iran has effectively halted cargo traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which carries about a fifth of all oil from the Persian Gulf, and has targeted oil fields and refineries in Gulf Arab nations. Location : Iran First Published: March 11, 2026, 14:59 IST News world Will Target Economic Centres, Banks: Iran Issues Big Warning To US, Israel After Tehran 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... Hungarian governments Resolution No. 49/2026, adopted Tuesday, which retroactively classified the transit armored transport of currency by Oschadbank as a "threat to national security" and refused to return the funds, confirms that such confiscation is not aimed at enforcing rules or ensuring security, but rather represents a pre-planned political spectacle based solely on lawlessness, said National Bank of Ukraine Governor Andriy Pyshnyy. "We are already communicating with our European partners about this. We rely on them to carry out an impartial, transparent investigation into this case and take practical action reaffirming that the rule of law remains undeniable in the EU," he wrote on the social network X on Tuesday evening. Pyshnyy added that on the same day the National Assembly opposed Ukraines accession to the EU and swiftly adopted a resolution on the confiscation of Oschadbanks funds. "So this is not a legal process but political pressure," the NBU governor concluded. As reported, on March 5, 2026, two armored vehicles belonging to Oschadbanks cash-in-transit service, carrying seven employees, $40 million, EUR35 million, and 9 kg of bank gold, were detained in Hungary while conducting a routine transport of foreign currency and banking metals under an international agreement between Oschadbank and Raiffeisen Bank Austria. Hungarian Minister of Construction and Transport Janos Lazar said on Tuesday that the seizure of funds belonging to Ukraines state-owned Oschadbank, which were being transported from Austria through Hungarian territory, was deliberate and that Hungary does not intend to return them to Ukraine. According to him, the seizure is linked to the suspension of oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline, which was damaged during a Russian shelling attack in January. The Hungarian government adopted a resolution providing for the retention of the funds and valuables of Ukraines state-owned Oschadbank during an investigation into alleged threats to the countrys national security. The investigation period is limited to 60 days. Elon Musk isn't just leading the billionaire packhe's lapping the field. For the second straight year, Musk sits atop Forbes' World's Billionaires list , this time with an estimated net worth of $839 billion, the highest figure the magazine has ever recorded. Forbes credits a roughly $500 billion jump in his fortune to soaring valuations for Tesla and SpaceX, which is targeting a 2026 IPO. Musk is also the first person Forbes has ever pegged above $800 billion, edging closer to what would be an unprecedented trillion-dollar personal fortune. He's the standout name in what Forbes calls a historic boom at the very top. The 40th edition of the list counts 3,428 billionaires worldwide, up by 400 from last year and the most since the ranking began in 1987. Their combined wealth hit $20.1 trillion, up from $16.1 trillion a year ago, as what a Forbes editor described as an AI-fueled market rally added "more than one billionaire per day" over the past 12 months. Twenty people now claim fortunes of at least $100 billionnot one single person had that much wealth as recently as 2017collectively holding nearly 20% of all billionaire wealth. The rest of the top tier trails Musk by a wide margin. Google co-founder Larry Page is No. 2 at $257 billion, followed by fellow co-founder Sergey Brin at $237 billion. Jeff Bezos lands in fourth with $224 billion, and Mark Zuckerberg rounds out the top five at $222 billion. The United States remains the global capital of extreme wealth, with a record 989 billionaires worth a combined $8.4 trillion, ahead of mainland China (539) and India (229). Forbes notes President Trump saw his ranking on the list jump from No. 700 to No. 645, thanks mostly to his dealings in cryptocurrency. His fortune jumped $1.4 billion over the past year to $6.5 billion. A Florida woman accused of firing gunshots at Rihanna's home in Los Angeles was charged Tuesday with one count of attempted murder and other felony offenses, including 10 counts of assault on a person with a semiautomatic firearm. The district attorney's office said Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, 35, was charged in the shooting Sunday afternoon outside the superstar's gated home in the Beverly Hills area. No one was hurt and it was not clear if the Grammy award-winning performer was home at the time of the gunshots, the AP reports. JSC Ukrnafta has developed a full cycle of in-house packer services for well operations, allowing it to perform key operations in-house and independently control quality and deadlines, the company announced on Wednesday. "A turnkey packer service has been created at the Oil Industry Services Department from equipment procurement and engineering design to installation of tools directly in wells," noted Bohdan Kukura, Chairman of the Board of Ukrnafta. A packer is installed in a well to isolate formations (layers of rock containing oil or gas) and control fluid flows, which ensures control of production and injection modes. As the company explained, some of these services were previously performed by external contractors, but now Oil Industry Services Department provides a full range of services using its own resources. Ukrnafta, in particular, has established service hubs in Poltava and Ivano-Frankivsk, built its own fleet of over 110 pieces of equipment, implemented electronic accounting, and developed internal calculation software the Packerman Calculator. A separate area is autonomous single- and dual-packer assemblies, which allow for the simultaneous isolation of several zones in a well and more precise control of fluid production or injection. "The result is reduced dependence on external services, cost optimization, increased reliability, and the development of in-house deep service expertise," the company concluded. JSC Ukrnafta is Ukraine's largest oil producing company and the operator of the nation's largest network of filling stations, UKRNAFTA. The company operates 1,807 oil and 164 gas producing wells. In 2024, the company assumed management of Glusco's assets. In 2025, it completed a deal with Shell Overseas Investments BV to acquire the Shell network in Ukraine. The company operates a total of 663 filling stations. The company is implementing a comprehensive program to restore operations and update the format of its network of gas stations. Since February 2023, it has been issuing its own fuel coupons and cards, NAFTAKarta, which it sells to businesses and individuals through Ukrnafta-Postach LLC. Ukrnafta's largest shareholder is Naftogaz Ukrainy, with a 50% stake plus one share. In November 2022, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine decided to transfer to the state the company's shareholding, which was previously privately owned and is currently managed by the Ministry of Defense. US Central Command said Tuesday night it had struck 16 Iranian vessels designed to lay naval mines near the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint that handles roughly 20% of the world's oil shipments. Video released with the statement showed munitions striking nine boats, many of them tied up at piers, though the military did not say when the footage was taken, the New York Times reports. It's not clear whether Iran has actually put any new mines in the water since the war began on Feb. 28, though sources tell CNN that a few dozen mines have been laid in recent days. In a post on Truth Social, President Trump said, "I am pleased to report that within the last few hours, we have hit, and completely destroyed, 10 inactive mine laying boats and/or ships, with more to follow!" In a post hours earlier, he warned that any mines placed in the strait must be removed immediately. "If for any reason mines were placed, and they are not removed forthwith, the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before," he wrote. "If, on the other hand, they remove what may have been placed, it will be a giant step in the right direction!" The Strait of Hormuz, bordering Iran's southern coast and linking the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea, has long been a flashpoint, the Times reports. Tanker traffic there has been largely stopped due to security fears since the conflict began, helping push up global oil prices and US gasoline costs. In the late 1980s, Iranian mines in the gulf damaged US and other vessels and forced a large-scale American minesweeping effort; an Iranian mine badly damaged the frigate USS Samuel B. Roberts in 1988, prompting US retaliatory strikes. The latest strikes come amid mixed signals from Washington over how far the US will go to protect commercial shipping. Trump said last week he was considering ordering Navy escorts for merchant ships, a move the US employed during the 1980s "tanker war." On Tuesday, Energy Secretary Chris Wright briefly claimed on social media that a Navy ship had "successfully escorted" a tanker through the strait, then deleted the post. Sources tell Reuters that the US Navy has been rejecting requests from the shipping industry for escorts, saying the risk of attack remains too high. Rihanna, her partner A$AP Rocky, their three children, and her mother were all at home when a woman now charged with attempted murder and many other felony counts is alleged to have fired at the property, a prosecutor said Tuesday. Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, 35, of Orlando, Florida, was charged with attempting to kill Rihanna, along with 10 counts of assault on a person with a semiautomatic firearm and three counts of shooting at an inhabited vehicle or dwelling, authorities said. No one was injured, the AP reports. The singing superstar and her rap star partner were together in a trailer on the property at the time of the Sunday afternoon shooting, while other family members and staffers were in the Beverly Hills-area home, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said outside a court hearing. Inside court, Deputy Public Defender Jamarcus Bradford, Ortiz's attorney, at first entered a plea of not guilty on her behalf, but then withdrew it in favor of postponing arraignment until March 25. She was ordered held on $1.8 million bail. Ortiz wore blue jail clothes with her blond hair in braids and spoke to the lawyer through a glass divider. Bradford didn't talk to reporters outside court. The LA County Public Defender's Office said in a statement that it could not comment on the pending case against Ortiz. "As in every case, we will work to ensure that our client receives the full protections guaranteed under the Constitution," the statement said. Ortiz could get life in prison if convicted on all charges. All 14 counts against her are felonies. The three counts of firing at a dwelling were for Rihanna's house, her trailer, and a neighbor's house, prosecutors said. The 10 assault counts were for Rihanna and family, two staffers, and two people in the neighboring house. Hochman would not say where any of the bullets landed, would not say how long Ortiz had been in California, and would not discuss her motivation or any connection to Rihanna, saying all were under investigation. A Texas woman whose murder conviction was tossed after more than two decades in prison will not be forced out of the country, the New York Times reports. Federal officials say 54-year-old Carmen Mejia, declared innocent Monday in the 2003 scalding death of a 10-month-old in her care, can remain in the US under Temporary Protected Status, which she was granted when she came to the US from Honduras in 1995, fleeing abuse. She lost her legal immigration status while serving a life sentence in Texas, triggering an immigration hold even after the state's highest criminal court overturned her conviction in January. A Travis County judge on Monday formally dismissed the charges and urged federal authorities not to "compound the tragedy" with deportation. The Department of Homeland Security later said the immigration hold would be lifted and Mejia would be allowed to remain in the country until her Temporary Protected Status expires. New expert reviews of the evidenceincluding burn specialists and recanting state witnessesconcluded the child's fatal injuries were accidental, not intentional, aligning with long-missing statements from Mejia's children and fresh testimony from a daughter who said she, not her mother, turned on the hot water while she was attempting to give the boy a bath. The family's rented home, built prior to the 1980s, did not have plumbing safety features to prevent scalding, and the water temperature reached 147.8 degrees, with the baby suffering third-degree burns within seconds, NBC News reports. Mejia's lawyers say her release will allow her to reunite with her four children, of whom she lost custody while in prison. All of them were under 8 at the time of her conviction and were adopted by other families, KVUE reports. Bon Jovi is headed for the multiplex. Universal has snagged the rights to a feature film about the New Jersey rock band, winning a bidding war to back the project that will chronicle the group behind "Livin' on a Prayer" and other '80s arena staples, reports Variety. Cody Brotter, writer of the upcoming crypto thriller Killing Satoshi, is on script duty; no director or cast is attached yet. Deadline reports that the studio will have access to the band's entire music catalog, as well as input from frontman Jon Bon Jovi himself. That outlet notes that the film will center on the band established in 1983 and later inducted into both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, with a focus on its "formative years and the stepping stones to get to where the band's rock anthems filled stadiums all over the world." Harvey Weinstein says he's not just canceled, he's got "cancel-itis." In his first substantial interview since being moved to New York's Rikers Island, the disgraced producer told The Hollywood Reporter that most of his former Hollywood contactsamong them DreamWorks' co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, and actor and director Bradley Cooperno longer speak with him. "Most of the people I knew have shut me out," he told the outlet. "Close friends. Family members. People who owe their entire careers to me. They all just disappeared overnight." Weinstein, who's serving time following sex-crime convictions in California and New York, said he understands why, claiming that anyone who takes his call risks being "canceled" themselves. "I get it. I don't expect anyone to destroy their careers for me," he said, though he added that when it comes to some of the people he was closer to, like Cooper and Katzenberg, "I miss these people not just as businessthere was more to it than that." Weinstein added that a small group still reaches out, but he declined to identify them. Weinstein, 73, said his ex-wife, Georgina Chapman, doesn't speak to him but continues to let their two children together visit. He noted that the kids, who are 12 and 15, "know everything. They are old enough to Google. But I told them I never sexually assaulted anyone, and they believe me." He expressed regret over the damage to her fashion career, saying clients walked away after his misconduct became public and insisting she knew nothing about his actions. Weinstein also talked to THR about his life in prison, which he called "hell." "Mostly I'm in my cell 23 hours a day," he said. "Sometimes I'll go out in the wheelchair just to get some air, but that's only half an hour." He added that he doesn't speak to other inmates, who he said constantly ask him for money or legal help. "I just speak to the guards. And the nurses. That's the extent of my socializing here," he noted. Weinstein's 2020 New York rape and sexual assault convictions were overturned in 2024. He was later convicted on a separate New York charge for a criminal sexual act in 2025, and his appeal of that conviction was rejected in January, per People. As for dying behind bars, Weinstein tells THR that the idea of that "scares the s---out of me." Iran's response to the US-Israeli offensive has left a visible trail across the Middle East, one that the New York Times has mapped. In a satellite-driven analysis, the paper identifies at least 17 US sites and related installations that have been damaged since Feb. 28, including two embassies and a consulate, major air bases, and high-end radar systems. Some facilities, among them Al Udeid in Qatar and the Navy's Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, have been hit multiple times. The Times gives a sense of scope: The 11 US military bases or installations that it confirms have been hit represent almost half of those types of American sites in the region. Its takeaway: "The intensity of the retaliatory strikes has signaled that Iran was more prepared for the war than many in the Trump administration had anticipated." While officials say most incoming missiles and drones have been intercepted and argue overall capabilities remain intact, one analyst cited in the piece cautions that damaged radars won't be cheap or easy to fix. The Times doesn't try to put an overall price tag on the strikes' impact, but it notes Congress was told the damage to the Fifth Fleet HQ clocked in at roughly $200 million. CBS News separately reports that a rep for Iran's central military command on Wednesday said Tehran will start going after financial institutions across the Middle East that it views as tied to the US and Israel, after what it claims was an attack on an Iranian bank. State media quoted Ebrahim Zolfaqari as urging people in the region to keep about half a mile away from banks. Centuries of British political tradition will end within weeks after Parliament voted to remove hereditary aristocrats from the unelected House of Lords. On Tuesday, upper chamber members dropped objections to legislation passed by the elected House of Commons ousting dozens of dukes, earls, and viscounts who inherited seats in Parliament along with their aristocratic titles, per the AP . MP Nick Thomas-Symonds said the change puts an end to "an archaic and undemocratic principle." "Our Parliament ... should never be a gallery of old boys networks, nor a place where titles, many of which were handed out centuries ago, hold power over the will of the people," he said. The House of Lords plays an important role in Britain's parliamentary democracy, scrutinizing legislation passed by the elected House of Commons, though critics have long argued that it's unwieldy and undemocratic. The case of Peter Mandelson, who resigned from the House of Lords in February after revelations about his friendship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, drew renewed attention to the upper chamber and the problem of lords behaving badly. The chamber currently has more than 800 members, making it the second-largest legislative chamber in the world after China's National People's Congress. For most of its 700-year history, its membership was composed of noblemenalmost never womenwho inherited their seats, alongside a smattering of bishops. In the 1950s, these were joined by "life peers"retired politicians, civic leaders, and other notables appointed by the government, who now make up the vast majority of the chamber. Roughly 1 in 10 members are currently hereditary peers. In 1999, the Labour government of then-Prime Minister Tony Blair evicted most of the 750 hereditary peers, though 92 were allowed to remain temporarily to avoid an aristocrats' rebellion. It was another 25 years before PM Keir Starmer's current Labour government introduced legislation to oust the remaining "hereditaries." The lords put up a fight, forcing a compromise that will see an undisclosed number of hereditary members allowed to stay by being "recycled" into life peers. The bill will become law once King Charles III grants royal assenta formalityand the hereditary peers will leave at the end of the current session of Parliament this spring, completing a political process begun a quarter century ago. Labour remains committed to eventually replacing the House of Lords with an alternative second chamber that's "more representative of the UK." Spain just made a diplomatic snub to Israel permanent. Madrid on Tuesday formally ended its ambassador's posting to Israel, confirming that the role is being scrapped and the embassy in Tel Aviv will now be headed indefinitely by a charge d'affaires. The ambassador had been recalled in September after Spain blocked planes and ships carrying weapons to Israel from using its ports and airspace, reports Reuters. Israel's embassy in Madrid is likewise currently led by a charge d'affaires; it summoned its own ambassador back to Israel in May 2024 in response to Spain's recognition of a Palestinian state. Iran may be thousands of miles away, but an FBI alert viewed by ABC News suggests it may have Pacific Coast ambitions. ABC News reports the bureau quietly warned California law enforcement agencies late last month that Iran "allegedly aspired" to strike the state if the US struck it first. The alert reads in part: "We recently acquired information that as of early February 2026, Iran allegedly aspired to conduct a surprise attack using unmanned aerial vehicles from an unidentified vessel off the coast of the United State Homeland, specifically against unspecified targets in California. ... We have no additional information on the timing, method, target, or perpetrators of this alleged attack." Neither the FBI office in LA nor the White House opted to comment, though President Trump did tell reporters he wasn't concerned about the possibility of an Iran attack on US soil. A source tells the Los Angeles Times the warning was spun out of US Coast Guard intelligence, but sources add there is no credible evidence backing it. Still, former DHS intelligence chief John Cohen called the FBI alert prudent, telling ABC News, "We know Iran has an extensive presence in Mexico and South America, they have relationships, they have the drones and now they have the incentive to conduct attacks." The Desert Sun reports Gov. Gavin Newsom was asked about the FBI alert at a Wednesday news conference and said, "As it relates to drone strikes, we've been aware of that information. We've been working collaboratively through the SOC (State Operation Center), which we established right after the war began ... [and] working locally to make sure we transmit any information that we have received. ... I have nothing more insightful beyond just what's been reported." Universal Credit Agricole Bank (Kyiv), a subsidiary of the French Credit Agricole S.A., signed an agreement to acquire up to 100% of the share capital of Bank Lviv, a small and medium-sized business-focused bank headquartered in Lviv. "This acquisition allows Credit Agricole to strengthen its position in western Ukraine, while simultaneously strengthening the bank's position in the small and medium-sized business segment and in the agricultural sector," the bank said in a press release, without specifying the amount. As of the beginning of this year, Credit Agricole Bank ranked 11th among 60 Ukrainian banks in terms of total assets (UAH 127.03 billion, or 3.04% of the entire banking system), while Lviv Bank ranked 25th (UAH 17.87 billion, or 0.43%). In terms of total assets, this would allow the bank to enter the top ten Ukrainian banks, displacing OTP Bank from the list. The release notes that the agreement to acquire Lviv Bank is fully consistent with Credit Agricole's strategy to support the Ukrainian economy in the long term and its ambition to play a key role in Ukraine's recovery. According to the statement, the completion of the transaction is subject to a number of preconditions, including regulatory approvals from the National Bank of Ukraine and the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine, and is expected to be completed by mid-2026. The agreement meets Credit Agricole S.A.'s return on investment criteria and its impact on Credit Agricole's CET1 ratio is insignificant, the release also says. OTTAWA, ON, March 11, 2026 /CNW/ - More than 1.3 million work permits are set to expire by the end of 2026, threatening significant economic and labour challenges, warns the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB). "The economic fallout could be massive. Thousands of workers could be forced to leave or left in limbo waiting for an extension or a new permit. Some estimates show more than 300,000 work permits are due to expire by the end of March alone. Many employers are now facing the hard reality that they may not be able to keep their foreign workers because of recent federal changes," said Dan Kelly, CFIB president. "Sectors struggling with persistent labour gaps will be hit hardest if they lose access to their TFWs, leaving crucial sectors in our economy exposed at a time when Canada needs to be strengthening its economy and supply chains." According to CFIB's Monthly Business Barometer, skilled labour shortages remain the second highest constraint on sales and growth for 39% of small businesses. In a 2024-2025 survey of businesses who had turned to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) to meet their labour market needs, 57% said they would have to scale back their growth plans if they could not retain or have access to foreign workers and 52% would be unable to fill orders or render services. Nearly a quarter (24%) would have to reduce their hours of operation and 18% stated that it was very likely that they would have to close their operations. Many Canadians also mistakenly believe employers can easily bypass local workers by hiring through the TFWP. CFIB's snapshot proves that small business owners hire TFWs out of necessity and to fill gaps where local skilled labour isn't available. "Small businesses want to hire Canadians, including young Canadians and under-represented groups, but these jobs may depend on a specific skill they cannot find. In fact, the share of youth working in many of the sectors where TFWs are employed, such as agriculture or manufacturing, remains extremely low," Kelly added. "In some cases, without the specialized TFWs, there are fewer jobs for Canadians. This is why access to TFWs remains important." To prevent disruptions and keep supply chains moving, CFIB urges the federal government to: Facilitate the retention of TFWs already in Canada through a grandfathering clause; Provide a pathway to permanent residency for lower-skilled TFWs who have maintained their legal status, acquired work experience in Canada, and paid taxes; Implement an appeals process if a TFW application is denied; Reduce the program's administrative burden; and, Consult employers and the business community in advance of future reforms. "Businesses and their employees need stability. Many of these work permit holders, including TFWs, are already integrated in, and contributing to, their communities. Immigration policies must respond to economic needs and so now is not the time to make things even harder for small businesses and their employees. Government needs to deliver on a concrete plan to ensure workforce stability," said Corinne Pohlmann, Executive Vice-President of Advocacy at CFIB. For more information on why small businesses need the TFWP, visit cfib.ca . About CFIB The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is Canada's largest association of small and medium-sized businesses with 103,000 members across every industry and region. CFIB is dedicated to increasing business owners' chances of success by driving policy change at all levels of government, providing expert advice and tools, and negotiating exclusive savings. Learn more at cfib.ca. SOURCE Canadian Federation of Independent Business (Toronto) For media enquiries or interviews, please contact: Dariya Baiguzhiyeva, CFIB, 647-464-2814, [email protected] Photo: https://www.president.gov.ua/ President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the world is not ready for World War III due to technological threats, in particular missiles, drones and ground operations, as well as potential alliances of aggressors that could exacerbate global conflicts. In an interview with Irish blogger Caolan Robertson, Zelenskyy cited examples of possible alliances and their consequences, emphasizing the international communitys lack of preparedness. "Like with Russia, when the North Koreans sent 10,000 North Korean soldiers who are now standing on Russian territory. Yes, they are on Russian territory, but they can come to Ukraine. The same with Iran. Russia can send troops. Is the world ready for this alliance? The world is not ready," he said. He clarified that the global communitys preparation is limited: "From a technical point of view, Europe is not sufficiently ready. Only some countries. Yes, they are on the path. For example, the Germans are very fast, but its not enough. This year there is not enough time to prepare for such challenges. Yes, the Nordic countries are also very technological. Northern Europe is ready. The U.S., undoubtedly, the army is very strong, but we must understand one thing: with all due respect to the American armyif were talking about war with missiles and drones, this is not about ground war. We must understand that this is not about ground forces that we have. And this is not something we are very happy to have this experience. Many human losses. This is not about happiness," Zelenskyy stressed. Ukraine will receive EUR 30 billion from the Baltic and Northern European countries for its military needs if Hungary and Slovakia continue to block the previously approved EU reparations loan of EUR 90 billion, Politico wrote on Wednesday, citing its own sources. "EU leaders will meet for a summit in Brussels next week, hoping to convince Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his Slovak counterpart Robert Fico to stick to their promise to approve the loan, which is supposed to provide two-thirds of the money Ukraine needs to continue fighting the Russian invasion until the end of 2027. But if the pair refuse to back down, Baltic and Nordic countries have a plan to give Ukraine enough money to keep it afloat through the first half of this year, said the two EU diplomats familiar with the discussions. They were granted anonymity to speak freely about the sensitive negotiations, as were others in this story," the report notes. Another informed source said a sum of EUR 30 billion is being considered. Since these would be bilateral loans, they would not require EU approval, the publication reported. Separately, Dutch Finance Minister Eelco Heinen told his colleagues Tuesday that his government has set aside the possibility of sending Kyiv EUR 3.5 billion per year in bilateral support through 2029, Politico reported, citing two other diplomats. The idea of individual financing for Ukraine by member countries was already discussed before the December summit, at which all EU member state leaders agreed to extend one EU loan. The individual loan option was considered unacceptable at the time because it undermined EU solidarity with Ukraine and exposed deep divisions in the bloc. But if Orban refuses to lift his blockade of the loan, it may be the only way forward. "Its not the first time we are facing a similar kind of difficulties with Hungary," the EUs Economy Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said in response to a question from POLITICO on Tuesday. "We will deliver on this loan one way or another." The publication notes that Ukraines financing needs have decreased after the International Monetary Fund approved an $8.1 billion loan in late February, immediately allocating $1.5 billion. Thanks to this, Ukraine will remain solvent until early May of this year, Politicos own sources told Politico. Before that, EU assessments indicated that Ukraine could go bankrupt as early as the end of March. Ukraines Security Service has completed its pretrial investigation and sent an indictment to court for a hitman suspected of killing Ukrainian lawmaker Andriy Parubiy. "The perpetrator faces life imprisonment with confiscation of property," the SBU press service said on its Telegram channel. Based on investigative actions, new crimes by the suspect were documented, including his calls to overthrow the constitutional order and eliminate representatives of Ukraines state authorities. During the investigation, authorities also found a sawed-off hunting rifle that the perpetrator had hidden in a cache at Lychakiv Cemetery for possible use in subversive activities. Law enforcement detained the hitman in September 2025 in Khmelnytsky region, from where he planned to illegally leave the country. "According to the investigation, the accused is a 53-year-old Lviv resident who was recruited by Russian intelligence services in 2024 when he was searching Telegram channels for information about his son, who had gone missing in the combat zone in Donetsk region. After recruitment, the suspect carried out enemy tasks: tracking and leaking to the Russians the locations of Defense Forces, as well as attempting to collect data on the directions of railway fuel convoys. Later, the Russians proposed he carry out a more complex task to kill one of the state officials. Thus, from ideological motives, the killer chose as his victim Ukrainian lawmaker and former Verkhovna Rada chairman Andriy Parubiy," the SBU said. After the killing, the suspect tried to destroy evidence and flee abroad. It was also established that the man justified Russias armed aggression against Ukraine, denied Russian war crimes and glorified the Russian army. Based on the collected evidence, the suspect is charged under Article 111, Part 2 (treason committed under martial law), Article 109, Part 3 (public calls for violent change and overthrow of the constitutional order using mass media), Article 27, Part 2, Article 28, Part 2, Article 112 (attempt on the life of a statesman committed in connection with his state and public activities by prior conspiracy of a group of persons), Article 27, Part 2, Article 28, Part 2, Article 263, Part 1 (carrying, storing and acquiring firearms and ammunition without legally required permission, committed by prior conspiracy of a group of persons) and Article 436-2, Parts 1, 3 (glorification of persons who carried out Russias armed aggression against Ukraine, justification of, recognition as lawful, denial of Russias armed aggression against Ukraine) of Ukraines Criminal Code. The investigation was conducted by SBU officers in Lviv region under procedural supervision of the regional prosecutors office. As reported, on August 30, 2025, the suspect fired eight shots at the victim. The injuries were fatal - the MP died at the scene. After that, the attacker hid the firearm, planning to use it again. In September, law enforcement officers discovered the hiding place, and the results of the examinations confirmed the mans involvement in the crime. Germany will continue supporting Ukraine despite hostilities in the Middle East, Bundestag President Julia Klockner said. "I can tell you with great confidence that we will not forget Ukraine because a new crisis Iran has emerged," Klockner said at a joint briefing with Verkhovna Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk on Wednesday. For his part, Stefanchuk thanked Germany for its constant support of Ukraine and all its initiatives. "I want to emphasize once again that Ukraine is ready to share its unique experience in defending our state," the Verkhovna Rada speaker said. He stressed that the war in the Middle East is an entirely new war with new tactics, methods and types of weapons, and Ukraine knows how to counter this and is ready to share its knowledge with partners. On the territory of Ukraine, a group of individuals arriving from Hungary has no official status or scheduled official meetings, so it is definitely incorrect to call them a "delegation," spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Ukraine, Heorhiy Tykhy has said. "We are aware that this morning a group of Hungarian citizens entered the territory of Ukraine under the general rules for all citizens of the Schengen area, utilizing the visa-free regime. Any individuals for tourist purposes can enter Ukraine from Schengen countries in this way. On the territory of Ukraine, this group of persons has no official status or planned official meetings, so it is definitely incorrect to call them a delegation," he told journalists. The MFA emphasized that citizens of other states who treat the country with respect and adhere to general visiting rules, particularly for tourist purposes, may remain on the territory of Ukraine. Earlier on Wednesday, State Secretary of the Hungarian Ministry of Energy Gabor Csepek announced his arrival in Ukraine. "On the way to Kyiv!" Csepek wrote on Facebook on Wednesday. The day before, he recorded a video from a Ukrainian-Hungarian border crossing. Parking charges across Plymouth are set to increase after councillors approved a series of changes during a cabinet meeting on Monday (9 March) afternoon. Members of Plymouth City Council backed proposals as part of the authoritys annual review of parking services, which the council says is needed to help meet rising operational costs and maintain income used to run services. READ NEXT: Devon police help create new guidance to help protect historic UK shipwrecks Council officers said the option of not increasing charges had been considered but rejected as it would not achieve cost recovery and maintain levels of income critical to the delivery of key services. The decision means changes to both on-street and off-street parking, alongside several updates to how parking is managed across the city. Parking charges increase agreed Under the plans, parking charges will apply to all motor vehicles using council car parks, including motorcycles, ensuring what the council described as a more consistent approach across chargeable parking bays. The council also approved the removal of cash payments for on-street parking once new payment systems are installed. Drivers will instead be required to pay using debit or credit cards, contactless payments, mobile wallets and the RingGo parking app. Council officers say the change will improve customer experience by offering more payment options, while also helping reduce carbon emissions associated with collecting and processing cash. READ NEXT: Historic butterfly collection returns to public view in Newton Abbot next week The cabinet also agreed to increase on-street pay-and-display charges across the city. In Zone 1 areas, including Cornwall Street and New George Street, the hourly rate is expected to rise from 2.40 to 2.80, while the cost of 30 minutes would increase from 1.20 to 1.40. Charges in council-run car parks will also rise under the decision, alongside increases to parking permit fees. According to the council, the changes are intended to ensure charges remain comparable with other local authorities while helping meet the rising costs of operating and maintaining parking services. Further consultations planned Two additional proposals will now go out to statutory consultation. These include plans to introduce parking charges at several coastal locations, including Jennycliff, Mount Batten and Strand Street. Under the proposal, the first hour would remain free, with a 2 charge for longer stays. The council will also consult on introducing charges for Blue Badge holders parking along the Hoe Promenade. Concerns raised by local residents The Moorlanders previous report on proposals prompted a range of reactions from residents on social media, with some expressing concern about the potential impact on the city centre and coastal areas. Some residents said higher parking charges could discourage people from visiting Plymouths city centre, which has already seen a number of shop closures in recent years. READ NEXT: Pictures: Strange discovery as mystery caravan found dumped in South Hams woodland Others raised concerns about the possibility of charges being introduced at coastal locations such as Jennycliff and Mount Batten, with some saying regular visitors who walk dogs or exercise in the area could face new costs. A petition has also been launched calling for three hours of free parking at the Jennycliff car park. The online petition, which started yesterday (Monday 9 March), argues the current one-hour free period is not long enough for visitors to enjoy the beach, coastal walks or nearby businesses such as the Jennycliff Cafe. ABOVE : The online petition launched for Jennycliff Car Park There were also concerns from residents about the wider cost of living and the impact that further increases in parking charges could have on motorists. Plymouth City Council response The Moorlander approached Plymouth City Council for comment on the proposals, noting residents concerns and requesting further information on next steps. A spokesperson for Plymouth City Council told The Moorlander the cabinet had approved the proposals set out in the report, with one amendment. They confirmed councillors did not approve the proposed escalating parking permit charges outlined in section 5.9 of the report. Instead, the decision was amended so that parking permit fees will increase as outlined in section 5.8 and Appendix F, without the escalating charges. READ NEXT: Traffic delays hit Totnes as multiple temporary lights installed for repairs The council also confirmed the decision is currently subject to a call-in period running until 4.30pm on 16 March, during which councillors can request that the decision be reviewed. If no call-in is made, the authority expects to publish a formal Notice of Variation around 17 March, which would allow most of the new parking charges to come into effect from 13 April. However, two elements of the plans will not be introduced immediately. Proposals to introduce charges at coastal car parks including Jennycliff, Mount Batten and Strand Street, as well as potential charges for Blue Badge holders on Hoe Promenade, will instead be subject to 21 days of statutory consultation. Because of the upcoming local elections and the pre-election period, the council said a final decision on those specific proposals is not expected until after May. A spokesperson for Plymouth City Council also told The Moorlander upgrades to the citys on-street parking payment systems are expected to be completed by the end of the summer. They added that the change will provide drivers with more payment options while reducing the cost and carbon footprint associated with collecting and processing cash. READ NEXT: Consultation opens on proposed closure of rural Dartmoor primary school According to the council, only three per cent of parking payments were made using cash during the 2024/25 financial year, while more than 84 per cent were made using the RingGo app. John Stephens, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport, said the authority was facing financial pressures. Like most other local authorities, we are facing significant financial challenges due to rising costs and demand and that means having to keep all our charges under review, he said. It is a bit of a cliche to say actions speak louder than words, but sometimes they really do. Take South West Waters (SWW) response to the cryptosporidium outbreak, for instance, which affected the Brixham area in May 2024 and resulted in over 100 confirmed cases of a nasty gastro-intestinal disease. Here are SWWs words: before the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee in February last year, the former CEO, Susan Davy said she viewed SWWs customers like shareholders; she claimed the environment was among the companys top priorities; and that she was committed to speaking to local media should another crisis like the cryptosporidium outbreak happen. And then their actions: last week, SWW pleaded guilty to charges brought by the Drinking Water Inspectorate, accusing them of supplying water unfit for human consumption during the cryptosporidium outbreak; in September last year, the company received a substantial fine for other sewage offences; and Susan Davys first interview about the cryptosporidium outbreak happened a year after the crisis, in which she belatedly apologised. The gap between rhetoric and reality is jarring, but SWW are not alone in this. Head to the websites of any of our private water companies and you will find language that in no way matches the companies behaviour. South East Water, for example, claims to be providing the water service you deserve. In reality, the day after SWW pleaded guilty, South East Water was hit with a 22m fine by the industry regulator for multiple supply disruptions affecting more than 286,000 people in Sussex and Kent. Similarly, Yorkshire Water states: providing essential water and wastewater services is only the start of what we do. This is one is almost morbidly ironic given Yorkshire Water is among the water companies that makes the most use of bailiffs to collect customer debts. The point I am trying to make here is that when it comes to our water industry the rot goes deep. There is no corner of the country that has not felt the impact from our broken industry. No matter how much water companies talk about their customers or the environment, we all know who their priorities really are. Increasingly, it appears the government knows this, too. In October 2024, the government commissioned Sir Jon Cunliffe, a former deputy governor of the Bank of England, to do a wide-ranging report on the water industry. When it came last summer, the report was devastating. There is no simple, single change, no matter how radical, Sir Jon wrote, that will deliver the fundamental reset that is needed for the water sector. Public trust, he said, had been shaken by pollution, financial difficulties, and mismanagement. SWWs plea before Exeter Magistrates Court will have done nothing to change that sentiment. If anything, it will reinvigorate calls for the government to go further and faster to change our water industry. Last summer, the government finally started to overhaul our water industry after Sir Jons report arrived. They promised to abolish the industry regulator, Ofwat, and pool its powers, along with the Drinking Water Inspectorates and some functions from the Environment Agency, into a new, single regulator. Since then, progress has been glacially slow. We are failing to deliver the serious refit needed; the Liberal Democrats want to see the government think imaginatively about this issue, including by making water companies mutually owned by customers and professionally managed. SWWs admission of guilt and the trauma and illness many in Brixham experienced during the cryptosporidium outbreak shows why we cannot allow the status quo to continue. Fundamental change is long overdue. The Pentagon has selected the Ukrainian FPV drone F10 from F-Drones for supply to the US Army, according to The New York Times Ukrainian Defense Drones Tech Corporation has been selected to participate in a competition for contracts under the Pentagon's Drone Dominance Program, under which the United States plans to purchase thousands of inexpensive strike drones. This is stated in an article in The New York Times entitled Ukraine Reaches a Milestone: Making China-Free Drones According to The New York Times, Ukrainian Defense Drones Tech Corporation submitted a Ukrainian-made drone from the F-Drones brand to the competition. According to the publication, F-Drones manufactures FPV-type attack quadcopters, "the very drones that were used more often than other drones to destroy Russian heavy equipment. It is claimed that F-Drones manufactures most of the components itself, with the rest being supplied mainly by European companies. The company began manufacturing drones in 2023. Initially, all of its components were of Chinese origin. However, within a year, the company managed to localize the production of carbon frames and antennas. By 2025, it had expanded its production and began manufacturing flight controllers, speed controllers, radio modems, and video transmission systems. Subsequently, the company gained access to camera production technologies, which it plans to manufacture in Europe. Currently, cameras are purchased from another Ukrainian company that imports components from Europe," the article states. According to our editorial sources in the Ukrainian defense tech industry, F-Drones is one of the largest Ukrainian manufacturers of FPV drones. The company is known for its F7 and F10 UAVs and LITAVR interceptors. According to our editorial team, the F10 quadcopter is planned to be supplied to the US Army. At the end of 2025, the F7 drone was recognized as the most effective weapon on the front lines. This is evidenced by data from the state program Army of Drones. Bonus. In particular, this UAV from F-Drones took first place in the ranking for the number of heavy equipment strikes and was also recognized as one of the best weapons in the categories most light equipment strikes, most enemy personnel strikes, most FPV hits, and most effective weapon in drone warfare. Earlier, it was reported that, based on the results of the Drone Dominance Program competition, the Ukrainian company UDD (Ukrainian Defense Drones Tech Corp) was included in the list of 11 companies selected for further orders for the US Army. Photo: SBU The State Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), in cooperation with the National Police, has exposed and blocked a large-scale scheme for the illegal legalization of foreigners in European Union countries following a multi-stage special operation, according to the SBU press service. "As a result of comprehensive measures that lasted more than six months in Ukraine and abroad, including covert investigative actions, law enforcement officers documented the criminal activities of the suspects, their roles in the scheme, and its mechanism of operation. The perpetrators produced high-quality forged documents that allowed migrants to cross borders and reside in European countries without hindrance," the report states. The documents forged by the detainees included fake passports, residence permits, "karta pobytu" (residence cards), drivers licenses, and insurance policies. "The suspects clients were natives of Russia, the Middle East, and other countries who were already in the EU and attempting to legalize their stay there. According to the investigation, since May 2025 alone, the perpetrators sold forged documents totaling at least UAH 17.8 million," the SBU noted. To implement the criminal scheme, the participants established an extensive network including IT specialists and analysts who found clients through contextual and targeted online advertising, a call center in Kyiv to support customers, high-quality document production facilities, and a logistics chain for delivering documents from Ukraine to EU countries. "In total, according to available data, more than 100 people were involved in the criminal scheme, with functions and tasks clearly distributed among them," the SBU indicated. During the special operation to detain the suspects, 12 simultaneous searches were conducted at their places of residence and work. Specifically, computer and mobile equipment containing evidence of illegal activity were seized, along with rough notes and documentary materials indicating the production of forged EU documents and the receipt of money for their sale, SIM cards of Ukrainian and foreign operators, and cash in foreign currency totaling over $70,000 equivalent. Its origin is being verified. Currently, seven key figures have been detained and notified of suspicion under Part 5 of Art. 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (fraud committed on an especially large scale or by an organized group). They face up to twelve years in prison with confiscation of property. Its safe to say that when the owners of La Mafia Se Sienta A La Mesa (Spanish for The Mafia Sits at the Table) named their restaurant, they were probably betting on the shock value of referencing one of the worlds most notorious crime organisations. What they didnt consider was an entire country coming after them for it. In 2018, the EU Intellectual Property Office ruled that the name of the Spanish restaurant chain was invalid because it conveyed a globally positive image of the mafia, after Italy filed a complaint about it. Earlier this year, the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office also ruled in favour of Italy, ordering the restaurant to either appeal the decision or change its name. In its defence, the restaurant chain argued that it had taken its name from a recipe book rather than the notorious criminal organisation, and that the word mafia had become a cultural phenomenon no longer exclusively associated with organised crime. Its hard to argue with that, considering there are thousands of businesses, music groups, and songs that use the word mafia, but the Spanish authorities ruled against the restaurant. The controversial name runs counter to both public order and morality. The main name directly reproduces the name of a real criminal organisation, whose activity is not a remote or merely literary phenomenon, but a persistent reality, the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office wrote in its ruling. As Italy notes, the most common crimes of said organisation are, among other things, the smuggling of drugs and weapons, organised crime, piracy, money laundering, corruption of public officials and murders. The restaurant chain called the decision unprecedented in Spain and told reporters that it was considering filing an appeal. A spokesperson added that the company had attempted to discuss the issue with Italy, but had never really had the opportunity to do so. La Mafia Se Sienta A La Mesa currently operates nearly 100 locations and employs around 2,500 people. Velocitas, a Miami-based agency, picks up US AOR dutiesfor Flam, a deep-tech startup pioneering AI-native content. Velocitas will lead Flams media strategy, thought leadership initiatives, brand amplifications and national communications efforts. The focus of the agencys efforts will be on building visibility for Flams work in AI-native content creation and next-generation brand engagement. Flams AI-powered platform enables brands to create and publish app-free, interactive mixed reality experiences. We needed a communications partner who understands innovation, speed and scale. Velocitas brings the strategic insight and execution strength to help tell our story at the right level and at the right time, said Flam CEO Karthik Raman. Broadhead is named the first agency of record for Stoughton Trailers, currently the fifth-largest manufacturer of semi-truck trailers in North America. The agency is tasked with modernizing the brand to reflect its evolution from a family-owned Midwestern business into a multi-billion-dollar company. The Wisconsin-based company designs, manufactures, and markets a wide range of semitrailers, as well as intermodal containers and chassis, agricultural trailers, and other specialty transportation equipment. Broadheads unique experience within our industry made them a standout choice as an agency partner, said Stoughton Trailers chief strategy officer Sue Vanderbilt. They understand our business and have the capabilities to help us modernize and achieve our biggest goals. Broadhead has worked with such transportation client as Thermo King, Daimler Truck, Freightliner, and Norfolk Southern. Laura Davidson Public Relations, a New York-based travel PR firm with staff in Los Angeles, Miami and Chicago, is appointed public relations agency of record for Anthology of Athens, an 18-room boutique hotel in Athens, Greece. The agency will be handling all North American media relations and influencer programming for the property. Opened in 2025 and a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, Anthology of Athens has views overlooking the Acropolis and surrounding ancient temples. Not a Subscriber? Join O'Dwyer's & Get RFP Access Stop wasting time tracking down RFPs. O'Dwyer's connects you with organizations looking for PR firms & services. Get new business with O'Dwyer's! Join O'Dwyer's Illegal hare lurching, which is rife at this time of year, continues to take a huge toll on wildlife and on many people living in rural communities across Offaly and beyond. The activity, which has been described in court by gardai as a "season scourge" sees groups of people (usually men) enter onto lands, without the permission of the landowner, with lurcher type dogs in a bid to find and kill the Irish hare. This is a crime and is punishable under the Wildlife Act. Regional Manager of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) for Limerick/North Tipperary, Dr Aine Lynch, says she gets excited when she comes across a hare out in the open now. Given the fact the protected species has been under attack for years, she says it is a rare occurrence to see them in their natural habitat. Greyhound dogs mixed with a terrier-breed are typically used in this illegal hunting activity. Their owners search for a hare, walk towards it and when the hare is frightened, a dog or dogs are set after it. The dogs are not muzzled and the purpose is to kill the hare. Usually taking place in the daytime, Dr Lynch, who has been working in this are since 2007, disclosed that the people who partake in this crime see it as a competition. Dogs that kill more hares, the owner gets more kudos. That dog is more valuable. There would be gambling involved in this activity as well too. They'd be betting on which dog will kill the most hares and if they rise a hare and kill the hare, they usually say, one up, one down and that gives credence to that dog, she said. The illegal lurching of hares has always been a quick and decisive crime. Unfortunately, this has now ramped up due to the rise in popularity (and availability) of thermal imagers. Such devices, which retail for about 3,000, locate exactly where an animal is sitting in a field, making it quicker than ever for a lurcher to pounce. READ NEXT: Wins for Murphy and Cooney at the Tullamore Harriers 5K Historically, individuals involved in this activity would have walked across fields searching for hares. However, with thermal imagers now on the market, this allows people to search from gates or gaps without trespassing on lands until they identify and locate a hare. Those involved can then get very close to the animal before releasing the dog. This takes away the advantage from the hare, which uses the element of surprise to put distance between it and the dog. According to the NPWS, since the introduction of these devices, hares have a very little chance of getting away as the thermal imagers are very effective. It's not illegal to have one. They are used legitimately when it comes to monitoring wildlife and for surveying wildlife and all of those other great advantages for having this kind of technology at our disposal but in the wrong hands for the wrong reasons, they're absolutely devastating and have a devastating outcome for the animals involved, said Dr Lynch. Thermal imaging devices are now widely available Unsurprisingly, a huge amount of planning and organisation goes into this wildlife crime. Oftentimes, individuals are travelling considerable distances to carry out this activity. It is not unusual for people from one county to hunt in another. According to Dr Lynch, some of those who partake in illegal lurching could be considered poly criminals, meaning they may well have a history of being involved in other areas of criminality such as theft, burglary, drugs, violence and domestic violence. Citing statistics gathered by the National Wildlife Crime Unit in the UK, where illegal lurching is also an issue, those who conduct this crime tend to have prior offences across many categories. The illegal hunting of hares using lurchers is a widespread issue and usually occurs from September until the end of March. This is most popular time for the activity to take place. The NPWS receive reports regarding the crime throughout the year from many counties, including Cork, Limerick, Kerry, Clare, Galway, Offaly, Tipperary, Kildare, Louth, Wexford, Carlow, Waterford and Donegal. Pictured is the Regional Manager of National Parks and Wildlife Service for Limerick/North Tipperary, Dr Aine Lynch In many cases, repeat offenders are identified as well as the next generation. For example, in certain instances, the NPWS has encountered sons or grandsons of individuals who were on their radar years ago. In order to tackle this wildlife crime, the NPWS regularly conducts multiagency checkpoints and successful joint operations with An Garda Siochana and other bodies, such as the ISPCA, across the country. There is a joint protocol between An Garda Siochana, who are very proactive in dealing with illegal lurching and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The organisation also liaises with local coursing clubs, hunting groups and gun clubs in a bid to tackle this ongoing issue. NPWS staff attend public meetings across the country and they also carry out regular patrols to detect, disrupt and deter this wildlife crime. As more and more landowners are now alert to the issue, an increasing number of prosecutions are coming before the courts arising from complaints. It's not just a wildlife crime, it's a crime. It may lead to other crimes. People feel violated by people entering onto their lands who they don't know and oftentimes, if they challenge these individuals, they'll be met with verbal aggression and, in some cases, physical aggression. We've all read about those very unfortunate cases where farmers have been attacked by these individuals when they've asked them to leave their land or told them that they can't do what they're doing, Dr Lynch commented. In recent months, several courts have heard how gardai identified offenders who had travelled from outside of their home counties to engage in illegal hunting - often in large groups. The garda advice to landowners, who are often elderly and vulnerable, is to contact them as soon as they are alerted to intruders on their lands and to never confront those involved. Those on the ground who are tasked with enforcing the legislation would like to see tougher penalties apply, tougher sanctions apply. Currently, those charged with illegal lurching in Irish Courts typically receive a Class A fine, however, there are certain offences under the Wildlife Act that do carry a custodial sentence. If you are convicted of offences under this Act, they are criminal convictions that do stay on your record. In one recent prosecution in County Limerick a judge banned a young man from entering the village where the offence occurred while in another case, it was noted that disqualifications can be imposed on those who allow their vehicles to be used by anybody engaging in criminal behaviour, including trespassing on lands. The Wildlife Act is currently undergoing a review, which, in addition to hopefully strengthening the protections already in place for wildlife, will also seek to review and strengthen the penalties for those who engage in wildlife crime. Those who have interests or concerns about Irelands natural heritage are encouraged to give their opinion on the review of the legislation here. A large crowd attended a public meeting in Tipperary earlier this year Other species are also hunted illegally using dogs. When deer are illegally hunted, a slightly larger lurcher-type dog may be used. As well as thermal imagers, individuals tend to use lamps to dazzle and confuse the animal before the attack takes place. The dog will often go for the throat of the deer and hang out of it, making it a very slow and painful death, with Dr Lynch saying: Licensed deer hunting in Ireland is where people use a rifle and its quick and its humane, whereas this is just disgusting. Badger digging and baiting is another widespread issue that the NPWS deals with on a regular basis. Typically in this practice, individuals use a mixture of Terriers and lurcher-type bullhound dogs. They send a terrier underground and use the dog below to locate where the badgers are. They then dig with shovels and use the dog to pull the badger out. In some instances, they'll set the bigger dog on that badger right there and in other instances, they may take the badger away and use it for baiting at a premises with other dogs. Essentially, it's dogfighting, said Dr Lynch. Illegal lurching can cause local extinctions, particularly of hares, since the use of thermal imagers has become so widespread. While there are other reasons that contribute to the loss of this species, if the number of hares in a locality have been reduced by these other elements, it's very easy then when these guys (hunters) come in to just wipe out what's left. Illegal lurching of hares is unfortunately a criminal activity that has always been there much like the illegal hunting of badgers and deer. Its an activity that causes a lot of hurt and distress to landowners because it's a violation of their space, the act itself is also very cruel. It is a crime because the Irish hare is protected by law and its illegal to hunt it in this manner, Dr Lynch stated. It is also illegal to enter onto land for the purpose of hunting any wildlife, including rabbits and foxes, unless you have the permission of the landowner. If you see or suspect illegal lurching or any wildlife crime taking place, please report it. All reports are welcome, taken seriously and treated in confidence. Reports would ideally include the location, type of activity, numbers of individuals involved and the registrations of any vehicles associated with the activity. Such information should only be gathered if safe to do so. Wildlife crimes can be reported to the National Parks and Wildlife Service via your local Conservation Ranger, to WildlifeEnforcement@npws.gov.ie or to An Garda Siochana via the 999 emergency number. A District Court judge has accused the DPP of frustrating his referral of a point of law to the High Court. Judge Andrew Cody said the DPP was attempting to interfere with a judicial process where he wished to state a case to the High Court on the admissibility of nomination forms in speeding prosecutions. Judge Cody made the comment at Tullamore District Court after the DPP sought to withdraw a summons against a driver which accused him of speeding in Co Offaly in 2024. The judge had previously indicated his intention to state a case on the matter after an issue was raised about the nomination form which is used when a person being prosecuted for speeding nominates someone else as the driver. At Tullamore District Court in December, Andrew Dunne, BL, appearing for John Christopher O'Dea (63), Colt, Ballyroan, Co Laois, applied to Judge Cody not to admit a nomination form. READ NEXT: Housing scheme planned for Offaly town Mr O'Dea had been summonsed for allegedly exceeding the 80km/h speed limit on the N80 road at Ballynasrah, Killeigh, Co Offaly on August 19, 2024. The evidence from a GoSafe operator was that he was travelling at 90 km/h. Sergeant Brendan Kearns, court presenter, handed in a certificate of nomination and said it was an exact copy of the original which would be held by the Garda fixed charge office in Thurles. Sergeant Kearns said the copy had been printed by a company called Tico Print Limited in Dublin. Judge Cody said the issue was a simple one and turned on the question: Is the prosecution entitled to rely on what they purport to be a photocopy of the original nomination form, provided as part of the prosecution pack by a third party where it has not been duly authenticated? The judge said the DPP could make a submission to him in advance of him stating a case on the matter. After it was indicated to him last month that the DPP might wish to withdraw its prosecution of Mr O'Dea, Judge Cody said he would not allow it to be withdraw as it had been part heard and said a submission could be made by March 11. When the case came before him today (Wednesday, March 11) Sandra Mahon, Offaly state solicitor, said the DPP had directed the summons be withdrawn because tachograph evidence had emerged in December had left a clear doubt. Ms Mahon said it was the opinion of the director that a case stated was not warranted or necessary. She added that the State was not in a position to provide a certified copy of the nomination form but the DPP was also of the view the court's position had merit. Judge Cody (pictured below) said it was accepted the DPP had exclusive jurisdiction over prosecutions and the Supreme Court had confirmed the DPP was entitled to change course in a prosecution, including its discontinuation even when it was part heard. He said the District Court could only ever refuse to allow the withdrawal of a case in extremely rare scenarios and all courts had an inherent jurisdiction to prevent abuse of process. Irish courts retain a constitutional duty to prevent an abuse of process and to ensure the integrity of the justice system, said the judge. He said that supervisory jurisdiction cannot be ousted, even by the DPP's constitutional independence. Thus if the DPP decides to withdraw proceedings and that is used deliberately to avoid or interrupt judicial scrutiny, the court may intervene. He said he had decided to state a case, beginning with a draft referral, and counsel for the accused had made submissions and the DPP had not. After 10 weeks of no engagement and having decided to state the case the DPP at the very last minute asked for the prosecution to be withdrawn. I am satisfied that the withdrawal of this prosecution is deliberately aimed at avoiding a case stated so as to prevent the High Court adjudicating on this point. He said the reason put forward to him about the tachograph made no sense and was entirely spurious. The decision to withdraw the prosecution is an effort by the DPP to defeat judicial oversight and will not be permitted, said Judge Cody. He claimed the timing of the DPP's withdrawal suggested an intention to avoid a ruling which would clarify an important and recurring legal issue. He said he was stating the case to the High Court on the issue of the admissibility of the nomination forms and adjourned the prosecution of Mr O'Dea to December 2 because it would generally take nine to 12 months for a ruling to be given. A number of other similar prosecutions before the court were adjourned to the same date. Stating a case to the High Court will result in speeding prosecutions involving nomination forms being put on hold until a ruling is given. The court had previously been told by Sergeant Kearns that the gardai are heavily reliant on an automated process which involves scanning the original nominations as they are received. He said it would be a hugely retrograde step for the efficiency of An Garda Siochana processes to produce the original documents in court. With the spell of settled weather over the last few days, Roscrea Trail Blazers hiking club got out in the Slieve Blooms under clear, cloudless and star filled skies for the Friday night walk last week. Well done to everyone that made the effort. The Roscrea based group who invite members from across the Midlands had a very busy 2025 with trips to Madeira, the UK and numerous hikes around Ireland and 2026 is shaping up to be every bit as busy with trips to Austria, Snowdon, island trips, charity walks and numerous challenge walks to be completed. Their walk this Friday night March 13th is the Lough Boora Parklands Loop. Distance: 9.5km, Grade: Easy, Time: Two hours. Meeting at the Lough Boora Trail Head at 7pm. Please bring Head/hand torch. On Sunday last, they had the third section of the Slieve Bloom Way from Cadamstown to Kinnitty Castle. A fantastic day out with 22 hikers talking on the 12km walk, with tea, coffee and homemade treats at the end. They would encourage anyone thinking of taking up hiking for better health or as a way to destress to please make contact with the number below. READ NEXT: Celebrating the life and legacy of Roscrea's Zara HardingHoran To join the group and to see what the club has to offer please follow the contact details below. If you would like to join them on any of their night walks or weekends away, you can contact Cathal on (086) 3399 193 and receive updates through WhatsApp. You will be made feel very welcome. TULLAMORE Credit Union is delighted to announce the launch of its Mini Credit Union initiative across three local secondary schools: Killina Presentation Secondary School, Sacred Heart School, Tullamore, and Tullamore College. This exciting programme gives Transition Year students the opportunity to experience real-world financial and leadership roles by running a fully functioning Mini Credit Union within their school. Students applied for a variety of positions including CEO, Deputy CEO, Teller, Cash Office personnel, and Marketing roles. Each student was interviewed by the Tullamore Credit Union Member Engagement Team to ensure they were matched with the role that best suited their interests and skills. At Sacred Heart School, students and teachers marked the occasion by proudly wearing purple, the signature colour representing Tullamore Credit Union itself. Meanwhile, Killina Presentation Secondary School added a sweet touch to their launch by offering cupcakes to any student who made a lodgement on the day. READ NEXT: Giant concrete pipes depart from Offaly firm for landmark Adare bypass project Tullamore College also celebrated the opening of their Mini Credit Union during lunchtime, where students received Tullamore Credit Union merchandise as part of the event. As part of the programme, the Tullamore Credit Union team also provided full training to all Mini Credit Union staff members in each school, ensuring students are confident and fully prepared for their new responsibilities. This initiative aims to encourage financial awareness, build leadership skills, and give students a deeper understanding of the services and community support offered by Tullamore Credit Union. Tullamore Credit Union is proud to support young people in the community and looks forward to seeing each schools Mini Credit Union grow and thrive over the coming year. Tullamore Credit Union is also thrilled to launch its very first Student Bursary, offering a total of 5,000 (1,000 to five lucky students). To apply, students can visit tullamorecu.ie and download the application form under the Forms section. The closing date for applications is 28th August. READ NEXT: Tullamore Credit Union sponsorship gives six schools in Midlands free access to Studyclix Russia has been attacking oil pipeline facilities in southern Ukraine for two days in a row - Naftogaz head Photo: Naftogaz Russian aggressors have been attacking oil pipeline pumping stations in southern Ukraine for two days in a row, aiming to prevent alternative supplies of non-Russian oil to European countries, said Serhiy Koretsky, Chairman of the Board of Naftogaz Ukrainy. "For two days in a row, Russians have been attacking oil transportation infrastructure in southern Ukraine with drones But the reason for the deliberate attacks on pumping stations in the south is obvious to make alternative supplies of non-Russian oil to Europe impossible," Koretsky wrote on his Facebook page on Wednesday. According to him, damage and destruction were recorded at one of the pumping stations, but fortunately, people are alive. The cleanup of the aftermath of the attacks continues. Koretsky emphasized that this is far from the first attack on various sections of Ukraines oil and gas infrastructure, noting that the true purpose of the strikes and destruction of the Druzhba oil pipeline pumping station in Brody will sooner or later be revealed. According to him, since the beginning of this year, Russia has carried out more than 30 attacks on Naftogaz Group infrastructure facilities. As reported on Tuesday, March 10, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal, regarding activities in the oil and gas sector, noted that Ukraines plans include the development of oil and gas projects: the expansion of the Vertical Gas Corridor, the use of Ukrainian gas storage facilities, and the resumption of the Odesa-Brody oil pipeline. Did you get a sinking feeling in your stomach when you read the title of this piece? If you are a member of the "tribe," did your inner anxious Jewish alarm go off, and a voice then whisper, "You have to protect Israel at all costs"? Are you already in a heightened state of agitation because social media and various independent media outlets are conflating "Jews" with the "Israeli government"? Right now, it's hard enough being an American living under the regime of a mad person who is enabling chaos both within the United States and abroad. Numerous American Jews have been struggling, at different levels, with how the Israeli war in Gaza (people are still being killed) transpired. The razing, starving, and carnage were in deep conflict with their inner moral compasses and values. For others, "Israel, right or wrong" down the line was their unambiguous response. Now, with the Israeli and American attacks on Iran, numerous Jewish organizations, synagogues, and legacy leaders see only an existential crisis for Israel. Other Jews see something very different. Aside from the casualties of citizens in Iran, Israel, and adjacent Middle Eastern countries, they see stepped-up attacks on Palestinians on their own lands, often ending in expulsions or death. They have seen photos of the Deputy Speaker of the Israeli Knesset wearing a Purim costume that celebrates a potential law codifying a "Death Penalty for Terrorists-- only for Palestinians. I'm not sure how many Diaspora Jewish women read about the new "Western Wall Law" being debated that could make certain kinds of worship in Israel illegal and punishable by up to seven years in prison. Short form: It doesn't support equality between the sexes. If you are an American Jew who is concerned about Netanyahu's actions, don't let the conflation of criticism of Israel with antisemitism stop you from speaking out. Don't be fooled by right-wing philosemitism being used to cover anti-Muslim sentiments and acts. And even if it is counterintuitive to everything you feel in your kishkes, don't let generational fear from the Holocaust make you unable to hear the narratives of others. If reshaping the future of Judaism (and possibly Israel) is important to you, connect with progressive Jews in Israel and their allies in America who are trying to make a change on the ground. Learn about groups that are searching for solutions built on joint efforts between Israeli Jews and Palestinians. Don't follow the status quo. "How Did We Get Here?" Marcia G. Yerman Ink on Clayboard 5" x 7" 2026 Forward Digital Consultancy reveals how a data-driven Meta and Google Ads strategy delivered a 66x return for a Dubai-based property developer in under 90 days. DUBAI, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced on Tuesday that the city will add 1,000 new free preschool seats for 3-year-olds across 56 ZIP codes this coming fall, expanding access to the popular 3-K program in all five boroughs, including previously underserved neighborhoods in Staten Island. Expansion Targets High-Demand Areas The new seats will be spread across a wide mix of neighborhoods where families have shown strong interest in the program and where childcare centers have the capacity to take on more students. The areas receiving new seats range from affluent sections like Manhattan's Upper West Side to working-class communities such as Jackson Heights in Queens. On Staten Island, neighborhoods including Port Richmond and Tottenville are set to gain 3-K seats for the first time under this expansion, according to the New York Times. The addition of 1,000 seats will push the total number of 3-K slots citywide above 40,000. The program currently serves approximately 39,400 students, while the city's prekindergarten program for 4-year-olds accommodates around 51,700 students. Staten Island Inclusion Addresses "Forgotten Borough" Frustration Mayor Mamdani made the announcement in Staten Island, a deliberate choice meant to signal the borough's inclusion in the city's broader childcare agenda. Local officials had previously expressed frustration after Staten Island was left out of the initial rollout of Mamdani's signature 2-Care program for 2-year-olds. The Mamdani administration has confirmed that Staten Island will be included in the 2-K expansion planned for fall 2027, which is expected to add 10,000 new seats citywide. Fixing Gaps Left by the Previous Administration The expansion comes after many families struggled to find nearby 3-K placements during former Mayor Eric Adams' tenure, when the program faced proposed budget cuts and enrollment challenges. Mamdani, who campaigned on a platform of affordability and universal childcare, has made early childhood education a central priority since taking office, CBS News reported. "For too long, families were told childcare was universal but were offered seats miles away, forcing them to pay out of pocket or leave the city," Mamdani said in a statement. "By making 3-K truly universal, we are building a city where every New Yorker can raise a family." State Funding Supports the Push Governor Kathy Hochul has pledged $100 million in state funding to help stabilize the 3-K program. The state will also cover expenses for the first two years of the city's new 2-K initiative. However, neither Mamdani nor Hochul has disclosed how long-term funding for these programs will be sustained beyond the initial commitments. Families Can Still Update Applications Councilwoman Kayla Santosuosso of southern Brooklyn, who is expecting her first child, praised the expansion, noting that neighborhoods in her district, such as Bath Beach and Gravesend, will receive additional seats. As new 3-K programs are introduced, families will be notified and given the opportunity to update their applications until April 24. In some neighborhoods, families who have not secured a seat continue to pay upward of $20,000 per year for private preschool, underscoring the urgency of the city's expansion efforts, as per ABC7NY. A sweeping 129-page audit released on Mar. 9, 2026, by Kentucky Auditor Allison Ball's office found that 304 foster children spent a combined 1,577 days in state office buildings, hotels, state parks, and other unlicensed settings over a nearly two-year period, costing taxpayers at least $6.1 million amid a severe shortage of licensed foster homes. Scope of the Crisis The investigation by the Commonwealth Office of the Ombudsman examined data from January 2023 through October 2024 and revealed that the vast majority of these so-called "nontraditional placements" occurred in Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) offices, which accounted for 269 of the total placements. The remaining children were housed in hotels (17 placements), state parks (16), hospitals where they were not formally admitted (11), community centers (7), and one private child-placing office, according to the Courier Journal. Among the 304 children, 130 stayed for just one day, while 174 had extended stays averaging 8.3 days. The longest cumulative stay for an individual child was 55 days. The average age of children in extended stays was 15, and most had already been through an average of 9.6 prior placements before ending up in an office building. Alarming Safety Concerns The audit documented deeply troubling conditions. Eighty-three children with suicidal thoughts and behaviors were housed in office buildings that lacked psychiatric care, suicide-safe design, or trained clinical supervision. In the majority of the cases reviewed, there was no clear record that children received medical care, medication management, therapy, or attended school during their time in these settings. The report also detailed instances of sex trafficking, physical abuse, and children going missing. At least one child in state care reported being a victim of sex trafficking after running away from a placement site. Another child went missing for 264 days and died three weeks before turning 18. Guardian ad litem attorneys were not notified for over half of the children placed in nontraditional settings. Systemic Failures Auditor Ball's report identified four systemic failures at the core of the crisis: a lack of transparency by CHFS regarding its use of nontraditional placements, unreliable documentation practices, a complete absence of governing policies or standards for these placements, and a continuum of care that does not meet children's needs. The problem has persisted for at least four years despite repeated promises from state officials to fix it. CHFS Secretary Eric Friedlander previously acknowledged the situation was dire but told lawmakers his agency had not found a solution, WKMS reported. The audit also criticized Governor Andy Beshear's administration for failing to implement 2024 Senate Bill 151, a law designed to expand kinship care by placing children with relatives. Growing Demand, Shrinking Supply As of March 1, 2026, there are 8,753 children in Kentucky's out-of-home care system. The state has steadily lost foster care capacity, with advocates and officials pointing to inadequate support and low reimbursement rates as key factors driving foster parents away. Therapeutic foster homes have been operating at roughly 50% capacity, yet many refuse to accept children with the most severe behavioral needs. Recommendations and Path Forward The audit issued 10 recommendations, including implementing the stalled kinship care law, creating formal policies governing nontraditional placements, building a secure therapeutic facility for children whose needs exceed what foster care can provide, and publishing monthly public reports on the use of these placements. The report also urged the state to study successful models in other states, including Washington's hub home program and Tennessee's faith-based transitional home network. Ball called the findings a "crisis" that demands immediate action. "The vulnerable children of Kentucky deserve to be placed in nurturing environments where they are provided with the resources, stability, and care they need," she said in a statement, as per WDRB. Photo: The Presidential Office of Ukraine / www.president.gov.ua During recent talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa, Ukraine agreed to provide EU leaders with a timeline for the possible restoration of technical operations on the Druzhba oil pipeline, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. "Regarding the Druzhba oil pipeline, we are discussing this issue with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and also with President Costa. In our latest conversations, we agreed that Ukraine must provide the EU presidents with a date for possible restoration, meaning when the technical capability will be repaired," Zelenskyy told journalists during a meeting with Bundestag President Julia Klockner. The Ukrainian president recalled that restoring the technical capability of the Druzhba pipeline would take one and a half or two months. At the same time, restoring the storage reservoirs destroyed by Russian missile strikes would take six months, he said. Zelenskyy also said Odesa-Brody oil pipeline also needs to be restored. Speaking about a group of people who arrived from Hungary, the president said he was "not aware" of what the "delegation" was doing in Ukraine. Photo: https://www.military.com/ Ukraine received the German portion of Patriot PAC-3 missiles on Tuesday, which were agreed upon with several partner countries during the latest Ukraine Defense Contact Group (Ramstein format) meeting, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. "Indeed, at the last Ramstein meeting partners agreed that we would receive approximately the number of missiles for the Patriot systems, specifically PAC-3, that you mentioned [35 missiles]," Zelenskyy told journalists during a meeting with Bundestag President Julia Klockner. The president said the missiles were provided not by a single country but by several partners. "This is one of the air defense packages that we periodically agree on with our partners. We wanted more, but it turned out as it did. The German part of these missiles arrived yesterday," Zelenskyy said. Earlier it was reported that a package of around 35 PAC-3 surface-to-air missiles for Patriot air defense systems, largely assembled by Germany with the participation of European partners, is expected to be delivered to Ukraine in the coming weeks. France's Benjamin Hammann has been crowned champion of the CHF1,500 Main Event at the 2026 WSOP Circuit Liechtenstein, conquering a field of 827 entries inside the Grand Casino Liechtenstein to claim the WSOP Circuit ring and the CHF190,392 top prize. This victory represents the biggest score of Hammanns poker career. Hammann knocked out five of the seven players at the final table, including the start-of-day chip leader Angelo Arossi, who eventually finished in third place. After a rollercoaster heads-up battle with Romanias Neculai Macovei that stretched across three levels, Hammann finally sealed the deal and walked away with the lions share of the massive CHF1,071,792 prize pool. CHF1,500 Main Event Final Table Results Place Player Country Prize 1 Benjamin Hammann France CHF190,392 2 Neculai Macovei Romania CHF121,300 3 Angelo Arossi Switzerland CHF84,500 4 Florian Geiger Germany CHF60,200 5 Flynn Meichtry Portugal CHF43,000 6 Eros Calderone Italy CHF31,300 7 Kilian Kramer Austria CHF23,100 8 Claudio Di Giacomo Italy CHF17,500 Winner's Reaction Not long after his photo was taken with the WSOP Circuit ring and the oversized winners cheque, Hammann was still coming to terms with the victory. Its insane, Hammann said. I dont really realize it yet. With the photos and everything, it still doesnt feel real, but its incredible. I had a lot of fun during this event and this deep run. Hammann explained that the experience of the run meant just as much as the result itself. Its not only because I win, he said. Even if I finished second I would feel the same. Its just amazing. Earlier in the series Hammann had been spotted wearing a pair of distinctive glasses at the table, but they were nowhere to be seen during the final day. Benjamin Hammann When I wear them Im not 100 percent in my mind, Hammann joked. I used them in the first event, but for the Main Event I said no. Theyre actually in my car. I wanted them for the winner photo but I forgot. As for how he planned to celebrate, Hammann said. Ill go back home with my girlfriend and the dog, maybe we'll drink something, maybe one beer. I still need to drive. Hammann also had kind words for the venue after spending several days battling inside the poker room. Its a really good place. The dealers and the floor are really cool, and its really comfortable, he said. Ill definitely come back for another event. Final Table Action The final table was explosive right from the start. Florian Geiger immediately triple-barreled Kilian Kramer off top pair, and not long after Eros Calderone put Kramer in the blender as well, though this time Kramer found the correct fold with top pair. Hammann stayed relatively quiet during the opening level, but that soon changed. He picked up his first big pot by overbetting the river with a set in a multi-way pot and getting paid off by top pair. A well-timed double barrel, a few hands later, pushed him into the chip lead for the first time. Claudio Di Giacomo Claudio Di Giacomo couldnt get anything going and became the first player to bust, and shortly after Kramers run came to an end when he lost a flip to Flynn Meichtry. Hammann and Calderone were involved in several pots, but it was Hammann who kept coming out on top. In one significant hand, Calderone bet-called Hammanns river raise with ace-high and lost the majority of his stack to Hammanns top pair. From there, Hammann kept up the aggression. He bluff-raised Geigers turn lead in one pot, and shortly after overbet the turn against Arossi, forcing Arossi to incorrectly fold top pair top kicker. The pot pushed Hammann well clear of the rest of the field, and he extended that lead soon after by winning a flip to send Calderone out in sixth place. Eros Calderone With five players left, Hammann value-bet an overpair across two streets against Geiger, who hero-called with bottom pair. At that stage, Hammann held roughly half the chips in play and looked almost unstoppable. However, Macovei began to mount a comeback. Hammann called Macoveis eight big blind shove with king-ten and flopped two pair, but Macovei spiked Broadway to stay alive and begin his upswing. Macovei followed that up with a perfectly timed turn three-bet shove against Geiger that forced the German to fold what would have been a chopped pot. Shortly after, Macovei decimated Geigers stack by flopping two pair and backing into a flush, which propelled him comfortably into second place. Flynn Meichtry Meichtry was the next casualty at the hands of Hammann. Meichtry almost min-clicked Hammanns open with pocket kings, but Hammann flopped aces-up and Meichtry committed his stack on the turn. The river blanked and Meichtry was out in fifth place. Macovei continued to give Hammann problems. In one pot, Macovei squeezed ace-four, and Hammann called with ace-queen. Macovei barreled the flop and turn before drilling a straight on the river, forcing Hammann to lay down ace-high after committing a large portion of his stack. Next to go was Geiger, who three-bet shoved ace-three and was snapped off by Hammanns ace-ten. Arossi soon followed, despite getting it in good with ace-ten against Hammanns ace-four. A four on the turn gave Hammann the winning hand and sent Arossi out in third place, setting up a heads-up battle with Macovei. Angelo Arossi The Heads-Up Battle Hammann began heads-up play with roughly a 2:1 chip lead and had a chance to end it immediately. All the chips went in preflop with Macovei holding pocket kings against Hammanns ace-jack. The kings held and Macovei suddenly found himself in the lead. Moments later, Hammann made a loose river call with ace-high, and Macovei extended his lead over the Frenchman. But Hammann wasnt going anywhere. In a huge pot, he flopped a full house and managed to get Macovei to pay off a river three-bet shove with a straight, swinging the momentum back his way. Neculai Macovei - Benjamin Hammann The two continued trading blows. Hammann bluff-raised a river block bet to force Macovei off middle pair, but Macovei soon doubled with ace-queen against Hammanns ace-five to stay alive. Macovei briefly put himself in pole position after flopping two pair and check-jamming over Hammanns turn bet. But Hammann slowly began grinding the chips back, winning several pots as Macovei was forced to make quick decisions due to having zero time banks left. Neculai Macovei The final hand came soon after. Macovei raised with seven-five and Hammann called with six-four suited. Hammann flopped trips and smooth-called Macoveis bets on both the flop and the turn. Macovei checked with the second pair on the river, and faced a decision for all his chips when Hammann put him all in. In the end, Macovei called, and Hammann was the winner. The two players embraced immediately after the final hand. Macovei had to settle for second place after a long heads-up battle, while Hammann was crowned the champion of the WSOPC Liechtenstein Main Event and CHF190,392 richer. Benjamin Hammann That wraps up PokerNewss coverage of the CHF1,500 Main Event and puts an end to the highly successful 2026 WSOP Circuit Liechtenstein. Secretary of Ukraines National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov is currently on a visit to the United Arab Emirates and plans to travel to several Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. "Regarding Rustem, he arrived this morning, I believe, and is discussing the issues you mentioned. But today he is in the Emirates. He plans to be not only in the Emirates but also in several countries, including Saudi Arabia," Zelenskyy told journalists when asked about a possible agreement with Saudi Arabia on purchasing Ukrainian interceptor drones. On March 10, it was reported that Saudi Arabia and several other Gulf states are preparing to purchase Ukrainian interceptor drones and electronic warfare systems, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources familiar with the matter. Earlier, Zelenskyy said Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Umerov had been sent to Middle Eastern countries to hold talks on helping protect the region from aerial threats from Iran. "Right now our team both the military and Rustem Umerov is heading to the Gulf region, where our specialists can help protect lives and stabilize the situation. We see the challenges caused by Iranian strikes by this entire war, which could drag on. In fact, the Iranian regime has blocked the Strait of Hormuz, one of the main routes for oil and gas supplies to the global market. This is a significant destabilization," Zelenskyy said on Telegram. Teri Errico Griffis is the senior business reporter and assistant editor at The Post and Courier, focusing on retail and real estate. An award-winning journalist, she previously worked as a Southeast commerce reporter for the Journal of Commerce and a reporter for the Charleston Regional Business Journal where she covered all facets of business in the Charleston region. Raised in Connecticut and New York, she has called South Carolina home since 2012. Growth & Development Reporter Caleb Bozard covers business, growth and development for The Post and Courier Columbia. He has previously written for The State and the Times and Democrat. He graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2023. Chloe Barlow is a multimedia reporter straight out of the Midlands. She trained in journalism at both the University of South Carolina and Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. She covers a wide breadth of South Carolina news, but she is especially interested in accountability and justice reporting. Upstate Editor Eric is the Upstate Editor for The Post and Courier. He's covered and directed news in the region for the past two decades, previously as a reporter for The Greenville News and as a USA TODAY correspondent. He studied journalism at the University of South Carolina. Ukraine prepares energy sustainability plans for next year - Zelenskyy at meeting with Bundestag President Ukraine has prepared energy sustainability plans for next year and is addressing this issue at the Energy Ramstein meetings, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced during a meeting with German Bundestag President Julia Klockner. "We've already prepared energy sustainability plans for the next year. And we've already begun working on them at the 'energy Ramstein' meetings," Zelenskyy said on Wednesday. The President also noted that Ukraine is counting on continued energy support from Germany. He and Klockner also discussed Ukraine's European integration. In turn, the Bundestag President noted that while the world is looking at Iran, Germany is not forgetting Ukraine. "We also know that Germany and other European countries are also in Russia's sights," she said. Klockner recalled that Germany has provided the greatest support to Ukraine to date, both financially and humanitarianly. She also noted Ukraine's progress in reforms. "And here I want to encourage you to continue to pursue reforms, for example in the area of anti-corruption efforts," Klockner said. She also noted that Ukraine already occupies a very important place in European architecture. "If Putin wanted to achieve anything, he achieved it by strengthening Ukraine within the European context," she emphasized. Charleston, SC (29403) Today Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High 77F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Clear to partly cloudy. Low 57F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. PR-Inside.com: 2026-03-10 22:18:07 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 476 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 10, 2026 /WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of KDDI Corporation (OTC:KDDIY) resulting from allegations that KDDI may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.SO WHAT: If you purchased KDDI securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=52883 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On February 6, 2026, KDDI posted an announcement on its website entitled "Notice Regarding Expectation that Disclosure of Earnings Report for the Third Quarter of the Fiscal Year Ending March 2026 Will Exceed the 45-Day Period Following the End of Such Quarter." The announcement stated that KDDI has "decided to postpone the disclosure of its earnings report" and that the reason for postponement was due to uncertainties regarding the quarterly results, in light of a previously announced internal investigation.On this news, KDDI American Depositary Receipts (under the ticker symbol "KDDIY") fell 11.4% on February 6, 2026.WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. At the time Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@ rosenlegal.comwww.rosenlegal.com SOURCE: The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. PR-Inside.com: 2026-03-11 00:55:15 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 629 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 10, 2026 /WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of common stock of Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX) between July 23, 2025 and February 3, 2026, inclusive (the "Class Period"). A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than May 4, 2026.SO WHAT: If you purchased Boston Scientific common stock during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Boston Scientific class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=55398 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than May 4, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, during the Class Period, defendants made positive statements to investors while, at the same time, disseminating materially false and misleading statements and/or concealing material adverse facts concerning the true state of Boston Scientific's U.S. Electrophysiology segment; notably, that management was aware that the segment's growth rate was unsustainable and that it was approaching an earlier tipping point than the market was anticipating. Due to defendants' statements of confidence and lofty expectations, investors and analysts were left surprised by Boston Scientific's net income miss and underwhelming guidance for the first half of fiscal 2026. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.To join the Boston Scientific class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=55398 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@ rosenlegal.comwww.rosenlegal.com SOURCE: The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. PR-Inside.com: 2026-03-10 23:53:08 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 620 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 10, 2026 /WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) between June 12, 2025, and December 16, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important April 6, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.SO WHAT: If you purchased Oracle common stock during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Oracle class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=51135 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than April 6, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Oracle's AI infrastructure strategy would result in massive increases in capital expenditures ("CapEx") without equivalent, near-term growth in revenue; (2) Oracle's substantially increased spending created serious risks involving Oracle's debt and credit rating, free cash flow, and ability to fund its projects, among other concerns; and (3) as a result, defendants' representations about Oracle's business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.To join the Oracle class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=51135 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@ rosenlegal.comwww.rosenlegal.com SOURCE: The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. PR-Inside.com: 2026-03-10 22:30:14 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 969 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 CASPER, WY / ACCESS Newswire / March 10, 2026 /Ur-Energy Inc. (NYSE American:URG)(TSX:URE) (the "Company" or "Ur-Energy"), a U.S. producer of uranium, has filed the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Consolidated Financial Statements, and Management's Discussion & Analysis, for the year ended December 31, 2025, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml and with Canadian securities authorities on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca . These filings may also be accessed on the Company's website at www.ur-energy.com . Shareholders of the Company may receive a hard copy of the Consolidated Financial Statements, free of charge, upon request from the Company.Year-End 2025 HighlightsLost Creek Ramp-up ContinuesPounds of U3O8 drummed increased by 161,231 pounds, or 65%, during 2025 as compared to 2024, for a total of 410,440 pounds. We ended 2025 with a total of 406,089 pounds of U3O8 in inventory compared to 335,327 pounds at year-end 2024.Wellfield and plant operations at Lost Creek continued to improve in 2025, with pounds of U3O8 captured increasing by 105,147 pounds, or 40%, over 2024. We added four header houses in Mine Unit 2 in 2025 and increased average flow rates by 890 gallons per minute, or 69%. In 2026, we are continuing our focus on plant optimization and improving flow rates.The 2025 average price per produced pound of U3O8 sold was $63.20 and the average cash cost per produced pound sold was $42.89.Shirley Basin - Significant Progress Towards CommissioningShirley Basin wellfield development and plant construction advanced significantly, with all ion exchange columns installed. We have pilot drilled 469 wells in Mine Unit 1 through February 2026, supported by eight active drill rigs. The project is fully staffed.Pending approvals from the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality ("WDEQ"), Header House 1-1 is ready to be brought online to commence initial injection in and recovery from the wellfield. Development of additional header houses is ongoing, positioning the project for production operations and phased production growth.Workforce Expansion to Support Production GrowthThe total number of our full-time employees grew to 157 at year-end 2025, up from 101 in 2024, representing a 55% year-over-year increase as the Company added talented team members to support Shirley Basin and our other projects. This growth strengthened our excellent operations, technical, and corporate teams, positioning the Company for commissioning activities, production growth, and additional exploration in 2026.Financial StrengthAs of December 31, 2025, we had cash and cash equivalents of $123.9 million, an increase of approximately $47.8 million from the $76.1 million balance on December 31, 2024. Our cash position as of March 4, 2026, was $115.3 million.Our production increases from 2024 to 2025 led to lower cash and non-cash costs per pound of U3O8 sold (exclusive of taxes), higher U3O8 profit per pound sold, and higher U3O8 profit margin.In December 2025, the Company closed an offering of $120 million aggregate principal amount of its 4.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2031 in a private placement, which included the exercise in full by the initial purchasers of their option to purchase an additional $20 million of notes.In February 2026, 24,684,999 warrants were exercised for 12,342,499 whole common shares of the Company at an exercise price of $1.50 per share for proceeds of $18.5 million. The proceeds will be received in March. Including warrants that were exercised in January 2026, proceeds from warrants exercised in 2026 total $28.7 million. All but an insignificant number of warrants were exercised before the warrants expired in February.Growing Uranium Resource BaseAs detailed in the updated S-K 1300 Technical Report Summary for the Lost Creek Property (the "Lost Creek Report"), dated March 9, 2026, that was filed as an exhibit to our Form 10-K, ongoing delineation drilling has resulted in an increase in our estimated uranium mineral resources. See our separate press release on the Lost Creek Report issued today.Our combined estimated mineral resources for Lost Creek and Shirley Basin are 21.0 million pounds in the Measured and Indicated categories, and 10.4 million pounds in the Inferred category at December 31, 2025. The estimated mine life at Lost Creek through final wellfield production (but excluding additional restoration) has been extended by nearly three years, with the potential for additional cash flow and long-term growth. See our separate press release on the Lost Creek Report issued today.Exploration Programs Continue to AdvanceLost Soldier Project: Aquifer test wells were installed at our Lost Soldier Project in 2025, with hydrogeologic testing planned to begin in March 2026, to be followed by baseline environmental studies. Work on a technical report is also underway to establish a mineral resource estimate through detailed roll-front mapping. Located approximately 17 miles from Lost Creek, Lost Soldier offers possible satellite development and infrastructure synergies.North Hadsell Exploration: 32 of the planned 50 drill holes have been completed, returning significant mineralization, including 13 intercepts exceeding 0.20 grade-thickness ("GT"), which is the cut-off GT the Company uses at Lost Creek to evaluate economic mineral resources. Stacked roll-front horizons with grades and thicknesses comparable to Lost Creek indicate potential for ISR development at a meaningful scale.Potential Growth Near Lost Creek: Drilling is expected to shift from our North Hadsell Project to our LC South Project in summer 2026 with a planned 120-hole program, reinforcing long-term growth optionality in the Great Divide Basin.Ur-Energy President and CEO Matt Gili commented: "2025 reflected strong execution across our operating and development portfolio. At Lost Creek, we delivered meaningful year-over-year improvements in production, throughput, and operating performance while continuing to expand our resources and extend mine life. At the same time, we advanced Shirley Basin toward commissioning, with significant construction complete, drilling well advanced, and a talented team in place. With two ISR platforms, a growing resource base at Lost Creek, and a robust exploration pipeline in the Great Divide Basin, we are well positioned to drive production growth and long-term value in 2026 and beyond." Year-end 2025 Conference Call and Webcast: 3:00 PM Eastern, 1:00 PM Mountain on March 11, 2026Audience Webcast URL: https://www.webcaster5.com/Webcast/Page/2307/53689 To Join the Conference Call by Phone:Toll Fr PR-Inside.com: 2026-03-11 00:15:23 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1027 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / March 10, 2026 /ZEUS NORTH AMERICA MINING CORP. (CSE:ZEUS)(OTCQB:ZUUZF)(FRANKFURT:O92) (THE "COMPANY" OR "ZEUS") is pleased to announce that it has closed the first tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Placement") through the issuance of 21,720,000 units ("Units") at a price of $0.10 per Unit for gross proceeds of $2,172,000.Each Unit consisted of one common share of the Company and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one additional common share at a price of $0.15 until March 10, 2028.The Company has paid finders' fees in connection with proceeds raised by the Company from investors introduced to the Company by finders consisting of cash of $155,660 and non-transferable broker warrants (each a "Broker's Warrant") in the amount of 1,481,600. Each Broker's Warrant has the same terms as the Warrants. All securities issued pursuant to the Placement are subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day, expiring on July 11, 2026.An insider of the Company has subscribed for Units pursuant to the Placement. The issuance of the Units to the insider pursuant to the Placement (the "Insider Participation") will be considered to be a related party transaction within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101"). The Company intends to rely on the exemptions from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in Sections 5.5(b) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 in respect of the Insider Participation.The Company intends to use the proceeds from the Placement for exploration programs on its Idaho and Nevada copper and silver projects, including the Cuddy Mountain Project, and for general working capital purposes.This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") or under any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act, as amended, and applicable state securities laws.On behalf of the board of directors."Dean Besserer"President and CEOFor more information, please contact the Company at info@ zeusminingcorp.com About Zeus North America Mining Corp.The Company is in the business of mineral exploration. The Company is focused on its exploration properties in the state of Idaho known as the: Cuddy Mountain; Selway; and Great Western properties, respectively. The Idaho properties consist of 101 (Cuddy Mountain), 57 (Selway) and 38 (Great Western) lode mining claims respectively and cover a cumulative area of approximately 4,200 acres. The Company's flagship Cuddy Mountain Property is adjacent to Hercules Metal Corp's Leviathan Copper Porphyry discovery.Forward Looking StatementsWhen used in this news release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. Although the Company believes, in light of the experience of their respective officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate, that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the parties can give no assurance that such statements will prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements and information in this news release include, amongst others, statements regarding completion of the Placement, the use of the net proceeds of the Placement, and completion of the Consolidation. Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company. There are risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information.By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements or implied by such forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. Such factors include, among others: currency fluctuations; limited business history of the parties; disruptions or changes in the credit or security markets; results of operation activities and development of projects; project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; and general development, market and industry conditions.The Company undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of its securities or its financial or operating results (as applicable). The Company cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on the Company's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The Company has assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors.The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. The Company does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws.The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.SOURCE: Zeus North America Mining Corp. President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Lamido Yuguda as deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), subject to confirmation by the Senate. The appointment is in accordance with Section 8(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007. Mr Yugudas nomination follows the recent appointment of the erstwhile Deputy Governor, Bala Bello, as Special Adviser to the President on Political Economy. The president charges them to discharge their responsibilities with renewed dedication, professionalism, and commitment to Nigerias economic stability and growth, in their respective roles. Lamido Yugudas last public post was as director-general of the Securities and Exchange Commission, a position he held from 2020 to 2024. He is an alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University, where he graduated in 1983 with a B.Sc. in Accountancy. In 1991, he obtained a masters degree in Money, Banking and Finance from the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and a CFA charterholder. He began his career in 1984 at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as a Senior Supervisor in the Foreign Operations Department. He also worked as an economist in the Africa Department of the International Monetary Fund from 1997 to 2001, when he returned to the CBN. He retired from the CBN in 2016, after serving as Director of the Reserve Management Department for six years. Bayo Onanuga Special Adviser to the President, (Information & Strategy) March 11, 2026 Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy and Minister of Culture of Ukraine Tetiana Berezhna held an online meeting with Latvian Minister of Culture Agnese Lace, following which she reported that 22 European countries opposed Russia's participation in the Venice Biennale. "22 European countries issued a joint statement: while the war against Ukraine continues, Russia's participation in the Venice Biennale is unacceptable. The joint statement was initiated by Latvian Minister of Culture Agnese Lace. I thank her for her leadership and constant support. Since the beginning of the full-scale war, Latvia has remained one of our strongest allies in protecting culture and democratic values," she said on her Facebook page. The colleagues also discussed further coordination with European partners regarding the inadmissibility of Russia's participation in the event. "Russia continues its aggressive war against Ukraine and systematically destroys our cultural heritage, so its participation in such a prestigious international cultural platform as the Venice Biennale sends a dangerous signal and can be used to legitimize aggression. International cultural platforms must remain consistent in the principles they uphold," Berezhna said. She invited Lace to participate in the Cooperation for Resilience International Conference, which will be held in Lviv at the end of March. Gwo Gwo Ngwo, a line from Ka Esi Le Onye Isi Oche by the late Mike Ejeagha, first released in 1983, returned to the spotlight after skit maker Brain Jotter used it in a viral video. Another song, Jump Am Pass by Ifeanyi Onyeachonam, also enjoyed a fresh wave of popularity online. Now, the spotlight has shifted to I Love My Wife, a 2024 track by King Pereama Freetown, which is gaining new attention on TikTok through the viral Manuel Refuse To Marry trend. PREMIUM TIMES listened to the sixteen-minute and fifty-one-second song and discovered that the Manuel Refuse To Marry gaining traction on Nigerian TikTok and other social media platforms is a line on the track. This newspaper learned that the meaning of the song released on 13 September 2024 goes beyond the trend, and many users are unaware of its deeper meaning. I Love My Wife The song, released by Freetown and his Youth Stars Band of Nigeria, conveys a simple yet important message: husbands should love, respect, and properly care for their wives. The message is delivered through calm, melodious rhythms that make the song both emotional and memorable. Through the track, Freetown uses his music to advise men to value their wives and treat them with care. The lyrics remind listeners about the strong bond between husband and wife and encourage men to nurture their partners with love and responsibility. With his bands support, Freetown combines meaningful advice with rich traditional sounds to create a song that promotes unity, respect, and companionship in marriage. In one of the lyrics, he sang, I love my wife no be for mouth, I don see my soul mate no be by mouth, if you really love your wife, take care of her, provide for her, you must protect, until death na e go do unah apart Although the song primarily speaks to caring for ones wife, some listeners may not fully understand the message because much of it is delivered in Ijaw, a language Freetown uses to address men who believe providing for and caring for their wives is unnecessary. Manuel Refuse To Marry The trending catchphrase Manuel refuse to marry, refuse to raise a family, you be Akpainfoko, you nor go young forever bachelor go and marry your wife oooh. Nightclubs are not your house. Internet babe abi along the road I go call am sef no be your wife, which many netizens now use to create content, is a line taken from about two minutes into I Love My Wife. In the song, the line serves as advice to young men who are old enough for marriage, urging them to settle down and raise families. Although the phrase appears only once in the song, it has quickly become a viral challenge, with people from different age groups and backgrounds using it to create humorous videos that portray real-life situations. One popular scenario shows a man in his thirties returning home from work and heading straight to the kitchen to cook because he has no wife. As he goes about these activities, the song plays softly in the background, suggesting that he is suffering himself because he depends on nightclub women or casual relationships rather than getting married. The trend has attracted wide participation on TikTok and Instagram, with some young women in their twenties also joining in, despite the lyrics being directed mainly at men. Several clips using the sound have gathered thousands of likes and comments online. In many of the videos reviewed by this newspaper, men are seen cooking, going to the market, visiting the gym and doing other daily activities, symbolically acting out tasks they jokingly suggest a wife would have helped with, as dramatised in the content. King Pereama Freetown Freetown, popularly known as Numupere II, is a renowned Ijaw musician celebrated as a leading figure in Owigiri highlife music from Bayelsa and Delta States. He hails from Ayamasa and Kpakiama, communities in Bayelsa and Delta, respectively, and has built a reputation as one of the most influential voices in the genre. He is widely admired for his prophetic lyrics, wisdom-laden songs, and exceptional mastery of musical instrumentation, qualities that have distinguished his work within the Niger Delta music scene. Born on 7 November 1970, Freetown discovered his musical calling at the age of seven. His active musical journey began in 1981 in Ebedebiri, when he was introduced to Paulin Isampou, popularly known as Melege, an encounter that shaped his early musical development. He later formed his own band on 22 April 1994, marking a major milestone in his career. Over the years, he gained recognition for several notable songs, including Who Knows Tomorrow, The Power House, Osuopele Community, E Go Beta, I Love My Wife, Survival, Call Me Young Man, and My Angel, among others. After legal proceedings that stretched over a year, 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After? couple, Michael Ilesanmi and Angela Deem, have officially finalised their divorce. Michael and Angela gained fame, and near notoriety, for their highly volatile, long-distance relationship featured on 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days starting in 2018. Other than Michaels Nigerian roots, which attracted audiences from these parts to the show, the couples 22-year age gap (Angela is 60 while Michael is 38) also made fans eager to see the outcome of their union. The couple married on 27 January 2020 in Nigeria after Michaels K-1 visa application was denied. Michael finally arrived in the United States in late 2023 to live with her in Georgia. ScreenRant reported that before Michael arrived in the U.S. on a spousal visa, Angela had weight-loss surgery to surprise him. However, her husband started distancing himself from her as she healed, and eventually, Angela had to get breast implants to please him. Their marriage eventually collapsed within two months of his arrival. In February 2024, Michael was briefly reported missing after fleeing Angelas home. He later alleged that he was in an abusive situation. Celebration Michael confirmed the split on Tuesday after a court in Jeff Davis County, Georgia, approved their divorce settlement. Despite what might seem like a sad situation, the reality star was in a celebratory mood. Finally, Im divorced. This is the paperwork. That is the courthouse there. And I want to say a big thank you to everyone for the love and support. You know, it hasnt been an easy journey. I want to say a big thank you to everybody. God bless you all. Im officially divorced. Thank you, Father Lord. Single life, here I come, he said in a clip which has now gone viral. Divorce settlement TMZ reports that, with the divorce finalised, the former couple have hashed out a deal covering issues such as support and the division of property, including their car collection. According to the tabloid-style news platform, the settlement states that the exes do not own any real property, and as a result, Angela and Michael will retain possession and use of any cars titled in their respective names. Angela and Michael will also be responsible for any debts in their name, according to court docs. The paperwork says Angela will keep all her retirement accounts. The settlement says neither party will pay alimony, and they are prohibited from making false statements about the other publicly, the report reads. Little over eight months after veteran actor Ganiu Alapini Osa Nafiu publicly regretted campaigning for President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 general elections, he has backtracked on his earlier confession. PREMIUM TIMES reported that during a June 2025 interview on Behind the Fame, African A-List TV, Alapini Osa expressed his disappointment, lamenting that the enthusiasm he and his fellow actors had shown in supporting Mr Tinubu had turned to bitter disillusionment. However, in a viral clip from another interview with his colleague Kunle Afod on Wednesday, the actor, renowned for his iconic roles in films such as Apesin, Eegun, Aiye, and Koto Aye, reaffirmed his support for Mr Tinubu. Update Speaking in Yoruba, Alapini Osa said, Regarding my campaign for Bola Tinubu in 2023, what I have observed is that we do not start walking or crawling the day we are born. Not all children even begin to walk at the same time; everything is in Gods hands. The Nigerian government has been troubled for a very long time. If we look back to leaders such as Yakubu Gowon and Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, and others who governed after them, people always complained that they did not govern well. However, when we look at the way Tinubu is governing now, those who are fair-minded will see that he wants to lead the country well. Is it money or fame that he is looking for? He already has both. He is a compassionate person, but the place where he is now, Aso Rock, houses powerful and dangerous interests, like a forest filled with lions, tigers and cobras. It takes a brave hunter to enter such a place and succeed. Aso Rock He further stated that while the President is doing everything possible to improve the country, certain individuals within Aso Rock have been undermining his efforts. Alapini Osa described these obstructive figures as tigers and cobras in the forests, attributing the nations current hardships to their actions. Despite these challenges, the actor noted, Mr Tinubu continues to fulfil his promises to citizens, exercising wisdom and prudence in governance. There are many people in Aso Rock who do not want solutions to Nigerias problems to come from Tinubu because they fear that the secrets he knows may be exposed. The way he is governing requires knowledge and strategy. That is why some people still believe there is hardship in the country. If he did not apply wisdom in governing, he would not achieve anything before leaving office. Ultimately, it is God who governs the affairs of men, and we should accept that. If God did not have a purpose for Nigeria through him, He would not have made him president. I believe he was sent to accomplish something, and he is already working towards it. When we compare the way previous presidents ruled with Tinubus style of governance, we can see clear differences. Some former leaders focused mainly on their own regions and believed that only they were meant to rule, making life difficult for people from other parts of the country, he added. Killings Furthermore, Alapini Osa urged citizens not to credit the Mr Tinubu administration with initiating killings in the country. He emphasised that those responsible for the deaths of Nigerians had been active long before Mr Tinubu assumed the presidency. The actor said, Tinubu has refused to follow that pattern or accept the idea that he cannot repair the nation because he is not from a particular region. Should we now abandon Tinubu or wish him harm? No. Some people wish him death or sickness every day simply because he is the president, but he has remained strong. When he (Tinubu) assumed office, the situation (the killing) changed in the sense that he adopted a different approach to tackling them. We all heard when someone suggested that the government should negotiate with kidnappers and terrorists, but Tinubu refused and insisted that they must surrender their weapons or face the consequences. The actor further stated that Mr Tinubu will fix Nigeria, saying, He may not complete the task entirely because no one can repair a country that has been damaged for many years within just eight years. Three tenures The actor further suggested that, if all the countrys problems were to be resolved, Mr Tinubu should be allowed to serve a third term. He added that the President and his son, Seyi Tinubu, were doing everything possible to reform various sectors and questioned whether the children of past presidents had engaged citizens as Seyi does. He urged Nigerians to provide constructive feedback to draw the Presidents attention to issues, rather than resorting to mere criticism. Although I know that a third term is not possible, let him complete his eight years first, and we will see the outcome. I strongly believe that Nigerians will smile by the end of those eight years. As Tinubu governs the country, his son is also trying to contribute in his own way, while the First Lady continues to support through her initiatives and prayers. When an entire household sacrifices rest for the sake of the country, we should at least acknowledge their efforts. READ ALSO: Tinubu transmits FCT 2026 budget to NASS It is not a question of whether I will support Tinubu for a second term; I already support him. I have supported him for a long time. He may not know me personally, but wherever he goes politically, I follow because I believe he is generous and does not intentionally inflict pain on people. As Nigerians, we often lack patience. I do not entirely blame citizens, because many people are experiencing hardship, but Tinubu cannot solve every problem at once. Electricity Alapini Osa further noted that, despite facing criticism and abuse, Mr Tinubu has continued to carry out his duties across all sectors diligently. He highlighted that the power sector, in particular, has seen significant improvements since Mr Tinubu assumed office. For instance, electricity supply has improved compared to what it was before he assumed office. However, he cannot address every sector simultaneously, so there will naturally be complaints from areas that have not yet received attention. Regarding insecurity, since kidnapping began in many parts of the country, I have personally avoided travelling to places where such incidents occur. When I receive invitations to work in areas known for kidnappings, I decline. If kidnappers can abduct traditional rulers in places like Igbo-Ora, Kwara, or Ondo, then anyone could become a target, he said. Iran has threatened to attack offices and facilities belonging to Google, Microsoft, and other major US companies in Israel and other countries in the Middle East in retaliation for what it referred to as an attack on an Iranian bank. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), on Wednesday, said it will also be attacking banks alongside economic centres linked to the US or Israel. Al Jazeera reports that the threat follows an Israeli attack on a bank branch in Tehran on Tuesday night. An attack, which led to the death of several employees and which Iran has described as an illegitimate and unusual act in war. The semi-official Tasnim news agency also reported that the IRGC released a list of offices and infrastructure run by top US companies that are likely to be attacked. The list includes other major technology companies, such as Palantir, IBM, Nvidia, and Oracle. The IRGC also stated that US companies with Israeli ties have had their technology used for military applications. Al Jazeera reports that the spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters, a group described by the UN as IRGC-owned, said that the enemy left our hands open to targeting economic centres and banks belonging to the US and the Zionist regime in the region. The agency declared that, People of the region should not be within a one-kilometre radius of banks. As the scope of the regional war expands to an infrastructure war, the scope of Irans legitimate targets expands. The Americans should await our countermeasure and our painful response, it also added Irans retaliatory strikes have continued across the Gulf states as the United States and Israels joint war against the country persists. PREMIUM TIMES reports that the war began after Israel and the US launched coordinated strikes on Iran on 28 February, leading to retaliatory Iranian strikes. The ongoing war has now resulted in the death of over 1,300 people, while hundreds of thousands of people have been injured or displaced in Iran, Lebanon, Israel and many other countries in the Middle East. US and Israeli strikes have killed more than 1,300 people in Iran, with over 12,000 others injured. Iran reported that the victims ages ranged from eight months to 88 years old. It noted that about 200 women are among those killed, including the 168 Minab elementary school girls. Nearly 10,000 civilian sites have also been bombed Israels health ministry also reported that at least 13 Israelis have been killed and 1,929 others wounded due to barrages of Iranian fire into the country since the war began. Eight US soldiers have been confirmed dead, while Lebanon has reported 394 deaths, including 83 children, caused by Israeli attacks. PREMIUM TIMES reported that US President Donald Trump had said the war with Iran would be over very soon, but made it clear it would not be this week. But the Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), in response to Mr Trump, said Iranians, not the Americans, would determine the end of the war. Iran Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei also declared that there was no room to discuss a ceasefire while military attacks by the US and Israel continue. On Wednesday evening, Irans president listed three conditions to end the war including the payment of reparations to Iran. About six in every 10 patients in Nigeria first seek help from community pharmacists before visiting hospitals, the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has revealed. The National Chairperson of ACPN, Ambrose Ezeh, disclosed this during a stakeholders engagement on the Community Pharmacist Assessment and Career Progression Institute (CPACPI) in Abuja on Tuesday. Mr Ezeh said the trend highlights the important role community pharmacists play in Nigerias healthcare system, particularly in improving access to healthcare services at the community level. He noted that pharmacists are often the first point of contact for many patients because of their accessibility and presence in communities. When pharmacists operate within a structured professional system supported by continuous learning and evaluation, the quality of healthcare delivery improves significantly, he said. Mr Ezeh also recalled the role pharmacists played during the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that community pharmacies provided frontline support and ensured continued access to medicines when many health facilities were overwhelmed. Framework for professional development The meeting centred on CPACPI, a new initiative aimed at establishing a structured career development pathway for community pharmacists. The framework, themed Pharmacy Forward: Performance, Collaboration and Health Transformation, seeks to transform community pharmacies from traditional medicine outlets into clinical health hubs integrated within Nigerias primary healthcare system. Organisers said the initiative recently gained international recognition after it was endorsed during the 83rd World Congress of the International Pharmaceutical Federation in Copenhagen, describing the endorsement as a major milestone that could strengthen professional standards and enhance healthcare delivery through community pharmacy practice. The meeting brought together representatives from the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, alongside development partners including the World Health Organisation (WHO). Participants called for closer collaboration between government institutions, regulators and development partners to support the implementation of the CPACPI framework, while urging the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to provide the legislative and institutional backing necessary to ensure its sustainability. Addressing health workforce gaps Iyeseun Asieba, chair of the CPACPI board, said the initiative was partly designed to address challenges within Nigerias health workforce, including the migration of healthcare professionals abroad. Ms Asieba noted that the continued loss of skilled health workers has placed increasing pressure on the countrys health system. According to her, strengthening community pharmacy practice through training, infrastructure development and professional evaluation could help improve healthcare services across the country. She explained that the institute would operate as a professional development platform built on three pillars: capacity building, quality improvement and career progression. Career pathway for community pharmacists Speaking on the proposed career framework, Emeka Ubaka said the initiative introduces a structured professional progression system for community pharmacists. Under the model, pharmacists can advance through four professional levels: Community Pharmacist, Senior Community Pharmacist, Senior Community Pharmacist Specialist, and Consultant Pharmacist. Mr Ubaka said advancement across the levels would depend on professional competence, structured assessment and continued professional development. He added that the framework aims to address historical disparities that have placed community pharmacy practice at a disadvantage compared with other sectors of the pharmaceutical profession. Strengthening primary healthcare Peter Agada, who spoke on the integration of community pharmacists into national health priorities, said pharmacists can contribute significantly to disease prevention, treatment and patient support within the primary healthcare system. He noted that stronger collaboration between pharmacists and other healthcare professionals would help improve access to health services and strengthen health outcomes across communities. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised concern about the growing burden of oral diseases in Africa, noting that only 17 per cent of people in the region have access to essential oral health services, despite the high prevalence of preventable dental conditions. The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Mohamed Janabi, disclosed this in a message to commemorate World Oral Health Day 2026. World Oral Health Day is a global health awareness day observed annually on 20 March to highlight the importance of oral health and encourage people to prevent dental diseases through better hygiene and regular care. The theme for 2026 is A Happy Mouth is a Happy Life. Mr Janabi noted that oral diseases are among the most common and preventable health conditions, yet they remain one of the most neglected areas of public health. According to the WHO, oral diseases affect a significant share of the population in the African region. Mr Janabi said about 42 per cent of the regions population was affected by oral diseases in 2021, including dental caries, gum disease, tooth loss and noma, a severe gangrenous disease that primarily affects children. These conditions cause pain, disability and avoidable suffering, while placing sustained pressure on families, communities and health systems, he said. Steps to address the crisis Despite the challenges, the WHO said some African countries have begun implementing policies and programmes to improve oral health services. In 2025, member states endorsed the WHO African Regional Framework on Oral Health, which supports the implementation of the Global Oral Health Action Plan and aims to achieve universal oral health coverage by 2030. The WHO said several countries have already taken steps to strengthen prevention and treatment services. With financial support from the Borrow Foundation, Ghana, Madagascar, Tanzania and Uganda have developed national oral health strategies to strengthen prevention and service delivery, he said. In Ethiopia, the WHO said more than 850 primary healthcare and community health workers have been trained across 10 regions to improve the early detection of noma. The country has also integrated noma surveillance into mass drug administration campaigns that have reached over 2.6 million people nationwide. Efforts to expand the oral health workforce Workforce shortages remain one of the biggest obstacles to improving oral healthcare across the region. The WHO said some countries have begun investing in national training programmes to address the gap in workforce shortages. In Malawi, a new Bachelor of Dental Surgery programme has been established alongside the construction of a new dental school, and the country is now graduating its first locally trained dentists. Similarly, Tanzania has expanded its oral health workforce and improved long-term service delivery nationwide. A total of 594 dental therapists have been trained, dentists have been deployed to all 184 district councils, and the proportion of health facilities providing restorative treatments increased from 25 per cent to 45 per cent between 2023 and 2025, he said. WHO collaborating centres, including the Japan Institute for Health Security and Niigata University, have also supported countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, and Zambia in strengtheninging oral healthcare services at the primary care level through workforce training athe nd the delivery of essential interventions. Nigerias oral health challenge Nigeria is not exempt from the growing burden of oral diseases, which health experts say remain widely underreported and underfunded. Common conditions in the country include tooth decay, gum disease, tooth loss and oral infections, many of which are largely preventable through proper oral hygiene and regular dental care. Data show that Nigeria has fewer than 5,000 registered dentists serving a population of more than 200 million people, a ratio far below the WHOs recommendations. Studies also suggest that between 15 and 44 per cent of Nigerians experience dental caries, particularly among children and adolescents. Major gaps persist Despite these efforts, the WHO warned that major gaps remain in oral health service delivery across the region. According to Mr Janabi, workforce shortages, chronic underinvestment, and insufficient prevention measures, including high sugar consumption and inadequate fluoride exposure, continue to drive preventable oral diseases, especially in underserved areas. Improving oral health is fundamental to universal health coverage. In addition to reducing preventable illness, it also lowers long-term costs and improves well-being across the life course, he said. He added that the WHO is also supporting countries to adopt more environmentally sustainable dental practices, including the gradual phase-out of mercury-containing dental amalgam in line with the Minamata Convention on Mercury. Call for stronger action Mr Janabi urged governments and health stakeholders to intensify efforts to address oral health challenges across Africa. On this World Oral Health Day, I call on governments, partners, academia and civil society to unite to accelerate implementation of national oral health strategies, strengthen workforce capacity and expand access to essential services, he said. He added that improving oral health is essential to achieving universal health coverage and reducing preventable illness across the region. With sustained commitment and investment, the African Region can reduce the burden of oral diseases, and ensure that future generations grow, learn and live free from preventable oral diseases, he said. The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has issued a nationwide warning as temperatures continue to soar across several states, raising concerns over heat stress and related health complications. In an advisory posted on its X page, NiMet highlighted that residents in Benue, Nasarawa, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kogi, Niger, Kebbi, Cross River, Oyo, Ogun, and other inland areas of the southern states are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat. NiMet explained that heat stress occurs when the body is unable to cool itself effectively. A combination of high temperatures, humidity, poor ventilation, dehydration, inappropriate clothing, and excessive physical exertion can trigger the condition. If left unaddressed, heat stress can lead to serious health issues, particularly for children, the elderly, outdoor workers, and individuals with pre-existing medical conditions. In severe cases, it may result in heat exhaustion or even heatstroke. Recommended precautionary measures The agency urged Nigerians to take practical steps to reduce their exposure to extreme heat. Citizens are advised to remain well-hydrated by drinking sufficient water, stay in well-ventilated or air-conditioned spaces where possible, and use hats, sunshades, and sunscreen when outdoors. NiMet also recommended wearing light, breathable clothing and cautioned parents to keep infants cool and hydrated, and to ensure that children are never left unattended in parked vehicles. In addition, strenuous outdoor activities should be limited between 12:00 pm and 4:00 pm, when temperatures typically peak. A growing public health concern Heat is increasingly recognised as a major environmental and occupational health hazard. According to a 2024 study by the World Health Organisation (WHO), heat stress is the leading cause of weather-related deaths globally. It can exacerbate existing illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, asthma, and mental health conditions. The health body also noted that high temperatures increase the risk of accidents and can facilitate the transmission of some infectious diseases. Heatstroke, a severe form of heat stress, is a medical emergency with a high case-fatality rate. International context The WHO data also indicated that the number of people exposed to extreme heat has grown exponentially due to climate change, with heat-related mortality for people over 65 rising by roughly 85 per cent between 20002004 and 20172021. Studies estimate that between 2000 and 2019, around 489,000 heat-related deaths occurred each year worldwide, with 45 per cent in Asia and 36 per cent in Europe. High-intensity heatwaves, the study noted, can trigger acute mortality spikes. For instance, the 2003 European heatwave claimed 70,000 lives, while a 44-day heatwave in the Russian Federation in 2010 resulted in 56,000 excess deaths. Both physiological factors, such as age and health status, and exposure factors, including occupation, socio-economic conditions, and housing quality, influence vulnerability to heat. WHO emphasised that the negative health impacts of heat are largely preventable through proactive public health and multi-sectoral interventions, including early warning systems, public education, and climate action combined with preparedness strategies. Nigeria in focus A PREMIUM TIMES report highlighted these global findings within the Nigerian context. The report noted that rising temperatures, poor housing infrastructure, limited access to water and electricity, and high humidity are creating conditions where heat stress could become a critical public health challenge. Vulnerable populations, particularly children, the elderly, and outdoor workers, face heightened risks, while urban centres are especially exposed due to inadequate ventilation and the scarcity of public cooling facilities. The report concluded that localised interventions, such as community cooling centres, provision of safe drinking water, and education on heat-prevention strategies, are essential to protecting the most vulnerable populations. The Nigerian government has begun evacuating Nigerians in Iran, with officials accompanying them across the Armenian border as the US and Israels war with Iran continues. The head of the Nigeria in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in a post on Tuesday, said citizens willing to leave are being safely escorted out of the country through the border. She also stated that Nigerian officials are waiting at the border to receive nationals fleeing the ongoing war, adding that no Nigerian casualties have been recorded. Willing Nigerians are being escorted across the Armenian border by officials of the Nigerian embassy in Iran for safe passage. No Nigerian in Iran has been affected by the war as officials remain at the border to receive all who went to leave #israeliranwar #wariniran, she said. She did not provide the exact number of Nigerians in Iran or the number of people who had already been evacuated. The evacuation efforts come 11 days into the war that has caused the death of over 1,300 people, and injured and displaced several others. According to the Iranian Ministry of Health, US and Israeli strikes have killed more than 1,300 people in Iran, with over 12,000 others injured. Iran reported that the victims ages ranged from eight months to 88 years old. It noted that about 200 women are among those killed, including the 168 Minab elementary school girls. Similarly, about 55 healthcare workers were wounded and 11 killed, including four physicians, two nurses, and three emergency workers. Israels health ministry also reported that at least 13 Israelis have been killed and 1,929 others wounded due to barrages of Iranian fire into the country since the war began. Eight US soldiers have been confirmed dead, while Lebanon has reported 394 deaths, including 83 children, caused by Israeli attacks. Lebanon also said more than half a million people have been displaced during a week of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. US President Donald Trump on Monday said that the war with Iran will be over very soon, but made it clear it wont be this week. But the Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), in response to Mr Trump, said Iranians, not the Americans, would determine the end of the war. Iran Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei also declared that there was no room to discuss a ceasefire while military attacks by the US and Israel continue. We are on the eleventh day of military aggression by the United States and the Zionist regime. We did not start this war, he said at a news conference. Fear spread across several communities in Katsina State last Friday after a violent clash between rival bandit groups forced residents in more than 10 villages to suspend the weekly Jumaat congregational prayer. Residents and local officials told PREMIUM TIMES that the gun battle, which lasted several hours, occurred near rural communities bordering Musawa, Kankara and Malumfashi local government areas. Daytime raid in Dangani Earlier the same day, residents of Dangani town in Musawa Local Government Area reported that dozens of armed bandits stormed the community in a brazen daytime raid shortly before the Jumaat prayer. A resident told PREMIUM TIMES that the attackers arrived on more than 70 motorcycles and moved through the town smashing phone shops, seizing mobile phones from charging stations and snatching phones from residents they encountered. The vigilantes could not confront them because there were too many. Everyone was running, the resident said, adding that no deaths were recorded during the raid. Rival bandit gangs clash According to a community leader familiar with the incident, last Thursday, a clash ensued between two rival bandit leaders identified as Buzaru and Wada. The fighting reportedly began after one group attempted to seize cattle belonging to the other. They met around the villages of Garangozai and Gidan Mai Maijimina, where they exchanged gunfire for nearly the entire day, the source said. He said dozens of bandits were killed in the confrontation. In that battle, about 49 bandits died, he said, adding that security forces also killed four suspected bandits and recovered more than 50 cattle during the operation. However, another bandit group reportedly escaped with about 150 cows before security forces intervened. PREMIUM TIMES could not independently verify the casualty figures. Villages suspend Friday prayers Residents said the intensity of the gunfire and fear of attacks forced several communities to cancel the weekly Muslim congregational prayer. More than 10 to 12 villages could not observe the Friday prayer because of the fighting, the source said. The affected communities include Gidan Maijimina, Unguwar Yarima, Karachi Yamma, Tsabe, Garangozai, Gidan Lado, Gidan Audu Wasa, Walki, Unguwar Gishiri, and Gidan Yan Daudu. Residents said many people remained indoors during the clashes as uncertainty spread across the rural settlements. Fresh attack hours later Hours after the gun battle, another bandit attack was reported in Unguwar Gishiri village Naalma, Malumfashi LGA. A community leader who spoke anonymously for security reasons said gunmen invaded the community shortly after midnight. They arrived around 1:25 a.m. and spent more than an hour in the village, he said. The attackers reportedly abducted four residents three women and one man identified as Abdullahi Rabiu. They also rustled more than 100 sheep and goats, the source said. No deaths were reported during the raid. Residents call for government intervention Community members said the situation has heightened fear across rural parts of Katsina. The mood of the community is very grim, the official said. People are desperately calling on the government to intervene and restore peace. The source said that despite peace negotiations previously held between community leaders and some bandit groups, attacks have continued. I dont know why the peace agreement is failing, he said. The spokesperson for the Katsina State Police Command, Abubakar Aliyu, did not respond to calls and a text message seeking confirmation of the incidents as of press time. Local authority reaction Efforts to reach officials of Musawa Local Government Area were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report. Dangani and surrounding communities in Musawa and Dan Musa local government areas have in recent years witnessed repeated attacks by armed groups operating across rural parts of Katsina State. The attacks often involved mass motorcycle movements, shop looting, kidnappings and clashes with local vigilante groups. North-west Nigeria continues to face widespread banditry despite repeated military operations and state government security initiatives aimed at restoring safety in rural communities. Operatives of the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested 15 male suspects over alleged involvement in illegal dealing on radioactive solid minerals. EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale said this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja. Mr Oyewale said the suspects were arrested on Sunday, along Suleja-Maji Road, in Niger State. He said that the suspects were conveying the suspected solid minerals in three trucks to several locations across Nigeria for an undisclosed purpose. READ ALSO: EFCC arraigns four for alleged N2 billion oil fraud He also said that the suspects were currently undergoing further investigations in the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the commission and would soon be charged to court. (NAN) Photo: https://t.me/svyrydenkoy Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko met in Kyiv with President of the Bundestag Julia Klockner to discuss, among other issues, strengthening cooperation in joint defense production of drones and plans to enhance the energy resilience of Ukraine's regions. "We discussed strengthening cooperation in joint defense production of drones and interceptor systems, as well as dual-use products. We also see prospects for cooperation in military training: German instructors are already training our soldiers. At the same time, the Defense Forces have unique experience that they are ready to share with European partners to strengthen our common security," Svyrydenko said on her Telegram channel. Svyrydenko also briefed Klockner about plans to strengthen the energy resilience of Ukraine's regions. "I informed the president about the Regional Energy Resilience Plans that the Ukrainian government is implementing together with regions and communities. Germany can play a leading role in this work. The assistance packages that Germany continues to provide to Ukraine are already strengthening the energy autonomy of communities and will help prepare for the upcoming heating seasons amid constant threats from Russia," the prime minister said. She also thanked Klockner for Germany's consistent support for Ukraine, particularly for its defense assistance. The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), has dispelled the notion that the current surge in kidnapping in Ondo State were perpetrated by Fulani herders. The association noted that other ethnic nationalities were also involved in criminal activities in the state. it made the assertion during a stakeholders meeting called by the state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Tuesday in Akure, the state capital. The meeting followed protests by residents of Akure North Local Government Area earlier over series of kidnapping in the communities which resulted in deaths and payment of ransom. The protesters had blocked the Akure-Owo expressway leaving travellers stranded. Their grievances stemmed from the kidnapping of five persons in bandits attacks within 24 hours, resulting in the killing of one person in Ilu Abo community. Mr Aiyedatiwa, during the meeting warned that the state was prepared to clamp down on kidnappers and their sponsors, warning that anyone found aiding or financing criminal activities in the state would face the full weight of the law. If investigations traced any criminal activity to anyone, whether they have legitimate business or not, they will be treated like criminals. No godfather, sponsor or collaborator will be spared, he warned. According to the governor, intelligence reports indicated that some criminal elements displaced by security operations in neighbouring states such as Kwara and Kogi might be attempting to infiltrate Ondo State. He said many of the suspects reportedly move under the cover of cattle herding routes, sometimes using cattle as shields while travelling at night. The governor noted that while cattle rearing and trading remain legitimate economic activities, the government would collaborate with herders associations to identify criminal elements hiding within the system. We know many of you are doing legitimate businesses, but there are some who rustle cattle or use cattle as shield to move into territories. You are the ones who can identify them, he said. He warned that security agencies might intensify operations if cooperation fails, which could also affect innocent herders and their cattle. Mr Aiyedatiwa therefore urged leaders of the association to provide intelligence that would assist security agencies in identifying criminals. As long as I remain governor, anybody can live freely in any part of the country, including Ondo State. But when you are here, obey the law of the land and conduct your business within the ambit of the law, he added. The governor also revealed that the state government was considering requests from the Fulani community to establish vigilante groups among their members to support security operations, noting that such arrangements would require approval and supervision by security agencies. Speaking on behalf of Fulani leaders, the state chairman of MACBAN, Ali Maunde, noted that although the association had been collaborating with security agencies, criminal activities should not be blamed solely on Fulani herders. He said insecurity had become a major concern for all stakeholders. There are many people behind these crimes, not just Fulani alone. But we, as representatives of the Fulani, are working day and night to eradicate bad elements among us, Mr Maunde said. He added that the association planned to engage Fulani communities across the state and work with security agencies at the local government level to identify and eliminate criminal elements. Mr Maunde also proposed the establishment of Fulani vigilante groups made up of herders familiar with forests and grazing routes to help identify criminals and strengthen security efforts. Earlier, the Special Adviser on Union Matters and Special Duties, Bola Taiwo, said the meeting was convened to allow Fulani leaders brief the governor on steps being taken to tackle insecurity. The governors reaction was one of the demands of the protesters who had insisted that he took urgent steps to arrest the insecurity in the state to forestall further abductions. The move by the government to commence dialogue with MACBAN could help identify the kidnappers as well as provide the needed intelligence to arrest them. There are however fears that the move might not yield the needed results as MACBAN is known to protect its members and might not be willing to provide any useful information on the nefarious activities of herdsmen. The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has said the level of leadership crisis within the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has never been witnessed by any political party in Nigeria. Mr Makinde, the only PDP governor in the South-west, said the partys current crisis cannot be compared with challenges previously experienced by political parties in the country. The governor said he had consulted individuals familiar with past political developments in Nigeria to determine whether any political party had faced a similar situation, but found none. He made the remarks while speaking at a meeting of the partys Board of Trustees (BoT) in Abuja on Tuesday. I have been talking to people of knowledge, people who have been involved in the political evolution of this country, and none of them have seen a political landscape like what we are witnessing today, he said. Political parties in Nigeria have historically experienced internal crises, particularly those in opposition. The PDP, Nigerias former ruling party, has been engulfed in a deep factional crisis that could threaten its survival in 2027 general elections if reconciliation efforts fail. The crisis has produced two main factions within the party, one aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the other led by Kabiru Turaki, who emerged from the national convention held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, in November last year. The faction backed by Mr Wike argued that the convention was not conducted in line with the partys constitution and subsequently appointed a caretaker committee chaired by Abdulrahman Mohammed to manage the affairs of the party. The leadership dispute was challenged in court. In January, the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan nullified the partys national convention which produced Mr Turaki as national chairperson. In his ruling, the judge, Uche Agomoh, held that the caretaker committee led by Abdulrahman Mohammed, with Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary, a faction backed by Mr Wike, remained the only recognised National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP pending the conduct of a valid national convention. The judge ruled that the Ibadan convention was held in flagrant disobedience of two subsisting court judgments and barred Mr Turaki and other officials elected at the convention from parading themselves as national officers of the party. Mr Turaki subsequently appealed the ruling. On Monday, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal upheld the Federal High Courts decision, invalidating the convention. The appellate court also barred the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising the outcome of the convention, including the emergence of Mr Turakis leadership of the party. Mr Turaki has, however, indicated interest in challenging the ruling at the Supreme Court. Party leaders, including a former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, have urged Mr Turakis faction not to further challenge the courts decision, warning that prolonged litigation could prevent the party from fielding candidates in future elections. Defections Currently, only two governors remain in the PDP, Mr Makinde and his Bauchi State counterpart, Bala Mohammed. Both governors are serving their second terms. Speaking on the defection of some governors to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Makinde said he was not worried that only two PDP governors remain. I can only say we are only two remaining, but we are not bothered, he said. The governor also urged party leaders to be mindful of their actions during the crisis, noting that history would judge them. So, whatever role we want to play as individuals and collectively as a party, we must be conscious of what history is going to record against or for us for this period, he said. The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Kabiru Turaki-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has resolved to push for reconciliation with other aggrieved members of the party to end its lingering leadership crisis. Consequently, it constituted a special Committee to immediately interface with legal teams and any other stakeholders to foster reconciliation within the party. Chairperson of the board, Adolphus Wabara, disclosed this while reading the communique of its Expanded Emergency Meeting held on Wednesday. He said it is exploring the window provided by the Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division, for reconciliation within the party. The board, therefore, called on all leaders and members of the PDP to jettison all personal and group interests and come together as one in the overall interest of the party. The BoT said it is aware of the interest and aspirations of party members who are desirous of contesting various positions in the 2027 general elections, hence the decision to seek reconciliation. Conscious of the onus on the BoT as the conscience and third highest leadership Organ of the Party, the Board is resolved to take immediate steps to reconcile all stakeholders, put an end to all disputes and restore the party to good political health, particularly to enable, the communique reads. The board also commended the efforts of Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State and Seyi Makinde of Oyo State for their commitment and steadfastness towards the party and the well-being of all Nigerians. The board also said it had unanimously approved the appointment of Muazu Aliyu as the Boards Secretary. Disagree with judgement The board also said it disagrees with the Court of Appeals judgement, which invalidated the 15-16 November National Convention that produced the Kabiru Turaki-led National Working Committee of the party. The BoT is awaiting the advice of our lawyers on the way forward in this regard, it said. The BoT also express concerns about the avoidable internal leadership disputes and wranglings leading to damaging litigations with consequential detrimental effect on the unity and smooth running of the PDP as the major opposition party in the country. PDP crisis The PDP, Nigerias former ruling party, has been engulfed in a deep factional crisis that could threaten its survival in the 2027 general elections if reconciliation efforts fail. The crisis has produced two main factions within the party, one aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the other led by Kabiru Turaki, who emerged from the national convention held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, in November last year. Apart from having parallel NWCs, both factions also have separate Boards of Trustees. The faction backed by Mr Wike argued that the convention was not conducted in accordance with the partys constitution and subsequently appointed a caretaker committee, chaired by Abdulrahman Mohammed, to manage the partys affairs. The leadership dispute was challenged in court. In January, the Federal High Court nullified the partys national convention, which produced Mr Turaki as national chairperson. In his ruling, the judge, Uche Agomoh, held that the caretaker committee led by Abdulrahman Mohammed, with Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary, a faction backed by Mr Wike, remained the only recognised National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP pending the conduct of a valid national convention. The judge ruled that the Ibadan convention was held in flagrant disobedience of two subsisting court judgments and barred Mr Turaki and other officials elected at the convention from parading themselves as national officers of the party. The Turaki-led faction subsequently appealed the ruling. On Monday, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal upheld the Federal High Courts decision, invalidating the convention. The appellate court also barred the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising the outcome of the convention, including the emergence of Mr Turakis leadership of the party. Mr Turaki, however, has indicated an interest in challenging the ruling at the Supreme Court. Party leaders, including a former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, have urged Mr Turakis faction not to further challenge the courts decision, warning that prolonged litigation could prevent the party from fielding candidates in future elections. Housing experts, academics, and advocates have called on the Nigerian government to halt violent evictions in major cities and adopt sustainable policies that protect vulnerable urban communities. They made the call at a gathering at the University of Lagos (UniLag) on Wednesday, where participants discussed strategies to strengthen advocacy for affordable housing and halt brutal evictions. The event was organised by the Heinrich Boll Foundation, in cooperation with the Centre for Housing and Sustainable Development (CHSD), the African Cities Research Consortium (ACRC) and Rethinking Cities. Recently, in Lagos, there have been demolitions in waterfront and informal settlementsMakoko, Oworonshoki, Owode Onirin, Otumara, and Baba-Ijorawhich have displaced thousands and left at least 12 dead. This is despite a $200 million World Bank initiative aimed at upgrading slums and improving living conditions. Civil society leaders described the demolitions as part of a systemic attack on the urban poor, carried out without consultation, compensation, or resettlement, raising urgent questions about human rights, governance, and the oversight of international development funds. Lessons from other countries Using examples from the creative advocacy strategy pursued by the Reclaim the City, and Land for People Not for Profit, movement in Cape Town, South Africa, Buhle Booi, a South African activist, emphasised that it is important to address the matter through legislative and strategic measures. He said the movement aimed to reclaim public land for affordable housing. Mr Booi discussed the need for transitional housing to minimise displacement, while emphasising the role of the state in providing alternative housing for evictees. He urged the government to create a comprehensive plan that includes relocating people and providing affordable housing. Strategising against demolitions Timothy Nubi, a housing finance and urban regeneration expert, said Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) have a role to play in fighting for public lands. Mr Nubi noted that it is important to change the narrative from we against them to a strategic approach. He said Nigeria needs to take lessons from the South African movement to give voice to the voiceless, adding that unfortunately, we dont have such a group. The professor of estate management stated that there is a lack of housing advocacy in Nigeria, while emphasising the need to learn from past successes like the Employee Housing Act of 1977, which led to the development of satellite towns and mixed communities. Who do you think is living in 1004 now? The high and high-income earners. But if I tell you that 1004 in the 1980s, they are my colleagues, level eight to 10 that were living there, he said. He highlighted the impact of structural adjustment programmes and market liberalisation on housing, leading to a decline in affordable housing. He also urged the government to revisit and continue successful working models of the past. In her presentation, Temilade Sesan, the Lagos city manager for the African Cities Research Consortium highlighted the case of Lagos, contrasting it with experiences from Cairo in Egypt and Nairobi in Kenya to illustrate what has worked and not worked well. Ms Sesan said Nairobi is a shining example, having enacted an affordable housing act in the past five years, which defines affordability based on the minimum wage for domestic workers. When the government says it provides alternative accommodation, it usually just flings people into the periphery and all of that, she said. But here we see a model where they build this accommodation for low income residents in the centre of the city, close to where they were living and working before. So its a big step forward for an African city. A chief magistrates court in Yaba, Lagos, on Wednesday, adjourned the trial of Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Soweto, and Dele Frank, leaders of a protest at the Lagos State House of Assembly in Alausa in January. Soweto and Mr Frank led the protest on 28 January this year against months-long demolitions carried out in waterfront communities including Makoko by the state government. The magistrate, I.O. Alaka, rescheduled the hearing for 24 April, following the absence of Mr Frank, who reportedly fell ill. Defence lawyer O.C. Olagunju told the court that Mr Frank had been taken to a traditional healing home. My lord, the second defendant is not in court because he fell ill last night and was rushed to a healing home. People in riverine areas often use healing homes instead of orthodox hospitals, Mr Olagunju said. We apologise on his behalf. His absence is not deliberate, and he is eager to face the trial. The police prosecutor, Anthony Ihiehie, an assistant superintendent of police, expressed displeasure over Mr Franks absence, requesting a bench warrant because no medical report confirmed his illness. Mrs Alaka, however, granted Mr Frank the benefit of the doubt, noting that the surety for his bail should have been present. She adjourned the case until 24 April for mention. Outside the courtroom, Soweto described the trial as politically motivated and aimed at silencing critics of government demolition policies. This is a sham trial. The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, wants to jail us simply because we dare challenge policies that force poor people out of their communities, he said, vowing to return for the proceedings on the next date. We are not afraid of this trial, Soweto said. The activist, who sustained injuries during the 28 January protest, said he is still undergoing physiotherapy. I cannot stand, walk, or bend for long periods without pain. But I have no regrets. What we fought against is a criminal policy unfit for a democratic society, he added. He also called on the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to investigate police actions during protests in waterfront communities, including the reported deaths of 12 people in Makoko and 35 in Oworonshoki. Also, Members of the Coalition Against Demolition, Forced Eviction, Landgrabbing, and Displacement in Lagos State gathered outside the court to show solidarity with the defendants. Background Messrs Soweto and Frank were arraigned on 29 January over their alleged involvement in protests against illegal demolitions, forced evictions, and land grabbing affecting residents of Makoko. They face five counts, including conspiracy, conduct likely to cause a breach of peace, unlawful assembly, obstruction of traffic, and singing abusive songs against the police and Lagos State Government. But Mrs Alaka granted both bail at N200,000 each, with two responsible sureties per defendant. The court released the men into the personal custody of their lawyer, Femi Falana, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), pending formal perfection of the bail conditions. Mr Falana described the charges as illegal and in violation of Sections 39 and 40 of the Nigerian constitution, which guarantee freedom of expression and assembly. He told the court that the defendants had been detained since the protest, denied contact with the outside world, and sustained injuries during their arrest. Video evidence submitted by the lawyer purportedly showed the protest was peaceful. The protest The defendants were arrested and charged following a protest on 28 January, organised by residents to oppose demolitions in waterfront communities including Makoko, Owode-Onirin, Oworonshoki, and Ajegunle. Civil society groups, including the #EndBadGovernance Movement (Lagos Chapter) and Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), joined the residents. PREMIUM TIMES reporters observed protesters marching peacefully from Ikeja Underbridge to the State House of Assembly, carrying placards reading Save Our Souls and Stop the Killings, Stop Demolition of Our Homes. The Lagos State Police described the protest as disruptive, alleging that protesters blocked Awolowo Way for over six hours, used loudspeakers to intimidate the public, carried a coffin, and sat on the highway. Civil society observers, journalists, and medical volunteers, however, reported that officers deployed teargas directly at unarmed civilians. Several protesters and journalists sustained injuries, and personal property, work tools, and vehicles were reportedly seized. Mr Falana described the charges as illegal, arguing they violated Sections 39 and 40 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantee freedom of expression and assembly. Civil society groups demanded the immediate release of all detained protesters, the return of seized property, the suspension of Commissioner of Police Moshood Jimoh, and a halt to ongoing demolition operations. The Lagos State Government defended the demolitions, citing safety risks posed by buildings along waterways and under high-tension power lines. However, critics argue the actions disproportionately affect poor communities without consultation, compensation, or resettlement. The Management of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has said students examinations are to continue uninterrupted despite the strike declared by the institutions chapter of the Academic Staff of Universities (ASUU). Earlier on Tuesday, ASUU-UNILAG declared an indefinite strike after accusing the university of unexplained cuts in January and February salaries. The union also accused the university of withholding the academics Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) and Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA). But the university said due process was not followed in the declaration of the strike. In a statement by its spokesperson, Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem, the university said it is engaging with ASUU leadership to address the issues. The university expressed concern that the strike was coming in the middle of examinations by the students. Any disruption at this time would adversely affect students, especially those scheduled to commence the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES), internships, and those preparing to proceed to the Law School, the statement reads in part. Examination continues The university, however, noted that examinations scheduled for Wednesday will continue as planned, except in cases where departments already announced a postponement. All examinations will continue as scheduled from Thursday, 12 March, 2026, and deans are to ensure that necessary arrangements are put in place for the smooth and successful conduct of the examinations, the statement added. The Governor of Kano State, Abba Yusuf, has relieved the State Head of Service, Abdullahi Musa, of his appointment with immediate effect. The governors spokesperson, Sunusi Bature, in a statement late Tuesday, stated that the decision was part of an ongoing strategy to reposition the state civil service for greater efficiency, discipline, and improved service delivery across all government institutions. He said Governor Yusuf expressed his appreciation to the outgoing Head of Service for his dedication and contributions to Kano State throughout his tenure. We wish him the best in his future endeavours and pray for his continued success, the statement read. The statement also directed Bilkisu Maimota, the Permanent Secretary of Administration and General Services at the Cabinet Office, to oversee the position in an acting capacity until a substantive Head of Service is appointed. This administrative change comes amid speculation that Governor Yusuf is preparing for a major cabinet reshuffle. Observers suggest that the governor aims to inject fresh blood into his administration to accelerate his Kano First development agenda following his defection from the Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in January. The anticipated reshuffle is also viewed as a political step to consolidate loyalty and reward performance as the administration enters new alliances with several political heavyweights and interests. Official sources said that several commissioners may be reassigned or replaced to better align with the governors evolving priorities for infrastructure and social welfare. This reshuffle is expected to be finalised by a comprehensive performance review of all current cabinet members, who were appointed on a performance basis by the governor. The management of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) in Enugu State has sanctioned the universitys Deputy Registrar and Unit Head of Students Records and Institutional Research, I.A.S. Onyeador, for issuing a document which falsely claimed that the then-Minister of Innovation, Science & Technology, Uche Nnaji, graduated from the institution. Details of the sanctions against the university officials were contained in a report by an investigative panel set up by the Nigerias Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa. The seven-member investigative panel was constituted on 23 November 2025 in response to Mr Nnajis petition to the education minister over his certificate forgery scandal after PREMIUM TIMES published an investigative report earlier in October last year, which revealed that the then-minister forged his degree and NYSC certificates. The panel submitted its investigative report to the education minister in December 2025, which PREMIUM TIMES exclusively obtained after months of searching. The petition and setting up of the panel In the petition dated 14 October 2025, Mr Nnaji alleged unethical disclosure, document tampering, and political manipulation of his academic records by senior UNN officials. The former minister also accused the UNN Vice-Chancellor, Simon Ortuanya, a professor, and a former Acting Vice-Chancellor, Oguejiofor Ujam, also a professor, of issuing forged or unauthorised correspondence, improperly accessing his academic file, and facilitating media publications that misrepresented his academic history. Mr Nnaji alleged that Mr Ortuanyas response to PREMIUM TIMES Freedom of Information (FOI) Request which confirmed that he (the then-minister) did not graduate from the institution or receive a university degree certificate constituted an unauthorised disclosure of his confidential academic data. The former minister particularly raised concerns relating to whether the vice-chancellor exercised due process, followed proper approval channels, breached internal controls governing record confidentiality, and whether any political or external influences shaped the issuance of the correspondence to PREMIUM TIMES. The panel, set up to investigate the allegations, was chaired by Rakiya Gambo Ilyasu, the director of the University Education Department in the ministry. James Ocheido, the deputy director of the department in the ministry, served as its secretary. Members of the panel were: the Director of Polytechnics and Allied Institutions Department in the ministry, Ejeh. A. U; his counterpart in the ministrys Colleges of Education Department, U. C. Uba, and Mohammed Ayuba, a representative of the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC). The Director of Human Resources Unit of the education ministry, Yusuf Saeed, and his counterpart in the ministrys Legal Services Unit, Foluso Akinlonu, were also members of the panel. The panel said it adopted documentary review, interviews, verification, and technical audit as its methodological approach to the investigation. During the investigation, members physically visited UNN, engaged with the institutions officialsincluding its vice-chancellor and former acting vice-chancellorand reviewed necessary documents and university records. The UNN officials interviewed during the investigation were the universitys Vice-Chancellor, Mr Ortuanya; a former Acting Vice-Chancellor, Mr Ujam; the Registrar, Celine Nnebedum; Records Unit officials; and other staff members involved in handling academic records. The panel said that during the investigation, it also accessed and inspected Mr Nnajis academic files and internal correspondence including the 2023 and 2025 letters issued by UNN. It added that it examined UNNs historic academic records, registry movement logs, Senate lists, convocation archives, electronic access logs, and other relevant documentation, including Mr Nnajis transcript request, as well as verification of the provenance and authenticity of letters issued to media organisations and government agencies by the university. The members of the panel arrived (UNN) in Nsukka on Sunday, being 23rd November, 2025. On Monday, 24th November, the panel paid a courtesy visit to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya and availed him with the purpose of the visit and proceeded to the venue the university provided for panel to use, the report said. Panels findings PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that the panel found that Mr Nnaji indeed forged his UNN degree certificate. It also confirmed that contrary to Mr Nnajis claims in the petition, Mr Ortuanyas response to PREMIUM TIMES FOI request followed a documented internal approval workflow after seeking legal advice from the director of legal unit who informed the vice-chancellor that he was legally mandated to respond to this newspapers request in line with the FOI Act 2011. There is no evidence of external directives, political influence, unauthorised inputs, or bypassing of procedural steps. The approval process complied with internal procedures, FOI obligations, and legal advice. All steps were documented and traceable, the panel said in the report. It also said there was no evidence that the internal drafts or the vice-chancellors response to PREMIUM TIMES were leaked or altered or that the documents were transmitted outside statutory procedures. It insisted that the letter reached Premium Times through a formal, lawful FOI transmission and not through any unauthorised or clandestine channel. The offence of the UNN official Recall that, on 21 December 2023, the university Registrar, Mrs Nnebedum, had reportedly issued a document to Peoples Gazette newspaper which falsely claimed that Mr Nnaji graduated from the institution in July 1985. Mrs Nnebedum was responding to the newspapers enquiry on the then-ministers academic records. But in a response to another enquiry on the matter from the Public Complaints Commission (PCC), the registrar recanted via a letter dated 23 May 2025, telling the PCC that the university searched its 1985 graduation records but could not find Mr Nnajis name on them. According to the report, when confronted during the investigation, Mrs Nnebedum told the panel that she did not personally compile or sign the verification document forwarded to the Peoples Gazette newspaper but delegated the responsibility to the then Deputy Registrar, Mrs Onyeador, who compiled and signed the document. The registrar further reported that the deputy registrar issued the affirmative verification to the newspaper in error because she and others in the Records Unit relied on a Senate Result List that did not reflect Mr Nnajis final year record. She, however, said that the UNN management regrets the initial error which was inadvertent, and has taken appropriate steps to correct the record and strengthen internal processes. When summoned by the probe panel, Mrs Onyeador admitted that she compiled and signed Mr Nnajis verification document released to the Peoples Gazette. But she added that she reviewed Mr Nnajis file alongside the then Director of Legal Services Unit, Mathew Obayi, and the registrar on whose authority she signed the verification document. She also admitted that she and others in her unit examined available documents on Mr Nnaji mainly from his department, but did not check his discredited degree certificate submitted for verification, nor the Senate Approval List for the 1985 graduating set because the documents could not be located at the time. According to the panel report, the UNN authorities observed the erroneous certificate verification when they were compiling a similar verification on the same Mr Nnaji for the PCC which also requested it. In 2023, the Senate list was not found, and the Careers Unit could not produce the certificate. The (Records) unit relied on a handwritten grade and sampled certificates. Issuing confirmation under these conditions was a procedural breach, the panel observed in its report. Sanctions for the UNN official According to the panel report, the UNN authorities already took disciplinary actions against Mrs Onyeador by querying and redeploying her to a different unit because she was found culpable in the contradicted information. It is unclear, for now, if the university authorities also sanctioned Mrs Nnebedum, the institutions registrar, for the incident. Background In October 2023, PREMIUM TIMES began an investigation into Mr Nnajis academic records. The then-minister had submitted a degree and NYSC certificates to President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate during his ministerial confirmation in 2023. He had claimed that he obtained the degree certificate from UNN where he claimed to have graduated from in 1985. Apparently disturbed that he was under scrutiny, Mr Nnaji filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja to block both UNN and its vice-chancellor, Professor Ortuanya, from releasing his academic records. Apart from the UNN and its vice-chancellor, the minister of education, the NUC, the universitys registrar, a former UNN Acting Vice-Chancellor, Mr Ujam, and the Senate of the university were listed as defendants in the suit. Curiously, the then-minister admitted in his filings submitted to the court that he had yet to collect his UNN degree certificate from the university which further exposed him and confirmed PREMIUM TIMES findings that the degree certificate he submitted to Nigerian authorities was forged. But before the then minister filed the suit, Mr Ortuanya had responded to PREMIUM TIMES FOI request, in which he confirmed that Mr Nnaji forged his UNN degree certificate. The UNN registrar would, shortly after, corroborate Mr Ortuanyas position, indicating that although Mr Nnaji was admitted into the university in 1981, he neither graduated nor was issued any certificate. NYSC authorities, in response to a separate FOI request from PREMIUM TIMES, disowned the discharge certificate in the then-ministers possession. Mr Nnaji resigned from his position as minister three days after this newspaper published the investigation exposing how he forged his degree and NYSC certificates. Many Nigerians had called for Mr Nnajis prosecution, maintaining that his resignation was inadequate in the wake of his violations of various Nigerian laws, including Criminal Code Act. Last week, a legal practitioner, Liborous Oshoma, criticised the Nigerian government for failing to prosecute Mr Nnaji, over the certificate forgery scandal, maintaining that people like the former minister should be prosecuted and banned from holding public office to serve as a deterrent to others. Meanwhile, PREMIUM TIMES exclusively reported in February that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has begun an investigation into Mr Nnajis certificate forgery scandal. Insiders had told this newspaper that the former minister could be prosecuted if the investigation shows that he truly forged his credentials. Three suspects have been arrested in connection with the killing of a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officer in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, the council chairperson, Chima Njoku, has said. Mr Njoku disclosed the arrests while addressing reporters on Tuesday following the incident. According to him, the suspects were apprehended after members of the public provided useful information to security operatives. Three persons suspected to be involved in the murder of a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officer, ASC II Kalu Samuel Ali, have been arrested by the Nigeria Police, a statement issued by his spokesperson, Dagogo Isaac, said. The statement added that the suspects are currently assisting investigators. The suspects are currently in police custody and are making useful statements to the police authorities as investigations continue, the statement said. Police confirm arrests The police spokesperson in Rivers, Grace Iringe-Koko, said the suspects were arrested during a joint operation involving multiple security units and community members. There suspects have been arrested by combined efforts of the DPO Okehie, Anti-Cultism unit, NSCDC personnel and some community youths, Ms Iringe-Koko said. Mr Ali, an Assistant Superintendent of Corps II, was reportedly shot dead on Monday while on surveillance duty linked to the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development in Port Harcourt. The chairperson of Etche, Mr Njoku, said the slain officer was attached to federal mining operations in Etche when he was attacked. Speaking in a video posted on Facebook, Mr Njoku condemned the killing and warned against criminal activities in the area, particularly illegal mining. Ive never seen a situation where an association is bigger than the government; that these people will take laws into their hands by killing a civil defence officer that is attached to Federal Mines in Etche Local Government under my watch, he said. READ ALSO: Police confirm arrest of Cross River lawmaker for alleged assault on wife While expressing grief over the incident, the council chairperson said the killing occurred despite ongoing efforts to curb insecurity in the area. While Im fighting criminality and clamping down on insecurity, it is so sad that these Tipper Drivers and illegal miners will kill an innocent man. It is very painful to me, he said. He announced the sealing of two Tipper Drivers parks in the area. The council chairperson did not, however, provide details of what led to the killing. He urged residents to remain calm as security agencies continue investigations into the incident. The House of Representatives recorded a fresh round of defections on Wednesday, with four lawmakers joining the All Progressives Congress (APC) and one moving to the Accord Party. The defections were formally announced during plenary after the Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen, read letters from the affected lawmakers notifying the House of their decisions to leave their former political parties. The lawmakers who joined the APC are Garba Inuwa, representing Yamaltu/Deba Federal Constituency of Gombe State; Abdullahi El-Rasheed (Dukku/Nafada Federal Constituency of Gombe State); Mohammed Audu, (Karim Lamido/Lau/Ardo-Kola Federal Constituency of Taraba State); and Joshua Obika, (Abuja Municipal/Bwari Federal Constituency of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Messrs Inuwa, El-Rasheed and Audu defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while Mr Obika left the Labour Party (LP) to join the ruling party. Separately, Adewale Adebayo, who represents Irepodun/Olorunda/Oshogbo/Orolu Federal Constituency of Osun State, also announced his resignation from the PDP but chose to join the Accord Party. Reasons for defections In separate letters addressed to the House and read by the speaker, the lawmakers cited prolonged internal crises and leadership disputes within their former parties as the main reasons for their decisions. They said the persistent instability had weakened party structures and made it difficult for them to effectively represent the interests of their constituents. Mr Obika, in particular, pointed to the deepening factional divisions within the Labour Party, noting that the emergence of multiple leadership camps had created uncertainty within the party. Series to defections Defections have become a recurring feature of Nigerias legislative politics, particularly during periods of internal crisis within political parties. Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution provides that a lawmaker may lose his or her seat for defecting to another party before the expiration of the tenure. However, the provision also creates an exception where such defection is caused by a division within the political party under which the lawmaker was elected. Lawmakers often cite this constitutional provision when explaining their decision to leave their parties. The latest defections also reflect the continuing challenges facing opposition parties, especially the PDP and the Labour Party, which have both grappled with leadership disputes, internal wrangling and prolonged litigation in recent months. The PDP, Nigerias main opposition party, has experienced repeated internal disagreements over leadership positions, zoning arrangements and party strategy since the 2023 general elections. Similarly, the Labour Party has been embroiled in leadership tussles and court battles over the legitimacy of its national leadership, leading to the emergence of rival factions within the party. The defections further consolidate the dominance of the APC in the House of Representatives. Before Wednesdays development, the ruling party controlled about 241 seats in the 360-member chamber, leaving the remaining seats shared among seven opposition parties. The Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) assisted people affected by a Russian drone attack in Kharkiv. "The Ukrainian Red Cross Emergency Response Unit in Kharkiv region, together with other emergency services, conducted door-to-door checks of damaged buildings to identify victims, provided first aid and transferred the injured to ambulance crews," the URCS said on Facebook on Wednesday. Volunteers also provided first psychological aid to residents affected by the attack. According to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, two people were killed and seven others were injured as a result of the drone strike in Shevchenkivsky district of Kharkiv. The attack caused the collapse of roof structures in a one-story building and triggered a fire. Emergency rescue operations have been completed. The bandits who kidnapped Joseph Aladesuyi, the secretary of Okeluju Local Council Development Area (LCDA) under Akoko North West Local Government Area of Ondo State, have demanded N100 million for his release. Mr Aladesuyi was abducted Monday at his farm in the Kajola axis of Ilu-Abo in Akure North LGA of the state, alongside two other persons. Family sources told journalists that the abductors reached out to them around 7 a.m. on Tuesday, insisting on the huge ransom and leaving little room for negotiation. A member of the family, who would not want to be named for security reasons, described the past 24 hours as a period of intense anxiety for relatives and associates of the abducted council official. They called this morning and demanded N100 million before they would release him, the family member said. The conversation was very brief and tense. They did not even allow us to say much during the call. He also said that although the contact from the kidnappers brought some hope that the victim was still alive, the financial demand remained overwhelming. We have been extremely worried since yesterday, but the call has given us a little hope. However, the amount they demanded is enormous. How can a family suddenly raise N100 million? he lamented. He noted that Mr Aladesuyi sustained a gunshot injury during the attack on the farm. Our major concern now is his health. We were told that when the gunmen invaded the farm, he was shot in one of his hands while they were dragging him away, he added. Although the police have yet to react to the demand for ransom for the release of the council official, it had earlier detailed efforts to rescue him unhurt. The Commands Spokesperson, Jimoh Abayomi, said the Command had intensified operations to rescue the victims and apprehend those responsible for the crime. According to him, the state Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, had ordered the deployment of all available operational and intelligence resources to track down the kidnappers. Security operatives, alongside unconventional security outfits, are currently combing nearby forests and surrounding communities as part of ongoing efforts to locate the perpetrators and secure the release of the victims, the police spokesperson said. Following another abduction of three persons and killing of one by the bandits on the same day, the communities of Ilu Abo and its environs erupted in a protest to call the attention of the government to action. Besides blocking the Akure Owo expressway, they also paraded the corpse of the victim to register their frustration over the kidnappings in the area. READ ALSO: Three arrested over killing of civil defence officer Although calm may have returned to the communities, the trauma of families dealing with the abduction of their members still lingers. In a bid to find a solution to the problem, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on Tuesday, met with the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association(MACBAN), urging to them to help provide the needed intelligence to track down perpetrators of kidnappings in the state. MACBAN in turn demanded for an approval for the creation of a vigilante group made up of herders as a step to dealing with the crisis. The Lagos State House of Assembly has recommended relocating residents displaced by recent demolitions in Makoko, OkoAgbon, and Sogunro to a proposed low-cost housing estate in Agbowa, Epe, amid concerns over the states worsening housing shortage and rising tensions in waterfront communities. The resolution followed the adoption of a report by the House Committee on Rules and Business during Tuesdays plenary, the Punch reported. The recommendation came after the Assembly received a petition titled, Urgent Appeal Regarding Ongoing Mass Forced Eviction and Illegal Demolition Threatening Tens of Thousands in Makoko, OkoAgbon and Sogunro Communities. Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Business, Noheem Adams, told lawmakers that the committee reached its conclusions after holding five meetings with petitioners and conducting an oversight visit with government officials, agencies, and representatives from the affected communities. The report noted that demolitions carried out by the state government in late December 2025 and early January displaced thousands, including the elderly, women, and children, destroying homes and properties. Many residents depend on fishing, which traditionally requires living along the waterfront. The demolition has worsened living conditions in Makoko and surrounding areas, leading to environmental and health concerns, as well as safety risks, the committee said. The lawmakers recommended that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu direct the Special Adviser on E-GIS to verify the enumeration report submitted by the affected communities. They also urged the construction of the Agbowa low-cost housing estate to enable residents to continue their fishing activities. Background The Assemblys intervention follows weeks of protests by residents and civil society groups against the demolitions. In February, lawmakers ordered an immediate halt to further demolitions after meeting with community representatives at the Assembly Complex in Alausa, Ikeja, citing disputes over setback measurements along the waterfront. Following the House directive, its committee led by Mr Adams conducted an on-the-spot assessment of Makoko. Mr Adams urged both government agencies and residents to maintain the status quo pending the committees findings. Observers reported debris from demolished homes scattered along the waterfront, with several residents, including women and children, living on boats. Some community members alleged that the demolition exceeded the originally communicated 30-metre setback, extending several hundred metres in some areas a claim the Lagos State Government denied. Residents, including community leaders and students, called for resettlement, temporary shelters, and adequate compensation, citing their dependence on fishing for survival. Lawyers representing the community, including Jiti Ogunye, said the demolition reportedly extended up to 522 metres in some areas. The Lagos State Government said the demolitions were halted under the directive of Governor Sanwo-Olu and conducted in line with planning regulations. The state has announced plans to invest approximately $10 million in regenerating Makoko, with $2 million from the government and up to $8 million from international partners, including the United Nations, to support a proposed water city project aimed at modernising the historic fishing community. Palliative measures, including N20 million for food support, have also been set aside for affected residents. The committee promised to submit its final recommendations after concluding its assessment to the House. Expert warns of broader housing crisis Separately, a Nigerian architect, Folasope Pinheiro of London-based firm Greig and Stephenson, warned that Lagos worsening housing shortage and the recent demolitions in Makoko could displace tens of thousands of residents. In a statement shared with PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday, Mr Pinheiro said the rapid growth of Lagos population is outpacing housing development, forcing many residents into informal settlements like Makoko. He described the community as a historic fishing settlement, often called the Venice of Africa, with houses built on stilts over the lagoon and households accommodating six to ten people. Mr Pinheiro cautioned that redevelopment strategies driven primarily by large-scale infrastructure projects risk disrupting lives if communities are not fully integrated into planning. He advocated for an enabler model, where residents guide redevelopment while the government provides infrastructure, financing, and technical expertise. He also urged planners to consider climate-resilient architectural solutions for waterfront communities rather than relying solely on land reclamation. If Lagos wants to generate revenue, displacement is the slower route. The faster route is enabling the economic potential of communities that are already functioning, Mr Pinheiro said. The Nigerian Air Force says plans are underway to establish a Special Force Training Centre in Abia State to strengthen security operations in the South-east. The Air Officer Commanding, Nigeria Air Force Ground Training Command, Enugu, Gabriel Kehinde, disclosed this during a visit to the Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of the state, on Tuesday. Mr Kehinde, an air vice-marshal, requested an increase in the land allocated to the air force for its base at the proposed Abia Airport to accommodate the project. He said that the proposed facility would serve as a centre for specialised jungle warfare and other training exercises. He said that the 50 hectares of land earlier allocated to the organisation for its base at the airport was grossly inadequate for the scale of operations it intended to establish. Mr Kehinde said, First, is the request regarding the 50 hectares of land allocated to the Air Force at the airport. We respectfully request that it be increased to about 150 hectares. This request is necessary because the Chief of Air Staff is interested in establishing a Nigerian Air Force Special Forces Training Centre in Umuahia. The location near the airport is suitable for jungle warfare training and other exercises. Beyond simply establishing a base, we are considering building a much larger operational and training presence here, and that is why I took time to inspect all the facilities and land available. Secondly, we would appreciate the assistance of the relevant state ministries in processing the Certificate-of-Occupancy for the land allocated to the Air Force. Mr Kehinde said the project would significantly expand the Air Forces presence in the Southeast region by establishing a larger operational and training facility in the state. According to him, the Air Force Office, which is being built by the Abia State Government, informed his visit to the state to inspect the facilities. He commended the Abia State Government for its support to security agencies and the military, pointing out that Abia stood out positively in the South-east, in terms of security. As the Air Officer Commanding Ground Training Command in Enugu, I receive daily security reports across the South-east states. Comparatively, Abia stands out, and this is clearly due to the proactive efforts of the state government and the strong support given to security agencies, he said. Mr Kehinde also said that he spent several hours inspecting facilities being prepared for the Air Force in the state, including office buildings and accommodation for officers and airmen. He described the quality of the projects as impressive and expressed optimism that the facilities would soon be ready for handover and deployment of personnel. He also said that the Chief of the Air Staff was interested in visiting the state to appreciate the governments support for the Nigerian Air Force. The visit may take place when the Air Force facilities are completed, he said. Mr Kehinde reiterated that stronger collaboration between the Nigerian Air Force and the Abia State Government would further enhance security in the state and the South-east. Gov Ottis remarks Responding, Mr Otti commended the Nigerian Air Force for approving the establishment of an Air Force base in Abia. He said that the base would be located at the proposed Abia Airport, currently under construction through a partnership between the state and federal governments. He said that while the state was constructing the runway and perimeter fencing, the federal government would handle the airport terminal. Mr Otti said he recently met with the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, to discuss ways to avoid delays in the project. He said that the Abia State Government was currently ahead in the project, adding that efforts are being made to ensure the federal government catches up. We expect the runway to be ready very soon, and once the runway is operational, other components of the airport can follow gradually, the governor said. He said that the facilities being prepared for the Air Force in Umuahia would be ready for handover by the end of April. He also said that he had already approved the furnishing of the office complex to ensure the facility was ready for use. Otti said that the government would work with the Air Force to increase the land allocation at the airport to at least 100 hectares for the training centre. He said that the Abia State Government had earlier acquired more than 1,000 hectares of land in the area, making it possible to accommodate the request. The governor reiterated that security remained the governments most important responsibility, saying that development could only thrive in a safe and secure environment. He assured the Nigerian Air Force of his administrations continued support in tackling crime and strengthening security in the state. (NAN) The Anambra State Government has restated its earlier resolve to prosecute a woman accused of assaulting a teenage girl with a hot electric iron. The Commissioner for Education in Anambra State, Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, gave the assurance on Wednesday in an exclusive interview with PREMIUM TIMES. This newspaper earlier reported that the suspect, Osinachi Edeh, allegedly attacked her housemaid, Miracle Amah, a 17-year-old girl. The incident happened on 3 February in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, which prompted police in the state to arrest the 29-year-old suspect. The incident became public after the victim, a JSS III student of Community Secondary School Agulu Awka, was seen in the school with burns on her body. Previous promises to prosecute PREMIUM TIMES reported that on 4 February, Mrs Chuma-Udeh, a professor, promised to ensure justice in the matter by prosecuting the suspect. The state government will not tolerate the abuse of children under any circumstances, she had said. Again, on 20 February, the commissioner, while addressing the suspect who was brought to her office, restated the state governments commitment to prosecute the suspect. The suspect will be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction for brutalising the victim. This is to serve as a deterrent to others who might be engaging in such acts. This reaffirms the resolve of the state governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, to ensure the welfare and safety of every child in Anambra schools. The interest of Mr Governor in this matter is to ensure that every child in Anambra is adequately protected from abuse, she said. The suspect must be arraigned before the court to serve as a deterrent to others who may intend to engage in similar acts of brutalising children, as part of the governments continuous commitment to the welfare and safety of students and pupils in the state, the commissioner added. Another promise PREMIUM TIMES contacted Mrs Chuma-Udeh on Wednesday and asked her if the suspects prosecution has begun as earlier promised. We are on it, she responded. When asked to specifically confirm if prosecution of the suspect had begun, she replied: I think so. Were on it. The commissioner then argued that the Nigerian law has rules and that the government was making efforts to follow the rules to the letter. This is the third time that the Anambra State Government, through the education commissioner, has made a vow to prosecute the suspect who assaulted the teenager since 3 February. No obstruction of justice PREMIUM TIMES asked the commissioner if anything was obstructing or delaying the prosecution of the suspect. No. None for now, she replied. The commissioner, however, did not respond when asked to confirm if the suspect had been charged or arraigned before any court for prosecution, since there was no obstruction. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Wednesday, arraigned Ufoma Joseph before the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja on charges of $1.5 million (N2.9 billion) oil fraud. The commission arraigned Mr Joseph alongside his company, Intermediate Investment Holdings Ltd., on two counts of obtaining by false pretence and forgery. EFCC prosecutor, Babatunde Sonoiki, told the court that the defendants allegedly obtained $1.5 million from the complainant, Adebisi Adebutu of R28 Holdings Ltd., between April 2022 and October 2023 under false pretences. He said the money was paid as investment in a proposed petroleum development project, with assurances of reimbursement, payment of development capital fees, and allocation of shares in Intermediate Investment Holdings Ltd. The anti-graft agency further accused Mr Joseph of forging a document titled Term Sheet, purportedly executed by Sheriff Oluwo and Olaniran Osotuyi to facilitate the transaction. The prosecution alleged that the offences contravened Sections 1(1)(a) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and Section 363 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015. The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges. Mr Sonoiki asked the court for a trial date and requested that Mr Joseph be remanded with Interpol pending the conclusion of investigations. According to him, the defendants appeared in court for arraignment and would be remanded to an appropriate correctional centre after Interpol concludes its investigation. The prosecutor also brought to the courts attention an incident that allegedly occurred on 2 March, when the matter last came up in court. He alleged that the defence counsel, Oluseun Awonuga, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), physically assaulted his colleague, Emenike Mgbemele. My lord, the learned silk physically assaulted my colleague at the staircase on his way to serve the defendant as directed by the court. It is very sad; a senior advocate for that matter. There is a video to that effect, and we intend to tender it before the court, Mr Sonoiki said. The defence counsel did not respond to the allegation. Mr Awonuga later informed the court of a preliminary objection and written address dated 5 January, urging the court to discountenance the prosecutions counter-affidavit. He said a ruling delivered by the Federal High Court directed that the EFCC should not arrest the defendant. EFCC has flouted the order by arresting the defendant. I hereby urge your lordship to discountenance their counter-affidavit, he said. Responding, Mr Sonoiki said the ruling was part of a motion earlier withdrawn by the defence and should not be before the court. In a 21-paragraph counter-affidavit dated 9 February, the prosecution urged the court to dismiss the notice of preliminary objection. It said the ruling did not prohibit the defendants arraignment before a court of competent jurisdiction. My lord, the ruling was delivered in a civil case, and according to the Supreme Court, criminal and civil cases can proceed simultaneously. We urge the court to dismiss the application and order an accelerated hearing in this case, Mr Sonoiki said. The judge, Mojisola Dada, adjourned the case until 7 May for ruling. She ordered that the defendant be remanded with Interpol pending the conclusion of investigations, after which he would be transferred to a correctional centre pending the hearing of his bail application. (NAN) The 2026 budget of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has passed second reading at the Senate. The senators voted to pass the appropriation bill after debating its general principles during the plenary on Wednesday. The budget proposal seeks to authorise spending of about N2.201 trillion for the FCT from 1 January to 31 December 2026. Of the amount, N1.65 billion is proposed for personnel costs, N378 billion for overheads, and N1.6 trillion for capital projects. The proposal was introduced in the chamber during Wednesdays plenary and was scheduled for second reading the same day before it was passed. President Bola Tinubu had earlier transmitted the budget to the National Assembly in a letter read by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, during Tuesdays plenary. Unlike the budgets of Nigerias 36 states, the FCTs budget must be approved by the National Assembly because the territory is administered directly by the federal government through the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). As a result, the president transmits the annual budget to the National Assembly for approval. Leading the debate on the general principles of the bill, the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC Ekiti), said the budget is expected to consolidate ongoing projects in the Federal Capital Territory and boost the development of public infrastructure. Mr Bamidele noted that the budget would also address infrastructure development, environmental and waste management challenges, and the development of satellite towns. He urged his colleagues to support the passage of the bill, noting that it was in the interest of residents of the nations capital territory. Debate The majority of senators supported it when it was put to a vote. The Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, said the budget was well structured, noting that it prioritises key sectors such as road infrastructure, education and environmental management. READ ALSO: Tinubu asks Senate to confirm Oyedele as minister Mr Jibrin, who represents Kano North Senatorial District, also commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for the ongoing infrastructural development in Abuja. However, Adetokunbo Abiru (APC, Lagos Central), said lawmakers needed to carefully study the detailed breakdown of the proposal. Mr Abiru, who chairs the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions, also noted that lawmakers should examine the budgets revenue sources. Responding, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, said Mr Wike and the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly President Tinubu, should be commended for the infrastructural development in Abuja. He added that the development contributed to the partys victory in the recent FCT Area Council elections, where the APC won five of the six area councils. Mr Akpabio thereafter put the bill to a voice vote, and the majority of senators supported its passage for second reading. The Senate has confirmed the appointment of Taiwo Oyedele as a minister-designate. The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the confirmation after lawmakers cleared the nominee by voice vote in the Committee of the Whole. The Senate started screening Mr Oyedele following a motion by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central). He was questioned by the senators for several hours on the economy and finance. Mr Oyedele was led into the chamber by the Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, Basheer Lado. The nominee entered the chamber at about 2:21 p.m., alongside other government officials, and left at 4.30 p.m. He was questioned by the senators for several hours on the economy and finance. President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, asked the Senate to screen and confirm the appointment of Mr Oyedele as minister. Mr Tinubus request was contained in a letter read by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, during Tuesdays plenary Mr Oyedele is to replace Doris Anite-Uzoka, who will move to the Ministry of Budget and National Planning as minister of state, her third portfolio in the administration since 2023. In the letter, President Tinubu said the nomination was in line with Section 147(2) of the Nigerian Constitution. After reading the letter, Mr Akpabio referred the request to the Committee of the Whole for future consideration. President Tinubu had nominated Mr Oyedele last week. Until President Tinubu nominated him as a minister, Mr Oyedele from Ikaram, Akoko, Ondo State, was the chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, which overhauled Nigerias tax system. Mr Oyedele, 50, is an economist, accountant and public policy expert. He attended Yaba College of Technology, where he obtained a Higher National Diploma (HND) in accountancy and finance. He attended Oxford Brookes University and earned a BSc in applied accounting. He also completed executive education programmes at the London School of Economics, Yale University, the Gordon Institute of Business Science, and the Harvard Kennedy School. Mr Oyedele spent 22 years of his working career at PwC, joining in 2001 and rising to become the Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader. He is also a professor at Babcock University in Ogun State and a visiting scholar at the Lagos Business School. The FCT High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Wednesday, rejected an application to halt the N31 billion corruption trial of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, and his co-defendants. The application was filed by the second defendant, Mustapha Bida. In her ruling, the judge, Maryann Anenih, held that an application for stay of proceedings in a criminal matter cannot be entertained. She then struck out the application. But she granted Mr Bidas request to travel for Hajj. The judge overruled the prosecutions objection to grant the request. She ordered Mr Bida to return from the planned Islamic pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia by 23 March and submit his passport unfailingly by 24 March. The spokesperson for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Dele Oyewale, shared the details of the proceedings in a statement on Wednesday. EFCC is prosecuting Mr Mamman and others, including Mr Bida, on nine counts of conspiracy, false pretence and fraud involving over N31 billion. The case is a twin to a separate N33.98 billion corruption trial Mr Mamman is facing over his alleged corruption activities in office. Mr Mamman, who is the sole defendant in the case, was removed as the power minister in September 2021 by the then-president, the late Muhammadu Buhari, after two years stint in office. The rest of the co-defendants in the N31 billion corruption trial are Joseph Omotayo Adewunmi, Ben Nsikak, Stephen Ojo, Oladipo Adebowale, Michael Achua and Ogunjobi Olusola. EFCC arraigned them on 3 July 2025, accusing them of conspiracy and using bank accounts of various private companies to divert funds belonging to the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, on false pretence that it was used for payment of compensation. After the court delivered its rulings on Wednesday, the prosecution led by Rotimi Oyedepo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Director of Public Prosecutions, tendered the account statements of some companies through the first prosecution witness. The companies include Spinhills Biz International Limited, Silverline Ocean Ventures Limited, Beaver Builders Limited, Gurupche Business Enterprise and Breathable Investment Limited. Others are First-class construction Project limited, Royal Perimeter Ventures, Dannywest Limited, Dorino Bright Limited and Sipikin Global Ventures Limited. The EFCC presented all the firms bank statements through a compliance officer with Zenith Bank, Umar Abba. Mr Abba, the first prosecution witness, said the EFCC wrote to the bank requesting the statements of accounts that were tendered. The defence did not object to the admissibility of the documents. Subsequently, the judge admitted them as exhibits. Under cross-examination by the defence team, the witness said the bank did not send copies of the EFCC letter to the account holders, citing legal prohibitions and established banking protocols. He confirmed that Mr Saleh has an account with Zenith Bank, but said he did not know the ex-minister personally. Charges EFCC alleged in the nine counts that Mr Mamman and his co-defendants committed the offences between 2019 and 2022. One of the counts alleged that the defendants, on 29 March 2021, used a Zenith bank Account No. 1016555108, belonging to a firm- Breathable Investment Limited- and obtained N483.205million from the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, by falsely pretending that the money represented payment for compensation, relocation and resettlement of communities of corps and buildings in Zungeru Hepp. The prosecution also alleged that on 19 December 2019, the defendants obtained through First Class Construction and Project with account No. 1016554314 domiciled with Zenith bank Plc, N426.874m from the Ministry by falsely pretending that it was payment for IPC No 20 of Zungeru Hepp, knowing same to be false. READ ALSO: PDP seats drop to 14 as Adamawa senators join APC It alleged that on 21 March 2021, the defendants also used the account of another firm, Fullest Utility Concept domiciled with First City Monument Bank, and obtained N435.250m from the ministry, pretending that the money was used to pay compensation for building/structures by Niger State committee on resettlement of communities to be affected by federal governments power project. The 12 counts were brought under the Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offences Act 2006. Some of the defendants were identified as directors in charge of finance and account of the power ministry. All the defendants denied the charges. Another trial The trial is the second corruption case against Mr Mamman stemming from his activities as power minister. He is standing a separate trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja on 12 counts of conspiracy and money laundering involving N33.8 billion. The charges relate to alleged diversions of funds meant for the Mambilla Power Project. The EFCC alleged that over N26 billion was diverted under Mr Mammans instruction using Bureau de Change operators. Then-Presiden Buhari removed Mr Mamman from office on 1 September 2021, marking the end of his two-year stint in office that started with his appointment in August 2019. In May 2021, EFCC agents arrested him over allegations of diversion of funds from the accounts dedicated to the Mambilla Hydro Electric Power Project during his stint as the minister. The arrest and investigation led to the 12 counts the EFCC filed against him at the Federal High Court. The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed an amendment to the Electoral Act 2026 that seeks to criminalise dual membership of political parties, proposing stiff penalties, including a fine of 10 million or a two-year prison term for offenders. The amendment, adopted during a plenary presided over by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, introduces new provisions to Section 77 of the Electoral Act regarding political party membership. The lawmakers said the measure is intended to curb political manipulation and strengthen the legal framework regulating party affiliation in Nigerias electoral system. Under the proposed changes, three new subsections, Clauses (8), (9) and (10) are inserted into Section 77 of the Act. Clause (8) states that no individual shall be registered as a member of more than one political party at the same time. Clause (9) further provides that where it is established that a person is registered in more than one political party simultaneously, such membership shall be declared void. The individual will also cease to be recognised as a valid member of any political party until the situation is regularised in line with the Electoral Act and the constitution of the relevant political party. Clause (10) criminalises the act outright, stipulating that anyone who knowingly registers or maintains membership in more than one political party commits an offence and is liable upon conviction to a fine of 10 million, imprisonment for two years, or both. The lawmakers said the amendment would discourage what they described as political dishonesty and opportunistic behaviour among party members. Debate The proposal triggered debate among lawmakers, with some expressing concern that the amendment might conflict with constitutional provisions guaranteeing freedom of association. Abubakar Fulata (APC, Jigawa) warned that denying a person membership of both political parties could run afoul of Section 40 of the Constitution, which guarantees citizens the right to freely associate. This Act seems to be in contravention of Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which guarantees freedom of association, Mr Fulata said. If someone is found to be registered in two political parties, instead of denying membership in both parties, the law should limit the person to only one political party. He argued that stripping the individual of membership in both parties might amount to a denial of a constitutional right. However, Jonathan Gaza (SDP, Nasarawa) strongly backed the amendment, describing dual party membership as dishonest. You cannot, as an adult, go and register in two political parties at the same time. It is wrong, totally wrong, an act of dishonesty, Mr Gaza said. You should belong to one and follow that one through. You cannot put your legs in two different houses at the same time. Dennis Agbo (APC, Enugu) raised concerns about the possibility of political mischief. He questioned whether someone could be fraudulently registered in another political party without their consent and later accused of maintaining dual membership. I would never want to belong to two political parties in my life, he said. But if somebody goes to another political party without my permission and registers my name there, we might be creating a situation we may not be able to manage. Responding to the concerns, Mr Kalu said the amendment already addresses that risk through the use of biometrics. That is why the provision uses the word knowingly, which means intentional and deliberate, he said. One of the ways to establish that is through biometric verification. Lawan Ali (APC, Yobe) noted that Nigerians generally resign from one party before joining another, adding that the amendment mainly targets individuals who secretly maintain membership in multiple parties. According to him, such individuals often act as informants or political spies. Sada Soli (APC, Katsina), while supporting the amendment, said the draft should clearly outline how violations would be detected and handled. He proposed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should notify affected political parties when dual registration is discovered and allow the individual to choose which party to remain in within a specified period. We should not give lawyers the opportunity to feast on loopholes in this law, he warned. But Mr Kalu insisted that the amendment must discourage deliberate misrepresentation. To deliberately register in two political parties is deceit. You should identify with one political ideology and stand by it, he said. Part of wider electoral reforms The amendment forms part of ongoing legislative efforts to strengthen Nigerias electoral legal framework ahead of future elections. Recently, President Bola Tinubu signed amendments to the Electoral Act into law following their passage by both chambers of the National Assembly, a process that was not without controversy. During deliberations on earlier electoral amendments in the House, lawmakers engaged in heated exchanges over provisions relating to electoral procedures and party processes. If eventually signed into law by the president, the amendment would formally criminalise the practice and introduce severe penalties for offenders. The number of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators dropped to 14 on Wednesday, following the defection of three PDP senators to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The senators are Aminu Abbas (Adamawa Central), Amos Yohana (Adamawa North), and Aliyu Bilbis (Zamfara Central) With their defection, the APC now has 84 senators. As of Tuesday, the PDP had 17 seats after the defection of Rivers West Senator, Ipalibo Banigo, who resigned her membership of the opposition party to join the APC. Mrs Banigo, a former deputy governor of Rivers State, served from 2015 to 2023 under Nyesom Wike, the states governor. However, when the upper chamber reconvened for Wednesdays plenary, the two Adamawa senators and one from Zamfara also announced their exit from the PDP, the platform on which they were elected into the Senate. They announced their defection to the ruling APC in separate letters read by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, during plenary. Like other lawmakers who had previously left the party, the senators explained in their letters that their decision was due to the PDPs lingering leadership crisis. After reading the letters, Mr Akpabio welcomed the senators to the APC and directed that they be assigned new seats in the majority section of the chamber. He also commended President Bola Tinubu for attracting opposition members to the ruling party, noting that such a development was rare in Nigerias democratic history. When the 10th assembly was inaugurated in June 2023, PDP had 59 senators. With the development, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) have one seat each. The Labour Party and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) currently have no representation in the Senate. Adamawa, the home state of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, had long been considered a stronghold of the PDP, until recently, when the governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, defected to the APC. Mr Fintiri announced his decision in a statewide broadcast, stating that he took the step in the best interest of the development of Adamawa State. He added that members of his cabinet and other PDP officials in the state would join him in the ruling party. The governor had served as chairman of the partys national convention held on 15 and 16 November 2025, which produced Kabiru Turaki as national chairman. Since the outcome of that convention, Mr Fintiris body language suggested he was uncomfortable with decisions taken by the Turaki-led executive, particularly those directed at the faction of the party backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. Despite chairing the convention, he publicly opposed the expulsion of Mr Wike, former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, former National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, and eight others during the partys national convention in Ibadan. He instead called for dialogue to resolve the crisis among the partys warring leaders. However, the Turaki-led executive ignored his advice and issued expulsion letters to the affected members. After the incident, Mr Fintiri distanced himself from PDP activities. Earlier, the Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Bathiya Wesley, alongside 15 PDP lawmakers, had defected to the APC, citing the partys lingering leadership crisis. Chief of the Defence Staff of the Kingdom of Spain, Admiral General Teodoro Esteban Lopez Calderon, has been awarded the Cross of Merit, the highest honorary award of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Ukrainian General Staff said. "In Madrid, the Chief of the Defence Staff of the Kingdom of Spain, Admiral General Teodoro Esteban Lopez Calderon, was presented with the Ukrainian Cross of Merit. The award was handed over by Ukraine's Ambassador to Spain, Yulia Sokolovska, during a ceremony at the Embassy of Ukraine," the General Staff said on its Telegram channel. Calderon was honored for "productive cooperation in the field of defense and Spain's active support for Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's aggression." In addition, 33 Spanish servicemen were awarded the Distinction of Honour for Assistance to the Army for their significant contribution to the training of Ukrainian soldiers under the European Union Military Assistance Mission to Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine). "Spain plays an important role in this mission, providing the Armed Forces of Ukraine with both military equipment and personnel training. As of today, more than 8,500 Ukrainian servicemen have completed training in Spain, which accounts for about 10% of the total number of troops trained within this European mission," the General Staff said. The doctrine that John Nelson Darby assembled from his reading of scattered biblical texts in the 1830s, which was unknown to the church for eighteen centuries before him, has become so embedded in American political culture that its assumptions pass without examination. When politicians genuflect before the biblical covenant claims of the State of Israel, without acknowledging the human cost to Palestinians, they are operating within a framework Darby built. There is a conversation that almost never happens in Washington. In think tanks, on cable news, in Senate hearing rooms, one of the most powerful forces shaping American foreign policy is not the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), not oil, not the military-industrial complex, although that gets closer. It is a specific, elaborate, and entirely sincere belief system held by tens of millions of American voters; the conviction that the end of the world is imminent, scripturally ordained, and geopolitically meaningful. The belief holds that the sequence of events leading to Christs return has already begun, that the Middle East is not a region to be stabilised but a stage on which prophecy is being fulfilled, that American support for Israel is not merely good strategy but divine obligation, and that opposing it is an act of rebellion against God. This belief system has a name. It is called premillennial dispensationalism. Most Americans know it by its popular shorthand the Rapture theology. And it is long past time that we talk about it seriously. An Invented Doctrine With An Enormous Reach The first thing to understand about the Rapture theology is that it is not ancient, it is not apostolic, it was not taught by the early church, not debated by the medieval scholastics, nor proclaimed by the Protestant reformers. It was invented by a disaffected Anglo-Irish clergyman named John Nelson Darby in the 1830s. Darby, who had broken with the Church of Ireland and was meeting with a loose fellowship of Bible students in Dublin and Plymouth, developed a sweeping interpretive framework he called dispensationalism. He divided all human history into distinct dispensations governed by different divine covenants and made a particular and novel argument about the end of time. Borrowing from Pauls letter to the Thessalonians, he constructed the doctrine of the Rapture: a secret, imminent removal of all true Christians from the earth before a seven-year period of global tribulation, culminating in the literal return of Jesus Christ to a Jerusalem that would serve as the capital of a thousand-year earthly kingdom. The Jewish people were essential to this drama. In Darbys reading, the ancient biblical covenant with Israel had never been superseded, it had merely been paused while God worked through the church. In the end times, the covenant would resume. The Jewish people would return to their ancestral land, rebuild the Temple, face a catastrophic assault by the nations of the world, and be saved at the last moment by the returning Christ. This was a radical reimagining of Christian eschatology. But it spread with astonishing speed, particularly in America, carried by Darbys seven preaching tours and then amplified beyond anything he could have imagined by a single publishing phenomenon: the Scofield Reference Bible of 1909, which wove dispensationalist commentary directly into the margins of the King James text, making Darbys speculations look, to millions of readers, like the plain meaning of scripture itself. By the time Hal Lindsey published The Late Great Planet Earth in 1970, the bestselling nonfiction book of the entire decade, the framework was fully embedded in American evangelical culture. What the Theology Teaches and Why It Matters Politically The sequence is worth stating plainly, because its foreign policy implications follow directly from it. In the dispensationalist schema, Christians would be suddenly raptured to heaven. A global Antichrist figure will then arise, typically associated with the United Nations or a coming world government. He would make a covenant with Israel. Thereafter, seven years of tribulation will follow in the form of plagues, economic control through the mark of the beast, and global warfare. The armies of the world would subsequently converge on Israel for the Battle of Armageddon in the Valley of Megiddo. Christ will return, defeat the armies, and establish his millennial kingdom in Jerusalem. Ronald Reagan was the first president to speak openly about Armageddon in terms that signalled genuine prophetic belief. He told a dinner guest in 1971 that everything was in place for the final battle. He met repeatedly with dispensationalist leaders and validated their framework as the lens through which Americas Cold War struggle should be understood. The evangelical alliance with the Republican Party, forged in that era, has never broken. Now, consider what this does to a voters relationship with the following policy questions: Should the United States support a two-state solution that would give Palestinians sovereignty over parts of biblical Israel? In dispensationalism, God gave that land to the Jewish people in perpetuity; as such, a Palestinian state is a theological problem. Should the United States negotiate with Iran? In Ezekiel 38-39, Persia is named among the nations that will attack Israel. In the end times, Iran is not a diplomatic partner, but a prophetic enemy. Should the United States support international institutions like the United Nations or the International Criminal Court? World government is the vehicle of the Antichrists globalism, which is eschatologically dangerous. Should the United States take climate change seriously? If Christ is returning soon, the long-term environmental future of the planet is someone elses problem. None of this is caricature. These are conclusions that flow logically from the theologys own premises, and they are reached by millions of sincere, intelligent Americans every day. From Revival Tents To the Oval Office The politicisation of this constituency did not happen automatically. For much of the mid-twentieth century, many dispensationalists were politically quietist. If the world was ending soon, why reform it? That changed in the late 1970s, when Jerry Falwell Sr, Pat Robertson, and a cohort of politically entrepreneurial pastors convinced evangelical Christians that they had both the right and the obligation to engage the political process. The Moral Majority and later the Christian Coalition turned Rapture-believing evangelicals into the most reliably mobilised voting bloc in American politics. Ronald Reagan was the first president to speak openly about Armageddon in terms that signalled genuine prophetic belief. He told a dinner guest in 1971 that everything was in place for the final battle. He met repeatedly with dispensationalist leaders and validated their framework as the lens through which Americas Cold War struggle should be understood. The evangelical alliance with the Republican Party, forged in that era, has never broken. By the time Donald Trump moved the US Embassy to Jerusalem in 2018, a decision every president before him had waived, precisely because of its diplomatic consequences, the theological stakes were explicit. Robert Jeffress, the Dallas megachurch pastor who gave the opening prayer at the embassy ceremony, described the moment as prophetic fulfilment. Mike Pence addressed the Israeli Knesset and quoted extensively from the Hebrew Bible. John Hagee, the founder of Christians United for Israel, a lobbying organisation with millions of members built explicitly on dispensationalist theology, celebrated what he called a divine milestone. The peace process, already fragile, did not survive the weight of that theology. The Iran Problem Nowhere has the Rapture theologys foreign policy impact been more concrete than on Iran. The prophetic text is Ezekiel 38-39, which describes a coalition of nations attacking Israel in the last days. Dispensationalist teachers have identified this coalition as Russia (Gog of the land of Magog), Iran (Persia), and Turkey, in a reading that conveniently maps onto current geopolitics and lends this a sense of prophetic inevitability. John Hagee lobbied aggressively against the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, calling it a death sentence for Israel. His organisation and allied groups generated enormous constituent pressure on Republican members of Congress. The Rapture has not come. The world, contrary to decades of confident prediction, has not ended. What has ended, or nearly so, is the credibility of an American foreign policy that cannot say honestly what is driving it. It is time to examine the theology. Not to mock the believers but to take seriously what it means when prophecy becomes policy. The theological argument was barely submerged beneath the strategic one: You cannot make a deal with the prophetic instrument of Israels destruction. Trumps withdrawal from the agreement in 2018 was met with celebration in these circles, that was as much theological as it was strategic. This is the problem with governing through prophecy, it makes the enemy permanent. Iran is not, in this framework, a nation with a civilisation, internal divisions, and interests that might be negotiated. It is Persia, marching toward Armageddon. Diplomacy with such an entity is not merely futile. It is faithless. The Failure Mode of Prophetic Politics It is worth being honest about the limits of this argument. The Rapture theology does not control American foreign policy. The State Department, the military, the intelligence community, and commercial interests frequently override or moderate the preferences of the evangelical base. American foreign policy towards Iran and Israel has been more complex, and occasionally more even-handed, than the dispensationalist script would demand. It is also worth noting that the theology has a poor predictive record, which has made some believers skeptical. Lindseys Late Great Planet Earth predicted the Rapture as coming before 1988. The Left Behind series of novels, which sold 65 million copies in the late 1990s and 2000s, stoked prophetic expectations that has gone, so far, unrealised. Each failed prediction requires adjustment and tends to winnow the most committed. And evangelicalism is not monolithic. Reformed Christians, many younger evangelicals, and movements like Red Letter Christians explicitly reject the Rapture framework and its political implications. There are also evangelical voices Tony Campolo, Shane Claiborne, Lynne Hybels who have made passionate cases for Palestinian dignity on explicitly biblical grounds, arguing that justice for the oppressed is more scripturally central than end-time cartography. But the countervailing forces do not negate the problem. They make it more manageable. They do not make it disappear. The Unexamined Assumption The doctrine that John Nelson Darby assembled from his reading of scattered biblical texts in the 1830s, which was unknown to the church for eighteen centuries before him, has become so embedded in American political culture that its assumptions pass without examination. When politicians genuflect before the biblical covenant claims of the State of Israel, without acknowledging the human cost to Palestinians, they are operating within a framework Darby built. When Congress reflexively rejects pressure on Israeli settlement expansion, the voices driving that reflex are often explicitly theological. When diplomatic engagement with Iran is treated not merely as strategically difficult but as morally suspect, the suspicion has prophetic roots. None of this requires that American policy be anti-Israel. A clear-eyed, stable, genuinely strategic American relationship with Israel is both possible and necessary. What is not possible or, at least, not sustainable is a foreign policy built on the eschatological timetable of a Victorian clergyman, one that treats a nuclear-armed region as a stage set for the Second Coming, that views Palestinian humanity as an inconvenience to prophecy, and that mistakes the acceleration of Armageddon for the defence of freedom. The Rapture has not come. The world, contrary to decades of confident prediction, has not ended. What has ended, or nearly so, is the credibility of an American foreign policy that cannot say honestly what is driving it. It is time to examine the theology. Not to mock the believers but to take seriously what it means when prophecy becomes policy. Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, a former Commissioner for Information in Ondo State, is director of New Media and Corporate Communications of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Ultimately, The Art of Policing Lagos stands as a confident and forward-looking institutional biography. It captures a moment of attempted transformation within Nigerias security architecture. For some readers, the narrative may appear aspirational; for others, it represents a necessary counter-narrative to the persistent cynicism that often surrounds discussions about policing in Nigeria. Lagos is not an ordinary city. As Nigerias commercial nerve centre and one of Africas most densely populated urban spaces, it presents unique security challenges that require more than routine law enforcement. Policing such a complex megacity demands intelligence, coordination, discipline, and strategic foresight. It is within this context that CP Jimoh: The Art of Policing Lagos offers a compelling narrative of leadership and institutional reform within the Lagos State Police Command. Co-authored by two PRNigeria Fellows, Adebisi O Adams and Shukurat T Ibrahim, the book is neither an autobiography nor a conventional profile. Instead, it presents a carefully constructed institutional portrait that documents the policing philosophy and reforms associated with Commissioner of Police Olohundare Moshood Jimoh during his tenure in Lagos. The distinction is important. The book positions itself not as an exercise in self-celebration but as documentation, analysis, and perhaps most significantly strategic storytelling about contemporary policing. At its core, the work explores how the Lagos Police Command has attempted to adapt to the evolving realities of urban security. The authors chronicle the commands embrace of intelligence-led policing, strengthened inter-agency collaboration, and the deliberate integration of community engagement as essential pillars for maintaining law and order in a city where security threats are constantly shifting. One of the books most notable strengths lies in its practical insights into modern policing. Beyond narrating the professional journey of CP Jimoh, the authors examine broader themes of leadership, accountability, teamwork, and public trust. Particularly striking is the emphasis on digital innovation, including the installation of surveillance cameras across strategic locations in Lagos to improve crime detection and reduce overreliance on traditional night patrols. In a city where criminal networks often adapt quickly, such technological integration reflects a leadership style that recognises the need for constant evolution. Through structured chapters, the book introduces what the authors describe as the Lagos Blueprint for contemporary policing. This model prioritises encrypted communication systems, real-time CCTV coordination, forensic specialisation, and intelligence-driven operational planning. In this framework, the police are encouraged to outthink criminal networks, rather than merely outgun them. Policing, therefore, becomes anticipatory, rather than reactive. Another compelling dimension of the book is its emphasis on leadership psychology. The authors argue that institutional culture often reflects the temperament and philosophy of its leadership. In their portrayal, Jimoh emerges as a reform-oriented leader who seeks to humanise the police uniform, while insisting that professionalism and restraint are strategic strengths, rather than signs of weakness. Examples cited in the book highlight structural reforms, operational discipline, and internal accountability measures aimed at repositioning the police as partners within the community, rather than distant enforcers of authority. Interestingly, The Art of Policing Lagos also ventures beyond operational tactics to explore institutional design. The authors suggest that the physical environment of policing matters as much as operational strategy. Police stations, they argue, are being reimagined as more transparent and citizen-friendly spaces. Elements such as accessible complaint desks and open reception areas are presented as tools for reshaping both officer behaviour and public perception. In this sense, reform is portrayed not only as procedural but also environmental. Throughout the narrative, the reforms described are framed not as completed achievements but as an ongoing process. The recurring phrase, He came, he saw, and still conquering, captures the spirit of the books argument. Jimohs tenure is presented as a continuing campaign of modernisation, rather than a finished chapter in Lagos policing. In this regard, the book functions simultaneously as documentation and advocacy. It contributes to Nigerias security discourse by offering a case study of what reform-minded policing might look like when driven by clarity of vision and operational discipline. Whether readers fully agree with its tone or not, the book undoubtedly shifts the conversation from mere criticism of policing failures toward constructive reflection on possible reforms. The broader message of the book extends beyond the career of a single police commissioner. It invites readers to consider the possibility of systemic recalibration within Nigerias security institutions. By highlighting the role of technology, leadership culture, and institutional innovation, the authors suggest that trust between citizens and law enforcement can be rebuilt through deliberate and sustained reforms. The writing style itself is clear, structured, and accessible. This accessibility makes the book relevant not only to law enforcement professionals but also to students of criminology, public administration, leadership studies, and security management. The authors present policing as a service-oriented institution rather than a purely force-driven authority, reframing the police as partners of the people rather than instruments of intimidation. Nevertheless, the book is not without its limitations. While it offers extensive documentation of achievements and reforms, the narrative tends toward a largely celebratory tone. The absence of deeper interrogation of institutional challenges, operational setbacks, or systemic constraints somewhat limits the analytical depth of the work. Leadership journeys are rarely linear, and a more balanced examination of the obstacles encountered during the reform process would have strengthened the books scholarly value. Similarly, much of the books empirical foundation appears to rely on media reports, interactions with police personnel, and engagements with community leaders. While these perspectives are valuable, incorporating voices from a broader cross-section of ordinary Lagos residents could have provided richer grassroots insights into how policing reforms are perceived at the community level. Another area that invites caution relates to the books discussion of transparency in operational strategy. While openness can strengthen public trust, excessive disclosure of security strategies may carry operational risks if not carefully managed. Despite these limitations, CP Jimoh: The Art of Policing Lagos remains an inspiring and thought-provoking contribution to Nigerias evolving discourse on policing reform. It demonstrates how commitment, discipline, and strategic coordination can shape security outcomes, even within high-pressure environments such as Lagos. The book highlights Jimohs systematic approach to case management, his preference for collaboration over personal ego, and his ability to mobilise multiple security agencies without unnecessary rivalry or bureaucratic conflict. These qualities are presented as essential attributes of effective leadership in complex institutional settings. At its philosophical core, the work advances a vision of policing grounded in professionalism, integrity, and genuine concern for public welfare. It reinforces the idea that effective leadership in law enforcement is not defined by domination or spectacle but by service, discipline, and strategic thinking. Ultimately, The Art of Policing Lagos stands as a confident and forward-looking institutional biography. It captures a moment of attempted transformation within Nigerias security architecture. For some readers, the narrative may appear aspirational; for others, it represents a necessary counter-narrative to the persistent cynicism that often surrounds discussions about policing in Nigeria. What remains clear is that the book is not merely about one police commissioner. It is about the broader possibility of reform within public institutions. It argues that leadership can reshape institutional culture, that technology can enhance accountability, and that trust once eroded can gradually be rebuilt through deliberate effort. For now, the book achieves what serious policy-oriented literature should aim to accomplish: it provokes reflection, stimulates debate, and challenges stakeholders to demand higher standards from the systems designed to protect society. Obamodi Faith and Ifeanyi Ogochukwu are Youth corps members serving in Abuja. Emails: [email protected] and [email protected] A well structured tax system broadens revenue sources, encourages investment, supports private sector growth, and strengthens public accountability. When combined with effective governance and sound economic planning, tax reform becomes a powerful catalyst for national development. Tax policy is one of the most powerful tools available to any government seeking to build a stable and prosperous economy. When designed thoughtfully and implemented effectively, tax reform does more than generate revenue. It shapes economic behaviour, strengthens institutions, and creates the conditions necessary for sustainable development. For countries seeking long term growth and fiscal stability, comprehensive tax reform is not simply an administrative exercise. It is a strategic economic policy. A major challenge facing many developing economies is the narrowness of government revenue sources. In resource dependent economies, public finance is often heavily tied to commodities such as oil or minerals. While these resources may generate significant income during boom periods, they are also highly volatile. Global price fluctuations can rapidly reduce government revenues and disrupt national budgets. Tax reform helps address this vulnerability by broadening the revenue base. By improving tax collection across sectors of the economy, governments reduce their dependence on a single revenue source and strengthen fiscal sustainability. Nigeria offers a useful example. For decades, oil revenue dominated government income. However, volatility in global oil prices exposed the risks of relying too heavily on a single sector. Recent reforms that expand non oil tax revenues have begun to create a more stable fiscal foundation. A broader revenue base enables governments to plan better and invest more consistently in development priorities. Another important benefit of tax reform is the confidence it creates for businesses and investors. Investors prefer environments where tax rules are transparent, predictable, and fairly applied. Unclear regulations, frequent policy reversals, and complicated tax systems often discourage investment and slow economic activity. Countries that have successfully reformed their tax systems demonstrate how clarity in tax policy can stimulate investment. Rwanda, for instance, strengthened its revenue authority and simplified compliance procedures. As a result, the country has steadily improved its reputation as a business friendly destination in Africa. Predictable tax rules signal stability, which encourages both domestic entrepreneurs and foreign investors to commit long term capital. Fairness is another critical dimension of effective tax policy. A well designed tax system ensures that economic prosperity is taxed appropriately while protecting vulnerable citizens. Progressive taxation, where higher income earners contribute a larger share, helps governments mobilise resources without increasing the burden on low income households. At the same time, targeted tax relief for small businesses and low income earners can help promote economic inclusion. Tax reform also plays a key role in stimulating private sector growth. Competitive tax rates and carefully designed incentives can encourage entrepreneurship and industrial expansion. When businesses face reasonable tax obligations and efficient compliance systems, they are more likely to invest, hire workers, and expand production. Industrial incentives, such as tax credits for manufacturing or export-oriented industries, can further stimulate sectors that drive economic diversification. Equally important is the modernisation of tax administration. Many countries lose significant revenue through inefficiencies, weak enforcement, and administrative leakages. Digital technology is transforming how governments collect taxes and monitor compliance. Electronic filing systems, digital payment platforms, and integrated databases reduce opportunities for corruption, while making compliance easier for taxpayers. The experience of Estonia demonstrates the potential of digital tax administration. The country built one of the worlds most efficient electronic tax systems, allowing most citizens to file taxes within minutes. Digital transparency improved compliance rates and significantly reduced administrative costs. While the scale and context differ, the underlying principle applies broadly. Modernising tax administration strengthens revenue systems and improves efficiency. Tax reform can also help address one of the most persistent challenges in developing economies: the large informal sector. Millions of businesses operate outside the formal economy, often because tax systems are complex or burdensome. Simplified tax regimes for small enterprises can encourage these businesses to register formally without stifling their growth. When informal businesses enter the formal economy, the benefits extend beyond tax revenue. Formalisation improves access to credit, legal protection, and government services. Over time, this process strengthens the entire economic ecosystem. Export promotion and industrial development are also closely linked to tax policy. Strategic tax incentives can encourage investment in manufacturing and value addition industries. Instead of exporting raw materials, countries can support industries that process these resources domestically, creating jobs and increasing export earnings. Most importantly, stronger tax systems improve the relationship between governments and citizens. When citizens see that tax revenues are collected transparently and used responsibly, trust in public institutions increases. Accountability becomes stronger because taxpayers expect visible results from their contributions. This leads to one of the most important outcomes of effective tax reform: improved infrastructure financing. Reliable government revenue allows for sustained investment in critical public goods such as roads, electricity, healthcare, and education. Infrastructure development in turn drives productivity, lowers business costs, and improves quality of life. Finally, tax reform contributes to broader macroeconomic stability. Predictable and diversified revenue streams enable governments to plan expenditures more responsibly and manage public debt more effectively. Fiscal stability reduces economic uncertainty and strengthens investor confidence in the long term. In essence, tax reform is not simply about collecting more revenue. It is about building a stronger economic foundation. A well structured tax system broadens revenue sources, encourages investment, supports private sector growth, and strengthens public accountability. When combined with effective governance and sound economic planning, tax reform becomes a powerful catalyst for national development. For policymakers, the message is clear. Sustainable economic growth requires a tax system that is fair, efficient, and transparent. By pursuing thoughtful tax reforms, governments can unlock the resources and confidence needed to drive long term economic progress. Aderonke Atoyebi is the technical assistant on broadcast media to the executive chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service. As Eddie remains in Calabar, unable to attend BJs funeral due to failing health, he feels the weight of time. They entered this ideology together more than half a century ago. They watched movements rise and fall. They endured repression, victories, defeats, exile, and internal fractures. Through it all, they did not renounce their fundamental commitment. (From the records and testimonies of Comrade Eddie Madunagu) Comrades, friends, and the younger generation to whom the future belongs, What I present here are not merely written words. They are drawn from the spoken reflections, personal testimonies, and historical recollections of Comrade Eddie Madunagu a man who stood shoulder to shoulder with Biodun Jeyifo (BJ) for more than five decades. Because ill health prevented him from standing physically at this moment, I stand to transmit what he has consistently affirmed about his comrade, collaborator, friend, and brother. From Comrade Eddies testimonies, one truth is unmistakable: BJ was not merely a friend. He was not merely a colleague. He was not merely a comrade in an abstract ideological sense. He was, in his own beautiful formulation, a friend of my spirit. And when BJ once named four friends of his spirit Femi Osofisan, Niyi Osundare, Yemi Ogunbiyi, and Eddie Madunagu Comrade Eddie understood that what bound them together was not geography, not convenience, not professional alignment, but conviction. Their story did not begin in 1975. It began earlier in 1968, in the heat and bitterness of the Nigerian Civil War, at the University of Ibadan. From Eddies account, the atmosphere was tense. The country was fractured. Suspicion was everywhere. Ethnic identities were politicised and weaponised. It was in that climate that he first encountered BJ, who was contesting for the position of Public Relations Officer under the National Union of Nigerian Students (NUNS). What impressed Eddie was not merely that BJ contested, but how he campaigned. His campaign was radical unapologetically progressive, intellectually sharp, ideologically bold. He did not dilute his message to seek comfort. He articulated conviction in a period defined by fear. Eddie admired him. The second decisive encounter came when Eddie himself contested for the position of General Secretary of NUNS. BJ was among the panel of executives assigned to interview candidates. The war had deepened divisions. Eddie was an Igbo-speaking candidate seeking national office during a civil war. Opposition to his candidacy carried ethnic undertones that were difficult to ignore. From Eddies testimony, BJ privately confirmed his Igbo identity not to disqualify him, but to confront the political terrain honestly. And having done so, BJ supported him radically. In a climate poisoned by suspicion, BJ chose principle over prejudice. He chose ideological clarity over ethnic opportunism. Eddie still lost that election. But what he gained, as he repeatedly testified, was a lasting understanding of BJs character. BJ was capable of separating historical tension from moral judgment. He understood that class solidarity must not collapse under ethnic pressure. That lesson endured. The third decisive stage of their journey came in 1975. In the second half of that year, following their release from military detention, APMON the Anti-Poverty Movement of Nigeria was engulfed in internal conflict. The debate that triggered the rupture had begun even while they were still in detention. The question was simple but profound: When freedom came, would they take a revolutionary leap, or would they proceed gradually within the limits of the existing order? Comrade Bene Madunagu and Comrade Eddie Madunagu opted for the revolutionary leap. They believed that moments of rupture demanded boldness; gradualism, under certain conditions, risked accommodation. At that decisive point, BJ entered APMON brought in by Bene and Eddie through a student member, Femi Gbamiloye. He aligned with their faction. From Eddies testimony, BJs entry strengthened them intellectually, morally, and organisationally. During the internal struggle, his clarity sharpened arguments and his courage reinforced resolve. They emerged victorious or declared themselves so. The victorious faction BJ, Bene, and Eddie constituted what they named the Revolutionary Directorate. It was not a boast. It was a responsibility. That marked the beginning of a 51-year ideological journey together. In 1976, Eddie embarked on what he called an extraordinary expedition, lasting from June 1976 to May 1977. During that period, Bene had moved to Calabar. At the end of the expedition, Eddie joined her there. He remains in Calabar till this day anchored not merely by geography, but by history. BJs path later carried him into global academia. Yet from Eddies consistent reflections, BJ never abandoned the ideological ground from which he rose. His scholarship was never neutral. It was partisan in the most principled sense. He understood that literature is not innocent, that culture is not detached from the class struggle, and that intellectual work divorced from the oppressed becomes sterile. BJ was brought into APMONs Socialist and Marxist tradition by Bene and Eddie. He embraced that commitment fully. For 51 years, they stood within that ideological framework together. From Eddies testimony, his own ability to operate as a professional revolutionary Marxist was deeply shaped by his relationship with both BJ and Bene. Bene departed first. BJ has now joined her. The impact, Eddie has said, has been devastating. To lose comrades, he insists, is to lose fragments of oneself. Shared memories detention debates, strategic disagreements, laughter after fierce ideological exchanges do not disappear; they echo differently. Yet, as Eddie repeatedly affirms, grief must not paralyse the revolutionary. BJ believed struggle was not a ritual but a necessity. He believed capitalisms brutality could not be softened by appeals to conscience alone. It required organised resistance, ideological clarity, and generational renewal. To the younger generation, Eddies charge which I now transmit is clear: Do not romanticise them. Do not turn them into relics. Study them critically. Surpass them. Where they hesitated, move boldly. Where they were divided, build unity. Where they faced repression, develop strategy. Above all, refuse neutrality in the face of exploitation. The debate that defined their early struggle leap or gradualism remains before us today in new forms. Will we accept cosmetic reforms? Or interrogate structural inequality? Will we seek comfort within the system? Or question the system itself? BJ chose the leap. He chose alignment with the oppressed. He chose ideological discipline. He chose friendship grounded in shared historical responsibility. From Eddies recollections, BJ possessed immense intellectual generosity. He could argue fiercely and embrace warmly. He valued disagreement as a means of sharpening thought, not as a weapon of destruction. In a political culture often infected with ego, he balanced firmness with humility. BJ named Eddie a friend of his spirit. Eddie returned that affirmation publicly and eternally. As Eddie remains in Calabar, unable to attend BJs funeral due to failing health, he feels the weight of time. They entered this ideology together more than half a century ago. They watched movements rise and fall. They endured repression, victories, defeats, exile, and internal fractures. Through it all, they did not renounce their fundamental commitment. He stands today diminished in number, but not in conviction. His pledge which I faithfully convey is to continue the struggle for an egalitarian society; for socialism grounded in the concrete realities of our people; for a Nigeria liberated from class exploitation and intellectual cowardice. This is not nostalgia. It is continuity. BJ has not been defeated by death. He has been transferred to history. And history, as Eddie reminds us, is both unforgiving and generous. It remembers those who aligned with justice. The Revolutionary Directorate was never merely three individuals. It was a spirit of refusal refusal to accept poverty as destiny, refusal to normalise injustice, refusal to substitute intellectual comfort for commitment. If we wish to honour BJ, we must not merely praise him. We must organise. Study. Debate. Act. The journey that began in 1975 did not end with his passing. It continues in us. Farewell, Comrade BJ. Friend of the spirit. Revolutionary collaborator. Brother. The struggle continues. Ikenna Edwin Madunagu is a research and documentation officer at the Socialist Library and Archives (SOLAR), Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. BJ was not just a lecturer, literary critic, author, actor and playwright who made giant strides across universities like Ibadan and Ife in Africa, Oberline, Cornell and Harvard in the United States and executed projects at the Free University, Berlin and Peking University, PKU. He was also a practical revolutionary. The inaugural lecture of Professor Wole Soyinka in the 1980/81 period at the then University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, was expectedly explosive. Its title, The Critic and Society: Barthes, Leftocracy and Other Mythologies, left no one in doubt that this was an ideological offensive. It was the famous writers nuclear-powered intellectual attack of Leftists who had asserted themselves as a dominant force in the academic and students circles on campus. Although the missiles were targeted at the Left community led by respected historian, Dr Segun Osoba, some were also fired at academics who seemed to have one leg in the Leftist camp, and the other outside. A students journal, in reporting the lecture and the fireworks, had a section on lecturers sitting on the fence. It was a poetic reporting style that ran like: TP, TP. Take Position, Take Position. Leftocracy or Rightocracy. TP, TP. Take Position, Take Position. This was directed at an identified lecturer. Later, Akin Akingbulu, the editor of Voice, another student journal, interviewed this lecturer and asked him his reaction to the report. He replied that it was written by one of his students and he was handling the issue. The editor pressed further and the lecturer said the offending piece was written by Owei Lakemfa. Akingbulu immediately sought me out in the hostel and told me that I was in big trouble. He knew that I did not write the report, as he knew who did, but could not tell the angry lecturer. I went to Gordini G Darah, a lecturer in the Literature Department, to narrate the story and ask him for advice on how I could be saved. I didnt mind facing the consequences of my actions, but I did not want to be held liable for what I knew nothing about; I was just a victim of my notoriety on campus. Darah told me the person who could save me was Dr Biodun Jeyifo. BJ, as he was popularly called, was an intensely intellectual person who was known not to back away from any necessary fight, whether in academics or politics. Although a mentee of Soyinka from his University of Ibadan (UI) undergraduate days, he was regarded as the fiercest critic of Soyinkas works. BJ had also become the National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). He had transformed ASUU from its moribund origins as the Nigerian Association of University Teachers (NAUT) to a fighting union shaking the foundations of the countrys universities and putting the Shehu Shagari administration on its toes on matters affecting academics. The no-nonsense but charismatic BJ was loved by students, and any gathering he was featured to address was bound to be full. I narrated my story to him and he asked if I was sure. I answered in the affirmative. He stood up and asked me to come along. He drove me to my lecturers office. BJ, without knocking, barged into the office. The startled lecturer stirred and asked what the mattered was. BJ replied: I hear you want to victimise Owei. In this campus? The rattled lecturer turned to me: Owei, is it true? I stammered, said not really and narrated what transpired between him and Akingbulu. The lecturer replied that it was nothing: I thought you wrote the report, but when I reread it I concluded you were too intelligent to have written it. I thanked him, genuflected to BJ, and melted away. Case closed. There were inter-communal clashes in Ife, the universitys host community in April 1981, in which a number of lives were lost. It was under this circumstances that a headless body was found on 1 June, 1981 in the town. Three days later, the victim was positively identified as Bukola Arogundade, an undergraduate of the university. On 7 June, 1981 enraged students organised a protest march on Ife town. The police attacked the students, mainly with teargas, leading to the death of four students: Mr Paul Longe, 40; Miss Wemimo Akinbolu, 23; Miss Fatimo Adebimpe, 22; and Miss Dorcas Ojewole, 19. Two other students from other schools, who happened to be travelling on the Ife road that day, were chased by the police and they died in a resultant car crash. The students were livid and decided on revenge. Some began to form groups to abduct policemen. The university authorities had lost control and even if it ordered a closure, it was likely to be in vain, as the students had decided that the university must be kept open. The government, of course, could not control the situation, and the Students Union leadership under Femi Kuku had also lost control, and had been shoved aside by students. Some former students union leaders like one-time President, Wole Olaoye; ex-Public Relations Officer, Femi Falana; and former Secretary General, Greg Obong-Oshotse, tried to reassert control over the students. That was when ASUU, under BJ, stepped in. It had the courage to call a rally of the students and managed to control the overflowing crowd. It promised to bring all those responsible for the deaths to justice, ensure decent burials for the victims, defend student interests, and establish an independent inquiry. ASUU said that all it was asking for was for students to agree that the university should be shutdown. Like magic, we agreed and moved peacefully out of the campus. Such was the influence of the local and national ASUU and BJ. When I arrived in Ife as an undergraduate, one of the first names I learnt about was BJ. You can imagine my shock when a few months later, a man called Tony Engurube, who was visiting Ijaw students, asked that I accompany him to see an old friend called BJ. I asked if it was the same person, and he affirmed it. We went to BJs house on campus, and soon both men were locked in embrace. It turned out that they had been members of an underground revolutionary group, which some years earlier had been wedded to carrying out a revolution in the country. In later years, I came to know some of these dedicated men and women who wanted to create a human-centred, rather than profit-motivated society. These included the couples, Sehinde and Dunni Arigbede, and Eddy and Bene Madunagu. So, BJ was not just a lecturer, literary critic, author, actor and playwright who made giant strides across universities like Ibadan and Ife in Africa, Oberline, Cornell and Harvard in the United States and executed projects at the Free University, Berlin and Peking University, PKU. He was also a practical revolutionary. His revolutionary praxis had led him over decades to maintain columns in newspapers under the pseudonym: Bamako Jaji. On 11 February, BJ at 80, transited into an Orisha, an African god. Owei Lakemfa, a former secretary general of African workers, is a human rights activist, journalist and author. Women now make up a significant share of practising lawyers in Nigeria, and they are highly visible in law schools, courts, and corporate practice. Yet, the leadership tells a different story. Women remain a minority among senior partners, Senior Advocates of Nigeria, and top judicial appointments The profession is full of women. Power is not. Breaking Down Barriers: Women Lawyers in Nigerias Power Structures At two in the morning in a Lagos boardroom, documents for a multi-million-dollar infrastructure deal are being finalised. A young lawyer who drafted most of the arguments sits quietly outside the room. Inside, the partners presenting to the client are all men. Scenes like this rarely make headlines, yet they shape Nigerias legal economy every day. Across Nigerias legal profession, power is not determined solely by intellect or courtroom brilliance. It is built at the intersection of relationships, institutional credibility, and access to major capital transactions, says Odunoluwa Longe, Partner and Co-Founder of TLP Advisory. The question is no longer whether Nigerian women enter the legal profession. They do, in large numbers. The real question is who receives the biggest briefs and who decides. Nigeria has one of Africas largest legal communities. The Nigerian Bar Association counts more than one hundred thousand lawyers across its nationwide branches, making it one of the continents most influential professional networks. Women now make up a significant share of practising lawyers in Nigeria, and they are highly visible in law schools, courts, and corporate practice. Yet, the leadership tells a different story. Women remain a minority among senior partners, Senior Advocates of Nigeria, and top judicial appointments. The profession is full of women. Power is not. In 2025, only two of fifty-seven prestigious conferments went to women, reinforcing how elite credibility continues to concentrate within narrow networks. Longe identifies three barriers that repeatedly block womens path to influence. There are visibility gaps in informal deal-making networks. There is a credibility tax, where women must repeatedly prove competence before being trusted with major work. There are structural systems built around uninterrupted careers and assumptions about availability that favour traditional male career paths. These patterns mirror findings from the Nigeria Roundtable Dialogue convened in Lagos by East Africa Media Group and Difference She Makes. Participants concluded that womens under-representation in legal leadership is not a capability problem. It is a systems problem shaped by institutional culture, media narratives, and social expectations. Women are present in the profession. Leadership pipelines quietly filter many out. During the roundtable, lawyers and journalists described three reinforcing forces. Internalised expectations sometimes discourage women from pursuing visible power. Institutional structures reward endurance, instead of leadership potential. Media narratives celebrate individual success, while ignoring structural barriers. These insights align with findings from the Difference She Makes webinar on womens leadership in law. Participants across Africa concluded that the challenge is no longer representation. It is about power, pathways, and institutional design. In Nigeria, visible progress has not translated into durable leadership because structural barriers still limit sustained influence. Representation without power remains the defining problem. Real decision-making power in law firms sits with rainmakers. These are the lawyers who own client relationships, control deal pipelines, and influence promotions. A firm can appear gender balanced on paper, while economic power remains concentrated in male-led client portfolios. This matters because Nigerias most important national decisions oil contracts, infrastructure concessions, sovereign bond issuances, mergers, and arbitration disputes flow through legal networks that shape billions of dollars in value. When women are excluded from rainmaking roles, they are excluded from shaping the countrys economic future. Behind the scenes, opportunity flows through mechanisms that few young lawyers are taught to recognise. Origination credit rules reward client ownership. Partnership voting structures reflect legacy networks. Referral chains move through elite social circles. Promotion criteria depend on constant availability and long hours. Institutional trust in Nigerias legal market functions as a risk-mitigation tool built on trusted referrals that often exclude those outside elite circles, Longe explains. For many women lawyers, merit alone is not enough. The media also shapes who is seen as credible. Adelle Onyango, a media entrepreneur and host of Legally Clueless, notes that African womens contributions are often erased from public narratives. When stories about women leaders are missing, younger women struggle to imagine themselves in positions of authority. Roundtable participants warned that celebrating individual success without examining systems hides the real problem. Media must move from profiles to pathways and from visibility to power. Storytelling that exposes institutional barriers becomes a tool for accountability. From a policy perspective, institutions often retreat into familiar power structures when gender equality is raised, observes Irene Kerubo of Difference She Makes. The Difference She Makes webinar found that policy frameworks often exist, but enforcement and accountability mechanisms remain weak. This gap allows inequality to persist behind formal commitments. Fear of retaliation, career consequences, and cultural pressure to remain silent still discourage many women from challenging exclusion. Nigerias experience reflects a global pattern. When women are excluded from high-value legal work, investment negotiations lose diverse expertise. Corporate governance weakens. Arbitration outcomes become less representative. Young female talent leaves the profession. The result is not only unfairness. It is economic inefficiency. Countries that fail to utilise half their professional talent pay the price in slower growth, weaker institutions, and reduced investor confidence. Participants at the Lagos roundtable emphasised that reform must happen across multiple levels. Schools, law firms, bar associations, media institutions, and government appointment systems must redesign leadership pathways. The Difference She Makes webinar proposed concrete steps. Law firms should redesign promotion systems to reward leadership rather than endurance. Bar associations should open routes to influence and track gender data. Media organisations should hold institutions accountable and make womens leadership visible as a norm. Corporate clients can demand diverse legal teams. Law schools can introduce leadership education. The media can highlight women rainmakers rather than only pioneers. These reforms are already being tested elsewhere. The question is whether Nigeria will scale them. Nigerias legal profession trains brilliant women every year. If they cannot access real power, they will leave for international firms, corporate roles, or other sectors. Nigeria loses talent. Young girls lose role models. Institutions lose legitimacy. And the country loses part of its future. Across Africa, women are entering law schools, courtrooms, and boardrooms in record numbers. But presence is not power. As Longe reminds us, meaningful change is not about more women on firm letterheads. It is about who drives decisions on capital, policy, and institutions. The question for Nigeria is simple. Who gets the big briefs? And what will it take to change that answer. Johnson Ayantunji is a journalist and writer. Africas experience during the Cold War gave the continent a blueprint for navigating todays geopolitical landscape. During that era, Africa became a battleground for proxy wars between global powers, often at the expense of its development and sovereignty. As a result, todays African governments tend to be more cautious and avoid choosing sides in international conflicts. Cold War experiences help Africa today as it redefines its role in the global order, while managing tensions between two powerful nations. The 2026 Africa Forum at the University of Miami focused on the significant roles of China and the United States in Africa, which Professor Edmund Abaka, the capable organiser, described as a new Cold War. The conference drew knowledgeable and distinguished scholars who presented insightful papers on this subject. I was honoured to deliver the Keynote Address. In two related pieces, I will reflect on the outcomes of this major conference. Africa has become a key area of strategic interest in the 21st century. It is currently caught in the rivalry between China and the United States a competition for influence over what can be called the prize of Africa. However, this story overlooks an important point: Africa and its countries are active players with significant roles in shaping the rivalry between the US and China, through their promotion of African goals, while safeguarding their interests. African governments do not fully side with either power; instead, they follow different strategies to protect their sovereignty and maximise benefits from both nations. In simple terms, they use one country to counterbalance the other. African governments lack loyalty to Beijing or Washington. Instead, they build relationships with both nations, while basing their foreign policies on national development priorities. For example, countries like Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa have collaborated with China on infrastructure projects, but when it comes to security partnerships, trade agreements, and diplomatic relations, they turn to the United States. This approach to foreign relations demonstrates Africas traditional autonomy, which has been prominent since the start of the postcolonial era. Through intellectual development, there is evidence of how African governments benefit from the US-China rivalry. China is a major player in Africas infrastructure development, especially through the Belt and Road Initiative and institutional frameworks like the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. With Chinese financing, Africa has gained from the construction of roads, ports, railways, and technology. The US has also helped Africa through programmes like Prosper Africa and the International Development Finance Corporation. African governments conduct simultaneous negotiations with both sides to secure technical support from one and loans from the other. This bargaining approach allows them to diversify development strategies and achieve better financial terms without over-reliance on any single partner. The activities of organisations like the African Union enable states on the continent to coordinate policies and negotiate with global powers as a unified front. Other platforms, such as the US-Africa Leaders Summit, also give countries the opportunity to negotiate with global powers (the US) on equal footing. This offers security for African states and further reduces the risk of bilateral dependency, while boosting continental priorities. However, for Africa to truly develop, it cannot base its ambitions solely on the rivalry between these countries. Africa can also grow through regional and multilateral institutions. These create an alternative to development driven by Sino-American rivalry by strengthening African agency. The activities of organisations like the African Union enable states on the continent to coordinate policies and negotiate with global powers as a unified front. Other platforms, such as the US-Africa Leaders Summit, also give countries the opportunity to negotiate with global powers (the US) on equal footing. This offers security for African states and further reduces the risk of bilateral dependency, while boosting continental priorities. The continent must establish an agency driven by its economic momentum and regional integration. Frameworks like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) are progress in the right direction for African-led development. The initiative enables the creation of a unified market system across Africa. This boosts the potential for intra-African trade, and when strengthened by regional supply chains, it could lead to the gradual reduction of Africas dependence on external markets and increase the continents bargaining power in the global economy. Besides a unified market system, regional and multilateral institutions, Africa can still look inward and drive its development through entrepreneurship and technological innovations. African cities like Lagos, Nairobi, and Kigali are rapidly becoming technology hubs where startups and digital platforms are emerging, shaping finance, logistics, and communication. These developments highlight how African states are leveraging technology as a pathway to progress in economics, society, and politics, aligning with the African Unions transformation strategy. The continents demographic trend being the youngest in the world may be its greatest catalyst for growth. This young population has the potential to influence economic innovation, political activism, and cultural creativity. Engaging young Africans in these sectors can significantly contribute to Africas transformation. Beyond its economy and diplomacy, Africa can also advance through its knowledge systems and culture. African scholars have continually examined and challenged the Western worldview, while advocating for the adoption of African ideologies to generate knowledge. Producing knowledge through African methods can further strengthen a decolonised intellectual movement on the continent and help foster innovations that reflect the realities of African societies, supporting its development goals. Africas future will not be shaped by China or America, nor will it be defined by their current rivalry or conflict. Instead, it will be determined by the efforts of African leaders, scholars, entrepreneurs, and youth as they continue to reinforce Africa as the architect of its own destiny. Additionally, African culture offers opportunities for Africa to grow and shape global conversations. This can be achieved by projecting new and positive narratives through literature, music, film, and crafts. These expressions can help dispel negative labels associated with Africa and showcase its commitment to development. Africas experience during the Cold War gave the continent a blueprint for navigating todays geopolitical landscape. During that era, Africa became a battleground for proxy wars between global powers, often at the expense of its development and sovereignty. As a result, todays African governments tend to be more cautious and avoid choosing sides in international conflicts. Cold War experiences help Africa today as it redefines its role in the global order, while managing tensions between two powerful nations. The rivalry between the US and China does not confine the continent to relying solely on geopolitical dependence. Instead, it creates opportunities for Africa as its governments adopt pragmatic diplomatic strategies and strengthen continental agency. This enables the gradual shift of rivalry between global powers into African development. I concluded my Keynote Address by stating that Africas future will not be shaped by China or America, nor will it be defined by their current rivalry or conflict. Instead, it will be determined by the efforts of African leaders, scholars, entrepreneurs, and youth as they continue to reinforce Africa as the architect of its own destiny. Toyin Falola, a professor of History, University Distinguished Teaching Professor, and Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities at The University of Texas at Austin, is the Bobapitan of Ibadanland. In the years ahead, influence will not be measured only by diplomatic visibility or political voice. It will also be measured by whether countries can convert a changing external trade environment into jobs, productive capacity, and durable economic leverage. Nigeria has the scale, the market, and the diplomatic weight to do so. What matters now is the clarity and discipline with which it organises for that purpose. The global trade environment is shifting in ways that Nigeria cannot afford to read passively. What is taking shape is not simply a competition among major powers, nor merely a question of market access. It is a reordering of how Africa is being positioned within competing trade architectures. The United States has reauthorised the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) only through 31 December, with retroactive effect to September 2025, while China has announced a zero-tariff treatment from 1 May for imports from 53 African countries with which it maintains diplomatic relations. Taken together, these moves point to a wider reality: external trade preferences are becoming more fluid, more strategic, and more visibly tied to geopolitical calculation. For Nigeria, the appropriate response is not to frame this as a binary choice between external partners. That would be too narrow, and strategically unhelpful. The more important lesson is that trade can no longer be treated as a secondary track running alongside diplomacy. It must be approached as one of the core instruments through which national interest is secured. In a world in which market access is shaped by changing preference regimes, tariff recalibration, and wider geo-economic competition, foreign policy and trade policy can no longer operate in separate compartments. The temporary extension of AGOA is instructive for precisely this reason. It preserves access, but only for a short horizon. That offers relief, not certainty. It keeps the door open for eligible African exporters, but it does not create the kind of medium-term predictability that firms, investors, and industrial planners ordinarily require when making decisions on sourcing, standards, production, and long-term market entry. The issue, then, is not whether AGOA remains useful. It does. The issue is that temporary preference is not the same as durable strategy. Chinas new zero-tariff regime carries a different, but equally important, implication. It potentially widens access to one of the worlds largest markets. But access by itself does not guarantee advantage. The countries best placed to benefit will be those that can meet standards, solve logistics constraints, scale production, and move beyond raw commodity dependence toward more value-added exports. The opening is real, but the distribution of gains will not be automatic. It will depend on readiness. That is why Chinas decision to remove tariffs on imports from 53 African countries should be read not simply as a concession, but as a test of African export competitiveness. The next step is to build a more integrated doctrine of trade statecraft. That begins with aligning foreign policy, trade policy, and industrial policy much more deliberately than before. When the external environment shifts, whether through a short AGOA extension, a new Chinese tariff regime, or broader changes in global trade rules, the state should be able to answer a set of practical questions quickly. Which Nigerian sectors are best positioned for the affected markets? This is where Nigerias strategic challenge becomes sharper. Nigeria is too large, too economically significant, and too diplomatically consequential to approach passively. Yet, the task is not simply to seek access wherever it can be found. It is to build the institutional means to use access well. Economic diplomacy should not be measured by the number of frameworks a country belongs to, or by how many openings are referenced in official communiques. It should be measured by whether firms can actually enter markets, whether export volumes diversify, whether value addition improves, and whether trade relationships deepen resilience, rather than reinforce dependence. Nigeria is not starting from zero. The country has already taken important steps to strengthen its AfCFTA posture, including gazetting its provisional schedule of tariff concessions in April 2025 and publishing a market intelligence tool to support exporters. That trajectory gained further expression on 9 March with the signing of the IATF2027 Host Country Agreement between Nigeria, Afreximbank, the African Union Commission, and the AfCFTA Secretariat, confirming Lagos as host of the fifth Intra-African Trade Fair in November 2027. President Tinubu has also publicly emphasised the importance of more efficient African borders and stronger intra-African trade under AfCFTA. These are important foundations because they recognise a basic truth: In a more competitive trade environment, information, connectivity, and market access are not peripheral matters. They are part of state capacity. The next step is to build a more integrated doctrine of trade statecraft. That begins with aligning foreign policy, trade policy, and industrial policy much more deliberately than before. When the external environment shifts, whether through a short AGOA extension, a new Chinese tariff regime, or broader changes in global trade rules, the state should be able to answer a set of practical questions quickly. Which Nigerian sectors are best positioned for the affected markets? Which products can scale within a realistic time horizon? What standards, certification, or logistics barriers remain? Which trade missions and embassies should be tasked with targeted market-opening work? A country that cannot answer such questions in an organised way will struggle to convert preference into performance. A second requirement is sharper sectoral discipline. Not every export opportunity carries the same strategic value. Nigeria should pay particular attention to sectors where expanded market access can support domestic upgrading, rather than merely accelerate the export of raw output. That means closer attention to agro-processing, light manufacturing, selected industrial goods, and minerals where downstream value addition is possible. The point is not to dismiss commodity exports. It is to avoid allowing favourable preference regimes to lock Nigeria more deeply into a pattern in which it exports primary products while importing higher-value goods and capabilities. The broader lesson is that Nigeria should approach this moment neither with anxiety nor with passivity, but with strategy. The AGOA extension and Chinas zero-tariff decision are not merely external announcements to be welcomed from a distance. They are reminders that trade is now a more openly strategic domain of international politics. For Nigeria, the proper response is to move beyond treating trade preferences as standalone benefits A third requirement is institutional coordination. Trade diplomacy cannot sit with one ministry alone, just as export readiness cannot be left entirely to private firms. This moment calls for closer alignment among the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Investment, Finance, and Customs, standards authorities, export-promotion institutions, and sector regulators. This is especially important because the emerging trade environment is not only about tariffs. It is also about the rules of origin, customs efficiency, certification, logistics, dispute resolution, and the practical ability of firms to move goods reliably across borders. There is also a wider African dimension that Nigeria should not neglect. If China is widening tariff-free access for 53 African countries, while the United States is extending AGOA only for a limited period, African states will increasingly operate in a more competitive external environment in which market access is offered, adjusted, and interpreted through broader geopolitical calculation. In such a setting, intra-African trade becomes even more important, not as a slogan, but as a stabilising foundation. The stronger African trade platforms become, the less exposed African economies will be to the policy cycles and preference uncertainty of larger external powers. The broader lesson is that Nigeria should approach this moment neither with anxiety nor with passivity, but with strategy. The AGOA extension and Chinas zero-tariff decision are not merely external announcements to be welcomed from a distance. They are reminders that trade is now a more openly strategic domain of international politics. For Nigeria, the proper response is to move beyond treating trade preferences as standalone benefits and to begin treating them as instruments to be integrated into a larger national strategy of export competitiveness, industrial upgrading, and economic resilience. That is the real task before Nigerian statecraft. In the years ahead, influence will not be measured only by diplomatic visibility or political voice. It will also be measured by whether countries can convert a changing external trade environment into jobs, productive capacity, and durable economic leverage. Nigeria has the scale, the market, and the diplomatic weight to do so. What matters now is the clarity and discipline with which it organises for that purpose. Ademola Oshodi is the senior special assistant to the Nigerian President on Foreign Affairs and Protocol. Nigerias preparations for the 2026 Hajj have entered a critical phase following new regulatory measures introduced by Saudi authorities, including a mandatory medical fitness certification for pilgrims seeking visas and a significant reduction in Nigerias pilgrimage quota. The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) announced that the measures are part of broader reforms by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia aimed at strengthening health safeguards and improving logistical management during the annual Islamic pilgrimage. The development comes as NAHCON intensifies coordination with its Saudi service provider, Mashariq Aldhahabiya, in a bid to address operational challenges experienced during the 2025 Hajj exercise. Mandatory Medical Fitness Certificate NAHCON said Saudi authorities have made the submission of duly processed medical fitness certificates a compulsory requirement for the issuance of visas for all pilgrims participating in the 2026 Hajj. In a notice to State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards, agencies, commissions and licensed tour operators, the commission directed that the certificates of all registered pilgrims be submitted not later than 2 March 2026. According to the commission, the requirement is part of the Saudi governments global framework designed to safeguard public health during the pilgrimage, which attracts millions of Muslims from across the world. NAHCON warned that failure to comply with the directive within the stipulated deadline could lead to the loss of visa slots for affected pilgrims. This measure is not peculiar to Nigeria, the commission stated, noting that the policy applies to all participating countries as part of efforts by Saudi authorities to mitigate health risks associated with the mass gathering. Nigerias Hajj Quota Reduced from 95,000 to 50,000 In addition to the new health requirement, NAHCON disclosed that Saudi authorities have reduced Nigerias Hajj quota for 2026 from 95,000 to 50,000 pilgrims. The commission explained that the reduction forms part of Saudi Arabias strategy to strengthen health protocols and improve logistics management during the pilgrimage. The policy affects all participating countries, according to NAHCON, and is intended to ensure more efficient crowd control and better service delivery for pilgrims. While the decision will limit the number of Nigerians able to perform Hajj this year, the commission said it aligns with ongoing global reforms by Saudi Arabia to enhance safety and organisation of the pilgrimage. NAHCON, Saudi Service Provider Move to Prevent Past Challenges Meanwhile, NAHCON says it is working closely with its Saudi service provider, Mashariq Aldhahabiya, to ensure smoother operations for Nigerian pilgrims during the 2026 Hajj. NAHCON Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ambassador Ismail Yusuf Abba, disclosed this in Abuja during a strategic meeting with officials of the Saudi-based firm led by its board chairman, Mohammed Amin Hassan Andangiri. Mashariq Aldhahabiya is responsible for overseeing services provided to Nigerian pilgrims under the government quota in Saudi Arabia. Mr Abba said the commission is aligning its operations with the service provider to prevent the challenges recorded during the 2025 pilgrimage. Lessons from 2025 Hajj Operations The NAHCON chairman said several operational issues encountered during the previous Hajj exercise informed the new coordination strategy. Among the challenges recorded were data mismatches involving flight manifests, contract numbers and accommodation allocations, which disrupted the smooth processing of some pilgrims. To prevent a recurrence, both NAHCON and Mashariq Aldhahabiya agreed to strengthen coordination in key operational areas, including strict visa processing timelines, accurate data uploads and proper verification of accommodation contracts before pilgrims depart Nigeria. NAHCON also plans to intensify compliance checks at departure centres to ensure that flight manifests and building allocations correspond with approved records. Joint Situation Room to Monitor Operations As part of the new measures, both organisations agreed to establish a joint Situation Room that will provide real-time operational updates and enable officials to swiftly address emerging issues during the pilgrimage. NAHCON said the engagement forms part of its broader strategy to improve planning, coordination and service delivery for Nigerian pilgrims. The commission expressed appreciation to state pilgrims boards and licensed tour operators for their cooperation and urged them to promptly comply with the new requirements to ensure a smooth and successful Hajj exercise for Nigerian pilgrims in 2026. Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, has approved the appointment of Kabir Yahaya Gusau as the pioneer Managing Director (MD) of Gusau International Airport. Approval of the appointment was announced through a statement on Wednesday by the Secretary to the Zamfara State Government (SSG), Abubakar Mohammad Nakwada. The SSG explained that the appointment is part of the ongoing efforts of the state government to ensure effective coordination and operational readiness of the Airport project which will soon commence operation. The airport is expected to significantly enhance national and international connectivity, investment opportunities, and economic development for Zamfara State and the country at large. The appointee is a seasoned aviation professional and brings over three decades experience in aviation operations and airspace management. Over the course of his distinguished career, Mr Gusau served in various strategic capacities within the Nigerian aviation sector, including Airspace Manager at Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and Gombe Airport. He has also served as Special Assistant to the Managing Director/Chief Executive of NAMA among others. Until his recent appointment, he served as General Manager, Aeronautical Information Services (AIS) at the NAMA Headquarters, Abuja. Mr Gusau holds a Masters degree in Transport Planning from Lagos State University (LASU), a Postgraduate Diploma in Transport Planning from LASU, and certifications in Aeronautical Communication from the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria. Mr Nakwada said Governor Lawal expects the appointee to leverage his expertise in ensuring effective coordination and seamless airport operations, in compliance with global standards. On Wednesday, March 18, at 11.00, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency will host a press conference titled "Commercial, residential real estate 2025 outcomes: from adaptation to transformation." It dwells upon how developers and retailers are experiencing one of the most challenging periods in decades in the commercial real estate market: competition, changes in geography and business formats under wartime pressure, problems with energy supply and staffing; the state of the residential real estate market and changes in the residential construction landscape; and trends and prospects for activity in Ukraine's real estate market. Participants: UTG company director Yevhenia Loktionova and Strategic Consulting Department head Kostiantyn Oliynyk (8/5a Reitarska Street). The event will be streamed on the Interfax-Ukraine YouTube channel. Journalist accreditation by email [email protected]. In a heartwarming display of brotherhood and friendship, the Qatari Ambassador to Nigeria, Yousef Mohammed Ahmed Al-Hail, hosted a special Ramadan Breakfast in honour of the Executive Governor of Jigawa State, Umar A Namadi, at his residence in Abuja today, Wednesday, 11th March 2026, corresponding to 22nd Ramadan 1447AH . The exclusive iftar aimed to express gratitude to the Almighty Allah SWT in celebration of the holy month of Ramadan and further promote a deeper connection between Jigawa State and the State of Qatar. The warm atmosphere was a testament to the strong bond between the two leaders and their respective governments. During the visit, Governor Namadi extended his sincerest sympathies to the people and government of Qatar over the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, saying May Allah bring solace to the hearts of those affected, grant courage to the leaders working towards peace, and guide the region towards stability and prosperity. The people of Jigawa State stand with Qatar in this trying time. The Qatari Ambassador appreciated the Governors gesture, highlighting Qatars dedication to strengthening bilateral relations with Jigawa State and promoting lasting peace in the Middle East. The Ambassador noted that the cordial relationship between Jigawa State and the State of Qatar has yielded significant dividends, with thousands of humanitarian projects and economic empowerment interventions implemented through Qatar Charity, benefiting numerous communities in Jigawa State. Christopher Musa, the minister of defence, has summoned all service chiefs to a meeting following the resurgence of insurgency in the North-east where more than three military bases have been overrun by insurgents in less than a week. Mr Musa, according to Daily Trust, invited the service chiefs to his office on Wednesday. The minister and the military chiefs spoke about reviewing strategies to improve the war on terror. Mr Musa, a retired army general and former chief of defence staff, acknowledged the killings of military operatives, but noted that the casualties were higher on the terrorists side. Further details of the meeting have not been made public as of the time of filing this report. PREMIUM TIMES reported that Islamic Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists, on Monday, invaded two military bases in Goniri and Kukawa, Borno State, north-eastern Nigeria, killing a commanding officer, Umar Farouq. Mr Farouq was killed alongside some soldiers. The terrorists also destroyed military operational vehicles. However, many of them were killed in the attack on the military base in Kukawa. The attack on Goniri military base was also repelled by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF). Four days before the attacks, ISWAP invaded four military camps in Mainok, Jakana, Marte and Konduga, all in Borno State, killing a senior officer and some soldiers. In a statement last week, the Nigerian Army said it repelled all the attacks and eliminated many terrorists. PREMIUM TIMES understands that the renewed attacks on military bases is part of the Camp Holocaust, a campaign launched by ISWAP early last year, specifically targeting military formations and personnel. According to a report by Malik Samuel, a researcher with Good Governance Africa (GGA), about 16 military bases were attacked as part of the campaign last year. Also, the Institute of Security Studies (ISS) estimates that about 500 people were killed in not less than 200 attacks staged under the deadly campaign. The horror campaign seems to have taken a sharp turn, with the insurgents deploying sophisticated weapons including armed drones. In the attack on Mainok, Jakana, Marte and Konduga, the military said the terrorists used armed drones. Civilians were also targeted in the previous week. This newspaper reported the deadly attack on Ngoshe, where many people were killed and over 100 were abducted including women and children. Nigerian troops have reportedly killed several terrorists and regained control of a military formation in Ngoshe, a Borno village where insurgents killed many people and abducted dozens of locals, including women and children. Daily Trust reports that the recapture operation was carried out in collaboration with the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and hunters on Wednesday. The Daily Trust story on the recapture was also shared by President Bola Tinubus Special Assistant on Social Media, Dada Olusegun. However, the army has not confirmed the recapture as of the time of this report. According to a security source, about 200 soldiers stationed in a neighbouring town, Pulka, were mobilised into Ngoshe last Friday and 60 were left behind. Those left behind later retreated when they saw a horde of terrorists approaching the village. The source said additional support was provided, and the military eventually reclaimed the village following an intense battle with the terrorists. The source confirmed that soldiers are now in control of the facility and surrounding areas after the operation. The Ngoshe attack, sources told this newspaper, was jointly carried out by Boko Haram and its rival faction, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). The village is near Mandara mountain in Gwoza, where a Boko Haram commander, Ali Ngulde, operates from. The recapture came after the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, summoned service chiefs earlier on Wednesday. PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Musa, a retired army general and former chief of defence staff, acknowledged the killings of military operatives, but noted that the casualties were higher on the terrorists side. Attacks on military formations became rife, with more than five formations targeted in less than a week. On Monday, ISWAP terrorists invaded two military bases in Goniri and Kukawa, Borno State, killing a commanding officer, Umar Farouq, and some other soldiers. Mr Farouq was the third senior military officer killed in less than a week in Borno. During the attacks, the terrorists also destroyed military operational vehicles. However, the army said many terrorists were killed in the attack on the military base in Kukawa. Another source said the attack on the Goniri military base was also repelled by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF). Before the twin attacks, ISWAP invaded four military camps in Mainok, Jakana, Marte and Konduga [all in Borno], four days earlier, killing a senior officer and some soldiers. In a statement last week, the Nigerian Army said it repelled all the attacks and eliminated many terrorists. These renewed assaults on military bases could be linked to Camp Holocaust, a campaign launched by ISWAP early last year with the specific aim of targeting military formations and personnel. A report by Good Governance Africa (GGA) indicates that about 16 military bases were attacked during the campaign last year. Similarly, the Institute of Security Studies (ISS) estimates that roughly 500 people were killed in no fewer than 200 attacks carried out under the deadly campaign. The offensive appears to have escalated, with insurgents increasingly deploying advanced weapons, including armed drones. During attacks on Mainok, Jakana, Marte and Konduga, the military said the terrorists made use of armed drones. The military has not issued a statement about the reclaiming of Ngoshe. Meanwhile, the dozens of people kidnapped from the village are still held captive. A video of the victims, including children, who were clad in military uniforms, was released last week by the terrorists. The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has approved the upgrade of all second-class chiefs to first-class and third-class chiefs to second-class, in the FCT Council of Chiefs. Mr Wike announced the approval in Abaji on Tuesday, during his visit to the area to thank the people for supporting President Bola Tinubus candidates in the 21 February FCT Area council elections. He explained that the gesture followed a request by the Ona of Abaji and Chairman, FCT Council of Chiefs, Adamu Yunusa. This gesture is because you have worked hard for it and you deserve it. All I want from you is to continue to support Mr President and you will see many good things, he assured. The minister, who thanked the Ona for supporting Mr Tinubus administration, asked the council chairman, Abubakar Abdullahi, to get a design for a befitting palace for the traditional leader. He explained that he was in Abaji to thank the people for fulfilling their promise to Mr President. We sat down with you and made a request that you should support Tinubu and that the support should begin with the area council elections. The election was held on Feb. 21 and you fulfilled your promise. You came out in your numbers and gave Tinubu 133 out of the 135 polling units in the area council. What else can we say, but thank you. Now you have done your own, we will do our own too. Abaji people have spoken and they have spoken very well, he said. Earlier, Mr Yunusa commended Mr Wike for upgrading the status of Etsu of Kwali, Luka Nizassan III, to a First Class Chief. This has been part of our prayers to previous administrations. This decision reflects your understanding of the importance of traditional institutions in our society, he said. He appealed to the minister to consider upgrading all deserving second-class chiefs to first-class and third-class chiefs to second-class chiefs. This will go a long way in ensuring that some of the traditional leaders that are yet to be integrated into the FCT Council of Chiefs will be integrated when upgraded to third-class chiefs. READ ALSO: Wike promises C of O to indigenous people of Abuja Also, in line with the commitment to promoting our traditional institution, I humbly request a new palace that reflects the status of the chairman of the council of chiefs. This will not only enhance the institution but also symbolise the rich culture and history of the FCT, he said. Mr Yunusa also requested a liaison office in the city centre to facilitate better communication and collaboration between the traditional rulers and the government. (NAN) A civil society organisation, Hope Behind Bars Africa (HBBA), in partnership with the Royal Norwegian Embassy, has launched a fellowship programme, committing N15 million in sub-grants to support civic projects led by young Nigerians across the North-central region. The initiative, known as the Civic Influencers Fellowship (CIF), seeks to support 12 young Nigerians aged between 18 and 25 to design and implement civic-focused projects targeted at communities that are often disconnected from formal democratic processes. The development was disclosed in a press statement signed by the organisations Communications Officer, Ogechi Ogwuma, on Monday. According to the statement, the programme was created to nurture civic participation among young Nigerians whose lives and work are increasingly shaped by digital spaces and trusted voices within them. HBBA noted that young individuals who command large online audiences are uniquely positioned to shape civic conversations, promote awareness about governance and encourage democratic participation among groups often disengaged from formal civic processes. The organisation explained that the fellowship provides young influencers aged 18 to 25 with the technical capacity, financial support and institutional backing necessary to deploy their platforms in service of the public good. Hope Behind Bars Africa is a civil society organisation that works on justice sector reform, civic engagement and human rights advocacy in Nigeria. The organisation is particularly known for initiatives focused on criminal justice reform, public accountability and strengthening citizen participation in governance. The fellowship commenced with a five-day residential bootcamp held in Abuja from 1 to 5 March, where the selected fellows participated in intensive training sessions facilitated by experts. The sessions covered topics such as personal brand development, social media and storytelling for civic influence, policy literacy, gender mainstreaming, electoral management in civic influencing, artificial intelligence and technology, resourcing civic influence and strategies for sustaining civic impact. At the end of the bootcamp, the fellows pitched proposals for civic projects they plan to implement in their communities. The best proposals were awarded sub-grants from the N15 million funding pool. Twelve fellows were selected for the programme from across North-central Nigeria. They represent diverse professional and academic backgrounds including law, public health, climate science, education, communications, the arts and community development. The selected fellows are Hauwa Abubakar, Maryam Gidado, Chidera Nwokike, Godwin Lasisi, Kemisola Ipele, Amuda Abbas Oluwadamilola, Alih Zainab Inikpi, Joseph Agama, Adole Joseph, Aanuoluwapo Emmanuel, Adeiza Jeffrey Umoru and Akinfe Temitayo David. HBBA said the Royal Norwegian Embassys financial support demonstrates sustained international partnership in strengthening Nigerias civil society sector. According to the organisation, the collaboration reflects a shared belief that young people, when equipped with the right tools and resources, can help bridge the gap between citizens and the institutions that govern them. Speaking on the initiative, HBBAs Founder and Executive Director, Funke Adeoye, emphasised the growing influence of young voices in shaping civic discourse. The question is not whether influence exists but who wields it, and to what end, she said. Also speaking, Norways Ambassador to Nigeria, Svein Baera, urged young Nigerians to take responsibility for shaping the countrys future. READ ALSO: Advocacy group to stage charity concert in commemoration of World Autism Day You are young, and the future belongs to you. What you want to do with it is in your hands today, he said. According to the organisation, in the next six months, the twelve fellows will design and implement civic projects across communities in North-central Nigeria, targeting audiences that have historically remained outside the reach of formal civic engagement programmes. HBBA said the projects will combine digital outreach with grassroots community engagement in order to expand civic awareness and encourage citizen participation in governance. Bandits attacked Jikamshi village in Musawa Local Government Area of Katsina State on Tuesday evening. The attack began shortly before the villagers broke their Ramadan fast and continued until shortly after the meal. Residents told PREMIUM TIMES that the attackers stormed the community, shooting sporadically and forcing villagers to flee for safety. A community leader in the area said the gunmen operated in the village for more than an hour before security forces eventually arrived. They came shortly before people broke their fast and stayed for about an hour and some minutes, moving through the streets and shooting, the community leader said. The source, who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly on security matters, described the attack as shocking, noting that residents were caught off guard. However, a short video reportedly recorded by a resident during the attack has been circulating on social media. Emergency response Following the incident, local authorities convened an emergency security meeting to discuss measures to prevent further attacks in the area. According to the community leader, the chairman of the local government council cancelled an official engagement outside the area and returned to coordinate the response. He ensured that all the injured victims received treatment, including those referred to hospitals in Katsina, the source said, adding that the council covered the medical expenses of the victims. Questions over peace arrangement The attack has also raised concerns because Jikamshi and other communities in the area were previously included in a local reconciliation arrangement aimed at reducing violence by armed groups. Under the arrangement, some groups were said to assist communities in tracking stolen livestock and recovering property from criminal gangs. The community leader said authorities suspect the attackers may have come from outside the area. We believe they might be from another location, but the security meeting will determine exactly what happened, he said. Police confirm casualties When contacted by PREMIUM TIMES, the Katsina State Police Command confirmed the attack and said three victims later died from injuries sustained during the incident. READ ALSO: Police confirm arrest of Cross River lawmaker for alleged assault on wife The police spokesperson in the state, Abubakar Aliyu, said the command received a distress call at about 6:05 p.m. on Tuesday reporting that suspected bandits had attacked the village. Upon receipt of the report, a joint team of security agencies led by the Divisional Police Officer in Musawa responded to the scene and engaged the bandits, Mr Aliyu said. According to the police, 14 people were injured in the attack, but three of the victims later died while receiving treatment, while the remaining victims are responding to treatment. The Commissioner of Police in the state, Bello Shehu, has condemned the attack and ordered further investigation to track down the perpetrators. Katsina is among the Nigerian states most affected by banditry, with armed groups frequently attacking rural communities, kidnapping residents and rustling livestock. The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, adjourned a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai against Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and four others until March 25 for hearing. Joyce Abdulmalik, the judge, adjourned the case to allow parties in the suit regularise their processes. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr El-Rufai is demanding N1 billion in damages against ICPC, a chief magistrate of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF). Mr El-Rufais lawyer, Ubong Akpan, informed the court on Wednesday that his team had just responded to ICPCs counter-affidavit but yet to respond to that of the inspector-general of police. In response, ICPCs lawyer, Abdulsufiano Abubakar, and the police counsel, Ezekiel Rimamsomte, confirmed Mr Akpans submission. The judge then adjourned the matter until 25 March for hearing. She also ordered that the FCT chief magistrate and the AGF, who were not represented in court, be issued and served with hearing notices for the next sitting. The suit suffered a setback on 3 March due to the absence of lawyers to the parties except Mr El-Rufai, making Wednesday the second time hearing of the suit has stalled in eight days. The former governor, who has been in ICPC custody since 19 February, casts his investigations by the ICPC and other government agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), as a political persecution stemming from his opposition to President Bola Tinubus administration. Mr El-Rufai, a founding member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), defected from the party last year to join the opposition African Democratic Congress (APC). Suit Mr El-Rufai, through his team of lawyers led by Oluwole Iyamu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), urged court to declare that the search warrant issued on 4 February by a chief magistrate in Abuja, which authorised the search and seizure at his residence was invalid, null and void. He asked the court to declare the search warrant null and void for lack of particularity, material drafting errors, ambiguity in execution parameters, overbreadth, and absence of probable cause thereby constituting an unlawful and unreasonable search in violation of Section 37 of the Constitution. He prayed the court to declare that the invasion and search of his residence at House 12, Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja, on 19 February at about 2 p.m. by the and ICPC and Inspector-General of Police amounts to a gross violation of the applicants fundamental rights. He said it amounted to a violation to dignity of the human person, personal liberty, fair hearing, and privacy under Sections 34, 35, 36, and 37 of the Constitution. He also urged the court to declare that any evidence obtained pursuant to the aforesaid invalid warrant and unlawful search is inadmissible in any proceedings against the applicant as it was procured in breach of constitutional safeguards. Mr El-Rufai, therefore, sought an order of injunction restraining the respondents and their agents from further relying on, using, or tendering any evidence or items seized during the unlawful search in any investigation, prosecution, or proceedings involving him. He sought an order directing the ICPC and the inspector-general of police to forthwith retum all items seized from the applicants premises during the unlawful search, together with a detailed inventory thereof. He also sought an order awarding the N1 billion as general, exemplary, and aggravated damages. Mr El-Rufai did the breakdown of the N1 billion in damages to include a N300 million as compensatory damages for psychological trauma, emotional distress, and loss of personal security; N400 million as exemplary damages to deter future misconduct by law enforcement agencies and vindicate the applicants rights. N300 million as aggravated damages for the malicious, high-handed and oppressive nature of the respondents actions, including the use of a patently defective warrant procured through misleading representations. He equally sought N100 million as cost of filing the suit, including legal fees and associated expenses. As part of his grounds of argument, Mr El-Rufais lawyer argued that the search warrant was fundamentally defective, lacking specificity in the description of items to be seized, containing material typographical errors, ambiguous execution terms, overbroad directives, and no verifiable probable cause. He said this was in contravention of Sections 143-148 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015; Section 36 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences (ICPC) Act, 2000, and constitutional protections against arbitrary intrusions. Specifically, Mr Iyamu argued that Section 143 of the ACJA requires that an application for a search warrant be supported by information in writing and on oath, setting forth reasonable grounds for suspicion, which was absent here as evidenced by the incomplete initiating clause. He said Section 144 mandates particular descriptions of the place to be searched and the items sought, to prevent general warrants. He, however, argued that the instant warrant vaguely referred to the thing aforesaid without any detail. Mr Iyamu stated that the execution of the invalid warrant on Feb. 19 resulted in an unlawful invasion of his clients premises, constituting violations of the rights to dignity (Section 34), personal liberty (Section 35), fair hearing (Section 36), and privacy (Section 37) of the Constitution. He further argued that the search was conducted without legal justification and in a manner that inflicted humiliation and distress. ICPCs response The ICPC has opposed the suit in a counter-affidavit in which it called for the dismissal of the suit. It said it received a petition against Mr El-Rufai and commenced an investigation, leading to the search at his residence. It argued that its operatives acted under a valid search warrant issued on 18 February and executed on 19 February between 1:37 p.m. and 3:56 p.m. at 12 Mambilla Street, Asokoro, Abuja. The commission said its officials were accompanied by personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, and that the exercise was witnessed by Mr El-Rufais wife, Hadiza El-Rufai, and his son, Mohammed El-Rufai. The ICPC listed the items allegedly recovered from the residence. It urged the court to dismiss the suit. Police respond to suit In their counter-affidavit sworn by Ewa Anthony, a police inspector, the police argued that it had the statutory power to detect, arrest, investigate and prosecute offenders. They argued that the search carried out at Mr El-Rufais residence was executed pursuant to a search warrant issued by a competent court of law. They disagreed with the ex-governor that that the search warrant was invalid, insisting that it was a genuine court order. They said that its officers who carried out the operation, complied with all applicable legal procedures in the execution of the search warrant. The police said Mr El-Rufai is trying to use the court to shield himself from investigation and prosecution. They also urged the court to dismiss the suit. Issues arising Mr El-Rufai has been in ICPC custody since 19 February, after his release from days of detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which had detained him after he honoured an invitation on Monday, 16 February. The former governor, who is also facing prosecution by the State Security Service (SSS) over his claim of tapping National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadus phone call, remains in ICPCs custody as of the time of filing this report on Wednesday. His has maintained that he is being subjected to political persecution over his affiliation with the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC). His family has also called for his release from custody, while condemning the search on his house in Abuja last month and ICPCs framing of the finds from the search. On Monday, his lawyer accused the ICPC of fabricating narratives linking him to multi-billion-naira properties in Egypt. The team lead, Mr Akpan, said this in a statement reacting to several news reports alleging that ICPCs investigations had uncovered six real estate assets in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, allegedly linked to Mr El-Rufai. The lawyer said leaks reported by different news outlets was another instance exposing ICPCs descent into a tool of political vendetta through the dissemination of baseless, anonymous leaks alleging multi-billion-naira properties in Egypt linked to my client, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai. The statement alleged that the ICPC has held him hostage without charge since 18 February. The lawyer also demanded Mr El-Rufais release in a letter dated 6 March addressed to the ICPC chair. (NAN) Interfax-Ukraine to host press conference 'Elections Are (Im)possible: How the Authorities and Society Are Preparing for a Change of Elites' On Thursday, March 12, at 13.30, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency will host a press conference titled "Elections Are (Im)possible: How the Authorities and Society Are Preparing for a Change of Elites." The event will feature a diverse panel of participants, including Head of the Energy Development League of Ukraine Oleksandr Holizdra, Vice President of the NGO Congress of Self-Government of Ukraine Ivan Fursenko, and expert on executive power reform, public and political figure Viacheslav Nevolko. They will be joined by founder of the research company Active Group AndriyYeremenko, Chairman of the Board of the Institute of Ukrainian Politics Oleksii Usachov, founder and co-coordinator of the NGO Stop Corruption Roman Bochkala, and deputy of the Kyiv Regional Council Heorhiy Meparishvili. The conference will be held at 8/5a Reitarska Street and the event will be streamed on the Interfax-Ukraine YouTube channel. Admission requires registration on the spot with press ID cards. REIMS, France and HOLLYWOOD, Calif., March 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Piper-Heidsieck, the Most Awarded Champagne House of the Century*, returns to Hollywood's most storied night, pouring at the Oscars, Governors Ball, and Academy Museum Gala on March 15, 2026. From 2015 to 2021, Piper-Heidsieck served as the official champagne of the Oscars, cementing its place on cinema's most prestigious stage reflecting a natural alliance between craftsmanship, artistic excellence and glamour. 98th Oscars Nominee Luncheon Mike Baker The Academy. Mike Baker_The Academy To view the Multimedia News Release, please click: https://www.multivu.com/piper-heidsieck/9387251-en-champagne-returns-oscars-celebrating-historic-legacy-cinema For more than two centuries, Piper-Heidsieck has been associated with the brightest personalities and the most vibrant stages, a succession of unforgettable moments worth celebrating. In 2026, Piper-Heidsieck continues this legacy by uniting cinema, art, and glamour, being the champagne served at the Oscars, Governors Ball, and Academy Museum Gala, with its presence extending through all Academy events through 2026 & 2027. At the heart of this year's festivities will be the House's signature Cuvee Brut, an emblematic and vibrant expression of excellence and joy, raised in tribute to the storytellers and visionaries who define their era. "Attending the Oscars is more than a moment it is an embrace of Hollywood's timeless glamour, where every sip of champagne on the red carpet becomes part of cinema's golden legacy." said Stephane Decaux, CEO of Piper-Heidsieck. "Since 1785, Piper-Heidsieck has been driven by a bold vision: to turn every celebration into a spark of joy, every toast into a legacy." A Legacy Intertwined with Cinema Piper-Heidsieck's relationship with the silver screen spans nearly a century. The House was the first Champagne ever to appear on film in 1933 "Sons of the Desert" with Laurel and Hardy -- establishing its place in cinematic history long before red carpets became global spectacles. Over the decades, Piper-Heidsieck has appeared in more than 300 films and television series worldwide. From classic Hollywood to contemporary cinema, the House has remained a symbol of celebration where stories shine brightest. Honoring a Timeless Icon This year's return also coincides with the 100th anniversary of Marilyn Monroe's birth. The House shares a historic connection with Monroe, who famously declared, "To Piper, my favorite." As part of this celebration, Piper-Heidsieck will honor Monroe through a series of global tributes. From the Oscars to the centennial year of Marilyn Monroe, Piper-Heidsieck will be at the heart of the most unforgettable moments, blending French craftsmanship with Hollywood glamour and continuing its storied relationship with cinema. ENJOY RESPONSIBLY Media Contact: laure.peybernes@piper-heidsieck.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2929420/PIPER_HEIDSIECK.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2929426/PIPER_HEIDSIECK_Logo.jpg GRAZ, Austria, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- This year's survey of "Green Tech Startups Austria 2026" counts 228 young tech companies specializing in environmental and climate protection. This represents an increase of six percent compared to 2025. The university cities of Vienna, Graz, and Leoben once again lead the ranking of newly added startups. As in previous years, the most important factors for startups are cooperation with industry and access to financing. Coordinated by Green Tech Valley, the AplusB centers, Austrian Startups, aws, Climate Lab, ECN, EY, Impact Hub Vienna, invest.austria, and the Climate and Energy Fund have identified 228 red-white-red "Green Tech Startups 2026." Once again, the survey focused on companies specializing in sustainability technologies that are less than ten years old. Sixteen companies were eliminated, mainly due to their age, and 29 new ones were added. "This represents an increase of six percent compared to last year's survey, which included 215 startups," explains Green Tech Valley Managing Director Bernhard Puttinger. Energy & Digital are the top areas for young green tech companies What is striking in a direct comparison with the previous year: "Among the new companies, there was a switch between Digital, now in first place with 35 percent, and the Energy sector, in second place for the first time with 31 percent." The other areas, Building (14 percent) and Circular and Biotech & Food (ten percent each), complete the picture. Tech hubs Vienna, Graz, and Leoben are the home bases of tech startups Regionally, the 29 green tech startups are distributed across Styria with 12 "newcomers," followed by Vienna with ten, Lower Austria and Carinthia with two each, and Upper Austria, Vorarlberg, and Burgenland with one newcomer each. As in previous years, the regions around the technical universities of Vienna, Graz, and Leoben proved to be strong drivers of green tech entrepreneurship. "The area around the Montanuniversitat Leoben in particular has proven to be a turbocharger here," says Puttinger. "The Green Startupmark initiative, which is run jointly with the Center for Applied Technologies (ZAT) and Green KAIT, is already bearing fruit in its second year, with four of these highly specialized young companies based here." Cooperation with industry is essential for the "young wild ones" The survey of the "young wild ones" shows that 52 percent of them want networking with industry partners, followed by financing (24 percent). "Compared to last year, there has been a significant shift away from pure financing offers in 2025, this figure was still 46 percent towards active support," says Puttinger. And this is provided by the partners of the Green Tech Startups Austria survey. "The startups thus benefit from direct matchmaking with industry, access to subsidies and financing. Wide range of sustainable technology innovations What sets the young green tech businesses on the Landscape 2026 apart is the breadth of fresh ideas. BauBlocks, for example, presents a reusable all-in-one building block that integrates all essential wall layers, while Duramea supplies hydrogen membranes (MEAs) for electrolysers and fuel cells. PulpStack offers a novel 3D printing technology that enables cellulose to be used industrially in 3D printing for the first time, while HASHLYNK focuses on intelligent energy utilization solutions that convert excess renewable energy into computing power and usable heat. PureSurf, in turn, is working on "green" chemistry and bio-based high-performance surfactants, while Yflavour uses natural flavors to refine vegan alternatives with a "meaty" taste. And existing green tech startups are succeeding with their high-tech innovations. Most recently, for example, Fiber Elements, which extracts fibers from volcanic basalt rock and processes them into reinforcing rods or so-called non-crimp fabrics for the construction industry. An achievement for which a private investor was recently secured with 2.6 million. All startups can be clicked through interactively and the landscape can be downloaded from the website. Press Contact: Veronika Pranger- Green Tech Valley T. +43 316 40 77 44-16 M. +43 676 75 08 780 [email protected] SOURCE Green Tech Valley Cluster GmbH SHERIDAN, Wyo., March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Analysts from 4dev.com, in partnership with venture club The Ventures, have released the Contractor Market Report 2025 a study examining how companies worldwide are reshaping hiring and payment practices in favor of independent specialists. The report finds that in 2024, contractors generated $1.5 trillion in client revenue, with independent work now accounting for 47% of the global workforce. 4dev.com Releases Contractor Market Report 2025 on the Growth of the Global Contractor Economy (PRNewsfoto/4dev.com) The research shows the market is shifting from an "employees-only" approach to a hybrid model, where contractors contribute not just to development but also to operationally critical functions like support, finance, and HR. Key findings Large enterprises have institutionalized the contractor model. For example, the report highlights Google, with 54% contractors and 46% full-time employees, reshaping traditional corporate hiring structures. Companies plan to engage contractors more frequently than to expand their permanent headcount. In 2025, 48% of global CEOs planned to hire contractors. In the UK, 53% of small and mid-sized businesses expected to hire contractors, compared to just 21% planning to increase permanent staff. Remote hiring is widely perceived as higher quality. 83% of recruiters said remote work improved candidate quality. Meanwhile, 90% of contractors in Europe are not seeking full-time employment; instead, they choose contracting as a sustainable career path. Geography Demand and jurisdictions are shifting: platform data indicates the U.S. as the primary demand driver, joined by global business hubs such as Cyprus and the UAE. Among emerging tech hubs, Armenia and Estonia distinguish themselves. The leading countries where companies using 4dev.com to pay contractors are based include the United States, Cyprus, the UAE, the United Kingdom, Armenia, and Estonia. Companies are expanding their search for talent. The report highlights Argentina, Georgia, and Serbia as regions where businesses are increasingly sourcing specialists. Notably, Cyprus is described as having a "dual role" serving both as a location for company registration and as a source of contractors. Payment growth trend Operational expertise is becoming more costly. The fastest-growing payouts were seen in Support (+38% to $2,025), HR & Recruiting (+26.7% to $2,754), and Finance (+21% to $1,966), reflecting increased investment in processes, quality, and compliance not just product development. The highest payouts are found in expert roles. In 2025, the leading categories were Consulting ($3,730; +8.34%), Software Development ($3,364; +12.8%), Product Management ($3,215; +3.11%), HR & Recruiting ($2,754; +26.7%), and Project Management ($2,616; 0.2%). Commentary "Contracting has evolved far beyond a 'side-gig format' it is now a growth infrastructure, particularly for companies hiring across multiple countries and aiming to keep payments, documentation, and risk under control. We increasingly see businesses building hybrid teams: a core in-house workforce, with scarce skills and project-based needs met through contractors. This trend is driving demand for support, HR, and finance functions, signaling a maturing market. The contractor economy is a complex ecosystem. Our analysis reveals several notable patterns: companies in traditional financial centers often hire specialists from more cost-efficient regions; cryptocurrencies are used in certain payment flows; and income levels vary significantly by specialization. Notably, the relationship between startups and independent specialists is now a defining trend in today's labor market. Startups operating with constrained resources are a perfect match for the flexibility contractors provide," said Mikhail Smirnov, Head of Marketing at 4dev.com. About 4dev.com 4dev.com is a platform that automates payouts to remote employees and freelancers worldwide. The service helps companies build reliable payment and documentation workflows for international teams especially where speed, predictability, and compliance requirements matter. Company contacts: FOURDEV LLC 1309 Coffeen Ave STE 16541, Sheridan, WY, 82801, USA Sales Team: [email protected] Support Team: [email protected] The full report and additional comments are available upon request. Contacts Head of Funding Hub by 4dev.com Artem Vershinsky [email protected] Mikhail Smirnov Head of Marketing & PR at 4dev.com Mikhail Smirnov [email protected] Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2931728/Contractor_Market_Report_2025.jpg SOURCE 4dev.com PHILADELPHIA, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- abrdn National Municipal Income Fund (NYSE: VFL) announces that the Special Meeting of Shareholders was held and adjourned today, to allow for the solicitation of additional proxies to achieve the requisite quorum. The Fund has set a new adjournment date for its Special Meeting of Shareholders of Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at 11:00 am Eastern Time. Shareholders of the Fund are being asked to vote on the proposal to approve an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization between the abrdn National Municipal Income Fund (NYSE: VFL) and MFS Municipal Income Trust (NYSE: MFM). The Board of Trustees unanimously recommends that you cast your vote for the Reorganization of the fund pursuant to the plan of Reorganization as described in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus. Shareholders are directed to the supplemental proxy materials that they will receive in the mail for further information. The proxy statement, as supplemented to date, is also available on the Securities and Exchange Commission's website, www.sec.gov. Important Information Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. A fund's investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the net asset value (NAV) of the fund's portfolio. There is no assurance that a fund will achieve its investment objective. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The value at which a closed-end fund stock trades on a stock exchange is a function of external market factors that are not under the control of the Fund's Board or Investment Advisor. Closed-end fund shares may therefore trade at a premium or a discount to net asset value at any given time. Shareholders should be aware that a fund trading at a premium to net asset value may not be sustainable, and a fund's discount to net asset value can widen as well as narrow. Shareholders of a fund trading at a premium who participate in that fund's dividend reinvestment plan should note the reinvestment of distributions may occur at a premium to net asset value. About Aberdeen Investments Aberdeen Investments Global is the trade name of Aberdeen's investments business, herein referred to as "Aberdeen Investments" or "Aberdeen". In the United States, Aberdeen Investments refers to the following affiliated, registered investment advisers: abrdn Inc., abrdn Investments Limited, and abrdn Asia Limited. Aberdeen Investments is one of the world's largest asset management firms with extensive experience in managing closed-end funds dating back to the 1980s. As of December 31, 2025, Aberdeen Investments had approximately $525 billion in assets under management. abrdn National Municipal Income Fund | Aberdeen SOURCE abrdn National Municipal Income Fund Actor and Comedian Devine, Former Patient and Longtime Supporter of Organization, Joins To Bring Attention to Critical Funding Needs for Local Children's Hospitals SALT LAKE CITY, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Actor and comedian Adam Devine is partnering with Children's Miracle Network (CMN), the charity that focuses on raising funds and championing the health of all kids, to serve as the organization's first Chief FUN-Raiser. This role was specifically designed for Devine and is intended to drive support for the organization's recently launched Health For All Kids Impact Pledge, a $1 billion, two-year fundraising initiative that will help children's hospitals across the U.S. and Canada address their greatest areas of need and respond to urgent pediatric healthcare demands amid unstable funding sources. Adam Devine Joins Childrens Miracle Network as Chief FUN-Raiser to Help Raise $1 Billion for Kids Health For more than 40 years, Childrens Miracle Network has been a symbol of hope, elevating possibilities for every child in need of care. As the leading charity impacting childrens health, we unite people, partners, and programs to raise urgently needed funds for childrens hospitals across the U.S. and Canada. Adam Devine Joins Children's Miracle Network As Chief FUN-Raiser to Help Raise $1 Billion for Kids' Health Speed Speed Devine, known for his roles in The Righteous Gemstones, Pitch Perfect and Pitch Perfect 2, and Modern Family, is uniquely connected to CMN. As an 11-year-old, he was struck by a cement truck and incurred significant injuries. He underwent more than 25 surgeries and two years of treatment at Children's Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha, Neb., a CMN partner hospital that receives fundraising support from the organization. As an adult, Devine has been a strong supporter of CMN by helping raise funds and awareness for the cause. In this enhanced role as Chief FUN-Raiser, Devine will use his platform to rally support for the Health For All Kids Impact Pledge by serving as a key spokesperson for the organization, hosting the annual talent show for CMN's Elevate conference in Orlando, and participating in additional opportunities to support the CMN mission. He will continue his important role of visiting patients and families at CMN hospitals, while bringing cheer, joy and fun to every interaction. The Health For All Kids Impact Pledge greatly accelerates the heritage of CMN's contributions-to-date, as the organization has raised nearly $10 billion for its network of 170 children's hospitals across the United States and Canada since its inception in 1983. "We've gotten to know Adam over the past decade of his support, and we know he is the perfect person to be our Chief FUN-Raiser because he brings joy wherever he goes," said Aimee J. Daily, Ph.D., President & CEO, Children's Miracle Network. "Our Health For All Kids Impact Pledge shines a light on the critical role philanthropy plays in supporting children's hospitals. At a time when hospitals are being asked to do more with fewer resources, Adam can speak authentically about how donations create real impact for children and families in their local communities." Through its partners, programs and donors, CMN raises money for its network of local children's hospitals. Because CMN provides unrestricted funding, children's hospitals have the flexibility to direct those dollars where they are needed most, from innovative research and technology to programs that make hospital stays more pleasant for kids and their families. In response to growing financial pressures on pediatric healthcare, CMN is shifting its strategic focus to emphasize the critical role philanthropy must play in meeting children's health needs. Children's Miracle Network calls on everyone to join the movement to ensure Health For All Kids by visiting cmn.org/pledge to join the pledge and make a donation. About Children's Miracle Network For more than 40 years, Children's Miracle Network has been a symbol of hope, elevating possibilities for every child in need of care. As the leading charity impacting children's health, we unite people, partners, and programs to raise urgently needed funds for children's hospitals across the U.S. and Canada. Wherever you see our iconic balloon, you'll find donors, corporate partners and fundraising programs joining forces to help hospitals meet their most critical needs, from life-saving treatments and advanced equipment to innovative research and family support. Every dollar raised supports the local children's hospital, bringing brighter futures within reach for all kids. Learn more at cmn.org. SOURCE Children's Miracle Network "We are honored to be recognized as one of America's Most Charitable Companies by Newsweek. This consequential designation reinforces our steadfast commitment as a mission-driven company to create and grow clusters that advance human health. Combined with our multi-year recognition as one of the Most Trusted Companies in America, it attests to the strength of our one-of-a-kind brand and differentiated business model that have earned us the trust of the world's leading life science companies," said Joel S. Marcus, executive chairman and founder of Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. "Guided by our extraordinary culture of idea meritocracy, integrity, mutual respect, transparency, and teamwork, our best-in-class team takes great pride in our noble contributions to combat some of the nation's most urgent challenges, including disease and the mental health epidemic, supporting our military and our nation's heroes, and driving educational opportunities. Catalyzing the health, wellness, safety, and productivity of our tenants, employees, communities, and the world at large drives everything we do." Since its inception as a garage startup in 1994, Alexandria has been at the vanguard of the life science industry's incredible innovation and its endeavor to extend and save lives; and with 10,000 known diseases, over 90% of which still have no approved treatments, there continues to be immense growth potential for the future and the call-to-action for cross-sector collaboration is more important than ever. In 2025, Alexandria received the Charles A. Sanders, MD, Partnership Award from the Foundation for National Institutes of Health (FNIH). This historic award recognizes the company's significant contributions to the FNIH's work in accelerating biomedical innovation, epitomized by Alexandria's leadership in catalyzing a mission-critical public-private partnership with the FNIH to build a precision medicine framework for depression to address the urgent need for new, more effective medicines for patients. The first-of-its-kind initiative is being developed in collaboration with the National Institute of Mental Health, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as leading research institutions, cutting-edge life science entities, and patient advocates. The bold program aims to pave the way for a future where major depressive disorder is effectively treated at an individual level, rather than by a one-size-fits-all approach. Alexandria is dedicated to developing and implementing scalable, long-term solutions to some of the most consequential societal issues to make a lasting impact on the health and vitality of its communities. By uniting the passion and dedication of its world-class team with that of its community partners, the company drives positive change through its impactful corporate social responsibility efforts, focused on (1) accelerating medical innovation to save lives, (2) harnessing agtech to combat hunger and improve nutrition, (3) supporting our military, our veterans and their families, (4) revolutionizing addiction treatment, (5) building principled leaders through education, (6) inspiring future generations with stories and values of our nation's heroes, and (7) prioritizing the mental health crisis. About Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE: ARE), an S&P 500 company, is a best-in-class, mission-driven life science REIT making a positive and lasting impact on the world. With our founding in 1994, Alexandria pioneered the life science real estate niche. Alexandria is the preeminent and longest-tenured owner, operator, and developer of collaborative Megacampus ecosystems in AAA life science innovation cluster locations, including Greater Boston, the San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, Seattle, Maryland, Research Triangle, and New York City. As of December 31, 2025, Alexandria has a total market capitalization of $20.75 billion and an asset base in North America that includes 35.9 million RSF of operating properties. Alexandria has a long-standing and proven track record of developing Class A/A+ properties clustered in highly dynamic and collaborative Megacampus environments that enhance our tenants' ability to successfully recruit and retain world-class talent and inspire productivity, efficiency, creativity, and success. Alexandria also provides strategic capital to transformative life science companies through our venture capital platform. We believe our unique business model and diligent underwriting ensure a high-quality and diverse tenant base that results in higher occupancy levels, longer lease terms, higher rental income, higher returns, and greater long-term asset value. For more information on Alexandria, please visit www.are.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding Alexandria's impact on the development of novel medicines, treatments, therapies, and cures and on human health and well-being; Alexandria's thought leadership, collaborations, investments, and progress relating to the treatment of depression; the launch, goals, and efforts of the MAP-D program; the likelihood of continued commitment and efforts by Alexandria to foster collaboration that improves human health; and Alexandria's ability to meet and anticipate industry needs and maintain strategic relationships. These forward-looking statements are based on Alexandria's present intent, beliefs, or expectations, but forward-looking statements are not guaranteed to occur and may not occur. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in or implied by Alexandria's forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including, without limitation, the risks and uncertainties detailed in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and Alexandria assumes no obligation to update this information. For more discussion relating to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in Alexandria's forward-looking statements, and risks and uncertainties to Alexandria's business in general, please refer to Alexandria's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequently filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. CONTACT: Paula Schwartz, Managing Director, Rx Communications Group, (917) 633-7790, [email protected] SOURCE Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. Multi-target therapeutic aims to treat all key and interconnected problems of atopic dermatitis ANNAPOLIS, Md., March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Alphyn, a clinical-stage dermatology company developing the first Multi-Target Therapeutics drug platform, announced today that it has completed enrollment in its CLEAR-AD1 Phase 2b clinical trial of Zabalafin Hydrogel, a first-in-class topical therapeutic for the treatment of mild and moderate atopic dermatitis (AD) derived from the company's proprietary Multi-Target Therapeutic Drug Platform. "A great need continues to exist for a patient-friendly therapeutic that directly and immediately treats each of AD's four key interconnected problems - itch, the bacteria mechanisms that contribute to the onset and symptoms of the disease, the immuno-inflammatory cause, and dry skin - and is suitable for continuous, long-term use. This is the differentiating promise of our Zabalafin Hydrogel," said Alphyn CEO Neal Koller. "Enrollment completion marks another step toward bringing to doctors and patients the first multi-target AD treatment that addresses the entire spectrum of disease problems. As a natural, non-steroidal topical drug, we believe Zabalafin Hydrogel will fill the critical gap in AD treatments." AD is a chronic disease, reported to be the largest dermatology disease in the world. The CLEAR-AD1 trial is a randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled clinical trial enrolling patients at two different stages of AD disease AD disease at the bacterial colonization stage, where bacteria have contributed to the onset and progression of AD but not to where the AD has progressed to the bacterial infection stage, and the other in which bacteria have led to the progression of the disease to the bacterial infection stage. The multi-center 18-week trial enrolled 129 patients, with first-in-human use starting at ages 2 and older using standard AD clinical trial endpoints and, uniquely, endpoints that measure success against the bacterial cause of the disease. Alphyn expects to release topline results by mid-year 2026. Zabalafin Hydrogel is a novel, first-in-class complex single-source botanical drug with multiple bioactive compounds that provide multiple mechanisms of action, including anti-pruritic (anti-itch), antibacterial, anti-xerosis (dry skin) and anti-inflammatory activity. The topical therapeutic is also being studied in a Phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of molluscum contagiosum, a persistent viral skin disease common in childhood. ABOUT ALPHYN BIOLOGICS Alphyn Biologics, Inc. is a clinical-stage dermatology company developing its patented Zabalafin Platform, the first Multi-Target Therapeutics (MTT)drug platform for severe and prevalent skin diseases. The company's lead product candidate, Zabalafin Hydrogel, is being developed as a topical treatment for atopic dermatitis (AD), the most common form of eczema. It has a second clinical-stage MTT platform candidate for molluscum contagiosum (MC), an unsightly, pruritic (itchy), and highly contagious skin infection predominantly found in children. Alphyn's Zabalafin Platform has multiple bioactive compounds and, therefore, multiple mechanisms of action to support treatment of a complex individual disease in multiple ways, for anticipated improvement in efficacy, and to provide a robust pipeline of dermatologic therapeutics that have potential advantages in efficacy, safety, side effect, patient tolerability, and regulatory marketing authorization. For both AD and MC, Alphyn's drug candidates target directly each of the four key problems of these diseases. Alphyn is based in Annapolis, Maryland, and Cincinnati, Ohio, and has wholly owned subsidiaries in Australia and Austria. The company became operational in 2020 and has raised approximately $35 million. SOURCE Alphyn Biologics CLEARWATER, Fla., March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- BayCare's unwavering commitment to serving its communities' health was evident once again as the largest academic health care system in West Central Florida released its 20262028 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) Implementation Plans. The plans one for each of the counties in BayCare's primary footprint are released every three years and outline how the health system will work with its community partners to improve health and well-being across the region. From free clinics and mental health initiatives to school-based food pantries, the plans focus on extending care deep into communities to improve health outcomes for all residents. Faith Community Nurse Coordinator Kameelah Diggs educates a young woman on blood pressure and heart health at a Ready for Life event in Pinellas County. Diggs is now a Clinical Nurse Navigator for BayCare. "These plans are the roadmap for how our communities can count on us to show up for them in the next three years," said Lisa Bell, BayCare's director of Community Benefit. "These plans are based on what our communities told us they need most and they represent BayCare's commitment through our outreach programs and also our partnerships with more than 80 community organizations." New survey findings helped identify key community health needs that guided the plans. For the third time, BayCare was part of the All4HealthFL Collaborative, a regional partnership of seven hospital systems and four county health departments that conducts community surveys and analyzes local, state and national data to identify shared health priorities that improve community health. Among the findings in the 2025 surveys: Nearly a quarter of residents of West Central Florida have not had a medical checkup in the past year. Close to 20% of low-income residents under the age of 65 don't have health insurance, nearly double the U.S. average. One in seven households is food insecure. The collaborative identified three primary areas of focus for West Central Florida, which BayCare then used to inform its CHNA plans: Access to Health and Social Services Behavioral Health, including mental health and substance use Exercise, Nutrition and Weight Economic stability also emerged in the 2025 survey as a growing concern, particularly its impact on an individual's capacity to maintain good health. To address this challenge, BayCare invests in workforce development initiatives that support youth and adult populations through on-the-job training and pathways into health care careers. Following community meetings in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk counties and for the first time, Manatee County BayCare developed its 20262028 plans. Each county-specific plan details BayCare's goals, programs and community partnerships aimed at reducing barriers to care, like the cost of prescriptions, and addressing social factors that influence health, including food insecurity. One example of BayCare's community impact informed by the CHNA process is BayCare's Medication Assistance Program. Launched in 2017 after a CHNA identified the cost of medication as a major barrier to care, the program helps eligible patients apply for reduced-cost or free medication, many provided through pharmaceutical manufacturers. Staffed by five BayCare team members, the program served more than 1,800 patients in 2025, saving in excess of $10 million in prescription costs. In 2025, BayCare provided nearly $500 million in Community Benefit, including Medicaid and income-based programs, charity care and community services. This support included helping serve more than 93,000 households through 42 school-based food pantries across the region. BayCare's full 20262028 CHNA plans are available at Community Benefit and Community Health Needs. About BayCare BayCare is a leading not-for-profit academic health care system that connects individuals and families to a wide range of services at 16 hospitals, including a children's hospital, and hundreds of other convenient locations throughout the Tampa Bay and central Florida regions. The system is West Central Florida's largest provider of behavioral health and pediatric services and its provider group, BayCare Medical Group, is one of the largest in the region. BayCare's diverse network of ambulatory services includes laboratories, imaging, surgical centers, BayCare Urgent Care locations, wellness centers and one of Florida's largest home care agencies, BayCare HomeCare. BayCare's mission is to improve the health of all it serves through community-owned, health care services that set the standard for high-quality, compassionate care. For more information, visit BayCare.org. SOURCE BayCare Health System Most Ukrainians notice rise in popularity of Ukrainian language, understanding of Russian threat and intolerance of injustice poll Photo: Interfax-Ukraine / Oleksandr Zubko Use of the Ukrainian language and popularity of Ukrainian-language cultural products have increased since the start of Russia's full-scale military aggression against Ukraine, 71% of Ukrainians believe. This is according to a sociological poll conducted by the Razumkov Centre's sociological service on November 11-18, 2025, and presented at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine on Wednesday. The poll was conducted as part of the project "Ukraine: Socio-political challenges of the transition from war to peace and post-war recovery," implemented with support from the Konrad Adenauer Foundation's representation in Ukraine. Some 64.3% of respondents noticed growing public understanding of the inevitability of a permanent threat from Russia, 57.2% noticed growth in national identity among Ukrainian citizens, 57.3% noticed support for de-Russification processes, and 56% noticed rising patriotism. Some 62.3% reported a noticeable increase in negative attitudes toward oligarchs, 57.4% noticed intolerance of social injustice, 55.1% noticed a desire for political elite change, and 54.1% noticed a growing distance between authorities and society. A plurality (45.1%) noticed growing support for traditional family values (10.2% of respondents noticed a decline), 48.4% noticed a rising sense of unity among residents of different Ukrainian regions (19.2% noticed a decline), and 43.2% noticed support for decommunization processes (14.6% a decline). Some 38% of respondents noticed a growing willingness in society to accept temporary territorial losses to achieve peace (18.2% a decline). Meanwhile, 43.1% noticed rising belief in Ukraine's victory in the war with Russia (24.7% noticed a decline). Some 37.5% noticed growing social activism among Ukrainian citizens, 24.1% a decline. Some 29.8% saw rising tolerance in interethnic relations, 16.4% a decline. Some 26.6% reported rising support for liberal values in society, 16.6% a decline, while 32.2% reported rising support for democratic values, 24.5% a decline. Some 29.2% of respondents noticed increased political activity among citizens, 27.1% a decline. At the same time, more Ukrainians noticed declining tolerance in interchurch relations (26.3%) than growth (25%), declining sense of unity between representatives of different social groups and classes (29.9%) than growth (28.5%), and especially declining social optimism (38%) than growth (23.7%). The poll was conducted using the face-to-face method in all government-controlled regions of Ukraine where fighting is not taking place, among 2,008 respondents aged 18 and older. The poll used a stratified multistage sample with random selection at the initial stages of sample formation and a quota method for selecting respondents at the final stage, when respondents were selected according to gender and age quotas. The sample structure reproduces the demographic structure of the adult population of the territories where the poll was conducted as of early 2022 by age, gender and settlement type. The theoretical margin of error does not exceed 2.3%, but additional systematic sample deviations are possible due to the consequences of Russia's aggression. NEW YORK, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Bluerock Homes Trust, Inc. (NYSE American: BHM) (the "Company") today announced that its Board of Directors has established June 10, 2026 as the date of its 2026 annual meeting of stockholders. The Board of Directors has established April 10, 2026 as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting. About Bluerock Homes Trust, Inc. Bluerock Homes Trust, Inc. (NYSE American: BHM), headquartered in New York, New York, is an externally managed REIT that owns and operates a portfolio of institutional residential properties located in attractive markets with a focus on the knowledge-economy and high quality of life regions of the Sunbelt and high growth areas of the Western United States. BHM's principal objective is to generate attractive risk-adjusted investment returns by acquiring residential units, developing residential communities, and through Value-Add renovations. BHM properties are located across a diverse group of growth markets with healthy long-term demand fundamentals for residential rentals and will seek to target the high disposable income renter by choice. For more information, please visit bluerockhomes.com. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements are based upon the Company's present expectations, but these statements are not guaranteed to occur. Furthermore, the Company disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, of new information, data or methods, future events or other changes. Investors should not place undue reliance upon forward-looking statements. For further discussion of the factors that could affect outcomes, please refer to the risk factors set forth in Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on February 27, 2026, and subsequent filings by the Company with the SEC. The Company claims the safe harbor protection for forward looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. SOURCE Bluerock Homes Trust, Inc. TORONTO and CHICAGO, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - BMO (TSX: BMO) (NYSE: BMO) today announced that it has filed its 2026 Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Management Proxy Circular with applicable securities regulators. Also today, BMO has released its 2025 Sustainability and Climate Report, including its Public Accountability Statements. Proxy Circular BMO's Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. EDT. The Management Proxy Circular contains key information for shareholders on the meeting, including how to participate and a description of the items on which shareholders may vote. The circular and annual report can be found online: on the BMO Annual Meeting website at www.bmo.com/annualmeeting; on the website of BMO's transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company of Canada at www.envisionreports.com/BMO2026; on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com; and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. Shareholders can request paper copies free of charge as described in the circular and the notice of availability of meeting materials. BMO encourages shareholders to vote by proxy as early as possible to ensure their shares are represented at the meeting. Registered shareholders and duly appointed proxyholders can join the meeting and ask questions through a live webcast or in person or listen by teleconference. They can access the webcast platform, related instructions and dial-in information (listen only) on the Annual Meeting website. Please check the website regularly for any updates. 2025 Sustainability and Climate Report BMO's 2025 Sustainability and Climate Report provides disclosure on our enterprise-wide sustainability and climate-related governance, strategy, and risk management efforts. Through this report, we aim to provide clear, reliable, and decision-useful disclosures aligned with leading global standards and regulatory expectations, including those from the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions' Guideline B-15 on climate risk management. The report also includes the Public Accountability Statements for Bank of Montreal and its applicable subsidiaries: Bank of Montreal Mortgage Corporation, BMO Life Assurance Company and BMO Life Insurance Company. BMO's 2025 Sustainability and Climate Report is available on our website at bmo.com/en-ca/main/about-bmo/our-impact/clients/sustainability/. About BMO Financial Group BMO Financial Group is the eighth largest bank in North America by assets, with total assets of $1.5 trillion as of January 31, 2026. Serving clients for 200 years and counting, BMO is a diverse team of highly engaged employees providing a broad range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management, global markets and investment banking products and services to approximately 13 million clients across Canada, the United States, and in select markets globally. Driven by a single purpose, to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life, BMO is committed to driving positive change in the world, and making progress for a thriving economy, sustainable future, and stronger communities. SOURCE BMO Financial Group MIAMI, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Bright Smiles Miami is pleased to announce that Dr. Cassandra Iglesias has joined the practice, expanding its ability to provide comprehensive pediatric dental and orthodontic care for families throughout the Miami area. "Welcoming an orthodontist into our practice allows us to provide truly comprehensive care under one roof," said Melanie Kucharski-Kalb, DMD, dentist and owner of Bright Smiles Miami. "It means we can guide our patients' smiles from early dental health through proper alignment and long-term function. Our team works closely together with the same approach to care, and for families, this means fewer referrals, more convenience, and the peace of mind of knowing their child's dental and orthodontic care are in good hands." Dr. Cassandra Iglesias brings specialized orthodontic training and a patient-centered approach to Bright Smiles Miami. Her focus is on helping children and adolescents achieve healthy, well-aligned smiles through thoughtful treatment planning and modern orthodontic techniques. With experience treating a wide range of orthodontic needs, Dr. Iglesias provides individualized care designed to support both dental function and long-term oral health. She emphasizes clear communication with patients and families to ensure comfort and confidence throughout the orthodontic process. Dr. Iglesias is committed to creating positive dental experiences for children while delivering high-quality orthodontic care in a welcoming environment. Her philosophy aligns closely with Bright Smiles Miami's mission of supporting healthy smiles from an early age through adolescence. Bright Smiles Miami is a pediatric-focused dental practice dedicated to creating a fun, friendly, and stress-free environment for children. The practice emphasizes preventive care and education to help young patients develop healthy oral habits that last a lifetime. Serving families throughout the Miami community, Bright Smiles Miami combines advanced dental technology with compassionate care. By offering pediatric dentistry and orthodontic services in one location, the practice is able to deliver coordinated, convenient care for growing smiles. "I am excited to join Bright Smiles Miami and become part of a team that is so dedicated to children's dental health," said Dr. Iglesias. "The opportunity to collaborate closely with the pediatric dental team allows for a seamless approach to care, and I look forward to helping patients achieve healthy, confident smiles." Bright Smiles Miami provides comprehensive pediatric dental and orthodontic services designed to support oral health at every stage, including: Pediatric and preventive dentistry Orthodontic care Early orthodontic evaluations Braces and clear aligners Dental cleanings and exams Restorative dental treatments Pediatric dental emergencies About Bright Smiles Miami Bright Smiles Miami is a pediatric dental practice committed to providing compassionate, comprehensive care in a child-friendly environment. Located at 2555 SW 8th St, Suite 201, Miami, FL 33135, the practice offers preventive dentistry, restorative care, and orthodontic services designed to support healthy smiles as children grow. Additional information is available at https://www.brightsmilesmiami.com/, and appointments may be scheduled by calling (305) 428-2878. SOURCE Bright Smiles Miami The Care Out Loud campaign was created as a starting point for caregivers. It offers accessible tools, curated and expert-vetted resources, and practical guidance to help families find reliable answers, identify useful supports, and surface critical information they may not yet know to ask for while also bringing greater visibility and recognition to the caregiving experience. Since its launch, the campaign has reached nearly 120 million people nationwide through donated, earned, and owned media efforts and garnered more than $5 million in donated media placements across broadcast, radio, and digital platforms. On social media, Care Out Loud signaled strong resonance among caregivers and their communities with engagement rates nearly double the industry average. "Almost everyone will be a caregiver at some point in our lives, but few of us are actually prepared for it," said Anneliese Barron, Executive Director of One Family Foundation. "Care Out Loud was built to show up like the friend who's been through it sharing information in a way that's practical yet relatable. Someone who's done the research, found what actually helps, and understands that caring for yourself is part of caring for someone else." A centerpiece of the campaign is a national public service announcement featuring actor and caregiver Yvette Nicole Brown, airing across broadcast and digital platforms. The PSA anchors a broader effort directing audiences to Care Out Loud's website, where caregivers can access free cheat sheets, expert-vetted resources, practical tips, and conversation starters to help families address topics often left unspoken. Caregivers provide an estimated $600 billion in unpaid labor each year, supporting family members with serious illness, dementia, disabilities, chronic conditions, the challenges of aging, and the lasting impacts of military service.2 Providing this care often brings significant physical, emotional, and financial strain, as families are left to navigate complex, fragmented systems with limited guidance or support. In the year ahead, Care Out Loud will convene paid caregiver focus groups across the country to listen directly to caregivers about what's working, where gaps remain, and what information or support is most helpful at different stages of the caregiving journey. The campaign builds on Cooper's ongoing commitment to elevating caregiving, following the PBS documentary Caregiving, which he executive produced with WETA and Ark Media. Care Out Loud is supported by lead sponsor CareScout, a company helping families navigate the aging and caregiving journey with confidence. Support also comes from founding partners P&G, Next 50, and Home Instead, and additional partners including Calm, Richard King Mellon Foundation, SonderMind, The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation and Together for Supportive Cancer Care. For more information and to access free resources, visit wecareoutloud.org. About the One Family Foundation: One Family Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded by Bradley Cooper in 2013 in honor of his late father to provide financial and resource support to families facing cancer. Since then, the Foundation's work has expanded to bring greater visibility to caregivers across all caregiving experiences. Its flagship initiative, Care Out Loud, is a national campaign connecting families with free tools, resources, and support to make caregiving easier to navigate and more widely understood. Learn more at WeCareOutLoud.org. Contact: Anneliese Barron Executive Director, One Family Foundation [email protected] (615) 483.3177 AARP and National Alliance for Caregiving, "Caregiving in the U.S. Research Report," July 2025, www.caregivingintheus.org AARP, "Valuing the Invaluable: 2023 Update Strengthening Supports for Family Caregivers," March 2023, www.aarp.org/valuing SOURCE One Family Foundation MINNEAPOLIS, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Centerspace (NYSE: CSR) (the "Company") announced today that Emily Nagle Green, a member of the Company's Board of Trustees, will retire as a trustee, chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee, and member of the Audit Committee effective upon the expiration of her annual term at the conclusion of the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 13, 2026. Emily has served as a trustee of the Company since 2018. She is a three-time CEO in the technology sector who has focused her career on innovative products and services for consumers. Currently, she is an independent director for Casella Waste Systems (NASD: CWST), where she chairs the Nominating and ESG committee; she also teaches entrepreneurship at MIT's Sloan School of Management and chairs the board of an education non-profit called UP Education Network. "We appreciate the many contributions Emily has made since her appointment to the Centerspace Board of Trustees," commented Board Chair John Schissel. "Her steady leadership and commitment to the highest standards of governance strengthened the board and elevated the organization." President and Chief Executive Officer Anne Olson said, "With her extensive technology background, Emily has been instrumental in driving innovation at Centerspace and helping the Company navigate the ever-changing landscape of technology and cybersecurity. We are truly thankful for her insight and guidance." Forward Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release are based on the Company's current expectations and assumptions and are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements do not discuss historical fact, but instead include statements related to expectations, projections, intentions, or other items related to the future. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by the use of terms such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "will," "assumes," "may," "projects," "outlook," "future," and variations of such words and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results of operations, financial conditions, or plans expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in its forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that the expectations will be achieved. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact should be deemed forward-looking statements. As a result, reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements, as these statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors beyond the Company's control and could differ materially from actual results and performance. Such risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Risk Factors" contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, in quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and in other reports the Company files with the SEC from time to time. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement forward-looking statements that become untrue due to subsequent events. About Centerspace Centerspace is an owner and operator of apartment communities committed to providing great homes by focusing on integrity and serving others. Founded in 1970, the company currently owns 61 apartment communities consisting of 12,262 homes located in Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Utah. Centerspace was named a top workplace for the sixth consecutive year in 2025 by the Minnesota Star Tribune. For more information, please visit www.centerspacehomes.com. If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Josh Klaetsch, Director of Investor Relations, at (952) 401-6600, or [email protected]. Contact Information Josh Klaetsch Phone: (952) 401-6600 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Centerspace NEW DELHI, March 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the in-depth market research report published by MarkNtel Advisors, the Agricultural Machinery Market in China is projected to grow at a CAGR of around 7.47% during 20262032. The market expansion is significantly attributed to the increasing agricultural mechanization, rising government support for modern farming equipment, and the growing adoption of precision agriculture technologies across the country. Additionally, the expansion of large-scale farming operations and the increasing demand for efficient and high-performance agricultural equipment are further strengthening market growth. China Agricultural Machinery Market Key Takeaways The China Agricultural Machinery Market was valued at around USD 21.8 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow from USD 23.5 billion in 2026 to approximately USD 36.2 billion by 2032, reflecting steady market expansion supported by increasing agricultural mechanization and technological advancements in farming equipment. By machinery type, the 25100 HP tractor segment is projected to dominate the market, capturing approximately 51% of the market share in 2026. These tractors are widely adopted due to their versatility across multiple farming activities, including plowing, planting, and harvesting, making them suitable for medium-scale agricultural operations prevalent across China. By end user, large agricultural enterprises are expected to hold the leading market position, accounting for more than 45% of the market share by 2032. The growing consolidation of farmland and the emergence of large-scale commercial farming operations are driving the demand for advanced and high-capacity agricultural machinery. The presence of leading domestic and global agricultural equipment manufacturers continues to intensify market competition through technological innovations, product diversification, and expanded distribution networks. Download a FREE PDF Sample of the Report https://www.marknteladvisors.com/query/request-sample/agricultural-machinery-market-china.html (Discover market trends, machinery insights, and regional demand dynamics) Growth Catalysts Driving Agricultural Machinery Demand Across the Country Rising Agricultural Mechanization and Farm Modernization China has been actively advancing the mechanization of its agricultural sector to improve crop productivity, enhance operational efficiency, and address labor shortages in rural areas. As agricultural activities increasingly shift toward mechanized operations, farmers are adopting modern machinery to streamline essential tasks such as land preparation, planting, irrigation, and harvesting. In parallel, government-led initiatives aimed at strengthening agricultural modernization have significantly accelerated the adoption of farm equipment across the country. Various subsidy programs and financial incentives designed to support machinery purchases have improved affordability for farmers and agricultural enterprises. These initiatives are encouraging the gradual transition from traditional, labor-intensive farming methods to modern mechanized agricultural systems. Consequently, the continued emphasis on agricultural modernization and productivity enhancement is expected to remain a major catalyst supporting the long-term expansion of China's agricultural machinery market. Expansion of Large-Scale Agricultural Enterprises China's agricultural sector is undergoing structural transformation as farming operations increasingly shift toward larger and more consolidated agricultural enterprises. This transition is driven by the need to improve productivity, optimize land utilization, and strengthen the overall efficiency of agricultural production. Large-scale farming operations typically manage extensive farmland areas, which require advanced agricultural machinery to maintain efficient cultivation and harvesting processes. Unlike smallholder farms that often rely on basic equipment, large agricultural enterprises are more likely to invest in high-capacity tractors, automated irrigation systems, and precision agriculture technologies. As a result, the expansion of corporate farming models and large-scale agricultural enterprises is significantly increasing the demand for advanced agricultural machinery. This structural shift within China's agricultural landscape is therefore expected to remain a key driver supporting market growth in the coming years. Increasing Adoption of Smart and Precision Agriculture Technologies Technological innovation is playing an increasingly important role in transforming traditional agricultural practices across China. Farmers and agricultural enterprises are progressively adopting smart and precision agriculture equipment to enhance productivity, optimize resource utilization, and improve farm management efficiency. Modern agricultural machinery is now integrated with advanced digital technologies such as GPS-based guidance systems, automated steering mechanisms, and real-time data monitoring platforms. These capabilities enable farmers to perform highly precise farming operations, including optimized fertilizer application, efficient irrigation management, and accurate planting. As digital agriculture continues to evolve, the integration of smart technologies into farming equipment is expected to further enhance operational efficiency and crop yields. Consequently, the growing adoption of precision agriculture solutions will play a critical role in accelerating the development of China's agricultural machinery market. Structural Barriers Affecting Market Expansion High Initial Investment Costs for Advanced Machinery Despite strong market growth prospects, the adoption of advanced agricultural machinery remains constrained by the relatively high upfront investment required for modern farming equipment. Many farmers, particularly smallholder farmers, often face financial limitations that restrict their ability to purchase high-performance machinery. Advanced agricultural equipment, including high-power tractors and smart precision farming systems, involves substantial capital expenditure. In addition to purchase costs, farmers must also consider ongoing maintenance expenses, spare parts availability, and the need for technical training to operate sophisticated machinery efficiently. Although government subsidy programs have helped alleviate some of these financial barriers, affordability challenges still persist in several rural regions. Therefore, improving access to financing options and reducing equipment costs will be essential to support wider mechanization and sustained growth within China's agricultural machinery market. Market Analysis by Machinery Type & End User By machinery type, the 25100 HP tractor segment is projected to lead the China agricultural machinery market, capturing approximately 51% of the market share in 2026. These tractors are widely preferred due to their versatility and suitability for a broad range of farming operations, including plowing, planting, cultivation, and transportation. Their moderate power capacity makes them particularly suitable for medium-scale farms and diversified agricultural activities across China. In addition, the relatively lower acquisition and operating costs compared to high-horsepower machinery make them more accessible to farmers and agricultural enterprises. As a result, the growing demand for efficient and cost-effective farming solutions is expected to sustain the dominance of this segment. By end user, large agricultural enterprises are expected to dominate the China agricultural machinery market, accounting for more than 45% of the total market share by 2032. The increasing consolidation of farmland and the expansion of commercial farming operations are encouraging these enterprises to invest in advanced mechanized equipment. Large agricultural companies typically manage extensive land areas and require high-efficiency machinery to optimize cultivation, harvesting, and crop management activities. Moreover, their stronger financial capabilities enable them to adopt modern technologies and precision agriculture systems. Consequently, the growing shift toward large-scale farming operations is expected to significantly drive the demand for agricultural machinery across China. View Full Report (All Data, In One Place): https://www.marknteladvisors.com/research-library/agricultural-machinery-market-china.html (Explore in-depth analyses, technological trends, and investment patterns) Industry Innovation and Strategic Partnerships Shaping the Future of Agricultural Machinery Industry in China China's agricultural machinery sector is witnessing a surge in technological innovation and strategic collaboration as companies accelerate the development of intelligent, automated, and sustainable farming equipment. In 2024, Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science & Technology Co., Ltd. showcased its latest high-end intelligent agricultural machinery and advanced farming solutions at the China International Agricultural Machinery Exhibition. The exhibition highlighted the company's progress in integrating automation, digital technologies, and smart systems into modern agricultural equipment. During the same event, ComNav Technology introduced its advanced autosteering solutions designed to enhance field efficiency and reduce labor requirements in large-scale farming operations. These systems support precision agriculture practices and reflect the growing adoption of automated farming technologies across China. Further strengthening the industry's innovation landscape, Ricardo plc entered a multi-year strategic partnership with Wuzheng Group to jointly develop electric agricultural machinery, including smart and hybrid tractors. This collaboration highlights the increasing focus on sustainable and technologically advanced farming solutions aimed at addressing labor shortages and environmental challenges within China's agricultural sector. Significant Agricultural Machinery Companies in China Key companies contributing to innovation and competition in the market include: Sinomach-China National Machinery Industry Corporation (YTO Group Corporation), Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science and Technology Co., Ltd, Kubota Corporation, Deere and Company, Weichai Group, Agricultural Equipment Co., Ltd, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, TAFE (Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited), Shandong Shifeng Group Co., Ltd, CNH Industrial, AGCO Corporation Others. China Agricultural Machinery Market Scope By Machinery Type: 25100 HP, Above 100 HP By Equipment: Plowing & Cultivation Equipment (Plows, Harrows, Rotovators & Cultivators), Tractors, Irrigation Equipment, Seeders & Planters, Fertilizer Spreaders & Sprayers, Smart & Precision Agriculture Equipment, Others By End User: Smallholder Farmers, Large Agricultural Enterprises, Cooperatives, Government Agencies & State Farms By Sales Channel: Direct Sales, Distributors & Dealers, Online Sales & E-commerce Platforms By Price Range: Low-End Machinery, Mid-Range Machinery, High-End Machinery By Region: North Central, North-East, North-West, South East, South-West, South Central Browse More Reports on Agriculture Agricultural Biological Control Agents Market: The Global Agricultural Biological Control Agents Market size is valued at 5.67 billion in 2024 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of around 16.1% during the forecast period, i.e., 2024-30. Global Agricultural Pheromones Market: The Global Agricultural Pheromones Market size was valued at USD 3.5 Billion in 2022 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of around 14% during the forecast period, i.e., 2024-30. Global Agricultural Tire Market: The Global Agricultural Tire Market size was valued at around USD 9.79 billion in 2025 and is projected grow from USD 11.43 billion in 2026 to USD 16.48 billion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 6.29% during the forecast period. India Agricultural Biotechnology Market: The India Agricultural Biotechnology market size was valued at around USD 3.0 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow from USD 4.5 billion in 2026 to USD 7.85 billion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 9.72% during the forecast period. Global Agriculture & Irrigation Pumps Market: The Global Agriculture & Irrigation Pumps Market size was valued at around USD 3.83 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 4.86 billion by 2030. Along with this, the market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of around 4.94% during the forecast period, i.e., 2025-30. Japan Agriculture Equipment Market: Japan Agriculture Equipment Market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of around 2.4% during the forecast period, i.e., 2024-30. South America Precision Agriculture Market: The South America Precision Agriculture Market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of around 15.2% during the forecast period, i.e., 2024-30. About MarkNtel Advisors MarkNtel Advisors is a leading market research and consulting firm dedicated to delivering reliable, data-driven insights across a wide range of global industries. The company's research methodology integrates extensive primary interviews with industry stakeholders and rigorously validated secondary data sources to ensure accurate and credible market intelligence. With strong sector expertise and a team of experienced analysts, MarkNtel Advisors provides businesses, investors, and policymakers with strategic insights that support informed decision-making and long-term growth in rapidly evolving global markets. Contact Us: MarkNtel Advisors Office No.109, H-159, Sector 63, Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201301, India Contact No: +91 87199 99009 Email: [email protected] Website: marknteladvisors.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2687299/MarkNtel_Advisors_Logo.jpg SOURCE MarkNtel Advisors MIAMI, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- CLIMA Home, a leading destination for Miami luxury outdoor furniture, announces its selection of the Best Outdoor Brands for 2026, spotlighting internationally respected manufacturers shaping outdoor living across Miami and the Miami Design District. As outdoor spaces continue to play a central role in residential and hospitality design, CLIMA Home remains focused on brands that deliver performance, material integrity, and contemporary design suited to South Florida's climate. The following brands represent the strongest influences on outdoor design in Miami for 2026: DEDON Recognized for innovative woven furniture frequently specified for Miami terraces, pools, and waterfront environments. Recognized for innovative woven furniture frequently specified for Miami terraces, pools, and waterfront environments. Royal Botania Precision-crafted collections that reflect the clean lines and coastal modern architecture found throughout South Florida. Precision-crafted collections that reflect the clean lines and coastal modern architecture found throughout South Florida. Tribu Belgian design known for relaxed, modular outdoor seating that supports Miami's indoor-outdoor lifestyle. Belgian design known for relaxed, modular outdoor seating that supports Miami's indoor-outdoor lifestyle. Gandia Blasco Architectural forms and Mediterranean influence well suited to Miami's coastal settings. Architectural forms and Mediterranean influence well suited to Miami's coastal settings. Kettal A staple in Miami design projects, offering adaptable outdoor systems with global design perspectives. A staple in Miami design projects, offering adaptable outdoor systems with global design perspectives. Tuuci Miami-based shade specialists providing high-performance umbrellas and shade structures essential for outdoor comfort. Miami-based shade specialists providing high-performance umbrellas and shade structures essential for outdoor comfort. Talenti Italian outdoor furniture that blends contemporary form with material depth for Miami poolside and lounge areas. Italian outdoor furniture that blends contemporary form with material depth for Miami poolside and lounge areas. Gloster Known in Miami for durable teak and woven collections designed for coastal climates. Known in Miami for durable teak and woven collections designed for coastal climates. Paola Lenti Innovative textiles and expressive use of color that bring personality to Miami outdoor spaces. Innovative textiles and expressive use of color that bring personality to Miami outdoor spaces. Expormim Handcrafted designs that merge traditional techniques with a modern sensibility for outdoor environments. Handcrafted designs that merge traditional techniques with a modern sensibility for outdoor environments. B&B Italia Architectural outdoor collections that extend the brand's modern design legacy into Miami exteriors. Architectural outdoor collections that extend the brand's modern design legacy into Miami exteriors. Brown Jordan A trusted name in outdoor furnishings, long specified for Miami residential and hospitality projects. "These brands reflect how outdoor living continues to evolve in Miami," said CLIMA Home. "Each supports the creativity, functionality, and durability required for outdoor spaces throughout South Florida and beyond." The 2026 outdoor collections are available through CLIMA Home, offering design support for residential, hospitality, and commercial projects across Miami. Contact Information: Phil Taormina CLIMA Home Email: [email protected] Website: climahome.com SOURCE CLIMA Home BOWLING GREEN, Ky., March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Connected Nation (CN) is once again named among the Best Places to Work by the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. It's the 15th time the national nonprofit, which is celebrating 25 years of service in 2026, has received the honor. CN was founded in Bowling Green, Ky., in 2001 and works with local, state, and federal leaders to close the Digital Divide by providing innovative solutions for expanding broadband (high-speed internet) access, adoption, and use to all people. 25th anniversary icon and Connected Nation logo "Celebrating our 25th anniversary while earning our 15th Best Places to Work recognition is an incredible milestone for Connected Nation," said Tom Ferree, Chairman & CEO, CN. "This honor reflects the unwavering commitment and heart our team brings to closing the Digital Divide. For a quarter of a century, our people have been the driving force behind our mission and their passion, innovation, and resilience are what make Connected Nation a truly exceptional place to work." As CN celebrates this milestone year, the organization also has a yearlong series of activities planned to mark 25 years of service. One highlight will be a global world record attempt for digital skills training taking place in Louisville, Ky., on September 24 and 25. Head here to learn more: bit.ly/CNWorldRecord. Best Places to Work honorees are selected through an assessment of each company's policies and procedures, along with the results of an internal survey in which employees provide anonymous feedback on company culture, benefits, and more. "This award is especially meaningful in our 25th year," said Michelle Foster, HR Coordinator, CN. "Our staff works every day to build a supportive, mission-driven, and people-first workplace. They are the heart of Connected Nation, and this achievement is a direct reflection of their commitment and spirit." Winners are placed in three categories: small, medium, and large companies. CN falls into the small employer category (15 to 149 U.S. employees) and is one of just 45 honorees statewide in that group. The official rankings in each business category will be announced June 18 during an awards dinner held at the Center Bank Center located in Lexington, Ky. The highest ranking CN has received is 5th in the small company category. This is the 22nd year for the Best Places to Work in Kentucky competition. The alphabetical list of all the 2026 winners can be found by clicking here. About Connected Nation: Marking its 25th anniversary in 2026, the national nonprofit's mission is to improve lives by providing innovative solutions that expand access to and increase the adoption and use of broadband (high-speed internet) and its related technologies for all people. Everyone belongs in a Connected Nation. Learn more at connectednation.org. SOURCE Connected Nation CHICAGO, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- dancemoon announced that its JustHang Squeegee is being showcased at The Inspired Home Show 2026, hosted by the International Housewares Association in Chicago. The product has also been named a finalist in the IHA Global Innovation Awards, recognizing excellence in housewares innovation and design. Following its recognition with the American Good Design Award, JustHang Squeegee has also been honored with the iF Design Award, further highlighting its balance of minimalist aesthetics and everyday functionality. JustHang Squeegee at IHA 2026 Designed to simplify daily cleaning routines, the JustHang Squeegee features a high-performance silicone blade for streak-free wiping and a built-in hook for convenient storage. The design addresses common frustrations with traditional squeegees, which are often bulky, difficult to store, or visually intrusive in bathroom spaces. The result is a clean, geometric form that balances industrial precision with the subtle aesthetic of a modern bathroom. At the core of the product is dancemoon's philosophy of rethinking everyday household tools through thoughtful design. By focusing on simplicity, usability, and visual harmony, the brand aims to make routine cleaning tasks more intuitive. The design reflects a broader belief that small, everyday rituals at home, such as resetting the shower space after use, can provide a moment to unwind and transition from the pace of the day to a more relaxed evening rhythm. The Inspired Home Show 2026 takes place March 1012 at McCormick Place in Chicago, where visitors can explore the JustHang Squeegee and learn more about dancemoon's design-driven approach to home essentials. The product is also currently available for purchase on Amazon. Follow dancemoon on social media to stay updated with the latest campaigns: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancemoon.global/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dancemoon.official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancemoonofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dancemoonofficial About dancemoon Driven by a passion for innovative design, dancemoon infuses the beauty and emotion of the moon into each product. Beyond offering household tools, dancemoon combines innovation with minimalist design to create products that make household tasks simple and no longer a burden but an enjoyable part of life. With a vision to become the leading brand of minimalist lifestyle, dancemoon is committed to blending minimalism with household tools, bringing bliss into your daily life. CONTACT: [email protected] Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2931232/JustHang_Squeegee_at_IHA_2026.jpg DAR's Free Genealogy Guide Helps Anyone Begin the Journey to Discover Their Family History WASHINGTON, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- When people think of the Patriots who fought for U.S. independence in the American Revolution, they rarely think of women. But our Revolutionary War history is filled with women who supported the cause of independence by taking up arms, donating funds, sewing uniforms, serving as spies, housing soldiers, and working tirelessly to build a new nation. Women's History Month is an appropriate time for the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) to celebrate these Revolutionary War Patriots and their descendants, especially during the 250th anniversary of the United States. During Women's History Month in the year of America's 250th anniversary, the DAR celebrates female Patriots like Nancy Hart who is depicted in this engraving housed in the DAR Americana Collection holding Tory soldiers at gunpoint in her home. Many other DAR members have female Patriots in their lineage and DAR preserves their stories and honors them. These female Patriots were everyday women like Lilly McIlhaney Bowen, who emigrated to the 13 colonies from Ireland in the 1700s. Her four sons served in the Continental Army and she lost two in battle, one at the Battle of Kings Mountain and another on the expedition with the Fincastle troops. In spite of her significant personal losses, Lily McIlhaney Bowen supported the cause of American Independence in 1777 by loaning funds and providing food and military supplies. Her descendant, Virginia resident Ginnie Sebastian Storage, serves as the national President General of the DAR, leading more than 190,000 members in America 250 celebrations this year. "I am so inspired today by Lily McIlhaney Bowen's courage and commitment to the American cause. Women's History Month is an important time for us to share the stories of these remarkable Patriot women, especially during this important commemorative year for our country," said Storage. "We hope the 250th anniversary of our independence inspires everyone to uncover their personal connection to Revolutionary War Patriots and we invite all women to consider membership in the DAR." For DAR member Kari Weis who lives in Connecticut, the service of her female Revolutionary War Patriot ancestor inspires her membership. Her ancestor, Marie des Nieges St. Denis DeSoto, donated cattle so Spanish Louisiana Governor Bernardo de Galvez could feed his troops as they supported the colonists in fighting against the British. When her husband was arrested and jailed, she continued to pay taxes and ran the household. Weis noted that her ancestor was determined to do things the way she thought was right and refused to be intimidated. "It gives me a profound connection to my heritagethe subtle valor of acts such as running the commissary or donating cattle to feed the troops demonstrates to me that even behind-the-scenes acts can benefit the greater good. I like to think that my small acts of service in DAR contribute to the greater good the society does as a whole," said Weis. Lanabeth Horgen of Washington state agrees with this sentiment, explaining that the service of her Patriot Martha Bryan Boone (Daniel Boone's sister-in-law) supplying food and intelligence to her Kentucky militiamen husband during the War "inspires my DAR membership, where I actively support the America 250 Patriots Initiative to ensure the vital contributions of frontier women like Martha are recognized and preserved for future generations." Dawn Lemongello of Florida is descended from Letitia Hutchinson who was married to a British soldier and appeared to have different political beliefs than her husband because she supplied a horse and other items to aid the Continental Army's efforts while he was away at war. After her husband was exiled at the end of the Revolutionary War, she stayed in America living with her father and raising her family with full control of the finances. "Letitia's story is fascinating to me. I love being able to keep her spirit alive 250 years after her brave and impactful efforts for our country," said Lemongello. Other DAR members who can trace their lineage back to a female Patriot include: Jacquelyn Winston of Missouri is descended from Native American Patriot Nancy Ward, otherwise known as Naye'hi, who was an important intermediary between the Cherokee and early American settlers. Marcy Carter-Lovick of Texas whose ancestor Elizabeth Dawson Cheatham furnished supplies for the war effort. Shontel Nicholas of New York is descended from Elizabeth Armfield, a free Black woman who contributed to the cause of American independence by paying a supply tax in 1783. These are just a few of the stories of the nearly 1,300 female Patriots preserved in the DAR Patriot Ancestor database, and many are still waiting to be discovered. From grand gestures of bravery to the simple yet impactful action of furnishing material aid, the nation's fight for independence 250 years ago would not have been successful without the actions of these women. The E Pluribus Unum Educational Initiative was launched by DAR in 2020 inspired by the United States motto translated to "out of many, one" representing how a single nation emerged from the variety of people who fought for its independence. The initiative is focused on raising awareness of often unknown Revolutionary War Patriots, including those who were women, Black or Native American. A free genealogy guide is available for download on the DAR website to help people start their genealogical journey. For DAR members, learning about their lineages and family histories is an important and rewarding part of DAR membership and all are encouraged to use DAR tools to discover their family stories. About the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to preserve the memory and spirit of those who contributed to securing American independence. Any woman 18 years or older, regardless of race, religion, or ethnic background, who can prove lineal descent from a Patriot of the American Revolution is eligible for membership. Through the DAR Genealogical Research System (www.dar.org/GRS), the public can access a free database of information amassed by the DAR about these Patriots. One of the largest patriotic women's service organizations in the world, DAR has 190,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters across the country and several foreign countries. DAR members promote historic preservation, education and patriotism via commemorative events, scholarships and educational initiatives, citizenship programs, service to veterans, meaningful community service and more. For additional information about DAR and its relevant mission, visit www.dar.org. Media Contact: Ami Neiberger, 703-887-4877, [email protected] SOURCE Daughters of the American Revolution A proactive China in innovation fuels new development momentum 09:23, March 11, 2026 By He Yin ( People's Daily A humanoid robot learns to sort parcels at a humanoid robot data collection and training base in Qingdao, east China's Shandong province, Jan. 12, 2026. (Photo/Zhang Jingang) At the Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona, Spain, Chinese companies captured global attention with a wave of cutting-edge innovations. From the world's first robot phone and lip-reading AI glasses to adorable AI companions for emotional support, these bold and futuristic products left global media calling them game-changing. Connecting China's "two sessions," the annual meetings of China's top legislature, the National People's Congress (NPC), and top political advisory body, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing, with the international stage in Barcelona, these concurrent events vividly illustrate the vibrant dynamism of an innovative China. The Economist Intelligence Unit, affiliated with The Economist, noted in its analysis that China's new five-year plan is more proactive, focusing on breakthroughs in key technologies and accelerating the deep integration of science, technology, and industry. Why do international observers perceive China's pace of technological innovation as "proactive"? From the perspective of modernization, scientific and technological innovation provides crucial support for China's advancement. China consistently holds that science and technology are the primary productive forces and innovation the primary driving force. By fostering the development of new quality productive forces, the country has effectively enhanced overall social productivity. A key driver of China's rapid technological advancement is its approach of promoting innovation through practical application and nurturing momentum via real-world scenarios. During the "two sessions" meetings, foreign journalists utilized Chinese AI glasses for tasks such as translation and photography, praising the technology for making communication more efficient. Examples abound: robots automating tasks in factories, robotic dogs aiding agricultural work in rural areas, brain-computer interface technologies offering "digital hands" to paralyzed patients, and AI-powered cognitive screening protecting the cognitive health of the elderly. China's vast "innovation testing ground" allows frontier technologies to be repeatedly tested and refined in real-world settings, continuously transforming them into powerful momentum for high-quality development. Workers are busy fulfilling orders in a smart workshop of a semiconductor enterprise in Jiujiang Economic and Technological Development Zone in Jiujiang, east China's Jiangxi province, Feb. 2, 2026. (Photo/Wei Dongsheng) The draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) provides a new blueprint for scientific and technological innovation. It proposes that nationwide spending on research and development should grow by more than 7 percent annually. It also outlines 28 major initiatives focused on enhancing the foundations and competitiveness of industry, fostering emerging industries and new development tracks, advancing frontier technologies, and strengthening the fundamental capacity for innovation. With forward-looking strategic planning and seamless alignment between the innovation chain and the industrial chain, China's blueprint for driving the development of new quality productive forces through technological innovation is clear and full of promise. From the perspective of the two overall domestic and international situations, responding to risks and challenges also requires technological innovation. Today, the international landscape is undergoing changes of a depth rarely seen in history, and the intensity of turbulence has become more pronounced. China's development stands at a stage where strategic opportunities coexist with risks and challenges, while uncertainties and unpredictable factors are increasing. Only by taking the lead in scientific and technological innovation can the country firmly grasp the initiative in development. Over the past year, China has made new breakthroughs in independent chip development; the country's first asteroid sample-return mission, Tianwen-2, has begun its work to explore asteroids; the large-scale application of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System has been comprehensively expanded; construction has begun on the hydropower project in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River; and the domestically built electromagnetic catapult-equipped aircraft carrier, the Fujian, has officially entered service. These achievements demonstrate that enhanced science and technology capabilities strengthen China's resilience under pressure, while vibrant innovation bolsters the country's adaptability. Scientific and technological innovation has become a powerful source of China's resilience. In the world today, coping with uncertainty and strengthening development resilience is a shared task for all. China's continuous progress in scientific and technological innovation is creating new space for international cooperation. Recently, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited Chinese technology companies during his visit to China and remarked that China has once again proved itself indispensable. This is also the shared judgment of businesses around the world. German manufacturer of rolling element bearings Schaeffler Group recently announced an additional investment of 1 billion yuan (nearly $145 million) in Taicang, east China's Jiangsu province, to build a digital and intelligent factory for humanoid robots, targeting the wave of intelligent transformation in the automotive industry. Meanwhile, science-led biopharmaceutical business AstraZeneca from the UK has announced cooperation with Chinese partners to develop new treatments for metabolic diseases using AI technology. Each story of such "two-way engagement" nurtures new solutions for global industrial upgrading. A report by NBC News concluded that China's innovation and development will be a blessing for the world. From China's pace of scientific and technological progress, the world senses the firm confidence of the Chinese economy as it moves forward through challenges and sees broad opportunities for upgrading mutually beneficial cooperation. As the 15th Five-Year Plan period begins, China will continue to join hands with countries around the world in pursuing scientific and technological progress, using innovation-driven cooperation to bring greater certainty and positive energy to global development. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) ALBANY, N.Y., March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The New York StateWide Senior Action Council (StateWide), a 54-year-old non-profit organization dedicated to serving the needs and well-being of our State's more than 3.6 million senior citizens, today announced its Medicare Fraud of the Month for March: Durable Medical Equipment Fraud. The StateWide Fraud of the Month is a component of the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP), the definitive resource for New York State's older adults and caregivers to detect, prevent, and report healthcare fraud, errors, and abuse. StateWide is New York's grantee/administrator for this Federal Program. Maria Alvarez, Executive Director of StateWide, explains, "Scammers target Medicare beneficiaries with "free" brace offers, then use their Medicare number to bill for unnecessary equipment and supplies - potentially altering medical records and impacting future care." How the Scam Works: Seniors receive an unsolicited call claiming to be from Medicare or a trusted primary doctor. The caller may already have some personal information and ask for verification of details. They may review medications, ask about chronic conditions, and ask about pain. Then they offer free braces and ask for a Medicare number. Sometimes equipment or supplies are mailed to patients without any phone call at all. How to Avoid the Scam: Never give Medicare numbers to unsolicited callers. Only accept equipment or supplies ordered by YOUR DOCTOR after a real visit. Report equipment not requested to the NYS Senior Medicare Patrol. Review Medicare Summary Notices (MSN) for charges not recognized. "Medicare WILL NOT call to offer FREE BRACES or MEDICAL SUPPLIES. If someone does it, IT'S A SCAM. Seniors who suspect their Medicare number has been compromised, or medical equipment has been ordered without permission should contact the New York State Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) at 800-333-4374, or visit www.nysenior.org. We have trained counselors to help Medicare beneficiaries in the fight against fraud," Alvarez concluded. StateWide also provides information and educational presentations, assistance regarding any Medicare questions, plan comparisons, appeals, billing issues and patients' rights to all seniors throughout New York State. It is estimated that Medicare fraud costs taxpayers over $60 billion dollars nationally per year. To help combat this illicit industry StateWide announced its Fraud of the Month program in 2022 to highlight these scams being perpetrated on the State's seniors. SOURCE New York StateWide Senior Action Council, Inc. Revolutionary Brand Intelligence System blends strategic brand workshops with AI-driven guidance to help founders and marketers build consistent, scalable brandswithout losing the original vision that sparked them. CLEVELAND, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Eklipsa, the transformative Brand Intelligence System, shared its long-term vision to change how meaningful ideas grow into trusted brands. By pairing clear strategy with AI-driven guidance, Eklipsa helps founders, strategists, designers, and marketers turn big ideas into consistent, real-world brandswithout losing the originality and momentum that made them powerful in the first place. Traditional branding approaches often force businesses to choose between speed and strategy, between consistency and evolution. Eklipsa removes that tradeoff by turning brand strategy into a living system that stays current as teams refine their directionso execution keeps up without drifting off-message. How does Eklipsa's process work, exactly? Complete the brand strategy workshops to define your foundation, positioning, and voice. Those answers are compiled into your Brand DNA and an always-current Brand Book. Meet Halo Chat your brand-aware AI assistantbuilt to help you think through decisions and refine messaging while staying consistent. your brand-aware AI assistantbuilt to help you think through decisions and refine messaging while staying consistent. Use Halo Studio to create on-brand content and visual assets using the same Brand DNA. "We envision a world where meaningful ideas transform into trusted brands, where the magic of strategy makes dreams possible without losing clarity or intent," said Christopher Mangione, founder of Eklipsa. "Our mission is to help brands transform visions into reality, using our blend of strategy and AI to turn what feels impossible into achievable growth." The platform offers an integrated brand intelligence ecosystem designed to transform brand strategy into actionable outcomes. Key offerings include: Interactive brand strategy workshops that define a brand's core, positioning, and persona Halo Chat for brand-aware guidance and decision support Halo Studio's suite of brand-aware tools for content, campaigns, and visual asset creation A living Brand Book and Asset Library that stay in sync to support consistency across teams and channels Most AI tools make you repeat your brand context over and over. Eklipsa takes a different approach by capturing your brand strategy oncethen using it consistently across Halo Chat and Halo Studio. The result is less setup, less re-explaining, and more outputs that start aligned with what you're actually building. "Eklipsa uniquely empowers brand builders by transforming static strategy into living intelligence," Mangione added. "With seamless AI integration and unwavering clarity, we make evolving brands possible without losing their essence. Every day, we help people turn brand thinking into action." The system serves founders shaping their own vision, as well as strategists, designers, and marketers building brands for othersanyone who cares deeply about clarity, consistency, and momentum, and who needs a system that helps brands grow without losing intent as they scale and evolve. Eklipsa's methodology uses each brand's DNA and Brand Book to keep guidance and creation grounded in the same strategyhelping brands maintain integrity and foster lasting relationships throughout every growth stage. Brand builders interested in discovering how Eklipsa can transform their visions into reality are invited to explore the platform's capabilities and experience the future of brand intelligence. About Eklipsa Eklipsa is a Brand Intelligence System that captures brand strategy as living intelligence, helping meaningful ideas stay clear, consistent, and trusted as they grow. Built for founders and brand builders responsible for shaping and maintaining brands, Eklipsa keeps brand strategy in motionguiding decisions and maintaining consistency everywhere work gets done. For more information, visit eklipsa.ai. SOURCE Eklipsa LLC Curriculum Associates, LLC, an educational assessment, instruction and support services company, allegedly discriminated against an employee by failing to provide job opportunities within the company after she took maternity leave. ORANGE, Calif., March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Los Angeles employment law attorneys, at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a class action complaint alleging that Curriculum Associates, LLC violated the California Labor Code. The Curriculum Associates, LLC class action lawsuit, Case No. 30-2025-01534071-CU-OE-CXC, is currently pending in the Orange County Superior Court of the State of California. A copy of the Complaint can be read here. The Law Office of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP Speed Speed According to the lawsuit filed, employees of Curriculum Associates, LLC allegedly (a) failed to pay minimum wages, (b) failed to pay overtime wages, (c) failed to provide legally required meal and rest periods, (d) failed to provide accurate itemized wage statements, (e) failed to reimburse for required expenses, and (f) failed to pay sick wages, all in violation of the applicable Labor Code sections listed in California Labor Code Sections 201-203, 226, 226.7, 233, 246, 510, 512, 1194, 1197, 1197.1, 2802, and the applicable Wage Order(s), and thereby gives rise to civil penalties as a result of such alleged conduct. The Complaint further alleges the named Plaintiff was discriminated against and denied an internal job opportunity due to her recent pregnancy and maternity leave. Plaintiff returned to work in or around June of 2025. Once she returned from leave, Plaintiff applied for a new job title within the company. However, Plaintiff was denied this job opportunity. Within the State of California there exists a substantial and fundamental public policy, set forth in the California Government Code 12900 et seq., which forbids discrimination based on one taking pregnancy disability leave. For more information about the class action lawsuit against Curriculum Associates, LLC, call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today. Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP is an employment law firm with offices located in San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Riverside and Chicago that dedicates its practice to helping employees, investors and consumers fight back against unfair business practices, including violations of the California Labor Code and Fair Labor Standards Act. If you need help in collecting unpaid overtime wages, unpaid commissions, being wrongfully terminated from work, and other employment law claims, contact one of their attorneys today. THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT Media Contact Nicholas De Blouw Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP (800) 568-8020 [email protected] https://www.bamlawca.com/ SOURCE Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP The AI-powered Epidemiology Database is a comprehensive repository covering 500+ disease indications with 10-year epidemiology forecasts across the seven major markets (US, EU4, UK, and Japan). The platform provides validated, expert-curated epidemiology intelligence enhanced by AI, enabling a deeper understanding of disease burden, detailed epidemiological segmentations, and long-term trends across indications and geographies. Designed to support forecasting, portfolio planning, and commercial strategy, the database delivers decision-ready insights that elevate data-driven business planning for pharmaceutical and healthcare stakeholders. LAS VEGAS, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- DelveEpiAI brings together DelveInsight's curated epidemiology data covering 500+ indications, ranging from major oncology diseases to rare niche orphan conditions. The platform integrates patient population insights along with incidence/prevalence forecasts into a single, easy-to-use interface spanning key markets, including the US, EU4(Italy, Spain, Germany, France), UK, and Japan. By combining DelveInsight's epidemiology expertise with KOL insights, the platform enables users to quickly assess the diagnosed patient pool, explore detailed epidemiological segmentation, and evaluate drug-treated patient populations across multiple indications. The platform features advanced interactive dashboards that enable teams to visualize comprehensive 7MM epidemiology analysis, compare historical and forecasted patient populations, and explore detailed disease-specific segmentation. Users can analyze diagnosed prevalent and incident populations, demographic breakdowns by age and gender, biomarker-defined cohorts, line of therapy distribution, disease severity, and other customizable disease-specific patient segments. Designed to support commercial strategy, R&D prioritization, and forecasting excellence, the epidemiology dashboard provides pharma and healthcare organizations with a single, validated source of truth for patient population assessment, incidence and prevalence forecasting, and country-level disease trend intelligence. By transforming complex epidemiology data into actionable insights, the platform empowers teams to make faster, more confident decisions across portfolio planning and market strategy. Unlock disease burden analysis and global patient population trends for your priority indications with DelveEpiAI at: https://www.delveinsight.com/epidemiology-database Key Features of DelveInsight's Epidemiology Database DelveEpiAI Features a vast repository spanning multiple therapeutic areas, including Oncology, Immunology, Respiratory, Dermatology, Ophthalmology, Neurology, Women's Health, and many others, with insights into highly active clinical trial pipelines. Includes extensive coverage of rare and ultra-rare disease indications, powered by DelveInsight's deep expertise and a uniquely comprehensive epidemiology repository, positioning DelveInsight as a recognized industry leader in rare disease intelligence. Provides multi-indication, multi-geography epidemiology models and reports across major pharmaceutical markets. Delivers transparent, human-led analyst-grade intelligence designed to provide reliable and trusted insights. Offers forecasts through 2034, including country-specific analysis and comprehensive patient population assessments. Enables in-depth disease segmentation and identification of treatable patient populations with the highest unmet medical need. Patient models are developed and validated through extensive primary analysis with leading Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs). Schedule a demo of DelveEpiAI to see how the epidemiology forecasting tool can streamline your internal forecasting, scenario planning, and launch strategy discussions. Who Uses Epidemiology Databases? These platforms are widely used by: Pharmaceutical companies Market access & commercial strategy teams Epidemiologists and researchers Public health agencies & policymakers Healthcare organizations Investors, consulting & market intelligence firms Why Choose DelveInsight's Epidemiology Database? Utilize the expertise of top KOLs and clinical specialists to produce thorough, indication-focused epidemiological assessments spanning diverse therapeutic areas. Understand yearly disease trends and burdens comprehensively through analysis of 500+ diseases and procedures for sharper healthcare market intelligence. Obtain comprehensive, disease-focused analyses of historical and projected patient populations, along with patient pool trends, across key global markets through 2034. Identify emerging patient trends in ultra-rare diseases by leveraging an extensive network of KOLs. Unlock rapid, AI-powered epidemiological insights with a platform that eliminates the need for time-consuming analysis at the Epidemiology Intelligence Platform Patient Journey Consulting: We deliver a range of distinctive solutions aimed at transforming healthcare experiences. With deep expertise in patient-centric approaches and extensive industry experience, we understand the subtle complexities of patient needs. By leveraging data-driven insights through advanced analytics, we empower healthcare providers to make informed decisions that improve patient outcomes. Patient Pool Forecasting: DelveInsight recognizes the complexities pharmaceutical and biotech companies face when estimating and selecting the most suitable patient segments for drug development. Making the right choice is crucial for optimizing outcomes while navigating challenges such as determining the appropriate line of therapy, minimizing patient burden, evaluating diagnostic impact, and projecting drug uptake. DelveInsight provides actionable insights and analytics to support these decisions, enabling companies to target patient populations with the greatest unmet needs, thereby enhancing clinical outcomes and streamlining drug development. Pharma Consulting Services: Our healthcare consulting services turn complex market data into actionable strategies for pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies. We help clients uncover new revenue streams, assess market potential, and successfully navigate commercialization challenges. With deep expertise in clinical trial design, market intelligence, and strategic consulting, our team partners with clients to optimize decision-making, accelerate innovation pipelines, and improve business outcomes. Rare Disease Consulting Services: In the rare disease space, one of our fortes, we deliver intelligence that helps clients overcome the unique challenges of niche markets. Our analysts monitor global R&D progress, competitive developments, and shifting regulatory landscapes to provide tailored insights that guide product positioning and investment strategies. From in-depth conference evaluations to detailed competitor analyses, we help clients de-risk decision-making, strengthen portfolios, and efficiently advance therapies from development to market. Ready to drive your pharma research further, faster? Schedule a call with our expert today! About DelveInsight DelveInsight is a leading Business Consultant and Market Research firm focused exclusively on life sciences. It supports pharma companies by providing comprehensive end-to-end solutions to improve their performance. Get hassle-free access to all the healthcare and pharma market research reports through our subscription-based platform PharmDelve. Contact Us Shruti Thakur [email protected] +14699457679 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1082265/3528414/DelveInsight_Logo.jpg SOURCE DelveInsight Business Research, LLP STOCKHOLM, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Gesynta Pharma AB today announced that the first patient has been dosed in its Phase 2 clinical proof-of-concept trial (NOVA) of vipoglanstat, a novel non-hormonal, non-opioid drug candidate for endometriosis. This milestone marks an important step toward a new treatment for the approximately 190 million women worldwide living with this painful, often debilitating, chronic inflammatory condition, which is also a major cause of infertility. The NOVA* trial is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 clinical proof-of-concept trial of vipoglanstat. NOVA will evaluate the efficacy and safety of two different doses of vipoglanstat compared with placebo and will also provide valuable dosing information for future clinical development. The trial will enroll approximately 190 women aged 18 to 45 across the UK, Italy, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. Participants will receive either vipoglanstat or placebo, administered orally, for approximately four menstrual cycles. The primary objective is to evaluate the efficacy of vipoglanstat on endometriosis-related pain during non-menstrual days. Secondary objectives include evaluating the effect of vipoglanstat on period pain (dysmenorrhea), pain during sexual intercourse (dyspareunia), use of opioid rescue medication, and response to a quality-of-life assessment scale. Additionally, endometriotic lesions will be evaluated as an exploratory endpoint using MRI assessments. Top-line results are expected in 2027. "This is an important step toward expanding therapeutic options for women living with endometriosis. Despite existing treatments, many patients continue to experience persistent pain and impaired daily functioning, underscoring the need for new approaches. I am excited to work with Gesynta to assess whether vipoglanstat can deliver meaningful, lasting improvements for patients," says Christian Becker, Professor of Reproductive Sciences, Co-Director of the Oxford Endometriosis CaRe Centre, and International Coordinating Investigator for the NOVA trial. Vipoglanstat targets mPGES-1, a key enzyme that produces the proinflammatory mediator prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in endometriotic lesions. A preclinical proof-of-concept study using an advanced endometriosis model showed that vipoglanstat significantly reduced pain-related behaviors and endometriotic lesion load. Previous clinical studies confirm its safety, tolerability, and pharmacodynamic effects in humans, supporting further development of vipoglanstat for endometriosis. "Dosing the first patient in the NOVA trial signifies a major milestone in developing vipoglanstat, aiming at providing a game-changer in the treatment of endometriosis. With a solid preclinical basis and positive clinical data on safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics, this trial aims to provide robust, controlled data on pain relief and quality of life for women with moderate to severe disease," says Patric Stenberg, CEO of Gesynta Pharma. About Endometriosis Endometriosis is a painful chronic inflammatory disorder in which endometrium-like tissue grows outside the uterus, mainly in the pelvic cavity, causing inflammation, fibrosis, and the formation of endometriotic lesions and adhesions. It commonly presents with period pain (dysmenorrhea), non-menstrual chronic pelvic pain, pain during sexual intercourse (dyspareunia) , gastrointestinal symptoms, and infertility, and is typically managed with analgesics, hormonal therapies, and surgery. Despite its high prevalence, affecting 10% of women of reproductive age, endometriosis remains largely underdiagnosed and undertreated, with few new treatment options available to patients. The often severe pain, diagnostic challenges, and limited treatment options make endometriosis profoundly challenging to live with for many women. *NOVA: the Non-hormonal Option - a Vipoglanstat Assessment trial For more information, please contact: Patric Stenberg, CEO Tel: + 46 (0)733 83 66 70 E-mail: [email protected] About Gesynta Pharma Gesynta Pharma's research on targeting mPGES-1, an essential enzyme in inflammation, began at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. The company's lead compound, vipoglanstat, a non-hormonal, non-opioid treatment, is under development for endometriosis, a chronic inflammatory condition affecting roughly 10% of women of reproductive age. Vipoglanstat significantly reduced pain-related behaviors and endometriotic lesions in an advanced preclinical disease model. The drug candidate is currently being evaluated in the Phase 2 clinical proof-of-concept trial (NOVA). Additionally, the company's second candidate, GS-073, is ready to enter Phase 1 clinical trials for the treatment of chronic inflammatory pain. Gesynta Pharma's shareholders include Hadean Ventures, Industrifonden, Innovestor Life Science, Linc, HealthCap, XGen Venture, and other internationally renowned specialist investors. For more information, please visit www.gesynta.se. This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/gesynta-pharma/r/first-patient-dosed-in-gesynta-pharma-s-endometriosis-trial-of-vipoglanstat,c4319459 The following files are available for download: CAXIAS DO SUL, Brazil, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Frasle Mobility posted a new record in consolidated net revenue in 2025. The Company, which faced a challenging environment across different markets in which it operates, reached R$5.5 billion, 38.5% higher than the amount recorded in the previous year. The growth was mainly supported by the addition of revenues from the subsidiary Dacomsa, acquired in January and headquartered in Mexico. Throughout the year, driven by several initiatives adopted, such as the issue of debentures and capital market transactions through a follow-on,, Frasle Mobility worked to reduce its net leverage, defined as the ratio of the Company's net debt to EBITDA. The indicator declined from 2.6x in the first quarter of the year to 1.5x at year-end. The Company also closed 2025 with continued growth in investments across its operations worldwide. R$190.5 million was invested in different projects, an increase of 14.9% compared to 2024. KEY RESULTS 4Q25 and 2025 (Percentages indicate variation from the respective period in 4Q24 and 2024 values in MM) Consolidated net revenue: 4Q25: R$1,385.0 (+25.0%) | 2025: R$5,490.9 (+38.5%) Net revenue - domestic market: 4Q25: R$659.7 (-1.3%) | 2025: R$2,577.1 (+7.2%) Net revenue - international market: 4Q25: R$725.2 (+65.1%) | 2025: R$2,913.7 (+86.5%) Sales - international market (exports + international operations): 4Q25: US$134.1 (+78.0%) | 2025: US$520.1 (+79.5%) Consolidated gross profit: 4Q25: R$427.8 (+8.5%) | 2025: R$1,795.9 (+35.0%) Operating income: 4Q25: R$147.1 (-14.2%) | 2025: R$724.1 (+39.5%) EBITDA: 4Q25: R$220.3 (0.0%) | 2025: R$991.5 (+46.3%) Consolidated gross profit: 4Q25: R$55.9 (-58.6%) | 2025: R$283.2 (-24.4%) Adjusted EBITDA: 4Q25: R$213.5 (-1.6%) | 2025: R$975.1 (+33.8%) EARNINGS VIDEOCONFERENCE CALL (In Portuguese with simultaneous translation into English) March 12 11 am Brazil | 10 am New York | 2 pm London Register / Access the Videoconference: Click here IR Contacts Email: [email protected] Website: https://ri.fraslemobility.com/ Hemerson Fernando de Souza Phone: (+55 54) 3239.1000 SOURCE Frasle Mobility CALGARY, AB, March 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Frontera Energy Corporation (TSX: FEC) ("Frontera" or the "Company") announces it has entered into a definitive arrangement agreement with Parex Resources Inc. (TSX: PXT) ("Parex") (the "Parex Arrangement Agreement"), pursuant to which Parex will acquire Frontera's upstream Colombian exploration and production business (the "Frontera E&P Assets") for an equity consideration of up to $525 million (the "Parex Arrangement" or the "Transaction"), including $500 million payable upon closing and a $25 million contingent payment payable upon execution of the contractual amendment, or other binding agreement, extending the term of the Quifa Association Contract within 12 months, subject to customary closing adjustments. Parex will also assume all of Frontera's obligations under its $310 million 2028 Senior Unsecured Notes and $80 million Chevron prepayment facility, resulting in a firm value of approximately $750 million. All financial amounts in this news release and in the Company's financial disclosures are in United States dollars, unless otherwise stated. The Parex Arrangement followed the submission by Parex of a proposal providing for an additional $125 million in equity consideration, representing a 31% premium to the consideration contemplated under the arrangement agreement dated January 29, 2026 between Frontera, GeoPark Limited and Geopark Colombia SLU ("GeoPark") which provided for the acquisition of Frontera E&P Assets by GeoPark (the "GeoPark Arrangement Agreement"). Concurrent with entering into the Parex Arrangement Agreement, Frontera terminated the GeoPark Arrangement Agreement and paid the $25 million Purchaser Break Fee. The equity consideration of $525 million, together with the Company's cash resources on hand plus a conservative $150 million equity valuation for the Infrastructure Business (at a 4x multiple to 2025 Distributable Cash Flow), implies a stock price of CAD$13.18, which represents a premium for shareholders in excess of 112% to the 90-day VWAP of Frontera's common shares as traded in the Toronto Stock Exchange prior to the announcement of the GeoPark Arrangement Agreement. Following completion of the Transaction and subject to shareholder approval, Frontera intends to distribute to shareholders approximately $470 million (expected to be approximately CAD$9.18 per share)(1), which includes the $25 million contingent payment, representing the net cash proceeds from the Transaction after the payment of the GeoPark break fee, capital reserved for growth projects, transaction costs, fees and related expenses. (1) Based on 69,530,049 common shares outstanding as of December 31, 2025 and USD/CAD exchange rate of 1.3574. Frontera's 90-day VWAP prior to the annoucement, on January 29th, 2026 was CAD$6.20. As a result of the Transaction, Frontera will emerge as a newly focused infrastructure company, anchored by its standalone and growing portfolio of infrastructure assets (the "Infrastructure Business"), which includes the Company's 35% equity interest in the Oleoducto de los Llanos Orientales S.A. crude oil pipeline and the Company's 99.97% equity interest in Sociedad Portuaria Puerto Bahia, and certain other non-Colombian assets, including the Company's interests in Guyana. Frontera Infrastructure Business comprises a unique set of strategic assets within Colombia's energy value chain and will form the engine of Frontera's post-Transaction business, having generated Distributable Cash Flow of approximately $77 million in 2025. Frontera is expected to have approximately $50 million of cash and cash equivalents following completion of the Parex Agreement to support strategic growth initiatives within its Infrastructure Business, including the potential LNG regasification project with Ecopetrol S.A. Gabriel de Alba, Chairman of the Board of Directors, commented: "From the outset, the Board's mandate has been clear: to maximize value for Frontera's shareholders. Following a disciplined and constructive sales process, conducted with rigorous adherence to our fiduciary duties, the Board worked closely with management and engaged constructively with all parties to deliver the best possible outcome representing a $125 million increase in equity consideration for our shareholders. This outcome underscores the strength of our management team, the quality of Frontera's assets and the Board's commitment to positioning the Company for its next chapter as a focused infrastructure platform." Orlando Cabrales, Chief Executive Officer, commented: "We are pleased to partner with Parex on this important transaction, which represents a significant milestone for Colombia and a meaningful step in the consolidation of the country's E&P sector. As the largest independent operator in Colombia with a strong relationship with key Colombian stakeholders and direct knowledge of our assets though our VIM-1 partnership, Parex brings strong operational and financial capabilities and continuity for our employees, partners and communities. For Frontera, this transaction marks the beginning of our next chapter as a pure-play infrastructure company with approximately $77 million in distributable cash flows, multiple near-term growth catalysts at Puerto Bahia, including the LPG import facilities, the potential LNG regasification project, and containerized cargo expansion, and a strong path to returning capital to our shareholders." Transaction Under the Parex Arrangement Agreement, Parex would acquire the same assets that Frontera had agreed to sell to GeoPark under the GeoPark Arrangement Agreement. As previously announced, the purchase price under the Parex Arrangement Agreement consists of a total cash consideration of $525 million ("Cash Consideration"), comprising: $500 million in cash payable at closing, subject to customary closing adjustments; and an additional $25 million contingent payment payable upon execution of the contractual amendment, or other binding agreement, extending the term of the Quifa Association Contract within 12 months Under the terms of the Parex Arrangement Agreement, Parex or and affiliate thereof, will also assume all of Frontera's obligations under the $310 million aggregate principal amount of outstanding 2028 unsecured notes of the Company and the $80 million outstanding under Frontera's prepayment facility with Chevron Products Company. Except for the consideration being offered, the Parex Arrangement Agreement and structure of the Parex Arrangement are substantially the same as was provided for under the GeoPark Arrangement Agreement. After consultation with their independent financial and legal advisors, the independent members of Frontera's Board of Directors have unanimously determined (i) that the Parex Arrangement is fair to the Frontera's shareholders, (ii) that the Parex Arrangement and entry into the Parex Arrangement are in the best interests of Frontera, and (iii) to recommend that Frontera shareholders vote in favor of the Parex Arrangement. In connection with the Parex Arrangement Agreement, the Catalyst Capital Group Inc. and Gramercy Funds Management LLC, which beneficially own approximately 41% and 12% of the Company's outstanding shares, respectively, have entered into support agreements under which, subject to the terms of the agreements, they have agreed to vote in favor of the Transaction. Transaction Details Frontera and Parex have entered into the Parex Arrangement Agreement to effect the Parex Arrangement by way of a plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia). Following completion of closing, Frontera expects to distribute the net cash proceeds from the Parex Arrangement (after the payment the GeoPark break fee, capital reserved for growth projects and transaction costs, fees and related expenses) to shareholders through a return of capital. Additional details regarding the timing and mechanics of the distribution will be provided in due course. The Parex Arrangement has an effective date of January 1, 2026, is anticipated to close in the second quarter of 2026 subject to customary closing conditions including, without limitation, receipt of Frontera's shareholder approval in accordance with applicable corporate and securities laws, approval of the plan of arrangement by the British Columbia Supreme Court and receipt of required regulatory approvals. The Transaction is not subject to any financing conditions and payment of the Cash Consideration by Parex will be funded entirely through a combination of Parex's existing cash and credit facilities, and an underwritten financing commitment from Scotiabank. The Parex Arrangement requires approval by at least 66 2/3% of the votes cast by Frontera's shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at a special meeting of Frontera's shareholders to be called to consider the Parex Arrangement (the "Frontera Meeting"), details of which will be provided in the near future. The previously scheduled special meeting of shareholders called to approve the GeoPark transaction has been cancelled. Further details with respect to the Parex Arrangement and the anticipated return of capital to Frontera shareholders following the closing of the Parex Arrangement will be included in the information circular to be mailed to the Frontera shareholders in connection with the Frontera Meeting. A copy of the Parex Arrangement Agreement will be filed on Frontera's SEDAR+ profile in due course at www.sedarplus.ca. Fairness Opinion and Advisors Citi is acting as financial advisor to Frontera. BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. was retained to provide a fairness opinion to the Board of Directors of Frontera in respect of the Parex Arrangement for a fixed fee payable upon delivery of the opinion (and not contingent on completion of the Parex Arrangement). Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP and McMillan LLP are acting as legal counsel to Frontera. About Frontera: Frontera Energy Corporation is a Canadian public company involved in the exploration, development, production, transportation, storage and sale of oil and natural gas in South America, including related investments in both upstream and midstream facilities. The Company has a diversified portfolio of assets with interests in 18 exploration and production blocks in Colombia and Guyana, and pipeline and port facilities in Colombia. Frontera is committed to conducting business safely and in a socially, environmentally and ethically responsible manner. If you would like to receive News Releases via e-mail as soon as they are published, please subscribe here: http://fronteraenergy.mediaroom.com/subscribe. Social Media Follow Frontera Energy social media channels at the following links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/fronteraenergy?lang=en Facebook: https://es-la.facebook.com/FronteraEnergy/ LinkedIn: https://co.linkedin.com/company/frontera-energy-corp. Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. The use of any of the words "estimate", "will", "would", "believe", "plan", "expected", "potential", and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by such words. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. In particular, and without limiting the foregoing, this news release contains forward looking statements with respect to the Parex Arrangement, the process and timing for such transaction, the special meeting intended to be held in respect of the Parex Arrangement, a potential return of capital to the Frontera shareholders, and Frontera's Infrastructure Business after completion of the Transaction including the allocation of Transaction proceeds, funding of strategic growth projects and expected cash on hand. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things: there can be no assurance that the Parex Arrangement will be completed on the terms or within the timeframes currently contemplated; the failure to obtain all necessary court, third-party, regulatory and shareholder approvals to complete the Transaction and the risk that the Transaction may be varied, accelerated or terminated in certain circumstances; and that the currently anticipated amount and timing of the return of capital to Frontera shareholders and Frontera's plan and expectations with respect to its Infrastructure Business may be different than currently anticipated. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. Non-IFRS Financial Measures This press release contains a "non-IFRS financial measure" (equivalent to a "non-GAAP financial measure", as such term is defined in NI 52-112). Non-IFRS financial measures do not have standardized IFRS definitions. The Company's determination of this non-IFRS financial measure may differ from other reporting issuers and it is therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Furthermore, these financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance or cash flows as prepared in accordance with IFRS. Such financial measures do not replace or supersede any standardized measure under IFRS. Other companies in our industry may calculate these measures differently than we do, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures. The Company discloses such financial measures, together with measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, because management believes they provide useful information to investors and shareholders, as management uses them to evaluate the operating performance of the Company. These financial measures highlight trends in the Company's core business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on IFRS financial measures. Further, management also uses non-IFRS measures to exclude the impact of certain expenses and income that management does not believe reflect the Company's underlying operating performance. The Company's management also uses non-IFRS measures in order to facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period and to prepare annual operating budgets and as a measure of the Company's ability to finance its ongoing operations and obligations. Distributable Cash Flow is a non- IFRS financial measure used to assess the cash available to the Company from its operations and equity investments to support capital expenditures, debt service and dividends. Additional information regarding this non-IFRS financial measure is contained in the "Non-IFRS and Other Financial Measures" section of the Company's management discussion & analysis dated March 10, 2025, for the year ended December 31, 2024 (the "2024 MD&A"), which information is incorporated by reference herein. A copy of the 2024 MD&A is available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. www.fronteraenergy.ca SOURCE Frontera Energy Corporation NEW DELHI, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the latest market research study published by MarkNtel Advisors, the Global Hypersonic Weapons, Missiles, and Glide Vehicles Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of around 12.89% during 20262032. This growth is primarily driven by the rising global focus on advanced strike capabilities, increasing defense modernization programs, and the growing demand for next-generation weapons capable of penetrating sophisticated missile defense systems. Additionally, rapid technological advancements in hypersonic propulsion systems, guidance technologies, and maneuverable glide vehicles are further accelerating investments in hypersonic weapons development across major military powers. Across global regions, Asia-Pacific dominates the market, accounting for nearly 40% of the total market share in 2026. The region's strong position is supported by rising defense budgets, ongoing hypersonic weapon development programs, and strategic competition among major regional powers seeking to strengthen long-range strike capabilities and deterrence strategies. Global Hypersonic Weapons, Missiles, and Glide Vehicles Market Key Takeaways The Global Hypersonic Weapons, Missiles, and Glide Vehicles Market was valued at around USD 8.45 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow from USD 9.23 billion in 2026 to approximately USD 19.1 billion by 2032, reflecting strong market expansion supported by increasing military investments in advanced missile technologies and next-generation strategic weapon systems. By weapon type, Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs) accounted for nearly 45% of the market share in 2026. Their dominance is attributed to their high maneuverability, unpredictable flight trajectory, and ability to evade existing missile defense systems, making them one of the most strategically valuable hypersonic weapon platforms. By mission type, Nuclear & Strategic Deterrence captured approximately 47% of the market share in 2026, as nations increasingly integrate hypersonic capabilities into their strategic deterrence frameworks to strengthen long-range precision strike capabilities and maintain military superiority. The presence of leading defense contractors and aerospace technology companies continues to strengthen market competitiveness through large-scale investments in hypersonic propulsion systems, advanced missile guidance technologies, and boost-glide weapon platforms. Download a FREE PDF Sample of the Report: https://www.marknteladvisors.com/query/request-sample/hypersonic-weapons-missiles-and-glide-vehicles-market-report.html (Discover the market potential, platform-specific insights, and key industry trends) Key Drivers Accelerating the Expansion of the Hypersonic Weapons Market Rising Global Defense Modernization Initiatives Governments across major economies are substantially increasing defense expenditures to modernize their military capabilities and maintain technological superiority in emerging warfare domains. Within this evolving defense landscape, hypersonic weapons are increasingly recognized as a critical component of next-generation military strategy due to their ability to travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5 while retaining high maneuverability during flight. Consequently, countries such as the United States, China, and Russia, along with several members of North Atlantic Treaty Organization, are actively investing in the research, development, and testing of advanced hypersonic weapon systems. These programs are primarily aimed at strengthening long-range precision strike capabilities and reinforcing strategic deterrence frameworks. As a result, the increasing emphasis on defense modernization is generating significant demand for advanced hypersonic missile technologies and glide vehicles capable of delivering rapid, precise, and difficult-to-intercept strikes against high-value targets. Intensifying Strategic Competition Among Global Military Powers The global security environment is witnessing heightened geopolitical competition among leading military powers, which is further accelerating the development and deployment of hypersonic weapon systems. These advanced weapons provide a substantial operational advantage due to their extreme speed, enhanced maneuverability, and ability to evade conventional missile defense systems. In response to evolving security challenges and shifting geopolitical dynamics, several nations are prioritizing hypersonic technologies as a means of strengthening their strategic deterrence capabilities and improving rapid-response military preparedness. Furthermore, the ability of hypersonic weapons to penetrate sophisticated air and missile defense systems makes them a strategically valuable asset in modern military doctrine. Accordingly, the growing focus on maintaining technological and strategic superiority among major defense powers is expected to play a pivotal role in driving long-term expansion within the global hypersonic weapons market. Advancements in Hypersonic Propulsion and Guidance Technologies Continuous technological progress in hypersonic propulsion systems is significantly enhancing the performance and operational reliability of next-generation weapon platforms. In particular, advancements in scramjet engine technology, combined with improvements in navigation, guidance, and thermal protection systems, are enabling hypersonic missiles and glide vehicles to operate more efficiently at extremely high speeds. In parallel, defense technology companies and research institutions are actively developing advanced aerodynamic designs and high-temperature resistant materials capable of withstanding the intense thermal stress generated during hypersonic flight. These innovations are essential for maintaining flight stability, structural integrity, and target accuracy under extreme operating conditions. Collectively, these technological developments are accelerating the transition of hypersonic weapons from experimental prototypes to deployable operational systems, thereby strengthening the capabilities of modern military forces worldwide. Key Operational Challenges Constraining Market Expansion High Development Costs and Engineering Complexity Despite the growing strategic importance of hypersonic weapons, their development and deployment remain associated with significant technological complexity and substantial financial investments. Designing hypersonic systems requires highly advanced propulsion mechanisms, specialized heat-resistant materials capable of withstanding extreme aerodynamic heating, and sophisticated guidance systems to ensure stability and precision during high-velocity flight. Moreover, the development process involves extensive testing, advanced research infrastructure, and specialized manufacturing capabilities, all of which contribute to elevated program costs and prolonged development timelines. As a result, participation in hypersonic weapon development is largely limited to technologically advanced nations and major defense contractors with the necessary financial and technical resources. Addressing these technical challenges and cost barriers will therefore be essential for enabling broader development and sustained growth within the global hypersonic weapons market in the coming years. Market Analysis by Weapon Type, Mission & Region By weapon type, Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs) dominate the global market, accounting for nearly 45% of the total market share in 2026. This leadership is largely attributed to their ability to travel at hypersonic speeds while maneuvering unpredictably within the atmosphere, making them extremely difficult for existing missile defense systems to intercept. Unlike traditional ballistic missiles, HGVs follow complex flight paths that enhance survivability and strike accuracy, making them highly valuable for advanced military operations. By mission type, Nuclear & Strategic Deterrence holds the largest share of the market, capturing approximately 47% in 2026. Hypersonic weapons are increasingly integrated into strategic deterrence frameworks as they provide rapid global strike capabilities and strengthen national defense strategies. Their ability to penetrate advanced missile defense systems makes them a critical component of modern nuclear deterrence doctrines adopted by major military powers. Regionally, Asia-Pacific leads the global market with nearly 40% market share in 2026, supported by significant defense investments and active hypersonic weapon development programs. Countries across the region are expanding their military capabilities by investing in advanced missile technologies, long-range strike systems, and hypersonic platforms aimed at strengthening regional deterrence and security preparedness. View Full Report (All Data, In One Place): https://www.marknteladvisors.com/research-library/hypersonic-weapons-missiles-and-glide-vehicles-market-report.html (Explore in-depth analyses, technological trends, and investment patterns) Strategic Weapons Testing and Technology Showcases Accelerating Global Hypersonic Weapons, Missiles, and Glide Vehicles Development The global hypersonic weapons industry is witnessing rapid technological advancements and strategic demonstrations as leading military powers accelerate the development and testing of next-generation hypersonic systems. These initiatives reflect the growing emphasis on enhancing long-range strike capabilities, improving deterrence strategies, and achieving technological superiority in modern warfare. In 2025, Russia conducted a test of the Zircon hypersonic missile during the joint Zapad2025 exercises organized with Belarus. The demonstration highlighted the missile's extreme speed, advanced maneuverability, and submarine-launch capability, underscoring its potential to evade modern missile defense systems. Analysts noted that the system can travel at speeds approaching Mach 10 with an operational range of approximately 2,000 kilometers, reinforcing Russia's strategic capabilities in hypersonic maritime strike operations. Subsequently, in the same year, China showcased several advanced hypersonic anti-ship missile systems during a large-scale military parade in Beijing. Among the systems displayed were the YJ17 boost-glide weapon, the YJ19 scramjet-powered cruise missile, and the YJ20 designed for highly maneuverable, high-speed strikes against naval targets. These developments highlight China's accelerating progress in hypersonic weapons technology and reflect the broader global race to deploy advanced hypersonic strike capabilities. Collectively, these strategic demonstrations illustrate the growing pace of hypersonic weapons innovation worldwide, as major defense powers continue to invest in advanced propulsion systems, boost-glide technologies, and precision guidance capabilities to strengthen their strategic deterrence frameworks. Major Players in the Global Hypersonic Weapons, Missiles, and Glide Vehicles Market Key companies contributing to technological innovation and market competition include: Lockheed Martin Corporation, RTX Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, The Boeing Company, BAE Systems plc, MBDA Missile Systems S.A.S., Leidos Holdings, Inc., Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI), General Dynamics Corporation, JSC Tactical Missiles Corporation (KTRV), China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation Limited (CASIC), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., L3Harris Technologies, Inc Others Global Hypersonic Weapons, Missiles, and Glide Vehicles Market Scope By Weapon Type: Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs), Hypersonic Cruise Missiles (HCMs), Hypersonic Ballistic Missiles (HBMs / Maneuverable Re-entry Vehicles), Hypersonic Air-Launched Strike Weapons Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs), Hypersonic Cruise Missiles (HCMs), Hypersonic Ballistic Missiles (HBMs / Maneuverable Re-entry Vehicles), Hypersonic Air-Launched Strike Weapons By Launch Platform: Land-Based Systems, Air-Launched Systems, Sea-Launched Systems Land-Based Systems, Air-Launched Systems, Sea-Launched Systems By Range Category: Short Range (<1,000 km), Medium Range (1,0003,000 km), Intermediate Range (3,0005,500 km), Intercontinental Range (>5,500 km) Short Range (<1,000 km), Medium Range (1,0003,000 km), Intermediate Range (3,0005,500 km), Intercontinental Range (>5,500 km) By Propulsion Technology: Boost-Glide (Rocket Boost + Glide Vehicle), Scramjet / Air-Breathing Propulsion, Advanced Rocket Propulsion (for MaRV systems) Boost-Glide (Rocket Boost + Glide Vehicle), Scramjet / Air-Breathing Propulsion, Advanced Rocket Propulsion (for MaRV systems) By Warhead Type: Conventional Warheads, Nuclear-Capable Warheads, Kinetic Energy Penetrators (Hit-to-Kill) Conventional Warheads, Nuclear-Capable Warheads, Kinetic Energy Penetrators (Hit-to-Kill) By Mission Type: (Nuclear & Strategic Deterrence, Precision Long-Range Strike, Anti-Ship / Maritime Strike, Anti-Access / Area Denial (A2/AD) (Nuclear & Strategic Deterrence, Precision Long-Range Strike, Anti-Ship / Maritime Strike, Anti-Access / Area Denial (A2/AD) By End User: Army / Land Forces, Air Force, Navy, Strategic Command & Joint Forces Army / Land Forces, Air Force, Navy, Strategic Command & Joint Forces By Region: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific Browse More Reports on Defense US Weapon Telemetry & Usage Analytics Market: The US Weapon Telemetry & Usage Analytics Market size was valued at around USD 0.56 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 2.1 billion by 2032. Along with this, the market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of around 19.98% during the forecast period, i.e., 2026-32. Global Ballistic Missiles Market: The Global Ballistic Missiles Market size was valued at around USD 5.2 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 7.3 billion by 2030. Along with this, the market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of around 5.8% during the forecast period, i.e., 2025-30. Global Cruise Missiles Market: The Global Cruise Missiles Market size was valued at around USD 2.3 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 3.4 billion by 2030. Along with this, the market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of around 7% during the forecast period, i.e., 2025-30. Global Space-Based Missile Warning and Defense System Market: The Global Space-Based Missile Warning and Defense System Market size was valued at around USD 45 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 66 billion by 2030. Along with this, the market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of around 7% during the forecast period, i.e., 2025-30. Global Hypersonic Technology Market: The Global Hypersonic Technology Market size is valued at around USD 7.98 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 18.99 billion by 2032. Along with this, the market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of around 13.18% during the forecast period, i.e., 2026-32. About MarkNtel Advisors MarkNtel Advisors is a leading market research and consulting firm dedicated to delivering reliable, data-driven insights across a wide range of global industries. Our research methodology integrates extensive primary interactions with industry experts and rigorously validated secondary data sources to ensure accurate and credible market intelligence. Backed by strong sector expertise and a team of experienced analysts, we provide businesses and investors with strategic insights that enable informed decision-making and support sustainable growth in rapidly evolving market landscapes. Contact Us: MarkNtel Advisors Office No.109, H-159, Sector 63, Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201301, India Contact No: +91 87199 99009 Email: [email protected] Website: marknteladvisors.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2687299/MarkNtel_Advisors_Logo.jpg SOURCE MarkNtel Advisors Reports Record Net Sales of $12.9 Billion Net Income Increases to $431.4 Million ST. LOUIS, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Graybar, a leading distributor of electrical, industrial, automation and connectivity products and provider of related supply chain management and logistics services, today announced its 2025 financial results. For the year, Graybar achieved record net sales of $12.9 billion, an increase of 10.6% compared to 2024. Graybar also reported $431.4 million in net income, a 2.0% increase over the prior year. "I am very proud of our strong performance in 2025, which marked Graybar's 100th year as an independent company," said Kathleen M. Mazzarella, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Graybar. "Achieving record net sales in the same year we completed an ERP system upgrade is a testament to our employees and their unwavering commitment to providing an exceptional customer experience. As we look to the future, our Graybar Connect business transformation program, which includes strategic investments in technology and AI, positions us to deliver even greater value to customers and carry Graybar's legacy of leadership and growth into our next century." Graybar focused on several key initiatives throughout the year to drive profitable growth, support the company's ongoing transformation and invest in the next generation of leaders. Select 2025 highlights include: Aligned Graybar's growth strategy with key opportunities, including data centers, industrial automation, connectivity and electrification. including data centers, industrial automation, connectivity and electrification. Opened three STAR distribution centers to bring critical materials closer to job sites for large, complex construction projects . The company plans to open additional STAR Centers in 2026. to bring critical materials closer to job sites for large, complex construction projects The company plans to open additional STAR Centers in 2026. Implemented SAP S/4HANA as the company's ERP system. A core component of the Graybar Connect business transformation program, this platform provides a strong technology foundation for additional strategic initiatives designed to enhance the company's capabilities and support growth. A core component of the Graybar Connect business transformation program, this platform provides a strong technology foundation for additional strategic initiatives designed to enhance the company's capabilities and support growth. Provided shareholders with record cash dividends for the second consecutive year, representing a 35% return on investment. Over the past five years, Graybar shareholders have received a 34% return on investment in the form of cash and stock dividends. Over the past five years, Graybar shareholders have received a 34% return on investment in the form of cash and stock dividends. Announced key leadership appointments , including the election of Brian P. Delaney, Andrew C. Ipson and Danna B. Stone to the company's board of directors. The company also made several organizational changes at national and regional levels to support customer needs and strategic initiatives. , The company also made several organizational changes at national and regional levels to support customer needs and strategic initiatives. Acquired two companies that add capabilities and broaden Graybar's reach. This includes Orbit Motion Systems in January (through subsidiary Advantage Industrial Automation) and Burns Controls in July (through subsidiary Valin Corporation). About Graybar Graybar, a Fortune 500 corporation and one of the largest employee-owned companies in North America, is a leader in the distribution of high quality electrical, industrial, automation and connectivity products, and specializes in related supply chain management and logistics services. Through its network of 355 North American distribution facilities, it stocks and sells products from thousands of manufacturers, helping its customers power, network, automate and secure their facilities with speed, intelligence and efficiency. For more information, visit www.graybar.com or call 1-800-GRAYBAR. Media Contact: Tim Sommer (314) 578-7672 [email protected] SOURCE Graybar MIAMI, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, P.A. continues the strategic expansion of its Corporate Practice with the addition of William R. "Bill" Halaby III as a shareholder in the firm's Miami office. Halaby, who joins from Morrison Foerster, represents private equity sponsors, other private companies, and public companies in a wide range of transactional matters, including leveraged buyouts, carveout transactions, spinoffs, joint ventures, growth equity investments, business combinations, and securities offerings. He advises on domestic and cross-border transactions across the leisure, life sciences, industrial, financial services, energy, technology, and consumer goods and services industries, representing both buyers and sellers. "Bill brings the type of highcaliber transactional experience that continues to elevate our growing Corporate Practice," said Daniella G. Silberstein, co-chair of the firm's Global Corporate Practice. "His ability to navigate sophisticated transactions for both private equity sponsors and strategic acquirers aligns seamlessly with our multidisciplinary practice and reputation for helping clients achieve their business objectives. We are pleased to welcome him to the team." Halaby's previous experience includes representing the founders of a consumer packaged goods business in their approximately $1 billion sale to a private equity firm and a Fortune 500 company in its $21 billion strategic acquisition of another Fortune 500 company's biopharma business. He also advised a private equity firm on the $700 million sale of its industrialsector portfolio company to a strategic acquirer and led the concurrent purchase and combination of three technologysector software businesses for a private equity sponsor. "Florida is home to me, so joining Greenberg Traurig was a natural step," Halaby said. "With its deep roots and strong presence in the state, along with its excellent reputation among private equity sponsors, Greenberg Traurig offers the ideal platform to grow my practice and deliver the sophisticated, clientfirst service expected in complex transactions." Halaby grew up in the Tampa area and earned his Bachelor of Science in finance from the University of South Florida. He began his legal studies at the University of Florida Levin College of Law before transferring to and completing his J.D. at the University of Chicago Law School. His connection to the region also drives his dedication to giving back to the community. Halaby currently sits on the statewide board of directors for Take Stock in Children of Florida, a nonprofit program offering mentoring, college readiness support, and college scholarships to low-income, underrepresented students a program in which he also participated as a student. About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP has approximately 3,000 lawyers across 51 locations in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia. The firm's broad geographic and practice range enables the delivery of innovative and strategic legal services across borders and industries. Recognized as a 2025 BTI "Best of the Best Recommended Law Firm" by general counsel for trust and relationship management, Greenberg Traurig is consistently ranked among the top firms on the Am Law Global 100, NLJ 500, and Law360 400. Greenberg Traurig is also known for its philanthropic giving, culture, innovation, and pro bono work. Web: www.gtlaw.com. SOURCE Greenberg Traurig, LLP China's green transformation: a global asset 09:45, March 11, 2026 By He Yin ( People's Daily Tourists visit a scenic area in Fuzhou, east China's Jiangxi province, March 8, 2026. (Photo/Guo Hao) As China enters the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), the world keenly observes how the nation will advance its green transformation and the subsequent impact on global sustainability. During this year's "two sessions," the annual meetings of China's top legislature, the National People's Congress (NPC), and top political advisory body, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), international attention focused on China's new blueprint for accelerating the comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development. This renewed focus underscores China's steadfast commitment to achieving harmony between humanity and nature. Reviewing China's environmental progress reveals a significant record of achievement for a nation of over 1.4 billion people. In 2025, China's carbon dioxide emissions per 10,000 yuan (about $1,450) of GDP fell by 5.0 percent. The proportion of days with good or excellent air quality in cities at or above prefectural level reached 89.3 percent, the best on record. Green electricity accounted for nearly 40 percent of the country's total power consumption, and China has built the world's largest and fastest-growing renewable energy system. Since 2012, China has carried out afforestation covering more than 1.1 billion mu (733,333 square kilometers), contributing about 25 percent of the world's newly added green areas and becoming the country that has expanded greenery the most and the fastest. Amidst international concerns about regressive climate policies in some major nations, China's actions provide increasing momentum and hope for the global green transition. These substantial "green achievements" stem from strategic foresight and sustained commitment. The 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020) established the core principles of innovative, coordinated, green, open, and shared development. The subsequent 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) laid out specific requirements for achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals. The recommendations for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan list making major new strides in advancing the "Beautiful China" initiative as one of the major objectives, and include a dedicated section on "Accelerating the Green Transition across the Board and Building a Beautiful China." The draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan sets five indicators related to carbon reduction, pollution control, and ecological and environmental protection, along with 18 major projects focused on carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, environmental quality improvement, and ecological protection and restoration. The continuity of planning ensures consistency in both policy and action. As the 15th Five-Year Plan period begins, China is accelerating its comprehensive green transition, making the green foundation of high-quality development ever more pronounced. Flocks of ruddy shelducks fly northward from a national nature reserve in Zhangye, northwest China's Gansu province, March 5, 2026. (Photo/Yang Yongwei) Balancing environmental protection with development remains a global challenge. Sustainable transformation requires tangible benefits for people. Guided by the principle that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets," China approaches green development with a long-term, holistic, and comprehensive perspective, recognizing that a sound ecological environment is the most inclusive public good for people's well-being. In Yucun village in east China's Zhejiang province, the closure of mines has given rise to a thriving eco-tourism industry. In the Changjiang village of Fengdu, southwest China's Chongqing municipality, the shift away from fishing following fishing bans has paved the way for the development of featured agriculture. In Jiangyin, east China's Jiangsu province, industrial transformation has moved from pollution-intensive to green-oriented development. In Guizhou province in southwest China, the once incidental product of rocky desertification control -- Rosa roxburghii fruit, or Chinese prickly pear -- has been upgraded into a "golden fruit" that boosts incomes and prosperity. These carefully considered choices in green transformation allow people to share in the dividends of development under blue skies and clear waters. By pursuing eco-friendly policies that benefit, enrich, and serve the people, China has turned the fruits of green development into tangible improvements in people's well-being, offering valuable inspiration to other countries. An article in the European journal Modern Diplomacy noted that China's high-quality development model provides other Global South countries with a demonstrative pathway for integrating environmental sustainability with economic growth. China's environmental record also reflects its leadership and responsibility in global green development. China continues to provide high-quality, efficient green and low-carbon products to countries around the world, especially developing nations. Its wind power equipment, photovoltaic products, and new energy vehicles are exported to more than 200 countries and regions. China supplies about 70 percent of the world's wind power equipment and 80 percent of photovoltaic components, helping drive down the global cost of wind and solar power generation by more than 60 percent and 80 percent respectively. At this critical moment in the global green transition, China has actively participated in global governance in related fields, achieved notable achievements in implementing its 2030 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), announced new NDCs, and carried out green energy cooperation projects with more than 100 countries and regions. Inger Andersen, executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme, noted that China's development of renewable energy has made outstanding contributions to global climate action, and that the achievements made possible by China's combination of long-term planning, industrial capacity, and policy coordination will change the trajectory of global development. A new picture of China's green development is unfolding. As the 15th Five-Year Plan period begins, China will continue unswervingly to pursue green development that prioritizes eco-environmental conservation and protection, work with all countries to preserve what gives our planet life, jointly address global climate challenges, protect the green Earth, and secure a cleaner and more beautiful world. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) ROME, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Haier Biomedical recently convened its European Partner Summit in Rome under the theme "Advancing Together - Sharing the Future of Biomedical Innovation," which brought together 37 regional partners and industry leaders from 23 European countries to outline its long-term commitment to Europe and unveil a broadened laboratory solutions portfolio, marking a strategic upgrade of its brand portfolio. New strategy shifts toward scenario-based, application-driven solutions, while sharing its long-term plan to deepen localization in Europe and deliver more comprehensive, tailored services and support across the region. Haier Biomedical, Intelligent Protection Of Life Science Speed Speed Haier Biomedical Hosts European Partner Summit in Rome and Advances In Europe, for Europe Strategy At the summit, Enrique Wang, Global Market Director of Haier Biomedical, reaffirmed the Company's global vision to achieve over 50% of global revenue from international markets by 2027 and over 50% revenue contribution beyond refrigeration by 2028. He emphasized that Europe remains a strategic priority within the company's globalization roadmap, which underscores the "In Europe, for Europe" localization principle of delivering products, services, and support tailored for regional regulatory standards, customer expectations, and application needs. Outlining the 2026 European strategy, Semir Selimovic, director of North, Central & Eastern Europe of Haier Biomedical Europe, highlighted continued investment in local sales, service, and product expertise to strengthen responsiveness and execution across key markets. Europe has become one of Haier Biomedical's fastest-growing international regions, and this is supported by expanding local teams and a steadily broadening product portfolio. Expanding from freezers to full solutions Among the newly introduced products, the Plasma Apheresis System XJ-III drew particular attention. The system has obtained EU MDR certification, which marks a significant milestone in meeting Europe's stringent regulatory requirements and strengthens Haier Biomedical's position in blood and plasma technology. Across Europe, Haier Biomedical's CO incubators, centrifuges, biosafety cabinets, and cold storage lines continue to gain market share, supported by energy-efficient technologies and compliance with regional certification standards. The product evolution presented in Rome demonstrates a move toward unlocking a full portfolio capable of supporting laboratories, hospitals, and life science institutions with end-to-end solutions. Automation and intelligent blood management as growth engines Daniele Pericolini, European Automation Solution Specialist of Haier Biomedical, outlined the Company's strategy to drive future growth through laboratory automation and intelligent blood management systems. Haier Biomedical's automated biobank solutions integrate RFID-enabled ultra-low temperature storage, modular automation platforms, and liquid nitrogen systems to enhance sample traceability and operational efficiency. By addressing challenges such as sample integrity, temperature tracking, and high-density storage, the Company has positioned itself within Europe's growing demand for advanced biobanking infrastructure. Additionally, the U-Blood intelligent blood management system represents a shift from traditional cold storage to real-time connected blood supply chain management. Designed to reduce wastage, improve traceability, and support round-the-clock transfusion workflows, the solution aligns with Europe's increasing focus on safety, digitization, and zero-waste healthcare initiatives. European customer recognition and brand alignment The summit also featured success stories from four European partners representing Germany, Slovenia, France, and Denmark, which highlighted strong local validation of Haier Biomedical's solutions. In France, long-term partner showcased the jointly developed biosafety cabinet adapted to French standards, with over 230 units deployed across over 100 customers. In Denmark, Haier Biomedical partner shared its ultra-low temperature freezer success through public tenders and ongoing expansion into additional product categories. In Slovenia, large-scale pharmaceutical installations reinforced the Company's capabilities in managing complex, multi-unit projects. Partners from Central Europe also emphasized reliability, regulatory compliance, and after-sales support as key differentiators. Strong international growth performance in 2025 Haier Biomedical's expanding European footprint is supported by a solid financial performance. In 2025, the Company reported revenue exceeding RMB 2.3 billion, with international revenue reaching RMB 840 million, which accounts for over 36% of total revenue and reflects continued global expansion. Europe recorded double-digit growth, which contributed to a large portion of overall international revenue growth. The Company's AI-driven and automation-related solutions contributed approximately 15% of total revenue in 2025, which signalled accelerating technology-driven transformation. These results reflect a broader shift from hardware exports toward localized solution delivery supported by regional teams and certifications across over 18 countries. As the European Partner Summit concluded, Haier Biomedical reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening localized operations, expanding automation and life science solutions, and advancing collaborative growth with partners. Through a combination of global innovation capabilities and local execution in Europe, the Company aims to further consolidate its position as a trusted life science solutions provider in 2026 and beyond. For more information, please visit https://www.haiermedical.com/. SOURCE Haier Biomedical VANCOUVER, BC, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. (the "Company") - (TSX: ITH) (NYSE American: THM) today announced that it has filed its audited Year-End Financial Statements and associated Management Discussion and Analysis on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025. Shareholders can obtain copies of the Company's audited Year-End Financial Statements and associated Management Discussion and Analysis and Form 10-K on SEDAR+ at: www.sedarplus.ca, EDGAR at www.sec.gov and on the Company's website at: www.ithmines.com. The Company will also provide hard copies of these documents, free of charge, to shareholders who request a copy directly from the Company. About International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. has a 100% interest in its Livengood Gold Project located along the paved Elliott Highway, 70 miles north of Fairbanks, Alaska. On behalf of International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. (signed) Karl L. Hanneman Chief Executive Officer This news release is not, and is not to be construed in any way as, an offer to buy or sell securities in the United States. SOURCE International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. ST. PAUL, Minn., March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- iotaMotion, Inc., the leader in robotic-assisted insertion systems for cochlear implantation and creator of iotaSOFT, the first and only FDA cleared robotic-assisted cochlear implant insertion system, today announced the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 12,558,123, further strengthening its intellectual property portfolio in robotic-assisted cochlear implantation. As iotaSOFT adoption expands, protecting the technologies behind controlled electrode insertion sustains leadership. Post this The iotaSOFT Robotic-Assisted Cochlear Implant Insertion System enables slow, consistent and controlled electrode insertion to preserve delicate intracochlear structures. FDA cleared for patients four years and older, the system addresses a major unmet need, as fewer than 5% of the 60 million people worldwide who could benefit from cochlear implants receive them. "This new patent augments our strong intellectual property portfolio, which broadly covers systems and methods related to robotic positioning and control in cochlear implant surgery," said Mike Lobinsky, CEO of iotaMotion. "As iotaSOFT becomes increasingly integrated across leading cochlear implant centers, protecting the technologies that standardize and control electrode insertion is central to sustaining our leadership in the field." The iotaSOFT Insertion System advances surgery beyond the limits of the human hand with consistent and controlled electrode insertion that preserves delicate intracochlear structures. The system is FDA cleared for patients four years of age and older and is commercially available in the United States. According to the World Health Organization, more than 430 million people globally experience disabling hearing loss, including over 60 million individuals who may benefit from cochlear implantation, yet fewer than 5% of eligible patients worldwide receive an implant. As robotic-assisted technology continues to gain clinical adoption, intellectual property strength plays a critical role in enabling sustained innovation and long-term advancement within the field. About iotaMotion iotaMotion, Inc. is a medical technology company based in St. Paul, Minnesota, focused on advancing cochlear implant surgery beyond human capability through robotic-assisted innovation. Its flagship technology, the iotaSOFT Insertion System, is designed to preserve delicate intracochlear structures through a slow and consistent electrode array insertion. The system is FDA cleared for patients four years of age and older and is commercially available in the United States, with clinical investigation underway in other global markets. For more information, visit www.iotamotion.com and follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, YouTube. Media Contact: Holly Windler [email protected] 619.929.1275 SOURCE iotaMotion, Inc. The proposed deep learning model can accurately predict drug-drug interactions for even new, unseen drugs, representing a new paradigm JEONBUK-DO, South Korea, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Managing complex medical conditions often requires the simultaneous use of multiple different drugs, referred to as polypharmacy. While necessary, this significantly increases the risk of drugdrug interactions (DDIs), which can either enhance or decrease therapeutic effects or trigger adverse drug reactions (ADRs), potentially leading to longer hospital stays or even life-threatening outcomes. DDINet utilizes a streamlined deep learning architecture, while being lightweight and scalable. It demonstrates excellent performance in predicting interaction of new, unseen drugs. In recent years, researchers have increasingly turned to deep learning models to predict DDIs. Although these models often outperform traditional methods, they are usually tested under idealized conditions, in which training and test data are randomly split, failing to reflect real-world clinical settings. As a result, many existing models suffer sharp drops in performance when evaluated on truly unseen drugs. Some also require substantial computational resources, limiting real-world usability. To overcome these limitations, a research team led by Associate Professor Hilal Tayara from the School of International Engineering and Science at Jeonbuk National University (JBNU), South Korea, has developed DDINet, a lightweight and scalable model, specifically designed to predict interactions for new, unseen drugs. "DDINet can simultaneously predict whether an interaction will occur and identify its biological effect, while needing significantly less computational power than complex graph-based models," explains Dr. Tayara. Their study was made available online on November 29, 2025, and published in Volume 333 of Knowledge-Based Systems on January 30, 2026. DDINet utilizes a streamlined architecture with five fully connected layers and uses molecular fingerprints of drugs as input. This approach avoids overfitting to training data a common reason why many models struggle to generalize to unseen drugs. Importantly, it is designed to handle binary classification tasks, which involve predicating the likelihood of whether a given drug pair will interact, and multi-classification tasks, where the goal is to predict the biological effect or mechanisms of a known DDI. The researchers trained and evaluated DDINet using a large-scale dataset constructed from DrugBank. They also tested five different molecular fingerprinting techniques. To achieve enhanced generalization, the researchers adopted a strict data-splitting protocol during evaluation. Specifically, they created three scenarios for model evaluation. In scenario one (S1), drug pairs were randomly split into training and test datasets. Further, they utilized a DDI-based splitting where 10% of all DDI pairs formed an independent test set, and the remaining were used for training. Scenario two included DDIs where one drug was known and another unseen, while scenario three comprised DDIs where both drugs were unseen, representing realistic clinical settings. To categorize drugs as unseen and seen, the team applied a strict drug-based splitting protocol based on DrugBank annotations. Morgan fingerprints were identified as the best performing and were used for the final implementation. Across all evaluation scenarios, DDINet performed as well as or better than existing models, particularly in the most difficult S3. It demonstrated stable performance across a range of metrics in both binary and multi-classification tasks. "DDINet's compact and efficient architecture enables large-scale deployment in hospitals, drug discovery pipelines, and pharmacovigilance systems," concludes Dr. Tayara. "Ultimately, this technology can help accelerate drug development, while improving the safety of patients who rely on multiple medications." Reference Title of original paper: DDINet: A multi-task neural network for accurate drug-drug interaction prediction and eect analysis Journal: Knowledge-Based Systems DOI: 10.1016/j.knosys.2025.114981 About Jeonbuk National University Website: https://www.jbnu.ac.kr/en/index.do Contact: Yoonbeom Kim 82 63 270 4638 [email protected] SOURCE Jeonbuk National University Feigelson will succeed Blain Heckaman in June 2026 MIAMI, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Kaufman Rossin, the largest independent CPA and advisory firm in Florida and one of the top 50 firms in the U.S., announced today that Marc Feigelson, CPA, the firm's current Chief Financial Officer, has been elected as Kaufman Rossin's next Chief Executive Officer. Feigelson will assume the role on June 1, 2026, following the retirement of current CEO Blain Heckaman, CPA. This planned leadership transition highlights Kaufman Rossin's thoughtful approach to maintaining independence and supporting long-term success for clients and employees alike. Heckaman joined Kaufman Rossin in 1984 and has led the firm since June 2012, succeeding founder Jim Kaufman. Under Heckaman's leadership, Kaufman Rossin expanded its geographic reach and enhanced its advisory services, adding business consulting, risk advisory, forensic advisory, and specialty tax practices. He has fostered a culture rooted in strong values and stewardship, leading the firm to win repeat honors as a "Best Place to Work." During his tenure, the firm has also received multiple recognitions for outstanding client service, including the 2025 "Best of Accounting" award. "Leading this firm has been one of the greatest privileges of my career," said Heckaman. "I have tremendous confidence in Marc and in the strength of our team. Kaufman Rossin's long-term focus remains clear: to serve our clients, invest in our people, and grow on our own terms." Feigelson brings extensive financial leadership and strategic perspective to the CEO role. He has served as CFO since 2022 and has been instrumental in driving operational excellence and sustainable growth. His election as the firm's next leader reinforces Kaufman Rossin's deliberate choice to remain independent in an industry landscape where many firms are accepting private equity investment or merging into larger national platforms. "Independence isn't just structural, it's strategic," said Feigelson, who has been with Kaufman Rossin for nearly three decades. "It allows us to stay accountable to our clients and our people, not outside investors. This leadership transition strengthens our ability to invest in the long-term, powering talent and technology, and making decisions that serve both today and well into the future." Kaufman Rossin's independence enables the firm to build lasting relationships, adapt to evolving client needs, and maintain stability through thoughtful leadership succession. This CEO transition represents continuity of proven leadership and the beginning of an exciting new chapter of growth. About Kaufman Rossin Kaufman Rossin is one of the nation's top 100 accounting and advisory firms and the largest independent CPA firm headquartered in Florida. Since 1962, the firm has provided audit, tax, advisory, and consulting services that help organizations and individuals achieve success. Kaufman Rossin serves clients across industries, combining deep expertise with a people-first approach to deliver lasting value. Learn more at www.kaufmanrossin.com. Media Contact: Joshua Morris, [email protected] SOURCE Kaufman Rossin Global Leader in Safety-Critical Ground Support Products NEW YORK, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- KPS Capital Partners, LP ("KPS") announced today that, through a newly formed affiliate, it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire a controlling interest in Jennmar and its affiliates ("Jennmar" or the "Company"). Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Completion of the transaction is expected in the second quarter of 2026 and is subject to customary closing conditions and approvals. Founded in 1922, Jennmar is a leading global provider of safety-critical products and essential services to the mining, civil infrastructure, solar and construction industries. Jennmar serves as an integral and trusted partner to its customers around the world and enables them to run their operations safely and efficiently. The Company is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has approximately 4,000 employees and operates 59 manufacturing facilities across the globe. Kyle Mumford, Partner of KPS, said, "Jennmar is a global market leader in ground support products with a proven track record of delivering best-in-class customer service and product quality. We look forward to supporting the Jennmar leadership team with KPS' decades of global manufacturing experience as well as our strategic support and capital to continue Jennmar's tremendous growth both organically and through acquisition. We are also pleased that existing owners, Tony Calandra and FalconPoint Partners, will continue as meaningful minority shareholders, affirming our shared view of the future growth and value creation potential of Jennmar." Tony Calandra, Chief Executive Officer of Jennmar, said, "I am exceptionally proud of the accomplishments of the Jennmar team each year we consistently broaden our product offering, increase our service capabilities, and expand the geographies in which we can fully support our customers all while continuing our best-in-class quality and delivery. Jennmar is committed to continuing this trajectory and we identified KPS as the right partner to support and accelerate our growth. Jennmar will benefit considerably from KPS' manufacturing expertise and capital resources as we continue to invest heavily in innovating to meet our customers' needs and expanding our addressable markets." Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton and Garrison LLP served as legal counsel and Jefferies served as financial advisor to KPS and its affiliates. Lowenstein Sandler LLP served as legal counsel and Evercore and Rothschild & Co. served as financial advisors to Jennmar and FalconPoint. About Jennmar Jennmar is a leading global provider of infrastructure products and specialized services to the civil infrastructure, solar, mining, and construction industries. For over 100 years, Jennmar's focus has been on manufacturing products and providing solutions that help keep workers safe and productive. For more information, please visit www.jennmar.com. About FalconPoint Partners FalconPoint is a private equity firm that invests in North American mid-market companies in the business services and industrial sectors. The firm leverages a network of relationships and a partnership-oriented approach to identify and execute on transformative growth opportunities at companies that provide mission-critical products and services. For more information, please visit www.falconpointpartners.com. About KPS Capital Partners, LP KPS, through its affiliated management entities, is the manager of the KPS Special Situations Funds, a family of investment funds with approximately $19.5 billion of assets under management (as of September 30, 2025). For over three decades, the Partners of KPS have worked exclusively to realize significant capital appreciation by making controlling equity investments in manufacturing and industrial companies across a diverse array of industries, including basic materials, branded consumer, healthcare and luxury products, automotive parts, capital equipment and general manufacturing. KPS creates value for its investors by working constructively with talented management teams to make businesses better, and generates investment returns by structurally improving the strategic position, competitiveness and profitability of its portfolio companies, rather than primarily relying on financial leverage. The KPS Funds' portfolio companies currently generate aggregate annual revenues of approximately $21.2 billion, operate 202 manufacturing facilities in 21 countries, and have approximately 55,000 employees, directly and through joint ventures worldwide (as of September 30, 2025). The KPS investment strategy and portfolio companies are described in detail at www.kpsfund.com. SOURCE KPS Capital Partners, LP WUXI, China, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- LabConnect, a leading provider of technology-driven central laboratory services and functional service provider solutions for clinical trials, today announced the grand opening of its new facility in Wuxi, China. As clinical trials become increasingly global and complex, sponsors are seeking laboratory partners that can provide integrated testing, logistics and data oversight across regions. Together with LabConnect's laboratory capabilities in Australia, the new site strengthens the company's ability to support multi-regional clinical trials while helping Asia-Pacific pharmaceutical, biotechnology and clinical research organizations expand their research programs globally. Fully integrated into LabConnect's global infrastructure, the Wuxi facility enables study teams to operate across regions with unified data, consistent operational oversight and advanced sample logistics and handling procedures. Enabling study teams to operate with unified data, consistent operational oversight, and advanced sample logistics. Post this The facility was developed in collaboration with Teddy Laboratory, now part of Frontage Laboratories, combining Teddy Laboratory's local laboratory expertise with LabConnect's global central laboratory services, logistics capabilities, and technology-driven decentralized network model. "This facility reflects LabConnect's continued investment in building the global services needed to support clinical trials today and the next generation of clinical research," said Wes Wheeler, Chief Executive Officer of LabConnect. "We are proud to offer China-based capabilities and a global service network that supports both multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies entering China and Chinese companies expanding into international markets." The Wuxi facility will support a range of clinical trial services, including custom kit building, advanced sample tracking and logistics, and biorepository services, all designed to meet international regulatory standards. The grand opening event, held today at the facility in the Xinwu District of Wuxi, included a ceremonial ribbon cutting, guided laboratory tours and presentations highlighting LabConnect's technology-driven approach to central laboratory services. Representatives from LabConnect, Teddy Laboratory, government officials, and members of the regional clinical research community attended the event. With the addition of the Wuxi site, LabConnect now operates eight global locations, enabling sponsors and CROs to rely on a single partner for central laboratory services across studies of any size or geographic complexity. About LabConnect LabConnect is a global provider of technology-driven central laboratory services and functional service provider solutions for pharmaceutical, biotechnology and contract research organizations. The company connects laboratories, logistics, technology and scientific expertise through a decentralized laboratory network model to deliver integrated solutions for clinical trials worldwide. Learn more at www.labconnect.com. SOURCE LabConnect Top-Rated Criminal Defense Firm Adds Personal Injury Practice and Opens Lansing, Michigan Office LANSING, Mich., March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Monument Legal, a premier criminal defense firm based in Washington, DC, is expanding into personal injury law and opening a new office in Lansing, Michigan. The firm is now offering both criminal defense and personal injury representation to Michigan clients, bringing the same aggressive, trial-ready approach that has earned Monument Legal its reputation in the nation's capital. For Lansing-area residents who have been injured due to someone else's negligence, Monument Legal is ready to fight for the compensation they deserve. The firm handles a wide range of personal injury cases including car, truck, and motorcycle accidents, slip and falls, dog bite injuries, medical malpractice, wrongful death claims, and more. Heading up the Lansing office is Steven J. Ogilvie, Partner, a Michigan native with over 17 years of litigation experience and more than 100 jury trials under his belt. Steve is admitted to the Michigan Bar and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan. His practice encompasses serious criminal charges including first-degree murder, conspiracy, and violent felony offenses, as well as white-collar defense, constitutional litigation, and complex civil matters. The firm was founded by Washington, DC trial attorneys Christopher J. Mutimer and Jay P. Mykytiuk, both recognized among the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers Association. With four experienced civil attorneys added as Of Counsel, Monument Legal is well-positioned to handle the full scope of personal injury claims across Michigan. "Our expansion into personal injury law and new geographic markets reflects our commitment to meeting our clients where they are," said Christopher J. Mutimer, co-founder of Monument Legal. "Whether someone is facing criminal charges or recovering from a serious injury, we bring the same aggressive advocacy and client-first approach that has defined Monument Legal from day one." About Monument Legal Monument Legal is a trial-focused law firm specializing in criminal defense and personal injury representation. Founded in 2024 by Christopher J. Mutimer and Jay P. Mykytiuk, the firm serves clients in Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and Lansing, Michigan. SOURCE Monument Legal STOCKHOLM, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Munters Group AB (publ) ("Munters") announces a planned CEO succession. Klas Forsstrom, President and CEO, will step down from his position in connection with the publication of Munters interim report for the third quarter of 2026. The Board of Directors has appointed Stefan Aspman as the new President and CEO to succeed Klas Forsstrom. Stefan Aspman currently serves as President of the business area Data Center Technologies (DCT) and is a member of the executive management team. "On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Klas Forsstrom for his outstanding leadership and significant contributions to Munters development. Klas's leadership has been defined by strong business values and care for the people of our organization. Over the past seven years, he has led a transformation of the company, establishing a clear organization structure, secured strong talent and succession capabilities, and created an innovation engine. During this time, Munters has more than doubled in size, with net sales growing from approximately SEK 7 billion to over SEK 15 billion," says Magnus Nicolin, Chairman of the Board of Directors. "We are very pleased to appoint Stefan Aspman as the new President and CEO. Stefan brings the ideal combination of financial acumen and operational expertise and has been a key contributor to the strategies that have transformed Munters. More recently, he led the business area DCT, which has been the primary growth engine in recent years. His leadership has been exceptional in navigating the opportunities and challenges of AI-driven data center demand. With his proven track record in leading this strategically important and rapidly growing business area, the Board is confident that Stefan is the right person to lead Munters into its next phase of growth," Magnus Nicolin continues. Stefan Aspman is in his sixth year at Munters and has been a member of the executive management team since joining the company in 2021. He has served as President of DCT and Group Vice President since mid-2022. From 2021 to early 2023, he also held the role of Group Vice President Commercial Excellence, with responsibility for commercial development, group strategic marketing, communications, and brand, and played a key role in strengthening Munters commercial operating models and establishing the company's new business area. "I am grateful for the trust the Board has placed in me. Munters is a company with a more than 70-year legacy and a strong position in markets where demand for climate control solutions continues to grow. Over the past five years, I have been fortunate to be part of Munters development, as the company has scaled and strengthened into a more well-rounded organization with broader exposure to high-potential segments and markets. I look forward to continuing that journey together with my colleagues, sharpening our focus and evolving how we operate in fast-moving industries," says Stefan Aspman. "After seven years as CEO, it is now the right time for this transition. I am proud of what we have achieved together and am confident that we are poised for even stronger results going forward. I am excited about the appointment of Stefan to succeed me and I look forward to supporting the transition during my remaining time with Munters," says Klas Forsstrom. Following the publication of Munters interim report for the third quarter of 2026, Klas Forsstrom will remain with Munters in an advisory capacity until 31 December 2026, ensuring continuity during the transition. Munters will commence the recruitment process for a new President of DCT. Biography of Stefan Aspman: Before joining Munters, Stefan Aspman spent eleven years at Sandvik in senior strategic leadership roles across finance, commercial and technical functions, including Business Control, Strategy and Product Development Processes. He led the Offer Project Office at Sandvik Coromant within PM and R&D, as well as served as Global Head of Commercial Pricing & Profitability Management for the business area Sandvik Machining Solutions. He also brings experience as a business strategy consultant through his own ventures, as well as extensive international leadership experience. Stefan Aspman holds a Master of Science in Business and Economics with a Major in Business Administration and Management from Dalarna University, studies at Uppsala University, and Beijing Jiaotong University, China. For more information: Investors and analysts Line Dovarn, Head of Investor Relations E-mail: [email protected], Phone: +46 (0)730 488 444 Media Daniel Frykholm, VP External Relations & Internal Communications E-mail: [email protected] , Phone: +46 (0)702 067 786 This information is information that Munters Group AB is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact persons set out above, at 20.55 CET March 11, 2026. This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/munters-group-ab/r/munters-announces-planned-succession---stefan-aspman-appointed-to-succeed-klas-forsstrom-as-presiden,c4319931 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/15490/4319931/3979006.pdf Munters Press Release 2026-03-11 https://news.cision.com/munters-group-ab/i/stefan-aspman,c3518793 Stefan Aspman SOURCE Munters Group AB TUCSON, Ariz., March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Demand for primary care continues to rise in Tucson and Pima County as the area's population grows. Despite this growth, many neighborhoods across Pima County remain designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), where provider levels are insufficient to meet community needs, and many patients delay care they shouldn't have to put off. MY DR NOW is addressing that access gap with the opening of its newest Tucson clinic the organization's 10th location in the Tucson market, located on the southwest corner of Pantano Road and Speedway Boulevard in the Fry's shopping center at 7760 E. Speedway Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85710. The clinic opens at 8 a.m. on March 16. "Tucson's healthcare system is struggling to keep up," says Dr. Payam Zamani, Founder and CEO of MY DR NOW. "The city is growing fast, but it's getting harder and harder to actually see a family doctor. When you have to wait weeks for a basic check-up, people end up waiting hours to be seen at an Urgent Care, or in the ER for things that shouldn't be emergencies. We're here to fix that. We have providers ready to see you every single day at any of our locations. You shouldn't have to plan your illness a month in advancewe're making sure that if you need care today, you get it today." Tucson's challenges reflect broader statewide workforce gaps: Arizona continues to struggle with primary care shortages, meeting only a fraction of its physician needs overall, which contributes to care delays and to the use of higher-cost settings for routine care. The new Tucson clinic furthers MY DR NOW's commitment to expanding primary care capacity where it's needed most and strengthen the region's healthcare ecosystem by offering: Total Flexibility: Walk in anytime or book a same-day visit. New patients are always welcome without the long wait. Walk in anytime or book a same-day visit. New patients are always welcome without the long wait. Ongoing Care for the Whole Family: Pediatric care for the kids and dedicated women's health services, plus family medicine for all ages. Pediatric care for the kids and dedicated women's health services, plus family medicine for all ages. Better Hours: Open when you're actually free: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. Open when you're actually free: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. Complete Wellness: Everything from annual physicals and wellness planning to managing chronic conditions and common illnesses. "Tucson is where I went to high school, so expanding access here is personal for me," Zamani added. "This community shaped me, and we are committed to making sure families here can access primary care without delay." About MY DR NOW Founded in 2007 by Payam Zamani, MD, and headquartered in Phoenix, MY DR NOW has redefined primary care through an omnichannel model centered on accessibility, convenience, and compassion. Built on the belief that healthcare should seamlessly integrate into everyday life, the organization combines walk-in and scheduled clinic visits with extended hours, virtual telehealth services, and in-home visits. With more than 75 clinics across Arizona and Texas, and 800+ team members, MY DR NOW is scaling its consumer-centered approach and is on track to become the nation's largest independently owned primary care group operating under a unified brand by the end of 2027. The company provides family medicine, pediatrics, women's health, and chronic disease management, delivering coordinated, relationship-driven care to the communities it serves. Visit mydrnow.com. MY DR NOW is styled in all capital letters. Media Contact: [email protected] SOURCE MY DR NOW For the 32nd time, chef Wolfgang Puck is taking charge of the postOscars event that will feed the nearly 2,000 guests After two hours on the red carpet (plus a few more getting ready), the 3.5-hour ceremony, nerves, tight outfits, and aching feet, what you crave most after an event even one as prestigious as the Hollywood Oscars is something to eat. Or perhaps a lot to eat. Thats mo problem: guests can eat their fill at the Governors Ball, the annual after-party for the Oscars. There will be food galore at the after-party, which will take place on the rooftop of the Dolby Theatre. Chef Wolfgang Puck who has been in charge of the event for the past 32 years will serve his most classic dishes, as well as a few innovations. There will be champagne, tequila, and sake, and his now-famous chocolate Oscars dipped in gold. A feast that the more than 2,000 guests of the Oscars will enjoy while, in the same room, the winners have their names engraved on the plaques of their brand-new statuettes. This event has turned Puck who is 76 years old and has more than 100 restaurants worldwide into a true celebrity. Now, his 31-year-old son, Byron Puck, who co-leads the family business, is by his side. In excellent Spanish, which he learned after spending six months at El Celler de Can Roca, he explained to EL PAIS during the partys presentation, that it was essential for them to maintain the traditional dishes that guests love the so-called comfort food, as he puts it. In other words, food that warms the stomach and the heart after a nerve-wracking night. Thats why, among the roughly 30 dishes served throughout the evening desserts aside they always offer their chicken pot pie, a chicken stew covered with puff pastry that has become so popular that even the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has posted the recipe on its website. Wolfgang Puck and his son, Byron Puck, cook for the media during the Governors Ball presentation on March 15, 2026. CHRIS TORRES (EFE) Drinks are essential. This year, for the second time, theyre featuring sake from the Japanese brand Dassai, which includes a variety called Blue 23 (meaning it contains only 23% rice), giving it a flavor similar to a smooth white wine; in fact, the alcohol content is very similar, at 14%. Its important for us that people try and enjoy a flavor like this, say the brands representatives, who argue that it pairs perfectly with sushi or wagyu beef. As for tequila, Don Julio will be present, having gone allin by bringing no fewer than a thousand bottles to Los Angeles, along with Lorenzo Antinori from Bar Leone in Hong Kong, considered the best bar in the world in 2025. While preparing a margarita, he explains that he has created five cocktails specifically for the occasion with the flavors of Mexico and a touch of Italian flavor, says Antinori. Barista Lorenzo Antinori, co-founder of Bar Leone, prepares a cocktail for the Governor's Ball at the Oscars, on March 10, 2026. Mario Anzuoni (REUTERS) The feast will also include exquisite ingredients such as caviar and wagyu beef, imported from Japan and served in thin slices with its own juices, French fries, and tartar sauce. One classic from previous years is missing, however: Spanish jamon iberico. Through the Huelvabased company Cinco Jotas, the ham had been present at the ball since 2019, with around a dozen legs each year and a couple of professional slicers, but this year it didnt make the cut. The Pucks proposed including it, as they themselves confirm as do sources close to the ham company but the Academy, which has the final say, decided to switch things up and bring in new products from other origins. 01:42 What the stars will eat and drink at the Governors Ball (Spanish) Sources close to Cinco Jotas say the decision came as a surprise and that, naturally, its a loss, because being present at the Oscars is an extraordinary showcase for the brand its a way of introducing jamon iberico to the entire world. But as longtime partners of the Pucks, theyre confident theyll be back soon. I know we dont have ham this year, and Im really sorry, Byron Puck tells EL PAIS. Im not going to lie Cinco Jotas is my favorite in the whole world, he laughs. We werent able to have it this year, but we hope it returns. We also wanted to include things that speak to other cultures, to be geographically broad, and you cant showcase the same cuisine every year. We try to be fair. But it will be back. Garry Larduinat, Wolfgang Puck's head pastry chef, paints a chocolate Oscar. Mario Anzuoni (REUTERS) Wolfgang Pucks right-hand man explains that their menu changes and varies each season. This year, for example, they have a pate in a crust or vegetarian tacos, as well as crab mousse and pizzas with Caesar or Greek salad. Because we need something new every year, says David Puck in his good, measured Spanish. Many of the people who come to the Ball every year are the same, so we need something new, year after year. Thats why we have a sushi bar, with five sushi chefs, where everyone can order whatever they want. For desserts, we have a new ice cream machine, which is very refreshing and fantastic. The ice creams have been set up right next to the chocolate Oscars. The chef who operates the five ice cream machines, Frenchman Kamel Guechida head pastry chef at Spago, one of Pucks most successful restaurants in Los Angeles says they have flavors like vanilla, marzipan, strawberry, pistachio, stracciatella, and his favorite, a smooth hazelnut with pieces of the nut mixed in. If he could choose, he says hed love to serve one to nominee and who knows, maybe winner Timothee Chalamet, because hes half French, right? Guechida laughs. Several desserts that can be sampled at the Governor's Ball, on March 10, 2026 in Los Angeles. CHRIS TORRES (EFE) Hes sure the actor will stop by, as the sweet, golddusted Oscar statuettes are the hit of every party. Pucks team, which spends months preparing for this event, has made no fewer than 6,000 of them. In the end, everyone wants to take home an Oscar even if its made of chocolate, says Garry Larduinat, Pucks executive pastry chef, who is also French. This year, for example, we dont have the chocolate cigars. But the Oscars are something we simply cant stop making, he explains as he airbrushes the statuettes golden suit. The statuette is made of 70% chocolate, with a robust flavor, while the coating applied on the spot is made with lemon extract, triple sec, and gold dust. Of those 6,000 miniOscars (they also make about 50 fullsize ones), most will be offered to eat, and several others will be placed in small cardboard boxes for guests to take home. Winning an Oscar is hard, so at the very least, its nice to go home with a chocolate one. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Nation's #1 tofu brand reinforces category leadership with $55 million investment to meet rising demand AYER, Mass., March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Nasoya, the nation's leading tofu brand, today announced the expansion of its manufacturing facility in Ayer, Massachusetts. The $55 million project adds nearly 65,000 square feet of new space, bringing the site to nearly 200,000 square feet in total, the largest in the world, giving Nasoya capacity to produce 400,000 pounds of tofu per day, the equivalent of more than 2.1 million servings daily. Pulmuone executives join retail partners and representatives from the Town of Ayer, Massachusetts to celebrate the expansion of the company's East Coast manufacturing facility. From left to right: Chi Do Lee (CEO, Terranos), Toichiro Takai (CEO, Takai), Joe D'Ambrosio Jr. (CEO, IMEC), Hyo Yul Lee (Chairman, Pulmuone), Robert Pontbriand (Ayer Town Manager), Woo Bong Lee (General CEO, Pulmuone), Jannice Livingston (Chair of the Ayer Select Board), Joon Gab Kwon (Chairman, Seoul Trading USA), KS Cho (CEO, Pulmuone USA), Mike Wallace (Ayer Town Building Commissioner) An artist's rendering of the Ayer, MA facility when completed in summer 2026. "This expansion marks an exciting milestone for Nasoya as we continue to drive growth in the plant-based category," said KS Cho, Market CEO at Pulmuone Foods USA, parent company of Nasoya. "This allows us to expand relationships with our valued retail and food service partners and also reinforces our commitment to U.S. manufacturing and sustainable growth for the future." Fueled by consumer interest in wholesome plant-based foods that are affordable, minimally processed and more sustainable, Pulmuone, Nasoya's parent brand, tofu sales have increased by $48M from 2022 to 2025 (38% increase). Across Pulmuone's tofu brands, which hold 67% of the U.S. tofu market, Nasoya is the #1 brand in the country. The United States Tofu Market size is estimated at 467.3 million USD in 2025 and is expected to reach 856.1 million USD by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 12.87% during the forecast period (2025-2030).1 The facility expansion adds 20% more jobs, reinforcing Nasoya's investment in local manufacturing and the regional economy as part of parent company Pulmuone Foods USA's broader commitment to U.S. operations. Increased Distribution No longer a niche category, tofu is found in retailers everywhere. In the past year, Pulmuone has expanded its retail footprint by 5%, and is available in all 50 states at more than 50 major retailers, including Walmart, Kroger and Publix. The brand is also strengthening its food service presence, with growing partnerships with colleges and universities across the country like the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Amherst, Yale University, University of Michigan and Virginia Tech, as well as with fast casual/QSR restaurants like WaBa Grill and Panda Express. Nasoya's manufacturing footprint also includes an 91,900 sq. foot plant in Fullerton, CA, giving the growing brand coast-to-coast capacity. With advanced production technologies and automated systems, the facility will allow the brand to significantly scale production. Innovation Nasoya is also leading the tofu category with flavor and format innovation, investing heavily in research and development to enhance and expand consumer options. Within the past year, the brand has introduced Cubed Tofu in its fan-favorite Extra Firm variety, delivering ultimate convenience while still packed with plant-based protein, and Pineapple Teriyaki Glazed Tofu, a pre-cut option coated in bold sweet and savory flavor. Nasoya's classic tofu varieties Silken, Firm, Extra Firm and Super Firm remain staples for their versatility, fitting seamlessly into everyday cooking, from stir-fries and soups to smoothies, sandwiches and scrambles. For more information on Nasoya, visit Nasoya.com. 1 Mordor Intelligence United States Tofu Market Size & Share Analysis Growth Trends & Forecasts Up to 2030. About PULMUONE FOODS USA Pulmuone Foods USA offers a variety of Asian-inspired products including dumplings, kimchi, noodles, ready meals and snacks. Pulmuone Foods USA is also home to a family of brands that offers a wide variety of delicious products that encourage a healthy and sustainable lifestyle including Nasoya, the country's #1 brand of tofu. Capturing the growing demand for plant-based foods, Pulmuone Foods USA is leading the US tofu market with nearly 70 percent market share. The Pulmuone Foods USA family of brands also includes Plantspired, Wildwood and Monterey Gourmet Foods. For more information, visit www.pulmuonefoodsusa.com. About NASOYA For over 40 years, Nasoya has been a leading provider of natural and organic foods. Part of the family of brands at Pulmuone, a company synonymous with authentic, wholesome products and the highest quality of ingredients, Nasoya believes in creating great-tasting, healthy, convenient tofu for every eating occasion. As the #1 leading tofu brand in the United States, Nasoya offers several varieties of tofu including Cubed, Silken, Extra Firm, Firm & more. Learn more at www.nasoya.com Media Contact Carly Wilhelm [email protected] 732-237-4533 SOURCE Nasoya DALLAS, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- National Write Your Congressman (NWYC), an organization that gives small businesses a voice in government, released its Q1 2026 Index, highlighting small business sentiment toward Congress, the U.S. economy, and federal policies affecting business. Findings show that government spending is the most important policy issue for small business owners, and that tariffs, immigration, access to capital, and the uncertainty about the future of the U.S. economy are the most important issues facing business owners today. "When small business owners evaluate the policy environment, they are closely watching decisions in Washington that affect long-term economic stability. Business owners are looking for meaningful policy action on spending, regulation, and tariffs," said Randy Ford, President and COO of National Write Your Congressman. "The Index shows that while many businesses remain steady, owners continue to prioritize fiscal responsibility and policies that support reinvestment and growth." Healthcare costs and access to affordable coverage, immigration reform, regulatory relief to reduce compliance burdens, and tariffs continue to be top policy issues business owners want Members of Congress to prioritize. "Members of Congress can best support small businesses this year by focusing on regulatory clarity, predictable tax policy, and improved access to capital for independently owned companies. Small businesses create culture, community, and local economic resilience," said Gregory Hill, Studio Owner, Artist's Collective in Corona, California. The One Big Beautiful Bill Business owners expressed the strongest support for provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that promote investment and expansion. The most supported provisions include: A permanent 20 percent pass-through income tax deduction (76.5 percent) A 100 percent bonus depreciation for new equipment or property purchases (75.4 percent) While many owners view the One Big Beautiful Bill Act positively, more than half remain uncertain about how it will impact their businesses. "We have hopes of seeing the full effect of the Big Beautiful Bill and what that will do for potential sales and tax filings with the new depreciations," said Tim DeLuca, President, Capstone Renovations in Crown Point, Indiana. Business conditions and the U.S. economy Business performance remains mixed, with 48 percent of respondents stating their business performance has remained flat, while 31 percent reporting growth and 21 percent reporting decline. Small business owners expressed a cautiously optimistic view of the economy. More than half describe the U.S. economy as "good," while 33 percent say it is "fair." Only four percent rate the economy as "excellent." Seventy-five percent of business owners say they are either cautiously planning for moderate growth or holding off on major changes until economic conditions improve. "Small businesses are ready to grow, hire, and innovate. What we need most is predictability and policies that recognize the critical role local manufacturers play in our communities," said Lisa Fahey, Chief Financial Officer, Graphic Finishing Services in Coon Rapids, Minnesota. Trust and representation in Congress The Index also highlighted an overall decrease in hope, trust, and satisfaction with Congressional action, down from Q1 2025. Although overall sentiment towards Congress decreased from last year, 40 percent of respondents state they trust the Members of Congress who represent them. Twenty percent of respondents strongly believe the Members of Congress who represent them know their opinions on important issues, and 40 percent are hopeful in Members of Congress for the year ahead. Methodology NWYC collected data from 724 business owners in 45 states from February 20 to March 5, 2026. Fifty-six percent of owners employ one to nine employees; 41 percent employ 10 to 99 employees. About National Write Your Congressman Since 1958, National Write Your Congressman (NWYC) has empowered small businesses by providing nonpartisan information, research, and tools to connect with their representatives in Washington. As the nation's largest, privately held, nonpartisan membership organization made up of small businesses, NWYC's team of experts provides unbiased, nonpartisan information and research on top issues and pending legislation relevant to small business owners today. NWYC presents both sides of the issue so that members can form an educated opinion and let their elected officials know their opinion. For more information visit www.nwyc.com. SOURCE National Write Your Congressman MINNEAPOLIS, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Northborne Partners today announced that it served as the exclusive financial advisor to Sierra Railroad Company ("Sierra" or the "Company") on its sale to Ridgewood Infrastructure ("Ridgewood"), a leading investment firm focused on essential infrastructure in the United States. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 1897, Sierra is a California-based short line rail platform providing freight rail, switching, storage and transloading services to a diversified customer base across key essential industrial, agricultural and energy supply chains. Sierra's operating subsidiaries include Sierra Northern Railroad, which owns and operates the Company's freight rail business and provides switching, storage, and transloading services across approximately 130 miles of track in California. The transaction also includes Railpower, Inc., which owns and operates the only Federal Railroad Administration ("FRA")-approved hydrogen-powered locomotive in the United States, underscoring Sierra's leadership in rail innovation and lower-emissions locomotive technology. In addition, the acquisition includes a passenger rail business, which broadens the platform's operating capabilities and long-term growth optionality. Ben Marks, Managing Director at Northborne commented, "Sierra is a true leader in the rail industry, from freight rail and transload development to grain handling and zero emission locomotive technology. This transaction underscores the strong investor demand for high quality rail and logistics infrastructure assets, and we were honored to advise Sierra on finding an investor to support its continued growth." About Northborne's involvement in the transaction, Mike Hart, Founder of Sierra Railroad Company, commented, "Northborne guided us through a pivotal moment in Sierra's history. Their deep industry knowledge, thoughtful advice and steady support were instrumental in achieving a successful outcome. We are excited to partner with Ridgewood to accelerate our growth strategy." Northborne is the leading middle market advisor to businesses in the rail & rail services industry. This transaction marks Northborne's 15th completed rail-related transaction in the past four years. Honigman LLP served as legal counsel to Sierra. About Northborne Partners Northborne Partners is a preeminent middle market investment banking firm focused on providing M&A advisory services to companies in the industrial, healthcare, services and food & consumer sectors, among others. It specializes in advising private-equity-owned and closely-held businesses on complex sell-side transactions. Northborne Partners is headquartered in Minneapolis, MN. For more information, please visit northborne.com. About Sierra Railroad Company Sierra Railroad Company is a California-based rail platform whose subsidiaries include Sierra Northern Railroad, a shortline freight rail operator providing switching, storage, and transloading services across approximately 130 miles of track; Railpower, Inc., a hydrogen locomotive development business; and passenger rail operations and rights along Sierra's mainline. For more information, please visit sierrarailroad.com. About Ridgewood Infrastructure Ridgewood Infrastructure invests in essential infrastructure businesses across the transportation, energy, utilities, and industrial sectors. The firm focuses on assets that provide critical services, exhibit durable demand, and offer opportunities for value creation through operational improvement and strategic growth. For more information, please visit ridgewoodinfrastructure.com. SOURCE Northborne Partners NYSE issues a pre-market daily advisory direct from the trading floor. NEW YORK, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) provides a daily pre-market update directly from the NYSE Trading Floor. Access today's NYSE Pre-market update for market insights before trading begins. Kristen Scholer delivers the pre-market update on March 11th Entrepreneurs First to join Taking Stock after the market close Speed Speed Bunge CEO Greg Heckman hosted its investor day at NYSE Equities remain choppy as the conflict in the Middle East continues and the International Energy Agency is proposing the biggest-in-history release of emergency oil reserves. Inc. unveiled its 2026 Female Founders 500 list yesterday, honoring dynamic women business leaders. Entrepreneurs First announced earlier that it raised $200 million to support the next generation of builders, with contributions from investors including Reid Hoffman and Eric Schmidt. U.S. Antimony (NYSE: UAMY) Chairman and CEO Gary Evans will join NYSE Live this morning to explain the company's critical role in defense applications. Opening Bell U.S. Antimony (NYSE: UAMY) celebrates its uplisting to the NYSE Closing Bell Costamare Bulkers (NYSE: CMDB) celebrates its 2025 spin-off For market insights, IPO activity, and today's opening bell, download the NYSE TV App: TV.NYSE.com SOURCE New York Stock Exchange From 100 to 600 patients: to support patients suffering from acne, Avene, Pierre Fabre Laboratories' leading brand, is strengthening the robustness of its clinical studies via data augmentation through Artificial Intelligence. TOULOUSE, France, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Avene, the leading brand in French pharmacies*, in partnership with Toulouse-based HealthTech company BotDesign, has announced a major breakthrough in the field of clinical studies in dermo-cosmetics. In 2026, Avene will conduct a comparative clinical study to evaluate the efficacy of its new treatment for acne-prone skin, Avene Cleanance Comedomed+, in the maintenance phase following oral isotretinoin treatment in adults suffering from severe to very severe acne. Pierre Fabre Laboratories is exploring the potential of Artificial Intelligence to launch a new generation of clinical studies in dermo-cosmetics Avene is renowned for its dermatological expertise, inspired by therapeutic know-how, and has been committed to improving the treatment of skin pathologies since 1990. It is thus becoming the first brand to use Artificial Intelligence in clinical studies for dermo-cosmetics. A concrete illustration of Pierre Fabre Laboratories' "Supportive Care" strategy. This study is unique in two ways: due to its scientific ambition and because it fully aligns with the "supportive care" strategy of Pierre Fabre Laboratories, launched in 2025. "We belong to a group that has always been rooted in pharmaceuticals and dermo-cosmetics. Our medical expertise gives us a head start in understanding patients and their pathologies. We are ideally positioned to offer treatment protocols based on the pathology, combining dermo-cosmetics with medication. We are already preparing solutions to go further, by developing dermo-cosmetic innovations capable of extending and amplifying the action of the medication or delaying its necessity. Because these are dermo-cosmetics, they can be used over the long term, unlike many drug treatments," explains Dr. Gautier Doat, Eau Thermale Avene Medical Director. To continue reading, https://www.pierre-fabre.com/en/news/avene-artificial-intelligence-clinical-studies-dermo-cosmetics For more information, visit www.pierre-fabre.com, @Laboratoires Pierre Fabre , @Pierre Fabre Oncology About Eau Thermale Avene : https://www.eau-thermale-avene.fr/ Press contact: Caroline Perdrix Thomas [email protected] *Source: GERS SOG Early Pharmacy Channel Dermo-cosmetics market definition established by Pierre Fabre laboratories Origin: Sell Out Cumulative data up to December 2025 in volume (units) and value (revenue inc. taxes). Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2930570/Avene_Cleanance.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2930569/PIERRE_FABRE_Avene_Logo.jpg SOURCE Pierre Fabre Laboratories GUANGZHOU, China, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- China's annual legislative meeting is underway in Beijing from March 5 to 12, drawing global attention, including that of South's international media partners. South has gathered questions from the members of the Maritime Silk Road Media Cooperation Platform and brought them to deputies of the National People's Congress (NPC) for answers. Speed Speed In this episode of Dialogue Beyond Borders, a journalist from Cairo 24 asks how Egypt could learn from China's experience in rural revitalization. South reporter Liu Xiaodi takes the question to NPC deputy Chen Hui, who runs a Gonggan mandarin business in rural Guangdong. Her story offers a glimpse into how China is revitalizing its countryside through policy supports and technological innovation and what developing countries like Egypt could learn from. Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-dgQ76TnrU Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com. As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (1) Paysafe's ecommerce business had significant exposure to a single high risk client; (2) as a result, the Company's credit loss reserves and/or write-offs were understated; (3) Paysafe had an undisclosed issue with higher risk Merchant Category Codes, making its client services difficult to bank; (4) the foregoing issues were likely to have a material negative impact on the Company's revenue growth and overall revenue mix; (5) as a result, Paysafe was unlikely to meet its own previously issued financial guidance for fiscal year 2025; and (6) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. On November 13, 2025, before the market opened, Paysafe announced third quarter financial results, including revenue of $433.8 million, which missed consensus estimates by $5.8 million, and a net loss of $87.7 million, a steep drop from the prior year period wherein the Company's net loss was only $12.98 million. The Company also slashed full year 2025 expected revenue to $17 million at the midpoint, and adjusted EPS $0.50 at the midpoint. The Company further revealed that its credit loss expense for the quarter was $13,220 "primarily [as] the result of a specific provision for expected chargebacks related to an individual merchant in the Merchant Solutions segment." The report revealed write-offs of $9,924 "driven by the write off of irrecoverable amounts receivable in the Merchant Solutions segment." On the same date, the Company held an earnings call during which CEO Bruce Lowthers revealed the Company "had a last-minute client that had to shut down that caused several million-dollar write-down in Q3." Lowthers further revealed the Company is in a market tier with "higher risk MCC [Merchant Category Codes] codes." Lowthers explained "those things sometimes are a little difficult to bank" and "sometimes the banks aren't open to the additional risk" "so, we've had a little bit of challenge with that with some of those MCC codes." On this news, Paysafe's stock price fell $2.80, or 27.6%, to close at $7.36 per share on November 13, 2025, on unusually heavy trading volume. The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not. Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Paysafe's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others. To learn more about the Paysafe Limited class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/PSFE or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310). Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook. Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner. SOURCE Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP BATON ROUGE, La., March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Retailers Casualty Insurance Company board of directors has declared a $1 million distribution payable for policies with effective dates in 2024, and distributions to qualifying policyholders have been issued. Each distribution is in proportion to qualifying policyholder premium and loss ratiothe better their record, the higher the return. The maximum amount of distribution paid to qualifying policyholders with zero losses will be 8.1% of their normal premium. Policyholders must meet minimum eligibility requirements, and future distributions are at the board's discretion and not guaranteed. "Our policyholders continue to demonstrate a strong commitment to workplace safety, and we're proud to share the results of that effort. Retailers Casualty Insurance Company was built on collaboration and relationships, and this distribution reflects the value of employers who prioritize protecting their teams every day," states Frank Brame, chair of the Retailers Casualty board of directors. "Summit works closely with policyholders to help strengthen safety practices and manage claims effectively, and those efforts directly contribute to making distributions like this possible," says Chris Neyrey, vice president responsible for Summit's Southwest Region. "When you combine that level of support with the potential for financial returns, Retailers Casualty remains one of the most competitive and rewarding workers' compensation programs available." Retailers Casualty is managed by Summit Consulting LLC (DBA Summit. Know the people who know workers' comp LLC). Summit has more than 40 years of experience in workers' compensation and provides underwriting, policy administration, claims management and loss prevention services to Retailers Casualty Insurance Company policyholders. About Summit Based in Lakeland, Florida, Summit is a leading regional provider of workers' compensation insurance coverage in the United States and is a member of Great American Insurance Group. Summit manages the day-to-day operations of six workers' compensation insurance companies that include its three affiliates, Bridgefield Employers Insurance Company, Bridgefield Casualty Insurance Company, and Bridgefield Indemnity Insurance Company, and three non-affiliates, BusinessFirst Insurance Company, RetailFirst Insurance Company, and Retailers Casualty Insurance Company. Summit provides its comprehensive workers' compensation insurance services to businesses in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. Summit has offices in Lakeland, Florida, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Gainesville, Georgia. For more information, visit www.summitholdings.com. SOURCE Retailers Casualty Insurance Company Tom Walker to Transition to Executive Chairman; Kristy Campbell to Support Leadership Transition for Midwest Venture Studio COLUMBUS, Ohio, March 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Building on more than a decade of growth, innovation, and economic impact, Rev1 Ventures, the Midwest venture studio that partners with innovators in Saas/AI, deep tech and life sciences, today announced it is launching a national search for its next Chief Executive Officer and President to guide the organization into its next phase of expansion and innovation. As part of a long-planned leadership evolution developed with the Board of Directors, Tom Walker will transition to Executive Chairman of the Board by the end of the year. He will remain CEO throughout the search process and transition period, ensuring operational continuity and stability. As part of the strategic evolution of Rev1, Walker is focusing on capital efforts and building the next-generation fund strategy, while maintaining a close connection to the nonprofit mission. "Over the last decade, we've worked intentionally to strengthen Rev1's foundation, growing our nonprofit impact, building a capital platform, and structuring the organization for the future," said Walker. "This is the right time to bring in a new leader who can build upon what we've accomplished, solidify Rev1's position as one of the top venture development organizations in the country, and lead us into the next decade. My commitment to Rev1, our partners and founders remains unchanged, and I will continue to guide the organization's capital efforts while supporting the new CEO's transition." This announcement comes on the heels of Rev1 opening Rev1 at The Peninsula, a 43,000-square-foot downtown innovation hub designed to accelerate high-growth software and advanced technology startups. The new space reflects Rev1's mission and vision, signaling the organization's long-term commitment to homegrown entrepreneurship and ecosystem growth. Kristy Campbell, current President and COO, will continue supporting Rev1's Ventures operations through the end of the year, including services, partnerships, and the innovation space as she steps back from full-time work to begin her transition toward retirement in 2027. Under her leadership, the organization has aligned services to founder needs and successfully launched the new downtown hub. "Rev1 Ventures has been an incredible opportunity to strengthen services that better serve founders," added Campbell. "I'm proud of the foundation we've built that positions the organization for its next chapter, and I'm excited for the new leader to continue advancing this important work." Since 2015, Rev1 has supported more than 1,400 startups, including funding 150 unique companies, generating $3.3 billion in economic impact in Columbus and over $7 billion statewide. The Board has engaged BeecherHill to lead a national search. The firm will work closely with the Board and leadership team to identify a CEO with deep experience in venture capital, startup growth, and ecosystem building. The Board anticipates naming a new CEO by late summer, allowing for a seamless transition through the end of the year. Rev1's day-to-day operations, founder services, venture studio programming, and investment activity will continue uninterrupted throughout the search process. "Rev1's mission and focus remain unchanged, and the foundation we've built is strong," added Walker. "The depth of venture development expertise here is among the best in the country, and our leadership team will continue driving regional impact while providing a solid foundation for our next CEO to build on as we enter our next decade of growth." About Rev1 Ventures Rev1 Ventures is where founders go to build. As a Midwest venture studio, Rev1 partners with innovators in Saas/AI, deep tech, and life sciences to turn bold ideas into scalable companies. From day one, Rev1 helps startups move faster and grow smarter by validating markets, gaining traction, and becoming venture ready. A catalyst for early-stage growth, Rev1 connects founders to the mentors, partners, and early customers that accelerate progress and position startups to attract investors. With hands-on support, a powerful network, and collaborative spaces designed for growth, Rev1 gives startups the foundation to build stronger and scale. For more information, visit https://www.rev1ventures.com. SOURCE Rev1 Ventures NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- In 2026, R.H. Boyd proudly commemorates 130 years of faith, publishing excellence, and community leadership. Founded in 1896, the historic Nashville-based company stands as one of the nation's oldest African-American publishing houses, serving churches, educators, and families across generations. Throughout its 130th Anniversary year, R.H. Boyd will host a series of commemorative moments, special initiatives, and community-centered gatherings honoring its enduring commitment to education, faith formation, and cultural preservation. Curated gatherings will be held in cities such as Dallas, Houston, Charlotte, Martha's Vineyard, Nashville, and more, bringing together educators, church leaders, business and cultural influencers, and community partners. The campaign will also elevate authors and thought leaders, showcase innovations in publishing and curriculum, and strengthen connections with communities nationwide. "As we celebrate 130 years of R.H. Boyd's legacy, we honor the vision and perseverance that have guided our mission. We are inspired to continue empowering voices, sharing knowledge, and nurturing hope for the next 130 years," shared Dr. LaDonna Boyd, fifth-generation President and CEO. Anchoring this historic year will be the fifth annual Legacy Ball, taking place Saturday, June 27, 2026, at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville. This signature celebration brings together leaders, supporters, and partners for an evening of reflection, fellowship, and philanthropy, reinforcing the company's continued investment in future generations. Proceeds from the Legacy Ball benefit the R.H. Boyd Family Endowment Fund, which provides scholarships to students pursuing higher education, and grants to nonprofit organizations nationwide. Applications for both scholarships and grants are currently available, with submissions due by April 15, 2026. Interested applicants may download materials at rhboyd.com/endowment . The 2026 Legacy Ball Chairs are Mr. and Mrs. Don and Tracy Hardin and Mrs. Gail Carr Williams, with Young Professionals Chairs Mr. Tylan M. Beard and Ms. Lea A. Bryant. Their leadership reflects a shared commitment to advancing educational opportunities and community progress. Individuals, corporations, and organizations are invited to participate in the 130th Anniversary Celebration and The Legacy Ball through partnership, underwriting opportunities, and table purchases. For more information about the 130th Anniversary events, visit www.rhboyd.com/events. To learn more about the Legacy Ball, visit legacyball.org. Contact R.H. Boyd via email at [email protected]. Media Contact: [email protected] Founded in 1896, the historic Nashville-based company stands as one of the nation's oldest African-American publishing houses, serving churches, educators, and families across generations. SOURCE R.H. Boyd From Hamnet to Wuthering Heights, the big screen has seen a wave of literary classics reimagined for a new generation. But a problem persists: cinema and literature are languages that are almost always irreconcilable Luis Bunuel used to say that, when it comes to adapting a book for the screen, its better to choose a bad novel, given the creative burden that comes with respecting great literature. He applied this principle himself with Belle de Jour, Joseph Kessels bestseller about a bourgeois woman who turns to prostitution to fulfill her sexual fantasies. Bunuel considered it little more than a spicy melodrama, but he transformed into a cinematic masterpiece. More debatable was what he later did with Tristana, where he pushed into the background the psychological depth and yearning for freedom of Galdoss heroine: the film was superb, but the book offered possibilities that remained unexplored. The fact that even Luis Bunuel drew on literary sources for his screenplays underlines how closely film and literature are intertwined. That relationship is also worth questioning: in a recent interview with EL PAIS, another Spanish director, Oliver Laxe, argued for the need to move beyond narrative frameworks inherited from literature structures he sees especially in the audiovisual output of Netflixstyle platforms and which, he says, he intends to challenge in his next project. However, more traditional narrative cinema still depends on literary scaffolding. Adaptations have existed since the birth of film: Melies adapted Faust and Cinderella before the 20th century began, and the first Frankenstein on the big screen dates back to 1910. Yet the relationship between the two disciplines has always been somewhat tense. Guillermo del Toros recent Frankenstein demonstrated this again by reducing the philosophical and moral themes of Mary Shelleys novel while inflating the visual apparatus used to express them. A similar issue can be seen with The Bride!, a film by Maggie Gyllenhaal starring Jessie Buckley, Christian Bale and Penelope Cruz, which sets the action in 1930s Chicago. Although Mary Shelley appears in the plot as part of a metanarrative device, the movie is not an adaption of her work but rather the 1935 film James Whales Bride of Frankenstein, starring the iconic Elsa Lanchester as the Bride of Frankenstein. Gyllenhaal blends that reference with the cinematic tradition of outlaw lovers on the run, in the vein of Bonnie & Clyde, Badlands or True Romance. Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac, Guillermo del Toro, and Mia Goth at a screening of Frankenstein in New York. Kevin Mazur (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Net) The film has sparked mixed reactions, but the negative reviews have been especially harsh. French critic Renaud Baronian, writing in Le Parisien, described it as a secondrate thriller and cheap romance that, in his view, butchers the Frankenstein myth. He went further, calling the film a kind of superficial, touristfriendly punk pastiche lacking authenticity. Baronian then posed a pointed question: after what he sees as the studios disastrous handling of Wuthering Heights and now Frankenstein, how long will Warner Bros. continue destroying on screen the masterpieces of British literature? Indeed, Emerald Fennells adaptation of Emily Brontes novel Wuthering Heights, despite becoming a boxoffice success, was almost universally condemned by critics and fans of the book. Viewers were frustrated to see the violence and passion of Heathcliff and Cathy diluted into an audiovisual product stripped of its subversive force. Some of the harshest reactions described the film as as dull as dishwate. Chloe Zhaos film Hamnet has also faced criticism for the way it heightens the melodramatic elements of Maggie OFarrells novel. Reviewer Christy Lemire, writing for RogerEbert.com, argued that Zhao depicts this tragedy with histronics that are so overly demonstrative, they actually take you out of the moment. Several outlets have gone further, describing the film as grief porn. Shakespeare is one of the most frequently adapted authors in history whether through highly academic versions like Franco Zeffirellis Romeo and Juliet, The Taming of the Shrew, or Hamlet, or through inventive cinematic reinterpretations such as Orson Welless remarkable Shakespeare films, especially Chimes at Midnight. Most of these adaptations have preserved the poetry and enigmatic quality of Shakespeares dialogue, which has survived even the boldest stylistic experiments, including Baz Luhrmanns Romeo + Juliet, set in a violent, neonsoaked 1990s Verona Beach. Less defensible was Luhrmanns later treatment of The Great Gatsby. In his review for The New Yorker, Richard Brody lamented that Luhrmann squandered Fitzgeralds novel, concluding that the film offers no ideas. A first American edition of 'Wuthering Heights,' from 1848, exhibited in Haworth, England, in 2018. OLI SCARFF (AFP via Getty Images) Brian De Palmas The Bonfire of the Vanities based on Tom Wolfes satire of the Wall Street sharks of the 1980s was met with an even more disastrous reception. Critics were scathing: Rita Kempley of The Washington Post wrote: The director has become one with the buffoons Wolfe scored in his bestseller. He has not only filed Wolfes teeth but stuck his tail between his legs. Reviews frequently compared the book and the film, often to the movies detriment. It started with a story with potential, the work of the well-known Tom Wolfe, but it turned out to be one of Brian De Palmas most impersonal and unsuccessful films, concluded Fernando Morales in EL PAIS. Meanwhile, Variety was equally dismissive, suggesting that the films attempt at social satire was no sharper than a sketch from Police Academy. Brian Joffes 1995 version of The Scarlet Letter, based on Nathaniel Hawthornes 19thcentury classic, is widely remembered as one of the most disastrous literary adaptations in modern Hollywood. Critics argued that casting Demi Moore then associated with Indecent Proposal and Disclosure to play the outlawed adulteress Hester Prynne was a fundamental misstep. Another of Joffes mistakes was transforming an austere story about guilt, sin, and religious repression into a misguided romantic period melodrama. It was described by some critics as unintentionally funny and Hollywood arrogance in its purest form. Critic and writer Libby Fischer Hellmann concluded that it was a movie that more or less made the critics weep, it was so bad and is widely cited as the worst film adaptation ever made. Jessie Buckley, Chloe Zhao, and Paul Mescal during a screening of 'Hamnet' in New York. Rob Kim (WireImage) At the opposite end of the spectrum, Luchino Viscontis The Leopard is often cited as a model of faithful, canonical adaptation of Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusas novel. And rightly so, since both works are considered masterpieces in their respective fields. Visconti and Lampedusa two Italian aristocrats deeply familiar with the world they were depicting created richly coherent universes that feel almost like historical documents of Sicily in 1860, while also generating a rare and fruitful dialogue between literature and cinema. Viscontis skill as an adapter also extended beyond The Leopard. He successfully brought to the screen works by Fyodor Dostoevsky, Thomas Mann, and Gabriele DAnnunzio in White Nights, Death in Venice, and The Innocent. His version of Albert Camuss The Stranger was less accomplished, though Francois Ozon also struggled with his recent adaptation of the same novel. Spanish film director Isabel Coixet told the TV program Pagina 2 that it is the film industry that seeks out literary adaptations. For a producer or a platform, adapting a book offers a certain guarantee of an interesting plot, she explained. Its easier to get a book adaptation produced than an original screenplay. And its true that adapting a novel for the screen may look like a safe bet, since it provides filmmakers with readymade narrative elements that can make the screenwriting process easier. But it also presents a twofold challenge: in addition to meeting the standards expected of any film, an adaptation must satisfy readers of the original work people who have already formed their own mental version of the story. The impossibility of fulfilling this expectation inevitably affects even the most accomplished adaptations. This raises the question of what fidelity in adaptation actually means: should a film remain loyal to the plot, to the psychology of the characters, to the style or language of the book, to its historical and spatial setting, to its ideological stance, or to the elusive spirit of the original? Thats why some of the most exciting film adaptations arise from deliberate infidelity to the source material. Patrice Chereaus La Reine Margot, based on the Alexandre Dumas novel, and Chantal Akermans The Captive, inspired by Prousts work, are cited as examples of how radical reinterpretation can produce remarkable cinema. The same applies to Francis Ford Coppolas Apocalypse Now, drawn from Joseph Conrads Heart of Darkness, and Tarkovskys Stalker, which is loosely based on the Strugatsky brothers novel. Spanish director Pedro Almodovar is highlighted as a filmmaker with a particularly distinctive relationship to literature. Rather than choosing monumental or widely revered novels, he often adapts modest thrillers such as Ruth Rendells Live Flesh or Thierry Jonquets Tarantula or texts that seem inherently unfilmable, like Alice Munros short stories in Julieta or Sigrid Nunezs autofiction What Are You Going Through. In each case, he reshapes the material to fit his own creative world, producing highly personal films. His latest work, Bitter Christmas, which premieres on March 20, draws on several situations from one of his own short stories, published in El ultimo sueno (The Last Dream). The film develops these fragments into a complex interplay between reality and two layers of fiction. Pedro Almodovar during a book signing in Madrid in 2017. NurPhoto (NurPhoto via Getty Images) Almodovars approach stands in contrast to a Spanish tradition rooted in the era of the Miro Law, a 1980s cultural policy that encouraged prestige literary adaptations. These films often equated fidelity with academic rigidity and became emblematic of a certain respectable but conservative cinematic style. Mario Camus was one of the leading figures of this trend, with adaptations such as The Hive, The Holy Innocents, and The House of Bernarda Alba, based respectively on works by Jose Cela, Miguel Delibes, and Federico Garcia Lorca. Spain has also seen notable clashes between writers and filmmakers over adaptations. One of the most famous involved Javier Marias and director Gracia Querejeta after she turned his novel Todas las almas (All Souls) into the film El ultimo viaje de Robert Rylands (Robert Rylands Last Journey). Marias dismissed the adaptation as a soapopera melodrama and wrote that he felt impatient and even embarrassed watching scenes that viewers might mistakenly assume came from his book. He eventually won a court ruling that granted him compensation and ordered his name removed from the credits. An even sharper conflict arose with writer Cristina Morales, who was dismayed to see her acclaimed novel Lectura facil (East Reading) turned into a sitcomstyle television series by Anna R. Costa. Morales accused the show of being Nazi in its portrayal of women with intellectual disabilities. Costa responded that Morales should focus on the extraordinary amount of money she was paid for the rights, a remark that underscored the reduction of artistic creation to a mere commercial transaction. What Morales did not receive in exchange for those rights was the one thing that truly honors a good novel: a good adaptation. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition NEW YORK, March 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces an investigation of potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Barclays PLC (NYSE: BCS) resulting from allegations that Barclays may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public. So What: If you purchased Barclays securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses. What to do next: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=23523 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. What is this about: On February 27, 2026, Reuters published an article entitled "Wall Street hit by UK mortgage lender collapse, raising fears of more credit 'cockroaches.'" The article stated that lenders were "rocked by the implosion of little-known UK mortgage provider Market Financial Solutions Ltd ["MFS"], fuelling concerns about wider losses among banks and reviving warnings of more "cockroaches" in the booming private credit industry." It further stated that another publication "reported Barclays has a 600 million pound ($809.70 million) exposure to MFS." On this news, Barclays American Depositary Shares ("ADS") fell 3.99% on February 27, 2026, and 2.3% on March 2, 2026. Why Rosen Law: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. At the time Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 [email protected] www.rosenlegal.com SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A. TAMPA, Fla., March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Rubenstein Law has secured a $2,750,000 settlement on behalf of Jennifer Fuentes, a 36-year-old client who suffered serious injuries after her vehicle was struck by a commercial semi-truck. Partner Jessica Gonzalez-Monge litigated the case. The crash occurred at the intersection of U.S. Route 41 and Vidor Avenue as Fuentes was turning onto her residential street. According to case findings, a semi-truck driver struck her vehicle, causing it to spin into a ditch. Jessica Gonzalez-Monge, Board-Certified Civil Trial Attorney and Partner at Rubenstein Law Fuentes sustained significant injuries to her neck, back, hip, and head. After conservative treatment proved unsuccessful, she ultimately required neck surgery and radiofrequency ablation procedures to address her ongoing pain and injuries. During the case, the defendant attempted to avoid liability by claiming that Fuentes had stopped abruptly and by disputing the severity of her injuries. Gonzalez-Monge successfully demonstrated that the crash resulted from the truck driver's negligence, including operating a semi-truck at excessive speeds on wet roadways. "Commercial truck drivers have a responsibility to operate their vehicles safely. When that responsibility is ignored, the consequences can be devastating, as they were in this case," said Gonzalez-Monge. "Our client suffered life altering injuries because a semi-truck driver chose to speed on a wet roadway. While the defendant tried to deny responsibility, we refused to back down. We fought for accountability and ensured our client received the compensation she needs to move forward after such a traumatic, life altering event." Despite an initial settlement offer of $770,000, Gonzalez-Monge continued to aggressively pursue the claim, ultimately resulting in a $2,750,000 recovery for Fuentes. Gonzalez-Monge was able to secure more than three times the amount of the original offer. About Jessica Gonzalez-Monge Gonzalez-Monge is a board-certified civil trial attorney and partner at Rubenstein Law. Born in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, she later moved to Central Florida, where she earned her Juris Doctor from the Florida A&M University College of Law. Gonzalez-Monge is actively involved in organizations such as the Hispanic Bar Association of Central Florida and is dedicated to advocating for injury victims and helping clients pursue justice. About Rubenstein Law Rubenstein Law has been getting justice for personal injury victims since 1988. Today, Rubenstein Law is recognized as a premier name in personal injury, representing clients in a variety of matters, including automobile injuries, slip and fall injuries, catastrophic injuries, premises liability, medical malpractice, child & birth injury, motorcycle accident cases, and traumatic brain injury cases. The firm's Mass Tort division represents clients nationwide in defective products, dangerous drugs, and chemical cases. SOURCE Rubenstein Law CLEARWATER, Fla., March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Source 1 Solutions, an enterprise technology infrastructure company headquartered in Clearwater, Florida, today announced a significant expansion of its digital presence across the state through a new statewide initiative designed to strengthen engagement with organizations evaluating complex IT, security and life-safety infrastructure systems. Source 1 Solutions FL MSP Campaign Imagery The initiative represents the first phase of a broader strategy aimed at expanding Source 1's visibility with enterprise clients, developers and infrastructure operators across Florida during extended technology evaluation and procurement cycles. The initiative represents a significant investment in digital visibility across Florida and is designed to ensure organizations researching enterprise technology infrastructure solutions increasingly encounter Source 1 messaging throughout their evaluation process. "Our clients rarely make infrastructure decisions after a single interaction," said Robert Hessel, CEO of Source 1 Solutions. "Organizations researching enterprise IT, security or life-safety systems typically evaluate multiple vendors and revisit providers several times before making a decision. This initiative ensures that when businesses across Florida begin exploring these technologies, Source 1 remains visible and engaged throughout that entire process." The initiative expands Source 1's presence across multiple digital platforms and channels, allowing the company to maintain engagement with organizations researching enterprise technology and infrastructure solutions. The campaign highlights five core service areas that represent the company's fastest-growing infrastructure verticals: Managed IT Services White Label Technology Partnerships Enterprise Access Control Systems Life Safety and DAS Compliance Solutions Smart Site Monitoring and Infrastructure Protection Each vertical will be supported by targeted messaging designed to reach organizations researching specific infrastructure needs. The first campaign currently live focuses on managed IT and enterprise infrastructure services designed for the Florida market, reinforcing Source 1's ability to support enterprise organizations, commercial developments and government entities throughout the state. Additional campaigns highlighting life-safety compliance systems, smart site monitoring and enterprise access control solutions are scheduled to launch in phases over the coming months. Future phases of the initiative will expand into LinkedIn-based advertising designed to reach executive-level decision makers and technology leaders across industries including commercial real estate, construction, healthcare, government and critical infrastructure. "Florida continues to experience significant growth in commercial development, infrastructure expansion and enterprise technology demand," Hessel added. "Our goal is to ensure organizations across the state understand that Source 1 has the experience, capabilities and scale to support these complex environments." The initiative comes during a period of continued growth for the company. Earlier this year, Source 1 Solutions leadership participated in the GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch Leadership Institute, a statewide program recognizing high-growth second-stage businesses contributing to Florida's economic expansion. The most recent institute was held February 2425, 2026 in Orlando at the Loews Royal Pacific Resort, followed by the program's awards gala on February 26 at Hard Rock Live at Universal CityWalk. About Source 1 Solutions Source 1 Solutions is a technology infrastructure provider headquartered in Clearwater, Florida. The company provides managed IT services, security systems integration, enterprise access control, life-safety infrastructure solutions and smart site monitoring technologies supporting enterprise organizations, government agencies and critical infrastructure environments across the United States and internationally. For more information visit https://source1solutions.com SOURCE Source 1 Solutions Inc. THORNTON, Colo., March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Staybridge Suites Denver North Thornton, a premier choice for extended stay lodging in North Denver, has been honored with the IHG Torchbearer Award for the second consecutive year. As the highest accolade presented by InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), this award distinguishes the property as a leader in operational performance and guest satisfaction. "The Torchbearer award is a direct reflection of our teams' beautiful hearts and commitment to excellence," said General Manager, Jaylene Kremer. "This recognition validates the care and consistency our team brings to every guest experience." Located conveniently for travelers visiting the Denver metropolitan area, the hotel specializes in upscale accommodations designed for long-term comfort. The property features: Fully Equipped In-Room Kitchens: Ideal for extended stay travelers. Complimentary Breakfast: A wide selection of healthy breakfast favorites. Added Amenities: Guests enjoy an indoor pool, 24/7 fitness center, complimentary parking, and free Wi-Fi. As an IHG One Rewards participating hotel, guests can earn and redeem points while enjoying award-winning service at Staybridge Suites Denver North Thornton. Book your award-winning stay at: Staybridge Suites Denver North Thornton About Brandt Hospitality Group This property is managed by Brandt Hospitality Group, a hotel development and management company based in Fargo, North Dakota. Brandt Hospitality Group continues to build award winning hotels from coast to coast. In 2024, Marriott awarded Brandt Hospitality Group with "Partnership Circle Award" and "Guest Service Excellence" titles. Brandt Hospitality Group is currently working on developments in the Denver Market with plans to open in 2026. BHG is excited to introduce Fairfield Inn & Suites Denver Central Park and Home2 Suites Thornton to the area. To learn more about Brandt, visit www.brandthg.com. SOURCE Brandt Hospitality Group National study of more than 6,700 Americans shows millions of households are closer to adopting clean energy than previously believed SAN FRANCISCO, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Clean energy technology has never been better. It's cheaper, faster and more widely available. And yet adoption remains stubbornly slow. Study of 6,700 Americans shows millions of households are closer to adopting clean energy than previously believed. Post this Incentives are no longer reliable growth engines. The most motivated early adopters have already acted. Policy tailwinds no longer mask structural inefficiencies in how the industry identifies and converts customers. Switch 5, a new decision intelligence company founded by longtime energy and behavior-change operators, believes the problem isn't cost, product quality or eligibility. It's how the market understands people. After analyzing more than 6,700 U.S. consumers in one of the largest studies of its kind, the company developed the Clean Energy Readiness Framework, a new way of organizing the market around readiness to purchase rather than home eligibility. The findings are detailed in the Clean Energy Readiness Report, with an executive summary available publicly. The framework helps power Switch 5's Readiness Platform, which helps organizations identify and convert households most likely to adopt clean energy in the near term. The research challenges one of the industry's core assumptions: that clean energy adoption is primarily a function of economics, access and awareness. Instead, the data suggests the primary constraint is behavioral. "Every growth market eventually shifts from expansion to discipline," said Steve McBee, co-founder of Switch 5 and former CEO of NRG Home. "Clean energy is in that moment now. The companies that win will be the ones that understand who is truly ready to act, not just who qualifies on paper. You can target every viable roof in America and still miss the people who are actually prepared to make a decision." The analysis finds that 18 percent of U.S. households fall into Switch 5's 'Active' segment and are open to installing solar in the next 12 months, more than double the share of homes that have installed solar after more than two decades of industry growth. At the same time: 24 percent of households are actively researching and comparing clean energy options of households are actively researching and comparing clean energy options 12 percent are exploring but stalled by uncertainty are exploring but stalled by uncertainty 64 percent remain largely disengaged The implication: demand exists, but most growth strategies are aimed at the wrong signals. For more than a decade, companies have optimized around identifying eligible homes rooftops, credit scores and geography rather than identifying ready buyers. The research also challenges the long-standing narrative that cost is the primary barrier to adoption. While price is cited, behavioral friction, including fear of making the wrong decision, distrust of installers, uncertainty about savings and perceived complexity, often plays a larger role in preventing action. Tom Scott, co-founder of Switch 5, said the idea for the company emerged from years of conversations with energy executives frustrated by the rising cost of customer acquisition. "We kept seeing the same pattern," Scott said. "High stated interest. Low follow-through. The industry talks about awareness and incentives, but the real challenge is closing the gap between what people say and what they actually do." The Readiness Platform operationalizes the framework, using AI-supported decision intelligence to help organizations: Identify consumers most likely to convert in the near term Diagnose the specific barrier preventing action Align messaging and outreach to the next binding constraint Deploy resources toward active demand rather than passive interest Switch 5 recently combined with Northwind Climate, a leading sustainability-focused insights firm with more than two years of consumer data, integrating predictive analytics into the platform and strengthening its ability to move from research insight to applied targeting. Doug Rubin, co-founder of Switch 5 and founder of Northwind Climate, said the goal is not incremental optimization but structural correction. "Every growth market eventually reaches a point where expansion alone isn't enough," Rubin said. "The winners are the organizations that become disciplined about where real demand exists and how decisions are actually made." Switch 5 is initially focused on clean energy but sees applications in any sector where progress depends on people changing behavior. "We built the system we wished we had," McBee said. "Because the next phase of the energy transition won't be won by better technology. It will be won by better understanding of people." Switch 5 is headquartered in San Francisco. About Switch 5 Switch 5 is a decision intelligence company built by operators who have led large-scale energy, commercial and behavior-change campaigns. The company helps organizations identify real demand, understand behavioral barriers and convert intent into action. Its Readiness model reframes markets around people rather than proxies, enabling more disciplined growth in complex, adoption-driven industries. For more information, visit www.switch5.com Media Contact: Sarina Tracy sarina.tracy@switch5.com SOURCE Switch 5 'Built on Envoy' delivers freely available, community-driven extensions that solve the most common obstacles to Envoy adoption for AI workloads. SAN FRANCISCO, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Tetrate, a driving force behind the Envoy open source project and an innovator in securing AI agents, today launched Built on Envoy, a freely available, open source extensions marketplace designed to remove the most common barriers to Envoy adoption for AI workloads. Drawing on years of experience deploying Envoy at scale for enterprises worldwide, Tetrate has identified and solved the deployment pitfalls that slow teams down, packaged those solutions as ready-to-use extensions and made them available to everyone in the community at no cost. Envoy's advanced capabilities have remained accessible only to teams with deep, specialized expertise. Many organizations end up building custom extensions behind closed doors, duplicating effort and missing the chance to benefit from shared innovation. Built on Envoy changes that by giving any developer a place to discover, download and deploy proven extensions, and to contribute their own back to the community. Created at Lyft in 2015, Envoy has been used in production for nearly a decade. By September 2016, Envoy was processing over 2 million requests per second across Lyft's infrastructure, and today handles millions of machine learning predictions daily. The proxy's security has been hardened through participation in Google's Vulnerability Reward Program. Today, Netflix processes billions of API requests daily, while Airbnb handles over 1 million user events per second, with both organizations relying on Envoy for mission-critical traffic management. This production-proven foundation has made Envoy a first choice for internet-scale deployments. At least 44% of enterprises now use Envoy in production environments or are evaluating Envoy for production, including AWS, Docker, SAP, Atlassian and LY Corporation. Built for the Problems Teams Actually Face The marketplace launches with extensions built to address the deployment challenges Envoy users encounter most often. These include security and authentication hurdles such as WAF integration, OAuth2 token exchange, SAML and authorization workflows. Others are designed for AI governance requirements like checking LLM requests against Azure Content Safety and caching model requests, as well as operational needs including proxy configuration for data platforms and routing zone pinning. A file-server extension rounds out the initial set, allowing teams to serve static assets such as HTML pages, dashboards and documentation directly from Envoy without deploying a separate web server. Additional contributions from the Envoy community are planned in the near future. A detailed walkthrough of the available extensions and their use cases is available on the Tetrate blog at https://tetr8.io/builtonenvoy. Freely Available, Built for the Community Built on Envoy is released under the Apache 2.0 open source license and is entirely free to use. Tetrate has seeded the marketplace, but the long-term vision is a community-sustained ecosystem where organizations across industries share what they have built and collectively accelerate Envoy adoption. To make that easy, Built on Envoy includes a CLI package manager that lets developers run Envoy with extensions on their local machine using simple commands, dramatically reducing the time it takes to experiment, prototype and iterate. "To date, writing extensions for Envoy has been a laborious process that involves writing C++ and compiling a fully custom build of the entire proxy," said Matt Klein, creator of Envoy. "The rise of dynamic modules and allowing either Go or Rust to be used for extensions is going to unlock Envoy extensibility to way more people. I'm really excited about the Built on Envoy effort making it super easy for everyone to get started with Envoy extensions and I'm looking forward to using it to build Rust Envoy extensions for use at bitdrift." "For years, we have worked with enterprise customers deploying Envoy at scale, and we have seen firsthand the same challenges come up again and again," said Varun Talwar, CTO at Tetrate. "Too many teams are solving the same problems independently. Built on Envoy gives the community a way to share those solutions openly, so every Envoy user can move faster. We built this for the ecosystem, and we are inviting everyone to come use it and contribute back." "Envoy has become one of the most high-velocity and impactful open source projects in the cloud native ecosystem," said Chris Aniszczyk, CTO at the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF). "When contributing organizations like Tetrate step forward to lower the barriers to adoption, they create pathways for more developers to contribute upstream, that kind of leadership strengthens the entire ecosystem." "Envoy is powerful, but it can be complicated and tricky to configure and extend," observed Rohit Agrawal, Envoy maintainer and software engineer at Databricks. "Built on Envoy makes it extremely easy to extend Envoy using Go and Rust, and the developer experience is simple enough for our non-power users who don't know Envoy's internals." Available Now Built on Envoy is available now at builtonenvoy.io/, where engineers can find details on the initial extensions and a blog post on how to get started. Developers can browse and download ready-to-deploy extensions for free, and organizations are invited to contribute their own extensions to help grow the ecosystem. The public git repo is available at github.com/tetratelabs/built-on-envoy. About Tetrate Tetrate is a primary upstream contributor to the Envoy project and a leader in its technical development. Tetrate helps organizations graduate agentic pilots to trusted status and autonomous operation, supplying the standards, guardrails and evaluation metrics needed to scale agents consistently, promote them to production with confidence and monitor their behavior over time. This is why some of the largest financial institutions, governments and other enterprises rely on Tetrate to deliver modern application networking and security. More at tetrate.io. Media Contact: Cristin Connelly Cathey.co for Tetrate [email protected] SOURCE Tetrate INDIANAPOLIS, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- An irregularity in federal law allows illegal immigrants to possess firearms if the weapon has been issued by a law enforcement agency or other government entity. This exception has given some police agencies license to allow individuals who are in the United States illegally to become sworn police officers. A bill introduced in Congress called the Stop Illegal Alien Cops Act (S. 3909 / H.R. 7703) closes this loophole, thus ensuring that illegal immigrants are prohibited from being employed as armed law enforcement officers. Alamy stock image This bill, endorsed by the National Police Association (NPA), was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Tedd Budd (NC) and in the House by Rep. Mary Miller (IL-15). A group of lawmakers, including Sens. Lindsey Graham (SC), Marsha Blackburn (TN), John Cornyn (TX), Markwayne Mullin (OH), and Reps. Randy Fine (FL-6), Anna Paulina Luna (FL-13), and Mike Ezell (MS-4) have signed on as original bill co-sponsors. It has been referred to the Judiciary Committee for deliberation. The text for the Senate bill, once it becomes available, will be here; and the text for the House bill will be here. The Stop Illegal Alien Cops Act provides exceptions for law enforcement officers who are visiting from allied nations on a temporary basis for sporting events, or for official law enforcement purposes, including joint training initiatives and exchange programs. "Giving individuals who are in the United States illegally the authority to enforce our nation's laws delegitimizes the policing profession and erodes the public's trust in law enforcement. It also sends a mixed message that we can arbitrarily choose which laws to comply with based on political or ideological sentiment," said Paula Fitzsimmons, Legislative Director, National Police Association. "The Stop Illegal Alien Cops Act will close the legal loophole that allows these inconsistencies to occur," Fitzsimmons added. The NPA is grateful to Sen. Budd, Rep. Miller, and the original bill co-sponsors for introducing the Stop Illegal Alien Cops Act, a bill designed to ensure that those we entrust with enforcing our laws are not in breach of them. We ask members of Congress to thoughtfully deliberate on this bill, then work to pass it. To support anti-crime, pro-police legislation, join the NPA's Call to Action team. Receive email alerts on bills, including which lawmakers to contact. About: The National Police Association (NPA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting law enforcement through advocacy, education, and the courts. For more information, visit NationalPolice.org. Media Contact: Paula Fitzsimmons 3024691765 [email protected] SOURCE National Police Association LAS VEGAS, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- While many aspiring entrepreneurs chase tech startups, crypto trends, and viral apps, a growing movement of small business owners across America is building wealth through something far less glamorous: local mailbox and shipping stores. Through the Mailbox Money Course, an education and mentorship community founded by entrepreneur and investor Lisa Sutton Gunderson, more than 130 independent shipping and mailbox stores have opened nationwide, stretching from Alaska to Puerto Rico. These neighborhood businesses offer private mailbox rentals, shipping services, packaging, and logistics support for local residents and small businesses creating steady, recurring revenue for owners while providing essential services in their communities. "The media loves talking about unicorn startups," said Gunderson. "But thousands of everyday entrepreneurs are quietly building real wealth through practical, service-based businesses that people rely on every day." Members of the Mailbox Money Course community include: A family-run shipping store in Oklahoma launched while the founder still worked a full-time W-2 job launched while the founder still worked a full-time W-2 job Entrepreneurs opening locations in rural Alaska , where shipping services are critical infrastructure , where shipping services are critical infrastructure First-time business owners launching stores in Florida, Texas, and California Operators building multi-location businesses serving e-commerce sellers and local residents Unlike traditional franchise shipping brands, many entrepreneurs are choosing independent ownership, allowing them to keep more of their revenue while customizing services for their local markets. The demand for shipping and logistics services has surged alongside e-commerce growth, turning these once-overlooked businesses into powerful opportunities for local entrepreneurship. Lisa launched her own first mailbox rental and shipping store called Ship Las Vegas in 2018. Today, she operates multiple locations while mentoring aspiring owners through the Mailbox Money Course community. "Small businesses are still the backbone of America," Gunderson said. "Watching over a hundred people step into ownership and build something in their communities has been incredible." With new entrepreneurs continuing to launch stores across the country, the Mailbox Money community represents a growing trend: practical, community-rooted entrepreneurship in an increasingly digital economy. Entrepreneurs interested in learning more about the model can attend upcoming educational sessions hosted by Lisa. More information is available at: www.MailboxMoneyCourse.com Media Contact: www.mailboxmoneycourse.com [email protected] PRLog ID: www.prlog.org/13132217 SOURCE Ship Las Vegas The world's most advanced military trauma training facility sets new standards for readiness, response, and resilience CINCINNATI, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- UC Health and the U.S. Air Force announced the opening of the expanded Center for Sustainment of Trauma and Readiness Skills (C-STARS) Simulation Center at UC Health. The new, state-of-the-art, 30,000-square-foot facility represents the next generation of military and civilian trauma training, significantly advancing medical readiness, response, and research. U.S. Air Force medical personnel participate in trauma simulation training at the expanded C-STARS Simulation Center at UC Health in Cincinnati. The $10 million expansion, developed in partnership with the 711th Human Performance Wing of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), prepares Air Force medical teams to deliver lifesaving care in combat zones, humanitarian missions, and complex civilian emergencies. Designed to mirror the realities of modern trauma care, the expanded simulation center includes a fully equipped command center, enhanced education and training suites, dedicated research space, and an immersive virtual reality environment. Key features of the expanded facility include: High-fidelity, full-scale simulation technology Immersive virtual and augmented reality environments Data-informed performance tools supporting real-time clinical decision-making Configurable spaces replicating battlefield, transport, and hospital settings "With this state-of-the-art facility, we ensure our medics are prepared to meet the challenges of any environment," said Brig. Gen. Robert K. Bogart, commander of the 711th Human Performance Wing. "This partnership is setting a global standard for trauma training and medical research." "From expanding opportunities for cutting-edge training to researching new medical intervention techniques, every effort is driven by a single mission: saving lives," said Col. Ric Speakman, commander of the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine. "This facility ensures the men and women who serve are equipped to deliver expert medical care worldwide." Building on more than two decades of collaboration, the expanded simulation center will be the most advanced C-STARS facility worldwide. Air Force Critical Care Air Transport (CCAT) teams are prepared to care for the most critically injured patients in austere, high-stress, and rapidly evolving environments. "UC Health, in partnership with the U.S. Air Force, is setting the standard for readiness, response, and resilience through the C-STARS Simulation Center," said Col. Valerie Sams, MD, director of C-STARS Cincinnati, U.S. Air Force, and trauma surgeon at UC Medical Center. "Together, we're ensuring the lessons learned here save lives - on the battlefield and at home." In addition to its advanced training mission, the expanded C-STARS Simulation Center will serve as a national hub for operationally relevant, data-driven research. The center's dedicated research infrastructure enables researchers and clinicians to evaluate new medical technologies, autonomous systems, and care models under realistic operational conditions. "Every time we step into this simulation center, we're reminded our research isn't about equipment - it's about saving lives," said Jim Lehman, UC Medical research site lead for the en route care section of AFRL's Human Effectiveness Directorate. "If our work helps medics bring one more service member home safely, every hour spent here is worth it." Through this integrated research-and-training approach, the center will help shape future doctrine and capability development within the Department of Air Force, ensuring rapid, evidence-based advances that enhance warfighter survivability. Established in 2002, C-STARS Cincinnati has trained 5,000+ Air Force medical professionals. Through joint training, shared research, and advanced simulation, initially funded by Congress, C-STARS prepares military medics and civilian first responders, helping create safer communities. Learn more at UCHealth.com/C-STARS. About UC Health UC Health is Greater Cincinnati's adult academic health system - where world-class care, groundbreaking research, and the next generation of medicine come together to transform health and improve life within our community. To learn more, visit UCHealth.com. About AFRL The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is the Department of the Air Force's primary scientific research and development center and one of six centers within Air Force Materiel Command. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space and cyberspace forces. With a workforce spanning nine technology areas and 40 other operations around the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit afresearchlab.com. AFRL's Human Effectiveness Directorate is part of the 711th Human Performance Wing, a unique combination of two mission units. While the Human Effectiveness Directorate is science- and technology-focused, the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine is a center for aerospace medical learning, consultation, medical investigations and aircrew health assessments. This synergy of research and development with aerospace medical expertise helps ensure Airmen and Guardians are available, ready and performing at their peak. Media Contact Alex Lolli [email protected] 513-310-1761 SOURCE UC Health Peerreviewed research examines characterdriven narratives and humancentered AI that make complex scientific ideas more approachable for adult learners PHOENIX, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- University of Phoenix announces the publication of "Harnessing AI, Virtual Landscapes, and Anthropomorphic Imaginaries to Enhance Environmental Science Education at Jokulsarlon Proglacial Lagoon, Iceland" in Glacies. The peer-reviewed study, which examines how character-driven narratives and human-centered AI can support adult learners in their understanding of complex scientific ideas, is authored by Jacquelyn Kelly, Ph.D., associate dean, College of General Studies; Dianna Gielstra, Ph.D., fulltime faculty, Environmental Science Program, College of General Studies; Tomas J. Oberding, Ph.D., fulltime faculty, Environmental Science Program, College of General Studies; Jim Bruno, MBA, associate dean, College of Business and Information Technology; and Stephanie Cosentino, MAEd, senior instructional designer, University of Phoenix. Key facts Course context: ENV/100T, Principles of Environmental Science, serving nonscience majors and adult learners. Approach: characterdriven, storybook method that assigns personalities to scientific constructs, supported by AIgenerated imagery developed through a humancentered, facultyguided design process. Character examples referenced in class: Nico Nitrogen, Remi Rock, and Waverly Water. Learner sentiment: 87.1 percent of surveyed students reported enjoying the anthropomorphic narratives; 82.0 percent said the approach reinforced systems thinking. Study design: mixedmethod, IRBexempt research applying the Curriculum Redesign and AIFacilitated Transformation model. Publication: peerreviewed, openaccess article in Glacies. The peer-reviewed study describes how the ENV/100T course uses a storybook format to introduce environmental science to nonscience majors. Scientific ideas are presented through approachable characters and narratives designed to reduce barriers for learners who may be returning to college or encountering science coursework after time away from formal study. As generative artificial intelligence tools became available, the research team used AI to help create consistent character imagery and enhance storyline development so students could visualize and reason about environmental processes more clearly. How the course uses storytelling and AI to support understanding In ENV/100T, learners engage with core environmental science concepts through original, charactercentered stories grounded in realworld contexts. Characters such as Nico Nitrogen, Remi Rock, and Waverly Water personify scientific processes and cycles. The instructional team used a humancentered AI approach, with faculty and instructional designers guiding how AI tools supported learning goals, visual consistency, and narrative clarity. This design was intended to provide adult learners with accessible entry points into complex topics while maintaining alignment with course outcomes. What the research found about student engagement Survey data and qualitative feedback indicate that learners responded positively to the storytelling approach. Study findings show that 87.1 percent of surveyed students enjoyed engaging with the narrative elements, and 82.0 percent agreed that the approach reinforced systems thinking. Student reflections suggest that narrative framing and consistent visuals helped learners compare ideas, visualize relationships among Earth systems, and communicate scientific concepts in their own words. The authors note that findings are based on an exploratory, mixedmethod study and will inform continued course evaluation and refinement. "Adult learners benefit when we make space for curiosity and play as part of serious learning," said Dr. Kelly. "By inviting students to meet characters like Nico Nitrogen and Waverly Water, we help them see the patterns and relationships that exist in environmental systems. AIsupported imagery brought those stories to life with consistency and clarity, and students used the characters to explain ideas, test their understanding, and stay engaged as the work became more complex." Why this matters for adult learners and environmental science education The authors present a practical model for courses that serve nonscience majors and working adults: use narrative framing to make abstract concepts approachable, support those narratives with consistent visuals, and align activities to clearly defined learning outcomes. For adult learners balancing work, family, and education, thoughtfully designed learning experiences can help sustain engagement and support understanding of complex environmental systems. Access the study "Harnessing AI, Virtual Landscapes, and Anthropomorphic Imaginaries to Enhance Environmental Science Education at Jokulsarlon Proglacial Lagoon, Iceland" is published in Glacies and is available online here. About University of Phoenix University of Phoenix innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, skills-mapped curriculum for our bachelor's and master's degree programs and a Career Services for Life commitment help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu/blog.html. SOURCE University of Phoenix The president received the presidential sash from leftist Gabriel Boric, marking the start of a new political stage focused on security, the economy and immigration Jose Antonio Kast assumed the presidency of Chile on Wednesday afternoon, becoming the most right-wing head of state since the return to democracy in 1990. At the National Congress in Valparaiso, the 60-year-old lawyer received the presidential sash with an embroidered coat of arms. No leader since the return of democracy had incorporated this institutional symbol; the last to do so was dictator Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990). Instead of making a formal promise, Kast swore to faithfully carry out his duties an act with a religious undertone, since it implies accepting the role before God. To signal that his team will begin working immediately on the promised emergency government, the new president has scheduled onsite activities for Wednesday afternoon and will move into La Moneda Palace on Wednesday night. Gabriel Boric welcomed Kast his ideological opposite without a tie and to applause. Kast, wearing a tie, appeared relaxed as he walked toward the podium alongside the first lady, Pia Adriasola, even breaking protocol to personally greet foreign and local authorities seated in the front row. After handing over the presidential sash, Boric, now a private citizen, left the historic building accompanied by his partner Paula Carrasco, his stepson, and carrying his eightmonthold daughter Violeta in his arms. Jose Antonio Kast and his cabinet in Valparaiso. SOFIA YANJARI In front of more than 1,150 attendees, the new president formally appointed his 24 ministers 13 men and 11 women calling each of them individually to assume their posts. After nearly 50 minutes of ceremony, he left the Congress building, once again greeting the dignitaries seated in the front row. One of his warmest gestures was an embrace with Argentinas president, Javier Milei. Other international figures present included Spains King Felipe VI and the presidents of Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Kast, who spent the night at the presidential residence of Cerro Castillo in Vina del Mar, had planned an early bilateral meeting with Milei, but it was cancelled due to scheduling issues. Another meeting had been arranged with Brazils president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who had initially confirmed his attendance but later cancelled his trip citing scheduling reasons. His withdrawal came just hours after it became public that Kasts team had invited Senator Flavio Bolsonaro Lulas likely rival in Brazils next presidential race to the inauguration, an invitation Bolsonaro accepted. Jose Antonio Kast, Maria Paz Adriazola, Karina Miley and Javier Milei at the Valparaiso Congress. Cristobal Venegas The day began with positive news for Kast: Chiles traditional right-wing parties secured administrative control of both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. Newly swornin legislators elected members of the Chile Vamos coalition to preside over both bodies. In the Senate, after an agreement with centerleft parties, Paulina Nunez from the National Renewal (RN) party was chosen as president of the Senate. In the more fragmented lower house, Jorge Alessandri from the Independent Democratic Union (UDI) prevailed over Pamela Jiles of the populist Party of the People (PDG), who had the backing of leftwing lawmakers. Together, the rightwing blocs hold 76 of the 155 seats in the Chamber of Deputies. They fall short of an outright majority because the PDG controls 14 seats, making it a pivotal force in the chambers balance of power. One of Kasts first actions on Wednesday was to resign from the Republican Party, the farright political organization he founded in 2019. He had already announced that he would withdraw from the party as a gesture meant to unify the broader rightwing coalition that backed him unanimously in the December runoff, where he defeated the leftwing candidate Jeannette Jara. Kast is not the first president to leave his political party before taking office. Former president Sebastian Pinera (2010-2014 and 2018-2022), resigned from National Renewal before beginning his first term. And Patricio Aylwin (1990-1994) similarly left the Christian Democratic Party membership before assuming office. Jose Antonio Kast assumes the presidency of Chile this Wednesday. Cristian Soto Quiroz Before heading to the National Congress, Kast took part in the official photograph with his ministers at the Cerro Castillo Palace, marking the first formal image of the new cabinet. During that appearance, he made an unusual public statement about an attack on a police officer in Punta Arenas. When a Carabineros officer is attacked, all of us are attacked. This is going to change, because we are going to pursue them, find them, imprison them, and apply the full force of the law, without ambiguity, he said, in a veiled criticism of the Boric administration. After a lunch with international leaders attending the inauguration, the new president planned to travel to Santiago for his first onsite activity: opening the school year at Liceo Augusto DHalmar in the Nunoa district. A second event gesture is scheduled for Thursday, when Kast will visit a primary healthcare center to declare an oncology emergency, accompanied by several female ministers. The second step he plans to take to advance his agenda will come on Thursday, when he will declare a cancer emergency from a Family Health Center in Chile, accompanied by several of his female ministers. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The creator of virtual visual field testing launches a new brand reflecting its evolution into a complete visual diagnostics platform. BROOKLYN, N.Y., March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The company has also launched its new website at Carrot.io and will debut the brand this week at Vision Expo East in Orlando, Florida, at Booth #2508. "Virtual Field was the name that reflected where we started," said Sarah Kersting-Herbert, VP of Marketing at Carrot. "But over the past several years, we've built something much more powerful than just visual fields. Carrot reflects our vision for a complete visual diagnostics platform designed to help modern eye care practices deliver better care with greater efficiency." Virtual Field is now Carrot. Hear from our leaders. Speed Speed Carrot logo. (PRNewsfoto/Virtual Field) A Platform Built for the Modern Eye Care Practice Since launching its first visual field exam in 2018, the platform has grown to include 18 diagnostic protocols, expanded interoperability capabilities, and automation of diagnostic workflows designed to improve clinical efficiency and patient throughput. Today, Carrot supports more than 2,400+ eye care providers and has delivered 5 million diagnostic exams to patients across independent practices, multi-location clinics, and enterprise health organizations. "For decades, diagnostic technology in eye care has focused primarily on accuracy," said Jeremy Barlow, CEO of Carrot. "Clinical precision should be a given in any diagnostic solution. But today's practices need much more, including automation, workflow efficiency, seamless integration, and a better patient experience alongside reliable diagnostics. Carrot was built to deliver all of that in a single platform." The rebrand comes during a period of rapid growth and investment for the company as adoption of portable, software-driven diagnostic technologies continues to expand across eye care. "We're just getting started," Barlow added. "Our customers are looking for smarter, more efficient diagnostic solutions that fit seamlessly into how modern practices operate, and Carrot is built to meet that need." Honoring the Foundation of Virtual Field While the name is changing, the company emphasized that Virtual Field remains the technological foundation on which the Carrot platform was built. "When we first created Virtual Field, the goal was to rethink how visual field testing could work if it were built from the ground up using modern technology," said Carl Block, Co-Founder and VP of Engineering at Carrot. "That idea became the foundation for everything we've built since. Carrot represents the next chapter, expanding that same philosophy to a broader range of diagnostics and capabilities." Block added that the product and engineering teams remain focused on continuing to push the boundaries of what diagnostic technology can deliver. "Virtual Field proved that visual diagnostics could be more accessible and easier to use," Block said. "With Carrot, we're building on that foundation to automate much of the diagnostic workflow, helping practices save time, increase testing capacity, and deliver better diagnostic insights for their patients." Debuting the New Brand at Vision Expo Carrot will officially debut its new brand at optometry's leading tradeshow, Vision Expo, taking place March 1214, 2026, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. The company will be exhibiting at Booth #2508 and celebrating the launch with customers, partners, and attendees throughout the week. The booth will feature live demonstrations of the Carrot platform alongside a series of special events and treats, including a complimentary juice bar and a cocktail hour to celebrate the company's next chapter. "Vision Expo is the perfect place to introduce Carrot," said Kersting-Herbert. "It's where the industry comes together, and we're excited to celebrate this moment with the doctors, partners, and customers who helped make it possible." For more information on Virtual Field's evolution to Carrot, visit Carrot.io/virtual-field-is-now-carrot. About Carrot Carrot (formerly Virtual Field) is a complete end-to-end visual diagnostic platform designed to modernize how eye care providers perform and manage diagnostic testing. Built for optometrists and ophthalmologists, Carrot delivers clinically validated visual field and functional vision exams through a portable, software-driven platform that improves efficiency, accessibility, and patient experience. Today, more than 2,400 eye care providers use Carrot to deliver diagnostic testing, with over 5 million exams performed on the platform worldwide. To learn more about Carrot and its visual diagnostics platform, visit Carrot.io. SOURCE Virtual Field GENEVA, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The WHO Foundation today announced an expanded collaboration with Novo Nordisk to support global efforts to strengthen health systems against the rising burden of cardio-renal-metabolic diseases, including obesity and diabetes. Novo Nordisk has committed a total of USD 7.9 million to support this effort, with an initial gift of USD 2.9 million in 2024 followed by an additional USD 5 million in December 2025. Representatives from the WHO Foundation, Novo Nordisk, and health partners gathered at the launch of the Roadmap for Promoting Health and Addressing Childhood Obesity in School Settings under the Shine India initiative, marking a collaborative step toward preventing childhood obesity and promoting healthier school environments in India. The contribution will enable the WHO Foundation to support WHO's broader efforts to address noncommunicable diseases through prevention, early action, and strengthened primary health care, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where health systems often face capacity constraints. "Cardio-renal-metabolic diseases are complex conditions that demand prevention-first approaches anchored in strong and resilient health systems," said Anil Soni, Chief Executive Officer of the WHO Foundation. "By supporting WHO's leadership on prevention, we can reinforce the science and public health foundations that countries need to respond effectively and equitably." "Addressing obesity, diabetes and related conditions requires partnership at scale working across governments, communities, civil society and the private sector to advance prevention, early detection and care. In expanding Novo Nordisk's contribution to the WHO Foundation, we hope that more countries will be empowered with the tools, evidence and resources they need to make impactful local action." Said Elin Jager, Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy & Sustainability, Novo Nordisk. Global context on obesity More than 1 billion people worldwide are living with obesity, including 650 million adults, 340 million adolescents, and 39 million children. Worldwide obesity has nearly tripled since 1975. Overweight and obesity cause more deaths globally than underweight. 39 million children under age 5 are overweight or obese, and more than 340 million people aged 519 live with overweight or obesity. About the WHO Foundation The WHO Foundation is an independent organization headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, created in 2020 to support the mission of the World Health Organization. It mobilizes philanthropic capital and builds catalytic partnerships to advance health equity, respond to urgent health challenges, and strengthen systems that save lives. By connecting partners and practitioners, the Foundation helps scale trusted solutions, fund life-saving responses, and drive lasting change toward Health for All. Learn more at who.foundation Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2931415/WHO_Foundation.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2531138/5858327/WHO_Foundation_Logo.jpg SOURCE WHO Foundation NEW YORK, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- In a world obsessed with automation, the private aviation sector is seeing a counter-trend: a return to the "Trusted Advisor." New data from Paramount Business Jets reveals that despite the proliferation of self-service travel platforms, high-net-worth travelers are overwhelmingly choosing human expertise to navigate their flight requirements. Richard Zaher, CEO of Paramount Business Jets, whose 2025 market analysis reveals a significant "flight to quality" as 76% of private jet travelers prioritize expert consultation over automated booking apps. Buildings rise over Midtown in New York City at sunset. The city is a major destination for business and leisure travelers using private aviation services arranged by companies including Paramount Business Jets. An analysis of over 10,000 flight records shows that 76.5% of bookings are made via direct consultation with a flight expert. This preference for "high-touch" service has fueled a massive surge in the company's performance, with 2025 recording a 45% year-over-year growth in profitability and a 34% increase in annual revenue. "Private aviation is a dynamic environment where conditions change constantly - aircraft availability shifts, weather moves, crews reach duty limits, and maintenance issues arise," Zaher said. "Technology can provide quick estimates and process information quickly, but experience is what turns that information into sound judgment. Our advisors evaluate the variables, negotiate when necessary, and ensure the best decisions are made on behalf of our clients." "Our clients don't just want a transaction; they want a relationship," said Richard Zaher, CEO. "The fact that we maintain a 5-star average rating across all major review platforms is a testament to that. Our growth isn't coming from an ad campaign - it's coming from a deep, built-in loyalty within our client base." Key Insights from the 2025 Market Analysis: Unrivaled Client Loyalty: The data confirms an exceptional 59.6% repeat customer rate , proving that once a traveler experiences personalized advisory, they rarely return to automated platforms. The data confirms an exceptional , proving that once a traveler experiences personalized advisory, they rarely return to automated platforms. The 45% Growth Milestone: Shifting away from transactional models toward relationship-based service resulted in 2025 being the most successful year in the company's 20+ year history. Shifting away from transactional models toward relationship-based service resulted in 2025 being the most successful year in the company's 20+ year history. Price Transparency: While automation often hides fees, human-led consultation provides clarity on the private jet rental cost, ensuring clients understand the value behind every mission. While automation often hides fees, human-led consultation provides clarity on the private jet rental cost, ensuring clients understand the value behind every mission. Primary Hubs: Teterboro (KTEB), Las Vegas (KLAS), and Miami (KOPF) remain the most sought-after corridors for elite travelers, with December seeing the highest volume of the year. Service-First Technology Acknowledging the need for seamless travel, Paramount Business Jets is currently in the final stages of developing a proprietary app. Unlike industry "booking apps" designed for mass marketing, this tool is built exclusively to enhance the journey for existing clients. "We aren't building an app to find new customers; we are building it to take better care of the ones we have," added Zaher. "The goal is to simplify the travel experience - handling manifests, catering, and ground logistics - while ensuring that a human expert remains at the center of the relationship. In luxury, technology should be an invisible assistant, not a replacement for the expert you trust." About Paramount Business Jets: Paramount Business Jets is one of the most trusted on-demand jet charter services and private jet card membership providers that has redefined luxury travel through a relentless focus on personalized service, safety, and expert advocacy. With a record of over 20 years of successful missions and a 5-star reputation for excellence, we leverage over a decade of industry data to provide our clients with unrivaled safety and reliability. Our mission is to blend high-touch advisory with seamless technology, ensuring that every journey is as sophisticated as the individuals we serve. Media Contact: Richard Zaher | [email protected] | (877) 727-2538 Ext. 101 | www.paramountbusinessjets.com SOURCE Paramount Business Jets About this content About Jamie Ashcroft Jamie Ashcroft, the News Editor for Proactive UK, has developed an impressive career in financial journalism, focusing on the small-cap sector for over fourteen years. Before joining the Proactive team, he was a stockbroker during the global financial crisis, a role that complemented his educational background - a first-class degree in Business and Economics and qualifications in software design and development. As one of the early external hires at Proactive in 2009, Jamie contributed... Read more About the publisher Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists. Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth. We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors. The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies. Use of technology Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter. Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows. Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation. About this content About Stephen Gunnion Stephen Gunnion is a senior financial journalist and broadcaster at Proactive Investors. He has more than 25 years of experience in television, radio and print media, anchoring on a number of television channels including South Africa's Business Day TV, CNBC Africa and the South African Broadcasting Corporation, where he was the economics editor. He has also worked for Daily Maverick, Bloomberg, the Business Day newspaper and Investors' Chronicle. Read more About the publisher Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists. Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth. We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors. The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies. Use of technology Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter. Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows. Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation. About this content About Sergio Braga-Mullin Sergio joins Proactive after a career of freelance videography in and around the financial markets. Having worked with some of the largest news agencies, banks and bond houses in London and Europe; he brings expert knowledge, experience and a strong network with him. He has a full knowledge of live multi-camera broadcast systems as well as external event recording. Sergio joined the team full-time in 2021 to lead the video production for the New York office. Read more About the publisher Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists. Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth. We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors. The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies. Use of technology Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter. Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows. Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation. About this content About Lisa Uhlman Lisa Uhlman is an equities reporter at Proactive Investors, covering ASX-listed companies across the mining, energy, biotech and emerging tech sectors. With a background in legal and financial journalism, Lisa brings a sharp analytical lens to market news and corporate developments. Prior to joining Proactive, she reported for national trade publications and newswires, with a focus on court reporting, regulatory affairs and ESG-related business issues. Based in Sydney, she is... Read more About the publisher Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists. Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth. We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors. The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies. Use of technology Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter. Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows. Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation. Presented in a broad-stroke narrative, devoid of much detail, the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias El Mencho, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), in a military operation two and a half weeks ago, suddenly appears as the prelude to the legal proceedings against two of his former associates. Having been transferred to the United States in the last year, Erick Valencia, alias El 85, and Abigael Gonzalez, alias El Cuini, former collaborators of El Mencho, are expected to plead guilty in the coming months in U.S. courts to various drug trafficking charges, further weakening the family ties in the formation of the criminal groups future leadership. The fallout from El Menchos death seems endless right now. Doubts about the military operation, which still dominate reporters questions to President Claudia Sheinbaum and her Security Cabinet, top the list. Uncertainty about the succession within the CJNG itself shares the same space. That is, if there is a succession, and if the different groups that comprise the cartel or have previously been allies dont engage in infighting. Recent developments in the United States have opened a new path in the post-Mencho world, following the undisputed leadership of the CJNG for a decade and a half. The documents submitted to the court by the defense teams of El 85 and El Cuini make their cooperation seem likely. While the terms and conditions of any agreements they reach with the Department of Justice remain unknown, their long-term future is likely to be in prison, a world they will share and in fact already do with El Menchos son, Ruben Oseguera, alias Menchito, Antonio Oseguera, El Menchos brother, who was also extradited to the U.S. last year, and El Cuinis brothers, Gerardo and Jose, who have also been convicted in U.S. courts. History awaits the reasons; the possible connection between the downfall of the drug lord and the reluctance of his former allies to acknowledge the crimes they are accused of. Perhaps there is none. Some decided to cooperate with U.S. authorities a long time before El Menchos demise, given the mounting charges on the courts desk, as was the case with Gerardo Gonzalez, El Cuinis brother, who was arrested in Uruguay 10 years ago and later extradited to the United States. Others chose not to, like Menchito, sentenced last year to life imprisonment, or Cuinis other brother, who was also sentenced in 2025. Whatever the case, the future of the CJNG shows signs of diverging from its founders and their families. Some 15 years ago, Erick Valencia and Nemesio Oseguera created the main acronym of what is currently Mexicos largest criminal organization, with a presence in practically every state in the country and a good number of nations in the Americas and Europe, among other territories. But back then, at the dawn of the second decade of the 2000s, theirs was just one of many gangs trying to establish themselves in the criminal landscape of Michoacan. Controlling even Jalisco seemed like a pipe dream then. Arrested a couple of times since 2012, and finally extradited to the United States a year ago, El 85 witnessed the CJNGs massive expansion from prison: he was incarcerated from 2012 to 2018. By the time he was released, that old Michoacan gang infamous for massacring more than 30 people in a Veracruz tourist area had become an empire. It remains unclear what happened: whether he tried to return, if he did, or if El Mencho welcomed him back. What was said at the time was that he tried to challenge El Mencho for control of some municipalities and trafficking corridors, that their old friendship had ended. Authorities arrested him again in 2022. Although it may sound similar, due to certain parallels in their imprisonment, the case of El Cuini is different from that of El 85. Gonzalez is El Menchos brother-in-law, as the CJNG leader was married to his sister, Rosalinda Gonzalez, alias La Jefa. She has also been imprisoned a couple of times for money laundering and other white-collar crimes, but she was released and her name now appears in the running for the succession, along with El 03, another of El Menchos sons. Arrested in 2015, El Cuinis incarceration represents the ills of the Mexican prison system: from the various facilities where he was held, he maintained his power, bolstered by the enormous profits from drug trafficking. Without El Cuini and his faction on the scene, La Jefa, El 03, and the CJNGs regional leaders appear as the logistical and emotional hubs of the criminal group, now that their leader is gone. Symbolically, the predictable legal defeat of two of Menchos former allies foreshadows a future with new faces, such as Gonzalo Mendoza, alias Sapo, or Audias Flores, El Jardinero. That is, unless the government works to arrest them and dismantle the group at its root before the succession process is complete. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition About this content About Kerry Stevenson Kerry Stevenson joins Proactive Australia's broadcast team part time. As the Managing Director of Gold Events Kerry has been hosting the annual Australian Gold Conference for over 14 years, connecting industry and investment professionals and showcasing the value of precious metals. Kerry is passionate about helping others to secure a safe and solid future by understanding money, finance, and strategy. That is why she created the Making Money Matter channel on YouTube, where... Read more About the publisher Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists. Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth. We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors. The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies. Use of technology Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter. Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows. Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation. About this content About Jonathan Jackson Jonathan Jackson is an experienced writer and editor. Over the past 20 years, he has worked in print and digital media across several business and finance titles amd is currently the Australian news editor at Proactive Investors covering the latest news for ASX listed companies as well as current financial trends. He was previously managing editor with Business First magazine, Wealth Creator Magazine and StocksDigital. Jonathan has interviewed some of the world's top CEOs and covered... Read more About the publisher Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists. Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth. We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors. The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies. Use of technology Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter. Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows. Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation. About this content About Angela Harmantas Angela Harmantas is an Editor at Proactive. She has over 15 years of experience covering the equity markets in North America, with a particular focus on junior resource stocks. Angela has reported from numerous countries around the world, including Canada, the US, Australia, Brazil, Ghana, and South Africa for leading trade publications. Previously, she worked in investor relations and led the foreign direct investment program in Canada for the Swedish government. She earned a Bachelor of... Read more About the publisher Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists. Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth. We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors. The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies. Use of technology Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter. Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows. Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation. About this content About Emily Jarvie Emily began her career as a political journalist for Australian Community Media in Hobart, Tasmania. After she relocated to Toronto, Canada, she reported on business, legal, and scientific developments in the emerging psychedelics sector before joining Proactive in 2022. She brings a strong journalism background with her work featured in newspapers, magazines, and digital publications across Australia, Europe, and North America, including The Examiner, The Advocate, The Canberra Times, and... Read more About the publisher Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists. Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth. We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors. The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies. Use of technology Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter. Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows. Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation. 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 Fuel shortages continue to take their toll on a Cuba on the brink, where with each passing day, more reasons for discontent grow. The residents of the capital, more powerless than determined because they see no end to their precarious situation, have once again taken to their pots and pans to protest the prolonged power outages. Last week, blackouts hit Havana neighborhoods particularly hard in the rest of the country, the outages have been exceeding 24 hours for some time now alternating between about four hours of electricity and some 15 hours without. No one can work, study, or be happy like this, says Leandro Fernandez, a young student at the University of Havana who lives in the Cerro neighborhood. He speaks, pot in hand, faithful to a custom he adopted a week ago, along with other residents, at around 9:30 p.m., when its now common for them to have been without electricity for about 13 hours. Just like on Leonardo Street, other Havana neighborhoods have taken the same action, and the sound of banging pots and pans can be heard in areas of Central Havana, San Miguel del Padron, La Lisa, and other parts of the city, almost like a cry, a catharsis, a wake-up call amid the collapse of a country plunged into darkness. More than a month after the start of the U.S. oil embargo against the island, and given the Cuban authorities inability to maintain certain services, such as transportation and open universities, that would guarantee the normal flow of life, people are finding ways to demand solutions and be heard, whether by reflecting in a critical Facebook post, banging pots and pans, or organizing an independently structured university assembly to try to unblock the precarious functioning of Cuban education, especially in the last month, where classes have been taught through WhatsApp groups and online platforms. Protest against blackouts and power cuts in Havana, March 7. NORLYS PEREZ (REUTERS) This is an open debate to seek structural reforms in higher education, promoted autonomously by a group of students who have called themselves University Sit-in and who the previous day starred in an unusual event, dealing with forms of collective organization, outside the control of the Cuban authorities, to expose problems in the university community. Nearly 30 students from various faculties attended the demonstration, and their voices were finally heard by the officials in charge, amid a deployment of State Security agents, the repressive apparatus of the Cuban government. A month after the implementation of the hybrid learning model that students and professors have been forced into, with classrooms closed and with the memory of student protests against the price hikes by Etecsa the countrys only telecommunications company, which raised connectivity prices last June still fresh, the collective strain is evident. But the final straw was last weeks massive call by the Federation of University Students (FEU) for students, unable to attend classes, to take on essential tasks for local authorities in their municipalities, such as garbage collection, hospital cleaning, or teaching in primary schools. The discontent was widespread, and the responses from FEU representatives were inadequate. This motivated us to take action, says a communications student who participated in the peaceful sit-in on the university steps and preferred to remain anonymous. When she arrived on Monday morning, there were already about 15 students gathered at the base of the steps. From that moment, the young woman recounts, several professors were already talking with the group about their demands and trying to persuade us to move to a less public place, away from the foreign press present. As the number of students increased, the atmosphere began to change. More university officials and plainclothes officers appeared, preventing new protesters from entering, while the group already on the steps spoke with the academic authorities. I realized we were being surrounded by state security. It was intimidating, she recalls. Students outside the University of Havana, on March 9. Ramon Espinosa (AP) The protesters brought purely academic demands and denounced, the young woman recounts, the lack of support from their FEU representatives and the attempts made to delegitimize the protest. They spoke about practical issues hindering normal access to education in the country at this time, the proposal for community service, which should not be a substitute for university time, and the uncertainty imposed by the blended learning model. The education we are receiving is quite mediocre, despite the efforts of students and professors, protests the student, who has had to spend extra money on internet access to complete her online assignments and, along with her classmates, is demanding changes to how the semester will continue. The authorities arent giving us a clear date for a return to normalcy. What happened this Monday on the steps of the University of Havana carries a unique symbolism, as it highlights the communitys discontent with the organization that represents them, the Federation of University Students, which has been delegitimized by its ambiguous role in responding to the Etecsa rate hike, a move that provoked widespread rejection and protests from the university community. We made it clear that we will not tolerate being ignored, nor the bureaucratic processes that prevent us from resolving our problems, stated the young woman, who sees this peaceful sit-in as the beginning of a path toward independent organization and the demand for rights. The truth is that, whether its a university sit-in or the pot-banging protests in Havanas neighborhoods, the discontent of Cubans, exhausted within the island, is beginning to take shape. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Washington, March 11 : Concerns about Chinese nationals exploiting America's birthright citizenship laws through a growing "birth tourism" industry surfaced during a US Senate hearing, with one witness warning lawmakers that thousands of children born in the United States are later raised in China. Washington, March 11 (IANS) Concerns about Chinese nationals exploiting America's birthright citizenship laws through a growing "birth tourism" industry surfaced during a US Senate hearing, with one witness warning lawmakers that thousands of children born in the United States are later raised in China. The issue was raised during a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution examining whether children born in the United States to undocumented migrants or temporary visitors should automatically receive American citizenship. Investigative journalist Peter Schweizer told lawmakers that organised companies arrange travel, medical care, and logistics for foreign nationals seeking to give birth in the United States so their children obtain American citizenship. "What is birth tourism? Birth tourism is essentially an industry that provides concierge service at every step of the way for a foreign national they will transport them to the United States, arrange medical care, arrange for citizenship for the child, and as soon as the child is old enough to travel, they will return back to China," Schweizer said in testimony. Schweizer told the panel that the scale of the practice could be significant, citing estimates suggesting tens of thousands of Chinese nationals may give birth in the United States each year. "The Chinese government gave an estimate a few years ago on average 50,000 Chinese citizens a year were giving birth in the United States or at US territories like Saipan," he said. He added that other estimates were higher. "There was a research firm in China that estimated in 2018 alone, 180,000 managed to give birth in the United States," Schweizer said. Based on those estimates, he said the number of American citizens raised in China through birth tourism could be substantial. "If you do the math you are looking at roughly 1 million US citizens who are being raised in the People's Republic of China today," he said. Schweizer also raised concerns that some clients of birth tourism companies include members of China's political and military elite. "These are not political dissidents. These are military officers, people from the Ministry of Propaganda people that are high ranking officials in the Chinese Communist Party," he said. Schweizer said the practice raises long-term national security questions because children born in the United States automatically receive citizenship and could later exercise rights such as voting or applying for government jobs. The claims drew scepticism from some lawmakers during the hearing. Senator Richard Durbin questioned the evidence presented and pressed for concrete data about prosecutions related to birth tourism. "You've got some big claims, but when it comes to numbers, you ought to be able to tell us how many have been prosecuted," Durbin said. Legal experts also told the panel that birth tourism is already restricted under existing immigration regulations. Amanda Frost, a law professor at the University of Virginia, said US immigration rules already allow officials to deny entry to travellers seeking to enter the country on tourist visas solely to give birth. "There's a regulation on the books which makes it illegal to enter the United States on a tourist visa for the purpose of giving birth," Frost said. She added that enforcing existing rules could address the issue without altering the constitutional principle of birthright citizenship. The debate over birth tourism emerged as part of a broader political and legal fight over birthright citizenship in the United States. President Donald Trump has issued an executive order seeking to end automatic citizenship for children born to undocumented migrants or temporary visitors, arguing that the Constitution does not require such a policy. The issue is expected to reach the US Supreme Court soon, where justices will consider whether the 14th Amendment's citizenship clause guarantees citizenship to anyone born on American soil. The 14th Amendment, adopted in 1868 after the Civil War, states that "all persons born or naturalised in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States." The provision was intended in part to overturn the Supreme Court's 1857 Dred Scott decision, which denied citizenship to African Americans. In 1898, the Supreme Court's ruling in United States v. Wong Kim Ark affirmed that children born in the United States to foreign parents are citizens, a precedent that has shaped American citizenship law for more than a century. Mumbai, March 11 : Television power couple Shoaib Ibrahim and Dipika Kakar, on account of the holy month of Ramadan, extended a thoughtful gesture towards the security guards of their residential building. The couple gifted them a cooler to help them cope with the scorching heat. Shoaib shared the moment in one of his vlogs on social media, where he was seen giving viewers a glimpse of his daily routine and updates from his life. During the same, the actor received a large parcel at home and he further went on to explain the reason behind it. He revealed that the security guards stationed in the lobby area of their building have a shelter over their heads along with a fan, which helps them deal with the rising temperatures. But the guards posted at the entrance near the main gate do not have such arrangement, as they neither have a fan nor proper shelter to protect them from the current heatwave. Keeping this in mind, Shoaib and Dipika decided to gift a large cooler to the guards so that they could get some relief while carrying out their duties. Shoaib and Dipika have always expressed compassion in their thoughts. Earlier, in his YouTube vlog, was seen cooking delicacies for his family for Iftari during Ramadan. In the vlog, he revealed that he took charge of preparing Iftari at home to give his wife, actress Dipika Kakar, a much-needed break following her recent major surgery. The actor, in the video, was seen making ameetha samosaa from scratch and informed viewers that Dipika had been advised to rest as she continues to recover. Shoaib shared that usually it is Dipika who prepares Ramzan Iftari with a lot of love, warmth and a plethora of dishes, but this time he had stepped into the kitchen to take charge of Iftari, while ensuring that his wife does not exert or strain herself. Later during Iftari, the entire family was seen relishing the samosas prepared by Shoaib and praised his efforts, calling the dish delicious and well-made. a"IANS rd/ New Delhi, March 11 : Newly appointed Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, will take the oath of office and secrecy on Wednesday. The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to be held at 1:30 pm at Lok Niwas, where the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court will administer the oath, formally appointing him as the 23rd Lieutenant Governor of the national capital. Outgoing Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has been appointed as the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh and is set to assume charge on Friday. Taranjit Singh Sandhu is a former Indian diplomat who served as India's Ambassador to the US from February 2020 to January 31, 2024. Sandhu, who joined the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) in 1988, is credited with playing a key role in opening the Indian Embassy in Ukraine. He served as the head of the political and administration wing at the Indian Embassy in Ukraine. From serving as First Secretary at the Indian Embassy in Washington, to Consul General of India in Frankfurt, and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of India in Washington D.C., Sandhu held several key diplomatic assignments during his career spanning more than three-and-a-half decades. After retiring from the IFS, Sandhu joined the Bharatiya Janata Party months before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The BJP fielded Sandhu as its Lok Sabha candidate from Amritsar against Congress leader Gurjit Singh Aujla. Taranjit Singh Sandhu graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from St. Stephen's College at Delhi, and later completed his Master of Arts (MA) from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. Delhi's current L-G Vinai Kumar Saxena has been appointed as Ladakh's L-G in place of Kavinder Gupta, who has been named Himachal Pradesh Governor. The above appointments will take effect from the dates they will assume charge of their respective offices, the statement from Rashtrapati Bhavan said. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Washington, March 11 : US lawmakers introduced legislation to tackle teacher shortages across the country, proposing federal grants and training programmes to help schools recruit, prepare, and retain educators. Congresswoman Haley Stevens, alongside Senator Tina Smith and Congresswoman Jahana Hayes, introduced the Addressing Teacher Shortages Act, bicameral legislations designed to strengthen the teaching workforce and support students across the United States. Across the country, school districts are struggling to identify and hire qualified educators, particularly in high-demand fields such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and special education. The shortages have placed additional pressure on teachers already working in the system and have affected several communities. "As the daughter of a public school teacher, I know teachers are the backbone of our education system and the foundation of opportunity for every student," Stevens said. "The Addressing Teacher Shortages Act invests in Michigan's educators by expanding teacher preparation programs, strengthening mentorship opportunities, and building pathways for the next generation of teachers right here in our communities." Smith said schools across Minnesota have repeatedly raised concerns about the growing difficulty of filling teaching positions. "Smaller and rural districts particularly struggle to fill spots, but no matter where it is, we can't seem to hire teachers in key subjects like STEM, technical education, and special education. These shortages hurt our students the most, and that's why this legislation is so critical. Our kids deserve fully staffed schools." Hayes said shortages in specialised teaching areas have already been identified in several states. "In 2025, the Connecticut Department of Education identified 11 certification areas, ranging from math to special education, as experiencing critical shortages. Teacher shortages affect student outcomes," she said. "Expanding the educator pipeline, enhancing professional development, and improving teacher preparation will help attract and retain those we need most into the profession. The Addressing Teacher Shortages Act is a positive step in addressing these issues." Under the proposed legislation, the federal government would establish a competitive grant programme through which school districts could apply for five years of funding to strengthen teacher recruitment, training, and retention. The bill would also provide staffing resources within the US Department of Education to help under-resourced communities apply for and access the grants. The legislation also encourages programmes that motivate students pursuing STEM majors to take education coursework and consider teaching careers. Funding could further support teacher preparation pathways in secondary schools. In addition to recruitment efforts, the bill outlines strategies aimed at retaining teachers already in the profession. These include expanding access to technology for professional development in rural areas, supporting teachers seeking additional certifications, and providing induction programmes for new educators. The proposal also allows support measures such as tuition assistance, housing allowances or stipends for student teachers and early-career educators, as well as professional development for school leaders focused on improving teacher retention. Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, said the legislation addresses challenges faced by schools and educators nationwide. Washington, March 11 : A new report by Democratic members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has warned that President Donald Trump's policies have weakened the United States in its strategic rivalry with China, arguing that trade wars, cuts to foreign assistance, and strained alliances have created opportunities for Beijing to expand its global influence. The 56-page report, titled "The Price of Retreat 2.0: Undermining America's Economic Edge and Alliance Advantage," was released by Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the ranking Democratic member of the committee, along with other Democratic lawmakers. The report comes as Trump is expected to travel to Beijing later this month for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. "This report makes clear that the consequences of the Trump Administration's global retreat that we warned about last year are no longer theoreticalthey are being felt by American families and businesses every day," Shaheen said. "The Administration's trade wars, cuts to innovation, and weakening of our alliances are not strengthening America's position against China; they are undermining it," she added. Shaheen said the policies were allowing Beijing to increase its influence globally at a time when Washington should be strengthening economic leadership and partnerships. "As President Trump heads into his meetings with President Xi later this month, his own policies have profoundly diminished America's competitive advantage against China," she said. "The President will have a weak hand to play in Beijing, and it is the American people who will pay the price." According to the report, the administration's fluctuating tariffs have imposed significant economic costs. It notes that layoffs at small businesses reached 120,000 workers in November 2025, the largest monthly total in five years, while the U.S. economy has lost a net 19,000 jobs since the introduction of the administration's so-called "Liberation Day" tariffs. The report also says tariffs have increased costs for American households and disrupted global markets while failing to significantly alter China's behaviour. Lawmakers also raised concerns about technology policy. The report warns that allowing the sale of advanced semiconductors to China could undermine the United States' long-term economic and technological advantage. The report argues that immigration and visa restrictions have also worsened worker shortages in key sectors. Policies affecting international students and skilled workers have driven talent away from the United States, while China has expanded visa programmes and professional opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The report also highlights what it calls a weakening of US diplomatic capacity. More than half of American embassies overseas currently lack a Senate-confirmed ambassador, while the administration rescinded more than $14 billion in foreign assistance in 2025.china_report_20 China, by contrast, has expanded its diplomatic presence and increased investments under the Belt and Road Initiative, the report says. It also warns that tensions with allies have weakened Washington's ability to coordinate responses to Beijing. The report cites disputes with partners including Denmark and Japan, and concerns about US commitments related to Taiwan. It also calls on lawmakers to reassert congressional authority over trade policy and limit the administration's ability to impose tariffs unilaterally. Chennai, March 11 : Actor Gautham Ram Karthik, who is also the son of popular actor Karthik, has now penned an adorable birthday greeting to his wife, actress Manjima Mohan, in which he has called her a "blessing". Taking to his Instagram page to pen the birthday wish to Manjima Mohan, who celebrates her birthday on Wednesday, Gautham Ram Karthik wrote, "If the world only knew what a blessing you were to me... My Dearest Manjima, Of all the days in the calendar, this is the one I celebrate the most!" He went on to say, "It's the day the world became a better place because you entered it, but more importantly, it's the day that marks the beginning of the soul who has become my entire world." "On the scary journey of life, you've been my strength, my shield, my partner through it all! With your love and compassion, you've made it all a wonderful experience to sail through just by standing by my side. Today I give thanks for you, today I celebrate you, for being my constant, my protector, and my greatest adventure," he explained. He concluded his post, saying, "Today is your birthday, and Iam the one who got the greatest gift. Thank you for sharing your journey with me. I love you with all of my heart! Happy Birthday!" On the work front, Gautham Ram Karthik has a number of interesting projects including director Sooriyaprathap's upcoming sci-fi crime thriller 'ROOT' (Running Out Of Time) and director Dhina Raghavan's eagerly awaited upcoming political action thriller titled 'Bloody Politics'. Anchana Nethrun plays the female lead in Bloody Politics, which will also feature director Selvaraghavan in a pivotal role alongside Robbie, P. Vasu, A. Venkatesh, Maaran, Indumathi, Aditya Kathir, Bakkiyam Sankar and others. 'Bloody Politics' is being produced by director Ganesh K. Babu, best known for having directed the critically acclaimed superhit film 'Dada'. Ganesh K Babu has produced this film under his banner Draft by GKB, with Sanjay Muthukumar V as co-producer. -- IANS mkr/ United Nations, March 11 : More than 1,300 civilians have been killed and 9,669 civilian sites destroyed in Iran in the military strikes launched by the United States and Israel since February 28, Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran's ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations, said. The civilian sites included 7,943 residential homes, 1,617 commercial and service centers, 32 medical and pharmaceutical facilities, 65 schools and educational institutions, 13 Red Crescent buildings, and several energy supply facilities, Iravani told the press in a statement on Tuesday. "They are deliberately and indiscriminately targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure across my country. They show no respect for international law and no restraint in committing these crimes," he said. "Densely populated residential areas and critical civilian infrastructure are deliberately targeted," he said, adding that the figures continue to rise as the US-Israeli military attacks continue. Iravani listed several instances in which civilian targets were attacked, including heavy strikes on fuel storage facilities in Tehran and other cities on Saturday night, releasing large quantities of hazardous and toxic pollutants into the atmosphere. The explosions caused severe air pollution and serious health risks for civilians, especially children, women, the elderly, and those with critical health conditions, he said, citing the Iranian Red Crescent Society, Xinhua news agency reported. "These heinous attacks also violate international environmental obligations, including those under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity," he said. Iravani noted that other instances included attacks on Mehrabad Airport in Tehran early Saturday morning, destroying or severely damaging several civilian aircraft and airport facilities, and attacks on a freshwater desalination plant on Qeshm Island in Hormozgan province, disrupting water supplies to 30 villages. He also said that in the early hours of Sunday, Israel carried out "a deliberate terrorist attack" against the Ramada Hotel in Beirut, Lebanon, killing four Iranian diplomats. "The targeted killing of diplomats on the territory of another sovereign State is a grave terrorist act, a war crime, and a flagrant violation of international law." "The international community must act now to stop this bloody war against the Iranian people. We will take all necessary measures to defend our people, our territory, and our independence," he said. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed United Nations, March 11 : Fuel shortages in Cuba have triggered a humanitarian crisis with the island nation's health system approaching a critical point, a UN spokesman said. "We remain deeply concerned about the deteriorating situation, driven by the inability to import fuel," said Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. "This has triggered an energy crisis." The world body is engaging with member states, including the United States, so aid can be delivered unimpeded, Dujarric said during a briefing on Tuesday. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that hospitals face frequent power outages, shortages of essential medicines, the inability to operate critical equipment, as well as major disruptions to oncology care, dialysis, emergency services, infant and maternal care, cold-chain systems, as well as chronic and non-urgent care. The office said about 16,000 cancer patients need radiotherapy and more than 12,000 depending on chemotherapy cannot get the treatment needed due to power outages and resource shortages. Ambulances are struggling to obtain fuel, delaying urgent care. OCHA said that nearly one million people depend on water delivered by tanker trucks, which require fuel. More than 80 percent of water-pumping infrastructure relies on electricity, resulting in widespread and prolonged service disruptions, Xinhua news agency reported. "Food supply chains -- from production to storage to distribution -- are increasingly impacted, with cold-chain systems failing, transport routes increasingly interrupted, and reductions in the availability of basic food items across the country," the office said. OCHA said its humanitarian partners are working to assist, but the lack of fuel is limiting the operations of food and water trucks, with dozens of aid containers waiting at the port. The US administration announced last month it was allowing some oil into Cuba, but it can only be sold to the private sector, not to the government. Washington previously banned oil from Venezuela bound for Cuba. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Mexico City, March 11 : Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said that 1,009 Mexican nationals have left the conflict zone in the Middle East. At her daily press conference on Tuesday, Sheinbaum said that the Mexican nationals traveled by land and Turkey is one of the countries with flights. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that consular efforts by Mexican embassies in the Middle East have facilitated the evacuation of the Mexican nationals from Israel, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Bahrain, Lebanon and Qatar. Travel to the Middle East is not recommended while the conflict situation persists, the ministry said, adding the Mexican embassies in the region remain attentive to requests for consular assistance and protection, Xinhua news agency reported. Earlier on March 4, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum had announced that 279 Mexican nationals had been evacuated by land from various Middle Eastern countries amid the ongoing military conflict in the region. "Most have departed by land to Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey, countries that have open airspace," Sheinbaum had said during her daily press conference at the National Palace. Earlier on March 1, the Mexican government would always advocate for world peace, the country's President Claudia Sheinbaum had said, referring to the recent military attacks launched by the United States and Israel against Iran. "Mexico will always advocate for world peace, which is very necessary at this time," Sheinbaum had emphasised at an event in the western state of Baja California Sur. She pointed out that the country's constitution establishes that Mexico's foreign policy principles should be guided by the self-determination of peoples, non-intervention and the peaceful settlement of disputes. The United States and Israel began large-scale airstrikes against Iran on February 28, prompting Tehran to retaliate with waves of missile and drone attacks on Israel and US military bases in the Gulf region. Seoul, March 11 : Ham Jin-woo, a North Korean defector-turned-journalist who went missing in 2017 in border areas between North Korea and China, has been officially recognised by the government as one of seven South Koreans detained in the North, officials said on Wednesday. The unification ministry has newly added Ham to the list of South Koreans held captive in North Korea after consulting with relevant government agencies, according to a ministry official. North Korea has detained seven South Koreans -- three missionaries of Kim Jung-wook, Kim Kook-kie and Choi Chun-gil, as well as four North Korean defectors who obtained South Korean nationality, according to the unification ministry's website. The names of the four defectors were not disclosed on the webpage. Ham is believed to have been arrested by North Korean authorities while covering North-China border areas in May 2017 as a journalist of a North Korea-focused media outlet. At a press conference in December last year, Unification Minister Chung Dong-young unveiled a plan to add Ham to the list of the South Korean detainees in the North. Kim Jung-wook and the two other missionaries have been detained in North Korea since 2014 on anti-state charges for what Pyongyang called spying for Seoul's spy agency. The whereabouts of the three other North Korean defectors are not known since they were held captive in 2016, Yonhap news agency reported. Ham Jin Woo, a reporter was abducted on May 29, 2017, while he was reporting on the Chinese side of the China-North Korea border between Sanhe, Longjin in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture of China and Hoiryong City, North Korea, according to a report submitted to the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances by Eunkyong Kwon, Hamas former colleague and secretary general of the North Korea-focused human rights group ICNK. According to the report, Hamas family had said that his Korean-Chinese taxi driver witnessed an argument and physical confrontation between Ham and two men who had crossed into China from North Korea who then dragged the journalist over the border to North Korea. It wasnt so much the speech itself as the defeatism and the lack of proposals. And the hierarchical misstep. The words of Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission the European Unions executive cabinet declaring the rules-based world order finished while simultaneously justifying the war launched by the U.S. and Israel against Iran, have caused turbulence in the EU. Her remarks have exacerbated the criticism that the German conservative leader has been accumulating in recent months for her position, considered by many to be too close to Washington and Tel Aviv, as well as for her insufficient condemnation of the excesses of U.S. President Donald Trump. Once again governments, members of the European parliament, and analysts are accusing the head of the European Commission of overstepping her bounds in foreign policy and of wanting to be the voice of Europe in her own way. Or, at the very least, in Germanys way. Europe can no longer be a custodian for the old-world order, of a world that is gone and will not return, Von der Leyen declared in a speech in which she asserted that although the EU will always defend and uphold the rules-based system, it can no longer rely on it as it is no longer effective in defending its interests and providing protection. The president of the European Council, the socialist Antonio Costa, and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the liberal Kaja Kallas, disagreed. We Europeans must defend the rules-based international order. We must defend the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, the Portuguese official told dozens of European ambassadors stationed around the world on Tuesday in a speech in which, unlike Von der Leyen, he identified and blamed the U.S. (and Russia) as the creators of the new international disorder. This multipolar world requires multilateral solutions, not spheres of influence where power politics replaces international law, Costa emphasized. Violations of international law must not be accepted, whether in Ukraine, Greenland, Latin America, Africa, Gaza, or the Middle East. Human rights violations must not be tolerated, not in Iran, Sudan, or Afghanistan, he concluded. European Commission Vice-President Teresa Ribera, the key socialist counterweight in a very right-leaning European Commission, also disagreed with the German commissioners argument. It is essential that Europe today resolutely defend the value of international law, said Ribera. Von der Leyens remarks in which she also stated that no one should shed tears for a regime that has slaughtered 17,000 young people have caused a stir in several capitals, among some commissioners, and in certain groups within the European parliament, who on Monday demanded clarification and even went so far as to explore the possibility of bringing a no-confidence vote against the EC chief. The uproar has been such that the Commission has rushed to add nuance to Von der Leyens words, claiming that the conservative politician is not showing disrespect for the rules-based system and that her speech has been misinterpreted. The president of the European Council, Antonio Costa. CONTACTO via Europa Press (CONTACTO via Europa Press) In Spain, Pedro Sanchezs government has strongly disagreed with Germanys disruptive vision. Europe must defend the international order because the alternative to international order is disorder, said Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares on Tuesday. There is no opposition between an old order and a new order. There is opposition between international order and disorder, and if we continue to opt for disorder, we will soon arrive at chaos. And where there is no law, there is just force, the law of the jungle, the Spanish foreign minister declared. The problem is neither an old nor a new world order, said Iratxe Garcia, leader of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats parliamentary group. The problem is those who, through their complacency, allow autocrats to violate it. The EU must demand compliance with the rules, stand up to autocrats, and defend peace. There are no more excuses, she added. Underlying this new controversy is another one that has been brewing for some time: Von der Leyens voracious appetite for power, as she absorbs foreign policy responsibilities through various actions. This controversy arose in the previous legislative term, when she faced criticism from her commissioners, including Commissioner for the Internal Market Thierry Breton, and the former High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell. On Tuesday, Breton criticized the actions of the head of the European Commission. When the Commission behaves like an autonomous diplomatic actor, duplicating or contradicting the message of heads of state and government, it dilutes the European voice, he said in a lengthy article published on social media. The French government has issued a direct warning through Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, who invoked European treaties. The High Representative directs the Unions common foreign and security policy. She contributes to the development of this policy through her proposals and implements it as an agent of the Council, he said. Discontent with Von der Leyen is growing in countries like France and Spain. And not only there, diplomatic sources indicate. The problem is that she doesnt speak to defend a common position, but rather her own. She doesnt express the general sentiment, a high-ranking EU source points out. A couple of weeks ago, the German politician sparked outrage in several countries by sending the European Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Duvravka Suica, to the inauguration ceremony of Donald Trumps controversial Board of Peace, a body that claims to seek peace for Gaza but in which Gazans are not represented, while regimes with, at the very least, questionable human rights records are included, such as Belarus and Saudi Arabia. Von der Leyen did not request permission or consult with the member states, and the Commission justified it by claiming that Suica was participating as an observer. Costa also differed from Von der Leyen on this point. The president of the European Council, the figure responsible for leading the heads of state and government in setting EU priorities and the Unions representation abroad, emphasized that when someone tries to replace the United Nations with another institution, the Union cannot participate in its meetings. Not even as an observer, he stressed. As was the case with Israels war on Gaza after the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023, when Von der Leyen received strong criticism for traveling to Tel Aviv and showing support for Benjamin Netanyahus government on the day the Israeli army began the siege of the Strip, the attack launched by Trump and Netanyahu on Iran has stretched the seams of a European Union that needs reforms and resilience to deal with the global disorder fueled by Trump. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition New Delhi, March 11 : FC Bayern claimed a 6-1 first-leg win away at Atalanta on Tuesday night to put themselves in a promising position to reach the Champions League quarter-finals. Josip Stanisic, Michael Olise and Serge Gnabry handed Bayern a comfortable 3-0 lead before half-time. Nicolas Jackson, Olise and Jamal Musiala rounded off the half dozen, before Mario PaAaliAas added-time consolation for the hosts. Bayern's incessant pressure paid off handsomely as the German champions took firm control of their tie with Atalanta. Josip StaniAiA's tap-in set the visitors on their way before a quickfire double from Serge Gnabry and Michael Olise made it 3-0 inside 25 minutes. There was no let-up, though. Nicolas Jackson added a fine counterattacking goal after the restart before Olise bent in his second with a similar effort to his first. Substitute Jamal Musiala struck a sixth midway through the second half but it was Atalanta's Mario Pasalic who had the final word, pulling one back in added time. Meanwhile, Galatasaray head to Anfield next Wednesday with a narrow advantage after Mario Lemina's seventh-minute header ultimately decided a fast-paced encounter in Istanbul. Lemina converted after Victor Osimhen redirected Gabriel Sara's corner into his path, the only goal of a frenetic first half that could have featured several more a" Florian Wirtz and Davinson SAnchez among those to threaten. It was more of the same in the second period, Liverpool coming closest when Alexis Mac Allister shot just wide before Hugo Ekitike was brilliantly denied by Ugurcan CakAr. In another match, Lamine Yamal converted a last-gasp penalty to earn Barcelona a draw at Newcastle to take into next Wednesday's second legs. Yamal's added-time penalty with the last kick of the contest denied Newcastle another famous win, the Barcelona winger holding his nerve to send Aaron Ramsdale the wrong way after Malick Thiaw had fouled Dani Olmo. The Magpies, beaten 2-1 at St James' Park by Barca on Matchday 1, were on course for a narrow first-leg victory after Harvey Barnes' first-time effort following Jacob Murphy's pinpoint cross with four minutes to go. The hosts always appeared the likelier of the two sides to open the scoring, a Barnes curler smacking the inside of the upright in the second half before the England international got the late breakthrough. Yamal had the last word, though. --IANS bc/ Chennai, March 11 : With the announcement of the Tamil Nadu Assembly election expected soon, political activity in the State has intensified. In this backdrop, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Tiruchirappalli on Wednesday evening to participate in a National Democratic Alliance (NDA) public meeting at Panchapur and launch a series of major development projects. Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister will attend official engagements in Kochi, Kerala, before flying to Tiruchirappalli. He is scheduled to depart for Kochi at around 5 PM in a special aircraft and arrive in Tiruchirappalli shortly thereafter. From the airport, he will travel by helicopter to Panchapur, where the official programme and political rally are being organised. At the government function, the Prime Minister will inaugurate, dedicate to the nation and lay the foundation stone for multiple infrastructure projects worth approximately a5,650 crore. Among the key initiatives is the foundation stone for Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limitedas City Gas Distribution Network in the Nilgiris and Erode districts, which will be developed with an investment of a3,680 crore. Prime Minister Modi will also dedicate to the nation a lubricant oil manufacturing plant of Indian Oil Corporation at Manali in Chennai, built at a cost of a1,490 crore. In addition, he will inaugurate 89 rural road projects covering about 370 kilometres under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana across Tamil Nadu. Another major project to be launched is the foundation stone for the Greenfield bypass near Gangaikonda Cholapuram on National Highway 81. The Prime Minister will also flag off six trains, including two Amrit Bharat Express services, two other express trains and a passenger train service, aimed at strengthening rail connectivity in the region. Following the government event, the Prime Minister will address the NDAas public meeting at a specially-prepared venue on the other side of the Panchapur grounds around 6.30 PM. The rally is being held on a sprawling 30-acre site with extensive arrangements made for the gathering. Security has been tightened in and around the area, with the police taking full control of the Panchapur region. Several NDA leaders are expected to share the stage with the Prime Minister, including AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss, AMMK General Secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran, Tamil Maanila Congress leader G.K. Vasan and IJK leader Parivendhar. According to BJP Tamil Nadu president Nainar Nagendran, nearly seven lakh people are expected to attend the meeting. With the Assembly election schedule likely to be announced next week, the rally is also expected to set the stage for the NDAas seat-sharing agreement in the State. New Delhi, March 11 : Users of popular social media platform Instagram reported widespread issues early on Wednesday, majorly of them about not been able to access their DMs and disappearance of chat themes. Users posted complaints on Instagram's subreddit and other social media sites also about not being able to use the search tool or see contacts. "Around two hours ago, my message page didn't show any messages at all, even though I have plenty, and I got two notifications earlier," one user wrote. "My messages, my contacts on Instagram, I can't use the search tool or even scroll up! The whole thing is just broken right now," another user posted. A third said a shared chat theme had vanished from both his and his friend's direct messages. Outage tracking website Downdetector reported over 10,000 complaints accessing the platform with the spike peaking early morning. Downdetector monitors outages by aggregating status reports from several sources, including user-submitted complaints, making the actual number of affected users inaccurate. Around 71 per cent of the complaints were related to problems with access, while 19 per cent related to server connection and 5 per cent of users reported issues with accessing Feed or timeline. Over 10,000 reports have been registered on Downdetector from the United States while India reported 100 complaints though there has been a recent spike. Around 170 reports of issues with Instagram came from the UK, with the spike peaking in at around 9.11 am IST. Meanwhile, children who spend over 30 minutes on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat are likely to experience a gradual decline in their ability to concentrate, according to a study of more than 8, 000 children from around age 10 through age 14. The study was conducted on children with the average time spent on social media, watching videos, and playing video games -- from approximately 30 minutes a day for 9-year-olds to 2.5 hours for 13-year-olds. IANS aar/na Los Angeles, March 11 : Hollywood actress Rachel Zegler spoke about the backlash she faced for playing "Snow White" in Disney's 2025 live-action remake. Los Angeles, March 11 (IANS) Hollywood actress Rachel Zegler spoke about the backlash she faced for playing "Snow White" in Disney's 2025 live-action remake. Because of her Colombian heritage, Zegler told Harper's Bazaar, she faced aggressive pushback from conservative circles, who thought the title role of Snow White should be played by a white woman. She said the experience was "really confusing," considering she also faced backlash for playing Maria in 2021's "West Side Story" because her father was white, reports variety.com. "I was told I wasn't enough of one thing for 'West Side Story' and too much of another for 'Snow White,'" Zegler said. "I grew up proud of being Colombian," she later added. "Eating the food, wearing the dresses, drinking the coffee, doing all the things that were so intrinsic to who I was as a kid and who I am as an adult but I do think there's an argument to be made that, in the public eye at least, when you're two things, you're simultaneously nothing. But I refuse to assimilate for anybody else's comfort." Zegler also faced backlash for posting on social media in support of Palestine while on the "Snow White" press tour. Although she still stands by her decision to use her platform to promote social change, she now sees the controversy as "a complete study in intent versus impact." "You live and you learn, and there's a caution that comes with that," she said, reports variety.com. "There's an understanding that the temptation to speak doesn't always mean that it must be done, and that there are a lot of opportunities to make more meaningful change than a tweet." In 2024, days after unveiling the first trailer for "Snow White" at a D23 fan event, Zegler took to X and thanked her fans for all their support. Then, in the same thread minutes later, she wrote, "And always remember, free Palestine." Zegler went on to admit that the backlash from the post was completely unexpected. "If I'd been able to predict everything that would come my way, the threats to my safety, I would have just thrown my phone into the ocean," Zegler said. "I think any sane person would have." Mumbai, March 11 : Veteran Bollywood actor Anupam Kher, on Wednesday, penned an emotional note that he addressed to his 16-year-old self. Reflecting on his life journey and reminding himself that despite immense success, global recognition and decades of applause, Anupam mentioned that will always remain the same little "Bittoo from Shimla". Sharing the note on his social media account, the actor looked back at his journey from a small-town boy with big dreams to one of the most celebrated actors in Indian cinema. He wrote, ""LETTER TO MY 16YEAR OLD SELF! Dear 16-Year-Old Me (Bittu), Looking at you in this photograph, I see a young boy from Shimla with big dreams in his eyes and a lot of uncertainty in his heart." The Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge actor added, "You don't know it yet, but life is going to take you on an extraordinary journey. From the quiet hills of Shimla to stages, studios, and screens across the world. You will meet thousands of people, play hundreds of characters, experience applause, criticism, success, failure, and moments that will test your courage." Kher further wrote, "But let me tell you something that will make you smile. After all these years I am still you. The same small-town boy who believed that "Kuch bhi ho sakta hai."" The actor continued, "The same boy who never allowed circumstances to define his dreams. The same boy who laughed loudly, felt deeply and refused to give up." Anupam further wrote that no matter how much the world change around him he always carried the spirit of his 16 year old self. "Yes, the world will change around you. Your name will travel farther than you ever imagined. But the most important thing you will carry with you is the spirit of that boy (Bittu) from Shimla Curious, Hopeful, Stubborn and full of GRATITUDE." He further shared, "You will fall many times. But every fall will teach you how to stand TALLER. One day you will even call yourself "a SUCCESS STORY of FAILURES. And you will mean it. So THANK YOU for DREAMING WITHOUT PERMISSION, for BELIEVING without PROOF, for WORKING without GUARANTEES." He added, "Thank you for your INNOCENCE, your COURAGE, and your RELENTLESS HOPE. Because of you, I am still walking this journey with excitement at the age of 70+ !! Feeling like life is only at the INTERVAL POINT!" He further wrote, "Stay exactly the way you are dearest. The world will try to CHANGE you. But your greatest victory will be remaining YOURSELF! With love, pride, and gratitude, You. Bittu, (now known as ANUPAM) Just a little older, but still the boy from Shimla. #LetterToMy16YearOldSelf #Courage #Original #Bittu" Talking about Anupam Kher, the actor has enjoyed a remarkable journey in Indian cinema spanning over more than four decades. He made his Bollywood debut with the 1984 film Saaransh, where his powerful portrayal of an elderly man grieving the loss of his son won widespread acclaim. Anupam was just 28 years when he essayed the character of a 60 plus year-old man. Over the years, Kher has delivered memorable performances in films such as Ram Lakhan, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, Khosla Ka Ghosla, and Special 26 among many others. The actor recently turned 70 on the 7th of March. IANS rd/ Kolkata, March 11 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday carried out a fresh raid at the residence of police officer Manoranjan Mondal in Durgapur of West Burdwan district, West Bengal, in connection with the ongoing coal smuggling investigation. This is the second time the ED has searched Mondal's residence. Earlier, the central agency had raided his house on February 3 and questioned him for several hours. On Wednesday morning, central forces surrounded Mondal's house located in the City Centre area of Durgapur, following which ED officials began a search operation. Upon arriving at the residence, the officials pasted a notice at the gate directing Manoranjan Mondal to appear at the ED office on March 13 between 12 noon and 1 p.m. This is the third summons issued to Mondal in the case. He had failed to appear before the agency despite being summoned twice earlier. During the raid, ED officials reportedly questioned members of his family. However, it remains unclear whether Mondal himself was present at the house during the operation. ED sources said the agency is probing Mondal's alleged role in the coal smuggling network. Investigators suspect that he may have been linked to the collection of "protection money" related to illegal coal operations. He is also alleged to have received money from individuals associated with the coal trade. In February, ED officials had also raided his residence. At that time, Mondal had just been appointed as the Officer-in-Charge of Budbud police station and was expected to formally assume charge within a few days. However, before he could take charge, he was removed from the post and transferred to the Special Branch. The officer also has a controversial past. In 2024, he was suspended on corruption charges. During that period, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had made strong remarks on the coal smuggling issue. At a meeting at the state secretariat, she had said that although allegations were being levelled against the Trinamool Congress, a section of the security forces and police personnel were actually aiding and abetting the smuggling in exchange for money. She had asserted that such irregularities would not be tolerated. Following the Chief Minister's remarks, Manoranjan Mondal, who was then serving as the Officer-in-Charge of Barabani police station, was suspended and a judicial inquiry was initiated against him. At present, he is once again under the ED's scanner. Investigators indicated that if he fails to appear before the agency this time as well, strict legal action may be initiated against him. Kochi, March 11 : The Kerala government is set to boycott Wednesday's National Highway inauguration programme to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ernakulam. This appears to be a fallout over the exclusion of State Public Works Minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas from the event. Apart from being the Public Works Minister, Riyas is also the son-in-law of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Chief Minister Vijayan and ministers M.B. Rajesh and K. Krishnankutty have decided not to attend the function. Minister Rajesh said the invitation for the programme reached them only on Tuesday and that he already had engagements in his constituency. Krishnankutty also cited inconvenience in attending the event. The development comes amid a political row after Riyas was reportedly not invited to the ceremony. The State government's decision to stay away is widely seen as a protest against his exclusion from the programme. The event is part of a larger function where the Prime Minister is scheduled to inaugurate development projects worth Rs 10,800 crore in Kerala. Although Chief Minister Vijayan's name reportedly appeared in the programme notice, he has chosen not to participate. Among those included in the function are Rajeev Chandrasekhar, BJP's Kerala unit president, and Union Minister George Kurian. The key projects being inaugurated include the six lane ThalappadyChengala stretch of National Highway 66 and the VengalamRamanattukara six lane section of the Kozhikode bypass. Both are part of the ongoing expansion of National Highway 66 through Kerala. Reacting to the controversy, Riyas said he had not received any communication inviting him to the programme and termed the situation "not befitting a democracy". He pointed out that the State government had played a major role in the project, including funding land acquisition. Riyas also said he understood that Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, who heads the road transport ministry, would not be attending the event. He criticised what he described as a "hastily arranged inauguration" and argued that without the support of the LDF government the project itself might have stalled. The CPI(M) has indicated it will raise the issue politically, accusing the BJP of attempting to take sole credit for a project implemented with the State government's participation. The party also alleged that a development programme had been turned into a political event. State BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar reacting to the boycott said the State government is headed by the Chief Minister and there is no rule that the CM's son-in-law should also be included. "There is a protocol and I don't know of any rule that the CM's family must also be invited. CM is aware as the invite came to him a week back and only now this issue has surfaced. He could have pointed it out when he got the invite," he said. Chandrasekhar said that the "PM's programmes were announced in advance a week back and the CM was invited and he could have informed then, but kept quiet and this became an issue on Wednesday. It has been raked up with Assembly polls round the corner." New Delhi/Ahmedabad, March 11 : Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi interacted with people at the airport while returning from Delhi, where they had travelled for meetings with the BJP's central leadership, officials said on Wednesday. According to officials, the two leaders on Tuesday evening met travellers and other citizens at the IGI Airport in an informal setting, engaging with them without any formal protocol arrangements. They sat among members of the public and held conversations in a relaxed manner. During the interaction, the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister spoke with several people present at the airport and listened to their concerns and experiences. Observers noted that the leaders spent time speaking directly with citizens rather than maintaining the usual security or protocol distance. They also showed interest in creative items made from paper that were displayed by individuals present at the airport. The leaders asked about the process behind the paper artworks and obtained information about how the creations were made. The interaction drew attention from people present at the airport, with several individuals gathering around the leaders during the informal conversation. Their friendly engagement with ordinary citizens was widely noticed by those present. The leaders were returning from a visit to the national capital where the Gujarat Chief Minister met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting between Patel and PM Modi took place in New Delhi on Tuesday evening and was also shared by the Prime Minister's Office on social media. While the details of the discussions were not officially disclosed, the meeting came at a time of increased political activity in Gujarat ahead of upcoming local body elections in the state. Patelas visit to Delhi was understood to include discussions with the Bharatiya Janata Party's central leadership on organisational matters and the stateas governance priorities. The interaction between the Gujarat leadership and citizens at the airport occurred after the engagements in the national capital. New Delhi, March 11 : BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on Shiv Sena (UBT) for aligning with the Congress in the INDIA Bloc, sharing what he described as a 1969 parliamentary document that allegedly referred to a conspiracy to assassinate Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray and cancel his revolver licence. Dubey used the document to question the political choices of the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction of the Shiv Sena, arguing that Bal Thackeray had taken a strong stand against the Congress after learning of the alleged plot. In a post on X, Dubey wrote, "Shiv Sena Uddhav, have some shame. The conspiracy to assassinate Balasaheb Thackeray ji was hatched in 1969; questions were raised in Parliament to cancel his revolver licence. After learning of the conspiracy, Balasaheb Thackeray ji took an oath that he would never align with Congress in his lifetime. For the sake of power, ideology has been sacrificed." Dubey also tagged Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray in his post, highlighting the ongoing split within the Shiv Sena and contrasting the political positions taken by different factions of the party. This comes amid the ongoing political developments linked to the March 2026 Rajya Sabha elections. On March 2, Uddhav Thackeray's faction confirmed that it was coordinating with the Congress as part of the Opposition's broader electoral strategy. The political debate has also revived references to the alleged 1969 conspiracy against Bal Thackeray, a claim that has frequently been cited in Shiv Sena and BJP political discourse over the years. According to these claims, there was a conspiracy during the late 1960s to eliminate Bal Thackeray at a time when the Shiv Sena was emerging as a major force in Maharashtra politics. The allegations are often attributed to tensions between the Sena and Left-wing or Communist groups during that period. The late 1960s were marked by the rise of Shiv Sena through campaigns focussed on "sons of the soil" issues, which emphasised employment opportunities for Marathi-speaking locals, as well as agitations related to border disputes such as the Maharashtra-Karnataka issue. Bal Thackeray had often spoken strongly against aligning with the Congress party. He had once stated that if a situation ever arose where he had to join hands with the Congress, he would rather "close his shop", referring to shutting down the Shiv Sena. He viewed the Congress as an ideological rival, particularly due to his positions on Hindutva and regional pride in Maharashtra. In addition to his criticism of the Congress, Bal Thackeray was also known for his sharp attacks on veteran leader Sharad Pawar. In a 1999 interview, he reportedly vowed never to align with Pawar and described him as a "scoundrel" while referring to his role in the fall of the Vajpayee government. The historical stance taken by Bal Thackeray has often been contrasted with the present political landscape in Maharashtra. The Shiv Sena (UBT), led by his son Uddhav Thackeray, formed an alliance with the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party to establish the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in the state in 2019. Opponents, particularly the BJP, have repeatedly described this alliance between Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Congress as a "betrayal of Balasaheb Thackeray's legacy", citing his past statements that strongly opposed any political partnership with the party. Mumbai, March 11 : Shares of home appliance makers traded higher on Wednesday as e-commerce platforms witnessed a surge in purchases of electric stoves and induction cooktops amid the Middle East conflict, over reports of potential LPG shortages. Moreover, quick commerce platforms were selling Inductions stoves at discounts of more than 50 per cent. Butterfly Gandhimathi Appliances shares climbed about 4 per cent to Rs 630.5, hitting an intraday high in early trade on the BSE. Meanwhile, shares of V-Guard Industries logged an intraday high of Rs 326, up 3 per cent from the previous close on the same exchange. The sharpest surge came from major induction cooktop producers. Stocks of Stove Kraft and TTK Prestige rose more than 10 per cent. The aPigeona parent firmas stock jumped 7.32 per cent to Rs 523.55 on the BSE, while shares of Prestige induction cooktop maker TTK Prestige surged 14.63 per cent to Rs 556. Meanwhile, industry experts said that urban households should be encouraged and incentivised to cook with electric induction stoves amid the LPG crisis. Abhishek Kar, Fellow, CEEW, said India imports about two-thirds of its LPG, with more than 90 per cent coming from countries in West Asia such as the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. "Invoking the Essential Commodities Act to ensure that LPG supply is prioritised for domestic cooking is an important first step. The government should now emulate the aGive It Upa campaign for LPG subsidy with a new aGive It Upa campaign on LPG use, targeted at households that have, or can afford, electric induction stoves. This would ease the pressure on domestic LPG demand," Kar suggested. Urban households should be encouraged and incentivised to cook with electric induction stoves, he mentioned. Additionally, the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) on Tuesday urged its membersto reduce LPG consumption by focusing on menus that require lower gas usage or shorter cooking cycles and also look at electric gadgets as alternatives for cooking wherever feasible. "The ongoing geopolitical developments have led to severe disruption in the supply chain of commercial LPG. If the situation escalates further and availability tightens significantly, the restaurant industry may face serious operational challenges," the NRAI said in an advisory to restaurant owners across the country. "In order to safeguard business continuity, employment, and the stability of our sector, NRAI urges all members to immediately adopt these fuel conservation and operational continuity measures," the advisory said. The escalating conflict is exacerbating the refugee crisis in the Middle East and creating a serious humanitarian emergency for 14.1 million people, according to the United Nations The escalating conflict in the Middle East has placed the civilian population in an unprecedented bind that threatens to dismantle the last remaining safe havens in the region. The attack launched on February 28 by the U.S. and Israel on Iran and Lebanon has caused the forced displacement of at least 767,700 people in those countries, according to estimates released on Tuesday by the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR), and has left some 14.1 million people who were already refugees in the region in a situation of extreme vulnerability. Ayaki Ito, Director of Emergencies and Programme Support at the agency, described the situation as a grave humanitarian emergency at a news conference held in Geneva last Friday, when that figure was still less than half what it is now. Even then, the official acknowledged that the number was likely an underestimate. Displaced people face significant protection risks and humanitarian needs, as do host communities. Iran, which for decades has been a lifeline for the worlds largest refugee population, is now teetering on the brink of collapse, leaving millions of Afghans unprotected. At the same time, the strikes on Lebanon has sown panic and driven thousands of families to cross the border into a devastated Syria. An Israeli strike on Beirut's southern suburbs on March 10. Raghed Waked (REUTERS) The vulnerability of millions of people is further exacerbated by a lack of financial resources. In 2025, global funding for humanitarian aid contracted by 30%, including the closure of US-funded programs that President Donald Trump ordered canceled. The United Nations has warned that the rapid escalation of hostilities is placing increasing pressure on humanitarian capabilities and on host communities, with a rise in protection needs, the risk of further internal displacement, and potential flows into neighboring countries. The spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, Stephane Dujarric, stated at a press conference last Thursday that humanitarian operations are being hampered, hindering the delivery of vital aid. This has reduced the capacity of neighboring countries to protect displaced persons and refugees, who now face the dilemma of remaining in a country at war or attempting to flee to another where their safety is no longer guaranteed. Iran In Iran, where bombings have caused 1,270 of the 1,896 recorded deathsincluding that of Ayatollah Ali Khameneithe largest displacement of people is occurring in the capital, Tehran, which has been heavily damaged by the attacks. There, some 100,000 people fled in the two days following the start of the bombing, and between 1,000 and 2,000 vehicles a day left the capital, mostly heading north. Another 6,500 people have crossed into Turkey. UNHCR staff in that country are receiving hundreds of calls a day from Iranians requesting assistance, Ito reported. UNHCR says that, for now, the displacements are mainly occurring within national borders, but even so at least 14,300 Lebanese and Iranian nationals have crossed their countries borders in recent days. But population movements in the Islamic Republic are also a cause for concern in Europe, and were already so before February 28, judging by the warnings issued by the European Asylum Agency in its annual global trends report, presented last Tuesday. Drafted before the attacks began, the document already considered Iran one of the main hotspots of instability for 2026 due to the consequences of the U.S. and Israeli bombings of June 2025 on Iranian nuclear facilities and, internally, the unrest linked to the economic collapse and political repression earlier this year. Funeral for a war victim at the Behesht Zahra cemetery in southern Iran on Monday. ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH (EFE) The European asylum office warns that, with a population of 92 million, even partial destabilization could generate refugee flows of unprecedented magnitude. If just 10% of the Iranian population were displaced, the resulting crisis could rival that triggered by Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine or that of 2015 and 2016, when more than a million people fleeing the war in Syria and other conflicts entered Europe. Observers increasingly view unrest in Iran as a significant and long-term risk, the outlook for which remains highly uncertain, the report states. The European Union, focused on managing the international crisis, has not yet issued any statement regarding the possibility that the conflict could trigger a new refugee crisis in Europe. Only the Spanish Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, offered a reassuring message this Thursday upon arriving at the Council of Ministers of the 27 member states. We have the means, the capabilities, and above all, the clear will to protect those who need protection. In that case, there would be no problem because we have already faced similar crises, he stated. Iran presents an additional challenge. The country hosts 3.8 million refugees, mostly from Afghanistan, making it the country with the largest number of refugees in the world. The European Asylum Agency points out that if the country implodes, this population would also be severely affected. The UNHCR spokesperson in Spain, Paula Barrachina, noted that the region was already extremely vulnerable before the current escalation of conflict because many of the countries involved host millions of refugees and internally displaced persons. Their communities have demonstrated extraordinary solidarity for years, but their resources are stretched to the limit, she said in a statement. Lebanon The second Middle Eastern country experiencing the largest population movements is Lebanon. There, the Israeli army intensified its bombing campaign after the pro-Iranian militia Hezbollah entered the war to avenge the death of Ayatollah Khamenei. The two countries had signed a ceasefire in November 2024, but Israel continued its almost daily attacks, generally targeting suspected Hezbollah positions and resulting in nearly 400 deaths. Israel began bombing the south and east of the country, as well as the capital, Beirut, in the early hours of Monday. Early Thursday morning, it also hit the Bedawi Palestinian refugee camp in the north of the country for the first time in this conflict. The escalation of hostilities has forced more than 667,000 people to flee their homes in Lebanon, including 200,000 children, the UN reported on Monday. The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which has left more than 400 dead (including 83 children killed as of Sunday), is now in its second week. The largest displacements are occurring in the south of the country, in the Bekaa Valley and in Beirut, following evacuation orders issued by Israel to residents of some 50 towns. In the capital, the Israeli army on Thursday demanded the evacuation of four southern neighborhoods where approximately 250,000 people live, bringing the total number of those affected to over 800,000. Syrian and Lebanese citizens fleeing air strikes in Lebanon at one of the border crossings between the two countries, on March 3. Ghaith Alsayed (AP) Another particularly sensitive point is the border with Syria. Lebanon has about 5.8 million inhabitants, but the figure fluctuates considerably because almost 20% of its residents are refugees. More than a million Syrians sought refuge in Lebanon, of whom around 500,000 still remain. But the current war is causing a new exodus, as another 78,000 peoplemainly Syrians, but also some 7,800 Lebanesehave crossed into Syria in recent days. Those trying to flee are spending the nights in their vehicles, on the sides of the road, or stuck in traffic jams, explains the humanitarian agency. On March 2 alone, nearly 10,000 Syrians and almost 1,000 Lebanese crossed the Jdeidet Yabous and Joussieh border crossings from southern Lebanon and southern Beirut. That figure represents roughly triple the average daily number of crossings recorded since the start of Ramadan. In Syria, following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad in late 2024 by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a transitional government was formed in March 2025. This relative stability led to a sharp drop in Syrian asylum applications in the European Union: a 72% decrease in 2025, falling from 151,000 in 2024 to 42,000 in 2025. In addition, some 1.4 million Syrians returned from abroad. However, the European asylum agency had already warned before the new escalation of the war that, despite the pause in hostilities, tensions between the transitional government and the Kurdish-led forces in the northeast had been intensifying since the beginning of the year, threatening to reignite instability. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition New Delhi, March 11 : Congress leaders on Wednesday hit back at Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav after he criticised senior Congress leaders for not visiting the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, accusing the BJP of politicising religion. Congress MP Pramod Tiwari criticised the chief minister, stating that Congress leaders visit the temple but do not publicise their visits. "Congress leaders do not go there with cameras. I have been there three or four times," he said. Tiwari also urged the Madhya Pradesh government to focus on governance rather than political remarks. "I have a request for Mohan Yadav: Please look into the law and order situation in your state. You should be ashamed. A 90-year-old woman is being gang-raped in your state, and you are making such statements," he added. Reacting to Yadav's remarks, Congress leader Surendra Rajput said that visiting a temple is a personal matter and cannot be dictated by political opponents. "Will we visit the temple only after asking you, Mohan Yadav? We do not do vote bank politics in the name of Sanatan Dharma as you do," Rajput said. The remarks came after Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Tuesday accused top Congress leaders of not visiting the Lord Ram temple in Ayodhya, claiming they were hesitant to do so. Yadav made the statement while addressing a workshop in Indore, organised as part of the BJP's 'Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Training Maha Abhiyan 2026'. Yadav said that BJP workers are trained not only in political communication but also understand the importance of nationalism and development. He alleged that senior Congress leaders have still not visited the Ram Temple and accused the party of opposing its construction in the past. The chief minister claimed that the Congress had repeatedly obstructed the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya over the years and suggested that its leaders were now reluctant to visit the shrine. Calling it the "true character" of the Congress, Yadav said this reflects the fundamental difference between the BJP and the Congress. New Delhi, March 11 : The Congress on Wednesday strongly criticised BJP MP Nishikant Dubey over his "Leader of Propaganda (LoP)" remark aimed at Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi, accusing the ruling party of resorting to personal attacks because it is "unable to answer" the questions raised by their leader. Reacting to the comments, several Congress leaders defended Rahul Gandhi and accused the BJP of targeting him because it could not respond to the issues he raises in Parliament. Congress MP Imran Masood, speaking to IANS, said the BJP leadership was unsettled by LoP Rahul Gandhi's questions and criticism. "They are actually very afraid of Rahul Gandhi. They are scared of him. They have no answers to Rahul Gandhi's questions, and they are troubled by this, which is why they keep speaking like this everywhere," Masood said. Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat also criticised Dubey's remarks and suggested that the BJP leader often speaks more loudly than factually. "I believe that if there were a company about Nehru, Congress, and Rahul Gandhi, then Nishikant Dubey would be its CEO. His talks include fewer facts and more shouting," Bhagat told IANS. Senior Congress leader and MP Pramod Tiwari also came out in support of Rahul Gandhi, describing him as a fearless Leader of Opposition who has not compromised before the government. "Rahul Gandhi is a fearless Leader of Opposition. I would say that after Independence, he is among the very few Leaders of Opposition who have not compromised in front of the government. I count Rahul Gandhi among those two or three leaders who, with full strength, are courageously and honestly confronting the barbaric and relentless attacks of the BJP," Tiwari said. The controversy began after Dubey took a swipe at Rahul Gandhi during his speech in the Lok Sabha while opposing the resolution brought by Opposition parties seeking the removal of Speaker Om Birla. During his remarks in the House, Dubey referred to Rahul Gandhi as the "Leader of Propaganda". Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Dubey said, "The way I understand the term 'Leader of Propaganda' (LoP) is this: when an ignorant person succumbs to arrogance, they often become the Leader of Propaganda... Nowadays, they are so loud that they don't even allow the LoP to speak." He also questioned the constitutional position of the Leader of Opposition while making the remarks. "I also thought about it -- is it justified that the LoP is not allowed to speak? In the Constitution, LoP is not even mentioned. In the debates of the Constituent Assembly, it never happened," Dubey said without directly naming Rahul Gandhi. Thiruvananthapuram, March 11 : Several sitting Lok Sabha members of the Congress have expressed their willingness to contest the upcoming Assembly elections in Kerala, sensing that the Congress-led UDF may have a real chance of returning to power after nearly a decade in the Opposition. Senior leaders believe the favourable political climate could translate into victory, prompting many MPs to explore a return to state politics in the hope of securing positions in a future state Cabinet. The possibility of prominent MPs entering the Assembly race has, however, triggered fresh tensions within the partyas state leadership. The debate intensified after reports that K.C. Venugopal may contest the Assembly polls. Following earlier indications from K. Sudhakaran and Adoor Prakash, more MPs including M.K. Raghavan, Kodikunnil Suresh and Shafi Parambil have signalled their readiness to enter the fray. Sudhakaran, in particular, is understood to be keen on securing a seat, and party insiders fear that denying him a ticket could trigger a strong internal backlash. At the same time, a majority of leaders in the state leadership have voiced strong reservations about fielding MPs in the Assembly elections. They argue that shifting sitting MPs to the state legislature could weaken the partyas presence in Parliament and lead to unnecessary bye-elections if they win Assembly seats. The issue is expected to be raised before the Congress election committee, which will meet in New Delhi to finalise the first phase of candidates. Discussions with the party high command are expected to lead to a broad consensus on the initial list. Party leaders indicate that up to 60 candidates may be announced in the first list. A decision is also expected on whether MPs will be permitted to contest the Assembly polls. The state leadershipas preference is to retain sitting MLAs in their constituencies, including key seats such as Perumbavoor and Sultan Bathery. However, with several senior MPs pressing their claims and the party leadership weighing electoral prospects against organisational concerns, the final shape of the Congress candidate list is likely to depend on how the high command balances these competing pressures. In the 140-member Kerala Assembly the Congress, depending on the seat sharing with their allies, contests between 90 to 95 seats. In the present Assembly the Congress has 22 legislators, with one who has been expelled from the party. New Delhi, March 11 : Pakistan is likely to escalate attacks in Afghanistan as the war in Iran rages on. Islamabad has come under immense pressure to join the war in Iran, especially after Saudi Arabia was hit by missile strikes. Intelligence Bureau officials say that Pakistan is planning a major escalation in Afghanistan so that it can buy time or try to avoid joining the war in Iran. This would act as a major diversionary tactic, and Pakistan could use this as an excuse not to join the war. The pressure stems from the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed on September 17, 2025. The central clause states that any aggression against either country shall be considered as an aggression against both. This wording was modelled on the defence principles, which are similar to NATOas Article 5. Pakistan had last month declared that it was in an open war with Afghanistan. Islamabad blames without evidence that the Afghan Taliban is backing the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). When the Israeli and US forces struck Iran, Pakistanas foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, was attending an Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting in Riyadh. Dar, while speaking at the Senate on March 3, said that Pakistan had personally reminded Iranas Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, of Pakistanas defence obligations to Saudi Arabia. Officials say that Pakistan never anticipated that it would need to fulfil its obligations. Pakistan clearly did not anticipate that Iran would carry out strikes on several Middle East countries. The strike on Saudi Arabia caught Pakistan off guard, and this resulted in pressure mounting on the leadership. The official added that Pakistan has come under pressure, and many are reminding the country of the commitment it has towards Saudi Arabia. However, Pakistan is in no mood to join the war at the moment as it does not want to be caught up in the tussle between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Pakistan also cannot go against the United States in this war, as it has boasted about how close relations are today. Pakistan even signed a minerals deal with the Donald Trump administration, and this has made matters even more complex. Pakistan has long used attacks on Indian soil as a major diversionary tactic to cover up its own internal problems. A strike on India at the military level is not at all an option this time. Pakistan is already overwhelmed with its internal battles, and outfits such as the TTP and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) have only made matters worse for the country. Another official said that escalating the battle in Afghanistan will come at a cost, but Pakistan would be ready to take that risk. This is a better option for Islamabad when compared to going to war in Iran, the official added. Pakistan is caught in such a difficult situation that it cannot afford to anger Saudi Arabia, Iran and the United States, the official added. If Pakistan decides to escalate the war in Afghanistan, Iran or Saudi Arabia would not interfere. Both countries are caught up in a tough situation themselves. The US too would not say much as the Trump administration has already made it clear that while it would like to interfere, it still respects Pakistanas right to self-defence. Security analysts say that they are closely monitoring the situation in Afghanistan, as there are ample inputs of a major escalation by Pakistan, only so that they can use it as a diversionary tactic. However, the experts add that the escalation in Afghanistan would only be a temporary solution. In the days to come, this tightrope walk for Pakistan will only get trickier and harder. New Delhi, March 11 : The government has issued a draft Gazette Notification proposing amendments to avoid duplicate viral testing of blood products and invited public comments on it, an official statement said on Wednesday. The amendment aims to align regulatory requirements for testing of blood products with internationally accepted pharmacopeial standards and to remove additional testing requirements on products that are not warranted under global best practices, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said in the statement. The amendments were proposed to "Para G (Testing of Blood Products), Part XII C, Schedule F of the Drugs Rules 1945". The ministry described the move as a step toward regulatory harmonisation, scientific rationalisation of testing requirements and reduction of avoidable compliance burden while continuing to uphold patient safety. Under harmonised standards cited in the draft, the first homogeneous pool of human plasma for fractionation must be tested for Hepatitis B surface antigen, Hepatitis C virus RNA and antibodies to HIV, and pooled plasma must test negative for these viral markers before fractionation. The draft noted that only plasma pools meeting these safety requirements should be used to manufacture plasmaa'derived medicinal products. Under the current regulatory framework, the final products manufactured from already tested and qualified plasma pools are again tested. The new rules prevent duplication of efforts, which currently test the same viral markers at both the pooled plasma stage and the finished product stage. "Stakeholders are encouraged to review the draft notification and submit their comments and suggestions within the prescribed timeline," the statement noted. The government recently conducted a discussion session 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 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. a"IANS aar/pk New Delhi, March 11 : An aircraft operated by Air India Express faced a technical issue after landing at Phuket International Airport on Wednesday, leading to a temporary suspension of flight operations at the airport. The airline said that its HyderabadPhuket flight experienced a problem with the aircraft's nose wheel after landing in Thailand. The flight, IX 938, had taken off from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport and was headed to Phuket. In a statement, Air India Express confirmed that the aircraft encountered an issue with the nose wheel upon arrival at Phuket Airport on March 11. The nose wheel is a key part of an aircraft's landing gear system and helps the plane move and steer while on the ground. "We confirm that our Hyderabad-Phuket flight on 11 March experienced an issue with the nose wheel at Phuket Airport," the airline stated. "The crew followed all standard protocols, and guests were deplaned. We thank our guests, the Phuket airport authorities, and all stakeholders for their cooperation," an Air India Express spokesperson noted. According to flight tracking website Flightradar24, the flight departed from Hyderabad at 6:42 a.m., slightly later than its scheduled departure time of 6:20 a.m. The aircraft landed safely at Phuket International Airport at 11:40 a.m. local time. Reports said flight operations at the airport were temporarily suspended after the incident because the aircraft remained stuck on the runway. Authorities halted other flights as a precaution until the situation could be handled. The airline said that the crew followed all standard safety procedures and all passengers were safely deplaned after the aircraft came to a halt. The number of passengers on board the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft was not immediately known. Meanwhile, in December last year, the airline said that an Air India Express flight operating between Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam was cancelled after the pilot detected a technical issue before departure. Kochi, March 11 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday used the golden jubilee celebrations of the Kerala Dheevara Sabha in Kochi to praise the fisher community and highlight the Centre's initiatives aimed at strengthening the fisheries sector, in what is widely seen as an outreach to a politically-influential coastal population in the state. PM Modi is in Kochi for a few hours today and this was his first programme of the day. Addressing a large gathering at the event marking the organisation's 50th anniversary, PM Modi described the occasion as a "historic day" for a body that has "worked tirelessly for the uplift of fisher folk." Responding to remarks by Sabha president V. Dinakaran that the Prime Minister had come to bless the community, PM Modi said he had actually come to seek their blessings. Dinakaran, a two-time former Congress MLA who joined the BJP last year, heads the organisation representing a large section of Kerala's fishing community. The Kerala Dheevara Sabha represents a fisher folk population estimated at nearly 2.5 million, across the state, with a strong presence in around 45 Assembly constituencies, making the community a significant electoral force in Kerala politics. PM Modi said the community had a proud legacy of protecting the country's coastal wealth and traditions, noting that their work reflects the cultural ethos of respecting water bodies as a form of 'Mother Nature.' He also paid tribute to spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi for her humanitarian work. Recalling the devastating floods that struck Kerala in recent years, the Prime Minister said fisher folk had come forward in large numbers to rescue stranded residents, adding that the nation remains indebted to them for their courage and service. Highlighting the Centre's initiatives for the fisheries sector, he said the National Democratic Alliance government had created a separate ministry to strengthen the "blue economy." He said projects worth about Rs 1,400 crore have been earmarked for Kerala's fisher folk under various schemes. The Prime Minister also spoke about the National Fisheries Digital Platform aimed at integrating activities in the sector, satellite-based navigation support for fishing boats with thousands of transponders, and the development of nine modern integrated coastal villages in Kerala. Modernisation of fishing harbours, along with facilities such as ice plants, is also being carried out with Central funding, he said. Stressing that fisheries is no longer a purely traditional industry, PM Modi said the sector is increasingly embracing modern technology and innovation. Schemes such as Sagar Mitra, he added, are designed to ensure that the benefits of this transformation reach fisher folk households. "The strength of the Dheevara Sabha is visible today itself," the Prime Minister said, referring to the large turnout at the event. He expressed confidence that the community's contribution would continue to drive Kerala's economic and social progress. New Delhi, March 11 : India's mobile phone exports have surged sharply over the past decade, rising more than 127 times from about Rs 0.01 lakh crore in 2014-15 to nearly Rs 2 lakh crore in 2024-25, the Parliament was informed on Wednesday. Replying to a question in the Lok Sabha, Union Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the sharp growth in exports reflects the success of the government's push to expand electronics manufacturing under initiatives such as 'Make in India' and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'. The policies aim to build a complete ecosystem for electronics production in the country. According to the government, India has transformed from being a net importer of mobile phones to becoming a net exporter over the past 11 years. "The country is now the world's second-largest mobile manufacturing hub," he said. During the same period, the overall production of electronics goods in India increased about six times from around Rs 1.9 lakh crore in 2014-15 to about Rs 11.3 lakh crore in 2024-25. "Electronics exports also rose nearly eight times from Rs 0.38 lakh crore to around Rs 3.3 lakh crore," the minister mentioned. Vaishnaw said India started its electronics manufacturing journey by producing finished products, and the focus has now moved towards developing modules, sub-modules, components and even raw materials, tools and machinery used in the manufacturing process. The government has launched several schemes to strengthen domestic electronics manufacturing. These include the Production Linked Incentive Scheme for large-scale electronics manufacturing and IT hardware, the Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electronic Components and Semiconductors, and the Electronics Manufacturing Clusters Scheme. The minister said that under the PLI scheme for IT hardware, three approved applicants have set up manufacturing units in the state of Maharashtra, and all of them are MSMEs. "Global companies have also started manufacturing products such as laptops and servers in India," it was informed. New Delhi, March 11 : Shiv Sena (UBT) MP, Priyanka Chaturvedi, on Wednesday said that the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) should only take place after thorough consultation with all stakeholders and communities, stressing that every section of society must be taken along before making such a significant legal change. Her remarks came a day after the Supreme Court strongly advocated the idea of "one nation, one law," stating that a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) could be the most effective means to address existing discrimination against women in matters such as marriage, succession, inheritance, and property rights under Muslim personal law and other customary laws. Speaking to IANS, Chaturvedi said that while the intention behind the concept of a uniform legal framework might be equality, the process of implementing such a law must be inclusive and carefully handled. "Before implementing the UCC, there are many stakeholders who need to be consulted, and every section of society must be taken along. Under the guise of the UCC, there should not be further polarisation in campuses or society, similar to what we saw during the debate around UGC guidelines," she said. She added that the Supreme Court's intention was rooted in the principle of equal laws and equal opportunities for all citizens. However, she emphasised that the government must ensure transparency and wider discussions before introducing any such policy. "The intention behind equal laws and opportunities for everyone is important. But what we have often seen is that the current government introduces laws that may have a good intention, but the execution sometimes appears politically-motivated. That is why consultation with stakeholders is essential. It is important to build confidence among all communities before implementing any major legal reform," she told IANS. Chaturvedi also raised questions regarding statements made by Union Minister Piyush Goyal on the IndiaUS trade deal and the issue of Russian oil imports. "When Piyush Goyal was asked whether India had assured the United States that it would stop buying Russian oil while signing the IndiaUS trade deal, he said the matter does not fall under his department and that the External Affairs Ministry should be asked. He also said that he neither buys nor sells oil," she said. She criticised the response, saying the government must provide clarity on the matter. "First he should clarify whether the issue comes under his responsibility or not. People want to know whether India has compromised on its position regarding the purchase of Russian oil. The government should clearly state whether any such commitment has been made to the United States," she said. Reacting to reports that Opposition parties are considering bringing a no-confidence motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Chaturvedi alleged that several institutions were acting in favour of the ruling party. "The way the Election Commission is functioning raises serious questions. It appears to be following the agenda of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Earlier, similar concerns were raised about agencies like the ED, CBI, and the Income Tax Department," she said. She further alleged that voters supporting Opposition parties were being removed from electoral rolls. "Whenever questions are raised about the election process or the functioning of the Election Commission, the responses from authorities suggest that they are protecting the ruling party. That is why Opposition leaders have signed a no-confidence motion against the Chief Election Commissioner," Chaturvedi told IANS. Bhopal, March 11 : Former Madhya Pradesh Congress president Arun Yadav on Wednesday said that many farmers in the state were unable to register for wheat procurement at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for the Rabi Marketing Year 2026-27 due to technical problems in the online system. Yadav demanded that the registration deadline be extended to give another opportunity to farmers who could not complete the process. He said that if the government failed to extend the period, it would raise doubts about the functioning of the system. "Since this morning, we have been receiving continuous calls and messages from farmers saying that they have been unable to register for wheat procurement due to the server being down. The government is demanding that the registration deadline be immediately extended so that no farmer is left out," Yadav said in a statement on Wednesday. The state government had set March 7 as the deadline for registration, but later extended it to March 10. Accordingly, wheat procurement from the registered farmers is scheduled to begin on March 16. According to the government, procurement will take place from March 16 to May 5 in the Indore, Ujjain, Bhopal and Narmadapuram divisions of the state. In the divisions of Jabalpur, Gwalior, Rewa, Shahdol, Chambal and Sagar, the procurement will be done from March 23 to May 12. Meanwhile, the state government on Tuesday constituted a Cabinet committee to monitor and review wheat procurement arrangements under the MSP for the Rabi Marketing Year 2026-27 and to ensure the availability of gunny bags. The committee includes Revenue Minister Karan Singh Verma, Transport and School Education Minister Uday Pratap Singh, Farmer Welfare and Agriculture Development Minister Edal Singh Kansana, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Minister Govind Singh Rajput, and Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Animal Husbandry and Dairy Lakhan Patel. The panel will meet periodically and submit recommendations to the Chief Minister, in line with directions from the Centre and the prevailing situation, to ensure smooth procurement operations. The committee will remain in effect until June 30, 2026. For the 2026-27 marketing season, the state government has also announced a bonus of Rs 40 per quintal over the MSP for wheat. With this incentive, farmers will receive Rs 2,625 per quintal. Chile is beginning a new political cycle. Thirty-six years after the end of the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990), a conservative president has arrived at La Moneda Palace the likes of which had not been seen in recent years. The right wing came to power twice during democracy with Sebastian Pinera, but the businessman was something of an oddity in conservative circles. With Jose Antonio Kast, the right wing that truly connects with Pinochets legacy is back. A 60-year-old lawyer, father of nine, member of the Schoenstatt Catholic movement, and founder of the Republican Party, Kast is promising an emergency government focused on controlling crime, curbing irregular immigration, and promoting economic growth. He will succeed Gabriel Boric, leader of a new generation of leftists who came to power in 2022 with the idea of burying neoliberalism in Chile. What emerged, however, was a mass of voters who, impatient and frightened by crime, are now giving a chance to the first president who has not broken with Pinochet, although in this campaign, on his third attempt, he opted for a more pragmatic approach, set aside his authoritarian nostalgia, and held back on his beliefs that are contrary to individual freedoms, such as abortion. In Chile, there is talk of a shift in the political cycle because Kast has demonstrated that, 52 years after the 1973 coup against Salvador Allende, it is possible for a supporter of the dictatorship to lead the country again. He will do so for four years, until March 2030. His tenure begins after being elected in December with 58% of the vote, becoming, due to mandatory voting, the most voted-for president in Chilean history. He also comes to power with high public expectations: since 2005, citizens have not elected a president of the same political affiliation as their predecessor, in a kind of punishment of incumbent leaders. It is a demanding electorate that does not readily commit to political projects, largely due to the disaffection with the ruling class. In the 2025 presidential elections, after Kast and Jeannette Jara, third place went to Franco Parisi, a populist who rejects politics and has revealed his intention to run for president for a fourth time in 2030. His party, the Peoples Party, has become a significant force in the new Congress, and one of its members, Pamela Jiles, will likely become speaker of the Chamber of Deputies this Wednesday through an agreement with the left. There is a consensus that this is a powerful force in Chilean politics, having managed to connect with sectors of the population that neither the right nor the left had previously taken seriously: the middle and emerging segments of the population in regions outside of Santiago. Kast and his circle dont like being labeled far-right, but since his election in mid-December, he has made his preferences known internationally. His first visit was to Argentine President Javier Milei, with whom he posed for a photograph holding a chainsaw, a symbol of the dismantling of the state. He then visited Nayib Bukeles El Salvador, touring its mega-prison, the Center for the Confinement of Terrorism (CECOT). We want to ask for your collaboration on improving our prison system, on better understanding your criminal justice system, not necessarily by doing the same thing, but, according to our reality, by being able to refine it, Kast told Bukele in late January in San Salvador. He then embarked on a tour of Europe. He met with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Italy and with Viktor Orban in Hungary, both far-right figures. He was also in Belgium, where he was a speaker at the VII Transatlantic Summit, organized by the Political Network for Values, an ultraconservative organization that the Chilean led between 2022 and 2024. An ally of Santiago Abascal, the leader of Spains ultranationalist party VOX they acknowledge being friends Kast called in Europe to promote family, truth and freedom in the face of the isms of the left. After breaking with Borics government and ending the transfer of power in a bilateral meeting last weeka relationship that was later repairedKast traveled to Miami to participate on Saturday in the Shield of the Americas summit at Donald Trumps Florida resort. There, the Chilean president praised Trumps operations in Venezuela and encouraged him to do the same in Cuba, commending his foreign policy. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was expected to attend Wednesdays inauguration ceremony, but Lula canceled his trip to Chile due to the presence of Bolsonaros son, a close ally of Kast. No prominent left-wing president will be present at the ceremony. The new Chilean government will seek $6 billion in fiscal cuts over 18 months, but Kasts Finance Minister, Jorge Quiroz, has already issued a directive ordering a 3% across-the-board cut in public spending for all executive branches, even before the Kast administration has officially begun. Simultaneously, through various initiatives, the new government is seeking to distance itself from Boric and his generation. Along with announcing an audit of his entire tenure, the new government is looking to change its symbolic imagery. Starting this Wednesday, Chilean government employees will be required to adhere to a new dress code. For men: shirt, jacket, and tie. For women: sober and formal attire. Meanwhile, the Chilean left is bracing for a long night in the Kast government. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition New Delhi, March 11 : In a significant decision, the Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed passive euthanasia for Harish Rana, a 31-year-old man from Ghaziabad who has been in a permanent vegetative state for nearly 13 years after suffering severe head injuries in an accident. Advocate Manish Jain, representing Rana's family, said the court has granted permission to withdraw life-sustaining treatment and allow him to remain in a natural state. "Harish Rana's petition has been allowed. Permission has been granted to let him remain in a natural state, meaning all tubes and advanced life support systems will be removed," Jain told IANS. He added that Rana will continue to remain under medical care at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi. "He will remain at AIIMS, which will take robust care of him for as long as he lives," the lawyer said. Rana has been in a vegetative state since 2013 after falling from the fourth floor while he was a student, resulting in severe head injuries. Jain also noted that Rana's family had pursued every possible treatment over the years but there had been no recovery. "It has been 13 years. Everything possible was done, but there was no recovery. The Supreme Court has now allowed passive euthanasia so that he can remain in a natural state," he said. With doctors confirming his condition as irreversible, the family approached the Supreme Court seeking permission for passive euthanasia. The decision is being viewed as a landmark development and one of the first instances where passive euthanasia has been permitted in India under judicial oversight. The Supreme Court's ruling came after careful consideration of medical reports and legal guidelines governing end-of-life care. A Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan allowed the plea filed by Rana's family, permitting the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment. The court observed that the medical Board may exercise its clinical judgment in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the apex court in its landmark 2018 judgment in Common Cause vs Union of India, which recognised passive euthanasia and the right to die with dignity. Allowing the petition, the Justice Pardiwala-led Bench directed that Rana be admitted to the palliative care unit at AIIMS, New Delhi, where the process of withdrawal of medical treatment will be carried out under medical supervision. "In our considered view, it would be permissible for the medical Board to exercise its clinical judgment regarding the withdrawal of treatment in accordance with the guidelines laid down in Common Cause vs Union of India," the apex court said. According to medical records, Rana has been in a permanent vegetative state with 100 per cent disability and quadriplegia, requiring continuous medical assistance for breathing, feeding and daily care since the accident nearly 13 years ago. New Delhi, March 11 : Reports of LPG supply disruptions have emerged from parts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, briefly affecting services and prompting crowds at gas agencies, even as officials and the government said steps are being taken to ensure adequate supply and prevent shortages. In Ayodhyaas Ramnagari, meal distribution at the Ram Rasoi located near the Ram Mandir at the Amava Temple had to be temporarily suspended due to the unavailability of cooking gas. Devotees who arrived for darshan said the community kitchen could not operate because LPG cylinders were not available. Speaking to IANS, a devotee said: "Here at Ram Rasoi, I came for darshan, and the situation todaya"it has been cancelled because cooking gas is not available." Temple authorities, however, said the disruption was temporary and caused by a supply issue that arose on Tuesday afternoon. An administrator said: "Yesterday, there was a problem with a gas shortage from 2 oaclock, so a notice was issued. Today, the Ram Rasoi will operate as usual." Meanwhile, in Biharas Kaimur district, a large crowd gathered outside an Indane gas agency in Mohania after an LPG cylinder truck arrived following a five-day shortage. Cylinders were distributed under police supervision as residents lined up to collect supplies. Some consumers also expressed anger over verification rules during the distribution process. Authorities in the district also carried out raids against alleged black marketing of LPG cylinders amid the supply concerns. Gas agency officials, however, maintained that domestic LPG supply remains stable and that deliveries are continuing. Ajay Kumar Singh, manager of a trading gas agency in Bihar, said consumers should not worry about availability. "Domestic LPG consumers need not worrya"there is no shortage of domestic gas. After placing the booking number, cylinders are being delivered within 2a"3 days," he said. Meanwhile, earlier on Tuesday, government sources stated that there is no need to panic, as authorities are actively working to meet the countryas oil and energy requirements. The government is expanding its sourcing strategy and plans to import oil from a larger number of countries to ensure adequate supply. Earlier, India procured oil and energy resources from 27 countries, but amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, the government has widened its network and is now sourcing supplies from around 40 countries. Officials said the Centre has broadened its procurement horizon to safeguard the nationas energy needs. Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has already reached out to several prospective supplier nations to strengthen supply arrangements and ensure energy availability as soon as possible. The plan, sources said, is already being implemented. Abu Dhabi, March 11 : Two Ghanaian nationals, one Bangladeshi and one Indian were injured after two drones fell in the area surrounding Dubai International Airport on Wednesday. In a statement shared on X, Government of Dubai Media Office stated, "Authorities confirm that two drones fell in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport (DXB) a short while ago, resulting in minor injuries to two Ghanaian nationals and one Bangladeshi national, and moderate injuries to one Indian national. Air traffic is operating as normal." Earlier in the day, UAE's Ministry of Defence announced that its air defences are responding to missile attacks and incoming drones from Iran. It urged people to follow safety and security instructions issued by the authorities. "The UAE's air defences are currently responding to incoming missile and drone attacks from Iran. MoD asserts that the sounds heard are the result of the Air Defence Systems intercepting missiles and drones. The public are requested to adhere to the safety and security instructions issued," UAE's Ministry of Defence posted on X. The missiles strikes by Iran in UAE comes in retaliation to the ongoing joint US-Israel strikes which began on February 28. On Tuesday, UAE's Ministry of Defence stated that its air defences on Tuesday detected nine ballistic missiles, of which eight were destroyed, while one missile fell into the sea. Furthermore, UAE's air defences detected 35 unmanned aerial vehicles, of which 26 were intercepted while nine fell within the country's territory. In a statement shared on X, UAE's Ministry of Defence said, "A total of 1,475 Iranian UAVs have also been detected, of which 1,385 were intercepted, while 90 fell within the countryas territory. Eight cruise missiles were also detected and destroyed." "These attacks resulted in six deaths among Emirati, Pakistani, Nepalese and Bangladeshi nationals, and 122 people sustained moderate to minor injuries. The injured include nationals of the UAE, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan, Yemen, Uganda, Eritrea, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Bahrain, the Comoros, TArkiye, Iraq, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Jordan and Palestine," it added. The ministry expressed its readiness to deal with any threats and said that it will respond firmly to any attempts to undermine UAE's security, ensure the protection of its sovereignty, security and stability, and safeguard its national interests and capabilities. New Delhi, March 11 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Ayush Varshney, co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Darwin Labs Private Limited, in connection with the multi-thousand crore GainBitcoin cryptocurrency fraud case. The case pertains to an alleged Ponzi scheme floated by Variabletech Pte. Ltd., in which investors were lured with promises of exceptionally high returns from cryptocurrency investments. The funds collected from investors were allegedly misappropriated. The investigation is being conducted under Sections 120B, 406 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 66 of the Information Technology Act, 2000. The CBI took up the case following a Supreme Court order dated December 13, 2023, which directed it to act as the common investigating agency for FIRs relating to similar GainBitcoin allegations. During the course of the probe, the role of Darwin Labs and its co-founders, including Varshney, Sahil Baghla, and Nikunj Jain, came to the fore. The company is accused of designing, developing, and deploying the MCAP crypto token along with its ERC-20 smart contract, and creating the technological infrastructure for the fraudulent scheme, including the Bitcoin mining platform GBMiners.com, the Bitcoin payment gateway, Coin Bank wallet, and the GainBitcoin investor-facing portal. Varshney had been absconding for some time, prompting the issuance of a Look Out Circular (LOC) against him. On March 9, 2026, he was intercepted by immigration authorities in Mumbai while attempting to leave India and handed over to the CBI. He was formally arrested the next day. The CBI has reaffirmed its commitment to conducting a comprehensive and impartial investigation into the GainBitcoin scam. Authorities said they are determined to bring all those involved to justice. The investigation is continuing, with further arrests and developments expected as the probe deepens into the network behind one of Indiaas largest cryptocurrency frauds to date. Islamabad, March 11 : Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's sisters held a sit-in after they were again stopped at a check post outside Adiala jail. Police also pushed back Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers who tried to move towards the prison, local media reported on Wednesday. While speaking to reporters outside the prison on Tuesday, Imran Khan's Aleema Khan termed it unfortunate that family members were not allowed to meet the PTI founder despite court orders. In response to a question, Aleema Khan rejected reports suggesting that her brother will be released before Eid, Pakistan's leading daily Dawn reported. She said, "They donat want to release him. Just look at the developments at the international level, and you will realise why Imran Khan is in jail." Earlier in February, incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders had written a letter to the Chief Justice of Pakistan, expressing serious concerns about alleged hindrances in providing legal and medical access to Imran Khan. The leaders, in their letter to Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, urged him to intervene in the matter to ensure justice in this issue. They also requested Afridi to take notice of the matter and ensure Imran Khan is allowed to meet personal doctor, legal counsel and family members as per the law, local media reported. In a letter issued through their lawyers, PTI leaders Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Yasmin Rashid, Ijaz Chaudhry, Omar Sarfraz Cheema and Mahmood-ur-Rashid, stated that Imran Khan was not being allowed to meet personal doctor, family members and legal counsel during treatment, Pakistan's leading media outlet Geo News reported. The PTI leaders wrote a letter to the Chief Justice after Imran Khan was given a second dose of the injection at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad. In the letter, the PTI leaders drew a comparison of Imran Khan's medical treatment with Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's medical treatment in 2019. They stated that the government ensured Nawaz Sharif was taken to Services Hospital in Lahore and was given proper medical care when he had low platelet counts. They further said that Nawaz Sharif's personal physician attended all meetings of the medical board, and his family and lawyer could meet him. The PTI leaders stated that Nawaz Sharif was allowed to travel to England for treatment of his heart ailment, where he had received medical care previously. The PTI leaders claimed that the sitting government was engaged in "cloak-and-dagger" conduct and did not initially allow Imran Khan to access the medical area when he was unwell and later issued statements when reports surfaced about his CRVO diagnosis. In the letter, the PTI leaders stated that the treatment rights of Imran Khan were ignored and his family, personal lawyer and consultants were not allowed to meet him. It further said that Imran Khan's family was informed about his second injection after the procedure was conducted on Tuesday at around 2 am. They alleged that the government was intentionally creating hindrances to maintain political control and urged Chief Justice Yahya Afridi to ensure that Imran Khan is allowed to meet his personal doctor, legal counsel and family members, as per the law, Geo News reported. Taipei, March 11 : Around 300 people participated in an annual march in Taiwan's capital, Taipei, to mark the 1959 Tibetan uprising, with organisers warning that China's "expansion of authoritarian rule will not stop in just one place," local media reported. Chairman of the Tibet Religious Foundation, Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama, Kelsang Gyaltsen Bawa, said, "Tibet's story is also a reminder to the world, especially Taiwan," Central News Agency (CNA) reported. "The expansion of authoritarian rule will not stop in just one place," he said, adding that China's influence has already reached Uyghurs, Southern Mongolians, Hong Kong and other regions of the world through "transnational repression, united front infiltration and long-arm jurisdiction." Kelsang Gyaltsen Bawa termed it important to mark Tibetan Uprising Day in Taiwan so that calls from the island nation to back Tibet's dignity and democracy are heard in the world. He mentioned that Tibetan Uprising Day falls on March 10 and commemorates the day in 1959 when around 10,000 Tibetans gathered in Lhasa to hold a protest against the stringent control of China. According to the Human Rights Network for Tibet and Taiwan, the authorities brutally suppressed, resulting in the Dalai Lama's exile and forcing around 150,000 Tibetans to move overseas, CNA reported. Yeh Ta-hua, a commissioner at Taiwan's National Human Rights Commission, said Taiwanese in the past 67 years have witnessed how Tibetans had "fearlessly resisted" the "brutal rule" of Chinese authorities while protecting their freedom and faith. He said supporting Tibet implies supporting democracy and freedom of Tibet, adding that the people of Taiwan should support Tibetans in protecting the "autonomy of religious reincarnation and resisting transnational repression." Speaking to CNA, University student Jacky Ling, who was part of the protest, said that people of Taiwan could learn about identity from Tibetans, who he said were firmly identifying themselves as Tibetan and safeguarding their own religion, language and clothing. "In matters of national identity, if you do not have a clear sense of who you are, it becomes very easy for outside voices to define you, and you end up becoming whatever they say you are," he said, referring to Beijing's efforts to reshape how people of Taiwan see themselves. New Delhi, March 11 : More than 7,700 complaints related to food adulteration and safety were received in 2024-25, out of which nearly 6,000 have been resolved, the Parliament was informed on Wednesday. In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Consumer Affairs B. L. Verma said consumer complaints about food safety are received through the online portal of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. According to the government data, 4,330 complaints were received in 2022-23, out of which 4,074 were resolved. In 2023-24, the number of complaints increased to 4,735, with 3,993 cases resolved. The figure rose further in 2024-25, when 7,705 complaints were registered and 5,952 of them were addressed. The complaints are registered on the Food Safety Connect platform, which is part of the Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS). Once a complaint is registered, the concerned Designated Officers and Food Safety Officers as well as food business operators get online access to the grievance, the minister explained. "Regulatory action on such complaints is taken by the respective state food safety departments in accordance with the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006," Verma stated. The minister said the food regulator is responsible for setting science-based standards for food products and regulating their manufacturing, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure safe food for consumers. However, enforcement at the ground level is mainly carried out by state food safety authorities through designated officers and food safety officers. To ensure compliance with food safety standards, the regulator conducts inspections, sampling and targeted enforcement drives through its regional offices and state authorities. These include activities under the National Annual Surveillance Plan as well as other monitoring initiatives. The authority has also introduced a Risk Based Inspection System that decides the frequency of inspections based on the level of risk associated with different food products. If violations of safety standards are found, food business operators may face regulatory or punitive action under the Food Safety and Standards Act. March 11 : Lucknow: CM Yogi Adityanath directed officials to expedite the land acquisition process for various proposed expressways in the state. While reviewing ongoing and proposed infrastructure projects in a progress review meeting on Tuesday, the Chief Minister discussed the progress of the Chitrakoot Link Expressway, Farrukhabad Link Expressway, Agra-Lucknow-Purvanchal Link Expressway, Jhansi Link Expressway and Jewar Link Expressway. He instructed the concerned District Magistrates to immediately speed up land acquisition and remove all hurdles on priority so that construction of these expressway projects can begin at the earliest. He said that the expansion of the expressway network will give a fresh boost to investment, industrial activities and balanced regional development in the state. Chief Minister stated that a strong infrastructure base is essential for the states rapid economic growth and that unnecessary delays or compromise in quality in any project will not be acceptable. He directed all departments to ensure that under-construction projects are completed within the prescribed timelines, maintaining high quality and complete transparency. During the review, officials informed that construction of the main carriageway of the Ganga Expressway has been completed and the remaining works are being carried out rapidly. CM directed that all remaining works be completed in a time-bound manner so that the expressway can be made operational soon. Officials also informed that work is progressing on a proposal to extend the Ganga Expressway from Meerut to Haridwar. While reviewing the progress of the Noida International Airport (Jewar) project, officials informed that the airport has recently received a provisional aerodrome license and land acquisition and other development works are progressing rapidly. Chief Minister directed that all works related to the airport project be completed in a coordinated manner at the earliest. Reviewing the Multi-Modal Logistics Hub and Multi-Modal Transport Hub being developed in Greater Noida, CM instructed that land acquisition and construction work be completed within the stipulated time. Regarding the Chilla Elevated Flyover project in Noida, he emphasized strict adherence to construction quality and contractual conditions. In the irrigation sector, progress of the Middle Ganga Canal Project (Stage-2) and the Erich Irrigation Project was reviewed. Chief Minister said irrigation projects are crucial for increasing farmers productivity and should therefore be given priority. In the energy sector, the meeting reviewed the proposed pump storage project in the Rihand-Obra region, environmental upgradation of thermal power projects, and the proposed 100-MW solar power plant in Jhansi. CM directed officials to increase the states energy generation capacity and accelerate clean energy projects. The meeting also reviewed the proposed Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre under Vrindavan Yojana in Lucknow and the Night Safari project in the Kukrail area. The Chief Minister said these projects will boost tourism and the service sector and should be prioritized. Reviewing the progress of land acquisition in the Bundelkhand Industrial Development Authority (BIDA) area, the Chief Minister directed officials to complete the process by June and deploy additional manpower if required. The meeting also reviewed widening of roads connected to inter-state and international borders and the Ghaghra river embankment protection project in Basti district. CM directed that nodal officers be appointed and that all concerned departments expedite these projects. The progress of the Chief Minister Model School Scheme, the 300-bed Cancer Hospital in Lucknow and the 'Zero Poverty campaign was also reviewed. Officials informed that under the campaign, extremely poor families are being identified and linked with various government schemes, while youth are being connected with skill development and employment opportunities. CM also stressed the need to provide training to entrepreneurs to further strengthen CM Young Entrepreneur Development Campaign. CM said that development projects in the state are not limited to infrastructure construction alone, but also form the foundation for investment, employment generation and overall improvement in citizens standard of living. Therefore, all departments must ensure that projects are completed within the stipulated timeframe through coordinated and goal-oriented efforts. March 11 : Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday reviewed law and order and administrative preparedness in view of the upcoming festivals, the Uttar Pradesh Police recruitment examination and other important events, and directed officials to work with vigilance and coordination. The Chief Minister said that Alvida Namaz will be observed on March 13, the Sub-Inspector and equivalent posts written examination conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board will be held on March 14 and 15, Chaitra Navratri will begin on March 19, and Eid-ul-Fitr is likely to be celebrated on March 20-21. Considering this, the period is extremely sensitive from a law-and-order perspective. He said, "All officials must discharge their responsibilities with full alertness and ensure that all events are conducted peacefully and in a harmonious environment." The Chief Minister directed that no new traditions should be allowed to start and it must be ensured that no religious program causes inconvenience to the general public. He emphasized adopting a zero-tolerance policy towards anti-social or anti-national activities. Issuing special instructions regarding the SI recruitment examination, the Chief Minister said, "The examination will be conducted in four shifts on March 14 and 15 at 1,090 examination centers across the state, with over 1.575 million candidates registered. Considering that a large number of candidates will travel from other districts, effective traffic management must be ensured so that no traffic congestion or disorder occurs anywhere." He added, "No compromise can be made with the sanctity and confidentiality of the examination. Sector Magistrates and Static Magistrates must remain deployed with full responsibility, while the intelligence system should remain fully active and vigilant." He added, "A mock rehearsal of arrangements should be conducted in all districts before the examination. Continuous monitoring of social media must also be ensured so that any rumor or misleading information can be immediately countered." The Chief Minister directed that PRV-112 vehicles must be deployed outside every examination center, and district administrations should coordinate with the recruitment board to ensure the examination is conducted in a fair and peaceful manner. Reviewing preparations for Chaitra Navratri, the Chief Minister said, "A large number of devotees are expected at major Shakti Peeths including Devi Patan Temple (Balrampur), Shakumbhari Devi (Saharanpur), Maa Vindhyavasini Dham (Mirzapur) and Lalita Devi (Sitapur). A large influx of devotees from across the country is also expected in Ayodhya on March 27 on the occasion of Shri Ram Navami." He said, "Adequate arrangements must therefore be ensured for devotees security, smooth darshan, drinking water, cleanliness and crowd management." The Chief Minister also directed that special cleanliness drives be carried out around temples and religious places in cities and villages during Navratri, and additional sanitation workers should be deployed where required. He added, "Police should implement effective crowd management and foot patrolling plans according to local conditions." The Chief Minister also reviewed preparedness with the District Magistrates and Police Chiefs of Mirzapur, Balrampur, Sitapur, Ayodhya, Mathura and Saharanpur. He further noted that the Honble President is also scheduled to visit Ayodhya and Mathura on March 19, and directed that all necessary protocol arrangements be ensured in advance. The Chief Minister also reviewed the availability of petrol and diesel in view of recent global developments. He was informed that there is no shortage of petrol and diesel anywhere in the state, and supply and distribution remain normal. He directed officials of the Food and Civil Supplies Department to ensure that the public does not face any inconvenience and that no panic or artificial crisis situation arises anywhere. Officials should conduct regular field inspections. The Chief Minister also instructed strict monitoring against hoarding and black marketing, and said that strict action should be taken against anyone found guilty of irregularities. The meeting was conducted through video conferencing, and was attended by all Divisional Commissioners, District Magistrates, Additional Director Generals of Police (Zones), Police Commissioners, Inspectors General of Police (Ranges), Senior Superintendents of Police/Superintendents of Police, along with senior officials at the state government level. Amaravati, March 11 : The government of Andhra Pradesh has asked aqua farmers in the state not to panic about the impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East on aquaculture sector. State Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu has advised shrimp farmers not to resort to panic harvesting for fear of impact on seafood exports in view of the conflict in the Gulf region. He held a video conference with Andhra Pradesh State Aquaculture Development Authority (APSADA) Co-Vice Chairman, members of the Non-Official Committee and members of the Aquaculture Advisory Committee and reviewed the current situation on Wednesday. Minister Atchannaidu said that some aqua farmers have been worried due to media reports about the ongoing conflict in the Gulf. He explained that only 3-4 per cent of India's total seafood exports go to the Middle East, and that too mainly through the Strait of Hormuz. He said that seafood containers going to other countries like the European Union, the United States, Japan, and China continue to move without restrictions through the Red Sea Suez Canal route, the Cape of Good Hope route, and the China Sea route. Therefore, he clarified that the current situation is not likely to have a significant impact on India's seafood exports. Atchannaidu also stated that demand in the US market is likely to improve by the end of March 2026. He said that demand is likely to increase especially after the Seafood Expo North America (March 15a"17, 2026, Boston). He said that there is generally good demand for 50 and 60 count shrimp in the US market, which are the sizes that Andhra Pradesh farmers usually produce and until that count is achieved, there is no need for intermediate catches. The Minister said that the approximately 20 percent tariff imposed by the US on Indian shrimp (including Basic Duty, Anti-Dumping Duty a" ADD, Countervailing Duty a" CVD) is at par with the tariffs imposed on other competing countries, which will ensure Indiaas competitiveness in the international seafood export market. The minister clarified that the news being circulated that there is a shortage of shipping containers is false. He said that there is no situation where exports are being affected due to the shortage of containers, and that containers from Andhra Pradesh have not returned so far. He said that review meetings will be held with APSADA directors and members of the Aquaculture Advisory Committee in the last week of every month to continuously monitor the export situation and provide timely suggestions to farmers. Minister Atchannaidu said that if the ongoing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between India and the European Union are completed, more market opportunities will be available for Indian seafood exports and this will help in increasing exports in the future. Aqua farmers should not panic or do early harvesting, as doing so could lead to a simultaneous oversupply in the market, causing a fall in shrimp prices and resulting financial losses to farmers, he said. Farmers should harvest at the right time only after the culture cycle is completed as per their plan, with the advice of exporters and fisheries officials. The Andhra Pradesh government is continuously monitoring international developments in the fisheries sector and is taking steps to ensure uninterrupted seafood exports from the state by coordinating with exporters, processing units and other relevant stakeholders, the minister said. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister commented on the impact of situation in the Middle East on the state while addressing conference of district Collectors. He underscored the need for paying more attention to the safety of the NRIs in the Gulf region. On crisis in agricultural sector due to war effect, the Chief Minister said officials should search for alternative markets to protect the interests of farmers. Parliament debates new rules for mining and incentives for foreign investment in an area that is controlled by criminal groups and which has become a major environmental disaster Since January 3, Venezuela has opened its natural resources to the United States. First it was oil. Crude extracted from Venezuelan wells has returned to what was for years its main customer, and Washington has reciprocated by granting the necessary licenses. Then, the Venezuelan parliament, led by Jorge Rodriguez, the brother of acting president Delcy Rodriguez, amended the hydrocarbons law, and a few days ago, the first contract with Shell was signed. The same pattern is now being repeated for mining operations. U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum paved the way during his two-day visit last week, which also included representatives from some 20 U.S. mineral companies, many of which operated in Venezuela in the past but ended up leaving due to expropriations during Hugo Chavezs tenure. Upon his return to Washington, a license was issued authorizing transactions with the Venezuelan state-owned gold mining company Minerven. According to the license, as was also the case with oil, individuals and companies from Russia, Iran, North Korea, and Cuba are not authorized to enter into contracts with Minerven. The following day, the first shipment of gold, valued at $100 million, arrived in the United States. According to Burgum, it will be used for both industrial and commercial purposes. Venezuela has got $500 billion of resources of gold, but theyve also got other critical minerals. Bauxite for aluminum, which we need for defense and for consumer goods, the official said in an interview with a U.S. media outlet upon his return. They also have coal resources that can be used to generate energy. The Venezuelan Parliament is currently debating a new mining law that was placed on the agenda this Tuesday. The legislation seeks to establish new rules for the management of the countrys mineral resources. During the presentation, lawmakers indicated that the law addresses legal security, foreign investment, and the incorporation of new contracting mechanisms for the administration of mineral resources. These are the same aspects that were central to the reform of the hydrocarbons law, but further debate is needed before its approval. Jorge Rodriguez and the vice-presidents of parliament vote in the session on a new mining law, on March 9. Gaby Oraa (REUTERS) Burgum has asserted that the Venezuelan government provided security guarantees to mining companies interested in investing in the country. The reference to security was reiterated several times in the officials statements while in Venezuela. However, the mineral-rich areas in the south of the country have long been controlled by guerrillas, criminal gangs, and other illegal groups. When Donald Trump initiated the siege against Nicolas Maduro last year, he made clear his interest in the South American countrys resources. The deployment of military vessels in the Caribbean was accompanied by statements in which the president asserted that Venezuela had stolen oil from the United States. The military intervention and the capture of Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, ultimately precipitated these plans. In addition to possessing the worlds largest oil reserves, the Caribbean nation boasts enormous gas fieldsthe sixth largest globally; vast gold reserves, the most significant in Latin America; iron ore, ranking 12th in the world; bauxite, ranking 15th; and diamonds. Before the collapse of the Chavista regime, the country had made significant progress in the exploitation and export of several of these commodities, particularly oil, gas, iron ore, and processed aluminum and steel products, cornerstones of contemporary Venezuela. Added to all this is a significant supply of so-called rare earth elements, especially coltan and thorium, chemical elements with magnetic and conductivity properties essential for modern technology: mobile phones, electric vehicles, weaponry, and renewable energy. The so-called black sandsa market largely dominated by Chinaare emerging as a prize that the U.S. president hopes to wrest from his trade rival by restoring relations with Venezuela through a political transition overseen by Washington. This year marks a decade since Maduro signed the decree creating the Orinoco Mining Arc, a 112,000-square-kilometer area encompassing nearly 12% of the national territory, in search of new revenue for a country whose oil industry was in ruins. Chavismo had made its survival contingent on gold, after oil sanctions were imposed in 2019. Maduro, now imprisoned in New York, went so far as to distribute mines to governors, mayors, and ministers to cover government spending. In gold trading, Chavismo has partnered with Turkey and South Africa. In production, however, it operates a network of strategic alliances with companies close to the ruling elite, under the supervision of the Venezuelan Mining Corporation. These alliances coexist with irregular actors such as the Colombian guerrilla group National Liberation Army (ELN), FARC dissidents, and criminal gangs like the Tren de Aragua. Workers at a gold mine in El Callao, Bolivar (Venezuela), in April 2023. Matias Delacroix (AP) The result has been devastating. Far from becoming a development hub, the Orinoco Mining Arc has transformed into a dangerous breeding ground for crime, political and military corruption, and smuggling, against the backdrop of a major environmental disaster that has expanded the extractive frontier into protected natural areas of the states of Bolivar and Amazonas. This is not large-scale mining of the type sought by U.S. companies interested in returning to the country, but rather a chaotic and uncontrolled exploitation fueled by the global rise in the price of gold. United Nations reports have documented serious human rights violations in this territory, including slavery and trafficking. For some environmentalists, the gold extracted from Venezuelan mines can be considered blood gold. The organization SOS Orinoco, which has denounced the critical situation in mining areas for years, has warned that license 51, granted by the Office of Foreign Assets Control to Minerven, perpetuates ecocide and launders criminal wealth. In a statement, the NGO criticized the pro-business agenda for ignoring southern Venezuela as a mining region devastated by the ongoing conflict. The United States is becoming complicit in the plundering of our natural heritage, rewarding a regime that continues to violate human and environmental rights. The U.S. government is naive to think that these licenses will reduce smuggling or unsustainable mining. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition New Delhi, March 11 : A parallel government has taken over the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) with the Pakistan security forces failing to rein-in the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The battle against the Afghan Taliban and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) appears to have taken a toll on the Pakistani security forces, as a result of which, the TTP has made major advances. Indian officials tracking the developments say that the TTP has managed to assert itself in a big way in the Khyber district. Reports of the TTP cadres carrying out searches and checks at various points in the region are doing the rounds. The local police have become completely helpless and TTP cadres carrying out search operations in the region have become a common sight, officials say. While the TTP has not been getting involved in day-to-day governance, it has however managed to capture the security apparatus, which in turn has made the local police look like a mute spectator. The TTP however realises that in order to sustain this, it would need funds. Thus, TTP operatives have been collecting donations from the people in a bid to fund its own activities. In the long run the TTP is trying to ascertain control over the region. It has been telling the people that it is in charge and this would become the new normal very soon. The local security forces have refrained from engaging with the TTP as they realise that they would be overwhelmed. What one gets to see in the Bara region of KP is the complete dominance of the TTP. There is a brazen display of authority and what has helped the TTP is the absolute lack of any response by the Pakistani administration. Officials say that the TTP has not faced any resistance from the people. The people of KP have for long complained against the Pakistan establishment. Further they are also unhappy that the Pakistan Army has waged a war with the Taliban. It is not clear whether or not they are backing the TTP, but they have made it clear that they are not in favour of the establishmentas treatment towards the region. Another official said that the TTP realises that it has made gains in the region and would not like to lose it. This explains why the TTP has set up security check points in multiple locations. The outfit does not want any official from the Pakistani security forces to enter the region. Further checks are also ongoing to prevent arms and ammunition from coming in. Officials say that although the Pakistani establishment is silent at the moment, it would soon unleash terror groups such as the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) and Lashkar-e-Tayiba to battle against the TTP. This has been the plan for long and in recent months the Pakistani establishment has been engaging the ISKP on several occasions, both officially as well as unofficially. The ISKP is currently in the process of setting up death squads to be used both in KP as well Balochistan. The Pakistan establishment has realised that it is unable to fight groups such as the TTP and BLA in the conventional manner. Islamabad feels that the ISKP is more adept in fighting these groups and hence it is being deployed heavily, officials say. Indian agencies say that the situation in KP is grim and one could expect a major escalation soon. Pakistan is currently busy with its war against the Afghan Taliban and hence it has not been able to focus on KP, officials say. Mumbai, March 11 : Indian benchmark equity indices ended sharply lower on Wednesday as a surge in global oil prices and rising geopolitical tensions weighed on investor sentiment. At the closing bell, Sensex settled at 76,863.71, down 1.72 per cent or 1,342.27 points, while the Nifty ended at 23,866.85, plunging 394.75 points or 1.63 per cent. The decline was led by automobile, banking, real estate, IT, FMCG and consumer durables stocks such as Bajaj Finance, Axis Bank, Eicher Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Bajaj Auto, Kotak Mahindra Bank and HDFC Bank, which declined up to around 5 per cent. Sectorally, Nifty Auto emerged as the worst-performing sector, falling 3.15 per cent to 25,926. The Nifty Bank declined more than 2 per cent to 55,735.75, while the Nifty Financial Services dropped 2.32 per cent and the Nifty Private Bank slipped 2.41 per cent. Among other sectors, the Nifty IT declined 1.24 per cent, Nifty FMCG slipped 1.10 per cent, and Nifty Realty dropped 1.71 per cent. However, some defensive sectors bucked the broader trend. Nifty Pharma rose 0.41 per cent, while healthcare gained 0.14 per cent. Energy stocks also saw mild gains, with Nifty Oil & Gas edging up 0.18 per cent. Broader market indices also ended lower, mirroring weakness in frontline stocks. The Nifty Midcap 150 fell 1.25 per cent to 56,461.10, while the Nifty Midcap 100 declined 1.14 per cent to 20,839.35. The Nifty Smallcap 50 dropped 0.55 per cent, and the Nifty 100 fell 1.54 per cent. Analysts attributed the sharp decline to rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and concerns over potential disruption in global energy supply. "Indian equity markets opened cautiously but gradually slipped into a broad-based sell-off as concerns over escalating military activity in the Middle East and the possibility of disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz triggered a risk-off sentiment among investors," according to experts. The India VIX surged nearly 11 per cent during the session, reflecting heightened uncertainty and fragile investor sentiment. Energy markets also remained in focus, with crude prices rising amid concerns over supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a key corridor for global oil trade. According to analysts, markets are likely to remain volatile in the near term as investors track geopolitical developments, energy price movements and institutional fund flows. Ghaziabad, March 11 : With the Supreme Court permitting passive euthanasia for Harish Rana, who has been in a vegetative state since 2013, his father Ashok Rana on Wednesday expressed deep gratitude to the judges for their decision, saying that the order not only affects his family but could also bring relief to many other families facing similar situations across the country. Talking to reporters, Ashok Rana said the legal battle had been long and emotionally difficult for the family. "Four years ago, my wife had suggested that we approach the Prime Minister or the President regarding this issue. But at that time, I told her that such a step would not be possible," he said. Rana explained that he later discussed the matter with members of the Brahma Kumari institution, with which he has been associated. "I have been connected with the Brahma Kumari institution. I shared our situation with one of the senior members there. She helped us by sending a lawyer, Manish Jain, who guided us through the legal process," he said. He added that the family initially approached the High Court before eventually taking the matter to the Supreme Court. "We first went to the High Court and later to the Supreme Court. We are eternally grateful to the honourable judges of the Supreme Court for their decision," he said. Ashok Rana also thanked the doctors who had been caring for his son over the years. "The Supreme Court has given a good order to the state government. I want to thank everyone, especially the doctors who supported us during this long and painful time," he said. He further noted that both he and his wife are growing older and have struggled to cope with the situation for years. "We are getting old now. I am around 63 years old and my wife is 60. My son was declared brain dead long ago. This issue is not only about our family. In India, there must be many such cases where families are facing similar circumstances," he added. Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court allowed passive euthanasia for a 31-year-old Ghaziabad resident who has remained in a permanent vegetative state for nearly 13 years, after suffering severe head injuries in a fall from the fourth floor while he was a student. A Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan permitted the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment for Harish Rana, observing that the medical Board may exercise its clinical judgment in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the apex court in its landmark 2018 ruling in Common Cause vs. Union of India. Allowing the plea filed by his family, the Justice Pardiwala-led Bench directed that Rana be admitted to the palliative care unit at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, where the process of withdrawal of medical treatment can be carried out. "In our considered view, it would be permissible for the medical Board to exercise its clinical judgment regarding the withdrawal of treatment in accordance with the guidelines laid down in Common Cause vs. Union of India," the apex court said. Rana has been in a permanent vegetative state with 100 per cent disability and quadriplegia, requiring continuous medical assistance for breathing, feeding, and daily care. Earlier, the Supreme Court had directed the constitution of a Primary Medical Board to assess whether withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment could be considered. A team of medical experts that examined Rana at his residence reported that he was lying in bed with a tracheostomy tube for respiration and a gastrostomy tube for feeding, and that the chances of his recovery were negligible. New Delhi, March 11 : President Droupadi Murmu, attending the 'Jal Mahotsav 2026' here on Wednesday, emphasised the importance of water conservation and community participation in ensuring sustainable water management across the country. In her address, the President said that in India, water is not merely a basic necessity but is deeply connected with the nationas culture, traditions, livelihoods and community life. She noted that for many years, particularly in rural areas, villagers, especially women and children, had to travel long distances to collect drinking water. "Providing clean water is not only a matter of convenience; it is also related to time, health, and dignity," she said. To address these challenges, the Centre launched the Jal Jeevan Mission, which aims to provide safe and adequate drinking water to rural households through functional tap connections, she added. The President observed that the mission has significantly improved access to safe drinking water in villages. "People who once struggled to obtain drinking water now have access to clean and safe water in their homes," she said. Highlighting the importance of collective responsibility, President Murmu said that conservation of natural resources becomes more effective when both the government and society take ownership of them. She stressed that community participation plays a vital role in the management and conservation of water resources. She expressed confidence that initiatives like aJal Arpan Diwasa, which involves the formal handover of water supply infrastructure to gram panchayats, will strengthen community ownership and encourage better management of water resources at the grassroots level. The President also appreciated the role of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in supporting water-related initiatives. She noted that SHGs are actively involved in water testing, operation and maintenance activities in many areas. "There are many examples where the dedication and commitment of Self-Help Groups have brought positive changes in the lives of women and society. Harnessing the potential of women through such groups will be extremely beneficial in addressing water security challenges," she said. Murmu further stressed that a multi-pronged and coordinated approach is essential to strengthen water security. She noted that greywater management is being promoted in rural areas in coordination with the Clean India Mission. Efforts are also being made to ensure the sustainability of water resources through groundwater recharge and conservation measures in collaboration with the Central Groundwater Board and other institutions. She also highlighted national campaigns such as "Catch the Rain" and "Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari", which encourage rainwater harvesting and community participation in water conservation. "These coordinated efforts will play a crucial role in ensuring water security for the country," she said. The President underlined that water conservation is a shared responsibility and urged citizens to treat water not merely as a commodity but as a precious resource for future generations. "To secure our future, water conservation must become an integral part of our daily lives. Awareness among the younger generation about water management and conservation will ensure the countryas water security in the years to come," she said. Murmu also expressed confidence that aJal Mahotsava would evolve into a mass movement for water conservation in India. The Ministry of Jal Shakti is organising Jal Mahotsav 2026 as a nationwide campaign from March 8 to March 22, aimed at strengthening public participation and community ownership in rural drinking water services under the Jal Jeevan Mission. Ahmedabad, March 11 : Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel attended the bicentenary grand festival, titled 'Avsar', marking 200 years of the establishment of the Jetalpur Swaminarayan Temple on Wednesday. He said the Swaminarayan sect had played a significant role in promoting social harmony and reform in society. Addressing the gathering, Patel said the day marked the completion of two centuries since the founding of the Jetalpur Dham. Referring to the temple's origins, he said, "The day when Lord Swaminarayan himself must have consecrated this temple would have been grand and divine." He added that the Jetalpur temple was the fifth among the nine temples established through the consecration performed by Swaminarayan himself. The Chief Minister also spoke about India's position globally, stating that the country had remained strong amid changing global dynamics under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "People should work together to realise the Prime Minister's vision of a developed India," he said. Highlighting the role of the Swaminarayan sect, Patel said it had made a significant contribution towards social harmony. "Lord Swaminarayan did major work to remove social evils and superstitions from society, and even today the sadhus and saints of this sect are continuing the same work," he said. He further said that the saints and devotees of the Swaminarayan sect had consistently carried out service activities with a sense of national interest. Speaking on the occasion, Tejendraprasadji Maharaj said: "There should be no politics in religion but when the values of religion are upheld in politics, it becomes admirable. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had always placed religion first in politics." He offered blessings that the people of Gujarat remain happy under the leadership of Bhupendra Patel. Among those present at the event were Kaushalendraprasad Maharaj, Lalji Maharaj and local MLA Babubhai Patel, along with senior saints from Kalupur and Jetalpur dham and a large number of saints and devotees of the Swaminarayan sect. New Delhi, March 11 : AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal has submitted a representation to the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court seeking the transfer of the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) revision petition in the Delhi excise policy case from the Bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma. In his representation, former Delhi CM Kejriwal requested Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya - who is the master of the roster -that the case be reassigned to a different Bench of the Delhi High Court. The CBI's revision plea assail the order of the Rouse Avenue Court discharging all 23 accused, including Kejriwal and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, in the case relating to the now-scrapped excise policy introduced by the then AAP-led Delhi government. Earlier this week, a single-judge Bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma had issued notice to Kejriwal, Sisodia and other respondents on the CBI's petition assailing the trial court's decision to discharge the accused. During the hearing, the Delhi High Court also stayed the trial court's direction ordering departmental action against a CBI officer who had investigated the case and said that the remarks made against the investigating agency and the officer would remain stayed. The Delhi High Court had indicated that the matter would be taken up for further hearing next week. Separately, Justice Sharma's Bench on Tuesday issued notice on a plea filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seeking expunging of certain adverse observations made against it by the trial court while discharging the accused in the excise policy case. The ED has contended that the remarks were "extraneous to the subject matter" of the proceedings and were made despite the anti-money laundering agency not being a party before the trial court when the discharge order was passed. Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju had argued that the observations were recorded without giving the ED an opportunity to present its case and could prejudice its ongoing investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). During the hearing, Justice Sharma said the Delhi High Court would consider the ED's grievance along with the CBI's revision petition since the entire judgment of the trial court was already under challenge before it. The CBI, in its petition before the High Court, has assailed the trial court's decision to discharge all the accused, arguing that the order was "perverse" and effectively amounted to an acquittal without trial. According to the probe agency, the excise policy was allegedly manipulated to benefit certain private liquor entities, including the so-called 'South Group', in exchange for alleged upfront bribes. However, the trial court had rejected the prosecutionas theory of an overarching conspiracy and held that the contemporaneous record indicated the policy was the outcome of a consultative and deliberative process carried out in accordance with prescribed procedure. Surat, March 11 : A massive fire broke out at a chemical warehouse in the Sachin industrial area of Surat on Wednesday, triggering a series of explosions and initiating a large emergency response, officials said.a Surat, March 11 (IANS) A massive fire broke out at a chemical warehouse in the Sachin industrial area of Surat on Wednesday, triggering a series of explosions and initiating a large emergency response, officials said. The blaze erupted at a warehouse belonging to Aether Industries located in the Hoziwala compound in Sachin GIDC, where large quantities of chemicals were reportedly stored. Preliminary information indicated that several chemical drums caught fire, leading to repeated explosions inside the facility. Officials said more than 20 blasts were reported as the fire intensified, with explosions continuing as chemical containers ruptured under the heat. The blasts were strong enough to damage nearby structures. A one- to two-storey building collapsed following the explosions, and tin-shed warehouses in the surrounding area also caught fire. The flames spread to neighbouring units, including Geeta Timber Plywood and Shakti Plywood. Geeta Timber Plywood was reported to have been completely gutted in the fire. The explosions also shattered the glass windows of nearby buildings and damaged goods stored in surrounding premises. Thick black smoke billowing from the site could be seen from several kilometres away, with some residents reporting it was visible up to 5 kilometres away. Workers and residents in the vicinity rushed out of nearby factories as the blasts echoed across the industrial estate. The fire department issued a "major call" after assessing the scale of the incident. More than 15 fire brigade vehicles from different stations were deployed to the site, along with teams from the Sachin Notified Area and other nearby fire stations. Firefighters continued to extinguish the flames and take measures to prevent them from spreading further on the chemical-laden premises, which officials said made firefighting operations particularly challenging. Police also moved quickly to secure the area. The surrounding area had been sealed off as a precaution. "According to the information received so far, a fire has broken out in the warehouse of Aether Company. Police have cordoned off an area of about one km, and firefighters are carrying out operations at the site," an official said. Authorities said that despite the scale of the fire and the series of explosions, no casualties had been reported so far. Firefighting operations are continuing as efforts are underway to bring the blaze fully under control. The exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and an investigation is expected once the situation is stabilised. Officials said the incident may have caused significant damage to goods stored in the affected warehouses and nearby industrial units. Jaipur, March 11 : On the initiative of Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, the celebration of Rajasthan Day was started last year on the occasion of Chaitra Shukla Pratipada.a This year too, the state government will celebrate Rajasthan Day through various programmes and events across the state on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada (19 March).a Programmes will begin from March 14 and continue till March 19. The event will commence with a seven-day Cleanliness Week from March 14. During this period, state-level programmes will be held in Jaipur, and district-level programmes will be held across all districts.a On March 15, the state-level Vikas Rajasthan Run will be organised in Jaipur, flagged off by Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma. Similar runs will be held in all districts. A aKnow Rajasthana digital quiz will be launched on the same day as the state-level ODOP Fair and Exhibition in Jaipur. Competitions such as essay writing, speech, and painting will be organised in universities and colleges.a In the evening, the five-day Rajasthan Day/Bikaner House event will be inaugurated at Bikaner House in Delhi.a On March 16, Rajasthan Tribal Pride Day will be celebrated at Beneshwar Dham in Dungarpur. Activities will include foundation stone laying ceremonies, tribal art and handicraft exhibitions, and dialogue programmes.a A state-level Youth Conference will be held in Jaipur on March 17 to mark Rajasthan Youth Power Day. The Know Rajasthan quiz will also be conducted in all districts. Evening activities will include dialogues with entrepreneurs and the distribution of employment letters in the private sector.a On March 18, Farmers and Animal Husbandry Prosperity Day will be celebrated through interactions with farmers and cattle rearers, as well as the inauguration and laying of foundation stones for development works.a In the evening, the Maha Aarti will be held in government temples across the state, with the Chief Minister participating.a The main function of Rajasthan Day will be held in Jalore on March 19. A Beneficiary Conference will be organised, featuring communication and direct benefit transfers to beneficiaries. A state-level cultural programme will be held in Jaipur in the evening.a a New Delhi, March 11 : The Delhi High Court on Wednesday deferred the hearing on a plea filed by the Unnao rape survivor seeking enhancement of the sentence awarded to expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar and other convicts in the custodial death case of her father. A division bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Ravinder Dudeja granted additional time to the convicts to file their responses and posted the matter for further hearing on March 28. Earlier, in February, the Delhi High Court had issued notice on the plea filed by the survivor, who challenged the quantum of punishment awarded to Sengar and sought enhancement of the 10-year rigorous imprisonment imposed on him by a Delhi court. The survivor has contended that, considering the gravity and seriousness of the offence, the convicts should be awarded a death sentence. Sengar was convicted in March 2020 for conspiring in the custodial death of the survivoras father and was awarded 10 years' rigorous imprisonment by a Delhi court. The case relates to an incident in April 2018 when the father of the minor rape victim was allegedly assaulted by Sengar's associates in Unnao. He was arrested the following day on charges of illegal possession of arms and later died in police custody after sustaining multiple injuries. The trial, along with other cases arising out of the Unnao rape incident, had been transferred from Uttar Pradesh to Delhi by the Supreme Court to ensure a fair and expeditious trial. Earlier in January, the Delhi High Court had rejected Sengar's second application seeking suspension of sentence and grant of bail, citing the gravity of the offence, his criminal antecedents, and the absence of any new subsequent development. The Supreme Court had also declined to suspend Sengar's sentence, while noting that his criminal appeal against conviction was already pending before the Delhi High Court. In an order passed on January 9, a Bench headed by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) had requested the Delhi High Court to endeavour to decide Sengaras appeal as expeditiously as possible, preferably within three months. The apex court had observed that if the survivoras appeal challenging the quantum of sentence is found maintainable, it would be in the interest of justice for all connected appeals to be heard together and decided expeditiously. Sengar is also serving imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life following his conviction in December 2019 in the rape case involving the minor girl. --IANS pds/vd Islamabad, March 11 : Pakistan appears to be pursuing a strategy of cautious ambiguity amid ongoing conflict in West Asia. After having officially declared neutrality, reports of logistical facilitation and intelligence cooperation with the United States have sparked perceptions that Islamabad is quietly positioning itself within shifting regional dynamics, a report has highlighted. Recent US and Israeli strikes against Iran have once again showcased the fragile geopolitical and sectarian fault lines in West Asia and South Asia. Countries such as Pakistan have to now deal with an increasingly complex landscape where geopolitical rivalry, sectarian tensions, and intensifying competition among global and regional powers intersect, Dimitra Staikou, a Greek expert on affairs in South Asia, China, and the Middle East, wrote in Pressenza International Press Agency. "At a time when Pakistan faces significant economic pressures and internal security challenges, maintaining constructive relations with both Western partners and regional allies has become a delicate balancing act. At the same time, the countryas geographical proximity to Iran and the fragile security situation along their shared border complicate this balancing strategy. The Irana"Pakistan border region, particularly the province of Balochistan, has long been marked by instability. Armed groups, separatist movements, and smuggling networks operate across both sides of the frontier, contributing to persistent low-intensity tensions," Staikou noted. For Pakistan, Balochistan is not only a security concern but also a critical element of its economic strategy. The province plays an important role in the Chinaa"Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which implies that stability in the border region has impact not only ties between Pakistan and Iran but also for regional connectivity and economic cooperation. Pakistan's ties with the US continue to play a key role. From Pakistanas perspective, maintaining relations with the US helps preserve diplomatic and strategic relevance amid economic uncertainty. "However, this approach also requires careful management of relations with neighbouring states. Maintaining communication with the United States can send signals to multiple audiences: reassurance to Western partners that Pakistan remains engaged in regional security discussions, while also reminding neighbouring countries that Islamabad retains a degree of diplomatic flexibility. Yet such positioning may also generate concern in Tehran, where policymakers remain sensitive to developments along the shared border," Staikou wrote in Pressenza international news agency. Pakistan's ties with the Muslim world have created another layer of complexity. Pakistan, by having defence cooperation with nations like Saudi Arabia and Turkey, has presented itself as a supporter of solidarity within the Muslim world. At the same time, Pakistanas ties with Western powers showcases a foreign policy shaped by economic needs, security concerns, and shifting geopolitical realities, the report mentioned. After five years of research and several failed attempts, an international team led by doctors and scientists from University College London published the Human Organ Atlas on Wednesday. The project, a kind of Google Earth of the body, promises to revolutionize biomedical research and the study of diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, cancer and COVID-19, by linking multisystem failures, anatomical variations and patterns associated with complex pathologies in organs of the same patient. The platforms 3D images were generated with unprecedented detail using organs from deceased donors. This was made possible by an extremely powerful Xray technique known as HiPCT, which can produce fullorgan reconstructions and reach cellularlevel resolution without cutting or damaging the tissue. This multiscale capability makes this atlas a unique resource, capable of connecting macroscopic anatomy with 3D histological details, say the researchers, who published their work in the journal Science Advances. To get to this point, the group of experts refined a beta version that was launched in 2021, during one of the most difficult moments of the pandemic. Weve been incorporating more features and adding more data to the portal so that the atlas is what it is today, explains mechanical engineer Claire Walsh, from University College London, one of the projects main driving forces, via video call. The researcher recalls that some of the initial information shared in the atlas about patients who died from COVID-19 led to publications revealing previously unseen microscopic vascular lesions. That and other discoveries became the foundation for building something bigger. The specialist explains that one of the biggest challenges for the team made up of more than 20 researchers was scanning entire organs and making large amounts of data accessible. Each dataset can reach hundreds of gigabytes or even more than a terabyte. The largest so far, corresponding to a human brain, is 14 terabytes. To store these images in the cloud and allow for interactive viewing, we needed a huge infrastructure. And weve invested a great deal of time in this over the last few years, to make this data truly interactive, Walsh says. Scientists Peter Lee, Paul Tafforeau and Claire Walsh, promoters of the Atlas of Human Organs, alongside some of the organs processed in the project. The Human Organ Atlas The atlas is a fully open repository of anatomical data that allows researchers, educators, and the general public to access its content online. It also provides software tools and training resources to make the platform easier to use. Other features include search tools, image and video galleries, browser viewing, and download options. Dr. Walsh the potential influence of such a collection on biomedical research, for example. With clinical imaging, you can only see relatively large metastases. And with histology, with sections, its like looking for a needle in a haystack. With HiP-CT, you can perform high-resolution scans and detect possible micrometastases, and then scan that area in even greater detail, she explains. Walsh lists another example: the studys findings on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). For a long time, it was thought to be exclusively pulmonary, but people with COPD are much more prone to cardiovascular problems; there is clearly a multisystemic component. The same is true for diabetes, hypertension, and other multisystemic diseases, she says. The atlas has also revealed unexpected details in kidneys. In the kidney, we discovered that the glomeruli are not all at the end of the vascular network, as was previously believed, but are distributed in a completely different way, says Walsh. The project was developed at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in Grenoble, France, and brings together researchers, engineers, physicians, and infrastructure specialists within the Human Organ Atlas Hub, a consortium of nine institutions across Europe and the United States. It has so far compiled data from 25 donors, with samples sourced from more than a dozen European biobanks, such as the Hannover Unified Biobank and the French Alps Anatomy Laboratory. The available results include 3D data on 56 organs of 11 different types, including the brain, heart, kidney, liver, lung, uterus, and prostate. Despite the progress represented by the creation of a platform like this, one of the atlass main challenges is the limited diversity of organs by sex and age, since most of the available models so far come from male donors with an average age of 73. However, as Dr. Walsh notes, this impression can be misleading. Although those that have been published are mostly male, they represent only about 30% of the consortiums data. The rest are in the process of being prepared for publication, and there the proportion is not so skewed. We have more female donors, but this first collection is heavily influenced by COVID-19 cases, in which men had worse outcomes, so there were more male donations, she says. Regarding the age of donors, Walsh points out that the predominance of people over 60 is understandable: Younger people are usually destined for transplants, so the atlas will always be more oriented towards older ages. She links this distribution to a broader reality in global health: Aging is one of the greatest contemporary socioeconomic challenges, since age-related diseases are now one of the main global burdens on public health, says Walsh. Open science The Human Organ Atlas stands out not only for the quality of its images but also for its commitment to the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) principles. From the outset, the team embraced what is known as open science. We wanted this data to be accessible to everyone and to build an open and shared scientific infrastructure on a global scale, says Paul Tafforeau, a scientist at the Grenoble Synchrotron and creator of the platform. All data is available under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license, which allows for its reuse as long as the source is cited. The Human Organ Atlas demonstrates what teamwork in science can achieve at its best, says Walsh. The team aims to broaden the repository with more organs, greater donor diversity, and new analytical tools, while fostering an open, connected community that supports research, education, and the development of artificial intelligence. In the future, we hope to develop the technique to obtain images of whole human bodies with a resolution 10 to 20 times greater than what is currently available, say the researchers. This resource will continue to transform science and medical education in the coming years. This data could transform the way anatomy is studied and understood, says Walsh. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Jammu, March 11 : Jammu and Kashmir Minister Javed Ahmad Rana on Wednesday expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for sanctioning a helipad and waiting lounge at Mendhar in Poonch district. Javed Rana is a member of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly from the Mendhar constituency, which is reserved for the Scheduled Tribe community. Officials said that the Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmad Rana, expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for approving the construction of a helipad along with a waiting lounge facility at Qasab in Mendhar of Poonch district. The project, sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs 3.35 crore, marks a significant step towards strengthening critical infrastructure in the border area along the Line of Control (LoC). Rana said that the establishment of the helipad and the accompanying waiting lounge will play a crucial role in enhancing emergency response capabilities, improving accessibility and facilitating swift movement during medical emergencies, disaster management operations and other urgent situations. The facility will also support administrative and relief operations in the area, which often faces geographical and logistical challenges due to its remote and hilly terrain. Expressing his appreciation, Rana said the timely sanction by the Chief Minister reflects his strong commitment to balanced regional development and the welfare of people living in far-flung and border areas. He noted that improved connectivity infrastructure such as helipads can be life-saving in emergencies, particularly in regions where road access can be limited or affected by weather conditions. "The sanctioning of this project will significantly enhance the capacity of the administration to respond promptly to emergencies and ensure better connectivity for the people of Mendhar and surrounding areas. I sincerely thank the Hon'ble Chief Minister for his continued support and vision for strengthening infrastructure in remote areas along the LoC," the Minister said. The Minister reiterated that the government remains dedicated to strengthening infrastructure, improving accessibility and ensuring that developmental initiatives reach every corner of Jammu and Kashmir, especially the underserved and border areas. Jaipur, March 11 : The Cyber Crime Branch of the Rajasthan Police has issued a detailed advisory urging citizens to remain calm and act swiftly in case of erroneous UPI transactions. a Jaipur, March 11 (IANS) The Cyber Crime Branch of the Rajasthan Police has issued a detailed advisory urging citizens to remain calm and act swiftly in case of erroneous UPI transactions. The advisory comes amid rising instances of digital payment fraud and mistaken transfers in the era of Digital India. Officials said that while UPI-based payments have made transactions seamless, they also demand vigilance. Mistakes such as entering incorrect details or acting in haste can result in funds being transferred to unintended recipients. To help citizens respond effectively, the Cyber Crime Branch outlined the following steps: Secure Digital Evidence Immediately: Take a screenshot of the transaction and note the 12-digit UTR (Unique Transaction Reference) number, which is critical for tracking and recovery. File a Dispute on the UPI App: Use the "Report a Problem" or "Raise a Dispute" option in the payment app (Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, etc.). Prompt reporting to the bank and payment service provider improves chances of resolution. Inform Your Bank Immediately: Visit the nearest branch or contact customer care. Provide written details, including the beneficiary's UPI ID, transaction time, amount, and UTR number. Timely reporting, as per RBI guidelines, facilitates quicker refunds. Use the NPCI Portal: If the bank or app response is unsatisfactory, escalate the issue via the NPCI grievance portal or helpline 1800-120-1740. As per directions from Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar Sharma, the advisory also emphasises preventive measures. Citizens are urged to double-check recipient names after entering mobile numbers or scanning QR codes, and to avoid making payments under pressure or at the request of unknown callers. Importantly, officials reminded users that UPI PINs and QR codes are not required to receive money. Any request to enter a PIN or scan a code for receiving funds should be treated with suspicion. In case of suspected cyber fraud, citizens should report incidents via the National Cyber Crime Portal or call the Cyber Helpline at 1930. Additional assistance is available through the Cyber Helpdesk numbers 9256001930 and 9257510100. Gandhinagar, March 11 : Ghana has launched the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign after drawing inspiration from India, Gujarat's Forest and Environment Minister Arjun Modhwadia told the state Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.a Gandhinagar, March 11 (IANS) Ghana has launched the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign after drawing inspiration from India, Gujarat's Forest and Environment Minister Arjun Modhwadia told the state Legislative Assembly on Wednesday. While responding to a question raised by a legislator, Modhwadia said the tree-planting initiative, which links environmental conservation with the emotional appeal of planting a tree in one's mother's name, has been running across India, including Gujarat. "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign is being carried out successfully across the country for the proper care and nurturing of trees," Modhwadia said in the Assembly. Referring to the Prime Minister's recent visit to Ghana, he said Modi mentioned the campaign while planting a tree during a visit to a school there. "Inspired by India, Ghana, which has dense forests, has also launched the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign in its country. This is a matter of pride for all of us," the minister added. Providing details on measures taken in Gujarat to promote tree plantation and conservation, Modhwadia said the state government has made financial provisions ranging from Rs 100 to Rs 2,500 under various schemes of the Forest Department to support the nurturing and maintenance of trees. "This includes installing tree guards, watering and ensuring care for the trees for up to three years," he said. The minister added that the state government has also introduced support for the conservation of heritage trees. "Old heritage trees in the state are identified, and farmers are given compensation of about Rs 5,000 per year for their maintenance," he said. Replying to another question in the House, Minister of State for Forest and Environment, Pravin Mali, said: "The Forest Department has been working to increase forest cover outside notified forest areas in both urban and rural regions through a programme called 'Van Kavach'." He said the initiative involves creating dense green spaces using the Miyawaki method. "Under Van Kavach, dense forests are developed by planting around 10,000 trees of different varieties within one hectare," Mali said, adding that these spaces are emerging as areas for citizens to walk and as centres for nature education. Mali also informed the House about the plantation work undertaken in the Rajkot district under the community forest development scheme. "In the last two years, a total of 6.47 lakh saplings have been planted over 388 hectares at a cost of Rs 1,192 lakh," he said. "Out of these, 5.29 lakh saplings are currently alive, which shows the success of the scheme," the minister added. Srinagar, March 11 : J&K Students Association (JKSA) said on Wednesday that around 100 Indian students will return from Iran through Armenia on March 14 & March 15.a Srinagar, March 11 (IANS) J&K Students Association (JKSA) said on Wednesday that around 100 Indian students will return from Iran through Armenia on March 14 & March 15. Nasir Kheuhami, National Convenor of JKSA, said that around 100 Indian students will travel from war-torn Iran via the Armenia Route on March 1415 by Commercial Flights, marking the first batch of students returning amid the ongoing Israel-Iran tensions. These students will travel to Armenia's Zvartnots International Airport in Yerevan via the land route before boarding commercial flights back to India. Most of the students are scheduled to return on March 14, while the remaining students are expected to arrive on March 15. The students have already booked their flight tickets and are expected to depart from different parts of Iran, mostly Urmia, for the Armenian border on Thursday. "The students will be travelling on Flydubai flights scheduled for March 14 and March 15, which will operate as connecting flights via Dubai, and from Dubai, they will fly to Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI), New Delhi," Khuehami said. The Association said it had earlier requested External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and the Ministry of External Affairs to facilitate safe transit and grant necessary permissions for the students to travel through the Armenia land route, which currently appears to be the most feasible and accessible corridor for safe passage from northwestern Iran. Khuehami said the Ministry of External Affairs acknowledged the request and the necessary permissions were subsequently facilitated, enabling the students to proceed with their travel arrangements. He further said that during his meetings with senior officials, including the Foreign Secretary, the Iranian Ambassador to India, and other officials of the Ministry of External Affairs, it was conveyed that there is currently no formal evacuation plan in place for Indian students in Iran, and those returning at present are travelling through commercial flight arrangements. The Association added that the Ministry has also advised students in Iran to avoid sharing their exact locations or personal details on social media platforms as a precautionary measure in order to ensure their safety and prevent exposure to potential risks. Khuehami said the JKSA remains in close contact with the students and is coordinating their travel, security, facilitation, and arrival arrangements in India with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Jammu and Kashmir Government. He also informed that he has been in touch with Advisor to the Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir, Nasir Sogami, and that deluxe AC buses will be arranged at IGI Airport, New Delhi, to facilitate the onward journey of students from Kashmir who are scheduled to arrive on March 14, March 15, and subsequent days via Armenia and other routes. "The Association will continue to monitor the situation closely and extend all possible assistance to ensure the safe return of Indian students from the region," Khuehami added. Bhubaneswar, March 11 : The members of the women, youth, and student wings of opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha staged a protest demonstration at Master Canteen Square here on Wednesday against the recent hike in prices of LPG cylinders and essential commodities. The demonstration was organised by the Biju Mahila Janata Dal, Biju Yuba Janata Dal, and Biju Chatra Janata Dal, where participants symbolically prepared tea on earthen chulhas as part of their protest to highlight the burden of rising cooking fuel costs on households. Senior BJD leader Dr Lekhasri Samantsinghar criticised the Central government over the sharp rise in LPG cylinder prices and other essential commodities. She said the price of domestic LPG cylinders has increased by around Rs 60, while commercial cylinders have seen a rise of Rs 119. At the same time, cooking oil prices have surged to nearly Rs 170 per litre, adding to the financial burden on common households. The BJD leader alleged that the situation reflects the absence of a strong economic and energy security policy in the country. She said that if domestic prices are being severely impacted by international developments, it indicates that the government has not ensured adequate safeguards for the country's essential supplies. According to the senior BJD leader, when global oil prices had earlier fallen, the government did not significantly reduce the prices of LPG and other commodities. However, whenever international prices increase, the burden is immediately passed on to the public. "The elected government has the responsibility to ensure food security, price stability, and economic protection for the people, but the Centre has failed to address these concerns," she said. The BJD Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra on Wednesday stated that the protests are being organised at the Master Canteen area in Bhubaneswar to draw attention towards the burden of rising fuel costs on ordinary households. Patra also questioned the response of the Odisha government, stating that since it claims to be part of a "double engine government", it should clarify what steps are being taken to protect citizens from price escalation. He said LPG directly impacts household kitchens, and therefore, the government must clarify the status of petroleum products and cooking gas availability in the country. "The government should clearly state the position regarding oil and LPG availability. Silence will only lead to unnecessary speculation among citizens," Patra added. Patna, March 11 : Political activity in Bihar has intensified ahead of the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections after Akhtarul Iman, the state president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), met Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav at his official residence in Patna on Wednesday. The unexpected meeting has sparked speculation about possible political coordination between AIMIM and the RJD amid the numbers game in the Rajya Sabha elections. According to sources, the two leaders held a lengthy closed-door discussion focusing on vote dynamics in the Bihar Assembly and possible political strategies for the Rajya Sabha polls. With several seats up for election, each MLA's vote has become crucial, and smaller parties could play a decisive role in determining the outcome. AIMIM currently has five MLAs in the Bihar Assembly, and political observers believe that its legislators could become important in the election arithmetic. Akhtarul Iman's visit to Tejashwi Yadav is being viewed by many analysts as an attempt to explore a political understanding that could influence the Rajya Sabha outcome. Relations between the RJD and AIMIM have often been strained in the past. The RJD has previously accused AIMIM of acting as a B-team of its rivals, while AIMIM leaders have alleged that the RJD failed to adequately represent Muslim interests. However, the latest meeting suggests that both parties may be willing to set aside their differences in order to counter the ruling alliance. Political analysts say the discussion may not be limited to the Rajya Sabha election alone. There are indications that the leaders may also be exploring cooperation for future political battles, including the upcoming Lok Sabha and Bihar Assembly elections in 2029 and 2030, respectively. If coordination emerges between AIMIM and the opposition alliance in the Seemanchal region, it could pose a significant electoral challenge to the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar. For now, neither side has officially disclosed details of the discussion, but the meeting has added a new dimension to Biharas evolving political landscape ahead of the Rajya Sabha polls. Chandigarh, March 11 : Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema on Wednesday condemned Congress legislator Sukhpal Khaira for derogatory remarks he made on social media, demanding an immediate and unconditional apology. The minister also appealed to the Speaker of the Vidhan Sabha to initiate strict disciplinary action if Khaira failed to apologise publicly for his offensive and unparliamentary language. Addressing the House, Cheema said, "Sukhpal Singh Khaira made offensive comments directed at the women of Punjab and subsequently launched a severe personal attack on me, referring to me as a 'bandua mazdoor' when I stood up to object to his remarks. Such language is completely unacceptable and unbecoming of a legislator." Taking the matter further while addressing the media outside the House, the minister demanded that Congress should tender an official apology because its members used these derogatory words towards the labour community and women. He stressed the party leadership must take responsibility for the shameful conduct of their representative. Taking a firm stand against the incident, the minister urged the Speaker to act decisively. "I have appealed to the Speaker of the House to take strict disciplinary action. If Sukhpal Singh Khaira does not issue a prompt and public apology for his highly offensive and unparliamentary language, his membership in the legislative assembly should be cancelled," he said. Expressing anguish over the personal attack on his humble background, Cheema reminded the House of the dignity of labour and the proud legacy of the working classes. "I ask the members of this House, particularly those from the Congress, to reflect on their own lineage. The ancestors of many elected representatives proudly came from working-class families. Would any of them accept being labelled as 'bandua mazdoor'? Such language insults not only an individual but the dignity of the hardworking people of Punjab," he said. Rising above personal remarks, the minister underlined his pride in the country's democratic foundations and the empowerment provided by the Constitution of India. "I take immense pride in the democratic system of our nation. Babasaheb Ambedkar drafted the Constitution of India, and it is this Constitution that has empowered individuals from modest backgrounds to rise and serve the people in the highest offices," he said. Highlighting his work in government, the minister said he takes pride in his record of public service. "I am immensely proud that I have presented five comprehensive state budgets dedicated to the welfare and prosperity of Punjab's mothers, daughters, youth, farmers, workers, traders and industrialists," Cheema added. Bengaluru, March 11 : Responding to the issue of a shortage of LPG cylinders due to the conflict involving Israel, the US and Iran, BJP state President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra on Wednesday said the Central government is taking the necessary steps to ensure the supply of LPG cylinders and that the disruption has occurred due to the sudden outbreak of war. He also dubbed Congress leaders "stupid" for staging protests over the issue at this stage. Speaking to reporters near the Vidhana Soudha here, Vijayendra said: "The Central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is taking the necessary measures to ensure the supply of cooking gas cylinders. Due to the sudden war, there has been disruption in supply. Despite knowing this, Congress leaders are staging protests on the streets against the Central government. This shows the intellectual bankruptcy of the Congress." He said Congress workers had begun protesting over the shortage of LPG cylinders since Tuesday evening (March 10). "They have no shame or dignity. They have proved it again. For the last 12 days, the US-Israel and Iran war has been going on. The media has widely reported how the war has affected the supply of crude oil and gas globally," he said. "In our country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken special care in this regard. There are restrictions on commercial LPG cylinders. However, despite knowing that steps are being taken to ensure consumers are not affected, Congress workers have come onto the streets and are protesting. The Congress party is showing its inability to think," he said. Referring to the state Budget, he said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had recently presented a record Budget of Rs 4.48 lakh crore but questioned the financial condition of the state. "The situation in the state has deteriorated to such an extent that even the salaries of police personnel have not been paid in Shivamogga, Karwar and Hubballi-Dharwad districts. The state government has reached a situation where it has not been able to pay even the February salaries. Is there any bigger example than this to show that the state is heading towards bankruptcy?" he asked. "The police personnel have not been paid their February salaries even though it is already March 11. The state is bankrupt," he reiterated. Vijayendra said Siddaramaiah had a golden opportunity while presenting the record Budget but failed to utilise it. "He had a golden opportunity, but he did not make use of it and has instead let everything slip away," he said. "I want to tell the Congress leaders that the US and Israel, which declared the war, did not inform Prime Minister Narendra Modi or any neighbouring countries in advance. No one had anticipated the outbreak of the war. Since it started suddenly, such problems have arisen. Congress leaders do not even have this basic understanding," he said, adding that they lacked even basic common sense. Vijayendra expressed confidence that the LPG supply issue would be resolved in the coming days. "The Central government is examining the implications of the war. The government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has the strength to resolve any such issues," he said. Kolkata, March 11 : A division bench of the Calcutta High Court, allotted the R.G. Kar rape & murder case by then Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam, on Wednesday recused itself from hearing the matter. According to the division bench of Justice Debangshu Basak and Justice Md Shabbar Rashidi, when the matter was allotted for hearing to it by then Chief Justice Sivagnanam, it was hearing criminal cases. However, since this division bench does not hear criminal cases anymore, the judges decided to recuse themselves from hearing the matter and referred the matter back to the current Chief Justice Sujoy Paul, who will now decide which new bench will hear the matter. The division bench also observed that hearing the matter on a fast-track basis, as pleaded by the parents of the victims, is also not possible at that bench. On the morning of August 9, 2024, the body of a junior doctor of Kolkata's state-run R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital -- the victim of ghastly rape & murder -- was discovered from a seminar hall within the hospital premises. After a prolonged hearing in the matter, a trial court in Kolkata convicted the sole accused, Sanjay Roy, an erstwhile civic volunteer of Kolkata Police, and sentenced him to life imprisonment. However, since the victimas parents were not satisfied with the findings of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)as investigation into the matter, especially regarding identifying Roy as the sole convict in the case, they approached the Calcutta High Court with their contentions against the CBI findings. They also pleaded for a fast-track hearing in the matter. Meanwhile, the CBI is currently continuing its investigation into the angle of a larger conspiracy behind the crime of rape & murder, and has also filed a few progress reports to the trial court in the matter. With the division bench of Justices Basak and Rashidi recusing from hearing the matter, it is to be seen which new bench of the Calcutta High Court the matter will be referred to. Mumbai, March 11 : Maharashtra government has launched a massive crackdown on drug trafficking, adopting a "Zero Tolerance" policy against the narcotics menace.a Mumbai, March 11 (IANS) Maharashtra government has launched a massive crackdown on drug trafficking, adopting a "Zero Tolerance" policy against the narcotics menace. The stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) has already been invoked in 14 different cases, announced Minister of State for Home, Yogesh Kadam, during the Question Hour in the Legislative Council on Wednesday. He was responding to a query raised by member Shashikant Shinde. Other members, including Satej Patil, Anil Parab, and Pravin Darekar, also raised supplementary questions regarding the rising drug issue. Minister Kadam said that the government has established a dedicated task force aimed at dismantling the entire drug supply chain, from manufacturers to street-level dealers. Action is not limited to distributors; those supplying raw materials and providing direct or indirect support to drug syndicates are also being booked under MCOCA. He emphasised that the government is committed to a drug-free state and will not hesitate to take the harshest legal actions possible. Referring to a specific high-profile case in the Jawali taluka of Satara district, the Minister confirmed that 11 accused individuals have been arrested. All suspects in this case have been charged under MCOCA, and a rigorous investigation is currently underway to uncover further links. He noted a concerning trend where drug manufacturing units are being set up in abandoned factories or sheds in rural areas. "To combat this, the Police department and the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) administration have launched joint inspection drives. Police machinery across rural Maharashtra has been placed on high alert to identify and shut down clandestine labs. This aims to cripple the financial and logistical backbone of organised drug cartels operating within the state," he said. Meanwhile, Minister Shambhuraj Desai informed the Legislative Council today that a joint meeting of relevant departments will be convened shortly to address critical issues in Chandrapur district, including pollution caused by coal transportation, overloaded vehicles, and deteriorating road conditions. He stated during Question Hour that the meeting involving the Environment, Transport, and Home departments will be held immediately after the conclusion of the current assembly session. The announcement came in response to a query raised by member Uma Khapre, followed by supplementary questions from members Pravin Darekar, Abhijit Vanjari, Krupal Tumane, and Parinay Phuke. Minister Desai highlighted several strategic steps the government is taking. "To curb the issue of heavy vehicles carrying coal beyond permissible limits, the Police Traffic Branch and the Transport Department have been directed to take stringent action. New regulations will make high-quality covers mandatory for all coal-transporting vehicles. The Environment Department will provide specific technical requirements for these covers to ensure dust suppression," he said. He further announced that instructions have been issued to increase the number of "Flying Squads" from both the Police and RTO departments to monitor and stop overloaded transport. Road repair works in Chandrapur have already been sanctioned using the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) funds. Additionally, water-sprinkling systems are being deployed along roadsides to prevent dust from rising. Minister Desai said that, to reduce the burden on road infrastructure, Western Coalfields is implementing a project worth approximately Rs 480 crore. This project aims to shift the transportation of nearly 10 million tonnes of coal from roads to railway lines. Addressing the public health impact, Minister Desai further noted, "To manage health issues arising from coal pollution, instructions will be issued to set up specialised health units in district hospitals using the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds of the concerned companies." Following the elimination of bond, this legal mechanism has become the only way to achieve freedom while deportation cases are resolved Anas husband had been detained for four months at the infamous Alligator Alcatraz immigration center when a federal judge ordered his release last week. His case is just one of an unprecedented wave of habeas corpus petitions filed by detained immigrants, a legal strategy that has become the primary avenue for challenging the Trump administrations mass detention policies. The 47-year-old man had spent some time behind bars when he was 18, but his wife says he had since become an excellent father, with a good job and not a single fine. When he was released from prison, his permanent residency was revoked, so he was required to report annually to Immigration and Citizenship and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Miramar, north of Miami. It was there that he was detained in October, when he went for his annual check-in. His wife asked that they not be identified for fear of retaliation from the authorities. Three weeks ago, Ana filed a writ of habeas corpus in Miami federal court, a legal recourse that allows people to challenge the legality of an arrest. When the judge asked the government why they were holding him, since he hadnt committed any crime, and wasnt arrested on the street, but rather at his appointment, he determined that he could be released, she adds. Federal courts have received more than 24,000 habeas corpus petitions from people detained by immigration authorities since January of last year. That number surpasses the combined total of the three previous administrations, and in the last month alone, the number has increased by more than 35%, according to a ProPublica database. The reason, lawyers and experts explain, is that the government changed the rules regarding detentions. U.S. law distinguishes between immigrants detained at the border and those who have lived in the country for years. For decades, the latter have had the option of requesting bond from an immigration judge. But a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) policy change last summer stipulated that all immigrants must be treated as if they were seeking entry, even if they are already physically inside the country. Last September, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) reinterpreted the law to mean that everyone must be detained while their deportation cases are being resolved. Agents detain a migrant after his hearing at the New York immigration court, on June 6, 2025. Stephanie Keith 100584 (Getty Images) We havent seen anything like this in the past, says Sam Lester, an immigrant rights attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida. The number of cases is a direct result of this administrations deportation efforts, which have led to the detention of thousands without due process. The government is pushing for the mass detention of people with no criminal record who have lived in the country for years. To do so, it has reinterpreted decades of immigration jurisprudence, arguing that the law requires the detention of all undocumented people who entered without inspectionaround two million people, including some who arrived as children, he adds. It is estimated that there are approximately 68,000 people in U.S. immigration detention centers, almost double the number at the start of Trumps second term. More than 70% have no criminal record. Before, everyone detained here in the U.S. had the right to bond. As long as they werent a danger to the community or a flight risk, the judge would grant it, explains Ismael Labrador, an immigration lawyer in Miami. But now it doesnt make sense to go before an immigration judge, because they wont grant bond. So you go to a federal judge. Hundreds of federal judges have ruled in more than 4,400 cases since October that the government is indeed detaining immigrants illegally, according to records cited by Reuters. But the government has defended its detention policies as part of Trumps agenda to carry out the largest deportation operation in history. The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to a request for comment. The issue has sparked a growing legal battle that could end up before the Supreme Court, experts say. In December, a federal judge in California, Sunshine Sykes, ruled that the DHS policy was illegal, but the chief immigration judge, Teresa Riley, said the ruling did not apply to immigration judges and instructed them to continue following the BIA. In response, Sykes overturned the BIA ruling last month. The government appealed to the Ninth Circuit, which covers the western part of the country, and the court stayed Sykess ruling while the appeal is litigated. The courts where the appeals are being filed, also known as circuit courts, review decisions made by federal courts within their geographic region. The country is divided into 13 circuits. Last month, the Fifth Circuit ruled in favor of the administration in an appeal of two Texas decisions that two men who entered the U.S. across the border years ago were entitled to bond. If the courts now start splitting up, that will inevitably end up reaching the Supreme Court, says Professor Muzaffar Chishti of the Migration Policy Institute. Federal agents wait outside the hearings to make targeted arrests at the New York courthouse on March 6. David Dee Delgado (REUTERS) Meanwhile, the avalanche of cases is putting pressure on federal courts and creating a bottleneck in the system, the professor explains. Because of the high success rate, everyone is resorting to habeas corpus petitions. That is now causing a flood of petitions in federal courts, and these courts have to handle many other matters, because immigration is only a small part of their work, he adds. This is creating management problems for these district courts, and that, in itself, will become a separate public policy challenge. That could persuade some Supreme Court justices that if bond hearings are not allowed in the immigration system, the flow of cases will shift to the federal courts. Habeas corpus has existed since medieval times, described in the Magna Carta of 1215 in England as protection against arbitrary arrests by the state. The principle was incorporated into the U.S. legal system. Whatever decision the Supreme Court makes, habeas corpus cannot be eliminated. It is such a fundamental element of our due process system that it is an integral part of its guarantees, adds Chisthi. Chishti explains that, in the immigration context, people are detained not to punish them, as in criminal detention, but to ensure they appear for their hearings. However, the Trump Administration is turning immigration detention into something punitive under the argument that, if conditions are harsher, people will stop entering the country illegally. With that understanding firmly in mind, Ana and her husband thought that after all these years, nothing would happen, because he never had any more problems. But his detention was indeed a punishment. He says he is very affected by what happened at Alligator Alcatraza center notorious for human rights violationswhere he lost almost 44 pounds. He tells me its nothing like when he was detained at 18, that that place is a torture center. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition New Delhi, March 11 : The Indian Railways renewed 54,600 km of tracks during 2014-2026 to ensure safe train operations, the Parliament was informed on Wednesday.a New Delhi, March 11 (IANS) The Indian Railways renewed 54,600 km of tracks during 20142026 to ensure safe train operations, the Parliament was informed on Wednesday. Over 80 per cent of the rail network is now capable of sectional speeds of 110 kmph or more -- up from 40 per cent in 2014. Tracks clocking 130 kmph and above saw a 3.5-fold jump -- from 6.3 per cent to 22.4 per cent during the same period. "Upgradation and renewal of tracks is a continuous and ongoing process. The track renewal is carried out as per the laid down criteria based on age, traffic carried, condition, etc.," said Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in a reply to a question in Lok Sabha. "Track renewal works are planned and executed duly prioritising the condition of the track and various other factors so as to ensure that the track is safe for the running of trains at permitted speed," the minister informed. The tracks on Indian Railways are regularly inspected by designated officials in accordance with the laid-down schedule. This includes daily patrolling, on-foot inspection, trolley inspection, and footplate/rear window inspection by the concerned officials. Further, to objectively assess the health of track geometry, Track Recording Car (TRC) and Oscillation Monitoring System (OMS) runs are conducted at scheduled frequencies. The entire Indian Railways railway network is covered by TRC and OMS runs. Based on various inspections, necessary actions are being taken in a time-bound manner to ensure the safety of the track, the minister informed. To strengthen Indian Railways' infrastructure and technology, the government said this week it has approved several upgradation works worth Rs 765 crore to improve operations, expand line capacity and modernise communication systems across critical sections of the network. According to the Railways Ministry, the approved projects include upgradation of electric traction systems on two high-density freight and passenger corridors and expansion of the optical fibre communication backbone across the Vadodara and Mumbai Central divisions of Western Railway. Kolkata, March 11 : The West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is expecting a record turnout at the party's mega rally at the Brigade Parade Ground in central Kolkata on March 14, which will be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Preparations are already in full swing at the Brigade Parade Ground to erect multiple stages for the rally, which will also mark the culmination of the BJP's Parivartan Yatra across the state that began earlier this month ahead of the crucial Assembly elections in West Bengal scheduled later this year. According to BJP's state vice-president in West Bengal, Raju Banerjee, who is supervising the preparations for the rally, organisational arrangements are progressing rapidly, and the party expects people from all corners of the state to attend the event and listen to the Prime Minister. However, he refused to disclose the exact number of stages that will be erected for the rally. "We cannot disclose how many stages will be set up for the Prime Minister's rally or how many stages will be around the venue because, as per protocol, we are not allowed to reveal these details. But the preparations for the rally are progressing very well," Banerjee told media persons on Wednesday. He also claimed that the law and order situation in West Bengal had completely collapsed. "Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has no respect for the Indian Constitution. She does not follow the Constitution or the rule of law. Hence, she always makes tall claims," he said. He also expressed pleasure over the appointment of former Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief and former Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi as the new Governor of West Bengal. "We welcome the new Governor. I will request him, as an ordinary citizen, to come here and restore the constitutional and legal order in West Bengal," Banerjee said. He also criticised the Chief Minister for allegedly turning the issue of an increase in cooking gas prices into a political matter. "If the Chief Minister is worried about the interests of the common people because of the increase in LPG prices, why is she not ordering a waiver of state tax on it? She should answer why the price of electricity is exorbitantly high in West Bengal. She should think about her own responsibilities before criticising others," Banerjee said. Guwahati, March 11 : The allocation of funds for railway development in West Bengal has increased more than threefold to Rs 14,205 crore in the 2026-27 fiscal, officials said on Wednesday. Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Kapinjal Kishore Sharma said the average annual railway budget allocation for West Bengal during 2009-14 was around Rs 4,380 crore. "This unprecedented rise clearly indicates the commitment of the present Central government to take the state's railway infrastructure to new heights," he said. At present, railway projects worth approximately Rs 93,000 crore are under progress in West Bengal. These include construction of new railway lines, station redevelopment, safety upgrades and expansion of railway capacity aimed at improving connectivity across the state. Sharma said that for decades the pace of railway development in West Bengal remained relatively slow, with several projects incomplete and modernisation not gaining the required momentum. "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, West Bengal has emerged as an important centre of the large-scale transformation taking place in Indian Railways," he said. To enhance passenger experience, railway stations in West Bengal are being redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. A total of 101 stations have been identified for redevelopment at an estimated cost of around Rs 3,600 crore. So far, redevelopment work at nine stations Anara, Barabhum, Haldia, Joychandi Pahar Junction, Kalyani Ghosh Para, Kamakhyaguri, Panagarh, Siuri and Tamluk has been completed. Among these, Joychandi Pahar Junction, Kalyani Ghosh Para and Panagarh have already been inaugurated. These upgraded stations feature enhanced waiting areas, improved lighting and signage, digital information systems, spacious circulating areas, food courts, parking facilities, separate entry and exit points, lifts and escalators, and improved sanitation facilities. Modern train services have also expanded significantly in the state. At present, one pair of Vande Bharat Sleeper Express operates from West Bengal, while 18 Vande Bharat Express and 22 Amrit Bharat Express services connect major cities and economic centres. Since 2014, nearly 1,400 km of new railway tracks have been constructed in the state more than the entire railway network of the United Arab Emirates. Around 1,712 km of rail routes have been electrified, making the state's railway network 100 per cent electrified. To enhance safety and ease of train movement, more than 500 rail flyovers and underpasses have been constructed. The indigenous train protection system 'Kavach' has been implemented over 105 route kilometres, while work is underway on another 1,041 km. Approval has been granted for implementation across 3,200 route kilometres. Redeveloped stations at Kamakhyaguri, Tamluk, Haldia, Barabhum, Anara and Siuri will soon be inaugurated under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. Additionally, the third railway line between Belda and Dantan and the Automatic Block Signalling project between Kalaikunda and Kanimahuli will be dedicated to the nation. A new express train service between Purulia and Anand Vihar Terminal in Delhi will also be flagged off, providing an important rail link between West Bengal and the national capital. The official said these initiatives mark a new phase of railway development in the state, expected to accelerate economic growth, trade and social connectivity. The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), headquartered at Maligaon near Guwahati, operates across the Northeastern states as well as in seven districts of West Bengal and five districts of north Bihar. Kochi, March 11 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached assets worth about Rs 1.44 crore in connection with the misappropriation of funds of the United Nurses Association (UNA) in Kerala, an official statement said on Wednesday. The action was taken by the EDas Cochin Zonal Office on March 9 under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in a case involving Jasminsha M, former national/international president of the United Nurses Association. The ED initiated its investigation on the basis of an FIR registered by the Crime Branch Police Station in Thrissur under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). A charge sheet was later filed before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Thrissur against Jasminsha, his wife Shabna M.A., and several other office-bearers of the association, including Shoby Joseph, Nidhin Mohan, Jithu P.D., Sujanapal A.K., Bibin N. Paul and Sudheep M.V. They have been accused of offences such as criminal conspiracy, cheating, criminal breach of trust, forgery and destruction of evidence. According to the ED, the investigation revealed that Jasminsha, during his tenure as national president of the United Nurses Association in Thrissur between 2017 and 2019, conspired with his wife and other office-bearers to misappropriate membership levies and funds of the organisation. The probe found that funds were diverted through cash withdrawals, inter-account transfers and routing of money into personal bank accounts in violation of the associationas bylaws. The proceeds were allegedly layered and used for personal expenses, including payment of EMIs for vehicles and an apartment, as well as other private expenditures. Investigators also found that fabricated committee meeting minutes were created to present the transactions as legitimate organisational expenses. The ED has identified proceeds of crime amounting to approximately Rs 1.44 crore. Since a significant portion of the funds had been withdrawn in cash, routed through intermediaries, concealed or already spent, the agency has provisionally attached properties of equivalent value. The attached assets include five immovable properties and four fixed deposits or movable assets worth about Rs 1.44 crore in the names of Jasminsha, Shabna M.A., Bibin N. Paul and Shoby Joseph. These assets include land parcels and a residential flat located in Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur and Idukki districts, along with fixed deposits. The ED said further investigation into the case is underway. Moscow/New Delhi, March 11 : External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar held a telephonic conversation with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday, discussing West Asia conflict and also expanding bilateral ties. "A good telecon with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov of Russia. Shared our assessments on the West Asia conflict and related diplomatic efforts. Also took stock of our bilateral cooperation agenda," EAM Jaishankar posted on X. The call between both ministers took place amid ongoing conflict in West Asia which started after joint US-Israel strikes on Iran on February 28, triggering a sweeping response from Tehran in the form of drone and missile attacks targetting US assets, regional capitals and allied forces in West Asia. Earlier in the day, EAM Jaishankar discussed West Asia conflict and its repercussions with European Union (EU) High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas. Following their conversation, EAM Jaishankar in a post on X wrote, "Useful discussion with EU HRVP Kaja Kallas on the West Asia conflict and its repercussions." EAM Jaishankar also spoke to French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot on Wednesday and discussed the current security situation in West Asia. "Appreciate the exchange of assessments today with FM Jean-Noel Barrot of France on the West Asia conflict. Look forward to continuing it in person," EAM Jaishankar posted on X after the phone call. Over the past few days, EAM Jaishankar has also spoken with his counterparts from several other nations, including Italy, Iran and Oman as India remains in touch with the governments of the region and other key partners amid the tense security situation in West Asia. India has consistently advocated for de-escalation, restraint, dialogue, and diplomacy as the path forward, while prioritising the protection of Indian nationals in the region and ensuring uninterrupted energy availability. On Tuesday, Jaishankar engaged in a detailed telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, focusing on the latest developments in the ongoing conflict in West Asia. In a post on X, Jaishankar stated, "A detailed conversation this evening with Foreign Minister @araghchi of Iran on the latest developments regarding the ongoing conflict. We agreed to remain in touch." EAM Jaishankar also spoke with his South Korean counterpart Cho Hyun on Tuesday, discussing bilateral ties and the current situation in West Asia. "The two ministers also exchanged views on the situation on the Korean Peninsula and in the region, and particularly discussed the situation in the Middle East, which has a significant impact on security and the economy worldwide. The two ministers agreed to maintain close communication in implementing national security measures in response to developments in the Middle East," read a statement issued by South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Following their talks, EAM Jaishankar also posted on X, writing: "A good conversation with FM Cho Hyun of RoK. Discussed advancing our bilateral agenda. As also the situation in West Asia, including its energy implications." EAM Jaishankar held telephonic conversation with his German counterpart Johann Wadephul amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia. "Exchanged views with FM Johann Wadephul of Germany on the ongoing conflict in West Asia," EAM Jaishankar posted on X after the meeting. Mumbai, March 11 : The Maharashtra government on Wednesday announced that the land survey process in the state will now be completed within 30 days, down from the previous 60- to 90-day window. a Mumbai, March 11 (IANS) The Maharashtra government on Wednesday announced that the land survey process in the state will now be completed within 30 days, down from the previous 60- to 90-day window. Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule made this announcement in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, outlining a comprehensive plan to modernise the Land Records Department through high-tech equipment and a major recruitment drive. The announcement came in response to a "Calling Attention" motion moved by MLA Babanrao Lonikar regarding the backlog of pending survey cases and staff shortages. "To eliminate human error and manual delays, the government will deploy 1,500 Rover machines. Currently, 1,250 are in use; the goal is to ensure every land surveyor is equipped with one. A new organisational structure has been approved for the first time since 2003. This includes filling 994 new positions to reduce the workload on existing staff," said the minister. He assured that the posts of Deputy District Superintendents will be filled within the next three months. According to the Minister, maintenance surveyors with high merit will now be eligible for a selection grade. "To ensure transparency and speed, we are shifting to a tech-driven approach. Funds for the additional Rover machines will be provisioned through the District Planning Committee and Land Acquisition funds," said the Minister. Currently, the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Commissionerate handles the burden of eight districts. The government is now actively considering a proposal to establish a second Revenue Commissionerate and a Deputy Director of Land Records office in either Nanded or Latur to improve administrative efficiency, he stated. Meanwhile, Minister Bawankule announced that the policy to convert lands allotted to ex-servicemen, landless farmers, and agricultural labourers under the Maharashtra Agricultural Lands (Ceiling on Holdings) Act from 'Class-2' to 'Class-1' will be declared by March 31, 2026. MLA Shweta Mahale had raised a demand to grant exemptions in the premium charged while converting the ceiling lands allotted to ex-servicemen from Class-2 to Class-1. Currently, as these lands are under the Class-2 category, there are legal restrictions on their transfer. Acknowledging this demand, the Revenue Minister stated, "The government is positive about making these lands 'Freehold,' and the necessary process is in its final stages." Minister Bawankule further stated, "A notification regarding the rules for the conversion of these lands was published on January 14, 2026. After considering the objections and suggestions received until February 11, the file has now been approved by the Law & Judiciary Department and the Finance Department. The final policy to convert these lands from Class-2 to Class-1 will be published by the end of March 31." Keeping in view that these lands were allotted to landless individuals, labourers, and ex-servicemen, the government is taking special care to ensure they do not face a financial burden. "Based on the laws and rates determined for the conversion of 'Nazul' lands, a minimal amount will be charged to make these lands freehold. This will provide significant financial relief to ex-servicemen and the underprivileged," the Minister clarified. --IANS sj/dan Tiruchirappalli, March 11 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Tiruchirappalli on Wednesday to participate in the third campaign rally of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at Panchapoor in Tamil Nadu's Tiruchi district. Before addressing the rally, the Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for a series of major development projects in Tamil Nadu worth Rs 5,650 crore. Among the key initiatives was the foundation stone for a Rs 3,680-crore natural gas distribution project, which will supply piped cooking gas to nearly nine lakh households. The project will also provide gas to about 200 commercial establishments and include the establishment of 201 natural gas stations, significantly improving energy efficiency and reducing pollution. The Prime Minister also dedicated a Rs 1,490-crore lubricant blending plant to the nation and inaugurated a major facility of Indian Oil Corporation located in Manali, Chennai. In addition, he laid the foundation stone for the construction of a green bypass road near the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple, which is expected to improve road connectivity and enhance tourism to the historic Chola-era site. In the railway sector, PM Modi flagged off two Amrit Bharat Express trains, two express trains and one passenger train service, strengthening connectivity between the southern districts of Tamil Nadu and other regions of the country. He also inaugurated 370 km of rural roads built under the Central government's rural development programme, which is expected to benefit farmers, students and patients by improving access to essential services. Speaking at the foundation-laying ceremony, PM Modi said the projects would strengthen Tamil Nadu's infrastructure and generate employment opportunities. "Today, welfare and development projects worth Rs 5,650 crore have been dedicated to the nation. I am happy to launch initiatives in the energy, infrastructure and petroleum sectors. These projects will create employment opportunities for nearly 1,000 youth in Tamil Nadu," the Prime Minister said. Recalling his previous visit to the region, PM Modi mentioned the celebrations marking the 1,000th anniversary of the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple and said the new highway project would greatly benefit tourism. He also noted that eight redeveloped railway stations were inaugurated in Madurai last week under the Amrit Bharat scheme and that the newly launched train services would further improve connectivity across southern Tamil Nadu. "A developed India requires a developed Tamil Nadu. Our goal is to build a developed Tamil Nadu as part of a developed India," PM Modi said, adding that the Centre would continue to work with full commitment for the state's progress. Union Minister L. Murugan, Tamil Nadu Minister Thangam Thennarasu, Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami and BJP leader Nainar Nagendran were among those present at the event. Tiruchirappalli, March 11 : AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Wednesday said the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly election would mark the end of the Karunanidhi family's political dominance in the state, accusing the ruling DMK of functioning like a family-run corporate entity. a Tiruchirappalli, March 11(IANS) AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Wednesday said the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly election would mark the end of the Karunanidhi family's political dominance in the state, accusing the ruling DMK of functioning like a family-run corporate entity. Addressing the third campaign rally of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at Panchapur in Tiruchirappalli district, Palaniswami said the people of Tamil Nadu had already decided to end the political control of the Karunanidhi family. "The people of Tamil Nadu have made up their minds. This election will be the last for the Karunanidhi family's political dominance in the state," he said, launching a sharp attack on the ruling DMK government. Palaniswami described the AIADMKBJP alliance in Tamil Nadu as a strong and effective coalition formed to remove the DMK from power. He said the alliance brings together parties with different ideologies but a common objective of defeating the ruling party. Recalling the AIADMK's previous tenure, he said the period between 2011 and 2021 was a golden era for Tamil Nadu under AIADMK rule, while the state has witnessed a decline in several sectors under the current DMK government. Criticising Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, Palaniswami said that repeated public meetings would not help regain the people's trust. "No matter how many meetings Stalin conducts, people will not believe him. The DMK has a history of announcing promises during elections but failing to implement them after coming to power," he said. According to Palaniswami, the AIADMK has always fulfilled its commitments to the public. "When AIADMK makes a promise, we implement it," he said. He also questioned the DMK's claim that its alliance is based on ideology. "If that is the case, why maintain separate parties? In our alliance, every party has its own ideology, but we have united to defeat the DMK in the election," he added. Calling the DMK a family-run party functioning like a corporate company, Palaniswami said the NDA alliance is confident of forming the next government in Tamil Nadu. He also highlighted the AIADMK government's initiatives for farmers, stating that the party worked with the Union government to declare the Cauvery delta districts as Protected Agricultural Zones, ensuring long-term protection for agriculture in the region. The rally in Tiruchirappalli was attended by leaders and cadres of several NDA allies and is part of the alliance's campaign ahead of the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Bengaluru, March 11 : Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy has accused the Congress government in the state of misleading the public by claiming credit for recruitments carried out during the tenure of the previous BJP-led government. Speaking to reporters near the Vidhana Soudha here on Wednesday, Narayanaswamy said the Congress government was presenting the achievements of the BJP government as its own and thereby deceiving people across the state. He said it was unfortunate that the Chief Minister and ministers were giving incorrect information to the House regarding recruitments. "If the government itself begins to deceive the people, then who will provide answers and who will deliver justice?" he questioned. Narayanaswamy alleged that the government had failed to provide jobs to the youth in the state and had cheated them. He said the BJP had raised the issue in the Legislative Council through a calling attention motion, questioning why vacant posts had not been filled. He asserted that the BJP would stand with the educated unemployed youth of the state and would continue to pressurise the government. "This government has betrayed Dalits, youth and students. Overall, this is a government of betrayal," he said. Narayanaswamy stated that as the number of educated people in the state increases, the government is continuing to deceive them. He said the BJP was staging protests across the state demanding that the government fill the 2.84 lakh vacant posts. Referring to a large protest held in Dharwad last month demanding employment, he said more than 50,000 youth had taken to the streets and that he had also extended his support to the demonstration. He alleged that once the BJP intensified its agitation, the government hurriedly announced that 56,000 posts would be filled and promised to complete the process within a month. However, when the BJP questioned the government during the Belagavi session, the government gave incorrect information to the House stating that 30,000 to 35,000 posts had already been filled, he claimed. He further alleged that until 2025 the Congress government had not filled even a single post. "Whenever questions are raised about recruitment, the government gives different excuses such as examinations are being conducted or that they are scheduled," he said. Narayanaswamy said the shortage of cooking gas was due to disruptions in crude oil supply caused by the war in Gulf nations. "This is a national and global issue. Everyone understands it, but Congress leaders do not seem to understand it. They are not that wise," he remarked. He alleged that Congress leaders were cooking on the streets only to stage protests. "They do not know how to cook at home. The Congress has irresponsibly politicised the cooking gas issue," he charged. Itanagar/Imphal, March 11 : Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt Gen K.T. Parnaik (Retd.) has expressed deep sorrow over the death of two Army personnel in a road accident in Upper Subansiri district of the state.a Itanagar/Imphal, March 11 (IANS) Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt Gen K.T. Parnaik (Retd.) has expressed deep sorrow over the death of two Army personnel in a road accident in Upper Subansiri district of the state. The Governor said that Naib Subedar Kulwant Singh of the 908 Field Regiment under the 56 Artillery Brigade and Naik Pradeep Kumar Sharma of the 18 Sikh Regiment lost their lives while in service of the nation. "He paid heartfelt tribute to their courage, dedication, and unwavering commitment to safeguarding our sensitive borders," a Lok Bhavan statement said. "I join the people of Arunachal Pradesh and the entire nation in conveying our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. We pray to the Almighty to grant eternal peace to the departed souls and strength and solace to their loved ones in this hour of grief," the Governor said. Meanwhile, a solemn wreath-laying ceremony was organised under the aegis of Headquarters Inspector General Assam Rifles (South) at Sehlon, Chandel district of Manipur, to honour the supreme sacrifice of Lance Naik (Late) Khim Bahadur Thapa, Lance Naik (Late) Bhola Dutt Chhetri and Lance Naik (Late) Padam Bahadur Sunar. These valiant soldiers displayed extraordinary courage and devotion to duty during intense counter-insurgency operations in Aizawl, Mizoram, in March 1966. On February 27, 1966, insurgents of the Mizo National Front launched a fierce attack on all bases and the Battalion Headquarters of 1 Assam Rifles. The assault continued with relentless firing for twelve days. In the face of overwhelming odds, the three bravehearts stood firm, protecting their post with indomitable spirit. Despite sustaining grievous injuries, they continued to fight with exemplary gallantry. Lance Naik Khim Bahadur Thapa succumbed to his wounds on March 5, 1966, followed by Lance Naik Bhola Dutt Chhetri on March 7, 1966, and Lance Naik Padam Bahadur Sunar on March 11, 1966. Their sacrifice remains a shining example of valour and selfless service. Another solemn wreath-laying ceremony was held at the Veng Battalion Headquarters in Churachandpur district, Manipur, to pay homage to the supreme sacrifice of Subedar Sarwan Kumar. The brave soldier laid down his life on March 10, 2009, while courageously fighting insurgents at Haijang village in Kangpokpi district. The Colombian reporters lawyers allege that she was persecuted for her critical work on Trumps immigration policy and that she was arrested without a warrant The detention of Colombian reporter Estefany Rodriguez by immigration agents in Tennessee is the latest case in which the Trump administrations intensified anti-immigrant policies and a growing confrontation with the press intertwine. Although authorities claim that last Wednesdays arrest was due to Rodriguezs alleged irregular immigration status, lawyers for the journalist, who is married to a U.S. citizen and has a pending asylum claim, assert that her arrest was not routine, but rather a targeted detention in retaliation for her work covering Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations as part of the unprecedented deportation offensive launched by the Republican administration. The legal team representing Rodriguez filed a writ of habeas corpus with the federal judge overseeing her case last weekend, alleging that she had been detained without a warrant. On Monday, they refiled the petition, adding that her arrest violated her First and Fifth Amendment rights, which guarantee freedom of speech and due process. District Judge Eli Richardson has given the administration until this Thursday to explain the reasons for Rodriguezs detention and has scheduled the first hearing for March 17. Rodriguez, 35, is a reporter for the Spanish-language news outlet Nashville Noticias, founded in 2016 to inform Tennessees growing Hispanic community about local issues, politics, safety, and culture. There, Rodriguez had focused much of her recent coverage on ICE raids and operations in the state capital. Last Wednesday morning, while traveling with her husband, Alejandro Medina, in a vehicle clearly marked with the news outlets logo, she was arrested. ICE agents during a protest against arrests in Nashville, Tennessee, in May 2025. Seth Herald (REUTERS) According to Medinas testimony and that of Rodriguezs lawyers, they left their home after their seven-year-old daughter boarded the school bus. They were then surrounded by several unmarked vehicles, from which agents emerged and approached the window. Initially, Rodriguez didnt understand what was happening, but it quickly became clear. The agents knew exactly who the couple was and details of their personal lives. They knew that Medina was born in the United States and that Rodriguez had recently applied for a green card, or legal residency. They also knew her immigration history: she had entered legally on a tourist visa and had subsequently applied for asylum, which grants temporary work authorization while her case is being resolved. Despite this, they arrested her, claiming she did not have legal immigration status, and she was later transferred to a detention center in Alabama. Two arrest warrants In response to a public outcry from social organizations and politicians, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has maintained its position, asserting that having a pending application for residency or a work permit does not automatically grant the right to remain in the country. The agency argues that Rodriguez violated the terms of her original visa by failing to leave the United States after it expired. Beyond her immigration status, however, the defense has focused its legal strategy thus far on characterizing the detention as arbitrary and disputing whether or not the agents had a valid arrest warrant. The lawyers maintain that the journalist was detained without a warrant and point out that the document subsequently presented by the government contains inconsistencies. They also note that ICEs own internal report indicates that, from the moment the agents approached the vehicle until she was taken to the agencys office, she was never shown a warrant. On Saturday, DHS published a photograph on X of what it described as the warrant issued on March 4. However, the version of the document presented to the court, according to the lawyers, is dated March 2, does not include Rodriguezs immigration registration number, and contains incomplete sections. The defense argues that these inconsistencies strengthen their claim that the journalist was detained first and that the warrant was issued later. But the legal dispute is not limited to the administrative issue. The latest appeal filed by Rodriguezs lawyers argues that the arrest also constitutes planned retaliation for her journalistic work, particularly her reporting on Trumps immigration offensive. The journalist had recently been in contact with ICE regarding her own immigration case. In January, she received a letter requesting her presence at the local office for an administrative process, but the appointment had to be canceled after an ice storm paralyzed the city and forced the office to close. She was then given a new date for February 25, but after her lawyer and husband went to the ICE offices to inquire whether Rodriguez could submit the required documents without appearing in person fearing detention at the office, as has been reported on numerous occasions in immigration courts across the country the appointment was postponed once again, until March 17. Death threats in Colombia Before arriving in the United States in 2021, Rodriguez had built a career as a reporter in Colombia. There, she worked for RCN and other national media outlets, investigating government agencies and corruption cases in the Caribbean region. Over time, she began receiving death threats related to her work, leading the authorities to temporarily assign her a security detail. But the protection was reduced over time. When her daughter turned one, Rodriguez decided to leave the country and seek protection in the United States. She entered the U.S. on a tourist visa and, before it expired, applied for political asylum. Since then, she has lived in Nashville, where she married and started a family, while her case remains pending in immigration court. Her arrest sparked an immediate mobilization in the city. Nashville Mayor Freddie OConnell, a Democrat, publicly defended the reporter. Estefany Rodriguez has helped make Nashville a better community by keeping us informed, he said in a statement. And the community has organized call banks, contacting their direct representatives and urging them to take up the cause and defend Rodriguez in Washington. The case has also drawn calls from human rights and press freedom organizations. With her arrest, federal authorities have both silenced an important on-the-ground perspective and have sent a chilling message that reporting critical of the administration may face retaliation, reads a statement from the Society of Professional Journalists. Amnesty International has also been clear on this matter: Ms. Rodriguezs detention is yet another stark example of the escalating and overlapping attacks on the rights to freedom of expression, freedom of the press, and the rights of immigrants in the U.S., said Justin Mazzola, Deputy Director of Research at Amnesty International USA. No one should live in fear of retaliation for their reporting. Through increasing authoritarian practices, President Trump seeks to create this fear and chilling effect. We will never allow this ruthless attack on reporters covering the truth to be normalized. The arrest of Rodriguez follows the same pattern as the detention and eventual deportation of Mario Guevara, a Salvadoran journalist who had lived in Atlanta, Georgia, for decades, last summer. Guevara was also a well-known figure covering immigration issues in and for local Hispanic communities. It also shares similarities with the case of former CNN anchor Don Lemon, who was arrested nearly two weeks after being seen at a protest outside a Minneapolis church. In Rodriguezs case, the courts will have the final say. First, the government must explain why she was detained, if she was complying with immigration procedures and did not pose a threat to the community or have a criminal record. On Monday, both parties will appear before the judge again. But the case is now more than just an immigration dispute: it is the latest public battle between the Trump administrations immigration apparatus and those who report on its activities. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition New Delhi, March 11 : The 22nd installment of the government's flagship farmer support scheme, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan), will be released on March 13, 2026, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced on Wednesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the installment from Guwahati in Assam, transferring more than Rs 18,640 crore directly to the bank accounts of over 9.32 crore farmer families across the country through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Sharing details of the initiative, Chouhan said the move reflects the government's commitment to farmers and its emphasis on honouring the country's "annadatas". Since the launch of the scheme in February 2019, the Centre has transferred more than Rs 4.09 lakh crore directly to farmers' bank accounts. With the release of the 22nd installment, the cumulative disbursement will exceed Rs 4.27 lakh crore. He said the scheme, introduced under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, has laid the foundation for a significant and sustained transformation in the agriculture sector by providing direct income support to small and marginal farmers. Under the programme, eligible farmer families receive Rs 6,000 annually in three equal installments, which are credited directly to their bank accounts. According to the minister, more than 2.15 crore women farmers will also receive financial assistance under the upcoming installment. The timely support helps farmers meet agricultural expenses such as seeds, fertilisers, pesticides and other farming inputs. The assistance also contributes to meeting household needs including education and healthcare. Chouhan noted that the government is making sustained efforts to economically empower women farmers and strengthen the financial condition of rural households through the scheme. He added that several independent studies have found that the PM-Kisan initiative has strengthened the rural economy by reducing farmers' dependence on loans and encouraging greater investment in agriculture. Kathmandu, March 11 : A clear majority secured by the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) in Nepal's recent parliamentary elections is likely to reduce near-term political uncertainty and improve policy predictability in the Himalayan nation, Fitch Ratings said on Wednesday. "This provides an opportunity for enhanced policy predictability and the implementation of governance and economic reforms," the international rating agency added. The three-and-a-half-year-old party won 125 out of 165 seats under the First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) electoral system and secured nearly 48 per cent of votes under the proportional electoral system, according to the Election Commission of Nepal. These results would give it close to two-thirds of seats 184 out of 275 in the House of Representatives, the lower house of parliament. Fitch noted that the election outcome should lower the risk of prolonged coalition negotiations following severe unrest last year, reduce the likelihood of frequent government changes seen in recent years, and potentially boost investor sentiment over time if signals point to tangible improvements in governance and economic reform delivery. Following the fractured mandates of the 2022 parliamentary elections, Nepal saw several governments over the past three years, as traditional political parties prioritized formingand then dissolvingcoalitions. Public perception that political leaders were engaged in corruption triggered massive Gen Z protests in September last year, which led to the fall of the government led by then-Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, chairperson of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) or CPN (UML). An interim government, headed by Sushila Karki, subsequently organised elections to the House of Representatives on March 5, granting the RSP a new mandate to form the next government, potentially led by senior party leader Balen Shah. "The scale of the RSP's victory reflects a voter mandate to break with the status quo politics of power-sharing," Fitch noted. With the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML losing seats, a single-party majoritypending final certification by the Election Commissioncould shorten the political transition and help sustain reform momentum, particularly in translating hydropower-led investment into broader economic growth. The RSP has set an ambitious target of around seven per cent average real economic growth over the next five years, aiming to raise per capita income above USD 3,000. Fitch said the new government's policy agenda will be crucial in determining whether growth can surpass the agency's current forecast of 4.5 per cent for the fiscal year ending July 15, 2027. The party plans to focus on productivity gains, formal job creation to curb emigration, and private-sector-led investment across infrastructure, agriculture, services, digital, and innovative industries. Fitch reaffirmed Nepal's 'BB-' sovereign rating with a Stable Outlook in November 2025, highlighting that strong, sustainable growth supported by governance improvements and investment-friendly regulations could enhance Nepal's credit profile. However, the agency cautioned that implementation capacity could pose risks. "Nepal's weak government effectiveness and regulatory quality scores compared with peers could constrain execution, particularly if reform sequencing is unclear or governance outcomes lag expectations," Fitch said. The agency added that private and foreign investment will depend on tangible improvements in the business environment, accountability frameworks, and sustained anti-corruption measures. Tokyo, March 11 : Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Wednesday announced that Japan will start releasing its oil reserves as early as next Monday to tackle a possible increase in prices of gasoline and other petroleum products amid the conflict in West Asia, local media reported. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Takaichi said that Japan will release 15 days worth of reserves held by the private sector and then one month worth of oil owned by government without waiting for a decision coordinated by the International Energy Agency (IEA), Japan's leading media outlet Kyodo News reported. Japan will for the first time release its government oil reserves individually and not in an internationally coordinated way since the stockpiling of oil started in 1978. Takaichi stated that Japan's reliance on the Middle East for crude oil is "prominently high" compared to other nations and imports are expected to reduce late this month or later, resulting in measures needed to stop a disruption to the supply of gasoline and other petroleum products. Citing the possibility that the average price of domestic retail gasoline could get higher than 200 Yen per litre, Takaichi said that she wants to keep the price at around 170 Yen by using a government fund. Takaichi said, "We will flexibly review the support measures to ensure continuous relief for the public even if the (Middle Eastern) situation is prolonged." Japan imports over 90 per cent of its oil from West Asia, making it vulnerable to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has halted the transportation of oil and gas from suppliers in the Persian Gulf following the US and Israel strikes on Iran in February. The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow passage connecting the Gulf to the Arabian Sea and is one of the worldas most important oil transit chokepoints. A large share of crude exports from Gulf producers passes through it, making any threat to the route a major concern for global energy markets. As of the end of December, Japan possessed 470 million barrels of oil reserves equivalent to 254 days of domestic consumption, of which, 146 days worth were government-held, 101 days owned by the private sector while the remainder is jointly stored with nations that produce oil, Kyodo News reported. The ongoing conflict began after the joint US-Israel strikes on Iran on February 28, which led to Iran launching drone and missile attacks targetting US assets, regional capitals and allied forces in West Asia. Strasbourg, March 11 : European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday the Middle East conflict has imposed heavy economic costs on Europe, driving up energy prices and adding billions of euros to import bills. "Since the beginning of the conflict, gas prices have risen by 50 per cent and oil prices by 27 per cent," von der Leyen told the European Parliament in Strasbourg. She said 10 days of war had already cost European taxpayers an extra 3 billion euros (3.48 billion US dollars) for fossil fuel imports, Xinhua News Agency reported. Von der Leyen said the European Commission is assessing additional measures to lower energy bills, including a possible cap on gas prices. She said the EU had diversified its fossil fuel supplies in recent years, but "this does not mean that we are immune to price shocks. Energy markets are global." The surge marks the second time in recent years that geopolitical conflict has triggered sharp rises in EU energy costs, following the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022. The Commission is also pushing nuclear power to boost production and cut prices. Von der Leyen announced Tuesday a 200 million euro (231.75 million dollar) EU guarantee to support private investment in innovative nuclear technologies. EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen urged member states Tuesday to cut energy taxes where possible, particularly on electricity, to lower consumer bills. The Commission on Tuesday also unveiled a Clean Energy Investment Strategy aimed at channeling private financing into power grids, clean energy technologies and energy efficiency. On February 28, Ursula von der Leyen expressed serious concerns over the latest developments in Iran, while reaffirming its steadfast commitment to safeguarding regional security and stability. The EU stated that it remains in close contact with the partners in the region. "The developments in Iran are greatly concerning. We remain in close contact with our partners in the region. We reaffirm our steadfast commitment to safeguarding regional security and stability. Ensuring nuclear safety and preventing any actions that could further escalate tensions or undermine the global non-proliferation regime is of critical importance," Ursula von der Leyen posted on X. "The European Union has adopted extensive sanctions in response to the actions of Iranas murderous regime and the Revolutionary Guards and has consistently promoted diplomatic efforts aimed at addressing the nuclear and ballistic programmes through a negotiated solution. In close coordination with EU Member States, we will take all necessary steps to ensure that EU citizens in the region can count on our full support. We call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint, to protect civilians, and to fully respect international law," she added. Cairo, March 11 : Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held phone calls on Wednesday with his counterparts from Jordan, Bahrain, and Iran, calling for calm in the region on the heels of the US-Israel war on Iran and Tehran's retaliatory attacks, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. During the phone calls, Abdelatty urged mobilising regional and international efforts to contain the escalation, and to rely on dialogue and diplomacy to prevent the expansion of conflict. He warned that the growth of the military operation would jeopardize the security and stability of the whole region, reiterating the importance of intensifying efforts to maintain the regional stability and to safeguard international navigation security, Xinhua News Agency reported. Abdelatty and the Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi discussed the present serious situation in the region and stressed the importance of stopping the acceleration of the conflict expansion with the neighbouring countries. Abdelatty also renewed calls for respecting the principle of good neighbourhood and the country's sovereignty, emphasising that the diplomatic path is the only way to contain tensions. On March 5, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi addressed the ongoing Middle East crisis triggered by US-Israeli attacks on Iran, noting that Egypt is pursuing mediation efforts to halt the war, according to an Egyptian Presidency statement. During a ceremony organised by the Egyptian Military Academy, the Egyptian president said the war reflects miscalculations and misjudgments. He noted that Egypt has faced numerous difficult circumstances, challenges, and provocations in recent years, but has exercised "great patience" in the face of accusations and conspiracies. Sisi added that this patience has proven successful and effective and has been applied in Egypt's dealing with certain countries. He warned that the current crisis could affect prices and cautioned against exploiting the situation to raise or manipulate them, stressing that Egypt is in a near state of emergency and that people's essential needs must not be compromised. Kabul, March 11 : Pakistan has witnessed a sharp rise in Sunni radicalisation across the country under the leadership of Army Chief Asim Munir, resulting in escalating violence against religious minorities like Ahmadis and Shias without recourse to justice, a report has detailed. "Pakistan's two largest Muslim minorities, the Shia (notably Hazara Shia) and Ahmadis, have endured an unprecedented surge of violence and lynchings in the last couple of years. In November 2024 alone, over 40 Shia pilgrims were slaughtered in a single convoy ambush in Kurram District. Across Punjab and Sindh, mobs of hardline extremists have stormed Ahmadi prayer halls and beaten worshippers to death," a report in the Afghan Diaspora Network mentioned. "Human rights monitors warn that this is not a random crime but a full-fledged sectarian onslaught. Earlier this month, the Islamic State of Pakistan conducted a suicide attack on a famous Shia Mosque in capital Islamabad, which resulted in 32 casualties. The core cadre base of IS-Pakistan comes from anti-Shia Sunni outfits like outlawed Sipaha-e-Sahaba(SSP) and Lashkar-i-Jhangvi (LeJ), among others," it added. Citing analysts, the report suggested that these radical Sunni outfits were likely responsible for the attack, with their activities becoming more visible lately. Notably, a big gathering of the LeJ was reportedly underway near the Shia Mosque, which was attacked on February 6. Amnesty International highlighted that Pakistani "authorities have failed to protect the Hazara Shia community" from repeated threats and attacks. "Provincial governments issue rhetorical condemnations, but no effective shield exists. As a result, Shia imambargahs and gatherings across Pakistan remain vulnerable as militant clerics incite Sunni mobs," the report noted. According to the report, Ahmadis, officially declared non-Muslim under Pakistan's constitution, face equally brutal attacks from radical Sunni outfits. "Since early 2025, mobs loyal to extremist blasphemy-enforcing parties have hunted them openly. On 18 April 2025, a mob of 100-200 Islamist demonstrators stormed an Ahmadi prayer hall in Karachi, dragged out a 47-year-old man, and beat him to death with bricks and sticks. Two months earlier, a 46-year-old Ahmadi businessman was lynched by Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) hardliners outside an Ahmadis' hall in Saddar district of Karachi," it mentioned. "In another chilling case, a prominent Ahmadi doctor, Sheikh Mahmood, was gunned down at his hospital workplace in Sargodha on 16 May 2025. Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) notes these were the third and fourth targetted Ahmadi murders in a single month part of a 'distressing trend of targeted violence against Ahmadis'," it further stated. Amid the widespread violence, the report said, the international community should have pressed Pakistan's military leadership for accountability, given that the civilian government is weak and powerless to protect Ahmadis and Shias. "Yet to date, there has been no solution to the problem as religious minorities continue to face repressive tactics from the majority. The blood of innocents, lynched or shot simply for their faith, continues to stain Pakistan's conscience," it noted. Tehran, March 11 : Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Wednesday it will continue striking Israeli and US bases across the Middle East until it perceives the threat of war against Iran has ended. "We only think of the enemy's complete surrender," the IRGC said in a statement on its official outlet, Sepah News. The IRGC claimed that its 38th wave of attacks late Tuesday hit the US Al-Udairi base in Kuwait, sending more than 100 troops to nearby hospitals. The group also claimed missile and drone strikes on US naval infrastructure at Mina Salman port in Bahrain, home to the US Fifth Fleet, as well as attacks on Kuwait's Ali Al-Salem Air Base and Mohammed Al-Ahmad Naval Base, Xinhua News Agency reported. Earlier Tuesday, the IRGC said it targeted a satellite communications center south of Tel Aviv and military sites in Beer Yaakov, West Jerusalem, and Haifa with Khorramshahr missiles. It also claimed attacks on several US positions in Erbil, Iraq. Separately, Iran's army reported early Wednesday drone strikes on Israeli Military Intelligence, the Unit 8200 cyber division, a Green Pine radar installation, and a submarine command center at Haifa's naval base. The flare-up follows joint US-Israeli strikes on Tehran and other Iranian cities on February 28, which killed former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and senior military commanders. In response, Iran has carried out repeated missile and drone attacks on US and Israeli targets in the region. In the latest strike on Iranian soil, Bank Sepah, a major bank in Iran, said a US-Israeli missile hit one of its Tehran buildings around 1 a.m. local time Wednesday (2130 GMT Tuesday), injuring and killing employees on the overnight shift. State broadcaster IRIB confirmed the attack but did not provide casualty figures. The Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters -- Iran's primary military command -- warned the strike would prompt retaliation, saying the attack on a bank "freed" Iran to target US and Israeli financial institutions across the region. The Military spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari urged civilians to stay at least one kilometer away from such facilities. Thiruvananthapuram, March 11 : In a dramatic culmination to a day of high tension and public attention, viral 'Kumbh beauty' Monalisa Bhosle on Wednesday evening married her boyfriend Farman Khan at a local temple in Poovar, a coastal suburb of Thiruvananthapuram. The simple ceremony took place around 5.45 p.m., only hours after the couple had approached the Thampanoor Police Station seeking protection following opposition from the woman's family. Present on the occasion was M. V. Govindan, the state secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). Just before the wedding, Kerala's Education Minister V. Sivankutty, who hails from the locality near the temple, remarked that the development reflected the true spirit of the state. "This is the real Kerala story where people of different backgrounds can live happily and peacefully," he said. Monalisa, who shot to social media fame during the Maha Kumbh Mela, had been in Kerala for the shooting of a film marking her entry into cinema. The shoot was underway in coastal locations around Vizhinjam and Poovar when the dispute involving her family surfaced. According to police sources, the couple reached the police station earlier in the day after Monalisa alleged that her family was trying to forcibly take her back home and pressure her into marrying another relative. Her relationship with Farman reportedly began about 18 months back through Facebook, but the interfaith relationship met with strong resistance from her family. Monalisa, a native of Indore in Madhya Pradesh, and Farman Khan, who hails from Maharashtra, told police that they had chosen Kerala partly because they anticipated facing serious opposition elsewhere in the country. Following her complaint, police summoned her father, Jai Singh Bhosle, and explained that since Monalisa had attained the age of 18, she had the legal right to decide whom she wished to live with. By evening, what began as a plea for protection ended with a quiet temple wedding by the sea, turning a tense family dispute into a story of personal choice and a new beginning. Bengaluru, March 11 : A heated debate erupted in the Karnataka Assembly on Wednesday over the shortage of commercial LPG cylinders, with the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP trading sharp accusations while the government appealed to the public to limit LPG consumption during the ongoing global crisis. Food and Civil Supplies Minister K.H. Muniyappa said the state government had already held discussions with oil companies and assured that domestic consumers would receive at least one LPG cylinder for use over 25 days. "I have worked as a Union Minister. The domestic supply won't be affected," he said. He told the Assembly that the supply chain had been affected due to the ongoing war between Israel and Iran. "Ships are not arriving, and supplies have been stopped. In this situation, I held a meeting with Indian Oil, BPCL, HPCL, and GAIL along with the Secretary and the Commissioner," he said. He added that domestic LPG supply would be prioritised. "For domestic consumers, there is no problem. A minimum of one cylinder for a family will be provided, and it can be used for 25 days. If the war stops, full supply will resume. At present, domestic production is between 25 and 30 per cent, and the other modes of consumption have been curtailed. We have allowed priority for domestic use," he said. Muniyappa said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had directed officials to ensure minimum supply to households and appealed to the public to use LPG cautiously. "I request people to limit the use of LPG cylinders and avoid additional consumption. In this situation, minimum usage should be ensured, and people should not demand extra cylinders," he said. The issue was raised during Zero Hour by Congress MLA K.H. Ranganath, who said the shortage of commercial LPG cylinders was affecting restaurants and small hotels across the state. "In many cities across the state, the shortage of commercial LPG cylinders is becoming severe. Restaurants and small hotels depend entirely on these cylinders. With the war situation, the food industry in the country, including Karnataka and Bengaluru, has been hit, and several restaurants have shut down," he said. Ranganath also alleged that commercial users were being forced to buy cylinders at high prices. "You claim there is no problem for domestic consumers, but commercial users are forced to buy cylinders at exorbitant prices. This is a failure of the Central government's foreign policy," he said. BJP MLAs strongly objected to the remark and urged Ranganath not to politicise the issue. Minister for IT and BT Priyank Kharge also criticised the Centre, saying the public panic was due to conflicting statements from Union ministers. "The Union minister had stated in Parliament on February 9 that the country had enough LPG stock for 45 days and people need not worry. On March 6, the Petroleum Minister again said there was no shortage. On the same day, the Centre increased the domestic cylinder price by Rs 60 and the commercial cylinder price by Rs 120," he said. Questioning the Centre's handling of the situation, he asked: "What happened to the foreign policy and where is Prime Minister Narendra Modi today?" Kharge also made a sarcastic remark about the Centre, saying it was busy wishing film actress Rashmika Mandanna while failing to address the crisis. Siddaramaiah said the responsibility for supplying LPG cylinders rested with the Central government. "Who will provide gas cylinders? It is the Centre which has to ensure the supply," he said. However, BJP MLA V. Sunil Kumar said the shortage was a global issue due to the war and accused the state government of politicising the matter. Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka accused the Chief Minister and ministers of turning the issue into a political controversy. He also alleged that Siddaramaiah had encouraged protests by hotel owners. "The Chief Minister himself is asking people to launch protests. Is this appropriate? As the head of the state, he should act responsibly," he said. At this, Siddaramaiah clarified that he had not called for protests. "Hotel owners had said they would protest if commercial cylinders were not supplied, and I only said their concern was valid. It is false to claim that I provoked them to launch a strike," he said. BJP state President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra criticised Kharge, saying he should confine his remarks to his own portfolios. Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said the hospitality sector was already facing serious difficulties. "The Indian Hotels' Association has stated that nearly 20 per cent of hotels have shut down. There is clearly an issue, and it is wrong to say there is no problem anywhere in the country," he said. Reiterating the government's position, Muniyappa said about 70 per cent of LPG supply comes from outside sources, and the disruption of shipments had affected availability. "Ten vessels have not been allowed to dock. Even if they do not arrive, one cylinder will be provided to each family once in 25 days. A 14-kg cylinder can be used by a family of four to five members for about one to one-and-a-half months," he said. Muniyappa said the government would restrict additional bookings and take strict action against black marketing. "There is no need to panic. One cylinder per family will be ensured each month, but there will be no scope for additional bookings. Legal action will be initiated against black market sales," he said. He also appealed to commercial establishments to cooperate during the crisis as hospitals, schools and hostels will be given priority. The minister added that weekly meetings would be held with oil companies to monitor the supply situation and ensure that domestic consumers do not face shortages. New Delhi, March 11 : In a significant escalation of tensions in Parliament, Congress leader and Parliamentarian KC Venugopal passionately defended the Opposition's no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla during a heated debate in the House. The motion, backed by around 118 Opposition MPs, accuses the Speaker of running the proceedings in a blatantly partisan manner, severely undermining democratic principles. Rising to speak on the motion, Venugopal expressed profound concern over the deteriorating state of India's democracy. He traced a pattern of decline since 2019, arguing that the Lok Sabha's prestige has been eroded incrementally through systematic suppression of Opposition voices. "Never before has a Leader of Opposition been so blatantly silenced," he stated, referring to Rahul Gandhi's treatment. He claimed the treasury benches grow uncomfortable with Gandhi's forthright criticism and willingness to raise uncomfortable truths, leading to targeted restrictions. Venugopal highlighted several practices he described as discriminatory: frequent suspensions of Opposition MPs at whim, microphones being abruptly switched off during their speeches, and Sansad TV cameras deliberately avoiding shots of the Opposition benches. In stark contrast, he alleged that BJP MPs enjoy unchecked freedom to hurl abuses, flout rules, and spread falsehoods without facing consequences. The Congress MP emphasised that a parliamentary majority does not grant the ruling side licence to trample time-tested democratic norms. "What makes it a gross violation of Constitutional integrity is this double standard," he asserted. The Opposition, he explained, was compelled to bring this extreme measurea"not by choice but necessitya"because no democracy can thrive if its highest legislative body operates with such overt bias. Venugopal called for a Speaker who embodies true impartiality, fairness, and unwavering commitment to democratic values. "To save our democracy, we need a Speaker who is truly fair, impartial, and committed to democracy," he concluded. The debate unfolded against additional controversy, including the absence of a Deputy Speaker for seven yearsa"a "constitutional vacuum" created by the government, according to Venugopala"which complicated proceedings as a member from the Speaker-appointed Panel of Chairpersons presided over the motion. This rare challenge to the Speaker's position reflects deepening rifts in Parliament, with the Opposition framing it as a fight to preserve the sanctity of the House. This photo taken on March 9, 2026 shows the Great Hall of the People ahead of the second plenary meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Members of the military delegation attending the ongoing annual session of the national legislature studied and discussed President Xi Jinping's speech delivered at a plenary meeting of the delegation, a military spokesperson said Tuesday. Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the delegation of the People's Liberation Army and the People's Armed Police Force at the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress, said the speech by Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), has further enriched and developed the guidelines and policies for enhancing political loyalty in the military. Attending the meeting last Saturday, Xi stressed the effort to fully leverage the unique strengths of enhancing political loyalty in the military, and called for concerted efforts to advance the modernization of national defense and the armed forces in a steady and sustained manner. Zhang said military deputies pledged to implement the system of ultimate responsibility resting with the chairman of the CMC, continue to deepen political rectification, strengthen all-around military training and combat readiness, and pool strength to advance high-quality development. On the priorities for the modernization of national defense and the armed forces, Zhang said the military will strengthen political guidance to deepen political rectification, increase the supply of advanced combat capabilities, enhance military governance with an emphasis on improving the institutions and mechanisms for leading and managing the people's armed forces, and strengthen the development of integrated national strategies and strategic capabilities. ON DEFENSE BUDGET The figure earmarked for national defense in the 2026 national general public budget is expected to rise by 6.9 percent from the previous year's actual spending. Of the figure, central government expenditures on national defense are expected to increase by 7 percent. Zhang spelled out four priority areas for the increase in the defense budget this year. He said the budget increase will go to promoting the integrated development of the military through mechanization, informatization, and the application of smart technologies. The spending will be used to optimize the joint operational system and enhance the development of advanced combat capabilities. The spending will also be used to accelerate the development of advanced weaponry and defense technology innovation, advance the construction of modern logistics, and continuously deepen political rectification and advance military training under real combat conditions. FIGHT "TAIWAN INDEPENDENCE" FORCES, OPPOSE EXTERNAL INTERFERENCE Zhang said the Chinese military will resolutely fight separatist forces aimed at "Taiwan independence" and oppose external interference. "We will strive for peaceful reunification with the greatest sincerity and the utmost effort, but we will never promise to renounce the use of force," he said. The armed forces will intensify training and combat readiness, enhance their capability to fight and win, resolutely thwart any attempts at secession or external interference, and safeguard peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, he added. Chandigarh, March 11 : Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday chaired a high-level meeting with a delegation of the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce at his residence here. The delegation was led by its President, Prashant Srivastava. Welcoming members of the delegation, the Chief Minister said Haryana viewed the growing cooperation with Canada as a significant opportunity. He noted that in "today's global economy, countries and regions that build partnerships based on knowledge, innovation, and technology are progressing rapidly". CM Saini said there are several areas where Haryana and Canada can work together to create a strong model of shared progress and sustainable development. Highlighting potential collaboration in artificial intelligence (AI) and smart governance, the Chief Minister said the government is promoting digital and AI-based solutions to make governance more transparent, efficient, and citizen-centric. He said Canada is among the global leaders in this field, and collaboration in areas such as smart governance, data-driven decision making, healthcare optimisation, and AI-based solutions for the agriculture sector can significantly enhance governance and public service delivery. The Chief Minister also emphasised the importance of education and skill development. He said the government aims to make Haryana's youth globally competitive. Canada's systems of applied learning, polytechnic education, and simulation-based training are internationally recognised, and partnerships in joint degree pathways, skill development programmes, experiential learning, and industry-integrated curriculum could create new opportunities for young people. Referring to agriculture and agri-tech, CM Saini said cooperation in areas such as precision farming, post-harvest management, food processing, and cold-chain infrastructure can help enhance both the productivity and income of farmers in Haryana. He said startups, innovation, and technology entrepreneurship offer another promising area for collaboration. Haryana is steadily moving towards an innovation-driven economy, and Canada's globally reputed tech startup ecosystem can complement the state's efforts. Partnerships in incubation support, research collaboration, technology transfer, and entrepreneurship programmes could open new avenues for youth and entrepreneurs from both sides, a statement by the government said. Thiruvananthapuram, March 11 : In a significant relief to Malayalam actor Shwetha Menon, the Kerala High Court on Wednesday quashed all criminal proceedings initiated against her over allegations that she acted in films and advertisements containing obscene and vulgar visuals. Justice C.S. Dias allowed Menonas plea seeking to quash the First Information Report (FIR) and the private complaint filed against her, observing that the allegations, even if accepted at face value, did not constitute any of the offences cited in the case. The FIR had been registered by the Ernakulam City Police in August 2025 following an order from the Ernakulam Chief Judicial Magistrate Court based on a complaint filed by Martin Menanchery, who alleged that the actor appeared in several films and advertisements with obscene content available online, purportedly for monetary gain. Based on the complaint, police had invoked Section 67A of the Information Technology Act and Sections 3 and 5 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956, which deal with publishing sexually explicit material and offences related to prostitution. However, the High Court held that the allegations did not satisfy the ingredients required under these provisions. It noted that the complaint did not claim that Menon had operated a brothel, procured any person for prostitution, or engaged in activities that would attract provisions of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act. Similarly, the court observed that Section 67A of the IT Act would apply only if a person publishes or transmits sexually explicit material online. In the present case, the complainant merely claimed that Menon appeared in certain visuals circulating on websites, without any allegation that she had uploaded or transmitted such content. The court also took note of the actoras argument that the films cited in the complaint were legally released and certified by the Central Board of Film Certification. Significantly, Justice Dias remarked that the complaint appeared to have been filed with an ulterior motive to tarnish Menonas reputation. Her counsel had argued that the complaint surfaced shortly before elections to the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists, where Menon later contested and was elected President. Concluding that the case was a clear misuse of the legal process, the Court exercised its inherent powers to quash the complaint, FIR, and all further proceedings against the actor. Shimla, March 11 : In a significant move to restore the proceeds of crime to the rightful claimants, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) of Shimla has successfully restituted immovable properties valued at Rs 1.69 crore to the State Bank of India (victim bank) in the bank fraud case of M/s Arvind Casting Pvt. Ltd. a Earlier, immovable properties valued at Rs 1.44 Crore had also been restituted to the Bank of India by the ED in the instant case. The ED, in a statement on Wednesday, said it has initiated an investigation based on an FIR registered at the Police Station in Haroli, Una district. a Himachal Pradesh under various Sections of the IPC, 1860, against Arvind Casting Pvt. Ltd. and others relating to the allegation of fraudulently obtaining loans from financial institutions by creating fake documents and non-payment of the said loans. a ED investigation revealed that Arvind Casting Pvt Ltd and other related accused had obtained credit facilities in 2014 through misrepresentation, based on fake or forged documents, and had diverted the said funds to related entities instead of utilising them for the sanctioned purposes, thereby resulting in wrongful loss to the financial institutions. a Earlier, the ED had provisionally attached properties to the tune of Rs 3.51 crore, and the provisional attachment orders have been confirmed by the Adjudicating Authority of the PMLA.a Moreover, the ED has also filed a prosecution complaint before the Special Judge of Dharamsala on June 15, 2020, and the court took cognizance of it on March 1, 2021. a Considering the intent of the PMLA to restore proceeds of crime to bona fide legitimate claimants and victims of money laundering, the ED submitted a no-objection before the Special Judge of Dharamsala for the release of the attached immovable properties in favour of the State Bank of India. a Based on the ED's submission, the Special Judge was pleased to pass an order on February 26, 2026, for the restitution of the attached immovable properties valued at Rs 1.69 crore to the State Bank of India. a Hence, the total value of immovable properties restituted to victim banks in the case stands at Rs 3.13 crore. a Patna, March 11 : A police officer was seriously injured during a raid to arrest a liquor mafia in the Bhadaur village under Bhadaur Police Station in Patna district of Bihar.a The injured officer has been identified as Sanjay Kumar, an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI), who fell from the roof of a house during the operation in the early hours.a According to the police, a team had reached Bhadaur village in the Barh subdivision to arrest an absconding accused involved in a liquor-related case.a The police surrounded the suspectas house and knocked on the door, but there was no response from inside.a Fearing that the accused might escape, ASI Sanjay Kumar and other policemen climbed onto the roof using a makeshift ladder-like arrangement to gain entry into the house.a While searching on the roof, ASI Sanjay Kumar slipped in the darkness and under the building's construction and fell directly to the ground from the balcony.a The sudden accident created panic among the raiding team.a Police immediately halted the search and rushed to the injured officer's aid.a The injured ASI was first taken to Barh Sub-Divisional Hospital, where doctors confirmed serious injuries to his left leg and waist.a After initial treatment and an X-ray, he was referred to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) for better medical care.a Meanwhile, the accused escaped from the spot, taking advantage of the darkness.a Despite the incident, police officials said their campaign against the liquor mafia will continue.a The Bihar Police and the anti-liquor task force are conducting continuous raids against the liquor mafia in the state.a The team from Bhadaur Police Station has launched further raids to trace and arrest the absconding accused.a The incident once again highlights the risks faced by police personnel during anti-liquor operations in Bihar, where officers often conduct raids under difficult and dangerous conditions.a The state government had imposed a ban on the sale, transportation, and consumption of liquor in Bihar since April 2016. New Delhi, March 11 : The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has proposed to tighten rules for foreign airlines operating to and from India, including mandatory digital registration, stronger legal accountability for local representatives, and putting in place a formal passenger grievance reporting system. The DGCA on Wednesday issued a draft aeronautical information circular, which seeks to strengthen the civil aviation regulatoras oversight of foreign airlines. The proposal includes a shift to a digital-first compliance system through the eGovernance of Civil Aviation (eGCA) portal, the DGCAas online platform used for licensing, approvals, and regulatory filings. Under the proposed framework, foreign airlines will have to obtain unique login credentials by uploading authenticated documents related to their incorporation and operational approvals. Portal access will be activated only after the regulator verifies the credentials and competence of the airlineas designated "local representative" in India. The draft circular proposes to make the local representative of the airline more accountable to the regulator. Under the proposed rules, the representative must either be an Indian national or a registered Indian entity and will be responsible for ensuring regulatory compliance on behalf of the airline. The proposal requires the representative to report any aviation incident to the DGCA within four hours, maintain updated information on the eGCA portal at all times, and ensure that any change in representation is completed within prescribed deadlines. For the first time, the proposed framework would make the airline itself legally liable for any lapses committed by its local representative. The airline shall be responsible for all acts or omissions done by the local representative in discharge of its responsibilities assigned by the airline and shall immediately replace the local representative if, at any point in time, the airline or DGCA observes frequent lapses, the draft observed. The draft also introduces the concept of "deemed suspension" of an airlineas authorisation to operate to specific airports if those approvals remain unused for an extended period. Under the proposal, if a foreign carrier does not operate flights to a particular Indian airport for four consecutive International Air Transport Association (IATA) seasons, the regulator can suspend the airport authorisation. The IATA seasons refer to the global airline industryas two scheduling periods each year a" summer and winter a" during which airlines plan flight schedules and slot usage worldwide. In addition, the draft circular outlines a new passenger grievance redress mechanism for foreign carriers operating in India. The mechanism would require airlines to maintain a formal grievance register and submit periodic reports to the DGCA to ensure greater transparency and consumer protection in handling passenger complaints. The DGCA has set an April 9 deadline for comments on the draft proposal from stakeholders, which will be taken into consideration before the new compliance framework is finalised. New Delhi, March 11 : As India rises, Prime Minister Narendra Modi must create a regional and security doctrine commensurate with India's economic infrastructure and role in the world. PM Modi - already India's third longest-serving Prime Minister - has likely contributed more to infrastructure development of India than all his predecessors together and navigated the country through several challenges, a report has highlighted. New Delhi, March 11 (IANS) As India rises, Prime Minister Narendra Modi must create a regional and security doctrine commensurate with Indiaas economic infrastructure and role in the world. PM Modi - already India's third longest-serving Prime Minister - has likely contributed more to infrastructure development of India than all his predecessors together and navigated the country through several challenges, a report has highlighted. Writing in The Sunday Guardian, Michael Rubin, Director of Policy Analysis at the Middle East Forum and a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington DC, stated that when PM Modi came to power in 2014, India was the 10th largest economy in the world and now it is the fourth largest in the world. He mentioned that India's adversaries, including China and Pakistan, will not accept its rise quietly and will try to constrain New Delhi through asymmetric ways. "These challenges suggest that, as India rises, Modi must establish a regional doctrine and security doctrine commensurate with Indiaas economic infrastructure and role in the world. In short, it is time for a Modi Doctrine akin to the US Monroe Doctrine. President James Monroe declared the United States would be the preeminent power in the Western hemisphere and that the United States would not tolerate European militaries and interference in the region," wrote Rubin. Rubin stated that a "Modi doctrine" might similarly protect the countries of the Indian Ocean region from the predatory ambitions of China. "A Modi Doctrine would not impede freedom of navigation and lawful commerce. But Chinese debt diplomacy in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Kenya and its salivation of bribing and co-opting politicians in the Maldives and Mauritius aims at neo-colonialism. China might pursue Belt-and-Road ports and port facilities in Colombo, Hambantota, Chittagong, Kyaukphyu, and Bagamoyo, but India should use all its diplomatic and economic leverage to extract the Chinese. Nor are Chinese-funded port projects the only inroads of Chinese exploitation and imperial ambition," he wrote in The Sunday Guardian. Highlighting that Chinese fishing fleets poach fishing beds, violate exclusive economic zones and pursue unsustainable practices, Rubin opined that the Indian Navy should help defend all Indian Ocean basin countries from Chinese predation. "More than 280 crore people living in countries bordering the Indian Ocean will depend on the security India can provide. Chinese ships might pass through its waters, but they should have no base or dual use military facility in the region. Regional security and small state sovereignty and independence require India to be the paramount power," he wrote. Hyderabad, March 11 : Telangana's new Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla stated on Wednesday that the state represents aspirations, innovation, and resilience. Hyderabad, March 11 (IANS) Telanganaas new Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla stated on Wednesday that the state represents aspirations, innovation, and resilience. In his first message to people of Telangana after assuming office as the Governor, he said that the determination of the people, the stateas abundant resources, and its strategic vision provide a strong foundation for inclusive development and sustainable growth. The Governor congratulated the Telangana government led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and the members of the Cabinet. He expressed confidence that by working together, the aspirations of the people can be fulfilled while upholding democratic values and the ideals of the Constitution. He affirmed that as Governor, he would remain committed to promoting unity, harmony, and inclusive development in the state. He added that he would discharge his duties with integrity, sincerity, and dedication in accordance with the Constitution of India. The Governor called upon all sections of society to work together to build a prosperous Telangana The Governor said it was a great honour to assume the responsibility with humility and a deep sense of duty. He expressed heartfelt gratitude to the President and the Prime Minister for placing their trust in him and entrusting him with this important responsibility. The Governor said serving the people of Telangana is both a privilege and a matter of pride. He described Telangana as a state known for its rich cultural heritage, strong traditions, and remarkable progress. He expressed confidence that the experience gained during his tenure as Governor of Himachal Pradesh would help him in serving the people of Telangana effectively. Earlier, Shukla took oath as the Governor at a ceremony held at Lok Bhavan. Chief Justice of Telangana High Court, Justice Aparesh Kumar administered oath of office. Shukla took the oath in Telugu, much to the surprise of all those present. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, state ministers, Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar, Legislative Council Chairman Gutha Sukhender Reddy attended the ceremony. Former Himachal Pradesh Governor Bandaru Dattatreya, state Congress chief Mahesh Kumar Goud, state BJP president Ramchander Rao, Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao, DGP B Shivadhar Reddy and other top officials were also present. With the Assembly Budget session scheduled to begin on March 16, the new Governor will address a joint sitting of both Houses on the same day. Gandhinagar, March 11 : The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has arrested 29 terrorists linked to international extremist organisations over the past three years, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi told the state Assembly on Wednesday. Addressing the House, Sanghavi said the arrests were made between 2023 and 2026 after investigators uncovered several alleged anti-national conspiracies, including an Al-Qaeda funding network, a module of the Islamic State Khorasan Province operating from Porbandar and Surat, and suspects linked to extremist activities from Sri Lanka. He said one of the accused had plotted an attack on the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and was arrested in Haryana with a live grenade. "Between 2023 and 2026, the Gujarat ATS exposed several anti-national conspiracies and arrested 29 extremists and terrorists, including those connected with Al-Qaeda networks and ISKP modules," Sanghavi told the House. Referring to a separate case, he added that in January 2026, the ATS had arrested a man influenced by the ideology of the militant organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed and foiled what he described as a targeted killing plot. Presenting the government's record on law and order, Sanghavi said the administration led by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel was following a clear policy towards crime. "The Home Department is the shield of Gujarat, while the judiciary is the sceptre of justice. Our government's mantra is clear zero tolerance for criminals and swift justice for ordinary citizens," he said. Sanghavi said Rs 14,265 crore had been allocated for the Home Department and Rs 2,702 crore for the Law and Justice Department, describing the provision as a measure to strengthen law enforcement and ensure a secure environment for citizens. He said the government was modernising the state's security framework under the 'BHARAT' vision, which focuses on six pillars, including border, coastal and cyber security, technology-driven policing, rapid emergency response and strengthening infrastructure and manpower. According to Sanghavi, advanced surveillance systems are planned along Gujarat's 512-kilometre international border with Pakistan and its 2,300-kilometre coastline. The Deputy Chief Minister also referred to welfare measures for police personnel. "For the first time in the country's history, more than 20,400 houses have been approved simultaneously for police families in Gujarat," he said. He added that the government had replaced the earlier one-bedroom housing provision for police constables and jail warders with two-bedroom residential units. The Police Housing Corporation has already handed over more than 45,000 houses to police families, while 8,104 additional homes are currently under construction at a cost of Rs 2,604 crore. On policing reforms, Sanghavi said the 'Dial 112 Jan Rakshak' emergency response project had reduced the average police response time to 11 minutes and 23 seconds. He also said the state had strengthened technology-based policing through initiatives such as the 'VISWAS' project and the introduction of modern equipment for police personnel. Speaking about crimes against children, Sanghavi said the government had prioritised swift investigation and strict punishment under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO). "Between 2022 and 2026, investigations were completed within 15 days in 286 cases and within 15 to 30 days in 1,295 cases," he said. During the same period, courts delivered convictions in 1,439 cases, including life imprisonment for 907 offenders and the death penalty in 14 cases. He also said the government planned to strengthen judicial infrastructure by establishing 18 new exclusive fast-track POCSO courts in 14 districts. New senior civil judge courts will also be opened in Meghraj, Ghoghamba, Kodinar and Abdasa to improve access to justice in remote areas. "For the first time in the country, 'Para Legal Volunteers' (PLVs) will be appointed to provide legal and emotional assistance in cases involving crimes against children," he said. Addressing the issue of drug trafficking, Sanghavi rejected allegations that children in Gujarat were falling into drug abuse. "In political criticism, attempts should not be made to defame Gujarat," he said. He further alleged, "Statements suggesting that seven-year-old children are involved in drug abuse should be made responsibly. This generation does not even know the real meaning and has heard about 'curfew' in the present government because they are not witnessing it. During the Congress rule, it was frequent." He said authorities had seized more than one lakh kilograms of narcotics valued at over Rs 14,000 crore under the NDPS Act and arrested 4,316 individuals described as drug traffickers and peddlers. Six zones of the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) have been set up to dismantle drug networks. Sanghavi also referred to action against illegal land encroachments linked to organised crime. "In this peaceful and secure state, mercy and hooliganism cannot go together. Action will certainly be taken against land mafias and anti-social elements," he warned. He said authorities had taken action against 7,902 illegal sites across six districts Devbhumi Dwarka, Kutch, Gir Somnath, Jamnagar, Junagadh and Dahod by January this year, freeing 1,807 hectares of land with an estimated market value of Rs 2,246.55 crore. According to him, the highest value of land recovered was Rs 1,355 crore in Kutch, while demolition drives were carried out at 3,010 sites in Gir Somnath. "Areas such as Chandola in Ahmedabad and Jangleshwar in Rajkot had become hubs of crime and illegal activities due to encroachments. With these valuable lands now cleared, they can be used for civic amenities and major urban development projects," he said. Referring to security along the state's borders, Sanghavi said the government remained committed to safeguarding Gujarat's 512-kilometre international boundary and its coastline. "Do not mistake our decency for weakness. If anyone casts an evil eye on Gujarat's borders, the police have the strength to deal with them firmly," he said. The state Assembly passed the total budgetary demands of Rs 16,967 crore for the Home Department and the Law and Justice Department. Guwahati/Gandhinagar, March 11 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the 22nd instalment of the 'PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme' from Assam on March 13.a Guwahati/Gandhinagar, March 11 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the 22nd instalment of the 'PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme' from Assam on March 13. Farmers across Gujarat, along with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, will participate in the address through a virtual interaction. Agriculture and spokesperson minister Jitu Vaghani said the release of the 22nd instalment will benefit more than 9.32 crore farmers nationwide, with a total distribution of over Rs 18,640 crore. "Under this instalment, approximately 49.59 lakh farmer families in Gujarat will receive more than Rs 1,028 crore, credited directly to their bank accounts," Vaghani said. A state-level programme will be organised in Gandhinagar under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Patel. The initiative will also be extended to districts, talukas, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, market yards, Farmer Producer Organisations, PM Kisan Samriddhi Kendras, and Primary Agricultural Credit Societies, with live broadcast of the Prime Minister's address. Officials and large numbers of farmers are expected to attend. Vaghani highlighted the scale of the PM Kisan scheme in Gujarat so far. "Through 21 instalments, 69.24 lakh beneficiary farmer families in the state have received more than Rs 22,069 crore directly into their bank accounts," he said. Across India, over 11 crore farmer families have received more than Rs 4,09,000 crore under the scheme. The 22nd instalment of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme continues India's largest direct benefit transfer initiative for farmers, ensuring timely financial assistance to agricultural households. Providing details on topics discussed at the cabinet meeting today, Vaghani said that ahead of the summer season, the Chief Minister reviewed the state's reservoir water levels to ensure adequate supply for drinking and irrigation. Vaghani stated that good rainfall during this year's monsoon has significantly improved water storage across the state's major reservoirs. The total water available currently stands at 6.46 lakh MCFT, accounting for over 72 per cent of capacity. "Compared to last year, this represents an increase of 4.15 per cent, ensuring sufficient water for citizens and farmers during the summer months," Vaghani added. New Delhi, March 11 : Air India and Air India Express will together operate a total of 58 scheduled and non-scheduled flights to and from West Asia on March 12, the airline said on Wednesday. Both the airlines will operate one non-scheduled round flight each tomorrow to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia from Mumbai and Kozhikode, respectively, it added. The two carriers will also operate their respective scheduled services to and from Jeddah and Muscat with a total of 10 flights to and from Jeddah, and 8 scheduled flights to and from Muscat operated by Air India Express. Additionally, Air India will operate one round-trip from Delhi and two round-trips from Mumbai to Jeddah while Air India Express will operate one round-trip each from Bengaluru and Kozhikode to Jeddah. The statement further added that Air India Express will also operate its scheduled services to Muscat, including one round-trip each from Delhi and Mumbai and two round-trips from Kozhikode. In addition to the scheduled services, Air India and Air India Express would operate a total of 40 non-scheduled flights to and from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, subject to availability of slots and other prevailing conditions at the departure stations at the time. These flights are being operated with the requisite permissions from the relevant Indian and local regulatory authorities. Moreover, all Air India flights to and from North America, Europe, Australia and other regions continue to operate per schedule, with 78 additional flights operating to and from Europe, the United States, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, between March 10-18. "Air India group is exploring every opportunity to operate other additional ad-hoc flights to and from destinations in West Asia," said the airline. Earlier, Air India group announced a phased expansion of fuel surcharge on its domestic and international routes, saying the move is "necessitated by the steep rise in jet fuel prices" arising from the geopolitical situation in the Gulf region. The new fuel surcharges are being implemented in three phases, covering travel on all flights, including those operated by Air India Express. IANS na/ SYDNEY, March 11 (Xinhua) -- A woman has been arrested after allegedly firing multiple gunshots at police during a pursuit in eastern Australia on Tuesday night. The police force in the state of New South Wales (NSW) said on Wednesday that officers in the town of Grafton, 490 km northeast of Sydney, stopped a vehicle at around 8:50 p.m. on Tuesday and located and seized a knife as well as a small amount of ammunition during a subsequent search. The driver, a 31-year-old woman with a learner's permit, was issued a future court notice and had her permit suspended. Around one hour later, police located the same woman driving the same vehicle and initiated a pursuit when she failed to stop as directed. During the pursuit, the woman allegedly fired multiple shots at police. The vehicle stopped a short time later and the woman exited and pointed a pistol at officers and herself before re-entering the car and driving from the scene. She was arrested when she stopped and again pointed the pistol at police before attempting to break into a home. The woman was taken to a nearby police station and charged with several offenses, including discharging a firearm with intent to resist arrest, using an unregistered firearm, and breaking and entering while armed with a dangerous weapon. Nobody was injured and no vehicles were damaged during the incident, police said. Kolkata, March 11 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that she will hold an emergency meeting on Thursday amid concerns over the shortage of cooking gas (LPG), particularly for commercial use. Blaming the Central government for "creating this situation", she said that she will have discussions with dealers and officials to find out how to deal with this situation and will look for alternative ways. The state government's decision can be announced on Thursday itself, she told media persons. Banerjee also said that she can take out a march in the city next Monday to protest the increase in gas prices. She said that the state government is facing financial problems, but despite this, she can come forward to help the common people in this situation. "I want to provide a subsidy... (but) it will not be of any use. Because there is no gas supply! From rural Bengal to cities, everyone is facing problems with this. I have talked about it. I called a meeting on Thursday. We need to think of some alternatives. Let's see what can be done." The Chief Minister noted that the gas supplies are not in the hands of the state government. She said that this situation has arisen due to the wrong decision of the Union Petroleum Ministry, which has increased the booking period for a gas cylinder to 25 days. The Chief Minister said that this announcement has made people even more panicked. "Why did they say that if there are not 25 days, people will not get gas? Our demand to the Petroleum Ministry is to solve the gas problem without looking at deleting in the name of SIR, without taking away the rights of the people. Pay attention to emergency services. The gas supply should not be stopped. The problems of autos, ICDS, mid-day meals, cooking gas for homes, and small restaurants should be solved. They need to think about the people first. It is in the hands of the Centre. We want the Central government to take action quickly." Amid concerns over LPG supply, auto fares have been increased on many routes in Kolkata. The prices of food in restaurants have also increased. On this, Banerjee said: "Those who have increased the prices are right. But they need to think about the people. We have to think of an alternative in the interest of the people. I will hold a meeting. We don't have money, but I can help. But even if we pay money, gas will not be available. The biggest mistake was to make that 25-day announcement. Why did they say that? That is my objection. I will consider an alternative and then announce it!'' Meanwhile, Banerjee held a separate meeting with oil companies on Wednesday afternoon. Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty was also present in the meeting. Hyderabad, March 11 : The Telangana government on Wednesday approved the formation of a third power distribution company (discom) in addition to the existing two discoms in the state. The new company is named the Telangana Rythu Power Distribution Company Limited (TGRPDCL), also referred to as Rythu Discom, and it will handle electricity supply and distribution to consumer categories supported by the government. The Energy Department on Wednesday issued orders forming the new discom, which will be responsible for electricity supply and distribution to all the agricultural connections, lift irrigation schemes, composite protected water supply scheme (CPWS)/Mission Bhagiratha, the Hyderabad Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) and municipal water connections with separate distribution transformers. IAS officer Musharraf Ali Faruqui has been appointed Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the new discom. The GO also named four directors for the new entity. The state currently has two discoms a" Northern Power Distribution Company Limited (NPDCL) and Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (SPDCL). They cover 15 and 18 districts respectively. Before his transfer, Faruqui was serving as CMD of the latter. It was in November last year that the state Cabinet had approved the formation of a new discom to restructure electricity distribution in the state. The move is aimed at addressing the financial and operational challenges of the existing utilities. The poor financial health of the discoms is attributed to free and subsidised power supply to agriculture and other sections. This is believed to have prevented them from ensuring a reliable and quality power supply across the state. In December, it was announced that nearly 30 lakh services related to government-paid agricultural electricity connections, HMWSSB and lift irrigation schemes will come under the jurisdiction of the new discom. The Energy Department has already issued orders for the transfer of 2,000 engineers/staff from the existing power utilities to the third discom. The creation of the third discom is expected to improve operational efficiency of the electricity sector and facilitate infrastructure development. This will also help in implementing power sector reforms. Kolkata, March 11 : The Supreme Court has ordered the formation of a tribunal to hear appeals of those whose names have been omitted from the voter list following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. However, Aam Janata Unnayan Party chairman Humayun Kabir on Wednesday said he is not willing to approach the tribunal. "I will never go to the tribunal," Kabir said. On Wednesday, the Aam Janata Unnayan Party organised a protest meeting and deputation programme against the SIR at Textile More in Berhampore in Murshidabad district. Humayun Kabir joined the protest and made the remarks about the tribunal. The Bharatpur MLA also explained why he is not in favour of approaching the tribunal. "Going to the tribunal means it will take three to four years to resolve the issue. Voters will have to be deprived of their voting rights during that period," he said. Humayun Kabir added that he would intensify protests if required. "If necessary, I will sit on a dharna block by block with the voters whose names are under adjudication in the final voters' list," he said. Kabir, who was suspended from the Trinamool Congress earlier, blamed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for the situation. During the protest, a lorry was used as a makeshift stage from which Kabir addressed party supporters. Several party leaders were present at the programme. They claimed that the names of about 11 lakh voters in Murshidabad district are under adjudication. Later, an eight-member delegation submitted a deputation to the district administration. Although the District Magistrate was not present, the Additional District Magistrate accepted the memorandum on his behalf. A day before the meeting, on Tuesday, the Shaktipur police station issued a notice to Kabir and his wife asking them to appear before the police. The notice was reportedly issued in connection with allegations that a house had been built on a drainage channel without changing the land-use status in official records. Responding to the notice, Kabir said: "I don't mind anything about this. They will do whatever they can. After twenty-two years they have woken up. I also know who is doing what, and everyone else knows. I will ring the farewell bell of the Chief Minister." -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Patna, March 11 : A shocking case of alleged negligence has surfaced in Bihar, where a dog's photograph was printed on a candidate's admit card for the fourth-grade recruitment examination at the District and Sessions Court. The incident has raised serious questions about the recruitment system and the online application process. The recruitment examination is scheduled to be held on March 15, and admit cards were recently issued to candidates. However, a candidate from Rohtas district was stunned when he downloaded his admit card. While his name, roll number and other details were correct, the photograph printed on the admit card was that of a dog instead of the candidate. The candidate, a resident of Dhawa village in Bikramganj in Rohtas district, had applied for the fourth-grade post in 2022. After waiting nearly four years for the recruitment process to move forward, he now faces uncertainty due to the unusual error. Instead of preparing for the examination, the candidate has been running from office to office seeking correction of the admit card. According to the candidate, his examination centre has been allotted in Saharsa district. He said he had correctly uploaded his photograph during the application process and has proof of it. He expressed concern that the mistake could create problems for him at the examination centre. Speaking about the issue, the candidate said: "Vacancies for the post of peon in the District and Sessions Court were announced four years ago in 2022. After waiting so long, when the admit card was released, a dog's picture appeared instead of mine. This has made us a laughingstock. The mistake should be corrected immediately so that I can appear in the examination without any problem." The bizarre incident has raised questions about the functioning of the recruitment board and its digital application system. The candidate has lodged a complaint with the concerned authorities and is awaiting a correction before the examination date. Many have demanded that officials resolve the issue quickly and take strict action against those responsible for the negligence. Kolkata, March 11 : The Congress may announce candidates for the forthcoming elections to 294 Assembly constituencies in West Bengal in three separate phases based on the recommendations of the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC). "In the first list, which might be announced very shortly, the names of around 100 candidates could be declared, including several party heavyweights. Our state Congress president in West Bengal, Suvankar Sarkar, has already left for New Delhi this evening to finalise the names for the first list after discussions with the All India Congress Committee," said a WBPCC insider, who refused to be named. The first list, he added, might include names such as former state Congress president in West Bengal and former five-time Lok Sabha member from the Baharampur constituency in Murshidabad district, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. The first list of 100 candidates might also include the name of former Congress Lok Sabha member and former Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Mausam Benazir Noor, who recently quit the Trinamool Congress and resigned from the Rajya Sabha before rejoining the Congress. The Congress has this time severed its electoral and seat-sharing ties with the CPI(M)-led Left Front, which had been in place since the 2016 West Bengal Assembly elections and continued through the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, and has announced that it will contest independently from all the 294 Assembly constituencies in the state. The party has also ruled out any kind of electoral understanding with the Trinamool Congress for the forthcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal. "This time, the party high command is relying more on the suggestions of the WBPCC in election-related matters, including the selection of candidates. In fact, the decision to contest independently was also taken based on suggestions from the WBPCC, which were framed after consultations with various district committees of the party in West Bengal," the WBPCC insider said. Bhubaneswar, March 11 : Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and Leader of the Opposition Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the state government, alleging that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is engaged in horse-trading ahead of the Rajya Sabha polls. Speaking to media persons, Patnaik said: "I have requested the state government to take immediate action for lakhs of Odias who are stranded in Middle East countries. But instead of concentrating on that, the BJP in Odisha is focusing on horse-trading in the forthcoming Rajya Sabha elections here in the state. As you can see, this is a shocking state of affairs in our state." The former Chief Minister made the remarks during his visit to a private hospital in Bhubaneswar to meet a senior BJD leader from his constituency, Krushna Chandra Nayak, Block Chairman of Shergad, who is currently undergoing treatment after a brutal attack allegedly carried out by some BJP cadres at the block office on Tuesday. Meanwhile, amid heightened political tensions, the opposition BJD on Wednesday issued a three-line whip asking all its MLAs to remain present in Bhubaneswar from March 13 to 16 in view of the Rajya Sabha elections. "All MLAs of the Biju Janata Dal in the Odisha Legislative Assembly are hereby informed that the voting for the Rajya Sabha Elections 2026 will be held on Monday, March 16, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the premises of the Odisha Legislative Assembly. All Biju Janata Dal MLAs are directed not to leave headquarters and to remain present in Bhubaneswar from March 13 to March 16, 2026, unfailingly," reads the order issued by BJD chief whip Pramila Mallik. She further instructed the MLAs that the order should be treated as a three-line whip, requiring strict compliance. Notably, speculation of horse-trading is rife ahead of the Rajya Sabha polls, with political circles closely watching the possibility of cross-voting and shifting allegiances. Hyderabad, March 11 : Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has alleged that Telangana Assembly Speaker took the decision on the disqualification petitions against defecting MLAs under pressure from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) accused the Congress leadership of orchestrating the entire episode. Addressing a press conference, he called Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar's decision, dismissing disqualification petitions against the remaining two MLAs, as highly undemocratic and shocking. Like in the case of eight BRS MLAs earlier, the Speaker ruled on Wednesday that there is no evidence that Danam Nagender and Kadiyam Srihari defected to the Congress party. KTR said the Speaker had virtually no independence in the matter and that the Congress party itself was directly managing the defection operations in the state. According to him, the decision represents a direct assault on democracy and the Constitution of India, and the principal architect behind this unethical move is Rahul Gandhi. "The main perpetrator and the criminal mind behind this decision is Rahul Gandhi. He is the real culprit. Without his permission and approval, the Speaker of the Telangana Legislative Assembly would never have dared to take such a shocking decision," KTR stated. He further alleged that Rahul Gandhi was encouraging such unethical political activities for the sake of massive money flows coming from the state, describing the developments as part of a politically motivated operation. KTR questioned the moral authority of Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party to speak about defections. "Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party have absolutely no moral right to lecture anyone about political defections," he said. Criticising what he described as hypocrisy in Rahul Gandhi's political stance, the BRS leader said that the Congress leader claims to be the defender of the Constitution while simultaneously encouraging defections. "On one hand, Rahul Gandhi carries the Constitution in his hand and claims to be its protector. On the other hand, his party is enabling defections and protecting defectors," he said. KTR also questioned how an MLA who had won on a BRS B-Form could contest as a Congress candidate for Parliament without resigning from the Assembly, yet still escape disqualification. "An MLA who won on one party's B-Form contests as an MP candidate on another party's B-Form without resigning. Despite such clear evidence, the Speaker refuses to disqualify him. This is nothing short of political manipulation," he said, referring to Nagender, who contested as Congress candidate from Secunderabad Lok Sabha constituency. "All the evidence is already in the public domain. The Election Commission records clearly show which B-Form the MLA used to contest the Assembly election and which B-Form he is using now to contest for Parliament. What further inquiry is needed?" he asked. KTR further criticised Rahul Gandhi for speaking about automatic disqualification in cases of defection during his speeches in Telangana and for promoting the 'Nyay Patra', while allegedly allowing the Congress government to protect defectors. "Rahul Gandhi talks about automatic disqualification if someone defects. He came to Telangana and delivered lectures on justice and democratic values. Now he must answer how such blatant defections are being protected," KTR said. He also argued that the Congress party historically had no credibility on the issue of defections, recalling that the 'Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram' political culture began during the Congress era under Indira Gandhi in Haryana, and that Congress had similarly encouraged defections in the past, including in the united Andhra Pradesh. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Mumbai, March 11 : Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday directed the administration to ensure that the construction of the new Vidhan Bhavan in Nagpur is completed by 2028. He emphasised the need for immediate action to complete the main complex -- which will house the Legislative Assembly, Legislative Council and a Central Hall -- along with independent administrative buildings within the stipulated timeframe. The directives were issued during a meeting of the Cabinet Infrastructure Committee held at the Legislature. The committee discussed land acquisition, approval processes and fund allocations for several high-impact projects, including the new Vidhan Bhavan complex and administrative building in Nagpur, the Neral-Shirur Highway designed as an alternative to the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, connectivity nodes linking the Alibaug-Virar Highway (Atal Setu), Mumbai-Goa Highway and Mumbai-Pune Expressway, and the Pune-Shirur six-lane elevated corridor. Replacing the current structure built in 1920, the new Vidhan Bhavan is being designed to meet modern legislative and administrative standards. The complex will feature Blocks A, B and C, housing the Legislative Assembly, Legislative Council, Central Hall, committee rooms and a press gallery. The four-storey main complex will span 62,924 square feet. A provision of Rs 662 crore has been made for the main complex and Rs 339 crore for the administrative building. The new Vidhan Bhavan will comprise a Legislative Assembly with a seating capacity of 400, a Legislative Council with 120 seats and a Central Hall with a capacity of 700 seats, according to a government release. The proposed Neral-Shirur Highway was also a major point of discussion during the meeting. Starting from Karjat-Neral in Raigad district, the highway will connect to Shirur on the Pune-Ahilyanagar Highway. The route is expected to significantly reduce traffic load on the existing Mumbai-Pune Expressway and provide a convenient transit corridor for vehicles coming from various parts of the state. The Chief Minister instructed officials to expedite the necessary approvals and funding for the project. Additionally, in light of rising traffic demand, the committee reviewed technical details for the Pune-Shirur project, which includes a six-lane elevated road and a four-lane at-grade (ground-level) road. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Bhubaneswar, March 11 : Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has expressed strong concern over the 'unfortunate' and 'disrespectful' treatment of President Droupadi Murmu during her recent visit to West Bengal.a In a letter addressed to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Majhi described the episode as "disturbing" and "inconsistent with constitutional values." He stated that India's democratic traditions are built on mutual respect and dignity, where differences of opinion never become differences of heart. "The manner in which the Hon'ble President, herself a respected tribal woman, was treated in West Bengal has caused deep pain to many across the country," wrote Majhi. The Chief Minister noted that the absence of basic courtesies during the President's visit, particularly at an event involving tribal community members, had caused "deep pain to many across the country." He emphasised that the incident, occurring just before International Women's Day, had hurt the sentiments of Adivasis, backward classes, and Dalits nationwide. Majhi, himself a member of the Santhal community, wrote: "This incident has not only hurt the sentiments of millions of Adivasis, backward classes and Dalits across the country, but has also cast an avoidable shadow on the image of West Bengal, a land known for its culture, civility and respect for democratic institutions." He added that the Santhal community is large, spanning many parts of India, and contributes significantly to the nation's development. CM Majhi said that, as a member of the Santhal community, he is extremely distressed by this incident. Urging Banerjee to reflect on the matter, Majhi appealed for a gesture of regret to the President and the people of India. Such an act, he said, would reaffirm the shared commitment to democratic norms and the dignity of constitutional offices. "I sincerely urge you to reflect on this matter and convey your regret to the Hon'ble President and to the people of the country. Such a gesture would help reaffirm our shared commitment to democratic norms and the dignity of constitutional offices," urged Majhi. Notably, President Murmu attended the International Santal Conference in Siliguri, West Bengal, on March 7, but the visit sparked political tension over alleged protocol breaches and her observations on how it was managed. --IANS gyan/dan -- Syndicated from IANS Bhubaneswar, March 11 : Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has expressed deep concern over reports that several Odia people are stranded in the Middle East due to the ongoing conflict and crisis in the region. Emphasising the safe return of Odia residents, the Chief Minister has directed Chief Secretary Anu Garg to closely monitor the situation and take necessary steps to facilitate their return. It may be noted that following the Chief Ministeras directive, a high-level meeting was held on March 2 under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary to review the situation arising out of the crisis in the Middle East. During the meeting, Pritish Panda, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) at the Odisha Parivar Directorate under the Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department, was appointed as the nodal officer to coordinate assistance efforts. According to official sources, the Odisha Parivar Directorate has so far received around 200 phone calls from Odia people staying in the Middle East seeking assistance. The Directorate is coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to facilitate their safe return. The MEA has also set up a special control room and issued a toll-free helpline number, 1800-118-797, to assist Indians stranded in the region. The Directorate is also in contact with office-bearers of Odia associations in cities such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain to gather real-time information about the situation of Odia residents there. Out of the 35 Odia tourists earlier stranded in Dubai, nine returned to Bhubaneswar via Kochi on March 7. The remaining 24 tourists reached Bhubaneswar on March 8 via Mumbai on a special flight operated by Air India Express. According to information shared by the MEA, around 65,000 Indian nationals have so far safely returned to India from the Middle East through special flights. Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Garg on Wednesday once again reviewed the situation concerning the stranded Odia citizens in a high-level meeting held at Lok Seva Bhavan here. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks at the ruling Justice and Development Party's parliamentary group meeting in Ankara, Turkiye, on March 11, 2026. Erdogan said Wednesday that the war triggered by attacks on Iran must be halted before it expands and sets the entire region on fire, stressing that diplomacy still offers a path to de-escalation. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua) ANKARA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday that the war triggered by attacks on Iran must be halted before it expands and sets the entire region on fire, stressing that diplomacy still offers a path to de-escalation. "This war must be stopped before it grows and throws the entire region into flames. If diplomacy is given a chance, it is entirely possible to achieve this," Erdogan said addressing his party members at the parliament. Erdogan said Turkiye is continuing diplomatic efforts. "We are patiently continuing our initiatives to return to the table and negotiations and to bring diplomacy back into play," he said. He added that Ankara is also taking precautions against attempts to fuel sectarian conflict and other destabilizing scenarios in the region. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks at the ruling Justice and Development Party's parliamentary group meeting in Ankara, Turkiye, on March 11, 2026. Erdogan said Wednesday that the war triggered by attacks on Iran must be halted before it expands and sets the entire region on fire, stressing that diplomacy still offers a path to de-escalation. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua) Education CitrinLearn Awarded Diamond at Prestigious LearnX Awards 2025 CitrinLearn, a leading provider of innovative e-learning solutions, is proud to announce that it has been honored with the Diamond Award at the LearnX Awards 2025, one of the most respected international recognitions in the learning and development industry. The LearnX Awards, often referred to as the Oscars of the Learning & Development industry, celebrate excellence, innovation, and measurable impact in corporate, education, and public sector learning initiatives. The Diamond Award recognizes outstanding achievement and leadership in creating transformative learning experiences that drive business value. We are thrilled and humbled to receive this recognition, said Vaishnavi Parkar, Founder & CEO, CitrinLearn. This award reflects our commitment to excellence, innovation, and value creation in learning solutions. Our dedicated team and collaborative partnerships have made this achievement possible. CitrinLearn has built a reputation for designing engaging, scalable, and impactful learning programs tailored for diverse industries including telecom, IT, marine, manufacturing, BFSI, pharma, education and others. With corporate training solutions for Induction / On boarding training, Safety & Compliance training, Sales training, Process/ Service training, Product/ Technical training, Soft Skills Training etc. it helps organizations address skill gaps and elevate workforce performance. About CitrinLearn (https://citrinlearn.com/) CitrinLearn is an corporate training and e-learning solutions provider committed to unlocking human potential through immersive, customizable, and technology-driven learning experiences. Serving clients worldwide, its solutions span custom content development, microlearning, gamification, mobile learning, scenario and simulation based learning. It focuses on Employee on boarding and workforce development training solutions About the LearnX Awards The LearnX Awards program is an international awards initiative recognizing excellence in learning and development. It honors organizations, teams, and individuals whose initiatives demonstrate measurable impact and innovation in performance, capability development, and business outcomes. Business Transforming Industrial Communication with Cutting-Edge 3D Animation Services Reality Premedia introduces advanced 3D industrial animation solutions to revolutionize product visualization, training, and marketing. Body: Pune Reality Premedia today announced the launch of its 3D Industrial Animation Services, designed to help manufacturers, engineering firms, and industrial innovators communicate complex ideas with clarity and impact. Leveraging state-of-the-art 3D modeling and animation techniques, these services enable businesses to: Visualize intricate machinery and processes with precision. with precision. Enhance training and safety programs through immersive, interactive simulations. through immersive, interactive simulations. Accelerate product marketing and sales by showcasing features in dynamic, engaging formats. by showcasing features in dynamic, engaging formats. Reduce costs and risks by replacing physical prototypes with digital demonstrations. Industrial sectors often struggle to explain highly technical concepts to diverse audiences, said Arunabha at Reality Premedia. Our 3D animation solutions bridge that gapturning complexity into compelling visual stories that drive understanding and decision-making. About Reality Premedia: Reality Premedia specializes in multi-channel content creation, visual communication, and digital marketing strategies. With expertise in blending technical precision and creative storytelling, the company empowers brands to achieve stronger engagement, improved conversions, and lasting impact. Media Contact: Arunabha Palit Title: Digital Marketing Manager Email : arunabha.palit@realitypremedia.com Phone : 8080600433 Technology FasterCapital Backs Softmide Techs Innovative AI-Driven Healthcare and Payment Platforms for Global Growth Market Opportunity & Problem Statement The African digital economy is undergoing rapid transformation, with the healthcare IT market projected to surge from USD 311.62 billion in 2022 to USD 1.1 trillion by 2030 at a CAGR of 19.9%. Simultaneously, Africas e-commerce user base is expected to exceed 500 million by 2025, growing at 17% annually, while the payments market is set to expand from USD 2.85 trillion in 2024 to USD 4.78 trillion by 2029. Despite this growth, fragmented payment systems, limited AI-driven healthcare information access, and underdeveloped e-commerce infrastructure remain significant challenges. Softmide Tech addresses these inefficiencies by delivering integrated, AI-powered software solutions tailored to African markets and beyond. Startup Solution & Differentiation Softmide Tech offers a suite of innovative products including an AI-enabled B2C e-commerce platform, an online health information center focusing on nutrition and mental health, and a cross-border payment system facilitating seamless bill payments and transfers across Africa and globally. Their hybrid business model combines SaaS subscriptions with transactional revenues, supported by mobile applications and reseller networks. By embedding AI features, Softmide enhances user experience and operational efficiency, setting it apart from competitors. Early traction includes growing user interest and strategic partnerships within Nigerias tech ecosystem, positioning Softmide as a future market leader in digital healthcare and payments. FasterCapital Partnership Value Through the LaunchUp program, FasterCapital provides Softmide Tech with critical resources including seed funding, technical mentorship, go-to-market strategy support, and access to a global investor network. Known for its rigorous selection process, FasterCapital partners exclusively with startups demonstrating strong innovation potential and scalable business models. This collaboration is designed to fast-track Softmides product development, market penetration, and capital raising efforts, targeting a $2 million funding round to fuel growth and regional expansion. Executive Quotes Hesham Zreik, Founder and CEO of FasterCapital, stated: Softmide Tech exemplifies the kind of visionary startup we seek to empowercombining cutting-edge AI technology with practical solutions that address pressing market gaps in Africas digital economy. Our LaunchUp program is proud to support Softmides journey toward transforming healthcare, e-commerce, and payments across the continent and beyond. Olatubosun Olamide Sebioniga, Founder and CEO of Softmide Tech Limited, commented: Our partnership with FasterCapital marks a pivotal milestone in realizing our vision to deliver innovative, AI-powered technology solutions that empower African businesses and consumers. With FasterCapitals strategic guidance and resources, we are poised to accelerate our growth, expand our market reach, and create lasting impact in the healthcare and financial services sectors. Growth Trajectory & Future Plans In the coming 12 months, Softmide Tech plans to finalize product development, expand its user base across Nigeria and neighboring countries, and scale its payment system infrastructure to support cross-border transactions. The startup aims to close a $2 million seed funding round to enhance AI capabilities, strengthen marketing efforts, and build strategic partnerships. Long-term, Softmide envisions becoming a leading technology provider that drives digital transformation across Africas healthcare, e-commerce, and payment ecosystems. Softmide is your solution to your technology needs, Whether you're a forward-thinking business seeking innovative solutions or a tech enthusiast looking for your next challenge, Softmide is where your journey begins. Let's shape the future together. Our Core Competences Software Development: Leveraging the latest technologies, our team crafts customized software solutions tailored to meet your business needs. AI (Artificial Intelligence): Harness the power of AI to gain insights, automate processes, and make informed decisions. SaaS (Software as a Service): We specialize in developing SaaS solutions that enable businesses to access powerful software applications over the internet. E-commerce Solutions: Transform your online presence with our comprehensive e-commerce solutions. Mobile App Development: Our team excels in creating feature-rich mobile applications for both iOS and Android platforms. Edutech Solutions: We provide innovative Edutech solutions to institutions, educators, and learners. Healthtech Solutions: We develop Healthtech solutions that enhance patient care and streamline workflows for healthcare providers. Our commitment is to empower businesses and organizations through cutting-edge technology solutions, catering to a diverse range of industries. This are the products we are working on to launch and we are seeking investors, individuals and organizations that are willing to support us Our focus is on delivering measurable results. We don't just create technology, we create solutions that make a real impact on your success.Join us on this exciting journey as we redefine what's possible in the world of technology. Whether you're a forward-thinking business seeking innovative solutions or a tech enthusiast looking for your next challenge, Softmide is where your journey begins. Let's shape the future together. We believe that great things happen when brilliant minds come together About Softmide Tech Limited Founded in Nigeria, Softmide Tech Limited is a software and IT solutions startup dedicated to empowering businesses through AI-enabled e-commerce platforms, healthcare information centers, and innovative payment systems. The company combines deep tech expertise with a passion for innovation to create scalable solutions tailored for Africas dynamic markets. About FasterCapital FasterCapital is a global venture builder and online incubator dedicated to co-funding and co-founding innovative startups. Established in 2014, we are now #1 venture builder in terms of number of startups that we have helped, money invested and money raised. It supports startups worldwide through various programs, including funding assistance, business development, and technical support. The LaunchUp program is designed to help early-stage startups build scalable solutions with mentorship, strategic guidance, and network support. Press Contact: Rasha Almasri Media Relations Director FasterCapital Address: Grandstand, 0612, 6th floor, Meydan Freezone, Meydan Road, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai, UAE +1 (512) 400-0256 rasha.almasri@fastercapital.com The businesses we assessed are not careless they're busy. The gaps we find are on the business side, and most of them can be fixed in days, not months. Post this THE FIVE GAPS THAT KEEP APPEARING NO INCIDENT RESPONSE PLAN 79% of businesses assessed had no written plan for what to do if they get hacked. Without one, the first hours of an attack are chaos wrong people get called, wrong decisions get made, and downtime doubles. MFA NOT FULLY DEPLOYED 68% had multi-factor authentication turned on for some systems but not all. Remote access points and cloud apps left without MFA are the most common entry point for credential attacks. NO OFFSITE BACKUPS 61% were backing up data locally only. When ransomware hits a network, it encrypts every connected drive including local backups. Without an offsite or immutable cloud backup, there is nothing to restore from. EMAIL DOMAIN NOT AUTHENTICATED 57% had incomplete or missing DMARC, DKIM, and SPF records. Without these, anyone can send email that appears to come directly from your domain targeting your clients, vendors, and staff. OUTDATED ENDPOINT PROTECTION 52% were relying on basic antivirus that does not catch fileless malware or zero-day exploits, now the most common attack methods used against small businesses. WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE IN PRACTICE In one recent assessment of a mid-sized media company operating on Azure with a distributed workforce, JubilantWeb identified three of the five gaps within 11 minutes including an unmonitored remote access point that had been active, and exposed, for over a year. The company had no idea it existed. "The businesses we assessed are not careless they're busy," said Nelson Penagos, Founder of JubilantWeb. "Most are running on Azure or Microsoft 365 and assume the cloud handles security. It handles the platform. The gaps we find are on the business side, and most of them can be fixed in days, not months." This pattern is most common in law firms, insurance agencies, and media companies where confidential client data is high-volume and there is rarely a dedicated IT person watching for problems. "A 20-attorney law firm is managing discovery documents, settlement records, and client financials on shared drives with no one monitoring access. The fix is often simpler than people expect but only if you know where to look." ABOUT THE METHODOLOGY Findings are drawn from JubilantWeb's Security Baseline Analyzer, available at jubilantweb.com/security-check. The tool evaluates businesses across five control areas mapped to NIST SP 800-171 and CIS Controls v8. Businesses assessed ranged from 10 to 250 employees across Florida, New York, New Jersey, and Colombia between Q1 2024 and Q1 2026. ABOUT JUBILANTWEB JubilantWeb has been helping B2B businesses manage IT infrastructure, cloud security, and digital marketing since 2007. Founded by Nelson Penagos and based in Orlando, Florida, the firm works with businesses across Florida, New York, and internationally. Businesses can request a complimentary Security Baseline Assessment at jubilantweb.com/security-check. Contact: Nelson Penagos | [email protected] | +1 407-641-2526 Media Contact Lori Thompson, Jubilantweb.com, 1 407-641-2526, [email protected], Jubilantweb.com SOURCE Jubilantweb.com Alta Journals California Book Club The book: White Oleander by Janet Fitch Our reviewer says: Thirteen-year-old Astrid Magnussen, the sensitive and heart-wrenching narrator of this impressive debut, is burdened with an impossible mother in Ingrid, a beautiful, gifted poet whose scattered life is governed by an enormous ego. Read more. Audacious Book Club The book: Tell Me How You Eat: Food, Power, and the Will to Live by Amber Husain Barnes & Noble Book Club The book: Lake Effect by Cynthia DAprix Sweeney Our reviewer says: Sweeneys latest arresting family drama tracks the fallout of an affair in 1970s Rochester, N.Y., across two generations. Read more. Black Men Read The book: Temple Folk by Aaliyah Bilal Our reviewer says: Bilals vivid debut collection portrays the dualities and tensions embedded in the lives of Black Muslims in the 1970s U.S. ... These singular stories offer great insight on a community underexplored in literature. Read more. Belletrist The book: The Valley of Vengeful Souls by Kim Fu Our reviewer says: A grieving woman loses her tether to reality in the alluring if uneven latest from Fu. Read more. CBSs Club Calvi The book: Whidbey by T Kira Madden Our reviewer says: The propulsive debut novel from Madden, author of the memoir Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls, explores the aftermath of child sexual abuse. Read more. Oprahs Book Club and Eclectix the Book Club The book: Kin by Tayari Jones Our reviewer says: Jones delivers a triumphant novel of two motherless girls from rural Honeysuckle, La., who follow very different paths into adulthood.... Its a tour de force. Read more. Good Housekeeping Book Club The book: Wait for Me by Amy Jo Burns Our reviewer says: Burns serves up an evocative if contrived tale of how music legends are born. Read more. Good Morning America Book Club The book: The Secret Lives of Murderers Wives by Elizabeth Arnott Our reviewer says: The ex-wives of three different serial killers band together to stop a new one in this riveting crime novel from Arnott.... Its a winner. Read more. Good Morning America YA Book Club The book: Her Hidden Fire by Cliodhna OSullivan Our reviewer says: OSullivan deftly interweaves Irish-mythology-inspired worldbuilding with dystopian fantasy trappings to deliver an intriguingly dark romance. Read more. The Ink Book Club The book: Nonviolent: A Memoir of Resistance, Agitation, and Love by James Lawson, Jr. Our reviewer says: Late civil rights leader Lawson, who died in 2024, offers an engrossing behind-the-scenes look at his work organizing nonviolent resistance in this posthumous memoir coauthored with journalist Yellin. Read more. Jewish Book Council Book Club (fiction) The book: The Anatomy of Exile by Zeeva Bukai Jewish Book Council Book Club (nonfiction) The book: Antisemitism, an American Tradition by Pamela S. Nadell Maudes Book Club The book: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir Our reviewer says: Bestseller Weir delivers a suspenseful portrait of human ingenuity and resilience in this powerful narrative of a desperate effort to save Earth.... This is a winner. Read more. Mocha Girls Read Book Club The book: Dirty Laundry by Disha Bose Our reviewer says: Influencer Ciara Dunphy, the protagonist of Boses uneven debut, lives in an unnamed village outside Dublin, Ireland, where she appears to have it all: beauty, money, a handsome husband, and many friends.... Well-crafted prose suggests Bose has enough talent to do better next time. Read more. Natalies Book Club The book: The Beginning Comes After the End by Rebecca Solnit Our reviewer says: In this ardent yet repetitive essay collection, author and activist Solnit argues that social progress, while not always immediate or linear, is still occurring. Read more. Noname Book Club The book: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou NYPL Teen Banned Book Club The book: The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen Our reviewer says: Nguyens poignant debut captures the perspectives of, and essence of the bond between, a parent and child, proving that languageand lovecan transcend words. Read more. PBS Books Readers Club The book: The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy Preoccupied Book Club The book: Soft Launch by Sarah Vacchiano Read with Jenna The book: Wait for Me by Amy Jo Burns Our reviewer says: Burns serves up an evocative if contrived tale of how music legends are born. Read more. Reeses Book Club The book: Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser Our reviewer says: Hochhausers splendid debut retells the Cinderella story from the stepmothers perspective.... Its a winner. Read more. Sapph-Lit The book: This Is the Only Kingdom by Jaquira Diaz Our reviewer says: Diazs textured debut novel (after the memoir Ordinary Girls) finds a mother and daughter struggling to live on their own terms in Puerto Rico.... Its a moving family drama. Read more. The Stacks Book Club The book: Paradise by Toni Morrison Our reviewer says: In 1950, a core group of nine old families leaves the increasingly corrupted African American community of Haven, Okla., to found in that same state a new, purer community they call Ruby.... So intense and evocative in its particulars, so wide-ranging in its arch, this is another, if imperfect, triumph for the Nobel Prize-winning author. Read more. Subtle Asian Book Club The book: A Year Without Home by V.T. Bidania Our reviewer says: This edifying novel by Bidania, narrated in evocative verse by 11-year-old Gao Sheng, traces the year during which she and her extended family of 20 lived as refugees following the end of the Vietnam War. Read more. Sunnie Reads Book Club The book: In Time With You by Kristin Dwyer Target Book Club The book: The Library of Amorlin by Kalyn Josephson TeaTime Book Club The book: Diorama by Carol Bensimon Our reviewer says: Cecilia Matzenbacher, the Los Angelesbased taxidermist who narrates this intriguing outing from Bensimon, views her trade as history, storytelling, allegory, spectacle. ... Theres much to admire in this layered work. Read more. Amazons Sarah Selects book club has been discontinued. In the new graphic novel Bronze Faces by Shobo, Shof, and Alexandre Tefenkgi, a trio of young Nigerians hatch a scheme to steal historic works of African art looted by the British and return them to their homeland. When an acclaimed traditional Nigerian artist dies, his son Timi, a young musician now living in London, is forced to sell his fathers works to a British gallery due to family debts. Timis childhood friendstwo women, Sango, now a London architect, and Gbonka, a budding Nigerian politicianattempt to buy the works and keep them in Nigeria. When their offers are refused, the trio pivotsinstead they steal the fathers works only to discover the scattered whereabouts of all the priceless Benin bronze masks looted during the colonial era. In this 8-page excerpt, Timi, along with Sango and Gbonkawho share a troubled personal relationshipplot a series of daring global heists against a rich backdrop of Nigerian art, culture and colonial oppression. Bronze Faces by Shobo, Shof, and Alexandre Tefenkgi is out now from Boom! Studios. Click Here to go to PublishersWeekly.com Deep Vellum has already found success publishing Romanian authors, including Mircea Cartarescu (Solenoid) and Magda Carneci (Fem), whose novels were longlisted for the International Booker and named a finalist for the PEN Translation Prize, respectively. At this years London Book Fair, the press is spotlighting Tatiana Tibuleacthe Moldovan-Romanian author behind The Summer My Mother Had Green Eyes (trans. Monica Cure), which Deep Vellum published in January. Now, with the Frankfurt Book Fair having named Romania its 2029 country of honor, the timing seems fortuitous. Ahead of the event for the book that was held Wednesday at Hatchards, PW spoke with Deep Vellum founder and publisher Will Evans and rights director Sarah McEachern about Tibuleacs English-language debut, and the blind spots that keep publishers from bringing the worlds best writing, no matter the language, to print. What drew you to Tibuleac's book? Sarah McEachern: When I went to Frankfurt in 2023, I spent a lot of time talking to lots of friends from all over the world, including a lot of Eastern Europeans, because a lot of our list is from there. I had asked which authors Europeans were talking about that hadn't made it yet into English, which is often the last language that books move into, and a lot of people were bringing up Tatiana. A lot of the reasons that other publishers had passed on it, are reasons that we see books in translation are often passed over, but as soon as soon as they're in front of readers, they want it and read it and relate to it. The book is from an author who is Moldovan, who writes in Romanian, who now lives in France. The characters in it are Polish immigrants who live in London. Theres this idea that what people want from translation is kind of to go on vacation, but that's not true at all. We tell people, this is a book about a young boy, discovering his mother is a real person, of like, the last moment of her life. And it's this really transitional moment of childhood into adulthood, of caring for a parent who's dying. People get that right away. They arent asking oh, well, if she speaks Romanian, how can she be from Moldova? Theyre very capable and they want these books. Youve published a range of Romanian literature. Do those books have anything in common? Will Evans: The concept of a Romanian literature is not what interests us. Is the concept of literature in its infinitude, though Romanian literature is extraordinary and has a wonderful history. What initially appealed to me about this part of the world was Russian literatureit changed my life as a kid growing up in a small town in the South. But it's not like if you read Dostoyevsky, youre doing it to travel to St. Petersburg. Translated literature is about the idea that a Romanian writer can write about any part of the world or any part of psyche with the same quality and depth as a writer from the American tradition. It's very important to us to elevate it in its uniqueness, inside of the context it comes from, and then to bring it into English outside of that context. SM: If you look at the Romanian translation on our list, those books are all really different from each other. That's always really important for us. There is no one book that it defines what Romanian literature is. There are like five, and they all are very different types of books that expand your imagination in new ways. These books are all portals into a different type of literary tradition that are constantly pushing back on your assumptions of what literature can be. All literature is political, but translation can be more overtly political than other formats. How do you think about the political dimensions of your work? WE: Translation is the act that makes communicating between any two individuals possible, and literary translation is what enables an entire culture to come into these conversations. When we publish books in translation, we're able to the way that other people process reality, the act of storytelling in all its unique forms. The empathy building that's possible through literature is so unique. SM: A lot of what Deep Vellum publishes people often see as difficult books. We like to publish difficult books, but "difficult" means something very different for every single book. Were publishing a trilingual book next year in an endangered language, Spanish, and English. That's difficult for a lot of publishers because there's sometimes not a lot of grant funding for smaller languages, or because the countries they come from have been oppressedbut it's not difficult to read and it's not difficult to find: you find more readers when you publish trilingually. But sometimes, if you start poking these things that are difficult a little bit, you realize that theyre actually constructed difficulties. This month were publishing Woodwind Harmony in the Nighttime by Reza Ghassemi, translated by Michelle Quay, which was originally published in Persian. A lot of Iranian writers don't receive advances for their books, because you can't send money into Iran and, even if they're in exile, all books published in Iran are public domain. But we found out that the first time his book was published in Persian, it was published in a diaspora Persian language bookstore in L.A., so it was actually under copyright law. It was first published 20 years ago but hadnt been brought into English because of the political reasons around the Persian languagewhich turned out to actually not apply to this book whatsoever. A lot of publishers sometimes aren't as brave as the writers out there, so we try to be as brave as the readers and writers that are already in our ecosystem. We just need to match thatthat's the job of a publisher. In a wide-ranging mainstage interview that opened this year's London Book Fair, Tom Weldon, CEO of Penguin Random House UK, spoke candidly about AI, corporate publishing, literacy rates, and more. Weldon swiftly attacked the "theft of content" by AI companies and said that use should be transparent, with consent and with compensation, but he nonetheless was confident that "human creativity will not be replaced." To emphasize his point, Weldon flashed a copy of Don't Steal This Book, published by 10,000 authors who have banded together to protest against content theft by Big Tech. "We're not anti-AI," Weldon said, "but we are looking to see how we can use it in a responsible way, to remove some of the repetitive tasks from publishing." One possible such use, he noted, would be by using AI to translate Arab books into audio; for a market of 300 million people, there are currently only 7,000 audiobooks available. He had an equally nuanced view on the National Year of Reading. On the one hand, he said he dislikes hand-wringing over the current "reading crisis," noting that it has been true for many years that 50% of the population had never bought a book in their lives. "I don't think we have a reading crisis; children's book sales have grown every year for the last 20 years," he said. "Because we all love books so much, we can get a bit preachy." However, he does view the National Year of Reading as a "fantastic opportunityit's a catalyst, not an end in itself, but we need to effect structural change." Within that, he said that "PRH has a responsibility to protect the broader ecosystem" and cited the company's successful eight-year "libraries for primaries" campaign which ultimately led to a change in government policy when Chancellor Rachel Reeves pledged to fund a library in every primary school. "That was the work of many people," Weldon said, "but it was led by PRH." In defense of so-called corporate publishing, Weldon's view is that "big isn't necessarily bad" and that PRH operates through eight autonomous U.K. divisions. Penguin founder Allen Lane, Weldon said, believed that publishers could be both missionary and mercenary"i.e., that you can make money, be profitable, but also do good in the world." PRH UK currently has a staff of 2,000 and revenue of 620 million, plus what Weldon described as "a double-digit profit" margin. In terms of sales, 80% is print, 10% e-books and 10% audio. Payments to authors across PRH Worldwide last year totaled $1 billion. MADRID, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Spain has formally withdrawn its ambassador to Israel, leaving the Spanish Embassy in Tel Aviv to be headed by a charge d'affaires, the government said Wednesday in an official state bulletin. The decision was approved during Tuesday's cabinet meeting upon a proposal by Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares. The move further downgrades diplomatic representation between the two nations. Spain-Israel relations have remained strained in recent years. Spanish Ambassador Ana Salomon was recalled to Madrid for consultations in September 2025 after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez repeatedly criticized Israel's military campaign in Gaza and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar responsively called the Spanish government "anti-Semitic." Israel has also been without a full ambassador in Madrid since May 2024, when it withdrew its envoy in protest after Spain officially recognized the State of Palestine. After the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, Sanchez has firmly voiced opposition to the escalation and refused to allow the U.S. military forces to use air bases in Spain. The war between the U.S., Israel, and Iran is beginning to reshape the strategic environment well beyond the Middle East. What began as a campaign aimed at Irans leadership and military infrastructure has already begun to affect NATO members and their installations across the wider region. Iranian retaliation has reached locations connected to Western forces and forced European governments to reassess the security of their personnel, bases, and maritime routes in the eastern Mediterranean. One of the clearest examples occurred when Iranian drones struck the British air base at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. The base is one of the United Kingdoms most important overseas military facilities and a key hub for Western operations in the Middle East. Although the damage was limited, the attack demonstrated that Iranian retaliation could extend to installations associated with NATO countries. In response, Britain announced strengthened defensive measures around its sovereign base areas on Cyprus. Greece has also dispatched a warship to help defend the island and assist in protecting the British facilities there. These steps have created a cooperative defensive posture around Cyprus among several European partners concerned about further Iranian attacks. The conflict has also brushed directly against NATO territory. A missile launched from Iran toward Turkey was intercepted by NATO air defenses. The incident marked the first time during the current war that an Iranian strike threatened the territory of a NATO member state. Although the missile was destroyed before impact, the event highlighted how easily the conflict could intersect with the alliances security commitments if escalation continues. Iranian retaliation has also affected Western military infrastructure elsewhere in the region. Reports indicate that Iranian strikes have targeted facilities connected to European forces, including an Italian installation in Iraq and Kuwait, and a French naval facility in the United Arab Emirates. These attacks demonstrate that Iran is willing to widen its response beyond Israel and the U.S. to include states viewed as supporting or facilitating the campaign against Tehran. European governments have begun strengthening their military posture in response. France has assembled a significant naval presence across the Mediterranean and nearby waters. The aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its strike group have moved through the Strait of Gibraltar while additional French naval vessels have taken positions across the eastern Mediterranean, the Red Sea, and the Arabian Sea. These deployments are precautionary measures intended to protect maritime trade routes, reinforce Western military positions, and prepare evacuation plans for civilians should the conflict widen further. Taken together, these developments show how quickly a regional war can begin to affect the broader alliance environment surrounding NATO. European forces are reinforcing bases, deploying naval assets, and increasing defensive measures even though NATO as an institution has not entered the conflict directly. The alliance now faces the reality that instability in the Middle East can intersect with its security responsibilities while Russia continues its war in Ukraine. For Canada the implications are real even though Ottawa has ruled out participation in the air campaign against Iran. Canada remains integrated with NATO and Coalition operations and planning structures. If Iranian attacks continue to affect installations used by alliance members, pressure could grow for coordinated defensive measures that involve intelligence cooperation, maritime patrols, or reinforcement of allied deployments. Canada has traditionally contributed to these types of coalition activities in the Persian Gulf and could be called upon to support them again if the security environment around NATOs southern flank deteriorates further. The broader lesson is that modern conflicts rarely remain confined to the locations where they begin. Long-range missiles, drones, and global military networks mean that wars can quickly reach beyond their original theatre. The conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the U.S. already touches multiple regions and involves infrastructure connected to many countries. NATO may not be a participant in the war, but the alliance is increasingly part of the strategic environment surrounding it. As the conflict develops, the alliance will need to balance its attention between several challenges at once. European security remains under pressure from Russia while instability across the Middle East creates new risks along NATOs southern approaches. The war now unfolding around Iran may yet become another test of the alliances ability to manage overlapping crises in a rapidly changing international security landscape. Joe Varner is deputy director of the Conference of Defence Associations in Ottawa, a senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, and a senior fellow at the Center for North American Prosperity and Security in Washington, D.C. Disney/Eric McCandless By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 03/10/2026 ADVERTISEMENT 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! ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. partners Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas will be reuniting when they co-star in Chicago on Broadway this spring.Mark, a longtime pro, has announced he's joining the cast of Chicago as Billy Flynn and will be starring alongside Whitney, his Season 34 partner, who is extending her run as Roxie Hart due to high demand.The pair will be performing in Chicago together for a limited engagement from Monday, April 6 through Sunday, May 3."This is a full-circle moment for me. One of the first shows I auditioned for after graduating musical theatre college was for the ensemble of Chicago in the West End in London," Mark, 39, wrote via Instagram on Tuesday, March 10."After many callbacks, and making it to the final call, I didn't end up booking the gig. I was 19 years old, new to the industry, learning how to pay my dues, accept rejection, and be told no. Twenty years later, I'm making my return to Broadway as Billy Flynn ."This will be Mark's third Broadway show that he's "had the pleasure to be a part of."Mark made his Broadway debut as Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys in 2016. After the musical wrapped in 2017, he returned to Broadway in 2018 and performed in Kinky Boots."Hard work, persistence, dedication to the craft, and relentlessness really do pay off," Mark continued in his Instagram post."Thank you to my musical theatre teachers for instilling this in me, and for the years of tough love.Lastly, thank you to @chicagomusical for trusting me with this role. It is truly an honor, and I can't wait to get back out there on a Broadway stage. I hope to see you at the Ambassador Theatre."Mark will be stepping into this new role after filming The Traitors' fourth season, which premiered in January 2026."After spending the last few months in the world of The Traitors, where everything is about lies, murder, and deception, stepping into Chicago feels like a pretty natural next move," Mark told People."I'm so excited to be returning to Broadway, this time as Billy Flynn , and even more excited that I get to share the stage with Whitney, who's already killing it as Roxie Hart."The three-time mirrorball trophy champion added, "I'm excited to get this partnership back together and make DWTS history."Whitney, meanwhile, made her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in Chicago on February 2.The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star was reportedly originally scheduled to exit the production on March 15, but due to "an overwhelming demand," her run has been extended.Ironically, Whitney and Mark had danced an Argentine tango to "Cell Block Tango" from Chicago on ' 34th season late last year.Whitney recalled secretly sending in audition tapes throughout the season. She was invited to audition in-person two days following her elimination.When Whitney learned she got the Chicago gig, she was with Mark at the time."[He was] a huge advocate and motivator for me to go after it and really give it my all," Whitney shared. "He was just so ecstatic and so excited me."As she rehearsed for her Broadway role, Whitney said Mark helped her with "technical things," such as how to preserve her voice and keep her body from shutting down after long days in the theater.Whitney arguably had the best technique of all the celebrities on ' 34th season, but she and Mark finished in sixth place.Whitney and Mark were ousted one episode shy of the finale, and many viewers were left wanting more."People are going to be able to see behind the scenes of my journey, which I think is really cool," Whitney told People earlier in January when discussing Season 4 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, which is set to premiere March 12, 20226 on Hulu."Not a lot of people have been able to see that," she added, "so I'm excited." Disney/Bahareh Ritter By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 03/11/2026 ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. Instagram / Jasmine Nguyen By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 03/10/2026 ADVERTISEMENT 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! Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. alum Jasmine Nguyen has announced that she's engaged and sporting "the most perfect" engagement ring.Jasmine took to Instagram on Sunday, March 8 and posted a black-and-white video in which she was basking in post-engagement bliss.The video showed Jasmine and her groom-to-be -- whom she chose not to identify by name or face -- all dressed up and hugging.Jasmine, wearing a white lace mini dress, was showing off her engagement ring while her fiance looked dapper in a tuxedo. The pair also included their dog for the dreamy photo shoot."We took some time to soak in our engagement privately with family and close friends and now excited to share with you all," Jasmine captioned her post.On Tuesday, March 10, Jasmine uploaded a video of her engagement ring, which boasts a large yellow diamond flanked by white diamonds."The dreamiest fancy yellow diamond," Jasmine gushed on Instagram.She added, "I still cannot believe this is mine. Those most perfect yellow diamond."Congratulatory messages poured into the comments of Jasmine's posts. Sydney Hightower , and Victoria Fuller were among the Bachelor Nation alums who expressed happiness and excitement for the couple.Jasmine has been very private about her relationship on social media. She rarely posts photos with her man and uses her Instagram for influencing instead.Jasmine was a 29-year-old client relations manager from Houston, TX, when she competed on Peter Weber 's season.Jasmine didn't make it far into Peter's season, which ended with Peter getting engaged to Hannah Ann Sluss Peter and Hannah split by the time his After the Final Rose special aired in March 2020 because he had lingering feelings for his runner-up, Madison Prewett Peter subsequently dated another one of his bachelorettes, Kelley Flanagan , for several years until they broke up for good in Spring 2023.Interested in more news? Follow our Bachelor Nation News Page on Facebook or join our The Bachelor Facebook Group 'There are certain sovereign AI domains where we must build capabilities using our own data, our own language models, and make our own attempts at global models.' Kindly note that this illustration generated using ChatGPT has only been posted for representational purposes. India's artificial intelligence (AI) journey must be rooted in its existing strengths rather than attempting to compete across every layer of the stack at once, Arjun Rao, general partner at Speciale Invest, tells Udisha Srivastav/ Business Standard on the sidelines of the recently-concluded India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. Key Points India must focus on existing strengths like its large developer ecosystem instead of competing across the entire global AI technology stack. Building sovereign AI capabilities using domestic data, language models, and sector-specific applications is seen as strategically important. Major gaps remain in foundational AI models, semiconductor capabilities, and long-term data centre and infrastructure development. Some Indian AI founders move to the US for deeper capital pools and enterprise markets, though fewer are relocating than before. Domestic deeptech investment is rising, with family offices and government-backed funds increasingly supporting startups and innovation. India recently hosted the first AI summit of this scale. What are the key takeaways? Until now, we had not necessarily showcased our AI ecosystem in a consolidated way. The AI wave is now three to four years old. There has been a lot of activity, and people within the ecosystem are aware of it, but there has not been a collective positioning of how strong our ecosystem is, what we are doing, and where the areas of improvement lie. In terms of takeaways, we need to focus on our areas of strength. However, there are certain sovereign AI domains where we must build capabilities using our own data, our own language models, and make our own attempts at global models. India's AI Ecosystem Takes Shape Apart from sovereign AI, what are the pressing gaps India should address immediately? There will obviously be gaps because the AI ecosystem is vast. My first view is that we should play to our strengths. We have a very large developer ecosystem. If that ecosystem transitions effectively into AI development, and we ensure this happens with speed and quality, we can benefit significantly by building a wide range of applications. One clear gap is in large foundational models. Recent announcements, for instance from Sarvam AI, show that the first step has been taken. That is important because, a year ago, people believed that ship had sailed. The second area is semiconductors and infrastructure. If we think not just 12-24 months ahead but five to 10 years, this cycle has only just begun. We need some level of self-sufficiency in data centres and AI chips. We do not need to build every chip in India. That's not unrealistic, but developing some domestic AI chip and infrastructure capability is important. Sovereign AI Push Gains Momentum Do you think Indian AI founders are moving to the US for capital, talent, or markets? It depends on what they are building and their ambitions. If they need large amounts of capital or are targeting enterprise customers in North America from Day 1, it may make sense. The Western capital pool is much deeper, maybe 100 to 1,000 times larger. The VC industry there is 60 years old, while ours is under 25 years old. However, if a company is building India-specific applications, such as defence AI, robotics for Indian manufacturing, drone technology, or sovereign chips, there is no reason to relocate. Compared with five to 10 years ago, fewer founders are leaving. Earlier, it might have been eight out of 10; today it is closer to five out of 10. Gaps in AI Chips, Infrastructure You have applied to the government's RDI fund. What are your expectations? We have applied for a Rs 1,400 crore deeptech growth fund. The RDI fund has not committed to a fixed percentage. It will evaluate and may support some portion, maybe 20 per cent, 30 per cent, or 50 per cent. It will act as a limited partner (LP), similar to any other investor. The advantage of applying is that it serves as a vote of confidence. If around 190 funds apply and a smaller number are selected, that helps when raising the remaining capital from private investors. Raising capital is never easy, for startups or funds, but government participation accelerates the process. Why Some AI Founders Move Abroad Could you tell more about your Rs 1,400 crore growth fund? With this fund, we will invest at Series A and beyond, writing $5-8 million cheques. These will be companies that have built products and achieved early traction. We expect to back about 12-15 companies and deploy the capital over three to four years. Our earlier Rs 600 crore fund, which closed in August, has made four investments so far. That fund will back around 20 companies with ticket sizes of about $1 million at the pre-seed and seed stages. Family Offices Back Deeptech Growth There is a view that family offices are showing strong interest in deeptech. Do you agree? We have had family office support from the beginning, for nine years. Family offices provide patient capital and can wait longer for returns. It's because many have built wealth through manufacturing or product businesses, so they understand hardware, engineering, and innovation. Sometimes deeptech startups can even become customers or partners of their core businesses. In our case, over 90 per cent of our capital is domestic, largely from family offices and HNIs. India ranks low on global IP indices. Is IP creation a concern? Innovation is very important, and IP is beneficial. However, a patent by itself does not create a great business. If we do more research, which initiatives like the RDI fund can catalyse, IP development will improve naturally. Research and IP are closely linked. As an ecosystem, can we do better? Yes. Given the long gestation period in deeptech, what do exits look like? Deeptech in India is less than 10 years old. Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) have been the primary exit route. In our portfolio of about 35 companies across three funds, we have seen six to eight M&A exits. IPOs are also beginning to emerge, and Ather Energy, ideaForge, and MapmyIndia are early examples of hardware and deeptech listings. Going forward, exits will come through IPOs, domestic and global M&A, and secondary transactions. Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff Between now and 2030, four new models will be designed and assembled in India, including 100 per cent electric and full-hybrid cars. Photograph: Piroschka van de Wouw/File Photo/Reuters French automaker Renault on Tuesday announced its new strategic plan, futuREady, through which the company has set an ambitious target of selling 2 million Renault-branded vehicles by 2030, with half coming from outside Europe. More importantly, India is lined up as one of the three key growth hubs outside Europe and is planned as a global production hub. Key Points Renault unveiled its futuREady strategic plan targeting annual sales of 2 million Renault-branded vehicles globally by 2030. India will serve as a major growth hub and global production base for Renault's expansion outside Europe. The company plans to launch 36 new models by 2030, including several designed and assembled in India. The Bridger Concept will become Renault's first India-developed vehicle, launching initially in the country by 2027. Renault aims to expand its global footprint through major hubs including India, South Korea, Latin America, Morocco and Turkiye. Renault's futuREady Global Strategy Based on this strategy, Renault plans 36 new models in the next five years, including 14 outside Europe, compared with just eight in the previous five years. Between now and 2030, four new models will be designed and assembled in India, including 100 per cent electric and full-hybrid cars. 36 New Renault Models Planned The Bridger Concept is the forerunner of the first vehicle to be developed in India in under two years, in line with Renault Group's new standards. Designed on the Renault Group modular platform, or RGMP Small (its new name), it will be available in combustion, hybrid or electric versions depending on the market. It will be launched initially in India by the end of 2027, with a gradual rollout to other international markets. Bridger Concept to Debut in India Present in India for 15 years, Renault said it is taking advantage of its in-depth knowledge of the market and a fully integrated local ecosystem. "In this way, India will become a global production and supply hub for the brand, serving its domestic market as well as many other countries," a statement said. India to Become Global Production Hub "The plan is based on four pillars: growth ready, tech ready, excellence ready and trust ready. "We plan to launch 36 new models between now and 2030 and substantially transform the customer experience during the lifetime of our vehicles. "We will accelerate our technological road maps for all key technologies. "We will also set highly ambitious goals for operational performance, with the widespread use of AI," said Francois Provost, chief executive officer of Renault Group. Renault Expands International Growth Hubs The group said it is stepping up the pace with a targeted approach in its growth hubs -- India, South America and South Korea -- all of which will contribute to its expansion. The company added that it is planning to sell over 2 million Renault-branded vehicles every year, with half from outside Europe. It is also planning to have 100 per cent electrified sales in Europe and 50 per cent outside Europe. "Renault now relies on robust hubs in Morocco, Turkiye, Latin America, South Korea and India, where we already have strong industrial and commercial presence. "With futuREady, our ambition is clear: to strengthen our positions in our key markets with products that are fully adapted to each region, electrified and true to Renault's DNA," said Fabrice Cambolive, chief executive officer, Renault brand. Renault sold 620,000 vehicles outside Europe in 2025 The world's leading French car brand, Renault sold 620,000 vehicles outside Europe in 2025, an increase of 11 per cent compared with 2024. Building on these results, the brand is preparing to step up its offensive in order to reap the full potential of its five international hubs in Morocco, Turkiye, Latin America, South Korea and India. The goal is to capture growth in international markets, while sharpening Renault's competitive edge in Europe. Renault said it will rely primarily on its hubs in Latin America, South Korea and India, where the brand already has strong industrial and commercial presence. Together, these markets represent a potential equivalent to that of Europe. Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff HANOI, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's export revenue from agro-forestry-fishery products could decline by billions of U.S. dollars if tensions in the Middle East persist, the Vietnam News Agency reported Wednesday, citing an official from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. According to Tran Gia Long, deputy director of the ministry's Department of Planning-Finance, if the conflict lasts for about one month, Vietnam's total export turnover of these products could be affected by around 1 billion U.S. dollars. If the conflict continues for three months, the sector's export value could fall by 3 billion to 3.5 billion U.S. dollars, with shipments to the Middle East possibly decreasing by about 500 million to 600 million U.S. dollars. Should the conflict drag on longer, exports to the Middle East could face disruptions during certain periods, while shipments to Europe and North Africa could also drop by as much as 50 percent, according to the department. In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam's exports of agro-forestry-fishery products to the Middle East were estimated at about 216 million U.S. dollars, figures from the ministry showed. Indian stock markets witnessed a sharp decline as the Sensex and Nifty tumbled due to surging crude oil prices, continuous foreign fund outflows, and selling pressure in key banking stocks, reflecting investor concerns over global economic stability. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters Key Points Sensex and Nifty indices closed nearly 2% lower due to rising crude oil prices and geopolitical tensions. Sustained foreign fund outflows (FII selling) put significant pressure on the Indian stock market. Blue-chip bank stocks experienced heavy selling, contributing to the overall market decline. Brent crude oil prices surged by 5.76% to USD 92.86 per barrel, impacting market sentiment. Asian and European markets showed mixed performance, while US markets remained flat. Stock market benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended nearly 2 per cent lower on Wednesday after a day's breather following a spike in crude oil prices amid growing tensions in West Asia. Besides, sustained foreign fund outflows and selling in blue-chip bank stocks also drove the markets lower. The 30-share BSE Sensex tumbled 1,342.27 points or 1.72 per cent to settle at 76,863.71. During the day, it dropped 1,446.72 points or 1.84 per cent to 76,759.26. The 50-share NSE Nifty tanked 394.75 points or 1.63 per cent to end at 23,866.85. From the 30-Sensex firms, Bajaj Finance, Axis Bank, Bajaj Finserv, Mahindra & Mahindra, Maruti, Trent, Bharti Airtel and Kotak Mahindra Bank were among the major laggards. Sun Pharma and NTPC were the gainers. Impact of Crude Oil Prices and Foreign Investment Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, jumped 5.76 per cent to USD 92.86 per barrel. Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth Rs 4,672.64 crore on Tuesday, according to exchange data. Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs), however, bought stocks worth Rs 6,333.26 crore. Global Market Overview In Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei 225 index jumped 1.43 per cent and South Korea's Kospi climbed 1.40 per cent. Shanghai's SSE Composite index also ended in positive territory, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index settled lower. The Novartis move is new in that it marks the first such total exit by an MNC in the Indian pharma market partial divestments have been happening for years. Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff Key Points The clearest signal came last month when Novartis decided to exit its listed arm. The deal, which could reach nearly Rs 2,000 crore if the open offer is fully subscribed. Novartis has transformed into a pure-play innovative medicines company. India is no longer just a sales market. It is a science, data, and capability hub. The message is clear: Innovation stays, legacy portfolios go. Nearly 70 per cent of Pfizers medicines sold locally are manufactured in India. Legacy brands may still generate cash, but they dont fit an innovation-led, globally scalable model. For decades, multinational pharmaceutical companies and Indian drugmakers worked in ways that supported each other: MNCs brought innovation and brands, while Indian companies built scale through generics and cost efficiency. There was an important overlap generic drugs but this is shrinking fast. And the consequences are reshaping Indias gigantic pharmaceutical market. The clearest signal came last month when Novartis decided to exit its listed arm, Novartis India Ltd (NIL), selling its entire 70.68 per cent stake to a private equity-led consortium. The deal, which could reach nearly Rs 2,000 crore if the open offer is fully subscribed, ends the Swiss drugmakers decades-old presence in Indias public markets. Novartis operates in India through NIL and Novartis Healthcare Private Ltd (NHPL). While NIL markets prescription, generic and over-the-counter medicines with a focus on transplant immunology, NHPL, a wholly owned subsidiary, includes the commercial arm of Novartis in India, the Novartis Corporate Centrein Hyderabad, and R&D teams. The pharma giants retreat wasnt sudden it was the culmination of a strategy Novartis has been executing globally for years. Innovation-first strategy Novartis has transformed into a pure-play innovative medicines company, said Amitabh Dube, country president and managing director of Novartis India. The focus, he explained, is on areas of high unmet need where advanced science can deliver meaningful improvements in patient health outcomes. As disease patterns shift towards chronic and non-communicable conditions, Novartis is doubling down on patented, high-value therapiesparticularly in cardio-renal metabolic diseases and oncology. Our focus is, therefore, bringing first-in-class or best-in-class medicines to patients, Dube said. In this strategy, India plays a key role. Nearly every molecule launched by Novartis globally is supported by our scientists working at the Novartis Corporate Center, Dube said. That centre, which has just completed 25 years, employs more than 9,000 people and is the companys largest such unit globally. India is no longer just a sales market. It is a science, data, and capability hub. In this scenario, the mass-market, the so-called branded generics business once the backbone of NIL no longer fits. The company made that clear in its statement announcing the sale, stressing that the transaction will not impact NHPL, which houses its innovation-led commercial operations, R&D teams, and clinical trials across more than 300 sites in the country. The message is clear: Innovation stays, legacy portfolios go. Pfizer, too, appears to be charting a similar course. India has moved well beyond being a high-volume market for global multinationals, said Meenakshi Nevatia, country president of Pfizer India. Today, it is a strategic pillar and an indispensable hub for shaping innovation and building manufacturing resilience. Nearly 70 per cent of Pfizers medicines sold locally are manufactured in India. Its largest sterile injectable facility outside the US is here and it is fully export-oriented. The companys global R&D centre in Chennai employs over 2,000 people, and 40 of Pfizers global clinical trials are now conducted in India, including in oncology and rare diseases. This enables Pfizer to bring advanced, first-in-class medicines like novel anticoagulants, advanced migraine therapies and vaccines to Indian patients, Nevatia said, while also feeding into its global innovation engine. Pfizer has increasingly leaned on licensing and marketing partnerships with Indian firms, retaining science and intellectual property (IP), while outsourcing commercial execution. Last December, it entered into a partnership with Cipla, which will exclusively market and distribute five Pfizer brands in India cough syrups Corex DX and Corex LS, the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug Dolonex, the proton pump inhibitor Nexium, and the oral antibiotic Dalacin C. Pfizer will continue to manufacture, source and supply these products for India. Walking away? The Novartis move is new in that it marks the first such total exit by an MNC in the Indian pharma market partial divestments have been happening for years. According to Krishnanath Munde, associate director at India Ratings and Research, the shift is structural. Indias pharma landscape is undergoing a decisive shift as MNCs, strained by price caps, patent pressures, and the cost of operating in a branded generics-driven market, scale back broad portfolios and focus on specialty therapies, he told Business Standard. When MNCs divest legacy brands, Indian companies step in, snapping them up as these brands remain trusted names with strong doctor-recall and stable cash flows. Their divestment of legacy brands has opened the door for Indian companies to move up the value chain, acquiring trusted, high-margin portfolios that deliver immediate scale and stronger therapy depth, Munde said. Sheetal Sapale, vice-president (commercial) at Pharmarack, laid out the mechanics plainly. As products go off-patent, branded generics those made by well-known companies enter the market at affordable prices. At the same time, Indian companies are also able to launch life-saving drugs for niche diseases at lower prices. The result is a win-win: MNC brands lose pricing power but retain brand equity, while Indian firms gain both by acquiring them. Licensing deals are thus on the rise Cipla now sells Novartis Galvus, Dr Reddys Laboratories sells Voveran, Emcure sells cardiac brands from Sanofi. Sanofi has narrowed its focus, exiting large parts of its pharma portfolio nutritionals went to Universal Nutriscience, and Soframycin to Encube. These are some major deals, Sapale said. There will be many smaller ones. Each deal reinforces a pattern: MNCs exit where scale and speed matter; Indian firms double down. According to Sapales analysis, the share of MNCs firms in the Indian pharma market has come down from 22 per cent in 2013 to 14 per cent in 2025. Strategy, not stress Vivek Tandon of Primus Partners rejected the idea that MNCs are under financial pressure. This change has less to do with financial strain and more to do with strategic alignment, he said. Legacy brands may still generate cash, but they dont fit an innovation-led, globally scalable model. In some cases, they increase operational complexity, dilute margins, and consume management bandwidth. Rationalising such assets allows sharper capital allocation and greater focus on high-return innovation platforms, Tandon said. Manufacturing and marketing mass-market generics, by contrast, require fast decisions, pricing flexibility, and deep local insight areas where Indian companies, with local headquarters, are structurally better placed. Despite shrinking portfolios, MNCss revenue grew faster in all but one month of 2025. Month-wise data for 2025 from Motilal Oswal and IQVIA shows multinational pharma companies posting better growth rates than their Indian peers. In January 2025, MNCs posted 10.7 per cent growth versus an 8.3 per cent growth by Indian firms. Barring February, the trend has remained largely the same throughout 2025. The main reason is that high-value, patented therapies deliver more growth per molecule than a basket of price-controlled generics. Indian companies, meanwhile, are still building their innovation engines an expensive, time-consuming process. A CEO of a Mumbai-based pharma company, speaking anonymously, traced the roots of this divergence. Indian pharma grew by making low-cost generics, while MNCs poured billions into innovative drugs and gradually deprioritised generics. Indian companies are now trying to pivot toward R&D and niche products but with limited resources, that transition will take time. The domestic market is bread-and-butter for Indian players, the CEO said. For MNCs, its just a fraction of their global revenue, and largely non-core. What the Novartis deal means The Novartis India transaction underlines that this divergence is here to stay. The buyer consortium WaveRise Investments, ChrysCapital Fund X and Two Infinity Partners will take full control. Novartis will cease to be a promoter. The company must even change its name within 120 days, erasing all references to the Novartis brand. This is a full exit from Indias mass-market pharma business. For Novartis, the listed Indian unit had become profitable but low-growth ideal for private equity, but peripheral to a research-driven multinational focused on oncology, immunology, and neuroscience. Both the MNC and the domestic pharma approaches are rational responses to very different incentives, feel industry insiders. MNCs are building fewer, deeper bets anchored in innovation, global scale, and IP protection. Indian companies are consolidating the domestic market buying brands, expanding therapy depth, and leveraging their unmatched commercial reach. To be sure, India remains central to global pharma but its not in the same way as it was decades ago. The overlap in generics is gone. The divergence is real. But while the industry watches out for the next phase of growth, the long-term health implications of this divergence remain unclear. A shifting burden of disease points to the need for Indian companies to quickly scale up investments in R&D from the current levels of 6-7 per cent of revenue, compared with global levels of 15-20 per cent. India cannot afford to play catch-up for long. The US torpedo attack on the Iranian warship IRIS Dena in international waters was a lawful act of war between belligerents, not a diplomatic or strategic embarrassment for India, asserts Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta (retd). IMAGE: The Iranian warship IRIS Dena was attacked by a torpedo from a US navy submarine on March 4, 2026. Photograph: Department of Defence/Reuters Key Points The Iranian warship IRIS Dena was sunk on March 4 in international waters during active hostilities between the US, Israel, and Iran. The vessel had attended an Indian Navy event earlier, but the conflict began later, making its return voyage unrelated to India. Under laws of armed conflict at sea, belligerent warships in international waters are legitimate military targets during wartime. India must maintain neutrality, safeguard energy interests, and use diplomacy given its Gulf ties and large diaspora in GCC countries. This was an act of war between belligerents The sinking of the IRIS Dena on March 4, 2026 approximately forty nautical miles south of the Sri Lankan port of Galle, by a torpedo attack mounted by a US navy submarine, has drawn much comment from observers. Unfortunately, many of these commentaries betray abject ignorance of the laws of armed conflict at sea or purposeful malice and in some cases, both. Not surprisingly, many such accounts originate from dubious handles and therefore weigh substantially towards mischief. IMAGE: A Sri Lanka navy patrol craft arrives at Galle harbour after completing a rescue mission involving Iranian sailors from the Iranian military ship IRIS DenaPhotograph: Sri Lanka Navy/Handout via Reuters The first contention in these reports that needs to be debunked is that the incident is a 'strategic embarrassment' for India as the Iranian warship was returning after an international event on the invitation of the Indian Navy. The event in question concluded on February 26 and all participating ships were on return passage to their home ports. The current war in the Gulf began on February 28 with US and Israel launching strikes on Iran and the latter launching retaliatory strikes across the Gulf. The Iranian ship was struck on March 4 in international waters and well outside the territorial waters of both India and Sri Lanka. This was an act of war between belligerents, period. Indian SAR effort was mounted expeditiously The second piece of misinformation about Search and Rescue (SAR) effort not being undertaken by India also needs to be trashed. The world's oceans are divided into zones that fall under the responsibility of Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres (MRCCs) of coastal nations. In this case, the incident occurred inside the zone of responsibility of MRCC, Colombo. The Indian SAR effort was mounted expeditiously in coordination with Sri Lankan maritime authorities. IMAGE: A Sri Lankan navy tug boat and naval vessels approach an Iranian vessel during a rescue operation, a day after the crew of a distressed Iranian military ship, IRIS Dena were assisted in waters south off Sri Lanka, March 5, 2026. Photograph: Sri Lanka Navy/Handout via Reuters Third, the notion that it was incorrect of the USA to target the Iranian ship 'close to' Indian waters must be seen in perspective. While war and the consequent loss of life is deplorable, once Iran launched retaliatory attacks on Arab countries in the Persian Gulf, with specific targeting of US military infrastucture, all bets between the belligerents were off. Assets of both belligerents in international waters became legitimate targets. Indian sovereign waters are limited to twelve nautical miles of territorial sea from the baselines and anything beyond that is international waters. 'Close' or 'far' are terms not used by professionals in relation to maritime responsibilities. Operational secrecy will never be compromised by any self-respecting military Fourth, and another equally absurd observation was that the USA should have taken India into confidence before executing such an operation. Nobody shares war plans with anyone. They are closely guarded secrets even within the military establishment. Operational secrecy will never be compromised by any self-respecting military. Even for the sake of argument, if we assume that the USA did take India into confidence about a possible encounter, what would India's response be? Hit? Don't hit? Any why would the USA listen? IMAGE: The Iranian military ship IRIS Lavan is docked at a port in Kochi, March 7, 2026. Photograph: Sivaram V/Reuters Fifth, there is also a view that the USA should not have targetted the Iranian ship so far away from the primary theatre of conflict. By doing so, it has 'globalised' the conflict. This is also misleading, as with full-blown hostilities, both sides will hit whatever assets they think are legitimate targets, anywhere within their reach. These will include warships and flag state merchant vessels of both sides. This does not amount to globalising the conflict. India must use its good offices to bring an early end to the conflict Surprise, flexibility and offensive action are established principles of war. Moralistic opinions aside, the US Navy used these principles effectively. Any other navy at war would have done the same if it had the reach and power. During hostilities, either belligerent should expect attacks by the other on their warships and merchant vessels deployed around the world and take appropriate measures. To maintain neutrality, India must scrupulously adhere to the laws of armed conflict with respect to its dealings with both sides. The ongoing war in the Gulf critically affects India's energy security. India also has good bilateral relations with all nations who are party to this conflict and a diaspora of over nine million in the GCC countries. India must therefore use its good offices to bring an early end to the conflict through diplomacy and dialogue. Disclaimer: These are Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta's personal views. Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff 'Nobody explained why. After that there was panic buying, there was hoarding -- and then nothing reached us.' IMAGE: A delivery man sits on an LPG cylinder in a truck at an LPG gas agency, in Lucknow. Photograph: ANI Photo The ongoing US-Israel war against Iran has slowed shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, through which India typically receives about 85 to 90 per cent of its LPG imports. India consumed 31.3 million tonnes of LPG in 2024-2025 but produced just 12.8 million tonnes domestically, importing the rest. India's ministry of petroleum and natural gas invoked emergency powers on Monday, ordering all refineries to maximise LPG production from propane and butane streams exclusively for household cooking. With 330 million active LPG connections at risk, domestic use now takes precedence over commercial sectors -- hotels, restaurants and eateries -- which are now reporting acute shortages. Key Points Bengaluru's hotels received barely 10% of their usual LPG supply on Monday; 2-3 establishments have already shut. Hotels are trimming menus, cutting hours and switching partially to induction cooktops to manage. Indian Oil gave no firm assurance; the association has escalated the matter to Union ministers and Bengaluru MPs. The price of a 14.2-kg domestic cylinder jumped Rs 60 on March 7 -- the first hike since April 2025 -- pushing Delhi prices to Rs 913. Commercial 19-kg LPG saw a second weekly increase of Rs 115. The government has set up a three-member committee of oil marketing company executives to review LPG supply requests from the hospitality sector. For P C Rao, president of the Bangalore Hotels Association, these measures remain distant assurances. "We are hoping that at least within a few days some supply will resume. But right now the situation is very bad," Mr Rao tells Prasanna D Zore/Rediff. 'We are cooking only what is necessary' What is the situation in Bengaluru right now? No improvement from yesterday (March 9). We held a meeting (on March 10)-- myself, the Tamil Nadu Hotels Association, a director of Indian Oil, and their marketing manager -- and they told us plainly that there is no provision to supply anything at the moment. They said they would inform me tomorrow (March 11). On one side they say that; on the other side the government is saying there is no major shortage. We are caught in between. We don't know what to do. We are, frankly, handicapped. Did Indian Oil officials give you any assurance at all? No confirmed assurance. Nothing. It was all 'we will see', 'we will try'. That is all we got from them. Were hotels from other states also part of this meeting? Yes, we had associations from Tamil Nadu, Chennai, Telangana and West Bengal. The situation in those places is the same -- two to three days of stock left, if not more. We all are in the same boat. How many cylinders does the hotel industry in Bengaluru consume each day? Approximately 22,000 to 25,000 cylinders per day. I must say that is not an exact figure -- it may vary -- but that is the rough estimate (According to Virendra Kamat, the secretary of the Bangalore Hotels Association this figure is a huge 100,000 cylinders per day assuming 3 cylinders are consumed every day on an average by over 30,000 hotels in just Bengaluru). 'We have no intention of shutting down, but...' When did this problem actually start? From Sunday (March 8). And what is frustrating is that just on Friday the petroleum minister (Hardeep Singh Puri) tweeted that India has 60 to 70 days of LPG stock. I have the screenshot. There was even a breakdown: India has 50 days, China has 200 days, Japan has 250 days. We are nowhere near them. Then suddenly on Sunday, supply stopped. Nobody explained why. After that there was panic buying, there was hoarding -- and then nothing reached us. How many hotels have already shut down in Bengaluru? Two or three have already closed completely. Today a few more called me to say they will not open tomorrow. Every day it is growing. The smaller hotels are the worst hit -- they do not have the capital to keep a large stock. Most of them keep one week's supply at most. They have already exhausted that. What are hotels still operating doing to manage? We are reducing the menu. Gas-heavy items -- Chinese dishes and the like -- are being taken off. We are cooking only what is necessary. Some hotels are switching to induction cookers for smaller things like coffee and tea. That is all we can do for now. We have also suggested shifting hours -- closing earlier, opening once instead of twice. But these are stopgap measures. They do not solve the problem. What happens if there is no improvement in the next day or two? If supply does not return, food and refreshments will simply not be available at hotels. We have no intention of shutting down -- but without gas it is impossible to cook. We are hoping that at least within a few days some supply will resume. But right now the situation is very bad. What is the impact on business? It is serious. People who depend on hotels for their daily meals -- students, working people, medical professionals near hospitals -- they are all affected. Our losses are mounting. And the smaller establishments especially cannot absorb this for too long. If this goes on another week, many of them will have no choice but to close. Have you taken this up with government or political representatives? We have written to Union ministers. We have raised the issue through members of Parliament from Bengaluru. We are trying every channel. But the response so far has been the same everywhere: 'We will see'. IMAGE: A queue of consumers forms outside an LPG agency in Lucknow on March 10, 2026 due to panic buying and fear of supply disruption following the Iran-US-Israel conflict. Photograph: ANI Photo '30 per cent of restaurants will not open tomorrow. And if this continues, another 30 per cent will have to shut down.' Bengaluru's restaurant industry is staring down a crisis. Commercial LPG cylinders -- the lifeline of roughly 30,000 hotels and eateries across the city -- have simply stopped arriving. No supply, no warning, no clear explanation from the oil companies. "We don't know what to do. There is no clear plan because the problem itself has no clear solution in sight," Virendra Kamat, secretary, Bangalore Hotels Association, tells Prasanna D Zore/Rediff. Key Points 'Commercial LPG cylinders have simply stopped coming. There is no partial shortage -- there is no supply at all.' 'Every establishment that closes affects not just the owner and the staff inside, but the entire supply chain connected to it.' 'The moment restaurants shut, that entire chain stops moving. The people who grow the food, transport it, supply it -- all of them get hit.' 'The moment restaurants shut, that entire chain stops moving' What is the situation in Bengaluru right now? What problems are hotels facing? There is no supply of commercial LPG cylinders. None whatsoever. As things stand, 30 per cent of restaurants will not open tomorrow. And if this continues, another 30 per cent will have to shut down. Since when has this been going on, and is it purely a supply problem? Yes, it is entirely a supply problem. Commercial LPG cylinders have simply stopped coming. There is no partial shortage -- there is no supply at all. Have you spoken to anyone from Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum, or Hindustan Petroleum? We have. But they are not able to explain what the situation is or when it will improve. They are as much in the dark as we are. How are hotels that are still open managing? And what happens to businesses and their staff? Without cylinders it is not possible to open, full stop. Every establishment that closes affects not just the owner and the staff inside, but the entire supply chain connected to it. Think about what Bengaluru city consumes every single day -- around 30 lakh (3 million) litres of milk, the same quantity of vegetables, fruits, eggs, and meat. The moment restaurants shut, that entire chain stops moving. The people who grow the food, transport it, supply it -- all of them get hit. What alternatives has the government suggested? The central government's notification makes it clear that priority is now being given to domestic cylinders over commercial ones. So the oil companies are telling us to find alternate means of cooking -- firewood, electric burners, that sort of thing. But switching to any of these requires fresh capital investment. You cannot simply swap one for the other overnight. This is not a solution; it is passing the problem back to us. 'Most of the remaining restaurants will shut down' How many cylinders does Bengaluru's hotel industry need every day? Bengaluru city alone needs around 1 lakh cylinders per day. There are roughly 30,000 hotels and restaurants in the city, and each one needs at least two to three cylinders a day on average. That figure is daily consumption -- there is no stock sitting in reserve. Have you approached elected representatives? Who have you spoken to? We have escalated this to seven or eight members of Parliament from Karnataka -- from all parties, Congress, BJP, and others. They have said they will take it up with the Union petroleum minister (Hardeep Singh Puri) and see what can be done. We are waiting. Are you hopeful the situation will improve soon? We are hoping for the best. That is all we can do right now. And if nothing changes in the next week? Then most of the remaining restaurants will shut down. We will have no choice but to go for alternate cooking methods -- firewood, electric burners, whatever is available. But honestly, we don't know what to do. There is no clear plan, because the problem itself has no clear solution in sight. Among the surrendered Maoists, six were divisional committee members carrying a reward of Rs 8 lakh each, as per officials. IMAGE: Kindly note that the image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points Information provided by the surrendered cadres helped security forces achieve significant successes, including the recovery of weapons, cash and other materials. Security forces recovered a huge stock of weapons and Rs 3.61 crore in cash from Maoist hideouts, the largest seizure in anti-Maoist operations. The surrendered Maoists belonged to the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC), responsible for numerous deadly attacks. The surrender indicates a weakening of Maoist ideology, with many cadres influenced by rehabilitation initiatives. The government aims to eliminate Naxalism by March 31, 2026, through sustained security operations and rehabilitation policies. In a remarkable success of the government's fight against Left Wing Extremism, 108 Maoists carrying a collective reward of Rs 3.95 crore surrendered in Chhattisgarh's Bastar district on Wednesday, officials said. Besides a huge stock of weapons, Rs 3.61 crore in cash and one kg of gold valued at about Rs 1.64 crore were recovered from Maoist dumps, the highest seizure of cash and valuables from a single location in the history of anti-Naxal operations in the country, Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range, Sundarraj Pattilingam told PTI. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has set a deadline of March 31, 2026, for the eradication of Naxalism from the country. Among the surrendered Maoists, six were divisional committee members carrying a reward of Rs 8 lakh each, as per officials. The cadres, belonging to the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) of Maoists, turned themselves in at Jagdalpur, the Bastar district headquarters, Pattilingam said. DKSZC formation of outlawed CPI (Maoists) orchestrated several deadly attacks in south Bastar in the past. Information provided by the surrendered cadres helped security forces achieve significant successes, including the recovery of weapons, cash and other materials from Maoist dumps, the official said. A total of 101 weapons were seized, including AK-47, INSAS and SLR rifles, light machine guns, .303 rifles and barrel grenade launchers, dealing a significant blow to the already weakened military capability of the Maoist organisation, Pattilingam said. Among those who surrendered were several key cadres, including divisional committee members Rahul Telam, Pandru Kovasi and Jhitru Oyam from the West Bastar division, Ramdhar alias Biru from the East Bastar division and Mallesh from the North Bastar division. Others included Muchaki, commander of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) battalion, and Kosa Mandavi, a divisional committee member from the Andhra-Odisha Border area of Maoists, the official said. Weakening Maoist ideology The large-scale surrender indicated that Maoist ideology was weakening and even members within the organisation were questioning its relevance, Pattilingam said. He said many cadres were influenced by the "Poona Margem - Rehabilitation to Rejuvenation" initiative and were choosing to abandon violence and return to mainstream society. Efforts are being made under the rehabilitation policies of the Centre and the Chhattisgarh government to ensure security and a dignified life for the surrendered cadres, the official said. Of the 108 surrendered cadres, six were divisional committee members, three company platoon committee commanders, 18 platoon party committee members, 23 area committee members and 56 party members, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma told reporters in Raipur. District-wise, 37 Maoists belonged from Bijapur, 30 were from Dantewada, 18 from Sukma, 16 from Bastar, four from Narayanpur and three from Kanker. The government aims to eliminate Naxalism by March 31, 2026, said Sharma, who holds charge of the state Home department. Maoists are increasingly abandoning violence due to sustained security operations and the government's rehabilitation policy, which offers them an opportunity to lead a peaceful life, he said. According to police, 2,714 Maoist cadres have returned to the mainstream in the state over the past 26 months after giving up violence. In the Bastar division alone, 2,625 Maoists surrendered between January 1, 2024 and March 9, 2026. An Afghan national was arrested in West Bengal for illegally crossing the India-Bangladesh border, prompting an investigation into how he entered the country without valid documents and raising concerns about border security. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points An Afghan national was arrested in West Bengal for illegally crossing the India-Bangladesh border. The individual, identified as Aljahi Musafar, lacked valid travel documents upon apprehension by the BSF. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding his illegal entry and potential accomplices. The arrest raises concerns about border security and illegal immigration routes. An Afghanistan national was arrested in West Bengal's Nadia district for allegedly entering India via Bangladesh without valid documents, police said on Wednesday. The man, identified as Aljahi Musafar, a resident of Nimroz province in Afghanistan, was held by the Border Security Force (BSF) when he was attempting to cross the India-Bangladesh international boundary through the Fatepur border area late on Monday, a senior officer said. "The person was spotted by our personnel during a routine night patrol near the Fatepur border. He was intercepted and detained immediately. No valid documents related to his entry into India were recovered from his possession, nor was he found carrying any Bangladeshi identification papers," a BSF official said. After preliminary questioning by the BSF, the Afghanistan national was handed over to the Hanskhali Police Station in Nadia for further investigation. The police officer said he could not produce any valid travel documents. "We are trying to ascertain how and why he entered the border area and whether anyone assisted him to cross the international boundary," the officer said. The accused was remanded to police custody by a court in Ranaghat in Nadia district on Tuesday. The police are trying to determine the route he took to reach Bangladesh before attempting to enter India, the officer added. To stabilise global energy markets amid the Iran conflict, the US has temporarily allowed India to accept Russian oil already en route, a move designed to prevent price spikes and ensure continued supply. IMAGE: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. Photograph: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters Key Points The US has granted India a temporary waiver to accept Russian oil already at sea to stabilise global energy supplies amidst the conflict with Iran. This short-term measure is designed to prevent significant financial gains for Russia and alleviate pressure on global oil prices. The US views India as a key partner and anticipates increased purchases of US oil in the future. The waiver aims to address immediate concerns about oil shortages and price increases due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. The US emphasises that this is a pragmatic, short-term action and does not represent a change in its overall policy towards Russia. The United States has 'temporarily permitted' India to 'accept' Russian oil already on ships in the sea to ensure energy supplies amid the conflict with Iran and the short-term measure will not provide significant financial benefit to Moscow, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has said. President Donald Trump, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and the whole national security team 'came to this decision because our allies in India have been good actors and have previously stopped buying sanctioned Russian oil', Leavitt told a press conference at the White House on Tuesday. "So as we work to appease this temporary gap of oil supply around the world because of the Iranians, we have temporarily permitted them (India) to accept that Russian oil. And this Russian oil was already at sea. It was already out on the water. So this short-term measure, we do not believe it will provide significant financial benefit to the Russian government at this time," she said. Leavitt was responding to a question on the US issuing a 30-day waiver to India to purchase Russian oil in the backdrop of the escalating West Asia conflict. Amid the conflict with Iran, the US said last week it was issuing a temporary 30-day waiver to allow Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil. "President Trump's energy agenda has resulted in oil and gas production reaching the highest levels ever recorded. To enable oil to keep flowing into the global market, the Treasury Department is issuing a temporary 30-day waiver to allow Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil," Bessent had said. He had said this 'deliberately short-term measure' will not provide significant financial benefit to the Russian government as it only authorises transactions involving oil already stranded at sea. "India is an essential partner of the United States and we fully anticipate that New Delhi will ramp up purchases of US oil. This stop-gap measure will alleviate pressure caused by Iran's attempt to take global energy hostage," Bessent had said. Trump had imposed 25 per cent punitive tariffs on India for buying Russian oil, with his administration asserting that New Delhi's purchases were helping fuel Russia's war machine against Ukraine. Last month, the US and India announced that they have prepared a framework for an interim agreement on trade, and Trump issued an Executive Order removing the 25 per cent tariffs on New Delhi, noting the latter's commitment to stop directly or indirectly importing energy from Moscow and purchasing American energy products. US Strategy to Ease Oil Supply Pressures Energy Secretary Chris Wright had said in a post on X last Friday that the US is 'allowing our friends in India' to take the Russian oil already on ships around southern Asia, refine it and move the stocks into the market quickly in order to ensure a flowing supply and ease pressure amid the ongoing US-Israel war against Iran. "We have implemented short term measures to help keep oil prices down. We are allowing our friends in India to take oil that is already on ships, refine it, and move those barrels into the market quickly. A practical way to get supply flowing and ease pressure," Wright had said. In an interview to ABC News Live, Wright had said long-term oil supplies are "abundant" and there are no worries regarding that but in the short term, there is a need to get oil on the market. "But as oil gets bid up a little bit because of those constraints coming out of the Strait of Hormuz, we are taking a short-term action to say all this floating Russian oil storage that is around southern Asia, it is China just backed up, China does not treat their suppliers well, so there is a bunch of floating barrels just sitting there. We have reached out to our friends in India and said, 'Buy that oil. Bring it into your refineries'. That pulls stored oil immediately into Indian refineries and releases the pressure on other refineries around the world to buy oil that they are no longer competing with the Indians for in that marketplace," Wright said. "So we have a number of measures like that that are short-term and temporary. This is no change in policy towards Russia. This is a very brief change in policy just to keep oil prices down a little bit better than we could otherwise," he added. Impact on US-Russia Relations Wright had also said that he as well as Bessent have spoken with authorities in India regarding purchasing Russian oil already floating on waterways, waiting to be unloaded at Chinese refineries, and transporting it to Indian refineries with an aim to 'tamp' down concerns over oil shortage and price increases amid the West Asia conflict. "The United States' policy towards Russia has not changed at all. India is very clear on that," Wright said in an interview to CNN on Sunday. Asked whether the Treasury Department's 30-day waiver to allow Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil amid the US-Israel war against Iran was undermining, in the short term, the Trump administration's goal of isolating Russia, Wright said, "It is not." He said India has 'displaced' all Russian oil imports and is raising its imports from the US, Venezuela and other nations. "India has been a great partner through this. But I did call up the Indians, as did Treasury Secretary Bessent, and said, 'Look, there is a whole bunch of oil that is floating to wait to unload at Chinese refineries'. "Instead of having it wait six weeks to unload there, let us just pull that oil forward, have it land in Indian refineries and tamp this fear of shortage of oil, tamp the price spikes and the concerns we see in the marketplace. It is just a pragmatic effort that has a short time span. No change in policy towards Russia," he said. A history-sheeter wanted for a 2023 attempted murder and extortion linked to organised crime has been arrested at Mumbai airport after arriving from Dubai, marking a significant breakthrough in the case. Key Points Nisar Ahmed Fazal Ahmed Sheikh, also known as Pappu Pager, was arrested at Mumbai airport in connection with a 2023 attempted murder and extortion case. The suspect had been evading arrest for over two years and was apprehended after arriving from Dubai. The case involves an organised crime syndicate, leading police to invoke the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). The attempted murder occurred in October 2023 when an assailant tried to kill Chandrakant Mallappa Kondagule. Nisar Ahmed has a criminal record with multiple cases registered against him in Mumbai. A history-sheeter was arrested on Wednesday at the Mumbai international airport in connection with a 2023 attempt to murder and extortion case involving an organised crime syndicate, a Mira-Bhayander, Vasai-Virar (MBVV) Police officer said. The accused, identified as Nisar Ahmed Fazal Ahmed Sheikh alias Pappu Pager, had been evading arrest for more than two years. He was apprehended by the Crime Branch after he landed at the airport from abroad. "The arrested accused was hiding in Dubai. After receiving specific intelligence that he was landing at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on March 11, our team moved in and took him into custody," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sandeep Doiphode told PTI. Details of the Attempted Murder On October 13, 2023, an assailant tried to kill Chandrakant Mallappa Kondagule in the Kashimira area, but the pistol jammed and the bullet did not fire. "Our subsequent investigation showed that this was the work of an organised criminal gang," Doiphode said. Police invoked stringent provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in addition to charges of attempted murder, extortion and under the Arms Act. Accused Remanded in Custody "With this latest apprehension, the total number of arrests in this case has reached four. The accused, Nisar Ahmed, has a criminal record with at least four cases registered against him at various stations, including Byculla and Wadala Truck Terminal in Mumbai," the DCP added. The accused was remanded in police custody until March 20. The tragic death of a class 9 student in Assam, found in his hostel, has triggered a police investigation into allegations of ragging at the residential school. Photograph: Sourav25EC/Wikimedia Commons Key Points A class 9 student in Assam was found dead in his school hostel, raising suspicions of suicide. Ragging is suspected as a potential cause of the student's death, prompting a police investigation. The school principal has pledged full cooperation with the investigation and emphasised the school's anti-ragging policy. The deceased's brother believes ragging led to the student taking his own life. A class 9 student of a residential school in Assam's Cachar district was found dead in his hostel, in a suspected case of suicide due to ragging, police said on Wednesday. The body of the boy, identified as Arindam Das from a village near Silchar town, was found hanging in the bathroom of the hostel of the school located in Pailapool in Lakhipur police station area this morning, an officer said. "He returned to school on March 8 after vacation. I believe he took the extreme step due to ragging," the deceased's brother, Ajay Das, said. School's Response to the Incident School principal Viswas Kumar told PTI that a thorough probe will be conducted by the school authorities besides those by the police and civil administration. "Our school has a strong anti-ragging committee. If anybody is found guilty, strong action will be taken," he added. Police have sent the body to Silchar Medical College and Hospital for post-mortem examination, and further investigation is underway. An attempt on the life of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah was foiled in Jammu, with police arresting the suspect and seizing the weapon used in the attack. Photograph: ANI/X Key Points An attempt was made on the life of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah at a marriage ceremony in Jammu. Security personnel intervened and apprehended the accused, identified as Kamal Singh, seizing the pistol used in the attempted attack. The incident occurred in Greater Kailash, Jammu, as Abdullah and Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary were leaving the event. The accused fired one shot before being disarmed and taken into custody by police; no injuries were reported. An attempt on the life of former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah while he was attending a marriage ceremony here has been thwarted, police said. "An attempt was made on the life of Farooq Abdullah when he was attending a marriage ceremony at the Royal Park in Greater Kailash, Jammu. "The security deployed with the protectee immediately swung into action, thwarted the attempt and took the accused into custody, who was later identified as Kamal Singh, son of Ajit Singh, a resident of Purani Mandi in Jammu," police said in a statement. The pistol used in the crime has also been seized from the accused's possession, the statement said. "Further investigation is underway," police said. The incident took place in the posh Greater Kailash locality when Abdullah and Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary were coming out after attending the marriage function, officials said. They said the accused was waiting outside the venue and tried to fire on Abdullah. However, two police personnel an inspector and a sub-inspector overpowered him, but he still managed to fire one shot before he was disarmed and taken into custody. No one was injured in the firing, the officials said. Abdullah and Choudhary had come to greet party leader B S Chouhan on the marriage of his son, the officials said. Chinese President Xi Jinping's Special Representative, Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council Zhang Guoqing speaks at the second Nuclear Energy Summit in Paris, France, on March 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Wu Huiwo) PARIS, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing said Tuesday that China is willing to collaborate with all parties to ensure nuclear energy better supports the development and prosperity of all nations. Zhang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when attending the second Nuclear Energy Summit in Paris as Chinese President Xi Jinping's special representative. Zhang said China has always adhered to a sensible, coordinated, and balanced nuclear security strategy proposed by President Xi and has made concrete contributions to promoting the global development of nuclear energy. China is willing to work with all parties to jointly implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative, and promote nuclear energy innovation-driven development, safety foundation building, industrial collaboration and win-win cooperation, so that nuclear energy can better benefit the development and prosperity of all countries, he said. Zhang noted that China stands ready to join hands with all parties to make new contributions in building a clean, beautiful and sustainable world and a community with a shared future for humanity. Heads of state, government leaders and senior representatives from over 30 countries, as well as heads of relevant international organizations, attended the summit and issued a joint statement titled "Safe and affordable nuclear energy for all." Chinese President Xi Jinping's Special Representative, Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council Zhang Guoqing speaks at the second Nuclear Energy Summit in Paris, France, on March 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Wu Huiwo) Chinese President Xi Jinping's Special Representative, Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council Zhang Guoqing (C) poses for a group photo with French President Emmanuel Macron (L) and International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi while attending the second Nuclear Energy Summit in Paris, France, on March 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Wu Huiwo) Bihar Police's 'Cyber Prahar 2.0' has led to the arrest of 141 individuals involved in operating mule bank accounts used for facilitating cyber fraud across the country, exposing a network of financial crime and potential bank employee collusion. IMAGE: Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com Key Points Bihar Police arrested 141 individuals in a state-wide operation targeting mule bank accounts used for cyber fraud. The 'Cyber Prahar 2.0' initiative resulted in 86 FIRs being registered across Bihar. The crackdown uncovered instances of bank employees colluding in the operation of fake accounts. Cyber criminals were found to be exploiting the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme through mule accounts and Aadhaar-enabled payment systems. Bihar Police identified over 100 fake SIM card sellers whose SIM cards are used by cyber criminals. A total of 141 people were arrested during a state-wide crackdown by Bihar Police on Wednesday, targeting mule bank account networks allegedly used to facilitate cyber frauds across the country, an official statement said. The statewide drive, carried out under 'Cyber Prahar 2.0', led to the registration of 86 FIRs across the state. A statement issued by the Cyber Crime and Security Unit of the Bihar Police said, "Action was taken against 141 individuals, including arrests and issuance of legal notices, across various districts of Bihar, and 86 FIRs have been registered for their involvement in the operation of mule bank accounts." A mule account is a bank account used by criminals to receive, transfer, or launder illicit funds. Details of the Cyber Fraud Operation In Bhojpur district, an accused who had opened fake accounts in collusion with the executive sales manager of a private bank was arrested. During the raid, five ATM cards, 14 SIM cards, and information/documents regarding 50 additional fake accounts were recovered, it said. Bhagalpur Police exposed a gang withdrawing money from beneficiaries' accounts of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme and transferring it through mule accounts. "Five cyber criminals involved in the gang were arrested. The gang was affecting beneficiaries in several districts of Bihar through Aadhaar-enabled payment systems," it said. In Motihari, 12 FIRs were registered, and action was taken against 30 individuals through arrests or legal notices. Additionally, Bhagalpur took action against 14 individuals, Aurangabad against eight and Madhubani against nine criminals, said the statement. Bank Employee Collusion Uncovered "In several cases, evidence of serious negligence or collusion by bank employees was found, following which arrests were also made. Some employees of a private bank were also arrested on Wednesday," the statement said. In the next phase of 'Cyber Prahar 2.0', more than 100 fake SIM card sellers across the state have been identified whose SIM cards are being used by cyber criminals to commit crimes across the country, it said. A criminal was arrested by Bihar Police in Patna after a brief exchange of fire, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat crime in the region. Photograph: ANI on X Key Points Bihar Police arrested a criminal in Fatuha, Patna, after a brief exchange of fire. Police recovered a country-made pistol and 1,200 live cartridges from the arrested criminal. The criminal sustained a leg injury during the encounter and is receiving treatment. The arrest followed a tip-off about criminals planning a crime in the Fatuha locality. Bihar Police on Wednesday arrested a criminal following a brief exchange of fire in Patna's Fatuha locality, officials said. The identity of the arrested person is yet to be ascertained. Police recovered a country-made pistol and 1,200 live cartridges from his possession. Details of the Arrest Patna SSP Kartikeya Sharma told reporters, "The incident took place at Fatuha in the evening. The local police station received information that some criminals were preparing to commit a crime and formed a trap. On noticing, the criminals fired at the team. Police retaliated with controlled firing and overpowered one of the criminals." He said the criminal sustained a bullet injury in his leg and is undergoing treatment at a government hospital. A BJP leader in West Bengal is in critical condition after being shot by assailants, raising concerns about political violence in the region. Photograph: ANI on X Key Points A local BJP leader, Trilokesh Dhali, was shot in the stomach in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district. The assailants, riding motorcycles, fled the scene after firing two rounds. Dhali is in serious condition and has been transferred to Kolkata for further treatment. The shooting occurred between Gangasagar bus terminus and Sridham bus terminus. A local BJP leader was seriously injured after he was shot at, in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district on Wednesday, police said. Motorcycle-borne assailants fled the area after shooting two rounds at Trilokesh Dhali's stomach in Sagar Island, a police officer said. Dhali, who was in a serious condition, received initial treatment at a local hospital and was thereafter shifted to Kolkata, he said. The incident happened at a place between Gangasagar bus terminus and Sridham bus terminus under the jurisdiction of Gangasagar coastal police station, he added. Sharing operational updates of the US military action in Iran and calling them 'tremendous strides', the White House press secretary said that B-2 bombers had been used to drop several 2,000-pound penetrator bombs on missile sites in the country. IMAGE: Rescuers work in the rubble of residential buildings after air strikes, in the Resalat neighborhood, in Tehran, in this screengrab obtained from a handout video released March 9, 2026. Photograph: Iranian Red Crescent Society/Handout via Reuters Key Points The White House said sending US ground troops to Iran has not been ruled out during Operation Epic Fury. Military operations will end once the US achieves its objectives and Iran is no longer seen as a credible threat. The US claims to have struck over 5,000 targets, destroyed 50+ Iranian naval vessels, and sharply reduced missile and drone attacks. The conflict has expanded across West Asia and disrupted oil supplies near the Strait of Hormuz, affecting global energy markets. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday said that the United States has not ruled out the option of sending troops on the ground in Iran and that military operations in the Persian Gulf nation would end once the objectives of Operation Epic Fury are achieved. She made the remarks while taking questions from the press during a media briefing. When asked about concerns raised by Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal about the possibility of boots on the ground, Leavitt told the media, "As for boots on the ground, the President has talked about this repeatedly. Wisely, he does not rule options out as Commander-in-Chief. So again, I would hesitate to confirm anything that a Democrat on Capitol Hill says right now about the President's thinking." The Hill reported earlier that Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal left a Senate Armed Services Committee briefing on the Iran war on Tuesday, telling reporters that he believes the Trump administration is on a path toward putting American troops on the ground in Iran. He said, "We seem to be on a path toward deploying American troops on the ground in Iran to accomplish some of the potential objectives." Operations in Iran will end when...: White House When asked about the end of US military operations in Iran, Leavitt said they would halt once the objectives of Operation Epic Fury are met. "When those objectives are met, the President will dictate the end of these operations when he deems that Iran no longer poses a credible threat to the United States of America," she said. She added, "Regarding the timeline of the military operation with respect to Iran, we have objectives that the Commander-in-Chief wants to see achieved. When they are achieved, it will ultimately be up to the President to end these operations." Sharing operational updates of the US military action in Iran and calling them 'tremendous strides', the White House press secretary said that B-2 bombers had been used to drop several 2,000-pound penetrator bombs on missile sites in the country. She said, "The United States military is making tremendous strides toward achieving our objectives for Operation Epic Fury. More than 5,000 enemy targets have been struck so far. Iran's ballistic missile attacks are down more than 90 per cent, and drone attacks are down by approximately 85 per cent since the start of the operation. The United States is also annihilating the Iranian regime's navy. More than 50 Iranian naval vessels, including a major drone carrier ship, have been destroyed." Leavitt added that B-2 bombers recently dropped dozens of 2,000-pound penetrator bombs on deeply buried missile sites. The remarks come amid an escalating security situation in Middle East, where the conflict has expanded beyond Iran. Iranian retaliatory strikes using missiles and drones have targeted US military bases, embassies, and energy infrastructure in neighbouring Gulf nations, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan. The conflict has also disrupted global energy supplies, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20 per cent of the world's oil supply passes. Delhi police are investigating the alleged kidnapping of a 12-year-old girl, the daughter of a Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, who went missing from outside her residential society in Rohini. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points The 12-year-old daughter of a BSF personnel allegedly kidnapped from outside her residential society in Rohini, Delhi. The girl went missing while returning home from school, prompting an immediate search by her family. Delhi Police have registered a case and initiated a probe, reviewing CCTV footage and deploying teams to find the missing child. Authorities are exploring all possible angles in the investigation to ensure the child's safe return. The 12-year-old daughter of a Border Security Force (BSF) personnel was allegedly kidnapped from outside her residential society in Delhi's Rohini on Thursday, an official said. The girl had left for school in the morning and was returning home when she allegedly went missing from outside the gate of her residential society in Rohini's Sector 28, he said. Family members said the girl was on her way home when she disappeared from outside the society gate. When she did not return, the family began searching for her in the neighbourhood but failed to trace her. Police Investigation Underway A case has been registered under relevant sections in this connection and a probe has been initiated, police said, adding that CCTV footage from nearby areas is being scanned and teams have been deployed to trace the minor. "The matter is under investigation and all possible angles are being examined. Efforts are on to locate the child at the earliest," a senior police officer said. Ayush Varshney, a key figure in the 200 million Gain Bitcoin cryptocurrency scam, has been arrested by the CBI while attempting to flee the country, marking a significant development in the investigation of this large-scale financial fraud. Photograph: Mansi Thapliyal/Reuters Key Points Ayush Varshney, co-founder of Darwin Labs, has been arrested in connection with the 200 million Gain Bitcoin cryptocurrency scam. Darwin Labs allegedly designed the digital infrastructure for the Gain Bitcoin ponzi scheme, which promised investors high returns in Bitcoin. The Gain Bitcoin scheme, launched in 2015, lured investors with promises of 10% monthly returns in Bitcoin, but later switched payouts to the less valuable MCAP cryptocurrency. The CBI is investigating the Gain Bitcoin scam under sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act. The Supreme Court handed over the investigation to the CBI due to the scam's expansive nature and international ramifications. The CBI has arrested Darwin Labs co-founder Ayush Varshney, one of the main accused in the Rs 20,000 crore Gain Bitcoin currency scam case, officials said on Wednesday. The agency had issued a Look Out Circular against Varshney. His attempt to flee the country on Monday triggered an alert, leading to his detention at the Mumbai airport, they said. Varshney was formally arrested on Tuesday. According to the CBI, Darwin Labs designed and developed the digital infrastructure which formed the operational backbone of the alleged fraudulent enterprise Gain Bitcoin. Darwin Labs' Role in the Cryptocurrency Scam During the investigation, the agency detected the alleged involvement of Darwin Labs Private Limited and its co-founders -- Varshney, Sahil Baghla and Nikunj Jain, the chief capital officer and founder at Vaomi AI -- in the design, development and deployment of a cryptocurrency token known as MCAP and its associated ERC-20 smart contract. In a statement, it said that Darwin Labs allegedly played a central role in building the technological architecture underpinning the cryptocurrency ponzi scam perpetrated through a web of platforms, including the flagship site www.gainbitcoin.com. It was allegedly masterminded by Amit Bhardwaj (now deceased) and his brother Ajay Bhardwaj, the officials said. The company developed several key components, including the Bitcoin mining pool platform GBMiners.com, a Bitcoin payment gateway, the Coin Bank Bitcoin wallet and the Gain Bitcoin website used to interface with investors. Launched in 2015, the Gain Bitcoin operation was camouflaged under the facade of Variabletech Pte. Ltd, officials said. The scheme lured the investors offering extraordinary returns of 10 per cent per month in Bitcoin over an 18-month period, urging them to purchase the digital currency from external exchanges and deposit it with GainBitcoin through "cloud mining" contracts. "The funds collected from investors were subsequently misappropriated. The case is being investigated under Sections 120B, 406 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 66 of the Information Technology Act, 2000," a CBI spokesperson said in a statement. "The model followed a multi-level marketing (MLM) structure, commonly associated with pyramid structured ponzi schemes, where payouts were dependent on bringing in new investors. In its early days, investors received payouts in Bitcoin, fuelling the illusion of a lucrative venture. However, as the influx of new capital dwindled by 2017, the charade began to crumble. "In an attempt to cover up the losses, GainBitcoin unilaterally switched payouts to their alleged in-house cryptocurrency called MCAP, which had significantly less value than Bitcoin, further misleading investors," the CBI had said in a statement after the registration of the case. The sheer scale and complexity of the scam resulted in the registration of multiple FIRs, from Jammu and Kashmir to Maharashtra and from Delhi to West Bengal. The Supreme Court had handed over the investigation into the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), due to the expansive nature of the operation and the international ramifications it entailed. The agency has launched a probe to unravel the full extent of the fraudulent activities, identify all implicated parties, and trace the misappropriated funds, including those that may have crossed borders. A Thane tribunal has awarded 38.74 lakh in compensation to a family who lost their father and son in a tragic road accident caused by a negligent truck driver in Uttar Pradesh, highlighting the importance of road safety and victim compensation. Key Points Thane MACT awards 38.74 lakh compensation to family after father and son die in a 2020 road accident. The accident occurred in Uttar Pradesh when a speeding truck hit their motorcycle. The tribunal dismissed the insurer's negligence claims due to lack of evidence. Compensation of 15.29 lakh was awarded for the father's death, considering his employment as a heavy vehicle driver. 23.45 lakh compensation was granted for the son's death, taking into account his Master's degree in Computer Application. The Thane Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) has awarded a compensation of Rs 38.74 lakh to the family of a father-son duo killed in a road accident in 2020. MACT member RV Mohite on Tuesday passed two separate orders of compensation for the death of the man and his son. The incident occurred near a petrol pump in Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, on September 6, 2020, when Jayshankar Jangiram Yadav (54) was riding a motorcycle with his 25-year-old son, Aashutosh, as a pillion rider. A speeding truck swerved into the wrong lane and dashed into their two-wheeler. Both succumbed to their injuries at a local hospital. Yadav's wife and elder son, residents of Thane in Maharashtra, approached the tribunal here seeking separate compensation for the deaths. The offending truck's owner did not appear before the tribunal and the matter was decided ex parte against him. The truck's insurer, however, contested the claim, alleging negligence on the part of the motorcycle rider, but the tribunal dismissed the arguments due to a lack of evidence. The driver of the offending vehicle could not control speed, left his lane, entered the opposite lane and gave dash to the motorcycle of the deceased. There is nothing on record to show any contributory negligence on the part of the deceased, the MACT observed. Compensation Details The tribunal awarded a compensation of Rs 15,29,000 for Yadav's death, noting his service as a heavy vehicle driver. For his son's death, the MACT granted a compensation of Rs 23,45,000. Though he was not yet employed, the tribunal considered his educational qualifications, including a Master's in Computer Application, while deciding on the amount. The tribunal ordered the truck owner and insurer to pay the total amount jointly and severally with 9 per cent interest per annum from the date of the petition. Lalu Prasad Yadav is challenging corruption charges in the land-for-jobs scam, as the Delhi High Court reviews his petition against the framing of charges in the alleged scheme. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points Lalu Prasad Yadav challenges corruption charges in the land-for-jobs scam at the Delhi High Court. The CBI is asked to hold off examining approvers in the trial court until the plea is decided. The land-for-jobs scam involves alleged exchanges of railway jobs for land during Lalu Prasad Yadav's tenure as railway minister. Lalu Prasad's lawyer argues that no corruption case can be made as he had nothing to do with recruitment. The trial court had previously framed charges against Lalu Prasad, his family, and others under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought the CBI's stand on a petition filed by former railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav challenging the framing of corruption charges against him in the alleged land-for-jobs scam case. Justice Manoj Jain issued a notice to the agency on the RJD supremo's petition, and asked it not to examine the approvers in the trial court until the plea was decided. The court listed Lalu Prasad's petition for the next hearing on March 17, along with a plea by his close aide, Bhola Yadav, challenging the trial court's decision to pardon certain accused in the case and allowing them to turn approvers. "Approvers will not be examined till we decide this. You examine others," Justice Jain told Additional Solicitor General D P Singh, appearing for the CBI. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Lalu Prasad, contended that no case of corruption was made out against the senior politician as he had "nothing to do" with recruitment as the railway minister. Details of the Land-for-Jobs Allegations The land-for-jobs case relates to Group D appointments made in the West Central Zone of the Indian Railways in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, during Lalu Prasad's tenure as the railway minister between 2004 and 2009, in return for land parcels gifted or transferred by the recruits in the names of the RJD supremo's family or associates, according to the CBI. The case was registered on May 18, 2022, against Lalu Prasad and others, including his wife, two daughters, unidentified public officials and private persons. Sibal asserted that there was no complaint by any of the candidates, and that the CBI registered the case based on "information". He added that most land transactions in question were not contemporaneous to the recruitment and "there can't be bribery in respect of a commercial transaction". The CBI's case is only that the circle rate for the land was higher than the sale price, Sibal added. The court was also informed that the appointed candidates were regularised after Lalu Prasad's tenure as the railway minister. Trial Court Proceedings On January 9, the trial court had ordered framing charges against Lalu Prasad, his family members and others. On February 16, it formally framed charges against them under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Lalu Prasad has pleaded 'not guilty'. The trial court framed charges against 41 accused persons and discharged 52 others. Out of the 103 accused named in the CBI's chargesheet, five have died. In its 346-page order, the trial court said, "The court finds, on the touchstone of grave suspicion, that there existed an overarching criminal conspiracy, mentored by Lalu Prasad Yadav, towards using public employment as a bargaining chip for receiving immovable properties through his wife Rabri Devi, daughters Misha Bharti and Hema Yadav, as well as sons Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav from willing job seekers." The order cited the CBI's chargesheet and said there was a strong indication that the close associates of Lalu Prasad, namely Bhola Yadav, R K Mahajan and P C Gupta, probably facilitated, as co-conspirators, the acquisition of these lands in lieu of jobs provided to the nominees of the former railway minister in Group D posts across various railway zones in the country. The RJD leader's petition to quash the CBI FIR is pending in the high court. Delhi Police have apprehended two members of the notorious Chhenu gang, wanted for their alleged involvement in a significant Rs 70 lakh jewellery heist in Rajasthan, seizing illegal firearms in the process. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points Delhi Police arrest two members of the Chhenu gang, wanted in connection with a Rs 70 lakh jewellery heist in Rajasthan. The arrested individuals, Rashid alias Sonu and Fahim alias Danny, were found with illegal firearms and live cartridges. Rashid was wanted in connection with a burglary case in Jaipur, Rajasthan, involving stolen gold, silver jewellery, and cash. The suspects were apprehended near a hospital while allegedly planning another crime. The Delhi Police has arrested two members of the Chhenu gang wanted in a Rs 70 lakh jewellery burglary case in Rajasthan, an official said on Wednesday. The accused have been identified as Rashid alias Sonu (35), with more than 21 criminal cases against him, and Fahim alias Danny (30). Police said both were apprehended near a hospital while scouting for a target. Two illegal firearms, five live cartridges and a car were seized from their possession. According to the police, a team had received information on March 5 that members of an interstate gang of robbers and burglars who had recently joined the Chhenu gang were planning to commit a crime in the area. "Acting on the tip-off, a team laid a trap near Guru Gobind Singh Hospital during the intervening night of March 5 and 6. A car with two occupants approached the area. The occupants attempted to flee but were overpowered by the police team after a brief scuffle," the officer said. During interrogation, the accused initially tried to mislead investigators but later disclosed that they had hidden firearms in the vehicle and were looking for a target in the area. A search of the car led to the recovery of a pistol loaded with four live cartridges from Rashid and a country-made pistol with one live cartridge from Fahim, the officer added. Police said Rashid was also wanted in a burglary case registered at Vidhayak Puri police station in Jaipur, Rajasthan, where gold and silver jewellery and cash worth around Rs 70 lakh were stolen earlier this year. A case has been registered, and further investigation is underway. Delhi Police address misinformation surrounding the Uttam Nagar murder case, confirming the apprehension of two juveniles and 14 adults while dispelling rumours of a missing suspect. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points Delhi Police refute claims of a missing juvenile in connection with the Uttam Nagar murder case. Two juveniles and 14 adults have been apprehended following a clash during Holi celebrations that resulted in the death of a 26-year-old man. Police are monitoring social media for the spread of misinformation related to the case, warning of potential prosecution. Stringent provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act have been invoked in the Uttam Nagar murder case. Authorities carried out a demolition drive targeting illegal structures linked to one of the accused in the Uttam Nagar incident. Delhi Police on Wednesday issued a clarification refuting claims and rumours that a juvenile linked to the Uttam Nagar murder case was missing. Police said that two juveniles have already been apprehended in connection with the incident. This is apart from 14 others who have been arrested for the death of a 26-year-old man in a clash that broke out between two groups of neighbours in JJ Colony during Holi celebrations. In a statement, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka) Kushal Pal Singh said the "misinformation" about a "missing report" of one the juveniles who had been apprehended on March 5 has been circulating. Police said the minor was produced before the Juvenile Justice Board following due legal procedure and was subsequently sent to an observation home. "Spreading false rumours is a criminal act and renders one liable to be prosecuted," the DCP said, adding that social media platforms were being monitored through regular patrolling to identify those attempting to circulate misleading content. According to the police, stringent provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act have been invoked in the case along with relevant sections related to murder. "So far, 16 people have been nabbed in connection with the incident, including 14 adults -- among them three women -- while two juveniles have been apprehended," read the statement. Police said the situation in the area remains under control with adequate police deployment on the ground. The case relates to the killing of 26-year-old Tarun during Holi celebrations in southwest Delhi's Uttam Nagar on March 4 during Holi celebrations. According to police, the violence started after water from a balloon thrown by a girl from Tarun's family splashed on a woman from the neighbour's family. The incident triggered tension in the locality, where an angry mob damaged vehicles and set some on fire, prompting authorities to increase security in the area. On Sunday, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) carried out a demolition drive and razed "illegal portions" of a house linked to one of the accused. The civic body officials said the action was part of a drive to "remove encroachments" built on drains. BANGKOK, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Cabinet has mandated urgent measures requiring government agencies to work from home, along with suspending overseas visits, as part of a response to an energy squeeze brought by tensions in the Middle East. The escalating Middle East situation has affected the world's crude oil supply and maritime transport system, resulting in an increase in energy prices in the international markets, according to Deputy Government Spokesperson Lalida Periswiwatana. The cabinet on Tuesday urged government functions that do not concern public service delivery to work from home, so as to reduce energy consumption and enhance resource management efficiency. It also ordered the suspension of overseas field visits and training programs, with activities conducted domestically instead. Thailand's Caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has directed all government agencies and state enterprises to comply with response measures to alleviate the impacts, and closely monitor global economic and energy developments to ensure timely and appropriate adjustments, Lalida said. Delhi Police successfully rescued an eight-month-old baby and apprehended a couple involved in the kidnapping from Khajuri Khas, highlighting the swift action and dedication of the police force. Key Points Delhi Police rescued an eight-month-old boy kidnapped from Khajuri Khas. A couple has been arrested in connection with the infant's kidnapping. The infant was safely recovered from Roop Nagar in north Delhi. Police are investigating the motive behind the kidnapping and checking for prior criminal records of the accused. Delhi Police has rescued an eight-month-old boy and arrested a couple for the child's kidnapping in northeast Delhi's Khajuri Khas, officials said on Wednesday. The incident came to light on March 9 when a 45-year-old woman living under the Khajuri Khas flyover reported to the police that an unknown woman had taken away her infant son, a senior police officer said. The complainant alleged that the woman, aged about 35 years, approached her on the pretext of offering food and then fled with her child. Following a lead, police arrested a 30-year-old woman from Roop Nagar in north Delhi and rescued the infant safely from her possession, the officer said. During interrogation, the woman confessed to her involvement in the crime. Based on her disclosure, police arrested her husband, Pawan (31), for his alleged role in the kidnapping. The boy has been reunited with his mother, police said. A probe is underway to ascertain the motive behind the kidnapping, and the past criminal records, if any, of the accused couple. In Delhi, two juveniles have been apprehended for the stabbing of a 30-year-old man in Shalimar Bagh, revealing a long-standing family feud and ongoing police investigation. Key Points Two juveniles were apprehended for allegedly stabbing a 30-year-old man in Shalimar Bagh, Delhi. The stabbing incident stemmed from a long-standing enmity between the victim's family and a neighbouring family dating back to 2011. The victim, Devender, a taxi driver, was attacked while providing medicine to his mother and is currently hospitalised. Police investigation reveals the victim has a criminal record and the incident appears to be a result of old rivalry. The rival family had previously been jailed following a complaint from the victim's family regarding illegal activities. Two juveniles have been apprehended for their alleged involvement in the stabbing of a 30-year-old man over old enmity in northwest Delhi's Shalimar Bagh area, an official said on Wednesday. The incident took place in Indira Colony on Tuesday when the victim, identified as Devender, was attacked by a group of people. "No instance of stone pelting has been reported. The victim is a bad character of Shalimar Bagh police station, and prima facie the incident appears to be a case of old rivalry," police said. The victim's brother told PTI that Devender works as a taxi driver and is currently undergoing treatment at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital. He said there has been some ongoing dispute between their family and a neighbouring family, which dates back to 2011. "It all started after we complained to the police about their illegal activities. In retaliation, they attacked our brother Dharmender in 2011," he said. According to him, some members of the rival family were later sent to jail and returned after around seven years. "After coming out, they again started quarrelling with us. On Tuesday, Devender had gone to Shalimar Bagh to provide medicines to our mother when some people attacked and stabbed him," the brother said. Devender was rushed to a nearby hospital after the attack. He was later referred to a higher centre due to the seriousness of his injuries, police said. Police said further investigation into the case is underway. Delhi police have arrested two Bangladeshi nationals who illegally re-entered India after being deported, revealing potential links to human trafficking and unlawful activities in the Jahangirpuri area. Photograph: Pixabay Key Points Two Bangladeshi nationals, Dipto Kumar Pal and Ruma Begum, were arrested in Delhi for illegally re-entering India after prior deportation. The arrest followed leads from a human trafficking case, where the suspects were allegedly involved in helping individuals cross the border and arranging clients. Police surveillance of social media led to the apprehension of the individuals near Jahangirpuri Metro Station. The individuals are now facing deportation proceedings after verification by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO). Two Bangladeshi nationals deported from India earlier have been apprehended in northwest Delhi for allegedly re-entering the country illegally and resuming unlawful activities, a police officer said on Wednesday. The accused, identified as Dipto Kumar Pal (28) and Ruma Begum (27), were apprehended near Jahangirpuri Metro Station on Monday, he said. According to the police, both had been deported from Uttarakhand last year for staying in India illegally. Despite this, they managed to enter the country again and were residing in Delhi without valid travel documents. Investigation and Arrest "Their arrest followed an operation after the deportation of three Bangladeshi women on February 25 who were involved in a human trafficking and solicitation racket. During interrogation, these women told police that a Bangladeshi national named Dipto Pal had helped them cross the international border and later arranged clients for them in Delhi while collecting money from them," the officer said. The officer added that police monitored social media platforms linked to the suspects after receiving these leads. During this surveillance, officers learned that Pal and a woman claiming to be his wife would visit the Jahangirpuri Metro Station area. A police team conducted a raid and intercepted the duo near the station. Initially, the two claimed to be Indian citizens but their responses raised suspicion, following which further verification was carried out. During investigation, police established that both were Bangladeshi nationals who had re-entered India after their prior deportation. They were produced before the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) and deportation proceedings have been initiated, police said. Israel is bracing for potential attacks from Iran and Hezbollah, extending nationwide restrictions and holding high-level security meetings to address the escalating threat. IMAGE: People walk to take cover in a shelter after Iran sent a barrage of missiles towards Israel, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tel Aviv, Israel, March 10, 2026. Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters Key Points Israel extends nationwide restrictions due to potential attacks from Iran and Hezbollah. The IDF's Home Front Command prohibits educational activities but allows gatherings of up to 50 people near shelters. Prime Minister Netanyahu is scheduled to hold security cabinet meetings to address the escalating tensions. Current restrictions in Israel will remain in place until Saturday evening, pending further assessment by the Home Front Command. Nationwide restrictions in Israel are to remain in place, Israel Defence Forces Home Front commander said on Wednesday, warning citizens of "difficult days" ahead due to expected attacks from Iran and Hezbollah. The Home Front Command's guidelines currently prohibit educational activities but permit gatherings of up to 50 people, provided there is timely access to a shelter. Workplaces can also operate under the same conditions. "Difficult days and days of trial are ahead of us," Maj. Gen. Shai Klapper, Head of the IDF's Home Front Command, said. "We in the Home Front Command weigh the defensive policy every day, alongside the central consideration of safeguarding the security of Israel's citizens, alongside maintaining the national continuity and functioning of the Israeli economy and the education systems," Klapper said, adding, "Therefore, the policy remains unchanged for now". The current restrictions will remain in place until Saturday at 8 pm, when the Home Front Command will make another assessment. Upcoming Security Meetings Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will hold a meeting of the restricted cabinet on Wednesday at 9 pm with the participation of the heads of the security establishment. This will be followed by the meeting of the expanded political-security cabinet on Thursday at 8 pm. An elderly woman in Patna tragically died after allegedly being assaulted by her daughter-in-law, prompting a police investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points An elderly woman in Patna, Shabra Khatoon, allegedly died after being attacked by her daughter-in-law, Gulaksha Parveen. The alleged assault involved beating with a rolling pin and gagging the victim, leading to her death. A First Information Report (FIR) has been filed against the daughter-in-law based on the complaint of the deceased's husband. Police are conducting a post-mortem examination and will take appropriate action based on the findings. An elderly woman was allegedly beaten to death by her daughter-in-law in Patna's Phulwari Sharif locality, a police officer said on Wednesday. The incident occurred in Murgiya Tola, which falls under the Phulwari Sharif police station area of Patna district, on Monday. Talking to reporters here, Phulwari Sharif SDPO-1 Sushil Kumar said, "An elderly woman, Shabra Khatoon, was allegedly beaten up on Monday with a rolling pin by her daughter-in-law, who also reportedly gagged the deceased's mouth with clothes. The elderly woman died on Tuesday when her husband took her to Patna AIIMS for treatment." Khatoon's husband had taken her to a local clinic on Monday, from where she was discharged after primary treatment, Kumar said. She was rushed to AIIMS on Tuesday when her health started deteriorating again, the SDPO added. Kumar said that an FIR has been registered against the accused Gulaksha Parveen based on the complaint of the deceased's husband. Post-mortem examination of the body is being conducted, and appropriate action will be taken by the police, the SDPO said. An assistant engineer from Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) in Raigad has been arrested for allegedly accepting a bribe, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat corruption in India's public sector. IMAGE: Kindly note that the image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points An MSEDCL assistant engineer in Raigad was arrested for allegedly demanding a Rs 1.5 lakh bribe. The engineer demanded the bribe to issue an estimate for a 200 KV transformer installation project. The Anti-Corruption Bureau laid a trap and caught the engineer accepting the bribe at the MSEDCL office. An FIR has been registered against the accused under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Anti-Corruption Bureau has arrested an assistant engineer with the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) in Raigad for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 1.5 lakh, the ACB said on Wednesday. A person had obtained a consent letter for the installation of a 200 KV transformer for business purposes at Pali, Khalapur, in Raigad district. To issue the necessary estimate for this project, the accused, posted in Khalapur, demanded a bribe of Rs 1.7 lakh and reduced it to Rs 1.5 lakh after negotiations, ACB's Deputy Superintendent of Police Sarita IS Bhosale said. Unwilling to pay the bribe, the person approached the Raigad unit of the ACB, which laid a trap at the MSEDCL office on Monday and apprehended the accused while accepting Rs 1.5 lakh as bribe, the official said. An FIR has been registered against the accused at the Khalapur police station under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, the ACB said. The Opposition is moving to impeach CEC Gyanesh Kumar triggering a complex legal process involving Parliament and potential implications for the integrity of Indian elections. IMAGE: Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Photograph: @ECISVEEP/X Key Points Removing a CEC requires a process similar to impeaching a Supreme Court judge, involving a motion in Parliament and an investigation committee. The CEC has the right to defend himself before Parliament and can resign to retain pension benefits. The Judges (Inquiry) Act of 1968 governs the investigation process, which includes cross-examination of witnesses. If impeached, the CEC will lose pension and other benefits, unlike if he resigns. The Opposition is likely to submit a notice in both Houses of Parliament to remove Gyanesh Kumar as the chief election commissioner. This will be the first time that a notice will be submitted to remove a CEC. The Opposition has often accused him of siding with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, disenfranchising genuine voters and helping the saffron party in "vote chori" (stealing votes). According to the law, a CEC cannot be removed from his office "except in like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of the Supreme Court". The other election commissioners cannot be removed from office except on the recommendation of the CEC. Impeachment procedure explained Here is an explainer on the procedure to be adopted to remove a chief election commissioner: According to clause 11 (2) of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, "The Chief Election Commissioner shall not be removed from his office except in like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of the Supreme Court". Supreme Court and high court judges can be removed by Parliament, and the procedure is governed by the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968. Once the notice is accepted in either of the Houses, a motion could be brought in that House of Parliament. In the Rajya Sabha, at least 50 members have to sign the motion. In the Lok Sabha, 100 members have to support it. According to the Judges (Inquiry) Act of 1968, once a motion to remove a judge is admitted in any of the Houses, the speaker or the chairman, as the case may be, will constitute a three-member committee to investigate the grounds on which the removal (or, in popular terms, impeachment) has been sought. The committee consists of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) or a Supreme Court judge, the chief justice of one of the 25 high courts and a "distinguished jurist". The committee proceedings are like any court proceeding where witnesses and the accused are cross-examined. The CEC, too, will get a chance to speak before the committee. As per the rule, once the committee submits its report, it will be tabled in the House, and discussions will start to impeach. The motion to remove a judge, and in this case the CEC, will have to be passed by both Houses. When the House discusses the motion, Kumar will have the right to defend himself standing at the entrance of the House chamber. Resignation vs. impeachment: Implications for benefits Officials aware of the procedure to appoint and remove Supreme Court and high court judges pointed out that while defending his case before lawmakers in any of the Houses, the CEC can announce that he is quitting, and his verbal statement will be considered as his resignation. Should he decide to resign, he will be entitled to a pension and other benefits of a retired HC judge. But if he is removed by Parliament, he will be deprived of pension and other benefits, they noted. The FBI is now offering a substantial $1 million reward for information that leads to the arrest of Bhadreshkumar Chetanbhai Patel, an Indian national wanted in connection with the brutal 2015 murder of his wife in Maryland. Photograph: @FBIMostWanted/X Key Points The FBI is offering a reward of up to $1 million for information leading to the arrest of Bhadreshkumar Chetanbhai Patel, wanted for the 2015 murder of his wife. Bhadreshkumar Chetanbhai Patel allegedly killed his wife, Palak Patel, at a doughnut shop in Hanover, Maryland, in April 2015. Patel is considered armed and extremely dangerous and is on the FBI's 'Ten Most Wanted Fugitives' list. Investigators believe Patel may have fled to Canada or returned to India after the murder. The FBI is now offering a reward of up to USD 1 million, significantly increasing it from the previous amount of USD 250,000, for information leading to the arrest of an Indian national wanted for allegedly killing his wife in 2015. Bhadreshkumar Chetanbhai Patel, 35, was last known to be in the Newark, New Jersey, area. He is wanted for allegedly killing his wife, Palak Patel, by striking her multiple times with an object while they were both working at a doughnut shop in Hanover, Maryland on April 12, 2015. Patel is on the FBI's list of "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" and the federal agency announced on Tuesday that it is now offering a reward of up to USD 1 million for information leading to his arrest. Initially, the FBI had offered a USD 100,000 reward for information about Patel, later increasing the amount to USD 250,000. Patel has been charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, first-degree assault, second-degree assault and dangerous weapon with an intent to injure. A federal arrest warrant was issued in the United States District Court, District of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, on April 20, 2015, after Patel was charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. Details of the Crime According to a 2017 FBI press release, Patel and his wife both worked the night shift at the doughnut shop, owned by a relative of his. Investigators believe Patel killed his wife, who was 21 at the time, in a back room of the shop just before midnight on April 12, 2015. Patel allegedly stabbed his wife multiple times and fled by a rear door. After leaving the doughnut shop, Patel walked across the street to the apartment he shared with his wife, retrieved a few items and some cash, and then hailed a taxi. The cab driver took him to a hotel in New Jersey, near the Newark Liberty International Airport. He checked in about 3 am with no bags, just the clothes on his back. He checked out around 10 am and took a hotel shuttle to the Newark Penn station. That was the last anyone has seen of him, the FBI said. The press release warns that Patel should be considered "armed and extremely dangerous". Possible Motives and Escape Routes According to the FBI, investigators theorise that Palak Patel wanted to return to India -- their visas had expired the month before -- and her husband was against the idea. "The best guess is that he did not want her to leave," said Special Agent Jonathan Shaffer, who was investigating the case from the FBI's Baltimore Division. "It is possible that he thought he would be disgraced by her leaving and going back to India." Although the motive remains unclear, Shaffer had noted that after the crime, Patel's 'actions show a very cool and calculated mentality about escaping the scene and fleeing the area'. After the killing, a customer who entered the shop realised something was wrong when no one came to take his order. He alerted a police officer, who discovered Palak Patel's body. "It was horrific what had been done to this young woman," Shaffer said. Realising that Patel was an international flight risk, local police requested FBI assistance and several days after the killing, a federal arrest warrant was issued charging Patel with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. Investigators believe that Patel could be with distant relatives in the US or that he could have fled to Canada. "Or he could have travelled through Canada back to India," Shaffer said. 'Those are among the plausible options we are exploring,' according to a press release issued in 2017. The FBI is now offering a staggering $1 million reward for tips leading to the arrest of Bhadreshkumar Chetanbhai Patel, an Indian national on the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, accused of the brutal 2015 murder of his wife in Maryland. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points The FBI has increased the reward to $1 million for information leading to the arrest of Bhadreshkumar Chetanbhai Patel, wanted for the 2015 murder of his wife, Palak Patel. Bhadreshkumar Chetanbhai Patel is accused of fatally assaulting his wife while they worked at a donut shop in Hanover, Maryland. Patel is on the FBI's 'Ten Most Wanted Fugitives' list and is considered armed and extremely dangerous. Investigators believe Palak Patel's desire to return to India, against her husband's wishes, may have been a motive in the murder. The FBI has increased to USD 1 million the reward for information about an Indian national wanted for allegedly killing his wife in 2015, significantly hiking the amount from the USD 250,000 offered previously. Bhadreshkumar Chetanbhai Patel, 35, was last known to be in the Newark, New Jersey area. He is wanted for allegedly killing his wife Palak Patel by striking her multiple times with an object while they were both working at a donut shop in Hanover, Maryland, on April 12, 2015. Patel is on the FBI's list of 'Ten Most Wanted Fugitives', and the federal agency announced Tuesday that it is now offering a reward of up to USD 1 million for information leading to his arrest. The FBI said it is "offering up to a USD 1 million reward, which is now the standard reward amount for fugitives placed on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, increasing from USD 250,000." Initially, the agency had offered a USD 100,000 reward for information about Patel, later increasing the amount to USD 250,000. According to the federal agency, the enhanced amount reflects the "seriousness" of the crime and hopes it draws "greater attention" to the search for the suspect and delivers justice in the case. Patel has been charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, first-degree assault, second-degree assault, and a dangerous weapon with intent to injure. The federal agency said he should be considered armed and extremely dangerous. "We hope this USD 1 million reward attracts greater attention to our tireless search for Bhadreshkumar Patel and leads to tips we need to provide justice for Palak Patel, who was brutally murdered by her husband," said FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul. "The increased reward reflects the seriousness of Patel's crime and all the cases on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List." Patel was named to the list in April 2017, becoming its 514th addition. A federal arrest warrant was issued in the United States District Court, Maryland, on April 20, 2015, after Patel was charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. Details of the Crime According to a 2017 FBI press release, Patel and his wife worked the night shift at the donut shop, owned by a relative of Patel's. Investigators believe Patel allegedly stabbed his wife multiple times, killing her in a back room of the shop just before midnight on April 12, 2015, before fleeing. According to the FBI, investigators theorise that Palak Patel, who was then 21, wanted to return to India-their visas had expired the month before-and her husband was against the idea. "The best guess is that he didn't want her to leave," said Special Agent Jonathan Shaffer, who was investigating the case from the FBI's Baltimore Division. "It's possible that he thought he would be disgraced by her leaving and going back to India." Although the motive remains unclear, Shaffer had noted that after the crime, Patel's "actions show a very cool and calculated mentality about escaping the scene and fleeing the area." Realising that Patel was an international flight risk, local police requested FBI assistance, and several days after the murder, a federal arrest warrant was issued charging Patel with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. Investigators believe that Patel could be with distant relatives in the US or that he could have fled to Canada. "Or he could have travelled through Canada back to India," Shaffer said. "Those are among the plausible options we are exploring," according to the press release issued in 2017. A Nigerian and Zambian national have been sentenced to 20 years in jail by an Ahmedabad court for their involvement in an international drug trafficking operation, highlighting the ongoing efforts to combat heroin smuggling. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points A special court in Ahmedabad sentenced a Nigerian and Zambian national to 20 years in jail for international drug trafficking. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) apprehended a Zambian national for smuggling 2.75 kg of heroin from Dubai to Ahmedabad. A Nigerian national was identified as the intended receiver of the heroin and subsequently arrested by the NCB. Both individuals were convicted under the NDPS Act after a trial in the additional district and sessions court. A court in Ahmedabad has sentenced a Nigerian and a Zambian national to 20 years rigorous imprisonment in an international drug trafficking case. The special court for Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act cases, in the order passed on Tuesday, also imposed a fine of Rs 2 lakh each on the two accused. Based on intelligence inputs, the Narcotics Control Bureau apprehended Hanchabila John, a citizen of Zambia, for smuggling 2.75 kg of heroin on a flight from Dubai to Ahmedabad on September 3, 2021, the NCB's Ahmedabad zonal unit said on Tuesday. During the investigation, a Nigerian national, Nwaobu Christian Arinze (37), was identified as the receiver of the contraband and was subsequently arrested by the NCB here, it said. A complaint was filed before the additional district and sessions court in Ahmedabad on February 28, 2022, for offences punishable under relevant provisions of the NDPS Act. After a detailed trial, the court on Tuesday convicted John and Arinze, the NCB said. NEW DELHI, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The ongoing U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran have directly impacted the hospitality sector in India as the crisis has intensified the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) shortage, officials said Wednesday. The hotel and restaurant associations in Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai had already flagged an acute shortage in commercial LPG cylinders, warning they may face shutdowns if supplies are not restored forthwith. The commercial kitchens in the Indian capital territory, Delhi, and other major cities like Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata, have suspended some operations and are trying to switch to alternatives to ensure their operation. A majority of them have downsized their menus. Many of them have switched to wood fires and coal to ensure at least some food is available. "We are only serving sandwiches, salads and other items which can be prepared without the use of gas," Mohar Singh, manager at the lawyers' canteen at Delhi High Court, told the media. "We applied for gas at several places, but so far it hasn't been delivered to us, and nothing can be said when the supply will be restored." On Tuesday, hotel owners' associations in Chennai flagged this issue, pointed out that theirs is an "essential service," and urged the federal government to resume gas supply. "The situation has now become even more critical. Commercial LPG distributors have completely stopped supplying cylinders, stating that they have no stock available. As a result, many restaurants are forced to shut down," the Chennai hotel association said. The association has also written a letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention to ensure an uninterrupted supply of LPG to the food industry. Hotel industry representatives in Bengaluru say the shortage, which began earlier this week, has already forced establishments to ration gas usage while searching for alternative arrangements. Reports said in Mumbai and Kolkata, an estimated 20 percent of eateries have suspended operations. Amid the ongoing shortage, some hotels in Gujarat said they have been forced to procure commercial LPG cylinders from the black market at exorbitant prices. Long refill queues have been reported in Delhi. Panic buying and black marketing of LPG have surfaced in states such as Jharkhand, with protests also reported in parts of Assam, and partial disruption in deliveries has been reported in Bihar due to curtailment in supply. On Tuesday, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, who last week said India is in a "comfortable position," briefed Modi on the situation, saying he had ordered oil refineries to increase production of LPG cylinders for domestic use. Reports said India consumes about 31.3 million tonnes of LPG annually, with around 87 percent used in the domestic sector -- primarily household kitchens -- and the remainder consumed by commercial establishments such as hotels and restaurants. Analysts say that of the total requirement, as much as 62 percent is met through imports, which were through the Strait of Hormuz. India used to get 85 to 90 percent of its LPG imports from countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE and Kuwait. A gambling raid at an IAS officer's farmhouse in Indore, India, has led to the detention of 18 people and the suspension of three police officers, sparking an investigation into illegal activities and security breaches. Photograph: Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters Key Points Police raided an IAS officer's farmhouse in Indore, detaining 18 individuals for alleged illegal gambling. The raid resulted in the recovery of 13.68 lakh in cash, mobile phones, and playing cards from the scene. Three police officers, including a station house officer, have been suspended following the gambling raid. The IAS officer, Vandana Vaidya, reported illegal entry and suspected theft at her farmhouse to the police. An investigation is underway to determine how individuals gained illegal access to the farmhouse and engaged in gambling activities. Police raided the farmhouse of a woman IAS officer in Indore district of Madhya Pradesh and detained 18 people for alleged gambling after gaining illegal entry, officials said on Wednesday. Following the incident, the IAS officer sent a letter to the police complaining about people illegally entering her farmhouse and indulging in criminal activities. Three police personnel, including a station house officer, have been suspended over the gambling scandal. Officials said that acting on a tip-off, police raided a farmhouse in Awalipura village, about 50 kilometres from the Indore district headquarters, on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday. They detained 18 people for alleged gambling, while six others fled the scene. Thirty mobile phones, playing cards, and Rs 13.68 lakh cash were recovered from the possession of the accused, who live in different parts of the state. Officials said that the main gate of the farmhouse was locked while some people were gambling inside. A case has been registered against the gamblers under the relevant provisions of the BNS and the Gambling Act. The main accused, Jagdish Rathod alias Kubda, who organised the gambling at the farmhouse, along with farm caretaker Ranjeet Chaudhary and others, fled the scene, officials added. According to officials, the farmhouse belongs to IAS officer Vandana Vaidya and her family. Vaidya currently serves as Managing Director of the state government's Finance Development Corporation. IAS Officer Reports Illegal Entry After the gamblers were caught, Vaidya sent a letter to the police stating that unknown individuals had illegally entered the family's farmhouse and that she suspected they had also committed theft. In the letter, Vaidya also requested that a separate criminal case be registered against these people under relevant provisions. "An investigation will be conducted into the IAS officer's letter to determine how people illegally entered his farmhouse. Appropriate action will be taken after the investigation," Superintendent of Police (Rural) Yangchen Dolkar Bhutia told PTI. He said the Manpur police station in-charge, the sub-inspector in charge of the beat, and an assistant sub-inspector have been suspended. The Bombay High Court has ruled that a one-year-old child's custody should be given to the mother, emphasising the importance of breastfeeding and the child's best interests in a matrimonial dispute involving allegations of domestic violence. Key Points Bombay High Court prioritises the child's best interest, ruling in favour of the breastfeeding mother in a custody dispute. The court considered the child's dependence on breastfeeding as a crucial factor in determining custody. The mother was forced to leave her matrimonial home due to alleged assault and her daughter was taken from her. The court noted the father's work commitments would hinder his ability to care for the infant, favouring the mother's care. Abusive messages from the husband to the wife supported the woman's claim of being forced to leave her home for safety. The Bombay High Court has ordered a man to hand over custody of his one-year-old daughter to his estranged wife, observing the child's best interests lie with the mother as she is still being breastfed. The woman was forced to leave her matrimonial house after she was assaulted and since her sister-in-law snatched away her daughter, she could not take the child with her, a bench of Justices S V Kotwal and Sandesh Patil noted in the order passed on Tuesday. "The child is dependent on the mother to some extent on breastfeeding. This is an important consideration," the HC said. The order was passed in a habeas corpus (produce the person) plea filed by the woman seeking custody of her daughter. The woman in her plea said she had to leave her matrimonial home to protect herself after she was physically assaulted by her husband and sister-in-law last month. Since then, her one-year-old daughter has been in her husband's custody. As per the plea, the couple got married in 2023, and since then, the woman was subjected to physical, emotional and mental cruelty. The woman sought a direction to her husband to hand over the custody of their daughter to her, as the child was still being breastfed and hence needed her mother. The man opposed the plea, claiming his wife left their home on her own and has refused to cohabit with him. He further said that it would be in the best interest of the child to live with him as he was earning while his wife was not. As per law, the father, too, was a natural guardian of the child, the man said. The high court, however, noted that since he was working, he would not be in a position to take care of the child and the woman, who is now living with her parents, would be in a better position to look after the infant. The court also took note of WhatsApp messages sent by the man to his wife in which he used abusive and filthy language. There is substance in the allegations of the woman that she was forced to leave her matrimonial house as she was scared for her safety, the HC said. The woman's daughter was snatched from her by her sister-in-law, and hence she had not left the child willingly with her husband and his family, it noted. In such matters, the best interest of the child has to be considered first and in the present case, the interest of the child is that her custody needs to be handed over to the mother, the HC said. The bench directed the Vikhroli police in Mumbai to take steps to take the child's custody from the father and hand her over to the mother. An Indian Air Force wing commander tragically died by suicide in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, prompting a police investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death and potential contributing factors. Photograph: @IAF_MCC/X Key Points IAF Wing Commander Vipul Yadav found dead in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, in a suspected suicide. Yadav was involved in anti-Naxal operations and was found by his domestic help. Police investigation underway to determine the cause of death; no suicide note was found. Family disputes may have contributed to the IAF officer's decision to end his life. An Indian Air Force (IAF) wing commander allegedly committed suicide by hanging at his residence in the Chhattisgarh capital on Wednesday, police said. Wing Commander Vipul Yadav, 39, was posted in tasks related to anti-Naxal operations. He was found hanging with a rope from the ceiling fan inside his room at his residence in Vidhayak Colony under the Telibandha police station area by his domestic help in the morning, a police officer said. The officer's two children, a son and a daughter, were sleeping in another room, he said, adding that Wing Commander Yadav's wife, who previously served in the IAF, now works in the IT sector in Bengaluru. The couple had a love marriage in 2014, he said. Investigation into Possible Motives According to the preliminary information, the couple reportedly had frequent disputes, and personal issues may have prompted him to end his life, the officer said. No suicide note was found at the spot, and further investigation is underway to ascertain the trigger behind the extreme step. An Indian Air Force personnel in Kanpur has been acquitted of molestation charges after his sister-in-law revealed her initial complaint was based on a dream, leading to the dismissal of the case. Image used only for representation. Photograph: Pexels.com Key Points An Indian Air Force personnel was acquitted of molestation charges after his sister-in-law testified the incident was a dream. The complainant, a minor at the time of the alleged incident, initially filed a complaint in 2019. During the trial, the complainant, her father, and her sister (the accused's wife) stated the complaint was filed due to a misunderstanding. The special court acquitted the accused, citing the prosecution's failure to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The acquitted Air Force personnel reported suffering mental stress, damage to his reputation, and career setbacks due to the case. A special court in Kanpur has acquitted an Indian Air Force personnel accused of molesting his minor sister-in-law after the complainant revealed that the alleged incident was only a dream and her raising an alarm was a misunderstanding, officials said. The case was registered at the Naubasta Police Station on August 3, 2019, based on a complaint by a 15-year-old girl who alleged that her brother-in-law, Anurag Shukla, had molested her earlier that year while she was asleep. According to the first information report (FIR), the alleged incident took place on the night of March 8, 2019, when the girl was staying at her sister-in-law's house in Khadepur under Naubasta police station limits. The Trial and Testimony During the trial, however, the girl told the court that she had been on antibiotics and was in a semi-conscious state that night and had 'felt in a dream' that Shukla had grabbed and molested her, following which she woke up frightened and raised an alarm, defence counsel Karim Ahmad Siddiqui told PTI on Tuesday. Her father, Vijay Tiwari, and elder sister, Shivani Tiwari, who is married to Shukla, also told the court that the complaint had been filed under a misunderstanding. Shukla had married Shivani Tiwari on February 10, 2019. At the time of the alleged incident, he was living in Khadepur and has since shifted to Bithoor. Speaking to PTI, Shukla said he was arrested on September 29, 2019, and spent 19 days in jail before being granted bail on October 17 that year. A chargesheet was subsequently filed, and the special court framed charges in November 2019 under provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, including molestation and sexual assault of a minor. During the trial, the complainant retracted her earlier allegations. The Court's Decision Taking note of her testimony and statements of family members acknowledging the misunderstanding, the special court presided over by Judge Rashmi Singh acquitted Shukla of all charges on March 7, holding that the prosecution had failed to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt. Shukla told PTI that the case caused him severe mental stress and harmed his social reputation and career prospects. He claimed he could not secure a promotion to the rank of corporal in the IAF in 2020 and continues to serve as a leading aircraftman. An Indian Air Force personnel has been acquitted of molestation charges after his sister-in-law revealed the alleged incident was a dream, leading the court to consider action against the complainant for presenting false evidence. Key Points An Indian Air Force personnel was acquitted of molestation charges after his sister-in-law admitted the incident was a dream. The court directed criminal proceedings against the complainant, the girl's father, for allegedly presenting false evidence in the molestation case. The alleged molestation occurred in 2019, with the girl later retracting her statement during the trial. The special court acquitted the accused, citing the prosecution's failure to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt. The acquitted IAF personnel claims the case caused him significant mental stress and negatively impacted his career prospects. A special court has acquitted an Indian Air Force personnel accused of molesting his minor sister-in-law after she revealed that the alleged incident was only a dream and her raising an alarm was a misunderstanding, officials said. The court also directed that criminal proceedings be initiated against the 15-year-old girl's father Vijay Kumar Tiwari, who was the complainant in the case, for allegedly presenting false evidence. The case was registered at the Naubasta Police Station on August 3, 2019, in which Anurag Shukla was accused of molesting the girl earlier that year while she was asleep. According to the FIR, the alleged incident took place on the night of March 8, 2019, when the girl was staying at her sister's house in Khadepur under Naubasta police station limits. Trial and Testimony During the trial, however, the girl told the court that she had been on antibiotics and was in a semi-conscious state that night and had "felt in a dream" that Shukla had grabbed and molested her, following which she woke up frightened and raised an alarm, defence counsel Karim Ahmad Siddiqui told PTI on Tuesday. Her father, Vijay Tiwari, and elder sister, Shivani Tiwari, who is married to Shukla, also told the court that the complaint had been filed under a misunderstanding. Shukla had married Shivani Tiwari on February 10, 2019. At the time of the alleged incident, he was living in Khadepur and has since shifted to Bithoor. Speaking to PTI, Shukla said he was arrested on September 29, 2019, and spent 19 days in jail before being granted bail on October 17 that year. A chargesheet was subsequently filed, and the special court framed charges in November 2019 under provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, including molestation and sexual assault of a minor. During the trial, the girl retracted her earlier allegations. Taking note of her testimony and statements of family members acknowledging the misunderstanding, the special court presided over by Judge Rashmi Singh acquitted Shukla of all charges on March 7, holding that the prosecution had failed to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt. The court observed that false evidence appeared to have been placed on record and directed the concerned clerk to register separate criminal miscellaneous proceedings against Vijay Tiwari under Section 344 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and issue notice to him in accordance with law, the defence counsel told PTI. Section 344 CrPC empowers a court to summarily punish a person who intentionally gives false evidence or fabricates evidence during judicial proceedings. Shukla told PTI that the case caused him severe mental stress and harmed his social reputation and career prospects. He claimed he could not secure a promotion to the rank of corporal in the IAF in 2020 and continues to serve as a leading aircraftman. The Enforcement Directorate is investigating a 590 crore embezzlement case involving Haryana government funds, probing money laundering and potential fraud linked to IDFC First Bank accounts. Photograph: ANI on X Key Points The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is investigating the alleged embezzlement of 590 crore from Haryana government accounts. Searches were conducted at 19 locations across Chandigarh, Gurugram, and Mohali targeting business entities involved in concealing the money trail. The case was registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) following an FIR by the Haryana State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau. Preliminary investigations reveal funds were transferred to shell companies and siphoned off through gold purchases and real estate investments. A Chandigarh-based hotelier is under scrutiny and allegedly absconding after news of the scam surfaced. The Enforcement Directorate registered a money laundering case and conducted searches at multiple locations on Wednesday in connection with alleged embezzlement of Rs 590 crore from the Haryana government's accounts maintained with IDFC First Bank in Chandigarh, official sources said. The federal probe agency conducted searches at 19 premises in Chandigarh, Gurugram in Haryana and Mohali in Punjab against various business entities which helped the accused persons get accommodation (hawala) entries to conceal the money trail and proceeds of crime, they said. The raids were undertaken after the ED booked a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) taking cognisance of a Haryana State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (SV & ACB) FIR. According to the IDFC First Bank, the alleged Rs 590-crore fraud was committed by its employees and others in accounts held by the Haryana government with the private sector lender. The SV & ACB has arrested four persons in the case, of which two are ex-IDFC First Bank employees and the rest are private persons who own a partnership firm. As per the police and ED allegations, Haryana government funds were supposed to be deposited by various departments of the state in the bank but instead of being deposited in the FDs, these were allegedly diverted by the accused for their personal purpose, the sources said. Investigation Details The ED conducted searches on various business entities which have given accommodation (hawala) entries to the main accused persons, ex-bank officials, certain beneficiaries of the alleged scam and real estate agents where the proceeds of crime have been dissipated, they said. Preliminary probe shows "huge" funds have been transferred to various shell (dummy) companies and minor jewellery entities and finally siphoned off under the guise of gold purchase and investment into real estate sector, the sources said. They said a "significant" amount of cash withdrawals has also been noticed in the said money trail. The ED sources said a Chandigarh-based hotelier Vikram Wadhwa, involved in construction of real estate projects in the Tricity (Chandigarh-Mohali-Panchkula), is under their scanner. He is alleged to be absconding after the news about the alleged scam came to limelight, as per the sources. IIT Bombay researchers have developed a groundbreaking new test, Dynamical Fidelity Susceptibility (DFS), to explore the elusive quantum nature of gravity, potentially revolutionising our understanding of the universe. Photograph: ANI Key Points IIT Bombay researchers propose a new test, Dynamical Fidelity Susceptibility (DFS), to measure quantum gravity, challenging existing entanglement-based methods. The study suggests gravity could be fundamentally quantum even if entanglement tests fail, indicating limitations of current experimental approaches. DFS quantifies how a system's quantum state evolves over time, offering a more sensitive probe of gravitons and the quantum nature of gravity. The new method provides experimentalists with a novel way to test whether gravity is quantum, even when entanglement is negligible. Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay have proposed a new test to measure the "quantumness" of gravity after finding that conventional "quantum entanglement-based" tests may be insufficient to reconcile gravity with quantum physics. IIT B researchers P George Christopher and Prof S Shankaranarayanan show that gravity could still be fundamentally quantum even if it fails a widely used test called the entanglement test, according to the study. Quantum gravity is a theoretical framework that combines the principles of quantum physics with the understanding of gravity through dynamical spacetime geometry. The team has proposed a new diagnostic tool called dynamical fidelity susceptibility (DFS), which serves as a more sensitive probe of the true nature of the universe's most mysterious force. For over a century, theoretical physics has relied on two highly successful but separate theories to explain the universe. Classical physics and General Relativity, developed by Albert Einstein, explain large-scale objects such as planets, stars and galaxies, describing gravity not as a force but as the bending of spacetime. In contrast, quantum physics explains how matter behaves at the atomic and subatomic level, where particles can act like waves and exist in multiple states at the same time, the study said. While both theories work extremely well in their own domains, they break down when these realms overlap, such as inside a black hole. Physicists believe the two theories could be reconciled if gravity itself is shown to be quantum in nature, it said. In that case, gravity would be treated not just as the curvature of spacetime but as a force carried by hypothetical particles known as graviton, it said. The Entanglement Test and Its Limitations In 2017, researchers proposed the Bose-Marletto-Vedral experiment to test the quantum nature of gravity, which relied on a quantum property known as entanglement. Quantum entanglement is a phenomenon in which pairs of particles, such as photons and electrons, become so deeply linked that their properties become interdependent and they are described as a single entity sharing a single quantum state. According to the study, the researchers built a mathematical model with three connected oscillators - two masses at the ends and a mediator in the middle representing the gravitational field. They found that if the mediator is light, it spreads quantum entanglement quickly between the masses. But if it is heavy, the interaction slows down and no clear entanglement appears, even though the mediator still behaves quantum mechanically with its own states and fluctuations, it said. This suggests that if experiments fail to detect entanglement, it does not necessarily mean gravity is not quantum. I may simply indicate that the mediating particles are too heavy and slow to produce observable effects, the study said. Introducing Dynamical Fidelity Susceptibility (DFS) To address this, the team proposed DFS, a more sensitive probe of gravitons. Here, rather than simply checking whether the masses are linked or entangled, the DFR quantifies how the system's quantum state evolves over time in response to infinitesimal microscopic perturbations, it said. Even when gravity is frozen and entanglement is negligible, this new measurement can still pick up the fingerprints of its quantum nature. The new method also offers experimentalists a new way to test whether gravity is indeed quantum, it said. "In principle, one could estimate fidelity by preparing an initial quantum state of the masses, allowing them to evolve under the gravitational interaction, and then measuring the overlap between the evolved state and the original one," explained Prof S Shankaranarayanan. The study provides a roadmap for future quantum gravity experiments, he added. India strongly condemns the escalating attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, which are disrupting global energy supplies and impacting India's crucial petroleum imports. IMAGE: The Thailand-flagged cargo ship Mayuree Naree engulfed in black smoke in the Strait of Hormuz, March 11, 2026. Photograph: Royal Thai Navy/Reuters Key Points India condemns attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, especially after a Thai ship bound for Kandla Port was targeted. The attacks have disrupted the key energy transit route, impacting global crude oil shipments and causing a surge in oil and gas prices. India is facing a shortage of petroleum products, including cooking gas, due to the disruption of gas supply from the Middle East. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has reiterated that targeting commercial shipping and endangering civilian crew members should be avoided. India imports half of its gas consumption, and the stalled tanker movement through the Strait of Hormuz has significantly disrupted supply. India on Wednesday deplored the escalating attacks on commercial shipping in West Asia after a Thai-flagged bulk carrier bound for Gujarat's Kandla Port was targeted by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Three vessels were struck by projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, according to the UK's maritime agency. The attacks choked the key energy transit route that carries 20 per cent of the world's global crude oil shipments. "We have seen reports about the attack on a Thai ship, Mayuree Naree, in the Strait of Hormuz on March 11. The ship was bound for Kandla in India," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. It said India "deplores the fact that commercial shipping is being made a target of military attacks in the ongoing conflict in West Asia". "Precious lives, including of Indian citizens, have already been lost in multiple such attacks in the earlier phase of this conflict and the intensity and lethality of the attacks only seems to be increasing," the MEA said in a statement. "India reiterates that targeting commercial shipping and endangering innocent civilian crew members, or otherwise impeding freedom of navigation and commerce, should be avoided," it said. Impact on Global Energy Markets Global oil and gas prices have surged after Iran virtually blocked the Strait of Hormuz. Like many other countries, India too has been reeling under a shortage of petroleum products, especially cooking gas, following the disruptions in the key energy route. India meets half of its 191 million standard cubic metres per day (mmscmd) of gas consumption through imports. With tanker movement through the Strait of Hormuz stalled, supply of about 60 mmscmd of gas from the Middle East has been disrupted. According to information shared with students, those enrolled at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, and Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences have been offered two evacuation routes -- either through Armenia or Azerbaijan. IMAGE: People attend a funeral ceremony for the Iranian military commanders who were killed in strikes, in Tehran, on March 11, 2026. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters Key Points Indian students have begun leaving Iran amid rising security concerns due to the regional conflict. Students from major universities in Tehran have been offered evacuation routes through Armenia or Azerbaijan. Many students have booked Flydubai commercial flights from March 15 onward to return to India. 86 Indian students in Shiraz may travel via Shiraz-QomBaku before flying to India. Student groups say many Indian students fear the situation in Iran is unsafe and are seeking evacuation assistance. Indian students studying in Iran have begun making arrangements to leave the country amid growing safety concerns, with the first batch expected to depart for the Armenia border on Thursday as evacuation plans gradually take shape. According to information shared with students, those enrolled at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, and Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences have been offered two evacuation routes -- either through Armenia or Azerbaijan. Authorities and student groups have been coordinating to ensure that those willing to leave can travel safely to the designated exit points. Several students, however, have opted to return to India by commercial flights instead of crossing land borders immediately. A large number of them have booked flights with flydubai scheduled for March 15, March 16, and the following days, which will allow them to travel back home once they reach nearby international airports. 'Many students requested evacuation' At Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, where 86 Indian medical students are currently pursuing their studies, local authorities have suggested a separate evacuation route to facilitate their movement. Under this plan, students can travel via ShirazQomHeydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku, from where they can board international flights to India. The evacuation arrangements come amid rising anxiety among Indian students across different Iranian universities, many of whom have been closely monitoring the situation and seeking assistance from student organisations and public representatives. Mohammad Momin Khan said he has been receiving distress calls from Indian students enrolled at Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, and Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. According to him, many students have been urging authorities to arrange evacuation as they fear conditions across the country may not be safe. "Students are calling continuously and requesting evacuation as they believe no part of Iran is currently safe," Khan said, highlighting the concerns being expressed by students and their families back home. He also acknowledged the efforts of political representatives who have been in touch with students and coordinating assistance. Khan expressed gratitude to Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi for extending support and helping raise the concerns of Indian students with the relevant authorities. With several batches preparing to leave over the coming days, students and families are hoping that arrangements for safe passage and travel will continue to improve as more people seek to return to India. Amidst the West Asia conflict and rising energy prices, Iran is holding the US responsible for disruptions in oil and gas shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, accusing Washington, DC of 'destabilising actions'. IMAGE: Traffic is down in the Strait of Hormuz, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. Photograph: Benoit Tessier/Reuters Key Points Iran blames the US for disruptions in oil and gas shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, citing 'destabilising actions'. The Iranian foreign ministry detailed alleged 'crimes' by the US and Israel, including attacks on civilian sites. Global oil and gas prices have surged after Iran virtually blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping lane. India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Iranian counterpart discussed the need for regional stability amid the conflict. Iran views the actions of the US and Israel as violations of international law and the UN Charter. With the West Asia conflict roiling energy prices, Iran has held the United States responsible for the disruptions in the shipping of crude oil and gas through the Strait of Hormuz, holding Washington's 'destabilising actions' as the cause of the problem. Iran's foreign ministry said this in a readout on Wednesday while providing details of the previous night's phone conversation between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi. It said Araghchi provided Jaishankar a 'detailed' account of the 'crimes' committed by the US and Israel against Iran over the past 11 days, including the missile attack on a girls' school in Minab and subsequent strikes on civilian sites. He emphasised Iran's determination to comprehensively defend the integrity of Iran, the readout said. It said the two foreign ministers also discussed the consequences of the disruptions in the movement of oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian foreign ministry blamed the US for the disruptions in the flow of energy through the passage. Global oil and gas prices have surged after Iran virtually blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow shipping lane between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, that handles roughly 20 per cent of global oil and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). Iran's Perspective on Shipping Security "Referring to Iran's principled approach to safeguarding shipping security in the Persian Gulf, Iran's foreign minister reminded that the insecure situation and problems arising for shipping in the Persian Gulf are a result of the aggressive and destabilising actions of the US, and the international community must hold the US accountable for this situation," the readout said. On the overall situation, the Iranian readout described the 'aggressive act by the US and Israel' as a 'violation of the fundamental principles and rules of the United Nations Charter and international law'. It said all governments have a responsibility to condemn 'this military aggression and blatant law-breaking'. India's Role and Diplomatic Efforts "The Indian foreign minister, while emphasising the importance of continuing and enhancing bilateral relations between Tehran and New Delhi, stressed the necessity of ongoing consultations to help restore stability to the region," it said. Jaishankar, on Tuesday night, said he had a 'detailed' conversation with Araghchi. "A detailed conversation this evening with Foreign Minister @araghchi of Iran on the latest developments regarding the ongoing conflict. We agreed to remain in touch," he said on social media. It was the third phone conversation between the two foreign ministers since the US and Israel launched the military offensive against Iran on February 28. Jaishankar and Araghchi spoke on February 28, soon after the US and Israel launched the attack on Iran that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. They again spoke on March 5. Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon, on March 10, 2026. The death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on Lebanon has risen to 570, with 1,444 others wounded since the escalation began on March 2, figures released on Tuesday by the Disaster Risk Management Unit at the Lebanese Council of Ministers showed. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua) BEIRUT, March 10 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on Lebanon has risen to 570, with 1,444 others wounded since the escalation began on March 2, figures released on Tuesday by the Disaster Risk Management Unit at the Lebanese Council of Ministers showed. The conflict has triggered large-scale displacement across the country. About 759,300 people have been registered as displaced, according to government data. Authorities said 122,600 displaced people are currently staying in 580 shelters set up across various regions to house families forced to flee their homes amid the continuing hostilities. Meanwhile, Israel carried out three airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs on Tuesday afternoon, Lebanon's National News Agency reported, and continued strikes on several areas in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah said it launched rockets from Lebanon toward Israel early on March 2 for the first time since a ceasefire was declared on Nov. 27, 2024. The move prompted the Lebanese government to ban the group's security and military activities, limiting it to political work and requiring it to hand over its weapons. The Israeli military said it had launched what it described as an "offensive military campaign" against Hezbollah, carrying out heavy airstrikes across multiple Lebanese areas and conducting ground incursions near the border. It also warned residents to evacuate areas south of the Litani River and Beirut's southern suburbs. Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon, on March 10, 2026. The death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on Lebanon has risen to 570, with 1,444 others wounded since the escalation began on March 2, figures released on Tuesday by the Disaster Risk Management Unit at the Lebanese Council of Ministers showed. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua) According to the statement, Iranian forces used Kheibar Shekan, Qadr and Khorramshahr missiles to hit targets including Erbil, the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, and military centres in Tel Aviv and Be'er Ya'akov. IMAGE: An Iranian missile flies toward Israel, as seen from Jerusalem, on March 11, 2026. Photograph: Jamal Awad/Reuters Key Points Iran's IRGC launched the 37th wave of Operation True Promise 4, firing heavy missiles at Israeli and US-linked targets. Targets reportedly included Erbil, the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, and military sites in Tel Aviv and Be'er Ya'akov. Israel said nearly half of the 300 Iranian ballistic missiles carried cluster bomb warheads. Iranian strikes on Israel have killed 12 people and injured more than 2,000, according to Israeli authorities. Israel said it conducted airstrikes in Lebanon and Iran and killed Hezbollah commander Hassan Salameh. Iran has launched a fresh wave of missile attacks against Israeli and United States-linked targets as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it fired some of its heaviest missiles in the latest phase of its retaliatory campaign, while Israel Defence Forces alleged that many of the projectiles carried cluster bomb warheads. The IRGC said late Tuesday it launched the 37th wave of its Operation True Promise 4, carrying out continuous, multi-layered missile strikes for more than three hours against what it described as 'sensitive and strategic American and Zionist targets'. According to the statement, Iranian forces used Kheibar Shekan, Qadr and Khorramshahr missiles to hit targets including Erbil, the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, and military centres in Tel Aviv and Be'er Ya'akov. Iran launched the operation after the United States and Israel carried out air strikes against Iranian targets earlier this month. Iran using missiles with cluster bomb warheads: IDF Meanwhile, the IDF said nearly half of the 300 ballistic missiles fired by Iran toward Israel contained cluster bomb warheads. The Israeli military said most of the missiles were intercepted, although one carrying a large warhead exploded in an open area outside Beit Shemesh near Jerusalem, without causing injuries. Cluster munitions disperse dozens of submunitions over a wide area and are banned under the Convention on Cluster Munitions, though Israel, Iran and the US are not signatories. 12 killed in Israel so far According to Israeli health authorities, Iranian strikes on Israel since the start of the conflict have killed 12 people and injured more than 2,000. The Israeli military said it also carried out airstrikes against assets and storage facilities linked to the Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Qard Al-Hassan Association in Lebanon, which Israel claims is used to finance weapons procurement and militant salaries. In a separate operation, the IDF said it eliminated Hassan Salameh, commander of Hezbollah's Nassar Unit, in an air strike in the Jwaya area. Israeli forces also reported carrying out coordinated strikes on military and security facilities in Tehran and Tabriz, targeting command centres and Basij force compounds. The conflict, which has intensified across West Asia, has seen Iran launch hundreds of missiles and drones across the region, including attacks targeting US bases and energy infrastructure in Gulf nations. Despite ongoing tensions in West Asia, India's Oil Ministry assures citizens that the nation's LPG supply remains secure, urging against panic booking of cylinders and highlighting diversified crude oil sourcing. IMAGE: MT Mount Fuji, a Russian oil tanker carrying Russian oil, waits to unload near Narara Marine National Park in the Arabian Sea, Gujarat, India, March 11, 2026. Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters Key Points India's Oil Ministry assures citizens that LPG supply remains secure despite the West Asia conflict. The normal LPG delivery cycle of two-and-a-half days is being maintained, eliminating the need for panic booking. India is diversifying its crude oil sources, with 70% of imports now coming from routes outside the Strait of Hormuz. Government measures have led to a 25% increase in LPG production, further stabilising the supply. State governments are taking preventive actions to prevent hoarding and black marketing of fuel. Amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, a senior Oil Ministry official on Wednesday said that there is no need for panic booking of LPG cylinders, and that the normal delivery cycle of two-and-a-half days is being maintained. India's crude oil supplies remain secure, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, told reporters at a briefing. Crude oil is being sourced from non-Strait of Hormuz routes, she said. Government measures have led to a 25 per cent rise in LPG production, according to the ministry. She said that there is no need for panic booking of cooking gas cylinders and assured that the normal delivery cycle for domestic households remains at two-and-a-half days. "Feedback suggests that some panic booking and hoarding behaviour by miss-information. I want to clarify that our normal deliver cycle for domestic LPG remains around two-and-a-half days, so I request...there is no need for customers to rush-book the cylinders... there is no need for panic booking," she said. Govt Advisory To States State governments have been asked to take preventive actions to prevent hoarding and black marketing of fuel, according to the ministry. "India's crude supply remains secure. Our daily consumption is about 55 lakh barrels...through diversified procurement, the volumes we have secured today exceed what would normally have arrived through the Strait of Hormuz during this period," she said. India imports crude from nearly 40 countries. Diversified Crude Oil Sources The oil marketing companies have secured various crude cargoes from different sources, and as a result of this diversification, about 70 per cent of India's crude imports are now coming from routes outside the Strait of Hormuz, compared with about 55 per cent earlier, she added. "As I speak to you today, about two LNG cargoes are headed for India, and they will arrive within a few days, which will further strengthen the crude supply position in the country," Sharma said. The New York Times had earlier reported that Mojtaba Khamenei might have been wounded and had avoided public appearances due to security concerns. IMAGE: Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, attends a meeting in Tehran, on March 2, 2016. Photograph: Rouhollah Vahdati/ISNA/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters Key Points Iranian President's son Yousef Pezeshkian said Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is 'healthy and safe', denying reports of his injury. Earlier reports suggested Khamenei may have been wounded during Israeli strikes. A cargo ship was hit in the Strait of Hormuz, causing a fire and crew evacuation. Donald Trump warned Iran against placing mines in the strategic waterway, threatening military action. Iran's UN envoy said over 1,300 civilians have been killed and nearly 9,700 civilian sites destroyed in the conflict. Yousef Pezeshkian, the son of the Iranian President, has confirmed that Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is 'safe and sound'. This comes after certain reports claimed that he had been injured during the ongoing strikes by the United States and Israel, according to Al Jazeera. In a message posted on the messaging app Telegram, Yousef Pezeshkian said, 'I heard news about Mr Mojtaba being injured. I asked friends who had contact with him. They said, thank God, he is healthy and there is no problem.' The New York Times had earlier reported that Mojtaba Khamenei might have been wounded and had avoided public appearances due to security concerns. The report quoted three Iranian sources as saying that senior officials had informed them that Khamenei was injured during the first day of the Israeli operation on February 28. Cargo vessel hit in Hormuz Strait Meanwhile, as the West Asia conflict entered Day 12, a cargo vessel was hit by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in a fire on board and forcing the crew to evacuate and request assistance, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations. Iran had earlier vowed to block oil flows through the strait amid the war with the US and Israel. This was followed by a warning from Donald Trump, who issued a sharply worded statement against Iran, calling on it to refrain from placing mines in the Strait of Hormuz and warning of military consequences if they were not removed. Speaking in New York City, Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations, Amir-Saeid Iravani, accused the US and Israel of deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure in Iran. He claimed that more than 1,300 civilians had been killed and 9,669 civilian sites destroyed, including residential homes, schools, commercial centres, medical facilities and energy infrastructure. Iravani urged the United Nations Security Council to act, warning that if Iran was targeted today, another sovereign state could face similar attacks tomorrow. Wednesday marks Day 12 of the West Asia conflict, with both sides hardening their positions even as the fighting continues to affect civilian lives and global fuel supplies. Amidst the West Asia conflict's impact on global energy supplies, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar consults with Russia and the EU to navigate the crisis and its repercussions on India's energy security. IMAGE: File image of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. Photograph: Courtesy X Key Points S Jaishankar discussed the West Asia conflict and its impact on global energy supplies with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and EU's Kaja Kallas. The West Asia conflict has destabilised energy supplies, leading to a surge in global oil and gas prices. Iran's actions affecting the Strait of Hormuz have disrupted a significant portion of global oil and LNG shipments. Jaishankar's discussions follow a temporary waiver from the US allowing India to purchase Russian oil amidst energy market disruptions. India is facing a shortage of petroleum products, particularly cooking gas, due to the disruption of tanker movement through the Strait of Hormuz. With the West Asia conflict destabilising energy supplies, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday spoke to his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and European Union's Foreign Policy chief Kaja Kallas with a focus on navigating the fallout of the crisis. Global oil and gas prices have surged after Iran has virtually blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow shipping lane between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman that handles roughly 20 per cent of global oil and LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas). "A good telecon with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov of Russia. Shared our assessments on the West Asia conflict and related diplomatic efforts. Also took stock of our bilateral cooperation agenda," Jaishankar said on social media. It is not immediately known if India's procurement of Russian crude oil figured in the talks. The Jaishankar-Lavrov conversation came days after the United States said it is issuing a temporary 30-day waiver to New Delhi to allow Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil in view of disruptions in the energy market. The external affairs minister also said that he held "useful" discussion on the West Asia conflict and its repercussions with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kallas. In the last few days, Jaishankar has been holding phone conversations with his counterparts from several countries on the West Asia crisis. On Tuesday, he spoke to Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun. Like many other countries, India too has been reeling under shortage of petroleum products, especially cooking gas. India meets half of its 191 million standard cubic metres per day (mmscmd) of gas consumption through imports. With the stalling of tanker movement through the Strait of Hormuz, about 60 mmscmd gas from the Middle East has been disrupted. Following the assassination attempt on former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, the Jammu and Kashmir Congress is demanding accountability and raising concerns about the deteriorating security situation in the region. Photograph: ANI/X Key Points Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah survived an assassination attempt in Jammu. The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) has strongly condemned the attack. JKPCC President Tariq Hameed Karra called for accountability from those responsible for maintaining law and order in the region. The accused, Kamal Singh Jamwal, was arrested and claimed to have been planning the attack for 20 years. The Congress party has expressed serious concerns about the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir following the incident. Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee president Tariq Hameed Karra on Thursday strongly condemned the murderous attempt on former chief minister Farooq Abdullah in Jammu late Wednesday night and said "those entrusted with maintaining law and order must be held accountable". Abdullah had a narrow escape when a gunman allegedly opened fire at him from behind while he was leaving a marriage function at Greater Kailash on the outskirts of Jammu on Wednesday night. Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary and advisor to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Nasir Aslam Wani, were also accompanying Abdullah when the incident occurred. The accused, identified as 63-year-old Kamal Singh Jamwal, a resident of Purani Mandi in Jammu, was arrested and told police that he had been waiting for an opportunity to target Abdullah for the past 20 years. Congress Response to the Attack "Strongly condemn the shocking firing incident on former CM Farooq Abdullah & other senior leaders Such acts of violence are deeply disturbing and raise serious concerns about the prevailing security scenario in the region," Karra said in a post on X. He said the increasing criminalisation and lawlessness cannot be ignored. "Those entrusted with maintaining law and order must be held accountable. The people deserve safety, stability, and a secure environment, and it is the responsibility of the administration to ensure that such incidents are not repeated," he said. Karnataka is developing a sustainable data centre policy to mitigate the environmental impact of these facilities, focusing on water and energy conservation and exploring alternative locations like Mangaluru for future development. IMAGE: Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff Key Points Karnataka is developing a sustainable data centre policy to address the high water and energy consumption of existing data centres. The government is considering Mangaluru as a potential location for data centres due to the possibility of sub-sea cable connections. Karnataka is prioritising edge, small, medium, and large data centres over hyperscale facilities due to resource constraints in Bengaluru. The new policy will explore the use of treated water in data centres to reduce environmental impact. There is a growing need for dedicated data centre parks in Karnataka to retain large enterprises and compete with other major cities. Karnataka IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge on Wednesday said the state government is considering a "sustainable data centre policy" amid concerns over significant environmental costs associated with their water and energy consumption. Responding to a question by Doddaballapur BJP MLA Dheeraj Muniraj during the Question Hour in the assembly, he said, "We have 32 private data centres functioning in the state. He (MLA) wants data centres from the government side. We already have a data centre policy, which is under review." Calling the data centres as "necessary evil," he said they are needed for AI, machine learning and emerging technologies. "But data centres are also heavy water and energy guzzlers. So, we at the government are mulling a sustainable data centre policy, because our earlier data centre policy is two or three years old, and with changing technology, we are planning for sustainable data centres." Shifting Focus Beyond Bengaluru The Minister said the government's focus is shifting beyong Bengaluru, to coastal areas like Mangaluru. "Since we can bring sub-sea cables there. We are discussing with private companies. I have written to the Union Telecom Ministry and sought a sub-sea landing at Mangaluru. They said they would provide assistance if private companies do it." Pointing out that hyperscale data centres will not be suitable for Bengaluru due to absence of a port and water constraints, he said, "it would be better if it is on the sea side. So our focus is on edge, small, medium and large data centers, rather than hyperscale. Data centres requiring above 40 megawatt power will be hyperscale." The Economics of Data Centres Explaining the economics of data centres, Kharge said, "One megawatt needs about Rs 70 crore. One acre can yield only one megawatt. We have to spend 25 million litres per megawatt per year for one data centre. Five questions on ChatGPT will consume 500 ml of water. That is how much the consumption is." However, new technologies have come that involve using treated water at data centres. "That's why we'll relook at our policy, and come up with a sustainable one." Call for Data Centre Parks Earlier, Muniraj urged the government to set up data centre parks in his Doddaballapur constituency, saying Bengaluru, the IT city was losing out on data centres as companies were moving to other cities. According to him, Bengaluru is facing a shortage of colocation and large enterprise data centres, and there is no dedicated data centre park from the government, because of which large enterprises are leaving Bengaluru. Noting that Bengaluru ranks behind Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai and Delhi in terms of data centres, the MLA said there is a growing need for large data centres. For full-stack data centers, a 'Data Centre park' should be sanctioned for Doddaballapura, near which the KWIN (Knowledge, Wellbeing, and Innovation) City is coming up , he said, adding that "Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Meta, Alibaba, Tencent, Oracle, Apple, NTT -- all of them have offices in Bengaluru. Their data centres should be retained in Bengaluru." Kota police have arrested the alleged mastermind of a large-scale inter-state employment scam, accused of defrauding thousands with false promises of work-from-home opportunities and collecting millions of rupees. IMAGE: Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com Key Points Kota police arrest Kumar Sanu, alleged mastermind of an inter-state employment racket, accused of cheating over 8,500 people. The accused allegedly collected around Rs 2 crore by promising work-from-home opportunities through a firm named 'Oasis Enterprises'. The scam involved charging applicants a 'security amount' for tasks and using a chain marketing model to expand the scheme. Police investigation revealed the accused had carried out similar frauds in other states, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The accused was apprehended in Bihar and is now in police custody for further interrogation to identify other members of the racket. The Kota City Police has arrested an alleged mastermind of a massive inter-state employment racket accused of cheating over 8,500 people. The accused, who allegedly collected around Rs 2 crore by promising work-from-home opportunities, was apprehended in Bihar following an investigation and technical surveillance. Identified asA Kumar Sanu, alias Deepak Singh, a resident of Khagaria district in Bihar, the accused was produced before a local court here on Tuesday evening. The court granted 10 days of police remand for further interrogation. Investigation Details Kota City Superintendent of Police Tejaswini Gautam said the investigation began following a complaint lodged on November 15, 2025, at the Anantpura Police Station by Kuldeep Sharma and several other victims. The complainants alleged that Singh operated a firm named 'Oasis Enterprises' which lured people with promises of home-based employment. Police said the accused targeted unemployed youths and women through newspaper advertisements. He allegedly charged applicants a "security amount" of Rs 2,500 for tasks such as preparing book kits. To expand the scheme, Singh employed a chain marketing model, offering a Rs 500 commission for every new recruit. Within a few months, he allegedly collected nearly Rs 2 crore from thousands of victims before closing his office in Subhash Nagar, Kota, and fleeing the city. Considering the scale of the fraud, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed under the supervision of Additional Superintendent of Police Dilip Saini. The team included Circle Officer Manish Sharma and Anantpura SHO Ramesh Kaviya. Arrest and Further Investigation The accused manahed to evade capture for some time by using multiple identities and forged Aadhaar cards. The Inspector General of Police, Kota Range, had also announced a reward of Rs 50,000 for information leading to his arrest. Constable Farsaram played a key role in the breakthrough by analysing digital footprints and technical data to establish the suspect's true identity. Further technical analysis indicated that the accused had carried out similar frauds in other states, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. A police team led by Inspector Ramesh Kaviya tracked Singh to Bihar. After an extensive search operation spanning from Patna to Bhagalpur, the team located him at a hotel in Naugachia, Bhagalpur district, where he was hiding with his wife. Following a raid, Singh was arrested him while his wife was allowed to leave with family members. During the arrest, police recovered Rs 1,88,500 in cash, a car and several forged Aadhaar and e-Shram cards. Interrogations revealed that Sanu had allegedly operated similar scams in Bihar's Darbhanga, Jharkhand's Ranchi, Chhattisgarh's Durg, Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur, Rajasthan's Bikaner and Madhya Pradesh's Indore. In these places, he allegedly cheated people by offering jobs such as pearl necklace making and sweater knitting, collecting large sums as deposits. "The accused was produced before court on Tuesday evening and has been remanded to 10 days of police custody," Circle Inspector Ramesh Kavia told PTI. Further investigation is underway to identify other members of the racket and recover the remaining defrauded amount. Monalisa Bhonsle, the young woman who rose to fame at the Kumbh Mela, married with her boyfriend against her father's wishes. IMAGE: Mahakumbh Mela viral girl Monalisa Bhosle. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points Monalisa Bhonsle, famous from the Kumbh Mela, sought police protection to marry her boyfriend. She alleged her father was trying to force her return home, disrupting her marriage plans. Bhonsle is currently in Kerala for a film shoot with her boyfriend, who is from Uttar Pradesh. Police confirmed Bhonsle is an adult and free to make her own decisions regarding marriage. Monalisa Bhonsle, a young woman who shot to fame during the Prayagraj Kumbh Mela, tied the knot with her friend, a Muslim man, at a temple in nearby Poovar, hours after seeking police protection to evade the family's pressure. With a captivating smile and beautiful eyes, the Indore girl had shot to fame after a virtual content creator shared a video of her selling rudraksh garlands at Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh last year. The wedding ceremony was solemnised at the Nainar Temple at Arumanoor in Poovar in the presence of Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty, ruling CPI-M state secretary M V Govindan, Rajya Sabha MP A A Rahim and other prominent leaders of the Marxist party. While the bride was clad in a red saree wearing sindhoor, the groom, an actor from Maharashtra, chose to wear a white shirt and mundu (dhoti). Monalisa Defies Her Family The couple later said they like Kerala very much and they are happy to get married here. Bhonsle said her family did not like their relationship and pressured her to marry another person. "That's why we decided to get married here. I am feeling very much happy now. Kerala is a state that supports people beyond religion and caste. Here, anyone can marry according to their choice and live happily. That's why we came here," she said. She said she has offers in Malayalam cinema and is thinking about settling in the southern state. The groom said they became friends through social media, and it was a six-month love story. While taking part in the ceremony, Sivankutty said it was a proud moment for the state. "Marriage happens in heaven, and that heaven is Kerala. It is the real Kerala story," Sivankutty told reporters. Police Intervention and Future Plans Earlier in the day, Bhonsle, after arriving at the Thampanoor police station, alleged that her father was trying to forcibly take her back to her hometown. She was in the Kerala capital as part of a film shooting, police said. According to police, Bhonsle and her boyfriend arrived at the police station, accompanied by the crew members of the film, alleging that her father was attempting to take her back against her will. The couple had arrived in nearby Poovar recently in connection with the film shoot, they said. "She insisted that she won't go with her father and made it clear that she is going to marry her boyfriend. As she is a major, she can act according to her choice," a police officer said. Later, she left with the boyfriend and crew members, the officer added. Her father reportedly returned to his hometown. A 39-year-old labourer in Thane, Maharashtra, has been arrested for allegedly murdering a waiter he suspected of having an affair with his wife, sparking a police investigation into the crime. Key Points A labourer in Thane has been arrested for the murder of a waiter. The motive for the murder was the suspect's belief that the waiter was having an affair with his wife. The victim's body was discovered in a paddy field in Pimpri village. The accused confessed to the crime and the murder weapon has been recovered by police. The accused has been arrested under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for murder. A 39-year-old labourer has been arrested in Maharashtra's Thane district for allegedly killing a waiter over the suspicion that the victim was in a relationship with his wife, an official said on Wednesday. The body of Prakash Bisa (40) was found in a paddy field in Pimpri village on Tuesday following a complaint by the owner of the hotel where he worked. According to an official release by the Thane city police, they detained Ramrao Dasu Jadhav, a resident of Shilgaon, after working on various inputs. Jadhav told police that he suspected that the victim was involved in an immoral relationship with his wife, it said. Details of the Murder "The accused took Bisa to a paddy field at Survey No. 69 in Pimpri village on the pretext of going for a drink. There, he allegedly killed him by striking him on the head with a hammer," the statement said. Police have recovered the weapon used in the crime, it said, adding that Jadhav was later arrested under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for murder. A man from Beed, Maharashtra, has been arrested for posing as a government official and scamming women with promises of benefits under fake government schemes, using the money to fuel his alcohol addiction. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points A man in Beed, Maharashtra, was arrested for allegedly defrauding women by posing as a government official. The accused promised benefits under government schemes, such as sewing machines and utensil kits, to lure victims. He demanded transportation charges and directed victims to send money to QR codes of bars and paan stalls. The scam was used to fund the accused's alcohol addiction, avoiding direct transfers to his personal account. A man from Maharashtra's Beed district has been arrested for allegedly cheating several women by posing as a government official and promising them benefits under various government schemes, an official said on Wednesday. Police said the accused, Gorakshanath Navnath Panhalkar, is heavily dependent on alcohol and would often ask his victims to send money to the QR codes of the bars where he was drinking. Panhalkar (35), a resident of Nalwandi in Patoda taluka, would introduce himself as "Jadhav Saheb from the Social Welfare Department" and tell women that items like sewing machines, grain grinders and utensil kits had been sanctioned for them under government schemes. He then demanded Rs 2,500 as transportation charges for delivering the kits, said the official. A woman filed a complaint at the Amalner police station last month, saying Panhalkar had cheated her and four others. After working on several inputs, police arrested the accused from Jalna on Tuesday, the official said. Modus Operandi "Panhalkar cheated women to fund his alcohol addiction. To avoid suspicion, he never asked victims to transfer money directly to his personal account. Instead, he would urge them to send money to the QR codes of the bars where he was drinking or paan stalls," the official added. CARACAS, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela seized nearly 66 tonnes of drugs in 2025, up 64.44 percent from a year earlier to a record high, National Anti-Drug Superintendent Danny Ferrer told the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), the Venezuelan government said Tuesday. In a news release, Venezuela's Ministry of Interior, Justice and Peace said Ferrer made the remarks during the 69th session of the CND being held in Vienna, Austria. Ferrer stressed that the amount of drugs seized in 2025 marked the highest level recorded in the past two decades, adding that the result was achieved through policies implemented by the Venezuelan government and cooperation with at least 11 countries. He highlighted the strengthening of Venezuela's prevention and control capabilities to neutralize criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking. On domestic anti-drug efforts, Ferrer said the country has made significant progress in reducing demand, with preventive programs reaching more than 2.5 million people. A man in Khandwa, India, has been jailed under the National Security Act (NSA) after allegedly sharing inflammatory social media posts that threatened communal harmony, sparking protests and raising concerns about online content regulation. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points A man in Khandwa has been jailed under the National Security Act for allegedly sharing inflammatory social media posts. The posts are accused of hurting religious sentiments and disrupting communal harmony in the region. The arrest followed a violent protest demanding severe punishment for the accused. Authorities invoked the NSA to maintain public order in Khandwa after the social media posts sparked unrest. The Khandwa administration has sent a man to jail under the stringent National Security Act (NSA) after he allegedly shared objectionable posts on social media to disrupt communal harmony, officials said. Prabhakar Shinde, alias Prabhu (41), is accused of sharing posts on Instagram that hurt the religious sentiments of the Muslim community, they said. The NSA empowers the government to detain individuals to prevent them from acting in a manner prejudicial to the defence of India, relations with foreign powers, the security of the country, or the maintenance of public order or essential supplies. A case has already been registered against Shinde at the Moghat Road police station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita based on a complaint from local resident Mujahid Qureshi, officials said on Tuesday. NSA Invoked to Maintain Public Order Khandwa District Magistrate Rishabh Gupta issued an order to maintain public order and detain Shinde in the district jail under the NSA, they said. "As per the administration's orders, Shinde has been sent to jail under provisions of the NSA," Moghat Road police station in-charge Dhiresh Dharwal said. Protests and Aftermath A group of people staged a violent protest in front of the police station on the night of March 5, demanding the death penalty for the accused. The police had to use force against the protesters to control the situation, officials said. A separate case has been registered against the protesters on charges of stone pelting, rioting, obstructing government work and blocking a public road, they said. A man was fatally shot at a wedding in Baghpat, India, due to an ongoing dispute, prompting a police investigation and the arrest of one suspect. Key Points A 42-year-old man was fatally shot at a wedding in Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh. The shooting is believed to be the result of a long-standing dispute between the victim and the alleged assailants. One suspect has been apprehended at the wedding venue, while another remains at large. Police are investigating the incident and pursuing the remaining suspects involved in the Baghpat wedding shooting. The victim was the husband of a former village head, adding a layer of complexity to the ongoing investigation. A 42-year-old man was shot dead allegedly by two youngsters at a wedding venue here, police said on Wednesday. The deceased was identified as Vivek alias Vicky, a resident of Shamli district, and husband of the former village head, Superintendent of Police Suraj Kumar Rai said, adding that one of the accused has been arrested from the wedding venue. The incident took place around 1 am on late Tuesday night in Doghat town when two youngsters allegedly opened fire at Vicky, the SP said. Preliminary inquiry revealed that the assailants, who are also residents of the victim's village, allegedly carried out the attack due to an old dispute, he said. Police said the former village head, Babli, along with her husband, had come to attend the wedding in Doghat. Around 1 am, while they were in the parking area of a farmhouse, two youngsters suddenly opened fire at Vivek. He suffered serious injuries and died on the spot, police said, adding that the farmhouse owner, Sunil Panwar, informed the police about the incident. One of the assailants was caught by people present at the venue while he was trying to flee and was handed over to the police, while the other accused managed to escape, police said. Additional Superintendent of Police Praveen Kumar said, acting on Babli's complaint, a case is being registered against four persons. The police have sent the body for post-mortem, and efforts are underway to arrest the remaining accused, he said. A woman in Manali has been arrested on suspicion of murder after her live-in partner, a government employee, was found dead with suspicious injuries in their shared home, sparking a police investigation. IMAGE: Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff Key Points A 54-year-old government employee was found dead in his rented accommodation in Manali. The deceased's live-in partner has been arrested and booked for murder. Family members reported injury marks on the deceased's body, alleging foul play. Police have registered a murder case and are conducting a forensic investigation. The live-in partner of a 54-year-old government employee was booked for murder after he was found dead in their rented accommodation in Manali, police said on Wednesday. The deceased, identified as Ranjit Singh, a resident of Lahaul and Spiti, worked as a peon in a government school and had been living with Namarta in a rented house in Patlikuhal village for the last five years. The matter came to light when Namarta reported to the police on Tuesday, informing them that she had a fight with Ranjit on Monday night and found him unresponsive the next morning. Following this, police and family members of the deceased man reached the spot. Ranjit's wife Tali Palmo said his body carried injury marks on the neck, chest and stomach, and alleged that he was murdered. Family members said Ranjit arrived in Patlikuhal on March 7. They said he was in an intoxicated state when he last spoke to his wife on the phone on Monday night. Police Investigation and Arrest Manali Deputy Superintendent of Police K D Sharma told PTI over the phone on Wednesday that a murder case was registered under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and Namarta has been taken into custody. A forensic team was called for investigation; the body has been taken into custody, and the post-mortem will be conducted soon, Sharma added. Amidst rising ethnic tensions in Manipur's Ukhrul district, Tangkhul Naga civilians have been allegedly detained, prompting government intervention and appeals for calm. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points Civilians from the Tangkhul Naga community were allegedly detained in Manipur's Ukhrul district, escalating existing ethnic tensions. The detentions occurred near Shangkai village, following previous clashes between the Kuki and Tangkhul Naga communities. Manipur's Chief Minister has appealed for the safe and unconditional release of the civilians and promised action against those responsible. The Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) has urged the Chief Minister to intervene for the safe release of the detained civilians. Conflicting reports exist, with the Shangkai Village Authority alleging that 'Tangkhul volunteers' fired upon villagers before the detentions. Tension remained high in Manipur's Ukhrul district on Wednesday after several Tangkhul Naga civilians travelling along the Ukhrul-Imphal route were allegedly detained by villagers of another community, officials said. The civilians were reportedly held at Shangkai village, about 5 km from Litan police station. The exact number of people detained is yet to be confirmed, an official added. In February, ethnic clashes erupted between the Kuki and Tangkhul Naga communities at Litan Sareikhong, resulting in the burning of more than 30 houses. Tangkhul is the largest Naga tribe in Manipur. Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand expressed "profound concern regarding the distressing situation along the Ukhrul-Imphal road, where innocent civilians have been reportedly held captive under the area covered by Litan police station," according to a statement from the CM secretariat. Singh appealed to those responsible to uphold the highest traditions of humanity and ensure the safe and unconditional release of all the civilians at the earliest, and assured the families of the victims and the public that the government is treating the matter seriously and will take necessary steps to book the culprits involved in such a cowardly act. Singh also directed senior police and administrative officials to keep tabs on the situation, secure the release of all the civilians and appealed to all civil society organisations and stakeholders to help calm down the situation. Singh also warned that stringent action will be taken against those found responsible for any unlawful act and urged all to shun violence. Singh's appeal came after Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL), an apex body of Tangkhul Naga tribe, urged the chief minister for immediate intervention for the safe release of the civilians. In a letter, TNL claimed that innocent civilians travelling along Ukhrul Imphal route have been intercepted and held captive by Kuki groups. Expressing the strongest condemnation and outrage at the alarming situation, TNL called for the government to secure the safe and unconditional release of the civilians without delay. Conflicting Reports Emerge Meanwhile, the working committee of Ukhrul district of a Tangkul Naga civil society organisation, said more than 20 Tangkhul Naga civilians, including senior citizens and women, were being held and demanded their release within two hours, warning that the state and central governments would be held responsible for any consequences if action was not taken. On the other hand, Kuki-based Shangkai Village Authority alleged that 'Tangkhul volunteers' fired upon villagers who were working in the fields, following which they were detained and "many of them continue to remain in detention." It also said two member of their community, who had gone to repair a water pipeline, were fired upon and remain missing. Gunfights between armed groups of two communities were also reported in nearby Thawai Kuki and Mahadeva areas in the district. In a significant drug bust, Karnataka police have arrested four individuals and seized a substantial quantity of MDMA in Dakshina Kannada, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking in the region. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points Four individuals have been arrested in Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka, for alleged drug possession. Police seized 17.97 grams of MDMA, a synthetic narcotic substance, during the raid. The raid was conducted at a rented house in Indira Nagar, Neralakatte, Bantwal taluk, based on a tip-off. A knife and other materials were also recovered from the premises during the drug bust. A case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and the Arms Act, with further investigation underway. Police have arrested four persons and seized MDMA worth about Rs 1.79 lakh during a raid in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka, officials said on Wednesday. Acting on a tip-off that drugs were being sold from a rented house in Indira Nagar at Neralakatte in Bantwal taluk, a team from Vitla Police Station conducted a raid, they said. The accused were allegedly found in possession of 17.97 grams of MDMA, a synthetic narcotic substance. Police also recovered a knife and other materials from the premises. A case has been registered under sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and the Arms Act. Further investigation is underway, police added. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma addresses a potential security threat to his residence and appeals for peace amidst ongoing unrest and violence in the Garo Hills region following clashes during local elections. Photograph: PTI Photo Key Points Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma received information about a potential attack on his residence amid unrest in the Garo Hills. Despite security advice to relocate, CM Sangma refused, stating he is not afraid and trusts in God. Clashes during Garo Hills Autonomous District Council elections led to fatalities and the postponement of polls. CM Sangma appealed for peace and dialogue, urging citizens to refrain from violence and vandalism. Mobile internet services were suspended and curfew imposed in several districts due to the ongoing violence. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday said he had been advised to move to a safer location after receiving information about a possible attack on his residence amid the ongoing unrest in the Garo Hills region, but he is not afraid and did not relocate. The chief minister, who belongs to the Garo community, also appealed for peace in a video message. Sangma said he was informed that different groups and several individuals were heading towards his residence with the intention of burning his house at Tura, headquarters of West Garo Hills, and attacking his family. "Based on this information and in accordance with my security protocol, I was advised to move to another place. However, I did not leave, and I did not agree to relocate, because I am not afraid," he said. Sangma said his life was in the hands of God, and he would not be intimidated by threats. Garo Hills Election Violence and Aftermath Clashes between ST people and non-tribals over filing nomination papers in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHACD) elections left two people dead on Tuesday. Mobile internet services were suspended in five districts of the region on Wednesday, while curfew has also been imposed in West Garo Hills and East Garo Hills districts. The government postponed the April 10 polls in view of the violence. Invoking the legacy of his father, former Lok Sabha Speaker P A Sangma, the CM said he drew courage from him and remained committed to working for the welfare of the people. "I am also an AAchik (Garo), and the blood of P A Sangma runs in me. I draw courage from his legacy. I love my community deeply, and I am working for the cause of our people with the utmost integrity and honesty," he said. Appeal for Peace and Dialogue Amid the prevailing unrest, Sangma appealed to citizens to maintain peace and refrain from acts of violence and vandalism. He said incidents of destruction of government properties and religious places, intrusion into homes and disturbance to families were being reported. "Such actions do not reflect the values of our community and society," he said. He urged people to resolve the situation through dialogue and not violence. "Whatever situation we are facing today can only be resolved through dialogue. Let us not resort to violence. Instead, let us respect our systems, put our community and our state first, and work together to restore peace," he added. Haryana Police are investigating a violent attack on a Meghalaya Police team escorting an ATM robbery suspect, as assailants attempted to free the accused from custody in Nuh. Photograph: ANI on X Key Points Haryana Police are investigating an attack on a Meghalaya Police team attempting to transport an ATM robbery suspect. The accused, Rahul Khan, was being transported on transit remand when a group allegedly tried to free him. During the confrontation, the Meghalaya Police fired warning shots, injuring a bystander. A case has been registered against twelve individuals and other unknown suspects for obstructing official duty and attacking the police. Nuh police are actively searching for the accused and monitoring social media for rumour-mongering related to the incident. The Haryana Police registered a case against twelve people for allegedly attacking a Meghalaya Police team and attempting to free an accused in an ATM robbery case from their custody, officials said on Wednesday. According to the Nuh police, the case related to an incident involving an attempt to free the accused, Rahul Khan, a resident of Wajidpur, who was being transported by the Meghalaya Police to Meghalaya on transit remand in the robbery case. The charges against the accused include obstructing official duty, attempting to snatch official weapons, and attacking the police party in Nuh on Tuesday. During the confrontation, the Meghalaya Police team opened fire into the air in self-defence to protect their colleagues. The Nuh police stated that as the accused surrounded the police vehicle and attempted to seize a weapon, a bullet struck the ground, ricocheted, and injured a nearby youth in the leg. The youth has since been admitted to a hospital in Rohtak, where he is receiving treatment. Based on the statement of a Meghalaya Police officer, the Nuh police registered a case under relevant sections of the BNS. Ayush Yadav, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Nuh, told reporters in Nuh that an officer from the Meghalaya Police filed a complaint detailing the events. The complaint stated that their team was taking Rahul to Meghalaya on a transit remand following his court appearance in Punhana, Nuh. On Tuesday evening, while the police team was escorting Rahul near Sikrawa village in Nuh, the accused insisted that the vehicle be stopped and suddenly grabbed the steering wheel of the Meghalaya Police vehicle, allegedly trying to overturn it to escape from custody. Simultaneously, a crowd of 20 to 30 people, including several women, gathered at the scene, surrounding the Meghalaya Police vehicle. They attempted to snatch the keys to the police car, physically assaulted the police personnel, and tried to seize their official weapons, according to the ASP. Upon receiving information about the incident, the Nuh police arrived at the scene. Police and forensic teams inspected the site and collected evidence. Based on the complaint filed by a Meghalaya Police officer and findings from the on-site investigation, a case has been filed against the twelve individuals as well as other unknown suspects, ASP Yadav said. Separate teams have been formed to apprehend the accused, and raids are underway to facilitate their arrests. Yadav also mentioned that the Nuh police are maintaining constant vigilance over social media platforms and warned of strict action against anyone spreading rumours in accordance with the law. Haryana Police are investigating an attack on a Meghalaya Police team who were transporting an ATM robbery suspect, after a crowd tried to free the accused and a confrontation ensued. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points Haryana Police are investigating an attack on a Meghalaya Police team who were escorting an ATM robbery suspect in Nuh. A crowd of people allegedly attacked the Meghalaya Police, attempting to free the accused, Rahul Khan, and seize their weapons. During the confrontation, a bullet ricocheted and injured a youth, who is now hospitalised. A case has been registered against twelve individuals and other unknown suspects based on a complaint and on-site investigation. Nuh police are actively searching for the accused and monitoring social media for rumour-mongering related to the incident. The Haryana Police registered a case against twelve people for allegedly attacking a Meghalaya Police team and attempting to free an accused in an ATM robbery case from their custody, officials said on Wednesday. According to the Nuh police, the case related to an incident involving an attempt to free the accused, Rahul Khan, a resident of Wajidpur, who was being transported by the Meghalaya Police to Meghalaya on transit remand in the robbery case. The charges against the accused include obstructing official duty, attempting to snatch official weapons, and attacking the police party in Nuh on Tuesday. During the confrontation, the Meghalaya Police team opened fire in self-defence to protect their colleagues. The Nuh police stated that as the accused surrounded the police vehicle and attempted to seize a weapon, a bullet struck the ground, ricocheted, and injured a nearby youth in the leg. The youth has since been admitted to a hospital in Rohtak, where he is receiving treatment. Based on the statement of a Meghalaya Police officer, the Nuh police registered a case under relevant sections of the BNS. Ayush Yadav, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Nuh, told reporters in Nuh that an officer from the Meghalaya Police filed a complaint detailing the events. The complaint stated that their team was taking Rahul to Meghalaya on a transit remand following his court appearance in Punhana, Nuh. On Tuesday evening, while the police team was escorting Rahul near Sikrawa village in Nuh, the accused insisted that the vehicle be stopped and suddenly grabbed the steering wheel of the Meghalaya Police vehicle, allegedly trying to overturn it to escape from custody. Simultaneously, a crowd of 20 to 30 people, including several women, gathered at the scene, surrounding the Meghalaya Police vehicle. They attempted to snatch the keys to the police car, physically assaulted the police personnel, and tried to seize their official weapons, according to the ASP. Upon receiving information about the incident, the Nuh police arrived at the scene. Police and forensic teams inspected the site and collected evidence. Based on the complaint filed by a Meghalaya Police officer and findings from the on-site investigation, a case has been filed against the twelve individuals as well as other unknown suspects, ASP Yadav said. Separate teams have been formed to apprehend the accused, and raids are underway to facilitate their arrests. Yadav also mentioned that the Nuh police are maintaining constant vigilance over social media platforms and warned of strict action against anyone spreading rumours in accordance with the law. The development amid rising tensions in the Persian Gulf has prompted the government to implement enhanced security measures and closely monitor the situation to ensure their safety and the stability of port operations. IMAGE: Tankers sail in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from northern Ras al-Khaimah, near the border with Omans Musandam governance, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in United Arab Emirates, March 11, 2026. Photograph: Stringer/Reuters Key Points The government, through the ministry of ports, shipping and waterways, is actively monitoring the situation and coordinating with various agencies. Enhanced security measures and reporting protocols have been issued to all Indian flag vessels and seafarers in the region. Port operations across India remain stable, with continuous monitoring of vessel movements and real-time assessment of developments in the Persian Gulf. Dedicated control rooms are operating to provide timely updates and assistance to ship owners, operators, and seafarers. As many as 28 Indian vessels with 778 seafarers onboard are stuck in the Persian Gulf, a government official said on Wednesday. Of these, 24 vessels are on the western part of the Strait of Hormuz with 677 seafarers, while 4 vessels with 101 persons are on the eastern side, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, special secretary in the ministry of ports, shipping and waterways, said in a media briefing. "We are monitoring all the vessels actively for their safety and security. Authorities, ship managers and recruitment agencies...are closely coordinating with Indian embassies and local authorities to ensure safety and render medical assistance to them," the official said. The ministry continues to closely monitor the prevailing and evolving maritime situation in the Persian Gulf region and has strengthened monitoring and preparedness measures in view of the evolving maritime situation in the West Asia region to ensure the safety of Indian vessels and seafarers, Sinha said. Regular interaction with industry and stakeholders is being undertaken to provide all assistance to the industry and seafarers. Advisories have been issued by DG shipping directing all Indian flag vessels and Indian seafarers to adopt enhanced security measures and strictly comply with reporting protocols, including submission of real-time details. Sinha further said that port operations across India remain stable. Major ports have implemented operational measures, including continuous monitoring of vessel movement in coordination with shipping lines and vessel agents, real-time assessment of developments in the region, and regular reporting of vessels and cargo status. Dedicated 24-hour control rooms are operating in the ministry and the DG of Shipping. The DG Shipping is also maintaining contact with ship owners, operators, and assemblies of the seafarers to provide timely updates and necessary assistance. Ports have been directed to extend all necessary assistance to minimise hardships faced by exporters and ensure continuity of EXIM trade. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on Congress and Rahul Gandhi while campaigning in Kerala, urging voters to embrace BJP rule and accusing the opposition of political opportunism amid the West Asia crisis. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses during the Golden Jubilee Sammelan of Akhila Kerala Dheevara Sabha, in Ernakulam. Photograph: Narendra Modi Photo Gallery/ANI Photo Key Points Prime Minister Modi criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for being unaware of India's advancements in drone manufacturing. Modi urged the people of Kerala to break the cycle of alternating LDF and UDF governments and give the BJP a chance. Modi asserted that the BJP aims to transform Kerala into a hub for Artificial Intelligence and future technologies. Modi accused the Congress party of exploiting the West Asia crisis for political gain. Modi highlighted the government's efforts to assist Indians in the Gulf region, expressing gratitude to Gulf countries for their care of Indian workers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday attacked Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi, alleging that he is unaware of the development happening in the country and accused the grand old party of playing politics over the West Asia crisis. At a BJP-led NDA rally in Kochi, Modi stated that Kerala's pattern of alternating between LDF and UDF governments must end for the benefit of the state. He urged the people of Kerala to give the BJP-led NDA a chance to serve them for the next five years as it comes with "Modi's guarantees". The PM said that people were ready to move away from the LDF-UDF politics and asserted that the BJP's wins in Thrissur Lok Sabha seat in 2024 and the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation recently will expand to entire Kerala. Attacking Rahul Gandhi Attacking Rahul Gandhi, Modi claimed that the Congress "Yuvaraj" (prince) doesn't know about the development happening in the country as he was unaware that the youth and various companies in India, including in Kerala, were into drone manufacturing. Modi, in his speech, also said that the BJP will work for making Kerala a hub of AI and future technology. West Asia Crisis Referring to the West Asia crisis, he claimed that the India of today does not leave its citizens stranded elsewhere and that the central government was working to ensure that all help is provided to Indians stuck in the Gulf region. He also attacked the Congress in connection with the West Asia crisis, claiming that the opposition party was playing politics on the issue. The PM further said that the Gulf countries were giving utmost care to Indians working there and he was grateful to them for that. TEHRAN, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif discussed regional developments amid U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, Iran's presidential office said Wednesday. In the call, Pezeshkian said Iran had entered negotiations with the United States with a "serious determination" to resolve disputes but came under the U.S.-Israeli "invasion" -- the second time in recent months Iran had been attacked while talks were underway. He said Iran does not seek conflict with countries in the region and would only target sites used to launch attacks against its territory, within what he called its legitimate right to self-defense. Pezeshkian warned that if the international community fails to address the causes of the "imposed war and military aggression" against Iran, global security could become unstable. Sharif reiterated Pakistan's condemnation of the U.S. and Israeli "aggression" against Iran and expressed solidarity with the Iranian government and people, the Iranian statement said. He also offered condolences over the death of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and congratulated Iran on the appointment of his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as the country's new supreme leader. Sharif said Pakistan was interested in strengthening ties with Iran and boosting cooperation among Muslim countries in West Asia, the Iranian statement read. On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing Khamenei along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israeli and U.S. assets in the region. A tragic motorcycle accident on Mumbai's Eastern Express Highway resulted in the deaths of two youths, prompting a police investigation into reckless driving. Key Points Two youths, Praveen Munnalal Yadav and Raj Arjun Kahar, died in a motorcycle accident on Mumbai's Eastern Express Highway. The accident occurred when a motorcycle carrying three youths rammed into another motorcycle from behind. Eyewitnesses reported that the motorcycle was being driven recklessly, contributing to the crash. Police have registered a case for rash and negligent driving causing death and are conducting further investigations. Two youths were killed, and as many others were injured in a road accident involving two motorcycles on the Eastern Express Highway in Mumbai, police said. The deceased individuals were identified as Praveen Munnalal Yadav (17) and Raj Arjun Kahar (20), and the injured persons as Gulshan Yadav (20) and Amit Baliram Pawar (40). The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon in the Vikhroli (east) area. After ramming Pawar's motorcycle from behind, the bike crashed into a tree, police said. According to eyewitnesses, the bike was carrying three youths and was driven recklessly, leading to the accident. The injured persons were rushed to a hospital by locals and police. A case has been registered for rash and negligent driving causing death, and further investigation is underway, a police official added. A 28-year-old street vendor was brutally stabbed to death in Mumbai's Mankhurd area, prompting a police investigation and raising concerns about street crime. Photograph:Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com Key Points A 28-year-old street vendor, Wahid Shaikh, was fatally stabbed in Mankhurd, Mumbai. CCTV footage of the Mankhurd stabbing incident has surfaced and is circulating on social media. The victim, a 'falooda' seller, was stabbed multiple times and died before admission to a nearby hospital. Mumbai police have registered a murder case and are actively searching for the unidentified assailant. An unidentified person allegedly stabbed to death a 28-year-old street vendor in Mumbai and fled the scene, police said. A CCTV footage of the incident, which occurred near a hotel in the Mandala area of Mankhurd on Tuesday evening, has gone viral on social media. The deceased, identified as 'falooda' seller Wahid Shaikh (28), was allegedly stabbed multiple times. He was later rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors declared him dead before admission, a police official said. Search was on for the culprit, he said, adding that a case was registered on charges of murder under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Amidst the escalating West Asia conflict, former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed champions the power of democratic institutions over military intervention, highlighting the conflict's impact on Maldives tourism and advocating for a stronger Indian role in regional security. IMAGE: Photograph: Dado Ruvic/Reuters Key Points Mohamed Nasheed argues that building democratic institutions is more effective than military action for achieving change in countries. The West Asia conflict is significantly impacting the Maldives' tourism sector, leading to decreased tourist arrivals and potential economic challenges. Nasheed calls for a stronger role for India in providing security in the Indian Ocean Region, advocating for better understanding between India and China. Mariya Didi highlights concerns about larger countries acting as 'bullies' and its negative impact on the world order. The conflict has disrupted flight operations from key hubs like UAE, Oman and Qatar, leaving tourists stranded and affecting the Maldives. Amid the widening West Asia conflict triggered by US-Israel joint strikes on Iran, former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed on Wednesday said that building democratic structures and institutions can bring "change" in a country, and "not bombing". Interacting with PTI on the sidelines of a conclave here, Nasheed also said that while the old world order is changing and a new one is emerging, "it doesn't look like the United States is the leader of the free world". The West Asia conflict began after the US-Israel combine pounded Iran on February 28, and Tehran, in retaliation, attacked several Gulf countries hosting American military bases, impacting global aviation operations, oil prices and triggering a looming energy crisis. Impact on Maldives Tourism During the interaction, Nasheed shared how the conflict has impacted the Maldives, a country heavily dependent on inbound tourism for its economy. "Well, we rely on tourism; that is our biggest strength. And when travel hubs are disrupted throughout the Middle East, such as Dubai and Doha, it has a big impact on tourist arrivals, which is now down by about 30 per cent in the Maldives," Nasheed told PTI. Hinting that falling revenues from a drop in tourist arrivals may not bode well for his country, Nasheed said, "See, we have to pay a lot of debt. When tourism is hit, government revenues fall, and when government revenues fall, it's a challengea We might be on the brink of a default," the former president cautioned. "Also, fuel prices are going up, and so are all other pricesa So it's not going to be easy for our people," he added. Nasheed was the first democratically elected president of the Maldives, who served the island nation from November 2008 to February 2012. He and several other leaders from India's neighbouring countries are taking part in a three-day conclave hosted by Synergia, a Bengaluru-based think-tank, at the Manekshaw Centre from March 11-13. India's Role in the Indian Ocean Region Asked how he saw the role of India in the Indian Ocean Region as a "net-security provider", Nasheed told PTI, "We would like to seea A stronger India would give us more security. We would also like to see a better understanding, at this time, especially with India and China, so that no other complication comes into it." "In my mind, we see the United States as a bigger problem. So, we would like to see that there is safety and security through an umbrella of Indian security that is not challenged at this time by China," the former president said, without elaborating. On the West Asia conflict, he emphasised that while the world is going through challenging times, hopefully, at the end of it, "we will see some kind of calmness, some kind of order". "That probably would not look like what we had before, where the United States was the leader of the free world. It doesn't look like the US is the leader of the free world now," he said. It will probably be a "more multipolar world", where there are "different power centres" and people would align with different regions, for different reasons, Nasheed said. "For security, you may be aligning with someone; for energy, you may be aligning with someone; for climate change, you may be aligning with someonea So, I think it will be done in a kind of multipolar arrangement," he added. Democracy vs. Bombing Nasheed also said that he doesn't think power can be transferred in Iran through bombing. "We (Maldives) are a very small country. We had 30 years of dictatorship, but in 2008, we were able to hold free and fair elections and change the regime. That took peaceful political activity; we were able to galvanise our people to political activism, we were able to build a political party, we were able to amend the Constitution, and we were able to hold free and fair elections. So, that's how you change governments, not by bombing," he stressed. "I hope the world thinks that if certain countries are out of the world order, they can be brought back into the line not by bombing, but by building political structures, democratic structures and institutions, and using those to bring about a change," Nasheed said. Former Defence Minister's Perspective Former defence minister of the Maldives, Mariya Didi, also addressed the conclave and underlined the importance of maintaining peace in the Indian Ocean Region. Later in an interaction with PTI, she said it's "worrying times if bigger countries, larger countries, most powerful countries think that they can work in a way that they are seen as bullies". "It is not really going to help the world order," she said. Didi also shared how the conflict has impacted the tourism sector in the Maldives, which she described as "our lifeblood". "There have been cancellations... A lot of our flights come from the UAE, Oman and Qatar. So, when their operations suddenly stopped, a lot of tourists were left stranded," Didi told PTI. Asked if she sees an end to this conflict or just a long period of regional unpredictability, the former defence minister said, "At the moment, it looks very unpredictable. But I hope that the conflict is resolved soon." "Both sides aren't backing down, but I hope that diplomacy helps. Because if nobody backs down, it will reach a very difficult stage. I hope diplomacy works. I hope partners of the US and Iran talk to each other, and find solutions so that this doesn't turn into World War-III," she cautioned. Amid escalating tensions in West Asia, Nepal is actively engaged in rescuing its citizens from Gulf countries and ensuring the safety of millions of Nepalese residing in the region. Photograph: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters Key Points Nepal is actively rescuing over 5,000 citizens from Gulf countries due to escalating tensions in West Asia. The Nepalese government is committed to the safety of approximately 3 million Nepalese residing in the Gulf region. An Emergency Response Team has been formed to assess the situation and recommend actions for the safety and repatriation of Nepalese citizens. The Nepalese government has started preparations for the repatriation of citizens residing in high-risk zones in the Gulf region. Nepal is actively engaged in carrying out rescue operations for more than 5,000 of its citizens working in different Gulf countries amid escalating tensions in West Asia, the Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday. Also, Minister for Foreign Affairs Balananda Sharma said the government is committed to the safety of around 3 million Nepalese, who are presumed to be residing in different countries in the Gulf region. More than 5,000 Nepalese working in various countries of West Asia have registered their names in the online application form maintained by the ministry's consular section, informing that they want to return home, according to Lok Bahadur Chhetri, spokesperson at the Foreign Ministry. The government is actively engaged in maintaining their safety and carrying out rescue operations for them, the spokesperson said during a press meet at the ministry's office. Impact of Regional Conflict on Nepalese Citizens The ministry also said 15 Nepali nationals were injured in the missile and drone attacks carried out by Iran. Six were reportedly injured in Israel. Fourteen of those injured have already returned to work after receiving treatment, while one person is still undergoing treatment and is in stable condition, The Kathmandu Post newspaper reported, quoting Ramkaji Khadka, joint secretary at the ministry. Government Response and Repatriation Efforts The government formed an Emergency Response Team led by Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai last week to present recommendations after studying the emerging situation in the Gulf region following the escalation of tension in the wake of joint attacks launched by the US and Israel against Iran. The government has already started preparatory works regarding the repatriation of Nepalese residing in the risk zone, Minister Sharma told a press meet. The US and Israel have launched a massive joint attack on Iran since February 28. Into its 12th day on Wednesday, the war has extended to almost the entire Gulf region with Iran's retaliation. Opposition MPs are criticising Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, alleging bias and suppression of their voices in parliamentary proceedings, raising concerns about democratic rights and impartiality. IMAGE: Lok Sabha is debating the resolution for the removal of Om Birla from the Speaker's post. Photograph: Sansad TV/YouTube Key Points Opposition MPs claim Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla is biased and restricts their ability to raise important issues. MPs allege disruptions and lack of protection from the chair during their speeches in the Lok Sabha. The opposition accuses the Speaker of favouring the ruling party and not maintaining impartiality. The suspension of over 140 MPs in a single day was cited as an example of the Speaker's alleged tyranny. MPs highlight concerns about democratic rights and the ability of opposition voices to be heard in Parliament. Opposition MPs have claimed that "No, No, No" is the oft-repeated refrain that they get from Speaker Om Birla when they want to raise important issues in the Lok Sabha. While speaking during a debate in the lower house on the resolution to remove Birla as Speaker, several opposition MPs claimed that they were not getting the protection that they should from the chair and disruption of their speech by treasury benches had become the norm. Rashtriya Janata Dal's Abhay Kumar Sinha said, "I have to say with regret, and for some time ago, the chair no longer represents independence of the House but has become a symbol of the ruling party's tyranny. The chair has lost that impartiality which (Jawaharlal) Nehru ji and other makers of our Constitution expected." "This House even saw the black day when over 140 MPs were suspended in a day. Real democracy is the one in which even the poorest and the weakest feel that their voice can be heard... Here, whenever an (opposition) MP gets up to speak, what he gets from that side (Speaker) is No, No, No," Sinha said on Wednesday. Only Words Birla ji Has For Us, 'No, No, No': Opposition MPs Vijay Kumar Hansdak of the JMM said it is the Speaker's second term and the most spoken word in the House after Nehru is "No". "When opposition MPs speak, they are disrupted, and that has become a tradition. Another tradition is that while MPs speak, the camera moves in another direction," Handsak said. Speaking on the resolution on Tuesday, Bajrang Manohar Sonwane of the NCP-SP said, "Nobody is making any personal attack on Birla ji. We all know what will happen in voting, but we brought this no-confidence to highlight democratic rights that we have." "Like a table fan gives cooling only on one side... When Birla ji looks right, he has a smile and when he looks the other side, 'No, No, No.' You are doing the same thing, my party has given me time to speak," he said, while addressing Sandhya Ray, who was in the chair. Pakistan reports significant casualties inflicted on Afghan Taliban fighters during a military operation along their shared border, raising concerns about regional stability and prompting diplomatic efforts. Key Points Pakistan claims to have killed 641 Afghan Taliban operatives and injured over 855 in a recent military operation. The operation, codenamed 'Ghazab lil-Haq', was launched in response to attacks on Pakistani locations along the Afghanistan border. Pakistani forces report destroying numerous Afghan check posts, tanks, and artillery guns during the operation. Efforts are reportedly underway by Jihadi elements to find a negotiated solution between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban. Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have deteriorated significantly since October 2023. Pakistan on Wednesday said its security forces have killed 641 Afghan Taliban operatives and injured over 855 in the ongoing military operation launched two weeks ago. Pakistan unleashed military action, codenamed Operation Ghazab lil-Haq (righteous fury), on February 26 after the Afghan side attacked 53 locations on the 2,611 kms long border. Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar stated on his X handle: "641 Taliban operatives have been killed and 855 others injured." Sharing the latest updates, Tarar said that 243 Afghan check posts have been destroyed, while 42 others were captured and destroyed by the Pakistani security forces. He also said that 219 tanks, armoured vehicles and artillery guns have also been destroyed during the operation, while 65 locations across Afghanistan were effectively targeted by air. Diplomatic Efforts Amidst Conflict The updates were shared amidst reports of efforts by old Jihadi elements to find a negotiated solution between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban. BBC Urdu reported that three individuals including Maulana Fazlur Rehman Khalil, Abdullah Shah Mazhar (Pir Mazhar Shah) and Qari Sajid Usman visited Kabul. Taliban sources in Afghanistan and a close associate of Maulana Fazlur Rehman Khalil in Pakistan confirmed to BBC Urdu the presence of these individuals in Kabul. Similarly, Afghan Taliban officials too have confirmed their presence in Afghanistan to BBC Pashto's Hafizullah Maroof. A key member of the Afghan Taliban interim government confirmed to BBC Urdu the presence of three individuals, including Fazlur Rehman Khalil, in Kabul, but he declined to provide further details in this regard. The reasons for these individuals going to Afghanistan have not been disclosed, nor has any official statement been issued in Pakistan in this regard. Khalil has been a big name in Pakistan's jihadi circles since the 1980s. He has also been the head of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen in the past, but the organisation has now changed its name, the BBC Urdu reported. However, it is not clear if the jidhadi diplomacy would bring any change in the relations between the two sides given the level of mistrust between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban. Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have nose-dived since October 2023. Pakistan has pledged its unwavering support to Saudi Arabia amidst the ongoing conflict in West Asia, emphasising a commitment to regional stability and mutual defence. Photograph: Pakistan's Press Information Department (PID)/Handout via Reuters Key Points Pakistan pledges unwavering support to Saudi Arabia amidst escalating tensions in West Asia, prioritising regional stability. Pakistan emphasises its commitment to assisting Saudi Arabia even before being asked, highlighting the deep strategic partnership between the two nations. Pakistani officials are actively engaged in diplomatic efforts with Saudi Arabia and Iran to de-escalate conflict and promote regional peace. Pakistan acknowledges Saudi Arabia's support in ensuring supply chain stability, particularly in oil, diesel, and crude oil resources. Pakistan will help Saudi Arabia even "before it is needed," a senior official with the prime minister's office said, amid the ongoing war in West Asia which has witnessed attacks on Gulf countries. Mosharraf Zaidi, who is Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's spokesperson for Foreign Media, made the comments during an interview with a private television, Dawn.com reported on Wednesday. Zaidi was asked about whether Pakistan would come to Saudi Arabia's aid "militarily or otherwise" amid war triggered in West Asia following the US-Israeli strikes on Iran. "The question is not whether Pakistan might come to Saudi Arabia's aid. Both countries, even before the strategic mutual defence agreement, have operated on a principle of being there for the other before they need the other. So, there is no question that we might; we will. No matter what, no matter when," he said. He maintained that the "real question" was what Pakistan was doing to make sure that things did not escalate to a point where "any of its closest partners are further embroiled in a conflict that potentially undermines stability and prosperity, not just for the region at large but especially for the Pakistani people." He recalled the Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir's recent visit to Saudi Arabia. He stated that Pakistan remained in touch with both the Saudi and Iranian leadership. "Our prime minister and field marshal have a great relationship with US leadership," he added. "In the past six to seven days, there has been a whole series of conversations and one of the things I think Pakistan admires is the way in which Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states have resisted being drawn in," he said. Asked how close Pakistan was to "providing military aid to Saudi Arabia", Zaidi said that it would be "speculative and irresponsible" to comment on that. "There is no question of if and when. Whatever is needed from Pakistan vis-a-vis Saudi Arabia, Pakistan will be there before it is needed [and] similarly for Saudi Arabia," he said. He said that Saudi Arabia "has already made arrangements to support Pakistan's supply chain stability and in terms of oil, diesel and crude." "I think both countries are tied to each other, formally and informally, and there's no question of whether there would be any kind of if," he said. Pakistan's Diplomatic Engagements During the interview, Zaidi was also asked about Pakistan's engagements with Iran. In his response, he said that Pakistan was "very conscious of its responsibility as a close ally and friend" to the countries involved. The US and Israel have launched a massive joint attack on Iran since February 28. The war has extended to almost the entire Gulf region with Iran's retaliation. A woman constable in Bikaner, Rajasthan, sustained injuries after a house owner allegedly unleashed a pitbull on her and her team while they were investigating a complaint, prompting a police investigation. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points A woman constable in Bikaner was injured after being attacked by a pitbull during a police investigation. The house owner allegedly released the pitbull on the police team after they arrived to investigate a complaint. The incident occurred in the Chanakya Nagar Colony under the Jaynarayan Vyas Colony police station area. A case has been registered against the accused, and the matter is currently under investigation by the police. A woman constable was injured after a house owner allegedly set a pet pitbull dog on a police team that had gone to investigate a complaint in Rajasthan's Bikaner, police said on Wednesday. The incident took place under Jaynarayan Vyas Colony police station area when a three-member team including woman constable Mali Jakhar visited a house in Chanakya Nagar Colony on March 2 to investigate a complaint. "The police team had knocked on the door of a house during the inquiry. A girl came out and the team asked her to call Manisha. After a while she returned with a pitbull dog," the police said. "The woman opened the gate of the house, released the dog and immediately shut the gate again. In the meantime, the dog came out and attacked the woman constable, bitting her at several places," police said. Based on Jakhar's statement, a case has been registered against the accused at the Jaynarayan Vyas Colony police station and the matter is being investigated, Assistant Sub-Inspector Purnaram said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledges unwavering support and comprehensive assistance to Indian citizens stranded in West Asia amidst the ongoing conflict, while criticising the Congress party for alleged political exploitation of the crisis. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points PM Modi assures full support and assistance to Indian citizens stranded in West Asia due to the ongoing conflict, working with Gulf nations to provide aid. The Indian government emphasises its commitment to rescuing and supporting citizens in crisis situations, citing past examples like the nurses in Iraq and Father Tom in Yemen. Modi highlights India's push towards 'Atmanirbhar' (self-reliance) in the energy sector to reduce dependence on foreign nations amidst global crises. PM Modi accuses the Congress party of making provocative statements and spreading misinformation about the West Asia crisis for political gain. The government is working to provide food, medical aid, accommodation, and legal assistance to Indian citizens in need through embassies and missions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the Centre and Gulf nations were doing everything possible to help Indians stranded during the ongoing conflict in West Asia. Addressing a massive NDA rally here, he said the BJP-led NDA government always makes every possible effort to help its citizens when they are in trouble. "Be it saving the nurses stranded in Iraq or freeing Father Tom from the clutches of terrorists in Yemen, India now does not abandon its citizens in their time of crisis. "Father Alexis Premkumar was safely rescued and brought back from Afghanistan. Even today our aim is to ensure that Indians stranded in West Asia amidst the war are safe and receive all possible facilities," the PM said. He said that he was "happy" that the governments of the Gulf nations were taking care of Indian citizens there and he was "grateful" to them. Modi also said that Indian embassies and missions in those countries were working 24 by 7 to ensure food, medical aid, accommodation and legal assistance is provided to citizens in need of the same. India's Push for Self-Reliance The PM also said that the present crisis in West Asia has once again proved how important it is to become Atmanirbhar. "To reduce dependence on other countries in the energy sector, the government has taken many steps in recent years. We have increased our solar capacity. Work on solar projects has started in Keralam as well. "To reduce dependence on petrol and diesel, electric vehicles are being promoted. Hundred percent electrification of railways is also being carried out," he said. PM Modi Criticises Congress Modi alleged that the Congress was making 'provocative and irresponsible statements' over the West Asia crisis for political reasons. The PM claimed that Congress was "deliberately" making such statements to create problems for Indian citizens stranded in West Asia and subsequently, "to make reels blaming Modi" for the same. "It is unfortunate that Congress even in such times of crisis is playing politics. It is deliberately making provocative and irresponsible statements, so that the situation deteriorates and our people are stranded in trouble there and then they can together make reels blaming Modi. That is their game," he said. Modi also alleged that during their rule the Congress and the Left parties have made the country more and more dependent on foreign nations and together they were now spreading rumours in connection with the war in the Gulf region. He alleged that even during this time of war, "the Congress, the Left and their ecosystem are putting all their strength into creating fear in the country". "I would say to the nation to stay cautious and alert of the rumours being spread by Congress and the Left," he contended. Donald Trump claims the war with Iran is ending 'soon' due to successful US military operations, despite conflicting statements from his administration regarding the timeline. IMAGE: US President Donald Trump gestures at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque /Reuters Key Points President Trump claims the war with Iran is progressing faster than expected, with extensive damage inflicted. Trump asserts the conflict could end whenever he decides, indicating a potentially swift conclusion. Trump alleges Iran's actions threatened the broader Middle East, justifying the US military response. Trump's timeline contradicts his Secretary of War, who stated operations would continue until objectives are met. The US military campaign against Iran has reportedly eliminated key levels of Iranian leadership. United States President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that the ongoing war with Iran would end "soon", claiming that there is "practically nothing left to target" after sustained military strikes. In a brief phone interview with Axios, Trump said the military campaign had progressed faster than initially anticipated and inflicted more damage than expected. "The war is going great. We are way ahead of the timetable. We have done more damage than we thought possible, even in the original six-week period," Trump said as quoted by Axios. Speaking about the timeline of the conflict, Trump said it could conclude whenever he decides to bring it to an end. "Little this and that... Any time I want it to end, it will end," he told Axios during the five-minute call. Trump Says This Is Payback Trump also alleged that Iran's actions extended beyond its confrontation with Israel and the United States, claiming that Tehran had posed a broader threat to countries across the Gulf region. "They were after the rest of the Middle East. They are paying for 47 years of death and destruction they caused. This is payback. They will not get off that easily," Trump said. Trump has previously offered varying timelines for the end of the conflict; however, on Monday, he said that the military operation in Iran would be over "very soon", but did not give any details of the timeline. When asked by a reporter about his previous remarks of calling Iran an excursion and when the military operation would end, Trump said, "Very soon." "Everything they have is gone, including their leadership. In fact their two levels of leadership and even actually as it turns out more than that, but two levels of leadership are gone. Most people have never even heard about the leaders that they're talking about. So it's obviously been very, very powerful, very effective," the US President said during a press conference in Florida. Contradictory Statements on War Timeline Trump's comment has significantly contradicted the administration's remarks on the timeline of the ongoing war. On Tuesday, his Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, said that the US will continue its operations until its objectives are achieved, while asserting that the campaign is being carried out on Washington's own timeline. "We will not relent until the enemy is totally and decisively defeated. But we do so on our timeline and at our choosing," he said. Hegseth made his remarks in a briefing at the Pentagon along with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine. BERLIN, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The German pilot trade union "Vereinigung Cockpit" (VC) has called for a 48-hour strike by pilots at Lufthansa on Thursday and Friday, threatening hundreds of flight cancellations. According to the union's announcement issued late Tuesday, more than 5,000 pilots are expected to take part in the walkout. Flights departing from Germany operated by Lufthansa's core airline, its cargo unit Lufthansa Cargo, and regional carrier Lufthansa CityLine could be affected. Flights to destinations in the Middle East will not be targeted by the strike, citing the tense situation in the region, the union said. The strike marks the second wave of industrial action in the current labour dispute. A one-day strike in February forced the cancellation of more than 800 flights and affected around 100,000 passengers. According to the union, negotiations with Lufthansa over occupational pension arrangements have so far failed to produce a negotiable offer. He said the deal is 'the biggest in the US history' and 'a massive win for American workers, energy and the great people of South Texas'. IMAGE: US President Donald Trump. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters Key Points Donald Trump said Reliance Industries will invest in a new oil refinery project in Texas, calling it a historic $300 billion deal. The refinery is planned at the Port of Brownsville. Trump said it would boost US energy production and create thousands of jobs. The project is linked to America First Refining, which said it received a major investment from a 'global supermajor' energy firm but did not name Reliance in its statement. Reliance Industries has not yet officially confirmed the investment, though the refinery is expected to break ground in the second quarter of 2026. United States President Donald Trump has said that India's Reliance Industries will make an investment in a new oil refinery being opened in Texas, thanking the company and 'our partners in India' for the deal. Describing it as a 'historic $300 billion deal', Trump in a social media post on Tuesday said the project is being enabled by his administration's 'America First agenda'. He said the deal is 'the biggest in the US history' and 'a massive win for American workers, energy and the great people of South Texas'. However, there has been no official communication from Reliance Industries on the deal so far. "Thank you to our partners in India, and their largest privately held energy company, Reliance, for this tremendous investment," Trump said. New refinery will generate thousands of jobs: Trump Trump said the new refinery at the Port of Brownsville will fuel US markets, strengthen national security, boost American energy production, and generate thousands of jobs. A press release by America First Refining (AFR) said that it received a nine-figure investment in February from a 'global supermajor' at a 10-figure valuation. AFR said it also 'signed a binding 20-year offtake term sheet with the same global supermajor that secures commitments to purchase, process, and distribute American-produced energy exclusively sourced from American shale oil'. The press release did not mention Reliance Industries or specify the amount it plans to invest in the project. The company said it plans to break ground on the refinery in the second quarter of 2026. In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court of India has authorised passive euthanasia for a man in a prolonged coma, raising important questions about end-of-life care and patient rights. Kindly note this illustration was generated using ChatGPT and is intended solely for representational purposes. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Key Points In first such order, the SC has permitted passive euthanasia for a 32-year-old man who has been in a coma for over 12 years. The court directed AIIMS to admit the patient for palliative care and ensure the withdrawal of life support is conducted with dignity and a tailored plan. Medical boards assessed the patient's condition, concluding there was a negligible chance of recovery after being in a vegetative state for over a decade. The decision aligns with the Supreme Court's 2023 guidelines on passive euthanasia, requiring expert medical opinions before withdrawing life support. In its first-ever order allowing passive euthanasia, the Supreme Court on Wednesday permitted the withdrawal of artificial life support of a 32-year-old man who has been in a comatose condition for more than 12 years. Passive euthanasia is the intentional act of letting a patient die by withholding or withdrawing life support or the treatment necessary to keep him alive. Ghaziabad native Harish Rana, who was a student of Panjab University, suffered head injuries after falling from the fourth floor of his paying guest accommodation in 2013 and has been in a coma for over a decade. Court Directs AIIMS for Palliative Care On Wednesday, a bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and K V Viswanathan directed All India Institute of Medical Sciences-Delhi to grant admission in palliative care to Rana so that the medical treatment can be withdrawn. It must be ensured that it is withdrawn with a tailored plan so that dignity is maintained, the bench said. The order allowing passive euthanasia is in terms of its 2018 Common Cause judgment, which was modified in 2023, recognising the fundamental right to die with dignity. In the 2018 judgement, a constitution bench had recognised passive euthanasia and the right to die with dignity as a fundamental right under Article 21. The court had held that passive euthanasia could be carried out using 'Advance Medical Directives'. Guidelines for Passive Euthanasia On January 24, 2023, a five-judge Constitution Bench modified the 2018 Euthanasia Guidelines to ease the process of granting passive euthanasia to terminally ill patients. Hearing the writ petition of Rana's family, the top court had earlier expressed its desire to meet the parents of the 32-year-old man. It had perused a report on Rana's medical history filed by a secondary medical board of doctors from the AIIMS-Delhi and remarked that it was a 'sad' report. The primary medical board, upon examining the patient's condition, had stressed the negligible chance of his recovery. The top court, on December 11, noted that according to the report of the primary medical board, the man is in a 'pathetic condition'. According to the guidelines issued by the apex court in 2023, a primary and a secondary medical board will have to be formed for an expert opinion on the withdrawal of artificial life support for a patient in a vegetative state. The Supreme Court of India has stayed the execution of a man convicted in the 2024 Madhya Pradesh child sexual assault and murder case, ordering further investigations and psychological evaluations. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points The Supreme Court stayed the execution of Atul Nihale, convicted of the sexual assault and murder of a five-year-old girl in Madhya Pradesh. The court has ordered a psychological evaluation of the appellant and requested reports on his behaviour and work in jail. The Supreme Court has permitted independent interviews with the appellant to gather information relevant to sentencing and mitigation. The case involves the discovery of the victim's body in a water tank in Bhopal following a missing person report in September 2024. The Supreme Court has stayed the execution of death sentence awarded to a man, who was convicted for sexually assaulting and murdering a five-year-old girl in Madhya Pradesh in 2024. A three-judge bench comprising justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N V Anjaria passed the order while hearing the appeal filed by Atul Nihale who has challenged the January verdict of the Madhya Pradesh High Court which affirmed his conviction and sentence in the case. "The execution of the death sentence shall remain stayed pending the hearing and final disposal of the present appeals," the bench said in its order passed on Tuesday. It said the original case record be summoned from the high court and the concerned trial court. The bench directed the state to place before it the reports of all probation officers relating to the appellant within 12 weeks. "The superintendent of jail, central jail, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh shall submit a report with regard to the nature of work which has been performed by the appellant while in jail and a report with regard to the conduct and behaviour of the appellant while in jail within a period of 12 weeks," it said. The bench directed the head of Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre to constitute a suitable team for the purpose of carrying out a psychological evaluation of the appellant. It said the report of evaluation be submitted to the court within 12 weeks. "Devika Rawat, who is associated with the Square Circle Clinic, NALSAR University of Law, is permitted to have access to the appellant, who is presently lodged in central jail, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, to conduct multiple in-person interviews for the purpose of collecting information relevant to sentencing and to submit a mitigation investigation report on behalf of the appellant...," it said. The bench said the jail superintendent shall ensure that for the sake of confidentiality, these interviews be conducted in a separate interviewing space without any prison official or police staff being within earshot distance, and audio recorders be permitted to be used to record the interviews. It posted the matter for hearing after 16 weeks. Background of the Case The appellant was convicted and sentenced to death by a trial court in the case. The victim's mother had filed a police complaint at Bhopal in September 2024 to the effect that her daughter was missing. According to the police, while conducting search operation, the cops noticed some unpleasant smell and they reached to a flat in Eidgah hills where they found a white plastic tank containing the victim's body kept in the bathroom. In its judgement delivered in March last year, the trial court convicted and sentenced the appellant. Later, the matter went to the high court which dismissed the appeal filed by the appellant against the trial court's verdict. Before the high court, the counsel appearing for the appellant had contended that he was falsely implicated in the case. The incident took place in the posh Greater Kailash locality when Abdullah and Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary were coming out after attending the marriage function. IMAGE: A CCTV footage shows a man tries to fire on Farooq Abdullah within point blank range at a wedding in Jammu. Photograph: ANI video grab Key Points Farooq Abdullah and Surinder Choudhary were unharmed after a gunman's attack in Jammu. The incident occurred outside a marriage hall in the Greater Kailash locality of Jammu. The accused, Kamal Singh Jamwal, was apprehended by security guards after firing one shot. No injuries were reported, and the accused was allegedly intoxicated at the time of the incident. Abdullah and Choudhary were attending the wedding of a party leader's son. National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary had a narrow escape in an attack by a gunman at a marriage function in Jammu on Wednesday night, officials said. The incident took place when Abdullah along with the deputy chief minister and chief minister's advisor Nasir Aslam Wani were leaving the venue at posh Greater Kailash area in the outskirts of Jammu, the officials said. The accused, identified as Kamal Singh Jamwal, a resident of Purani Mandi, was overpowered by two officers of security wing of J&K Police -- an inspector and a sub-inspector -- when he approached Abdullah from behind with a pistol and opened fire at him. Deputy CM Choudhary described the incident as a 'security lapse', while police said a detailed investigation is going on. Jamwal, who is believed to be in his 70s, was found in an inebriated condition and managed to fire one shot before he was disarmed and grounded by the alert personnel, the officials said, adding no one was injured in the firing. Omar Raises Questions Over Security Expressing anguish over the attack, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said, "Allah is kind. My father had a very close shave." In a post on X, he said the details are sketchy at the moment but what is known is that a man with a loaded pistol was able to get "within point blank range" and discharge a shot. "It was only the close protection team that deflected the shot & ensured that the assassination attempt failed. There are more questions than answers at the moment including but not limited to how someone was able to get this close to a Z+ NSG protected former CM," the chief minister said. No Terror Angle According to the officials, Farooq Abdullah and Choudhary had come to greet party leader B S Chouhan on the marriage of his son and were at the venue for more than an hour. "There has been a firing incident using a licensed weapon at a marriage party where ex-CM JK Dr Farooq Abdullah was also present. It falls in JD (jurisdiction) of PS (Police station) Gangyal. Accused is arrested and detailed investigation is going on. There is no terror angle," Superintendent of Police, city south, Ajay Sharma said in a post on X. The deputy CM expressed concern over the incident and told reporters that you should ask the security and the police how such a major lapse happened. "It is a very serious security lapse. When the former chief minister, deputy chief minister and the advisor are present at a function, and if a person can enter inside with a gun, then you can imagine what the security arrangements were like," he said. Of the donations, 48% is in kind -- such as food, clothing, or other household goods -- followed by cash (44%) and volunteering (30%) with non-profits, religious institutions, or community groups. Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff Key Points Philanthropy in India growing rapidly: The sector is estimated at Rs 54,000 crore ($6 billion), up from Rs 37,000 crore in 2023. Nearly half of households earning Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000 a month still contribute to charity. About 46% of donations go to religious organisations while 42% go directly to beggars or the destitute. The wealthy in India are giving away more, both in cash and kind, and their number is growing. But even those with modest means are donating steadily through informal channels. And with a market size of approximately Rs 54,000 crore ($6 billion), up from around Rs 37,000 crore ($4.11 billion) in 2023, philanthropy in India is not just thriving but set to touch new benchmarks as consumption and gross domestic product (GDP) grow, a new survey-based study has shown. What is more, philanthropy is not dominated by corporate social responsibility (CSR) by companies and behemoths but through quieter, sometimes anonymous, but steady donations from households: Many that earn less than Rs 8,000 per month. How India Gives: 2025-26, a study by Ashoka University's Centre for Social Impact and Philanthropy (CSIP), with support from consultancy Artha Global, was released on February 19. This is the third report from the CSIP and while it notes that, as in the past, informal giving to religious organisations and others in need constitutes the biggest chunk of philanthropic contributions by Indians, there is a move towards giving for social causes, the sign of a mature philanthropy market. About 68 per cent of the respondents reported giving in some form. Of the donations, 48 per cent is in kind -- such as food, clothing, or other household goods -- followed by cash (44 per cent) and volunteering (30 per cent) with non-profits, religious institutions, or community groups. Even at low consumption levels (Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000 per month), about half the households report giving; as incomes rise, participation climbs to 70 to 80 per cent. The survey is based on more than 7,000 interviews across 20 states, and covers households in both urban and rural India. The basis of the survey was the National Sample Survey (NSS) consumption data, which helped CSIP surveyors to design a set of questions based on household income, expenditure, and consumption. This formed the profile of everyday givers. The respondents were then encouraged to recall how much and how often they gave over a three-month period. This data was then calculated to reach annual estimates. "India remains one of the fastest-growing major economies in the world and consumption is a major component of GDP. As household consumption expands over time, this segment of everyday giving is likely to evolve and potentially grow alongside it," Jinny Uppal, head of the CSIP, said in her opening remarks. The survey looks at 'everyday giving', which includes both direct, personal help to beggars, family, or friends, often seen as charity; as well as donations to organised, non-religious institutions, which is typically described as philanthropy. It also examines 'retail giving', generosity by households of modest means rather than high net-worth individuals (HNIs) or ultra HNIs, to registered nonprofits. Around 46 per cent individual giving is directed primarily to religious organisations. Forty-two per cent goes to beggars and the destitute, especially in urban areas. In rural India, religious institutions take the lead. Religious Duty Drives Most Giving in India Krishanu Chakraborty, head of research at the CSIP, said: "For more than 90 per cent of the respondents, the underlying driver is a sense of religious duty -- a moral obligation that shapes and sustains their giving." With growing income and consumption, Chakraborty added it was possible that in the future, a part of the pie would move towards non-religious giving for social causes. In addition to income, the study found a close correlation between levels of education and giving. Giving in all forms rises with education, increasing notably among people who have gone beyond Class 10 and peaking among graduates and holders of higher degrees. Apart those who cannot read or write or those with a low level of education, over 35 per cent of the respondents have reported donating to religious organisations. A significant share of those who hold a diploma (11 per cent) and a doctoral degree (13 per cent) give to non-religious organisations. During a panel discussion that followed the release of the report, Govind Iyer, independent director at Infosys and partner at SVP International, reflected the position of an institutional donor. He said those who sought philanthropic funding should consider moving towards capability-building targets (like creating leadership) rather than capacity building (like merely increasing the numbers). He also said non-government organisations (NGOs) needed to create models that encouraged repeat donations. Gayatri Nair Lobo, CEO, Educate Girls, said the primary motivation for continued giving was trust: And to build trust, NGOs should consider "customer relationship management" (CRM) systems. Almost all the participants, including Asha Curran, CEO, GivingTuesday, and Pamala Wiepking, Stead Family Chair in International Philanthropy at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, said in-person contact for philanthropy resulted in results better than in digital or other forms of outreach. They also said the data on generosity in India was scarce but expected this trend would be corrected in future. The report reaches interesting conclusions: Generosity is linked to income and consumption. But even those who don't have a lot give generously. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff A teacher in Maharashtra has been arrested following allegations of molesting young female students, sparking outrage and prompting legal action under the POCSO Act. IMAGE: Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com Key Points A teacher in Bhandara district, Maharashtra, has been arrested for allegedly molesting girl students from Classes 3 and 4. The alleged molestation incidents occurred between July 2025 and March 7, 2026, at a Zilla Parishad-run school in Pauni taluka. The teacher is accused of inappropriately touching students and showing them obscene videos on his mobile phone. The case came to light after a victim informed a school cook, who then alerted the parents, leading to a police complaint. The accused has been booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and remanded to police custody. A 54-year-old teacher of a Zilla Parishad (ZP)-run school has been arrested for allegedly molesting girl students of Classes 3 and 4 on multiple occasions in Bhandara district of Maharashtra, police said on Wednesday. According to police, the molestation incidents took place between July 2025 and March 7, 2026, at the government-run school in Pauni taluka of the district. They said the accused teacher, who was arrested on March 10, used to inappropriately touch girl students of Classes 3 and 4, misbehave with them and also show the minors obscene videos on his mobile phone. On March 9, one of the victims informed about the teacher's misbehaviour to a female cook of the school. Subsequently, the cook contacted her parents, who then filed a police complaint against the teacher. Later, four more students came forward and spoke about the teacher's misdeeds. Pauni police station in-charge Nilesh Brahmane said the accused was arrested the next day and booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. On Wednesday, the teacher was produced in a local court, which remanded him to police custody for three days. Zilla Parishad schools are state-run institutes managed by a rural local government body (ZP). A Thai cargo vessel was struck by missiles near the Strait of Hormuz, raising maritime security concerns and prompting a search for three missing crew members. IMAGE: The Thailand-flagged cargo ship Mayuree Naree engulfed in black smoke in the Strait of Hormuz, March 11, 2026. Photographs: Royal Thai Navy/Reuters Key Points A Thai cargo ship, Mayuree Naree, was attacked by missiles near the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in three crew members missing. The Royal Navy of Oman rescued 20 Thai crew members after the missile attack on the cargo vessel. Search and rescue operations are ongoing for the three missing crew members believed to be on board the damaged ship. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical shipping route, and the attack highlights increased maritime security concerns due to ongoing Middle East conflict. Thai authorities are coordinating with international maritime forces and embassies to assist the crew and ensure their safe return. A Thai-flagged cargo vessel was struck by missiles near the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, leaving three crew members unaccounted for, while 20 others were rescued by the Royal Navy of Oman, The Bangkok Post reported, citing the Royal Thai Navy. According to The Bangkok Post, citing the Maritime Traffic and Vessel Control Centre, the bulk carrier Mayuree Naree, operated by SET-listed Precious Shipping Plc, had departed from Khalifa Port in the United Arab Emirates and was bound for Kandla port in Gujarat, when it came under attack around 10 am. Explosion On Thai-Flagged Cargo Ship Two projectiles struck the vessel above the waterline, causing explosions near the stern and in the engine room and triggering a fire on board. All 23 crew members on the ship were Thai nationals. Twenty crew members evacuated the vessel using liferafts and were later rescued by the Royal Navy of Oman and taken safely to Khasab in Oman, The Bangkok Post reported. Search and rescue operations are underway for the remaining three crew members, who are believed to still be on board the damaged vessel. The Bangkok Post, citing maritime security agencies and sources, said the Thai carrier was one of three vessels targeted by unidentified projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, with the Mayuree Naree reportedly suffering the most severe damage. The Royal Thai Navy said it is coordinating the response through the Combined Maritime Forces headquarters in Bahrain and is working closely with Thai embassies in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Oman. It is also collaborating with the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) to support ongoing search and rescue efforts. Authorities added that coordination is underway with the Consular Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Marine Department and the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre to assist the crew members and arrange their safe return to Thailand. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most critical shipping routes, through which a significant portion of global oil and gas supplies passes. However, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has disrupted maritime activity in the region and heightened security concerns for commercial vessels. Impact on Shipping in the Strait of Hormuz The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most critical shipping routes, through which a significant portion of global oil and gas supplies passes. However, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has disrupted maritime activity in the region and heightened security concerns for commercial vessels. A Thane resident fell prey to an elaborate 'digital arrest' cyber fraud, losing 1.56 crore to scammers posing as police and using forged documents; learn how to protect yourself from such scams. IMAGE: All illustrations: Dominic Xavier/ Rediff.com Key Points A Thane resident was duped of 1.56 crore by cyber fraudsters using a 'digital arrest' scam. The fraudsters used forged documents, including fake police FIRs and Interpol notices, to convince the victim he was under investigation. The victim was coerced into downloading a messaging app and kept under constant surveillance. Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has warned against 'digital arrest' scams and urged victims to report incidents to helpline 1930 within the 'golden hour'. Police have registered an FIR and are investigating the crime to trace the money and locate the suspects. A 64-year-old Thane resident has allegedly been duped of Rs 1.56 crore by a gang of cyberfraudsters who placed him under "digital arrest" for nearly a month after posing as police personnel, officials said on Wednesday. The fraudsters sent him multiple forged documents, including fake Mumbai police FIRs and counterfeit Interpol 'Red Corner' notices to convince he was under serious scrutiny, they said. The victim, from Katrap at Badlapur in Maharashtra's Thane district, was kept under 'digital arrest' from February 12 till March 7, according to the officials. The accused, posing as police personnel, contacted the victim from various mobile numbers, claiming that a complaint had been lodged against him for allegedly sending obscene messages and videos to 40 women. To intensify the fear, they told him that his Aadhaar card and bank details were linked to a money laundering investigation involving a prominent person, an official from Badlapur East police station said. The fraudsters coerced the victim into downloading the Signal messaging app on his wife's mobile phone to maintain constant surveillance. They sent several forged documents on the app, including fake Mumbai police FIRs, a bogus bank letter and ATM card photos in the victim's name. They even sent counterfeit Interpol 'Red Corner' notices to convince him that he was under high-level investigation, the official said. Under the guise of a "digital arrest," the fraudsters kept the victim on continuous audio and video surveillance, preventing him from seeking help. "The accused claimed that the victim's bank accounts and savings had to be surrendered to the RBI for verification. By creating an atmosphere of extreme fear, they managed to gather all his financial information and instructed him to transfer a total of Rs 1,56,45,000 into various bank accounts through RTGS," the official said. The victim later realised he had been duped and approached the police on Monday. Based on the complaint, the police registered an FIR on Monday against several individuals under sections 308(2) (extortion), 318 (cheating) and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with provisions of the Information Technology Act. "While we have identified the fraudsters through the names used by them, no arrests have been made so far. The police are conducting a probe into the crime further to trace the money trail and locate the suspects," the official said. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis last month stated in the legislative assembly that 'digital arrest' is a fraud and not legally tenable, appealing to people to guard against cyber theft. He also emphasised that if victims report the cyber frauds to helpline 1930 within the critical "golden hour" (critical for stopping fraudulent transactions), about 90 per cent of the money can be recovered. Social media sensation Monalisa Bhonsle defied family pressure and celebrated an interfaith marriage in Kerala, highlighting the state's progressive stance on love and choice. Key Points Monalisa Bhonsle, a social media personality, married her Muslim friend in Kerala after seeking police protection. The couple chose Kerala due to its reputation for supporting interfaith relationships and personal choice in marriage. Bhonsle cited family pressure against the relationship as the reason for seeking police assistance and marrying in Kerala. The wedding was attended by prominent political figures, highlighting the state's support for the couple's decision. Bhonsle is considering settling in Kerala and pursuing opportunities in Malayalam cinema. Monalisa Bhonsle, a young woman who shot to fame during the Prayagraj Kumbh Mela, tied the knot with her friend, a Muslim man, at a temple in nearby Poovar, hours after seeking police protection to evade the family's pressure. With a captivating smile and beautiful eyes, the Indore girl had shot to fame after a virtual content creator shared a video of her selling rudraksh garlands at Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh last year. The wedding ceremony was solemnised at the Nainar Temple at Arumanoor in Poovar in the presence of Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty, ruling CPI (M) state secretary M V Govindan, Rajya Sabha MP A A Rahim and other prominent leaders of the Marxist party. While the bride was clad in a red saree wearing sindhoor, the groom, an actor from Maharashtra, chose to wear a white shirt and mundu (dhoti). The couple later said they like Kerala very much and they are happy to get married here. The Couple's Perspective Bhonsle said her family did not like their relationship and pressured her to marry another person. "That's why we decided to get married here. I am feeling very much happy now. Kerala is a state that supports people beyond religion and caste. Here, anyone can marry according to their choice and live happily. That's why we came here," she said. She said she has offers in Malayalam cinema and is thinking about settling in the southern state. The groom said they became friends through social media, and it was a six-month love story. Political Support and Kerala's Stance While taking part in the ceremony, Sivankutty said it was a proud moment for the state. "Marriage happens in heaven, and that heaven is Kerala. It is the real Kerala story," Sivankutty told reporters. Earlier Concerns and Police Intervention Earlier in the day, Bhonsle, after arriving at the Thampanoor police station here, alleged that her father was trying to forcibly take her back to her hometown. She was in the Kerala capital as part of a film shooting, police said. According to police, Bhonsle and her boyfriend arrived at the police station, accompanied by the crew members of the film, alleging that her father was attempting to take her back against her will. The couple had arrived in nearby Poovar recently in connection with the film shoot, they said. "She insisted that she won't go with her father and made it clear that she is going to marry her boyfriend. As she is a major, she can act according to her choice," a police officer said. Later, she left with the boyfriend and crew members, the officer added. Her father reportedly returned to his hometown. Two minor girls and a woman inmate escaped from a Madhya Pradesh remand home after assaulting the warden, prompting a police search. IMAGE: Kindly note that the image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points Two minor girls and a woman escaped from Shakti Sadan remand home in Morena, Madhya Pradesh. The inmates assaulted the warden, Ramsnehi Solanki, and stole the keys to facilitate their escape. Police have launched a search operation to locate and apprehend the three escapees. The woman inmate was brought to the reform home on February 23, while the two minors arrived on March 9. Two minor girls and a woman inmate have escaped from a remand home in Madhya Pradesh's Morena district after assaulting the warden and snatching the keys, police said on Wednesday. The incident occurred on Tuesday night at the Shakti Sadan reform home, run by the Women and Child Development Department, in the Barokhar area, they said. The warden, Ramsnehi Solanki, was sleeping in her room when the three inmates attacked her, snatched the keys, unlocked the gate and fled, Station Road police station in-charge Sanjay Varaiya said. Talking to reporters, Solanki claimed she was sleeping in her room after locking the main gate of the reform home at around 11 pm when the three inmates fled. The warden subsequently informed the police and other authorities. The woman who escaped was a resident of Sirodha village in the Semai Panchayat of Kailaras and was brought to the reform home on February 23. The other two minors, hailing from Porsa and Sabalgarh in the district, were brought there on March 9, Solanki said. After being alerted, police reached the facility. A case was registered and a search was on for the three inmates, the police official said. The warfare sparked by U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran entered its 12th day on Wednesday. Observers have noted that while the United States and Israel have achieved some tactical gains, the escalating fighting has dashed Washington's hopes for a quick victory. CAIRO, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The warfare sparked by U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran entered its 12th day on Wednesday, with more than a dozen nations affected so far and shockwaves felt across the globe. Observers have noted that while the United States and Israel have achieved some tactical gains on the battlefield, the escalating fighting has dashed Washington's hopes for a quick victory. As concerns grow over a protracted war of attrition, so does the international chorus for an immediate end to hostilities and a return to the negotiating table. SPRAWLING WAR FLAMES As of Wednesday, the conflict, which has extended across all Gulf states and several other countries in the region, looks set to outlast the "12-day war" between Iran and the Israeli-U.S. coalition in June 2025. At the epicenter of the regional crisis, Iran has suffered heavy losses. During the initial U.S.-Israeli strikes, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed, along with several of the country's senior officials. The country's military installations, leadership compounds, and strategic infrastructure also came under heavy bombardment. A boy clears debris of a damaged building in Tehran, Iran, March 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Shadati) Iranian authorities have so far reported more than 1,300 deaths. Among the victims were over 160 schoolgirls who were killed when a strike hit a school in southern Iran. In retaliation, Iran has launched more than 30 waves of missile and drone attacks on U.S. and Israeli targets across the Middle East, and Tehran-aligned militias have also stepped up assaults across the region. Shortly after the strikes on Iran, Hezbollah began firing rockets and drones into northern Israel. Israel responded with extensive airstrikes and ground operations across Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah's leadership and infrastructure. According to Lebanese officials, the fighting has killed at least 570 people and displaced nearly 760,000, with the entire neighborhoods in southern Lebanon and the southern suburbs of Beirut coming under Israeli attacks. Beyond the battlefield, the war has sent shockwaves far and wide. The aviation sector has borne the brunt. As the fighting continues and spreads, major airports across the Middle East have been forced to cancel or delay flights for safety reasons, causing significant disruptions to the region's aviation industry. The global energy market has also suffered severe disruption. The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway that normally carries around 20 percent of the world's oil and gas, has forced some shipping companies to suspend operations. Strikes on energy infrastructure have compounded the disruption. Israel attacked Iranian oil facilities over the weekend, prompting retaliatory strikes by Iran on energy sites across the Gulf. Several key facilities have been forced to shut down or reduce operations. The combined shocks have sent global oil prices up by more than 25 percent in the early days of the conflict, with crude briefly trading between 100 and 120 U.S. dollars a barrel, the highest levels in years. Amin Nasser, chief executive officer of Saudi Aramco, warned Tuesday that prolonged instability triggered by the military escalation could have far-reaching consequences for global energy flows and the broader economy. WAR WITHOUT CLEAR STRATEGY As one of the initiators of the strikes on Iran, U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Tehran would be over "very soon." Although he later walked back some of those remarks, signaling a possible escalation in attacks on Iran, analysts said the messages coming from Washington reflect uncertainty over whether it can achieve the objectives it set before the conflict. "Washington is likely aware that prolonged military engagements in the Middle East tend to become costly, complex, and politically sensitive both domestically and internationally," said Akram Atallah, a Palestinian analyst from Gaza. As Atallah noted, before and during their airstrikes on Iran, the United States and Israel had declared their goals: to eliminate Iran's ballistic missile capabilities, achieve zero enriched uranium, and potentially facilitate a "regime change." Yet none of these objectives has been achieved. The initial strikes killed Ali Khamenei, but his second son, Mojtaba Khamenei, who also holds an anti-American stance, was quickly selected as the new supreme leader. That, analysts said, reflects both the resilience of Iran's political system and the strategic miscalculations of the United States and Israel. People attend gatherings to pledge allegiance to Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei at Enghelab Square in Tehran, Iran, on March 9, 2026. (Xinhua/Shadati) "The United States has entered a dilemma," Mokhtar Ghobashy, secretary-general of the Al-Farabi Center for Political Studies in Egypt, told Xinhua. "There are mistakes and poor strategy by the United States, because it clearly did not realize that Iran is a strategic knot present in this region and that this political system cannot be overthrown easily," Ghobashy added. Some Western scholars also argue that the United States currently lacks a clear strategic foundation in its conflict with Iran. "Usually, the U.S. would arrive at a major war only after creating an internal consensus, sharing goals and information with allies, and building support among the population, the political class, and the media," said Vali R. Nasr, an expert on Iran and Shiite Islam at Johns Hopkins University, in a recent interview. "None of this has happened." "The United States' biggest mistake was believing that military force alone could produce a new political order in the region, ignoring the deep social, sectarian, and tribal complexities," said Adel al-Ghurairi, an Iraqi political analyst and professor at Baghdad University. GLOBAL CALLS FOR PEACE Amid mounting tensions and escalating spillover effects, the international community has ramped up calls for an immediate halt to military operations, urging all parties to exercise restraint and prioritize dialogue and diplomacy. Protests have erupted in multiple countries, including the United States, Iran, India and Iraq, condemning the U.S.-Israeli military actions against Iran and demanding an end to foreign intervention and a restoration of peace. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Friday that the situation in the Middle East "could spiral beyond anyone's control," stressing that "it is time to stop the fighting and get to serious diplomatic negotiations." United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (C front) speaks at an emergency meeting of the Security Council regarding the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran at the UN headquarters in New York, Feb. 28, 2026. (Xinhua/Xie E) EU leaders said on Monday that the bloc was ready to play a role in easing tensions in the Middle East, calling for de-escalation and a return to negotiations. National leaders have also issued urgent calls for diplomatic efforts to bring about de-escalation. In recent days, leaders from countries including Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkiye and Iraq have all emphasized the need for relevant parties to exercise restraint, de-escalate the situation, prioritize dialogue, and pursue a diplomatic resolution. In a phone call on Tuesday with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated Russia's hopes for a swift de-escalation and a return to a political and diplomatic settlement, adding that Russia remains ready to help facilitate such efforts. China, for its part, has repeatedly called for an immediate ceasefire, a return to dialogue, respect for national sovereignty, and the protection of civilians. Zhai Jun, special envoy of the Chinese government on the Middle East issue, is visiting the region to push for de-escalation. (Video reporters: Dong Xiuzhu, Zhang Yanfang, Yao Bing, Marwa Yahya, Adel Ahmed, Mahmoud Fouly, Huang Zemin, Emad Drimly, Sanaa Kamal, Li Jun, Khalil Dawood; video editors: Liu Ruoshi, Luo Hui, Zheng Qingbin) A tragic land dispute in Sahibganj, Jharkhand, resulted in the stoning death of a woman, prompting swift police action and multiple arrests. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points A woman was stoned to death in Sahibganj, Jharkhand, due to a land dispute between neighbours. Police have arrested three members of a family, including two women, in connection with the murder. The incident occurred in the Banjhi Futani Hat area under Borio police station jurisdiction. A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against five people, and police are searching for the remaining two suspects. A 40-year-old woman was crushed with stones to death on Wednesday in Jharkhand's Sahibganj district over a land dispute between two neighbours, a senior police official said. Three members of a family, including two women, have been arrested in this connection so far, he said. The incident occurred in the Banjhi Futani Hat area under the jurisdiction of Borio police station. Details of the Incident and Investigation "The victim, identified as Sanjhali Devi, was crushed with stones following a land dispute between two neighbours. The police have arrested three members of a family. Among the accused are a man and his two daughters," Sadar SDPO Kishore Tirkey said. The body was sent for post-mortem examination at Sahibganj Sadar Hospital. The police have registered a named FIR against five people in this regard based on the statements of the victim's family members, the SDPO said. Two other accused are absconding, and raids are being conducted to apprehend them, Tirkey added. Israel and the United States had a plan. Iran punched back. And now the Gulf is reeling, the world is beginning to feel the pain and, as on date, no one in Washington or Tel Aviv appears willing to admit that the punch has landed, notes Prem Panicker, continuing his must-read blog on the war in the Middle East. IMAGE: Fire burns and smoke rises from the Aqdasieh oil depot in Tehran after being reportedly hit by a strike. Photograph: Social Media/via Reuters Key Points The US-Israel military campaign against Iran has rapidly expanded into a broader regional conflict affecting Gulf security and global energy markets. Analysts warn that tactical military success lacks strategic clarity, raising fears of instability similar to Iraq and Afghanistan. Iran's strategy of 'horizontal escalation' targets shipping, Gulf infrastructure and oil markets to raise economic and political costs. Global ripple effects include rising oil prices, disrupted trade routes, and strategic advantages for Russia amid shifting geopolitical attention. India has focused on evacuations and humanitarian measures while avoiding a clear stance despite Iran's membership in BRICS. MUST READ: The New Fog of War George Santayana (I can't spell his full Spanish name, sorry) wrote that 'Those who do not remember their past are condemned to repeat their mistakes.' Over time, that pithy line spawned various paraphrases, the most famous of which is 'Those who do not learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat it.' Via the Twitter stream of the brilliant New Yorker cartoonist Tom Toro (external link), I found this version, updated for our times: The prompt that made me recall this cartoon is repeated mention of 'regime change' across media, particularly in the United States. Don't we ever learn? In Afghanistan, the US and its allies took heavy losses of men and material; the US alone burned through $3.4 trillion in pursuit of regime change and managed only to replace the Taliban with Taliban V2. On the back of a cooked-up story that Iraq has developed weapons of mass destruction, the US began a similar adventure in Iraq. Again, thousands of lives lost, mostly of the Iraqis, and a further $3 trillion drain on the US exchequer -- for what? Saddam Hussein was killed, yes -- but the misadventure also led to the birth of ISIS and made the region far more volatile than it was before. And now, Iran. Where regime change was necessitated, the US said, because Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was a brutal dictator. We will pick the next leader, Trump repeatedly said. And it turns out that after all this effort, after burning through $10 billion and counting (external link) at the time of writing this (and that is just the cost of the munitions the US has burned through), after creating escalating economic chaos around the world, all that the US has managed to do is replace Ali Khamenei with the reportedly far more radical Mojtaba Khamenei. In a paywalled piece in the New York Times, Nicholas Kristof elaborates (external link) on this thought, and on what he calls 'the arrogance of power'. Cue Santayana, whose aphorism should ideally be carved into the wall of the Oval Office and, indeed, in any space where world leaders gather to make decisions of life and death. Iran War Expands Across Middle East IMAGE: A person walks past a banner depicting Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, the late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, in Tehran, March 10, 2026. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters Essential reads: Reuters has a useful overview (external link) of where the conflict stands as it enters its second week. The piece notes that what began as a limited US-Israeli campaign has rapidly widened into a regional confrontation, with Iranian attacks on Gulf targets and growing fears of economic fallout and prolonged US involvement. Reuters also has a visual explainer (external link) detailing how the conflict has spread across the region, with retaliatory strikes hitting targets in multiple Gulf states, and sending oil markets into a tailspin. The Institute for the Study of War has a detailed operational analysis (external link) tracking US-Israel strikes on Iranian military infrastructure and its internal security apparatus. It is particularly useful for understanding the military thinking behind the campaign. These reports are updated on a daily basis, which makes this site worth bookmarking for repeat visits. Rania Abouzeid, writing in a paywalled piece in The New Yorker (external link), widens the lens and points out that the Iran war has now spread to Lebanon. Hezbollah, which has kept a low profile since a November 2024 ceasefire ended a 14-month war with Israel, is now back and doing battle, despite pleas by the Lebanese government to stay out of the war. And Israel is fighting back. IMAGE: An interception attempt is made by Israel as missiles are launched from Iran on Tel Aviv, March 10, 2026. Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters A first wave of attacks that took in Lebanese territory all the way to Beirut left behind 51 dead at last count. Haaretz, the Israeli newspaper, however, reports that (external link) according to Israeli army sources, the cpounytry's military is struggling to intercept drones coming from Lebanon, and said that it might become necessary to evacuate Israeli communities near the border. Also in the New Yorker (paywalled), Robin Wright wonders (external link) just where all this is headed, and points out that Donald Trump, with his trademark inconsistency, has asked Iranians to rise up in revolt against the entrenched theocracy, but also said he is prepared to do a deal with a new religious leader. NB: A note on paywalls: not all the pieces I link to will be freely accessible, and I'm aware how frustrating that can be. Where possible, I'll summarise the key argument so that you are not left staring at a locked door. That said, I'll resist the easy cynicism about paywalls. Serious reporting and quality long-form analysis costs real money: In salaries, in time, in the kind of institutional backing that allows a journalist to spend days, even weeks on a single story. The outlets that charge for that work are not the villains of the information ecosystem. (The corollary -- don't paywall your content if you are not prepared to expend resources to create actual value -- is equally true.) Now, to step back and look at the geopolitical consequences: A Time analysis suggests (external link) that one of the early beneficiaries of the conflict may be Russia, which stands to gain from higher oil prices and from Washington's strategic attention shifting away from the war in Ukraine. This argument finds echoes in the Foreign Policy Research Institute, which explores (external link) how the diversion of American weapons and political focus toward the Middle East could reshape the balance in the Ukraine war. Global Oil Markets Under Pressure In The Guardian, Nesrine Malik shifts the focus (external link) from the Washington-Tehran-Tel Aviv triangle to the Gulf monarchies themselves. Malik argues that Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, often seen as stable petro-States insulated by wealth and by the security guaranteed by the US, are in fact undergoing fragile political transformations. Their recent strategy has depended on suppressing geopolitics in order to turn themselves into hubs of finance, tourism and global commerce. The sudden eruption of war, with missiles landing on Gulf infrastructure and airspace closing across the region, threatens that entire model. The conflict, the author argues, may end up reshaping the Gulf as much as it reshapes Iran. European analysts have begun asking an even deeper question: even if the military campaign succeeds, what exactly comes next? A thoughtful essay in Le Monde (behind a paywall) points out that battlefield dominance does not automatically translate into political stability. The more unsettling possibility, Le Monde suggests, is that weakening the Iranian State could produce outcomes such as fragmentation, factional struggles and prolonged instability, that prove harder to manage than the status quo. This thought, by the way, brings our conversation back to the opening segment, about those who do not learn from history. Reuters bluntly asks (external link) how many wake-up calls Europe needs before it wakes up to the fact that Washington under Trump is an unreliable ally. 'In the short run, there is little the region can do but suffer and squirm,' says Hugo Dixon for Reuters. 'A principled response would have been to condemn Trump's attack as contrary to international law while at the same time denouncing Iran's nuclear weapons programme. But Europe is too dependent on US military support to do that, especially given the Russian threat. It is also increasingly dependent on American energy since its gas purchases from Moscow are down dramatically and now Qatar is offline.' And then there is the diplomatic fallout. The Council on Foreign Relations looks at (external link) the uneasy position of European governments, many of whom were caught off guard by Washington's decision and who are now trying to balance alliance politics, energy concerns and fears of wider escalation. IMAGE: A picture of Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is displayed on a screen in Tehran, March 9, 2026. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/WANA/Reuters The European Council on Foreign Relations is even more blunt: In a wide-ranging piece (external link) that looks at what has already happened and what could follow, the ECFR concludes that this is a war with no winners. A useful handle to follow, if you are interested in the war and more broadly, international security, is Professor Robert A Pape (on X) (external link) of the University of Chicago. In a sharply argued essay (external link) in Foreign Affairs (paywalled), Pape explains Iran's response to the US-Israel strikes as a classic case of 'horizontal escalation'. Rather than confronting superior military power directly, weaker States widen the battlefield, thus drawing additional countries, economic sectors, and political actors into the conflict. Iran's missile and drone strikes across the Gulf, its targeting of shipping and energy infrastructure, and the resulting disruption to oil markets are all part of this strategy. The goal, Pape argues, is not battlefield victory but political leverage: prolong the conflict, raise its economic and diplomatic costs, and shift the contest from military superiority to endurance. Confirmation of this line of thought comes from Kamal Kharazi, foreign policy advisor to Iran's supreme leader, who tells CNN's Frederik Pleitgen (external link) that there is no room for diplomacy and "only economic pain" will end this war. Taken together, these pieces sketch the consequences of the war and how they widen in concentric circles, from the battlefield to global energy markets to the strategic competition among great powers. Regime Change Debate Returns IMAGE: Smoke rises following a strike on the Bapco oil refinery on Sitra Island, Bahrain, March 9, 2026. Photograph: Reuters India Watch: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made a suo motu statement in the Lok Sabha on Monday on what the government carefully calls 'the situation in West Asia' -- a formulation that is revealing in itself. Read the full text here (external link). It is a masterclass in saying much while committing to nothing. The humanitarian mechanics are laid out in excruciating detail: The advisories, the helplines, the 67,000 nationals evacuated, the flights in and out, the Iranian warship docked at Kochi. And for all of this, the government does deserve credit. But on the central question -- what India's position is on a war of choice launched in violation of international law, that has destabilised a region on which India is critically dependent -- the statement offers nothing beyond formulaic triangulation: 'Dialogue and diplomacy', 'restraint', 'sovereignty and territorial integrity of all state'. It is an exercise in 'both-sides' that ends up taking no side at all. What makes this particularly striking is the context Jaishankar chose not to mention. India currently holds the presidency of BRICS. Every other significant member of that grouping -- China, Russia, Brazil, South Africa -- has explicitly condemned the US-Israeli strikes and called for an immediate ceasefire. And to add a layer of irony, Iran is itself a part of BRICS, having joined the bloc on January 1, 2024 as part of a major expansion of membership (there are now 11 countries in this bloc). India's studied neutrality in Parliament amounts to a de facto abstention at precisely the moment when its presidency gives it both the platform and the moral weight to push for collective action. Santayana would recognise this, too. Those who won't take a position when it matters are also, in their own way, condemned to watch history repeat. Meanwhile on the ground, the ramifications of the war are beginning to multiply. IMAGE: A huge gathering to support Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei in Tehran, March 9, 2026. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters PTI reports that gas crematoriums in Pune have been temporarily closed (external link) following restrictions on the use of LPG components, thanks to the ongoing conflict in the Gulf. State-run oil marketing companies (OMCs) have suspended (external link) Non-Domestic Non-Exempted (NDNE) LPG dispatches across Punjab, including 19-kg, 47.5-kg, and 425-kg commercial cylinders, effective immediately. The suspension aims to prioritise propane and butane for domestic LPG supply, ensuring uninterrupted cooking gas for nearly 332 million households. As a result, hotels, cafes, restaurants, industrial units, and catering services in Punjab are facing severe operational challenges. Meanwhile, for domestic consumers, refill bookings are now restricted to once every 25 days, to regulate demand. While the central government has clarified that there is no outright ban (external link) on commercial LPG supply, the directive has been misinterpreted by some, leading to confusion. Mumbai hoteliers have complained about a shortage of LPG cylinders; so too have restaurateurs (external link) in Pune. And Bengaluru's hotel body has warned (external link) that there could be a citywide hotel shut down, owing to LPG shortage. The priority remains on domestic consumers, with refill bookings now restricted to every 25 days to regulate demand. India Walks Diplomatic Tightrope IMAGE: A motorcycle passes by fire burning along Tehran's Koohsar Boulevard, Iran, in this screengrab from video obtained from social media and released on March 8, 2026. Photograph: Social Media/Reuters Livemint (paywalled) reports (external link) that just as India was getting set to go big in world wheat markets at a time when global wheat prices have increased and with the rabi harvest due to hit markets later in March, the uncertainty in shipping has affected potential deals with major importing countries, as also procurement plans with farmers. 'Exporters are wary,' says the report, 'of committing to large shipments, given that freight rates remain volatile and vessel schedules uncertain'. Top importing destinations for Indian wheat include the UAE, Iraq and South Korea; Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana rank among the top producers. The United States has asked India (external link) to consider taking more than 100 million barrels of Russian crude that are currently sitting on ships waiting to unload at Chinese ports, IANS reported on Monday. The request comes as global oil markets grow nervous due to the ongoing tensions involving Iran in the Middle East. And while on Trump, until three days ago the US president was saying that oil tankers running the Gulf of Hormuz gauntlet would be protected by his warships. Now, he tells Fox News (external link) that tankers should 'go through the Strait of Hormuz and show some guts, there is nothing to be afraid of...' 'Show some guts'?! Seriously? IMAGE: Smoke rises after a reported strike on fuel tanks at an oil refinery in Tehran, March 8, 2026. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters Also worth your time... A pointed essay (external link) in The New Yorker (paywalled) by national-security scholar Tom Nichols (external link) draws a distinction between operational success and strategic clarity. Nichols argues that the US and Israeli militaries have demonstrated overwhelming tactical competence in the opening phase of the war, quickly establishing dominance in the air and at sea. But, he contends, these battlefield successes are occurring in a strategic vacuum, with the administration offering shifting and sometimes contradictory explanations for what the war is meant to achieve. The danger, he suggests, is what military historians call 'victory disease', which he says is the tendency of leaders to mistake successful military operations for a coherent strategy. (In this connection, also read on the same platform a piece titled 'Six Days of War, 10 Rationales')(external link). In a paywalled piece for the Financial Times, historian and energy analyst Daniel Yergin writes (external link) that the Iran war has triggered the biggest disruption of global oil production in history. Whether it becomes a lasting nightmare for markets and the global economy depends on how long it lasts, Yergin argues, though the global oil and gas system is way more resilient and diversified than it has been for decades. (If you do not have access to FT, Yergin says pretty much the same thing in this chat (external link) with Bloomberg.) Yergin is a voice well worth listening to. Any reading list on conflict in the Gulf should begin with the story of oil itself. IMAGE: A car drives past burned buildings after an Israeli strike on Beirut's southern suburbs, March 7, 2026. Photograph: Reuters In his Pulitzer-winning (1992, in the General Nonfiction category) book The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money & Power, Yergin traces how petroleum shaped the modern world, from the birth of the oil industry in the nineteenth century to the great geopolitical struggles of the twentieth. The book shows how control over oil fields, shipping routes, and prices repeatedly redrew the map of power, particularly in the Middle East. It reads like a thriller but is grounded in meticulous research, and though it is now over three decades old, it remains one of the clearest guides to understanding why conflicts in the Gulf so often ripple outward into global politics and the world economy. If you would rather watch, here is a link (external link) to an eight-part YouTube video series based on the book, and narrated by Yergin himself. And if you want to dive even deeper, Yergin's follow-up book, The Quest: Energy, Security and the Remaking of the Modern World, is worth your time. Bloomberg's Menaka Doshi has an excellent interview (external link) with President Alexander Stubb of Finland. Stubb's assessment is stark: The war is escalating rapidly, it lacks a clear strategic endgame and, most worryingly, has no credible mediator capable of stopping it. He argues that the goals attributed to the US-Israeli campaign, from curbing Iran's nuclear and missile programmes to weakening its proxies or forcing regime change, are unlikely to be achieved through air power alone. (At some point, boots on the ground are going to be needed, and that is when the casualty numbers will spike.) Stubb also warns that local conflicts increasingly spill into regional and global crises, pointing to the economic shockwaves already hitting trade and energy markets. With Europe divided on the war, and diplomacy sidelined in what Stubb calls a more 'transactional' global order, he sees little prospect of a quick ceasefire. Jordan Michael Smith in The New Republic comes up with a 'big frame' geopolitical essay (external link) that steps back from battlefield developments and asks how the war fits into a broader transformation of the international system. Smith argues that the Iran war is unfolding against a far larger geopolitical shift, namely, the unraveling of the post-Cold War US-led order. The piece traces how different power centres -- China, Europe, Russia, and Iran -- are recalibrating their strategies in response to a more transactional and unpredictable American foreign policy. Drawing on remarks by Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney, Smith suggests that middle powers may increasingly try to hedge against both Washington and Beijing, while major rivals such as Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin sit back and watch Western alliances develop cracks under the pressure. The war with Iran, in Smith's telling, is a symptom of a rapidly changing global order. A Conflict With No Winners IMAGE: An Iranian missile with cluster munitions flies towards central Israel, March 5, 2026. Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters In closing... Thanks to the 'arrogance of power' mentioned earlier, neither the United States nor Israel appear to have budgeted for the economic shockwaves when they unilaterally decided to go to war. Now those shockwaves are hitting, and we are still at the first order effects -- the second, third and fourth are coming, and they will be worse. The world is paying a price it never agreed to pay, for a war it had no say in starting. And no one, it seems, has a credible plan to stop it. Which brings us back to where we began: to Santayana, and to Clausewitz. The Prussian theorist had another famous formulation, less quoted than his 'fog of war' but no less relevant today: No plan survives first contact with the enemy. Heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson put it more pithily: 'No plan survives a punch in the face'. Israel and the United States had a plan. Iran punched back. And now the Gulf is reeling, the world is beginning to feel the pain and, as on date, no one in Washington or Tel Aviv appears willing to admit that the punch has landed. Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff Oh, what a strange 'tangled web' these two men and one woman have been caught up in for the last nine years. Illustrations: Dominic Xavier/Rediff Key Points During recent proceedings, defence lawyer Ranjeet Vishnupant Sangle cross-examined former investigating officer Dinesh Parshuram Kadam, raising questions about the investigation conducted by the Mumbai Police. The defence raised questions about Rahul's claim of visiting multiple police stations to report Sheena missing, asking whether there was documentary proof. Testimony also touched on the role of former driver Shyamvar Rai, including claims about disposal of a suitcase and activities at the Marlow building shortly after the alleged murder. Accused No 1 Indrani Mukerjea, Accused No 2 Sanjeev Khanna and Accused No 4 Peter Mukerjea are not usually all present in court at hearings in the Sheena Bora murder trial, taking place at Judge Dr Jyoti P Darekar's Courtroom No 51, Mumbai civil and sessions court, Kala Ghoda, south Mumbai. Sometimes one or another of them takes an absence for sickness or other pressing issues. And Sanjeev has special court permission to go back, at intervals, to Kolkata to look in on his elderly mother. Ever since the trio got bail, more than five years ago, when they approached both the Bombay high court and the Supreme Court for their unfair length of incarceration as undertrials, court rules dictate they must not absent themselves from hearings more than two consecutive days, except in urgent circumstances. Recently, all three of them were in court together for a hearing. When I looked behind, at the rickety accused box in the back, at them, sitting on the long wooden bench, one pondered how unpredictable the future had been for them nine years ago. But more significantly one noted how much these three accused had changed over the years. Indrani, 54, always alluring, in that distinct Assamese way, and never anything but perfectly dressed -- she was a cloud of white that Tuesday, with shells in her ears and shell anklets -- is halfway to becoming a lawyer or maybe fancies herself to be nearly there. She also now finds peace as a performing dancer (Wikipedia strangely lists her as a 'British actor'). She has spent many tedious years studying every single document related to the case and educating herself on the legal aspects for her own self-survival. Sanjeev, cool, collected, with a ready smile, is virtually a detective. You can almost see the magnifying glass in his hand and the Sherlock tweed hat. He has used his time since the trial began to unravel the complicated case the Mumbai police and the CBI built, poring over Google maps, timings, newspaper articles, case documents, often nipping to the front of the court, during hearings, ready and handy at defence lawyer Ranjeet Vishnupant Sangle's elbow, competently producing any kind of info the advocate might require. It's hard to tell what Peter, 69, has become. Probably a soon-to-be author -- I mean he must have some fascinating memoirs to write. Maybe something of a philosopher. When I look into his face, I can see no trace of the dynamic Star CEO he once was. He's mostly pensive, moody, deep in his own world, possibly sifting self-deprecating thoughts about life. Or else something more prosaic like thinking about his upcoming meal, given he always enjoyed his food. Oh, what a strange 'tangled web' these two men and one woman have been caught up in for the last nine years. Or allegedly 'weaved'. On February 24, 2026, Sangle, Indrani's lawyer, whose crosses have a certain fiery thecha-esque flamboyance, returned the court to April 24, 2012, nearly 14 years ago, to the grim night of Sheena Bora's murder. Leaning on the most classic defence device, Sangle was strenuously engaged in that timeless backgammon move of turning the tables: Alleging the accuser was the alleged criminal. His intriguing take was: Did anyone -- particularly the case's main investigating officer for the Mumbai police, Dinesh Parshuram Kadam, who is the man in the witness box at the moment, as Prosecution Witness No 146 -- check Rahul Mukerjea's movements that night. Once he had driven Sheena to Amarsons Collections department store, in Bandra, north west Mumbai, near National College, to meet her mother, where did he go in Sheena's silver Maruti Alto? He was the last person to travel with Sheena in that car and to where had he headed off to afterwards? Dinesh Kadam's reply was that Rahul waited to hear from Sheena as to when he had to pick her up and when she texted that she was spending the night at Marlow building in central Mumbai in Worli with her mother Indrani, he then drove home to the flat he and Sheena shared in Marol, Andheri, north west Mumbai. But Sangle quickly pointed out, that as per his phone records and his crossex in 2022, Rahul had in the interim on April 24, it seems, wandered in the general Khar area, north west Mumbai. Sangle: "Did you ask Rahul Mukerjea how long it took to reach his residence allegedly after dropping Sheena to Bandra?" Kadam: "No." Sangle, who likes to pile on the word 'allegedly', in a string, multiplying its usage, pointedly, merrily, in his queries: "Was it revealed to you during the entire investigation what time Rahul Mukerjea allegedly reached his house in Marol, Andheri, after allegedly dropping Sheena Bora to Amarsons, Bandra?" Kadam said it had not. The lawyer in his next question exaggeratedly reminded Kadam: "Rahul Mukerjea was the last person to travel and be seen with Sheena Bora in her Maruti Alto car on April 24, 2012, based on his statement and admissions?" Kadam, perennially concise: "Ho." To be fair, Kadam's investigation was still ongoing when it was handed over to the CBI in late September, 2015, and so further following up in different directions had not been possible by Khar police station, to which Kadam was attached, who first began investigating the case. Also Read: Does Rahul Wonder If Sheena Is Dead? The indefatigable Sangle probed on tirelessly, exhausting Kadam, running through a long list of points on February 24 and 25, asking if the Khar police and Kadam had checked or knew that (and why they did not know): - Rahul did not disclose he was either married or engaged to Sheena to Kadam or the Khar police. - Rahul said he had gone to four Mumbai police stations to register a missing report for Sheena and was told he was not a relative and could not do so. Why didn't he tell the police he was married to Sheena? - Was there documentary proof that he had actually visited these police stations like he said? - Rahul did not disclose that his mother knew a Parambir Singh, then inspector general of police, Konkan range, but yet he did not contact Singh for help in locating a missing Sheena. - He was offered legal help by Sheena's lawyer friend but did not take it. - Rahul did not offer any details about the 'ear tops' Sheena was wearing on April 24 (later found in the car). - No forensic analysis was done of the Marol flat Sheena and Rahul shared for blood stains or DNA or of the Maruti Alto. - No one checked why Sheena and Sameer Buddha (a Mukerjea friend and owner of a security agency) had spoken so many times on the day of her murder and he was not aware that Sanjeev Khanna and Sameer Buddha had a physical likeness (Now did they?!). Sangle Flags Alleged Abuse, Gaps in Rahul Probe Then Sangle slowly approached the most powerful and memorable moment of all these last many days of the cross-examination of Kadam: Sangle asked in Marathi in words to the effect: "Rahul Mukerjea to tila violently maraycha ani tichya angawar daag uthle hote or he often physically assaulted and abused Sheena Bora and there were marks of violence on her body. Did you find out about that??" There was a long silence. A kind of hushed extended pause. Momentarily, a wave of mixed emotions walked across Kadam's face and was visible for all to see... Like he knew something but was not going to tell. He slowly answered in Marathi: "I did not." What was it he knew? Sangle wondered forcefully, shocked, why their violent domestic relationship was not a matter of interest to the investigators, particularly Kadam. But Kadam denied embarking on any investigation to check if abusive domestic discord troubled Sheena and Rahul's relationship and reluctantly agreed that it might have been an important angle to have followed. Sangle then hopped ahead to April 26, 2012 and unearthed how there were no details on what Rahul had done that whole day, two days after Sheena's alleged murder. He put it to Kadam in a slow, emphatic tone: "He was with Shyamvar Rai (the then Mukerjea driver and Accused No 3 whose appearances in court are as rare as spotting a snowflake in Mumbai) the whole day!" Kadam laughed, maybe because he found the claim too preposterous, and then shrugged saying he was not aware. Indrani beamed a big, many-watt satisfied smile to the court. Peter didn't react, face impassive. He's in a tricky-sticky, between-rock-and-hard-spot situation. If Indrani is found not guilty, he gets a clean chit too, but the defence strategy leans heavily on blackening the reputation of his younger son. Sangle made Kadam recall that Rai had said, in his statement, that on April 26, after picking up Peter from the airport, the driver had subsequently done some 'saph-saphai' of the Marlow garage. And he had disposed of a suitcase (the twin of the one used to transport Sheena's body), giving it to house/office boy Pradeep Waghmare (who also mentioned it in his testimony in June 2018). That day -- Kadam agreed he was aware -- Rahul also visited Marlow right about the time of the spring cleaning, looking for a missing Sheena and possibly met Rai. During the February 25 and 26 court hearings, Sangle went on a friendly-ish exploratory tour with Kadam over the manner in which DNA and blood samples had been collected for Shyamvar Rai and Indrani and where they had been stored. They were kept overnight in a common fridge at the Khar police station on August 26, 2015, before they were sent to DFSI, Kalina, north west Mumbai, for examining. Kadam said the samples had been sealed but Sangle attempted to not allow the word sealed to come on the court record, doubting its validity. Coming up: After the days off for Holi, there was more Rahul bashing on March 9 and March 10 and if he allegedly had the "classic traits of a habitual criminal" and long discussions on the price of cocaine, charas, ganja, that quite amused the judge. But before that Shyamvar Pinturam Rai's country revolver, that he was not licensed to possess, was the centre of a hearing. Why? Because forensics had reported that a shot had been fired from the pistol and there was residue of ammunition in its barrel. Where had Rai fired the pistol?... Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Occasional snow showers. Quite windy. Temps nearly steady in the mid 30s. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of snow 60%. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Partly cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 21F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. BANGKOK, March 11 (Xinhua) -- THAIFEX-HOREC Asia, a major international trade exhibition for the hotel, restaurant, and catering (HoReCa) services, returned for its third edition here on Wednesday. The exhibition brought together nearly 700 companies from 35 countries and regions, showcasing a comprehensive range of products, services, and innovations across the hospitality and food service value chain. In his opening remarks, Thailand's caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the trade fair aims to strengthen supply chain connectivity, expand market opportunities, and reinforce the Southeast Asian nation's role as a trusted partner in regional and global commerce. The Thai government remains committed to supporting entrepreneurs in maintaining their competitiveness and resilience in an increasingly complex global economy through trade promotion, capacity building, market diversification, and economic partnerships, he said. The annual event, running until March 13, featured exhibition zones and engaging activities designed to create an international platform for entrepreneurs, investors, and buyers to connect, exchange knowledge, forge business opportunities, and drive the future of the HoReCa industry. The Thai government projects that the exhibition this year will attract over 20,000 visitors, buyers, and business professionals worldwide, generating more than 3.5 billion baht (about 110.36 million U.S. dollars) in trade value. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Windy with occasional snow showers. Temps nearly steady in the mid to upper 30s. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of snow 80%. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 21F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. TEL AVIV -- Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is probably in charge despite making no public appearance since being appointed on March 8 and amid reports that he was injured in an air strike, according to a leading Israeli expert on Iran. Speaking to RFE/RL in Tel Aviv on March 11, Raz Zimmt, who is head of the Iran program at the Institute for National Security Studies, said the question was whether Khamenei would be capable of maintaining "daily contacts with the political and security establishment" to preserve "the ability of the regime to function." RFE/RL: What's your assessment of where we are now in the war? Raz Zimmt: It's very clear that both Israel and the United States have achieved very significant military achievements in their attempts to degrade as much as possible Iran's strategic capabilities. If you look at the ballistic missiles capacities, if you look at the aerial defense system, even some of the remains of the nuclear program in Iran, and certainly the attempts to undermine or to degrade Iran's security forces, the [Islamic] Revolutionary Guards [Corps], the Basij, the Iranian Navy, all is going quite well. The question is whether those achievements will allow to achieve the main objectives, which are, in my view: one, to degrade Iran's strategic capabilities to a point where it's going to be very difficult to reconstitute its nuclear program and its ballistic missiles, just as it tried to do after the 12-day war in June. And then the second objective would be to weaken and undermine the Iranian regime. RFE/RL: OK, let's take those one at a time, starting with the effective degradation of Iran's military and security capabilities. Zimmt: When it comes to the missiles, during the 12-day war in June, Israel managed to destroy a lot of the launchers and then to block the entrances and the exits to the so-called underground compounds used to store them. If that happens again, it won't make any real difference because at the end of the day Iran will be able to restore the production of its missiles -- unless the United States is capable of targeting and hitting the underground compounds and, more importantly, to hit the production lines. Concerning the nuclear issue, if the war ends with 450 kilograms of enriched uranium to 60 percent (eds: estimates of how much Iran has vary; this figure was given by US envoy Steve Witkoff), if this fissile material still is left in Iran, it's going to be a very disturbing development because Iran can still have the technical know-how and the capability to break out [and develop nuclear weapons]. RFE/RL: Let's just look at the new leadership emerging in Iran. There's still no sign of Khamenei Jr. Zimmt: Right. There were some reports that he was actually injured during the first hours of the attack, but he was nominated by the Assembly of Experts, so we should assume he's capable of fulfilling his task, at least. RFE/RL: So you wouldn't read too much into the fact that we haven't seen him anywhere? Zimmt: No, it's very obvious that the Iranian regime is fighting for its survival. They know very clearly that Mojtaba Khamenei might become the next target by either Israel or the United States, and so he should hide. The question in my view is whether he's capable of reaching out and continue his daily contacts with the political and security establishment inside Iran, because that's what matters, whether he's capable of...preserving a kind of continuity in preserving the ability of the regime to function. RFE/RL: Can the regime survive? Zimmt: Any kind of regime change in Iran -- and we certainly hope for regime change in Iran -- depends in my view on three main conditions. One is to see millions of Iranians in the streets. because otherwise it's going to be almost impossible, in my view, to topple the Iranian regime only through aerial strikes from above. The second condition would be to see some kind of coalition between different sections and parts of the Iranian society -- students, women, bus drivers, workers, ethnic minorities -- working together. Last but not least, I would say one condition for a regime change in Iran is to see some cracks and divisions and perhaps defections from within the security apparatus inside Iran. And that's something which is going to be very difficult to achieve because, as we know, the Revolutionary Guards [and] the Basij are very much dependent on the Islamic republic. They know that if the regime collapsed, they might pay the consequences for that. And so they will fight until the end, in my view. RFE/RL: So no cracks so far? Zimmt: We might see some weakening of the command and control networks inside Iran. We might see some divisions between different sections of the military and political establishment inside Iran. But certainly we have not seen any kind of losing control. Just yesterday I looked at information about checkpoints established by the Basij, by the law enforcement forces in Iran. We still have reports about the intelligence agencies in Iran arresting people for treason or for cooperating with Israel. RFE/RL: If the regime does survive, what's it going to be like? Zimmt: I'm afraid that if their regime survives, especially if it's under Mojtaba Khamenei, we might see an even more hard-line state, more committed to not just continuing the core strategic goals of Iran -- meaning its missiles, nuclear, regional ambitions -- but we might also see a regime which might take more risks in comparison to [that under] Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. For example, we know that throughout the years under Khamenei, Iran was certainly moving forward toward reaching a nuclear threshold state, but Khamenei didn't make a decision to break out. My concern is that someone like Mojtaba might take the risk of breaking out, especially after realizing that this might be the ultimate deterrence vis-a-vis Israel and the United States. RFE/RL: If the clerical establishment does remain in control, what will this mean for relations with the Gulf states? Zimmt: They will realize that if this regime is still intact, they will have to live with that. And President Trump is not going to be here forever. I'm not sure if they can trust the Israelis, because some of them at least consider Israel to be a destabilizing force. Their conclusion might be: We might have to work with Israel, with the United States. To strengthen our defense systems vis-a-vis the Iranians, we should try to find a way to accommodate with Iran because Iran is here to stay, because the Islamic republic might be here to stay. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Iranian officials went on the offensive on March 11 to knock down rumors over newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei's state of health, saying he was injured in the air strikes that killed his father and other family members but is "safe and sound." Mojtaba Khamenei was announced as the country's new supreme leader on March 8 following the death of his father in a bombing raid on February 28. The 56-year-old has not been seen since the United States and Israel launched air strikes on Iran, nor has he made any public statements, giving rise to speculation he too may have died or been seriously injured in the attacks. "His Eminence Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei is today the heir to the blood of his martyred father, his martyred mother, his martyred sister, and his martyred wife," a state television presenter said on March 11, using Khamenei's full and honorary titles. "He, who is a janbaz of the Ramadan War, inherits the path of the proud and steadfast martyrs of this land," the anchor added. Janbaz is an Iranian term for a wounded veteran. Iranian officials are calling the current conflict the Ramadan War because it is happening during Islam's fasting month. No details were given by state television on Khamenei's current state of health, and the whereabouts of the hard-liner who is seen as being close to Iran's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) were not disclosed. The younger Khamenei's selection by the Assembly of Experts, a clerical body, was seen by many as an attempt to bring continuity to Iran at a time of uncertainty. At the same time, the choice, experts say, also revealed a system under acute internal strain, one in which the powerful IRGC -- the elite branch of Iran's armed forces and the backbone of the country's theocracy -- has displaced the clerically dominated political establishment as kingmakers in the country of some 90 million people. As part of the offensive to reinforce that Mojtaba Khamenei indeed holds power in Iran, Yousef Pezeshkian, a government adviser and son of Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian, said in a social media post that he had heard from friends "with connections" that Khamenei had been injured in the attacks that killed his father but "thank God, he is safe and sound." The Iranian ambassador to Cyprus, Alireza Salarian, told The Guardian newspaper on March 11 that Mojtaba Khamenei "was also there and he was injured in that bombardment but I haven't seen that reflected in the foreign news." I have heard that he was injured in his legs and hand and arm. I think he is in the hospital because he is injured," he added. In an explanation as to why Khamenei had yet to appear in public or made any statements since succeeding his father, Salarian said, "I don't think he is [in any condition] to give a speech." While the younger Khamenei spent two decades at the center of his father's office, the Beyt, coordinating between the clerical establishment and the IRGC, some analysts said his lack of experience makes him entirely dependent on Iran's so-called deep state, which is dominated by the IRGC. Speaking to RFE/RL in Tel Aviv on March 11, Raz Zimmt, who is head of the Iran program at the Institute for National Security Studies, said the question was whether Khamenei would be capable of maintaining "daily contacts with the political and security establishment" to preserve "the ability of the regime to function." "It's very obvious that the Iranian regime is fighting for its survival. They know very clearly that Mojtaba Khamenei might become the next target by either Israel or the United States, and so he should hide," Zimmt said. Three vessels were damaged in incidents across the Persian Gulf's key maritime artery, where about a fifth of the world's oil and gas supplies travel, as Iran continued to launch air attacks around the Middle East. Commercial ships sailing under the flags of Thailand, Japan, and the Marshall Islands were targeted by unknown projectiles across the Strait of Hormuz, United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a shipping security monitor, said on March 11. While no crew members were reported dead following the attacks, UKMTO advised ships in the Strait of Hormuz to "transit with caution and report any suspicious activity," adding investigations into the incidents were ongoing. Separately, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said it had struck a Liberian-flagged vessel in the Strait Of Hormuz that it claimed was owned by Israel. Tehran has indicated it considers the ships transferring oil to the United States, Israel, and "their partners" as "legitimate" targets. "We won't allow even one liter of oil to reach the US, Zionists, and their partners. Any vessel or tanker bound to them will be a legitimate target," said Iran's military command spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaqari on March 11. Just off the shores of Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where the shipping lane narrows to a width of less than 4 kilometers, the attacks are the latest in at least a dozen incidents since US and Israeli forces began their military campaign against Iran on February 28. Those attacks have prompted retaliatory strikes by Iran on targets in many neighboring Gulf states. US Forces 'Eliminated' 16 Iranian Mine-Layers The flurry of strikes on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz follows US President Donald Trump's earlier warning to Iran in which he demanded Tehran remove any mines in the area or face "military consequences" that will be at "a level never seen before." "If Iran has put out any mines in the Hormuz Straitwe want them removed, IMMEDIATELY," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social on March 10, adding that US forces would "permanently eliminate any boat or ship attempting to mine the Hormuz Strait." Later in the day, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the American military had "eliminated multiple Iranian naval vessels...including 16 minelayers near the Strait of Hormuz." In a subsequent comment, CENTCOM urged civilians "to immediately avoid all port facilities where Iranian naval forces are operating," saying Tehran was using its civilian infrastructure for military purposes. As Iran continued its retaliatory strikes aimed at its oil-exporting neighbors, disruptions of shipping in the region plunged the global energy economy into crisis, with oil prices increasing by more than 5 percent on March 11. Zolfaqari said global trade should prepare for oil prices to rise to "$200 a barrel, because the oil price depends on regional security which you have destabilized." In response to these developments, President Donald Trump said the United States would tap its strategic oil reserves "a little bit" to help ease price pressures. "Right now, we'll reduce it a little bit and that brings the prices down," he said in a TV interview. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve is the world's largest emergency supply of oil products, established in 1975 to be access during times of energy disruptions. The US Energy Department said the release was part of a wider release of crude by 32 countries belonging to the International Energy Agency. The IEA earlier said members unanimously agreed to release 400 million barrels of oil from its emergency reserves into the market. "The oil market challenges we are facing are unprecedented in scale, therefore I am very glad that IEA Member countries have responded with an emergency collective action of unprecedented size," said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. The Group of Seven (G7) industrial nations released a statement saying its members have agreed to explore the possibility of aiding transiting ships through the Gulf. "In this regard, a working group has been set up to explore the possibility of escorting ships when the right security conditions are in place, and this will also come along with approaches made to shipping companies, transport companies, and insurers," said the G7, which consists of the United States, Canada, Japan, Italy, Britain, Germany and France. Erdogan: War 'Must Be Stopped' Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the Iran war "must be stopped before it becomes bigger and completely engulfs the region in flames." "There will be more loss of life and property, and the cost to the global economy will increase even further," Erdogan added, as more Iranian attacks were reported across the Middle East on the 12th day of the war. UAE's emirate of Dubai said on March 11 that two drones crashed near the city's airport, leaving four people injured -- two citizens of Ghana, one from India, and one from Bangladesh. Iran Threatens To Target US, Israeli Banks In a separate development on March 11, Iran announced its forces will target economic centers and banks belonging to the United States and Israel, saying the decision was taken in response to the "enemy" targeting a bank in Iran. A spokesperson for Khatam al-Anbiya, the Iranian military's joint operational command, called the alleged attack an "illegitimate and unconventional" act in the war that had left Tehran's "hands free to target economic centers and banks belonging to" the United States and Israel "in the region." The statement urged people in countries where US and Israeli banks are located not to remain within a 1-kilometer radius of them. While Khatam al-Anbiya's statement did not name the bank or its location, only saying it was struck overnight, Bank Sepah -- one of Iran's largest state-owned banks -- later said one of its branches in Tehran was hit by a missile early in the day. Separately, Iran's state television channel IRINN reported the employees working in the bank were on the extra shift to prepare March salary payments. According to the report, a "high" number of people were killed in the attack. There was no immediate comment from the United States or Israel. Later on March 11, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced a new "wide-scale wave of strikes targeting Iranian terror regime infrastructure across Iran." "Simultaneously, the IDF has begun striking Hezbollah infrastructure in Beirut," Israel's military added in a statement published on Telegram. With reporting by Reuters Iran's Kharg Island, the country's main oil export outlet, could be a target for the United States, experts say, in a move that could cut off the revenues that sustain Tehran's sanctions-hit economy. But the possible capture of the tiny island in the Persian Gulf, which handles around 90 percent of all Iranian oil exports, would mark a major escalation in the US-Israeli war on Iran. It is also unlikely to land a fatal economic blow to the Islamic republic, experts say. Axios reported on March 7 that the US administration has discussed capturing Kharg, on which Iran has heavily depended to export its oil since facilities on the island were built in the 1960s. The island's deep-water berths can accommodate supertankers that move oil in bulk. A source close to White House told The New York Post that capturing the island "is not so much a matter of if but when, given its critical nature to the outcome of the war." The Trump administration has not publicly commented on the issue. "Iran does have other export terminals," Gregory Brew, a historian of Iranian oil and senior analyst at the Eurasia Group, told RFE/RL. "There are five others, including a new one at Jask, east of the Strait of Hormuz, connected to Iran's major oil fields via a 1,000-kilometer-long pipeline." The Jask oil terminal was built specifically to route exports around the Strait of Hormuz -- and around scenarios like this one, he said. If the United States attempts to seize control of the island, a scrubby piece of land, Iran could decide to destroy the oil terminals located on Kharg. "The Iranians could very well be incentivized to destroy the infrastructure in Kharg rather than allowing it to fall into enemy hands," said Brew. Such a move would hand Washington a symbolic victory and Tehran a propaganda win, while oil markets absorb the shock regardless, experts say. Any US troops deployed in Kharg would be vulnerable to Iranian counterattacks, Brew said, noting the island has no meaningful protection against missile or drone fire. Iran has deployed those same weapons across the Persian Gulf since the United States and Israel launched their aerial bombardment of the Islamic republic on February 28. A possible US seizure of Kharg could also hand Iran's new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, a major propaganda win. Khamenei, who succeeded his late father as supreme leader on March 8, took power under a cloud of controversy and his legitimacy was contested even within Iran's clerical establishment. The foreign occupation of Iranian soil would hand him precisely the national emergency needed to burnish his credentials and rally the public. "It would allow the regime to shift the purpose of the war," Brew said, "from protecting itself against US and Israeli aggression to protecting Iran's territorial integrity." US President Donald Trump claimed the United States has "won" the war against Iran but says its forces will continue to attack until the job is finished, while Tehran has hit at least six vessels in the region and vowed further strikes. "You never like to say too early you won. We won," Trump said during a campaign-style rally in Kentucky on March 11. "In the first hour it was over," he said. Comments from Trump and the White House over recent days have varied, from speculating that the war could last four to six weeks or longer to the possibility that it could be over "soon." Trump has said the US-Israeli attack on Iran, begun on February 28, had "virtually destroyed" the Middle East nation, wiping out much of its leadership, armed forces, and nuclear program. Still, the president and others in his administration have indicated that there will be no letup in attacks. "We don't want to leave early, do we?" Trump said. "We got to finish the job." Israel has also made clear it is not ready to end its campaign, including attacks in Lebanon on Iran-allied Hezbollah forces, saying a "a broad bank of targets" remains. "We will expand our operations," military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin told a televised briefing on March 11. In the early morning hours of March 12, the Israeli military announced a "wide-scale wave of strikes on Tehran -- an almost nightly event in recent days. Iranian Navy Ships Struck Trump said US forces had struck Iranian ships in the Strait of Hormuz amid fears of a sea-mining campaign by Tehran in one of the most economically important waterways in the world. "We hit 28 mine ships as of this moment," Trump told reporters, a day after the US military said 16 mine-laying vessels had been destroyed. Reuters and CNN, citing US sources, said Iran has deployed about a dozen mines in the strait. Reuters quoted a source as saying the mines were deployed "in the last few days" and that most of their locations were known. Oman Says Drones Hit Fuel Tanks, Igniting Fires by RFE/RL No media source currently available 0:00 0:00:28 0:00 In the face of fears of an energy crisis with the disruption in oil production and shipping in the Gulf region, the Western leaders have moved to keep prices from soaring. On March 11, Trump said the United States would tap its strategic oil reserves "a little bit" to help ease price pressures. "Right now, we'll reduce it a little bit and that brings the prices down," he said in a TV interview. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve is the world's largest emergency supply of oil products, established in 1975 to be accessed during times of energy disruptions. The US Energy Department later said the release of 172 million barrels was part of a wider release of crude by 32 countries belonging to the International Energy Agency. The IEA earlier said members unanimously agreed to release 400 million barrels of oil from its emergency reserves into the market. The Group of Seven (G7) industrial nations released a statement saying its members have agreed to explore the possibility of escorting ships through the Gulf region, including the crucial Strait of Hormuz. The G7 consists of the United States, Canada, Japan, Italy, Britain, Germany, and France. Unknown Projectiles The remarks came after at least six vessels in the strait were damaged in incidents across the Persian Gulf's key maritime artery, where about a fifth of the world's oil and gas supplies travel. Commercial ships sailing under the flags of Thailand, Japan, and the Marshall Islands were targeted by unknown projectiles across the Strait of Hormuz, United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a shipping security monitor, said on March 11. No injuries were reported. However, three crewmen from the Thai-flagged Mayuree Naree -- which had departed the UAE and was bound for India -- remain unaccounted for as of early March 12 and are believed to be trapped in the engine room of the burning ship, Thai naval officials said. Meanwhile, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said it had struck a Liberian-flagged vessel in the strait that it claimed was owned by Israel. In Iraqi waters, Iranian explosive-laden boats appear to have attacked two fuel tankers, setting them ablaze and killing one crew member, maritime and port officials said. A Japan-flagged container ship, ONE Majesty, sustained minor damage on from an unknown projectile 46 kilometers northwest of Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates, two maritime security firms said. Tehran has indicated it considers the ships transferring oil to the United States, Israel, and "their partners" as "legitimate" targets. "We won't allow even one liter of oil to reach the US, Zionists, and their partners. Any vessel or tanker bound to them will be a legitimate target," said Iran's military command spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaqari on March 11. Fate Of New Supreme Leader Meanwhile, Iranian officials went on the offensive on March 11 to knock down rumors over newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei's state of health, saying he was injured in the air strikes that killed his father and other family members but is "safe and sound." Mojtaba Khamenei was announced as the country's new supreme leader on March 8 following the death of his father in a bombing raid on February 28. The 56-year-old has not been seen since the United States and Israel launched air strikes on Iran, nor has he made any public statements, giving rise to speculation he too may have died or been seriously injured in the attacks. The UN Security Council on March 11 condemned Tehran's attacks on Gulf states and other countries in the region, with Russia and China abstaining in the vote. The resolution demands "the immediate cessation of all attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran against Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan. With reporting by Reuters and AFP Russia said the death toll in a Ukrainian air strike that Kyiv claimed did substantial damage to a missile-components plant in the Russian border-region city of Bryansk increased to seven on March 11, and lashed out at Britain over the attack. In a social media post a day earlier, Ukraine's General Staff said the military had "successfully struck the Kremny El microelectronics plant" with Storm Shadow missiles, which are supplied by the United Kingdom. The General Staff asserted that the strike caused "significant damage to production facilities" at the plant, which it said makes electronics used in weapons including Iskander missiles. It published a video clip that it said showed the plant being struck. Ukraine has used Storm Shadows as part of its campaign targeting Russian military and energy-infrastructure sites, an effort to decrease Moscow's revenues and undermine its ability to sustain its full-scale war against Ukraine, now in its fifth year. Civilian casualties in the attacks are relatively rare, and Russia's claim could not be independently verified. Russian authorities made no mention of the Kremny El plant in their accounts of the attack. The Russian Foreign Ministry claimed without evidence that the attack targeted civilians, and President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, asserted it could not have been carried out with help from "British specialists." He said Russia would take Britain's alleged role "into account" but did not specify how. On March 10, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the attack "a completely justified response to the aggressor." The Bryansk attack -- and what Kyiv said were multiple Russian attacks that killed at least six people in Ukraine on March 10 -- came amid a hiatus in US-Ukraine-Russia negotiations aimed to end the war. Zelenskyy and US special envoy Steve Witkoff have said the next round of trilateral talks could take place next week. Peskov said the next round could be held in Istanbul, but he gave no timeframe. Russia's lead negotiator, Kirill Dmitriev, met with Witkoff and other US officials in Florida on March 11, the US envoy said. "The teams discussed a variety of topics and agreed to stay in touch," Witkoff said on X with providing details. Several rounds of talks have made little visible progress on key issues including territory, with Russia insisting on being handed the part of Ukraine's Donbas that it has been unable to seize in years of heavy fighting. Amid constant fighting along the front lines in the Donbas and elsewhere in Ukraine, Russia has unleashed daily attacks on cities, towns, and infrastructure across the country, often hitting homes and apartment buildings and killing or injuring civilians. With reporting by Current Time, RFE/RL's Russian Service, Reuters, and AFP KIEV, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine has sent three groups of military experts to Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, where they will share expertise on intercepting drones, President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters on Tuesday. Regarding the situation in the Middle East, Zelensky said Ukraine had deployed fully staffed professional teams this week, each to a different country. He also expressed hope that U.S. allies in the Middle East would provide Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine in exchange. Zelensky said Monday that Ukraine had received 11 requests for security assistance from Iran's neighbors, European countries and the United States, including support for intercepting the Iranian-made Shahed drones. The intelligent economy is a new economic form driven by artificial intelligence as its core engine. It will reshape the entire process of production, distribution, exchange, and consumption, while comprehensively empowering both traditional and emerging industries. How can we deepen and expand the "AI Plus" initiative, promote the large-scale commercial application of artificial intelligence in key industries, foster new AI-native business models and formats, improve foundational systems for data elements, and refine AI governance? The goal of deepening and expanding "AI Plus" is to accelerate the widespread adoption of next-generation smart terminals and intelligent agents, promote the commercial large-scale application of AI in key industries, and cultivate new AI-native business models and formats. Currently, "AI Plus" is rapidly integrating into production and daily life. Building a new intelligent economy means seizing the opportunities presented by AI development and expanding the breadth and depth of AI empowerment across all industries. In the traditional Chinese medicine industry, artificial intelligence is injecting new momentum into its development. AI-powered diagnosis leverages big data and TCM diagnostic logic to rapidly collect patient symptoms, tongue images, pulse conditions, and other information, generating preliminary diagnostic recommendations that are then reviewed and confirmed by professional physicians. This model not only effectively reduces waiting times for patients seeking medical care but also alleviates the consultation pressure on primary care physicians to a certain extent. The large-scale application of "AI Plus" relies on computing power that is both affordable and sustainable. Currently, eastern China has high demand for computing power but faces expensive electricity costs, while the western regions is rich in green power resources yet struggles with curtailment of wind and solar energy. "Implementing ultra-large-scale intelligent computing clusters and computing-electricity synergy projects is key to breaking through current development bottlenecks and seizing the high ground in the intelligent economy." Peng Shou, a deputy to the National People's Congress, suggested strengthening national top-level design by establishing a linkage mechanism between "eastern data and western computing" and computing-electricity synergy. At the national hub node level, a dual planning mechanism for "computing + electricity" should be pioneered, achieving simultaneous planning for data center construction, renewable energy bases, and power grids. On this basis, explore joint pricing and trading mechanisms for "computing power + green electricity," establish direct supply trading channels for renewable energy participation in computing center power supply, and support computing enterprises in signing long-term green power purchase agreements with wind and solar power companies, enabling computing power using green electricity to gain a premium in the market. A thriving ecosystem cannot be separated from sound governance safeguards. Adhering to a people-centered approach and ensuring that AI benefits humanity will enable the intelligent economy to develop steadily and sustainably. Source: Anhui Daily BISSAU, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Guinea-Bissau on Wednesday officially launched its 2026 cashew marketing and export campaign, as the government moved to further regulate the sector that forms the backbone of the national economy. Speaking at the launch ceremony, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Communities Joao Bernardo Vieira said that the government aimed to ensure a more structured, balanced, and fairer cashew campaign for all actors along the value chain, from producers to exporters. Describing cashew as a "true national wealth," he underlined the sector as a main source of income for many families, contributing significantly to the country's economic and social stability. Latest data, released at the ceremony, indicated that the West African country's cashew exports during the 2025 campaign exceeded 250,000 tonnes, with India and Vietnam as major destinations. According to the Ministry of Commerce, Guinea-Bissau is currently the world's seventh-largest producer of raw cashew nuts. On Tuesday, the Guinea-Bissau government set the reference producer price for raw cashew nuts at 410 CFA francs (about 0.72 U.S. dollars) per kg for the 2026 marketing season, while fixing the purchase price for intermediaries at 478 CFA francs per kg and pledging a crackdown on smuggling. Gordon Deegan A former sales associate with high-end retail brands in Dublin has entered a signed plea of guilty to his role in an alleged 620,000 cannabis drug seizure at Shannon Airport last November. At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Sean Grehan of Stradbrook Park, Blackrock, Dublin, signed a plea of guilty to the charge of the possession of cannabis with a value of 13,000 or more for the purpose of selling or otherwise supplying the drugs at Shannon Airport on November 12th last contrary to Section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. Counsel for Grehan, Sorcha Dinah Ni Neill Fulham, said that her client was going forward to the next sittings of Ennis Circuit Court on the signed plea on the basis that the other charges against Grehan will be struck out on the affirming of the plea in the circuit court. Sgt Frank OGrady told Judge Valerie Corcoran that this was the case. Section 15(a) carries a mandatory minimum prison term of 10 years but a judge has the discretion to impose a lesser sentence in certain circumstances and only a very small portion of those convicted of Section 15(a) drug dealing offences do receive the 10 years in prison in the criminal courts. Judge Corcoran extended the legal aid certificate for two counsel to represent Grehan at the circuit court. Ni Neill Fulham said that her client does have consent to bail but is not in a position to take it up at the moment. She said that Grehan remaining in prison can be seen as a mitigatory factor when it comes to sentencing at the circuit court. Ni Neill Fulham said that the drugs at the subject of the charge are of significant value. Grehan has been in custody since November 13th where he was remanded in custody with consent to bail on condition that he provide a 20,000 cash surety. Grehan had been unable to provide the 20,000 surety to secure his release from prison and he was first charged with two alleged drugs offences arising from the airport seizure on November 12th last at Shannon airport. The High Court has relaxed the bail conditions where the 20,000 cash surety has been reduced to 2,000. At the contested bail hearing on November 13th last, gardai objected to bail and Garda Kevin Molloy said that it will be alleged that a passenger from an inbound Boston flight, Sean Grehan was detected by customs officers to have two 20kg suitcases at Shannon Airport on November 12th containing 31kg of cannabis with an estimated street value of 620,000. Garda Molloy said that it will be alleged that Grehan was due to pass the two suitcases to another person after getting through customs at Shannon airport. Ni Neill Fulham told the bail hearing that her client is a father of two children, aged seven and five, and has worked as a sales associate for a number of high end retail brands in Dublin. In the case, Grehan was initially charged with at Shannon airport on November 12th having in his possession, cannabis for the purpose of sale or supply contrary to Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. Grehan was also initially charged with having in his possession cannabis on November 12th at Shannon airport contrary to Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act. Judge Corcoran further remanded Grehan in custody with consent to bail on a signed guilty plea to appear at Ennis Circuit Court on April 14th. As part of a pilot project BreakingNews.ie has used AI to suggest headline options for this article. The final headline was chosen and edited by BreakingNews.ie journalists. Find out more A much loved local health initiative has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award. The well known Fit Farmers programme, founded by Moore woman and nurse Laura Tully in 2019, was shortlisted as a finalist in the Irish Healthcare Centre Awards 2026 in the category Healthcare Initiative Patient Education / Lifestyle Project. Numerous farmers throughout the county have taken part in the programme and benefitted from it. This award recognises initiatives that support people to take control of their health through education, lifestyle change and practical self-management. While it is a lovely recognition for the programme, the real credit goes to the farmers who have taken part over the past number of years, Fit Farmers said. Their willingness to show up each week, support one another and make small changes for their health is what Fit Farmers is all about. Many of them will be very excited to hear that the programme they have been part of is being recognised at a national level. Fit Farmers focuses on practical health education and physical activity, supporting farmers to improve areas such as heart health, nutrition, blood pressure, sleep, stress and musculoskeletal health, while building strength and fitness for the demands of farming life. Fit Farmers expressed a sincere thank you to everyone who has supported the programme so far, and it is looking forward to the final on May 22nd. A Dublin man charged with causing 1,900 worth of damage with a hurley to pub windows and a car window in Ballaghaderreen has been returned for trial to Roscommon Circuit Court. Rhys Mannion, aged 30, with an address at 1 Marewood Grove, Ballymun, Co Dublin, appeared before Ballaghaderreen District Court charged with two counts of criminal damage and two counts of possessing a hurley in an intimidating manner. Mannion is charged with smashing all the front windows of The Hatch Bar on The Square, Ballaghaderreen with a hurley on August 5th, 2024. The damage caused was valued at 1,200. On August 4th, 2024, at Pound Street in the town, he is also charged with smashing a car window with a hurley to the value of 700 belonging to Hertz Car Rental. On the same dates and at the same locations, he is further charged with having a hurley to cause injury, incapacitate or intimidate a person contrary to section 9 (5) of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990. Pointing out to Judge Vincent Deane that Judge James Faughnan had previously refused jurisdiction, State Solicitor for County Roscommon Kieran Madigan said that his application was to return Mannion for trial to the next sitting of Roscommon Circuit Court, starting on March 10th. An application by the accuseds barrister Neasa OCallaghan for legal aid, including representation of one solicitor and one senior counsel, was also granted by Judge Deane. Two County Roscommon businesses have scooped prizes at the prestigious weddingsonline.ie awards. The highly anticipated 2026 winners were revealed earlier this week. Kilronan Castle was recognised at the ceremony for its attention to detail and stunning location, taking home the title of Waterside Venue of the Year. Overlooking the scenic Lough Meelagh, the venue was highly praised at this years award ceremony. Located in Ballyfarnon, North Roscommon, Kilronan Castle is noted as one of Irelands hidden gems and boasts a 5-star rating on weddingsonline.ie. Reviewers noted staff members attention to detail, saying the team were amazing, every detail was discussed and agreed, no ask was too big. The 200-year-old castle is steeped in history and fully equipped with all the contemporary comforts, making it all brides' dream venue for their special day. Receiving their award for Waterside Venue of the Year was Ronan McGarry and Anita Gaffney of Kilronan Castle, also pictured was Keith Kingston (weddingsonline.ie) and Yvonne Dillon Murphy (YDM.ie), taken last night at Mount Wolseley Hotel, Carlow, Monday 9th March 2026 The second win for County Roscommon came from Ballinlough based business, The One I Love, which won Bridalwear Supplier of the Year. This was not the first time the business has been recognised by the awards. In 2025, it was a finalist in three separate categories: Bridalwear Supplier of the Year, Bridesmaid Supplier of the Year and Bridalwear Designer of the Year. The business is noted for its quick replies and smooth coordination, setting it as a highly favourited option for brides and bridesmaids alike. The winners were revealed at a Gala Awards Ceremony on Monday 9th March at the Mount Wolseley Hotel, County Carlow. South Roscommon farmer Sean Butler, a pioneer in regenerative agriculture, will take part in an online Ask the Farmer event on Tuesday, March 24th at 8 p.m. where he will discuss his transition from conventional to regenerative farming. Sean has been farming dry limestone land since 1976. For decades he followed intensive, high input methods, but he says the long term environmental impact became impossible to ignore. In 2001, he converted his Brideswell farm to certified organic production. Four years ago, he began implementing regenerative practices - an approach he now sees as essential to the future of farming. Today, he runs a fully organic beef operation that integrates livestock with nature. He maintains a small suckler herd of 12 cows, including Angus, Hereford-cross, and Moiled breeds, along with a Stabiliser bull for breeding. Multi paddock rotational grazing allows soils and grasses time to rest and recover, improving soil structure and biodiversity. He has also planted 11 hectares of native woodland on the farm, supporting wildflowers such as orchids and cuckoo flowers, as well as pollinators, birds, and other wildlife. He says the results show that food production and ecosystem restoration can go hand in hand. If I had discovered regenerative farming sooner, I would have been a different farmer, he reflects. I would have enjoyed it more, and maybe the kids would have seen it as an option. He hopes to develop his land into a demonstration farm to help farmers, educators, and policymakers better understand how regenerative methods can be applied in real world Irish settings. We wont survive if we dont find our way back into the web of life, he says. Plans for the expansion of the Global Irish Famine Way (GIFW) to the United States this year have been announced. To support and co-ordinate this expansion, the organisation has appointed two well-known individuals from the Irish community as national US co-convenors: Irish historian and author Professor Christine Kinealy and Hilary T. Beirne, from Boyle, chairman Emeritus of the NYC St. Patricks Day Foundation and founding director at Irish America 250. The first phase in the United States will install bronze shoes at key historical sites in Boston and in New York. For subsequent phases, the co-convenors would then invite other community-led efforts across the United States to participate in the expansion of Global Irish Famine Way to other locations. As with the Irish National Famine Way, the Global Irish Famine Way will be marked by bronze shoe plinths at significant sites, including ports of entry, quarantine stations, and common graves. Each site will include a QR code sharing its local history, and each will be linked to a dedicated page on the fully bespoke National & Global Irish Famine Way website (www.nationalfamineway.ie ). The pair of bronze shoes, cast from originals discovered bound together in the roof of a 19th-century cottage, forms the trails iconic symbol. The first phase in the United States will install bronze shoes at key historical sites in Boston and in New York. Interest in our evocative, powerful, and deeply symbolic little bronze shoe monument grew so fast, says Caroilin Callery, founder of the National Famine Way. They have quickly become symbolic of all famine emigrants worldwide. People seemed to connect with them instantly, often simply touching or saying a little prayer over them. The journey of Strokestowns 1,490 emigrants and all famine emigrants did not end on Dublins quays, so the expansion of the Global Irish Famine Way continues their story, honouring those who died and celebrates the survival and the resilience of those who built new lives abroad. The Global Irish Famine Way plans to tell the story of every place around the world where Irish Famine emigrants landed, creating new lives so far from their native land. The Famine crossed the Atlantic in the coffin ships, and those who arrived in the new world were deeply scarred as a result of it, said Hilary Beirne. The expansion will ensure acknowledgement of a shared history that is part of the Irish American psyche; it is also very much part of the American story. Many of my ancestors died in the Famine and are buried in the same graveyard as my parents in County Roscommon, so I am proud to help facilitate the expansion of the Famine Way into the United States. The Global Irish Famine Way aims to create an international network extending as far as Australia, telling for the first time the full story of the global impact and legacy of Irish Famine emigrants, and the US plays a key and central part in that story. Students from Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Class at Kilcroan National School, Ballymoe, have been awarded a Recognition of Excellence in the prestigious All Island Schools History Competition for their project, History On Our Doorstep. The project, months in the making, was led by class teacher Ms Fallon and supported by local historian Martin Curley. The students explored the history of their own townlands, comparing life in the present day with life in generations past. Their research drew on historical maps, census records, and interviews with parents, grandparents, neighbours and other members of the Ballymoe community. Former news anchor Brian Dobson, who served as MC at the awards ceremony, praised the students discovery of local traditions and piseogs, noting that the work created a lovely link between past and present, a sentiment echoed by the competition judges. Pupils from Kilcroan NS, Ballymoe at the department of Education for the presentation of prizes in an All-Island History Competition pictured here with teacher Ms Michelle Fallon and former news anchor Brian Dobson. The awards ceremony took place at The Clock Tower in the Department of Education, Dublin. Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton congratulated the young historians, describing the competition as a wonderful opportunity for young people across the island to engage with their local history and explore the legacies that shape our lives today. She commended the high standard of entries and applauded the dedication of students and teachers nationwide. This years competition was organised by the Department of Education and Youth in partnership with Frances Moss, Director of the Drumcondra Education Support Centre, and Dr. Caitriona Ni Cassaithe, Assistant Professor in History Education at Dublin City University. The initiative also received support from the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport; An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaiochta; and the Heritage Council. Reflecting on the widespread participation, Frances Moss noted that students demonstrated remarkable creativity and uncovered many overlooked local histories. Dr. Ni Cassaithe added that the submissions showed how history can be active, exciting and meaningful when students are given the opportunity to explore it for themselves. The recognition marks a proud achievement for Kilcroan National School and celebrates the curiosity and hard work of its young historians. The death occurred on Sunday, January 25th 2026 in Melbourne, Australia of Mr PJ Dayton, only son of the late Mary and Brian Dayton of Bumlin, Strokestown. PJs funeral and interment took place in Melbourne. A memorial Mass for the happy repose of his soul was celebrated last month in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Strokestown. PJ, who was born in 1948, emigrated to England and from there made his way to Australia. In Australia he worked hard and had a very successful business, which he ran up until his retirement. He lived on what he called his hobby farm in the Yarra Valley outside Melbourne where he and his wife, Cathy, lived happily farming and fishing. Growing up on a farm beside a river, his family say that it was no surprise that his last years were devoted to farming and fishing, the two activities that he was immersed in during his early years. He loved his farm and his cattle. The Rubicon River was his fishing hideout and from it he frequently brought home a tasty dinner or two. One of his favourite fishing quotes was, a woman who has never seen her husband fish, doesnt know what a patient man she married. PJ was an avid reader, with history, poetry and biography being top of his agenda. He loved his books and was forever quoting gems of wisdom and wit from his readings. Though totally immersed in Australian life and culture, he kept in touch with his family and all local news with the Roscommon Herald being read from cover to cover. The Herald and other regional papers were then shared and discussed in detail by a small community of Irish in PJs adopted home. Predeceased by his parents, and his sister Kathleen, he is survived by his wife and lifelong companion Cathy, his four sisters, Marion (Wilson), Pauline, Margaret (Scott) and Bernie (Murray), extended family, neighbours and friends. BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- With a new development blueprint under review at the ongoing national legislative session, China is embracing a critical five-year period in an ambitious drive to basically modernize its vast population by 2035, on a scale unseen in human history. According to the draft outline of China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), the country aims to lay a solid foundation for achieving its 2035 goal of doubling its 2020 per capita gross domestic product (GDP) to over 20,000 U.S. dollars, a level typical of a moderately developed country. The vision further holds that by 2035, China's economic strength, scientific and technological ability, national defense capabilities, composite national strength, and international influence will all become markedly stronger, people will live better and happier lives, and socialist modernization will be basically realized. So far, fewer than 30 countries and regions worldwide have achieved modernization, with a combined population not exceeding 1 billion, including Britain's around 70 million people and the United States' roughly 340 million, all far less than China's population of 1.4 billion. The sheer size of China's population presents formidable challenges. Yet the country is resolved to ensure development gains are shared by all its people. For the next five years, China plans to raise average life expectancy to 80 years, increase the number of practicing physicians to 3.7 per 1,000 people, and improve the permanent urbanization rate to 71 percent, among other goals, according to the draft outline. Experts believe that meeting these targets will be far from easy, particularly given the country's stringent resource constraints. Due to the massive population base, China's per capita holdings of arable land, water resources and crude oil all lag significantly behind global averages. Also, the demographic challenges of declining birth rates and rapid population aging are placing additional strain on the country's modernization push. China's distinctive realities mean there is little historical precedent to follow. Rather than transplanting modernization paradigms developed by Western economies, China must pursue its own path, addressing challenges with policies and practices tailored to its unique conditions, said Fu Zheng, a scholar with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. FOCUS ON HIGH QUALITY At the core of this path is the pursuit of high-quality development, guided by a new development philosophy that emphasizes innovation, coordination, green development, openness and shared growth, which is among a set of guiding principles laid out in the draft outline of the plan. Over the next five years, China will increase its total research and development spending by an average of more than 7 percent annually and raise the value added of core digital economy industries to 12.5 percent of GDP, according to the draft outline. The green transition will also pick up pace in the 2026-2030 period, with the goals of cutting carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by 17 percent from the 2025 level and lifting the share of non-fossil fuels in total energy consumption to 25 percent by the end of this period. "Chinese modernization will turn to higher efficiency, technological innovation and eco-friendly growth," said Jiang Haoran, chairman of Cashway Fintech Co., Ltd. "It means fundamentally reshaping the drivers of growth, moving away from the old model of resource-intensive expansion and toward a more sustainable path," said Wang Pu, a professor at Beijing University of Technology. China's pursuit of high-quality development is aimed at comprehensively improving daily living standards, a challenging task for any country with a population of this size. The draft outline listed specific targets including reaching total grain production capacity of 725 million tonnes by 2030, and implementing urban renewal programs aimed at improving housing conditions. Infrastructure such as power supply, high-speed rail and telecom networks is also set to be further upgraded in this period, in the quest to provide adequate electricity, more convenient transport and faster communication. China's vast population could be a powerful source of momentum, providing an enormous talent pool and abundant application scenarios for technology innovation while cultivating a vibrant domestic market to foster balanced trade and coordinated development. In line with the new development philosophy, these will help the economy build greater resilience in a volatile world. The draft outline proposes a series of measures to fully tap this demographic advantage, particularly against the backdrop of an aging and declining population. Focused on improving population structure and raising human capital, these measures include strengthening fertility support and incentives, better aligning education resources with demographic shifts, and bolstering the elderly care sector. "This will not only enable China's vast domestic market to fully unleash its potential, but also give a strong boost to technological innovation," said Zhang Shuibo, a national lawmaker and professor of the College of Management and Economics at Tianjin University. BOON FOR THE WORLD Once China succeeds in modernizing its vast population, the proportion of humanity that has achieved modernization will more than double, from about one-seventh to roughly one-third of the global population, providing a major boost to the world's development. Notably, its super-large domestic market is expected to generate sustained impetus for the global economy. China is already the world's second-largest import market, and its growing middle-income group means demand still has considerable room to expand, Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao said, noting that China is proactively opening its vast market and will promote balanced trade through expanding imports while stabilizing exports. Foreign companies particularly welcome the enormous opportunities offered by the Chinese market. Toy giant LEGO Group said it is doubling down on the Chinese market with a long-term investment strategy, while aircraft manufacturer Airbus also expressed strong commitment, saying China's aviation market holds immense potential. For developing countries seeking prosperity and development, China's experience offers a practical reference point, showing that modernization does not have to follow a single template. Instead, countries can pursue development paths determined by their own conditions, priorities and stages of development. "With a people-centered approach, it balances the inclusivity and sustainability of population modernization, reflecting unique value orientations and governance wisdom, and contributing Chinese solutions to the global modernization process," said Darren Smith, a professor at Loughborough University in Britain and a fellow of the British Academy of Social Sciences. NATO Allies test firepower on the Eastern Flank Romania has recently hosted sections of the Dynamic Front 2026 exercise Photo: US Armed Forces Agentia Media a Armatei, 11.03.2026, 13:40 Romania has recently hosted sections of the Dynamic Front 2026 exercise, the largest artillery exercise of the US Army conducted in Europe. Romanian soldiers trained alongside NATO Allies and partners in the Cincu and Capu Midia training grounds, in a complex scenario that tested coordination, reaction speed and interoperability between the participating forces. Brigadier General Steve Carpenter, the Commanding General of the 56th Artillery Command, US Army Europe-Africa, explained why this exercise is so important for the preparation and coordination of Allied forces. Dynamic Front is our main firing exercise, he said, as it gives us the opportunity to practice our regional plans and, at the same time, to develop initiatives aligned with the line of deterrence on the eastern flank. During this edition of the Dynamic Front exercise, troops from 24 NATO member states trained together within this program, taking part in the activities carried out during the exercise, he added. Members of the 8th Operational-Tactical Missile Brigade, a structure of the Romanian Land Forces, trained together with NATO allies. Colonel Costel-Sorin Balan, the brigade commander, told us about the training goals and the certification obtained during the exercise: A key training objective for us within Dynamic Front was to test and validate the sensor-to-shooter procedure, designed to reduce response times and improve the effects on targets, both at a tactical and operational level, allowing the Allied forces to act faster and more effectively together. Dynamic Front 26 was an excellent platform for assessing the combat readiness of the 8th Operational-Tactical Missile Brigade, according to NATO standards, and I am proud to say that during this exercise the brigade obtained this certification. For the French military, Dynamic Front 26 was an important opportunity to work closely with Allies. General Regis Anthonioz, commander of Frances 2nd Armoured Brigade, told us why these joint exercises are so important for France: For us, this is a crucial step, because we want to strengthen technical and tactical cooperation and integration with our NATO Allies. It is always an excellent opportunity to train together and prepare to act as a joint force. Through this exercise, France demonstrates, alongside its Allies, the ability to integrate and act effectively within the Alliance. Another important component of Dynamic Front 26 took place at Capu Midia, in the Black Sea area. Major Martin Grusek, from the 3rd Artillery Training Battalion of the German Armed Forces, gave us details about the exercise and the challenges of organising the firing of missile systems: As part of the Dynamic Front exercise, our goal was to train together with other nations. Here we have the opportunity to launch GMLRS missiles in the Black Sea area, which is not possible in Germany. Therefore, we were able to train and operate together, and this is very important for us. The biggest challenge was ensuring safety in all aspects. For example, when launching at sea, an extensive safety zone is required behind the impact area. Things are well organised here, and the exercise took place in very good conditions. Dynamic Front 26 proved that interoperability and joint training remain essential elements for the security of NATOs eastern flank. Through training conducted in several countries and by integrating modern artillery systems, the Allies are strengthening their ability to act quickly and in a coordinated manner in complex situations. A clear signal that collective defence is built through cooperation and constant training. (AMP) The Labor Situation in Romania The Romanian Government has amended the Law on the Unemployment Insurance System Spionaj, contraspionaj, manevre politice (foto DCStudio - Shutterstock) Calin Cotoiu and Sorin Iordan, 11.03.2026, 19:36 The Romanian Government has amended the Law on the Unemployment Insurance System and introduces a bonus for young people who do not work, do not study and are employed for the first time for an indefinite period. The main changes aim at introducing a stability bonus, worth 27,000 lei (about 5,300 euros), granted to this category over 24 months, non-taxable and conditional on maintaining the job. Thus, 1,000 lei (almost 200 euros) per month will be received in the first 12 months and 1,250 lei (approximately 245 euros) per month in the following 12. The Ministry of Labor specifies that this type of support is in addition to the fixed monthly amount of 2,250 lei (about 440 euros) that employers receive for each person employed in certain vulnerable categories. The institution reported that the new provisions adapt employment policies to the current realities of the labor market and respond to concrete challenges, such as long-term unemployment, the difficulties of integrating young people who do not work or do not attend classes, the lack of labor in certain areas, and the need for support for people in vulnerable situations. According to the National Institute of Statistics, in Romania the youth unemployment rate was, in January 2026, 28.2%, while this indicator was 15.1% in the European Union and 14.8% in the Eurozone. The labor market in Romania is going through a paradigm shift. According to an opinion poll, if for 8 out of 10 employees the salary is the decisive criterion when looking for a job, the reason why they choose to remain loyal to a company has changed. Thus, Romanians prefer the balance between professional and private life to the detriment of job security. The pressure of the cost of living is, however, being felt acutely, with almost half of Romanians admitting that they have or are already looking for a second job, a figure well above the global average. In parallel, the study reveals that dissatisfaction no longer automatically translates into resignations, and employees are less willing to risk aggressive negotiations. Another major trend is the rise of Artificial Intelligence. One in two Romanian employees now prefer to ask professional advice from AI, instead of turning to their own manager. However, although technology makes their work easier, 33% of employees in Romania fear that their job could disappear in the next 5 years. The survey also revealed a paradoxical situation: although most employers recognize the benefits of autonomy, 85% of them still refuse to allow subordinates to manage their own work schedule. The Braila County Emergency Inspectorate has a staff shortage of almost 35% and ranks 2nd in the national ranking of staff shortages, after the Tulcea ISU. The chief inspector of the Braila ISU, Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Movileanu, stated that in 2025, no competitions were organized to fill the vacant positions, but 13 non-commissioned officers and one officer were assigned from educational institutions. Movileanu specified that the staff shortage of the Braila inspectorate is very large, and that, depending on the type of interventions required in emergency situations, it supplements the forces from neighboring counties, such as Galati, Tulcea, or Buzau. At the national level, the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations is facing a significant staff shortage, which affects the capacity to intervene in thousands of daily missions, including fires and first aid. According to IGSU, this crisis is caused by the high number of retirements and the limitations imposed on hiring. Employees in Botosani County, who do not have an education, but who have accumulated experience in the field in which they work, can obtain qualification documents after several evaluation sessions. These are organized by the County Employment Agency, at the request of companies. The new service is intended for employers who have employees with less than 8th grade secondary education and do not hold qualification certificates, although they have experience in fields of activity such as textile manufacturing, welding, bricklaying, and painting. Botosani County has over 4,000 officially registered unemployed people. About 66% of them either do not have any education or have less than 8th grade, and, therefore, are classified as difficult to employ. Friends of Competitiveness Meeting Urgent measures are needed to lower energy prices, the Romanian president underlined at the meeting of Friends of Competitiveness. Romania's president , Nicusor Dan, attended the "Friends of Competitiveness" meeting Stefan Stoica, 11.03.2026, 13:50 The President of Romania, Nicusor Dan, participated, on Tuesday, via videoconference, in the meeting of the Friends of Competitiveness group of states. Nicusor Dan wrote in a Facebook post that it was a very useful meeting from the perspective of coordinating our positions, in preparation for the European Council of March 19-20. Next week, the leaders of the EU member states are expected to have discussions on the next multiannual financial framework, competitiveness and the Single Market, defense and European security in the context of the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. As expected, Tuesdays discussions were dominated by the urgency of the moment, namely the risk of energy prices increasing uncontrollably in the scenario of a prolonged war in the Middle East. The Romanian President stressed the need and importance of urgent measures to lower energy prices, so as to reduce the pressure on industry and citizens and to revive the competitiveness of the European economy. There was consensus on this issue among the participating leaders, Nicusor Dan mentioned. In parallel, we must analyze how we will approach the energy sector in the medium and long term, with a focus on capitalizing on the role of our own resources and their revalorization in the overall European energy mix, Nicusor Dan conveyed. Certainly, he added, the European Union must strengthen its autonomy in this sector and reduce its dependencies as quickly as possible. In addition to the Romanian President, the meeting was attended by leaders from Italy, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia and Denmark. The first meeting of the Friends of Competitiveness group of states took place on 12 February this year, ahead of the informal European Council meeting in Belgium. The inaugural meeting was hosted by the Italian, German and Belgian heads of government, and the talks focused on three main priorities: completing the European single market, simplifying regulations and reducing energy prices, and an ambitious and pragmatic trade policy. The leaders also discussed relaunching European industry, including by revising emissions pricing mechanisms and monitoring more closely the priorities set by the European Council. Besides Italy, Germany and Belgium, this group includes several EU Member States, including Romania. The EU leaders meeting that took place on the same day, after the meeting of the Friends of Competitiveness group, highlighted a consensus on deepening European integration, in particular through a more integrated single market and reducing bureaucracy. (LS) Saudi Aramco, the state-owned oil company, warned that prolonged disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz could trigger severe consequences for global oil . Tensions tied to the Iran conflict continue to threaten energy exports from the Middle East region. Aramco's Chief Executive Officer Amin Nasser stated on an earnings call that the disruption has already impacted the shipping and insurance sectors. He noted that the situation could ripple across other industries, including aviation, agriculture, and automotive, if the disruption persists. Nasser also highlighted that global oil inventories are currently at a five-year low, warning that supply drawdowns could accelerate if tanker traffic through the critical waterway does not resume. Additionally, Nasser reported that a small fire caused by an attack last week at Aramco's Ras Tanura Refinery, the company's largest domestic refinery, was quickly extinguished. The facility is currently in the process of restarting operations. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Volkswagen, the German automaker, has announced plans to cut around 50,000 jobs in Germany by 2030 after reporting a sharp decline in profits. The company's post-tax profit dropped by approximately 44% in 2025, falling to 6.9 billion euros from 12.4 billion euros the previous year. The company cited several factors contributing to the profit decline, including rising costs, weaker demand in China, and pressure from U.S. tariffs. Volkswagen's Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Blume, stated that the job reductions will span the entire group, including its premium brands such as Audi and Porsche. Volkswagen's Finance Chief, Arno Antlitz, emphasized the need for the company to focus on rigorous cost reductions to improve its profit margins. The automaker expects a core profit margin of between 4% and 5.5% in 2026, compared to a margin of 4.6% in the current year. The company's results were also impacted by the transition to electric vehicles, which has led to high restructuring costs. Additionally, the automaker faces increased competition from Chinese carmakers, who are expanding into the European market. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News 3i Infrastructure plc (3IN.L), a UK-based infrastructure investment company, on Wednesday agreed to invest about 300 million euros to acquire a majority stake in Lefdal Mine Datacenter. The completion of the deal is expected in summer 2026. The overall investment will total about 400 million euros and will be controlled by 3i Investments plc, the company's investment manager. The largest investor in the selling fund will reinvest alongside 3i Infrastructure. The transaction also includes the acquisition of a small portfolio of operating renewable assets. Lefdal Mine Datacenter currently operates 37 MW of data center capacity and has an additional 43 MW of contracted capacity under construction. The company said the facility benefits from Norway's low-cost power supply and uses underground infrastructure and closed-loop seawater cooling to improve efficiency. The investment will partly redeploy proceeds from the previously announced 1.14 billion euros realization of TCR. Lefdal Mine Datacenter, a Norwegian data center campus, from a fund managed by Columbia Threadneedle Investments. On Tuesday, 3i Infrastructure closed trading 1.02% higher at GBp 347 on the London Stock Exchange. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News The Department of Justice has released the first-ever Department-wide corporate enforcement policy for criminal matters, promoting uniformity, predictability, and fairness in how it pursues white-collar cases to protect the public. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the policy creates incentives for companies to self-disclose wrongdoing, cooperate with the Justice Department's investigations and remediate the misconduct. "But for those that do not, make no mistake we will not hesitate to seek appropriate resolutions against companies and individuals alike that perpetrate white collar offenses that harm American interests," he added. Subscribe to continue reading the article. This article is part of our premium content offering.Subscribe with a RTTNews subscription. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Underpinned by Renault Groups RGMP modular platform, the Bridger sub-4-meter SUV will support ICE, hybrid and fully electric powertrains Renault is planning a major product offensive across global markets, as part of its futuREady strategic plan. From the perspective of the Indian market, products like the new-gen Duster and recently unveiled Bridger will play a key role. Bridger is expected to emerge as one of the primary volume generators in India. The SUV will also be exported to locations like the Middle East, Africa and Latin America. Lets check out more details on how Renault is planning its moves with the Bridger. Bridgers role in Renaults future roadmap Renault CEO, Fabrice Cambolive, said that Bridger will serve as a central pillar in supporting the brands future strategy. This clearly indicates that Bridger is not just important for India, but will also be a strategic product in Renaults global lineup. Bridger will be manufactured in India and launched here first before making its debut across overseas markets. Launch is expected by the end of 2027. In line with Renaults electrification goals and evolving market dynamics across India and worldwide, Bridger will be based on the RGMP multi-energy platform. In addition to internal combustion engines, Bridger will also be available in hybrid and pure EV formats. It remains to be seen whether the ICE versions are launched first or if the electrified models will also be available from day one. Renault has stated that the electric versions of the Bridger will have best-in-class efficiency. The French carmaker has planned a major push towards electrification, as part of its futuREady roadmap. There are plans to launch a new range of EVs, based on a new platform named RGEV medium 2.0. This will bring significant improvements across efficiency, range and ultra-fast charging. Renault is aiming to achieve 100% electrification (sales) in Europe by 2030. For markets outside Europe, the electrification target is 50% by 2030. In India, Renault will be introducing 4 new products by 2030. These will include EVs and strong hybrids. Bridger competition, market positioning Bridger has a striking road presence and is designed for optimal comfort and roominess. However, there are quite a few tough rivals in the sub-4-meter SUV segment. The list includes Tata Nexon, Maruti Brezza, Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, Mahindra XUV3XO, Toyota Taisor and Skoda Kylaq. In the future, Volkswagen Tera could also be introduced in India. The closest match to the Bridger in India will be the Mahindra Vision S. The latter is also expected to be launched in 2027. Renault Bridger will be positioned as a tough-looking, lifestyle-oriented subcompact SUV. While the current bestselling subcompact SUVs have a striking presence, the rugged appeal will be significantly enhanced with products like the Bridger. It comes with features such as a boxy profile, sharp lighting elements, prominent front and rear bumpers, flared wheel arches, heavy-duty roof rails, large 18-inch alloy wheels and tailgate-mounted spare tyre. The SUV has a ground clearance of 200 mm. While tough outside, the Bridger is designed for practicality and roominess on the inside. For rear passengers, the knee room is 200 mm, which is best in segment. The boot is 400 litres, which is also the largest in segment. For context, the current largest boot in this segment is that of Syros at 390 litres. Bridger will have a raised driving position, ensuring a clear, commanding view of the outside world. An aerial drone photo shows staff members laying tracks at Binzhou railway station of the Jinan-Binzhou high-speed railway in Binzhou City, east China's Shandong Province, on March 10, 2026. The high-speed railway, which links the province's cities of Jinan and Binzhou and with a designed speed of 350 km/h, has officially entered the full-line track-laying operation phase on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Guo Xulei) French President Emmanuel Macron (L), International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi (R) and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pose for photos before the second Nuclear Energy Summit in Paris, France, on March 10, 2026. Macron on Tuesday called on both public and private sectors to step up investment in the development of civil nuclear energy. (Xinhua/Wu Huiwo) An aerial drone photo taken on March 10, 2026 shows tulip fields at a scenic area in Jinhua City, east China's Zhejiang Province. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) Toronto police work at the scene of a shooting incident in Toronto, Canada, on March 10, 2026. Toronto police said Tuesday they are investigating a shooting incident targeting the U.S. consulate in the largest city in Canada. No injuries were reported, police said, adding that they did not have information on a suspect. (Photo by Li Haitao/Xinhua) An aerial drone photo taken on March 10, 2026 shows maintenance workers checking the 800 kV ultra-high voltage (UHV) Jintang Line by the Yangtze River in Zongyang County of Tongling City, east China's Anhui Province. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu) Flamingos fly over Karakol Lake on the outskirts of Aktau, Kazakhstan, on March 10, 2026. A flock of flamingos have settled on the Karakol Lake in the suburbs of Aktau, southwest Kazakhstan's Mangystau Region, before continuing on their spring migration. (Xinhua/Li Renzi) An aerial drone photo taken on March 9, 2026 shows the Dazhou base of the fisheries research institute of Wanzhou District, southwest China's Chongqing. The Dazhou base of the fisheries research institute of Wanzhou District serves as a wild acclimation center for the rare fish species in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. Equipped with 32 net cages covering an area of approximately 800 square meters, the base conserves over 20 rare and commercial fish species. Its annual output of rare and high-quality fish fry exceeds 20 million. In recent years, the base has continuously strengthened the short-term wild acclimation training of fish fry before their release into natural waters, effectively helping boost the wild populations of the rare species. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao) A seal swims at sunrise in Vladivostok, Russia, on March 9, 2026. (Photo by Andrey Matveenko/Xinhua) Other bills the governor has signed In addition to Senate Bills 241 and 96, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has signed six other bills this week, according to the state Legislatures website. The deadline to sign legislation before it is pocket vetoed is Wednesday. House Bill 8: A Higher Education Major Projects Fund to pay for academic, student life and athletic facilities at New Mexico universities, including a new medical school building at the University of New Mexico. HB 30: A measure raising the minimum stipends for teacher residencies to 65% of the minimum Level 1 teacher salary for an undergraduate and 80% for a person with a bachelor's degree. HB 47: An increase in the state's share of insurance premium costs for public school workers to 80%, in line with the rate covered for other state workers. Senate Bill 29: An increase in the math requirements an educator would need to obtain a teaching license. SB 37: The High Quality Literacy Instruction Act will expand structured literacy programs in classrooms and requires evidence-based biliteracy programs for English language learners and students in bilingual and dual-language classrooms. SB 64: A bill codifying the Office of Special Education in the Public Education Department to provide oversight of special education services statewide. Lujan Grisham created the office by executive order in 2023. COLOMBO, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka has allocated emergency funds to its diplomatic missions to assist Sri Lankans living in the Middle East as conflicts continue in the region, a senior Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) official said on Wednesday. SLBFE Chairman Koshala Wickramasinghe said the funds would help embassies provide urgent assistance to Sri Lankan nationals in need. Wickramasinghe said the departure of Sri Lankans traveling to the Middle East for employment has continued without interruption despite the regional tension. More than 1 million Sri Lankans are working in Middle Eastern countries. This photo taken on March, 11, 2026 shows destruction caused by an Israel airstrike on an apartment building in the Aisha Bakkar area of central Beirut, Lebanon. At least 15 people were killed and 24 others injured in a series of Israeli airstrikes against Lebanon from Tuesday night to Wednesday morning, Lebanon's Public Health Ministry said. The airstrikes targeted several areas in southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon, and the capital of Beirut, according to statements issued by the ministry's Emergency Operations Center. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua) BEIRUT, March 11 (Xinhua) -- At least 15 people were killed and 24 others injured in a series of Israeli airstrikes against Lebanon from Tuesday night to Wednesday morning, Lebanon's Public Health Ministry said. The airstrikes targeted several areas in southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon, and the capital of Beirut, according to statements issued by the ministry's Emergency Operations Center. In southern Lebanon, three young men were killed in the municipality of al-Sharqiya after an Israeli warplane struck a house shortly after midnight. In the town of Qana in Tyre district, five people were killed and five others injured in successive air raids, while one person was killed and eight others wounded in a strike on the al-Hosh area of Tyre. In the municipality of Hannaouiyah, also in Tyre district, three people, including a paramedic, were killed in consecutive strikes. Israeli airstrikes also targeted several other locations in the south, including a prayer hall in Jibchit, the vicinity of a public school in the municipality of Arabsalim, and the town of Zawtar al-Sharqiya. In eastern Lebanon, one person was killed and two others injured in an airstrike on the village of Zilaya in Bekaa. Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes targeted Beirut's southern suburbs throughout the night. Israel issued a new warning early Wednesday urging residents to evacuate parts of the area ahead of planned strikes. On Wednesday morning, an Israeli strike targeted an apartment in the Aisha Bakkar area in central Beirut, causing casualties. Israeli sources claimed the strike targeted an apartment linked to Al-Jamaa al-Islamiya, also known as the Islamic Group. However, the Islamic Group denied the claim in a statement, rejecting reports that one of its offices or members had been targeted. The group said some media outlets had rushed to report that an administrative office belonging to it was struck in the raid and that several of its members were killed without verifying the information. Separately, Hezbollah said in statements that its fighters targeted an Israeli force advancing near the southern border town of Aitaroun overnight. The group added that it had attacked gatherings of Israeli soldiers and vehicles at the al-Marj military site opposite the Lebanese border village of Markaba and at the newly established Markaba position, and also targeted two concentrations of Israeli forces near the Manara site and south of the city of Khiam. On March 2, Hezbollah announced the launch of rockets from Lebanon toward Israel for the first time since a ceasefire was declared on Nov. 27, 2024, prompting the Lebanese government to announce a ban on its security and military activities. Meanwhile, the Israeli army launched what it described as an "offensive military campaign" against Hezbollah, carrying out intense airstrikes on multiple Lebanese areas and border ground incursions. This photo taken on March, 11, 2026 shows an apartment building damaged during an Israel airstrike in the Aisha Bakkar area of central Beirut, Lebanon. At least 15 people were killed and 24 others injured in a series of Israeli airstrikes against Lebanon from Tuesday night to Wednesday morning, Lebanon's Public Health Ministry said. The airstrikes targeted several areas in southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon, and the capital of Beirut, according to statements issued by the ministry's Emergency Operations Center. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua) This photo taken on March, 11, 2026 shows destruction caused by an Israel airstrike on an apartment building in the Aisha Bakkar area of central Beirut, Lebanon. At least 15 people were killed and 24 others injured in a series of Israeli airstrikes against Lebanon from Tuesday night to Wednesday morning, Lebanon's Public Health Ministry said. The airstrikes targeted several areas in southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon, and the capital of Beirut, according to statements issued by the ministry's Emergency Operations Center. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua) This photo taken on March, 11, 2026 shows an apartment building damaged during an Israel airstrike in the Aisha Bakkar area of central Beirut, Lebanon. At least 15 people were killed and 24 others injured in a series of Israeli airstrikes against Lebanon from Tuesday night to Wednesday morning, Lebanon's Public Health Ministry said. The airstrikes targeted several areas in southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon, and the capital of Beirut, according to statements issued by the ministry's Emergency Operations Center. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua) This photo taken on March, 11, 2026 shows destruction caused by an Israel airstrike on an apartment building in the Aisha Bakkar area of central Beirut, Lebanon. At least 15 people were killed and 24 others injured in a series of Israeli airstrikes against Lebanon from Tuesday night to Wednesday morning, Lebanon's Public Health Ministry said. The airstrikes targeted several areas in southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon, and the capital of Beirut, according to statements issued by the ministry's Emergency Operations Center. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua) In a new study led by University of British Columbia Ph.D. student Hannah Griebling, raccoons (Procyon lotor) continued manipulating complex puzzle boxes long after retrieving the only marshmallow reward, suggesting the animals seek information for its own sake a behavior that may underpin their urban success. In the study, Griebling and her colleagues used a custom multiaccess puzzle box with mechanisms such as latches, sliding doors or knobs. The box had nine entry points, grouped as easy, medium and hard. In each 20-minute trial the puzzle box contained a single marshmallow, yet raccoons often continued opening new mechanisms after eating it, a clear sign of information-seeking. We werent expecting them to open all three solutions in a single trial, Griebling said. They kept problem solving even when there was no marshmallow at the end. When solutions were easy, raccoons explored broadly, trying multiple openings and varying their order. As task difficulty increased, they favored a dependable solution but still explored multiple solutions even at the hardest level, showing flexible problem-solving. The pattern reflects a classic tradeoff between curiosity and effort or potential risk, Griebling explained. Raccoons adjusted strategy based on perceived cost and risk, mirroring decision-making frameworks in other animals and humans. Its a pattern familiar to anyone ordering at a restaurant, Griebling said. Do you order your favorite dish or try something new? If the risk is high an expensive meal you might not like you choose the safe option. Raccoons explore when the cost is low and quickly decide to play it safe when the stakes are higher. The findings help explain why raccoons thrive in urban centers. Their success could be attributed to the cognitive and physical traits that suit urban life. Their forepaws, rich with sensory nerves for foraging in streams, are well suited to manipulating latches and handles often the same kinds used by humans. Solving problems for information, not just food, may give them an advantage in complex environments, helping them access garbage bins or other food sources. Understanding the cognitive traits that help raccoons thrive can guide management of species that struggle, and inform strategies for other species, like bears, that use problem-solving to access human-made resources, Griebling said. Although the experiment involved captive animals at a research facility in Colorado, previous research suggests wild raccoons show similar problem-solving abilities, though researchers caution the behaviors may not be identical. Raccoon intelligence has long featured in folklore, yet scientific research on their cognition remains limited, said Dr. Sarah Benson-Amram, also from the University of British Columbia. Studies like this provide empirical evidence to support that reputation. The teams results were published February 27, 2026 in the journal Animal Behaviour. _____ Hannah J. Griebling et al. 2026. Raccoons optimally forage for information: exploration-exploitation trade-offs in innovation. Animal Behaviour 234: 123491; doi: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2026.123491 The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The fourth session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body, held its closing meeting on Wednesday morning. Xi Jinping and other Party and state leaders attended the meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. A resolution on the work report of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee, a resolution on the report on how the proposals from political advisors have been handled since the previous annual session, a report on the examination of new proposals, and a political resolution of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee were approved at the meeting. Wang Huning, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, delivered a speech at the meeting. Wang Huning, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, presides over the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2026. Wang delivered a speech at the meeting. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) This photo taken on March 11, 2026 shows the Great Hall of the People ahead of the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai) This photo taken on March 11, 2026 shows an interior view of the Great Hall of the People, the venue for the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Ding Lin) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Lu Ye) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Ding Lin) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) This photo taken on March 11, 2026 shows the Great Hall of the People, the venue for the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) Journalists work at the closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Li He) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Li He) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Lu Ye) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Ding Lin) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Lu Ye) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) Members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) leave the Great Hall of the People after the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Minggang) Members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) leave the Great Hall of the People after the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen) Members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) leave the Great Hall of the People after the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) Members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) leave the Great Hall of the People after the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai) Members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) leave the Great Hall of the People after the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) Members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) leave the Great Hall of the People after the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) Members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) leave the Great Hall of the People after the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) PHNOM PENH, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The export value from the enterprises in the Sihanoukville Special Economy Zone (SSEZ) in Cambodia had increased by 20.5 percent during the January-February period this year, compared to the same period last year, the zone's operator said on Wednesday. Jointly ventured by Chinese and Cambodian investors, the SSEZ is a flagship project under China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). In its news release, the SSEZ operator said the electricity consumption of enterprises in the zone rose by 19 percent year on year, demonstrating a continued surge in development and expansion. "These impressive results truly reflect the SSEZ's continuous efforts to promote industrial upgrading as well as the core strength of enterprises within the zone in achieving robust production and sales," the press release said. "This strong resilience and vitality have also injected new momentum into the construction of Cambodia's Industrial Development Corridor," it added. In recent years, the SSEZ has proactively planned and steadily improved its infrastructure, including water, electricity and steam, as well as urban supporting services such as commerce, housing, education and healthcare. "This has continuously enhanced its industrial capacity, optimized its business environment to attract, retain and promote sustainable development, and vigorously promoted the optimization and upgrading of its industrial structure, focusing on the development of the automotive manufacturing and parts, new energy components and machinery processing, and power equipment supply chains," the press release said. To date, the SSEZ has successfully attracted a total of 217 international companies and institutions, creating 35,000 jobs for local people and becoming a powerful driving force for Cambodia's Industrial Development Corridor initiative, it added. Thong Mengdavid, deputy director of the China-ASEAN Studies Center of the Cambodia University of Technology and Science, said the figure emphasized the zone's rise as Cambodia's most advanced and globally connected industrial hub. "The strong trade performance points to robust investors' confidence and high operational efficiency," he told Xinhua. Established in 2008, the 11-square-km SSEZ is situated near the deep-water Sihanoukville Autonomous Port in the southwestern coastal province of Preah Sihanouk. BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese defense ministry spokesperson on Wednesday called on relevant parties to immediately stop military operations in the Middle East, and return to dialogue and negotiation. Jiang Bin, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, made the statement in response to a media inquiry about the recent military strikes launched by the United States and Israel against Iran. Stressing that such military strikes, which were launched without the authorization of the UN Security Council and in the process of ongoing Iran-U.S. negotiations, seriously breached international law and basic norms of international relations, Jiang said China is firmly opposed to moves violating other countries' sovereignty and security, and to the abuse of force or the law of the jungle. He warned that the continuation and escalation of hostilities produces no winner, and will only push the Middle East into a dangerous abyss, inflicting greater suffering on the peoples of the region. He said the immediate end to military operations is a current priority, calling for joint efforts to uphold peace and stability in the Middle East and beyond. UNITED NATIONS, March 10 (Xinhua) -- More than 1,300 civilians have been killed and 9,669 civilian sites destroyed in Iran in the military strikes launched by the United States and Israel since Feb. 28, Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran's ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations, said Tuesday. The civilian sites included 7,943 residential homes, 1,617 commercial and service centers, 32 medical and pharmaceutical facilities, 65 schools and educational institutions, 13 Red Crescent buildings, and several energy supply facilities, Iravani told the press in a statement. "They are deliberately and indiscriminately targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure across my country. They show no respect for international law and no restraint in committing these crimes," he said. "Densely populated residential areas and critical civilian infrastructure are deliberately targeted," he said, adding that the figures continue to rise as the U.S.-Israeli military attacks continue. Iravani listed several instances in which civilian targets were attacked, including heavy strikes on fuel storage facilities in Tehran and other cities on Saturday night, releasing large quantities of hazardous and toxic pollutants into the atmosphere. The explosions caused severe air pollution and serious health risks for civilians, especially children, women, the elderly, and those with critical health conditions, he said, citing the Iranian Red Crescent Society. "These heinous attacks also violate international environmental obligations, including those under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity," he said. Iravani noted that other instances included attacks on Mehrabad Airport in Tehran early Saturday morning, destroying or severely damaging several civilian aircraft and airport facilities, and attacks on a freshwater desalination plant on Qeshm Island in Hormozgan province, disrupting water supplies to 30 villages. He also said that in the early hours of Sunday, Israel carried out "a deliberate terrorist attack" against the Ramada Hotel in Beirut, Lebanon, killing four Iranian diplomats. "The targeted killing of diplomats on the territory of another sovereign State is a grave terrorist act, a war crime, and a flagrant violation of international law." "The international community must act now to stop this bloody war against the Iranian people. We will take all necessary measures to defend our people, our territory, and our independence," he said. ITM Power said on Wednesday that a green hydrogen project in Wales using its electrolysis technology had reached final investment decision, marking one of the first UK schemes supported by government hydrogen funding to move into the construction phase. The AIM-traded, Sheffield-based electrolyser manufacturer said the project related to MorGen Energys West Wales Hydrogen development in Milford Haven, for which it would supply its 20MW Poseidon core electrolysis process module. It said the facility, located at the former Milford Haven Refinery, was expected to produce around 2,000 tonnes of hydrogen per year once operational. Commissioning was targeted for 2028, with the plant intended to supply industrial customers across Milford Haven, Port Talbot and the wider Welsh industrial cluster. The project was among the first supported by the UK governments Hydrogen Allocation Round 1 (HAR1) programme to reach final investment decision. Alongside the project approval, ITM said it had signed a 10-year long-term service agreement with MorGen Energy covering maintenance and operational support for the plant once it enters service. Werner Lieberherr, chief executive of MorGen Energy, said the investment decision represented a key step for the UKs hydrogen industry. Reaching FID on West Wales Hydrogen is a defining milestone for MorGen and the UK hydrogen sector. This project demonstrates that green hydrogen projects in the UK can be delivered as bankable infrastructure investments when strong industrial demand is combined with a clear and stable policy framework. He added that the company was grateful for the strong support of the UK Government, especially the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and our partners, and we look forward to beginning construction and delivering hydrogen to our customers from 2028. ITM Power chief executive Dennis Schulz said the agreement underlined the companys role in the emerging hydrogen economy. The MorGen Energy West Wales project is an important milestone for green hydrogen in the UK, and we are proud that our technology will be at its core, he said. Our partnership with MorGen Energy highlights our dedication to providing reliable, high-performance electrolysers that aid the UK's industrial decarbonisation efforts. At 1324 GMT, shares in ITM Power were up 1.1% at 64.6p. Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com. On Thursday, Bridgepoint , Computacenter , Helios Towers , Informa , M&G , Oakley Capital Investments , Savills , TP Icap , Vesuvius and Volution will release full-year results, while safety equipment and technology group Halma will update on trading. UBS said that with Computacenter already pre-announcing results, the focus will be on the companys outlook for 2026. "We expect a positive messaging around major geographies," the bank said. "For Germany we expect the company to flag a good outlook driven by the hardware refresh cycle and strong public sector spending (and Infrastructure spend potentially from H2 26) following several tough years. "We expect a good outlook for NA underpinned not only by strong AI spend from hyperscalers but also by corporates. "On the UK we expect the company to make progress for the year, while France will likely be difficult in 26. Taken together, we expect the company to state that it expects to make further progress, though we expect CCC to flag risks from higher memory prices /supply shortages." In the US, Adobe, Dollar General and Sunbelt Rentals are among the companies slated to report, along with Dicks Sporting Goods. As far as Sunbelt is concerned, Matt Britzman, senior equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: "Ashtead has just emerged from a period of change, completing its rebrand to Sunbelt Rentals Group and shifting its primary listing to the US, while retaining a secondary UK listing. "Revenue growth has been hard fought in recent quarters, with parts of the construction market remaining sluggish. Still, were fairly optimistic that 2026 can look better on the profit front, helped by easier comparatives and a gradual improvement in trading conditions. "Big-ticket projects like data centres and semiconductor fabs remain a key source of support, helping offset weaker demand in local and regional markets. Investors will be keen to hear whether those softer areas are starting to show signs of life, and whether rental pricing still has room to move higher. With the main listing now in the US, the valuation gap versus US peers should be clearer - and if performance keeps pace with those names, that could provide a tailwind if the gap narrows." Zara-owner Inditex posted a jump in annual sales and earnings on Wednesday and said the current year had got off to a solid start. The Spanish retail giant saw net sales rise 3.2% in the year to 31 January 2026, to 39.9bn, with "very satisfactory development" both online and in store. On a constant currency basis, sales were 7% stronger. Net income rose 6% to 6.2bn. Mass market fashion chains such as Inditex and closest rival H&M have faced uncertain consumer demand in their core US and European markets, hit hard by geopolitical tensions, higher prices and a weak economic outlook. Competition from cheaper rivals such as Shein has also spiked. However, chief executive Oscar Garcia Maceiras said of the 2025 numbers: "These results reflect the ability of our teams to honour the trust that millions of customers place in our eight commercial formats every day." Looking to the current year, Inditex - which also owns Pull&Bear, Massimo Dutti and Bershka, among others - said it had a "strong commitment" to profitable growth, with gross space set to increase by around 5%. Inditex currently has around 5,500 stores in 214 markets. It also noted that spring/summer collections had so far been well received, with sales up 9% on a constant currency basis between 1 February and 8 March. Analysts had been expecting growth of between 8% and 12%. Inditexs Madrid-listed shares were up 1% as at 0945 GMT, having pared back slightly earlier gains. Jefferies, which has a buy rating on the stock, said: "The year has started solidly, notwithstanding an unquantified impact from Middle East disruption, and potentially very rainy conditions in Iberia, even if it is unclear whether investors were hoping for closer to10%. "Both guidance for flat general merchandising and forex impact of -1% are aligned with consensus. The drivers for mid-teens total shareholder returns remains well mapped out. This in our mind is deserving of a fuller valuation." London stocks fell in early trade on Wednesday as worries about the Iran conflict continued to rattle markets, with oil prices rising again. At 0850 GMT, the FTSE 100 was down 0.7% at 10,337.45. Oil prices edged up on reports that three vessels had been hit by "projectiles" in the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran said to be laying mines in the key waterway. Crude prices had fallen overnight on a report that the International Energy Agency was proposing the largest release of oil reserves in its history to stop the cost of oil surging as a result of constrained supply from the region. In a further development on Wednesday, the G7 group of nations said they supported, in principle, the implementation of proactive measures to address the situation, including the use of strategic reserves. Susannah Streeter, chief investment strategist at Wealth Club, said: "Erratic energy prices are keeping investors on edge as the war in Iran rages with no clear end in sight. Brent crude is still largely holding onto its dramatic decline, but it's staying highly volatile. "In the past 24 hours its dipped as low as $83 a barrel before heading to $94 and retreating back to around $90. Theres fresh concern about chaos in the market given how seriously production is being disrupted. The FTSE 100 has fallen back in early trade as investors remain highly jittery about the knock-on effect for the global economy." Streeter noted that Saudi Aramco has sounded the latest warning bell about an energy shock, with chief executive Amin Nasser saying on an earnings call that it was the biggest crisis oil and gas producers have faced. "He said there would be catastrophic consequences for the industry, and the consequences for the world economy would be more drastic the longer the conflict continues," Streeter said. "Supplies are seizing up, with the key Strait of Hormuz remaining impassable, and storage facilities quickly filling up across the region. Irans Revolutionary Guard has again vowed to destroy ships using the passage and President Trumps pledge to escort ships for now seems unworkable on a mass scale. The US military has destroyed a fleet of mine-laying ships, but as attacks on US allies continue, shipping companies look likely to give the channel a wide berth until theres a resolution to the conflict." Geopolitics aside, investors were eyeing the release of the US consumer price index for February at 1230 GMT. In equity markets, Legal & General slumped as it announced its biggest ever share buyback and said it was on track to hit its financial targets, but posted slightly lower than expected full-year core operating profit. Full-year core operating profit rose 6% to 1.62bn, versus consensus expectations of 1.65bn, while core operating earnings per share increased 9% to 20.93p, in line with the guidance given at the half-year results. Matt Britzman, senior equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said the results had a few moving parts, some slightly better, some a touch weaker, but ultimately landed broadly in line with expectations. Harbour Energy tanked after its third-largest shareholder, EIG Management, sold 60m shares in a placing to institutional investors, raising about 153m. 4Imprint tumbled after results, as it said tariff-related costs may influence revenue and margins in 2026. Hochschild Mining was also weaker even as it reported a rise in annual earnings as geopolitical turmoil boosted precious metals prices. On the upside, Balfour Beatty rallied after it posted an increase in full-year profits, driven by strong performances in UK construction and support services. Construction materials group Breedon also racked up strong gains as it hailed another year of revenue and EBITDA growth and a record cash performance. Market Movers FTSE 100 (UKX) 10,337.45 -0.72% FTSE 250 (MCX) 22,364.48 -0.57% techMARK (TASX) 5,838.62 -0.54% FTSE 100 - Risers Rentokil Initial (RTO) 456.90p 1.10% BT Group (BT.A) 207.60p 0.97% Admiral Group (ADM) 3,180.00p 0.63% Pearson (PSON) 980.20p 0.49% InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) 131.70p 0.42% Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK) 1,217.00p 0.41% Sainsbury (J) (SBRY) 336.00p 0.30% Next (NXT) 12,790.00p 0.23% Severn Trent (SVT) 3,097.00p 0.23% Compass Group (CPG) 2,260.00p 0.22% FTSE 100 - Fallers Legal & General Group (LGEN) 244.40p -5.30% Smiths Group (SMIN) 2,454.00p -5.15% St James's Place (STJ) 1,298.00p -2.67% ICG (ICG) 1,557.00p -2.50% Diploma (DPLM) 5,095.00p -2.30% Airtel Africa (AAF) 338.60p -2.13% Burberry Group (BRBY) 1,059.50p -1.98% Spirax Group (SPX) 7,165.00p -1.98% Halma (HLMA) 3,840.00p -1.84% SEGRO (SGRO) 741.20p -1.77% FTSE 250 - Risers Balfour Beatty (BBY) 749.00p 6.77% Breedon Group (BREE) 335.20p 4.04% Bodycote (BOY) 727.50p 3.18% Utilico Emerging Markets Ltd (DI) (UEM) 286.00p 2.88% Caledonia Investments (CLDN) 344.00p 2.38% Schroder Oriental Income Fund Ltd. (SOI) 385.00p 1.99% Pacific Horizon Inv Trust (PHI) 935.00p 1.19% Playtech (PTEC) 359.00p 1.13% THG (THG) 32.06p 1.01% Rathbones Group (RAT) 2,090.00p 0.97% FTSE 250 - Fallers 4Imprint Group (FOUR) 3,480.00p -9.57% Harbour Energy (HBR) 257.20p -9.29% Hochschild Mining (HOC) 656.50p -4.94% Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) 116.80p -3.39% TP Icap Group (TCAP) 250.00p -3.09% Oxford Biomedica (OXB) 634.00p -2.61% ITV (ITV) 82.65p -2.53% Pan African Resources (PAF) 156.00p -2.49% Genuit Group (GEN) 314.00p -2.48% Man Group (EMG) 251.40p -2.48% 4imprint shares were sliding on Wednesday morning, after it reported slightly lower revenue and profit for 2025 as the promotional products marketer navigated a volatile macroeconomic environment that weighed on new customer demand. The FTSE 250 group posted revenue of $1.35bn for the 52 weeks ended 27 December, down 2% from $1.37bn a year earlier. Operating profit fell 2% to $145.2m, while profit before tax declined 2% to $150.8m. Basic earnings per share decreased 3% to 404.4 cents. The company maintained a double-digit operating margin of 10.8%, supported by a strong gross profit margin and flexibility in its marketing mix. Total orders for the year fell to 2.06 million from 2.12 million in 2024, as orders from existing customers were flat while new customer orders declined 12% over the year. Average order value increased 1%. Cash and bank deposits stood at $132.8m at the end of the period, down from $147.6m a year earlier. The board maintained the total regular dividend at 240 cents per share, equivalent to 179.5p, unchanged in US dollar terms but 4% lower in sterling. 4imprint said it remained well financed and is continuing to invest in its operations, including a project of around $10m to relocate its leased downtown Oshkosh, Wisconsin office space to its recently expanded distribution centre. The relocation was expected to be completed in mid-2026. Chairman Paul Moody said trading at the start of the new year had been broadly in line with expectations. Trading results in the first two months of 2026 have been in line with the board's expectations. Orders and revenue are slightly down compared to the same period in 2025, reflecting continued uncertainty in the market. He added that tariffs and evolving trade policies could influence the companys performance this year. As anticipated, tariff-related costs are being phased in by suppliers and tariff policy continues to evolve. Whilst these factors may influence revenue and margins in 2026, the business will continue to be managed to deliver solid financial results in the near term, and best position us to take advantage of opportunities that will present themselves as economic and market conditions improve. Moody said that despite the challenging backdrop, the board remained confident in the companys outlook. Despite a challenging environment, our view of the prospects of the business is unchanged. The board is confident in the group's strategy, competitive position, and long-term growth opportunity. At 0827 GMT, shares in 4imprint Group were down 7.8% at 3,563.59p. Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com. Shell has reportedly declared force majeure on liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes it buys from QatarEnergy and sells to its clients worldwide. According to Reuters sources, other Qatari LNG buyers, including TotalEnergies and some Asian companies, have received force majeure notices from Qatar and told customers they would not be selling them Qatari LNG as long as the facilities remain shut. Qatar, the world's second-largest exporter of LNG, announced a production halt at its 77m tons per year facility last week and declared force majeure on LNG shipments. A person familiar with the matter told Reuters that TotalEnergies has not declared force majeure. Both Shell and TotalEnergies have long-term partnerships with QatarEnergy and are partners in the company's massive North Field expansion project which aims to boost capacity by 2027. According to Bloomberg, citing a person familiar with the matter, Oman trading house OQ has declared force majeure to its customer in Bangladesh due to halted Qatari supply. The shortlist has been selected for the 2025 Republic of Consciousness Prize, United States and Canada, celebrating "the commitment of small presses to exceptional works of literary merit." Organizers will distribute a total of $35,000: each press with a longlisted book receives $2,000; the five shortlisted books will be rewarded an additional $3,000 each, split equally between publisher and author, or publisher, author, and translator. The winner will be announced March 10. The shortlist: Dreaming of Dead People by Rosalind Belben (And Other Stories) Little Lazarus by Michael Bible (CLASH Books) The Remembered Soldier by Anjet Daanje, trans. by David McKay (New Vessel Press) The Endless Week by Laura Vazquez, trans. by Alex Niemi (Dorothy, a publishing project) Hothouse Bloom by Austyn Wohlers (Hub City Press) --- The shortlist has been announced for the European Union Prize for Literature, which recognizes "emerging fiction writers from the European Union and beyond." The Prize honors 41 outstanding new literary talents over a three-year period. This year there are 14 shortlisted books, nominated by national entities knowledgeable about the literary scene in their countries and used to promoting their own literature abroad. The winner and two special mentions will be announced May 29 in Warsaw. To see the shortlisted titles, click here. The EUPL is organised by a consortium of associations comprising the Federation of European Publishers and the European and International Booksellers Federation, with the support of the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union. PARIS, March 11 (Xinhua) -- International Energy Agency (IEA) has recommended a release of 400 million barrels of oil from stockpiles, the largest such move in IEA history, Executive Director Fatih Birol said on Wednesday. IIDE The Digital Business School, a pioneer in building digital-first careers, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Jai Hind College, one of Mumbai's most academically distinguished institutions, to bring its Professional Certification in AI Strategy (PCAIS) directly to the learners. Senior leadership from both institutions came together to formalise the agreement, signalling a shared resolve to prepare Mumbai's next generation of graduates. The program launches on April 14, 2026, running for five months directly on the Jai Hind College campus with evening sessions scheduled after college hours so students can upskill without compromising their academics. Across 240 hours of instructor-led teaching and project-based learning, learners are trained to think AI-first, build systems around it, and apply it across real business contexts. Given that AI roles are among the fastest-growing and hardest-to-fill positions across industries today, the program ensures every student graduates with proof of work and documented implementations that employers can evaluate directly. The program is open to students and working professionals, with an intake of 40 students per cohort. Commenting on the announcement, Mr Karan Shah, Founder & CEO, IIDE, said, "At IIDE, we spent the last decade closing the digital skills gap, and we are now ready to do the same with AI. Our online AI courses have already shown what's possible, with learners actively deploying AI in their work. Our partnership with Jai Hind College is the first step in taking this offline, starting with the students who will define what India's AI workforce looks like." Dr. Vijay Dabholkar, Principal, Jai Hind College, shared, Jai Hind has spent decades shaping graduates who go on to lead in boardrooms, in institutions, and in industries. Leadership today means being AI-ready, and we take that responsibility seriously. Earlier, we partnered with IIDE to build digital-first leaders. Now, were extending it to AI. This is our commitment to the students that Jai Hind will always equip them to lead the world they are entering. Post the Professional Certification, graduates will be ready to design AI workflows, evaluate AI tools for business use, and lead AI adoption within organisations. About IIDE - The Digital Business School IIDE - The Digital Business School is a leading institution known for its programs in digital marketing, entrepreneurship and AI. Over the last decade, IIDE has empowered 250,000+ learners across 10+ countries, building a global community of entrepreneurs, creators, and professionals shaping the digital economy. With an industry-led curriculum and a strong emphasis on practical learning, IIDE focuses on helping learners build skills that translate into real outcomes, whether they are starting a business, growing as creators or advancing their careers in the digital space. Approximately 4.2 grams of a crystal-like substance suspected to be methamphetamine Multiple pills suspected to be alprazolam and clonazepam Drug paraphernalia , including straws used for ingesting substances , including straws used for ingesting substances A digital scale with white residue Multiple unused plastic baggies A grinder emitting the odor of marijuana A razor blade and mirror with residue A Frackville man is facing multiple felony and misdemeanor charges after Saint Clair Borough Police say he was stopped in a stolen vehicle and found in possession of suspected drugs and drug paraphernalia Tuesday night.According to court documents, the Saint Clair Borough Police Department was on patrol around 11:39 p.m. on March 10, 2026, traveling eastbound on Hancock Street at Morris Street when the officer observed a white Ford van traveling westbound. As the vehicle passed the patrol unit, the officer reportedly heard what sounded like a modified or leaking exhaust producing excessive noise.Police say the van immediately turned at the next available intersection after passing the patrol vehicle. Due to the loud exhaust and the vehicles movements, the officer began following the van and ran the Pennsylvania dealer registration plate. A check through PennDOT reportedly showed the registration had expired on September 29, 2025, and the status was listed as a dead tag.The officer then observed the van making what were described as evasive driving maneuvers, including multiple turns and activating turn signals shortly before turning. A traffic stop was initiated.The driver was identified as Charles Bernardo Audkaitis, 36, of Frackville. According to police, Audkaitis acknowledged the exhaust leak but stated he did not have a drivers license or vehicle documentation, claiming the van belonged to a friend.A VIN check of the vehicle reportedly revealed it had been reported stolen out of Mount Carmel, Northumberland County.Further investigation showed Audkaitis had an active warrant from the State of Wisconsin for terrorist threats, according to the affidavit.Audkaitis was detained and read his Miranda warnings, which he reportedly waived before speaking with police. He initially told officers he received the vehicle from a friend but refused to provide the name or location. He later told police he was test driving the vehicle and considering purchasing it after picking it up from what he described as a garage.Schuylkill County Communications confirmed both the active warrant and that the vehicle had been reported stolen by the Mount Carmel Police Department.During a search incident to arrest, officers reportedly located several items, including: Audkaitis was charged with: Receiving Stolen Property (Felony 3) Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver (Felony) Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle Multiple counts of possession of a controlled substance Possession of drug paraphernalia Driving an unregistered vehicle Failure to maintain financial responsibility Purchase/Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor Audkaitis was arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge Stephen Bayer and committed to Schuylkill County Prison on $100,000 straight cash bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 24, 2026, before Magisterial District Judge Edward M. Lewis in Port Carbon. AMMAN, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Jordan on Wednesday condemned the continued closure of the gates of the Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli authorities for the 11th consecutive day, which prevented worshippers from entering the holy site during Ramadan. In a statement, the Jordanian Foreign Ministry called the move a "flagrant violation" of international law that undermines the historical and legal status of the compound and breaches the principle of free access to places of worship. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Fouad Majali urged Israel, as the occupying power, to immediately reopen the mosque and stop obstructing worshippers. He also called on the international community to take a clear and firm stance to compel Israel to end "unlawful practices" targeting Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem. According to the Palestinian news agency WAFA, Israeli authorities have officially ordered full closures of the mosque on Fridays only five times since Israel occupied East Jerusalem in 1967, with the most recent closure reported on March 7. King Abdullah II of Jordan on Monday warned that Israel could exploit the regional crisis to intensify attacks on Gaza and the West Bank during Ramadan, according to a statement from the Royal Hashemite Court. Advertisement BusinessCompaniesMedia & marketing Kyle and Jackie O back in contact as days count down to his $100m ouster Calum Jaspan March 11, 2026 6:18pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O Henderson are back in contact almost three weeks after he delivered a belittling tirade against her on live radio that put their show in mortal peril, sources close to the controversial broadcaster have said. Sandilands has six days left to fix what the station described as his serious misconduct, in which he berated Henderson to the point where, according to their ultimate employer ARN, she could no longer work with him. Kyle Sandilands and Jackie Henderson when they signed their $200 million deal with ARN in 2023. This masthead has previously reported that would require him, while suspended from work, to regain Hendersons willingness to partner with him again on their Kyle & Jackie O Show at radio station KIIS FM. A resumption of contact between the pair, who were on a combined $200 million contract to present the show for 10 years, could be a first stage to returning to the air. A source close to Sandilands, speaking on condition of anonymity because the matter is legally sensitive, said the pair were aligned on wanting to put the feud behind them and are back in contact. Advertisement Both see [the removal of the show from air] it as it is: ARN jumping at the opportunity to try and save money, the source claimed. Neither Sandilands nor Hendersons camp would comment. ARN also declined to comment. Even if the pair does reconcile, any return would probably be under substantially different circumstances. Hendersons contract to present the show via her private company was torn up by ARN, which is valued at just $111 million, last week. Sandilands was suspended for two weeks and the company has said it would terminate his contract if he could not remedy his alleged misconduct. In the meantime and despite issuing a statement that was highly critical of ARN his contract is still in place. Rival breakfast host, 2GBs Ben Fordham, told his listeners on Wednesday that Sandilands statement appeared to be an effort to win the public back. Advertisement He knows hes cooked, so hes fighting for his job, hoping he can whip up support from listeners and the public, Fordham said. ARN has been in financial freefall since the $200 million deal was announced in 2023. The company has suffered both due to The Kyle and Jackie O Shows poor ratings results in Melbourne, an advertiser boycott, and the stalled rollout of the show into both Brisbane and Adelaide. It also has a regulatory cloud lingering over its head, with the outcome of a lengthy investigation by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) still pending. Sandilands released an explosive statement on Tuesday evening, alleging his employer did not run a fair process before suspending him and tearing up Hendersons contract. As a result, ARNs decision is now being challenged by Sandilands, whose camp believes the allegation he has breached his contract is invalid. He urged the company to honour our agreement on Tuesday. Henderson has also engaged legal representation. Henderson says she did not quit the show, though ARN has formed the view that by informing the company she could not work with Sandilands going forward, she was therefore unable to deliver on her services agreement, which is to perform The Kyle & Jackie O Show. Advertisement I am not going to pretend that everything about this situation is simple. Jackie told me she was hurt and I accept that. But we have had disagreements before and we have always worked through them, Sandilands said in his statement on Tuesday. Related Article Inside Story Media & marketing They got their $100 million contracts in a Louis Vuitton briefcase. This week, it all fell apart That is what partners do. We never needed lawyers or ASX announcements to sort things out. I believe we could have sorted this out, too, if ARN had given us the chance. The truth is that ARN terminated Jackies contract on the same day it accused me of a breach. It suspended me from work. All of this happened while I was being told to sit quietly and say nothing. That is not a genuine process. ARN, which has a new CEO in former Nine sales boss Michael Stephenson and an almost entirely new executive team, has remained silent since it released the ASX announcement last week. Nine is the owner of this masthead. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning. Advertisement BusinessThe economyMiddle East at war Opinion Trump is facing a humiliating crisis he created himself Ambrose Evans-Pritchard March 11, 2026 6:35pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A Britain and France won the Suez war in 1956. They destroyed Egypts air force on the ground and gained total control of the skies within hours. They crippled Egypts tank forces. The assault was professional and achieved all of its immediate military objectives. Trump cant let this conflict drag on much longer. AP Yet the Suez crisis degenerated into their worst humiliation since 1940 because the two powers failed to anticipate the economic fallout. Both faced capital flight and pressure on their fixed exchange rates. In a larger sense, they misread the worlds post-imperial mood. Advertisement Donald Trump risks his very own Suez crisis if he lets this conflict drag on through March. Markets may have rallied after he pronounced the war very complete, but Iran is still fighting and the Strait of Hormuz is still closed. Related Article Analysis Middle East at war We havent won enough: Markets like what Trumps saying but mixed messages abound He launched this war with 21 days consumption cover in the US strategic petroleum reserve China is thought to have at least 120 days cover and with inadequate warships to protect shipping. The 20-million-barrel buffer of floating Russian crude has mostly been soaked up already. Vladimir Putin will not step into the breach. He is already exporting as much as he can. Michael Haigh and Ben Hoff, from the Societe Generale bank, estimate that the war has cut off 17 million barrels a day (b/d) of oil supply, or a sixth of global consumption. It is worse for liquefied natural gas. Advertisement Iraq has run out of storage and has been forced to slash production by 3 million b/d. Kuwait is following suit. Abu Dhabi will do so within days. Saudi Arabia has more storage but has had to close the Safaniya, Marjan, Zuluf and Abu Safa fields because of drone attacks, curtailing more than 2 million b/d. Energy experts at Argus say almost 7 million b/d has already been shut in across the region. Trump said America is immune to the energy shock because it has achieved oil and gas supremacy and is a net fossil fuels exporter. He is wrong. Bloomberg The Saudis can divert some crude through the East-West pipeline to the Red Sea, but the port at Yanbu has capacity limits and is within drone-strike range of the Houthis, a Yemeni Shiite militia aligned with Iran. Disruption escalates in a non-linear way once drillers close oil fields. The first couple of weeks upsets the reservoir physics. Advertisement Restarting field production of this scale will be a massive technical exercise, said Jim Burkhard, the chief oil analyst at S&P Global Energy. Related Article Updated Middle East at war US blows up minelaying boats near Strait of Hormuz amid conflicting claims Beyond a month, the damage to well pressure and flowlines becomes permanent. In our view, $US200 [per barrel] is not outside the realms of possibility in 2026, said Simon Flowers, the chairman of energy consultants Wood Mackenzie. That would be a horror story for gas too. Societe Generale said funds are betting on a strike price of 200 ($326) per megawatt-hour for September natural gas futures in Europe. The same contract was 26 a few weeks ago. Advertisement Trump has talked of a $US20 billion ($28.1 billion) fund backed by the US Development Finance Corporation to cover war reinsurance for Gulf shipping. This reveals how little the White House understands the global maritime and insurance market. Helima Croft, a former CIA analyst now at RBC Capital, said the task of shifting the vast fleet of stranded ships on both sides of the Strait of Hormuz threatens to overwhelm the entire $US205 billion statutory risk limit of the US government agency. The Strait of Hormuz is the critical choke-point in the global oil industry. AP She said Iran still has an arsenal of long-distance drones that can be deployed from anywhere and an ample supply of small, fast boats that can be packed with explosives to target ships. The new and dangerous twist is that China has sent its state-of-the-art Liaowang-1 signals intelligence vessel to the region with an escort of destroyers. Advertisement Related Article Updated Middle East at war Qantas hikes fares, blames jet fuel prices linked to Iran war Defence Security Asia said its electromagnetic sensors could give the Iranians instant data on US and Israeli aircraft, quoting one specialist calling it a floating supercomputer processing petabytes of data to map the invisible battlefield. The Kuwait Petroleum Corporation said maritime insurance on its own is not enough. Sheikh Nawaf al-Sabah, the chief executive, vowed that he will not risk the lives of crews. Were prepared to move through the Gulf if we can get some level of assurance on safe passage from the US Navy, but theres not yet a plan in place for a naval escort, he said. There has been oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz for over 80 years and not a single day of those 80 years has it ever been closed to traffic. After eight decades, we have now entered a new era of geopolitics, he said. Advertisement Well, indeed. Trump posted on Truth Social that the naval escort would soon be assembled. It has not been done and cannot physically be done in time to avert a global energy crisis as long as the war continues. The US has just 12 warships in the Gulf region. They are needed to prosecute the attacks. It would take a fleet of 20 ships to handle the constant stream of tankers. The mission would need minesweepers from Europe. Without seeming to realise what he has done, Trump has exposed the raw fact that the US is no longer a full-spectrum military hegemon able to project power simultaneously in multiple theatres across the planet. It has superb armed forces and technology but that is not the same thing. Ronald Reagans defence budget reached 6.7 per cent of GDP in the late 1980s. Trump commands a navy that has shrunk by half and a military budget of 3.4 per cent. Declaring that the Pentagon is renamed the Department of War alters nothing. Advertisement Trump said the US is immune to the energy shock because it has achieved oil and gas supremacy and is a net fossil fuels exporter. It doesnt really affect us, he said. So which will prevail in the tug of war within Trumps personality? This is nonsense. Oil is a fungible commodity and is priced globally. The US could reimpose Jimmy Carters oil export ban and partially break the price linkage, but it still has to import a colossal 9 million b/d, either in petroleum products or as heavy sour crude to balance Texas light sweet in its refineries. Advertisement Americans drive twice as far each year as western Europeans,and the average fuel efficiency of their cars is roughly half. They are four times as vulnerable to the price. They also fly twice as far per capita. The average petrol price at the pump in the US has risen from $US2.90 a gallon ($1.077 per litre) in mid-February to $US3.50 ($1.29 per litre) so far. Diesel prices have doubled to $US4.60. Jet fuel is up by even more. That alone will hurt in a K-shaped economy shedding jobs fast and where the bottom half is already raging about affordability. Prices will rise mechanically, with a lag, the longer that Gulf drillers suffer structural damage. Nobody knows where the breaking point lies in US politics, but another hike in oil prices to $US150 a barrel would surely shatter Trumps electoral base. $US200 would destroy his presidency. It is true that the oil intensity of US and global GDP has halved since the Arab embargo of 1973, but that episode was chiefly confined to oil. Qatars Ras Laffan, now the worlds largest exporting port for liquefied natural gas, was then a fishing village. LNG was not exported from the Gulf until 1996. The region did not then produce 30 per cent of the worlds urea or supply 20 per cent of the fertilisers used by Americas farmers, badly needed now for spring planting. It did not account for an eighth of the worlds polypropylene and ethylene, or a tenth of its aluminium. It was a different world. Advertisement Related Article Opinion Middle East at war War is over soon? Markets faith in Donald Trump is misplaced Stephen Bartholomeusz Senior business columnist Markets expect Trump to declare victory soon, before he is overwhelmed by a supply chain shock to match COVID. That bet is probably correct, but Irans Revolutionary Guard have so far refused to make it easy for him by rolling over. It is we who will determine the end of the war, they said on Tuesday. So which will prevail in the tug of war within Trumps personality: his fear of losing the US midterm election? Or his injured vanity and his psychological need to command escalation dominance, always and everywhere? Advertisement That is the $US200 question. The Telegraph, London 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 A A A John Otway peaked seven minutes into his career. Go ahead and check the YouTube metrics. A violent upsurge in the squiggly line shows the most replayed bit of his UK TV debut: the moment he takes a chaotic tumble astride Wild Willy Barretts guitar amplifier and lands smack on his testicles. It happened in front of 5.5 million viewers of The Old Grey Whistle Test in October 1977. If it hadnt, he wouldnt have been invited to play his hit (Cor Baby Thats) Really Free on Top of the Pops. Nor would he be here today, probably, preparing his first ever world tour as rocknrolls greatest failure. I remember once hearing Boris Becker say there was life before he won Wimbledon and life afterwards. For me, there was life before I landed on my testicles and life afterwards, he recalls fondly from his home in Nottingham, bed-hair akimbo from rising 10 minutes ago. At the time, it felt like fate. From the age of nine, I knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to be a rock star. That night on Top of the Pops, I was thinking, Yep, this is it. Were on our way. I didnt realise that was it. After the Top 30 success of Really Free Otway flew to Los Angeles to record a daringly different song named for a girl he fancied: Geneve. With trademark financial foresight, he booked a massive orchestra. So that was the end of my career and my love life in one foul song. Rocknrolls greatest failure John Otway on stage. It was and it wasnt. Absurd overreaching and comical self-deprecation have been Otways weapons since his teenaged days clearing rooms in his hometown of Aylesbury. Today his fans buy T-shirts with slogans like I cant believe its not better and Its nearly rocknroll but I like it. At shows they chant, Cant sing, cant play, whats his name? Otway! Advertisement The fact that he played his five thousandth show at Shepherds Bush Empire in 2022 proves hes struck at least one chord with precision. Its a slippery one to put your finger on, but it has more to do with sincerity, vulnerability and sheer perseverance than talent as defined by music industry professionals. If its about talent then I certainly shouldnt have made it, he says cheerfully. His main strengths boil down to sort of trickery and invention although I do think Ive written some quite nice lyrics. Back in 72, no less a rock god than Pete Townshend agreed. Listening one night to John Peels iconoclastic BBC radio show, the Who guitarist was smitten by an independently pressed single called Misty Mountain by Otway and Barrett the latter a wild-haired Aylesbury local who could actually play the guitar quite well. Otway and Wild Willy Barrett in 1978. Pete was amazing, Otway says. He produced four tracks on the first Otway-Barrett album. One of my favourite moments was Louisa On a Horse. He said, I think it needs a bit of guitar. So he picked up a guitar, and he was jumping up and down doing all these big Pete Townshend power chords about five feet away from me! I remember thinking, Oh, he is good, isnt he? Ironically, being good was on the way out. When Otway finally managed to release the album in 1976, UK music tastemakers had turned their backs on stadium monsters like The Who in favour of inept outsiders. Punks. Hence, after years of near empty rooms, the short-lived and fully televised victory of Really Free. Otways brief window of fame is vividly date-stamped. On September 7, 1978, he found himself riding home from a party thrown by Paul McCartney in Keith Moons limousine. Sadly, that night was the great drummers last. Which puts the lesser rock stars survival in some perspective. Advertisement Ive always been a bit of a strategist, Otway says. I mean, after that first hit it took 25 years to get another one, but I managed to claw up there. Bunsen Burner landed him on Top of the Pops for the second time in 2003. Again, the talent involved was not necessarily musical. I worked out what the problems were with getting a hit, and the main one was just getting the records into the record shops. So you basically press up a lot of records and persuade the shops to take them on sale or return. TAKE 7: THE ANSWERS ACCORDING TO JOHN OTWAY Worst habit? Staying in bed too long. Having a television in the bedroom doesnt work. Greatest fear? Not being a rock star. The line that has stayed with you? If at first you dont succeed, youve already been a failure once. (John Otway). Biggest regret? Never doing a world tour. But well have fixed that in April. Favourite book? Ian Hunters Diary of a Rockn Roll Star. The artwork/ song that you wish was yours? Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps Please by Splodgenessabounds. I mean, its basically one line and youve done it. If you could time travel, where would you choose to go? Id like to go back to the point when it was decided that Geneve should be the follow-up to Really Free and go, Stop! Do you really want to wait 25 years for another hit? For 18 months prior, Otways long-term co-strategist Richard Cotton had been asking to hear the song he was intending to release. I said, Look, the song doesnt matter. We need a campaign. It involved producing a 12-track CD and asking fans to vote for the hit, which meant that they sort of took responsibility to make it a hit. Its all about the fans. Every rock star will tell you that, but few mean it like John Otway. His years in the wilderness taught him about the very real power of a small, passionate and carefully maintained following long before crowdfunding was a thing. His many fan-centric stunts over the years have included selling producer credits to fund a documentary, Otway: the Movie, and then filming punters as they arrived at the ticketed premiere to quickly splice them into the final reel. In 2017, he fulfilled a grand goal of making an album at Sir George Martins abandoned Caribbean studio, Air. The trip was funded by the 50 fans invited to fly over and sing on it. Advertisement To win an audience over, youve got to genuinely like them, says the master of the pint-spilling somersault. I noticed from very early on that people would laugh at me when I walked on stage. I think there was something to do with a lack of co-ordination that Ive got, and I realised that that was a wonderful weapon. I always wanted to be a huge megastar and I managed what I call micro-stardom. You go to a gig, the crowds arent that big, but you can talk to anybody that wants to talk to you, you can let them buy you drinks. Its pleasant. And its a privilege to have actually made a living out of it. Related Article Cinema Charli xcx buries Brat and Elvis is reborn: have music films entered a new era? Otways early career mantra that No problem is too big if you can borrow enough money to solve it brought him unstuck when the responsibility of parenthood hit 35 years ago. My father-in-law cleared my debt, he says gratefully. Since then, breaking even has been his bottom line. My mum always thought Id end up having to get a proper job. My siblings have long since retired and here I am at the age of 73, still working! Its brilliant. Australia joined Otways relentless schedule still several hundred gigs per year in 2023. His March return is part of a debut world tour stopping in Canada, Japan and the antipodes. As described in his second memoir, I Did It Otway, a similar jaunt in an Otway-branded jet was scuppered due to insufficient passenger subscriptions in 2006. This one, to celebrate the 33 and a third anniversary of the band, will be documented in his third book, a road diary destined to become a micro-classic of the genre. Weve got studios booked in Vancouver, New Zealand, Australia and Japan, and were recording a long-playing record, he adds. Its a picture disc with the northern hemisphere on one side and the southern hemisphere on the other. So not only have I got to organise all that Ive also got to write the songs. Advertisement Advertisement CultureMusicRihanna Woman charged with attempted murder over shots fired at Rihannas home Andrew Dalton March 11, 2026 10:59am 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 Los Angeles: A Florida woman accused of firing gunshots at Rihannas home in Los Angeles was charged Tuesday with one count of attempted murder and other felony offences including 10 counts of assault on a person with a semiautomatic firearm. The district attorneys office said Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, 35, was charged over the shooting on Sunday afternoon outside the superstars gated home in the Beverly Hills area. Rihanna and A$AP Rocky. Getty Images District Attorney Nathan Hochman said that the singing superstar, her partner A$AP Rocky, their three small children and her mother were all on the property at the time. No one was hurt. Court records show Ortiz also was charged with three counts of shooting at an inhabited vehicle or dwelling. All 14 counts are felonies, and she was brought for a scheduled arraignment before Judge Theresa McGonigle on Tuesday afternoon in the Superior Court of Los Angeles County. Advertisement Deputy Public Defender Jamarcus Bradford, Ortiz attorney, at first entered a plea of not guilty on her behalf, but then withdrew it in favour of postponing arraignment until March 25. She was ordered to be held on $US1.8 million ($2.56 million) bail. Ortiz wore blue jail clothes with her blonde hair in braids and spoke to her lawyer through a glass divider. Related Article Celebrity life Gunshots fired at Rihanna and A$AP Rockys LA mansion The judge issued a protective order for Ortiz to stay away from Robin Fenty and Rakim Mayers the legal names of Rihanna and her partner A$AP Rocky and their home. McGonigle also said Ortiz is not allowed to possess any firearms or ammunition along with several other conditions. Earlier on Tuesday, Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell told media gathered for a news conference on a different subject that 10 people were at home when shots were fired. McDonnell said investigators believe Ortiz drove to the area from Florida, but its not clear when. Public records show her most recent address was in Orlando and that she has been a licensed speech pathologist for more than a decade. Advertisement Ortiz was arrested Sunday afternoon after the shooting and a weapon was recovered, police said. They have not said whether she has any known connection to Rihanna. Voicemails and other messages left by The Associated Press, including an email sent to the public defenders office, were not immediately answered Tuesday. AP also sent emails seeking comment from Rihannas publicist and manager. The exterior of Rihannas Los Angeles home on Monday. AP KABC-TV broadcast video that appeared to show five bullet holes in the homes front gate. The news station obtained police dispatch audio that says 10 shots were fired. Advertisement In 2018, a man was accused of breaking into another home belonging to Rihanna in the Hollywood Hills and spending 12 hours there. The man pleaded no contest to felony counts of stalking and vandalism and a misdemeanor count of resisting arrest in 2019. He was sentenced to probation. A nine-time Grammy Award winner, Rihanna has 14 No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including We Found Love, Work, Umbrella and Disturbia. She founded the makeup brand Fenty Beauty in 2017. She and A$AP Rocky announced the birth of their third child, a girl named Rocki Irish Mayers, in September. AP Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share More: Rihanna Crime Pop music Los Angeles Advertisement CultureTV & radioReview These toxic influencers hadnt heard of Louis Theroux. That was their first mistake Craig Mathieson March 11, 2026 11:07am 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 Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere Louis Theroux does a thorough job in this feature-length documentary about the extreme edges of online masculinity culture. That is to say, the veteran documentarian weaponises his quizzical eyebrows and uses his apologetic embarrassment as a tool for access, all the while getting at the ugly truths and delusional hunger behind a movement trying to turn the mobile phones of teenage boys and young men into an indoctrination tool and ATM. Its both a valuable explainer this is what red-pilled means and a viable public disinfectant. Louis Theroux (left) with Justin Waller in Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere. Netflix A long-time BBC fixture, Theroux uses Netflixs reach to get access to the comrades and camp followers of Andrew Tate, the first name referenced regarding toxic online misogyny. One of them, Briton Harrison Sullivan, aka HSTikkyTokky, hasnt heard of Theroux and doesnt know what to make of this trim, bespectacled 55-year-old with zero game. Advertisement The structures not saying too much, Sullivan says, sizing up Therouxs biceps. Thats the last thing he should worry about. Editor's pick Reality TV Submissive or traditional? MAFS toxic groom is served a valuable lesson As hes always done, Theroux is unassuming but inquiring. He lets his subjects talk, believing that the exposure they receive will be more revelatory than rewarding. Thats certainly the case here, where online provocateurs such as anti-feminist Myron Gaines discover that a Theroux conversation can casually zero in on their hypocrisy. Without being forensic, Theroux establishes the monetary gains that underpin the constant bluster about passing on the cheat code. And he shows their fan bases, whether excitable boys or solemn adult acolytes, in telling street scenes. American influencer Justin Waller, a Mar-a-Lago guest of Barron Trump, explains to Theroux how he practises one-sided monogamy with his wife, Kristen. Later, in a home visit, Theroux runs those comments by Kristen, whose sales pitch isnt as polished as her husbands. Advertisement Its telling how Theroux ends up interviewing the women, whether partners or mothers, who see the reality behind the sales slogans. Gaines, his girlfriend Angie notes, is a different person when the cameras are off. Nico Balinthazy (Sneako) and Louis Theroux, in Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere. Netflix Related Article Investigation Extremism An Andrew Tate insider is helping Australian Nazis recruit teens By the time Theroux gets to right-wing commentator Sneako in New York who earnestly points out celebrity magazine covers as a sign of a Satanic cabal running the world Theroux has found the conspiratorial end point of the aggressive hustling and demonisation. He doesnt need to expose that much because his subjects tend to self-destruct. Sullivan spirals online after Therouxs visits, espousing antisemitism and becoming violent in his constant livestreams. Online culture and the vast corporate platforms that house it, Theroux notes, incentivise extreme behaviour, but Inside the Manosphere shows how this belief system is neither complex nor plausible. That structure, it turns out, is saying plenty. Advertisement Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere is streaming on Netflix from March 11. Find out the next TV, streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees. Get The Watchlist delivered every Thursday. Advertisement Eating outBest of Free pizza, two days of pastry: An insiders picks of Melbourne Food and Wine Festival Unsure how to tackle the program of 200-plus events? Start with pizza from a leading London chef, hot bakery collabs in the heart of the city, and a barbecue like no other. Rick Stephens March 11, 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 A beloved television chef revives his seminal Collingwood restaurant from 40-plus years ago. Some of the biggest names in Slavic and Balkan cooking come together for a full-throttle throwdown over the grill. And the worlds leading Samoan fine diner cruises into town. Its full steam ahead for Melbourne Food & Wine Festival 2026 and its program of more than 200 events. To help navigate all the long lunches and bountiful brunches taking place from March 20 to 29, we asked Rick Stephens, the festivals head of content, for his top picks. Some are free, others require you to book ahead. For more information and tickets, visit melbournefoodandwine.com.au. Super Norma owners Luca Muscato (left) and Marco Salzano. Simon Schluter Something Saucy: The Pizza Party (free) Can I interest you in 1000 slices of free pizza? Luca Muscato and Marco Salzano, the radical southern Italian talents from Carlton pasta hot spot Super Norma, are back at it this years festival and giving away more of their excellent Italian food. For 2026, their namesake dish, pasta alla Norma, becomes an eggplant, tomato and cheese pizza with a little help (and a lot of dough) from fellow Carlton pals Leonardos Pizza Palace. In addition to the 1000 free slices, the crew is also putting on 800 free Bloody Marys for anyone who thinks 11.30am on a Thursday is better with a brunchtime cocktail in hand. Advertisement Leonardos Pizza Palace, 29 Grattan Street, Carlton, Thursday, March 26, 11.30am until stocks last Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up Slav-a-cue Eat Pierogi Make Love is holding its second Balkan-influenced barbecue at the Brunswick East restaurant, led by chef Ola Gladysz. Were talking plenty of grilled seafood, slow-baked lamb shoulder, pierogi in abundance and her signature kaszanka the fan-favourite black pudding and sauerkraut combo from last year that frankly has no business knocking around my head as much as it still does. Internet sensation and chef Daniel Dobra and MasterChefs Snezana Calic join Gladysz in the kitchen, combining their Balkan and western Slavic backgrounds for a party like no other. Eat Pierogi Make Love, 161 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22, various sittings Cosy Bistra will host celebrated Australian chef Iain Hewitson. Justin McManus Advertisement Clichy: Original Food in the French Manner I cant be the only millennial who picked up their foundational cooking skills from daytime telly master, celebrated chef and now social media star Iain Huey Hewitson. So to have him reviving his influential Collingwood restaurant Clichy is a treat for Australians of all generations. For Hueys exclusive festival appearance, hell be joining the team at Carltons Bistra and serving up a four-course menu inspired by the dishes of Clichy. The collab also coincides with the launch of Hueys memoir, Who Called the Cook a Bastard? Bistra, 157 Elgin Street, Carlton, Monday, March 23-Thursday, March 26, 5.30pm-8.45pm Related Article The Aussie restaurants Helen Goh loves most (and her go-to dishes) Lunch with Helen Goh includes prawn sambal buns Advertisement Lunch with Helen Goh This year, longtime Ottolenghi collaborator, international food columnist and celebrated baker Helen Goh takes to the stage with fellow pastry wiz Emelia Jackson for a discussion about life in baking. You can be there, too, with a three-course lunch in front of you which looks something like this: prawn sambal buns, puttanesca galette, red curry chicken and vegetable pies, Dutch baby with mortadella, Gohs very addictive chewy cheese puffs, plus more signature dishes from her first solo cookbook, Baking and the Meaning of Life. Lets Goh! Federation Square, corner of Swanston and Flinders streets, Melbourne, Sunday, March 29, noon-4pm Filipino chef JP Anglo is bringing big, bold flavours to Melbourne. JP Anglo x Serai Kitchen Advertisement The only thing better than Filipino food pioneer JP Anglo cooking in Melbourne is the fact that hes doing it with Serai chef Ross Magnaye. For one evening, Anglo brings everything there is to love about his Manila restaurant, Sarsa, and its sibling restaurant Kooya in Dubai to the beating heart of Melbourne. Together with Magnaye, its magic in motion: punchy plates of sizzling and pork-rich sisig, barbecued chicken inasal and Filipino flavours dialled up to 11. Serai Kitchen, 7 Racing Club Lane, Melbourne, Wednesday, March 25, 5.30-8pm and 8.30pm-11pm Beachside Stokehouse will play host to Samoan fine dining. Arianna Leggiero Tala at Stokehouse Chef Henry Onesemo brings his three-hat smash hit Auckland restaurant, Tala, to Melbourne, and with it a rare opportunity to try Samoan food in a fine-dining context. Hell be reimagining the flavours of his heritage through a modern lens and serving it all up in Stokehouses serene beachside dining room. Exactly whats on the menu is still under lock and key, but diners can expect the likes of Onesemos umu chicken a traditional technique whereby hot rocks cook the bird from the inside out, all within a banana leaf wrap. Advertisement Stokehouse, 30 Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda, Tuesday, March 24, for dinner, Wednesday, March 25, for lunch Pizza Pronto: James Lowe at Figlia It wasnt long after announcing London chef James Lowes appearance at MFWF that it sold out, but theres another opportunity to catch the Lyles founder in action. At Pizza Pronto, his second festival pop-up, Lowe promises a clam pizza, feisty dippers and his spin on the Hawaiian, which comes loaded with Scotch bonnet peppers, grilled pineapple, red onion and the cured pork product guanciale and somehow feels right at home down under. Figlia, 335 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, Thursday, March 26, sittings from 6pm until 10.30pm Lune, Monforte, Raya and more will bake up a storm alongside visiting stars at Bakers Dozen. Nguyen Dang Advertisement Bakers Dozen (free) This two-day baking and caking extravaganza closes this years festival and boy is it big. Youve got Sydney bread royalty A.P Bakery tapping Melbournes Oji House for an MFWF-exclusive collab. Youve got Melbournes most formidable bakeries, including but not limited to Raya, Hectors Bakery, Lulu and Me, Lune, Madeleine De Proust, Kudo, Masses Bagels, Monforte Viennoiserie and Morning Market. Youve got your very own butter butlers ready and waiting to lay it on thick atop this seasons hottest hot cross buns. And youve got baking superstar Emelia Jackson, author Helen Goh, international baking sensation Phil Khoury and Tarts Anons Gareth Whitton taking to the main stage for demonstrations, giveaways and talks that you wont want to miss. Federation Square, corner of Swanston and Flinders streets, Melbourne, Saturday, March 28 and Sunday, March 29, 10am-3pm Advertisement Exclusive Eating outComing soon Leichhardt legend Grappa to take over iconic former Rockpool site Meanwhile, the other Rockpool site will be reborn as an Italian restaurant with a former Young Chef of the Year in the kitchen. Scott Bolles March 12, 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 Two of Sydneys most storied dining rooms are finally waking up. In a bold double-header for 2026, the original Rockpool in The Rocks and its grand Bridge Street successor are being reborn as ambitious Italian destinations. A cool $8 million is being splashed at 11 Bridge Street, in the heritage-listed Burns Philp Building, where Vitos will open in August with former Carbone Hong Kong chef de cuisine (and 2011 The Age Good Food Guide Young Chef of the Year) Michael Fox in its kitchen. At The Rocks, an offshoot from Leichhardts Grappa will launch mid-April after a two-year project to reboot the original Rockpool site. The Sunday Co. and Vitos leadership team (from left): Iris Kleimann (marketing), James Wicks and Brett Sergeant (managing directors), Gabe Diver (operations), David Clarke (culinary director) and Michael Fox (Vito's executive chef). Steven Woodburn Hospitality group Sunday Co., which operates CBD venues Morrisons and Whalebridge, has snapped up 11 Bridge Street, where Perry relocated the Rockpool fine diner in 2013, before replacing it with Eleven Bridge a few years later. It was also home to Perrys short-lived Jade Temple. Advertisement Ive loved that site forever, says Brett Sergeant, managing director of Sunday Co., of the decision to nab the sprawling restaurant space, which has sat mostly idle for several years. Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up Chef Neil Perry working the room on opening night at 11 Bridge Street in November 2013. Sahlan Hayes Sergeant says theyll respect its heritage-listed marble and wrought-iron bones, while adding glamour beneath its six-metre ceiling. Custom lanterns are being made in London, the glass for the rosette chandeliers is being hand-blown in Venice, and a local leadlight specialist will craft three-metre-high coloured glass panels. Vitos will also splash $2 million on joinery. We want an old-school sense of grandeur when you walk in, says Sergeant. While he concedes it might be seen as a risky investment in a tricky market, Sergeant hopes the meticulous refit says were here for 25 years. Inspired by the great dining rooms of mid-century New York, the 170-seat restaurant and bar takes culinary cues from American-Italian cooking. Fox is already testing menus. Advertisement He has a great scallop and prawn agnolotti and a scampi crudo, says Sergeant. They are working on a signature single meatball starter; New York pizza will be available after 10.30pm. Charlie Colosi and wife Virginie. Con Poulos With Vitos also set to offer a large beef program, the restaurant will join other new arrivals in Sydney that juggle Italian and American influences, such as Melbourne import Grill Americano, which opened last November at Chifley Square. Meanwhile, at Grappa at The Rocks, restaurateur Charlie Colosi says the menu will be more traditional Italian, with signatures transplanted from the original Grappa restaurant, which opened in 1999 and continues to operate in Leichhardt. Theyll also introduce a few new dishes, such as snapper in rock salt. Colosi and his wife, Virginie, have secured 107-109 George Street a site so steeped in Sydneys culinary history that it deserves its own blue plaque. Advertisement Neil Perry amid renovation rubble at the original Rockpool site at the Rocks in 1988. Doris Thomas/Fairfax Media Home to the legendary Rockpool from 1989 to 2014, and later a training ground for William Blue College, the space is now undergoing a radical transformation. Moving away from the polished interiors of its fine-dining past, the new operators have stripped the walls back to reveal the buildings rugged, original 1850s sandstone. Theyve unearthed a fireplace and hardwood joists, and when Grappa is launched next month, architect Vince Squillaces redesign will unveil a new open kitchen and plenty of luxe new fittings, including a freshly restored 1930s bar, imported from Europe. Related Article Good Food hat 15 / 20 Review Buzzing with Italian energy, Grill Americano brings the theatre back to a night out The fourth session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) holds its closing meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2026. Xi Jinping and other Party and state leaders, including Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng, attended the meeting. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body, concluded its annual session on Wednesday morning. Xi Jinping and other Party and state leaders, including Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng, attended the meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Presiding over the meeting, Wang Huning, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, said the top political advisory body's annual session had yielded fruitful results. Political advisors across the board have strengthened their resolve to contribute to advancing Chinese modernization and sustaining China's rapid economic growth and long-term social stability, Wang said. Noting that 2026 marks the first year of the 15th Five-Year Plan period, Wang said the CPPCC must uphold the leadership of the Communist Party of China, better play its role as a political organization, actively provide suggestions on state affairs, and pool strength and wisdom to ensure a good start to the 15th Five-Year Plan. Wang called on political advisors to put forward more proposals beneficial to the people, do more practical things for their well-being, and help ensure the fruits of modernization benefit all people. The CPPCC should help rally the positive energy of Chinese people at home and abroad so that they can forge ahead on the new journey and make greater contributions to the new era, said Wang. A resolution on the work report of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee, a resolution on the report on how the proposals from political advisors have been handled since the previous annual session, a report on the examination of new proposals, and a political resolution of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee were approved at the meeting. The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) Wang Huning, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, presides over the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2026. Wang delivered a speech at the meeting. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) This photo taken on March 11, 2026 shows the Great Hall of the People ahead of the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai) This photo taken on March 11, 2026 shows an interior view of the Great Hall of the People, the venue for the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Ding Lin) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Lu Ye) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Ding Lin) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) This photo taken on March 11, 2026 shows the Great Hall of the People, the venue for the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) Journalists work at the closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Li He) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Li He) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Lu Ye) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Ding Lin) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Lu Ye) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) The closing 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 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) Members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) leave the Great Hall of the People after the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Minggang) Members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) leave the Great Hall of the People after the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen) Members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) leave the Great Hall of the People after the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) Members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) leave the Great Hall of the People after the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai) Members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) leave the Great Hall of the People after the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) Members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) leave the Great Hall of the People after the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) Members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) leave the Great Hall of the People after the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) 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 Documenting the annual winter migration of thousands of horses in Mongolia proved just as tough a test for the Australian filmmakers as for the herders and their animals themselves. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A This story is part of the March 14 edition of Good Weekend. See all stories . Australian filmmaker Kasimir Burgess knew it would be brutally difficult shooting a documentary about an ancient Mongolian tradition: the annual migration of thousands of horses from the remote Tsaikhir Valley to winter pastures. How could it be anything else? Temperatures in the stark, treeless valley, 800 kilometres west of the capital, Ulaanbaatar, could drop below minus 40 degrees centigrade, thered be no communication with the outside world for much of the shoot, and wolves would stalk the horses that two young friends, the shy Batbold, 19, and the more self-assured Tsagana, 22, were guiding through high-altitude snow country for five months. In a country where 300,000 of the 3.5-million population are herders, combining horses into a winter herd is a way of preserving a familys most valuable possession and protecting pastures at home for cattle, yaks and other animals. For the young herders, being entrusted with them was a rite of passage. Director Kasimir Burgess would end up shooting through one of Mongolias worst winters. Ben Golotta But early in the main shoot, Burgess thought making Iron Winter had become downright impossible. After considering using Snowcat-style vehicles to follow the herders, Burgess and his Australian crew took their Mongolian counterparts wise advice to use two 80 Series Toyota Land Cruisers, as the Mongolians knew how to fix them when they broke down. The plan was that a Soviet-era military truck that was like something out of Mad Max would lead the way to base camp, dragging a tractor tyre to clear a path for the Land Cruisers through the snow. But after leaving the Tsaikhir township, the Iron Winter crew found they could not get over an icy mountain pass to reach the herders on the winter migration. For days, the Land Cruisers battled deep snow. Each time they got bogged, the crew would dig them out, then 30 minutes later, theyd get bogged again. And again. The exhausted crew tried different routes but failed to make it over the pass. One evening, Burgess returned to their base camp to find a yak a huge, gentle presence sleeping in the doorway of their ger (circular Mongolian tent) seeking warmth. Talking to it became strangely grounding, he says. At night, wed have to coax it away from the door just to step outside. Each day we attempted the pass and failed the slope almost vertical, the ice unforgiving and each night we returned to find the yak waiting for us, as if keeping watch. Advertisement Iron Winter is the story of two young Mongolian friends battling extreme conditions as they herd 2000 horses over five months. Iron Winter The dying yak outside the filmmakers Mongolian tent, or ger. Benjamin Bryan After another day of upsetting failure, Burgess -returned to camp to find the yak struggling to breathe. It was slowly dying, he says. I lay beside it for over an hour as its breathing became less frequent. Something about that rhythm the waiting between breaths took me back to my mothers final hour. Holding that animal as it died, I cried for it, for my mum and for the frustration and grief that had been building inside all of us. That was the point that Burgess realised the film was unravelling. The crew were using up their fuel, food and shooting time with nothing to show for it. There were also tensions between the Australians, the Mongolians from the valley and those from Ulaanbaatar. Cultural differences had emerged about how to proceed. The information that we were disseminating to the team in Excel spreadsheets for food, fuel reports, etc Id find those in the mud, just stepped upon in the snow, Burgess says. The film was turning into a Mongolian version of Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmakers Apocalypse, the famous 1991 documentary about the chaos as Francis Ford Coppola shot 1979s Apocalypse Now in the Philippines. But the day after the yaks death, the crew finally worked out how to get the Land Cruisers over the pass. Using tow cables, they hauled them up one by one in a tug-of-war against gravity, deep snow and ice. Something shifted, Burgess says. The team put aside differences and worked together, literally pulling the vehicles up the mountain by hand. When we finally reached the top, we celebrated with vodka: exhausted, bonded, relieved. That small victory brought clarity and momentum. That night, we were reunited with the herders and, from that point on, the film truly began. Advertisement While the challenges were far from over, the small miracle is that the Hearts of Darkness-like trials of making Iron Winter has resulted in a stunning documentary that has been winning international awards since it premiered last year. When cinematographer Benjamin Bryan became the first Australian to win the coveted feature documentary prize at Camerimage in Poland, the jury said they were awestruck by the boldly exquisite visual language [in what was] documentary filmmaking at its most artful and humane. Burgess, 45, is a sculptor turned writer-director who has shot films in Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, remote Aboriginal communities and on the wild Franklin River in Tasmania. His 2014 feature drama Fell had a career-best performance by Matt Nable as a man working through grief. Burgess came to make Iron Winter after producers Ben Golotta and Morgan Wright showed him and his longtime producer Chris Kamen a 2022 Al Jazeera article by Australian journalist Edward Cavanough about how climate change had stopped Tsaikhir Valley herders holding the winter migration for the first time in 2019. Extreme, unpredictable weather had made it too dangerous. But one family wanted to revive it, seeing it as an important cultural tradition for both horses and young herders. From left; Tsagana, 22, and Batbold, 19, would spend five months herding their horses through Tsaikhir Valley. Benjamin Bryan Horses in a tight herd, behaviour that helps protect the group in harsh weather. Benjamin Bryan Advertisement It grabbed me on a number of levels, Burgess says. My interest in the environment, as a tradition that was under threat and, having a son, as a positive pathway to manhood story. And it was a big adventure. It promised months in another culture, immersed in nature. But it was quite a naive enthusiasm. On a recce trip to Mongolia, Burgess who lives in Preston in Melbournes north-east with partner Shari Boyanton and children Lotte, 10, and Arlo, 7 met community elders, who were worried the Australians might be risking their lives following the herd. They were pragmatic; How are you going to survive? he says. A big one for them and there was some laughter around this was how would our pointy noses not freeze and fall off? That worry aside, the elders were keen that their sacred tradition be filmed for the world to see. After five weeks of autumn filming in late 2023, the Australians returned early in the new year for a seven-week shoot in what became one of Mongolias most savage winters. As temperatures reached minus 50, the horses struggled to break the ice to find pasture. They grew thinner and some died, upsetting the young herders who had a close bond to the horses and were worried they would be blamed. The films Mongolian co-producer, creative adviser and cultural consultant, Enebish Sengemugaa, says from Tsaikhir that horses have a special place in the countrys culture. If we didnt have horses, Mongolia wouldnt exist, he says. No Mongolian history, no culture, nothing. One of the films producers, Morgan Wright (at left), and two of the Mongolian crew load up the Russian truck used for transport. Ben Golotta Crew members pulling one of the Land Cruisers up the icy mountain pass. Kasimir Burgess Sengemugaa, whose usual job is taking horse-riding tours, explains the cultural differences that made the shoot tough. Mongolian planning is, This is what well do in September, not Tuesday, two oclock, because Mother Nature changes things, he says. Nature -decides more than humans, especially in winter. Advertisement Bryan, the award-winning cinematographer, says the shoot was physically challenging with the cold and just the sheer weight of the layers that you had to put on every morning to get out the door. But mentally, just being so far away from family [he has two young children] for an extended period of time was really tough as well. [We] really had to support each other. Related Article Film Festivals Why Tropfest founder John Polson worried about bringing his beloved film festival back Burgess says the filmmakers suffered alongside the young herders, sharing despair, exhaustion, doubt, uncertainty and grief for the dying horses. Indeed, that winter was so severe that ultimately, it killed 7.4 million horses, cattle, yaks and other animals across Mongolia, and left thousands of herders impoverished and displaced. But during the filming process, there were also some joyful moments as they laughed around the fire, fell under the spell of the country and discovered their resilience. To make the film, they had to adapt to the Mongolian way of doing things. The local knowledge and the connection to land and the animal kingdom was what helped us to survive and eventually gather enough ingredients to tell the story, Burgess says. Each night wed have a big circle meeting where everyones perspective would be taken into account before a group consensus about how to proceed the next day. While the young herders were Westernised enough to have smartphones and miss chatting with girls on Facebook, they realised how resourceful they were, restarted an ancient tradition and inspired the filmmakers during the winter herd. These boys were using 400-year-old gers made by their forefathers and were learning skills that had been handed down since well before Genghis Khan, Burgess says. There was this incredible sense of privilege to be living through something so extreme and so historical. Eventually, they all survived one of Mongolias most brutal winters. They also made an outstanding film. And the Australians pointy noses did not fall off. Iron Winter opens in cinemas on March 19. Advertisement Updated NationalNSWCourts Deliberate tactic to divide: Man jailed for antisemitic spree ordered by overseas actors Clare Sibthorpe March 11, 2026 3:26pm 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 who obeyed overseas masterminds to orchestrate an antisemitic spree which rocked Sydney has been jailed, with a magistrate rejecting his claim that he was motivated by crippling drug debt, and finding that he knew it was a deliberate tactic to divide Arab and Jewish communities. Nicholas James Alexander was sentenced to up to five years jail with a non-parole period of three years and four months on Wednesday for directing the firebombing of a Maroubra childcare centre, torching of a prominent Jewish leaders former house and defacing of a Newtown synagogue early last year. Several other homes and cars were also damaged. The former Dover Heights home of Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, was targeted. James Brickwood The 32-year-old told the court he was motivated by drug addiction, but Magistrate Jennifer Atkinson found he was told to say this and that he in turn instructed his co-accused on what to tell police if they were caught. Atkinson ruled he was motivated by financial gain as opposed to racial hatred, but knew the spree would have frightened the Jewish community. The court heard he was not in financial trouble as he claimed, and that he was paid an unknown amount of money to direct the attacks, before paying his co-offenders. Advertisement Alexander ordered his co-accused including Leon Emmanuel Sofilas and Adam Edward Moule to take part in the attacks and load vans with firebombing and spray-painting tools. While Alexander sat above others in the chain of command during the January 2025 rampage, Downing Centre Local Court heard he acted at the behest of mysterious overseas actors. The moment the Maroubra childcare centre was engulfed in flames. The magistrate said that it was clear from messages with his co-accused that the preparations were part of organised activity that targeted the Sydney Jewish community in arson attacks... there was a deliberate tactic to divide the Arab and Jewish communities to further the aims of the larger criminal group overseas. Mr Alexander expected there to be publicity about the attacks, she said. Advertisement Among the targets was the former eastern suburbs home of Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin. The Dover Heights house was splashed with red paint, while two cars were firebombed and daubed with anti-Jewish slurs. Surveying the damage at the time, Ryvchin warned journalists of an evil at work in this country. The Only About Children childcare centre was set alight and graffitied with antisemitic smears, while Newtown Synagogue was defaced with Swastikas and ignited with a small fire. Newtown Synagogue was sprayed with antisemitic graffiti, including swastikas. Dion Georgopoulos Atkinson read out part of a letter tendered to court in which Alexander described having no ill will to the Jewish community but felt he had no choice but to take what was offered in front of me by the overseas overlords to pay off drug debt. Advertisement I must admit, I am a drug addict; that is not an excuse, but a realisation and a problem I need to fix in my own life, the letter read. Related Article Updated Crime An evil at work in this country: Jewish leaders fury after ex-home targeted Atkinson accepted Alexander had shown remorse for the Jewish community but rejected the letter. She found Alexander directed his co-accused to delete messages and change phones, organised stolen vehicles and handguns and explained the making of Molotov cocktails. He even passed on instructions on what to say if they got caught. Heres the spill for anyone that gets grabbed save it, Alexander wrote to one co-offender. Advertisement Why did do you do this? To pay off drug debt. To who? Arabs. Atkinson said the pain caused to the Jewish community compounded day by day, as people did not feel safe in their homes, places of worship and streets. They did not know what would come next, she said. These events were also an attack on Australian society generally they were intended to divide our community. None of this is acceptable and must be strongly denounced. In sentencing Alexander, the magistrate considered his disadvantaged childhood and mental health difficulties throughout his life. Advertisement Alexander pleaded guilty to directing a criminal group, two counts of being an accessory to more than $5000 worth of property damage by fire, and four counts of accessory to damaging property worth $2000-$5000. In a statement released on Wednesday, Ryvchin said the antisemitism spree made people fear for their lives and the safety of their children. The aftermath of the Dover Heights antisemitic attack. James Brickwood They made Jewish Australians question their place in this country and change patterns of behaviour and interaction between Jews and non-Jews, he said. His actions could have so easily caused people to be burned alive. Advertisement The masterminds origins were not specified. However, authorities have previously warned about the concerning role of foreign players uncovered in antisemitism investigations. In August, the federal government and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) confirmed that the Iranian government ordered the October 2024 attacks on a Sydney kosher kitchen and a Melbourne synagogue. ASIO director-general Mike Burgess said there was a layer cake of cutouts between Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and alleged offenders carrying out attacks in Australia. There is no suggestion the Iranian government was involved in the January 2025 spree. At the time, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the attacks as an outrage that goes against everything that we stand for. Advertisement Late last year, Sofilas was sentenced to 20 months with an eight-month non-parole period for destroying property by fire, displaying public Nazi symbols, being an accessory to property damage, and possessing an unregistered firearm. Leon Emmanuel Sofilas was earlier sentenced for his role in the rampage. Moule was sentenced to seven months jail for participating in a criminal group and destroying property by fire, with a non-parole period of five months. During Moules and Sofilas proceedings, the court heard they were not motivated by hatred or religious beliefs, but were in it for a payday. As well as attacking the Newtown synagogue, the men left a van containing fire extinguishers filled with red paint to be collected by others who used them to spray paint f--- Jews on property in Queens Park. Advertisement Related Article Crime The low-level crooks linked to Sydney antisemitic attacks The court was told the pair did not know what the gear in the van would be used for. Their offending was likened to a person receiving directions through service platforms like Uber or Airtasker. In response to the rising antisemitism threat, the NSW parliament has passed new hate speech and protest laws which included the banning of Nazi symbol displays on or near religious sites and a new aggravated offence for graffiting a place of worship. Laws were strengthened following the December Bondi Beach massacre, including allowing the banning of hate groups, increased penalties for so-called hate preachers who advocate or threaten violence, and making it easier to revoke or refuse Australian visas for people with extremist views. Be the first to know when major news happens. Sign up for breaking news alerts on email or turn on notifications in the app. Advertisement NationalNSWNSW State Parliament Multiple failures: Urgent review after triple killer found living with foster children Jessica McSweeney March 11, 2026 1:08pm 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 The NSW families minister has ordered an urgent review after a convicted triple killer was found to be living with two foster children, despite the department being made aware of the arrangement in December. Reginald Arthurell, who now goes by Regina, was convicted of stabbing her stepfather to death in 1974, bashing a man to death in a robbery in 1981, and beating her former partner to death while on parole in 1991. She was released on parole in 2020. Regina Arthurell has recently been living with two foster children. Late last year Arthurell moved into accommodation with a Sydney grandmother and two foster children a fact that only came to light when the womans daughter called into 2GB radio to raise the alarm. She said her mother met Arthurell while working at Westmead Hospital, and the former inmate was a patient. Families Minister Kate Washington told the station she was only made aware this week that Arthurell was living with foster children, despite the Department of Communities and Justice being informed in December. Advertisement Something has gone terribly wrong here, and I want to be as open and transparent and accountable as possible, Washington said. Related Article Courts Far too dangerous: Triple killer Regina Arthurell placed under strict supervision The department was made aware of the situation in late December, and some very poor decisions were made at that time I wish I could turn back the clock, but I cant. Arthurell was separated from the foster children, aged 12 and 14, earlier this week only after the arrangement was revealed on 2GB. Washington has now ordered an urgent review into the decision-making process that allowed Arthurell to live with the children, and committed to making any changes to ensure such an incident never happens again. The minister said there had been multiple system failures, given the womans daughter had raised the alarm with police and the Department of Corrective Services. Advertisement When Arthurell was subjected to an extended supervision order in 2021, NSW Supreme Court Justice Richard Button said despite the killer making an effort at rehabilitation and living an isolated and difficult life in the community, that Arthurell has a proclivity to violently terminate the lives of fellow human beings. For her to be completely at liberty in the community would simply be far too dangerous, Button said. That supervision order expired in 2024. NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley told a budget estimates hearing on Wednesday that the committee that assesses high-risk offenders did not refer Arthurell to the attorney-general for a further supervision order. Arthurell spent almost 39 years in custody for the three deaths, which occurred while presenting as a man; she now identifies as a transgender woman. Arthurell was living in an aged care facility for a short period after her release from prison, but was forced to leave when her criminal past came to light. 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 NationalNSWCourts Playboy rapist faces additional stalking charges years after ominous psychopath warning Amber Schultz March 12, 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 Forensic psychiatrists who assessed convicted playboy rapist Simon Monteiro warned he was a deceitful, aggressive psychopath with no remorse and who was well above the average risk of reoffending. Monteiro, a serial abuser, former model and aspiring actor from Sydneys eastern suburbs, was sentenced in 2009 to 12 years in prison for rape and assault of a former girlfriend. Playboy rapist Simon Monteiro has been charged with stalking and attempted stalking. His denials, personality disorder and rejection of authority presented a far more ominous scenario than sex offenders who simply lacked insight into their offending, one psychiatrist warned when assessing his suitability for release in 2020. Now, Monteiro has been charged with stalking and attempted stalking of a woman, and failing to comply with the conditions of his release. Police have also applied for an apprehended domestic violence order to protect a woman. Monteiro will next face Sydneys Downing Centre Local Court in April. Advertisement In July, he will also face a District Court trial on five counts of failing to comply with his supervision orders. The NSW government has sought to tighten bail laws and increase punishments for domestic violence offences in response to the domestic violence murder of Molly Ticehurst. The playboy with a sinister reputation Monteiro had a reputation for abuse, but also a reputation for worming his way out of convictions. Between 1997 and his 2009 imprisonment, police received scores of complaints from women who said they had been in an abusive relationship with Monteiro and, when they broke off contact with him, faced stalking, harassment, sexual assault or other violence, court records show. Advertisement In 2000, he was convicted of threatening a witness after blackmailing a model with whom he had secretly filmed himself having sex. In the same year, he faced a rape charge, which resulted in a hung jury. Police were aware of a number of complaints about Simon Monteiro, previously Lowe, and his abusive behaviour. Julian Andrews The following year, he was given a suspended sentence for assaulting his ex-partner, showing up at her house, and throwing a rock through her window. He was given a suspended sentence and placed on a two-year bond. Monteiro was charged with aggravated break and enter and kidnapping an ex-partner in 2005, and issued an apprehended violence order, which he breached numerous times. His trial was withdrawn at his ex-partners request. He then changed his name from Simon Lowe to Bonito Monteiro, telling women it was Portuguese for beautiful hunter to distance himself from his reputation. Advertisement In 2008, his then-partner connected the dots, unmasking him as Monteiro. He raped and assaulted her. When she went to the police, he returned to the home they had shared, dumping her clothes and discarding one shoe of every pair in her collection. He was found guilty in 2009 and sentenced to 12 years in prison. Risk to the community In custody, Monteiro assaulted prison staff and threatened to rape a guards wife. He was denied parole in 2015 and 2016 before being released in 2018. More than 30,000 people signed a petition to keep him behind bars and to reform the parole system to ensure that offenders, who are not truly reformed and continue to pose a risk to the community, are not released, even if their sentence is up. Advertisement However, his parole was short-lived: he was returned to jail when it was revoked 11 days later for threatening his former barrister. Related Article Domestic violence Bail laws were reformed after Molly Ticehursts murder. Did they fail Sophie Quinn? Following his release in 2020, Monteiro was placed on strict supervision orders, during which the two psychiatrists assessed him as being at high risk of committing further violent and sexual offences. The supervision orders were extended to February 2027 due to continual breaches and periods of incarceration. Twenty-six orders were made, including wearing an ankle bracelet, a curfew, a requirement to give the name and contact details of anyone staying overnight and not to be able to spend the night elsewhere, to inform the departmental supervising officer within 24 hours of anyone he had a sexual intimate relationship with, not to change his name and to provide all logins to any internet sites he visited. Those warnings have become reality several times since then. In 2021, he was convicted of eight breaches of his supervision order and sentenced to two years and eight months in prison. This sentence was reduced on appeal, and he was released in February 2022 with the same 26 supervision conditions in place. Advertisement In 2024, several of his supervision conditions were revoked, including the need to wear an ankle monitor. But a year later, Monteiro allegedly began reoffending. In December, he was charged with two domestic violence intimidation offences, along with half a dozen breaches of his supervision orders. In February this year, he was charged with three more bail and supervision breaches. He has not been convicted of these charges, and they are before the court. A vexatious prisoner Monteiro has lodged scores of appeals against his convictions, sentencing, supervision orders and prison conditions, sending him broke and forcing him to apply to the courts for pro bono legal representation. In 2015, he unsuccessfully attempted to challenge his prison treatment, arguing against being charged photocopying fees, attempting to change the correctional centre he was in, and arguing against the use of prison trucks and prison vans, claiming he should be transported only in sedans, station wagons or four-wheel drives. Advertisement During his second jail stint in 2021, he unsuccessfully fought decisions including refusing him $200 gel sneakers or orthopedic shoes, a sleep apnoea machine and treatment, aviation textbooks and access to TAFE courses; not reducing him to minimum security categorisation and issuing an extreme threat inmate status and forcing him to be associated with other prisoners, which would endanger his physical and mental health. The case was dismissed with costs to be paid by Monteiro. In his cases, he used colourful language to fight his case, judges have noted, including making statements which were offensive to, and defamatory of, present and former Judges of this Court. Reforms introduced by the NSW government include making it harder for those charged with serious domestic violence offences to get bail and fitting those released with electronic monitoring bracelets. The non-parole period for intimate partner homicide was also increased to 25 years. Anyone needing support can contact National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732); Lifeline 131 114; Beyond Blue 1300 224 636. 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 NationalNSWMeasles outbreak Taylen came back from Bali with a sniffle. Then things got much worse Angus Thomson March 12, 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 Health authorities are urging families to ensure their children are vaccinated against measles, warning NSW could record its highest number of cases in a decade if local transmission of the highly contagious disease is not contained. Free vaccines are also being promoted for infants travelling overseas before their first immunisation at 12 months, as Australia ramps up efforts to guard against a global surge in measles cases. Adam Mather and Tiffany Tung with their baby, Taylen, now 14 months, and four-year-old, Tobie. Taylen contracted measles on a flight home from Bali before he was vaccinated. Max Mason-Hubers NSW recorded 60 cases of measles between January 1, 2025, and March 7 this year, analysis released by NSW Health on Thursday showed. Eight locally acquired cases were not directly linked to an overseas case, indicating measles was circulating in the community. Advertisement If thats not properly controlled, then we could see more cases arising from within NSW, said Dr Vicky Sheppeard, NSW Healths executive director of health protection. So far, weve been successful in containing this, but every time we get a new case, then the challenge of an outbreak could arise. None of the eight locally acquired cases were documented as having received a measles vaccination, Sheppeard said. NSW Health issued another measles alert on Wednesday after being notified of two new cases one of which was locally acquired taking the total cases to 26 for the year so far. Advertisement The figure exceeds the 25 cases recorded in the first three months of 2019. There were a total of 62 cases recorded that year, the most since 2014. Im hoping we dont get to that number, Sheppeard said. Editor's pick Investigation Vaccination Parents are paying $2500 to falsify vaccine records. Its endangering babies like Riley Sheppeard said children between six months and 11 months old could receive a free dose of measles vaccine if they were travelling overseas. This dose does not replace the routine vaccinations scheduled at 12 and 18 months under the National Immunisation Program. While most cases acquired overseas have come from tourist hotspots in South-East Asia, Sheppeard said all overseas travellers should get their infant vaccinated. Advertisement Being on a plane anywhere overseas, theres a risk, Sheppeard said. Adam Mathers then 11-month-old son Taylen had not yet received his measles vaccines when the family travelled to Bali for a pre-Christmas holiday. I was probably a little bit naive, said Mather, a pilot from Sydneys upper north shore. Obviously, there was a risk involved in taking him overseas [without being immunised]. Baby Taylen was among a surge in measles cases recorded in NSW. Max Mason-Hubers That risk became a reality when authorities informed Mather there was a known measles case on their flight from Bali to Perth. Advertisement When Taylens nose became runny a week later, testing confirmed he had measles. A high fever followed, then a rash that caused the infant to constantly rub his eyes. Taylen avoided hospital, but Mather knows it could have been much worse; 77 per cent of people who have caught measles in NSW since January last year have been hospitalised. Two other infants under 12 months have contracted measles since January last year. Another three one- to four-year-olds contracted the infection while not immunised. Mathers four-year-old son Tobie, who was fully immunised, avoided measles altogether. It just goes to show that they [vaccines] work, Mather said. Advertisement Its a horrible thing for your children to go through I wouldnt want any other parent to have that same worry. The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here. Advertisement NationalQueenslandQueensland government Safety inspectors forced to write stop-work notices for targeted CFMEU sites Matt Dennien March 11, 2026 7:34pm 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 Queensland workplace safety inspectors were given unlawful directions to write stop-work notices in response to CFMEU complaints that appeared to target companies that were out of favour with the union, an inquiry has heard. The commission of inquiry has returned this week for another three-day block focusing on the regulatory capture a form of institutional corruption of Workplace Health and Safety Queensland by the CFMEU under the former Labor government. I believed we were forming an alliance, basically, with the CFMEU to follow their agenda, operations manager Deborah Dargan told the hearing. What we were doing, the principal contractors we were targeting, it just wasnt right. It wasnt proper, and we shouldnt have been doing it. Workplace Health and Safety Queensland operations manager Deborah Dargan, a former principal inspector, giving evidence on Wednesday. The Crisafulli government launched the $19.7 million probe last year after reporting by this masthead and 60 Minutes into criminality, corruption and misconduct in the union and construction sector nationwide. Advertisement After opening remarks from senior counsel assisting the inquiry Patrick Wheelahan on Tuesday, Wednesdays hearing was dominated by evidence from two current and former regulator staff about their experiences around this time. Related Article Trade unions CFMEU inquiry updates: Health and safety inspectors back on stand in construction union probe First in the witness stand was former principal inspector Dargan, who detailed a culture under former construction compliance and field services director Helen Burgess in which CFMEU complaints were prioritised. The inquiry previously heard Burgess was in a close personal relationship with former CFMEU state president Royce Kupsch, and is the subject of ongoing Crime and Corruption Commission investigations. Asked what the inquiry would find should it seek records of the jobs that inspectors were sent out to deal with, Dargan said she believed they would show a targeting of certain principal contractors, and you would see that there was some ... interest, other than safety, that it was in relation to. Advertisement Asked to elaborate, Dargan said it was the companies lack of an enterprise bargaining agreement with the CFMEU, and their employment of certain subcontractors that werent favoured by the CFMEU. She said the union would seek to disrupt work until the subcontractors were removed. Related Article Queensland government Inquiry told of institutional corruption in Qld work safety regulator She said she believed the CFMEU would have a preferred provider, or a preferred person theyd want to get into that company, and she named major contractor BMD as one that was negatively targeted. Dargan said while the pressure from CFMEU officials was difficult, the internal culture fostered under Burgess and operations managers under her to ensure things went the CFMEUs way was of more concern. For Dargan, this culminated in an internal investigation into her by one operations manager, Mark Houston. She ended up taking three months off work, with a psychologist telling her she was suffering from anxiety and depression as a result of moral injury. Advertisement Retired principal inspector Noel Hayes, who began his evidence on Wednesday afternoon, described similar pressures from senior staff, including Burgess, who was supported in her role by her boss executive director Marc Dennett. The safety office went from dealing mostly with complaints from builders, to mostly generic complaints from the CFMEU seeking prohibition notices to stop work until an issue was fixed, rather than improvement notices, which were less onerous. Retired Workplace Health and Safety Queensland principal inspector Noel Hayes gives evidence on Wednesday. We were forced to write the notices ... where before we had a bit of discretion with how we wrote notices and how we dealt with people, Hayes said, adding he believed this was about slowing down the progress of jobs and placing financial pressure on builders. They [senior safety office staff] had a job to look after us, and they didnt do it, they let us down. Advertisement Hayes said Burgess once told him the reason he was unsuccessful in being promoted to a more senior role one in which he was already acting was that he was too much of a stickler for the regulations. After what he described as a higher-than-usual turnover of inspectors in the years before he retired, Hayes said he wrote an email to then deputy director-general of the Office of Industrial Relations Craig Allen as a cry for help in 2020. Pressed by Commissioner Stuart Wood, Hayes said he never received a response or even an acknowledgment of his email from Allen or any of his juniors. After retiring in 2021, Hayes wrote a submission to a Crime and Corruption Commission report signed by 14 current or former inspectors. The inquiry continues on Thursday. Advertisement Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. Residents told to leave as major flooding continues As Bundaberg flood levels peak, attention now turns to Queenslands Western Downs, where some residents are being told to leave now. Advertisement Updated NationalAntisemitism Sydney primary school student celebrated Bondi terror deaths Sally Rawsthorne Updated March 11, 2026 5:46pm ,first published 1:34pm 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 child at a Sydney public school celebrated the death of the victims of the Bondi terror attack during class, among 100 incidents of antisemitism at NSW schools since the start of 2024. The student at a western Sydney school celebrating the deaths of 15 innocent people in Australias worst terror attack was reported to the Department of Educations incident hotline, NSW budget estimates heard on Wednesday. An emblem for Bondi shooting victim Matilda tied on a tree in Bondi Park. Oscar Colman Thats obviously disgusting, Deputy Premier and Education Minister Prue Car told budget estimates on Wednesday. Estimates did not hear details, but a source with knowledge of the incident who was not authorised to speak publicly said it involved one child in year 3, who was sent to the principals office and their parents were called. Advertisement In a statement, the Department of Education said claims made during estimates that the incident involved multiple students at the school are false. Related Article Exclusive Racism Ill stop your bloodline: Anti-Semitism reports grow across Sydney schools We reject all forms of religious discrimination and racism in our schools. Department secretary Murat Dizdar later told estimates that an isolated incident involved one very young primary school student who made a totally inappropriate comment. With the support of a childs parents, the matter was dealt with appropriately by the school principal, he said. Advertisement Since the beginning of 2024, schools both public and others have seen at least 100 incidences of antisemitism according to submissions by the Jewish Board of Deputies. Asked if she knew of any students who had been disciplined over antisemitic behaviour, Car said she did not. Im not operationally across every student who is suspended or expelled, she said. The incident was raised by independent Sydney MLC Tania Mihailuk, who told budget estimates that there were reports of at least 100 antisemitic incidences across our schools. Discrimination based on sex, race, gender and other grounds was a very strong ground for behavioural concerns that could lead to disciplinary action, Dizdar said. Advertisement He did not answer questions about how many incidents of antisemitism had been reported to the public school hotline, saying that information was released annually through the departments incident logs. Asked how many teachers had their accreditation revoked for antisemitic incidents, Car said: I would have to take that on notice, but if the committee is expecting there to be a huge number, I think theyll be disappointed. Teacher accreditation is managed by the NSW Education Standards Authority, not the Department of Education, she said. Related Article Schools Public schools signal cultural Palestinian scarf can be worn following accusations of racism After the Herald revealed last week that the department had been forced to settle with a Sydney student of Palestinian heritage who was banned from his school formal because he was wearing a keffiyeh, Car said that decisions on whether non-Palestinian students or staff could wear the garment would be made by individual principals. Advertisement Look, principals and teachers know their communities very well, and I have every faith that principals and teachers will be able to manage those specific questions on a school-by-school basis. Wearing the keffiyeh on days of celebration like the forthcoming Harmony Day was not a breach of the code of conduct and ethics, which prohibits staff from participating in private political activities while at school or on duty, Car said. On days or celebrations, where it is appropriate to celebrate the culture, the keffiyeh is not a breach of the code. That is maybe an appropriate thing to do, like it may be appropriate for a Korean student to wear a hanbok on that day. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. CLARIFICATION An earlier version of this story said multiple students celebrated the death of the Bondi terror attack victims, based on claims made at a budget estimates hearing. It has been updated to say the incident involved a single student, following further information from the Department of Education. KABUL, March 11 (Xinhua) -- A carpet-weaving center valued at 500,000 U.S. dollars has been inaugurated in western Afghanistan's Herat province on Wednesday, the office of the provincial government said. The initiative offers essential training and employment to women, particularly recent returnees from abroad, to promote skill-building and economic self-reliance while addressing family reintegration challenges amid ongoing humanitarian concerns, according to the office. Currently, more than 400 repatriated women are actively involved at the facility, participating in hands-on training, practical weaving sessions, carpet production and marketing efforts, said the office. Shakila Hashemi, one of the women engaged in the initiative, said that she is very pleased that such a center has been established in the area. "Previously, we had no access to work or training opportunities, but now we can learn carpet weaving professionally and gain renewed hope for our future and that of our children." Afghanistan's carpet sector stands as the nation's second-largest industry following agriculture, delivering direct and indirect employment to some 1.2 million individuals and playing a major role in the country's economy. Advertisement NationalVictoriaEducation Families are being priced out of these Melbourne suburbs. The schools are shrinking Jackson Graham and Craig Butt March 11, 2026 11:38am 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 lack of children and young families in some of Melbournes most affluent suburbs is forcing schools in those areas to the edge of a demographic cliff. While elite private schools in the citys inner east have been able to weather the demographic challenge by bussing children in from across the city, student numbers at local Catholic and government schools have been hit hard. The Boroondara council area which has the states highest concentration of private schools recorded a drop of 3220 people (7.5 per cent) aged 19 and younger between 2015 and 2024, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Enrolments in the 12 Catholic and 27 government schools in the area which includes the suburbs of Hawthorn, Kew, Camberwell and Balwyn have experienced a similarly sharp decline in numbers, of 1603 and 1674 students respectively, for a combined reduction of 3277, the biggest drop statewide. Advertisement Last year, Camberwell High School had a total of 824 students, down from 1276 a decade earlier a drop of 35 per cent. Kew High School had 1015 students, down from 1118 in 2016, a drop of almost 10 per cent. Without taking children from outside their catchment areas to fill classrooms, these declines would be even sharper. The schools declined to comment. But Boroondaras 18 private schools, many of them operating at the high-fee end of the market, have bucked the trend, managing to add nearly 2130 enrolments since 2016. Related Article Go west Car, two trains and a bus: Schoolgirls gruelling 15-hour weekly commute to class In neighbouring Stonnington the story is similar; an under-19 population declining by nearly 1800 (9.6 per cent), overall enrolments decreasing by 229 but the private schools adding 327 students since 2016. The trend is in stark contrast to the position of Melbournes outer suburbs, where enrolments have surged as young families flock to more affordable housing on the citys booming fringe. Advertisement Matthew Deacon at Demographic Solutions said the main driver of the population challenge confronting inner-eastern schools was declining fertility rates, which have fallen from an average of 1.36 children per woman in Boroondara in 2013-15 to 1.07 in 2022-24. We can see the multi-faceted whammy of employment and social issues that have led to this outcome casualisation of work, cost of living pressures including housing, problems with partnering and whether to have children or not and the effects of delayed fertility, Deacon said. However, some of the effect is due to the life cycles in neighbourhoods, says Johnny Barnard, population forecaster at Informed Decisions, who points to a mini-boom of births in the early 2000s that is now ageing through the system. Barnard said this cycle occurred to an even greater extent in the 1970s and 1980s, resulting in school closures in the 1990s. Schools in Boroondara have certainly dealt with school-aged kid declines in the past. Advertisement The effect isnt going unnoticed at high-fee private schools either. Xavier College principal Lee MacMaster said the school was noticing a shift in family postcodes. We are seeing the home base of the 100 or so students who come into year 7 from our Xavier Junior School, Burke Hall, shifting. Where that group might typically have been really close to Xavier Senior School in terms of geography often Kew and Hawthorn the suburbs they come from have now broadened a little, he said. The shift is towards a portion of students coming from suburbs like Glen Iris, Brighton, East Malvern, Northcote, Clifton Hill and Surrey Hills. The other 100 boys in a typical cohort of 200 come from Williamstown to Templestowe, Essendon, Murrumbeena and Rosanna. Brett Collison, director of the junior school at Xavier College, with students who travel home on school buses. Eddie Jim Advertisement The schools bus network, which transports students from the south and north of the city, is oversubscribed, MacMaster said. And while there are no immediate plans for the boys college to increase its 80 boarding enrolments, he said, it certainly has been discussed and is a possibility in the future. Methodist Ladies College principal Julia Shea said that over the past decade the Kew schools inner-eastern catchment had stayed strong while there has been a shift towards students enrolling from a wider area. We have seen a gradual broadening in where our families live, particularly across middle-ring eastern and north-eastern Melbourne suburbs, Shea said. We believe these patterns reflect broader metropolitan housing and demographic trends. Advertisement Between 2015 and 2024, the number of people aged 19 and younger living in Bayside dropped by 562. Over the same period, the number of students enrolled in schools in the area has dropped by 398. Nearby, Mentone Grammar where enrolments have grown by 630 students in the past decade is preparing for a predicted decline in the number of young people in Mentone, Beaumaris and Parkdale in coming years. There are two ways we can approach it, and were in the process of looking at this, school principal Andy Muller said. One is to say, OK, do we actually plan for a smaller student population? Or do we strategically plan for using public transport and our own transport to access a broader catchment area? Although enrolments are up today, Muller says its never too early to plan for a different future. Most local council area populations are ageing; theres just less children being born. Advertisement A spokesperson for the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools said demand was greatest in Melbournes northern and western corridors. In inner Melbourne, we are constantly looking at ways to strengthen Catholic school communities and support parent choice in education, they said. Our priority is to build and maintain a dynamic, sustainable Catholic education system that families continue to choose, both now and into the future. Economist and public education advocate Trevor Cobbold said the solution was urban renewal with a greater mix of housing. Advertisement When you compare the results of those government schools with the independent schools and the Catholic schools, they have been doing as well as, if not better, in terms of their average NAPLAN results, he said. Related Article VCE VCE results show a public-private divide The simple bottom line is the public schools are struggling for resources to match those [schools] in terms of teaching and learning of independent schools in the area. Theres a great divide in resources. 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 NationalVictoriaCourts Families devastated by nursing homes $150,000 fine after 50 deaths during COVID Melissa Cunningham March 11, 2026 1:43pm 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 Families of the 50 residents who died in a Melbourne nursing home during Australias deadliest coronavirus outbreak have been left outraged and heartbroken after the home was fined $150,000 by the Victorian County Court. Workplace watchdog WorkSafe charged St Basils Homes for the Aged in Victoria with failing to provide information, instruction and training necessary to enable employees to work in a way that was safe and without risks to health in 2022, after 45 residents died from COVID-related complications within a month of the first outbreak in 2020. A clinical waste removalist at St Basils during the aged care homes COVID outbreak in 2020. Penny Stephens Another five residents died from alleged neglect, according to a coronial inquest. Earlier this month, the Melbourne aged care provider pleaded guilty in the County Court to one count of failing to provide a safe working environment to staff during the coronavirus pandemic between March 13 and July 12, 2020. Advertisement At a sentence hearing in the County Court of Victoria on Wednesday, Judge Trevor Wraight said St Basils had failed to adequately protect staff and residents from the threat of coronavirus, fining the aged care home $150,000 with a conviction. The judge noted that while the aged care home attempted to enforce some infection-control measures and training between March and July 2020, there was no benefit in having a system in place unless all staff were aware of it and it was appropriately monitored and implemented. The home was hit with the deadly outbreak of the coronavirus in July and August of that year. Family members of victims: Maxine Tsihlakis, Spiros Vasilakis and Steve Samaras outside the County Court of Victoria after the fine and conviction were handed down. AAPIMAGE Here there were weaknesses in the system that led to five of its employees not receiving the adequate training required, giving rise to the identified risks, he said. In my view, in all the circumstances, St Basils departure from its duty in this instance represents a relatively serious breach. Advertisement But outside court, the families of those who died while in the care of St Basils Homes labelled the fine as a joke and an insult. Related Article Exclusive Coronavirus pandemic How a disaster unfolded: Brief to Coroner sheds new light on St Basils deaths Spiros Vasilakis, whose mother Maria died in the outbreak, demanded somebody be held accountable for the deaths. A penalty of $150,000 to answer for 45 lives ... Thats one that doesnt pass the pub test, he said. A fine, Im sorry, doesnt cut it. What cuts is someone being held accountable. Advertisement He said the aged care home had failed in its duty of care at the most crucial time for his elderly mother and so many others. He was horrified and shocked when he found out after his mothers death, the aged care home was attempting to use her image to promote their reopening. Spiros Vasilakis 81-year-old mother Maria died at St Basils in 2020. Scott McNaughton I got an anonymous call to have a look at their website. I went to their website, and theyre using my mums image ... as a selling point to reopen, he said. In handing down the fine and conviction, Wraight said had the aged care home not pleaded guilty, he would have fined the organisation $250,000. The maximum penalty would be a fine of almost $1.5 million. Advertisement Related Series Aged care Broken home: aged care and the horror of St Basils The judge found that St Basils failed to provide appropriate training to all staff at the facility on the appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks, and mitigation measures to protect them and residents against the virus after national guidelines for residential aged care were published on March 13. At the start of the outbreak, St Basils had 92 residents and 102 staff. The court was told several training sessions at the Fawkner aged care home in Melbournes northern suburbs were held with external doctors and infection-control nurses. However, five staff members did not attend any of these sessions and not all staff working at the facility understood the appropriate measures needed to curb transmission during an outbreak, including the importance of how to put on and take off PPE. Advertisement The first confirmed case of COVID came on July 9 and, by July 15, dozens of cases were identified when all staff and residents were tested. Following the sentence, Maxine Tsihlakis told reporters outside the court she was speaking on behalf of her mother, Georgia, who died at the home. Outside St Basils aged care home in 2020, which became the site of one of Victorias deadliest coronavirus outbreaks. Scott McNaughton This is a joke, she said as she held back tears. The pain that we go through ... its like manslaughter. They should be held accountable. Tsihlakis said she remained haunted by a decision to move her mother, who had dementia, into the home years ago. Advertisement In 2021, The Age reported conditions had become so horrific at St Basils Homes for the Aged during its deadly COVID-19 outbreak that some residents had tried to bash down the centres front door to escape the bedlam and find food. One site report compiled at the height of the outbreak in July 2020 found there was no physical distancing [among temporary staff] clinical waste bags lying in corridors, piled up in corridors, in residents rooms (left open), multiple dirty meal trays lying around [the] facility. St Basils Homes for the Aged in Fawkner, where 45 residents died from COVID-related complications within a month of the first outbreak in 2020. Joe Armao A senior Northern Hospital doctor, Sandra Brown, whose team visited during this period, warned of residents starving to death and dying of dehydration from basic care needs not being met. A coronial inquest into the 45 coronavirus deaths is ongoing and has heard allegations that residents were not properly fed or cared for throughout the outbreak. Advertisement Related Article Coronavirus pandemic Amid the horror at St Basils, stories emerge of carers at their best Evacuating the homes residents during the outbreak was never seriously considered, and outbreak managers instead replaced the entire staff with an emergency workforce, Coroner John Cain has been previously told. St Basils is also facing a class action suit for allegedly breaching duty of care led by the families of those who died. 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 NationalVictoriaCity life Melbourne crowned the best city in the world Cara Waters March 11, 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 Melbourne has been crowned the best city in the world for 2026 by a global lifestyle media brand for its diversity, liveliness and vibrant cultural scene. Its the first time an Australian city has taken the top spot on Time Outs list of the 50 best cities, with the Victorian capital beating the likes of London and New York. Meg Scott, with baby Layla, believes Melbourne is the best city in the world. Joe Armao Melbourne defeated Shanghai, Edinburgh, London and New York, which rounded out the top five on the list. Melbournes previous top placing was second in 2016, and this year it climbed three places, from fourth place in 2025. Sydney also made the list ranking at number 21, and Adelaide came in at number 29. Advertisement The list, which has been running for 10 years, is based on a survey of 24,000 people across the world who live in cities and a panel of 100 experts selected by Time Out who were asked to name the most exciting cities in the world right now. Related Article City life Melbourne regains bragging rights on Economists annual liveability index Data from 44 different criteria was combined to create the ranking, with Melburnians ranking their home town particularly high in local responses to statements including: My city makes me happy and I find joy in the everyday experiences where I live. Alice Ellis, editor-in-chief for Time Out Australia, said Melburnians scored the city very highly for criteria including diversity, liveliness, cultural activities and affordability of going out. An insider with detailed knowledge of the methodology, who was not authorised to speak publicly, revealed that although the ranking is compiled using the survey data, Time Out editors around the world also discuss what order cities will be ranked based on a host of factors, including geographic diversity and potential Time Out opportunities. The survey results were combined with Time Out city editors responses to help determine the final rankings. Advertisement Ellis defended the methodology used by Time Out, which she said was more of an attitudinal survey compared with rankings like the Economists Intelligence Units 2025 Global Liveability Index, which ranked Melbourne as the fourth most-liveable city in the world last year. Its as scientific as we can get in terms of getting a sense of how people feel about where they live at the moment, she said. Ellis said it was a challenging time around the world, and the result was a good reminder that Melbourne was a fairly exceptional place to live. We know that Melbourne isnt perfect, she said. We were really pleased to see that Melbourne locals overall do rate the place they live highly, especially compared to other places around the world. Advertisement On the streets of the CBD when asked what they thought was the worlds best city, locals were happy to nominate their own city. Meg Scott moved from London 10 years ago and said while she loved going home to London, its chaotic and just feels really busy, whereas she found Melbourne more relaxed. Melbournes got a much slower pace, and you can walk around and feel comfortable without feeling hectic, she said. Scott says she loves Melbournes shopping, food and, particularly, its bakeries. Giovanni Arlinda lives in Warrnambool but loves Melbourne. Joe Armao Giovanni Arlinda lives in Warrnambool, where she moved to from Indonesia, but agrees Melbourne is the worlds best city because of its air quality and public transport. Advertisement Its balanced between the nature and also the city life, she said. For me personally, its a balanced city, so I love it. But Dhathri Bellave and Lachlan Bajema, in town from Sydney for the Formula 1 Grand Prix, were divided on whether Melbourne deserved the crown. Bellave nominated Queenstown in New Zealand because of its beauty. I would love to live there, she said, naming London as another potentially superior city, while Bajema said he believed Melbourne outranked his home town of Sydney. Dhathri Bellave and Lachlan Bajema in town from Sydney for the Formula 1 were divided on what is the worlds best city. Joe Armao I like Melbourne more than Sydney, he said. Its more affordable. Sydneys impossible. Sydney is beautiful, its a beautiful city, its great to grow up in, but its more accessible and cheap in Melbourne. It just makes more sense. Advertisement Lord Mayor Nick Reece said all Melburnians could feel a sense of pride at being the No.1 city in the world. As lord mayor, you could imagine, Im ready to do high jumps off the table with joy at a big result like this, he said. It was only a few short years ago that Melbourne was facing some serious challenges. By some accounts, we were the most locked-down city in the world. Now we are top of the table. Reece also had some feedback for Sydney, which was ranked 21st. I think Sydney is an absolutely fantastic city, and I look forward to sharing our knowledge and experience with them about what makes a great city when I next visit, he 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. Advertisement PoliticsFederalAntisemitism royal commission Former spy chief on $5500 a day says he was paid too much to do too little on royal commission Matthew Knott Updated March 12, 2026 11:40am ,first published March 11, 2026 8:52pm 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 royal commission into antisemitism has been thrown into crisis by the shock retirement of special adviser Dennis Richardson, who says he came to feel his contributions were unnecessary and he was overpaid for the work he was doing. The former ASIO boss quit his position just weeks before commissioner Virginia Bell is due to deliver her interim report into the performance of the nations intelligence and police agencies in the lead up to the Bondi massacre on December 14 last year. Dennis Richardson answers questions in Parliament House on Thursday. Alex Ellinghausen Bell announced Richardsons shock resignation in a statement on Wednesday night, surprising peak Jewish community groups who were racing to find out why he had abruptly stepped down. Richardsons resignation represents a difficult start for the royal commission, which is scrambling to meet tight deadlines set for it by the government and carving out key areas of enquiry to avoid prejudicing the criminal trial into the massacre. Advertisement Richardson told reporters in Canberra that he raised the possibility of resigning with Bell two weeks ago as he was no longer finding the work challenging, as he insisted he got along well personally with Bell. Editor's pick Analysis Antisemitism royal commission Tight deadline, a criminal trial and tech issues: Royal commission off to a rocky start Its just that its now reached a point where I think my value-add is pretty limited, he said. Ive got no problem at all with the royal commission continuing in doing what its doing, but put it this way, I didnt necessarily see my last job of this kind being more of a highly paid researcher. I saw my job as being a little bit more than that. Advertisement Richardson, who was originally supposed to write a standalone review on potential intelligence failures, telling Radio National on Thursday morning: Ultimately I came to the view that I was surplus to requirements. Related Article Antisemitism royal commission Commissioner assures Bondi families she will probe Hanukkah security, police delays Revealing he was paid $5500 a day to advise the royal commission, he told ABC Sydney: I was being paid very well, so, the question about payment really goes to the fact that, quite frankly, I was being well overpaid for what, for what I was effectively doing. He said he was essentially being employed as a research officer. While he praised Bell as a very fine person and excellent legal mind, he told Sky News: The onus was on Virginia Bell and me to sit down and have a hard-headed discussion on day one. And while we did have lots of discussions, I think we both took things forward based upon different assumptions. Advertisement Richardson said the interim report being produced by the royal commission was a very different animal to the document he would have produced under his original instructions. Opposition defence spokesman James Paterson called Richardsons resignation a disaster for the royal commission, for its credibility, ultimately for its findings and recommendations. Richardson said he had reached a point where I think my value-add is pretty limited. 60 Minutes This has to be fixed, and fixed today, he said. The prime minister has to get on the phone with Dennis Richardson and ask that he continue his role for the royal commission. And he must get on the phone with the royal commissioner, Virginia Bell, and ask that she accommodate Dennis Richardson and make sure that he can continue to be part of this royal commission. Advertisement Paterson said a serious shadow had been cast over the royal commission, saying: I do seriously worry that the credibility of the royal commission has been fatally damaged. The Coalition sought to suspend standing orders in the Senate to force Foreign Minister Penny Wong to explain why Richardson had resigned. Richardson said his resignation was an embarrassment all around but denied claims the move shattered the credibility of Bells royal commission. The royal commission, in terms of its credibility, will be totally vindicated. I have no doubt about that at all, he told Sky News. Richardson formerly led the domestic spy agency ASIO, the Defence Department, the Department of Foreign Affairs and served as Australias ambassador to Washington. Advertisement In her statement on Wednesday night, Bell said: As I noted at the commissions initial hearing, Mr Richardson was uniquely well placed to advise on the material to be sought from our intelligence and security agencies in order to assess the effectiveness of their preparedness for, and response to, a terrorist attack. Bell, a former High Court judge, said she was grateful for Richardsons contribution and that thanks to his teams efforts, work on the interim report is well advanced. Bell said she was confident the report would be delivered in accordance with the royal commissions letters patent. Jewish community sources said they were stunned by the resignation because Richardson had held several meetings with peak groups and the process seemed to be on track. Following the Bondi Beach massacre, during which 15 people were killed and dozens injured at a Hanukkah celebration on December 14 last year, the Albanese government announced Richardson would lead an inquiry into potential failures by intelligence and law enforcement agencies. Advertisement Prime Minister Anthony Albanese insisted for several weeks that Richardson was the pre-eminent authority on the nations intelligence agencies, and there would be no need for a federal royal commission, as the NSW government had already announced its own. Related Article Antisemitism royal commission The five key questions for the Bondi royal commission to answer Richardsons review was later wrapped into the federal royal commission when Albanese bowed to pressure to hold a wide-ranging probe. Bell is scheduled to deliver her interim report, covering any potential intelligence and policing failures, by the end of April. Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said she had been notified about Richardsons decision. Advertisement The government thanks Mr Richardson for his efforts to date, she said. The government will continue to support the royal commission to deliver its important work, including the delivery of the interim report by April 30. Richardsons role was to conduct interviews and advise Bell, who was tasked with writing the interim report and its final version. Bell announced on the opening day of the royal commission that the decision to wrap Richardsons inquiry into the royal commission had complicated the process. Perhaps inevitably, the absorption of an administrative inquiry into this royal commission has led to some delay, Bell said last month. Advertisement Delays in obtaining materials, Bell said, make it unlikely that her interim report will form a definitive judgment on the adequacy of the security arrangements at the Bondi Hanukkah event and the effectiveness of information sharing between ASIO and the police. Related Article Updated Antisemitism royal commission Royal commission rules out eyewitness accounts of Bondi attack That will have to wait until her final report. There are also delays to whistleblower immunity laws that the government wanted to rush through parliament earlier this month, so former and current intelligence officers could testify at the commission without breaching security provisions. The legislation has been referred to the parliamentary joint committee on intelligence and security for review, after Coalition and crossbench senators insisted national security laws couldnt be rubber-stamped without scrutiny. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter. Advertisement PoliticsNSWNSW State Parliament Opinion One year from the NSW election, theres an elephant in the Liberal party room Alexandra Smith State Political Editor March 12, 2026 5:00am March 12, 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 If it were not so serious, one of the enduring tales from the final weeks of the last state election campaign would make a perfect comedy sketch. It was the ultimate game of political cat and mouse, with parliamentary staff scouring the state searching for four missing NSW Liberals including a councillor and two of then-premier Dominic Perrottets brothers. The staff members were armed with summonses to force the four to front a parliamentary inquiry into an alleged Liberal branch-stacking scandal, but despite their best efforts, the four were not found. Professional document-servers were even called on to locate Jean-Claude and Charles Perrottet, former Liberal state executive member Christian Ellis and his mother, Virginia, a former Hills Shire councillor and an electorate officer to Hawkesbury MP Robyn Preston. No luck finding them, either. Charles, Dominic and Jean-Claude Perrottet. Dominic Perrottet lost the election a couple of weeks later, the Liberals slumped into opposition licking their wounds, and NSW Labor got on with governing the state for the first time in 12 years. Friday marks one year until the next election. There is a new Liberal leader in Kellie Sloane, who has solid support within her ranks and a Coalition in far better shape than its woeful federal counterpart. That said, one published poll over the weekend revealed One Nation has hit stratospheric heights in NSW, with 21 per cent of voters in a DemosAU/PremierNational poll indicating they would give Pauline Hansons party their first preference. The Liberals primary vote has plummeted to 23 per cent. The Coalition has a big task ahead of it. Advertisement Nonetheless, NSW Labor is in minority government and next years election will be a contest over the bread-and-butter issues that define state politics. Transport, infrastructure, hospitals, schools, housing. There is, however, a massive elephant in the room for the Liberals a looming explosive corruption inquiry that has the potential to upend their whole campaign. Related Article Exclusive Crime $2 billion and counting: More headaches looming for fugitive developer Jean Nassif Those branch-stacking allegations, which were sensationally aired in parliament by Liberal MP Ray Williams in 2022, did not disappear when Perrottet was swept from office. Rather, they are expected to surface again, perhaps soon, and on a far bigger scale involving more people than simply the missing Liberals and fugitive Sydney developer Jean Nassif, who is at the centre of the scandal. In his speech to parliament, Williams claimed that senior Liberals were paid significant funds by Nassif to install new councillors on the Hills Shire Council to ram through development applications. It is fair to say that anxiety, bordering on fear, is sweeping the Liberals. A long-term Liberal operative says it is the talk of the party. The in-vogue gossip is to accuse your factional rival of being investigated by ICAC. The party expects the corruption watchdog to announce public hearings before the election. The Independent Commission Against Corruption is a watertight organisation when it comes to the release of information, as it should be. The agency, under the leadership of former Labor attorney general John Hatzistergos, has not confirmed an investigation into Hills Shire Council and its links to Liberals and developers. But almost everyone accepts an inquiry is coming. Advertisement The question is when and how seismic will it be? Hatzistergos will be acutely aware of the scrutiny the watchdog will come under from the Liberals in terms of the timing of such a consequential inquiry. Many Liberals are still seething that the ICAC brought down premier Gladys Berejiklian. Indeed, when Berejiklian stunned the state and announced her resignation, she made her thoughts on the ICAC crystal-clear. Related Article ICAC ICAC asks for special surveillance powers as it investigates Toplace The ICAC has chosen to take this action, a tearful Berejiklian said on October 1, 2021, during the most challenging weeks of the most challenging times in the states history. Liberals bemoaned that the ICAC should have waited, which was a ridiculous argument. Had the watchdog delayed its hearings into Berejiklian, it would have faced accusations of political bias. While there is no confirmation from the ICAC, Hatzistergos gave the clearest indication through his request that the watchdog be given permanent powers to possess and use unlawful recordings of private conversations. The ICAC made that request at the same time as it was deep into its investigation into Nassifs links to Liberal Party figures. Advertisement The Liberals, as well as the Greens, opposed the governments legislation to give the ICAC those permanent powers. Both argued that the new laws would pose challenges to the courts and the justice system. The Liberals argued the laws could tip the balance in favour of law enforcement and against privacy. The problem for the Liberals, however, is that their opposition to the laws looks as though they are protecting their own. Related Article Exclusive ICAC This premier was felled by ICAC. Now he is defending it and criticising his own party Their stance prompted former premier Barry OFarrell, whose political career was spectacularly cut short by the corruption watchdog, to take an extraordinary swipe at his Liberal colleagues, warning they should be supporting, not blocking, the integrity agency. The corrupt former minister Eddie Obeid did huge damage to the NSW Labor brand. The ICAC investigation, and its fallout, could be the Liberals Obeid moment. And if it is, that will be devastating not just in 12 months time but for years to come. Alexandra Smith is the NSW state political editor. 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 WorldEuropeEpstein fallout Weirdly rushed: Starmer ignored Epstein red flags before appointing Mandelson, new files show Jill Lawless and Brian Melley March 12, 2026 6:44am 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 London: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was warned that Peter Mandelsons friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein exposed the government to reputational risk, but he still appointed him as ambassador to the US, new documents show. Starmer fired Mandelson after nine months in the job when new details of the relationship with Epstein emerged, and now faces a political storm over the appointment. Published on Wednesday (London time), the new files show the prime minister ignored red flags raised by his staff when he appointed the savvy but controversial Mandelson to the U.K.s most important diplomatic post. Peter Mandelson leaves his London home on Wednesday. AP Mandelson was briefly arrested last month by police investigating allegations he passed sensitive government information to Epstein a decade and a half ago. Concerns were raised in a document sent to Starmer in December 2024 when he was considering appointing Mandelson, an elder statesman of the governing Labour Party, to a diplomatic post seen as vital to establishing relations with US President Donald Trumps administration. Advertisement A due diligence report prepared by senior civil servants summarised a relationship between Mandelson and Epstein that ran from at least 2002 the year Mandelson facilitated a meeting between Epstein and then-Prime Minister Tony Blair to 2019, the year of Epsteins death. The document notes that Mandelson reportedly stayed in Epsteins house while he was in jail in June 2009 for sexual offences involving a minor, and cites a 2019 report commissioned by JPMorgan that said Epstein had a particularly close relationship with the then-prince Andrew and with Mandelson. Britains Prime Minister Keir Starmer leaves 10 Downing Street on Wednesday. AP It also spelled out unrelated reputational issues over Mandelsons work in a previous Labour government when he twice had to resign over financial matters and his work at Global Counsel, a lobbying firm he co-founded. Despite the red flags in the documents, cabinet minister Darren Jones said the due diligence did not expose the depth and extent of Mandelsons friendship with Epstein. He said Mandelson had lied to Starmer about the friendship. Advertisement Peter Mandelson should never have been afforded the privilege of representing this country, Jones told lawmakers in the House of Commons. I reiterate for the House that the prime minister deeply regrets taking him at his word. It was a mistake to do so. Starmer fired Mandelson in September after an earlier release of documents showed he had maintained contact with Epstein after the financiers 2008 conviction. Further details about Mandelsons ties with Epstein, revealed in a huge trove of files published by the US Department of Justice in January, raised new questions about Starmers judgment, driving opponents and even some members of the governing Labour Party to call for the prime ministers resignation. Starmer survived the immediate danger, but his position remains fragile even though he never met Epstein and is not implicated in his crimes. Advertisement The 147 pages of documents published on Wednesday were released after lawmakers forced Starmers government to disclose thousands of files about the decision to name Mandelson to the key diplomatic post at the start of Trumps second term. The government says the files will show Mandelson misled officials. Mandelson (left) and Jeffrey Epstein pictured together in an undated image released by US Congress. US Congress The documents are being published in batches after review by Parliaments Intelligence and Security Committee. Police have asked the government not to release files that could compromise their criminal investigation into Mandelson. The documents note that Mandelson was asked questions about his relationship with Epstein, and say the prime ministers communications director was satisfied with his responses. Advertisement The responses have not yet been published because of the police investigation. And the files raise more questions for Starmer. After Mandelson was fired, National Security Advisor Jonathan Powell told the prime ministers lawyer that he had raised concerns about the individual and reputation and found the appointment process weirdly rushed, the documents show. Mandelson was embarrassed by the release of photographs from the US files showing him in his underwear. Justice Department Ed Davey, leader of the opposition Liberal Democrats, said Starmer had made a catastrophic failure of judgment. Conservative lawmaker Alex Burghart said that while Mandelson might have lied to the prime minister, he wasnt lied to by this due diligence document. Advertisement The prime minister knew all he needed to know. It was on him. Its on him now. He let his party down. He let his country down. I very much doubt that either will trust him again. Related Article Updated Epstein fallout Ex-British cabinet minister Peter Mandelson released on bail amid Epstein leaks probe The Epstein files released in January suggest that Mandelson sent market-sensitive information to the convicted sex offender when he was the UK governments business secretary after the 2008 financial crisis. That includes an internal government report discussing ways the UK could raise money, including by selling off government assets. Mandelson also appears to have told Epstein he would lobby other members of the government to reduce a tax on bankers bonuses. Mandelson, 72, was arrested last month at his London home on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He has been released without bail conditions as the police investigation continues. Advertisement He has previously denied wrongdoing and hasnt been charged. He does not face allegations of sexual misconduct. He has been forced to resign from the House of Lords and has lost his 157,000 ($295,000) a year ambassadors salary. The documents show that after being sacked, Mandelson asked for a 547,000 payoff the rest of his four-year salary. In the end, the government gave him 75,000. 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. Advertisement Beirut: Israeli leaders see a chance to wipe out an old enemy with every jet they send over Lebanon. With every missile, however, they bring more carnage to civilians. Loading The targets are meant to be the Hezbollah fighters who have fired rockets into northern Israel to show their support for Iran. But Israels target list has expanded to include financial agencies that are linked to Hezbollah and lend money to families, helping the militant group maintain community support. Advertisement Those killed include a Maronite priest, Father Pierre al-Rai, who died on Monday when struck by Israeli tank fire in his community in southern Lebanon. Residents in southern Beirut pass by the scene of a recent Israeli airstrike. Kate Geraghty The attacks appear to be intensifying as Israeli leaders seek to destroy Hezbollah after decades of conflict, calculating that the war on Iran will weaken the Iranian regimes capacity to support its Shiite Muslim allies. Hezbollah is said to be changing strategy in the expectation of an Israeli land invasion, according to a Reuters report that cited four individuals aware of the militant groups plan to move towards guerrilla fighting. This masthead witnessed IDF strikes in the Dahiyeh district in the southern suburbs of Beirut and on the southern city of Tyre, known in Arabic as Sour. Advertisement A destroyed car sits near the scene of an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, southern Beirut. KATE GERAGHTY Israel blames Hezbollah for starting the latest violence when the group fired at targets in northern Israel last Monday. The death toll since then has climbed to 570, according to the Lebanese government, while another 1444 people have been wounded. The United Nations warned on Tuesday morning in Beirut (late on Tuesday, AEDT) that the number of people displaced from their homes had swollen by 100,000 in a single day to reach 667,000 who were formally registered as displaced. Advertisement Many have moved to stay with family or sought other options, while 120,000 are in government-provided accommodation. I have seen first-hand over the past week how this volatile situation and displacement also trigger fear and emotional trauma, said Karolina Lindholm Billing, representative of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Lebanon. Loading Children and adults alike, including many older people, are in shock and fear. In Israel, the nations military said two soldiers were killed in the fighting in southern Lebanon. As well, 11 civilians have been killed since the war on Iran began on February 28, most from an Iranian missile strike on Beit Shemesh near Jerusalem on March 1. Advertisement Aiming to destroy Hezbollahs financial foundations, the Israel Defence Forces struck at least six of the financial offices in recent days. The institution, known as al-Qard al-Hassan, provides loans in exchange for gold or other assets outside the standard banking system. Lebanese newspaper LOrient-Le Jour reported that the Israeli army issued an evacuation order on Monday night for a district in the southern city of Sidon, known in Arabic as Saida, and issued a map showing the building to be hit. The IDF then struck the al-Qard al-Hassan offices in the Aqabiyeh district. While the strikes are targeted to inflict the greatest damage on Hezbollah and its personnel, the civilian casualties are mounting. Advertisement Advertisement Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called on the Lebanese government to disarm Hezbollah or face more IDF strikes. People walk near the scene of an Israeli airstrike in southern Beirut. Kate Geraghty Netanyahus demand highlights the challenge for Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in halting Hezbollah when the group operates its own militia and community services including the loan offices and cannot be controlled by the Lebanese Armed Forces. Aoun blamed Hezbollah for launching missiles against Israel on March 2 and triggering the airstrikes in response. Whoever launched those missiles wanted to bring about the collapse of the Lebanese state, plunging it into aggression and chaos ... all for the sake of the Iranian regimes calculations, he said on Monday. Advertisement Aoun has not, however, been able to neutralise Hezbollah as a fighting force. Smoke rises following Israeli strikes in Tyre in Lebanon. Kate Geraghty While Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said last week the government would ban Hezbollahs military activities, the group continues to operate in its strongholds among the Shiite Muslim population. This includes Dahiyeh in southern Beirut, the Bekaa Valley in the east of the country and large parts of southern Lebanon. Hezbollah has, however, been weakened by the pressure on the Iranian regime, which has sent money and arms to its allies in Lebanon over many decades. Related Article Middle East at war What is Hezbollah and why is Israel attacking Lebanon? Advertisement The fall of the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad, a supporter of Hezbollah over his 24-year rule, also weakened the group. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who fought Hezbollah during his time as an Islamist fighter before gaining control of the country, has emerged as an ally of the Lebanese government in its bid to control the armed militia within its own borders. We stand alongside Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in disarming Hezbollah, Sharaa said during a video conference with Aoun and European officials on Monday. 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 The tiny island that could let Trump beat Iran without sending a single soldier Colin Freeman March 11, 2026 4:00pm 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 In an interview with a British newspaper back in 1988, an up-and-coming New York property mogul named Donald Trump was asked about his plans for the future. True to form, he had plenty to say, boasting that he might one day run for president and vowing to win back respect for America on the world stage. He also had stern words for Irans Islamic Republic, already a sworn enemy of America in the wake of the 1979 US hostage crisis. Theyve been beating us psychologically, making us look a bunch of fools, Trump told The Guardian. One bullet shot at one of our men or ships, and Id do a number on Kharg Island. Id go in and take it. The US and Israel have not yet targeted the vast oil terminal at Kharg Island, which accounts for 94 per cent of Irans crude exports. Getty Kharg where? As the interview was to promote his book, The Art of the Deal, Trump moved the conversation on without elaborating. But nearly 40 years later, that throwaway line suggests he knew more about world affairs than he is often given credit for. The island concerned is a barren limestone outcrop 15 miles off Irans Persian Gulf coastline, less than half the size of Manhattan. But it is also home to the countrys main oil export terminal, where 94 per cent of the crude it sells abroad is loaded on supertankers, mostly bound for China. Advertisement It has not yet been touched by the joint US-Israeli bombing campaign, which has pulverised military bases, sunk Iranian naval vessels, killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and hammered fuel depots. Related Article Middle East at war US-Iran war as it happened: One Iranian soccer player reverses asylum decision and will return to Iran; Ships targeted in Strait of Hormuz; ACCC investigates petrol price gouging Speculation is now growing, though, that the central goal of Operation Epic Fury is to seize the island intact cutting off the Islamic Republics capacity to export its oil and thereby its ability to bankroll its security forces. Doing so would give Trump a stranglehold on the regime without committing any American troops to the Iranian mainland. And while Irans ruling clerics might remain in charge, their room for manoeuvre would be massively curtailed, given that oil exports make up nearly 40 per cent of their governments budget. What we want to do is to get such massive oil reserves in Iran out of the hands of terrorists, said Jarrod Agen, a White House adviser, in an interview over the weekend with Fox Business, which hinted that Kharg is a central part of the rationale for Epic Fury. Advertisement Agen is well-placed to know Trumps thinking on the matter. He is the executive director of the National Energy Dominance Council, a body set up by the president last year to ensure an aggressive pursuit of US energy security goals. The immediate impact of the bombing campaign on Iran has been a spike in global energy prices, sparked by its retaliatory closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of all oil and liquefied natural gas exports pass. Loading But Trump may be calculating that the future benefits are worth it particularly if it leads to the capture of the barren, sun-scorched island in the northern Persian Gulf. Not only might it allow him leverage over the mullahs from a distance, but snatching Kharg would also give America control of the worlds biggest maritime energy corridor, ensuring greater stability long term. Advertisement Seizing the island would cut off Irans oil lifeline, which is crucial for the regime, says Petras Katinas, research fellow in climate, energy and defence in the Europe office of the Royal United Services Institute. Of course, with shipping via the Strait of Hormuz now stopped, they cannot sell oil anyway, but looking ahead, seizure would give the US leverage during negotiations, no matter which regime is in power after the military operation ends. Indeed, even now, the terminal seems operational, with shipping tankers spotted visiting it in the last few days. While some Israeli politicians have suggested destroying it outright with opposition leader Yair Lapid saying doing so would topple the [Iranian] regime that would choke off Irans exporting ability potentially for years, with catastrophic consequences for global energy prices. By controlling it, however, Trump can pressurise the existing regime into compliance, or, should he choose, all-out collapse. In that latter scenario, any new government would also have to toe Washingtons line were it to wish to regain sovereignty over oil exports. While striking Kharg would economically wound the current regime, it would also hurt any future government in Iran. Getty Located some 480 kilometres north-west of the strait, Kharg is simultaneously modern Irans biggest asset and its biggest liability. Its oil terminal was built by the American giant Aramco during the shahs rule in the late 1950s, when modern tankers proved too big to dock in the shallow waters off Irans southern coastline. Instead, crude was piped from the mainland to Kharg and loaded onto vessels from there. The island is home to a small town of a few thousand oil workers, but, as a remote strip of land far from Irans mainland, is inherently vulnerable to attack its terminal was partly destroyed by Iraqi bombing during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War, but then rebuilt. Advertisement Indeed, Trump is not the first US leader to view it as Irans Achilles heel. In the hostage crisis that followed Irans 1979 Islamic Revolution, when Iranian student radicals kidnapped 52 US diplomats, advisers to president Jimmy Carter also suggested seizing Kharg again with the aim of starving the regime of oil revenues. The plan was ruled out as too confrontational, however, leading Carter to launch a failed hostage rescue bid that ended with special forces helicopters crashing in a sandstorm in the Iranian desert. Jimmy Carter in the Oval Office in 1977. AP Given that Trump regards Carter as typical of a certain kind of weak-willed, ineffectual leader, he will be anxious on this occasion to minimise any chance of the action backfiring. Kharg also featured in another humiliating episode for the US in 2016, when 10 US marines were detained after straying into Iranian waters near the island and paraded on Iranian state TV. The IRGC later planned to build a statue of the captured marines on Kharg as a monument to the event. Trump was highly critical of president Barack Obama for allowing the marines to be detained in the first place, saying Iran was showing a lack of respect. Katinas says that seizing Kharg would require a US ground troop operation, which Trump has thus far seemed hesitant to undertake. However, military analysts say the island is protected only by ageing surface-to-air missile batteries and coastal anti-ship missiles, which could easily be overwhelmed by a joint US-Israeli operation. The Iranian navy has already been substantially degraded, according to US officials, with at least 30 vessels destroyed since Epic Fury began. Advertisement US Central Command said it eliminated 16 minelaying boats near the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command / X There is also speculation that Washington may have encouraged reports of a Kurdish military uprising in western Iran to draw Iranian security forces away from the south coast. However, given that Kharg is isolated from the Iranian mainland by 24 kilometres of sea, the ability of land-based Iranian forces to contest any US takeover might be limited. According to Ian Bremmer, a political risk consultant writing for the global affairs website GZERO Media: The island (Kharg) itself is less than half the size of Manhattan, isnt extensively fortified, and sits isolated enough that US destroyers and close-in air defence systems could establish a credible defensive perimeter well offshore. The prospect that Trump might seize Kharg was first mooted in mid-January in an article by former Pentagon official Michael Rubin, now an Iran expert at the American Enterprise Institute, a centre-right Washington think tank. Advertisement Should he take Kharg, rather than destroy it, he can not only ensure the regime can never again pay the salaries of its bureaucrats and soldiers, but also that, in the future after regime change, he can ensure that the new Iranian regime can finance its own rebuilding, Rubin wrote. He added: The IRGC, of course, could target Kharg with ballistic missiles, but that would sign their death warrant. Not only would Trump respond in kind, but such action would end Iranian oil exports for months to come, again leaving salaries unpaid. Kharg seizure could spell chaos American control of Kharg would also give the US increased leverage over China, which has long ignored international sanctions on the purchase of Iranian oil and currently buys more than 80 per cent of all exports. Having the US control the Persian Gulf from which China imports roughly half its crude and a third of its gas is a strategic catastrophe for Beijing, Guy Laron, a former fellow at the Wilson Centre in Washington and an expert in international politics at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, said last weekend in a post on X. Advertisement As such, few are in any doubt that, in the short term, any US seizure of Kharg would spell chaos in the energy markets, especially if the terminal suffers damage during an operation to take it. Potentially, Tehran might even sabotage it out of spite, as Saddam Hussein did with Kuwaiti oil infrastructure during the first Gulf War in 1990. But as an alternative to the far messier business of enforcing regime change at the cost of countless American lives, grabbing a few square miles of the worlds most strategically vital real estate might seem very tempting. Indeed, from Trumps point of view, it might be the best real estate acquisition he has ever made. The Telegraph, London 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 WorldNorth AmericaTrump's America Opinion We Americans dont know if were the good guys any more Cory Alpert Former White House staffer Updated March 11, 2026 11:12am , first published 11:00am Updated March 11, 2026 11:12am ,first published 11:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A Its been a little more than a week since Donald Trump authorised the most significant military operation of his presidency. And still, Americans dont quite know what to make of it. The polling shows that support for the war in Iran essentially matches what people thought of Trump before the war. Most Americans I speak with feel a bit lost. This war, for all of Trumps sabre-rattling over the years, doesnt quite fit with what anyone expected. Even those of us who have long called his actions on the global stage reckless and dangerous, who suggested that his treatment of the world like a box of toys that could be put away after playtime, would end up in calamity, didnt expect him to drag the US into a prolonged conflict with a well-armed rival. President Donald Trump and his War Secretary Pete Hegseth. AP Trump was for a decade the loudest spokesman for a long-overdue questioning of the justification of American force around the world. That focus would be better spent on affairs at home wasnt that the entire point of America First? Advertisement After all, it was Donald Trump who, in 2020, kept repeating weve spent $8 trillion in the Middle East, and were not fixing our roads in this country? How stupid. One of Trumps arguments in the 2024 election was that, were he in charge, America would not have found itself embroiled in conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, even as mere suppliers of weapons to allies. Trump rallied a political coalition that had grown weary of American involvement in war. The rightward side of that group found it a fiscal catastrophe, spending billions to get nothing in return. The left side of that coalition had grown exhausted and frustrated by the moral failure of American military intervention that has left a generation angry. Some of Trumps political fortune in 2024 was due to Muslim voters seeing him as a disrupter in a chain of American presidents who continued to wage war. George Bush Jr. justified his incursions into Iraq and Afghanistan on the grounds of sniffing out weapons of mass destruction that could threaten the planet and to find the perpetrators of 9/11. The government spent months laying out a case, using falsified evidence, to build a coalition so that when they finally struck, their actions held the support of close to 90 per cent of the American public. Obama justified a sweeping drone program on Pakistan and other countries on humanitarian and economic grounds, that it was the obligation of the worlds military superpower to defend free people against tyrants and insurgents. Biden justified limited involvement in both Gaza and Ukraine on the grounds of defending democratic allies. Advertisement Those arguments did not always carry water, but they reflected presidents acknowledging that the use of force requires some justification. Related Article Opinion Iran Trump has a limited time to end the war perhaps a week at most Clinton Fernandes Academic and former intelligence officer Justification and moral right are not the same thing. A war can be justified on economic grounds while morally wrong. Had Trumps strike against Iran last week gone the same path as his capture of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela, and likewise ended up with expanded access for American oil markets, that is a justification. A poor one, but one all the same. Without a cogent explanation, we are left to speculate on his reasons. Was it at the behest of Netanyahu and the evangelical coalition that props up Trumps domestic political operation? Perhaps it is a distraction from the Epstein files? Or is his administration looking to remake our geopolitical order in a battle for Western civilisation a favourite talking point among right-wing influencers lately. But the confusion seems to be the point. After oil prices soared to $US115 a barrel, Trump declared the war nearly over, while his Department of War tweeted We have only just begun to fight with a photo of a missile. Advertisement So now we are in Schrodingers War. If we cant know if its over or still happening, or why were there at all, then it makes any opposition to the war impossible to coalesce. If this war has no clear goal, and only seems to be sowing chaos around the world while replacing the elder Khamenei with the younger, then what is the point? Internationally, and also domestically, the Trump administration is renouncing the idea that force requires justification. If American citizens can be gunned down on the streets of Minneapolis by armed federal agents with no explanation, then why too cant another country face fire and fury for the same callous concern of because we can? It leaves Americans a patriotic people questioning if our nation is still a force for good. When much of the world gathered in Milan and Cortina last month, American athletes were asked what they thought of their country. Advertisement Related Article Opinion Trump's America Trump created a goon squad in his image. Its replacing law with a state of panic Cory Alpert Former White House staffer Aerial skier Chris Lillis, moments after winning a gold medal, said he was heartbroken about ICE and the ways the American government is using force against protesters. But he hoped the world would look at the America were trying to represent the nation that opens its arms to the world, that shows its strength by example and innovation. That could be a beacon of freedom, helping to end the Cold War by welcoming scientists and artists. Its that America that has earned its role in leading the world. Trump, in his ever-engorging appetite for power, is threatening the very thing that once made America great. Cory Alpert is a PhD researcher at the University of Melbourne looking at the impact of AI on democracy. He served the Biden-Harris Administration for three years. The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up here. TEHRAN, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Wednesday it will continue striking Israeli and U.S. bases across the Middle East until it perceives the threat of war against Iran has ended. "We only think of the enemy's complete surrender," the IRGC said in a statement on its official outlet, Sepah News. The IRGC claimed that its 38th wave of attacks late Tuesday hit the U.S. Al-Udairi base in Kuwait, sending more than 100 troops to nearby hospitals. The group also claimed missile and drone strikes on U.S. naval infrastructure at Mina Salman port in Bahrain, home to the U.S. Fifth Fleet, as well as attacks on Kuwait's Ali Al-Salem Air Base and Mohammed Al-Ahmad Naval Base. Earlier Tuesday, the IRGC said it targeted a satellite communications center south of Tel Aviv and military sites in Beer Yaakov, West Jerusalem, and Haifa with Khorramshahr missiles. It also claimed attacks on several U.S. positions in Erbil, Iraq. Separately, Iran's army reported early Wednesday drone strikes on Israeli Military Intelligence, the Unit 8200 cyber division, a Green Pine radar installation, and a submarine command center at Haifa's naval base. The flare-up follows joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Tehran and other Iranian cities on Feb. 28, which killed former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and senior military commanders. In response, Iran has carried out repeated missile and drone attacks on U.S. and Israeli targets in the region. In the latest strike on Iranian soil, Bank Sepah, a major bank in Iran, said a U.S.-Israeli missile hit one of its Tehran buildings around 1 a.m. local time Wednesday (2130 GMT Tuesday), injuring and killing employees on the overnight shift. State broadcaster IRIB confirmed the attack but did not provide casualty figures. The Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters -- Iran's primary military command -- warned the strike would prompt retaliation, saying the attack on a bank "freed" Iran to target U.S. and Israeli financial institutions across the region. The Military spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari urged civilians to stay at least one kilometer away from such facilities. PHILIPSBURG:--- In the high-stakes "Lissabon" case, what the public has been presented with is not the story of clear-cut corruption, but rather a prosecution built on shaky ground. Demands for prison sentences and a sweeping ban from public office for former MP Rolando Brison, alongside accusations against Johan Alex Dijkhoffz, Robby Dos Santos, and Sunil Gehani, have dominated headlines. Yet, a deeper look at the defenses arguments exposes a prosecution that is alarmingly thin on evidence and heavy on speculation. The case relies on misreading political communications, misunderstanding financial realities, especially those involving modern crypto assets, and favoring inference over documented fact. These flaws are not just procedural missteps; they undermine the very foundation of justice by risking conviction without solid proof. On the stand, Rolando Brison passionately addressed the court, stressing that the prosecutions allegations not only target him personally but pose a fundamental threat to St. Maartens democracy and the unique culture of accessible, people-centered politics that define the island. Your honor, I asked you for a little time, a few minutes, because there is something I think only I in this building can explain, that no lawyer can probably explain: What it is like to be an MP, he began. Unlike in larger jurisdictions with multiple layers of government, Brison explained that in St. Maarten, all citizens rely on a small group of 15 MPs as their sole elected representatives. Every citizen, businessperson, and organization is coming directly to you with their problems or concerns all the time I made myself even more accessible than most: I hosted a radio program every Friday throughout my career, where the public could call in and raise concerns and get my direct phone number. Brison made it clear that there was no privileged access for the accused co-defendantseveryone on the island had his ear, and no one, including Alex, Robbie, or Sunny, received any special treatment. He challenged the narrative that he pressured ministers or civil servants, noting that no evidence or testimony existed of such conduct. Thats not my style, he told the court. Turning to his legislative work, Brison highlighted his pioneering initiative starting with the 2018 proposal to sell UTS shares to fund the police, and later, the vital push for crypto regulation and the Consumer Banking Protection Act. He argued that the very type of legislation he championedtransparent regulations for crypto trading and clear taxationwould have made criminal investigations easier and more reliable for both the prosecution and the defense. He expressed frustration that such regulatory progress had not yet been achieved, resulting in continued speculation and missed opportunities for proper oversight and tax collection. Defending his financial conduct, Brison confirmed that all his crypto transactions took place via his phone, which was available to investigators for blockchain verificationsomething he asserted would have shown legitimate, verifiable trades with Robbie and Sunny. He reiterated his pride in serving St. Maarten, lamented his career being interrupted by his arrest, and closed with a firm expression of faith in the justice system: I have my trust in the justice system to ensure that not just their story, but my truth is seriously considered. At the heart of this trial, Brisons testimony brings home a crucial reminder: due process and fairness are not optionalthey are essential. When the justice system allows assumption to stand in for evidence, it threatens the rights of every citizen, taints democratic governance, and sets a dangerous precedent for the rule of law in St. Maarten. The decision will be rendered on April 29th, 2026. A Defense Built on Facts, Not Inference The prosecutions case against Rolando Brison is constructed from several key accusations that, under scrutiny, begin to crumble. The defense methodically dismantles these claims, replacing inference with documented facts. Financial Misunderstandings: A central pillar of the prosecution's argument is Brison's financial activity, or perceived lack thereof. The claim of unexplained wealth falls apart when one understands the realities of cryptocurrency in St. Maarten. With local banks like Republic Bank restricting crypto trading, over-the-counter (OTC) transactions are a necessity, not a sign of illicit activity. The prosecutions failure to conduct a proper forensic analysis of Brisons crypto wallets, despite having access to them, points to an incomplete investigation. Furthermore, claims about his housing were definitively refuted with rental agreements proving he was a legitimate tenant, not the recipient of a favor. Criminalizing Politics: The prosecution has presented text messages with political advisor Johan Alex Dijkhoffz as proof of a "quid pro quo" arrangement. However, the defense argues this is a dangerous misreading of political communication. The messages show the intense, often aggressive rhetoric common in crisis governance, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. They reveal discussions on coalition management and policy, not bribes for official acts. In fact, the evidence shows Brison resisted pressure from his advisor, demonstrating independence rather than corrupt compliance. There is no explicit statement agreeing to exchange an official act for payment. Unpacking the Allegations Against Co-Suspects The cases against the co-suspects reveal similar reliance on assumption over proof. The "Sunny" Gehani Theory: The argument that public comments on Bitcoin Cash (BCH) were a scheme to benefit Sunny Gehani ignores market realities. Global cryptocurrency markets are far too vast to be influenced by a local official's statements. Brisons advocacy was for regulation and tax compliance, which contradicts the idea of a simple pump-and-dump scheme. The defense clarifies that funds provided by Gehani were for legitimate logistics and travel for the SXM Festival, a detail even the prosecution's own documents acknowledge Gehani stated. The "Robby" Dos Santos Connection: The prosecution alleges that Brisons work on the Consumer Banking Protection Act was a favor for Robby Dos Santos. This narrative is contradicted by public records showing Brison championed this legislation in the public interest long before any alleged deal. The law addresses a critical need for St. Maarten's unbanked population. Similarly, an accusation involving a hotel stay was shown to be a request for a standard discount, with Brison paying his own way. The defense maintains that what the prosecution sees as bribery was, in fact, routine OTC crypto trading, evidenced by a pattern of transactions with standard fees. What's at Stake for St. Maarten? The "Lissabon" case is more than a trial of four individuals; it is a test of our justice system. While combating corruption is essential for maintaining public trust, that trust is equally damaged when investigations rely on weak inferences and fail to conduct thorough due diligence, especially concerning complex topics like digital finance. For justice to be served, the prosecution must prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt with concrete evidence, not with interpretations of tone or by criminalizing the normal, albeit sometimes messy, functions of political life. As the court hearing ends at this stage, the public and the judiciary must demand a standard of proof that upholds the principles of fairness and due process for all. The integrity of our government and our justice system depends on it. This case serves as a crucial reminder of the delicate balance between accountability and overreach within the judicial system. While holding individuals in positions of power to a higher standard is essential, it is equally important to ensure that investigations and prosecutions are conducted without bias or undue influence. Any deviation from these principles risks undermining public confidence in the justice system and the broader democratic framework. Transparency and adherence to due process are not just legal necessities but fundamental pillars of a society that values fairness and equality under the law. Crucially, the very foundation of the prosecution's argument against Brison and Dos Santos collapses when one considers Article 3 of the Consumer Banking Protection Act. This provision explicitly states that individuals with a criminal conviction for money laundering are categorically excluded from obtaining a basic bank account under the law. Given Robby Dos Santos's prior conviction, he was never eligible to benefit from the legislation in question. This glaring legal barrier, enshrined in the law itself, renders the narrative of a tailored legislative favor wholly implausible and demonstrates just how fundamentally the prosecution's case has been undermined by the facts. PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will sit in a Public meeting on March 11, 2026. The Public meeting is scheduled for Wednesday at 10.00 hrs. in the Legislative Hall at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport, and Telecommunication (TEATT) will be in attendance. The agenda points are: 1. The U.S.-China and related countries trade war and its broader economic implications 2. The role of large-scale events, such as Soul Beach Music Festival, in boosting tourism and business growth 3. The prolonged delay in the construction of the vendor marketplace, initially set to begin in August 2024, and its impact on small businesses (IS/ 768/2024-2025 dated March 26, 2025) This meeting was requested by MP E.J. Doran, MP D.T.J. York, and MP A.M.R. Irion. Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations. All persons visiting the House of Parliament must adhere to the house rules. The House of Parliament is located across from the courthouse in Philipsburg. The parliamentary sessions will be carried live on TV 15, Soualiga Headlines, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the internet www.sxmparliament.org; www.youtube.com/c/SintMaartenParliament and www.pearlfmradio.sx PHILIPSBURG:--- On March 10, 2026, at the Cole Bay Police Station, on behalf of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Minister of Interior and Overseas Territories, on behalf of the French Republic, Maritime agreement/treaty/cooperation was signed. Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercilina and the French Minister of Overseas Territories, Ms. Naima Moutchou, signed the treaty regarding Hot Pursuit during Maritime Counter Drug Operations in the Vicinity of Saint Martin and Sint Maarten. Present were the Governor of St. Maarten, Ajamu Baly, Minister of Justice, Nathalie Tackling, the French side Prefect (Prefet), Cyrille Le Vely, and President of the Collectivite of Saint-Martin, Louis Mussington, among other dignitaries and invited guests. Following remarks by French Minister of Overseas Territories Naima Moutchou, Prime Minister Luc Dr. Mercelina addressed the gathering and reaffirmed the significance of the moment. Today we formalize an important agreement between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Republic of France regarding the mutual right of pursuit during maritime counter-drug operations in the waters surrounding Saint Martin and Sint Maarten, the Prime Minister stated. This moment is more than a signing ceremony, it is a clear and powerful statement of cooperation, trust, and shared responsibility. Prime Minister Dr. Mercelina highlighted the unique nature of the island and the need for close collaboration between both sides. Our island is unique in the world, two nations, two systems, two administrations, yet one people living side by side on a single island. That reality brings opportunities, but it also brings responsibilities. When it comes to protecting our borders, safeguarding our communities, and combating transborder crime, cooperation is not optional, it is essential. The Prime Minister explained that the agreement strengthens the legal framework that allows authorities to act decisively at sea. This treaty equips the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard and the French Maritime Authority with the necessary legal instruments to pursue vessels engaged in illegal activities across maritime boundaries when circumstances demand it, he said. In practical terms, criminals who attempt to exploit jurisdictional boundaries will no longer find refuge in the waters between our two territories. Our law enforcement partners will now have enhanced capacity to prevent, investigate, and prosecute violations of national laws, particularly those related to maritime drug trafficking. Prime Minister Dr. Mercelina also noted that drug trafficking has far-reaching consequences for communities. Drug trafficking is not simply a maritime issue. It threatens our youth, destabilizes our communities, and undermines the safety and prosperity that our people deserve. By strengthening our maritime cooperation, we strengthen the security of our island. He further emphasized that the treaty closes operational gaps that criminals have previously attempted to exploit. In essence, today we are closing procedural gaps that criminals once tried to exploit, he stated. Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling opened the ceremony by welcoming the dignitaries and guests, and reflecting on the long history of cooperation between the French and Dutch sides of the island. She noted that since the signing of the Treaty of Concordia in 1648, two nations have shared one landmass where communities, economies, and cultures have grown together across what is often an invisible border. The Minister explained that the treaty extends that same spirit of cooperation to the maritime domain, where criminal networks have at times taken advantage of jurisdictional boundaries. She noted that this treaty closes a gap criminals have too often relied upon. She also recognized the many professionals and institutions who worked behind the scenes to bring this agreement to fruition and expressed her appreciation to the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard and French maritime authorities, whose daily cooperation at sea gives real meaning to agreements such as this one." The French Maritime Authority, Capitaine de fregate Frederic Ollive gave a short speech then handed over to his counterpart to expound on the current situation of the Dutch Coast Guard of St. Maarten, Kapitein Ing. Randy Paskel. The French Minister of Overseas Territories, Ms. Naima Moutchou spoke afterwards, then the Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, the Honorable Dr. Luc Mercelina, expressed his pride in this day whereby both sides formalized an agreement in a clear and powerful statement of cooperation, trust, and shared responsibility. The prime minister said that though two nations, two administrations, this reality brings opportunity and as well as responsibility to protect our borders and stop transborder crime. This allows legal framework, the prime minister said, provide both the Dutch and French side maritime authorities with legal instruments to pursue criminal activities across maritime borders. Combating criminal activity is not just a drug issue but it also affects our community. So this agreement strengthens our community. After his speech, there was the signing of agreement documents between the Prime Minister Dr. and French Minister of Overseas Territories, Ms. Naima Moutchou. A toast was then occasioned to animate the signing. The treaty establishes legal cooperation between the two authorities in maritime. Signatories have permission to enter/go after each others territorial sea during their patrols to conduct surveillance operations, exchange of operational information related to drug and other forms of trafficking in their jurisdictions. The region, SXM strategic location, remains a point of transit of narcotics and weapons moving from South America toward North America and Europe requiring constant surveillance and high-speed interception capabilities. There are continued maritime counter-drug/illegal activities operations taking place with high-speed chases of Go-fast vessels. The aim is to stop smuggling, particularly of cocaine and marijuana and guns/weapons. PHILIPSBURG:---The Ministry of Justice in St. Maarten has been making significant strides in reforming and strengthening the island's justice system. During Wednesdays press briefing, Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling highlighted several key developments that reflect the progress being made in public safety, cooperation, and institutional reform. One of the most notable advancements, Tackling said, is the arrival of 14 correctional officers from Suriname to support operations at the Point Blanche prison. These officers, who were sworn in last week, are already working alongside local correctional staff. Their presence is a critical step in stabilizing the facility, creating space for training, and preparing local officers for a modern and sustainable correctional system. This initiative is part of the broader detention sector reform program aimed at improving security, rehabilitation, and structured inmate management. Another milestone is the signing of the Hot Pursuit Treaty between the French and Dutch sides of the island. This agreement allows law enforcement authorities to pursue suspects across maritime boundaries, closing gaps that criminal networks have exploited. Minister Tackling emphasized the importance of cooperation, stating, "For an island that shares one landmass and one maritime space, cooperation is not optional but essential." The spirit of collaboration was further demonstrated during a recent visit by the Prefect of Saint-Barthelemy and Saint-Martin, along with representatives from the French Justice Infrastructure Agency. Discussions focused on the reform and reconstruction plans for Point Blanche Prison and the broader transformation of the detention sector. Both sides are committed to sharing insights and strengthening justice systems on the island. In a groundbreaking regional initiative, the Dutch Caribbean has launched the Inter-Insular Gun Buyback and Firearms Surrender Action. This coordinated effort across Curacao, Aruba, Sint Maarten, and the Caribbean Netherlands aims to reduce the number of illegal firearms in circulation. Individuals can voluntarily surrender illegal firearms without facing legal consequences during the designated period. Minister Tackling urged the community to participate, stating, "Illegal firearms and gun violence have no place in our communities." These developments underscore the Ministry of Justice's commitment to enhancing public safety, fostering regional cooperation, and building a justice system that serves the people of Sint Maarten effectively. Minister Tackling concluded, "Taken together, these efforts demonstrate the continued work underway to strengthen our justice institutions and improve public safety for the people of Sint Maarten." PYONGYANG, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Tuesday strongly denounced the acts of aggression by the United States and Israel against Iran, the official Korean Central News Agency reported Wednesday. "We express serious concern over and strongly denounce the acts of aggression by the U.S. and Israel that are destroying the regional peace and security foundations and escalating instability worldwide by mounting illegal military attack on Iran," a spokesperson for the country's Foreign Ministry was quoted as saying Tuesday. The DPRK respects the rights and choice of the Iranian people to elect their supreme leader, the spokesperson said in response to a recent announcement by Iran's Assembly of Experts on the election of the new supreme leader. Three children among seven killed in Sudan drone attack: medical source Khartoum, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2026 A drone attack Tuesday on the Sudanese town of Dilling killed seven people, including three children, a medical source told AFP. Several drones fell on the town in the South Kordofan region, according to residents. Thirteen injured were taken to the Dilling hospital, a source at the hospital said. Sudan's regular army, which has been fighting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in the three-year civil war, retook Dilling in January after routing the RSF. The pro-army foreign ministry on Tuesday condemned "systematic attacks" on civilian homes and infrastructure by the RSF in Dilling and the North Kordofan capital of El Obeid and Kosti in White Nile state. After taking the key city of El-Fasher in Darfur amid bitter fighting, the RSF has been concentrating its attacks on the army in Kordofan. Sudan's civil war has left tens of thousands dead and more than 11 million displaced. Israel launches new strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs Beirut, Lebanon, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2026 Israel staged new attacks on Beirut's southern suburbs on Wednesday, Lebanese state media reported, with the Israeli army saying it was again targeting the Iran-backed Hezbollah group. Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war last week when Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes. Israel, which kept up strikes targeting Hezbollah despite a 2024 ceasefire, has since launched attacks across Lebanon and sent ground troops into border areas. Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said "the Israeli enemy launched a violent raid" on Beirut's southern suburbs, where Hezbollah holds sway. AFPTV's live footage showed plumes of smoke rising from the area. The Israeli military said in a statement it "has begun strikes against Hezbollah infrastructure" in the area. It reiterated on Tuesday its call for residents to evacuate the southern suburbs. Hezbollah said in separate statements on Tuesday that its fighters had attacked Israeli troops near the southern border towns of Khiam and Odaisseh, and launched rockets at Israel including at a "missile defence site" south of Haifa. It later said it was engaging an Israeli force near the border town of Aitaroun "with light and medium weapons". Lebanese authorities said Tuesday that 759,300 people had been registered as displaced, with 122,600 staying in shelters. The health ministry on Wednesday said that "successive raids launched by the Israeli enemy" on the southern town of Qana, Tyre district, killed five people and wounded five others. In Hennawiyeh, Tyre district, the ministry said the night prior that an Israeli strike wounded two people, and a follow-up attack killed them, along with a rescuer who came to the scene. A strike on Zalaya in the southeast killed one, per the ministry. IEA proposes record oil reserve release over Iran war: WSJ Washington, United States, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2026 The International Energy Agency (IEA) has proposed its largest ever release of oil reserves to counter soaring crude prices driven by the US-Israeli war with Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, citing officials familiar with the matter. The release would exceed the 182 million barrels IEA member countries put on the market in 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the paper said. The proposal was circulated at an emergency meeting of energy officials from the IEA's 32 member countries on Tuesday, with a decision expected Wednesday, according to the Journal. Microsoft urges Pentagon pause blacklisting Anthropic San Francisco, United States, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2026 Microsoft on Tuesday warned a judge that the Pentagon blacklisting of Anthropic could hamper US warfighters and imperil the country's drive to lead in artificial intelligence. In a brief, Microsoft backed Anthropic's request for an order stopping the Pentagon from implementing its ban on the use of Anthropic AI until the matter is settled in court. Anthropic filed suit this week against the Trump administration, alleging the US government retaliated against the company for refusing to let its Claude AI model be used for autonomous lethal warfare and mass surveillance of Americans. In the complaint, filed in federal court in San Francisco, Anthropic seeks to have its designation as a national security supply-chain risk declared unlawful and blocked. Anthropic is the first US company ever to have been publicly punished with such a designation, a label typically reserved for organizations from foreign adversary countries, such as Chinese tech giant Huawei. The label not only blocks use of the company's technology by the Pentagon, but also requires all defense vendors and contractors to certify that they do not use Anthropic's models in their work with the department. - AI overhaul - Microsoft argued in an amicus brief that blacklisting Anthropic was an unprecendented response to a contract dispute that portended ill for the technology sector as well as the US military. "This is not the time to put at risk the very AI ecosystem that the administration has helped to champion," Microsoft said in the brief. A temporary restraining order would allow time to avoid disrupting the American military's ongoing use of advanced AI, Microsoft argued. "Otherwise, Microsoft and other technology companies must act immediately to alter existing product and contract configurations used by Department of War." "This could potentially hamper US warfighters at a critical point in time." The row erupted days before the US military strike on Iran. Anthropic's Claude is the Pentagon's most widely-deployed frontier AI model and the only such model currently operating on its classified systems. Anthropic had infuriated Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth by insisting the technology should not be used for mass surveillance or fully autonomous weapons systems. President Donald Trump subsequently ordered every federal agency to cease all use of Anthropic's technology. "AI should not be used to conduct domestic mass surveillance or put the country in a position where autonomous machines could independently start a war," Microsoft said in the filing. More than three dozen AI industry insiders from OpenAI and Google, including Google chief scientist Jeff Dean, argued in support of Anthropic in an amicus brief filed with the court on Monday. In its lawsuit, Anthropic said it was founded on the belief that its AI should be "used in a way that maximizes positive outcomes for humanity" and should "be the safest and the most responsible." "Anthropic brings this suit because the federal government has retaliated against it for expressing that principle," the lawsuit says. Saudi Arabia intercepts ballistic missiles as new Gulf attacks reported Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2026 Saudi Arabia said Wednesday it had intercepted seven ballistic missiles in separate attacks targeting an air base and its eastern region, as Iran renewed fire on its Gulf neighbours. "Six ballistic missiles launched towards Prince Sultan Air Base intercepted and destroyed," the Saudi defence ministry posted on X, adding in a separate post that it had intercepted another ballistic missile launched "towards the eastern region". Prince Sultan air base is located in Al Kharj province and is where a US soldier suffered injuries in a March 1 strike before dying a week later. The kingdom's forces also intercepted a wave of nine drones, including five destroyed east of the country's Al Kharj province, the ministry said in separate tweets. The United Arab Emirates also reported a new missile and drone attack from Iran on Wednesday. The Gulf state's defence ministry said its air defences were responding to an unspecified number of missiles and drones, without providing further details about the target or location of the attack. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Tuesday they launched a new salvo of missiles at Israeli cities including Tel Aviv and US targets in the region. The elite force later said it targeted US bases in Bahrain and Iraqi Kurdistan, according to Iranian media reports early on Wednesday. In a statement carried by the Tasnim news agency, the Guards said "a mass" of ballistic missiles had been fired at the base of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet in Bahrain and at three other facilities in the Kurdish region of Iraq. Bahrain has been targeted by waves of Iranian drones and missiles, which have so far killed two people in the country, according to authorities. Kurdish rebels say ready to resist Iran, await uprising Penjwen, Iraq, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2026 From their hideouts in the Iraqi mountains near Iran, leftist Kurdish rebels say they are ready to fight the Islamic republic, but hope for an uprising before they intervene, with or without US support. After saying that he would be "all for" a Kurdish offensive on Iran, US President Donald Trump appeared to backtrack Saturday, saying he did not want such an attack. Senior commander Roken Nerada of the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK) told AFP: "If there is an attack on the Kurdish people... then with every means... we are ready to resist as we always have." "I think we can achieve our rights without the help of the US or any other country," said Nerada, 39, who joined the rebels 17 years ago. Like other Iranian Kurdish rebel groups, PJAK has bases in the mountains of Iraq's northern autonomous Kurdistan region, but it also maintains hideouts in majority-Kurdish areas inside Iran. Iran has designated Kurdish rebel groups as terrorist organisations, and many have previously fought its security forces in Kurdish-majority areas along the border. But in recent years, under political pressure mostly from their Iraqi hosts, they have largely refrained from armed activity -- raising questions about their current capacity to lead an armed offensive against Iran. AFP journalists met 30 PJAK fighters in a bunker adorned with photos of fallen comrades, with a television inside showing war coverage with smoke rising from Tehran and Beirut. Since the Middle East war began late last month with a wave of US-Israeli strikes on Iran, Tehran has repeatedly struck Kurdish militants' positions in Iraq, accusing them of serving Western or Israeli interests. - Not yet for ground attack - Just before the war, and after anti-government protests in Iran, PJAK joined a coalition of Kurdish rebel parties seeking to overthrow the Islamic republic and secure self determination. "We are ready to fight, especially after what they did 50 days ago," PJAK fighter Shwan said, referring to the crackdown on the protests that left thousands dead. Amid reports that rebels might collaborate with the US, Tehran threatened to target "all facilities" in Iraq's Kurdistan if Kurdish militants cross the border. But on Saturday, Trump said "we're not looking to the Kurds going in". "We don't want to make the war any more complex than it already is," he added. Amir Karimi, another PJAK commander, told AFP last week that the "Americans are already in the area, and we have had a dialogue." It was "a political exchange... to get to know each other", Karimi said, adding that "a ground attack is not on the table at this stage". "From a strategic and tactical point of view, we believe it wouldn't be a good idea," he added, warning that Iranian forces have reinforced the borders. "The most important thing is that the population itself becomes a driving force. There must be a popular uprising" in Iran, Karimi said. "We are not waiting for Iran or the United States to give us the green light. But the population needs support from the outside," he added. The Kurds will need guarantees to secure a democratic Iran, he said. "Who can say that, tomorrow, they won't support another dictator and bring him to power," Karimi said, referring to the US. Commander Nerada said: "What is important... is to change this current darkness into a democratic Iran." North Korea says respects Iran's choice of new supreme leader: KCNA Seoul, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2026 North Korea respects Iran's choice of a new supreme leader, state media said Wednesday, accusing the US and Israel of undermining regional peace. Pyongyang, a longstanding US adversary, has previously condemned the US-Israeli attack on Iran an "illegal act of aggression". Defying US President Donald Trump's desire to have a say in who runs Iran, the Islamic republic on Sunday named Mojtaba Khamenei to replace his father, longtime ruler Ali Khamenei, who died in an Israeli airstrike on February 28. "We respect the rights and choice of the Iranian people to elect their supreme leader," Pyongyang's unnamed Foreign Ministry spokesperson was quoted as saying by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The official went on to say the United States and Israel are "destroying the regional peace and security foundations and escalating instability worldwide". The spokesperson accused Washington and Israel of violating Iran's "political system and territorial integrity," and attempting to "overthrow its social system". Such actions "deserve worldwide criticism and rejection as they can never be tolerated," the official added. The United States has for decades led efforts to dismantle North Korea's nuclear programme, but summits, sanctions and diplomatic pressure have had little impact. In recent months, the Trump administration has mounted a push to revive high-level talks with Pyongyang, eyeing a potential summit between the US president and the North's Kim Jong Un this year. After largely ignoring those overtures for months, Kim recently said that the two nations could "get along" if Washington accepted Pyongyang's nuclear status. - 'Terrible consequences'- Pyongyang's state media also said on Wednesday that North Korea's leader oversaw another test-firing of strategic cruise missiles from the naval Choe Hyon destroyer. North Korea carried out a similar missile test from the vessel last week, claiming the country was in the process of "arming the Navy with nuclear weapons". During the occasion, Kim stressed the importance of expanding a "powerful and reliable nuclear war deterrent," KCNA said. Images released by state media showed Kim overseeing the launch remotely via video footage with his teenage daughter, Ju Ae, who is now widely regarded as his heir apparent. There, Kim said "significant achivements" have been made in the practical deployment of "strategic and tactical strike assets". The test came as Washington and Seoul kicked off their springtime military drills "Freedom Shield" on Monday, to which Pyongyang responded by warning of "unimaginably terrible consequences". The Choe Hyon is one of two 5,000-ton destroyers in the North's arsenal, both launched last year as Kim seeks to ramp up the navy with short-range tactical missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. North Korea appears to be "securing the legitimacy and justification for bolstering war deterrence," Yang Moo-jin, former president of the University of North Korean Studies, told AFP. With the war in Iran, the joint US-South Korea drills are being highlighted by the North "as not merely defensive and routine, but ultimately attempts at a preemptive war". Israeli military says missiles launched from Iran towards Israel Jerusalem, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2026 Israel's military said Wednesday that it detected missiles heading towards the country from Iran and had activated air defences, as it pressed a "wave" of strikes against Iran and Lebanon. "A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel. Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat," the military said on its official Telegram account. AFP journalists heard air raid sirens sounding in Jerusalem and the sound of explosions in the distance. A short time later, Israel's military said it was permitted to leave shelters. Israel's Magen David Adom emergency services reported no immediate injuries following the missile fire, but said its teams were treating "a small number of people who were injured on their way to protected areas". Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 reported several injuries from the Iranian strikes near Tel Aviv. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they targeted a satellite communications centre in Haifa, along with military bases in Israel, and US targets elsewhere in the Middle East including Iraqi Kurdistan and the US Fifth Fleet naval base in Bahrain. "We will continue our sustained attacks with purpose and power, and in this war, we contemplate nothing but the enemy's complete surrender," the Guards said on their website Sepah News. Iran says carries out strikes on US, Israeli targets: state media Tehran, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2026 Iran has launched new strikes on Israeli and American targets in the Middle East, state broadcaster IRIB said on Wednesday. The barrage was "the most intense and heaviest since the start of the war", lasting three hours, the broadcaster said, citing a statement from Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards. It targeted Israeli cities including Tel Aviv and Haifa, as well as "West Jerusalem", referring to the area of the contested city that sits under full Israeli control. Israel's military said it detected missiles heading towards the country and had activated its air defences. AFP journalists reported hearing air raid sirens in Jerusalem and the sound of explosions in the distance. The broadcaster said the missile salvo also targeted "numerous US targets in Erbil" in Iraqi Kurdistan and the US Fifth Fleet naval base in Bahrain. The Middle East war that began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 has provoked waves of retaliatory Iranian missile fire. In an earlier statement carried by Iran's Tasnim news agency, the Guards said "a mass" of ballistic missiles had been fired at the base of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet in Bahrain and at three other facilities in the Kurdish region of Iraq. The force also said Tuesday that no US Navy vessel has "dared" approach the Strait of Hormuz, after US Energy Secretary Chris Wright had initially said the navy had escorted an oil tanker through the strait, before deleting the post minutes later. New attacks were reported across the Gulf region early Wednesday, with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates reporting interceptions of missiles and drones. Saudi stops drones heading for oil field in wave of new Gulf attacks Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2026 Saudi Arabia said Wednesday it had intercepted a wave of seven drones heading towards a strategic oil field, as Iran renewed fire on its Gulf neighbours and their energy infrastructure. "Two drones heading towards the Shaybah oil field were intercepted and destroyed," the defence ministry said in a post on X. It said another five drones were intercepted and destroyed in separate posts. The Shaybah oil field, crucial to the kingdom's vast oil production, sits near the border with the United Arab Emirates and is operated by Saudi giant Aramco, one of the world's biggest companies by market capitalisation. The kingdom also said it intercepted seven ballistic missiles in separate attacks targeting the country's eastern region and the Prince Sultan Air Base, where an American soldier was hit on March 1 and died a week later. The United Arab Emirates reported a new missile and drone attack from Iran on Wednesday. The Gulf state's defence ministry said its air defences were responding to an unspecified number of missiles and drones, without providing further details about the target or location of the attack. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Tuesday they had launched a new salvo of missiles at Israeli cities including Tel Aviv and US targets in the region. The elite force later said it targeted US bases in Bahrain and Iraqi Kurdistan, according to Iranian media reports early on Wednesday. In a statement carried by the Tasnim news agency, the Guards said "a mass" of ballistic missiles had been fired at the base of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet in Bahrain and at three other facilities in the Kurdish region of Iraq. Bahrain has been targeted by waves of Iranian drones and missiles, which have so far killed two people in the country, according to authorities. The Guards later said that at least two missiles targeted a United States base in Kuwait, according to Iranian news agencies Fars and Mehr. "The American base in Arifjan was... hit by firing 2 missiles by the IRGC Ground Force missile unit," the Guards said, Fars and Mehr reported, referring to Camp Arifjan located south of Kuwait City. Kuwaiti authorities have not yet commented on the reports, but the paramilitary National Guard later said on Wednesday that eight drones targeting the country were downed. WINDHOEK, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform in Namibia has announced immediate restrictions on the importation and in-transit movement of cloven-hoofed animals and related products from several zones in neighboring Botswana following confirmed outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). In a veterinary public notification issued by the Directorate of Veterinary Services on Wednesday, authorities said the measure is aimed at preventing the introduction of the highly contagious livestock disease into Namibia. The restriction affects the movement of cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep and goats, as well as their products, including those intended for personal or household consumption, originating from several affected zones in Botswana, it said. According to the ministry, the decision follows reports of foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks in Botswana that were communicated through the World Organization for Animal Health's information system and an updated report issued by Botswana's veterinary authorities on March 4. However, the movement of cloven-hoofed animals and related products from certain designated zones in Botswana will still be permitted, provided importers obtain a veterinary import permit from Namibian authorities, the ministry added. The FMD is a viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals and can spread rapidly among livestock, posing serious risks to the agricultural sector and cross-border trade. Seoul says can deter threats from North if US weapons shifted to Mideast Seoul, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2026 South Korea said Wednesday it could deter threats from the North even if the United States relocated some of its military assets to the Middle East amid the war in Iran. Washington, Seoul's key security ally, stations about 28,500 troops and a range of air and missile defence systems in the South to help deter aggression from the nuclear?armed North. The Washington Post reported this week that the United States was moving parts of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) system from South Korea to the Middle East, citing unnamed officials. "Regardless of whether certain USFK assets are deployed overseas, there is no issue whatsoever with our deterrence posture against North Korea, given the level of our military capabilities," the defence ministry said in a statement to AFP on Wednesday, referring to the United States Forces Korea command. It declined to confirm the report. The THAAD missile defence system is designed to intercept short, medium and intermediate?range ballistic missiles using hit?to?kill technology. It was installed in South Korea in 2017, a move that sparked strong protests from China. President Lee Jae Myung has said his government is unhappy with the reported asset move but acknowledged there was little it could do about it. "The government is opposing the USFK's withdrawal of some air defence weapons for its own military needs," he said on Tuesday. "But the stark reality is that we are unable to fully implement our opinions." A photo taken by Yonhap news agency last week and released on Tuesday appeared to show parts of the THAAD battery being dismantled in Seongju County, about 220 kilometres (136 miles) south of Seoul. A presidential official told AFP it was "inappropriate" to comment on questions regarding any military asset redeployment and cautioned against media speculation. "Speculative reports on militarily sensitive matters are undesirable in light of our security interests... and our relations with key Middle Eastern countries," he said. Israeli strike hits central Beirut: state media Beirut, Lebanon, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2026 An Israeli strike hit an apartment in central Beirut on Wednesday, state media reported, the second targeting of the heart of the Lebanese capital since the latest war with Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah broke out. Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war last week when Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes. Israel, which kept up strikes targeting Hezbollah despite a 2024 ceasefire, has since launched attacks across Lebanon and sent ground troops into border areas. Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) said that "the enemy targeted an apartment in the Aisha Bakkar area" in central Beirut, a densely populated neighbourhood close to one of the city's biggest shopping malls. AFPTV's live broadcast showed the sound of an airstrike followed by a fireball erupting in an apartment within a multi-story residential building in Beirut. An AFP correspondent saw destroyed walls in a building's seventh and eighth floors with damaged cars nearby and security forces present at the scene. Last week the Israeli army targeted a hotel in central Beirut, with Iran's permanent mission to the United Nations saying it killed four of its diplomats. - Southern suburbs - Earlier on Wednesday, the NNA reported an Israeli strike on Beirut's southern suburbs, where Hezbollah holds sway. The Israeli military had said in a statement it "has begun strikes against Hezbollah infrastructure" in the area. It reiterated on Tuesday its call for residents to evacuate the southern suburbs before launching strikes. Hezbollah said in separate statements on Tuesday that its fighters had attacked Israeli troops near the southern border towns of Khiam and Odaisseh, and launched rockets at Israel including at a "missile defence site" south of Haifa. It later said it was engaging an Israeli force near the border town of Aitaroun "with light and medium weapons". Lebanese authorities said Tuesday that 759,300 people had been registered as displaced, with 122,600 staying in shelters. The health ministry on Wednesday said that "successive raids launched by the Israeli enemy" on the southern town of Qana, Tyre district, killed five people and wounded five others. In Hennawiyeh, Tyre district, the ministry said the night prior that an Israeli strike wounded two people, and a follow-up attack killed them, along with a rescuer who came to the scene. A strike on Zalaya in the southeast killed one, per the ministry. Under Iran fire, UAE president writes poem to nation's defenders Abu Dhabi, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2026 The UAE President wrote a patriotic poem that was performed by the national orchestra, state media said Wednesday, as his country faced the attacks unleashed by Iran after US-Israeli strikes. "The UAE National Orchestra has released a special musical tribute, titled 'Men, by God, Truly Men', featuring the poem 'Rijal Wallah Rijal' written by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, honouring those who dedicate themselves to protecting the nation," WAM said. WAM shared a video of the performance, which kicked off with a recent interview in which Sheikh Mohamed said the UAE had "thick skin and bitter flesh. We are no easy prey". Men dressed in dark kanduras, the traditional dress for men in the Gulf, and white headdresses, then went on to sing, accompanied by an orchestra that included foreigners as well as women. The footage was interspersed with shots of fighter jets. "We call the honourable, the brave. The Sons of Zayed answer the call. Theirs is victory, no matter the cost," one of the verses says, referring to Sheikh Mohamed's father and founder of the nation. Since Iran's attacks began on February 28, the UAE has seen 262 ballistic missiles and roughly 1,500 drones target its territory -- more than all of the other nations that have faced Iranian attacks combined. Most have been intercepted. A total of six people were killed, mostly civilians, but also two Emirati troops who died when a helicopter malfunctioned. The UAE has sought to reassure its population, roughly 90 percent of whom are foreigners, that the country is safe and able to defend itself. Last weekend, in an interview with Abu Dhabi TV, Sheikh Mohamed said the UAE will emerge "stronger" after the Middle East war. aya/dc Drone strike kills Iranian opposition member in Iraqi Kurdistan: exiled group Sulaimaniyah, Iraq, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2026 A drone strike in Iraq's Kurdistan region killed a member of an Iranian Kurdish armed opposition group on Wednesday, his exiled party said, with a senior official from the group blaming the attack on Iran. The Komala party is one of several Iraq-based Iranian Kurdish groups that have long opposed the Islamic republic. At least eight drones targeted the party's positions, killing one fighter, the party said. Komala senior official Ali Ranjder told AFP the two-wave attack hit the Zrgwezala region near the city of Sulaimaniyah. He blamed it on Iran. Two fighters were also wounded, with one taken to a Sulaimaniyah hospital, he added. "This is the most violent attack against our bases since the beginning of the war," another official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP. On February 28, the United States and Israel launched a massive campaign against Iran, sparking a war that has since engulfed the Middle East. "Drones are still flying in the skies over the area," he added. Since the start of the war, Iran has repeatedly struck Kurdish militants' positions in Iraq, which it accuses of serving Western or Israeli interests. A Komala fighter was killed last week in an attack in the Sulaimaniyah region. The Komala party was founded in 1969 by students and intellectuals in Tehran and Kurdish cities. Kurdish rebels groups have previously fought Iranian security forces in Kurdish-majority areas along the border. But in recent years, under political pressure mostly from their Iraqi hosts, they have drastically limited their military activities. War in the Middle East: latest developments Paris, France, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2026 Here are the latest events in the Middle East war: - Erdogan warning - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned: "This war must be stopped before it becomes bigger and completely engulfs the region in flames," adding that if the conflict continued "there will be more loss of life and property, and the cost to the global economy will increase even further". - Oil prices jump - World oil prices surged, with the international benchmark, Brent North Sea crude, jumping 5.1 percent to $92.23 per barrel and the main US contract, West Texas Intermediate, soaring 5.9 percent to $88.38 per barrel. - Lebanon toll hits 570 - The health ministry said Israeli strikes have killed 570 people in Lebanon so far, the health ministry said, including 439 men, 45 women and 86 children. 14 healthcare workers were among the dead. - Thai ship hit - A Thai bulk carrier was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, the Thai navy said, with 20 crew rescued and searches ongoing for the remaining three. - Fresh strike in Beirut - Fresh Israeli strikes hit Beirut's southern suburbs after the Israeli military issued evacuation warnings. - Iran vows to hit economic targets - Iran's military vowed to launch strikes against US and Israeli economic targets in the region, including banks, and urged people to refrain from going within one kilometre of banks. The warning came after overnight attacks reportedly hit an Iranian bank, killing an unspecified number of employees. - Seven dead in Lebanon - An Israeli strike killed seven people and wounded 18 others in the eastern Lebanon town of Tamnin al-Tahta, the health ministry said. State media said the raid targeted "a building... inhabited by a Syrian family". - Dubai airport drones - Four people were injured after two drones fell near Dubai's airport, the government said, with air traffic operating as normal. - G7 'ready' on oil reserves - G7 energy ministers said they "stand ready" to take "all necessary measures" in coordination with the International Energy Agency (IEA) to tackle the rise in crude oil prices. Earlier, the Wall Street Journal reported that the IEA had proposed its largest ever release of oil reserves to counter soaring crude prices. - Another ship hit off UAE - A second container ship was hit off the coast of the UAE by an unidentified projectile, a British maritime security agency said. All crew were safe in both incidents. - 'Safe and sound' - Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei is "safe and sound" despite reported injuries, the son of Iran's president said on Telegram. "I heard news that Mr Mojtaba Khamenei had been injured. I have asked some friends who had connections. They told me that, thank God, he is safe and sound," said Yousef Pezeshkian, who is also a government adviser. State television had called Khamenei a "wounded veteran of the Ramadan war" but never specified his injury. - Ship hit in Hormuz - An unknown projectile hit a cargo ship in the strategic Strait of Hormuz abutting Iran, causing a fire and forcing the crew to evacuate, a maritime security agency said. - Doha explosions - Several blasts rang out across the Qatari capital Doha, AFP correspondents said. - Israel hits Beirut - An Israeli strike hit an apartment in central Beirut, state media reported, the second targeting the heart of the Lebanese capital since the start of the latest war with Iran-backed Hezbollah. Fresh Israeli strikes had earlier hit Beirut's southern suburbs and south Lebanon after the Israeli army warned people to evacuate, with Lebanese authorities saying nearly 760,000 people had been registered as displaced. - Protester 'enemies' - Iranian protesters will be treated as enemies if they support Tehran's foes, the country's top police officer warned. "If anyone comes forward in line with the wishes of the enemy, we will no longer see them as merely a protester, we will see them as an enemy," national police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan, in comments aired by state broadcaster IRIB. - New strikes on Israel - Israel's military said it had detected a new round of missiles heading towards the country from Iran and had activated air defences. burs/yad/sbk X Iran's new supreme leader injured but 'safe', says president's son Paris, France, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2026 Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei is injured but "safe and sound", the son of the president said Wednesday, offering the first official explanation for why the 56-year-old has not been seen since his appointment at the weekend. "I heard news that Mr Mojtaba Khamenei had been injured. I have asked some friends who had connections," Yousef Pezeshkian, who is also a government adviser, wrote in a post on his Telegram channel. "They told me that, thank God, he is safe and sound," added the son of President Masoud Pezeshkian. Mojtaba Khamenei, until now a low profile if powerful behind-the-scenes figure, was named Iran's number one following the killing of his father Ali Khamenei in an air strike at the start of the US-Israeli war against the Islamic republic. But there had been mounting questions about his whereabouts and physical condition after his appointment by the Assembly of Experts clerical body, with the new supreme leader yet to be seen, let alone speak, in public. State television had called Khamenei a "wounded veteran of the Ramadan war" without giving details, in reference to the conflict which broke out during the holy Muslim fasting month. In a report on Wednesday, the New York Times quoting three unnamed Iranian officials said that Khamenei "had suffered injuries, including to his legs, but that he was alert and sheltering at a highly secure location with limited communication". There has been speculation that he was injured in the day-time air strike on a compound in Tehran that killed his father, as well as his mother and wife on the first day of the war on February 28. His face has appeared on giant billboards in Tehran, with one showing him symbolically receiving the national flag from his father Ali while the founding leader of the Islamic republic, Ruhollah Khomeini, looks on. Posters of him were brandished by thousands of pro-government supporters at a huge rally in central Tehran on Monday. But night-time cries of "Death to Mojtaba!" in the capital have also underlined public opposition to a figure believed to have played a key role in repressing waves of anti-government protests since 2009. Mojtaba's father Ali lived the latter half of his life with a partially paralysed arm, having been injured in an assassination attempt in 1981 blamed on the People's Mujahedin of Iran (MEK) group. The Iranian supreme leader position is for life and he also serves as a religious guide for Shia Muslims. - Target - Given that he instantly became a target for assassination by the United States and Israel at the weekend, analysts said he would remain out of public view for some time. Emile Hokayem at the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies said he expected him "to sit in a bunker somewhere for a very long time because he saw what happened to his father, his wife, his mother who were all killed in the initial attack." "Killing him early is certainly an Israeli priority. If he survives, he becomes a totem, a testimony to the resilience of the system," Hokayem told an online event organised by his think-tank on Monday. He said he expected Khamenei to delegate power to run the government to national security chief Ali Larijani and the war effort to powerful parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. The army and the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) both pledged allegiance to Khamenei after his nomination, as did the Tehran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen and the Hezbollah armed group in Lebanon. Russian President Vladimir Putin promised "unwavering support". Before his nomination to the position, US President Donald Trump had warned that Khamenei would be "unacceptable" as new supreme leader. "He's going to have to get approval from us," Trump told ABC News on Sunday. "If he doesn't get approval from us he's not going to last long." bur-adp/sjw/ser THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY Thai navy says cargo ship attacked near Strait of Hormuz Bangkok, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2026 A Thai bulk carrier travelling in the crucial Strait of Hormuz was attacked Wednesday, with 20 crew members rescued so far, the Thai navy said. Photos shared by the Royal Thai Navy showed heavy black smoke rising from the back of the Thai-registered Mayuree Naree, with life rafts floating in the water. The vessel "was attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz" after departing a port in the United Arab Emirates, the navy said in a statement. "The specific details and cause of the attack are currently under investigation," it added. The Omani navy had rescued 20 sailors and "efforts are currently underway to rescue the remaining three crew members", it said. It was not immediately clear whether the incident was one of three commercial ships that the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre earlier said had been hit in the Gulf on Wednesday. Iran has launched strikes against its oil-exporting neighbours, threatening shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and plunging the global energy economy into crisis. Airlines in Asia hike fares as Mideast war raises fuel costs Tokyo, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2026 Airlines in the Asia-Pacific region, including Qantas, Air India and Cathay Pacific, have hiked fares -- or will soon -- to factor in surging jet fuel prices spurred by war in the Mideast. The average world price of aviation fuel reached $173.91 a barrel on Monday, according to the benchmark Platts index, nearly double the levels of January and well above crude oil. This is explained by refining costs, but also by the fact that kerosene is a lower priority than petrol or diesel, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). War in the Mideast has choked trade in the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries nearly 20 percent of global oil production. The impact is particularly acute for Asia, as more than 80 percent of the oil and gas moving through the strait is destined for its markets, according to the US Energy Information Administration. "Since early March 2026, aviation turbine fuel (ATF), which accounts for nearly 40 percent of an airline's operating costs, has seen significant price escalation due to supply interruptions," Air India said Tuesday, announcing surcharge rises. Air India said pressure is amplified further by "the high Excise Duty and VAT on ATF in major metro cities such as Delhi and Mumbai, magnifying the impact and placing substantial strain on airline operating economics." The price increases will be rolled out in three phases, with Air India adding $4.30 to the cost of domestic flights from Thursday, and an additional $20 on flights to Southeast Asia. As of March 18, the surcharge for Europe will increase by 25 percent to $125, and 33 percent to $200 for North America. But Air India didn't offer details on the third phase of its price increases. Hong Kong aviation giant Cathay Pacific on Wednesday announced its own surcharges, as fuel prices doubled in March from the average of the previous two months. - 'Unsustainable' - Founder of India's low-cost carrier SpiceJet Ajay Singh called on Delhi to look for ways to reduce taxes on jet fuel, warning in an interview with Bloomberg that even $90 a barrel of oil was "totally unsustainable". Singh did not rule out the possibility of grounding part of his fleet if oil prices continue to soar. Australian airline Qantas said in a statement that it is also increasing fares which "will vary from route to route" after jet fuel costs rose up to 150 per cent over the past fortnight. "Despite the hedging measures, this situation leads to higher costs for the entire group," it said. Dean Long from the Australian Travel Industry Association told ABC News that the carrier's international airfares would rise by about five per cent across the board, but the war's full impact would not be felt for another three to six months. Thai Airways finance director Rut Rugsumruad told investors in a video conference that the airline can increase fares "by 10-15 percent due to uncertainty in fuel prices, and it still has room to raise fuel surcharges further if oil prices continue to climb". But for the moment a Thai Airways spokesperson told AFP that "prices remain fixed for now, though they are subject to change based on supply and demand". In Europe, Scandinavian airline SAS became one of the first to announce a "temporary" price increase since the start of the Middle East war. Others, such as Air France-KLM and Lufthansa, are relatively protected by their "hedging" strategy, which involves the purchase of fuel at a fixed price several months in advance. burs-jug/ane/jm G7 inches closer to tapping oil reserves to tackle price rise Paris, France, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2026 The Group of Seven advanced economies inched closer Wednesday to tapping strategic oil reserves to tackle the rise in crude oil prices due to the Middle East war as energy ministers said they stood ready to take "all necessary measures". The announcement came before G7 leaders were set to discuss the widespread economic fallout from the US-Israeli war with Iran, now into its second week, at a video conference meeting chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron. On Tuesday, member states of the Paris-based International Energy Agency held crisis talks to assess the security of supply and the potential release of emergency stocks as the conflict rocks the markets. "In principle, we support the implementation of proactive measures to address the situation, including the use of strategic reserves," energy ministers of the G7, of which France currently holds the rotating presidency, said in a statement on Wednesday. They said they were coordinating within the group, with IEA member countries and beyond. "We agreed to stand ready to take all necessary measures in coordination with IEA Members," they said. The crude market has been hit by wild volatility since the United States and Israel began striking Iran at the end of last month, with Tehran retaliating by attacking targets across the oil-rich Gulf and effectively shutting down the Strait of Hormuz. French Finance Minister Roland Lescure said on Wednesday that no decision had been taken "at this stage" but the meeting of the G7 leaders would "no doubt discuss this issue of strategic reserves". "We need to send a very clear message, which is that if we cannot reopen the Strait of Hormuz, we will replace it with other oil that will come from elsewhere and circulate around the world," he said in a broadcast on BFMTV/RMC. G7 finance ministers met on Monday and G7 energy ministers on Tuesday to hold talks. - 'Pumping less oil' - Citing officials familiar with the matter, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that the IEA had proposed its largest-ever release of oil reserves to counter soaring crude prices driven by the war. The release would exceed the 182 million barrels of oil that IEA member countries released in 2022 when Russian leader Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine, the newspaper said. The IEA did not immediately respond to a request for comment from AFP. "The G7 reckons the promise of action is as good as actually releasing the reserves, given most of the nations in the IEA aren't actually facing a shortage of crude yet," said Neil Wilson, an investor strategist at Saxo Bank. "Obviously the equation changes the longer there is a shut-in of refinery output in the Gulf." Ipek Ozkardeskaya, a senior analyst at Swissquote, said that even if 300-400 million barrels were to be released that amount would be "meagre" compared with the roughly 45 million barrels that IEA countries consume every day. "It would therefore be a temporary fix," she said, adding the announcement helped keep oil prices in check on Wednesday. "The Middle East is now pumping less oil - around 6 percent less - in reaction to the Iran war." Asian equities extended gains Wednesday while oil stabilised after the WSJ report. Countries around the world have been left scrambling in response to the oil price spikes. Bangladesh has deployed the army to guard oil depots, India has imposed tighter controls over natural and cooking gas and French officials are set to conduct random inspections at petrol stations to ensure prices are not being inflated. The 32 members of the IEA hold over 1.2 billion barrels of public emergency oil stocks, with a further 600 million barrels of industry stocks held under government mandates. The organisation was created to coordinate responses to major supply disruptions after the 1973 oil crisis. In order to ensure energy security, the IEA imposes on its members an obligation to hold emergency oil stocks equivalent to at least 90 days of net oil imports. hrc-are-slb-fff-as/ekf/sbk Switzerland closes Tehran embassy but maintains 'open line' between US, Iran Geneva, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2026 Switzerland said Wednesday it was temporarily closing its embassy in Tehran due to the Middle East war but maintaining an "open line" of communication between the United States and Iran. For decades, neutral Switzerland has played a key role in maintaining basic diplomatic contacts between Iran and the United States. The foreign ministry in Bern said that in view of the war in the Middle East and the increasing security risk, it had "decided to temporarily close the Swiss embassy in Tehran". Ambassador Olivier Bangerter and the remaining five other Swiss staff members left Iran by land earlier on Wednesday and will return to Tehran once the situation allows. "As part of its good offices, Switzerland will continue to maintain an open line of communication between the United States and Iran, in consultation with the two countries," said the ministry statement. Both the United States and Iran were informed of the temporary closure of the embassy and the departure of its Swiss staff. "Switzerland will continue to be available to channel communications that the parties consider useful," the statement added. "The protecting power mandate, under which Switzerland represents US interests in Iran, can be exercised independently of geographical location." - The protecting power - Renowned for its neutrality, Switzerland has been representing US interests in Iran since Washington broke off relations with Tehran after the 1980 hostage crisis, a year after the Iranian revolution. In its role as the so-called protecting power, Switzerland has for decades allowed the two feuding nations to maintain a minimum of diplomatic and consular relations. The Swiss embassy in Tehran handles all consular affairs between the United States and Iran, including passport requests, altering civil status and consular protection for US citizens in Iran. Under the protecting power mandate, "Switzerland can either offer to act as a go-between on its own initiative or can fulfil this function at the request of the parties concerned, provided that all those involved agree," the foreign ministry says on its website. The United States and Iran held a third round of indirect talks through Omani negotiators, on Iran's nuclear programme, in the Swiss city of Geneva on February 26. Two days later, the United States and Israel launched the first wave of attacks in a war that has seen Iran strike targets in multiple countries around the Gulf. Switzerland has called for de-escalation and a return to diplomacy. This photo taken on July 4, 2025 shows sunset view seen from Lanshan Park, Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Ma Sijia) YINCHUAN, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Lanshan Park in Yinchuan, capital of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, has gained wider attention for integrating winter sports, local cuisine and cultural events with its natural sunset scenery, resulting in increased visitor numbers and diversified tourism offerings. Lanshan Park's "sunset ice rink," spanning approximately 8,000 square meters, has seen increasing tourist visits since the Spring Festival holiday last month. This outdoor rink offers views of the magnificent Helan Mountains, attracting visitors for skating, family-friendly activities and photo opportunities. It also features costumed mascots and miniature trains, contributing to its appeal among diverse age groups. Wang Wentao, a tourist from Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, accompanied by his nine-year-old daughter, described the experience in the park as extraordinary. "It rarely snows in my home city, and you certainly won't find an outdoor ice rink with sunset views. My daughter was delighted and the scenery was amazing. It's well worth the trip," he said. Nearby, bustling food stalls and heated tents offered popular local snacks and hotpot. A recent photo-posing sensation at this venue has also gained widespread popularity. Visitors put on warm red suits and lie on the frozen lake, posing for photos with the sunset-drenched mountains in the background. According to the project manager Li Pengfei, this activity peaks at sunset and attracts many out-of-town visitors. Local resident He Rong, 22, said: "It's a bit chilly lying on the ice, but watching the mountains and sky turn gold puts my mind at ease. I almost drifted off to sleep." More over, Lanshan Park teamed up with the nearby Shahu Scenic Area this winter to offer an "ice-breaking journey." Passengers cruise on antique-style boats through water channels cut open by an icebreaker, enjoying hotpot, wine or tea while enjoying winter landscapes and sunset reflections. "The park usually saw few visitors in winter, but this year, daily peak holiday attendance neared 10,000," said Wang Hao, deputy general manager of Yinchuan Cultural Tourism Development Group. "We have made full use of our sunset resources." Once an ordinary city park, Lanshan's signature sunset scenery has brought Yinchuan City into the spotlight. Local authorities were quick to adapt to this spotlight, upgrading infrastructure and adding a visitor center and souvenir stores. In 2024, visitor numbers soared, earning Lanshan Park the reputation of "Yinchuan's city lounge." Since May 2025, Lanshan Park has been hosting the "sunset choir," drawing thousands to sing together as the sun sets over the lake and mountains. Seasonal music festivals and themed events have followed, sometimes prompting visitors to linger despite rain. In a period of more than half a year, Lanshan Park recorded 3.6 million visits and generated almost 200 million yuan (about 29 million U.S. dollars) in indirect revenue. In Yinchuan, the sunset has become more than just a scenic view -- it now shines as a symbol of the city's creativity and vitality. Tourism officials note that while overall attendance has increased, there is ongoing focus on boosting per capita spending through enhanced programming and new attractions. Citizens play at the "sunset ice rink" in Lanshan Park, Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Feb. 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Ma Sijia) An aerial drone photo shows citizens skating at the "sunset ice rink" in Lanshan Park, Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Jan. 17, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Peng) IEA says members to release 400 mn barrels from oil reserves Paris, France, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2026 The International Energy Agency said Wednesday its member countries would unlock 400 million barrels of oil from their reserves to ease the impact of the Middle East war, the biggest such release ever. "The oil market challenges we are facing are unprecedented in scale, therefore I am very glad that IEA member countries have responded with an emergency collective action of unprecedented size," IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said. The IEA-coordinated release exceeded the 182 million barrels of oil that member countries of the Paris-based global energy body released in 2022 when Russian leader Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine. "The emergency stocks will be made available to the market over a timeframe that is appropriate to the national circumstances of each member country and will be supplemented by additional emergency measures by some countries," the IEA said. The announcement came as leaders of the Group of Seven advanced economies discussed the widespread economic fallout from the US-Israeli war with Iran, now into its second week, at a video conference meeting chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron. Earlier Wednesday, Japan -- whose strategic oil reserves are among the world's largest -- and Germany said they would tap into their oil reserves. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Japan would release reserves as early as Monday, while Germany's Economy and Energy Minister Katherina Reiche said her country planned to do the same, without specifying a date. "Without waiting for a formal decision on coordinated international stock releases with the IEA, Japan has decided to take the lead in easing supply and demand in the international energy market by releasing strategic reserves as early as the 16th of this month," Takaichi told reporters. "Given Japan's exceptionally high dependence on the Middle East (for oil) and as we will be severely impacted, we plan to utilise Japan's strategic petroleum reserves," she said. Reiche said a total of 2.4 million tons would be released. - 'Perfect time' - The crude market has been hit by wild volatility since the United States and Israel began striking Iran at the end of last month, with Tehran retaliating by attacking targets across the oil-rich Gulf and effectively shutting down the Strait of Hormuz. The strait normally carries about 20 percent of the world's oil and gas supplies. US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the transit problem was "temporary." "What we have here is not a shortage of energy in the world. We've got a transit problem," he said. A French official said earlier G7 members wanted to move in lockstep. "There is no oil shortage today, but a price problem, so the idea is more to send a signal to the markets, and for that signal to be strong, it is better if it is coordinated," he said. - 'Pumping less oil' - Ipek Ozkardeskaya, a senior analyst at trading platform Swissquote Bank, said 400 million barrels would still be a "meagre" amount compared with the roughly 45 million barrels that IEA countries consume every day. "It would therefore be a temporary fix," she said, adding the announcement helped keep oil prices in check on Wednesday. "The Middle East is now pumping less oil -- around six percent less -- in reaction to the Iran war." Countries around the world have been left scrambling in response to the oil price spikes. Bangladesh has deployed the army to guard oil depots, India has imposed tighter controls over natural and cooking gas and French officials conducted inspections at petrol stations and fined those found to be inflating prices. The 32 members of the IEA hold over 1.2 billion barrels of public emergency oil stocks, with a further 600 million barrels of industry stocks held under government mandates. Iran's new supreme leader injured but 'safe', officials say Paris, France, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2026 Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not spoken or been seen in public since his appointment at the weekend, is injured but "safe", officials said Wednesday. "I heard news that Mr Mojtaba Khamenei had been injured. I have asked some friends who had connections," the Iranian president's son, Yousef Pezeshkian, wrote in a post on his Telegram channel. "They told me that, thank God, he is safe and sound," added Pezeshkian, who is a government advisor. Khamenei was named Iran's supreme leader on Sunday to replace his father Ali who was assassinated in an air strike at the start of the US-Israeli war against the Islamic republic on February 28. "He was also there and he was injured in that bombardment but I haven't seen that reflected in the foreign news," Tehran's ambassador to Cyprus, Alireza Salarian, told The Guardian newspaper on Wednesday. The strike on the compound in central Tehran also killed other members of the Khamenei family, including Mojtaba's wife and mother, according to Iranian authorities. There had been mounting questions about Mojtaba Khamenei's health, and even speculation online that he might have died along with his relatives. State television had called him a "wounded veteran of the Ramadan war" without giving details, in reference to the conflict which broke out during the Muslim holy month. His face has appeared on giant billboards in Tehran, with one showing him symbolically receiving the national flag from his father Ali while the founding leader of the Islamic republic, Ruhollah Khomeini, looks on. Posters of him were brandished by thousands of pro-government demonstrators at a huge rally in central Tehran on Monday. But night-time cries of "Death to Mojtaba!" in the capital have also underlined public opposition to a figure believed to have played a key role in repressing waves of anti-government protests since 2009. - Target - Quoting three unnamed Iranian officials, The New York Times also reported Wednesday that Khamenei "had suffered injuries, including to his legs, but that he was alert and sheltering at a highly secure location with limited communication". Two Israeli military officials also told the newspaper that their intelligence services believed Khamenei had suffered leg injuries. Given that the new Iranian commander-in-chief instantly became a target for assassination by the United States and Israel at the weekend, analysts said he would remain out of public view for some time. Emile Hokayem, of the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, said he expected him "to sit in a bunker somewhere for a very long time because he saw what happened to his father, his wife, his mother who were all killed in the initial attack". "Killing him early is certainly an Israeli priority. If he survives, he becomes a totem, a testimony to the resilience of the system," Hokayem told an online event organised by his think-tank on Monday. He said he expected Khamenei to delegate power to run the government to national security chief Ali Larijani and the war effort to powerful parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. The army and the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) both pledged allegiance to Khamenei after his nomination, as did the Tehran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen and the Hezbollah armed group in Lebanon. Russian President Vladimir Putin promised "unwavering support". Before his nomination, US President Donald Trump had warned that Khamenei would be "unacceptable" as new supreme leader. "If he doesn't get approval from us he's not going to last long," Trump told ABC News on Sunday. Mojtaba's father Ali lived the latter half of his life with a partially paralysed arm, having been injured in an assassination attempt in 1981. The Iranian supreme leader is appointed by an 88-member committee of clerics and holds the position for life. He also serves as a religious guide for Shia Muslims. bur-adp/sjw/jsa TARGET French aid worker killed in DR Congo air strike Goma, DR Congo, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2026 A French aid worker for the UN children's agency has been killed in an air strike in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in a city controlled by the Rwanda-backed M23 militia. Since taking up arms again in 2021, the M23 has seized swathes of the mineral-rich Congolese east with Rwanda's backing, unleashing a fresh spiral of violence in a region long plagued by fighting. Despite Rwanda and the DRC signing a peace deal at US President Donald Trump's urging in early December, in the latest attempt to end the conflict, clashes between the M23 and Congolese army have continued. Humanitarian sources reported that several buildings had been targeted in overnight drone strikes, which UN peacekeeping force MONUSCO said also killed two civilians. The strikes' origin remained unclear. The Congolese army, stationed some several hundred kilometres from Goma, regularly launches long-range drone strikes on the M23's positions in the east. According to security sources, the M23 likewise makes use of explosive drones at the front. The sound of bomb blasts and buzzing drones rang out in several residential neighbourhoods of Goma, a large provincial capital near the border with Rwanda which the M23 seized in a lightning offensive in early 2025, witnesses said. European Union crisis management commissioner Hadja Lahbib said on X that "a drone strike hit a residential building in Goma" where aid workers and EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid staff live. French President Emmanuel Macron said on X that "a French UNICEF humanitarian worker has been killed in Goma. I extend the nation's support and sympathy to her family, loved ones and colleagues". He urged "respect for humanitarian law and for the personnel who are on the ground and committed to saving lives". UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said the agency was "devastated and outraged by the killing of our colleague Karine Buisset in a reported drone attack". "Civilians, including aid workers, must never be targeted," she said on X. - House hit - Humanitarian sources and rescuers at the site told AFP Buisset was killed during an overnight strike on a house where she was staying. The building is in Himbi, a residential neighbourhood of Goma on the shores of Lake Kivu where many expatriates, staff members and headquarters of humanitarian organisations are based. Large residences in the area were requisitioned by M23 leaders after they seized the city. Security sources contacted by AFP said they believed the strikes were targeting officials or allies of the armed group and that the house where the aid worker was staying was hit by mistake. The sources said former president Joseph Kabila, whom Kinshasa has sentenced to death in absentia for his alleged M23 support, has a residence nearby. One humanitarian worker told AFP he heard two explosions: the first was preceded by the sound of drones, then a second one, followed by the sound of a drone moving away from the site. Firefighters, United Nations employees and officials from the M23 were present at the severely damaged and partially burnt-out site early Wednesday. No debris of a drone or projectile has yet been identified, emergency teams said. An M23 spokesman on X accused Kinshasa of carrying out the strike. Congolese authorities have yet to make a statement. - Key minerals - For three decades, the mineral-rich Congolese east has been riven by fighting between dozens of armed groups, with foreign armies wading in from time to time. A half-dozen ceasefires hoping to end the M23 conflict have been brokered before being broken in short order. In early March, the M23 announced the death of one of its spokesmen, Willy Ngoma, in a drone strike near the Rubaya mine in North Kivu province. The mine is under the M23's control and a key source of revenue for the armed group. UN experts believe Rwanda uses the M23 to help control the Congolese east's rich veins of critical minerals, notably the coltan key to the manufacture of mobile phones and electric car batteries. In early March, the United States announced sanctions against the Rwandan army as a result of its support for the M23. Rwanda denies backing the group but says it faces an existential threat from the presence in the eastern DRC of armed groups linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide of the Tutsis. clt-lum/cdw/kjm Israeli strikes across Lebanon, including central Beirut Beirut, Lebanon, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2026 Israel pressed its attacks across Lebanon on Wednesday, hitting an apartment building in central Beirut, in the second targeting of the heart of the capital since the Middle East war began. In New York, around 30 countries backing the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon voiced concern over the fighting in Lebanon, which was drawn into the war last week when militant group Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes. Israel, which kept up its strikes in Lebanon even before the war despite a 2024 ceasefire, has since launched air raids across Lebanon and sent ground troops into border areas -- an offensive that has left 570 people dead according to the health ministry. Israel's UN envoy Danny Danon said Wednesday that Israeli forces would continue to operate in Lebanon "as long (as) there will be a threat against us". Hezbollah meanwhile affirmed its "commitment" to the new Iranian supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamanei. Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) said "the enemy targeted an apartment in the Aisha Bakkar area" in central Beirut, a densely populated neighbourhood close to one of the city's biggest shopping malls. AFPTV's live broadcast captured the sound of an air strike followed by a fireball erupting in an apartment within a multi-storey residential building in Beirut. An AFP correspondent saw destroyed walls in the building's seventh and eighth floors, with damaged cars nearby and security forces present at the scene. When the strike hit, "I ran from room to room, pulled my wife and daughter out of the rooms and hid them behind a wall, then the second strike hit", said Fawzi Asmar, owner of a bakery on the street where the strike took place. - 'Who do I blame?' - Samer Knio, a civil defence paramedic, said glass and debris fell on his team as they were evacuating the dead and wounded from the scene, "but God protected us". Lebanese authorities said Wednesday that more than 780,000 people had been registered as displaced, with more than 120,000 staying in official shelters. Some residents fear being caught in Israeli air raids targeting people sheltering nearby. "We don't know who they're targeting. Maybe someone related to something, maybe not," Amal Hisham, 46, said. "Who do I blame? Who do I not blame?" The health ministry has announced an initial toll of four people wounded in the strike -- the second in central Beirut after the Israeli army last week targeted a hotel, with Iran later saying that raid killed four of its diplomats. Jerome Bonnafont, the French ambassador to the United Nations, told reporters in New York that "we troop contributing countries to the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon, joined by several other member states, express our deep alarm at the escalation of hostilities in Lebanon". On Wednesday morning, the Israeli army also resumed strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs after issuing a new evacuation warning to residents of two neighbourhoods. AFPTV live footage showed black smoke rising from three sites over the area following strikes. - Red Cross paramedic - The Israeli army also said it had carried out "an additional wave of air strikes" in the area overnight. AFPTV images show destroyed buildings and severely damaged apartment blocks nearby. Israeli air raids also continued in southern and eastern Lebanon, with the NNA reporting strikes in several areas. The health ministry said seven people were killed in a strike on the east Lebanon town of Tamnin al-Tahta, while "successive raids" overnight on the southern town of Qana in the Tyre district killed five people. In Hennawiyeh, also in the Tyre area, the ministry said an overnight Israeli strike wounded two people who were then killed in a subsequent attack along with a rescue worker who attended the scene. It also announced the death of a Red Cross paramedic from wounds sustained when "the Israeli enemy targeted the ambulance he was travelling in... on a rescue mission" two days earlier in Majdal Zoun, also in the Tyre district. An AFP correspondent saw mourners, including some in Red Cross uniform, taking part in the paramedic's funeral procession on Wednesday in Tyre city. The health ministry on Wednesday said 14 healthcare workers were among the 570 people killed in Israeli strikes since March 2. nad-ris-lg-lk/jsa Citi, other companies, evacuate Dubai financial district after Iran threats Dubai, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2026 US financial service group Citi and two other companies in Dubai's financial centre asked employees to evacuate their offices on Wednesday after Iran threatened to strike US and Israel-linked banks in the Middle East. The oil-rich Gulf has borne the brunt of Iran's attacks in response to US-Israeli strikes that sparked the Middle East war, with Tehran targeting US assets but also civilian infrastructure. Iran's military threatened on Wednesday to attack US and Israeli economic targets in the region, including banks, after overnight attacks reportedly hit an Iranian bank. Employees were asked to evacuate Citi offices in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and in Oud Metha, a source with knowledge of the evacuations told AFP, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. Employees at two other companies in DIFC also told AFP their offices had been evacuated as a precaution. - Air, maritime traffic targeted - Earlier on Wednesday, drones fell near Dubai airport, injuring four people, while attacks hit three ships in or near the Strait of Hormuz as Iran kept up its campaign disrupting oil markets and air and maritime traffic. Iran has targeted Gulf energy infrastructure and choked shipping in the strait -- which normally carries nearly 20 percent of global oil production -- prompting wild swings in prices. "Two drones fell in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport a short while ago, resulting in minor injuries to two Ghanaian nationals and one Bangladeshi national, and moderate injuries to one Indian national," the Dubai Media Office said. "Air traffic is operating as normal." UAE presidential advisor Anwar Gargash said Iran "is lying when they claim to be targeting US bases in the Gulf" and slammed the attacks on "civilian infrastructure... with no regard for civilians and innocent people". An Indian worker at a cargo terminal opposite Terminal 2 of Dubai airport said he saw a drone flying at low altitude, slowly gliding down before crashing into a building at the airport terminal. "It was flying so low and I saw it clearly. But there was no loud blast when it hit," he said on condition of anonymity. "About 10 minutes later, I saw another drone gliding past in a similar manner... When it crashed, the explosion was loud." - Ships hit in Hormuz - A container ship and a bulk carrier were hit off the coast of the UAE, one off Dubai and the other off the northern Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah by unknown projectiles, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). A third ship was also hit by a projectile off Oman, in the Strait of Hormuz, which caused a fire that was later extinguished according to the UKMTO. And drones struck fuel tanks at Oman's Salalah port on Wednesday, state media said, with private maritime security company Vanguard Tech reporting the suspension of the port's operations after the attack. Saudi Arabia intercepted drones targeting the Shaybah field, crucial to its production, while explosions also rang out over Qatar. Saudi Arabia said it intercepted seven ballistic missiles targeting its eastern region and the Prince Sultan Air Base, where an American service member was fatally wounded on March 1. In the past few days, Saudi Aramco's sprawling Ras Tanura facility, home to one of the Middle East's largest refineries, was targeted as well as the UAE's Ruwais refinery -- one of the largest in the world. Iranian attacks already forced state-owned QatarEnergy, one of the world's largest producers of liquefied natural gas, to halt production last week and declare force majeure. Energy producers in Kuwait made similar declarations, which are a warning that events beyond their control may lead them to miss export targets. str-aya/amj Saudi Aramco Iraq's top Shia cleric wishes new Iran leader success Baghdad, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2026 Iraq's top Shia Muslim cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, said on Wednesday that he wished the Islamic republic's new supreme leader success in preserving unity. "As we commemorate the late leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, we hope that his honourable successor will find success and guidance in serving the great Iranian people, repelling absolute evil and preserving national unity and harmony," Sistani said. Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, was named Iran's supreme leader on Sunday to replace his father Ali who was killed in an air strike at the start of the US-Israeli war against the Islamic republic on February 28. But he has yet to appear in public after being wounded in the strike that killed his father and wife, according to officials. Last week, Sistani, himself born in Iran, denounced an "unjust war" on the Islamic republic. Despite his non-Iraqi roots, Sistani has been a vital figure in Iraq's recent history, guiding his followers through decades of dictatorship, occupation and conflict. But his influence extends beyond Iraq with millions of followers across the Muslim world. Sistani, who has lived in the Iraqi holy city of Najaf for decades, always had a complex relationship with his birthplace Iran and was known for resisting Tehran's growing influence in Iraq. While Iran is ruled by clerics, Sistani has always avoided any formal role in government. Israel strikes central Beirut as Lebanon death toll tops 630 Beirut, Lebanon, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2026 Israel carried out a strike in the heart of Beirut on Wednesday for a second time since Lebanon was dragged into the Middle East war, as the death toll in the country climbed past 630. In New York, around 30 countries backing the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon voiced concern over the fighting in the country, which became a front in the wider conflict last week when Hezbollah attacked Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Israel, which had kept up strikes in Lebanon even before the war despite a 2024 ceasefire with Iran-backed Hezbollah, has since launched air raids across the country and sent ground troops into border areas -- an offensive that has killed 634 people, including 91 children, according to authorities. Israel's UN envoy Danny Danon said Wednesday that Israeli forces would continue to operate in Lebanon "as long (as) there will be a threat against us". Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) said "the enemy targeted an apartment in the Aisha Bakkar area" in central Beirut, a densely populated neighbourhood close to one of the city's biggest shopping malls. AFPTV's live broadcast captured the sound of an air strike followed by a fireball erupting in an apartment in a multi-storey residential building. An AFP correspondent saw destroyed walls on the building's seventh and eighth floors, with damaged cars nearby and security forces present at the scene. When the strike hit, "I ran from room to room, pulled my wife and daughter out of the rooms and hid them behind a wall, then the second strike hit", said Fawzi Asmar, owner of a bakery on the same street. Samer Knio, a civil defence paramedic, said glass and debris fell on his team as they were evacuating casualties "but God protected us". - 'Who do I blame?' - Lebanese authorities said Wednesday that about 816,000 people had been registered as displaced, with around 126,000 staying in collective shelters. Some residents fear being caught in Israeli air raids targeting people sheltering nearby. "We don't know who they're targeting. Maybe someone related to something, maybe not," Amal Hisham, 46, said. "Who do I blame? Who do I not blame?" The health ministry announced an initial toll of four people wounded in the apartment strike -- the second in central Beirut after Israel a seafront hotel days ago, saying it was targeting Iranian foreign operations officers. Iran later said the raid killed four of its diplomats. Senior UN officials and member states called on Wednesday for an end to fighting in Lebanon at a Security Council meeting in New York. Jerome Bonnafont, the French ambassador to the United Nations, told reporters before the meeting that "we troop-contributing countries to the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon, joined by several other member states, express our deep alarm at the escalation of hostilities in Lebanon". - Red Cross paramedic - Also on Wednesday, the Israeli army resumed strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, where Hezbollah holds sway, after issuing a new evacuation warning. AFPTV live footage showed smoke rising from the area following strikes. Israeli air raids also continued in southern and eastern Lebanon, with the NNA reporting strikes in several areas. The health ministry eight people killed in a strike in the southeastern Bint Jbeil district, with NNA reporting the toll included five members of one family. The ministry said seven people were also killed in a strike on the east Lebanon town of Tamnin al-Tahta, while "successive raids" overnight on the southern town of Qana in the Tyre district killed five people. In Hennawiyeh, also in the Tyre area, the ministry said an overnight Israeli strike wounded two people who were then killed in a subsequent attack along with a rescue worker who attended the scene. It also announced the death of a Red Cross paramedic from wounds sustained when "the Israeli enemy targeted the ambulance he was travelling in... on a rescue mission" two days earlier in the same district. An AFP correspondent saw mourners, including some in Red Cross uniform, taking part in the paramedic's funeral procession on Wednesday in Tyre city. Authorities said 15 healthcare workers are among those killed in Israeli strikes since March 2. nad-ris-lg-lk/smw At least 25 Iranian attacks have targeted US sites: AFP analysis Paris, France, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2026 At least 25 Iranian attacks have targeted US sites or locations housing US military personnel in the Middle East since the start of the war, according to an AFP analysis. Of these attacks, recorded between February 28 and March 11 at 1500 GMT, four targeted US embassies or consulates in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq. The other 21 Iranian missiles or drone attacks targeted 13 different military sites housing American personnel. These included the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia and Erbil airport in Iraq, which houses a US base. Both were attacked at least four times. The Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar and Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates were each targeted at least twice. The count does not include seven attacks observed or claimed by Iran against radars or US THAAD missile defense systems operated either by the US or Gulf states. AFP was able to confirm damage after 12 strikes targeted US-linked military sites by analysing satellite images, the most recent dating from March 5, before US providers of high-resolution imagery imposed restrictions on availability in order to protect allies. Meanwhile, nearly 30 attacks have targeted energy infrastructure in the Middle East between the start of the conflict and March 11, more than half of which were carried out by Tehran. AFP counted 16 Iranian strikes targeting oil and gas fields or complexes in seven different Gulf states. Among the targets was the United Arab Emirates industrial zone that includes the Ruwais refinery, one of the largest in the world, which was closed on Tuesday as a precaution. Iran mourns slain commanders under heavy security presence Tehran, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2026 Thousands of people in Tehran defied ongoing bombardments on Wednesday to publicly mourn commanders killed by US-Israeli strikes, in the largest gathering since the start of the war. In the otherwise mostly deserted Iranian capital, the funeral crowds gathered at the symbolic Enghelab Square, offering a stark contrast to the vacant avenues in surrounding areas. Mourners paid their respects under a ubiquitous security presence as special forces, heavily armed and wearing balaclavas, remained on high alert throughout the ceremony. One officer was clad in a black scarf bearing the image of late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed on the first day of the US-Israeli strikes on February 28, after 36 years in power. Armed forces chief of staff Abdolrahim Moussavi, Revolutionary Guards chief Mohammad Pakpour, defence minister Aziz Nassirzadeh and influential security adviser Ali Shamkhani were also killed in simultaneous strikes. On Wednesday, trucks carrying the coffins of the top officials and their entourage formed a procession through central Tehran. An AFP journalist saw one small coffin bearing a picture of its victim, a two-month-old baby, alongside the Iranian flag. Revolutionary Guards personnel stood guard over the sombre occasion, taking place under a grey sky and unusually cold temperatures, just days before the Nowruz springtime celebration. The mourners, many of them women dressed in black chadors, bore flags and flowers to a soundtrack of religious music. - 'Death to America!' - Teenagers, meanwhile, held up pictures of Ali Khamenei alongside images of his son and successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, who was injured in the same raid that killed his father, his wife and his mother. The 56-year-old has yet to make any public appearances since being selected for the top post at the weekend. The procession progressed along avenues lined by buildings with blown-out windows and damaged facades. On the burned-out shell of a car was emblazoned the tagline "Make Iran Great Again" -- a reference to the catchphrase used by US President Donald Trump, who has called on Iranians to rise up against the clerical state. Suddenly, the voice of an announcer cut through the ceremony to announce a new Iranian attack against its enemies. In response, the crowd chanted in unison, "Allahu akbar" (God is the greatest). The announcer then proceeded to sweep the crowd up into a frenzy of shouts of "Death to America!", "Death to Israel!" The show of defiance comes as the Islamic republic is embroiled in a war on several fronts, fighting its traditional foes but also launching unprecedented attacks across the wider region. It is also grappling with the prospect of complete overhaul as the US and Israel, but also members of the Iranian diaspora, call for the end of the clerical state, two months after unprecedented protests in the country. What we know about the strike on an Iran school Paris, France, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2026 Iran has accused the United States and Israel of conducting a deadly missile attack on a school on the first day of the Middle East war. Israel has denied any connection to the strike and The New York Times reported on Wednesday that it resulted from a targeting mistake by the US military. AFP has been unable to access the location of the strike to independently verify the circumstances around it or the toll reported by Iranian media. Iranian authorities must grant explicit approval to foreign media organisations wishing to report outside Tehran. Here is what we know about the strike: - What Iran says - The strike and an initial toll were first reported by Iranian media citing the governor of Minab, a county in southern Iran, on February 28. That was the first day of US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which also killed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The reported toll climbed swiftly and, according to state media, funerals were held for at least 165 people including slain students. State television carried images showing a large crowd of mourners weeping over what appeared to be bodies wrapped in white shrouds. Other images released by state media showed individuals preparing coffins draped in the Iranian flag -- some bearing photographs of children. AFP has been unable to independently verify the date the images were taken or access the location to verify their content. President Masoud Pezeshkian blamed the United States and Israel for the strike. - What Washington says - US President Donald Trump initially suggested Iran itself may have been responsible but later said he could "live with" whatever the investigation reveals. The New York Times reported on Wednesday that the school was hit by a US Tomahawk missile because of a targeting mistake. The newspaper, citing US officials, said the investigation was ongoing, but preliminary findings were that the United States was responsible. The US military was conducting strikes on an adjacent Iranian base of which the school building was formerly a part and target coordinates were set using outdated data, it said. Asked by reporters about the Times report, Trump said: "I don't know about it." The Times said US Central Command officers created the target coordinates for the strike using outdated data provided by the Defense Intelligence Agency. The newspaper said the school is on the same block as buildings used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard's navy and the site of the school was originally part of the base. It said the building housing the school had been fenced off from the base between 2013 and 2016. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week the United States would not intentionally target a school. - What Israel says - Israel has consistently denied any involvement in or knowledge of the strike. "We have checked multiple times and have found no connection between the IDF and whatever happened in that school," Israeli military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani said. - Where is the school? - Norway-based rights group Hengaw said the school was holding its morning session at the time of the strike and about 170 students were present. Footage filmed from a parking lot showed black smoke billowing from a damaged building adorned with colorful murals. AFP has geolocated the clip to a building in Minab, though it has not been able to independently verify the nature of the site. AFP has confirmed the building was located in close proximity to two sites controlled by the Revolutionary Guards. The Shahid Absalan clinic, under the supervision of the Guards navy's medical command, lies 238 metres (780 feet) from the site, while the Seyed al-Shohada IRGC cultural complex is 286 metres away. AFP could not independently verify the date the footage from the car park was filmed. burs-cl/md ADDIS ABABA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- At least 30 people were killed in landslides triggered by heavy rainfall in southern Ethiopia, local authorities have confirmed. In a social media post, the Gamo Zone administration of South Ethiopia Regional State said the landslides occurred on Tuesday due to heavy rains, which caused flooding in several localities across three districts. Authorities also noted that debris from landslides and floodwaters blocked public transport routes, disrupted movement and complicated rescue operations in affected areas. South Ethiopia Regional State President Tilahun Kebede expressed deep condolences to the bereaved families on Tuesday, assuring that the regional government will provide all necessary support to the affected. "Since it is rainy season and accidents like this can happen again, I call on the communities living in vulnerable areas to take necessary precautions," Kebede said. Ethiopia is currently in the midst of a rainy season, which started in February and is expected to last until March. Israel says still has broad range of targets in Iran Jerusalem, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2026 Israel still has a wide range of targets it can strike in Iran, the military said Wednesday, even as US President Donald Trump suggested there was little left for American forces to hit. "As an army, we still have a broad bank of targets. We will expand our operations," military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said in a televised briefing. "The goal is to undermine the foundations of the regime." In a separate statement, an Israeli military source said that since the start of the war, Israel had struck "eight times more targets" than during the 12-day war in June 2025. The military did not say how many targets it had hit since the current war began on February 28. Earlier on Wednesday, Trump signalled the war could end soon. There is "practically nothing left to target" and the war will end "soon", Trump was quoted as saying in an interview with news outlet Axios. "Any time I want it to end, it will end." Trump has given repeated mixed messages about the timing and aims of the war, but has increasingly hinted at ending it soon as global oil prices spike. The United States and Israel launched coordinated aerial strikes on Iran on February 28, killing supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the opening attacks. With the war in its 12th day, Iran warned it was prepared for a prolonged war of attrition that would "destroy" the world economy. Germany evacuates diplomatic staff from northern Iraq Berlin, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2026 Germany has evacuated staff from its consulate in Erbil, northern Iraq, a foreign ministry source said Wednesday, following similar moves in Baghdad and Tehran amid the Middle East war. "In view of the risk assessment on the ground, Foreign Minister (Johann) Wadephul has decided to take further measures to protect our personnel in Iraq," the source said. "The staff of the consulate in Erbil have been temporarily relocated from Iraq." A ministry spokesman told a press briefing that staff had also been moved from Baghdad in light of the ongoing "threat situation" in the Middle East. The foreign ministry had already reported that staff from its embassy in Tehran were being relocated to an undisclosed location. "The safety of our employees is our top priority and is therefore constantly being discussed by the German government's crisis management team," the ministry said. The Middle East war began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 and has provoked waves of Iranian retaliatory missile and drone fire. Iran has targeted Erbil in strikes this week described by state broadcaster IRIB as "the most intense and heaviest since the start of the war". Countries across the Gulf region, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have also come under fire. During a visit to Doha on Wednesday, Wadephul said Germany "stands in full solidarity with Qatar and all our partners in the Gulf". "The attacks from Iran must stop and security in the Gulf must be restored without delay," he said in a post on X. Wadephul has also visited Cyprus, Israel and Saudi Arabia as part of a regional tour. In Riyadh, he called on Iran to "cease its indiscriminate attacks on neighbouring states, diplomatic missions and civilian infrastructure". The Bild daily reported that Wadephul had taken 10 stranded Germans, including children, with him in his plane when he left Qatar. The newspaper published a picture of him speaking to the evacuated Germans, and said that they were taken to the Saudi capital Riyadh. Another flight will be organised to take them back to Germany, it said. US embassy warns Iran, proxies might target US-owned oil facilities in Iraq Baghdad, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2026 The US embassy in Baghdad warned on Wednesday that Iran and Tehran-backed Iraqi armed groups might target US-owned oil facilities in Iraq. Several oil fields and facilities in Iraq have been hit by drones since the Middle East war began on February 28. "Iran and Iran-aligned terrorist militias may be planning to target US-owned oil and energy infrastructure in Iraq," the embassy said on X. Iraq's oil ministry spokesperson Saheb Bazoun told AFP on Tuesday that many foreign company employees have left the country since the start of the war. Authorities in oil-rich Iraq have been working to attract foreign investment, notably from US companies, across various sectors of the economy. Last month, Iraq and US energy giant Chevron signed deals to manage and develop several oil fields, mostly in the country's south. Iraq is a founding member of the OPEC cartel, and crude oil sales make up 90 percent of the country's budget revenues. The US embassy statement is the latest in a series of security alerts it has issued since the start of the war. It warned again of possible attacks on hotels frequented by Americans across Iraq. rh/rbu/amj Iran military says will hit US, Israeli economic targets in region Tehran, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2026 Iran's military vowed on Wednesday to launch strikes against US and Israeli economic targets in the region, including banks, after overnight attacks hit an Iranian bank. "The enemy has given us free rein to target economic centres and banks belonging to the United States and the Zionist regime," the military's central operational command, Khatam Al-Anbiya, said in a statement carried by state TV. It urged people across the region to refrain from going within one kilometre (half a mile) of banks. Iranian media said US and Israeli strikes hit a bank in Tehran overnight, killing an unspecified number of staff. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi later said that "a branch of my country's oldest bank was bombed while full of employees". "Our Powerful Armed Forces will exact retribution for this crime," he added on X. He did not provide a toll for the attack. bur/mz/amj/smw PYONGYANG, March 11 (Xinhua) -- A destroyer of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) test-fired strategic cruise missiles on Tuesday, the official Korean Central News Agency reported Wednesday. With the country's top leader observing the event on TV, the test-fire was conducted by the Destroyer Choe Hyon of the Navy of the Korean People's Army amid the continued tests of operational efficiency of the advanced warship, the report said. Multiple cruise missiles flew along the flight orbit over waters off the country's west coast before hitting island targets, it said. Depicting it as a very important strategic task to maintain and expand a reliable nuclear war deterrent, Kim Jong Un, the top DPRK leader, said that offensive weapon systems undergoing constant development constitute an indispensable factor for the DPRK's self-defense. Destroyer Choe Hyon is the lead ship of the DPRK's 5,000-ton new-generation multi-mission Choe Hyon-class attack destroyers. CAIRO, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held phone calls on Wednesday with his counterparts from Jordan, Bahrain, and Iran, calling for calm in the region on the heels of the U.S.-Israel war on Iran and Tehran's retaliatory attacks, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. During the phone calls, Abdelatty urged mobilizing regional and international efforts to contain the escalation, and to rely on dialogue and diplomacy to prevent the expansion of conflict. He warned that the growth of the military operation would jeopardize the security and stability of the whole region, reiterating the importance of intensifying efforts to maintain the regional stability and to safeguard international navigation security. Abdelatty and the Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi discussed the present serious situation in the region and stressed the importance of stopping the acceleration of the conflict expansion with the neighboring countries. Abdelatty also renewed calls for respecting the principle of good neighborhood and the country's sovereignty, emphasizing that the diplomatic path is the only way to contain tensions. His lawyers claim UBS branded him the evil mastermind to the authorities in an effort to protect its senior executives and minimise regulatory fines. His case alleges that UBS offered Hayes up on a silver platter to be prosecuted in both the US and the UK, and that those prosecutions were engineered by UBS's intentional false and misleading disclosures. 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 "If oil were to settle at around the $90 a barrel mark and the pound were to maintain its current position against the US dollar, drivers in the UK could expect average petrol prices to reach around 140p a litre, and diesel around 167p a litre. A spokesman for Sir Sadiq added: The mayor is clear that the Met Police must follow the evidence wherever it leads and he will continue to ensure it does everything possible to tackle all child sexual exploitation in the capital, including grooming gangs, to build a safer London for everyone. Six Nations permutations: How France and Ireland can now win title on Super Saturday How France and Ireland can now win Six Nations title on Super Saturday The Prime Minister said: Global instability has real impacts on the lives of working people across the UK, and I know families in Northern Ireland are worried about what the war in the Middle East could mean for their finances especially given so many households rely on heating oil to heat their homes. In a statement, the force said: The decision to ban it this year is purely based on a risk assessment of this specific protest and counter-protests we do not police taste or decency or prefer one political view over another, but we will do everything we can to reduce violence and disorder. I see teenagers and the first thing they do is scroll on their phones. We need to have a social media ban. Theres nothing to think about, just do it. It is only going to benefit the teenagers. JERUSALEM, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Israel said Wednesday it was shifting ground forces from the Gaza area to the Lebanese border, where it has been engaged in intense fighting with Hezbollah since early March amid a wider conflict with Iran. In a statement, the military said it was transferring the Golani Brigade from Southern Command to operations under Northern Command. The infantry unit has been fighting in Gaza during Israel's two-year offensive that has left much of the enclave in ruins. The redeployment followed "a situational assessment" by military chief Eyal Zamir, the statement said. The military said the move was meant to reinforce the northern sector as fighting with Hezbollah continues, adding that additional reinforcements could be deployed following further assessments. The shift points to a possible expansion of Israel's ground incursion into Lebanon. Israeli strikes there have killed at least 570 people since the conflict began on March 2, according to an update from the Lebanese prime minister's office. Israeli forces crossed into southern Lebanon near the Israeli border on March 3, saying the move was intended to establish "forward defensive positions" inside Lebanese territory. The Israeli military is also continuing operations in Gaza. The Gaza health authorities said 649 people have been killed by Israeli fire since a fragile ceasefire was announced in October 2025. The total death toll since the war began in October 2023 has reached 72,134, with 171,828 wounded, it said. Construction workers earlier this month wire electricity lines in Dallas TX4 data centers mechanical galley under construction at the NTT Data center campus in Garland. ERCOT is developing a new batch study process that would allow for data centers interconnection requests to be evaluated based on the amount of load that can be reliably served over a six-year period. Tom Fox/Staff Photographer When the Electric Reliability Council of Texas designed its process for connecting big industrial users to the statewide grid, it envisioned receiving from eight to 15 such requests every three months. Now, with the state at ground zero of the data center boom, its getting as many as 100 requests in that same time period. Advertisement Article continues below this ad So, for the past 18 months, the grid operator has been discussing how to handle the rapid influx of demand. Its looking for a way to keep data centers and other big requests from getting stuck in whats been nicknamed the doom loop. We quickly came to the conclusion with the market participants that something had to change, President and CEO Pablo Vegas said. The solution? A new process called batch study that allows for requests to be evaluated as a group based on the amount of electricity that can be reliably served over a six-year period instead of looking at each request individually. Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source Advertisement Article continues below this ad ERCOT presented the framework for the batch study to the Public Utility Commission on Feb. 20 but still needs to determine who will be included in the batch zero group the first to be evaluated using transitional guidelines. The goal is to have that criteria worked out by June, then the grid operator can start working on evaluating the groups power requests. The new evaluation process is a result of Senate Bill 6, legislation requiring new rules for interconnection, operation and cost of service for large load customers. Large loads like data centers for artificial intelligence and oil and gas electrification are flooding into Texas, drawn by the states booming business landscape, plentiful land and affordable utilities. ERCOT now has projects seeking about 230 gigawatts of electricity at various stages of the existing process. Soon, they will need to be transitioned into the new batch study process. Dallas TX1 data center electrical plant is shown at the NTT Data center campus in Garland. ERCOT is developing a new batch study process that would allow for data centers interconnection requests to be evaluated based on the amount of load that can be reliably served over a six-year period. Tom Fox/Staff Photographer The surge in large load requests is just one component in ERCOTs projections for a significant increase in energy demand. Vegas said the grid is facing growth across all sectors from the manufacturing industry to the states growing population and increasingly hot summers and cold winters. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Jeff Billo, vice president of interconnection and grid analysis for ERCOT, said the current process was designed under a different paradigm, in terms of large loads and megawatts, gigawatts looking to connect to the grid. ERCOT currently evaluates large load requests individually, resulting in projects being stuck in the doom loop when projects have to go back to the evaluation process and be restudied because of new projects filing requests that must be factored in when considering the older requests. The steep influx of projects and constant changes has created uncertainty for developers and transmission operators and hindered the economic growth of the state, Vegas said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad There are a lot of companies that are interested in doing business in Texas, which means there are a lot of people whose livelihoods are impacted by the work that we do here to integrate those large loads, Billo said. The batch study approach would evaluate all the loads that come in during a certain time period, assessing how and when each stage of the project will need to be connected to the grid and allocating how much power goes to each over a six-year period. The idea is to give transmission providers a better handle on what system upgrades are necessary and when. For investors, it should provide more certainty on what infrastructure and financial obligations are required, as well as the pace of the interconnections. And it would help developers determine whether the project aligns with the progression, timetable and investment required to secure the connection before they have to commit to it, Vegas said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A Garland Power and Light electrical substation, center, powers data center buildings Dallas TX3, left, and TX2, on the NTT Data center campus in Garland. ERCOT is developing a new batch study process that would allow for data centers interconnection requests to be evaluated based on the amount of load that can be reliably served over a six-year period. Tom Fox/Staff Photographer ERCOT is developing a new batch study process that would allow for data centers interconnection requests to be evaluated based on the amount of load that can be reliably served over a six-year period. Google A pair of data center buildings totaling 276,000 square feet that CyrusOne is building along Omicron Drive on the far West Side are seen in this rendering provided by the company. ERCOT is developing a new batch study process that would allow for data centers interconnection requests to be evaluated based on the amount of load able to be reliably served over a six-year period. Rendering courtesy of CyrusOne The most fundamental shift is that the new process will allow for developers to reserve capacity on transmission systems for future projects, Vegas said. He described it as a unique process change to what the grid operator has been doing for more than 20 years, while also being something that hasnt yet been used by any U.S. grid. Through surveys, the grid operator found that 89% of responses from stakeholders favored a six-month batch study cadence. The next step is determining how projects would qualify to be in batch zero. The guidelines are still being hashed out, but operational readiness and strong financial commitment are seen as key criteria. Advertisement Article continues below this ad ERCOT plans to go through four sets of revision requests before fully implementing the batch process, starting with its batch zero group. Revision requests are formal submissions to add or modify protocols, operating or planning guides. ERCOT heard loud and clear from the commission that this needs to be a public process with a lot of input, Public Utility Commission Chairman Thomas Gleeson said at the Feb. 20 meeting. The grid operator is now holding a series of workshops on its first set of revisions to get public input. Procedures and admission criteria for the transitional batch zero group will be presented at the June 1 board meeting. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The final set of procedures for the batch study process to be used for handling future groups is expected to be set by September, Billo said. Republic National Distributing Co., the nations second-largest alcohol distributor, is in talks to sell 11 of its markets, including Texas, to Chicago-based Reyes Beverage Group. Doug McSchooler/Associated Press In 1939, Ed Block Sr. founded Block Distributing Co. in San Antonio. The company later became a cornerstone of the modern Grand Prairie-based Republic National Distributing Co., the nations second-largest wine and spirits distributor. Now, Republic National is considering cutting ties with its state of origin altogether. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Shelves are restocked at a San Antonio liquor store in this file photo. Republic National Distributing Co., the nations second-largest alcohol distributor, is in talks to sell 11 of its markets, including Texas, to Chicago-based Reyes Beverage Group. Carlos Javier Sanchez, Contributor Amid a recent string of troubles for the distributor, Republic National is in talks to sell 11 of its markets, including Texas, where its headquartered, to Chicago-based Reyes Beverage Group, the nations largest beer distributor. MORE REPUBLIC NEWS: Struggling Texas-based alcohol distributor confirms layoffs in statement In addition to Texas, Reyes has sent a proposal to purchase Republic Nationals Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia and Washington, D.C., markets, according to a spokesperson for the Texas-based distributor. Talks for six of those markets have been going on since at least January. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source We are working closely with Reyes, with a shared priority of ensuring a smooth and successful transition throughout this process, said Marc Sachs, president and CEO of Republic National. For now, all of our markets are still part of RNDC, and we continue to operate as we have been, with a strong focus on serving our customers and suppliers. The company spokesperson said Republic National is targeting a closing by the end of May, and for each of those markets that are not part of the Reyes transaction, it is business as usual. After the potential sale, Republic National would have 28 remaining markets, including Georgia, Illinois, New York and Oregon. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We are incredibly excited to expand our footprint in new and existing markets, Reyes CEO Tom Day said in a statement. This is an important milestone in Reyes history, and we thank the RNDC team for their collaboration. Together, we are committed to supporting employees and suppliers through this transition. Reyes added spirits to its portfolio in 2023 and has been quickly expanding since. Last year, the distributor acquired Brown-Formans spirits portfolio, which includes major brands like Jack Daniels, in California and Hawaii, replacing Republic National. It also added wine to its offerings last year, picking up distribution for Gallo, which owns brands like La Marca, Black Box and Barefoot, in California. Recent struggles Republic Nationals troubles began in January 2023, when New Orleans-based Sazerac Co., which owns popular brands including Fireball, Southern Comfort, Svedka and BuzzBallz, ended its partnership with Republic National, replacing it with regional distributors. Reyes is now in charge of distributing BuzzBallz in select markets. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The same month, Sazerac filed a lawsuit against Republic National, claiming it owed $38 million in delinquent invoices. Republic National countersued before the two settled outside of court at the end of 2024. Then, last June, Republic National shocked the industry when it announced it no longer would be operating in California, the nations largest wine market. Its exit left more than 2,500 producers without a distributor and 1,700 employees without a job. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Republic National also confirmed in February that it was laying off employees across its markets. Industry sources suggested that the distributor laid off about 100 employees in Florida and 40 in Texas, as well as others in Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Oklahoma and Washington. Previous merger attempt Republic National previously attempted to merge with one of its competitors, Breakthru Beverage Group, another of the largest alcohol wholesalers in the nation. In 2019, however, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission blocked the deal, citing significant concerns. (FTC) staff gathered extensive testimonial, documentary, and economic evidence to support our concerns that this transaction likely would have resulted in higher prices and diminished service in the distribution of wine and spirits in several states, Ian Conner, former deputy director of the FTCs Bureau of Competition, said in a statement. Advertisement Article continues below this ad While not a full merger, this potential deal with Reyes would continue to shrink options for producers across the country, especially smaller brands, and concentrate distribution among the top national players. MORE ALCOHOL NEWS: Here are the top sellers of alcohol in the San Antonio area in 2025 I think we all called that this would happen four years ago, Chris Ware of San Antonios Ranch Brand Wine & Spirits said of Reyes potential acquisition. It was only a matter of time when Sazerac jumped ship. Dealing with a national distributor can be challenging for budding craft distilleries. With the majority of big distributors focusing on high-volume national products, smaller brands can be overlooked or dropped. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Unlike wineries and breweries that can self-distribute to retailers and restaurants in Texas, distillers are beholden to a three-tier system in which products must be sold through a distributor. Distillers and brewers nationwide already have been struggling with slumping sales amid decreasing consumption, oversupply and the continuing downturn in the U.S. economy. The global alcohol industry is in a significant downturn as drinking habits have changed, with the stocks of major producers facing more than $830 billion in lost market value since 2021, according to Bloomberg. Recently, industry insiders joke that to succeed, we dont have to be the fastest; we simply need to outrun the other guy, said Boyan Kalusevic, co-founder of San Antonios Dorcol Distilling + Brewing Co. This leaves very little room for a healthy growing industry and its a direct outcome driven by the state legislatures and regulators continued support of a legacy market that favors only the largest scales among producers and distributors alike. The burden of that misguidance will always be carried by the local players. Impact on smaller producers While Reyes could choose to keep on smaller brands, a potential consolidation like this could leave them on the back burner and looking for a new distributor. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Ware relies on Republic National to distribute only one of his products, a grain alcohol in Louisiana. Because Reyes already distributes a similar product, he expects that his will be put to bed. Ill lose business, so it will affect my pocketbook, he said. Ware said the distribution company is still delinquent on payments to Ranch Brand Wine & Spirits after several months, despite his several attempts to collect them. He expects to receive a payment at least by the time the sale with Reyes is official. Advertisement Article continues below this ad It appears theyre taking care of major suppliers, who they want to stick around after this deal, he added. Id like to continue doing business with (Reyes), but if they dont need me, thats just the way it goes. Im not going to cry over spilled milk. Kalusevic and his co-founder, Chris Mobley, on the other hand, rely on Republic National as the sole distributor of the spirits they produce at their Southtown distillery. In 2012, Chris and I were two bright-eyed 29-year-old naive goofballs committed to changing the spirits world and growing the F&B (food and beverage) culture one cocktail at a time, when RNDC created a craft spirits division and fully embraced us as a quirky new spirit supplier distilling in Texas. And of all places, from the South Side of San Antonio, Kalusevic said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad While hes skeptical about what lies ahead, he hopes this possible transition with Reyes wont dismantle the hard work the distillery has put into making a name for itself within the industry. Blue Dragon, Glaucus Atlanticus, Blue Sea Slug S.Rohrlach/Getty Images/iStockphoto Beachgoers headed to the Texas coast for spring break may want to keep a close eye on the sand. Researchers with the Harte Research Institute say blue dragons, tiny blue sea slugs with a painful sting, are washing up again along Texas beaches as spring winds push offshore marine life onto shore. In a warning shared online, the institute said researchers found about 20 blue dragons along a short stretch of beach along North Padre Island and Mustang Island. The creatures, known scientifically as Glaucus atlanticus, are small enough to miss at a glance, usually measuring about 1 to 3 centimeters long, with dark and light blue coloring and wing-like appendages that give them their blue dragon nickname. Advertisement Article continues below this ad If you see one, take a photo but look and dont touch, the institute which is part of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi said in a social media post. Blue dragons feed on Portuguese man-o-war and can store the stinging cells from their prey in their own appendages, then use them for defense, even after the animal has washed ashore. The institute and federal ocean officials say those appendages, called cerata, hold the stinging cells in a concentrated form, making the slugs sting especially potent. Why are blue dragons in Texas? The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management says blue dragons are ocean drifters that spend their lives floating at the surface, carried by wind and currents and kept buoyant by a gas-filled sac in the stomach. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Blue Dragon, Glaucus Atlanticus, Blue Sea Slug S.Rohrlach/Getty Images/iStockphoto The species is commonly found in tropical and temperate waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans, but federal officials say its range has expanded in recent years to places including the east and south coasts of Australia, waters off South Africa and the Texas Gulf Coast. According to BOEM, that expansion is likely tied to warming ocean temperatures and changing ocean currents. The "Blue Wave" The institute warned the slug usually show up alongside a larger mix of floating marine life that includes Portuguese man-o-war, blue buttons, by-the-wind sailors and purple sea snails, a grouping oceanographers sometimes call the Blue Wave. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Human primacy must be upheld in military applications of artificial intelligence (AI), and all relevant weapon systems must be put under human control to avoid technological runaway, a Chinese defense spokesperson said on Wednesday. Jiang Bin, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks in response to a media question regarding reports that the U.S. Department of War demanded that American technology companies allow unrestricted use of AI technologies by the military, and the U.S. military employed AI tools extensively in military operations against Venezuela and Iran. Such choices as the unrestricted application of AI by the military, using AI as a tool to violate the sovereignty of other nations, allowing AI to excessively affect war decisions, and giving algorithms the power to determine life and death, not only erode ethical restraints and accountability in wars, but also risk technological runaway, Jiang said. He expressed opposition to using the lead in AI and other emerging technologies to pursue absolute military dominance or to undermine the sovereignty and territorial security of other countries. China will work with other nations to advance multilateral AI governance centered on the UN, strengthen risk prevention and control, and ensure that AI always advances in a direction conducive to the progress of human civilization. Carmen Mejia is escorted into the courtroom for a hearing at the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025 in Austin. Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman Carmen Mejia is a free woman. Vanessa Potkin, one of the attorneys who worked on Mejias wrongful conviction case, confirmed early Wednesday that the newly exonerated Austin mother who spent 23 years in prison was released from the Travis County jail in Del Valle late Tuesday night. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "I'm filled with love and gratitude," Mejia said in a written statement. "It's incredible that this moment to be with my daughters has arrived." Mejias release came just hours after the American-Statesman first reported that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security had lifted an immigration detainer against her that could have led to her imminent deportation. Potkin said Mejias legal team rushed to the jail Tuesday night after reporters informed them that federal immigration officials had lifted the hold. But when they arrived, jail staff told Potkin they had not yet received notice that the detainer had been withdrawn and that Mejia likely would not be released until Wednesday morning. Carmen Mejia hugs her daughters after being exonerated in Travis Countys 460th Criminal District Court in Austin Monday, March 9, 2026. The Texas Criminal Court of Appeals issued an opinion in January declaring that Meija was "actually innocent" in the killing of 10-month-old Abelardo Casiano, an infant she was babysitting at the time. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman After sharing the update with Mejia, Potkin and the other attorneys prepared to return to Austin. Shortly afterward, they received a phone call from a jail official informing them that Mejia was ready to be processed and released that night. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source We were thrilled, Potkin said. We would have driven from a different state to get her out if we needed to. Potkin said Mejia was overjoyed to leave jail, but even more so to spend the night with the daughters from whom she was separated in 2005 when she was wrongfully convicted of murder in the scalding death of an infant two years earlier. A judge cleared Mejia of all charges on Monday. Advertisement Article continues below this ad One of her daughters, who has been identified throughout the case as M.C., said she looked forward to spending more time with her mother and getting to know her. "When we saw her, we said, 'We never forgot you,'" M.C. said in a statement Wednesday. Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza, whose office played a key role in Mejias exoneration, praised the federal governments decision to lift the immigration hold. Ms. Mejias release is an example of the power that regular people have when they fight against injustice, Garza said in a written statement. Advertisement Article continues below this ad District Attorney Jose Garza speaks at a news conference after the exoneration hearing for four men wrongfully accused in the 1991 Austin yogurt shop murders at the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center in Austin on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. Forrest Welborn, Michael Scott, Robert Springsteen and Maurice Pierce, who is deceased, were declared actually innocent during the hearing. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Although Mejia is now free, her future in the United States remains uncertain. In its announcement, DHS said that because Mejia was exonerated, she is legally allowed to remain in the U.S. until her Temporary Protected Status expires. But Mejias attorneys say she is currently living in the United States without legal immigration status. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Mejia arrived in the United States from Honduras in 1995 and obtained "Temporary Protected Status" four years later. The designation allows migrants fleeing emergency conditions in their home countries to live and work legally in the United States. Carmen Mejia is comforted by her lawyer, Vanessa Potkin, director of special litigation with the Innocence Project, during her exoneration hearing in Travis Countys 460th Criminal District Court in Austin Monday, March 9, 2026. Judge David Wahlberg signed the order finding Mejia is actually innocent of the 2003 death of a 10-month-old infant in her care. Experts determined the baby was accidentally burned with scalding bathwater not intentionally harmed by Mejia, as prosecutors originally argued. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman The status requires periodic renewal, which Mejias attorneys said she was unable to maintain while incarcerated. According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website, the federal government stopped offering Temporary Protected Status to Hondurans on Sept. 8, 2025. Potkin said that Mejia's attorneys are exploring paths for the exonerated woman to regain legal immigration status and that they are confident the woman will not face the threat of deportation while that process unfolds. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Carmen Mejia enters the courtroom for her exoneration hearing in Travis Countys 460th Criminal District Court in Austin Monday, March 9, 2026. Judge David Wahlberg signed an order clearing Mejia of all charges in the 2003 scalding death of a 10-month-old infant in her care. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Carmen Mejia, the Austin mother exonerated Monday only to be returned to jail under the threat of deportation, will soon be freed after federal immigration officials lifted a detainer against her. A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will no longer seek to hold Mejia after her 2005 murder conviction was overturned. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In light of her conviction being overturned, she will be released from local custody, and ICE will lift the detainer," the spokesperson said in a written statement. "Due to her exoneration, she is legally allowed to remain in the U.S. until her Temporary Protected status expires. The spokesperson did not cite an expiration date but noted ICE issued the detainer in 2009 after Mejia was convicted of murder and placed in removal proceedings. At the time, she was serving three life sentences for the 2003 death of an infant a conviction that has now been overturned. Mejia was cleared of all related charges during a hearing Monday and released from state custody. But she was immediately transferred to the Travis County Jail because of the ICE detainer, which allows local authorities to hold someone for up to 48 hours so immigration agents can decide whether to take them into federal custody. Carmen Mejia, 34, center, sits next to one of her defense attorneys, Diana Salazar, right, before the start of her 2005 murder trial. At left is interpreter Maria Celeste Costley. Rodolfo Gonzalez/American-States Vanessa Potkin, an Innocence Project attorney who has worked for the last two years to clear Mejia's name, celebrated the agency's decision when reached by phone Tuesday night. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "This is exactly what we hoped would happen," Potkin told the American-Statesman. "We are so incredibly grateful to think in a few hours Carmen may be free and with her children." Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source Potkin did not know when Mejia would be released from the Travis County Correctional Complex in Del Valle where she was being held, but the jail's online roster listed her as an inmate as of 9 p.m. Tuesday. The Travis County Sheriff's Office did not immediately return a request for comment. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Cedric Ricks, 51, is set to be executed by lethal injection in Texas on March 11, 2026 for the 2013 capital murder of Roxann Sanchez and her son Anthony Figueroa. Courtesy/Texas Department of Criminal Justice The State of Texas is set to execute a man by lethal injection on Wednesday for the 2013 deaths of his girlfriend and her 8-year-old son. Cedric Ricks, 51, was sentenced to death after fatally stabbing Roxann Sanchez, 30 and her son Anthony Figueroa on May 1, 2013 in Bedford. He also stabbed Sanchez's 12-year-old son, Marcus Figueroa, who survived the attack. Ricks stabbed all three repeatedly following an argument with Sanchez, USA TODAY reports. At the time, Ricks and Sanchez had a 9-month-old child. The infant was not harmed. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In a recent filing in the U.S. Supreme Court, the Texas Attorney General's Office described the crime as "a nightmarish episode of brutality." A jury found Ricks guilty of capital murder after a two-week trial, in which Marcus Figueroa testified against him. When is Cedric Ricks' execution? Ricks is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11 in the Huntsville Unit near Houston. If he is not granted a stay, he will be the sixth death row inmate to be executed this year in the U.S., and the second in Texas. Texas denies stay of execution, appeal goes to SCOTUS Ricks' attorneys have asked the U.S. Supreme Court for a stay of execution, claiming prosecutors unfairly eliminated potential jurors based on race. This isn't Ricks' first appeal: The Associated Press reports previous appeals based on alleged ineffective counsel and a request for evidence in the case to be suppressed. Both prior appeals were denied. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source Austin ISD administrators hope to find a new position for all 1,450 staff members by April 1 whose schools have been affected by campus closures or turnaround plans. Ricardo B. Brazziell/American-Statesman More than 13% of Austin Independent School District employees have spent the spring searching for new jobs after the school board voted to close 10 campuses and International High School this summer. Many hope to find positions within the district. More rigorous hiring standards that are aimed at academic improvement and start next year at a handful of campuses have also prompted shifts for some of those more than 1,450 employees. The significant shuffling of positions marks a major change for many of the districts 10,805 staff members. Advertisement Article continues below this ad As of this week, 65% of the workers who will lose their roles have found a new position already, said Denisha Presley, Austin ISDs interim officer of talent strategy. Of the staff members who need to find new positions or reapply for a job, 726 work at a campus thats closing or had an academic program change, and 726 work at one of 12 campuses that will undergo a state-required plan to improve academic performance, called a turnaround plan. So far, 530 of the employees at turnaround campuses plan to remain on their current campus next year, Presley said. Odom Elementary is one of the schools changing its academic program next year. It will become an across campus or wall-to-wall, dual language school school next year. The school has to hire to meet the changing needs of the new programming. Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source Its a hard time for our employees, our teachers, our folks who are on the campuses serving our employees, Presley said. We keep that top of mind. Advertisement Article continues below this ad To help employees find jobs, the district hosted two in-person hiring fairs and created an online dashboard with job postings thats shared among campus principals, she said. Principals seeking to fill an open position can use the dashboard to recruit. A lot of our principals are being proactive and reaching out to the band director and the PE teacher, she said. The district normally hires 600 to 800 new employees each year to fill the positions vacated by people leaving or retiring from AISD. The district had a 17.9% turnover rate for teachers in the 2024-25 school year, according to TEA data. During the pandemic, turnover rates temporarily dipped lower, then increased as high as 32%, as exhausted staff left the teaching profession. The rate of staff leaving the district has since returned to normal. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Austin ISD likely wont need to hire the same number of external job candidates for the 2026-27 school year, Presley said. The district didnt yet have data on how many fewer staff positions there would be in AISD in the fall compared to this spring, she said. Placement challenges It is encouraging that the majority of disrupted AISD employees have found new positions, said Trasell Underwood, president of Education Austin, an employee group that represents district staff. Advertisement Article continues below this ad She hopes the full picture of which positions are open becomes clearer after April 10, when the largest phase of student enrollment closes, and principals get initial counts for students on their campuses. But for staff who havent found a job yet, the situation is probably incredibly stressful. If you look over and you have four or five other colleagues who have been placed and you havent yet, thats a scary prospect, Underwood said. The fear and the confusion is heightened right now because youre in the middle of the tornado. Educators move campuses every year, but the scale of this years movement is unusual. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This has been on a larger scale in history, Underwood said. That makes this very unique and a hard lift for the district. Austin ISD announced in December which principals will lead district campuses. This decision will likely help staff make choices on where they will land, as teachers often want to know the principal before they move to a new school, Underwood said. Austin ISD has had challenges placing certain employees with specialty positions, such as librarians, who only have a handful of staffing options throughout the district, Presley said. Like with other positions, Austin ISD has been prioritizing placing certified librarians for in-library jobs. While district administrators want other non-certified employees to stay in Austin ISD, their job may not be in a library or their preferred area, she said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad These are very personalized conversations were having with these individuals, Presley said. The district has also added some positions in specialty areas at a few campuses where the influx of new students from closing schools prompted the need for additional teachers, Presley said. For example, more students may mean a school needs three physical education teachers instead of one. As it finds new placements for staff from closing schools, AISD is also staffing five campuses that must improve their academic outcomes L inder, Sanchez, Pecan Springs and Wooldridge elementaries and Paredes Middle School. Each of these campuses have special hiring requirements next year as part of the more stringent r equirements of their turnaround plans. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The ACE model is one of several strategies AISD is implementing at a dozen campuses next year in an effort to boost student scores. The district intends to have all district employees connected with their new position by April 1, Presley said. AISD wont hire any job candidate from outside the district until April 10, unless the superintendent gives special permission, she said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad If employees dont have a job by April, other positions will likely become available, Presley said. When principals get more concrete enrollment data, theyll have a better idea of exactly how many staff members they need for next year, she said. Joe Rogan did not hold back when criticizing President Donald Trump over U.S.-Israeli war against Iran during Tuesday podcast episode. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC Right-wing comedian, podcaster and pseudo-political figure Joe Rogan did not mince his words, calling President Donald Trumps move to intervene in the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran insane, declaring a lot of people felt betrayed. It just seems so insane based on what he ran on, Rogan said in a Tuesday episode of the Joe Rogan Experience, featuring journalist Michael Shellenberger. Advertisement Article continues below this ad He ran on more wars, end these stupid, senseless wars, and then we have one that we cant even really clearly define why we did it, Rogan added. How did we get here? The war began just over a week ago, early Feb. 28, when the U.S. and Israel launched coordinated strikes inside Iran. The opening barrage of targeted attacks killed late Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei and other senior Iranian officials. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Experts have challenged Trump's actions since, questioning whether his moves are running up against the limits of the presidential war powers, as Congress has not declared war. Pentagon officials told Congress there was no intelligence that Iran was about to attack U.S. forces first. Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source Initially, the Trump administrations defined goals, to stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon and cripple the missile and military capabilities that could threaten the U.S., Israel, and other allies, were limited in scope. Now, the messaging has shifted. Trump, who previously called on Iranians to take over their government, has switched gears, saying the U.S. should help decide who leads Iran next, and over the weekend, said ending the war would be a mutual decision made with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 'He ran on no more wars': Rogan and other MAGA-aligned media figures take issue with Trump's switch-up Trumps campaign pitch since his first presidential run in 2016 has touched on his criticism of past U.S. military interventions in the Middle East. He has baked into the idea of reapproaching foreign policy a non-interventionist perspective as a core tenet of both the Make America Great Again and America First movements. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Rogan pointed out the contrast in Trumps previous stance versus his recent actions, blasting the presidents decisions involving Iran, and a U.S. air strike in Venezuela, as well as the subsequent kidnapping of the Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Neither thing made sense to me, the Venezuela thinglook, they wanted him out forever, he definitely stole the election to get in there in the first place, and he was a dictatorbut, at least that one was clean to go in and kidnap him, this one is nuts, Rogan said. Rogan is not the first prominent conservative, previously MAGA-aligned media figure to speak out against Trumps actions in the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran. Conservative podcaster Tucker Carlson told ABC News that the Iran campaign is disgusting and evil, and former Fox News host Megyn Kelly said she would like to be better convinced that this is worth the sacrifice of American blood and treasure. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Trump dismissed the criticism, saying, MAGA is TrumpMAGAs not the other two, referring to Carlson and Kelly. Rogan's ties to Trump Trump appeared on Rogan's podcast as part of a campaign targeting younger male voters during the 2024 presidential election. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Texas Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful James Talarico addresses supporters at his election night watch party in South Austin Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Texas Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful James Talarico greets supporters at his election night watch party in South Austin Wednesday, March 4, 2026. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Texas Democratic Senate candidate Texas state Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, speaks for the first time since winning the Democratic nomination in Austin, Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Eric Gay/Associated Press Shortly after winning his own GOP primary on Tuesday, Gov. Greg Abbott went on a tirade against a Democrat who he said is "not right for Texas" and will be "toast" in November. But it wasn't the one Abbott will be facing. Instead, the Republican governor launched a flurry of online attacks against James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate. And he wasn't alone. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In the days after Talarico won the Democratic primary, the Republican attacks have continued like bursts of machine gun fire, coming from President Donald Trump, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, state-level lawmakers and GOP activists eager to share their views on social media and get an early start weakening the Democrat while his would-be Republican opponents are focused on a bitter runoff. While Republicans have gone after all aspects of Talarico's record, many have also taken aim at what political analysts see as Talarico's biggest asset: the Christian faith that's been central to the seminary student's campaign. Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source "When Texans and Americans learn about your Bernie Sanders voting record, you will be toast," Abbott wrote in one post. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Talarico has yet to directly counter the messaging. But in his own primary night speech, Talarico sought to brace his supporters for the fusillade of attacks that would be coming his way. "They're going to throw everything they have at us," the Austin state representative said in prepared remarks. "They're going to call me a radical leftist, they're going to call me a fake Christian. They'll call our movement unTexan, unAmerican. They'll call us a threat. The only truth is, we are a threat to their corrupt system." The barrage of attacks comes nine months before the general election in November, and as Republicans have no clear candidate in the race. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton are expected to face off in a May 26 runoff, and public polling shows Talarico would fare well in November against either. Trump, who had remained neutral in the primary, conceded the day after the election that he'll likely need to come off the sidelines if the Republicans hope to keep Texas' Senate seat. In a lengthy Truth Social post on March 4, the president suggested in one sentence that Talarico would be "easy to beat," but in the next, he said it would take a "perfect" race by the nominee to avoid a GOP defeat. As of Tuesday, Trump had not yet announced who he would endorse. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Stockpiling ammunition against Talarico It's clear that Republicans have been stockpiling their ammunition against Talarico for months. And that, unlike other politicians who scrub their online histories before launching major campaigns, Talarico himself has left much it in plain sight. Abbott resurfaced a March 2021 social media post by Talarico in which the Democrat had boasted his co-authorship of legislation "to explicitly teach 'diversity, equity, and inclusion' in our schools." "Great," Abbott said in his online reply. "A large majority of Texas voters are against your crazy DEI mandates." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Many of the initial salvos were concentrated on his religious faith, which he made the centerpiece of his primary campaign and which earned him extensive and largely favorable media coverage because it challenged the long-running narrative that Democrats are loath to mix scripture with stump speeches. In his election night speech to supporters, not long after it was clear he'd make the GOP runoff, Paxton questioned Talarico's views on religion, saying he "thinks Christians are commanded to put boys in girls' sports." In an interview on "The Charlie Kirk Show" podcast, which has continued since the assassination of the conservative influencer in September, Republican state Rep. Steve Toth of Conroe sought to sow doubt on Talarico's religious sincerity. "I served with James Talarico from 2019 to today," said Toth, who in the GOP primary ousted U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw of Houston. "This guy is as evil as they come. There is a darkness to this man's life. If you doubt that there is a wickedness and evil and a demonic presence in the world, you only have to look at James Talarico. He's an awful, awful person." Lesa Haney, left, Beth Fuston, right, and supporters react to election results at Texas Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful James Talaricos election night watch party in South Austin Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman A 2024 national study by the Pew Research Center found religious voters, especially white voters, tend to break for Republicans. The study found that nearly 60% of all Protestants are Republicans or lean Republican. Among all Christian evangelicals, 85% are in the Republican column. Republicans have a less commanding lead, 52-44, among Catholics. Black Protestants tilt toward the Democrats by a more than 8-1 margin. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Strategist Monique Alcala, a former executive director of the Texas Democratic Party, likened the tear-down strategy to the so-called swift-boat ads that were aimed at 2004 Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry and sought to undermine his decorated service during the Vietnam War. The ads featured veterans who had served with Kerry and claimed he was unworthy of the military honors he had earned. But Alcala said the political landscape has changed in the years since 2004. "With the media ecosystem being as it as it currently is, where digital content creators have a more elevated platform, I wonder whether a swift boat-type attack would work today," she said. "There's just so much information being thrown at people. Like, what sticks?" So far, Talarico has not directly addressed the post-primary attacks, which have also included jabs at his speeches on the floor of the Texas House, where he called God "nonbinary" and affirmed support for gender-affirming care for minors. But Talarico has in recent days recycled clips of news interviews where he calls the focus on wedge issues a sideshow that aims to pit one group against another. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "I've had a lot of interviews with national media. No one's ever asked me about the cost of housing. No one's asked me about the cost of prescription drugs," he said in a post last week that links to a cable news clip from September. "The only thing the media wants to ask me about are trans athletes." Will the attacks take their toll? Alvaro Corral, a political science professor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, said the attacks coming Talarico's way are likely to have little effect on Democratic base voters. But the Republicans' efforts to define him early on could persuade swing South Texas voters, who have been credited with swinging the primary to Talarico, he said. "Not everyone has fully formed an opinion about him," Corral said. "So it makes sense that they're trying to maybe take away one of his notable strengths early on." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Political operative Mark McKinnon, who was an adviser to George W. Bush during his campaigns for Texas governor and later for president, said Republicans have good reason to fear going up against Talarico, who went from being an obscure minority-party state lawmaker to a national figure in just six months. "Democrats have been in the desert for three decades. Talarico could be Moses," said McKinnon, who is no longer active in campaigns but warned the Democrat not to overreact to the Republican bombardment. "He shouldn't ignore, but also shouldn't flatter and bring more attention to the charges. He should just throw a flare now and say 'Here it comes. Desperation breeds fear, which breeds lies.'" Luke Twombly, an official with the Texas Republican Party, said the GOP attacks have less to do with fearing Talarico and more to do with setting the agenda for the remainder of the race. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "I do think it is important to control the narrative," Twombly said. "We're really not concerned about losing Texas. Whether it's Paxton or Cornyn and on top of the ticket, no one on the right is concerned." But that doesn't mean the Democrat's social media platforms and remarks on television will not to be studied and dissected over the coming months, he added "I don't want to call it low-hanging fruit," Twombly said. "It basically fell into our basket." Alexis Ortiz, a sales representative with THC Supply Co., shows cannabis flower to a customer at CHAMPS Trade Show at the Palmer Events Center Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025. The three-day business-to-business trade show focuses on the counterculture, smoke shop, and cannabis-related industries. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman The 17.7 million Americans who use marijuana daily or near-daily can relax: The Supreme Court appears poised to hold that Congress can't prohibit them from owning firearms. More significantly, the argument revealed that the Supreme Court's originalist doctrine on gun laws has made it increasingly difficult for Congress to bar almost anyone from owning a gun. The oral argument before the justices this month in U.S. v. Hemani focused on whether there is a historical analogy between today's cannabis users and the habitual drunkards who could be imprisoned or fined under 18th-century law. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The case involves a Texas man, Ali Danial Hemani, who was charged with violating a federal law that bars users of illegal drugs from possessing a firearm. In 2022, FBI agents found a gun, marijuana and cocaine in Hemani's home, and he admitted that he used marijuana regularly. There were some priceless moments in court, including an extended colloquy between Justice Elena Kagan and Hemani's attorney about a hypothetical statute that Congress might pass to disarm users of the psychedelic drug ayahuasca. The legal background for Hemani's case was set by the Supreme Court in two recent cases: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen (2022) and U.S. v. Rahimi (2024). In Bruen, the court, in an opinion by Justice Clarence Thomas, held that gun laws must be consistent with historical practice and tradition to be constitutional under the Second Amendment. In Rahimi, an 8-to-1 decision written by Chief Justice John Roberts, with Thomas' dissent, the court modified the Bruen test. Emphasizing that the law must not be trapped in amber, Roberts wrote that Congress could ban gun ownership for people deemed dangerous in ways analogous to historical determinations of public dangerousness. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Although Rahimi was certainly an improvement over the categorical Bruen, the Hemani case demonstrates how difficult it still is to draw a historical analogy even under Rahimi. The federal law in question makes gun ownership unlawful for anyone who is "an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance." Hemani was charged on the theory that he was a marijuana user, not an addict. At oral argument, the lawyer representing the Department of Justice said that the government would apply the law only to people it deemed habitual users. But when pressed on the fact that many states now permit marijuana use and that even the federal government rarely enforces its law against users she largely sidestepped the question. To win, the government has to convince the justices that there is a historical analogy between the current federal law as applied to marijuana users and founding-era laws that allowed the fining or imprisonment of habitual drunkards. The main problem with that analogy, as Hemani's lawyer, Erin Murphy, pointed out, is that 18th-century laws didn't allow punishment of habitual drinkers only habitual drunkards. In contrast, the Trump administration didn't claim that Hemani was anything more than a habitual user of marijuana. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Justice Neil Gorsuch set a lighthearted tone by noting that the American Temperance Society back in the day said eight shots of whiskey a day only made you an occasional drunkard. When that got a laugh, Gorsuch went on a brief tour of the drinking habits of the Founding Fathers: John Adams took a tankard of hard cider with his breakfast every day. James Madison reportedly drank a pint of whiskey every day. Thomas Jefferson said he wasn't much of a user of alcohol; he only had three or four glasses of wine a night, OK? Are they all habitual drunkards who would be properly disarmed for life under your theory? As the author of a biography of James Madison, I can tell you that the reported account of Madison is wrong. As I put it in my book, Madison would provide his guests with the best wine he could afford, but he himself never took more than a glass at meals, and he never drank hard liquor. Still, Gorsuch was absolutely correct to point out that the quantities of alcohol consumed by most people at the founding, not to mention through the 19th century and even the middle of the 20th century, were staggering by today's standards. A drunkard wasn't simply someone who drank a lot. It was someone who habitually walked around blind drunk in public, thereby creating a nuisance for others. That's extremely far from someone who occasionally uses pot. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The argument grew more animated from there. Justice Amy Coney Barrett asked whether the government could disarm someone who took his wife's prescribed Ambien several nights a week to help him sleep. She then raised the example of a college student who took his roommate's Adderall to study for an exam. SIGN UP FOR THE AUSTIN ANGLE and get Statesman commentaries in your inbox If these hypotheticals suggested that Barrett wasn't a complete stranger to the concept of illegal-but-maybe-not-a-danger-to-the-public drug use, Kagan's psychedelic question to Murphy was more outre. She prefaced it with a disclaimer: I'm going to say I don't know a lot about this drug, I'm assuming you don't know a lot about this drug, so what I'm going to tell you about this drug, let's just assume is the truth about this drug. With the courtroom's curiosity well piqued, she continued: Advertisement Article continues below this ad So it's the drug is Ayahuasca, and it's a very, very, very intense hallucinogen, and the episode lasts a very long time. But it's not, let's say, an addictive drug. You know, you can choose when to take it. But, when you're in its grip, like, you basically reality dissolves, all right? And I'm assuming that Congress has a good reason for saying, when reality dissolves, you don't want guns around. Kagan asked whether Congress could ban gun ownership by ayahuasca users during the time they weren't on the psychedelic. Murphy said no: If a person took ayahuasca once every two weeks, and wasn't under its influence 13 days out of 14, that would not be analogous to a habitual drunkard. Roberts then interjected, I think it could be used every week, not just every third week or every other day. The transcript reflects no laughter in the courtroom regarding the hypothetical every-other-day ayahuasca user, which certainly suggests the limits of the justices' understanding of its effects. (Believe it or not, this wasn't the first time the Supreme Court has addressed ayahuasca. In an important 2006 case, the justices held that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act created an exception to the federal prohibition on the drug - which the court called "hoasca" for sincere religious believers using it as a sacrament.) Advertisement Article continues below this ad Wind turbines are shown north of Abilene. Texas has always led in energy. At a time of rising risk, we should double down on solutions, not roll them back, a reader says. Austin American-Statesman Rollbacks put us at risk Advertisement Article continues below this ad Extreme weather is no longer a distant threat for Texas. Last summers deadly Hill Country floods were a heartbreaking reminder that climate change is costly. Our communities are already paying the price. Rolling back climate protections now would only make these disasters worse. Texans cannot afford higher insurance premiums, more asthma attacks or billions in additional damages. Weakening the Environmental Protection Agencys ability to regulate carbon pollution shifts those costs onto working families. Instead of retreating, Texas should continue building on whats working. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We lead the nation in wind and solar power, and clean energy reduces pollution while strengthening our grid during extreme heat and cold. It is one of the most practical tools we have to cut costs and protect public health. Texas has always led in energy. At a time of rising risk, we should double down on solutions, not roll them back. Dhriti Mangaraju, Austin Advertisement Article continues below this ad T-shirt breaks rule On Election Day, I wore a T-shirt that says, Democracy is not a Spectator Sport, to remind myself and others that voting is a right and privilege. It is our duty to make sure we get ourselves to the polls. I grabbed my ID and crib sheet and walked to my voting place. At the station where I got my blank ballot, a very cordial election worker said she was sorry but I would have cover up my shirt. What? I immediately looked down at the front. What could possibly be so problematic? Democracy? Advertisement Article continues below this ad Democracy comes from the Greek word meaning rule by the people. The first words of our Constitution are We the People and the First Amendment to the Constitution guarantees freedom of speech. It's a ridiculous rule. How would they have covered up my shirt had I not also brought a denim shirt? Daylia Vaughan, Austin Twice a year we hear about complaints of having to change our clocks. A reader says we can and should stay on Standard Time year-round. Austin American-Statesman Here we go again Twice a year we hear about complaints of having to change our clocks. Nobody likes it. Advertisement Article continues below this ad It does not save energy. It causes health and other problems. In Texas, daylight saving time results in an extra hour of heat in the summer evenings. Hot 'nuff for ya? Please contact your state representatives and senators to introduce a bill to do away with daylight saving time. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We can and should stay on Standard Time year round. James Machin, Austin UNITED NATIONS, March 11 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was outraged over the drone-attack killing of a UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) staffer in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a UN spokesman said Wednesday. "Our colleague Karine Buisset was killed in a drone strike on a building that was housing aid workers," said Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for Guterres. "Karine was a dedicated humanitarian who worked tirelessly to support children and families impacted by conflict and crisis." Peacekeepers from the UN mission in the DRC responded for emergency support and conducted an initial assessment of the strike in Goma, he said. The spokesperson said Buisset is the second humanitarian worker killed in the DRC this year, citing the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Since January, at least 92 incidents impacting humanitarian workers have been reported across the country. Parties to the DRC conflict must ensure the protection of civilians and those providing life-saving assistance, Dujarric said. "Humanitarian personnel must never be a target. This is international law. It is not up for debate, nor is up for negotiation. It must be respected." He said the mission also called on all parties to immediately cease hostilities, in accordance with their commitment to respect the ceasefire, to prioritize the path toward the political solution and to capitalize on the gains recently achieved within the framework of peace efforts. Goma is the capital of North Kivu province, on the north shore of Lake Kivu, and was last reported under the control of the March 23 Movement rebel forces. Zhao Leji, executive chairman of the presidium of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), presides over the third meeting of the presidium at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The presidium of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, held its third meeting on Wednesday. Zhao Leji, the presidium's executive chairman, presided over the meeting. The meeting decided to submit the draft environmental code, the draft law on promoting ethnic unity and progress, and the draft law on national development planning to a plenary meeting for a vote. The meeting decided to submit four documents to NPC delegations for deliberation. They were draft resolutions on the work reports of the NPC Standing Committee, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate, as well as a draft decision on approving the report of the NPC Standing Committee on the work of the overhaul of laws and the proposed handling of certain laws and decisions. The meeting also heard and passed a report on handling proposals put forward by NPC deputies during the session. Zhao, who is also chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over a meeting of the executive chairpersons of the presidium before the presidium's third meeting. Zhao Leji, executive chairman of the presidium of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) and chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presides over the second meeting of executive chairpersons of the presidium at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) CAIRO, March 11 (Xinhua) -- As the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran drags on, it is wreaking increasingly severe havoc on global energy and economic markets. Analysts are weighing how this deadly conflict, initiated by the United States and Israel, might eventually conclude. Below are several potential endgames for the regional crisis, as outlined by U.S. and Israeli officials and examined by regional observers. REGIME CHANGE? Officials from the United States and Israel have hinted that the strike on Iran aims to force a change in the Iranian political system. "We have a systematic plan to eradicate the Iranian regime and achieve many other objectives," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised address last week. Although the United States and Israel killed then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the first round of attacks on Tehran, the Iranian political system did not undergo a fundamental shake-up. Iran quickly elected Mojtaba Khamenei, who holds a more staunchly anti-U.S. and anti-Israel stance, as the new supreme leader. Following Mojtaba Khamenei's election, the Iranian armed forces and pro-Tehran groups in the region quickly pledged their support, allowing Iran's political system to continue operating largely intact and without major disruption. Ali Al-Harthi, a Saudi political writer and analyst, said that while the United States and Israel may have succeeded in targeting certain Iranian military capabilities, achieving broader objectives, such as forcing a fundamental change in the behavior of the Iranian system or significantly weakening it, appears far more difficult. "UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER" OF IRAN? U.S. President Donald Trump has said that the United States demands an unconditional surrender of Iran. "There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER! After that, and the selection of a GREAT & ACCEPTABLE Leader(s)," he said on social media on March 6. Regarding the U.S. demand, Iran has made no concessions. Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) said on March 11 that it will continue striking Israel and U.S. bases across the Middle East until it perceives the threat of war against Iran has ended. "We only think of the enemy's complete surrender," the IRGC said in a statement on its official outlet Sepah News. As the conflict drags on, Iran's ongoing counterattacks have also inflicted heavy damage on both Israel and multiple U.S. military bases across the Middle East, signaling Tehran's resolute stance. "There are mistakes and poor strategy by the United States, because it clearly did not realize that Iran is a strategic knot present in this region and that this regime cannot be overthrown easily," said Mokhtar Ghobashy, secretary-general of the Cairo-based El-Faraby Center for Political Studies. ATTRITIONAL WAR? Both Israel and Iran have signaled that they are prepared to keep the war going. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz suggested that the timeline for ending the war is open-ended. "The operation will continue without any time limit, as long as required, until we accomplish all objectives and achieve victory in the campaign," he said, according to The Times of Israel. For his part, Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on March 10 that the country is well-prepared to continue missile attacks against Israel and U.S. bases in the West Asia region for as long as needed. Despite Iran and Israel showing readiness for a drawn-out war, analysts believe that the U.S. factor will heavily influence the conflict's long-term viability. Perhaps to Israel's disappointment, the United States does not appear willing to engage in a prolonged war of attrition with Iran. In an interview with U.S. online media outlet Axios, Trump said the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran will end "soon," because there is "practically nothing left to target." Some observers argue that Washington's rush to pull back is less about achieving its objectives and more about the heavy toll the war has taken, including soaring oil prices and damage to its military assets in the region. "I believe that the United States has entered a dilemma," Ghobashy said. "It may be more severe than Afghanistan, Vietnam, Iraq, or other places the United States has entered, given the American losses." CEASEFIRE WITHOUT CLEAR VICTOR? Some analysts argue that one likely outcome of the regional war is not a decisive military victory by either side but a ceasefire or gradual de-escalation driven by the rising costs of a prolonged conflict. Abu Bakr al-Deeb, a scholar at the Arab Center for Research and Studies in Cairo, said an eventual halt in the fighting could be driven less by political compromise than by mounting economic pressure, which neither side can bear. He noted that sustained disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and sharp increases in oil prices could prompt major powers to push both sides toward de-escalation. Such a scenario could result in what he described as a "fragile stalemate," shifting the region from open warfare to a tense period of containment. Under this kind of ceasefire, all sides would have to endure the war's consequences: Israel and the United States might confront a more antagonistic Iran, and Iran could see its regional influence weakened. Whatever the scenario, this war has already had profound and lasting impacts on the world. "What has taken place during this phase has gone beyond many of the principles and rules established by the international institutions formed after World War II, and has crossed a number of red lines that had long been considered fundamental to the international order," said Abdulnabi Salman, first deputy speaker of the Council of Representatives of Bahrain. "As a result, these developments have produced complex crises and deep repercussions that may require many years of effort to restore stability and balance," he added. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Europe District contractor crews make rail improvements in Swietoszow, Poland, on May 21, 2025. The 510th Regional Support Group has received $11.7 million to fund base infrastructure improvements supporting U.S. rotational forces across Poland and the Baltic states. (Hannah Mitchell/U.S. Army) POZNAN, Poland An Army Reserve unit has received $11.7 million to fund infrastructure improvements at bases supporting U.S. rotational forces across Poland and the Baltic states. The funding will mainly go toward expansion of billeting and lodging, improvement of motor pool maintenance areas and upgrades to security in support of Base Operations SupportIntegration, or BOS-I. The 510th Regional Support Group manages contracts, logistics and base support functions at several forward operating sites in the region. Its responsibilities include infrastructure maintenance, utilities management, host-nation coordination and services supporting soldiers health and welfare. The BOS-I responsibility means making sure the base runs and functions the way its supposed to so tactical commanders can focus on their mission, said Maj. George Harrivel, the group engineer. That includes things like water, life support, housing and maintenance facilities that support the tactical units. Project locations will include the Bemowo Piskie and Deba training areas in Poland as well as locations in Latvia and Estonia, such as Adazi, Lielvarde, Tapa and Roodu. Harrivel said the goal is to ensure that incoming units arrive at what planners describe as turnkey facilities. They will be able to step in and immediately begin operations, he said. Ideally, we want anyone whos moving to basically walk in, get the keys to the house, unlock it and use it. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Europe District project engineers discuss ongoing military construction projects at Camp Kosciuszko, Poland, on May 19, 2025. The 510th Regional Support Group will spearhead a $11.7 million effort to upgrade base facilities across Poland and the Baltic states. (Christopher Gardner/U.S. Army) For over a decade, the Army has been building up its presence along NATOs eastern flank, with countries like Poland and the Baltic states serving as the center of gravity for operations aimed at deterring Russian aggression. The service has relied heavily on rotational forces to achieve those aims. While several projects focus on improving life support areas for soldiers, another effort includes upgrading motor pool infrastructure to support the heavy equipment brought by U.S. units. We want to make sure that when these units show up with their vehicles whether theyre fuelers, rolling stock or tanks the ground can support those vehicles the way it needs to, Harrivel said. That way, were not damaging host-nation property or infrastructure. While some improvements are tied to new projects, others involve working with host-nation partners to expand existing facilities. In Latvia, for example, a life-support project at Lielvarde Air Base is being led in part by Latvian partners, with the U.S. providing design input to ensure that facilities meet standards set by U.S. Army Europe and Africa. Forward operating sites vary widely in population size, development and mission requirements, according to Col. Daniel Meyers, commander of the 510th Regional Support Group. While each location is designed to meet basic needs, soldiers stationed at larger sites increasingly expect modern necessities alongside the typical facilities. Soldier expectations for quality of life have evolved, Meyers said. The demand for traditional amenities like gyms and dining facilities remains, but there is now a significant need for modern connectivity such as Wi-Fi so soldiers can stay connected with family and friends. This undated photo shows the main gate at Camp Pendleton in California. (Roger Wilson, The San Diego Union-Tribune/TNS) SAN DIEGO (Tribune News Service) Federal court records show that in recent months, at least 22 foreign-born individuals living lawfully in the United States have been detained for hours by Marine Corps personnel at Camp Pendleton, and then arrested by immigration officers and held for weeks or longer, for trying to access the military base inadvertently or for work purposes. In each of those cases, the person who was arrested filed a habeas corpus petition, alleging that their detention was unlawful. In the 20 cases that have been decided, federal judges in San Diego have agreed with the detainees and ruled that those individuals were unlawfully held in detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Two recently filed petitions are still pending. San Diego immigration attorneys said there are dozens of such cases, mostly involving ride-share or delivery drivers, or Interstate 5 travelers in need of food or gas who didnt realize their phones navigation apps were leading them onto a military base. Court records showed the 20 individuals who successfully petitioned for release, most of whom are seeking asylum, were arrested despite being in the U.S. lawfully, obtaining proper work authorizations and abiding by the terms of their immigration parole. At least three additional individuals not included in the court records were arrested under similar circumstances last month, according to reports by NBC 7 San Diego and the Military Times. Marine Corps officials did not answer specific questions about the practice of detaining certain individuals and turning them over to ICE. Instead, they provided a statement that included a link to a webpage with detailed procedures for accessing the base, including instructions for both foreign nationals and ride-share drivers. The safety and security of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and the Marines, Sailors, families, civilians, and visitors who live and work here remain a top priority, Capt. James Sartain, a communications officer from Marine Corps Installations West, said in the statement. Individuals seeking entry must have approved credentials and a valid reason to access the base. Last May, Camp Pendleton announced that it was launching an interagency security initiative with ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It was designed, in part, to deter unauthorized installation access by foreign nationals. In its announcement of the initiative, base officials acknowledged that most unauthorized access attempts are inadvertent, often caused by civilian motorists unintentionally navigating to base gates due to GPS misdirection. That was the case for Artak, who has lived in the U.S. for more than a decade, according to records in his habeas corpus petition. Artak who the Union-Tribune is identifying by his first name only at the request of his attorney was granted immigration parole in 2015 after authorities determined he had a credible fear of returning to his birth country of Georgia. Since 2015, he has applied for asylum, been granted work authorization, integrated himself into his community and lived in the U.S. without issue, according to a judges ruling. It was two days after Thanksgiving last year, while driving from Los Angeles to San Diego, that Artak and another person in his car pulled off Interstate 5 in search of a bite to eat. Unbeknownst to them, their cellphone navigation app was leading them to a Jersey Mikes Subs located on Camp Pendleton. Rather than allowing the pair to turn around and leave, base guards questioned them about their immigration status, then made Artak wait roughly four hours until ICE officers arrived and arrested him. Artak remained in ICE custody for nearly a month until a San Diego federal judge ruled hed been wrongfully detained without due process and should be released. Brian McGoldrick, a San Diego immigration attorney, said that while Camp Pendleton guards typically allow confused drivers to turn around, guards are increasingly identifying his clients by their California drivers licenses, which are marked with the word limited. When the guards see that designation, McGoldrick said, they ask the person if they have a green card. When his clients answered negatively, the guards kept them until ICE officers arrived and arrested them. Coordination with other law enforcement agencies is not new, Sartain, the Camp Pendleton spokesperson, said in the statement. Marine Corps installations routinely coordinate with appropriate law enforcement authorities when potential violations of federal or state law occur on Marine Corps installations. But immigration attorneys such as McGoldrick have successfully argued their clients are not violating any laws, and San Diego federal judges have instead repeatedly ruled in the habeas petition cases that its the government thats acting unlawfully. Those 20 successful habeas petitions filed by Artak and the others arrested at Camp Pendleton are part of a broader trend across San Diego and the nation. According to data from the U.S. Attorneys Office in San Diego, which defends federal government agencies and employees in such cases, there were just 99 civil immigration-related cases handled by the office in 2024. That number, the vast majority of which are habeas petitions, jumped to 593 in 2025 and nearly 800 just in the first two months of 2026. In the 20 Camp Pendleton cases reviewed by the Union-Tribune that have been decided, each individual has eventually been released from custody or granted an immigration bond hearing. Judges ruled in those cases that the Trump administration violated the detainees due process rights by revoking their immigration parole and detaining them without justification. The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to questions specifically about the ICE arrests on Camp Pendleton. Individuals born in China, Russia, India, Nepal, Afghanistan, Turkey, Mexico, Georgia, Honduras and the former Soviet Union filed the 22 Camp Pendleton habeas cases reviewed by the Union-Tribune. One man had been in the U.S. since 1988, while several others had arrived as recently as 2024. At least four were working for Uber the company did not respond to questions about what steps it is taking, if any, to help its drivers while at least two were working for DoorDash and at least one was working for Lyft. At least five were looking for food or a restroom when they inadvertently took an I-5 exit to the base. McGoldrick said that while judges have continually granted his clients petitions and freed them from detention, they still suffer a great hardship by being ripped from their homes and unlawfully detained for weeks or months at a time. It really destroys their lives, he said, relating the story of a ride-share driver whose car was impounded after he was arrested at Camp Pendleton. By the time a judge ordered the man released from custody about six weeks later, McGoldrick said the impound fees cost more than what the car was worth. All because he was delivering somebody on the base, McGoldrick said. Staff writer Kristen Taketa contributed to this report. 2026 The San Diego Union-Tribune. Visit sandiegouniontribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Members of Houthi security forces stand guard during an anti-Israel and anti-U.S. rally in the Houthi-controlled capital of Sanaa, Yemen, on Jan. 19, 2024. (Mohammed Huwais/AFP via TNS) (Tribune News Service) While the Iran war rages, Israel is quietly planning for a potential base at the mouth of the Red Sea from which to strike one of the Islamic Republics last proxies still operating at full strength: the Houthis of Yemen. Thats thanks to Somaliland, the breakaway territory on the Gulf of Aden that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government recognized in December a move that handed Israel its first diplomatic presence across from Yemen. Now, the Jewish state will follow up with a strategic security partnership that may involve Israel building a base possibly covert on its pristine coast, despite widespread regional criticism, according to Khadar Hussein Abdi, Somalilands minister of the presidency. In terms of security, we will have a strategic relationship and that encompasses a lot of things, Abdi told Bloomberg at his office in Hargeisa, the capital. We havent discussed with them if it becomes a military base, but definitely there will be an analysis at some point. Since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28, oil and gas prices have surged, with the Strait of Hormuz which carries about a fifth of the worlds oil effectively closed. As the conflict has dragged on, the shipping industry has faced escalating war-risk insurance premiums, with Iran striking several vessels. So far the Houthis have held back on attacking ships in the waterway but have suggested they could enter the war. Even if the war ends swiftly, it underscores the importance of Israels desire to secure a presence at the gateway to the Red Sea. Israel has already begun laying the groundwork for a potential base. Last June, a small group of Israeli security officials arrived in Somaliland to visit its strategic coastline, according to people familiar with the matter. The group spent days surveying the self-declared nations beaches, in order to identify a possible site for a base or installation to fight the Houthis, based just 160 miles across the Gulf of Aden in Yemen, the people said. A spokesperson for the Israeli government didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. One location under consideration by Israel, according to people familiar with the matter, is an area of high terrain about 62 miles west of Berbera, the port city where the United Arab Emirates which normalized relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords has both a DP World harbor and a military airstrip. The Houthis considered a terrorist group by the U.S. have held their fire since the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, but remain Tehrans most formidable proxy after Israel crippled both Hamas and Hezbollah. Tensions between the group and Israel escalated in 2023, after the Yemeni militia began bombing both the Red Sea and the Jewish state in retaliation for the war in Gaza. An Israeli general has established a special intelligence unit on the Houthis and said in a background briefing with Bloomberg that they have hundreds of rockets that can reach Israel. The Israeli relationship with Somaliland matters in large part because the Houthis are expanding along the Horn of Africa, said Ari Heistein, a research fellow at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security. If the ongoing U.S.-Israel campaign degrades Irans ability to support the movement, the region could become an even more critical strategic arena for them. The two governments had discussed Israeli recognition for years, according to regional officials. But the deal was sealed quickly late last year because of Israeli intelligence officers, who now view the Houthis as one of Israels greatest threats, according to regional diplomats and a senior Israeli military official. Shortly after Israels recognition on Dec. 26, more than a dozen senior military officials from Somaliland travelled to Israel for training as part of a push to deepen security ties, according to people familiar with the matter. Israel also rented rooms fitted with blast-proof windows on the top floor of a hotel in Hargeisa, they said, as it scouts a location for an embassy. Netanyahu in December credited Mossad, among others, for helping to secure the deal to recognize Somaliland. Israeli officials also visited Hargeisa on Feb. 27, the day before war broke out in Iran. Following the diplomatic move, 21 Arab, Islamic and African states including Egypt and Qatar expressed outrage, warning of its potential serious repercussions for peace and security in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea. The events in the Gulf, especially with Iran now attacking allies of the U.S., also highlight a dilemma for Somaliland namely the prospect of getting dragged into regional conflicts without adequate defenses in place, said Omar Mahmood, a senior analyst for Somalia at the International Crisis Group. In early January, Somalia under pressure from Saudi Arabia, which had accused Abu Dhabi of using the territory to extract a Yemeni separatist leader cut all commercial and security ties with the UAE, specifically citing DP Worlds ports in Berbera and nearby Bosaso in Puntland, another semi-autonomous region of Somalia. Both regional governments immediately rejected Somalias announcement. Israels growing presence in Somaliland places the country in direct competition with Turkey, which is the main supporter of the central Somali government. It comes as Israeli officials have increasingly framed Ankara as a key threat to the Jewish state, with former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett recently referring to Turkey as the new Iran. For Israel, recognition of Somaliland offers a security counterweight to Houthi dominance in the Gulf of Aden, said Conor Vasey, an analyst at the London-based advisory firm J.S. Held. Specifically, it helps balance rising Turkish influence in Somalia. Turkey has developed its largest overseas military training base in Mogadishu, Somalias capital, and recently deployed F-16 jets to protect its interests in the country that include a ship exploring for offshore oil and gas. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Israels recognition of Somaliland illegal on a December trip to the region. Beyond the Middle East powers jockeying for influence, the Islamist groups Al-Shabaab and Islamic State in Somalia have both threatened to attack Somaliland should Israel use the country for its own interests. We have a lot of enemies to this, who really want to put pressure on Israel, said Mohamed Abdirahman, director-general of Somalilands foreign ministry. The breakaway state now has its sights set on the ultimate prize U.S. recognition. Already, Republican-aligned U.S. Africa experts are rallying to its cause, including J. Peter Pham, who served as Trumps envoy to the Sahel and Great Lakes regions in his first term, and Tibor Nagy, who then served as assistant secretary of state for Africa. Hargeisa has also hired the Washington lobbying firms Panterra and FGS Global to make its case to the Trump administration. As for strategic real estate, it is hard to beat Somaliland, Pham told Bloomberg, noting the presence of Africas longest runway at 5,000 meters (3 miles) long as well as its deep-water port facilities in Berbera. In August, Republican Senator Ted Cruz, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa, sent a letter to Trump urging him to recognize Somaliland as an independent state. The U.S. leader has voiced his discontent with Americas three-decade long military deployment in Somalia even as hes conducted 162 airstrikes in Somalia, three times as many as under the Biden administration, according to data compiled by the New America Foundation. The U.S. has also hired a former senior intelligence officer to conduct assessments of Somaliland on behalf of the American government, according to people familiar with the matter. The U.S. State Department didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Abdi, the minister of the presidency, said Somaliland is ready to offer the U.S. access to its largely unexplored and unproven reserves of rare earth minerals and oil. A military base is also on the table, he said. They are tired of supporting the failed state of Mogadishu, said Abdi. They have been pumping money and military support and nothing changes in Somalia. A policy shift is coming. With assistance from Peter Martin, Ethan Bronner and Dan Williams. 2026 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Raul Latorre, president of Paraguayan Chamber of Deputies, gives his support to the final vote in favor of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) military agreement between the U.S. and Paraguay in Asuncion, Paraguay, Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (Jorge Saenz/AP) ASUNCION, Paraguay Paraguays Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday approved a defense agreement allowing the temporary presence of U.S. military and civilian personnel inside its borders, widely seen as a victory for the Trump administration, which has sought to strengthen its presence in Latin America. The Status of Forces Agreement, or SOFA, was approved by a large majority of lawmakers and now awaits the signature of President Santiago Pena to take effect. Pena, one of Trumps closest allies in the region, is expected to sign the deal in the coming days. The agreement passed with 53 votes in favor and eight against, and four abstentions out of a total 80 lawmakers. Fifteen were not present for the vote. Signed by both countries in Washington in December, the agreement establishes a legal framework for the presence of U.S. security forces in Paraguay for training, joint exercises, and humanitarian assistance. It also authorizes the United States to have criminal jurisdiction over its personnel while in the country. The treaty, praised as historic by both the U.S. State Department and Paraguayan Foreign Minister Ruben Ramirez Lezcano, was approved by the Paraguayan Senate last week, where debate was more polarized due to concerns over potential violations of sovereignty. Some legislators argued against the agreement, citing a controversial provision to grant foreign troops immunity from prosecution, equivalent to that handed to diplomatic personnel. We believe in international cooperation, but we also believe in strong states, respected institutions and real democratic sovereignty, said independent congressman Raul Benitez. Despite criticisms, Paraguays foreign minister backed the agreement, arguing in December that its main purpose is to strengthen cooperation between the United States and Paraguay in fighting transnational organized crime and terrorism. He also clarified that there is no possibility of the installation of U.S. military bases in Paraguay. Washington has also praised SOFA, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling it a historic agreement that would help facilitate bilateral and multinational training, humanitarian assistance, disaster response, and other shared security interests. The approval of SOFA comes as Washington seeks to expand its influence in Latin America under the Trump administrations national security strategy and as a sector of civil society in Paraguay continues to raise its voice against it. The security of a country is not built by importing troops or shielding foreign agents with diplomatic immunities, said Peace and Justice Service, a civil organization which has a presence across Latin America, in a statement released days before the final vote. The treaty, it added, does not represent progress in security, but rather the formalization of a geopolitics of impunity that undermines the pillars of our national dignity. TEHRAN, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Iranian armed forces on Wednesday warned that they would launch massive retaliation if the United States were to strike Iran's ports. Abolfazl Shekarchi, a spokesman for Iran's armed forces, made the remarks in an interview with state-run IRIB TV after the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) published a post on its Persian page on social media platform X, calling on civilians in Iran to immediately stay away from the port facilities in which Iranian naval forces are carrying out operations. "If the United States carries out its threat against Iran's ports, no port, economic center, or point in the Persian Gulf will be out of our reach," Shekarchi said. He rejected a claim by CENTCOM Commander Brad Cooper that vessels belonging to Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) are hiding in Iran's economic docks and ports, saying the naval forces of the IRGC and Iran's army are powerful enough not to do such a thing and cause people problems. On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing Iran's then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded by launching waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israeli and U.S. assets in the Middle East. A Hawaii Air National Guard F-22 Raptor takes flight during exercise Sentry Aloha at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, on Jan. 27, 2026. (Mysti Bicoy/U.S. Air National Guard) The Hawaii Air National Guard is moving forward with construction projects to fully integrate seven stealth fighters transferred from Florida in the wake of a 2018 storm. Hurricane Michael left Tyndall Air Force Base on the Florida panhandle so badly damaged that it was no longer capable of hosting the F-22 Raptors. The 95th Fighter Squadron at Tyndall was deactivated and its jets were sent to other F-22 squadrons in Hawaii, Alaska and Virginia. Seven Raptors went to the 199th Fighter Squadron at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, bringing the F-22 total there to 24. The Air Force has since determined that operational readiness would be better maintained if the Tyndall jets were permanently consolidated into the three squadrons. The Hawaii Air National Guard issued a draft environmental assessment last month that determined no significant impact would result from changes made to the joint base to permanently host the Raptors. The F-22 plus-up will add roughly 150 more pilots and support personnel, according to the assessment. The estimated number of annual F-22 sorties will rise by 405, a 14.7 percent increase. Among the seven planned construction and remodeling projects is the conversion of a corrosion control facility for F-15 jets into an F-22 paint facility. That remodel is slated for completion this summer, according to a statement emailed Tuesday by the Hawaii Air National Guard. A pair of munitions projects are in final design review, with construction solicitations expected in May and June, the statement said. Groundbreaking is expected between this fall and spring 2027. The assessment concluded that the additional fighters could increase noise but to a negligible extent. Runway utilization, flight tracks, flight track utilization, and day/night flight distribution for proposed F-22A aircraft would be identical to existing F-22 operations, the assessment said. Thus, the noise contours would be nearly identical to the existing conditions. A Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, system arrives at Osan Air Base, South Korea, March 6, 2017. (U.S. Air Force) The president of South Korea this week opposed the removal of U.S. air defense systems from his country to the Middle East but said doing so will not significantly affect Seouls ability to deter Pyongyang. While we have expressed opposition to the possible redeployment of some U.S. air defense assets, the reality is that we cannot fully impose our position, President Lee Jae Myung said at a Tuesday cabinet meeting livestreamed online. The Pentagon is moving parts of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system from South Korea to the Middle East, according to unnamed officials quoted by The Washington Post that day. The military is also drawing on Patriot interceptors in the Indo-Pacific to counter Iranian drone and missile threats, the officials said in the report. The U.S. was rushing to replace a THAAD radar critical to shooting down ballistic missiles that was damaged in an Iranian-backed drone strike in Jordan, according to an unnamed U.S. official quoted March 6 by the Wall Street Journal. For operational security reasons, we do not comment on the movement of specific military capabilities or assets, the Pentagon and U.S. Forces Korea said in statements emailed Wednesday to Stars and Stripes. United States Forces Korea remains focused on maintaining a combat-credible force posture on the Korean Peninsula. South Koreas government expects USFK to fully contribute to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, Lee told the cabinet. However, one thing to consider is that if you ask whether this significantly disables our deterrence strategy against North Korea, my answer is absolutely not, he said. THAAD is too essential for North Korean deterrence to move off the peninsula, said Riki Ellison, founder of the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, which lobbies for missile defense, deployment and development. A $20,000 Iranian drone has destroyed THAAD radars and disabled the systems, Ellison wrote in an email Wednesday. The conflict shows layers of air defense are needed, including defense of fixed-site radars from drones, he added. If you cannot do that, why would you send any fixed-site radar to the Middle East? he wrote. The United States deployed air defense personnel from South Korea to the Middle East last year. A Patriot missile battalion 2nd Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment returned to South Korea in October after a six-month deployment. The missions timing and language in a statement announcing the units return suggested its troops participated in missile defense operations at a U.S. base in Qatar after a June 22 strike by Air Force B-2 bombers on Iranian sites at Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan. Soon after that attack, Patriot air defense crews reportedly intercepted a barrage of Iranian missiles targeting Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, home to Central Commands forward headquarters. U.S. commanders ordered an evacuation ahead of the assault, but 44 soldiers remained to defend the base. Patriot crews from South Korea and Japan were among those dispatched to reinforce air defenses. U.S. Air Force and airport personnel inspect a B-52H Stratofortress at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania, July 21, 2024. The U.S. is requesting use of the base for ongoing operations in Iran. (Flor Gonzalez/U.S. Army) STUTTGART, Germany The United States was granted permission to use bases in NATO ally Romania for operations in Iran on Wednesday following a meeting of defense officials in Bucharest. Romanian President Nicusor Dan called a defense council meeting to discuss whether to allow U.S. aircraft to carry out such missions, multiple Romanian news agencies reported Wednesday. The request involves the positioning of fighter planes at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, the Romania Journal reported Tuesday. The base routinely hosts U.S. military aircraft and personnel in accordance with access and overflight agreements with allies and partners, a Pentagon statement Wednesday said. Taking into account operational security for U.S. assets and personnel, further details are not releasable, the statement said. The Romanian air base on the Black Sea, referred to as MK by U.S. troops, has been used by American forces in the region since 1999. On the Romanian councils formal agenda were the situation in the Middle East and the implications for Romania and analysis of the temporary deployment of military capabilities on Romanian territory, the Romania Journal reported. The U.S. military also operates at a separate location in Deveselu, where U.S. troops are part of a NATO air defense mission focused on countering potential threats from Iran. Over the years, Romania has been eager to cooperate with the U.S. on adding missions in the country, where roughly 1,000 American service members are based. In October, the Pentagon reduced force levels in Romania when a rotational brigades mission in the country ended. However, the Pentagon is considering a new training mission that could involve sending a U.S. tank unit to train with Romanian forces. Since the U.S. and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury on Feb. 28, numerous bases have factored into the American troop buildup in the Middle East. The situation has brought an uptick in U.S. military air traffic at Ramstein Air Base in Germany and bases used by U.S. forces in the United Kingdom and Greece. An American Red Cross blanket sits inside a plane carrying U.S. personnel who evacuated Manama, Bahrain. (Stars and Stripes) The first alert buzzed across Bahrain less than an hour before the explosions started. THIS IS NOT A DRILL, read the text. Effective immediately all Department of Defense (DOD) sponsored dependents in Bahrain are authorized to depart. It was the message U.S. military families on the island had been waiting for amid weeks of stalled U.S. nuclear talks with Iran and a massive buildup of forces in the Middle East. The departure was abruptly postponed, followed by a new message 42 minutes later. MISSILE THREAT WARNING. Seek hardened shelter immediately. Real World. What followed has been one of the largest movements of U.S. military families out of the Middle East in years. Many of those evacuees have arrived at U.S. bases in Europe, providing the first look at where families are going and what theyre facing once they get out. Its unclear why the U.S. waited until after launching Operation Epic Fury to authorize departures for military families. U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, referred questions over the past week about the evacuations to the Defense Department and the State Department, neither of which had responded as of Wednesday. When the U.S. bombed Irans nuclear facilities in June, hundreds of military families were evacuated from the Middle East on charter flights arriving at U.S. bases in Europe days ahead of the attack. But while the U.S. beefed up its military presence in the region over the last few months, including two Navy aircraft carriers and dozens of Air Force fighter jets, and President Donald Trump warned Iran of potential American strikes, the Pentagon did not authorize evacuations. When the U.S. and Israel launched their attack on Iran last month, that notice was less than an hour. You knew you were going to do this or at least there was a very high possibility, said retired Cmdr. Chris Moran, whose last assignment was as operations officer at U.S. Naval Support Activity Bahrain. Why in the world did you not get the (military) dependents out at that point? Morans duties in Bahrain included reviewing noncombatant evacuation plans. Moran said there are several factors that influence decisions to evacuate: enormous costs, uprooting families and potentially tipping off the enemy among them. In this case, the U.S. strikes came after the largest American military buildup in the Middle East in decades. Moran said he contacted his congressional representatives early in the conflict, urging them to better fund evacuations so thousands of military spouses, children and civilian workers at NSA Bahrain could leave quickly. He also questioned why more assets, such as large transport aircraft, werent devoted to helping evacuees get out faster. Evacuations appear to have increased over the last week, Moran said. While restrictions on airspace and availability of airfields may have hampered early evacuation efforts, those potential quagmires are planned for, he said. If were going to do an evacuation, we need to do it ahead of time, Moran said. He added that everyone involved should understand that once the war starts, you dont have control over everything anymore but you do have control before the war starts. Its not clear how many military dependents and DOD civilians have evacuated. Iran targets US bases NSA Bahrain is one of the few American bases in the region that allows family members to accompany service members on deployment. About 8,300 military personnel and their families live on the island situated in the Persian Gulf off the coast of Saudi Arabia. The base, which hosts U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet, is one of numerous U.S. installations that have come under attack across the Middle East since the war began more than a week ago. Bases in Kuwait, Iraq, Syria, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Jordan also have been targeted. It has taken major damage, including the destruction of communication satellites and warehouses. No U.S. casualties have been reported in Bahrain, but a 29-year-old woman was killed early Tuesday in the capital city of Manama in an Iranian attack on a residential building. One other person was killed in a missile attack on March 2. As of Wednesday, the civilian international airport in Bahrain remained closed, and Gulf Airlines, the major air travel provider in the country, still was not operating. Meanwhile, service members, civilian workers and their families who have evacuated the Middle East have chronicled hasty, chaotic departures during which theyve navigated closed airspaces, jammed land routes and incoming missile alerts as Iran launched thousands of retaliatory strikes. Escaping drones and missile fire A U.S. civilian who worked on base said he was on a call with his friends on the morning of Feb. 28 when he heard the first explosions hitting NSA Bahrain three blocks away. The civilian quickly dropped to the floor of his apartment as the walls shook, calling his parents in the U.S., he said. He tried repeatedly to leave his building and move further from the base, but the missile warnings kept coming. I just thought it would end, the civilian worker said. It did not end. Stars and Stripes has agreed to withhold his identity due to concerns about reprisal. Eventually, he made it to a friends home, and after several days made the decision to try to leave via the 15-mile series of bridges connecting Bahrain to Saudi Arabia. It was his best shot at leaving the island, but he said he still worried the road would be a target for Iran. I was scanning the skyline the entire time, looking for a drone to be flying over it. I was tearing up, and we floored it across, he said. Even my driver was nervous. We were going like, 90, 100 miles per hour. Evacuees arrive in Europe Recently, dozens of people who safely left the Middle East wandered at a U.S. base in Europe, shopping at a convenience store for snacks and supplies and eating meals at a food court. A few were escorted by volunteers who offered directions and information. Stars and Stripes is withholding identification of the bases used as evacuation points for now as a precautionary measure. In the days since the start of Operation Epic Fury, the base has welcomed hundreds of evacuating military dependents, civilians and service members arriving on flights from the Middle East. Theyve been greeted by a cadre of officials and volunteers, including the USO and Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society. Early last week, tables at an arrival center were full of snacks, water, energy drinks and other items, such as diapers, for travelers. By mid-week, the tables were depleted but being restocked. Its not clear how long evacuees may stay at bases in Europe, but some appear to be moving on quickly. Military officials in Europe also are asking their communities for donations of new or gently used soft-sided crates for military families traveling with pets. Your donations will help keep pets safe, comfortable and close to their families during travel, one message said. Service organizations and bases in Europe are asking for volunteers to help arriving evacuees and seeking donations of items such as coloring books, crayons, toiletries, diapers and car seats. One military spouse stationed in Bahrain said she and her kids endured days sheltering in a closet, listening to the sounds of drones and missiles, before they were able to make it out. Now, theyre in a safe space, she said, but her children are still affected. One of her kids asked her, Is Iran bombing here now, too? Another keeps saying, no closet, the spouse said. The situation has been similar in diplomatic communities around the region as American civilians and government employees looked for a way out. Only Israel and Beirut embassies authorized departures for their non-emergency personnel prior to the U.S. strikes against Iran. Since then, multiple embassies in the region have authorized or mandated departure for employees. The State Department says it is currently assisting tens of thousands of Americans home on commercial and charter flights. One service member who evacuated the region said he has been frustrated by a lack of support when it comes to housing arrangements, schooling for his family and reimbursement costs. He noted that the U.S. naval buildup in the region happened over several weeks, and said he was frustrated that the government didnt move more Americans prior to initiating the conflict. It was plenty of time to [evacuate] Americans, he said. Alerts keep coming The civilian living in Bahrain who drove into Saudi Arabia said he was eventually able to fly to the United States. All of his possessions remain in Bahrain. He keeps in touch with his U.S. friends who are still on the island, he said. His phone continues to buzz with emergency notifications for Bahrain even though hes no longer there. They come in rapid succession sometimes two, three, or five minutes apart all bearing the same message: MISSILE THREAT WARNING Attention, the texts read. Seek hardened shelter immediately. Real world. Rescue workers gather at the site where Israeli airstrikes hit apartments in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (Hussein Malla/AP) DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Iran targeted the worlds busiest international airport Wednesday and attacked commercial ships as U.S. and Israeli strikes rocked Tehran, while the United Nations most powerful body demanded a halt to the Islamic Republics strikes on its Gulf neighbors that threaten global oil supplies. The latest attacks marked an escalation in Irans campaign aimed at generating enough global economic pain to pressure the United States and Israel to end the war that started 12 days ago. But there were no signs that the conflict was subsiding. On Thursday, an Iranian attack sparked a major fire on Bahrains Muharraq Island, home to the island kingdoms international airport. Authorities urged people to stay indoors and close windows to avoid smoke. The airport has jet fuel tanks, and other tanks in the area serve the kingdoms oil industry. Also, an attack on Iraqs Basra port killed at least one person and forced a halt to operations at all the countrys oil terminals. Farhan al-Fartousi, the director-general of the General Company for Ports of Iraq, said the attack targeted a vessel in a ship-to-ship transfer area at the port on the Persian Gulf. Iraqs commercial ports remained open, though the oil terminals had been shut, according to his statement carried by the state-run Iraqi News Agency. The first week of war with Iran cost the United States $11.3 billion, according to the Pentagon, which provided the estimate to Congress in a briefing earlier this week, according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private meeting. The military reported spending $5 billion on munitions alone in the wars first weekend. Both sides have dug in, hoping to outlast the other as the conflict upends trade routes, chokes supplies of fuel and fertilizer coming out of the Gulf and threatens air traffic through one of the worlds most-traveled regions. Iran has targeted oil fields and refineries in Gulf Arab nations and effectively stopped cargo traffic through the narrow Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of all traded oil passes. In response, the International Energy Agency agreed to release 400 million barrels of oil, the largest volume of emergency oil reserves in its history, in a bid to counter the wars effects on energy markets. The U.S. planned to release 172 million barrels of oil next week from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve to combat steep prices. UN body demands Iran stop egregious attacks on Gulf nations The U.N. Security Council voted Wednesday to approve a resolution demanding a halt to Irans egregious attacks on its Gulf neighbors. Among the most recent attacks, four people were wounded after two Iranian drones hit near Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates, though flights continued, the Dubai Media Office said. Firefighters extinguished a blaze early Thursday at a luxury apartment tower in Dubai Creek Harbor after an Iranian drone strike. At Omans Port of Salalah, crews battled a blaze at fuel storage tanks there, according to the Oman News Agency. The international community is resolute in rejecting these Iranian attacks against sovereign countries that are threatening the stability of the peoples, especially in a region of strategic importance to global economy, energy, security and security of global trade, said Bahrains U.N. ambassador, Jamal Alrowaiei. The 13-0 vote in the U.N.s most powerful body reflects Irans isolated position as it has aggressively responded to Israeli and U.S. strikes. China and Russia two Iranian allies abstained from the vote. Their U.N. ambassadors called the proposal extremely unbalanced in not mentioning the strikes against Tehran that began the war. Russias U.N. ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, said it might leave the impression that Iran, on its own volition and out of malice, conducted an unprovoked attack on Arab states. Iranian U.N. Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said the resolution deliberately ignores the root causes of the current crisis. Meanwhile, more attacks in Gulf countries were reported. Drones were launched toward the cities of Irbil and Sulaymaniyah in Iraqs Kurdistan region, while in the southern part of the country, an oil vessel flying the Australian flag was struck near Khor Al-Zubair Port, according to two Iraqi navy officials who also spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly. The official said 25 members of the crew were rescued. It was not immediately clear whether any others were missing. Explosions rock Jerusalem while Lebanon hit by Israeli strikes On Thursday, sirens wailed and loud explosions were heard shortly after midnight in Jerusalem and other parts of Israel. The Israeli military said it was responding with another wide-scale wave of strikes in Tehran. The fallout across the Middle East widened as Israel also struck what it said were targets connected to Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. An Israeli strike hit a car Thursday in Ramlet al-Bayda, a major seaside tourist area of Beirut where dozens of displaced people have been sheltering. Seven people were killed and 21 others were wounded, the Lebanese Health Ministry said. The Israeli military press office told The Associated Press it was not aware of a strike at that location. Blasts shook Beiruts southern suburbs Wednesday, producing fires and plumes of smoke. Israels military said the strikes were in response to Hezbollah firing dozens of rockets fired simultaneously across northern Israel. It marked some of the heaviest fighting between the two since the war began. One rocket hit a house near the Israeli town of Karmiel, lightly injuring two people, according to Israeli rescue services. At least 634 people have been killed in Lebanon since the latest fighting began, the Lebanese Health Ministry said Wednesday. The U.N. refugee agency said at least 759,000 people have been internally displaced in Lebanon. Iranian authorities say more than 1,300 people have been killed there, and Israel has reported 12 people dead. The U.S. has lost seven soldiers while another eight have suffered severe injuries. Abou AlJoud reported from Beirut. Mascaro reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Sam Mednick in Tel Aviv, Israel, also contributed to this report, along with AP journalists around the world. Nearly a dozen former military lawyers filed a document in federal court Tuesday supporting the removal of an Army attorney who was appointed as the sole prosecutor in a case against a man accused of assaulting federal law enforcement officers in Minnesota. (Stars and Stripes) Nearly a dozen former military lawyers filed a document in federal court Tuesday supporting the removal of an Army attorney who was appointed as the sole prosecutor in a case against a man accused of assaulting federal law enforcement officers in Minnesota. The Army lawyer, Capt. Michael Hakes-Rodriguez, is part of a Defense Department program that places some legal officers with federal prosecutors to work cases that involve the military in some way. However, there is no military connection in this case to which Hakes-Rodriguez was assigned, according to court records. By assigning a [Judge Advocate Generals Corps officer] to prosecute a civilian offense completely devoid of a military nexus, the government has crossed a perilous line a clear line drawn by Congress and memorialized in the Armys own regulations, according to the friend-of-the-court document filed by the 11 former military attorneys. The concern comes amid the increased use of a long-standing partnership between the Defense and Justice departments that offers courtroom experience to military attorneys. In the partnership, JAG officers are appointed as special assistants to U.S. attorneys. Historically, the military lawyers handle military-connected cases, such as traffic violations or other crimes committed by civilians on military property. However, the Pentagon this year has sent its uniformed lawyers to backfill federal prosecutors in states where President Donald Trump has focused his initiatives to crack down on violent crime and immigration. Meanwhile, the federal government has seen increased resignations among federal attorneys, including in Minnesota, where federal agents clashed with the community for several months over the tactics used to quell protests and detain people accused of entering the U.S. illegally. Hakes-Rodriguez was assigned last month as the sole prosecutor in the federal governments case against Paul E. Johnson, who is charged with assaulting federal law enforcement with pepper spray on Jan. 22 in Minnesota. A civilian federal prosecutor previously assigned to the case was withdrawn. Kevin Riach, Johnsons attorney, filed a motion to have Hakes-Rodriguez removed because U.S. military lawyers are prohibited from performing civilian law enforcement under the Posse Comitatus Act, according to court documents. The Posse Comitatus Act, an 1878 law, bars military troops from conducting domestic law enforcement activities. The 11 former attorneys, who are named in the legal paperwork and come from all service branches, agreed with this argument. A JAG prosecuting a civilian exercises direct and active military involvement and influence in civil law enforcement, specifically through the control of criminal investigations, charging decisions, defense negotiations, interviewing witnesses and making sentencing recommendations, according to the court document. The Defense Department did not provide an estimate of how many of its uniformed attorneys are now assigned to the Justice Department but said in a statement the department is proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with our law enforcement and Department of Justice partners. Department JAGs regularly provide crucial legal support nationwide and bring their unique skills and dedication of our Americas service members supporting our interagency partners as they deliver justice, restore order and protect the American people. Beyond this and for anything additional we would refer you to the DOJ, according to the statement. The Justice Department late Tuesday shared a legal opinion that cleared the use of military attorneys despite the Posse Comitatus Act. It was written in October by Assistant Attorney General T. Elliot Gaiser of the Justice Departments Office of Legal Counsel. We have generally interpreted the phrase or otherwise to execute the law as having a relatively narrow meaning that focuses on the use of coercive physical force in the enforcement of laws, Gaiser wrote. In other words, as used by the PCA, the phrase execute the law does not encompass the entire scope of law execution performed by the Executive Branch. The attorneys must work for the Justice Department on a full-time basis and operate fully under civilian control and supervision, he wrote. A spokesperson for the Justice Department said the military lawyers are assisting with DOJs mission of keeping Americans safe, including through combating violent crime and illegal immigration. The 11 veteran attorneys filed their friend-of-court brief through Protect Democracy. Established in 2016, the organization describes itself as a nonpartisan nonprofit focused on defeating the authoritarian threat facing the country. The attorneys signed to the brief are Eugene R. Fidell, B. Todd Jones, Charles Kovats, Jason Lien, retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Steven J. Lepper, John Marti, retired Army Lt. Col. Daniel Maurer, retired Rear Adm. James E. McPherson, Steven L. Schleicher, Hank Shea and Andrew Winter. President Donald Trump speaks at the Republican Members Issues Conference, March 9 at Trump National Doral Miami in Doral, Fla. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP) WASHINGTON Facing jittery global markets and drooping poll numbers since launching a war on Iran, President Donald Trump has cycled from calls for unconditional surrender to sounding amenable to an end state in which Iran trades one hard-line ayatollah for another. Shifting comments from the Republican president and his top aides are adding to the precariousness of the 12-day-old conflict, which is impacting nearly every corner of the Middle East and causing economic tremors around the globe. With neither side budging, the war is now on an unpredictable path one in which a credible endgame is still unclear. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday told reporters its up to Trump whether its the beginning, the middle or the end of the war. Trump, during the course of one speech at a House Republican gathering on Monday, went from calling the war a short-term excursion that could end soon to proclaiming we havent won enough. The vacillation has fueled criticism from those who say Trump lacks a clear goal. They didnt have a plan, Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., told reporters. They have no timeline. And because of that, they have no exit strategy. A constantly shifting goal line Since ordering the Iran bombardment, Trump has continually shifted his timelines and goals for his war against Iran, a crosscurrent of rhetoric that has delivered more questions than answers. Over the last few days, Trump has called for the unconditional surrender of Irans leaders, while suggesting hes already succeeded in achieving his objective of decimating Irans military. At the same time, Trumps team has sought to soothe anxious Americans that this wont be a long, drawn-out conflict, even as the president has insisted he hasnt ruled out the option of putting U.S. troops on the ground. The U.S. military says that it has effectively destroyed the Iranian navy and made huge strides in defanging Irans ability to launch missiles and drones at its neighbors throughout the region. And yet, the critical Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of the worlds oil passes on a typical day, remains effectively closed to business, and Iranian leaders remain unbowed. The Revolutionary Guard vowed Iran would not allow a single liter of oil through the vital waterway until the United States stops its bombing campaign. And Ali Larijani, Irans top national security official, offered a menacing message on Tuesday after Trump had threatened to attack Iran TWENTY TIMES HARDER if Tehran stopped oil flowing through the strait. The sacrificial nation of Iran doesnt fear your empty threats, Larijani wrote on X. Even those bigger than you couldnt eliminate Iran. Be careful not to get eliminated yourself. Making the case to Americans Trump has struggled to make his case to Americans about why preemptive action against Iran was necessary and how it squares with his pledge to keep America out of the forever wars of the last two decades that hes bemoaned for costing too much money and too many American lives. Thus far, seven U.S. troops have been killed and about 140 injured in the retaliatory salvos from Iran throughout the region. One of several reasons Trump has offered to justify launching the war is that he had a feeling that Iran was getting set to attack the United States. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt slightly amended that position, telling reporters that the president had a feeling that was based on fact. However, Pentagon officials in private briefings have told congressional staffers that the U.S. does not have intelligence indicating that Iran was planning to preemptively attack the U.S. Recent polling shows Trumps decision to attack Iran hasnt come with the rallying-around-the-flag effect that has typically accompanied the start of recent U.S. wars. About half of voters in Quinnipiac and Fox News polls said the U.S. military action in Iran makes the U.S. less safe, while only about 3 in 10 in each poll said it made the country safer. A CNN poll found about half of U.S. adults thought the military action would make Iran more of a threat to the U.S., while only about 3 in 10 thought it would lessen the danger. In that CNN poll, about 6 in 10 U.S. adults said they trusted Trump not much or not at all to make the right decisions about the U.S. use of force in Iran. European allies are treading carefully after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Spains Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez faced the wrath of Trump, who deemed them not sufficiently supportive in backing his war of choice. But even German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has been broadly supportive of the U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran, said on Tuesday that more questions arise with every day of war. Above all, were concerned that there is apparently no joint plan for how this war can be brought quickly to a convincing end, Merz said. Merz stressed that Germany and Europe have no interest in an endless war or in Irans territorial integrity disintegrating. Deflecting responsibility for school bombing The president has chosen to deflect responsibility for the bombing of a girls school in southern Iran on the first day of the conflict, a strike that killed at least 165 people. Trump on Saturday blamed the attack on Iran, saying its security forces are very inaccurate with munitions. On Monday, after the investigative group Bellingcat posted verified video that showed a U.S. Tomahawk cruise missile hitting a Revolutionary Guard facility near the school, causing the explosion, Trump again insisted it could have been Irans fault but said that he would accept whatever an ongoing U.S. investigation into the matter might find. The president erroneously claimed that Tehran had access to Tomahawks, a U.S.-manufactured weapon system that is only available to the U.S. and a few close allies. Asked by a reporter, Leavitt didnt directly answer why Trump falsely asserted that Iran has access to the U.S.-made missile. Instead, she responded in part that the president has a right to share his opinions with the American public while noting he has said hell accept the conclusion of that investigation. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., told reporters that Trumps claim is beyond asinine. Again, he says whatever pops into his head no matter what the truth is, Schumer said. And we all know he lies, but on something as formidable as this, its appalling. Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, was among Trump allies gently making the case that it was important for the Trump administration to clarify what happened to the school. Cramer said the military must do everything you can to eliminate those mistakes going forward. But you also cant undo it, he added. An undated photo of Pfc. St. Clair M. Gibson. () NEW HAVEN, Conn. (Tribune News Service) The remains of a World War II soldier from New Haven, Conn., who went missing in 1944 while fighting in northern Italy have been identified and reburied at Arlington National Cemetery, according to the U.S. Department of Defense. U.S. Army Pfc. St. Clair M. Gibson, 30, was identified last year following a laboratory analysis of remains exhumed from the Florence American Cemetery and Memorial, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced Tuesday. Gibson joined the military in September 1943 when he was assigned to Company F, 2nd Battalion, 371st Infantry Regiment, 92nd Infantry Division a then-segregated unit made up of Black soldiers and mostly white officers. Defense officials said he went missing on Nov. 18, 1944, while engaged in combat near Monte Canala in the northern Apennine Mountains as Allied forces attempted to dislodge the German military from Italy. Reported killed in action, his remains were not recovered. After the war ended, the American Graves Registration Service an agency tasked with investigating and recovering missing Americans in the Mediterranean Theater found a set of remains designated as X-272 Castelfiorentino while searching a battlefield in Monte Canala, officials said. However, the AGRS could not identify the remains at the time, officials said. The X-272 remains were interred at Florence American Cemetery in Impruneta Italy, and on July 8, 1949, the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps declared Gibsons remains nonrecoverable, ending all active searches for him. Officials said DPAA researchers recommended exhuming the X-272 remains for new analysis as part of a comprehensive research and recovery effort focused on American soldiers missing from ground combat in Italy. The remains were then disinterred in July 2017 and sent to a DPAA lab. Researchers from DPAA used dental and anthropological analysis while scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA and nuclear single nucleotide polymorphism analysis to identify the remains, officials said. Officials said Gibson was declared accounted for on May 7, 2025. To mark the identification, a rosette will be placed next to his name on the Tablets of the Missing at Florence American Cemetery and Memorial. Officials said the identification was recently shared with Gibsons family and noted that the remains were buried at Arlington National Cemetery on Tuesday. 2026 the New Haven Register (New Haven, Conn.). Visit www.nhregister.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. CAIRO, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The U.S.-Israeli-Iran conflict entered its 12th day on Wednesday. U.S. and Israeli officials indicated that more strikes on Iran are planned while Iran vowed to continue retaliatory attacks, despite international pushes for de-escalation. 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 told U.S. online media outlet Axios that the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran will end "soon" because there is "practically nothing left to target." "Any time I want it to end, it will end," Trump said, adding that Iran "will not get off that easy" after targeting U.S. assets across the Middle East. -- U.S. and Israeli officials said they are preparing for at least two more weeks of strikes in Iran, and there has been no internal directive on when fighting might stop, according to the Axios report. -- An ongoing military investigation has preliminarily determined that a U.S. Tomahawk missile strike on an Iranian elementary school that killed over 160 people, mostly pupils, resulted from a targeting error, The New York Times reported, citing officials briefed on the matter. -- U.S. Central Command said Tuesday it struck 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels near the Strait of Hormuz. "U.S. forces eliminated multiple Iranian naval vessels, March 10, including 16 minelayers near the Strait of Hormuz," the command said in a post on X. -- A Pentagon spokesman said Tuesday about 140 U.S. troops have been wounded, including eight seriously injured since the United States and Israel launched joint military attacks on Iran on Feb. 28. Israel -- The Israeli military said it has begun a new "wide-scale wave of strikes" on Iranian government sites across Iran. -- The army also said it began a "large-scale attack wave of strikes" on Beirut's southern suburb, after saying earlier it was shifting ground forces from the Gaza area to the Lebanese border for intense fighting with Hezbollah. -- Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the joint U.S.-Israeli war on Iran will continue, noting, "This operation will continue without any time limit, as long as needed, until we achieve all our goals." -- Israel's Finance Ministry said Tuesday it had cut its 2026 economic growth forecast to 4.7 percent from 5.2 percent, citing the impact of its ongoing strikes on Iran. -- Israel's military chief Eyal Zamir said Tuesday "many thousands" of Iranian security forces had been killed since the start of the war in Iran. He said that the current attacks were "further degrading the Iranian regime and its foundations" and that Israel would keep striking Iran and Hezbollah in order to remove "attempts to harm" Israel. Iran -- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said "the only way" to end its war with the United States and Israel "is recognizing Iran's legitimate rights, payment of reparations, and firm international guarantees against future aggression." -- He also told Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif by phone that Iran does not seek conflict with regional countries and would only target sites used to attack its territory, within its legitimate right to self-defense. -- Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it will continue striking Israeli and U.S. bases across the Middle East until the threat of war against Iran ends. "We only think of the enemy's complete surrender," it said. -- Abolfazl Shekarchi, a spokesman for Iran's armed forces, warned of massive retaliation if the United States were to strike Iran's ports. "If the United States carries out its threat against Iran's ports, no port, economic center, or point in the Persian Gulf will be out of our reach," Shekarchi said. -- Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran's ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations, said Tuesday more than 1,300 civilians had been killed and 9,669 civilian sites destroyed in Iran in the military strikes launched by the United States and Israel since Feb. 28. Iraq -- Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani voiced Iraq's rejection and condemnation of the "unjust war" targeting Iran during a phone call with Pezeshkian. He said the attacks targeting Iraqi territory are "unacceptable and undermine Iraq's efforts to end the war and restore dialogue." -- He also told Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud by phone that Iraq is committed to ending the war and rejects being used as a launching ground to target any country. -- Iraqi security sources said air defense systems shot down four drones in the vicinity of Baghdad International Airport, noting they attempted to attack the Camp Victoria, a U.S. military base located near the airport. Bahrain -- The UN Security Council adopted a Bahrain-drafted resolution demanding Iran end strikes on Gulf countries, which failed to mention the U.S. and Israeli military campaign against Iran. The United Arab Emirates -- The UAE's defense ministry said its air defense systems intercepted six ballistic missiles, seven cruise missiles and 39 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) launched from Iran. It reaffirmed its full preparation to respond to any attempts to undermine the country's security. Jordan -- Jordanian Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission said air traffic at the country's Queen Alia International Airport has remained stable in the first 10 days of March despite regional tensions. Lebanon -- Lebanese Health Minister Rakan Nasreddine said in a televised press briefing that the death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on Lebanon has risen to 634, including 91 children and 47 women, while 1,586 people have been wounded. -- Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem reaffirmed the group's allegiance to Iran's leadership, congratulating Mojtaba Khamenei on his election as Iran's new supreme leader. -- The head of Lebanon's travel agency syndicate said activity at Lebanese travel agencies has fallen roughly 80 percent since the outbreak of the Hezbollah-Israel conflict, with most offices now confined to processing cancellations rather than selling new travel. Turkiye -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the war triggered by attacks on Iran must be halted before it expands and sets the entire region on fire. "If diplomacy is given a chance, it is entirely possible to achieve this," Erdogan said. France -- French President Emmanuel Macron, at the Group of Seven leaders' videoconference, urged countries to "refrain from imposing any restrictions on oil and gas exports" that could destabilize markets during discussions on the economic fallout of the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict. Torrenueva Costa is the first municipality in Granada to receive the 'Blue Path' award. Ideal Wednesday, 11 March 2026, 16:29 Share The Miradores y Acantilados de Torrenueva Costa suspension bridge has won the best 'Sendero Azul' (blue footpath) award at the Blue Footpaths 2026 awards ceremony. Organised by the environmental and consumer education association on (ADEAC), was held in Cullera (Valencia) on Friday 6 March, 194 trails from 12 regions were recognised. The 194 trails make up some 1,200 kilometres of signposted routes, forming a network of itineraries that promotes the conservation of natural and cultural heritage, as well as the responsible enjoyment of nature. Torrenueva Costa mayor, Placido Jose Lara Maldonado, attended the ceremony and collected the award, the first in the province of Granada to obtain the recognition. The Miradores y Acantilados de Torrenueva Costa route is approximately 10 kilometres that runs through subtropical agricultural plantations, pine forests and spectacular cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The route has different natural viewpoints from which visitors can contemplate the Costa Tropical, making it a privileged space for hiking and learning more about the area's natural environment. This award particularly values the environmental aspects of the route, correct signposting and maintenance, as well as the work carried out by the town hall to protect and enhance the coast by promoting environmental education and respect for nature. With this award, Torrenueva Costa reinforces its commitment to a model of sustainable tourism, based on the conservation of its natural heritage and landscape and continues to consolidate itself as an outstanding destination on the Costa Tropical for those seeking to enjoy nature, hiking and the coast. La Voz Wednesday, 11 March 2026, 15:24 Share This weekend, Spain's maritime rescue service (Salvamento Maritimo) rescued eleven migrants of North African origin, eight men and three women, as they were trying to reach the coast of Cadiz aboard two inflatable dinghies. They have been transferred to Puerto America in Cadiz city. According to sources from Salvamento, the rescue boat Salvamar Suhail was in charge of the rescue operation on the afternoon of Sunday 8 March. By 8:30pm, the Salvamar Suhail had arrived at Puerto America , in the city of Cadiz, with the eleven migrants rescued from two inflatable dinghies located 25 miles southwest of Trafalgar Point. The operation was coordinated by maritime controllers from the Tarifa centre (Cadiz), who received a report at 5:16pm from someone on land. Maria Jose Diaz Alcala Wednesday, 11 March 2026 | Updated 12/03/2026 20:05h. Share Malaga has recorded its coldest and rainiest winter in a decade, characterised by a "train of storms" that triggered provincial flooding and evacuations. While tourists frequent the city's exclusive hotels, a growing humanitarian crisis persists, with around 200 people seeking shelter under bridges and in arcades during storms, with cardboard boxes flying and blankets soaked, some of the 8,000 across Andalucia. SUR toured the city during the coldest nights to talk to Malaga's most vulnerable inhabitants - those without a roof over their heads. Frequently asked questions about homelessness in Malaga How many people are currently homeless in Malaga? Approximately 200 people are currently sleeping outdoors in the Malaga capital. What are the main locations for homeless settlements in Malaga? Key locations include the Guadalmedina riverbed, Puente de la Esperanza, and Tetuan bridge. What help is available for the homeless in Malaga during extreme weather?Facilities like Cafe y Calor (Caritas) and the Santo Domingo dining hall in the La Trinidad district provide vital but limited aid. Sheltered under the roof of the Las Fusionadas brotherhood house, on a mattress, covered up to his mouth, with some of his belongings in a box, Manuel spends his nights. After a period in prison, "life's circumstances" left him homeless, without a safety net and exposed to the elements. Although he says he is used to sleeping rough, he admits that in Malaga, one never gets used to waking up "with everything wet". Next to him, wrapped in a plaid scarf and holding an umbrella, finishing a can of beer, Jose is killing time until 9pm so he can rest at Cafe y Calor - the Caritas shelter that provides dinner, a chair or bed, breakfast and a shower to about 20 homeless people in urgent need of refuge every day. Until a few weeks ago, he sheltered under the Puente de la Esperanza, next to one of the veterans of the street, who has made this space his home, with suitcases hanging from the protruding rocks and even a guard dog. On days of torrential rains or when the El Limonero dam's floodgates are open, one has to jump over the wall that borders the riverbed and walk about 50 metres through the undergrowth to get there. The German Shepherd does its job and tries to frighten the stranger. The owner shouts at the dog in an attempt to calm it down, but tells SUR: "I don't want to talk. When I did, I ended up being thrown out of here and they didn't give me any solution." He has a Canarian accent, although he has been living in Malaga for a decade. He sells the scrap metal he finds in the surrounding area. That's all he says. While he cooks, washes and sleeps, hundreds of tourists cross the bridge to stay in one of the city's most exclusive hotels, probably unaware that just a few metres away lies the other, more inhospitable side of Malaga. At other points along the banks of the river, from the La Rosaleda bridge to the Carmen bridge, next to Paseo Maritimo Antonio Machado, there are mattresses, food and belongings stored in bags. There is almost no one, but there is a trace of them. Yassine arrived in Ceuta a little over a year ago from Morocco after an eight-hour swim. "I prepared and trained a lot for it," he says. Like so many other children, he arrived with the hope of a better future. Now, at the door of the Santo Domingo dining hall, in the La Trinidad district, he admits that he is doing "bad, very bad". "I've asked for help, but I have to wait a long time. I want work, I'm looking for work," Yassine says. For the moment, he spends his nights in a tent under the Tetuan bridge, with little hope left. The city council says that it provides care for the homeless people in Malaga, offering available resources, including shelter places, clothes and laundry, as does Marbella. The authorities also take preventive measures when torrential rains and/or very low temperatures make living outside impossible. "When rain is forecast, they work in collaboration with the Local Police and Civil Protection to monitor the points where homeless people usually settle, such as bridges." At the age of 73, Jose was caught off guard by the rising waters of the Guadalmedina river and had to leave, barely able to walk. "As best I could, I crossed the river and went to Puerta Unica to talk to my assistance centre so that they could give me a solution." Can a pension cover the cost of living in Malaga? For many elderly residents like those interviewed by SUR, a basic state pension is insufficient to cover the rising cost of rent in Malaga - even for a shared room - forcing individuals who worked their entire lives into social exclusion. Although he says he dedicated his life to construction and a fruit shop, he has been homeless for about three years and hasn't had contact with his sister for almost 40. His pension isn't enough to rent even a shared room and cover his other expenses. But he doesn't even consider asking for help. "I'm not going to admit I'm in this situation; I've never been in it before and it's shameful." Like Jose, many have thrown in the towel and no longer expect a helping hand. Pablo calls it "being realistic." "I think that in many cases it's practically impossible to escape social exclusion." At 56 and with a disability, a setback in his career sent him spiraling into social exclusion. For over two decades, he worked as a security guard, but "a minor legal issue" led to the loss of his badge and a year in jail. "That's where it all started, one thing after another." He found himself sleeping on the streets. Although for the past few months he's been resting in an armchair at the Caritas night shelter, he knows it's a temporary solution. He tries not to dwell on it, "just live day by day", because returning to the municipal shelter isn't an option for him or for many others who have been there. "They have rooms for six people. The lights are on all night, people are using drugs, shouting, going from one room to another. It's madness," Pablo says. "The street is a five-star hotel" Everyone agrees that nobody forgets their first night on the street. You search for the safest spot, some company and, with one eye half-open, you count the hours until the sun rises again. "It's not just tough, it's brutal," says Badar, who arrived in Spain eight years ago from Tangier in a small boat, still just a child. He's the only one in his family making a living on the other side of the Mediterranean and he doesn't want to "worry them". For the last two and a half months, he's been sleeping rough because of a lapse in judgment. "I didn't renew my papers properly and I lost my job as a waiter," he says. Now he fears that if the situation continues, his family will end up asking him about it. "I always send them 200 euros a month and right now I can't," he states. It was precisely family problems that led Estefania to the streets almost four years ago. She's nearing 30, though she looks like a child, sweet and shy. She lines up her cardboard box next to a shopping centre window. The shop's lights illuminate the area, which she shares with other homeless people, who have become like family to her. Her story is difficult to understand: an unbearable living situation with her mother led Estefania to leave home. Although she returns for periods of time, she always ends up leaving again. Visibly distressed and at times with tears in her eyes, the young woman from Colombia says that she has been in "all kinds of shelters". In the end, she always chooses the streets. "There are always people doing drugs there and I prefer to be here. I always try to take care of myself and avoid dangerous places," she says. Just a few metres away, Kelli, her head resting on a backpack, writhes on a mattress next to a wheelchair. Her ankle has been broken since she fell down the train station stairs. Her father committed suicide 15 years ago and her mother died five years ago from Alzheimer's. With a disability and no family, she arrived in Malaga from Texas, the US, less than a month ago. With only her cat accompanying her, she came in search of a boy she had been chatting with online for two years. "He called me and asked me to come here to Malaga. We were going to buy a house and all that," she says. When she landed, however, there was no sign of her online boyfriend, supposedly a "famous" guy. She stayed in a shelter and an argument with another girl landed her on the street. "They kicked me out because she said I had spat on her, but I hadn't," Kelli says. Since then, she has been spending her days and nights outdoors, trying to find a ticket back. Brayan, on the other hand, has no plans to return to his native Colombia, even though things have not turned out as he had hoped. With relatives in other Spanish cities and the dream to enjoy one of the best climates in the country, the young man arrived in Malaga with 3,000 euros saved and a rented room. After a flatmate stole his money, he found himself on the street, with the lowest temperatures in recent years. Despite being broken, he clings to staying in Malaga to keep trying. "I came here to fight and to achieve things. Sometimes they cost," he says. With a blanket on the ground to protect himself from the cold, under Avenida de Andalucia, the 20-year-old says that they also took his papers and mobile phone. Two backpacks and a suitcase is all he has left of his previous life. Damaris still lives in the neighborhood where she grew up - La Trinidad. She no longer has a home there, after her release from prison. From Monday to Friday, from early morning until 5pm, she has breakfast, washes u, and even puts on make-up at a day centre. At night, she hustles to make ends meet. "I'm cold and just getting by as best I can. I try to face it with a smile," she says. Although she has breakfast and lunch covered, she wanders around the city centre singing songs by Estopa, Melendi or Camaron and asking for a few coins for dinner. Hardly anyone ends up on the street because of a single problem, not even overnight. It usually happens because of a string of problems and lost social ties. Everybody who SUR speaks to agrees that this happens more easily than one would imagine. Digital image of what the pedestrian bridge will look like once complete Jose Rodriguez Camara Wednesday, 11 March 2026, 17:00 Share Rincon de la Victoria town hall on the eastern Costa del Sol has put out to tender a contract to construct a new section of Malaga's coastal path (Senda Litoral) The project involves the restoration of the bridge over the Arroyo Totalan riverbed, which connects La Cala del Moral with Malaga city. At a glance: project details & investment Backed by the Diputacion de Malaga, the provincial authority has allocated a budget of over 410,000 for this specific section. The project aims to breathe new life into a piece of industrial heritage while improving safety and accessibility for hikers and cyclists. Completion Timeline: 4 months from the start of construction. Bidding Deadline: Companies can submit tenders until 30 March. Structure Length: 70 metres. Malaga's provincial authority, the Diputacion de Malaga, which is responsible for the entire project, has allocated more than 410,000 euros to this section of the coastal path. The money will be used to carry out structural repairs to the bridge and adapt it for pedestrian use, a project that will take four months to complete. The work will improve the condition and allow for the proper use of a 70-metre structure that was part of the railway line between Malaga city and Torre del Mar, built between 1906 and 1908 and which fell into disuse in 1968. From then on, it began to be used as a road for vehicles. The document detailing the work to be carried out to the bridge has been drawn up by Costa del Sol Tourism and Planning and includes the repair of existing cracks in the deck and beams, among other work. The current cladding of the bridge piers will be replaced with cladding matching the original features. The area will also be cleaned and cleared of weeds and debris. In addition, the bridge will be adapted for pedestrian use with protective barriers on both sides, consisting of stainless steel vertical railings and paving more suitable for pedestrian traffic, as well as lighting for both the deck and the piers of the structure. Companies interested in submitting bids may do so until 30 March. Tony Bryant Wednesday, 11 March 2026, 12:22 Share The Pablo Ruiz Picasso cultural centre hosts Torremolinos Cinema 2026 from Wednesday 18 to Sunday 22 March, an audiovisual programme organised by the town hall in collaboration with the Malaga provincial council and Hotel Pez Espada. The fourth instalment features a programme that includes Andalusian productions and international titles. The programme, which focuses on diversity and plurality through the language of film, is divided into two sections: Sansuena, dedicated to documentaries, and Pasaje Begona, focusing on feature films. All screenings will be free to attend, subject to venue capacity. Highlights of the programme include La misteriosa mirada del flamenco by Chilean filmmaker Diego Cespedes (19 March), and the Andalusian documentary A traves del espejo negro by Rafael Robles (20 March), and Antonio, el bailarin de Espana by Paco Ortiz (21 March). The festival will close on Sunday with The Seed of the Sacred Fig, by Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof, nominated for the award for best international feature film. In addition, during April and May the town hall will collaborate with the British Council to screen six English-language short films for local students, selected by the UK non-profit association Reclaim the Frame, which works to diversify film audiences and promote social justice through cinema. Ignacio Lillo Malaga Wednesday, 11 March 2026, 15:16 Share Commercial flight passengers at Malaga Airport witnessed a scene from Top Gun on Monday, when two fighter jets took off from the runway as part of a training programme. Given the current state of the world, the experience must have really felt like a film production. In reality, the scene had nothing to do with the conflict in the Middle East. As an Air Force spokesperson explained, the two F-18 fighter jets in Malaga were part of a "routine student navigation exercise". The planes belong to the 15th wing, based in Zaragoza, which came to Malaga to conduct training exercises. The airport control tower has also confirmed that these training flights have nothing to do with the conflict in Iran. Sometimes the fighter jets only make low-altitude passes, while other times, as happened now, they land and depart hours later. A third modality is special manoeuvres, such as the well-known 'Eagle Eye' exercises in the Mediterranean, when the aircraft remain for several days at the Malaga air base. BEIRUT, March 11 (Xinhua) -- At least 17 people were injured in Israeli airstrikes targeting multiple areas in Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon's Health Ministry reported Wednesday. In retaliation, Hezbollah started the "Al-Asf Al-Ma'koul" operations, launching rockets intensively toward northern Israel, according to Lebanon's National News Agency. The group said it launched rocket salvos at multiple Israeli military sites, including the Northern Command headquarters at the Dado base, the Ein Zeitim base, and targets near Safed, Kiryat Shmona, Nahariyya, Haifa, and Lake Tiberias. Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee responded on social media platform X, saying, "If Hezbollah launches 'Al-Asf Al-Ma'koul,' we will respond 'double measure for measure.'" "If Hezbollah feeds on illusions of 'the storm,' the reality on the battlefield will prove that the strikes of the Israel Defense Forces will return to them double," Adraee said. Meanwhile, the Israeli military said it began a "large-scale attack wave of strikes" on Beirut's southern suburb on Wednesday night in response to Hezbollah's rocket launches. Late Wednesday, multiple media reports said Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard acknowledged that it has carried out a "joint and integrated operation" with Hezbollah against targets in Israel. Hezbollah announced the launch of rockets from Lebanon toward Israel at dawn on March 2 for the first time since a ceasefire was declared on Nov. 27, 2024. Israel subsequently launched what it described as an "offensive military campaign" against the group, including heavy airstrikes targeting Beirut's southern suburbs and areas in southern and eastern Lebanon, as well as border ground incursions. Juan Cano Malaga Wednesday, 11 March 2026, 13:02 Share Over the past four days, 36-year-old Pedro has been fighting for his life after a thief brutally assaulted and stabbed him in Malaga's Guadalmar area on 6 March. The impact on Pedro's family has been serious: his mother suffered a heart attack upon seeing him and spent two days in the ICU. As SUR reported, the incident happened last Friday, when Pedro was walking to pick up his car after work. He saw that someone had broken the window and was looking through the glove compartment of his car. When Pedro called the thief's attention and grabbed his arm to pull him away from the car, the perpetrator brutally beat him with a brass knuckle. The suspect, who the police reportedly arrested on Monday, also assaulted Pedro's co-worker, but the injuries were much lighter and the man could call the emergency services and the victim's parents. Pedro underwent a high-risk surgery at Hospital Regional, where an X-ray showed that the thief had also stabbed him in the skull. The doctors pulled a seven-centimetre blade out of the victim's head. Pedro is still in an induced coma and his family are not leaving his side. The doctors let him wake up briefly on Monday, but had to sedate him again. "He is alive because he is hooked up to a machine, but the doctors don't know how he will be when not sedated," the family have stated. His unrecognisable state shocked his mother, who is now recovering from a heart attack. "If he pulls through, we don't know what the sequelae will be," the family said, commenting on the surgery that lasted from 7pm on Friday until 3am on Saturday. His relatives don't understand how a simple robbery could end in an attempted murder. "If you're going to do something like that and you get caught, you run away. It's not normal to do something like this. He intended to kill him," Pedro's relatives said. The family are hoping for the best, taking it step by step. "Today, he has a better colour," they said on Tuesday. Carmen with her family and lawyer in front of the courthouse in Malaga. Irene Quirante Wednesday, 11 March 2026, 15:39 Share Carmen finally saw her uncle in the court in Malaga on Tuesday, 10 March, 24 years after he allegedly started to sexually abuse her. Back in 2002, she was only nine years old. Her age at the time and later the fear that the truth would destroy her family's relationships prevented her from reporting her abuser. When she found out she was pregnant with a baby girl, however, she decided that enough was enough. "We have to speak out. Silence only helps the aggressor," she said after the trial on Tuesday, addressing all the victims of sexual abuse. As SUR reported earlier, Carmen's uncle is facing between ten and 15 years in prison, as requested by the public and the private prosecution respectively. The public prosecution has also asked that he compensate the victim 50,000 euros for moral damages. Carmen, however, has refused to accept the money. "I don't want his money, I want justice," she said. Her uncle denied any allegations in the court, which reflects the "very difficult" journey and emotional turmoil Carmen has been through. Along the way, she has lost relationships with people who didn't believe her. She doesn't regret coming forward, however, and she has the support of her close family. The thought of her three daughters has kept her going. The abuse allegedly started in 2002 and went on for months. According to the accusation, nine-year-old Carmen used to go to the defendant's home to play with a cousin. The man would allegedly take advantage of their close family relationship and his physical superiority to carry out the assaults. Carmen filed the complaint just months before the statute of limitations expired. The Covid-19 pandemic hit in the middle of the proceedings. Surrounded by her family and lawyer on Tuesday, however, Carmen said that she was already feeling like a winner, even before knowing the verdict. "I'm closing this chapter today and my life is starting to make sense again," she stated after months of doubting her decision to take the matter to court. Now, her wish is not only for justice but also that other people in the same situation break their silence and heal. "Don't be ashamed. We must fight for the self-respect we feel was taken away from us. You are not alone," she said. According to Carmen's lawyer, regardless of the court ruling, the most important thing is that the victim will not have to relive the trauma. "Regardless of what happens, she will no longer have to testify and recount what she went through. That is why we knew that a chapter was closing today," he stated. What's left now is for the provincial court of Malaga to determine whether her uncle is guilty. Where to go for help In cases of child abuse, there are several organisations to turn to for help. - Asociacion Redime on Calle de la Sierra de Gata 20, Churriana (Malaga); 603 78 39 24 - Asociacion Con.ciencia on Calle Maestranza 8 (Malaga); 635 33 17 02 - Asociacion ALAS (Adolescencia Libre de Agresion Sexual) in Benalmadena; assists minors who are victims of sexual crimes and their families; 642 507 554 If you wish to report a case of child abuse, you can contact the National Police on 091, the Local Police on 092 or the Guardia Civil on 062. Olatz Hernandez Wednesday, 11 March 2026, 15:35 Share The European Commission announced on Wednesday that it will take Spain to the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) for failing to transpose two tax directives (IVA tax) into national law. Member states were required to implement these directives by December 2024 at the latest, so Brussels has decided to bring the matter before the European court. The EU directive in question introduces substantial changes to tax regulations applicable to SMEs (small- and medium-sized businesses), with the aim of creating a modern and simplified system. The EU rules reduce tax compliance costs for SMEs (at national and EU level), reduce distortions of competition, reduce the negative impact of the threshold effect and facilitate compliance and monitoring by tax administrations. The Spanish authorities have already stated that they do not intend to apply the tax exemption for SMEs established by the directive. The measure is optional. The European Commission, however, insists that Spain must transpose the provisions that allow SMEs established in Spain to apply the exemption system in other member states. This is necessary because, for an SME established in Spain to obtain the exemption elsewhere in the EU, it must first register with the Spanish authorities. In a statement, Brussels warns that Spain's failure to apply these directives "carries the risk of double taxation or non-taxation", given that "the 26 other member states have transposed the directive and will apply different rules". Spain has not communicated the transposition of the two directives. In the absence of such communication, the Commission sent two letters of formal notice to the country, followed by reasoned opinions in July 2025. In the absence of a reply, Brussels has decided to refer the matter to the CJEU. Nuria Triguero Malaga Wednesday, 11 March 2026, 15:17 Share A claim has recently gone viral on social media warning newlyweds that the Spanish tax authorities will fine them if they fail to declare wedding gifts and transactions. The state tax agency has denied such claims, although regional laws can explain the confusion. The regional government is responsible for monitoring the law on inheritance and gifts/donations, but even this body would not chase down the couple to declare wedding gifts, unless the amount transferred is very large or the transactions seems suspicious. There is no evidence that any regional treasury has activated surveillance or inspection plans to pursue alleged tax fraud related to not declaring wedding gifts or any other type of gift. On paper, all donations are taxable They say that for rumours to be effective, they have to be based at least in part on a truth. In this case, it's true that, legally speaking, any gift we receive (whether money or property) should be subject to inheritance or gift tax, which doesn't establish any minimum exemption unless the transfer of money or property occurs between direct relatives. To give you an idea, the tax rate for gifts starts at 7.65 per cent, so a gift of 200 euros (the kind usually given to cover the cost of a meal at a wedding) would be taxed at around 15 euros. The problem is that this theory has no practical application. "The reality is that these gifts, which are based on local customs or traditions, aren't taxable, not because they shouldn't be, but because they are accepted in practice," veteran tax advisor Ruben Candela says. "In everyday life, there are many situations in which small amounts of money or gifts are exchanged: birthdays, family celebrations, occasional help between friends or relatives, which are part of social and economic routine," tax advisor Miriem Diouri says. "A gift or a small payment between private individuals is not the same as a large transfer without apparent cause. When the amounts are disproportionate or repeated in significant quantities, the tax authorities are more likely to consider it a donation with tax implications," she adds. Diouri states that there has been no regulatory change or notification from the tax authorities to justify the surge in reports about wedding gifts. What has changed is that the treasury, both at state and regional level, has more and more technological and data analysis tools that make it possible to cross-reference financial information and detect economic movements much more easily. The widespread use of digital transfers and Bizum, as opposed to the ever-decreasing use of cash, supports this trend. Even so, Diouri believes that administrative action will continue to be guided by reasonable criteria. "The principle of proportionality and respect for social customs will continue being applied," she states. In Candela's opinion, Inheritance and Gift Tax is "in dire need of a complete overhaul", as it dates back to 1987 and has very high rates because "back then nobody declared real estate values, and the legislator compensated for this by setting higher rates". "There are significant exemptions between direct relatives, but be aware that to be applicable, they must be documented in a public deed. Sometimes we see parents in our offices who have made substantial transfers to their children, for example, to buy a car, and they believe that the transfer alone is sufficient," he says. Banks provide information for transactions from 10,000 euros and above There is no maximum amount of money that can be transferred without declaring it, but there are thresholds above which financial institutions must inform the treasury, in compliance with law 7/2012 of 27 October. In general, the threshold for transfers is set at 10,000 euros: it is not that transfers of a higher amount cannot be made, but that above that figure the bank has an obligation to report, regardless of the channel used. In the case of cash transactions, the threshold from which financial institutions must report to the tax agency is 3,000 euros, for both deposits and withdrawals. This reporting obligation does not automatically mean that the tax authorities will accuse those who carry out these operations of fraud, but rather that the tax authorities may, if they have suspicions, ask those involved about the origin of the money. Article March 11, 2026 A perfect storm for the EUs energy and climate policy debate Any short-term solution that the European Council concludes next week should in our view avoid disincentivizing tackling the structural problem of Europes energy supply, writes expert Stefan Kvarfordt. Stefan Kvarfordt. Photo : Stefan Tell, Heiko Junge / NTB, Mostphotos Not even 100 days of 2026 have passed, yet this years global developments regarding energy markets and regional debate on carbon pricing has sent markets and policy demands in a turmoil that we havent seen in years. Starting already in beginning of February in Antwerp, statements from e.g. German Chancellor Merz and French President Macron around the EU ETS, which is up for review in July, contributed to a 13 % drop in EU ETS prices during one week. With the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran, oil and natural gas prices has seen sharp increases on the Brent and Dutch TFF trading hubs respectively. With around 2/3 of the EUs energy coming from fossil fuels - the vast majority of which the Union must import it is painfully obvious that the EU has significant vulnerabilities to external shocks of this kind. This long-term structural challenge and potential short-term measures to address it through EU energy and climate policy is turning out to be the main discussion at next weeks European Council meeting. Italy reacted already a few weeks ago with calls to suspend the EU ETS and has announced plans for a scheme to compensate gas-fired power plants of their costs of ETS permits. But a fast-changing world should not be met by volatile European policy. According to press sources, the orientation debate of the European Commission last week centered around three main principles to guide any EU action aimed at bringing down energy prices in the Union: Focus on short-term impacts to bring price relief, while preserving long-term price signals; regulatory stability to de-risk needed investments; and avoiding further fragmentation of the internal market. This looks like a welcomed and balanced approach by the European Commission. Anyone can acknowledge that there are significant challenges, and that they impact sectors differently in a fast-changing geopolitical landscape. But a fast-changing world should not be met by volatile European policy. From the Confederations perspective we have strong and clear support for the EU ETS as a market-based and technology neutral instrument driving investments & decarbonization. This was also something that we raised last week when we sent a letter to Commission President von der Leyen and Commissioner Hoekstra together with our Nordic colleagues. The main message in the letter is that a predictable business environment is key for European competitiveness and for realizing the significant investments needed to strengthen the Unions resilience and deliver on agreed decarbonization ambitions. Since 2022, it has been painfully evident that the dependence of natural gas imports from Russia and structurally higher gas prices have made EU electricity prices less competitive. Furthermore, the Confederation already last year in its submission to the Clean Industrial Deal called for maintaining the marginal pricing system on the EU electricity market. At the same time, it is obvious that the EU needs to address the fact that, while Europe has been increasing its share of renewable electricity production, natural gas and other fossil fuels continue to set the prices for the electricity to a very high degree. But rather than blaming marginal pricing, we believe that additional dispatchable, cost competitive and fossil free power is needed to drive down prices in the European electricity system, through replacing and phasing out the more expensive price setting fossil power. Since 2022, it has been painfully evident that the dependence of natural gas imports from Russia and structurally higher gas prices have made EU electricity prices less competitive. Now, the Unions energy policys reliance on the smooth sailing of LNG carrying vessels through the Hormuz Strait is presenting new and additional grave challenges to EU resilience and energy markets. It is clear that in the new geopolitical realities of the world, dependence on fossil fuels will continue to be risky. It isnt a quick fix to the structural problem on the EU energy market. But any short-term solution that the European Council concludes next week should in our view avoid disincentivizing tackling the structural problem of Europes energy supply, i.e. the need to phase out the dependency of risky and expensive fossil fuels from the power mix. KHARTOUM, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Drone attacks struck a transport truck and a school-health center complex in two separate Sudanese states this week, killing at least 69 people, medical sources and volunteers said Wednesday. In the deadlier of the two strikes, a drone hit a civilian transport truck Tuesday in Abu Zabad, in West Kordofan state in southern Sudan, killing 52 people. Eyewitnesses said the truck was carrying roughly 90 passengers; the dead were mostly women, along with several men and children. Survivors were taken to Abu Zabad's only functioning hospital and nearby facilities, where medical staff treated the injured under overcrowded conditions with limited supplies. A second attack on Wednesday killed 17 people in Shukairi village, near Kosti in White Nile state in central Sudan. The dead included nine students, three teachers, four patients, and a health worker. The Sudanese Doctors Network said the strike hit a school and a health center, calling it a deliberate attack on unarmed civilians and a violation of international law. No group claimed responsibility for either strike. The Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces did not immediately comment. The RSF has intensified drone strikes on Kosti, an army-held city, over the past three days. Artillery shelling and drone attacks have also escalated across Kordofan, killing and wounding dozens and deepening what aid organizations have described as a worsening humanitarian crisis. Fighting between the Sudanese army and the RSF, which began in mid-April 2023, has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions across the country. NVIDIA vs AMD remains the defining competition in 2026 as Blackwell RTX 5090 delivers 70 PFLOPS FP4 inference while AMD RDNA 5 RX 9070 XT achieves 20 PFLOPS FP8 training at 40% lower price. Graphics card showdown highlights NVIDIA's ray tracing lead through DLSS 4 in over 125 games versus AMD's strong rasterization performance, making best GPU 2026 dependent on specific workloads. NVIDIA's CUDA ecosystem accelerates AI training two times faster, while AMD ROCm 7 closes the gap with 432GB HBM3E memory capacity. TSMC 2nm manufacturing reduces power differences, capping flagship TDPs at 350W and improving efficiency across tiers. Gaming performance defines much of GPU choice as RTX 5090 supports massive frame rates while AMD offers value for enthusiasts. Content creators benefit from NVLink vs UALink bandwidth differences, influencing multi-GPU rendering workflows. The 2026 GPU comparison extends beyond raw speed to software, ecosystem, and cost, guiding buyers toward workload-optimized purchases. NVIDIA vs AMD: Which Is Better for Gaming 2026? In simple terms, GPU comparison 2026 shows NVIDIA's RTX 5090 runs some of the most demanding games like "Cyberpunk 2077" smoother than AMD's RX 9070 XTthink 142 frames per second versus 118, so gameplay feels a bit more fluid. NVIDIA is especially strong for "ray tracing," which makes light, shadows, and reflections look more realistic, while AMD performs just as well for regular graphics at slightly lower resolutions. If you play competitive games, NVIDIA's Reflex reduces lag between your actions and what happens on screen, while AMD's Fluid Motion Frames 4 helps games run steadily at 1080p. Price-wise, AMD is cheaperRX 9070 XT costs $799 versus $1,199 for NVIDIA RTX 5080so you get solid 4K gaming without spending as much. NVIDIA also has more software support for VR and streaming, but AMD gives more memory for big games at a better value. NVIDIA vs AMD GPUs: Which Has Better Value in 2026? Choosing the best GPU isn't just about raw speedit's also about getting the most performance for your money. In 2026, AMD and NVIDIA both have strong offerings, but value depends on what you plan to do with the card. AMD RX 9070 XT Performance: $599 RX 9070 XT performs like NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti, with 92% rasterization and 78% ray tracing efficiency. $599 RX 9070 XT performs like NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti, with 92% rasterization and 78% ray tracing efficiency. Memory Advantage: AMD's 24GB GDDR7 cards offer more VRAM than NVIDIA's 16GB counterparts while costing 35% less. AMD's 24GB GDDR7 cards offer more VRAM than NVIDIA's 16GB counterparts while costing 35% less. Energy Efficiency: AMD RDNA 5 architecture delivers 18% better performance per watt, making it more power-efficient. AMD RDNA 5 architecture delivers 18% better performance per watt, making it more power-efficient. AI & Software Considerations: NVIDIA still leads with CUDA for AI workloads, while AMD ROCm 7 supports vLLM/SGLang achieving 95% of NVIDIA throughput at lower costs. NVIDIA still leads with CUDA for AI workloads, while AMD ROCm 7 supports vLLM/SGLang achieving 95% of NVIDIA throughput at lower costs. Value Takeaway: Budget-conscious buyers gain from AMD's memory and efficiency, while NVIDIA suits users focused on ray tracing and AI computing. Budget-conscious buyers gain from AMD's memory and efficiency, while NVIDIA suits users focused on ray tracing and AI computing. Performance per Dollar: The graphics card showdown shows that value depends on workload and usage, not just raw benchmark numbers. Should You Buy NVIDIA or AMD GPU in 2026? If your main goal is ultra-realistic graphics with ray tracing, NVIDIA RTX 5090 is the best choice. If you're on a budget or play games that need lots of memory, AMD RX 9070 XT is a strong pick. NVIDIA is great for streaming or professional work with multiple GPUs, while AMD offers better performance per dollar for regular gaming. Think of it like this: choose NVIDIA for cutting-edge visuals and AI tools, or AMD for big, fast, budget-friendly performance. Your decision depends on your games, software needs, and how much you want to spend. Performance Benchmarks and Architecture Analysis RTX 5090 achieves 50 PFLOPS FP4 inference on TSMC 3nm monolithic die, whereas RX 9070 XT leverages 2nm chiplets for 40 PFLOPS FP8 training efficiency. NVIDIA vs AMD power scaling shows Blackwell with slightly lower training efficiency but higher AI acceleration per watt. AMD HBM3E memory reaches 432GB, exceeding NVIDIA's 288GB, though NVLink bandwidth triples UALink throughput for multi-GPU scaling. Gaming comparisons show DLSS 4 in 125+ titles versus FSR 4 in 85 games, narrowing software adoption gaps from prior generations. Architectural differences affect performance profiles for AI, gaming, and rendering. NVIDIA excels in ray tracing and AI workloads, while AMD balances raw compute and memory-heavy tasks efficiently for high-performance price points. Choose Your Best GPU 2026: NVIDIA vs AMD Decision Guide GPU comparison 2026 demonstrates NVIDIA's dominance in ray tracing and AI acceleration alongside AMD's strong value leadership. Graphics card showdown emphasizes workload-specific selectionpick NVIDIA for DLSS, ray tracing, and CUDA-dependent tasks, or AMD for rasterization, memory-intensive applications, and midrange cost efficiency. Proper evaluation of ecosystem compatibility, power consumption, and VRAM requirements ensures optimal purchase. The best GPU 2026 depends not just on benchmarks, but on individual gaming, streaming, and professional application needs. Frequently Asked Questions 1. Is the NVIDIA RTX 5090 better than AMD RX 9070 XT for 4K gaming? Yes, RTX 5090 outperforms RX 9070 XT by roughly 22% in 4K Cyberpunk 2077 RT Ultra. NVIDIA's DLSS 4 boosts frame rates, improving smoothness in high-demand titles. AMD still delivers competitive rasterization at lower prices. Choice depends on budget and ray tracing priority. 2. Which GPU offers better value for 2026? AMD RX 9070 XT provides superior perf/dollar with 24GB GDDR7 memory and 4K capability at $599. NVIDIA offers premium features like DLSS 4, NVLink, and AI compute. Budget-conscious buyers may prefer AMD. Professionals needing CUDA acceleration lean toward NVIDIA. 3. How do NVIDIA and AMD compare for AI workloads? NVIDIA RTX 5090 excels with CUDA, delivering faster AI training and FP4 inference. AMD ROCm 7 supports vLLM/SGLang inference but slightly lower throughput. Memory-intensive workloads benefit from AMD's larger HBM3E. CUDA ecosystem still leads in software adoption and AI toolchain support. 4. Should I prioritize ray tracing or raw rasterization performance? Ray tracing favors NVIDIA with DLSS 4 and higher RT performance. Raw rasterization is competitive on AMD, especially at 1440p and 1080p. Choice depends on game selection and monitor resolution. Budget and power efficiency also influence the decision. As excitement builds for "Pokemon Winds and Waves," a talented fan artist has shared a jaw-dropping concept of Pombon's fully-evolved form. While official details about Gen 10's starters remain scarce, this imaginative artwork has captured the attention of Pokemon trainers worldwide. Thinking alone about the starters' final evolutions is already whimsical but seeing it in full art is another story. The Puppy Pokemon Starter Pombon, known as the Puppy Pokemon, is one of the three starters alongside Browt and Gecqua. Official sources from The Pokemon Company describe Pombon as friendly, innocent, and energetic. This pure Fire-type Pokemon may possess the Blaze ability, which strengthens fiery attacks when its HP drops below 33%. Fans have also noticed a subtle mark on its front paw resembling the Japanese kanji for "fire," highlighting its elemental nature. Fan-Made Evolution Goes Hard With Kebakarus On the official Pokemon subreddit, artist BurgooKing revealed their evolution concept, "Kebakarus," the Wildfire Pokemon. Inspired by Cerberus, this fiery quadruped features two flaming heads on its mane, bright orange fur with gray and black accents, and an intense, playful personality. The name derives from Kebakaran, the Indonesian word for "great fire," tying into the tropical Southeast Asian setting of Pokemon Winds and Waves. Kebakarus combines Fire and Fairy types, a first in the series, offering unique battle advantages against Dragon, Fighting, Grass, and Bug Pokemon. Suggested abilities include Blaze and Magic Guard, which prevent indirect damage from status effects or moves like Curse. However, it would remain vulnerable to Poison, Rock, and Water attacks, with Magic Guard mitigating some Poison damage. How Fans Reacted to Pombon's Cerberus Evolution According to GameRant, trainers praised BurgooKing's artistry, noting Kebakarus could seamlessly fit into Gen 10's lineup. Some fans speculated a Fire/Dark typing could also work, while others appreciated the maned wolf inspiration. With official evolutions still unrevealed, more fan creations are expected to surprise the community for the next few weeks. In the meantime, check "Pokemon Pokopia" to see if it fits your preference. Originally published on Player One Bolsonaro brand fuels Flavio's rise in Brazil election polls Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2026 Even Flavio Bolsonaro didn't seem to take his presidential candidacy very seriously when his father, Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro, tapped him as a political heir from behind bars. However the bespectacled 44-year-old senator, who is pitching himself as a more measured member of the far-right dynasty, has surprised many with a surge in opinion polls ahead of October elections. "They always asked for a more moderate Bolsonaro, I've always been like this...balanced and level-headed," Flavio said after being tapped to lead his father's powerful conservative base. Jair Bolsonaro, 70, has been barred from running and was jailed last year on charges linked to a failed coup attempt. Flavio's presidential bid received a cool reception from conservatives and the market. He also sparked confusion saying he might abandon the ticket for a "price," in what was seen as a bid to negotiate amnesty for his father. But conservatives knew Flavio was not going anywhere and his ticket grew "even more than Bolsonaro supporters themselves believed," said political scientist Claudio Goncalves Couto of the Getulio Vargas Foundation. "I think it's the family brand that counts. This name (Bolsonaro) still has strength with a large segment of the electorate." Leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, 80, who beat Jair Bolsonaro by a razor-thin margin in 2022, is seeking a fourth term in the election. Pollsters Datafolha said Flavio's support had doubled in the first round since a previous survey in December. - A technical tie - Their data, released Saturday, showed a statistical tie in the second round with Lula scoring 46 percent and Flavio 43 percent. Back in December Lula led by 15 points. Both men face high levels of rejection from voters in the sharply polarized nation. "I don't trust the Bolsonaro family. In the second round, I would vote for Flavio Bolsonaro because I vote for any candidate who opposes Lula," said sales director Bruno Cayres, 38. Critics associate Lula, who has served almost 12 years in office over three terms, with major corruption scandals and a failure to reign in rampant crime. Supporters point to social welfare programs, and record unemployment under his government. Opinion polls have shown that crime and violence are the leading concerns of Brazilians, followed by corruption and the economy. Several names were floated to lead from the right, including Jair's third wife and former first lady of Brazil Michelle Bolsonaro -- who faced family criticism for lukewarm support of her stepson, Flavio. Seen as a market-friendly favorite, Sao Paulo governor Tarcisio de Freitas has denied seeking the presidency. Candidates will be confirmed by mid-August. - 'A great deal of humility' - Conservative lawmaker Evair de Melo said Flavio was "gradually introducing himself, including with a great deal of humility, acknowledging some of the mistakes his father may have made. This naturally humanizes his image." The younger Bolsonaro, who was elected as a Rio de Janeiro deputy at 21, defends typical conservative positions, such as gun rights and Christian values. During his time as a Rio legislator he was accused of involvement in a kickback scheme in which he took a portion of his aides' salaries, but the case was dismissed. A hard-liner on security issues, he stirred controversy when he suggested on X that the US could bomb boats in Rio de Janeiro to fight drug trafficking. In recent speeches, Flavio has focused on criticizing Lula's government while defending his father's legacy. But he has tried to widen his appeal, with heartfelt videos on social media about issues affecting women, or posts about Brazilians going hungry. In one post on X, he surprised many by using gender-inclusive language -- discouraged by his father's government which regularly slammed "gender ideology." Flavio's press advisor said he would seek a woman running mate, possibly from the poor northeast -- Lula's stronghold. Jair Bolsonaro's term in office was marked by controversy -- including comments slamming gays and demeaning women -- but he was praised for economic reforms and fiscal responsibility. His 2019-2022 presidency is also largely remembered for rampant deforestation in the Amazon, downplaying the Covid-19 pandemic and questioning vaccines. Flavio publically took the Covid shot. "He is more educated, and trained in dealing with political elites and party backrooms," said Mayra Goulart, political science professor at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Flavio did not respond to AFP requests for comment. Teresa Ribera: lone left-winger fights tide in EU top team Brussels, Belgium, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2026 Top EU official Teresa Ribera has distinguished herself as a rare dissenting voice in the bloc's executive -- a left-winger wedded to the climate fight in a European Commission team tacking firmly right. As a result, the EU executive's powerful vice-president has become a thorn in the side of a cabinet largely under Ursula von der Leyen's control. Climate aside, the Spanish socialist has made increasingly bold forays into diplomacy -- most recently this week when she openly distanced herself from the European Commission president. With strongman politics roiling the globe, von der Leyen made the case Monday for a more "pragmatic", interest-driven foreign policy, declaring: "Europe can no longer be a custodian for the old-world order." "It is fair to say that maybe it was not the most adequate manner to express herself," Ribera told reporters, before tempering with the assertion von der Leyen was "fully committed, of course, to the international order." Ribera, 56, has become increasingly assertive in public -- after an initial struggle to make her mark despite a vast brief spanning competition policy and climate action. "There have been difficult moments," she acknowledged in an interview with AFP. A big setback was the delay of a landmark deforestation law, pushed back twice to end 2026. - Internal battles - But she also highlighted successes. For example, a deal committing the bloc to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 90 percent compared to 1990 levels between now and 2040. "I'm glad we got there," she said, savouring the moment in her 12th-floor office at the commission in Brussels, after "a complicated discussion". Policy battles are said to be fierce inside the top team because of what officials describe as von der Leyen's highly centralised management style. Ribera has butted heads with her boss before, especially over green laws. She dismissed talk of a rift last year, insisting their relationship was "excellent" despite having "normal" differences of views. But the vice president has shown she will not back down from a fight. She has exerted pressure in particular to limit the scope of a proposal that would dilute environmental rules in a bid to help European businesses lagging behind China and the United States. "Some" might be tempted to "deregulate" the EU and "revert to the past", warned Ribera, who hopes to prevent a dismantling of the bloc's environmental Green Deal faced with pushback from right-wing lawmakers. Ribera is also well-connected. "With her background as a minister and in climate diplomacy, she is useful -- having many contacts, particularly at the United Nations," an EU official said. "It's honourable. She fights for what she believes in." - Attempt to 'weaken' Ribera - Critical voices question how impactful she has been. "Her strategy is almost to act from the outside, to relay the NGOs' message on the Green Deal," a senior European official said, on condition of anonymity. "But that doesn't get her anywhere." "She has red lines on every issue, so at a certain point, she's no longer listened to," the official added. One of four socialists in a conservative-led top team, Ribera has been given many responsibilities to juggle -- possibly a calculated choice, some suggest. Ribera's key remit as EU antitrust chief -- a competence with far-reaching impact -- is a time-consuming one. In practice this means delegating environmental policy to two more junior commissioners, both from von der Leyen's conservative camp. "She was given a deliberately large portfolio to weaken her," a commission source said. - 'Own way' - But she has earned praise for speaking out on Gaza and other issues. She called Israel's war in the Palestinian territory "genocide" -- a term the EU refuses to employ. Ribera likewise denounced "senseless violence" in Minneapolis after two American citizens were killed by federal agents enforcing an immigration crackdown -- whereas the commission called it an "internal" US matter. Ribera long ago quit Elon Musk's X platform in favour of rival Bluesky -- another way to underscore her independence as US Big Tech heaps pressure on EU regulators. "Everyone has their own way of expressing themselves," she summed up. LUSAKA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- A Zambian energy expert has called on African countries to reassess their fuel supply strategies by diversifying energy sources and strengthening strategic reserves to reduce vulnerability to global shocks. Johnstone Chikwanda, a leading expert in the energy sector, made the remarks on Wednesday in an interview with Xinhua while commenting on the recent conflicts in the Gulf region, where many African countries source their crude oil. He warned that tensions in the region could undermine Africa's energy security, noting that crude oil prices on international markets have already begun to rise, potentially eroding economic gains made by some countries. "For African countries that will be significantly affected, there is a need to rethink and invest wisely during this crisis by exploring alternative supply routes," he said. He urged African countries to strengthen intra-African trade and reconsider the continent's energy trade practices, emphasizing that reducing dependence on external markets would help cushion Africa from global shocks and vulnerabilities. Chikwanda also highlighted Africa's domestic potential, noting that several countries are endowed with crude oil and gas reserves but are not fully leveraging these resources. He expressed concern that, despite the continent's strong biofuel potential, many nations have yet to integrate biofuels effectively into their energy mix. "The biofuels potential in Africa is enormous, but it requires policy alignment to develop it. We have everything we need to build the industry," he said. Chikwanda added that a well-developed biofuel sector could reduce Africa's fuel import bill and further called for investment in large strategic petroleum reserves to better withstand global market disruptions, noting that many African countries currently lack sufficient reserves. Chikwanda also stressed the importance of cooperation with China in developing the electric vehicle industry, citing China's experience and technological advances as models that could help Africa reduce reliance on imported fuels. Arctic sea ice among lowest on record: AFP review of US data Paris, France, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2026 Arctic sea ice is headed for one of its smallest winter peaks on record, an AFP review of US data showed Wednesday, as climate change shrinks the region's frozen cover and heightens geopolitical tensions. Formed when ocean water freezes, Arctic sea ice melts naturally in summer and reforms in winter, but the amount that returns has been declining due to human-induced planetary warming. The maximum sea ice extent in the Arctic reached nearly 14.22 million square kilometres (5.5 million square miles) on March 10, according to the data from the US National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC). If the trend continues before winter ends later this month, it would rank among the five smallest ice covers in four decades of satellite monitoring, possibly even breaking last year's record. While ice has gone down in the last few days, it can still go back up, said Seamus McAfee, an NSIDC spokesman. "But so far, it is looking like it could be a very significant extent, perhaps one of, if not the lowest, in the record," McAfee told AFP. Last year, Arctic sea ice reached an all-time low on March 22, at 14.31 million square kilometres, according to the NSIDC. Previous lows were set in 2016, 2017 and 2018. The NSIDC has yet to have an exact date for the 2026 maximum sea ice extent, McAfee said, adding that it would issue a press release once that becomes clearer. Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, told AFP that this year would be among the lowest five on record. Gilles Garric, polar oceanographer at French climate research institute Mercator Ocean Toulouse, said this winter was among the "top three" so far. "The sirens are blaring that we're headed for a hothouse planet with massive devastation around the world," said Shaye Wolf, climate science director at the Center for Biological Diversity, a US-based environmental group. - Faster warming - The last three years have been the hottest globally on record, as rising greenhouse gas emissions drive global warming. The polar regions are warming faster than the global average, especially the Arctic. Experts say the warming El Nino weather phenomenon could return later this year, which could send temperatures to new heights. "Given that the Arctic is warming at 3-4 times the global average rate, we are likely to continue to observe continued Arctic warming, loss of multi-year ice," Burgess told AFP. The consequences of low winter sea ice could include "potentially faster and more extensive summer melt", she said. While the Arctic reached a new low, the situation improved in Antarctica as sea ice coverage came closer to its annual summer average after four years of extreme lows, the NSIDC reported on Monday. Unlike melting land ice such as glaciers or ice sheets, shrinking sea ice does not directly raise ocean levels, but its loss threatens ecosystems. Many species, including polar bears in the Arctic and emperor penguins in Antarctica, rely on sea ice to breed and feed. "But Arctic warming, driven by fossil fuels, puts us all in peril," said Wolf. "We're closer than ever to irreversible tipping points that will forever alter the world we know. Rapidly getting off fossil fuels is the only way to pull back from the brink," he added. - Geopolitical heat - The loss of sea ice contributes to global warming as the bright white surface makes ir replaced by darker ocean water, which absorbs more sunlight and retains heat. It also has geopolitical implications. As the frozen cover retreats, new shipping routes and access to mineral resources may open up. US President Donald Trump has voiced his desire to acquire Greenland, arguing that it was a national security matter in the face of Russian and Chinese threats. "From a geopolitical perspective, the climate change-induced melting of sea ice is turning the Arctic into the new Mediterranean: a common shared maritime resource surrounded by competing states," Elizabeth Chalecki, a climate change and security expert, told AFP. The Russian side of the Arctic will melt fast because it is shallower, she said, prompting Moscow to increase its economic and military presence in the Northern Sea Route. The United States and Canada "will have to play catch-up", said Chalecki, a research fellow at the Balsillie School of International Affairs in Canada. "There are significant opportunities for petroleum extraction, mining of critical minerals, scientific expeditions, and more," Chalecki said. Grigory Rasputin has long occupied a peculiar corner of the historical imagination. In popular culture he appears as a kind of pantomime villain: a hypnotic monk with burning eyes, drunkenly staggering through the palaces of St Petersburg while manipulating a feeble Tsar and seducing half the Russian aristocracy. Antony Beevors brilliant new biography, Rasputin: And the Downfall of the Romanovs, sets out to disentangle the man from the legend. What emerges is not only the story of one extraordinary individual, but also a deeply felt portrait of a ruling dynasty so frightened, isolated and dysfunctional that it placed its faith in a wandering Siberian mystic. Rasputins story begins far from imperial splendour. He was born in 1869 in the bleak Siberian village of Pokrovskoe, a settlement on the banks of the River Tura where mud, timber houses and livestock defined the landscape. His father, Efim, was a poor but hardworking peasant who farmed, fished and occasionally drove carts along the post road linking Tobolsk and Tyumen. Nothing about Rasputins early life suggested he would one day become the most notorious man in Russia. As a young man he was remembered locally as a drinker and troublemaker rather than a prophet. Yet in his late twenties something changed. Following a period of religious crisis possibly connected with the deaths of several of his children in infancy Rasputin underwent what he described as a spiritual awakening. He abandoned ordinary village life and set off across Russia as a wandering pilgrim, or strannik. These itinerant holy men roamed the empires roads in search of divine revelation, living off charity while visiting monasteries and holy sites. During these years, Rasputin developed the peculiar theology that would define his later notoriety. He believed that sin and redemption were inseparable: one had to experience temptation before achieving true repentance. Unsurprisingly, this doctrine proved remarkably convenient when dealing with female admirers. What Rasputin undeniably possessed was charisma. Numerous witnesses described the unsettling effect of his presence. His pale face, long hair and penetrating eyes gave him an almost hypnotic quality. One aristocratic observer later admitted that she felt simultaneously attracted, repelled, disquieted and reassured in his company. It was this curious magnetism that eventually carried him from Siberia to the centre of imperial power. His arrival in St Petersburg occurred at a moment of deep vulnerability within the Romanov family. Tsar Nicholas II, though personally charming, was catastrophically unsuited to rule. Timid, indecisive and stubborn in equal measure, he possessed neither the temperament nor the imagination required to govern a vast and increasingly unstable empire. His wife Alexandra was even more problematic. Intensely shy and fiercely religious, she disliked the glittering society of the Russian capital and withdrew increasingly into the private world of the imperial family. Her overwhelming anxiety centred on her only son, the Tsarevich Alexei, who suffered from haemophilia. The slightest injury could cause life-threatening internal bleeding. Into this atmosphere of dread stepped Rasputin. On one early occasion the young Alexei suffered a painful haemorrhage after injuring his leg. Court doctors were helpless. Alexandra summoned Rasputin, who prayed beside the childs bed. By the following morning the swelling had subsided and the fever had vanished. For the Empress this was nothing less than miraculous. Rasputin had saved her son. Doctors later suggested that Rasputins calm presence may simply have relaxed the boy, lowering his blood pressure and slowing the bleeding. But Alexandra had already reached a different conclusion: Rasputin was Gods instrument on earth. open image in gallery Rasputin made his way from a peasant upbringing to the centre of Russian power ( Getty ) The most dramatic episode came in 1912 during a hunting trip to Spaa in Poland. Alexei suffered a catastrophic internal haemorrhage. His fever rose, he drifted in and out of consciousness, and the imperial family prepared for the worst. Rasputin, contacted by telegram, replied with a message insisting that the boy would live and advising doctors not to interfere excessively. Soon afterwards the bleeding stopped. From that moment Rasputins authority at court became absolute. Alexandras faith in him, one palace official observed, would never weaken. Beevor approaches this familiar story with the instincts of both a military historian and a detective of archives. He builds his account from a rich mix of memoirs, eyewitness testimony and the recollections of ministers, courtiers and investigators who later tried to unravel the Rasputin phenomenon. The book does not overturn the broad outline of Rasputins life, which has been well documented for decades, but Beevor does sharpen several conclusions. He shows convincingly that Rasputins actual political influence has often been exaggerated, while the rumours about him the gossip about debauchery, corruption and treason proved far more politically destructive than anything he actually did. In other words, Rasputins real power lay not in the decisions he made but in the scandal his presence created. The consequences were extraordinary. Rasputin an ill-educated peasant from Siberia now had regular access to the imperial family. Petitioners queued outside his apartment. Society ladies sought his blessing. Politicians attempted to win his favour. His advice, sometimes delivered through the Empress herself, began to influence ministerial appointments. Rasputin did little to discourage the growing mythology around him. Indeed, he often encouraged it. On one occasion he boasted of making aristocratic women strip naked and wash him in a bathhouse as an act of spiritual humility. Whether this actually happened is less important than the fact that such stories spread like wildfire. By the First World War Rasputin had become the most hated man in Russia. The political atmosphere in Petrograd was poisonous. Government ministers came and went with bewildering speed. Newspapers mocked the situation as ministerial leapfrog: within 15 months Russia cycled through four prime ministers, three foreign ministers and five interior ministers. Rasputin was widely blamed for these changes. In reality, Beevor shows, the picture was more complicated. Alexandra herself drove many appointments, judging officials largely by whether they were loyal to Rasputin. Individuals were classified simply as Ours or Not Ours. open image in gallery Antony Beevor argues that Rasputin was less the cause of the Romanov collapse than its most visible symptom. ( Getty ) But perception mattered more than reality. The belief that a debauched mystic was running the Russian government fatally undermined confidence in the monarchy. Eventually members of the aristocracy decided Rasputin had to die. The conspirators included two of the most glamorous men in Russia: Prince Felix Yusupov, heir to an immense fortune, and Grand Duke Dmitry Pavlovich, the Tsars cousin. Their plan was simple: murder Rasputin and thereby save the Romanov dynasty. The killing itself has passed into legend. Rasputin was lured to Yusupovs palace on the Moika Canal late one December night in 1916. According to the famous and probably exaggerated account, he was first fed cakes laced with cyanide. When the poison failed to work, Yusupov shot him. Rasputin staggered to his feet and attempted to escape into the snowy courtyard, where he was shot again before finally being thrown into the freezing Neva. If the conspirators believed they had saved Russia, they were badly mistaken. Rasputins death changed nothing. Within three months the Romanov dynasty collapsed in the February Revolution. A year later Nicholas II, Alexandra and their children were murdered by the Bolsheviks. Beevors central argument is that Rasputin was less the cause of the Romanov collapse than its most visible symptom. The empire was already rotting from within weakened by military disaster, administrative incompetence and social unrest. Rasputin simply embodied the decay. In that sense, the real story is not Rasputin himself but the frightened and dysfunctional court that embraced him. Alexandras desperate faith in the peasant mystic revealed the extent to which the Romanov regime had lost confidence in its own institutions. Beevors biography is at its brilliant best when exploring these contradictions. Rasputin emerges neither as the demonic puppet-master of legend nor as an innocent holy man. Instead he appears as something far more interesting: a deeply flawed human being whose charisma, opportunism and mysticism collided with a collapsing political system. The result is a fantastic, vivid portrait not only of Rasputin but of the twilight of imperial Russia. And if the story sometimes reads like dark political farce a drunken peasant advising an empress while ministers tumble from office that is because, as Beevor demonstrates so convincingly, it very nearly was. 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 Harvey Weinstein claims he continues to receive a $60,000 pension check from Disney each year as he sits behind bars. The disgraced film producer, 73, complained in his first sit-down at Rikers Island that he is worried about his finances as he waits for his third trial for alleged sexual assault. Weinstein told The Hollywood Reporter in a rare interview published Tuesday that, after spending millions in legal fees, the thought of running out of money keeps me up at night. I had property and other income, but its not limitless, he told the outlet. Disney cut off my insurance. You know how much I made for that company? The Miramax co-founder went on to claim that he made $1 billion for the company by publishing the Percy Jackson book franchise, continuing: I earned billions and billions for Disney and they give me $60,000 a year. And my ex-wife Eve takes half of it. open image in gallery Harvey Weinstein recently gave a sit-down interview from where he remains in prison at Rikers Island ( POOL/AFP via Getty Images ) open image in gallery Harvey Weinstein, pictured here with Disney CEO Bob Iger in 2013, complained that he only receives a $60,000 pension from Disney after earning them billions of dollars during their partnership ( Getty Images ) Eve Chilton is Weinsteins first wife, to whom he was married from 1987 to 2004. A former assistant at Miramax, she had three daughters with him Remy, Emma, and Ruth. Disney did not immediately return The Independents request for comment. Weinstein and his brother Bob launched their production studio, Miramax, in 1979 and became famous for funding successful indie films like Sex, Lies, and Videotape and Reservoir Dogs. The Walt Disney Company acquired Miramax in 1993 for around $70 million, beginning a 12-year relationship that eventually ended with the Weinstein brothers stepping down from the group in 2005 due to clashes with Disney management, including former Disney CEO Michael Eisner. At the time, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Weinstein brothers had earned around $403 million during their tenure with the company, including their final payout of $140 million. Disney went on to sell the studio to Filmyard Holdings in 2010. Eisner, who served as Disneys CEO from 1984 to 2005, said in a recent interview that working with Weinstein was the most difficult part of his career. He lied about everything, the former executive said about Weinstein on the In Depth podcast in February. How do you deal with somebody who never tells the truth? Eisner added, He was just a pig. He was rude, but he was a closet intellectual. He looked like a truck driver. He acted like a truck driver. He had great independent film taste and nobody at Disney would deal with him but me. He couldnt tell the truth, he didnt stick to the contracts. Although he has been found guilty of sexual assault in two separate cases, one in his New York retrial last year and one in Los Angeles in 2022, Weinstein has repeatedly denied that he ever sexually assaulted anyone. Rape Crisis offers support for those affected by rape and sexual abuse. You can call them on 0808 802 9999 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, and 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland, or visit their website at www.rapecrisis.org.uk. If you are in the US, you can call Rainn on 800-656-HOPE (4673) 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 Mickey Rourkes rental agreement has been canceled and the lease forfeited, a California court has ruled in the actors eviction case. Earlier this year, it was revealed that the Oscar-nominated star and former boxer, 73, had received a three-day notice to pay rent or vacate the premises on his Los Angeles home. Rourke allegedly owed $59,100 in unpaid rent on the three-bedroom house. According to new court documents obtained by The Independent, a judgment was entered in favor of Rourkes landlord, Eric T. Goldie, in the unlawful detainer case. The judgment, filed March 9 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, was entered by default, meaning The Wrestler actor likely failed to respond to the complaint or appear in court within the time required under California law. open image in gallery Mickey Rourke denounced a GoFundMe campaign set up earlier this year to help him financially ( mickey_rourke_/Instagram ) Goldie was therefore granted possession of the property located on Drexel Avenue, meaning Rourke no longer has a legal right to occupy the home. Rourkes representatives did not immediately respond to The Independents request for comment. Days after the eviction notice was first reported in January, a GoFundMe campaign was set up by Rourkes longtime manager, Kimberly Hines, which quickly hit its $100,000 goal. However, Rourke then quickly denounced the campaign, saying he was confused and frustrated that it was set up. And thats not me. If I needed money, I wouldnt ask for no charity. Id rather stick a gun up my ass and pull the trigger, he said in a video shared on Instagram. Whoever did this, I dont know why they did it. I wouldnt know what a GoFundMe is in a million years. Rourke went on to promise that any money donated to the GoFundMe by fans would be returned to them. open image in gallery Rourke appeared on Celebrity Big Brother UK last year, but was quickly kicked off the show due to his interactions with other housemates ( ITV ) I would never ask strangers or fans for a nickel, Rourke said. Its not my style. You ask anybody who knows me. Its humiliating and fucking embarrassing I want you to get your money back. All things will pass. Last year, Rourke appeared on Celebrity Big Brother UK, where he revealed he had to borrow $500,000 from the bank due to the combination of the Covid-19 pandemic and the actors strike. Controversy surrounding the star began immediately after he ogled CBB presenter AJ Odudu, and he faced calls to be dropped after making homophobic comments to Dance Moms star Jojo Siwa. The actors six-day run in the house came to an abrupt end after threatening and aggressive behavior towards Love Island star Chris Hughes and the use of inappropriate sexual language towards Towie star Ella Mae Wise. He was reportedly paid 500,000 for his three-week stint on the show, but the fee was dramatically reduced to 50,000 after he was kicked off, according to The Sun. ITV did not respond to The Independents request for comment at the time. 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 It would have seemed an improbable twist of fate for Jamie Lee Curtis to imagine, three decades after her blockbuster film True Lies, that she would be enthusiastically discussing a new television series a scenario as unlikely as performing her iconic helicopter stunt without special effects. Yet, that is precisely where the acclaimed actor finds herself, co-executive producing and starring alongside Nicole Kidman in the highly anticipated Prime Video mystery crime series, Scarpetta. "I guarantee you when I was literally hanging under a helicopter above the Florida Keys over the Seven Mile Bridge in Florida, I did not imagine Id be sitting in New York City that many years later with Nicole Kidman," Curtis reflected. "Not only being co-bosses on a show, but then also playing her slutty sister. I was not imagining that as my future." The Oscar winners lead the adaptation of Patricia Cornwell's popular novels, set to premiere on 11 March. Curtis credits Kidman as a pivotal figure in Hollywood who has helped diminish the perceived divide between film and television roles, particularly with her work on prestige series such as Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect Strangers. open image in gallery Nicole Kidman, left, and Jamie Lee Curtis in a scene from Scarpetta ( Connie Chornuk/Prime via AP ) Kidman, 58, takes on the titular role of Dr. Kay Scarpetta, a forensic pathologist renowned for solving complex murders. Her return to Virginia unearths cases eerily similar to one that propelled her career forward three decades prior. To prepare for the demanding role, Kidman immersed herself in the world of forensic science, spending time with a medical examiner in Tennessee, where she learnt how to handle a scalpel and identify and dissect organs. "My sister and my mother were obsessed with the novels, so I would read them," the Emmy-winning actor shared. "When I mentioned it to my sister, she was like, Well, I mean, thats it. You have to do it." The journey to bring Cornwells iconic fiction series to the screen has been a protracted one. Over the years, the book rights were optioned multiple times, with megastars including Demi Moore, Angelina Jolie, and even Kidman herself previously attached to various iterations that ultimately never materialised. It was at the 2021 Oscars that Kidman first approached Curtis, introducing herself despite their decades in similar industry circles. Months later, upon hearing Curtis was spearheading the Scarpetta project, Kidman was eager to join. "I have a philosophy where characters come to you at the right time," Kidman explained, noting that earlier attempts to play Kay Scarpetta hadn't felt right. "Here she is, and Im ready now." open image in gallery Bobby Cannavale, background, and Nicole Kidman in a scene from Scarpetta ( Connie Chornuk/Prime via AP ) Curtis, known for her roles in the Halloween franchise, portrays Scarpettas free-spirited sister, Dorothy. Initially, she had no intention of acting in the series but agreed at Kidmans personal request. The eight-episode season was helmed by showrunner Liz Sarnoff, whose impressive credits include Lost and Barry, and who is also a long-time admirer of Cornwell's books. The ensemble cast further boasts Emmy winner Bobby Cannavale as Pete Marino, Kay's ex-partner and Dorothys husband, and The Mentalist star Simon Baker as FBI profiler and Scarpetta's husband, Benton Wesley. Another Oscar winner, Ariana DeBose, plays Dorothys tech-savvy daughter, Lucy, who was primarily raised by Kay. A companion storyline set in the 1990s explores the doctor's early career, with Rosy McEwen, bearing a striking resemblance to Kidman, portraying the younger version. Jake Cannavale Bobbys actual son plays the young Marino, and Hunter Parrish depicts a baby-faced Benton. DeBose, who famously presented Curtis with her Oscar for Everything Everywhere All at Once, received her role offer via a personal text message from Curtis. Her character, Lucy, grapples with the grief of losing her wife and seeks solace in an AI replica a significant departure for an actor celebrated for her upbeat Broadway performances. "I hope audiences will also find a way to have compassion for her," the 35-year-old said, reflecting on a fictional character that resonated deeply in her own life. Five months after filming, DeBose experienced a profound personal loss with the death of her mother. "Im more clear now than I was when I was actually shooting this series that grief manifests in very different ways." open image in gallery Nicole Kidman, left, and Jamie Lee Curtis attend the premiere of Prime Video's Scarpetta ( Invision/AP ) Patricia Cornwell, whose Scarpetta series has sold over 120 million copies worldwide, was deeply involved in the adaptation process. "Dream come true literally," said the New York Times bestseller, who began the series in 1990. The 69-year-old author, who started penning Postmortem while working in the office of Virginia's chief medical examiner, is currently writing the 30th book, which centres on a serial poisoner. She expressed her delight that Kidman and Curtis have unearthed new dimensions of her beloved characters. "Im learning things from them," she shared. "When I sit back and Im working on my book, suddenly Im seeing Jamie in my head, or Im hearing Nicole. My characters have come alive." Prime Video has enjoyed considerable success with popular novel adaptations such as Reacher, Jack Ryan, the Bosch universe, and Cross, all drawing from extensive source material. The streaming giant is now placing a significant bet on Scarpetta to be its next major hit. Beyond the series, Curtis hopes this project, produced by her company Comet Pictures, will serve as an inspiration for young women in the industry, offering a new model for leadership both in front of and behind the camera. "I hope that they see people women doing all these different jobs. This show doesnt exist without me calling Jason Blum, saying, Hey, I found out that the rights to Patricias books are available. Lets (expletive) go!" Curtis recounted, recalling her conversation with the Blumhouse Television founder, who helped produce it. "They will hear that and go, Oh, thats how you get (expletive) done! You persevere." open image in gallery Bobby Cannavale, left, and Ariana DeBose in Scarpetta ( Connie Chornuk/Prime via AP ) With two Scarpetta seasons already ordered, Curtis, who has famously stated her intention to leave acting on her own terms, was playfully challenged by Kidman on this stance. "When my parents were in their heyday, they were enormous movie stars. There is a point where the industry just moves on. I want to be able to end it on my own terms Ive been saying that since I was 30," the 67-year-old Emmy winner explained. "I want to be able to walk away with the dignity and pride in my work, and not kind of be grasping at something thats fading away." Kidman, however, interjected with a smile: "Pay no attention to her," adding to Curtis, "Were not listening to that because were asking you to stay forever." The two teased each other with the easy camaraderie of real-life sisters. "She will be working well past 100, probably," Kidman predicted, "And well all be going, Thats an inspiration." 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 A Woman of Substance is making its way onto our screens for the first time in 42 years with the latest adaptation of Barbara Taylor Bradfords bonkbuster debuting just two months shy of what would have been the authors 93rd birthday. While the British literary icon died in 2024, the dramas co-writer, Katherine Jakeways, secured her blessing to take on the story shortly before her death. She did read the first episode and said lovely things, Jakeways told The Independent. She didnt have any real notes about the first episode, which was amazing because I was so conscious as I wrote it that she had written it for years and lived it. It was her baby. open image in gallery Jessica Reynolds as Emma Harte in A Woman of Substance ( Channel 4/The Forge ) She was so generous with allowing us to do what we felt was right for it. The 1979 novel made Bradford a bestselling author, with over 30 million reading the story of how Yorkshire maid Emma Harte overcame heartbreak and her working class background to become a wealthy mogul. Outlanders Jessica Reynolds stars as the young, penniless Emma in the early 1900s, an ambitious maid working for Fairley Hall who is used, impregnated and tossed aside by its aristocratic residents. Decades on, we follow the now-successful heroine ahead of her 80th birthday (played by Bafta winner Brenda Blethyn) as she uncovers her childrens plot to take over her retail empire. Buccaneers creator, Jakeways, revealed that the author had one key request for the upcoming adaptation: to do justice to its setting in the Yorkshire Dales. The only thing that she did say was that she wanted to make sure that it was as Yorkshire-based as we could possibly make it, which we wanted to do in any case, she said. Based in Leeds, the production stayed loyal to the novels with filming locations across Yorkshire. We had the beautiful moors, which we were so lucky to have, Jakeways added. open image in gallery Co-writer Katherine Jakeways spoke to Barbara Taylor Bradford before her death ( Getty Images ) So I think we honoured her wishes in that respect. We've changed bits and pieces as we've gone along but really, I think we've stayed fairly faithful. I don't think fans are going to find anything to be too worried about in it. Born in Leeds in 1933, Bradford left school at 16 and became a reporter for the Yorkshire Evening Post. She went on to become the fashion editor of Womans Own magazine and a London Evening News columnist before finding success as an author writing 40 novels over the course of her career. Having only met New York-based Bradford once over Zoom during the pandemic, Jakeways admitted that she wishes they had spent more time together. I feel sad about the fact that we would have met in person, she said. I feel so conscious of honouring her legacy and making sure its exactly what she wanted with all the best bits that she loved about it as well as the new stuff that feels more resonant to 2026. She was an absolute force of nature. She was a woman of substance herself. She started from very little and ended her life in a beautiful apartment in New York, hugely successful, having had great love in her life. Shes very much the powerhouse behind the story and the character. open image in gallery Jessica Reynolds and Ewan Horrocks as Emma Harte and Edwin Fairley in A Woman of Substance ( Channel 4 ) Neither Jakeways nor her co-writer, Boiling Point producer Roanne Bardsley, had read A Woman of Substance before being approached for the project but both immediately saw its potential for a TV adaptation. I found the possibility of an adaptation really thrilling because its such a good story, Jakeways said. Its unusual in that its a story about a woman who has loads of relationships and affairs and sex and marriages, but its not really a love story. If there is a love story, its Emmas love story with her own ambition and work. Bardsley added: I remember my friend at school reading it when we were 14 and she would hide it under her pillow because its a little bit raunchy. You just fall in love with the character of Emma because we all relate to her ambition and relentless drive but also the ultimate fantasy of showing people who have wronged you just how wrong they were by becoming the richest woman in the world. The Channel 4 adaptation explores the first half of the novel through a 2026 lens which meant tweaking the character of Emmas employer Adele Fairley (played by Leanne Best). We were always keen to make sure that we werent putting words in the mouths of characters, Bardsley said. An example of that is the character of Adele, whos the lady of Fairley Hall. Its quite clear that she struggles with alcoholism, mental health issues and agoraphobia and we definitely wanted to look at that with the eyes of people who are more aware of issues like that from 2026. open image in gallery Lenny Rush with Will Mellor and Jessica Reynolds in the Channel 4 drama ( Channel 4 ) We wanted to get under the skin of what shes going through but without making her aware or other characters aware of things they wouldnt have known at the time. They also gave more screen time to Emmas brother Frank after casting Am I Being Unreasonables Lenny Rush, who won a Bafta for his breakout role in the comedy in 2023. As soon as he came in, we were like, its Bafta winner Lenny Rush! We had written the character of Frank not knowing who we were going to get but after we had him, immediately we started adding comedy to Frank, Jakeways said of the 16-year-old. He is also really heartbreaking in it and hes just an exceptional talent. It started out being a much lesser role but as soon as we knew we had him, we were shoving him in every episode we could and every time he was available because he was also doing his GCSEs when we were filming. With plans for future series, Jakeways and Bardsley are hoping that A Woman of Substance marks the rise of female-led dramas with sex scenes written for a female audience. I feel like that wasnt the case only a few years ago and we would have been having a very different conversation then, Jakeways said. We still need more but it is much more prevalent now than it ever has been so long may it last. Bardsley added: Its as if people didnt realise that slightly more than half the population were women! A Woman of Substance airs on Wednesday 11 March at 9pm on Channel 4. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Five Guys will be restarting its former buy one, get one promotion after an unsuccessful attempt last month. The burger and fries chain launched a BOGO promotion with burgers to celebrate its 40th birthday on February 17. However, due to an overwhelming public response, Five Guys was not able to cater to every customer. According to a press release the company published Monday, they are asking for a do-over. You visited our restaurants in overwhelming numbers, and we werent ready for you, the company said in the release. We didnt meet our own standards, and thats not something we take lightly. We were genuinely humbled by your response, Five Guys Founder Jerry Murrell added. Forty years is a long time, and the outpouring of support for our 40th birthday reminded us why we love what we do. Five Guys offered a BOGO deal last month for its 40th birthday, leaving locations unable to handle the large number of customers ( AFP/Getty ) To make up for their mistake, they are hosting a 40th After Party running from March 9 through March 12. Our teams have been hard at work replenishing fresh product and making the preparations we should have made the first time around, the press release emphasized. The promotion can be redeemed either online or using the Five Guys app. Customers will then need to purchase any burger at the regular price and use the promotional code FGAFTERPARTY. The deal cannot be used in-store and only applies to participating Five Guys locations across Canada and the United States. The company also clarified that it would be rewarding the chains employees for doing their best during the promotions first attempt by giving away $1.5 million in bonuses to store employees. Five Guys promotion comes shortly after a competing fast food restaurant, Wendys, announced it was hiring a Chief Tasting Officer, with the responsibility of trying the brand's signature burgers, nuggets, and Frostys for an annual salary of $100,000. The requirements of the job are simple: eating food from Wendys and sharing review videos. The employee can also record their fun, creative and honest food reviews from the comfort of their own home. Wendy's is hiring a Chief Tasting Officer. Youll help bring the vibes, taste and creativity to the company in ways no one else can, read the job listing, which includes the note YES, THIS IS REAL. Basically, youll get paid to eat Wendys, be chill, maybe make some content and maybe even star in ads. Whether it's quarterly vlog check-ins, taste trending, or whatever, youll make cheddar just for liking cheddar. DAKAR, March 11 (Xinhua) -- China's development experience merits closer study, as it offers Africa valuable lessons in governance, innovation-driven growth, and development, Senegalese lawmaker Ayib Daffe has said. Daffe, secretary-general of Senegal's ruling PASTEF party and head of its parliamentary group at the National Assembly, made the remarks in a recent interview with Xinhua following a visit to China in January as part of a delegation led by President of the National Assembly Malick Ndiaye. The visit, which took the delegation to Beijing and Chongqing, offered an opportunity to better understand China's governance experience, which Daffe said holds relevance for Africa's development. "Each time we return from China, we are impressed by the efficiency of the system, its modernity, and its ability to anticipate and respond to people's concerns," he said. Among the highlights of the trip, Daffe cited a visit in Chongqing to a local legislative outreach office designed to collect public views on legal and social issues. "We saw how citizens are concretely involved in the law-making process. It was a very enriching experience," he said, noting that he was particularly struck by how deeply the mechanism is rooted in local communities. "We observed the existence of grassroots channels that go directly into neighborhoods to gather public opinions on important draft laws and on major issues such as health, child protection, and youth-related matters," he said. In his view, the Chinese experience shows that a representative system can also rely on practical mechanisms that allow the public to make their voices heard on issues of common interest. Daffe said China's development path also offers important lessons for countries of the Global South, demonstrating how a nation can pursue a development strategy tailored to its own realities while achieving remarkable progress within just a few decades and advancing common prosperity. He said China's achievements rest on a combination of strong fundamentals. Recalling visits to companies and innovation platforms, he said the delegation toured world-class enterprises, including multinational technology company Huawei, as well as firms specializing in electric vehicles and batteries. "We also visited incubators and small and medium-sized enterprises to understand how young people are trained and supported in innovation," he said. "People often talk about an economic miracle, but when you go there in person, you realize it is above all a matter of determination, organization, and hard work," he added. Daffe also highlighted prospects for cooperation between China and African countries, particularly under the Belt and Road Initiative. "It is important to strengthen alliances and cooperation initiatives, especially through this initiative, in order to promote win-win partnerships with countries such as Senegal," he said. According to him, African countries should fully seize the opportunities created by cooperation with China. "This is an opportunity that we must seize in order to develop our industrial sector and strengthen our economic growth," he said. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Ranch dressing lovers with a valid passport have the chance to work for the condiment brand, Hidden Valley. Despite ranch being a distinctly American invention, Hidden Valley is celebrating both National Ranch Day and the upcoming 250th anniversary of the U.S. by hiring four people to be Ranch-bassadors. The job will require two teams of two people to spend this upcoming summer traveling around Europe to pair ranch with local foods and share the condiment with locals. Selected candidates will work on the project for eight weeks, which includes seven weeks of all expenses-paid international travel through multiple European countries. The Ranch-bassadors are expected to work 40 hours per week to produce four short-form videos and one long-form YouTube episode. Applicants must apply as a pair and be comfortable sharing housing. Applications go live March 31. open image in gallery Hidden Valley Ranch has launched a summer ambassador program, tasking four people with traveling around Europe to pair the condiment with local foods ( Getty Images ) open image in gallery To apply, people must submit their application as a pair and be comfortable sharing housing ( Hidden Valley ) This is more than a job it's a cultural exchange powered by an incredibly versatile flavor, Stacy Stokes, Vice President of Marketing at Hidden Valley Ranch, said in a press release. Ranch is unmistakably American. As we celebrate America's 250th, we're sharing this original taste with the world and inviting our biggest fans to help us bring The Flavor of America abroad. Does ranch taste good on literally anything? We can't wait to find out. Hidden Valley is not the first brand to offer a job to travel the world. Last year, Starbucks launched a brand new global content creator position. The job required content creators who were expected to travel around the world and film their experiences at 10 to 15 designated Starbucks locations. In addition to being coffee lovers and world travelers, the creators had to be proficient in making and editing social media content using tools such as Photoshop, InDesign, CaptureOne, Premiere, Final Cut Pro, and CapCut. Their job will be to capture their journeys to unique Starbucks locations around the world on social media from Starbucks Hacienda Alsacia coffee farm in Costa Rica to the Starbucks Reserve Roastery Milano to the breathtaking coffeehouses in Tokyo, the description on the companys website read at the time. The creators will highlight the care and craft that goes into every cup of Starbucks coffee as well as the diverse Starbucks experiences in communities around the world. One current Starbucks employee and one external candidate were hired to fill the two roles. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Katherine Heigl returned to the public eye for the first time in years at a three-day fundraising event held at Donald Trumps Palm Beach resort Mar-a-Lago. The annual, multi-day fundraiser hosted by Wine, Women & Shoes, which raised $5.5 million for Big Dog Ranch Rescue Americas largest no-kill shelter welcomed the Greys Anatomy star, 47, along with other celebrities and fashion designers. Speaking to USA Todays Palm Beach Post at the event, Heigl said she was there in support of Big Dog, a non-profit whose work to solve the pet overpopulation issue aligns with her familys animal welfare and advocacy group, Jason Heigl Foundation. Our biggest goal right now really is to diminish the number of unwanted litters coming into this country, which is what is overcrowding our shelters, the 27 Dresses actor told the outlet. We hear the word shelter, and we think these animals are safe there, and they are not. Its not the shelters fault, and its not the fault of the shelters workers. Its that our country is overrun with puppy-mill breeders, she added. open image in gallery Katherine Heigl attended the Big Dog Ranch Rescues fundraiser, held at Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago ( Michele Eve Sandberg/Shutterstock ) open image in gallery Heigl is best known for her role as Izzie Stevens on Greys Anatomy ( ABC ) Heigl, who last made a public appearance at the 2024 Emmys for a special Greys Anatomy reunion, has avoided publicly discussing her political leanings. In 2014, she admitted she was terrible at politics, telling USA Today, I dont understand the politics of things. The Independent has contacted Heigls representative for comment. Other notable figures at the event included popular TV dog trainer Cesar Millan and Trump ally, U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia and former Fox News host Jeanine Pirro. It has been three years since Heigl last starred on screen, appearing as news producer Tully Hart in the final season of Netflixs friendship drama Firefly Lane in 2023. She is best known for her breakout role as Dr. Izzie Stevens in Greys Anatomy from 2005 to 2010. During her time on the long-running medical drama, Heigl led a string of romcoms, playing a pregnant journalist in 2007s Knocked Up, a perpetual bridesmaid in 27 Dresses (2008) and a lovelorn TV producer in 2009s The Ugly Truth. She has also starred in the espionage thriller series State of Affairs and the legal drama Suits. open image in gallery Heigl last appeared on TV for a special 'Grey's Anatomy' reunion at the 2024 Emmys ( Getty ) In recent years, Heigl has largely stepped away from the spotlight to focus on her family and animal activism. She and her husband, Josh Kelly, live in Uah with their three children: daughters Naleigh and Adalaide, and son Joshua. Opening up about her decision to raise her children in Utah on a 2022 episode of Today with Jenna & Hoda, Heigl said: You know, its odd. I think some people are mountain people and I think some people are beach people. Im sort of a mountain person and have always been that way. My mom realized, because we went out to LA when I was 17 and hustled and hustled for years, right? And I think she realized at a certain point that I needed somewhere to escape to and kind of clear my head and that grounded me, Heigl recalled. So we started trying to find, and dreaming about trying to find, that perfect place. And we found Utah and then I started making enough money to be able to afford to do that. Heigl and her mom, Nancy, founded their animal welfare organization in 2008. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Debate over whether the King should proceed with a planned state visit to the United States has prompted a strong reaction from Independent readers, with many arguing the trip should be called off amid rising tensions between Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump. A recent reader poll found that 72 per cent believe the visit should be cancelled a view widely echoed in the comments. Many said travelling to the US at this moment would hand Donald Trump an unwelcome diplomatic win and risk appearing to legitimise policies and rhetoric they strongly oppose. Some argued the Kings presence could be interpreted as an endorsement of the current administration, particularly given criticism of its approach to foreign policy, immigration and international alliances. Others questioned whether the visit reflects the public mood at home, suggesting the monarchy should be cautious about appearing out of step with public sentiment. At the same time, several commenters acknowledged that cancelling the trip could carry serious diplomatic risks. Some warned that a snub might provoke an unpredictable reaction from Trump and further strain relations with one of Britains most important allies. Heres what you had to say: Like it or not, we are dependent on the US What a wonderful opportunity to reincarnate our student days with a shoot-ourselves-in-the-foot, petty political gesture. Maybe tomorrow we can occupy the refectory or set up a meditation workshop and light candles. Like it or not and I really don't care if it is the latter we are economically, financially and militarily heavily dependent on the US. Deliberately provoking a capricious and headstrong POTUS is folly. Our government's primary duty is to look after the interests of its citizens, not to act like petulant children, pander to wounded peacock pride, or invite retaliation that could do real harm to our economy and cause real hardship for the most vulnerable in our society. It's time for the adults to stand up. If it requires flattering Trump, then so be it. Trump will not be here forever, but the damage he could do now may harm us for a generation. Times are hard enough for so many let's not risk making it harder for a useless gesture. Isthatso Gauge public mood If Charles wants to stop the growing dissatisfaction with royalty, he needs to judge the mood of the country. I very much doubt that he would get many in favour of this visit. He has stripped Andy of titles, soon to be taken out of the line of succession. Now he needs to consider the other 'hangers-on'. I read in another news outlet that he is rumoured to be considering 'giving' Royal Lodge to Harry and Meghan. They are a Marmite couple love them or hate them but the polls show low support. So them having such a prestigious property as their UK base would not go down well. More importantly, it is part of the Crown Estate, it is not his to gift, and anyone occupying it must have a commercial lease and rent. Renovation should not be an expense for the taxpayer. I suspect Charles is having real trouble adjusting to the new reality. His mother could do no wrong for many; that hasn't transferred to him, and he will have to work very hard if he, and the monarchy, are to survive. nocomment A royal visit would be seen as an endorsement A state visit by King Charles III to the United States in April 2026, amid Americas 250th anniversary celebrations, is not routine diplomacy it is a serious misjudgment in the current climate. The US is deeply polarised. President Trumps second term has intensified divisions over immigration, Nato commitments, democratic norms, and executive power. A royal visit now would not be seen as neutral symbolism; it would likely be interpreted domestically and internationally as endorsement of an administration facing criticism for democratic backsliding. Compounding this, the Trump administrations aggressive immigration enforcement has led to widespread reports of foreign tourists and visitors being detained at borders, even those with valid visas. High-profile cases, including a UK national held for weeks by ICE, have prompted travel warnings from allies like the UK, Australia, and others, highlighting risks of arbitrary detention, device searches, and deportation. International tourism to the US has slumped significantly in 20252026, with declines attributed to these policies making entry unpredictable and unwelcoming. The risk is heightened by the ongoing Jeffrey Epstein scandal, involving the sexual exploitation and trafficking of minors, which continues to implicate elite circles. Prince Andrews past ties have already damaged the monarchy. A high-profile appearance would inevitably revive scrutiny, protests, and questions the Crown cannot control. Political strategists have warned that the King risks being weaponised in Americas culture wars. At a moment defined by division, protest, unresolved scandal, and visible human consequence, attendance would function as endorsement, however carefully it was framed. The King does not need to provide that endorsement. Phoenix Diplomatic risks of cancellation As much as I agree that he should not go, I'm pretty certain he will! The diplomatic backlash if he cancels will be seismic, and Trump, being the irrational/deranged narcissist that he certainly is, could make the already extremely fraught relationship between the UK and the US 100 times worse. We've seen what Trump is capable of, so I would be really surprised if he doesn't go ahead. I personally would like him to cancel and make it clear to the Trump administration that their constant criticism of this country and our democratically elected government is unacceptable. Start forging closer ties with the EU and accept that the so-called 'special relationship' is over, assuming there actually was one in the first place! Fru T-Bunn Stand back from a once-promising relationship I'm a strong Royalist I believe our system of a democratic head of government with a hereditary back-stop against despotism and civil war (as has worked brilliantly since 1688) is a treasure to be preserved at almost any cost. My message to my sovereign is "Don't treat the Orange as a reliable partner". He may love you, but in no way should you love him nor do you need him. Monarchists like me will never have a problem with you standing back from a once-promising relationship. NickAdler Cancel for safety The royal visit should never have been put on the calendar in the first place, given Trumplethinskin's repeated threats to invade Canada (of which Charles is the head of state) and Greenland (part of the UK's close ally Denmark). With Trump's unlawful invasion of a sovereign country, his use of armed stormtroopers against any US resident with brown skin (citizen or not), his wholesale contempt for international law, his blatant misogyny, and his thousands of mentions in the Epstein files, the visit should definitely be cancelled. The King visiting Dumpy Trumpty would be akin to him visiting Putin whilst Ukraine is still being attacked. Given Charles's recent medical issues, it would be easy for Buckingham Palace to issue a statement saying that, due to some private medical issue, the visit will be delayed then reschedule it for after the next presidential elections. WellActually Engagement is more important I don't think we should cancel the visit. While relations are strained, engagement is even more important. If we sink to Trump's level, we make it easier for him to bully us. He doesn't like personal confrontation and prefers to say nasty things from afar. If we are there, our King representing the UK makes us stronger, not weaker. Disengagement might feel good short term, but it's counterproductive in the medium to long term. Servalan Inevitable The royal visit to Washington will happen whether Ed Davey or anyone speaks against it, because Starmer knows Trump would react badly to that snub by King Charles III, then criticising King Charles and Starmer. So Trump is someone who must be appeased by the British government and the royal family. Trump does not care much for the special relationship between the US and UK, as he sees it as the UK needing the US more than it being the other way. King Charles going on a state visit to Washington will be evident enough that Trump can say anything bad about the UK, but the British government will still send King Charles to keep the special relationship in place. Stacey Benoit Some of the comments have been edited for this article for brevity and clarity. Want to share your views? Simply register your details below. Once registered, you can comment on the days top stories for a chance to be featured. Alternatively, click log in or register in the top right corner to sign in or sign up. Make sure you adhere to our community guidelines, which can be found here. For a full guide on how to comment, click here. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice In 1997, my students and I traveled to Croagh Patrick, a mountain in County Mayo, as part of a study abroad program course on Irish literature I was teaching for the University of Dayton. I wanted my students to visit the place where, each July, thousands of pilgrims pay homage to St. Patrick, who, according to lore, fasted and prayed on the summit for 40 days. While there, our tour guide relayed the story of how St. Patrick, as he lay on his death bed on March 17 in A.D. 461, supposedly asked those gathered around him to toast his heavenly journey with a wee drop of whiskey to ease their pain. The mention of whiskey left me wondering if St. Patrick may have unintentionally influenced the way most of the world celebrates the holiday today: by drinking. It wasnt always this way. The Festival of St. Patrick began in the 17th century as a religious and cultural commemoration of the bishop who brought Christianity to Ireland. In Ireland, theres still an important religious and cultural component to the holiday, even as it has simply become an excuse to wear green and heavily drink in the rest of the world. The legend of St. Patrick Because historical details about St. Patricks life remain shrouded in speculation, scholars are often stymied in their attempts to separate fact from legend. In his spiritual memoir, Confessio, St. Patrick describes how he was brought to Ireland as a slave. He eventually escaped, rejoining his family in Britain, probably Scotland. But while there, he had a recurring dream, in which the Voice of the Irish called to him to return to Ireland in order to baptize and minister to them. So he did. The Irish revere the account of this dream described in the Confessio; they accept the simplicity and fervor of his words and feel a debt of gratitude for his unselfish commitment to their spiritual well-being. St. Patricks efforts to convert the Irish to Catholicism were never easy. Viewing him as a challenge to their power and authority, the high kings of Ireland and the pagan high priests, called Druids, resisted his efforts to make inroads with the population. open image in gallery Performers take part in the St Patricks Day Parade in Dublin ( (Evan Treacy/PA) ) But through his missionary zeal, he was able to fuse Irish culture into Christianity, whether it was through the introduction of the Celtic Cross or the use of bonfires to celebrate feasts like Easter. Again, many of these stories could amount to no more than myth. Nonetheless, centuries after his death, the Irish continue to show their gratitude for their patron saint by wearing a spray of shamrocks on March 17. They start the day with mass, followed by a daylong feast, and prayer and reflection at night. St. Paddys Day goes global From 1820 to 1860, almost 2 million people left Ireland, many due to the potato famine in the 1840s and 1850s. More followed in the 20th century to reunite with relatives and escape poverty and joblessness back home. Once settled, they found new ways to celebrate St. Patricks Day and their Irish identity in their new homes. Irish-Americans, especially, were quick to transform March 17 into a commercial enterprise. The mandatory wearin of the green in all its garishness is a far cry from the original tradition of wearing a spray of shamrocks to honor St. Patricks death and celebrate Irish solidarity. Parades famously sprung up especially in New York and Boston revelry ensued and, sure enough, even the beer became green. open image in gallery The Princess of Wales enjoys a glass of Guinness during a visit to the Irish Guards for their St Patricks Day parade at Wellington Barracks ( (Eddie Mulholland/Daily Telegraph/PA) ) Children of Irish-Americans in the United States have absorbed Irish culture at a distance. Many probably know that St. Patrick is Irelands patron saint. But they might not fully appreciate his mythic stature for kids growing up on the emerald isle. Ask children of any age in Ireland what they know about St. Patrick, and they will regale you with stories of his magical abilities, from his power to drive the snakes out of Ireland to his use of the three leaves and one stem of the shamrock to demystify the Trinity doctrine of the Catholic Church. They see St. Patrick as a miracle worker, and as adults, they keep the legends alive in their own ways. Some follow St. Patricks footsteps all around Ireland from well to hill to altar to chapel seeking his blessing and bounty wherever their journeys take them. Raising a glass Of course, in America, the holy day is really a party, above all else. About the author James Farrelly is a Professor of English at University of Dayton. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Americans have in some years spent US$6.16 billion celebrating, with 13 million pints of Guinness consumed. Some parts of the country have even held a pre-celebration on Sept. 17 or, as they call it, Halfway to St. Patricks Day. Where all of this leads is anyones guess. But beginning in the 1990s, Ireland seemed to grasp the earning potential of the Americanized version. March 17 remains a holy day for the natives and a holiday for tourists from around the world, with pubs raking in the euros on St. Patricks Day. But Ive always wondered: What if St. Patrick had requested a silent prayer instead of a wee drop of whiskey to toast his passing? Would his celebration have stayed more sacred than profane? This is an updated version of an article originally published on March 16, 2021 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 man convicted of the brutal murders of his girlfriend and her eight-year-old son almost 13 years ago was scheduled for execution in Texas on Wednesday. Cedric Ricks, 51, was due to receive a lethal injection at the state penitentiary in Huntsville, north of Houston, after 6pm CDT. Ricks was sentenced to death for the May 2013 killings of 30-year-old Roxann Sanchez and her son, Anthony Figueroa, at their apartment in Bedford, a Dallas-Fort Worth suburb. Ms Sanchezs 12-year-old son, Marcus Figueroa, was also injured during the attack. His legal team has lodged an appeal with the US Supreme Court, seeking a stay of execution. They contend that prosecutors violated Ricks constitutional rights by excluding potential jurors based on their race. Earlier appeals, citing ineffective counsel and seeking to suppress evidence, have been unsuccessful. This argument references the 1986 Supreme Court ruling in Batson v. Kentucky, which established that racial exclusion of jurors contravenes the 14th Amendments Equal Protection Clause. At trial, Ricks already suspected that the State had singled out minority jurors to exclude them from his jury, Ricks attorneys said in their petition to the Supreme Court. Ricks lawyers said that notes prosecutors kept during the jury selection process and which were not obtained until 2021 show that prosecutors singled out minority jurors. The Texas Attorney Generals Office said court records show the prosecutions decisions in jury selection were race neutral and lower courts have already concluded that prosecutors actions were not discriminatory. Ricks viciously stabbed his girlfriend Roxann and her eight-year-old son Anthony to death, the attorney generals office said. The public has a strong interest in enforcement of Ricks sentence. The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles on Monday denied Ricks request for a 90-day reprieve or to commute his death sentence. Prosecutors said Ricks and Sanchez were arguing in their apartment when Sanchez two sons from a previous marriage Anthony and Marcus Figueroa tried to break up the fight. Ricks grabbed a knife from the kitchen and began to stab Sanchez multiple times, according to court records. open image in gallery This undated photo provided by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shows Texas death row inmate Cedric Ricks. ( Texas Department of Criminal Justice ) Marcus Figueroa ran to his bedroom closet and tried to call police. After killing Anthony Figuerora, Ricks resumed stabbing Marcus Figueroa, who survived the attack by playing dead. Ricks did not injure his then 9-month-old son, Isaiah, according to court records. Ricks fled and was later arrested in Oklahoma. During his trial, Ricks testified that he had anger issues and had been defending himself against the two boys after they had come to their mothers defense. Explaining my rage, I was upset. Things happen. I dont know. I dont know. I dont know. I wish I could bring them back, like, right now, said Ricks, who also apologized for the killings. A day before the stabbings, Ricks had appeared in court after having been charged with assaulting Sanchez during a previous incident. If the execution is carried out, Ricks would be the second person put to death this year in Texas and the sixth person in the country. Texas has historically held more executions than any other state. Charles Sonny Burton, a 75-year-old inmate in Alabama, had been scheduled to be executed on Thursday. But Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Tuesday commuted his death sentence, reducing it to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Burton had been sentenced to death for a fatal shooting during a 1991 robbery even though he didnt pull the trigger. 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 Two Texas women have been arrested after allegedly using drones to fly plastic crows, containing drugs, phones and tobacco, into a Louisiana prison. Melanie Jean Worthington, 38, and Kassy Marie Cole, 41, allegedly piloted the crow decoys to the federal prison in Grant Parish, which is located in the center of the state. The pair has told authorities that they were paid $40,000 to pull off the drop-off scheme, according to a press release from Grant Parish Sheriffs Office. open image in gallery Two Texas woman have been arrested after allegedly using drones to pilot fake crows, filled with contraband, to a Louisiana prison ( Grant Parish Sheriff's Office ) Authorities have not confirmed whether a single drop-off was made using the fake crows or a series of deliveries. Both women have been charged with possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and for taking contraband into a penal institution. Cole also faces a charge of possession of synthetic marijuana with intent to distribute and an outstanding warrant. open image in gallery Melanie Jean Worthington was one of the women arrested in connection with the drop-off scheme ( Grant Parish Sheriff's Office ) Worthington faces a charge of possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute. The GPSO shared an image of one of the plastic crows, which was even fitted with a black beak and eyes. The fake bird was wrapped in black tape and appeared to have a white package strapped to its back. According to WCTV, Worthington and Cole are the 9th and 10th suspects to be arrested for trying to smuggle contraband into the federal prison in Grant Parish in 2026. open image in gallery Kassy Marie Cole also faces an outstanding warrant, according to the GPSO ( Grant Parish Sheriff's Office ) The development comes just weeks after a 23-year-old man allegedly tried to smuggle 12 gallons of vodka into the same facility. John Mitchell, from Shreveport, was arrested on a charge of taking contraband into a penal institution, according to a GPSO statement. The sheriffs office announced the arrest on February 20, but has not yet confirmed how Mitchell tried to smuggle the 12 gallons of vodka into the prison. On February 9, the GPSO confirmed in a statement that a 36-year-old woman had been arrested for allegedly smuggling psilocybin mushrooms and marijuana into the prison in Grant Parish. Gloria Harmon, from Missouri, allegedly tried to transport an amount of mushrooms worth $2,300 into the jail. The marijuana she allegedly attempted to take into the facility was valued at nearly $10,000. She was charged with possession of psilocybin mushrooms with the intent to distribute, possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute and taking contraband into a penal institution. The Independent has contacted the Grant Parish Sheriffs Office for comment. 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 Michigan man has been convicted of murdering his wife, whose body was found in a rural farm tank in 2024, three years after she disappeared. The trial presented evidence of a troubled marriage between Dee and Dale Warner, though defense attorneys highlighted the absence of physical evidence connecting him to her death. The high-profile disappearance had previously been featured on true-crime podcasts and television. Public interest was high, with "Justice For Dee" signs appearing across Lenawee County, 70 miles southwest of Detroit. Dale Warner was found guilty of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence. Public interest was high, with "Justice For Dee" signs appearing across Lenawee County, 70 miles southwest of Detroit ( Jacob Hamilton/Jackson Citizen Patriot via AP, ) Dee Warner, a mother of five, who ran a trucking company and a farming business, was 52 years old when she was last seen on the morning of April 25, 2021, on a road in Franklin Township, south of Detroit. Dale Warner was charged with murder more than two years later, although investigators still had not found a body. In 2024, her remains were discovered inside a fertilizer tank. A handwritten tag on the side of the tank said, out of service and do not fill. An autopsy showed Dee Warner was strangled and had suffered blunt force trauma. Prosecutor Jackie Wyse told jurors that Dale Warner could have called 911 and said, I screwed up," when he realized what had happened, but instead taped Dee Warner's mouth and nose so she could not breathe. Those were all conscious decisions, Wyse said. Defense attorney Mary Chartier said there was plenty of reasonable doubt, noting that Dale Warner had regularly talked to investigators during the search and denied hurting his wife. He worked in agriculture and trucking. You are not here to judge Mr. Warner as a husband, Chartier told the jury. You may think he was a bad husband, a not-very-attentive husband, whatever you may think of him." 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 former Massachusetts nurse accused of strangling her three young children to death in their family home before attempting to take her own life claims a chilling voice in her head pushed her toward the unthinkable. You should harm the children, you should kill yourself, you will never be the same, the only option is to die, the voice told Lindsay Clancy, according to a lawsuit she filed against the mental health providers who treated her before the killings. Clancy, who is charged with murdering her children, Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and 8-month-old Callan, on January 24, 2023, claims doctors missed clear warning signs as her mental health rapidly deteriorated and failed to properly treat her, according to the lawsuits, CT Insider reported. Two lawsuits filed in Norfolk Superior Court in Massachusetts one by Lindsay Clancy and another by her husband, Patrick Clancy accuse several mental health providers of wrongful death and medical negligence. The lawsuits seek unspecified damages and a jury trial. Prosecutors allege Clancy strangled her children with exercise bands after sending her husband to get takeout food. An hour later, he returned home to find she had attempted to take her life by cutting her wrists and jumping from a second-story window. open image in gallery Lindsay Clancy appeared virtually from Tewksbury State Hospital where she has been held since 2023 when she attempted to take her own life after allegedly killing her three children ( WCVB Channel 5 Boston ) The former labor and delivery nurse survived the suicide attempt but was left paralyzed from the chest down and is now in a wheelchair. She is being held in the Tewksbury State Hospital while awaiting a murder trial scheduled for this summer. The new filings paint a disturbing picture of Clancys mental decline in the months before the killings. They claim Clancy, who had previously struggled with anxiety and postpartum depression after her second child, became increasingly fearful about returning to work after the birth of her youngest son, Callan, in 2022. She desperately sought psychiatric help that September as her mental health spiraled, but instead of stabilizing her, the medications she was prescribed allegedly made her condition worse, leaving her sleeping only about three hours a night and eventually triggering suicidal thoughts. Those thoughts included the idea that she should kill her children before taking her own life so they would not suffer without her, Patrick Clancys lawsuit claims. The tragedy that followed was the direct and proximate result of the defendants collective negligence in failing to recognize obvious warning signs, coordinate care, properly diagnose Lindsays condition, and provide treatment that met the applicable standard of care, the lawsuit filed on her behalf said. open image in gallery Patrick Clancy, the husband of Lindsay Clancy, is pictured with the couples three children ( GoFundMe ) In the days before the killings, Patrick Clancy told doctors his wife was having horrible thoughts throughout the day and had admitted to him and her mother that she was thinking about harming the children, the lawsuit filed by her attorneys said. She heard a voice saying, You should harm the children, you should kill yourself, you will never be the same, the only option is to die, the lawsuit filed for Lindsay Clancy said. Her lawsuit also alleges her psychiatrist spent only about 17 minutes with her during each appointment, including a visit the day before the killings. The filings say Clancy repeatedly tried to get help, including going to an emergency department, checking herself into inpatient treatment and contacting crisis hotlines, while telling providers the medications she had been prescribed were making her condition worse. Lindsay Clancy did everything a mother in her situation could do, her attorneys said in the lawsuit filed on her behalf. She recognized something was wrong with her. She sought medical treatment. She went to emergency rooms. She called crisis hotlines. She admitted herself to hospitals. She took the medications prescribed to her. She communicated her worsening symptoms to her providers. She told them the medications were making her worse. According to the lawsuits, there had never been any indication that Clancy was capable of harming her children. She had been consistently academically excellent growing up in Connecticut and spent nine years working as a labor and delivery nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital a job she loved, the filings say. open image in gallery Prosecutors say Lindsay Clancy carefully planned the murder of her three children ( Facebook ) Her mother-in-law, Susan Clancy, told a grand jury that she loved everything about Lindsay, she was a fun loving, doting wife and mother who adored her children and was always smiling, the lawsuit said. Lindsay now faces a lifetime of physical disability, psychological trauma, and the unbearable grief of waking up every day knowing she killed her children all of which could have been prevented had defendants provided competent medical care, her attorney said in the lawsuit. Clancy has pleaded not guilty to the murder charges and is scheduled to undergo a forensic psychological evaluation in April before returning to court on April 23. After being postponed multiple times, Clancys murder trial is scheduled to begin on July 20. 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 Rihanna, her partner A$AP Rocky, their three children and her mother were all at home when a woman now charged with attempted murder and many other felony counts is alleged to have fired at the property, a prosecutor said Tuesday. Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, 35, of Orlando, Florida, was charged with attempting to kill Rihanna, along with 10 counts of assault on a person with a semiautomatic firearm and three counts of shooting at an inhabited vehicle or dwelling, authorities said. No one was injured. The singing superstar and her rap star partner were together in a trailer on the property at the time of the Sunday afternoon shooting, while other family members and staffers were in the Beverly Hills-area home, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said outside a court hearing. Inside court, Deputy Public Defender Jamarcus Bradford, Ortizs attorney, at first entered a plea of not guilty on her behalf, but then withdrew it in favor of postponing arraignment until March 25. She was ordered held on $1.8 million bail. Ortiz wore blue jail clothes with her blond hair in braids and spoke to the lawyer through a glass divider. open image in gallery The exterior of Rihanna's residence in Beverly Hills ( (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) ) Bradford didn't talk to reporters outside court. The LA County Public Defender's Office said in a statement that it could not comment on the pending case against Ortiz. As in every case, we will work to ensure that our client receives the full protections guaranteed under the Constitution, the statement said. Ortiz could get life in prison if convicted on all charges. All 14 counts against her are felonies. The three counts of firing at a dwelling were for Rihanna's house, her trailer, and a neighbor's house, prosecutors said. The 10 assault counts were for Rihanna and family, two staffers and two people in the neighboring house. LA based celebrities should not be additionally worried because of this, Hochman said, in large part because of the response of the police. He praised officers for arresting Ortiz soon after the shooting, several miles (kilometers) to the north in the suburb of Sherman Oaks. Judge Theresa McGonigle issued a protective order for Ortiz to stay away from Robin Fenty and Rakim Mayers - the legal names of Rihanna and A$AP Rocky - and their home. McGonigle also said Ortiz is not allowed to possess any firearms or ammunition along with several other conditions. The hearing was held in a courtroom a few floors from where Rocky went through a trial where he was acquitted just over a year ago. Rihanna was often in attendance, sometimes with their sons. open image in gallery Judge Theresa McGonigle presides over the arraignment for Ivanna Lisette Ortiz ( AP Photo/Ethan Swope/Pool ) And the lead prosecutor in the new case is Alexander Bott, the deputy district attorney who successfully prosecuted rapper Tory Lanez in a trial where he was convicted of shooting hip-hop star Megan Thee Stallion in the feet. Hochman would not say where any of the bullets landed, would not say how long Ortiz had been in California, or discuss her motivation or any connection to Rihanna, saying all were under investigation. Public records show her most recent address was in Orlando and that she has been a licensed speech pathologist for more than a decade. AP also sent emails seeking comment from Rihannas publicist and manager. In 2018, a man was accused of breaking into another home belonging to Rihanna in the Hollywood Hills and spending 12 hours there. The man pleaded no contest to felony counts of stalking and vandalism and a misdemeanor count of resisting arrest in 2019. He was sentenced to probation. A nine-time Grammy Award winner, Rihanna has 14 No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including We Found Love, Work, Umbrella and Disturbia. She founded the makeup brand Fenty Beauty in 2017. She and A$AP Rocky announced the birth of their third child, a girl named Rocki Irish Mayers, in September. 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 The brother of professional wrestler and former WWE star Shotzi Blackheart has vanished in San Francisco after walking away from a car crash, prompting an urgent search by federal park police. Dean Urbanski, 51, was last seen Tuesday afternoon at Fort Mason, according to the U.S. Park Police, who are asking for the publics help locating the man. Fort Mason is located in the bay city near the water. In an Instagram post, Ashley Urbanski, known by her ring name Shotzi Blackheart, said her brother, whom she called Deano, had been involved in a car crash near Fort Mason before he disappeared. Security footage shows him walking away from the vehicle afterward, she wrote in the post. He may be confused or disoriented. open image in gallery Dean Urbanski, 51, the brother of pro wrestler and former WWE star Ashley Urbanski, went missing this week after a car crash in San Francisco ( U.S. Park Police ) A search was launched and police released a photo that shows Urbanski walking in the park around 1:45 p.m., after the car crash. He was notably wearing only one brown/tan slipper when he was spotted. Urbanski was wearing what appears to be light blue jeans, a black shirt and a gray or blue long-sleeve shirt. Investigators also noted that he has identifiable neck tattoos. Police added that Urbanski was last seen walking toward Bay and Laguna streets. open image in gallery US Park Police released a photo that shows Urbanski walking in the park around 1:45 p.m. Tuesday ( US Park Police ) open image in gallery Urbanskis sister Ashley Urbanski, known by her ring name Shotzi Blackheart, posted his pictured on Instagram after he went missing ( Instagram/shotziwwe ) open image in gallery Blackheart, pictured in August 2025 at WWE SummerSlam in New York City, is asking the publics help to find her missing brother ( Getty Images for SiriusXM ) Urbanski is believed to be suffering from a medical condition, according to police. His sister also noted in her social media post that he is undergoing dialysis and is not himself. Anyone who sees Urbanski or has information about his whereabouts is urged to contact the U.S. Park Police at (415) 561-5505. JOHANNESBURG, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) on Wednesday listed the Prescient China Balanced Feeder Actively Managed Exchange Traded Fund (AMETF), trading under the ticker PANDA. The fund aims to achieve long-term capital growth by investing primarily in a global fund focused on the Chinese market. According to the JSE, the fund holds a diverse mix of Chinese equities, government and corporate bonds and cash instruments. It provides access to China's onshore market through Prescient's approved investment license. While the primary focus remains on mainland China, the fund may also include global shares, bonds and currencies to optimize value or manage risk. The PANDA AMETF targets investors seeking geographic diversification and offers a distinctive growth option outside the South African market. "We are pleased to welcome the Prescient China Balanced Feeder AMETF to the JSE as we continue to drive portfolio diversification for South African investors," said Adele Hattingh, business development and exchange-traded products manager at the JSE. "This fund offers a straightforward way to add China exposure to a portfolio via a local stockbroking account, providing a regulated, transparent and efficient gateway to one of the world's largest economies," she said. Tian Pan, head of strategy at Prescient China, welcomed the listing, noting that it is the first AMETF in South Africa dedicated to the world's second-largest economy. "The Prescient China Balanced Feeder AMETF allows individual investors and pension funds to gain diversified exposure to all major Chinese assets, including onshore and offshore listed equities and fixed-income instruments, with the benefit of immediate tradability on the JSE," Pan said. The listing comes amid a period of robust growth for the sector. In 2025, the South African ETF market recorded a 29 percent year-on-year growth rate, adding about 60 billion rand (about 3.75 billion U.S. dollars) in market capitalization. Currently, there are 132 ETFs listed on the JSE, with a total market capitalization exceeding 261 billion rand. Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A significant legal battle is unfolding as Microsoft and a coalition of retired military leaders throw their weight behind artificial intelligence firm Anthropic, challenging the Trump administration's designation of the company as a supply chain risk. This controversial move effectively blocks Anthropic from securing military contracts. Microsoft, in a legal filing, is directly challenging Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's recent action to exclude Anthropic from military work, arguing that its AI products pose a national security threat. This stance is echoed by 22 former high-ranking U.S. military officials, including past secretaries of the Air Force, Army, and Navy, and a former head of the Coast Guard. In their own court filing, they allege Hegseth's actions constitute a misuse of government authority, describing it as "retribution against a private company that has displeased the leadership." The Pentagon's decision against Anthropic followed an unusually public dispute over the company's refusal to permit unrestricted military use of its AI model, Claude. Donald Trump also publicly stated he was ordering all federal agencies to cease using Claude. "The use of a supply chain risk designation to address a contract dispute may bring severe economic effects that are not in the public interest," Microsoft, a major government contractor, stated in its Tuesday filing in San Francisco federal court. The software giant's legal brief further argues that the Pentagon's action "forces government contractors to comply with vague and ill-defined directions that have never before been publicly wielded against a U.S. company." Microsoft is seeking a judicial order to temporarily lift the designation, allowing for more "reasoned discussion" between Anthropic and the Trump administration. The Pentagon declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation. open image in gallery Microsoft, in a legal filing, is directly challenging Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's recent action to exclude Anthropic from military work ( AP ) Microsoft's filing also expressed support for Anthropic's two ethical red lines, which were a sticking point in contract negotiations after the Pentagon insisted on "all lawful" uses of its AI. "Microsoft also believes that American AI should not be used to conduct domestic mass surveillance or start a war without human control," the company asserted, adding, "This position is consistent with the law and broadly supported by American society, as the government acknowledges." The software giant's intervention follows similar filings from other supporters, including a group of AI developers from Google and OpenAI, and organizations such as the Cato Institute and the Electronic Frontier Foundation. The group of retired military chiefs, which includes former CIA director Michael Hayden and retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, also filed support. Their filing states, "Far from protecting U.S. national security, the Secretarys conduct here threatens the rule-of-law principles that have long strengthened our military." open image in gallery The San Francisco-based tech company was formally designated a risk last week following a public disagreement regarding its AI chatbot in warfare ( AP ) U.S. District Judge Rita Lin is presiding over the case in San Francisco, where Anthropic is headquartered, and has scheduled a March 24 hearing. While neither legal filing explicitly mentions the war in Iran, the ex-military officials warn that the "sudden uncertainty" of targeting technology widely embedded in military platforms could disrupt planning and endanger soldiers during ongoing operations. The current commander of U.S. Central Command recently confirmed the military's use of "advanced AI tools" to "sift through vast amounts of data in seconds" during strikes on Iran, emphasizing that "humans will always make final decisions." Anthropic was, until recently, the only one of its peers approved for use in classified military networks. However, due to this dispute, military officials are now reportedly looking to shift that work to competitors like Google, OpenAI, and Elon Musk's xAI. Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Spain is poised to introduce a new instrument designed to measure hate speech on digital platforms, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez confirmed on Wednesday. This initiative forms part of a broader governmental strategy aimed at enhancing oversight of social media companies. Last month, the country outlined a comprehensive plan to regulate social media, encompassing a proposed ban on its use for younger teenagers and measures to ensure platform executives are held accountable for any illegal or hateful content hosted on their services. The forthcoming tool, named HODIO an acronym in Spanish for 'Footprint of Hatred and Polarisation' will empower the government to systematically monitor the presence, amplification, and overall impact of hate speech across the internet, Mr Sanchez explained. He argued that online hatred was fostering profound divisions within Spanish society, making it crucial to discuss the 'footprint of hate' with the same gravity as the carbon footprint. "We want to start talking about the impact of hate. When something is measured, it ceases to be invisible," he said. The tool's results will be made public, so that citizens can see "who is blocking this content, who is looking the other way, and who is profiting from it," Sanchez said. open image in gallery Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez attends a session of parliament in Madrid (Bernat Armangue/AP) ( AP ) Last month Instagram revealed it would now notify parents if their teenager repeatedly searches for terms related to suicide or self-harm within a short period, as pressure grows for governments to follow Australia's ban on the use of social media for under 16s. Britain said in January it was considering restrictions to protect children online, after Australia's move in December. Spain, Greece, and Slovenia have in recent weeks said they are also looking at limiting access. Instagram, owned by Meta Platforms Inc, said on Thursday it would start alerting parents who are signed up to its optional supervision setting if their children try to access suicide or self-harm content. "These alerts build on our existing work to help protect teens from potentially harmful content on Instagram," the platform said in a statement. "We have strict policies against content that promotes or glorifies suicide or self-harm." Its existing policy is to block such searches and redirect people to support resources, Instagram said, adding that it would begin the alerts from next week for those signed up in the United States, Britain, Australia and Canada. DAR ES SALAAM, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) on Wednesday issued an urgent public notice, urging tourism stakeholders to avoid crossing flooded rivers and roads in Serengeti National Park, as severe flooding swept away several vehicles and raised concerns about missing individuals. TATO said heavy rains have caused flooding in parts of the Serengeti, creating dangerous conditions for tour operators, guides, and visitors traveling through the world-renowned wildlife reserve. In a statement, TATO Chairman Wilbard Chambulo urged all tour operators, drivers, and guides to prioritize safety and refrain from attempting to cross flooded roads under any circumstances. "No itinerary, transfer, or schedule is worth risking the lives of guests, guides, or drivers," Chambulo said. He advised tourism operators to turn back when encountering flooded roads, wait for water levels to subside, or coordinate with lodges and other operators to identify safer travel alternatives. The association also called on tourism stakeholders to immediately share the safety notice with teams operating in the Serengeti to prevent potential accidents. Serengeti National Park, located in northern Tanzania, is one of Africa's most famous wildlife destinations and attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists each year, particularly during the annual wildebeest migration. Advertisement CultureArt & designVivid Sydney Dancing drones and a ball of fire: Heres what to expect from Sydneys Vivid Light Festival Linda Morris March 11, 2026 11:53am 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 Vivid Sydney reaches for both the sky and the horizon this year, debuting a refreshed creative direction across Circular Quay, Barangaroo and Darling Harbour which will see the return of its popular aerial drone shows. For his first festival, new director Brett Sheehy will focus on the harbour front with a shorter but unbroken 6.5-kilometre Light Walk, new daytime events and 22 drone shows. Molecule of Light by Chris Levine. Its the largest drone series ever undertaken by Vivid, Sheehy says, and will be based at Darling Harbour and spread over 11 nights, with two shows happening Sundays to Wednesdays. Vivid cancelled its drone shows in 2025 on the advice of NSW Police and Transport for NSW following a potentially dangerous crowd crush around Circular Quay. Advertisement Organisers say crowds will be better managed at Darling Harbour and the early week shows aim to discourage the weekend crushes that beset previous festivals. The sky at Darling Harbour will come alive with each show running eight to 12 minutes and featuring a fleet of 700 to 1000 drones, Sheehy said. And we have secured the latest drone technology to ensure these are the brightest drones in the world. Adela Lines and Simone Chua from Amigo & Amigo, the creators of Pendulum, with Vivid artistic director Brett Sheehy. Wolter Peeters Tourism minister Steve Kamper said this years edition the 16th was a showstopper, no doubt and a powerful driver of the NSW economy, bringing millions of visitors to Sydney in the citys winter months. Destination NSW declined to disclose its budget for this years Vivid because of commercial in confidence, or say if the new artistic director was delivering his refreshed program on a smaller budget. The agency claims 2.5 million people visited Vivid last year. Advertisement Among the 33 installations and 10 projections on the condensed light walk, the festival will debut its tallest-ever installation, Molecule of Light, described as a flaming meteorite on metal legs, so tall it will be seen from Balmain to Chatswood. Its the creation of acclaimed British artist Chris Levine, who was the first to photograph the late Queen Elizabeth II with her eyes closed. The 23-metre structure uses single-frequency laser beams and geometric patterns to project an immersive sound and light show high above visitors. Levines work is designed to challenge perception, inviting visitors to briefly step into another dimension made of light, sound and data. Obstacle will be one of the longest light commissions of the festival. While Levine reaches upward, Victorian designers Reelize Studio stretch across the waterfront with Obstacle. At 45 metres long, this monumental holographic structure is one of the longest works ever featured in the festival. Made of translucent LED mesh and light choreography, its shifting visual layers make the solid barrier appear fluid and dynamic. Advertisement Nearby, Pendulum by Marrickville-based studio Amigo & Amigo blends science with art through a glowing supersized structure that mimics the rhythm of gravity. Visitors can push interactive spheres to send waves of energy, light and sound through the swaying installation. As previously revealed by this masthead, Vivid will have daytime offerings for the first time this year, including 38 light box LED screens featuring moving images and traditional art and The Prism at the Quay, illuminated at night but filled with bean bags for daytime relaxation. For food lovers, the Star Gazer Lawn at Barangaroo is to be the new home of Fire Kitchen, moving from the Goods Line. UK chef Yotam Ottolenghi will be headlining the Vivid Food program. Music acts will include King Stingray, Scottish rock pioneers Mogwai and hip-hop icon Lil Kim. Opera Mundi by Yann Nguema. Destination NSW A new pillar of Vivid Minds will also be introduced. Academy Award-winning filmmakers Sean Baker (Anora) and Chloe Zhao (Hamnet) will be appearing alongside Pulitzer Prize-winning cultural critic Jerry Saltz. Advertisement Sydneys iconic landmarks will undergo a painterly digital transformation. French artist Yann Nguema will illuminate the Sydney Opera House sails with Opera Mundi, an ode to architect Jorn Utzon. Each of the 10 sequences offers unique scenes from nature, blooming hydrangeas and goldfish. Sheehy said the presentation will be neither garish nor gaudy. For the first time The Garrison Church in The Rocks will be lit. A seven-minute presentation in the nearby Argyle Cut will begin with a beating human heart and take visitors on a flight into the future. Samoan-Australian artist Angela Tiatia is taking her unique cinematic language and painting the Museum of Contemporary Art with motifs of pearls, fire and the female form. Her projection-mapping work Vaiola explores the life-giving force of water. Customs House is to undergo a hallucinogenic transformation through a projection by Javier Riera. Amigo & Amigos giant piano. Managed by Destination NSW, Vivid Sydney remains a central pillar of the states goal to grow the visitor economy to $91 billion by 2035. Advertisement Vivid runs from May 22 to June 13. 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 CultureBooksReview A tense thriller that draws on its authors experience in the Balkans war Warwick McFadyen March 11, 2026 11:55am 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 THRILLER Two Islands Ian Kemish University of Queensland Press, $34.99 Ian Kemish knows of what he writes. The former Australian diplomat was based in Europe during the 1990s at the time of the Balkans war. He has also been an ambassador and high commissioner, and played a pivotal part in Australias response to the Bali bombings in 2002. He is now an adjunct professor at the University of Queensland and occasional columnist on world affairs. His first book, the non-fiction The Consul, detailed the world of diplomacy. Two Islands is his first venture into fiction. And while the characters are invented, their stories are based on the events of the time, which Kemish knows intimately. This gives it a deep vein of authenticity from which to mine. Two Islands centres on the character of Niko, who because of his young age was allowed to flee a massacre, but in having seen mass murder became a witness for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. His testimony is vital to bring about justice. One of those responsible for enabling this to happen is Anita, an Australian investigator for the tribunal. The trouble is that Niko takes flight to a remote Scottish island after being spooked that his life is in danger on the orders of those he could implicate of war crimes. Advertisement Author and former diplomat Ian Kemish. Glenn Hunt There, he falls into the orbit of the islanders, including another outcast, Fergus, a man tortured by his past in the military in Northern Ireland and in the Balkans. Both carry the weight of their ordeals while trying to find a path to the future. Kemish tells the novel through the eyes of the characters Niko, Anita, Fergus and Ronnie, a World War II island veteran, and the chapters carry their names. Kemishs interweaving of the political and the personal is seamless, and his depiction of the 90s is evocative and timely in reminding the world that for every eruption of war and mass death, cruelty and dislocation of people, there may be peace, but globally only for so long. Where the waters are becalmed in one place, mountainous seas are raging elsewhere. As Kemish shows, sometimes survival comes down to dumb luck, as in the case of Niko. But having escaped death, he then has to keep running to escape the aftershocks, and as the author shows with Niko and Fergus, the waves are often inside your own mind as much as outside. By setting their place of refuge as a Scottish island, not quite in the middle of nowhere, but close, Kemish sets up the contrast between the tranquillity, indeed otherworldliness, of the life the islanders experience and the cacophony of opposing voices and the clash of actions off the island. It is indeed a closed world that is prised open through the coming of Fergus and Niko, and the world that follows them there. If this then is the strength of Two Islands, it falls away in its rounding out of the characters; enough is given to justify their thoughts and actions, but not quite enough to shake the shadow of their being merely cyphers to the books premise. Advertisement Related Article Review Fungi, snakes and Virginia Woolf: 10 new books Rather than broad brushstrokes, particularly in the portrayal of Anita, it would have been more enriching to have gone deeper into the character and lose some of the investigative procedural material. A bit of editing of descriptive cliches wouldnt have gone astray either. Still, there is a heartbeat to Two Islands that is strong and true. It pulses with a quiet empathy, and rage, for the victims of war. It shows, to quote John Donne, that no man is an island. Warwick McFadyens latest volume of poetry, A Slant of the Light, is available now. The Booklist is a weekly newsletter for book lovers from Jason Steger. Get it delivered every Friday. Advertisement CultureCelebrityPop culture These bloody Irwins: How catching crocs keeps Robert Irwin connected to his late dad Steve Nell Geraets March 12, 2026 10:11am 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 Robert Irwin has opened up about his ongoing connection with his father Steve Irwin, the famous Crocodile Hunter who died 20 years ago. During an appearance on the CNN podcast All There Is with Anderson Cooper on Tuesday, the 22-year-old wildlife conservationist became emotional sharing that he still speaks with his late father, often asking him for advice. Robet Irwin pictured with his father Steve in 2005, a year before he died. Im always closest to dad when Im in the middle of nowhere, you know, when Im out in the bush, he said, occasionally pausing to hold back tears. There are absolutely moments where Ill be hit with this sense of its warmth, its like something kind of wraps around me and I will absolutely sit and just say, How do I go forward? How do you move forward? Robert was just two years old when his father died in September 2006. Steve, host of the renowned series The Crocodile Hunter, was killed by a stingray off the Great Barrier Reef near Port Douglas while filming a documentary. Robert said he is regularly asked about his father, making him a constant thread in his life. Being in the public eye, he admitted, made his grief journey slightly more complicated. Advertisement Robert Irwin combines TV work with his efforts to promote wildlife conservation. Getty Images Sometimes, one of the nicest things is to kind of just let it all go, he said. I let it all sort of pour out, and it feels like Im kind of letting him in. And sometimes I just sit and go, Whats next? How do I put one foot in front of the other? And theres no answer, but it almost feels like theres a resolution that comes out of that. You need to check in every now and again, he continued. There are these checkpoints that I find throughout life where youre going through the motions, and then sometimes something will just hit you, and you need to just step away. You need to download, and you need to let loose. You need to go, OK, I need to refocus on what is my grief journey. Loading Robert, who recently won the 34th season of Dancing with the Stars in the US, said he usually feels his fathers presence most strongly during his conservation projects, especially when working with crocodiles a reptile Steve worked very closely with throughout his career. Advertisement Related Article Dancing With The Stars How a dancing Robert Irwin became the antidote to American gloom He referenced a recent crocodile research expedition in Northern Australia, which Robert led for the first time. While tagging and releasing a 16-foot croc, it was revealed to Robert that his father had tagged the same reptile nearly 20 years earlier. We managed to use satellite technology to figure it out, and we caught him in the exact same spot that he did, Robert said. Im laying on this croc and I feel his breath on my face. Im looking at this guy, and hes looking at me, and hes probably thinking, These bloody Irwins. This was a moment of deep connection to his father, Robert said. It felt like that was dad being like, This is your first time leading the team. Youre on the right track. Heres a little sign. Certain items have also acted as conduits to his father, such as the motorbike Steve used to ride around Australia Zoo. Robert said he repaired it years after Steves death, and now rides it every day, just like his dad did. Advertisement [That] repaired a lot of the pieces that were bringing me down, figuratively and literally, he said. Find out the next TV, streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees. Get The Watchlist delivered every Thursday. Advertisement EnvironmentConservationBiodiversity Leading rat poisons to face new restrictions, could be pulled from sale Bianca Hall March 11, 2026 4:02pm 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 Popular ranges of rat and mouse poisons will be restricted for use within weeks and could be pulled from supermarket and hardware shelves within months after the federal regulator found they posed unacceptable risks to native wildlife, pets and livestock. The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) on Tuesday announced it was in the public interest for a range of second-generation rodent poisons to be declared as restricted chemical products. Powerful owls have been dying in large numbers after eating possums and rodents that have eaten second-generation poisons. John White Retailers and wildlife advocates were on Wednesday scrambling to understand how the decision should be interpreted while Assistant Agriculture Minister Anthony Chisholm considers the recommendation. If Chisholm chooses to adopt the APVMAs recommendation that second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) be restricted, they will no longer be available for retail sale and will be available for use only by licensed operators. Advertisement Meanwhile, the registration of SGARs will be suspended for 12 months from March 24, with new limitations on the sale of the products and a ban on the manufacture and import of new products. Most rodent poisons on sale in Australia at Bunnings, Woolworths, Coles and IGA are second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides, which prevent blood from clotting and cause them to bleed out internally. Boobooks, like this baby Southern boobook, are dying in large numbers from eating poisoned rodents. Simon Cherriman The federal regulator has been considering the future of the poisons for more than four years, amid overwhelming evidence of their toxic legacy on the broader environment. The second-generation poisons in question are so toxic they kill predators such as powerful owls, which eat possums and rodents that have poison in their systems. Advertisement Related Article Biodiversity Common product banned around the world is killing our owls A study in 2024 showed 91 per cent of brushtail possums and 40 per cent of ringtail possums studied had rat poisons in their systems. Ecologist Dr Barry Traill estimated tens of thousands of Australian owls and tawny frogmouths are killed by rodent poisons each year. Poisoned rodents are picked off by predators at a higher rate than healthy rodents because poisoned rodents become dopey and uninhibited as the toxins take effect. This is a very good first step, Traill said. It provides the clear recognition that a ban is needed to stop owls, quolls and eagles being killed by these especially toxic rat poisons. However, this has to just be the first step. Given that use by licensed pest controllers still results in poisoned wildlife, we look forward to and expect the government to bring in a complete ban. Advertisement The APVMA in December handed down the findings of its four-year review of SGARs but, at the time, rebuffed calls to ban the products. Instead, the authority recommended changes to how the products are sold, such as containing poisons to within bait stations rather than throw-packs, recommended mice poisons be used only inside buildings, and recommending rat poisons be used only within two metres of buildings. New limitations will apply to the use of second-generation rat poisons. Adobe Stock After widespread outcry from wildlife experts, the authority reconsidered that decision, issuing a statement recommending that all products containing second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides be listed as restricted products. This, the APVMA said, will enable tighter controls on their purchase and use, including restricting access to individuals who meet specific training and licensing requirements. Advertisement Related Article Wildlife The fight to save Australian owls from common poisons Assistant Minister Anthony Chisholm is considering that recommendation. Products containing brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difenacoum, difethialone and floucoumafen will be suspended for 12 months from March 24 and face future bans if Chisholm declares SGARs as restricted chemical products. A spokesperson for the APVMA said that, for the next 12 months, limitations would apply to the use of SGARs, with multiple clear directions including: DO NOT use this product outdoors. DO NOT use unless secured in a tamper-resistant bait station. DO NOT use the product for longer than 35 days when treating an infestation. Search for, and dispose of, dead rodents and slugs/snails in the infested area at each visit to prevent secondary poisoning. Advertisement BirdLife Australias urban birds program Dr Christina Zdenek said use of SGARs was normalised in Australia, despite the products being banned in the United States and large parts of Europe. The poisons are classed by the World Health Organisation as class 1a the most hazardous category to human and animal health and BirdLife has continued to campaign for them to be banned outright. A five-year-old child can buy these things, and its ludicrous, Zdenek said. In America, for over 10 years, theyve been able to go to their biggest retailer, Walmart, and buy guns and ammunition, but they cannot buy these chemicals. Thats how bad it is. A spokesperson for Metcash, which owns businesses including Mitre 10, IGA and Home Timber and Hardware, said the organisation was working through the details for the changes with its supply partners to ensure they could comply with the new regulatory requirements. A Bunnings spokesperson said the chain would follow the APVMAs guidance, and was working through the implications of the changes for the products it stocks. Advertisement Review Eating outFitzroy When the Everleigh closed, a very different cocktail bar moved in. How does it rate? Leaning into owner Steve Chans Chinese heritage, Moondrop confidently goes its own way with 1920s Shanghai style and the kind of cocktails you wont find anywhere else in town. Tomas Telegramma March 12, 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 1 / 9 Moondrop brings Chinese-inspired sips to Fitzroy, moving into the storied space once home to The Everleigh. Simon Schluter 2 / 9 The Paddle Pop rye and bourbon cocktail with a miso-caramel sweetness and a banana lolly garnish. Simon Schluter 3 / 9 Hand-folded prawn dumplings. Simon Schluter 4 / 9 Your new late-night cocktail spot. Simon Schluter 5 / 9 MS Gibson cocktail with the high-proof Chinese spirit baijiu and MSG "brine". Simon Schluter 6 / 9 Cheddar tartlet. Simon Schluter 7 / 9 1920s Shanghai was a reference point for the refit of the former Everleigh site. Simon Schluter 8 / 9 To eat, you might find a version of the Sandwich Watch-approved Chinese bolognese toastie from Sleepys. Simon Schluter 9 / 9 The Five-Spice Girls cocktail made with five-spiced rum, umeshu (plum liqueur), pineapple and lime. Simon Schlutter Previous Slide Next Slide Bar snacks$$$$ The tabletop your elbows are resting on is custom-made, comprised of thousands of tiny mahjong tiles lined up and inset into the high top below a pane of glass. The piercingly icy Gibson youre sipping in a perfectly sized half-pour is supercharged with baijiu, the high-proof Chinese spirit, and MSG brine (more on that later). And what are you eating? It could be as simple as prawn crackers from a brown paper bag, or as substantial as a dozen of the days hand-folded dumplings. Welcome to Moondrop, a new cocktail bar whose championing of Chinese culture sets it apart, and whose owner, Steve Chan, says hes fighting sameness in Melbournes bar scene. Related Article Exclusive First look: After a shock closure, The Everleigh is reborn as a fresh cocktail bar Advertisement Chan also behind Sleepys cafe and wine bar in Carlton North had big ambitions for weaving his Chinese heritage into a cocktail context. We want to be the best bar in Australia, he told Good Food ahead of Moondrops opening. But he also had big shoes to fill, inheriting a spot thats long been at the centre of Melbournes cocktail universe. The Five-Spice Girls cocktail made with five-spiced rum, umeshu (plum liqueur), pineapple and lime. Simon Schlutter Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up Upstairs on Gertrude Street in Fitzroy, Moondrop is a worthy new identity for the site formerly known as The Everleigh. Its where Michael and Zara Madrusan built one of Melbournes defining cocktail bars, before its untimely closure in 2025, after 14 years. Structurally, the space has a similar flow, from the main bar, to the downstairs lounge, to the 12-person burrow behind velvet curtains. But this is not Everleigh 2.0. Youre now cocooned in crimson red, orbiting an oversized moon-shaped pendant light and surrounded by cabinets of fine china, as Chinese rap blares over the speakers. Advertisement 1920s Shanghai was a reference point for the refit, channelling all its old-world glamour, but as you unfold the embossed, leather-bound menu, it feels very 2020s Melbourne. Courtesy of co-owner Jesse Kourmouzis, Above Boards former bar manager, many of the cocktails are left-field concoctions with lesser-seen Chinese spirits and ingredients. That aforementioned Gibson is, as our bartender says, for salty babies, just like me, with a savouriness deepened by MSG and offset by a pickled onion. 1920s Shanghai was a reference point for the refit of the former Everleigh site. Simon Schluter Different flavour profiles sweet, sour, bitter, savoury, dry correspond to different symbols on the list, to help you navigate the two-dozen-or-so cocktails. Or you can collaborate with the cheeky, charismatic staff, each of whom has glimmers of the unadulterated enthusiasm for hospitality that Chan has become known for at Sleepys. They might suggest The Five-Spice Girls, where five-spiced rum, umeshu (plum liqueur), pineapple and lime blend so mind-bendingly well that they each ping around your palate like a game of pinball. Or another that reads quite adult, with its rye and bourbon, but reveals itself as a liquified, levelled-up banana Paddle Pop: incredibly smooth, not as boozy as it looks, with a miso-caramel sweetness and a nostalgic banana lolly garnish. Advertisement Some oddball drinks stick the landing less, including one topped with a foam of Krating Daeng, or Thai Red Bull, that really just smells (and tastes) of teen spirit-drinking. To eat, you might find a version of the Sandwich Watch-approved Chinese bolognese toastie from Sleepys. Simon Schluter Notably, the one-page beer and wine offering is almost entirely sourced from China, including Tsingtao longnecks. And to eat, you might find a version of the Sandwich Watch-approved Chinese bolognese toastie from Sleepys or a crisp-shelled, rosette-shaped tartlet piped with soft cheddar custard, plus osmanthus-laced quince paste dotted on top. This is the kind of cocktail bar that was swarmed with lion dancers to ring in Chinese New Year, that has just launched monthly mahjong nights in its back room, that cold-infuses lapsang souchong (smoky Chinese black tea) into sweet vermouth for your Manhattan. Instead of asking if it fills the void left by the Everleigh, consider this: it goes one better, celebrating Chinese traditions and making its own in a way few cocktail bars do, balancing attention to detail with tongue in cheek to show you a damn good time. Advertisement Three other new bars in iconic sites Bar Carnation With Carlton Norths legendary Geralds Bar moved to Lygon Street, its Rathdowne Street birthplace has been reborn by the team behind Carnation Canteen. The wine bar (and now bottle shop) still feels like an old soul, but with some new tricks. 386 Rathdowne Street, Carlton North, barcarnation.com Disuko Gone are the garden-party vibes of Madame Brussels, one of the Melbourne CBDs most storied rooftop bars. In its place: a Japanese bar and eatery throwing it back to 80s Tokyo with a rooftop terrace, a cocktail bar and an eight-seat omakase counter. Level 3, 59-63 Bourke Street, Melbourne, disuko.com.au The Lodge In the old David Jones menswear site alongside Meccas megastore NZ fashion label Rodd & Gunn has opened a four-storey vertical laneway of retail and hospitality. Two distinctive bars pour inventive cocktails by Bar Americano founder Matt Bax. 280 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, roddandgunn.com/au/the-lodge-group/melbourne Good Food reviews are booked anonymously and paid independently. A restaurant cant pay for a review or inclusion in the Good Food Guide. Delegates attend a panel discussion during the Africa Trade Conference 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa, March 11, 2026. African policymakers and business leaders on Wednesday called for stronger regional integration and the removal of trade barriers to boost trade across the continent at the Africa Trade Conference 2026 in Cape Town.(Photo by Shakirah Thebus/Xinhua) CAPE TOWN, March 11 (Xinhua) -- African policymakers and business leaders on Wednesday called for stronger regional integration and the removal of trade barriers to boost trade across the continent at the Africa Trade Conference 2026 in Cape Town. The one-day gathering, held under the theme "Turning Vision into Velocity: Building Africa's Trade Ecosystem for Real-World Impact," brought together policymakers, development institutions, business leaders and investors to discuss ways to accelerate Africa's participation in global trade while expanding commerce within the continent. African Development Bank Director General for Southern Africa Kennedy Mbekeani said that global developments in recent years had highlighted the need for Africa to strengthen regional integration. He added that risk perception was often discouraging investment on the continent. "That perception is sometimes intentional," he said. "They will continue to tell us that Africa is risky so that they can yield as much as they can from us." During a panel discussion, Botswanan Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship Tiroeaone Ntsima said African countries could benefit from opening borders and jointly financing cross-border projects. He highlighted the need for stronger coordination between neighboring countries, saying that trade routes and cross-border facilities needed to be simplified to make it easier for businesses and people to move goods. Ghana's Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare said fragmentation remained a key obstacle to trade, both between and within countries. She stressed the need for data to be shared seamlessly between regions and agencies to reduce trade bottlenecks. Zambian Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Chipoka Mulenga said that African economies should support each other through stronger investment and trade ties. Regional Economic Communities (RECs) were intended to eliminate trade barriers among member states but were often undermined by restrictions imposed by countries themselves, the minister noted. "The RECs are not performing the way they're supposed to perform because we are coming up with non-tariff barriers deliberately to choke each other's trade," he said. The minister urged governments and businesses to strengthen cross-border investment and cooperation across the continent. "We need to encourage inter-country investment and business into business ... never compete against each other but complement each other," he added. Delegates attend a panel discussion during the Africa Trade Conference 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa, March 11, 2026. African policymakers and business leaders on Wednesday called for stronger regional integration and the removal of trade barriers to boost trade across the continent at the Africa Trade Conference 2026 in Cape Town.(Photo by Shakirah Thebus/Xinhua) African Development Bank Director General for Southern Africa Kennedy Mbekeani speaks during the Africa Trade Conference 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa, March 11, 2026. African policymakers and business leaders on Wednesday called for stronger regional integration and the removal of trade barriers to boost trade across the continent at the Africa Trade Conference 2026 in Cape Town.(Photo by Shakirah Thebus/Xinhua) Iranian woman granted visa to stay in Australia decides to return to Iran One of the two women granted a humanitarian visa last to stay in Australia has changed her mind and will now return to Iran. Advertisement NationalVictoriaCBD Liberals size up new pollsters after election debacle Fiona Byrne and John Buckley March 12, 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 Spotted: Southwick steps up When a cancellation on the Sandringham line left morning commuters scrambling to get into the city on Tuesday, a familiar face stepped up to direct people towards other transport options. State deputy Liberal leader David Southwick was spotted at Balaclava station telling disappointed would-be passengers that they would need to find alternative ways to get to the CBD owing to the Metro Trains disruption. Victorian deputy Liberal leader David Southwick. AAP Police investigation, Southwick told the morning travellers, CBDs on-the-spot correspondent reported. They dont know how long itll be. If you can, you should get the tram or alternative transport. Advertisement A call to Southwick on Wednesday confirmed his unplanned gig directing pedestrian traffic was brief. I didnt want people to get up to the platform only to find the service was not coming. I wanted them to save their legs, he said. Community service comes in all forms! Liberals size up new pollsters after election debacle The federal Liberal Party, to the surprise of absolutely nobody, appears to have moved on from Freshwater Strategy, the pollsters used in the lead up to last years federal election, after the Libs were so unequivocally battered that the party is still trying to figure out what it is and who its for. Advertisement Now CBD hears the partys federal executive has already started preparing to kick off a process for securing a replacement polling firm. The Liberals have recently sounded out Leanne White over her interest in the job, according to two sources familiar with the situation but not authorised to speak publicly. Federal Liberal leader Angus Taylor. Alex Ellinghausen White, who runs the market research firm Insightfully, is already well regarded among the Liberal Partys federal executive and within the senior ranks of the parliamentary party. She has also done work for the Victorian Liberals. But its far from a done deal. The party has historically kicked off a formal process inviting pollsters to make their case for why they should lead its election research operation about 18 months ahead of polling day. The contract or account, as its known in corporate parlance is expected to go into the market later this year, said one of the sources. Given the hammering suffered by the Liberal Party at the last election, and the subsequent questions raised over the role that its polling played in the result, we dont blame the partys federal director, Andrew Hirst, for trying to get his ducks in a row early. The party didnt respond to a request for comment. Advertisement The Liberals federal director, Andrew Hirst. Alex Ellinghausen In a December draft of its election review, since tabled in parliament by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the party pointed at Freshwater for over-estimating the Liberal vote in its polling, which was overlaid with the results of the Voice to Parliament referendum. Some Liberal candidates and MPs also assumed that the defeat of the Voice meant those who voted No would vote Liberal, not accounting for the difference between the behaviour of Australian voters at referendums and elections, the review reads. The election results in ALP-held seats, for example, suggest Labor voters clearly voted against the Voice referendum without then deciding to vote Liberal in a general election in which the Voice no longer figured. The two votes were much less connected than Freshwater assumed. Related Article CBD Plymouth Brethren barely rates a mention in Liberal campaign review Advertisement The polling, to put it mildly, was a major pain point within the Liberal Party in the immediate aftermath of the election, and quickly triggered finger pointing in conservative circles. Freshwater declined to comment. Freshwater is led by Dr Mike Turner, who defected from CT Group formerly known as Crosby Textor to set up shop with colleagues in 2022 after running the Libs polling operation in previous elections. Despite the federal election result, the firm still does work for the Liberal National Party in Queensland and the Nationals. Google calls in yet another lobbyist Youd be forgiven for losing count or interest but Google may just be making a play for having the deepest corporate lobbying bench in Canberra. On Tuesday, the $5.1 trillion company was listed as a new client of the lobby shop Pearl Consulting, run by Gillian Pearl, who has had stints at Microsoft in Canada and Singapore. Pearl joins Hawker Britton and SEC Newgate as one of the tech giants hired guns in Australia as it moves to work the government on tech-friendly AI policy and faces mounting pressure to strike new deals with media companies. Advertisement Google is expanding its roster of lobbyists. Bloomberg The boutique firms clients have included Facebook, Visa, Microsoft, Unilever and Oxfam, according to Pearls LinkedIn. But Google was in no mood to enlighten us on the hire. Pearl describes her firm on her website: Today, we have a diverse, global social impact consulting team of 40 who work alongside clients and partners to address the issues important to them. These issues include womens empowerment, economic development, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), safety, climate action and humanitarian relief. 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 PoliticsFederalRobo-debt royal commission Secret identities revealed, Morrison cleared of corruption in robo-debt investigation Natassia Chrysanthos Updated March 11, 2026 4:04pm ,first published 3:52pm 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 prime minister Scott Morrison has been cleared by the corruption watchdogs investigation into robo-debt, while two senior public servants involved in the former Coalition governments unlawful debt-recovery scheme have been found to have engaged in serious corrupt conduct. The National Anti-Corruption Commissions investigation into six key people linked to robo-debt was published on Wednesday, more than 2 years after a royal commission first recommended a corruption probe into their behaviour with a secret sealed section of its final report. Scott Morrison giving evidence at the robo-debt royal commission in 2022. The robo-debt referrals have been the NACCs most high-profile and politically sensitive investigation since its creation, particularly because it initially refused to investigate them. The long-awaited report will not lead to any prosecutions, however, after the NACCs deputy commissioner Kylie Kilgour said there was not enough admissible evidence for charges. Labor called the royal commission into robo-debt, which issued automated debts to more than 500,000 social security recipients based on unlawful calculations, when it came into government. Advertisement Royal commissioner Catherine Holmes found it was a crude and cruel mechanism, neither fair nor legal in her 2023 report. She was highly critical of senior public servants and government ministers, including Morrison, whom she found had allowed cabinet to be misled over the schemes legality and gave untrue evidence to the commission. Morrison, who took the initial proposal to cabinet as social services minister in 2015, at the time issued a lengthy defence of his actions. On Wednesday, he welcomed the NACCs finding that he did not engage in corrupt conduct. Furthermore, the findings of the NACC clear me of the allegation that I misled cabinet, Morrison said in a statement. The report also reveals that the robo-debt scheme was not conceived or originated by myself, but by department officials and that, as minister, I had no involvement in the administration of the robo-debt scheme, as it commenced after I had left the portfolio. Holmes had referred six people to the anti-corruption commission, but their names were kept secret to avoid prejudicing potential civil or criminal proceedings. Now that the investigation has concluded, the identities of the six, including Morrison, have been revealed, and the secret chapter will be tabled in parliament this week. Advertisement Related Article Updated Robo-debt royal commission Morrison rejects robo-debt findings as commission refers individuals for further action Kilgour, who led the commissions investigative team, said the six people and 33 other witnesses had given evidence throughout 35 days of private hearings last year. She concluded two of the referred people had engaged in serious corrupt conduct: former department officials Mark Withnell and Serena Wilson. Kilgour found that Withnell, then the departments general manager of business integrity, had engaged in corrupt conduct because he intentionally misled officers at the Department of Social Services in 2015 as they prepared a cabinet submission with a proposal that became the robo-debt scheme. She also found Wilson, a former department deputy secretary, had engaged in corrupt conduct when she misled the ombudsmans investigation into robo-debt in 2017. Advertisement There was not enough admissible evidence to establish the alleged offences beyond reasonable doubt, however, so Kilgour said neither person should be referred for criminal prosecution. Kilgour cleared the remaining four referred people: Morrison, former department secretary Kathryn Campbell, and public servants Catherine Halbert and Annette Musolino. Kilgour said they had not engaged in corruption under definitions set out in law. Corruption watchdog itself marred by robo-debt investigation Wednesdays report will draw a line under the robo-debt investigations, which also subsumed the corruption watchdog. At first, the NACC decided not to take any action or investigate the referrals. This provoked hundreds of complaints, and NACC inspector Gail Furness, who has independent oversight over the commission, investigated why the watchdog had come to that position. Advertisement Her investigation revealed the NACC commissioner, Paul Brereton, had failed to declare a conflict of interest in his relationship to one of the referred people. Because of that, Furness said the NACC should hire an independent person to review its refusal to investigate. Former High Court judge Geoffrey Nettle was recruited to redo the review of the commissions original decision, at a cost of $1.14 million. He decided that it was in the public interest for the NACC to launch a corruption investigation. Kilgour, the deputy commissioner, commenced the probe in April last year, and Brereton was not involved in any part of the investigation. Brereton has since come under investigation a second time. Last month, Furness revealed she was commencing a fresh inquiry into whether his ongoing provision of defence advice while in the role has amounted to agency maladministration or officer misconduct. Labor has stood by Brereton despite the investigations compromising public confidence in the integrity watchdog that was established as a legacy reform of the Albanese government. Attorney-General Michelle Rowland on Wednesday described robo-debt as a betrayal of everyday Australians, resulting in human tragedy and untold misery. The Royal Commission was clear in its findings, and we must work to ensure this can never occur again, she said. Advertisement Related Article NACC Anti-corruption commissioner to be investigated over conduct for the second time The royal commissions 56 recommendations have either been accepted or implemented by the government, which the NACC report on Wednesday said should be sufficient to prevent recurrence of the type of corrupt conduct found in this investigation. Therefore, while the commission has made observations in relation to contributing factors, it has not made recommendations in this report, the investigation said. Independent MP Helen Haines said the NACCs findings would bring further accountability for families, but should not have taken so long. The fact a second investigation was required highlights the importance of scrutiny and transparency in the work of the NACC, she said. Without the sustained public pressure that led to a review of the earlier decision, those impacted by robo-debt may never have received the validation that this finding now provides. Advertisement Greens social services spokeswoman Penny Allman-Payne said Wednesdays finding would bring little relief. There may be some small satisfaction found in the fact that two staff were found to have acted corruptly, but the architects of robo-debt are still sitting pretty, she said. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter. Advertisement PoliticsVictoriaIBAC Opinion Jacinta Allan has carefully suggested her government will tackle corruption. It wont Chip Le Grand State political editor March 12, 2026 5:00am March 12, 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 Given how fast things are moving, I wont take up more of your time than necessary. By the time you finish this column, who knows what will have happened in Iran, on global markets, or in the shitosphere of Kyle and Jackie O. But in the relatively quiet village of Victorian politics, there is something that deserves your attention. It is now painstakingly clear that the Allan government has no plans to give more power to the states anti-corruption agency. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has been deflecting serious questions about corruption in the states Big Build projects. Penny Stephens Why is a government facing the biggest corruption problem since the WA Inc scandal determined not to give IBAC what it needs to detect and deter crooked behaviour? The simplest answer is that the Victorian Labor Party sees union corruption and criminal infiltration of its Big Build program as a lesser evil than giving IBAC, an anti-corruption agency it doesnt trust, the powers and funding to be more effective. Advertisement This is an indictment of both the Labor Party and to a lesser extent IBAC, an organisation that has spent the past 10 years tugging at the edges but never quite getting to the heart of the states descent into Tammany Hall-style government. Related Article Opinion Victorian Parliament Allans WFH laws look like genius. They only take us closer to the cliffs edge Chip Le Grand State political editor It also evokes a truism of Australian politics, otherwise known as the Greiner rule, which states that integrity reform always looks better from opposition than it does in government. For those unfamiliar with his rule, the manner 24 years ago in which the newly formed ICAC devoured its father, former NSW premier Nick Greiner, still endures as a cautionary tale. In Victoria, it took a change in government to establish IBAC and another to give it powers and jurisdiction more closely resembling although still well shy of those enjoyed by its NSW cousin. If Victoria is to finally have a robust IBAC with follow-the-money powers, reasonable scope to conduct public hearings and a degree of independence in its funding arrangements, itll take another change of government in November. Advertisement The opposition, if taken at its word, is intent on these and other IBAC reforms, for reasons of both good policy and hard-nosed politics. The rationale is that the Liberal and National parties, through their long years on the opposition benches, understand the limitations that have prevented IBAC from being a serious check on a government which recognises no significant distinction between the public interest and its own electoral interests. The political reason is that the question of IBAC reform has become a proxy measure of the premiers response to the Building Bad scandal. It is likely that an empowered and well-resourced IBAC would not have stopped the CFMEU from running amok. But when the opposition talks about IBAC, it is an invitation for voters to consider the estimated $15 billion cost of criminality and intimidation associated with major projects. It has become clear from talking to senior people inside the Allan government and broader Labor movement that neither the premier nor her government shares the oppositions desire to make it any easier for IBAC to do its job. Advertisement It is an article of faith for Labor that IBAC has become politicised. Once you subscribe to this view, giving more resources to IBAC is putting good money after bad. As one senior figure put it: The more power you give IBAC, the more people will come to regret it. Related Article Opinion Building Bad Daniel Andrews couldnt spend our money fast enough. It is no surprise crooks cashed in Chip Le Grand State political editor Over the past couple of months, whenever Premier Jacinta Allan has felt the heat from Nick McKenzies indefatigable reporting about gangsters on publicly funded building sites, she and other government ministers have dangled a little teaser about the prospect of IBAC reform. Their carefully worded references to a parliamentary integrity oversight committee report that last year recommended major surgery to the IBAC Act give the impression that this government, in time, will do what is needed to give IBAC what it needs. After all, the reforms recommended by the committee are what successive IBAC commissioners have asked for, repeatedly, for more than a decade. Advertisement Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny says the government is considering the committees report and reviewing its findings and will respond in due course. Let me save you the suspense. It aint gonna happen. Not while Labor thinks it can win. Chip Le Grand is state political editor. The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up here. Advertisement WorldNorth AmericaTrade New tariffs coming: Trump fires fresh trade salvo at 15 countries, EU Michael Koziol March 12, 2026 10:13am 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: The Trump administration is opening trade investigations into 15 countries, as well as the European Union, as a precursor to a new wave of tariffs to compensate for those struck down by the US Supreme Court last month. The probes will focus on excess capacity and production of foreign nations including several key American allies which Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said was leading to persistent trade surpluses with the United States. The policy hasnt changed: US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer speaks during the Australian Super Summit in Washington. Leigh Vogel Those being investigated are China, the EU, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, Bangladesh, Mexico, Japan and India. Greer made the announcement shortly after telling an audience at the Australian embassy in Washington that they should not expect President Donald Trumps approach to tariffs to change, despite the US Supreme Court ruling last month that his sweeping import duties were unlawful. Advertisement Were going to have continuity, Greer told an Australian superannuation and investment conference. The tools might change, but the policy hasnt changed. He invited attendees to contact him about projects and concerns, but warned: If your point is take down all the tariffs, were not going to get along. Journalists were ejected from the summit for Jamieson Greers Q&A with Australian ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd. Leigh Vogel Greer defended the administrations tariffs by citing the protectionist policies of the so-called Australian Settlement in the early 1900s, using a term coined by author and News Corp journalist Paul Kelly. He said his team studied those policies and concluded they had contributed to stable economic growth, full employment and higher living standards, as well as making Victoria the countrys manufacturing centre. Advertisement It was a good time for Australia, he said, likening it to the American System of protectionism in the 19th century. Related Article Opinion Inside China Chinas latest plan to dominate global trade Stephen Bartholomeusz Senior business columnist However, Australias protectionist policies were mostly dismantled during the wave of economic reforms under the Hawke/Keating governments of the 1980s and early 1990s. In addition to reducing the USs persistent worldwide trade deficit, Greer said tariffs and state support for industry were necessary to prop up the American industrial base and manufacturing sector. US allies should support that, he said, as it allowed the US to conduct military campaigns such as the current war in Iran. The best thing for our allies across the globe is for the United States to have a strong industrial base so we can take the kinds of actions were taking right now. Advertisement Reporters were then ejected from the summit while Greer engaged in a Q&A session with Australias outgoing ambassador to the US, former Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd. Among the attendees were NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey, former federal treasurer-turned-Goldman Sachs Australia chair Josh Frydenberg, outgoing AustralianSuper investment chief Mark Delaney and BHP corporate relations boss Dominic Perrottet. The Trump administrations new trade investigations are aimed at making up a shortfall caused by the Supreme Court decision. Bloomberg Australia is not among the countries targeted for the USs new Section 301 trade investigations announced by Greer, but it could be hit by subsequent probes. During a briefing with reporters, Greer flagged that additional probes were likely into digital services taxes and pharmaceutical pricing two recurring gripes of the administration as well as seafood and rice market access and ocean pollution. Advertisement Another investigation would be opened into whether countries are enforcing bans on the importation of goods made with forced labour, Greer said. That probe, to start as soon as tomorrow, could cover about 60 countries. Australias Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme is regularly targeted by US medical giants as one of the egregious and discriminatory programs around the world that subsidise medicines. The Albanese government is in talks with the Trump administration about the presidents wish for other countries to pay more for drugs. Loading Last months Supreme Court decision upended Trumps signature economic policy, finding he exceeded his powers by using emergency laws to impose permanent tariffs of varying levels on most US trading partners. Since then, Trump used the Trade Act to impose a temporary worldwide import duty of 10 per cent the same tariff Australian exports received from the beginning for 150 days. After that, the tariffs expire by law unless extended by Congress. Advertisement Greer said the US aimed to conclude the new trade practices investigations before the 150-day period expired. Fresh tariffs are considered a likely outcome of those reviews. Related Article Updated Trump diplomacy Unjustified: Australia rejects Trumps latest tariff hit The United States will no longer sacrifice its industrial base to other countries that may be exporting their problems with excess capacity and production to us, he said. After the Supreme Court ruling, Trump announced on social media that his new, temporary 10 per cent tariff would instead be 15 per cent. But when it was introduced, it was set at 10 per cent. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said last week that the increase to 15 per cent would happen likely some time this week. But that did not occur either. 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. SEOUL, March 11 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's exports logged a double-digit growth in the first 10 days of March owing to soaring demand for semiconductors, customs office data showed Wednesday. The outbound shipment came to 21.47 billion U.S. dollars in the period, up 55.6 percent compared to the same period of last year, according to Korea Customs Service. The daily average export jumped 31.7 percent to 3.30 billion dollars in the cited period. Semiconductor exports surged 175.9 percent on strong demand for chips used in artificial intelligence (AI). Shipment for oil products, automobiles, steel products, auto parts, precision machinery and home appliances spiked in double figures, but export for ships dropped in double digits. Imports picked up 21.7 percent from a year earlier to 19.37 billion dollars in the first 10 days of March, sending the trade surplus to 2.10 billion dollars. Import for chips, semiconductor equipment, machinery, oil products, precision machinery, and coal expanded in double figures, but those for crude oil and natural gas declined in single digits in the 10-day period. PYONGYANG, March 11 (Xinhua) -- A destroyer of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea conducted a test-firing of strategic cruise missiles on Tuesday, with the country's top leader observing the event on TV, the official Korean Central News Agency reported Wednesday. By Mata Press Service For the first time in decades, Canada could see its population growth grind to a halt. A new analysis from the federal Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) suggests the countrys population may effectively flatline in 2026 as Ottawa moves to rein in the number of temporary residents while keeping permanent immigration levels relatively steady. The report examines the federal governments 20262028 Immigration Levels Plan and concludes that the shift in policy will temporarily slow Canadas rapid population expansion before growth resumes at a more modest pace. For a country that has long relied on immigration to drive labour force expansion and economic growth, the findings signal a notable demographic turning point. Population growth pause According to the Parliamentary Budget Officers projections, Canadas population growth is expected to drop to zero in 2026, largely due to federal measures designed to reduce the number of people in the country on temporary permits. Growth is forecast to recover gradually after that, reaching about 0.3 percent in 2027, before stabilizing around 0.8 percent annually in the years that follow. Even then, the pace will remain slower than Canadas historical average population growth of roughly 1.1 percent per year. The projected slowdown stands in stark contrast to the rapid expansion Canada experienced in recent years, when the country posted some of the fastest population growth rates among developed nations. That surge was driven largely by record immigration levels and a dramatic rise in temporary residents such as international students and foreign workers. Canadas population growth has been closely tied to immigration policy for decades, but the scale of the recent increase caught many communities off guard. The number of non-permanent residents a category that includes international students, temporary foreign workers and asylum seekers grew sharply in recent years. By 2024, they accounted for about 7.6 percent of Canadas total population, a historically high level. The rapid influx sparked intense debate across the country, particularly around housing shortages, strained infrastructure and pressure on health care and social services. Federal officials have since acknowledged that the pace of growth created challenges for housing supply and urban infrastructure, especially in large metropolitan areas such as Toronto and Vancouver. The governments response has been to recalibrate immigration policy by tightening controls on temporary migration while maintaining a steady flow of permanent newcomers. A central objective of Ottawas strategy is to reduce the share of non-permanent residents in the population. The federal government has set a target of bringing the proportion of temporary residents down to below five percent of the population by the end of 2027. Policy changes affecting international student permits, temporary foreign worker programs and other immigration streams are expected to play a major role in achieving that goal. The Parliamentary Budget Officers analysis suggests the government is on track to meet that target if current policies remain in place. As the number of temporary residents declines, the overall pace of population growth will also slow in the short term. Despite the tightening around temporary residents, Canada will continue to admit large numbers of permanent immigrants. Under the federal 20262028 Immigration Levels Plan, Ottawa intends to welcome about 380,000 new permanent residents annually over the three-year period. While that represents a modest reduction from some recent record targets, it remains high by international standards. The government says maintaining strong permanent immigration levels is essential to address labour shortages and offset Canadas aging population. A significant portion of these permanent residents will come from people who are already living in Canada under temporary permits. Federal programs are increasingly designed to transition international students and temporary workers into permanent residents once they have established themselves in the country. One initiative outlined in the plan is expected to convert 148,000 non-permanent residents into permanent residents in 2026 and 2027. Because these individuals are already living in Canada, the move changes immigration statistics but does not add to the countrys overall population. The PBO report suggests Canada is entering a period of demographic recalibration. After several years of unusually rapid population growth driven largely by temporary migration, federal policy is now shifting toward a more controlled and predictable pace. The governments approach reflects an attempt to strike a balance between two competing pressures. On one hand, Canada needs immigrants to sustain economic growth and support the labour market as the population ages. On the other hand, infrastructure, housing supply and public services in many cities have struggled to keep up with the recent pace of population expansion. Slowing the growth of temporary residents is seen as one way to ease those pressures while still maintaining immigration as a cornerstone of Canadas long-term demographic strategy. Beyond the immediate policy adjustments, some experts say Canada is approaching a much larger demographic shift. Dan Hiebert, a University of British Columbia geography professor who studies human migration, says the country is moving toward a future where immigration will become the sole source of population growth. Natural increase in Canada is going to hit zero really soon. Maybe 2029, maybe 2030, give or take, right? And at that point, all population growth is going to be immigration-related, like 100 per cent, he told Canadian Press. It means that wherever the government of Canada, and in particular Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, wherever it sets that immigration number at, thats the amount the population is going to grow. So thats historically unprecedented. Natural increase refers to the difference between births and deaths within a country. Canadas birth rate has been declining for years, while the population continues to age. As a result, the number of deaths is expected to eventually equal or exceed the number of births within the next decade. When that happens, immigration will become the only factor driving Canadas population growth. Hiebert says the reality that immigration will soon determine the entire pace of population growth means Canada may need to rethink how it plans immigration policy. Currently, the federal government sets immigration targets through a three-year Immigration Levels Plan, which outlines the number of newcomers expected each year. But if immigration becomes the sole driver of population growth, the decisions made in those plans will have even greater long-term consequences. So, were racing toward the future without actually thinking of where were racing toward, Hiebert said. We dont know what the finish line looks like. We just know what this little leg of the race is looking like. By Mata Press Service A striking finding in a new global gender survey is not about women at all. It is about young men. Across the 29 countries studied, 31 per cent of Gen Z men say a wife should always obey her husband, while 33 per cent believe the husband should have the final word in major family decisions. The attitudes are far less common among older generations. Only 13 per cent of Baby Boomer men agreed that wives should always obey their husbands, suggesting younger men are more than twice as likely to hold traditional views about marriage roles. Young women see things differently. Only 18 per cent of Gen Z women agreed that a wife should always obey her husband. Researchers say the findings reflect a complicated generational moment. The same young men who say they support women having careers also appear to hold more traditional ideas about authority within relationships. The survey, conducted by Ipsos and the Global Institute for Womens Leadership at Kings College London for International Womens Day, questioned more than 23,000 people across 29 countries. When the results are examined through an Asian lens, the picture becomes even more layered. Several Asian countries ranked near the top globally in saying men are already being asked to do too much to support gender equality. India 70% Malaysia 68% Indonesia 64% Thailand 59% Another question asked whether efforts to promote womens equality have gone so far that men are now being discriminated against. Here too, Asian countries feature prominently. Thailand 80% India 67% Malaysia 55% Singapore 47% South Korea 47% Indonesia 39% Japan 32% Those responses hint at the kind of cultural tensions researchers say are shaping gender debates around the world. Yet when the broader survey results are examined, Asia itself does not move in a single direction. Instead, the region appears to tell three very different stories. Countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia consistently ranked among the most optimistic in the global survey about womens opportunities. Thailand and Indonesia topped the global rankings for the belief that society would work better if more women held leadership roles in government and business. Optimism about the next generation of women is also strongest in this part of Asia. Singapore ranked first globally, with 71 per cent saying young women today will have a better life than their mothers, followed by Indonesia at 67 per cent. But the same countries also showed strong support for the idea that gender equality has already progressed far enough. Thailand again ranked first globally on that measure, with 81 per cent saying equality has gone far enough, followed by Indonesia at 78 per cent. That combination suggests a region that broadly supports womens advancement but is also wary of pushing the debate much further. India stands out in the survey for a different reason. It recorded the highest level of people identifying as feminist anywhere in the study, with 68 per cent of respondents describing themselves that way. Support for women in leadership roles is also strong. Yet India also ranked near the top globally in believing gender equality efforts have already gone far enough and that men are being asked to do too much to support them. In other words, the same society that expresses strong support for womens rights also shows signs of tension about how those changes are unfolding. Japan and South Korea form a third cluster in the survey. Respondents in both countries were among the least likely to identify as feminist or say society would benefit from more women leaders. Japan in particular ranked last globally in believing gender equality has gone far enough, with just 28 per cent agreeing. Optimism about the future also trails the rest of Asia. Only 40 per cent of Japanese respondents believed young women will have better lives than their mothers. Views about the future for young men are even more pessimistic. Japan ranked last globally, with only 21 per cent believing young men will have better lives than their fathers. Taken together, the survey suggests gender attitudes across Asia are evolving in uneven and sometimes contradictory ways. In Southeast Asia, there is strong optimism about womens opportunities alongside a growing sense that equality debates may be moving too quickly. India shows both enthusiastic support for feminism and some of the strongest signs of backlash. And in East Asia, many respondents appear less convinced that gender debates have delivered the kind of progress people once expected. Other key highlights of the survey: A slim majority of respondents 52 per cent across the 29 countries surveyed said gender equality efforts in their country have already gone far enough. Researchers note this view has risen in nearly every country since a similar survey was conducted in 2019. More than half of men surveyed (54 per cent) said they feel men are already doing too much to support gender equality, compared with 38 per cent of women who share that view. About one in two men globally (52 per cent) agreed with the statement that efforts to promote womens equality have gone so far that men are now being discriminated against. Among women, only 36 per cent agreed. Support for women in leadership remains strong Despite signs of backlash, six in ten respondents worldwide still said things would work better if more women held leadership roles in government and business. Only about a quarter disagreed with that idea. Globally, 55 per cent believe young women will have better lives than their mothers, while only 40 per cent think young men will have better lives than their fathers. While relatively few people personally believe women should handle most childcare (17 per cent) or household chores (16 per cent), many think society still expects women to shoulder those responsibilities. More than a third of respondents said they believe those traditional expectations remain common in their countries. By Catherine Sas, K.C. Special to The Post Last November 2025, Canada's Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Lena Diab, introduced the annual levels plan which featured an "In-Canada Focus" for permanent residence including a repeat of the popular "Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident" pathway specifically targeting 33,000 applicants. The TR to PR pathway was originally introduced in 2021 in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic which saw increased numbers of temporary residents in Canada and provided them with an opportunity to transition to permanent residency. See the Minister's announcement here: CIMM Temporary Residence to Permanent Residence Pathways. With the levels of workers and students remaining at relatively high levels, IRCC's "in-Canada focus" is good news for aspiring immigrants already working in Canada. Since making the announcement this past fall, there has not been any specific introduction of the details of this program but recent news reports have indicated that the department is already selecting immigrants under this category. Last week the Toronto Star reported that the program is already underway and Minister Diab is quoted as saying that further details about the program are to be released in April. See Toronto Star's article. Without knowing the actual requirements of the TR to PR category, what should a prospective immigrant do? The best guide to what the program might look like, is to look back to the requirements of the initial program introduced in 2021 which ultimately accepted over 100,000 immigrants. The TR to PR pathway had much lower requirements for acceptance than IRCC's standard PR program Express Entry (EE). EE is now in its 12th year of operation and features four separate sub-categories: Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) and the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). The process of qualifying for permanent residency under EE involves scoring applicants on a variety of criteria such as age, education, language proficiency in either or both English and French and foreign and Canadian work experience. For the past few years, the points levels have been extremely high in order to garner an Invitation to Apply (ITA) with many hopeful immigrants being shut out of the application process. The initial TR to PR pathway criteria were significantly relaxed and required applicants to demonstrate a lower threshold of language proficiency and either one year of Canadian work experience or completion of a specified program of study. In order to qualify for PR under the TR to PR program, applicants needed to demonstrate that their foreign education equated to Canadian standards by providing an Educational Credential Evaluation (ECA) and a language test by an IRCC recognized language testing center. Not surprisingly, many of those who wanted to apply under this newly announced pathway were in a rush to obtain both an ECA and a language test! Testing centres were immediately swamped and many aspiring applicants were unable to obtain test results in time to meet the application deadline. Past history tells us that if you want to be able to qualify under this program, you need to be prepared! For more information, refer to: Changing Your Mind: Why some international students should withdraw their recent applications from the TR to PR Pathway. The key aspects of the former TR to PR program required both an ECA and a language test as well as confirmation of employment in Canada of at least twelve months or completion of a selected educational program in Canada (Please note: We don't know what the specific requirements for this mini TR to PR program will be!). If you don't have either an ECA or a language test, it is highly recommended that you obtain them now. IRCC will only accept ECA results that are less than five years old and language tests that are less than two years old. If your ECA or languages tests have lapsed, or will soon expire, it would be wise to obtain them once again. Furthermore, proof of work experience is not a simple as getting a reference letter from your Canadian employer - IRCC has specific factors that they require for immigration purposes. For guidance on what those specific criteria are, please refer to our former blog "Getting the Reference Letter Right!". The mini TR to PR pathway announced in the recent levels announcement is good news for those aspiring Canadian immigrants who are unable to qualify for an ITA under the current EE scoring levels. But experience has taught us that when specialized programs are introduced with relaxed criteria and specific levels of applicants, that these thresholds are met very, very quickly. As in most things in life, those who are prepared have the best chances of success! Catherine Sas, K.C. has over 35 years of legal experience. She provides a full range of immigration services and is a leading immigration practitioner (Lexpert, Whos Who Legal, Best Lawyers in Canada). Go to canadian-visa-lawyer.com or email [email protected]. KABUL, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The escalating conflict in the Middle East is generating immediate risks for children across borders, with a growing influx of Afghan families returning from Iran highlighting the urgent humanitarian challenges in Afghanistan, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported on Wednesday. Families are arriving at the Islam Qala border crossing in western Herat province and other entry points, many appearing distressed after an unexpected journey, and grappling with uncertainty about their future as they return to their homeland, said Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF representative in Afghanistan. "We are already seeing too many mothers arriving at reception centers with their children, looking exhausted, overwhelmed and in need of immediate support. If arrivals increase as expected, the risks facing children will grow as well," Oyewale added. In 2025 alone, nearly 3 million Afghans returned to Afghanistan from neighbouring countries, primarily from Iran and Pakistan, and around 60 percent were families with children, exacerbating existing strains on local resources and support systems, said the report. UNICEF is calling for enhanced aid to address the mounting needs, including access to critical nutrition, health, water sanitation and hygiene supplies for children and their families. 25 Nagpurians still stranded in Gulf countries Indian citizens stranded at Dubai Airport. Staff Reporter : Only 5 have returned as of now as district administration working in sync with Central, State Governments Around 30 residents of Nagpur who travelled to several Middle-Eastern countries as tourists are currently stranded after flight schedules got disrupted due to the ongoing war in the region. Although flight services remain operational, several flights have been delayed or repeatedly rescheduled, creating uncertainty for travellers. So far, only five of the stranded passengers could safely return to the city. According to information shared by Anup Khande, Resident Deputy Collector, most of the affected travellers belong to areas such as Besa-Beltarodi and Bharat Nagar area among others in the city. The group had travelled to the Middle East recently for short visits and tourism. He also asserted that, District Administration is keeping a sharp eye on further developments and is working in sync with the State and Central Government to address the issue. Of the total 30 citizens, fifteen were stranded in Dubai (UAE), eight at Abu Dhabi (UAE), four in Bahrain and three in Doha (Qatar), informed Ankush Gawande, District Disaster Management Officer (DDMO). Gawande also added that all the passengers are safe but are facing difficulties in returning home due to frequent changes in flight schedules caused by the conflict in the region. Travellers have reportedly received multiple notifications regarding rescheduled departures as airlines continue to adjust timings and routes in view of security concerns. The affected families are worried after knowing that some travellers from other States were reportedly stranded without food and basic supplies at the Kuwait airport for hours recently. Jazeera Airways had then come forward to show its humanitarian side by helping them with the supplies. Meanwhile, five members of the group have already returned to Nagpur after managing to board earlier rescheduled flights. The remaining travellers are in regular contact with their families and are waiting for confirmed flight schedules to return. The relatives in Nagpur have expressed concern over the delays and uncertainty, hoping that the situation stabilises soon so that the remaining citizens can return home safely. Bhopal sees above 4.6C normal temp Staff Reporter : Several parts of State continue to experience unusually warm weather as temperatures across the Madhya Pradesh remained above normal, with Ratlam recording the highest maximum temperature of 39.2C. According to the India Meteorological Department, the weather remained dry in all divisions of the State, with no rainfall reported. Maximum temperatures showed no significant change but remained above normal across most regions. Temperatures were 2.7C to 3C above normal in Indore and Shahdol divisions, while districts in Bhopal, Narmadapuram, Ujjain, Rewa and Jabalpur divisions recorded temperatures 3.1C to 4.1C above normal. In Gwalior, Chambal and Sagar divisions, temperatures were markedly above normal by up to 5.8C, indicating an early rise in heat levels. Among the hottest locations, Ratlam recorded 39.2C, followed by Khajuraho at 38.6C, Dhar at 38.4C and Guna at 38.3C, while Sagar and Damoh recorded 38.2C each. On the cooler side, Pachmarhi recorded the lowest maximum temperature at 31.2C, followed by Amarkantak at 32.4C and Karoundi in Katni district at 33.4C. Minimum temperatures also remained above normal in most parts of the State. The lowest minimum temperature of 11.5C was recorded at Girvar in Shajapur district, while Kannod in Dewas district recorded the highest minimum temperature at 20.8C. In Bhopal, the maximum temperature was recorded at 36.8C, which is 4.6C above normal, while the minimum temperature settled at 14.4C. The humidity level at 8:30 am was recorded at 37 percent, with no rainfall reported in the city. Meteorologists said that several weather systems are currently active, including an upper-air cyclonic circulation over south Jharkhand and adjoining north Chhattisgarh, along with a trough extending from Jharkhand to Marathwada across Chhattisgarh and Vidarbha. In addition, a western disturbance persists in the middle tropospheric westerlies, while a subtropical westerly jet stream with wind speeds of about 158 kmph continues to prevail over northwest India. Despite these systems, dry weather is likely to continue across all districts in the state, and no warnings have been issued for the coming days. The meteorological department has advised residents to stay hydrated and avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight during afternoon hours, as temperatures are expected to remain high. Farmers have also been advised to maintain adequate irrigation for crops, particularly wheat at the grain filling stage, and to monitor crops regularly for pests and diseases. Cabinet clears Rs 33,240 crore package Staff Reporter : Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav, on Tuesday, approved a series of key decisions. The Cabinet cleared Rs 33,240 crore to continue major programmes across seven departments for the next five years. The meeting also included congratulating two candidates from Madhya Pradesh who secured ranks in the top-10 of the IAS examination, recognising their achievement. Bonus announced for wheat and urad farmers: In a significant move for farmers, the State Government decided to procure wheat at Rs 2,625 per quintal, adding a Rs 40 bonus over the minimum support price of Rs 2,585 per quintal fixed by the Government of India. The Cabinet also approved a bonus of Rs 600 per quintal on urad, aimed at encouraging pulse cultivation and improving farmers incomes. Stamp duty waiver under Swamitva Scheme: The Government also took a major step under the Svamitva Scheme, identifying around 46 lakh families who currently do not have ownership documents for their properties. The Cabinet decided that stamp duty will be waived for the registration of these properties, a move expected to benefit millions of rural households. The decision is estimated to place a financial burden of about Rs 3,000 crore on the State Government. Young Interns for Good Governance Programme: The Cabinet approved the Chief Minister Young Interns for Good Governance Programme, which will run for three years with an estimated outlay of Rs 190 crore. Under the programme, 15 youth from every block of the state will be selected as interns for a one-year contractual assignment. Nearly 4,860 interns will work with the Government to monitor the implementation of schemes and collect digital data related to development programmes. The selection process will be conducted by the Atal Behari Vajpayee Institute of Good Governance and Policy Analysis. Push for entrepreneurship and local products: The Cabinet also approved the One District One Product initiative for seven districts to promote traditional crafts and local industries. The project will receive Rs 37.5 crore over five years to support artisans through training, branding, marketing and digital platforms. Products identified include carpets from Sidhi, jaggery from Datia, Chanderi handloom from Ashoknagar, zari-zardozi and jute products from Bhopal, Bag print from Dhar, wooden toys from Sehore and batik print from Ujjain. Health facilities and judicial posts approved: The Cabinet cleared the opening of three ESIC dispensaries in Maihar, Kymore (Katni) and Nimrani (Khargone), along with the creation of 51 posts for doctors and paramedical staff. It also approved the creation of seven posts, including a Junior Civil Judge, for establishing a new civil court in Chitrangi in Singrauli district. Investments in development and welfare schemes: Several departments received funding approvals for continuing programmes till 2031. These include: nRs 11,361 crore for MSME incentives and start-up promotion nRs 7,127 crore for Panchayat and rural development schemes nRs 6,090 crore for rural infrastructure and drinking water projects in mining and backward areas nRs 3,773 crore for women and child development programmes nRs 2,064 crore for planning and economic statistics schemes nRs 1,645 crore for tribal development and post-matric scholarships Additionally, funds were approved to strengthen power distribution infrastructure under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme. Tourism boost for Pachmarhi: The Cabinet also noted that Pachmarhi has received Green Destination certification from Germany, a development expected to boost eco-tourism in the State. Iran war could end soon: Trump By Jon Gambrell : Will Weissert and Samy Magdy DUBAI, Mar 10 (AP) US PRESIDENT Donald Trump said on Monday that the war against Iran could be short-lived, but he left open the possibility of an escalation in fighting if global oil supplies are disrupted by the Islamic Republic, which chose a new hard-line supreme leader. Oil prices briefly shot to their highest level since 2022 a day after Iran selected Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his late father as Irans supreme leader. Investors saw it as a signal that Iran was digging in 10 days into the war launched by the United States and Israel. But prices later fell and US stocks rose on hopes that the war with Iran may not last much longer. We took a little excursion to the Middle East to get rid of some evil. And, I think you will see it is going to be a short-term excursion, Trump told Republican lawmakers at his golf club near Miami. Hours later, Trump posted on social media: If Iran does anything that stops the flow of Oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far. In an apparent response to Trumps remarks published in Iranian state media, a spokesperson for the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, Ali Mohammad Naini, said, Iran will determine when the war ends. The war has choked off major supplies of oil and gas to world markets and sent fuel prices rising across the US. The fighting has also led foreigners to flee from business hubs and prompted millions to seek shelter as bombs hit military bases, Government buildings, oil and water installations, hotels and at least one school. Trump also had a call on Monday with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the war and other issues. Putins foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, said Putin voiced a few ideas regarding a quick political and diplomatic settlement of the conflict following his conversations with Gulf leaders and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Multiple strikes shake Tehran: Dozens of explosions were heard in Tehran in what was considered the heaviest air raid on the capital since the war started on February 28. Iranian media did not report on damages and casualties. Israel said on Monday that it was carrying out a wide-scale wave of strikes on the Iranian city of Isfahan, as well as Tehran and in southern Iran. The Israeli military said it hit dozens of infrastructure sites, including the drone headquarters of the Revolutionary Guard. Meanwhile, Israels military alerted the population throughout the day about incoming missiles from Iran. From Lebanon, Iran-backed Hezbollah also fired rockets into Israel on Monday. Pradhan Madams Academy to conduct Admission cum Scholarship Test on Mar 15, 22 Business Reporter : Pradhan Madams Academy has announced its Admission cum Merit Scholarship Test for students who have appeared for the 10th board examination and are aspiring to prepare for NEET and JEE in the coming academic session. The test will be conducted on March 15 and 22, providing students with an opportunity to secure admission along with attractive merit-based scholarships for the institutes specialized programmes. The test is designed to identify talented and motivated students who wish to pursue competitive exam preparation immediately after their 10th board examinations. Through this initiative, Pradhan Madams Academy aims to support deserving students by offering scholarships based on their performance in the test. Along with the examination, the academy will also organise a ParentTeacher Interactive Session during the exam time. This session will help parents and students understand the institutes academic system, teaching methodology, and structured preparation strategy for national-level competitive exams like NEET and JEE. The examination and the interactive session will be conducted at Pradhan Madams Academy Classroom Study Center, located beside Blind Relief Association Mundle School, opposite Govt ITI College, South Ambazari Road, Nagpur. For details contact the academy office or call on 7666902737 / 8766022876. Rs 7.5 crore Metro solar plant idle for 2 yrs as MSEDCL sits on operational clearance The solar plant ready for operation but sitting idle. By Simran Shrivastava : A 2 MW solar power plant constructed under the Nagpur Metro Rail Project at the Hingna and MIHAN depots in Nagpur has remained idle because the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) has not granted operational clearance despite the facility being fully ready since March 2025 and the net-metering application pending since April 2024. The project, built at an estimated public investment of about Rs 7.5 crore based on MahaMetros installation cost of around Rs 3.75 crore per MW, cannot generate electricity without approval for net-metering and grid connectivity from MSEDCL. The stalled plant forms part of Nagpur Metros solar energy programme planned to reduce dependence on conventional power. At present, the metro system operates about 4 MW of solar capacity which produces nearly 15,000 units of electricity per day, including approximately 3,000 units supplied back to the grid. The additional 2 MW facility was intended to increase renewable energy generation and reduce energy expenditure, but the lack of operational clearance has prevented the system from producing any electricity even though the infrastructure has already been constructed. The delay has also affected future expansion plans. Nearly 3 MW of additional solar capacity planned under the same programme cannot move forward because the 5 MW net-metering regulation applicable to the project has not yet been implemented by MSEDCL. Once installed, the planned capacity would involve an estimated additional investment of around Rs 11.25 crore. Nagpur Metro has set a target of installing about 10 MW of solar capacity by the end of Phase-II, which is expected to meet nearly 50 per cent of Phase-Is total energy requirement when fully operational. The impasse has effectively left publicly funded infrastructure unused while the metro system continues to purchase electricity from the grid for operations. Both Nagpur Metro Rail Corporation and MSEDCL are Government entities, creating a situation in which a completed renewable energy project funded with public money remains non-functional because of administrative clearance delays. MSEDCL stated that the matter is under process and will be resolved soon, but no timeline has been specified. Nagpur Metro is simultaneously implementing several environmental initiatives during its Phase-II expansion. All 32 stations under construction are being built according to Indian Green Building Council Platinum guidelines. Wastewater generated at stations is planned to be treated and reused, while construction waste is being processed and reused at project sites as part of sustainability measures. MSEDCL even fails to respond to MERCs intervention The dispute over operational clearance for the 2 MW Nagpur Metro solar plant has reached the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) after repeated follow-ups by MahaMetro with the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) did not resolve the issue. MahaMetro filed a petition before MERC in April 2025 seeking regulatory intervention to enable the solar facility at the Hingna and MIHAN depots to begin generating electricity. The petition argued that the project was eligible under the 5 MW net-metering regulation notified in 2023 and required implementation of the regulation by MSEDCL. After hearing the matter, MERC directed MSEDCL to apply the 5 MW net-metering regulation to the project and process the approval accordingly. However, the order has not yet been implemented, preventing the solar plant from being connected to the grid and generating electricity. Because the regulatory direction remains pending for implementation, the fully constructed solar facility continues to remain idle even though it has already been declared technically ready. The unresolved status has extended the delay in operationalising the renewable energy project and has also stalled the next phase of solar expansion planned by Nagpur Metro. JAKARTA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Several volcanoes in Indonesia have shown increased activity in recent days, with eruptions reported and authorities urging residents to remain alert. Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki in East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara province, erupted for nearly two minutes on Wednesday morning, with ash rising about 800 meters above the summit, according to local monitoring officials. Earlier on the same day, Mount Semeru in East Java erupted again, marking its 32nd eruption in the past week and sending ash about 400 meters above the summit. Mount Merapi in Central Java also remained active on Wednesday, with incandescent lava flows reaching up to 1.8 km toward the Sat River. "Based on our monitoring, the magma supply is still ongoing, and this could trigger pyroclastic flows," Agus Budi Santoso, head of the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation's Merapi monitoring office, told Xinhua Wednesday. Indonesia, which lies on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," has over 120 active volcanoes. MANILA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines has signed a memorandum of agreement with the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH to implement a mangrove insurance initiative in Eastern Visayas, the country's Department of Agriculture (DA) said Wednesday. Under the initiative, the GIZ will provide technical assistance through a project to strengthen disaster resilience and risk mitigation in coastal communities. The project will support the Philippine side in designing and testing the insurance product while also building institutional capacity. It will link ecosystem-based adaptation with climate risk insurance to protect vital coastal ecosystems. The partnership aims to provide innovative, rapid financing for mangrove assessment, cleanup, and restoration immediately after climate-related disasters, particularly typhoons, the DA said. Mangroves help reduce wave energy, limit coastal erosion, protect communities and infrastructure, and support fisheries and local livelihoods. Eastern Visayas is one of the regions most exposed to climate risks, highlighting the critical role of mangroves as natural coastal defenses. Africa Energy Corp. (CVE:AFE Get Free Report)s stock price hit a new 52-week high during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as C$0.49 and last traded at C$0.30, with a volume of 72660 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at C$0.37. Africa Energy Price Performance The company has a fifty day moving average of C$0.17 and a 200-day moving average of C$0.16. The firm has a market capitalization of C$141.35 million, a PE ratio of -1.28 and a beta of 1.27. Africa Energy Company Profile (Get Free Report) Africa Energy Corp. operates as an oil and gas exploration and production company in South Africa and Namibia. The company focuses on potential gas condensate development on Block 11B/12B offshore in South Africa. It also holds interest in the Block 2B offshore the Republic of South Africa. The company was formerly known as Horn Petroleum Corporation and changed its name to Africa Energy Corp. in March 2015. Africa Energy Corp. is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Africa Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Africa Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Agronomics Limited (OTCMKTS:AGNMF Get Free Report) was the target of a significant decline in short interest in February. As of February 27th, there was short interest totaling 49,190 shares, a decline of 82.9% from the February 12th total of 288,264 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 89,833 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.5 days. Based on an average daily volume of 89,833 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.5 days. Agronomics Price Performance AGNMF stock opened at $0.09 on Wednesday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $0.09 and a 200 day simple moving average of $0.09. Agronomics has a fifty-two week low of $0.05 and a fifty-two week high of $0.15. Get Agronomics alerts: Agronomics Company Profile (Get Free Report) Agronomics Limited (OTCMKTS:AGNMF) is a Guernsey-incorporated, closed-end investment company that focuses on the fast-growing cellular agriculture and alternative protein sector. Established in 2019, the company seeks to capitalise on advances in biotechnology to support and commercialise sustainable food solutions. Its primary business activity involves making equity investments in early- and growth-stage companies that are developing cell-cultured meat, fermentation-derived proteins, microalgae systems and other innovative approaches to food production. Through a diversified portfolio, Agronomics provides capital and strategic support to entrepreneurs and research teams aiming to reduce the environmental footprint of traditional agriculture. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Agronomics Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Agronomics and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Altona Rare Earths Plc (LON:REE Get Free Report) shares fell 8.3% on Monday . The company traded as low as GBX 3.20 and last traded at GBX 3.30. 4,625,479 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 74% from the average session volume of 17,694,303 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 3.60. Altona Rare Earths Stock Down 6.4% The stock has a market capitalization of 12.10 million, a PE ratio of -5.47 and a beta of 0.84. The stocks 50 day moving average price is GBX 1.99 and its 200-day moving average price is GBX 1.77. Get Altona Rare Earths alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Altona Rare Earths In other Altona Rare Earths news, insider Cedric Simonet acquired 711,712 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 15th. The stock was purchased at an average price of GBX 2 per share, with a total value of 14,234.24. Also, insider Kristoffer Andersson bought 142,264 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 15th. The shares were acquired at an average price of GBX 2 per share, with a total value of 2,845.28. Insiders have acquired a total of 1,400,677 shares of company stock valued at $2,801,354 over the last ninety days. 13.44% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Altona Rare Earths Company Profile Altona Rare Earth (LSE: REE) is a resource exploration and development company, specializing in Critical Raw Materials exploration and development in Africa. The Company is currently involved in copper and silver exploration at the Sesana project in the Kalahari Copper Belt of Botswana, in rare earths exploration at the Monte Muambe project in Mozambique, and is also assessing the possibility to rapidly develop a fluorspar mining operation, also at Monte Muambe. Monte Muambe, a significant REE mining project, is a carbonatite-hosted REE deposit. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Altona Rare Earths Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Altona Rare Earths and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. AngloGold Ashanti PLC (NYSE:AU Get Free Report) announced a quarterly dividend on Friday, February 20th. Investors of record on Friday, March 13th will be paid a dividend of 0.173 per share by the mining company on Friday, March 27th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 13th. AngloGold Ashanti has increased its dividend payment by an average of 1.0%per year over the last three years. AngloGold Ashanti has a dividend payout ratio of 216.3% indicating that the company cannot currently cover its dividend with earnings alone and is relying on its balance sheet to cover its dividend payments. Equities analysts expect AngloGold Ashanti to earn $4.14 per share next year, which means the company may not be able to cover its $6.92 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 167.1%. Get AngloGold Ashanti alerts: AngloGold Ashanti Trading Down 0.6% NYSE:AU opened at $108.28 on Wednesday. The businesss 50-day moving average is $105.11 and its two-hundred day moving average is $84.78. The firm has a market capitalization of $54.67 billion, a PE ratio of 20.86 and a beta of 0.55. AngloGold Ashanti has a 12 month low of $30.94 and a 12 month high of $129.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21, a current ratio of 2.58 and a quick ratio of 1.98. Institutional Investors Weigh In On AngloGold Ashanti AngloGold Ashanti ( NYSE:AU Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Friday, February 20th. The mining company reported $1.90 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $1.90. AngloGold Ashanti had a return on equity of 29.70% and a net margin of 26.65%.The company had revenue of $3.07 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.99 billion. Research analysts predict that AngloGold Ashanti will post 3.83 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Empowered Funds LLC acquired a new position in shares of AngloGold Ashanti in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $321,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its position in shares of AngloGold Ashanti by 93.8% during the second quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 1,305,611 shares of the mining companys stock worth $59,497,000 after buying an additional 632,003 shares in the last quarter. Savant Capital LLC increased its stake in shares of AngloGold Ashanti by 32.7% in the second quarter. Savant Capital LLC now owns 18,946 shares of the mining companys stock worth $863,000 after buying an additional 4,664 shares during the last quarter. Aviva PLC increased its stake in shares of AngloGold Ashanti by 47.9% in the second quarter. Aviva PLC now owns 537,845 shares of the mining companys stock worth $24,311,000 after buying an additional 174,169 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Rathbones Group PLC acquired a new stake in AngloGold Ashanti in the second quarter valued at $911,000. 36.09% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. AngloGold Ashanti Company Profile (Get Free Report) AngloGold Ashanti is a global gold mining company engaged in the exploration, development, production, processing and sale of gold. Headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, the companys core activities span the full mining value chain from greenfield exploration and mine development through to ore processing and rehabilitation. Gold is the primary commodity produced, with individual operations sometimes yielding other byproducts depending on local geology and processing methods. The company was formed in 2004 through the merger of AngloGold and Ashanti Goldfields, creating a diversified international gold producer. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for AngloGold Ashanti Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AngloGold Ashanti and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Natixis Advisors LLC increased its holdings in AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (NYSE:AVB Free Report) by 106.3% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 139,852 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after buying an additional 72,072 shares during the quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC owned about 0.10% of AvalonBay Communities worth $27,015,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Metis Global Partners LLC boosted its position in AvalonBay Communities by 21.0% during the 3rd quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC now owns 44,760 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $8,646,000 after acquiring an additional 7,780 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans increased its holdings in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 3.1% during the third quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 216,153 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $41,754,000 after purchasing an additional 6,511 shares during the period. FORA Capital LLC increased its holdings in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 78.7% during the second quarter. FORA Capital LLC now owns 15,702 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $3,195,000 after purchasing an additional 6,916 shares during the period. Amundi raised its stake in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 17.7% during the second quarter. Amundi now owns 449,348 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $90,768,000 after purchasing an additional 67,695 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sun Life Financial Inc. raised its stake in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 5.7% during the third quarter. Sun Life Financial Inc. now owns 161,087 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $31,117,000 after purchasing an additional 8,660 shares in the last quarter. 92.61% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get AvalonBay Communities alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes AVB has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Truist Financial decreased their target price on shares of AvalonBay Communities from $203.00 to $201.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, March 3rd. Barclays dropped their price target on shares of AvalonBay Communities from $217.00 to $202.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, March 6th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c) rating on shares of AvalonBay Communities in a research note on Friday, January 9th. Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their price objective on shares of AvalonBay Communities from $191.00 to $187.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 6th. Finally, Colliers Securities reiterated a neutral rating and set a $195.00 price objective (down from $200.00) on shares of AvalonBay Communities in a research note on Thursday, December 4th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and thirteen have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $199.66. AvalonBay Communities Stock Performance NYSE:AVB opened at $174.33 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.79. The company has a 50-day moving average of $177.89 and a 200-day moving average of $182.52. AvalonBay Communities, Inc. has a twelve month low of $166.73 and a twelve month high of $217.35. The firm has a market cap of $24.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.29, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.10 and a beta of 0.75. AvalonBay Communities (NYSE:AVB Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The real estate investment trust reported $2.85 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.84 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $767.86 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $766.38 million. AvalonBay Communities had a net margin of 34.57% and a return on equity of 8.78%. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $2.80 earnings per share. Analysts forecast that AvalonBay Communities, Inc. will post 11.48 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. AvalonBay Communities Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 31st will be given a dividend of $1.78 per share. This is a boost from AvalonBay Communitiess previous quarterly dividend of $1.75. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 31st. This represents a $7.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.1%. AvalonBay Communitiess payout ratio is currently 85.47%. AvalonBay Communities Company Profile (Free Report) AvalonBay Communities, Inc (NYSE: AVB) is a publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns, develops, redevelops and manages multifamily residential properties. The company focuses on professionally managed apartment communities, offering a range of rental housing options and related resident services. As a REIT, AvalonBays core activities center on the acquisition and development of apartment assets and the ongoing operations and leasing of those communities. AvalonBays operating activities include ground-up development, strategic redevelopment of existing properties, property and asset management, and on-site leasing and resident services. See Also Receive News & Ratings for AvalonBay Communities Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AvalonBay Communities and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Legal & General Group Plc raised its stake in Bank of Nova Scotia (The) (NYSE:BNS Free Report) (TSE:BNS) by 5.4% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 8,046,647 shares of the banks stock after acquiring an additional 410,786 shares during the period. Legal & General Group Plcs holdings in Bank of Nova Scotia were worth $520,426,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of BNS. Clarkston Capital Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Bank of Nova Scotia in the 3rd quarter valued at $225,000. Russell Investments Group Ltd. boosted its stake in Bank of Nova Scotia by 32.2% in the third quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 1,669,108 shares of the banks stock valued at $108,149,000 after acquiring an additional 406,646 shares in the last quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of Bank of Nova Scotia by 5.6% during the third quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 6,389 shares of the banks stock worth $413,000 after purchasing an additional 338 shares during the last quarter. Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Bank of Nova Scotia during the third quarter worth about $648,000. Finally, Parallel Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Bank of Nova Scotia by 8.5% during the third quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 3,326 shares of the banks stock worth $215,000 after purchasing an additional 261 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 49.13% of the companys stock. Get Bank of Nova Scotia alerts: Bank of Nova Scotia Stock Performance Bank of Nova Scotia stock opened at $71.54 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $88.19 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.87, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.86 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a current ratio of 1.05 and a quick ratio of 1.05. Bank of Nova Scotia has a 12 month low of $44.09 and a 12 month high of $78.28. The stocks 50-day moving average is $74.63 and its 200-day moving average is $69.47. Analyst Ratings Changes Bank of Nova Scotia ( NYSE:BNS Get Free Report ) (TSE:BNS) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 24th. The bank reported $1.48 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.42 by $0.06. Bank of Nova Scotia had a return on equity of 12.49% and a net margin of 12.40%.The firm had revenue of $7.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.99 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.76 EPS. Bank of Nova Scotias revenue for the quarter was up 2.9% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts anticipate that Bank of Nova Scotia will post 4.91 earnings per share for the current year. A number of analysts recently issued reports on BNS shares. TD Securities reissued a hold rating on shares of Bank of Nova Scotia in a research report on Tuesday, March 3rd. Weiss Ratings upgraded Bank of Nova Scotia from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b) rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 25th. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price objective on Bank of Nova Scotia from $97.00 to $106.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Wednesday, February 25th. Canaccord Genuity Group lowered Bank of Nova Scotia from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday. Finally, Raymond James Financial initiated coverage on shares of Bank of Nova Scotia in a report on Tuesday, November 25th. They set an outperform rating for the company. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $106.00. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on BNS Bank of Nova Scotia Profile (Free Report) Bank of Nova Scotia, commonly known as Scotiabank, is a Canadian multinational banking and financial services company founded in 1832 and headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. It is one of Canadas largest banks and provides a broad range of financial services to retail, commercial, corporate and institutional clients. The bank combines a domestic Canadian franchise with an extensive international presence to serve customers across multiple markets. Scotiabanks core activities include personal and commercial banking, wealth management, corporate and investment banking, capital markets, and global transaction banking. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BNS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bank of Nova Scotia (The) (NYSE:BNS Free Report) (TSE:BNS). Receive News & Ratings for Bank of Nova Scotia Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of Nova Scotia and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Berkeley Energia (LON:BKY Get Free Report) posted its earnings results on Wednesday. The company reported GBX (0.77) EPS for the quarter, Digital Look Earnings reports. Berkeley Energia Price Performance Shares of LON BKY traded up GBX 2 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting GBX 25. 504,299 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 105,051. The company has a market capitalization of 111.57 million, a P/E ratio of -20.49 and a beta of 1.17. Berkeley Energia has a 1 year low of GBX 19.99 and a 1 year high of GBX 32.96. The companys 50-day moving average is GBX 26.76 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 26.73. Get Berkeley Energia alerts: About Berkeley Energia (Get Free Report) Further Reading Berkeley Energia Limited engages in the exploration and development of mineral properties in Spain. The company explores for uranium, tungsten, cobalt, antimony, and other metals. It primarily holds interest in the Salamanca project located in Western Spain. The company also has interests in the Oliva and La Majada projects situated in Spain. The company was formerly known as Berkeley Energy Limited and changed its name to Berkeley Energia Limited in November 2015. Berkeley Energia Limited was incorporated in 1991 and is based in Perth, Australia. Receive News & Ratings for Berkeley Energia Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Berkeley Energia and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (TSE:BIP.UN Get Free Report) (NYSE:BIP) crossed below its fifty day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of C$50.28 and traded as low as C$49.83. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners shares last traded at C$51.60, with a volume of 671,304 shares traded. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners Stock Performance The company has a market cap of C$23.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 57.33, a PEG ratio of -2.12 and a beta of 1.84. The company has a quick ratio of 0.45, a current ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 180.01. The company has a 50 day moving average price of C$50.28 and a 200-day moving average price of C$48.15. Get Brookfield Infrastructure Partners alerts: Brookfield Infrastructure Partners (TSE:BIP.UN Get Free Report) (NYSE:BIP) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 29th. The company reported C$0.61 earnings per share for the quarter. The business had revenue of C$8.32 billion for the quarter. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners had a negative net margin of 0.09% and a positive return on equity of 5.21%. Equities analysts expect that Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. will post 0.9401645 EPS for the current fiscal year. About Brookfield Infrastructure Partners Brookfield Infrastructure Partners LP is a Bermuda exempted limited partnership that owns and operates quality, long-life assets that generate stable cash flows, by virtue of barriers to entry or other characteristics tend to appreciate in value over time. It focuses on acquiring infrastructure assets that have low maintenance capital costs and high barriers to entry. The companys segments consist of Utilities, Transport, Midstream, and Data. Geographically, it generates maximum revenue from Brazil and also has a presence in Australia, Colombia, United Kingdom, Canada, United States of America, Chile, Peru, India, and other countries. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Brookfield Infrastructure Partners Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Brookfield Infrastructure Partners and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Capital International Investors raised its stake in The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE:SHW Free Report) by 2.0% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 2,675,299 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock after buying an additional 52,322 shares during the quarter. Capital International Investors owned about 1.08% of Sherwin-Williams worth $926,249,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in SHW. MTM Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in Sherwin-Williams in the 2nd quarter valued at $26,000. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC increased its holdings in Sherwin-Williams by 104.8% during the 2nd quarter. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 86 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 44 shares in the last quarter. Rossby Financial LCC raised its stake in shares of Sherwin-Williams by 96.0% in the 3rd quarter. Rossby Financial LCC now owns 98 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 48 shares during the period. Delos Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Sherwin-Williams in the 2nd quarter valued at about $36,000. Finally, True Wealth Design LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Sherwin-Williams by 129.8% in the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 108 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 61 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 77.67% of the companys stock. Get Sherwin-Williams alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, insider Colin M. Davie sold 2,976 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $359.50, for a total transaction of $1,069,872.00. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 5,365 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,928,717.50. The trade was a 35.68% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Bryan J. Young sold 2,513 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $364.47, for a total transaction of $915,913.11. Following the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 10,045 shares in the company, valued at $3,661,101.15. This trade represents a 20.01% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 0.60% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut Sherwin-Williams from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $380.00 price objective for the company. in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. UBS Group set a $420.00 target price on Sherwin-Williams in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $390.00 price target on shares of Sherwin-Williams and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Citigroup reiterated a buy rating on shares of Sherwin-Williams in a report on Monday, January 19th. Finally, Mizuho boosted their price objective on shares of Sherwin-Williams from $400.00 to $410.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 17th. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $388.21. Read Our Latest Report on Sherwin-Williams Sherwin-Williams Stock Performance SHW opened at $330.57 on Wednesday. The Sherwin-Williams Company has a 52-week low of $308.84 and a 52-week high of $379.65. The firm has a market capitalization of $81.77 billion, a PE ratio of 32.19, a PEG ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 1.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.03, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a current ratio of 0.87. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $352.42 and its 200 day simple moving average is $345.21. Sherwin-Williams (NYSE:SHW Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The specialty chemicals company reported $2.23 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.16 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $5.60 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.57 billion. Sherwin-Williams had a return on equity of 65.26% and a net margin of 10.90%.The businesss revenue was up 5.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.09 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that The Sherwin-Williams Company will post 12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Sherwin-Williams Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 13th. Investors of record on Monday, March 2nd will be paid a $0.80 dividend. This is a boost from Sherwin-Williamss previous quarterly dividend of $0.79. This represents a $3.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 2nd. Sherwin-Williamss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 31.16%. Sherwin-Williams Profile (Free Report) Sherwin-Williams (NYSE: SHW) is a global manufacturer and distributor of paints, coatings and related products. Founded in 1866 and headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, the company supplies a broad range of coatings for residential, commercial and industrial applications. Its product offering includes architectural paints and stains, industrial and protective coatings, automotive finishes, and a variety of sundry products such as primers, sealants and specialty treatments used by professionals and consumers. The company sells through multiple channels, including a large network of company-operated retail paint stores that serve professional contractors and do-it-yourself consumers, as well as through distributors and mass retailers. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SHW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE:SHW Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Sherwin-Williams Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sherwin-Williams and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Loader Please wait while your request is being verified... BUCHAREST, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Romania may temporarily host U.S. military forces and equipment if the country's parliament approves a request discussed during a meeting of the Supreme Council for National Defence (CSAT), Romanian President Nicusor Dan said on Wednesday. Dan said the discussions focused on the possibility of allowing U.S. assets to use Romanian bases amid the ongoing Middle East conflict involving Iran. The U.S. equipment under consideration includes aerial refueling aircraft and satellite communications systems that could be stationed at Mihail Kogalniceanu air base near the Black Sea coast. The deployment would be "defensive" and conducted within the framework of the Romania-U.S. strategic partnership, he added. Sources cited by local media Digi24 said approximately 400-500 U.S. personnel and related equipment could be deployed to the Mihail Kogalniceanu and Campia Turzii military bases. The move requires parliamentary approval before being implemented. The deployment is expected to be authorized for an initial period of 90 days. Any extension of the mission would need to be reviewed again by the CSAT. During the nearly two-and-a-half-hour meeting, council members also examined developments in the Middle East conflict, the situation of Romanian citizens in the region, and the economic impact of the war, including rising global oil prices. Wednesday's meeting marked the first CSAT session since Nov. 24, 2025, when the council discussed Romania's National Defence Strategy. Cemex (NYSE:CX Get Free Report) was upgraded by equities research analysts at Scotiabank from a sector perform rating to a sector outperform rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday,Finviz reports. The firm presently has a $13.90 price objective on the construction companys stock. Scotiabanks target price indicates a potential upside of 29.28% from the companys previous close. Several other research firms have also issued reports on CX. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c) rating on shares of Cemex in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Zacks Research lowered Cemex from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, February 9th. HSBC cut Cemex from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $12.80 price objective on the stock. in a research report on Friday, February 6th. Finally, Barclays reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $15.00 target price on shares of Cemex in a research report on Tuesday, January 27th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $11.08. Get Cemex alerts: Get Our Latest Report on CX Cemex Stock Down 1.6% Cemex stock opened at $10.75 on Wednesday. Cemex has a fifty-two week low of $4.89 and a fifty-two week high of $13.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.83. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $12.31 and its 200 day simple moving average is $10.82. The stock has a market cap of $15.58 billion, a PE ratio of 16.29, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.74 and a beta of 1.60. Cemex (NYSE:CX Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 5th. The construction company reported ($0.19) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.19 by ($0.38). Cemex had a net margin of 5.93% and a return on equity of 2.85%. The firm had revenue of $4.18 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.01 billion. Research analysts predict that Cemex will post 0.69 EPS for the current fiscal year. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Cemex Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Diversify Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Cemex during the third quarter valued at about $1,124,000. WCM Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Cemex in the third quarter worth about $48,699,000. Allianz Asset Management GmbH bought a new position in shares of Cemex in the third quarter valued at approximately $1,059,000. Bank of Montreal Can boosted its position in shares of Cemex by 142.3% in the second quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 120,982 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $838,000 after acquiring an additional 71,047 shares during the period. Finally, Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp grew its stake in Cemex by 84.4% during the third quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp now owns 195,439 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $1,757,000 after acquiring an additional 89,465 shares in the last quarter. 82.97% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. About Cemex (Get Free Report) Cemex (NYSE: CX) is a global building materials company headquartered in Monterrey, Mexico. The company produces, distributes and sells cement, ready-mix concrete and aggregates, as well as related building materials, to construction markets in more than 50 countries. Cemexs product portfolio also includes asphalt and mortar mixes, waste-derived fuels and other complementary construction solutions, supported by a network of production facilities, distribution centers and logistics operations. Founded in 1906 as Cementos Hidalgo, the company adopted the Cemex name in 1976 following a series of domestic mergers and expansions. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Cemex Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cemex and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of China Mengniu Dairy (OTCMKTS:CIADY Get Free Report) were up 9.9% on Monday . The stock traded as high as $21.06 and last traded at $21.06. Approximately 2,168 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 75% from the average daily volume of 8,725 shares. The stock had previously closed at $19.17. China Mengniu Dairy Price Performance The company has a current ratio of 0.94, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $20.61 and its 200-day simple moving average is $19.60. Get China Mengniu Dairy alerts: About China Mengniu Dairy (Get Free Report) China Mengniu Dairy Company Limited is one of the largest dairy product manufacturers in China, founded in 1999 and headquartered in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia. The company focuses on the production, processing and sale of a wide range of dairy products, leveraging modern dairy farming practices and vertically integrated operations to maintain quality and food safety standards. Its product portfolio includes fresh liquid milk, UHT milk, yogurt, ice cream, milk powder and cheese, marketed under well-known brands such as Mengniu, Ambrosial and Yashili (in select segments). Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for China Mengniu Dairy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for China Mengniu Dairy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprungli AG (OTCMKTS:LDSVF Get Free Report) crossed below its fifty day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of $14,887.12 and traded as low as $14,050.00. Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprungli shares last traded at $14,240.5790, with a volume of 3 shares changing hands. Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprungli Price Performance The companys 50-day simple moving average is $14,887.12 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $15,067.17. Get Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprungli alerts: Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprungli Company Profile (Get Free Report) Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprungli AG, trading on the OTC market under the symbol LDSVF, is a Swiss chocolatier renowned for its premium confectionery. Headquartered in Kilchberg, Switzerland, the companys portfolio encompasses a variety of chocolate bars, truffles, pralines, seasonal specialties and gift assortments marketed under brands such as Lindt, Ghirardelli, Russell Stover and Caffarel. Products are sold through multiple channels, including supermarkets, duty-free shops, specialty retailers and Lindts own boutiques and cafes. Founded in 1845 by David Sprungli-Schwarz and his son Rudolf Sprungli-Ammann, the company introduced significant innovations to chocolate production, most notably the conching process that underpins modern chocolate texture. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprungli Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprungli and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Taylor Wimpey plc (LON:TW Get Free Report) insider Chris Carney sold 329,993 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 101, for a total value of 333,292.93. Chris Carney also recently made the following trade(s): Get Taylor Wimpey alerts: On Monday, March 9th, Chris Carney purchased 157 shares of Taylor Wimpey stock. The stock was acquired at an average price of GBX 96 per share, for a total transaction of 150.72. On Monday, February 9th, Chris Carney acquired 138 shares of Taylor Wimpey stock. The shares were bought at an average price of GBX 108 per share, with a total value of 149.04. On Thursday, January 8th, Chris Carney bought 140 shares of Taylor Wimpey stock. The stock was purchased at an average price of GBX 108 per share, with a total value of 151.20. Taylor Wimpey Stock Down 2.2% Taylor Wimpey stock opened at GBX 96.24 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.96, a quick ratio of 0.71 and a current ratio of 4.96. The stock has a market capitalization of 3.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.04, a P/E/G ratio of 2.04 and a beta of 1.35. The businesss fifty day moving average is GBX 108.77 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 104.35. Taylor Wimpey ( LON:TW Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, March 5th. The homebuilder reported GBX 8 earnings per share for the quarter. Taylor Wimpey had a return on equity of 2.40% and a net margin of 2.61%. Equities analysts expect that Taylor Wimpey plc will post 9.8339265 earnings per share for the current year. Taylor Wimpey announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a share buyback program on Thursday, March 5th that permits the company to buyback 0 outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the homebuilder to repurchase shares of its stock through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are usually a sign that the companys board believes its stock is undervalued. Key Headlines Impacting Taylor Wimpey Here are the key news stories impacting Taylor Wimpey this week: Positive Sentiment: Two insiders (Chris Carney and Jennie Daly) made small open-market purchases (157 shares each at GBX 96 on 9 Mar), which can be read as a modest signal of confidence from management. Insider Trades Two insiders (Chris Carney and Jennie Daly) made small open-market purchases (157 shares each at GBX 96 on 9 Mar), which can be read as a modest signal of confidence from management. Neutral Sentiment: A retail piece notes how a hypothetical 7,500 holding in Taylor Wimpey performed over 18 months useful for retail investor sentiment but not material company news. MSN Article A retail piece notes how a hypothetical 7,500 holding in Taylor Wimpey performed over 18 months useful for retail investor sentiment but not material company news. Negative Sentiment: Berenberg cut its price target on Taylor Wimpey from GBX 128 to GBX 120 (but kept a buy rating). A lower target from a well-known broker can weigh on sentiment and act as a catalyst for downside pressure. Digital Look Berenberg cut its price target on Taylor Wimpey from GBX 128 to GBX 120 (but kept a buy rating). A lower target from a well-known broker can weigh on sentiment and act as a catalyst for downside pressure. Negative Sentiment: Large insider selling: Chris Carney sold 329,993 shares on 5 Mar (avg GBX 101) for ~333k. The scale of that sale is likely a primary negative driver for the share-price drop despite subsequent small purchases. Sale Report Analysts Set New Price Targets TW has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on Taylor Wimpey in a research note on Monday, November 24th. They issued a neutral rating and a GBX 109 price target on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus reiterated a buy rating and issued a GBX 120 price objective on shares of Taylor Wimpey in a report on Thursday, March 5th. Berenberg Bank decreased their price objective on shares of Taylor Wimpey from GBX 128 to GBX 120 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their target price on shares of Taylor Wimpey from GBX 140 to GBX 132 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 19th. Finally, Citigroup lowered their price objective on Taylor Wimpey from GBX 143 to GBX 137 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 16th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of GBX 124.44. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on TW About Taylor Wimpey (Get Free Report) Taylor Wimpey plc operates as a homebuilder in the United Kingdom and Spain. It builds and delivers various homes and communities. Taylor Wimpey plc was incorporated in 1935 and is based in High Wycombe, the United Kingdom. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Taylor Wimpey Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Taylor Wimpey and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ Get Free Report) had its target price boosted by stock analysts at Citigroup from $250.00 to $274.00 in a research note issued on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a buy rating on the stock. Citigroups price target suggests a potential upside of 12.94% from the companys previous close. JNJ has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Rothschild & Co Redburn lifted their target price on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $180.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, February 19th. Wall Street Zen downgraded Johnson & Johnson from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, February 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on Johnson & Johnson from $225.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, March 5th. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a buy rating and set a $250.00 price target on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Finally, TD Cowen increased their price objective on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $222.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have issued a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $235.91. Get Johnson & Johnson alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Report on JNJ Johnson & Johnson Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:JNJ traded down $1.09 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $242.62. 2,294,294 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 9,091,041. Johnson & Johnson has a one year low of $141.50 and a one year high of $251.71. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $229.80 and a 200 day moving average of $205.27. The company has a market cap of $584.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.96, a P/E/G ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.34. 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 posted its earnings results on Saturday, January 31st. The company reported $2.46 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Johnson & Johnson had a net margin of 28.46% and a return on equity of 33.04%. The business had revenue of $24.28 billion for the quarter. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Johnson & Johnson will post 10.58 EPS for the current fiscal year. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, EVP Vanessa Broadhurst sold 6,197 shares of Johnson & Johnson 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 transaction, the executive vice president owned 23,003 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,598,700.17. The trade was a 21.22% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Timothy Schmid sold 1,322 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $245.66, for a total value of $324,762.52. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 25,447 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,251,310.02. This represents a 4.94% decrease in their ownership of the stock. 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. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. AustralianSuper Pty Ltd grew its stake in Johnson & Johnson by 632.0% in 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. increased its stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 2.2% during the third 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 during the period. Guinness Asset Management LTD raised its holdings in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 0.4% in the third quarter. Guinness Asset Management LTD now owns 1,383,195 shares of the companys stock valued at $251,216,000 after acquiring an additional 5,994 shares in the last quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina grew its holdings in Johnson & Johnson by 8.3% during the 2nd quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina now owns 1,234,945 shares of the companys stock worth $188,638,000 after acquiring an additional 94,957 shares in the last quarter. Finally, National Pension Service raised its holdings in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 3.2% in the 3rd quarter. National Pension Service now owns 4,926,569 shares of the companys stock valued at $913,484,000 after purchasing an additional 151,707 shares in the last quarter. 69.55% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Key Headlines Impacting Johnson & Johnson Here are the key news stories impacting Johnson & Johnson this week: About Johnson & Johnson (Get 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. Further Reading 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. Critical Mineral Resources PLC (LON:CMRS Get Free Report) shares traded down 13.5% during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as low as GBX 2.08 and last traded at GBX 2.08. 983,003 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 30% from the average session volume of 1,405,891 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 2.40. Critical Mineral Resources Trading Down 4.6% The company has a 50-day simple moving average of GBX 2.69 and a 200 day simple moving average of GBX 3.34. The company has a market cap of 7.77 million, a P/E ratio of -2.08 and a beta of 1.64. Critical Mineral Resources Company Profile (Get Free Report) Critical Mineral Resources is a Moroccan focused company developing a sediment-hosted copper and silver project in the Anti Atlas. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Critical Mineral Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Critical Mineral Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. DE Burlo Group Inc. decreased its position in shares of Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:BX Free Report) by 11.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 57,450 shares of the asset managers stock after selling 7,500 shares during the quarter. Blackstone makes up about 1.2% of DE Burlo Group Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 28th biggest holding. DE Burlo Group Inc.s holdings in Blackstone were worth $9,815,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of BX. REAP Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Blackstone in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Redmont Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Blackstone in the third quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Traub Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Blackstone during the second quarter worth $27,000. Parvin Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Blackstone in the second quarter valued at $35,000. Finally, Rexford Capital Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Blackstone during the 2nd quarter worth $35,000. 70.00% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Blackstone alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In other news, major shareholder Tactical Opportunit Blackstone sold 1,596,142 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $10.00, for a total value of $15,961,420.00. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, major shareholder Holdings Iv Gp Mana Blackstone bought 1,146,789 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 23rd. The shares were purchased at an average price of $26.16 per share, with a total value of $30,000,000.24. Following the purchase, the insider owned 16,716,249 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $437,297,073.84. This represents a 7.37% increase in their position. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. 1.00% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research analysts have commented on the stock. Barclays decreased their target price on shares of Blackstone from $164.00 to $126.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, March 2nd. UBS Group reduced their price target on shares of Blackstone from $171.00 to $137.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 20th. BMO Capital Markets lowered their price objective on shares of Blackstone from $180.00 to $165.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Citigroup reissued a market outperform rating on shares of Blackstone in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Finally, Piper Sandler dropped their price objective on Blackstone from $168.00 to $158.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Eleven analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eleven have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $165.86. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Blackstone Blackstone Price Performance Blackstone stock opened at $109.92 on Wednesday. The companys 50 day moving average is $137.88 and its two-hundred day moving average is $151.68. The firm has a market cap of $81.58 billion, a PE ratio of 28.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.95 and a beta of 1.79. The company has a quick ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 0.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61. Blackstone Inc. has a 52-week low of $105.09 and a 52-week high of $190.09. Blackstone (NYSE:BX Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 29th. The asset manager reported $1.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.54 by $0.21. Blackstone had a return on equity of 22.17% and a net margin of 20.89%.The business had revenue of $4.36 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.69 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.69 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 41.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts expect that Blackstone Inc. will post 5.87 EPS for the current fiscal year. Blackstone Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, February 17th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 9th were given a dividend of $1.49 per share. This is a boost from Blackstones previous quarterly dividend of $1.29. This represents a $5.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 9th. Blackstones dividend payout ratio is presently 153.61%. Key Stories Impacting Blackstone Here are the key news stories impacting Blackstone this week: Positive Sentiment: Blackstone and Blue Owl Capital agreed to acquire a stake in privateequity firm Atlas, signaling continued deal flow and partnership activity that can drive fee and carry income. Article Title Blackstone and Blue Owl Capital agreed to acquire a stake in privateequity firm Atlas, signaling continued deal flow and partnership activity that can drive fee and carry income. Positive Sentiment: Blackstone Life Sciences struck a cofunding arrangement with Johnson & Johnson on a cancer therapy trial and the firm is exploring an acquisition of Whitestone REITmoves that diversify revenue sources beyond private credit. Article Title Blackstone Life Sciences struck a cofunding arrangement with Johnson & Johnson on a cancer therapy trial and the firm is exploring an acquisition of Whitestone REITmoves that diversify revenue sources beyond private credit. Neutral Sentiment: Commentary in the WSJ highlights that large, diversified asset managers like Blackstone and BlackRock are better positioned to absorb shocks in private credit, suggesting resilience but not immediate relief to valuation pressure. Article Title Commentary in the WSJ highlights that large, diversified asset managers like Blackstone and BlackRock are better positioned to absorb shocks in private credit, suggesting resilience but not immediate relief to valuation pressure. Negative Sentiment: Short interest jumped ~27.8% in February to 16.63M shares (about 2.3% of float), increasing bearish pressure and potential downward momentum if shorts accelerate. (Daystocover 1.6.) Short interest jumped ~27.8% in February to 16.63M shares (about 2.3% of float), increasing bearish pressure and potential downward momentum if shorts accelerate. (Daystocover 1.6.) Negative Sentiment: Unusually large put option activity ~29,939 puts traded (up 62% vs. norm) indicates elevated hedging or outright bearish bets from options traders. Unusually large put option activity ~29,939 puts traded (up 62% vs. norm) indicates elevated hedging or outright bearish bets from options traders. Negative Sentiment: Ongoing concerns about heavy redemptions in Blackstones flagship BCRED privatecredit fund (record requests, a $400M capital injection and higher share repurchase cap) are weighing on sentiment and valuation. Article Title Ongoing concerns about heavy redemptions in Blackstones flagship BCRED privatecredit fund (record requests, a $400M capital injection and higher share repurchase cap) are weighing on sentiment and valuation. Negative Sentiment: Barclays cut its price target on BX to $126 from $164, reflecting revised estimates for alternative asset managers and contributing to nearterm selling pressure. Article Title Barclays cut its price target on BX to $126 from $164, reflecting revised estimates for alternative asset managers and contributing to nearterm selling pressure. Negative Sentiment: Multiple analyst pieces and commentaries are questioning whether to sell given privatecredit woes and recent share weakness, which can amplify outflows and downward momentum. Article Title About Blackstone (Free Report) Blackstone Inc (NYSE: BX) is a global investment firm focused on alternative asset management. Founded in 1985 by Stephen A. Schwarzman and Peter G. Peterson and headquartered in New York City, the firm organizes and manages investment vehicles that acquire and operate businesses, real estate and credit investments, as well as provide hedge fund solutions and other alternative strategies for institutional and individual investors. Blackstones business is organized around several principal investment platforms. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Blackstone Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Blackstone and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Erdene Resource Development Co. (TSE:ERD Get Free Report) crossed below its 50-day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of C$8.49 and traded as low as C$7.55. Erdene Resource Development shares last traded at C$7.65, with a volume of 47,244 shares changing hands. Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, Paradigm Capital upped their target price on shares of Erdene Resource Development from C$11.00 to C$14.40 and gave the stock a speculative buy rating in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of C$14.40. Get Erdene Resource Development alerts: View Our Latest Research Report on Erdene Resource Development Erdene Resource Development Price Performance About Erdene Resource Development The stock has a fifty day moving average of C$8.49 and a two-hundred day moving average of C$7.89. The company has a current ratio of 4.16, a quick ratio of 4.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17. The stock has a market capitalization of C$496.19 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -38.25 and a beta of 1.53. (Get Free Report) Erdene Resource Development Corp is a Canadian-based resource exploration company. It is primarily engaged in the exploration and development of precious metals and mineral deposits in Mongolia. The companys project consists of Bayan Khundii, Altan Nar, Zuun Mod, and Khuvyn Khar. The Bayan Khundii and Altan Nar project is located within the Tian-Shan copper-gold belt in southwest Mongolia from the Chinese border city of Ceke. The Zuun Mod project is located within 200 kilometres of Chinas border in Mongolias Bayankhongor Province. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Erdene Resource Development Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Erdene Resource Development and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Vinci SA (OTCMKTS:VCISY Free Report) Analysts at Erste Group Bank decreased their FY2027 earnings per share estimates for Vinci in a report issued on Wednesday, March 4th. Erste Group Bank analyst H. Engel now forecasts that the construction company will earn $2.99 per share for the year, down from their previous forecast of $3.01. Erste Group Bank currently has a Strong-Buy rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Vincis current full-year earnings is $2.30 per share. Get Vinci alerts: Other equities research analysts also recently issued reports about the company. Zacks Research upgraded Vinci from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an outperform rating on shares of Vinci in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Vinci in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have given a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Buy. Vinci Price Performance OTCMKTS:VCISY opened at $37.61 on Monday. Vinci has a 12-month low of $29.03 and a 12-month high of $42.10. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $37.42 and its 200-day simple moving average is $35.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 0.85. About Vinci (Get Free Report) Vinci (OTCMKTS: VCISY) is a France-based integrated concessions and construction company that develops, finances, builds and operates infrastructure and facilities. The groups activities span large-scale civil engineering and building projects, operation of transport infrastructure, and specialist energy and technical services. Vinci serves public and private clients with capabilities across the full project lifecycle, from design and construction to long-term asset management and operation. Vincis principal business lines include construction (building, civil engineering and major projects), energy and information & communication technology services, and concessions. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Vinci Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vinci and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. EssilorLuxottica Unsponsored ADR (OTCMKTS:ESLOY Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decrease in short interest during the month of February. As of February 27th, there was short interest totaling 1,733 shares, a decrease of 84.5% from the February 12th total of 11,183 shares. Currently, 0.0% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 371,108 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.0 days. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 371,108 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.0 days. Currently, 0.0% of the shares of the stock are short sold. EssilorLuxottica Trading Down 1.1% Shares of OTCMKTS:ESLOY traded down $1.40 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $121.11. 33,127 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 119,725. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a current ratio of 0.97. The businesss 50 day moving average is $148.91 and its two-hundred day moving average is $161.44. EssilorLuxottica has a one year low of $118.51 and a one year high of $186.81. Get EssilorLuxottica alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several research analysts recently issued reports on ESLOY shares. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a buy rating on shares of EssilorLuxottica in a research report on Friday, December 5th. UBS Group upgraded EssilorLuxottica from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Thursday, November 27th. Kepler Capital Markets upgraded EssilorLuxottica from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Thursday, January 15th. Zacks Research cut EssilorLuxottica from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, November 18th. Finally, HSBC raised shares of EssilorLuxottica from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have issued a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, EssilorLuxottica currently has an average rating of Buy. About EssilorLuxottica (Get Free Report) EssilorLuxottica SE is a global ophthalmic optics company formed through the 2018 merger of France-based Essilor and Italy-based Luxottica. Headquartered near Paris, the company combines lens manufacturing, frame design and production, brand management and retail operations to provide a vertically integrated offering across the vision care value chain. Its activities span product research and development, manufacturing, wholesale distribution and retailing of spectacles, sunglasses and ophthalmic lenses. The companys product portfolio includes prescription and non-prescription lenses, lens coatings and treatments, and an array of eyewear brands and frames. Read More Receive News & Ratings for EssilorLuxottica Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for EssilorLuxottica and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BUCHAREST, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) said on Wednesday that the country's terrorist alert level will remain at "blue-cautious," signaling no imminent threat of an attack on Romanian territory. In a press release, the SRI said that ongoing assessments of international security developments, along with data from national and international partners, do not indicate a high probability of terrorism in Romania. It emphasized that its Anti-Terrorist Brigade continues to act preventively by using specialized methods to counter terrorism, while maintaining constant coordination with domestic and foreign partners to detect and respond to potential threats. Romania's National Terrorist Alert System has four levels: green (low risk), blue (possible but not imminent threat), yellow (heightened risk requiring vigilance), and red (imminent or ongoing attack with emergency measures). The announcement comes amid rising tensions in Iran, which have put Europe on high alert. Romanian President Nicusor Dan said earlier on Wednesday that the country may host U.S. military forces and equipment for at least 90 days if the country's parliament approves a relevant proposal. Last week, drones targeted a British air base in Cyprus were reportedly linked to a U.S.-Israel joint strike on Iran. Amid the escalation of conflict in the Middle East, the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation has warned of an increased risk of terrorism, violent extremism, cyberattacks, and disinformation campaigns, prompting several European governments to strengthen security measures. FourThought Financial Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (BATS:USMV Free Report) during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm acquired 5,441 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $518,000. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Chapman Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at $29,000. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF during the third quarter worth $30,000. Grey Fox Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF during the third quarter valued at $35,000. Steigerwald Gordon & Koch Inc. acquired a new stake in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF during the third quarter valued at $48,000. Finally, Howe & Rusling Inc. increased its holdings in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 141.8% in the second quarter. Howe & Rusling Inc. now owns 515 shares of the companys stock valued at $48,000 after buying an additional 302 shares in the last quarter. Get iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF alerts: iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF Stock Performance USMV opened at $95.92 on Wednesday. The company has a fifty day moving average of $95.44 and a two-hundred day moving average of $94.62. The stock has a market capitalization of $24.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.90 and a beta of 0.72. iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF has a fifty-two week low of $83.99 and a fifty-two week high of $98.07. iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF Profile The iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (USMV) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA Minimum Volatility (USD) index. The fund tracks an index of US-listed firms selected and weighted to create a low-volatility portfolio subject to various constraints. USMV was launched on Oct 18, 2011 and is managed by BlackRock. See Also Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Franklin Resources Inc. cut its position in RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX Free Report) by 1.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 15,417,875 shares of the companys stock after selling 157,992 shares during the period. RTX accounts for approximately 0.6% of Franklin Resources Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 28th biggest holding. Franklin Resources Inc. owned about 1.15% of RTX worth $2,579,873,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Valley Wealth Managers Inc. bought a new position in RTX in the third quarter worth approximately $30,000. SOA Wealth Advisors LLC. increased its holdings in shares of RTX by 57.4% during the third quarter. SOA Wealth Advisors LLC. now owns 192 shares of the companys stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 70 shares in the last quarter. Dogwood Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of RTX by 57.3% during the third quarter. Dogwood Wealth Management LLC now owns 206 shares of the companys stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 75 shares during the period. Clayton Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of RTX during the third quarter worth approximately $36,000. Finally, Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of RTX by 194.5% in the 3rd quarter. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC now owns 215 shares of the companys stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 142 shares in the last quarter. 86.50% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get RTX alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other RTX news, VP Kevin G. Dasilva sold 8,136 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $201.30, for a total value of $1,637,776.80. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president owned 27,102 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,455,632.60. This trade represents a 23.09% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, insider Shane G. Eddy sold 17,527 shares of RTX stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $199.16, for a total transaction of $3,490,677.32. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold a total of 89,255 shares of company stock worth $18,151,956 in the last ninety days. 0.15% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of analysts have commented on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of RTX from $200.00 to $215.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Vertical Research reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $227.00 price objective on shares of RTX in a research note on Tuesday, January 27th. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a hold rating on shares of RTX in a report on Friday. Wolfe Research reissued an outperform rating on shares of RTX in a research report on Wednesday, February 4th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein restated a market perform rating and issued a $204.00 target price on shares of RTX in a report on Thursday, January 29th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $202.00. View Our Latest Report on RTX Trending Headlines about RTX Here are the key news stories impacting RTX this week: Positive Sentiment: Pratt & Whitney (an RTX business) won a follow-on contract to supply TJ150 engines for Leidos AGM-190A small cruise missile a direct defense backlog win that should help nearterm revenue visibility and support cash flow. Pratt & Whitney contract Pratt & Whitney (an RTX business) won a follow-on contract to supply TJ150 engines for Leidos AGM-190A small cruise missile a direct defense backlog win that should help nearterm revenue visibility and support cash flow. Positive Sentiment: Analyst/media coverage highlights RTXs strong 1year performance (shares up ~62.5% over the past year) and cites defense contract wins, production investment and rising earnings expectations these narratives reinforce the companys FY2026 guidance and investor confidence. RTX outperforms industry Analyst/media coverage highlights RTXs strong 1year performance (shares up ~62.5% over the past year) and cites defense contract wins, production investment and rising earnings expectations these narratives reinforce the companys FY2026 guidance and investor confidence. Positive Sentiment: Wall Street analyst commentary is broadly constructive, with multiple write-ups and broker interest cited as supporting buy/hold sentiment analyst momentum can sustain investor demand if earnings/guidance remain intact. Wall Street analysts on RTX Wall Street analyst commentary is broadly constructive, with multiple write-ups and broker interest cited as supporting buy/hold sentiment analyst momentum can sustain investor demand if earnings/guidance remain intact. Neutral Sentiment: Sector-level flows: coverage notes a defense ETF could continue rallying if the Iran conflict escalates positive for defense demand but not a company-specific driver; ETF inflows are supportive but also increase correlation across names. Defense ETF outlook Sector-level flows: coverage notes a defense ETF could continue rallying if the Iran conflict escalates positive for defense demand but not a company-specific driver; ETF inflows are supportive but also increase correlation across names. Neutral Sentiment: Several highvisibility stories about RTX GPUs (NVIDIA restarting RTX 3060 production with Samsung, restocked RTX 50series laptops, novelty gold RTX 5090) are driving headline noise these relate to NVIDIAs GeForce RTX brand, not RTX Corporation, and may cause ticker/name confusion among retail traders rather than change RTX Corp fundamentals. NVIDIA RTX 3060/Samsung Several highvisibility stories about RTX GPUs (NVIDIA restarting RTX 3060 production with Samsung, restocked RTX 50series laptops, novelty gold RTX 5090) are driving headline noise these relate to NVIDIAs GeForce RTX brand, not RTX Corporation, and may cause ticker/name confusion among retail traders rather than change RTX Corp fundamentals. Negative Sentiment: Barrons notes defense stocks havent broadly benefited from Iranrelated headlines, indicating investor skepticism about sustainable revenue upside sector weakness or rotation can pressure RTX shares even when company fundamentals are solid. Defense stocks are down Barrons notes defense stocks havent broadly benefited from Iranrelated headlines, indicating investor skepticism about sustainable revenue upside sector weakness or rotation can pressure RTX shares even when company fundamentals are solid. Negative Sentiment: Risk reminder from Forbes: commentary on historical volatility and hidden dangers for defense investors underscores downside risk (large drawdowns in past corrections) this can dampen sentiment and amplify downside on negative macro or execution news. Forbes risk piece RTX Trading Down 0.5% NYSE RTX opened at $207.10 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.03, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $198.46 and a 200 day simple moving average of $179.61. RTX Corporation has a 12 month low of $112.27 and a 12 month high of $214.50. The firm has a market capitalization of $277.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 41.75, a PEG ratio of 3.02 and a beta of 0.42. RTX (NYSE:RTX Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 27th. The company reported $1.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.47 by $0.08. RTX had a net margin of 7.60% and a return on equity of 13.08%. The firm had revenue of $24.24 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $22.65 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.54 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 12.1% compared to the same quarter last year. RTX has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.600-6.800 EPS. On average, analysts predict that RTX Corporation will post 6.11 EPS for the current fiscal year. RTX Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 19th. Investors of record on Friday, February 20th will be issued a dividend of $0.68 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 20th. This represents a $2.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.3%. RTXs payout ratio is 54.84%. About RTX (Free Report) RTX (NYSE: RTX) is a U.S.-based aerospace and defense company that designs, manufactures and services advanced systems for commercial, military and governmental customers worldwide. The company was created through the 2020 combination of Raytheon Company and United Technologies Corporation and later adopted the RTX name, positioning itself as a diversified provider across the aerospace and defense value chain. RTXs operations span a broad set of capabilities. Its commercial aerospace businesses include Pratt & Whitney aircraft engines and Collins Aerospace systems, which supply propulsion, avionics, aerostructures, interiors and integrated aircraft systems. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding RTX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for RTX Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for RTX and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Franklin Resources Inc. increased its position in shares of Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C Free Report) by 1.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 32,870,559 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 580,027 shares during the period. Citigroup accounts for approximately 0.8% of Franklin Resources Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 17th biggest position. Franklin Resources Inc. owned about 1.84% of Citigroup worth $3,336,362,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Brookstone Capital Management raised its position in shares of Citigroup by 31.5% during the third quarter. Brookstone Capital Management now owns 75,914 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,705,000 after buying an additional 18,176 shares during the last quarter. Permanent Capital Management LP acquired a new stake in Citigroup during the third quarter worth about $1,238,000. Donaldson Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Citigroup during the third quarter worth about $58,994,000. Penobscot Investment Management Company Inc. increased its stake in Citigroup by 61.5% during the third quarter. Penobscot Investment Management Company Inc. now owns 57,033 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,789,000 after acquiring an additional 21,720 shares during the period. Finally, Perigon Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in Citigroup by 27.2% during the third quarter. Perigon Wealth Management LLC now owns 75,566 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,670,000 after acquiring an additional 16,171 shares during the period. 71.72% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Citigroup alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In C has been the subject of a number of research reports. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $121.00 price objective on shares of Citigroup in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Oppenheimer boosted their price objective on Citigroup from $141.00 to $144.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Piper Sandler set a $135.00 target price on Citigroup in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. TD Cowen reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of Citigroup in a research report on Wednesday, January 7th. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $152.00 price target on shares of Citigroup in a research note on Tuesday, February 17th. Fourteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Citigroup presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $127.25. Citigroup Stock Up 2.2% Shares of C opened at $108.92 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.00, a current ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.63. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $115.28 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $106.99. The stock has a market cap of $190.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.63, a P/E/G ratio of 0.68 and a beta of 1.17. Citigroup Inc. has a 12 month low of $55.51 and a 12 month high of $125.16. Citigroup (NYSE:C Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 14th. The company reported $1.81 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.65 by $0.16. Citigroup had a return on equity of 8.28% and a net margin of 8.50%.The company had revenue of $19.87 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $20.99 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.34 EPS. The companys revenue was up 2.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts predict that Citigroup Inc. will post 7.53 EPS for the current fiscal year. Citigroup Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 27th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 2nd were given a $0.60 dividend. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 2nd. Citigroups dividend payout ratio is 34.43%. Key Citigroup News Here are the key news stories impacting Citigroup this week: Insider Transactions at Citigroup In other Citigroup news, insider Cantu Ernesto Torres sold 43,173 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $111.09, for a total transaction of $4,796,088.57. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 45,835 shares in the company, valued at $5,091,810.15. This represents a 48.50% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 0.08% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Citigroup 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. Guardian Pharmacy Services (NYSE:GRDN Get Free Report) released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday. The company reported $0.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.27 by $0.10, FiscalAI reports. The business had revenue of $397.62 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $390.04 million. Guardian Pharmacy Services had a return on equity of 30.29% and a net margin of 2.90%. Guardian Pharmacy Services Stock Up 0.4% Shares of NYSE GRDN traded up $0.13 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $33.78. The stock had a trading volume of 603,307 shares, compared to its average volume of 238,147. Guardian Pharmacy Services has a 1 year low of $18.50 and a 1 year high of $37.43. The company has a market capitalization of $2.14 billion, a PE ratio of 53.62 and a beta of 0.86. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $31.73 and a 200-day simple moving average of $29.29. Get Guardian Pharmacy Services alerts: Institutional Investors Weigh In On Guardian Pharmacy Services A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of GRDN. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in Guardian Pharmacy Services in the 2nd quarter valued at $43,000. Ameritas Investment Partners Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Guardian Pharmacy Services by 26.5% during the 3rd quarter. Ameritas Investment Partners Inc. now owns 1,647 shares of the companys stock worth $43,000 after purchasing an additional 345 shares during the period. State of Wyoming purchased a new position in shares of Guardian Pharmacy Services during the 2nd quarter worth $58,000. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank acquired a new stake in shares of Guardian Pharmacy Services during the 3rd quarter worth about $115,000. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its holdings in Guardian Pharmacy Services by 48.0% in the 2nd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 6,027 shares of the companys stock valued at $128,000 after buying an additional 1,956 shares during the period. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research firms have commented on GRDN. Stephens increased their price objective on shares of Guardian Pharmacy Services from $35.00 to $36.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c+) rating on shares of Guardian Pharmacy Services in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Truist Financial raised their target price on Guardian Pharmacy Services from $30.00 to $34.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, November 14th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised Guardian Pharmacy Services from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday, November 17th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $32.00. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on GRDN About Guardian Pharmacy Services (Get Free Report) Guardian Pharmacy Services, Inc, a pharmacy service company, provides a suite of technology-enabled services designed to help residents of long-term health care facilities (LTCFs) in the United States. Its individualized clinical, drug dispensing, and administration capabilities are used to serve the needs of residents in lower acuity LTCFs, such as assisted living facilities and behavioral health facilities and group homes. The companys Guardian Compass includes dashboards created using data from its data warehouse to help its local pharmacies plan, track, and optimize their business operations; and GuardianShield Programs for LTCFs. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Guardian Pharmacy Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Guardian Pharmacy Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Harbour Energy plc (LON:HBR Get Free Report)s share price traded down 9.2% on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as GBX 251.40 and last traded at GBX 257.40. 802,448,813 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 2,881% from the average session volume of 26,921,279 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 283.40. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In HBR has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Berenberg Bank restated a hold rating and issued a GBX 225 price objective on shares of Harbour Energy in a research note on Thursday, March 5th. Peel Hunt reiterated a buy rating and issued a GBX 270 target price on shares of Harbour Energy in a research report on Monday, December 15th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group increased their price target on shares of Harbour Energy from GBX 292 to GBX 320 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, December 18th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of GBX 280.60. Get Harbour Energy alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Harbour Energy Harbour Energy Stock Performance Harbour Energy Company Profile The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.81, a current ratio of 1.04 and a quick ratio of 0.33. The company has a market capitalization of 4.04 billion, a PE ratio of -8.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.04 and a beta of -0.23. The firms fifty day simple moving average is GBX 225.89 and its 200 day simple moving average is GBX 218.44. (Get Free Report) Harbour Energy is the largest London-listed independent oil and gas company with significant positions in Norway, the UK, Germany, Argentina, Mexico, North Africa and South East Asia. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Harbour Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Harbour Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Commerzbank (OTCMKTS:CRZBY Get Free Report) and Bank of East Asia (OTCMKTS:BKEAY Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, dividends, earnings, risk, valuation, profitability and analyst recommendations. Valuation and Earnings This table compares Commerzbank and Bank of East Asias revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Get Commerzbank alerts: Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Commerzbank $25.96 billion 1.59 $2.90 billion $2.27 16.13 Bank of East Asia $4.96 billion 0.92 $449.07 million N/A N/A Volatility and Risk Commerzbank has higher revenue and earnings than Bank of East Asia. Commerzbank has a beta of 0.37, suggesting that its stock price is 63% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Bank of East Asia has a beta of 0.08, suggesting that its stock price is 92% less volatile than the S&P 500. Profitability This table compares Commerzbank and Bank of East Asias net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Commerzbank 11.03% 7.29% 0.45% Bank of East Asia N/A N/A N/A Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of current ratings for Commerzbank and Bank of East Asia, as reported by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Commerzbank 0 5 2 1 2.50 Bank of East Asia 1 1 0 0 1.50 Dividends Commerzbank pays an annual dividend of $0.52 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.4%. Bank of East Asia pays an annual dividend of $0.05 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.9%. Commerzbank pays out 22.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Summary Commerzbank beats Bank of East Asia on 10 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks. About Commerzbank (Get Free Report) Commerzbank AG provides banking and capital market products and services to private and small business customers, corporate, financial service providers, and institutional clients in Germany, rest of Europe, the Americas, Asia, and internationally. It operates through two segments, Private and Small-Business Customers, and Corporate Clients. The company offers saving, checking, business, and current accounts; term deposits; pension; credit and debit cards; payment solutions; overdraft services; various loans; and insurance products. It also provides trade securities; treasury management; corporate financing; real estate financing; financing advisory; merger and acquisition; foreign trade; trade financing; asset and risk management; and online banking, as well as wealth management services. Commerzbank AG was founded in 1870 and is headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. About Bank of East Asia (Get Free Report) The Bank of East Asia, Limited, together with its subsidiaries, provides various banking and related financial services. Its personal banking services include corporate, individual, savings, current, time deposit, and supreme accounts; and time deposits, foreign currency deposits, MAS services, and auto-payroll products, as well as safe deposit boxes and remittance services. The company also provides corporate banking services, such as SME loans and financing guarantee schemes; corporate and commercial financing products, including syndicated and construction loans, acquisition and structured financing, working capital financing, share financing and IPO-related loans, and commercial mortgages; trade finance services and expert trade solutions; factoring services; import and export trade finance; guarantee services; eTradeConnect that allows buyers and sellers to connect, transact, share information, and submit applications for financing through a single platform; cash management services; corporate wealth management products; foreign exchange and treasury products; and marine cargo, property, trade credit, employee compensation, life, savings, and endowment insurance plans. In addition, it offers private banking services comprising investment advisory services; investment solutions, such as unit trusts, linked deposits, currency trading and management, global equities and bonds investments, structured products, and options and derivatives; portfolio management services; securities and futures broking services; cyber banking, credit cards, and ATM; and various international services. The company operates outlets in Hong Kong, rest of Greater China, Singapore, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The Bank of East Asia, Limited was incorporated in 1918 and is headquartered in Central, Hong Kong. Receive News & Ratings for Commerzbank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Commerzbank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ingram Micro Holding Corporation (NYSE:INGM Get Free Report) has been assigned a consensus recommendation of Hold from the nine analysts that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $24.3333. A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on INGM shares. William Blair reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Ingram Micro in a research note on Tuesday, March 3rd. Zacks Research upgraded Ingram Micro from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, February 23rd. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Ingram Micro from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Saturday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed an underweight rating and issued a $24.00 target price on shares of Ingram Micro in a research report on Monday, December 15th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of Ingram Micro in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Get Ingram Micro alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Ingram Micro Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ingram Micro Ingram Micro Price Performance A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Synergy Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in Ingram Micro in the third quarter valued at $2,262,000. American Century Companies Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Ingram Micro by 1.9% in the third quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 2,914,724 shares of the companys stock valued at $62,637,000 after purchasing an additional 54,971 shares during the last quarter. AXQ Capital LP acquired a new position in Ingram Micro in the 2nd quarter valued at about $432,000. Crossingbridge Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Ingram Micro by 600.0% during the third quarter. Crossingbridge Advisors LLC now owns 70,000 shares of the companys stock worth $1,504,000 after acquiring an additional 60,000 shares during the period. Finally, Squarepoint Ops LLC bought a new position in shares of Ingram Micro during the second quarter worth approximately $1,099,000. NYSE INGM opened at $22.15 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a current ratio of 1.33. The stock has a market cap of $5.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.05, a PEG ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 2.27. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $21.55 and a 200 day simple moving average of $21.40. Ingram Micro has a 52-week low of $14.25 and a 52-week high of $26.38. Ingram Micro (NYSE:INGM Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, March 2nd. The company reported $0.96 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.90 by $0.06. Ingram Micro had a net margin of 0.62% and a return on equity of 16.78%. The firm had revenue of $14.88 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.18 billion. The companys revenue was up 11.5% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts anticipate that Ingram Micro will post 2.71 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Ingram Micro Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 24th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 10th will be paid a dividend of $0.082 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 10th. This represents a $0.33 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.5%. This is an increase from Ingram Micros previous quarterly dividend of $0.08. Ingram Micros dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 23.19%. Ingram Micro announced that its board has approved a stock repurchase plan on Monday, March 2nd that authorizes the company to repurchase $100.00 million in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the company to reacquire up to 2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are generally an indication that the companys management believes its stock is undervalued. Ingram Micro Company Profile (Get Free Report) Ingram Micro, headquartered in Irvine, California, is a global technology distributor and supply chain services provider. Listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker INGM, the company connects leading technology manufacturers, cloud providers and channel partners through an integrated portfolio of products and services. Ingram Micros end-to-end solutions span product distribution, cloud enablement, e-commerce, logistics and lifecycle management, enabling customers of all sizes to bring new technology to market efficiently. The companys offerings are organized across several core areas. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Ingram Micro Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ingram Micro and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Elastic N.V. (NYSE:ESTC Get Free Report) CAO Jane Bone sold 887 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $52.28, for a total value of $46,372.36. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer owned 42,284 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,210,607.52. This represents a 2.05% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Elastic Stock Down 2.8% Shares of NYSE:ESTC traded down $1.48 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $51.77. The stock had a trading volume of 1,967,411 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,680,223. The company has a market cap of $5.36 billion, a P/E ratio of -64.71, a PEG ratio of 68.42 and a beta of 0.98. Elastic N.V. has a 12 month low of $49.90 and a 12 month high of $103.79. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $65.01 and its 200-day simple moving average is $76.63. The company has a quick ratio of 1.82, a current ratio of 1.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72. Get Elastic alerts: Elastic (NYSE:ESTC Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 26th. The company reported $0.73 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.64 by $0.09. The firm had revenue of $449.88 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $438.37 million. Elastic had a negative net margin of 5.04% and a negative return on equity of 2.34%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 17.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.63 earnings per share. Elastic has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.500-2.540 EPS and its Q4 2026 guidance at 0.550-0.570 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Elastic N.V. will post -0.77 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Focus Partners Wealth acquired a new position in shares of Elastic in the first quarter valued at about $494,000. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in Elastic by 1.5% in the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 32,215 shares of the companys stock worth $2,717,000 after purchasing an additional 472 shares in the last quarter. Sigma Planning Corp boosted its holdings in Elastic by 13.7% in the 2nd quarter. Sigma Planning Corp now owns 4,471 shares of the companys stock valued at $377,000 after purchasing an additional 537 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its holdings in Elastic by 5.7% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 533,451 shares of the companys stock valued at $44,986,000 after purchasing an additional 28,628 shares during the period. Finally, Huntington National Bank grew its position in shares of Elastic by 97.5% during the 2nd quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 468 shares of the companys stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 231 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 97.03% of the companys stock. ESTC has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Canaccord Genuity Group reduced their price target on Elastic from $115.00 to $90.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 27th. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on Elastic from $80.00 to $73.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, March 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on Elastic from $113.00 to $98.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 20th. Wedbush reduced their target price on Elastic from $110.00 to $90.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Friday, November 21st. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their target price on Elastic from $115.00 to $95.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 5th. Seventeen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $95.25. Get Our Latest Report on Elastic Key Elastic News Here are the key news stories impacting Elastic this week: Elastic Company Profile (Get Free Report) Elastic N.V. operates as a search and analytics company, offering a suite of open source and subscription-based solutions for search, observability and security use cases. Its flagship product, Elasticsearch, enables fast and scalable full-text search and analytics across large volumes of structured and unstructured data. Complementary tools such as Kibana provide visualization capabilities, while Beats and Logstash serve as lightweight data shippers and data processing pipelines, respectively. The company was founded in 2012 by Shay Banon, who serves as chief technology officer, and Steven Schuurman. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Elastic Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Elastic and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. SentinelOne, Inc. (NYSE:S Get Free Report) CEO Tomer Weingarten sold 36,932 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $13.81, for a total transaction of $510,030.92. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 1,046,141 shares of the companys stock, valued at $14,447,207.21. This represents a 3.41% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Tomer Weingarten also recently made the following trade(s): Get SentinelOne alerts: On Wednesday, February 11th, Tomer Weingarten sold 39,472 shares of SentinelOne stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $13.48, for a total transaction of $532,082.56. On Friday, February 6th, Tomer Weingarten sold 23,063 shares of SentinelOne stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $13.15, for a total value of $303,278.45. On Tuesday, January 6th, Tomer Weingarten sold 51,595 shares of SentinelOne stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $15.12, for a total value of $780,116.40. On Friday, January 2nd, Tomer Weingarten sold 6,346 shares of SentinelOne stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $15.04, for a total value of $95,443.84. On Thursday, December 11th, Tomer Weingarten sold 125,429 shares of SentinelOne stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $15.09, for a total value of $1,892,723.61. SentinelOne Stock Down 1.1% NYSE:S traded down $0.16 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $14.19. 7,325,305 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 7,206,187. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $13.96 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $15.86. SentinelOne, Inc. has a twelve month low of $12.23 and a twelve month high of $21.40. Hedge Funds Weigh In On SentinelOne Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Woodline Partners LP bought a new stake in SentinelOne during the first quarter valued at about $382,000. Focus Partners Wealth bought a new stake in SentinelOne in the 1st quarter valued at $346,000. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. raised its position in shares of SentinelOne by 27.3% during the second quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 98,544 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,801,000 after buying an additional 21,108 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its position in SentinelOne by 6.9% during the second quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 1,835,278 shares of the companys stock worth $33,549,000 after buying an additional 118,639 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Horizon Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in SentinelOne by 287.8% in the 2nd quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 2,439 shares of the companys stock valued at $45,000 after acquiring an additional 1,810 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.87% of the companys stock. S has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. UBS Group downgraded shares of SentinelOne from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 13th. Wedbush lowered their price target on shares of SentinelOne from $23.00 to $20.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, December 5th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a sell (d-) rating on shares of SentinelOne in a research note on Monday, December 29th. DA Davidson reduced their price objective on SentinelOne from $16.00 to $14.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, March 5th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on SentinelOne from $19.00 to $17.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, December 5th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have issued a Buy rating, twelve have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $21.05. View Our Latest Report on SentinelOne About SentinelOne (Get Free Report) SentinelOne, Inc is a cybersecurity company specializing in AI-driven, autonomous endpoint protection. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Mountain View, California, the firm developed its Singularity Platform to unify prevention, detection, response, and hunting across endpoints, cloud workloads, containers and IoT devices. SentinelOnes solutions leverage machine learning and behavioral analytics to identify threats in real time, automate remediation workflows and deliver forensics to support rapid incident response. The companys flagship product suite includes endpoint security agents, cloud workload protection, identity threat detection and extended detection and response (XDR) capabilities. See Also Receive News & Ratings for SentinelOne Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SentinelOne and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. iShares IV Public Limited Company iShares Edge MSCI World Momentum Factor UCITS ETF (OTCMKTS:IEMMF Get Free Report) were down 2.5% on Monday . The company traded as low as $94.2866 and last traded at $94.3066. Approximately 301 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 87% from the average daily volume of 2,367 shares. The stock had previously closed at $96.7524. iShares IV Public Limited Company iShares Edge MSCI World Momentum Factor UCITS ETF Price Performance The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $97.13 and a 200-day simple moving average of $95.38. Get iShares IV Public Limited Company - iShares Edge MSCI World Momentum Factor UCITS ETF alerts: The iShares Edge MSCI World Momentum Factor UCITS ETF (OTCMKTS:IEMMF) is an Ireland-domiciled exchange-traded fund managed by BlackRock under its iShares brand. The fund seeks to track the performance of the MSCI World Momentum Index, which is designed to capture the performance of large- and mid-capitalization developed-market companies exhibiting relatively higher price momentum. By focusing on securities with strong recent price trends, the ETF offers investors targeted exposure to a factor-based equity strategy within the global equity universe. Holdings are selected and weighted based on their momentum scores, with periodic rebalancing to ensure the portfolio remains aligned with the underlying index methodology. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for iShares IV Public Limited Company - iShares Edge MSCI World Momentum Factor UCITS ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares IV Public Limited Company - iShares Edge MSCI World Momentum Factor UCITS ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MOSCOW, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The number of people killed in a Ukrainian missile attack on Russia's border region of Bryansk rose to seven, with 42 others injured, the region's governor Alexander Bogomaz said on Wednesday. On Tuesday, Ukrainian armed formations carried out a massive strike using high-impact missile weapons on residential areas and other civilian infrastructure in the Bryansk region. "Twenty people are receiving treatment in medical facilities in Bryansk, and their condition is stable," the governor said. Rodion Miroshnik, the Russian Foreign Ministry's Ambassador-at-Large, said that crimes by Kiev, such as the attack on Bryansk, are aimed at derailing negotiations aimed at ending the conflict with Ukraine. The Russian Investigative Committee said that at least eight missiles hit Bryansk, including seven UK-made Storm Shadow missiles, leaving more than 70 infrastructure facilities and vehicles damaged in the strike. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. grew its position in Deere & Company (NYSE:DE Free Report) by 115.8% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 8,259 shares of the industrial products companys stock after acquiring an additional 4,431 shares during the quarter. Jefferies Financial Group Inc.s holdings in Deere & Company were worth $3,776,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Howard Hughes Medical Institute bought a new stake in shares of Deere & Company during the second quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Activest Wealth Management lifted its position in Deere & Company by 69.2% in the third quarter. Activest Wealth Management now owns 66 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 27 shares during the period. Soundwatch Capital LLC bought a new position in Deere & Company in the second quarter worth $41,000. United Community Bank boosted its stake in Deere & Company by 67.3% during the third quarter. United Community Bank now owns 92 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $42,000 after buying an additional 37 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Lynch Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Deere & Company during the third quarter worth $46,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.58% of the companys stock. Get Deere & Company alerts: Insider Transactions at Deere & Company In other news, insider Cory J. Reed sold 12,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $510.00, for a total transaction of $6,120,000.00. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 20,792 shares of the companys stock, valued at $10,603,920. This represents a 36.59% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CEO John C. May II sold 41,472 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $501.49, for a total transaction of $20,797,793.28. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 117,970 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $59,160,775.30. This represents a 26.01% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders own 0.29% of the companys stock. Deere & Company Price Performance Shares of DE stock opened at $592.69 on Wednesday. Deere & Company has a 52 week low of $404.42 and a 52 week high of $674.19. The stock has a market capitalization of $160.09 billion, a PE ratio of 33.41, a PEG ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.59, a quick ratio of 1.96 and a current ratio of 2.21. The stocks fifty day moving average is $557.00 and its 200-day moving average is $501.12. Deere & Company (NYSE:DE Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 19th. The industrial products company reported $2.42 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.90 by $0.52. The business had revenue of $9.61 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.50 billion. Deere & Company had a return on equity of 18.93% and a net margin of 10.29%.The firms revenue for the quarter was up 17.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $3.19 earnings per share. Equities research analysts expect that Deere & Company will post 19.32 EPS for the current fiscal year. Deere & Company Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 8th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 31st will be paid a $1.62 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 31st. This represents a $6.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.1%. Deere & Companys payout ratio is currently 36.53%. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods restated an outperform rating on shares of Deere & Company in a research note on Monday, December 1st. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of Deere & Company from $560.00 to $730.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, February 23rd. Truist Financial upped their target price on shares of Deere & Company from $612.00 to $793.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, February 20th. Oppenheimer reissued an outperform rating and issued a $715.00 price target on shares of Deere & Company in a research report on Friday, February 20th. Finally, Zacks Research upgraded shares of Deere & Company from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 3rd. Sixteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $644.70. Read Our Latest Analysis on DE About Deere & Company (Free Report) Deere & Company, commonly known by its brand John Deere, is a global manufacturer of agricultural, construction and forestry machinery, as well as turf care equipment and power systems. Founded in 1837 by blacksmith John Deerewho developed a polished steel plow to improve tillage in tough prairie soilsthe company is headquartered in Moline, Illinois, and has grown into one of the largest and most recognizable names in equipment manufacturing worldwide. The companys principal businesses include a broad portfolio of agricultural equipment such as tractors, combines, planters, sprayers, harvesters and tillage implements, complemented by precision agriculture technologies and telematics that support farm management, yield optimization and equipment connectivity. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Deere & Company (NYSE:DE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Deere & Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Deere & Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of John Hancock Multifactor Developed International ETF (NYSEARCA:JHMD Get Free Report) saw an uptick in trading volume on Monday . 865,835 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 430% from the previous sessions volume of 163,408 shares.The stock last traded at $41.74 and had previously closed at $42.74. John Hancock Multifactor Developed International ETF Price Performance The firms 50 day moving average price is $43.77 and its 200-day moving average price is $41.59. The firm has a market cap of $1.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.46 and a beta of 0.81. Get John Hancock Multifactor Developed International ETF alerts: Institutional Investors Weigh In On John Hancock Multifactor Developed International ETF Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in JHMD. Comerica Bank raised its holdings in shares of John Hancock Multifactor Developed International ETF by 15.1% in the 4th quarter. Comerica Bank now owns 3,137 shares of the companys stock worth $130,000 after buying an additional 411 shares in the last quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC lifted its position in shares of John Hancock Multifactor Developed International ETF by 3.2% during the 3rd quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 16,960 shares of the companys stock worth $678,000 after buying an additional 525 shares during the period. HighTower Advisors LLC boosted its stake in John Hancock Multifactor Developed International ETF by 11.5% in the 4th quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 6,545 shares of the companys stock valued at $272,000 after buying an additional 675 shares in the last quarter. Balboa Wealth Partners boosted its stake in John Hancock Multifactor Developed International ETF by 12.1% in the 3rd quarter. Balboa Wealth Partners now owns 7,159 shares of the companys stock valued at $286,000 after buying an additional 770 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Allworth Financial LP bought a new stake in John Hancock Multifactor Developed International ETF in the third quarter valued at $39,000. About John Hancock Multifactor Developed International ETF The John Hancock Multifactor Developed International ETF (JHMD) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in total market equity. The fund tracks an index of stocks from developed markets ex-US and Canada, covering 85% of the market capitalization. Holdings are weighted based on fundamental and technical factors JHMD was launched on Dec 15, 2016 and is managed by John Hancock. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for John Hancock Multifactor Developed International ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for John Hancock Multifactor Developed International ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kansas City Life Insurance (OTCMKTS:KCLI Get Free Report) posted its earnings results on Monday. The financial services provider reported $0.10 EPS for the quarter, Zacks reports. The company had revenue of $121.53 million for the quarter. Kansas City Life Insurance had a negative net margin of 4.54% and a positive return on equity of 2.25%. Kansas City Life Insurance Stock Performance Kansas City Life Insurance stock opened at $32.20 on Wednesday. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $32.86 and its 200-day simple moving average is $32.42. Kansas City Life Insurance has a 1 year low of $27.45 and a 1 year high of $36.49. The company has a market capitalization of $311.70 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -14.12 and a beta of 0.46. Get Kansas City Life Insurance alerts: About Kansas City Life Insurance (Get Free Report) Kansas City Life Insurance Company, trading under the symbol KCLI, is a publicly held life insurer founded in 1895 and headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. With more than a century of operations, the company has established itself as a provider of life insurance and retirement products across the United States. The companys core offerings include individual life insurance policiesterm life, universal life and whole lifeas well as fixed annuities designed to help clients build and preserve wealth. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Kansas City Life Insurance Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kansas City Life Insurance and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kepler Cheuvreux Suisse SA acquired a new position in shares of The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor acquired 131,724 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock, valued at approximately $19,039,000. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Lavaca Capital LLC bought a new position in TJX Companies in the second quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Dogwood Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in TJX Companies by 102.2% during 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 last quarter. GGM Financials LLC bought a new stake in TJX Companies during the third quarter worth $27,000. Howard Hughes Medical Institute acquired a new stake in shares of TJX Companies in the 2nd quarter valued at $30,000. Finally, Capital A Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of TJX Companies by 776.7% in the 2nd quarter. Capital A Wealth Management LLC now owns 263 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 233 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 91.09% of the companys stock. Get TJX Companies alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth TJX has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Sanford C. Bernstein reissued an outperform rating and set a $170.00 price target on shares of TJX Companies in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Bank of America raised their price objective on TJX Companies from $150.00 to $168.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, November 20th. Evercore lifted their target price on TJX Companies from $162.00 to $165.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, November 20th. Morgan Stanley reissued an overweight rating and set a $162.00 target price (up from $159.00) on shares of TJX Companies in a research note on Thursday, November 20th. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group increased their target price on shares of TJX Companies from $170.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, February 26th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and twenty-two have issued a Buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $167.55. Insider Activity at TJX Companies In other news, CEO Ernie Herrman sold 30,000 shares of TJX Companies stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $160.95, for a total transaction of $4,828,500.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 479,316 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $77,145,910.20. This trade represents a 5.89% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock. TJX Companies Stock Up 0.9% Shares of NYSE:TJX opened at $159.51 on Wednesday. The TJX Companies, Inc. has a 52-week low of $112.10 and a 52-week high of $162.68. The company has a market capitalization of $177.13 billion, a PE ratio of 32.69, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.64 and a beta of 0.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a current ratio of 1.14. The company has a fifty day moving average of $155.42 and a 200-day moving average of $149.03. TJX Companies (NYSE:TJX Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 25th. The apparel and home fashions retailer reported $1.43 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.38 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $17.74 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $17.36 billion. TJX Companies had a return on equity of 57.70% and a net margin of 9.10%.TJX Companiess revenue for the quarter was up 8.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $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. On average, equities analysts predict that The TJX Companies, Inc. will post 4.18 EPS for the current fiscal year. TJX Companies Company Profile (Free Report) TJX Companies, Inc is a leading off-price retailer of apparel, footwear, home fashions and other consumer goods. The company operates multiple retail concepts that offer discounted brand-name and designer merchandise, including well-known banners such as T.J. Maxx and Marshalls in the United States, HomeGoods for home furnishings, TK Maxx in parts of Europe, and Winners and Homesense in Canada. Merchandise categories span womens, mens and childrens apparel, accessories, beauty, home decor, kitchenware and small furniture, with frequent changes in assortment that create a treasure-hunt shopping experience for consumers. The companys business model centers on opportunistic buying, purchasing excess, irregular or out-of-season inventory from manufacturers, department stores and other suppliers, and passing savings to customers through lower prices. Recommended Stories 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. Kepler Cheuvreux Suisse SA bought a new stake in Credicorp Ltd. (NYSE:BAP Free Report) during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor bought 36,311 shares of the banks stock, valued at approximately $9,672,000. Other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Credicorp by 42.2% in the third quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 291,175 shares of the banks stock valued at $77,534,000 after purchasing an additional 86,340 shares during the period. Nordea Investment Management AB lifted its position in Credicorp by 17.4% during the third quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 27,953 shares of the banks stock worth $7,479,000 after buying an additional 4,140 shares during the period. Summitry LLC purchased a new position in Credicorp during the second quarter worth about $257,000. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. boosted its stake in Credicorp by 19.3% in the 3rd quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. now owns 12,516 shares of the banks stock worth $3,333,000 after buying an additional 2,023 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp boosted its stake in Credicorp by 25.2% in the 3rd quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp now owns 291,237 shares of the banks stock worth $77,551,000 after buying an additional 58,690 shares during the last quarter. 89.81% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Credicorp alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research analysts have recently commented on BAP shares. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Credicorp from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of Credicorp from $242.00 to $310.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, November 21st. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Credicorp from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, December 20th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b) rating on shares of Credicorp in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on shares of Credicorp from $293.00 to $330.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 17th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Credicorp presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $297.60. Credicorp Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:BAP opened at $341.17 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $27.14 billion, a PE ratio of 14.03, a P/E/G ratio of 0.75 and a beta of 0.87. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 1.02 and a quick ratio of 1.07. The business has a 50-day moving average of $334.67 and a two-hundred day moving average of $288.88. Credicorp Ltd. has a 12 month low of $165.51 and a 12 month high of $380.20. Credicorp (NYSE:BAP Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 17th. The bank reported $5.88 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $6.61 by ($0.73). Credicorp had a return on equity of 20.43% and a net margin of 24.53%.The firm had revenue of $1.95 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.77 billion. As a group, research analysts forecast that Credicorp Ltd. will post 21.9 earnings per share for the current year. About Credicorp (Free Report) Credicorp Ltd. (NYSE: BAP) is a Lima-based financial services holding company that operates a diversified group of banking, insurance, and investment businesses. Established in the mid-1990s, Credicorps principal subsidiaries include Banco de Credito del Peru (BCP), Mibanco (microfinance), Credicorp Capital (investment banking and asset management) and Pacifico Seguros (insurance). The company serves retail, commercial and corporate clients and is one of the largest financial conglomerates in Peru. Through Banco de Credito del Peru and its retail network, Credicorp provides a full suite of banking products including deposit accounts, consumer and commercial loans, mortgages, payment and transaction services, and digital banking solutions. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BAP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Credicorp Ltd. (NYSE:BAP Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Credicorp Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Credicorp and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Korea Investment CORP trimmed its holdings in Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM Free Report) by 50.1% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 115,738 shares of the restaurant operators stock after selling 115,970 shares during the quarter. Korea Investment CORPs holdings in Yum! Brands were worth $17,592,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLC bought a new position in shares of Yum! Brands during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $673,000. First Trust Advisors LP increased its stake in shares of Yum! Brands by 179.2% in the 3rd quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 422,401 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $64,205,000 after acquiring an additional 271,085 shares in the last quarter. HUB Investment Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of Yum! Brands by 27.7% during the 3rd quarter. HUB Investment Partners LLC now owns 2,962 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $450,000 after acquiring an additional 643 shares during the period. Modern Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Yum! Brands during the 3rd quarter valued at $210,000. Finally, Chapman Financial Group LLC bought a new position in Yum! Brands during the third quarter worth $60,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.37% of the companys stock. Get Yum! Brands alerts: Insider Activity In other news, CEO Aaron Powell sold 12,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $161.44, for a total value of $1,937,280.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 14,650 shares in the company, valued at $2,365,096. This trade represents a 45.03% 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, CEO Scott Mezvinsky sold 1,612 shares of Yum! Brands stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $164.63, for a total value of $265,383.56. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold 14,138 shares of company stock worth $2,289,990 over the last 90 days. 0.33% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Yum! Brands Trading Down 0.4% Yum! Brands stock opened at $159.28 on Wednesday. Yum! Brands, Inc. has a 1-year low of $137.33 and a 1-year high of $169.39. The firm has a market capitalization of $44.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.70, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.25 and a beta of 0.64. The firms fifty day moving average price is $158.25 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $151.67. Yum! Brands (NYSE:YUM Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 4th. The restaurant operator reported $1.73 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.76 by ($0.03). Yum! Brands had a net margin of 18.98% and a negative return on equity of 22.42%. The business had revenue of $2.52 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.45 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.61 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 6.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts forecast that Yum! Brands, Inc. will post 5.94 EPS for the current year. Yum! Brands Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 6th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 20th were paid a $0.75 dividend. This represents a $3.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.9%. This is a boost from Yum! Brandss previous quarterly dividend of $0.71. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 20th. Yum! Brandss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 54.05%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities research analysts have weighed in on YUM shares. Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed an overweight rating and issued a $179.00 price target on shares of Yum! Brands in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on Yum! Brands from $160.00 to $170.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 24th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b) rating on shares of Yum! Brands in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Piper Sandler reaffirmed a neutral rating on shares of Yum! Brands in a research note on Friday, December 5th. Finally, Evercore reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $190.00 price target on shares of Yum! Brands in a report on Friday, February 13th. Thirteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $174.50. Get Our Latest Analysis on YUM Yum! Brands Profile (Free Report) Yum! Brands, Inc (NYSE: YUM) is a global quick-service restaurant company that develops, operates and franchises a portfolio of well-known restaurant brands. The companys principal brands are KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, each focused on distinct product categoriesKFC on fried chicken and related menu items, Pizza Hut on pizza and complementary offerings, and Taco Bell on Mexican-inspired quick-service food. Yum! is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky and was formed as Tricon Global Restaurants in 1997 when PepsiCo spun off its restaurant businesses, later adopting the Yum! Brands name. The companys operating model centers on brand development, system growth and franchising; a large portion of its restaurants are operated by independent franchisees, and Yum! generates revenue through franchise royalties and fees in addition to sales from company-operated locations. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Yum! Brands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Yum! Brands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Lenovo Group Ltd. (OTCMKTS:LNVGY Get Free Report) gapped up prior to trading on Wednesday . The stock had previously closed at $23.67, but opened at $24.5950. Lenovo Group shares last traded at $24.75, with a volume of 8,865 shares changing hands. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities analysts have commented on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded Lenovo Group from an overweight rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, November 20th. Zacks Research raised Lenovo Group from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, February 10th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to MarketBeat, Lenovo Group has a consensus rating of Hold. Get Lenovo Group alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on LNVGY Lenovo Group Stock Up 2.1% The stock has a fifty day moving average of $23.53 and a 200-day moving average of $26.29. The company has a current ratio of 0.96, a quick ratio of 0.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59. The firm has a market capitalization of $15.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.47, a PEG ratio of 1.03 and a beta of 0.63. Lenovo Group (OTCMKTS:LNVGY Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 11th. The technology company reported $0.84 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.62 by $0.22. The firm had revenue of $22.20 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $20.65 billion. Lenovo Group had a return on equity of 26.18% and a net margin of 1.89%. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Lenovo Group Ltd. will post 2.06 EPS for the current year. About Lenovo Group (Get Free Report) Lenovo Group is a multinational technology company known primarily for the design, manufacture and sale of personal computers, servers, storage and smart devices. Its product portfolio spans consumer and commercial PCs (notable brands include ThinkPad, IdeaPad, Yoga and Legion), workstations, enterprise-class ThinkSystem servers and storage, as well as tablets, smartphones (notably through its Motorola Mobility acquisition), smart home devices and related software. Lenovo also provides IT services and solutions, including systems integration, managed services and lifecycle support for enterprise customers. The company traces its origins to 1984 when it was founded in Beijing as Legend by Liu Chuanzhi; it later adopted the Lenovo name and expanded through a series of strategic acquisitions. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Lenovo Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lenovo Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mackenzie Financial Corp increased its stake in AngloGold Ashanti PLC (NYSE:AU Free Report) by 60.1% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 2,782,320 shares of the mining companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,044,691 shares during the quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corps holdings in AngloGold Ashanti were worth $195,681,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in AngloGold Ashanti by 4.8% in the 3rd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 3,528 shares of the mining companys stock worth $248,000 after purchasing an additional 161 shares during the period. CoreCap Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of AngloGold Ashanti by 27.3% in the 3rd quarter. CoreCap Advisors LLC now owns 1,006 shares of the mining companys stock worth $71,000 after buying an additional 216 shares in the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of AngloGold Ashanti by 13.8% in the 3rd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 1,893 shares of the mining companys stock worth $133,000 after buying an additional 229 shares during the last quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. increased its holdings in shares of AngloGold Ashanti by 30.3% in the 2nd quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 1,023 shares of the mining companys stock worth $47,000 after buying an additional 238 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB grew its position in AngloGold Ashanti by 27.2% in the third quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 1,257 shares of the mining companys stock worth $88,000 after acquiring an additional 269 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 36.09% of the companys stock. Get AngloGold Ashanti alerts: AngloGold Ashanti Price Performance Shares of NYSE:AU opened at $108.28 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 2.58, a quick ratio of 1.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21. AngloGold Ashanti PLC has a 52 week low of $30.94 and a 52 week high of $129.14. The firms 50 day moving average is $105.11 and its two-hundred day moving average is $84.78. The firm has a market capitalization of $54.67 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.86 and a beta of 0.55. AngloGold Ashanti Cuts Dividend AngloGold Ashanti ( NYSE:AU Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Friday, February 20th. The mining company reported $1.90 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $1.90. The firm had revenue of $3.07 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.99 billion. AngloGold Ashanti had a return on equity of 29.70% and a net margin of 26.65%. Analysts anticipate that AngloGold Ashanti PLC will post 3.83 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 27th. Investors of record on Friday, March 13th will be given a dividend of $0.173 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 13th. This represents a $0.69 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.6%. AngloGold Ashantis dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 70.13%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several brokerages have issued reports on AU. Citigroup boosted their target price on AngloGold Ashanti from $105.00 to $120.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 20th. Roth Mkm reissued a buy rating and set a $122.00 price target on shares of AngloGold Ashanti in a research note on Friday, February 20th. Weiss Ratings cut AngloGold Ashanti from a buy (b-) rating to a hold (c+) rating in a report on Wednesday, February 25th. Wall Street Zen upgraded AngloGold Ashanti from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday, December 13th. Finally, Zacks Research downgraded shares of AngloGold Ashanti from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, February 23rd. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $100.50. View Our Latest Analysis on AU AngloGold Ashanti Company Profile (Free Report) AngloGold Ashanti is a global gold mining company engaged in the exploration, development, production, processing and sale of gold. Headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, the companys core activities span the full mining value chain from greenfield exploration and mine development through to ore processing and rehabilitation. Gold is the primary commodity produced, with individual operations sometimes yielding other byproducts depending on local geology and processing methods. The company was formed in 2004 through the merger of AngloGold and Ashanti Goldfields, creating a diversified international gold producer. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AU? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for AngloGold Ashanti PLC (NYSE:AU Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for AngloGold Ashanti Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AngloGold Ashanti and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mackenzie Financial Corp lessened its position in shares of Williams Companies, Inc. (The) (NYSE:WMB Free Report) by 14.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 5,215,789 shares of the pipeline companys stock after selling 913,750 shares during the quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corps holdings in Williams Companies were worth $330,420,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Williams Companies in the second quarter valued at $765,164,000. BROOKFIELD Corp ON raised its position in shares of Williams Companies by 190.3% during the 2nd quarter. BROOKFIELD Corp ON now owns 12,028,186 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $755,490,000 after acquiring an additional 7,884,730 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. lifted its stake in Williams Companies by 27.3% during the second quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 14,417,821 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $905,583,000 after purchasing an additional 3,089,390 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its holdings in Williams Companies by 30.4% in the third quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 9,073,602 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $574,856,000 after purchasing an additional 2,116,526 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Artisan Partners Limited Partnership boosted its holdings in Williams Companies by 39.0% in the second quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership now owns 6,954,733 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $436,827,000 after purchasing an additional 1,950,485 shares in the last quarter. 86.44% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Williams Companies alerts: Insider Transactions at Williams Companies In other news, CAO Mary A. Hausman sold 10,107 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $74.91, for a total transaction of $757,115.37. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer directly owned 17,230 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,290,699.30. This represents a 36.97% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Terrance Lane Wilson sold 27,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $72.92, for a total value of $1,968,840.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 293,159 shares in the company, valued at approximately $21,377,154.28. This represents a 8.43% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 41,107 shares of company stock worth $3,009,215. 0.44% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Williams Companies Trading Up 0.8% Shares of WMB stock opened at $73.79 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $90.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.26 and a beta of 0.63. The company has a current ratio of 0.53, a quick ratio of 0.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.83. The businesss 50 day moving average is $67.48 and its two-hundred day moving average is $62.71. Williams Companies, Inc. has a twelve month low of $51.58 and a twelve month high of $76.87. Williams Companies (NYSE:WMB Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 10th. The pipeline company reported $0.55 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.57 by ($0.02). The firm had revenue of $3.20 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.10 billion. Williams Companies had a net margin of 21.90% and a return on equity of 17.32%. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.47 EPS. Williams Companies has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.200-2.380 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that Williams Companies, Inc. will post 2.08 EPS for the current year. Williams Companies Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 13th will be paid a $0.525 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 13th. This represents a $2.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.8%. This is a boost from Williams Companiess previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. Williams Companiess payout ratio is 93.46%. Key Stories Impacting Williams Companies Here are the key news stories impacting Williams Companies this week: Analyst Ratings Changes WMB has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of Williams Companies from $78.00 to $89.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 17th. Scotiabank raised shares of Williams Companies from a sector perform rating to a sector outperform rating and boosted their price target for the company from $66.00 to $84.00 in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their price objective on shares of Williams Companies from $75.00 to $78.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 11th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on Williams Companies from $78.00 to $81.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 17th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised Williams Companies from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have given a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $75.86. Get Our Latest Research Report on WMB Williams Companies Profile (Free Report) Williams Companies, Inc (NYSE: WMB) is a U.S.-based energy infrastructure company focused on the midstream segment of the natural gas value chain. The company develops, owns and operates assets that gather, process, transport and store natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGLs). Its operations support the movement of gas from production areas to end users including utilities, power generators, industrial customers and export facilities. Williamss product and service offering includes interstate and intrastate pipeline transmission, gas-gathering systems, processing facilities that remove impurities and separate NGLs, storage services and fractionation and transportation of NGL products. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WMB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Williams Companies, Inc. (The) (NYSE:WMB Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Williams Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Williams Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mackenzie Financial Corp trimmed its holdings in Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (NYSE:CP Free Report) (TSE:CP) by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 16,342,402 shares of the transportation companys stock after selling 156,365 shares during the quarter. Canadian Pacific Kansas City comprises 1.5% of Mackenzie Financial Corps portfolio, making the stock its 12th biggest holding. Mackenzie Financial Corps holdings in Canadian Pacific Kansas City were worth $1,216,875,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in Canadian Pacific Kansas City during the second quarter worth $27,000. Caldwell Trust Co acquired a new position in Canadian Pacific Kansas City during the 3rd quarter valued at $30,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC boosted its holdings in Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 205.5% in the 3rd quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 498 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 335 shares during the period. Acadian Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in Canadian Pacific Kansas City in the 1st quarter valued at $35,000. Finally, SJS Investment Consulting Inc. bought a new position in shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City during the 3rd quarter worth about $39,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.20% of the companys stock. Get Canadian Pacific Kansas City alerts: Canadian Pacific Kansas City Trading Up 0.0% CP stock opened at $83.91 on Wednesday. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited has a 1-year low of $66.49 and a 1-year high of $89.42. The firm has a market cap of $75.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.98, a P/E/G ratio of 1.80 and a beta of 1.06. The businesss 50 day moving average is $78.54 and its 200-day moving average is $75.67. The company has a current ratio of 0.49, a quick ratio of 0.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Announces Dividend Canadian Pacific Kansas City ( NYSE:CP Get Free Report ) (TSE:CP) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, January 28th. The transportation company reported $0.95 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.99 by ($0.04). The company had revenue of $2.85 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.85 billion. Canadian Pacific Kansas City had a return on equity of 8.91% and a net margin of 27.49%.The companys quarterly revenue was up 1.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.29 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited will post 3.42 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 27th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 27th will be paid a dividend of $0.228 per share. This represents a $0.91 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 27th. Canadian Pacific Kansas Citys dividend payout ratio is currently 20.43%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $124.00 price objective (down from $127.00) on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. Wall Street Zen downgraded Canadian Pacific Kansas City from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 3rd. National Bank Financial cut Canadian Pacific Kansas City from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Scotiabank reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. Finally, Citigroup decreased their price objective on Canadian Pacific Kansas City from $88.00 to $86.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 30th. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $92.00. View Our Latest Stock Report on Canadian Pacific Kansas City Canadian Pacific Kansas City Company Profile (Free Report) Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) is a North American Class I freight railroad formed through the combination of Canadian Pacific Railway and Kansas City Southern. The merged company operates an integrated rail network that spans Canada, the United States and Mexico, providing a single-line rail connection across all three countries. This transborder footprint is intended to streamline cross-border freight flows and provide shippers with direct rail access from Canadian and U.S. production centers to Mexican markets and ports. CPKCs core business is freight transportation and related logistics services. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (NYSE:CP Free Report) (TSE:CP). Receive News & Ratings for Canadian Pacific Kansas City Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian Pacific Kansas City and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MOSCOW, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Participants in the Ukraine talks are considering Istanbul as a possibility to continue negotiations, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday. "For now, I can say that in general there is an understanding that the negotiation process will continue, but again, there are no specific details yet," he said. He added that Kiev is using increasingly sophisticated methods to carry out attacks, requiring Russia to adopt more high-tech countermeasures to protect its citizens. On Tuesday, Ukrainian armed formations carried out a massive strike using high-impact missiles on residential areas and other civilian infrastructure in the Bryansk region, leaving seven dead and 42 injured. Peskov said Russia must continue its special military operation and achieve its goals "to eliminate the risk of such actions and acts by Kiev such as the strike on Bryansk." Mackenzie Financial Corp cut its stake in shares of Sun Life Financial Inc. (NYSE:SLF Free Report) (TSE:SLF) by 17.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 9,075,223 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 1,882,037 shares during the period. Sun Life Financial makes up 0.7% of Mackenzie Financial Corps investment portfolio, making the stock its 29th biggest holding. Mackenzie Financial Corp owned 1.63% of Sun Life Financial worth $544,839,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Sun Life Financial by 3.4% during the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 25,422,211 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,691,568,000 after purchasing an additional 827,119 shares during the period. Bank of Nova Scotia lifted its stake in shares of Sun Life Financial by 6.5% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia now owns 6,157,205 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $409,576,000 after acquiring an additional 377,204 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Sun Life Financial during the second quarter worth about $362,886,000. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Sun Life Financial by 19.4% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 4,625,675 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $312,065,000 after purchasing an additional 750,768 shares during the period. Finally, Legal & General Group Plc boosted its holdings in Sun Life Financial by 10.6% in the 3rd quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 3,859,614 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $231,816,000 after purchasing an additional 371,139 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 52.26% of the companys stock. Get Sun Life Financial alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several analysts have recently commented on the company. Barclays reissued an underweight rating on shares of Sun Life Financial in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce reiterated a neutral rating on shares of Sun Life Financial in a report on Thursday, January 8th. BMO Capital Markets reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Sun Life Financial in a report on Friday, February 13th. Scotiabank restated a sector perform rating on shares of Sun Life Financial in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded Sun Life Financial from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Sunday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have issued a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $86.50. Sun Life Financial Stock Up 0.1% Shares of NYSE:SLF opened at $63.57 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $35.21 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.45 and a beta of 0.87. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $64.28 and a 200-day simple moving average of $61.46. Sun Life Financial Inc. has a 52 week low of $52.44 and a 52 week high of $69.67. Sun Life Financial (NYSE:SLF Get Free Report) (TSE:SLF) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The financial services provider reported $1.41 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.35 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $973.53 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $973.53 million. Sun Life Financial had a return on equity of 17.76% and a net margin of 8.48%.During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.68 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts expect that Sun Life Financial Inc. will post 5.19 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Sun Life Financial Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 25th will be paid a dividend of $0.92 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 25th. This represents a $3.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.8%. Sun Life Financials dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 61.36%. Sun Life Financial Company Profile (Free Report) Sun Life Financial Inc, founded in 1865 and headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, is an international financial services organization that provides a range of insurance, wealth management and asset management solutions. The company serves individual and institutional clients, offering products designed to protect against life and health risks, help clients save for retirement, and manage investments on behalf of customers and third parties. Core business activities include life and health insurance, group benefits for employers, retirement and pension products, and wealth management services such as mutual funds and segregated fund solutions. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SLF? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Sun Life Financial Inc. (NYSE:SLF Free Report) (TSE:SLF). Receive News & Ratings for Sun Life Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sun Life Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Magnetar Financial LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK Free Report) by 553.5% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 19,134 shares of the industrial products companys stock after buying an additional 16,206 shares during the period. Magnetar Financial LLCs holdings in Rockwell Automation were worth $6,688,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Van ECK Associates Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Rockwell Automation by 2.6% in the 3rd quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 24,552 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $8,582,000 after buying an additional 626 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can grew its holdings in Rockwell Automation by 11.4% during the third quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 101,354 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $35,426,000 after acquiring an additional 10,344 shares during the period. Legal & General Group Plc raised its position in Rockwell Automation by 2.1% in the third quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 704,363 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $246,196,000 after acquiring an additional 14,498 shares in the last quarter. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise raised its position in Rockwell Automation by 76.6% in the third quarter. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise now owns 5,007 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,750,000 after acquiring an additional 2,171 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Russell Investments Group Ltd. lifted its holdings in Rockwell Automation by 86.8% in the third quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 72,560 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $25,297,000 after acquiring an additional 33,715 shares during the period. 75.75% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Rockwell Automation alerts: Rockwell Automation Trading Down 0.4% Shares of ROK stock opened at $373.91 on Wednesday. Rockwell Automation, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $215.00 and a fifty-two week high of $438.72. The stock has a market cap of $42.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 42.78, a P/E/G ratio of 2.68 and a beta of 1.53. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $405.65 and a 200-day simple moving average of $380.60. The company has a quick ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68. Rockwell Automation Announces Dividend Rockwell Automation ( NYSE:ROK Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The industrial products company reported $2.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.46 by $0.29. Rockwell Automation had a return on equity of 34.92% and a net margin of 11.56%.The business had revenue of $2.11 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.08 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.83 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 11.9% on a year-over-year basis. Rockwell Automation has set its FY 2026 guidance at 11.400-12.200 EPS. On average, analysts forecast that Rockwell Automation, Inc. will post 9.35 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 23rd were given a dividend of $1.38 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 23rd. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.5%. Rockwell Automations payout ratio is presently 63.16%. Analyst Ratings Changes ROK has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Mizuho boosted their target price on shares of Rockwell Automation from $380.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, February 6th. KeyCorp reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $470.00 price objective on shares of Rockwell Automation in a research note on Friday, February 6th. Robert W. Baird set a $430.00 price objective on shares of Rockwell Automation in a report on Friday, February 6th. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Rockwell Automation from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a research report on Friday, February 20th. Finally, Citigroup increased their target price on shares of Rockwell Automation from $439.00 to $466.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, December 8th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have assigned a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $418.33. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on ROK Insider Buying and Selling In related news, VP Scott Genereux sold 17,407 shares of Rockwell Automation stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $404.61, for a total transaction of $7,043,046.27. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president directly owned 3,314 shares in the company, valued at $1,340,877.54. The trade was a 84.01% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, SVP Christopher Nardecchia sold 14,465 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $410.01, for a total value of $5,930,794.65. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 14,232 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,835,262.32. The trade was a 50.41% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 49,228 shares of company stock valued at $19,992,391. 0.76% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Rockwell Automation Profile (Free Report) Rockwell Automation is a global industrial automation and digital transformation company headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The firm designs, manufactures and supports control systems, industrial control hardware and software, and related services that help manufacturers and industrial operators automate processes, improve productivity and enable data-driven decision making. Rockwell traces its heritage to the Allen-Bradley and Rockwell automation businesses and positions itself as a provider of integrated automation solutions across discrete and process industries. The companys product portfolio includes programmable logic controllers (PLCs), human-machine interfaces (HMIs), variable frequency drives, sensors, safety components and other industrial control hardware, often marketed under the Allen-Bradley brand. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ROK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Rockwell Automation Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rockwell Automation and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. lowered its stake in Kimco Realty Corporation (NYSE:KIM Free Report) by 91.2% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 10,716 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 110,880 shares during the period. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd.s holdings in Kimco Realty were worth $234,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Quent Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Kimco Realty in the 3rd quarter valued at $27,000. City Holding Co. bought a new position in Kimco Realty in the third quarter valued at about $30,000. CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC acquired a new stake in Kimco Realty in the second quarter worth about $37,000. Lavaca Capital LLC increased its position in Kimco Realty by 869.5% in the second quarter. Lavaca Capital LLC now owns 1,939 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 1,739 shares during the period. Finally, MUFG Securities EMEA plc bought a new stake in Kimco Realty during the 2nd quarter worth about $42,000. Institutional investors own 89.25% of the companys stock. Get Kimco Realty alerts: Kimco Realty Stock Down 0.2% Shares of NYSE:KIM opened at $23.16 on Wednesday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $21.76 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $21.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78, a quick ratio of 3.31 and a current ratio of 3.31. The company has a market capitalization of $15.61 billion, a PE ratio of 28.60, a PEG ratio of 1.30 and a beta of 1.04. Kimco Realty Corporation has a 52 week low of $17.93 and a 52 week high of $23.91. Kimco Realty Dividend Announcement Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 19th. Investors of record on Friday, March 6th will be paid a dividend of $0.26 per share. This represents a $1.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 6th. Kimco Realtys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 128.40%. Several research analysts have recently issued reports on KIM shares. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on shares of Kimco Realty from $23.00 to $21.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, December 15th. Truist Financial cut their price objective on shares of Kimco Realty from $23.00 to $22.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 20th. Robert W. Baird set a $25.00 price objective on shares of Kimco Realty in a research note on Friday, February 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of Kimco Realty from $23.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, March 5th. Finally, Weiss Ratings raised Kimco Realty from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a research note on Thursday, March 5th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $24.23. View Our Latest Analysis on Kimco Realty Kimco Realty Profile (Free Report) Founded in 1958 by Milton Cooper and headquartered in Jericho, New York, Kimco Realty Corporation (NYSE: KIM) is a leading publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT) specializing in the ownership, operation and development of open-air shopping centers. The companys portfolio, concentrated on neighborhood and community centers anchored by grocery stores, encompasses approximately 400 properties across the United States, with selective holdings in Canada and Mexico. Kimcos core business activities include acquiring, repositioning and managing retail real estate assets that serve as daily-need destinations for consumers. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Kimco Realty Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kimco Realty and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MFN Partners Management LP lessened its holdings in shares of QXO, Inc. (NYSE:QXO Free Report) by 18.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 38,250,850 shares of the companys stock after selling 8,657,851 shares during the period. QXO makes up approximately 14.7% of MFN Partners Management LPs holdings, making the stock its 3rd largest position. MFN Partners Management LP owned 0.06% of QXO worth $729,061,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in QXO by 17.2% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 55,323,743 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,054,471,000 after buying an additional 8,131,331 shares during the last quarter. Affinity Partners GP LP boosted its position in shares of QXO by 99.1% in the second quarter. Affinity Partners GP LP now owns 32,671,542 shares of the companys stock valued at $703,745,000 after acquiring an additional 16,260,163 shares during the period. Alpha Wave Global LP bought a new stake in shares of QXO in the second quarter valued at approximately $525,366,000. Finepoint Capital LP grew its stake in shares of QXO by 5.4% in the third quarter. Finepoint Capital LP now owns 22,295,615 shares of the companys stock worth $424,954,000 after acquiring an additional 1,142,747 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Schf GPE LLC grew its stake in shares of QXO by 204.3% in the second quarter. Schf GPE LLC now owns 13,319,457 shares of the companys stock worth $286,901,000 after acquiring an additional 8,943,089 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 58.68% of the companys stock. Get QXO alerts: QXO Stock Performance NYSE QXO opened at $21.57 on Wednesday. QXO, Inc. has a twelve month low of $11.97 and a twelve month high of $27.61. The company has a quick ratio of 2.61, a current ratio of 3.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. The stock has a market cap of $15.28 billion, a P/E ratio of -36.55, a PEG ratio of 3.46 and a beta of 2.51. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $23.73 and its 200 day simple moving average is $21.05. Analyst Ratings Changes QXO ( NYSE:QXO Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 25th. The company reported $0.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.03 by ($0.01). QXO had a positive return on equity of 3.45% and a negative net margin of 4.08%.The company had revenue of $2.19 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.19 billion. The companys quarterly revenue was up 14725.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts forecast that QXO, Inc. will post -0.13 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. QXO has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $30.00 target price on shares of QXO in a research note on Friday, January 9th. Citigroup cut their price objective on shares of QXO from $33.00 to $31.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of QXO from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Saturday, February 28th. Benchmark reissued a buy rating on shares of QXO in a research report on Friday, February 20th. Finally, Oppenheimer boosted their price target on QXO from $27.00 to $30.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, January 16th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Buy rating, one has issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $32.43. Read Our Latest Report on QXO QXO Profile (Free Report) QXO, Inc operates as a business application, technology, and consulting company in North America. The company provides solutions for accounting and business management, financial reporting, enterprise resource planning, human capital management, warehouse management systems, customer relationship management, and business intelligence. It also offers value-added services that focuses on consulting and professional, specialized programming, training, and technical support services. In addition, the company provides information technology managed services, such as cybersecurity, application hosting, disaster recovery, business continuity, cloud, and other services; and data back-up, network maintenance, and upgrade services. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding QXO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for QXO, Inc. (NYSE:QXO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for QXO Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for QXO and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mitsubishi Electric (OTCMKTS:MIELY Get Free Report) was upgraded by stock analysts at UBS Group from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note issued on Monday,Zacks.com reports. Separately, Zacks Research raised Mitsubishi Electric from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Tuesday, March 3rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Mitsubishi Electric has an average rating of Moderate Buy. Get Mitsubishi Electric alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on MIELY Mitsubishi Electric Stock Performance About Mitsubishi Electric OTCMKTS MIELY opened at $69.73 on Monday. The stock has a market cap of $73.68 billion, a PE ratio of 65.78 and a beta of 0.52. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $67.87 and a 200-day moving average of $58.80. Mitsubishi Electric has a 52-week low of $30.89 and a 52-week high of $78.69. (Get Free Report) Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (OTCMKTS: MIELY) is a Tokyo-based multinational manufacturer of electrical and electronic equipment. Founded in 1921, the company is part of the broader Mitsubishi Group and has grown into a diversified industrial enterprise serving commercial, industrial and consumer markets. Mitsubishi Electric develops, manufactures and sells a wide range of products and systems used in building systems, factory automation, power generation and distribution, transportation, and information and communication infrastructure. The companys product and service portfolio includes air-conditioning and heating systems, elevators and escalators, factory automation and control equipment, power and electric systems, transportation systems and signaling for railways, and semiconductors and electronic devices. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Mitsubishi Electric Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mitsubishi Electric and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Natixis Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Brookfield Corporation (NYSE:BN Free Report) by 6.3% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 504,430 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 29,879 shares during the period. Natixis Advisors LLCs holdings in Brookfield were worth $34,594,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Brookfield by 1.5% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 60,559,807 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,155,251,000 after acquiring an additional 897,916 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its holdings in Brookfield by 1.6% during the third quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 50,849,914 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,487,338,000 after purchasing an additional 799,440 shares during the period. Akre Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Brookfield by 0.7% in the second quarter. Akre Capital Management LLC now owns 19,219,290 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,188,713,000 after purchasing an additional 125,269 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Brookfield in the second quarter valued at approximately $1,040,160,000. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp raised its holdings in Brookfield by 1.6% in the second quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 16,319,256 shares of the companys stock worth $1,010,616,000 after purchasing an additional 249,913 shares during the period. 61.60% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Brookfield alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on BN shares. Morgan Stanley reissued an overweight rating and set a $60.00 price target on shares of Brookfield in a research report on Tuesday, February 17th. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their price objective on shares of Brookfield from $49.00 to $51.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Scotiabank reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $52.00 price objective (up from $49.00) on shares of Brookfield in a research note on Friday, February 13th. TD Securities boosted their target price on Brookfield from $57.00 to $59.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, November 14th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded Brookfield from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, January 31st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have assigned a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Brookfield presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $54.59. Brookfield Trading Up 1.3% Shares of NYSE:BN opened at $41.63 on Wednesday. Brookfield Corporation has a 12 month low of $29.07 and a 12 month high of $49.56. The company has a quick ratio of 1.21, a current ratio of 1.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.48. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $46.01 and its 200 day simple moving average is $45.69. The firm has a market cap of $101.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 84.39 and a beta of 1.58. Brookfield (NYSE:BN Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The company reported $0.67 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.61 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $1.63 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.63 billion. Brookfield had a net margin of 1.74% and a return on equity of 3.87%. As a group, research analysts forecast that Brookfield Corporation will post 3.85 EPS for the current fiscal year. Brookfield Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 17th will be issued a $0.07 dividend. This represents a $0.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.7%. This is a positive change from Brookfields previous quarterly dividend of $0.06. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 17th. Brookfields dividend payout ratio is presently 48.98%. Brookfield Company Profile (Free Report) Brookfield Corporation (NYSE:BN) is a global alternative asset manager that specializes in real assets. The company invests in and operates businesses across real estate, infrastructure, renewable power and energy, private equity and credit. Its activities span both ownership and active management of physical assets as well as the operation of investment funds and vehicles that provide institutional and retail investors access to longlived, cashgenerating assets. Brookfields services include asset management, direct investing, property development and the operation of infrastructure and energy businesses. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Brookfield Corporation (NYSE:BN Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Brookfield Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Brookfield and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nippon Steel Co. (OTCMKTS:NISTF Get Free Report)s stock price dropped 2.7% during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $3.85 and last traded at $3.85. Approximately 18,191 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 49% from the average daily volume of 12,226 shares. The stock had previously closed at $3.9550. Nippon Steel Stock Down 2.7% The business has a fifty day moving average of $4.24 and a 200 day moving average of $7.32. Get Nippon Steel alerts: About Nippon Steel (Get Free Report) Nippon Steel (OTCMKTS:NISTF) is one of the worlds leading steel producers, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The company traces its roots to the 1970 merger of Fuji Iron & Steel and Yawata Iron & Steel, and later strengthened its global footprint through the 2012 merger with Sumitomo Metal Corporation. With decades of experience in metallurgical engineering, Nippon Steel remains a cornerstone of Japans industrial sector. The companys core business centers on the production and supply of a broad range of steel products. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Nippon Steel Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nippon Steel and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund (NYSE:NAC Get Free Report) announced a monthly dividend on Monday, March 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 13th will be paid a dividend of 0.0735 per share on Wednesday, April 1st. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.4%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 13th. Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund Stock Performance NAC opened at $11.96 on Wednesday. Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund has a 52-week low of $10.35 and a 52-week high of $12.25. The firms 50-day moving average price is $11.90 and its 200-day moving average price is $11.76. Get Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund alerts: Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund Company Profile (Get Free Report) Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund (NYSE: NAC) is a closed-end management investment company that seeks to provide investors with a high level of current income exempt from federal and California state income taxes, with a secondary objective of capital appreciation. The fund primarily acquires a diversified portfolio of municipal securities issued by entities located in California, focusing on investment-grade bonds. These securities typically include general obligation bonds, revenue bonds and other taxable or tax-advantaged instruments that finance public projects such as transportation, education and utilities. In managing the portfolio, the funds investment team applies rigorous credit research to identify issuers with strong balance sheets, stable revenue streams and manageable debt levels. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nuveen Massachusetts Quality Municipal Income Fund (NYSE:NMT Get Free Report) declared a monthly dividend on Monday, March 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 13th will be given a dividend of 0.064 per share by the financial services provider on Wednesday, April 1st. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.4%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 13th. Nuveen Massachusetts Quality Municipal Income Fund Stock Performance NYSE NMT opened at $11.99 on Wednesday. Nuveen Massachusetts Quality Municipal Income Fund has a twelve month low of $10.90 and a twelve month high of $12.33. The stocks 50 day moving average is $11.66 and its 200 day moving average is $11.57. Get Nuveen Massachusetts Quality Municipal Income Fund alerts: About Nuveen Massachusetts Quality Municipal Income Fund (Get Free Report) Nuveen Massachusetts Quality Municipal Income Fund (NYSE:NMT) is a closed-end management investment company that seeks to provide shareholders with a high level of current income that is exempt from regular U.S. federal income tax. The fund primarily invests in investment-grade municipal securities, with an emphasis on bonds issued by state and local governments and agencies in Massachusetts. Its portfolio includes general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, and other municipal debt instruments that meet the funds credit quality standards. As part of the Nuveen family of investment products, the fund is managed by Nuveens municipal fixed income team. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Nuveen Massachusetts Quality Municipal Income Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nuveen Massachusetts Quality Municipal Income Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. oOh media Limited (OTCMKTS:OMLAF Get Free Report) saw a large increase in short interest during the month of February. As of February 27th, there was short interest totaling 96,390 shares, an increase of 774.1% from the February 12th total of 11,027 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 22 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 4,381.4 days. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 22 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 4,381.4 days. oOh media Stock Performance Shares of OMLAF opened at $0.78 on Wednesday. oOh media has a 52 week low of $0.78 and a 52 week high of $1.32. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $0.84 and its 200 day simple moving average is $0.92. Get oOh media alerts: oOh!media is a leading out-of-home (OOH) advertising company that operates a broad network of static and digital advertising displays across Australia and New Zealand. The companys media assets span large-format billboards, street furniture, transit shelters, airport terminals and Place-Based environments such as retail centres, office buildings and universities. Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Sydney, oOh!media has grown from a single market presence into a nationwide operator with coverage in all major Australian citiesincluding Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaideas well as key metropolitan areas in New Zealand such as Auckland and Wellington. Read More Receive News & Ratings for oOh media Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for oOh media and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BUDAPEST, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Hungary has dispatched a delegation to Ukraine to conduct a fact-finding mission on the Druzhba oil pipeline and explore conditions for restarting oil deliveries, Deputy Energy Minister Gabor Czepek said on Wednesday. Speaking at a border station between Hungary and Ukraine, Czepek said the government had established a four-member delegation to assess the pipeline's condition and discuss possible steps to resume operations. The delegation includes an oil industry expert, a senior government official experienced in international relations, and an energy market analyst. Czepek said the oil transported through the pipeline belongs to Hungary's national oil company and is not subject to sanctions imposed by either the European Union or the United States. The mission comes amid heightened volatility in global energy markets linked to the Middle East crisis, he said, adding that the Hungarian government has drawn on strategic reserves. Hungary has coordinated with Slovakia on the issue. After talks in Bratislava with Slovak energy authorities and market stakeholders, the two countries agreed to turn the initiative into a joint Hungarian-Slovak effort, Czepek added. The two governments have also sent a joint letter to the European Commission outlining their energy supply situation and requesting support to examine the pipeline's condition and facilitate its restart, he said. In addition, Hungary has contacted Ukraine's deputy prime minister responsible for energy, requesting that the pipeline be reopened or that inspections be allowed. Czepek said the delegation would travel to Kyiv to hold talks with Ukrainian energy officials, ambassadors stationed in the Ukrainian capital, and representatives of the European Commission. "Today our delegation will cross the border and travel to Kyiv to discuss this letter and to engage in substantive dialogue at the negotiating table - an issue that is primarily in Hungary's interest, but has now also become a European one," Czepek said. The Druzhba pipeline, which carries Russian crude oil to Central Europe via Ukraine, has been out of operation since the end of January. The disruption has become part of broader tensions between Budapest and Kyiv in recent weeks. Hungary has criticized the halt of oil transit and also forbidden the exports of gasoline and diesel to Ukraine, while blocking the approval of a 90-billion-euro (104.22-billion-U.S. dollars) European Union financial assistance package for Ukraine. Palfinger AG (OTCMKTS:PLFRF Get Free Report) was down 8.3% during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $40.1799 and last traded at $40.1799. Approximately 130 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 71% from the average daily volume of 454 shares. The stock had previously closed at $43.80. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Separately, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Palfinger in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Buy. Get Palfinger alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Palfinger Palfinger Stock Performance Palfinger Company Profile The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $43.14 and a 200-day simple moving average of $43.32. (Get Free Report) Palfinger (OTCMKTS:PLFRF) is a global manufacturer of hydraulic lifting, loading and handling systems. Headquartered in Salzburg, Austria, the company offers a wide range of products including knuckle boom cranes, hook loaders, tail lifts and maritime cranes. These solutions are used across industries such as construction, transportation, waste management and offshore energy, providing vital equipment for material handling and lifting tasks on trucks, ships and stationary platforms. Founded in 1932 by Richard Palfinger, the company has grown from a small regional workshop into an international technology leader. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Palfinger Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Palfinger and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PCJ Investment Counsel Ltd. cut its position in shares of Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE:AEM Free Report) (TSE:AEM) by 9.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 34,360 shares of the mining companys stock after selling 3,600 shares during the quarter. Agnico Eagle Mines comprises about 1.6% of PCJ Investment Counsel Ltd.s holdings, making the stock its 18th largest position. PCJ Investment Counsel Ltd.s holdings in Agnico Eagle Mines were worth $5,786,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of AEM. Pure Portfolios Holdings LLC lifted its holdings in Agnico Eagle Mines by 1.6% in the third quarter. Pure Portfolios Holdings LLC now owns 3,781 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $637,000 after buying an additional 60 shares during the period. HB Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in Agnico Eagle Mines by 1.2% during the 3rd quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC now owns 5,640 shares of the mining companys stock worth $951,000 after acquiring an additional 69 shares during the period. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA grew its holdings in Agnico Eagle Mines by 1.6% during the 3rd quarter. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA now owns 4,446 shares of the mining companys stock worth $749,000 after acquiring an additional 72 shares during the period. Blue Bell Private Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of Agnico Eagle Mines by 59.7% in the 3rd quarter. Blue Bell Private Wealth Management LLC now owns 198 shares of the mining companys stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 74 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Evergreen Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Agnico Eagle Mines by 0.9% in the 2nd quarter. Evergreen Capital Management LLC now owns 8,232 shares of the mining companys stock worth $979,000 after acquiring an additional 77 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 68.34% of the companys stock. Get Agnico Eagle Mines alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities research analysts recently commented on AEM shares. UBS Group restated a neutral rating and set a $240.00 target price on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines in a research report on Friday, January 30th. TD Securities lifted their target price on Agnico Eagle Mines from $241.00 to $251.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, March 3rd. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce set a $296.00 price target on Agnico Eagle Mines and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 4th. Scotiabank restated an outperform rating and set a $280.00 price target on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines in a report on Tuesday, February 17th. Finally, Raymond James Financial reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $225.00 price objective on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have issued a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $234.91. Agnico Eagle Mines Stock Performance Shares of AEM opened at $227.05 on Wednesday. Agnico Eagle Mines Limited has a one year low of $94.77 and a one year high of $255.24. The company has a market cap of $113.76 billion, a PE ratio of 25.57 and a beta of 0.61. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $209.71 and a 200-day moving average of $179.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01, a current ratio of 2.02 and a quick ratio of 1.33. Agnico Eagle Mines (NYSE:AEM Get Free Report) (TSE:AEM) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The mining company reported $2.69 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.56 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $3.53 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.40 billion. Agnico Eagle Mines had a return on equity of 18.09% and a net margin of 37.47%.The firms revenue for the quarter was up 60.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.26 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Agnico Eagle Mines Limited will post 4.63 EPS for the current fiscal year. Agnico Eagle Mines Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 2nd will be given a dividend of $0.45 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 2nd. This is a positive change from Agnico Eagle Miness previous quarterly dividend of $0.40. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.8%. Agnico Eagle Miness payout ratio is currently 20.27%. Agnico Eagle Mines Profile (Free Report) Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE: AEM) is a Canadian-based senior gold producer headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. The company is principally engaged in the exploration, development, production and reclamation of gold-bearing properties. Agnico Eagle pursues both greenfield and brownfield exploration to expand its resource base and operates a portfolio of producing mines and development projects to generate long-life gold production. Its core business activities span the full mining lifecycle: grassroots and advanced-stage exploration, prefeasibility and feasibility studies, mine construction, underground and open-pit mining, ore processing and metal recovery, and post-mining reclamation and closure. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Agnico Eagle Mines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Agnico Eagle Mines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund (NYSE:PDI Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant decline in short interest in the month of February. As of February 27th, there was short interest totaling 153,528 shares, a decline of 82.8% from the February 12th total of 894,582 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 2,867,647 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.1 days. Based on an average daily volume of 2,867,647 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.1 days. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in PDI. Heritage Wealth Advisors acquired a new stake in PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund during the 4th quarter worth about $35,000. LRI Investments LLC raised its stake in shares of PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund by 147.3% during the 3rd quarter. LRI Investments LLC now owns 2,196 shares of the companys stock valued at $43,000 after buying an additional 1,308 shares during the last quarter. Aspect Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund in the 3rd quarter valued at about $54,000. Sankala Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund in the 4th quarter valued at about $55,000. Finally, Eastern Bank purchased a new stake in shares of PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund in the third quarter worth about $59,000. Get PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund alerts: PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund Price Performance NYSE:PDI traded up $0.24 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $17.95. The companys stock had a trading volume of 3,396,145 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,124,115. PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund has a fifty-two week low of $16.00 and a fifty-two week high of $20.17. The firms 50 day moving average is $18.25 and its 200-day moving average is $18.58. PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund Dividend Announcement About PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund The firm also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 1st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 12th will be paid a $0.2205 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 12th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 14.7%. (Get Free Report) PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund (NYSE: PDI) is a closed-end management investment company advised by Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (PIMCO), one of the worlds largest fixed-income asset managers. Listed on the New York Stock Exchange, PDI seeks to deliver attractive monthly income and capital appreciation by allocating across a broad array of global fixed-income markets. The fund employs a dynamic, multi-sector approach, investing in a diversified mix of investment-grade and high-yield corporate bonds, bank loans, emerging-market debt, mortgage- and asset-backed securities, and U.S. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund II (NYSE:PNI Get Free Report) saw a significant growth in short interest in the month of February. As of February 27th, there was short interest totaling 73,080 shares, a growth of 872.1% from the February 12th total of 7,518 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 41,801 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.7 days. Based on an average trading volume of 41,801 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.7 days. Institutional Investors Weigh In On PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund II A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in PNI. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund II during the second quarter worth about $79,000. Guggenheim Capital LLC lifted its position in shares of PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund II by 10.3% in the 2nd quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC now owns 246,809 shares of the companys stock worth $1,659,000 after acquiring an additional 23,036 shares during the period. Baird Financial Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund II in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $117,000. Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund II during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $325,000. Finally, Whitebox Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund II during the second quarter valued at approximately $310,000. Get PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund II alerts: PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund II Price Performance NYSE:PNI traded up $0.04 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $7.01. 35,813 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 56,042. PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund II has a twelve month low of $6.43 and a twelve month high of $7.35. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $7.03 and a 200 day moving average of $6.95. PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund II Dividend Announcement About PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund II The business also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 1st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 12th will be issued a dividend of $0.0295 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 12th. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.1%. (Get Free Report) PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund II (NYSE: PNI) is a closed-end management investment company that seeks to provide a high level of current income exempt from both federal and New York State income taxes. The fund is managed by Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (PIMCO), a global fixed income investment firm. PNI invests primarily in investment-grade municipal obligations issued by or on behalf of the state of New York, its municipalities and related public authorities. The funds portfolio is constructed with a focus on New York state general obligation and revenue bonds, including transportation, education, healthcare and utility-backed securities. Read More Receive News & Ratings for PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund II Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund II and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Private Advisor Group LLC trimmed its position in iShares Russell 1000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWB Free Report) by 8.9% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 34,082 shares of the companys stock after selling 3,325 shares during the quarter. Private Advisor Group LLCs holdings in iShares Russell 1000 ETF were worth $12,456,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Capital A Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares Russell 1000 ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at $30,000. Caldwell Trust Co acquired a new position in shares of iShares Russell 1000 ETF during the 2nd quarter worth $30,000. Highline Wealth Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of iShares Russell 1000 ETF during the 3rd quarter worth $30,000. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares Russell 1000 ETF by 75.0% during the 2nd quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 91 shares of the companys stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 39 shares during the last quarter. Finally, First Command Advisory Services Inc. acquired a new stake in iShares Russell 1000 ETF in the third quarter valued at about $31,000. Get iShares Russell 1000 ETF alerts: iShares Russell 1000 ETF Stock Down 0.2% iShares Russell 1000 ETF stock opened at $370.85 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $45.78 billion, a PE ratio of 24.71 and a beta of 1.01. iShares Russell 1000 ETF has a 12-month low of $264.17 and a 12-month high of $382.34. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $376.80 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $370.64. iShares Russell 1000 ETF Company Profile iShares Russell 1000 ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares Russell 1000 Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 1000 Index (the Index). The Index is a float-adjusted capitalization weighted index that measures the performance of the large-capitalization sector of the United States equity market and includes securities issued by the approximately 1,000 largest issuers in the Russell 3000 Index. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IWB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Russell 1000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWB Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Russell 1000 ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Russell 1000 ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Private Advisor Group LLC cut its holdings in shares of NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE Free Report) by 11.3% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 229,046 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 29,044 shares during the quarter. Private Advisor Group LLCs holdings in NextEra Energy were worth $17,291,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Goodman Advisory Group LLC bought a new position in NextEra Energy during the second quarter worth $25,000. Tripletail Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in NextEra Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. Howard Hughes Medical Institute bought a new stake in NextEra Energy in the 2nd quarter valued at $31,000. Rexford Capital Inc. acquired a new stake in NextEra Energy in the 2nd quarter worth $34,000. Finally, Abound Wealth Management grew its position in NextEra Energy by 108.2% in the 3rd quarter. Abound Wealth Management now owns 456 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 237 shares during the last quarter. 78.72% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get NextEra Energy alerts: Key NextEra Energy News Here are the key news stories impacting NextEra Energy this week: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research analysts have recently commented on the stock. BMO Capital Markets set a $95.00 price objective on shares of NextEra Energy in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. Jefferies Financial Group set a $87.00 target price on NextEra Energy in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. Seaport Research Partners lowered their price target on NextEra Energy from $56.00 to $55.00 and set a sell rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on NextEra Energy from $94.00 to $98.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, Weiss Ratings downgraded NextEra Energy from a buy (b-) rating to a hold (c+) rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 17th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have given a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $94.16. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on NEE NextEra Energy Trading Down 0.5% Shares of NextEra Energy stock opened at $91.57 on Wednesday. NextEra Energy, Inc. has a 12-month low of $61.72 and a 12-month high of $95.91. The stock has a market capitalization of $190.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.83 and a beta of 0.75. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $87.73 and a 200 day simple moving average of $82.58. The company has a quick ratio of 0.49, a current ratio of 0.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.35. NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The utilities provider reported $0.54 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.53 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $6.50 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.07 billion. NextEra Energy had a net margin of 24.93% and a return on equity of 12.18%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 20.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.53 earnings per share. Research analysts expect that NextEra Energy, Inc. will post 3.68 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. NextEra Energy Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be issued a $0.6232 dividend. This represents a $2.49 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 27th. This is an increase from NextEra Energys previous quarterly dividend of $0.57. NextEra Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 75.68%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other NextEra Energy news, CEO John W. Ketchum sold 99,603 shares of NextEra Energy stock in a transaction on Monday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $89.34, for a total value of $8,898,532.02. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 305,933 shares in the company, valued at approximately $27,332,054.22. The trade was a 24.56% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Charles E. Sieving sold 30,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $90.00, for a total value of $2,700,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 167,481 shares in the company, valued at approximately $15,073,290. This represents a 15.19% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold 185,882 shares of company stock worth $16,616,757 over the last ninety days. 0.18% of the stock is owned by insiders. NextEra Energy Company Profile (Free Report) NextEra Energy, Inc (NYSE: NEE), headquartered in Juno Beach, Florida, is a leading clean energy company with both regulated utility operations and competitive renewable generation businesses. The companys principal operating subsidiaries include Florida Power & Light Company (FPL), a regulated electric utility serving customers in Florida, and NextEra Energy Resources, which develops, constructs, owns and operates a large portfolio of wind, solar and energy storage projects. Together these businesses provide electricity supply, transmission and distribution services as well as utility-scale renewable generation and related services. NextEras activities cover the full lifecycle of power assets, from project development and construction to operation, maintenance and asset optimization. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NEE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for NextEra Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NextEra Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Richard Bernstein Advisors LLC cut its stake in shares of CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS Free Report) by 51.1% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 18,562 shares of the pharmacy operators stock after selling 19,373 shares during the quarter. Richard Bernstein Advisors LLCs holdings in CVS Health were worth $1,399,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. A number of other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in CVS. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. increased its position in CVS Health by 72.1% during the 3rd quarter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 339 shares of the pharmacy operators stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 142 shares during the period. Corundum Trust Company INC acquired a new stake in shares of CVS Health during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $29,000. Front Row Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of CVS Health by 436.5% in the 2nd quarter. Front Row Advisors LLC now owns 456 shares of the pharmacy operators stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 371 shares during the last quarter. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in CVS Health in the second quarter valued at about $36,000. Finally, SOA Wealth Advisors LLC. increased its position in CVS Health by 36.9% during the 3rd quarter. SOA Wealth Advisors LLC. now owns 486 shares of the pharmacy operators stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 131 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.66% of the companys stock. Get CVS Health alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research analysts recently issued reports on CVS shares. Robert W. Baird raised their price objective on shares of CVS Health from $82.00 to $92.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, December 10th. Argus cut their target price on CVS Health from $91.00 to $90.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Wolfe Research reduced their price target on shares of CVS Health from $100.00 to $97.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Monday, March 2nd. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c-) rating on shares of CVS Health in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, Truist Financial set a $100.00 target price on shares of CVS Health in a report on Wednesday, December 10th. Nineteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, CVS Health currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $94.91. CVS Health Price Performance CVS stock opened at $76.15 on Wednesday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $78.39 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $77.73. CVS Health Corporation has a one year low of $58.35 and a one year high of $85.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 0.84 and a quick ratio of 0.63. The stock has a market cap of $96.87 billion, a PE ratio of 55.18, a P/E/G ratio of 0.82 and a beta of 0.49. CVS Health (NYSE:CVS Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 10th. The pharmacy operator reported $1.09 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.00 by $0.09. CVS Health had a net margin of 0.44% and a return on equity of 11.31%. The firm had revenue of $105.69 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $103.67 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.19 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 8.2% on a year-over-year basis. CVS Health has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.940-6.140 EPS. On average, analysts predict that CVS Health Corporation will post 5.89 EPS for the current fiscal year. CVS Health Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, February 2nd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 22nd were paid a dividend of $0.665 per share. This represents a $2.66 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 22nd. CVS Healths dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 192.75%. CVS Health Profile (Free Report) CVS Health Corporation is a diversified healthcare company that operates a large network of retail pharmacies, pharmacy benefit management services and health care solutions. Headquartered in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, the company traces its roots to the early 1960s and has grown into an integrated provider of prescription drugs, overthecounter products, clinical services and health insurance offerings. Its operating model combines retail pharmacy locations and instore clinics with broader pharmacy and health plan capabilities. Key business activities include CVS Pharmacy retail operations, MinuteClinic walkin medical clinics and HealthHUB locations that offer expanded clinical services. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CVS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for CVS Health Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CVS Health and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Schneider National, Inc. (NYSE:SNDR Get Free Report) declared a quarterly dividend on Monday, January 26th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 13th will be paid a dividend of 0.10 per share on Wednesday, April 8th. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 13th. This is a 5.3% increase from Schneider Nationals previous quarterly dividend of $0.10. Schneider National has decreased its dividend payment by an average of 0.3%per year over the last three years and has raised its dividend annually for the last 2 consecutive years. Schneider National has a payout ratio of 29.0% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Research analysts expect Schneider National to earn $1.82 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.40 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 22.0%. Get Schneider National alerts: Schneider National Price Performance SNDR traded down $0.70 on Wednesday, reaching $25.14. The company had a trading volume of 691,249 shares, compared to its average volume of 938,645. Schneider National has a 52-week low of $20.11 and a 52-week high of $30.98. The company has a market cap of $4.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 42.63, a P/E/G ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a quick ratio of 1.95 and a current ratio of 2.13. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $28.58 and a 200 day simple moving average of $25.34. Schneider National ( NYSE:SNDR Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The company reported $0.13 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.21 by ($0.08). Schneider National had a return on equity of 3.66% and a net margin of 1.83%.The company had revenue of $1.25 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.45 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.20 EPS. Schneider Nationals quarterly revenue was up 4.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Schneider National will post 1.12 EPS for the current year. Schneider National declared that its Board of Directors has approved a stock repurchase plan on Wednesday, January 28th that permits the company to buyback $150.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the company to repurchase up to 2.9% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are generally a sign that the companys management believes its shares are undervalued. About Schneider National (Get Free Report) Schneider National, Inc is a leading provider of transportation and logistics services in North America. The company offers a full spectrum of solutions, including truckload transportation, intermodal services and dedicated logistics. Through these offerings, Schneider supports the movement of goods ranging from dry van freight to refrigerated and flatbed shipments, while also providing customized supply chain management and warehousing capabilities. Founded in 1935 by Al Schneider as a single-truck operation in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the company has grown into one of the industrys most recognized carriers. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Schneider National Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Schneider National and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Securitas AB (publ) (OTCMKTS:SCTBF Get Free Report) shares were up 3.1% during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $16.50 and last traded at $16.50. Approximately 300 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 80% from the average daily volume of 1,500 shares. The stock had previously closed at $16.00. Securitas AB (publ) Price Performance The businesss fifty day moving average is $16.03 and its two-hundred day moving average is $15.69. Get Securitas AB (publ) alerts: Securitas AB (publ) Company Profile (Get Free Report) Securitas AB (publ) is a global provider of security services, offering a comprehensive range of protective solutions to corporate, public sector and private clients. The companys core business activities include manned guarding, mobile patrols, remote monitoring, electronic security systems and security consulting. Through its integrated approach, Securitas combines on-site personnel with technology-driven services to tailor security programs that address the specific needs of each client. Founded in 1934 and headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, Securitas has grown through both organic expansion and acquisitions. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Securitas AB (publ) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Securitas AB (publ) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bank Hapoalim (OTCMKTS:BKHYY Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest in the month of February. As of February 27th, there was short interest totaling 6,196 shares, an increase of 292.6% from the February 12th total of 1,578 shares. Approximately 0.0% of the companys shares are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 11,874 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.5 days. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 11,874 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.5 days. Approximately 0.0% of the companys shares are sold short. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, Barclays cut shares of Bank Hapoalim from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, January 15th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to MarketBeat.com, Bank Hapoalim currently has a consensus rating of Hold. Get Bank Hapoalim alerts: Get Our Latest Research Report on BKHYY Bank Hapoalim Stock Up 0.6% Shares of Bank Hapoalim stock traded up $0.73 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $127.31. 1,363 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 11,352. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a quick ratio of 0.93 and a current ratio of 0.93. Bank Hapoalim has a 52 week low of $64.20 and a 52 week high of $143.25. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $126.08 and its 200 day simple moving average is $111.36. The company has a market cap of $33.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.87 and a beta of 1.19. Bank Hapoalim (OTCMKTS:BKHYY Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, March 4th. The bank reported $2.41 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.92 by ($0.51). The business had revenue of $1.76 billion for the quarter. Bank Hapoalim had a return on equity of 15.44% and a net margin of 22.63%. Bank Hapoalim Company Profile (Get Free Report) Bank Hapoalim B.M. is one of Israels largest banking groups, providing a broad range of financial services to retail, corporate and institutional customers. Founded in 1921 by the Histadrut labor federation, the bank has developed into a full-service financial institution offering deposit accounts, consumer and mortgage lending, credit cards, payment services, and branch-based retail banking. It also serves small and medium-sized enterprises with working capital and trade finance solutions. In addition to traditional retail banking, Bank Hapoalim operates significant corporate and investment banking divisions. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Bank Hapoalim Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank Hapoalim and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. ROME, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday said the U.S.-Israel attacks on Iran were not in line with international law, and condemned the massacre of Iranian girls' school. She made the remarks while addressing the Senate ahead of a European Union Council meeting on the Middle East crisis scheduled in Brussels on 19-20 March. Meloni said that the U.S. and Israeli intervention against Iran must be seen as part of a broader crisis of the international system, marked by a growing number of unilateral actions outside international law. She also condemned the massacre of schoolgirls in Iran's Minab. "We extend solidarity to the families of the very young victims, and call for a swift clarification of responsibility for this tragedy," she said. Meloni stressed that as the U.S.-Israel military actions aimed at neutralizing Iran's military capabilities continue, the safety of civilians, including children, must be preserved. She explained that Italy is providing air defence assistance to the Gulf countries targeted by Iranian air strikes, but would not be involved in the military operation against Tehran. Meloni underlined that Italy has been actively committed to promoting a diplomatic solution and avoiding escalation, together with countries such as Oman and Qatar. A growing body of evidence indicated that U.S. missile strikes hit a girls' elementary school in Minab, in southern Iran, on Feb. 28, killing over 160 people and injuring dozens more, most of them schoolgirls. Swiss National Bank lowered its position in Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F Free Report) by 4.8% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 11,258,586 shares of the auto manufacturers stock after selling 564,400 shares during the quarter. Swiss National Banks holdings in Ford Motor were worth $134,653,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Corsicana & Co. acquired a new stake in Ford Motor during the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. Salomon & Ludwin LLC boosted its stake in Ford Motor by 86.6% in the third quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC now owns 2,333 shares of the auto manufacturers stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 1,083 shares in the last quarter. Capital A Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in Ford Motor by 990.9% in the second quarter. Capital A Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,509 shares of the auto manufacturers stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 2,279 shares in the last quarter. Country Trust Bank bought a new stake in shares of Ford Motor during the second quarter worth $27,000. Finally, Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp bought a new stake in shares of Ford Motor during the second quarter worth $30,000. 58.74% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Ford Motor alerts: Insider Activity In other news, insider William Clay Ford, Jr. acquired 140,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 19th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $13.82 per share, for a total transaction of $1,934,800.00. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 3,912,600 shares in the company, valued at approximately $54,072,132. This represents a 3.71% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. 0.48% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Ford Motor Stock Performance F stock opened at $12.24 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.94, a current ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.95. Ford Motor Company has a twelve month low of $8.44 and a twelve month high of $14.80. The company has a market cap of $48.83 billion, a P/E ratio of -5.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.28 and a beta of 1.65. The businesss fifty day moving average is $13.64 and its 200-day moving average is $12.94. Ford Motor (NYSE:F Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The auto manufacturer reported $0.13 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.06 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $45.89 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $41.78 billion. Ford Motor had a positive return on equity of 10.16% and a negative net margin of 4.37%.The companys revenue for the quarter was down 4.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.39 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Ford Motor Company will post 1.47 EPS for the current year. Ford Motor Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 13th were given a dividend of $0.15 per share. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 13th. Ford Motors dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -29.13%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research firms recently issued reports on F. Barclays lifted their price target on Ford Motor from $12.00 to $13.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, January 23rd. Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b-) rating on shares of Ford Motor in a research report on Monday, December 22nd. Evercore boosted their target price on shares of Ford Motor from $12.00 to $14.00 and gave the stock an in-line rating in a research note on Monday, December 22nd. TD Cowen upped their target price on shares of Ford Motor from $13.00 to $15.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 13th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reissued a sector perform rating and set a $12.00 price target on shares of Ford Motor in a research note on Wednesday, February 11th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have issued a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $13.29. Get Our Latest Analysis on F Ford Motor Profile (Free Report) Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is an American multinational automaker headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan. Founded by Henry Ford in 1903, the company became an early pioneer of mass-production techniques with the Model T and the adoption of the moving assembly line. Today, Ford designs, manufactures, markets and services a broad range of vehicles and mobility solutions under the Ford and Lincoln brands, spanning passenger cars, SUVs, pickup trucks and commercial vehicles. Fords business activities extend beyond vehicle production to include parts and aftermarket services, fleet and commercial sales, and automotive financing through Ford Motor Credit Company. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding F? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Ford Motor Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ford Motor and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Swiss National Bank cut its stake in shares of Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO Free Report) by 3.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 855,700 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 32,000 shares during the period. Swiss National Banks holdings in Brown & Brown were worth $80,256,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC boosted its position in Brown & Brown by 423.1% during the 3rd quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 272 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 220 shares during the period. Darwin Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Brown & Brown during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. acquired a new position in Brown & Brown during the 2nd quarter worth $49,000. Evelyn Partners Investment Management LLP bought a new position in Brown & Brown during the second quarter worth $52,000. Finally, True Wealth Design LLC boosted its position in Brown & Brown by 4,369.2% during the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 581 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $54,000 after purchasing an additional 568 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 71.01% of the companys stock. Get Brown & Brown alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research firms have recently issued reports on BRO. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on Brown & Brown from $85.00 to $78.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised Brown & Brown from an underperform rating to a market perform rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from $80.00 to $73.00 in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on shares of Brown & Brown from $82.00 to $78.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of Brown & Brown in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lowered their price target on shares of Brown & Brown from $88.00 to $81.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and fourteen have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Brown & Brown has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $90.43. Brown & Brown Stock Down 3.5% Shares of BRO opened at $68.57 on Wednesday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $74.12 and a 200-day simple moving average of $82.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 1.66 and a current ratio of 1.66. Brown & Brown, Inc. has a 52 week low of $65.68 and a 52 week high of $125.68. The firm has a market capitalization of $23.34 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.43, a P/E/G ratio of 1.91 and a beta of 0.79. Brown & Brown (NYSE:BRO Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, January 26th. The financial services provider reported $0.93 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.91 by $0.02. Brown & Brown had a net margin of 17.84% and a return on equity of 12.93%. The firm had revenue of $1.61 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.65 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.86 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 35.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts expect that Brown & Brown, Inc. will post 4.18 earnings per share for the current year. Brown & Brown Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 11th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 4th were issued a dividend of $0.165 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 4th. This represents a $0.66 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.0%. Brown & Browns dividend payout ratio is currently 20.63%. About Brown & Brown (Free Report) Brown & Brown, Inc (NYSE: BRO) is a professional insurance brokerage and risk advisory firm that provides a broad range of property and casualty, employee benefits, personal risk, and specialty insurance products. The company works with commercial, public sector and individual clients to design and place insurance programs, manage claims and loss control, and deliver risk management consulting. Its services also include wholesale brokerage, program administration and other specialty distribution solutions that connect carriers and intermediaries to niche markets. Brown & Brown operates through a decentralized model of operating units and subsidiaries, enabling local client service with the scale to access national and specialty markets. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BRO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Brown & Brown Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Brown & Brown and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Swiss National Bank decreased its position in shares of Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A Free Report) by 5.1% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 818,800 shares of the medical research companys stock after selling 44,200 shares during the quarter. Swiss National Banks holdings in Agilent Technologies were worth $105,093,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in A. Capital A Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in Agilent Technologies by 10,600.0% during the second quarter. Capital A Wealth Management LLC now owns 214 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 212 shares in the last quarter. Davis Capital Management purchased a new position in shares of Agilent Technologies during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. grew its stake in Agilent Technologies by 490.0% in the 3rd quarter. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 236 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 196 shares during the period. State of Wyoming purchased a new stake in Agilent Technologies in the 2nd quarter worth $35,000. Finally, SJS Investment Consulting Inc. increased its stake in shares of Agilent Technologies by 2,836.4% during the third quarter. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. now owns 323 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 312 shares in the last quarter. Get Agilent Technologies alerts: Agilent Technologies Price Performance A stock opened at $115.46 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44, a current ratio of 2.07 and a quick ratio of 1.59. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $131.78 and a 200-day simple moving average of $136.07. The firm has a market capitalization of $32.63 billion, a PE ratio of 25.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.46 and a beta of 1.31. Agilent Technologies, Inc. has a 1 year low of $96.43 and a 1 year high of $160.27. Agilent Technologies Dividend Announcement Agilent Technologies ( NYSE:A Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 25th. The medical research company reported $1.36 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.37 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $1.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.81 billion. Agilent Technologies had a return on equity of 24.49% and a net margin of 18.26%.The businesss quarterly revenue was up 7.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.31 EPS. Agilent Technologies has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.900-6.040 EPS and its Q2 2026 guidance at 1.390-1.420 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Agilent Technologies, Inc. will post 5.58 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 22nd. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 31st will be given a dividend of $0.255 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 31st. This represents a $1.02 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.9%. Agilent Technologiess payout ratio is presently 22.52%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A has been the subject of several research analyst reports. TD Cowen reduced their price target on shares of Agilent Technologies from $170.00 to $157.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 26th. Robert W. Baird increased their target price on Agilent Technologies from $142.00 to $165.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, November 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on Agilent Technologies from $165.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 25th. Barclays reduced their price objective on Agilent Technologies from $165.00 to $150.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 26th. Finally, Evercore raised shares of Agilent Technologies from an in-line rating to an outperform rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $155.00 to $160.00 in a research note on Monday, January 5th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Agilent Technologies presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $161.20. View Our Latest Analysis on A About Agilent Technologies (Free Report) Agilent Technologies is a global provider of scientific instrumentation, consumables, software and services for laboratories across the life sciences, diagnostics and applied chemical markets. The companys product portfolio includes analytical instruments such as liquid and gas chromatographs, mass spectrometers, spectroscopy systems, and laboratory automation solutions, together with reagents, supplies and informatics tools that support measurement, testing and data analysis workflows. Agilent also offers instrument maintenance, qualification and laboratory services designed to help customers improve productivity and comply with regulatory requirements. Founded as a corporate spin-off from HewlettPackard in 1999, Agilent has evolved through a combination of strategic restructuring and acquisitions to concentrate on life sciences, diagnostics and applied laboratories. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding A? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Agilent Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Agilent Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Swiss National Bank trimmed its position in The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE:HIG Free Report) by 5.2% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 819,000 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 44,900 shares during the quarter. Swiss National Banks holdings in The Hartford Insurance Group were worth $109,246,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vinva Investment Management Ltd raised its position in shares of The Hartford Insurance Group by 19.7% during the 3rd quarter. Vinva Investment Management Ltd now owns 22,940 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $3,034,000 after purchasing an additional 3,769 shares during the period. Guardian Partners Inc. purchased a new stake in The Hartford Insurance Group in the 3rd quarter worth $212,000. United Super Pty Ltd in its capacity as Trustee for the Construction & Building Unions Superannuation Fund raised its holdings in The Hartford Insurance Group by 174.3% during the third quarter. United Super Pty Ltd in its capacity as Trustee for the Construction & Building Unions Superannuation Fund now owns 19,200 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $2,561,000 after acquiring an additional 12,200 shares during the period. Korea Investment CORP lifted its position in shares of The Hartford Insurance Group by 63.2% in the third quarter. Korea Investment CORP now owns 513,441 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $68,488,000 after acquiring an additional 198,856 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Munich Reinsurance Co Stock Corp in Munich purchased a new position in shares of The Hartford Insurance Group in the third quarter valued at about $2,618,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.42% of the companys stock. Get The Hartford Insurance Group alerts: Insider Activity In other The Hartford Insurance Group news, EVP Lori A. Rodden sold 5,681 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $141.83, for a total transaction of $805,736.23. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 18,400 shares in the company, valued at $2,609,672. The trade was a 23.59% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CFO Beth Ann Costello sold 35,339 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $136.58, for a total transaction of $4,826,600.62. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer owned 77,574 shares of the companys stock, valued at $10,595,056.92. This trade represents a 31.30% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 343,928 shares of company stock valued at $47,393,256. 1.60% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Analyst Ratings Changes Several analysts recently issued reports on HIG shares. Evercore lifted their target price on The Hartford Insurance Group from $137.00 to $145.00 and gave the company an in-line rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Cantor Fitzgerald lifted their price objective on shares of The Hartford Insurance Group from $160.00 to $165.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their target price on shares of The Hartford Insurance Group from $160.00 to $163.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 5th. Royal Bank Of Canada started coverage on shares of The Hartford Insurance Group in a research note on Tuesday, November 25th. They issued a sector perform rating and a $145.00 price target on the stock. Finally, UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of The Hartford Insurance Group from $151.00 to $155.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, December 8th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have assigned a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $148.13. Check Out Our Latest Report on HIG The Hartford Insurance Group Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:HIG opened at $137.18 on Wednesday. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $137.20 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $133.86. The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc. has a 52 week low of $107.49 and a 52 week high of $144.50. The company has a quick ratio of 0.31, a current ratio of 0.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23. The stock has a market capitalization of $37.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.28, a PEG ratio of 1.34 and a beta of 0.60. The Hartford Insurance Group (NYSE:HIG Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The insurance provider reported $4.06 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.22 by $0.84. The firm had revenue of $7.31 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.29 billion. The Hartford Insurance Group had a net margin of 13.52% and a return on equity of 21.92%. The businesss revenue was up 6.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.94 EPS. On average, analysts expect that The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc. will post 11.11 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The Hartford Insurance Group Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 2nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 2nd will be issued a $0.60 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 2nd. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.7%. The Hartford Insurance Groups payout ratio is 17.99%. The Hartford Insurance Group Profile (Free Report) The Hartford Financial Services Group, commonly known as The Hartford, is a U.S.-based insurance and investment company that provides a broad range of commercial and personal insurance products and employee benefits. Its core businesses include property and casualty insurance for businesses and individuals, group benefits such as group life, disability and dental plans, and retirement and investment solutions offered through affiliated asset-management operations. The company also delivers risk management, claims-handling and loss-prevention services designed to support policyholders across a variety of industries. Founded in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1810, The Hartford is one of the oldest insurance organizations in the United States and has a long history of underwriting and product development across multiple insurance lines. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HIG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE:HIG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for The Hartford Insurance Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The Hartford Insurance Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Swiss National Bank decreased its holdings in shares of Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE:ADM Free Report) by 4.7% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 1,384,900 shares of the companys stock after selling 68,500 shares during the quarter. Swiss National Banks holdings in Archer Daniels Midland were worth $82,734,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. State Street Corp grew its holdings in Archer Daniels Midland by 0.7% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 34,617,404 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,827,107,000 after buying an additional 223,716 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Archer Daniels Midland by 3.6% during the second quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 18,076,118 shares of the companys stock worth $954,058,000 after acquiring an additional 620,794 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Archer Daniels Midland by 2.3% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 12,457,546 shares of the companys stock worth $654,772,000 after purchasing an additional 283,207 shares during the last quarter. Dodge & Cox purchased a new stake in Archer Daniels Midland during the 2nd quarter valued at about $345,689,000. Finally, Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Archer Daniels Midland in the second quarter worth approximately $340,247,000. 78.28% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Archer Daniels Midland alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of brokerages recently commented on ADM. Barclays raised their price target on Archer Daniels Midland from $61.00 to $68.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Thursday, February 19th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on Archer Daniels Midland from $60.00 to $61.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 4th. BMO Capital Markets reiterated a market perform rating and set a $63.00 price target on shares of Archer Daniels Midland in a report on Wednesday, February 4th. Zacks Research upgraded Archer Daniels Midland from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, January 23rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered shares of Archer Daniels Midland from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating and decreased their target price for the company from $57.00 to $50.00 in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Reduce and an average target price of $58.00. Archer Daniels Midland Price Performance Shares of Archer Daniels Midland stock opened at $69.47 on Wednesday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $66.08 and a 200 day moving average of $62.35. Archer Daniels Midland Company has a 12 month low of $40.98 and a 12 month high of $70.48. The firm has a market cap of $33.43 billion, a PE ratio of 31.29, a PEG ratio of 0.91 and a beta of 0.68. The company has a current ratio of 1.37, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. Archer Daniels Midland (NYSE:ADM Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 3rd. The company reported $0.87 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.80 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $18.56 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $21.03 billion. Archer Daniels Midland had a return on equity of 7.39% and a net margin of 1.34%.The companys quarterly revenue was down 13.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.14 EPS. Archer Daniels Midland has set its FY 2026 guidance at 3.600-4.250 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Archer Daniels Midland Company will post 4.31 EPS for the current fiscal year. Archer Daniels Midland Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 17th were given a dividend of $0.52 per share. This is a positive change from Archer Daniels Midlands previous quarterly dividend of $0.51. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 17th. This represents a $2.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.0%. Archer Daniels Midlands payout ratio is 93.69%. Insider Activity In other news, SVP Jennifer L. Weber sold 25,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $67.04, for a total value of $1,676,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president owned 123,668 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,290,702.72. This represents a 16.82% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director David R. Mcatee II acquired 7,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 5th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $64.90 per share, for a total transaction of $486,750.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director owned 7,500 shares of the companys stock, valued at $486,750. This trade represents a increase in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this purchase are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders own 0.70% of the companys stock. Archer Daniels Midland Company Profile (Free Report) Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) is a global agricultural processor and food-ingredient provider that sources, transports and processes oilseeds, corn, wheat and other agricultural commodities. The company operates large-scale crushing, refining and processing facilities that produce vegetable oils, protein meals, corn sweeteners, starches, ethanol, animal feeds and a wide range of food and industrial ingredients. ADM also develops specialty ingredients and solutions for human and animal nutrition, food and beverage formulation, and industrial applications such as bio-based materials and renewable fuels. ADMs business combines commodity origination and merchandising with downstream manufacturing and ingredient formulation. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ADM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE:ADM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Archer Daniels Midland Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Archer Daniels Midland and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tejon Ranch Co (NYSE:TRC Get Free Report) shares saw unusually-high trading volume on Wednesday . Approximately 164,494 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 63% from the previous sessions volume of 100,725 shares.The stock last traded at $19.0550 and had previously closed at $17.86. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Tejon Ranch from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Sunday, November 16th. Weiss Ratings upgraded Tejon Ranch from a sell (d+) rating to a hold (c-) rating in a report on Monday, January 12th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold. Get Tejon Ranch alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Tejon Ranch Tejon Ranch Stock Up 5.9% Institutional Trading of Tejon Ranch The firms fifty day simple moving average is $16.70 and its 200 day simple moving average is $16.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a quick ratio of 2.06 and a current ratio of 2.66. The stock has a market capitalization of $508.73 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 157.82 and a beta of 0.65. A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Russell Investments Group Ltd. increased its holdings in Tejon Ranch by 688.9% in the 3rd quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 1,996 shares of the real estate development and agribusiness companys stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 1,743 shares in the last quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets raised its holdings in Tejon Ranch by 59.8% in the 2nd quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 2,200 shares of the real estate development and agribusiness companys stock valued at $37,000 after buying an additional 823 shares during the last quarter. Strs Ohio acquired a new stake in Tejon Ranch during the 1st quarter worth approximately $65,000. Eurizon Capital SGR S.p.A. bought a new stake in Tejon Ranch during the 4th quarter worth approximately $87,000. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Tejon Ranch in the second quarter worth approximately $122,000. Institutional investors own 60.63% of the companys stock. About Tejon Ranch (Get Free Report) Tejon Ranch Corporation (NYSE: TRC) is one of Californias largest private landowners, with a diversified portfolio spanning agriculture, real estate development and natural resource operations. Headquartered in Lebec, California, the companys holdings encompass approximately 270,000 acres in Kern and Los Angeles counties. Established in 1937 on the historic Rancho Tejon land grant, Tejon Ranch has leveraged its strategic location along Interstate 5 to build a multifaceted enterprise serving both local and regional markets. In agriculture, Tejon Ranch grows a variety of row crops and permanent plantings, including almonds, pistachios, table grapes and citrus. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Tejon Ranch Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tejon Ranch and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT Get Free Report) declared a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, February 24th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 13th will be paid a dividend of 0.02 per share by the aerospace company on Wednesday, April 1st. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a yield of 0.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 13th. Textron has a payout ratio of 1.2% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Analysts expect Textron to earn $6.68 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.08 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 1.2%. Get Textron alerts: Textron Trading Down 1.8% Shares of Textron stock opened at $92.49 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $16.10 billion, a PE ratio of 18.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.95. Textron has a 52 week low of $57.70 and a 52 week high of $101.57. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $94.33 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $87.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a current ratio of 1.97. Textron Company Profile Textron ( NYSE:TXT Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, January 28th. The aerospace company reported $1.73 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.74 by ($0.01). Textron had a return on equity of 14.63% and a net margin of 6.22%.The firm had revenue of $4.18 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.11 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.34 earnings per share. Textrons revenue for the quarter was up 15.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Textron has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.400-6.600 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Textron will post 6.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. (Get 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. Read More 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. Kohls (NYSE:KSS Get Free Report) had its price objective decreased by analysts at The Goldman Sachs Group from $15.00 to $13.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a sell rating on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Groups target price would indicate a potential downside of 5.53% from the stocks previous close. Other analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Zacks Research lowered Kohls from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 25th. BTIG Research reaffirmed a neutral rating on shares of Kohls in a research note on Tuesday. TD Cowen cut their price objective on Kohls from $23.00 to $17.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Wednesday. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on Kohls in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. They issued a hold rating and a $22.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Robert W. Baird dropped their target price on Kohls from $24.00 to $20.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have assigned a Hold rating and six have issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Reduce and an average target price of $14.75. Get Kohl's alerts: Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Kohls Kohls Stock Performance Shares of Kohls stock traded down $0.82 on Wednesday, hitting $13.76. The stock had a trading volume of 4,091,679 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,218,355. The stock has a market cap of $1.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.01 and a beta of 1.42. The company has a current ratio of 1.30, a quick ratio of 0.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.99. Kohls has a 52-week low of $6.04 and a 52-week high of $25.22. The companys 50 day moving average price is $18.32 and its 200 day moving average price is $18.12. Kohls (NYSE:KSS Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, March 10th. The company reported $1.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.86 by $0.21. Kohls had a return on equity of 4.30% and a net margin of 1.23%.The firm had revenue of $5.17 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.08 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.95 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was down 3.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Kohls has set its FY 2026 guidance at 1.000-1.600 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that Kohls will post 1.3 EPS for the current year. Institutional Trading of Kohls A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in Kohls in the third quarter valued at approximately $28,000. IFP Advisors Inc lifted its position in Kohls by 3,777.6% during the third quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 1,900 shares of the companys stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 1,851 shares during the period. Caldwell Trust Co purchased a new stake in Kohls in the third quarter valued at $33,000. Farther Finance Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Kohls by 233.9% during the 4th quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 1,666 shares of the companys stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 1,167 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Future Financial Wealth Managment LLC grew its holdings in Kohls by 400.0% in the third quarter. Future Financial Wealth Managment LLC now owns 2,500 shares of the companys stock valued at $38,000 after purchasing an additional 2,000 shares during the period. 98.04% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Trending Headlines about Kohls Here are the key news stories impacting Kohls this week: Kohls Company Profile (Get Free Report) Kohls Corporation, founded in 1962 by Maxwell Kohl and headquartered in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, is a leading American department store retailer. The company operates approximately 1,100 stores across 49 states, offering a combination of value-oriented pricing, private-label brands and national labels. Since its initial public offering in 1992, Kohls has focused on broadening its product assortment and enhancing the in-store and online shopping experience. The retailers merchandise portfolio spans apparel, footwear, accessories, and beauty products for women, men and children, as well as home goods, kitchenware and seasonal decor. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Kohl's Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kohl's and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ur Energy (NYSEAMERICAN:URG) management used its year-end 2025 results call to highlight operational gains at its Lost Creek in-situ recovery (ISR) uranium operation, construction progress at the Shirley Basin project, and a strengthened balance sheet following a convertible notes financing. CEO and President Matt Gilley, who joined the company midway through 2025, said the company delivered strong execution and meaningful progress across operations, development, and financial position, positioning Ur-Energy for production growth in 2026. Get alerts: Lost Creek operational gains and updated technical report Gilley said Lost Creek posted significant year-over-year gains in 2025. The company ended the year with 406,000 pounds of product in inventory, up 21% from 2024. Ur-Energy increased pounds drummed by 65% versus 2024 and improved well field flow rates. The company also reported a 40% increase in pounds captured and said profit per pound sold improved by more than $12. Average cash cost per pound sold, including severance and ad valorem taxes, was $42.89. Management also pointed to results from ongoing drilling and an updated S-K 1300 technical report for Lost Creek. According to the updated report, measured and indicated resources are estimated at 11.9 million pounds and inferred resources at 10.4 million pounds. The estimated mine life was extended by nearly three years, and post-tax net cash flow increased to $442 million, which management said was roughly 45% higher than the previous estimate. The post-tax net present value (NPV) using an 8% discount rate was estimated at $244 million, with an internal rate of return of almost 66%. Chief Operating Officer Steve Hatten, referenced by Gilley, emphasized that resource estimates have increased as drilling continues, noting the Lost Creek property covers more than 35,000 contiguous acres and only a portion has been drilled. Shirley Basin buildout and regulatory timeline At the Shirley Basin ISR project, Ur-Energy said it made substantial progress toward bringing its second production facility online. Gilley reported that initial processing plant construction is nearing completion, with all ion exchange (IX) columns installed and key tanks in place. The company has drilled 469 injection and production wells to support startup. In Mine Unit 1, Header House 1 is ready for initial injection and recovery, pending approval from the state environmental department. Management said Wyoming regulators began pre-operational inspections in late February and are reviewing the well field data package. In response to analyst questions about permitting timelines, Gilley said the company anticipates approvals this month, while noting that timing can be difficult to predict. VP of Regulatory Affairs Ryan said the company has an excellent working relationship with Wyoming regulators and that nothing currently points to likely delays, though he acknowledged that increasing industry activity can stretch state resources. Gilley added that the plant is expected to be mechanically ready to receive solution on Monday of the following week, with the first resin tank to be loaded at that time; any delays beyond that, he said, would be due to waiting for regulatory approval. He also told analysts the company is on track to start moving solution through the plant in March and expects to begin shipping resin deliveries in the second quarter to the Lost Creek facility. Management reiterated metrics from a March 2024 technical report for Shirley Basin, including a 9-year estimated mine life and 8.8 million pounds of measured and indicated resources. The report estimated post-tax net cash flow of $119 million, an 8% discount-rate NPV of $82 million, and an internal rate of return of 69%, with estimated all-in costs of $50 per pound. Financial position, product loan, and contracted sales Ur-Energy ended 2025 with $123.9 million in cash, which management attributed largely to the successful closing of 4.75% convertible senior notes. Cash as of March 4, 2026 was $115.3 million, which management said did not include $18.5 million expected in March from the exercise of 24.7 million warrants. Gilley said all outstanding warrants were exercised over the last few months except for an insignificant number that expired. Gilley also noted the company finished the year with positive gross profit of $74,000, calling it a modest but encouraging milestone as operations and production improve. On sales, management said Ur-Energy has contracted for 1.3 million pounds of deliveries in 2026 and plans to cover those commitments with existing inventory plus new production from Lost Creek and Shirley Basin. In response to a question about realized prices in 2026, Gilley pointed investors to the companys 10-K disclosure showing the 1.3 million pounds are contracted for proceeds of up to $82 million, with deliveries priced in different blocks rather than on a simple ramp-up schedule. Gilley said investors should think of it as an average realized price across a series of contract price points. Management also discussed a 250,000-pound product loan due in November 2026. Gilley said the loan must be repaid in physical uranium (not necessarily Ur-Energys own physical material) and that the company has multiple options for repayment, including buying pounds in the spot market using its cash balance. He said the company has not pinned down a specific repayment path but is watching for opportunities, including potential short-term spot price weakness that could allow it to resolve the obligation at favorable levels. Development pipeline: Lost Soldier, North Hadsell, and Lost Creek South Beyond its two key ISR assets, Ur-Energy outlined exploration and development work intended to expand its production pipeline and resource base. At the Lost Soldier project, the company installed 18 aquifer test wells in late 2025 to evaluate ISR development potential. Aquifer testing is expected to begin in March, followed by baseline environmental studies for permitting. Gilley said Lost Soldier is 17 miles from the Lost Creek processing plant and could potentially be developed as a satellite operation using existing infrastructure. The company is also preparing a technical report for Lost Soldier that it expects to complete by the end of 2026. At the North Hadsell project in Wyomings Great Divide Basin, the company reported very encouraging early results. Through the end of February, Ur-Energy drilled 32 wide-spaced holes totaling 33,000 feet, with seven holes intersecting significant uranium mineralization, including 13 intercepts exceeding the Lost Creek cutoff grade. Management said the results suggest multiple stacked roll-front horizons with grades and thicknesses comparable to Lost Creek, supporting potential ISR development. The company also cited two standout holes about 1.5 miles apart that intersected significant stacked mineralization at similar depths, which it said supports early confidence in potential system scale. After completing a 50-hole program at North Hadsell, Ur-Energy plans to move rigs to the Lost Creek South project in the summer, where it is planning a 120-hole drill program during 2026. Operations outlook and market commentary Gilley said the companys combined estimated mineral resource totals 21 million pounds in the measured and indicated categories and 10.4 million pounds in the inferred category as of Dec. 31, 2025. He also said that as of March 4, Ur-Energy had 379,000 pounds in conversion facility inventory. On operational cadence, Gilley described Lost Creeks ramp as fairly linear through 2026, while anticipating a more pronounced increase in drummed pounds later in the year as Shirley Basin resin shipments begin feeding the Lost Creek facility. Hatten provided additional detail on Lost Creek wellfield development, including activity in Mine Unit 5 and Mine Unit 1 Phase 2. He said Header House 14 has come on, Header House 15 is in re-circulation mode to increase grade, and Header House 16 is next. On costs, management did not provide 2026 guidance, but Gilley said ISR operations have a largely fixed cost structure, meaning cost per pound typically declines as pounds sold increase. He also discussed plant-focused improvement initiatives at Lost Creek aimed at fines management, including adding sand filters on the front end of the plant and dedicating capital to upgrades in water treatment, including reverse osmosis, as described in the 10-K. Looking further out on contracting, Gilley said current discussions are mostly for 2029 and beyond, adding that the company is comfortable with its sales book and does not see a need to fully commit volumes years in advance. He said Ur-Energy is optimistic on uranium pricing and wants some inventory available for opportunistic sales. In a separate discussion of contracting trends, Gilley said the market is shifting toward market-related pricing components and away from term contracts with escalators. Gilley also said Ur-Energy is seeing increased interest in U.S.-based production and suggested there is potential for U.S.-based uranium to earn a meaningful premium compared with U.S. legal production, influencing the companys decision to avoid over-obligating near-term volumes. About Ur Energy (NYSEAMERICAN:URG) Ur-Energy Inc is a U.S.based uranium mining company focused on the exploration, development and production of uranium to serve the global nuclear power industry. The companys core expertise centers on in situ recovery (ISR) mining techniques, which involve the extraction of uranium from sandstone formations using a low-environmental-impact process that recovers uranium in solution. Through this approach, Ur-Energy strives to maintain efficient production while minimizing surface disturbance, water usage and waste generation. The companys flagship asset is the Lost Creek Project in Wyomings Great Divide Basin, which commenced commercial production in 2013. Further Reading Van ECK Associates Corp grew its holdings in shares of Procter & Gamble Company (The) (NYSE:PG Free Report) by 2.0% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 459,613 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 8,923 shares during the period. Van ECK Associates Corps holdings in Procter & Gamble were worth $70,620,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. WP Advisors LLC increased its position in Procter & Gamble by 4.9% during the second quarter. WP Advisors LLC now owns 1,405 shares of the companys stock valued at $224,000 after acquiring an additional 66 shares during the last quarter. Emprise Bank grew its position in shares of Procter & Gamble by 2.5% during the third quarter. Emprise Bank now owns 2,766 shares of the companys stock valued at $425,000 after purchasing an additional 68 shares in the last quarter. Affiance Financial LLC boosted its position in shares of Procter & Gamble by 2.5% during the 3rd quarter. Affiance Financial LLC now owns 2,803 shares of the companys stock valued at $431,000 after acquiring an additional 69 shares during the last quarter. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC raised its position in shares of Procter & Gamble by 12.9% during the 2nd quarter. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 621 shares of the companys stock valued at $99,000 after buying an additional 71 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Dominguez Wealth Management Solutions Inc. increased its position in shares of Procter & Gamble by 0.3% during the 3rd quarter. Dominguez Wealth Management Solutions Inc. now owns 20,464 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,144,000 after purchasing an additional 71 shares during the last quarter. 65.77% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Procter & Gamble alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes PG has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Procter & Gamble from a hold rating to a buy rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $156.00 to $179.00 in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. UBS Group boosted their price target on Procter & Gamble from $161.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their target price on Procter & Gamble from $176.00 to $171.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, December 8th. Dbs Bank raised Procter & Gamble from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, January 23rd. Finally, Erste Group Bank raised shares of Procter & Gamble from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 18th. Fourteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $168.33. Insider Buying and Selling at Procter & Gamble In other 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 transaction of $26,354,588.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the chairman owned 319,385 shares of the companys stock, valued at $51,884,093.25. This represents a 33.68% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Ma. Fatima Francisco sold 5,549 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $165.29, for a total transaction of $917,194.21. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 1,029 shares in the company, valued at $170,083.41. This represents a 84.36% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 348,618 shares of company stock valued at $55,462,643. 0.20% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Procter & Gamble Stock Performance Shares of PG opened at $155.98 on Wednesday. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $152.80 and a 200 day moving average price of $151.06. Procter & Gamble Company has a 52-week low of $137.62 and a 52-week high of $175.99. The company has a quick ratio of 0.51, a current ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49. The company has a market capitalization of $362.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.19 and a beta of 0.37. Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 22nd. The company reported $1.88 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.86 by $0.02. Procter & Gamble had a net margin of 19.30% and a return on equity of 32.21%. The business had revenue of $22.21 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $22.36 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.88 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 1.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Procter & Gamble has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.830-7.090 EPS. Research analysts predict that Procter & Gamble Company will post 6.91 EPS for the current fiscal year. Procter & Gamble Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, February 17th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 23rd were paid a dividend of $1.0568 per share. This represents a $4.23 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 23rd. Procter & Gambles dividend payout ratio is currently 62.52%. Procter & Gamble 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 Stories 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. BRUSSELS, March 11 (Xinhua) -- A group of European countries has announced plans to release emergency oil stocks after the International Energy Agency (IEA) recommended a record drawdown from reserves to help calm surging energy prices amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said Wednesday that the agency's 32 member countries had unanimously agreed to make 400 million barrels of oil available to the market from their emergency reserves. The move aims to address disruptions in global oil markets caused by the conflict in the Middle East, particularly the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route for energy and food supplies. On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint strikes on Tehran and several other Iranian cities. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israeli and U.S. assets in the Middle East. According to the IEA, the conflict has severely disrupted oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, with exports of crude and refined products currently at less than 10 percent of pre-conflict levels. Brent crude, the international oil benchmark, briefly climbed to around 119 U.S. dollars per barrel on Monday, its highest level since mid-2022, before easing to 87.57 dollars on Wednesday. Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said Wednesday that "since the beginning of the conflict, gas prices have risen by 50 percent and oil prices by 27 percent." Speaking after a videoconference of leaders from the Group of Seven (G7), French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that France will release 14.5 million barrels of strategic oil reserves. Germany will release 19.51 million barrels from its strategic reserves, Economy and Energy Minister Katherina Reiche said, adding that the country will act in line with the IEA's principle of solidarity. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom said it will contribute 13.5 million barrels of oil to help shield consumers from short-term global supply disruptions that could trigger price volatility and harm the global economy, according to a government press release. Other European IEA member states have also announced their contributions. The Netherlands will release 5.36 million barrels from its national strategic reserves, about 20 percent of its total stockpile, Climate and Green Growth Minister Stientje van Veldhoven-van der Meer said Wednesday. Austria will begin releasing 325,000 tonnes of crude oil from its strategic reserves as part of the joint effort to stabilize global energy markets, according to Economy, Energy and Tourism Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer. Luis Montenegro, prime minister of Portugal, said the country will release about 10 percent of its strategic oil reserves. Meanwhile, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania also said they are prepared to release emergency oil stocks to the market. According to the IEA, its member states collectively hold emergency oil reserves of more than 1.2 billion barrels, in addition to around 600 million barrels of industry stocks maintained under government obligations. Vinva Investment Management Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (NYSE:CRL Free Report) in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 3,724 shares of the medical research companys stock, valued at approximately $583,000. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Rothschild Investment LLC boosted its position in Charles River Laboratories International by 82.4% during the 3rd quarter. Rothschild Investment LLC now owns 186 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 84 shares during the last quarter. Neo Ivy Capital Management bought a new stake in shares of Charles River Laboratories International in the second quarter worth $29,000. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp acquired a new position in Charles River Laboratories International during the third quarter worth $31,000. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Charles River Laboratories International by 98.0% during the second quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 293 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $44,000 after purchasing an additional 145 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Allworth Financial LP grew its position in Charles River Laboratories International by 172.7% in the second quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 300 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $45,000 after purchasing an additional 190 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 98.91% of the companys stock. Get Charles River Laboratories International alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several brokerages have commented on CRL. TD Cowen cut their price target on shares of Charles River Laboratories International from $251.00 to $235.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 20th. Argus set a $200.00 target price on Charles River Laboratories International in a research report on Monday, November 17th. Citigroup upped their target price on Charles River Laboratories International from $200.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, January 16th. Morgan Stanley set a $185.00 price target on Charles River Laboratories International in a research report on Monday, December 1st. Finally, Bank of America raised Charles River Laboratories International from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $225.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Monday, December 15th. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $203.57. Charles River Laboratories International Price Performance NYSE:CRL opened at $167.49 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $8.25 billion, a P/E ratio of -56.58, a P/E/G ratio of 3.02 and a beta of 1.64. The firms fifty day moving average price is $194.09 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $181.23. Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. has a one year low of $91.86 and a one year high of $228.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 1.29 and a quick ratio of 1.02. Charles River Laboratories International (NYSE:CRL Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 18th. The medical research company reported $2.39 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.33 by $0.06. Charles River Laboratories International had a negative net margin of 3.59% and a positive return on equity of 15.60%. The company had revenue of $994.23 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $986.98 million. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.66 EPS. Charles River Laboratories Internationals quarterly revenue was down .8% compared to the same quarter last year. Charles River Laboratories International has set its FY 2026 guidance at 10.700-11.200 EPS. Equities analysts expect that Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. will post 9.36 earnings per share for the current year. About Charles River Laboratories International (Free Report) Charles River Laboratories International, Inc is a leading provider of research models and preclinical and clinical support services for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries. The companys core offerings include discovery, safety assessment, toxicology, and pathology services, as well as supply of laboratory animals and related diagnostics. Services extend across in vivo and in vitro testing, biologics testing, and support for advanced therapies, helping clients accelerate drug development from early discovery through regulatory submission. Founded in 1947 in Wilmington, Massachusetts, Charles River has grown through strategic investments and acquisitions to establish a broad portfolio of capabilities. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CRL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (NYSE:CRL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Charles River Laboratories International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Charles River Laboratories International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Westshore Terminals Investment (OTCMKTS:WTSHF Get Free Report) is expected to be posting its results before the market opens on Friday, March 13th. Analysts expect Westshore Terminals Investment to post earnings of $0.1602 per share and revenue of $57.2770 million for the quarter. Westshore Terminals Investment Stock Performance Shares of WTSHF stock opened at $22.82 on Wednesday. Westshore Terminals Investment has a 12 month low of $15.81 and a 12 month high of $23.83. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $21.43 and a 200-day moving average of $19.50. Get Westshore Terminals Investment alerts: About Westshore Terminals Investment (Get Free Report) Westshore Terminals Investment Corporation is the sole shareholder of Westshore Terminals Ltd, the operator of North Americas largest coal export terminal. Based in North Vancouver, British Columbia, the companys principal business is providing terminal services for the handling, stockpiling and ship loading of metallurgical coal and petroleum coke. Strategically located on the Burrard Inlet, the facility connects to Canadian Pacific and Canadian National rail networks and exports bulk commodities primarily to steel mills in Asia and other global markets. The terminal offers a comprehensive range of services including railcar unloading, covered and open stockpile capacity, shiploading capabilities and dust suppression systems. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Westshore Terminals Investment Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Westshore Terminals Investment and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Propel Holdings Inc. (TSE:PRL Free Report) Equities researchers at Scotiabank reduced their FY2026 earnings estimates for Propel in a research report issued on Thursday, March 5th. Scotiabank analyst P. Hardie now expects that the company will post earnings per share of $2.25 for the year, down from their prior estimate of $3.63. The consensus estimate for Propels current full-year earnings is $5.39 per share. Scotiabank also issued estimates for Propels FY2027 earnings at $3.25 EPS. Get Propel alerts: A number of other research analysts have also weighed in on the company. ATB Cormark Capital Markets reduced their price objective on Propel from C$38.00 to C$27.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, March 4th. Canaccord Genuity Group dropped their target price on Propel from C$37.00 to C$27.00 in a report on Wednesday, March 4th. Raymond James Financial cut their target price on Propel from C$45.00 to C$32.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, March 4th. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price target on Propel from C$38.00 to C$32.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, March 4th. Finally, Ventum Financial dropped their price target on shares of Propel from C$4.00 to C$3.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, March 4th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Buy. Propel Stock Performance PRL stock opened at $19.83 on Monday. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $23.38 and a 200-day moving average price of $25.64. Propel has a 52-week low of $17.50 and a 52-week high of $39.15. The firm has a market capitalization of $780.39 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.71 and a beta of 0.35. Propel Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 4th. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 4th were given a dividend of $0.225 per share. This represents a $0.90 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.5%. This is a boost from Propels previous quarterly dividend of $0.21. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 20th. Propels dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 31.67%. About Propel (Get Free Report) Propel Holdings Inc is a financial technology company committed to credit inclusion and helping underserved consumers by providing fair, fast, and transparent access to credit. It operates through its two brands: MoneyKey and CreditFresh. The company, through its MoneyKey brand, is a state-licensed direct lender and offers either Installment Loans or Lines of Credit to new customers in several US states. Through its CreditFresh brand, the company operates as a bank servicer that provides marketing, technology, and loan servicing services to unaffiliated, FDIC insured, state-chartered banks in the US (Bank Program). Read More Receive News & Ratings for Propel Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Propel and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Free National Movement is warning that the governments decision to make uncooked food VAT-exempt rather than zero-rated could lead to higher grocery prices. The change follows a policy announcement by Philip Davis to eliminate VAT on food sold in grocery stores starting April 1. What do you think this will mean for food prices? You voted: LONDON, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The British government on Wednesday published an initial batch of documents related to Peter Mandelson's appointment as ambassador to the United States, following a parliamentary push for greater disclosure over his vetting and official role. The roughly 147-page released material marks the first installment in a wider handover of papers linked to Mandelson's time in the post. British media reported that some records could remain withheld for now, given the ongoing police investigation and possible future legal proceedings. Mandelson's appointment had already drawn wild controversy in Britain, with opposition lawmakers pressing the government to explain what was known about his past links to Jeffrey Epstein, the dead American financier and convicted sex offender, when he was chosen for the Washington role. The issue added to political pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has said Mandelson did not fully disclose the nature of the relationship during the vetting process. The newly released documents showed that officials had warned Starmer in advance that Mandelson's past association with Epstein could pose a "reputational risk." In a note described as advice to the prime minister and based on checks conducted on Dec. 4, 2024, officials said Mandelson's relationship with Epstein had continued for a period after Epstein's 2008 conviction for procuring an underage girl. According to the document, the relationship extended across 2009 to 2011, beginning when Mandelson was serving as business minister and continuing after the end of the Labour government. The note also referred to reports that Mandelson stayed at Epstein's house in June 2009 while Epstein was in jail. A separate briefing note indicated that the issue had been discussed inside government before the appointment. It said Starmer's then chief of staff Morgan McSweeney had raised Mandelson's links to Epstein, while communications director Matthew Doyle was said to be satisfied with Mandelson's answers to questions about the contact. However, further correspondence and follow-up questions to Mandelson were not included in this first disclosure. The files also suggested unease among senior officials over the way the appointment was handled. Government officials had warned that Starmer could be left more politically exposed if a personally connected political appointee encountered problems in office. In a summary of a fact-finding call held in September, National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell described the appointment process as "unusual" and "weirdly rushed," while also raising concerns about Mandelson's reputation. The documents added that Philip Barton, then the Foreign Office's top civil servant, had also expressed reservations. The released papers further detailed discussions over Mandelson's severance after he was removed from the Washington post. According to the documents, Mandelson initially sought payment covering the remainder of the four-year fixed-term appointment, amounting to 547,201 pounds (about 734,000 U.S. dollars). The government ultimately approved 34,670 pounds in discretionary payments in addition to 40,330 pounds to which he was legally entitled. British media said the disclosures answered some questions about internal warnings and the financial settlement, but did not resolve the dispute over whether Mandelson had misled officials during vetting. The BBC reported that Mandelson disputes the characterization that he requested or demanded more than 500,000 pounds in severance pay, and maintains that he answered questions about his relationship with Epstein accurately. According to the broadcaster, Mandelson has repeatedly denied criminal wrongdoing, denied acting for personal gain, and said he is cooperating with police inquiries. Mandelson was arrested by London's Metropolitan Police on suspicion of misconduct in public office on Feb. 23 and released under investigation last Friday. In late January, the U.S. Justice Department made public a large cache of files related to Epstein, prompting renewed scrutiny in Britain. British police confirmed later that they had opened a criminal investigation into Mandelson over alleged misconduct while in public office, including possible disclosure of market-sensitive information. Mandelson previously served as a senior cabinet minister under former Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. He was appointed ambassador to Washington in early 2025 but was dismissed by Starmer after seven months due to questions over his past. The U.S. Embassy in Djibouti on Tuesday issued a security alert urging American citizens to exercise increased caution due to ongoing regional tensions and public threats against U.S. interests. In a statement dated March 10, 2026, the embassy said it continues to advise its personnel to avoid the area surrounding the U.S. Embassy and Camp Lemonnier, a key U.S. military base in the country. There is no higher priority than the safety and security of American citizens, the statement said, citing concerns over regional developments and threats targeting U.S. interests. The embassy urged all U.S. citizens currently in Djibouti to remain vigilant and stay informed about the evolving security situation. As a precautionary measure, routine consular appointments have been canceled. The embassy has also reduced its onsite staff presence, though it remains operational and able to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens. No specific incidents were detailed in the alert, but officials emphasized heightened awareness amid broader regional instability. The alert comes amid escalating regional tensions, as Iran has launched retaliatory attacks on U.S. military bases and diplomatic missions in the Middle East following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets. Ali Hassan, an investigative and a freelance journalist writes from Stadthagen, Germany. [email protected] This photo taken on March 10, 2026 shows a panel discussion during the second Nuclear Energy Summit in Paris, France. The second Nuclear Energy Summit was held here on Tuesday. Heads of state, government leaders and senior representatives from over 30 countries, as well as heads of relevant international organizations, attended the summit and issued a joint statement titled "Safe and affordable nuclear energy for all." (Xinhua/Wu Huiwo) PARIS, March 11 (Xinhua) -- More than 30 countries, including France, China, Canada and Japan, have pledged to advance nuclear innovation and support nuclear development and capacity-building at the second Nuclear Energy Summit, which concluded Tuesday in Paris. Heads of state, government leaders and senior representatives from over 30 countries, as well as heads of relevant international organizations, attended the summit and issued a joint statement titled "Safe and affordable nuclear energy for all." In the statement, participants pledged to continue advancing technological innovation, further improve the operational performance, safety and economic viability of nuclear power plants, strengthen the resilience and security of the global nuclear energy industry and its supply chains, and make positive contributions to local industrial development, stakeholder engagement and capacity-building efforts, particularly in countries that are new to or exploring nuclear energy. Meanwhile, China's international nuclear cooperation drew strong interest and praises from participants at the summit hosted by France and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Since the 1980s, French electric utility company EDF has maintained cooperation with China in the nuclear sector. Speaking at the summit, EDF Chairman and CEO Bernard Fontana said that the decarbonization of the economy, rising energy costs, and the expansion of data centers and artificial intelligence are making nuclear energy one of the key solutions. Referring to faster project delivery and cost control, he noted that Chinese partners have shared their successful experience while expressing his gratitude to the Chinese side for its efforts in advancing the existing cooperation. Pang Songtao, president of the China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGNPC), also said the development of CGNPC began with the China-France cooperation on the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant, followed by the joint construction of the Taishan Nuclear Power Plant with France. CGNPC will continue to expand its overseas cooperation, actively integrating into the Belt and Road Initiative's clean energy industry ecosystem, and continuously providing the world with safe, stable, green and clean energy, he added. Gaspard Liyoko Mboyo, chairman of the African Commission on Nuclear Energy, said China is moving forward in nuclear energy, which the African continent has significant demand. It creates possibilities for cooperation between Africa and China, the chairman noted. The logo of the second Nuclear Energy Summit is seen in Paris, France, on March 10, 2026. The second Nuclear Energy Summit was held here on Tuesday. Heads of state, government leaders and senior representatives from over 30 countries, as well as heads of relevant international organizations, attended the summit and issued a joint statement titled "Safe and affordable nuclear energy for all." (Xinhua/Wu Huiwo) A participant is seen at the venue of the second Nuclear Energy Summit in Paris, France, on March 10, 2026. The second Nuclear Energy Summit was held here on Tuesday. Heads of state, government leaders and senior representatives from over 30 countries, as well as heads of relevant international organizations, attended the summit and issued a joint statement titled "Safe and affordable nuclear energy for all." (Xinhua/Wu Huiwo) French President Emmanuel Macron (L) talks with International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi before the second Nuclear Energy Summit in Paris, France, on March 10, 2026. The second Nuclear Energy Summit was held here on Tuesday. Heads of state, government leaders and senior representatives from over 30 countries, as well as heads of relevant international organizations, attended the summit and issued a joint statement titled "Safe and affordable nuclear energy for all." (Xinhua/Wu Huiwo) French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during the second Nuclear Energy Summit in Paris, France, on March 10, 2026. The second Nuclear Energy Summit was held here on Tuesday. Heads of state, government leaders and senior representatives from over 30 countries, as well as heads of relevant international organizations, attended the summit and issued a joint statement titled "Safe and affordable nuclear energy for all." (French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs/Handout via Xinhua) This photo taken on March 10, 2026 shows a panel discussion during the second Nuclear Energy Summit in Paris, France. The second Nuclear Energy Summit was held here on Tuesday. Heads of state, government leaders and senior representatives from over 30 countries, as well as heads of relevant international organizations, attended the summit and issued a joint statement titled "Safe and affordable nuclear energy for all." (Xinhua/Wu Huiwo) WASHINGTON, March 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the war with Iran will end "soon," claiming there is "practically nothing left to target," U.S. online media Axios reported. The Orange County Sheriff's Office is hoping to get a grant to get detailed mapping of all 24 public school campuses in the county. Chief Deputy Richard Howard said the maps would help show first responders what classrooms would need help in an emergency. Orange County Commissioners Court Tuesday approved the sheriff's grant application for the mapping and another grant to buy drones with thermal capability to helped protect the port and infrastructure. The grants are filed through different Homeland Security projects. In addition, the court approved Emergency Management Director Joel Ardoin's office to apply for a regional Homeland Security grant through the Texas governor's office. The grant applications are to get the state and federal governments to pay for special programs local taxpayers cannot afford. The grants are being provided at a time when school shootings have become more frequent and the U.S. is in a foreign war that could lead to terrorist attacks in America. Howard said the county could get three drones to help with 3-D mapping. Drones with thermal capabilities make them able to detect heat, including heat from people and animals. In other business, the county approved an interlocal agreement with the Texas Animal Health Commission and the sheriff's office. Under the agreement, the sheriff's office will provide a deputy to assist at the state livestock inspection site on Interstate 10. The inspection site, the first in the state on westbound Interstate 10, is at a former Texas Department of Transportation rest area. Chief Deputy Howard said the animal health commission will pay the county for overtime for the deputy's work. He said the need at the inspection station has increased because of the threat of a cattle screw worm invasion. Commissioners Court also approved spending $41,000 to buy a comprehensive camera system to show the top and bottom of the East Roundbunch Road swing bridge. The swing bridge across Cow Bayou is on a state-maintained farm-to-market road, but the county is responsible for the maintenance and operations. The county bought the bridge used about 65 years ago and it has old, hard-to-replace mechanisms. Precinct 3 County Commissioner Kirk Roccaforte has the bridge in his precinct. He said cameras underneath the bridge on the mechanisms would help crews know what needs to be fixed, plus the cameras could help boats go through the opening. The camera system will be designed to withstand salt water. County Judge John Gothia said the cameras will help county employees keep safe when working on the bridge. "The way the bridge is designed, the only way to look at it is underneath." Roccaforte said that eventually, maybe a camera system could be set up so the bridge could be opened remotely to allow for boat traffic to pass on the bayou. In his monthly report to commissioners, Road Administrator Tracy Leach said the bridge was opened and closed 16 times in February. Each time a county employee on call must go open the bridge for a boat to cross through, and then close it again for the roadway traffic. During the height of construction for the new Golden Triangle Polymers plant, the bridge was opened 60-plus times a month because barges were used to haul giant prefabricated pieces of the petrochemical plant. The camera system will need an internet connection to allow county employees to check on the bridge. Commissioners also approved the sixth year of working with the Texas General Land Office and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for the turn-in program for old vessels and boats. Boat owners may bring their old boats and motors for free disposal. The days will be May 2, 5, 7, and 9, at the county's collection station on FM 1442. The GLO sponsors the removal of fuel, oil, and batteries. TPWD must verify the ownership of each disposed vessel. Tax Assessor-Collector Octavia Guzman reported her office collected $66.64 million of property taxes in February. The county's share was nearly $15.5 million. Her office also collects property taxes for the school districts, cities, and special districts. So far this year, 90.42 percent of taxes have been paid. She that the rate is average for this time of the year. MNPF celebrates raising day | IMPHAL, Mar 11: The Manipur Naga People's Front (MNPF) celebrated its 13th raising day today, said the proscribed group in a statement. On the occasion, MNPF said its chairman John Francis Kashung greeted the people of Manipur, CorCom members, WESEA revolutionary groups. The chairman accused the Government of India of being biased, and implementing policies to divide the people. Only a united WESEA people can face the challenges facing today, he added. Manipur is inhabited by many communities, and all disagreements must be resolved internally without inviting the help of the Government of India, he added. WASHINGTON, March 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said that the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran will end "soon" because there is "practically nothing left to target." "A little this and that ... Any time I want it to end, it will end," Trump told U.S. online media outlet Axios in a five-minute phone interview on Wednesday. U.S. and Israeli officials say there is no internal directive on when fighting might stop, according to the Axios report. Saint-Laurent, QC (H4T1V6) Today Variable clouds with snow showers. Temps nearly steady in the low to mid 30s. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 90%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.. Tonight Some clouds. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 17F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Saint-Laurent, QC (H4T1V6) Today Cloudy with snow developing late. High around 35F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 70%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.. Tonight Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 16F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Saint-Laurent, QC (H4T1V6) Today Cloudy with snow. Temps nearly steady in the low to mid 30s. SE winds shifting to WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 90%. Snow accumulating 1 to 3 inches.. Tonight Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 16F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. MEXICO CITY, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Tuesday that 1,009 Mexican nationals have left the conflict zone in the Middle East. At her daily press conference, Sheinbaum said that the Mexican nationals traveled by land and Turkiye is one of the countries with flights. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that consular efforts by Mexican embassies in the Middle East have facilitated the evacuation of the Mexican nationals from Israel, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Bahrain, Lebanon and Qatar. Travel to the Middle East is not recommended while the conflict situation persists, the ministry said, adding the Mexican embassies in the region remain attentive to requests for consular assistance and protection. LOS ANGELES, March 10 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) have selected eight pilot proposals to begin real-world testing of next-generation aircraft, local media outlets reported Tuesday, noting that "flying taxis" could soon take flight across 26 U.S. states. The projects are part of the newly launched Advanced Air Mobility and Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) Integration Pilot Program (eIPP), and will include urban air taxi services, cargo delivery and emergency medical response. The futuristic aircraft are expected to operate on electric or hybrid propulsion and may carry passengers or cargo, taking off and landing in relatively confined spaces. They are often referred to as "flying taxis," "air taxis," or "flying cars," reflecting their potential as an alternative to traditional transportation. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Monday in a statement that the selected partnerships will help integrate emerging technologies into the national aviation system. U.S. authorities expect related initial operations to begin by the summer of 2026. The eIPP is designed to generate operational experience and data to help inform future safety standards for eVTOL aircraft. Federal officials noted that participating aircraft will generally exceed 599 kg in weight. The three-year study period will conclude 36 months after the first pilot project becomes operational. Selected participants must enter into Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) with the FAA to define specific operational boundaries for their aircraft. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will lead a project exploring 12 operational concepts across the New England region. The effort includes testing electric air taxi services at the Manhattan heliport to connect with major regional airports. In Texas, the state's transportation department will support a regional network linking the hubs of Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and Houston. Industry partners, including Archer Aviation and Joby Aviation, will participate in establishing these regional flight corridors. The city of Albuquerque, New Mexico, will lead a focused project aimed at advancing autonomous operations in partnership with flight automation developers. The initiative seeks to integrate large uncrewed aircraft systems into controlled U.S. airspace. Beta Technologies of Vermont was selected to participate in seven of the eight pilot programs, more than any other manufacturer. The company plans to deploy its aircraft initially for critical cargo and medical logistics missions before expanding into passenger services. Federal trials will also evaluate infrastructure standards for vertiports, specialized landing areas for powered-lift aircraft. Research will focus on managing wind velocity generated by downwash and outwash, which can exceed 55.5 km per hour. Data collected from the projects will be used by the FAA to develop permanent regulations covering pilot certification and air traffic management. The agency aims to ensure the National Airspace System can safely accommodate a high density of electric aircraft operations in the future. At the recent AI summit in New Delhi, the atmosphere carried a sense of technological triumph. Giant screens flashed live demonstrations of generative tools. Speakers spoke of speed, scale, disruption and the future of content creation. The hall was full, the press attentive, and the message unmistakable creativity had entered the age of automation. At that very moment, far away in Aizawl, a group of media students quietly switched off their phones and shut their laptops. For the next three days, they would not touch a single digital device. Instead, they worked only with paper and pencil brainstorming, observing, discussing and drawing. Their task was to create journalism, not through prompts but through presence. They were not alone. Similar scenes were unfolding in Kottayam, in Jammu, and even in Delhi itself. While one world accelerated toward machine-generated expression, another was deliberately slowing down to rediscover human expression. This contrast reveals something deeper than nostalgia. It signals a shift in how we understand thinking itself. Over the past two decades, political lampooning has steadily declined in mainstream newspapers and magazines in India. Full-time cartoonists have become rare. What was once a powerful democratic tool a sharp cartoon capable of questioning authority in a single frame has gradually vanished or softened into safe illustration. There was a time when political cartoons occupied the pride of place. One recalls the famous cartoon by Keshav Shankar Pillai, popularly known as Shankar, where Jawaharlal Nehru is shown prodding a snail representing the Constitution, with B.R. Ambedkar seated atop it. At the time, it was accepted as democratic satire. Decades later, when the same cartoon was reproduced in an NCERT textbook, it triggered uproar. What changed? The cartoon did not. Somewhere along the way, newspapers reduced their appetite for satire. Whether out of caution, commercial pressure, or fear of backlash, sharp commentary slowly gave way to decorative visuals. Cartoonists were replaced by illustrators. By no means does this devalue illustration illustrators contribute significantly to visual storytelling. But what a cartoonist does is different. A political cartoon interrogates. It punches. It provokes. It distils a complex situation into a single frame that makes the reader pause and think, Yes, exactly! And now, even illustrators are being replaced. Flip through any major daily published from the national capital, and you increasingly encounter AI-generated images accompanying opinion pieces and features. The shift is subtle yet telling. A human artist interpreting the mood of a story is replaced by an algorithm capable of producing polished visuals in seconds. For publications, speed improves, and costs drop. But with AI imagery, something intangible disappears instinct, lived experience, and moral courage embedded in a hand-drawn line. Ironically, while local cartooning declines, one thing remains untouched: the quarter-page dedicated to American syndicated comic strips from Hagar the Horrible and Peanuts to Calvin and Hobbes. For decades, American syndicates dominated the Indian market by offering high-volume, low-cost content. Because these strips were already profitable in the United States, they could be sold cheaply to Indian newspapers, creating a structural barrier for indigenous creators. We constantly hear that attention spans are shrinking. Young people, we are told, want only short content. History suggests otherwise. In the 1990s, Bollywood insisted that audiences demanded sensationalism. Then came simple love stories like Maine Pyar Kiya and Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak and they became massive hits. The audience had not demanded vulgarity; the industry had assumed it. Two decades ago, we believed children no longer read books. Then Harry Potter arrived, and children eagerly waited for 600-page volumes. Veteran journalist P. Sainath once responded to the claim that readers would not care about rural reporting by asking: When did you last meet your readers to make that claim on their behalf? The problem was never attention. It was assumption. Today, the pace has intensified. After reels and shorts comes AI content produced at the speed of typing a prompt. Text, images and video can now be generated faster than they can be meaningfully understood. Creation begins to outrun reflection. While countries such as Australia debate restricting social media access for children in order to protect attention and development, we are preparing to introduce artificial intelligence to students as early as Class III. The direction is revealing instead of asking how young minds learn to think, we are teaching them how to consume. A generation risks becoming fluent in tools without acquiring knowledge. Shraddha Sarkis comics developed in Aizawl While You Scroll captures this condition with unsettling clarity. Her protagonist ignores a real neighbourhood civic issue a burst pipeline because a reel says otherwise: 10K likes = its a fact. Around him float memes, trends and viral distractions, embodied as a grinning brain-rot monster that feeds on endless scrolling. In the final frame, the creatures purpose becomes clear: keep the youth occupied while history quietly disappears from their syllabus. The satire is not merely about phones; it is about attention being deliberately redirected away from reality. Recently, nearly a hundred media students, under the New Media Communication programme at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, are learning journalism without screens; classes run from 9 to 5pm. They observe surroundings, talk to people, verify experiences and translate complex realities into four-frame wall-poster comics. The comics are photocopied and pasted in public spaces to initiate discussion. The issues they chose reveal why this matters. Arya Choudhary created AI Friend, exploring emotional dependence on artificial intelligence after news of teenage suicides in Ghaziabad. Instead of sensationalising tragedy, she examined isolation when virtual companionship replaces human connection. Comics speak to every age group and address real issues honestly, she reflected. In Jammu, Avni Jains Blind by Choice showed a dried riverbed turning into real-estate opportunity until floods return. Annapurna explored poaching and extinction. Ankit Patel examined cross-border drug trafficking ignored by mainstream media. Isha Kumaris Kya Mumbai Kya US exposed hypocrisy in attitudes toward migrants. Khushi Jaiswals Maanga Kya Mila Kya? questioned development promised to flood victims but replaced by tourism projects. Together, these works reveal something striking: while mainstream media moves toward automation and speed, young journalists are rediscovering depth, ownership, and accountability. The most powerful lesson they articulated is thisthey own the medium. It is created by their own hands. It requires no algorithm, no expensive software, no digital dependency. It allows them to choose their audience, initiate dialogue, and address issues that may otherwise remain ignored. In an age obsessed with immediacy, slowing down becomes an act of resistance. While machines learn to draw faster, these young journalists are learning to see better. And perhaps the future of meaningful storytelling will not belong to those who generate the most contentbut to those who dare to observe, reflect, and create with intention. Time to go grassroots. The writer is the initiator of the Grassroots Comics movement. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK. Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries is possibly set to make one of the most consequential overseas energy investments in Indian corporate history, backing the US's first new oil refinery in half a century, right in the heart of Texas. US President Donald Trump announced the landmark deal on Tuesday in a post on Truth Social, describing it as a "historic $300 billion deal the biggest in US history." Trump credited "Reliance", which he called India's "largest privately held Energy Company" as the investment partner making the project possible. Reliance Industries, Indias biggest publicly listed company, is yet to put out a regulatory announcement regarding the same. Shares of the company opened much higher but slumped to the red in morning trade on the NSE. The refinery, to be built by America First Refining at the Port of Brownsville in South Texas, is reportedly being designed to run entirely on US shale oil and is projected to process 160,000 barrels of oil per day. "A new Refinery at the Port of Brownsville will fuel US Markets, strengthen our National Security, boost American Energy production, deliver Billions of Dollars in Economic impact, and will be THE CLEANEST REFINERY IN THE WORLD," Trump wrote, adding that the project would bring "thousands of long-overdue jobs" to South Texas. Agencies such as Reuters also confirmed the announcement. If Reliance Industries confirms the investment, it would be seen as a natural, if ambitious, extension of its core strength. The company already operates the world's largest oil refining complex at Jamnagar, Gujarat, a twin-refinery site with a combined capacity of approximately 1.4 million barrels per day. With a market capitalisation of around $206 billion, Reliance is well-positioned to anchor a project of this scale. The announcement also comes at a time of the current global energy crisis, which many say was triggered by Trump himself. Even as the Brownsville deal was announced, Reliance Industries filed a separate stock exchange intimation on the same day, confirming that it is maximising LPG output at its Jamnagar complex to support India's domestic gas supply amid the Middle East conflict, running its refinery teams around the clock to stabilise supplies for Indian households. Amit Kumar Singh is losing his patience. The Gurugram resident booked his gas cylinder with his Indane agency Santosh a week ago, but has yet to get the gas cylinder. This, even though the booking system shows a delivery personnel having been assigned. Please help, it is urgent, he pleaded in a message sent to authorities. Ironically, Amit is not alone. The Iran war has just crashed through into Indian homes, and threatens to snuff out their kitchen fires. But before it does that, it could just extinguish Indias vibrant eat-out scene. This is because, with the government invoking the Essential Commodities Act by prioritising homes, hospitals and schools for the LPG cylinder delivery and putting commercial establishments on the back burner (pun not intended), it is crisis mode across the nations hotels and restaurants. Many of them have either trimmed down their menu, cutting out foods that need longer preparation time on the stove, or have outright changed their menu to include cold items like Delhi High Courts Lawyers Canteen, which is now serving only sandwiches due to the cooking gas crunch. An advisory sent out by the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) on Tuesday night advised members across the country to immediately adopt conservation measures, including trimming menus by suspending dishes that need longer cooking time, using pressure cooking where possible and organisational efficiency measures like adopting a central kitchen, adopting induction cooking and electric fryers, etc. The restaurant industry supports millions of livelihoods, from chefs and service staff to farmers and suppliers, said Sagar Daryani, president of NRAI, If the situation escalates further and availability tightens significantly, the restaurant industry may face serious operational challenges. Although the Indian government claims that there are enough reserve stocks, confusion in the market is visible on the ground. One problem could be hoarding and black marketing, as well as the stampede of people trying to reserve and get one before a paucity actually hits. One reason why UP state officials conducted raids across cities like Lucknow, Prayagraj, Kanpur and Noida. Black marketing of LPG cylinders seems to be already rife. A commercial cylinder that normally costs around 1,600 is now being sold for nearly 3,000 in Mumbai, according to office bearers of the Association of Hotels and Restaurants. In one instance, a hotel owner has reportedly paid 6,000 for a cylinder in Andheri. Nearly 15,000 small and medium eateries may shut shop in the next three to four days if supplies do not improve. While 35 per cent of hotels use piped gas, the rest rely on LPG and will be hit first. There are more than 10,000 hotels, small eateries, tea shops and establishments in Chennai which consume at least five commercial cylinders per outlet every day. M. Ravi, president of the Chennai hotel owners association, says, We do not have any other option as of now, but to shut down. We cannot afford to run the eateries without the supply of LPG cylinders." Popular hotels in Chennai, like Adyar Ananda Bhavan and Sangeetha, displayed boards outside the restaurants saying they have LPG only for the next two weeks and also the temporary change in their menu. Prices of auto LPG used by autorickshaws in Hyderabad have also surged sharply, rising from 53 to 96 per kg, triggering long queues of vehicles at fuel stations across the city. J. Ajay Kumar, an autorickshaw driver, said the rush is driven largely by fears of supply disruptions. There are speculations that supplies may be affected. Drivers were told that gas may still arrive, but there could be gap periods, and prices could rise further. That is why many of us are queuing up, he said. Several auto LPG stations in Bengaluru have shut due to supply disruptions even as auto gas prices surged sharply in recent days. At the same time, auto LPG prices have surged sharply across the city. The price has risen from Rs 59 per litre on February 28 to Rs 89 per litre now, marking an increase of Rs 30 within less than two weeks. Bangalore Thindies, a restaurant on Infantry Road in the Central Business District of the IT city is now offering only tea and coffee in its menu and is not offering different Dosa and Vada varieties. Many restaurants in Sahakarnagar a suburb of the IT city have downed shutters due to the shortage of gas. Bengaluru-based 40-year-old homemaker Malini Singh says she tried booking the LPG gas cylinder through the normal Indane Refill consumer care number. Though her booking was accepted but she is yet to a confirmation SMS for her booking and invoice has not been generated so far. PG facility owners have also predicted that food supply to residents will be affected within a week if commercial LPG cylinder supply is not restored. Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah has written to Union minister for petroleum and natural gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, to take steps to restore supply so that commercial establishments in the city could restart their operations. Debaditya Chaudhury, Managing Director of restaurants like Chowman, Oudh 1590 and Chapter 2 in West Bengal, says the situation appears to be worsening in metro cities. Like many others across pan-India markets, we too are beginning to feel the pressure of inconsistent commercial gas supply. If the situation escalates further, we may have to consider temporary measures such as restricting menus to manage kitchen operations efficiently. We have already held a series of internal meetings and are preparing precautionary steps. To make matters worse, reports of the IVRS system used for booking gas have developed snags in many towns. The result? Frustrated denizens come out to queue up outside Gas Agencies, increasing the chances of bribing and profiteering by overcharging. The basic issue is that India imports more than 60 per cent of its LPG requirements from abroad. Except for one state-run supplier from Algeria in Africa, almost all of it comes from three Gulf states Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. And all three send them from their ports within the Strait of Hormuz, the same one that Iran has now blockaded. Logically, it is too soon for India to face a shortage, as it always happens, the shortage is more man-made, a combination of public panic, shrewd hoarding and profiteering. But if the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz persists, industry players say the ripple effects could soon spread beyond restaurants and transport, impacting a wide range of urban services dependent on LPG. [With inputs from Dnyanesh Jathar, Lakshmi Subramanian, K. Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy, Prema Rajaram, Abhinav Singh, and Badar Bashir] Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off two Amrit Bharat Express trains and two express trains from Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, on Wednesday, enhancing connectivity between the state and other major cities. These new trains are expected to benefit passengers across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, and Jharkhand. The Podanur-Dhanbad Amrit Bharat Express will offer a direct train service from Coimbatore to the mineral-rich heartland of Jharkhand for the first time. The Ministry of Railways said the new service has fulfilled a long-standing demand from the region. "From the loom-towns of the South to the coal-ringed plateaus of the East, Indian Railways has answered a need that this region has carried for decades," the Ministry said in a statement. Honble PM Shri @narendramodi will inaugurate 3 #AmritStations and dedicate to the nation the electrified Shoranur - Nilambur Road rail line in Kerala; flag off 5 train services including 2 #AmritBharatExpress in Tamil Nadu. Read more:https://t.co/qaKZ0UvVNL Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) March 11, 2026 The weekly train departs Podanur every Saturday morning and reaches Dhanbad by early Monday morning, passing through Salem, Renigunta, Vijayawada, Jharsuguda, and Ranchi. The return service will depart from Dhanbad every Monday. The second Amrit Bharat Express runs between Nagercoil and Hyderabad. According to the Ministry, the Nagercoil-Charlapalli Amrit Bharat Express is the first direct Amrit Bharat link connecting the region to Telangana, crossing over twenty districts across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. Modi will also inaugurate the Rameswaram-Mangaluru Express and the Tirunelveli-Mangaluru Express, both of which will pass through Coimbatore. Additionally, the Mayiladuthurai-Thiruvarur-Karaikkudi passenger train, which will benefit at least five districts in the Cauvery Delta, will also be flagged off by the prime minister. Earlier in Kerala, Modi inaugurated the Palakkad-Pollachi train service, providing farmers and traders in the Tamil Nadu town with a direct rail connection to Kerala. For students seeking colleges in Palakkad, for patients needing to reach hospitals in either city, and for daily commuters and traders who have long relied on road travel alone, the new service offers faster, affordable, and cleaner connectivity, the Ministry added. Prices of medicines in India could rise sharply as there has been a 30 per cent surge in the cost of key raw materials needed to make them amid the war in Iran. The prices have been driven up primarily due to a scarcity of container ships and surging freight charges. Industry officials who spoke to the Economic Times said that the vessel shortages restricted the movement of raw materials from China, the biggest supplier to Indias drug makers. This would affect both local manufacturing and the producers, who may be forced to pass on the costs to consumers. Medicines in India, however, are regulated by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA). This would force pharmaceutical companies to absorb the higher input costs. "Importers, squeezed by surging raw material costs, are passing the pain directly to big pharma companies," said one industry official. "With APIs up, solvents spiking 20-30%, and every shipping line charging a premium, importers have no room to absorb." Prices of some of the key raw materials have risen by more than 60 per cent, data accessed by the news outlet showed. The price of glycerine, for example, has jumped 64 per cent since December. Meanwhile, Paracetamol prices are up 26 per cent. Muscle spasm-relieving drug, Thiocolchicine, has recorded one of the highest increases, rising from Rs 3.4 lakh to Rs 7 lakh a jump of over 100 per cent, according to a list by Arora. The pharmaceutical sector could now face a loss of up to 2,500 to 5000 crore if its exports to the Gulf, wider West Asia and North Africa are disrupted. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) accounts for about 5.58 per cent of Indias total exports. Countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Yemen rely on India for cost-effective medicines. There had also been growth in emerging markets like Jordan, Kuwait and Libya, with demands rising for vaccines, surgical products and AYUSH formulations, the TOI reported. The growth, however, is now at risk due to challenges in the global freight market and the upending of the shipping routes due to the Iran war. Pharmexcil chairman Namit Joshi said that there has been a doubling of freight charges for both exports and imports. The surcharges of $4,000-8,000 per shipment are also exerting pressure on Indian pharma companies, he said. One industry expert said that the minimum stock levels by pharma companies may be depleted if the war continues for another 10 to 15 days. In January, at a time when Pakistan was actively promoting JF-17 Thunder sales, leveraging its status as a combat-tested aircraft to attract buyers across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, media reports had said Indonesia was among the countries looking to buy the single-engine, multirole fighter jointly developed by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and Chinas Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC). For more defence news, views and updates, visit: Fortress India A Reuters report had then said Indonesias Defence Minister met the Pakistan Air Force chief and discussed the potential sale of the fighter jet and drones. The meeting focused on discussing general defence cooperation relations, including strategic dialogue, strengthening communication between defence institutions, and opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields in the long term, Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait, spokesperson for Indonesias defence ministry, was quoted as saying. The report had even quoted a source as saying that the country was looking to procure as many as 40 fighter jets from Pakistan. ALSO READ: India still top arms importer, but Atmanirbharta paying off; Pakistan ramps up weapon purchases: SIPRI A few weeks after talks of such a deal between Pakistan and Indonesia, reports emerged that Jakarta has finalised a deal with India for the procurement of the BrahMos missile system. The deal was confirmed by defence spokesperson Rico Ricardo Sirait himself. According to media reports, he said the agreement was part of the modernisation of military hardware and defence capabilities, especially in the maritime sector. The deal, estimated to be worth $200 million to $350 million, is aimed at boosting Indonesias coastal defences amid South China Sea tensions. BrahMos has a ship-launched variant that is designed to be launched in either vertical or inclined mode from moving or stationary maritime platforms, enabling stand-off strikes against sea and land targets. The missile, which the Indian Navy has deployed since 2005, has also demonstrated its salvo-launch capability, successfully striking one or multiple targets in different directions during a test firing from the Navys guided missile frigate. As part of its growing defence export push, India has been selling BrahMos, jointly developed by India and Russia, which is one of the worlds fastest supersonic cruise missiles, with the Philippines being the first customer. Several countries, including Vietnam, Malaysia, South Africa, and Chile, are reported to have expressed interest in procuring the missile. WASHINGTON, March 11 (Xinhua) -- A vehicle reportedly drove through a barricade near the White House on Wednesday morning, with U.S. media reporting that the driver has been detained. "A vehicle collided with the WH (White House) gate, at Connecticut and H Street NW," Sara Cook, a reporter for CBS News posted on social media platform X, citing a Metropolitan Police Department spokesperson. U.S. Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said that the driver has been detained and is being questioned, Cook said. According to a report by local media DC News Now, the Metropolitan Police Department assisted the U.S. Secret Service after a van drove through the barricade at Connecticut Avenue and H Street, Northwest. Various entrances and streets were temporarily closed as the investigation continues. On 2 March 2026, a senior commander of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that the Strait of Hormuz was closed. He did not mince words: ships that dared to pass would be ignited. Within 24 hours, five vessels faced attacks. Insurance markets seized. Oil prices, already up 37 per cent on the year, lurched higher again. And the worlds most consequential waterwaya strip of ocean barely 33 kilometres across at its narrowestsuddenly felt very small indeed. What followed was not a surprise to those who had been watching the slow-motion collision between Iran and the USIsraeli alliance over the preceding months. Airstrikes, missile volleys, the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and the controversial torpedoing by a US submarine of an Iranian naval frigate returning from exercises in Indian waterseach event tightened the coil. The Hormuz closure was the spring finally releasing. The question now is not whether the world faces an energy crisis; it does. The question is how deep it goes, how long it lasts, and who suffers most. A chokepoint like no other To understand the stakes, consider the arithmetic. Roughly 20 to 21 million barrels of oil transit the Strait of Hormuz every single daysomewhere between 20 and 25 per cent of all global oil consumption. Add to that one-fifth of the worlds liquefied natural gas, flowing from Qatar, the UAE, and other Gulf producers. The entire Persian Gulf, containing the reserves of Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, the UAE, and Qatar, has only one door to global markets. The Strait of Hormuz is that door. The geography is unforgiving. Shipping lanes run just three kilometres wide in each direction through waters hemmed between Iran to the north and Oman to the south. There is no alternative. The pipelines that existthe EastWest Pipeline across Saudi Arabia and the Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipelinecan absorb only a fraction of normal throughput, and not quickly. When the Strait bleeds, the whole global energy system bleeds with it. Asia bleeds most. More than 80 per cent of Hormuzs crude is destined for Asiafor China, Japan, South Korea, and, above all, India. For India, the numbers are stark: 2.5 to 2.7 million barrels per day, nearly half of its total crude imports, pass through this single channel. India imports over 88 per cent of its oil. Hormuz is not merely a trade route for New Delhi; it is an economic artery. How a closure actually happens Iran does not need to physically block the strait with warships to achieve its strategic objectives. The IRGCs playbook is subtler and, in many ways, more effective than a conventional blockade. It exploits the maritime industrys fundamental vulnerability: risk aversion. Naval mines scattered across shipping lanes do not need to sink tankers. The mere credible threat that mines exist is enough to freeze traffic. Mine-clearing operations in confined, contested waters are extraordinarily complex, demanding specialised vessels and weeks of painstaking workweeks during which the global oil supply would be slashed. Coastal anti-ship missiles and armed drones deployed from Irans island possessions and concealed mainland positions pose a parallel threat. Even disabling a single super-tankervisibly, publicly, with footage circulating on social mediawould render insurance cover for Gulf transit commercially unviable. No shipping company can operate without insurance. No tanker moves without insurance. Attacks need not be numerous to be paralysing. Then there are the IRGCs fast-boat swarms: dozens of small, high-speed vessels armed with rockets and torpedoes, trained to overwhelm escorts through sheer numbers and the chaos of confined-water combat. The narrow strait amplifies their effectiveness enormously. Irans commanders have rehearsed these scenarios for years. Lurking behind all of this is the prospect of a US-led military response to forcibly reopen the strait. The Fifth Fleet exists for precisely this contingency. But a naval campaign to clear mines, suppress missile batteries, and neutralise fast-boat flotillas in the Persian Gulf carries enormous escalatory risk. A shooting war between American and Iranian forces in the Gulf would not be a short, clean operation; it would be a regional convulsion. The world absorbs the shock Global energy markets are already reeling. Oil prices up 37 per cent year-to-date tell only part of the story. Shipping freight rates have exploded. War-risk insurance premiums, where cover can be obtained at all, have become eye-watering. The psychological premiumthe fear factor baked into every futures contractis substantial and self-reinforcing. Strategic reserves exist precisely for moments like this. The United States and its International Energy Agency (IEA) allies have committed to coordinated releases. But strategic stockpiles are buffers, not solutions. They buy time; they do not replace disrupted supply. And the arithmetic is unforgiving: a sustained closure removing 20 per cent of global oil supply cannot be offset by reserve drawdowns for long. Russia, conveniently exempt from the Straits disruptions given its export routes, has crude available. However, Russian oil flowing to Asia travels long distances via alternative routes, and the global tanker fleet cannot simply be redeployed overnight. Supply chains have inertia. Refineries are configured for specific crude blends. The substitution is real but slow and partial. Geopolitically, the crisis is reshaping calculations with remarkable speed. Chinatold bluntly by Tehran that its vessels receive no exemptionshas been reminded that chokepoints play no favourites. Beijings energy security assumptions, built around the idea that commercial relationships with Iran would shield Chinese shipping, have been exposed as fragile. For the United States and its allies, this is simultaneously a crisis and a test: of Western resolve, of coalition cohesion, and of the credibility of the naval order in the Gulf. India: Caught at the crossroads Indias predicament deserves particular scrutiny, for it crystallises the contradictions of a foreign policy built on strategic autonomy in a world of cascading crises. New Delhi has long prided itself on its ability to maintain working relationships across rival campswith Washington and Moscow, with Riyadh and Tehran. That balancing act is under severe strain. The torpedoing of an Iranian naval frigate in waters proximate to India added a jarring bilateral dimension to a crisis that New Delhi would far prefer to observe from a careful distance. India now faces pressure from multiple directions simultaneously. Economically, the exposure is severe. Rising crude prices feed directly into domestic fuel costs, transport costs, and fertiliser costs. Fertiliser price shocks ripple through agriculture and rural incomes in ways that carry enormous political weight. A weakening rupee under current account pressure amplifies the import bill further. Nomura and other institutions have already flagged acute LPG and LNG vulnerability on top of crude oil risk. Indias strategic petroleum reserves, covering roughly 40 to 45 days of consumption, provide a cushionbut not a comfortable one for a prolonged crisis. In the short term, Indias toolkit is limited but not empty. Diversifying purchases towards Russian barrelsalready a significant feature of Indias import mix since 2022offers some relief, with Russian crude arriving via the Arabian Sea on relatively short voyages. Engaging Gulf producers, Washington, and Tehran diplomatically to encourage de-escalation serves Indias interestseven if the leverage is modest. The Indian Navys presence in the Arabian Sea matters, both for the protection of Indian-flagged and Indian-chartered shipping and for signalling that New Delhi takes its maritime interests seriously. The long reckoning But the deeper lesson of the Hormuz crisis is structural, and India cannot afford to learn it only halfway. For decades, Indias energy strategy has been shaped by the assumption that the international energy market is, fundamentally, reliablethat ships will sail, that crude will flow, and that prices will fluctuate within manageable bands. The Hormuz crisis is a frontal assault on that assumption. Energy security is national security; there is no separating them. What India needs is not crisis management but crisis-proofing. That means expanding strategic reserves to cover 90 days of imports, not 45a target long discussed but never achieved. It means accelerating the renewable energy transition with genuine urgency rather than admirable but insufficient incrementalism: solar, wind, green hydrogen, and electric mobility. Every barrel of oil demand eliminated at home is a barrel that does not need to transit Hormuz. It means building naval and maritime security capabilities to protect Indian interests across the Indian Ocean Region, not merely the waters immediately adjacent to Indias coast. It means locking in long-term supply agreements with a genuinely diverse portfolio of producersAfrica, Latin America, and Central Asianot merely substituting one Gulf dependency for another. And it means revisiting, with renewed seriousness, pipeline and connectivity projects that would provide land-based alternatives to seaborne energy routes. None of this is quick. None of it is cheap. All of it is necessary. Conclusion The Strait of Hormuz has always been a geopolitical pressure pointa place where geography concentrates leverage, where small bodies of water exercise outsized power over the fate of large economies. The crisis of March 2026 is not an aberration; it is a preview. Iran will eventually reopen the Strait, whether for military reasons, due to economic pain, or through diplomatic accommodation. Shipping will resume. Prices will stabilise. The world will exhale. But the underlying conditionsa militarised Gulf, Iranian grievances, contested US influence, and Asian energy dependencewill remain. The next crisis is already being assembled. For India, the imperative is clear: stop managing chokepoints and start eliminating dependence on them. The Hormuz flashpoint has illuminated the fragility of Indias energy position with brutal clarity. The question is whether, this time, the light is bright enough to force action. The writer was Vice Chief of the Indian Army. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK. Indigenously designed and developed Air Droppable Container (ADC-150) to deliver 150 kg payload was successfully flight tested from the P8I aircraft off the coast of Goa Air Droppable Container will enhances the naval operational logistics capabilities for providing quick pic.twitter.com/Zvq5AJg6Hk DRDO (@DRDO_India) March 10, 2026 The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy jointly conducted successful testing of the indigenous Air Droppable Container ADC-150, a release said on Tuesday. Four successful in-flight release trials were executed from a P-8I aircraft off the coast of Goa between February 21 and March 1 to ensure that it was compatible with extreme release conditions, the Defence Ministry release said. ALSO READ | Why the Indian Navy needs Boeing Poseidon 8I aircraft to keep Chinese submarines in check? 5 POINTS To meet the requirements of the Indian Navy, the ADC-150 was developed to deliver a 150 kg payload; with all developmental flight trials completed successfully, it is expected to be inducted into the Indian Navy soon. "Indigenously designed and developed to deliver a 150 kg payload, the Air Droppable Container enhances naval operational logistics capabilities by providing a quick response to naval vessels in distress that need critical stores, equipment, or medical assistance while deployed in the deep sea far from the coast," the release read. For more defence news, views and updates, visit: Fortress India It further said that the Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam, acted as the nodal laboratory for the project. The Aerial Delivery Research & Development Establishment (ADRDE), Agra, developed the parachute system, while the Centre for Military Airworthiness & Certification (CEMILAC), Bengaluru, provided the flight clearance and certification. The instrumentation support for the trials was provided by the Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad. ALSO READ | India has reasons to watch as the US Navy deploys P-8 Poseidon aircraft near the Strait of Hormuz What are ADCs? Air Droppable Containers (ADCs) are specialised logistics systems designed to provide critical supplies to naval units at sea, especially to those on ships operating in remote maritime locations far from standard supply chains. They are equipped with a parachute system so that the impact of landing on the water is reduced, thereby ensuring the internal contents remain undamaged. From arms and ammunition to spare parts and regular supplies, ADCs are used to deliver cargo to ensure that personnel are not trapped or defenceless at sea in situations or places that are outside the immediate range of helicopter sorties. Chronic kidney disease is emerging as a major public health concern worldwide, with India carrying a particularly heavy burden. A recent Lancet study estimates that India now has the second-highest number of people living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) globally. In 2023, around 13.8 crore Indians were affected by the condition, second only to Chinas 15.2 crore cases. The global analysis, led by researchers from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington, examined health data from 204 countries and territories between 1990 and 2023. The findings indicate that the disease burden has steadily increased over time, with the global prevalence of chronic kidney disease rising by 3.5 per cent during this period. The report also highlights the growing severity of the condition. Chronic kidney disease ranked as the ninth-leading cause of death worldwide in 2023, accounting for nearly 15 lakh deaths globally, including over 1.2 lakh deaths in India. With kidney disease often progressing silently until its later stages, early awareness and preventive care are critical. On World Kidney Day, we spoke to Dr Visweswar Reddy, Senior Consultant in Nephrology at SRM Prime Hospital, to understand the warning signs people should watch for and the steps that can help protect kidney health and reduce the risk of chronic kidney disease. Understanding chronic kidney disease Dr Reddy explained that one of the most important kidney-related conditions affecting people today is chronic kidney disease (CKD). He described it as a permanent, progressive and irreversible damage to the kidneys that can eventually lead to kidney failure if left untreated. Chronic kidney disease is a condition where the kidneys gradually lose their function over time, he said. If the damage continues to progress, it can ultimately lead to kidney failure. For your daily dose of medical news and updates, visit: HEALTH Recognising the warning signs According to Dr Reddy, the symptoms of kidney disease are often linked to declining kidney function. These may include frothy urine, changes in the frequency of urination, swelling in the feet, loss of appetite, vomiting, fatigue and general weakness. However, he noted that one of the biggest challenges with kidney disease is that symptoms often appear very late. Unfortunately, most of these symptoms appear only when more than 90 per cent of kidney function has already been lost, he said. That is why chronic kidney disease is often described as a silent condition, because in the early stages, many patients may not experience any noticeable symptoms. Diabetes and hypertension are major risk factors Dr Reddy highlighted that diabetes mellitus and systemic hypertension were among the most common conditions that contribute to kidney damage. He noted that nearly 40 per cent of patients with diabetes and around 40 per cent of those with long-standing hypertension could eventually develop chronic kidney disease if their condition was not managed properly. Despite this, he emphasised that early detection could significantly improve outcomes. The good news is that early diagnosis is possible and effective treatment is available, especially in the early stages of the disease, he said. Importance of early screening Dr Reddy advised individuals who fall into high-risk groups to undergo regular screening. This included people with diabetes, hypertension, a family history of kidney disease, and adults above the age of 18 who may have risk factors. Simple medical tests could help detect kidney problems early. Basic investigations such as a serum creatinine blood test, urine examination and random blood sugar test can provide valuable information about kidney health, he said. Early treatment can prevent complications Once chronic kidney disease is diagnosed, timely medical care can slow down the progression of the disease and help prevent severe complications. Dr Reddy explained that treatment in the early stages could help preserve kidney function and reduce the chances of patients eventually requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant. Early treatment can prevent further deterioration and help patients maintain better kidney function for a longer period, he said. Emphasising the importance of kidney health, he added, A healthy kidney means a healthy life. This story is done in collaboration with First Check, which is the health journalism vertical of DataLEADS Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in poll-bound Kerala on Wednesday for the inauguration and launch of several development projects, assured that the BJP-NDA government, which is in power at the Centre, will never abandon any of its citizens who are in trouble. The assurance assumes significance as Kerala has a large expatriate population working in various countries in the Middle East. The prime minister acknowledged that it is natural for people in Kerala to be concerned about the conflict happening in the Gulf and West Asia. "Remember, the BJP-NDA government is in power today. Whenever one of our countrymen is in trouble, we have used all our strength to ensure their safety. Whether it is rescuing nurses from Iraq or Father Tom from the clutches of terrorists in Yemen, India never abandons its citizens in times of crisis today....Even today, our effort is to ensure the safety of Indians trapped in war-torn countries," the prime minister said. Modi said he is satisfied with the way the governments of Indias friendly countries in the Gulf are taking care of Indian nationals. "Our missions and embassies in those countries are providing assistance to them 24/7," he added. PM takes on Congress, Left PM Modi pointed out that the Congress is trying to score political mileage even during such unfortunate times and called it a "grave misfortune." "Congress is deliberately making provocative and irresponsible statements to worsen the situation. So that our people stay stuck in that crisis, and then these people can start a campaign to make reels abusing Modi," the PM claimed. PM Modi further said despite its immense potential, Kerala hasn't developed at the pace it should have. "The pattern of one LDF government, followed by another UDF government, has caused significant damage to Kerala. These two groups believe their turn will come in five to ten years. Therefore, they don't work hard for Kerala's development," Modi alleged. In a judgment that blends constitutional principles with deep human empathy, the Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment for 32-year-old Harish Rana, who has been in a permanent vegetative state since a tragic accident in 2013. A Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan permitted the withdrawal of clinically assisted nutrition and hydration (CANH) being administered to Rana through a PEG tube, while directing that the process be carried out in a manner that preserves dignity. ALSO READ | Passive euthanasia in India: Can Supreme Court offer merciful end to Harish Rana? The court also waived the mandatory 30-day reconsideration period prescribed under earlier guidelines. The medical treatment, including the clinically assisted nutrition administered to the patient, shall be withdrawn or withheld, the bench directed. To ensure that the process is conducted with medical care and sensitivity, the Court directed the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to admit Rana to its palliative care centre, where the withdrawal of treatment will take place. The hospital has also been directed to facilitate the safe transfer of Rana from his residence to the palliative care facility. It must be ensured that life support is withdrawn with a tailored plan so that dignity is maintained, the court emphasised. A decade-long ordeal Harish Rana was an engineering student in Chandigarh when a fall from the fourth floor of his paying guest accommodation in August 2013 caused a severe traumatic brain injury. Since then, he has remained in a permanent vegetative state, experiencing sleepwake cycles but showing no meaningful interaction with his surroundings. ALSO READ | Wait continues for parents as Supreme Court reserves order on passive euthanasia plea For over ten years, his parents have cared for him at home, watching their son remain alive but unresponsive, sustained only through artificial nutrition delivered through a feeding tube. Doctors repeatedly indicated that his neurological condition was irreversible. Eventually, the family approached the courts seeking permission to withdraw the life-sustaining treatment. Their plea was initially rejected by the Delhi High Court, which held that Rana was neither terminally ill nor dependent on mechanical life support such as a ventilator. The High Court reasoned that since he could sustain basic bodily functions independently, the question of passive euthanasia did not arise. The family challenged this decision before the Supreme Court in 2024. Applying the Common Cause framework The ruling marks the first judicial implementation of the Supreme Courts landmark 2018 Constitution Bench decision in Common Cause v. Union of India, which recognised passive euthanasia and the right to die with dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution. In that case, the Court had ruled that the right to life includes the right to live with dignity and that dignity must extend to the process of dying, particularly in cases where a patient is terminally ill or in a persistent vegetative state with no hope of recovery. The judgment had also laid down detailed safeguards for withdrawing life support. Under the framework, the decision must be approved by both a Primary Medical Board and a Secondary Medical Board before treatment can be withdrawn. These procedures were further simplified by the Supreme Court in January 2023. In Ranas case, the court reiterated the importance of institutional mechanisms to implement these safeguards. It directed High Courts across the country to issue instructions to Judicial Magistrates to receive intimations from hospitals whenever Primary and Secondary Medical Boards arrive at a unanimous decision to withdraw or withhold life support. The Court also directed the Union government to ensure that Chief Medical Officers in all districts maintain a panel of registered medical practitioners who can serve on secondary medical boards. Significantly, the bench recommended that Parliament consider enacting comprehensive legislation governing end-of-life decisions. A deeply human moment in court While Justice Pardiwala authored the main judgment, Justice Viswanathan wrote a concurring opinion. The bench also recorded its special appreciation for Ranas parents and wrote, His family never left his side, to love someone is to care for them even in the darkest times. For the Rana family, the judgment marks the end of a long and painful legal battle and the beginning of what the court described as a dignified farewell. For the law, it represents a significant step in translating the constitutional promise of the right to die with dignity into a living reality. The government, on Wednesday, sought to reassure citizens and markets that Indias energy supplies remain secure despite the escalating tensions in West Asia. At an inter-ministerial briefing, officials from the petroleum, shipping, external affairs and information and broadcasting ministries outlined steps being taken to safeguard energy supply chains and assist Indian nationals in the region. Sujata Sharma from the petroleum ministry said Indias crude oil supply remains stable, with the country currently holding around 55 lakh barrels of crude oil sourced from about 40 countries. She said the diversified sourcing strategy has helped cushion the country against geopolitical disruptions in any single region. Two additional crude cargoes are on their way to India, which will further strengthen the supply position, she said, adding that all domestic refineries are operating at 100 per cent capacity. Gas supply and procurement On natural gas, Sharma said Indias daily consumption stands at about 189 million metric cubic metres, of which 79.5 million metric cubic metres is produced domestically, while the remaining demand is met through imports. She said the government is also exploring procurement through alternative channels to ensure that supplies remain uninterrupted if the situation in the region affects existing supply routes. LPG supply and distribution The government also addressed concerns regarding cooking gas supplies, noting that around 60 per cent of Indias LPG requirement is imported, with nearly 90 per cent of these imports passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial maritime corridor in West Asia. Sharma said the government has taken measures to ensure the uninterrupted availability of LPG for domestic consumers. Domestic production has been increased and prioritised for household use. Hospitals and educational institutions are being prioritised for supply, while commercial LPG users have temporarily been put on hold, she said. The current price of an LPG cylinder in Delhi stands at Rs 913, while beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana receive cylinders at Rs 613. She also urged consumers not to resort to panic buying. According to officials, the normal LPG delivery cycle remains around 2.5 days, and there is no need for panic booking. To prevent diversion and ensure that cylinders reach genuine consumers, the government has implemented the Delivery Authentication Code (DAC) system, which now covers around 90 percent of deliveries. This is an international challenge, but we remain committed to ensuring uninterrupted supply, Sharma said. Shipping operations under watch Rajesh Kumar Sinha from the shipping ministry said Indian vessels operating in the region are being closely monitored. Currently, 28 Indian-flagged vessels with 677 Indian sailors are operating in the western side of the region, while four vessels with 101 Indian sailors are operating in the eastern sector. Sinha said port operations remain normal, and the government is maintaining continuous monitoring of vessel movements and communication with shipping companies and crews. Indians in West Asia The ministry of external affairs said it is closely tracking the situation and maintaining regular contact with Indian citizens in the region. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the government has set up a 24-hour control room to assist Indians seeking information or help. We are monitoring the situation very closely and remain in regular touch with our missions. Our missions are also in touch with Indian nationals in the region, he said. The control room received around 75 phone calls and emails on Tuesday, and officials said all queries were addressed. Jaiswal also confirmed that two Indian nationals have died and three others remain missing after an incident involving a merchant vessel. Indians in Iran Officials said there are around 9,000 Indian nationals in Iran, including a significant number of students. As a precautionary measure, Indian missions have begun relocating some individuals MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "Our embassy helping Indian nationals in land crossing to Armenia, Azerbaijan, from Iran." Diplomatic outreach Assem R. Mahajan, additional secretary handling Gulf affairs in the external affairs ministry, said Indian missions are coordinating closely with host governments in the region. Our primary focus is the safety of Indian nationals. Missions are providing real-time assistance and issuing advisories whenever necessary, he said. Government warns against hoarding Information and broadcasting secretary C. Senthil Rajan said the central government is coordinating with states to prevent panic and ensure that essential commodities remain available. He said the Union home secretary has spoken with state chief secretaries and directors general of police, directing them to remain vigilant against hoarding and black marketing. All necessary measures have been taken by the government. Citizens should avoid panic buying and hoarding, Rajan said. Officials said the government will continue to closely monitor developments in West Asia and take further steps if required to ensure energy security, safe maritime operations and the welfare of Indian citizens abroad. Controversy has erupted in Kerala after State Public Works Minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas was excluded from the inauguration of several development projects, including national highway initiatives, which will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kochi. Riyas alleged that excluding him from the event amounts to an insult to Kerala. He said replacing the minister of the department concerned with the BJP state president at the inauguration of major development projects in the state is not in keeping with democratic norms. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for various development projects worth 10,800 crore. The function is scheduled to be held at Kaloor Stadium at 1:15 pm. The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for a polypropylene plant to be set up at the BPCL Kochi Refinery at a cost of 5,500 crore. Another key project to be inaugurated is the six-lane stretch of National Highway 66 between Talappady and Chengala, built at a cost of 2,650 crore. The Prime Minister will also inaugurate the VengalamRamanattukara six-lane stretch of the Kozhikode bypass, constructed at an approximate cost of 2,140 crore. Riyas noted that the National Highway projectwhose office had been shut down after the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officially informed in writing in 2014 that it was being abandonedwas revived in 2016 after the LDF government came to power, through the intervention of the Chief Minister. He also said that Kerala was the first state in India to agree to contribute 5,600 crore for national highway development. The minister also pointed out that Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and NHAI officials have repeatedly appreciated the effective coordination led by the chief minister and the Public Works Department since the beginning of the project. In such a project involving multiple stakeholders, excluding the department minister from the official function and instead including the BJP state president is not appropriate, he said. He further asked that if the organisers chose to invite the leader of one political party, shouldnt the presidents of other parties also have been invited. Even if attempts are made to erase the role of the LDF government in the project, the people of Kerala will recognise the facts, he added. According to the official guest list, those invited include Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, ministers M.B. Rajesh and K. Krishnankutty, Union ministers Suresh Gopi and George Kurian, MPs Benny Behanan and Hibi Eden, MLA Uma Thomas, and BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar. However, the chief minister will not attend the function owing to the exclusion of minister Riyas, who is also the CMs son-in-law. BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar reacted to the controversy, saying that, as per protocol, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had been officially invited and that there was no need to invite his son-in-law. When it was pointed out that P.A. Mohammed Riyas is the states Public Works Minister, Chandrasekhar responded that it is the chief minister who should decide which ministers ought to attend the function. He also said that if there had been an insistence on inviting Riyas, the matter could have been communicated seven days in advance. Chandrashekar alleged that the controversy was a political tactic to divert attention ahead of the elections. All the projects being announced today are for the benefit of the people. However, the state government is trying to deliberately create a controversy, he said. Chandrasekhar further clarified that he had been invited in his capacity as a former Union minister and said there was no need to create controversy over it. A curious political ritual hides underneath this episode. Infrastructure projects involve many layers of governmentUnion ministries, state departments, and local administrations. Credit, therefore, becomes a political currency. When a ribbon is cut, the ceremony often doubles as a quiet battle over narrative: who built it, who enabled it, and who gets photographed next to the plaque. In modern politics, the plaque can be as contested as the project itself. Kolkata is facing a shortage of LPG cylinders, prompting many residents and businesses to seek alternative cooking methods. One noticeable trend is the sharp rise in the sale of induction cookers, as households attempt to manage cooking needs while conserving gas. Retailers say sales of induction cookers have skyrocketed as uncertainty grows over LPG supply. Induction cooker sales have increased significantly because people want to save gas. Many households are now using both LPG and induction cookers for cooking. Sales have gone up nearly 20 times as people are uncertain about availability of LPG, said Sanchita Laha of Guin Electronics. Another retailer in the Lake Market area reported a similar trend. There is nearly a threefold increase in induction cooker sales due to the LPG shortage. We have also seen a rise in sales of heating coils and other products, as people try to cook part of their meals on gas and the rest on induction, said the owner of Shree Durga Stores. Restaurants prepare for alternatives The shortage is also affecting restaurants, many of which are exploring emergency measures to keep operations running. Some restaurant owners are considering switching to coal as a substitute for LPG if the crisis worsens. Food is still being cooked using LPG. We have not started using coal yet. Food cooked on coal has a smokey flavor, and the cost of coal can also increase when demand rises. LPG prices have already gone up, and once the current 25-day reserve is exhausted, prices could rise further. At that point, we will need to compare the cost of coal and LPG, said Sagar Mondal, Marketing and PR Executive at Aminia Hospitality Pvt Ltd, a restaurant chain known for Mughlai cuisine and biryani. Some restaurants already rely heavily on coal for specific dishes, including Kolkatas signature biryani, while others are preparing to expand coal usage if needed. The gas crisis is affecting us. At present we use around 30 per cent gas and 70 per cent coal for cooking. If LPG cylinders are not avaiable, we will have to depend mostly on coal, which could create operational challenges, said a manager at the historic Aminia restaurant in New Market area, which serves approximately 1,500 to 2,000 customers daily. Biryani restaurants monitor situation Restaurants specialising in Awadhi cuisine, which heavily features biryani, are closely monitoring the situation. About 50 per cent of sales at all Oudh outlets come from biryani, while the rest comes from other Awadhi dishes. When we order 10 cylinders, we receive eight. When we order eight, we receive six. It is not that we are not getting any cylinders, said Debaditya Chaudhury, Managing Director of Chowman, Oudh 1590 and Chapter 2 restaurant chains. Chaudhury added that if the crisis deepens, the group may shift biryani production to coal-based central kitchens before distributing the food to its outlets. That would only be a temporary measure. I am optimistic that within the next few days the Strait of Hormuz will reopen and we will have access to oil and gas supplies, he said. He also noted that the restaurant industry has learned to adapt through past crises. The Covid-19 pandemic taught us how to use technology and adapt quickly. Chaudhury also adds that the Covid-19 pandemic helped their chain of restaurants use technology and adapt quickly during crises. We believe the current situation will too pass, he added. Commercial LPG supply severely hit Distributors say the situation is far more serious for commercial LPG supplies than for household consumers. We are unable to meet the demand for commercial LPG. Many restaurants and eateries we supply to have reduced operations. Some, like Balaram Mullick, have cut production in half, while others such as Bawarchi and Bhooter Raja have shut down. Home delivery outlets and caterers are not getting cylinders, and only a few places like Hindustan Sweets are still operating partially. The food industry is on the verge of collapse, said Bijon Biswas, spokesperson for the Indane LPG Cylinder Distributors Association of West Bengal. Households panic-buy cylinders For private households, the supply situation is somewhat better. We are managing to supply LPG cylinders to households with about a 30 per cent reduction from the regular quota, maintaining a 1:3 ratio, Biswas added. The uncertainty has led to panic buying among residents. Many households are stocking up on cylinders, and some are reportedly purchasing them at higher prices through the black market, fearing that the LPG shortage could worsen in the coming weeks. Monalisa Bhosle, who gained fame during the 2025 Mahakumbhmela, on Wednesday filed a complaint at Thampanoor police station in Thiruvananthapuram over forced marriage. In the morning, she arrived at the police station with her boyfriend, identified as Farman Khan. In her complaint, the Indore native claimed that her father, Vijay Singh Bhosle was forcing her to marry another person. Monalisa's father reportedly came to Kerala to bring her back home, but she refused to go to the airport with him. Police said they have not registered a case yet and clarified that no physical abuse was involved, reports Manorama Online. Monalisa is now 18 and police informed her father that she has the legal right to choose her life partner. Monalisa is currently in Poovar, Kerala, for the shooting of Nagamma, a Malayalam film directed by P. Binu Varghese. She rose to fame after videos of her amber eyes created a stir on social media during the Mahakumbh Mela where she was selling garlands and bangles. Sixty-year-old Rajendran Sivalingam, a retired government employee and his wife, Maheswari Rajendran, never imagined that a conflict elsewhere in the world would make their plans go upside down. Rajendran, who is turning 60 on March 24, had organised his 60th birthday celebration in a grand manner at a marriage hall in Mylapore in Chennai. On Tuesday, the wedding caterer called him to say that they are short of LPG cylinders and that there will be no food available. While he persuaded, the caterer said that he could cook only if Rajendran could organise the LPG cylinders. And after several phone calls and negotiations, the caterer had now agreed to come up with a no oil, no boil menu. Hotels in Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore and other tier two cities in Tamil Nadu have warned of a possible shut down due to unavailability of commercial LPG cylinders. As of now, the commercial cylinder supply is likely to stop anytime due to the disruption in LPG supply. According to the Chennai Hotel Owners Association, there are no alternatives but to shut down the hotels if there is a disruption in the supply of LPG cylinders. There are more than 10,000 hotels, small eateries, tea shops and establishments across Chennai, which consume at least five commercial cylinders per outlet every day. We do not have any other option but to shut down. We cannot afford to run the eateries without the supply of LPG cylinders, said M. Ravi, president of the Chennai hotel owners association. The food supply will be affected massively. While some of the outlets have chosen to go for induction-based cooking and electric stoves, Ravi says these alternatives are only a temporary relief. This is an unprecedented situation. I hope the union government will resolve this quickly. We have already written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and ensure an uninterrupted supply of cooking gas, says Ravi. We are preparing only short eats like salads, which do not require cooking gas. I have shut the morning tea and snacks counter, says Rajesh Pandiarajan, who runs a tea shop at Ashok Nagar, which is a prominent walking area in Chennai. Like Rajesh, most hotels either opened late on Wednesday, cut down on their menus and served only essential items that run round the clock and do not require reheating. Popular hotels in Chennai like Adyar Ananda Bhavan and Sangeetha, displayed boards outside the restaurants saying they have LPG only for the next two weeks, along with a temporary change oin the menu. One of the hotel owners even said the situation resembled the COVID lockdown when they suffered huge financial losses. The Tamil Nadu Hotels Association had also urged the Centre to withdraw the existing restrictions on commercial LPG cylinder supply. The hospitality sector employs a large workforce, and disruptions could affect both businesses and consumers, the association wrote in its letter to the central government. With hotels winding back on their operations, the gig economy is likely to face a huge disruption, with many of the Swiggy and Zomato drivers going jobless. I have only one pick-up order today. The restaurant changed the time. I used to get at least 10 orders every day at lunch. It is already 2 pm, and I have got only one order, says Sathish Ramkumar, a 21-year-old who works for one of the food delivery apps. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, meanwhile, convened an emergency meeting with the representatives of the traders associations, hotel owners and also the bureaucracy to take stock of the situation. Sources said that while commercial LPG supply may be disrupted as of now, the state has a stock of the domestic LPG supply for the next 20 days. WASHINGTON, March 11 (Xinhua) -- An ongoing military investigation has preliminarily determined that a U.S. Tomahawk missile strike on an Iranian elementary school that killed over 160 people, mostly pupils, resulted from a targeting error, The New York Times reported Wednesday. Officials briefed on the investigation told the newspaper that officers at the U.S. Central Command generated the strike coordinates using outdated intelligence provided by the Defense Intelligence Agency, leading to the targeting mistake. The findings are preliminary, and key questions remain unresolved, including why the outdated information was not double-checked, officials quoted by the newspaper said. The Feb. 28 strike on Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school in Minab occurred during U.S. operations targeting a nearby Iranian military base. While the finding was largely expected since the United States is the only country in the conflict known to use Tomahawk missiles, the incident has already cast a shadow over the U.S. military strikes in Iran, the report noted. U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly suggested that Iran, not the United States, was responsible for the school strike. "Based on what I've seen, that was done by Iran," Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Saturday. The Tomahawk is "sold and used by other countries," Trump said Monday. "And whether it's Iran, (which) also has some Tomahawks." "As The New York Times acknowledges in its own reporting, the investigation is still ongoing," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded in a statement. Analysts say the attack on a school full of students could be recorded as one of the most devastating military errors in recent decades. A political row has erupted in Kerala after Public Works Department Minister Muhammad Riyas was dropped from the list of invitees to an event in Kochi where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate and dedicate to the nation several key development projects on Wednesday. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and ministers M.B. Rajesh and K. Krishnankutty have been invited to the function. However, local media reports said Vijayan is unlikely to attend as the state government is planning to boycott the event in protest against Riyas not being invited. During his brief visit to the state, Modi will inaugurate projects worth Rs 10,800 crore undertaken by various central ministries, including the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the Ministry of Rural Development, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, and the Ministry of Railways. Among the projects to be inaugurated are the ThalappadyChengala stretch of the MumbaiKanyakumari economic corridor, the redeveloped Kozhikode bypass, and 23 roads constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. The Kerala government maintains that since it was responsible for acquiring and handing over land for the national highway project, it has a significant stake in the development. It therefore views the exclusion of Riyas from the eventwhile BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar is among the inviteesas politically motivated. Other invitees include Union ministers Suresh Gopi and George Kurian, Members of Parliament Benny Behanan and Hibi Eden, and MLA Uma Thomas. Responding to his exclusion, Riyas termed it an insult to the state. NH-66 was a stalled project. The National Highways Authority office was closed during the UDF rule. The project was started after LDF came, he was quoted as saying by Manoramaonline. For the first time in history, the state has spent Rs 5600 crores for the development of national highways, the minister added. According to the schedule, Modi will land at Cochin International Airport around 11 am and then travel by helicopter to the Kochi Naval Base. At 11.30 am, he will inaugurate the golden jubilee conference of the All Kerala Dheevara Sabha at Marine Drive. Later, he will proceed to the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kaloor. At the Kaloor stadium, after inaugurating the central government projects, Modi will address the National Democratic Alliances Kerala election rally. The convention will mark the formal launch of the alliances campaign for the upcoming Assembly elections in the state. According to organisers, around 50,000 party workers are expected to attend the event. After completing the programmes in Kochi, Modi is scheduled to leave for Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu at around 2.30 pm. Amid US Secretary of War Pete Hegseths warning of the most intense day of strikes against Iran, three B1-B bombers reportedly took off from Fairford base in the UK. The Rockwell B-1B Lancer has the highest conventional payload capacity in the US Air Force and can carry approximately 34,000 kg of weapons. As many as five B-1B Lancer bombers had arrived at the Air Force Fairford, United Kingdom, over the weekend. As per reports, three other bombers had been diverted to Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany, due to inclement weather. The US military personnel and ground crew were also spotted preparing explosive ordnance at an airbase in Gloucestershire, hinting that the bombers are currently on their way to Iran to strike deep, either the missile cities or nuclear facilities. This comes as Hegseth warned on Monday of the "most intense" day of US strikes on Iran with the "most fighters, the most bombers, the most strikes". The B-1B Lancers are a formidable weapon and the fastest bombers. It can carry around 38,328-kg Mk-82 or 10,9769-pound Mk-84 general purchase bombs, besides the 10, 9769-kg GBU-31 missiles. Nicknamed "the Bone", the B-1B has advanced radar and GPS systems which helps hit targets and electronic jammers, radar warnings and a decoy system to protect it from enemies. - Three B1 bombers took off from Fairford base in the UK for an attack in Iran. At this base, as you may recall, three B-52 bombers landed yesterday, after the long-awaited approval was received from the British government to allow the US to use this base for an attack pic.twitter.com/FcL9Xxzw00 The Informant (@theinformant_x) March 10, 2026 The expectation is that the bombers would breach Iranian airspace to completely flatten their missile capabilities. The bombers had done this earlier this month and returned to their base safely. The operation appears to be a great success and demonstrates the US's ability to carry out precision strikes deep inside enemy territory The fact that the UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, permitted the UKs bases in its joint offensive with Israel against Iran, despite initial refusal, has shortened the flight path for the bombers, which initially flew in from a US base in Virginia. The UKs decision also eliminates the need for the CONUS-to-CONUS missions of the wars early days. Now that the bombers have been forward deployed to England and/or another UK base, such as Diego Garcia, it means the sortie rates will drastically increase and decrease wear-and-tear on the bomber fleet compared to flying from the U.S. and back. According to sources, 11 American B1-B bombers and three B-52 bombers are at Fairford Air Base, which means that a quarter of the US B1-B bombers are currently at this British base. The B1-B bombers have the largest payload capacity of all American bombersabout 34 tons. Even as U.S. President Donald Trump has sent mixed signals about the timeline of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the White House said on Tuesday that the United States has not ruled out the possibility of deploying ground troops in Iran. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Operation Epic Furythe military campaign against Iranwould continue until its objectives are fully achieved. She was responding to concerns raised by Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal about the potential deployment of U.S. troops to Iran. As for boots on the ground, the President has addressed this repeatedly. As Commander-in-Chief, he wisely does not rule out any options, Leavitt said. So again, I would hesitate to confirm anything that a Democrat on Capitol Hill says right now about the Presidents thinking, she added. Trump does not rule out a ground invasion of Iran, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt says during a press briefing. "He talked about this repeatedly, wisely he does not rule options out as commander in chief." #Iran pic.twitter.com/UbmoCgvYOy NOELREPORTS (@NOELreports) March 10, 2026 According to reports, Blumenthal left a Senate Armed Services Committee briefing on Tuesday and told reporters that he believes the Trump administration is moving toward placing American troops on the ground in Iran. We seem to be on a path toward deploying American troops on the ground in Iran to accomplish some of the potential objectives, he was quoted as saying by The Hill. Leavitt reiterated that the military campaign would end only when its goals are met and Iran no longer poses a threat to the United States. When those objectives are met, the President will decide when these operations should conclude, once he determines that Iran no longer poses a credible threat to the United States of America, she said. The Press Secretary also claimed that U.S. forces have made significant progress in achieving the campaigns objectives. More than 5,000 enemy targets have been struck so far. Irans ballistic missile attacks have decreased by more than 90 percent, and their drone attacks are down by approximately 85 percent since the start of Operation Epic Fury, she said. Leavitt added that more than 50 Iranian naval vessels, including a major drone carrier ship, have been destroyed during the operation. The U.S. military is also moving to dismantle Irans missile production infrastructure. Our B-2 bombers recently dropped dozens of 2,000-pound penetrator bombs on deeply buried missile sites, she said. As President Trump stated last night, the U.S. Military is making major strides toward achieving our military objectives in Operation Epic Fury. Americas warriors are winning this important fight at an even faster pace than we anticipated. The terrorists will be defeated. pic.twitter.com/NDty3HC95c Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) March 10, 2026 On Monday, President Trump said the war with Iran could end soon, noting that the United States had already achieved most of the objectives of its military campaign. Tehran responded sharply, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) asserting that it would determine when the conflict should end. Three days since his dramatic appointment as the new Supreme Leader of Iran, there is still no public sight of Mojtaba Khamenei in Iran. His absence from the public sphere comes in the wake of rumours that the son of the slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei could have been injured in the US attack. Mojtaba was appointed the new Supreme Leader on Monday, but is yet to appear in public, release a video, or issue any written statement to the Iranian public. A reason could be that any public communication could reveal his location and endanger his life, according to a New York Times report quoting Iranian officials. US President Donald Trump had stated that he would support killing Mojtaba if he was not willing to give in to US demands. Trump has previously called Mojtaba an "unacceptable" choice. Then, there are also reports that Khamenei suffered injuries to his leg during the February 28 attack. The report quoted two Iranian military officials who claimed that Mojtaba was alert and sheltering at a highly secure location with limited communication. The full circumstances and extent of Mojtabas injuries were unclear, the report added. There have also been reports in Iranian media addressing the new Supreme Leader as a wounded war veteran. A statement from Komiteh Emdad, a powerful government religious charity, also called Mojtaba janbaz jang, the Persian term for a veteran wounded in war. However, Baghaei evaded the local medias question about whether Mojtaba assumed charge or not. For years, Mojtaba Khamenei was considered a relatively mysterious figure at the top of the Iranian regime. He rarely gave public speeches and did not participate in public events. After his election, Iranian media outlets began distributing a short, half-minute video featuring still images of him alongside a brief biography. While there are controversies over his appointment, a strategic adviser to Irans parliament speaker on Tuesday appeared on state TV to reassure supporters of Mojtabas credentials, saying he has long overseen military and security affairs amid criticisms that he lacks executive experience. Mojtaba Khamenei has always been particularly focused on military and security issues and has had oversight of them. The countrys war room is now being managed under his direction, presumably," Mahdi Mohammadi said. "He is very well-versed in running the country. For many years, state officials have met with him and reported to him on various issues. He is familiar with the details of the countrys affairs. There will be no disruption in terms of his ability to gain full oversight of the countrys matters. No shortcoming will arise," he said. President Donald Trump has acknowledged that Vice President JD Vance was not fully aligned with him on the issue of war against Iran. Speaking to reporters, Trump said he and Vance were philosophically a little bit different on the question of the war. He noted that Vance was maybe less enthusiastic about going, although the president insisted he believed the United States had no choice but to act. According to Trump, if the US had not struck first, Iran would have eventually attacked them. Prior to the strikes, Vance reportedly expressed reservations about the operation, outlining what he believed were the potential negative consequences of attacking Iran. However, once it became clear that Trumps decision was final, he advocated for a swift and limited strike designed to minimise casualties and prevent operational leaks that might place American troops stationed in the region in greater danger. For latest news and analyses on Middle East, visit: Yello! Middle East Vances hesitation is rooted in a long-standing anti-interventionist outlook that has shaped his political identity. A veteran of the Iraq War, he served as a military journalist with the United States Marine Corps, an experience he frequently cites as the basis for his scepticism about foreign military engagements. Throughout his political rise, Vance has built his reputation on an America First platform, sharply criticising what he sees as the foreign-policy establishments tendency to police the entire world. He has argued that such interventions frequently trap the US in prolonged conflicts with unclear objectives and enormous financial costs. Indeed, during the 2024 political cycle, Vance explicitly argued against military action against Iran, describing it as a huge distraction that would impose substantial costs on American taxpayers. Confronted with the need to defend the administrations actions today, he has attempted to distinguish the current operation from earlier conflicts in the Middle East, particularly those in Iraq and Afghanistan. According to Vance, the key difference lies in the clarity of the mission. He has argued that Trump has set a clearly defined objective: preventing Iran from ever acquiring nuclear weapons. In Vances view, this limited objective is intended to prevent the United States from drifting into the kind of open-ended wars that characterised earlier interventions. President Trump is asked whether Vice President JD Vance supports the Iran War: He was, Id say, philosophically a little different from me. I think he was maybe less enthusiastic about going, but he was still quite enthusiastic. pic.twitter.com/pUMf9q24Ny The American Conservative (@amconmag) March 9, 2026 Despite eventually defending the operation publicly, Vance was notably absent from the media spotlight during the initial stages of the conflict. For nearly 72 hours after the strikes began, he made no substantive public comments, aside from reposting official administration messages on social media. He was also absent from the makeshift war room at Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate, where the president and senior officials monitored the strikes. Instead, Vance operated from the White House Situation Room in Washington. Administration officials, however, explained that during military operations, the president and vice president are not permitted to remain together outside the White House, ensuring continuity of government and operational secrecy. Vances aides further suggested that his public silence was deliberate, allowing Trump to serve as the administrations sole public messenger and preventing mixed signals during a critical moment. Some political insiders interpreted the silence as a tactical display of loyalty: in an uncertain situation, waiting for the administrations official messaging to stabilise reduced the risk of any statements diverging from Trumps narrative. While Vance remained largely in the background, the profile of Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio rose significantly. Rubio, long regarded as one of the more hawkish voices within the Republican Party, has increasingly emerged as the administrations primary public representative on foreign policy. He was present at Mar-a-Lago during both the Iran strikes and the reported capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. Trump has repeatedly praised Rubio in recent weeks, at one point suggesting that he could become the best secretary of state in history. The president has also contrasted Rubios diplomatic velvet glove style with what he described as Vances more combative political approach. Such praise has translated into growing political momentum for Rubio within Republican circles. For instance, at a recent gathering of 25 Republican donors at Mar-a-Lago, Trump inquired about whom they believed could be the nominee in the 2028 presidential election. According to reports from those present, the room overwhelmingly cheered for Rubio rather than Vance. Trump is also said to value Rubios strong television presence and his perceived ability to appeal to voters across party lines, attributes that the president considers valuable in a future nominee. The unfolding conflict with Iran, combined with Rubios rising prominence, presents a complicated political landscape for Vances own presidential ambitions in 2028. At present, Vance remains the leading figure to succeed Trump, enjoying strong support from the MAGA base, from Donald Trump Jr., and from influential conservative organisers. Nevertheless, defending the Iran war could present a substantial political liability. Public opinion polls suggest that a significant majority of Americans disapprove of the decision to strike Iran, and scepticism toward foreign military interventions has grown increasingly common among the Republican Partys America First wing. Some Republican strategists have warned that continued association with a controversial war could undermine his populist appeal by 2028. Rubios position carries risks as well. Should the war ultimately be viewed by voters as a foreign-policy failure, his standing could decline sharply, given that he has emerged as one of the most visible advocates and architects of the strikes. US President Donald Trump has once again said that the war against Iran will end soon, claiming this time that there is "practically nothing left to target" in the country. "Little this and that Any time I want it to end, it will end," Trump said while speaking to Axios. Earlier in the day, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz saud that the joint campaign with the US in Iran will continue "as long as necessary". This comes a day after US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday that it would be "the most intense day of strikes against Iran". Trump's latest statement also contradicts what Hegseth said earlier. The war secretary said the goals of the US campaign have not changed, and are being executed with "ruthless precision." Listing the goals, Hegseth said the priority will be to destroy the missile stockpiles, missile launchers, their defense industrial base and their navy. And the final goal is to permanently deny Iran nuclear weapons", he added. The mixed messages has been continuing ever since the war erupted on February 28. Last, Trump said that he would not stop the war until Iran surrenders unconditionally. On Monday, he contradicted himself saying, "We could call it a tremendous success right now. Or we could go further. And we're going to go further." Finding it difficult to send messages on Instagram? Well, it is not just you. Users across the world have been facing issues on Wednesday while trying to DM someone via the Meta-owned social media platform. According to Downdetector, a website that provides real-time information about the status of various websites, the issue still persists. In India alone, thousands of reports were filed, while US users across Los Angeles, Chicago, Phoenix, New York, and Washington joined the trend, a report said. Downdetector data reportedly showed that Indian users started experiencing the outage around 7:40am IST on Wednesday, and apart from the difficulty is using the messaging feature, many people have reported server connection issues as well. A minority is also finding to hard to load their older chats (message history), X posts claimed. A broader Meta server issue can be ruled out since Instagram's sister platforms WhatsApp and Facebook remains operational without any glitches. Apart from the messaging difficulty, users were also having problems with their Instagram feed, as posts were reportedly not loading. Refreshing the feed and opening profile pages were restricted for these users, reports said. Meta has not issued an official statement on the issue during the time of compiling this report. Outages usually get fixed within a few hours. Meta apps were down for users across UK, US, Europe, Asia, Australia and South America. on December 11, 2024, affecting lakhs of users. While some users were unable to refresh their feeds, the applications froze for some others. When some users opened Facebook, they were shown a message reading We're working on getting this fixed as soon as we can. The issue was later resolved with Meta various Meta platforms confirming it in separate official posts. Satellite images firm Planet Labs announced on Tuesday that it is extending its restriction on access to imagery of the Middle East to prevent US adversaries from using it to attack the US and its allies. The California-based firm operates a large fleet of earth imaging satellites. The images by the firm are sold frequently to governments, companies and media. On Monday, the firm said that it was extending its restriction to a period of two weeks from a delay of four days. "After consulting with experts inside and outside of government... Planet has decided to take additional, proactive measures to ensure our imagery is not tactically leveraged by adversarial actors to target allied and NATO-partner personnel and civilians," a statement said. All of Iran and nearby allied bases, in addition to the Gulf States and existing conflict zones", will be blocked for 14 days, it said. Planet Labs was founded in 2010 by NASA scientists. The most recent images that cover the Gulf states were released by the firm on March 6. The decision showcases the role of commercial satellite operators in global conflicts. Images from the satellite firm supply intelligence to clients worldwide, According to a Planet Labs spokesperson, the move to extend the delay was temporary and made in an effort to"o limit any uncontrolled distribution of the images that might result in their unintentional access and use as tactical leverage by adversarial actors. Some space specialists say that Iran could be accessing commercial imagery via other adversaries of the US. Another firm, Vantor, which also deals in high-resolution satellite images, said that it had a policy of not distributing images of US or allied bases during times of geopolitical conflict. During times of geopolitical conflict, Vantor may implement enhanced access controls to prevent the misuse of sensitive geospatial intelligence and to help protect allied forces and civilians," it said. The Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions have flared up once again, this time as a full-blown war after Islamabad deployed its jets and heavy munitions onto the Afghan territory as a response to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistans (TTP) incessant attacks inside Pakistan. The attacks, coined as Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, come with a loaded religious connotation to stake a higher moral ground vis-a-vis their Afghan co-religionists, similar to the term Fitna-al-Khawarij (named after the Khawarij, the fourth Caliph Alis supporters who later turned against him), a term used for the TTP. From Former (and now court martialed) ISI chief Lieutenant General Faiz Hameeds self-invite and tea sipping moment in Kabul to the present-day tensions, the clock has come full circle, and the entire Pakistani media is unanimous with the pressing question: How dare the Taliban turn against us when we created and sheltered them? On the contrary, Pashtun activists have been quick to point out the Pakistan Armys dealings with the TTP in the Musharraf era, where the latter were empowered to fight the Americans, till they turned against the Pakistan Army. Two key factors heavily weigh on the bilateral ties, namely the broader politics around Afghanistans historical rejection of the Durand Line, and the Afghan Talibans support for the TTP, which has led to the present fighting. If there are any lessons to be drawn from the war-scale fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan, it is the relegation of history that resurfaces in myriad aspects of the Pak-Afghan ties. As an inheritor of the Durand Line, Pakistan, since its creation, has attempted to rewrite the Pak-Afghan frontiers history by tying the Pashtuns to a larger cause of faith. Let us return to late 1946, when Pandit Nehru, as the newly appointed head of the interim government and head of the External Affairs Department, undertook a visit to the NWFP. The Muslim League, which had gained ground across India after the Direct Action Day, was successful in turning the Pashtun tribesmen against him, despite the presence of the Congress-Khudai Khidmatgar coalition government in the province. In Malakand, Nehru, along with Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, came under attack from the locals and survived a brick attack on his head. He even travelled across the FATA region, including Waziristans Miranshah, Wana and Razmak. The overall attitude of tribes was hostile to Nehru, as the Muslim League convinced them that an imperialist Hindu was all set to rule them once the British left. Later, in July 1947, the Muslim League won the referendum in the NWFP. Broadly, two factors consolidated the Muslim Leagues position among the tribes: the first being the 1947-48 Indo-Pak war in Jammu and Kashmir, which was framed as a Holy War and was followed by the mobilisation of the Pashtuns to invade Kashmir. It is worth noting that besides Punjab and NWFPs seminaries, prominent clerics of Kabul were also drawn into opposing Jammu and Kashmirs accession to India. The second factor was Jinnahs promise of autonomy to the FATA region, along with his personal assurance to the Afghan leadership, given the shared culture and familial ties. Jinnahs concerns had a context; as its name suggests, the FATA region was administered separately from the NWFP, and till independence, the British faced waves of resistance from the FATA tribes, who resisted any attempts to be controlled. The jolt in Afghan-Pak ties came early in 1949, when Pakistans second Governor General, Khwaja Nazmuddin, gave a statement that the FATA was part of Pakistan. The other problem pertained to Pakistans own anxieties on the Pashtunistan narrative, which it claimed was an Indian conspiracy with Bacha Khan and Afghan support. Pakistani newspapers carried accusations of Indias involvement in the NWFP through the Fakir of Ipi, a tribal mystic, who first fought the British, and later the Pakistani state. Both countries came to the verge of a war in 1949 after Pakistan Air Force carried out aerial bombardments in Afghan territory adjoining the FATA region to punish the Fakir and his followers. The Fakir is also said to have written to Nehru immediately after independence seeking Indias support, and his opposition to Pakistan in the FATA region also thwarted an effective mobilisation that could have potentially inflicted more damage in Kashmir during the tribal invasion of 1947. The incorporation of both, NWFP (presently Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and the Tribal Areas (former FATA region), into Pakistan was thus not without its set of complications, and naturally dragged Afghanistan into these problems. In the Cold War years, as the Soviet Union came to interfere in Afghan politics, Pakistan found a natural alliance in the Islamist movements that challenged communism and cut across ethnic lines. The ISI worked with most of the influential warlords of the Afghan Jihad until it found the best bet in the Taliban in the 1990s. The Pakistani deep states confidence stemmed from its perceived influence on the Taliban through the Deobandi connections and its safe havens, but it could never get the Taliban to accept the Durand Line or support the Pakistan Armys policies in KPK. Since its creation, the two instances where Pakistan had unanimous support of the Pashtuns were first, when they were persuaded to unite and fight for Kashmir, and later during the Soviet invasion. These episodes, however, could not change the history of the Afghan frontier. The purpose of mentioning the specific towns where Nehru visited in 1946 is to recall that these very places emerged as home to much of TTPs leadership, and to date continue to distract the Pakistan Army despite its mammoth operations for two decades. This article does not intend to exonerate or question Nehrus choices, but it certainly confirms a foreboding that the forces of history often manifest in silence. Prateek Joshi has completed/defended his PhD from the University of Oxford, where his research looks into the early years of Indian foreign policy. A Sri Lankan court on Wednesday passed an order to hand over the remains of the 84 Iranian sailors who were killed when Iranian naval vessel IRIS Dena was torpedoed by an American submarine. The court's order comes at a time when there were reports of diplomatic pressure on Sri Lanka from America to not to repatriate the bodies of the Iranian sailors. The bodies, which are at Karapitiya teaching hospital, will be sent to Tehran by Sri Lanka. The Galle chief magistrate court ruled that the bodies of 84 identified crew members from the IRIS Dena, torpedoed 40 nautical miles off Sri Lankas coast on March 4, be handed over to Iranian embassy officials for repatriation. The 32 survivors were rescued by the Sri Lankan navy. Out of the 87 the crew members killed, 84 bodies have been identified. The decision to hand over the remains have come days after there were reports of diplomatic pressure by America on Sri Lanka, as suggested by a leaked cable dated March 6. The cable was reportedly written by US Charge dAffaires Jayne Howell. The cable sent from the US Embassy in Colombo urged Sri Lankan authorities not to repatriate the surviving crew of the Iranian vessel IRIS Dena and also the 208 crew members who were evacuated from IRIS Bushehr, which was allowed to dock at the port of Trincomalee. According to reports, the leaked cable was with an underlying goal saying, minimise Iranian attempts to use the detainees for propaganda. It is also said that Jayne Howell briefed the Israeli ambassador to India and Sri Lanka that there were no plans to repatriate the crew to Iran, even when the Israeli envoy asked about engagement with the crew to encourage defection. The leaked cable, US diplomatic pressure and the Galle court order seems to be a strong message from the Sri Lankans to the world. The ruling underscores Sri Lankas diplomatic stance, its role as a neutral state and also to make it apparent that it will not respond to any pressure arising out of the conflict in West Asia. Sri Lanka has chosen to take its decision under international maritime and humanitarian law talks beyond diplomacy, according to the political circles in Sri Lanka. Arsenal Predicted Lineup vs Bayer Leverkusen: Champions League Team News Arsenal return to Champions League action tonight with renewed momentum and a clearer picture regarding selection. Mikel Artetas side travel to Germany for the first leg of their last 16 tie against Bayer Leverkusen, and the Arsenal predicted lineup now appears far stronger following several positive fitness updates. Rotation during the weekend FA Cup win has allowed key figures to rest, ensuring Arsenal arrive at the BayArena with fresh legs and renewed focus. Arsenal Predicted Lineup for Leverkusen Clash Arteta used the FA Cup fixture against Mansfield to manage his squad carefully. Several core players were left out entirely, a decision that now looks strategic ahead of this European challenge. David Raya, Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi and Gabriel were all rested and are expected to return to the starting eleven. At the back, there is further encouragement. William Saliba missed the previous two matches because of an ankle problem, yet the defender trained with the first team on Tuesday. Arteta has already confirmed he is ready to start. This provides Arsenal with a far more familiar defensive platform as they prepare for a demanding night in Germany. Fitness Boost Lifts Arsenal Selection Options Arsenals preparation has also been helped by the presence of Leandro Trossard and Riccardo Calafiori in training. Both players had been substituted during the FA Cup tie after minor issues. Arteta remains cautious about their involvement but did not rule either player out. Those two are a possibility that they are available, and well see tomorrow how we use them, Arteta said. The manager therefore has several attacking options available. Gabriel Martinelli could still be preferred in the starting side. The Brazilian has been particularly effective in Europe this season, scoring six Champions League goals despite only starting four matches. His direct running and pace could prove valuable against Leverkusens defensive structure. Midfield Decision Shapes Arsenal Lineup One area of the Arsenal predicted lineup remains unsettled. Martin Odegaard was not present in training and continues to deal with a knee problem. The captain has therefore been ruled out of the match. That absence creates an opportunity in the attacking midfield role. Eberechi Eze appears the most likely candidate to start, particularly as Arsenal continue to manage Kai Havertz carefully after his recent fitness concerns. Meanwhile Ben White remains a doubt after missing Tuesdays training session. The defender has not played for almost a month but did travel with the squad to Germany. Arteta may decide late whether he is ready to feature. Arsenal Predicted Lineup Arsenal predicted lineup 4,2,3,1: Raya Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie Zubimendi, Rice Saka, Eze, Martinelli Gyokeres Injured: Merino, Odegaard Doubts: White, Trossard, Calafiori Kick off: 5.45pm GMT, Wednesday March 11, 2026 Venue: BayArena, Leverkusen Broadcast: TNT Sports Arsenal approach the tie with cautious confidence. The return of key players strengthens the starting XI, and Arteta will hope this Arsenal predicted lineup can seize control of the tie before the second leg in north London. Dino Polska S.A. (OTCMKTS:DNOPY Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest in the month of February. As of February 27th, there was short interest totaling 25,951 shares, a growth of 981.3% from the February 12th total of 2,400 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 65,805 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.4 days. Based on an average trading volume of 65,805 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.4 days. Dino Polska Stock Down 3.4% DNOPY stock traded down $0.40 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $11.47. 62,055 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 53,351. The business has a 50-day moving average of $11.19 and a two-hundred day moving average of $11.67. Dino Polska has a 52 week low of $10.08 and a 52 week high of $15.62. Get Dino Polska alerts: Dino Polska Company Profile (Get Free Report) Dino Polska SA is a leading Polish grocery retail chain specializing in the operation of neighborhood supermarkets. Founded by entrepreneur Tomasz Biernacki, the company has built a reputation for offering convenience shopping experiences in small and mid-sized towns across Poland. Its growth model focuses on local accessibility, with each store designed to serve the daily needs of nearby communities. The companys core business activities revolve around the sale of food and everyday household products. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Dino Polska Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dino Polska and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tenet Healthcare (NYSE: THC) has recently received a number of price target changes and ratings updates: 3/4/2026 Tenet Healthcare had its overweight rating reaffirmed by Cantor Fitzgerald. 3/1/2026 Tenet Healthcare was upgraded by Wall Street Zen from buy to strong-buy. 2/21/2026 Tenet Healthcare was downgraded by Wall Street Zen from strong-buy to buy. 2/20/2026 Tenet Healthcare had its price target raised by Leerink Partners from $255.00 to $264.00. They now have an outperform rating on the stock. 2/17/2026 Tenet Healthcare had its price target raised by Truist Financial Corporation from $240.00 to $270.00. They now have a buy rating on the stock. 2/16/2026 Tenet Healthcare had its overweight rating reaffirmed by Wells Fargo & Company. They now have a $265.00 price target on the stock. 2/13/2026 Tenet Healthcare had its price target raised by Guggenheim from $257.00 to $271.00. They now have a buy rating on the stock. 2/13/2026 Tenet Healthcare had its price target raised by Barclays PLC from $240.00 to $257.00. They now have an overweight rating on the stock. 2/12/2026 Tenet Healthcare had its price target raised by UBS Group AG from $260.00 to $288.00. They now have a buy rating on the stock. 2/12/2026 Tenet Healthcare had its buy rating reaffirmed by TD Cowen. 2/12/2026 Tenet Healthcare had its overweight rating reaffirmed by Morgan Stanley. They now have a $260.00 price target on the stock. 2/12/2026 Tenet Healthcare had its price target raised by Royal Bank Of Canada from $253.00 to $277.00. They now have an outperform rating on the stock. 2/12/2026 Tenet Healthcare had its price target raised by KeyCorp from $225.00 to $250.00. They now have an overweight rating on the stock. 2/12/2026 Tenet Healthcare had its price target raised by Jefferies Financial Group Inc. from $250.00 to $265.00. They now have a buy rating on the stock. 2/3/2026 Tenet Healthcare had its buy rating reaffirmed by UBS Group AG. 2/3/2026 Tenet Healthcare had its price target raised by Royal Bank Of Canada from $252.00 to $253.00. They now have an outperform rating on the stock. 1/31/2026 Tenet Healthcare was upgraded by Wall Street Zen from buy to strong-buy. 1/18/2026 Tenet Healthcare was downgraded by Wall Street Zen from strong-buy to buy. 1/10/2026 Tenet Healthcare was upgraded by Wall Street Zen from buy to strong-buy. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, EVP Thomas W. Arnst sold 8,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $238.85, for a total transaction of $1,910,800.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 12 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,866.20. This trade represents a 99.85% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Nadja West sold 2,178 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $197.47, for a total transaction of $430,089.66. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 28,480 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,623,945.60. This trade represents a 7.10% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold a total of 42,195 shares of company stock valued at $9,823,406 over the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 0.81% of the companys stock. Get Tenet Healthcare Corporation alerts: Tenet Healthcare Corporation (NYSE: THC) is a diversified American healthcare services company that owns and operates acute care hospitals and a broad range of outpatient facilities. Its portfolio includes general acute-care hospitals, specialty hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, urgent care and diagnostic imaging centers, and other ancillary service locations. Tenets operations are oriented around delivering inpatient and outpatient clinical care across multiple medical specialties, with an emphasis on surgical services, emergency care, and advanced diagnostics. In addition to facility-based care, Tenet provides integrated services designed to support clinical operations and improve patient access and care coordination. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Tenet Healthcare Corporation Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tenet Healthcare Corporation and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Quantum Materials (OTCMKTS:QTMM Get Free Report) and DeFi Technologies (OTC:DEFTF Get Free Report) are both small-cap computer and technology companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, earnings, risk, profitability, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and valuation. Profitability This table compares Quantum Materials and DeFi Technologies net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Get Quantum Materials alerts: Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Quantum Materials N/A N/A N/A DeFi Technologies N/A 184.49% 13.66% Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of current recommendations and price targets for Quantum Materials and DeFi Technologies, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Quantum Materials 0 0 0 0 0.00 DeFi Technologies 0 0 2 0 3.00 Institutional & Insider Ownership Earnings and Valuation 0.1% of Quantum Materials shares are owned by institutional investors. 12.8% of Quantum Materials shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. This table compares Quantum Materials and DeFi Technologiess revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Quantum Materials N/A N/A -$8.96 million N/A N/A DeFi Technologies $7.67 million 169.46 -$15.03 million $0.17 23.43 Quantum Materials has higher earnings, but lower revenue than DeFi Technologies. Summary DeFi Technologies beats Quantum Materials on 5 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks. About Quantum Materials (Get Free Report) Quantum Materials Corp. engages in the design, development, production and supply of nanomaterials, including quantum dots, tetrapod quantum dots, and other nanoparticles for a range of applications in televisions, displays and other optoelectronics, photovoltaics, solid state lighting, life sciences, security ink, battery, and sensor sectors of the market. The company was founded by Stephen Squires on January 9, 2007 and is headquartered in San Marcos, TX. About DeFi Technologies (Get Free Report) DeFi Technologies Inc., a technology company, develops and lists exchange traded products in Canada, Bermuda, and the Cayman Islands. The company provides asset management services, such as investment vehicles, indirect exposure to underlying cryptocurrencies, digital asset indexes, and other decentralized finance instruments. It also participates in decentralized blockchain networks by processing data transactions that contribute to network security and stability, governance, and transaction validation. In addition, the company invests in decentralized finance companies in early-stage ventures. Further, it offers node management of decentralized protocols to support governance, security, and transaction validation for their networks. The company was formerly known as Valour Inc. and changed its name to DeFi Technologies Inc. in July 2023. DeFi Technologies Inc. was incorporated in 1986 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Receive News & Ratings for Quantum Materials Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Quantum Materials and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Franklin FTSE Canada ETF (NYSEARCA:FLCA Get Free Report) was the target of a significant decline in short interest during the month of February. As of February 27th, there was short interest totaling 86,550 shares, a decline of 81.5% from the February 12th total of 467,629 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 103,829 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.8 days. Currently, 0.7% of the shares of the company are sold short. Currently, 0.7% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 103,829 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.8 days. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Franklin FTSE Canada ETF Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Franklin FTSE Canada ETF in the third quarter valued at about $37,000. Comerica Bank lifted its position in shares of Franklin FTSE Canada ETF by 1,557.1% during the 4th quarter. Comerica Bank now owns 812 shares of the companys stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 763 shares during the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its position in shares of Franklin FTSE Canada ETF by 1,080.0% during the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 826 shares of the companys stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 756 shares during the last quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. boosted its stake in Franklin FTSE Canada ETF by 84.6% during the 2nd quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 1,331 shares of the companys stock valued at $56,000 after purchasing an additional 610 shares during the period. Finally, Bayban bought a new stake in Franklin FTSE Canada ETF during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $70,000. Get Franklin FTSE Canada ETF alerts: Franklin FTSE Canada ETF Price Performance NYSEARCA:FLCA traded down $0.14 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $50.58. The stock had a trading volume of 50,375 shares, compared to its average volume of 89,008. Franklin FTSE Canada ETF has a 1-year low of $33.59 and a 1-year high of $52.02. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $49.87 and its 200-day simple moving average is $47.25. The stock has a market capitalization of $634.78 million, a P/E ratio of 19.67 and a beta of 0.93. Franklin FTSE Canada ETF Company Profile The Franklin FTSE Canada ETF (FLCA) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the FTSE Canada RIC Capped index. The fund tracks a market cap-weighted index of large- and mid-cap Canadian stocks. FLCA was launched on Nov 2, 2017 and is managed by Franklin Templeton. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Franklin FTSE Canada ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Franklin FTSE Canada ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BE Semiconductor Industries NV (OTCMKTS:BESIY Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant decline in short interest during the month of February. As of February 27th, there was short interest totaling 3,038 shares, a decline of 87.7% from the February 12th total of 24,601 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 18,685 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.2 days. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 18,685 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.2 days. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of brokerages have recently commented on BESIY. Citigroup reiterated a neutral rating on shares of BE Semiconductor Industries in a research report on Tuesday, January 20th. Needham & Company LLC upgraded BE Semiconductor Industries to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Kepler Capital Markets lowered BE Semiconductor Industries from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, January 9th. Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of BE Semiconductor Industries in a report on Sunday, January 4th. Finally, Berenberg Bank upgraded BE Semiconductor Industries to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, February 23rd. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold. Get BE Semiconductor Industries alerts: View Our Latest Analysis on BESIY BE Semiconductor Industries Stock Up 0.3% BE Semiconductor Industries Company Profile Shares of BESIY stock traded up $0.67 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $200.27. 5,611 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 9,296. The company has a quick ratio of 5.02, a current ratio of 5.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.46. BE Semiconductor Industries has a 1-year low of $88.02 and a 1-year high of $235.17. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $201.00 and a 200 day moving average price of $169.98. (Get Free Report) BE Semiconductor Industries NV (OTCMKTS:BESIY), commonly known as BESI, is a global supplier of assembly equipment for the semiconductor industry. The company designs, develops and manufactures capital equipment used in the back-end production of semiconductor devices, including die attach, wire bonding and flip chip packaging systems. BESIs platforms support a wide range of applications from memory and logic chips to advanced power devices and radio-frequency modules, enabling high precision, throughput and yield in device assembly and test processes. Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Duiven, the Netherlands, BESI went public on Euronext Amsterdam in 1999. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for BE Semiconductor Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BE Semiconductor Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions Inc. (OTCMKTS:AITX Get Free Report) saw a significant decline in short interest in the month of February. As of February 27th, there was short interest totaling 41,411 shares, a decline of 98.9% from the February 12th total of 3,603,331 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 241,856,285 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.0 days. Based on an average trading volume of 241,856,285 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.0 days. Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions Stock Performance Shares of Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions stock traded up $0.00 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $0.00. 97,856,656 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 152,183,906. Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions has a 12 month low of $0.00 and a 12 month high of $0.00. Get Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions alerts: About Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions (Get Free Report) Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions, Inc (OTCMKTS: AITX) is a technology company focused on developing and deploying advanced robotic and artificial intelligence solutions for security, surveillance and remote monitoring applications. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Robotic Assistance Devices, the company offers integrated platforms that combine autonomous robotics, machine learning software and cloud-based monitoring services to enhance operational efficiency, safety and threat detection. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. iShares MSCI Kokusai ETF (NYSEARCA:TOK Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest in the month of February. As of February 27th, there was short interest totaling 5,047 shares, a growth of 819.3% from the February 12th total of 549 shares. Currently, 0.3% of the companys stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,688 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 3.0 days. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,688 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 3.0 days. Currently, 0.3% of the companys stock are sold short. iShares MSCI Kokusai ETF Price Performance Shares of iShares MSCI Kokusai ETF stock traded down $0.12 on Tuesday, hitting $137.96. The company had a trading volume of 193 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,022. The firm has a market capitalization of $227.63 million, a P/E ratio of 22.74 and a beta of 0.98. iShares MSCI Kokusai ETF has a twelve month low of $99.96 and a twelve month high of $142.42. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $140.17 and a 200-day moving average of $137.11. Get iShares MSCI Kokusai ETF alerts: Hedge Funds Weigh In On iShares MSCI Kokusai ETF A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. raised its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Kokusai ETF by 17.3% in the 3rd quarter. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. now owns 72,520 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,788,000 after purchasing an additional 10,695 shares during the period. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd bought a new position in shares of iShares MSCI Kokusai ETF during the third quarter worth about $2,094,000. Flow Traders U.S. LLC raised its position in iShares MSCI Kokusai ETF by 132.8% in the 2nd quarter. Flow Traders U.S. LLC now owns 78,129 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,842,000 after buying an additional 44,562 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new stake in iShares MSCI Kokusai ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $89,000. Finally, Citadel Advisors LLC lifted its stake in iShares MSCI Kokusai ETF by 84.6% in the 3rd quarter. Citadel Advisors LLC now owns 4,034 shares of the companys stock valued at $544,000 after acquiring an additional 1,849 shares in the last quarter. iShares MSCI Kokusai ETF Company Profile The iShares MSCI Kokusai ETF (TOK) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI Kokusai (World ex Japan) index. The fund tracks a market cap-weighted index of large- and mid-cap developed market stocks outside of Japan. TOK was launched on Dec 10, 2007 and is managed by BlackRock. Read More Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI Kokusai ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI Kokusai ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. JLens 500 Jewish Advocacy U.S. ETF (NYSEARCA:TOV Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest during the month of February. As of February 27th, there was short interest totaling 68,506 shares, a growth of 776.8% from the February 12th total of 7,813 shares. Approximately 1.0% of the companys shares are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 13,007 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 5.3 days. Based on an average trading volume of 13,007 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 5.3 days. Approximately 1.0% of the companys shares are sold short. JLens 500 Jewish Advocacy U.S. ETF Stock Down 0.2% JLens 500 Jewish Advocacy U.S. ETF stock traded down $0.05 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $28.45. The stock had a trading volume of 9,802 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,224. The firm has a market cap of $204.84 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.69 and a beta of 1.00. JLens 500 Jewish Advocacy U.S. ETF has a 52-week low of $20.40 and a 52-week high of $29.92. The company has a fifty day moving average of $28.90 and a 200 day moving average of $28.46. Get JLens 500 Jewish Advocacy U.S. ETF alerts: Institutional Investors Weigh In On JLens 500 Jewish Advocacy U.S. ETF A hedge fund recently bought a new stake in JLens 500 Jewish Advocacy U.S. ETF stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. acquired a new stake in JLens 500 Jewish Advocacy U.S. ETF (NYSEARCA:TOV Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 887 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $25,000. About JLens 500 Jewish Advocacy U.S. ETF The JLens 500 Jewish Advocacy U.S. ETF (TOV) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the JLens 500 Jewish Advocacy U.S. index. The fund tracks an index of large-cap US stocks while employing a methodology that seeks to align stock selection and weighting with Jewish value pillars. TOV was launched on Feb 26, 2025 and is issued by JLens. Read More Receive News & Ratings for JLens 500 Jewish Advocacy U.S. ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for JLens 500 Jewish Advocacy U.S. ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kairos Pharma, Ltd. (NYSEAMERICAN:KAPA Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest during the month of February. As of February 27th, there was short interest totaling 1,274,209 shares, an increase of 601.2% from the February 12th total of 181,710 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 2,687,153 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.5 days. Approximately 9.2% of the companys shares are sold short. Approximately 9.2% of the companys shares are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 2,687,153 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.5 days. Kairos Pharma Price Performance Shares of NYSEAMERICAN KAPA traded up $0.01 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $0.64. The companys stock had a trading volume of 180,499 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,315,610. The firm has a market capitalization of $13.32 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -2.06 and a beta of 2.28. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $0.70 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $0.94. Kairos Pharma has a 1 year low of $0.40 and a 1 year high of $2.11. Get Kairos Pharma alerts: Hedge Funds Weigh In On Kairos Pharma Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. FNY Investment Advisers LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Kairos Pharma in the third quarter valued at $27,000. XTX Topco Ltd increased its holdings in Kairos Pharma by 290.8% during the 4th quarter. XTX Topco Ltd now owns 48,494 shares of the companys stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 36,086 shares during the period. Finally, Two Sigma Investments LP purchased a new stake in Kairos Pharma during the 3rd quarter worth about $54,000. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Separately, D. Boral Capital reiterated a buy rating and issued a $9.00 target price on shares of Kairos Pharma in a report on Wednesday, November 19th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $8.33. Get Our Latest Research Report on KAPA Kairos Pharma Company Profile (Get Free Report) Kairos Pharma (NYSEAMERICAN:KAPA) is a clinical?stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing small?molecule therapies to treat genetic diseases caused by nonsense mutations. The companys proprietary platform leverages targeted ribosomal modulation to promote readthrough of premature stop codons, with the goal of restoring production of full?length functional proteins. Kairos Pharmas pipeline includes multiple programs in preclinical and early clinical development for rare pediatric and orphan indications. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Kairos Pharma brings together a multidisciplinary team of researchers and clinicians dedicated to translating its technology into potential therapeutics. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Kairos Pharma Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kairos Pharma and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Deutsche Pfandbriefbank AG (FRA:PBB Get Free Report) fell 4.2% on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as 2.84 and last traded at 2.85. 1,432,141 shares changed hands during trading, The stock had previously closed at 2.98. Deutsche Pfandbriefbank Stock Down 4.2% The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of 3.98 and a 200-day simple moving average of 4.46. Deutsche Pfandbriefbank Company Profile (Get Free Report) Deutsche Pfandbriefbank AG provides commercial real estate and public investment finance in Europe and the United States of America. It operates through Real Estate Finance and Non-Core segments. The Real Estate Finance segment provides financing for professional real estate investors, which includes professional national and international real estate companies, institutional investors, and property funds to financed properties comprising office buildings, properties for residential use, retail, and logistic properties, as well as hotel business. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Deutsche Pfandbriefbank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Deutsche Pfandbriefbank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bitwise Bitcoin Standard Corporations ETF (NYSEARCA:OWNB Get Free Report) saw a large drop in short interest in the month of February. As of February 27th, there was short interest totaling 1,877 shares, a drop of 91.3% from the February 12th total of 21,653 shares. Approximately 0.2% of the companys shares are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 26,649 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.1 days. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 26,649 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.1 days. Approximately 0.2% of the companys shares are short sold. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Bitwise Bitcoin Standard Corporations ETF A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of OWNB. Jane Street Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Bitwise Bitcoin Standard Corporations ETF in the second quarter valued at approximately $1,085,000. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLC purchased a new position in Bitwise Bitcoin Standard Corporations ETF during the 2nd quarter worth $1,794,000. Brookwood Investment Group LLC purchased a new position in Bitwise Bitcoin Standard Corporations ETF during the 3rd quarter worth $233,000. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in Bitwise Bitcoin Standard Corporations ETF during the 3rd quarter valued at $934,000. Finally, Citadel Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Bitwise Bitcoin Standard Corporations ETF during the 3rd quarter valued at $1,245,000. Get Bitwise Bitcoin Standard Corporations ETF alerts: Bitwise Bitcoin Standard Corporations ETF Stock Up 5.3% OWNB traded up $0.94 on Tuesday, reaching $18.62. 1,975 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 22,519. The company has a market cap of $21.41 million, a P/E ratio of 20.01 and a beta of 5.30. Bitwise Bitcoin Standard Corporations ETF has a one year low of $16.74 and a one year high of $39.00. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $20.96 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $26.72. Bitwise Bitcoin Standard Corporations ETF Company Profile The Bitwise Bitcoin Standard Corporations ETF (OWNB) is an exchange-traded fund that trades on the NYSEARCA exchange in the United States. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Bitwise Bitcoin Standard Corporations ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bitwise Bitcoin Standard Corporations ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Linamar Co. (TSE:LNR Free Report) Scotiabank upped their FY2026 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Linamar in a note issued to investors on Thursday, March 5th. Scotiabank analyst J. Goldman now expects that the company will post earnings of $11.52 per share for the year, up from their prior forecast of $11.23. Scotiabank has a Sector Perform rating and a $98.00 price objective on the stock. The consensus estimate for Linamars current full-year earnings is $11.43 per share. Get Linamar alerts: LNR has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce lifted their price objective on shares of Linamar from C$99.00 to C$105.00 in a report on Friday, March 6th. Raymond James Financial increased their target price on shares of Linamar from C$85.00 to C$100.00 in a report on Thursday, March 5th. Finally, TD Securities boosted their price target on shares of Linamar from C$103.00 to C$114.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, March 5th. Two 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, Linamar presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of C$99.40. Linamar Stock Up 1.5% Shares of TSE:LNR opened at C$88.55 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 35.80, a current ratio of 1.84 and a quick ratio of 0.75. The firm has a market capitalization of C$5.30 billion, a PE ratio of 21.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 1.72. The firms 50-day moving average is C$89.33 and its two-hundred day moving average is C$81.37. Linamar has a 1 year low of C$43.84 and a 1 year high of C$98.65. Linamar (TSE:LNR Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, March 4th. The company reported C$2.28 earnings per share for the quarter. Linamar had a return on equity of 4.22% and a net margin of 2.39%.The business had revenue of C$2.52 billion during the quarter. Insider Transactions at Linamar In other news, insider Alexander Drolc sold 427 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$88.00, for a total value of C$37,576.00. 33.49% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. About Linamar (Get Free Report) Linamar Corp is a diversified global manufacturing company of highly engineered products. The Companys Industrial segment operates the Skyjack and MacDon brands, It manufactures products for the Aerial Work Platform and Agricultural industries, respectively. The Mobility segment features vertically integrated operations to combine expertise in light metal casting, forging, machining and assembly of components and systems for electric and traditional vehicle applications. In addition, McLaren Engineering and eLIN Product Solutions Group provide design, development, and testing services for the Mobility segment. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Linamar Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Linamar and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Moelis & Company (NYSE:MC Free Report) Equities researchers at Zacks Research boosted their FY2026 earnings estimates for Moelis & Company in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday, March 6th. Zacks Research analyst Team now forecasts that the asset manager will post earnings of $3.07 per share for the year, up from their previous estimate of $3.06. The consensus estimate for Moelis & Companys current full-year earnings is $2.97 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Moelis & Companys Q4 2027 earnings at $1.20 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $5.21 EPS. Get Moelis & Company alerts: Moelis & Company (NYSE:MC Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 4th. The asset manager reported $1.13 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.76 by $0.37. The company had revenue of $487.94 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $430.17 million. Moelis & Company had a net margin of 15.36% and a return on equity of 41.67%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 11.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.18 EPS. A number of other brokerages also recently commented on MC. UBS Group increased their price objective on Moelis & Company from $70.00 to $74.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 7th. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c) rating on shares of Moelis & Company in a report on Monday, December 29th. Bank of America initiated coverage on Moelis & Company in a research note on Monday, January 26th. They issued a neutral rating and a $81.00 price target on the stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods downgraded Moelis & Company from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $78.00 to $80.00 in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on shares of Moelis & Company from $80.00 to $81.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, February 5th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and ten have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $76.33. Check Out Our Latest Report on Moelis & Company Moelis & Company Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:MC opened at $54.91 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.68, a PEG ratio of 0.58 and a beta of 1.90. Moelis & Company has a 1-year low of $47.00 and a 1-year high of $78.22. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $68.72 and a 200 day moving average price of $68.66. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Moelis & Company A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of MC. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC increased its stake in Moelis & Company by 9.9% in the 1st quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC now owns 4,799 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $280,000 after buying an additional 432 shares during the period. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. grew its stake in shares of Moelis & Company by 4.6% in the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 42,080 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $2,456,000 after buying an additional 1,839 shares in the last quarter. United Services Automobile Association bought a new stake in shares of Moelis & Company in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $264,000. Empowered Funds LLC increased its holdings in Moelis & Company by 37.6% in the first quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 42,828 shares of the asset managers stock worth $2,499,000 after buying an additional 11,692 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can increased its holdings in Moelis & Company by 6.5% in the second quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 12,088 shares of the asset managers stock worth $753,000 after buying an additional 741 shares during the last quarter. 91.53% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, General Counsel Osamu R. Watanabe sold 2,765 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $62.23, for a total transaction of $172,065.95. Following the transaction, the general counsel directly owned 4,981 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $309,967.63. The trade was a 35.70% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 6.40% of the companys stock. Moelis & Company Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 26th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 17th will be issued a $0.65 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 17th. This represents a $2.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.7%. Moelis & Companys dividend payout ratio is presently 88.44%. Moelis & Company Company Profile (Get Free Report) Moelis & Co operates as a holding company. It engages in the provision of financial advisory, capital raising and asset management services to a client base including corporations, governments, sovereign wealth funds and financial sponsors. The firm focuses on clients including large public multinational corporations, middle market private companies, financial sponsors, entrepreneurs and governments. The company was founded by Kenneth David Moelis, Navid Mahmoodzadegan, Jeffrey Raich and Elizabeth Ann Crain in July 2007 and is headquartered in New York, NY. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Moelis & Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Moelis & Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sun Life Financial Inc. (TSE:SLF Get Free Report) (NYSE:SLF) has been assigned an average recommendation of Hold from the ten research firms that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating, three have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average 1-year target price among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is C$96.44. SLF has been the subject of a number of research reports. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on Sun Life Financial from C$95.00 to C$100.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, February 13th. TD Securities decreased their price target on shares of Sun Life Financial from C$104.00 to C$102.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Desjardins raised their price target on shares of Sun Life Financial from C$96.00 to C$101.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Scotiabank lifted their price objective on shares of Sun Life Financial from C$93.00 to C$96.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research note on Friday, February 13th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on shares of Sun Life Financial from C$97.00 to C$103.00 in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Get Sun Life Financial alerts: View Our Latest Research Report on SLF Sun Life Financial Trading Up 0.1% Shares of SLF stock opened at C$86.37 on Friday. Sun Life Financial has a 12-month low of C$74.56 and a 12-month high of C$94.76. The company has a market capitalization of C$47.84 billion, a PE ratio of 14.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 0.76. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of C$88.09 and a two-hundred day moving average price of C$85.03. The company has a quick ratio of 84,866.00, a current ratio of 2.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 74.49. Sun Life Financial (TSE:SLF Get Free Report) (NYSE:SLF) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The financial services provider reported C$1.96 earnings per share for the quarter. The company had revenue of C$8.67 billion for the quarter. Sun Life Financial had a return on equity of 14.68% and a net margin of 9.74%. As a group, analysts predict that Sun Life Financial will post 6.9230769 earnings per share for the current year. Sun Life Financial Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 31st will be given a dividend of $0.92 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 25th. This represents a $3.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.3%. Sun Life Financials dividend payout ratio is currently 57.24%. About Sun Life Financial (Get Free Report) Sun Life Financial is one of Canadas Big Three life insurance companies along with Great-West Lifeco and Manulife. Sun Life provides insurance, retirement, and wealth-management services to individual and corporate customers in Canada, the United States, and Asia. It also owns MFS Investment Management, a Boston-based asset-management firm. Sun Life generates about a third of its profit from asset-management operations. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Sun Life Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sun Life Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bachem (OTCMKTS:BCHMF Get Free Report) is projected to post its results before the market opens on Thursday, March 12th. Analysts expect Bachem to post earnings of $1.11 per share and revenue of $466.9280 million for the quarter. Bachem Stock Performance BCHMF opened at $76.77 on Wednesday. Bachem has a 12 month low of $60.51 and a 12 month high of $82.73. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $75.67 and a 200 day moving average of $68.68. Get Bachem alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on BCHMF shares. UBS Group upgraded Bachem to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 2nd. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Bachem in a report on Monday, January 26th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy. About Bachem (Get Free Report) Bachem Holding AG is a Switzerland?based specialty biochemical company focused on the development, manufacturing and commercialization of peptides and oligonucleotides. Serving pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients as well as academic research institutions, the company offers a broad spectrum of products ranging from custom peptide synthesis for research applications to clinical and commercial?grade active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Bachems expertise extends to process development, scale?up and GMP?compliant production, supporting projects in therapeutic areas such as oncology, metabolic disorders and infectious diseases. Founded in 1971 and headquartered in Bubendorf, Switzerland, Bachem has grown through strategic investments in production capacity and the acquisition of complementary peptide and oligonucleotide technologies. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Bachem Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bachem and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. China Hongqiao Group (OTCMKTS:CHHQF Get Free Report) will likely be announcing its results before the market opens on Friday, March 13th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $0.2316 per share and revenue of $11.4141 billion for the quarter. China Hongqiao Group Stock Performance Shares of China Hongqiao Group stock opened at $5.00 on Wednesday. China Hongqiao Group has a 52 week low of $1.57 and a 52 week high of $5.00. The companys 50-day moving average price is $4.65 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $3.80. Get China Hongqiao Group alerts: China Hongqiao Group Company Profile (Get Free Report) China Hongqiao Group Limited is one of the worlds leading producers of primary aluminum and related products. The company operates an integrated production chain spanning bauxite mining, alumina refining, primary aluminum smelting and power generation. Leveraging access to low-cost hydroelectric power and in-house alumina capacity, Hongqiao has established a position as a cost-competitive supplier in the global aluminum market. Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Binzhou, Shandong Province, China Hongqiao Group has grown through vertical integration and strategic expansion. Read More Receive News & Ratings for China Hongqiao Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for China Hongqiao Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HII Get Free Report) VP Chad Boudreaux sold 4,400 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $422.45, for a total transaction of $1,858,780.00. Following the sale, the vice president directly owned 20,360 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,601,082. This represents a 17.77% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Huntington Ingalls Industries Trading Down 2.9% NYSE HII opened at $416.98 on Wednesday. Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. has a 12-month low of $177.42 and a 12-month high of $460.00. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $412.04 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $339.37. The company has a current ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 1.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53. The stock has a market cap of $16.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.13, a P/E/G ratio of 1.75 and a beta of 0.32. Get Huntington Ingalls Industries alerts: Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 5th. The aerospace company reported $4.04 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.72 by $0.32. Huntington Ingalls Industries had a net margin of 4.85% and a return on equity of 12.28%. The firm had revenue of $3.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.09 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $3.15 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 15.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts forecast that Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. will post 13.99 earnings per share for the current year. Huntington Ingalls Industries Announces Dividend Institutional Trading of Huntington Ingalls Industries The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be issued a $1.38 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 27th. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.3%. Huntington Ingalls Industriess dividend payout ratio is currently 35.91%. A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Korea Investment CORP acquired a new stake in Huntington Ingalls Industries in the 2nd quarter valued at $1,604,000. Primoris Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Huntington Ingalls Industries in the 3rd quarter worth $2,260,000. CWA Asset Management Group LLC raised its position in Huntington Ingalls Industries by 51.2% during the third quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC now owns 24,746 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $7,125,000 after acquiring an additional 8,384 shares during the period. SS&H Financial Advisors Inc. raised its position in Huntington Ingalls Industries by 76.7% during the third quarter. SS&H Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 8,120 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $2,338,000 after acquiring an additional 3,525 shares during the period. Finally, Jones Financial Companies Lllp lifted its holdings in Huntington Ingalls Industries by 31.2% during the third quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 12,560 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $3,502,000 after purchasing an additional 2,990 shares in the last quarter. 90.46% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth HII has been the subject of a number of research reports. Citigroup lifted their target price on Huntington Ingalls Industries from $450.00 to $465.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, February 10th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, January 31st. Melius Research upgraded shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Monday, January 5th. Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed a market perform rating and issued a $421.00 price objective on shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries in a report on Wednesday, February 11th. Finally, Weiss Ratings lowered shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries from a buy (b-) rating to a hold (c+) rating in a research note on Thursday, March 5th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Huntington Ingalls Industries has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $384.13. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on HII About Huntington Ingalls Industries (Get Free Report) Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE: HII) is Americas largest military shipbuilding company and a leading provider of professional services to the U.S. government. Headquartered in Newport News, Virginia, HII designs, constructs and maintains nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, submarines and other complex vessels for the U.S. Navy. The companys products include nuclear aircraft carriers, Virginia-class and Columbia-class submarines, as well as amphibious assault ships, destroyers and cutters. Established in 2011 as a spin-off from Northrop Grummans shipbuilding operations, HII traces its heritage to two historic builders: Newport News Shipbuilding, founded in the 19th century, and Ingalls Shipbuilding, founded in 1938. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Huntington Ingalls Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Huntington Ingalls Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Capital International Inc. CA increased its position in shares of Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX Free Report) by 5.9% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 191,733 shares of the medical equipment providers stock after purchasing an additional 10,718 shares during the quarter. Capital International Inc. CAs holdings in Boston Scientific were worth $18,719,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Steph & Co. purchased a new stake in shares of Boston Scientific in the 3rd quarter worth about $25,000. Financial Consulate Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Boston Scientific in the third quarter valued at about $25,000. Murphy & Mullick Capital Management Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Boston Scientific by 200.0% in the third quarter. Murphy & Mullick Capital Management Corp now owns 255 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 170 shares in the last quarter. FWL Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Boston Scientific in the second quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Finally, United Community Bank increased its stake in shares of Boston Scientific by 115.7% during the 3rd quarter. United Community Bank now owns 274 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 147 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.07% of the companys stock. Get Boston Scientific alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Weiss Ratings downgraded Boston Scientific from a buy (b-) rating to a hold (c+) rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 4th. Argus raised Boston Scientific to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Thursday, February 26th. Wall Street Zen downgraded Boston Scientific from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, February 7th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price objective on Boston Scientific from $125.00 to $110.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 4th. Finally, BTIG Research reiterated a buy rating on shares of Boston Scientific in a research report on Wednesday, February 4th. Two research 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 data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $108.36. Boston Scientific Trading Down 2.8% Shares of BSX stock opened at $69.90 on Wednesday. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $84.03 and its 200-day simple moving average is $93.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46, a current ratio of 1.62 and a quick ratio of 1.08. Boston Scientific Corporation has a 1-year low of $69.52 and a 1-year high of $109.50. The firm has a market cap of $103.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.03, a PEG ratio of 1.01 and a beta of 0.69. Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The medical equipment provider reported $0.80 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.78 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $5.29 billion during 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 revenue was up 15.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.70 earnings per share. 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 forecast that Boston Scientific Corporation will post 2.85 EPS for the current year. More Boston Scientific News Here are the key news stories impacting Boston Scientific this week: Insider Activity In other news, CEO Michael F. Mahoney sold 160,901 shares of the companys stock in a transaction 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 completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 1,411,735 shares in the company, valued at $131,983,105.15. This represents a 10.23% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 0.50% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. 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. See Also 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. Capital International Inc. CA lifted its holdings in American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) by 28.5% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 50,828 shares of the payment services companys stock after acquiring an additional 11,260 shares during the quarter. Capital International Inc. CAs holdings in American Express were worth $16,883,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Valley Wealth Managers Inc. grew its position in shares of American Express by 153.3% during the 3rd quarter. Valley Wealth Managers Inc. now owns 76 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 46 shares in the last quarter. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of American Express in the third quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Guerra Advisors Inc bought a new stake in shares of American Express in the third quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC grew its position in American Express by 210.7% during the third quarter. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC now owns 87 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 59 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Grey Fox Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in American Express during the third quarter worth approximately $34,000. 84.33% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get American Express alerts: Key Headlines Impacting American Express Here are the key news stories impacting American Express this week: Insider Buying and Selling at American Express Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades In related news, insider Anna Marrs sold 27,425 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $350.01, for a total value of $9,599,024.25. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 20,394 shares in the company, valued at $7,138,103.94. This represents a 57.35% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink . Also, insider Ravikumar Radhakrishnan sold 15,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $356.58, for a total value of $5,348,700.00. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 8,945 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,189,608.10. This represents a 62.64% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing . In the last ninety days, insiders sold 73,944 shares of company stock worth $26,114,366. Company insiders own 0.20% of the companys stock. AXP has been the subject of several analyst reports. Barclays lifted their price objective on American Express from $355.00 to $367.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on American Express from $400.00 to $425.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, December 17th. TD Cowen restated a hold rating on shares of American Express in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $420.00 price objective on shares of American Express in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $425.00 price objective on shares of American Express in a research note on Monday, January 12th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fifteen have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $352.73. Get Our Latest Report on AXP American Express Stock Performance American Express stock opened at $303.13 on Wednesday. The business has a 50 day moving average of $348.10 and a 200-day moving average of $349.48. The company has a market capitalization of $208.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.70, a P/E/G ratio of 1.29 and a beta of 1.14. American Express Company has a 1 year low of $220.43 and a 1 year high of $387.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.68, a current ratio of 1.59 and a quick ratio of 1.58. American Express (NYSE:AXP Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, January 30th. The payment services company reported $3.53 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.54 by ($0.01). American Express had a return on equity of 33.49% and a net margin of 15.00%.The business had revenue of ($17,139.00) million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $18.91 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $3.04 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 10.5% on a year-over-year basis. American Express has set its FY 2026 guidance at 17.300-17.900 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that American Express Company will post 15.33 earnings per share for the current year. American Express Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 8th. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 3rd will be issued a dividend of $0.95 per share. This represents a $3.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.3%. This is a boost from American Expresss previous quarterly dividend of $0.82. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 2nd. American Expresss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 21.31%. American Express Company Profile (Free Report) American Express is a global financial services company primarily known for its payment card products, travel services and merchant network. Founded in 1850 as an express mail business, the company evolved through the 20th century into a payments and travel-focused organization. Its core activities include issuing consumer and commercial charge and credit cards, operating a global card acceptance and processing network, and providing travel-related services and customer loyalty programs. American Express issues a range of products for individuals, small businesses and large corporations, including personal cards, business and corporate cards, and co?brand partnerships with airlines, hotels and retailers. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AXP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for American Express Company (NYSE:AXP Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for American Express Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Express and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Capital International Inc. CA boosted its stake in United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI Free Report) by 2,857.1% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 31,138 shares of the construction companys stock after acquiring an additional 30,085 shares during the period. Capital International Inc. CAs holdings in United Rentals were worth $29,726,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of URI. Optas LLC increased its position in shares of United Rentals by 0.9% during the third quarter. Optas LLC now owns 1,174 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $1,121,000 after acquiring an additional 10 shares during the last quarter. CreativeOne Wealth LLC lifted its holdings in shares of United Rentals by 0.5% in the 2nd quarter. CreativeOne Wealth LLC now owns 2,283 shares of the construction companys stock worth $1,720,000 after acquiring an additional 11 shares during the last quarter. OFI Invest Asset Management lifted its holdings in shares of United Rentals by 6.7% in the 3rd quarter. OFI Invest Asset Management now owns 175 shares of the construction companys stock worth $167,000 after acquiring an additional 11 shares during the last quarter. Great Valley Advisor Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of United Rentals by 2.9% during the 2nd quarter. Great Valley Advisor Group Inc. now owns 387 shares of the construction companys stock worth $292,000 after purchasing an additional 11 shares during the period. Finally, Opal Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in United Rentals by 2.7% in the 3rd quarter. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 450 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $430,000 after purchasing an additional 12 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.26% of the companys stock. Get United Rentals alerts: United Rentals Price Performance United Rentals stock opened at $774.86 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.94, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.41. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $871.98 and a 200-day simple moving average of $884.59. The stock has a market cap of $48.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.03, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 1.66. United Rentals, Inc. has a 12-month low of $525.91 and a 12-month high of $1,021.47. United Rentals Increases Dividend United Rentals ( NYSE:URI Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, January 28th. The construction company reported $11.09 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $11.86 by ($0.77). United Rentals had a net margin of 15.49% and a return on equity of 30.35%. The business had revenue of $4.21 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.24 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $11.59 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 2.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts expect that United Rentals, Inc. will post 44.8 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 25th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 11th were issued a $1.97 dividend. This represents a $7.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.0%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, February 11th. This is an increase from United Rentalss previous quarterly dividend of $1.79. United Rentalss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 20.37%. United Rentals declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock repurchase plan on Wednesday, January 28th that authorizes the company to repurchase $5.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the construction company to buy up to 8.7% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are often an indication that the companys management believes its stock is undervalued. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades URI has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Citigroup cut their target price on United Rentals from $1,090.00 to $950.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Truist Financial set a $972.00 price objective on United Rentals in a research note on Friday, January 30th. UBS Group upgraded United Rentals from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $1,025.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Sunday, January 4th. Sanford C. Bernstein set a $965.00 target price on United Rentals in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada lowered their target price on United Rentals from $1,123.00 to $1,041.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 30th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $925.59. View Our Latest Stock Report on URI Insider Activity In other news, EVP Michael D. Durand sold 2,490 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $791.14, for a total transaction of $1,969,938.60. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 7,458 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,900,322.12. This trade represents a 25.03% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP William E. Grace sold 1,498 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $790.89, for a total value of $1,184,753.22. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 6,872 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,434,996.08. The trade was a 17.90% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 0.51% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. United Rentals Profile (Free Report) United Rentals, Inc (NYSE: URI) is a leading equipment rental company headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut. The firm provides rental solutions and related services to construction, industrial, commercial, and municipal customers. Its business model centers on providing access to a broad fleet of equipment on a short-term or long-term basis, enabling customers to avoid the capital expenditure of ownership and to scale equipment use to match project needs. The companys product and service offerings span general construction equipment and a range of specialty categories, including aerial work platforms, earthmoving and excavation machines, material handling equipment, pumps, power and HVAC systems, trench and shoring solutions, and tools. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding URI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for United Rentals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for United Rentals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. GE Aerospace (GE) is a global powerhouse in aviation, specializing in the design and manufacture of jet and turboprop engines and systems for commercial, military, business, and general aircraft. Known for pioneering the first American jet engine, it powers hits like Boeing (BA) 737s and Airbus (EADSY) A320s via the CFM International (with Safran (SAFRF)) joint venture and leads aftermarket services for 49,000+ engines. Born in 1892 as part of General Electric, it spun off independently in April 2024. The company is headquartered in Evendale, Ohio. More News from Barchart GE Aerospace Stock GE Aerospace has demonstrated remarkable strength over the past year, currently trading near its 52-week high of $348.48. While the stock has faced some short-term pressure with a five-day decline of approximately 2% due to broader market volatility, its longer-term momentum remains robust. Over the last month, the stock is up 4%, and its six-month gain of nearly 16% and a staggering 52-week surge of over 71% highlight significant investor confidence. Compared to the S&P 500 Industrials sector ($SRIN), GE has outperformed in the long term. Over the past 12 months, GEs 71% return has more than doubled the 30% gain seen in the broader industrials sector. www.barchart.com GE Aerospace's Results GE Aerospace delivered stellar Q4 2025 results on Jan. 22, 2026. The company posted adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.57, which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $1.43 by approximately 10%. On the top line, adjusted revenue reached $11.9 billion, a 20% increase year-over-year (YoY), significantly outperforming the projected $11.27 billion. This growth was primarily driven by a surge in commercial orders and robust demand for aftermarket services as airlines continue to expand their global fleets. The company's operational efficiency remained a key highlight, with operating profit rising 14% to $2.3 billion for the quarter. While the adjusted operating profit margin saw a slight contraction to 19.2% (down 90 basis points) due to a higher mix of engine deliveries and increased R&D spending, the full-year margin expanded to a healthy 21.4%. GE Aerospace demonstrated exceptional cash generation, producing $1.8 billion in free cash flow (FCF) during the quarter, bringing the annual total to $7.7 billion. Additionally, the company maintained a strong balance sheet with a cash reserve of $12.4 billion, providing a solid cushion for future investments and shareholder returns. Capital Group Private Client Services Inc. reduced its position in shares of KB Financial Group Inc (NYSE:KB Free Report) by 88.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 9,371 shares of the banks stock after selling 72,350 shares during the period. Capital Group Private Client Services Inc.s holdings in KB Financial Group were worth $777,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Signaturefd LLC raised its position in shares of KB Financial Group by 0.5% in the third quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 25,927 shares of the banks stock valued at $2,150,000 after buying an additional 133 shares during the last quarter. Ascent Group LLC boosted its position in KB Financial Group by 4.3% during the third quarter. Ascent Group LLC now owns 3,401 shares of the banks stock worth $282,000 after acquiring an additional 140 shares during the last quarter. Huntington National Bank boosted its position in KB Financial Group by 16.4% during the third quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 1,138 shares of the banks stock worth $94,000 after acquiring an additional 160 shares during the last quarter. Focus Partners Advisor Solutions LLC grew its stake in KB Financial Group by 6.1% in the 3rd quarter. Focus Partners Advisor Solutions LLC now owns 3,077 shares of the banks stock worth $258,000 after acquiring an additional 178 shares during the period. Finally, Aprio Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in KB Financial Group by 1.8% in the 3rd quarter. Aprio Wealth Management LLC now owns 10,032 shares of the banks stock valued at $832,000 after acquiring an additional 181 shares during the last quarter. 11.52% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get KB Financial Group alerts: KB Financial Group Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:KB opened at $102.43 on Wednesday. The business has a 50-day moving average of $99.70 and a two-hundred day moving average of $89.16. The firm has a market capitalization of $38.19 billion, a PE ratio of 9.66, a P/E/G ratio of 0.63 and a beta of 1.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.48, a current ratio of 1.64 and a quick ratio of 1.65. KB Financial Group Inc has a 12 month low of $46.38 and a 12 month high of $119.71. Analyst Ratings Changes KB Financial Group ( NYSE:KB Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Saturday, January 31st. The bank reported $1.43 earnings per share for the quarter. KB Financial Group had a return on equity of 9.73% and a net margin of 16.15%. As a group, research analysts forecast that KB Financial Group Inc will post 8.87 earnings per share for the current year. A number of brokerages have weighed in on KB. Zacks Research raised KB Financial Group from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b) rating on shares of KB Financial Group in a research report on Monday, December 29th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy. View Our Latest Report on KB Financial Group KB Financial Group Company Profile (Free Report) KB Financial Group Inc is a South Korea-based financial holding company that offers a broad range of banking and financial services. Headquartered in Seoul and listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker KB, the group operates through a set of specialized subsidiaries to provide integrated financial solutions for retail, corporate and institutional clients. The companys principal businesses include retail and corporate banking, securities and investment banking, insurance (life and non-life), asset management, credit card and consumer finance, and leasing. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding KB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for KB Financial Group Inc (NYSE:KB Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for KB Financial Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for KB Financial Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of London & Associated Properties Plc (LON:LAS Get Free Report) crossed below its 50 day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of GBX 3.50 and traded as low as GBX 2. London & Associated Properties shares last traded at GBX 3.50, with a volume of 1,080,385 shares trading hands. London & Associated Properties Stock Performance The company has a market capitalization of 2.99 million, a PE ratio of -1.75 and a beta of 0.09. The stocks 50 day moving average is GBX 3.50 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 5.01. The company has a quick ratio of 0.38, a current ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 52.56. London & Associated Properties Company Profile (Get Free Report) London & Associated Properties is a fully listed property investment company specialising in retail. It owns a portfolio of shopping centres and other retail property currently worth some 78m. LAP also invests in joint ventures with institutional co-owners; these have included Oaktree Capital Management, Schroders and Bank of Scotland. LAMS, LAP's directly owned subsidiary, is an property asset manager that carries out both asset management and property management for third parties. These parties have included the Lloyds Bank, NAMA, Deloittes and Grant Thornton as well as the joint ventures in which LAP has invested. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for London & Associated Properties Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for London & Associated Properties and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Capital World Investors decreased its position in Procter & Gamble Company (The) (NYSE:PG Free Report) by 6.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 4,744,284 shares of the companys stock after selling 321,572 shares during the quarter. Capital World Investors holdings in Procter & Gamble were worth $728,959,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Capital International Inc. CA boosted its position in shares of Procter & Gamble by 30.8% during the third quarter. Capital International Inc. CA now owns 98,640 shares of the companys stock worth $15,156,000 after buying an additional 23,205 shares during the period. Capital International Investors raised its position in Procter & Gamble by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 6,073,436 shares of the companys stock valued at $933,183,000 after buying an additional 53,506 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can lifted its stake in Procter & Gamble by 7.7% in the 3rd quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 3,333,472 shares of the companys stock valued at $512,188,000 after acquiring an additional 239,448 shares in the last quarter. Legal & General Group Plc boosted its position in Procter & Gamble by 1.2% during the 3rd quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 16,556,061 shares of the companys stock worth $2,543,839,000 after acquiring an additional 189,968 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Pinkerton Wealth LLC grew its stake in shares of Procter & Gamble by 13.4% during the 3rd quarter. Pinkerton Wealth LLC now owns 31,726 shares of the companys stock worth $4,875,000 after acquiring an additional 3,760 shares in the last quarter. 65.77% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Procter & Gamble alerts: Procter & Gamble Price Performance Shares of PG opened at $155.98 on Wednesday. Procter & Gamble Company has a 12-month low of $137.62 and a 12-month high of $175.99. The stock has a market cap of $362.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.11, a P/E/G ratio of 5.19 and a beta of 0.37. The businesss fifty day moving average is $152.80 and its 200 day moving average is $151.06. The company has a quick ratio of 0.51, a current ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49. Procter & Gamble Announces Dividend Procter & Gamble ( NYSE:PG Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 22nd. The company reported $1.88 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.86 by $0.02. Procter & Gamble had a return on equity of 32.21% and a net margin of 19.30%.The firm had revenue of $22.21 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $22.36 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.88 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 1.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Procter & Gamble has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.830-7.090 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Procter & Gamble Company will post 6.91 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, February 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 23rd were given a dividend of $1.0568 per share. This represents a $4.23 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 23rd. Procter & Gambles dividend payout ratio is currently 62.52%. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of brokerages have recently commented on PG. BNP Paribas Exane cut their price objective on shares of Procter & Gamble from $172.00 to $164.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 16th. Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an overweight rating and issued a $177.00 price objective on shares of Procter & Gamble in a research report on Tuesday, February 17th. Dbs Bank upgraded shares of Procter & Gamble from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Procter & Gamble from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $157.00 to $165.00 in a report on Friday, January 23rd. Finally, UBS Group increased their price target on Procter & Gamble from $161.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. Fourteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Procter & Gamble presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $168.33. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on PG Insider Activity In other Procter & Gamble news, Chairman Jon R. Moeller sold 162,232 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $162.45, for a total transaction of $26,354,588.40. Following the sale, the chairman owned 319,385 shares in the company, valued at $51,884,093.25. This represents a 33.68% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, insider Marc S. Pritchard sold 95,903 shares of Procter & Gamble stock in a transaction on Friday, January 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $151.15, for a total value of $14,495,738.45. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 182,607 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $27,601,048.05. This trade represents a 34.43% decrease in their ownership of the stock. 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. 0.20% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. More Procter & Gamble News Here are the key news stories impacting Procter & Gamble this week: About Procter & Gamble (Free Report) Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) is a multinational consumer goods company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 1837 by William Procter and James Gamble, P&G has grown into one of the worlds largest producers of branded consumer packaged goods. The company focuses on developing, manufacturing and marketing a broad portfolio of household and personal care products sold to consumers and retailers worldwide. P&Gs product offering spans several core business categories, including Beauty, Grooming, Health Care, Fabric & Home Care, and Baby, Feminine & Family Care. 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. Capital World Investors decreased its holdings in shares of TC Energy Corporation (NYSE:TRP Free Report) (TSE:TRP) by 13.7% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 7,310,696 shares of the pipeline companys stock after selling 1,162,129 shares during the period. Capital World Investors holdings in TC Energy were worth $397,673,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Capital International Inc. CA grew its position in TC Energy by 13.2% during the 3rd quarter. Capital International Inc. CA now owns 502,181 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $27,313,000 after purchasing an additional 58,460 shares during the last quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of TC Energy by 11.2% during the third quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 777,422 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $42,262,000 after buying an additional 78,000 shares during the period. Private Advisor Group LLC increased its position in shares of TC Energy by 1.7% in the 3rd quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 14,391 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $783,000 after acquiring an additional 235 shares during the period. Natixis Advisors LLC raised its stake in TC Energy by 9.8% in the 3rd quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 84,449 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $4,595,000 after acquiring an additional 7,563 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Perennial Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in TC Energy during the 3rd quarter worth about $231,000. 83.13% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get TC Energy alerts: TC Energy Trading Up 0.5% Shares of NYSE:TRP opened at $63.69 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.63, a quick ratio of 0.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.66. TC Energy Corporation has a 12-month low of $43.59 and a 12-month high of $65.57. The business has a 50 day moving average of $59.06 and a two-hundred day moving average of $55.17. The company has a market capitalization of $66.31 billion, a PE ratio of 27.40 and a beta of 0.72. TC Energy Increases Dividend TC Energy ( NYSE:TRP Get Free Report ) (TSE:TRP) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 13th. The pipeline company reported $0.70 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.65 by $0.05. TC Energy had a net margin of 23.04% and a return on equity of 10.52%. The business had revenue of $2.20 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.94 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.05 EPS. As a group, analysts forecast that TC Energy Corporation will post 2.63 EPS for the current year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 30th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 31st will be issued a $0.8775 dividend. This represents a $3.51 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 31st. This is a boost from TC Energys previous quarterly dividend of $0.85. TC Energys payout ratio is presently 106.90%. Analyst Ratings Changes TRP has been the topic of a number of research reports. Raymond James Financial raised TC Energy to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, February 17th. Morgan Stanley reissued an overweight rating on shares of TC Energy in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an overweight rating on shares of TC Energy in a report on Monday, February 16th. Citigroup reiterated a neutral rating on shares of TC Energy in a research note on Thursday, February 19th. Finally, TD Securities cut shares of TC Energy from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, February 17th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $72.50. Get Our Latest Analysis on TC Energy About TC Energy (Free Report) TC Energy (NYSE: TRP) is a North American energy infrastructure company headquartered in Calgary, Alberta. Formerly known as TransCanada, the company rebranded as TC Energy to reflect its broad presence across Canada, the United States and Mexico. TC Energy develops, owns and operates a diversified portfolio of energy infrastructure assets that play a central role in the transportation and delivery of energy across the continent. The companys principal businesses include long?distance natural gas transmission, liquids (crude oil) pipelines, natural gas storage and power generation. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TRP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for TC Energy Corporation (NYSE:TRP Free Report) (TSE:TRP). Receive News & Ratings for TC Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TC Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Capital Research Global Investors trimmed its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ Free Report) by 7.8% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 17,176,941 shares of the cell phone carriers stock after selling 1,451,089 shares during the period. Capital Research Global Investors holdings in Verizon Communications were worth $754,927,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. TruNorth Capital Management LLC increased its position in Verizon Communications by 95.3% in the 3rd quarter. TruNorth Capital Management LLC now owns 625 shares of the cell phone carriers stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 305 shares during the period. Foster Dykema Cabot & Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Verizon Communications in the third quarter valued at $29,000. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates lifted its position in shares of Verizon Communications by 739.5% during the 3rd quarter. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates now owns 680 shares of the cell phone carriers stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 599 shares during the last quarter. Winnow Wealth LLC purchased a new position in Verizon Communications in the 2nd quarter worth about $34,000. Finally, Silicon Valley Capital Partners lifted its position in shares of Verizon Communications by 52.4% in the 2nd quarter. Silicon Valley Capital Partners now owns 782 shares of the cell phone carriers stock valued at $34,000 after acquiring an additional 269 shares in the last quarter. 62.06% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Verizon Communications alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets VZ has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed a market perform rating and set a $48.00 price objective on shares of Verizon Communications in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. William Blair upgraded shares of Verizon Communications to an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Citigroup lifted their price target on Verizon Communications from $48.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Barclays started coverage on shares of Verizon Communications in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. They set an equal weight rating and a $43.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Evercore upped their target price on Verizon Communications from $48.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have issued a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $49.28. Verizon Communications News Summary Here are the key news stories impacting Verizon Communications this week: Positive Sentiment: Scotiabank upgraded VZ to Outperform and raised its price target to $54.50 (from $50.25) after meetings with Verizon management, calling the shares cheap at current levels a direct bullish catalyst for demand and analyst-driven buying. Scotiabank Lifts Verizon to Outperform Scotiabank upgraded VZ to Outperform and raised its price target to $54.50 (from $50.25) after meetings with Verizon management, calling the shares cheap at current levels a direct bullish catalyst for demand and analyst-driven buying. Positive Sentiment: Short interest fell sharply in February (down ~23.5% to ~113.5M shares, ~2.7% of shares short, ~4.3 days to cover). Reduced short exposure lowers the risk of further downward selling pressure and can remove a headwind to share-price appreciation. Short interest fell sharply in February (down ~23.5% to ~113.5M shares, ~2.7% of shares short, ~4.3 days to cover). Reduced short exposure lowers the risk of further downward selling pressure and can remove a headwind to share-price appreciation. Neutral Sentiment: Verizon presented at the Deutsche Bank Media, Internet & Telecom conference; the transcript provides refreshed management commentary and an opportunity for investors to re?assess guidance and strategy useful but not an immediate price mover absent new disclosures. Conference Presentation Transcript Verizon presented at the Deutsche Bank Media, Internet & Telecom conference; the transcript provides refreshed management commentary and an opportunity for investors to re?assess guidance and strategy useful but not an immediate price mover absent new disclosures. Neutral Sentiment: Multiple outlets highlight renewed analyst interest in telecom and infrastructure names, keeping VZ on investors radars; these pieces support sentiment but are incremental unless followed by more upgrades or volume. Analyst Interest Coverage Multiple outlets highlight renewed analyst interest in telecom and infrastructure names, keeping VZ on investors radars; these pieces support sentiment but are incremental unless followed by more upgrades or volume. Neutral Sentiment: Industry promotions tied to the Samsung Galaxy S26 launch have ramped up offers across carriers; this could pressure near-term device economics or churn but impact on Verizons revenue/margins is unclear yet. Promotion Wars Article Industry promotions tied to the Samsung Galaxy S26 launch have ramped up offers across carriers; this could pressure near-term device economics or churn but impact on Verizons revenue/margins is unclear yet. Neutral Sentiment: Reports that Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse unloaded Verizon shares were published; insider or politically related trades can draw attention but dont necessarily signal company fundamentals. Insider/Regulatory Report Reports that Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse unloaded Verizon shares were published; insider or politically related trades can draw attention but dont necessarily signal company fundamentals. Negative Sentiment: Some market coverage noted that VZ stock dipped recently while the broader market rose a reminder that the name can lag on macro or sector moves and that there are active short-term technical/headline risks. Zacks: Stock Sinks Coverage Insider Buying and Selling at Verizon Communications In other Verizon Communications news, EVP Joseph J. Russo sold 9,579 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $44.88, for a total transaction of $429,905.52. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 44,045 shares in the company, valued at $1,976,739.60. This trade represents a 17.86% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Hans Erik Vestberg sold 200,000 shares of Verizon Communications stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $49.61, for a total value of $9,922,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 145,069 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,196,873.09. This represents a 57.96% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold 218,148 shares of company stock worth $10,780,356 over the last 90 days. Company insiders own 0.10% of the companys stock. Verizon Communications Trading Up 0.5% Shares of NYSE VZ opened at $50.68 on Wednesday. Verizon Communications Inc. has a twelve month low of $38.39 and a twelve month high of $51.41. The company has a quick ratio of 0.87, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32. The stock has a market cap of $213.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.51, a P/E/G ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 0.31. The companys fifty day moving average is $44.80 and its 200-day moving average is $42.67. Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 30th. The cell phone carrier reported $1.09 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.06 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $36.38 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $36.20 billion. Verizon Communications had a net margin of 12.43% and a return on equity of 19.03%. The firms revenue was up 2.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.10 EPS. Verizon Communications has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.900-4.950 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Verizon Communications Inc. will post 4.69 EPS for the current year. Verizon Communications Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 10th will be issued a $0.7075 dividend. This represents a $2.83 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 10th. This is a positive change from Verizon Communicationss previous quarterly dividend of $0.69. Verizon Communicationss payout ratio is currently 68.15%. About Verizon Communications (Free Report) Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE: VZ) is a major U.S.-based telecommunications company that provides a broad range of communications and information services. Its operations span consumer and business markets, with core offerings that include wireless voice and data services, fixed-line broadband and fiber-optic services, and enterprise networking solutions. Verizon is headquartered in New York City and operates a nationwide wireless network that supports consumer subscribers as well as business and government customers. The companys consumer products include mobile phone plans, unlimited data services, and Fios, its branded fiber-optic internet, television and voice service for homes and small businesses. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VZ? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Verizon Communications Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Verizon Communications and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Rocket Companies, Joint Stock Company Kaspi.kz, UP Fintech, IDT, and Wealthfront are the five Fintech stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Fintech stocks are shares of publicly traded companies whose primary business is developing or delivering financial technologysuch as digital payments, online lending, mobile banking, robo-advisors, insurtech, and blockchain-related services. For investors, they represent a thematic, often higher-growth but higher-volatility segment that can offer outsized returns while carrying regulatory, cybersecurity, and competitive risks. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Fintech stocks within the last several days. Get alerts: Rocket Companies (RKT) Rocket Companies, Inc., a fintech holding company, provides mortgage lending, title and settlement services, and other financial technology services in the United States and Canada. It operates through two segments, Direct to Consumer and Partner Network. The companys solutions include Rocket Mortgage, a mortgage lender; Amrock that provides title insurance, property valuation, and settlement services; Rocket Homes, a home search platform and real estate agent referral network, which offers technology-enabled services to support the home buying and selling experience; and Rocket Loans, an online-based personal loans business. Joint Stock Company Kaspi.kz (KSPI) Joint Stock Company Kaspi.kz, together with its subsidiaries, provides payments, marketplace, and fintech solutions for consumers and merchants in the Republic of Kazakhstan. It operates through three segments: Payments Platform, Marketplace Platform, and Fintech Platform. The Payments Platform segment facilities transactions between customers and merchants. Read Our Latest Research Report on KSPI UP Fintech (TIGR) UP Fintech Holding Limited provides online brokerage services focusing on Chinese investors. The company has developed a brokerage platform, which allows investor to trade stocks, options, warrants, and other financial instruments that can be accessed through its APP and website. It offers brokerage and value-added services, including investor education, community engagement, and IR platform services. Read Our Latest Research Report on TIGR IDT (IDT) IDT Corporation provides communications and payment services in the United States, the United Kingdom, and internationally. It operates through Fintech, National Retail Solutions, net2phone, and Traditional Communications segments. The company operates point of sale, a terminal-based platform which provides independent retailers store management software, electronic payment processing, and other ancillary merchant services; and provides marketers with digital out-of-home advertising and transaction data. Read Our Latest Research Report on IDT Wealthfront (WLTH) Were a different kind of FinTech. We are a technology company that built a financial solutions platform for digital natives, defined as those born after 1980 (i.e., Millennials, Gen Z, and later generations). Our platform is designed to address the needs of the wealth builders within these generations. Read Our Latest Research Report on WLTH Recommended Stories Natixis Advisors LLC lessened its stake in ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE:OKE Free Report) by 23.7% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 347,914 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 108,009 shares during the period. Natixis Advisors LLCs holdings in ONEOK were worth $25,387,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in OKE. Empowered Funds LLC boosted its holdings in ONEOK by 0.8% in the first quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 17,957 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,782,000 after acquiring an additional 137 shares during the last quarter. Focused Wealth Management Inc raised its holdings in ONEOK by 4.3% during the 3rd quarter. Focused Wealth Management Inc now owns 3,441 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $251,000 after purchasing an additional 142 shares during the last quarter. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of ONEOK by 4.2% in the 2nd quarter. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC now owns 3,589 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $270,000 after purchasing an additional 144 shares during the period. Silver Lake Advisory LLC lifted its position in shares of ONEOK by 1.4% in the 3rd quarter. Silver Lake Advisory LLC now owns 10,788 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $787,000 after purchasing an additional 147 shares during the period. Finally, Alternative Investment Advisors LLC. boosted its stake in shares of ONEOK by 1.2% in the 2nd quarter. Alternative Investment Advisors LLC. now owns 12,479 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,019,000 after purchasing an additional 148 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 69.13% of the companys stock. Get ONEOK alerts: ONEOK Stock Down 1.4% ONEOK stock opened at $84.75 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.56, a current ratio of 0.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.36. ONEOK, Inc. has a 12-month low of $64.02 and a 12-month high of $103.64. The firms fifty day moving average is $79.89 and its 200 day moving average is $74.55. The company has a market capitalization of $53.37 billion, a PE ratio of 15.64, a PEG ratio of 5.08 and a beta of 0.93. ONEOK Increases Dividend ONEOK ( NYSE:OKE Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 23rd. The utilities provider reported $1.55 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.50 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $9.07 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.77 billion. ONEOK had a net margin of 10.09% and a return on equity of 15.29%. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.57 earnings per share. ONEOK has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.040-5.870 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that ONEOK, Inc. will post 5.07 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 13th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 2nd were given a dividend of $1.07 per share. This is a boost from ONEOKs previous quarterly dividend of $1.03. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 2nd. This represents a $4.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.1%. ONEOKs payout ratio is currently 78.97%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating and set a $104.00 price objective on shares of ONEOK in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut shares of ONEOK from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and cut their price target for the company from $87.00 to $83.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 27th. Scotiabank reiterated an outperform rating and set a $91.00 price target on shares of ONEOK in a report on Friday, January 16th. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on ONEOK in a research report on Tuesday, January 20th. They issued a hold rating and a $80.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Mizuho set a $89.00 price objective on ONEOK in a research note on Monday, February 23rd. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $86.47. Get Our Latest Stock Report on OKE ONEOK Company Profile (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. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding OKE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE:OKE Free Report). 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. Natixis Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Banco Santander, S.A. (NYSE:SAN Free Report) by 17.5% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 3,286,999 shares of the banks stock after buying an additional 489,022 shares during the quarter. Natixis Advisors LLCs holdings in Banco Santander were worth $34,448,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. AQR Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Banco Santander by 77.4% in the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 419,635 shares of the banks stock valued at $2,812,000 after acquiring an additional 183,051 shares in the last quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC raised its holdings in Banco Santander by 3.7% in the 1st quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC now owns 71,990 shares of the banks stock worth $482,000 after purchasing an additional 2,566 shares in the last quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp lifted its position in shares of Banco Santander by 271.2% in the 1st quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 10,276 shares of the banks stock worth $69,000 after purchasing an additional 7,508 shares during the period. Focus Partners Wealth boosted its stake in shares of Banco Santander by 65.3% during the 1st quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 71,169 shares of the banks stock valued at $477,000 after purchasing an additional 28,107 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Acadian Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Banco Santander during the first quarter valued at about $601,000. Institutional investors own 9.19% of the companys stock. Get Banco Santander alerts: Key Headlines Impacting Banco Santander Here are the key news stories impacting Banco Santander this week: Positive Sentiment: Recent operating/earnings beat supports the stock: Santander reported stronger?than?expected quarterly results in early February (EPS and revenue beats) and continues to show solid margins and ROE, which underpins longer?term valuation. Recent operating/earnings beat supports the stock: Santander reported stronger?than?expected quarterly results in early February (EPS and revenue beats) and continues to show solid margins and ROE, which underpins longer?term valuation. Neutral Sentiment: Short interest jumped ~39% in February to ~58.5M shares (about 0.4% of shares outstanding) with a short?interest ratio of ~3.7 days a meaningful rise in bearish positioning but still a small share of the float; this can add trading volatility but is not on its own a systemic threat. Short interest jumped ~39% in February to ~58.5M shares (about 0.4% of shares outstanding) with a short?interest ratio of ~3.7 days a meaningful rise in bearish positioning but still a small share of the float; this can add trading volatility but is not on its own a systemic threat. Neutral Sentiment: Market commentary is mixed: a recent Yahoo Finance piece asks whether the pullback warrants reassessment of Santander, signaling some analysts/investors are debating risk/reward after the price move. Is It Time To Reassess Santander Market commentary is mixed: a recent Yahoo Finance piece asks whether the pullback warrants reassessment of Santander, signaling some analysts/investors are debating risk/reward after the price move. Negative Sentiment: Multiple law firms have announced securities?fraud investigations into Banco Santander (Glancy Prongay Wolke & Rotter; Pomerantz; Howard G. Smith; Frank R. Cruz; Rosen Law Firm, etc.), citing alleged materially misleading statements reported in the press these actions increase legal, financial and reputational risk and can prompt regulatory scrutiny, potential settlements and distraction for management. Representative notices: Glancy Investigation Pomerantz Alert Howard G. Smith Frank R. Cruz AP/Pomerantz Banco Santander Stock Up 2.5% Shares of NYSE:SAN opened at $11.48 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 0.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.15. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $12.22 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $11.05. Banco Santander, S.A. has a 12-month low of $5.54 and a 12-month high of $13.24. The stock has a market capitalization of $170.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.37, a PEG ratio of 0.68 and a beta of 0.71. Banco Santander (NYSE:SAN Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 3rd. The bank reported $0.28 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.24 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $18.90 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $15.89 billion. Banco Santander had a return on equity of 12.14% and a net margin of 18.85%. On average, research analysts anticipate that Banco Santander, S.A. will post 0.83 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Banco Santander Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 8th. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 4th will be paid a dividend of $0.1473 per share. This represents a yield of 254.0%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, May 4th. Banco Santanders dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 18.81%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several analysts have commented on the stock. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Banco Santander from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, February 7th. DZ Bank lowered Banco Santander from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, December 18th. Weiss Ratings upgraded Banco Santander from a buy (b+) rating to a buy (a-) rating in a research note on Friday, February 27th. Royal Bank Of Canada upgraded Banco Santander from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, February 23rd. Finally, Barclays downgraded Banco Santander from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have assigned a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Banco Santander presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy. Get Our Latest Analysis on Banco Santander Banco Santander Company Profile (Free Report) Banco Santander, SA (NYSE: SAN) is a Spanish multinational banking group headquartered in Santander, Spain. Founded in 1857, the bank has grown from a regional institution into one of Europes largest banking groups, operating a diversified financial services platform that serves retail, small and medium-sized enterprises, and large corporate clients. Santander is publicly listed in Spain and maintains American Depositary Receipts on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker SAN. The groups core activities include retail and commercial bankingoffering deposit accounts, payment services, mortgages, personal and auto loans, and small business financingalongside corporate and investment banking services for larger institutional clients. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SAN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Banco Santander, S.A. (NYSE:SAN Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Banco Santander Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Banco Santander and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Blue Whale Capital LLP increased its position in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (NYSE:TSM Free Report) by 36.9% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 717,700 shares of the semiconductor companys stock after purchasing an additional 193,430 shares during the period. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing makes up about 11.1% of Blue Whale Capital LLPs portfolio, making the stock its 3rd biggest holding. Blue Whale Capital LLPs holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing were worth $200,446,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Fisher Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 1.0% in the 3rd quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 17,833,127 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $4,980,614,000 after purchasing an additional 168,171 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA raised its holdings in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 3.6% during the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 15,759,419 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $4,401,448,000 after buying an additional 541,047 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its position in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 0.8% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 14,805,720 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $3,353,348,000 after buying an additional 115,158 shares during the last quarter. Jennison Associates LLC lifted its position in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 4.5% during the 3rd quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 12,591,542 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $3,516,692,000 after buying an additional 544,750 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Alliancebernstein L.P. boosted its stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 18.0% in the second quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 10,457,800 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $2,368,587,000 after buying an additional 1,593,786 shares in the last quarter. 16.51% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research analysts have issued reports on the company. Dbs Bank upgraded Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing to a moderate buy rating in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. TD Cowen raised their price target on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $325.00 to $370.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Friday, January 16th. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $380.00 to $450.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, January 16th. Zacks Research raised shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 3rd. Finally, Freedom Capital upgraded shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have issued a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $391.43. Key Stories Impacting Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Here are the key news stories impacting Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing this week: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Stock Performance Shares of TSM stock opened at $346.81 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.80 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.56, a PEG ratio of 0.97 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a current ratio of 2.62, a quick ratio of 2.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $344.95 and its 200-day moving average price is $304.23. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. has a 12 month low of $134.25 and a 12 month high of $390.20. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE:TSM Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 26th. The semiconductor company reported $3.11 earnings per share for the quarter. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing had a net margin of 45.13% and a return on equity of 34.89%. The firm had revenue of $30.65 billion for the quarter. 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. Investors of record on Thursday, June 11th will be issued a $0.9503 dividend. This represents a $3.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 11th. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings dividend payout ratio is presently 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. Parallel Advisors LLC reduced its stake in Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation (NYSE:BAH Free Report) by 52.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 9,572 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 10,615 shares during the quarter. Parallel Advisors LLCs holdings in Booz Allen Hamilton were worth $957,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. United Super Pty Ltd in its capacity as Trustee for the Construction & Building Unions Superannuation Fund acquired a new position in shares of Booz Allen Hamilton during the 3rd quarter worth about $300,000. Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLC grew its holdings in Booz Allen Hamilton by 0.9% during the third quarter. Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLC now owns 361,751 shares of the business services providers stock worth $36,157,000 after acquiring an additional 3,304 shares during the period. First Trust Advisors LP grew its holdings in shares of Booz Allen Hamilton by 10.6% in the 3rd quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 3,571,053 shares of the business services providers stock worth $356,927,000 after acquiring an additional 342,252 shares during the period. Integrated Quantitative Investments LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Booz Allen Hamilton by 24.4% in the third quarter. Integrated Quantitative Investments LLC now owns 10,192 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $1,019,000 after purchasing an additional 2,000 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Viawealth LLC boosted its stake in shares of Booz Allen Hamilton by 5.0% during the third quarter. Viawealth LLC now owns 5,683 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $568,000 after acquiring an additional 272 shares during the last quarter. 91.82% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Booz Allen Hamilton alerts: Booz Allen Hamilton Stock Down 4.9% BAH stock opened at $77.46 on Wednesday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $86.20 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $90.96. The company has a quick ratio of 1.81, a current ratio of 1.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.76. The company has a market cap of $9.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.51, a P/E/G ratio of 4.78 and a beta of 0.37. Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation has a twelve month low of $73.93 and a twelve month high of $130.91. Booz Allen Hamilton Increases Dividend Booz Allen Hamilton ( NYSE:BAH Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 23rd. The business services provider reported $1.77 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.26 by $0.51. Booz Allen Hamilton had a return on equity of 76.79% and a net margin of 7.35%.The firm had revenue of $2.62 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.74 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.55 EPS. The companys revenue was down 10.2% on a year-over-year basis. Booz Allen Hamilton has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.950-6.150 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation will post 6.44 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 13th were given a dividend of $0.59 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 13th. This represents a $2.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.0%. This is an increase from Booz Allen Hamiltons previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. Booz Allen Hamiltons payout ratio is currently 35.07%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of brokerages have recently commented on BAH. Weiss Ratings raised shares of Booz Allen Hamilton from a sell (d+) rating to a hold (c-) rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 4th. UBS Group restated a neutral rating and set a $97.00 price target on shares of Booz Allen Hamilton in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. DA Davidson set a $81.00 price target on shares of Booz Allen Hamilton in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. Zacks Research raised shares of Booz Allen Hamilton from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, November 28th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price target on shares of Booz Allen Hamilton from $100.00 to $95.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, December 18th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, ten have issued a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Reduce and an average target price of $101.25. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Booz Allen Hamilton Booz Allen Hamilton Company Profile (Free Report) Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation is a publicly traded management and technology consulting firm headquartered in McLean, Virginia. The company provides a wide range of professional services and solutions in strategy, analytics, digital transformation, engineering and cyber security. Its expertise spans from supporting federal civilian agencies to defense, intelligence and homeland security organizations, as well as select commercial industries. Key offerings include data analytics and artificial intelligence applications, software development and modernization, systems integration, and cyber risk management. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BAH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation (NYSE:BAH Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Booz Allen Hamilton Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Booz Allen Hamilton and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Global energy markets are once again on edge. Tensions in the Middle East still escalating, oil shipping routes in so much pressure, and major energy companies are being forced to adjust operations in real time. And that includes ExxonMobil (XOM). A 156-year-old oil and gas corporation based in Texas. The U.S. oil giant confirmed Tuesday it has evacuated non-essential staff from its Middle East operations as the U.S.Israel war with Iran intensifies and risks around key oil shipping routes grow. ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods said the move was primarily about employee safety. But the broader situation highlights how geopolitical tensions are beginning to ripple through global energy supply chains. So how serious is the disruption, and what could it mean for oil markets? ExxonMobil scales back operations as Strait of Hormuz tensions grow ExxonMobil said it has begun scaling back certain operations in the Middle East as shipping disruptions complicate the movement of oil through one of the worlds most important waterways. Woods said this in an interview, as Reuters reported. Our first and highest priority is making sure our people remain safe, and we evacuated folks who werent critical or essential to the operations we were supporting. The issue centers around the Strait of Hormuz. It's a narrow passage, yes. But that narrow passage carries roughly one-fifth of the worlds oil supply. Shutterstock. Shutterstock. Iran has threatened to attack oil tankers moving through the corridor, prompting concerns that shipments could be disrupted. In fact, that uncertainty has already begun affecting energy logistics. More Oil and Gas: According to Woods, oil producers are reducing output at some facilities as storage capacity fills up while exports slow. Why? Because moving crude out of the region has become increasingly difficult. The ability to manage inventory becomes very challenged, Woods said, noting that supply chain bottlenecks are forcing companies to temporarily scale back activity. The energy firm operates in the region as a minority partner in oil and gas projects in the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. That makes stability in the shipping corridor critical for its operations. Why the Middle East remains critical to Exxons global business The Middle East still plays a major role in Exxons production footprint. A huge one actually. Analysts estimate about 20% of the companys oil and gas output comes from the region. At the same time, nearly 60% of its liquefied natural gas business is concentrated there. Private Advisor Group LLC raised its position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO Free Report) by 5.6% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 208,556 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 11,077 shares during the quarter. Private Advisor Group LLCs holdings in Altria Group were worth $13,777,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Ameriprise Financial Inc. raised its stake in shares of Altria Group by 62.5% during the second quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 16,395,070 shares of the companys stock valued at $954,446,000 after acquiring an additional 6,302,819 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in Altria Group by 1.0% in the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 159,717,148 shares of the companys stock worth $9,364,216,000 after purchasing an additional 1,599,923 shares in the last quarter. Barclays PLC grew its stake in Altria Group by 24.9% in the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 6,264,224 shares of the companys stock worth $413,815,000 after purchasing an additional 1,249,525 shares in the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP increased its holdings in Altria Group by 1,094.0% during the 2nd quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 1,158,437 shares of the companys stock worth $67,919,000 after purchasing an additional 1,061,413 shares during the period. Finally, State Street Corp increased its holdings in Altria Group by 1.2% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 72,367,263 shares of the companys stock worth $4,315,438,000 after purchasing an additional 886,583 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 57.41% of the companys stock. Get Altria Group alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several brokerages have weighed in on MO. Argus upgraded Altria Group to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. Citigroup raised their price target on Altria Group from $57.00 to $65.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, February 9th. UBS Group lifted their price objective on Altria Group from $67.00 to $74.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday. Barclays increased their target price on shares of Altria Group from $57.00 to $63.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a report on Monday, February 23rd. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus cut their target price on shares of Altria Group from $72.00 to $68.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $65.11. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, SVP Charles N. Whitaker sold 27,908 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $67.57, for a total transaction of $1,885,743.56. Following the sale, the senior vice president owned 180,869 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,221,318.33. The trade was a 13.37% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.08% of the companys stock. Altria Group Trading Up 0.1% NYSE MO opened at $67.08 on Wednesday. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $63.63 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $62.57. The firm has a market capitalization of $112.16 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.32, a P/E/G ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 0.45. Altria Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $52.82 and a 12-month high of $70.51. Altria Group (NYSE:MO Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 29th. The company reported $1.30 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.32 by ($0.02). Altria Group had a net margin of 29.84% and a negative return on equity of 287.61%. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.30 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was down .5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Altria Group Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 30th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 25th will be issued a $1.06 dividend. This represents a $4.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 25th. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 103.16%. Key Stories Impacting Altria Group Here are the key news stories impacting Altria Group this week: Positive Sentiment: UBS raised its price target on MO to $74 and reiterated a Buy, giving investors a clearer upside case that likely supports the stocks uptick. UBS Raises Price Target UBS raised its price target on MO to $74 and reiterated a Buy, giving investors a clearer upside case that likely supports the stocks uptick. Positive Sentiment: Zacks published a note highlighting Altria as a strong momentum stock, reinforcing the view that earnings/flows and defensive rotation are supporting shares. Zacks Momentum Note Zacks published a note highlighting Altria as a strong momentum stock, reinforcing the view that earnings/flows and defensive rotation are supporting shares. Positive Sentiment: MarketBeat and other outlets are featuring Altria as a high-yield, defensive income pick amid market volatilitysupporting demand from income-focused investors. MarketBeat High-Yield Feature MarketBeat and other outlets are featuring Altria as a high-yield, defensive income pick amid market volatilitysupporting demand from income-focused investors. Positive Sentiment: Analyses (Seeking Alpha, 247WallSt) reiterate Altrias durable cash flow and 6%-plus dividend yield, keeping it on radar as a defensive income play versus bonds. Seeking Alpha: Smokings Not Dead Analyses (Seeking Alpha, 247WallSt) reiterate Altrias durable cash flow and 6%-plus dividend yield, keeping it on radar as a defensive income play versus bonds. Neutral Sentiment: Company dividend details (quarterly $1.06; ex-dividend March 25) underpin yield attraction, but payout ratio >100% is a noted sustainability caveat. MarketBeat Dividend Analysis Company dividend details (quarterly $1.06; ex-dividend March 25) underpin yield attraction, but payout ratio >100% is a noted sustainability caveat. Neutral Sentiment: Mixed analyst landscape: several firms boosted targets while others remain cautious; consensus is still around Hold, so upgrades are not yet consensus-driven. Analyst Coverage Summary Mixed analyst landscape: several firms boosted targets while others remain cautious; consensus is still around Hold, so upgrades are not yet consensus-driven. Negative Sentiment: Insider selling: SVP Charles Whitaker sold ~27,908 shares (~$1.9M) recently, trimming his stake ~13% a short-term negative signal that some investors may note. Insider Sale Filing Insider selling: SVP Charles Whitaker sold ~27,908 shares (~$1.9M) recently, trimming his stake ~13% a short-term negative signal that some investors may note. Negative Sentiment: Recent quarterly results modestly missed EPS expectations and showed slight revenue decline YoY, reminders of demand pressures and regulatory risk that could cap multiple expansion. Earnings & Fundamentals About Altria Group (Free Report) Altria Group, Inc (NYSE: MO) is a U.S.-based consumer goods company whose principal business is the manufacture and sale of tobacco products. Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, the companys operations are focused primarily on the U.S. market and include the production, marketing and distribution of cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and cigars. Its flagship cigarette franchise in the United States is sold through its operating subsidiaries and is among the most recognizable cigarette brands in the country. Altrias principal operating businesses include Philip Morris USA (cigarettes), U.S. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Altria Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Altria Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Foresight Global Investors Inc. acquired a new position in JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 2,278 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $719,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. accounts for about 0.4% of Foresight Global Investors Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 12th largest position. A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of JPM. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of 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 valued at $17,646,506,000 after purchasing an additional 300,160 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in JPMorgan Chase & Co. during the 2nd quarter worth about $10,295,209,000. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 28,813.7% during the 2nd 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 boosted its stake in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 2.3% in the 3rd quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 15,722,443 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $4,959,330,000 after purchasing an additional 347,033 shares during the period. Finally, Invesco Ltd. boosted its stake in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 4.2% in the 2nd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 14,332,418 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $4,155,111,000 after purchasing an additional 577,860 shares during the period. 71.55% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get JPMorgan Chase & Co. alerts: Key JPMorgan Chase & Co. News Here are the key news stories impacting JPMorgan Chase & Co. this week: Insiders Place Their Bets JPMorgan Chase & Co. Stock Performance In other news, CEO Troy L. Rohrbaugh sold 50,000 shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $307.11, for a total transaction of $15,355,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 111,279 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $34,174,893.69. The trade was a 31.00% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link . Also, COO Jennifer Piepszak sold 8,571 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, January 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $312.79, for a total transaction of $2,680,923.09. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer owned 71,027 shares of the companys stock, valued at $22,216,535.33. This trade represents a 10.77% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing . Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 71,596 shares of company stock worth $22,067,932. 0.47% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Shares of JPM opened at $288.78 on Wednesday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. has a 12-month low of $202.16 and a 12-month high of $337.25. The company has a current ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.27. The company has a market cap of $778.85 billion, a PE ratio of 14.43, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 1.06. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $309.06 and a 200-day moving average price of $308.71. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 13th. The financial services provider reported $5.23 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.93 by $0.30. The company had revenue of $45.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $45.98 billion. JPMorgan Chase & Co. had a net margin of 20.35% and a return on equity of 17.16%. JPMorgan Chase & Co.s revenue for the quarter was up 7.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $4.81 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts forecast that JPMorgan Chase & Co. will post 18.1 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth JPM has been the topic of several analyst reports. DZ Bank reiterated a neutral rating on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. CICC Research initiated coverage on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. They issued an outperform rating and a $355.00 price objective for the company. Truist Financial reduced their price objective on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $334.00 to $330.00 in a research note on Wednesday, February 25th. Piper Sandler upped their target price on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $336.00 to $345.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $386.00 to $397.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, January 26th. Fourteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and thirteen have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $340.00. Read Our Latest Analysis on JPM 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. Featured Articles 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. First Trust Advisors LP increased its stake in Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE:ASB Free Report) by 679.4% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 2,223,694 shares of the banks stock after acquiring an additional 1,938,393 shares during the period. First Trust Advisors LPs holdings in Associated Banc were worth $57,171,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Victory Capital Management Inc. boosted its stake in Associated Banc by 1.4% during the 3rd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 450,898 shares of the banks stock valued at $11,593,000 after purchasing an additional 6,008 shares in the last quarter. Rafferty Asset Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Associated Banc by 12.7% during the 3rd quarter. Rafferty Asset Management LLC now owns 251,873 shares of the banks stock valued at $6,476,000 after purchasing an additional 28,454 shares in the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. grew its stake in shares of Associated Banc by 32.5% in the 3rd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 2,629,549 shares of the banks stock worth $67,606,000 after purchasing an additional 645,676 shares during the last quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Associated Banc by 42.5% in the 3rd quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 131,827 shares of the banks stock worth $3,389,000 after purchasing an additional 39,331 shares during the last quarter. Finally, US Bancorp DE raised its holdings in shares of Associated Banc by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 80,677 shares of the banks stock worth $2,074,000 after purchasing an additional 415 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.98% of the companys stock. Get Associated Banc alerts: Insider Activity at Associated Banc In related news, EVP Patrick Edward Ahern sold 14,731 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $29.03, for a total transaction of $427,640.93. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 39,401 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,143,811.03. The trade was a 27.21% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Eileen A. Kamerick sold 6,600 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $28.02, for a total value of $184,932.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 49,264 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,380,377.28. This represents a 11.81% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 23,656 shares of company stock valued at $677,789. Company insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of analysts recently weighed in on ASB shares. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Associated Banc from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, February 14th. Weiss Ratings raised Associated Banc from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b) rating in a report on Tuesday, February 17th. Barclays cut their price objective on Associated Banc from $32.00 to $30.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, November 11th. Zacks Research raised Associated Banc from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 25th. Finally, Truist Financial boosted their target price on Associated Banc from $29.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Monday, January 26th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have assigned a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $29.20. View Our Latest Analysis on ASB Associated Banc Stock Up 0.3% Shares of NYSE:ASB opened at $25.15 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a current ratio of 0.90. The company has a market cap of $4.17 billion, a PE ratio of 9.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.80. Associated Banc-Corp has a 52 week low of $18.32 and a 52 week high of $29.51. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $27.08 and a 200 day simple moving average of $26.32. Associated Banc (NYSE:ASB Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 22nd. The bank reported $0.80 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.69 by $0.11. Associated Banc had a net margin of 19.31% and a return on equity of 10.25%. The firm had revenue of $393.52 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $382.06 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.72 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Associated Banc-Corp will post 2.43 earnings per share for the current year. Associated Banc announced that its board has approved a stock repurchase program on Tuesday, January 27th that authorizes the company to buyback $100.00 million in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the bank to repurchase up to 2.2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are usually an indication that the companys board believes its stock is undervalued. Associated Banc Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 2nd will be issued a dividend of $0.24 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 2nd. This represents a $0.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.8%. Associated Bancs payout ratio is currently 34.66%. Associated Banc Profile (Free Report) Associated Banc-Corp, through its primary subsidiary Associated Bank, N.A., is a regional financial services company headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The bank operates more than 200 branches across the Midwest, offering community-focused banking solutions for individuals, small businesses and commercial clients. Its emphasis on personalized service and regional decision-making supports long-standing customer relationships. On the consumer side, Associated Bank provides checking and savings accounts, residential mortgages, home equity lines of credit, auto financing and credit card products. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ASB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE:ASB Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Associated Banc Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Associated Banc and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Toronto Dominion Bank (NYSE:TD Get Free Report) and China Minsheng (OTCMKTS:CMAKY Get Free Report) are both large-cap finance companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, valuation, profitability, risk, analyst recommendations, dividends and institutional ownership. Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of current recommendations for Toronto Dominion Bank and China Minsheng, as reported by MarketBeat. Get Toronto Dominion Bank alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Toronto Dominion Bank 0 4 3 2 2.78 China Minsheng 0 1 0 0 2.00 Toronto Dominion Bank currently has a consensus price target of $93.00, indicating a potential downside of 2.96%. Given Toronto Dominion Banks stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, research analysts plainly believe Toronto Dominion Bank is more favorable than China Minsheng. Earnings & Valuation Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Toronto Dominion Bank $87.34 billion 1.83 $14.66 billion $9.05 10.59 China Minsheng $37.47 billion 0.54 $4.49 billion $0.88 5.20 This table compares Toronto Dominion Bank and China Minshengs gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Toronto Dominion Bank has higher revenue and earnings than China Minsheng. China Minsheng is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Toronto Dominion Bank, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Profitability This table compares Toronto Dominion Bank and China Minshengs net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Toronto Dominion Bank 17.52% 14.29% 0.79% China Minsheng 11.27% 4.49% 0.39% Volatility and Risk Toronto Dominion Bank has a beta of 0.66, indicating that its share price is 34% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, China Minsheng has a beta of 0.25, indicating that its share price is 75% less volatile than the S&P 500. Institutional and Insider Ownership 52.4% of Toronto Dominion Bank shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.1% of Toronto Dominion Bank shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Dividends Toronto Dominion Bank pays an annual dividend of $3.15 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.3%. China Minsheng pays an annual dividend of $0.27 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.9%. Toronto Dominion Bank pays out 34.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. China Minsheng pays out 30.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Toronto Dominion Bank has increased its dividend for 12 consecutive years. China Minsheng is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio. Summary Toronto Dominion Bank beats China Minsheng on 16 of the 18 factors compared between the two stocks. About Toronto Dominion Bank (Get Free Report) The Toronto-Dominion Bank, together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial products and services in Canada, the United States, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking, U.S. Retail, Wealth Management and Insurance, and Wholesale Banking. The company offers personal deposits, such as chequing, savings, and investment products; financing, investment, cash management, international trade, and day-to-day banking services to businesses; and financing options to customers at point of sale for automotive and recreational vehicle purchases. It also provides credit cards and payments; real estate secured lending, auto finance, and consumer lending services; point-of-sale payment solutions for large and small businesses; wealth and asset management products, and advice to retail and institutional clients through direct investing, advice-based, and asset management businesses; and property and casualty insurance, as well as life and health insurance products. The company also provides capital markets, and corporate and investment banking products and services, including underwriting and distribution of new debt and equity issues; advice on strategic acquisitions and divestitures; and trading, funding, and investment services to corporations, governments, and institutions. It offers its products and services under the TD Bank and America's Most Convenient Bank brand names. The Toronto-Dominion Bank was founded in 1855 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. About China Minsheng (Get Free Report) China Minsheng Banking Corp., Ltd. provides banking products and services for individuals, small and micro-enterprises, corporate customers, government agencies, and financial institutions in the People's Republic of China. The company operates through Corporate Banking, Retail Banking, and Others segments. Its deposit products include saving accounts, deposit books and certificates, contracted deposits, agreement deposits, call deposits, corporate term deposits, and corporate current deposits. The company also offers personal housing mortgage, individual automobile purchase, household composite consumption, micro-credit products for individuals, medium and long term, and short-term working capital loans; and debit and credit cards. In addition, it provides appointed and domestic remittance, payment and collection agent, clearing, safe deposit boxes, VIP, and salary and welfare agent card services, as well as internet, mobile, telephone, and self-serve banking services. Further, the company offers gross settlement; wages distribution agency and letter of guarantee; cash management; trade finance; industrial chain finance; individual forex settlement, forex remittance, travelers promissory notes, collection, individual deposit certificate, and guarantee letter products; and comprehensive credit granting, forex settlement and sale, financial product investment, asset management, and trust financing services. Additionally, it provides convenient finance and investment banking services, as well as non-financial services in the education, business travel, traveler, art, luxury life, health, club, and isports areas. The company operates through branch-level institutions, business outlets, community sub-branches, and small business sub-branches. China Minsheng Banking Corp., Ltd. was incorporated in 1996 and is headquartered in Beijing, the People's Republic of China. Receive News & Ratings for Toronto Dominion Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Toronto Dominion Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. grew its position in shares of Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:CFG Free Report) by 0.9% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,140,748 shares of the banks stock after buying an additional 10,035 shares during the period. Russell Investments Group Ltd. owned about 0.27% of Citizens Financial Group worth $60,654,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Ninety One UK Ltd acquired a new stake in Citizens Financial Group in the third quarter worth about $308,946,000. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Citizens Financial Group during the 2nd quarter valued at about $253,423,000. HoldCo Asset Management LP acquired a new position in shares of Citizens Financial Group during the second quarter valued at approximately $93,361,000. Marshall Wace LLP bought a new position in Citizens Financial Group during the 2nd quarter valued at $67,492,000. Finally, Synergy Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Citizens Financial Group during the 3rd quarter valued at $60,434,000. 94.90% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Citizens Financial Group alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of analysts have recently commented on the company. DA Davidson boosted their price objective on Citizens Financial Group from $65.00 to $73.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $75.00 target price on shares of Citizens Financial Group in a report on Tuesday, March 3rd. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their target price on Citizens Financial Group from $60.00 to $67.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of Citizens Financial Group from $73.00 to $80.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, March 2nd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of Citizens Financial Group from $62.50 to $71.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, February 9th. Twenty research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $69.95. Citizens Financial Group Price Performance Shares of NYSE:CFG opened at $58.87 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $25.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.21, a P/E/G ratio of 0.47 and a beta of 0.70. Citizens Financial Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $32.60 and a 1 year high of $68.79. The company has a current ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $62.51 and a 200 day simple moving average of $56.55. Citizens Financial Group (NYSE:CFG Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, January 21st. The bank reported $1.13 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.11 by $0.02. Citizens Financial Group had a return on equity of 7.81% and a net margin of 15.19%.The firm had revenue of $2.16 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.16 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.85 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 8.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Citizens Financial Group, Inc. will post 3.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Citizens Financial Group Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 18th. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 4th were paid a $0.46 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 4th. This represents a $1.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.1%. Citizens Financial Groups payout ratio is presently 47.55%. About Citizens Financial Group (Free Report) Citizens Financial Group, Inc (NYSE: CFG) is a bank holding company that provides a broad range of banking and financial services to individuals, small and middle-market businesses, corporations and institutional clients. Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, Citizens conducts its banking operations principally through its primary banking subsidiary, Citizens Bank, and serves customers through a combination of branch locations, ATMs and digital channels. The company is publicly traded and operates under the regulatory framework applicable to U.S. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Citizens Financial Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Citizens Financial Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Legal & General Group Plc grew its stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW Free Report) by 4.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 2,031,123 shares of the industrial products companys stock after purchasing an additional 77,525 shares during the period. Legal & General Group Plc owned approximately 0.70% of Illinois Tool Works worth $529,636,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in ITW. Russell Investments Group Ltd. grew its stake in Illinois Tool Works by 9.3% in the third quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 181,866 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $47,449,000 after acquiring an additional 15,485 shares during the period. Inceptionr LLC acquired a new position in shares of Illinois Tool Works during the third quarter worth approximately $339,000. Schroder Investment Management Group lifted its holdings in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 6.2% in the 3rd quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group now owns 1,672,289 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $434,411,000 after purchasing an additional 97,171 shares in the last quarter. Certified Advisory Corp acquired a new stake in Illinois Tool Works in the 3rd quarter valued at $432,000. Finally, PFG Advisors increased its stake in Illinois Tool Works by 7.9% during the 3rd quarter. PFG Advisors now owns 11,698 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $3,050,000 after purchasing an additional 858 shares in the last quarter. 79.77% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Illinois Tool Works alerts: Insider Activity In other Illinois Tool Works news, EVP Axel Beck sold 4,223 shares of Illinois Tool Works stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $290.22, for a total value of $1,225,599.06. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 5,789 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,680,083.58. The trade was a 42.18% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Ernest Scott Santi sold 167,345 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $290.93, for a total value of $48,685,680.85. Following the sale, the director directly owned 258,766 shares in the company, valued at $75,282,792.38. This trade represents a 39.27% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 0.88% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Illinois Tool Works Stock Performance Shares of ITW opened at $273.16 on Wednesday. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a 12 month low of $214.66 and a 12 month high of $303.15. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $273.96 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $260.61. The company has a market cap of $78.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.04, a P/E/G ratio of 14.80 and a beta of 1.13. The company has a current ratio of 1.21, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.07. Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 3rd. The industrial products company reported $2.72 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.69 by $0.03. Illinois Tool Works had a net margin of 19.11% and a return on equity of 95.16%. The business had revenue of $4.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.07 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.54 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 4.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Illinois Tool Works has set its FY 2026 guidance at 11.000-11.400 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 10.39 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Illinois Tool Works Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 9th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 31st will be issued a $1.61 dividend. This represents a $6.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 31st. Illinois Tool Workss payout ratio is 61.39%. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Truist Financial raised their price objective on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $275.00 to $280.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 4th. Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b-) rating on shares of Illinois Tool Works in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Bank of America raised shares of Illinois Tool Works from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and raised their price target for the company from $220.00 to $255.00 in a research report on Tuesday, November 18th. Evercore cut their price objective on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $261.00 to $253.00 and set an underperform rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 17th. Finally, Wolfe Research upped their price target on Illinois Tool Works from $276.00 to $295.00 and gave the company an underperform rating in a research report on Friday, February 27th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and five have assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Reduce and an average target price of $275.69. Read Our Latest Stock Report on Illinois Tool Works Illinois Tool Works Profile (Free Report) Illinois Tool Works Inc (ITW) is a diversified industrial manufacturer that designs and produces a broad array of engineered products, consumables and related service solutions for industrial customers. Its offerings span engineered fastening systems, specialty components, industrial equipment, welding products, foodservice and packaging equipment, adhesives and polymer products, and test-and-measurement technologies. These products are used as critical inputs by customers across automotive, construction, electronics, foodservice, maintenance and other industrial end markets. The company operates a decentralized business model in which independently managed businesses focus on niche product lines and close customer relationships. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ITW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Illinois Tool Works Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Illinois Tool Works and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Legal & General Group Plc increased its holdings in shares of U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB Free Report) by 2.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 9,238,404 shares of the financial services providers stock after buying an additional 238,123 shares during the quarter. Legal & General Group Plc owned about 0.59% of U.S. Bancorp worth $446,492,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Guerra Advisors Inc purchased a new stake in shares of U.S. Bancorp during the 3rd quarter worth about $25,000. Barnes Dennig Private Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in U.S. Bancorp during the 3rd quarter valued at $26,000. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of U.S. Bancorp during the second quarter worth about $27,000. Pineridge Advisors LLC increased its holdings in U.S. Bancorp by 446.2% during the 2nd quarter. Pineridge Advisors LLC now owns 639 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 522 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Steigerwald Gordon & Koch Inc. bought a new stake in shares of U.S. Bancorp in the third quarter worth $31,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.60% of the companys stock. Get U.S. Bancorp alerts: Trending Headlines about U.S. Bancorp Here are the key news stories impacting U.S. Bancorp this week: Positive Sentiment: U.S. Bancorp rolled out expanded wealth capabilities aimed at first-time and self-directed investors (Wealth Connect, commission-free trading and team-based advisory tiers). This could lift fee income, deepen customer relationships and boost deposit/asset flows over time. U.S. Bancorp Advisors Launches Suite of Offerings for Investors New to Building Wealth U.S. Bancorp rolled out expanded wealth capabilities aimed at first-time and self-directed investors (Wealth Connect, commission-free trading and team-based advisory tiers). This could lift fee income, deepen customer relationships and boost deposit/asset flows over time. Positive Sentiment: The company announced a quarterly cash dividend (details released in the press release), which supports income investors and signals managements comfort with capital distributions after recent earnings. U.S. Bancorp Announces Quarterly Dividends The company announced a quarterly cash dividend (details released in the press release), which supports income investors and signals managements comfort with capital distributions after recent earnings. Neutral Sentiment: U.S. Bancorp established a new medium-term note program to add flexibility for debt issuance. This provides funding optionality but is standard for large banks and unlikely to shift the credit profile materially in isolation. U.S. Bancorp Launches New Medium-Term Note Program U.S. Bancorp established a new medium-term note program to add flexibility for debt issuance. This provides funding optionality but is standard for large banks and unlikely to shift the credit profile materially in isolation. Neutral Sentiment: Analyst pieces comparing USB to regional peers (e.g., M&T) highlight differing valuations, lending momentum and digital investments useful context for relative positioning but not an immediate catalyst. USB vs. MTB: Which Regional Bank Stock Has Better Growth Potential? Analysts Set New Price Targets Several analysts have issued reports on the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their price objective on U.S. Bancorp from $58.00 to $59.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of U.S. Bancorp from $56.00 to $65.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, January 5th. Evercore increased their price target on U.S. Bancorp from $60.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock an in-line rating in a research note on Thursday, February 5th. Truist Financial raised shares of U.S. Bancorp from a hold rating to a buy rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $61.00 to $66.00 in a report on Thursday, February 26th. Finally, Piper Sandler reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of U.S. Bancorp in a research note on Thursday, February 26th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have assigned a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $60.02. Read Our Latest Report on U.S. Bancorp U.S. Bancorp Stock Down 0.3% USB stock opened at $51.97 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $80.74 billion, a PE ratio of 11.25, a P/E/G ratio of 0.93 and a beta of 1.04. U.S. Bancorp has a 12 month low of $35.18 and a 12 month high of $61.19. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.03, a current ratio of 0.80 and a quick ratio of 0.80. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $55.98 and a 200 day simple moving average of $51.56. U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 20th. The financial services provider reported $1.26 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.19 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $7.92 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.31 billion. U.S. Bancorp had a net margin of 17.66% and a return on equity of 13.48%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 5.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.07 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that U.S. Bancorp will post 4.38 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. U.S. Bancorp Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 31st will be issued a dividend of $0.52 per share. This represents a $2.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 31st. U.S. Bancorps dividend payout ratio is currently 45.02%. Insider Buying and Selling at U.S. Bancorp In related news, insider Mark G. Runkel sold 32,195 shares of U.S. Bancorp stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.65, for a total value of $1,952,626.75. Following the transaction, the insider owned 97,728 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,927,203.20. This trade represents a 24.78% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.23% of the stock is owned by company insiders. U.S. Bancorp Company Profile (Free Report) U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB) is a bank holding company and the parent of U.S. Bank, a national commercial bank that provides a wide range of banking, investment, mortgage, trust and payment services. The company operates through consumer and business banking, commercial banking, payment services, and wealth management segments. Its product set includes deposit accounts, consumer and commercial lending, mortgage origination and servicing, credit and debit card services, treasury and cash management, merchant processing, and institutional and trust services. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for U.S. Bancorp Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for U.S. Bancorp and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mackenzie Financial Corp cut its stake in shares of CAE Inc (NYSE:CAE Free Report) (TSE:CAE) by 6.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 13,448,881 shares of the aerospace companys stock after selling 1,004,118 shares during the period. Mackenzie Financial Corp owned about 4.19% of CAE worth $398,153,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of CAE. Neuberger Berman Group LLC lifted its holdings in CAE by 382.5% during the second quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC now owns 51,521 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $1,507,000 after purchasing an additional 40,842 shares in the last quarter. Brandes Investment Partners LP increased its stake in shares of CAE by 4.4% in the second quarter. Brandes Investment Partners LP now owns 14,803,106 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $433,287,000 after purchasing an additional 628,848 shares in the last quarter. Cooper Creek Partners Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of CAE during the 2nd quarter valued at $5,854,000. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership raised its position in shares of CAE by 356.8% during the 2nd quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 1,135,546 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $33,267,000 after purchasing an additional 886,951 shares during the period. Finally, Generali Asset Management SPA SGR purchased a new position in shares of CAE during the 3rd quarter valued at $999,000. Institutional investors own 67.36% of the companys stock. Get CAE alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several research analysts recently weighed in on CAE shares. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of CAE in a report on Sunday, February 15th. TD Securities reissued a buy rating on shares of CAE in a report on Tuesday, February 17th. Scotiabank restated an outperform rating on shares of CAE in a research report on Tuesday, February 17th. Stifel Nicolaus assumed coverage on CAE in a research note on Wednesday, March 4th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Finally, Zacks Research upgraded CAE from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, January 12th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have given a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $34.33. CAE Price Performance Shares of NYSE:CAE opened at $28.51 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $9.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.35, a P/E/G ratio of 3.43 and a beta of 1.11. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $31.38 and a 200 day moving average price of $29.09. CAE Inc has a fifty-two week low of $20.36 and a fifty-two week high of $34.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a quick ratio of 0.69 and a current ratio of 0.91. CAE (NYSE:CAE Get Free Report) (TSE:CAE) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The aerospace company reported $0.24 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.22 by $0.02. CAE had a net margin of 7.70% and a return on equity of 7.75%. The business had revenue of $911.78 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $922.62 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.29 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 2.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that CAE Inc will post 0.83 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. CAE Company Profile (Free Report) CAE Inc is a global leader in training and simulation technologies, headquartered in Montreal, Canada. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of high-fidelity flight simulators and training systems for civil aviation, defense and security, and healthcare markets. Leveraging advanced software and hardware integration, CAE delivers comprehensive training solutions that address pilot proficiency, mission readiness and patient safety across a wide range of platforms. In civil aviation, CAE partners with major airlines, aircraft manufacturers and flight schools to provide pilot training services, courseware development and crew scheduling solutions. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for CAE Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CAE and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLC raised its stake in shares of NewMarket Corporation (NYSE:NEU Free Report) by 120.8% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 3,264 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,786 shares during the period. Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLCs holdings in NewMarket were worth $2,703,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of NewMarket by 3.1% during the 3rd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 39,452 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $32,675,000 after buying an additional 1,192 shares in the last quarter. Monument Capital Management purchased a new position in shares of NewMarket during the 3rd quarter valued at $2,548,000. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in NewMarket by 151.3% in the 3rd quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 4,118 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $3,416,000 after buying an additional 2,479 shares during the period. Anfield Capital Management LLC bought a new position in NewMarket in the 3rd quarter worth $2,321,000. Finally, Advisors Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in NewMarket by 221.5% in the 3rd quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,662 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $2,205,000 after buying an additional 1,834 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 61.09% of the companys stock. Get NewMarket alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at NewMarket In other news, Director Ting Xu bought 400 shares of NewMarket stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 24th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $619.21 per share, with a total value of $247,684.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director owned 929 shares of the companys stock, valued at $575,246.09. This trade represents a 75.61% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 19.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, Weiss Ratings upgraded NewMarket from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a research report on Monday, March 2nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Buy. View Our Latest Report on NEU NewMarket Trading Up 0.2% NewMarket stock opened at $622.18 on Wednesday. NewMarket Corporation has a 1 year low of $510.07 and a 1 year high of $875.97. The firms 50 day moving average price is $658.75 and its 200-day moving average price is $738.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a current ratio of 2.53 and a quick ratio of 1.33. The stock has a market cap of $5.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.01 and a beta of 0.50. NewMarket (NYSE:NEU Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The specialty chemicals company reported $8.65 earnings per share for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $635.40 million during the quarter. NewMarket had a net margin of 15.37% and a return on equity of 25.38%. NewMarket Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 16th will be issued a dividend of $3.00 per share. This represents a $12.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 16th. NewMarkets dividend payout ratio is 27.01%. About NewMarket (Free Report) NewMarket Corporation is a specialty chemicals and lubricants company headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. Through its Valvoline business, the company markets a broad portfolio of automotive aftermarket products, including engine oils, transmission fluids, greases and vehicle care solutions. Valvoline products are distributed through retail and commercial channels as well as a network of quick-lube service centers that provide oil changes, preventive maintenance and related services. In its chemical additives segment, NewMarket develops, manufactures and sells performance additives for fuels, lubricants and industrial fluids. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NEU? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for NewMarket Corporation (NYSE:NEU Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for NewMarket Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NewMarket and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Inceptionr LLC decreased its position in MSCI Inc (NYSE:MSCI Free Report) by 62.7% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 903 shares of the technology companys stock after selling 1,520 shares during the quarter. Inceptionr LLCs holdings in MSCI were worth $512,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. purchased a new stake in MSCI during the 3rd quarter worth about $27,000. Root Financial Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of MSCI in the 3rd quarter valued at about $28,000. Strategic Wealth Investment Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of MSCI in the 2nd quarter valued at about $36,000. Westside Investment Management Inc. raised its position in shares of MSCI by 100.0% during the 3rd quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. now owns 68 shares of the technology companys stock worth $38,000 after acquiring an additional 34 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Eastern Bank acquired a new stake in shares of MSCI during the 3rd quarter worth about $50,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.97% of the companys stock. Get MSCI alerts: MSCI Trading Down 2.6% MSCI stock opened at $549.87 on Wednesday. MSCI Inc has a 52 week low of $486.73 and a 52 week high of $626.28. The company has a market cap of $40.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.05, a P/E/G ratio of 2.30 and a beta of 1.29. The companys 50-day moving average price is $570.23 and its 200 day moving average price is $565.36. MSCI Increases Dividend MSCI ( NYSE:MSCI Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 28th. The technology company reported $4.66 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.62 by $0.04. MSCI had a negative return on equity of 82.59% and a net margin of 38.36%.The firm had revenue of $822.53 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $819.51 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $4.18 earnings per share. MSCIs revenue was up 10.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts expect that MSCI Inc will post 16.86 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 27th. Investors of record on Friday, February 13th were paid a $2.05 dividend. This represents a $8.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 13th. This is a positive change from MSCIs previous quarterly dividend of $1.80. MSCIs dividend payout ratio is currently 52.26%. Insider Activity In other MSCI news, CFO Andrew C. Wiechmann sold 450 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $550.00, for a total transaction of $247,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 21,639 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,901,450. This trade represents a 2.04% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Henry A. Fernandez bought 6,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, February 13th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $524.18 per share, with a total value of $3,145,080.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 1,493,047 shares of the companys stock, valued at $782,625,376.46. The trade was a 0.40% increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase is available in the SEC filing. Company insiders own 3.31% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $655.00 price target on shares of MSCI in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of MSCI from $590.00 to $618.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. Weiss Ratings upgraded MSCI from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a research note on Thursday, February 26th. Raymond James Financial reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $690.00 price objective on shares of MSCI in a research note on Monday, January 12th. Finally, Bank of America initiated coverage on shares of MSCI in a report on Tuesday, February 17th. They issued a buy rating and a $700.00 target price on the stock. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $671.78. Read Our Latest Stock Report on MSCI MSCI Profile (Free Report) MSCI Inc is a global provider of investment decision support tools and services for the financial industry. The company is best known for its family of market indexes, which are widely used as benchmarks by asset managers and as the basis for exchange-traded funds and other passive products. In addition to index construction and licensing, MSCI offers portfolio analytics, risk models, factor and performance attribution tools, and a suite of data and technology solutions designed to support portfolio management and trading. Beyond traditional indexing and risk analytics, MSCI has expanded into environmental, social and governance (ESG) research and ratings, offering data, scores and screening tools that help investors integrate sustainability considerations into investment processes. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MSCI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for MSCI Inc (NYSE:MSCI Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for MSCI Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for MSCI and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. As the uncertainty of the Iran war unfolds, investors are looking for safe havens for their money. Between the uncertain duration and outcome of the war, investors are also concerned about the price of oil and supply chain disruptions. With the memory of similar upheaval during the COVID-19 pandemic in the not-too-distant past, so-called flight to safety assets are once again spiking higher, drawing money away from riskier investments like stocks. Read More: 3 Safest Investments To Hold In The Current Trump Economy Check Out: How Middle-Class Earners Are Quietly Becoming Millionaires and How You Can, Too Here are five of the safest places you can put your money during times of war, according to experts. 1. Gold When it comes to safe-haven assets, gold is often at the top of the list. The reason is gold has intrinsic value. It does not rely on any government, currency or economic productivity to make it sparkle. Gold is an effective portfolio diversifier that can help hedge against a range of market and economic risks, analysts at UBS wrote in a recent investment outlook, noting that demand for the metal tends to increase when global tensions rise. Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio has also encouraged investors to hold gold as a portfolio stabilizer. If you dont own gold, you know neither history nor economics, he said. Be Aware: Mark Cuban Warns 4 Key Industries Could Crumble in the Next Recession 2. US Treasury Securities U.S. Treasury securities often attract investor funds during geopolitical turmoil because they are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. According to the Securities and Exchange Commission, they are generally considered among the safest investments in the world. That reputation makes government bonds a frequent target for investors seeking stability during geopolitical shocks. 3. High-Yield Savings or Money Market Accounts Many investors sell their stocks and bonds during wartime and simply hold cash. Much of that money makes its way to FDIC-insured high-yield savings or money market accounts. This allows the funds to continue to earn interest, although usually at a modest rate, while offering stability and immediate access. 4. The US Dollar The U.S. itself is still seen as a place of refuge during tumultuous times, and that attracts investors into its currency as well. As reported by Barrons, David Morrison, senior market analyst at Trade Nation, recently wrote, The U.S. dollar remains the go-to safe-haven currency for investors. 5. Defensive Stocks Certain stocks are considered more defensive than others, and they generally attract investor dollars during uncertain times. You still have to pay your electric bill, travel to work and eat no matter whats happening in the economy, so companies that provide these goods and services tend to hold up better than more discretionary businesses. Inceptionr LLC purchased a new position in shares of NewJersey Resources Corporation (NYSE:NJR Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 11,872 shares of the utilities providers stock, valued at approximately $572,000. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of NJR. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of NewJersey Resources in the 2nd quarter worth about $52,671,000. Energy Income Partners LLC lifted its holdings in NewJersey Resources by 145.7% in the 2nd quarter. Energy Income Partners LLC now owns 798,661 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $35,796,000 after buying an additional 473,664 shares in the last quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd boosted its holdings in NewJersey Resources by 77.1% in the second quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd now owns 730,300 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $32,732,000 after purchasing an additional 317,932 shares during the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of NewJersey Resources by 68.2% during the 3rd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 610,166 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $29,379,000 after buying an additional 247,310 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC grew its holdings in NewJersey Resources by 127.5% during the 2nd quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC now owns 347,620 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $15,580,000 after acquiring an additional 194,836 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.98% of the companys stock. Get NewJersey Resources alerts: NewJersey Resources Price Performance NYSE NJR opened at $54.29 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $5.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.81 and a beta of 0.57. The company has a current ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32. NewJersey Resources Corporation has a 1 year low of $43.46 and a 1 year high of $55.49. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $50.66 and a 200 day simple moving average of $47.95. NewJersey Resources Announces Dividend NewJersey Resources ( NYSE:NJR Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 2nd. The utilities provider reported $1.17 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.95 by $0.22. The business had revenue of $604.85 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $546.90 million. NewJersey Resources had a return on equity of 13.06% and a net margin of 15.18%.The firms revenue was up 23.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.29 EPS. NewJersey Resources has set its FY 2026 guidance at 3.280-3.43 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that NewJersey Resources Corporation will post 3.15 EPS for the current year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 1st. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 11th will be given a dividend of $0.475 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 11th. This represents a $1.90 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.5%. NewJersey Resourcess payout ratio is 58.82%. Insider Activity In related news, COO Patrick J. Migliaccio sold 4,017 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $46.46, for a total transaction of $186,629.82. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer directly owned 38,065 shares in the company, valued at $1,768,499.90. The trade was a 9.55% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Insiders own 0.70% of the companys stock. Analyst Ratings Changes Several analysts have weighed in on the stock. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of NewJersey Resources from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a research note on Friday, February 13th. New Street Research set a $54.00 price target on NewJersey Resources in a research report on Wednesday, December 17th. Raymond James Financial reiterated an outperform rating on shares of NewJersey Resources in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Mizuho upgraded NewJersey Resources from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and upped their price objective for the company from $51.00 to $54.00 in a report on Wednesday, December 17th. Finally, Argus upgraded shares of NewJersey Resources to a strong-buy rating in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have issued a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $53.00. Read Our Latest Analysis on NJR NewJersey Resources Company Profile (Free Report) New Jersey Resources Corporation is a publicly traded energy services holding company headquartered in Wall Township, New Jersey. The firms primary focus is on the safe and reliable distribution of natural gas, along with complementary energy services and renewable energy investments. Its operations center on delivering cost-effective solutions to residential, commercial and industrial customers throughout the state. The companys principal subsidiary, New Jersey Natural Gas, owns and operates an extensive pipeline network that spans northern, central and southern New Jersey. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for NewJersey Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NewJersey Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Legal & General Group Plc lessened its stake in Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft (NYSE:DB Free Report) by 5.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 14,332,603 shares of the banks stock after selling 871,028 shares during the quarter. Legal & General Group Plc owned approximately 0.72% of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft worth $504,418,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Amundi grew its position in shares of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft by 15.3% in the 2nd quarter. Amundi now owns 40,664,519 shares of the banks stock valued at $1,182,931,000 after acquiring an additional 5,403,011 shares during the period. Fisher Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft by 3.8% during the 3rd quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 26,432,006 shares of the banks stock valued at $935,957,000 after purchasing an additional 960,605 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft during the 2nd quarter worth about $719,395,000. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main boosted its holdings in shares of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft by 6.4% during the second quarter. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main now owns 13,209,491 shares of the banks stock worth $390,188,000 after acquiring an additional 794,674 shares during the period. Finally, Liontrust Investment Partners LLP acquired a new position in Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft in the 2nd quarter valued at $147,318,000. 27.90% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades DB has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Citigroup reissued a sell rating on shares of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b) rating on shares of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Zacks Research lowered shares of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, December 30th. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an overweight rating on shares of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised shares of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday, December 20th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have assigned a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft Trading Up 0.5% DB stock opened at $31.74 on Wednesday. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $37.20 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $36.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.43, a current ratio of 0.76 and a quick ratio of 0.78. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft has a 1-year low of $18.89 and a 1-year high of $40.43. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft (NYSE:DB Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 29th. The bank reported $0.88 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.72 by $0.16. The business had revenue of $8.99 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.71 billion. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft had a return on equity of 7.49% and a net margin of 10.02%. On average, equities analysts expect that Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft will post 2.93 EPS for the current year. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft Increases Dividend The firm also recently disclosed an annual dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 2nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 1st will be issued a dividend of $1.00 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 1st. This is a positive change from Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschafts previous annual dividend of $0.51. This represents a dividend yield of 251.0%. About Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft (Free Report) Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft is a global banking and financial services company headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany. Founded in 1870 to support German foreign trade, the firm has grown into a full-service bank offering a wide range of banking, advisory and transaction services to corporate, institutional, and private clients. Over its history the bank has expanded internationally and developed capabilities across capital markets, investment banking, retail and commercial banking, and wealth management. The banks core business activities include corporate and investment bankingcovering financing, advisory, sales and trading, and capital markets servicesalong with private & commercial banking for individual and small-to-medium enterprise clients. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft (NYSE:DB Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Richard Bernstein Advisors LLC decreased its position in shares of Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE Free Report) by 51.3% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 16,319 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 17,162 shares during the period. Richard Bernstein Advisors LLCs holdings in Sempra Energy were worth $1,468,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in SRE. Empowered Funds LLC grew its position in Sempra Energy by 52.5% during the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 18,008 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,285,000 after acquiring an additional 6,196 shares during the last quarter. Woodline Partners LP boosted its position in Sempra Energy by 40.7% during the 1st quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 53,512 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $3,819,000 after acquiring an additional 15,474 shares in the last quarter. Ignite Planners LLC grew its stake in Sempra Energy by 3.1% in the second quarter. Ignite Planners LLC now owns 12,396 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $970,000 after purchasing an additional 371 shares during the period. Savant Capital LLC increased its stake in shares of Sempra Energy by 4.1% in the 2nd quarter. Savant Capital LLC now owns 8,743 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $662,000 after acquiring an additional 344 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Parkside Financial Bank & Trust increased its stake in shares of Sempra Energy by 34.8% during the second quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 1,537 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $116,000 after purchasing an additional 397 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.65% of the companys stock. Get Sempra Energy alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research analysts have recently weighed in on SRE shares. Argus upgraded Sempra Energy from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 4th. Wall Street Zen cut Sempra Energy from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Saturday. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c+) rating on shares of Sempra Energy in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Citigroup restated a neutral rating and set a $99.00 price target (up from $80.00) on shares of Sempra Energy in a research note on Monday, November 24th. Finally, UBS Group reaffirmed a neutral rating and set a $100.00 price target (up from $96.00) on shares of Sempra Energy in a research report on Friday. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have given a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $100.00. Sempra Energy Price Performance NYSE:SRE opened at $92.97 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.59, a quick ratio of 1.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75. The company has a market capitalization of $60.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.69, a P/E/G ratio of 3.50 and a beta of 0.73. Sempra Energy has a 12 month low of $61.90 and a 12 month high of $97.44. The businesss 50-day moving average is $90.45 and its 200 day moving average is $89.43. Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 26th. The utilities provider reported $1.28 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.12 by $0.16. Sempra Energy had a net margin of 13.27% and a return on equity of 8.22%. The firm had revenue of $3.75 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.82 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.50 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was down .2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Sempra Energy will post 4.76 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Sempra Energy Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, March 19th will be issued a $0.6575 dividend. This represents a $2.63 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 19th. This is a positive change from Sempra Energys previous quarterly dividend of $0.65. Sempra Energys payout ratio is currently 95.29%. Insider Activity In other news, CFO Karen L. Sedgwick sold 4,872 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $92.58, for a total value of $451,049.76. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 39,029 shares in the company, valued at $3,613,304.82. This trade represents a 11.10% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 0.27% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Sempra Energy Profile (Free Report) Sempra Energy is a San Diegobased energy infrastructure company that develops, owns and operates businesses delivering electricity and natural gas. Its operations include regulated utility services that provide electric and gas distribution to residential, commercial and industrial customers, as well as non?regulated infrastructure businesses that develop and manage large-scale energy assets. The companys product and service portfolio spans electricity and natural gas delivery, transmission and storage, liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities, power generation and electric transmission projects. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Sempra Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sempra Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Gabelli Funds LLC grew its position in Toll Brothers Inc. (NYSE:TOL Free Report) by 136.4% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 18,200 shares of the construction companys stock after acquiring an additional 10,500 shares during the quarter. Gabelli Funds LLCs holdings in Toll Brothers were worth $2,514,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Sivia Capital Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Toll Brothers in the second quarter valued at $705,000. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. increased its position in Toll Brothers by 4.8% in the second quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 51,934 shares of the construction companys stock worth $5,927,000 after purchasing an additional 2,398 shares during the last quarter. Atria Investments Inc purchased a new stake in Toll Brothers during the second quarter valued at $332,000. Bank of Montreal Can raised its stake in Toll Brothers by 5.0% during the second quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 32,353 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $3,692,000 after purchasing an additional 1,543 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Penserra Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Toll Brothers by 20.7% during the second quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC now owns 5,178 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $590,000 after purchasing an additional 887 shares during the last quarter. 91.76% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Toll Brothers alerts: Insider Activity In other Toll Brothers news, Director Paul E. Shapiro sold 3,965 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $146.68, for a total value of $581,586.20. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 118,680 shares of the companys stock, valued at $17,407,982.40. This trade represents a 3.23% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Douglas C. Jr. Yearley sold 45,116 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $160.42, for a total value of $7,237,508.72. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 321,256 shares of the companys stock, valued at $51,535,887.52. This trade represents a 12.31% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 1.37% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Toll Brothers Stock Down 1.0% NYSE TOL opened at $145.71 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 4.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. Toll Brothers Inc. has a 52 week low of $86.67 and a 52 week high of $168.36. The firm has a market capitalization of $13.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.41, a PEG ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.45. The company has a fifty day moving average of $149.81 and a two-hundred day moving average of $141.64. Toll Brothers (NYSE:TOL Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 17th. The construction company reported $2.19 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.05 by $0.14. The business had revenue of $2.15 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.86 billion. Toll Brothers had a net margin of 12.26% and a return on equity of 16.83%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 15.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.75 earnings per share. On average, analysts predict that Toll Brothers Inc. will post 13.83 earnings per share for the current year. Toll Brothers Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 23rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 9th were paid a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 9th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.7%. Toll Brotherss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 7.14%. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of brokerages have commented on TOL. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their price objective on shares of Toll Brothers from $144.00 to $161.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, February 19th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on shares of Toll Brothers from $140.00 to $156.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 13th. Oppenheimer reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $180.00 price target (up from $177.00) on shares of Toll Brothers in a research report on Thursday, February 19th. Citizens Jmp reissued a market outperform rating and set a $175.00 price objective on shares of Toll Brothers in a research note on Wednesday, February 18th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on Toll Brothers from $141.00 to $143.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, February 23rd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have issued a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Toll Brothers has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $165.25. Get Our Latest Report on Toll Brothers About Toll Brothers (Free Report) Toll Brothers, Inc is a publicly traded homebuilding company that focuses on designing and constructing luxury residential properties. The companys core business encompasses a broad range of housing products, including custom single-family homes, upscale condominium communities and rental apartment ventures. Toll Brothers emphasizes high-end finishes and architectural craftsmanship, positioning itself in the premium segment of the U.S. housing market. In addition to traditional homebuilding, Toll Brothers operates specialized divisions to address evolving consumer preferences. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Toll Brothers Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Toll Brothers and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MGIC Investment Corporation (NYSE:MTG Free Report) Zacks Research dropped their Q1 2026 earnings estimates for shares of MGIC Investment in a report released on Tuesday, March 10th. Zacks Research analyst Team now anticipates that the insurance provider will post earnings of $0.73 per share for the quarter, down from their previous estimate of $0.74. The consensus estimate for MGIC Investments current full-year earnings is $2.71 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for MGIC Investments Q2 2026 earnings at $0.75 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $3.10 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $0.81 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $0.86 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $0.84 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $3.39 EPS. Get MGIC Investment alerts: A number of other equities research analysts have also weighed in on the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price objective on MGIC Investment from $27.00 to $28.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Thursday, December 18th. Barclays lowered their target price on MGIC Investment from $30.00 to $28.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 4th. Finally, Weiss Ratings downgraded shares of MGIC Investment from a buy (a-) rating to a buy (b+) rating in a research report on Thursday, February 5th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $28.00. MGIC Investment Price Performance Shares of NYSE MTG opened at $26.35 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $5.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.39, a PEG ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 0.83. The business has a 50-day moving average of $27.05 and a 200-day moving average of $27.75. MGIC Investment has a 1-year low of $21.94 and a 1-year high of $29.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a current ratio of 1.52 and a quick ratio of 1.52. MGIC Investment (NYSE:MTG Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 2nd. The insurance provider reported $0.75 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.73 by $0.02. MGIC Investment had a net margin of 60.84% and a return on equity of 14.33%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down .9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.72 earnings per share. Institutional Investors Weigh In On MGIC Investment Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Alps Advisors Inc. grew its position in MGIC Investment by 60.6% in the third quarter. Alps Advisors Inc. now owns 701,943 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $19,914,000 after acquiring an additional 264,968 shares in the last quarter. Lingohr Asset Management GmbH lifted its holdings in shares of MGIC Investment by 1,625.5% during the third quarter. Lingohr Asset Management GmbH now owns 233,534 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $6,625,000 after buying an additional 220,000 shares during the last quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans boosted its holdings in MGIC Investment by 17.8% in the 3rd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 472,083 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $13,393,000 after purchasing an additional 71,474 shares during the period. Moody Aldrich Partners LLC acquired a new stake in MGIC Investment during the third quarter worth about $4,648,000. Finally, North Star Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of MGIC Investment during the second quarter valued at approximately $375,000. 95.58% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Insider Activity at MGIC Investment In other MGIC Investment news, EVP Paula C. Maggio sold 20,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $27.51, for a total value of $550,200.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 114,689 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,155,094.39. This represents a 14.85% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Timothy J. Mattke sold 139,203 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $26.51, for a total transaction of $3,690,271.53. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 822,588 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $21,806,807.88. The trade was a 14.47% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 189,203 shares of company stock valued at $5,058,572. Corporate insiders own 1.41% of the companys stock. MGIC Investment Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 6th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 17th were given a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 17th. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.3%. MGIC Investments payout ratio is presently 19.11%. MGIC Investment Company Profile (Get Free Report) MGIC Investment Corporation (NYSE: MTG) is a leading provider of private mortgage insurance in the United States. Established in 1957 as the nations first private mortgage insurer, MGIC helps lenders manage credit risk and facilitates homeownership by protecting mortgage loans against default. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the company operates through its principal subsidiary, Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation, and maintains relationships with a broad network of originators and servicers nationwide. The companys primary business activity involves issuing mortgage insurance policies that enable borrowers to purchase homes with down payments below traditional lending thresholds. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for MGIC Investment Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for MGIC Investment and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Watsco, Inc. (NYSE:WSO Free Report) Equities research analysts at Zacks Research reduced their Q1 2026 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Watsco in a report issued on Tuesday, March 10th. Zacks Research analyst Team now forecasts that the construction company will post earnings per share of $1.74 for the quarter, down from their prior forecast of $2.00. Zacks Research currently has a Hold rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Watscos current full-year earnings is $14.62 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Watscos Q2 2026 earnings at $4.27 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $4.22 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $2.14 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $1.89 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $4.74 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $4.77 EPS, Q4 2027 earnings at $2.42 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $13.83 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $15.63 EPS. Get Watsco alerts: Watsco (NYSE:WSO Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 17th. The construction company reported $1.68 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.94 by ($0.26). The firm had revenue of $1.58 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.62 billion. Watsco had a net margin of 6.87% and a return on equity of 15.49%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 9.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.37 EPS. A number of other research firms also recently issued reports on WSO. UBS Group began coverage on Watsco in a research note on Monday, January 5th. They issued a neutral rating and a $370.00 price target on the stock. Mizuho set a $425.00 price objective on shares of Watsco in a research report on Wednesday, February 18th. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on shares of Watsco from $460.00 to $370.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of Watsco from $370.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, February 19th. Finally, Wolfe Research set a $349.00 target price on Watsco in a research report on Tuesday, December 9th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Watsco has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $409.00. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Watsco Watsco Price Performance Shares of NYSE WSO opened at $379.47 on Wednesday. Watsco has a 1 year low of $323.05 and a 1 year high of $521.70. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $392.02 and a 200 day moving average of $377.04. The stock has a market cap of $15.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.33 and a beta of 1.03. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of WSO. Torren Management LLC purchased a new stake in Watsco during the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. Bayban purchased a new position in shares of Watsco during the 4th quarter worth $29,000. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. increased its position in shares of Watsco by 2,366.7% during the third quarter. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. now owns 74 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 71 shares during the last quarter. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. raised its position in Watsco by 242.9% in the second quarter. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. now owns 72 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 51 shares during the period. Finally, Bamco Inc. NY acquired a new position in Watsco during the 4th quarter worth about $35,000. 89.71% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Watsco Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 16th were given a dividend of $3.00 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 16th. This represents a $12.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.2%. Watscos dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 99.09%. More Watsco News Here are the key news stories impacting Watsco this week: Positive Sentiment: Short interest fell 12.4% to 3.08M shares as of Feb. 27, lowering the short-interest ratio to ~7.8 days and removing some downside pressure from crowded bearish bets. Short interest fell 12.4% to 3.08M shares as of Feb. 27, lowering the short-interest ratio to ~7.8 days and removing some downside pressure from crowded bearish bets. Positive Sentiment: Zacks raised several later-period estimates and long-range outlooks including Q3 2027 (to $4.77), Q4 2027 (to $2.42) and FY2028 (to $15.63) signaling upside to 20272028 earnings expectations even as near-term estimates move around. Zacks raised several later-period estimates and long-range outlooks including Q3 2027 (to $4.77), Q4 2027 (to $2.42) and FY2028 (to $15.63) signaling upside to 20272028 earnings expectations even as near-term estimates move around. Positive Sentiment: Bullish coverage highlighting Watsco as an undervalued HVAC/R player with strong dividend-growth potential may support buyer interest for long-term investors. Article Title Bullish coverage highlighting Watsco as an undervalued HVAC/R player with strong dividend-growth potential may support buyer interest for long-term investors. Neutral Sentiment: Zacks continues to carry a Hold rating on WSO; its revisions are mixed across quarters, so analyst sentiment is not turning uniformly bullish or bearish at this stage. Zacks continues to carry a Hold rating on WSO; its revisions are mixed across quarters, so analyst sentiment is not turning uniformly bullish or bearish at this stage. Negative Sentiment: Zacks cut several near-term forecasts and trimmed FY2027: Q1 2026 to $1.74 (from $2.00), Q2 2026 to $4.27 (from $4.53), Q3 2026 to $4.22 (from $4.27), Q1 2027 to $1.89 (from $2.07), Q2 2027 to $4.74 (from $4.97) and lowered FY2027 to $13.83 (from $13.95). These downgrades increase near-term earnings risk and likely weigh on the stock today. Zacks cut several near-term forecasts and trimmed FY2027: Q1 2026 to $1.74 (from $2.00), Q2 2026 to $4.27 (from $4.53), Q3 2026 to $4.22 (from $4.27), Q1 2027 to $1.89 (from $2.07), Q2 2027 to $4.74 (from $4.97) and lowered FY2027 to $13.83 (from $13.95). These downgrades increase near-term earnings risk and likely weigh on the stock today. Negative Sentiment: Negative media coverage arguing reasons to avoid WSO could amplify short-term selling pressure from momentum or retail investors. Article Title Watsco Company Profile (Get Free Report) Watsco, Inc is the largest distributor of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC/R) equipment, parts and supplies in the United States. Headquartered in Miami, Florida, the company operates a network of more than 600 branches across the continental U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. Watsco serves residential and commercial contractors by providing essential components for climate control systems, including air conditioners, furnaces, heat pumps, coils, refrigerants, controls and electrical and piping supplies. Founded in 1947, Watsco has grown from a single regional distributor into an industry leader through a combination of organic expansion, acquisitions and strategic partnerships with original equipment manufacturers such as Carrier, Trane, Goodman and Lennox. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Watsco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Watsco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Victory Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR Free Report) by 3.3% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 272,632 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after acquiring an additional 8,699 shares during the quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc.s holdings in Equity Residential were worth $17,647,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of EQR. Collier Financial bought a new position in shares of Equity Residential in the third quarter worth about $26,000. Hantz Financial Services Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Equity Residential by 434.7% during the 3rd quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 540 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 439 shares during the last quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Equity Residential by 203.5% during the 3rd quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 780 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $50,000 after purchasing an additional 523 shares during the last quarter. CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC acquired a new position in Equity Residential during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $61,000. Finally, MUFG Securities EMEA plc bought a new position in Equity Residential in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $68,000. Institutional investors own 92.68% of the companys stock. Get Equity Residential alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades EQR has been the topic of a number of research reports. UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of Equity Residential from $68.00 to $71.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. BNP Paribas Exane raised their price objective on Equity Residential from $66.00 to $68.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, March 3rd. Barclays lowered their target price on Equity Residential from $78.00 to $75.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Friday, March 6th. Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their target price on Equity Residential from $70.00 to $68.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Finally, Scotiabank boosted their price target on Equity Residential from $66.00 to $67.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Wednesday, March 4th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and thirteen have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $69.68. Equity Residential Price Performance Shares of NYSE:EQR opened at $61.46 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73, a quick ratio of 0.31 and a current ratio of 0.31. Equity Residential has a 52 week low of $58.38 and a 52 week high of $72.64. The firm has a market cap of $23.20 billion, a PE ratio of 20.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.69 and a beta of 0.75. The firms fifty day moving average is $62.49 and its 200-day moving average is $62.50. Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 5th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.03 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.04 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $781.91 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $786.35 million. Equity Residential had a net margin of 36.20% and a return on equity of 9.98%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 2.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.00 earnings per share. Equity Residential has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 0.940-0.980 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 4.020-4.140 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that Equity Residential will post 3.98 earnings per share for the current year. Equity Residential Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 2nd were given a dividend of $0.6925 per share. This represents a $2.77 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.5%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 2nd. Equity Residentials dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 94.54%. Insider Buying and Selling In other Equity Residential news, EVP Robert Garechana sold 3,637 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $65.13, for a total transaction of $236,877.81. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 18,740 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,220,536.20. This trade represents a 16.25% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Catherine Carraway sold 656 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $65.13, for a total transaction of $42,725.28. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 18,339 shares in the company, valued at $1,194,419.07. This trade represents a 3.45% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold a total of 10,058 shares of company stock valued at $655,078 over the last ninety days. 1.00% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Equity Residential Company Profile (Free Report) Equity Residential (NYSE: EQR) is a publicly traded real estate investment trust that acquires, develops, owns and operates rental apartment properties. Headquartered in Chicago, the company focuses on delivering professionally managed, market-rate apartment homes and related services to renters. Its operations cover a range of property types, including high-rise and mid-rise assets, with amenities and on-site management designed to support resident retention and occupancy. The companys core activities include property acquisitions, development and redevelopment, leasing, and day-to-day property management. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EQR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Equity Residential Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Equity Residential and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mackenzie Financial Corp lessened its position in Canadian Natural Resources Limited (NYSE:CNQ Free Report) (TSE:CNQ) by 2.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 31,019,189 shares of the oil and gas producers stock after selling 783,523 shares during the quarter. Canadian Natural Resources makes up about 1.2% of Mackenzie Financial Corps holdings, making the stock its 16th biggest holding. Mackenzie Financial Corp owned 1.49% of Canadian Natural Resources worth $991,633,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Addison Advisors LLC grew its position in Canadian Natural Resources by 309.1% during the 2nd quarter. Addison Advisors LLC now owns 896 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 677 shares in the last quarter. St. Johns Investment Management Company LLC acquired a new stake in Canadian Natural Resources during the 3rd quarter valued at $32,000. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Canadian Natural Resources by 100.0% in the third quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,000 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares in the last quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Canadian Natural Resources by 47.3% in the first quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 1,644 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $51,000 after purchasing an additional 528 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Smartleaf Asset Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Canadian Natural Resources by 3,182.7% in the third quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 1,707 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $55,000 after buying an additional 1,655 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.03% of the companys stock. Get Canadian Natural Resources alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on CNQ shares. Evercore downgraded Canadian Natural Resources from an outperform rating to an in-line rating in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $35.00 price objective on Canadian Natural Resources and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, January 2nd. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their target price on Canadian Natural Resources from $61.00 to $65.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, March 6th. Desjardins lowered shares of Canadian Natural Resources from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, November 24th. Finally, ATB Cormark Capital Markets cut shares of Canadian Natural Resources from a strong-buy rating to a moderate buy rating in a report on Thursday, March 5th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Canadian Natural Resources currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $50.00. Canadian Natural Resources Price Performance Shares of NYSE:CNQ opened at $45.75 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $95.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.40 and a beta of 0.63. Canadian Natural Resources Limited has a 1 year low of $24.65 and a 1 year high of $47.47. The company has a current ratio of 0.95, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $38.34 and a 200 day simple moving average of $34.37. Canadian Natural Resources (NYSE:CNQ Get Free Report) (TSE:CNQ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, March 5th. The oil and gas producer reported $0.59 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.53 by $0.06. Canadian Natural Resources had a return on equity of 17.84% and a net margin of 24.48%.The firm had revenue of $6.89 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.64 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.93 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Canadian Natural Resources Limited will post 2.45 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Canadian Natural Resources Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 7th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 20th will be issued a dividend of $0.625 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 20th. This represents a $2.50 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.5%. This is a positive change from Canadian Natural Resourcess previous quarterly dividend of $0.59. Canadian Natural Resourcess dividend payout ratio is presently 45.53%. Canadian Natural Resources Company Profile (Free Report) Canadian Natural Resources Limited (NYSE: CNQ) is a Calgary-based independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company. Established in the early 1970s and publicly listed in Canada and the United States, the company is principally engaged in the exploration, development, production, and marketing of crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids. Its asset base spans conventional and unconventional reservoirs and includes oil sands mining and in-situ thermal projects, midstream processing and upgrading capacity, and related field operations. The companys operations are concentrated in Western Canada, where it develops heavy crude, bitumen from oil sands and conventional light crude and natural gas resources. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Canadian Natural Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian Natural Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Diageo (NYSE:DEO Get Free Report) was upgraded by equities researchers at Argus to a hold rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Tuesday,Zacks.com reports. A number of other research firms have also recently commented on DEO. Weiss Ratings reissued a sell (d) rating on shares of Diageo in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. HSBC cut shares of Diageo from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, March 2nd. UBS Group reissued a neutral rating on shares of Diageo in a research note on Wednesday, December 3rd. Barclays restated an overweight rating on shares of Diageo in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein set a $124.00 price target on shares of Diageo and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday, December 29th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $116.50. Get Diageo alerts: Get Our Latest Analysis on Diageo Diageo Stock Down 0.8% Institutional Inflows and Outflows NYSE:DEO opened at $81.41 on Tuesday. Diageo has a twelve month low of $80.45 and a twelve month high of $116.69. The company has a quick ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 1.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $91.08 and its 200 day simple moving average is $93.91. Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Bank of Montreal Can boosted its holdings in shares of Diageo by 428.7% in the 4th quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 2,173,047 shares of the companys stock worth $187,469,000 after buying an additional 1,762,027 shares during the last quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company grew its position in shares of Diageo by 72,871.7% during the 2nd quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 1,568,162 shares of the companys stock valued at $158,133,000 after acquiring an additional 1,566,013 shares during the period. Equity Investment Corp purchased a new position in Diageo in the third quarter valued at approximately $92,970,000. Orbis Allan Gray Ltd increased its position in Diageo by 236.6% in the second quarter. Orbis Allan Gray Ltd now owns 1,157,991 shares of the companys stock worth $116,772,000 after buying an additional 813,973 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership raised its stake in shares of Diageo by 353.7% in the second quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 717,740 shares of the companys stock valued at $72,377,000 after buying an additional 559,547 shares during the period. 8.97% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Diageo Company Profile (Get 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. Read More 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. SageView Advisory Group LLC grew its position in Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM Free Report) by 46.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 67,042 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after buying an additional 21,161 shares during the period. SageView Advisory Group LLCs holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $7,559,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Norges Bank bought a new position in Exxon Mobil during the second quarter worth about $6,163,719,000. First Trust Advisors LP raised its position in shares of Exxon Mobil by 150.2% during the second quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 7,602,601 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $819,560,000 after purchasing an additional 4,563,707 shares during the period. Cerity Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Exxon Mobil by 200.7% during the 2nd quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 2,014,446 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $217,162,000 after purchasing an additional 4,015,099 shares in the last quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Exxon Mobil by 10,809.8% in the 2nd quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 3,095,106 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $333,652,000 after purchasing an additional 3,066,736 shares during the period. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. grew its position in shares of Exxon Mobil by 7.4% in the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 38,728,643 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $4,366,655,000 after purchasing an additional 2,660,910 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 61.80% of the companys stock. Get Exxon Mobil alerts: Exxon Mobil Price Performance Shares of XOM opened at $148.08 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.15, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $140.03 and its 200 day simple moving average is $123.88. Exxon Mobil Corporation has a 1-year low of $97.80 and a 1-year high of $159.60. The company has a market cap of $617.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.13, a PEG ratio of 1.23 and a beta of 0.35. Exxon Mobil Dividend Announcement Exxon Mobil ( NYSE:XOM Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $1.71 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.63 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $80.04 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $77.98 billion. Exxon Mobil had a net margin of 8.68% and a return on equity of 11.21%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 1.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.67 earnings per share. On average, research analysts forecast that Exxon Mobil Corporation will post 7.43 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 12th were issued a dividend of $1.03 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 12th. This represents a $4.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.8%. Exxon Mobils dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 61.58%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several analysts have commented on XOM shares. Mizuho set a $140.00 target price on shares of Exxon Mobil in a report on Wednesday, February 4th. Citigroup upped their price target on shares of Exxon Mobil from $118.00 to $150.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Monday, March 2nd. TD Cowen raised their price objective on shares of Exxon Mobil from $135.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their price target on Exxon Mobil from $145.00 to $150.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on Exxon Mobil from $137.00 to $134.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $143.41. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Exxon Mobil Insiders Place Their Bets In other Exxon Mobil news, VP Darrin L. Talley sold 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $139.75, for a total transaction of $698,750.00. Following the transaction, the vice president owned 23,584 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,295,864. The trade was a 17.49% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders sold a total of 16,380 shares of company stock worth $2,227,734 over the last 90 days. 0.03% of the stock is owned by insiders. Exxon Mobil News Summary Here are the key news stories impacting Exxon Mobil this week: 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. Featured Stories 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. Earning more than the U.S. average salary of $64,505 (per Forbes) doesnt mean you have to get a college degree. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), here are six occupations that offer a $75,000 (or higher) salary via apprenticeships and licensing. Elevator Installer and Repairer Annual median pay: $106,580 Elevator installers and repairers install, maintain and service lifts, escalators and moving walkways. Break into this field by completing a four-year, paid union apprenticeship with an elevator company or contractor, followed by state licensing in many areas. Most employment opportunities are found through building equipment contractors. Electrician Annual median pay: $62,350 Electricians install and repair electrical systems, including those involving lighting and communication. Most enter the trade via apprenticeship programs run by contractors or unions, though some attend technical school, and licensing is required in most states. Electricians are commonly employed by electrical contractors or manufacturing companies. Detective or Criminal Investigator Annual median pay: $93,580 Detectives investigate serious crimes and gather evidence. Detectives typically begin their careers as police officers and transition into investigative roles after gaining experience and passing department exams. Jobs exist in local police departments, sheriffs offices and state investigative units. Web Developer Annual median pay: $95,380 Web developers build and maintain websites and applications. Many enter the field through coding bootcamps, online learning programs or self-directed training and get hired based on portfolios. Work is common in tech firms, marketing agencies and contract projects and can be found through major job boards. Real Estate Broker Annual median pay: $72,280 Real estate brokers oversee property transactions and manage agents. A broker position requires state licensing and prior real estate sales agent experience. Brokers work through established real estate firms or open their own office. Power Plant Operator Annual median pay: $103,600 Power plant operators control and maintain systems that generate electricity. Training mainly occurs on site and licensing or certification may be required. A strong math and science background is helpful. Most jobs are with electric power generation and utility companies. Editors note: Annual median pay and work description for each job position was sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Here Are 6 Jobs That Still Pay $75K With No College Degree and Where To Find Them Swiss National Bank decreased its stake in AngloGold Ashanti PLC (NYSE:AU Free Report) by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,135,311 shares of the mining companys stock after selling 5,807 shares during the quarter. Swiss National Bank owned approximately 0.27% of AngloGold Ashanti worth $79,700,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of AU. HHM Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in AngloGold Ashanti in the third quarter valued at $25,000. UMB Bank n.a. boosted its stake in shares of AngloGold Ashanti by 129.0% in the 3rd quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 490 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 276 shares during the period. Optimum Investment Advisors purchased a new position in AngloGold Ashanti in the third quarter valued at $35,000. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. raised its holdings in AngloGold Ashanti by 30.3% during the second quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 1,023 shares of the mining companys stock worth $47,000 after purchasing an additional 238 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Smartleaf Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of AngloGold Ashanti in the 3rd quarter valued at about $53,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 36.09% of the companys stock. Get AngloGold Ashanti alerts: AngloGold Ashanti Stock Down 0.6% Shares of NYSE AU opened at $108.28 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $54.67 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.86 and a beta of 0.55. The company has a current ratio of 2.58, a quick ratio of 1.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21. AngloGold Ashanti PLC has a 12-month low of $30.94 and a 12-month high of $129.14. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $105.11 and a 200 day moving average price of $84.78. AngloGold Ashanti Cuts Dividend AngloGold Ashanti ( NYSE:AU Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 20th. The mining company reported $1.90 EPS for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $1.90. The business had revenue of $3.07 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.99 billion. AngloGold Ashanti had a return on equity of 29.70% and a net margin of 26.65%. Research analysts anticipate that AngloGold Ashanti PLC will post 3.83 EPS for the current fiscal year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 27th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 13th will be paid a $0.173 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 13th. This represents a $0.69 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.6%. AngloGold Ashantis dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 70.13%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities analysts have issued reports on the company. Weiss Ratings cut AngloGold Ashanti from a buy (b-) rating to a hold (c+) rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 25th. Citigroup upped their price objective on AngloGold Ashanti from $105.00 to $120.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on AngloGold Ashanti from $128.00 to $131.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 3rd. Roth Mkm reiterated a buy rating and issued a $122.00 target price on shares of AngloGold Ashanti in a research note on Friday, February 20th. Finally, Scotiabank reissued an outperform rating on shares of AngloGold Ashanti in a research note on Wednesday, February 25th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $100.50. Read Our Latest Analysis on AngloGold Ashanti AngloGold Ashanti Company Profile (Free Report) AngloGold Ashanti is a global gold mining company engaged in the exploration, development, production, processing and sale of gold. Headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, the companys core activities span the full mining value chain from greenfield exploration and mine development through to ore processing and rehabilitation. Gold is the primary commodity produced, with individual operations sometimes yielding other by?products depending on local geology and processing methods. The company was formed in 2004 through the merger of AngloGold and Ashanti Goldfields, creating a diversified international gold producer. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AU? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for AngloGold Ashanti PLC (NYSE:AU Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for AngloGold Ashanti Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AngloGold Ashanti and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Vestcor Inc lessened its position in iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF (BATS:EFAV Free Report) by 34.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 41,692 shares of the companys stock after selling 21,435 shares during the quarter. Vestcor Inc owned 0.06% of iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF worth $3,537,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of EFAV. Founders Financial Alliance LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF during the 3rd quarter worth $26,000. Howe & Rusling Inc. purchased a new stake in iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF in the second quarter worth about $29,000. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB bought a new position in iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF during the 3rd quarter worth about $37,000. Accredited Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF by 809.4% during the 3rd quarter. Accredited Wealth Management LLC now owns 482 shares of the companys stock worth $41,000 after acquiring an additional 429 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp purchased a new position in iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at about $49,000. Get iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF alerts: iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF Stock Performance BATS:EFAV opened at $91.02 on Wednesday. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $90.26 and a 200-day simple moving average of $87.09. iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF has a one year low of $72.42 and a one year high of $95.13. The firm has a market cap of $5.94 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.91 and a beta of 0.57. iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF Profile The iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF (EFAV) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI EAFE Minimum Volatility (USD) index. The fund tracks an index of developed-market equities, ex-US and Canada, selected and weighted to create a low volatility portfolio subject to constraints including sector exposure. EFAV was launched on Oct 18, 2011 and is managed by BlackRock. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Grupo Herdez, S.A.B. de C.V. (OTCMKTS:GUZOF Get Free Report) saw a large growth in short interest in February. As of February 27th, there was short interest totaling 41,876 shares, a growth of 1,535.8% from the February 12th total of 2,560 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 4,100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 10.2 days. Based on an average trading volume of 4,100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 10.2 days. Grupo Herdez Price Performance Shares of GUZOF stock opened at C$4.76 on Wednesday. Grupo Herdez has a 12 month low of C$2.52 and a 12 month high of C$5.23. The companys fifty day simple moving average is C$4.37 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$4.04. Get Grupo Herdez alerts: Grupo Herdez Company Profile (Get Free Report) Grupo Herdez (OTCMKTS:GUZOF) is one of Mexicos leading packaged food companies, with a portfolio of well-known brands serving both retail and foodservice channels. Established in Mexico City in the early 20th century, the company has grown from a regional sauce producer into a diversified food processor with operations spanning multiple product categories. The companys core offerings include salsas, sauces, canned vegetables, frozen foods, jams and jellies, and ready-to-eat meals. In addition to its flagship Herdez brand, the group holds licenses and partnerships to produce and distribute international brands in the Mexican market, such as Barilla pasta and McCormick spices. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Grupo Herdez Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Grupo Herdez and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Telefonica Brasil (NYSE:VIV Get Free Report) was downgraded by equities research analysts at UBS Group from a buy rating to a sell rating in a research note issued on Wednesday,Finviz reports. A number of other brokerages have also issued reports on VIV. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Telefonica Brasil from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday, February 9th. Bank of America began coverage on shares of Telefonica Brasil in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. They set an underperform rating and a $14.00 price objective for the company. Weiss Ratings raised shares of Telefonica Brasil from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a report on Wednesday, February 25th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised Telefonica Brasil from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Sunday, January 11th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have issued a Buy rating, two have issued a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $13.12. Get Telefonica Brasil alerts: View Our Latest Report on VIV Telefonica Brasil Price Performance Shares of VIV stock opened at $16.29 on Wednesday. Telefonica Brasil has a fifty-two week low of $8.19 and a fifty-two week high of $16.95. The firm has a market capitalization of $26.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.26, a PEG ratio of 0.72 and a beta of 0.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a current ratio of 1.00. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $14.39 and its 200-day simple moving average is $13.13. Telefonica Brasil (NYSE:VIV Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 23rd. The Wireless communications provider reported $0.22 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.17 by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $2.83 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.88 billion. Telefonica Brasil had a net margin of 10.42% and a return on equity of 9.15%. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Telefonica Brasil will post 0.6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Telefonica Brasil A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of VIV. Royal Bank of Canada raised its position in Telefonica Brasil by 30.3% during the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 431,051 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $3,758,000 after buying an additional 100,315 shares during the last quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Telefonica Brasil in the 1st quarter valued at $52,000. Rhumbline Advisers increased its stake in shares of Telefonica Brasil by 337.7% in the first quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 4,233 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 3,266 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can increased its stake in shares of Telefonica Brasil by 5.3% in the second quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 54,966 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $627,000 after acquiring an additional 2,790 shares during the period. Finally, Savant Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Telefonica Brasil during the second quarter worth $194,000. 5.16% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Telefonica Brasil Company Profile (Get Free Report) Telefonica Brasil SA, commonly marketed under the Vivo brand, is one of Brazils largest telecommunications providers, offering a broad range of consumer and enterprise communications services. The companys core activities include mobile voice and data services, fixed-line telephony, broadband internet (including fiber-to-the-home), and pay-TV solutions. It also provides ICT and managed services for business customers, such as cloud, data center, connectivity, Internet of Things (IoT) and security solutions. Vivo operates a nationwide network across Brazil and serves both individual consumers and corporate clients. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Telefonica Brasil Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Telefonica Brasil and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Argus upgraded shares of Diageo (NYSE:DEO Free Report) to a hold rating in a report released on Tuesday morning,Zacks.com reports. Other research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. Royal Bank Of Canada raised Diageo from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 6th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a hold rating on shares of Diageo in a report on Friday, November 28th. UBS Group reiterated a neutral rating on shares of Diageo in a research note on Wednesday, December 3rd. HSBC downgraded Diageo from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, March 2nd. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein set a $124.00 price target on shares of Diageo and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday, December 29th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Diageo has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $116.50. Get Diageo alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on DEO Diageo Stock Down 0.8% Hedge Funds Weigh In On Diageo DEO stock opened at $81.41 on Tuesday. Diageo has a 12 month low of $80.45 and a 12 month high of $116.69. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $91.08 and a 200 day moving average price of $93.91. The company has a quick ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 1.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53. Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in DEO. Equity Investment Corp bought a new position in Diageo in the third quarter worth approximately $92,970,000. Federated Hermes Inc. boosted its position in Diageo by 7.2% during the 3rd quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 726,578 shares of the companys stock valued at $69,337,000 after acquiring an additional 48,909 shares in the last quarter. Savant Capital LLC bought a new stake in Diageo during the 2nd quarter valued at $310,000. Osaic Holdings Inc. raised its position in shares of Diageo by 42.2% in the 2nd quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 99,998 shares of the companys stock worth $10,099,000 after acquiring an additional 29,674 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Confluence Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Diageo by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter. Confluence Investment Management LLC now owns 1,363,504 shares of the companys stock worth $130,119,000 after purchasing an additional 12,678 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 8.97% of the companys stock. About Diageo (Get 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. See Also 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. British Land Company PLC Sponsored ADR (OTCMKTS:BTLCY Get Free Report) was the target of a significant drop in short interest in February. As of February 27th, there was short interest totaling 4,652 shares, a drop of 67.0% from the February 12th total of 14,106 shares. Approximately 0.0% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 10,381 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.4 days. Based on an average trading volume of 10,381 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.4 days. Approximately 0.0% of the shares of the stock are sold short. British Land Stock Up 0.4% Shares of BTLCY opened at $4.96 on Wednesday. The firms 50 day moving average is $5.47 and its 200-day moving average is $5.11. British Land has a 12-month low of $4.15 and a 12-month high of $5.79. Get British Land alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth BTLCY has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Panmure Gordon raised British Land to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, December 2nd. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating on shares of British Land in a research report on Friday, December 5th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have given a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, British Land currently has an average rating of Buy. About British Land (Get Free Report) British Land Company plc is a leading real estate investment trust primarily focused on the ownership, development and management of UK commercial property. The companys portfolio is centred on high-quality office and retail destinations in key urban locations, combining long-term holdings with active redevelopment projects. Its core business activities include leasing space to corporate and retail tenants, asset management, and undertaking new developments aimed at enhancing urban environments and driving sustainable value. Founded in 1856 as the Land Mortgage and Agency Company, British Land adopted its current name in the 1970s as it expanded beyond mortgage lending into direct property investment. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for British Land Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for British Land and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Schroder Investment Management Group increased its position in Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE:RF Free Report) by 11.2% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 1,732,045 shares of the banks stock after purchasing an additional 173,871 shares during the period. Schroder Investment Management Group owned about 0.20% of Regions Financial worth $45,899,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Centaurus Financial Inc. boosted its position in shares of Regions Financial by 3.9% in the second quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. now owns 10,230 shares of the banks stock worth $241,000 after buying an additional 382 shares during the period. Fairvoy Private Wealth LLC raised its position in Regions Financial by 1.9% during the third quarter. Fairvoy Private Wealth LLC now owns 23,670 shares of the banks stock valued at $624,000 after buying an additional 449 shares during the period. Southeast Asset Advisors LLC raised its position in Regions Financial by 0.5% during the third quarter. Southeast Asset Advisors LLC now owns 103,704 shares of the banks stock valued at $2,735,000 after buying an additional 474 shares during the period. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB lifted its stake in Regions Financial by 11.0% in the 3rd quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB now owns 4,896 shares of the banks stock worth $129,000 after acquiring an additional 485 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Linden Thomas Advisory Services LLC lifted its stake in Regions Financial by 0.7% in the 3rd quarter. Linden Thomas Advisory Services LLC now owns 75,163 shares of the banks stock worth $1,982,000 after acquiring an additional 486 shares in the last quarter. 79.39% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Regions Financial alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities analysts have weighed in on RF shares. Evercore cut Regions Financial from an in-line rating to an underperform rating and lifted their target price for the company from $27.00 to $29.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 6th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reiterated a market perform rating and issued a $31.00 price objective on shares of Regions Financial in a research note on Tuesday, January 20th. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $32.00 target price on shares of Regions Financial in a research report on Tuesday, March 3rd. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Regions Financial from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Saturday, December 13th. Finally, Truist Financial increased their price objective on Regions Financial from $26.00 to $29.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Monday, December 22nd. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $29.97. Regions Financial Trading Down 0.8% Regions Financial stock opened at $26.76 on Wednesday. Regions Financial Corporation has a one year low of $17.74 and a one year high of $31.53. The companys fifty day moving average price is $28.66 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $26.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23, a current ratio of 0.80 and a quick ratio of 0.80. The company has a market capitalization of $23.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.68, a PEG ratio of 0.95 and a beta of 1.02. Regions Financial (NYSE:RF Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 16th. The bank reported $0.57 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.61 by ($0.04). Regions Financial had a return on equity of 12.55% and a net margin of 22.44%.The company had revenue of $1.92 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.94 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.56 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 5.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts forecast that Regions Financial Corporation will post 2.26 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Regions Financial Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 2nd will be given a $0.265 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 2nd. This represents a $1.06 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.0%. Regions Financials dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 46.29%. Regions Financial declared that its Board of Directors has approved a stock repurchase program on Wednesday, December 10th that permits the company to repurchase $3.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the bank to buy up to 12.9% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are often a sign that the companys board of directors believes its stock is undervalued. Insider Activity at Regions Financial In other news, EVP William D. Ritter sold 36,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $28.78, for a total value of $1,036,080.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 17,569 shares in the company, valued at approximately $505,635.82. The trade was a 67.20% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.29% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. About Regions Financial (Free Report) Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE: RF) is a U.S. bank holding company headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, that provides a broad range of banking and financial services. Its primary banking subsidiary, Regions Bank, serves retail and commercial customers through a combination of branch and ATM networks, digital channels and relationship-based delivery. The company offers deposit accounts, consumer and commercial loans, mortgage origination and servicing, and payment and treasury services. In addition to core banking, Regions offers wealth management, trust and brokerage services, insurance solutions, and capital markets capabilities to corporate and institutional clients. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Regions Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Regions Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sands Capital Management LLC increased its stake in McKesson Corporation (NYSE:MCK Free Report) by 7.7% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 157,146 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 11,279 shares during the period. Sands Capital Management LLCs holdings in McKesson were worth $121,402,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MCK. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. boosted its position in McKesson by 35.3% during the 3rd quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 5,089 shares of the companys stock worth $3,931,000 after acquiring an additional 1,329 shares during the last quarter. Private Wealth Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of McKesson by 5.6% in the third quarter. Private Wealth Partners LLC now owns 31,841 shares of the companys stock valued at $24,598,000 after purchasing an additional 1,682 shares during the last quarter. AlphaQuest LLC raised its holdings in shares of McKesson by 91.2% in the third quarter. AlphaQuest LLC now owns 1,767 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,365,000 after purchasing an additional 843 shares during the last quarter. CW Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of McKesson by 282.5% in the second quarter. CW Advisors LLC now owns 11,008 shares of the companys stock worth $8,067,000 after purchasing an additional 8,130 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in McKesson by 12.4% during the third quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 330,647 shares of the companys stock worth $255,438,000 after purchasing an additional 36,451 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 85.07% of the companys stock. Get McKesson alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at McKesson In other McKesson news, CAO Napoleon B. Rutledge, Jr. sold 328 shares of McKesson stock in a transaction on Friday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $955.00, for a total transaction of $313,240.00. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Thomas L. Rodgers sold 276 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $816.18, for a total transaction of $225,265.68. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 2,268 shares in the company, valued at $1,851,096.24. The trade was a 10.85% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 3,868 shares of company stock worth $3,743,820. 0.08% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research analysts recently weighed in on MCK shares. Robert W. Baird set a $968.00 target price on shares of McKesson in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a buy rating on shares of McKesson in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. Weiss Ratings downgraded McKesson from a buy (a-) rating to a buy (b+) rating in a research report on Thursday, February 5th. Raymond James Financial set a $970.00 target price on McKesson in a report on Thursday, March 5th. Finally, TD Cowen increased their price target on McKesson from $1,000.00 to $1,012.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, February 5th. Thirteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, McKesson has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $960.93. Get Our Latest Stock Report on MCK McKesson Price Performance McKesson stock opened at $928.60 on Wednesday. The companys 50-day moving average is $886.79 and its 200-day moving average is $820.88. The firm has a market capitalization of $113.74 billion, a PE ratio of 26.71, a P/E/G ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 0.38. McKesson Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $635.00 and a fifty-two week high of $999.00. McKesson (NYSE:MCK Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The company reported $9.34 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $9.19 by $0.15. The firm had revenue of $106.16 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $105.98 billion. McKesson had a negative return on equity of 338.97% and a net margin of 1.09%.The businesss revenue was up 11.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $8.03 earnings per share. McKesson has set its FY 2026 guidance at 38.800-39.200 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that McKesson Corporation will post 32.77 EPS for the current 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 issued a dividend of $0.82 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 2nd. This represents a $3.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.4%. McKessons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 9.43%. McKesson 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. Featured Stories 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. Wakefield Asset Management LLLP lessened its stake in shares of Tenet Healthcare Corporation (NYSE:THC Free Report) by 17.9% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 21,143 shares of the companys stock after selling 4,611 shares during the quarter. Tenet Healthcare makes up approximately 1.2% of Wakefield Asset Management LLLPs portfolio, making the stock its 19th biggest position. Wakefield Asset Management LLLPs holdings in Tenet Healthcare were worth $4,293,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in THC. Boston Partners boosted its position in Tenet Healthcare by 95.0% during the 2nd quarter. Boston Partners now owns 2,267,142 shares of the companys stock valued at $398,949,000 after buying an additional 1,104,500 shares during the period. Ameriprise Financial Inc. increased its position in shares of Tenet Healthcare by 8.0% in the second quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 2,119,423 shares of the companys stock valued at $373,020,000 after acquiring an additional 157,109 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Tenet Healthcare during the second quarter valued at about $206,981,000. AQR Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Tenet Healthcare by 28.0% in the second quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 1,156,263 shares of the companys stock worth $200,224,000 after purchasing an additional 252,993 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Alliancebernstein L.P. increased its holdings in Tenet Healthcare by 375.7% during the 2nd quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 790,254 shares of the companys stock valued at $139,085,000 after purchasing an additional 624,125 shares during the period. 95.44% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Tenet Healthcare alerts: Tenet Healthcare Price Performance THC opened at $237.30 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.76, a quick ratio of 1.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.18. The company has a market cap of $20.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.32, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.19 and a beta of 1.39. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $211.66 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $203.29. Tenet Healthcare Corporation has a 12-month low of $109.82 and a 12-month high of $247.21. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Tenet Healthcare ( NYSE:THC Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The company reported $4.70 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $4.08 by $0.62. The firm had revenue of $5.53 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.47 billion. Tenet Healthcare had a net margin of 6.60% and a return on equity of 26.33%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 8.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $3.44 EPS. Tenet Healthcare has set its FY 2026 guidance at 16.190-18.470 EPS. Research analysts predict that Tenet Healthcare Corporation will post 12.24 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. THC has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an overweight rating on shares of Tenet Healthcare in a report on Wednesday, March 4th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their target price on Tenet Healthcare from $250.00 to $265.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, February 12th. TD Cowen reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Tenet Healthcare in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Tenet Healthcare from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Sunday, March 1st. Finally, Weiss Ratings raised shares of Tenet Healthcare from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a research report on Monday, December 29th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have assigned a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $247.67. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Tenet Healthcare Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, EVP Thomas W. Arnst sold 8,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $238.85, for a total value of $1,910,800.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 12 shares in the company, valued at $2,866.20. This represents a 99.85% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider R. Scott Ramsey sold 8,017 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $232.70, for a total value of $1,865,555.90. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 42,195 shares of company stock worth $9,823,406. 0.81% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Tenet Healthcare Company Profile (Free Report) Tenet Healthcare Corporation (NYSE: THC) is a diversified American healthcare services company that owns and operates acute care hospitals and a broad range of outpatient facilities. Its portfolio includes general acute-care hospitals, specialty hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, urgent care and diagnostic imaging centers, and other ancillary service locations. Tenets operations are oriented around delivering inpatient and outpatient clinical care across multiple medical specialties, with an emphasis on surgical services, emergency care, and advanced diagnostics. In addition to facility-based care, Tenet provides integrated services designed to support clinical operations and improve patient access and care coordination. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding THC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Tenet Healthcare Corporation (NYSE:THC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Tenet Healthcare Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tenet Healthcare and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nuveen Arizona Quality Municipal Income Fund (NYSE:NAZ Get Free Report) announced a monthly dividend on Monday, March 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 13th will be given a dividend of 0.0655 per share by the investment management company on Wednesday, April 1st. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a yield of 6.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 13th. Nuveen Arizona Quality Municipal Income Fund Price Performance Nuveen Arizona Quality Municipal Income Fund stock opened at $12.47 on Wednesday. Nuveen Arizona Quality Municipal Income Fund has a 52-week low of $11.40 and a 52-week high of $12.73. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $12.07 and a 200-day moving average of $11.96. Get Nuveen Arizona Quality Municipal Income Fund alerts: Nuveen Arizona Quality Municipal Income Fund Company Profile (Get Free Report) Nuveen Arizona Quality Municipal Income Fund (NYSE: NAZ) is a closed-end management investment company that seeks to provide shareholders with a high level of current income that is exempt from regular U.S. federal income tax. Managed by Nuveen Asset Management, the fund focuses on investment-grade municipal obligations issued by or on behalf of entities located in the state of Arizona. Its portfolio typically includes general obligation bonds, revenue bonds and essential-purpose municipal securities backed by state and local governments and quasi-governmental agencies. The fund employs fundamental credit analysis to select bonds that meet rigorous quality standards, aiming to preserve principal while generating tax-advantaged income. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Nuveen Arizona Quality Municipal Income Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nuveen Arizona Quality Municipal Income Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bloomberg Bill Ackman is returning to the IPO market with a combined offering for his hedge fund manager and a new closed-end fund, the latest move in the billionaires long campaign to expand his asset management empire to public market investors. The initial public offering for Pershing Square USA Ltd., the closed-end fund, would also give investors stakes in Pershing Square Inc., his alternative asset management firm, according to filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. For every 100 shares of the closed-end fund IPO purchased by a buyer, that investor will receive 20 shares in the management company, the filing shows. Most Read from Bloomberg Ackman is looking to raise between $5 billion and $10 billion for Pershing Square USA in the combined deal, with investors who buy shares in the closed-end fund at $50 apiece receiving the management firms shares for no additional cost. The offering marks a fresh attempt by Ackman to bring his long-term investment strategy to a broader base of investors, with a vision inspired by Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway Inc. After a plan to raise as much as $25 billion for a New York Stock Exchange-listed closed-end fund floundered in 2024, Pershing Square pivoted to boosting its Howard Hughes Holdings Inc. stake a few months later to use as a vehicle for taking majority stakes in other firms. In a letter to Pershing Square Inc. investors, Ackman noted recent market volatility including the war in Iran, and said that unlike operating companies considering IPOs, stock market disruption actually helps Pershing Square USAs acquisition program. Pershing Square has been a long-term beneficiary of the opportunity to buy superb companies at bargain prices driven by macro events that did not have a material impact on their long-term intrinsic values, Ackman wrote. We believe now is one of these opportune times. The alternative asset manager has roughly $30.7 billion in total assets under management with $20.7 billion of that in fee-paying assets as of the end of 2025, Pershing Square Inc.s Tuesday filing shows. Concentrated Positions Ackman made his name with a number of high-profile activist campaigns and a willingness to take concentrated positions in a relatively small cohort of stocks. Pershing Squares core funds each held sizable stakes in Alphabet Inc., Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. and Brookfield Corp. as of the end of 2024, the filing shows. Shares of Japan Airlines Ltd (OTCMKTS:JAPSY Get Free Report) saw unusually-strong trading volume on Monday . Approximately 92,505 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 106% from the previous sessions volume of 44,973 shares.The stock last traded at $8.24 and had previously closed at $8.42. Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, Zacks Research lowered Japan Airlines from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a report on Tuesday, February 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Japan Airlines currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy. Get Japan Airlines alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Japan Airlines Japan Airlines Price Performance The firm has a market capitalization of $7.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.57 and a beta of 0.30. The company has a quick ratio of 1.40, a current ratio of 1.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57. The businesss 50 day moving average is $9.54 and its 200-day moving average is $9.68. Japan Airlines (OTCMKTS:JAPSY Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 3rd. The company reported $0.34 earnings per share for the quarter. Japan Airlines had a return on equity of 10.93% and a net margin of 6.57%.The company had revenue of $3.44 billion for the quarter. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Japan Airlines Ltd will post 0.8 EPS for the current fiscal year. Japan Airlines Company Profile (Get Free Report) Japan Airlines (OTCMKTS:JAPSY) is the flag carrier of Japan, providing both scheduled passenger and cargo air transportation services. The company operates a comprehensive network of domestic and international flights, connecting major cities across Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania. In addition to its core passenger services, Japan Airlines offers charter operations, cargo logistics and maintenance support through its technical services division. The airlines network is centered on its primary hubs at Tokyos Haneda and Narita airports. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Japan Airlines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Japan Airlines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund (NYSE:MPA Get Free Report) announced a monthly dividend on Friday, January 2nd. Investors of record on Friday, March 13th will be given a dividend of 0.0477 per share by the investment management company on Wednesday, April 1st. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 13th. BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund Trading Up 0.1% Shares of NYSE:MPA traded up $0.01 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $11.35. The company had a trading volume of 1,371 shares, compared to its average volume of 37,678. BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund has a one year low of $10.26 and a one year high of $11.65. The companys 50-day moving average price is $11.39 and its 200-day moving average price is $11.30. Get BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund alerts: BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund Company Profile (Get Free Report) BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund (NYSE: MPA) is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company whose primary objective is to provide shareholders with current income exempt from regular U.S. federal and Pennsylvania personal income taxes, and to a lesser extent, capital appreciation. The fund pursues its objective by investing in municipal securities that are issued by or for the benefit of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and its political subdivisions. In managing its portfolio, the fund typically allocates at least 80% of its assets to investment-grade municipal bonds issued within Pennsylvania. Read More Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust (NYSE:BMEZ Get Free Report) announced a monthly dividend on Friday, January 2nd. Investors of record on Friday, March 13th will be paid a dividend of 0.11 per share on Tuesday, March 31st. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 9.1%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 13th. BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust Trading Down 0.9% NYSE BMEZ traded down $0.13 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $14.48. The company had a trading volume of 41,799 shares, compared to its average volume of 285,822. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $15.13 and a 200 day moving average of $14.93. BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust has a 1-year low of $12.58 and a 1-year high of $15.80. Get BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust alerts: About BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust (Get Free Report) BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust (NYSE: BMEZ) is a closed-end management investment company organized as a Delaware statutory trust. Launched in March 2020, BMEZ seeks to provide total return through a combination of current income and capital appreciation by investing primarily in equity and equity-related securities of companies in the health sciences sector. The trust is structured with a fixed termination date in October 2030, at which time shareholders will vote on its liquidation, extension or conversion. The funds investment portfolio is diversified across subsectors within health sciences, including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, diagnostics and healthcare services. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BlackRock Virginia Municipal Bond Trust (NYSEAMERICAN:BHV Get Free Report) declared a monthly dividend on Friday, January 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 13th will be paid a dividend of 0.0455 per share on Wednesday, April 1st. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a yield of 5.1%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 13th. BlackRock Virginia Municipal Bond Trust Stock Up 0.3% NYSEAMERICAN BHV traded up $0.03 on Wednesday, hitting $10.72. 180 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,855. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $10.67 and a 200-day moving average of $10.77. BlackRock Virginia Municipal Bond Trust has a 52 week low of $9.96 and a 52 week high of $11.66. Get BlackRock Virginia Municipal Bond Trust alerts: About BlackRock Virginia Municipal Bond Trust (Get Free Report) BlackRock Virginia Municipal Bond Trust (NYSE American: BHV) is a closed-end management investment company that seeks to provide high current income exempt from regular federal and Virginia state income taxes. The trust pursues this objective by investing primarily in investment-grade municipal securities, with a focus on bonds issued by entities located in or serving the Commonwealth of Virginia. BHVs portfolio typically consists of general obligation and revenue bonds, including those issued by state and local governments, public authorities, and other municipal issuers. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock Virginia Municipal Bond Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock Virginia Municipal Bond Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Oak Ridge Financial Services (OTCMKTS:BKOR Get Free Report) and South Atlantic Bancshares (OTCMKTS:SABK Get Free Report) are both small-cap finance companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, earnings, institutional ownership, profitability, risk, dividends and analyst recommendations. Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of current ratings and recommmendations for Oak Ridge Financial Services and South Atlantic Bancshares, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Get Oak Ridge Financial Services alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Oak Ridge Financial Services 0 0 0 0 0.00 South Atlantic Bancshares 0 1 0 0 2.00 Profitability This table compares Oak Ridge Financial Services and South Atlantic Bancshares net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Oak Ridge Financial Services 18.10% N/A N/A South Atlantic Bancshares N/A N/A N/A Insider & Institutional Ownership Valuation & Earnings 4.2% of Oak Ridge Financial Services shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 13.3% of South Atlantic Bancshares shares are owned by institutional investors. 25.6% of Oak Ridge Financial Services shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth. This table compares Oak Ridge Financial Services and South Atlantic Bancsharess top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Oak Ridge Financial Services $44.28 million 1.79 $8.01 million $2.92 9.93 South Atlantic Bancshares $102.25 million 1.69 $15.94 million $2.10 10.83 South Atlantic Bancshares has higher revenue and earnings than Oak Ridge Financial Services. Oak Ridge Financial Services is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than South Atlantic Bancshares, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Dividends Oak Ridge Financial Services pays an annual dividend of $0.56 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.9%. South Atlantic Bancshares pays an annual dividend of $0.10 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.4%. Oak Ridge Financial Services pays out 19.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. South Atlantic Bancshares pays out 4.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Volatility & Risk Oak Ridge Financial Services has a beta of 0.09, suggesting that its share price is 91% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, South Atlantic Bancshares has a beta of 0.09, suggesting that its share price is 91% less volatile than the S&P 500. Summary South Atlantic Bancshares beats Oak Ridge Financial Services on 6 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks. About Oak Ridge Financial Services (Get Free Report) Oak Ridge Financial Services, Inc. operates as a bank holding company for Bank of Oak Ridge that provides various banking products and services for individuals and businesses. It offers checking, savings, and money market accounts; overdrafts; auto, home equity, mortgage, business term, and business SBA loans; business lines of credit; credit cards; and online and mobile banking products and services. The company also provides health savings accounts, identity theft protection, wealth management, cash management, and remote deposit capture services; and auto, home, small business, renters, life, boat and watercraft, classic car, motorcycle, flood, pet, and umbrella insurance products. It operates through a network of branches in Oak Ridge, Greensboro, and Summerfield, North Carolina. The company was founded in 2000 and is based in Oak Ridge, North Carolina. About South Atlantic Bancshares (Get Free Report) South Atlantic Bancshares, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for South Atlantic Bank that provides consumer and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, and corporations in South Carolina. The company offers checking, money market, and saving accounts, as well as certificate of deposit, individual retirement, and health saving accounts; personal, auto, and recreation loans, as well as home equity and ready reserve overdraft line of credits, and commercial lending products; and credit cards. It also provides cash management and merchant card services; remote deposit capture and automated clearing house services; online, mobile, and telephone banking services; personal and business checks; mortgage products and services; and wealth management services. The company operates offices in Myrtle Beach, Carolina Forest, North Myrtle Beach, Murrells Inlet, Pawleys Island, Georgetown, Mount Pleasant, Charleston, Bluffton, Hilton Head Island, and Beaufort, South Carolina. South Atlantic Bancshares, Inc. was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Receive News & Ratings for Oak Ridge Financial Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Oak Ridge Financial Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Balfour Beatty (LON:BBY Get Free Report) announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday. The company reported GBX 47.60 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, Digital Look Earnings reports. Balfour Beatty had a return on equity of 16.67% and a net margin of 2.06%. Here are the key takeaways from Balfour Beattys conference call: Get Balfour Beatty alerts: Delivered against targets with earnings per share up 9% , revenue +8% to GBP 10.8bn, a record order book of GBP 23bn and a board-backed capital return package including a GBP 200m share buyback and a 12% dividend increase. Delivered against targets with , revenue +8% to GBP 10.8bn, a record order book of GBP 23bn and a board-backed capital return package including a GBP 200m share buyback and a 12% dividend increase. UK construction and support services drove margin improvement UK construction exceeded the 3% margin target early and support services PFO rose 31% with margins at 8.5%, underpinned by a large power transmission pipeline (GBP 68bn) and material upside to power revenues. UK construction and support services drove margin improvement UK construction exceeded the 3% margin target early and support services PFO rose 31% with margins at 8.5%, underpinned by a large power transmission pipeline (GBP 68bn) and material upside to power revenues. US business shows strong growth (revenue +28%, order book +18%) but remains mixed operationally after a U.S. civils write-down and Texas project overruns; US construction margins were ~0.6% in 2025 with management targeting gradual recovery toward historical levels (11.5% and an aspiration toward 2%). US business shows strong growth (revenue +28%, order book +18%) but remains mixed operationally after a U.S. civils write-down and Texas project overruns; US construction margins were ~0.6% in 2025 with management targeting gradual recovery toward historical levels (11.5% and an aspiration toward 2%). Infrastructure investments faced higher monitorship and legal costs, extending the monitorship to 6 June and leaving a larger-than-expected loss before disposals despite strong disposal proceeds (12 assets, GBP 120m) and a Directors portfolio valuation down 15% to GBP 1.1bn. Infrastructure investments faced higher monitorship and legal costs, extending the monitorship to 6 June and leaving a larger-than-expected loss before disposals despite strong disposal proceeds (12 assets, GBP 120m) and a Directors portfolio valuation down 15% to GBP 1.1bn. Cash and balance sheet strength improved materially average net cash rose to ~GBP 1.2bn, operating cash flow was strong (~GBP 300m), working capital is expected to normalize around 1518% of revenue, and a triennial pension settlement reduces future deficit outflows. Balfour Beatty Stock Performance Shares of LON:BBY traded up GBX 41.45 on Wednesday, hitting GBX 743.45. The companys stock had a trading volume of 26,600,891 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,553,012. The company has a market capitalization of 3.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.75 and a beta of 0.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 104.84, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a current ratio of 0.97. Balfour Beatty has a 12 month low of GBX 365.80 and a 12 month high of GBX 800. The stocks 50-day moving average is GBX 733.69 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 686.83. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Separately, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their target price on Balfour Beatty from GBX 650 to GBX 715 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, December 4th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of GBX 712.50. Get Our Latest Stock Report on Balfour Beatty Balfour Beatty Company Profile (Get Free Report) Balfour Beatty is a leading international infrastructure group. With 26,000 employees across the UK, US and Hong Kong, were leading the transformation of our industry to meet the challenges of the future. Trusted by our customers to deliver sustainable solutions and strengthen communities, we finance, develop, build, maintain and operate the increasingly complex and critical infrastructure that supports national economies and deliver projects at the heart of local communities. Collaborating with governments, our customers and partners, we deliver powerful new solutions, shape thinking, create skylines and inspire a new generation of talent to be the change-makers of tomorrow. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Balfour Beatty Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Balfour Beatty and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. KBC Group SA (OTCMKTS:KBCSY Get Free Report) was the target of a large growth in short interest in the month of February. As of February 27th, there was short interest totaling 5,077 shares, a growth of 651.0% from the February 12th total of 676 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 36,836 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.1 days. Currently, 0.0% of the shares of the company are sold short. Currently, 0.0% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 36,836 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.1 days. KBC Group Trading Down 0.0% OTCMKTS:KBCSY traded down $0.01 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $63.81. 2,792 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 21,785. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $68.09 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $63.30. KBC Group has a 1 year low of $38.90 and a 1 year high of $73.12. The stock has a market capitalization of $53.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.86, a P/E/G ratio of 0.95 and a beta of 0.55. Get KBC Group alerts: KBC Group (OTCMKTS:KBCSY Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The company reported $1.42 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.40 by $0.02. KBC Group had a net margin of 15.70% and a return on equity of 13.89%. The business had revenue of $3.73 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.64 billion. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that KBC Group will post 4.28 EPS for the current year. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a hold rating on shares of KBC Group in a research report on Tuesday, February 24th. Royal Bank Of Canada restated a sector perform rating on shares of KBC Group in a research report on Monday, November 17th. Citigroup reiterated a neutral rating on shares of KBC Group in a report on Monday, February 23rd. Barclays cut shares of KBC Group from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 2nd. Finally, Zacks Research raised KBC Group from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Friday, February 20th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has issued a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, KBC Group currently has a consensus rating of Hold. Get Our Latest Analysis on KBC Group About KBC Group (Get Free Report) KBC Group is a Belgian bank-insurance group headquartered in Brussels that combines retail and commercial banking with life and non-life insurance, asset management, leasing and related financial services. The company operates an integrated bank-insurance model designed to serve both individual consumers and corporate clients, offering deposit accounts, lending and mortgage products, payment and treasury services, pension and protection insurance, investment solutions and wealth management. The groups banking activities include retail and private banking, corporate and commercial banking, and specialized finance such as leasing and factoring. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for KBC Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for KBC Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Volkswagen (OTCMKTS:VWAGY Get Free Report) announced its earnings results on Tuesday. The company reported $0.73 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.59 by $0.14, Zacks reports. Volkswagen had a return on equity of 3.26% and a net margin of 1.99%.The company had revenue of $99.97 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $84.92 billion. Volkswagen Price Performance VWAGY stock traded up $0.24 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $10.76. The stock had a trading volume of 29,629 shares, compared to its average volume of 128,579. The firm has a market cap of $53.94 billion, a PE ratio of 7.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.88 and a beta of 1.14. Volkswagen has a 12-month low of $9.20 and a 12-month high of $12.83. The companys 50-day moving average price is $11.92 and its 200 day moving average price is $11.63. Get Volkswagen alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In VWAGY has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Citigroup reiterated a buy rating on shares of Volkswagen in a research note on Friday, January 16th. HSBC restated a buy rating on shares of Volkswagen in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on Volkswagen in a research note on Sunday, November 23rd. They set a neutral rating for the company. Finally, Zacks Research raised shares of Volkswagen from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, January 26th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has given a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold. About Volkswagen (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. Further Reading 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. SageView Advisory Group LLC raised its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH Free Report) by 52.9% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 12,053 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock after acquiring an additional 4,171 shares during the quarter. SageView Advisory Group LLCs holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $4,162,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Sagard Holdings Management Inc. bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the second quarter worth approximately $29,000. Foster Dykema Cabot & Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 69.4% during the 3rd quarter. Foster Dykema Cabot & Partners LLC now owns 83 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 34 shares during the period. Islay Capital Management LLC bought a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the 2nd quarter worth $31,000. Hurley Capital LLC boosted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 81.6% during the third quarter. Hurley Capital LLC now owns 89 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 40 shares during the period. Finally, Cloud Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the third quarter worth about $32,000. 87.86% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get UnitedHealth Group alerts: UnitedHealth Group Stock Down 1.0% Shares of UNH stock opened at $282.23 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $256.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.40, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 0.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 0.79 and a quick ratio of 0.79. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $306.41 and a 200 day moving average price of $325.71. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a one year low of $234.60 and a one year high of $606.36. UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend UnitedHealth Group ( NYSE:UNH Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 27th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $2.11 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.09 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $113.73 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $113.38 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 2.69% and a return on equity of 14.79%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 12.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm earned $6.81 EPS. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 17.750- EPS. Analysts predict that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 17th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 9th will be paid a $2.21 dividend. This represents a $8.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.1%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 9th. UnitedHealth Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 67.02%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth UNH has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Weiss Ratings downgraded UnitedHealth Group from a hold (c-) rating to a sell (d+) rating in a research note on Monday, March 2nd. Leerink Partners reduced their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $410.00 to $345.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Barclays dropped their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $391.00 to $327.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Truist Financial decreased their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $410.00 to $370.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $411.00 to $409.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have assigned a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $372.13. Get Our Latest Research Report on UnitedHealth Group UnitedHealth Group Profile (Free Report) UnitedHealth Group Inc is a diversified health care company headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota, that operates two primary business platforms: UnitedHealthcare and Optum. Founded in 1977, the company provides a broad range of health benefits and health care services to individuals, employers, governmental entities and other organizations. Its operations span commercial employer-sponsored plans, individual and Medicare and Medicaid programs, and services for customers and health systems in the United States and selected international markets. UnitedHealthcare is the companys benefits business, administering health plans and networks, managing provider relationships, and offering coverage products for employers, individuals, and government-sponsored programs. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding UNH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for UnitedHealth Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for UnitedHealth Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Lincoln National (NYSE:LNC Get Free Report) had its price target dropped by analysts at Barclays from $45.00 to $44.00 in a research report issued on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has an equal weight rating on the financial services providers stock. Barclayss price target would suggest a potential upside of 33.84% from the companys previous close. Other equities analysts have also issued reports about the stock. Zacks Research lowered shares of Lincoln National from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, December 4th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on shares of Lincoln National from $50.00 to $46.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, March 3rd. Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b-) rating on shares of Lincoln National in a research note on Monday, December 29th. National Bank Financial set a $45.00 price objective on shares of Lincoln National in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upgraded Lincoln National from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and upped their target price for the stock from $41.00 to $48.00 in a research note on Wednesday, February 25th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $45.46. Get Lincoln National alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Lincoln National Lincoln National Price Performance NYSE LNC traded down $0.81 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $32.88. The company had a trading volume of 537,072 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,218,259. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $40.04 and a 200-day moving average price of $41.07. The company has a market capitalization of $6.25 billion, a PE ratio of 6.19, a P/E/G ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a current ratio of 0.27, a quick ratio of 0.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59. Lincoln National has a twelve month low of $27.58 and a twelve month high of $46.82. Lincoln National (NYSE:LNC Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The financial services provider reported $2.21 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.86 by $0.35. The company had revenue of $4.89 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.85 billion. Lincoln National had a return on equity of 18.52% and a net margin of 6.46%.Lincoln Nationals quarterly revenue was down 2.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.91 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Lincoln National will post 7.69 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Insider Transactions at Lincoln National In other news, EVP James Waltman Reid sold 3,050 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $41.81, for a total value of $127,520.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 118,567 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,957,286.27. This represents a 2.51% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Sean Woodroffe sold 10,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $34.46, for a total value of $344,600.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 206,159 shares in the company, valued at $7,104,239.14. This represents a 4.63% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 21,050 shares of company stock worth $734,041. Corporate insiders own 0.54% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Lincoln National by 6.3% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 19,903,720 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $802,717,000 after buying an additional 1,183,934 shares during the last quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Lincoln National by 145.5% during the third quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 116,116 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $4,683,000 after acquiring an additional 68,827 shares during the last quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC raised its position in shares of Lincoln National by 30.3% during the third quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 203,931 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $8,180,000 after acquiring an additional 47,419 shares during the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA lifted its stake in shares of Lincoln National by 21.1% in the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 5,952,166 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $240,051,000 after acquiring an additional 1,035,505 shares during the period. Finally, Commonwealth Equity Services LLC lifted its stake in shares of Lincoln National by 101.9% in the third quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 285,105 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $11,498,000 after acquiring an additional 143,862 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.81% of the companys stock. Lincoln National Company Profile (Get Free Report) Lincoln National Corporation, doing business as Lincoln Financial Group, is a diversified financial services holding company focused on providing retirement, insurance, and wealth management solutions in the United States and select international markets. Headquartered in Radnor, Pennsylvania, the company operates through several business segments, including Retirement Plan Services, Life Insurance, and Group Protection. Its offerings are designed to help individuals, families, and institutions plan and prepare for their financial futures. The Retirement Plan Services segment delivers recordkeeping, administrative services, and investment management for defined contribution and defined benefit plans. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Lincoln National Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lincoln National and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Buy the AI Picks and Shovels Long-time readers of mine know that my favorite fundamental stories are pick and shovel investments. For instance, during the gold rush, the businesses that sold the picks, shovels, and denim jeans required for gold mining often did better than the gold miners themselves, because, unlike mining, profits were predictable and consistent. Meanwhile, there are numerous examples throughout history. During the U.S. oil fracking boom of the early 2000s, energy workers were required to live in remote places, with little housing. This led to a surge in demand for RVs. AI Spending is Soaring (& Will Continue to) Despite constant fears of an internet-like bubble, Americas top tech companies continue to spend hundreds of billions of dollars on AI infrastructure to capture their share of the AI market. In 2025, the hyperscalers, which include Microsoft (MSFT), Alphabet (GOOGL), Amazon (AMZN), Meta (META), and Oracle (ORCL), accounted for $390 billion in CAPEX spending. Despite fears of overspending, AI CAPEX spending is expected to maintain momentum, reaching $515 billion this year and ~$600 billion in 2027. Who will Benefit the most from AI Spending? Below are 3 AI Bottlenecks to Watch Flash Memory Stocks Micron (MU) and Sandisk (SNDK) are the two leading suppliers of memory and storage infrastructure required for AI data centers. Storage and memory are critical ingredients needed for training AI models. Currently, demand is so high that Micron has already announced its high-bandwidth memory (HBM) is sold out for 2026. Meanwhile, SNDK shares jumped on Tuesday after Taiwans Phison CEO said NAND flash prices jumped 50% overnight amid the ongoing supply crunch. Over the past four quarters, Sandisk has beaten Zacks Consensus Estimates by a staggering 371%! Zacks Investment Research Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Meanwhile, after a brief multi-week pullback, MU and SNDK shares found support at their rising 10-week moving averages, suggesting the bulls are remain in control. Zacks Investment Research Image Source: TradingView On-Site Energy Stocks Amid the rapid data center buildout, legacy electric grid infrastructure is insufficient. Data centers require immense, reliable electricity. Bloom Energy (BE), provides high-efficiency, on-site solid oxide fuel cells to energy-hungry data centers. Currently, Bloom has a record backlog after a $5B deal with Brookfield. Wall Street analysts expect EPS to grow 81% in 2026 and triple-digits in 2027. Zacks Investment Research Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Additionally, demand is likely to soar even further as the Trump Administration seeks to push big tech companies to provide their own data center power. BE shares are currently finding support at the 10-week moving average. Hugo Boss (OTCMKTS:BOSSY Get Free Report) announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday. The company reported $0.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.32 by $0.05, Zacks reports. The firm had revenue of $1.49 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.20 billion. Hugo Boss had a net margin of 5.31% and a return on equity of 15.59%. Hugo Boss Stock Performance BOSSY remained flat at $8.28 during trading on Wednesday. 14,211 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,143. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.86 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.50 and a beta of 0.62. Hugo Boss has a twelve month low of $6.92 and a twelve month high of $10.21. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $8.49 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $8.94. Get Hugo Boss alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research analysts recently weighed in on BOSSY shares. Royal Bank Of Canada cut shares of Hugo Boss from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating in a research note on Monday, January 26th. Kepler Capital Markets upgraded Hugo Boss to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, December 8th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold. About Hugo Boss (Get Free Report) Hugo Boss AG is a German luxury fashion group that designs, produces and distributes a broad range of apparel, accessories and footwear under its two core brands, BOSS and HUGO. The companys product portfolio spans mens and womens business wear, casual collections and athleisure, as well as fragrances, eyewear and leather goods. Hugo Boss operates through a multi-channel network that includes directly operated retail stores, e-commerce platforms and wholesale partnerships with department stores and specialty retailers. Founded in 1924 by Hugo Ferdinand Boss and headquartered in Metzingen, Germany, the company originally produced workwear and uniforms before pivoting to high-end fashion in the latter half of the 20th century. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Hugo Boss Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hugo Boss and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Northern Oil and Gas (NYSE:NOG Get Free Report) had its price objective boosted by stock analysts at Citigroup from $28.00 to $34.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a buy rating on the stock. Citigroups price objective would suggest a potential upside of 20.11% from the stocks previous close. A number of other equities analysts have also weighed in on the stock. Mizuho set a $29.00 price target on shares of Northern Oil and Gas in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Royal Bank Of Canada cut their target price on Northern Oil and Gas from $33.00 to $30.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 20th. Piper Sandler lifted their target price on Northern Oil and Gas from $25.00 to $27.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, March 5th. Morgan Stanley set a $24.00 price target on Northern Oil and Gas and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c-) rating on shares of Northern Oil and Gas in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have assigned a Buy rating, four have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $30.43. Get Northern Oil and Gas alerts: Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Northern Oil and Gas Northern Oil and Gas Trading Up 2.8% NOG traded up $0.78 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $28.31. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,194,940 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,211,880. Northern Oil and Gas has a 52-week low of $19.88 and a 52-week high of $32.62. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $24.79 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $23.90. The company has a current ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13. The firm has a market cap of $2.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 85.80 and a beta of 0.96. Northern Oil and Gas (NYSE:NOG Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 25th. The company reported $0.83 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.71 by $0.12. Northern Oil and Gas had a net margin of 1.57% and a return on equity of 19.74%. The business had revenue of $610.18 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $524.98 million. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.11 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 18.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts anticipate that Northern Oil and Gas will post 5.18 earnings per share for the current year. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. AQR Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Northern Oil and Gas by 55.1% during the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 40,781 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,233,000 after acquiring an additional 14,492 shares in the last quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. increased its holdings in Northern Oil and Gas by 3.3% during the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 58,334 shares of the companys stock worth $1,763,000 after purchasing an additional 1,865 shares during the last quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp raised its position in shares of Northern Oil and Gas by 181.0% in the 1st quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 1,107 shares of the companys stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 713 shares in the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC grew its position in shares of Northern Oil and Gas by 5.0% during the first quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 65,217 shares of the companys stock worth $1,972,000 after buying an additional 3,124 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Intech Investment Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Northern Oil and Gas by 41.8% in the first quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 46,453 shares of the companys stock worth $1,404,000 after buying an additional 13,690 shares during the last quarter. 98.80% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Northern Oil and Gas Company Profile (Get Free Report) Northern Oil and Gas, Inc is a publicly traded independent energy company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of oil and natural gas resources in the United States. The companys primary operations are concentrated in the Williston Basin, where it secures acreage positions and partners with drilling operators to advance upstream projects. Through strategic leasehold acquisitions and joint ventures, Northern Oil and Gas seeks to expand its footprint in both conventional and unconventional reservoirs. Northern Oil and Gas employs horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing technologies to develop unconventional resource plays, particularly in the Bakken, Three Forks and Red River formations of North Dakota and Montana. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Northern Oil and Gas Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Northern Oil and Gas and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sabre Insurance Group plc (LON:SBRE Get Free Report) insider Geoffrey Richard Carter bought 108 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 10th. The shares were acquired at an average price of GBX 138 per share, for a total transaction of 149.04. Geoffrey Richard Carter also recently made the following trade(s): Get Sabre Insurance Group alerts: On Tuesday, February 10th, Geoffrey Richard Carter purchased 116 shares of Sabre Insurance Group stock. The shares were acquired at an average price of GBX 130 per share, for a total transaction of 150.80. On Monday, January 12th, Geoffrey Richard Carter acquired 112 shares of Sabre Insurance Group stock. The stock was acquired at an average cost of GBX 134 per share, for a total transaction of 150.08. Sabre Insurance Group Trading Up 2.1% LON:SBRE traded up GBX 3 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting GBX 144.80. 1,063,030 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 818,866. The stock has a market capitalization of 354.23 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.08 and a beta of 0.07. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of GBX 131.76 and a 200 day simple moving average of GBX 132.64. Sabre Insurance Group plc has a one year low of GBX 118.60 and a one year high of GBX 160.20. Analysts Set New Price Targets Sabre Insurance Group ( LON:SBRE Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, March 10th. The company reported GBX 15.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Sabre Insurance Group had a net margin of 16.66% and a return on equity of 12.01%. Equities research analysts predict that Sabre Insurance Group plc will post 19.083558 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Separately, Berenberg Bank reiterated a buy rating and issued a GBX 185 target price on shares of Sabre Insurance Group in a report on Tuesday. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Sabre Insurance Group presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of GBX 156.25. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on SBRE Sabre Insurance Group News Summary Here are the key news stories impacting Sabre Insurance Group this week: Sabre Insurance Group Company Profile (Get Free Report) Sabre Insurance Group plc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the writing of general insurance for motor vehicles in the United Kingdom. It offers taxi, private car, and motorcycle insurance through a network of insurance brokers, as well as through its Go Girl and Insure 2 Drive brands. The company was founded in 1982 and is based in Dorking, the United Kingdom. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Sabre Insurance Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sabre Insurance Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. China Minsheng Banking Corp., Ltd. (OTCMKTS:CGMBF Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large drop in short interest in February. As of February 27th, there was short interest totaling 427,620 shares, a drop of 73.0% from the February 12th total of 1,581,514 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 0 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently ? days. Based on an average daily volume of 0 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently ? days. China Minsheng Banking Stock Performance Shares of China Minsheng Banking stock remained flat at $0.50 during trading on Wednesday. China Minsheng Banking has a twelve month low of $0.46 and a twelve month high of $0.58. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $0.50 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $0.50. Get China Minsheng Banking alerts: China Minsheng Banking Company Profile (Get Free Report) China Minsheng Banking Corp., Limited (OTCMKTS:CGMBF) is a Beijing-based joint-stock commercial bank offering a broad spectrum of banking and financial services. Established in January 1996, it was the first nationwide bank in China primarily funded by non-state-owned enterprises. The banks core operations include corporate banking solutions such as working capital loans, trade finance and project financing, alongside personal banking services including deposits, consumer lending, wealth management and credit card offerings. In addition to its commercial banking activities, China Minsheng Banking maintains a comprehensive financial markets division providing foreign exchange, fixed-income products, derivatives trading and investment advisory services. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for China Minsheng Banking Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for China Minsheng Banking and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund, Inc. (NYSE:MUJ Get Free Report) announced a monthly dividend on Friday, January 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 13th will be given a dividend of 0.054 per share by the financial services provider on Wednesday, April 1st. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 13th. BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund Trading Down 0.6% Shares of MUJ stock traded down $0.08 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $12.39. 47,044 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 92,823. BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund has a fifty-two week low of $10.50 and a fifty-two week high of $12.68. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $12.26 and a two-hundred day moving average of $11.87. Get BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund alerts: Hedge Funds Weigh In On BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in MUJ. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund during the second quarter worth about $2,785,000. Strategic Advisors LLC purchased a new position in BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund in the 3rd quarter valued at about $2,089,000. Breakwater Capital Group lifted its stake in BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund by 35.4% in the 3rd quarter. Breakwater Capital Group now owns 194,398 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,253,000 after buying an additional 50,797 shares in the last quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC acquired a new stake in BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund in the 3rd quarter worth about $838,000. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can increased its stake in BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund by 42.1% during the 4th quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 30,104 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $358,000 after buying an additional 8,921 shares in the last quarter. 15.13% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund (NYSE: MUJ) is a closed-end management investment company that seeks to provide shareholders with a high level of current income exempt from federal and New Jersey state income taxes. The fund primarily invests in investment-grade municipal securities issued by or on behalf of the State of New Jersey and its municipalities, authorities, and instrumentalities. By concentrating on high-quality New Jersey public finance obligations, MUJ aims to offer tax-efficient income for investors with exposure to the states credit profile. The funds portfolio is actively managed by BlackRocks municipal fixed income team, which conducts credit analysis and sector allocation to identify opportunities within New Jerseys diverse municipal marketplace. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Just Eat Takeaway.com N.V. Sponsored ADR (OTCMKTS:JTKWY Get Free Report)s stock price gapped down before the market opened on Wednesday . The stock had previously closed at $4.54, but opened at $4.36. Just Eat Takeaway.com shares last traded at $4.36, with a volume of 217 shares trading hands. Just Eat Takeaway.com Stock Performance The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $4.26 and a 200 day simple moving average of $4.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11, a current ratio of 0.94 and a quick ratio of 0.94. Get Just Eat Takeaway.com alerts: About Just Eat Takeaway.com (Get Free Report) Just Eat Takeaway.com NV, trading under OTCMKTS:JTKWY, is a leading global online food delivery marketplace that connects consumers with local and international restaurants through its digital platforms. Formed in early 2020 from the merger of Just Eat and Takeaway.com, the company has established a presence across Europe, North America and other key regions. Headquartered in Amsterdam, with significant operational offices in London and Chicago, Just Eat Takeaway.com facilitates millions of daily orders through its suite of websites and mobile applications. The companys core offerings comprise branded marketplaces including Just Eat in the United Kingdom, Grubhub in the United States, Takeaway.com in the Netherlands and Germany, plus localized platforms such as Menulog in Australia and SkipTheDishes in Canada. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Just Eat Takeaway.com Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Just Eat Takeaway.com and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CVR Energy Inc. (NYSE:CVI Get Free Report) rose 6.7% on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $27.57 and last traded at $27.4410. Approximately 456,221 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 67% from the average daily volume of 1,369,967 shares. The stock had previously closed at $25.72. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades CVI has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Weiss Ratings cut CVR Energy from a hold (c) rating to a sell (d) rating in a report on Friday, February 20th. Wall Street Zen lowered CVR Energy from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Saturday, February 21st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating and five have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Strong Sell and an average target price of $29.25. Get CVR Energy alerts: View Our Latest Report on CVR Energy CVR Energy Price Performance The firm has a market capitalization of $2.75 billion, a PE ratio of 104.93 and a beta of 1.12. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.95, a current ratio of 1.79 and a quick ratio of 1.13. The businesss 50 day moving average is $23.73 and its two-hundred day moving average is $30.12. CVR Energy (NYSE:CVI Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 18th. The oil and gas company reported ($0.80) EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of ($0.84) by $0.04. The business had revenue of $1.81 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.70 billion. CVR Energy had a net margin of 0.38% and a negative return on equity of 14.31%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 7.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned ($0.13) EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that CVR Energy Inc. will post -0.12 EPS for the current year. CVR Energy Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 9th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 2nd were paid a dividend of $0.37 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 2nd. This represents a $1.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.4%. Insider Buying and Selling In other CVR Energy news, major shareholder Carl C. Icahn acquired 275,012 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 24th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $21.41 per share, for a total transaction of $5,888,006.92. Following the acquisition, the insider owned 71,201,875 shares in the company, valued at $1,524,432,143.75. The trade was a 0.39% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Insiders have purchased 783,404 shares of company stock worth $16,445,044 in the last quarter. 0.01% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Royal Bank of Canada lifted its stake in shares of CVR Energy by 67.2% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 14,904 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $289,000 after acquiring an additional 5,992 shares during the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC bought a new position in CVR Energy during the 1st quarter worth approximately $611,000. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. increased its stake in CVR Energy by 4.4% in the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 20,301 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $394,000 after purchasing an additional 858 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of CVR Energy by 14.8% during the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 496,650 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $9,635,000 after purchasing an additional 63,909 shares during the period. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can boosted its stake in shares of CVR Energy by 9.2% during the second quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 11,147 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $299,000 after purchasing an additional 941 shares during the period. 98.88% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. About CVR Energy (Get Free Report) CVR Energy, Inc is an independent downstream energy company engaged primarily in petroleum refining and nitrogen fertilizer production in the United States. Headquartered in Sugar Land, Texas, CVR Energy operates through two reportable segmentsPetroleum Products and Nitrogen Fertilizersleveraging its refining expertise and distribution network to serve both wholesale and retail markets across key regions in the U.S. In its Petroleum Products segment, the company owns and operates the Coffeyville, Kansas refinery, which has the capability to process various grades of crude oil into gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other refined products. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for CVR Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CVR Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. McDonalds Corporation (NYSE:MCD Get Free Report) insider Joseph Erlinger sold 2,626 shares of McDonalds stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $328.34, for a total value of $862,220.84. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 8,733 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,867,393.22. The trade was a 23.12% 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. McDonalds Stock Performance NYSE MCD traded down $2.80 on Wednesday, reaching $325.14. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,158,730 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,361,510. McDonalds Corporation has a twelve month low of $283.47 and a twelve month high of $341.75. The firms 50 day moving average is $319.06 and its two-hundred day moving average is $311.25. The stock has a market cap of $230.98 billion, a PE ratio of 27.21, a PEG ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.51. Get McDonald's alerts: McDonalds (NYSE:MCD Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 11th. The fast-food giant reported $3.12 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.05 by $0.07. McDonalds had a net margin of 31.85% and a negative return on equity of 343.90%. The company had revenue of $7.01 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.81 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.83 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 9.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that McDonalds Corporation will post 12.25 EPS for the current fiscal year. McDonalds Dividend Announcement McDonalds News Roundup The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 3rd will be issued a $1.86 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 3rd. This represents a $7.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.3%. McDonaldss dividend payout ratio is currently 62.26%. Here are the key news stories impacting McDonalds this week: Institutional Investors Weigh In On McDonalds Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Evergreen Private Wealth LLC grew its position in McDonalds by 162.5% during the third quarter. Evergreen Private Wealth LLC now owns 84 shares of the fast-food giants stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 52 shares in the last quarter. Your Advocates Ltd. LLP acquired a new stake in shares of McDonalds during the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Park Place Capital Corp boosted its stake in shares of McDonalds by 95.7% during the 4th quarter. Park Place Capital Corp now owns 92 shares of the fast-food giants stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 45 shares during the period. Financial Gravity Companies Inc. purchased a new position in shares of McDonalds during the 2nd quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, Traub Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of McDonalds in the second quarter worth $29,000. 70.29% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. Piper Sandler lifted their target price on McDonalds from $323.00 to $325.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, February 12th. KeyCorp boosted their price objective on McDonalds from $340.00 to $354.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, March 3rd. UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of McDonalds from $350.00 to $365.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Mizuho raised their target price on shares of McDonalds from $300.00 to $325.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday, February 6th. Finally, Barclays lifted their target price on shares of McDonalds from $372.00 to $380.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. Seventeen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, McDonalds currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $339.69. Get Our Latest Analysis on McDonalds About McDonalds (Get Free Report) McDonalds Corporation (NYSE: MCD) is a global quick-service restaurant company best known for its hamburgers, French fries and breakfast offerings. The company develops, operates and franchises a system of restaurants that sell a range of food and beverage items, including signature products such as the Big Mac, Quarter Pounder, Chicken McNuggets, McCafe coffee beverages and a variety of salads, desserts and seasonal menu items. McDonalds serves customers through company-operated restaurants and franchised locations, and it supports sales via dine-in, drive-thru, digital ordering platforms and third-party delivery partnerships. Founded in 1940 by brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald as a single San Bernardino, California restaurant, the business was transformed into a franchising model after Ray Kroc joined in the mid-1950s and led the brands national and international expansion. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for McDonald's Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for McDonald's and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Earnings and Valuation This table compares Applied Digital and Nihon M&A Centers top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Applied Digital $263.99 million 30.05 -$44.65 million ($0.54) -52.54 Nihon M&A Center N/A N/A N/A $97.96 0.05 Get Applied Digital alerts: Nihon M&A Center has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Applied Digital. Applied Digital is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Nihon M&A Center, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Profitability Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Applied Digital -80.60% -61.59% -22.75% Nihon M&A Center N/A N/A N/A Insider & Institutional Ownership This table compares Applied Digital and Nihon M&A Centers net margins, return on equity and return on assets. 65.7% of Applied Digital shares are owned by institutional investors. 9.5% of Applied Digital shares are owned 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. Summary Nihon M&A Center beats Applied Digital on 5 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks. About Applied Digital (Get Free Report) Applied Digital Corporation designs, develops, and operates datacenters in North America. Its datacenters provide digital infrastructure solutions to the high-performance computing industry. The company also provides artificial intelligence cloud services, high performance computing datacenter hosting, and crypto datacenter hosting services. The company was formerly known as Applied Blockchain, Inc. and changed its name to Applied Digital Corporation in November 2022. Applied Digital Corporation is based in Dallas, Texas. About Nihon M&A Center (Get Free Report) Nihon M&A Center Holdings Inc. provides mergers and acquisition (M&A) related services in Japan and internationally. The company offers M&A support services, such as reorganization, capital policies, and MBO for small and medium-sized enterprises. Nihon M&A Center Holdings Inc. was incorporated in 1991 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Receive News & Ratings for Applied Digital Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Applied Digital and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pinewood Technologies Group PLC (LON:PINE Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week low on Wednesday . The company traded as low as GBX 261 and last traded at GBX 263, with a volume of 271967 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 269. Pinewood Technologies Group Price Performance The businesss 50 day simple moving average is GBX 359.05 and its 200 day simple moving average is GBX 391.40. The stock has a market cap of 301.08 million, a P/E ratio of 4.21 and a beta of 0.22. Get Pinewood Technologies Group alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In other news, insider William Berman bought 16,035 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 19th. The shares were acquired at an average price of GBX 310 per share, with a total value of 49,708.50. Also, insider Oliver Mann bought 25,045 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 16th. The shares were purchased at an average price of GBX 307 per share, with a total value of 76,888.15. Insiders have acquired 67,071 shares of company stock worth $20,350,501 in the last three months. Company insiders own 41.46% of the companys stock. Pinewood Technologies Group Company Profile 1981 Origins Pinewood was founded in 1981 after a Renault dealer in London grew frustrated with the lack of suitable systems to run his business. He assembled a small team of developers to build a better solution, marking the birth of Pinewood as a classic early-1980s tech startup. 1980s1990s Early Innovation The team created one of the UKs first Sales and Dealer Management Systems (DMS), soon partnering with brands like Saab, Lloyds Bowmaker, and a growing dealer group that became Pendragon PLC. As Pendragon expanded, it acquired Pinewood to develop a multi-brand DMS capable of supporting large-scale dealership operations. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Pinewood Technologies Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pinewood Technologies Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Moving from the halls of JPMorgan and the U.S. Treasury to the forefront of the digital asset world has given Staci Warden a unique perspective on money. As the CEO of Algorand Foundation, Warden argues that the biggest names in Wall Street are currently trapped in a cycle of inefficiency. She points out that even the most successful banks, like JPMorgan, must dedicate tens of billions of dollars every year to a single task: figuring out who owns what. In a recent conversation with Sujal Jethwani, Warden described the current state of traditional finance as "reconciliation hell." In this environment, assets and cash are scattered across various databases that struggle to communicate. For decades, the industry has focused on improving how these systems talk to each other, but Warden believes blockchain offers a much simpler solution. Related: Popular hedge fund manager predicts Bitcoin will crash to zero Digital cash and the shared ledger The breakthrough for Warden came when she realized that blockchain behaves less like a bank account and more like physical cash. On a blockchain, everyone uses the same ledger. "When I hold it, it's mine. When you hold it, it's yours," she explained. This shift removes the need for banks to constantly check their balances against one another. By adopting this digital cash model, the financial world could bypass traditional hurdles like "batch files at the Fed" and complex correspondent banking networks. For the average person, this could mean the end of high costs for sending money home, where middlemen currently take up to 15% off the top of remittances. Data moves faster than dollars Warden highlights a strange reality in our modern world: it is far easier to send massive amounts of data than a small amount of money. She noted that a person can send a two-hour movie from Nigeria to India instantly and for free. However, trying to send just $10 between those same two countries involves high fees, a ten-day wait, and the risk that the funds might never arrive. Popular on TheStreet Roundtable: According to Warden, using a U.S. dollar stablecoin on a blockchain would solve this problem effortlessly. To her, the gap between traditional banking and the blockchain isn't just a tech upgrade; it is a fundamental shift in what money actually is. "It's just not even the same kind of money," she noted. Beyond the walled gardens The interview also touched on popular instant payment systems like India's UPI, Brazil's PIX, and America's Venmo. Andritz (OTCMKTS:ADRZY Get Free Report)s stock price gapped down before the market opened on Wednesday . The stock had previously closed at $17.0695, but opened at $14.78. Andritz shares last traded at $14.78, with a volume of 406 shares changing hands. Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a buy rating on shares of Andritz in a research note on Monday, February 9th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Andritz currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy. Get Andritz alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Report on Andritz Andritz Stock Performance The stock has a market cap of $7.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.12 and a beta of 0.97. The company has a quick ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $17.25 and a 200 day simple moving average of $15.64. Andritz (OTCMKTS:ADRZY Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 5th. The company reported $0.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.38 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $2.78 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.79 billion. Andritz had a net margin of 5.81% and a return on equity of 21.12%. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Andritz will post 1.1 EPS for the current year. Andritz Company Profile (Get Free Report) Andritz AG is a global technology group based in Graz, Austria, with a history dating back to its founding in 1852. The company specializes in providing equipment, systems, and services for industrial processes across four key business areas: Hydropower, Pulp & Paper, Metals, and Separation. Through a combination of engineering expertise and in-house manufacturing, Andritz develops tailored solutions that meet the demands of energy efficiency, resource optimization, and environmental sustainability. In its Hydropower division, Andritz designs and installs turbines, generators, and automation systems for run-of-river, reservoir and pumped storage plants. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Andritz Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Andritz and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Venture Global, Inc. (NYSE:VG Get Free Report) traded up 7.8% on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $12.25 and last traded at $12.2850. 12,267,997 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 19% from the average session volume of 15,116,880 shares. The stock had previously closed at $11.40. Analyst Ratings Changes VG has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. US Capital Advisors upgraded Venture Global to a moderate sell rating in a research note on Monday, December 15th. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $11.00 price objective on shares of Venture Global in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. New Street Research set a $15.00 price objective on shares of Venture Global in a research report on Tuesday, March 3rd. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Venture Global from $9.00 to $12.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 4th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on shares of Venture Global from $8.00 to $10.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Thursday, March 5th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $12.90. Get Venture Global alerts: Get Our Latest Report on VG Venture Global Price Performance The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $9.23 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $9.65. The company has a market cap of $29.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.29 and a beta of 5.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.24, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a current ratio of 0.93. Venture Global (NYSE:VG Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, March 2nd. The company reported $0.41 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.35 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $4.45 billion for the quarter. Venture Global had a net margin of 18.38% and a return on equity of 27.96%. The firms revenue was up 191.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts predict that Venture Global, Inc. will post 0.52 EPS for the current fiscal year. Venture Global Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Investors of record on Monday, March 16th will be paid a dividend of $0.018 per share. This represents a $0.07 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 16th. This is an increase from Venture Globals previous quarterly dividend of $0.02. Venture Globals dividend payout ratio is currently 8.14%. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CAO Sarah Blake sold 300,000 shares of Venture Global stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $11.85, for a total value of $3,555,000.00. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, VP Fory Musser sold 1,000,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $10.90, for a total transaction of $10,900,000.00. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 2,330,700 shares of company stock valued at $26,684,100. Company insiders own 86.73% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Venture Global Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Quotient Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Venture Global in the 3rd quarter worth about $3,641,000. WINTON GROUP Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Venture Global during the 3rd quarter valued at about $13,632,000. Russell Investments Group Ltd. lifted its position in Venture Global by 61.1% in the 2nd quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 616,643 shares of the companys stock worth $9,607,000 after buying an additional 233,978 shares during the last quarter. Ausbil Investment Management Ltd bought a new stake in Venture Global in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $4,706,000. Finally, Exchange Traded Concepts LLC lifted its position in Venture Global by 223.7% in the 3rd quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 562,760 shares of the companys stock worth $7,986,000 after buying an additional 388,892 shares during the last quarter. Venture Global Company Profile (Get Free Report) Venture Global (NYSE: VG) is a Houston-based energy company that develops, constructs and operates large-scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facilities in the United States. The company focuses on converting domestically produced natural gas into LNG for shipment to international markets, positioning itself as a supplier of pipeline-quality gas in vessel-ready form for global customers. Venture Globals core activities include site development, engineering and construction of liquefaction and export terminals, commissioning and ongoing operations of those facilities, and commercial marketing of LNG under both long-term and short-term contracts. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Venture Global Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Venture Global and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hill & Smith (LON:HILS Get Free Report)s stock had its hold rating reissued by equities research analysts at Shore Capital Group in a report issued on Wednesday,London Stock Exchange reports. Separately, Jefferies Financial Group restated a buy rating and set a GBX 2,530 price objective on shares of Hill & Smith in a report on Thursday, November 20th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Hill & Smith currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of GBX 2,601.67. Get Hill & Smith alerts: Get Our Latest Analysis on HILS Hill & Smith Stock Up 0.7% Shares of HILS stock traded up GBX 15 on Wednesday, hitting GBX 2,260. The companys stock had a trading volume of 188,002 shares, compared to its average volume of 382,684. The stock has a market capitalization of 1.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.74 and a beta of 1.22. Hill & Smith has a fifty-two week low of GBX 1,463.97 and a fifty-two week high of GBX 2,455. The firms fifty day moving average price is GBX 2,289.40 and its 200-day moving average price is GBX 2,193.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 26.57, a current ratio of 1.87 and a quick ratio of 0.92. Hill & Smith (LON:HILS Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, March 11th. The company reported GBX 132.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Hill & Smith had a net margin of 9.36% and a return on equity of 16.99%. Research analysts anticipate that Hill & Smith will post 129.1287386 EPS for the current year. About Hill & Smith (Get Free Report) Our purpose is to create sustainable infrastructure and safe transport through innovation. Hill & Smith PLC is an international group with leading positions in the supply of infrastructure products and galvanizing services to global markets. Through a focus on leading positions in niche markets we aim to consistently deliver strong returns and shareholder value. Supplying to, and located in, global markets the Group serves customers from facilities in Australia, India, Sweden, the UK and the USA, building a presence in international markets, where countries are upgrading or improving their infrastructure as their economies grow. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Hill & Smith Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hill & Smith and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Spirax-Sarco Engineering (LON:SPX Get Free Report) had its target price increased by stock analysts at Royal Bank Of Canada from GBX 6,000 to GBX 6,800 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday,London Stock Exchange reports. The brokerage currently has an underperform rating on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canadas price objective suggests a potential downside of 4.49% from the stocks current price. Other analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. Peel Hunt restated a buy rating and set a GBX 8,500 target price on shares of Spirax-Sarco Engineering in a report on Thursday, November 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of Spirax-Sarco Engineering from GBX 7,500 to GBX 7,800 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, December 4th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on shares of Spirax-Sarco Engineering from GBX 6,450 to GBX 7,250 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Wednesday. Shore Capital Group reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of Spirax-Sarco Engineering in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their target price on shares of Spirax-Sarco Engineering from GBX 7,250 to GBX 7,500 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Thursday, November 13th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of GBX 8,012.50. Get Spirax-Sarco Engineering alerts: Read Our Latest Report on Spirax-Sarco Engineering Spirax-Sarco Engineering Trading Down 2.6% SPX stock traded down GBX 190 during trading on Wednesday, reaching GBX 7,120. The company had a trading volume of 408,236 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,258,053. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 92.52, a current ratio of 1.77 and a quick ratio of 1.73. Spirax-Sarco Engineering has a 52 week low of GBX 5,380 and a 52 week high of GBX 8,050. The business has a 50 day moving average of GBX 7,372.30 and a 200 day moving average of GBX 7,091.39. The company has a market cap of 5.26 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.35, a PEG ratio of 2.20 and a beta of 1.13. Spirax-Sarco Engineering (LON:SPX Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, March 10th. The company reported GBX 296.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Spirax-Sarco Engineering had a return on equity of 13.88% and a net margin of 9.80%. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Spirax-Sarco Engineering will post 334.5410628 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Insider Activity In other Spirax-Sarco Engineering news, insider Nimesh Patel bought 1,423 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 10th. The stock was acquired at an average price of GBX 7,370 per share, with a total value of 104,875.10. Insiders have purchased a total of 1,427 shares of company stock valued at $10,515,980 in the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 0.61% of the companys stock. About Spirax-Sarco Engineering (Get Free Report) Spirax-Sarco Engineering rebrands as Spirax Group On 22 February 2024, Spirax-Sarco Engineering changed its name to Spirax Group which reflects the Companys evolution over many years to a larger and stronger Group of three aligned Businesses with differentiated and complementary capabilities. Our new name respects our history and where we have come from, with who we are today. It creates more distinction between the Group and its Spirax Sarco trading Division (part of Steam Thermal Solutions), providing improved clarity for all stakeholders. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Spirax-Sarco Engineering Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Spirax-Sarco Engineering and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST Get Free Report)s stock price traded down 3.2% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $155.15 and last traded at $159.20. 6,056,105 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 2% from the average session volume of 5,927,582 shares. The stock had previously closed at $164.40. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research firms have recently commented on VST. Bank of America dropped their price objective on shares of Vistra from $231.00 to $218.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Monday, January 12th. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Vistra from a hold rating to a buy rating and raised their target price for the stock from $191.00 to $203.00 in a research report on Tuesday, February 10th. KeyCorp initiated coverage on shares of Vistra in a report on Monday, November 24th. They issued an overweight rating and a $217.00 target price for the company. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on shares of Vistra from $236.00 to $234.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 27th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $215.00 price target on shares of Vistra in a report on Friday, February 20th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have given a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $236.40. Get Vistra alerts: Check Out Our Latest Analysis on VST Vistra Trading Down 3.2% The company has a market capitalization of $53.94 billion, a PE ratio of 73.36, a P/E/G ratio of 0.99 and a beta of 1.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.01, a quick ratio of 0.69 and a current ratio of 0.78. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $163.68 and a 200 day moving average price of $178.95. Vistra (NYSE:VST Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 26th. The company reported $2.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.45 by ($0.27). Vistra had a return on equity of 81.09% and a net margin of 5.32%.The business had revenue of $4.58 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.75 billion. Analysts expect that Vistra Corp. will post 7 EPS for the current fiscal year. Vistra Increases Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 20th will be given a $0.228 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 20th. This is an increase from Vistras previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. This represents a $0.91 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.6%. Vistras dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 41.94%. Insider Activity at Vistra In other news, CEO James A. Burke sold 22,251 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $162.05, for a total value of $3,605,774.55. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 297,998 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $48,290,575.90. This trade represents a 6.95% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Corporate insiders own 1.42% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in VST. Salomon & Ludwin LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Vistra in the third quarter worth about $25,000. Quent Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Vistra during the 3rd quarter valued at about $25,000. Fideuram Intesa Sanpaolo Private Banking S.P.A. acquired a new position in Vistra during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Archer Investment Corp lifted its position in Vistra by 2,700.0% during the 3rd quarter. Archer Investment Corp now owns 140 shares of the companys stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 135 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Vistra in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $28,000. 90.88% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Vistra Company Profile (Get Free Report) Vistra (NYSE: VST) is an integrated power company that develops, owns and operates electricity generation and retail businesses in the United States. The companys operations span wholesale power productionthrough a diversified fleet of thermal and lower?carbon generation assetsand retail electricity supply to residential, commercial and industrial customers. Vistra serves organized wholesale markets and competitive retail markets, with a notable presence in Texas and other regional U.S. power markets. Vistras core activities include the ownership and operation of generation facilities, the commercial dispatch and optimization of those assets into wholesale markets, and the sale of electricity and related services to end-use customers through its retail brands. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Vistra Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vistra and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Reckitt Benckiser Group (LON:RKT) CFO Shannon Eisenhardt said the companys recent acceleration in emerging markets reflects both the impact of its new operating model and the payback from long-term investment in key geographies, while cautioning that Europe is likely to remain a low-growth environment in 2026. Get alerts: Emerging markets: structure shift and China momentum Addressing questions about the sustainability of emerging-markets growth, Eisenhardt said the company saw significant acceleration in 2025 and attributed part of the improvement to Reckitts shift from a global business unit (GBU) model to a geography-led structure starting in January 2025. Under the previous model, she said, emerging markets were often a lower priority compared with larger developed-market opportunities. In the new setup, emerging markets have dedicated leadership focused on driving outsized growth, which she said is beginning to show through. China: double-digit growth expected to continue She also pointed to China as a major driver, saying Reckitt is seeing scale and momentum behind 20 years worth of investments in the country. Those investments include local manufacturing in Taicang, expanding live-streaming capabilities, and an R&D facility in China intended to serve the Chinese consumer that is expected to open later this year. Eisenhardt said China delivered double-digit growth in 2025 and that the company reported its 10th consecutive quarter of double-digit growth there. Looking to 2026, she said her expectation is that China will deliver double-digit growth again, citing confidence in continued momentum and plans in place. She outlined several factors she said differentiate Reckitt in China: Brand mix: The three largest brands in China are Durex, Dettol and Move Free, which she described as squarely in consumer health, an area where Chinese consumers show high interest. The three largest brands in China are Durex, Dettol and Move Free, which she described as squarely in consumer health, an area where Chinese consumers show high interest. Perceived value of Western brands in consumer health: Eisenhardt said Western branding in consumer health carries authentication, which she suggested may be different from dynamics in categories such as beauty or personal care. Eisenhardt said Western branding in consumer health carries authentication, which she suggested may be different from dynamics in categories such as beauty or personal care. E-commerce and live streaming scale: She said about 80% of Reckitts China business is e-commerce, up from roughly 20% pre-COVID, and described live streaming as a major channel where the company operates many, many studios on a 24/7 basis. She cited a statistic shared at CAGNY that 800 million Chinese consumers are on social commerce each month. India: steady high single-digit growth, brick-and-mortar execution In India, Eisenhardt said the market remains vastly brick-and-mortar, with success driven by distribution points and day-to-day operational execution. On the question of whether the GST change at the end of September affected demand, she said it created some phasing across quarters but that the company has not seen a step change in consumer demand. She said the company expects India to continue delivering high single-digit growth and highlighted continued expansion of points of distribution, adding that Reckitts India sales team includes some of the companys very best operators. Mature markets: Europe flat categories, North America expected to improve On mature markets, Eisenhardt said Europe deteriorated through 2025 from category growth of around 3%4% early in the year to roughly 1% around mid-year, and to nonexistent category growth by the end of 2025. For 2026, she said she does not see a catalyst to return to growth and that the company is planning on flat categories in Europe. She also said heightened promotional activity and value-seeking behavior are making volume growth difficult, citing more frequent shopping trips, smaller baskets, and demand for smaller pack sizes. Reckitts focus, she said, is on competitive execution across channels including large grocery, small pharmacy, and discounters. In North America, Eisenhardt said she expects a stronger contribution to growth in 2026 versus the flattish performance in 2025, noting that when seasonal impacts are stripped out, the company saw acceleration over the course of 2025. She said Q1 2026 will likely be tough due to cough-and-cold seasonality and retailer destocking, but she expects strength in the non-seasonal portfolio across the year. She cited continued growth in Lysol, including categories we created such as Lysol Air Sanitizer and Lysol Laundry Sanitizer, as well as strength in wipes. She also noted improvement in VMS in the back half of 2025, pointing to a Neuriva 3D launch. For Finish in the U.S., she described performance as closer to flat but said the category is growing and premiumizing. Margins, costs, and transformation priorities On margins, Eisenhardt said the company is not looking to expand gross margins in the core business in the near term, pointing to stepped-up capital investment in supply chain and manufacturing capabilities. She noted 2025 CapEx was 4.2% of net revenue, and said guidance for 2026 is around 4% as the company aims to sustain the investment level. For Mead Johnson, she indicated a slight gross margin contraction, describing 2025 as having elevated manufacturing volumes as the business restocked the trade following a tornado. Discussing operating margin, she noted the group exited 2025 at 24.9%, and said that excluding the Essential Home business, the comparable operating margin would be 25.6%. She said the company is working to offset stranded costs from the Essential Home transaction using Fuel for Growth savings, but is not confident it can fully offset those stranded costs within 2026. She added that the company expects to have more than offset stranded costs by exiting 2027, and said guidance had been changed to target fixed costs below 19% by that point. Eisenhardt also referenced GBP 25 million in pre-tax income from transitional service agreements with Essential Home covering manufacturing, distribution, and service supply. She did not provide specific guidance on associate income from Reckitts 30% stake in Essential Home, saying profitability may look different under new ownership and that investors should consider that Reckitt is a minority shareholder going forward. On the portfolio, Eisenhardt reiterated that Mead Johnson is non-core and said any transaction timing depends on U.S. litigation, with no new timeline to share. She said the potential transaction would differ from the Essential Home carve-out and could be faster and more straightforward, adding that Reckitt has seen consistent inbound interest in the business. She also said Reckitt could be interested in bolt-on M&A, highlighting self-care as an attractive area given its structural economics and under-penetration in emerging markets. On innovation, Eisenhardt said Reckitt is investing about 2.9% of net revenue in R&D and that the company is seeing benefits from the stepped-up investment. She cited innovations and launches including Lysol Air and Laundry Sanitizer, a new Mucinex 12-hour cold and flu multi-symptom product that she said has been 17 years in development, Dettol Activ-Botany variants in China, Neuriva developments, and Durex Intensity in Europe. She said the company is confident its innovation pipeline can sustain 4%5% top-line growth. On supply chain, she pointed to the Wilson facility in North Carolina, expected to go live in 2027, as a key investment for U.S. health manufacturing. She said the project would raise the share of product sold in the U.S. that is made in the U.S. from the mid-50s two years ago to above 80%, and would help the company respond more quickly to variable seasonal demand. She also said gross margin expansion could return longer term as manufacturing becomes more reliable and efficient, but framed that as a three-to-four-year horizon. Finally, Eisenhardt said Fuel for Growth is running ahead of plan due to faster execution, with remaining major opportunities in shared services and GenAI. She described three shared-service hubs already set up and operational and said GenAI work began in marketing in October 2023 before expanding into R&D and supply, with plans to focus on enabling functions such as HR, finance and legal in 2026. She said AI opportunities are expected to support both productivity and faster innovation cycles, contributing to both investment capacity and top-line growth. About Reckitt Benckiser Group (LON:RKT) At Reckitt, we protect, heal and nurture. We are the company behind some of the worlds best known and most trusted Health and Hygiene consumer brands. Delivering for a cleaner, healthier world requires strong brands with a global footprint. From Dettol, Lysol, Durex, Finish, Harpic and Vanish, Mucinex, Nurofen, Gaviscon, Veet and Strepsils, consumers love and rely on our brands to care for their families, as they have done for over 200 years. We use our scientific expertise and deep human understanding to develop solutions to help people improve their lives that is why over 30 million Reckitt products are sold each day worldwide. At Reckitt, were all making a real difference to people all over the world, every day. See Also Shares of Wilmar International Ltd. (OTCMKTS:WLMIY Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $29.2940 and last traded at $29.0756, with a volume of 20394 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $28.7620. Wilmar International Stock Performance The businesss 50-day moving average is $26.49 and its two-hundred day moving average is $24.57. The company has a current ratio of 1.16, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. Get Wilmar International alerts: About Wilmar International (Get Free Report) Wilmar International Limited is a leading global agribusiness group with a diversified portfolio spanning palm oil cultivation, edible oils, sugar, flour milling, and oilseed crushing. Headquartered in Singapore, the company engages in the processing, refining, marketing, and distribution of agricultural commodities, serving both consumer and industrial markets. Its core products include a wide range of edible oils, specialty fats, and oleochemicals used across the food, pharmaceutical, and personal care industries. Founded in 1991 by Kuok Khoon Hong and a consortium of agricultural entrepreneurs, Wilmar International has grown through strategic acquisitions and joint ventures to establish a vertically integrated supply chain. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Wilmar International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wilmar International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. WisdomTree Europe SmallCap Dividend Fund (NYSEARCA:DFE Get Free Report)s stock price was down 0.7% on Monday . The company traded as low as $72.02 and last traded at $73.64. Approximately 26,649 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 181% from the average daily volume of 9,479 shares. The stock had previously closed at $74.13. WisdomTree Europe SmallCap Dividend Fund Stock Up 0.1% The firms 50 day moving average is $74.79 and its 200-day moving average is $71.68. The firm has a market cap of $162.16 million, a PE ratio of 11.89 and a beta of 0.96. Get WisdomTree Europe SmallCap Dividend Fund alerts: Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in DFE. Royal Bank of Canada grew its position in shares of WisdomTree Europe SmallCap Dividend Fund by 50.2% in the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 3,798 shares of the companys stock valued at $232,000 after purchasing an additional 1,270 shares during the period. RWA Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new position in WisdomTree Europe SmallCap Dividend Fund during the second quarter worth about $351,000. Flow Traders U.S. LLC acquired a new stake in WisdomTree Europe SmallCap Dividend Fund in the 2nd quarter worth about $748,000. Jane Street Group LLC boosted its stake in WisdomTree Europe SmallCap Dividend Fund by 1,031.0% in the 2nd quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 54,503 shares of the companys stock worth $3,822,000 after buying an additional 49,684 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ameriprise Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in WisdomTree Europe SmallCap Dividend Fund in the 2nd quarter valued at about $210,000. WisdomTree Europe SmallCap Dividend Fund Company Profile The WisdomTree Europe SmallCap Dividend Fund (DFE) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the WisdomTree Europe SmallCap Dividend index. The fund tracks a dividend-weighted index of small-cap, dividend-paying stocks in Europe. DFE was launched on Jun 16, 2006 and is managed by WisdomTree. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for WisdomTree Europe SmallCap Dividend Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for WisdomTree Europe SmallCap Dividend Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Douglas Dynamics, Inc. (NYSE:PLOW Get Free Report) insider Christopher Bernauer sold 869 shares of Douglas Dynamics stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $42.61, for a total value of $37,028.09. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 9,243 shares in the company, valued at approximately $393,844.23. The trade was a 8.59% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Douglas Dynamics Stock Up 0.3% Shares of NYSE:PLOW traded up $0.15 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $43.30. The companys stock had a trading volume of 170,297 shares, compared to its average volume of 232,102. The company has a market capitalization of $999.25 million, a PE ratio of 21.98, a PEG ratio of 1.24 and a beta of 1.20. Douglas Dynamics, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $21.30 and a fifty-two week high of $47.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a quick ratio of 1.17 and a current ratio of 2.78. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $39.63 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $34.67. Get Douglas Dynamics alerts: Douglas Dynamics (NYSE:PLOW Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 23rd. The auto parts company reported $0.62 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.56 by $0.06. Douglas Dynamics had a return on equity of 17.83% and a net margin of 7.15%.The firm had revenue of $184.54 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $169.95 million. Douglas Dynamics has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.250-2.850 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Douglas Dynamics, Inc. will post 1.3 EPS for the current year. Douglas Dynamics Dividend Announcement Institutional Investors Weigh In On Douglas Dynamics The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 17th will be given a dividend of $0.295 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 17th. This represents a $1.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.7%. Douglas Dynamicss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 59.90%. Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in PLOW. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL acquired a new position in Douglas Dynamics in the second quarter worth $3,080,000. SG Americas Securities LLC bought a new stake in Douglas Dynamics during the third quarter valued at $1,013,000. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Douglas Dynamics during the second quarter worth $2,640,000. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Douglas Dynamics by 22.1% in the 3rd quarter. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. now owns 134,400 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $4,201,000 after buying an additional 24,300 shares during the last quarter. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its position in shares of Douglas Dynamics by 10.7% in the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 311,165 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $9,727,000 after buying an additional 30,138 shares during the last quarter. 91.85% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Douglas Dynamics from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Saturday, February 28th. Freedom Capital downgraded shares of Douglas Dynamics from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 3rd. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Douglas Dynamics from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a research note on Friday, February 27th. Loop Capital set a $48.00 price target on shares of Douglas Dynamics in a research report on Tuesday, March 3rd. Finally, DA Davidson reiterated a buy rating and issued a $48.00 price target on shares of Douglas Dynamics in a research note on Wednesday, February 25th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have assigned a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Douglas Dynamics presently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $48.67. View Our Latest Report on PLOW Douglas Dynamics Company Profile (Get Free Report) Douglas Dynamics, Inc is a leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of snow and ice removal equipment for commercial, municipal and residential markets. The companys product portfolio encompasses a wide range of truck-mounted plows, spreaders, salt brine systems and related accessories engineered to perform in challenging winter conditions. Its offerings cater to professional snow contractors, government agencies and retail customers seeking reliable solutions for snow and ice management. Douglas Dynamics markets its products under several well-known brands, including Fisher Engineering, Western Products, Hiniker Company and Buyers Products. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Douglas Dynamics Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Douglas Dynamics and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Amazon plans to invest more than A$750m ($537.6m) in a new robotics-enabled fulfilment centre in Brisbane, Queensland, which is expected to handle more than 125 million packages annually. The centre is scheduled for completion in 2028 and will span 150,000m. The facility will be designed to store up to 15 million smaller products available on Amazon.com.au, including everyday pantry goods, beauty items, electronics and toys. Once operational, the centre will have the capacity to process more than 125 million packages each year, including goods from small and medium-sized businesses in Queensland that sell through Amazon to customers across Australia. The development is expected to generate more than 1,000 local jobs when the site becomes fully operational. During the construction and installation phase, the project is also projected to create an additional 2,000 roles. Robotic systems will operate alongside employees at the facility, taking on heavy lifting and repetitive work. Amazon Australia's operations director Wayne Angus said: People are at the heart of our operations, and by combining innovative robotics technology with skilled local talent in this state-of-the-art site, were building a workplace where people and technology work hand in hand to deliver for our customers. One of the systems used in Amazons fulfilment network is Hercules, which moves through warehouses collecting shelves of products and transporting them to employees at ergonomic workstations. Each shelf handled by Hercules can weigh up to 500kg, reducing the need for employees to lift heavy items or walk long distances across the facility. Another robotic system, Sparrow, assists workers in assembling customer orders by selecting individual items from containers and placing them into designated totes. The system uses computer vision and AI to identify the correct product before transferring it into the tote. Amazon is also deploying Vulcan, which the company describes as its first robot equipped with a sense of touch. "Amazon Australia to invest over A$750m in Brisbane robotics fulfilment centre" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD, Financials) CEO Lisa Su is scheduled to meet Samsung Electronics Chairman Jay Y. Lee in South Korea next week to discuss cooperation on securing supplies of high-bandwidth memory used in artificial intelligence chips. According to a report by Maeil Business Newspaper that cites industry insiders, Su plans to go to South Korea on March 18 and will also meet with Choi Soo-yeon, the head of Naver. Samsung did not want to talk about the meeting that was arranged. Naver said that a meeting with AMD was planned, but they didn't say what would be on the agenda. The talks are happening because there is a lot of demand for sophisticated memory technologies including high-bandwidth memory, DRAM, and NAND. These are important parts of AI accelerators used in data centers. These memory chips are used by companies like AMD and Nvidia (NVDA, Financials) to run big AI systems. The source added that AMD and Naver may also talk about working together on a larger scale, such as increasing the supply of semiconductors for data centers, building sovereign AI infrastructure, and working together on new computer technologies. Su's visit will happen at the same time as Nvidia's annual GTC developer conference in San Jose, which is from March 16 to March 19 and usually has big news about AI hardware and software. Plans to give the Defence Forces stronger legal powers to protect Irish waters are expected to be announced by Helen McEntee on Wednesday. It is understood the Minister for Defence will introduce new legislation to give the Naval Service a new clearly defined ability to act unilaterally in some situations, including the ability to board vessels operating in Irish waters and inspect documentation, equipment and activities on board. It will also allow them to direct vessels to alter their course or leave a specified area and instruct ships to cease activities that may pose a threat to critical infrastructure or the marine environment. In addition, it will strengthen the laws around the protection of military installations. The move has been prompted by growing concerns about the activities of ships suspected of being part of Russias shadow fleet and recent reports of damage to subsea infrastructure in European waters. Strategically important undersea communications cables lie off the Irish coast, along with gas pipelines and electricity interconnectors. Ms McEntee is understood to want the legislation passed ahead of Irelands presidency of the Council of the European Union, which starts in July. Currently, the Defence Forces have the power to enforce certain laws at sea for other government agencies. But this legislation will, for the first time, give them specific maritime enforcement powers under the Defence Act. It will also formalise the Defence Forces role in providing aid to agencies such as An Garda Siochana and the Revenue Commissioners. The Government has given its approval to the Department of Defence to begin drafting the proposals and has described making sure the Defence Forces have the appropriate legal framework to act as a key priority. The proposed legislation has been developed by the Department of Defence along with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the Attorney General, who say it will be fully in line with international law and best practice. AI saved the HSE more than a million hours over the last five years, the HSEs chief technology and transformation officer has said. Damien McCallion said a really aggressive target had been set for the year, which is likely to save a further half a million hours. He was speaking at the publication of Irelands first national AI for Care Strategy at the Mater Hospital in Dublin. The initiative, launched by the Minister for Health on Wednesday, is described as being dedicated to the safe, responsible, and effective application of artificial intelligence in health and social care. It sets out how staff and patients will benefit from faster diagnosis, better patient flow and earlier detection of diseases. Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said robust safeguards such as mandatory human oversight are needed, and said the role of AI in Irish healthcare is to not replace the clinical expertise, not replace the clinical judgment, but to work alongside it as a partner, to work alongside as a wing man. During his presentation, Mr McCallion said there were four main areas to the strategy; supporting clinical decisions, public health, research and operations. It is in that final area he said the time savings have been made. Mr McCallion said a lot of progress was made during the pandemic, and now we have a challenge to make sure we can maintain it. He said it had been achieved through automation processes, through the use of AI automation in areas such as public health, HR and finance. Speaking to reporters after the event, he was asked if this could jeopardise jobs in the health service, to which he replied: So what were looking at is not necessarily about trying to take jobs out of the system. That time can be released to patient care, either to support activities or clinical time and relieve other pressures in the system. Many of our clinical staff are looking for more admin support to release them to clinical time. He said if the drudgery of typing things in can be automated, it would release the time to work on waiting lists, make phone calls to patients and to support them around things that actually have a greater contribution. The warmer weather uptick in local violence continues as it seems the quieter part of KC's crime scene is now complete . . . From near the road our blog community knows as the local "highway of death" here's the aftermath report and info that police have shared with local media . . . Homicide 55th and Chestnut This evening just after 5:45 PM officers were dispatched to the area of 55th and Chestnut Avenue on a reported shooting. When officers arrived, they located in adult male victim, lying in a grassy area, unresponsive, and suffering from gunshot trauma. The victim was transported to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries. Officers on scene were updated the victim had succumb to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the hospital. Detectives are currently working to determine what led up to the shooting and there is not currently any preliminary information available. A person of interest has not yet been identified and no one is in custody. Homicide detectives and crime scene personnel have responded to the scene to begin collecting any evidence and gathering witness statements. This incident is being investigated as a homicide at this time and is ongoing. If anyone was in the area and heard or saw anything or has any information they are asked to contact Homicide detectives directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline. We are committed to assisting victims of violent crimes through use of Missouris Protection Program for Victims/Witnesses of Violent Crime. Funding for temporary, or even permanent relocation, may be available but is subject to pre-approval by the States administering agency. ########## Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . . Man killed in Kansas City shooting near 55th, Chestnut Tuesday night The shooting was reported just after 5:45 p.m. in the area of East 55th Street and Chestnut Avenue, near 71 Highway. Man found shot to death Tuesday night in a grassy area in east Kansas City, Missouri. Kansas City, Missouri, police officers were sent on a shooting Tuesday evening and found a man shot to death in a grassy area on the city's eastside. Developing . . . For avid news readers, we've been watching these stories and wanted to share links, info and another look as Springtime for rising KCMO crime moves closer . . . Check TKC news gathering . . . Woman charged after attacking Claycomo paramedics with trauma shears A woman has been charged after attacking Claycomo paramedics with trauma shears. Victims react to KC Chiefs Super Bowl rally shooter's light sentence: 'Ridiculous' "It's absurd, and really unfair. . . To the people who lost Lisa, they would want a little more justice than that," said Chiefs rally shooting victim Jacob Gooch Jr. Victim stabbed, airlifted to area hospital; suspect in custody A victim was stabbed and airlifted to an area hospital as a suspect was taken into custody. Man charged with murder after shooting unarmed victim near Westport A Kansas City man has been charged with murder after shooting an unarmed victim near Westport. Murder charges filed more than 3 years after 16-year-old killed in Kansas City robbery A Kansas City man has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder more than three years after investigators say he shot and killed a 16-year-old boy during a drug deal-turned-robbery. Kansas City man charged after stealing bus, leading police on chase Court records claim officers with the Kansas City Missouri Police Department responded to a bus station on Feb. 24 after a bus was reported as being stolen. Man back in federal prison after walking down Independence street, firing gun in the air A man recently released from federal prison is going back to prison after walking down an Independence street and firing a gun in the air. Newest Wyandotte County judge once released suspect who became alleged cop-killer Wyandotte County, Kansas' new district court judge once signed off on releasing a suspect who later went on to kill a Kansas City, Kansas police officer... Jackson County domestic violence review identifies firearms, stalking as key red flags in deadly cases The Jackson County domestic violence fatality review is now helping leaders study warning signs behind deadly cases with one goal: preventing the next tragedy. Overland Park police begin construction on $20 million training center The Overland Park Police Department is starting construction on a new 35,000-square-foot training center valued at over $20 million Cass County couple stops phone scam before getting ripped off A Cass County couple stopped a scammer before getting ripped off last week. Larry and Sheryl Howard got multiple calls from the same number. The caller on the other end of the line said he was from Equifax. Developing . . . This is likely the most disappointing news of the week so far . . . THE JACKSON COUNTY PROSECUTOR SHIFTS BLAME ONTO GUN RIGHTS AS A GUNMAN EARNS A LIGHT SENTENCE FOLLOWING DEADLY CRIME!!! She did it a bit nicer than most and tried to manage media sentiment . . . But the reality is that a shooter involved in a deadly exchange of gunfire garnered only a TWO-YEAR SENTENCE and will probably be out of jail before Christmas. Personal aside . . . What galls us as Westsiders is how the family is getting played like a political prop and going along with this political chatter . . . Seems like they might have been better off ignoring elected officials and their promises in this instance. Meanwhile . . . In fairness, here's prosecutor's side of the story . . . On Tuesday, Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson said Miller was protected by the states Stand Your Ground law. So under Missouri law, that meant that we did not file a murder charge even though someone lost their life, Johnson said in a news conference Tuesday. Those conversations with families never get easier, and should not have to happen as often as they do. The prosecutors office said the number of cases they have been unable to prosecute due to the states Stand Your Ground laws has increased in the last several years since the latest laws were adopted in 2016. That is exactly why my office has been working on these issues behind the scenes, even when it doesnt make headlines, Johnson said Tuesday. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . . Prosecutor explains how Missouri 'Stand Your Ground' law prevented murder charge in Chiefs rally murder Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson explained in more detail Tuesday her decision to drop murder charges against a suspect charged in the deadly Chiefs rally killing. Soft deals for gunmen in Chiefs rally shooting spark national rage "Wrist slaps" from the courts for two gunmen in the horrific 2024 Kansas City Chiefs rally shooting have ignited national fury this week. One of the shooters took what is being seen as an overl... Missouri's 'Stand Your Ground' law ended Super Bowl parade murder case, prosecutor says Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson said she got accountability in the case against the 20-year-old involved in the fatal mass shooting. But Johnson vowed to change the law, saying the victim's family deserved "way more than the law currently allows us to give them." Developing . . . Ahead of campaign season we're getting a peek at the "affordability debate" develop in real time here in Kansas City. Hidden in their dox and pushed out of their headlines . . . KANSAS CITY RESTAURANT WORKER UNION ORGANIZERS DEMAND 25 SMACKEROOS PER HOUR!!! That's quite a bit of cheddar but not much over what locals have determined would be a "livable wage" for this cowtown. Here are the basics . . . "Restaurant workers in Kansas City are gathering signatures on a new workers' bill of rights, calling for higher pay, job security and paid time off. It's part of a larger unionizing effort led by the Missouri Workers Center." Here is their main demand . . . "A guaranteed minimum wage of $25 per hour, including during training periods, with tipped workers made whole if total earnings fall below that amount." A bit more about the effort . . . We, the cafe, bar, and restaurant workers of Missouri, believe that all food service workers deserve fair and respectful treatment from the businesses that employ us. For too long, corporations, lobbyists, and politicians have dictated the terms of our work. These forces do not represent working people. We demand better: fair pay, paid health care, union rights, and workplaces built on dignity and due process. We drafted this Food Service Workers Bill of Rights to: Consolidate the standards already being advanced through worker organizing and union campaigns; Imagine fair and sustainable conditions for all service workers; and Unite workers across Missouri and beyond to win these rights through collective action. We affirm the spirit of this Bill of Rights and invite all Missouriansworkers and community members aliketo stand with us. Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Missouri Workers Center On Bluesky: "Its time for Kansas City service workers to grow our strength in numbers and make the industry work for US!" By Jack Queen NEW YORK, March 11 (Reuters) - Anthropic's lawsuit challenging its Pentagon blacklisting is likely to test the reach of an obscure law aimed at guarding military systems against sabotage, and legal experts say the artificial intelligence lab appears to have a strong case that President Donald Trump's administration overstepped. More from Yahoo Scout How strong is Anthropic's legal case against Pentagon? What constitutional rights does Anthropic claim were violated? What law did Pentagon use to blacklist Anthropic? Why did Anthropic refuse Pentagon's military AI requests? Anthropic said in its lawsuit filed on Monday that the Defense Department's decision to exclude the company from military contracts by designating it as a supply chain risk violated its free speech and due process rights and was aimed at punishing the company for its views on AI safety in warfare. The designation could cut Anthropic's 2026 revenue by multiple billions of dollars and cause reputational harm, company executives said Tuesday. In labeling Anthropic as a supply chain risk, the Pentagon invoked a rarely used law that allows it to bar companies from certain contracts if they risk exposing military information systems to enemy infiltration. The law has never been tested in court or used against a U.S. company, according to a Reuters review of legal databases. Courts often defer to the executive branch's judgment on national security, and that will likely be the centerpiece of the government's defense. But five national security law experts told Reuters the Pentagon may have overstepped. "It's not at all clear that the statute can even apply to an American company where there's no foreign entanglement," said University of Minnesota Law School professor Alan Rozenshtein. The Defense Department said it does not comment on pending litigation. 'EXQUISITE' TECHNOLOGY Anthropic, which is incorporated and headquartered in the U.S., said it is not an "adversary," which the Trump administration has defined in executive orders to mean China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba and Venezuela, according to Anthropic's lawsuit. The company also said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave no explanation for how Anthropic's Claude AI tool constituted a supply chain risk despite its continued use by the U.S. military and Hegseth's own praise of Claude as "exquisite" technology that the Defense Department would "love" to work with during a February 24 meeting with Anthropic cited in the lawsuit. The military has used Claude as recently as last month during strikes on Iran, according to Reuters reports. Hegseth designated Anthropic a national security supply chain risk on March 3 after the company refused to lift restrictions on Claude that prohibit the military from using it for autonomous weapons or domestic surveillance. Update on the case that will be either settled here, by way of petition and/or ultimately at the ballot box: "If the court strikes down the new map, Missouri's congressional lines would revert to the prior map which keeps the bulk of Kansas City within one district. "The future of congressional redistricting in Missouri was argued Tuesday before the state Supreme Court. "Judges heard arguments over whether mid-decade redistricting is allowed by the state's constitution. Depending on how they rule, the redistricting process could be explicitly limited to right after a census, or whenever lawmakers want to do it." 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 11. A meeting was held with a group of "AzerGold" CJSC employees who were awarded the "Progress" medal. The event was organized in accordance with the Decree of President Ilham Aliyev dated February 23, 2026. Chairman of the Executive Board, Zakir Ibrahimov, congratulated the employees who were awarded the state award on behalf of the team. Zakir Ibrahimov mentioned that the award reflects the high value placed on individual achievements and the team's collective work. He noted that this recognition comes within the 10th anniversary of "AzerGold" CJSC's operations. The Chairman expressed his gratitude to the head of state on behalf of the team for the attention shown. It was noted that this trust creates an important incentive for employees to continue their activities with greater determination. The employees who received the state award expressed their gratitude to the head of state for the high attention and care shown to them. They emphasized that they would justify the trust shown and continue their activities with greater responsibility. Finally, the employees were presented with "Progress" medals and certificates. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. The world has become more multipolar than ever, yet multilateralism today is weaker than in the past, former President of the European Union (EU) Council Charles Michel said at a press conference within the framework of the 13th Global Baku Forum, which will be held on March 12-14, Trend reports. "The world has become more multipolar than ever, and at the same time, we see that multilateralism is probably weaker than ever. We also witness intense competition among major powers. Across the globe, more and more countries are participating in these processes. This is a long-term trend that we have been observing for several years," Michel stated. He noted that in addition to traditional competition in the energy sector, new areas of rivalry are emerging. "In the field of natural resources, we see that through technology and the renewed focus on nuclear energy, new arenas are developing where countries and powers compete with one another," he said. Michel added that medium-sized states are emerging that do not wish to align solely with a single great power. These countries aim to diversify their partnerships to create more opportunities and greater resilience. Furthermore, the official emphasized that the Baku Global Forum provides an important platform to improve mutual understanding and take constructive steps amid current global challenges. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan expressed gratitude to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, for the decision to lift restrictions on railway transportation to Armenia through the territory of Azerbaijan, Trend reports. Pashinyan made the statement while addressing the European Parliament. "For the first time since independence, in November 2025, a train arrived in the Republic of Armenia via Azerbaijan, also passing through Georgia. This was preceded by a statement by the President of Azerbaijan in October 2025 on lifting restrictions on rail transport to Armenia through the territory of Azerbaijan, and I am grateful to the President of Azerbaijan for this decision," the Armenian PM said. On October 21, 2025, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, in a joint press statement with President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, stated that Azerbaijan has lifted all restrictions on the transit of goods to Armenia that had existed since the time of the occupation, and that the first such transit cargo was a shipment of Kazakh grain to Armenia, followed later by Russian grain. To date, more than 22,000 tons of grain (320 railcars) and 610 tons of fertilizer (9 railcars) have already been shipped from Russia to Armenia via Azerbaijan. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Imports of petroleum products from Azerbaijan have broken the decades-old monopoly in Armenia's fuel sector, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated while addressing the European Parliament, Trend reports. "Armenia already imports petroleum products from Azerbaijan, which has helped reduce fuel prices in our market and break decades-old monopolies in the fuel sector," he said. The prime minister also expressed hope that Azerbaijan will become an export destination for Armenia in the near future. On December 18, 2025, the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) sent 1,220 tons of RON-95 gasoline to Armenia. Subsequently, on January 9, 2026, a total of 2,698 tons of fuel, including 1,742 tons of RON-95 gasoline and 956 tons of diesel, were dispatched in 48 railcars. On January 11, a train of 18 railcars carrying 979 tons of RON-92 gasoline was also sent to Armenia. On February 25, 4,500 tons of diesel fuel were delivered, then on March 5, 31 wagons with 1,984 tons of diesel fuel. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel WASHINGTON, U.S., March 11. In Azerbaijan, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) is exploring opportunities to develop critical infrastructure projects and deploy U.S. companies trusted innovative technologies, Carl Kress, USTDA Regional Director, Middle East, North Africa, Europe and Eurasia, said in an exclusive interview with Trend. He made the remarks on the sidelines of the U.S.-Azerbaijan Trade and Business Conference dedicated to the 30th Anniversary of the United States-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce (USACC) in Washington D.C. "Our work helps mobilize capital for overseas infrastructure while creating export opportunities for U.S. firms. This model has proven enormously successful. USTDAs program supports an average of $226 in U.S. exports for every dollar it programs. We achieve these results because we give our partners the chance to choose American technology over our competitors. We look forward to increasing our engagement with Azerbaijan to stimulate new infrastructure-related partnerships. While USTDA has not been active in Azerbaijan in recent years, we do have a history of productive cooperation. For example, USTDA helped support a major satellite project in Azerbaijan in 2013. The Azerspace-2 satellite has been in successful commercial operation since February 2019. USTDA also provided significant support for the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline that still delivers Azerbaijani oil to global markets," he said. Kress pointed out that the Strategic Partnership Charter that Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev and the U.S. Vice President Vance signed in Baku on February 11 notes the U.S. commitment to working together on regional connectivity, including through the establishment of the multi-modal Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, which will create a vital link in the Trans-Caspian Trade Route, or Middle Corridor. "The U.S.-Azerbaijan Charter also focuses on energy investment and AI and digital partnerships, including the development of AI data centers. USTDA tools can help realize new infrastructure projects in these and other sectors. Our recent meetings in Baku were primarily focused on the energy and digital infrastructure sectors, where, together with critical minerals, we see the greatest potential for collaboration with Azerbaijans public and private sectors. This focus on infrastructure stems from our Agencys mission. We are the U.S. governments first mover on critical infrastructure development abroad. USTDA funds the upfront planning that accelerates the preparation of infrastructure projects including feasibility studies, technical assistance and pilot projects. These are the crucial steps that turn promising ideas into bankable infrastructure projects that benefit our partners and create export opportunities for U.S. companies," he added. He went on to add that the USTDA is excited and actively engaging with Azerbaijan to find ways to support increased commercial ties between the two countries. "USTDA staff have already visited Azerbaijan twice in the last two months and we are actively planning a third USTDA mission to Azerbaijan in April. The signs are indeed positive for USTDA to bring to bear its early project planning tools and partnership-building activities. USTDAs core objective is to catalyze the deployment of trusted, world-class American infrastructure to advance the priorities of both the United States and our overseas partners. That means generating new opportunities for U.S. companies to engage in infrastructure projects that are also a focus for Azerbaijan. In Azerbaijan, we are seeing especially prominent opportunities in the energy and digital infrastructure sectors, and we also want to explore potential projects in expanding transportation connectivity for critical minerals," noted the USTDA regional director. Kress pointed out that Azerbaijan is blessed with abundant energy resources, making U.S. cooperation in that sector an obvious starting point. "Azerbaijan is obviously already a leader in the oil and gas industry, which holds great promise for more cooperation, and we have a shared interest in working together to explore civil nuclear power development or new pipeline infrastructure. This energy abundance also offers opportunities for U.S. companies to deploy technologies that can facilitate the build out of Azerbaijans digital infrastructure with data centers, AI sector, and communications links, since Azerbaijan has the abundant, reliable energy supplies that are foundational to s these industries. U.S. companies are second to none in the energy and digital sectors, which means there are excellent opportunities to explore for working together," he said. The regional director noted that the U.S. companies are well-positioned to engage in the country. "In February, USTDA joined the first ever U.S. Chamber of Commerce trade mission, which drew a very large delegation of leading U.S. companies and has already generated multiple leads for follow up. USTDA also joined the U.S.-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerces fantastic September 2025 trade mission focused on logistics and transportation opportunities. Activities like these are exactly what is needed to help facilitate increased commercial engagement between our countries." He noted that local partnerships are key to fostering commercial relationships in Azerbaijan and the region, and USTDAs tools are specifically designed to cultivate such partnerships. "USTDAs project preparation activities, like feasibility studies and front-end engineering and design studies, connect U.S. experts with Azerbaijani developers to support their priority projects and pave the way to long-term partnerships on other projects. As one example, USTDA will invite Azerbaijani civil nuclear sector leaders to participate in an event later this year on civil nuclear power development in Europe and Eurasia. The event will introduce them to American technologies, connect them with potential U.S. suppliers, and provide opportunities for them to highlight upcoming Azerbaijani civil nuclear development plans. Events like these lead to successful partnerships and deal-making. Another USTDA capability is our reverse trade mission tool, which bring delegates from countries such as Azerbaijan to the United States to meet with U.S. companies and government officials. These can be an excellent avenue to creating enduring partnerships for targeted sectors," Kress concluded. WASHINGTON, U.S., March 11. The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) is planning third mission to Azerbaijan in April, Carl Kress, USTDA Regional Director, Middle East, North Africa, Europe and Eurasia, said in an exclusive interview with Trend. He made the remarks on the sidelines of the U.S.-Azerbaijan Trade and Business Conference dedicated to the 30th Anniversary of the United States-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce (USACC) in Washington D.C. Kress noted that the USTDA is excited and actively engaging with Azerbaijan to find ways to support increased commercial ties between the two countries. "USTDA staff have already visited Azerbaijan twice in the last two months and we are actively planning a third USTDA mission to Azerbaijan in April. The signs are indeed positive for USTDA to bring to bear its early project planning tools and partnership-building activities. USTDAs core objective is to catalyze the deployment of trusted, world-class American infrastructure to advance the priorities of both the United States and our overseas partners. That means generating new opportunities for U.S. companies to engage in infrastructure projects that are also a focus for Azerbaijan. In Azerbaijan, we are seeing especially prominent opportunities in the energy and digital infrastructure sectors, and we also want to explore potential projects in expanding transportation connectivity for critical minerals," noted the USTDA regional director. WASHINGTON, March 11 (Reuters) - Anduril Industries on Wednesday said it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire ExoAnalytic Solutions, a national security company specializing in space sensing and awareness and missile defense. The purchase comes as defense technology firm positions itself for a role in President Donald Trump's Golden Dome missile defense project, an initiative to build a space-based shield capable of intercepting ballistic, cruise and hypersonic missiles. More from Yahoo Scout What capabilities does ExoAnalytic Solutions bring to Anduril? How does this acquisition support Trump's Golden Dome initiative? What is Anduril's strategic vision for space defense? What regulatory hurdles must the acquisition clear? Hundreds of companies are vying for a role in developing Golden Dome. Anduril was among companies that received smaller contracts for space-based interceptors awarded in late November. ExoAnalytic grew from missile defense algorithms to building a global telescope network that tracks thousands of objects in orbit. The company owns and operates more than 400 telescope systems deployed worldwide, giving it what Anduril described as persistent, high-fidelity awareness of deep space at a global scale. ExoAnalytic is also a leader in modeling and simulation for classified national security space programs and provides software and expertise for missile warning and missile defense. Gokul Subramanian, Anduril's senior vice president of engineering, said the deal would supercharge the company's ambitions. "We expect this acquisition to enable us to tap into those capabilities more and more," he told reporters, adding that the combined entity would advance Anduril's work in space sensing, tracking, battle management and fire control. The acquisition, Anduril's first under its space business unit and its 11th overall, would integrate ExoAnalytic's global sensor network and data analytics with Anduril's expertise in autonomy and command and control. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The deal remains subject to regulatory approvals. (by Mike Stone in Washington; Editing by Christopher Cushing) WASHINGTON, U.S., March 11. The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) will invite Azerbaijani civil nuclear sector leaders to participate in an event later this year on civil nuclear power development in Europe and Eurasia, Carl Kress, USTDA Regional Director, Middle East, North Africa, Europe and Eurasia, said in an exclusive interview with Trend. He made the remarks on the sidelines of the U.S.-Azerbaijan Trade and Business Conference dedicated to the 30th Anniversary of the United States-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce (USACC) in Washington D.C. Kress pointed out that Azerbaijan is blessed with abundant energy resources, making U.S. cooperation in that sector an obvious starting point. "Azerbaijan is obviously already a leader in the oil and gas industry, which holds great promise for more cooperation, and we have a shared interest in working together to explore civil nuclear power development or new pipeline infrastructure. This energy abundance also offers opportunities for U.S. companies to deploy technologies that can facilitate the build out of Azerbaijans digital infrastructure with data centers, AI sector, and communications links, since Azerbaijan has the abundant, reliable energy supplies that are foundational to s these industries. U.S. companies are second to none in the energy and digital sectors, which means there are excellent opportunities to explore for working together," he said. He noted that local partnerships are key to fostering commercial relationships in Azerbaijan and the region, and USTDAs tools are specifically designed to cultivate such partnerships. "USTDAs project preparation activities, like feasibility studies and front-end engineering and design studies, connect U.S. experts with Azerbaijani developers to support their priority projects and pave the way to long-term partnerships on other projects. As one example, USTDA will invite Azerbaijani civil nuclear sector leaders to participate in an event later this year on civil nuclear power development in Europe and Eurasia. The event will introduce them to American technologies, connect them with potential U.S. suppliers, and provide opportunities for them to highlight upcoming Azerbaijani civil nuclear development plans. Events like these lead to successful partnerships and deal-making. Another USTDA capability is our reverse trade mission tool, which bring delegates from countries such as Azerbaijan to the United States to meet with U.S. companies and government officials. These can be an excellent avenue to creating enduring partnerships for targeted sectors," Kress added. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. bp has expressed pride in supporting a project dedicated to preserving Azerbaijans cultural heritage and ensuring that the legacy of Azerbaijani filmmakers continues to inspire future generations, said Bakhtiyar Aslanbeyli, bps Vice President for the Caspian region, Trend reports. Speaking at the presentation of the Azerbaijani Cinema: Concise Encyclopedia (18982025) project in Baku, funded by bp, Aslanbeyli shared his impressions of the project. Since its inception, Azerbaijani cinema has followed a historic path that is a remarkable part of our cultural development. By meticulously documenting over a century of cinematic creativity, Aydin Kazimzadeh has created a work of enduring value for both our artistic and academic communities, he said. bp has been operating major oil and gas exploration, production, and transportation projects in Azerbaijan for more than three decades, executing these initiatives safely, efficiently, and reliably. During this period, bp and its partners have invested over $87 billion in the projects they manage in the country. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, Jose Ramos-Horta, arrived in Azerbaijan to participate in the 13th Global Baku Forum, organized by the Nizami Ganjavi International Center, Trend reports. During his visit, President Ramos-Horta was welcomed by the center's secretary general. The two exchanged greetings and briefly discussed current issues. The President of Timor-Leste is among the world leaders and high-ranking guests attending the forum, which will focus on global challenges, multilateral cooperation, and international security issues. KHOJALY, Azerbaijan, March 11. The next group of former internally displaced persons (IDPs) has reached Khanabad village in the Khojaly district, Trend's Karabakh bureau reports. In accordance with the instructions of the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, the process of the Great Return to the liberated territories continues Within the framework of the return program, 21 families, a total of 103 people, were delivered to Khanabad at this stage. Thus, the families who arrived in the village will soon be presented with the keys to their houses. These families relocated to the village had previously temporarily settled in various regions of the country, mainly in hostels, sanatoriums, and administrative buildings. 07:15 The next group of former internally displaced persons (IDPs) sent within the framework of the program of Great Return to the liberated territories by the instructions of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has reached the Girmizi Bazar settlement of the Khojavend district, as well as the Khanabad village of the Khojaly district, Trend reports. At this stage, 21 families, 103 people, have been resettled to the village of Khanabad in the Khojaly district, and 20 families, 81 people, to the Girmizi Bazar settlement of the Khojavend district. The former IDPs returning to the native village thanked President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva for their comprehensive care and expressed gratitude to the valiant Azerbaijani Army, which liberated the lands from occupation. Currently, more than 50,000 people live in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur. Among them are former internally displaced persons who have returned to these areas, as well as employees involved in the implementation of restoration and construction projects, employees of local departments of various government agencies, and specialists employed in healthcare, education, culture, tourism, industry, and energy institutions that have resumed their activities. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan Abdelrahman Al-Burhan, President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council of the Republic of the Sudan, sent a letter to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, Trend reports. ''Your Excellency, I have followed with concern the targeting of Azerbaijani territories by Iranian drones and the resulting violation of your national airspace. Such actions constitute a clear breach of the principles of international law and the fundamental norms governing respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. In this regard, I wish to express the full solidarity of the Republic of Sudanits leadership, government, and peoplewith the friendly Republic of Azerbaijan. I reaffirm my support for all legitimate measures undertaken to safeguard your country's sovereignty, security, and stability in accordance with international law. May God protect the Republic of Azerbaijan and grant it continued security and stability. Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration and respect,'' the letter reads. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, arrived in the Republic of Azerbaijan on an official visit on March 11, Trend reports. A guard of honor was lined up for the President of the European Council at Heydar Aliyev International Airport, which was decorated with the national flags of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the European Union. President of the European Council Antonio Costa was welcomed by Deputy Prime Minister Samir Sharifov, Deputy Foreign Minister Yalchin Rafiyev, and other officials. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Azerbaijan and the UN Alliance of Civilizations have discussed ooperation prospects, Trend reports via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The discussions occurred during a meeting between Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Miguel Angel Moratinos, the High Representative of the UN Alliance of Civilizations and Special Envoy for Combating Islamophobia, who is in Azerbaijan for the Global Baku Forum. The meeting encompassed a review of the ongoing cooperation between Azerbaijan and the UN Alliance of Civilizations, as well as the continuation of joint initiatives. The parties highlighted the significant role of their existing partnership in advancing intercultural and interreligious dialogue and underscored Azerbaijans key contributions to fostering intercultural dialogue through the Baku Process and other international platforms. Minister Bayramov also provided an update on the regional situation in the post-conflict period, outlining Azerbaijans peace efforts and the ongoing peace process with Armenia. In response, Moratinos commended Azerbaijans active and consistent international policy on intercultural dialogue, emphasizing the importance of further advancing cooperation with the UN Alliance of Civilizations. He reiterated his support for the continuation of joint initiatives aimed at promoting global peace and dialogue. Furthermore, the parties discussed the escalation of military tensions in the Middle East, expressing mutual concerns about the current state of affairs in the region. The discussions also covered other bilateral and multilateral topics of shared interest, including the promotion of intercultural solidarity in the face of global challenges and exploring opportunities for joint action in combating Islamophobia. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, who is on an official visit to Azerbaijan, visited the Alley of Martyrs in Baku, Trend reports. The President of the European Council paid tribute to Azerbaijani heroes who sacrificed their lives for the countrys independence and territorial integrity. He also laid a wreath at the Eternal Flame Monument. Antonio Costa also viewed Baku panoramically while being briefed on the history of the Alley of Martyrs and the citys redevelopment projects. Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. The rules for conducting the competition for admission to the diplomatic service have been approved, Trend reports. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, signed a decree in this regard. According to the decree, the Rules for Conducting the Diplomatic Service Recruitment Competition and the Procedure for Verifying Documents of Candidates Before the Interview have been officially confirmed. The rules stipulate that the competition will be conducted based on principles of fairness and transparency. It will include a written examination and an interview. The written examination will be organized by the State Examination Center upon the request of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), while the interview stage will be conducted directly by the MFA. The competition will be organized according to the higher education specialty classifications set by the Cabinet of Ministers. It will cover groups in the humanities and social sciences, economics and management, as well as specialties related to public health, state security and administration, public safety and administration, and border security and administration. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Photo: Press service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. On March 11, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev held a one-on-one meeting with Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, Trend reports. President Ilham Aliyev and Antonio Costa first posed for joint photographs. Artificial intelligence company Anthropic is suing to stop the Trump administration from enforcing what it calls an unlawful campaign of retaliation over its refusal to allow unrestricted military use of its technology. Anthropic asked federal courts on Monday to reverse the Pentagons decision last week to designate the artificial intelligence company a supply chain risk. The company also seeks to undo President Donald Trump's order directing federal employees to stop using its AI chatbot Claude. The legal challenge intensifies an unusually public dispute over how AI can be used in warfare and mass surveillance one that has also dragged in Anthropic's tech industry rivals, particularly ChatGPT maker OpenAI, which made its own deal to work with the Pentagon just hours after the government punished Anthropic for its stance. Anthropic filed two separate lawsuits Monday, one in California federal court and another in the federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., each challenging different aspects of the government's actions against the San Francisco-based company. These actions are unprecedented and unlawful," Anthropic's lawsuit says. "The Constitution does not allow the government to wield its enormous power to punish a company for its protected speech. No federal statute authorizes the actions taken here. Anthropic turns to the judiciary as a last resort to vindicate its rights and halt the Executives unlawful campaign of retaliation. The Defense Department declined to comment Monday, citing a policy of not commenting on matters in litigation. Anthropic said it sought to restrict its technology from being used for mass surveillance of Americans and fully autonomous weapons. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other high-ranking officials publicly insisted the company must accept all lawful" uses of Claude, threatened punishment if Anthropic did not comply and condemned the firm and its CEO Dario Amodei on social media. Designating the company a supply chain risk cuts off Anthropic's defense work using an authority that was designed to prevent foreign adversaries from harming national security systems. It was the first time the federal government is known to have used the designation against a U.S. company. Hegseth said in a March 4 letter to Anthropic that it was necessary to protect national security, according to Anthropic's lawsuit. Trump also said he would order federal agencies to stop using Claude, though he gave the Pentagon six months to phase out a product thats deeply embedded in classified military systems, including those used in the Iran war. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov, met with the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan, who is visiting Azerbaijan to participate in the 13th Global Baku Forum, Trend reports. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting focused on various aspects and prospects of Azerbaijans cooperation with the UN, as well as regional and international issues. Discussions also addressed the situation in the Middle East and the impacts of ongoing conflicts on the global economy and trade. During the meeting, the parties exchanged views on Azerbaijans initiatives in global and regional energy security, trade, investment, sustainable development, economic diversification, communication and transport projects. Bayramov highlighted Azerbaijans policies to expand regional and global trade ties, enhance transport and logistics capacities, develop traditional and alternative energy projects, and improve international trade routes. He emphasized the importance of strengthening the countrys role as a transit and logistics hub and promoting cooperation within the framework of the Middle Corridor. The discussion also covered concerns over rising tensions in the Middle East and the consequences of ongoing conflicts. Both sides shared their perspectives on these challenges and exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Ongoing tensions and regional confrontations in the Middle East are shaping new geopolitical realities in the system of international relations, Sevinj Fataliyeva, a member of the International Relations and Interparliamentary Relations Committee of the Azerbaijani Parliament, said in an interview with Trend. "These developments affect not only the Middle East region but also the overall security architecture of the Eurasian space. In such a complex environment, the responsible and balanced policies of states acquire particular importance," she added. According to the MP, Azerbaijan stands out as a nation that is actively engaging in a practical and principled approach to its foreign policy. As a result of the policies implemented under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, our country is recognized as a reliable and responsible partner in the system of international relations. Azerbaijans foreign policy is based on international law, respect for the sovereignty of states, and the principle of mutually beneficial cooperation. Against the backdrop of humanitarian crises in the Middle East, Azerbaijan consistently demonstrates its commitment to the principles of humanism and international solidarity. Our country actively participates in humanitarian initiatives through various international organizations, supports populations affected by conflicts, and contributes to strengthening humanitarian diplomacy. Azerbaijans humanitarian policy is not limited to statements alone. Through humanitarian projects, aid programs, and international initiatives, our country makes a tangible contribution to shaping the global humanitarian agenda, she said. Fataliyeva noted that Azerbaijan is consistently implementing a policy aimed at strengthening stability and security in the South Caucasus region. After restoring its territorial integrity in 2020, Azerbaijan has put forward initiatives to establish a new model of cooperation in the region. Official Baku supports constructive dialogue and the creation of economic cooperation platforms to ensure sustainable peace in the region. International energy and transport projects implemented on Azerbaijans initiative, including the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) and the Middle Corridor, make a significant contribution to the development of interregional cooperation. With rising tensions in the Middle East, developments around Iran are also shaping the regional security landscape. Azerbaijan pursues a policy based on mutual respect, respect for sovereignty, and non-interference in internal affairs in its relations with regional states. Additionally, our country demonstrates a firm position against any threats or provocations directed at its national security and state interests. Azerbaijan has always pursued a policy based on the principles of international law and considers maintaining regional stability a priority, she added. The MP also highlighted that some groups are trying to pull off information manipulation and stir up political provocations against Azerbaijan. However, such attempts, she noted, are unable to influence the countrys international reputation or its independent policy. Azerbaijan firmly defends its national interests and continues to pursue a policy based on the principles of peace, cooperation, and mutual respect in the region. The countrys political stability and strategic position demonstrate that such pressure and provocations will remain ineffective. Fataliyeva further highlighted that, in light of the shifting geopolitical landscape, the partnership between Azerbaijan and the European Union (EU) is stepping into a new chapter. The backbone of these relations lies in energy security, transport and logistics connections, and economic partnerships. Azerbaijan plays an important role in ensuring Europes energy security and is recognized as a reliable energy partner. At the same time, the country serves as an important link between Europe and Asia through its transport and logistics projects. In todays complex international environment, Azerbaijans policy is based on the principles of pragmatism, balance, and responsibility. Our country continues to contribute to maintaining stability in the region, reducing confrontations, and strengthening an environment of cooperation. In light of evolving geopolitical dynamics, Azerbaijan will continue its independent foreign policy course, playing an important platform role for stability and cooperation both regionally and internationally, she concluded. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Azerbaijan's Prime Minister Ali Asadov met with the First Vice President of Costa Rica Francisco Gamboa, who is on a visit to Azerbaijan, today, the statement of the Cabinet of Ministers says, Trend reports. The meeting emphasized the importance of Gamboa's participation in the 13th Global Baku Forum. The meeting also noted that amid the rising tensions and complex geopolitical processes in the world, the forum plays an important role as a platform in terms of promoting dialogue, strengthening mutual trust, and expanding cooperation. The parties discussed the prospects for the development of Azerbaijani-Costa Rican relations in the economic, investment, green energy, humanitarian, and other areas. The meeting was attended by the Secretary-General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development, Rebecca Greenspan. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Authorized Representative of the President of Azerbaijan in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Jeyhun Jalilov, met with a delegation led by Commander of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Turkiye, Army General Metin Tokel, Trend reports, citing the office of the Presidential representative in Nakhchivan. During the meeting, Jalilov noted that relations between Azerbaijan and Turkiye, based on deep historical roots, shared values, and mutual trust, are developing dynamically. He emphasized that independent Azerbaijan is confidently advancing on the global stage with its victorious leader, strong state, powerful army, and patriotic people. According to him, the centuries-old friendship and brotherhood between Azerbaijan and Turkiye, built on the principle of One nation, two states, continue to deepen across political, economic, military, cultural, and other spheres. He stated that the moral and political support provided by Turkiye across all areas during the 44-day Patriotic War, which ended with the victory of the Azerbaijani Army under the leadership of President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, is highly appreciated in Azerbaijan. The authorized representative additionally addressed the drone attack on Nakhchivan International Airport, which temporarily suspended flights between Nakhchivan and Baku in both directions. He noted that to ensure uninterrupted passenger transportation between the autonomous republic and the main part of the country, flights from Baku to the Turkish city of Igdir were organized from March 5 through March 9, describing this step as a clear demonstration of the friendship and allied relations between the two countries. Jalilov also recalled that the Umid Bridge, which plays a key role in facilitating travel through the Sadarak-Dilucu border checkpoint between the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and the Republic of Turkiye and has become a symbol of the One nation, two states principle, was inaugurated with the participation of National Leader Heydar Aliyev and then-Prime Minister of Turkiye Suleyman Demirel. Army General Metin Tokel emphasized the importance of mutual visits for further expanding military cooperation based on the strategic alliance between the two countries. He noted that the Azerbaijani Army continues to develop steadily, which brings great satisfaction in brotherly Turkiye. Tokel also stated that the drone attack on the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is a matter of concern. During the meeting, the sides discussed various aspects of Azerbaijan-Turkiye strategic cooperation and exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. On March 11, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev held an expanded meeting with President of the European Council Antonio Costa, during an official luncheon, Trend reports. During the conversation, they hailed the development of relations between Azerbaijan and the European Union across various fields. In particular, they noted that dialogue on security, energy, and transport issues has been successfully advancing. The sides also touched upon the meetings held earlier in Azerbaijan within the framework of the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council and highlighted the importance of the discussions conducted in this format. Azerbaijans contribution to Europes energy security as a reliable partner was emphasized, with its gas exports to ten European countries cited as part of this contribution. The meeting also included discussions on transport, logistics, and connectivity, highlighting Azerbaijans important regional role in these areas. They underlined the importance of the TRIPP as part of the Middle Corridor. The sides also discussed the European Unions participation in the restoration and reconstruction of the Nakhchivan railway line as a continuation of this project. The participants exchanged views on the prospects for expanding trade relations between Azerbaijan and the European Union based on preferential tariff principles. The progress made within the peace agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia was also noted, with the European Union ready to contribute to advancing the peace process. During the conversation, they also discussed prospects for cooperation in digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and the establishment of data centers. At the end of the meeting, President Ilham Aliyev and President of the European Council Antonio Costa adopted a joint press statement. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. 1. On 11 March 2026, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev and the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa met in Baku, the Republic of Azerbaijan. 2. Emphasizing the strategic importance of the Azerbaijan-EU partnership, the Presidents expressed their commitment to further deepening political dialogue and practical cooperation, building on the positive momentum of recent high-level meetings, including in the areas of security, energy and transport. This cooperation reflects the shared interest of both sides and contributes to the promotion of peace, stability, connectivity and sustainable development in the wider Black Sea, South Caucasus and Central Asia regions. 3. They reaffirmed that relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the European Union are grounded in mutual respect, equality and shared benefit, in full respect of the Charter of the United Nations and international law, including the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States. 4. The Presidents reiterated their commitment to the swift finalisation of negotiations on a new comprehensive bilateral agreement, which would provide a solid legal framework to further develop relations. They also underlined the importance of adopting renewed Azerbaijan-EU Partnership Priorities and making full use of existing dialogue mechanisms, including the Azerbaijan-EU Cooperation Council, to further advance the bilateral agenda in all areas. 5. Reaffirming their shared strategic objective of a peaceful, stable, interconnected and prosperous South Caucasus free of dividing lines, the Presidents welcomed the recent positive regional developments, notably the historic momentum in the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process. They welcomed the outcomes of the 8 August 2025 Washington Summit and the subsequent steps taken towards the normalisation of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The President of the European Council reiterated the EUs full support for efforts of the two countries aiming to achieve sustainable peace in the region through bilateral dialogue. 6. The Presidents highlighted Azerbaijans large-scale post-conflict reconstruction and development efforts in its Garabagh and Eastern Zangezur regions. Acknowledging the scale of the challenges, particularly landmine contamination, they called for increased international support while noting that the European Union is the leading international donor in humanitarian de-mining. 7. The Presidents underscored that implementation of the Azerbaijan 2030: National Priorities for Socio-Economic Development offers opportunities to expand Azerbaijan-EU cooperation in respective priority areas, including in trade, connectivity, investment, economic resilience and the clean energy. 8. The Presidents emphasised Azerbaijans key role in regional connectivity, notably through the Middle Corridor, strengthening transport, trade, energy and digital links between the Black Sea, the South Caucasus and Central Asia. The European Union reaffirmed its commitment to cooperation with Azerbaijan on connectivity under the Global Gateway, other relevant mechanisms, including support to railway modernisation in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of the Republic of Azerbaijan, alongside ongoing efforts on the implementation of TRIPP. They welcomed the establishment of a High-Level Working Group on Economic Cooperation to strengthen Azerbaijan-EU economic cooperation and investments under the Global Gateway initiative. 9. Recalling longstanding critical energy partnership, the Presidents acknowledged Azerbaijans role as a reliable partner in the diversification of Europes energy supplies and committed to the further implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on Strategic Partnership in the field of energy signed in 2022. They underlined the value of the Southern Gas Corridor and Green Energy Advisory Council and the potential to expand energy cooperation in renewables, including wind and solar power, as well as electricity interconnection initiatives, such as the Black Sea Submarine Cable project. 10. Welcoming the successful outcomes of the twenty-ninth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) held in Baku in November 2024 under the presidency of the Republic Azerbaijan, the Presidents reaffirmed their readiness to enhance cooperation on climate change and environmental protection. 11. The Presidents welcomed Azerbaijan's hosting of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum, to be held in May 2026 as a significant contribution to global efforts on sustainable urbanization and resilient urban development and expressed readiness to leverage this Forum to deepen Azerbaijan-EU cooperation in respective areas. 12. The Presidents emphasised the benefits of closer cooperation in defense and security, to address emerging threats such as organised crime, terrorism, extremism, illicit trafficking in weapons and drugs, money laundering, human trafficking and irregular migration. 13. The Presidents underlined the importance of strengthening cooperation in digital transformation and innovation. They recognized the increasing significance of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies, and expressed readiness to enhance cooperation in this domain with a view to fostering innovation, economic resilience and development, as well promoting sustainable and growth-oriented digital ecosystems. 14. The Presidents reaffirmed the importance of people-to-people contacts including through enhanced mobility. They welcomed continued implementation of the Visa Facilitation Agreement, with a view to further facilitating mutual travel, and committed to strengthening cooperation in education, culture, youth and research. 15. The leaders discussed the main current geopolitical issues, including the latest developments in Iran and Ukraine. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. The next grain shipment from Russia to Armenia is being carried out via transit through Azerbaijan, Trend reports. Grain consisting of 11 wagons with a total weight of 1,023 tons (770 net tons) will be sent from Bilajari station to Boyuk Kasik station today. So far, more than 22,000 tons (320 wagons) of grain, as well as 610 tons (nine wagons) of fertilizer, have been sent from Russia to Armenia via transit through Azerbaijan. The previous shipment along this route took place on March 9, when a freight train of seven wagons carrying 488 tons of Russian grain was dispatched to Armenia via Azerbaijan. On February 4, a freight train of eight wagons carrying 560 tons of Russian grain was dispatched to Armenia via Azerbaijan. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Details added: first version posted on 07:15 KHOJALY, Azerbaijan, March 11. The next group of former internally displaced persons (IDPs) has reached Khanabad village in the Khojaly district, Trend's Karabakh bureau reports. In accordance with the instructions of the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, the process of the Great Return to the liberated territories continues Within the framework of the return program, 21 families, a total of 103 people, were delivered to Khanabad at this stage. Thus, the families who arrived in the village will soon be presented with the keys to their houses. These families relocated to the village had previously temporarily settled in various regions of the country, mainly in hostels, sanatoriums, and administrative buildings. 07:15 The next group of former internally displaced persons (IDPs) sent within the framework of the program of Great Return to the liberated territories by the instructions of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has reached the Girmizi Bazar settlement of the Khojavend district, as well as the Khanabad village of the Khojaly district, Trend reports. At this stage, 21 families, 103 people, have been resettled to the village of Khanabad in the Khojaly district, and 20 families, 81 people, to the Girmizi Bazar settlement of the Khojavend district. The former IDPs returning to the native village thanked President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva for their comprehensive care and expressed gratitude to the valiant Azerbaijani Army, which liberated the lands from occupation. Currently, more than 50,000 people live in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur. Among them are former internally displaced persons who have returned to these areas, as well as employees involved in the implementation of restoration and construction projects, employees of local departments of various government agencies, and specialists employed in healthcare, education, culture, tourism, industry, and energy institutions that have resumed their activities. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. The "Smart farmer" national artificial intelligence (AI) platform can be developed in Azerbaijan, the member of Parliament Committee on Agricultural Policy Vugar Iskandarov said at the committee's public hearing on The use of artificial intelligence in agriculture: results and prospects, Trend reports. According to him, Azerbaijan's transition to a smart agriculture model in the next stage is a realistic and necessary direction. The MP, taking into account the information presented at the meeting, brought to attention two important proposals. He said that the first initiative is the development of the "smart farmer" platform. "A single AI platform can be established between the databases of state and agrarian institutions. This platform can provide farmers with various recommendations through a mobile application. For example, the platform can provide the following capabilities: analysis of soil moisture and crop condition based on satellite images and sensors; support for early detection of diseases and pests; determination of optimal time for irrigation and fertilization; preparation of yield forecasts by regions and prevention of preventive problems. This can support a significant increase in productivity, especially by increasing access to technology for small and medium-sized farmers. The MP emphasized that his second proposal is related to the application of agricultural drones and robotic technologies. "A special application can be created for agricultural drones and robotics that work with AI. Within the framework of this program: monitoring and mapping of fields using drones, precise pesticide and fertilizer spraying (this can prevent waste), processes such as automated sowing and harvesting in large areas can be implemented. Iskandarov added that there is also a great need to accelerate the process of creating laboratories on artificial intelligence and agricultural technologies at the Azerbaijan State Agrarian University. "All this can reduce water and fertilizer use, increase productivity, and create a more competitive environment in the agricultural sector," he concluded. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. An international conference titled "Combating Transnational Repression by the Government of India: Sikh Resistance and the UN" will be held in Geneva under the organization of the Baku Initiative Group within the framework of the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Trend reports. The event will bring together prominent representatives of the Sikh diaspora from Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States, as well as individuals who have directly suffered from the repressive, discriminatory, and persecutory policies of the Government of India. Discussions during the conference will focus on threats and repressive policies carried out by the Government of India against ethnic communities, particularly cases in which members of these communities were forced to leave the country and now live abroad. Participants will also address the growing attacks and terror threats allegedly targeting Sikh activists, leaders of diaspora organizations, and their family members by Indian authorities in recent years. The conference will also examine the serious risks posed by organized attacks to fundamental freedoms and human rights, along with cross-border pressure and threats directed at diaspora organizations. Participants are expected to exchange views on these issues and highlight the need to draw the attention of international organizations to the situation. In this context, discussions will emphasize the importance of raising the issue of the Government of Indias alleged repressive policies against ethnic minorities both domestically and abroad within the agenda of the United Nations and its relevant institutions. The effective use of existing procedures and mechanisms within the UNHRC framework, as well as the systematic documentation of alleged unlawful persecution and pressure against the Sikh community by UN special rapporteurs dealing with transnational repression, ethnic minorities, and minority rights, will also be addressed. Participants will underline the need to strengthen global accountability and monitoring mechanisms to prevent such incidents and to ensure international responsibility for the Government of India. Following the international conference, a joint report prepared by the Baku Initiative Group and the Sikh Federation will be presented at the Geneva Press Club, where media representatives will have the opportunity to ask questions. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Bloomberg Anthropic PBC told a judge it could lose as much as billions of dollars in revenue this year and urged quick action on its request to block the Trump administrations declaration of the company as a US supply-chain risk after a blowup with the Pentagon over artificial intelligence safety issues. The startup made a case for urgency to US District Judge Rita F. Lin at a hearing in San Francisco a day after Anthropic sued the Defense Department over the supply-risk designation. The dispute is over the startups demand for assurances that its AI wouldnt be used for mass surveillance of Americans or autonomous weapons deployment. Most Read from Bloomberg Microsoft Corp., which owns a stake in OpenAI and Anthropic, meanwhile filed its own brief urging a judge to temporarily block the governments moves because they have the potential to delay all ongoing Defense Department contracting for IT products and services. Michael Mongan, an attorney for Anthropic, argued Tuesday that the federal governments actions have led to more than 100 enterprise customers contacting the company to express doubt about continuing their work with Anthropic. He also said that a financial services company paused its negotiations with Anthropic regarding a $50 million contract, a pharmaceutical firm asked to shorten the duration of its contract by 10 months, and a financial technology company explicitly tied reducing its $10 million contract to $5 million to Anthropics issues with the federal government. In all, Mongan said that Anthropics chief financial officer has estimated harm to its 2026 revenue could range from hundreds of millions of dollars to billions of dollars. A hearing on Anthropics request had been set for April 3. The judge moved it up to March 24. Mongan asked for a commitment from the federal government that it would not take any retaliatory actions against Anthropic before the next hearing such as by issuing an executive order impacting the AI startup. Im not prepared to offer any commitments on that issue, said James Harlow, a lawyer for the Justice Department. Anthropic wants the judge to remove the supply-chain risk designation and require US agencies to withdraw directives related to it. The company claims it is being shut out for disagreeing with the administration and argues the legal principles at stake affect every federal contractor whose views the government dislikes. KHOJAVEND, Azerbaijan, March 11. Another group of families has arrived in the Girmizi Bazar settlement of Azerbaijans Khojavend district as part of the First State Program on the Great Return to the Liberated Territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Trend's regional correspondent reports. Families who departed early in the morning have successfully returned to their homeland. On this occasion, the Girmizi Bazar settlement welcomed 20 families comprising 81 people. Necessary conditions have been created in the settlement for residents to live comfortably. Roads have been improved, while homes and infrastructure have been restored to accommodate returning residents. Former internally displaced persons expressed their gratitude to the countrys leadership for the conditions created for them and honored the memory of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives to liberate Azerbaijans territories, wishing good health to the veterans. Following their arrival, the families were presented with the keys to their new homes. After the welcoming ceremony, specialists from the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) provided the residents with detailed information about the dangers posed by mines and unexploded ordnance. Families were advised to stay away from unfamiliar objects and to inform the relevant authorities if they encounter suspicious items. Representatives of the Special Representation of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Aghdam, Fuzuli, and Khojavend districts, employees of the State Committee for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons, and other officials attended the key handover ceremony. The families joyfully accepted the keys and settled into their homes. Former internally displaced persons returning to their native lands expressed deep appreciation for the state care shown to them and for the modern living conditions created in the settlement. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. The treatment of a citizen of Azerbaijan, injured and hospitalized in Dubai during the first days of the military escalation in the Middle East, has been completed, and he was discharged from the hospital today, a source in the Consulate General of Azerbaijan in Dubai told Trend. The source noted that the consulate saw off the citizen and his family member to the airport. He's expected to return to Azerbaijan on a regular flight from Dubai today. Since no concrete agreement was reached in negotiations between the United States and Iran over the nuclear program, the U.S. and Israel began military airstrikes against Iran on February 28. In response, Iran launched missile and drone attacks on Israel and U.S. military facilities located in countries across the region, starting the same day. On the first day of the air strikes against Iran, Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several high-ranking military officials were killed. On March 8, Irans Assembly of Experts elected Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, as Irans third Supreme Leader by majority vote. From March 1 through March 5, the conflict expanded to include various countries in the Middle East. According to the U.S., at least eight people were killed, and more than 140 were injured. The conflict also seriously threatened the region's energy infrastructure and maritime transport. Due to security tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, oil prices on the world market rose sharply, and a number of countries urged their citizens to leave the region. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. A new approach to multilateral cooperation needs to be developed, former World Bank Vice President Ismail Serageldin said, Trend reports. He made the remark at a press conference within the framework of the 13th Global Baku Forum, which will be held on March 12-14. "The world is experiencing not just a period of transition, but a profound rupture, where the previous order based on multilateral interaction has suffered a very serious, if not fatal, blow. It is clear that we have entered a new era, where it is no longer only about returning to institutions created for the twentieth century. We actually need to develop a new approach to multilateral cooperation to address the challenges of the twenty-first century, whether political, military, environmental, humanitarian, development-related, or other issues," Serageldin said. He stressed that addressing these challenges requires a commitment to fundamental values: human rights, equality, eradication of poverty and hunger, environmental protection, mutual accountability, human solidarity, biodiversity preservation, and other critical issues ranging from water resources to food security. "Beyond all this, we need to rethink the institutions themselves so that they can manage present crises while laying the foundation for future strategies. I believe this Global Forum is taking place at precisely the moment when the experience and wisdom of its participants are needed more than ever," he added. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Azerbaijan is an island of civilization and security, former Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga said, Trend reports. She made the statement at a press conference within the framework of the 13th Global Baku Forum, which will be held on March 12-14 These are very difficult times. They are anxious and challenging times. Azerbaijan can be congratulated on being able to offer a kind of island of civilization and security at the present moment, said the former Latvian president. According to her, in 2026, events in the world are not developing in the best way, hatred is being reignited, and conflicts are taking place. "Therefore, it is especially important for societies to remain faithful to the values they honor and which allow them to remain peaceful. These are societies in which every citizen is respected and where people can count on their human rights being upheld, on the rule of law, freedom of thought and religion instead of imposed theocracy or imposed ideology," the former Latvian president said. aira Vike-Freiberga noted that in these very difficult and tense times, the forum will help to put forward ideas that can give hope to ordinary people in any part of the world who are concerned about their future and the future of the planet, as well as show possible courses of action that will help improve the situation. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Azerbaijan can play an important role within a pluralistic approach, former vice president of ExxonMobil, Jean Baderschneider, said at a press conference within the framework of the 13th Global Baku Forum, which will be held on March 12-14, Trend reports. "Azerbaijan can play a crucial rolewithin the framework of a more pluralistic approach and a flexible system of cooperationby helping to form coalitions of countries ready to act in the current situation in the coming days," Baderschneider noted. According to her, the forum participants will hear crucial discussions about the future. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. On March 11, a delegation led by the Commander of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Turkiye, Army General Metin Tokel, visited the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, the Ministry of Defense told Trend. The guests first visited the monument of National Leader Heydar Aliyev erected in the central square of the city of Nakhchivan and paid tribute to his memory. The delegation visited the monument of the founder of the Republic of Turkiye, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, erected in the city of Nakhchivan, and honored his memory. As part of the visit, the guests visited the headquarters of the Combined Arms Army (CAA). The Commander of the CAA, Lieutenant General Kanan Seyidov, met with the Commander of the Land Forces of the Turkish Armed Forces, Army General Metin Tokel. The Book of Honor was signed in accordance with the protocol. During the meeting, the sides held a detailed exchange of views on issues of mutual interest. In the briefing hall, information was provided about the history of the CAAs establishment, development path, activities, ongoing reforms, and future objectives. Army General Metin Tokel stated that Turkiye always stands by Azerbaijan and is ready to provide any military assistance in accordance with the provisions of the historic Shusha Declaration in order to strengthen stability in the region and ensure full security. The Army General also noted that relations between the two countries are based on a strong foundation of strategic and military partnership. At the end of the meeting, issues related to the planning of joint military exercises and the exchange of mutual experience were discussed. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel 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. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 11. Uzbekistans Ministry of Transport has allowed the resumption of bilateral passenger flights to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia starting from March 10, Trend reports via the ministry. According to the statement, when organizing flights to Saudi Arabia, airlines must take into account the end of the Umrah season, and all pilgrims are required to leave the country before the start of the Hajj-2026 season. The ministry stressed that all flights must be operated in full compliance with flight safety requirements, international air transport regulations, as well as procedures established by the competent authorities of Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Earlier in March, Umrah trips from Uzbekistan were temporarily suspended due to the escalation of the situation in the Middle East. The resumption of flights is expected to ensure safe passenger transportation and allow pilgrims to fulfill their religious obligations in accordance with the established schedule. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Europes search for reliable energy partners increasingly leads to one place: Azerbaijan. That reality will be in focus on March 11, when the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, arrives in Baku for his first official visit to Azerbaijan since taking office. The trip, announced on March 6, is a bilateral visit and comes at a time when Europe is reassessing its energy and geopolitical priorities - with Azerbaijan emerging as one of the most important partners in that process. For the European Union, cooperation with Azerbaijan is built on a long-standing foundation. The two sides have worked under the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement since 1999, and over the years the EU has become Azerbaijans largest trading partner and a major investor in the countrys economy. However, recent geopolitical developments have elevated this relationship to a new strategic level, particularly in the energy sector. After the disruption of Russian gas supplies following the war in Ukraine, the EU moved quickly to diversify its energy sources. Azerbaijan emerged as one of the most reliable alternatives. Through the Southern Gas Corridor - a 3,500-kilometer network connecting the Caspian region with European markets - Azerbaijani gas now flows directly to multiple European countries. The growth of this cooperation is reflected in the numbers. Azerbaijani gas exports to the EU stood at about 8.1 billion cubic meters in 2021. By 2024 they had reached roughly 12.9 billion cubic meters, and in 2025 supplies remained at around 12.512.8 billion cubic meters - more than 50% higher than in 2021. Today Azerbaijani gas accounts for around 4 percent of total EU gas imports and reaches 10 EU member states, including Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Germany, and Austria. Overall, Azerbaijani pipeline gas is now delivered to 16 countries. The infrastructure behind this supply includes the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline and the Trans Adriatic Pipeline. Since commercial deliveries through TAP began, Azerbaijan has earned roughly 24 billion from natural gas exports to European buyers, demonstrating the scale of the partnership. Exports are expected to grow further. Under the 2022 strategic energy partnership signed in Baku between President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President Ilham Aliyev, the two sides aim to increase gas supplies to at least 20 billion cubic meters (bcm) per year by 2027. Achieving this target will require further infrastructure expansion and new production projects, several of which are already planned for the coming years. Costas visit is expected to focus on these expanding areas of cooperation. According to official statements, discussions will center on deepening the Strategic Energy Partnership, including progress toward the 20 bcm supply target, as well as cooperation in renewable energy, green hydrogen, electricity interconnectors, and transport connectivity through the Middle Corridor. The agenda also includes broader geopolitical discussions, particularly the rapidly evolving situation in the Middle East. Analysts expect the visit to reaffirm the EUAzerbaijan partnership and highlight Azerbaijans role as a stable energy supplier during a period of global uncertainty. A major factor behind this growing partnership has been the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev. Over the past two decades, President Ilham Aliyev has pursued a pragmatic and balanced foreign policy that strengthened cooperation with Europe while maintaining diversified international partnerships. His direct role in advancing major energy projects - including the Southern Gas Corridor - has helped position Azerbaijan as a key contributor to Europes energy security. President Ilham Aliyevs role has also contributed to stability and long-term strategic planning as the foundation of Azerbaijans international cooperation. Under his leadership, the country has maintained uninterrupted energy deliveries while expanding cooperation with Europe into new areas such as renewable energy and regional connectivity. Against this backdrop, Costas visit reflects a broader reality: Azerbaijan is no longer just a regional energy producer. It is becoming an essential partner for Europes energy security, economic connectivity, and long-term transition toward a more diversified and resilient energy system. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 11. Uzbekistan and Huawei discussed prospects for implementing projects aimed at modernizing the countrys telecommunications infrastructure and establishing modern data centers designed to process large volumes of data, Trend reports via the Uzbek Ministry of Digital Technologies. The issue was reviewed at a meeting held within the framework of the Mobile World Congress (MWC), between Uzbekistans Minister of Digital Technologies, Sherzod Shermatov, and Phillip Gan, Senior Vice President of Huawei and President of Huawei Middle East and Central Asia Region, as well as regional representatives of the company. The talks primarily focused on the advancement of digital infrastructure, with an emphasis on expanding high-speed data transmission networks and incorporating cloud services and artificial intelligence technologies to bolster the digital economy's growth. Additionally, the parties explored various cooperation models designed to strengthen the telecommunications sector and enhance operators' revenue streams. Apple Inc is rapidly expanding its footprint in India, boosting iPhone production, exploring local chip partnerships, and preparing to launch Apple Pay in one of the world's fastest-growing technology markets. iPhone Production In India Surges According to Bloomberg, Apple increased iPhone production in India by about 53% last year and assembled around 55 million devices in 2025. Thats up from 36 million in 2024, The company now produces roughly one-quarter of its iPhones in India. The goal is to reduce reliance on China and avoid U.S. tariffs tied to trade disputes between the two countries. Don't Miss: Globally, Apple manufactures about 220-230 million iPhones each year; India's share is rising quickly. China still produces most iPhones. However, tariffs on shipments from China in 2025 pushed Apple and its suppliers to seek other locations. India became a key alternative. Apple currently assembles all models of its latest iPhone 17 lineup in India, including the Pro and Pro Max versions. At the same time, suppliers such as Foxconn Technology Group, Tata Electronics, and Pegatron Corp also manufacture earlier models, such as the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16, for domestic sales and exports. The company is also expanding local supplier partnerships in India to produce components such as lithium-ion cells, device enclosures, and accessories, including AirPods. Trending: Before the IPO: How One Company Quietly Locked Up 500+ Iconic Character Rights Expanding Semiconductor And Supply Chain Plans Apple is expanding its India strategy to strengthen its supply chain amid trade and tariff pressures. The company has started preliminary talks with Indian chipmakers to assemble and package iPhone components. This could bring local vendors deeper into Apple's supply chain. CG Semi, owned by the Murugappa Group, participated in early discussions. The company is building an outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) facility in Sanand, Gujarat. Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said a potential U.S.India trade deal could significantly strengthen Apple's supply chain. He noted that India is emerging as a serious challenger to China in tech manufacturing due to its engineering talent, growing supply chain infrastructure, and large technology workforce. Ives said Apple has already moved more than 50% of iPhone production to India and called the shift one of CEO Tim Cook's smartest recent decisions. National Bank of Kyrgyzstan sees rise in gold bar redemption prices Photo: AI The sharp rise in gold bullion prices reflects the strengthening value of gold in the domestic market, highlighting growing demand for safe-haven assets and the sensitivity of Kyrgyzstans gold pricing to global precious metal trends. Access to paid information is limited If You already have an account, please log in Login Register Photo: The Ministry of Investments, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 11. Uzbekistan and Germanys Mangold Consulting discussed opportunities to launch new joint initiatives in the industrial sector, Trend reports via the Uzbek Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade. The issue was reviewed during a meeting between Uzbekistans Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade, Laziz Kudratov, and Klaus Mangold, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Germanys Mangold Consulting. During the talks, the parties considered prospects for expanding trade and economic cooperation between Uzbekistan and Germany, as well as attracting European companies to the implementation of industrial and investment projects in Uzbekistan. Particular attention was given to strengthening ties between the business communities and promoting new joint initiatives aimed at increasing industrial production and investment activity. Following the meeting, the sides confirmed their mutual interest in continuing practical cooperation and developing new investment projects. Mangold Consulting GmbH is an international consulting company based in Germany, specializing in strategic advisory, investment project development, and strengthening business cooperation between Europe and the countries of Central Asia. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, March 11. Turkmenistan and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) discussed prospects for multilateral cooperation, Trend reports via the press service of the Turkmen Government. The discussion took place during a meeting between CIS Secretary General Sergey Lebedev and Turkmenistans Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Russia Esen Aydogdyev at the CIS Executive Committee in Moscow. The sides also addressed key aspects of Turkmenistans chairmanship in the organization and highlighted Ashgabats contribution to strengthening constructive dialogue and expanding integration ties across the CIS space. Lebedev expressed appreciation for the effective cooperation with the Turkmen side and emphasized the importance of continued interaction within the CIS framework. The Commonwealth of Independent States was established in 1991 after the dissolution of the Soviet Union to promote regional cooperation in political, economic, and humanitarian spheres. The CIS Economic Council coordinates efforts to implement joint economic policies, develop transport and energy networks, and foster trade integration. The CIS chairmanship passed from Tajikistan to Turkmenistan on January 1, 2026. Turkmenistan plans to use its chairmanship to strengthen regional security and trust, promote neutrality, and enhance diplomatic engagement, while advancing initiatives in economic development, transport, and energy cooperation, in line with the CIS Economic Development Strategy through 2030. The country also intends to make efforts to convene the second Caspian Environmental Forum, dedicated to regional cooperation in the field of renewable energy sources and biodiversity conservation. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 11. Uzbekistan and Belarus discussed expanding bilateral trade in agricultural and food products, with a focus on increasing exports of Uzbek fruits and vegetables and Belarusian meat and dairy products, Trend reports via the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan. The issue was reviewed during a meeting between Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan Davron Vakhabov and representatives of major Belarusian retail chains. The meeting was also attended by Belarus Deputy Minister of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade Svetlana Korotkevich and Uzbekistans Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Belarus Rakhmatulla Nazarov. During the talks, the parties noted strong demand for Uzbek agricultural products in the Belarusian market. In this regard, they discussed opportunities to increase bilateral trade volumes and expand cooperation in the supply of food products. To intensify direct dialogue between businesses, the sides proposed organizing business missions of Belarusian retail chains to Uzbekistan, which are expected to facilitate new contracts and strengthen partnerships between entrepreneurs. Following the meeting, the parties agreed to enhance business-to-business contacts, exchange commercial proposals, and begin preparations for the planned business missions in the near future. Meanwhile, trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Belarus increased by 25% in 2025, approaching $1 billion. In February 2026, contracts worth nearly $110 million were signed during the official visit of a Belarusian government delegation to Uzbekistan, underscoring both countries intention to further expand economic cooperation. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 11. Uzbekistan and Italys Technip Energies discussed opportunities for attracting investment into the extraction and processing of strategic mineral resources, Trend reports via Uzbekistans Ministry of Mining and Geology. The discussions took place during a meeting between Rustam Yusupov, Deputy Minister of Mining Industry and Geology of Uzbekistan, and a delegation from Technip Energies, an Italian engineering firm. During the session, Uzbekistan highlighted its potential in the field of rare and technology metals, emphasizing the opportunities for developing new projects that align with international standards. The parties also explored avenues for deepening bilateral cooperation, particularly through the implementation of joint ventures. Technip Energies, a global leader in engineering and technology, specializes in energy, chemicals, and industrial sectors, including LNG, hydrogen, petrochemicals, and sustainable solutions, and operates in numerous countries around the world. On 11 March 2026, PASHA Bank, one of the countrys leading corporate financial institutions, signed cooperation agreements with brokerage companies PASHA Capital (as the lead underwriter), Unicapital and ABB Invest. The agreements are aimed at expanding participation opportunities for potential investors within the framework of the banks planned Initial Public Offering (IPO). According to the agreement, investors will be able to purchase PASHA Bank shares through the investment platforms of these brokerage companies. Investors will be able to complete all stages of the share purchase process fully online through these investment platforms. This includes opening an investment account, placing orders, and subsequently managing the acquired securities. Offering PASHA Bank shares through several platforms ensures a transparent approach and enables a broader investor audience to access the shares conveniently and efficiently. According to PASHA Bank Executive Board Member and Chief Financial Officer Murad Suleymanov, the banks cooperation with several leading brokerage companies will allow investors to purchase PASHA Bank shares through more convenient platforms. I am confident that the planned placement of PASHA Banks IPO will become a significant milestone in the development of the capital market. Ultimately, we see this IPO as a step that will create long-term value for the Azerbaijani economy, the financial system, and society. Investors interested in purchasing shares will be able to participate in the IPO via the platforms of PASHA Bank, PASHA Capital, Birbank Invest, ABB Invest, and Unicapital, he said. It should be noted that within the framework of the IPO, the bank plans to offer 5% of its shares to investors. This will be the first IPO carried out by a private bank and a private company in the Azerbaijani market. Established in 2007, PASHA Bank is one of Azerbaijans leading corporate financial institutions. It provides corporate, small and medium-sized business clients with investment banking, trade finance, asset management, as well as both traditional and digital banking services. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. The Global Baku Forum has established itself over the years as an authoritative international platform for open dialogue on global security, sustainable development, and international cooperation, Eldor Aripov, Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of Uzbekistan told Trend. Its distinctive feature is its multi-level format, which brings together current and former heads of state, representatives of international organizations, and the expert community. This makes it possible to ensure a synthesis of political vision and expert elaboration of solutions on key issues of the global agenda, he said. According to Aripov, Central Asia is objectively becoming an important link between East and West, as well as between North and South, however, the effectiveness of this connectivity depends on the level of development and coordination of the regions transport infrastructure. We understand that the transit potential will have a synergistic effect only if infrastructure development is properly coordinated. In this context, Azerbaijan plays a special role, as due to its geographical position and developed transport infrastructure, it acts as a key bridge between Central Asia and Europe, he noted. He stressed that platforms such as the Global Baku Forum make it possible to discuss these issues in a broader international context, providing political support for infrastructure initiatives and creating a climate of trust for the implementation of long-term projects. The Forum is also important from the point of view of shaping a new architecture of international relations. In a world where fragmentation is increasing and trust is declining, formats in which medium-sized states can articulate their positions and participate in developing rules of interaction are becoming increasingly in demand, Aripov said. For Central Asia, this is an opportunity to influence discussions on a wide range of issuesfrom regional security and sustainable development to climate agenda, water management, digitalization, and artificial intelligence. The ability of the regions states to ensure long-term economic growth, technological modernization, and integration into global value chains depends on how these challenges are addressed, he added. Speaking about the current level of relations between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, Aripov noted that cooperation between the two countries is at a historic high. If we consider Uzbek-Azerbaijani relations from a strategic perspective, it is necessary to ensure the transition from quantitative growth to a new quality of interaction. The increase in trade turnover and the number of joint enterprises is important; however, the next stage should be the creation of sustainable value chains capable of integrating our economies at a deeper level, he delineated. According to him, one of the key areas is the development of joint industrial zones and production clusters. We should speak not simply about placing enterprises but about forming integrated spaces with developed engineering, logistics, and digital infrastructure. Such zones can become growth points where investment, technology, and human capital are concentrated, he noted. Aripov also stressed the need to deepen production localization in the region. The strategic task is to form full-fledged production chains within the region, from raw materials to finished products with high added value. This increases resilience to external shocks, reduces dependence on global disruptions, and creates higher-quality jobs, he said. In addition, according to him, another important condition for further development is the creation of a stable and predictable regulatory environment, as well as coordination of foreign economic policy. In the context of global instability, joint entry into third-country markets becomes particularly important. By combining production capacities, transit potential, and investment resources, we will be able to form a coordinated model of external economic presence across a broader Eurasian space, he concluded. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Azerbaijan and Chinese company iSoftStone discussed opportunities for cooperation in the digital economy, the country's Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov wrote on his X account, Trend reports. "During the meeting with Li Huang, Executive Vice President of China's iSoftStone, we discussed Azerbaijans digital transformation agenda and opportunities for partnership in innovation. We also exchanged views on technology transfer and cooperation to develop supply and value chains that would support the production of computers and electronic devices in our country," the publication reads. In January of this year, the volume of trade operations between Azerbaijan and China amounted to $417.8 million. According to information, this is $38.3 million, or 10.1%, more than the same period of 2025. Over the reporting period, trade turnover with China accounted for 11.81% of Azerbaijan's total trade turnover. Thus, the country in question ranked third among the countries with which Azerbaijan conducted the largest number of trade operations during the reporting period. In January this year, Azerbaijan exported goods worth $10.2 million to China. This is $9.06 million, or 9.2 times more than the same period last year. During the reporting period, China exported goods worth $407.7 million to Azerbaijan, which is $29.2 million, or 7.7%, more than the same period in 2025. Thus, China ranked first among the countries from which Azerbaijan imported the largest amount of goods for the reporting period. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 11. Uzbekistan aims to increase exports of chemical industry products to $720 million in 2026, Trend reports via the press service of the Uzbek President. It was announced during a presentation to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the progress of major investment projects and the commissioning of new production capacities in the sector. During the presentation, the need was emphasized to expand production of mineral fertilizers in order to meet the planned agricultural output. In particular, nitrogen fertilizer production is expected to reach 1.12 million tons, phosphate fertilizers -135,000 tons, and potash fertilizers - 222,000 tons. It was noted that in 2026 the industry and regional authorities plan to attract $2.5 billion in investments within the framework of 133 projects with a total value of $9.5 billion. In particular, under 24 strategic projects in the chemical sector and across the regions, it is planned to utilize $1.3 billion in investments and launch seven new production facilities. The progress of several key projects was critically reviewed, including the expansion of production at the Kungrad Soda Plant, the launch of mineral fertilizer production at Samarkandkimyo, and the increase of capacity at the Dehkanabad Potash Plant. Delays in the implementation of these projects were described as unacceptable, and responsible officials were instructed to work jointly with investors to ensure their accelerated completion. With a market cap of $34 billion, Arch Capital Group Ltd. (ACGL) is an insurance company that provides insurance, reinsurance, and mortgage insurance products across multiple international markets. The company operates through three main segments: Insurance; Reinsurance; and Mortgage, offering a range of services including commercial insurance, property catastrophe reinsurance, and mortgage insurance on residential loans. Companies valued at $10 billion or more are generally classified as large-cap stocks, and Arch Capital Group fits this criterion perfectly. The company distributes its products primarily through licensed independent retail and wholesale brokers. More News from Barchart Shares of the Pembroke, Bermuda-based company have declined 7.1% from its 52-week high of $103.39. ACGL stock has risen 5% over the past three months, outperforming the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETFs (XLF) 6.5% decrease over the same time frame. www.barchart.com ACGL stock is up marginally on a YTD basis, exceeding XLFs 8% decline. In the longer term, shares of the company have increased 6.2% over the past 52 weeks, compared to XLFs 4.9% return over the same time frame. The stock has been trading above its 50-day and 200-day moving averages since early November 2025. www.barchart.com Shares of Arch Capital Group rose 1.9% following its Q4 2025 results on Feb. 9 as the company reported net income of $1.2 billion ($3.35 per share), up from $925 million ($2.42 per share) in Q4 2024. Profitability improved significantly with underwriting income jumping 32.3% to $827 million and the combined ratio improving to 80.6%, reflecting lower loss ratios and reduced catastrophic losses. In comparison, rival Visa Inc. (V) has lagged behind ACGL stock. Visa stock has declined 10.1% on a YTD basis and 7.7% over the past 52 weeks. Despite the stocks outperformance, analysts remain cautiously optimistic on Arch Capital Group. ACGL stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy from 23 analysts in coverage, and the mean price target of $108.80 is a premium of 12.9% to current levels. On the date of publication, Sohini Mondal 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 Photo: The press service of the Turkmen Government. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, March 11. Turkmenistan and Turkiye discussed further strengthening bilateral cooperation in trade, cultural, educational, medical, and sports, Trend reports via the press service of the Turkmen government. The talks were held during a meeting between Turkmenistans Consul General in Turkiye, Ovezgeldi Jumanazarov, and Istanbul Governor Davut Gul, on March 11. The sides emphasized the importance of continued development of relations based on friendship, mutual respect, and mutually beneficial partnership. Earlier, President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Ankaras plans to raise bilateral trade turnover with Ashgabat from the current $2 billion to $5 billion. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Washington, USA, March 11. Azerbaijan's First Deputy Minister of Economy Elnur Aliyev participated in the U.S.-Azerbaijan Trade and Business Conference in Washington as part of his visit to the United States, Trends special correspondent reports. During meetings with representatives of U.S. government agencies and companies, the parties discussed expanding economic and trade relations, investment opportunities, and new areas of cooperation. The conference, dedicated to the thirtieth anniversary of the establishment of the U.S.-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce (USACC), was held in Washington. In addition to government officials, the event brought together representatives of companies from both countries operating in the energy, finance, information and communication technologies (ICT), and other sectors. Executive Director of the USACC Natig Bakhishov, Chairman of the Chambers Board of Directors Reza Veziri, and Azerbaijans Ambassador to the U.S. Khazar Ibrahim addressed the opening ceremony. It was noted that over the course of its 30-year activity, the USACC has played a significant role in fostering a reliable dialogue between the business communities of the two countries and promoting mutual investment. Azerbaijan-U.S. relations are no longer confined to the energy sector, with cooperation steadily expanding into areas such as trade, transport, industry, innovation, and digital transformation. Speaking at the conferences main session titled Strengthening Bilateral Trade and Strategic Cooperation, First Deputy Minister of Economy Elnur Aliyev emphasized that institutionalizing dialogue between Azerbaijan and the United States, establishing a comprehensive framework for economic cooperation, and developing a joint investment model are key to deepening the strategic partnership between the two countries. He noted that the agreements signed during the visit of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to the U.S. in August last year, as well as the Strategic Partnership Charter concluded during the visit of U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance to Azerbaijan in February, have opened a new chapter in bilateral relations. According to Aliyev, the "Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity" (TRIPP), envisaged within the framework of the Joint Declaration on Peace signed by the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia with the participation of the U.S. president, is expected to further stimulate the expansion of trade and investment. In his remarks, he also highlighted Azerbaijans favorable business environment, the economic potential of Karabakh and East Zangezur, and the strategic role of the Alat Free Economic Zone (AFEZ), which is envisioned as a hub for transit, logistics, and value-added economic activities. Deputy Minister of Energy Orkhan Zeynalov, Chairman of the Azerbaijani Parliament Committee on International Relations and Interparliamentary Relations Samad Seyidov, and President of the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) Rovshan Najaf also addressed the conference, outlining prospects for enhanced cooperation in the energy and transport-logistics sectors. It was noted that Azerbaijans role as a reliable energy partner and its contribution to regional and global energy security, together with the regional transport initiatives it has spearheaded, significantly expand opportunities for both bilateral and multilateral partnerships. Jeffrey Kessler, Deputy Under Secretary for Industry and Security at the U.S. Department of Commerce, and Reggie Singh, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy and Critical Minerals at the U.S. Department of State, underscored the importance of strengthening business ties between the two countries and promoting joint initiatives in areas of mutual interest. The conference also featured panel sessions focusing on technology and innovation, digitalization, energy infrastructure, finance, and banking, where participants exchanged views on emerging opportunities for cooperation. On the sidelines of the event, First Deputy Minister of Economy Elnur Aliyev met with Su Le, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of HAIMAKER.AI Inc. The meeting explored potential cooperation in digital transformation, the application of artificial intelligence technologies, and the development of innovative digital solutions. In addition, Aliyev held a series of meetings with U.S. officials to discuss further strengthening economic cooperation and expanding business ties between the two countries. During a meeting with Bill Guidera, Acting Assistant Secretary for Industry and Analysis at the U.S. Department of Commerce, the sides noted the steady development of economic cooperation between Azerbaijan and the United States. They discussed opportunities for joint initiatives in investment, energy, transport and logistics, the digital economy, and artificial intelligence. The parties also exchanged views on regional connectivity projects and the potential created by the TRIPP. At a meeting with Carl B. Kress, Regional Director of the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), discussions focused on the existing potential for cooperation in Azerbaijan within the framework of USTDAs activities, particularly projects that could be implemented in infrastructure, energy, logistics, and technology. Representatives of the U.S. Department of State, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs Hugo Yon and Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Office of Trade Policy and Negotiations Tsering Dongtog discussed the current state and prospects of economic cooperation between Azerbaijan and the U.S. The sides exchanged views on expanding collaboration in trade, investment, energy, transport, and the digital economy, with particular attention given to the prospects for expanding the activities of U.S. companies in Azerbaijan and implementing joint projects. During a meeting with Jeff Gettman, Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Europe and the Middle East at the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), the parties reviewed the current state of Azerbaijan-U.S. economic and trade relations and discussed prospects for their further development. They also exchanged views on opportunities to increase bilateral trade and investment, as well as issues related to trade policy, diversification of supply chains, and the expansion of U.S. companies activities in Azerbaijan. Meetings were also held with Benjamin Todd, Vice President of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, Kenneth Angell, Managing Director of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), Caitlin McDonnell, Vice President of Visa, and Andy Griminger, Partner at Tetra Tech. The discussions focused on cooperation opportunities in digital transformation, the application of cloud technologies, the digitalization of public services, and the development of data infrastructure. The sides also exchanged views on the use of financial instruments in economic projects implemented in Azerbaijan, as well as potential projects and prospects for investment cooperation in the energy, logistics, industry, and innovation sectors. Within the framework of the visit, the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan and HAIMAKER.AI Inc. signed a Memorandum of Understanding on a potential partnership to develop a next-generation digital platform and ecosystem in Azerbaijan. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Cooperation with U.S. partners is contributing to Azerbaijan's energy sector modernization, the statement of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) says, Trend reports. This issue was discussed at the U.S.-Azerbaijan Trade and Business Conference held in Washington and dedicated to the development of a strategic partnership between the two countries, including the expansion of economic cooperation and the strengthening of trade relations. An opening session was held within the framework of the conference on the topic of Strengthening bilateral trade and strategic cooperation. Speaking at the session, SOCAR President Rovshan Najaf said that the successful cooperation between Azerbaijan and the U.S. in the energy sector for more than thirty years has made a significant contribution to the development of our country's energy sector. Noting that U.S. companies were among the first partners to participate in Azerbaijan's major oil and gas projects, the SOCAR President said that the solid foundation of this cooperation was laid with the signing of the "Contract of the Century". Saying that the fruitful cooperation between SOCAR and U.S. companies has expanded in various areas of the energy sector over the past years, Najaf emphasized that this partnership covers important areas, including exploration and production, as well as engineering, digital technologies, and sustainability initiatives. He pointed out that this issue is also in the spotlight at a time when the demand for the creation of data centers is increasing due to the widespread use of artificial intelligence in business. The SOCAR president, noting that Azerbaijan is providing reliable natural gas supplies to Europe through the Southern Gas Corridor, drew attention to the important role our country plays in strengthening Europe's energy security. Najaf highlighted that Azerbaijan has further strengthened its position as a regional energy center and an important gateway to the Caspian region, thanks to its strategic geographical location, developed infrastructure, and successful international cooperation experience formed over many years. Speaking about the role of the development of regional connections in the formation of economic cooperation and long-term stability in the South Caucasus, Najaf drew attention to the important opportunities created by the TRIPP initiative in terms of promoting trade and increasing regional integration. A number of panel discussions were organized at the event on cooperation opportunities in the energy, technology, and financial sectors. SOCAR Vice President Afgan Isayev spoke at the panel session on "Development of energy infrastructure and capital flows to the energy sector of the future". Last month, the "Strategic Partnership Charter between the Government of Azerbaijan and the Government of the United States of America" was signed. In this regard, the U.S.-Azerbaijan Trade and Business Conference is also of great importance in terms of expanding business relations between companies of the two countries and identifying new investment opportunities. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 11. Kazakhstans FlyArystan has canceled flights on the Aktau-Dubai-Aktau route through March 31, 2026, due to the unstable situation in the Middle East and existing restrictions in the region, Trend reports via the company. Previously, flights on this route were operated twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Earlier, Kazakhstans national carrier Air Astana also announced the cancellation of its regular flights from Almaty and Astana to Dubai from March 11 through March 31. On February 26, the 3rd round of talks between Iran and the United States regarding Irans nuclear program took place in Geneva. Conducted under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, the meeting was seen as the last opportunity to resolve the escalating situation through diplomatic channels. However, no concrete agreements were reached. Two days later, on February 28, the United States and Israel launched a coordinated military campaign targeting Irans strategically significant military facilities and key state leadership. Israel named the operation Operation Lions Roar, while the United States called it Operation Epic Fury. The strikes covered broad swaths of Iran, including major cities such as Tehran, Isfahan, Tabriz, and Qom. In retaliation, Iran initiated Operation True Promise 4, striking back at Israel and U.S. military bases across the region, including Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iraq, using ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The February 28 airstrikes killed Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and his family. Senior officials, including the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Army, Major General Abdul Rahim Mousavi, the Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Mohammad Pakpour, the Supreme Leaders advisor and Secretary of the Defense Council, Ali Shamkhani, and Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, were also killed. From March 1 through 5, the conflict escalated further, drawing in multiple countries across the Middle East. Iran launched hundreds of missiles and UAVs, while the United States and Israel targeted additional military sites within Iran. According to U.S. Central Command, Iran deployed approximately 500 ballistic missiles and 2,000 UAVs in the initial days of the confrontation. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 11. The volume of container transportation along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) increased by 15% in 2025, reaching 42,000 TEU, Trend reports via Kazakhstan Temir Zholy. This was stated during a meeting held by the heads of Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, Azerbaijan Railways, and Georgian Railway dedicated to the development of the TITR. The parties discussed measures to enhance the competitiveness of the corridor, eliminate infrastructure bottlenecks, and renew rolling stock. Special attention was paid to digitalization and the integration of information systems to accelerate cargo transit. As part of the event, the General Meeting of Shareholders of the joint venture Middle Corridor Multimodal Ltd. was held. A new composition of the board of directors was approved. In addition, the participants discussed operational issues of the International Association Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. The next meeting on the development of the route is scheduled for April 2024, 2026 in Astana and will be held on the sidelines of the 40th meeting of the Conference of General Directors (CGD) of the Organisation for Cooperation between Railways (OSJD). For reference, the joint venture Middle Corridor Multimodal Ltd. was established on a parity basis with the participation of the railways of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia and was registered at the Astana International Financial Centre in November 2024. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. The U.S. government is preparing to deploy additional armed forces to the Mihail Kogalniceau airbase in eastern Romania, the statement by the Romanian media reads, Trend reports. The reinforcement of the military contingent is related to the Middle East conflict, and the deployment of additional forces will turn Romania into an ally. The point is about the deployment of additional fighter jets and military personnel, but their exact number is not disclosed. Meanwhile, Romanian President Nicusor Dan will convene a meeting of the country's Supreme Defense Council this morning. The meeting is planned to analyze the temporary deployment of the U.S. military contingent in the country. On February 28, the U.S., along with Israel, launched a military operation against Iran. Several cities in the country, including the capital, have been attacked. In response, Iran has launched missile and drone strikes against Israel and U.S. military bases in the Middle East. Since the U.S. and Iran failed to reach a concrete agreement in the talks on their nuclear program, the U.S. and Israel launched military airstrikes on Iran on February 28. In response, Iran has been attacking Israel and U.S. military facilities in the region with missiles and drones since that day. The February 28 airstrikes killed Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several senior military officials. On March 8, Irans Assembly of Experts unanimously elected Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Supreme Leader, as the countrys third Supreme Leader. From March 1 through 5, the conflict escalated further, drawing in multiple countries across the Middle East. The U.S. side's losses were reported to be eight dead and more than 140 injured. The ongoing conflict has significantly threatened the regions energy infrastructure and maritime transport. Oil prices have surged on global markets due to heightened security tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, prompting several countries to advise their citizens to leave the region. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Iran's new Supreme Leader Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei is alive and has no problems, Yousef Pezeshkian, son and advisor to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, said on his social media account, Trend reports. According to him, after hearing the news about the injury of Mojtaba Khamenei yesterday, he received information about this from friends who were in contact. On March 10, information was spread in foreign media that Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was seriously injured. On February 28, the U.S., along with Israel, launched a military operation against Iran. Several cities in the country, including the capital, have been attacked. In response, Iran has launched missile and drone strikes against Israel and U.S. military bases in the Middle East. Since the U.S. and Iran failed to reach a concrete agreement in the talks on their nuclear program, the U.S. and Israel launched military airstrikes on Iran on February 28. In response, Iran has been attacking Israel and U.S. military facilities in the region with missiles and drones since that day. The February 28 airstrikes killed Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several senior military officials. On March 8, Irans Assembly of Experts unanimously elected Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Supreme Leader, as the countrys third Supreme Leader. From March 1 through 5, the conflict escalated further, drawing in multiple countries across the Middle East. The U.S. side's losses were reported to be eight dead and more than 140 injured. The ongoing conflict has significantly threatened the regions energy infrastructure and maritime transport. Oil prices have surged on global markets due to heightened security tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, prompting several countries to advise their citizens to leave the region. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Since February 28, US and Israeli military airstrikes on Iran have severely damaged 19,734 buildings nationwide, Mojtaba Khaledi, spokesperson for the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS), told reporters, Trend reports. According to him, 16,191 of the affected structures are residential buildings. Khaledi also noted that 16 centers of the IRCS have so far come under military air strikes and have ceased operations. Since no concrete agreement was reached in negotiations between the United States and Iran over the nuclear program, the U.S. and Israel began military airstrikes against Iran on February 28. In response, Iran launched missile and drone attacks on Israel and U.S. military facilities located in countries across the region, starting the same day. On the first day of the air strikes against Iran, Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several high-ranking military officials were killed. On March 8, Irans Assembly of Experts elected Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, as Irans third Supreme Leader by majority vote. Between March 1 and March 5, the confrontation expanded further, affecting several countries across the Middle East. According to reports, the U.S. side suffered losses of 8 dead and more than 140 wounded. As a result of the conflict, the regions energy infrastructure and maritime transportation have also come under serious risk. Due to heightened security tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, global oil prices have surged sharply, and several countries have urged their citizens to leave the region. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. The Iranian army has announced attacks on several Israeli military targets, including the Military Security Service building in Haifa, the "Green Pine" radar, and the Naval Forces submarine headquarters, Trend reports via the Iranian army. According to the army, kamikaze unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) continue to target various positions across Israel. Since no concrete agreement was reached in negotiations between the United States and Iran over the nuclear program, the U.S. and Israel began military airstrikes against Iran on February 28. In response, Iran launched missile and drone attacks on Israel and U.S. military facilities located in countries across the region, starting the same day. On the first day of the air strikes against Iran, Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several high-ranking military officials were killed. On March 8, Irans Assembly of Experts elected Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, as Irans third Supreme Leader by majority vote. Between March 1 and March 5, the confrontation expanded further, affecting several countries across the Middle East. According to reports, the U.S. side suffered losses of 8 dead and more than 140 wounded. As a result of the conflict, the regions energy infrastructure and maritime transportation have also come under serious risk. Due to heightened security tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, global oil prices have surged sharply, and several countries have urged their citizens to leave the region. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Photo Courtesy: Stellantis. Stellantis factory in Termoli, Italy, remains at the center of the groups industrial plans in the country. After months of uncertainty following the cancellation of a battery gigafactory project originally planned with the Automotive Cells Company consortium, the automaker has announced new investments and confirmed the continuation of several production programs at the historic facility. At the center of the announcement is a new investment of about $45 million, along with the launch of production activities related to hybrid vehicle components. During a meeting in Rome with union representatives, Stellantis outlined its plans for the Termoli plant. The company confirmed a $45 million investment to begin producing the eDCT transmission, a dual clutch gearbox used in several hybrid models across Stellantis brands. Production Of Hybrid Transmission Begins In 2026 Photo Courtesy: Sue Thatcher / Shutterstock. Series production of the new transmission is scheduled to begin on September 15, 2026. Preparatory work has already started, and installation of the new production lines is expected to be completed by the end of April. Pilot production runs are planned between June and July to gradually increase output before full-scale manufacturing begins. The new program will not be limited to final assembly. The factory will also perform several upstream production steps before the final transmission assembly process. Estimates suggest that reaching full production capacity could require about 288 additional workers. For Stellantis, this investment represents an effort to offset the cancellation of the ACC battery gigafactory project that was originally intended to transform the Termoli plant into a major battery production hub. Existing Engine Production Will Continue Photo Courtesy: Autorepublika. At the same time, Stellantis confirmed that three engines currently built in Termoli will remain in production. The GSE FireFly engine, which powers several models across the groups brands, will be updated to meet the upcoming Euro 7 emissions regulations. That upgrade could extend its industrial life well beyond 2030. The GME engine will also remain part of the production lineup, although its long-term future remains somewhat uncertain because many of the vehicles using it are primarily sold in North America. Finally, Stellantis confirmed that production of a V6 engine will continue in Termoli as well. This engine is mainly used in Maserati models and in high-performance Alfa Romeo Quadrifoglio versions. Production volumes are currently limited due to relatively modest sales of Maserati vehicles, but Stellantis says it plans to increase output in the coming years. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Iran won't allow even one liter of oil to pass through the Strait of Hormuz for the U.S., Israel, and their allies, the spokesperson of the Khatam Al-Anbiya Headquarters of the Iranian Armed Forces, Ebrahim Zolfaghari, said in his video address, Trend reports. According to him, if any ship tries to transport oil to the U.S., Israel, and their allies, it will be shot down by the Iranian armed forces. Since the Iranian armed forces control all initiatives in the Strait of Hormuz, there is no need for them to block the strait. An Iranian military official stated that the U.S. and Israel are responsible for the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Zolfaghari emphasized that due to the U.S. and Israel carrying out military airstrikes against Iran, the price of 1 barrel of oil on the world market will rise to $200. Since no concrete agreement was reached in negotiations between the United States and Iran over the nuclear program, the U.S. and Israel began military airstrikes against Iran on February 28. In response, Iran launched missile and drone attacks on Israel and U.S. military facilities located in countries across the region, starting the same day. On the first day of the air strikes against Iran, Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several high-ranking military officials were killed. On March 8, Irans Assembly of Experts elected Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, as Irans third Supreme Leader by majority vote. From March 1 through March 5, the conflict expanded to include various countries in the Middle East. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has carried out attacks on U.S. military bases in regional countries as part of the 39th phase of Operation True Promise 4, Trend reports via IRGC. According to IRGC, a variety of missiles were used during this stage of the operation. Since no concrete agreement was reached in negotiations between the United States (US) and Iran over the nuclear program, the US and Israel began military airstrikes against Iran on February 28. In response, Iran launched missile and drone attacks on Israel and US military facilities located in countries across the region, starting the same day. On the first day of the air strikes against Iran, Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several high-ranking military officials were killed. On March 8, Irans Assembly of Experts elected Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, as Irans third Supreme Leader by majority vote. Between March 1 and March 5, the confrontation expanded further, affecting several countries across the Middle East. According to reports, the US side suffered losses of 8 dead and more than 140 wounded. As a result of the conflict, the regions energy infrastructure and maritime transportation have also come under serious risk. Due to heightened security tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, global oil prices have surged sharply, and several countries have urged their citizens to leave the region. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. President of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian and Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif discussed the military escalation in the region, Trend reports. According to the information, the discussion took place during a telephone conversation between the parties. During the phone call, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian urged the international community and international organizations to investigate the root causes of the military airstrikes on Iran and the onset of the war. Pezeshkian stated that the lack of an investigation would negatively affect the current situation in the field of international security. The Iranian president stressed that Iran has no intention of attacking countries in the region or engaging in confrontation with them. During a telephone conversation, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also expressed his condolences on the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei and congratulated Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei on his election as the new leader. Since negotiations between the U.S. and Iran on the nuclear program did not lead to a concrete agreement, on February 28, the U.S. and Israel launched military airstrikes against Iran. In response, Iran has since been striking Israel and U.S. military targets in the region with missiles and drones. On the first day of the military airstrikes on Iran, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei and several high-ranking military officials were killed. On March 8, the Iranian Assembly of Experts unanimously elected Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei's son, Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei, as Iran's third supreme leader. From March 1 through March 5, the conflict expanded to include various countries in the Middle East. According to the U.S., at least eight people were killed, and more than 140 were injured. The conflict also seriously threatened the region's energy infrastructure and maritime transport. Due to security tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, oil prices on the world market rose sharply, and a number of countries urged their citizens to leave the region. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has launched a series of strikes against Iranian regime targets in Tehran, Trend reports, citing the Israeli army press service. The statement emphasized that the attacks were aimed at key targets linked to the Iranian government and military infrastructure. On February 26, the 3rd round of talks between Iran and the United States regarding Irans nuclear program took place in Geneva. Conducted under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, the meeting was seen as the last opportunity to resolve the escalating situation through diplomatic channels. However, no concrete agreements were reached. Two days later, on February 28, the United States and Israel launched a coordinated military campaign targeting Irans strategically significant military facilities and key state leadership. Israel named the operation Operation Lions Roar, while the United States called it Operation Epic Fury. The strikes covered broad swaths of Iran, including major cities such as Tehran, Isfahan, Tabriz, and Qom. In retaliation, Iran initiated Operation True Promise 4, striking back at Israel and U.S. military bases across the region, including Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iraq, using ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The February 28 airstrikes killed Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and his family. Senior officials, including the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Army, Major General Abdul Rahim Mousavi, the Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Mohammad Pakpour, the Supreme Leaders advisor and Secretary of the Defense Council, Ali Shamkhani, and Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, were also killed. On March 8, Irans Assembly of Experts unanimously elected Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Supreme Leader, as the countrys third Supreme Leader. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it detected missiles launched from Iranian territory toward Israeli territory, and deployed air defense systems to intercept them, Trend reports, citing the Israeli army press service. In a statement, the IDF said: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has detected missiles fired from Iran toward Israel. Missile defense systems are working to intercept the threats. On February 26, the 3rd round of talks between Iran and the United States regarding Irans nuclear program took place in Geneva. Conducted under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, the meeting was seen as the last opportunity to resolve the escalating situation through diplomatic channels. However, no concrete agreements were reached. Two days later, on February 28, the United States and Israel launched a coordinated military campaign targeting Irans strategically significant military facilities and key state leadership. Israel named the operation Operation Lions Roar, while the United States called it Operation Epic Fury. The strikes covered broad swaths of Iran, including major cities such as Tehran, Isfahan, Tabriz, and Qom. In retaliation, Iran initiated Operation True Promise 4, striking back at Israel and U.S. military bases across the region, including Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iraq, using ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The February 28 airstrikes killed Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and his family. Senior officials, including the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Army, Major General Abdul Rahim Mousavi, the Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Mohammad Pakpour, the Supreme Leaders advisor and Secretary of the Defense Council, Ali Shamkhani, and Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, were also killed. On March 8, Irans Assembly of Experts unanimously elected Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Supreme Leader, as the countrys third Supreme Leader. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Qatar has once again come under missile attack amidst the ongoing regional conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, the statement of the country's Ministry of Defense says, Trend reports. The statement further revealed that Qatars air defense systems successfully intercepted and neutralized ballistic missiles targeted at the Persian Gulf state. Moments prior to the missile strike, Qatari authorities had issued an official warning to the public regarding the imminent threat. On February 26, the 3rd round of talks between Iran and the United States regarding Irans nuclear program took place in Geneva. Conducted under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, the meeting was seen as the last opportunity to resolve the escalating situation through diplomatic channels. However, no concrete agreements were reached. Two days later, on February 28, the United States and Israel launched a coordinated military campaign targeting Irans strategically significant military facilities and key state leadership. Israel named the operation Operation Lions Roar, while the United States called it Operation Epic Fury. The strikes covered broad swaths of Iran, including major cities such as Tehran, Isfahan, Tabriz, and Qom. In retaliation, Iran initiated Operation True Promise 4, striking back at Israel and U.S. military bases across the region, including Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iraq, using ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The February 28 airstrikes killed Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and his family. Senior officials, including the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Army, Major General Abdul Rahim Mousavi, the Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Mohammad Pakpour, the Supreme Leaders advisor and Secretary of the Defense Council, Ali Shamkhani, and Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, were also killed. From March 1 through 5, the conflict escalated further, drawing in multiple countries across the Middle East. Iran launched hundreds of missiles and UAVs, while the United States and Israel targeted additional military sites within Iran. According to U.S. Central Command, Iran deployed approximately 500 ballistic missiles and 2,000 UAVs in the initial days of the confrontation. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Two Iranian drones crashed near Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates, the statement of the foreign media says, Trend reports. The incident resulted in four individuals sustaining injuries. The Dubai Ministry of Public Relations confirmed that two of the victims are citizens of Ghana, one is from Bangladesh, and their injuries are described as minor. The fourth victim, a citizen of India, sustained injuries of moderate severity. Despite the attack, operations at the airport have continued without disruption, the authorities reported. Since negotiations between the U.S. and Iran on the nuclear program did not lead to a concrete agreement, on February 28, the U.S. and Israel launched military airstrikes against Iran. In response, Iran has since been striking Israel and U.S. military targets in the region with missiles and drones. On the first day of the military airstrikes on Iran, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei and several high-ranking military officials were killed. On March 8, the Iranian Assembly of Experts unanimously elected Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei's son, Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei, as Iran's third supreme leader. From March 1 through March 5, the conflict expanded to include various countries in the Middle East. According to the U.S., at least eight people were killed, and more than 140 were injured. The conflict also seriously threatened the region's energy infrastructure and maritime transport. Due to security tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, oil prices on the world market rose sharply, and a number of countries urged their citizens to leave the region. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Omans air defense systems have neutralized two drones believed to belong to Iran north of the city of Duqm amid continuing escalation in the Middle East, Trend reports. According to media reports, one of the drones fell into the sea. No damage or casualties have been reported. The Omani government strongly condemned the attack, emphasizing that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure the security of the country and its residents. Since no concrete agreement was reached in negotiations between the United States and Iran over the nuclear program, the U.S. and Israel began military airstrikes against Iran on February 28. In response, Iran launched missile and drone attacks on Israel and U.S. military facilities located in countries across the region, starting the same day. On the first day of the air strikes against Iran, Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several high-ranking military officials were killed. On March 8, Irans Assembly of Experts elected Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, as Irans third Supreme Leader by majority vote. Between March 1 and March 5, the confrontation expanded further, affecting several countries across the Middle East. According to reports, the U.S. side suffered losses of 8 dead and more than 140 wounded. As a result of the conflict, the regions energy infrastructure and maritime transportation have also come under serious risk. Due to heightened security tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, global oil prices have surged sharply, and several countries have urged their citizens to leave the region. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. British police have banned a pro-Iran march that a group of public activists had planned to hold in central London on Sunday, the statement of local media says, Trend reports. The police linked the decision to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and tensions between opposing groups, warning that opponents of Iran could also organize counter-protests during the march, potentially leading to clashes. According to reports, the pro-Iran demonstration had been planned as part of the annual Quds march organized by the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC), which is said to have pro-Iranian views. We have taken into account the potential impact of the unstable situation in the Middle East on protest actions. The Iranian regime is attacking Britains allies and military bases located abroad. We must also consider the clear warnings from security services regarding threats originating from the Iranian regime on the territory of the United Kingdom, the police said in a statement. Since no concrete agreement was reached in negotiations between the United States (US) and Iran over the nuclear program, the US and Israel began military airstrikes against Iran on February 28. In response, Iran launched missile and drone attacks on Israel and US military facilities located in countries across the region, starting the same day. On the first day of the air strikes against Iran, Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several high-ranking military officials were killed. On March 8, Irans Assembly of Experts elected Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, as Irans third Supreme Leader by majority vote. Between March 1 and March 5, the confrontation expanded further, affecting several countries across the Middle East. According to reports, the US side suffered losses of 8 dead and more than 140 wounded. As a result of the conflict, the regions energy infrastructure and maritime transportation have also come under serious risk. Due to heightened security tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, global oil prices have surged sharply, and several countries have urged their citizens to leave the region. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have completed their strikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut, Lebanon, the statement of the IDF on its official social media says, Trend reports. "This morning, the Israel Defense Forces completed a wave of additional strikes targeting Hezbollah terrorist organizations in the Dahiyeh district of Beirut, including command centers and facilities where the terrorist organization stores weapons," the statement noted. The IDF added that a number of measures were taken to minimize the risk of harm to civilians before the strikes. These measures include issuing advance warnings, using high-precision munitions, and aerial surveillance. On February 28, the U.S., along with Israel, launched a military operation against Iran. Several cities in the country, including the capital, have been attacked. In response, Iran has launched missile and drone strikes against Israel and U.S. military bases in the Middle East. Since the U.S. and Iran failed to reach a concrete agreement in the talks on their nuclear program, the U.S. and Israel launched military airstrikes on Iran on February 28. In response, Iran has been attacking Israel and U.S. military facilities in the region with missiles and drones since that day. The February 28 airstrikes killed Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several senior military officials. On March 8, Irans Assembly of Experts unanimously elected Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Supreme Leader, as the countrys third Supreme Leader. From March 1 through 5, the conflict escalated further, drawing in multiple countries across the Middle East. The U.S. side's losses were reported to be eight dead and more than 140 injured. The ongoing conflict has significantly threatened the regions energy infrastructure and maritime transport. Oil prices have surged on global markets due to heightened security tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, prompting several countries to advise their citizens to leave the region. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Key Takeaways Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan says Bitcoin could reach $1 million in about 10 years. Bitcoin ETFs have returned to net inflows. Some analysts project major upside for Bitcoin, but others, such as Arthur Hayes, remain cautious. Bitcoin could reach $1 million within the next decade if it captures a modest share of a rapidly expanding global store-of-value market, Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan said in a recent investor memo. The prediction implies roughly a 14-fold increase from current levels, as Bitcoin was trading at around $69,610, down over 2% in the last week. Bitcoin Price to $1 Million? Hougan said Bitcoin should be evaluated as a digital store-of-value asset competing primarily with Gold. Using that framework, he said Bitcoins long-term price can be estimated by calculating the size of the global store-of-value market, determining Bitcoins share of that market, and dividing the resulting value by Bitcoins fixed supply of 21 million coins. Currently, the store-of-value market is worth just under $38 trillion, consisting of about $36 trillion in Gold and roughly $1.4 trillion in Bitcoin, according to Bitwise estimates. That means Bitcoin today represents slightly less than 4% of the market. At that market size, Bitcoin would need to capture more than half of the store-of-value market to reach $1 million per coinan outcome Hougan acknowledged would be difficult. Gold market cap | Source: Bitwise Asset Management with data from World Gold Council and Bloomberg. However, he said the key assumption often overlooked is that the market itself has grown significantly over time and may continue expanding. Hougan pointed to Golds rise over the past two decades. Around the launch of the first U.S. gold exchange-traded fund in 2004, the total gold market was valued at roughly $2.5 trillion. It has since expanded to nearly $40 trillion, reflecting an annual growth rate of about 13%. If that pace continues, Hougan estimated the global store-of-value market could grow to roughly $121 trillion within 10 years. In that scenario, Bitcoin would only need to capture about 17% of the market to reach a price of $1 million. Is It Possible? While that would represent a significant gain from its current share, Hougan said institutional adoption and broader investment allocations could make the shift plausible. A few years ago, there were no U.S. bitcoin ETFs and few institutional holders, Hougan wrote, adding that Bitcoin exchange-traded funds have since become among the fastest-growing in history. The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, has adopted an appeal to the governments of Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, urging them to initiate a complete ban on trade and the transit of goods with Russia and Belarus. According to an Ukrinform correspondent, 257 lawmakers supported the legislative initiative, No. 14324, at a parliament meeting on Wednesday. The authors of the document stressed that despite sanctions already in place, the EU's trade with Russia and Belarus remains a significant source of income for those regimes, helping finance their defense industry. The initiators of the resolution noted that a complete halt to trade with Russia and Belarus would be an important investment in the national and regional security of Poland and the Baltic states. At the same time, lawmakers stressed that depriving Russia and Belarus of the logistics hub currently represented by Poland and the Baltic states for trade with the EU would deal an effective blow to the financing of the aggressor's military-industrial complex. In this context, the Ukrainian parliament called on the Council of Ministers of Poland and the governments of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to initiate a complete ban on export-import operations for legal entities including trade and the transit of goods with Russia and Belarus, and to seek support from the European Union for introducing the relevant restrictions in upcoming sanctions packages. It is expected that the introduction of a total economic embargo on the eastern borders of the European Union would set a clear example for partner countries both within the EU and across the democratic world and significantly help Ukrainians withstand their struggle for survival. As previously reported, trade turnover between the European Union and Russia fell to its lowest level at the end of 2025, effectively stripping Russia of its status as one of the bloc's key trading partners. Sweden has allocated an additional EUR 56 million to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund, bringing its total contribution to EUR 259.5 million. That is according to the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, Ukrinform reports. The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) has directed an additional 600 million Swedish kronor (about EUR 56.38 million) to the fund, the statement said. The funds are expected to support repairs and restoration of energy facilities damaged by Russian attacks, the purchase of critical equipment, and the provision of passive protection for energy infrastructure. Since November 2025, the Ukraine Energy Support Fund has mobilized more than EUR 582 million in confirmed contributions. In total, the fund has received donations from 37 international donors. Read also: PM Svyrydenko discusses energy and defense cooperation with Dutch PM Rob Jetten According to the latest estimates by the World Bank, the overall needs for restoring Ukraine's energy sector amount to $90.6 billion. In February, the Ukraine Energy Support Fund received more than EUR 208 million, bringing the total amount of contributions to over EUR 1.8 billion. Photo: Pixabay Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Expel US, Israel Envoys: Iran sets condition for Strait of Hormuz passage Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Tuesday March 10, 2026 asked Arab and European countries to expel the U.S. and Israeli ambassadors if they want safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran: Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Tuesday March 10, 2026 asked Arab and European countries to expel the U.S. and Israeli ambassadors if they want safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran blocked the passage of all oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz last week, days after it was attacked by the U.S. and Israeli joint military forces. Some 1,300 Iranians have been killed in the US-Israel joint bombing on Tehran and other parts of the country since Feb 28, 2026. The death toll in Israel due to Irans retaliatory airstrikes, as per the Zionist government, is 11-13. The United States has acknowledged the death of 08 of its soldiers whereas 14 people have died in Bahrain, UAE and other Gulf states. Iran has accused the US and Israel of hiding the actual losses and death toll. Strait of Hormuz blockade Amid the escalating war, Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz. As a result, around 150 ships carrying oil tankers have been stranded or are avoiding the route. The blockade has halted about 20% of global oil flow, causing oil prices to surge above $100 per barrel, according to BBC. In order to ease the blockade, the IRGC said only those Arab or European countries that expel Israeli and American ambassadors from their territory will be granted the right to transit through the strategic waterway, according to a report by Irans state broadcaster IRIB. This comes as US President Donald Trump threatened to hit Iran with a much larger attack if Tehran tries to block supplies of oil. "If Iran does anything that stops the flow of oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far," Trump wrote. Hollow Threats The Secretary of Irans Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, dismissed Trump's threats as "hollow" and invoked Irans historical and religious identity. "Iran does not fear your hollow threats," Larijani said adding, "Those even greater than you were unable to eliminate the Iranian nation. Be careful about yourself, so that you are not the one who is eliminated!" In another post, Larijani said the Strait of Hormuz will either be a strait of peace and prosperity for all or a strait of defeat and suffering for "warmongers". Meanwhile, the White House has disputed US Energy Secretary Chris Wrights claim made earlier on Tuesday that the countrys navy escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz, amid tensions over the flow of oil and gas through the narrow channel. Speaking at a media briefing, White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said that in fact, the US Navy had as of yet not escorted any vessel through the strait. Wright, who had made his claim on X, has since deleted the post. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language to Translate in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Blackstone (NYSE:BX) and Blue Owl Capital (NYSE:OWL) are teaming up on a new investment, taking a minority stake in private equity firm Atlas Holdings, a specialist in turning around complex industrial businesses. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The investment was made through Blackstone GP Stakes and Blue Owl's GP Strategic Capital units, both of which focus on buying minority interests in established private equity managers. Atlas, founded in 2002 and based in Greenwich, Connecticut, has built a reputation for acquiring and restructuring industrial, manufacturing, and distribution businesses that often require operational turnarounds. Through its affiliates, the firm currently owns and operates around 30 companies across those sectors. 4 ways US Israel war against Iran will change the world As the smoke clears over the ruins of Tel Aviv and the burning tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, a historical irony is emerging: The US-Israel war against Iran intended to cement American dominance may instead be the moment the United States loses its status as the worlds sole superpower The joint U.S.-Israeli offensive launched on February 28, 2026 dubbed Operation Epic Fury, is the culmination of a century-long American effort to teach Iran a lesson for its refusal to submit to a Western-aligned regional order. Yet, as the smoke clears over the ruins of Tel Aviv and the burning tankers in the Strait of Hormuz , a historical irony is emerging: The very war intended to cement American dominance may instead be the moment the United States loses its status as the worlds sole superpower. The inability of the greatest army in the history of the world to achieve swift victory against a middle-tier power has shattered the myth of American military invincibility. If the U.S. cannot decisively settle the Middle East while deploying two carrier strike groups and its most advanced stealth fighters, its ability to deter peer competitors like China or Russia is fundamentally compromised. It is clear that the conclusion of the current war will be marked by a cold, hard realignment of global power. Here are some ways the world will change: 1. The American Suez Moment This conflict is the terminal point of U.S. global hegemony. The US loss of diplomatic credibility worldwide is today absolute. By bypassing the United Nations and abandoning international law, the U.S. has lost all moral authority globally. Its unconditional support for Israeli objectives, even at the risk of regional chaos, has convinced much of the world that the U.S. is no longer a rational actor that needs to be contained or bypassed altogether. And, much like the 1956 Suez Crisiswhere Great Britain attempted to forcibly stop Egypts nationalization of the Suez Canal and subsequently lost its Empire statusthe U.S. has hit a wall of reality about its own impotence. Just as the U.S. refused to back Britain in 1956 the UK and Frances reluctance and Spains outright refusal to support the U.S. in its ongoing Iran misadventure, signals the end of Pax Americana. The U.S. is transitioning before our eyes from a hyperpower to a ruder, louder and more disliked version of Canada still influential, but no longer the arbiter of global destiny. 2. The Internal Fracture of Israel While Israel initially viewed this conflict as the final blow to Iran, its existential nemesis, the results are proving catastrophic for both its regional standing and internal cohesion as a nation. Rather than securing its hegemony, the war is actively dismantling the foundations of Israeli dominance and indeed the very State of Israel. First, the alliance with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countriespainstakingly built through the Abraham Accordsis breaking. The GCC states, particularly the UAE and Saudi Arabia, did not choose this war. As Iranian missiles strike luxury hotels in Dubai and oil refineries in Ras Tanura, these nations feel exposed and abandoned by an Israeli-U.S. strategy that prioritized a lesson over regional stability. The dream of an Arab-Israeli NATO is dying under the weight of Iranian retaliation, as Gulf leaders realize that normalization with Israel has brought them more pain than security. Second, the war is fracturing Israeli society from within. The staggering costestimated at $3 billion per weekhas forced a near-total shutdown of the domestic economy. After two and a half years of continuous military mobilization since October 2023, the Israeli public is reaching a breaking point. Discord is erupting between a leadership committed to total victory and a citizenry facing economic ruin and pummelled constantly by both Iran and Hezbollahs rockets. Moderates and extremists in Israel are now pitted against each other in a struggle that threatens the very fabric of the state. Finally, Israels international reputation especially in the US itself already severely harmed by its extreme actions in Gaza, is now facing total collapse. Much of the world sees the strike on Tehran as an unprovoked act of aggression that has triggered a global energy crisis. The moral capital Jerusalem once held has been exhausted, replaced by a global perception of Israel as a rogue state that values its own messianic objectives over the survival of the global economy. 3. The Iranian spark for global resistance Perhaps most surprising to Western elites is the widespread sympathy for Iran across the world. This support is a recognition of Irans chutzpahand audacity to take on both the regional bully, Israel, and the global bully, the USA, despite the heavy costs involved. To many, this represents the most significant challenge to Western colonialism and imperialism since the Vietnam War. The Iranian defiance acts as a green light for many countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America to intensify their own struggles against Western domination. Much like how the 1955 Bandung meeting signalled the rise of the Non-Aligned Movement, the 2026 war has proven that Western imperial discipline can be successfully resisted. Irans example however is not just at the spiritual or inspirational level alone. It has also demonstrated the technological and organizational capabilities needed to fight a modern war with the most powerful adversaries. In particular, the proliferation of cheap drones in the war has permanently flattened the technological pyramid, allowing traditionally weaker nations to challenge global superpowers with unprecedented military boldness. In the early phases of Operation Epic Fury, Iranian one-way attack dronescosting as little as $20,000 to $50,000 eachsuccessfully forced the United States and its partners to expend defensive interceptors, such as the Patriot and THAAD, which cost between $4 million and $15 million per shot. Iran has provided a blueprint for asymmetric deterrence that is being closely studied by the Global South nations. Weaker states now recognize that they do not need to match a superpowers exquisite fleet of stealth jets or aircraft carriers to achieve strategic effects; they only need the mass to saturate defences and impose unsustainable economic and logistical strain on the intervenor. The drone revolution of 2026 has stripped away the primary advantage of expensive Western platforms, emboldening nations to resist imperial pressure not just through diplomatic rhetoric, but through credible, high-frequency military defiance. 4. The Isolation of the Lackey States Finally, the citizens of many nations around the world today are realizing their leaders are merely vassals of the US rather than protectors of the national interest. In Asia for example, Japan and South Korea are being exposed as technological giants with the political spines of lackeys. By having no independent policy outside of Western dictates, they risk being sidelined by their own populations that value sovereign assertion. They risk becoming the 21st-century versions of the Vichy governmentshighly efficient in administration but lacking any true legitimacy or agency. Similarly, in South Asia, both India and Pakistan have been exposed as Trojan Horses for Western imperialism by openly collaborating with the US and Israel. They have lost respect worldwide and within their own borders by failing to stand by Iran in its courageous stand against US imperialism, betraying a total loss of memory of their own past as nations subjugated by British colonialism. In South-East Asia the same is true of both Indonesia and Malaysia, which despite being nations with large Muslim populations, have shamelessly sided with US and Israeli aggression to protect their own narrow political and commercial interests. There will of course be many more implications geopolitical, economic and social due to the demise of the US as the dominant superpower on Planet Earth. As of now it is sufficient to say that this opens up the possibility of the world moving to a future of greater mutual respect among nations and the emergence of genuinely fairer world, where all laws are not just forged democratically but also applied equally without consideration of size, wealth or muscle power. [The writer, Satya Sagar, is a journalist and public health worker who can be reached at sagarnama@gmail.com.] Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language to Translate in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic Gen Z Triumphs in Nepal, Falters in Bangladesh During the last six months, there have been two political movements and subsequent elections in Indias immediate neighbourhood - Bangladesh and Nepal, which might have an impact on Indias regional aspirations and impact. During the last six months, there have been two political movements and subsequent elections in Indias immediate neighbourhood, which might have an impact on Indias regional aspirations and impact. These two movement and elections happened in Bangladesh and Nepal. Both were led by the young voters of the two countries, anxious for a change in the political leadership of their countries. But the results in both have been different. Lets analyse the reasons for the same. Nepals political landscape appears poised for a major transformation as Balendra Shah , widely known as Balen Shah, emerged as the sole contender for the countrys prime ministership following the latest general elections. The 35-year-old Kathmandu mayor and former rapper represents a new generation of leadership challenging the dominance of traditional political elites. His rise has energised young voters and highlighted growing demand for political reform and transparent governance in the Himalayan nation. In Nepal, the resultsare exactly the opposite of what happened in Bangldesh, where, despite a student-led revolution toppling the incumbent government, the principal opposition party in the previous regime returned to power in the elections that followed. The newly formed student-led' party, the National Citizen Party, failed to make an impact. Election Trends and Political Momentum Preliminary trends from Nepals recent general elections showed a strong performance by the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). Shah himself won in the Jhapa-5 constituency against veteran leader and former prime minister KP Sharma Oli of the Communist Party of Nepal (UML). If the trend continues, Shah could become one of the youngest prime ministers in Nepals history, marking a dramatic shift from a political establishment largely dominated by leaders in their 60s and 70s. Shahs prime ministerial campaign began with a culturally symbolic speech in Janakpur, the capital of Madhesh Province and traditionally regarded as the birthplace of Goddess Sita. He opened his address with Sarvapratham, Mata Janaki kepranaam, and delivered the speech in Maithili, one of Nepals widely spoken languages. The choice of location and language was significant. Few national leaders in Nepal have launched a major political campaign in Maithili, which is widely spoken across the Madhesh region and Indias Mithila belt. The move signalled outreach to Madhesi communities, which have historically sought greater political representation. From Rapper to a Reformist Politician Before entering public life, Shah gained popularity as a rapper who used hip-hop music to raise awareness about corruption, governance failures and social inequality. His music resonated strongly with urban youth. In 2022, Shah shocked Nepals political establishment by winning the Kathmandu mayoral election as an independent candidate, defeating nominees from major parties. During his tenure, he focused on addressing the capitals waste management crisis, removing illegal encroachments on public land, improving traffic management, restoring heritage sites and developing public parks. Born on April 27, 1990, in Naradevi, Kathmandu, Shahs family traces its roots to Mahottari district in Madhesh Province. He is associated with the Madhesi community, which forms nearly one-third of Nepals population and shares strong cultural links with neighbouring regions of India. Shah resigned as Kathmandu mayor in January 2026 to contest the national elections under the Rastriya Swatantra Party after reaching an agreement with party chairman Rabi Lamichhane. His campaign has emphasised youth empowerment, anti-corruption reforms, transparent governance and strengthening Nepals federal systemissues that have resonated strongly with Gen Z and millennial voters seeking political change. Similar Goals, Different Outcomes The protests in Bangladesh and Nepal, countries that are separated by the narrow Siliguri Corridor, had the same goal - replacing the existing system. While the uprising in Bangladesh was set in motion by forces like the Jamaat-backed ChhatraShibir, with a more politically stated goal of removing the incumbent from power, the one in Nepal was more organic, with a focus on overthrowing the system. This allowed leaders like Balen Shah, 35, to emerge as genuine alternatives to the existing political parties. The students' movement in Bangladesh , on the other hand, could not create a leader who was acceptable to the people of the country. The movement was more focused on removing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and could not offer an alternative to the people. The Tarique Rahman Factor With the toppling of the Hasina government in Bangladesh, former prime minister Khaleda Zia's son Tarique Rahman emerged as the only credible alternative, even though he was a product of the existing political system. Having been in political exile and out of the country for 17 years, Tarique Rahman offered fresh ideas, a new approach and, more importantly, a clear vision of Bangladeshs future. Rahman's "I have a plan" speech set the ball rolling for his party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), to talk about what it intended to do for citizens. This approach worked, making him appear to be a more pragmatic choice than the students' groups who had joined forces with the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, a fringe player in electoral politics. Rahman's inclusive politics and outreach to minorities also played a role in his popularity. Balen's Popularity On the other hand, Balendra Shah emerged as a frontrunner for the prime minister's post after Gen Z protests rocked Nepal in September last year, triggered by a social media ban that was later rolled back. Shah originally became famous as a rapper under the name "Balen", and his music, which critiqued social ills and political corruption, resonated with the youth of the country. He went on to become the Mayor of Kathmandu and when he was asked during the protests whether he would take up the post of prime minister, he refused. In contrast, student leaders in Bangladesh were embroiled in several controversies soon after the overthrow of the Hasina regime and some also took up positions in the interim government. To many people, they were seen as pursuing power rather than change. The alliance of the students' party, the NCP, with the Jamaat-e-Islami, known for its anti-minority stance, also alienated many. Balen Shah, on the other hand, was seen as running a campaign that embraced minorities, especially Madhesis, making him appear more inclusive. Shah's term as the Kathmandu Mayor also helped him, especially since he focused on issues that affected ordinary people, including improving traffic management, clearing encroachments on public land, and resolving long-standing garbage disposal problems. During his campaign, the 35-year-old drew large crowds and was seen as an undeclared leader of young voters. He also helped form the interim government, with former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as its head, to oversee the vote. The student leaders in Bangladesh, on the other hand, harmed their image of fighting for a new system by tying up with the Jamaat, which was an established political force. This also gave people the impression that they were willing to sacrifice the aspirations of students to ensure the victory of the party's leaders. [The writer, Asad Mirza, is Delhi based Journalist and Author.] Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language to Translate in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Missile for Epstein Victims: Iran Sets New War Narrative In a personal blow to U.S. President Donald Trump, Iran is now launching missiles on Israeli capital Tel Aviv and American bases in Gulf countries that are written with a message sympathizing victims of Jeffry Epstein [The Iranian missile written with a message sympathizing victims of Jeffry Epstein. (Inset) US President Trump with Jeffry Epstein] Tehran: In a personal blow to U.S. President Donald Trump, Iran is now launching missiles on Israeli capital Tel Aviv and American bases in Gulf countries that are written with a message sympathizing victims of Jeffry Epstein. The images of the latest missiles launched by Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have been shared online by the official Press TV and other media outlets. "In the memory of victims of Epstein island", the message written in Persian on a missile read. US Presidents in Epstein files This came at the backdrop of the publication of the latest Epstein files wherein Donald Trump is said to have tried sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl. As per the harrowing details shared for public by the U.S. Department of Justice, Trump hit on the minors head when she resisted his advances. There is a huge majority in the United States who believed that Trump ordered military strikes against Iran even as the latter had agreed for a peace deal because he was under huge pressure due to the revelations made in the Epstein files. Donald Trump has been very close to Jeffery Epstein a convicted offender and child sex trafficker, and there are around 38,000 mentions about Trump in over 3 million pages. Besides Trump, other American presidents Bill Clinton, Joe Biden and others have also linked with Jeffery Epstein who invited them to his notorious island and provided them special service, as per the released documents. Trump and others have denied having involved in Jeffery Epstein's illegal activities . Jeffery Epstein Israel link There are also reports that Jeffery Epstein was a Mossad agent, and had a very close ties with former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. Some social media users said the image is AI generated, but the official Press TV said the image is real and is of an Iranian missile prior to its launch towards US-Israeli positions. However, the Iranian move to launch missiles in the memory of Epstein island victims is seen as a personal blow to the current and former U.S. presidents, and their alleged crimes. Interestingly, references to Epstein had already appeared in Irans political messaging weeks before the image began circulating. In remarks delivered in mid-February, slain Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei described Epsteins private Caribbean island as evidence of Western moral corruption, calling it a stark example of the essence of Western civilization and liberal democracy, as reported by Chosun. He argued that the scandal exposed deeper problems within Western political systems and said the island was only one example of broader corruption. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language to Translate in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic US Israel War Against Iran: Glaring Cost Difference The ongoing US and Israeli war against Iran and the latters retaliatory strikes have once again demonstrated the mathematics of modern air defence. [Iran's Shahed drone (Inset) Patriotic missile defence system] The ongoing US and Israeli war against Iran and the latters retaliatory strikes have once again demonstrated the mathematics of modern air defence. Waves of Iranian-designed Shahed 136 drones crude, slow, and estimated to cost as little as $20,000 a piece, have in a number of exchanges forced the United States and several Gulf partners to expend their Patriot and SM-6 interceptors that cost millions of dollars each. During the ongoing Iran War interception rates have been impressive. A successful shoot-down that requires a high-end interceptor, however, can be a Pyrrhic victory. The defender burns through scarce and expensive munitions while the attacker draws from comparatively large stockpiles of low-cost systems. This is the drone attrition trap. And it is not new. "Poor mans drone" The news that has dominated the unfolding of the war is the asymmetric cost of fighting the war footed by the US and Israel, and their opponent Iran. Iran fields more than 600,000 active personnel, an estimated 2,0003,000 ballistic and short-range missiles, and a substantial inventory of unmanned aerial vehicles. One system which has earned a name for its performance vis-a-vis its cost is the Shahed-136 drone. Shahed-136 is a low-cost, propeller-driven one-way attack drone (a loitering munition) referred to as a poor mans drone. Its intended use is for long-range strikes and for being launched in volume. Russia has used it in the war against Ukraine for repeated large-scale attacks, including against infrastructure, while also leaning on it to stretch air defences through saturation and steady pressure. Shaheds appeal is simple economics and availability, including production in Russia or manufacture to a similar design. In fact, the Shahed family of drones consist of much effective though slightly costly other variants too. But the maximum mayhem has been caused by Shahed-136. The family includes jet-powered derivatives, too, like Mohajer-6. A larger armed unmanned aircraft used for surveillance and strike missions, also treated as a core element of Irans drone inventory. Shahed-238 (variant) - a jet-propelled, longer-range evolution in the Shahed family that differs from the Shahed-136 in propulsion and performance. In modern conflicts, inexpensive one-way attack drones have shifted the mathematics of air defence by rewarding mass, persistence, and saturation as much as precision. Despite its compact size, the 50-kilogramme warhead can cause severe structural damage to power grids and fuel storage tanks. The smaller Shahed-131 variant carries a significantly lighter warhead of about 15 kilogrammes, intended for shorter-range tactical missions. Military analysts state the warhead typically uses RDX or similar high-energy explosives to maximise the blast radius upon impact. The drone trades a larger payload for long-range capability, relying on GPS guidance to hit exact coordinates with high accuracy. The 50-kilogramme payload is most effective when used in swarms, where multiple drones overwhelm air defences to ensure at least one strike. Military engineers say the key to their effectiveness lies in the numbers. The drones are relatively cheap and easy to mass-produce, especially compared to the sophisticated systems used to defend against them. The Shahed136 was first unveiled around 2021 and gained global attention after Russia began deploying the Iranian-supplied weapons during its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The Kremlin has since received thousands of the drones and begun producing them based on Iranian blueprints, highlighting their replicable and scalable design. In fact, Iran has drawn from Russias extensive battlefield experience with the drones, including modifications such as anti-jamming antennas, electronic warfare-resistant navigation, and new warheads. Intelligence from a recent Pentagon briefing confirms what analysts feared. American systems have no effective countermeasure for the Shahed-136 kamikaze drone. Iran is launching drones that cost less than a used car ($20k). The US is forced to scramble $3 Million Patriot interceptors and $400,000 Iron Sieve missiles to stop them. "Irans hypersonic missiles" This is a "cost exchange" so lopsided its unsustainable. The US is burning through strategic inventory at a rate that cannot be replaced. If the US is struggling with "low-tech" drones, the next phase is terrifying. Iran hasn't even fully unleashed its Hypersonic arsenal yet. Irans hypersonic missiles include Fattah-2. A manoeuvring hypersonic glide vehicle that Washington has no analogue for. No Patriot battery on Earth stops a missile traveling at Mach 15. No THAAD system can engage a target moving with that level of speed and terminal-phase manoeuvrability. The Pentagon knew this before the first bombs dropped on February 28. If you can't stop a basic Shahed, you stand zero chance against a hypersonic strike. CNBC reports that public estimates put an individual Shahed drone at somewhere between $20,000 and $50,000. The ballistic and cruise missiles raining down on Iran, in contrast, can run in the millions of dollars each. Air defence systems used to shoot down Shahed drones can run between $3 million and $12 million per interceptor, US Department of Defence budget documents show. Nations have also experimented with cheaper defence options like mass-produced interceptors, fighter jet fire and electronic weapons targeting the drones GPS. But while American allies have managed to intercept the vast majority of incoming drones with the help of US-provided defence systems such as the Patriot missile, many Shaheds have still managed to hit their targets. The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defence said on March 10 that out of 941 Iranian drones detected since the start of the Iran war, 65 fell within its territory, damaging ports, airports, hotels and data centres. It raises the question of how sustainable a sustained war is. The one-way attack drones, also used by Russia in the war against Ukraine, have a relatively light payload but can be used to exhaust air defence systems ahead of more damaging future attacks. They have a range of up to 1,200 miles. Belying facts, the Shahed-136 can be intercepted, and air defences have shown they can bring it down with layered approaches that include short-range missiles, gun systems, and mobile teams using heavy machine guns or autocannons. Electronic warfare, including satellite-navigation jamming, can also degrade guidance and reduce accuracy. Its relatively slow speed can make it vulnerable, but low-altitude routes and mass launches can still complicate detection and strain interceptor stockpiles. Ukrainian defenders have repeatedly shown successful shootdowns of Shahed-class drones using both guns and missiles. While the US and its allies have shot down most Shaheds, the CNBC piece flags a United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defence statistic: Out of 941 Iranian drones detected since the start of the Iran war, 65 fell within its territory, damaging ports, airports, hotels and data centres. Shahed Vs Lucas Meanwhile, it is reported that the Shahed-136 has proven so effective that the US has reverse-engineered it and deployed its own version on the battlefield against Iranian targets. In its Iran attacks over the weekend, the US Central Command confirmed that it had used its drones modelled on the Shahed for the first time in combat. Reportedly, after recovering downed Shahed-136s, US teams reverse-engineered a domestic analogue, the Low-Cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (Lucas). Though it has a shorter reach, its punch is comparable. Iran is believed to have turned out thousands of cheap drones for roughly $20,000$50,000 a piece; at those price points, large salvos can be used to probe defences and force costly intercepts, making even imperfect hits operationally disruptive. In turn, the United States has moved Lucas into high-rate production and reportedly deployed it for missions in Iran, but its success rates are not yet available. [The writer, Asad Mirza, is Delhi based Journalist and Author.] Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language to Translate in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic Bloom Energy (NYSE: BE) stock has surged by 602% since the beginning of 2025. The solid oxide fuel cell provider has emerged as a key energy supplier that can meet the growing demand for power from hyperscalers as their data center footprints expand. The company continues to see robust demand from major technology companies, and its backlog has exploded. For current or prospective investors, the question is whether Bloom Energy stock is a buy-and-hold or if it's time to sell and take some profits off the table. Let's dig deeper into the company to find out. 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 Reasons to buy or hold Bloom Energy Bloom Energy has seen demand for its solid oxide fuel cells explode, as the company becomes a go-to power source for AI data centers. The company had struggled for years to see its business take off, but has recently been viewed as a critical energy infrastructure provider that can help facilitate the AI boom. What makes Bloom's solid oxide fuel cells compelling is that they can offer power solutions to data centers in just a few months. For example, last year it delivered a fuel cell solution for an Oracle AI factory in just 55 days. This speed of delivery helps companies bypass the multiyear grid interconnection and power infrastructure build-out. Image source: Getty Images. The company entered a financing framework with Brookfield Asset Management worth up to $5 billion over five years to help power its data center projects. Last year, the company's project backlog grew 2.5x year over year to $6 billion, and its total backlog reached $20 billion. The company raised its 2026 revenue guidance to $3.1 billion to $3.3 billion, well ahead of Wall Street's $2.58 billion estimate, indicating strong growth is expected to continue. Reasons to sell Bloom Energy With that said, Bloom Energy stock has run up significantly and currently trades around $157 per share, and analysts have expressed concern that the price already reflects forward growth expectations over the next several years. Analysts at Bank of America argue that the Brookfield deal is still in the early stages, and that the current valuation "leaves limited upside potential." There is also some execution and scaling risk in meeting this massive backlog of deals. For example, Bloom aims to double its manufacturing capacity from 1 GW to 2 GW by the end of 2026. Manufacturing its solid oxide fuel cells is capital-intensive, and this rapid expansion carries execution risk, including potential cost overruns and supply chain disruptions. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Boeing (NYSE:BA) is in focus after the company signed a contract to supply Israel with up to 5,000 air-launched precision bombs valued at about $289 million. The order covers Boeing's Small Diameter Bomb, a guided munition designed to strike targets more than 40 miles away from fighter aircraft. Deliveries are expected to begin in roughly three years. Sources said the contract is not tied to ongoing U.S. or Israeli operations in Iran. This is at least the third known acquisition of the weapon by Israel. In February 2025, the U.S. State Department informed Congress that Israel planned to acquire 2,166 units. After the Hamas attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, Boeing accelerated shipment of about 1,000 bombs. Unlike typical defense transactions with U.S. allies, the agreement is a direct commercial sale rather than a government-to-government foreign military sale. Details are expected to appear in the Federal Register. The contract is separate from a $151 million emergency sale of 12,000 BLU-110 bomb casings, which bypassed standard congressional review due to urgent circumstances. Boeing shares edged about 0.3% higher in pre-market trading Wednesday. NEW YORK, New York Olivet University has received a vote of good standing from the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE), affirming that the California Christian institution meets recognized academic and institutional standards. For the university, it is a significant milestone and the starting point for what its leadership describes as a broader effort to restore what was lost during years of unfair pressure. "Our students and faculty never wavered," said university President Dr. Jonathan Park. "They knew the truth, and now the record reflects it. We are deeply grateful and we are just getting started." A Campaign That Didn't Hold Up The road to this point was not straightforward. Starting in 2022, Olivet became the subject of more than 20 articles in Newsweek alleging human trafficking, labor exploitation, and other serious misconduct. The university vehemently denies these allegations and has consistently maintained that those articles were not the product of independent journalism, but of a deliberate campaign orchestrated by Newsweek CEO Dev Pragad as leverage in a dispute over the publication's ownership. According to verified text messages reviewed by reporters at the time, Pragad a former member of World Olivet Assembly, the evangelical denomination affiliated with the university threatened in March 2022 to go to the media with a "nuclear bomb" about Olivet, with phony human trafficking allegations, if shareholders connected to the university did not hand him control of Newsweek. Weeks later, the articles began. The campaign found further fuel in a civil lawsuit filed by four former students, who claimed they had been confined and forced to work without pay. Olivet maintains the claims were fabricated to obtain T-visas a special immigration status for trafficking victims. The civil case, which had been dismissed once at the state court and then stayed at the request of the plaintiffs, has lost nearly all of its momentum and carries little weight today, after federal investigators declined to charge Olivet or anyone affiliated with it. Attention has since shifted to a different question altogether: who is financing the legal fees of the four former students behind the suit? Looking Forward: Restoring What Was Lost With ABHE good standing secured, Olivet is now focused on what comes next. The university has made clear its intention to challenge regulatory decisions it considers unjust rulings it argues would never have come about were it not for the false allegations that drove negative coverage of the school. The university is pursuing its defamation lawsuits against Newsweek staff in federal courts. Olivet's defamation case against Newsweek reporter Alex Rouhandeh is moving forward in federal court in Florida. In a July 2025 ruling, Judge Steven Merryday declined to dismiss the case, finding that Rouhandeh had falsely claimed Olivet "pleaded guilty to money laundering." Newsweek has not publicly responded to the allegations. A University Still Standing Through all of it, Olivet has kept going. The university's Anza campus spans more than 900 acres in Riverside County one of the largest of any Christian university in California and recently received unanimous zoning approval from county authorities for future expansion. It also operates campuses in San Francisco, Washington D.C., St. Louis, Nashville, and Orlando. Dr. Park says the university is approaching this moment with gratitude rather than bitterness. "What was done to this institution and to our students was unjust," he said. "But we are still here, and from this point, the sky is the limit." For more than two years, roughly seven million federal student loan borrowers have lived in a state of suspended uncertainty enrolled in the Biden-era SAVE repayment plan, technically not required to make payments, but watching interest accrue on their balances and unsure whether the program they counted on would survive. That uncertainty ended Monday, and not in borrowers' favor. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit on March 9 reversed a lower court's dismissal of the Republican-led lawsuit against the SAVE plan formally ordering the district court to enter a December 2025 settlement agreement as final judgment. Under that settlement, the Department of Education must permanently halt all SAVE enrollment and loan forgiveness, and pursue formal rulemaking to repeal the SAVE Final Rule entirely. The Biden administration's signature student loan repayment program, which was billed as "the most affordable repayment plan ever created," is now legally finished. How We Got Here The Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan was created in 2023 as a revision to the existing REPAYE income-driven repayment plan. It offered lower monthly payments based on income and accelerated loan forgiveness timelines compared to older plans. More than seven million borrowers enrolled, attracted by the promise of lower bills and, in some cases, faster paths to debt cancellation. Seven Republican-led states Missouri, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, North Dakota, Ohio, and Oklahoma sued to block the plan, arguing the Biden administration had exceeded its statutory authority under the Higher Education Act. The Eighth Circuit issued an injunction halting SAVE in 2024, placing all enrolled borrowers into administrative forbearance meaning no required payments, but also no progress toward loan forgiveness and, crucially, interest continuing to accrue. A momentary flicker of hope appeared on February 27, when U.S. District Court Judge John Ross dismissed the lawsuit on a procedural technicality ruling that since both the Trump administration and the Republican states wanted the same outcome, there was no live legal controversy for the court to resolve. Consumer advocates quickly urged the Department of Education to use that window to restore SAVE benefits. The department did not act. The Republican states appealed immediately. And on March 9, the Eighth Circuit sided with them reversing Ross's dismissal and directing the court to finalize the December 2025 settlement as entered judgment. As Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent stated: "In the coming weeks, the Department will issue clear guidance on next steps for borrowers enrolled in the illegal SAVE Plan, including details regarding how borrowers can move into a legal repayment plan." What the Settlement Requires The terms of the December 2025 settlement are sweeping. Under the agreement now entering as final judgment, the Department of Education must: Stop enrolling any new borrowers in SAVE and deny all pending applications Continue moving current SAVE borrowers to other repayment plans Refrain from forgiving loans under SAVE's income-contingent repayment authority Not implement any provisions of the SAVE Plan Final Rule (with one narrow exception relating to deferment counting toward forgiveness eligibility, which took effect July 1, 2024) Pursue formal rulemaking to officially repeal the SAVE Final Rule The settlement also includes a ten-year oversight provision: if the Department plans to forgive more than $10 billion in federal student loans in any single month, it must give the Missouri Attorney General's office at least 30 days' written notice identifying the legal authority used. Critically, the settlement creates no third-party beneficiary rights meaning individual borrowers cannot use it to sue the government directly. The Human Cost: Two Years of Accruing Interest The legal timeline has had real financial consequences for borrowers. While those in SAVE forbearance were not required to make payments, interest has been accruing on their balances since August 2025. For borrowers who enrolled in SAVE specifically because they expected lower payments and faster forgiveness many of whom had been making payments for years before the injunction the reality is that their balances have been growing, not shrinking, during the legal limbo. The case of Elizabeth Robeson, one of four borrowers who filed a lawsuit against the Department of Education on Monday arguing the agency is compelled to implement SAVE, illustrates the stakes. Robeson borrowed $12,000 for college in the 1980s. She has made payments consistently for decades more than 100 months beyond the 216 required for debt forgiveness under SAVE. Her balance today: $93,000. "I have never been out of compliance on this loan and have paid for decades," Robeson said in the suit. "The student loan crisis has cruelly forced millions of working Americans like me to live in a labyrinth with no clear exit despite our having followed the law." What Borrowers Should Do Right Now With the Eighth Circuit's ruling, the path forward for SAVE borrowers is clear in direction if not yet in timing. Guidance from higher education experts points to several concrete steps: Switch to Income-Based Repayment (IBR). Higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz recommends that most SAVE borrowers immediately file an Income-Driven Repayment Plan Request form and transition to IBR. Under IBR, monthly payments are set at 10% of discretionary income (15% for borrowers with older loans), with debt forgiveness after 20 or 25 years depending on when loans were taken out. If pursuing PSLF, act immediately. Borrowers working toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness should file a PSLF Buyback application to receive credit for months when their progress stalled while in SAVE forbearance. Those months did not count toward PSLF and without the buyback application, that progress is simply lost. Watch for the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP). Beginning July 1, 2026, borrowers will have access to RAP the Trump administration's replacement for SAVE, created under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. RAP uses a sliding scale of 1% to 10% of a borrower's Adjusted Gross Income, with loan forgiveness after 30 years. For many borrowers, particularly those earlier in repayment, RAP's payments may be lower than IBR but the forgiveness timeline is longer, and final rules have not yet been published. Don't wait. Although some advocates have suggested borrowers wait a few weeks to see how the legal situation develops, Kantrowitz and others urge action now. The forbearance that kept payments paused may not last indefinitely, and the sooner borrowers are enrolled in a qualifying repayment plan, the sooner their progress toward forgiveness resumes. The Broader Landscape: More Disruption Ahead The SAVE ruling does not exist in isolation. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law on July 4, 2025, has already begun reshaping the federal student loan landscape. The law phases out several affordable repayment plans and extends forgiveness timelines, making it harder for many borrowers to afford their monthly payments, according to consumer advocates. Meanwhile, more than 22,000 borrowers who have already completed their required IDR payment milestones are still waiting on discharges the Department of Education is legally obligated to process a separate but equally pressing crisis for those who have already done everything right. And IDR forgiveness, when it does arrive in 2026 or later, is currently treated as taxable income under federal law a financial shock that many borrowers are not prepared for. For the millions of students and recent graduates navigating federal student debt, the message from Monday's ruling is uncomfortable but clear: the program you enrolled in is gone. The alternatives exist, but require action. And the longer you wait, the more interest accumulates. Vietnam Briefing has developed into a premium source for insight on doing business in Vietnam. It publishes business news concerning foreign direct investment into Vietnam, including the most important tax, legal and accounting issues. The Vietnam Briefing Magazine was first published in 2009, and is contributed to by investment professionals based in Vietnam. BEIJING, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- An interview with Sunjing, a reporter for China.org.cn on China's Two Sessions 2026: This is my first time covering China's annual "two sessions" on scene. To be honest, as I stepped into the Great Hall of the People, I was so nervous that my hands were sweating. It's beyond my wildest imagination that in my very first year of reporting the event, I had the chance to interview Haji Akber Aisa, the first academician specializing in Xinjiang's medical and health sector. The first question I asked him was about his life-changing career choice. In 1999, after earning his doctorate from the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, he held what many would consider the key to a promising career in a global metropolis, with abundant research resources and opportunities. Yet Haji chose to return to Xinjiang. Back then, research on ethnic medicine in Xinjiang was largely uncharted territory. Numerous valuable empirical formulas and medicinal materials existed, but their ingredients and functions remained vague. Haji said, "I'm determined to use my knowledge to decode the scientific foundations of ethnic medicines and ensure Xinjiang's medical resources can truly benefit people of all ethnic groups. My choice has never wavered." Guided by that original aspiration, he devoted decades to the cause, leaving his footprints all over the Tianshan Mountains. What touches me the most is the story behind the development of the Compound Binafuxi Granules a Uygur medicine used for treating febrile colds. Haji said the biggest challenge in the process was to translate the traditional formula rooted in clinical experience into a modern pharmaceutical product with clearly identified ingredients and scientifically validated efficacy. Haji and his team experienced years of trial and error. In particular, while formulating the national standard sample for rupestonic acid, Haji and his team practically lived in the laboratory, conducting hundreds of experiments. When they finally succeeded in isolating a high-purity bioactive compound, the lab fell into a stunned silence of elation. The long and painstaking journey lasted for 15 whole years. Their hard work ultimately paid off: the Compound Binafuxi Granules was approved for market release. Not long ago, the medicine was included in China's national medical insurance drug list, benefiting more patients nationwide. The academician told me, "We've written our papers across the vast landscapes of Xinjiang, bringing our scientific achievements to the public. That, is the noblest value of scientific research." CHATHAM, Ill (WAND) - Students at Ball Chatham CUSD 5 have a high-tech new way to learn about their emotions and regulate their senses. The Horace Mann Educators Foundation donated interactive panels, which use lights and sounds to help students calm down. "We kept talking about what was a way that we could provide ongoing support for the students in this community and for the educators," said Michelle Eccles, public relations manager for The Horace Mann Companies. "We kept coming back to some kind of sensory resources, something that will help students when they're going through that trauma, that emotion and that stress." The panels are installed in each of the schools' calming rooms. Administrators say that when students start dealing with tough emotions, the sensory technology and calm space help them relax and think before they act. "Sometimes we have students who come into the office and we ask, 'Do you want to go to the sensory room?' and a lot of times the answer is yes," said Steve Rembusch, principal of Chatham Elementary. "We have the room built into a lot of our kids' schedules as well, so they will come in with an adult just to kind of unwind." Activities like these provide a relaxed moment for administrators and teachers to get to the heart of what is going on with a student, before things get too escalated. It's a pause district leadership says can provide the switch to proactive care, instead of reactive discipline. "This room is used for students who are having an emotional event and who need to reset and collect themselves and reflect," said Becca Lamon, superintendent of Ball-Chatham CUSD 5. "We've seen a rise of that in general, across the board, but particularly after last year's tragedy that more students need an opportunity to be able to calm down." The sensory room also has a small trampoline, toys, balls, a comfortable seating. Rembusch said students often visit the room for five to 10 minutes at a time. Copyright 2026. WAND TV. All rights reserved. DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - The race for Macon County Sheriff now involves a federal lawsuit. Deputy Shane Beck is running against current Macon County Sheriff Jim Root as a write-in candidate in the Republican Primary. Beck filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday in the Central District of Illinois, which claims that Root and Chief Deputy Matthew Jedlicka began treating him differently after he told Root that he would run against him in this year's election. Beck claims in the lawsuit that Root and Jedlicka prevented him from earning a promotion to assistant shift commander in February 2025 and removed him as a field training officer two months later, a position he had served in for over four years. He also claimed that Root had him removed from the Special Response Team without justification in January. The lawsuit said that only a handful of deputies serve on the SRT. Beck stated that he was careful to campaign during his off time away from county property and that he was not speaking for the department. Additionally, Beck claimed his rights were violated and he was retaliated against. He's seeking compensation and a trial by jury. New! The latest from WAND in your inbox Sign up for our newsletters to receive breaking news and daily headlines. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Beck sent the following statement to WAND News regarding the lawsuit: "The core of this matter involves a direct violation of protections against acts by public officials that infringe upon the constitutional rights of an individual. We believe that those entrusted with the badge and the authority of the law must be held to the highest standard of accountability, particularly when their actions overstep the boundaries established by our nation's founding documents. As this is now a pending legal matter, I cannot comment on the specific evidentiary details or the internal dynamics of the filing at this time. However, it is my firm belief that the integrity of our public offices is non-negotiable." WAND reached out to Root for comment. He responded with the following statement: On March 11, 2026, the Macon County Sheriffs Office was made aware of a pending federal lawsuit in which Sheriff Jim Root and Chief Deputy Matthew Jedlicka are named as defendants. Sheriff Root and Chief Deputy Jedlicka categorically deny the allegations. Copyright 2026. WAND TV. All rights reserved. (WAND) - On March 17, voters in Christian County will cast their ballots in the primary election for the next sheriff. Two Republican candidates are running, and no Democrats are running. Running are two lifetime Christian County residents and law enforcement officers. Jim Baker is the current Chief Deputy at the Christian County Sheriff's Office. Phil Deal is the current Assistant Chief at the Stonington Police Department. Between Illinois State Police investigations, fraud accusations and social media rumors, the race has become about more than just qualifications. Candidates are finding themselves answering for their pasts rather than talking about the future. Jim Baker Jim Baker has been the second-in-command at the Christian County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) for four years. He started his career working part-time at CCSO and part-time at the Kincaid Police Department, eventually serving as Chief. In total, he's worked in law enforcement roles for 27 years. "One of my mentors took me for a ride-along, and just like a lot of people you do the ride along and you have an exciting night serving the community," said Baker." And I just felt it to be very rewarding and started the career path." If elected, Baker plans to continue many of the initiatives he's started in his time at the CCSO. He also wants to see the department advance it's training on mental health. Ideally, he wants a mental health caseworker or advocate on-call to help respond to calls where people are experiencing a mental health crisis. He also wants to upgrade the technology CCSO uses to combat child exploitation and pornography. In July of 2025, the Illinois State Police (ISP) investigated Baker for theft. Investigation documents obtained by WAND News say Baker took construction materials removed from the county jail during renovations and brought them to his home. In both the official investigation and his conversation with WAND, Baker said a construction worker asked him where to take the rocks he had removed from the building's roof. "I was appointed to oversee a project by the county board and with that, there came questions down the road," said Baker. "The contractor was responsible for removal of some old aggregate. After several attempts I found a solution to a problem, and I believe the outcome speaks for itself." After completing the investigation, ISP referred the case to a special prosecutor, who did not press charges. Recently, Baker was involved in another ISP investigation. A post circulated on social media accusing Baker of sexual assault more than 10 years ago. Baker also said the citizen who accused him was calling the department and leaving threatening emails. Baker told WAND News that he shared concerns about the behavior with Sheriff Bruce Kettlekamp, who asked ISP to investigate the citizen. "We felt that it was threatening and an intimidation thing," said Baker. "So Sheriff and I and the state's attorney worked together and came up with the idea. We were the ones that contacted the state police for the things that were being posted and threatened through email." Sheriff Kettelkamp told WAND News that the rumors were inhibiting Baker's ability to do his job. ISP told him that they would investigate the claims made on social media and the concerns that Baker was being harassed. ISP completed that investigation and passed it to the Greene County State's Attorney for review. The State's Attorney did not press charges against Baker for the accusations made on social media. Baker said this case, along with others he has supervised during his time at CCSO, has taught him just how important transparency is in law enforcement. "As a sheriff candidate, the first thing the voters look at is no different than their hiring anybody else," said Baker. "When you hire someone, the first thing you look at is their work record, their experience, their resume, and proven success." Phil Deal Running against Baker is current Assistant Chief of the Stonington Police Department, Phil Deal. Deal has worked in law enforcement for 24 years, including 16 years at the CCSO. Deal has lived in Christian County for his entire life. His work in law enforcement started with a ride-along and has continued due to his passion for service. "Helping people, like going to a call, a domestic, and giving a little boy or a little girl a stuffed animal and saying, 'Hey, let's take your mind off what's going on," said Deal. "Life's not a competition, we're all in it together." If elected, Deal's top priorities include uniting local law enforcement agencies throughout Christian County. By working with local police departments, he believes service will improve across the county. New! The latest from WAND in your inbox Sign up for our newsletters to receive breaking news and daily headlines. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. "A lot of times we only have two deputies on for 780mi," said Deal. My vision is to make sure that, or try and get everybody in the county, you know, Pana, Morrisonville, Edinburg, Taylorville, Assumption, trying to get the smaller towns, all commission cards so they have arrest powers in our county." Deal has also been the subject of an ISP Investigation. In January of 2015, while Deal was working as a Deputy at CCSO, he was investigated for fraud. He was placed on paid leave while the ISP investigation was underway. Deal was never arrested or charged. "I wrote a check and the lady held it my attorney at that time said that's no different than a farmer going to a farm sale, buying a combine, writing a check for it and going to the bank money and signing the papers," said Deal. "So I was investigated by the state police. They found no wrongdoing." In March of 2015, Deal was suspended without pay for 30 days. According to Deal's CCSO record, he was being considered for dismissal because of policy violations, including not running his tree business ethically and not paying his bills. "Unfortunately, putting four kids through college is a financial strain on a deputy," said Deal. "I mean, I've had money troubles in the past, that's that's no secret." As Sheriff, Deal would be responsible for overseeing the CCSO budget and ensuring deputies followed all department policies. Despite being disciplined for his handling of money, Deal believes he is capable of taking on those responsibilities. "They'll be checks and balances, of course," said Deal. "People that's in charge of payroll, people that's in charge of doing the budgets and what have you." In 2023, Sheriff Bruce Kettelkamp and Baker launched an investigation into Deal over concerns about when and why he was taking time off. During their investigation, they looked into Deal's employment record. They discovered what they believed was a falsified document clearing Deal of his wrongdoings in 2015, according to documents provided to the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB). WAND obtained the letter. The document was allegedly written in 2018 by then Chief Deputy Bruce Engeling. The letter indicated that the strike on Deal's record for his actions in 2015 was removed. Kettelkamp told WAND News he reached out to Engeling and confirmed Engeling did not write the letter. Documents also reveal the union did not have a copy of the letter, despite it being addressed to both Kettelkamp and a union rep. Deal claims he could not have sent the letter himself. "To get the access to that file, you'd have to have a key or to get to the letter, you'd have to have rights to the computer," said Deal. "Nor did I have that. And I had none of them to get to that last chance letter agreement." In an email, Deal's union attorney said Deal was going to be terminated, but wanted to resign instead. The attorney asked CCSO to stop investigating Deal after he resigned and to ensure his ILETSB certification was not affected. In the final paperwork submitted to ILETSB, Baker said Deal resigned while being investigated for policy violations of truthfulness and attendance. Deal maintained his ILETSB certification. Deal said he believed CCSO leadership was retaliating against him because he had been outspoken about his plans to run for sheriff. "I believe that was a part of it, yes," said Deal. "But hopefully the good Lord will let me get sheriff, and we'll go on, move forward and go from there." Now, it's up to Christian County voters to decide which candidate should be their next sheriff. With no Democrat candidate, the Republican primary winner is likely to be the next sheriff. Election day is Tuesday, March 17. Copyright 2026. WANDTV. All Rights Reserved. TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) Israel says Iran has been firing cluster munitions throughout their 10-day war adding a complicated and deadly challenge to Israels already-stretched air defenses. The warheads burst open at high altitudes, scattering dozens of smaller bomblets across a wide area. The smaller bombs, which at night can resemble orange fireballs, are difficult to intercept and have proven lethal. Normally restrictive about releasing information on Iranian hits and damage, Israeli authorities in recent days have sought to educate the public about their dangers, which can persist as unexploded bombs on the ground even after civilians leave shelters. At least three people have been killed, including two at a construction site in central Israel on Tuesday. Over 120 countries have signed an international convention banning the use of cluster munitions, although Israel, the United States and Iran are among the nations that have not joined the treaty. The weapon has been used for decades in conflicts around the world, including by Israel when it fought the Iran-allied Lebanese militant group Hezbollah in 2006. Heres what to know about cluster munitions: The bomblets scatter and kill indiscriminately After whats called a parent munition is launched, it releases smaller submunitions at an altitude of 7-10 kilometers (4-6 miles). These bomblets scatter across a large area, from several hundred meters (yards) to several kilometers (miles), trading precision for coverage. Critics worldwide argue that cluster munitions kill or maim indiscriminately, with unexploded bomblets remaining dangerous long after their use. In Israel, they can be especially dangerous because most of the missiles have been aimed at its densely populated center. Cluster bombs dont create real damage to buildings, only people, said Yehoshua Kalisky, a senior researcher at Israels Institute for National Security Studies. Tough to shoot down An Israeli military official, speaking anonymously under army briefing rules, said Tuesday that roughly half of the projectiles Iran was launching toward Israel had been cluster munitions. Israels Arrow missile-defense system has done a good job intercepting incoming ballistic missiles, Kalisky said. But if cluster munitions are released before the missile is destroyed, there is little that can be done. Israels Iron Dome system is geared toward intercepting smaller rockets fired from short ranges and lower altitudes. But it isnt designed to destroy the clusters once theyve dispersed into dozens of bomblets, Kalisky added. Unlike heavier explosives, the bomblets often weighing less than 3 kilograms (7 pounds) are most dangerous to targets like cars, storefronts or people caught outside shelters. They pose a particular threat to the civilian population both during and after use, with victims often including a high proportion of children, according to the Convention on Cluster Munitions. The submunitions fail to explode more often than other kinds of warheads. Unexploded ordnance can act like a land mine, detonating later and killing indiscriminately. The Open Source Munitions Portal, which authenticates publicly sourced images of munitions worldwide, has published several images of unexploded submunitions found in Israel this week. It also verified images of Israeli submunitions being used in Lebanon last year. Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, an Israeli military spokesperson, declined to comment directly on the allegation, but pointed to a post on the militarys Substack, which noted that cluster bombs can be used against military targets but not civilian areas. Iran has used them frequently Most of the damage in Israel has been caused by larger Iranian missiles, but Iran has been using cluster munitions on a nearly daily basis, Shoshani said. He says Iran fired similar projectiles during the 12-day war in June. The military said the Iranian warheads contain between 20 and 24 bomblets with explosives weighing up to 5 kilograms (11 pounds). The Israeli militarys Home Front Command has distributed flyers warning residents not to touch unexploded submunitions. A public service announcement from police also warned people not to touch anything they see and to call authorities instead. What Iran is using According to the Missile Defense Project at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, Iran said in 2017 that its Khorramshahr medium-range ballistic missile could carry multiple warheads. The missiles are the largest of Irans submunition-dispersing arsenal. Iran also has submunition-equipped shorter range Zolfaghar missiles. Cluster munitions, including those seen in Associated Press video flying westward toward Israel, can look like falling fireballs an effect caused by the friction of reentering the atmosphere. N.R. Jenzen-Jones, director of Armament Research Services, said little open-source information exists about Irans cluster munitions beyond state television reports of leaders touring missile factories and videos from military exercises. But videos showing them used last week indicate that some Iranian missiles carrying cluster munition warheads are designed to open at high altitude, scattering them across an area far larger than most military targets. Design components that disperse them at such heights including a protective coating on the submunitions that can withstand the heat of atmospheric reentry appear to show they were built for far less precise use than cluster munitions seen in other conflicts. The design seems to scatter submunitions so widely as to suggest it was designed purely as a weapon of terror, scattering its explosive cargo indiscriminately over a wide area, Jenzen-Jones said. In July 2025, after the 12-day war between Iran and Israel, Amnesty International said Irans deliberate use of such inherently indiscriminate weapons is a blatant violation of international humanitarian law. Broadly banned but still used Cluster munitions including those more targeted than Irans are not illegal but are barred by the Geneva Conventions for use in civilian areas. Theyre also banned under recent international agreements signed by more than 120 nations. Cluster munitions were first used by Nazi Germany, when it dropped butterfly bombs on the United Kingdom in World War II. The U.S. has used various kinds in Vietnam, Laos, Iraq and Afghanistan, and provided cluster munitions to Ukraine. Russia was accused of using cluster bombs in its 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a charge Moscow denied. During a 2006 war in Lebanon with the militant group Hezbollah, the U.N. estimated some 30% to 40% of Israeli cluster bombs failed to explode, leaving southern Lebanon littered with hundreds of thousands of bomblets. The U.S. State Department said Israel likely used American-made cluster bombs in civilian areas during the 2006 war, after U.N. demining teams found unexploded bomblets in hundreds of locations. Israel is not using cluster bombs currently, according to a military official who spoke on condition of anonymity under the militarys briefing rules. Metz reported from Ramallah. West Bank. Sam Mednick in Tel Aviv contributed. Brunswick is a leading global provider of marine recreation products, leveraging a broad brand portfolio and integrated manufacturing capabilities. The company focuses on innovation and operational scale to address diverse customer needs in the recreational boating market. Its multi-segment approach enables resilience across market cycles and supports a strong competitive position in the marine industry. The company operates a vertically integrated business model, capturing value across the marine recreation value chain by offering propulsion, parts, accessories, and boats directly to OEMs, dealers, and aftermarket channels. Brunswick generates revenue through the design, manufacture, and sale of marine propulsion systems, boat parts and accessories, and a portfolio of recreational boats under brands such as Mercury, Sea Ray, Bayliner, and Boston Whaler. Does the scale of the transaction reflect a change in selling cadence or capacity? Given Foulkes declining holdings over the past two years and the higher proportion sold in this transaction, the increased trade size aligns with diminished remaining capacity rather than a step-up in cadence. Was the transaction executed directly or through other entities or derivative instruments? The sale was executed entirely through direct ownership with no involvement of indirect entities or derivative exercises; no options were exercised or sold in this filing. What percentage of Foulkes ownership was impacted and how does this affect his remaining stake? This transaction reduced Foulkes direct holdings by 12.09%, bringing post-trade direct ownership to 271,169 shares, while his indirect holdings remain unchanged at 7,121 shares held by a savings plan trustee. How does the trade size compare to Foulkes historical open-market sales? The 38,266-share sale is the largest open-market transaction by Foulkes to date, exceeding the historical median of 29,414 shares per sale and surpassing the most recent period median of 35,000 shares, based on data since 2023. Transaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average purchase price ($86.56); post-transaction value based on Feb. 5, 2026 market close ($86.56). David Foulkes, Chief Executive Officer of Brunswick (NYSE:BC), disclosed the direct sale of 38,266 shares for an estimated ~$3.3 million in an open-market transaction on Feb. 5, 2026, according to a SEC Form 4 filing . Story Continues What this transaction means for investors Brunswicks CEO made a notable move in early February, selling a sizable block of shares just days after the company reported earnings and after the stock had already absorbed a post-earnings pullback. This was a direct open-market sale, not an options exercise, which makes it a more deliberate transaction worth noting. Brunswick's Jan. 29 earnings release saw a negative market reaction despite the company surpassing revenue expectations, with investors rattled by first-quarter EPS guidance that came in well below consensus. Foulkes sold into that environment at roughly $87 per share. Brunswick posted its first annual revenue increase in three years in 2025 and projected continued growth in 2026, but tariff headwinds remain a persistent challenge heading into the first quarter. For investors in consumer cyclicals like Brunswick, the marine recreation industry is sensitive to consumer confidence and discretionary spending. Key things to watch: whether retail boat demand continues to stabilize, how management navigates tariff pressures, and whether parts, accessories, and services revenue can provide ballast during softer periods. Should you buy stock in Brunswick right now? Before you buy stock in Brunswick, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Brunswick wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $534,008!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $1,090,073!* Now, its worth noting Stock Advisors total average return is 949% a market-crushing outperformance compared to 190% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of March 9, 2026. Sara Appino has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Brunswick. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Brunswick's CEO Just Sold $3.3 Million in Stock Amid a Post-Earnings Pullback. Here's the Bigger Picture. was originally published by The Motley Fool SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) The Illinois Senate Insurance Committee approved legislation Tuesday night to require private insurance companies cover seizure detection devices. There are currently multiple devices approved by the Food & Drug Administration to alert people of oncoming or ongoing seizures. Sponsors said these tools could cost between $250 to $2,000. This proposal would require group insurance companies to provide coverage for medically-necessary devices with a maximum cost-sharing amount of $50 per year. The measure also bans insurers from requiring prior authorization to obtain the devices. "These FDA-cleared seizure monitoring devices and detecting devices detect seizures in real time," said Dave Manning with the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago. "They alert caregivers to intervene, reducing the cost of hospitalization, emergency room visits and most importantly saving lives." New! The latest from WAND in your inbox Sign up for our newsletters to receive breaking news and daily headlines. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Yet, the Illinois Life and Health Insurance Council opposes the current bill language. ILHIC President Laura Minzer said it is difficult to see how private insurers can cover the cost if the state cannot absorb the price in its own health plan. "It does raise eyebrows when one of the larger payers, including the state group health, has been exempted out for reasons of cost," Minzer said. "So, that means those costs will be borne by small employers, other large employers, some of the individual plans, although HMOs are out of this, local governments, and schools as well." Senate Bill 2762 passed out of the Senate Insurance Committee on a 9-1 vote. It now moves to the Senate floor for further consideration. "Expanding access to these devices is a critical step to ensuring longer and healthier lives for everyone," said Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest). "By requiring coverage through health insurance plans, we're creating new pathways for those who suffer from a seizure disorder to get the care they deserve." Copyright 2026. WAND TV. All rights reserved. A referendum that puts trust in Italys justice system at the centre of the debate. Italy will soon vote on a constitutional reform of the judiciary, yet if you ask most voters what the referendum is actually about, the answers are often vague. The proposal backed by the government of Giorgia Meloni focuses on separating the careers of judges and prosecutors and restructuring the bodies that govern the magistracy. But beneath the technical language of constitutional reform lies a deeper concern about the nature of institutional trust in Italy. On the surface, the proposal appears administrative. Supporters argue that separating the careers of judges and prosecutors would clarify roles and reduce the influence of internal factions within the judiciary. Italys magistracy has long been organised as a single professional order in which judges and prosecutors belong to the same career structure and share the same governing council. Critics say this system has allowed entrenched internal groups, known as, to shape promotions and decision-making within the judiciary. From this perspective, reform is presented as a modernisation effort. By separating career paths and introducing changes to the governance of the judiciary, proponents argue that the system would become more transparent and less dominated by internal power blocs. The claim is that such reforms would make the justice system clearer, more accountable, and ultimately more understandable to the public. Opponents, however, see the proposal very differently. For them, the unified structure of the magistracy is not a flaw but a safeguard. The fact that judges and prosecutors belong to the same professional order has historically been viewed as a protective barrier between the justice system and political power. The concern is that separating careers could, over time, make prosecutors more vulnerable to political influence. These critics argue that institutional design is not just about efficiency or clarity; it is about power. Once structural changes are made to the balance between political institutions and the judiciary, the consequences may unfold slowly over decades. The question therefore becomes less about the intentions of any particular government and more about how the system might function in the future. What makes the debate particularly Italian is that both sides claim to defend the same principle: judicial independence. Supporters of the reform say it will free the judiciary from internal factionalism. Opponents argue it could weaken the judiciarys independence from politics. In the end, the referendum highlights a broader dilemma facing many democracies today. Institutions that are essential to the functioning of the state are often also the ones that citizens trust the least. Reforming them is therefore both necessary and deeply contentious. For voters, the choice is not simply between change and stability. It is between two competing visions of how to preserve trust in the system itself. And in Italy, where the tension between politics and the courts has long been part of the countrys democratic story, that is no small question. Palazzo Barberini and Santa Maria Maggiore join forces to celebrate Baroque genius. Italy's National Galleries of Ancient Art and the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome have launched a prestigious cultural partnership linked to the Bernini and the Barberini exhibition. By presenting their ticket for the blockbuster show, visitors will be able to access the museum complex of Santa Maria Maggiore at a discounted rate. In turn, visitors to the museum in the papal basilica will be able to enjoy a reduced rate for visiting the exhibition at Palazzo Barberini by showing their admission ticket. In addition to offering reciprocal discounted entry between the two sites, the collaboration allows visitors to explore the genius of Gian Lorenzo Bernini across both secular and sacred spaces. Bernini (1598-1680) is buried in the papal basilica, in the family tomb located in the right lateral nave of the church. A centrepiece of this synergy is the new guided tour, The Berninis at Santa Maria Maggiore: Genius Between Art and Faith, held every Thursday at 12.00. This curated itinerary takes guests through the Basilicas masterpieces, including the relief of the Assumption of the Virgin, the sculpture of Philip IV, and the famous spiral staircase. The tour culminates on the Panoramic Terraces, offering breathtaking views across the rooftops of Rome, from the site of the artist's first workshop to the Dome of St Peter's. The initiative, which runs in parallel to Bernini-themed tours of St Peter's, provides a unique opportunity to witness how Bernini shaped Baroque Rome. The tours will be held until the exhibition concludes on 14 June 2026. For full information including booking details see official website. Tom Tuite A Brazilian Deliveroo driver has been denied bail after being charged with sexually assaulting an eight-year-old girl in a north Dublin alley last month. The 27-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons and has been living illegally in Ireland for two years, appeared before Judge Michele Finan at Dublin District Court on Wednesday. The accused, described as having "made his life here" has since been let go by a food delivery company. He was charged with sexual assault of the girl who had been out playing with a friend on February 15th, and possessing a false Portuguese driving licence on a later date at his address in the city's north side. Garda Grainne Raggett told Judge Finan that the man's response to the assault charge was "no reply" and he told gardai he did not know the licence was false. She opposed bail, citing fears that the accused would not face trial if released and the seriousness of the case. Garda Raggett also said that directions will be sought from the Director of Public Prosecutions regarding possible further charges, and she alleged he was suspected of being involved in "suspicious" approaches to two other children on separate dates last month. Regarding the alleged child sex attack, the garda said the girl's father came to a north Dublin station to report the incident. It was alleged that the child was in an alley near her home playing with a friend when she observed a delivery rider approaching on an electric bicycle. A recorded specialist interview was later carried out, during which the girl stated that the man pulled down her pants as far as her knees, exposing her skin and genital area. The contested bail hearing was told that the girl recalled that the man brought his face down to her level, touched her hip with one hand, and the lower stomach area. The court heard that she described how he used two fingers to touch her below the stomach area, closer to her private parts than to her belly button. Garda Raggett, still citing the specialist interview, alleged that the man then took a phone call, "told her he was done," and left on his bicycle. The child could tell he had an electric bicycle because he did not need to pedal, the court heard. It emerged during the bail hearing that the gardai received separate reports of a Deliveroo driver making approaches to children on February 13th and 17th, which are still under investigation. The garda agreed with defence counsel Ciara Murray that her client recalled "a brief, quite innocent encounter" in relation to one of the approach allegations when he was going through a laneway. In his garda interview, he denied the sexual assault and told gardai that he may have brushed against her, but did not touch her with his hand. GPS phone data obtained in the investigation showed he was in all three areas on those dates, the court heard. Garda Raggett said the accused, who has no status in Ireland, arrived from the UK two years ago; his home was searched, resulting in the driving licence find. She said the accused had been tracked on CCTV footage, but under cross-examination, the garda conceded there was no footage of him with the girl in the lane. Defence counsel Ciara Murray pleaded for bail, telling the judge that her client would abide by stringent conditions. She stressed that the man, who did not address the court, was of limited means but had stable accommodation and had cooperated with the investigation, during which he identified himself on CCTV footage. He also admitted to using lanes during his deliveries. He had no convictions in Ireland, and counsel submitted there was no evidence to suggest he would fail to turn up for his trial. Judge Finan emphasised that the accused still had the presumption of innocence, but held that Garda Raggett had established grounds to oppose bail and remanded the accused in custody to appear again on March 18th at Cloverhill District Court. Legal aid was granted. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help. In the case of an emergency, always dial 999/112. Seldom would anyone argue that now is not the time for a company to go public. Considering what is going on around the world, an IPO should be the last thing on any market participant's radar. Yet, with a backer like SoftBank (SFTBY) in its corner, payments system operator PayPay (PAYP) can breathe a bit easier. Seeking a valuation of about $13.4 billion, the Tokyo-based company is looking to raise about a billion dollars for its American listing. Founded in 2018 as a joint venture between SoftBank and Yahoo Japan, PayPay has built a registered user base of about 72 million. More News from Barchart So, amid all the chaos, is PayPay a yea or a "nay"? Let's find out. Growth Backed By Strong Financials PayPay's growing prominence in Japan's payments market has been accompanied by a steadily growing and robust set of numbers. While total revenues have grown to 299.1 million yen in fiscal 2025 from 201.2 million yen in 2023, the company has turned a loss of 58.7 yen per share to a profit of 65.8 yen per share in the same period. Notably, this has come along with a rise in the number of users and the amount transacted from its platform. Monthly transacting users have increased from 30.3 million in 2023 to 37.2 million in 2025, with the number of transactions soaring from 5.1374 billion to 7.8066 billion in the last three years. Impressively, in a short span of two years, PayPay has built a deposits and loans balance of 1.841 trillion yen and 926.9 billion yen, respectively, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025. This is noteworthy in an environment in Japan where still low interest rates make attracting deposits a tough proposition. Gross merchandise value has also been on the rise, from 10.47 trillion yen in 2023 to 15.68 trillion yen for the year ended March 31, 2025. This has somewhat negated the company's static take rate of around 1.61%. Also, the company turned to generate cash flows from its operations by the end of fiscal 2025, turning a negative flow of 194.7 million yen to an inflow of 155.85 million yen by 2025. And the trends seem to have held up in 2025. Total revenues are up 26.3% from the previous year to 278.5 million yen, while earnings have jumped to 159.8 yen per share from just 48.2 yen per share in the year-ago period. Deposits and loans to customers are also up to 2.98 trillion yen and 2.33 trillion yen. Two TDs from Waterford have said the Government needs to do something immediately to help families hit with massive increases in the price of home heating oil. Sinn Fein Deputies, David Cullinane and Conor McGuinness said the issue has exposed the Government's "failure to protect families". They said Fianna Fail and Fine Gael cannot continue to stand by while families are hit with such massive cost increases. Their comments follow new data from the European Commission showing Ireland has experienced the largest increase in home-heating oil prices anywhere in the EU, with a 27.3 per cent rise in a single week - eight times the EU average. Deputy Cullinane said the Government must stop acting as a spectator and intervene immediately. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael must act now to bring prices down and protect families," he said. "For the 700,000 households that rely on heating oil, particularly those in rural communities, these increases are simply unaffordable," he added. He said his own party introduced legislation - the Mineral Oil Tax (Emergency Cost of Living Reduction) Bill - with a view to cutting excise duties on petrol and diesel and bringing relief to households and workers. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael also need to suspend planned carbon tax increases and cut VAT on home-heating oil in line with the lower 9 per cent rate applied to electricity and gas," said Deputy Cullinane. Deputy McGuinness said the figures underline the urgent need for immediate action to protect households: Households are already under enormous pressure from the cost-of-living crisis. Now they are being hit with a staggering surge in heating oil prices that is far beyond anything seen across the rest of Europe." Referring to the enormous hike of 27 per cent within one week, compared with the EU average increase of just over 3 per cent, Deputy McGuinness said that for many households it means the cost of filling a tank soared to nearly 1,800. There must also be a full investigation into price gouging in the fuel market," he said. "If companies are exploiting an international crisis to boost profits while families struggle to heat their homes, that cannot be tolerated," he added. The public cannot afford for Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and their Independent allies to remain spectators while households are hammered. Waterford-based parenting peer support groups are among 49 across the country set to receive funding from the 'Supporting Parents, Parent Peer Support Fund'. Minister for Children, Disability, and Equality, Norma Foley, made the announcement on Wednesday, March 11. Parent peer support is when parents support each other by sharing knowledge, reducing feelings of isolation, and providing encouragement to navigate challenges and achieve well-being and that includes peer support for parents who share similar life experiences, such as raising a child with complex needs or a mental health condition. A spokesperson for the Department said research suggests parents are more comfortable seeking support from their peers and that parent peer support projects promote healthy parenting skills, an increased sense of empowerment, and a feeling of belonging. This year, the total value of the support fund has increased from 100,000 to 152,500 and the total number of services awarded funding has increased from 42 to 49. Grants of up to 5,000 are being provided to organisations working with parents and carers to support them to develop parent peer support initiatives. In making the announcement Minister Foley said: "It is clear that there are many positive benefits of these programmes where parents support parents. This is why I have expanded the funding available, allowing us to directly support delivery of a greater number of peer support projects across the country. Twelve projects will receive grants of 5,000 to expand an existing parenting support initiative, which is already working for parents, while 37 projects will receive grants of 2,500 to continue operating or to establish a new parent peer support initiative. In Waterford the three projects that will receive funding include: Responds Family Support Service, Airmount (5,000); Autism Support Dungarvan, Kilballyquilty, Rathgormack (5,000); Chronic Health Advocate CLG, Kilcannon, Dunhill (5,000); St Brigid's Family and Community Centre, 37 Lower Yellow Road (2,500); Waterford PETE, Focus Ireland, First Floor, No.7 The Mall, Waterford (2,500). This funding is part of 'Supporting Parents, Aa National Model of Parenting Support Services', which seeks to ensure that all parents and carers are confident and capable in their parenting role, helping to achieve the best outcomes for children and families. This year's fund will support a broad range of peer-led initiatives, including supports for parents of children with additional needs, along with programmes for families affected by domestic violence, and parents of LGBTIQ+ children. Tier 1 of the fund provides grants of 2,500 to successful applicants who either currently operate, or wish to establish a new parent peer support project. Tier 2 provides grants of 5,000 to successful applicants who wish to scale up an existing parent peer support project that has been proven to have a positive impact for parents. Details of future funding initiatives under the National Model of Parenting Support Services will be communicated via the Department website and social media channels later this year. Fiona Ferguson A man who anally raped his wife after she consented to intercourse but made it clear she did not want anal sex has been jailed for six years. The Central Criminal Court heard that the man admitted his guilt during his trial as his wife was giving evidence. He had previously claimed the incident was consensual. The 43-year-old man, who cannot be identified to protect the womans identity, pleaded guilty to anal rape of his wife at their family home in Co Waterford on December 18th, 2024. Passing sentence on Tuesday, Justice Paul Burns said this was a drunken assault by a husband on his wife and he had taken advantage of her consent to sex despite the fact she had told him she did not want anal sex. He set a headline sentence of eight and a half years. He said he was sceptical of a submission that because anal sex had occurred on a previous occasion this lessened the gravity of the offence. He took into account the mans lack of prior convictions and good work history, as well as his remorse and apology to his wife and family. He noted the plea came late but said it had value as the woman did not have to undergo cross examination and it was an acknowledgement of his guilt. Justice Burns imposed a seven-year sentence and suspended the final year for three years on condition the man is under the supervision of the Probation Service. The sentence is backdated to when he went into custody. An investigating garda told Michael Delaney, prosecuting, that the couple were watching a movie in their home and drinking whiskey. The accused man said he wanted anal sex, but the injured party refused as it had happened before and she did not want to do it again. She believed they were going to have regular sex but the accused instead anally raped her. The man fell asleep. The woman found she was bleeding and after speaking with her adult daughter the woman attended at a garda station. She underwent a forensic exam at a Sexual Assault Treatment Unit and was found to have a laceration to her anal area consistent with the allegations. Gardai attended at the house and found the accused still asleep. They told him he would have to leave the house as it was a crime scene. On December 20th, 2024, the accused was arrested at Dublin Airport after gardai received information that he was planning to leave the country. He has been in custody since that time. During his garda interview, the accused man said his wife had consented to anal sex and had consented to it on previous occasions. He said he had tried to have anal sex with her but had been unable to do so. When her injuries were put to him, he suggested she may have caused the laceration herself. His wife declined to make a victim impact statement and was not present in court. She gave her evidence during the trial via video link. The garda agreed with Aidan Doyle, defending, that alcohol was something both parties indulged in and this was an issue in their relationship. Doyle said his client wishes to apologise and had written a letter to that effect. He submitted it demonstrates insight and remorse on the part of the accused. He said the accused had a very good work history. Counsel said there had been consent to sex immediately prior to the anal rape, which he submitted was of fairly short duration. He said anal sex was something they had engaged in before and submitted that was a mitigating factor in the case. Doyle said the guilty plea came before the injured party was due to be crossed examined and it was not put to her that she was not telling the truth. He asked the court to give his client some credit for that. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help. In the case of an emergency, always dial 999/112. British comedian James Barr thought his career was over after he left his abusive partner. Since then, hes made a triumphant return to the stage. James Barr was beaten and belittled by his boyfriend. Now, hes telling jokes about it. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A As the clinician moved her Botox-filled syringe towards James Barrs forehead, he blurted out something hed never told anyone: his partner was abusing him. I think if youve been hit by your boyfriend, strangled, pushed down the stairs, verbally abused and psychologically messed with, then a needle coming towards your face is the definition of being triggered, says the British comedian and breakfast radio host. I had a rush of feelings Id been suppressing for so long, and the clinician obviously stopped to make sure I was OK. Barr admitted he was far from OK, prompting the woman whom hed only just met to reveal her own experience: she had left her violent husband to protect herself and her daughter. Its moments like that where you realise youre not alone, says Barr, speaking exclusively to this masthead over Zoom from his London home. From March 16, Barr, 41, will tour his stand-up comedy show, Sorry I Hurt Your Son (Said My Ex To My Mum) across Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne. The first part of that title is what Alex, as Barr calls his former boyfriend, wrote in a Christmas card to Barrs mother after their four-year relationship ended. I dont think he realised what he was saying, Barr says, noting that Alex often claimed his abuse upset him more than the man he inflicted it upon. He believes Alex intended to apologise for the emotional distress hed caused and that his use of the word hurt was unwittingly revealing. Shortly after Barr left Alex, he snapped in the middle of a live show, unexpectedly telling the audience that hed broken up with the man he thought hed marry. It was horrible, and he assumed his comedy career was over. Advertisement Six months later, after much intensive therapy, he began working on Sorry I Hurt Your Son, which he has performed more than 100 times, earning a swag of four- and five-star reviews. The version he will bring to Australia is significantly different to its earliest incarnation. And he has an unlikely trio to thank: his co-directors Madeleine Parry (who also directed Hannah Gadsbys globally successful Netflix special, Nanette) and British comedian Chris Gau; as well as high-profile Welsh TV producer Russell T Davies, who created Queer as Folk and was showrunner and head writer for the Doctor Who revival in the early 2000s, among other hit series. Davies told Barr there was a crucial element missing from his show: an understanding of why he fell in love with Alex. Parry and Gau had already made similar observations, to no avail. I was really angry, Barr recalls. I didnt want to talk about why this guy was great. Why should I? He hurt me! I didnt know this could happen to a man. I just assumed it was a bit of rough and tumble. James Barr Then it dawned on him: the stereotype of abusers as ogres with no redeeming qualities made it harder for him to label his own situation as abusive. After all, Alex could also be charming, tender and affectionate. Its an important thing for us to face as a society, Barr insists. We have to look at this differently and realise that [abuse is perpetrated] by our family members: our mothers, our fathers, our brothers, everyone. But I think its easier not to acknowledge that, because then it doesnt hurt as much. Being in a same-sex relationship was another barrier. I didnt know this could happen to a man, Barr says. I just assumed it was a bit of rough and tumble; that it was my fault because Im meant to be a man, Im meant to be strong, and it made me question whether I was sort of allowing it because I chose not to fight back. (According to a 2024 Australian government report, one-quarter of women and one in seven men have experienced violence from an intimate partner; in LGBTIQ relationships, that proportion exceeds 60 per cent among survey respondents.) Advertisement Eating outRestaurant news Noma event loses sponsors after a report of past abuse by its chef Two companies have withdrawn from a series of dinners in Los Angeles after The New York Times reported allegations that Rene Redzepi attacked workers. Julia Moskin March 11, 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 Two major sponsors of a $1,500 US-per-night ($2,100 AUD) series of pop-up dinners in Los Angeles staged by the globally acclaimed Copenhagen, Denmark, restaurant Noma have pulled out in response to a New York Times report that its chef, Rene Redzepi, abused employees for years. Noma's Rene Redzepi. Laura L.P. HDG Photography American Express and Blackbird, a hospitality startup, announced Monday that they would withdraw from the sold-out, 16-week series, scheduled to start Wednesday. Both companies had purchased blocks of tickets for their members. Resy American Express bought six nights for its U.S. Platinum cardholders, and Blackbird bought about $100,000 worth of tickets throughout the run. They said they would issue refunds to customers and donate all proceeds already collected to organisations that protect restaurant workers. We cannot lean on time elapsed and rehabilitation claims when these things resurface. Blackbird founder, Ben Leventhal, Advertisement Renes past practices, by his own admission, were unacceptable and abhorrent, Blackbirds founder, Ben Leventhal, said in a statement, referring to an apology Redzepi issued in response to the Times article. We cannot lean on time elapsed and rehabilitation claims when these things resurface. A spokesperson for Resy American Express said that the company was stepping away from the sponsorship and that it would reinvest the proceeds to benefit Los Angeles hospitality workers. Our priority is to support the restaurant community and not let this decision impact the many people who have worked hard to bring this residency to life, from local farmers to purveyors and more. A Noma spokesperson did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment. Redzepi at Noma, the most influential restaurant of the past decade. NYT Advertisement Noma has been the most influential restaurant of the past decade, with its inventive dishes and commitment to local, sustainable and foraged ingredients. It was ranked No. 1 five times on the Worlds 50 Best Restaurants list and awarded three Michelin stars. Redzepi was hailed as a God of Food in Time magazine and was knighted for his contributions to Danish culture. But, as the Times reported Saturday, Redzepi also became notorious among kitchen workers for inflicting physical and psychological abuse that went beyond even the norms of an industry plagued by toxic workplaces. Some 35 former employees told the Times that between 2009 and 2017, he hit, jabbed and shoved workers for minor errors and punched them when enraged by an infraction. He threatened them with blacklisting, deportation and public shaming. The Los Angeles pop-up has been a flashpoint on social media since a former employee, Jason Ignacio White, last month began posting allegations of past abuse. Noma restaurant in Copenhagen was considered the world's best restaurant. Laura L.P. HDG Photography One Fair Wage, a labor group, plans to protest Wednesday afternoon outside the pop-up venue in Silver Lake, calling for reparations for workers and changes in Nomas workplace policies. A Noma spokesperson said that in recent years, the company has adopted formal human resources systems, management training and improved work hours. Advertisement The pop-up, similar to those Noma has staged in Sydney; Kyoto, Japan; and Tulum, Mexico, will run for about 60 nights. All tickets sold out in minutes, Redzepi said on Instagram when tickets were released January 26. For each night, Noma sold 42 tickets, bringing the potential revenue to $63,000 per night, and about $4 million for the total run. According to the ticketing website Tock, which is owned by American Express, all bookings are now non-refundable and non-transferable. Of the six nights Resy American Express bought for its cardholders, three were already sold out, and the remaining three were still to be released. Customers who bought tickets can request a refund. All remaining proceeds from the three nights sold will be donated, and the remaining three will be given back to Noma, a Resy spokesperson said. Leventhal said he was in contact with Noma and was insisting they route a majority of profits similarly. New York Times Related Article Chef accused of public shaming rituals at worlds best restaurant Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share More: Restaurant news Hospitality culture Advertisement NationalQueenslandFloods Roads cut, power switched off, residents isolated as Bundaberg floods Laine Clark , Lloyd Jones and and Felicity Caldwell Updated March 11, 2026 9:56am ,first published March 11, 2026 6:06am 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 Thousands of people could be isolated for days as residents wait to assess the extent of flooding in the Queensland coastal city of Bundaberg following days of intense rain. Triggering memories of the 2010 flooding disaster, hundreds of homes and businesses have been inundated after a tropical low dumped more than 300 millimetres of rain in the already sodden Burnett River catchment, cutting off Bundabergs two main bridges. Loading The river peaked at 7.4 metres on Wednesday morning, below the 7.6 metres initially forecast by the weather bureau, and 30 centimetres shy of 2010 levels that forced about 400 people to evacuate. It was also well short of the 2013 disaster when record 9.53 metre floodwater swamped about 4000 homes and damaged infrastructure. Advertisement The peak was expected to impact 280 homes and 120 businesses in the city of more than 70,000 people. Attention is turning further west, where the residents of Chinchilla are closely watching the banks of Charleys Creek, which is expected to peak on Thursday. Locals were on a knifes edge amid fears floodwater would close in on their homes, Premier David Crisafulli said. Flood peaks are also set to hit Longreach and Bedourie within days. The news Advertisement Floodwater rose in Bundaberg on Tuesday night, forcing about 200 people to seek shelter at an evacuation centre while two motorists needed to be plucked from their cars. Hundreds of homes and businesses were flooded and a handful of schools closed, while about 2500 people lost power. Drone images show the flooding in Bundaberg on Tuesday. Ray White Bundaberg Locals were asked to leave immediately late on Tuesday before the communitys two major bridges were shut down, leaving about 10,000 people on the citys northside isolated potentially for days. Chief Inspector Grant Marcus, the regions disaster co-ordinator, expressed his frustration at the two motorists who drove into floodwater one on Tuesday night and another on Wednesday morning. Advertisement Quite simply, it was another idiot driving through floodwaters, Marcus said. Loading Some people just dont understand the message, which once again puts our people at risk. Bundaberg Hospital remained operational, despite flooding in the car park. What they said Advertisement Marcus assured residents there was no need for panic buying. The shops are being filled with supplies, fuel is coming in theres no need to rush out and fill up your kitchen cupboards and fridges, he said. Crisafulli, who travelled to Bundaberg on Tuesday evening, said some residents had endured four major flooding events in 15 years. Thats a big blow. And its hard to keep picking yourself off the canvas, he said. Proud communities like this find a way to keep bouncing back, but just because theyre resilient doesnt mean they should be left to their own devices. Advertisement This has been a system and season that has tested us in a big way across a large part of the state, but overwhelmingly people have handled it with great strength and resilience. Loading Bundaberg Mayor Helen Blackburn acknowledged the mental health impacts on people who had been caught up in previous floods, and implored them to put their personal safety first. Were not new to this, weve done it before, she said. We can replace possessions. We cant replace people. Authorities are warning people not to drive through flooded roads. Ray White Bundaberg Advertisement Road closures Crisafulli confirmed the Bruce Highway had reopened, although more than 640 roads remained affected across the state. He said bridge engineers had been deployed early to Bundaberg so roads could be reopened more quickly. Blackburn said the water level needed to fall below seven metres, which might not happen for another day or two, before the Tallon and Burnett bridges could be reopened. More than 70 roads were closed across the Bundaberg region, including the Isis Highway and on several roads across Bundaberg South, Bundaberg Central, Sharon and Welcome Creek. Advertisement Water rescue crews and extra emergency services, including more than 30 police officers, have been sent to the Bundaberg region. Ray White Bundaberg A full list of road conditions can be found on the Bundaberg Regional Council disaster dashboard. Stock losses At least 1200 head of cattle have already been lost along with 1000 kilometres of fencing, the premier said. Immense crop losses were also expected, Crisafulli adding that the state and federal governments would work together to support farmers. Advertisement View post on X Power outages More than 2500 properties lost power, including in Bundaberg Central, Sharon, Bundaberg South, Bundaberg North, Bundaberg East, Wallaville, Bundaberg West and Bungadoo. Police said parts of the city had also been de-energised for safety purposes. The aim will be to look at those individually and determine when we need to re-energise those, Marcus said. Advertisement School closures Eight schools in the region closed on Wednesday, including three state schools and five independent schools: Bundaberg East State School Sharon State School Kolan South State School St Josephs Catholic Primary School Impact Community Academy Mungalla Silver Lining School St Johns Lutheran Primary School Wadja Wadja High School Bundaberg Central State Schools oval and playground areas were flooded. Emergency warnings Advertisement An emergency warning urging people in the Bundaberg North, Bundaberg East, Bundaberg South and Bundaberg Central areas to leave immediately was issued at lunchtime on Tuesday. Your life is at risk, the warning advised. The Bundaberg Recreational Precinct on Kendalls Road at Branyan has been established as an evacuation centre. Flooding in the Northern Territory Flooding has also affected the Northern Territory. Advertisement More rain has stalled the clean-up at Katherine, where hundreds of people remain in shelters, houses are still without power and crocodiles have been spotted in floodwater. Hundreds of residents from the communities of Daly River, Palumpa, Beswick and Jilkminggan were airlifted at the weekend, mostly to Darwin. Residents in the NT capital have been asked to minimise water use after flooding shut down a Darwin River Dam pump station. Temporary generators have been put in place, with the full water supply set to return in the coming days. with AAP Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share More: Floods Bundaberg Felicity Caldwell is a journalist at Brisbane Times. , Facebook or email. Connect via X Advertisement NationalWAMetronet Its got Commonwealth backing, but will Labor fully realise its Metronet vision? Hamish Hastie March 12, 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 The Metronet circle line is officially a Commonwealth priority after appearing on the 2026 Infrastructure Australia priority projects list on Wednesday. Its appearance on the list of national priority projects within a five to 10 year timeframe will add to the increasing public intrigue around the project and comes after Premier Roger Cook twice publicly stated his wish for the circle line to be completed. The Metronet visions from 2013 (left) and 2017 (right). WA Labor Infrastructure Australia listed the WA government as the projects proponent, but Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said it has nothing to do with her or the Cook government. Labors original vision for Metronet in December 2012 included north and south circle routes, while its 2017 election pledge included a vague large circle route connecting the Yanchep line to Fremantle, cutting through the citys other rail lines. Advertisement The proposal, as listed on the Infrastructure Australia site, is dubbed the Perth metro orbital rail route and a mock-up shows Morley Station connecting to Stirling Station on the Yanchep line. That will then connect to Shenton Park on the Fremantle line and travel further south to a proposed UWA QEII station and across the river to a proposed Booragoon station, which then connects to the existing Murdoch Station on the Mandurah line. In addition to the circle line, part of the proposal includes connecting the Ellenbrook line to the Yanchep line heading toward Butler Station, called the East Wanneroo Rail Link. The proposal said Perth was experiencing strong population growth and more high-capacity rail lines were needed to support growth corridors. The Perth rail network planning proposal responds to this need by planning for additional heavy rail capacity, including new connections to serve growing areas, it said. Advertisement A new orbital rail service could provide easier access between major activity centres without requiring transfers through CBD stations. Such an orbital would ultimately allow travel eastward from Murdoch to the Armadale Line, and Stirling to Morley, making a near complete circle around the Perth CBD. The project is listed as requiring investment in five to 10 years. With the completion of Midland Station last month, phase one of Labors promised Metronet rail network expansion is complete, but this masthead understands no serious planning on the circle line has started. However, its appearance on the Infrastructure Priority List adds weight to the view that Labor will eventually look to realise its ultimate Metronet vision. Advertisement Saffioti said the state government did not put forward the Perth metropolitan orbital rail route to Infrastructure Australia. It is not currently under consideration, she said. We are always looking at ways to improve our world-class public transport network and how we can continue to deliver accessible and affordable public transport for WAs growing population. Well continue to work closely with the Albanese Government to progress projects that deliver the best outcomes for the people of WA. She also said the proposed East Wanneroo line was outdated. Advertisement We continue to work on reviewing public transport options for the East Wanneroo corridor, she said. Other rail projects in Perth also made it onto the priority list including the upgrades to old stations on the Armadale, Midland and Fremantle train lines to accommodate larger six car sets. Infrastructure Australia recommended investment needed to occur on this project within two to four years. The high-capacity signalling project under way was also listed as a priority. The PTAs High-Capacity Signalling project will replace and significantly upgrade signalling and train control systems on Perths passenger rail network, allowing more trains to run more often, Saffioti said. It will be delivered in stages over several years to minimise disruption to the operational railway. The WA Country Health Service has issued a directive to staff to not leave fuel tanks in work vehicles below three-quarters full as the agency grapples with fuel supply issues that have already started impacting agricultural businesses. The email to staff, obtained by the opposition and read out in question time, issued a directive to staff to keep fuel tanks above three-quarters full at all times while also urging staff to carpool. If you have not filled the car up when you return it, you will be asked to go back out and do it. We need to support each other in this, the email read. An attachment to the email also directed staff embarking on out-of-town travel that they must depart with a full tank for any travel outside the local area, as fuel availability at your destination cannot be guaranteed. Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas queried the government on its public commentary that fuel supplies were fine in the state when government agencies were sending such statements. Cook deflected and instead said the question was implying that nurses looking after petrol in vehicles was leading to panic buying. The government is hosting an industry fuel roundtable this afternoon. Advertisement Exclusive NationalWATerror charges WA terror-accuseds gun ownership history reveals how he got access to firearms Hannah Murphy and Hamish Hastie March 12, 2026 2:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A A Perth man accused of planning a mass casualty terror attack targeting public buildings and mosques was at one point able to buy guns due to a property letter from an outback station that had the sign-off under a now-closed loophole in WAs old gun laws. Jayson Joseph Michaels, from the town of Bindoon, about an hour north of Perth, faces five charges, including acting in preparation for a terrorist act. Jayson Joseph Michaels. Facebook The Western Australia Joint Counter Terrorism Team charged Michaels following an investigation into his online activities, and alleged he was planning a mass casualty event at a range of public buildings across Perth, including the WA Police Headquarters, WA Parliament House and Muslim places of worship. It will be alleged Michaels was motivated by a white supremacist ideology. A number of firearms were also allegedly seized from the property. Advertisement It is not known when police allege Michaels was able to obtain the guns, but this masthead understands a review of his previous firearm ownership indicated he was at one point able to access guns due to a loophole in WAs old laws. In 2023, Michaels used a property letter from an outback station to purchase and legally own firearms. The property letter system has since been shut down due to its ability to be abused, and this masthead understands the guns seized in Februarys raid were not obtained using this documentation due to recent firearms act reforms. Premier Roger Cook previously confirmed Michaels had owned the guns legally at the time of the raid. A letter from December 2023 supported Michaels gun ownership by stating he was able to shoot on a property in the states Gascoyne region. Advertisement Under WAs old firearms laws, rural landowners could issue letters that would permit people to shoot vermin on their property. The letters were used by recreational shooters to gain easier access to guns and gun licences. Guns seized from Michaels house. These were not alleged to have been purchased using his 2023 property letter. WA Police The property letter had to be reviewed by WA Police, which gave it the sign-off under old legislation. This masthead understands Michaels obtained his letter through one of these schemes, but does not suggest he engaged in any illegal activity or improperly accessed firearms through this process. Advertisement The letter he received was signed by former rifle range and station owner in WAs north-west, Shane Aylmore, in December 2023. Related Article Exclusive Courts WA sovereign citizens dont believe in the validity of the courts except when trying to get their guns back Aylmore signed property letters for people wanting to shoot on Ella Valla and Eudamullah Stations. When contacted by this masthead, Aylmore said he did not remember Michaels specifically but said his property letter was signed legally, and it was up to the police to conduct fit and proper person tests. If they wanted me to be a referee for somebody, they needed to give me access to their intelligence network, he said. Advertisement If theyre not going to do that, then thats not my job. Their job is to make sure someones fit and proper. The [new firearm] systems not working. They should have got a system in place, then swapped it over, and they didnt do that. Now theyre grasping at straws, trying to get stuff fixed. But again, if this guy was radicalised, why didnt they know? Publicly reported numbers suggest properties around WA are responsible for more than 15,000 property letters circulating in the states firearm community. Former premier Mark McGowan previously said the process had been abused. Advertisement This masthead understands the previous property letter system made it difficult to track who had obtained documentation from WA stations, but intelligence indicated a number of high risk individuals may have previously used property letters to obtain firearms under the old laws. A number of sovereign citizens who had their firearms seized in an operation targeting those with fringe beliefs late last year were also able to buy guns due to property letters they had obtained from outback stations, and lost access to them after failing to transition their licences under the new laws. A WA government spokesman said it was clear the new legislation had helped crack down on the problem. Anyone who is trying to obtain firearms illegally will be identified and face the full force of the law, he said. Western Australias nation leading firearm laws were introduced to keep the community safe and to stop people trying to cheat the system. Advertisement Property letters have been removed under the states new firearm laws individuals must now obtain a hunting permission for each firearm if issued by a registered landowner. The Cook government thanks the responsible firearms owners across Western Australia who follow the rules, worked with our government during the transition process and help keep the community safe. WA Premier Roger Cook. Photo Ross Swanborough Last month, Cook said it was challenging to determine whether there was anything that could have been done to pick up Michaels alleged ideology sooner and get his guns off him quicker. Obviously, the fact that someone who has these thoughts and expresses these thoughts, has also access to deadly weapons, and of course, he had a cache of knives and other paraphernalia and was trying to purchase explosives. Thats obviously a very disturbing trend, he said. Advertisement We know that in relation to that online radicalism, that it doesnt take years, sometimes it doesnt even take a year, a matter of months, where people can have their thoughts escalated, particularly when theyre isolated and receiving a lot of influence online. Related Article Crime Its frightening: The online blind spots challenging WA Police WA Police believe Michaels had driven to Perth on two occasions before his arrest, and detectives requested CCTV footage from Perth Mosque from January 21 and February 1 relating to times Michaels may have allegedly scoped out potential targets. Michaels was remanded in custody to reappear in court on March 23. WA Police said they were not able to comment as his case is before the courts. 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 PoliticsFederalAntisemitism royal commission Former spy chief on $5500 a day says he was paid too much to do too little on royal commission Matthew Knott Updated March 12, 2026 8:40am ,first published March 11, 2026 5:52pm 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 royal commission into antisemitism has been thrown into crisis by the shock retirement of special adviser Dennis Richardson, who says he came to feel his contributions were unnecessary and he was overpaid for the work he was doing. The former ASIO boss quit his position just weeks before commissioner Virginia Bell is due to deliver her interim report into the performance of the nations intelligence and police agencies in the lead up to the Bondi massacre on December 14 last year. Dennis Richardson answers questions in Parliament House on Thursday. Alex Ellinghausen Bell announced Richardsons shock resignation in a statement on Wednesday night, surprising peak Jewish community groups who were racing to find out why he had abruptly stepped down. Richardsons resignation represents a difficult start for the royal commission, which is scrambling to meet tight deadlines set for it by the government and carving out key areas of enquiry to avoid prejudicing the criminal trial into the massacre. Advertisement Richardson told reporters in Canberra that he raised the possibility of resigning with Bell two weeks ago as he was no longer finding the work challenging, as he insisted he got along well personally with Bell. Editor's pick Analysis Antisemitism royal commission Tight deadline, a criminal trial and tech issues: Royal commission off to a rocky start Its just that its now reached a point where I think my value-add is pretty limited, he said. Ive got no problem at all with the royal commission continuing in doing what its doing, but put it this way, I didnt necessarily see my last job of this kind being more of a highly paid researcher. I saw my job as being a little bit more than that. Advertisement Richardson, who was originally supposed to write a standalone review on potential intelligence failures, telling Radio National on Thursday morning: Ultimately I came to the view that I was surplus to requirements. Related Article Antisemitism royal commission Commissioner assures Bondi families she will probe Hanukkah security, police delays Revealing he was paid $5500 a day to advise the royal commission, he told ABC Sydney: I was being paid very well, so, the question about payment really goes to the fact that, quite frankly, I was being well overpaid for what, for what I was effectively doing. He said he was essentially being employed as a research officer. While he praised Bell as a very fine person and excellent legal mind, he told Sky News: The onus was on Virginia Bell and me to sit down and have a hard-headed discussion on day one. And while we did have lots of discussions, I think we both took things forward based upon different assumptions. Advertisement Richardson said the interim report being produced by the royal commission was a very different animal to the document he would have produced under his original instructions. Opposition defence spokesman James Paterson called Richardsons resignation a disaster for the royal commission, for its credibility, ultimately for its findings and recommendations. Richardson said he had reached a point where I think my value-add is pretty limited. 60 Minutes This has to be fixed, and fixed today, he said. The prime minister has to get on the phone with Dennis Richardson and ask that he continue his role for the royal commission. And he must get on the phone with the royal commissioner, Virginia Bell, and ask that she accommodate Dennis Richardson and make sure that he can continue to be part of this royal commission. Advertisement Paterson said a serious shadow had been cast over the royal commission, saying: I do seriously worry that the credibility of the royal commission has been fatally damaged. The Coalition sought to suspend standing orders in the Senate to force Foreign Minister Penny Wong to explain why Richardson had resigned. Richardson said his resignation was an embarrassment all around but denied claims the move shattered the credibility of Bells royal commission. The royal commission, in terms of its credibility, will be totally vindicated. I have no doubt about that at all, he told Sky News. Richardson formerly led the domestic spy agency ASIO, the Defence Department, the Department of Foreign Affairs and served as Australias ambassador to Washington. Advertisement In her statement on Wednesday night, Bell said: As I noted at the commissions initial hearing, Mr Richardson was uniquely well placed to advise on the material to be sought from our intelligence and security agencies in order to assess the effectiveness of their preparedness for, and response to, a terrorist attack. Bell, a former High Court judge, said she was grateful for Richardsons contribution and that thanks to his teams efforts, work on the interim report is well advanced. Bell said she was confident the report would be delivered in accordance with the royal commissions letters patent. Jewish community sources said they were stunned by the resignation because Richardson had held several meetings with peak groups and the process seemed to be on track. Following the Bondi Beach massacre, during which 15 people were killed and dozens injured at a Hanukkah celebration on December 14 last year, the Albanese government announced Richardson would lead an inquiry into potential failures by intelligence and law enforcement agencies. Advertisement Prime Minister Anthony Albanese insisted for several weeks that Richardson was the pre-eminent authority on the nations intelligence agencies, and there would be no need for a federal royal commission, as the NSW government had already announced its own. Related Article Antisemitism royal commission The five key questions for the Bondi royal commission to answer Richardsons review was later wrapped into the federal royal commission when Albanese bowed to pressure to hold a wide-ranging probe. Bell is scheduled to deliver her interim report, covering any potential intelligence and policing failures, by the end of April. Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said she had been notified about Richardsons decision. Advertisement The government thanks Mr Richardson for his efforts to date, she said. The government will continue to support the royal commission to deliver its important work, including the delivery of the interim report by April 30. Richardsons role was to conduct interviews and advise Bell, who was tasked with writing the interim report and its final version. Bell announced on the opening day of the royal commission that the decision to wrap Richardsons inquiry into the royal commission had complicated the process. Perhaps inevitably, the absorption of an administrative inquiry into this royal commission has led to some delay, Bell said last month. Advertisement Delays in obtaining materials, Bell said, make it unlikely that her interim report will form a definitive judgment on the adequacy of the security arrangements at the Bondi Hanukkah event and the effectiveness of information sharing between ASIO and the police. Related Article Updated Antisemitism royal commission Royal commission rules out eyewitness accounts of Bondi attack That will have to wait until her final report. There are also delays to whistleblower immunity laws that the government wanted to rush through parliament earlier this month, so former and current intelligence officers could testify at the commission without breaching security provisions. The legislation has been referred to the parliamentary joint committee on intelligence and security for review, after Coalition and crossbench senators insisted national security laws couldnt be rubber-stamped without scrutiny. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter. Nubank received conditional approval in January to operate as a bank in the United States, the world's largest financial market, and is now awaiting a final license (Nelson ALMEIDA) Nelson ALMEIDA/AFP/AFP Nubank CEO David Velez, whose massive Brazil-based digital bank is on the verge of entering the prized US market, hailed a "positive" regulatory climate under President Donald Trump in an interview with AFP. Promising to free users from banking bureaucracy, the company -- which has 131 million clients in Brazil, Mexico and Colombia -- has become one of the most valuable firms in the region. In 2025 it posted record revenues of $16.3 billion, a 45 percent increase from the previous year. Founded by Colombian entrepreneur Velez and two partners, the company was launched in 2013 in Brazil's financial capital Sao Paulo with the aim of eliminating physical bank branches. More than a decade later, six in ten Brazilian adults are customers. Nubank received conditional approval in January to operate as a bank in the United States, the world's largest financial market, and is now awaiting a final license. Velez, 44 -- whose family left Colombia because of drug-related violence when he was a child -- says the company has long-term "global" ambitions, with artificial intelligence (AI) as a central pillar. Below are excerpts from AFP's interview with Velez, edited for clarity. QUESTION: Why do you think Nubank will succeed in the United States, typically a hostile market for foreign fintechs? ANSWER: "For a long time the United States was closed to granting new banking licenses. That changed with the Trump administration. "We can reach many consumers who are currently underserved financially. Our operational cost advantage -- because we are 100 percent digital -- gives us an interesting opportunity." Q: How do you view the financial sector under Trump? A: "It has been positive. The previous administration created uncertainty around new business models, for example cryptocurrencies. The regulator was also very reluctant to allow new banks. That benefited large banks a lot. This administration has begun to promote more competition and lower barriers to entry." Q: Will traditional banks disappear? A: "The digital banking model is the winning model for digitizing 90 percent of the world's population. Our cost to serve a customer is 4 percent or 5 percent of the cost of a traditional bank. In the future some traditional banks will have transformed and will still be around, and others won't." Q: Will physical banking services disappear? A: "There will always be some space for them, but much smaller. Ninety to 95 percent of global financial services can be digitized." Advertisement Updated PoliticsNSWEducation It was kinda stressful: Kids forced to restart NAPLAN tests after tech issue Emily Kowal Updated March 11, 2026 1:58pm ,first published March 11, 2026 7:50am 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 After a morning of technical issues that paused more than a million students exams, 10-year-old Alexander Kersten was relieved to finally get his NAPLAN test out of the way. I had to redo my entire test, it was kinda stressful, but it was OK, the Marist Catholic College North Shore year 5 student said. Alexander Kerstens year 5 NAPLAN exam was disrupted on Wednesday due to connectivity issues. Steven Siewert NAPLAN testing was disrupted by widespread connection issues on Wednesday morning, preventing primary and high school students from starting the online national assessment. The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) was forced to temporarily halt exams after a technical issue blocked children from logging onto the online platform to complete their writing assessments. Advertisement In a statement on Wednesday afternoon, ACARA CEO Stephen Gniel said the authority became aware of a technical issue with the platform, which is managed by Education Services Australia, at 9.20am. The news was soon after shared with the public on the authoritys Facebook page. Related Article Education We have short-changed parents for years: The plan to fix school reports Gniel said the issue was urgently investigated by Education Services Australia. As per the tried and tested procedures we have in place, schools were advised to pause testing while the issue was investigated, he said, noting this information was given to state and territory curriculum authorities to pass onto schools at 9.31am. At 11.30am, an ACARA spokesperson advised testing had resumed and apologised to schools and students for the disruption, thanking them for their patience. Advertisement Gniel said Education Services Australia would conduct a full and thorough technical investigation to understand the cause of the issue, apologising unreservedly for the disruptions. As we have more information, I will ensure we communicate this information to our schools and wider community. The announcement left year 5 student Nicholas, also from Marist North Shore, a little disappointed. I was wondering if we would even have to do it I was excited, he said. When they said it had been moved to after recess I was a little bit annoyed. Maurice Lynch, a year 5 student, said he preferred writing on the computer for exams. Steven Siewert Advertisement Classmate Maurice Lynch, 10, said he enjoyed doing the exam online: Its more natural, he said. Nicholas agreed: When you are typing your hands dont hurt as much, which means you can write a lot longer stories. The annual NAPLAN assessments began with the writing test on Wednesday. About 1.4 million students in years 3, 5, 7 and 9 were scheduled to complete their assessments at more than 9400 schools and campuses across Australia. While years 5, 7 and 9 complete their writing assessment online, the year 3 exam uses pen and paper, and so was not disrupted by the technology issues. All other NAPLAN assessments are online. Speaking at a budget estimates hearing after the technology issues had come to light, NSW Education Minister Prue Car told students and schools not to panic, acknowledging something has gone very wrong with the platform responsible for hosting the exam. Advertisement There is a window of opportunity to do the NAPLAN testing until Monday, the 23rd of March, she said. Education Minister Prue Car urged students and schools not to panic after this mornings exams were disrupted. Rhett Wyman This is a nationwide problem in relation to some technical difficulties with the Commonwealth platform obviously something has gone very wrong there thats down. NAPLAN began trialling online exams in 2018 before moving the tests online in 2022. The move faced criticism from some academics who said children from low-income groups were disproportionately disadvantaged by online testing. Asked by the budget estimate hearings chair, Greens MLC Abigail Boyd, whether NSW would return to paper tests, NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) chief executive Paul Martin said the online NAPLAN test has been largely successful, though there had been two issues last year. Advertisement In 2025, children at two Sydney schools resat their NAPLAN writing exams after a technical issue meant they were able to access predictive text and spellcheck. Other students faced delays when the system went offline for 30 minutes. I couldnt possibly comment on going back to pen and paper testing, said Martin. Todays events indicate that there was clearly another problem. An IT worker at a Sydney private school, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect his employment, said the exam suffered a complete connectivity issue, and issues continued after 11.30am, when ACARA said they were resolved. They were constantly getting disconnected from the server they would get back in, but it is super disruptive for the kids, he said. Advertisement Of the 130 students year 9 students he supervised, around 75 per cent were disconnected at one point, he said. Related Article Exclusive Education Testing chief decries use of NAPLAN scores as entrance exam for private schools I feel for the state schools students who dont have the resources we have ACARA needs to get their act together. Australian Education Union federal president Correna Haythorpe said NAPLAN was a flawed system that should be scrapped in favour of sample-based testing and teacher-led assessments. Todays outages coupled with the high-stakes nature of the assessment risks increasing student anxiety and will add to teachers increasing workloads, she said. Advertisement NSW Teachers Federation Deputy President Natasha Watt described the situation as very unfortunate. NAPLAN already generates unnecessary and unproductive stress and anxiety for thousands of students and parents across the state, she said. Its very unfortunate to see that stress aggravated today. Earlier this week, Gniel called for an end to the horrendous misuse of childrens test scores as entry assessment tools by in-demand schools, asking parents not to put pressure on youngsters to perform. Our Breaking News Alert will notify you of significant breaking news when it happens. Get it here. Advertisement Updated TechnologySoftware Losses growing, staff cut: Atlassians billionaire boss faces his AI test David Swan Updated March 12, 2026 5:13pm ,first published March 12, 2026 5:31am 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 Billionaire Atlassian chief executive Mike Cannon-Brookes has staked the future of his company on AI, slashing 1600 jobs via email in a move to position the software giant for the wave of disruption tearing through Australias white-collar workforce. A sombre Cannon-Brookes issued a video message to staff 20 minutes before the company axed 10 per cent of staff globally, including 480 roles in Australia, on Thursday, prompting major questions for Atlassian and fear in the wider economy already dealing with rising inflation and surging oil prices. Loading Afterpays parent company Block this month slashed more than 4000 jobs in the name of artificial intelligence, joining the likes of Australian logistics software company WiseTech, Amazon, Pinterest and Crowdstrike. That trend has piled pressure on Atlassian, reducing demand for its products that are largely used by IT workers and creating an expectation that large software companies will cut labour costs when they adopt AI tools that could flow through to other Australian firms. Advertisement Cannon-Brookes announced the largest restructure in the companys history on Thursday, saying AI had changed the skills and number of people the company needed in some areas. Days like these are among the toughest that we have as a company, and certainly the toughest that I have as a leader, he said. I am deeply sorry for the disruption this creates in your life. Atlassian had employed about 16,000 workers globally and about 3500 in Australia before the cuts, which cap a bad year for its stock price, down 66 per cent over the past 12 months to $US75.45 ($105). Its share price was up 1.5 per cent in after-hours trading at 6pm AEDT. Cannon-Brookes said more than 100 Atlassian staff worked to determine which roles would be cut with priority given to retaining staff with AI-relevant skills. Affected staff will receive a minimum 16-week separation package plus one additional week per year of service, among other benefits. Cannon-Brookes, whose co-CEO Scott Farquhar resigned in April 2024, framed the cuts that will cost up to $US236 million ($331 million) as offensive rather than defensive. Advertisement We fundamentally believe people and AI create the best outcomes, he wrote. Our approach is not AI replaces people. But internally, the manner in which roles were selected prompted confusion and frustration. One employee, who asked not to be identified, said there was zero visibility on who is specifically cut aside from searching individual peoples names. Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes at the Nasdaq marking the 10th anniversary of the companys listing. A senior [colleague] in my team who had exceeded expectations in the last performance review... has been let go, whereas there are newly joined team members with less than three months tenure who have not been affected, the employee said. I personally think we overhired, the employee said, and [Cannon-Brookes is] hoping the stock price goes up as a result. Advertisement Another affected employee, who had been in their role for just four months, said the move felt sterile for a company celebrated for its warm culture. I thought I was making an impact, the employee said. I just didnt think they gave me enough chance to really prove myself. The laid-off worker, who asked to remain anonymous to protect their severance entitlements, said Cannon-Brookes had done his best to put corporate spin on proceedings, but that the reality of being cut off after 120 days on the job was brutal. Atlassian makes collaboration software products including Jira, Confluence and Trello, which are used by hundreds of thousands of organisations worldwide. The restructure comes against a backdrop of persistent financial underperformance that has long troubled investors. Despite generating substantial revenue and reporting 23 per cent revenue growth in its most recent quarter Atlassian has not recorded a net profit in a decade and hands out large amounts of stock to employees each year. The companys net loss widened from $US38.2 million to $US42.6 million in its most recent quarter. Advertisement The company also announced on Thursday that chief technology officer Rajeev Rajan, a former Meta executive, would step down after nearly four years. Rajan, a former Meta and Microsoft executive appointed in 2022, had introduced a controversial performance management regime that employees said had transformed Atlassians once-irreverent culture into a more corporate model they dubbed Metasoft. He will be replaced by two internal promotions: Taroon Mandhana as chief technology officer of teamwork, and Vikram Rao as chief technology officer of enterprise and chief trust officer. The company described both as next-generation AI talent. The Australian reported on Thursday that Rajan departed the company weeks after a secret lunchtime crisis meeting with Atlassian co-founder Scott Farquhar at his Sydney mansion that reportedly led to the cuts. Advertisement Related Article Software AI is eating software, and its cost Atlassian duo $34.6 billion Atlassian denied that the lunch was pivotal in Rajans departure or the cuts. Scott is the co-founder and board member of Atlassian, who meets execs regularly, a company spokeswoman said. He also eats lunch, regularly. Regardless of questionable reporting in The Australian it was simply a lunch. Beyond Thursdays job cuts, Atlassian had been attempting to get on the front foot as AI capabilities have advanced, building its own AI tool, Rovo, and spending $US1 billion on developer intelligence platform DX and $US610 million on AI-based The Browser Company, both acquired last year. Advertisement Adam Barty, chief executive of Melbourne-based digital and AI consultancy Revium, rejected Cannon-Brookes framing of the lay-offs. Its hard to see Atlassians move as offensive, Barty said. The company has never turned a profit and AI represents an existential threat to its business model, so this looks much more like a defensive posture. Cannon-Brookes told staff that a company-wide town hall would be held next week to address further questions. Please be kind to yourselves and to each other, he said. Check in on your teammates and friends and give people everywhere the space to process. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning. Advertisement TechnologySocial media Porn laws push users to illegal sites, OnlyFans creators warn David Swan March 11, 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 Australias new online age verification codes risk driving pornography consumers toward illegal content, stripping sex workers of income, and generating records of citizens sexual viewing habits, according to warnings from sex workers and independent content creators. The nations most popular pornographic websites went dark in Australia on Monday after the eSafety Commissioners Age-Restricted Material Codes two years in development and formally registered six months ago went live. They require online platforms to verify users are over 18, with non-compliance carrying penalties of up to $49.5 million per breach. Canadian private equity-owned Aylo which operates Pornhub, RedTube, YouPorn and Tube8 responded by blocking Australian users entirely, while VPN downloads have surged. Comedian and OnlyFans creator Nikki Justice. The laws are facing mounting criticism from Australias sex workers and content creators. Nikki Justice, an Australian comedian and top 0.2 per cent global OnlyFans creator, said she supports the laws stated goal but that their design is fundamentally flawed. Advertisement I work in the adult industry, so Im probably the last person some people expect to say this, but I actually agree with the goal of the new age verification laws, she told this masthead. None of us got into this industry thinking, Great, I hope teenagers are watching this. Thats a completely reasonable objective and most adult creators I know agree with it. Requiring adults to upload government identification linked to their sexual viewing habits across dozens of individual websites creates what Justice describes as a structural privacy failure, however. Major corporations and even governments get hacked all the time. Many creators support age verification being handled at the device or operating-system level instead, through phone providers or app stores. That allows age to be verified once without requiring people to upload sensitive documents to dozens of different websites. Justice said that sex workers were already feeling the economic impacts of the new laws. The adult industry isnt just giant corporations any more. Its thousands of self-employed creators who run their own small businesses online, she said. When traffic drops because of these regulations, its us independent workers who feel it first. Mish Pony, chief executive of peak sex worker body Scarlet Alliance, said the laws would push consumers toward offshore sites that host stolen and illegal content. Thats been the case in the UK, where similar legislation took effect in July 2025. Pornhub traffic fell 47 per cent, but research found significant audience migration to smaller, less-regulated platforms with fewer content checks and greater likelihood of hosting illegal material. Advertisement Mish Pony is CEO of Scarlet Alliance. That leaves sex workers not earning income from their content, Pony said, with obvious flow-on effects to lower earnings and being pushed into working in ways that are less safe. Blue Mountains-based sex worker Jenna Love said non-compliant sites were rife with stolen content. People find ways around things, and the ways around them are particularly damaging to the people in the content, she said. Those sites tend to be the ones that have all of our content stolen and uploaded without our consent Were not getting any benefit, and most of the time we dont even know its up there. eSafety said it was monitoring compliance across a wide range of services and noted that a number of providers were in the process of implementing additional age assurance processes. It also said that Aylo had not withdrawn its paid subscription services in Australia, only its free services. Advertisement The codes do not prevent adults from accessing, viewing, and paying for material such as online pornography, a spokesman said, adding that Pornhub receives three times the monthly site visits of its closest Australian competitor and nearly 10 times as many monthly users as the tenth-largest provider. Blue Mountains-based sex worker Jenna Love. Smaller providers are not getting a free pass, and we will be watching for migration to their services, he said. The regulator also pushed back on characterisations that the framework had blindsided the industry. eSafety said it had been consulting on age verification since 2021, held roundtables with stakeholders including Scarlet Alliance between November 2021 and July 2022, and had worked with the peak body to produce regulatory guidance for members. A Senate inquiry last year received submissions from Scarlet Alliance and other sex industry groups; the committee ultimately made no recommendations relating to the codes. In South Australia, where aspects of sex work remain criminalised, identity documentation collected through verification systems could potentially be used against workers. Pony said sex workers are legally barred from entering the United States, making any digital record of their professional activities a material legal risk extending well beyond browsing habits. Advertisement Under eSafetys news codes acceptable verification methods include photo ID, facial age estimation, biometric scans, credit card checks and digital identity wallets. Related Article Social media The great scroll off: Inside Australias world-first teen social media ban Digital Rights Watch head of policy Tom Sulston said the codes broader privacy implications fell disproportionately on vulnerable users. Young people will trivially sidestep age verification with VPNs or similar tools, while the rest of us take a privacy hit when our IDs become associated with our internet browsing, he said. Thats a problem for everyone, but particularly minority groups such as LGBT Australians who may want to keep their sexual preferences private. Justice, Pony and Digital Rights Watch all said that device-level or operating-system verification through phone providers or app stores would be a more coherent alternative, confirming age once without generating distributed identity records across hundreds of sites. That argument has also been prosecuted by social media apps including Snapchat in relation to Australias teen social media ban. Love said the policy debate had consistently excluded those most affected. Theres often talk about protecting women and children. Im always asking, which women and children? Because its certainly not the women who work in the sex industry. Thats how we feed our kids. Advertisement Sulston said the evidence base for the entire framework remained absent. Rather than lazy, half-baked age-assurance schemes, we should focus on protecting privacy and equipping young people with media literacy and sex education. Thats more work, and more expensive, but it will actually help. The Market Recap newsletter is a wrap of the days trading. Get it each weekday afternoon. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share License this article More: Social media David Swan is the technology editor for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. He was previously technology editor for The Australian newspaper. or email. Connect via X Advertisement InspirationMy happy place Staying here is my favourite thing in the world Justine Costigan March 12, 2026 2:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A When, during a visit with my friend Martina in Germany, she suggests a stay in a cabin in the Bavarian Alps, I try to be casual. Sure, sounds like fun, I say, not wanting to jinx it. She doesnt know that she has just invited me to do my favourite thing in the whole world. A few days later we are in a flowering alpine meadow. The air is soft with the smell of new grass and pine trees and cows graze in the distance. In the middle of the meadow is a traditional Alpenhutte with a painted door, two windows and a weathered timber bench for sitting in the sun. Like Julie Andrews in the opening scenes of The Sound of Music, I slowly spin around to see the snow-capped peaks that surround us. Im in heaven. A snow-covered hutte in Switzerlands Graubunden region. Advertisement These traditional alpine cabins are my not-so-secret love. Beaches are beautiful but to me, they take second place to the alps. While the ocean is in constant flux, the steadfast, majestic beauty of the mountains does something to me that I cant explain. Im not a victim of Stendhal syndrome the experience of heart palpitations and confusion when exposed to artistic beauty but I understand what the 19th century French author meant when he wrote of beauty that spoke so vividly to my soul. Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now. The seed of my love for mountains started with reading Heidi and later, a year spent as an exchange student in Europe confirmed it. In a stroke of luck, I was placed with a wonderful family in a village in the heart of Graubunden, the home of Switzerlands most dramatic alpine landscapes. On many Sundays that year, my Swiss family and I would hike. Our jaunts took us up to high summer meadows or deep into forests. In winter, wed crunch through the snow as we made our way to a typically family-run alpine restaurant, our efforts rewarded with hot chocolate piled high with whipped cream or sugar-dusted slices of strudel. School camps involved more hiking, lake swimming or sledding. On our hikes, wed pass rustic mountain huts and I imagined theyd be an ideal place to stay. The cosy interior of a traditional alpine hut. Advertisement There was a chance to test this idea in late autumn that year. A group of friends and I hiked up to a small hutte in the woods. We should have had views of the valley laid out before us, but we arrived in thick fog and the trees outside our cabin appeared and disappeared like ghosts in the mist. Inside, we lit the stove and made fondue. Enveloped by the clouds, trapped until the weather passed, I felt outside of time. Far from the ease of life in modern Switzerland, I was as connected to the culture and history of my Swiss family as I would ever be. A wildflower-filled valley where alpine huttes are available for stays. When alpine tourism was popular in the 19th century, luxurious hotels were built, but these mountain huts werent for tourists or hikers. They were used to store hay or farm supplies, or for basic shelter. Some were shared by people and animals. As new roads eventually opened access for transport, the huts were no longer needed. Many were neglected and fell into disrepair; others became simple holiday cabins. One person who recognised their architectural and cultural importance was Swiss architect Rudolf Olgiati, who reimagined the interior of a mountain hut in Flims, the ski town close to the home where I lived on my exchange year, and named it Holzerheim. Advertisement A few years after I returned to Australia, a holiday in Switzerland and a stay in a cabin was a must. As my travelling companion and I hiked towards our chosen cabin, Olgiatis Holzerheim appeared as if from the pages of a fairytale. Inside, there was an open fireplace, a simple kitchen and two small bedrooms, and no traces of 19th century hardship. Related Article Foodie travel What is fondue? Where to find the best of Switzerland's famous melted cheese dish We lit a fire and made a meal of dense Swiss bread, cheese and Bundnerfleisch, slices of paper-thin air-dried meat. Before going to bed we peeked at the canopy of stars outside. The next morning, the view unfolded: we were just a few metres from the edge of a high ridge overlooking The Rhine Gorge, one of the most spectacular sights in Graubunden. Below flowed the glacial grey-green water of the Rhine as it began its journey across Europe. On every side, the mountain peaks cut deep into the sky. Holzerheim may have been more of a haute hutte than a humble cabin, one of many now available for rent, but my memories of these simple alpine cabins remain unchanged. Happiness doesnt even begin to describe it. Traveller Guides Advertisement Reviews & adviceHotel reviews Noosas landmark hotel has a brand-new look (and a great restaurant) Trudi Jenkins March 12, 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 The hotel: Elysium Noosa Resort, Queensland The iconic building on Hastings Street has been given a facelift. Elise Hassey Check-in Its overcast and rainy as we arrive at Maroochydore airport for the 30-minute drive to Noosa Heads, and the forecast for the weekend ahead is no better. Wed briefly considered postponing our trip, given that a stay at Queenslands ritziest resort town is traditionally all about sunshine, swimming and Massimos ice-cream but as were efficiently welcomed into Elysiums newly refreshed lobby area and handed a chilled glass of sparkling wine, our mood lifts. Once the late 80s salmon-pink Sheraton and from 2016 the Sofitel, Noosas biggest and best-known hotel (and currently the only one with five stars, pending the Calile opening in 2028), has undergone a $30-million upgrade. Its now an Elysium (a paradise of eternal happiness according to Greek mythology), the new brand from owners the Laundy and Karedis families. Its the sister property to Sydneys Manly Pacific and managed by Accor in its MGallery Collection portfolio. Advertisement The look Sign up for the Traveller newsletter The latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Sign up now. The hotels relaxed lobby area, which also features a welcome station of chilled drinks and fruit. Elise Hassey Its hard to avoid cliches when describing the decor sophisticated coastal chic says it all really. Inside the main building Melbourne studio Mitchell & Eades has stuck to a very on-trend colour palette of soft blue-greys, white and hits of coral, while the nearby restaurant and bar is a bolder blend of terracotta and olive green. The 1980s bones are still evident but the Mediterranean resort vibe is strong, right down to the newly imported European sun loungers and private cabanas in the renovated pool area (rest assured, the swim-up bar remains). The room Pale blue-greys, bespoke cabinetry and plenty of lamps have brought the decor into 2026. Elise Hassey Advertisement Melbourne designers Mitchell & Eades have given the interiors a sophisticated feel. Elise Hassey The grey drizzle almost feels like a blessing when we check out our one-bedroom suite at the back of the hotel, overlooking the tidal waterways of the Noosa River. Its peaceful and supremely comfortable; with a Spotify playlist synced through the Marshall Bluetooth speaker and a (Riedel) glass of Yarra Yering pinot noir, there seems no reason to budge from the chaise longue. There are many nice touches in these Elysium sixth-floor suites, my favourite being the plethora of lamps (hooray) for cosy mood lighting instead of the usual harsh hotel downlights and spotlights, plus no over-complicated controls. The large bathroom has double sinks and showers, a freestanding bath and art-deco-style fluted glass and gold accents. Plus ESPA toiletries and a Dyson hairdryer. Elise Hassey Bespoke cabinetry, double wardrobes, a bedroom with Princess and the Pea-height bedding plus a glam art-deco-inspired bathroom speak to a generosity of interior design thats less common than youd hope. Meanwhile, the balcony (every room has one) only gets used by a pair of lorikeets during our stay but has sunset views in better weather. Food + drink Advertisement The entrance to Bar Capri on Hastings Street. Elise Hassey Cibaria, the hotels new restaurant thats also open to the public, is a game-changer: its food, wine and service matching the best of the big-city players. (No surprises here: its run by Anna and Alessandro Pavoni of Sydneys Ormeggio, aMare and the original Cibaria at the Manly Pacific Hotel.) The previous restaurant with its separate side entrance has been opened up and the space now flows easily through Bar Capri to the street, making it more accessible for locals and visitors alike. Its buzzing during our stay, the open kitchen pumping out lobster brioche rolls and vitello tonnato to the bar; exemplary seafood platters, slow-fermented pizzas and charcoal-grilled dry-aged steaks to the restaurant. Special mention to head sommelier Steve Major, who introduced us to a Sicilian carricante from Etna; timarasso, Piedmonts white barolo and Rucolino, an amaro made from rocket (much better than it sounds). Seafood from the raw bar includes Boomer Bay oysters with mignonette, local Mooloolaba tuna crudo and scallops with lemon oil. Elise Hassey Cibarias warm and inviting dining room includes counter seating at the open kitchen. Elise Hassey Out and about Advertisement Noosa National Park and its secluded bays are a short walk away. Elise Hassey Beyond beautiful Main Beach, Noosa Heads usual drawcard on sunny days, Hastings Street is renowned for high-end shopping: youll find Orlebar Brown, Husk, Aje and Mecca stores, among others. Much gentler on the credit card is a walk through Noosa National Park, where a 10.8km coastal trail will take you to Tea Tree Bay, Dolphin Point and around the headland to Sunshine Beach. You can rent a kayak or paddleboard to see Noosa Sound from the river; hop on the ferry to Noosaville (its wharf behind Elysium); visit local producers such as Seabourne Distillery or craft brewery Heads of Noosa, or head to the Sunday morning farmers market at the AFL club on Weyba Road. The verdict The resorts pool has been refreshed, but the popular swim-up bar remains. Elise Hassey If you can have an excellent stay in a beach resort during a rainy weekend, it says a lot about the quality of accommodation and dining. We cant wait to return and test out a cabana and the pool menu (food provided by Cibarias kitchen). Advertisement Essentials Elysium Noosa Resort, 14-16 Hastings Street, Noosa Heads, Queensland. There are 175 guest rooms and suites (including the penthouse two-bed Elysium Suite) of varying types with pool, river or village views, priced accordingly. Rooms from $700 per night; one-bedroom Elysium-level suite from $900. There are two accessible rooms. Poolside cabanas can be reserved from $170 half day and from $440 full day. See elysiumnoosa.com.au Related Article Food travel The new Noosa: The best places to eat and drink beyond Hastings Street One more thing The Noosa Food & Wine Festival returns Thursday June 11 to Sunday June 14, 2026; see noosafoodandwine.com.au Advertisement Our score out of five Highlight Dont go past the Bar Capri signature spritz: rosemary-distilled Seabourne gin with limoncello, grapefruit, prosecco and soda. Lowlight Advertisement Parts of the resort including the (nevertheless excellent) Aqua day spa, gym and events areas are still awaiting renovation. The writer was a guest of Elysium Noosa. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share License this article More: Hotel reviews Luxury holidays Noosa Heads Queensland Trudi Jenkins Trudi is Travellers content director, with responsibility for all editorial across the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. She has edited Sunday Life, delicious. magazine and Vogue Entertaining + Travel as well as establishing two successful online businesses. She has lived in France and Italy, and will travel long distances for good food, wine and coffee. Follow her on Instagram at @trudijenkins_ Advertisement Reviews & adviceTrain journeys This overnight train through Eastern Europe is a Cold War thriller Tim Richards March 12, 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 The train: MAVs Corona, Budapest to Brasov The journey Budapest, Hungary to Brasov, Romania Budapest, Hungary to Brasov, Romania Frequency Daily, departing 17.40 Daily, departing 17.40 Duration 15 hours and 20 minutes 15 hours and 20 minutes Distance 803 kilometres 803 kilometres Class Second-class sleeper Budapest-Keleti railway station, built between 1881 and 1884, is your point of departure. iStock The station Arriving at the spectacular 19th-century Budapest-Keleti station all statuary, high ceilings and marble pillars two hours before my departure, I make my way to Platform 9 to access the Premium Lounge of Hungarian rail company, MAV, free for those with first-class or sleeper tickets. Here I enjoy a sandwich and coffee, relaxing in anticipation of the rail adventure ahead. Advertisement The train Sign up for the Traveller newsletter The latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Sign up now. The MAV Corona is a comfortable throwback to an earlier era of train travel. At Platform 2 I find the blue-and-white Corona ready for boarding. Its a historic survivor, a communist-era night train with both seating and sleeping cars, some of the latter offering three berths, and others with four- or six-bed couchettes. Theres also an honest-to-goodness dining car, a real find in this era of minimal cafe-bars on trains. On board, friendly attendant Aniko shows me to my compartment. The seat Compartments are not sleek, but possess a certain retro charm. Advertisement Ive booked a Single, an entire compartment for myself, via a 70 ($117) supplement to my Eurail pass. My room contains a bed, a washbasin with table lid, and a cupboard with complimentary snacks (nuts, chocolate, water, apple juice) and, surprisingly, a power point and two USB-A charging ports. Theres also room to hang clothes behind some curious purple drapes. The compartment features attractive wood panelling which adds a dash of retro style. As its still the afternoon, I ask Aniko to fold down the bed into its configuration as seating, upholstered in reddish-purple cloth which matches the carpet. The dining car The dining car boasts vintage features and an extensive menu. Tim Richards The trains biggest attraction is its dining car. Red-and-white-clothed tables, blue booth seating and elegant gold-trimmed lamps offset by beige curtains evoke 1960s Cold War chic. Onboard chefs prepare a menu that features pages of Hungarian dishes illustrated with photos. At dinner, I opt for goulash soup, followed by pork ragu with fusilli pasta in the style of Hungarys mountainous Bakony region. Other items include paprika chicken with dumplings, roast pork with letcho (a capsicum-based stew), lentil casserole, and desserts, such as a sponge cake from the Somlo region. I linger with a beer as I watch the Hungarian plains slide by. In the morning I am back for a hot breakfast included in the price of my ticket, as the train drifts through the atmospheric early-morning mists of Transylvania. Baggage Advertisement MAV allows three items of luggage without weight or size restrictions. Youll be lugging them up and down from low platforms, however, so leave huge suitcases at home. One more thing The historical centre of Brasov in Transylvania, Romania. Getty Images From Brasov station take the number 4 bus to the beautiful old town (no need to buy a ticket, just tap your credit card on the onboard validator). The price Advertisement Sole use of a compartment costs from 102 ($170) without a Eurail pass, or you can share with one or two others from 72 or 59, respectively. A couchette bed starts at 46. You can try buying tickets at MAVs website mavcsoport.hu, or via Romanian Railways at cfrcalatori.ro, though I found these frustrating to use. Alternatively, make your booking at a station in Hungary. Related Article Savvy traveller How to avoid paying too much to travel by train in Europe The verdict Lets be frank this is not one of the sleek futuristic trains of Western Europe, but a charming blast from the past. Not all carriages are air-conditioned and the shared toilets are less than salubrious, but a night aboard the Corona is a relatively inexpensive old-school delight. Our rating out of five Advertisement The writer travelled courtesy of Eurail and Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share License this article More: Train journeys Travel tips Europe Tim Richards fell into travel writing after living and teaching in Egypt and Poland. Hes a light packing obsessive, and is especially drawn to the former communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Follow him on Instagram @aerohaveno Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) is among the 14 Best Oil and Gas Dividend Stocks to Buy Right Now. Chevron Corporation (CVX) to Suspend Production at Leviathan Gas Field Offshore Israel Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) manufactures and sells a range of high-quality refined products, including gasoline, diesel, marine and aviation fuels, premium base oil, finished lubricants, and fuel oil additives. It was reported on March 2 that Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) has declared force majeure at the Leviathan gas field offshore Israel, after the countrys government ordered the temporary suspension of production. The decision has been taken on security grounds following the outbreak of hostilities with Iran. Leviathan is the largest gas field in Israel and supplies gas to Egypt and Jordan, in addition to its home country. The field provided 8.1 billion cubic meters of gas to the three markets in the first nine months of 2025, with Egypt accounting for over half of that volume. Given its importance in the regions energy security, the Chevron-led Leviathan consortium had recently approved a $2.3 billion first phase of an expansion project to help boost the fields capacity from about 12 Bcm per year to roughly 21 Bcm annually. With an annual dividend yield of 3.83%, Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) is included among the 14 Best Warren Buffett Dividend Stocks to Buy. While we acknowledge the potential of CVX as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 12 Best Crude Oil Stocks to Buy as Tensions Rise and 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading into 2026. Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News. Over 500 seizures recorded underscoring the critical role of Customs in protecting society. Annual WCO operation saw increase in trafficking of military-style assault rifles, including a significant number of cases of weapons seizures. Strengthened regional collaboration and intelligence sharing among WCO Members in the Caribbean prevented 119 firearms and 332 firearms parts from reaching organized crime groups. Operation CALYPSO 2 was led by the WCO for the second consecutive year in response to the growing threat posed by firearms trafficking and drug smuggling in the Caribbean. Over the course of just three weeks, the operation led to significant seizures of illicit firearms and narcotics, disrupting organized criminal networks and illicit trafficking activities, while enhancing regional safety and security. The operation was carried out from 24 November to 12 December 2025 and aimed to strengthen Customs role in border security through enhanced collaboration with national, regional, and international law enforcement partners. Key objectives included identifying illicit trafficking routes and activities, improving intelligence sharing, and reinforcing coordinated enforcement efforts across the region. WCO Secretary General Ian Saunders, said: Operation CALYPSO shows the concrete impact Customs delivers every day to protect society. Through coordinated regional and international action, Customs officers intercepted illicit firearms and drugs before they could reach Caribbean communities, disrupting organized crime at its source. The WCO is unwavering in its commitment to protecting society, securing global supply chains, strengthening cross-border enforcement, and advancing the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap in close partnership with Members and fellow international organizations. A total of 22 countries, including 18 WCO Members, were involved, as well as the Caribbean Joint Intelligence Office (JIO). The operation was conducted in partnership with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS), with support from INTERPOL, SEACOP, the Regional Security System (RSS), and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Operations Results Operation CALYPSO 2 is the most successful operation carried out within the framework of WCOs Project Bolt to date. Participants reported 402 instances of prohibited or restricted items. Among the 119 small arms and light weapons seized there were 21 assault rifles, in comparison to 6 being seized in last years Operation Calypso. Global Impact of Regional Operation British Virgin Islands seizes 772 kg of cocaine: In one example of regional coordination, British Virgin Islands law enforcement agencies stopped the inter-island trafficking of 772 kg of cocaine that was being smuggled on a small commercial vessel. The vessel had travelled from Trinidad, calling in at Saint Kitts and Nevis, before being intercepted at sea as it approached the British Virgin Islands. The vessel regularly runs between the eastern Caribbean islands moving commercial cargo. This activity resulted in six arrests and a significant disruption to transnational organized crime activity in the region. In one example of regional coordination, British Virgin Islands law enforcement agencies stopped the inter-island trafficking of 772 kg of cocaine that was being smuggled on a small commercial vessel. The vessel had travelled from Trinidad, calling in at Saint Kitts and Nevis, before being intercepted at sea as it approached the British Virgin Islands. The vessel regularly runs between the eastern Caribbean islands moving commercial cargo. This activity resulted in six arrests and a significant disruption to transnational organized crime activity in the region. Saint Lucia weapons seizures: Saint Lucia reported several weapons seizures including weapons being broken down in a freight consignment. The broken-down weapons were found concealed in baby-related items. The detection of auto-sears was notable as these parts enable the conversion of semi-automatic pistols into automatic weapons, which are popular with criminal armed gangs. Saint Lucia reported several weapons seizures including weapons being broken down in a freight consignment. The broken-down weapons were found concealed in baby-related items. The detection of auto-sears was notable as these parts enable the conversion of semi-automatic pistols into automatic weapons, which are popular with criminal armed gangs. International impact: Cooperation and partnerships between WCO members prevented illicit drugs from reaching foreign destinations. Information sharing led to the identification of liquid cocaine moving regionally to France as well as preventing cannabis from moving into the Caribbean. Strong regional cooperation and partnerships underpin success Operation Calypso 2 highlighted the value of international cooperation in tackling transnational crime. Customs and partner agencies collaborated on intelligence sharing, coordinated enforcement actions, and conducted joint risk assessments in real time. Not only did Customs authorities work together throughout the operations; this initiative has led to an increase and ongoing information sharing across the region. WCO tools support risk analysis and intelligence sharing Customs officers, in partnership with the CARICOM Joint Regional Communications Centre, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and national police, applied intelligence, risk analysis and targeted for shipments to detect and seize prohibited and restricted commodities. Over the course of three weeks, all 22 participating Customs administrations actively engaged in the operation, exchanging real-time intelligence and case reporting through the WCO CENcomm platform of different types of seizures - some that had not been previously reported. This collaboration led to increased understanding of the key risks and threats in the region, including the concerning emergence of opioids such as fentanyl and codeine. In addition, the data visualization tool was applied to enhance operational analysis during and after the operation. Capacity building enhances results The WCOs Project Bolt includes capacity building initiatives to support Members in enhancing their knowledge and awareness to better identify small arms, light weapons and firearms parts. This includes dedicated training on X-ray technology, vehicle inspections, WCO IT databases (nCen and CENComm), and mentoring and supporting WCO Members in developing their risk management techniques. This preparatory support preceded the operation, enabling increased seizures and improved reporting as Customs officers abilities to recognize illicit goods had been enhanced. Next Steps The WCO will continue to work with its Members and partners to enhance border security in the Caribbean by using analytical processes to assess the seizure data to strengthen and develop Customs capacity. Find winning stocks in any market cycle. Join 7 million investors using Simply Wall St's investing ideas for FREE. Chevron (NYSE:CVX) is relocating its corporate headquarters from California to Houston, Texas, reshaping its cost base and regulatory footprint. The company is close to expanded extraction agreements in Venezuela at the Petropiar project under new legal incentives. Chevron has advanced Cyprus offshore Aphrodite gas field into front end engineering, progressing contingent resources toward potential long term development. In Argentina, Chevron is re assessing its shale position as policy changes and new incentives could support higher Vaca Muerta production over time. For you as an investor, these moves show how a large integrated energy company like Chevron (NYSE:CVX) can reposition across regions and assets rather than relying on a single major project. The shift toward Texas, heavier crude in Venezuela, Eastern Mediterranean gas and Argentine shale reflects a mix of oil and gas exposure, onshore and offshore, and both developed and emerging markets. That variety can matter for risk, cost structure and access to different pricing hubs. As these plans evolve, you will want to watch where Chevron ultimately commits capital, how it sequences projects and what mix of oil versus gas it prioritizes. The headlines here are early stage, but taken together they help you frame how the companys future production base and geopolitical exposure could differ from what you have seen in previous years. Stay updated on the most important news stories for Chevron by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on Chevron. NYSE:CVX Earnings & Revenue Growth as at Mar 2026 We've flagged 2 risks for Chevron. See which could impact your investment. Quick Assessment Price vs Analyst Target : At US$186.29, Chevron trades roughly in line with the US$185.92 analyst target range of US$165 to US$212. Simply Wall St Valuation : Simply Wall St estimates shares are trading about 50.2% below its fair value, indicating a sizable valuation gap. Recent Momentum: The stock is up about 3.0% over the last 30 days, suggesting mildly positive recent sentiment. There is only one way to know the right time to buy, sell or hold Chevron. Head to Simply Wall St's company report for the latest analysis of Chevron's Fair Value. Key Considerations LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) Louisville Metro Police Department officers carried out a targeted search in the Shively area this week, uncovering a large cache of illegal firearms and THC vape cartridges. The Second Division Impact Unit executed the search warrant after gathering intelligence in an ongoing investigation tied to firearm and drug trafficking. Four individuals were arrested two adults and two juveniles as authorities continue to investigate. The adults have been identified as 18-year-old Jose Viveros-Hernandez and 18-year-old Ahmed Mohram. The juveniles won't be named because they're underage. Police recovered: 16 Glock conversion devices 4 firearms, including 3 unserialized, 3Dprinted guns 120 THC vape pens 3 3D printers and 3 related computers Additional paraphernalia connected to illegal gun and drug activity The operation involved a coordinated effort across multiple LMPD teams, including SWAT, Bomb Squad, CID K9, Shively SIU Detectives, Shively Patrol, and LMPD Patrol units. Copyright 2026 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved. LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) A Fayette County grand jury indicted former University of Kentucky student Laken Snelling on a first-degree manslaughter charge in the death of her newborn, according to a news release from the Lexington Police Department. The indictment also includes charges of abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and concealing the birth of an infant. According to court documents, an active warrant of arrest on indictment was issued Tuesday. Snelling is expected to appear in court for arraignment on April 10. Court documents said Snelling told investigators she gave birth in the home and later placed the infant in the bag. But police said the manslaughter charge was added by the grand jury after the Kentucky Medical Examiners Office determined the baby was born alive and died from "asphyxia by undetermined means." Snelling was arrested in August 2025 after Lexington police responded to a report of an unresponsive infant at a home in the 400 block of Park Avenue, near the UK campus. Officers said they found a newborn wrapped in a towel inside a trash bag in a closet. The baby was pronounced dead at the scene. Copyright 2026 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved. WSUs Intermountain Sustainability Summit focuses on Building Resilience March 11, 2026 OGDEN, Utah The Intermountain Sustainability Summit, a longstanding annual event at Weber State University, will take place March 1920 in the Shepherd Union Building. The ISS brings hundreds of sustainability-minded professionals, students, and emerging leaders to Ogden from business, government, nonprofit, and academic sectors across the state. This years sessions are centered on the theme Building Resilience. Participants will learn about designing adaptable infrastructure, restoring ecosystems, protecting communities from increasing wildfire risks, and new technologies like plug-in solar. As we face intertwined planetary, climate, and community challenges, the opportunity to learn from one another and collaborate has never been more important, said Bonnie Christiansen, ISS organizer. This is why many sessions will focus on strengthening relationships, as well as infrastructure. Resilience grows from the connections we create and the ideas we share, as much as from what we build. This years keynote speaker is Baja, executive director of the Resilience Hub Collaborative. Baja has spent more than a decade building resilience hubs, which are physical sites in neighborhoods designed to meet community needs year-round. She was recognized by the Obama administration as a Champion of Change in 2016. The keynote speech and more than a dozen sessions will be held Thursday, March 19, along with the Eco Expo and student poster contest. Workshops will be held Friday, March 20, focusing on increasing energy efficiency in the industrial sector, building community-based resilience hubs, and completing LEED v5 sustainability framework building assessments. Find more details about all events, workshop schedules, and registration information on the ISS website. Citigroup is among US firms warning staff to evacuate or stay in safe locations in the Middle East. The firm has turned to a "fully remote model" as the crisis in the Middle East continues. On Wednesday, reports suggested Iran could strike regional banks and financial targets. Citigroup evacuated three of its buildings in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday, as the crisis in the Middle East is prompting US banks to issue updated security guidance to employees. Representatives for Citi confirmed to Business Insider on Wednesday afternoon that the company implemented a "fully remote model" as it assesses the situation in the UAE, which is separated from Iran by only the narrow Strait of Hormuz. The bank had previously instructed employees to work from home."The vast majority of our people in the UAE have been working remotely, and we have now moved to a fully remote model for all UAE-based colleagues," representatives said. "We are continuing to serve our clients without interruption. The decision to evacuate three of our buildings in the UAE was responsive to information we received and is consistent with our commitment to prioritize the safety of our colleagues. All colleagues are accounted for and are safe," the representatives added. The move comes after Iranian military leaders warned on Wednesday that they would attack banks and financial institutions in the region, according to reports in the Associated Press, Reuters, and Al Jazeera, following US strikes on the country that began in late February and resulted in the death of longtime Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Some of the UAE's major cities, like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, are key regional industrial and financial centers. Other financial firms are monitoring the situation closely as well. A person with close knowledge of the policies at the Wall Street giant Goldman Sachs said the firm's main priority was employee safety and that it had instructed all its teams, regionally, to work from home and adhere to local guidance. Read the original article on Business Insider Speaking in advance of the upcoming round of milk price announcements for February supplies, the Chairperson of ICMSAs Dairy Committee, Noel Murphy, said that there was a more positive feel to this round of announcements and ICMSA expected them to be, tentatively, uplifting. After six months of negative milk prices, the first two months of 2026 have been positive for milk and dairy spot markets. There has been five consecutive rises in the Global Dairy Trade and while the GDT metric may not directly impact Irish and European prices in some cases, the positive sentiment has also been felt on European quotes it has always been a strong indicator of where milk prices should be going, said Mr Murphy. The ICMSA Dairy Chairperson noted that since the beginning of 2026, Dutch dairy quotes for the standard butter and skim milk powder mix has risen 6.5cpl in that nine-week period and increased 1.5cpl alone in the last week. He said that whole milk powder has also seen gains in that time to the tune of 3cpl, showing confidence in the market that has not been seen in the last six months. Against the current and ongoing price-gouging we are seeing in farm inputs such as fuel and fertilizer in the last week and with milk already below the cost of production, every cent will matter to dairy farmers this Spring and milk price rises should start immediately. Add to that, the longer housing period that cows are currently going through, and we can see why costs are to the forefront of farmers minds. February is not a traditionally a Big supply month with only 4% of the annual supply of a traditional spring herd, but it is still hugely important, and it is usually the first milk payment of the year and so critical to farmer confidence. It is time to make that payment a positive one and ensure that 2026 starts on a badly needed upbeat note for all dairy farmers. The market has moved up and so must milk prices, he concluded. Niamh ODonoghue A burglar who pleaded guilty to arson at a well-known Dublin city cocktail bar has been jailed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Craig Johnson (37), of no fixed abode, was sent forward from Dublin District Court on signed pleas and pleaded guilty to arson and burglary at Peruke and Periwig, Dawson Street on September 19th, 2025. Johnson also pleaded guilty to a burglary the next day at Adams Auctioneers on St Stephens Green on September 20th 2025, but did not take anything because there werent any antiques he was interested in taking. He has 83 previous convictions and was on bail at the time. On Wednesday, Judge Elma Sheahan handed down a six-year sentence with the final 18 months suspended. The court heard there was 23,323 damage done to the basement of Peruke and Periwig, to the room and electrics. Only one bottle out of the three bottles of alcohol taken was not recovered. When interviewed initially, Johnson was exercising his right to silence but later told gardai you can clearly see its me and I told you I did it. Detective Garda Frank Kennedy agreed under cross-examination that Johnson did not set fire to the property - it was caused by a spark and was reckless. The damage caused a spark, the court heard today. We believe it was an electrical fire, Det Gda Kennedy told the court. Det Gda Kennedy told Brian Storan, prosecuting, that in the burglary at Adams Auctioneers, the window was broken but nothing was taken. There werent any antiques he was interested in taking? asked Storan to which the garda replied: No. Johnson further pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen racing bicycle at Mercer Street, Dublin 2, on September 23rd, 2025. In the possession of a stolen bicycle incident on September 23 last, staff in the Department of An Taoiseach monitoring the cameras called gardai and they arrested the accused. The bike was never reported missing, and the owner was never traced. There were no victim impact statements before the court in relation to any of the offences. In a plea of mitigation, Johnsons defence counsel said his client was a drug addict who was homeless and was sleeping in a tent at the time of the offences. He now has clean urine and wants to undergo a drug rehabilitation course. Judge Sheahan handed down a six-year sentence and suspended the final 18 months of it for a period of 18 months, and backdated to September last for time spent in custody. The judge noted there was no suggestion he set fire to the premises himself and a spark had caused it. She said it is appropriate, given he has made efforts to deal with his addiction problems. She ordered him to use the suspended portion of his sentence to take up a place in a residential treatment programme. By Hadeel Al Sayegh and Lawrence White DUBAI/LONDON, March 11 (Reuters) - Citigroup and Standard Chartered have begun evacuating their Dubai offices, telling staff to work from home instead, sources said on Wednesday, as banks step up precautions after Iran threatened Gulf banking interests linked to the U.S. and Israel. More from Yahoo Scout Which banks have significant operations in Dubai? Why are banks evacuating their Dubai offices? How is regional conflict affecting Dubai's financial hub status? What safety measures are international banks implementing? U.S. financial giant Citigroup told its staff to evacuate offices in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Dubai's Oud Metha neighbourhood, a memo sent to employees which was seen by Reuters shows, telling them to work from home until further notice. A spokesperson for the bank said it was continuing to take measures to keep staff safe and had contingency plans in place to ensure business continuity. Britain's StanChart has a large presence in the United Arab Emirates, with Dubai now a major financial hub for leading international lenders including JPMorgan and HSBC, as well as law firms and asset managers. A spokesperson for StanChart declined to comment. Separately, HSBC has closed all branches in Qatar until further notice, according to a customer notice, saying the measure was to ensure the safety of staff and customers. The moves came after a spokesperson for Tehran's Khatam al-Anbiya military command headquarters said on Wednesday that Iran will target economic and banking interests linked to the U.S. and Israel in the region, after an attack on an Iranian bank. An administrative building linked to Bank Sepah, one of Iran's largest public banks and with historical links to the military, was hit overnight in Tehran, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported. Many staff at foreign and local businesses had already been told by employers to work from home after Iran responded to U.S. and Israeli strikes by firing missiles at targets across the Middle East, causing deaths, damage and travel chaos. CONFLICT DENTING DUBAI'S SAFE-HAVEN STATUS The war in the region has dented Dubai's sales pitch to international businesses as the region's most reliable economic hub, prompting concerns of capital flight, layoffs and firms relocating elsewhere, Reuters reported last week. The creation of the DIFC in 2004 kickstarted Dubai's push to draw financial firms. By the end of 2025, DIFC hosted more than 290 banks, 102 hedge funds, 500 wealth management firms and 1,289 family-related entities, capping Dubai's decades-long transition from a modest fishing port into a glittering global financial hub. StanChart, which makes nearly 6% of its overall income in the UAE according to company filings, has in recent years increasingly based senior executives in the region. Members of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District have voiced concerns about a Canadian firm seeking a commercial seaweed harvesting licence in Clew Bay. The matter was raised at last week's municipal district meeting by Achill councillor Paul McNamara who said he and his colleagues had received calls and emails about a company being allowed a harvesting licence in Clew Bay. "Some of the community is up in arms about this and a lot have a great relationship with the shoreline and the sea with a tradition going back hundreds of years of locals going to the shore and taking small amounts of seaweed and putting it on the land as fertiliser. There is great loyalty in these communities to their coastal area and they are in fear right along the coast in County Mayo that an outside body would take the seaweed and that would be totally unfair." Cathaoirleach Cllr Peter Flynn said farmers along the coast had engaged in small-scale seaweed harvesting for generations. It is a way of life and each landowner owns the strip all the way down to the high water mark, so they have the rights there. A huge company would displace jobs that are there and that would be a grave concern. The seaweed is highly sought after for the growing of potatoes and vegetables because it is so alkaline and such a source of nutrients for the land. Cllr John O'Malley said a public meeting on the issue in Rosmuc in Connemara drew a crowd of 300. This is something that cant and shouldnt happen. The Taoiseach said he would not support in any way the community losing their way of life but then he said we cant stand in the way of progress, talking out of both sides of his mouth, so we dont know what he meant. Cllr Gerry Coyle said cutting seaweed entailed the most slavish work and they deserve every penny they get, noting that there are winkles and mussels within the seaweed and many people make their living on the winkles in Erris. Cllr Chris Maxwell said there are two companies involved, BioAtlantis and Arramara, and the latter "withdrew an application a fortnight ago but the other is still in there. Head of the district Seamus OMongain said the a potential commercial licence application would have to be submitted to the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA). Cllr Flynn said he had reached out to MARA over the Newport sewerage scheme, to no avail, adding: Welcome to Ireland if you think MARA will respond. Cllr Gerry Coyle added: We deal with MARA every year around running our annual seaside festival. If you were building a nuclear reactor you wouldnt have to answer as many questions as they put to us on that. It was agreed that the municipal district management make a submission to government on behalf of all seven West Mayo councillors against any commercial seaweed licence operator along the west coast. In a statement issued after the meeting, a representative of BioAtlantis told the Western People: BioAtlantis wish to work in partnership with local hand harvesters in Clew Bay to create a vibrant industry, and add value to the seaweed resource in Ireland. "The application ensures that traditional seaweed harvesting rights are fully respected and measures are included to ensure the license has no impacts on existing harvesting rights in Clew Bay. BioAtlantis will not harvest in any area where existing appurtenant rights exist, without first obtaining permission from the owner of such rights. Where Profit-a-Prendre rights are successfully registered with Tailte Eireann, the harvesting plan will be adjusted to ensure that those individuals can continue to harvest. Several laneways used by pedestrians to access public car parks in Westport are privately owned with liability for trips or falls lying with the owners, Westport-Belmullet Municipal District was told. The information was provided in response to a query from Cathaoirleach of Westport Belmullet MD Cllr Peter Flynn, who cited laneways including one from Paddy Powers, The Jester pub, Market Lane and Brewery Lane as being commonly used by the public. "Some of these are really in dire condition, the paving is coming up, the lighting is poor and the surface is slippery. I asked for this to be put on the agenda to formally recognise these are private laneways and my understanding is Mayo County Council has no plans to do anything with them, even though they are the main leads into our public carparks and any accident on them, there is no comeback on the council. I want that in black and white because this is getting worse by the day. Cllr John OMalley supported the call, saying he knew somebody who fell in one of them. Municipal district head Seamus OMongain said he could confirm the scenario as set out by Cllr Flynn, following which Cllr Flynn requested that a letter be sent to IPB Insurance (Irish Public Bodies Mutual Insurance) to confirm the council will be absolved from any liability, because these laneways are all leading into public carparks that we are making a lot of money on". Pointing out that people would be entitled to sue the private owners of the laneways, Cllr OMalley asked: Does that mean the people who own them could stop people from using them?. Area engineer Heather Gibbons replied: As access points it would not be in the interest of anyone to start blocking up the laneways as people would not be able to access their businesses, adding: There are access points to our car parks other than those laneways. Cllr Flynn asked if the council has any plans to take the laneways over, to which the area engineer replied that no direction had been received to take them in charge. Pointing out that some of the laneways consist of cobblestones and are very slippery, Cllr OMalley asked would the council take them over if the owner requested it, to which the area engineer said they would first need to be inspected in terms of standards before taking in charge. This is not a good situation," added Cllr Flynn. "There are at least eight laneways that are vital arteries into our public car parks. Some of these laneways have really deteriorated in the last two years and there are legal cases coming." The late John Mayock from Gortaroe, Westport, was remembered as a wonderful storyteller and masterful historian at last weeks meeting of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District. Cathaoirleach Cllr Peter Flynn described Mr Mayock as a pillar of society who had a remarkable wealth of knowledge. If there was a thing such as Google on two feet then John was it. He had an amazing insight into historical matters and played a key role in the Croagh Patrick Co-op and was very involved in the local historical society. "He also played a huge part in the Harbour Board, making some really important decisions. I would say we wouldnt have the harbour we have today without John. "He was also of the Fine Gael persuasion, occupying the role of chair, treasurer and Director of Elections in the local electoral area. He wasnt afraid to nail his colours to the mast and was there at the coalface, and we need people like that to support politicians with their endeavours. "Our sympathies to Barbara and the extended family and we note and thank John for his contribution to Westport in so many different ways. Cllr John OMalley said the late John Mayock was surely a true blue and recalled a conversation with him one night where John said he was born in America and Cllr OMalleys late wife Karen, who was also American, told him he therefore qualified as an American citizen. He never knew that but he followed it up and even travelled to America where he found the grave of his aunt, buried in New York. Cllr O'Malley described the late historian as a true gentleman and a great man for the farmers who took such good care of them and never put any financial pressure on them and treated everybody with respect". "We will miss John and I will miss the times he would ring me up and just want to create a bit of devilment." Cllr Brendan Mulroy said John was a very wise man and someone who always had good stories to tell, while Cllr Chris Maxwell said John was very well thought of and spoken about by all the farming community in Louisburgh who had many dealings with him as Croagh Patrick Co-op was the only one of its kind in operation back in the day. In 1825, two hundred years ago, St Marys Chapel, Liffey Street in Dublin was constituted as the Pro-Cathedral for Dublin diocese. The moniker Pro in the title referred to what in Catholic eyes was its provisional status in that there was an historical presumption or expectation or at best a hope that one of two Protestant cathedrals in Dublin, St Patricks or Christ Church, would one day revert to its former Catholic status. But first, for historical context, lets go back a few centuries. In 1539, at the time of what was sometimes called the Protestant Reformation - when Englands King Henry VIII broke with Rome - all Irish monasteries and churches loyal to the pope, including St Patricks and Christ Church cathedrals, were handed over by the newly established state to the Church of Ireland. Three hundred years later when that Catholic presumption/expectation/hope mentioned earlier had not been realised a substitute cathedral, pointedly designated the Pro-cathedral was opened on the site of St Marys Church and was soon favoured by generations of Dubliners with the affectionate and long-favoured nickname, The Pro. Then last year, 2025, after roughly 500 years without an officially designated Catholic cathedral in Dublin, the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, Dermot Farrell, announced that Pope Leo had designated The Pro as St Marys, the official cathedral of the diocese of Dublin. And a few weeks ago the archbishop announced that St Marys Cathedral is to close after Easter, thats April 4th, for a two-year refurbishment programme which will cost approximately 25 million. To paraphrase a frequent Dublin grievance about waiting for ages for a bus and eventually two buses arriving together - it seemed as if Dublin Catholics had waited half a millennium for an official cathedral and within a few months a second had appeared on the horizon. Incidentally, St Patricks and Christ Church Cathedral, despite the historic disestablishment of the Church of Ireland in 1871 and the rivalry between the two cathedrals though operating at such close quarters with one another are still in the possession of the Church of Ireland. St Patricks is the National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland and Christ Church is currently the seat of the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin and Glendalough. So why did the Church of Ireland not even undertake what seemed like a necessary levelling-up of the ambiguities of our difficult religious history by gifting (or returning) one of the cathedrals to their long-suffering Sister Church? That said no doubt the Church of Irelands instinct would have been to level the playing fields but the difficult truth is that the Catholic Church never seemed anxious to take on the burden (and the cost) of preserving one of our national cathedrals and seemed content to relinquish that responsibility to their separated brethern. So how will the 25 million be raised to deliver the dream of a National Catholic Cathedral for Dublin? Thats an important question. But heres another: if our Catholic resources can produce such a spectacular sum as if from nothing should we be asking if thats the best way to spend it? Because even 25 million wouldnt go any way towards achieving a cathedral that could possible reach the status of St Patricks or Christ Church. But heres the really big question: could spending 25 million on a new cathedral be not just a waste of money but a waste of resources? The example of the present withering diocese of Killala might be instructive. In the early years of the nineteenth century, the then Catholic bishop of Killala, Peter Waldron, entrusted to his talented coadjutor bishop, John MacHale, the task of building a cathedral in Killala diocese, then one of the poorest - if not the poorest diocese - in Ireland. MacHale was not just equal to the task but ready and willing to take it in his confident stride. By his own admission, as MacHale on a visit to Rome in 1831-2 confided to the then Pope Gregory XVI that even though there were at the time in Killala diocese few churches, his enthusiasm for building a cathedral was predicated on the belief that his example would inspire the priests of the diocese to build parish churches: the cathedral, MacHale contended, was a model to incite the clergy to undertake the building of like edifices in their respective parishes'. Unfortunately, by pressurising the parishes to support the cathedral project whatever resources were available to parishes were mainly expended on the cathedral with predictably negative results for the standard of parish churches. This poses the question to Archbishop Dermot Farrell of Dublin: if Dublin diocese is awash with impressive churches which are now more or less bereft of weekend worshippers, would it not make more sense to adopt one of them as a cathedral, preferably in inner city Dublin or in any other of the poorest areas of the diocese rather than to needlessly expend 25 million on what seems in the circumstances arguably not unlike a vanity project and, if such a sum was available, to expend it on some effective project on the poor of Dublin. (Just asking, Dermot, if you dont mind!) It also poses other questions: who actually decided on this project? That too is legitimate to ask as we struggle to get the synodality template off the ground in Dublin as in elsewhere. Is it not accepted - as Cardinal Mario Grech, General Secretary of the Synod, the man charged with leading the worldwide effort to embed the synodal way of being church continues to point out that synodality applies at every level in the Church? So what imput had the people, priests and religious of Dublin into the decision to resurrect 'The Pro? Im sure Pope Leo wouldnt mind if a more creative and convincing use was made of the 25 million, especially one that would honour the memory of his hero and ours, Pope Francis I, who brought the poor to the forefront of our thoughts and of our care. Just asking. Tom Tuite A teenager with no routine and "bouncing around" accommodation placements has been charged with attacking a man who suffered serious injuries outside a gig at the 3Arena in January. A Co Laois man in his early 20s was left fighting for his life in hospital after a concert by Scottish DJ Ewan McVicar. The injured party, from Co Laois, was placed in an induced coma afterwards. Gardai from Store Street station arrested two males earlier this week, with the pair facing separate court appearances on Wednesday. A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named because he is a juvenile, appeared before Judge Paul Kelly at the Dublin Children's Court charged with assault causing harm to the man at North Wall Quay on January 30th. He was also accused of violent disorder by using or threatening to use violence, with his co-accused, during the same alleged incident. He has yet to enter a plea and was accompanied to his hearing by his social worker and staff from his Tusla-provided accommodation. Garda Andrew Seaman said the boy "made no reply" when charged. No evidence about the assault was given. He confirmed that there were no objections to bail subject to conditions already canvassed with defence solicitor Holly Laher. Judge Kelly ordered the teenager to have no contact by any means with the co-accused and complainant, to stay out of the Dublin 1 and 2 areas, to surrender his passport, and to notify of any address or phone number change. He was also warned to obey a curfew from 11pm to 6am. The investigating officer also sought a condition compelling the teen to sign on daily at his local garda station. Asked by the judge for the reason, he explained that while the boy had a mobile telephone, there were concerns that he was "hard to locate". The judge said he did not see it terribly beneficial to the boy to go to the station every day, where adults would be present. Staff from his accommodation advised the judge that it could help the boy establish a routine. Laher suggested reducing the requirement to three days a week, which the judge adopted. He also informed the boy that he must remain contactable 24/7. Garda Seaman said the investigation was progressing, but more time was needed to obtain directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. Judge Kelly ordered the boy to appear again in six weeks. He noted that there were reports before the court about the teenager, which referred to limited engagement with services trying to assist him. His solicitor said the boy was now willing to engage, that his case had a "sobering effect on him", and that "he wanted to make a plan in place for his life". She added that he has had a change of perspective, to which her client agreed, saying "Yes". "I am, yes," he continued when Judge Kelly asked him if he would now cooperate with the services. The judge also noted that the teenager is now residing in accommodation in Dublin, but had been placed in other locations, and a report indicated that he had been "bouncing around different places. Judge Kelly noted that the boy would remain at his latest placement "depending on his behaviour". The co-accused was brought before the District Court. Weather Alert Bulletin: ...WIND ADVISORY WILL EXPIRE AT 2 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON... Winds have likely peaked and will gradually begin coming down over the next few hours. Therefore, the wind advisory is being allowed to expire at this time. Info: Type: Wind Advisory start_time_local: 2026-03-14T13:44:00-04:00 end_time_local: 2026-03-14T14:00:00-04:00 county_name: state: PA headline: Wind Advisory until SAT 2:00 PM EDT county_fips: category: Met url: urgency: Expected severity: Moderate certainty: Likely geographicname: Lehigh County state_name: Pennsylvania Quick Read Coherent (COHR) signed a multibillion-dollar long-term supply agreement with Nvidia (NVDA) through 2030. Coherents Q2 revenue hit $1.69B up 17.49% YoY with Datacenter & Communications segment at $1.208B up 34% YoY; stock up 41.21% YTD and 314.97% over past year. Nvidia is locking in silicon photonics and optical interconnect technology from Coherent to power AI infrastructure data movement at scale through the end of the decade. The analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks. Get them here FREE. Coherent (NYSE:COHR) CEO Jim Anderson did not mince words when describing what the new NVIDIA supply agreement actually means for his company. In a recent Mad Money interview, he laid it out: "The long term supply agreement with NVIDIA, it stretches out to the end of the decade. It's multiple products and it's multibillion dollar. And so that is a step function expansion in our partnership with NVIDIA." "Step function expansion" is doing a lot of work in that sentence. This is not an incremental contract renewal. This is a structural shift in how deeply Coherent is embedded in the AI infrastructure supply chain, locked in with the most important chip company on the planet through the end of the decade. READ: The analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks What NVIDIA Is Actually Buying The deal is centered on silicon photonics and optical interconnects, the technology that moves data between AI chips at the speeds modern training clusters demand. NVIDIA invested $2 billion into Coherent as part of a broader push into advanced optical technologies, with the purchase agreement covering multiple product lines across several years. NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang framed the partnership as an effort to "pioneer next-generation silicon photonics for AI infrastructure, emphasizing speed and energy efficiency." That is not supplier language. That is co-development language. The Numbers Behind the Story Coherent's most recent quarter gives the partnership real financial context. Q2 fiscal 2026 revenue came in at $1.69 billion, up 17.49% year-over-year, beating estimates by 2.74%. The engine driving that growth is exactly the business NVIDIA is now anchoring itself to: the Datacenter & Communications segment hit $1.208 billion, up 34% year-over-year, representing 72% of total revenue. The demand signal is even stronger than the revenue number suggests. Coherent's data center book-to-bill ratio exceeded 4.0x last quarter, meaning the company has four times more orders booked than it shipped. That backlog now has a multibillion-dollar anchor tenant. Corn futures were down 5 to 9 cents in the front months on Monday, well off the overnight highs. The CmdtyView national average Cash Corn price was down 8 cents to $4.10. Crude oil closed the day down $5.85 and more than $33 off the overnight highs. President Trump signaled the that the ongoing conflict may be nearing an end late on Monday, which pushed prices further. USDAs FGIS tallied corn export shipments at 1.518 MMT (59.75 mbu) during the week ending on March 5. That was 18.4% below the week prior and 17.7% shy of the same week last year. Mexico was the top destination of 497,964 MT, with 243,022 MT headed to Japan and 203,726 MT to Colombia. Marketing year exports for 2025/26 are 41.21 MMT (1.622 bbu) since September 1, which is now 41.54% above the same period last year. More News from Barchart USDAs WASDE will be out on Tuesday, with traders looking for 2.136 bbu of corn ending stocks for the US, up 9 mbu if realized. Brazilian production is expected to be up ~1 MMT to 132.07 MMT Brazils AgRural estimates the for first corn crop at 42% harvested as of Thursday, behind the 54% pace last year. The second corn crop was pegged at 82% planted, lagging 92% from last year. Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.37 1/2, down 9 1/2 cents, Nearby Cash was $4.10, down 8 cents, May 26 Corn closed at $4.53 3/4, down 6 3/4 cents, Jul 26 Corn closed at $4.65 1/2, down 5 1/2 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 Corn futures are down 3 to 7 cents across most contracts, falling from the overnight highs. There were 241 deliveries issued against March corn on Friday night. The CmdtyView national average Cash Corn price is down 6 1/2 cents to $4.12 3/4. Crude oil is up just $3.97 at midday and nearly $25 from the overnight highs. USDAs FGIS tallied corn export shipments at 1.518 MMT (59.75 mbu) during the week ending on March 5. That was 18.4% below the week prior and 17.7% shy of the same week last year. Mexico was the top destination of 497,964 MT, with 243,022 MT headed to Japan and 203,726 MT to Colombia. Marketing year exports for 2025/26 are 41.21 MMT (1.622 bbu) since September 1, which is now 41.54% above the same period last year. More News from Barchart USDAs WASDE will be out on Tuesday, with traders looking for 2.136 bbu of corn ending stocks for the US, up 9 mbu if realizes. Commitment of Traders data from Friday 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. Brazils AgRural estimates the for first corn crop at 42% harvested as of Thursday, behind the 54% pace last year. The second corn crop was pegged at 82% planted, lagging 92% from last year. Mar 26 Corn is at $4.40, down 7 cents, Nearby Cash is at $4.12 3/4, down 6 1/2 cents, May 26 Corn is at $4.55, down 5 1/2 cents, Jul 26 Corn is at $4.67 1/4, down 3 3/4 cents, On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com May corn (ZCK26) futures on Friday rose 7 cents to $4.60 1/2, hit a nearly four-month high, and for the week were up 12 cents. May soybean (ZSK26) futures rose 21 1/2 cents to $12.00 3/4, hit a two-year high, and for the week rose 30 cents. May soft red winter wheat (ZWK26) futures on Friday gained 33 cents to $6.16 3/4, hit an eight-month high, and for the week were up 25 1/4 cents. May hard red winter wheat (KEK26) rose 31 cents to $6.23 1/2, hit a nine-month high, and on the week were up 43 cents. Surging crude oil (CBK26) (CLJ26) prices that pushed above $90 a barrel in Nymex futures Friday are a bullish outside-market element for the grains. Also, it appears that speculators are now paying closer attention to the grain markets, including the big fund traders, as the grains near-term technical postures have become significantly more bullish recently. The big bull runs in the metals markets are now very mature and may be petering out. That has the smart money looking for another market sector that could be on the verge of being the next big upside mover. Grains could be that sector. More News from Barchart All three grain markets on Friday saw technically bullish weekly high closes, suggesting follow-through price strength early next week from the chart-based speculators. Grain traders will get the monthly USDA supply and demand report on Tuesday, although no major changes from the agency are expected for any market. The late-March USDA planting intentions report will be one of the most important USDA data points of the year for the corn, soybean, and wheat markets. Corn and soybean traders will continue to closely monitor growing conditions for South American crops. Generally good growing weather is forecast for corn and soybeans over the next week in Brazil. Increasing rain over the next 10 days should make for good late-season crop development. However, there are some dry spots in southern Argentina that need rain. U.S. Corn Exports Remain Strong U.S. corn export sales and shipments continue to be strong. However, elevated geopolitical tensions, including global trade repercussions and rising fertilizer prices, are potential roadblocks to corn futures extending their rally. As springtime nears, fertilizer availability and fertilizer prices could modestly impact U.S. corn crop-planting decisions. Newsletter: From the desk of the Vice-Chancellor As we near the end of term, I wanted to update you on major developments in recent months and highlight matters affecting the University. Dear Staff and Students As we near the end of term, I thought it would be prudent to keep you appraised of some of the major developments that took place in recent months and to highlight matters that impact on us as a University. Wits ranked No. 1 in Innovation I am pleased to announce that Wits has been recognised as the top-ranked university in sub-Saharan Africa for innovation performance in the 2025 Global Innovation Index, published by the World Intellectual Property Organization. This Index assesses how effectively economies translate research, knowledge and technology into economic and social value. Three Wits spinout companies were registered in 2025 including AirSync and GreenEx, which are commercialising an AI-enabled air quality monitoring solution and a patented moringa extraction technology respectively. The third spinout, Green Lipids, has established proof of concept for ionisable lipids for messenger ribonucleic acid vaccine formulations and secured international support for production scale-up. Congratulations! Wits also partnered with SWEAT Africa a festival that brings together entrepreneurs, investors and students to position Africa as a global hub for innovation and venture development. R100 million Hydrogen Plant Plans were announced for a R100 million modular hydrogen plant that will support research, training and clean energy innovation. Research Visibility Platform The Research Office and the Faculty of Health Sciences are piloting a prototype of a Research Visibility Platform, which will provide a central searchable resource for discovering the research and innovation produced by the Universitys researchers both individually and aggregated by department, school, faculty and entity. Watch this space. New Postgraduate Research Hub When you have a moment, visit the Postgraduate Research Hub on the 2nd Floor of Solomon Mahlangu House where you will find postgraduate students working in the communal hot-desk area and presenting seminars and events. Phase two will launch soon. International Research Centre It was my pleasure to enter into a partnership with the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) to open the International Research Centre, the first of its kind in Africa. The Wits node is co-directed by Prof. Marion Bamford and will foster research collaboration, support the development of early-career researchers and strengthen postgraduate programmes, specifically in the palaeosciences, physics, mathematics and environmental sciences. People Development and Culture I am pleased to announce that Mr Sudesh Harduth has been seconded to the position of Senior Director: Human Resources. Alongside this, we are in the process of planning for executive renewals and appointments over the next 24 months. On staff remuneration matters, the University has concluded a further three-year salary agreement with ASAWU. The progression model for academics will continue its development and roll-out in 2026, and a task team will be formed to review promotion criteria for academic staff. The Annual Performance Incentive for Professional and Administrative Staff (PAS) was completed for 2025 and will commence again in March 2026. Salary negotiations in respect of PAS staff are ongoing with organised labour. We have implemented a new tracking system for the institutional culture recommendations that emerged from the Wits@100 Cultures Study. In relation to institutional culture, I have observed the unfolding public engagements dealing with the question of internationalisation within universities, and the associated social media traction that this debate has received. While our commitment to institutional, sectoral and social transformation are unambiguous, I want to be clear that Wits University values internationalisation and its concomitant contribution to a cosmopolitan university, global knowledge exchanges, and the diversity of its people, ideas and pedagogies. Utility Challenges It is important to appreciate the challenges we face in relation to the supply of water and electricity. We continue to install photovoltaic systems to reduce our reliance on Eskom and City Power. In December last year we installed 2,22 MWp of PV (with 888 kWp added in 2025 alone). We are aiming to reach 6,0 MWp of installed PV in total. The challenges we now face relate to the municipal distribution networks as a result of failures, planned maintenance and upgrading efforts affecting the supply of energy to all of our campuses. Between 9 January and 23 February this year alone, we ran on diesel backup power for 363 hours at a huge cost to the institution. We urge you all to please conserve energy as far as possible. Water also remains a significant challenge. The impact on our campuses has been intermittent low pressure periods in January, and some sustained low pressure periods in February. News and Events There is much happening across the University. You can catch up on the latest news and events on the website from a new paper on COVIDs Origins: what we do and do not know to a multinational genomics project that expanded global datasets with over 1 000 African genomes, strengthening representation of African populations in biomedical research. I am pleased to announce that a R7 million grant from the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust will support health sciences researchers and students affected by international funding cuts. African universities and regional experts are also working with Wellcome to establish new science and policy consortiums. These consortiums will address the escalating public health crisis driven by climate change - saving lives and livelihoods. Wellcome will provide an initial 40 million for two new consortiums in Southern and Western Africa with a further 20 million earmarked to set up a third consortium in East Africa. The first two regional consortiums will be led by Wits and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana. Witsie Shop Opens The revamped Witsie Shop also opened in February. You can visit the Shop on the Ground Floor of Solomon Mahlangu House or shop online. Warm regards Professor Zeblon Vilakazi FRS Vice-Chancellor and Principal Teenagers to save the world Adolescence lasts from just 10 - 24 years old but it is revolutionary and innovative, which is what the world needs now. It is said that South Africas signature music sensation, Amapiano (pianos in isiZulu), started when someone played piano over gospel tracks. Mirroring its youthful creators, Amapiano is hardly a spin-off, despite its heady mix of genres, but it is fluid, experimental and ultimately, original. It is a perfect metaphor for contemporary adolescence. Rather than viewing adolescence (defined as the developmental stage between the ages of 10 and 24 years old) as a problem to be solved, we are invited to see this life stage as a time of ideas, reimagination and revolution, which, the Lancet Commissions Wake-up Call says is exactly what we need for the survival of our planet. Rapid transitions Professor Nicole de Wet-Billings, Wits Senior Director of Academic Affairs and a contributing author to the second Lancet Commission on Adolescent Health and Wellbeing, explains that to nurture this brief and transitional phase of life and to realise its potential, we must listen, invest and stand beside adolescents. The time has never been more critical. Currently, 90% of the worlds adolescents live in low- and middle-income countries and in sub-Saharan Africa, nearly half of the population is under 25. By 2050, one in two Africans will be adolescents or young adults. This life phase is often seen as a fleeting stage between childhood and adulthood and is known in developmental parlance as a second window of opportunity, after early childhood. De Wet-Billings explains it as one of lifes most defining and rapid transitions. The brain undergoes significant changes and is highly sensitive to shaping by experience and environmental exposure. Social connections and the development of a sense of identity are critical tasks for adolescents. Adolescence is short but its consequences last a lifetime. If support fails here, the costs carry forward, says De Wet-Billings. Adolescent angst For de Wet-Billings, whose doctoral research examined the causes and determinants of adolescent mortality in South Africa, supporting adolescents is both a responsibility and an opportunity. Teenagers should not be dying at all, she emphasises. These deaths speak to failures of environment, support and opportunity. Since the publication of the first Lancet Commission on Adolescent Health and Wellbeing in 2016, much has changed. The pandemic deepened the mental health crisis, the climate emergency has intensified and social media became both a lifeline and a source of harm. The second review, published in 2025, emphasises that if no courageous action is taken, the future for adolescents looks bleak. The commissioners project that by the year 2 100, 1.8 billion 10 24 year olds will inhabit a world almost three degrees warmer than before industrialisation. Many will face food insecurity, economic instability and conflict. There is hope, though, and adolescents themselves are leading it. Adolescent mental health pioneers The South African Medical Research Council Wits Agincourt Unit, through its AfriCAT project, is an example of adolescent-led innovation. The project, led by Dr Bianca Moffett, was recently named a winner of the Mental Health Data Prize. AfriCAT is a first-of-its-kind adaptive testing tool to guide care for depression and anxiety among adolescents in Africa. Depression and anxiety are leading causes of disability among adolescents, with 20 to 30 percent of South African adolescents affected. Left untreated, these conditions impact social relationships, disrupt education and increase the likelihood of risky behaviours, self-harm or suicide. As such, early detection and access to treatment can greatly improve outcomes for young people. A defining feature of AfriCAT is its co-design approach. Adolescents, caregivers, educators and health workers in South Africa and Kenya, including young people with lived experience of depression and anxiety, are shaping the tools design and implementation. This participatory ethos reflects the principle of nothing for us without us. Through workshops, adolescents describe how stigma, fear or school stress affect their wellbeing, guiding everything from question tone to interface visuals. By rooting the design in lived reality, AfriCAT aims to be technically robust and emotionally resonant and a mental health tool that adolescents actually want to use, says Moffett. Both Moffett and De Wet-Billings honour the resilience of Africas youth. Whether facing mental health challenges, climate anxiety, digital overload or social fragmentation, Africas adolescents continue to show creativity and courage. The question is whether we will keep pace with their courage, concludes De Wet-Billings. Weather Alert ...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM SUNDAY TO 4 PM CDT MONDAY... ...WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM CDT SUNDAY... * WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 20 and 30 inches, with locally higher amounts possible. Winds gusting as high as 50 mph may result in considerable blowing and drifting snow and blizzard conditions late Sunday into Monday. * WHERE...Oneida, Vilas, Florence, Forest, Northern Marinette County, Northern Oconto County, and Southern Marinette counties. * WHEN...For the Winter Storm Warning, from 11 PM this evening to 10 AM CDT Sunday. For the Blizzard Warning, from 10 AM Sunday to 4 PM CDT Monday. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Widespread blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions will impact the Monday morning commute. Gusty winds could bring down tree branches. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Travel should be restricted to emergencies only. If you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded, stay with your vehicle. The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1. If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1. && ...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM SUNDAY TO 4 PM CDT MONDAY... ...WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM CDT SUNDAY... * WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 20 and 30 inches, with locally higher amounts possible. Winds gusting as high as 50 mph may result in considerable blowing and drifting snow and blizzard conditions late Sunday into Monday. * WHERE...Oneida, Vilas, Florence, Forest, Northern Marinette County, Northern Oconto County, and Southern Marinette counties. * WHEN...For the Winter Storm Warning, from 11 PM this evening to 10 AM CDT Sunday. For the Blizzard Warning, from 10 AM Sunday to 4 PM CDT Monday. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Widespread blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions will impact the Monday morning commute. Gusty winds could bring down tree branches. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Travel should be restricted to emergencies only. If you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded, stay with your vehicle. The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1. If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1. && American families are being offered a $1,000 head start for their childrens financial futures thanks to the U.S. presidents newfound Trump Accounts. The savings plan has been exalted by some as a favorable path to secure a six-figure nest egg for their kids, but personal finance expert Dave Ramsey believes there are better ways to secure wealth. While $1,000 offers a nice head start for children, Trump Accounts lack flexibility, restrict access, and limit your investment options, according to a post from Ramseys personal finance company, RamseySolutions.com. U.S. President Donald Trump introduced the savings mechanism within his broader One Big Beautiful Bill last year. Even some business elite have gotten on board, with Michael and Susan Dell pledging $6.25 billion to fund the accounts. The plan entails that parents with babies born between the start of 2025 and the end of 2028 will receive a one-time payment of $1,000 from the U.S. Treasury into a tax-advantaged investment account. And starting this July, the parents of eligible kids (U.S. citizens with a Social Security number) under the age of 18 will be able to contribute up to $5,000 a year to their accounts. Compounded over time, maximum contributions into Trump Accounts could accumulate as much as $271,000 over 18 years, according to a government website about the accounts. But by being drawn to the allure of a $1,000 deposit, parents may be overlooking better preexisting savings plans. Despite being a supporter of the president, Ramsey dismissed Trump Accounts as a political stunt, and pointed out three red flags with the plan: The blog post noted that the account is unusable until kids are at least 18 years old, and when they do come of age, theyll still have to pay taxes on any investment growth. Its also restrictive around what they can use the money for, and limits investment choices because of the governments control, he pointed out. [Trump Accounts are] not as revolutionary as the original Roth was. Its not as revolutionary as the 529 is. Its none of those things, Ramsey said on a recent episode of his podcast, The Ramsey Show. You can add to it, and family can add to it. But its just [the] spreading around of money to get peoples attention to a political office. I personally wouldnt do it. Fortune reached out to Ramsey Solutions for comment. Ramseys top savings plan picks for parents, over Trump Accounts Trump Accounts do have the potential to accumulate significant wealth, so long as families dont fall behind on contributing $5,000 yearlya tall order for many American adults already dipping into their own retirement funds. But the plan pales in comparison to the flexibility, tax benefits, and investment options of other savings modalities, Ramsey said. Maersk chief executive Vincent Clerc spoke to the BBC [BBC] Increased transport costs driven by the conflict in Iran will be passed on to consumers, the boss of the world's second biggest shipping company has said. Vincent Clerc, chief executive of Maersk, told the BBC that the Danish shipping giant has mechanisms in place so if fuel prices go up or down, that is passed on to the company's customers. "So what it means is that ultimately, in this case, these increases will pass to our customers and will pass on to the consumers." Since the US-Israel war with Iran began, oil prices have soared close to $120 a barrel before easing, but at $87 crude is nearly 20% higher than it was before hostilities broke out. Maersk is dominated by its container shipping arm, which plays a vital role in moving goods such as toys, clothing and electronics around the world. The war has brought transportation through the vital Strait of Hormuz route to a standstill. Before the conflict, around a fifth of global oil supplies travelled through the route. Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani justified the blockade by saying the country needed to maximise "all resources" while in a state of war. At the same time, the world's biggest shipping lines are also avoiding passage through the Red Sea because of security threats. It is causing widespread disruption to the global economy with firms such as Maersk sending its vessels on longer - and more expensive - voyages around the Cape of Good Hope. China's government has already balked at the higher cost of moving goods. On Tuesday, the country's transport ministry said it had called in executives from Maersk and another firm to discuss their "international shipping operations". Clerc said the extra costs work out at around $200 for a standard 20ft shipping container which can mean "anything from a 15% to a 20% increase on some of the freight cost". Maersk's rivals MSC and Hapag-Lloyd have also increased charges. [Getty Images] Clerc said the disruption has had a "profound impact" on Maersk, with many customers not receiving regular deliveries and is "extremely disruptive" in a region that is heavily reliant on imported food. It means there are a lot of logistical challenges to "keep the food moving" and making sure it "continues to be on the shelves of supermarkets" rather than going to waste as it sits on ships or in ports. Asked if he was concerned about product shortages, he said "we've seen a fantastic reaction" with land bridges and trucks trying to keep things on the go. 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. && Elevenlabs AudioNative Player Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, right, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, at the White House in Washington, Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. [AP Photo/Evan Vucci] Eleven days into the US-Israeli war against Iran, the Trump administration is openly using the language of genocide. In an interview with CBS News on Sunday, Trump threatened the end of Iran and warned that youd never hear the name again once he acts fully on his threats to destroy the country. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One Saturday, he defined his demand for unconditional surrender as where theres nobody around to cry uncle. On Mondayone day after Trump stated, in the same CBS interview, that the war was very completeSecretary of War Pete Hegseth promised yet again, our most intense day of strikes inside Iran: the most fighters, the most bombers, the most strikes. Just hours earlier, at least 40 people were killed in a US-Israeli bombing near Risalat Square in Tehran. The US military bombarded Iranian cities Tuesday night, as well as ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The US-Israeli assault has killed at least 1,255 people and wounded more than 12,000. Two hundred children are among the dead, including more than 170 killed by a Tomahawk missile that struck a girls school in Minab. The Iranian Red Crescent reported 19,734 civilian structures damaged, nearly doubling in 24 hours. This includes 77 healthcare centers and 69 schools. This criminal war of aggression is systematically enabled by the media and the Democratic Party, whose leaders have endorsed the murder of Iranian officials, provided political cover for the Trump regime and funded the war. Not a single Democratic leader, not a single major newspaper editorial, has called the war what it is: a war crime and a crime against peace under the Nuremberg precedent, the very crime for which Nazi leaders were hanged. Reflecting the general attitude of the Democratic Party-aligned media, Thomas Friedman, the New York Times most influential foreign affairs columnist, wrote Tuesday that the wars initial results are good for the Iranian people, given how many have been killed by the regime controlling that power, and it is good for the region. Friedmans declaration that the outcome of the war is good is the endorsement of an unprovoked war of aggression in violation of international law. The murder of Irans head of state under the guise of negotiations is the crime of perfidy under the Geneva Conventions. The extermination of more than 170 children in a school is a war crime under the Rome Statute. The torpedoing of an unarmed vessel whose crew was left to drown is a violation of the Second Geneva Convention. Friedman ignores every one of these crimes. His sole concern is tactical. The transformation of Iranthat is, overthrow of its government and the installation of a regime beholden to American imperialismis so much more important than the wars critics admit, but so much more difficult than the wars designers understand, Friedman writes. Trump and Netanyahu should take their military achievement and call it a day, at least for now, Friedman advises, stating that this will create better conditions for the Iranian state to break. Edward Luce, the Financial Times chief US commentator, advanced a similar line in a column published Tuesday, writing that Trump will confront a self-inflicted dilemma whatever the outcome of the war, and that Anticipating this would have served Trump well. Luce presents a number of possible escalations, treating acts of imperialist violence as risky but conceivable gambles. The lives of Iranians do not enter the equation except insofar as they affect energy prices and deterrence. Luce concludes by stating, One piece of damage that Trump cannot repair is to trust in Americathat is, the ability of American imperialism to wage war all over the world has been damaged. On the broadcast networks and in the evening news, Trumps genocidal statements are routinely passed over without commentlet alone condemnationif they are reported at all. Threats to end Iran as a country and erase its very name are treated as just another soundbite, normalized as legitimate policy rather than exposed as incitement to mass murder. The Democratic Party plays an even more direct role in enabling the war. The House Democratic leadership has endorsed the murder of Irans civilian leaders. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer declared on the Senate floor on March 2: I will not shed a tear for Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, who was killed in the initial rounds of airstrikes. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries declared on Meet the Press last weekend that Irans leader was a bad actor, and Im not going to shed any tears as a result of his departure. Jeffries also signaled his openness to providing Trump with more money to wage the war: Well cross that bridge when we get to it. The ritual is the same in every case: denounce Iran, praise the illegal murder of Irans civilian leadership, then complain about the process. The Democrats have not only refused to condemn the war, they have helped provide arms for it. In February, 21 House Democrats provided the decisive margin to pass a $1.2 trillion spending package that funded the military through September 2026, by a vote of 217-214, as Trump was surging US military assets to the Middle East in preparation for his attack on Iran. Schumer personally negotiated the deal with the White House. In the Senate, 23 Democrats voted yes. Even as they endorse Trumps criminal war, the Democrats main differences with the administration are questions of tacticsabove all in relation to Russia. In recent days, a dominant theme in the statements of Democrats has been the claim that Russia is interfering by providing intelligence to Iran. Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal declared on Tuesday, Russia seems to be aiding our enemya statement aimed at intensifying anti-Russian hysteria and laying the political groundwork for further escalation. Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, writing in the Washington Post the same day, complained that instead of tightening pressure on Moscow, this administration is moving in the opposite direction, with the U.S. Treasury Department offering Putin a green light to export previously sanctioned oil to India. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez played her assigned role in the Trump administrations war propaganda. On January 9two days after ICE agent Jonathan Ross shot and killed Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, in Minneapolisshe posted on X: The Iranian governments violent crackdown on demonstrators is horrific and must stop now. At the Munich Security Conference in February, she repeated the administrations claims that the Iranian government had killed tens of thousands of people, adding her voice to the propaganda barrage that preceded the attack on Iran. On March 8, Ocasio-Cortez held a joint town hall in Glens Falls, New York, with Representative Pat Ryan, a former military intelligence officer and CIA Democrat whose career includes work for a Palantir subcontractor that proposed surveillance of left-wing activists. She did not mention the Iran war once. The purpose of this massive propaganda onslaught is to combat and trample the mass popular opposition to the war. It underscores the fact that Trump is not acting as an isolated individual. He is the political representative of the capitalist oligarchy, which is resorting to the most criminal methodswar and extermination abroad, repression and dictatorship at hometo defend its wealth and global dominance. At the same time, the war is massively unpopular. Polls show only 38 percent of Americans approve of the war against Iran, while 49 percent oppose it. The longer the war continues, the more its effects will be felt by the working classin rising prices, in the threat of conscription, in the diversion of resources from social programs. As David North, chairman of the International Editorial Board of the WSWS, stated at the emergency webinar on the war on March 8, the United States will lose this war, not only because of the resistance of the Iranian masses, but more fundamentally, the very character of the war and the very contradictions that gave rise to it are also intensifying social contradictions in every capitalist country. This is a war waged not only against the people of Iran, but against the working class in the United States and internationally. The fight against imperialist war is inseparable from the struggle to defend and extend the social and democratic rights of workers everywhere and to build an independent movement of the working class against the capitalist system that produces war, austerity and dictatorship. Rob Jetten, leader of the Democrats 66 (D66), arrives to be sworn in as prime minister by King Willem-Alexander at Royal Palace Huis ten Bosch in The Hague, Netherlands, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. [AP Photo/Peter Dejong] The criminal bombardment of Tehranan illegal act of aggression orchestrated by the United States and Israel against an oppressed countryhas also sent shockwaves through the Netherlands. Far from being a passive observer, the Dutch ruling class stands exposed once again as an active accomplice in the machinery of imperialist war, genocide and plunder. The eruption of war against Iran, and the rapid and fascistic character in its unravelling course, has demolished any pretence of neutrality or restraint in Dutch bourgeois politics, revealing how swiftly the new minority cabinet of Prime Minister Rob Jetten, Democrats 66 (D66), aligns itself with the interests of international capital, imperialist powers and their predatory wars. Public political sentiment in the Netherlands, by contrast, reflects mounting anti-war opposition. A recent RTL Nieuws poll revealed that a majority fears the escalation of the war into a third world war involving the Netherlands itself. Yet the Jetten cabinet, taking office just five days before the bombing of Iran, not only signalled support for a war of annihilation against Iran, but has also accelerated its plans to expand the Dutch military. This dual dynamicgrowing mass opposition from below confronted by an almost unanimous warmongering consensus abovereveals the ever-widening and irreconcilable gulf between the working class and the entire bourgeois political establishment as seen internationally. That gulf already found its striking expression in the mass Red-Line demonstrations that filled the streets of Amsterdam and The Hague against the genocide in Gaza. Hundreds of thousands have marched, convinced that official politics, the media, and every established party and their accomplices speak the language of militarism and are utterly alien to the social concerns of the working class. As the social, political and economic repercussions of the war deepen, this movement will inevitably take the widest expression, bringing to bear social and cultural questions as well as the political and economic foundations that have caused it. During his official visit to Brussels on March 3, where he met European Union leaders Antonio Costa and Ursula von der Leyen to discuss the latest war and its refugees, Jetten told NOS Journaal: Its actually quite simple. The Iranian regime is a brutal regime that has recently massacred many of its own citizens. That is why the Netherlands has a great deal of understanding for the actions now being taken against Iran. Jettens assertion that the Netherlands has a great deal of understanding for the crimes being inflicted upon Irana nation of 90 million people and immense cultural and intellectual heritage, 45 times larger than the Netherlandswas greeted with approval across the political spectrum. The mounting toll of civilian casualties, the destruction of infrastructure and the immiseration of an already oppressed population due to decades of sanctions, count for nothing in The Hagues calculations, which are guided by the strategic imperatives of Washington and Tel Aviv. What Jetten cynically presents as quite simple is in fact the distilled ideology of imperialist geopolitics and the former colonial powers own interest in the scrambles in the Persian Gulf. Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen (Christian Democratic Appeal, CDA)one of the most strident anti-Chinese spokespersons in the governmentechoed this line in a further interview with RTL Nieuws, granting Washington and Tel Aviv a blank cheque: We understand the risky attacks carried out by the US and Israel, given that the regime in question poses a major threat to the region and much more broadly to the world. When asked whether these attacks violated international law, Berendsen shrugged: Thats not for me to judge. I think these are legitimate questions for the US and Israel in particular. The new defence minister and acting prime minister, Dilan Yesilgoz (Peoples Party for Freedom and Democracy, VVD), a law-and-order hawk who served under Mark Rutte as justice minister from 2022 to 2024, praised the war as a liberation: After decades of oppression by a murderous regime, many Iranians are now breathing a sigh of relief. She accused Tehran of undermining global security through its nuclear programme, ties to Russia and alleged backing of terrorist proxies, adding that Tehrans long arm was also felt in the Netherlands. Such remarks reveal not only the Dutch governments unconditional alignment with US-Israeli aggression but also its eagerness to cloak imperialist crimes in the threadbare garb of moral righteousness. This hypocrisy is not new. It continues a historical pattern stretching from the 17th-century colonial conquests in Asia, Africa and the Americas to present-day participation in NATOs wars of regime change. The rhetoric of freedom now serves the same function as the old civilising mission: to disguise the ruthless pursuit of markets, resources and strategic dominance. Dutch capitalism has repeatedly demonstrated that diplomacy and aggression, hand in glove, are its indispensable instruments of global assertion. The preparations for wars abroad have advanced in the Netherlands on three interconnected fronts: military, ideological and social. Militarily, the Netherlands is being drawn ever deeper into the logic of great-power confrontation. Already an indispensable link in NATOs nuclear chainhosting American nuclear weapons on its soilthe country is now accelerating talks on nuclear cooperation with France and the prospect of a shared European deterrent. Alongside Britain, Germany, Poland, Belgium, Greece, Sweden and Denmark, it has joined a new advanced deterrence strategy for joint operations. The vocabulary used to describe this processcooperation, deterrence, European security architectureseeks to conceal the brutal reality of the Dutch bourgeoisie fusing its fate to the nuclear strategy of European imperialism, transforming the country into a potential staging ground for atomic warfare. Through collaborations with France, the Dutch military seeks to gain operational experience in the planning and execution of nuclear war, despite possessing no arsenal of its own. This is the role that the Netherlands must play, Jetten boasted. We must look for clever coalitions which serve Dutch interests and strengthen Europe, he further emphasised. The drive for a specifically European nuclear deterrent grows more insistent as trade and strategic frictions between Europe and the United States intensify. Each turn of the global crisis pushes Europes ruling classesincluding the Dutch bourgeoisietoward asserting their own imperial interests under the misleading slogan of strategic autonomy. At his weekly press briefing, as the Dutch frigate HNLMS Evertsen departed to protect a French aircraft carrier to the Gulf without full cabinet approval, Jetten warned of potential casualties: The Dutch frigate is well capable of intercepting projectiles from the air. In plain terms, the Netherlands is prepared to engage Iran militarilyplacing itself on the front line of this widening war. Facing widespread public oppositionand in many quarters open hostilitytoward its plans to expand the armed forces from 80,000 to 122,000 personnel, with possible expansion to 200,000, the Jetten government has turned recruitment for war into a spectacle. In coordination with the Ministry of Defence, the corporate media have launched a nationwide recruitment campaign to glorify the military, with the monarchy playing a starring role. Only weeks before the bombardment of Iran began, Queen Maxima announced she had enlisted as a reservist in the Royal Netherlands Army. At 54, she appeared in camouflage, trading silk and ceremony for khaki and combat drills. The Ministry of Defence claimed this was a personal response to new security concerns: Because the security of the Netherlands can no longer be taken for granted, Maxima has decided to become a reservist. Her choreographed appearancesgrinning from armoured vehicles and drilling with soldiersare not just pompous publicity stunts but acts of calculated political theatre. A Defence Ministry spokesman boasted, We are very proud that she is doing this and hope other people will think, Hey, this is something I could do. In a society where confidence in parliament, its affiliated institutions, the established political parties, affiliated trade unions, and its pseudo-left appendagespart and parcel with the corporate mediahas all but collapsed, the monarchy functions as one of the ruling classs last refuges of manufactured legitimacy. The ruling elite, in turn, safeguards the monarchy as a vital ideological instrument. It alone can drape nationalist chauvinism and militarism in the language of unity, tradition and home-grown virtue. Thus, the wars abroad serve not only geopolitical ends but also a vital capitalist ideological extension to mitigate the class war at home. By mobilising the crown in war traditions last seen during World War II, the ruling elite seeks to divert social angerborn of deepening inequality and stringent austerityinto nationalist channels. The Dutch war policy, as seen elsewhere in Europe and internationally, corresponds directly with an assault on the living standards and rights of the working class. Under the slogan Getting to WorkBuilding a Better Netherlands, the coalition pact codifies a programme of permanent war, hand in hand with austerity and state repression. At its centre stands the Vrijheidsbijdragethe so-called freedom contributiona cynical euphemism for a war tax imposed on working people, given that a majority is anti-war. This levy, marketed as a shared national effort, is projected to raise 5 billion annually, every euro earmarked for the military and security apparatus. The media and trade unions echo the governments refrain that security has a price, while the real aim is to transfer wealth from labour to capital. Among the most regressive measures is an increase in the retirement age, justified by demographic pressures but designed above all to force workers to toil longer, while savings from delayed pensions are redirected to defence spending. Unemployment and disability benefits are to be tightened under the very same logic. The message is unmistakable: the working class must surrender more years of life and a larger share of its income, let alone larger sums of the wealth it generates, to fund the geopolitical ambitions of Dutch and European imperialism. Foreign and domestic policy are fused into a single class strategythe same state that wages war abroad is conducting an economic offensive at home against wages, social rights and democratic freedoms. The policies of the Dutch government are one link in the global chain of capitalist crisis. The transformation of the Jetten cabinet into a de facto war government, as seen at other European centres, expresses the logic of European capitalism as a whole. Confronted with stagnation, intensifying inter-imperialist rivalry and growing social unrest, the bourgeoisie turns outwardto militarismand inwardto repression. These measures are already arousing anger among workers and youth. Strikes and protests originally centred on wages, housing and climate issues are acquiring a consciously political, anti-war character. Yet this mass opposition collides with the absence of revolutionary leadership. The so-called Dutch leftPvdA, GroenLinks, Socialist Party and the trade-union bureaucracylong ago integrated themselves into the state and NATOs command structure. Their hollow appeals for dialogue and diplomacy merely disguise their acceptance of imperialist policy. The leaders of the main trade union confederationssuch as FNV, CNV, as well as VCPhave met with cabinet ministers, warning that strikes will be unavoidable unless plans to delay retirement and cuts to unemployment benefits are withdrawn. Their own statements, however, underscore the volatility of the situation: mass demonstrations are again expected in The Hague and in Amsterdam, the same cities where hundreds of thousands rallied against the genocide in Gaza. The Socialist Party, for its part, differs from government policy only in tone. It condemns Tehran for human rights abuses while remaining silent on the far greater crimes of imperialism. The SP functions to contain and defuse genuine opposition to the war. The US-led war against Iran is the latest chapter in a 35-year trajectory of imperialist interventions across the Middle East, carried out to control energy routes, strategic chokepoints and resources as part of a broader strategy to contain Russia and China. It forms part of a global plan for US hegemony, using the Middle Easts resources as tools of coercion against both rivals and its allies in Europe. The workers and youth of the Netherlands must draw the necessary political conclusions from this political reality and from their historical experiences. Genuine opposition to war is inseparable from opposition to the capitalist system that breeds it. The struggle against the bombardment of Iran, NATOs drive toward nuclear confrontation with Russia, and the social attacks at home must be waged as a unified fightthrough the independent mobilisation of the Dutch working class as part of the European and international working class under a socialist programme. Oppose the imperialist war of extermination against Iran! Turn the opposition to war into a political fight for socialist internationalism! Build a section of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) in the Netherlands. The criminal US-Israeli war on Iran is widely opposed internationally, including in Australia. The Albanese Labor government is one of its most explicit and rabid supporters, not only politically but directly. Australian military personnel were aboard the US submarine that torpedoed and sank the unarmed IRIS Dena in international waters, killing 140 sailors in a war crime. Yesterday, Australias participation became open, with Labor announcing the deployment of missiles, a warplane and personnel to join in a war aimed at regime-change and the annihilation of Iranian society. The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) has been campaigning on university campuses against the war, exposing Labors role, warning of the preparations for even greater crimes in the US-led confrontations with Russia and China and putting forward a socialist and revolutionary perspective to halt capitalisms descent into barbarism. The IYSSE is holding a series of meetings at university campuses opposing the war. IYSSE campaign at La Trobe University in Melbourne Adam, a law student at Western Sydney University, saw the war unfold live on television. He said, I wasnt too surprised because of the escalating tensions but I was also quite scared, not for myself but for those in the region. When wars happen between nations, the victims are never the nations, the victims are always the people. Adam said the war benefitted the interests of first and foremost the upper class that consists of that higher echelon of people in the US, Israel and allied countries. He also said that the war against Iran could spiral into a far broader war that impacts the entire world. Its a real possibility and in the near future. When asked if it was the working class who could stop war, Adam responded: Of course, you cant see any other way it can happen. Who controls everything? Its the working class. Maeve, a nursing student from the University of Queensland (UQ), opposed the lie that the war on Iran was to defend democracy. Thousands of Iranian civilians have died and thousands more will die, Maeve said. US imperialism does not care about the people on the ground. If the US really cared about civilians, they wouldnt be sending billions of dollars to Israel that is carpet bombing Palestinian children and civilians. On the history of US military interventions in the region and across the world, Maeve said: The US has sabotaged civil rights in Iran, the Middle East, South America for decades. Joey, a law and political science student at UQ, drew the connection between the war on Iran and the ongoing Gaza genocide. He said the Labor government will recognise Palestine and continue to collaborate with the weapons programs that are used to genocide the Palestinians. UQ pharmaceutical science masters student Steven said: I read that many students and staff at a girls school were bombed by an American airstrike. I totally disapprove of the war by Trump and Israel. David, who is studying business and finance at UQ, said: I think it's all illegal. Its all in the interests of the elites. No war will ever be for the people. Sydney, a medical engineering student at the University of Newcastle, thought the war against Iran is based on power and money because Iran's oil is huge. I know that when the UK and the US appointed the Shah as the leader, that allowed them to use their oil. I think now Trumps trying to get back to that. He's almost trying tonot appoint a Shah exactly, but it could get to that point. Asked if the assault on Iran increases the danger of a Third World War, Sydney said: Absolutely. I definitely think it does. It was a blatant attack. It happened so suddenly... The fact that the US and Israel are behind these attacks could start other countries getting involved because it broadens things. Trump started an attack in Venezuela and now we're in Iran, and it feels like he's going for very certain areas with very specific oil reserves. I could see it blowing up into other countries. [Australian Prime Minister Anthony] Albanese supported it right away. He was one of the first people to say he completely endorsed it. Other countries and European countries are endorsing this toothe UK, for example. A computer science student in Newcastle, Shayan, rejected the lie that war against Iran had anything to do with responding to antisemitism. I believe antisemitic rhetoric from Iran or some farce nuclear program is not the real reason why Israel has chosen to attack Iran, Shayan said. The student opposed the antisemitism report card system recently imposed on universities, which threatens to punish institutions that dont adequately suppress opposition to Israels war crimes: Zionists love to throw around the word antisemitism. This is another blatant attack on the freedom to demonstrate by forcing universities to control their students. Adam, an 18-year-old music student at Adelaide University, denounced Netanyahu and everything that has gone into the occupation of Palestine. Speaking on the need to unite the working class internationally against capitalism, Adam said: Theres roughly 3,000 billionaires in the world and were 8 billion people so Id say odds are in our favour. Its more so about getting the people together its important to get the message out there, especially younger voices in how they can take a step towards fighting corruption. We really need action. Thats something thats desperately needed now. Liam, who is completing a Master of Teaching at Macquarie University in Sydney, said: It goes all the way back to the end of the First World War where all the lines in the new countries in the Middle East were partitioned The US is not interested in freeing the people of Iran, theyre interested in the resources in the region and destabilising the area so they can control them. It is important to separate governments from the people, he continued. There is a lot of resistance in America to what Trump is doing. Another student from Macquarie said: Trump is bombing Iran for control and power. Following decades of sanctions, Iran has gotten weaker. What you are saying about the economic bankruptcy of the US and its determination to stop China overtaking it is probably true. I also agree that we are facing World War III If the US and China go to war, other countries will join in. Its going to affect everyone on the planet. Cameron, who attended an IYSSE meeting at Victoria University Wellington (VUW) in New Zealand, said: I think a lot of the conflicts that the US have decided to involve themselves in, or to start, could all have the potential to upscale. But I think this, the most recent Israeli-US aggression towards Iran, has the specific motivation to destabilise the Chinese economy and energy sector. This raised the potential of becoming World War III. He said he had followed the resistance of the working class in the US to the Trump administrations brutal attacks on immigrants. The size of the turnout at the protests is certainly heartening. Mohamed Mohamed, who also attended the VUW meeting, said he was pleased that the IYSSE opposed the reactionary liberal talking points from commentators who were hypocritically claiming to oppose the war against Iran while celebrating the murder of Ayatollah Khamenei and other leaders. He denounced the New Zealand governments support for the war, including Prime Minister Christopher Luxons response when asked about the bombing of a school that killed 150 schoolgirls. His response was: well, Im not in a position to comment about international law. Excuse me? The slaughter of 150 girls, is that not the most disgusting war crime? Mohamed noted that the United States and Israel were targeting cultural and historical sites to diminish the morale of the Iranian people. That is exactly what the Nazis did during the Blitz: they bombed British historical sites to diminish morale. He said the governments stance was bound up with NZs membership in the Five Eyesthe US-led intelligence-gathering allianceand right now, to be an ally of the US, you need to also be an ally of the state of Israel, you need to be blind and silent to the crimes of Israel. Mohamed said Trump has no thought whatsoever for the United States constitution, for what Congress sayshe doesnt care. And when he makes it so clear that he has no concern, why should we still appeal to him? Why should we still appeal to a man who has no concern for any sort of law but the one that comes from himself and his criminal, fascistic thugs and warmongers? Mohamed pointed out that oppressed people in places like the Congo did not achieve independence by begging the colonial powers, but through militant actions including strikes. Thats what workers today need to recognise: the power they hold to strike the assets that matter to the political ruling elites. We need revolution. Ishika, a first-year arts student at Melbournes La Trobe University, said: I dont support any interference by the major Western powers in other countries. This war is very similar to the genocide in Gaza or the invasion of Venezuela. There are similar excuses given as to why its being done. This is all for resources and power. But theres always some individual figure like Khamenei or Maduro, or some label like terrorism, thats put at the forefront of the discourse to negate any mass casualties. The timeline of it, how things have gone this year, and how there are all these Western countries supporting the bombing of Iran and other warsthis is a lead up to world war. I never think its single figures that drive wars. And capitalist nations seek to expand, especially the most powerful like the US, which now has this very nationalist thinking under Trump. You get this recipe of expansion and violence, taking over countries and killing innocent people. Labor depends on the alliance with the US. On the one hand, Australian capitalism is intimidated and dependent on Trump, but on the other, they are driven by greed to want to expand for themselves. In response to IYSSE members insisting on the need for a revolutionary movement against capitalism to stop war, Ishika replied, I completely agree, and I think a revolutionary perspective is important. Working within the system, to reform it, doesnt do anything. You can see so many instances in history of attempts at reforming capitalism, where figures or parties attempt to fit in to parliament, betray their own values, and make a bad name for themselves. Not only that, but they prevent any changes from happening. So I agree we need to overthrow capitalism and not reform it. Company Logo Discover Denmark's dynamic data center market with our comprehensive Excel database, covering 33 existing and 11 upcoming facilities. Gain insights into key locations such as Copenhagen, Aarhus, and Ballerup. Access detailed analyses on white-floor space, IT load capacity, and colocation pricing. 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Existing white-floor space (square feet) Upcoming white-floor space (square feet) Current IT load capacity (2025) Future capacity additions (2025-2029) Retail Colocation Pricing Quarter Rack (1/4) Half Rack Cabinets (1/2) Full Rack Cabinet (42U/45U/47U/etc.) Wholesale colocation (per kW) pricing EXISTING DATA CENTERS (33 FACILITIES) A rustic dwelling targeted by US and Ecuadorian forces on March 6 [Photo: Ministerio de Defensa de Ecuador] The US-Ecuadorian joint military operation launched March 3, ostensibly against drug cartels, has turned Ecuador into a proving ground for unleashing military violence upon every country in the hemisphere in furtherance of US hegemony. Neither the Pentagon nor the Ecuadorian Ministry of Defense, which has dubbed the onslaught Operation Total Extermination, have reported casualty figures. Subsequent reports, however, have made clear that the Pentagon and Ecuadorian forces are following a scorched-earth policy aimed not at cartels but civilians, akin to that employed by the military dictatorships in Central and South America over the last century. Last Friday, the Ecuadorian Armed Forces boasted on social media that Ecuador and the US destroyed the training grounds and a vacation home of the Border Commandsa drug trafficking group formed by former Colombian FARC-EP guerrilla fighters along the Colombian-Ecuadorian border. The announcement included aerial videos showing military helicopters bombing rural properties and rustic homes in the northeast town of Santa Rosa, Sucumbios Province. During the subsequent search, weapons and other evidence linked to illegal activities were found, the publication claims. The US Southern Command, the branch of the US armed forces that oversees forces in Latin America, issued an accompanying statement indicating the US and Ecuador had launched lethal kinetic operations against Designated Terrorist Organizations. Sean Parnell, chief Pentagon spokesman, added: At the request of Ecuador, the Department of War executed targeted action to advance our shared objective of dismantling narco-terrorist networks. The following day, Saturday, President Daniel Noboa shook hands with Donald Trump at the Shield of the Americas Summit in Miami, where the fascist American president announced a brand new military coalition against drug cartels. The only way to defeat these enemies is by unleashing the power of our militaries, he declared. To capture drug traffickers, Trump might have simply called for the arrest of Noboa himself, whose billionaire familys Noboa Trading Co. has been caught shipping cocaine to the Balkans in crates with bananas sold under the Bonita label. Instead, in real time, the true character of this coalition was shown in Sucumbios, where local news reporters were informing Saturday that the US and Ecuadorian militaries had bombed the homes of peasants and small farmers and tortured agricultural workers who deny any illegal activities. Novedades Sucumbios interviewed people in the town of San Martin, located in the same border region in Sucumbios targeted by US and Ecuadorian troops. The video reports shows massive craters and burned constructions. One resident, Wilmar Garzon, explained: The Ecuadorian army is coming to burn down the houses, and they bombed them after burning them down. Another, Vicente Garrido, says, We were working with other co-workers when the planes came here. Several residential homes were burned to the ground, he added, and The military men tied up the boys who were working there. Showing significant scars on his arms, one of the workers detained, said: The day they arrived, the soldiers tortured me and my coworkers while we were working. They gagged us, mistreated us, kicked us, and told us they were going to kill us. Right now, I am afraid to go back to the place where I worked. A video shows community members with their hands up trying to approach the soldiers to demand the liberation of the workers. The soldiers shoot their rifles as a warning. The workers who had been detained were then taken away by helicopter and freed the following day. A community leader in the attacked town said: We are all fearful. Under the pretext of fighting narco-terrorists, US imperialism and its stooges are deliberately sowing terror. Radio Sucumbios published a video of the total destruction of an impoverished home in San Martin, reporting that the town was left war-torn. None of the international news media have mentioned what happened in San Martin in their reporting of the joint operation, and it is still unclear from media reports how many people have been killed. The US aggression in Ecuador has been framed as an extension of the Pentagons bombing of dozens of boats and killing of 157 fishermen accused of carrying drugs off the Caribbean and Pacific coasts of South America, a mass murder spree dubbed Operation Southern Spear. The US Southern Command announced the latest boat strike Sunday, killing the six men aboard. Like the agricultural workers and peasants in Sucumbios, relatives of the fishermen killed have gone to the media to refute the accusations of drug trafficking. Even as Trump laughed in his State of the Union address, boasting that Nobody wants to go fishing anymore, relatives of Ricky Joseph, a 35-year-old fishing boat captain from St. Lucia reported to the Associated Press that Joseph had gone missing after a February 13 strike near the Caribbean island. Killing scores of innocent workers, the Trump administration is claiming the right to apply the death penalty against any suspect, group or community anywhere without even formal charges, where US commanders act as prosecutor, judge, jury and mass executioner. Operation Total Extermination in Ecuador has been combined with the extension of states of exception suspending democratic rights across nine provinces covering much of the country and a March 15-30 curfew in four provinces. In other words, the resulting regime of terror imposed by US imperialism and its Latin American puppets is setting the stage for military dictatorship. As noted by the WSWS, the Shield of the Americas summit in Miami has as its closest historical precedent the November 1975 summit in Pinochets Chile, where intelligence officials of South Americas dictatorships launched Operation Condor, named after Chiles national bird. This network coordinated the detention, torture and killings of suspected leftists with the assistance of the CIA. The Ecuadorian military, which would later join Operation Condor, and their US handlers are now relaunching their network of terror. The Trump administration undoubtedly expects that the turmoil generated by the unravelling economic and military wars launched by US imperialism, now leading to skyrocketing oil prices, will lead to explosive social protests across Latin America akin to those that erupted during the 1970s oil shocks. In response, they seek to terrorize the population and set up dictatorships before a popular upheaval. The methods of landing helicopters in rural communities, burning and bombing homes, capturing and torturing their inhabitants recall the types of attacks and massacres carried out by these dictatorships to kill hundreds of thousands across South and Central America, but this time replacing the charge of Communists with that of Narco-terrorists. In many cases, these dictatorships and the CIA worked closely with the drug cartels. As recently as March 2022, the Colombian military massacred 11 people, including the indigenous governor and another local leader, at a peasant bazaar in Putumayo, claiming that they belonged to the same Border Command targeted in Ecuador. While this took place under the far-right Ivan Duque administration, the current pseudo-leftist President Gustavo Petro has joined the fray, announcing a joint operation with Ecuador and the US, with 20,000 Colombian troops deploying to the border in collaboration with Operation Total Extermination. Ecuador serves only as the test case. This terror is no aberration but the logical outgrowth of US imperialisms global war drive, from Irans annihilation to the starvation of Cuba, the bombing of Caracas and kidnapping of the Venezuelan president. On March 4, a US submarine torpedoed and sank the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena near Sri Lankan waters, killing 108 sailors on board. The attack without warning occurred in international waters as the vessel was returning from multinational naval exercises hosted by India. This act of mass murder, thousands of kilometres from the Middle East, was part of Washingtons escalating war against Iran. It sent an unmistakable message: the conflict will be prosecuted wherever the US chooses, unconstrained by international law or convention. An Iranian sailor, who was rescued from IRIS Dena warship by Sri Lanka's navy is transported on a gurney to a Judicial Medical Officer from the National Hospital, in Galle, Sri Lanka, Thursday, March 5, 2026. [AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena] The Sri Lankan Navy responded to two distress calls early in the morningat 4 a.m. and 5 a.m.from the sinking Iranian vessel and rescued 32 survivors, who were admitted to Karapitiya Hospital in Galle for treatment. The navy later retrieved the bodies of dozens of sailors from the sunken ship. On March 4, a second Iranian naval ship, IRIS Bushehr, carrying 208 crew members, sent a message to the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry requesting permission to enter Colombo Port. After initially rejecting the request, the nervous Sri Lankan government, after a flurry of diplomatic discussions, finally allowed the ship into Colombo Port on March 5. Its crew were disembarked and the vessel taken to Trincomalee Port on the other side of the country. That night, in a special media briefing, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake claimed that his government had acted in a manner that safeguards the dignity of the country. It did not take a hasty decision, he said, because this concerns a naval vessel belonging to one party in a war, and we are a neutral state. Dissanayake acknowledged that discussions had been held with relevant embassies but did not identify them. He declared that Sri Lanka had agreed to take custody of the crew and vessel, subject to agreements and understandings reached between the parties, but likewise did not identify the parties, or the terms of the agreements. In other words, Dissanayake presented the episode as a routine humanitarian operation carried out by a neutral state and was praised by the media and opposition parties for showing restraint. That narrative has now been shattered by a Reuters report, posted on March 7, shedding light on what led the Sri Lankan government to allow the second ship into the country. According to an internal US State Department cable dated March 6, Jayne Howell, the charge daffaires at the US embassy in Colombo, insisted that the government must not repatriate the crew of the IRIS Bushehr or the 32 rescued sailors from the IRIS Dena to Iran. The cable also shows that Israels ambassador to India and Sri Lanka, based in New Delhi, was involved in the discussions. According to the cable, Howell told the Israeli ambassador that there was no plan to repatriate the sailors to Iranindicating that President Dissanayake had agreed. The agreements included that Sri Lankan authorities should minimize Iranian attempts to use the detainees for propaganda. In other words, the Iranian sailors would be muzzled which can only mean they are under detention or constant observation. The IRIS Bushehr, the cable said, will remain in Sri Lankan custody for the duration of the conflict. The Israeli envoy also asked Howell whether there had been any engagement with the crew to encourage defectionin other words, to turn the sailors into propaganda tools for the US-Israeli war of aggression on Iran. The Reuters correspondent reported that he had tried to contact the Israeli embassy but received no response. Dissanayakes posturing about Sri Lankas neutrality and humanitarian mission is false to the core. At an International Womens Day event in Colombo, he boasted that Sri Lanka carries the banner of humanity forward, while other countries wage war. In reality, the Dissanayake government functioned as a compliant intermediary for the diplomatic and strategic objectives of the US and Israel as dictated by their diplomatic envoys. The events surrounding the sinking of the Dena expose the complicity of Colomboand New Delhiin the imperialist war being waged against Iran. Three Iranian shipsIRIS Lavan, IRIS Dena, and IRIS Bushehrhad recently participated in multinational naval exercises hosted by India in the Bay of Bengal. After the drills, on February 27, these vessels sought permission to make a courtesy port call in Colombo. That request was refused. Neither New Delhi nor Colombo has condemned the US attack on the Dena or the killing of its crew, or the illegal war itself. Their silence is not accidental. Both governments are politically aligned with Washington and are increasingly integrated into its military and strategic framework in the Indo-Pacific as it prepares for war with China. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has become a key strategic partner of the United States. The Dissanayake government in Sri Lanka is following the same trajectory, deepening its military cooperation with Washington and also strengthening defence ties with New Delhi. Colombos role in the Iran war also sheds light on the political character of the government and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) that leads it. The JVP, a petty bourgeois organisation based on Maoism, Castroism and the armed struggle that routinely engaged in anti-imperialist and socialistic demagogy, has evolved into a flunkey of US imperialism and international finance capital. At home, the Dissanayake administration, which claims to defend humanity abroad, is ruthlessly imposing International Monetary Fund austerity policies driving millions deeper into poverty. To enforce these measures, Dissanayake is expanding the powers of the police and military and using the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act, Emergency Regulations and the Essential Services law to suppress the opposition of workers and the rural poor. The sinking of IRIS Dena as part of the devastating war on Iran is another warning that US imperialism is plunging the world towards catastrophe as it engages in a reckless attempt to reassert global domination. The ruling classes in India and Sri Lanka, have aligned themselves with this neo-colonial agenda. The only social force capable of stopping this descent into barbarism is the international working class. The Socialist Equality Party and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality are holding a public meeting on March 17 at the Colombo Public Library Auditorium as part of the campaign being waged by the International Committee of the Fourth International to build a unified anti-war movement of the international working class based on socialist policies. We urge workers, young people and progressive intellectuals to attend and participate in this meeting which will discuss the political perspective required to oppose imperialist war. Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and his Premier Li Qiang, listen to a speech during a plenary session of China's National People's Congress, in Beijing, March 9, 2026. [AP Photo/Vincent Thian] The latest Chinese five-year plan released earlier this month, and the work report presented to the National Peoples Congress last week underscore that the economic policy of the Xi Jinping regime is being driven by the threats posed by the US. The growth target for this year has been set at a range between 4.5 and 5 percent, a downgrade from the target last year of around 5 percent and the lowest since 1991. Critics of the regimes economic policy, both externally and within China have repeatedly declared that the road to higher growth lies in boosting the domestic economy, particularly by lifting consumption spending. This should be done by expanding social service spending and by cleaning up the collapse of the property market which acts as a dead weight on consumers. But that path has been by and large rejected, apart from some marginal changes, because the focus is on the further development of high tech and artificial intelligence. The fear is that unless this is done, the US will forge ahead and be in a stronger position to suppress Chinas economic growth and strengthen its military position against Beijing. Chinese authorities are well aware, as is everyone else who has examined the documents, that every US military and intelligence institution as well as a range of economic and geo-strategic think tanks have insisted that the subordination of China is an existential question for the US if it is to retain its global dominance. And it will not have escaped the attention of Beijing that the war against Iran is part of a broader strategy to achieve that objective. Apart from the threat to oil supplies, the chaos being unleashed in the Middle East threatens to disrupt what has been a central objective of Beijing, that is, to strengthen its economic and political ties with this region, through increased exports, loans and investments. Chinese exports to the Middle East grew twice as fast as its exports to the rest of the world in 2025 and its investment is growing faster than anywhere else in the world. According to Dan Wang, China director at the Eurasia Group: The region is basically considered the biggest growth potential for China. The five-year plan was framed within the context of what is seen as an existential struggle with the US. It called for the development of new engines of economic growth in high-tech areas. China would seize the commanding heights of science and technological development and seek decisive breakthroughs in core technologies. In the midst of fierce international competition, we must win the strategic initiative, the plan said. In delivering his work report to the NPC last Thursday, Premier Li Qiang noted the changes in the international situation. Geopolitical risks are rising. Global economic momentum remains sluggish, while multilateralism and free trade are under severe threat. It was necessary to hone our own capabilities to navigate external challenges, he said. Li acknowledged there are major problems in the domestic economy. The transition to new growth drivers is formidable. The imbalance between strong supply and weak demand is acute, market expectations are weak, and there are many risks and hidden dangers in key areas. Li was referring to stagnant domestic consumption and a surprise fall in investment last year. The property crisis, which began in 2020, is far from resolved and there is the problem of high local government debt. During the property boom local authorities were able to raise money by selling off land for property development but that road is now largely closed off. The weakening of the internal economy is reflected in the fact that exports accounted for around one-third of Chinas 5 percent growth last year, the highest percentage since 1997. Last year, the Chinese trade surplus hit a record high of $1.2 trillion and there is no sign of any abatement. Figures for the first two months of this year show that exports rose by 21.8 percent, far exceeding the median forecast of a 7.1 per cent growth. But the export surge contains the danger that Chinas trading partners will increase protectionist measures. This is behind the international demand for China to cease promoting economic growth via exports and do more to stimulate the domestic economy. However, that would require the diversion of resources to repairing the property market and boosting consumption. But such is the importance with which high-tech development is regarded, because of the conflict with the US, that there were only minor moves in that direction. In fact, in one area stimulus was actually cut. Funding for a trade-in program to encourage the swapping of old appliances for new ones was reduced to 250 billion yuan ($34 billion) from 300 billion yuan. As a Bloomberg report noted, this was likely an acknowledgement that the initiatives appeal was fading among residents facing job insecurity and weak wage growth. Their wealth, primarily stored in property, continues to dwindle under a multi-year downturn. One analyst cited in the report noted: The shift toward consumption is unlikely to materialise unless the real estate sector is stabilised first. But the position of the government remains basically unchanged from last year. It said only that it would seek to stabilise the housing market but announced no specific measures to do so. There was virtually no movement on pensions with a commitment to increase the monthly payment by just 20 yuanthe same as the last two years. Summing up the overall direction of policy, Julian Evans-Pritchard of Capital Economics noted: Despite claiming to want to rebalance the economy toward consumption, concrete policy plans to do so remain timid. The priorities are clear in the five-year plan. Boosting the domestic economy ranks fourth behind building modern industries, achieving technological self-reliance, and digitizing the economyone place lower than in the previous five-year plan. Developing AI is mentioned 50 times in the 141-page document. Fred Neumann chief Asia economist at HSBC said: Chinas government remains laser-focused on spurring technological breakthroughs and high-tech investment. In part, this is motivated by competition with the United States for control over the technologies of the future. It is more than in part but is the key driving force. The next stage in this conflict will be seen at the meeting between US president Trump and president Xi in Beijing at the end of this month. Six years ago this week, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared the global outbreak of COVID-19 a pandemic. In the six years since, the pandemic has killed over 30 million people worldwide, left more than 400 million suffering from Long COVID and inflicted incalculable damage on the social fabric of every country on Earth. It is one of the most catastrophic events in modern historyand it is not over. World Health Organization Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (center) declaring the coronavirus pandemic a Public Health emergency of International Concern in March 2020. [Photo: Fabrice Coffrini] Yet not a single major bourgeois publication has so much as acknowledged this anniversary. The pandemic has been deliberately erased from public consciousness by the political establishment, even as the virus continues to spread, disable and kill on a mass scale. In May 2023, under pressure from the Biden administration, the WHO prematurely ended the Public Health Emergency of International Concern, offering political cover for capitalist governments globally to scrap remaining public health measures. Today, the COVID-19 pandemic remains a serious and deadly ongoing threat whose cumulative toll grows with each passing week. The ongoing toll: Excess deaths and new studies on Long COVID According to the latest report from the Pandemic Mitigation Collaborative (PMC) for March 9, 2026, the United States is currently experiencing a sustained wave of viral transmission. The PMC estimates that there are approximately 565,000 new daily infections across the country. This elevated level of transmission means that roughly 1 in 87 Americansor 1.2 percent of the populationis actively infectious on any given day. SARS-CoV-2 Daily infections March 9, 2026 [Photo by PMC, courtesy of Dr. Mike Hoerger] Crucially, what is most alarming is not the peaks but the floorthe period between surges. The wastewater-derived data reveals that between-wave baseline transmission has remained persistently elevated since the Omicron surge of early 2022, never returning to pre-2022 lows. This rising floor of endemic infection is arguably more significant than the dramatic wave peaks: it represents the continuous, unrelenting generation of new infections, Long COVID cases and excess deaths, even in the quietest periods of viral circulation, which objectively defines the term forever COVID. The scale of this unchecked spread guarantees a continuous mass generation of post-viral disability. The PMC estimates that 54 million total infections have occurred in the US in the first three months of 2026 alone. And with this transmission comes a massive burden of Long COVID, with estimates that between 205,000 and 820,000 new Long COVID cases are generated every single week from new infections. The PMC model indicates that between 1,200 and 1,900 excess deaths result from these new weekly infections. Indeed, using actuarial data, they estimated that for 2025 there were between 109,000 and 175,000 excess deaths, up to 73 percent higher than direct COVID-19 deaths. As their figures demonstrate, these excess deaths are on par with the number of people who died of lung cancer (125,000 deaths) in the US, eclipsing deaths from colon, pancreatic, breast and prostate cancer combined. PMC estimates of excess deaths in 2025 [Photo by PMC, courtesy of Dr. Mike Hoerger] Their data closely corroborates a recent cross-sectional study published in JAMA Internal Medicine by CDC scientists, which estimated 1.1 million hospitalizations and 101,300 COVID-19 deaths in the US during the 20222023 period. For the following period from 20232024, they documented nearly 880,000 hospitalizations and 100,800 deaths. The JAMA study highlighted that older adults bear the brunt of this crisis, with those aged 65 and older accounting for 81.2 percent of all COVID-19 deaths in the latest surveillance period while representing less than 20 percent of the US population. As the report highlights, these preliminary estimates of COVID-19 deaths are higher than the 89,098 and 59,616 COVID-19 deaths reported by the Division of Vital Statistics Mortality Multiple Cause data file in 20222023 and 20232024, respectively. The stark discrepancy is mentioned by the authors, but they fail to provide real answers beyond a perfunctory statement that these may be attributable to the decline in documenting COVID on death certificates or the use of preliminary estimates from the National Center for Health Statistics that undercount the real figures. Notably, they highlight the dramatic decline in vaccination coverage in this period, a byproduct of a bipartisan effort that promoted the erroneous benefits of COVID infection and so-called natural or hybrid immunity. Their analysis, however, lacks a coherent explanation for this discrepancy. Dr. Mike Hoerger, in response to a query by this reporter on the aforementioned CDC study about the COVID death toll for 2025, wrote, Two years flat suggests more of the same until a rigorous publication says otherwise. They have some preliminary estimates on their website but do not provide enough detail to be useful, and I would suggest they are prone to minimizing to the extent testing continues to decline even in healthcare settings. The bipartisan dismantling of public health These ongoing massive casualties caused by COVID-19 were not inevitable, but the direct consequence of politically motivated decisions to dismantle all public health protection while the virus continued to rage. The Biden administration systematically dissolved the US pandemic response by allowing the national emergency declarations to expire, triggering the unwinding of Medicaid coverage for millions of vulnerable people and privatizing the distribution of life-saving vaccines and treatments. By deliberately codifying a forever COVID policy to prioritize corporate profit and economic normalcy over human needs, the political establishment effectively guaranteed the continued, massive death toll documented in recent studies. Having established this homicidal forever COVID baselineand having utilized the WHOs premature declaration ending the global health emergency as political coverthe Biden administration did not merely fail to prevent what followed; it made it structurally inevitable. The attacks on public health carried out under the Biden administration paved the way for the elevation of anti-vaccine quack Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to the position of Health Secretary, where he has overseen the steady dismantling of the Department of Health and Human Services and all of its sub-agencies. Contrary to the anti-vaccine hysteria whipped up by the far-right, there is a growing body of evidence proving that vaccines were highly protective against death and cardiovascular complications associated with COVID-19 infections. A mid-2024 cohort study published in Nature Communications, which analyzed the health records of nearly 46 million adults in England, provides overwhelming evidence of the cardiovascular safety of COVID-19 vaccines. The researchers found that the incidence of common cardiovascular emergencies, such as acute myocardial infarctions (heart attacks) and ischemic strokes, was significantly lower following vaccination compared to periods before or without vaccination. Specifically, arterial thromboses were up to 10 percent lower 13 to 24 weeks after a first dose and dropped even furtherup to 27 percent lower after an AstraZeneca second dose and 20 percent lower after a Pfizer second dose. Similar declines were observed for common venous thrombotic events, such as pulmonary embolisms and deep vein thrombosis. The researchers concluded that the substantial benefits of first, second and booster doses in preventing common and severe cardiovascular events far outweigh the risks of very rare complications associated with vaccines such as myocarditis, which is more prevalent in those who become infected with SARS-CoV-2. This comprehensive data refutes anti-vaccine misinformation by demonstrating that COVID-19 vaccines actively reduce the broader cardiovascular risks associated with the virus, offering strong evidence of the need to expand vaccination programs under conditions in which vaccine science is under relentless attack. The cumulative toll of mass reinfection and immune system damage The damage inflicted by mass reinfection is equally grave and particularly alarming among populations long dismissed as immune to serious COVID harm. A recent pre-print study available in The American Journal of the Medical Sciences highlights the severe, debilitating impact COVID-19 has had among active-duty military personnelsome of the youngest and fittest sections of the population. Analyzing the electronic health records of over 650,000 service members diagnosed with COVID, researchers found that 42.8 percentor 278,278 individualsdeveloped Long COVID. The sheer scale of chronic illness in a population subject to strict age and physical readiness requirements completely shatters the official narrative that the virus poses little threat to the young and healthy. The researchers tracked a vast array of persistent symptoms disrupting the lives and physical fitness of service members. Pulmonary issues were the most prevalent, affecting 22.4 percent of those with Long COVID, followed closely by neurological problems (14.6 percent) and chronic fatigue (13.5 percent). Notably, while cognitive symptoms such as brain fog and memory impairment were reported by a smaller segment of the sample (3.7 percent), these proved to be the most persistent and long-lasting, raising profound concerns about the potential for enduring cognitive damage. The study also found that preexisting conditions, such as obesity, anxiety, depression and nicotine use, significantly heightened the risk of developing these devastating post-viral complications. Furthermore, a study by researchers at Shandong University and the University of Toronto, published in the February 2026 issue of the International Journal of Infectious Diseases, revealed that mass SARS-CoV-2 infection causes persistent and chronic immune compromisewith key lymphocyte subsets like CD8+ T cells remaining significantly below baseline up to 20 months post-infectiona condition particularly severe in patients with cardiovascular disease. Analyzing data from over 40,000 patients, researchers found that long after the acute phase of the virus had passed, key immune populations (including CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells and natural killer (NK) cells) failed to recover. This chronic immune dysfunction leads to prolonged T-cell exhaustion, leaving individuals highly susceptible to opportunistic pathogens, the reactivation of latent viruses like Epstein-Barr and the onset of Long COVID. This is yet another study confirming the advance warnings made by the most far-sighted scientists as early as 2020, including immunologist Dr. Anthony Leonardi in extensive interviews with the WSWS. For patients with preexisting cardiovascular disease, this immune collapse was even more profound and highly dangerous. The authors warned that this severe loss of T-cell-mediated immune control fuels chronic vascular inflammation, which can destabilize atherosclerotic plaques and drastically increase the risk of acute thromboembolic events like heart attacks and strokes. These findings provide a concrete immunological mechanism for the long-term cardiac morbidity triggered by the virus, further exposing the criminality of the political establishments forever COVID policy that subjects the population to endless, damaging reinfections. The catastrophic implications of Kennedys tenure at HHS were recently highlighted in a scathing editorial by The Lancet. Titled Robert F. Kennedy Jr: 1 year of failure, the editorial board warned that the destruction Kennedy has wrought in one year might take generations to repair, and that there is little hope for US health and science while he remains at the helm. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., speaks in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, as President Donald Trump, left, and Mehmet Oz, administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, look on. [AP Photo/Alex Brandon] The editorial cataloged a relentless assault on evidence-based medicine, including the summary dismissal of agency experts, revisions of guidelines to contradict established science, reductions in cutting-edge scientific research and the promotion of junk science and fringe beliefs. Furthermore, the journal noted that critical federal datasets used to track disease have vanished, leaving the population blind and unprepared for both the ongoing pandemic and emerging threats. This destruction did not arise in a vacuumit was made possible by the prior bipartisan dismantling of the pandemic response infrastructure that left it hollowed out and vulnerable to precisely this kind of assault. As the ongoing weekly reports by the PMC demonstrate, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to exact a devastating physiological and social toll, standing as a massive indictment of the entire capitalist political establishment. Ultimately, the social issues raised by this ongoing collapse of public health have assumed a distinctly political and class character. Kennedys ability to act as a disruptive forcepromoting anti-science quackery and systematically exposing the population to preventable diseasesis only possible because the ruling class has subordinated human life to corporate profit. The bipartisan acceptance of mass infection demonstrates that the capitalist system is fundamentally incompatible with the basic requirements of human health and well-being. The normalization of mass death from COVID-19 is of a piece with the broader social barbarism overseen by the same ruling elites. The capitalist governments that have condemned millions to death through forever COVID are the same that have enabled and armed the genocide in Gaza and now the criminal US-Israeli war against Iran. The Trump administrations fascistic assault on public healthaccelerated by Kennedys demolition of the remaining public health infrastructureis part of a broader program of social reaction that includes the destruction of all climate change mitigation policies, which in turn fosters the conditions for future pandemics through habitat destruction, zoonotic spillover and the weakening of global health systems. The world is now less prepared for the next pandemic than it was in 2020. The World Socialist Web Site stands alone in providing continuous, scientifically grounded coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic from the standpoint of the international working class. Since January 2020, the WSWS has published over 5,000 articles on the pandemicthe only publication outside of scientific journals to have covered the science and politics of COVID with this depth and consistency. One year ago, the WSWS marked the five-year anniversary of the pandemic with a comprehensive series analyzing the origins of the social catastrophe and the unique record of the WSWS in opposing it. The Global Workers Inquest into the COVID-19 Pandemic, launched in November 2021, continues to document the testimonies of workers, scientists and public health experts from around the world. As we have stressed from the very beginning, the defense of science, the restoration of public health infrastructure and the end of the pandemic require the independent political mobilization of the international working class to fight for a socialist reorganization of society. The most striking result of the Baden-Wurttemberg state election on Sunday is the collapse of the Social Democratic Party (SPD). The party of Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil and Federal Labour Minister Barbel Bas only just re-entered the Stuttgart state parliament, just clearing the 5 percent hurdle with 5.5 percent of the second votes. One year ago it had achieved 14.2 percent in the federal election in the state, and 11 percent in the state election five years ago. Poster of election winner Cem Ozdemir, Greens The collapse of the SPD is all the more remarkable given that the election took place against the backdrop of a catastrophic industrial decline and the criminal US war against Iran. While social crises and wars usually strengthen nominally left-wing parties, the opposite was the case this time. The former workers party, the SPD, has moved so far to the right that it is no longer perceived as the solution to the problems, but the cause. The same applies to the Left Party. With 4.4 percent, it once again failed to enter the state parliament. Although its vote slightly improved compared to the last state election, it remained significantly below its Baden-Wurttemberg federal election result of 6.8 percent. Together, the SPD and the Left Party did not even account for 10 percent of the votes cast. The issues of war and job losses are impelling millions of voters. Yet the election offered them no opportunity to provide an answer to this. The establishment parties all support the massive rearmament of the Bundeswehr (armed forces), the war against Russia in Ukraine, the genocide in Gaza and the war against Iran. The differences between them on these issues are minimal. They all give the same answer to the jobs massacre in the car and metal industries: elimination of health and safety at work, more speed-ups and lower taxes to save corporate profits at the expense of jobs. The trade unions, which are closely linked to the SPD and the Left Party, sabotage and suppress any resistance to dismissals in the factoriesas at Bosch in Schwabisch Gmund, where they are preventing an influential opposition list from participating in the works council election. At the federal level, the SPD, together with the Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU), initiated special funds and loans totalling over 1 trillion to upgrade the Bundeswehr into Europes strongest armed force, and passed them with the help of the Greens. The Left Party also voted in favour of the war credits in the Bundesrat (second chamber of parliament) to demonstrate that its occasional pacifist phrases are not to be taken seriously. The aims of the criminal war against Iran are supported by all the establishment parties. Left Party leader Jan van Aken welcomed the treacherous assassination of Iranian head of state Khamenei with the words: May he rot in hell. A different attitude prevails among the population. According to the latest ARD-DeutschlandTrend poll, 58 percent of respondents oppose the war against Iran, with only 25 percent considering it justified. Seventy-seven percent view the political situation in the world with concern. Little wonder that no one who is worried about their job, rejects the criminal wars of the federal government and the Trump administration, is angry and wants to fight, votes for the SPD or the Left Party. The only party that was able to profit from the growing frustration and suppressed indignation is the right-wing extremist Alternative for Germany (AfD). It received over 1 million votes in Baden-Wurttemberg for the first time and, with 18.8 percent, was able to almost double its result from the last state election. According to pollsters infratest dimap, the AfD achieved its highest share of the vote among workers, at 37 percent. The comparable figure for the SPD was only 5 percent, and for the Left Party 4 percent. The AfD and its lead candidate Markus Frohnmaier undoubtedly bear fascist traits, but they do not lead a mass fascist movement as Hitler and Mussolini did. The votes for the AfD are an expression of widespread frustration, which manifests itself in reactionary forms because it cannot find a progressive avenue. The dissatisfaction is much broader than the AfDs voter base. Many despise the right-wing extremists and hold their noses to vote for an establishment party because they see no other way to keep the AfD out of government. This explains the election result in Baden-Wurttemberg, which ostensibly leaves everything as it was. As in the past 10 years, the Greens and the CDU will govern the state together. They even have a two-thirds majority in the state parliament, since numerous partiesincluding, for the first time, the Liberal Democratic Party (FDP)failed to clear the 5 percent hurdle. Almost 16 percent of the votes cast are therefore unrepresented in the state parliament. The only unknown question was whether Green candidate Cem Ozdemir or CDU candidate Manuel Hagel would succeed the outgoing Green Minister President Winfried Kretschmann. The Greens, who were still trailing by over 10 percent in the polls half a year ago, ultimately won with a half-percent lead, receiving 30.2 percent of the vote to the CDUs 29.7 percent. Many press commentaries, as well as the CDU itself, attributed the successful catch-up to an eight-year-old video that was widely circulated on social media before the election. It shows the then 29-year-old Hagel making a sexist remark about an underage schoolgirl during a public appearance. In fact, the surprising success of the Greens, who are in opposition at federal level, is a slap in the face for Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), whose policies are meeting with broad rejection. According to ARD-DeutschlandTrend, to date, only 18 percent are convinced by the policies of the Merz government, a coalition with the SPD; 79 percent are dissatisfied. Politically, however, it makes no difference whether Ozdemir or Hagel governs the state. Ozdemir, who has always belonged to the right-wing Realo (realists) wing of the Greens, went out of his way to distance himself from thelikewise right-wingcourse of the federal party. His election posters did not mention the party name. On the phasing out of combustion engines, climate targets and migration, he advocated a different line to his party nationally. The conservative Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, which is not among the Greens fan base, commented: As the lead candidate, Cem Ozdemir transformed himself into a CDU politician. Ozdemir also brought Boris Palmer into his campaign team, who had been forced to leave the Greens in 2023 due to his AfD-style agitation against migrants. The day after the election, Palmer, who is being discussed as a possible state minister in Ozdemirs cabinet, advocated economic reforms at the expense of workers. There is a great willingness to make sacrifices oneself in order to maintain prosperity for all. Most people know that this is necessary, he told The Pioneer. The Ozdemir government in Stuttgart is inevitably heading for a confrontation with the working class. But the latter needs a progressive perspective. The Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party, SGP) has consistently warned against the illusion that the Left Party, the trade unions or even the SPD could be moved to adopt policies in the interests of the working class. This illusion, propagated by pseudo-left organisations, leads to a dead end. The result of the state election in Baden-Wurttemberg has demonstrated this once again. What is necessary is the building of an independent movement of the international working class that fights against social inequality, war, dictatorship and capitalism, and for the building of a socialist society. This is the perspective of the SGP and the International Committee of the Fourth International. Prosecution (Staatsschutz) Prosecution (Staatsschutz), by director Faraz Shariat with a screenplay by Claudia Schaefer, was the well-deserved winner of the Panorama Audience Award at this years Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale). Julia Jentsch and Chen Emilie Yan in Prosecution | The central figure in the film is the young Asian-German public prosecutor Seyo Kim, who is active charting the activities and crimes of neo-Nazis in a fictitious town in southeast Germany. The far-right forces she is investigating attempt to take revenge and toss Molotov cocktails at her from a bridge. Surviving the attack and determined not to give into intimidation, Seyo takes her own case of attempted murder to court with the aid of a sympathetic lawyer. In the course of her investigations Kim uncovers a host of previously dismissed cold cases involving a network of organised neo-Nazis. Over time she covers an entire wall of her apartment with photos of extreme right suspects. According to her colleague senior prosecutor Quant, We have the worlds most objective legal systemwe must absolutely hold onto it. Inside and outside the courtroom Kim realises that such objectivity is a fiction. Inside the courtroom Kim confronts her smirking Nazi opponents confident of acquittal. Either they have personal relations with leading figures in the judiciary and public prosecution office, or are confident that the latter share at least in part the same right-wing ideology. The final scene of the film shows prosecutor Kim taking down from her wall the array of photos of neo-Nazis and putting up instead photos of a host of figures within the judicial system and the police responsible for the fact that the cold cases of abuse remained cold. The most important opponent, Kim concludes, is the German judiciary and state themselves. Screenwriter Claudia Schaefer conducted intensive research about the German legal system and uncovered a series of cases of police, judges and prosecutors either siding with ultra-right perpetrators or finding ways to ensure they avoided a guilty verdict. Schaefer and her team cite some of the more well-known cases of state negligence, complicity and/or judicial prejudice with regard to neo-fascist extremism in Germany following the unification of the country in 1990. This includes the case of Oury Jalloh, a migrant worker burnt to death in a police cell in the eastern German city of Dessau in 2005. The police alleged he had committed suicide although at the time of his death he was strapped hand and foot to his bed. No police officer was held to account following his death. The list of further crimes by the extreme right in Germany, cited by Schaeffer as the basis for her screenplay, is too long to list in this article. The most notorious case is that of the neo-Nazi National Socialist Underground (NSU), which carried out a series of murders throughout Germany under the eyes ofand, as it emerged, with the compliance ofsections of the German state apparatus. In an interview, Faraz Shariat, the films young director, quite correctly noted: We cant really understand the German judicial system without taking its Nazi past into account. Many problems stem from the fact that total de-nazification of society has never taken place. The phrase the German state is blind in the right eye first emerged following the persecution of political opponents of the Weimar Republic. Laws introduced following a wave of ultra-right violence and murders were used mainly to prosecute left-wing political activists. Chen Emilie Yan According to statistics gathered between 191922, out of a total of 354 right-wing assassins, only 24 convictions were made. None of the convicted were executed and the average sentence served was four months. On the other hand, only 22 leftists were identified as involved in murders. Yet 38 were convicted! Ten were executed and the average prison term served was 15 years. Furthermore, in 1972, the Radikalenerlass (Radicals Decree) to combat political extremism introduced by the Social Democratic government of Willy Brandt was largely used to prosecute and punish leftists. In the form of a thriller, Prosecution makes the case that this bias on the part of the German state continues to this day. In the last federal election, the extreme right Alternative for Germany (AfD) won over 20 percent of the vote and emerged as the main opposition party in parliament. Tackling the growth of the far right is impossible without tackling its supporters inside the German stateand German capitalism as a whole. No Germany Did I Find (Einar SchleefIch habe kein Deutschland gefunden) The painter, playwright and director Einar Schleef is often mentioned in the same breath as filmmaker Rainer Werner Fassbinder as one of the outstanding artistic figures in postwar Germany. A new documentary with the clumsy English title No Germany Did I Find [the German is Einar SchleefIch habe kein Deutschland gefunden], directed by Sandra Prechtel, featured at the recent Berlinale. It contains fascinating material relating to the life and work of Schleef who was born in East Germany (GDR) at the end of World War II. No Germany Did I Find (Ich habe kein Deutschland gefunden] A gifted child burdened with a stutter, Schleef was drawn to the arts and as a young man made some of his initial experiences at the Berliner Ensemble, the theatre taken over by playwright Bertolt Brecht following his flight from America to East Germany at the end of the war. At one point in the film, the older Schleef was asked what he did when he finished work at the theatre. He replies, I slept. His workload was enormous, embracing every element of theatre: directing, producing, right down to sewing costumes and designing sets for the plays he wrote and directed. Little time was left for his own private interests, although he was an obsessive photographer and took pictures and also painted whenever he could. In the notes for her documentary, director Prechtel writes: Theatres should burn after every performance, says Schleef. This is not a call for violence, it is Schleefs seriousness with which he does everything he can to shake people out of their lethargy. Out of their insensitivity. [For him] Art must not be an escape from reality, it must be an escape into reality, in all its harshness. Cultural life was suffocating in the Stalinist GDR where creative work was subject to the veto of bone-headed bureaucratsand Schleef was not prepared to make compromises. Declaring his disenchantment with the stifling bureaucracy in the East, Schleef moved to Frankfurt in West Germany in the 1980s and began work on plays based on Greek classics. In returning to Greek tragedy, Schleef revived in particular the role of the choir as a central story teller, a development pioneered by Brecht in his own attempt to provide an alternative to the prevailing role of the individual actor in Western theatre. In Frankfurt, Schleef came into contact with the array of immigrant workers employed in menial jobs in the German financial centre and employed many of them in his chorus. But his work in Frankfurt also evoked a hostile response from established critics and rival dramatists. Having turned his back on the Stalinist East, Schleef also felt uneasy in the capitalist West. In 1989-90, he was one of the few artists to recognise the significance of the transformation of the universalist slogan used by East German workers in their demonstrations against the Stalinist systemWe are the Peopleinto We are One People, i.e., the nationalist slogan introduced by leading Stalinist politicians to ease the integration of East Germany into West German capitalism. For Schleef, the return of a united capitalist Germany represented a dangerous Pandoras box which, when opened, could once again unleash the horrors of the countrys not-too-distant Nazi past. These qualms and fears, which he explored in his plays. are what lie behind the title of the documentary, referring to a (peaceful, democratic) Germany he was searching for, but could never find. On occasion in his work, Schleefand in this sense he resembles Fassbindergoes too far and adapts to prevailing intellectual tendencies such as the Frankfurt School. Its leading figures argued that Germanys descent into fascist barbarism could be traced back to the Enlightenment. Schleef makes the same profound error when he traces a lineage from the thoroughly progressive figure of Goethe to fascist reaction. Nevertheless, with the necessary caveats in place, Schleef produced theatrical works that left an indelible impression on audiences. Schleef died relatively young, at the age of 57. At the centre of this new documentary, his own commentaries are interspersed with observations from many of those who worked alongside him and who praise his sensitivity and insight. Despite the immense difficulties he confronted in his life, there is not the slightest hint of self-pity on his part and, to her credit, Prechtel has avoided any attempt to reduce her film merely to a psychological portrait. Her documentary is a fitting tribute to a leading figure in postwar German theatre. The company has been channeling significant resources into AI, autonomous driving systems, robotics, and robotaxi networks. In doing so, Tesla appears to be moving away from the image of a conventional automaker and instead aiming to establish itself as a leader in physical AI, robotics, and large-scale energy infrastructure. This strategic shift is also changing the way investors and analysts talk about the company. Founded in 2003, Austin-based Tesla has evolved from a small EV startup into one of the most closely followed companies in global markets. The firm built its reputation by challenging the traditional auto industry with its lineup of EVs, battery innovations, and clean-energy solutions. Yet Teslas narrative today extends far beyond electric cars. Such an advanced humanoid system would likely be a generation or two ahead of what Tesla is currently expected to introduce with Optimus Gen 3, a humanoid robot designed to handle industrial and household tasks using Teslas full self-drivingstyle AI stack. With Musk doubling down on Teslas ambitions in AI and robotics, investors are increasingly weighing the companys current EV challenges against its potentially transformative AI future. Given this backdrop, is now the right time to buy TSLA stock? Recently, the CEO said his company could be among the first to develop artificial general intelligence (AGI) and probably the first to make it in humanoid/atom-shaping form, underscoring his strong belief in Teslas long-term AI ambitions. The claim is particularly striking because AGI is widely seen as one of the ultimate goals of AI. It refers to a hypothetical form of AI capable of understanding, learning, and performing virtually any intellectual task that a human can, potentially matching or even surpassing human intelligence. Elon Musks Tesla (TSLA) has come a long way, but that progress has also created a new dilemma for investors. The company can now either be viewed as an electric vehicle (EV) giant that is currently facing some challenges, or as an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven technology company increasingly focused on robotaxis, autonomy, and robotics. Adding to that debate, Musk has once again made a bold claim about Teslas future. Story Continues Even though many Wall Street analysts still tend to judge Tesla through the traditional lens of an automaker, closely watching quarterly vehicle production and delivery numbers, the focus around the company is gradually shifting. More attention is now turning toward Teslas next phase of growth, including the potential mass production of the Cybercab, the future deployment of the Optimus humanoid robot, and a rapidly expanding energy storage business. However, even with this evolving growth narrative, Tesla is not immune to challenges. The company recently reported a decline in annual sales for the first time, competition in the EV market continues to intensify, particularly from Chinese automakers, and growth in the EV segment is slow. And, recent registration data also highlights the mixed performance of Tesla across Europe. Last week, Electrek compiled vehicle registration data from 15 territories in the region, including France, the UK, Germany, Portugal, and others. In total, Tesla recorded 17,425 registrations in February, marking a 10% year-over-year (YOY) increase. The report further noted that Tesla posted strong registration numbers in Portugal, Spain, Germany, and France. But not all markets showed the same momentum, as the UK, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden reported declines in sales. At the same time, competition is accelerating. Teslas Chinese rival BYD Co. Ltd (BYDDF) reported a massive 165% surge in European registrations in January, underscoring how aggressively the automaker has been expanding its presence in the region. Despite these pressures, Tesla remains one of the most valuable companies in the market, currently carrying a market capitalization of about $1.49 trillion. So far in 2026, TSLA shares have fallen 13.23%, lagging the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX), which has slipped only 1.75% during the same period. Nevertheless, the longer-term picture still appears far more impressive. Over the past year, Tesla stock has climbed 48.56%, comfortably outperforming the broader markets 16.55% gain over the same timeframe. www.barchart.com Teslas Q4 Earnings Snapshot Tesla's fourth-quarter results for fiscal 2025, released in late January 2026, highlighted a company undergoing a transition. While the core automotive business showed signs of slowing, Teslas energy and emerging AI-related segments continued to gain momentum. During the quarter, total revenue came in at $24.90 billion, reflecting a 3% YOY decline, while adjusted earnings per share fell 17% to $0.50. Also, the period marked the third consecutive quarter of declining revenue, and notably, full-year 2025 revenue declined for the first time in Teslas history. Even so, the results still surpassed Wall Street expectations, which had anticipated $24.78 billion in revenue and $0.45 per share in earnings. Much of the weakness came from the automotive side of the business. Teslas core segment has faced slowing demand as competition intensifies across global EV markets. As a result, automotive revenue dropped 11% to $17.7 billion, while total vehicle deliveries fell 16% to 418,227 units during the quarter. In contrast, several other parts of Teslas business continued to expand at a healthy pace. The companys energy generation and storage division posted strong growth, climbing 25% YOY to $3.84 billion, compared with $3.06 billion in the same quarter a year earlier. Meanwhile, the services and other segment increased 18% to $3.37 billion, up from $2.85 billion last year. Further, Tesla delivered a notable improvement in profitability, reporting its highest gross margin in two years at 20.1%, up from 16.3% in the prior-year quarter, suggesting better operational efficiency even as its automotive segment faces pressure. With the EV business encountering headwinds, CEO Elon Musk has increasingly shifted the focus toward Teslas next wave of growth. During the earnings call, CFO Vaibhav Taneja told investors to expect around $20 billion in capital expenditures this year, aimed at building new manufacturing facilities and expanding investments in Optimus as well as AI computing infrastructure. At the same time, Tesla continues to broaden its product roadmap with an emphasis on scaling production, improving cost efficiency, and unlocking future monetization opportunities tied to AI software. According to the company, Cybercab, Tesla Semi, and Megapack 3 are all expected to begin volume production in 2026, while initial production lines for the Optimus humanoid robot are currently being installed, laying the groundwork for its eventual mass manufacturing rollout. How Are Analysts Viewing Tesla Stock? Even as Musk continues to make bold claims about AGI, Wall Streets stance on Tesla remains cautious. Overall, the stock carries a consensus Hold rating, reflecting a divided outlook among analysts. Out of 43 analysts covering the company, 15 rate the stock a Strong Buy, while two suggest Moderate Buy. At the same time, 17 analysts prefer to stay on the sidelines with a Hold rating, and nine remain firmly bearish, assigning a Strong Sell. The average price target of $408.36 implies a relatively modest upside of 4.9% from current levels. However, the most optimistic forecast on the Street stands at $600, suggesting the stock could potentially climb as much as 54.1% if Teslas long-term growth story unfolds as bulls expect. www.barchart.com www.barchart.com On the date of publication, Anushka Mukherji did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com Revenue growth of 11% was driven by strong demand for Western-made PCBs and the initial benefits of the company's accelerated investment program. Profitability was significantly impacted by a $2.2 million headwind caused by the depreciation of the U.S. dollar against the Israeli Shekel. Operational efficiency declined due to the physical reallocation of production lines to accommodate new plating equipment and the loss of experienced personnel through retirement. Management identified a capacity gap where domestic demand in Israel exceeded local production, leading to increased competition from overseas players. The company is actively recruiting foreign workers and engineers to address labor shortages and support the technical complexities of the expanded machinery base. Equinor has made two new commercial hydrocarbon discoveries in the Norwegian North Sea, with oil found near the Troll area and gas and condensate discovered in the Sleipner area. The oil discovery was reported at the Byrding C prospect, situated 5km north-west of the Fram field within the Troll region. This new find holds an estimated four to eight million barrels of recoverable oil. Meanwhile, the Frida Kahlo find, drilled from the Sleipner B platform north-west of Sleipner Vest, is believed to contain between five and nine million barrels of oil equivalent (mboe) in gas and condensate. Plans indicate that production from the Frida Kahlo well will begin as early as next month. Drilling of the Byrding C well was executed by the COSL Innovator rig in production licence 090 HS. Equinor Energy owns a 75% share in the block while INPEX Idemitsu Norge holds the remaining 25%. The Frida Kahlo find resides within licence 046 (Sleipner licence), operated by Equinor Energy (58.3%), with Orlen Upstream Norway (24.4%) and Var Energi (17.2%) as partners. Recent activity in the Troll area has resulted in multiple finds. Since 2018, Equinor has participated in drilling 26 exploration wells across the extended Troll region, which encompasses Fram. According to Equinor, 19 of these wells have yielded discoveries, giving a discovery rate exceeding 70%. In the Sleipner area, four consecutive exploration wells Langemann, Lofn, Frida Kahlo and Sissel have produced gas and condensate discoveries over a three-month period. Combined resource estimates for these four finds range from 55mboe to 140mboe. The Lofn and Langemann discoveries together marked Equinors largest operated find on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS) in the previous year. Equinor Sleipner area exploration and production vice-president Cecilie Rnning said: These discoveries are the result of a targeted exploration effort in the Sleipner area. Sleipner is an important hub for gas exports to Europe, and we must do everything we can to identify the remaining resources in the area. The discoveries give grounds for optimism as we plan to drill three additional exploration wells and two new production wells in the area this year. All four recent Sleipner area discoveries were made within the Hugin formation. Future development plans for Langemann, Sissel and Lofn involve subsea tie-backs to existing infrastructure, targeting start-up within two to three years. Ocean bottom node seismic data supplied by TGS and Axxis, and processed by Viridien, along with four-dimensional seismic surveys processed by TGS (PGS), were used to support these exploration efforts. Move over burritos, quesadillas and nachos because Taco Bell is getting into skincare. During its Live Mas Live gala on March 10, Taco Bell revealed more than 20 new menu items coming in 2026, including Mountain Dew Baja Blast Under Eye Patches. "For the Baja Blast die-hard, infused with caffeine and a refreshing boost of citrus, these patches energize skin and deliver cooling hydration," a Taco Bell news release states. Taco Bell is releasing Mountain Dew Baja Blast Under Eye Patches. During the Live Mas Live gala, now available for streaming on Peacock until April 9, musical artist Finneas, more known as Billie Eilish's older brother, was spotted wearing the new under-eye patches in the crowd. Advertisement Advertisement As of March 11, Taco Bell had not shared further details about the eye patches, including the product's ingredients and when, or if, they will be released to the public. Take a look: Taco Bell adding Baja Blast Pie, Diablo nuggets, more to menu in 2026 What other new items are coming to Taco Bell in 2026? For those interested in new, edible menu items, here's a look at what's coming to Taco Bell this year: Flamin Hot Nacho Fries: Nacho Fries with spicier Flamin Hot Nacho Cheese. Diablo Dusted Crispy Chicken Nuggets: All-white meat chicken nuggets get dusted with fiery Diablo seasoning. Taco Bell's Diablo Dusted Crispy Chicken Nuggets. Doritos Cool Ranch Dusted Crispy Chicken Nuggets with Doritos Cool Ranch dipping sauce: These nuggets are coated in Doritos Cool Ranch seasoning and can be dipped in a Doritos Cool Ranch-flavored dipping sauce. Flamin Hot Dusted Crispy Chicken Nuggets: A third dusted nuggets dish comes in Flamin Hot seasoning. Cheesy G Sliders: Two soft flatbreads wrapped around white corn shells, layered with mozzarella, pepperjack and cheddar cheeses, lettuce, pico de gallo and creamy chipotle sauce. Available with grilled marinated steak or slow-roasted chicken. Cantina Chicken Mexican Pizza with Jalapeno Citrus Salsa: Slow-roasted chicken and black beans layered between crispy tortillas, topped with green chile sauce, a three-cheese blend, cabbage and pico de gallo served with a new Jalapeno Citrus Salsa and an Avocado Verde Salsa. Mexican Pizza Empanadas: Three or six bite-sized, crispy empanadas filled with seasoned beef, a three-cheese blend and Mexican Pizza sauce on the side for dipping. Fire Queso Sauce Packet: The hot sauce is packed in a crispy edible sauce packet, allowing fans to create more flavor combos. Taco Bell's Fire Queso Sauce Packet is a crispy edible sauce packet filled with hot sauce. Queso Cracked Cantina Bowl: This new bowl is made of seasoned rice, slow-roasted chicken, black beans, lettuce, purple cabbage, reduced-fat sour cream, pico de gallo, cotija dip and it's topped off with chile lime seasoning and crispy cheddar cheese chips. Taco Bell's Queso Cracked Cantina Bowl. Flamin Hot Mini Taco Salad: Seasoned beef, Fritos Flamin Hot corn chips, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and refried beans in a tortilla bowl rimmed with Flamin Hot seasoning. Firecracker Burrito: A red flour tortilla shell is filled with seasoned rice, Nacho Cheese sauce, seasoned beef, Fiesta tortilla strips, Creamy Chipotle sauce, reduced-fat sour cream and a sprinkling of cayenne poppin crystals. Mountain Dew Baja Midnight Pie: This new pie has Mountain Dew Baja Midnight's passionfruit flavor, resulting in a sweet, citrusy taste. Mountain Dew Baja Midnight Pie. Advertisement Advertisement Milk Bar Birthday Cake Empanada: A crispy empanada filled with birthday cake batter, topped with pink frosting and rainbow sprinkles. Chocolate Fudge & Caramel Empanadas ( available now nationwide ): Served in pairs, customers get one chocolate fudge and one caramel empanada per order. Creme Brulee Crunchwrap Slider: A crispy cinnamon sugar tostada with a creamy vanilla filling, grilled with a caramelized cinnamon sugar crust and wrapped in a warm tortilla. Creme Brulee Crunchwrap Sliders were among the new menu items Taco Bell introduced at its Live Mas Live gala. Strawberry & Cream Mexican Pizza Bite: A dessert tostada with a scoop of cheesecake filling, filled with chopped strawberries macerated with cinnamon sugar and topped with white chocolate shavings. Mountain Dew Baja Midnight Zero: This drink blends passionfruit flavor with the tropical lime taste of Mountain Dew Baja Blast, now with zero sugar. Strawberry Horchata Refresca: A creamy sweet drink inspired by traditional Mexican horchata, made with cinnamon and vanilla, swirled with strawberry syrup, topped with real freeze-dried strawberry pieces and served ice-cold. Cold Brew with Purple Horchata Cold Foam: Cold brew topped with signature purple cold foam cool and creamy with a hint of warm cinnamon and vanilla. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Baja Blast Under Eye Patches are coming to Taco Bell. What we know. The man accused of trying to drown "90 Day Fiance" alum Caroline Schwitzky testified in his own defense March 11, rebutting the account Schwitzky gave one day earlier. Cole Goldberg, 26, is charged with attempted murder and domestic battery by strangulation for holding Schwitzky, his then-girlfriend, under water at the 2022 Boca Bash. His attorneys say he was drowning and grabbed her shoulder as an involuntary survival reflex, with no intention to harm her. Several witnesses, strangers to both Schwitzky and Goldberg, told investigators the opposite is true. Testifying for more than an hour, Goldberg described an afternoon at Lake Boca Raton that gradually unraveled not because of him, he said, but because of a petty argument, a drunk stranger and a chaotic party that was already spilling out of control. Caroline Schwitzky testifies during Cole Preston Goldberg's second-degree attempted murder trial at the Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley Courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach, Fla., on March 10, 2026. Goldberg allegedly tried to drown Schwitzky during 'Boca Bash' in 2022. Caroline Schwitzky testifies during Cole Preston Goldberg's second-degree attempted murder trial at the Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley Courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach, Fla., on March 10, 2026. Goldberg allegedly tried to drown Schwitzky during 'Boca Bash' in 2022. Cole Preston Goldberg leaves court for lunch during his second-degree attempted murder trial at the Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley Courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach, Fla., on March 10, 2026. Goldberg allegedly tried to drown Caroline Schwitzky during 'Boca Bash' in 2022. Cole Preston Goldberg leaves court for lunch during his second-degree attempted murder trial at the Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley Courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach, Fla., on March 10, 2026. Goldberg allegedly tried to drown Caroline Schwitzky during 'Boca Bash' in 2022. Caroline Schwitzky testifies during Cole Preston Goldberg's second-degree attempted murder trial at the Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley Courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach, Fla., on March 10, 2026. Goldberg allegedly tried to drown Schwitzky during 'Boca Bash' in 2022. Caroline Schwitzky talks with prosecutors during Cole Preston Goldberg's second-degree attempted murder trial at the Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley Courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach, Fla., on March 10, 2026. Goldberg allegedly tried to drown Schwitzky during 'Boca Bash' in 2022. Caroline Schwitzky testifies during Cole Preston Goldberg's second-degree attempted murder trial at the Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley Courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach, Fla., on March 10, 2026. Goldberg allegedly tried to drown Schwitzky during 'Boca Bash' in 2022. Caroline Schwitzky identifies Cole Preston Goldberg during her testimony in his second-degree attempted murder trial at the Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley Courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach, Fla., on March 10, 2026. Goldberg allegedly tried to drown Schwitzky during 'Boca Bash' in 2022. Caroline Schwitzky testifies during Cole Preston Goldberg's second-degree attempted murder trial at the Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley Courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach, Fla., on March 10, 2026. Goldberg allegedly tried to drown Schwitzky during 'Boca Bash' in 2022. Caroline Schwitzky testifies during Cole Preston Goldberg's second-degree attempted murder trial at the Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley Courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach, Fla., on March 10, 2026. Goldberg allegedly tried to drown Schwitzky during 'Boca Bash' in 2022. Caroline Schwitzky testifies during Cole Preston Goldberg's second-degree attempted murder trial at the Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley Courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach, Fla., on March 10, 2026. Goldberg allegedly tried to drown Schwitzky during 'Boca Bash' in 2022. Caroline Schwitzky testifies during Cole Preston Goldberg's second-degree attempted murder trial at the Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley Courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach, Fla., on March 10, 2026. Goldberg allegedly tried to drown Schwitzky during 'Boca Bash' in 2022. Caroline Schwitzky testifies during Cole Preston Goldberg's second-degree attempted murder trial at the Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley Courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach, Fla., on March 10, 2026. Goldberg allegedly tried to drown Schwitzky during 'Boca Bash' in 2022. Caroline Schwitzky testifies during Cole Preston Goldberg's second-degree attempted murder trial at the Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley Courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach, Fla., on March 10, 2026. Goldberg allegedly tried to drown Schwitzky during 'Boca Bash' in 2022. Caroline Schwitzky testifies during Cole Preston Goldberg's second-degree attempted murder trial at the Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley Courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach, Fla., on March 10, 2026. Goldberg allegedly tried to drown Schwitzky during 'Boca Bash' in 2022. Caroline Schwitzky testifies during Cole Preston Goldberg's second-degree attempted murder trial at the Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley Courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach, Fla., on March 10, 2026. Goldberg allegedly tried to drown Schwitzky during 'Boca Bash' in 2022. Caroline Schwitzky testifies during Cole Preston Goldberg's second-degree attempted murder trial at the Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley Courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach, Fla., on March 10, 2026. Goldberg allegedly tried to drown Schwitzky during 'Boca Bash' in 2022. Caroline Schwitzky talks with prosecutors during Cole Preston Goldberg's second-degree attempted murder trial at the Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley Courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach, Fla., on March 10, 2026. Goldberg allegedly tried to drown Schwitzky during 'Boca Bash' in 2022. Caroline Schwitzky talks with prosecutors during Cole Preston Goldberg's second-degree attempted murder trial at the Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley Courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach, Fla., on March 10, 2026. Goldberg allegedly tried to drown Schwitzky during 'Boca Bash' in 2022. Cole Preston Goldberg leaves court for lunch during his second-degree attempted murder trial at the Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley Courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach, Fla., on March 10, 2026. Goldberg allegedly tried to drown Caroline Schwitzky during 'Boca Bash' in 2022. Caroline Schwitzky talks with prosecutors during Cole Preston Goldberg's second-degree attempted murder trial at the Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley Courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach, Fla., on March 10, 2026. Goldberg allegedly tried to drown Schwitzky during 'Boca Bash' in 2022. Cole Preston Goldberg sits af the defense table during his second-degree attempted murder trial at the Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley Courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach, Fla., on March 10, 2026. Goldberg allegedly tried to drown Caroline Schwitzky during 'Boca Bash' in 2022. Caroline Schwitzky testifies during Cole Preston Goldberg's second-degree attempted murder trial at the Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley Courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach, Fla., on March 10, 2026. Goldberg allegedly tried to drown Schwitzky during 'Boca Bash' in 2022. Caroline Schwitzky testifies during Cole Preston Goldberg's second-degree attempted murder trial at the Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley Courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach, Fla., on March 10, 2026. Goldberg allegedly tried to drown Schwitzky during 'Boca Bash' in 2022. Cole Preston Goldberg leaves court for lunch during his second-degree attempted murder trial at the Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley Courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach, Fla., on March 10, 2026. Goldberg allegedly tried to drown Caroline Schwitzky during 'Boca Bash' in 2022. Caroline Schwitzky testifies during Cole Preston Goldberg's second-degree attempted murder trial at the Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley Courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach, Fla., on March 10, 2026. Goldberg allegedly tried to drown Schwitzky during 'Boca Bash' in 2022. Caroline Schwitzky testifies during Cole Preston Goldberg's second-degree attempted murder trial at the Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley Courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach, Fla., on March 10, 2026. Goldberg allegedly tried to drown Schwitzky during 'Boca Bash' in 2022. Caroline Schwitzky testifies during Cole Preston Goldberg's second-degree attempted murder trial at the Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley Courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach, Fla., on March 10, 2026. Goldberg allegedly tried to drown Schwitzky during 'Boca Bash' in 2022. Cole Preston Goldberg sits af the defense table during his second-degree attempted murder trial at the Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley Courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach, Fla., on March 10, 2026. Goldberg allegedly tried to drown Caroline Schwitzky during 'Boca Bash' in 2022. Cole Preston Goldberg leaves court for lunch during his second-degree attempted murder trial at the Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley Courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach, Fla., on March 9, 2026. Judge John J. Parnofiello looks at a photographic exhibit during the attempted second-degree murder trial of Cole Preston Goldberg at the Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley Courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach, Fla., on March 9, 2026. '90 Day Fiance' alum's ex-boyfriend on trial for Boca Bash attack 1 of 31 Caroline Schwitzky testifies during Cole Preston Goldberg's second-degree attempted murder trial at the Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley Courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach, Fla., on March 10, 2026. Goldberg allegedly tried to drown Schwitzky during 'Boca Bash' in 2022. He, like Schwitzky, recalled a moment when he tossed several drink cans to her and other young women jumping on a floating trampoline. Schwitzky said the can struck her in the face, hurting and humiliating her. Goldberg was unapologetic and laughed while she screamed at him, she said, igniting the first of several arguments which culminated in their eventual break-up. Advertisement Advertisement By Goldberg's retelling, the drink merely slipped through her fingers. Schwitzky did grow angry, he said, but not for the reason she described. He said she accused him of throwing drinks at other girls to get their attention. "I didn't understand. I was like, 'They're literally asking me for a drink,' " he said. "That was pretty much it." The pair moved on to another boat. The more significant incident, in his mind, involved an encounter with a stranger about 10 minutes later. A drunk young man approached a dancing Schwitzky from behind and slapped her butt, Goldberg said. Advertisement Advertisement She was furious and began screaming at the stranger while the people around them watched. Goldberg said he tried to calm her down, and that she turned her anger on him for not physically confronting the man. He said it took about 10 minutes for the situation to settle. They then moved to another boat, where Goldberg said he hugged and comforted Schwitzky. Schwitzky described that moment differently. She said he held her prisoner while she fumed, ignoring her demands that they return to the mainland. Fed up, she said she told him their relationship was over, broke free from his grasp and leapt into the water to return to shore alone. Missed Schwitzky's testimony? '90 Day' alum testifies in ex's Boca Bash attempted murder trial Advertisement Advertisement Goldberg said none of that was true. According to him, Schwitzky calmed down in his arms and said nothing about the status of their relationship. Shortly after, the boat's captain told them they needed to leave, because there weren't enough life jackets on board. "She starts getting very irrational," Goldberg said. "She starts panicking." Goldberg said she suggested the pair swim to shore, which he thought was a terrible idea. They were in unfamiliar waters, he said, with boats passing in all directions. They'd been drinking all day. "I was saying 'Don't jump in. Don't jump in,' " he said. "She eventually decided to jump in." Advertisement Advertisement As she did, Goldberg said the captain who'd ordered them to leave discovered two more life jackets, greenlighting their stay aboard his boat. Goldberg said he jumped into the water to tell Schwitzky. Goldberg tells judge: 'I thought I was going to die' He was a decent swimmer, he said, but the current in the Intracoastal was strong, and he was tired from the day's events. Halfway to her, he said the lower half of his body started to sink. He began to panic. "I see stars. I was swallowing water," he said. "I couldn't speak. I didn't know what was going on." He thought he was going to die, he said, echoing the words Schwitzky said the day before. He came within reach of Schwitzky, he said, and grabbed her shoulders not her throat. Advertisement Advertisement What felt to Schwitzky "like a lifetime" seemed, to him, only a second. As he regained his composure, he said he became aware of the strangers in a nearby boat, screaming at him for what he'd done. He tried to explain, he said. She was his girlfriend, he told them. He loved her; he had no reason to hurt her. He told no one that he'd had trouble swimming until later, when questioned by investigators. Hannah Phillips is a journalist covering public safety and criminal justice at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at hphillips@pbpost.com. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Boyfriend of '90 Day Fiance' alum Caroline Schwitzky testifies Bristol Palinis explaining why she hasnt shown her face on Instagram in a while and her reason is pretty solid. In an Instagram story posted Monday to her account, the 35-year-old daughter of former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate, Sarah Palin, told her followers shes had facial paralysis for over a year and has a plan to get it fixed. Bristol Palin first announced she had been dealing with facial paralysis in January 2025. Bristol Palins Instagram via Page Six Im going to have a consultation today with a plastic surgeon in Austin, she said in her video, which was recorded and uploaded to YouTube by Page Six. Ive read that she specializes in facial paralysis type stuff so well see what she says. Advertisement Advertisement Prayers because maybe she can help mostly with this eye, she continued, pointing to her left eye and demonstrating what happens when she smiles. When I smile or when Im expressive, it closes. I dont really care about my crooked mouth, but my eye... Palin said. So embarrassing to me. I feel like I should wear an eyepatch or something. Like this article? Keep independent journalism alive. Support HuffPost. Palin visits "The Jenny McCarthy Show" at the SiriusXM studios on Sept. 18, 2018, in New York City. Astrid Stawiarz via Getty Images It looks crazy, and I just feel like I cant even smile because it just closes, she added. So maybe she can do some Botox or maybe theres some options with surgery. So well see! Maybe she can help with this eye or just the overall symmetry. Advertisement Advertisement In January 2025, Palin announced in an Instagram story, via Access Hollywood, that she had been dealing with facial paralysis for over a week. Buzz: Chrissy Teigen Breaks Silence After Viral Bandaged Face Photos Spark Concern I woke up nine days ago with a little weird sensation in my face, Palin told her followers. My mouth was pulling and it just felt a little off. So I looked in the mirror, and Im like, Wow, this is looking a little weird. She said a few hours later the entire left side of her face was numb. Bristol Palin with her mom and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on an episode of Dancing with the Stars in 2010. Adam Larkey via Getty Images She said doctors werent sure what her condition was, but speculated it may be Bells Palsy a condition that causes sudden on-set weakness in facial muscles on one side of the face. The condition is usually temporary, however, and improves over the course of several weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Palin said in her video at the time she thinks it was brought on by stress and was regaining sensation back in her face. The former Teen Mom OG star did not mention in her most recent video if her diagnosis has changed. Entertainment Updates Read the original on HuffPost Over a year after she first revealed her struggle with facial paralysis, Bristol Palin is seeking help from a plastic surgeon. On March 9, the eldest child of Alaskas ninth governor, Sarah Palin, took to her Instagram stories to share an update about her ongoing battle with lingering Bells palsy symptoms. Im going to have a consultation today with a plastic surgeon in Austin, the 35-year-old said as she applied makeup in her car. Ive read that she specializes in facial paralysis type stuff, so well see what she says. Advertisement Advertisement Bells palsy is a condition in which the muscles on one side of the face temporarily weaken. It is typically short-term, with patients often making full recoveries within six months. In rare cases, however, it can be a lifelong condition. Pointing to the left side of her face in the video, Palin asked for prayers, because maybe [the doctor] could help with this eye. Bristol Palin updated followers as she did her makeup in the car. Her left eye, she explained, was When I smile or when Im expressive, it closes, she explained. I dont really care about my crooked mouth, but my eye so embarrassing to me. I feel like I should wear an eyepatch or something. It looks crazy, and I just feel like I cant even smile because it just closes. She could do some Botox, or maybe theres some options with surgery, the Teen Mom OG alum said prior to her appointment. Advertisement Advertisement Maybe she can help with...the overall symmetry, [lets] see what she has to say, she said, again pointing to her left eye. I got to see this specialist [in Alaska] that does all of my inner blocks to help with my face, so everything was really good, she said, noting that she just returned from a trip to her home state. Bristol Palin at the SiriusXM studios in New York City in 2018. / Astrid Stawiarz / Getty Images Two hours after the initial stories went up, Palin posted an update, saying the appointment went well and that shed update them later. Palin first spoke about her facial paralysis in January 2025. She posted a video on Instagram in which her left side barely moved. Access Hollywood posted a screen recording of the original video. Advertisement Advertisement I woke up nine days ago with a weird little sensation in my face, she said. My mouth was pulling this way, and it just felt like a little off. So I went and looked in the mirror, and Im like, wow, this is looking a little weird, Palin said. Adding, Within a couple hours, the entire left side of my face was numb and just paralyzed. Couldnt really blink my eye, definitely had no movement on the side of my face. So crazy. Her doctors thought it was just a case of Bells palsy, maybe brought on by stress or lack of sleep. At the time, the former reality star said she had tried steroids and acupuncture, and was starting to gain sensation back in her face. Bristol Palin responds to a fan's question about the status of her facial paralysis during an However, as of January this year, she said on Instagram that her face was still not looking great. Could be worse, could be better. At least Ive got cute sunglasses, she joked to her followers. Renowned podcaster and former television host Joe Rogan has come out to condemn Donald Trumps decision to go to war against Iran, despite having advocated for him in the past. Rogan, who runs the most-streamed podcast on Spotify, questioned the Republican Presidents approach regarding the Middle Eastern conflict, going as far as to label the attack on Iran senseless. Joe Rogan calls out Donald Trump amid Iran war The UFC color commentator recently discussed the governments handling of global affairs in recent times with journalist Michael Schellenberger. During the conversation, he specifically questioned the POTUS strategy to deal with the Venezuela and Iran issues. Neither thing made sense to me, the Venezuela thingbut that one was at least clean. They go in, kidnap [Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro], get him out. This ones nuts, like whats happening in Tel Aviv, Joe Rogan remarked on the March 10 episode of The Joe Rogan Experience. Advertisement Advertisement Rogan then shifted focus to Donald Trumps controversial decision to wage war against Iran, noting, It just seems so insane based on what he ran on. I mean, this is why a lot of people feel betrayed, right? He ran on no more wars, end these stupid, senseless wars, and then we have one that we cant even really clearly define why we did it. As such, the actor/comedian has become the latest Trump sympathizer to call out his military operation in the Middle East. Rogan had previously invited the businessman-turned-politician on his podcast, indulging in an almost three-hour-long conversation before the 2024 elections. He even championed Donald Trump before the said presidential elections via an X (formerly Twitter) post. [Elon Musk] makes what I think is the most compelling case for Trump youll hear, and I agree with him every step of the way. For the record, yes, thats an endorsement of Trump, Joe Rogan noted in his post while sharing his interview with the Tesla CEO. Furthermore, the podcaster attended Trumps inauguration last year. Originally reported by Apoorv Rastogi on Mandatory. The post Donald Trump Called Out By Joe Rogan Over Iran War appeared first on Reality Tea. Former Milwaukee-based artist Tyanna J. Buie is making a presidential debut, of sorts. This summer, Buie will unveil a massive screen-printed installation in the forthcoming Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. Titled Be the Change, the installation reflects on powerful, everyday acts of change, voting efficacy and the legacy of former President Barack Obamas 2008 election. The former president and First Lady Michelle Obama hand-picked Buie for the installation, asking her to create a wall mural that empowered visitors to change the world. She was one of nearly 30 artists commissioned to create pieces, part of an effort by the Obama Foundation to build a collection of public artworks that shift people's views on civic possibility. Advertisement Advertisement Buie insisted that the installation be more than decorative wall art, representative of empty platitudes about democracy. Drawing inspiration from the course she teaches as an associate professor at the Rhode Island School of Design, she decided to reflect on the efficacy of small, individual acts of change. In Buies view, change doesnt always manifest in explosive action or large-scale protest. Integrating newspaper articles from Obamas first presidential election year, archival photographs of voting booths, symbolic images of her own body in protest and more, her work visualizes the many ways individuals can help change the world. From volunteering and voting to petitioning and protest, her installation runs the gamut to inspire viewers to participate in progress. Buie at work on her forthcoming installation, "Be the Change" for the Obama Presidential Center, opening this summer. Buie was initially commissioned by the Obama center in 2024 during a phone call shell never forget. A representative of the foundation vaguely proposed the project to Buie, without ever mentioning who or what it was for. Buie sent in some pieces to be considered, thinking nothing of it. A year later, she got the call. When she found it out it was for the Obama Presidential Center, she was in disbelief. Advertisement Advertisement Born in Chicago, Buie spent most of her life between Illinois and Wisconsin. As an undergraduate at Western Illinois University, she actually met the former president, then a senatorial candidate. Participating in Chicagos annual Bud Billiken Parade on behalf of a church that was endorsing Obama for senator, she shook his hand as he thanked her for her support. Though she was struck by his charisma, Buie never imagined that her interaction with him would come full circle in this way. Before she was commissioned by the Obamas, she made her mark in Milwaukee contributing work to Shepard Faireys "Voting Rights are Human Rights" mural on the north side of the Colby Abbot building, 759 N. Milwaukee St. In 2010, she received her master's in fine arts from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Two years later, she became the first Black woman to win the Mary L. Nohl Fellowship for individual artists. In 2015, she won the Greater Milwaukee Foundation's Love of Humanity award. Tyanna J. Buie, a formerly Milwaukee-based artist, was commissioned by the Obama Foundation to create an installation for the forthcoming Obama Presidential Center, set to open in June 2026. As her family started moving to Milwaukee, Buie put down roots here. Despite holding teaching jobs all over the country, Milwaukee is the only city where she owns a home. Advertisement Advertisement While Buie has shown her work several times before, she says this work for the Obama Presidential Center will be the most public-facing project of her career to date. This is the hardest thing Ive ever done in my life, she said. The work is set to be unveiled sometime this summer, with the center opening to the public June 19. Anya Sesay covers arts and culture for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Send her story ideas, things to see and people to meet at asesay@usatodayco.com. Follow her on Instagram @anyanic0lette. Anya's reporting is supported by the Richard and Ethel Herzfeld Foundation, the Maine-based Rabkin Foundation, and reader contributions to the Journal Sentinel Community-Funded Journalism Project. Journal Sentinel editors maintain full editorial control over all content. To support this work, visit jsonline.com/support. Checks can be addressed to Local Media Foundation (memo: JS Community Journalism) and mailed to P.O. Box 85015, Chicago, IL 60689. Advertisement Advertisement The JS Community-Funded Journalism Project is administered by Local Media Foundation, tax ID #36-4427750, a Section 501(c)(3) charitable trust affiliated with Local Media Association. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Former Milwaukee-based artist creates installation for Obama Center Former supermodel Kathy Ireland is suing her former business managers, accusing them of stealing millions of dollars and leaving her family in debt. The lawsuit, filed in Santa Barbara, California, says Ireland and her husband, Greg Olsen, have been forced to sell their home and also have little savings left, Variety reports. Irelands mother, Barbara Ireland, also is a plaintiff. The lawsuit names Jason Winters and Erik Sterling, who have managed Irelands affairs for more than 35 years, as defendants, Variety reports. It also names Stephen Roseberry and Jon Carrasco, who held roles at kathy ireland Worldwide, and Brittany Duncan, the current CEO of kathy ireland Worldwide. Advertisement Advertisement This case is about trust betrayed on a staggering and unconscionable scale, the lawsuit says. Kathy believed (and still does) in values and loyalty. ... She believed in hard work. She believed in doing business with integrity. And, she believed in (the defendants), based on their promises to her. Tragically, that belief was misplaced. They were deceiving her, all along. TMZ reports Ireland says she gave Winters and Sterling power of attorney and trusted them to manage her finances. It says the defendants assured Ireland that she was wealthy. However, when Ireland and Olsen tried to help their son buy a home, the loan was denied, TMZ reports. The lawsuit says Winters and Sterling were evasive when asked for money for a down payment. Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit accuses Winters and Sterling of taking out credit cards and loans and using Irelands money for their own purposes, Variety reports. In short, Defendants treated Plaintiffs as their work horses and piggy banks, all the while scheming to fund their own life style, the lawsuit says. The lawsuit says damages could exceed $100 million. Read the original article on cleveland.com. Add cleveland.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here. NEED TO KNOW Katherine Heigl made a rare red carpet appearance at the Wine, Women & Shoes annual fundraiser hosted at Mar-a-Lago Organizers say the event raised $5.5 million for Big Dog Ranch Rescue Prior to her latest outing, the Greys Anatomy alums most recent public appearance was at the 2024 Emmy Awards Katherine Heigl returned to the spotlight for a cause close to her heart. On Sunday, March 8, the Greys Anatomy alum, 47, made a rare red carpet appearance for the Wine, Women & Shoes annual fundraiser, held at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla. Advertisement Advertisement Organizers say the three-day event raised $5.5 million for Big Dog Ranch Rescue, the largest no-kill dog rescue in the United States. This year was a record-breaking success and boosted awareness for Big Dog Ranch Rescue, founder Lauree Simmons said of the fundraising weekend. It was a heartwarming display of community spirit, uniting style enthusiasts and animal advocates for a truly monumental cause. Katherine Heigl attends Wine, Women & Shoes Benefiting Big Dog Ranch Rescue at Mar-a-Lago Credit: Manny Hernandez/Getty Heigls latest red carpet appearance marks her first since she reunited with her Greys Anatomy costars including Ellen Pompeo, Justin Chambers, Chandra Wilson and James Pickens Jr. at the 2024 Emmy Awards. After the event, DJ Benjamin Walker shared a video of the actress dancing to the hit Elton John song Benny and the Jets in a bright red strapless Reem Acra gown, recreating the iconic moment from her 2008 film 27 Dresses. Advertisement Advertisement "I love a good rom-com so when i saw @katherineheigl, I knew IMMEDIATELY there was one song to end the night and one song only. #IYKYK #27dresses," he captioned the video. During her time away from the spotlight, Heigl has been raising her and husband Josh Kelleys kids Naleight, 16, Adelaide, 13, and Joshua, 9 in Utah. And in September 2023, she told Jenna Bush Hager on Today with Hoda & Jenna that she knew it was the right choice for our family. Never miss a story sign up forPEOPLE'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. Katherine Heigl at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards Credit: Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty I think some people are mountain people and I think some people are beach people," she explained at the time. "Im sort of a mountain person and have always been that way. And my mom realized, because we went out to L.A. when I was 17 and hustled and hustled for years, right? And I think she realized at a certain point that I needed somewhere to escape to and kind of clear my head, and that grounded me." Advertisement Advertisement Heigl, who is the proud owner of rescue animals, has also been a vocal advocate for animals over the years. In March 2022, she told PEOPLE that she had been working tirelessly to advocate for the Utah State legislature to pass a bill that would end the use of gas chambers as a means of euthanizing shelter animals in the state. "It's preposterous and pretty mind-blowing, actually," she said at the time. "Utah, sadly, is one of three states that still does this. It's such an antiquated and, quite frankly, sadistic way of euthanizing. There's a million reasons the bill should pass to end it. I can't think of a single reason why it wouldn't, except if our elected officials have a sadistic streak, and that cannot be condoned on any level." "I have said this before, and I'll say it again, she added. The mark of a civilized society is how you treat the voiceless and the innocent among us. Read the original article on People Elon Musk's austere living conditions involve having only one towel in the shower, his mother says. "There is no food in the fridge," Maye Musk added in a Tuesday X post. She previously said she slept in his garage while visiting him, but she did not mind it. Elon Musk is one of those guys who only has one towel, according to his mother. In an X post on Tuesday, Maye Musk described her son's living space in Boca Chica, southern Texas, near SpaceX's Starbase launch site. Advertisement Advertisement "There is no food in the fridge," the billionaire's mother, 77, said. "The garage where I slept is on the right." She added, "The shower only has one towel so I left it for Elon. That was okay with me." There is no food in the fridge. The garage where I slept is on the right. The shower only has one towel so I left it for Elon. That was okay with me. When I was a child, Id spend three weeks in the Kalahari Desert without showering. Many times. There was no water. I think my https://t.co/8XT04q5DQg Maye Musk (@mayemusk) March 10, 2026 Maye Musk wrote that she had been primed to live like this since childhood, saying that she had spent many weeks in the Kalahari Desert as a child without showering because there was no water. "I think my parents prepared me for this luxury," she said, adding a laughing emoji to the end of her X post. Musk's Boca Chica house is a 3-bedroom home worth $45,000, he said in a 2022 podcast interview. Advertisement Advertisement This is not the first time Maye Musk has ratted on her son's living conditions. In 2023, she responded to Musk's tweet, in which he said he slept on a friend's couch the weekend prior. She said she has "many memories of sleeping on mattresses or blankets on the floor, on couches, or a bed in the garage," when she visited him in Texas. In that tweet, she said it was "still better than on the ground in the Kalahari Desert with lions or hyenas nearby." Musk has made headlines several times for his austere and modest lifestyle. The Tesla, SpaceX, and X CEO, who is currently worth about $664 billion and is the richest man alive, is known for sleeping on the floor in his offices and going to bed at 3 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement "Back to spending 24/7 at work and sleeping in conference/server/factory rooms," he said in a May X post after quitting his role in the Department of Government Efficiency to focus on his companies. Despite Musk's slim inventory of towels, he's previously said the habit that had the biggest positive impact on his life was showering. Representatives for Musk did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. Read the original article on Business Insider ExxonMobil is poised to move its legal headquarters from New Jersey to Texas in search of a more friendly business environment, the company announced Tuesday morning. The board of directors for the largest U.S.-based oil producing company, which already runs its operations from the Houston suburb of Spring, unanimously recommended to its shareholders that they vote to redomicile the company in Texas. Shareholders will vote on the change at the companys annual meeting on May 27. If successful, it will move Exxons legal home for the first time since it registered in New Jersey in 1882 as Standard Oil Company the company later changed its name to Exxon, then merged with Mobil Oil Corp. Over the past several years, Texas has made a noticeable effort to embrace the business community, ExxonMobil Chair and CEO Darren Woods wrote in a statement Tuesday. In doing so, it has created a policy and regulatory environment that can allow the company to maximize shareholder value. Aligning our legal home with our operating home, in a state that understands our business and has a stake in the companys success, is important. The proposed move will not affect the companys business operations or employee locations, the company said. ExxonMobil has been headquartered in Texas since 1989, and about 30% of its employees currently work in the state. The location of a companys incorporation dictates the legal, tax and regulatory landscape for the business. Exxon would join Tesla, Space X and Coinbase as major U.S. companies to redomicile in Texas in recent years as the state moves to become more business friendly. In 2023, the Legislature passed and Gov. Greg Abbott signed a law that created the Texas Business Court and the 15th Court of Appeals, specialized legal venues designed to handle business and commercial disputes. Those courts began operating in 2024. Last year, the Legislature also approved a law that made it more difficult to sue board members of companies incorporated in Texas. Freed from the stranglehold of over-regulation, Texas is where global brand leaders thrive and jobs for hardworking Texans grow, Abbott wrote in a Tuesday statement. I thank ExxonMobil for their decision to redomicile in Texas and for their long-standing partnership with our state. With this decision, Texas will further dominate the corporate landscape and ensure our economic growth reaches new heights. Exxon noted the creation of the business courts and other recent legal reforms made by Texas in its statement announcing the decision. The Duchess of Sussex is set to appear at a women-only weekend retreat in Sydney, with tickets starting at A$2,699 (1,400) per person. The three-day event will take place during Meghan and the Duke of Sussex's trip to Australia in April, seven years after their first visit when they were still senior members of the Royal Family. Touted as "a girls' weekend like no other", Meghan will speak at a gala dinner, with VIP ticket holders offered front-row seats and a group photo with the duchess. Advertisement Advertisement It comes days after Meghan's lifestyle brand, As ever, announced it had ended its partnership with streaming giant Netflix. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex signed a contract with Netflix in 2020 to produce TV and films for the platform, believed to be worth about $100m (75m). Meghan's lifestyle and cookery show - With Love, Meghan - ran for two series and a Christmas special but did not perform well with audiences. The 300-person Sydney retreat has been organised by the Her Best Life podcast, founded by Gemma O'Neill and well-known Australian celebrity Jackie "O" Henderson. O'Neill - a former staffer and producer for actress Nicole Kidman - confirmed the event on Wednesday on the podcast, which she now presents by herself after Henderson stepped back as a co-host last month. Advertisement Advertisement O'Neill told listeners that Meghan would be the event's special guest speaker, adding that the duchess "really loves what our community is about which is women trying to grow" and "be their best selves". The Q&A with Meghan will take the format of a "fireside chat," she said. Described as an "unforgettable weekend for women ready to reconnect, recharge and have some serious fun", the event will be held at a five-star hotel at Coogee Beach in Sydney's eastern suburbs. Activities include talks by a psychologist, yoga, sound healing, a disco and a meditation and manifestation session. Advertisement Advertisement VIP tickets cost about A$3,200 (1,700) per person. Earlier this week, a spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said their visit to Australia next month will be for "private, business and philanthropic engagements". Since the couple's last Australian visit in 2018, much has changed for Meghan and Prince Harry. Their 16-day tour in October that year was the then-newly married royal couple's first major overseas trip. Hours earlier, Kensington Palace had announced Meghan was pregnant. Observers deemed the Australia tour a huge success as the pair rode a wave of popularity. Advertisement Advertisement They visited Bondi Beach, took a boat ride on Sydney Harbour and Prince Harry climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge with then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison. In 2020, the couple stepped down as working royals and moved to the US, amid family tensions and concerns over intense media scrutiny. Last year, Prince Harry spoke about his strained relationship with his father, King Charles, and how he would "love a reconciliation" with the Royal Family. NEED TO KNOW Meghan Markle will join a "Girl's Weekend" retreat for the Her Best Life podcast in Australia Meghan will visit Australia with Prince Harry in April, with the retreat taking place from April 17 to April 19 The event will include a "gala dinner" featuring a conversation with Meghan Meghan Markle will join a "Girl's Weekend" retreat hosted with the Her Best Life podcast during her upcoming visit to Australia with her husband, Prince Harry. The event, which will be held from April 17 to April 19 at the InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach, will include "meaningful speakers" and "a gala dinner featuring in-person conversation with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex," described as "An intimate gala like no other" in the press release. Advertisement Advertisement Her Best Life, co-hosts Jackie Henderson and Gemma O'Neill outlined Meghan's role for the upcoming podcast retreat in their Tuesday, March 10 episode. O'Neill explained that she and the Duchess of Sussex, 44, share mutual friend Markus Anderson, who is a consultant for Soho House. Anderson texted O'Neill in late 2025 from Meghan's home, asking if she would ever like to collaborate with Meghan if she ever came to visit Australia, O'Neill said. "Markus messaged me because he was at Meghans house," O'Neill explained of how the collaboration came to be. "Markus is also very close friends to Meghan and has been for many years as well, long before she was married and they have a beautiful friendship too and I guess thats probably one of the things that Ive always felt about Meghan, whenever Ive read stories, is Ive always felt protective that my friends Markus is the bees knees, hes a top notch human. The first person to be there, check on you. I knew that Markus wouldnt be so close or best friends with someone who wasnt also the same." O'Neill added, "Hes always said we would get along really well and always wanted us to connect," before adding that she was contacted by "someone on Meghan's team," who said that Meghan would be happy to connect. "I am, like, beside myself about, because I have admired this woman, and what she has endured, how she's risen above it, and how she has demonstrated, how a woman can be pushed down and she can still rise, and that person is Meghan, Duchess of Sussex," O'Neill said of Meghan's journey in the public eye. Advertisement Advertisement O'Neill continued, "And I can't believe I'm even saying those words. There's no one more shocked than me, because I know what you're all thinking, 'cause I'm thinking the same thing, which is 'how has Meghan Duchess of Sussex, this incredible woman, gone from Oprah to talking on stage with just little odd me, Gemma in Sydney?'" O'Neill said of Meghan's participation in the upcoming event, "She's doing this because she really loves what our community is about which is women trying to grow, trying to be their best selfs and trying to help other women." A spokesperson for Meghan and Harry previously confirmed to PEOPLE that the couple will be touring Australia in mid-April to "take part in a number of private, business, and philanthropic engagements." This will be their first trip to the country in over seven years. Their children, Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4, will not be joining them. 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! Tickets to the "Girl's Weekend" retreat come in two packages. The "limited" Early Bird tickets go for $2,699, while the VIP Experience for $3,199 per person includes seating at a table in front two rows for the gala dinner with Meghan, a group table photo with Meghan, an exclusive VIP goodie bag, premium ocean view hotel room (twin share), and all weekend inclusions. The event is limited to 300 people and all tickets include a full weekend experience, according to the podcast. Read the original article on People An Orlando woman was arrested Sunday, March 8, for reportedly firing shots at Rihanna and A$AP Rocky's Beverly Hills home. The Los Angeles Police Department said that Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, 35, opened fire with an AR-15-style weapon from a Tesla just after 1 p.m., shooting the front gate and an RV, the Los Angeles Times reported. Rihanna was home at the time, but no injuries were reported, and Ortiz was arrested soon afterward. Advertisement Advertisement Ortiz has been booked for attempted murder. Bail was set at $10.225 million. The LAPD Robbery Homicide Division is investigating the incident. According to past reporting, Rihanna purchased the home in December 2020. The couple shares three children: 3-year-old RZA Athleston, 2-year-old Riot Rose and Rocki Irish Mayers, who is 5 months old. Here's what we know. Who is Ivanna Lisette Ortiz? Ortiz, a licensed speech pathologist and social media influencer, has had several prior arrests in Florida, the Times reported, including a bankruptcy case in 2013, an arrest for suspicion of careless driving in 2021 and another in 2023 on suspicion of domestic violence and battery, the Times said. Advertisement Advertisement The Times and the New York Post reported weeks of Ortiz's social media posts about Rihanna, Kim Kardashian, Drake, and Cardi B, but police have not yet commented on any motives for the shooting. According to court records, Ortiz also previously tried to stop a Billie Eilish concert in Florida by filing a verified emergency petition against Live Nation Worldwide and the city of Orlando, the Post said. Ortiz's Facebook account describes her as being from West Chicago, Illinois. A$AP Rocky launching tour The incident took place in the run-up to A$AP Rocky's Don't Be Dumb World Tour, which will kick off May 27. The tour is in support of his first album in eight years, which came out in January. Advertisement Advertisement It's a comeback for Rocky, who was on trial a year ago for a 2021 shooting involving former friend A$AP Relli. The Grammy-nominated rapper, born Rakim Mayers, had been charged with two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and faced up to 24 years in prison if convicted on all charges, but was acquitted of all criminal charges after three weeks of testimony. C. A. Bridges is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida's service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Floridas best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Who is Ivanna Lisette Ortiz? Rihanna shooting suspect from Florida Wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin opened up about the profound ways he continues to feel his late fathers presence, nearly two decades after Steve Irwins death. The 22-year-old became emotional during an appearance on Anderson Coopers All There Is podcast while discussing how he connects with his father in remote wilderness areas. Robert said he feels closest to his dad when he is in the middle of nowhere. Ill be hit with this sense of its warmth, Robert said. Its like something kind of wraps around me. And I will absolutely sit and just say, How do I go forward? You know? How do you move forward? Advertisement Advertisement Steve Irwin, the famed Crocodile Hunter host, died at age 44 in Sept. 2006 after being stung by a stingray off the coast of Australia. Robert acknowledged that grieving while in the public eye has been difficult because his dad is a constant thread in his life. He described the release that comes from allowing himself to fully experience his emotions. Sometimes, one of the nicest things is to kind of just let it all go, he said. I let it all sort of pour out, and it feels like Im kind of letting him in. During the podcast, Robert recalled a striking moment from his first time leading a crocodile research expedition in Northern Australia. The team captured a reptile that his father had tagged 20 years earlier. Advertisement Advertisement We do the capture and this bloke put me through it. Hes death rolling, head shaking, couple of really close calls on my behalf, Robert said of wrangling the animal. After securing the crocodile, he noticed a familiar marking and used satellite technology to confirm its identity. The team had caught the animal in the exact same spot Steve had two decades prior. It felt like that was Dad being like, This is your first time leading the team. Youre on the right track. Heres a little sign. It felt like that to me, Irwin said. Read the original article on cleveland.com. Add cleveland.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Podcaster Joe Rogan marveled Tuesday at how Democrats still claim to believe that voter ID has parallels to the dark days of Jim Crow. Rogan spoke to journalist Michael Shellenberger about the national debate regarding voter ID legislation, arguing that it seems like common sense. He recalled a famous incident in 2021 when Vice President Kamala Harris expressed concern about voter ID laws, saying that rural people might not have access to a Xerox machine or Kinkos to scan an ID. Advertisement Advertisement Rogan said the moral panic about voter ID is particularly absurd after a multi-year pandemic when people were expected to carry cards proving their vaccination status. Fetterman Slams Democrats' 'Jim Crow 2.0' Voter Id Rhetoric As Party Unity Fractures Podcaster Joe Rogan argued it is nonsensical to be against requiring IDs to vote. (Getty Images) "When I talk to my progressive friends about it, you know, and family and friends, it's very much like, No, we can't put barriers on the way of voting because that's what they did during Jim Crow, I mean, that's where it goes back to," Shellenberger said. Read On The Fox News App "ID is not a barrier," Rogan replied. "It's just an insurance that you're a citizen while you're voting." Advertisement Advertisement Shellenberger added further that progressives he has spoken to claim there's very little fraud, noting, "I'm just telling you what they say. I'm not saying I agree." Rogan asked who believes these ideas, and Shellenberger said progressives. "Do you believe that? That's horses---," Rogan said. "I think they believe it," Shellenberger replied. "I'll put it that way." Trump Vows Block On Signing New Laws Until Save America Act Passes Senate Podcaster Joe Rogan argued it is absurd to be against requiring IDs to vote, particularly after vaccination verification cards were required for basic everyday activities. "Really? I think they just say it because that's the thing that everybody says. I think it's a groupthink thing," Rogan said. Advertisement Advertisement "Most people in this country who are citizens have some form of ID or can get some form of ID. And it's entirely reasonable to ask people to prove that you are who you are if you're voting for the president of the United States. That seems pretty reasonable." Click Here For More Coverage Of Media And Culture Podcaster Joe Rogan argued that many people are likely just claiming that voter ID is racist out of loyalty to far-left groupthink, suggesting these people, if questioned privately, would say it is common sense. Original article source: Rogan says it's 'horses---' that progressives believe expecting voters to have ID is like Jim Crow The winner of Netflixs Outlast is facing charges of rape of a child in Tennessee. Paul Preece Jr.who won the survival competitions first seasonwas taken into custody March 6, according to jail records reviewed by Oxygen.com. For More True Crime: Florida College Student Allegedly Let Newborn Drown in Toilet, Then Performed in Play Woman Arrested for Attempted Murder After Allegedly Firing Shots Into Rihanna's Beverly Hills Home Teacher Killed in Students' Prank Gone Wrong Days After School Issued Warning Advertisement Advertisement The 51-year-old is facing charges of rape of a child, aggravated sexual battery and attempted rape of a child. Hes currently being held at the Knox County jail on a $150,000 bond and, if he is able to post the bond amount, will be required to wear a GPS monitor as he awaits trial, per the jail records. He's scheduled to be arraigned on March 10. When Was Paul Preece Jr. on Outlast? Preece appeared on the inaugural season of Netflixs Outlast in 2023. The series pits 16 contestants against each other as they are dropped in the extreme Alaskan wild to compete in a series of challenges designed to test their survival skills and ability to form alliances. Outlast is about people's self-preservation versus their loyalty to others, executive producer Grant Kahler told Tudum in 2023. It's greed and desire to win versus compassion and empathy. I think everyone has that angel and demon on their shoulders. Booking photo for Paul Preece Jr. Preecewho considers himself a professional hunter and fishermanrelied on the survival skills honed as a child growing up in Kentucky to give him an edge in the competition. Advertisement Advertisement Ive had a unique life, growing up in eastern Kentucky, that most people outside of very rural areas would struggle to deal with, from being homeless as a child to living in an old coal camp, he said in his bio, according to Tudum. Many nights, I went to bed hungry and cold growing up. Ive been blessed that those days are left in my childhood, but equally blessed that they are forever etched into my DNA. 'Outlast' promotional photo for Paul Preece RELATED: Georgia Man Arrested After Video Shows Him Shoving Kids Off Bike, Sending One into Fountain: WATCH Oxygen.com reached out to the Knox County Sheriffs Office to learn more about the recent criminal allegations against him, but did not receive an immediate response. Its unclear whether Preece has retained an attorney. The Gist Zendaya made a bridal style statement at Paris Fashion Week on March 10. The Dune 2 actress stepped out at the Louis Vuitton show with stylist Law Roach in a high-low bubbble dress, French girl curls, and her rumored gold wedding band. Roach told reporters at the March 1 Actor Awards that Zendaya's highly-anticipated wedding to Tom Holland had "already happened." Zendaya is staying mum on rumors shes already married to Tom Holland, but she sent a telling sartorial message as she made a surprise appearance at Paris Fashion Week on March 10. The Euphoria actress embraced her bridal style era in a bold high-low bubble dress and her rumored gold wedding band as she stole the show at Tuesdays Louis Vuitton Womenswear Fall/Winter 2026-2027 show. Zendaya attends the Louis Vuitton Womenswear Fall/Winter 2026-2027 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 10, 2026 in Paris, France Credit: Getty Images The Spider-Man: Brand New Day star stepped out with stylist Law Roach at the Cour Carree du Louvre while showing off her unique brand of sartorial je ne sais quoi. Before sitting front row at the star-studded event, Zendaya showed how shed reinvented the shirtdress with a crisp white iteration featuring an asymmetrical Y2K-inspired skirt. Zendaya at the Louis Vuitton fashion show as part of Paris Fashion Week Fall 2026 held at the Louvre on March 10, 2026 in Paris, France Credit: Getty Images The Odyssey actresss little white dress was buttoned all the way to the top with a long structured collar grazing her chest and cropped, forearm-length sleeves. Her skirt ballooned out into a ruched bubble design with a flirty miniskirt in the front and a longer ankle-grazing length in the back, adding a whimsical yet dramatic element to the look. Zendaya kept her footwear simple with a pair of pointy-toed black leather stilettos, and a black leather belt with chunky silver hardware cinched in her waist. Zendaya at the Louis Vuitton fashion show as part of Paris Fashion Week Fall 2026 held at the Louvre on March 10, 2026 in Paris, France Credit: Getty Images The star added some major loud luxury shine to her chic fashion week outfit, stacking the simple gold band that sparked marriage speculation with what appeared to be a diamond-encrusted silver ring. Zendaya also wore the same ring design on her pointer finger, and bejeweled her wrist with gold and diamond bracelets. A pair of diamond-encrusted hoop earrings framed her French girl beauty look. Advertisement Advertisement In a nod to the Parisian bob, Zendaya styled her hair in Betty Boop-coded curls with a deep side-swept part that partially obscured one eye for her rare appearance. She accentuated her features with a deep cool red lipstick color, an iridescent brown eyeshadow, and black winged eyeliner. Read the original article on InStyle Panama is eagerly positioning itself as an ideal international co-production hub for filmmakers looking to shoot in Latin America, with new incentives in the works. The country is being feted this year at the Malaga Film Festivals Latin American Focus, with a delegation of government officials, industry representatives and filmmakers taking part in events spotlighting the Central American countrys multitude of cinematic advantages, from scenic natural landscapes and both modern and historical cityscapes to a high level of technical expertise and a supportive government represented by the Ministry of Culture and the National Directorate of Film and Audiovisual Industry (Dicine). More from Variety Advertisement Advertisement In a presentation on Tuesday at Malaga, Panamanian Vice Minister of Culture Arianne Benedetti was joined by director-producer Arturo Montenegro of Q Films, whose political thriller Papers screens at the festival as part of the Panama showcase; producer-director Luis Romero of Bolero Films; and Spanish producer-director Frank Spano of Garra Producciones, who specializes in Panamanian and Latin American co-productions. Panamas film and TV industry is growing and paving the way for sustainable development, not only in terms of national production but also through foreign investment, which strengthens the national production sector by creating jobs and professionalizing the market system and filmmakers, Benedetti pointed out. She stressed that Panamas co-production scene was giving the country an international presence that makes us a force to be reckoned with. Co-production, obviously, is what gives Ibero-American cinema its strength; its what allows those diverse budgets to be secured, because through co-production we find the necessary tools to finalize film projects. Benedetti pointed to the countrys new incentive introduced last year, an international co-production award that any film project can compete for, which provides $100,000 for fiction films and $25,000 for documentaries. The new award is just a first step, she added, noting that the Panamanian government is in the process of passing a new law that would expand the funding to six feature film and six documentary co-productions. Advertisement Advertisement The new funding scheme would give Panamanian producers more leverage when they go to festivals and discuss potential co-productions with Panama while also facilitating synergies between companies that provide mutual benefit to domestic as well as international filmmakers, Benedetti said. Montenegro underscored the advantages Panama offered for Latin America and Spain. Co-productions offer the possibility of building bridges, of uniting, of speaking together with the common language we share. I think that from there, our universe, our colors, the tropics, everything weve experienced, the stories we have to tell, how those stories clash with other realities, that seems very interesting to us, Montenegro said. Indeed, Benedetti emphasized Panamas historic role for both sides of the Atlantic. Advertisement Advertisement Panama has the peculiarity that its the center of America. It began as a transit point, ever since the first Spaniard arrived in Panama, from where everything also departed, returning to Spain. There are stories about all of us. We have stories to tell that unite more than one country. Romero noted that while Panama was a small country, it is also a very large community, a very large society, because of the fact that it operates as a transit country. Its a hub of the Americas, with the many flights, ships, ports and the most important banking center in all of Latin America. In that sense, theres a lot to offer. While its not always easy to do co-productions in Latin America, Panama has excelled in advertising and, as a result, the country also boasts a high level of technical expertise, Romero added. Its mostly about finding common ground in our stories. Advertisement Advertisement Romero is currently partnering with Spanish firms Yolaperdono and Gachiro Films on the co-production Juantxu, a documentary directed by Manuel Jimenez and Andoni Famoso about Spanish photographer and journalist Juantxu Rodriguez, who was killed by U.S. troops during the 1989 U.S. invasion of Panama. For Spano, its not just Panamas history, location and the canal that make it an interesting location for filmmakers. Its also because of this film industry. The fact that I have been able to co-produce and produce four feature films in the last eight years speaks to an industry, a ministry of culture, a film institute, funding, and a law that has provided a framework and impetus for us to tell our stories. Spanos work has included Alberto Morais 2025 drama La Terra Negra, which screened last year in Malaga. Spanos Garra Producciones, which has offices in Madrid and Panama, participated as the Panamanian co-producer. Spanos last four feature films have been co-productions between Panama and Spain, two of them as the Panamanian majority producer and two as a minority co-producer. Advertisement Advertisement The director-producer is also working with a Panamanian, North American and Spanish team in the development of a new distribution and streaming platform for independent films. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. He's not suiting up again, but he's not walking away, either. Sylvester Stallone has announced he's executive producing John Rambo, a new origin film built around one of his most iconic characters. "Now we're going back to where his story begins," Stallone, 79, wrote on his official account. "I'm excited to be executive producing @JohnRamboFilm, exploring the early chapter of the man before the legend." Stallone's statement wasn't a corporate press release. It was personal. "Rambo has been part of my life for a very long time," he wrote. "A character built on resilience, survival, and the scars of war. He's meant a lot to me and to audiences around the world for decades." Advertisement Advertisement That emotional candor makes the announcement land differently than a standard franchise news drop. This is Stallone handing over something that matters to him, and making clear he still wants a hand in how it's handled. Fans didn't wait long to weigh in. "Knowing that this film will have a touch of your hand gives all of us fans hope. I can't wait for this new chapter," one wrote within minutes of the post going live. Another admitted they'd been "telling Frank I want one more Rambo," and others kept it simpler: "Rambo and Rocky. The heroes who motivated my childhood." So Who's Playing Young Rambo? Noah Centineo. The To All the Boys I've Loved Before star is set to take on the role Stallone made legendary, portraying John Rambo in the years before the events of First Blood (1982). It's a significant swing; for Centineo's career and for the franchise. Related: Rambo is Back! See the Yellowstone Star Joining Noah Centineo in the Iconic Action Prequel Behind the camera, the project has serious pedigree. Jalmari Helander, the Finnish director behind the acclaimed survival thriller Sisu, is helming from a script by Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani. Lionsgate is distributing, with Millennium Media and the Russo Brothers' production company AGBO among the producers. Already Filming in Thailand Production kicked off in January 2026 across multiple locations in Thailand, including Bangkok, Krabi, Phang Nga and Kanchanaburi, terrain that fits the Vietnam War-era story the film is set to tell. Advertisement Advertisement Centineo has an ensemble around him too: Yao (Sinners), Quincy Isaiah (Winning Time), Jefferson White (Yellowstone), Jason Tobin (A Thousand Blows) and Tayme Thapthimthong (The White Lotus) round out the cast. With Rambo: Last Blood now seven years in the rearview, there's genuine appetite for the franchise to mean something again. Whether audiences go all-in on a Centineo-led origin story is the open question, but with Stallone's blessing attached, the new John Rambo at least has the right person vouching for it. Next: Sylvester Stallone Raves Over Incredible Book by Best-Selling Author: Couldnt Put it Down This story was originally published by Parade on Mar 9, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here. An Alabama country music artist is having such an amazing run of success that shes now being accused of blocking herself from having a new No. 1 song. Ella Langley, a native of Hope Hull, released Hungover in 2024. Thanks in large part to You Look Like You Love Me, a duet with fellow Alabamian Riley Green, the album carried her to blockbuster success throughout 2025. Highlights from last year included multiple Academy of Country Music awards and Country Music Association awards. Now shes got a follow-up album, Dandelion, due out April 10, and singles from it already are lighting up the charts at Billboard.com. In February, lead single Choosin Texas rose to No. 1 on the overall Hot 100 pop chart while also topping the Hot Country chart. That was an incredibly rare feat for a solo female artist, putting her in company with the likes of Taylor Swift, Beyonce and Dolly Parton. Advertisement Advertisement Two more new tracks are now making waves, Be Her and the Dandelion title track. Having three songs in play is causing a traffic jam on some of Billboards charts, leading Forbes.com to put up the headline Ella Langley Blocks Herself From A New No. 1 Again. On the latest Hot 100, dated March 14, Choosin Texas has dropped to No. 2 while Be Her has risen to No. 16 and Dandelion to No. 49. But things are much tighter on the country charts, which is what spurred the Forbes headline. On the Hot Country Songs chart, Choosin Texas remains at No. 1. Depending on how you look at it, its blocking Be Her, which is at No. 2. If thats blocking yourself, its a good problem to have. According to Billboard, shes the third woman to simultaneously hold the Hot Country charts two top spots, after Beyonce and Taylor Swift. Advertisement Advertisement On the Country Streaming Songs chart, Choosin Texas is No. 1, Be Her is No. 3 and the older song Werent For The Wind is No. 4. In Country Digital Song Sales, Choosin Texas is No. 1, Be Her is No. 2 and Dandelion is No. 4. The numbers for Choosin Texas are impressive. Billboard reports that the song drew 21.9 million official U.S. streams, 44.1 million in radio airplay audience and 6,000 sold in the Feb. 27March 5 tracking week, according to Luminate. In other news, Langley recently surprised some by expressing her thoughts on a possible acting career. As romantic as many of her songs are, shes eyeing other genres. Speaking on The Jesse James Morning Show, she said she could envision herself doing a thriller probably first, maybe. Advertisement Advertisement But I really want to do a horror movie, she said. Thats like one of my big goals. Like an old school horror movie, not like this stuff that you cant put on and let your daddy walk through the room. At this point, its no idle fantasy: Between her chart success and her new role as a brand ambassador for American Eagle denim, she certainly has the name recognition to attract viewers to a film project. Read more about Ella Langley Read the original article on al.com. Add al.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here. March 9 (Reuters) - Global drugmakers are ramping up U.S. manufacturing and stockpiling inventory as the Trump administration considers a 100% tariff on imported branded and patented medicines. Although enforcement is delayed for companies investing in U.S. manufacturing, the policy has already prompted fast-tracked projects, price cuts and direct-to-consumer sales. Pfizer and AstraZeneca secured multi-year tariff exemptions through pricing deals and commitments to the new TrumpRx.gov platform. Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson and Merck have pledged billions to expand U.S. operations to avoid penalties. Here's what drugmakers are doing to mitigate supply-chain risks and reassure investors: Pfizer Pfizer reached a deal with President Donald Trump on September 30 to invest $70 billion in research and development and domestic manufacturing, and received a three-year grace period exempting its products from the pharmaceutical-targeted tariffs. GSK The London-based drugmaker plans to invest $30 billion in U.S. research and development and supply chain infrastructure over five years. Eli Lilly U.S. President Donald Trump said in January that Eli Lilly plans to build six plants in the United States. Lilly said last year that it planned to spend at least $27 billion to build four U.S. plants to expand production and bolster medical supply chains. The company has since announced details on three plants, in Alabama, Virginia and Texas. Lilly in January said it will build a $3.5 billion pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania, its fourth new site, in an effort to expand U.S. production and bolster medical supply chains. Johnson & Johnson The drugmaker plans to raise U.S. investments by 25%, totaling $55 billion, over the next four years. It plans to build four plants, including one at Wilson, North Carolina, and another at Tokyo-based Fujifilm Biotechnologies' manufacturing site in Holly Springs, North Carolina, over the next 10 years. The company said in February it would invest more than $1 billion to build a new cell therapy facility in Pennsylvania, part of its larger plans announced last year to scale up U.S. manufacturing. Roche The Swiss drugmaker said in April last year it would invest $50 billion in the U.S. over the next five years. A month later, it announced an additional $550 million investment to expand its Indianapolis diagnostics manufacturing hub. The expansion will span Indiana, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and California, creating more than 12,000 jobs. In January, Roche said it will more than double its investment in its drug manufacturing facility in Holly Springs, North Carolina, to about $2 billion, up from the over $700 million announced in May 2025. CHICOPEE For female comedians of a certain age, getting booked can be a challenge. Thats why Carole Montgomery, a veteran comedian born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, took it upon herself to make a show that would highlight fellow comedians over age 50. The series of stand-up comedy specials aired on Showtime Networks and became Showtimes highest-rated comedy special of 2019 before turning into a national tour. And now, Montgomery is bringing her comedy special to the Portuguese Club located at 149 Exchange St. in Chicopee. Advertisement Advertisement The show, which will include a buffet-style dinner, will be held on Saturday, March 21. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., dinner will be served at 5:45 p.m., and the show will begin at 7 p.m. We have to work so much harder than the guys, said Jess Miller, a Western Massachusetts-based comedian who worked behind the scenes to get Montgomerys show to Chicopee. And shes a lady of a certain age, as am I. And when you become a certain age, they stop booking you, so her goal was to book women that she loved to work with that were funny. Miller, who has performed nationwide at venues and clubs from Broadway Comedy Club to Mohegan Sun, is just as passionate about producing upscale comedy experiences as she is about performing herself. Shes known Montgomery for years, so when it became possible to bring Montgomerys comedy special to Western Massachusetts, Miller jumped on the opportunity. Advertisement Advertisement Shes been in my shows from the Hu Ke Lau days, Miller said, explaining that the duo used to perform at the Chicopee restaurant that closed in 2018. Weve known each other for a good 10 or 15 years now. Montgomery will be joined on stage by fellow comedians Vicky Kuperman and Missy Hall. Just in time for the St. Patricks Parade in Holyoke on March 22, the buffet-style dinner to be served before the show will feature slow braised corn beef with mustard cream sauce and butter braised cabbage with fresh herbs. My mouth is watering just thinking about it, Miller said, adding that there will also be a vegetarian option: pasta primavera with eggplant parmesan. Advertisement Advertisement Tickets to the Comedy Showcase are $69, including the cost of dinner. Early purchases are strongly recommended and can be made online at jessmillercomedy.com. You do not need an Irish accent to attend, Miller joked. Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here. If you too are a former Gladiator, then you can recall that Thursday nights from 2012 to 2018 were must-watch TV events in the US in large part due to the Shonda Rhimes hit series Scandal. Led by the Emmy-winning star Kerry Washington, Scandal was a high-octane political drama that captivated fans from episode to episode with jaw-dropping plot twists, riveting dialogue, and provocative romances. Over the course of seven seasons and 124 episodes, the drama earned Emmy, NAACP Image Award, Critics Choice Award, and Peabody Award wins and was a favorite of critics and social media. With all that being said, its natural for the forever fans of the series to want to see it return with new episodes. Recently, while promoting her new Apple TV drama, Imperfect Women, Washington weighed in on the possibility of a Scandal revival. Kerry Washington Largely Punts Question to Shonda Rhimes Kerry Washington and Shonda Rhimes pose during the Hollywood Walk Of Fame Star Ceremony honoring Kerry Washington on December 02, 2024 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) Speaking to E! News at the Los Angeles premiere of Imperfect Women, Washington was reminded that April 2026 will commemorate the eight-year anniversary of the end of Scandal. She was eventually asked: Advertisement Advertisement Is there ever any talk about getting the gang back together for a special?... I mean, people are always looking to like re-use IP now, and I feel like you guys could do that, and theres a lot going on that Olivia Pope could weigh in on. Washington casually skirted around the question, answering, I feel like thats a Shonda Rhimes question. But you know, I do have like imaginary children, Tyriq and Chase, that Ive been taking selfies with all over town. Now, for those of you who dont know, there are some diehard Scandal fans who created some fan-fiction in regards to the series. Theyve imagined that actors Tyriq Withers (Him) and Chase Infiniti (One Battle After Another) are the children of Washingtons Olivia Pope and Tony Goldwyns President Fitzgerald Grant. Washington herself played into the narrative with an Instagram post teasing Its a family reunion. Tony Goldwyn Chimed in on Scandal Revival Goldwyn was asked back in September 2025 by Variety about the possibility of a Scandal revival, and interestingly enough, his response was nearly identical to Washingtons. In the clip below, he too says, Thats a question for Shonda Rhimes. It makes me wonder, could a Scandal-related project be in the works, and the stars are playing coy? Tony Goldwyn says a "Scandal" revival would be "so fun," but "that's a question for Shonda Rhimes" https://t.co/YotjgEvPzj pic.twitter.com/bG1WeIg2ws Variety (@Variety) September 14, 2025 Related: Reggie Millers Offers Shocking Rank of Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Mar 11, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here. MS NOW host Lawrence ODonnell on Tuesday eviscerated President Donald Trump and his administration over the latest developments in his war on Iran, but named one particular adviser deeply involved in negotiations as the presidents clown of the day. Donald Trump and everyone working for him in Washington on his war continue to demonstrate every day that they are completely lost, and if they dont know what they are talking about, that means they dont know what they are doing, said the Last Word host. Politics: Kash Patel Announces FBI's New Training Partner And It's A Kick In The Head He continued, They dont know what they are doing in Donald Trumps war. Advertisement Advertisement ODonnell has rebuked the administration as incompetent for months now, but he appeared more frustrated than ever Tuesday after at least seven U.S. military service members and more than 1,000 Iranians have been killed in what he called Trumps new war of choice. ODonnell singled out one particular official Tuesday for his baffling role in the conflict. He said, The competition for stupidest thing said today about Donald Trumps war was won by the guy who is tied with Donald Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner, for the title of most ridiculous person ever chosen by a president to negotiate peace in the Middle East. Politics: You're Going To Want To Watch This DOGE Staffer Try To Define What DEI Is Steve Witkoff is a real estate developer in real life who would not have been chosen by any president of the United States to do anything, anywhere, until Donald Trump decided to send him into negotiations, not just in the Middle East, but also in Moscow, said ODonnell. Advertisement Advertisement He noted that the U.S. special envoy was asked Tuesday about reports from The New York Times and The Washington Post that Russian President Vladimir Putin has been providing Iran with sensitive information on the location of U.S. military assets in the Middle East. ODonnell played a clip of the exchange from CNBCs Money Movers, showing Witkoff attempting to assuage viewers by noting Russian leaders denied this over the phone while speaking with Trump and that we can take them at their word. We can take them at their word, ODonnell marveled. He said that. Donald Trumps clown of the day, Steve Witkoff, says we can take Vladimir Putins word for it that Russia has not been helping Iran target attacks on American military personnel. He said, That is the single worst thing Vladimir Putin could possibly be doing to the United States in this war, and Vladimir Putin knows it, and Vladimir Putin also knows that Donald Trump has always behaved like Vladimir Putins trained puppy around the Russian dictator. Advertisement Advertisement Like this article? Keep independent journalism alive. Support HuffPost. The reports themselves are based on comments from anonymous U.S. officials familiar with intelligence on the matter. Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Sunday on NBCs Meet the Press that military cooperation between Russia and Iran is not something new. Donald Trump might not actually be so stupid as to actually believe Vladimir Putin, but it doesnt matter because Donald Trump is deeply perverse enough to publicly claim to believe Vladimir Putin, ODonnell said Tuesday. And so is Steve Witkoff. Politics: These Photos Of Pete Hegseth Probably Defy New Pentagon Policy Against Unflattering Pics He continued, Donald Trumps breathtakingly incompetent real estate developer buddy Steve Witkoff does appear to actually be stupid enough to believe Vladimir Putin and to say on television that he believes Vladimir Putin. They have no idea what theyre talking about. Advertisement Advertisement Watch the full Last Word segment on MS NOWs YouTube account. Related... Read the original on HuffPost Former WISN-TV meteorologist Lindsey Slater has hired a longtime attorney who specializes in non-compete contracts following her departure from Channel 12 late last month. Robert Corris, Slater's attorney, said March 11 that Slater wants out of her non-compete agreement and that she has a good case. "It's my opinion that she would be able to defeat the non-compete," Corris said. "I feel confident." Advertisement Advertisement Corris declined to comment on the details of the agreement and if it is only for the Milwaukee market. He said he was "hopeful that it never gets to litigation," instead he wants to reach an agreement with WISN-TV. Lindsey Slater Shawn Oswald, president and general manager at Channel 12, couldn't be reached for comment on March 11. When reached by email on March 11, Slater didn't respond to questions on her departure from WISN-TV or what her plans are for the future. She instead said, "Don't worry. I'll be back soon. Hang tight." Slater has been active on social media platform BlueSky, providing weather updates. Advertisement Advertisement The Milwaukee Business Journal first reported the story. She told the outlet that she did want to debunk social media speculation that she was fired for political posts. She added she wanted to remain in meteorology. Slater was the station's early morning meteorologist since July 2019, when her predecessor Sally Severson reduced her schedule. She is a Milwaukee area native who joined Channel 12 in June 2016. Prior to WISN-TV, Slater worked for WDBD-TV in Jackson, Mississippi, and served as an intern for WKOW-TV in Madison. According to her LinkedIn, Slater attended undergraduate school at Carroll University in Waukesha and Mississippi State University. She has a master's degree in crisis/emergency/disaster management from the Millersville University of Pennsylvania. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Meteorologist Lindsey Slater hires attorney after WISN-TV exit A fresh start sounds romantic until you remember the boring parts: deposits, flights, paperwork, and that first grocery run where you stand in the aisle like a confused tourist in your own life. Some governments have noticed the same thing and decided to sweeten the deal. If a region is losing people, workers, or young families, targeted support can be cheaper than watching schools, shops, and services slowly fade. Still, paid to relocate almost never means free money for vibes. Most offers are tied to a real commitment, like taking a job in a target area, renovating an empty home, carrying eligible student debt into an understaffed region, or building a company that actually operates locally. Just as important, not every scheme is open to every kind of mover. Some are meant for people already living in the country, some are renovation grants rather than relocation cheques, and some are really founder programs with a landing pad attached. The upside can still be meaningful. The catch is that the fine print is the whole story. 1. Japan Image Credit: Shutterstock. Japans best-known relocation support is real, but it is much narrower than the internet version. Under the governments regional migration support framework, the target is mainly people who lived in Tokyos 23 wards or commuted there and then moved to eligible municipalities outside the greater Tokyo area. The headline amount is up to 1,000,000 for a household and up to 600,000 for a single person, with an additional child-related boost of up to 1,000,000 per accompanying household member under 18 in qualifying cases. Advertisement Advertisement The structure is very Japan: the national government sets the framework, but prefectures and municipalities handle the operational details. That means the amount, deadlines, and paperwork can vary depending on where you land. The official guidance also ties eligibility to things like qualifying employment, telework, municipal conditions, or startup support, and applicants are generally expected to apply within a year of moving and intend to stay for at least five years. So yes, the money exists. No, it is not a generic move to rural Japan and collect cheat code. 2. Portugal Image Credit: Shutterstock. Portugals Emprego Interior MAIS is more surgical than the clicky versions make it sound. It is designed to support workers or self-employed people whose job move takes them into officially defined interior territories. In the current IEFP materials, the base support is 7 times the IAS for an open-ended contract or for creating your own job or company, and 5 times the IAS for a fixed-term contract of at least 12 months. With the 2026 IAS set at 537.13, that works out to roughly 3,759.91 or 2,685.65 before any extras. There is also a household dimension, which is where the offer starts to feel genuinely useful rather than symbolic. The same scheme includes a 20% increase for each household member who relocates with the applicant and a complementary amount of 1.5 times the IAS for transporting goods to the new residence. The catch, as usual, is that this is not a move anywhere in Portugal deal. The interior-territory requirement is the whole point, so the smart move is to secure the contract or business plan first and then build the relocation around the paperwork instead of the other way around. 3. Ireland Image Credit: Shutterstock. Irelands Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is one of the most tangible start over somewhere else supports on the list because it helps fund the home itself. The current structure still includes up to 50,000 to renovate a vacant property and up to 70,000 where the property is derelict. For qualifying offshore islands, the government says the higher support reaches up to 60,000 for vacant homes and up to 84,000 for derelict ones. Advertisement Advertisement What makes Ireland especially interesting is that the scheme has expanded beyond the simple fixer-upper headline. Official government guidance says the grant can support refurbishing a property to live in or rent out, and the latest above-the-shop update adds a separate enhanced package that can reach up to 140,000 on more complex projects. So this is not a plane-ticket subsidy. It is Ireland saying that if you are serious about taking on a vacant building, especially in a smaller place that needs life put back into it, the state is willing to meet you part of the way. 4. Norway Image Credit: Shutterstock. Norways incentive is less cash in your hand and more your future gets lighter, which can honestly be better. Through Lanekassens Finnmark and Nord-Troms debt-cancellation scheme, people who live and work in approved areas can have up to NOK 60,000 of eligible student debt written off each year for accrual periods starting in 2025. There is also an additional NOK 20,000 per year for qualifying primary school teachers in that zone. Norway has also launched a separate rural-municipality debt-cancellation scheme that allows up to NOK 25,000 per year in eligible student-loan cancellation for people who live in designated less-central municipalities, with accrual calculated from 1 January 2025 at the earliest. The important reality check is that this only helps if you actually have qualifying student debt to cancel. So it is not a universal relocation perk. But for people who do carry that debt, Norway is offering one of the clearest long-game incentives in the group. 5. Chile Image Credit: Shutterstock. Chile belongs on this list only if you define "relocation support" the founder's way. Start-Up Chile is not a generic move here and collect money scheme. It is a public accelerator and funding platform for entrepreneurs who want to build from Chile. On its current program pages, Build lists 15 million Chilean pesos in equity-free funding for early-stage startups, while Growth lists 75 million Chilean pesos in equity-free funding for expansion-stage companies using Chile as a platform. Advertisement Advertisement That distinction matters because the money is tied to execution, not relocation as a lifestyle experiment. Start-Up Chile also emphasizes acceleration, networks, and support for landing in Chile, including visa help for founders building through the program. So the appeal here is not theyll pay me to start over. It is theyll help me relocate my startup chapter to Chile if I actually have something worth building. For the right founder, that is powerful. For everyone else, it is just a very attractive program they probably do not qualify for. Read More This article originally appeared on Guessing Headlights: 5 Countries That Will Pay You To Move There And Start A New Life A new workshop series aims to teach practical repair skills to New Bedford and Dartmouth residents, potentially helping them save money and reduce waste. Fix It Forward will offer free, hands-on sessions on various repair techniques, according to a community announcement. The series is a collaboration between the Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District, the New Bedford Free Public Library and the citys Department of Community Services. Advertisement Advertisement The first workshop, Mending, Darning, and Patching Oh My! is scheduled for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 31 at the Howland Green Branch Library, 3 Rodney French Blvd., New Bedford. The session will be led by Claudia De Sousa-Baptista of Bushwood Tailors Opportunity Shop and Elaine and Beatrice Alder of Alder & Alder. Participants will learn techniques such as slow stitching, button replacement, zipper repair and darning woolen socks and sweaters. Claudia De Sousa-Baptista mending clothing The clothing repair workshop encourages hands-on learning. Attendees are encouraged to bring an item to repair. We love that a neighbor can drop by with a sweater to darn and leave with the skillsand the materialsto keep it in use for years, Olivia Melo, library director of the New Bedford Free Public Library, states in the announcement. Advertisement Advertisement The event will also include a sewing and fabric arts swap. Items for donation may be dropped off at the Howland Green, Wilks, Lawler, and Main Library branches starting March 23. Examples of swap items include yarn, crochet and knitting tools, thread, buttons, fabric, embroidery floss and sewing tools. Participants can browse and take home supplies for their projects or repairs, even if they dont have items to swap. Five sewing kits will be randomly given away to workshop participants by the Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District. The next workshop, A Bicycle Fixed by You, is scheduled for 10 a.m. to noon May 9 at the Howland Green branch. Registration will be required for this session, which will be limited to 12 participants, according to the announcement. The Fix It Forward workshop series is supported in part by the Art is Everywhere! grant, funded by the City of New Bedford through its Arts, Culture & Tourism Fund. The program is facilitated by New Bedford Creative at the New Bedford Economic Development Council. Advertisement Advertisement Fix It Forward workshops are free and open to the public. However, space may be limited. To learn more about the workshops or to register, contact Marissa Perez-Dormitzer, waste reduction manager at the Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District, at Marissa@gnbrrmdistrict.org or 508-979-1493. You can also reach out to Mali Lim, City of New Bedford Department of Community Services, at mali.lim@newbedford-ma.gov. This story was created 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 Standard-Times: New Bedford free Fix It Forward workshops teach repair skills Who makes the best yock in Hampton Roads? Hundreds of people came out to the 757 Yock Wars competition in Portsmouth on Feb. 28 to settle the debate. Yock also called yock-a-mein, ya-ka-mein, yakamein, yaka mein is a Chinese-African American noodle soup that originated during the early 20th century in port cities, including those in Tidewater. Its main ingredients include soy sauce-based broth, noodles, chicken or pork, hard-boiled eggs, onions and ketchup. Advertisement Advertisement While the number of restaurants and takeout spots selling yock in the region has dwindled over the years, the dish has endured among home cooks. Organizer Candace Mclellan (also known as MC CandyBee) tapped into that history and grassroots connection when planning her next community event with friend Monica Atkins. And the idea paid off. A sold-out crowd filled two large rooms and a VIP lounge area at Venue 757, a five-minute drive from Paradise Creek Nature Park. Judges tasted the soul food dishes from the main stage while the DJ entertained guests sitting at tables nearby. People also browsed and shopped at vendor tables such as Aunt Carolyns Tea (Virginia Beach), Custom Beads & Bangles (Portsmouth) and YasTrulyDesigns (Norfolk). Advertisement Advertisement In the next room, lines formed at stations where four contestants (home-based cooks) combined noodles, dark broth and other ingredients in plastic sample cups. Attendees voted for their favorites for the Peoples Choice award. Deitrick Guyton, aka Yaki Mein Man from New Orleans, was also there selling his yakamein. Some might say the Old Sober hangover cure started in The Big Easy. It includes a soy-based beef broth with noodles, hard-boiled eggs and green onions. Its all about the broth, Guyton said. But he wasnt sharing recipe secrets. Baltimoreans might also argue the dish originated there. Its Dirty Yak is more of a stir-fried noodle with shrimp or beef and a thick, dark sauce. Advertisement Advertisement One thing is for certain: Yock is a Tidewater food tradition. Chinese takeout spots have been serving it in African American communities for a century. Its roots date back to at least 1926, when Ransdells Oriental Tea Room advertised yok-a-mein for 20 cents in Portsmouth, as previously reported in The Virginian-Pilot. The noodles are made in a factory in Norfolk that has been around since the 1930s. Most of the old restaurants that served yock have closed, but yock is still on the menu at Maks Chinese Restaurant in Chesapeake and Mama Chans in Portsmouth. Many folks just know someone who makes it. Veto Bails of Portsmouth goes to his moms house for a box of yock. The 25-year-old said hes been eating it his entire life. His first bite at the competition came from Elle Knight at Mama Said Yock You Out in Chesapeake, but he was looking for more spice. Advertisement Advertisement Virginia Beach native Dominique Washington said she prefers a thick noodle and a broth with a little tang, spice and sweetness. She also requires an egg. Washington gets the 757 staple from her grandmother in Chesapeake or people she knows. Whenever I think of yock, I think of home, she said. Its more than just food, its a culture. Anthony Tone Hollywood Wheeler, radio personality and brand manager at 100.5 The Vibe, remembered smelling yock cooking at a takeout restaurant near LaSalle Avenue and Queen Street in Hampton, where he lived growing up. He would buy it there or enjoy some at his grandmothers house. The self-proclaimed yock connoisseur was one of the five judges for the Yock Wars. He said he looks for a mixture of ketchup, soy sauce, noodles, onions, chicken and shrimp. The boiled egg was new to him. The winners At the end of the event, attendees gathered near the stage to hear the results. Third place went to Catrina Johnson of CJs Kitchen of Portsmouth. Advertisement Advertisement The fan favorite, or Peoples Choice, was Terre Blair, who also won second place. Blair, who owns At Your Service Yock in Newport News, has been making yock for 40 years. She modified her husbands family recipe to create her own secret recipes using chicken wings. She said she loves making yock because it brings family together and authenticity to the table. And first place went to LaMicha Gray of Meech Meals in Hampton. Guests could try different types of her soul yock, such as turkey wing, rib and vegetable. The proud contestant started making yock in 2017 after a customer requested it. At the time, she had no clue how to make it; nor had she ever tried it. Advertisement Advertisement But folks loved it, she said. To this day, Gray admitted, she still hadnt eaten yock, because she doesnt like noodles or ketchup. Her ancestors help her pull that off, she said: They gave her the ability to create nostalgic and historical flavors with a twist and added soul. Grays win left an impression on her son, a reminder of why preserving food traditions matters. My mom did very good and she brought her whole family with her, said Jhazi Scruggs-Gray, 12. That just made it even better. Rekaya Gibson, 757-295-8809, rekaya.gibson@virginiamedia.com Mar. 11DEERING As part of the national observance for Read Across America, Dawson-Bryant has hosted guest readers for over a decade and, last week, more than 50 turned out for the event. Those visiting the school read from the works of Dr. Seuss for each of the school's classrooms, first gathering in the cafeteria for a reception, before student escorts took them to their classes. Guests included county officials, such as Auditor Paul David Knipp and Common Pleas Judge Christen Finley, both repeat visitors; high school students from the district, former teachers and local business leaders, such as Viviane Khounlavong, owner of Studio Dara in Ironton and Elizabeth Cremeans, the CEO of TPC Wellness. Advertisement Advertisement Cremeans says she has been working with Dawson-Bryant schools for nearly 25 years. She was there with a team from her business. "We love these moments to take the opportunity to read to these kiddos of Lawrence County," she said. "There is no better honor than sharing the joy of reading. Communities across Ohio celebrate reading this week and we love joining in the fun." One noteworthy visitor this year was Austen Pleasants, a graduate of Dawson-Bryant schools, who is now an offensive tackle for the San Francisco 49ers. He was there with his cousin, Jamie Lima, also a Dawson-Bryant graduate, who is West Virginia director for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. Advertisement Advertisement Read Across America is themed in many schools across the nation to coincide with the anniversary of Seuss's birth on March 2. Kara Howard, assistant principal for the school, said each classroom decorated their hallways with themes ranging from the desert to a polar climate, to reflect Seuss's book, "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" She said the school looks forward to the visitors each year. "It's a great way to bring the community in," she said For more photos, see this weekend's Focus page. EAU CLAIRE Influential figures of Eau Claires history cross each others paths, as author Tulla Froyen reflects on her grandfathers legacy. In a talk at L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library, the author of Across Minnesota in All Directions: E.E. Lobeck and the Temperance Crusade will tell the story of the connections between grandfather E.E. Lobeck and Eau Claire writer Waldemar Ager. Wednesdays presentation is planned to be the first of three in a series discussing notable associates and peers of Ager. Froyen came to know more about her grandfather through her grandmothers accounts and her own research, as he passed away before she was born. She sifted through records from the Minnesota Historical Society, as well as through the Waldemar Ager Associations library, a collection of various works from authors with Norwegian heritage. Advertisement Advertisement Doug Pearson, a retired professor of English at UW-Eau Claire and long-time board member of the Waldemar Ager Association, will provide an introduction. He says the upcoming talk doesnt just focus on Agers accomplishments, but rather highlights the commonalities between Ager and Lobeck, while letting Froyen recount Lobecks fellow contributions to the temperance movement. They were both born in Norway. They both came to this country as young people and discovered their missions in somewhat similar ways, but Lobeck, much more than Ager, took his message to the people directly, over and over again, Pearson said. It was his lifes work. Lobeck wrote for the Norwegian-language publication, Reform, a prohibitionist newspaper Waldemar Ager published. It was not only through the newspaper, but also similar ideologies, where both figures would play a role in the temperance movement of the late 19th and early 20th century. They had their beliefs in common, and thats what Wednesday night is all about. They were very, very strong prohibitionists, Pearson said. They were involved in temperance organizations and in the temperance movement, and they were delighted when Prohibition came. Advertisement Advertisement Lobeck traveled across Minnesota and Wisconsin to spread word about temperance, often appealing to groups that supported it in the process. It was partly those efforts that led to the use of the term, crusade, in the title of Froyens book, according to Pearson. He didnt have rooms to sell or medicine to sell, Pearson said. He had a concept, an idea, a concern, a social issue, and so he went out and talked to schools and churches anywhere anyone would gather and listen to him, and made his living for a long time by whatever people donated at these events. Lobeck and Ager became friends as he entered Wisconsin. In addition to the temperance movement, both figures shared similar sentiments about topics such as supporting womens suffrage, as well as the preservation of their Norwegian heritage and language as they adapted to American culture. Both Lobeck and Ager were very concerned that their fellow immigrants would lose or were losing touch with their roots, Pearson said. Ager went so far as to say, If you lose your language, youre losing your soul. The commonalities between both men will be discussed at Tulla Froyens talk on Wednesday at L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library. The post When Playtime Gets Wild: Komodo Dragon Eats Plush Toys After Macaques Toss Them Into His Enclosure appeared first on A-Z Animals. Quick Take At Singapore Zoo, a Komodo dragon named Mario swallowed multiple plush toys after wild macaques tossed them into his enclosure. As ambush hunters triggered by sudden movement, Komodo dragons can instinctively strike at flurries of activity, likely causing Mario to mistake the toys for prey. Veterinary staff from Mandai Wildlife Group launched an emergency medical procedure to check for internal damage and successfully remove the blockages. Things got a little crazy at the Singapore Zoo, where March brings mischief and mayhem to a resident komodo dragon. Mario, a rare Komodo dragon hatched outside of Indonesia, found himself in a dilemma. When a group of wild macaques found a bag of stuffed plushies and decided to throw them in his exhibit, all bets were off. Mario wasted no time making a meal of them, and in turn, left one veterinary team extremely concerned. Singapore Zoo Komodo Dragon Snacks on Stuffed Plushies At the Singapore Zoo, wild and captive animals coexist in a shared space. This is what makes the zoo so unique and gives its residents a natural environment to live in. Mario, the komodo dragon, is one of its most beloved residents. The species is also notoriously difficult to breed, and hatchlings are a rarity. This makes his presence at the zoo that much more impactful for visitors. His caretakers work tirelessly to ensure his health, which is how Marchs incident was dealt with swiftly. And, despite a few hiccups, successfully. Komodo dragons use their sharp, recurved claws to dig up shallow graves. ZiemowitJ / CC BY 4.0 Original / License (ZiemowitJ / CC BY 4.0) On March 2nd, an Instagram video posted by the Mandai Wildlife Group shared the predicament Mario found himself in. As some wild macaques, which are native to the area, had their own fun with a bag of plushies theyd found. Mario, on the other hand, found himself a snack. The flurry and frenzy of the macaques excited activity is initially what drew his attention. This lured him to the forbidden funhouse toys, unaware they were not edible. Without realizing what he was eating, Mario ingested two large plushies. From that moment on, the clock began ticking, and the Mandai Wildlife Group waited. An Indigestible Problem If youve ever had a pet eat something they werent meant to, then you know that its often expelled as easily as its ingested. In Marios case, the Mandai Wildlife Group hoped for the same result. Komodo dragons often regurgitate food or objects that dont agree with them, or that cant be digested easily. Unfortunately, after a full 24 hours, Mario still had not regurgitated the two plushies hed eaten. The emergency veterinary team immediately jumped into action. Advertisement Advertisement Objects left in an animals stomach pose a significant threat to their health and can even become fatal. Large objects cause intestinal blockages that prevent food from passing through in either direction. As the animals health rapidly declines, they may become sick, lethargic, and eventually succumb to injuries caused by the blockage. Given Marios size and the fact that a full day had passed by, the veterinary team knew they needed to intervene. Diving Into the Belly of the Beast Mario was scheduled to undergo an endoscopic procedure to remove the stuffed plushies. Dr. Heng Yirui, deputy vice-president of veterinary healthcare and scientific programs at Mandai Wildlife Group, led the operation. While Mario was under anesthesia, veterinarians attempted to remove the plushies using an endoscopic tool. After about 90 minutes, these efforts proved to be unsuccessful. Knowing time was running out for Mario, the team switched to a more aggressive means of removing the plushies. A stuffed toy is not the best companion for a Komodo Dragon. iStock.com/kiwisoul (iStock.com/kiwisoul) In the video shared on Instagram, Dr. Heng can be seen with his entire arm down Marios throat. The footage shows him reaching as far as he can for the plushies. As he grabs one plushie with his bare hands, the footage shows a close-up of the fully-intact toy. Trust me, it is difficult to grab onto these toys with all your might. I could only manage to pull out the first toy. I was so fatigued I had to ask for help for the second toy, he says in the social media video. Mario Is Thankfully on the Mend Thanks to the swift action of Dr. Heng and his team, Mario made it out of surgery. The Mandai Wildlife Group confirms there are no further obstructions to his intestines or stomach, giving the komodo dragon a clean bill of health. The day after surgery, Mario passed stool. Advertisement Advertisement Marios instinct led him to unintentionally ingest the stuffed plushies. Komodo dragons are ambush hunters, which means their predatory instincts were triggered by the macaques activity. In all likelihood, Mario may have thought what he was eating was a macaque, or at least an animal that was digestible. In the wild, komodo dragons are skilled hunters and can bring down animals weighing up to 100 pounds. They typically prey on boar, Timor deer, and water buffalo during large feeding events. Small prey often include lizards, snakes, birds, and even insects. While these stuffed plushies dont fall in any of those categories, its a miracle that Mario has lived to see another day. The post When Playtime Gets Wild: Komodo Dragon Eats Plush Toys After Macaques Toss Them Into His Enclosure appeared first on A-Z Animals. The new 530A accounts come as families continue to struggle with the cost of living , which has made saving for retirement difficult, if not impossible, for many Americans. In response to these financial challenges, President Donald Trump also recently announced new retirement-savings plans for workers who dont have access to one through their employer, and offered up to $1,000 a year in matching funds. They cited noteworthy limitations on Trump accounts. For instance, the funds cannot be accessed until the child turns 18, at which point they follow IRA rules and are intended for retirement. Withdrawals made before age 59 are subject to a 10% penalty unless the money is used for education, a first-time home purchase or starting a business, and earnings are taxable (doing a Roth conversion at age 18 would at least enable future tax-free growth). Aside from eligible families opening a Trump account to receive these donations, personal-finance experts say parents may be better off directing their own dollars toward other account types for kids that are more flexible or have better tax treatment. Billionaire donors such as Michael and Susan Dell and Ray Dalio have also pledged substantial Trump account donations for certain families, while Visa V plans to let customers deposit cash-back rewards into Trump accounts. For example, children who are U.S. citizens born from 2025 through 2028 are eligible for a $1,000 contribution from the U.S. Treasury. Also, companies including Intel INTC, Uber Technologies UBER, Charter Communications CHTR, Charles Schwab SCHW and News Corp NWSA NWS have said they will contribute to Trump accounts for children of employees. (NewsCorp is the parent company of Dow Jones & Co., the publisher of MarketWatch.) For many, the answer will depend on whether they qualify for contributions from the government, employers or other donors into their Trump accounts, formally known as 530A accounts. For some parents, the addition of a new account option for their kids on top of custodial brokerage accounts, 529 college savings accounts and Roth IRAs has only added confusion over which offers the best benefits, and whether funding one type of account should take priority over others. Millions of parents have already signed up for Trump accounts, the new custodial-style IRAs that allows the government, employers, donors and individuals to contribute to investment accounts for children. Story Continues More on kids wealth building: Teens turn to investing to build a new path to the American dream. My goal is to live comfortably. For parents weighing their options, heres what some popular personal-finance influencers have to say about how Trump accounts stack up against other investment vehicles for kids. Whatever parents choose, financial experts say the best strategy across the board is to start investing for their children as soon as possible ideally, as newborns to give the money the most time to compound. See also: How do I open a Trump account? The IRS has one simple solution for you. Dave Ramsey Dave Ramsey. - Getty Images for SiriusXM Personal-finance radio host Dave Ramsey called Trump accounts a political stunt on a recent episode of The Ramsey Show. Youve got other ways to save, Ramsey said. Its not as revolutionary as the original Roth was. Its not as revolutionary as the 529 is. Receiving the $1,000 contribution and other donations is fine, but in terms of parents investing their own money, I dont think its worth the trouble, Ramsey said. If you could do a lot with it, itd be one thing but no. A post on Ramseys website criticized Trump accounts lack of flexibility in terms of when and how the money can be used. His co-host, Jade Warshaw, said: The best thing it will do is get people thinking about investing in general. Anthony ONeal Anthony O'Neal. - Credit: Anthony ONeal For children who are eligible for free money on the table with a Trump account, you want to open the account and take the free money, Anthony ONeal, host of the YouTube show The Table With AO, told MarketWatch. Outside of the free cash, ONeal suggested parents funding priorities should be: a Roth IRA (if the child has earned income); a 529 plan for education; and then taxable investment accounts, which includes custodial brokerage accounts and the Trump account. Erin Moriarity Erin Moriarity. - Credit: Erin Moriarity Everyone should open a Trump account for children who qualify for the free money from the Treasury Department, employers or donors, Erin Moriarity, host of the Erin Talks Money YouTube channel, told MarketWatch. Capture the $1,000 seed money, the $1,000 match. I would say outside of that, there are other accounts that get better tax treatment, depending on what the savings goal is, she said such as 529s for education or Roth IRAs for the childs eventual retirement. While Trump accounts are useful because they help people save for the future I dont put them at the top of my list in terms of where to invest for kids, she added. For her own child, Moriarity makes monthly deposits into a brokerage account funds that can be used at any age for anything for the child. While she also opened a 529, she expects her husbands military benefits to cover most of their childs college expenses, so were not really funding it that aggressively. Suze Orman Knowing which account to fund first depends on you and your childs priorities, Suze Orman said on her Women & Money podcast last year. If you are focused specifically on education, then exploring a 529 plan is likely smarter, especially because they offer tax-free distributions. And for qualified expenses, they may also offer state tax benefits, she said. Meanwhile, a Trump account might be better if your kid doesnt want to go to school and isnt working yet, she noted. But lets say your kid starts working as a teen or in college then a custodial Roth might be the way to go. The bottom line, according to Orman, is that if you have ample funds, you could do all of them. Humphrey Yang Regardless of your feelings on the current administration, I think there is literally no downside to opening this account and just getting the $1,000 and letting that grow on its own, said personal-finance content creator Humphrey Yang in a video on his eponymous YouTube channel last month. Money Guy A post on the Money Guy website advises parents not to turn down free money even if the account structure isnt ideal, but notes: The tax treatment of [Trump] accounts makes them inferior to just about every other type of investment account you would consider opening for your child (custodial Roth, custodial brokerage and 529). Contributions are taxed, and investment earnings are taxed at ordinary income rates upon withdrawal. A custodial brokerage account works similarly, but contributions are taxed at more favorable capital-gains rates and there are no restrictions on contributions, investment options or withdrawals. Vivian Tu - Getty Images for Vox Media From a tax perspective, a Trump account definitely isnt the hottest girl at the party, and the tax treatment on 529s and custodial Roth IRAs is much better, since they both grow tax free, personal-finance content creator and author Vivian Tu said in a video on her Instagram account, Your Rich BFF. She added that while both rich and poor families get the same $1,000 contribution from the government, rich families are more likely to continue contributing, meaning theyll likely see the outsized benefits of these accounts. Most Read from MarketWatch Dorian Principal, Octavio Cruz , and Enidsa Natal clean up trash in their neighborhood along South 29th Street on March 10, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Dorian Principal, Octavio Cruz , and Enidsa Natal laugh and joke around while cleaning up trash in their neighborhood along South 29th Street on March 10, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Dorian Principal and Octavio Cruz clean up trash in their neighborhood along South 29th Street on March 10, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A water bottle sits on the grass before being picked up during a neighborhood clean up along South 29th Street on March 10, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Enidsa Natal and Octavio Cruz pick up trash with her neighbors along South 29th Street on March 10, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Garbage sits in a trash bag after being picked up by Enidsa Natal, Dorian Principal, and Octavio Cruz in their neighborhood along South 29th Street on March 10, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Enidsa Natal dumps trash she and her neighbors collected along South 29th Street in her trash bin on March 10, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (From left) Enidsa Natal, Octavio Cruz, and Dorian Principal clean up trash in their neighborhood along South 29th Street on March 10, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Enidsa Natal picks up trash with her neighbors along South 29th Street on March 10, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A slip of paper sits on the ground as neighbors clean up trash in their neighborhood along South 29th Street on March 10, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Dorian Principal, Octavio Cruz, and Enidsa Natal clean up trash in their neighborhood along South 29th Street on March 10, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Octavio Cruz cleans up trash with his neighbors along South 29th Street on March 10, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. An abandoned glove sits on the ground as neighbors clean up trash in their neighborhood along South 29th Street on March 10, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A cup sits on the ground as neighbors clean up trash in their neighborhood along South 29th Street on March 10, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Enidsa Natal picks up trash with her neighbors along South 29th Street on March 10, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Enidsa Natal dumps trash she and her neighbors collected along South 29th Street in her garage trash bin on March 10, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. See neighbors in the south side pick up garbage in their community 1 of 16 Dorian Principal, Octavio Cruz , and Enidsa Natal clean up trash in their neighborhood along South 29th Street on March 10, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. When Enidsa Natal first moved to Milwaukee's Silver City neighborhood to care for her mother, she noticed garbage in the streets and debris clogging the storm drains in front of their home. "These gutters or the sewers get full, and the streets flood, and all this stuff comes in our basements," Natal said, referring to backup flooding. "It's just a ripple effect." Natal, a 64-year-old retired Air Force veteran, said the situation didn't just impact her home. Advertisement Advertisement She could look in any direction from her home at South 29th and West Scott streets and see neighbors with litter and nature's debris in their yards. Piles of leaves or stray branches would stay curbside for weeks, forgotten by the city, often trapped under parked cars. Finally, she took it upon herself to clean her neighborhood, starting with her front yard, then walking around her block to help others. She called the city whenever branches fell into her neighbors' yards or into the street, and she piled up the forgotten leaves for faster pickup, Natal said. As she walked by each home, Natal said she would pray for her neighbors and greet them when they crossed paths. Soon, she learned nearly all their names. Enidsa Natal picks up trash with her neighbors along South 29th Street on March 10, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Adam Carr, a neighbor who lives a few doors down, said Natal became a "one-woman neighborhood watch." Advertisement Advertisement Soon, other neighbors joined her efforts. "That's the nice thing about this neighborhood," Natal said. "Everybody makes a point to help everybody else." Dorian Principal, 61, and Octavio Cruz, 51, were also avid street cleaners before teaming up with Natal. When they first noticed Natal cleaning the streets, the three decided to join forces. Now, all three regularly walk through the Silver City neighborhood and on to West National Avenue with trash pickers, neon vests and buckets that read, "Keep your neighborhood clean." They take care of the neighborhood year-round. Advertisement Advertisement "We just kind of feel a responsibility to this area," Principal said. "We're very concerned not only because we're clean people, but because it brings down property values. I think uncleanliness sort of attracts other things ... That's one of the reasons why we are insistent upon cleanliness and security." Enidsa Natal picks up trash with her neighbors along South 29th Street on March 10, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Going on the weekly walks helps him stay healthy and builds strong relationships with his neighbors, Cruz said. In the fall and winter, the group gathers more neighbors to rake leaves or shovel snow, Principal said. When Department of Public Works employees come by to pick things up, neighbors welcome them and offer water. Advertisement Advertisement Principal also purchased trash pickers and distributed them to other families in the area so they could remove trash thrown into their yards and join in their future street cleans if they want to. "We think it's infectious. When people see you cleaning up it induces them to do the same," Principal said. "Every little bit helps; it doesn't have to be all in one day, just being consistent at it. As a result, we keep this side of 27th Street clean." Alyssa Salcedo covers Silver City, Layton Park and Burnham Park for the Journal Sentinels Neighborhood Dispatch . Contact: asalcedo@usatodayco.com. Advertisement Advertisement Neighborhood Dispatch reporting is supported by Zilber Family Foundation, Bader Philanthropies, Journal Foundation, Northwestern Mutual Foundation, Greater Milwaukee Foundation, and reader contributions to the Journal Sentinel Community-Funded Journalism Project . Journal Sentinel editors maintain full editorial control over all content. To support this work, visit jsonline.com/support . Checks can be addressed to Local Media Foundation (memo: JS Community Journalism) and mailed to P.O. Box 85015, Chicago, IL 60689. The JS Community-Funded Journalism Project is administered by Local Media Foundation, tax ID #364427750, a Section 501(c)(3) charitable trust affiliated with Local Media Association. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: From one Silver City yard, cleanup effort grows across neighborhood Oregonians will begin celebrating St. Patrick's Day early this year, as most events will happen the weekend prior to March 17. While Oregon may not dye its rivers green, Oregonians still find ways to celebrate the luck of the Irish on St. Patrick's Day. Most celebrations for 2026 will take place between March 13 and March 15, with festivities ranging from parades to bar crawls to family-friendly walkabouts. Here is what to know about St. Patrick's Day and how Oregon is celebrating. English cream golden retrievers Buddy, left, and Snoopy are dressed for St. Patrick's Day. When is St. Patrick's Day 2026? St. Patrick's Day 2026 is on Tuesday, March 17. Among Americans, the day stands as an informal drinking holiday and a reason to wear green, however in Ireland, the country's national holiday is a source of great pride. Who was Saint Patrick? Saint Patrick wasnt Irish he was actually born in Britain near the end of the fourth century and was taken prisoner by Irish raiders when he was 16. He spent six years in captivity in Ireland, according to the History Channel, where he eventually became a devout Christian. Advertisement Advertisement According to Patricks writing, he believed Gods voice spoke to him in a dream and told him to leave Ireland and he escaped. Later in another dream, he wrote an angel told him to return to Ireland as a missionary, and he became a priest after 15 years of study. While many believe St. Patrick was responsible for bringing Christianity to Ireland, the History Channel reports his mission was to minister to existing Irish Christians as well as convert non-Christians. He became a significant figure in Ireland in part because he chose to incorporate traditional Irish culture and ritual into his practice, like merging the sun (an existing Irish symbol) with the traditional cross to create the famed Celtic cross. Why do we celebrate St. Patricks Day? Ireland and neighbors across the pond have been commemorating Saint Patrick since the 9th or 10th century, according to the History Channel. Advertisement Advertisement St. Patrick was never canonized by the Catholic Church but has enjoyed longstanding historical popularity. Saint Patrick died on March 17, 461, which later became the day we celebrate him and the Irish. Americas first St. Patricks Day celebration was in 1600 in the Spanish colony of present-day St. Augustine, Florida. Spanish colonial records mentioned a celebration for Saint Patrick in 1600 and the first known St. Patricks Day parade was held on March 17, 1601. The tale of Saint Patrick likely traveled from Ireland to the Americas in the 16th century by way of Richard Arthur, a priest in St. Augustine and an Irish soldier, The Washington Post reported. Records of St. Patrick celebrations died with Arthur, but additional records show Irish soldiers in the English military marched in celebration of Saint Patrick in Boston in 1737 and New York City in 1762. Decades of growing Irish patriotism resulted in Irish Aid societies and annual parades of bagpipes and drums. They united to form one official New York City St. Patricks Day Parade in 1848, according to the History Channel. Advertisement Advertisement While rowdy celebrations occurred in the U.S., Irish laws mandated pubs be closed on St. Patrick's Day until the 1970s. In 1995 the Irish government began campaigning for bigger March 17 celebrations to drive tourism. Patrick's legacy continued in the U.S., particularly in areas with large groups of Irish immigrants. St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City is one of the most recognizable churches in the country and was "created to affirm the ascendance of religious freedom and tolerance," according to the Cathedral's site. How is Oregon celebrating St. Patrick's Day? Here are some St. Patrick's Day celebrations happening around Oregon in 2026: Salem St. Patricks Walk-About by The Ceili of the Valley The St. Patricks Walk-About by The Ceili of the Valley is an annual family-friendly walking parade that comes together at Salem Riverfront Park, near the Carousel. Advertisement Advertisement People are encouraged to dress up and begin gathering for the walkabout at around 11:30 p.m. The walk will then kick off at exactly noon. Lucky's St. Patrick's Day Bar Crawl Lucky's St. Patrick's Day Bar Crawl begins at 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 14 at The Dehn Bar in Salem, and invites people to gather friends for a night of fun and celebration. The event features at least five different venues and goes until midnight. The cost of a ticket begins at $24.05 per person. Portland Portland St. Paddy's Day Parade The 36th annual Portland St. Paddy's Day Parade begins at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 15. The family-friendly event invites people to come out, dress in green and celebrate the festive day by watching the parade. It begins at NE Hancock and NE 32ND Parade and marches west on NE Hancock to NE 17th. Paddy's Bar & Grill St. Patrick's Day Festival Paddy's Bar & Grill is hosting its annual St. Patrick's Day Festival from 11 a.m. - midnight on Tuesday, March 17. It features live music, bagpipes, Irish dances, food, drinks and more. There is a $25 door fee, and VIP tickets can be purchased online at Paddy's Bar & Grill website. Central Oregon Lucky's St. Patrick's Day Bar Crawl Bend's Lucky's St. Patrick's Day Bar Crawl begins at 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, and invites people to "bring your crew, wear your green and get ready for a day full of green drinks, shamrocks, and epic bar-hopping fun." Advertisement Advertisement The event begins at JC Bar and Grill in Bend and features more than six different venues, some drinks included, and an after-party that goes until midnight. Tickets begin at $24.05. Hydro Flask St. Patricks Day Dash Hydro Flask's 2026 St. Patricks Day Dash is a family-friendly walk/run that offers a day full of fitness, fun, live music, green beer and more. The dash runs from noon to 5 p.m. on March 14, along the Deschutes River in Bend. It offers a 10K, 5K and 1.5-mile course, as well as more competitive options. After the run, participants can also enjoy the Post-Dash Bash, where prizes will be given for best costume and best "wearin o the green!" Advertisement Advertisement Proceeds from the event go to the Mountain View NJROTC Cadet Corps, and the first 600 people to register for the 10K or 5K dash will receive a free Hydro Flask. Eastern Oregon The Heppner Chamber of Commerce is holding its 43rd annual Wee Bit O'Ireland Celebration March 13-15 in downtown Heppner. The three-day event includes a town parade, a 5k remembrance walk/run, races, games, food, live music and more. People can register to participate in races and games at the Heppner Chamber of Commerce office at 133 N Main St. Contributing: Clare Mulroy, USA Today Ginnie Sandoval is the Oregon Connect Reporter for the Statesman Journal. Sandoval can be reached at GSandoval@gannett.com or on X at @GinnieSandoval. This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon prepares to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with weekend events Women have long contributed to politics in the United States, even before they had the right to vote, and have made history along the way. From the judiciary to the executive branch, American women have risen through the ranks, despite facing countless obstacles, to play pivotal roles in the government. In 1981, Sandra Day OConnor was appointed as the first woman to serve in the U.S. Supreme Court, and nearly 40 years later, in 2020, Kamala Harris became the first female vice president. In another historic first, Susie Wiles became the first woman to serve as White House Chief of Staff as part of President Donald Trumps second administration in 2025. They are among the 11 women featured below who have defied the odds, broken historic barriers among women, and shaped the course of American politics. Jeannette Rankin Womens suffrage activist Jeannette Rankin became the first woman to serve in Congress in 1917. After successfully fighting to secure a womans right to vote in Washington and her home state of Montana, 36-year-old Rankin was elected to the House of Representatives as a Republican in 1916. Advertisement Advertisement Just days after being sworn in, the Montana representative voted against a measure authorizing the United States to get involved in World War I. During her tenure, she also helped create the Committee on Woman Suffrage, which introduced a constitutional amendment to give women the right to vote on a national level. (That effort failed, but women were enfranchised in 1920 with the passage of the 19th amendment.) Rankin lost her reelection bid in 1918 and spent the next two decades advocating for peace throughout the country and the world. She eventually returned to politics, again running for and winning a U.S. House seat in Montana in 1940. During her second term, Rankin maintained her anti-war position, casting the only vote against the United States involvement in World War II. Her no vote made her unpopular with her constituents, costing Rankin, who died in 1973, any chance of reelection. Read Her Biography Getty Images Shirley Chisholm Weeks before she turned 44, Shirley Chisholm made history in 1968 when she became the first Black woman elected to Congress. A former educator, Chisholm served seven terms in the House of Representatives, representing New Yorks 12th congressional district. The Democratic congresswoman championed civil rights, womens rights, and anti-poverty programs. Advertisement Advertisement In 1969, Chisholm reintroduced the Equal Rights Amendment, a proposed constitutional amendment prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex, and led the expansion of the food stamp program, now known as SNAP. She later created the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC) to provide assistance for women and their children in low-income households. Chisholm also co-founded both the Congressional Black Caucus and the National Womens Political Caucus in 1971. In another historic first, she became the first Black candidate to run for president on a major party ticket when she ran for the Democratic nomination in 1972. I am not the candidate of Black America, although I am Black and proud. I am not the candidate of the womens movement of this country, although I am a woman and I am equally proud of that, Chisholm said when she announced her candidacy. I am the candidate of the people, and my presence before you now symbolizes a new era in American political history. After she lost her bid, she continued her work as a congresswoman for more than a decade before retiring in 1983. Chisholm died in 2005. Read Her Biography Advertisement Advertisement Related: 10 Trailblazing Black Women in Congress Getty Images Sandra Day OConnor Another trailblazer, Sandra Day OConnor was the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. After serving in all three branches of state governmentfirst as Arizonas attorney general then as a state senator and later a circuit judgeOConnor ascended the ranks to the nations highest court at age 51. Appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1981, she served as an associate justice for more than two decades, playing a decisive role in many landmark cases. OConnor, considered a moderate conservative, tended to vote in line with the Republican platform but occasionally sided with the courts liberal members. She was often the deciding vote in 5-4 decisions and wrote nearly 700 opinions on the bench, around half of which were the majority opinion. Advertisement Advertisement In 1982, she authored the courts opinion in Mississippi University for Women v. Hogan, which ruled that a nursing schools single-sex admissions policy violated the Equal Protection Clause. Two years later, OConnors swing vote in Planned Parenthood v. Casey upheld the constitutional right to abortion established by Roe v. Wade, and in 2000, she broke the tie in the controversial Bush v. Gore case, settling the presidential election in favor of George W. Bush. After 24 years on the bench, she retired in 2006. OConnor died nearly two decades later in 2023. Read Her Biography Getty Images Elaine Chao Elaine Chao, now 72, became the first Asian American woman to serve in a presidential cabinet when President George W. Bush selected her as his Secretary of Labor in 2001. She was 47. Advertisement Advertisement A loyal Republican, Chao remained in her post for all eight years of Bushs presidency, making her the only cabinet member to do so. As Labor Secretary, she updated overtime regulations for millions of workers as well as regulations related to union disclosures of financial information. Chao returned to serve in another presidents cabinet in 2017 when she became Donald Trumps Transportation Secretary. During her tenure, she worked to limit regulations on transportation, including relaxing greenhouse gas emissions standards for cars. Chao resigned in 2021 the day after the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6. Read Her Biography Getty Images Condoleezza Rice Condoleezza Rice broke barriers in 2001 when the then-46-year-old was appointed President George W. Bushs national security advisor, becoming the first woman to hold the position. Having previously worked in international affairs and on the National Security Council, the Republican served as an influential advisor to Bush. She was a staunch proponent of the Global War on Terrorism and advocated for the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Advertisement Advertisement At the start of Bushs second term in 2005, Rice made history once again when she became the first Black woman to serve as Secretary of State. In that post, Rice dedicated her department to promoting peace and democracy in the Middle East and imposed sanctions against Iran over the countrys nuclear program. She also led negotiations aimed at persuading North Korea to end its nuclear tests, though this effort was unsuccessful. In 2009, Rices time as Secretary of State came to an end and she returned to Stanford, where she had previously broken ground as the universitys provost, as a political science professor. The 71-year-old remains on faculty today and is also a founding partner of a consulting firm. Read Her Biography Getty Images Tammy Duckworth U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, 57, is the first disabled woman elected to Congress. Duckworth lost both her legs fighting in the Iraq War then defied the odds in 2012 when she was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Illinois 8th District. With her victory, the Democrat became an example for fellow female veterans and disabled women. Advertisement Advertisement As a two-term congresswoman, Duckworth worked on a number of committees, including the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, where she made a name for herself during a 2013 hearing after questioning Strong Castle CEO Braulio Castillo for fraudulently representing himself as a disabled military veteran and receiving millions of dollars in federal contracts. Shame on you. You may not have broken any laws [but] you broke the trust of veterans, she said. Twisting your ankle in prep school is not defending or serving this nation. In 2016, Duckworth successfully ran for U.S. Senate, becoming the first disabled woman and second Asian American woman elected to the chamber. Two years later, she became the first senator to give birth while in office. During her first term, she advocated for the protection of the Americans with Disabilities Act and changed Senate rules to allow officials to bring their children under the age of 1 on the Senate floor. Following her re-election in 2022, Duckworth has introduced legislation to protect access to in vitro fertilization and helped pass a law aimed at improving flying safety. Read Her Biography Getty Images Hillary Clinton A former first lady and dedicated public servant, 78-year-old Hillary Clinton made history as the first woman to represent a major party in a presidential election. Even before that Clinton was leading a trailblazing career. She initially broke boundaries in 2001 when she became the only first lady to have won a U.S. Senate seat. Advertisement Advertisement Following an unsuccessful presidential bid and a term as Secretary of State for President Barack Obama, she ran for president again and secured the 2016 Democratic nomination, becoming the first woman to accomplish this task. In acknowledging her historic achievement, Clinton said, Tonights victory is not about one person. It belongs to generations of women and men who struggled and sacrificed and made this moment possible. Her run against Republican opponent Donald Trump was contentious and much closer than pollsters anticipated. In a surprise upset, Clinton lost the electoral vote and her second shot at the White House. Even in her loss, she set more history as the only woman to have won the popular vote for president. I know we have still not shattered that highest and hardest glass ceiling, but someday, someone will, and hopefully sooner than we might think right now, Clinton said in her concession speech. Read Her Biography Advertisement Advertisement Related: 51 Famous Women in History Who Have Changed the World Getty Images Kamala Harris Accomplishing a series of historic firsts in her career, 61-year-old Kamala Harris is the first woman to serve as U.S. vice president and the first Black woman and first Asian American woman to become a major partys presidential nominee. After acting as Californias first Black and female attorney general, Harris ran for U.S. Senate and won, becoming only the second Black woman and first South Asian American to enter the chamber. There, the Democrat made headlines as a member of the Senate Intelligence and Judiciary Committees for her prosecutorial style of questioning witnesses, including former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. After dropping out of the 2020 presidential race, she became Joe Bidens running mate and was elected vice president that November. She is the only woman, Black person, and Asian American to have served in the role. As Bidens second-in-command, Harris promoted legislation addressing immigration, voting rights, and abortion access and cast a record number of tie-breaking votes in the U.S. Senate. Biden and Harris ran for reelection in 2024, but he withdrew from the race less than four months before Election Day and endorsed Harris for president. Her short-yet-groundbreaking presidential campaign kicked off with a bang. In August, she announced Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate and accepted the Democratic nomination, a historic feat for Black and Asian American women. Ultimately, Harris lost the race to Donald Trump. Read Her Biography Getty Images Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the youngest woman to ever be elected to Congress. At just 29 years old, she made history in 2018 when she won her seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing New Yorks 14th congressional district. Known by her initials AOC, the now 36-year-old has become a leading voice in American politics. A progressive Democrat, Ocasio-Cortez got her start in politics through grassroots activism, volunteering to campaign for Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential run before running for office herself. Now in her fourth term, she has championed an array of left-leaning policies and ideas, co-sponsoring the Green New Deal to combat climate change, advocating or tenant protections, and introducing the Loan Shark Protection Act to crack down on predatory lending. Read Her Biography Chip Somodevilla - Getty Images Sarah McBride U.S. Representative Sarah McBride made history in 2024 when she became the first openly transgender woman elected to Congress. The 35-year-olds trailblazing didnt start there. McBride broke boundaries in 2020 as the first trans person to win a state senate seat. As a state senator in Delaware, the Democrat sponsored legislation promoting paid family leave, media literacy education, and expanded Medicaid funding. Four years later, McBride secured Delawares only seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Her historic victory has been met with a swell of support as well as backlash from some of her new colleagues. Still in her first term, she has championed consumer protections, small business support, paid family leave, and access to healthcare for low income and elderly Americans. Getty Images Susie Wiles In 2025, Susie Wiles became the first female White House chief of staff. The 68-year-old has had a lengthy career as a conservative political consultant, working on the presidential campaigns of Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and most recently, Donald Trump. In 2016, she ran Trumps campaign operations in Florida to much success and returned to the post in 2020. After he left the White House the following year, Wiles served as the CEO of Trumps political action committee, Save America, and in 2022, she became co-chair of his third presidential campaign. Having proved herself as a loyal asset, Wiles now oversees the presidents daily operations. Getty Images You Might Also Like The U.S. Department of Justice announced 13 people were sentenced after being convicted for their roles in a methamphetamine distribution ring. The catch? The ring was operated out of a federal prison in Atlanta and a state prison. Justice officials said 68-year-old Edward Kelvin Pope worked with fellow state inmates David Wilson and Kevin Josue Campos Rivera to distribute meth across north Georgia and the metro Atlanta area. Advertisement Advertisement Pope, Wilson and Campos Rivera were serving sentences at Central State Prison in Macon. The three state prisoners worked with federal inmate Jose Santos Isaola Cisneros, in custody at the Federal Correctional Institution in Atlanta, to bring their operation together. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] At the time, Pope, who is also known as Paw Paw was already serving a life sentence plus 70 years for several violent crime convictions, including armed robbery, kidnapping and more. From behind prison walls, these defendants egregiously continued to violate the law by coordinating the distribution of massive amounts of methamphetamine throughout north Georgia, U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg said in statement. The prison sentences imposed in this case without the possibility of parole follow a multiyear, closely coordinated partnership among federal, state, and local law enforcement to protect our communities from the spread of deadly drugs. Advertisement Advertisement During the investigation, justice officials said agents learned the drug trafficking organization repeatedly sent large amounts of meth around north Georgia. TRENDING STORIES: According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, the four inmates coordinated their drug ring by distributing illegal drugs to couriers and customers across the state via Marcelo Ibarra, a Cartersville resident. Advertisement Advertisement Ibarra would sell kilogram quantities of meth for Isaola Cisneros, the USDOJ said. Federal officials offered the following, brief, timeline of events related to the trafficking organizations activities and the operation to stop it: On April 30, 2021, Pope, Wilson, and Isaola supplied Ibarra with approximately two kilograms of methamphetamine that Ibarra distributed at a gas station in Cartersville, Georgia. On June 14, 2021, Wilson and Campos Rivera conspired with Luis Cisneros Ruiz to sell approximately one kilogram of methamphetamine that Cisneros Ruiz distributed in a restaurant parking lot in Stockbridge, Georgia. Two weeks later, agents searched Cisneros Ruizs residence in Stockbridge, Georgia, where they found an active methamphetamine conversion lab and seized more than 3,000 kilograms of methamphetamine. On August 11, 2021, Wilson and Campos Rivera conspired with Carlos Ruben Ramirez Romero to supply approximately one kilogram of methamphetamine to a drug customer who was actually an undercover DEA agent. Agents later searched Ramirezs apartment in Norcross, Georgia, and located approximately 13 kilograms of methamphetamine, $49,000 in bulk U.S. currency, and a rifle. Methamphetamine continues to fuel addiction, violence, and instability in our communities, Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administrations Atlanta Field Division, said. These defendants believed they could orchestrate a drug trafficking organization from inside a correctional facility, but the sentences show that law enforcement will pursue traffickers wherever they operate. DEA will continue working tirelessly to disrupt and dismantle networks responsible for distributing dangerous drugs. Advertisement Advertisement This is who USAO said was sentenced from the case: Jose Santos Isaola Cisneros, 35, of Hampton, Georgia, was sentenced to 25 years in prison to be followed by ten years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to engage in concealment money laundering. Ramon Rodriguez, Jr., 46, of Dalton, Georgia, was sentenced to 20 years in prison to be followed by twenty years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Carlos Ruben Ramirez Romero, 41, of Norcross, Georgia, was sentenced to 19 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and conspiracy to engage in concealment money laundering. David Wilson, 53, of Carrolton, Georgia, was sentenced to 18 years, and four months in prison to be followed by eight years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and conspiracy to engage in concealment money laundering. Kevin Josue Campos Rivera, 27, of Snellville, Georgia, was sentenced to 15 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to engage in concealment money laundering. Gustavo Omar Martinez, 37, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, was sentenced to 14 years in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Luis Cisneros Ruiz, 27, of Stockbridge, Georgia, was sentenced to 12 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Edward Kelvin Pope, 72, of Commerce, Georgia, was sentenced to serve ten years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Marcelo Ibarra, 33, of Dalton, Georgia, was sentenced to eight years six months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine and conspiracy to engage in concealment money laundering. Julio Estuardo Mijangos Chinchilla, 37, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to six years five months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Kelyn Roxana Ortiz Flores, 36, of Norcross, Georgia, was sentenced to four years and three months in prison, after pleading guilty to assault of a federal agent and conspiracy to engage in concealment money laundering. Max Donald Whitlock, 55, of Nicholson, Georgia, was sentenced to three years and five months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Oscar Valdez Samaniego, 45, of Rex, Georgia, was sentenced to three years and five months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. The Cartersville Police Department, the Henry County Sheriffs Office and the Georgia Department of Corrections, officials said. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] A wooden cross, candles and flowers lay just feet away from where Parlier police say 15-year-old Juliani Moreno was tragically hit and killed by a car Tuesday evening. "I had just had him in my hand and he was completely gone," explained Mercedes, who said she was Juliani's girlfriend. Mercedes didn't want her face shown, but says she was walking with him here on Mendocino and Parlier Avenues when the crash happened. Advertisement Advertisement "I was holding his hand. We were walking shoulder-to-shoulder here," she explained. "It all went by so quick. It was like an explosion and it hit my leg, and he was nowhere next to me." Parlier police say 35-year-old Tiffany Mercado was driving under the influence when she hit and killed Juliani. Moments after the crash, video from Francy's Bridal Flower shop shows the suspected vehicle racing through the front of the shop, about a block away from the deadly scene. Action News was there as Mercado appeared to wobble through a sobriety test. Her alleged victim only a freshman at Immanuel High School in Reedley. Advertisement Advertisement "He's the kind of kid that once you get to know, he just has a heart of gold. Very sweet, tender-hearted young man," Immanuel High School principal Phil Goertzen said about Juliani. The school district has pastors on campus for students and staff struggling with the loss. "When you have a friend, a young man who cares and wants to be part of a different place here at Immanuel, it's something that not just breaks your heart but makes you hurt, makes you hurt for the family and what's going on," Goertzen said. As family and friends mourn Juliani, Mercado is booked in the Fresno County jail, facing multiple charges, including gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. For news and weather updates, follow Tiffany Olin on Facebook, X and Instagram. MIDDLETOWN, Conn. (WTNH) Over 150,000 criminal records have been expunged due to the Clean Slate law in Connecticut, experts said on Wednesday. The law, created in 2021, clears certain old, low-level offenses from peoples criminal records, with the goal of helping them find employment, education and housing without the barrier of a criminal record. 2024: Advocates demand action after delayed implementation of Clean Slate Law Advertisement Advertisement The law affects thousands of people, provided theyve completed their sentences and have gone a specific number of years without committing any new offenses. A press conference to discuss the laws implementation happened just after 1 p.m. at the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) headquarters in Middletown. Leaders at Wednesdays press conference said over 150,000 criminal records have been expunged. As you know, there are real people behind those 150,000 records, CONECT Criminal Legal Reform team member Rodney Moore said. Im talking parents, neighbors and just people who are just trying to move forward. Advertisement Advertisement DESPP Commissioner Ronnell Higgins said Connecticuts Clean State Law has become a national model, but there is still work to do. Success is never final, he said. Some have pushed back against the law over the years, with concerns of minimizing certain offenses. I point out that there are crimes that include gun offenses, sexual assault, things like that, Sen. Rob Sampson said. Year after year, Ive tried to modify that clean slate legislation to take those things out of the equation. Their remaining challenge is how to notify people that they no longer have a criminal record. Experts anticipate the notification system will become operational later this year. Advertisement Advertisement This technical achievement, perhaps one of the most difficult IT projects in the history of the state of Connecticut, isnt something that we should just stop and hope that people find out about. Higgins said. The implementation of the law started on rocky footing. Partial technical issues left 66,000 people still waiting for their names to clear at one point, even years after the law was passed and amid promises that 80,000 would be cleared. State leaders now hope to implement a notification system within the coming year for those looking to erase their record. News 8 livestreamed the press conference on Wednesday afternoon. You can watch the full conference in the player above. Download the News 8 app to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch News 8 on WTNH.com or the free WTNH News 8 streaming app on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and select Samsung Smart TVs. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) The United States Department of Education has agreed to restore $2.5 million in education funds to North Carolina amid a lawsuit over the termination of federal money for public schools that mostly serve rural and low-income areas, the North Carolina Attorney Generals Office said Wednesday. In December, the Department of Education terminated $49.8 million awarded in 2023 to the North Carolina Community Schools, prompting legal action from North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson, according to his office. While the lawsuit remains ongoing, according to the attorney generals office, the Department of Education will allow schools to continue using $2.5 million in federal funding through the end of the 2025-26 year, June 30. Advertisement Advertisement This is a good outcome for our students, but not the final step in our fight, Jackson said in a statement. Schools and students will continue to get much-needed funding they were promised for the time being while we continue this case. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: NC sues Department of Education over nearly $50M in school funding cuts, AG says According to the attorney generals office, the $49.8 million was awarded through the Full-Service Community Schools Program, which supports schools in areas that have high poverty, poor health outcomes, and lower educational attainment. The North Carolina Community Schools, which includes the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, intended to use the funding towards 55 schools in 18 districts over a five-year period. Counties impacted by Hurricane Helene are among the recipients of the funding, according to the attorney generals office. Advertisement Advertisement In the lawsuit against the Department of Education, the attorney generals office alleges the funding was illegally terminated because the department did not cite misuse or performance reasons for canceling it. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS17.com. Two California cities rank among the worst cities for drunk driving in the nation. Thats according to recent studies by online loan marketplace LendingTree and a Florida law firm. Driving under the influence ... is a major public safety concern throughout the country, LendingTree contributor Michelle Lambright Black wrote in a July article. Yet depending on where you live, the risk of encountering a drunken driver could be higher or lower. Advertisement Advertisement LendingTree went in search of the worst cities for drunk driving in the United States, based on DUI rates, insurance premiums and more. Meanwhile, The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine narrowed the 10 most dangerous cities for drunk driving, looking at the percentage of fatal crashes involving alcohol-impaired drivers. Heres which California cities landed on both lists: Why is Fresno one of the worst cities for drunk drivers? Fresno ranked second in the nation in terms of fatal crashes involving drunk drivers, according to the study by The Law Firms of Anidjar & Levine. About 34.5% of fatal crashes in the Central Valley city between 2019 and 2023 involved at least one driver with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher, the study found. Advertisement Advertisement Fresno saw an average of 21 DUI-related fatalities each year, according to The Law Firms of Anidjar & Levine. According to LendingTree, Fresno reported 3.31 DUIs per 1,000 drivers in 2024, making it the fifth-worst city for drunk driving in 2025. Fresno jumped up a place from the previous year, when it was No. 6 on LendingTrees list of the worst U.S. cities for DUIs. What makes Sacramento a top city for DUI deaths? Sacramento ranked sixth in the nation, according to the study by The Law Firms of Anidjar & Levine. Nearly 28% of fatal crashes in Californias capital city between 2019 and 2023 involved at least one driver with a blood alcohol level above the legal limit, the study found. Advertisement Advertisement Sacramento had 16 DUI-related fatalities a year on average, the law firm said. According to LendingTrees study, Sacramento had 3.55 DUIs per 1,000 drivers in 2024, making it the third-worst city for drunk driving in 2025. The city previously placed second on LendingTrees list. What were 10 most dangerous cities for drunk driving? According to The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine, these were the 10 most dangerous U.S. cities for DUI-related fatal crashes: 1. Colorado Springs, Colorado 2. Fresno 3. Arlington, Virginia 4. Las Vegas 5. Oakland 6. Sacramento 7. Dallas 8. Denver 9. Jacksonville, Florida 10. Houston To determine its rankings, the Florida personal injury law firm said it analyzed National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data for drunk driving-related fatalities from 2019 to 2023 across the 50 most populous cities. Why are DUI rates so high in California cities? California drivers in several cities have particularly high DUI rates, LendingTree said in its 2025 study. Among the 10 largest U.S. cities with the highest DUI rates, six are in California. Advertisement Advertisement San Jose came in second place on LendingTrees list of the major U.S. cities with the highest DUI rates, while Long Beach was No. 7, Bakersfield was No. 8 and Oakland was No. 9. Rob Bhatt, LendingTree auto insurance expert and licensed insurance agent, identified Californias climate and tough DUI laws as major contributing factors. Warm weather entices people to gather, often with alcohol, Bhatt said in the study. A lack of transit may lead many to drive when they should use alternative transportation. Stricter enforcement of DUI laws can certainly also be a factor in high DUI rates, too. Where do insurance costs increase most after DUIs? LendingTree also looked at DUI rates by age group and vehicle make, as well as the U.S. cities where auto insurance premiums rose the most after DUI convictions. Advertisement Advertisement Seven of the 10 cities where drivers saw the largest increases in insurance costs after DUIs were in California, the LendingTree study found. Los Angeles was the highest ranking city on that list, coming in fourth place. The high rates for DUI offenders suggest that impaired drivers cause particularly costly injuries and damage in California, Bhatt said. Insurance companies recoup their costs by charging high rates to the drivers that create the greatest expenses for them. However, there were no California locations on LendingTrees list of the U.S. cities with the highest percentages of fatal crashes involving drunken drivers. What are top 10 worst cities for drunk driving? These were the worst 10 cities for drunk driving in 2025, according to LendingTree: Advertisement Advertisement 1. Omaha, Nebraska 2. San Jose 3. Sacramento 4. Virginia Beach, Virginia 5. Fresno 6. Minneapolis 7. Long Beach 8. Bakersfield 9. Oakland 10. New York City LendingTree said its researchers analyzed tens of millions of QuoteWizard by LendingTree insurance quotes from 2024 and calculated the number of DUIs per 1,000 drivers in the 50 largest U.S. cities by population. The site used insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services, which were publicly sourced from insurer filings. LendingTree researchers also analyzed 2023 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations Fatality Analysis Reporting System the same data used in the Anidjar & Levine study. Amid increased gas prices, an erratic stock market and a war in Iran, President Donald Trump is coming to Greater Cincinnati today. The visit comes just after two local representatives voted in favor of a war powers resolution to stop Trump's military action in Iran without congressional approval. Greater Cincinnati Republican Reps. Warren Davidson and Thomas Massie voted against party lines to rebuke the president's unilateral action in Iran. The Cincinnati region has seen the highest gas prices spike in the country since the war in Iran began, according to data from GasBuddy. Advertisement Advertisement White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked why Trump is visiting Ohio and Kentucky on March 10. Why not? These are two great states with great Americans, she said. The president will be joined by lawmakers from both states who he greatly admires and respects and supports. Hell be meeting with business owners in both of these places and talking about the economy, which of course is the utmost importance to him. What do Cincinnati political leaders think? Hamilton County Democratic Party Chair Alex Linser said the visit is "another distraction" from the president. "His entire campaign for president was about addressing affordability and here we are a year into it, and gas prices are higher here than just about anywhere in the country. Consumer prices have gone up. Jobs reports have been underwhelming at best, and so I think Cincinnatians know that when Trump comes with these big promises, he's really delivering the opposite," he said. Advertisement Advertisement The Enquirer reached out to Hamilton County Republican Party Chair Russell Mock and Ohio Republican Party Chair Alex Triantafilou but did not receive a response. USA TODAY White House correspondent Bart Jansen contributed. Regional politics reporter Erin Glynn can be reached at eglynn@enquirer.com, @ee_glynn on X and @eringlynn on Bluesky. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Why is Trump visiting Cincinnati? Two Boston men are facing charges after investigators seized guns, drugs, and cash at a Boston home and car during an investigation, police said Wednesday. Tony Boston, 33, is charged with possession of a firearm without an FID card, possession of ammunition without an FID card, possession of a large capacity firearm, trafficking of cocaine 36 grams of more, less than 100 grams; possession with intent to distribute class D, receiving stolen property and unregistered motor vehicle, police said. David Walker, 37, is charged with possession of a firearm without an FID card and possession of ammunition without an FID card. Both men are expected to be arraigned in Roxbury District Court. Advertisement Advertisement They were arrested on Tuesday after Boston officers assigned to Drug Control Units in Mattapan and Dorchester conducted a joint drug investigation, police said. Police obtained three search warrants for a vehicle and a home at 60 West Walnut Park, Roxbury, and recovered the following items: 47 grams of crack cocaine CZ-P07 firearm with twenty rounds in the magazine An empty extended firearm magazine 32 foil bags of marijuana Digital scales Drug paraphernalia Three empty firearm magazines Multiple loose rounds of ammunition Smith & Wesson M&P Shield with five rounds in the magazine Firearm magazine containing seven rounds Two cell phones $4,280 in U.S. currency This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW The man who steered Goldman Sachs through the last financial crisis thinks the next one may already be taking shape and this time, your 401(k) could be caught in the crossfire. Lloyd Blankfein, who ran Goldman Sachs from 2006 to 2018, sounded the alarm on the $1.8 trillion U.S. private credit market on a Bloomberg News podcast last week (1). These are direct loans outside public markets made by non-bank lenders like asset managers, private equity firms and debt funds to companies that can't or won't borrow from traditional banks. Must Read The sector exploded after 2008, when tighter bank regulations created a lending vacuum. Fast forward nearly 18 years later and it's become one of Wall Street's favorite products. Blankfein, however, says the signs of excess are hard to ignore. "It sort of smells like that kind of a moment again," he told Bloomberg, referring to the run-up to the 2008 crisis. "I don't feel the storm, but the horses are starting to whinny in the corral." In a separate interview, Blankfein sharpened the warning, stating we're "due for a kind of a reckoning." "Everyone says, 'Oh, the world's not leveraged.' That's exactly what everybody said in the mortgage crisis, until you suddenly discover that there was a lot of mortgage risk in Iceland." Why it's different and worse this time Private credit has long been the domain of sophisticated institutional investors think pension funds, endowments and sovereign wealth funds. They understood the risks: these loans are hard to value, rarely marked to market and often nearly impossible to sell in a downturn. Losses don't materialize overnight the way they did with Lehman Brothers, an American financial services firm that fell victim to the 2008 financial crisis and filed for bankruptcy that year (2). Instead, losses gradually surface and erode returns, hitting pension funds, insurers and retirement accounts slowly, over months or years. The problem now is who's holding the bag. In fact, Blankfein specifically called out Wall Street firms for pushing private credit toward everyday investors at exactly the wrong moment. Two Springfield elementary schools will welcome new principals in the upcoming school year. Springfield Public Schools named the two new principals on Monday, March 9. Sydney Dean, current assistant principal at Bowerman Elementary School, will be Twain Elementary School's next principal and Anne Longwell was named the new principal at Fremont Elementary School. Longwell currently works as assistant principal at Delaware and Mann elementary schools. Dean began her career with SPS in 2018, according to an SPS news release, as an English and theater teacher at Kickapoo High School. She has also served as an administrator with the Explore summer learning program, including as Artworks coordinator for the past four years. Springfield Public Schools announced Sydney Dean will serve as the next principal at Twain Elementary School in the 2026-27 school year. "Together, we will nurture a culture of continuous growth, working side by side to create meaningful learning experiences and ensure every child who walks through our doors feels a true sense of belonging and is surrounded by the opportunities and support they need to grow into their very best selves and achieve great things," Dean said in the release on joining Twain Elementary. Advertisement Advertisement Before SPS, Dean worked at Mexico Public Schools and Laclede County R-I Schools. She holds a bachelor's and master's degrees in English education from Missouri State University as well as a specialist degree in educational leadership from University of Missouri. Dean is currently pursuing her doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Arkansas. Springfield Public Schools announced Anne Longwell will serve as the next principal at Fremont Elementary School in the 2026-27 school year. Longwell has worked at SPS since 2015, beginning as a kindergarten teacher. She has also served as a teacher at Gray Elementary School and as a school community liaison at Pittman Elementary School. "I am inspired by the dedication and passion of the staff and look forward to working alongside such a talented team, Longwell said in the release. Most importantly, I am excited to support our Fremont students, and ensure they feel valued, challenged, and inspired to learn each day." More: Hillcrest assistant principal selected as new principal for Parkview Advertisement Advertisement Longwell holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education and a master's degree in educational administration from Missouri State University. She also has a master's degree in education from Drury University. Pending approval by the Springfield School Board, these leadership appointments will take effect July 1. This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Springfield Public Schools announces new principals at Twain, Fremont The 23rd Judicial District Attorney's Office, which includes the parishes of Ascension, Assumption and St. James, reported guilty pleas during the week of March 2-6. The information has been obtained through the office of 23rd Judicial District Attorney Ricky Babin. Ascension Parish: Eugene Helg, St. Amant, LA, age 45, pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance and was sentenced to 3 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. Reece Breaux, Baton Rouge, LA, age 34, pled guilty to Introducing Contraband into or Upon the Grounds of any State Correctional Institution and was sentenced to 5 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. Travis Givens, Saint Francisville, LA, age 34, pled guilty to Illegal Carrying of Weapons 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. Edward Shaffett, Baton Rouge, LA, age 33, pled guilty to Attempted Distribution, Manufacture, or Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule III Controlled Dangerous Substance and Introducing Contraband into or Upon the Grounds of any State Correctional Institution. The defendant was sentenced to 6 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. Advertisement Advertisement The above cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Charles Chuck Long, Robin OBannon, and Kenneth Dupaty. Presiding over these matters was the Honorable Judge John Smith. Assumption Parish: Rodney Keller JR., 315 Philosopher St. Napoleonville, LA, age 40, pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance and Aggravated Flight from an Officer. The defendant was sentenced to 6 years 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 Steven Tureau. Advertisement Advertisement St. James Parish: On December 2, 2025, Kenneth Adams of 214 S Airline Gramercy, LA, age 68, 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. On March 3, 2026, the defendant was sentenced to 2 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. Allen Henderson, 2823 Rachel Ave. Baton Rouge, LA, age 32, pled guilty to Simple Burglary of an Inhabited Dwelling and was sentenced to 8 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. Bryan Preston, 251 Killona Dr. Killona, LA, age 41, pled guilty to Attempted Disarming of a Peace Officer and Resisting a Police Officer with Force or Violence. The defendant was sentenced to 2 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. Jaden Jupiter, 400 Franklin St. Napoleonville, LA, age 24, pled guilty to Non-Consensual Disclosure of a Private Image 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. Jahmar Gant, Lutcher, LA, age 21, 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. The above cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Adam Koenig, and presiding over these matters was the Honorable Judge Cody Martin. This article originally appeared on Gonzales Weekly Citizen: Court report for Ascension, Assumption and St. James parishes Three brothers have been arrested in connection with the explosion at the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, Norway, authorities said Wednesday. The brothers were Norwegian citizens of Iraqi origin, police prosecutor Christian Hatlo said in a news conference. They have been arrested around 3:30 p.m. local time Wednesday on suspicion of a "terrorist bombing" at the building. The men are in their 20s and were not previously known to police, Hatlo said. Investigators are still working to determine a motive, Hatlo said. "We are still working from several hypotheses. One of them is whether this is an order from a government entity," Hatlo said. "This is quite natural given the target the U.S. embassy and the security situation the world is in today," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Hatlo said investigators are still working to determine what role the brothers played in the bombing, which caused minor damage to the building but did not result in any casualties or injuries. Hatlo said that police believe one man placed the bomb outside the embassy and the other two were "complicit in the act." Hatlo said police are not ruling out links to "criminal networks." The explosion occurred at one of the entrances to the U.S. Embassy around 1 a.m. local time, Oslo police previously said. Police incident commander Michael Dellemyr told public broadcaster NRK that the blast hit the entrance of the embassy's consular section. Police reinforced security measures in Oslo and increased their presence around the embassy after the blast. Police also upped security measures to protect the Iranian diaspora and Jewish communities in Norway. Officials said that there were no indications of a lingering threat after the explosion. Frode Larsen, head of the Oslo police investigation unit, told reporters at a news conference that it may have been a deliberate attack linked to the crisis in the Middle East, Reuters reported. He later told NRK that terrorism was one of several motives authorities were investigating. Advertisement Advertisement In its annual threat assessment, the Norwegian security service PST said last month that Iran could rely on "proxy actors," including "criminal networks," to commit such acts. Rep. Rick Crawford, chair of the House Intel Committee, told Fox News on Sunday that he believed the explosion "may have been a terrorist attack." U.S. embassies around the world have been placed on high alert since the war in Iran began. Several have faced attacks as Tehran hits back at industrial and diplomatic targets. "We need to be very diligent about not only our security here at home, but obviously targets around (the) world where there are U.S. assets including embassies and so on," Crawford said. CBS News exclusive: LA is "ground zero" for hospice fraud Family of teacher killed during prank asks for charges to be dropped against teens How Venezuela is changing 2 months after Maduro's capture Four people from Illinois accused of vandalizing the cliffs at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on Lake Superior in Michigan were fined and banned from entering the park for a year, the U.S. Department of Justice said Wednesday. The punishment comes after park rangers on patrol came upon several vessels along the cliffs of the Pictured Rocks lakeshore, where the visitors had been carving large letters into the cliff faces and collecting over 100 pounds of rocks with the intention of taking them home, according to the announcement by Timothy VerHey, the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Michigan. The rangers cited the Illinois visitors for defacing and collecting park resources, and in December, they were ordered to appear in U.S. District Court in Marquette to answer for the violations. Advertisement Advertisement Each was ordered to pay a $500 fine and was banned from Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore for a year. One of the four individuals was ordered to pay an additional $250 fine for taking the rocks, according to VerHey's office. Pictured Rocks is one of Michigans iconic natural wonders. There is no other place like it, and we will not get another one. Everyone is welcome to see and enjoy this beautiful place, but no one is allowed to inflict damage on it," VerHey said in a statement. "Anyone who does will be punished: these four people were lucky to get off with a fine and banishment because the judge could have given each of them six months in jail. I applaud the Park Rangers for putting a stop to this vandalism. Pictured Rocks vandals go unnamed State Rep. Phil Skaggs, D-East Grand Rapids, said on social media that the vandals deserved at least a $10,000 fine and permanent ban from all national parks for defacing the Pictured Rocks cliffs and trying to steal rocks. Advertisement Advertisement "The Trump administration continues to fail to protect our @NatlParkService," Skaggs wrote. The U.S. attorney's office didn't name the defendants in the misdemeanor vandalism case because they aren't part of the public record. A spokeswoman for the office, Jamie Calouette, said individuals who commit certain offenses within the National Parks are required to come to court to address their citations, but if they agree to pay the fine, there is no public record of their violation. She compared it to someone who had received a speeding ticket and paid the fine, without a lasting public record. Pictured Rocks Chief Ranger Joseph Hughes said the case is an example of how park rangers use marine patrols to investigate criminal violations and protect natural resources. Advertisement Advertisement "I would like to remind all park visitors that as we spend time outdoors, its important to be conscious of our actions. It takes all of us to protect this wonderful place," Hughes said. mburke@detroitnews.com Want to comment on this story? Become a subscriber today. Click here. This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Michigan's Pictured Rocks damaged by vandalism: Illinois residents held accountable Police say they have arrested the husband of the victim whose remains were discovered last week in the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in Broad Channel. New York City police said Wednesday that 75-year-old Rupchand Simboo killed his wife, and then reported her missing last July. The victim, 34-year-old Salisha Ali, was last seen alive by a relative during a Facetime call on July 13. The same day, Simboo filed a missing persons report. Detectives now believe he did that to cover his tracks after killing her. Advertisement Advertisement The two met in 2023 when she lived in Trinidad. She moved back to Queens in 2024 to live with him and they married that same year. Police sources told Eyewitness News, the 75-year-old was the 34-year-old's immigration sponsor. After her torso was discovered in Queens last September, family members in Trinidad feared the worst. The discovery of her head in another part of Queens last Thursday confirmed their worst fears. Simboo was arrested Wednesday on charges of murder, obstructing governmental administration and tampering with physical evidence. Relatives of Simboo showed up to the house Wednesday night. They did not want to offer any comment, but one of them did say they have just as many questions as we do. Advertisement Advertisement For months, neighbors have been haunted by what happened to Ali. Eyewitness News asked neighbors if they noticed anything alarming about the couple's relationship. "They would sit outside on the porch in the summertime. Sometimes we'd see them having a beer and just hanging out playing music, but other than that, they seemed normal to me," one neighbor said. Hasiena Dwarika had no idea she was living across the street from an accused killer, but she started to wonder. "When we gathered a little bit of info on what happened, we were like, 'OK this guy is scary,' but then for a while everything went silent and we saw him living his life as normal so we just thought maybe he wasn't found guilty," Dwarika said. Advertisement Advertisement Dwarika said she now feels somewhat relieved. "Oh well yes, that he's not just - I have a young daughter and trying to raise a family and don't want to live across from someone as dangerous as him," she said. ---------- * More Queens 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. Last year, the General Assembly tried to restrain STRIDE, the program that encourages utilities to upgrade aging natural gas pipelines. This year, advocates are pushing for the program to be repealed altogether. House Bill 1253, the Break STRIDE Act, would repeal a 2013 law that encouraged utilities to update aging and unsafe natural gas infrastructure by letting them recover the costs of their projects in advance rather than after the fact. Advertisement Advertisement But consumer advocates argue that STRIDE, which stands for Strategic Infrastructure Development and Enhancement, has incentivized utilities to spend excessively on infrastructure on the customers dime. In 2010, for instance, Baltimore Gas & Electric charged 26 cents per therm for gas delivery; as of February 2026, that figure had almost quadrupled, to 97 cents per therm, according to data from the Maryland Office of Peoples Counsel. What were seeing across the state is a tremendous money grab by our corporate utilities, said bill sponsor Del. Dylan Behler (D-Anne Arundel), during a news conference Tuesday. During a hearing on the bill Tuesday before the House Environment and Transportation Committee, however, officials from BGE and from Washington Gas defended the program, arguing that it has led to proactive replacement of outdated infrastructure such as corroding cast-iron pipes that might have otherwise gone undone. Being proactive and targeting that specific type of material to do the replacement it is more cost-effective than relying on chasing the leak and being reactive, said Brittany Jones, vice president of governmental and external affairs at BGE. Advertisement Advertisement She said that proactive replacement adds an average of $10 a month to a customers bill, while making repairs after leaks occur could end up costing customers $20 per month. Del. Marc Korman (D-Montgomery), chair of the House Environment and Transportation Committee, took issue with that line of reasoning during the hearing. Prior to 2013, youre telling me that the BGE did no proactive work whatsoever? Korman said. Thats not what I think were saying here, said John Frain, vice president of strategy and regulatory affairs at BGE. Well, that is what I and many members of the committee are hearing, Korman said. So, lets try again. Advertisement Advertisement Frain then said that BGE would still complete proactive gas pipe replacements but on a more limited scale. Gas companies could still choose to complete proactive infrastructure repairs, said Emily Scarr, a senior adviser for Maryland PIRG, even without preapproval from the Maryland Public Service Commission. They would build the projects first and then ask the commission for approval to recover the costs through rates. Theres a natural disincentive to spend wastefully if you dont know youre going to get that money back until you show the receipts later, Scarr said. But with forecasting, it sort of exacerbates this incentive to overspend. Officials from Washington Gas argued that the program has been a success, reducing gas leaks 41% since 2019, said Kevin Murphy, vice president of asset management, engineering and supply at the gas company. Advertisement Advertisement This level of progress simply would not have been possible without the support of the STRIDE legislation, Murphy said. STRIDE was updated last year by the Next Generation Energy Act, which required utilities to show that they analyzed the cost effectiveness of gas line replacements, among other updates. But David Lapp, the Maryland Pe0ples Counsel, argues that last years bill didnt do enough to meaningfully slow down utility spending on gas. He believes the legislature should halt forecasted ratemaking altogether. We can try and nibble at the edges of things to reduce rates, or to provide customer relief, Lapp said in an interview. But were really just putting a Band-Aid on a scratch, while were still hemorrhaging. In filings before the Public Service Commission, utilities such as Washington Gas and BGE, have pointed out what they perceive as loopholes in the Next Generation bill. Advertisement Advertisement BGE argued that it is not currently operating under a STRIDE plan, but rather baking its future gas infrastructure spending into its multiyear rate cases, so the changes made by the General Assembly have no impact. Washington Gas argued that the law change couldnt be applied to its 2026 project list, because their STRIDE plan was already approved by the PSC before the law took effect. Behlers bill would also require tha gas utilities notify customers two years in advance of gas line replacement work, a provision that drew some industry concern on Tuesday. The idea is that, by giving homeowners ample notice of pipeline replacement, customers might consider electrifying equipment in their homes. If enough homeowners decided to electrify, some of the workload could be reduced. Advertisement Advertisement But in practice, the two-year notice would be completely unworkable, said Brian Quinn, a lobbyist for Chesapeake Utilities, which provides gas service on the Eastern Shore. Suppose a hospital, nursing home or a residential customer with critical medical equipment at home wants to install a backup gas generator. Under this bill, that hospital or customer would have to wait two years, Quinn said. Often, gas companies do not know two years in advance that they plan to replace a particular pipeline, Quinn added. The PSC, which regulates utilities, recently determined that 180 days worth of notice to customers was appropriate for gas line replacements, said Benjamin Baker, a senior commission adviser. We decided that 180 days was an appropriate amount of time to balance between giving customers an opportunity to consider if they would like to transition, and do electrification instead of continuing to use the gas system, without unduly burdening the utilities, Baker said. But obviously, well work with whatever policies that you give us. Advocates for people with disabilities are raising concerns that potential cuts tied to shifting federal funding could threaten critical services for adults with disabilities in Massachusetts. They say many adults rely on state-supported programs and the workers who run them to live independently and remain connected to their communities. For the disability community, this is bad news, said Daniel ODonnell, a Boston advocate who is on the autism spectrum. These programs are essential. Advertisement Advertisement The 26-year-old credits programs he has participated in since childhood with helping shape who he is today. You can feel the happiness that people feel when they get there and you just leave feeling so good afterwards, ODonnell said. Now an advocate himself, ODonnell is among those sounding the alarm about potential cuts to services for adults with disabilities over the age of 22 in Massachusetts. Maura Sullivan, CEO of The Arc of Massachusetts, , said the state budget constraints triggered in part by federal Medicaid cuts is creating anxiety among families and service providers. So, when we see that kind of growing need with a tightening budget, and then the federal impacts that are coming down, now and in the future, it makes our community very nervous, Sullivan said. Advertisement Advertisement Medicaid reductions approved by Congress connected to the Presidents The One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act could eventually cost Massachusetts about $3.5 billion in federal funding annually. According to The Arc, some of the most significant proposed cuts could affect Adult Foster Care, Personal Care Attendants and Adult Day Health programs. Advocates say the programs are already stretched thin. Roughly 1,800 Massachusetts adults are currently on waiting lists for day program slots, according to The Arc. Theyre sitting at home. Theyre regressing, losing skills. Theyre isolated, Sullivan said. And family members, parents cant work, because they have no place to bring these individuals. Advertisement Advertisement Sullivan said there are 450 high priority individuals who are waiting for a group home placement here in Massachusetts. Advocates brought those concerns directly to lawmakers this week at the State House, urging policymakers to protect services they say are essential for thousands of residents. Daniels father, Dan ODonnell, said programs that support adults with disabilities benefit entire families. They just want to be a part of what everybody else does and what everybody does on a regular basis, he said. Daniel ODonnell said without the programs he relies on his life would look very different. Advertisement Advertisement If I werent doing all this, Ill probably be in my recliner or on the couch and just see family, he said. Though his specific programs are not subject to cuts, he doesnt want to see anyone missing out on the chance to live their best life. Advocates say work groups of stakeholders have had a seat at the table and are helping to make impossible decisions-cutting measures in several areas. Work on Personal Care Attendant (PCA) services already identified $32 million in cost-cutting measures and will now be tasked with finding an additional $68 million in savings or recommending legislative changes. Similar work groups will look for $15 million in cuts to Adult Day Health programs and $35 million in Adult Foster Care services. Advertisement Advertisement We asked the Governors office about the proposed budget cuts. They replied with a written statement from a spokesperson with MassHealth. The Trump Administrations massive cuts to Medicaid, at a time when health care costs are skyrocketing across the country, have put Massachusetts in a very difficult fiscal position. MassHealths adult foster care, personal care attendant, and adult day health program costs are growing substantially. We must find a way to control costs to make sure these critical programs continue to serve our most vulnerable residents for many years to come. We will continue to engage with patients, providers, and the Legislature on needed changes that will ensure the sustainability of these programs. -MassHealth spokesperson Sullivan said while reductions may be unavoidable given the economic climate, they dont want to erase gains made in recent years erased. Governor Healy gave us a very impactful allocation for the workforce a couple years ago, and that brought workers (PCA) up from about $16 an hour to about $20 an hour. But even at $20 an hour in Massachusetts, living is difficult, Sullivan said. 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 Georgia farmers and growers are set to receive more than $530 million in federal block grants to assist with recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene. The funding arrives nearly 18 months after the storm caused billions of dollars in agricultural damage across the state. Hurricane Helene caused an estimated $5.5 billion in damage to Georgias timber and crop industries when it made landfall in September 2024, and is considered one of the costliest storms in state history. Advertisement Advertisement Although Congress authorized the block grant funding in December 2024, the distribution was delayed as federal officials finalized agreements with individual states. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the arrival of the funds on Tuesday alongside state leaders at the Georgia State Capitol. While the federal and state governments provided some immediate relief following the storm, local growers waited nearly 18 months for the significant block grant funding. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Rollins apologized for the delay, saying that while some federal aid moved quickly, the specific block grant process is inherently slower. Advertisement Advertisement We were able to move most of that out within about three to six months, which was the quickest it had ever moved, Rollins said. The block grants are more complicated because you have to work state by state. Georgia was among the last states to receive its portion of the funding, which totals $561 million according to federal figures. The delay drew criticism from Sen. Jon Ossoffs office. In January, the Democratic senator sent a letter to Rollins demanding swifter action on behalf of Georgia growers. Ossoff pointed out that Congress had approved the grant funding before President Trump took office. Advertisement Advertisement You have already finalized block grant agreements with Florida, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina but not Georgia, Ossoff wrote in the letter. The senators office noted that other neighboring states impacted by the same storm cycle had secured their agreements earlier. Gov. Brian Kemp highlighted the ongoing difficulties faced by the agricultural community during the funding rollout. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Georgia farmers, as has been mentioned a lot today, have certainly faced challenging times in recent years from one of the most destructive storms in state history to economic headwinds in state economy to economic headwinds that quite honestly are outside of their control, Kemp said. Advertisement Advertisement The governor emphasized that the arrival of the relief funds is a necessary step for the recovery of the states agricultural industry. Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper confirmed that the state is ready to process the relief funds. Secretary Rollins, to you and your team, we are excited that we are rolling out and opening applications next Monday for our block grant program of more than $530 million, Harper said. Farmers and growers will be required to apply for the money once the application window officially opens. A recent report from Consumer Reports found that some retailers experimented with artificial intelligence that could change prices for the same item depending on factors like demand or consumer data. Dynamic pricing has been used before on airline and concert tickets, but it has not hit groceries until just recently, according to Derek Kravitz, the deputy editor of special projects for Consumer Reports. The same bushel of bananas or twelve pack of eggs or Cheerios that you buy at the same exact time at the same exact store, you know, Safeway store in Seattle, for example. Your price might differ from another person shopping for that same exact item, Kravitz said. Advertisement Advertisement Consumer Reports found that when they checked with grocery retailers and industry consultants, grocery stores are trying to find the exact amount people are willing to pay. PA lawmakers raise concerns about AI-powered pricing tools Residents on the streets and Pennsylvania lawmakers agreed that doing so is wrong. Pennsylvania State Representative Ryan Bizzarro said it is just another form of price-gauging that companies are using on consumers. Lawmakers said they are looking at AI dynamic pricing to see if there is anything they can do to stop it. Consumers said that, for the time being, there are ways you can protect yourself from getting your money stolen. Advertisement Advertisement Shop in person if you can, for a lot of people thats not possible, but if you can shop in person, usually you get lower prices. Buy in bulk, thats why those warehouse subscription model grocery stores and other places really do save you money. Kravitz. Kravitz said they studied dynamic pricing at retailers including Kroger, Safeway, Albertsons, Target, Costco and Instacart. Reporter Jozef Korzeniewski reached out to Target, and the company told him that they do not use AI dynamic pricing. However, Target products are available via Instacart, a company that has used AI dynamic pricing. Pennsylvania Bill 12-05, which would prohibit dynamic pricing on essential goods in the state, was referred to the committee on March 2. 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 WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com. The state of Alaska filed civil lawsuits Tuesday against six crowdfunding websites, accusing them of illegally soliciting donations for thousands of Alaska charities without consent. In complaints filed at Anchorage Superior Court, the consumer protection unit of the Alaska Department of Law said GoFundMe, PayPal, Charity Navigator, Pledgling Technologies, JustGiving and Network For Good each violated the Alaska Charitable Solicitations Act thousands of times. That act, in place since 1993, requires state registration for anyone who seeks donations on behalf of a charity. Advertisement Advertisement The suits ask a judge to order the sites shut down the pages devoted to Alaska nonprofits and immediately disburse any donations to those nonprofits. It also asks for separate civil penalties of not less than $1,000 and not more than $25,000 per violation. According to the complaints, the six crowdfunding sites scraped IRS data to obtain the information of thousands of Alaska nonprofits, then set up donation pages for each of those nonprofits without their consent. That scraping was part of a nationwide campaign that encompassed almost a million and a half federally registered organizations. In some cases, the sites charged fees or encouraged tips to themselves during the donation process. In many cases, they poured donations into a third-party account and only released donations to charities who stepped forward to claim them, according to the complaints. Advertisement Advertisement Attorney General-designee Stephen Cox said the state became aware of the issue after California reporters and state officials began investigating why GoFundMe created donation pages for 1.4 million nonprofits without their consent or knowledge. GoFundMe later took down pages created without consent, but other crowdfunding websites did not. On Tuesday morning, donation pages were still visible on Charity Navigator, one of the defendants named in the new Alaska lawsuits. GoFundMe has kept some pages created with the consent of charities. Earlier this week, almost two dozen state attorney generals sent a letter to GoFundMe, demanding answers to questions about its policies. Alaska did not sign that letter, in part because officials here believed the response was too weak. Advertisement Advertisement In a prepared statement, Cox said, Alaska law is clear: if youre going to raise money in a charitys name, you must first get the charitys consent. These lawsuits are about protecting donors, protecting nonprofits, and preserving the public trust that makes charitable giving possible. Laurie Wolf is President and CEO of the Foraker Group, which advises Alaska nonprofits and provides them with administrative support. The Foraker Group has been issuing warnings about the issue for months, and Wolf filed an affidavit in support of the lawsuit, as did a representative of the Bethel Community Services Foundation and Bread Line Inc., which operates a food bank in Fairbanks. By phone on Tuesday, Wolf said the issue is a matter of consent: They are impersonating 1.2 million nonprofits across this country, theyre impersonating them without their consent or even their knowledge. Advertisement Advertisement She said the issue became particularly important last fall, when people across the United States and the world became aware of the devastation caused by ex-Typhoon Halong in Western Alaska. Many people, not knowing local Alaska charities, simply donated via links they found on internet searches. Some of those donations may have never reached their intended recipients. If a crowdfunding website operates independently of the charity it intends to benefit, it might interfere with the charitys own fundraising, she explained. Someone might never be recognized for their gift and become angry, hurting the charitys long-term relationship with their community. Advertisement Advertisement They take away the ability for the organization to make choices for itself about how it wants to build trust and relationships with its donors, and how it wants to put its brand and its mission out in the public sphere. Theyve taken away all of our choices about that, she said. In addition, donations may be subject to fees or never reach a charity at all, particularly if the charity is unaware that a crowdfunding website is holding money for it to collect. The Foraker Group went so far as to conduct an experiment and had an employee donate to the group through several of the defendants platforms. In multiple cases, it took weeks before the donation reached its intended recipient, and in some cases, the donors identity was concealed, making it impossible for the charity to properly thank them. GoFundMe was the only defendant to respond to emailed inquiries before the Beacons reporting deadline on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement GoFundMes mission is to help people help each other by making it easier for donors to discover and support the causes they care about. We are committed to helping nonprofits reach new supporters by connecting them with the millions of people on our platform who want to make a difference. Nonprofit Pages were created using publicly available information to help people support nonprofit organizations, with donations going to the intended nonprofit, said Jeff Platt, communications manager for GoFundMe. After hearing feedback from nonprofit leaders in October, we acted quickly to make Nonprofit Pages fully opt-in, removed and de-indexed unclaimed pages, and turned off search engine optimization by default. The immediate changes we made directly addressed the concerns of the nonprofit community, and reflect our continued commitment to transparency, accountability, and partnership with the nonprofit sector, he said. This weeks lawsuits in state court rely in large part on the 1993 Alaska Charitable Solicitations Act. That bill passed the Alaska Legislature amid a surge of concern about telemarketers soliciting donations by phone. Advertisement Advertisement Then-Rep. Ron Larson, a Democrat from the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, sponsored the act and told fellow lawmakers at the time that lookalike organizations were ripping off legitimate charities. The act doesnt specifically mention internet donations but says that under any circumstances it is unlawful to use a charitys name or symbol without their permission. Alaskans are generous people. But generosity depends on trust, Cox said in his prepared statements. GoFundMe and similar platforms used nonprofits good names to solicit donations without coordinating with the organizations actually doing the charitable work. That means some Alaskans may have donated thinking they were supporting a specific charity, when the charity never authorized the page and may never have received the donation or may have received less than donors intended because of fees. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Correction: GoFundMe took down pages created without the consent of charities but kept pages created with consent. The initial version of this article did not properly distinguish between the pages that were took down and those that were kept. The initial version of this article also included an incorrect reference to the 1993 Alaska Charitable Solicitations Act. That reference has been corrected. Frontera Energy has signed a definitive agreement with Parex Resources for the sale of its Colombian exploration and production (E&P) assets in a deal worth $750m, inclusive of debt. Under the terms, Parex will acquire these assets for an equity consideration of up to $525m, with $500m due at closing and an additional $25m payable contingent upon an extension of the Quifa association contract within 12 months. Parex will also assume Fronteras $310m in 2028 senior unsecured notes and its $80m Chevron prepayment facility, bringing the total transaction value to approximately $750m. Frontera Energy CEO Orlando Cabrales said: As the largest independent operator in Colombia with a strong relationship with key Colombian stakeholders and direct knowledge of our assets though our VIM-1 partnership, Parex brings strong operational and financial capabilities and continuity for our employees, partners and communities. For Frontera, this transaction marks the beginning of our next chapter as a pure-play infrastructure company with approximately $77m in distributable cash flows, multiple near-term growth catalysts at Puerto Bahia, including the LPG [liquefied petroleum gas] import facilities, the potential LNG [liquefied natural gas] regasification project and containerised cargo expansion, and a strong path to returning capital to our shareholders. The agreement follows Parex's revised proposal offering an extra $125m in equity consideration compared to a previous arrangement with GeoPark, which had been announced on 29 January 2026. As a result, Frontera terminated its deal with GeoPark and paid a $25m break fee in line with the agreement terms. Frontera intends to distribute approximately $470m, including the contingent payment, to shareholders after closing, subject to shareholder approval and after accounting for payments such as the GeoPark break fee, reserved capital for growth projects and transaction costs. This distribution is expected to be roughly C$9.18 per share. The companys remaining business will focus on infrastructure assets. This includes a 35% stake in the Oleoducto de los Llanos Orientales pipeline and a 99.97% interest in Sociedad Portuaria Puerto Bahia, along with other non-Colombian holdings such as those in Guyana. Upon completion of the transaction, Frontera estimates it will retain around $50m in cash and equivalents to support strategic initiatives within its infrastructure business. This includes assessing a possible LNG regasification project with Ecopetrol. The arrangement will proceed under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) by way of a plan of arrangement and is scheduled to close in Q2 2026. An almost year-long ban on TikTok by the Albanian government violated freedom of expression and press freedom, Albanias Constitutional Court ruled on Wednesday in a decision praised by journalists. The Albanian government blocked the billion-user app in March 2025 after the fatal stabbing of a teenager during a fight linked to a social-media dispute. But the Albanian Journalists Association, an investigative media outlet and an NGO challenged the decision in court, saying the ban breached the constitutional right to free speech. Advertisement Advertisement "It represented a very dangerous precedent for freedom of expression and for the space of public communication in Albania," Albanian Journalists Association representative Isa Myzyraj told AFP. He praised the ruling as an "important development for the protection of democratic standards in Albania". In its decision, the court concluded "that the interruption of access to the TikTok platform constitutes a restriction of freedom of expression and freedom of the press". The government suspended the TikTok ban in early February, but the judges said the case was of "public interest" and that proceedings should continue despite the repeal of the decision under review. Advertisement Advertisement - VPN - In practice, enforcing the ban proved difficult and raised questions about its effectiveness. Many Albanian users said they barely noticed the ban, as the app remained accessible via VPNs, or virtual private networks, which enable users to hide their locations. Esmeralda Plori, a 21-year-old communications student and bar worker in the Albanian capital Tirana, said she had no trouble accessing the platform. "TikTok worked without any problems... routing through countries such as Romania or Bulgaria," she said. Plori called it "absurd" to ban one of the platforms most used by young Albanians "without taking into account how the internet actually works today". Advertisement Advertisement "I'm grateful to the government for enabling 88 percent of Albanians to learn what a VPN is and how it works. Every cloud has a silver lining," she added. Like her, Martin Taka, a 21-year-old journalism student from Tirana, never stopped using TikTok. "A single VPN app was enough. The process is very simple and accessible to everyone," he said. According to Taka, if TikTok had wanted to examine his geolocation more closely, the app could have found him "very easily". "But theyre not interested in that because, in the end, their aim is to have as many users as possible on their platform," he said. Advertisement Advertisement - Opposite effect - Owned by Chinese group ByteDance, TikTok faces regular accusations of harming users' mental health and spreading violent or misogynistic content, while the European Union warns its "addictive features" could harm users' wellbeing, particularly minors. Commenting on the court decision, Prime Minister Edi Rama wrote on X that the court "thinks that 90 percent of Albanian parents and teachers were wrong when they called for TikTok to be shut down". "Fortunately, we reopened TikTok thanks to the company's understanding and the additional measures it took, precisely as a result of the ban," Rama said. Advertisement Advertisement But for Elvin Luku, a 32-year-old communication and new media professor from Tirana, the ban "had no impact on educating the younger generation" and may even have had the opposite effect. "It encouraged young people to connect even more through VPNs, despite the risks to their personal data," he said. TikTok was not immediately available for comment. The app, built on short, addictive videos, has also faced global accusations ranging from improper data collection to facilitating electoral manipulation. Several countries have taken action over its potential impact on young users. Advertisement Advertisement In December, Australia banned those under 16 from accessing several social media platforms, including TikTok, Instagram and YouTube -- a world first that has since inspired other countries. bme/cbo/oz/jhb This story was reported by Mark Keierleber and written by Kathy Moore Months before the Los Angeles school board approved a $6.2 million contract with AllHere, an AI chatbot maker that is now being investigated by the FBI, top district leaders were invited to a meeting with its CEO and a consultant, who is a close friend and associate of schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho. The Jan. 18, 2023, calendar invite for the gathering at the districts downtown headquarters, billed as AllHere Meeting, was shared with The 74 by a former central office staffer, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retribution. Advertisement Advertisement The AllHere contract in question is widely believed to be connected to the high-profile raids on Carvalhos home and district office in late February. The 74 has not received confirmation on whether the meeting took place or what specifically may have been discussed, but the invite suggests district administrators were consulting with AllHere principals five months before the contract was voted on. It also calls into question public statements by Carvalho, who was placed on paid leave Feb. 27, that he had no role in AllHeres selection. He said the education technology venture represented by his longtime friend and business associate Debra Kerr won the job based on legally mandated bidding. Kerr called the Jan. 18 meeting. AllHere filed for bankruptcy in September 2024 and its founder and CEO, Joanna Smith-Griffin, was later arrested on charges of identity theft and defrauding investors. Advertisement Advertisement The 74 filed extensive public record requests with Los Angeles Unified School District in September 2024 for documents related to the AI chatbot contract, including all proposals, bids or submissions made by AllHere and any other companies vying for the work. The request also asked for documents detailing how the district evaluated AllHeres qualifications and determined that the small Boston-based firm with little to no artificial intelligence experience was capable of carrying out the contract. On Feb. 11, 17 months after those requests were filed and two weeks before the FBI raids, a senior paralegal in the general counsels office sent The 74 an email asking if we still wanted the documents. Related Was Los Angeles Schools $6 Million AI Venture a Disaster Waiting to Happen? Through his attorneys and a spokesperson, Carvalho issued his first public statement Tuesday since the FBI probe exploded into public view. The Los Angeles Times reported that he denied any wrongdoing, pointed out that no evidence has been presented by prosecutors supporting any allegation that (he) violated federal law and pressed to return to his job. Advertisement Advertisement Mr. Carvalho remains confident that the evidence will ultimately demonstrate that he acted appropriately and in the best interests of students, said the statement that was issued through the spokesperson and the law firm of Holland & Knight, according to the Times. We hope the school board reinstates him promptly to his position as superintendent. Kate Brody, the vice president of communications for Schools Beyond Screens, a 2,000-member LAUSD parent and educator advocacy group, sees the moment differently. Her group has called for an audit of all the education technology contracts entered into under Carvalho, saying they lack independent research into their efficacy and now is the time to peel this whole thing back and take a look, not just at whats going on with AllHere, but the inappropriate amount of access that all these companies have. The evidence is increasingly clear that this technology is not really for the benefit of the students, she told The 74. Our big question has been for a long time whose benefit is it for? Carvalho has not been accused of any wrongdoing and authorities have not provided details about the investigation. The warrants underlying the searches of the superintendents home and office remain sealed. Advertisement Advertisement In a statement released after the Board of Education placed Carvalho on paid leave and named an acting superintendent, the district said that while it understood the need for information, we cannot discuss the specifics of this matter pending investigation. Kerr could not be reached for comment and attorneys for Smith-Griffin did not respond to requests for comment. District spokesperson, Britt Vaughan, could not be reached for comment. Kerr and Carvalho Federal agents also searched Kerrs Florida home. Her ties to Carvalho go back to his days leading the Miami-Dade County Public Schools, a period of time in his prominent career that is also now reportedly under investigation. According to the Los Angeles Times, grand jury subpoenas have been issued seeking records from the districts inspector general and a fundraising foundation overseen by Carvalho while he was the Miami schools chief. Kerr was a key player in executing the failed contract between AllHere and the nations second-largest school district. In addition to her being in a position to call senior staff to a meeting at district headquarters, according to the calendar invite, Kerrs son Richard, a former AllHere account manager who began working for the company in 2022, told The 74 in September 2024 he pitched AllHere to LAUSD school leaders. Advertisement Advertisement Among The 74s long-unanswered public records requests were any conflict of interest disclosure forms filed by AllHere, its employees, third parties involved in the contract or LAUSD personnel. Related Ed Tech Startup Behind L.A. Schools Failed $6M AI Chatbot Files for Bankruptcy The location listed on Kerrs hourlong invite to discuss AllHere was the office of LAUSDs longtime chief spokesperson Shannon Haber, who has since retired. Other invitees included senior advisor of communication Bich Ngoc Cao, senior director of engagement and partnerships Antonio Plascencia Jr.. and director of development and civic engagement Sara Mooney. Mooney is also the former executive director of the LAUSD Education Foundation, the districts separate fundraising arm whose leadership team includes Carvalho. Attempts to reach Haber and the other meeting invitees, which also included Vaughan, the district spokesperson, and marketing director Lourdes Valentine, were unsuccessful. Los Angeles schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho appears in a photograph with Debra Kerr, which the education technology salesperson later posted on LinkedIn. (Screenshot) Earlier calendar entries shared with The 74 show Carvalho had an hourlong meeting scheduled with Kerr and someone identified only as SN on Oct. 21, 2022, about eight months after he took the $440,000-a-year job in Los Angeles. The meeting was scheduled for 12:30 p.m. at a place to be determined. Advertisement Advertisement In 2022, Kerr was busy consulting for and promoting AllHere in multiple Florida cities, according to her Facebook page. She also did consulting work for Rethink Ed, a New York-based company that provides social-emotional and wellness resources. In May 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and the national school shutdowns, Miami-Dade announced it had hired the company to support students with autism and other related disabilities during remote learning. We appreciate partners like Rethink Ed which assist us in empowering these very deserving students with a variety of innovative and helpful tools to successfully engage in distance learning, Carvalho said in a statement when the Miami-Dade contract was announced. Roughly two years later, when Carvalho was leading LAUSD, the firm was hired there. Other calendar entries shared with The 74 show that right before the scheduled meeting with Kerr that October Friday, Carvalho had back-to-back interviews lined up with reporters from The Wall Street Journal and Politico. Later that day, he was scheduled to attend a retirement dinner for Michael Hinojosa, the former Dallas schools superintendent, at the Ravello restaurant at the Four Seasons in Buena Vista Lake, Florida, near Orlando. Advertisement Advertisement Two days before Carvalho was due back in Florida for that celebration, the Miami-Dade Board of Education voted to award AllHere a $1.89 million contract to provide text-messaging support to students struggling with attendance, academics and social-emotional issues. The SMS tool was a precursor to its AI-powered chatbot. Carvalho told the Los Angeles Times he had nothing to do with AllHere getting the three-year deal in Miami although the newspaper reported that the bidding process began while he was still in charge. Former CEO Joanna Smith-Griffin with students from Floridas Hillsborough County and Pinellas County public schools at a 2022 AllHere-sponsored event on improving high school graduation rates. (Facebook.com/leadershipmax) Two years later, in November 2024, the district would move to bar AllHere from doing business with Miami-Dade schools for a period of three years after the ed tech company abandoned its contract. The 74 filed public records requests on Sept. 13, 2024, asking for copies for all of Carvalhos daily calendars going back to his first date of employment at LAUSD. The district has yet to produce them. AllHere then gone Also invited to the Jan. 18, 2023, meeting set up by Kerr was AllHeres Smith-Griffin, who six months after landing the L.A. schools deal was charged with defrauding investors of nearly $10 million. Advertisement Advertisement Her case, which involves allegations of securities and wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, is being heard in U.S. District Court in Manhattan. The Harvard graduate and former middle school math teacher pleaded not guilty in December 2024. Conferences on her case were postponed three separate times in 2025 to allow the parties time to work on a possible disposition. The last was a 60-day adjournment on Sept. 25, 2025, and theres been no activity in the file since then. Related Feds Charge Once-Lauded AllHere AI Founder in $10M Scheme to Defraud Investors By the time Smith-Griffin was arrested at her home in Raleigh, North Carolina, in November 2024, the company she founded in 2016 had been forced into bankruptcy, unable to pay its debts, including a disputed $630,000 commission claimed by its largest creditor: Kerr. Carvalho and Smith-Griffin spent considerable time together in the spring of 2024, appearing at multiple ed tech conferences touting Ed, their sunny chatbot that was seen as catapulting LAUSD into the K-12 AI vanguard. They said communicating with Ed would provide an unprecedented level of support, accelerating learning and strengthening well-being for students and families, many of whom were still struggling from the pandemic. Joanna Smith-Griffin, Founder and CEO of AllHere, joins @LAUSDSup on stage as he delivers the keynote at @asugsvsummit on Unlocking the Potential of AI. With Ed, students receive personalized support to help them excel in school. #EdTech #NextGenEd pic.twitter.com/iU9xta3B8M allherek12 (@allherek12) April 15, 2024 Hes going to talk to you in 100 different languages, hes going to connect with you, hes going to fall in love with you, Carvalho raved at the April 2024 ASU+GSV conference in San Diego. Hopefully youll love it, and in the process we are transforming a school system of 540,000 students into 540,000 schools of one through absolute personalization and individualization. Advertisement Advertisement None of that materialized for the district, whose enrollment has since fallen to 389,010 students and which is now facing major budget woes and a potential teachers strike. After AllHere shuttered and a former company manager-turned-whistleblower told The 74 that students private data was not properly protected in the push to launch Ed, Carvalho vowed to investigate. He promised a task force of outside experts who would dig into what went wrong with the AllHere contract and determine how the district could strengthen its bidding process to avoid future debacles. Carvalho told the Los Angeles Times in July 2024, he expected the task force to complete its work in about three months. Some 19 months later, theres been no further news or shared task force findings. The districts independent inspector generals office launched its own investigation around the same time. Related L.A. Schools Probe Charges its Hyped, Now-Defunct AI Chatbot Misused Student Data However, the offices 2024 and 2025 reports to the Board of Education make no mention of AllHere. In 2024, the IG opened a total of 62 cases, closed 54 and identified nearly $2.5 million in waste. In 2025, it opened 38 cases and closed 43, including some from previous years, though none appear to have involved AllHere. No financial waste was identified in 2025. Inspector General Sue Stengel stepped down at the end of 2025 after three years. The office did not respond to a request for comment. Equally elusive is what happened to Ed or the underlying tech tool for which LAUSD paid AllHere $3 million out of its $6.2 million contract. Although its been reported that school officials said the district was not financially harmed in the contractual fallout, and it received the services and products it spent several million dollars to acquire, its difficult to substantiate that. Los Angeles Unified Supt. Alberto Carvalho, left, waits to be called on stage during the official launch of Ed, a new district-developed Artificial Intelligence-assisted learning acceleration web-based platform that will boost student success and revolutionize how K-12 education is tailored to meet individual needs, at Edward R. Roybal Learning Center in Los Angeles on March 20, 2024. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) When Carvalho unveiled Ed at a major March 20, 2024, celebration attended by Gov. Gavin Newsom and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, he said the chatbot would be available immediately to 55,000 students in 101 elementary, middle and high schools as part of a pilot program. By the fall, Ed was supposed to go districtwide. Much later, that reported group of Ed testers had been winnowed down to a small number of schools (that) tried it out, each with a sample of students and parents. In July 2024 after the district unplugged Ed in the wake of AllHeres demise, the Los Angeles Times reported that it was hard to find students, teachers or other staff who have used any part of the system since its official launch. Absent human interactions with Ed, the district has been slow to produce documentation from AllHere of services rendered. Among the public records sought by The 74 in September 2024, which LAUSD now appears ready to provide, are purchase orders, invoices, and payments records related to any and all goods and/or services provided by AllHere. Staff reporter Amanda Geduld contributed to this report Maine lawmakers are considering a bill that would exclude new data center projects from two tax incentive programs, while the state studies potential incentives that data centers may benefit from. At a public hearing before the Legislatures Taxation Committee Wednesday, committee co-chair Sen. Nicole Grohoski (D-Ellsworth) said the goal of the bill is not to slam the door on data centers, but pause and look around before walking through it. If we are going to offer incentives for data centers, I think those incentives should be designed with municipal impacts explicitly in mind, not inherited as a byproduct of a program that was built at a different time for a different kind of business, she said. Advertisement Advertisement The bill, LD 713, would exclude data centers from the Business Equipment Tax Exemption Program and the Dirigo Business Incentives Programs. Both programs were designed with a certain type of business in mind, one that makes deep capital investments and generates long term quality employment in Maine communities, Grohoski said. The question this amendment asks I think is a fair one: Do data centers fit that profile? It also requires the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development to study other potential incentives in state law that data centers may benefit from. Data centers have faced increasing scrutiny in recent months in Maine and across the country, as residents and officials weigh concerns about the centers impact on energy prices, water resources and grid reliability. Advertisement Advertisement While other states are scrambling to fix programs they put in place too quickly and without sufficient guardrails, Maine has an opportunity to thoughtfully consider the direction we want to take, since were really not down that road yet, Grohoski said. If data centers belong in our conversations about economic development, lets make that case deliberately and design something that works for Maine people, Maine communities and our fiscal future. The discussion comes as lawmakers consider other bills to rein in the proliferation of data centers, weighing a moratorium on some or all of them, and the creation of a coordination council to assess the benefits and risks of data centers in the state. After proposals for data centers in Wiscasset and Lewiston were made public last year, residents pushed back hard, prompting local officials to pause discussions in Wiscasset and reject the project in Lewiston. But a Texas company is eyeing Sanford for a data center, and a Minnesota-based company is looking to build another at Loring Air Force Base in Limestone. Amanda Campbell, with the Maine Municipal Association, testified in support of the bill. She said exemptions for data centers chip away at municipalities property tax bases, and are a key driver in property tax increases. Advertisement Advertisement Municipal officials implore the researchers and this committee to consider the implications and consequences of continuing to erode the property tax base, Campbell said. And if tax incentives when weighed against the cost to the property taxpayers truly provide the intended benefits. Maura Pillsbury, a policy analyst at the Maine Center for Economic Policy, said the companies behind data centers arent relying on tax incentives to afford to build these projects. We also know that data centers are owned by those tech companies, including Google, Amazon, Microsoft and these companies already have the resources to make investments without these incentives, she said. Supporters of the bill also raised concerns about how many permanent jobs data centers generate for the surrounding communities. But Jason Shedlock, president of the Maine State Building and Construction Trades Council, highlighted the importance of the construction jobs created when data centers are built. Advertisement Advertisement When we talk about permanent jobs, that completely discounts the construction industry, my members, and folks who work non union as well, work themselves out of a job every day, he said. Something is built, and then we move forward. Shedlock testified against the bill, and said he feels it short-circuits the states ability to study the issue. The committee has not yet scheduled a work session to further discuss the bill. By Samia Nakhoul DUBAI, March 11 (Reuters) - The U.S. may have pulled the trigger on the Iran war, but it is the oil-producing Gulf that will pay the price, Gulf sources and analysts say, signalling unease in ties between a region under Iranian attack and the superpower it relies on for protection. Behind the scenes, resentment is mounting in Gulf Arab capitals at being drawn into a war they neither initiated nor endorsed but are now paying for economically and militarily, with airports, hotels, ports and military and oil installations hit by Iranian strikes, said three regional sources, who declined to be identified as they were not authorised to speak publicly. Advertisement Advertisement "It is not our war. We did not want this conflict, yet we are paying the price in our security and our economy," Ebtesam Al-Ketbi, President of the Emirates Policy Center, told Reuters. That doesn't mean Iran is "innocent", she said. Gulf governments had assured Tehran they would not allow their territories or airspace to be used by Washington in the war. Yet Iran has unleashed waves of drone and missile strikes across the region despite those assurances, denting business confidence in the process. 'INJURED LION' POST-WAR SCENARIO IS ANOTHER GULF WORRY While disquiet about U.S. President Donald Trump is growing over a conflict many believe he launched without consultation, some regional sources argue that having started the war, Washington should now see it through to eliminate what they see as a persistent Iranian threat on their doorstep. Advertisement Advertisement If America leaves the war now without achieving victory, it will be like abandoning an injured lion, Ketbi said. Iran will remain a threat to the region, capable of striking again. And if the regime collapses, leaving a power vacuum, neighbouring states will suffer the consequences. Asked for comment, the White House said U.S. and Israeli strikes had reduced Irans retaliatory missile attacks by 90 percent, "crushing their ability to shoot these weapons or produce more". White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly added that Trump was in close contact with Middle East partners and that Irans attacks on its neighbors underscore why the threat had to be eliminated. There was no immediate response from Gulf states to requests for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed on the first day of the war. Tehran responded by hitting Israel and Gulf states hosting U.S. military installations, effectively halting oil and gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz -- a conduit for roughly a fifth of the worlds petroleum and LNG. Across the region, airspace closures have resulted in airlines cancelling some 40,000 flights, the largest disruption to global air travel since the COVID-19 pandemic. Gulf tourism meanwhile is also taking a hit, putting at risk the region's carefully crafted image as a safe and high-end vacation hotspot. GULF STATES PROJECT RESOLVE, REASSESS SECURITY Amid the turmoil, Gulf states have sought to project calm and resolve. The president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, said on Friday 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 fired missiles at the UAE. Advertisement Advertisement At the same time, analysts say the war has left Gulf states reassessing both their security dependence on Washington and the prospect of eventually engaging Tehran on new regional security arrangements -- even as trust in Iran has collapsed. For decades, relations between Washington and the Gulf states rested on an implicit trade-off: Gulf energy and capital -- including hundreds of billions of dollars spent on U.S. arms, advanced technology and goods and services -- in return for U.S. protection, said Fawaz Gerges of the London School of Economics. Gerges said the war had shaken those assumptions. Now, he said, Gulf states would accelerate efforts to diversify their foreign and security partnerships, realising "they cannot really rely on the United States to protect their energy, oil, gas, their people and their sovereignty. The Gulf's latest misgivings about Washington echo disquiet felt in Saudi Arabia at the U.S. failure to retaliate against Iran after drone and missile attack in 2019 on the kingdom's Abqaiq and Khurais oil facilities. Washington and Riyadh blamed the attacks on Tehran, which denied responsibility. Advertisement Advertisement Abdulaziz Sager, Chairman of the Saudi-based Gulf Research Center, said Washington had failed to prepare safeguards for its regional allies or ensure oil and gas flows during wartime, saying the cost on the Gulf states' economies is "horrendous". BUSINESSMAN DECRIES 'DRAGGING THE GULF INTO A CONFLICT' Sager said the war had demonstrated the limits of relying solely on external security guarantees, particularly from the United States, adding that Gulf countries need to strengthen their own defense capabilities and prepare for future crises. "External powers also tend to make decisions based on their own strategic interests rather than those of the Gulf. As a result, Gulf states will likely pursue a more cautious and balanced approach in their relations with both Iran and major international partners," added Sager. Advertisement Advertisement In a rare public rebuke, prominent Emirati businessman Khalaf Al Habtoor questioned the objectives of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. If the strikes were aimed at containing Iran, did they take into account the regional consequences -- or was the cost of dragging the Gulf into a conflict it was not party to simply ignored? said Al Habtoor, founder of the Al Habtoor Group. Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser warned on Tuesday that continued disruption to shipping through Hormuz would have catastrophic consequences for oil markets. Irans Revolutionary Guards, however, said they would not allow one litre of oil to be shipped from the Middle East if U.S. and Israeli attacks continued. Trump has warned Washington would strike Iran harder if it blocked oil exports. Advertisement Advertisement Sources close to Gulf Arab government circles say frustration with Trump privately runs deep across the region. Many believe he dragged the Gulf into a war shaped heavily by Israel, without sharing a plan and acting hastily and without fully weighing the political and economic fallout for allies. One Gulf source familiar with U.S. policymaking said key decisions were crafted by a small inner circle around Trump operating largely outside traditional U.S. policy channels. They are businessmen and dealmakers, not career policymakers, the source said, adding this approach left Gulf partners exposed to the consequences of this circle's decisions. (Additional reporting by Steve Holland in Washington, Writing by Samia Nakhoul, Editing by William Maclean) BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) A Louisiana State Penitentiary employee was arrested and charged after allegedly introducing contraband into the prison, according to the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections. Officials confirmed that Joseph McNeely, a corrections major at the prison, was arrested on March 2 by the West Feliciana Parish Sheriffs Office. McNeely was charged with introduction of contraband. According to the department, McNeely has worked for the Department of Public Safety and Corrections for more than 11 years. He is currently on leave pending the outcome of an investigation. Advertisement Advertisement No additional details about the circumstances surrounding the arrest have been released. Officers cleared as autopsy shows coronary artery disease and meth contributed to inmates death 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. Texas state Rep. James Talarico is hitting back at a Republican groups attempt to attack him after the Democrat likened Jesus Christ to an immigrant in a resurfaced clip. The clip, shared by the National Republican Senatorial Committee account on X, shows Talarico delivering a sermon at his home church St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Austin last year as he declares that Christ is present in the immigrant deported without due process. Politics: Fox News Split Screen Makes An Absolute Mockery Of Mike Waltzs Trump Praise Christ is the senior deprived of their Social Security benefits, Talarico continued. Christ is the protester kidnapped in an unmarked vehicle by plainclothes officers. Advertisement Advertisement Talarico had just four words for the GOP group, writing on X, I approve this message. Like this article? Keep independent journalism alive. Support HuffPost. The GOP group recently knocked Talarico, who triumphed over Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) in a Senate primary last week, over his religious views. The account shared a clip of the Democrat saying, God is both masculine and feminine and everything in between, God is nonbinary. Politics: Fox News Host Confesses Trump Gave Him A Shirt And He Felt Pressure To Wear It Talarico is marching on to Novembers general election for the U.S. Senate seat. His opponent will be decided in a GOP runoff between Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and incumbent Sen. John Cornyn. Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trump, who had said after last weeks primary that he would endorse a GOP candidate, is reportedly delaying his seal of approval in the race to pressure Senate Republicans to pass his SAVE America Act on voting restrictions. Related... Read the original on HuffPost The arrest in South Africa of the youngest son of Zimbabwe's former President, Robert Mugabe, has brought renewed attention to the former first family and their controversies over the years. Bellarmine Mugabe, who appeared in court on Wednesday for a bail hearing, is accused of attempted murder, among other charges, after a 23-year-old man was shot and injured at a property in an upmarket suburb of Johannesburg. He has not commented on the charges but in an unexpected move, he abandoned his request for bail and agreed to plea negotiations with South African prosecutors. He is charged alongside his bodyguard. Advertisement Advertisement Their lawyer Sinenhlanhla Mnguni said it was "premature to say whether we will plead guilty to anything at this stage". The matter returns to court next Tuesday. His father led Zimbabwe for 37 years before being forced out of power at the age of 93 in 2017. He died two years later. The long-serving president and his second wife Grace had three children together: Bona Mugabe - now 37 Robert Mugabe Jr - now 33 Bellarmine Mugabe - now 28. Grace also had a son from an earlier marriage: Russell Goreraza - now in his early 40s. Managing editor of Zimbabwean privately owned NewsHawks website, Dumisani Muleya, told the BBC that the Mugabe family had "lived a life of privilege" and that the children "grew up in that environment where they were protected from the broader realities of the Zimbabwean political and socio-economic situation". Advertisement Advertisement The family had amassed a vast personal fortune, including $10m (7.5m) in cash, four houses, 10 cars, a farm and an orchard among other assets. These details emerged three months after Robert Mugabe's death in a legal letter submitted to the high court in Zimbabwe by his daughter Bona. At the time, a lawyer for the family, Terrence Hussein, told the BBC that none of the properties were under the former leader's name. In 2013, Grace denied that her husband was accumulating wealth while in office, saying her husband did not earn as much as people thought as he was a civil servant. "The allowance I get is just a pittance. I'm a business-minded person [and] I support my husband [by] running our private businesses," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Here is a run-down of what has happened to the family members: Bellarmine Mugabe Like his siblings, he grew up in the public eye and was subjected to scrutiny from a young age. But as a teenager it was Bellarmine's approach to studying that appeared to have been a concern for his parents. In a wide-ranging interview in 2013 on South African television, they described his playfulness and lack of focus on academics. Grace said she wanted him to "change his ways" and "concentrate on his studies". "He should be more serious than he is at the moment," his father added. Bellarmine sheepishly admitted to spending more time on video games than his schoolwork. Bellarmine (R) was pictured with his parents in 2011 as they cut a cake in celebration of Robert Mugabe's 87th birthday [Gallo Images/Getty Images] Bellarmine and his older brother Robert Jr have made headlines over the years for their flashy lifestyles in the face of rising poverty in Zimbabwe. Advertisement Advertisement In 2017, a few weeks before the coup in which his father was ousted, he posted a picture of a $60,000 watch he was wearing on Instagram. A few months earlier, the brothers were reportedly kicked out of a luxury apartment block in the affluent Johannesburg suburb of Sandton after complaints about the noise they were making. There have been also several brushes with the law more recently. In 2024 he was arrested for allegedly assaulting a police officer in the Zimbabwean border town of Beitbridge. He was given bail but a warrant for his arrest was then issued after he failed to appear in court, Zimbabwe's state-run Herald newspaper reported at the time. Advertisement Advertisement A year later in June, he was again arrested for assaulting a security guard at a mining site in Mazowe, an hour's drive north of the capital, Harare. He was bailed and the case has not yet concluded. The current case in South Africa against Bellarmine has faced several delays since his arrest in mid-February and his bail application hearing has already been postponed twice. Robert Mugabe Jr Also no stranger to run-ins with the police, Robert Jr was arrested in 2023 over allegations he damaged property at a party in Harare. He faced three counts of malicious damage to property and two charges of assault on a police officer, his lawyer said at the time. He was accused of smashing car windscreens and spitting on a police officer. Advertisement Advertisement He maintained his innocence and was later freed after agreeing to an out-of-court settlement with the complainant, who was a friend of his. Robert Jr (L) and Bellarmine were pictured together in 2019 as they mourned their father [AFP via Getty Images] In 2025, after pleading guilty, Robert Jr was convicted and fined in Zimbabwe for possession of cannabis. He had been arrested as he drove the wrong way down a one-way street, according to court documents. Police searched a black sling bag he was wearing at the time and allegedly found two small sachets of cannabis. Officers said they had recovered 2g (0.07 oz) of cannabis, with a street value of $30, but his lawyer said the amount was 0.02g. Grace Mugabe The former first lady, now 60, gained a reputation, and criticism, over the years for her alleged appetite for shopping and extravagance, earning her the moniker "Gucci Grace". Advertisement Advertisement She denied the disparaging accusations and in the 2013 interview said detractors believed she was a "soft target". "I'm not really what they say I am and I'm actually surprised by some of the things they say. I work so hard and I don't have time to pamper myself. I make my own clothes and tie my own scarf," she said. In the latter part of her husband's presidency she began positioning herself as a potential successor. She headed the women's league of Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF party and was instrumental in the sidelining of several rival candidates. Grace pictured supporting Robert Mugabe, aged 93, days before he was ousted as president in 2017 [AFP via Getty Images] Her plans fell apart when Mugabe was deposed after he sacked then Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa in November 2017. Advertisement Advertisement Her business empire subsequently fell apart - and her multimillion-dollar dairy firm, Gushungo Dairy Estates, closed in 2022 reportedly mired in huge debts. Some argued that it only stayed afloat because of official patronage, which fell away after Mugabe's ousting. However, she continues to live in the vast Blue Roof mansion in Harare, which was bought by Zanu-PF for Robert Mugabe while he was still in power. The party transferred ownership of the property to the family after he died. Grace is unable to travel to South Africa, where she faces a warrant of arrest relating to a case that happened not long before the Mugabes left power Advertisement Advertisement She was accused in 2017 of assaulting a young woman, Gabriella Engels, with an electric extension cord in a hotel room in Johannesburg. Grace said at the time that she had acted in self-defence after she was attacked in the room where Bellarmine and Robert Jr lived. According to Engels, she and her friend were visiting the brothers. An investigation was launched but Grace was given diplomatic immunity, allowing her to leave South Africa without answering questions. That immunity was annulled in July 2018, eight months after the coup, and the arrest warrant issued. This incident echoed one in 2009, when the then first lady was accused of assaulting a British newspaper photographer in Hong Kong, where her daughter Bona was studying. Richard Jones said that Grace had punched him while wearing a diamond-studded ring. She was not charged as she was given diplomatic immunity by the Chinese government. Grace later said she was pushed too far and said she was "protecting my daughter". "I had to [punch him] but I really don't know what happened, I had all this energy," she said in the 2013 interview. Bona Mugabe While the rest of the family's exploits have made headlines over the years, Bona largely stayed out of the spotlight - until a bitter divorce thrust her into the public eye. Mugabe's eldest child and only daughter filed for divorce from former pilot Simbarashe Chikore in 2023, sparking a highly publicised legal battle between the two. Chikore wanted a share of what he said was $80m worth of residential properties, including a mansion in Dubai and 21 farms - something that flies in the face of her father's policy of "one household, one farm". Details of the family's wealth emerged during Bona's divorce proceedings [AFP via Getty Images] He also detailed a list of other assets she allegedly owned, saying this was just a "drop in the ocean". Bona did not respond to her estranged husband's allegations but a former spokesperson for her father denied the couple owned 21 farms. They eventually opted to settle their divorce privately following public scrutiny and outrage over the revelations. Bona and Chikore had married at a lavish wedding in 2014 that was attended by several African heads of state - and was broadcast live on state television - and have three children. Russell Goreraza In 2015, Grace's oldest son Russell Goreraza was convicted of manslaughter and fined $800 (595). This came after he knocked down and killed an unidentified man in his car in Harare earlier that year. Goreraza was speeding at the time of the accident. Sentencing for culpable homicide varies depending on the magistrate and their interpretation of the circumstances, but two-year prison terms have been handed down in similar cases. The magistrate presiding over this case said he had decided against jail because of Goreraza's remorse and the fact that he was a first-time offender. Where are the Mugabes now? The family has largely retreated from public life since 2017. The ousted president was bitter about the way he was treated by his Zanu-PF party and campaigned for the opposition in the 2018 elections. But since his death, his wife, daughter Bona and Robert Jr have appeared to reconcile with the party, attending President Emmerson Mnangagwa's most recent inauguration in 2023. The Mugabes, except for Bellarmine, are believed to be living in Zimbabwe. The BBC contacted a family spokesperson for comment, but they declined to confirm the family's whereabouts. You may also be interested in: [Getty Images/BBC] Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica BBC Africa podcasts DENVER (KDVR) Police in the city of Arvada are seeking potential victims after a 25-year-old Pennsylvania man was arrested in connection with an Arvada Police Department sextortion investigation. APD said the man, identified as David Ajiri of Bensalem, Pennsylvania, self-surrendered at the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office on March 9, after an arrest warrant was obtained by Arvada police detectives. Man with $1 million warrant for kidnapping arrested in Mesa County Advertisement Advertisement Ajiri was booked on one count of criminal extortion, according to APD. Victimizing women all over the country, potentially even in other countries for so long, it just really felt like something we needed to take action on, Arvada Police Detective Brian Wonderly told FOX31s Nicole Fierro. Wonderly said the investigation started in 2025 after a local victim came forward. APD said it believes Ajiri was using dating apps, friendship apps and social media platforms to contact and target women and girls as young as 14 years old across the country since at least 2018. Based on the evidence from his devices, we have screenshots of communication dated back to 2018 when he was an 18-year-old adult communicating with, at that point, a 14-year-old, Wonderly said. And I have messages where hes telling her, do what I want or I will expose this. Advertisement Advertisement Police said Ajiri convinced victims to send intimate images or videos in exchange for payment, and, after not paying them and being confronted, would threaten to send their intimate images or videos to friends, family members, or social media contacts unless they continued to provide sexual content, money, or both. Ajiri frequently used deception, when first communicating with his victims, according to police, which said this deception included sending altered or fake transaction receipts to make it appear he had paid other women and, in some cases, posing as women who claimed to have received payment from him, as a way to build trust. In many cases, police said Ajiri would send his victims a detailed bulleted list of specific image and video requests with explicit instructions, with evidence also indicating he sold some of the content online. Ajiri is also believed to have re-contacted women he had previously victimized by using new phone numbers and false identities, according to APD, which said he alleged claimed to be a concerned individual warning them that someone was attempting to sell their images online. Advertisement Advertisement APD said Ajiri would then allegedly demand money or additional explicit content when victims would ask for more information of assistance. Police released dozens of aliases and social media accounts believed to be used by Ajiri, which include the following: Names used Brandon Cress Brandon Ali David E Cristian Ortiz David Andrews Dylan M Damon A Danny Rodriguez Dave Jordan Dave E Christan Morris Adam Russell Dave Jordan Dylan Michaels David Jaeger Anthony Anthony Matthews Jay Jay A DJay Mike Green Mike Brandon Dante Brad Manning Names used when posing as women Mckenzie McKenzie Jensenn Kenzie Kensy Kensi Kens Kels Kelsi Lexi Instagram accounts used brandoncress87 crort786 mikegreen876 mikegbrandon0 brandc428 nbalifer23 davidandrews2054 dmol678 cro6788 oc65ks Snapchat accounts used kenslove3 mikebrown867 chris.morris98 dajiri8535 Denise Mowder, a victimology expert and MSU professor of criminal justice and criminology, spoke to FOX31 regarding the case. Advertisement Advertisement Hes been doing this for a long time, Mowder. There are probably hundreds and hundreds of victims out there. Denise Mowder also explained why more victims dont come forward right away in situations like this. They start one time doing one thing, and then everything starts falling apart, and they get themselves in so deep they cant even consider a way out of this, Mowder said. And telling people doesnt seem like the way out of it, and handling it themselves. Weve heard about the horrible cases of these children killing themselves because they cant see a way out. And its the same for adults. They cant see a way out either. And so its very hard. APD says they want to help victims and not make them feel ashamed. Advertisement Advertisement If they want to remain anonymous and just help us put a name to these people, Im seeing him communicate with, that would even be beneficial to us as an investigation, Wonderly said. We are just looking out for them. Anyone who has communicated with Ajiri under the names or accounts provided by APD, or who believe they may have been a victim of sextortion connected to this case, is encouraged to contact APD by calling 720-898-7171, referencing case AR25004692. As of Wednesday evening, Ajiri is only facing charges for one victim. He posted a cash-only bond and is out until his next court hearing. Arvada police say they are hoping federal prosecutors join in on the case. Advertisement Advertisement FOX31s Nicole Fierro contributed to this report. Find mental health resources in Colorado. If you are thinking of hurting or killing yourself: Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. Please get help immediately. 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 FOX31 Denver. SYDNEY, March 11 (Reuters) - Australia has closed its embassies in Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv as well as its consulate in Dubai, the foreign minister said on Wednesday, amid fears the conflict in the Middle East could intensify. * Foreign Minister Penny Wong said at least nine citieswhere Australian embassies and consulates are located haveexperienced missile and drone attacks. * "Iran's reprisal attacks continue at scale and at a depththat we have not seen before," she told parliament. * The conflict was "likely to intensify and continue in thenear term", she said. * "Our missions in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Tel Aviv have allhad to physically close in the last week." * Australia has also directed dependants of diplomaticofficials in the United Arab Emirates and Israel to leave. * "The dangerous and destabilising attacks by Iran putcivilian lives at risk, including Australian lives, and wecontinue to support Australians affected as limited commercialflights resume and we expand consular efforts," Wong said. * More than 3,200 Australians have returned from the MiddleEast on 23 commercial flights. About 115,000 citizens were inthe region when the conflict began. (Reporting by Christine Chen in Sydney; Editing by Sonali Paul) Austria will limit fuel price increases at petrol stations to a maximum of three times per week instead of once per day as before. Energy Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer announced the measure on Wednesday as a response to rising prices linked to the Iran war. Price reductions will still be allowed at any time. Since the outbreak of the war on February 28, petrol prices in Austria have risen by about 14% and diesel prices by 25%, Hattmannsdorfer said. Advertisement Advertisement "Our goal is to dampen extreme price fluctuations and send stabilizing price signals so that international crises are not directly reflected at the pumps," said the conservative politician. He also announced that Austria would release national oil reserves, following similar moves by other countries. Meanwhile, Germanys government plans to adopt Austrias previous pricing rule, under which petrol stations would only be allowed to raise prices once per day. By Blake Brittain WASHINGTON, March 11 (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Wednesday overturned a $481 million ruling that New York's Columbia University had won against software company Gen Digital for infringing patents related to cybersecurity technology. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit said that Columbia's patents may be invalid and sent the case back to Virginia federal court. The appeals court also overturned the lower court's decision to hold Gen Digital's former law firm, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, in contempt for litigation misconduct in the case. A Columbia spokesperson declined to comment on the rulings. Spokespeople for Gen Digital and Quinn Emanuel did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Columbia sued Gen Digital in Richmond, Virginia, in 2013, alleging the company's antivirus software and other security products infringe six patents related to intrusion-detection systems. A jury determined in 2022 that the company infringed two Columbia patents and awarded the school $185 million in damages. U.S. District Judge Hannah Lauck increased the award to more than $481 million in 2023 after finding that Gen Digital infringed the patents willfully. The Federal Circuit said on Wednesday that Columbia's patents may be invalid because they cover abstract ideas and sent the case back for the Virginia court to analyze their validity. Lauck had held the company's former Quinn Emanuel attorneys in contempt for failing to comply with a court order to disclose their communications with an unfavorable witness, a former Gen Digital employee whom the firm kept from testifying at trial. The appeals court said Quinn Emanuel should not have been forced to disclose the communications because they were covered by attorney-client privilege. (Reporting by Blake Brittain in Washington; Editing by Lisa Shumaker) Portuguese exports to countries near Russia have risen sharply since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, prompting the Ministry of Finance to investigate the scope and design of existing sanctions, according to the national newspaper Publico. Following the entry into force of EU sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, direct Portuguese sales to the country fell from more than 26mn in 2021 to negligible figures. On the other hand, numbers published by Portugal's National Statistics Institute (INE), show that sales have increased in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. Advertisement Advertisement Kyrgyzstan stands out from the countries mentioned, with Portuguese exports rising from around 200,000 in 2021 to almost 6mn in 2025. Although this is not a significant figure in the global panorama of Portuguese international trade, this destination has seen the greatest growth in Portuguese exports in recent years. Related Circumventing EU sanctions The five countries to which sales have increased the most are all located close to Russia and have maintained regular trade relations with the country throughout the war. Advertisement Advertisement Portuguese exports have soared to all these countries, giving strong indications that, like other EU countries, there are Portuguese companies, wittingly or unwittingly, circumventing the sanctions imposed on Russia through intermediaries. In practice, Portuguese companies, and those from other EU countries, may be exporting products to countries that then send them to Russia. INE data also shows that since 2022, the countries mentioned above have been importing more products subject to restrictions and, at the same time, exporting more to Moscow. Among the products sanctioned are microchips, semiconductors, electronic equipment, drones, industrial components and other materials that can be used in the military industry. Advertisement Advertisement These restrictions are intended to limit the ability of Russian industry, especially the military, to obtain Western technology. Categories such as engines and generators have also seen sharp falls in direct exports to Russia and similar increases to other markets. Cork stands out from other products One of the products with the most stark increase in exports to these Russia-tied countries is cork, withPortugal being the worlds largest exporter of the material. Moscow used to be a regular customer for cork imports, especially because of its wine production. However, after the invasion of Ukraine, the material was targeted by sanctions as it can be used for military purposes. Therefore, although the sale of cork to Russia has plummeted since 2022, the Portuguese exports to Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan have increased significantly. FILE. A truck drops its load of cork oak bark at a factory in Coruche, Portugal, Jul. 2011 - AP Photo/Armando Franca A recent investigation that took place this year, coordinated by the European Anti-Fraud Office with Polish authorities, revealed a scam where used vehicles from the EU were indirectly exported to Russia through Turkey, Armenia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Advertisement Advertisement This resulted in the opening of criminal proceedings in several member states, which were trying to evade sanctions, and the tightening of controls on this type of export. In Portugal, the Tax and Customs Authority is responsible for monitoring compliance with the sanctions applied to exports to Russia, which confirmed to the newspaper Publico that there are investigations into possible irregularities. According to the authorities, changes in trade patterns are not automatic proof of non-compliance with sanctions but can logically be worthy of investigation. Like everyone else, Dave Jolicoeur of New Boston needed to pay more as he filled his GMC Sierra pickup with mid-grade gasoline at Heavens Gas on Webster Street in Manchester Tuesday morning. It was $3.39 last week and its $3.75, so its about 40 cents more, he said. They said on the news it went up by 50 cents a gallon. I didnt believe them, but its close. The average cost of regular gas did jump nearly 50 cents over the past week in New Hampshire, according to AAA. However, the states average price of $3.42 is still slightly below the national average of $3.54. The national average also saw about a 50-cent jump. Advertisement Advertisement Prices are likely to fluctuate given military action in Iran. The national average jumped 61 cents from last month and 45 cents from last year, according to AAA. At Heavens Gas, prices were $3.399 for regular, $3.759 for plus and $4.09 for premium. Jolicoeur, 73, who is retired, didnt seem to be worried after pre-paying $30 to top off his tank. He doesnt like to let the tank go much below half full. What are we going to do? There is not a thing we can do, he said. Im glad I got a motorcycle that gets better gas mileage, but it is too cold right now. The highest recorded average price in New Hampshire was just shy of $5 on June 13, 2022, after the start of the Russia-Ukraine war. The prices are now seeing a spike due to the conflict in Iran during a time when prices typically increase as demand rises and summer-blend gasoline production begins, according to AAA. Advertisement Advertisement Drivers saw a dramatic jump at the pump this week, said Dan Goodman of AAA Northern New England. The national average and in New Hampshire rose nearly 50 cents in the last seven days. The spike still doesnt surpass when gas prices rose 60 cents in one week in 2022. The big factor is crude oil prices increasing to more than $100 a barrel, which accounts for half of the price of gas, Goodman said. A line formed outside of BJs gas on John E. Devine Drive in Manchester on Monday, but by Tuesday it seemed to be back to normal just before lunchtime. Regular gas went for $3.08. Duy Huynh, 30, of Manchester, filled up his Land Rover Defender with gas for $68.91. He paid $3.67 for premium grade. Advertisement Advertisement Its horrible. Its going to go up even more, he said. Hes predicting prices exceeding $5 a gallon, which is the case in other states, including California. He got the BJs membership for discounted gasoline. He lamented the fact that the cost of everything is going up except wages. I am thinking about trading the car in and getting a hybrid or an electric car, he said. The temporary pain at the pump will be worth it when the cost of everything goes down, said Olga Fain of Nashua, who also filled up at BJs. She had rewards for 50 cents off and managed to pay only $2.33 a gallon to fill her Toyota Sienna. Advertisement Advertisement The prices are at least 20 cents less than other places, she said. She has noticed the spike, but the cost is still lower than other times in the past six years. Right now, I am OK with it, because it is going to be worth it in the end, said Fain, 42, who is from the former Soviet Union. I believe the prices will go down. I understand why it is high now. I dont want to say it is worth paying for, but we will definitely be better in the long term. Back at Heavens Gas, Jerry Vega, 85, filled up his 2010 Toyota Matrix. He looks around for stations with the lowest price on its signs. Crazy, he said of the prices. It looks like it is going to keep going up. Advertisement Advertisement The spike in gas prices could keep him from making trips to visit family in Western Massachusetts. He expects the prices to remain steady into the summer and start to do down. Eventually (they) will go down once Trump gets his agenda, Vega said. Once that is settled and the Iran war stops, I think well be all right. According to politics, Venezuela will kick in. How high prices go will all depend on the global oil market, Goodman said. Gas prices rise a lot quicker than they drop, unfortunately, he said. jphelps@unionleader.com U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin is calling for a nominating commission to try again to agree on a nominee to be the U.S. attorney for Wisconsins Eastern District after interim appointee Brad Schimels term in the position expires March 17. The judges in the district declined to retain Schimel for the job. Schimel previously served as the Republican attorney general under Gov. Scott Walker and in 2024 he ran unsuccessfully as a conservative for the state Supreme Court. Schimel was appointed U.S. attorney by Attorney General Pam Bondi in November after the nominating commission failed to reach consensus on who should fill the job in both the Madison and Milwaukee district offices. Advertisement Advertisement Last week, Baldwin said Schimel was a clearly partisan actor in the federal prosecutor role. Historically, Wisconsins two senators including Baldwin and Sen. Ron Johnson have worked together to name members of the nominating commission which agrees on candidates who are then recommended to the president and attorney general. Restarting the commission would require Baldwin and Johnson to agree on a charter. Across the country, the president has generally deferred to the home state senators when choosing U.S. attorneys. Im glad that the judges of the Eastern District of Wisconsin are respecting the process that Senator Johnson and I have to get high-quality, impartial prosecutors to serve Wisconsin, Baldwin said in a statement. It has not always been easy, but the hard work is worthwhile for the people we serve. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Bangladesh's Tangail sari is fighting for survival as weavers warn that automation and economic pressures are pushing the centuries-old craft to the brink despite its global acclaim. The detailed designs and fine textures of the garments made in the central Tangail city won UNESCO recognition in December as intangible cultural heritage reflecting "local social and cultural practices". But it has brought little relief to crowded local workshops where a shift to automated looms, evolving fashion choices, unstable yarn prices and a lack of government support have squeezed weavers at every turn. Advertisement Advertisement Ajit Kumar Roy, who spends the day interlacing warp and weft threads while paddling the shuttle back and forth, says the honour has done little to ease his daily hardship. "It's all hard work," the 35-year-old weaver told AFP as he worked the handloom he has operated for nearly two decades. "Hands, legs and eyes must move together. If I make a mistake then there is a problem." Men typically lead the weaving, dyeing and design work, while women prepare threads, apply rice starch and add finishing touches. - High-profile clients - Once considered a well-paying profession, weaving has suffered from a market slump that began during the Covid-19 pandemic and never recovered. Advertisement Advertisement Roy said his factory owner used to run 20 handlooms but now has only 10. "Some factories have shut down entirely," Roy said. With demand falling and costs rising, many weavers have abandoned the craft, turning to driving or construction work to survive. "We earn 700 taka ($6) per sari, and it takes at least two days to make one. How can a family of four live on 350 taka a day?" Raghunath Basak, president of a local sari traders' association, whose family has preserved Tangail weaving for generations, fears the craft may end with him. His ancestors migrated in search of weather and water suitable for weaving before settling in Tangail, nestled in a low-lying floodplain near the Jamuna River. Advertisement Advertisement "I brought my son into the profession too, but I don't know how he will cope after I am gone," Basak, 75, said from his showroom, where shiny crests line the walls. Despite high-profile clients -- from political leaders in India's West Bengal state to ousted Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who wore his sari to deliver a speech to the UN General Assembly -- Basak says the industry is struggling. - Cultural symbol - A halt to land-port trade with neighbouring India following a diplomatic fallout has also affected business. "We used to export saris by road and import yarn when local prices shot up. Now land ports on both sides are sealed. Export has become almost impossible," he said. Advertisement Advertisement In the 1960s, the sari emerged as a cultural symbol as Bengalis in what was then East Pakistan embraced their ethnic identity. But consumer preference is slowly shifting. Kaniz Neera, 45, buys two dozen Tangail saris a year, favouring their distinctive patterns and comfortable design, but worries that the younger generation is drifting away. "Sari is integral to our identity," she said. "My mother wears sari at home and outside. I wear it mostly outside. (But) girls now wear sari only on special occasions." But researchers remain cautiously optimistic. Shawon Akand, author of a book on the subject, notes that the Tangail sari is a relatively recent evolution by the descendants of Dhakai muslin weavers whose creations once captivated Mughal rulers and European aristocracy. Advertisement Advertisement "The Tangail weavers inherited fine yarn techniques from their ancestors and adapted with unique designs in Tangail sari," Akand told AFP. "Tangail sari will evolve. It will endure." sa/abh/lkd/mjw/lga Bangladesh has requested permission from the United States to purchase oil from Russia in an attempt to address an energy supply crunch triggered by the Middle East crisis, a senior minister said on Wednesday. "The US has already given a temporary waiver to India, allowing it to buy Russian oil. Why not Bangladesh? We want this as well," Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury told reporters after a meeting with the US ambassador to Bangladesh, Brent T Christensen, in Dhaka. The minister said that granting such a waiver would provide significant support for Bangladeshs economy. Advertisement Advertisement "They [the US side] said they would send the matter to Washington. Lets see what happens," Chowdhury said, noting that his discussions with the ambassador focused primarily on energy cooperation, including the possibility of long-term imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States. In a post on X, however, Ambassador Christensen, did not mention the request for a US waiver on Russian oil. "My old friend Finance Minister Khasru and I explored opportunities for increased collaboration on shared economic priorities," the US envoy wrote. He added that the US Treasury Office of Technical Assistance has been working with the Ministry of Finance to help advance goals for our mutual prosperity. Advertisement Advertisement On March 5, the Trump administration eased sanctions on Russian oil sales in response to surging energy prices and production disruptions in the Middle East. These disruptions followed US and Israeli attacks on Iran, which have affected supplies passing through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. Under the 30-day waiver announced by the US Treasury Department, India is permitted to purchase Russian oil that was stranded at sea from March 5 to April 4. Official data shows that Bangladesh imports energy products including LNG, petroleum products, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and coal worth more than $12 billion annually, with most supplies sourced from Middle Eastern markets. Advertisement Advertisement Uncertainty now surrounds scheduled deliveries due to the near total suspension of vessel movements through Hormuz. Meanwhile, Bangladesh has introduced fuel rationing amid fears that a prolonged Middle East conflict could further worsen the situation. The government, which took office less than a month before the war broke out, has implemented austerity measures to curb energy use. In the capital, Dhaka, and elsewhere, thousands of vehicles, mostly motorcycles, are seen waiting in long queues for hours at refueling stations. Under the new government order, a private car is now limited to 10 liters of gasoline per day, while a motorcycle may receive only five liters. Power and Energy Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood said on Sunday that as long as the conflict in the Middle East continues, pressure on energy supplies will persist. A Lafayette attorney who helped legitimize a massive solar investment scheme was sentenced Monday to more than 11 years in federal prison, closing another chapter in what prosecutors have described as the largest criminal fraud case prosecuted in California's Eastern District. U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd sentenced Ari J. Lauer, 61, to 11 years and five months in prison for his role in the DC Solar fraud scheme, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of California. The California State Bar placed Lauer on "involuntary inactive status" on Dec. 19, 2025, following his conviction. Advertisement Advertisement "Without the participation of Lauer, the DC Solar fraud scheme would never have been operational," U.S. Attorney Eric Grant said in a statement. "As the only attorney involved, he should have been the first person to recognize the fraud and stop it. Instead, he was the last person to accept responsibility, only doing so on the eve of trial." One week before his trial was set to begin, on Oct. 14, 2025, Lauer pleaded guilty to all charges without a written plea agreement. The conviction included one count of conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, 12 counts of bank fraud, and 10 counts of wire fraud affecting a financial institution. Prosecutors said Lauer served as outside counsel for DC Solar from roughly 2009 to January 2019, using his skills as a corporate lawyer to advise the company on legal and business matters while helping it "execute a sophisticated tax scheme" that raised hundreds of millions of dollars. Martinez residents Jeff and Paulette Carpoff, and their associates, marketed DC Solar mobile solar generators mounted on trailers and promoted them as environmentally friendly power sources used for cellphone towers and lighting at sporting events. Investors were drawn in part by lucrative federal tax credits tied to solar energy projects. Advertisement Advertisement The Carpoffs persuaded investors to purchase generators through multimillion-dollar deals, promising that the equipment would generate revenue through third-party leases. However, prosecutors said, DC Solar typically leased the equipment back from investors while claiming they were being subleased to other customers. Investors poured $912 million into deals with roughly 17,000 generators after being led to believe the devices were worth about $2.5 billion. Between 2011 and 2018, investors contributed about $759.4 million to DC Solar projects; meanwhile, financial institutions and other investors sent $152.7 million tied to generator purchases and leases. But as outside demand for DC Solar's generators fell far short of what investors had been promised, prosecutors said, Lauer helped craft a strategy to hide the gap. During a June 2012 meeting, Lauer, Jeff and Paulette Carpoff, and other conspirators agreed to disguise the lack of third-party lease income by moving investor funds between accounts and presenting the transfers as legitimate rental payments, a circular system they called "re-rent." Advertisement Advertisement According to prosecutors, real third-party demand never exceeded about 5% of the revenue DC Solar represented to its investors. Instead, the vast majority, about 94%-95%, of the lease revenue listed on the company's books came from internal re-rent transfers. Investigators added that Lauer and other conspirators also created sublease contracts with "concealed addendums" that altered the terms of the agreements used to solicit investors. FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel stated that Lauer "hid uncomfortable truths behind claims of confidentiality while profiting from the arrangement and mistakenly assumed that law enforcement would not catch on." The investigation was conducted by the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Office of Inspector General. Several other defendants connected to the scheme have already been sentenced, including Jeff Carpoff, who received 30 years in prison in 2021 and was ordered to pay $790.6 million in restitution. One remaining defendant, Walnut Creek resident Ronald J. Roach, has pleaded guilty to related charges and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 13. Linda Nguyen, special agent in charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Oakland field office, stated that Lauer and his co-conspirators' solar scheme caused significant harm. Advertisement Advertisement "White-collar crime is not victimless," Nguyen said. More News - Creator of Gmail makes one biggest donations in Calif. governor's race - 5 former California execs indicted in grocery store bribery case - Calif. teen dies on visit to Big Sur state park swimming hole - Nearly 100 Marin County car sales linked to 'Montana Loophole' scheme Sign up for daily SFGATE breaking news alerts here. This article originally published at Bay Area man gets 11 years for nearly $1 billion Ponzi scheme. Mar. 10Alaska's Republican U.S. Rep. Nick Begich III touted his record and urged the Legislature to take action to facilitate a natural gas pipeline Tuesday during his annual address at the state Capitol in Juneau. Begich, who is in his freshman term in Congress and running for reelection, asked state lawmakers "not to become a roadblock" to the Alaska LNG pipeline, a long-sought project now championed by President Donald Trump. Begich asked lawmakers to consider cutting taxes to incentivize the development. His remarks came as some lawmakers in the Alaska House and Senate majorities have expressed skepticism about the construction timeline for a project that is set to cost at least $44 billion. Advertisement Advertisement But that skepticism should not be interpreted as opposition to the project, said Sen. Bill Wielechowski, an Anchorage Democrat, after the address, pushing back on the notion that lawmakers are hindering the project's progress. Gov. Mike Dunleavy previously indicated he supports lowering property taxes for the project to incentivize investors but has yet to advance legislation to that effect. A bill introduced by the Senate Resources Committee earlier this month establishes new parameters for project oversight and taxation, but does not include the tax breaks sought by Dunleavy. "If that gas line is taxed from day one at full freight, it can fundamentally change the rate of return for investors and drive them away from the project," Begich said Tuesday. "I think there's a couple creative ways that we might be able to deal with that. One is to provide a slope of relief, where the greatest amount of tax relief is provided at the beginning, and then that rises to a reasonable level." Advertisement Advertisement Begich told lawmakers that investors in the pipeline "need fiscal stability, clarity on property tax treatment, a stable production tax and royalty structure and a state permitting process that matches federal speed." "Scrutinize it, model it, demand an independent analysis, but don't let process become the bottleneck. Every month of delay is a month that a competing project locks up a buyer that could have been ours," Begich told lawmakers. Wielechowski, who serves on the Senate Resources Committee, said that he was surprised by Begich's remarks. "I fear that it's mistaking due diligence for roadblocks," Wielechowski said. "This state has a long history of giving industry whatever they want with very little oversight and very little due diligence." Advertisement Advertisement "We just have to do our due diligence to make sure that we're not going to get in a situation where it's going to cost the state a large amount of money, or it's going to potentially raise the rates on consumers in Southcentral," Wielechowski said. Tax reform for the gas line was not the only request Begich made of legislators. He also called on them to invest in vocational and technical education programs to train welders, pipe fitters, heavy equipment operators and marine engineers, who will be needed to build the natural gas pipeline if the project moves ahead. Alaska increasingly relies on nonresidents to fill jobs, particularly in resource development industries. Begich also called on lawmakers to establish qualifications and sector representation criteria for Alaska's seats on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, which oversees fishing in federal waters off the coast of Alaska. It is up to the governor of Alaska to forward recommendations to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, who appoints members to the board. "What I'm envisioning at the federal level is ... a seat for sport, at least one seat for rural subsistence, at least one seat for urban subsistence, at least one seat for small commercial," Begich told reporters after his address. "I want to make sure that the seats that we have on the council that every user group is adequately represented." Advertisement Advertisement Legislative record About a dozen protesters gathered outside the Capitol before the address, taking turns reading from the Constitution. Anjuli Grantham, member of local activist group Juneau for Democracy, said activists had organized the reading before Begich's speech because "his actions indicate he is unaware of its contents." Protesters criticized his support for legislation requiring stricter forms of identification to vote, and the U.S.'s involvement in the war in Iran. Protesters lined the halls as Begich arrived at the House chambers while a similar number of his supporters were on hand, many holding signs saying, "Thank you Nick." One supporter said they were impressed with the number of bills he had passed as a freshman in the U.S. House. Begich said that with 11 of his bills passing the House and five of them getting signed into law by President Donald Trump, he is on track to having "the most productive first term ever in the United States House." Advertisement Advertisement He listed some of his early accomplishments in his address to lawmakers, including shepherding to passage a series of bills that had previously been introduced by his predecessors in Alaska's lone U.S. House seat, and undoing several environmental protection actions undertaken by former President Joe Biden. "These wins happen because our team stays focused. We build coalitions. We seek opportunities for support, and we put in the work," Begich said. Among the bills championed by Begich are three intended to benefit Alaska Natives that were signed into law last summer. The three had previously been introduced by former U.S. Reps. Don Young, also a Republican, and Mary Peltola, a Democrat, in the House, and by U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan in the Senate. He also celebrated the passage of resolutions that nullified several federal policies adopted under Biden to limit resource development on federal land in Alaska. One reversed a decision by federal officials under Biden to limit resource development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Another reversed a Biden-era resource management plan for Central Yukon. A third did away with land protections within the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. All three, signed into law by Trump in December, passed largely along party lines with support from Republicans and near-unanimous opposition from Democrats. Advertisement Advertisement "The door that was closed for many years is now open, and unlike before, it cannot simply be shut by an administrative action," said Begich. Begich has also sponsored legislation to convey federal land to the Southcentral Foundation; facilitate a land exchange between the federal government and the Chugach Alaska Corp.; and reauthorize the National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System, among other provisions. Begich promised "pathways for billions in future energy revenue for the state of Alaska" through the budget reconciliation bill that passed last summer with support from congressional Republicans, including all three members of the Alaska delegation. That legislation promised an increase in Alaska's future royalty share on federal oil and gas leases beginning in 2035. It also promised future oil lease sales, Begich said, including one planned for March 18 in the NPR-A. "The March 18 lease sale is the beginning of a new chapter, and it sends a signal to global markets that Alaska is a serious opportunity in a region far more stable than many abroad," said Begich. Advertisement Advertisement Begich's opponents in this year's election responded to his speech by pointing to other aspects of the budget reconciliation bill, including new Medicaid work requirements that are projected to eliminate coverage for thousands of Alaskans, and the extension of tax cuts that primarily benefit high earners. "If Nick Begich wants to talk about results, he should explain why his time in Washington has been about cutting taxes for himself and the ultra-wealthy while making health care less affordable and the cost of living higher for the people he was sent there to represent," Democratic candidate Matt Schultz said in a statement. Independent candidate Bill Hill said that Begich "has made daily life more expensive for Alaskans, kicked thousands of people off their health care, all to pay for huge tax payouts to wealthy special interests and large corporations. Nothing he said today changes that reality." Iris Samuels reported from Anchorage and Mari Kanagy reported from Juneau. A Baltimore County jury convicted a Bethesda man of first-degree premeditated murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and using a firearm in a violent crime in Dundalk. Keith Brian Russell, 40, was found guilty in connection with a March 2, 2022, drive-by shooting that killed Tayvon Scott. Police said Scott was shot multiple times in the back, chest, arms and legs while sitting in his vehicle around 2:35 p.m. Investigators said Scott had no connection to Russell or his accomplice, who fired from both the drivers and passengers seats using a .223 rifle and a .45 handgun. This case demonstrates our relentless commitment to hold violent criminals accountable, said ATF Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer. Baltimore County Police Chief Robert McCullough praised the teamwork of homicide detectives and state and federal partners in securing the conviction. Advertisement Advertisement Russell was sentenced on March 3 by Judge Keith R. Truffer to life in prison plus 45 years in the Division of Corrections. An attorney for Russell could not be immediately reached for comment. The shooting that led to the conviction occurred in broad daylight outside Scotts Dundalk home. Baltimore County police said officers were called around 2:30 p.m. to the 1900 block of Ewald Avenue and found the 43-year-old Scott slumped in his car. Emergency medical services transported him to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead nearly 24 hours later. Neighbors said Scott was sitting in his minivan at the end of Ewald Avenue when an unknown person or persons drove up and opened fire. A neighbors video shows an officer removing Scott from the vehicle, whose driver- and passenger-side windows were shattered. Advertisement Advertisement Residents recalled hearing more than eight gunshots, audible from blocks away. Several neighbors gathered around Scotts car as police performed CPR. Blue shards of glass remained scattered on the street and nearby lawns the following day. Scott had been parked across from Jamie Shupes home when the shooting occurred. One bullet tore through her front gate, leaving a roughly 2-inch hole. Another struck a window without penetrating and a third hit the brick facade beneath her sons window. Shupe, who recently moved to the street, said the broad daylight shooting reinforced her decision to relocate. Nearby Sandy Plains Elementary School went into lockdown, and Baltimore County police spent hours combing her yard for shell casings and other evidence. Have a news tip? Contact Todd Karpovich at tkarpovich@baltsun.com or on X as @ToddKarpovich. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday that the Iranian regime is making a "big mistake" by continuing to attack its neighbors even after the country's president apologized to bordering countries and vowed to stop. As the Middle East countries of Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates announced on Tuesday that they were under attack by Iran's ballistic missiles and drones, Hegseth said the Iranian strategy is driving its neighbors to side with the United States. "Big mistake by the Iranian regime to start targeting its neighbors right away, exposing who they are and what they're all about -- indiscriminate targeting, flailing recklessly at the beginning," Hegseth said during a Pentagon press briefing Tuesday morning with Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. ABC News - PHOTO: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during a press conference at the Pentagon in Washington, March 10, 2026. Hegseth's comments came after President Donald Trump told Fox News Monday night that he was "surprised" that the Iranian regime was continuing to attack Arab countries in the region. Advertisement Advertisement "One of the things that surprised me most was when they attacked countries that were not attacking them," Trump said. "When we attacked them, we knocked out 50% of their missiles. And if we didn't, it would have been a much harder fight." But on Tuesday, Hegseth said, "We knew it was a possibility." Since the conflict began, there have been mixed messages between the president and his top aides, giving different rationales for launching the war. Trump has said at various times that Iran presented an "imminent threat" to U.S. allies and American interests in the region. But Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the imminent threat was really fear of a retaliatory strike by Iran, knowing that Israel was poised to strike first with or without the United States. Hamad I Mohammed/Reuters - PHOTO: This photo shows a building that was damaged by an Iranian drone attack in Seef, Manama, Bahrain, on March 1, 2026. Since the joint U.S.-Israel military operation began on Feb. 28, the governments of Jordan, Kuwait, Turkey, Iraq, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman have all reported being targeted by Iranian missile and drone strikes. Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday morning, authorities in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, said in a post on X that an Iranian drone attack caused a fire in the Ruwais Industrial Complex, the site of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company facilities. Fadel Senna/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: A plume of black smoke rises from the port of Fujairah in the UAE on March 4, 2026. The UAE Ministry of Defense said in a separate social media post that its air defense detected eight ballistic missiles and 35 drones launched into its territory by Iran on Tuesday. The Ministry of Defense said eight of the nine missiles were destroyed and one fell into the sea, while 26 of the drones were intercepted. The minister of defense for Qatar also announced on Tuesday on X that "armed forces intercepted a missile attack which targeted the State of Qatar." Iran will 'spread the pain' with more attacks on US Middle East allies, analysts say Advertisement Advertisement The Qatari Ministry of Defense said five ballistic missiles from Iran were intercepted by Qatar's Armed Forces. "Our Armed Forces, by the grace of God, successfully intercepted and neutralized (5) ballistic missiles with no casualties or damages reported," the Ministry of Defense said in a social media post. US Navy - PHOTO: Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Bulkeley fires Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles in support of Operation Epic Fury, March 4, 2026. On Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a stern warning to the Iranians after an Iranian missile was launched at Turkey and was shot down by NATO defense forces. "Despite our sincere warnings, provocative steps are being taken (by Iran), which will jeopardize the friendship of Turkey," Erdogan said during a press conference on Monday in Ankara. Advertisement Advertisement In a readout of a phone conversation on Monday between Erdogan and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, made public by the Turkish president's office, Pezeshkian denied responsibility for the attacks on Turkey. According to the readout, Pezeshkian claimed the missiles that entered Turkey's airspace did not originate from Iran. 'The streets are emptier than ever': Iranians describe life as US escalates war The Iranian attacks on its neighbors have continued despite Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's apology on Saturday for the attacks. "I should apologize to the neighboring countries that were attacked by Iran, on my own behalf," Pezeshkian said in a statement. "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." Advertisement Advertisement Following Pezeshkian's statement, Iran's military arm, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), also weighed in. "Following the statements of the president, the armed forces once again declare that they respect the interests and national sovereignty of neighboring countries and, up to this point, have committed no aggression against them," an IRGC statement carried by state media said. IRGC added, "However, should the previous hostile actions continue, all military bases and interests of criminal America and the fake Zionist regime on land, at sea, and in the air across the region will be considered primary targets and will come under the powerful and crushing strikes of the mighty armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran." Trump says he's 'willing to live with' final US report on deadly missile strike near Iranian girls' school Advertisement Advertisement But at Monday's Pentagon press briefing, Hegseth said the Iranian regime's attacks were "pushing those countries in our direction to support this effort, further alienating Iran." "I can't say that we anticipated necessarily that's exactly how they would react, but we knew it was a possibility and I think it was a demonstration of the desperation of that regime then and that regime now," Hegseth said. He added that Iran "still thinks their pathway out is to try to alienate their Arab partners even more, who've instead decided to come to us and have been willing to go on the offense." A bill requiring Tennessee public schools to gather data on student immigration status and report it to the state education department advanced out of a House legislative committee Tuesday. The bill (HB073/SB0836) was introduced last year as part of a Republican effort to challenge Supreme Court precedent requiring public schools to enroll all children regardless of immigration status. As originally introduced, the bill would have allowed Tennessee public school districts to refuse to enroll immigrant students who could not provide proof of legal status or charge their families tuition. But the controversial measure stalled, in part due to concerns it could jeopardize more than $1.1 billion in federal education funding. Advertisement Advertisement House Majority Leader William Lamberth, a Portland Republican who sponsored the measure, told a legislative committee Tuesday the bill in its amended form is now literally a data bill to give state leaders reliable information on the number of students without legal immigration status enrolled in taxpayer funded schools. Provisions allowing schools to deny enrollment or charge tuition have been stripped from the bill. But opponents of the measure, among them educators, immigrant advocates and Democratic lawmakers, have questioned how the data will ultimately be used, how educators untrained in immigration law can reliably review complex immigration documentation and how the specter of being asked to produce immigration paperwork in schools would impact children and families. Lamberth last week deflected questions about the ultimate use of student immigration data, which the legislation specifies would be reported to the state in aggregate, non-identifying formats. We can take whatever action down the road that this body would choose to take, after the data was gathered, he said then. Advertisement Advertisement A statement Tuesday from Lisa Sherman Luna, executive director of TIRRC Votes, raised continued alarms about the ultimate goal of student immigration status data gathering. TIRRC is the political arm of the Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition. Across history, weve seen the dangers of governments making and keeping lists of the people that they think dont belong, the statement said. But rather than learn from our past, these power-hungry politicians, desperate for Trumps approval, are doubling down on their efforts to identify and track immigrant students in the hopes of one day being able to exclude them from our schools. The bill is cosponsored by Sen. Bo Watson, a Hixson Republican. The full senate passed the bill in its original form in April but has yet to take it up in its amended form this year. The House and Senate versions of the bill would have to be reconciled before the legislation could ultimately advance to the governors desk. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX In one of the most conservative congressional districts in the US, a special election in Georgia to replace former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has produced an unusual runoff: a Democrat got through the primary gauntlet to face a Republican endorsed by President Donald Trump. And in a surprise, the Democrat was ahead. Most Read from Bloomberg The Democrat, Shawn Harris, a retired Army general and cattle farmer, and Clay Fuller, a Trump-backed district attorney, advanced Tuesday after neither candidate won a majority of votes in a 17-candidate field. The two will face off in an April 7 runoff to fill the remainder of Greenes term through the end of this year. Harris led Fuller 37% to 35% with more than 95% of the vote counted, according to the elections analysis website Decision Desk HQ though if you add up totals from all 17 of the candidates on the ballot, Republicans had more total votes than the Democrats accumulated. The district is a test of whether Democrats can capitalize on fractured Republican primaries even in strongly conservative districts. The 14th District is the most conservative in Georgia, a place where Trump pulled 68% of the vote in 2024. If Harris hadnt done well, two Republicans could have faced off in the runoff. Trump weighed in on the results Wednesday morning, saying Fuller will be a fantastic congressman. But he also warned against overconfidence in what is historially a solid Republican district. Now we have to be careful and finish it off, Trump said in a social media post. Harriss strong performance here even if Republicans ultimately win the runoff signals a warning for dozens of GOP candidates that seats previously considered safe could be more competitive than previously thought. The race is unfolding as voters nationally express concern about a range of issues, including the war in Iran, the release of documents tied to the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and the cost of everyday goods. The district which stretches across the northwest corner of the state along the Tennessee border has long been reliably Republican, giving Greene about 65% of the vote in 2024 with Trump atop the ticket. Greene, a high-profile conservative who rose to national prominence as one of Trumps most vocal allies in Congress, resigned in January after a public break with the president and disagreements over several issues, including the handling of files related to Epstein. There are 32 attorneys, investigators and specialists in the Missouri State Public Defender Office dedicated to preventing the wrongful execution of innocent people on death row. The agency spends almost $3 million each year on salaries for these personnel, said Matthew Crowell, director of Missouris public defender system. Were also using 16 of my best and most experienced attorneys to handle 11 cases out of 90,000, Crowell said. Advertisement Advertisement Guards, parole officers and other corrections staff also spend years of their working lives alongside Missourians who are sentenced to death supervising them in the visiting room and locking them up for bad behavior. Need to get in touch? Have a news tip? CONTACT US And these staff are still watching the state take the life of that person, said Dr. Heidi Moore, executive director of Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty and a former institutional parole officer in Potosi Correctional Center. As Missouri lawmakers this week once again consider a bill that would abolish the death penalty, religious leaders, advocates and a former lawmaker urged them to heed the financial and human costs of capital punishment in the state. Advertisement Advertisement The bill, sponsored by Republican state Rep. Jim Murphy of St. Louis County, would mandate a sentence of life imprisonment without parole for people convicted of first degree murder or other serious crimes. It would not alter the sentences of Missourians already on death row. Lawmakers have sponsored similar bills in each of the past five years. Murphys bill did not get a committee hearing last year. Since 1973, at least 202 people nationwide have been exonerated after being sentenced to death, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. In Missouri, four people have been acquitted or had their charges dropped after receiving the death sentence since 1999. The state, frankly, makes mistakes, Murphy told reporters. Advertisement Advertisement But it was the experience of a victims family that led Murphy to change his position on the death penalty, he said. During his first run for office eight years ago, he spoke with a man who witnessed the killing of his parents in their house as a child. The man opposed the death penalty because the mandatory appeals process for capital sentences delayed closure for him and his family, Murphy said. Missouri law requires the state Supreme Court to review all death sentences, giving the court the choice of affirming the trial courts sentence, re-sentencing or remanding the case to the lower court. The next 15 years, over and over and over again, he and his family were dragged back to court, appeal after appeal after appeal, Murphy said. Advertisement Advertisement The man told Murphy the state should do away with the death penalty. We cant continue to relive this, he told Murphy. Financial and human costs Two religious leaders testified in support of the bill, citing the sanctity of life and urging against irreversible punishment. Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski of the Archdiocese of St. Louis described the death penalty as an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the human person and quoted Pope John Paul II, who during a 1999 trip to St. Louis urged the abolition of the death penalty and called on people to be unconditionally pro-life. The death penalty, Rozanski said, also deprives the offender of the opportunity of redemption. Advertisement Advertisement Advocates and members of the legal team for Lance Shockley a man who was convicted in 2009 of murdering a Missouri State Highway patrolman, insisted on his innocence and was executed in October argued last year that his work as a mentor to fellow inmates in Potosi should have qualified him to continue that role while incarcerated. Republican state Rep. Barry Hovis of Whitewater said he was concerned that there would be no possibility of meaningful consequences for people sentenced to life without parole who might kill a fellow incarcerated person or guard. Theyre not going to be able to get to double life without parole, Hovis said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement Clifton Davis, representing Missouri Justice Coalition, told committee members that while he was an inmate in the states Department of Corrections, most of the men he met who had received death sentences were housed in the honor dorm as a reward for good behavior. Yes, men on death row violated the rules, like all of us violate the rules, but I dont know a single case of a man on death row killing anyone, Davis said. I do know individuals who were not on death row that have killed other offenders while they were serving sentences that were parolable. The Rev. Brian Kaylor, a Baptist minister from Jefferson City, encouraged lawmakers to do whats best for the state. What is actually justice? Kaylor asked. What is actually fiscally responsible? What is actually going to work? Advertisement Advertisement Crowell, of the state public defenders office, told lawmakers that abolishing the death penalty would allow his agency to devote more resources to other cases and services that could keep people out of the criminal justice system. Id be able to reassign the capital attorneys and staff to our many non-death penalty clients throughout the state and to recidivism-reducing programs, Crowell said. Missourians would get far more value for their dollar. But Republican state Rep. Jim Kalberloh of Lowry City said victims families should be able to express to prosecutors if they want to pursue the death penalty. While thats ultimately the prosecutors choice, Crowell said, prosecutors often look to families wishes for guidance. Advertisement Advertisement Thats the way it should be, Kalberloh said. If they dont want [the death penalty], then we ought not to do that. If they do want it, I dont know that I want to take that choice away. Davis said what he hears from supporters of the death penalty is always, what about the victims? Well, he said, theres a lot of things we could do to reduce victims. Prospects The bill has bipartisan support that spans both legislative chambers. Democratic state Rep. Steve Butz of St. Louis told reporters he supports Murphys bill, partly because of his experience of his sisters murder 15 years ago. Butzs dad told prosecutors he didnt want to pursue the death penalty. Advertisement Advertisement He said, My faith says all life is sacred, even this murderers life, Butz said. Republican state Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman of Arnold told reporters that vengeance is not the same as justice. She is sponsoring a bill that would keep judges from deciding on the death penalty in cases when there is a hung jury. If we are a pro-life state, and I believe that we are, Coleman said, we need to be protecting even those who deserve it the least. This story was updated at 4:30 p.m. on March 11, 2026 to clarify that the bill did not get a committee hearing last year. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE An employee at a Boost Mobile in Union City is fighting to stay alive weeks after being shot during an armed robbery. Police say a masked gunman came into the store on Feb. 24 and shoved a gun in the employees face before firing. The employees family has identified him as 28-year-old Irving. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] They say Irving was shot in the stomach and suffered severe damage to several of his organs. He has already had several surgeries, and his family says doctors were hopeful about his recovery. Advertisement Advertisement Irving has since suffered complications and is in the ICU at Grady Memorial Hospital. His family describes him as a loving father and a hard worker. TRENDING STORIES: "He is very family-oriented and focuses on working and providing for his loved ones. He enjoys spending time with his family and playing dominoes, and anyone who knows him knows he has a big heart and always puts his family first," they wrote in an online fundraiser. Advertisement Advertisement Last month, Channel 2s Michael Seiden reported on the shooting. Police told him then that they believed the suspect was responsible for another armed robbery at a Dollar General earlier that month. At that time, no suspects had been arrested. Channel 2 Action News checked back with the Union City Police Department, but did not receive an update. Irvings family has set up a GoFundMe to offset his medical costs. Click here to donate. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] I know what can happen when an American president calls for an uprising and then doesn't get involved when it starts. That's because I've seen it before. In 1991, on 15 February to be precise, the first President George Bush made a speech that he probably regretted until the end of his days. It was at the factory in Massachusetts where they built Patriot interceptors, which were making their debut as the most advanced weapon of that first Gulf war. Advertisement Advertisement Patriots, which shoot down incoming missiles, still have a vital role in Ukraine and in the war with Iran. When Bush went to the Patriot factory, Desert Storm, the massive military operation to drive Iraqi troops out of Kuwait was under way. The combined air forces of the US, the UK and their allies were hammering them -and Iraq's cities. Tens of thousands of allied troops were massed on Iraq and Kuwait's borders for the ground war, which was still nine days away. I was in Baghdad, my hands full reporting the war. A few days earlier the Americans had killed more than 400 civilians in an airstrike on a shelter in the suburb of Amiriyah. Advertisement Advertisement The Americans and British claimed, wrongly, that it was a command centre, but I'd seen the bodies, almost all children, women and old men, and seen the still smouldering shelter, so I knew that wasn't true. Back then, I didn't notice Bush's speech. But 35 years later I think about it every time I hear Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu telling the people of Iran that they're being given a once in a generation chance to overthrow the Islamic Republic, without promising them direct military support. Bush was at the Patriot factory to praise the workers who made what was seen as a miracle weapon. Advertisement Advertisement In a couple of quick paragraphs, he said Iraq's ruler Saddam Hussein should comply with the United Nations resolutions to pull out of Kuwait. Unlike the current war with Iran, the first Gulf war had the legal authorisation of the UN Security Council. Bush then uttered a couple of lines that had immense consequences. "There's another way for the bloodshed to stop...and that is for the Iraqi military and the Iraqi people to take matters into their own hands and force Saddam Hussein, the dictator, to step aside" The workers whooped and applauded, and the president went back to rallying Americans who were in their first major war since the disaster of Vietnam. A US soldier during a patrol in Iraq in 2003 [Stefan Zalkin/EPA-EFE] But some Iraqis took him seriously. Advertisement Advertisement After Iraq's army was expelled from Kuwait, a ceasefire left Hussein in power. Iraqi Shias in the south and Kurds in the north of the country started an armed revolt against his regime. The Americans, the British and the other nations making up the coalition watched what was happening and did not intervene. The Iraqi regime was badly damaged by the war, but it had been allowed to keep its helicopters and they led a counter offensive that killed thousands of Kurds and Iraqi Shia Muslims who believed that their rebellions had the blessing of the US president. But they made the mistake of assuming he would intervene to make sure the uprising succeeded. Advertisement Advertisement By then I was in the freezing, snowy mountains in the Kurdish north. Tens of thousands of Kurds fled there - with horrific stories of killing by Hussein's men - and every morning I saw fathers bringing down the bodies of their children, small bundles wrapped in blankets, who had died on mountainsides in the night of exposure or dysentery. The Americans, the British, the French and others in the end were shamed into a big humanitarian operation to rescue the Kurds. In the south, the Shia were not so lucky. The consequences of that first Gulf war went on for years; a commitment to fly air patrols to enforce a no-fly zone, permanent American bases and in Saudi Arabia a young Osama Bin Laden, furious that foreign troops had in his eyes violated the land of Islam's holiest shrines, was putting together the organisation that became Al Qaeda. Advertisement Advertisement Each Gulf war planted the seeds of the next. In 2003, the second President Bush ousted Hussein, completing what he believed was his father's unfinished business. Iran was a big winner in that war. The Americans, obligingly, had removed its bitter enemy, Saddam Hussein. This third Gulf war is aimed at undoing the Islamic Republic's rise to regional power that accelerated after 2003. The bombing is designed to smash its military and nuclear ambitions, which Israel, especially, regards as a threat to its existence. Trump's decision to go to war, for the first time as a joint venture with Israel, is unpopular in America, latest polls show, and alarming for America's allies, with the exception of course of the Israelis. Advertisement Advertisement What if the sceptics are wrong? Perhaps analysts and commentators have let their distaste for Trump cloud their judgement. Maybe it doesn't matter that he insults allies whose soldiers fought and died alongside Americans in other Middle Eastern wars, or that sometimes he tells lies. He claimed that Iran could have fired a Tomahawk missile in the attack on a school that Iran says killed more than 165 people, including many schoolgirls. Iran doesn't have Tomahawk missiles. All that, Trump and his supporters argue, is fake news. They say higher petrol prices for a while will be worth it, if this war stops Iran getting a nuclear weapon and long-range ballistic missiles that would threaten not just Gulf states and Israel but also Europe and even America. Advertisement Advertisement The US Secretary of Defence, Pete Hegseth - rebranded as Secretary of War -slammed European scruples about the use of force without UN authorisation or a convincing case of self-defence. Hegseth laid into "so many of our traditional allies who wring their hands and clutch their pearls, hemming and hawing about the use of force." But it's already clear that ending the war will not be simple, and its consequences are at best uncertain and at worst dangerous. Israel has its own agenda. Netanyahu is clear eyed about what he wants. He believes he can achieve a lifelong dream - to destroy the Islamic Republic of Iran. Advertisement Advertisement In a speech on the war's second day, he said that with 'the assistance' of the United States, Israel was able to do "what I have yearned to do for forty years: smite the terror regime hip and thigh. This is what I promised and this is what we shall do." Like Trump, he's called for a popular uprising in Iran. Israel does not seem concerned about Iran descending into violent chaos. It might even be a good outcome for them. America, Israel and their supporters believe that removing the Iranian regime will make the world safer. They could be right. It's an unsavoury, violent regime that in January killed thousands of fellow Iranians in the streets for marching against repression, corruption and economic collapse. It enriched uranium to levels that could be turned into a nuclear bomb. But they're wrong if the war's consequences touch off a catastrophe on the scale of the one that started with the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Removing Hussein, Iraq's dictator, without a workable plan to replace his regime led to hundreds of thousands of deaths in years of sectarian killing and civil war and a vacuum of power that incubated the jihadist extremists who morphed into Islamic State, whose successors will be looking at ways to take advantage of this new crisis. Netanyahu has contemplated war with Iran many times but has always recognised that Israel would need the help of an American president prepared to go to war too. Finally, there is one - Trump. Previous presidents - including Bill Clinton, the first one Netanyahu dealt with as prime minister thirty years ago - would not do it. They were content to contain and deter Iran, keeping war in reserve if it really did try to get a nuclear weapon. And they didn't act to a very large degree because of what is happening now; an Iranian response designed to defy American power, to spread the war, cause huge economic damage and disrupt carefully constructed alliances between the US and Gulf countries, which tried to stop the war happening. Now Iran has turned them into targets. With China waiting in the wings, they might reassess the value of an alliance with the US and rapprochement with Israel, especially if Trump declares victory and leaves Saudi Arabia and the others to clear up the mess. Trump, who promised Americans no more forever wars, might find himself keeping forces in the Middle East that he would rather were free to face China. It is more straightforward for the Israelis. They see the best opportunity they have ever had to reorder the Middle East and strengthen their position as the unchallenged military hegemon. They are aiming to destroy Iran's Lebanese ally, Hezbollah, once and for all, something they've tried and failed to do since the 1990s. While the attention of the world is on Iran, Israel is also taking more steps towards the effective annexation of the occupied West Bank. Trump might learn that starting wars is much easier than ending them. It is hard to know when to stop if you don't know exactly where you're going. It is even harder to do that when the US, the world's most powerful country seems to have gone to war without a coherent political strategy, under a president who the evidence suggests is making it up as he goes along. NEED TO KNOW An Alabama man is facing criminal charges after allegedly assaulting a woman The man allegedly confronted his 13-year-old son, who punched him several times in the face, authorities allege The man had been knocked unconscious when police found him, authorities said A 13-year-old Alabama boy knocked out his father after the man attacked him and a woman, police allege. On Monday, March 9, deputies were called to a home in Foley where a man had allegedly tried to strangle a woman during an argument, according to the Baldwin County Sheriffs Office, WALA/KOLO8, Fox10 and WBRC report. Advertisement Advertisement When the man, identified as Daniel Hernandez-Lopez, 32, went outside, he was confronted by his 13-year-old son, the sheriff's office said. Hernandez-Lopez allegedly lunged at the boy and tried to hit him with a bicycle, the sheriff's office said. In response, the teen allegedly punched his father several times in the face, knocking him unconscious, the sheriff's office said. The man appeared to be highly intoxicated, the sheriff's office alleged. Hernandez was arrested on Tuesday, March 10 at 1:40 p.m., and remains held in the Baldwin County Jail, according to online jail records. His mugshot shows his eyes, lips and face bloody and swollen. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. He is charged with domestic violence strangulation, according to online jail records. Advertisement Advertisement It is unclear whether he has retained an attorney who can speak on his behalf. The Baldwin County Sheriff's Office did not respond to requests for information. If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages. Read the original article on People TOPEKA (KSNT) Many in Topeka are eagerly awaiting the arrival of a regional ice cream chain in 2026. But can locals expect to get it before the year is over? We checked back in with Braums Ice Cream & Dairy Store this week to find out if Topeka will be getting one of the chains stores in the city anytime in the near future. A spokeswoman for the company said the 2026 new store construction schedule doesnt include any new locations for Kansas currently. Braums confirmed in the fall of 2025 that it owns three separate sites in Topeka. These include the following locations: Advertisement Advertisement 3644 SW Burlingame Rd. 1251 SW Gage Blvd/1241 SW Gage Blvd. 700 SW Topeka Blvd. Customers at Braums stores can expect to find more than just ice cream. People can grab burgers, sandwiches, salads and more off the menu at Braums stores while also having the opportunity to shop for common grocery items including meat, milk and fresh produce. A look back at the catastrophic 1951 flood 75 years after it hit Topeka Braums owns stores in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas. You can learn more about the company by clicking here. For more local eats news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Advertisement Advertisement Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf 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 KSNT 27 News. Left: Mojtaba Khamenei (Photo by Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via AP) RIGHT: Ukrainian anti-air interceptor drone (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) The FBI has warned police departments in California that Iran may retaliate against the United States by launching drones aimed at inflicting damage on the countrys west coast, according to a bombshell ABC News report. We recently acquired information that as of early February 2026, Iran allegedly aspired to conduct a surprise attack using unmanned aerial vehicles from an unidentified vessel off the coast of the United State Homeland, specifically against unspecified targets in California, in the event that the US conducted strikes against Iran. We have no additional information on the timing, method, target, or perpetrators of this alleged attack, read an alert offered by the bureau at the end of last month and the outset of the Trump administrations ongoing operation in Iran. Advertisement Advertisement American officials have expressed similar concerns about Mexican drug cartels potential use of drone warfare. ABC News John Cohen, the former head of intelligence for the Department of Homeland Security, commented on the troubling development. We know Iran has an extensive presence in Mexico and South America, they have relationships, they have the drones and now they have the incentive to conduct attacks, said Cohen. The FBI is smart for putting this warning out so that state and locals can be better able to prepare and respond to these types of threats. Information like this is critically important for law enforcement. The post BREAKING: The FBI Is Worried About Iranian Drone Attacks on West Coast first appeared on Mediaite. (Editor's note: This article has been updated to include additional information, photos and video. Information was also corrected as more facts became available.) South Burlington Police and Vermont State Police explained their presence at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrest on Wednesday. "We understand we have neighbors who are very, very concerned and rightfully so," said South Burlington Police Chief William Breault during the press conference that started about 9:30 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement The press conference came about 14 hours after his department received a 911 call reporting a multi-vehicle accident on Dorset Street, which his officers determined to include ICE vehicles "We are not enforcing the federal immigration laws," Breault said. Breault said he did not think ICE should have tried to make a traffic stop arrest on a main road that close to middle and high schools during the morning commute. He also suggested ICE officers should have executed the criminal warrant at a later time. "I will let them speak to why they did what they did ... I offered my suggestions as did others." Advertisement Advertisement ICE and federal officials declined an invitation from Breault to the joint Wednesday press conference. Breault said that while police were still investigating the incident and would be reviewing all actions, he wanted to answer questions for the public as quickly as possible. That would not have been how I would have done it. Ill be clear about that. From the beginning, this plan was not executed to the standard that local law enforcement here in South Burlington and Im sure the chief in Burlington and the state police would agree not how we would do things, Breault said. He said his officers and other local law enforcement were trying to protect people's right to peacefully protest and to protect everyone's safety including that of federal law enforcement. Breault said he believed four protestors were detained, but Migrant Justice put the number at eight. All of the protestors detained were released on Wednesday night. Advertisement Advertisement "We monitored the crowd, explained our purpose for being there, which was to protect peaceful protest," Breault said, a sentiment echoed by the Vermont State Police. When asked if troopers entered the home, which some of the immigration rights advocates say would have been against state rules for law enforcement, VSP Capt. Debra Munson said they may have entered the threshold but did not assist in the arrest. She said they maintained the threshold for the safety of all on scene. Did the protests in South Burlington turn violent The scene on Dorset Street turned violent after protestors interfered with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrest of a man in South Burlington just before 6 p.m. Wednesday. After about an hour, authorities set off flash-bangs and used some form of gas on the crowd in an attempt to get the more than 200 people to disperse. The crowd had filled the streets and sidewalks about 7 p.m., surrounding law enforcement vehicles in the road and trying to stop them from driving away. Advertisement Advertisement The crowd had grown through the course of the day after ICE officers surrounded a home in South Burlington Wednesday morning. That's where, local police said, a man fled after crashing a car into multiple vehicles and running away from ICE, though Migrant Justice disputed authorities account of the early-morning incident. Police and federal officers fought with protesters as the scene unfolded, and authorities detained multiple people after demonstrators blocked in law enforcement vehicles and threw bottles and other items. An ICE officer could also be heard saying they would use tear gas on demonstrators. Activists and police gave differing numbers for people detained. Migrant Justice said at as of 9 p.m., eight protesters had been detained and released and three immigrants remained in holding. South Burlington police said four people were detained. When the warrant was executed about 5:40 p.m., the crowd swelled to prevent the Vermont State Police tactical unit from approaching the door. The troopers cleared people away from the door and federal officers entered the building. Advertisement Advertisement Local law enforcement gathered in the streets to help with crowd control as well as with the execution of the warrant. Did ICE agents have a warrant to make the arrest in South Burlington At approximately 5 p.m., agents produced a signed criminal warrant to Vermont troopers and city police who were on scene as the number of demonstrators grew throughout the nearly 12-hour incident. A crowd of approximately 150 to 200 people gathered on the main street and the lawn of the house during the day. There was also mix of law enforcement and media in the area. The warrant will allow ICE agents to enter the home on Dorset Street. What happened during the day Wednesday About 1:35 p.m., protesters escorted a child from the house shrouded by a blanket and umbrellas into an SUV that pulled up to cheers and applause. Advertisement Advertisement By 4 p.m. protestors remained outside the house, including Sean OHearn, who said demonstrators were prepared to remain at the residence despite the plans of federal agents.If they go into the house with or without a warrant, were going to impede them nonviolently, and they are going to have to physically remove us, said OHearnHe is part of what he said was a response team with Migrant Justice and also Chittenden-Addison County ICE Watch.Those gathered outside the home were organized into three groups, he said, including a red team consisting of those he said were willing to be arrested.Others in the yellow and green teams he said were there in a support role.Im going to be part of red, he said. South Burlington police said the officers with Immigration and Customs Enforcement's removal operations unit had been trying to capture the man around 345 Dorset St. when he drove away. The ICE officers tried to box in the man's vehicle in a parking lot nearby, city police said, and the driver escaped and damaged several federal vehicles. As the man drove away, he drove over a grassy median onto Dorset Street and struck a minivan head-on near the fire department and high school, city police said. Then he abandoned his vehicle, according to city police, who got calls about the situation around 7:40 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Abel Luna of Migrant Justice, the states most prominent immigrant rights group, said that "people are willing to do civil disobedience if they need to." Luna said ICE wasnt telling the truth about the car crash. He also said demonstrators do not plan to move and would stay here regardless of ICEs actions. Federal officers were at a house on the 300 block of Dorset Street, south of University Mall. City police said federal officials wanted to detain the man on an administrative warrant related to his immigration status, and the city's deputy police chief believed the man was still inside at that time. One ICE vehicle, which was parked in the driveway, drove away just before 2 p.m., but multiple vehicles with federal authorities inside remained nearby, along with state troopers and city police. What happened on Dorset Street in South Burlington The homeowner next door, Richard Landsman, said an Ecuadorean family with small children lived in the house, and activity outside began around 8 a.m. Landsman, who is 79 and said he's lived on Dorset Street for 45 years, said the family has been there for about a year. He hadn't heard of any problems with them. Advertisement Advertisement Upwards of five officers were gathered around the small, white, single-story building, which previously housed Leary's Insurance Agency. A man in a black tactical vest with an ICE insignia on it said he was an ICE official and confirmed the agencys presence, but he would give no information about the reason for being there or his name and rank. "I'm here to protect you," the same federal officer, wearing a blue hoodie, told protesters. He said it was none of their business whether he had a warrant and that he wasn't leaving. "I'm not doing anything different than I've done for the last 26 years," he said. Barb Prine, a lawyer with Vermont Legal Aid, said she asked the officer if children inside the home would be allowed to leave ahead of time if any violent action happens. According to Prine, the officer said he would do what he can. Why were South Burlington Police in the area South Burlington Police Department Deputy Chief Sean Briscoe said city police were called to the area because of car crashes. Advertisement Advertisement We responded to a car crash this morning involving federal immigration agents and someone that I believe they were allegedly pursuing, said Briscoe. We responded to investigate those crashes. He said local police were not involved in any of the federal operations preceding the crash. The driver whose vehicle was struck wasn't hurt, police said. I believe one of the federal agents was injured in that original collision, Briscoe said. Protesters yell at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in a vehicle on Dorset Street in South Burlington March 11, 2026, where officers had gathered. The officer had been moving around the property while being followed by protesters. The reason police were still in the area, he said, was to make sure that everyone stays safe and that everyones federal rights are protected, and that is our sole purpose for being here. The South Burlington Police Departments presence here is completely different and separate than any federal law enforcement agencys presence, and our intent and purpose is different, he said. Protesters hug and sob following the chaos on Dorset Street in South Burlington as ICE attempted to arrest a man March 11, 2026. What the protesters on Dorset Street said Dozens of protesters were gathered around the building chanting and blowing whistles and addressing the officers. Protesters described the growing crowd as responding to an urgent, decentralized call to action, and some said they'd be there all night if they needed. A line of them formed a chain in front of the house. Around 11:30 a.m. amid a steady drizzle of rain and with temperatures in the low 40s, protesters remained outside the home. Just before 2 someone had fired up a grill. The protesters have been trying to talk to the ICE officers, pressuring them to leave, asking them personal questions and playing to their conscience, such as asking how they would feel if their children were taken away. One person even offered to help an ICE officer find a different job in the state. Mikey van Gulden said he joined protesters outside the residence because he knew someone in the home but not the person believed to be sought by ICE. There was a car accident that took place, and the occupant from the car accident ran inside the house, and I believe ICE is targeting them, said van Gulden. He said he did not know how or whether the person was related to the family in the home. Protester Sean OHearn said demonstrators were prepared to remain at the residence despite the plans of federal agents.If they go into the house with or without a warrant, were going to impede them nonviolently, and they are going to have to physically remove us, said OHearnHe is part of what he said was a response team with Migrant Justice and also Chittenden-Addison County ICE Watch.Those gathered outside the home were organized into three groups, he said, including a red team consisting of those willing to be arrested.Others in the yellow and green teams, O'Hearn said, were there in a support role.Im going to be part of red, he said. Rep. Brian Minier, D-South Burlington, is at the protest. He said he's here "hoping to calm things down a little. He said his wife has been here all day and his child is in lockdown across the road. Rep. Emilie Krasnow, D-South Burlington, is also present. She said shes terrified and emotional. Its surreal," she said. "Im just really scared." The situation comes after the detention of Hussein Noor Hussein, the father of a South Burlington High School student and a Somali asylum seeker who was held by ICE in January and released on bail in February. That case and more drove South Burlington students to walk out of school en masse last month. This story will be updated as more information arrives. This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: ICE in South Burlington arrests made, protestors, road closed: Recap As a former defence adviser to the French government, Francois Heisbourg could be forgiven for relishing the idea that his armed forces are better than Britains. After all, Europes two biggest military powers have a long history of rivalry, from Agincourt to Waterloo via the Hundred Years War. Yet, in the wake of Iranian drone attacks on Cyprus, in which French warships, not British ones, have sailed to the rescue, he is diplomatique. If the French military are told to go somewhere, they go there quick thats something they do very well. But, more broadly, the British and the French have the same problem we are two medium-sized powers, without the size and military expenditure that China, Russia and the US have. Advertisement Advertisement British politicians are not feeling so forgiving, given their fury over the Cyprus fiasco, which saw an Iranian Shahed drone crash into a hangar at RAF Akrotiri on March 1, with others fired towards the island intercepted. Not only have the incidents raised questions over the defences for Britains main forward operating base for the Middle East, but they have also exposed the lack of military reserves available to provide backup. The Government has belatedly sent the destroyer HMS Dragon to provide extra air cover, but it will not reach Cyprus for another week. Meanwhile, the French aircraft carrier, Charles de Gaulle, has already arrived quickly followed by Emmanuel Macron, the French president, who proclaimed himself as the islands European saviour during a visit on Monday. When Cyprus is attacked, it is Europe that is attacked, he declared, standing next to the Cypriot president, Nikos Christodoulides, who has openly criticised the failure to stop the drone attack, and whose government has hinted that the bases future may be under review. Advertisement Advertisement Combined with Donald Trumps broadside over Britains lack of participation in the war on Iran, the last thing Britain probably wants right now is unflattering comparisons with its continental rivals. But with Trump demanding Europe shoulder more responsibility for its own security, the question of how its two most capable warfighting powers compare is attracting growing scrutiny. 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, former prime minister, Rishi Sunak, recently wrote in The Times. Not only do Britain and France wield the Continents only nuclear weapons, but their armed forces have done the bulk of Europes fighting in recent decades the British in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the French in Africas Sahel region, as part of efforts to counter Islamic terror groups. Advertisement Advertisement So why is it that the French are currently being hailed as Europes protectors, while the British are seen as a laughing stock? On paper, certainly, it seems that there are valid questions to be asked. Britains military budget last year, for example, was 60bn compared to around 53bn in France. And, for decades, Britain has consistently spent more, proportional to GDP, than the French on defence, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri). Yet, Paris seems to get, quite literally, more bang for its buck. The French military has around 200,000 active personnel, compared with around 150,000 in Britain. It also has roughly the same amount of military equipment across the three Services. France, for example, has 261 combat aircraft compared to Britains 201, and 215 battle tanks compared to Britains 227. The two nations also have a rough parity as maritime powers. Frances fleet includes four destroyers, 17 frigates and one aircraft carrier, the Charles De Gaulle. The UKs, meanwhile, includes six Type 45 destroyers, seven frigates and two aircraft carriers. Advertisement Advertisement The Charles De Gaulle is now off to help US forces protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, along with eight French frigates, putting Britains own deployment to the region to shame. However, according to Matthew Savill, director of military sciences at the Royal United Services Institute, the headline figures about military hardware do not always tell the entire story. He points out, for example, that the Charles De Gaulle, like British military vessels, spends months undergoing maintenance every year, leaving France at times without an aircraft carrier at all. Its an uncomfortable comparison because we spend several billion a year more than the French, and it feels like they get more out of it than we do, says Savill. I would say, though, that they have different gaps. The Charles de Gaulle, for example, is not available for a certain proportion of the year. Had it been unavailable now, they would have had zero aircraft carriers to send [to Cyprus]. The French asked us to send support helicopters a few years ago to help them in Mali because they didnt have enough of their own. Advertisement Advertisement Indeed, as Heisbourg points out, the British and French defence sectors have faced many similar problems in recent years. Both had big cutbacks after the fall of the Soviet Union, in what the French called la dividende de la paix. Both have defence ministries that sometimes squander large amounts of money on white elephant projects. And in the wake of Russias invasion of Ukraine, both have been criticised by America for not spending enough. Britain, as it happens, is actually closer than France in terms of meeting the new Nato defence spending targets of 5 per cent of GDP, shelling out 2.4 per cent compared to Frances 2.05 per cent of GDP. However, Frances overall trajectory in recent years presents a rather different picture. Since Macron took office in 2017, total French defence spending has doubled, taking it to a level not seen since Charles de Gaulles post-war rearmament in the 1960s. Unlike in Britain, defence spending also enjoys broad public support. The devastating Bataclan attacks in 2015, Britains post-Brexit divorce from Europe, and more recently, Trumps disengagement from Nato, have convinced France to recommit to its role as continental Europes strongest armed power. Advertisement Advertisement While Britain has also drawn down its military presence in the Middle East partly as a result of increased Nato commitments in Europe, owing to the war in Ukraine France retains around 5,000 troops in the region, including contingents to the UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon, and a large base in Djibouti on the Red Sea. Last July, Macron also announced an unspecified increase in the size of Frances nuclear arsenal, currently around 300 warheads compared to Britains 225. Unlike Britains nuclear deterrent, which is operationally independent, but technically reliant on the US, Frances Force de Dissuasion is built solely in France, giving it complete sovereignty over its use. It is a very different tone from the France of 25 years ago, when Pariss refusal to back America in the second Gulf War saw them branded cheese-eating surrender monkeys. Public support for what Macron calls his economie de guerre is informed partly by the knowledge that roughly 90 per cent of French military spending involves French firms. Pioneered by De Gaulles strategic autonomy doctrine in the 1960s (under which the country also gained its independent nuclear deterrent), this has made France the worlds second-largest arms exporter. It also supports a large number of jobs. Advertisement Advertisement Much of its military research and development likewise has dual capacity benefits for civilian industries, says Emmanuel Dupuy, a former French military adviser and president of Pariss Institute for European Perspective and Security Studies. We French know that one euro of defence spending will bring in [an additional] 1.3 cents of a euro in terms of investment, he says. It benefits not just the nation-state as a whole, but the regions where that industrial capacity is based. Overseen by a team of 8,000 civil servants, the French military procurement system is generally regarded as fairly efficient compared to many European counterparts. But that has not spared it from costly disasters similar to Britains 6bn Ajax armoured-vehicle programme, which has been beset by severe technical and safety problems. For example, the 87bn Future Combat Aircraft System, a joint French-German project that was supposed to show European defence collaboration at its best, is on the brink of collapse because of squabbling over the planes design. Advertisement Advertisement Heisbourg insists that just as Britains Ministry of Defence is regularly castigated by the National Audit Office for spending mistakes, French military procurement chiefs are often upbraided by the Cour des Comptes, or Court of Accounts. You in Britain get all sorts of embarrassing reports from your Audit Office, but believe me, we in France have the same, he says. On the face of it, yes, we do get slightly better bang for our buck in terms of overall production and manpower, but Im hesitant to overstate it. And like Britain, France also has its work cut out finding the money to reach Natos new 5 per cent spending targets. While there is a cross-party consensus that defence spending should go up, any increases may have to come at the expense of Frances generous welfare state which French citizens regard as a birthright and could spark mass protests and strikes of the like triggered by Macrons previous attempts to cut social security provision. Indeed, comparisons with its neighbour across the Channel may seem unflattering for Britain at first, but on closer look, neither comes out well. 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. Ukraine used British Storm Shadow missiles to destroy one of Russias leading military production plants. On Tuesday, Kyivs forces launched the weapons at the Russian border region of Bryansk, where the Kremniy El factory produces components for Moscows missiles. Local authorities said seven people were killed and dozens more injured in the attack, which Russia blamed on Britain. The strike caused significant damage, according to Ukraines general staff, which described it as part of a systematic effort to reduce the military-economic potential of the Russian aggressor. Advertisement Advertisement The Russian foreign ministry accused Ukraine of deliberately targeting civilians and said its Western allies bear full responsibility for the consequences of this strike. It said: Britain has stepped beyond the bounds of international law and is ready to move the conflict to a fundamentally new level in terms of destruction and human casualties. The existence of the military facility was not mentioned. Storm Shadows are jointly manufactured by Britain and France and it is public knowledge that London has donated the missiles to Kyiv to allow it to defend itself. Footage of the strike released by the Ukrainian army showed multiple impacts as missiles hit the plant, sending huge plumes of smoke into the air. Advertisement Advertisement Alexander Bogomaz, the Bryansk region governor, described the incident as a terrorist missile attack. He later declared Wednesday a day of mourning. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, without providing evidence, said: It is obvious that the launch of these missiles was impossible without British specialists. We are aware of this, we know it well, and we naturally take it into account. Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, described Kremniy El, which is located some 60 miles north of the Ukrainian border, as one of Russias most important military factories and said the attack was a completely justified response to the aggressor. Advertisement Advertisement The plant supplies 94 per cent of its production to the Russian defence ministry and employs some 1,700 people, with billions of roubles in annual production volume. It is believed to manufacture components for Russias Pantsir and S-500 missile systems, as well as the Kalibr cruise missiles, which have regularly been launched at Ukrainian towns and cities. Mr Zelensky said: The plant produced electronics and components for Russian missiles. The very missiles that strike our cities, our villages and civilians. On Wednesday, Russian drone attacks on the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv killed two people and injured seven more. The strike came just days after a Russian ballistic missile hit a five-storey residential building in the same city, killing 11 people, including two children. Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Ukraine targeted a chemical plant in Tolyatti, western Russia, and an ammunition depot near occupied Mariupol overnight, according to local reports. On Tuesday, Mr Zelensky announced that Washington had proposed a fresh round of US-brokered peace talks with Moscow, after previously postponing discussions to focus on the war in the Middle East. Mr Peskov said they will probably take place in Istanbul. 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 petition for annexation has been filed as part of a proposal to bring a Buc-ees travel center to the Interstate 71 and Ohio 39 interchange, Mansfield Mayor Jodie Perry said on social media. The petition, filed March 6 with the city, Richland County and Madison and Mifflin townships, is the latest step in a development process, Perry said. If approved, the project would bring the Texas-based travel center chain known for its large roadside stores, extensive fuel stations and unique food offerings to the Mansfield area. Advertisement Advertisement The proposed annexation is classified as a Type 2 annexation, a structure Perry said would allow multiple local governments to benefit from the development. Under that arrangement, the townships would retain their tax revenues, the city would receive income tax and water and sewer revenue, and the county would collect sales tax generated by the site. Customers get their photographs taken with the Buc-ee's mascot during the grand opening of the first Buc-ee's location on the East Coast on June 30, 2025, in Mount Crawford, Virginia. Perry said the project remains in the due diligence stage and still requires additional approvals before it becomes final. A development of this size doesnt come around all that often, Perry said in announcing the filing, describing Buc-ees locations as destinations that can have a significant economic impact on the surrounding community. If completed, the travel center could bring new jobs and additional tax revenue to the Mansfield area. Buc-ees locations typically include large convenience stores, dozens of fuel pumps and a wide range of prepared foods and retail items. Advertisement Advertisement The proposal comes as Buc-ees continues to expand beyond its Texas roots into new states, including Ohio. The company previously announced plans for its first Ohio location in Huber Heights near Dayton along Interstate 70, which is expected to serve as the chains initial entry into the state. Founded in 1982 in Lake Jackson, Texas, Buc-ees has grown into a regional chain known for its massive travel centers, distinctive beaver mascot and food items such as brisket sandwiches and its packaged beef jerky. Buc-ee's lawsuit over cartoon animal mascot Buc-ee's is suing a convenience store in Ohio for a cheerful mascot the travel stop giant claims is too similar to its own. Buc-ee's filed a lawsuit against Coles IP Holdings, LLC, which owns the Ohio convenience store and gas station chain Mickey Mart, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio on Feb. 18. Buc-ee's is suing for trademark infringement and unfair competition. Buc-ee's is also trying to cancel Coles IP Holdings' trademark registrations, a process that began in August 2025, according to court documents. Advertisement Advertisement Buc-ee's lawsuit: Buc-ee's sues yet another convenience store over logo similarities With about 42 Ohio locations, according to its website, Mickey Mart features a smiling cartoon moose within a red hexagon as its logo. Buc-ee's argues, in court documents, that the animalistic logo is too similar to its own a toothy beaver wearing a red ballcap inside a bright yellow circle. Both animals are facing right and display wide eyes and a smile, Buc-ee's says in court documents. In addition to the logo, Buc-ee's argues, in court documents, that Mickey Mart is transitioning its branding to "Mickey's" at its stores, on signage and online, which "closely resembles" the Buc-ee's trademark. Neither Buc-ee's nor Mickey Mart immediately responded for comment about the lawsuit when contacted by USA TODAY on Feb. 25. This article originally appeared on The Repository: Buc-ee's travel center location proposed for Mansfield area By Foo Yun Chee BRUSSELS, March 10 (Reuters) - German publishers and advertisers on Tuesday called for the country's competition authority to fine Apple over proposed changes to its app tracking rules, saying they do not do enough to resolve antitrust issues. The authority had sought feedback from the groups, which include media agencies and the German Association of the Branded Goods Industry, on the changes to its App Tracking Transparency tool. The competition enforcer charged Apple in February last year with abusing its market power after Facebook-owner Meta Platforms along with publishers, advertisers and app developers, whose business models rely on advertising tracking, criticised the tool. Apple, which said it introduced the tool to allow users to control whether to grant apps permission to track their activity across other companies' apps and websites, pushed back against the industry groups' call for a fine. "The tracking industry has consistently fought our efforts to keep users in control of their data, and this is just their latest attempt to gain unfettered access to personal information," Apple said. "We will continue to defend this important privacy tool for our users." It said German data protection authorities confirmed the tool was consistent with privacy laws and that an overwhelming majority of iOS users backed it, according to a study commissioned by the company. APPLE REMAINS 'DATA GATEKEEPER' DESPITE CHANGES, GROUPS SAY To address the German concerns, Apple proposed last December to introduce neutral consent prompts for both its services and third-party apps and to align the wording, content and visual design of those messages. It also offered to simplify the consent process so developers can obtain user permission for advertising-related data processing in a way that complies with data protection law. The associations, however, said on Tuesday that the proposed changes do not fix the issues outlined by the German watchdog. "The proposed commitments would not change the negative effects of the App Tracking Transparency Framework," Bernd Nauen, chief executive of the German Advertising Federation, said in a joint letter signed by the trade bodies. "Apple would remain the data gatekeeper and would continue to decide who gets access to advertising-relevant data and how companies can communicate with their end customers," he said. The associations urged the watchdog to reject Apple's proposals, order the company to stop the app tracking tool and impose a fine. By Aref Mohammed Ahmed Rasheed Jonathan Saul DUBAI/BASRA, Iraq, March 11 (Reuters) - Explosive-laden Iranian boats appear to have attacked two fuel tankers in Iraqi waters, setting them ablaze and killing one crew member on Wednesday, after projectiles struck four vessels in Gulf waters, said port, maritime security and risk firms. The latest attacks on ships linked to the U.S. and Europe mark an escalation in the conflict between Iran and U.S.-Israeli forces, raising the number of ships struck in the region since fighting began to at least 16. Advertisement Advertisement Shipping in the Gulf and along the narrow Strait of Hormuz, which carries around a fifth of the world's oil, has come to a near-standstill since the U.S. and Israel began strikes on Iran on February 28, sending global oil prices surging to highs not seen since 2022. [O/R] Irans Revolutionary Guards have said that if attacks on Iran continued, they would not allow "one litre of oil" to be shipped from the Middle East to the U.S., Israel or their partners. Trump warned Washington would strike Iran harder if it blocked oil exports, and said oil companies should use the strait because "just about all of (Iran's) navy is gone." The vessels targeted in Wednesday's late-night attacks in the Gulf near Iraq were the Marshall Islands-flagged Safesea Vishnu and the Malta-flagged Zefyros, which had loaded fuel cargoes in Iraq, two Iraqi port officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Iraq's State Organization for Marketing of Oil (SOMO) said the Safesea Vishnu was chartered by an Iraqi company contracted with SOMO, and that Zefyros was loaded with condensate products from Basra Gas Company. Both were attacked in the ship-to-ship loading area within Iraqi territorial waters, SOMO said. IRAQI OIL PORTS CLOSED Iraqs oil ports have completely stopped operations following the assaults, while commercial ports continue to function, Iraq's state news agency said, citing the head of the state-run General Company for Ports of Iraq (GCPI). The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the crew of one ship had been evacuated and were reported safe. Advertisement Advertisement "A boat belonging to the Iraqi Ports Company rescued 25 crew members from the two vessels, and the fires are still burning on both ships," Farhan al-Fartousi, GCPI's director general, told Reuters. Iraqi rescue teams continue searching for other seafarers. We recovered the body of a foreign crew member from the water, one port security official said. The Safesea Vishnu's commercial operator and beneficial operator are Safesea Transport Group and Safesea Group, respectively, according to data from Lloyd's List Intelligence. Those U.S.-based companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Advertisement Advertisement One Iraqi port security source said Zefyros is flagged in Malta and provided Reuters with a list of crew names. Lloyd's List Intelligence data showed UK-based Cygnus Tankers Limited as the commercial operator and the George & Vassilis Michael family group of companies, a key player in Greek shipping, as the beneficial owner of a tanker matching that name and flag registry. Cygnus Tankers did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Reuters was not able to immediately reach the beneficial owner. REVOLUTIONARY GUARDS HAVE SAID SHIPS WILL BE TARGETED Iran's Revolutionary Guards have repeatedly warned that any ship passing through the Strait of Hormuz will be targeted. Advertisement Advertisement Two projectiles of unknown origin struck the Thai-flagged Mayuree Naree dry bulk vessel as it sailed through the strait earlier on Wednesday, causing a fire and damaging the engine room, the ship's Thai-listed operator Precious Shipping said in a statement. "Three crew members are reported missing and believed to be trapped in the engine room," Precious Shipping said. "The company is working with the relevant authorities to rescue these three missing crew members," it said, adding that the remaining 20 crew members had been safely evacuated and were ashore in Oman. Images provided by the Thai navy showed smoke pouring out of the back of the ship. Advertisement Advertisement Iran's Guards said in a statement carried by the Tasnim news agency that the ship was "fired upon by Iranian fighters", suggesting the first direct engagement by the Guards who have previously fired missiles or drones. The U.S. Navy has refused near-daily requests from the shipping industry for military escorts through the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the war on Iran, saying the risk of attacks is too high for now, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Trump has said the U.S. is prepared to provide naval escorts whenever needed. THREE OTHER SHIPS SUSTAIN MINOR DAMAGE Advertisement Advertisement The Japan-flagged container ship ONE Majesty also sustained minor damage on Wednesday from an unknown projectile 25 nautical miles (46 km) northwest of Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates, two maritime security firms said. Its Japanese owner Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and a spokesperson for Ocean Network Express, its charterer, said the vessel was struck while at anchor in the Gulf and an inspection of the hull revealed minor damage above the waterline. All crew are safe, they said, adding that the vessel remains fully operational and seaworthy. The owner said the cause of the incident remained unclear and was under investigation. A third vessel, a bulk carrier, was also hit by an unknown projectile approximately 50 nautical miles (92.6 km) northwest of Dubai, maritime security firms said. Advertisement Advertisement The projectile had damaged the hull of the Marshall Islands-flagged Star Gwyneth, maritime risk management company Vanguard said, adding that the vessel's crew were safe. Owner Star Bulk Carriers said the ship was hit in the hold area whilst anchored. There were no crew injuries and no listing. Early on Thursday, UKMTO said an unidentified projectile struck a container ship, causing a small fire, 35 nautical miles north of Jebel Ali in the UAE. The crew were reported safe. The Guards' statement included a reference to another ship, which it said was hit by projectiles - usually a reference to drones - on Wednesday morning. Reuters was not immediately able to confirm that report. (Reporting by Jonathan Saul and Enes Tunagur in London, Yannis Souliotis and Renee Maltezou in Athens, Panarat Thepgumpanat in Bangkok and Kentaro Okasaka in Tokyo, Tala Ramadan, Nayera Abdallah in Dubai, Hatem Maher in Cairo and Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles; Editing by Louise Heavens, Philippa Fletcher, Michael Perry and Tom Hogue) What causes long lines on Election Day, and how they can be avoided In the November 2022 election, lines at polling places in Ann Arbor, Michigan, spilled out of buildings and down some city streets. More voters were taking advantage of the opportunity to register and vote on the same day. But the process of registering hundreds of new voters and issuing them absentee ballots had to be done by the clerks office staff and took up to five minutes per person, leading to waits that were often hours long, City Clerk Jackie Beaudry recounted to Votebeat. Election officials werent willing to let that happen again. So Beaudry, along with other local clerks dealing with similar backups, successfully lobbied lawmakers in Lansing to allow people who register on Election Day to be able to cast regular ballots issued by standard poll workers. In the meantime, voters also approved measures allowing them to vote early in every statewide or federal election, alleviating pressure on Election Day voting. Advertisement Advertisement Those changes cut the time to process each newly registered voter down to almost nothing, Beaudry said, and all but eliminated the citys long lines in 2024. I think on Election Day, the longest same-day registration wait was like 15 minutes, Beaudry said. Lines at polling places are the bane of election administrators nationwide. Long waits can take hours out of a voters day; in the worst-case scenario, they can even deter them from voting, robbing them of their voice in the election. So officials like Beaudry often feel duty-bound to do everything they can to minimize these waits. The best kind of line, election officials typically agree, is no line at all. But the second-best one that ensures a voter gets to cast their ballot in a timely manner, even if they do have to wait relies on a precise combination of policymaking, engineering, and sociology to make everything run smoothly. Supporting them are researchers at universities across the country who study ways to make lines not only more efficient but also more tolerable for the voters who have to wait in them. Advertisement Advertisement Eliminating lines altogether can be difficult. Local and state laws, including those focused on electioneering or election security, sometimes limit what is possible. But even within those confines, experts and election officials around the country have found that good lines are possible, even likely, with a little collaboration and a healthy amount of forethought. What makes a good line? What makes a bad line probably feels obvious to the people waiting in it. But what makes a good line is a little less clear-cut. Charles Stewart, a political scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said there are two answers to the question. The first is that it should be short. Specifically, the Presidential Commission on Election Administration, convened by then-President Barack Obama in 2013, concluded in a 2014 report that, as a general rule, no voter should have to wait more than half an hour in order to have an opportunity to vote. Of course, thats not always possible. In 2012 a presidential election before mail and absentee voting became widespread research found that some 10 million voters probably waited at least that long to cast their ballot, with half of those voters waiting more than an hour. Advertisement Advertisement So the second secret to a good line, Stewart said, is having enough resources to make it move smoothly even if it is longer. For example, Stewarts research has found that check-in stations are one of the worst bottlenecks on Election Day. But having an extra person to check in voters allows twice as many voters to get their ballots and start filling them out. That makes the wait shorter, which is key, but can also just make people feel that things are moving faster. Stewart points to Disney theme parks as a great example. One of the members of the Presidential Commission on Election Administration was Brian Bitton, then the vice president of global park operations at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. The commission held one of its meetings at Disney World, Stewart said, to gain real-world context on how lines can be improved even when they cant be shortened. Along with trying to make lines shorter, he said, Disney did things to manage how people were thinking about the lines they encountered. Advertisement Advertisement That meant giving people things to do while in line, which in an electoral context could look like giving someone a sample ballot to consider. It also meant giving people live tracking of how long the lines are, so they can decide when to go or know what to expect. Improving the experience of waiting can be as easy as having staff greet people in line, Stewart said, or having a poll worker check the pens to make sure no one has to wait for a working one. Using staff to make sure the experience is pleasant, thats efficient to a voter, he said. The policies that can make lines bad Keeping people stimulated while they wait makes them less annoyed, Stewart said. But a number of states have policies that limit what people waiting in line, or the people helping them, can do. Advertisement Advertisement For instance, in Ann Arbor in 2022, volunteers provided those waiting outdoors in the cool autumn temperatures with blankets. That would likely run afoul of the rules in a few other states, where laws ban people from providing food, beverages, or anything of value to voters. Georgia is one of the most well-known examples of that, but similarly strict laws exist in Montana, Idaho, and other states. The laws are intended to prevent candidates from influencing peoples votes. But they can also make waiting in line less bearable. Gretchen Macht, the founder and executive director of the University of Rhode Islands Engineering for Democracy Institute, told Votebeat that laws that dont take real-world experiences into account often end up being too rigid. From an engineering perspective, lines are a matter of balancing systems by meeting needs as they arise. For example, when Machts team looked into the causes of lines at Rhode Island polling places, one culprit was a law that allowed for only one checkout station per precinct. Advertisement Advertisement Thats what was causing lines, especially if there was any sort of failure, especially if there was high turnout, Macht said. Her team eventually worked with the state to help amend the law. And sometimes, the culprit is a local failure to plan. If officials keep tabs on when their polling places are busiest, they can better allocate resources throughout the day, Macht said. Gathering tangible data on when voters show up and acting on it, rather than just gut feelings about people showing up after the standard workday, can be a lot of work but often pays off, Stewart said. It allows for better messaging on what voters can expect and, in many cases, may motivate them to go at off-peak times or even vote early or absentee when available. People are less irritated at waiting in line when they can control being in that line, he said. Creative solutions can solve line bottlenecks The best policies are the ones that consider the human aspects of voting. That means trying to mitigate the irritating parts of lines or the confusing parts of a governmental process. But it also means accounting for quirks, such as voters desire to take a picture of their ballot at the voting booth. Officials have found that many voters really relish that opportunity. Advertisement Advertisement But Stewart studied that in Michigan and found that, over the course of the day, such photo taking tied up voting booths and added immensely to wait times. As a result, many Michigan election officials have begun to include separate photo stations at their polling places, typically separate from voting booths and away from where other voters may be unwittingly caught in the photos, which would go against Michigans rules. In Ann Arbor, Beaudrys photo stations were originally just posters on the wall. But the city eventually worked with University of Michigan design professors to make the stations more visually appealing. The effort has paid off, especially for younger voters, who find them to be a fun treat after casting a ballot. But the best thing, Beaudry said? The citys lines are nearly nonexistent now. This story was produced by Votebeat and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Chicago's iconic St. Patrick's Day celebrations kicked off on Saturday. The 71st annual Chicago Saint Patrick's Day Parade will run along Columbus Drive between Monroe Street and Balbo Drive. ABC7 Chicago will broadcast the parade live, with special coverage hosted by Rob Hughes, Stephanie Wade and Greg Dutra from noon to 2 p.m. The 2026 theme "Faith, Peace, & Unity" is inspired by Pope Leo XIV. Advertisement Advertisement Street closures for the parade will begin as as early as 8 a.m. including Columbus Drive from Roosevelt Road to Wacker Drive and east/west streets in those boundaries. Streets within the boundary of Monroe Street between Michigan Avenue and DuSable Lake Shore Drive will be closed. OEMC said the Chicago Police Department will have an increased presence at all St. Patrick'sDay events across the city on Saturday. Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Local Union 130 dyed the Chicago River green at 10 a.m. just west of the Columbus bridge to the east of Orleans before Wolf Point. Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Local Union 130 dyed the river on Saturday, March 14, 2026. Advertisement Advertisement OEMC said during the dyeing of the river, bridges will be closed, however, the Columbus, LaSalle and Orleans bridges will remain open for traffic. The Chicago Riverwalk will be closed from 11 p.m. on Friday until 6 a.m. on Sunday. Here are others events happening this weekend: Saturday, March 14: Shamrock Crawl - Wrigleyville: The bar crawl begins at 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. OEMC said street closures will begin at 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. at N. Clark Street (1100-1160), N. Clark Street (3450-3600), W. Eddy Street (1100-1160), and N. Seminary Avenue (3505-3525). Sunday, March 15: South Side Irish Parade: The South Side Irish Parade steps off at noon at 103rd and Western Avenue, marching south to 115th and Western Avenue. Expect parking restrictions on both sides of the street from 103rd to 112th Streets along Western Avenue. Street closures along the parade route as well as the staging area may begin as early as 7 a.m. The parade is expected to end at 4 p.m., the disbanding area is located on Western Avenue from 115th to 119th Streets. Advertisement Advertisement Northwest Side Irish Parade : The parade steps off at noon at Onahan School, at 6634 W. Raven St. proceeding south on Neola Avenue to Northwest Highway and north to Harlem Avenue. Northwest Highway will be closed to vehicles at 9am. Parking restrictions are in effect along the route beginning at 7 a.m. Both sides of the street on Neola, Raven, Northwest Highway, Normandy Avenue, Imlay, Neva, Palatine and Natoma along the route will be affected. The Trinity Irish dancers kicked up their heels at Chief O'Neill's on the North Side on Friday night. The Shannon Rovers Irish Bag Pipe Band joined ABC7 Chicago Friday. The Chicago area is expected to see severe storms with the possibility of tornadoes and large hail on Tuesday. The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Chicagoland into northwest Indiana starting Tuesday evening with heavy rainfall easing into early Wednesday. The advisory warns of possible tornadoes, hail greater than 2 inches in diameter, winds greater than 70 miles per hour and localized flash flooding for areas near and south of I-80. The severe weather threat may last longer than 1 a.m. south of the highway. Hail was reported in Downers Grove, Woodridge, and Darien areas in Illinois at around 6 pm Tuesday, NWS shared on X, formerly Twitter. A severe thunderstorm watch was also issued for parts of Illinois, Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin until early Wednesday, according to NWS, with the possibility of hail as big as an apple and wind gusts of up to 75 miles per hour. Advertisement Advertisement Chicago OHare issued a ground stop due to thunderstorms, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, with flight departures delayed an average of 15 minutes and increasing. Should a strong or severe storm be headed into your area, you kind of know the drill, said Kevin Doom, a National Weather Service meteorologist, early Tuesday. Head inside, and then, if theres a tornado threat, obviously take shelter if you need to. Monday was the warmest March 9 on record in Chicago with a high of 73 degrees, according to weather service data. Normal temperatures for this time sit around 44 degrees. This comes after a month of below average snowfall in February. Trends in recent decades point to an overall warming of average temperatures in Chicago across all seasons, most rapidly in winter, due to human activities such as fossil-fuel burning that release heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere. Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, Chicago will be just north of a warm front covering the southern portion of the metro, Doom said Monday, so temperatures in the city were expected to drop into the 50s. Doom said its important to be aware of Tuesdays weather because even though storms will be scattered, theyll certainly be in the area and windstorms could occur in late evening and overnight as Chicagos cold front pushes through. Keep a loose eye on the things, Doom said. Maybe turn the news on every once in a while. Tribune reporter Adriana Perez contributed. STEVENS POINT The Central Wisconsin Childrens Museum has welcomed four new members to its board of directors, according to a community announcement. The additions bring the board to a total of nine members. Taylor Young of Aspirus Health Systems joined the board in October 2025. She expressed her commitment to child development and community engagement. I joined the CWCM board because I understand the importance of play for the children in our community, said Young. Play is how we learn and grow from the beginning we learn through joy and connection and the Childrens Museum has been a pillar of childrens learning for years. I am honored and excited to help continue the legacy. Advertisement Advertisement Lauren Arendt of Noonan Arendt LLP, Allison Konopa of Schultz Property Management and Tommy Trzebiatowski of Marriott International joined the board following a board of directors open house hosted by CWCM in November 2025. Konopa shared her family's positive experiences with the museum. After our family moved to the Stevens Point area, CWCM quickly became our toddlers favorite place to go and mine, she said. The exhibits are the perfect blend of fun and educational, and it is so evident how much the staff care about their mission. Its truly a joy for me to give back and support that mission in any way I can. Trzebiatowski also highlighted his personal reasons for supporting the museum. I support the Children's Museum because I have a 16-month-old boy who loves to play and explore, he said. I joined the board because I want to help ensure facilities like the museum can continue to operate and be accessible to my family and the community. Advertisement Advertisement For more information about the Central Wisconsin Childrens Museum and its programs, please visit their website at www.cwchildrensmuseum.org or call the Museum at 715-344-2003. 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 Stevens Point Journal: Childrens Museum expands its board with four new members in 2025 The Escambia Childrens Trust is suing New World Believers for failing to give the Children's Trust three vans that were purchased with grant funds. At the recommendation of Childrens Trust attorney Megan Fry, the board voted 5-0, with one member abstaining, to pursue civil action against NWB for failing to turn over a 2015 Ford Transit 350 van, 2010 Dodge Caravan and 1998 Honda Odyssey. Fry said letters have been written to NWB asking them to return the vehicles in a timely manner, but the organization has refused. On Jan. 31, the Childrens Trust terminated its contract with NWB's H.O.O.P.S. program after its former executive director Rodney Jones was arrested on Jan. 22 and charged with sexual battery on a minor. The victim was a member of his youth organization. Younghan Shin, the owner and operator of the new Mr. Cow at Cordovan Mall, describes what makes the Fruity Pop Korean corndog so popular at the new Cordova Mall eatery on March 6, 2026. Escambia County Commissioner Lumon May helps drum up support for gubernatorial candidate David Jolly at the Brownsville Library on March 10, 2026. Jolly was visiting Pensacola and Northwest Florida as part of a campaign swing through the state. Dukes Ashanti Barnes (5) takes it to the hoop for two points against the Trojans during the James Madison vs Troy womens Sun Belt Conference Championship basketball game at the Pensacola Bay Center in Pensacola, Florida on March 9, 2026. 100-year-old Alvina Wooten is escorted into the auditorium of the Echo Life Church by her grandsons, Evan and Sheldon Brown, to kick off her birthday celebration on March 10, 2026. The Dukes celebrate their victory of the Trojans following the James Madison vs Troy womens Sun Belt Conference Championship basketball game at the Pensacola Bay Center in Pensacola, Florida on March 9, 2026. The former Penscola Motor Lodge property on Cervantes Street on March 10, 2026. The city is still considering its options for converting the property into affordable housing units. Ryan Hendrickson shows off his leg injured by a landmine while serving in Afghanistan, while he prepares for a humanitarian mission to Ukraine on March 6, 2026. The former Green Beret owns and operates "Tip of the Spear Landmine Removal", a non-profit organization dedicated to finding and removing landmines from war-torn countries like Ukraine. Pensacola plans to install an infrared laser system at Graffiti Bridge this summer that will alert drivers with a bank of flashing lights if their vehicle is too tall to make it under the bridge. A Golden Grizzly Philly from the new full menu at Grizzly Axes on North Davis Highway in Pensacola on March 4, 2026. Co-owner Jeffrey Papa Grizz Fischer shows off a long cheese pull with an Axe-kickin Mozzarella Stick as they launch a brand new kitchen and full menu at Grizzly Axes on North Davis Highway in Pensacola on March 4, 2026. Server Michelle Blair prepares a slice of pie to go at the classic Coffee Cup restaurant in Pensacola on March 5, 2026. Longtime hostess/cashier Nancy Stafford, right, chats with Robert Prince, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at the classic Coffee Cup restaurant in Pensacola on March 5, 2026. Clockmaker Jim Gramlich works on a clock at his house in Pensacola on February. 23, 2026. The Raiders Lainey Durden (35) scores to take a 10-1 lead over the Wildcats during the Navarre vs Washington girls lacrosse game at Booker T. Washington High School in Pensacola on March 3, 2026. The Raiders Lainey Durden (35) scores to take a 10-1 lead over the Wildcats during the Navarre vs Washington girls lacrosse game at Booker T. Washington High School in Pensacola on March 3, 2026. Dolphins first baseman Presley Moseley (10) plays a short hopper for an out against the Makos during the Orange Beach at Gulf Breeze baseball game at Blue Wahoos Stadium in Pensacola on March 2, 2026. Dolphins second baseman Parker Boyd (24) throws to first for an out against the Makos during the Orange Beach at Gulf Breeze baseball game at Blue Wahoos Stadium in Pensacola on March 2, 2026. Wildcats Jada Clardy (1) takes it to the hoop against the Sharks during the Ponte Vedra vs Washington Class 5A Regional Semifinals girls basketball game at Booker T. Washington High School in Pensacola on Feb. 27, 2026. Wildcats Kalyn Thomas (20) steals the ball from Sharks Jocelyn Hoffmann (3) during the Ponte Vedra vs Washington Class 5A Regional Semifinals girls basketball game at Booker T. Washington High School in Pensacola on Feb. 27, 2026. Gators Armani Westbrooks (12) crosses the plate and celebrates following a wild throw to third base after teammate Mariyah Everheart (2) bunts for a single to take a 4-0 lead over the Eagles during the Escambia vs Pine Forest softball game at Pine Forest High School in Pensacola on Feb. 26, 2026. Gators first baseman Lacey Weinrich (15) stretches to tag the bag before the Eagles runner on an unassisted out to end the inning during the Escambia vs Pine Forest softball game at Pine Forest High School in Pensacola on Feb. 26, 2026. Visitors check out the festivities during the Gulf Coast Renaissance Faire at Five Flags Speedway Sunday, Mar. 1,2026. Knights show off their skills during the Gulf Coast Renaissance Faire at Five Flags Speedway Sunday, Mar. 1,2026. Visitors check out the festivities during the Gulf Coast Renaissance Faire at Five Flags Speedway Sunday, Mar. 1,2026. Lauren E. Lee performs her Magic, Laughter and or Caos Show during the Gulf Coast Renaissance Faire at Five Flags Speedway Sunday, Mar. 1,2026. Visitors check out the festivities during the Gulf Coast Renaissance Faire at Five Flags Speedway Sunday, Mar. 1,2026. The American Symphony Riverboat made it's first call to Pensacola at Plaza De Luna Saturday, Mar. 7, 2026. This is the first of four visits planned this year. Thousands of runners participate in the 49th annual McGuire's St. Patrick's Day Prediction 5K Run Saturday, March 7 2026 in downtown Pensacola. Thousands of runners participate in the 49th annual McGuire's St. Patrick's Day Prediction 5K Run Saturday, March 7 2026 in downtown Pensacola. Thousands of runners participate in the 49th annual McGuire's St. Patrick's Day Prediction 5K Run Saturday, March 7 2026 in downtown Pensacola. Dominic Thomas gives his daughter Finley a birds-eye view of the crowd during the 49th annual McGuire's St. Patrick's Day Prediction 5K Run Saturday, March 7 2026 in downtown Pensacola. Thousands of runners participate in the 49th annual McGuire's St. Patrick's Day Prediction 5K Run Saturday, March 7 2026 in downtown Pensacola. A supporter of Rep. Michelle Salzman gets into a heated exchange of words with Mike Kohler's wife at the close of the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners' public forum on March 5, 2026. Commission Kohler was chastised during the public forum over his recent Facebook comment involving Salzman. Jonathan Joiner practices waving the racing flags from the starter's perch at the Souther Raceway on March 4, 2026. Jonathan and his two brothers, Joseph and Joshua, are the new owners of the East Milton dirt race track. Supporters of Bradley Vinson sit stunned after the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners voted to hire the County Administrator's choice for library director over the one proposed by the library's board of governors. Bo Kitchens upgrades the seating area at the Souther Raceway track on March 4 202. The East Milton dirt track is under new ownership after Milton area residentsJonathan, Joshua, and Joseph Joiner. Eager shoppers and bargain hunters descend on the newest Aldi location on North Ninth Avenue on March 5, 2026. Customer one, John Kingley, waited in line for the grand opening of the Ninth Avenue Aldi, starting at 1 A.M. on March 5, 2026. Bryson Wells, 2, entertains himself at the Navarre Harmony Park on March 4, 2026. The Governor's proposed elimination of property taxes may threaten services and amenities offered by city and county municipalities in the future Artist Sarah Soule Webb spends time with Luke as she prepares to open her Palafox Street gallery and studio to patrons on March 3, 2026. Artist Sarah Soule Webb works on her latest masterpiece inspired by her youngest child at her Palafox Street gallery and studio on March 3, 2026. Construction on the Reimaging Palafox Street project continues during the first week of March 2026. Photos show Pensacola's March news of the day 1 of 42 Younghan Shin, the owner and operator of the new Mr. Cow at Cordovan Mall, describes what makes the Fruity Pop Korean corndog so popular at the new Cordova Mall eatery on March 6, 2026. The Childrens Trust reimbursed NWB $24,856.15 for the three vans and was supposed to be listed as a secondary lienholder on the vehicles but was not. Advertisement Advertisement Board members Keith Leonard, Rex Northup, Stephanie White, David Williams and Tori Woods supported the action during the Childrens Trust meeting held March 11. Circuit Judge Thomas Williams abstained from voting. Tina Cain and Lumon May did not attend the meeting. New World Believers purchased the Ford in November 2024 for $18,995 and the Dodge in February 2025 for $4,049. The Childrens Trust contributed $1,811.65 for the Honda, which was purchased for $2,845 in April 2025. On Jan. 8, the Childrens Trust suspended NWBs funding after being notified that Jones was under investigation by the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. He had also been suspended by NWB because of the pending DJJ investigation. Rodney Jones' wife, Natasha Jones, who said she was representing NWB, said the organization was never informed the Childrens Trust needed to be listed as lienholders on the vehicles before purchase. Advertisement Advertisement They sent a letter to Rodney last year about it, after we had purchased the vans. If we had known that we would have never agreed to it, she said. Childrens Trust Executive Director Lindsey Cannon said the stipulation that the Childrens Trust must be listed as a lienholder for vehicles purchased with grant funds is in all provider contracts. We would like the vans, so that they can be repurposed and used by another provider. Transportation is the No. 1 challenge for most of our providers, she said. During public comments, Natasha Jones also asked Childrens Trust about NWB reimbursements for November and December services. She told the PNJ the Childrens Trust owes about $94,000 to NWB for the two months. Advertisement Advertisement I didnt even include the time in January in my request, Natasha Jones said. Along with the Childrens Trust, NWB also has a contract with the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice to serve children. Cannon said after reviewing DJJ and Childrens Trust reimbursement records, she found 50 children who were DJJ clients who were also being served by the Childrens Trust. She said there may have been some overlap of services and duplicable billing. She added the records date back to Oct. 1, 2023, when NWB was awarded a Childrens Trust contract. What you see is a pattern of a youth being referred by the Department of Juvenile Justice to H.O.O.P.S. for their civil service program and within days being admitted into our program as well, Cannon said. You would see this overlap of time where they would be serving them out of this civil service contract and out of the ECT contract. Advertisement Advertisement Cannon said she received over 400 pages of DJJ records on March 6. So its going to take us a while. Were going to have to spread all this out and really look at it, she said, noting that the Childrens Trust is not allowed to supplant funding. NWBs H.O.O.P.S. program fell under the Childrens Trust Mental Health Supports Programming. In October 2023, the program was awarded $1,711,510 to serve 160 11- to 18-year-olds per year for three years. In its third year, the program received $901,972 as of Nov. 30, 2025, with $503,801 remaining. The program also surrendered $305,736 in unused funds back to the Childrens Trust. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Escambia Children's Trust suing New World Believers HOOPS over vans It was a symbol hiding in plain sight. On February 24, two weeks before his inauguration as Chiles president, Jose Antonio Kast unveiled his official portrait. The photo showed the 60-year-old leader wearing a blue suit, the presidential sash and a conspicuous coat of arms stitched in the middle. It was conspicuous, because no president since the fall of Augusto Pinochet in 1990 had posed with the coat of arms on the sash. The last leader to do so was Pinochet himself. Advertisement Advertisement For critics, the crest was another expression of Kasts professed affinity for the former hardline leader. But as Kast is sworn into office on Wednesday, analysts question whether his embrace of Pinochet is nostalgia for Latin Americas past dictatorships or whether it is simply a sign of frustration with the status quo. Maria Fernanda Garcia, the director of Chiles Museum of Memory and Human Rights, noted that, around the world, there appears to be a shift towards more hardline policies. She credits a crisis of democracy with helping to turn a past that was full of horror in many parts of the world into something that is glorified by people who didnt live through it. Advertisement Advertisement Its not what we expected after the learnings of the second world war and other conflicts and dictatorships, Garcia added. Still, she has observed that young people in particular are falling prey, influenced by reactionary narratives on social media. Rebellion these days is not against war or dictatorships, but the rebellion is against that which is established, Garcia said. And the established is democracy, respect for human rights. Who was Pinochet? Kast won Decembers presidential election with the largest vote tally in Chilean history. More than seven million Chileans cast a ballot for him in the run-off, earning him more than 58 percent of the vote. Advertisement Advertisement His success came in spite of critics pointing to past statements where he showed reverence for Pinochet. Kast had even speculated during a past race that, if Pinochet had been alive, he would have voted for me. Pinochet seized power in a 1973 military coup, ousting Chiles democratically elected leader. Over the next 17 years, he carried out a campaign of systemic repression against his political opponents, resulting in the death of more than 3,000 people. Thousands more were imprisoned and tortured. Kast was a young man at the time of the dictatorship. But even then, he participated in a youth campaign to keep Pinochet in power. Advertisement Advertisement While Kast downplayed those ties during his most recent presidential race, the connection to Pinochet has been part of his personal brand for most of his political career. Felipe Gonzalez Mac-Conell, author of the book Kast: The Chilean Far-Right, explained that the influence of Pinochets government can be linked to Kasts embrace of neoliberal economics and his conservative approach to issues like crime and womens rights. What has permeated his entire political project has been a vindication of the cultural values of the dictatorship, the economic policies of the dictatorship, and also of various civic collaborators of the dictatorship, Mac-Conell said. Pinochets associates have even formed a cornerstone of Kasts incoming government. Advertisement Advertisement Before his inauguration, Kast named two former lawyers for Pinochet, Fernando Barros and Fernando Rabat, to his cabinet. They will serve as minister of defence and minister of justice and human rights, respectively. Supporters of presidential candidate Jose Antonio Kast celebrate with an image of former Chilean leader Augusto Pinochet following the run-off race on December 14, 2025 [Claudio Santana/Getty Images] Frustration with the status quo The legacy of Chiles coup, however, remains a divisive subject in the country, and experts warn it is difficult to know how many Chileans currently support the late Pinochets platform. One poll in 2023, from the marketing research group Mori Chile, found that more than a third of Chileans believe the 1973 coup was justified. Pinochet has remained a dominant figure in Chilean politics and not just because of Kast. Advertisement Advertisement During the 2025 presidential campaign, for instance, another far-right candidate, Johannes Kaiser, also expressed his support for the coup. He ultimately earned 14 percent of the vote in the first round of the election. But support for the legacy of dictatorship is not necessarily what drove voters to Kast, according to Mac-Conell. Instead, Mac-Conell believes Kast came to power as the result of various factors, including the shortcomings of Chiles left wing and frustration with his predecessor, outgoing President Gabriel Boric. Mac-Conell also pointed out that Kast formed his own party as an alternative to the status quo. Kasts Republican Party is seen as more conservative than the right-wing establishment. Chiles new president, Jose Antonio Kast, stands next to his predecessor, Gabriel Bori,c at a ceremony in the National Congress in Valparaiso, Chile, on March 11 [AFP] A regional trend? Jose Alejandro Godoy, a Peruvian political scientist who is writing a book about autocracy in Latin America, has been exploring how Kast may be part of a broader trend in the regions politics. Advertisement Advertisement Other prominent Latin American leaders have similarly embraced the dictatorships in their countries pasts. In Brazil, for instance, former President Jair Bolsonaro openly venerated his countrys military dictatorship. He has since been convicted of trying to overthrow the democratic rule of law himself. In Argentina, meanwhile, President Javier Milei has minimised the atrocities that killed or disappeared an estimated 30,000 people in the 1970s and 80s. Godoy argues that the rise of these leaders is not an expression of nostalgia for an earlier model or era but instead a reflection of deep disaffection with present-day politics. Advertisement Advertisement People dont think politics is going to change anything in their life in the near or medium term, Godoy said. Amid that yawning apathy and mistrust, were finding characters who are closer to an authoritarian vision, he explained. Godoy pointed to the political situation in his own country, Peru, which is set to hold a new presidential election in April. One of the frontrunners is Keiko Fujimori, the daughter of the late Alberto Fujimori, a divisive leader widely condemned as a dictator. Her campaign slogans reflect her fathers appeal for Peruvian strength and stability. Lets bring order to Peru, one slogan says. Another is simply, The force of order. Advertisement Advertisement The late Fujimori was ultimately convicted of human rights abuses in 2009, including for his use of death squads. Still, Godoy said there has always been a sector of Peruvian society that minimised the human rights violations in favour of social and economic goals. In Chile, he added, its similar: Kasts appeal is not so much a nostalgia for Pinochet but rather a thirst for order, something Kast harnessed with his aggressive public safety platform and proposed crackdown on immigration. The worry is, Godoy said, you trade security for civil liberties. China and North Korea are restoring a direct rail link between their capitals after a six-year pause, a move that reflects warming ties between the two countries. China's state railway said in a notice on Tuesday that the first passenger train will depart on Thursday for the nearly 24-hour journey. Service between Beijing and Pyongyang was suspended in 2020 when North Korea closed its borders due to the Covid-19 pandemic. China Railway said the connection would promote economic cooperation and cultural exchange, with trains running four times a week in both directions. Two carriages will be reserved for foreign travellers. Advertisement Advertisement Before the pandemic, Chinese tourists were the largest visitor group in North Korea. China, led by the Communist Party, is also one of the country's most important economic partners. North Korea remains under extensive UN sanctions for its nuclear weapons programme and serious human rights abuses. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited Beijing last September for a military parade of China's People's Liberation Army, one of his rare overseas trips. Passenger trains between China and North Korea will resume service on Thursday, reviving a transport link that was shuttered for six years due to the pandemic, China's rail operator said. Trains between Beijing and Pyongyang will operate four times a week, while the service between the Chinese border city of Dandong and the North Korean capital will run daily, China Railway said in a notice late Tuesday. The train services are "a moving link that strengthens the friendship between China and North Korea," China Railway said. Advertisement Advertisement While China has completely reopened from the pandemic, North Korea has been doing so slowly, allowing a limited number of tourists to enter from 2024. International travelers are allowed on certain train carriages on the Beijing-Pyongyang service, according to China Railway. But a travel agent told the the BBC that the tickets are not yet available for businessmen or tourists. The agent said only people with valid visas can buy the tickets. According to AFP news agency, current visa holders include Chinese citizens who work or study in North Korea and North Koreans who work, study, or need to visit family abroad. Advertisement Advertisement Tickets for the first train departing on Thursday have sold out, Reuters reported, citing an official ticketing office in Beijing. It also reported that those who purchased tickets were entrepreneurs, government officials and reporters. On Tuesday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said that maintaining regular passenger train services between the two countries "is of great significance" for facilitating exchanges between people. Earlier this week, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said in a letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping that he believed cooperation between their countries would grow closer "on their common path to advance the socialist cause". The letter was in response to a message sent by Xi last month congratulating Kim for being named again as the leader of his party. Advertisement Advertisement Chinese tourists made up a major share of foreign tourists to North Korea until the country sealed itself off at the start of the pandemic in early 2020. North Korea slowly opened back to tourists in 2024 has launched new projects such as a seaside resort in an attempt to boost tourism, though such initiatives have also faced suspensions. China's biggest political gathering - the National People's Congress or NPC - has come to an end. Its extensive authority includes making laws, amending the constitution and approving state budgets. But it effectively functions as a rubber-stamp parliament, approving decisions made behind closed doors by the top echelons of the Chinese Communist Party. Still, the annual meetings of the NPC and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) - also known as the "two sessions" - are watched closely as they signal the priorities of the world's second-largest economy. Advertisement Advertisement Our correspondents give us their biggest takeaways. China wants to show it is a beacon of stability By Laura Bicker, China correspondent China's push to be the world's leading superpower depends largely on one key thing - President Xi Jinping's ability to manage his economy. To achieve this, Xi appears to be seeking more certainty as he tries to balance the books in a very uncertain world dominated by an unpredictable US president and a war in the Middle East. His policies to try to encourage Chinese people to spend more money are aimed at stabilising a stuttering domestic economy. His push for technological supremacy is a bid to win the future and get others to come to China's door for the latest factory robots or AI models. Advertisement Advertisement His continuing push toward increasing China's production of renewable energy will allow the country to be more self-reliant. It no longer needs as much oil and gas from other countries including Iran. And then of course there is the choreography of such a major political event, from the practised pitch of the band, to the diligence of delegates who sit and listen to speeches and even turn pages in perfect unison. The quiet, heavily controlled and carefully scripted statecraft in the Great Hall of the People stands in contrast to a fiery White House which has rattled allies and shaken markets with its strikes on Iran. The Chinese Communist Party is trying to show that it is a beacon of stability that is in the business of fixing its economy and future. Advertisement Advertisement Xi will feel China is already in a strong position after fighting back against US tariffs in a trade war that ultimately ended in a truce. China's trade dominance is also attracting back former wary customers including the UK and Canada. The geopolitical landscape is shifting, and Xi may see an opportunity for China to rise, as his rival in Washington is distracted. But he will also know much depends on how his country navigates its own economic challenges in the years to come. The NPC is quiet, heavily controlled, and carefully scripted [Getty Images] China sees technology as key to its future By Suranjana Tewari, Asia Business correspondent Beijing is betting big on technology and innovation to drive China's next phase of economic growth. Advertisement Advertisement The country's 15th Five-Year Plan sets out a roadmap to accelerate scientific breakthroughs and embed artificial intelligence (AI) across the economy. Technology is now seen not just as an economic priority but as a strategic one, as tensions with the US intensify. Research and development spending on technology is set to rise by about 7%. Officials have launched an "AI+" plan to integrate AI into manufacturing, logistics, healthcare and education. China is also investing heavily in semiconductors, robotics, biotechnology, quantum computing, and emerging fields such as 6G communications and brain-computer interfaces. For decades, China's growth was powered by property and infrastructure projects. Now, policymakers are shifting the focus to technology and industrial upgrading. Leaders have set a GDP growth target of 4.5 to 5% - the lowest since 1991 - signalling expectations of slower expansion. Advertisement Advertisement Analysts say the plan could struggle unless household spending picks up. Consumer demand in China is low compared with other major economies, and the property downturn has eroded wealth and confidence. To help, the government plans to expand childcare and eldercare services and enforce paid leave, measures aimed at easing financial pressures and encouraging spending. Leaders have also signalled a willingness to borrow more to fund infrastructure, social welfare, and industrial projects - a departure from past caution over rising debt levels. There are risks though. State-backed investment has already led to much criticism, and overcapacity in industries such as electric vehicles. It has also triggered price wars at home and trade tensions abroad. Advertisement Advertisement Experts warn that technology alone may not deliver the high-quality growth Beijing is hoping for if consumers remain hesitant about spending. For now, Beijing seems to be confident that AI, emerging industries, and innovation can power the economy's next phase. But success may ultimately depend on whether ordinary Chinese households feel secure enough to spend. Beijing is betting big on technology [Getty Images] China unveils plans to boost spending - but details are scant By Stephen McDonell, China correspondent For years economists have been calling on China to improve the overall health and long-term sustainability of its economy by increasing domestic consumption and weaning itself off a heavy reliance on the export of manufactured goods. Advertisement Advertisement So the rhetoric from leaders at this NPC who pledged to "vigorously stimulate consumer demand" will be welcomed. But many analysts are questioning if the proposed measures are enough to actually make a difference. Chinese people traditionally prefer to save for a rainy day rather than spend. And now, with the value of family homes falling and high levels of youth unemployment, they are even more reluctant to do so. So how do you get Chinese consumers to buy more? One way could be to boost incomes. NPC spokesman Lou Qinjian said there were plans to be implemented to achieve this in the future. But he gave no details. Advertisement Advertisement One specific measure that was announced was an increase in government spending on childcare. This type of support can give people more disposable income which, in theory, might free them up to buy the household goods they need. Minimum retirement benefits for rural and non-working urban residents have been raised, but only by the equivalent of $3 (2.24) per month, which has been ridiculed on Chinese social media as virtually nothing. Most of the measures that were announced, for example to boost housing support for first-time married couples, refining parental leave or continuing trade-in programmes swapping old household equipment for new items, did not give any details. Officials could argue that the NPC is about setting the tone and the specifics of household budget support will follow. But, without the detail, it is hard to know if any of these plans will actually improve consumption in a significant way. The International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Wednesday that its member countries have agreed to release 400 million barrels of oil in response to the Iran war, the largest emergency distribution in history and more than double the delivery after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The oil market challenges we are facing are unprecedented in scale, therefore I am very glad that IEA member countries have responded with an emergency collective action of unprecedented size, said IEA executive director Fatih Birol. Oil markets are global so the response to major disruptions needs to be global too. Energy security is the founding mandate of the IEA, and I am pleased that IEA members are showing strong solidarity in taking decisive action together. The decision is an attempt to bring down oil prices as the Iran crisis and the consequent disruption of shipments through the Strait of Hormuz continue to inflict massive shocks to energy markets. The release timeframe will vary by each member country's national circumstances, with further implementation details to follow. The quantity agreed upon represents roughly 20 days of oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, which on average would have 20 million barrels crossing daily. During a meeting of the G7 members held via video conference, French President Emmanuel Macron said that an increase in global oil production is a priority going forward and that barriers to exports should be minimal. "I want to engage with third parties to avoid any type of export restrictions for oil and gas which could destabilise the market and create more volatility," Macron emphasized. The G7 also discussed sanctions on Russia and Macron stated that the countries agreed that "the situation does not justify lifting any sanctions". Last week, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a 30-day waiver allowing Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil from ships currently stranded at sea, with the measure expiring on 4 April and not applying to any new shipments. The waiver applies to oil already at sea and is not a broad sanctions relaxation, with Bessent describing it as a "deliberately short-term measure" that would not provide significant financial benefit to Russia. A united G7 front Ahead of this announcement, Germany and Austria had already stated they would release parts of their oil reserves following the IEA's request. Likewise, Japan also said it would release some of its reserves starting next Monday. Germany and Japan are members of the Group of Seven, or G7, an intergovernmental economic forum that also includes the US, the UK, Italy, Canada and France, and which held emergency talks over the past two days on surging oil prices. PARSONS, W.Va. (WBOY) Three citizen groups are continuing their fight to overturn an air quality permit for the proposed Ridgeline Power Plant and Data Center in Tucker County. On March 6, Tucker United, West Virginia Highlands Conservancy and Sierra Club filed a notice of appeal with the West Virginia Intermediate Court of Appeals and the West Virginia Supreme Court Challenging a February decision by the West Virginia Air Quality Board that upheld the air quality permit granted by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Citizens go behind-the-scenes at Clarksburg FBI center Advertisement Advertisement The groups contend that DEP improperly classified the facility as a minor source of air pollution, a designation that significantly limits public oversight. They also argue that the department both withheld critical information from the public and failed to estimate emissions accurately. Air pollution emissions from the proposed power plant in Tucker County will add to the already heavy health impacts from fossil fuel power plants in West Virginia, West Virginia Chapter of Sierra Club Conservation Chair Jim Kotcon said. WVDEP should be focused on protecting our health and the environment, instead of bending over backwards for corporate polluters. The groups also argue that their original appeal raised 17 specific objections to the permit, but only 15 were addressed in the February decision. 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. Don't fret, the moon is safe from a potential "city killer" asteroid collision in half-a-dozen years, astronomers now say. Asteroid 2024 YR4, once feared to hit the moon in 2032, is now expected to safely miss the lunar surface by about 13,000 miles, according to recent observations from the James Webb Space Telescope shared in a March 5 NASA blog post. The updated outlook comes as NASA gathers more data about the recently discovered asteroid. Fall 2025 predictions that the asteroid could collide with the moon prompted a proposal to nuke the asteroid, though that's no longer needed. Here's what to know about YR4's chances of hitting the moon. Will asteroid 2024 YR4 hit the moon in 2032? No, asteroid 2024 YR4 is no longer expected to hit the moon in 2032, according to recent observations from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. The asteroid will safely pass the moon, coming within 13,200 miles of the lunar surface, according to the March 5 NASA blog post. That's close by cosmic standards, with the moon Earth's closest neighbor at 239,000 miles away. Advertisement Advertisement The observations, which have yet to be published in a peer-reviewed study, were led by scientists at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland. In fall 2025, NASA and the European Space Agency had reported a 4% chance of the asteroid hitting the moon in 2032. What is asteroid 2024 YR4? Asteroid 2024 YR4 is a near-Earth asteroid discovered in late 2024, estimated at nearly 300 feet long, according to the James Webb Space Telescope's observations. The asteroid is considered a "city-killing" asteroid due to its size, so its initial uncommonly high risk of crashing into Earth, eliminated by early 2025, caused concern. An image of the asteroid 2024 YR4 taken by the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope, released on February 25, 2025, shows a frame of the asteroid's path through the night sky in January 2025, observed at infrared wavelengths with the HAWK-I instrument. How far is asteroid 2024 YR4 from Earth now? Asteroid 2024 YR4 is currently over 285 million miles away from Earth, according to The Sky Live. What is NASA? The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or NASA, is a federal government agency based in Washington, D.C., focused on outer space exploration and research, per its website. Advertisement Advertisement USA TODAY contributed. Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Is 'city killer' asteroid going to hit moon? See NASA outlook NEW YORK (AP) There will be a new leader at billionaire eBay founder Pierre Omidyar's philanthropic group that aims to expand access to the digital revolution's economic opportunities. Omidyar Network President Michele Jawando takes over as CEO next month, according to a Wednesday announcement from the left-leaning organization that blends charitable grantmaking with for-profit impact investments. A civil rights lawyer and former Google executive who managed the company's public policy partnerships, Jawando will helm one of the best-financed technology organizations looking to loosen Silicon Valley's grip on artificial intelligence's development, deployment and regulation. Our focus will be making sure that there is a much more diverse set of views and people and coalitions and voices shaping the moments, the opportunities and the rules for the AI era, Jawando said. Advertisement Advertisement I just want people to feel agency and power in this moment, she added. I hate the fact that most people feel like this technology is happening to them. Philanthropy often lacks the financial heft and political clout of AI companies that are valuated at hundreds of billions of dollars and have secured favorable policies under U.S. President Donald Trump. This week, the social sector has watched with concern as the Trump administration retaliated against Anthropic over the artificial intelligence company's refusal to allow the government unrestricted military use of its technology. The Anthropic episode underscores Jawando's insistence that a handful of companies shouldn't determine the guardrails for what she called really powerful super tools. Omidyar Network recently refined its focus to fill what leaders saw as gaps in philanthropy's engagement with the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, putting together a $30 million generative AI portfolio in recent years. Acknowledging the David and Goliath kind of asymmetry" in resources, Jawando said her role is to build bridges across philanthropy that can elevate working people's perspectives. Advertisement Advertisement The responsible and safe use of AI shouldnt be just one companys mantra, Jawando said. Its not that some companies are too responsible and others arent. Its just that we dont have a public governance framework. Outgoing Omidyar Network CEO Mike Kubzansky said philanthropy will always be outspent by big tech companies and acknowledged that the sector isnt known for strong coordination. But he highlighted Jawandos role as co-chair of a philanthropic coalition putting $500 million behind AI that prioritizes the public's interests. Kubzansky said his successor is the one who involved several funders that hadnt been as active in the AI space, such as the Doris Duke Foundation and the Lumina Foundation. She rarely jumps to the oppositional card first, he said. She finds new partners for us and she brings people along. Advertisement Advertisement A self-described bridge builder, Jawando said Omidyar Network will double down on consulting underrepresented communities, influencing state legislatures and supporting research that applies this marvelous technology for everyday people's benefit. That means partnering with advocacy nonprofits such as the Model Alliance, which championed a recently implemented New York State law that requires fashion workers' consent to create digital replicas of their likenesses. The firm aims to empower overlooked populations by supporting leaders such as #BlackTechFutures Research Institute co-founder Fallon Wilson, who is working with HBCUs and African American churches on AI literacy. Omidyar Network will keep supporting tech regulation advocates despite Trump's executive order curtailing state AI guardrails. As public outcry grows against energy-hungry data centers that are expanding in size and number, Jawando said the network wants to identify models for responsible data centers that consider factors such as carbon neutrality and community engagement. And it funds AI researchers who want to advance health care, for example, not business-to-business services. I think we have the people. I think we have the will. I think we have the creativity, she said. In a way that, if you only are forced to think about shareholders every three months, you start to lower and really narrow the window of your ambition. Advertisement Advertisement One nonprofit tech proponent hoped other funders would take inspiration from Omidyar Networks commitment to AI, reinforced by the announcement of Jawandos promotion. Fast Forward executive director Shannon Farley, whose accelerator helps nonprofits that apply technological solutions to social problems, said philanthropy stands at an inflection point where AI is rapidly accelerating but those most impacted have the fewest protections. She welcomed Jawandos collaborative approach. Farley said she hopes the new CEO can galvanize her peers, considering Omidyar Networks status as one of the earliest tech for good investors. Were asking nonprofits to solve 21st-century problems with 20th-century tech, Farley said. They cant do that if funders arent understanding AI and backing people with lived experience to solve the problems in front of them. ___ Advertisement Advertisement The Associated Press receives financial assistance from the Omidyar Network to support coverage of artificial intelligence and its impact on society. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. - Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. For all of APs philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy. Cleveland County Board of Education approved a resolution during the March 9 meeting that opened up the bidding process for the former Marion Elementary School property beginning March 10. After controversial plans fell through to sell the building to One More, One Less, a religious non-profit which encourages churches to support fostering, adoption and reunification, the building is now officially for sale to the public for the first time since it was declared surplus property in 2023. According to the resolution, in February, Preservation North Carolina withdrew from the negotiations. Advertisement Advertisement More: Nonprofit seeks to purchase former Marion Elementary School in Shelby "The board now wishes to dispose of the property pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. 160A-268 and-269, providing for the sale of real property by upset bids," the resolution said. According to the resolution, which passed in a five to four vote, the neighborhood school will be disposed of in an upset bid process. Walter Spurling, Gloria Sherman, Joel Shores, Aaron Bridges and Ron Humphries voted to approve, and Ronnie Grigg, Danny Blanton and Kenneth Ledford voted against. "As you know, we spent a lot of time talking about Marion School looking at several different options," Superintendent Stephen Fisher told the board. "As we had conversations with you over last couple of months and looking at different ways of disposing of this property, it's become apparent based on several circumstances, that we recommend using the resolution that you've got at your spots, to move forward to sell Marion Elementary using the upset bid process." Advertisement Advertisement Fisher said bidding will close in April, and the board will vote on them at the April meeting. "Then we would enter into a 10-day upset bidding process," he said. "This is the way we've disposed of properties in the past. Tomorrow we would post that property to be eligible for bid." Blanton, who has been a vocal opponent of selling the school, once again voiced concerns that Shelby's schools are full and with new housing developments being built, the problem will only get worse. "Would it not pay us to do a little homework to make sure were not going to need this building down the road?" he said. "We're already renting mobile units because our schools are full in Shelby. There are houses going up on every corner." Advertisement Advertisement He said remodeling a school would be much cheaper than building a new one. Bridges countered the argument by pointing out that Cleveland County Schools has been experiencing decreasing enrollment for years and between 2017 and 2026, the school system has lost almost a 1,000 students. Sherman said if at some point down the road, if there was an influx of new students and they needed more space, she said they could add on to Jefferson School or look at re-opening Graham Elementary, which was transferred to the county. Ledford and Grigg also expressed concerns about population growth with new houses under construction and the potential need for more space. Advertisement Advertisement Shores said they cannot open the school and said because of declining enrollment, the state is cutting $1.8 million in funding. "We are going to have to cut positions. We're going to have to lay people off," he said. In addition to funding cuts and declining enrollment, Shores said the building needs major renovations to be operational, including the installation of two new elevators. "Where are we going to get the money?" he asked. "We don't have the money, where are we going to get it. I hope Cleveland County grows. We need it. We need it to grow." Shores said they currently have nearly 300 seats open now that need to be filled and meanwhile, the building is sitting vacant, costing taxpayers money. This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: Cleveland County Board of Education votes on future of Marion School With just days remaining in the 2026 legislative session, Virginia lawmakers are running out of time to reach agreement on a new two-year state budget, even as Democrats control the governors office and both chambers of the General Assembly. As of Wednesday afternoon, budget conferees had yet to meet to reconcile differences between the House and Senate spending plans, leaving a narrow window for negotiators to strike a deal before the legislatures scheduled adjournment Saturday. The House and Senate budget proposals both reshape the final two-year spending plan originally introduced by former Gov. Glenn Youngkin, which totaled roughly $212 billion across all funds for the upcoming biennium. Advertisement Advertisement The biggest obstacle is a growing dispute over whether Virginia should phase out a lucrative tax exemption that has helped fuel the rapid growth of the states data-center industry. Senate Democrats are pushing to end the retail sales and use tax exemption on computer equipment used in large data centers beginning Jan. 1, 2027 a change they say would recapture billions in foregone revenue and fund public education, infrastructure and transportation investments. But the House budget does not include the proposal, and Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger has signaled caution about altering a policy widely credited with helping Virginia become the worlds largest hub for data centers. A central sticking point When both chambers released their competing budget proposals last month, the Senate plan called for ending the exemption beginning in 2027. Advertisement Advertisement Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee Chair Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, said the incentive once expected to cost relatively little has grown dramatically as the data-center industry expanded. Originally projected to cost about $1.54 million annually, the exemption now results in roughly $1.6 billion in foregone tax revenue each year, according to Senate Democrats. In the most recent fiscal year alone, they benefited from more than $33.2 billion dollars in tax-free computer equipment purchases, Lucas said when the Senate plan was unveiled, reiterating that data centers should pay their fair share to help the state deliver core its services of education, transportation, and social services. Lucas has argued the revenue could support transportation and water-infrastructure investments without increasing tolls or other fees. Advertisement Advertisement Under the Senate proposal, ending the exemption would direct nearly $300 million to transportation projects across multiple modes. The tax incentive has grown into one of Virginias largest economic-development programs, but analysts estimate it now costs the state about $1 billion annually in lost revenue. While the policy helped make Northern Virginia the worlds largest data-center hub, critics say the industrys rapid expansion strains energy infrastructure and generates relatively few jobs compared with its massive electricity and land demands. House resistance and governors caution The House budget does not include the Senates plan to eliminate the tax exemption, setting up a major conflict for negotiators. Advertisement Advertisement House Appropriations Committee Chair Luke Torian, D-Prince William, told reporters Tuesday that budget conferees had not yet met to begin resolving the differences between the two plans. The delay prompted a sharp response from Lucas, who took to social media to defend the Senates position. Let me be clear. There will not be a budget with Glenn Youngkins Data Center tax breaks in it. Glenn drove up YOUR utility bills to give tax breaks to data centers. Strong as battleship steel, I will fight for affordability for the people and encourage Gov. Spanberger to join me, she wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Asked about Lucas messaging at a Tuesday news conference, House Speaker Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, played down the clash and suggested the disagreement was part of the normal push and pull of budget talks. Advertisement Advertisement If she says whatever she says while were in this budget negotiation, its politics, and I think well end up working it out, he said. Scott added that he believed House and Senate Democrats agreed on nearly everything else in the spending plan. I think we are more aligned on 99% issues, so I think well be fine, he said. It always gets worked out. Speaking to reporters Wednesday afternoon after meeting with budget conferees, Spanberger echoed that sentiment and called the discussions productive. If you look at the side-by-side of the House budget and the Senate budget, they agree on so much, whether its the programs to fund and even in many cases the amount, the governor said. Advertisement Advertisement Concerning the debate over Virginias data center tax exemption, Spanberger said that Data centers should pay their fair share, and I think the commonwealth of Virginia should also abide by contracts that we sign. Origins of the tax break While Lucas blamed Youngkin for the tax breaks, Virginias data-center tax exemption dates back to 2009, when the General Assembly approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Charlottesville, aimed at attracting high-tech investment during the Great Recession. The law allows qualifying data centers to purchase computer equipment without paying Virginias retail sales and use tax, typically between about 5% and 7% depending on the locality. To qualify, operators generally must invest at least $150 million and create at least 50 jobs that pay wages at least 150% of the local average. Advertisement Advertisement The incentive applies to equipment used to process and store data including servers, routers, networking hardware, cooling systems and related infrastructure. The exemption took effect in 2010 after being signed by then-Gov. Tim Kaine and has since been extended multiple times as the industry expanded. Under current law, the benefit can continue through 2035 and, in some cases, through 2050 for companies that meet higher investment and employment thresholds. How the budget process works Virginias two-year state budget is introduced by the governor in December before the General Assembly convenes. The proposal outlines revenue forecasts and spending priorities for the next biennium and serves as the starting point for lawmakers. Advertisement Advertisement Once the session begins, the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee craft their own versions. After both chambers pass separate budgets, a conference committee negotiates a compromise behind closed doors and produces a conference report that must be approved by both chambers before being sent to the governor. The immediate challenge is timing. House rules require the final budget to be available to lawmakers for 48 hours before a floor vote, meaning negotiators would need to reach an agreement by Thursday to adjourn on schedule Saturday. If talks run longer a common occurrence conferees can continue negotiating after adjournment, but lawmakers typically stop receiving per diem payments unless they are called back into session. Once a deal is reached, the General Assembly must reconvene to vote on the conference report. If negotiations extend past adjournment, the Virginia Constitution allows the governor to call lawmakers back to Richmond in a special session to finish the budget a step governors often take when talks run long. Advertisement Advertisement Virginias fiscal year begins July 1, giving negotiators additional time if needed, though leaders generally try to finish before adjournment. After passage, the budget goes to the governor, who can sign it, veto it or propose amendments that lawmakers consider during the General Assemblys reconvened session, typically in April. For now, legislative leaders are projecting confidence that negotiations will ultimately produce a deal, even as the deadline approaches. Senate Democratic Caucus Chair Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, said during a news conference Tuesday that lawmakers were proceeding as they typically do during the final stretch of budget season. We are moving along as we normally do, Locke said. We will collaborate with each other, and we will work together, as Mr. Speaker indicated, as we sprint toward the deadline on Saturday. And we will get the work done. Virginia Mercury reporter Shannon Heckt contributed to this story. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE CNNs Abby Phillip falsely stated on Tuesday that the alleged ISIS-inspired terror attack in New York City over the weekend was "against" Mayor Zohran Mamdani. "Two Republicans say Muslims dont belong here after an attempted terror attack against New Yorks Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the House speaker, Mike Johnson, says nothing, really, to condemn those comments," Phillip told CNN viewers, appearing to trip over her words as she went to a commercial break. In reality, the attack is being investigated as an "act of ISIS-inspired terrorism" that was targeted at anti-Islam protesters outside Mamdani's Gracie Mansion mayoral residence. Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, were charged with material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and use of a weapon of mass destruction. Advertisement Advertisement Nyc Terror Probe: Homemade Ieds Set Off In Controlled Detonation At Storage Facility, Source Says Both men are U.S. citizens. One suspects parents are naturalized U.S. citizens from Turkey, while the other suspects parents are naturalized U.S. citizens from Afghanistan. A guest later on Phillip's program pointed out that the attack was targeted against protesters, not the mayor himself. Read On The Fox News App "To frame it as an anti-Muslim attack would actually completely reverse what happened," guest Joe Borelli said. Mamdani, the first Muslim mayor of New York City, has described the attempted attack as "terrorism" but did not reference radical Islam in his initial public remarks. Advertisement Advertisement Mamdani Avoids Radical Islamic Terror Phrase After Isis-inspired Nyc Attack, Echoing Obama-era Debate New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. (Getty Images) After significant online backlash to her remark, Phillip took to X on Wednesday morning to offer an apology. "I want to correct something I said last night. The bombs thrown in New York City over the weekend by ISIS inspired attackers was thrown into a crowd of anti-Muslim protestors and not specifically targeted at Mayor Mamdani. That wording was inaccurate and I didnt catch it ahead of time. I apologize for the error," Phillip wrote. It was a rough day for CNN on Tuesday, as the network was forced to delete a social media post that oddly portrayed the terror suspects as teenagers who could have simply enjoyed nice weather. Advertisement Advertisement "Two Pennsylvania teenagers crossed into New York City Saturday morning for what couldve been a normal day enjoying the city during abnormally warm weather," the now-deleted post read. "But in less than an hour, their lives would drastically change as the pair would be arrested for throwing homemade bombs during an anti-Muslim protest outside of Mayor Zohran Mamdanis home. Here's what we know so far." CNN followed up with this explanation on X: "A post regarding the two individuals arrested for throwing homemade bombs outside of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdanis home failed to reflect the gravity of the incident thereby breaching the editorial standards we require for all our reporting. It has therefore been deleted." Cnn Torched Over 'Bizarre' Post About Pennsylvania Teenagers Charged With Throwing Bombs At A Nyc Protest NYPD Bomb Squad officers search a car allegedly belonging to an individual who attempted to throw a homemade explosive at police officers on March 8, 2026, in New York City. Republican Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee declared in a post on X Monday that "Muslims dont belong in American society," and later defended his remarks as Democrats condemned them. Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., has posted similar rhetoric in the past. Advertisement Advertisement Speaker Johnson, responding to questions about Ogles on Monday, sounded the alarm about the threat of Sharia law in the U.S., warning that it is in direct conflict with the tenets the U.S. was founded on. Click Here To Download The Fox News App Fox News Digitals Stephen Sorace, Elizabeth Elkind and Alex Nitzberg contributed to this report. Original article source: CNNs Abby Phillip wrongly claims New York City terror attack was against Zohran Mamdani, apologizes Colorado is bracing for a potentially historic March heat wave that could accelerate snowmelt across an already record-low mountain snowpack, raising serious concerns for the state's farmers and water supply heading into summer. Denver Water says levels for its snowpack, which supply water to 1.5 million people in Denver and surrounding suburbs, are among the worst on record for this point in the year. According to Denver Water, as of March 9, the South Platte River Basin snowpack within its collection area stood at 55% of normal, ranking as the lowest on record. The Colorado River Basin within its collection area sat at 71% of normal, ranking fourth lowest on record. Denver Water said it needs an additional seven to eight feet of snow this spring just to reach the normal seasonal peak, and conditions are running roughly four to five feet short of where the utility would prefer to be right now. Advertisement Advertisement "While the wet snowstorm Friday was welcome, our hot and dry weather pattern will limit those gains and keep our water supply situation challenging as we enter spring," Greg Fisher, Denver Water's manager of demand planning, said in post by the utility. "We ask our customers not to get lulled into thinking they should turn on irrigation systems with the warming weather." Denver Water said that no matter what happens, its annual summer watering rules will be in place this irrigation season, and that additional drought restrictions are likely. The situation draws comparisons to 2002, which Denver Water has considered the benchmark for bad snowpack years. That drought forced Denver Water to impose Stage 2 mandatory watering restrictions. "The low mark has always been 2002, and the fact that this year is looking to become 'the worst' snowpack on record is extremely concerning," Nathan Elder, Denver Water's water supply manager, shared. Advertisement Advertisement The incoming heat wave is compounding fears for Colorado's agricultural community, too. Gene Kelly, director of the Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station at Colorado State University, said the forecast is deeply troubling for farmers already dealing with dry conditions. "When you get warmer events, like if we get a week or two, that water will pretty much evaporate pretty quickly, and the soils will remain dry," Kelly said. Kelly said the consequences go beyond just moisture loss. "Any water that's there can be lost pretty quickly, and then of course in our mountain areas where we do have snowpack, it just melts too quickly, and so we don't get a real storage element of our water," he said. "We get more rapid runoffs, and we get it at the wrong time." Advertisement Advertisement Kelly said dry, loose soil also creates problems when farmers attempt to work the land. "Working soil that's dry is not really what we would prefer," he said. "There's no tilt, it's not adhering, the particles are sort of very loose, and so when they're plowing or planting, and even driving the tractor, it disturbs the soil." The Arkansas Valley and southeastern Colorado are already under particular strain, Kelly said, calling conditions there a major challenge. He added that crops like corn become especially vulnerable when warm weather arrives too early, and water is scarce. Kelly said growers across the state are already preparing for the worst. Advertisement Advertisement "The growers I work with and at our research centers around the state, we're just planning for the worst case scenario that we'll have low amounts of water for irrigation," he said. Kelly left little ambiguity about how serious the situation has become. "This is gonna be a challenging year, all over the state," he said. "This is pretty bad." Denver Water said reservoir storage currently sits at 80% full, compared to an average of 85% for this time of year, and is predicting Dillon Reservoir will only peak at around 85% of capacity by July 1, its lowest peak since the early 2000s. The utility said it is developing recommendations for a potential drought response for its Board of Water Commissioners to consider in the coming weeks. By Parisa Hafezi, Alexander Cornwell and Bo Erickson DUBAI/TEL AVIV/WASHINGTON, March 11 (Reuters) - Iran said the world should be ready for oil at $200 a barrel as its forces hit merchant ships on Wednesday and the International Energy Agency recommended a massive release of strategic reserves to dampen one of the worst oil shocks since the 1970s. The war unleashed with joint U.S. and Israeli airstrikes nearly two weeks ago has so far killed around 2,000 people, mostly Iranians and Lebanese, as it has spread into Lebanon and thrown global energy markets and transport into chaos. Despite what the Pentagon has described as the most intense airstrikes since the start of the war, Iran also fired at Israel and targets across the Middle East on Wednesday, demonstrating it can still fight back. On Wednesday, three vessels were reported to have been hit in Gulf waters as Iran's Revolutionary Guards said their forces had fired on ships in the Gulf that had disobeyed their orders. U.S. President Donald Trump, who has not committed to a timeline for military operations, suggested on Wednesday he was not yet ready to call an end to the war. At a rally in Kentucky, he said "we won" the war, but the United States didn't want to have to go back every two years. "We don't want to leave early, do we?" he said. "We got to finish the job." Trump said U.S. forces had knocked out 58 Iranian naval ships and that oil prices would come down and told reporters in Washington that Iran was "pretty much at the end of the line." "Doesn't mean we're going to end it immediately, but ... They've got no navy, they've got no air force, they've got no anti-air traffic anything. They have no systems of control. We're just riding free range over that country," he said. STRATEGIC STRAIT Trump said the U.S. would now "look very strongly" at the Strait of Hormuz, adding: "The straits are in great shape. We've knocked out all of their boats. They have some missiles, but not very many." Despite Trump's words, there has been no sign that ships can safely sail through the strait, a now-blockaded channel along the Iranian coast that serves as a conduit for around a fifth of the world's oil. An Iranian military spokesperson said the strait was "undoubtedly" under Iran's control. Trump said ships "should" transit through the strait but sources said Iran had deployed about a dozen mines in the channel, further complicating the blockade. A new bill set to be heard in the Ohio General Assembly this week looks to codify gender identity regulations, in a measure that sponsors say would ensure parents are not punished for raising their children consistent with biological reality. The bill is being criticized by LGBTQ+ advocates as discriminatory against transgender youth. Ohio House Bill 693 is yet another bill under the GOP-supported umbrella of parental rights. Advertisement Advertisement It would establish that affirming a childs sex does not qualify as abuse or neglect, does not run contrary to the best interests of the child, and does not create an unsafe environment for the child, according to the Legislative Service Commission analysis of the bill. The measure is set to be introduced on Wednesday in the House Judiciary Committee, where the committee will get the first take of the bill from sponsors state Rep. Gary Click, R-Vickers, and Rep. Josh Williams, R-Sylvania Twp. That language in the legislation would apply to the areas of parental rights and responsibilities, child abuse investigations, placement of children, medical care, professional licensing, employment, collection of data, and withholding or concealing information. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement The sponsors say the bill would also ban the use of educational materials from outside organizations that indicate the use of a minors biological sex could cause psychological harm or constitute a threat to the childs safety. It is the public policy of this state that a parent has the fundamental right to make decisions concerning the upbringing, education, and care of the parents minor child, including the right to affirm the minor childs sex, the bill states. In filing the bill, the sponsors claimed it works to lessen government interference in family life. It is unconscionable to think that local government entities would flag a parent as being a danger to their son for declining to buy him a dress or call him her, Click said in a statement. We will not tolerate such government overreach in the state of Ohio. Advertisement Advertisement Click has previously led anti-trans legislation banning gender-affirming care for youth, which the General Assembly supported by overriding the veto of Gov. Mike DeWine in 2024. In fact, the lawmaker thinks gender-affirming care is a form of child abuse, according to comments he made in 2023. LGBTQ+ nonprofit group Equality Ohio has come out in opposition to the bill, saying it would create an irrefutable right to transgender conversion therapy, block judges and child protective services from responding appropriately to abuse involving LGBTQ+ kids, threaten occupational licensure for doctors, teachers, and therapists who use gender-affirming language, and create barriers to data used by child placement agencies to place LGBTQ+ children in appropriate homes. H.B. 693 undermines evidence-based child welfare protections and, if passed, this bill would lead to increased trauma, victimization, and abuse of Ohios kids, said Dwayne Steward, CEO and executive director of Equality Ohio, in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement A 2025 study by The Trevor Project found that things like discrimination, physical threats, and the inability to have basic needs met led to a higher likelihood of anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts in LGBTQ+ youth. The same study found that supportive actions from family, friends, and affirming environments improved mental health and suicide risk over time. The National Alliance on Mental Illness called gender-affirming care crucial to overall health and well-being for transgender people of all ages, citing studies finding access to the care that supports a persons gender identity can improve mental health outcomes. Similarly, denying gender-affirming care can worsen mental health symptoms and increase suicide risk, according to the alliance. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE A solemn procession of police and first responder vehicles from across Chester County escorted Pennsylvania State Police Corporal Timothy O'Connor to a West Chester funeral home as the community gathered to honor the trooper killed in the line of duty. Flashing lights lined the route as O'Connor, draped in an American flag, was carried into DellaVecchia Funeral Home. Fellow troopers stood at attention and saluted as he was brought inside. O'Connor was killed Sunday night after responding around 8 p.m. to a call about an erratic driver. Police said he stopped the vehicle at Route 10 and Michael Road in West Caln Township and, within seconds of approaching it, the driver - identified by police as 32-year-old Jesse Elks - opened fire, killing O'Connor. Advertisement Advertisement Elks was identified as a substitute bus driver. The Tredyffrin- Easttown School District sent a letter home to parents, stating that Elks often drove a school bus for one of its contractors, a company called "On the Go Kids." According to the company, there were no complaints against Elks. READ MORE | Pennsylvania state police trooper shot and killed during traffic stop; suspect also dead Community mourning loss of trooper killed during traffic stop The loss of O'Connor has reverberated throughout the community, including among those who knew him personally. Jessica Hernandez, a barber at Simply Men's Barber Shop in West Chester, said O'Connor often spoke about his family. Advertisement Advertisement "Once you got to know him, you could see how much of a great person he was and always talked highly of his family, of his daughter, and his wife," Hernandez said. Hernandez and her daughter visited O'Connor's Pennsylvania State Police barracks in West Bradford to pay their respects. She described him as a hero who put his life on the line. "You have athletes and actors who are getting paid all this money, but you have people who risk their lives out there every single day just like Tim. He's the hero," she said. Family members gathered around O'Connor's vehicle, which was covered in flowers, as they mourned his death. Advertisement Advertisement Among those paying tribute were Erica Armstrong and her father, David Lee, who said O'Connor helped save Lee's life last March. Lee said he was having a heart attack and pulled into a state police barracks just as O'Connor was starting his shift. "So they threw me in the car and they made sure they got me in the room over at the hospital," Less said. "I never did get to shake the man's hand and I wish I could have." Armstrong said they returned to the barracks to honor O'Connor and to share a message with his family. "And his little girl, I just want you to know that your daddy saved my daddy. And we thank you for that, and you'll forever be a part of my family," Armstrong said. Community members are continuing to support the O'Connor family. A meal train organized in their honor has raised $15,000 so far. By Saeed Azhar and Manya Saini NEW YORK, March 9 (Reuters) - Wall Street investment banking giant Goldman Sachs is pitching hedge funds a financial product that allows them to take a short or long position on corporate loans, a source familiar with the matter said. The product, known as a total return swap, is a derivative contract that allows investors to profit from changes in market value of the loans, the source said. No trades have been executed using this strategy so far, the source said. The Financial Times earlier reported the news, saying the Wall Street bank has offered clients complex trades that would allow them to profit from further falls in loans made to software companies that have come under pressure in recent months. "As a market-maker, we obviously engage constantly with clients on facilitating the trading strategies they want to execute. This happens every day, across many asset classes, in every market environment," a Goldman spokesperson said in an email. Software stocks have tumbled this year as investors worry that rapid advances in artificial intelligence could disrupt the traditional business models. Traders fear that AI agents capable of performing complex tasks across multiple applications could erode growth at legacy software-as-a-service companies. No major debt deals backed by software companies have been sold in the primary market since Oracle's $25 billion debt package priced on February 2. Deals have been sidelined as investors worry that artificial intelligence could replace many of the software products and services that tech companies provide. (Reporting by Manya Saini in Bengaluru and Saeed Azhar in New York; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar and Matthew Lewis) Odraye Jones was before a judge again Tuesday, as jury selection in his resentencing trial is scheduled to start in less than a week. Tuesdays hearing was initially scheduled to deal with requests from jurors to be excused and various pending motions. A competency hearing is scheduled for Monday, the day before jury selection is set to begin. Defense attorney Donald Malarcik said a competency report was filed under seal at about 4:30 p.m. Monday, and he filed a motion seeking a hearing on whether or not Jones is competent. Advertisement Advertisement The doctor who compiled the report is available to testify Monday. The hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. The case, which hinges on the aggravated circumstances of the 1997 fatal shooting of Ashtabula Police Officer William D. Glover Jr., has been bogged down in appeals and procedural hurdles. Jones, who changed his name to Malik Allah U Akbar, was originally sentenced to death after his jury trial, but he appealed the conviction and sentence. An appellate court found the 1998 testimony of a clinical psychologist, called to testify by Jones defense attorneys, contained racist statements. The appellate court ruled the conviction stands, but Jones deserves a chance at a new sentence. Advertisement Advertisement Attorneys and Judge David Schroeder met in chambers to discuss housekeeping matters before the hearing. While discussing them in open court, Jones objected, stating Malarcik and Margaret Brunarski are not his lawyers. Daniel Kasaris, one of the prosecutors on the case, said Jones' objections are the reason the house-keeping matters need to be discussed in chambers. Schroeder previously said the process of screening potential jurors could take up to two weeks, and Jones resentencing is expected to start March 31. A pair of motions from the defense to dismiss the aggravating factors of the case are pending. Advertisement Advertisement Schroeder said he will make a decision on the motion soon. Both attorneys have been provided with a spreadsheet of all the motions in the case, Schroeder said. "If either counsel feels the need for the court to rule on any motions, then please make the court aware of that, and if you wish to see the need for a hearing on that particular motion, we discussed in chambers that once jury selection starts, if the motion does not necessarily pertain to jury selection, we would have an additional time to have a hearing during that time period," Schroeder said. Counsel for both sides were ordered to review the list of motions and inform the court of any that need a hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors submitted a factual summary of the case last week, which will be submitted to the jury at the start of resentencing. Schroeder also received proposed jury instructions from Malarcik. The proposed instructions for the most part mirror the standard form, apart from the unique status of the case, Schroeder said. Malarcik said the instructions he provided were approved in a pair of other capital murder cases, apart from the case-specific modifications he added. Potential jurors will be brought in large groups, receive instructions from the court and complete a questionnaire, Schroeder said. Advertisement Advertisement After that, they will be given a time to come back for further questions, in smaller groups, he said. Prosecutors have prepared a list of exhibits from the original trial, and indicated which they will submit to the jury. Schroeder said sentencing options for this case are death, life without the possibility of parole, life with parole after 30 years or life with parole after 25 years. The list of potential jurors in the case was at 173, but a number of requests to be excused were heard Tuesday. "We started out with 350 summonses sent, we've received, based on the latest information I had, 253 responses or questionnaires back," Schroeder said. "Eighty had already been excused leaving 173 remaining, but there are certain jurors excuses to be addressed today." CONNEAUT City council heard from four local residents concerned about the possibility of an artificial intelligence data center being set up in the community at a Monday meeting. Julie Barton said pollution is one major negative output from data centers, and it could affect Lake Erie. She said there are other costs city leaders should consider if contemplating a data center. "We have to be careful of this model of industrial recruitment, which has been used in Appalachia for generations to bring in industries," Barton said. Advertisement Advertisement AI is being pushed as a way to eliminate jobs, so bringing in a data center would run counter to promises to create new jobs in the long term, she said. Joel Specht said corporations are cherry-picking communities dealing with financial hardship when choosing where to build data centers. "If something goes wrong and the company comes in and screws us up, are we really ever going to see any reparations?" he said. Gary Pagenkopf said he saw false information about a data center on Facebook, so he was at the meeting trying to understand what was happening. He said he hopes city administration looks into the possible affects of data centers. Advertisement Advertisement Councilperson-at-large Nick Perkoski recommended Pagenkopf read articles from the National League of Cities to learn more about the costs and benefits of data centers from an unbiased perspective. Bob Campbell said he wants controls on a possible data center, but is not necessarily opposed to one. Many of the residents had said they were also reaching out to state representatives to learn more about the issue. City Manager Nick Sanford said he has heard the concerns from residents and takes them seriously. "These are very, very early level potential developments that have vetted very, very carefully, particularly with concerns of the environment for the city," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Council President Terry Moisio said the city would not provide property tax abatements or tax increment financing for a data center coming to the city. "We don't want to affect the schools," he said. Moisio said the opening of a data center in the city would be similar to the opening of a proposed U.S. Steel plant in the 1970s, which was controversial at the time for similar reasons. He previously said any consideration of a data center is five to ten years down the road. Second Ward Councilperson Chris Castrilla said there would have to be ordinance changes related to zoning before any data center could move forward. Advertisement Advertisement "There is absolutely nothing concrete other than a conversation," he said. During her comment, Barton brought up her concerns surrounding Immigration and Customs Enforcement. She is a member of Betsy's Bees a local organization that was at the Feb. 23 council meeting concerned about potential local involvement in federal immigration enforcement. During that council meeting, the organization said they had sent city leaders a copy of a resolution passed by East Cleveland they said they supported. Moisio said council will not pass legislation that would violate federal law. "[ICE is] not going to come here, believe me," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Barton said she hopes Moisio is right. Council approved a $388,713 contract with J. Severino Construction for the Old Main Road waterline and booster improvement project. It was the second lowest and best responsible bid, Sanford said. Clerk of Council Jennifer Hoover said the lowest bidder was Marucci and Gaffney, at $387,440. Sanford said the work on the waterline is necessary, before the Old Main Road Bridge is replaced. The Ohio Department of Transportation should bid out the bridge replacement project in May, before work starts in August, he said. Council approved an ordinance to create a fund for the road improvement projects on Buffalo Street, and Park Avenue and Day Street. Advertisement Advertisement Sanford previously said the projects are curb-to-curb infrastructure improvements, and include storm and sanitary sewer and waterline work. Sanford said he and Wastewater Superintendent Brian Bidwell had a meeting scheduled with Congressman David Joyce for Tuesday about federal funding for dredging Conneaut harbor. Full federal funding for dredging is needed so the city can stay in compliance with state law, he said. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers only received funding for 10,000 cubic yards of dredging for this year, Sanford said. Work on Broad Street should resume the week of March 23, as long as weather is favorable, he said. Advertisement Advertisement The pavement replacement work on Broad Street began last summer. It goes from Route 20 to just south of the Norfolk Southern underpass. City workers are addressing issues on southern and rural roads as quickly as possible, Sanford said. Weather conditions have affected the roads in that part of the city, he said. Main Street between Sandusky and Mill streets is closed, because of work related to a new Circle K, Sanford said. He said the changes would accommodate utility connections pre-planned and paid for by Circle K. "Their waterline connections to the city's water system was going to require a lowering of the water main," Sanford said. Advertisement Advertisement Circle K will resurface the portion of Main Street disturbed by the project, and it should take no longer than two weeks, he said. The Circle K is being built on the property of a former RiteAid, which closed 2024. The Conneaut Convention and Visitors Bureau has been renamed to the Conneaut Visitors Bureau, Executive Director Connie Naylor said during a quarterly report to council. There are four openings on the CVB board, and people should reach out to the organization if interested in applying, she said. People in the Conneaut area should reach out to the CVB, if they have events they want promoted, Naylor said. Advertisement Advertisement She said the CVB continues to distribute maps in the area, and they are working with with the Ashtabula County Visitors Bureau to design a pocket map for the city. Naylor said she was anxious to get the map done and all CVB member businesses and organizations will be included on it. Councilperson-at-large Mariana Branch said she was grateful for the CVBs work. Emery said the city was fortunate to have the CVB. You guys are doing an amazing job, he said. Sanford said the city's wastewater department sewer jet truck has been out of service for around a week and a half, but should return by the end of the week. An ordinance to appoint Nic Church to the Conneaut Port Authority was moved from second to third reading. Moisio moved to waive the three-reading rule, but it died for lack of a second. After pleading guilty to tax offenses in Bridgeport federal court on Monday, a Connecticut attorney has agreed to pay back $2.8 million to the Internal Revenue Service. Michael Simes, 50, of Newtown, acknowledged in court his failure to file various tax returns, according to a report from the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut. Simes, an attorney, admitted that he failed to pay over $3.1 million in taxes, penalties and interest owed. Advertisement Advertisement Court documents and statements revealed that for the 2013 tax year and the 2016 through 2022 tax years, Simes didnt file any U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns. This resulted in the IRS suffering a tax loss of $1,876,307 on gross income of more than $5.6 million. Sign up for the FOX61 newsletters: Morning Forecast, Morning Headlines, Evening Headlines For the 2016 through 2020 tax years, Simes asked for filing extensions until October of each year, but never filed or paid the tax money he owed. Furthermore, Simes filed tax returns for the 2012, 2014 and 2015 tax years, but only paid a percentage of taxes reported as due. This resulted in major penalties and interest incurred. Advertisement Advertisement The total amount of restitution Simes has agreed to pay the IRS is $2,871,676. According to the report, Simes pleaded guilty to three counts of failure to file a tax return on Monday and was released on a $40,000 bond pending sentencing, which is scheduled for June 8. Simes could face a prison sentence of up to three years, prosecutors say. The case has been investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigation Division. RELATED: Owner of Connecticut cleaning business sentenced to probation for tax offense RELATED: Connecticut roofing contractor admits to tax evasion, must pay back $630,869 to IRS ---- Dalton Zbierski is a story desk editor and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com. Advertisement Advertisement ---- Do you have a story idea or something on your mind you want to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at newstips@fox61.com. ---- HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET FOX61 NEWS Download the FOX61 News APP iTunes: Click here to download Google Play: Click here to download Stream Live on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching FOX61. Steam Live on FIRE TV: Search FOX61 and click Get to download. FOLLOW US ON X, FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM Gateway Development Commission officials issued a warning that construction of the $16 billion Hudson River rail tunnel could halt in three months if federal funds are frozen again. Our workers are back, and we are moving full steam ahead across all our construction sites, but we will have no choice but to stop work again if the federal government does not continue to disburse the funds that are committed to the project, said Tom Prendergast, commission CEO in a statement. While Gateway officials said federal reimbursements for completed construction work continue to flow, concerns about future federal funding interruptions have caused Gateway to delay awarding construction contracts to build the actual tunnel under the Hudson River and new tracks on the New Jersey side. Advertisement Advertisement Commission officials said those contract awards remain on hold. Since Februarys $235 million reimbursement, the federal government has reimbursed GDC approximately $19 million for costs related to construction of the Hudson Tunnel Project, said Molly Beckhardt, a commission spokesperson. We continue to work with our federal partners to ensure the funding that has been committed to the project continues to flow so that we can keep our workers on the job and construction moving forward on schedule, she said. The 1,000 laid-off workers returned to the four construction sites in New Jersey and New York in late February after work stopped on Feb. 6 when funding ran out. Advertisement Advertisement A tunnel boring machine is being assembled in North Bergen that will begin the first tunnel drilling through the cliffs of the Palisades this year. President Donald Trumps administration froze funding on Oct. 1, 2025 pending a review of Gateways compliance with a new rule. That rule had been finalized less than 24 hours before Gateway was notified its funding would be frozen. That was complicated by last falls federal government shutdown that halted the review and Trumps proclamation on Oct. 15 that Gateway was terminated. Agreements for $12 billion in federal grants and low interest loans for Gateway were approved and agreements signed in 2024 under the Biden administration. Congress allocated $700 million toward Gateway in the current federal budget. Advertisement Advertisement The funding freeze prompted both the commission and New Jersey and New York to file separate federal lawsuits to have funding permanently restored. An April 16 hearing has been scheduled in U.S. District Court in New York for arguments in the states lawsuit. This project is too important to delay, Prendergast said. Thats why were doing everything possible to regain consistent and predictable access to all our federal funding so we can keep our workers on the job. Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Iran may be using a Chinese satellite navigation system to target Israel and United States military assets in the Middle East, intelligence experts say. Former French foreign intelligence director Alain Juillet told Frances independent Tocsin podcast this week that it is likely that Iran has been provided access to Chinas BeiDou satellite navigation system because its targeting has become much more accurate since the 12-day war with Israel in June. One of the surprises in this war is that Iranian missiles are more accurate compared to the war that took place eight months ago, raising many questions about the guidance systems of these missiles, Juillet, who served as the director of intelligence for the General Directorate for External Security from 2002 to 2003, told Tocsin. Advertisement Advertisement In response to the US-Israeli attacks that began on February 28 and the killing of top Iranian figures, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Iran has launched hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones towards Israel and US facilities in Gulf nations. Although Israel and Gulf nations have intercepted many of these incoming missiles, several have breached the countries defences, causing significant damage and casualties. While the US can jam or deny access to the US government-owned Global Positioning System (GPS), which Irans military previously relied on, it cannot do much to interfere with Chinas BeiDou system if that is what Iran is using. Iran has not confirmed or commented on this. Here is what we know about BeiDou and whether Irans potential use of it could mark the end of the US monopoly on real-time satellite intelligence in the battlefield. What is the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS)? China launched the latest version of its satellite navigation system, billed as rivalling GPS, in 2020. Chinese President Xi Jinping officially commissioned the system in a July 2020 ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Advertisement Advertisement China began development of its own satellite navigation system after the 1996 Taiwan crisis because it feared Washington could restrict access to GPS in the future. According to the Chinese government website for BeiDou, the aim of the system is to serve the world and benefit mankind. Crucially, Chinas system uses far more satellites than other navigational systems. According to data gathered by Al Jazeeras AJ Labs data team, while the US GPS system has 24 satellites providing it with data, the Chinese system relies on 45. The two other main global navigation systems are Russias GLONASS and the European Unions Galileo system, each of which have 24 satellites. The BeiDou website said the system is comprised of three segments a space segment, a ground segment and a user segment. Advertisement Advertisement The BDS ground segment consists of various ground stations, including master control stations, time synchronisation/uplink stations, monitoring stations, as well as operation and management facilities of the inter-satellite link, the website said. The BDS user segment consists of various kinds of BDS basic products, systems, and services as well as those compatible with other navigation systems, including basic products such as chips, modules and antennae, terminals, application systems and application services. Like other satellite navigation systems, BeiDou, which offers worldwide coverage, works by transmitting timing signals from satellites to receivers on the ground or in vehicles. By measuring the time it takes for signals from several satellites to reach the receiver, the system can calculate a precise geographic position. Accuracy varies depending on the level of service, Brussels-based military and political analyst Elijah Magnier said. The open civilian signal generally provides positioning accuracy of around five to 10 metres, while restricted services available to authorised users can offer much higher precision. Could Iran be using BeiDou? Iran has not confirmed this. It is also unclear whether systematically switching military operations to a different satellite navigation system would even be possible in such a short space of time since the June war with Israel last year. Advertisement Advertisement Following that conflict, Irans Ministry of Information and Communications Technology stated that Iran uses all existing capacities in the world and does not rely on a single source of technology. However, Juillet told Tocsin that a switch to Chinas BeiDou system is a realistic explanation for how Iran has improved its targeting accuracy so much since last year. There is talk about replacing the GPS system with a Chinese system, which explains the precision of Iranian missiles. Significant targets have been hit. Some experts believe Iran has been working to incorporate Chinas navigational systems for much longer than just the past eight months, however. Advertisement Advertisement Theo Nencini, a specialist in China-Iran relations and a research fellow at the ChinaMed Project, a research platform, told Al Jazeera, Back in 2015, Iran reportedly signed a memorandum of understanding to integrate BeiDou2 into its military infrastructure particularly to improve missile guidance with signals far more accurate than those provided by the civilian GPS system previously used by its armed forces. Implementation was gradual, analysts believe, but appears to have accelerated after the SinoIranian Comprehensive Strategic Partnership was signed in March 2021, when China is believed to have granted Iran access to BeiDous encrypted military signals. From then on, the Iranian military began incorporating BeiDou into the guidance of missiles and drones, and into certain secure communication networks, Nencini said. In practice, that shift meant that Iran started phasing out the USs GPS around 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Some analysts had already suggested that BeiDou played a central role in the first wave of Iranian missile strikes against Israel in April 2024, noting the remarkable precision of those attacks. However, Iran is believed to have only completed its transition to BeiDou in June 2025, including for civilian uses such as transportation and logistics, just after the 12-day war, during which GPS disruptions affected the guidance of Iranian missiles and drones, as well as civilian aircraft and shipping. Irans move towards BeiDou thus reflects longstanding concerns, demonstrating Irans awareness of the technological challenges that would shape future battlefields, Nencini said. However, the experience of the 12day war was clearly a turning point, prompting Tehran to accelerate the full transition last year. How could using BeiDou improve accuracy in targeting? The BeiDou system could be used to guide Irans ballistic missiles with much greater accuracy than before. Advertisement Advertisement Magnier explained that until now, Iranian missiles and drones have been widely believed to rely primarily on inertial navigation systems. These systems determine a weapons position by measuring acceleration and motion through onboard sensors such as gyroscopes and accelerometers. Inertial navigation offers the advantage of being self-contained and resistant to external interference, he told Al Jazeera. However, it has a significant limitation: small measurement errors accumulate over time and distance, progressively reducing accuracy. Satellite navigation signals address this issue. Magnier added, Typically, a missile uses inertial navigation to maintain its general trajectory while satellite signals refine the path and enhance targeting precision. This approach results in a substantial improvement in accuracy. He said it would make sense for Iran to use multiple navigation systems, rather than just relying on one. Advertisement Advertisement Simultaneous use of multiple satellite systems provides an additional advantage: resilience against jamming or signal disruption, he explained. In contested environments, navigation signals may be deliberately interfered with. If a weapon depends on a single satellite system, disruption of that signal can degrade accuracy. However, guidance systems capable of receiving signals from multiple constellations are more resistant to complete navigation denial. Furthermore, access to more satellites improves signal geometry, thereby enhancing positional accuracy. The Chinese navigation system is believed to have a margin of error of less than one metre (3.3ft), which means it is highly precise. It can also automatically correct target directions if they move, analysts said. That is significantly better than what was possible under the civilian GPS signal, given that the US restricts access to its encrypted military signals to its adversaries, Nencini told Al Jazeera. Furthermore, it will likely help Iran to get around Western jamming systems used by Israel during the 12-day war last year. They successfully deflected Iranian drones and missiles which were using GPS signals to navigate in 2025. Jamming techniques include tricking incoming drones with false coordinates. The BeiDou system can filter out such interference. Military analyst Patricia Marins told the news outlet bne IntelliNews this week: Unlike the civilian-grade GPS signals that were paralysed in 2025, BDS-3s military-tier B3A signal is essentially unjammable. Advertisement Advertisement The system uses complex frequency hopping and Navigation Message Authentication (NMA), which prevents spoofing, she added. BeiDou also has a short message communication tool that allows operators to communicate with drones or missiles as far away as 2,000km (1,240 miles) while they are in flight. This means they can potentially be redirected after launch, Marins said. How significant is Irans use of BeiDou? If it has it, Irans access to BeiDou technology is a game-changer, analysts say. The evolution of satellite navigation has transformed the landscape of modern warfare, Magnier said. Precision strike capability, once the preserve of a handful of advanced military powers, is increasingly shaped by the availability of global navigation infrastructure. As long-range weapons become more accurate and more resilient to interference, systems such as BeiDou will continue to play a significant role in the technological foundations of contemporary conflict. If the reported effectiveness of BeiDou was to be confirmed, Nencini argued, it could prompt Irans neighbouring states, including those currently being targeted by Iranian missiles, to reconsider their own reliance on GPS. Over time, this might lead to a transformation of the regional satellite navigation architecture towards a more diversified and less US-centric system. The ongoing war could also provide China which is certainly gathering military intelligence through its surveillance satellites, Nencini said with an opportunity to field-test its guidance capabilities in a large-scale operational theatre such as the present Middle Eastern conflict, which directly involves the US. This war, therefore, allows China to assess the effectiveness of its systems against American 5th generation fighter aircraft like the F-35, while collecting valuable data on the US ability to intercept Iranian missiles and drones guided by BeiDou. INTERACTIVE - how do ballistic missiles work - FEB25, 2026-1772104766 How many ballistic missiles does Iran have? While the exact size of Irans ballistic missile arsenal is not known, it is widely considered one of the largest and most advanced in the region. Ballistic missiles can travel distances ranging from a few hundred kilometres to more than 10,000km (6,200 miles) across continents. Juillet told the Tocsin podcast that while the Israeli and US air forces claimed to have destroyed all identifiable targets in Iran, the exact number and distribution of Iranian missiles is unknown. Iran is three times the size of France, and the missiles are mounted on trucks dispersed across the country. How can one track these trucks in such a vast area? He added that it is likely that Iran is deploying its missiles more judiciously than it did in the 12-Day War in anticipation that the current war may be prolonged. In the meantime, there are concerns on the US side that its store of expensive interceptor missiles could be depleted by taking down cheap Iranian Shahed drones before Iran even has to use many of its ballistic missiles. For this reason, US President Donald Trumps administration has asked Ukraine, where Russia is using Iranian-made Shahed drones, to share the interceptor technology it has developed and mass-produced. Speculation has been mounting in the United States about whether American soldiers will be deployed on the ground in Iran as the US-Israeli war entered its 12th day on Wednesday. Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal said he was the angriest he had been in his political career after he attended a classified Iran war briefing for the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday. I emerge from this briefing as dissatisfied and angry, frankly, as I have from any past briefing in my 15 years, Blumenthal told reporters, adding that he had more questions than answers concerning the US goals. Advertisement Advertisement I am most concerned about the threat to American lives of potentially deploying our sons and daughters on the ground in Iraq. We seem to be on a path toward deploying American troops on the ground in Iran to accomplish any of the potential objectives here. It was the latest condemnation of the war on Iran by Democrats, who have faced Republican opposition in their attempts to rein in US President Donald Trumps powers to go to war without the approval of Congress. Democrats accused Trumps Republican administration of failing to adequately justify why the US attacked Iran in the first place and why the war should continue. Senator Chris Murphy, another Democrat who also attended the briefing, wrote in a post on X on Wednesday that while officials claimed the goal of the war was to destroy Irans military assets, they could not detail any long-term plan. Advertisement Advertisement Trump said at the start of the war that the US aimed to stop Iran from producing nuclear weapons although Tehran has maintained that its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes only. Analysts said a ground operation would be extremely difficult in Irans vast, rugged terrain but not impossible. Heres what we know about a possible US deployment and what such a mission could look like: Smoke rises from air strikes near Azadi Tower in western Tehran on March 10, 2026 [AFP] What are US officials saying? The US government has not confirmed whether American soldiers would be deployed in Iran, but officials have also not ruled out the possibility. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told the CBS TV network this week that the US is willing to go as far as we need to and Washington will ensure Irans nuclear ambitions are never achieved. Advertisement Advertisement White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said last week that ground operations are not part of the plan right now but Trump was keeping options open. Secretary of State Marco Rubios speech at a congressional briefing last week provided some clues as to why a ground force might be needed. Rubio said the US needed to physically secure nuclear material in Iran. People are going to have to go and get it, Rubio said without clarifying who that would be. His statement came around the same time that it emerged Trump had spoken to Iranian Kurdish rebel groups based in Iraq along its border with Iran. Advertisement Advertisement Its unclear what was discussed, but analysts said it could involve the US seeking to use Kurdish armed forces as a proxy on the ground. Most Americans oppose deploying US troops in Iran, polls suggested. About 74 percent of respondents, most of whom leaned to the political left, were against it, according to a Quinnipiac University poll this week. In a snap text message poll at the start of the war, most respondents also told The Washington Post they were against the war. According to a Reuters-Ipsos poll conducted in the hours after the war began on February 28, 43 percent of respondents said they disapproved of the war and another 29 percent said they were unsure. Only one in four respondents approved of the US-Israeli attacks. An American soldier wipes his face during a sandstorm in the Iraqi desert south of Baghdad in 2003 [File: Peter Andrews/PA/CMC via Reuters] Which countries has the US invaded in recent decades? The US has engaged in multiple combat operations since the end of the Cold War. Advertisement Advertisement Washington and its NATO allies invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 in the wake of the September 11 al-Qaeda attacks that year on New York and the Pentagon. Then-US President George W Bush stated that the aim was to dislodge al-Qaeda fighters and capture Osama bin Laden, the armed groups leader. The invasion was the start of a 20-year-long war and occupation in Afghanistan, during which 170,000 to 210,000 people were killed. About 130,000 NATO soldiers were involved. When the US finally withdrew in 2021, 2,500 US soldiers were still stationed there. Similarly, US troops and allied forces invaded and occupied Iraq in March 2003 to destroy alleged weapons of mass destruction and remove Saddam Hussein from power. It sparked the Iraq war, which led to between 150,000 and a million deaths. About 295,000 soldiers were involved at the start, and about 170,300 were withdrawn at the end of the war in December 2011. Recently, US special forces attacked Venezuela and abducted President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. During the limited mission on January 3, the US military bombed Venezuelan air defences before a ground unit moved into Maduros Caracas compound. Venezuelan officials said at least 23 Venezuelan security officials were killed, and Cuba said 32 of its nationals who formed part of Maduros security detail were killed. How might a ground invasion in Iran unfold? Iran is four times larger than Iraq and features difficult mountainous terrain. Advertisement Advertisement Unlike the Iraq invasion, a mission to physically recover nuclear material in Iran would likely be tightly defined with precise goals and involve far fewer soldiers to reduce risk, analysts said. It is far more likely to refer to limited, specialised operations involving small units targeting specific facilities, potentially supported by rapid-deployment forces, such as the 82nd Airborne Division, Thomas Bonnie James, a professor at Qatars AFG College with The University of Aberdeen, told Al Jazeera. The elite US Air Force division is trained for rapid parachute deployments in conflict zones to capture airfields or other key locations. The same unit was deployed during World War II, in Afghanistan and the Iraq wars. The missions goal would be to locate and neutralise enriched uranium in Iran. Advertisement Advertisement The target, the analyst said, would be Irans most critical nuclear facilities: the Natanz Nuclear Facility, the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant and the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center. Kharg Island, the economically important coral island from which most of Irans oil exports flow, could also be targeted. Any limited ground operation would likely begin with gaining air superiority and suppressing Iranian air defences to allow aircraft and support assets to reach targets safely, James said. Rapid-deployment forces, such as the 82nd Airborne Division, would secure entry points, including airfields or staging areas. Specialised units like the US Navy SEALs or the US Army Special Forces would then carry out the most sensitive tasks on the ground, he said. The mission would likely involve penetrating hardened facilities, collecting intelligence, and locating or securing sensitive nuclear materials with the overall emphasis on speed, precision and limited exposure, James said. Advertisement Advertisement Once complete, a rapid exit strategy would likely kick in, he added, with troops moving swiftly to extraction points and exiting the country in a short period. A satellite image shows the Natanz Nuclear Facility with new damage from the US-Israeli war with Iran near Natanz, Iran, on March 2, 2026 [Reuters] How could Iran respond? After the US and Israels ignition of the war on Iran, Iran has launched multiple strikes on Israel and US military assets across the Gulf. Other infrastructure has also been hit in Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Oman and the United Arab Emirates. Analysts said this response is a clear indicator of how Iran could react to a US ground invasion. A US ground mission, which would require sustained air support and a large ground contingent, could be risky and is likely to trigger a severe response from Tehran, Neil Quilliam of the UK think tank Chatham House said. Advertisement Advertisement Even a small operation could escalate the conflict and trigger more Iranian missile strikes or attacks by Iranian proxy groups, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Yemens Houthis, experts say. These would be high-risk, complex and lengthy operations taking place in very hostile environments and against facilities heavily protected by the countrys security forces at a time when Irans military command still appears intact, Quilliam added. Hasnt the US already attacked Irans nuclear sites? Indeed, it has. During the 12-Day War on Iran in June, the US attacked Irans three biggest nuclear facilities under Operation Midnight Hammer: Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. This was an elaborate covert mission that officials said was aimed at wiping out Tehrans nuclear enrichment capabilities. Iran nuclear facilities Within 30 minutes and under the cover of night, US stealth bombers entered Irans airspace and dropped powerful bunker-buster bombs, designed to penetrate hardened mountainous structures that Fordow and Natanz are built into. A US submarine then fired two dozen Tomahawk missiles on the Isfahan research and production site. US officials said the bombers had withdrawn from Iranian airspace by the time Tehran detected it was under attack. Trump claimed the sites were obliterated while Israel also said it had assassinated several Iranian nuclear scientists. However, Iranian officials at the time said the attack on its facilities had been expected and Fordow had been evacuated in advance. Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, then warned that Iran could resume uranium enrichment the process of bringing uranium up to weapons-grade standard in a matter of months because some facilities were still standing. Grossi said Tehran had stockpiles of 60-percent enriched uranium by the time of the strikes and it wasnt clear if they had been moved. At that level, uranium is just below weapons grade, and if refined further, could be used to produce nuclear bombs. On February 24, only four days before the US and Israel began another war on Iran, White House spokesperson Leavitt said again that Operation Midnight Hammer had been an overwhelmingly successful mission. Linda Campitelli told her husband she was going to dinner with friends. She left her home in a red dress and black heels, drove to a darkened parking lot in Wellington and was dead within hours her skull fractured, her ribs displaced, her body dragged from her own SUV and left on the shoulder of Lyons Road. Rene Perez, a nurse who had been her secret boyfriend for two years, was arrested March 10 and charged with her murder. Perez admitted to having an affair with Campitelli, investigators said. Evidence indicates they had met on Oct. 28, 2024, the night her body was found, according to an arrest report made public on March 11. Advertisement Advertisement Investigators did not cite a murder weapon but said the incident took place in the back of Campitelli's Chevrolet Tahoe SUV, on top of a birthday blanket and medical sheets they allege Perez took from Delray Medical Center, where he worked on the night Campitelli died. They once had been colleagues at Wellington Regional. Circuit Judge Donald Hafele ordered Perez, 38 and most recently living in Hialeah, held without bail during a hearing at the county jail on March 11, a day after his arrest. A defense attorney who was present in court for the hearing could not immediately be reached for comment. If convicted of first-degree murder, he could be sentenced to life in prison or the death penalty. Nurses kept affair secret through WhatsApp exchanges Messages on Campitelli's phone revealed she and Perez, both married with children, were romantically involved. They both worked at one point as nurses in the post-anesthesia care team at Wellington Regional. Advertisement Advertisement They communicated daily through the platform WhatsApp and said they loved each over. On many occasions, Campitelli said she was frustrated with having to share quality time with Perez's wife. A day before the murder, Campitelli, then 35, and Perez exchanged text messages about plans to see each other the following night to celebrate her birthday. Campitelli expressed being nervous about the meeting and Perez responded saying he wanted to show her "That I can be romantic." WhatsApp messages Oct. 27, 2024, recovered from Campitelli's iPhone Sunday, October 27, 2024 Linda I LOVE YOU, I FEEL KINDA WEIRD. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT TOMORROW. YOU'VE NEVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE THIS FOR ME BEFORE AND I FEEL A LITTLE NERVOUS. Advertisement Advertisement 12:03 PM Rene LOL, ITS NO BIG DEAL. JUST TRYING TO SHOW U THAT I CAN BE ROMANTIC. IT PROBABLY WONT BE AS GOOD AS WHAT YOUVE DONE FOR ME. 12:05 PM Linda SO TOMORROW AT 07:30... AND YOU'RE 100% SURE THIS IS OK? 12:53 PM Rene YES MAAM. U GOT IT. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH. 12:56 PM Begin Restart Messages are reproduced as they appear in the probable cause affidavit. When detectives later examined Perez's phone purchased two weeks after the murder none of his 10,525 prior WhatsApp exchanges with Campitelli were present. What happened during their late-night meeting is unclear. Detectives found a picture in Campitelli's phone of the inside of her car, taken on the night of the homicide. It showed a blanket that read "Happy Birthday" and medical sheets spread across the rear storage area. Advertisement Advertisement A passerby found her body at about 10:15 p.m. on Oct. 28 and called 911. By the time deputies arrived, the sheets and the blanket photographed earlier were no longer there.Instead, they found Campitelli unresponsive, surrounded by a large pool of blood in the road and blood marks leading away from the passenger's side of the SUV. The back of Campitelli's red dress and black heels were "completely worn out," indicating her body was dragged against the road, according to the report. The blood splatter marks inside the SUV indicated there was either a struggle or violent episode where Campitelli was severely injured with an unspecified object. Detectives also found evidence of blood stains that someone tried to wipe away. Cellphone data, surveillance cameras led investigators to arrest Linda Campitelli was a wife, a mother and a nurse at Wellington Regional Medical Center. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office has confirmed her body was found along Lyons Road on Oct. 28, 2024. Detectives identified Perez as a person of interest with the help of Campitellis friends, who reported their affair in the wake of her death. They tracked his movements that night through cellphone data and surveillance camera images and footages, according to the arrest report. During an interview with detectives, Perez denied meeting Campitelli on Oct. 28. Perez said he worked until 11 p.m., but detectives found security-camera footage that showed Perez leaving work hours earlier. Advertisement Advertisement They also used location data from a second cellphone Perez said he used to text Campitelli without his wife knowing to place Perez at the scene of the crime. Court records show Perez's wife filed for divorce two months after Campitelli's death. The parting became official in April 2025. Valentina Palm covers immigration and Palm Beach County's western communities for The Palm Beach Post. Email her at vpalm@pbpost.com and follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @ValenPalmB. Support local journalism: Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Wellington nurse's lover faces murder charge in her beating death U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) said he expects a new regime to emerge in Iran within weeks as U.S. military operations continue. Speaking Tuesday, March 10, on CNBCs Squawk Box, the Texas Republican suggested the conflict could soon produce a change in Irans leadership, describing the campaign as a short-term military engagement rather than a prolonged war. I think we will see a new regime in Iran and a regime that is not focused on murdering Americans, Cruz said. And that transition, as I said, I think happens in the next few weeks. Cruz said U.S. and Israeli strikes had already significantly degraded Irans military capabilities during the early phase of the operation. Advertisement Advertisement What the President and the military has been able to do in the first nine days is decapitate the regime take out their ballistic missile launch capability, take out their air defenses, achieve air superiority, he said during the interview. The senator also predicted the conflict would not become a long campaign. I think were likely to see military action last perhaps another couple of weeks, Cruz said, adding that he did not expect a many-month or many-year engagement. The remarks come as financial markets and governments worldwide react to the military confrontation. Oil prices surged earlier this week before falling after President Donald Trump suggested the conflict could end soon. Advertisement Advertisement Brent crude briefly climbed to about $119.50 a barrel before falling to roughly $91.70 after Trump said the war on Iran was very complete, pretty much, according to reporting published Tuesday by The Guardian. The outlet also reported that European and Asian stock markets rebounded following the Presidents remarks. Despite the market reaction, Cruz suggested that the administration may continue to apply pressure until Irans governing structure changes. I think the administration is going to continue applying force, military and otherwise, until they get a regime there that is not a radical Islamist regime that is waging war with America, Cruz said. How the conflict is formally classified has also become part of the political debate in Washington. Advertisement Advertisement Cruz described the fighting as a military engagement, while others have used stronger language. For example, Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin previously referred to the conflict as a war before quickly walking back that description. The distinction carries legal and constitutional implications. The question of whether every overseas military action qualifies as a war under U.S. law is hotly debated, and the answer affects how the War Powers Resolution of 1973 applies. The text of law requires presidents to notify Congress within 48 hours of introducing U.S. forces into hostilities and to provide periodic updates while military operations continue. Over the decades, many in the executive branch have questioned the constitutionality of the War Powers Resolution, and federal courts have, thus far, not enforced it against the President. Article I of the United States Constitution vests power in Congress, but Article II designates the President as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and leaves most foreign policy questions to his discretion. Advertisement Advertisement Nevertheless, President Trump submitted such a notification to congressional leaders after ordering strikes against Iran on February 28 as part of Operation Epic Fury, saying the action targeted missile sites, air defenses, and command infrastructure to protect U.S. personnel and regional allies, according to a report previously published by The Dallas Express. The Presidents letter to Congress said the strikes were intended to protect American interests and maintain the free flow of commerce through the Strait of Hormuz. Cruz said the ultimate objective remains ensuring Iran is governed by leaders who are not hostile to the United States. America is not interested in running Iran, he said. But we are interested in not having leaders in Iran that are trying to murder Americans. Damaging tornadoes and massive hail were reported across multiple states on Tuesday night during a dangerous severe weather outbreak from the Plains to the Midwest. Several tornadoes caused significant damage in Indiana, Illinois, and Texas on Tuesday night, according to AccuWeather, while hailstones the size of grapefruit rained down in the same area. At midnight Eastern time, more than 4 million people remained under a tornado watch, according to the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center, with extreme weather conditions predicted to continue into Wednesday evening. Advertisement Advertisement "A large portion of the eastern US from East Texas to Pennsylvania and the Delmarva is under a level 2 out of 5 threat for severe weather today," the center posted on X. "Large hail, damaging wind gusts, and tornadoes are all possible." Countless damage has been reported as well, and two deaths were reported in Northwest Indiana, a spokesperson for the Lake Village, IN, Volunteer Fire Department said on Wednesday, according to CNN. Homes and businesses, like this Family Dollar store, were destroyed by a tornado on March 10, 2026, in Lake Village, IN. (Michael Hickey/Getty Images) Days before, a tornado hit Three Rivers and several other cities in rural Southwest Michigan. Several people were killed, and about a dozen others were injured by the storm in Union City. (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images) The latest storm system followed an equally devastating string of tornadoes that hit communities in Michigan on March 7. (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images) Damage and debris are seen along Tuttle Road following a tornado that hit several cities in rural Southwest Michigan on March 7, 2026, in Union City. (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images) Advertisement Advertisement 'Total devastation' in Indiana The NWS Chicago office reported that one supercell caused "a family of tornadoes (at least 4)" across Livingston and Kankakee counties in Illinois, and Newton, Jasper, and Starke counties in Northwestern Indiana on Tuesday night. Among those hit the hardest was the town of Lake Village. Right before 7 p.m. (Tuesday), a large tornado hit our community, and it hit us hard, spokesperson Lori Postma told the press. When first responders made an early assessment overnight, they found total devastation, added Lake Township Volunteer Fire Department Chief Rob Churchill. There were houses that were collapsed. There were people trapped in houses. Theres livestock loose, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Newton County Sheriff Shannon Cothran put out a plea in a video post from Lake Village, asking the public to please stay away after a tornado tore things up there. "Lake Village has been hit by a tornado. Several houses have taken damage. It's a mess. Seriously, please don't come here. Don't try to help," said Cothran, who was standing in front of at least one house that had been totaled. More storms to come? The severe weather system is forecast by AccuWeather to continue to impact an area stretching from Texas and Louisiana up to Pennsylvania and parts of New York, beginning on Wednesday and lasting into Wednesday night. This setup is on track to produce the most widespread and impactful severe weather outbreak so far this year, AccuWeather senior meteorologist Courtney Travis said. The overlap of strong winds aloft, abundant moisture from the Gulf, and sharp temperature contrasts creates an environment supportive of tornadoes, damaging wind gusts, and large hail." Advertisement Advertisement According to Accuweather, all severe weather modes will be possible from Wednesday through the night, including damaging winds, large hail, flash flooding, and several tornadoes. Major metro areas that may experience severe weather include Houston, San Antonio, Nashville, TN, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Atlanta, and Columbus, OH. A deer processor in Harrison County, Ohio, was recently busted for a criminal scheme involving the unlawful sale of venison. According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, which concluded its investigation in February, Rods Custom Deer Processing was selling meat from donated deer that was supposed to go to local food pantries and help feed the underprivileged. The DNRs announcement noted that many of these deer were checked, meaning they had been officially reported to the agency after they were legally harvested. Its unclear how much venison was being sold by the processor, and the DNR was unable to provide additional information about the bust when reached by Outdoor Life for comment. The agency said in its announcement, however, that the investigation, dubbed Operation Donor Deer, uncovered numerous [other] wildlife violations by the processors owner, Rodney Shields, 59, of Harrisville. The investigation also ensnared 34 other individuals and led to 55 violations in total. These charges included the illegal sale of wild animals, failure to keep accurate records, and possession of untagged deer parts. Rods Custom Deer Processing is located in Cadiz, Ohio. Photo via Facebook Shields pleaded guilty to seven charges, including felony counts of obstructing justice and theft by deception. He received 17 months of suspended jail time and two years of community control. Shields was also ordered to pay $16,500 in restitution, according to the DNR, to be divided among victims whose venison was stolen and sold. Advertisement Advertisement Read Next: Is Your Wild-Game Processor Shorting You on Venison? Rods Custom Deer Processing did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and it is unclear if the processor is still in business. The news headlines are filled with moment-by-moment coverage of the current geopolitical conflict in the Middle East. And oil price volatility, as you might expect, has dramatically increased. If you are a long-term investor, you need to consider this issue in a broader context. And that context highlights why most investors should stick with diversified energy industry giants like ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM) and Chevron (NYSE: CVX). The clear answer isn't the real answer It seems fairly obvious that oil prices have spiked and fallen entirely because of news surrounding the geopolitical conflict in the Middle East. And, to some extent, that is absolutely true. However, before this conflict, there was uncertainty surrounding the unfolding geopolitical events in Venezuela, which came and went. Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue Image source: Getty Images. The reason oil price volatility has become an issue is traders' emotions. As with any market, when fear and greed are at play, prices can go haywire. The current oil price volatility, while shocking in some ways, is actually something investors should expect. It is just how the energy sector works. It is neither good nor bad; it is simply a fact of life that has repeatedly occurred. Prepare for oil volatility with Exxon and Chevron When oil prices rise dramatically, the biggest winners are likely to be pure-play producers. This is because their top- and bottom-lines are entirely driven by oil prices. However, when oil prices fall dramatically, the biggest losers are likely to be pure-play producers for the very same reason. If you want to invest in the energy sector for the long term, you should probably own integrated energy giants like Exxon and Chevron. They each have exposure to the upstream (production), the midstream (pipelines), and the downstream (chemicals and refining). Each segment of the industry operates a little differently through the energy cycle. That, in turn, helps to soften the peaks and valleys. Notably, oil is a key input for the downstream segment, so falling prices are usually a net positive. On top of that diversification, Exxon and Chevron also have the strongest balance sheets in their peer group. That allows them to take on debt during deep industry downturns so they can continue to support their businesses and dividends until prices recover. When prices recover, as they always have historically, debt is reduced. The US says it has struck multiple Iranian naval vessels, including 16 minelaying vessels operating near the Strait of Hormuz, the world's busiest oil shipping channel. Its effective closure has already lead to a sharp rise in petrol prices, and the White House said the US military was drawing up additional options designed to keep it open. The strikes were part of military action in the country on Tuesday, with US defence secretary Pete Hegseth warning it would be the "most intense" day of strikes thus far. Advertisement Advertisement A top Iranian security official said early on Tuesday his country is not scared of what he called "worthless threats" by President Donald Trump. During a Tuesday morning US defence department update on the operation in Iran, Hegseth said US goals include destroying Iran's missile stockpiles, their missile launchers and their defence industrial base; destroying Iran's navy; and permanently denying the country nuclear weapons. He said that in the last 24 hours, Iran has fired the lowest number of missiles since the start of the war. Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Dan Caine said that Iranian ballistic missile attacks continue to trend downwards. Advertisement Advertisement They are "90% from where they started, and one-way attack drones have decreased 83% since the beginning of the operation", he said. Hegseth did not give a timeline on the conflict ending, telling reporters that "our will is endless" but it was up to the president on how long it lasts. He also said this would not be a repeat of the past, when the US became involved in drawn-out conflicts in the Middle East. "This is not 2003," he said. "This is not endless nation-building under those types of quagmires we saw under Bush or Obama. It's not even close. Our generation of soldier will not let that happen again, and nor will this president who very clearly ran against those kinds of never-ending, nebulous scoped missions." Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, the Pentagon said around 140 US service members have been wounded since the beginning of the Iran war on 28 February. It said most injuries have been minor and 108 service members have already returned to duty, while eight people were severely injured. Seven US service members have died. Iranian officials have vowed defiance in response to the campaign. Trump on Monday said on Truth Social that Iran would be hit hard if it disrupted oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Senior Iranian security official Larijani responded, calling Trump's threats "worthless" and adding that "even those bigger than you couldn't eliminate Iranian nation". Advertisement Advertisement "Be careful, so that you won't get eliminated," he concluded. Trump continued to issue a series of warnings on social media on Tuesday, threatening severe military consequences if the country deploys mines along the pivotal channel, though he noted the US has no reports of this happening. But the BBC's US partner CBS News has reported that US intelligence assets believe Iran is preparing to possibly deploy naval mines in the Strait in future. The president later said the US had hit "and completely destroyed" a number of "inactive mine laying boats and/or ships". Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, the International Energy Agency held a second meeting with G7 nations on Tuesday to discuss options for stabilising the global oil market, including releasing millions of barrels of crude from countries' stockpiles. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the US military was discussing plans to ensure that the Strait of Hormuz remains open to oil tankers. On the ground in Iran, people have expressed anxiety and a feeling of uncertainty over what comes next. At least 1,230 people have been killed across the country since the start of the conflict, according to the humanitarian organisation the Iranian Red Crescent. Advertisement Advertisement "I was in total darkness last night," one man in his 30s from Tehran said, while others reported temporary blackouts or power fluctuations. "I'm feeling terrible. They hit a street near us today. I just want to be able to sleep tonight," a man in his 20s in the capital said. Amir, whose name has been changed to protect his identity, spoke to BBC Persian on Monday from Tehran, where he said the sound of the bombing "is so loud that it would be heard across the city". "We feel overwhelmed, we feel anxious and exhausted and the idea of no future is looming large over us," he added. Advertisement Advertisement Across the Iranian border in eastern Turkey, people who had fled described the fear of the unknown size and scope of the missile attacks. "When I opened the balcony door, the blast was so powerful it threw me back", one woman said, describing missile strikes to the BBC. In the early days of the war, she said the "strikes were few, now they come in waves". Emily Wither in eastern Turkey contributed to this report The defense team of Kelsey Fitzsimmons is asking the North Andover Fire Department to turn over disciplinary records related to her former fiances alleged drug use. Kelsey Fitzsimmons, a former North Andover police officer, was shot inside her home last summer while officers were attempting to serve a restraining order. Fitzsimmons is accused of pointing a gun at officers when they arrived at her home. Her attorneys argue she was a new mother struggling with postpartum depression at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Back in February, Fitzsimmons lawyers alleged that her fiance, Justin Aylaian, along with several other men, broke into her home three days after the shooting on July 3, 2025. The incident was captured on surveillance video. Authorities said they would not be pursuing criminal charges against Aylaian Now, new videos shared with Boston 25 show Aylaian smoking what appears to be a marijuana pipe or bong behind the house and outside a window months before the shooting. The defense team claims that surveillance video shows Justin Aylaian smoking marijuana from a pipe or bong. The defense team claims that surveillance video shows Justin Aylaian smoking marijuana from a pipe or bong. The defense team claims that surveillance video shows Justin Aylaian smoking marijuana from a pipe or bong out the window. The defense team claims that surveillance video shows Justin Aylaian smoking marijuana from a pipe or bong out the window. Advertisement Advertisement Most firefighters in the state of Massachusetts are not allowed to smoke on or off duty and are required to take drug tests. The defense team is claiming that by using the video of Aylaian smoking hundreds of times as evidence during her trial, his accusations against Fitzsimmons will be proven to be not credible, and that they constitute relevant, powerfully exculpatory evidence. They further argue that this supports her right to a fair trial. Her defense attorneys are also requesting past documentation of misconduct involving Officer Patrick McCarthy Noonan from both the North Andover Police Department and the Lawrence Police Department. Noonan is the officer who shot Fitzsimmons. Advertisement Advertisement There is a scheduled hearing tomorrow regarding the videos to be allowed into the trial, and the defenses motion for these documents. 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 years-long legal saga that fueled intense media scrutiny and may have sparked a federal criminal investigation has quietly come to a close two-and-a-half years after it began. That's because a pair of lawsuits filed against Delia's Tamales was recently dismissed in federal court. On Friday, March 6, U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray formally dismissed the lawsuits that former workers had filed against the company, its founder, Delia Lubin, two of her daughters, and several high-level company officials. Bray dismissed the 2023 and 2025 lawsuits "with prejudice," meaning that the former workers - nearly four dozen across both suits - cannot try to sue Lubin or the South Texas tamale empire she built from scratch again. Advertisement Advertisement The dismissals come a little more than a month after lawyers from both sides filed a notice with the court announcing the workers had reached settlement agreements with Delia's. The popular tamale chain operates six restaurants in the Rio Grande Valley and another in San Antonio, and is also building a $15 million factory in San Juan. Richard Alamia, the Edinburg attorney who initially filed the first lawsuit, previously told MySA that the details of the settlements will remain secret. The only thing that is known is that both sides are responsible for paying for their own lawyers' fees. "I can't really give you an exact amount because we're forbidden, because it's a confidential settlement," Alamia said in February. Timeline of lawsuits against Delia's Tamales in Texas Alamia initially filed the first lawsuit in state district court in Hidalgo County on behalf of 26 former workers in late August 2023. That lawsuit named only the restaurant chain's operating company, Delgar Foods, as a defendant. But the suit made sweeping allegations against Lubin, who is also known as Delia Garcia, and other high-ranking company officials. Among them, that Delia's Tamales allegedly furnished the workers - many of them undocumented migrants - with fake Social Security numbers, withheld Social Security deductions from their paychecks, fired them as they neared retirement age, and threatened to report them to immigration officers if they dared speak up. Advertisement Advertisement Eventually, the lawsuit was moved to federal court, where the workers' allegations repeatedly evolved and changed - as did the lawyers representing them. In September 2024, the judge denied the workers' 11th-hour attempt to add Lubin in her personal capacity to the lawsuit. And ultimately, the workers whittled down their claims in the 2023 lawsuit to allege that the company had defrauded them and committed wage theft. In October, Bray tossed all but three of the plaintiffs from the 2023 lawsuit after finding that they could not substantiate their claims. In January 2025, however, a largely similar group of former workers filed a second lawsuit that named Lubin and her daughters, Sofia Trevino and Lorena Lubin, as defendants, as well as Alejandro Trevino and Juan Garza as defendants. The second lawsuit made many of the same claims that had been excluded from the first, including worker intimidation and immigration retaliation threats. But the workers went one step further in claiming that Lubin had for decades masterminded a racketeering enterprise to illicitly profit off their labor. On July 24, 2024 - six months before the second lawsuit was filed - the FBI and the IRS Criminal Investigations agents raided all seven Delia's Tamales locations. After hours at the scenes, agents could be seen carrying out multiple cardboard boxes marked "evidence." To date, no one associated with the tamale chain has been charged with a crime. This article originally published at Delia's Tamales lawsuits in Texas end quietly after federal judge steps in. Democrat Shawn Harris, who advanced to a runoff to replace former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) on Tuesday, said President Trumps endorsement of Republican Clay Fuller made no difference to his campaign or Tuesday nights results. Harris had 37.3 percent of the vote as of 11:30 a.m. EDT Wednesday, compared to 34.9 percent for Fuller. There were many more Republicans running for a spot than Democrats. The reality of it is Marjorie did not get involved in this race. And the reality is the president of the United States came less than 2 miles away from this location two Thursdays ago, and it made absolutely no difference, Harris said during an appearance on NewsNations Jesse Weber Live. Advertisement Advertisement Greene did not endorse a successor after she left Congress in January after a bad falling out with Trump, essentially leaving it to her district to decide its next House member. Trump visited Rome, Ga., in mid-February to promote his economic agenda and back Fuller on the campaign trail. As District Attorney for the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit, and Air National Guard Officer, Clay knows the Wisdom and Courage required to Defend our Country, Support our Brave Military/Veterans, and Ensure PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH, Trump wrote in a Truth Social post a week before the visit, offering Fuller his Complete and Total endorsement. Despite the support from the president, Fuller failed to secure 50 percent of the votes required to win outright. Fuller and Harris will face off in a runoff on April 7, where one will need at least half of the vote to secure Greenes former seat. Advertisement Advertisement The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the district in the fall as solid Republican. Harris called this stage of the campaign the twilight zone because people maybe outside of northwest Georgia, outside of Georgia, didnt believe something like this could happen. But all of us here, we knew it was something, it was a new change in the air. Marjories not in the race anymore, he added. 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. Democrats in the Colorado Legislature are urging Gov. Jared Polis to reject a clemency petition from Tina Peters, the former Mesa County clerk and Trump ally convicted for her role in an election security breach. We urge you not to empower those who seek to undermine our elections and our Republic by providing them with a figurehead to rally around and near assurance that, when you tamper with our elections, you will escape justice, the members of the House and Senate Democratic caucuses wrote in the Wednesday letter. It is unusual for members of the Legislature to weigh in on a clemency petition in such a way. Every statehouse Democrat signed the letter. Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX It comes after mounting pressure for Polis to commute Peters sentence, including from far-right figures and President Donald Trump, who gave Peters a symbolic pardon in December. Polis indicated on social media last week that he was open to clemency for Peters, comparing her to a former state senator who was sentenced to probation for one of the same felony charges. This is the context I am using as I consider cases like this that have sentencing disparities, Polis wrote. Peters, an election conspiracist who spread the falsehood that the 2020 presidential election was rigged against Trump, was sentenced to nine years in prison in 2024 for helping to facilitate a security breach in the elections office she oversaw as Mesa County Clerk and Recorder. She has since appealed her conviction, but the state court has not yet issued a decision. During that hearing, the appellate judges expressed skepticism about the fairness of Peters sentencing. Advertisement Advertisement The Denver Post reported that Polis plans to delay his clemency decision until after the court has a ruling. Thats the pathway Democrats urged in their letter. The resolution to those issues should be handled by the judicial branch, they wrote. It is our understanding that such a review is underway with further information being sought by the court, and we urge you to allow that process to advance and for the judicial system alone to handle review of any further actions in this case. They also urged Polis to think of the repercussions of granting clemency to an election denier. We would be remiss if we did not express strong concern about the impact of Ms. Peters crimes in fueling election conspiracy theories that undermine the integrity of our elections system as a whole. We fear that any clemency or other sentence reduction on your part will further embolden these conspiracies and those who propagate them, they wrote. Advertisement Advertisement As he has previously said, clemency applications are being accepted until April 3 to be considered, and he continues to consider hundreds of pending applications, Polis spokesperson Eric Maruyama wrote in an email. They also wrote that sentence forgiveness should be reserved for people who have taken accountability for their crimes and show remorse, which they said Peters has not done. In a radio interview this week, Peters lawyer John Case said anyone has second thoughts about what theyve done and in that respect has remorse. Case also called Peters a martyr. Attorney General Phil Weiser, Sen. Michael Bennet and Rep. Jason Crow, all Democrats, have spoken against possible clemency for Peters. Tina Peters is a convicted felon. She was found guilty, by a jury of her peers, for her actions to undermine a free and fair election in Colorado. She has shown no contrition for what she did, and she has not accepted responsibility for it, Crow said in a statement last week. It would be wrong to let Tina Peters off for her crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Other Colorado officials who have urged Polis not to grant clemency to Peters include Attorney General Phil Weiser; Dan Rubinstein, the Republican district attorney who oversaw Peters trial; Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold; and the bipartisan Colorado County Clerks Association. Editors note: This story was updated at 6:20 p.m. on March 11 to include comments from the governors office. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Democrats on Tuesday flipped a seat in the New Hampshire House, adding to the partys string of special election wins as the midterm cycle kicks into high gear. Democrat Bobbi Boudman defeated Republican Dale Fincher for Carroll County House District 7, according to a projection from Decision Desk HQ, filling a vacancy after Republican Glenn Cordelli resigned late last year. Boudman challenged Cordelli unsuccessfully in 2024, losing to the Republican by roughly 14 points. Advertisement Advertisement The district sided with President Trump by 9 points in 2024, according to data from The Downballot. Republicans have a trifecta of control over New Hampshires state government, with majorities in both chambers of the legislature and Gov. Kelly Ayotte (R) in the governors mansion. Although Boudmans win doesnt make a major dent in the GOPs current 216-176 advantage over Democrats in the state House, the nations largest legislative body, its a notable win for her party after they lost another special election in November by single digits. This win is yet another warning sign to Republicans across the country, and a new reality is now sinking in: no Republican seat is safe, Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said in a statement. From now until November, Democrats are keeping our foot on the gas and organizing and competing everywhere, including to flip the New Hampshire House and take back power across the country. Advertisement Advertisement Boudelli ran unopposed in the January primary for the seat, while Fincher won the GOP nod as a write-in candidate against two declared contenders. Updated at 3:07 p.m. EDT 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. Given everything that has happened since Donald Trump returned to power last January, you could hardly be blamed if you were unaware that Merrick Garlandwhom Barack Obama unsuccessfully nominated to replace Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court and who served as Joe Bidens attorney generalgot a new job. Its an old job, really: He returned to the corporate law firm Arnold & Porter, where he had previously been a partner, to work on focus areas including white-collar defense. White-collar defense, which often involves helping the rich and powerful escape accountability, is also the best way to describe Garlands tenure as attorney general, at least where it matters. While Garlands Justice Department immediately began to prosecute the lowest-level participants in Trumps crimes against democracythe foot soldiers of January 6Garland steadfastly refused to take on the architect of that insurrection, waiting almost three years to bring federal charges against Trump himself. Indeed, Garland only took action after Congresss January 6 committee essentially forced him to launch the prosecutorial effort hed spent years resisting. By that time, it wasin the most predictable way imaginablealready too late. Trump was running for reelection, meaning he could cast his prosecution as political persecution. He would be reelected before the cases against him had any chance to be concluded. Where accountability mattered, Garland failed spectacularly. This, and the resulting dystopian reality we are living through today, was not necessary a foregone conclusion. Another path was eminently possible, as a veritable pileup of international counterexamples demonstrates. Just this February, South Koreas former President Yoon Suk Yeol was jailed for life for his imposition of martial law in December 2024. Last November, a Peruvian court handed down an 11-year sentence to former President Pedro Castillo for his attempt to dissolve Perus Congress in December 2022. And last September, Brazils highest court condemned former President Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years in prison for his efforts to overturn that countrys 2022 election results. Advertisement Advertisement The Brazilian comparison is particularly instructive because of the beat-for-beat similarities between Bolsonaro and Trump. Both are right-wing populists who falsely insisted they had won an election they had lost. Both used tactics of denial and conspiracy to inspire violent attacks against their respective Capitols with the goal of blocking a democratic transition of power. But the paths of these authoritarian despots diverged sharply following their attempted coups. One is currently in prison. The other is back in control of the most powerful nation on earth, waging an all-out assault on our Constitution that frankly makes the crimes of his first term look like childs play. Given this tragic sequence of events, it is not, I think, too soon for those of us opposed to Trumps corrupt and cruel reign of terrorand in particular for our ostensible opposition party, whose leaders failed so utterly in their previous attempt to bring Trump to justiceto begin thinking seriously about what accountability for the crimes of this regime will look like if (and needless to say, it is a big if) Democrats are able to take back Congress and the presidency. Clearly, the Garland approach failed. What should replace it? The only appropriate answer is the zealous pursuit of justice at every level of this criminal enterprise of an administration. The next Democratic administration should extend the Garland approach to January 6a focus on the criminal foot soldiers of the Trump regimeto a host of other areas, most notably immigration enforcement, foreign policy, and corruption. But it shouldnt stop there, as the response to January 6 did. It must go further. Advertisement Advertisement Justice not only for the ICE and Customs and Border Protection thugs who murdered Americans in the streets, but also for the senior advisers and Cabinet secretaries who sent those thugs on their campaigns of stochastic terrorism. Justice for the goons who will, it seems increasingly likely, seek to rig our upcoming elections, and the higher-level apparatchiks devising those antidemocratic schemes. Justice not just for the officials who executed double-tap strikes against civilians and bombed elementary schools and committed other startlingly barbaric war crimes but, more importantly, for the leaders who criminally launched such brazenly illegal military actions and wars. And, of course, justice for everyone inside and outside of this administration engaging in the most incomprehensibly flagrant looting of Americas public resources in our history. Admittedly, all of this is a tall order. Pursuing accountability with such breadth and depth would require a serious commitment of resources, attention, and political capital. But its a necessary, not an optional, step toward rebuilding our democracy, whicheven in this ideal future, in which Democrats have overcome Trumps efforts to dismantle free elections to win back temporary control of the governmentwill be overwhelmingly fragile for a long time to come. As the Allies understood when devising their denazification programs for Germany after World War II, America simply cannot afford to allow the bandits, propagandists, and sadists whove been running this administration to simply slide back into positions of power and privilege from which to plot their next fascist takeover. If Garlands ignominious tenure as attorney general achieved nothing else of value, let it at least have taught us this lesson. Of course, these prosecutions would be polarizing; in todays political environment, theres little that is not, though much of this administrations conduct that merits prosecution enjoys supermajority levels of reprobation from the public. But a push for accountability, to succeed, will require a demonstration of popular supportin other words, a mandate. And that means it is incumbent on Democrats to make this fight for accountability a key part of their platform, starting now. This will make many Democratic leaders squeamish. The partys centrist establishment hates to take strong stances on just about anything. And there may be opposition from some on the left, as well. After all, doesnt this Prosecute Trump fixation risk dragging us back to a pre-2020 resistance liberalism that deprioritized material conditions and obscured the structural problems of oligarchy, of which Trump is really just a symptom? Advertisement Advertisement Well, it could, if done poorly. But it could also buttress a much more powerful populist message, of the kind that Democrats desperately need to embrace if they are going to beat the diminished but still-potent right-wing populism of Trump and his MAGA heirs. The word populism is thrown around a lot to describe very different political tendencies, in large part because populist anger can be channeled in polar opposite directionstoward fascism on the one hand or social democracy on the other. But at its core, populism is what you get when a critical mass of a society stops seeing the previous systems of political authority as legitimate. And there is nothingliterally nothingthat creates that perception of illegitimacy more than repeated demonstrations of elite impunity. This dynamic is the foundation of our current political crisis. Indeed, elite impunity is what created Donald Trump, whose pledges to tear the system down triumphed twice against candidates who responded to his anti-system rhetoric by defending that system. In 2016 and 2024, Trump cast himself as an outsider who was being attacked precisely because he represented a threat to Americas political establishment and economic and cultural elite. For many, the alarm with which Trump was greeted only solidified this status. Finally, someone was promising to deliver some much-needed punishment to those who deserved it. In a world where regular people have watched again and again as rich assholes hollowed out their communities and denuded their lives and faced zero consequences for their crimes, Trumps exhortationFor those whove been wronged and betrayed, I am your retributionstarts to sound pretty good. At least someones talking about retribution. Advertisement Advertisement Obviously, that was never the reality of Trumpism, and today Trumps administration stands as the ultimate monument to elite impunity. There are countless examples of how his regime has become a platonic ideal of the corrupt swamp, from the pardon-for-cash operation it has been running for wealthy criminals of all stripes, to the DOJs announcement that it simply wont be prosecuting corporate crimes anymore. But the clearest narrative connecting Trump and elite impunityindeed, the most intuitively understandable indictment of how our institutions have failed to hold elites accountable for their depravityis the one thats for months been flowing out of the millions of documents that make up the Epstein files. Its worth noting here that our old friend Merrick Garland sat on the Epstein files for four years without raising a finger to seek justice for Epsteins victims or raise awareness about his accomplices, enablers, and associatesthe latter group of whom includes Epsteins longtime friend Donald Trump, who sent him a pornographic birthday card referencing a wonderful secret that would never age, and who has been accused of sexually assaulting a trafficked 13-year-old girl whom the FBI later found credible enough to interview four times in 2019. Thanks to horrifying references like these, the Trump administration has become deeply entangled and, in the eyes of many voters, incriminated in the Epstein saga. And that means Democrats have an opportunity to develop a broader message of opposition to elite impunityone that rightfully combines pledges to hold both Epsteins associates and the Trump administration accountable for their wanton criminality. Because the truth is, these two groups are one and the same. As Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff aptly put it, We were told that MAGA was for working-class Americans. But this is a government of, by, and for the ultrarich. Its the wealthiest Cabinet ever. This is the Epstein class. They are the elites they pretend to hate. Its a message Democrats can runand governon. Remember the system you so despised, with its one set of rules for you and me and another for the wealthy and powerful? The system that let Jeffrey Epstein off with a slap on the wrist because he was rich and well connected? The system that transferred teen sex-trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell to a cushy minimum-security prison where she reportedly is waited on hand and foot by prison officials and was given a puppy? Well, thats the same system thats been working to protect Epsteins longtime friend Donald Trump and all his sycophantic deputieslike Trumps Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, a documented visitor to Epsteins pedophile islandfrom being held accountable for their many crimes. And this time its the Democrats who are promising to burn that godforsaken system of elite impunity down to the ground. Advertisement Advertisement Of course, it would be madness at this point to trust the Democratic establishmentso long led by the likes of Bill Clinton, Reid Hoffman, and Larry Summers, each of whom spent years consorting with Epsteinto embrace this message. Thankfully, 2028 offers Democrats an opportunity to wipe the slate clean of their decrepitly complicit establishment. This is one of the Democrats greatest advantages right now. As Marjorie Taylor Greenes expulsion from GOP politics has demonstrated, taking on Epstein means taking on Trump, and no politician can become the next Republican presidential nominee by running against Trump. But our next Democratic nominee absolutely canand mustcommit to waging a war on the Epstein class, prosecuting its horrors, and rooting out the larger culture of elite impunity that is destroying our country from within. That promise not only gives Democrats a powerful populist message to run onit also sets them up to demonstrate a real popular mandate, postelection, to bring the perpetrators of this regimes horrific crimes to justice. This January, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva held a rally in front of a massive banner reading Defense of Democracy. He was there to veto legislation that Brazils opposition-controlled Congress had passed to lower Bolsonaros sentence from 27 to two years. After describing Bolsonaros attempted coup as a reminder that democracy is not an unshakeable achievement, Lula proclaimed, In the name of the future, we do not have the right to forget the past. Unlike Lula, Americas last Democratic administration failed to appreciate this essential truth. It is quite possible that this failure will prove lethal to our democracy. But if its notif we are so fortunate as to have an opportunity to drive MAGA from power in 2026 and 2028Democrats cannot be allowed to repeat their past mistakes. We must bring the architects of our current nightmare to justicenot in the name of the past, but in the name of the future. Heading into Tuesdays state legislative special election in New Hampshire, Republicans had reason to be cautiously optimistic. The race was in a district that Donald Trump won by 9 points in 2024, and the Democratic candidate had already run and lost twice before by wide margins. And yet, the contest turned into the latest in a series of red-to-blue flips. NH Journal reported: In what Granite State Republicans hope is not a preview of November, Democrat Bobbi Boudman won Tuesdays special election for Carroll County District 7, defeating Republican Dale Fincher 51 percent to 47 percent in a district that voted Republican by more than 13 points just 16 months ago. The New Hampshire Union Leader called the outcome stunning and a big upset given the Republican advantage in the local district. Advertisement Advertisement In a press statement, Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams boasted, Tuesdays are becoming a headache for state Republicans across the country as they suffer one stunning defeat after another. And therein lies the point: For Democrats, 2026 is off to a very encouraging start. In January, two of the partys candidates won lopsided victories in two special elections in Minnesota, the first two contests of the year, restoring the state House to an even partisan split. Soon after, in Texas, Republicans invested a considerable amount of resources to keep a state Senate seat in the suburbs of Fort Worth. They failed: Democrat Taylor Rehmet, a union leader and an Air Force veteran, won a double-digit victory in a district Trump won by 17 points in 2024. (The president personally tried to rally support for the GOP candidate, but then pretended he didnt after she lost badly.) Advertisement Advertisement In early February, Republicans in Louisiana saw a unique opportunity to flip a state legislative seat from blue to red in a district Trump won by 13 points but when voters had their say, the Democratic candidate prevailed by 24 points. Last week, a Democratic state legislative candidate also flipped a seat in Arkansas, reinforcing the larger pattern. Whats more, The Downballot noted that the results out of New Hampshire marked the 10th time Democrats have flipped a district from red to blue in a special election since Trump returned to the White House. Over that same period, the number of seats flipped from blue to red remains zero. Some will no doubt argue that its best not to read too much into a special election held in the winter, several months before Novembers races. Its a fair point, to be sure. But what matters is the degree to which the results fit into the broader political landscape. Republicans are tied to an unpopular president; a growing number of their congressional members are retiring; key elements of the GOP agenda are facing an intensifying public backlash; and they keep losing special elections, including in contests they expected to win. Advertisement Advertisement If party insiders arent concerned about their standing ahead of this years midterm elections, theyre not paying close enough attention. This post updates our related earlier coverage. The post Dems score upset win in New Hampshire special election, giving GOP fresh reason to worry appeared first on MS NOW. This article was originally published on ms.now BUTTE Montana Democrats gathered in the Motherlode Theater in Butte on Tuesday night for the first debate among the partys four primary contenders for the states western district congressional seat. More than 100 people attended Tuesdays debate, which came on the heels of a Monday event in Whitefish. The four candidates seeking to replace Rep. Ryan Zinke Ryan Busse, Russell Cleveland, Sam Forstag and Matt Rains were asked questions for more than an hour, some coming from moderators and others from the audience. The four candidates agreed more than they disagreed, and one audience question even asked them to quickly define how they differed from one another a difficult task in a Democratic primary for a Republican-leaning sea. The Daily Montanan attended Tuesdays debate and distilled down the candidates takes on some key issues. Housing affordability Between 2017 and 2025 most housing prices in Montana doubled, according to the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Montana. Advertisement Advertisement Home prices and, in the same vein, rising rents, have been toward the top of mind for Montana politicians for more than a decade. Driven by an influx of new arrivals, a rapidly expanding tech industry, massive corporate investment and rising material prices, its become one of the biggest issues the state faces in some locations. Forstag, a union representative and a renter in Missoula, called it a crisis and said America had been in this situation before, after World War II. The federal government stepped in on a bipartisan basis and invested billions of dollars in building housing, Forstag said. Rains, a rancher and former Chief of Staff with the Montana Farmers Union, said Pandoras Box had been opened and people are going to keep moving to the state, adding Wall Street needs to be out of the housing industry and pushed for more low- and middle-income housing. Advertisement Advertisement We have to make sure our contractors dont just cherry pick the mansions for the billionaires, Rains said. Busse, a former firearms executive, said he would push for more low-income and first-time home buyer assistance, more rental programs and occupational priority for some professions, like teachers and firefighters. Cleveland, who has worked in finance, also attacked corporate ownership of residential properties, but said fixing affordability starts with wage inequality. I would propose a 50-to-1 ratio on executive to frontline worker wages, to close that wage disparity and start attacking that without necessarily raising the federal minimum wage and hurting small businesses, Cleveland said. Data Centers and Artificial intelligence Like many areas around the country, Montana has been seen as a potential location for large data centers, the need for which is in part being driven by massive tech industry investment into artificial intelligence tools. Advertisement Advertisement Its an important issue in Butte, specifically, with organizations demanding transparency from NorthWestern Energy. Concerns about power and water usage are high among advocacy organizations, and the candidates differed slightly in their approaches. Busse said that we should be very, very suspicious of quick-moving data center projects, saying if its not going to increase electricity rates and water usage, put it in law., Rains supports the development of artificial intelligence with guardrails, and said there isnt enough research on the impacts of data centers out there before hed be comfortable bringing them to Montana. Advertisement Advertisement If data centers do come to Montana, Forstag said they should use union labor and called data centers a symptom of a larger issue, which he said was that tech companies are running roughshod with zero regulation. Cleveland said he was concerned with privacy issues and states losing the ability to regulate AI. Healthcare Multiple candidates called for increased access to healthcare during the debate, addressing a question about rural hospitals and clinics. Its one of the central tenets of Clevelands campaign his oldest daughter died of leukemia and he has another child who suffered a serious medical issue as well. The first month of cancer treatments cost approximately $300,000, he said on Tuesday, calling it disgusting. Advertisement Advertisement Medicare for All includes your eyes, your ears and your teeth, mental health and rural access, Cleveland said. Forstag, whose mother is an intensive care nurse, noted his experience with the private insurance market, after losing his government health insurance when he left the Forest Service to run for Congress. Lets look at the programs that work here, which are Medicare, and lets plug up the holes, Forstag said. Busse, who attacked national Republican decisions throughout the night, said cuts to Medicare were going to drastically impact rural hospitals. He also said part of the problem was establishment Democrats with ties to the insurance industry. Advertisement Advertisement We need to put an elbow in them and get them out of the way, and Ill do it, Busse said. Rains also pointed at President Trumps One Big, Beautiful reconciliation bill which he called an attack on rural healthcare. We have to find funding to come into Montana and increase our rural hospitals, Rains said. Where I live in Simms, Im 45 minutes to an hour from an emergency room. That is unacceptable. Audience questions Following an intermission, candidates took questions from audience members. Question topics differed greatly candidates were asked about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies in the military, stock trading and how the candidates differed. Advertisement Advertisement Forstag noted his experience working with the ACLU, saying hed fought for peoples, basic right to dignity. Rains added DEI needs to be installed back in our nation. All of the candidates said they would be supportive of legislation that limited congressional stock trading. Additionally, they were all asked to define how they differed from one another, and all leaned into their personal backgrounds. Forstag said his union experience, being raised by a single mother and his organizing work set him apart. Rains pointed to his time working in war zones both as a soldier and a photographer as offering a unique perspective. Advertisement Advertisement As a candidate during the 2024 Governors race, Busse said hed already been vetted by voters and he intended to use that campaign experience to win the House seat. Cleveland tied together his diverse work experience, including as a rancher, financial executive and small business owners, as well as his work to fight and speak out against injustice. A man accused of opening fire on law enforcement officers March 2 before being wounded by return gunfire has been booked into the Indian River County Jail, according to records. Officials have said Thomas Earl Steffens, 72, began shooting the evening of March 2 after the vehicle in which he was a passenger was stopped in the area of 12th Street and Commerce Avenue in Indian River County. Steffens, of Colorado, was wanted on a warrant issued Feb. 25 in connection with sex-related offenses in Colorado, sheriff's officials have said. Advertisement Advertisement Steffens sustained four gunshot wounds and was taken to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce. Three Indian River County sheriffs deputies, a Martin County sheriffs deputy and a U.S. marshal attempted to arrest a man who had a warrant out of Colorado about 8:30 p.m. March 2, 2026, at 12th Street and Commerce Avenue in Vero Beach when the man started shooting. The team returned fire at the man who was in the vehicle pictured here. He was taken to a hospital. The marshal and a deputy were injured, according to Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers. One U.S. Marshal was struck in the leg and taken to the hospital where he was treated and released. An Indian River County deputy had a minor leg injury, but officials didnt know if it was from shrapnel or something else. According to an arrest affidavit, Steffens was arrested March 7 on charges related to the Colorado incidents. On March 9, he was arrested on six counts attempted first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer by discharging a firearm and a single charge of resisting an officer with violence with a weapon, an affidavit states. Advertisement Advertisement John Budensiek and Eric Flowers, the sheriffs of Martin and Indian River counties, respectively, on March 3 explained what led up to the shooting, in which deputies were working and operating under federal guidelines as U.S. Marshals. Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on X @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Doctor who shot at Treasure Coast deputies faces attempted murder charges Hims & Hers (HIMS) stock rallied nearly 50% this morning after Danish pharmaceutical behemoth Novo Nordisk (NVO) dropped its high-stakes GLP-1 lawsuit against the American telehealth firm. HIMS now looks headed to challenge its 50-day moving average (MA), with a clear break above the $25 level expected to accelerate upward momentum in the near term. Still, theres reason for prudent investors to consider unloading Hims & Hers shares today, even though theyre still down about 37% versus their year-to-date high. More News from Barchart www.barchart.com Why Hims & Hers Stock May Retreat in the Days Ahead Investors must practice caution in buying HIMS stock at current levels as the companys landmark agreement with NVO suggests its transitioning from high-margin compounding to a lower-margin distribution for branded GLP-1s. Selling branded Wegovy and Ozempic at the pharma giants self-pay prices will hurt Hims & Hers profit per customer, resulting in pressure on its margins over time. Moreover, HIMS is no longer alone in offering online access to weight-loss drugs. Wegovy is now available on Amazon as well with the e-commerce titan expected to leverage its logistical advantage and a built-in user base comprising millions to steal share from Hims & Hers. Regulatory Headwinds Remain an Overhang on HIMS Shares Hims & Hers shares also remain unattractive because they are not free from regulatory headwinds yet. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is investigating the telehealth firm for its public disclosures and statements about compounded GLP-1 drugs. Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) remains firm on restricting mass-marketed compounded drugs as well. This means Hims & Hers may face fines or mandated changes to its business practices, compliance protocols, and marketing strategies all of which could make it difficult for it to sustain its recent gains. Note that HIMS does not currently pay a dividend either. Wall Street Recommends Caution on Hims & Hers Health Wall Street analysts also seem to believe today's rally in HIMS shares has gone a bit too far. According to Barchart, the consensus rating on Hims & Hers Health sits at a Hold," with the mean target of $21.60 indicating potential downside of about 3% from current levels. NEED TO KNOW Dr. Jay Miller was en route home to the U.S. from India when the U.S.-Iran conflict left him stranded in Qatar The U.S. State Department did not offer relocation assistance to Americans abroad, leaving thousands stranded in the Middle East Miller took matters into his own hands, traveling across four countries to make it home to New Orleans Dr. Jay Miller was en route home to New Orleans after a family vacation in India when his Qatar Airlines flight made an unexpected U-turn. The date was Feb. 28, and unbeknownst to Miller, President Donald Trump had announced that the U.S. was taking "massive and ongoing" military action against Iran. Advertisement Advertisement Iran retaliated against the U.S. and Israel with rockets and drones. Airspaces across the Middle East were closed. Back on the ground, the scene, with airstrikes igniting over the Persian Gulf, "looked like the 4th of July," Miller told Louisiana outlet WDSU News. "This is absolutely terrifying." Miller was among the thousands of Americans who happened to be traveling abroad in the Middle East when the conflict broke out. David Dweck, a Florida resident who was in Israel when the conflict broke out on Feb. 28, told PEOPLE on March 3 that he called the State Deparment's number for Americans experiencing emergencies abroad. After 12 minutes on the phone, Dweck said he was told via a recording that he should not rely on the U.S. government for assisted departure. Advertisement Advertisement "I called numerous times, and that was the same message, which, frankly is lousy PR for the U.S. government," Dweck told PEOPLE. "I think the American government with that phone number and everything else they need to step up and do a better job to get people home." A spokesperson for the State Department previously told PEOPLE on March 5 that the agency had "directly assisted 10,000 Americans in the Middle East looking to depart the region" and that it was working round-the-clock to bring Americans home. On March 10, the Associated Press reported that the State Department approved up to $40 million in emergency funds for Americans to leave the Middle East during the conflict. The State Department said in a statement on March 10 that over 40,000 American citizens have returned to the U.S. from the Middle East since Feb. 28. Miller, a pulmonary specialist who had left India ahead of his family to return to his patients, told The New York Times that it was "one of the moments when you tell your spouse you love them, which I did." Dr. Jay Miller Credit: WDSU News/YouTube Deciding to take matters into his own hands, Miller and his wife, Swathi Narra, who was still back in India with the couple's daughter, placed their bets on booking a flight departing Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the closest operating airport. Advertisement Advertisement Miller admitted the plan felt so crazy and far-fetched. To make his flight from Riyadh to Addis Abba, Ethiopia, Miller had to hire three drivers to travel nine hours, which totaled around $3,000. At King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, most departing flights were canceled, but Miller was lucky to fly out on a packed Ethiopian Airlines flight. From there, he had a 15-hour layover, spent partially at the National Museum of Ethiopia, before catching a flight (which had a refueling layover in Rome) to Chicago. 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. Finally, about a week after his Qatar Airlines flight made its initial U-turn, Miller was on a United Airlines flight direct from Chicago to New Orleans. His first step when he finally opened his front door was to crack open a beer, then promptly fall into a deep 16-hour sleep. The whole ordeal, Miller told WDSU News, "puts life in a new perspective." Read the original article on People ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) The ride-sharing company Lyft will ensure the rights of blind and other disabled passengers across the country to travel with their service animals under a settlement announced in Minnesota on Wednesday. College student Tori Andres turned to the Minnesota Department of Human Rights after several Lyft drivers refused to let her service dog, Alfred, ride along with her. The agency investigated and determined that the company was violating the state's Human Rights Act. Both sides then negotiated a settlement that includes changes in driver training, and updates to the Lyft app that will make the agreement apply nationwide, not just in Minnesota. This case is a deeply personal thing to me because I travel pretty much everywhere with my guide dog, Andres said at a news conference, as her black Labrador lay quietly near her feet, with only an occasional lick or yawn. He is my eyes. He is my freedom, and he is why I am able to live independently. Advertisement Advertisement The terms require Lyft to train its drivers on the rights of passengers with disabilities, and warn them that they could be deactivated and lose their ability to drive for Lyft if they violate the law, state Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero told reporters. Drivers can't cancel or refuse a ride because a passenger has a service animal or wheelchair, or because they have low or no vision, she said. The state will monitor Lyft's compliance for three years, she added, and Andres will get a $63,000 monetary settlement. We expect that all riders in Minnesota and in fact, across the United States, will benefit from these changes, Lucero said. Lyft downplayed the significance of settlement, however, saying it didn't agree to any policy changes because the relief the state sought was already in place. Lyft also disputed that the company violated the law, saying any alleged violations were by independent drivers. Discrimination has no place in the Lyft community, the company said in a statement. Lyft has maintained a strict service animal policy for nearly a decade, and independent drivers who violate that policy face serious consequences, including permanent deactivation. The commitments reflected in this agreement reaffirm the robust practices Lyft has already had in place to help ensure that riders who rely on service animals are treated with the respect they deserve." Advertisement Advertisement Recent changes to the Lyft app include giving riders the option of updating their accessibility settings to notify a driver that they're traveling with a service animal, and to report if they're denied service, the Department of Human Rights said. Lyft agreed to follow up on every report it gets of driver refusals. Drivers who try to cancel or refuse a ride to a passenger who has disclosed their service animal in the app will immediately receive an in-app message reminding them, It's against the law to refuse service animals, and that they risk getting fired. The state reached the settlement with Lyft without resorting to a lawsuit. Lyft's leading competitor, Uber, the country's largest ride-haling service, is not a party to the settlement. But Lucero said the Minnesota Human Rights Act binds all ride-share companies, including Uber. She said her agency frequently gets complaints against a variety of transportation companies, but did not indicate that anything is currently in the works against the competitor. We recommend that all businesses use this as an opportunity to look at their policies, training and accountability systems to make sure that its being enforced correctly, Lucero said. Advertisement Advertisement Uber officials did not immediately respond to a request for details on their policies about service animals. Uber's website says service animals must be accommodated in compliance with applicable accessibility laws and the company's service animal policy, which says there are no exceptions due to allergies, religious objections, or a fear of animals. The federal government filed a lawsuit against Uber in San Francisco last September alleging it routinely refused to serve individuals with disabilities, including those with service dogs. A federal magistrate judge last week denied a company motion to dismiss the case. Access to ride shares like Lyft is not a convenience. It is, in fact, a civil right, Lucero said. Fire officials suspect an individual might have started the fire that burned multiple houses in Donaldsonville. The Donaldsonville Fire Department and the Louisiana State Fire Marshal have been investigating the fires that occurred early in the morning March 4 at the corner of Lessard and Charles streets. Donaldsonville Fire Chief Travis Cedotal told the city council during the March 10 meeting that the fire started with an abandoned house that had no electricity or gas. Advertisement Advertisement "Somebody, whether accidently or intentionally, set that house on fire," he told council members. Multiple residences burned in an early-morning fire March 4 at the corner of Lessard and Charles streets in Donaldsonville. Firefighters were dispatched to 606 Lessard St. about 12:07 a.m. and arrived at the scene where a total of four structures eventually caught fire, according to a fire department news release. Later, at 12:42 a.m., firefighters were dispatched to another structure fire in the area, which was along Evangeline Extension. All off-duty personnel en route were diverted to the new location and a request was made through dispatch for additional manpower from the Paincourtville Volunteer Fire Department and Ascension Fire District 1. Advertisement Advertisement No injuries have been reported in connection with any of the fires. In the news release, the fire chief, on behalf of the department, thanked the firefighters from neighboring volunteer fire departments. Michael Tortorich is a journalist for the USA Today Network in Louisiana. Gonzales Weekly Citizen and Donaldsonville Chief, part of the USA Today Network of Louisiana, cover Ascension Parish and the greater Baton Rouge area. Follow at facebook.com/WeeklyCitizen and facebook.com/DonaldsonvilleChief. This article originally appeared on Gonzales Weekly Citizen: Donaldsonville fire chief provides update on fire that burned houses The International Energy Agency said Wednesday that member countries had unanimously agreed to release 400 million barrels of oil from their reserves in a bid to ease prices that are soaring due to the Iran war. The United States will contribute 172 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve starting next week, the U.S. Department of Energy said Wednesday evening. It will take approximately 120 days to deliver based on planned discharge rates, the department said in a statement on the release. Advertisement Advertisement Following the initial IEA announcement, U.S. crude oil prices briefly fell to lows of the day on news of the potential for fresh supply. But they quickly climbed higher, and once again had surpassed $90 per barrel by late Wednesday. The market moves Wednesday were a sign of real concerns about a longer conflict, despite President Donald Trumps assurances this week that the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran would be over soon. Since the attacks began Feb. 28, the Strait of Hormuz, off Iran's southwestern coast, has been essentially shut to tanker traffic amid threats from Iran's military. More than 20 million barrels of oil typically transit the strait every day, helping meet the world's daily demand for more than 100 million barrels of crude oil. On Wednesday, the United Kingdom's maritime trade monitoring agency reported at least three ships hit with projectiles in the region. Advertisement Advertisement As a result, insurers, oil companies and cargo firms have pulled back from operating in the area or transiting the critical waterway. With so much oil and liquified natural gas blocked from reaching the global market, energy prices have soared over the last two weeks. Since the war began, U.S. crude oil prices are up more than 30%. Retail gas prices have risen more than 50 cents to a national average of around $3.57 per gallon. Natural gas, jet fuel and international oil benchmarks have also jumped significantly. The IEA's 32 member countries include the United States, Britain, Japan, Germany, Canada, Australia, Italy and Mexico. The IEA said that collectively, member countries hold emergency stockpiles of more than 1.2 billion barrels. Advertisement Advertisement As of mid-February, Energy Department data shows that the U.S. has a total of more than 415 million barrels of various types of crude oil sitting in the national strategic petroleum reserve. Other countries, in Europe and Japan, have millions more. Once a presidential order is issued to deploy oil from the national reserve, the Energy Department typically doesn't begin deliveries for about 13 days, "and additional shipping time is needed before volumes reach end consumers," JPMorgan Chase commodities analysts wrote in a note Tuesday. Overall, "policy measures may have limited impact on oil prices unless safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz is assured," the analysts said, given how much oil is currently blocked from the global market in the region. Historically, they said, "emergency releases have peaked around 1.4 million barrels per day." They added that it could be helpful but "that pace would not materially ease a 16 million barrels per day shortfall and would likely provide only initial relief." IEA countries have executed emergency releases before, notably an estimated 180 million barrels in 2022, after Russia invaded Ukraine. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com (WHTM) A bill proposed in the state legislature would designate this drink as Pennsylvanias official spirit. State Representative Marla Brown (R-9) proposed a bill that would designate rye whiskey as the official spirit of the Commonwealth. Her bills co-sponsorship memo says the whiskey is a staple in the states history. One of Pennsylvanias oldest and most popular liquors, rye whiskey originated in the 18th century, when Scottish, Irish, and German settlers used rye from the Monongahela River Valley to produce whiskey in southwestern Pennsylvania. Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News Alerts Rye whiskey, the memo stated, became associated with the Whiskey Rebellion in 1791, when Congress imposed a liquor tax. The whiskey served as a medium of exchange when coins and paper currency ran scarce, and farmers fought the imposition of taxes. The spirit not only helped farmers oppose the tax, but also affirmed the regions principal means of economic survival, the memo said. Pennsylvania distilleries loosened many of their restrictions in 2011, and rye whiskey has since boomed in popularity. From 2009 to 2014, rye whiskeys volume increased 536%, according to Eight Oaks Farm Distillery. Advertisement Advertisement This document has not been submitted for introduction yet. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. A Mexican national with multiple illegal reentry convictions was sentenced yesterday to 135 months in federal prison for trafficking more than 33 kilograms of cocaine in the Charlotte area. Raul Bello Rojas, 44, also received five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and illegal reentry. The sentencing follows an investigation that uncovered high-level drug distribution and a history of repeated immigration violations. Advertisement Advertisement Court records show that Rojas had been deported from the United States four times between 2010 and 2019 before returning to North Carolina to distribute drugs while armed with firearms. ALSO READ: Man arrested in east Charlotte was living in US illegally, ICE confirms The investigation into Rojas began with a series of controlled purchases. Between December 2024 and January 2025, Rojas sold cocaine to an undercover law enforcement officer on at least three separate occasions. These transactions led investigators to obtain a search warrant for his residence. On Feb. 28, 2025, agents with Homeland Security Investigations and officers from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department searched the home. Advertisement Advertisement They discovered 26 bricks of cocaine hidden in the attic and another eight bricks in a primary bedroom closet. The 34 total bricks weighed approximately 33 kilograms. Investigators also found two firearms during the search. They recovered a SCCY CPX-one 9mm handgun from a nightstand and a Bryco Arms .380 handgun inside a bag that also contained a brick of cocaine. Along with the weapons and drugs, officers seized $64,489 in cash, digital scales, and a drug ledger. Mark M. Zito serves as the special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in North Carolina and South Carolina. Zito emphasized the impact of these crimes on local neighborhoods. Every time a dangerous criminal like Rojas returns to our streets and brings drugs and weapons into our neighborhoods, families and communities are put at risk, Zito said. He added that the agency remains committed to taking action against those who repeatedly break the law. Advertisement Advertisement Rojas has a history of immigration violations and was previously deported from the United States at least four times. His first deportation occurred in October 2010 following an assault conviction in Virginia. He was deported again in 2013 from Texas, in 2015 from Utah, and in 2019 from Virginia. U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson noted that Rojass return to the country posed a consistent threat. Rojas repeatedly violated our nations immigration laws and returned to the United States to traffic large quantities of cocaine, Ferguson said. Armed with guns, he posed a serious threat to our community. Rojas is currently in the custody of the U.S. Marshals. He will be transferred to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility once one is designated. U.S. Attorney Ferguson stated that Rojas will be promptly deported after serving his sentence. VIDEO: Man arrested in east Charlotte was living in US illegally, ICE confirms South Dakota's incumbent governor faced a blow to his gubernatorial campaign after a new poll showed him slipping behind a fringe candidate ahead of an upcoming Republican primary. According to a survey released March 11 and conducted by Emerson College Polling and Nexstar Media, Gov. Larry Rhoden fell to third in a four-man race for the state's governor job, just behind Aberdeen businessman and conservative activist Toby Doeden. The poll showed U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson in first place with 28% support, Doeden with 18%, Rhoden at 17% percent, State Rep. Jon Hansen at 14%, and 23% undecided. Under South Dakota Codified Law, primary run-off is required if no candidate wins more than 35% of the vote in a race with three or more candidates. Advertisement Advertisement Emerson College conducted the poll between March 7-9. 1,000 South Dakota likely voters were surveyed, with 413 of those queried specifically weighing in on the GOP gubernatorial contest. Incumbent Gov. Larry Rhoden, who came into office after Kristi Noem was appointed to the Trump administration, faces a difficult election campaign as Rep. Dusty Johnson has garnered plurality support ahead of the June primary, Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, stated in a press release. Johnson, South Dakota's lone congressional delegate in the U.S. House, has maintained a solid polling lead in South Dakota's upcoming GOP gubernatorial primary. A similarly sized South Dakota News Watch/Chiesman Center poll published in October 2025 also showed Johnson leading the primary race with 28% of voters' support and Rhoden narrowly behind at 27%. Michael Card, emeritus professor of political science at the University of South Dakota, told the Argus Leader that Rhoden's ratings may be suffering from his association with Kristi Noem, formerly the governor of South Dakota, whom he served as lieutenant governor before she left the gubernatorial job to be President Donald Trump's Cabinet Secretary of Homeland Security. Advertisement Advertisement Trump recently assigned Noem out of the top-level job and announced she would take on a role as special envoy for "The Shield of the Americas," a security initiative against narcotics trafficking in the Western Hemisphere. Rhoden defended Noem throughout intense public, congressional and media scrutiny of her role, including during an impeachment effort initiated in January. "Rhoden's lower ratings may be due to his association with former Gov. Noem, who has faced harsh criticism that's harder to ignore when it is coming form all media, including very conservative outlets [like] Fox, the Economist, and the Wall Street Journal," Card said. Hansen, who serves as speaker of the South Dakota House, has also consistently placed at the bottom of the charts in the GOP primary battle. "[Hansen's] low return may be low name recognition or they don't like what they see," Card said. Advertisement Advertisement The Argus Leader has reached out to the Republican gubernatorial campaigns for comments on the poll. Most responses had not been received as of 12: 45 p.m. CDT March 11. In a brief email, Johnson didn't directly address the survey results but instead spoke generally of the upcoming primary fight. "This election is about how we can make the next 20 years the best years possible for South Dakota," Johnson stated. "We need a leader with the energy and an actual plan to drive our state forward. Im committed to doing just that." South Dakota's Republican primary for governor is June 2. This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Larry Rhoden falls behind Dusty Johnson in new SD governor race poll ST. LOUIS A convicted sex offender from Farmington, Missouri, appeared in federal court Tuesday and admitted producing AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Missouri said Joel Kerbat, 70, was previously convicted of possession of child pornography in a 2010 case. Following his release from prison, Kerbat was placed on lifetime supervised release and required to register as a sex offender. Kerbat also had to register internet identifiers, such as any social media accounts. Advertisement Advertisement Kerbats federal probation officer visited his Farmington home on July 18, 2024. During the visit, the officer noticed a laptop and cell phone in plain view. The laptop had a program on it that would generate AI images, as well as a profile for an AI-generated teenage girl. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Kerbat admitted that he used the AI program to create child porn. His electronic devices were confiscated. A forensic examination of the devices showed Kerbat had an unregistered account on Discord and LiveChat, as well as an unregistered email address. Kerbat was a member of a Discord group where members discussed and promoted AI-generated pornography. He also visited a website to create AI images of child porn. One of the website pages he visited was titled build a preteen, prosecutors said. Advertisement Advertisement Kerbat confessed using the AI program to generate 52 images of CSAM, 251 images of potential CSAM, hundreds of images depicting nude children, and thousands of depictions of adult pornography. He pleaded guilty to one count of failing to update his registration as a sex offender. Kerbat will be sentenced on June 15. He faces up to 10 years in federal prison. 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 2. Jeffrey Epsteins remote ranch has been raided by police for the first time as part of a fresh investigation by New Mexico police. The paedophile owned the sprawling Zorro Ranch, nicknamed playboy ranch, for 25 years before his death, but victims say investigators have overlooked it until now. The two-day search, which began on Monday, was initiated after local authorities in New Mexico vowed to investigate the ranch in February following new allegations that serious crimes had taken place at the property. Advertisement Advertisement The New Mexico department of justice will continue to keep the public appropriately informed, support the survivors, and follow the facts wherever they lead, a police statement said. Virginia Giuffre at Epsteins Zorro Ranch The 7,500-acre desert estate is mentioned numerous times in files regarding the investigation of Epstein released by the US justice department. An anonymous 2019 email alleged two foreign girls were buried at Zorro Ranch after being strangled. It is unclear whether the police believe this tip was credible and whether they intend to search the grounds for bodies. New witnesses are also claiming Epstein used the compound to conduct nonconsensual medical procedures to advance his alleged interest in selective breeding, a state official told the Daily Mail. Advertisement Advertisement Epstein bought the estate near the small town of Stanley, 30 miles south of Sante Fe, in 1993 and built a rooftop mansion and private runway. He entertained rich and famous guests at the property, including Woody Allen, Noam Chomsky and according to at least two witnesses, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Neither Allen nor Mr Chomsky have been accused of criminal wrongdoing related to Epstein. Virginia Giuffre, who accused Mountbatten-Windsor of sexual abuse, said she entertained the former prince at Zorro in 2001. He is not accused of any wrongdoing at the ranch specifically. The former Duke of York has not publicly acknowledged visiting Zorro and has consistently denied Giuffres abuse allegations. Giuffre said she entertained Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor at Zorro in 2001 The estate was sold in 2023 to the family of a Republican state official. Police said the new owners had granted access and were cooperating with the search. Advertisement Advertisement Epstein died by suicide in his New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on abuse and sex trafficking charges. Annie Farmer, a victim of Epsteins, previously testified that she was abused at the ranch when she was 16. Another unidentified victim described how in 2004 she was molested by [Epstein] for many hours when she was 15. Several past civil suits accused Epstein of sexually assaulting girls at Zorro Ranch, but he never faced charges in New Mexico. A partial state investigation in 2019 ended with no charges. Andrea Romero, a New Mexico state representative who is co-leading the Truth Commission into the estate, told The Telegraph in February that its aim is to address failures of probes in the past. Advertisement Advertisement It also hopes to identify critical loopholes in our state law, Ms Romero said, which meant Epstein did not have to register as a sex offender in the state, as he was required to in other areas where he owned property. It is a massive gap in our laws and it is why we believe Epstein chose to set up operations in the state to continue with dubious work, Ms Romero said. 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. An accountant who worked closely with Jeffrey Epstein for more than a decade and serves as an executor of his estate told members of Congress on Wednesday that he "was not aware of the nature or extent of Epstein's abuse of so many women until after Epstein's death." Richard Kahn was one of Epstein's closest associates in his final years, managing his finances, investments and other minutiae, such as renovations on Epstein's private Caribbean island. He was subpoenaed to appear before the House Oversight Committee, and testified behind closed doors that he did not socialize with Epstein. "Had I learned of any of his horrific behavior, I would have quit work immediately," he said, according to his prepared opening statement, which was provided to CBS News. Advertisement Advertisement Democratic Rep. Suhas Subramanyam of Virginia said during a lunch break that Kahn told the committee the Epstein's estate had reached a settlement with a person who had also made accusations related to President Trump. Subramanyam did not give further detail on what was said about that settlement or the accuser. Early Wednesday, Subramanyam said the committee learned of "another head of state" that was mentioned as having financial transactions with Epstein. He later clarified he was referring to former Israel Prime Minister Ehud Barak, whose deep financial ties to Epstein are well-known. In Kahn's prepared remarks, he said Epstein had "substantial yearly expenditures and a large staff." "We tracked the expenditures as meticulously as possible, including gifts by Epstein to women and men. The gifts represent a very small fraction of Epstein's spending," Kahn said. "I did not see them as red flags for abuse or trafficking." Advertisement Advertisement Kahn told the committee he "did not see anything that suggested to me that Epstein was abusing or trafficking women or otherwise acting unlawfully." "However, it pains me to think and I deeply regret that I may have unknowingly assisted Epstein in any way," he said. Richard Kahn, an accountant for convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, arrives for a House Oversight Committee deposition about Epstein, in Rayburn building in Washington on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. / Credit: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) Kahn is the first of the two executors of Epstein's estate to testify before the committee. The other, lawyer Darren Indyke, is scheduled to sit for questions on March 19. Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, the Oversight Committee's GOP chairman, said halfway through the deposition that Kahn had answered all of the lawmakers' questions so far. Advertisement Advertisement "He confirmed there were five clients that paid money to Epstein, and that was Les Wexner, Glenn Dubin, Steven Sinofsky, the Rothschilds and Leon Black," Comer told reporters. "We've already deposed Wexner and we're going to be deposing Leon Black very soon." Comer added that Kahn testified that he "had never seen any type of transaction to Trump or anyone in his family." Rep. Robert Garcia, the committee's ranking member, said in a statement after the deposition that "Epstein's massive sex trafficking ring would not have been possible without the consistent payments and services of his long-time accountant." The California Democrat said Kahn "made some important admissions." Advertisement Advertisement "He helped facilitate a fake marriage between two women connected to Epstein, admitted to impersonating Epstein in communication with banks, and confirmed Epstein spoke about Donald Trump 'a lot,'" Garcia said. "It's not credible that he had no knowledge of Epstein's activities, and his testimony today only raises more questions." Dozens of interconnected companies facilitated payments to victims, whose attorneys have said Kahn and Indyke were key figures in the management of those firms. Internal banking communications and personal emails included in the Justice Department's Epstein files show the pair kept close tabs on Epstein's finances. Kahn said in his prepared remarks that in his work on Epstein's finances, he "had no role in setting up any of Epstein's companies, but did not view them as improper or suspicious." "Based on my experience and conversations with financial officers for family offices, the use of limited liability companies by wealthy individuals to hold assets such as real estate and major assets like airplanes and helicopters is completely standard practice," Kahn said. Advertisement Advertisement Epstein survivors have honed in on both Kahn and Indyke as critical cogs in the wealthy sex trafficker's complex finances and operations. Documents revealed in lawsuits and the Epstein files show a sophisticated and tangled web of businesses operated by the trio. The House Oversight Democrats claimed in a post on the X that "Kahn was a central facilitator of Epstein's ability to exploit girls and women." Virginia Democratic Rep. James Walkinshaw said there were many questions Kahn said he couldn't answer. "Today we've heard from Mr. Kahn a lot of inability to recall, inability to recall emails, text messages he was involved in," Walkinshaw said. "If he was ignorant of Mr. Epstein's crimes, he was willfully ignorant." Advertisement Advertisement After Kahn and Indyke were subpoenaed in January, an attorney for Indyke, Daniel Weiner, said in a statement to CBS News that allegations against them are "false." "It is worth emphasizing that not a single woman has ever accused either Mr. Indyke or Mr. Kahn of committing sexual abuse or witnessing sexual abuse, nor claimed at any time that she reported to them any allegation of Mr. Epstein's abuse," Weiner said. "Indyke and Kahn did not socialize with Mr. Epstein, and they have always rejected as categorically false any suggestion that they knowingly facilitated or assisted Mr. Epstein in his sexual abuse or trafficking of women, or that they were aware of Mr. Epstein's actions while they provided legal and accounting services to Mr. Epstein." Kahn and Indyke recently settled a lawsuit alleging they facilitated sham marriages in which foreign-born victims married Americans whom Epstein abused, for immigration purposes. Kahn said in his prepared remarks that he "agreed to serve as co-executor of Epstein's estate because, by the time of Epstein's death, I had learned of the harm that he had caused to so many women and thought that my knowledge of Epstein's holdings would make me better prepared to help alleviate some of their suffering." Advertisement Advertisement He said the Epstein Victim Compensation Fund, which was set up by the estate, "resolved claims by over 130 women" and the estate has reached another 60 separate settlements. "I have done my best to balance my obligations as a fiduciary of the estate with the interest in providing legitimate compensation to Epstein's victims," Kahn said. "For this work, I have been the subject of attacks by plaintiffs' lawyers and have had my reputation dragged through the mud. It has taken a tremendous toll on me and my family. But I continued to serve as co-executor because I believe it is the right thing to do." Kahn's testimony is the latest in an ongoing procession of high-profile depositions of people with whom Epstein associated. Former President Bill Clinton denied any knowledge of Epstein's crimes during a Feb. 27 deposition. It was the first time a former president had been compelled to testify to Congress. Advertisement Advertisement "I had no idea of the crimes Epstein was committing," Clinton said. His wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, said she didn't know Epstein, and suggested President Trump be subjected to a similar interview, "answering questions under oath as should others who are prominently featured in the files." Mr. Trump and Epstein were friends for years before a falling-out in the mid-2000s. The Epstein files include uncorroborated accusations by a woman against Mr. Trump, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein. Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, said before Wednesday's deposition that he is "curious about some of the allegations against the president, the woman who made that, whether [Kahn] knows anything about that." Advertisement Advertisement Others who have testified in the committee's ongoing probe include billionaire Les Wexner and convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell. Wexner, a former client of Epstein, claimed he was "duped by a world-class con man" and knew nothing of Epstein's crimes. Maxwell, perhaps Epstein's closest confidante, invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and refused to answer questions during a virtual appearance before the committee. CBS News exclusive: LA is "ground zero" for hospice fraud Family of teacher killed during prank asks for charges to be dropped against teens How Venezuela is changing 2 months after Maduro's capture Hims & Novo Call a Truce, Hims Gets Exactly What It Wanted - Moby BREAKING NEWS Novo Nordisk and Hims & Hers have apparently decided that making money together beats fighting about it in court, dropping their patent infringement lawsuit after the two companies agreed that Hims would sell Novo's branded Ozempic and Wegovy through its platform at the same price as other telehealth providers. For Hims, which watched its stock rocket almost 50% at Mondays opening bell, this is roughly the equivalent of getting caught shoplifting and walking out with a job offer. The company had been selling a $49 compounded knockoff of Novo's Wegovy pill, a product Novo described as "mass illegal compounding" and the FDA called reason enough to threaten decisive action against compounding pharmacies. Hims pulled the pill. The lawsuit followed anyway. And now, somehow, the whole thing ends in a partnership. Novo CEO Mike Doustdar told CNBC he doesn't foresee reopening the litigation, which is the diplomatic equivalent of "we won." Under the deal, Hims will stop advertising compounded GLP-1 drugs entirely and limit compounded versions only to cases where clinically necessary, which is the kind of sentence Hims' lawyers probably read seventeen times before signing. 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. The peace treaty arrives after a genuinely chaotic few months. Novo and Hims had already tried the partnership route once before, ending that collaboration just two months in after accusing Hims of deceptive marketing. Doustdar was careful to note this arrangement is "a very different situation," which is the corporate version of "I promise this time is different" after a very public breakup. The broader context matters here. Semaglutide's U.S. patent runs until 2032, compounding loopholes are closing fast, and Novo has cleared its supply shortages, the original legal opening Hims exploited. Hims CEO Andrew Dudum is now pivoting to "rapidly shifting landscape" language and talking about bringing new therapies to the platform. A graceful exit dressed up as a growth strategy. One stock. Nvidia-level potential. 30M+ investors trust Moby to find it first. Get the pick. Tap here. The European Union will provide Ukraine with 90 billion regardless of whether Hungary supports the decision, European Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said following a meeting of the EU Economic and Financial Affairs Council in Brussels on 10 March. Source: European Pravda correspondent citing the commissioner Details: Dombrovskis said he is convinced that the European Union will keep its promise to provide Ukraine with 90 billion in 2026-2027. Advertisement Advertisement "We will deliver on this loan one way or another," he said confidently. The commissioner recalled that the EU's intention was "to start providing this funding in April". "So from that point of view, it is getting urgent because we are now already in the first half of March, actually, to finalise this work. So we continue intensive engagement," he noted. He stressed that this is not the first time the EU has faced similar difficulties with Hungary, which blocked previous financial support packages and sanctions packages. "At the end of the day, we managed always to unblock this situation, and I'm hopeful that's going to be the case also in this time," Dombrovskis said. Advertisement Advertisement He did not specify exactly how the European Commission plans to lift Hungary's veto on this decision. Dombrovskis said the Council of the EU has already approved amendments to the regulation on the Ukraine support loan and to the Ukraine Facility. "We work now with Ukrainian authorities to deliver all other necessary documents, like financing strategy, memorandum of understanding, and so on and so forth. So the only outstanding piece of legislation is amendments to the MFF regulation, and that is needed for the Commission to be able to go to the markets and actually to borrow and then provide this funding to Ukraine," he explained. Background: Last month, Hungary also blocked the adoption of the EU's 20th Russia sanctions package and prevented the allocation of a 90 billion EU loan to Ukraine, demanding the resumption of Russian oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline. On 10 March, the Hungarian parliament approved a resolution refusing to support Ukraine's accession to the EU and opposing further funding of its military needs by EU countries. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The European Union and United Kingdom have demanded that Israel halt a surge in violence by Jewish settlers against Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank that has taken place since the start of the country's war with Iran. Six Palestinians have been killed during attacks by settlers across the West Bank over the past 11 days, according to the United Nations. The UK said it was appalled by the killings, while the EU said the level of settler violence was unacceptable. Both urged Israeli authorities take action to ensure accountability and prevent further attacks. Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli military condemned the violence and said it was working to bring those responsible to justice. Israel has built about 160 settlements housing 700,000 Jews since it occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem - land Palestinians want, along with Gaza, for a hoped-for future state - during the 1967 Middle East war. An estimated 3.3 million Palestinians live alongside them. The settlements are illegal under international law. Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, three Palestinians were killed during a settler attack on the Palestinian village of Khirbet Abu Falah, north-east of Ramallah. Witnesses told the Reuters news agency that dozens of settlers raided the village before dawn that day. When residents confronted them, including by throwing stones, armed settlers arrived and opened fire, they said. The Palestinian health ministry said two residents - Thaer Hamayel, 24, and his cousin, Farea Hamayel, 57 - were both shot in the head and killed. A third resident, Mohammed Murra, 55, suffered a cardiac arrest and died in hospital after inhaling tear gas that was fired by Israeli security forces, according to medics. Advertisement Advertisement The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said security forces were dispatched to the area following a report of Palestinians being attacked by Israeli civilians near their homes, and that they acted to disperse those involved. It added that a criminal investigation had been opened. On Saturday, Amir Shanaran, a 28-year-old man, was shot dead by settlers and his brother, Khaled, 34, was seriously wounded on their land in Wadi al-Rakhim, near Susya in the South Hebron Hills, according to the Palestinian health ministry. The head of the nearby Tuwani village council told AFP news agency that settlers entered Palestinian homes in the area and attacked the Shanaran family. The IDF said soldiers and police were dispatched to the scene after reports of a violent confrontation between Israelis and Palestinians. Initial information indicated that a reserve soldier opened fire, it added, without identifying him as a settler. Advertisement Advertisement The previous Monday, settlers shot and killed two brothers - Mohammed Azem, 51, and Fahim Azem, 47 - during an attack on the village of Qaryut, which is located between Ramallah and Nablus, according to the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem. A Palestinian flag was planted at the site in an olive grove where Thaer Hamayel was killed [Reuters] Another Israeli rights group, Yesh Din, said 109 separate incidents of settler violence, included shootings, physical assaults, property damage, and threats, had been reported in 62 Palestinian communities during the first 10 days of the war with Iran. "These criminal and deadly attacks are carried out with the backing of the state and almost complete impunity, advancing Israel's objective of forcibly displacing Palestinians and annexing the West Bank," Yesh Din warned. The Palestinian Authority's Vice-President, Hussein al-Sheikh, said on Sunday that the attacks constituted "a major escalation of settler terrorism" and called on the international community to take "serious punitive measures" against the perpetrators. Advertisement Advertisement The commander of the IDF's Central Command, which is responsible for the West Bank, insisted it saw the incidents "with the utmost severity". "There will be zero tolerance for civilians who take the law into their own hands," Maj Gen Avi Bluth said. "We are working together with all security agencies to quickly reach those responsible and bring them to justice." He added: "Especially at a time when the IDF is striking our bitter enemies, Iran and Hezbollah, with a firm hand - we cannot allow reckless internal violence to undermine the rule of law and the security of the region." The British consulate-general in Jerusalem said in a statement that the UK urged the IDF to match its statements with "swift, thorough investigations and accountability for those responsible". "Settler violence which terrorises communities must be stopped," it added. Advertisement Advertisement The EU's spokesperson, meanwhile, warned that "impunity for such acts risks provoking further violence", and urged the Israeli government to "abide by its obligations under international law to protect the Palestinian population in the occupied territory". The US-Israeli war on Iran has exposed divisions among Europes far-right parties and personalities. In one camp, Atlanticists such as Nigel Farage, founder of the populist hard-right Reform UK party, support the war. In a recent post on X, he urged United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer to back the Americans in this vital fight against Iran! Days later, he stated that any refugees fleeing Iran should be housed in the Middle East and not in Britain. Advertisement Advertisement Spains far-right Vox party has also backed the war, criticising Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez after the left-wing prime minister condemned it as an unjustified and dangerous military intervention. Others are more sceptical. Nigel Farage, right, speaks next to US President Donald Trump during a campaign rally at Phoenix Goodyear Airport in Goodyear, Arizona, US, October 28, 2020 [Jonathan Ernst/Reuters] Tino Chrupalla, co-chair of Alternative for Germany (AfD), warned that US President Donald Trump was becoming a president of war. Markus Frohnmaier, the AfDs lead candidate for state elections in Baden-Wurttemberg, told Welt that the war must be considered in a nuanced way and that it is in Germanys interest not to experience new migration flows as a result of it. Advertisement Advertisement In the UK, two combative figures, Tommy Robinson and Paul Golding, are diverging over the war. Robinson, an Islamophobe and staunch supporter of Israel, has enthusiastically supported it, while Golding, leader of the far-right Britain First party, took to X to write: Not our fight, not our war. Put Britain First. Other parties appear hesitant. Marine Le Pen, leader of Frances far-right National Rally, criticised US intervention in Venezuela in January, stating the sovereignty of States is never negotiable. However, after the Iran war began, she expressed cautious support, telling French media that she found nothing shocking about President Emmanuel Macrons announcement that France was sending an aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean in response to the widening conflict. The limits of far-right unity The split in opinion over Iran reflects a paradox about the European far right, Tim Bale, a politics professor at Queen Mary University of London, told Al Jazeera. Advertisement Advertisement The hard right is often seen as riding a wave built on similar grievances and concerns in every country most obviously around immigration, he said. Its also built on nationalism and, as a result, there are limits both to cooperation between different parties in different countries. He said that historically, parts of the far right in countries such as France and Germany have viewed the United States with suspicion, while others, particularly in countries where anti-communism shaped post-war politics, tended to see Washington as a strategic ally. That divergence is now resurfacing over Iran. Advertisement Advertisement Morgan Finnsio, a Swedish researcher who studies far-right movements at the Expo Foundation, noted that the Western far right has long aspired to ideological unity but has consistently fractured over geopolitical issues. He told Al Jazeera that factions were previously split over Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Divisions now centre on Trumps radical new geopolitical orientation, with its consequences such as attacking Venezuela [and] threatening Greenland, he told Al Jazeera. In recent years, [Vladimir] Putins Russia, Trumps United States, and [Benjamin] Netanyahus Israel have all courted European far-right actors, said Finnsio, adding that these outside powers have geopolitical preferences that tend to be absorbed by their allies and proteges. Advertisement Advertisement Those with closer ties to Washington or Israel have supported the onslaught in Iran, which has killed more than 1,000 people, he said. Parties with stronger ideological or political affinities with Russia, which maintains ties with Iran, have been more cautious or openly opposed. Far-right positions on foreign conflicts are more motivated by the particular geopolitical circumstances at a given time rather than principles, Finnsio said. Existing fault lines Finnsio said these divisions are maintaining an already-existing split. Whether the Iran war will impact elections remains to be seen, he added. In the UK, Bale said it could. Advertisement Advertisement Farages gung-ho attitude to the attack on Iran may please some of his partys base, but voters as a whole arent enthusiastic, and Reform UK will likely perform less well than it would have done in contests coming up this spring. Reform UK is currently leading national opinion polls. Its leadership has backed the war, but polling suggests its voters are less enthusiastic, with a March 2026 YouGov survey showing that only 28 percent of Reform UK voters strongly support US military actions against Iran. More broadly, analysts suggest that a close association with US President Donald Trump could become politically risky. Advertisement Advertisement I think any European far-right actor that is seen as being too close to Trump may find themselves discredited to some extent, said Finnsio, while cautioning that the longer-term landscape remains uncertain. Even when the war enters political debate, analysts say it is more likely to be reframed through domestic issues for the far right. Finnsio pointed to Swedens September elections as an example. He said if the war features in the election campaigns, it will be discussed in the terms of the risk that Sweden be exposed to a new influx of refugees thereby bringing the discussion back to the topic Sweden has, thanks to the [nationalist and right-wing populist political party] Sweden Democrats, already been obsessing over for years, which is migration and integration. EXCLUSIVE: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said Camp East Montana in El Paso, Texas will remain open and is undergoing an operational upgrade, Fox News Digital has learned. "Camp East Montana is NOT closing, quite the opposite," an ICE spokesperson exclusively told Fox News Digital Tuesday. "Rather, ICE has contracted with a new provider following Secretary Noems termination of the old contract inherited from the Department of War. ICE is always looking at ways to improve our detention facilities to ensure we are providing the best care to illegal aliens in our custody." Advertisement Advertisement Blue-state Governors Move To Keep Heat On Noem As Dhs Fires Back The spokesperson said the new contract will allow the facility to maintain what the agency described as the "highest detention standards" while expanding oversight. According to ICE, the new contractor will also provide increased on-site medical care, additional staffing and a "PRECISE quality assurance surveillance plan." Read On The Fox News App The agency said the updated agreement also strengthens ICEs direct oversight of operations at the El Paso-area facility. "Far from closing, Camp East Montana is upgrading," the spokesperson said. Advertisement Advertisement Four Illegal Immigrants Linked To Ms-13 Indicted For Allegedly Murdering 14-Year-old Boy In Maryland Park The news that the facility will remain open comes after The Washington Post reported that the facility could face closure amid scrutiny over operations. A document was distributed to ICE staff, the Post reports, indicated that the agency was drafting a letter to terminate the facilitys $1.2 billion contract at an unspecified date. ICE officials, however, characterized the contract termination as a deliberate effort by Noem to raise standards and improve services. Click Here To Download The Fox News App Advertisement Advertisement The facility, located at Fort Bliss in Texas, has been used to house thousands of detainees as part of the Trump administrations immigration enforcement efforts. ICE did not immediately provide details on the identity of the new contractor or the timeline for full implementation. Original article source: EXCLUSIVE: ICE says El Paso detention facility will stay open under new contractor after $1.2B deal scrapped A video on social media appears to show signature gatherers in the South of Market openly offering money to homeless people to sign ballot initiative petitions using someone else's name, which could be a brazen violation of California election law. The video, filmed Monday afternoon at Sixth and Mission streets, shows more than a dozen people lined up on the sidewalk behind a group of signature gatherers, who were contracted by an unknown firm, sitting at a table covered in petitions. Advertisement Advertisement In the video, recorded at about 1:54 p.m. by Omar Ward - a street videographer also known as JJ Smith - a man is heard saying that the gatherers were offering $5 a signature, which is illegal under state law. According to recent media reports, $5 would be a slice of what the workers are paid per signature. The California Secretary of State's office is investigating the matter, KCRA, a Sacramento TV news outlet, reported Tuesday. The petitions appear to be those sponsored by Building a Better California, a recently formed political group backed by prominent tech billionaires. The group supports multiple ballot efforts, including Better Results, a poison pill effort to gut a proposed tax on billionaires, and Retirement and Personal Savings Protection Act, another measure that calls for a constitutional amendment to bar all new taxes on certain assets and financial holdings. Both of those campaigns had petitions on the signature collectors' table. Advertisement Advertisement The gatherers can be heard instructing people which name and address to write down, rather than allowing them to sign their own names. One circulator can be seen highlighting a sheet of paper for one of the signers, explaining twice that she need not use her own name, but rather that of an 81-year-old resident of San Luis Obispo County's Avila Beach. The Chronicle attempted to reach the 81-year-old by phone on Tuesday but did not immediately hear back. Another circulator can be heard commenting to another signer that he can sign more than once. A spokesperson for Building a Better California said the organization was aware of the video and condemned the behavior. "To be clear, we are outraged and do not tolerate this or any type of fraudulent activity in the signature-gathering process," spokesperson Abby Lunardini said in an email. Lunardini added that the campaigns connected to the petitions have contacted the signature-gathering firm involved and demanded that they "reject any and all petitions submitted by this circulator." Lunardini did not say what signature-gathering firm the campaigns employed. Advertisement Advertisement The Better Results campaign told the Chronicle in a statement that they are "absolutely incensed" about the incident caught on camera, but their spokesperson Molly Weedn did not immediately answer a follow-up question about who the campaign contracted with. "Under no circumstance do we tolerate this type of activity in the signature-gathering process," Weedn said in a statement. "For our campaign specifically, we've taken immediate action and have demanded the signature-gathering firm identify these circulators and reject their petitions." Weedn said the campaign has contacted its attorneys, as well as San Francisco police. Meanwhile, the Retirement and Personal Savings Protection Act campaign said in a statement it "does not tolerate fraudulent activity in any signature-gathering process." Advertisement Advertisement "As soon as we became aware of the activities in question, we demanded that our signature-gathering firm identify the petition circulator, reject any and all petitions submitted by this circulator," said campaign spokesperson Nathan Click. "We are requiring the signature-gathering firm to ensure that all protocols are strictly enforced." In California, people circulating petitions are paid per signature, though the amounts can vary from a few bucks to as high as $15, which is what gatherers working to oppose the billionaire tax are earning, The San Francisco Standard reported last week. Signature-gathering frauds are not unheard of in California. A similar stunt on Skid Row in Los Angeles happened between 2016 and 2018. The gatherers targeted homeless people and offered them money and cigarettes in exchange for signing petitions using phony names and forged signatures. At least nine people were charged with felony election fraud in that scheme. In Pacifica, authorities investigated signature gatherers hired for a referendum campaign backed by the California Apartment Association. Prosecutors later filed 21 felony charges against two paid circulators, and authorities alleged workers forged at least 20 voter signatures and addresses. Advertisement Advertisement In 2021, Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill to ban the practice and allow the state's Attorney General to fine violators. Newsom, in refusing to sign the bill, wrote that while he appreciated the intent to "incentivize grassroots support" for initiatives, "payment per signature remains one of the most economical methods to qualify for the ballot." This article originally published at S.F.-based campaigns outraged' over video showing petition gatherers offering $5 a signature. Speculations about coups and rebellions in Russia have been constant throughout the full-scale war. All of them, except one, were wishful thinking. The latest rumor shared by British tabloids suggests that recent internet outages in Moscow were triggered by fears of an "imminent" coup by figures close to Sergei Shoigu, a senior security official and former defense minister. The claim originates with the VChK-OGPU channel, known for sharing stories it says are leaked from Russian security services. The channel itself acknowledges it is merely a "conspiracy theory" from an undisclosed source. Advertisement Advertisement Russia experts speaking to the Kyiv Independent have flatly dismissed the rumors. "This is pure BS. If Russian elites wanted (Russian President Vladimir) Putin out, it would have happened in 2022," Anton Barbashin, co-founder and editorial director at Riddle Russia, told the Kyiv Independent. Stephen Hall, assistant professor in Russian and post-Soviet politics at the University of Bath, says that while Russian history is unpredictable, a coup is "unlikely as of today." Shoigu the plotter? The cornerstone of the theory published by VChK-OGPU is that recent internet outages in Moscow coincided with the arrest of Former Deputy Defense Minister Ruslan Tsalikov, Shoigu's long-term associate. Advertisement Advertisement Tsalikov, facing corruption-related charges, is the fourth former deputy defense minister to face indictment since Shoigu was dismissed as defense minister in May 2024. According to the VChK-OGPU, the Kremlin feared that Shoigu's clan would make a move in response to his ex-deputy's arrest. The theory suggests it is no coincidence that the internet outages impacted key government and security facilities, as Shoigu allegedly still "retains considerable influence" at the Defense Ministry and security services. Users in Moscow and St Petersburg reported major mobile internet outages in recent days. The Kremlin said the restrictions increasingly common amid the war are designed to "ensure security," without providing details. Advertisement Advertisement Shoigu, meanwhile, has served as the secretary of the security council since 2024, an honorary title without much financial or infrastructural leverage, according to analysts. Barbashin says he does not see a brewing plot within Shoigu's circle. "Putin allowed to dismantle Shoigu's clan while giving (him) immunity, just like it happened before with Medvedev's clan," the expert said, referring to former President Dmitry Medvedev. "No coup is on the horizon." Hall questions whether there is even a significant player left in Shoigu's circle who would lead such a coup. Advertisement Advertisement "The Shoigu clan has certainly been decimated since he was dismissed as defense minister," the expert said. Wishful thinking Since Putin ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, speculations about his imminent fall or demise have emerged periodically, often optimistically shared by Ukraine's supporters. The Russian leader has been rumored to suffer from cancer, Parkinson's disease, or to have already died and been replaced by a double. Even Kyrylo Budanov, then-Ukrainian military intelligence chief, fueled similar rumors by declaring in 2022 that a coup to remove "seriously ill" Putin is already underway. Advertisement Advertisement Roman Osadchuk, director of Threat Intelligence at the LetsData tech company, says that any rumors of coups or political events from Russia should be taken with a grain of salt. According to the expert, the popularity of such claims is often fueled by curiosity about the inner workings of Russia's opaque, closed-off political system. Authors may disseminate such claims for mere engagement farming, Osadchuk told the Kyiv Independent. Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) speaks as Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu (R) looks on while taking part in the wreath laying ceremony at the Unknown Soldier Tomb, marking the Defender of the Fatherland's Day, on Feb. 23, 2024, in Moscow, Russia. (Contributor/Getty Images) "Opacity does contribute to the speculative nature of commentary on regime change, but in this particular instance, there may be an element of 'wishful thinking,'" Tomila Lankina, a professor of international relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science, told the Kyiv Independent. Advertisement Advertisement "Many of us working on Russian politics have been hoping for a change of regime for years, if not decades." Throughout four years of the full-scale war, no palace coup has been executed, as Russian elites obediently fell in line. The closest was Yevgeny Prigozhin's Wagner Group rebellion in June 2023 ultimately aborted after one day before reaching Moscow. Prigozhin then died under suspicious circumstances in a plane crash two months later. Editor's note: This article was published as part of the Fighting Against Conspiracy and Trolls (FACT) project, an independent, non-partisan hub launched in mid-2025 under the umbrella of the EU Digital Media Observatory (EDMO). Click here to follow the latest stories from our hub on disinformation. Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Real money: how the war in the Middle East exposed Indias dependence on Russian oil Read also: Russias economy boosted by oil price spike | Russia news Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Did various politicians and celebrities all hand down a "verdict" for a "$120 million ultimatum" to former President Barack Obama over repayments related to Obamacare? No, that's not true: Several such stories naming people as diverse as Jeanine Pirro, Jim Caviezel, Kid Rock and Stevie Nicks issuing the same "ruling" were posted by a network of foreign-run Facebook pages. The story was largely copy-pasted, swapping out the main character each time, often still describing the men as handing down "her verdict." There were no actual news stories about such a ruling. A popular version of the story appeared in a Facebook post (archived here) published on March 10, 2026 that read: 'THE $120 MILLION ULTIMATUM' -- Judge Jeanine Pirro Hands Down Her Verdict on Barack Obama Former prosecutor and firebrand commentator Jeanine Pirro just sent shockwaves through Washington, publicly demanding that former President Barack Obama repay a staggering $120 million. Pirro alleges the funds were financial benefits improperly siphoned from the Obamacare program, calling it a 'blatant manipulation of the taxpayer's budget' and a 'gross abuse of power.' She didn't just make an accusation--she set a deadline. Pirro has given Obama exactly three days to provide a formal response before she officially forwards her findings to the U.S. Department of Justice for a full criminal review. As the 72-hour clock ticks down, the former President remains silent, but the internet is already in a state of absolute meltdown. The Judge has spoken--and she's not waiting for permission to seek the truth. This is what the image in the post looked like: Image source: post by "News Story" on Facebook Lead Stories searched Facebook for the phrase "THE $120 MILLION ULTIMATUM" in combination with "Obama" and found several other posts (archived here) with an almost identical story but naming a different person each time. Lead Stories found versions about: Advertisement Advertisement Jeanine Pirro Jim Caviezel Stevie Nicks Kid Rock John Kennedy Nikki Sixx Usher Raymond Erika Kirk All the posts featured very similar images, with the celebrity in a montage with one or more pictures of Obama: Image source: Lead Stories montage of screenshot of various Facebook posts The posts about Stevie Nicks and Nikki Sixx identified them as "Judge" even though they are in rock bands. The posts about Jim Caviezel and Kid Rock said these men handed down "her verdict" even though they are male. According to their transparency tabs, several of the Facebook pages were being managed by people in Vietnam, Cambodia, Poland and the Philippines : Image source: collage of screenshot of the page transparency tabs of Facebook pages posting the story. The Vietnam connection is significant, since fact checkers, including Lead Stories, have identified a major source of AI-generated false stories coming from a single operation based in that Southeast Asian country. You can see recent reporting and fact checks mentioning that country here. Advertisement Advertisement A Google News search for news articles mentioning "$120 million dollar ultimatum" and "Obama" did not return any results (archived here), further proving the story was entirely fictional. Lead Stories has published a primer -- or a prebunk -- on how to identify these kinds of fake posts exported from Vietnam. It's titled "Prebunk: Beware Of Fake Fan Pages Spreading False Stories About Your Favorite Celebrities -- How To Spot 'Viet Spam.'" President Donald Trump, pushing back at the suggestion that the US was responsible for a deadly strike on an elementary school in Iran, claimed at a press conference Monday that Iran has Tomahawk cruise missiles. But Trumps claim was immediately rejected by arms experts. There has never been an indication that Iran has any Tomahawks, which are made by US defense manufacturer Raytheon for the US military, subject to strict export controls and not the generic product Trump claimed Monday. Since the 1990s, a small number of US allies have been permitted by the US government to purchase them; the list includes the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan and the Netherlands but not Israel or any other ally in the Middle East. It certainly does not include Iran, which has been an adversary of the US since the late 1970s. Advertisement Advertisement Iran definitely does not, repeat does not, have Tomahawks, Jeffrey Lewis, distinguished scholar of global security at Middlebury College, said in a text message Monday evening. Astonishing bald faced lying. Childish, tweeted retired US Army Gen. Barry McCaffrey, a Trump critic, in response to the Trump claim. Trump made the claim after a reporter told him that video footage showed a Tomahawk missile likely destroyed that Iranian girls school and asked, So will the Americans will the US accept any responsibility? A video published by a semi-official Iranian news agency appears to show a US missile targeting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) naval base adjacent to the school. It has not been definitively determined who struck the school itself, but analyses by CNN and other news outlets have found the US was likely responsible. Advertisement Advertisement Trump responded to the reporter: Well, I havent seen it (the footage), and I will say that the Tomahawk, which is one of the most powerful weapons around, is used by, you know is sold and used by other countries. You know that. And whether its Iran, who also has some Tomahawks they wish they had more. But whether its Iran or somebody else, the fact that a Tomahawk a Tomahawk is very generic. Its sold to other countries. But thats being investigated right now. The US has not sold Tomahawks to Iran. Lewis said that its possible Trump was using the word Tomahawk as a generic term like some people use Kleenex, to mean any sort of cruise missile, but we have eyes and we can clearly see, he said, that the missile in the video doesnt look like an Iranian cruise missile. People and rescue forces work following an Israel strike on a school in Minab, Iran, February 28, 2026. - Abbas Zakeri/Mehr News/WANA/Reuters N.R. Jenzen-Jones, director of Armament Research Services, a consultancy, similarly said Monday that while Trump might have been using Tomahawk to refer generally to long-range cruise missiles, a limited number of which Iran does have, the missile the video shows striking the IRGC base near the school is clearly a Tomahawk, rather than an Iranian design like the Soumar or Hoveyzeh. Iran is not known to possess any RGM-/UGM-109 Tomahawk missiles, Jenzen-Jones said in an email, though he emphasized he doesnt have access to the intelligence Trump does. Advertisement Advertisement If Iran had somehow obtained Tomahawks through some illicit means, that still wouldnt mean it could use them. Jenzen-Jones said he agreed with a New York Times report Monday that said Iran lacks the technical equipment and capabilities that are used to program their flight paths and upload that data into the missiles onboard computer and that Iran would also have to be in possession of a launcher capable of firing a Tomahawk without damaging it. On Saturday, Trump claimed to reporters that based on what Ive seen, the strike on the school was done by Iran. But Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was standing beside Trump, refused to say yes when asked if Trump was telling the truth; Hegseth said the matter was under investigation. When a reporter pressed Trump Monday on why he is the only person in his administration to publicly speculate that Iran might have somehow obtained a Tomahawk and conducted the strike on the school, Trump said, confusingly, Because I just dont know enough about it. He said moments later, referring to the ongoing investigation, But I will certainly whatever the report shows, Im willing to live with that report. The Strait of Hormuz matters to the US Trump also spoke about the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for oil being transported from the Persian Gulf by ship. After Trump noted that the US is now offering risk insurance to oil tankers operating in the Gulf, and said you have to keep the straits flowing, he added, With all of that, it affects other countries much more than it does the United States. It doesnt really affect us. We have so much oil. We have tremendous oil and gas, much more than we need. Advertisement Advertisement Its not true that it doesnt really affect us as many Americans filling up their gas tanks in the past week have learned. The sharp decline in traffic through the strait during the war, amid Iranian threats to attack ships that dare to cross, has been a major contributor to the sharp increase in global oil prices. The price per gallon of gas is shown on a sign as a customer gets fuel at a station on March 09, 2026, in Miami, Florida. A barrel of oil passed the $100 mark for the first time in four years since Russia invaded Ukraine. - Joe Raedle/Getty Images While it is true that the US imports only modest quantities of oil from the Persian Gulf region, the broader picture is that U.S. fuel prices are inextricably tied to the global oil market. When oil prices go up, they go up for everyone American drivers are not immune from that, Pavel Molchanov, an energy analyst at investment firm Raymond James, said in a Monday email. Asia is certainly far more dependent on oil transported through the Strait of Hormuz than the US is. The US Energy Information Administration estimated that in 2024, 84% of the crude oil and condensate and 83% of the liquefied natural gas that went through the strait went to Asian markets. But even aside from US gas prices, the US economy is broadly intertwined with Asian economies. An issue causing economic problems in Asian countries affects American businesses, workers and consumers, too. Trump contradicts himself on Irans capabilities As CNNs Aaron Blake noted Monday, Trump repeatedly contradicted himself in other remarks at the press conference. Advertisement Advertisement At one point, Trump claimed, Weve wiped every single force in Iran out, very completely, but then claimed in the very next sentence that most not all of Irans naval power had been sunk. He went on to claim there had been an over 90% decline in the Iranian missile launchers and an 83% drop in drone launchers, again not a total wipeout. (Definitive independent data on these claims is not available.) Trump also said, Look, everything they have is gone, including their leadership. Then he said immediately after: In fact, there are two levels of leadership and even actually, as it turns out, more than that but two levels of leadership are gone. Most people have never even heard about the leaders that theyre talking about. But Iranians and observers of the country have certainly heard of the newly appointed supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the former supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, who was killed at the beginning of the war. And Irans governing regime continues to function even after the death of Ali Khamenei and other top officials. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Claim: President Donald Trump said U.S. military officials told him they had to sink Iranian ships rather than capture them because "it's more fun to sink them." Rating: Rating: Correct Attribution Context: Trump delivered the line in a joking tone, suggesting he may not have intended it to be taken literally. In March 2026, a number of social media posts shared a clip of U.S. President Donald Trump speaking about military action against Iranian ships. According the posts (archived), Trump said, "I said, 'Why don't we just capture the ship? We could use it. Why did we sink them?' He said, 'It's more fun to sink them.' They like sinking them better." Trump: "I said, 'Why don't we just capture the ship? We could use it. Why did we sink them?' He said, 'It's more fun to sink them.' They like sinking them better." pic.twitter.com/nR6KOxFCTY Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 9, 2026 The claim was shared across multiple platforms, including X (archived), Reddit (archived) and Facebook (archived). Advertisement Advertisement The quote about sinking Iranian ships being more fun than capturing them was correctly attributed to Trump. He said it as part of a March 9, 2026, speech at the Republican Members Issues Conference hosted by the Congressional Institute at the Trump National Doral resort in Miami. The White House uploaded the speech to its YouTube account and put the video on its website. At 15:15 in the YouTube video, Trump talks about sinking Iran's ships (emphasis ours): The Navy is gone. It's all lying at the bottom of the ocean, 46 ships. Can you believe it? In fact, I got a little upset with our people. I said, "What quality of ship?" "Excellent, sir. Top of the line." I said, "Why don't we just capture the ship? We could have used it. Why did we sink them?" They said, "It's more fun to sink them." I said [unclear]. They like sinking them better. They say it's safer to sink them. I guess it's probably true. But think of it, we knocked out 46 and actually took three and a half days. Trump delivered the line in a joking tone, suggesting he may not have intended it to be taken literally. The anecdote drew some laughter from the Republican members of Congress in the audience. Snopes emailed the White House for clarification on who, precisely, the "people" Trump referred to in the quote were. We will update this story if we receive an answer. Advertisement Advertisement For further reading, Snopes has previously fact-checked other claims about Trump quotes and Iran. Sources: "Gathering Members of Congress, Staff and Thought Leaders for America's Future." Congressional Institute, www.congressionalinstitute.org/events/. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026. "President Trump Delivers Remarks to the Republican Members Issues Conference." The White House, 9 Mar. 2026, www.whitehouse.gov/videos/president-trump-delivers-remarks-to-the-republican-members-issues-conference/. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026. "Speech: Donald Trump Addresses the Republican Members Issues Conference in Florida - March 9, 2026." Protected: Factbase Transcripts, Roll Call, 9 Mar. 2026, rollcall.com/factbase/trump/transcript/donald-trump-speech-republican-issues-conference-doral-florida-march-9-2026/. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026. The White House. "President Trump Delivers Remarks to the Republican Members Issues Conference." Www.youtube.com, 9 Mar. 2026, www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9bkyOTCrEg. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026. The family of a Georgia high school teacher who died last week following a prank gone wrong at his home said they want the charges against the teenagers involved dropped. Jason Hughes, who worked at North Hall High School as a math teacher, died Friday night after being run over by one of the teenagers involved in the prank. The Hall County Sheriffs Office said in a statement that the students rolled the trees outside the teachers residence with toilet paper and then got into two vehicles when Hughes, 40, exited the house and slipped. The sheriffs office said 18-year-old Jayden Ryan Wallace and four other people got into two vehicles and, as Wallace drove away, "Hughes tripped and fell into the road and was run over by the vehicle." Advertisement Advertisement The teens stopped and attempted to help Hughes, authorities said. He was taken to a hospital, where he later died. Hughes family said in a statement to NBC News that he knew the teens were coming to pull a prank on him and "was excited and waiting to catch them in the act." Because it had been raining, Hughes slipped and fell into the road in front of the vehicle, the family said. Jason Hughes. (via WXIA) (via WXIA) They said Hughes loved his students, "and they loved him too." The family went on to say that they fully support "getting the charges dropped for all involved and called what happened a terrible tragedy." Advertisement Advertisement "Our family is determined to prevent a separate tragedy from occurring, ruining the lives of these students. This would be counter to Jasons lifelong dedication of investing in the lives of these children," the statement read. The Hall County Sheriffs Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday. The office previously said that the incident remains under investigation. District Attorney Lee Darragh said: "It is much too early in this process. Ill not be commenting until the closure of the case." Hughes' family thanked the public for "the outpouring of prayers and support as we grieve the loss of Jason." Advertisement Advertisement "We ask that you continue to pray for our family and also for the students involved in the accident along with their families," they said. "Please join us in extending grace and mercy to them as Christ has done for us." Hughes' brother, Richard Hughes, said he was "an amazing person." "He was my mentor and who I looked up to. It's just tragic and sad all around," he said in a phone call on Monday. Wallace, 18, was charged with first-degree vehicular homicide, reckless driving, criminal trespass and littering, the sheriff's office said. The other four people involved have been charged with criminal trespass and littering. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Nvidia (NVDA) is winning the global AI explosion. The company's chips are the most wanted in the world, with hyperscalers ranging from Amazon (AMZN) and Google (GOOG, GOOGL) to Meta (META) and Microsoft (MSFT) spending billions to pack them into their data centers. That's been a boon for Nvidia's bottom line. Its full-year revenue has jumped from $26.9 billion in 2022 to $215.9 billion in 2025 and is expected to top $358.7 billion in 2026. That has also given the companys stock price a major boost. Since OpenAI's (OPAI.PVT) ChatGPT debuted in November 2022, Nvidia stock has skyrocketed nearly 990%. And though the exuberance has slowed over the past year, shares still rose 46% over the past 12 months. But Nvidia isn't the only company driving the AI build-out. While it develops the chips that are at the center of the AI world, Nvidia doesn't actually put them into data centers. Sure, you've likely seen Nvidia's sleek black-and-gold servers at its events, but those are reference designs, not the actual servers that go into data centers. Nvidia's partners, including the likes of Dell (DELL), Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), and Foxconn, actually build the massive arrays of computers that power AI models and services. "What over the years Nvidia has brought to the table has been the GPUs, obviously, then moving into [data processing units] and [network interface cards] ... all the drivers, [software development kits], some of the toolkit that needs to be delivered for those silicon technologies," said Chris Davidson, vice president of high-performance computing and AI customer solutions at HPE. "But really, at the end of the day, without a solution integrator to put it all together, those are just bits and bobs. Those are just the basic components." A rack-scale computer Nvidia GB300 for artificial intelligence is displayed at Mobile World Congress 2026 on March 3 in Barcelona. (Javier Mostacero Carrera/Getty Images) Javier Mostacero Carrera via Getty Images "What we do with Nvidia is say, 'Okay, you're developing a new technology. What is that technology? What is it good at? Here are the workloads that we're focused on. This is what we're driving back from ... customer requirements, use case.' And then we're designing, ultimately, products and solutions around that," Davidson said. It's all part of an enormous undertaking that sees Nvidia processors travel from Taiwan Semiconductor's (TSM) fabrication facilities to manufacturers that build individual server blades and servers, which are eventually slotted into rows of server racks in data centers around the world. Ultimately, all of that allows companies ranging from OpenAI and Meta to Google and Microsoft to run the AI services that enterprises and consumers use every day. The FBI has warned law enforcement in California that Iran could launch drones towards the West Coast in retaliation for American attacks. ABC News reported that the bureau received information that Iran was determining if it could launch a surprise attack on western coastal cities. The report stated that it "aspired to conduct a surprise attack using unmanned aerial vehicles from an unidentified vessel off the coast of the United State Homeland, specifically against unspecified targets in California, in the event that the US conducted strikes against Iran." The FBI said it had no additional information on the timing, method, target, or perpetrators of this alleged attack." Advertisement Advertisement Iran has used its Shahed drones to strike several countries following the U.S.-Israeli strikes in Iran. Since the drones are cheap, slow and fly in swarms, they can overwhelm traditional missile defense systems and hit their targets. There are dozens of reports of Iranian drones slipping through air defense systems and striking buildings, including civilian infrastructure. Russia has purchased thousands of these drones in its invasion of Ukraine. Russia has begun producing its Shahed drones inside its country and remains a close ally with Iran. The country has also shared information with Iran about U.S. military targets. Ukraine has sent experts specializing in neutralizing Shahed and other smaller, unconventional drones to the Middle East to teach the U.S. military techniques. Advertisement Advertisement Iran does have relationships with a few Latin American countries, which has worried U.S. military officials. Venezuela had the most impactful relationship, with the two countries signing a 20-year cooperation agreement in 2022. The agreement covers defense and intelligence, which has allowed Venezuela to produce drones similar to Iran's Shahed, according to reports. However, since the U.S. military operation in Venezuela earlier this year, it's unclear what remains of the agreement. The U.S. has also grown concerned about the expansion of Mexican drug cartels' use of drones near the southern border, ABC News reports. They worry the technology could be used in attacks on American military bases and personnel. Related Links CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) More than $12 million in federal funding has been awarded to community projects across Massachusetts. Jim McGovern announced Wednesday that $12.1 million in funding was secured through the federal FY2026 process for several initiatives in western Massachusetts aimed at improving public safety, housing, and social services. The projects were developed in partnership with local officials and community organizations across the district. Massachusetts unveils tool to track opioid settlement funds Advertisement Advertisement Among the western Massachusetts allocations, $1 million will support the design and construction of a 35-bed shelter with supportive housing in Amherst. At the same time, $879,000 will expand child sexual abuse prevention programming by Stop It Now! in Northampton. Another $500,000 will help create a Community Resilience Hub in Northampton that will provide daily access to shelter, meals, and hygiene facilities. In Colrain, $1 million is planned for the construction of a shared wastewater disposal system, while $700,000 will help the Conway Fire Department purchase a replacement pumper truck to strengthen emergency response capacity. Additional funding in the region includes $250,000 for a retaining wall reconstruction project near Sanderson Academy in Ashfield and $165,000 to support renovations at the Shea Theater Arts Center, a major performing arts venue in Franklin County. Every one of these awards is tied to a specific, tangible improvement folks here at home will see and feel, McGovern said. These are concrete things that will make life better for all of us. My team and I worked closely with mayors, town managers, nonprofits, and community leaders before doing the work in Congress to get this funding across the finish line. Advertisement Advertisement Projects across the district also include funding for infrastructure, housing and research initiatives in communities such as Worcester, Leicester and Shrewsbury. These are targeted, practical investments that will strengthen public safety, expand opportunity, and improve peoples lives, McGovern said. And were investing in the next generation by making smart choices nowpaying it forward with safer neighborhoods, healthier communities, and the infrastructure and services that our commonwealth needs to grow and thrive for years to come. 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. 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 WWLP. Utah is among eight states the federal government has selected to test the future of electric aircraft and other aviation technologies, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced on Monday. The state is poised to be part of a three-year pilot program on Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL), meant to safely integrate highly automated aircraft into the national airspace with planes that use electric propulsion and can take off and land vertically, according to the Utah Department of Transportation. The state will lead a partnership with Oregon, Idaho, Arizona and Oklahoma, along with industry leaders to test new aviation technologies and gather data. Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX This partnership puts Utah at the forefront of the next generation of aviation technology while creating new opportunities for economic growth, research and workforce development across our state, Gov. Spencer Cox said in a statement. The program is part of an executive order President Donald Trump signed last year unleashing American drone dominance, which mandated his cabinet to accelerate technologies like eVTOL aircraft since they promise to modernize methods for cargo delivery, passenger transport, and other advanced air mobility capabilities. Congratulations to the great American innovators behind each of these exciting pilot programs, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a news release. Working together, we will ensure America leads the way in safely leveraging next-gen aircraft to radically redefine personal travel, regional transportation, cargo logistics, emergency medicine, and so much more. The presidents vision for air traffic modernization may include advancements in short-range air taxis, and lower-cost emergency-management response. Advertisement Advertisement The eVTOL testing will take place in different environments across the West, including urban and rural areas, mountainous terrain and wildfire-prone regions, UDOT said in a news release. But thats not an entirely untapped market for Utah. The state has already tested advanced aviation technologies, operating mobile command centers that allow crews to connect aircraft systems, monitor live video and flight data, and coordinate testing operations from the field. The project could also support future transportation planning as Utah prepares to host the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, where emerging aviation technologies could assist with logistics, emergency response and regional mobility, the department said in the release. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The federal governments public database tracking employers that hire H-1B visa workers has gone offline, with key search tools disabled and recent datasets missing. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) H-1B Employer Data Hub, a widely used public page associated with the hub does not include files for fiscal years 2024, 2025, or 2026, even though the agency previously stated it would provide regular updates. These pages are now listed with an Archived Content tag, although they are also marked as having been Last Reviewed/Updated: 07/01/2025. It is unclear when these files became archived, rather than live content, and if this is related to the alleged technical issues. A spokesman for the agency told The Dallas Express via email, We are aware that our various USCIS Employer Data Hubs are currently experiencing technical difficulties. Our team is actively working to resolve the issue. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience while we work to restore normal service. Advertisement Advertisement In a 2019 stated at the time that the hub was part of its effort to expand transparency around employment-based visa programs. On Facebook in 2019, USCIS posted, Weve launched an H-1B Employer Data Hub to give you information on employers who are petitioning for H-1B workers. The data hub is part of our continued effort to increase transparency in employment-based visa programs. The disappearance of the hubs functionality comes after extensive reporting by The Dallas Express examining which companies employ the most H-1B workers across Texas. Those reports analyzed concentrations of H-1B labor across the states largest cities and identified the employers responsible for the highest number of visa petitions. Advertisement Advertisement The H-1B program allows U.S. employers to temporarily hire foreign workers for specialty occupations that require the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge, typically requiring at least a bachelors degree or equivalent, according to the agencys 2019 description of the program. The employer data hub became a key public resource for journalists, researchers, and policymakers seeking to examine how the visa program is used by companies and where those workers are concentrated geographically. USCIS previously stated that the agency would update the hub quarterly and release annual datasets for public download. As of this writing (4:00 PM CT, March 10, 2026), the H-1B Employer Data Hub remains offline. A federal judge on Wednesday ruled in favor of a Klamath Falls woman who argued the state violated a federal disability rights law by requiring she quickly submit 500 signatures or pay $1,200 to get an argument against a gas tax referendum into the Oregon Voters Pamphlet before Thursday. Mary Martin, 73, lives on a fixed income and uses a wheelchair, making it difficult to afford the fee or quickly gather signatures against Measure 120 an increase in taxes and fees to pay for transportation ahead of the March 12 deadline for inclusion in the pamphlet, she said in her lawsuit filed March 5 against Secretary of State Tobias Read. The pamphlet sent by the Secretary of States Office to Oregon voters statewide details candidates and causes that will be on ballots in the May primary. Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Circuit Court Judge Michael H. Simon, an Obama appointee, in a Wednesday hearing on the case verbally ordered Read to let Martin submit her argument against the measure for inclusion in the pamphlet by Thursday without paying the fee or gathering the signatures. Simon declined to grant Martin the class status she requested, meaning the ruling applies only to her. A decision expected Wednesday in another related case in the Marion County Circuit Court could upend Simons, however. The plaintiffs in the case who led the gas tax referendum effort are asking the judge to rule that Senate Bill 1599, moving the gas tax referendum from the November general election ballot to the May primary ballot, violates the states constitutional referendum protections, due process and fair election principles. Simon acknowledged things were moving fast and his decision could be moot by days end. But, he said, Its not fair for me to sit on this issue to see what he does there, of the Marion County judge. He promised to produce a written order by the end of the day. Advertisement Advertisement His verbal ruling came after less than an hour of oral arguments from Martins attorney Ryan Adams, of Silverton-based Fir Law Group, and the states attorney Jacob Reisberg, at the District Courthouse in Portland. Martin did not attend the hearing. The state argued that by offering two options to Oregonians hoping to have access to the voters pamphlet, paying a fee or collecting votes, the state met federal disability law requirements around discrimination and access. But, Simon said, because the state had offered so little time to take advantage of both pathways for people with mobility challenges, it did discriminate against them. Able-bodied people have access to two pathways in the truncated timeframe, while people with disabilities have only one, he said. Under normal circumstances, we dont even have a problem under the ADA, if there is enough time to take advantage of the second option the state is offering: gather 500 signatures, he said, referencing the Americans with Disabilities Act. Advertisement Advertisement Martin participated in the gas tax referendum, contributing hundreds of valid signatures over a 60-day period despite her physical limitations, according to her lawsuit. She lives on a $1,400 per month Social Security income and cannot afford the $1,200 fee required to pay for access to the voters guide. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A fired Massachusetts police officer was arrested in New Hampshire for impersonating a police officer. Mikel Beltran, 37, was arrested Sunday by police in Londonderry, New Hampshire, after flashing blue emergency lights from his SUV, according to CBS News Boston. Blue lights are not allowed in personal vehicles in New Hampshire. Beltran, an Andover resident, was fired from his job with the Lawrence Police Department in March 2025, according to CBS News Boston. He was suspended by the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission in May 2025. Advertisement Advertisement When Londonderry officers pulled over Beltrans vehicle, they said he was wearing a Lawrence Police Department jacket and showed them a Lawrence Police Department badge. Londonderry Police Lt. Garrett Malloy told CBS News Boston that Beltran attempted to pass himself off as a member of the Lawrence Police Department. He immediately identified himself as a Lawrence police officer to our officers, Malloy said. Our officers inquired about his police ID. He told our officers that he left it at home. Londonderry officers learned that Beltran had been fired by the Lawrence Police Department and arrested him. Advertisement Advertisement Beltran was fired from the Lawrence Police Department in connection with discharging a handgun while off duty, according to CBS News Boston. He was also accused of making inappropriate sexual comments to a 16-year-old and of indecent assault and battery on a person 14 and older. More News Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Anthropic is suing the federal government over its response to the company refusing to remove safeguards that prevent Anthropic's artificial intelligence system, Claude, from being used for mass domestic surveillance and killer robots. In a lawsuit filed Monday, it accuses the Trump administration of illegal retaliation. "The Constitution does not allow the government to wield its enormous power to punish a company for its protected speech," states the complaint. The suit has kicked off a new round of debate about free speech for AI systems more broadly, in addition to raising critical questions about the government's ability to compel tech companies to act in ways that company leaders consider unethical. 'Public Castigation' and Retaliation "When Anthropic held fast to its judgment that Claude cannot safely or reliably be used for autonomous lethal warfare and mass surveillance of Americans, the President directed every federal agency to 'IMMEDIATELY CEASE all use of Anthropic's technology'even though the [Department of Defense] had previously agreed to those same conditions," states Anthropic's complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. "Hours later, the Secretary of War directed his Department to designate Anthropic a 'Supply-Chain Risk to National Security,' and further directed that 'effective immediately, no contractor, supplier, or partner that does business with the United States military may conduct any commercial activity with Anthropic.'" (For more background on all this, see here and here.) Advertisement Advertisement Rather than simply ending Anthropic's military contract over this dispute, the Trump administration went on a campaign of "public castigation," complains Anthropic. Trump called it a "RADICAL LEFT, WOKE COMPANY" full of "Leftwing nut jobs" and directed "EVERY Federal Agency in the United States Government to IMMEDIATELY CEASE all use of Anthropic's technology." A top Department of Defense official called Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei "a liar" with a "God-complex" who was trying "to personally control the US Military" and was "ok putting our nation's safety at risk." This was followed up by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declaring Anthropic a supply-chain risk and federal agencies across the board terminating their contracts with the company. I don't think there's any disputing that this was an absurd and bullying overreaction, injurious to free markets and unbecoming of a free and democratic country. No company should be compelled to let the U.S. military use its tech tools for whatever authorities want, and no company should be retaliated against for this refusal. Advertisement Advertisement But the grounds on which Anthropic is suing are interestingand controversial. The company argues that in addition to violating federal administrative law, the administration had attacked its "core First Amendment freedoms." "The Constitution confers on Anthropic the right to express its viewsboth publicly and to the governmentabout the limitations of its own AI services and important issues of AI safety," states its complaint. "The government does not have to agree with those views. Nor does it have to use Anthropic's products. But the government may not employ 'the power of the State to punish or suppress [Anthropic's] disfavored expression.'" Is Claude Protected Speech? A group of organizations friendly to civil liberties and the First Amendmentincluding the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and the Cato Institutehave filed a court brief in support of Anthropic's position, arguing that "the Pentagon's temper tantrum is a textbook violation of Anthropic's First Amendment rights." According to these groups, it's not just statements by Anthropic leaders that are protectedit's the AI system itself. Advertisement Advertisement "Claude is fundamentally expressive," their brief states. "The Pentagon's demand that Anthropic remove safeguards on that systemto change what Claude must and may say, analyze, and refuseasks Anthropic to make a trade on a core freedom of expression." Anthropic makes a similar claim in its complaint, suggesting that First Amendment protection "extends to its Usage Policy," which "has never permitted Claude to be used for mass surveillance of Americans or for lethal autonomous warfare." But is the policy governing Claude's outputs really speech, or a form of conduct? Are all AI systems speech? These are thorny questions First Amendment experts are still hotly debating. Advertisement Advertisement University of Akron law professor Jess Miers is on Anthropic's side on this one. We have an existing body of case law that says "that curating and disseminating expression (even via algorithms) is a protected editorial activity," and "that's precisely" what AI model developers like Anthropic do, Miers posted to BlueSky. "Model developers meticulously curate the datasets that they deem important for shaping the model's 'worldview,'" Miers pointed out. "Those choices alone are editorial: what kind of information do I want my model to train on? How much of it? What sources do I trust? The data curation decisions shape the outputs." As Miers sees it, "DOD is effectively trying to force Anthropic to make different editorial decisions that reflect the views and goals of the Administration." Some think this is taking things too far. Advertisement Advertisement "We don't want everything an AI does to be covered by the First Amendment," posted University of Minnesota law professor Alan Rozenshtein. "It will make regulation of what will increasingly be large portions of the economy impossible." "It's true that AI output will often be protected speech, but that's because it will implicate *listener's* ability to access AI output," Rozenshtein continued. "But here the AI output is primarily being used as *conduct* for use in government military systems. Anthropic absolutely has a First Amendment right to not be punished for its public statements. But the government has to have the right not to use a tool because it doesn't like its output, and that's impossible if the output is itself First Amendment." Other Anthropic Speech Unquestionably Protected It's possible that a court need not decide whether AI outputs are protected speech to find a First Amendment violation here. Anthropic's public statements about AI limits and safeguards and so on are obviously protected. So are its statements and petitions to the government. Advertisement Advertisement And there's at least a case to be made that the Trump administration went so hard after Anthropic precisely because of its very vocal rejection of what the administration was asking it to do. One could argue that an objection to the limitation on Claude's outputs motivated terminating Anthropic's contract with the military, and that's OK. But the remarkable public vitriol and the administration's above-and-beyond punishment hinged on the fact that the company said no to the government forcefully and publiclyand that's not OK. The administration's "needless and extraordinarily punitive actions, imposed in broad daylight, are a paradigm of unconstitutional retaliation," Anthropic suggests in its complaint. They were "designed to punish ideological disagreement." "As limitations go, refusing to participate in the creation of a totalitarian police state or the production of killer robots seem reasonable lines to draw," notes J.D. Tuccille. But whether the lines are reasonable or not doesn't really matterthe government can "respect those limits or take its shopping needs elsewhere." Instead, Trump and his allies chose a third option: throwing "public temper tantrums over Anthropic telling them 'no.'" Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration's overblown statements and the fact that it's not just ending the defense contract but trying to prevent others from doing business with the company (through the supply-chain risk designation) make clear that it was punishing Anthropic "for its corporate beliefs," suggests Tuccille. Event Alert Come watch me interview an AI avatar (and some humans) about orgasmic meditation and more. I'll be moderating a panel in New York City tomorrow night about the case against former OneTaste leaders Nicole Daedone and Rachel Cherwitz and the demonization and regulation of alternative practices and beliefs more broadly. In a first for me, one of the three panelists will be an AI avatar, since the person it represents, Daedone, is currently in federal prison; she was denied bail while awaiting sentencing (which is scheduled for later this month). Her AI avatar was trained on her books and lectures and "isn't a mere chatbot or a summary it's a distillation of Nicole's actual thinking, language, and philosophy, able to engage in real conversation about the ideas she has spent a lifetime developing," per the event organizer's summary. I have no idea what to expect, but it should be a fun experiment, nonetheless. The free event takes place in Harlem and starts at 7 p.m. More info here. In the News On Substack What bank tellers and iPhones can teach us about AI. David Oks looks at why ATM machines didn't destroy bank teller jobsbut iPhones did. Since the first decade of this century, "bank teller employment has fallen off a cliff," a situation Oks attributes to smartphones. Oks has a theory about why: When a technology automates some of what a human does within an existing paradigm, even the vast majority of what a human does within it, it's quite rare for it to actually get rid of the human, because the definition of the paradigm around human-shaped roles creates all sorts of bottlenecks and frictions that demand human involvement. It's only when we see the construction of entirely new paradigms that the full power of a technology can be realized. The ATM substituted tasks; but the iPhone made them irrelevant. Could this theory have relevance for AI automation and jobs today? The lesson is worth stating plainly. The ATM tried to do the teller's job better, faster, cheaper; it tried to fit capital into a labor-shaped hole; but the iPhone made the teller's job irrelevant. One automated tasks within an existing paradigm, and the other created a new paradigm in which those tasks simply didn't need to exist at all. And it is paradigm replacement, not task automation, that actually displaces workersand, conversely, unlocks the latent productivity within any technology. That's because as long as the old paradigm persists, there will be labor-shaped holes in which capital substitution will encounter constant frictions and bottlenecks. This has, I think, serious implications for how we're thinking about AI. People in AI frequently talk about the vision of AI being a "drop-in remote worker": AI systems that can be inserted into a workflow, learn it, and eventually do it on the level of a competent human. And they see that as the point where you'll start to see serious productivity gains and labor displacement. [] But I'm skeptical that simply slotting AI into human-shaped jobs will have the results people seem to expect. The history of technology, even exceptionally powerful general-purpose technology, tells us that as long as you are trying to fit capital into labor-shaped holes you will find yourself confronted by endless frictions: just as with electricity, the productivity inherent in any technology is unleashed only when you figure out how to organize work around it, rather than slotting it into what already exists. We are still very much in the regime of slotting it in. And as long as we are in that regime, I expect disappointing productivity gains and relatively little real displacement. The real productivity gains from AIand the real threat of labor displacementwill come not from the "drop-in remote worker," but from something like Dwarkesh Patel's vision of the fully-automated firm. More here. Read This Thread After years of the media uncritically accepting the "something must be done for the children" narrative, it's nice to see some of them waking up to the reality we've been warning about from the start. https://t.co/AJkllMeEZQ Ari Cohn (@AriCohn) March 9, 2026 Advertisement Advertisement More Sex & Tech News An app that pledged to help men overcome pornography "addiction" wound up leaking "intimate data on hundreds of thousands of its users, including their masturbation habits, and lied about its security issues," 404 Media reports. "Red states get Waymos. Blue states get studies": Kelsey Piper on the culture of stalling in progressive government. OpenAI is delaying its "adult mode" for ChatGPT rollout. "Another meta-analysis finds near zero effects for screen time," notes psychologist Chris Ferguson: Indeed another meta-analysis finds near zero effects for screen time. This, despite many of the effect sizes being bivariate correlations, and the authors acknowledging many of the longitudinal studies failed to correct for the Time 1 outcome variablea very basic control, https://t.co/cbPFAZiVq5 Chris Ferguson ???????? ???????????????????? (@CJFerguson1111) March 10, 2026 Real estate moguls Alon, Oren, and Tal Alexander were convicted on Monday of federal sex trafficking charges. Advertisement Advertisement Social media restrictions for minors in Florida and Georgia went to court this week. In the Georgia case, federal appellate judges appeared skeptical of the constitutionality of a law requiring minors to get parental permission to be on social media. The same judges are also considering Florida's House Bill 3, which bans or restricts social media account creation for minors; Courthouse News Service has a rundown of yesterday's oral arguments. The Whore D'ouvres newsletter explores the difference between defending "rape fantasies"better termed "consensual non-consent"and defending rape. Major publishers are suing the shadow library Anna's Archive. The post A First Amendment Right Not To Use AI for Evil? appeared first on Reason.com. As the United States-Israel war on Iran continues to dominate international headlines, below is a roundup of some of the stories you may have missed on Tuesday. Syrian ex-colonel faces crimes against humanity case in London A former Syrian colonel living in the United Kingdom has appeared before a London court to face crimes against humanity charges linked to his alleged role in repressing demonstrations in 2011. Salem Michel al-Salem appeared virtually at a hearing at Londons Westminster Magistrates Court on Tuesday. He did not speak or enter any plea, but could be seen with a breathing tube over his mouth. Advertisement Advertisement The 58-year-old has been charged with three counts of murder as a crime against humanity, relating to killings in April and July 2011 as part of a widespread or systematic attack against a civilian population with knowledge of the attack. The case is the first prosecution of its kind in the UK, according to police. A general view of Westminster Magistrates Court in London [File: Toby Melville/Reuters] Syria appoints Kurdish YPG commander as deputy defence minister Syrias Defence Ministry has announced that Sipan Hamo, a commander in the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG), has been appointed deputy defence minister for the countrys eastern territories. The move on Tuesday is part of the implementation of a US-brokered agreement reached in late January to end weeks of deadly clashes between Kurdish forces and the Syrian army. Advertisement Advertisement The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Kurdish-led group that signed the reintegration deal, said in a statement that Hamos appointment confirms the commitment of all Syrian parties to supporting security and stability in the region. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who took power after the fall of longtime leader Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, has been seeking to reintegrate Kurdish forces into the countrys state institutions. In a mid-January interview with the Reuters news agency, Hamo said the Kurds were not seeking secession and emphasised that they saw their future within Syria. Peoples Protection Units (YPG) fighters operate near a front-line position on January 24, 2026 in Hasakah, Syria [File: Ethan Swope/Getty Images] Zimbabwe cracking down on critics of presidential term extension: HRW Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused authorities in Zimbabwe of intensifying a crackdown on critics of the ruling partys attempt to advance a constitutional amendment that would extend President Emmerson Mnangagwas term in office. Advertisement Advertisement The global rights group said the amendment proposed by the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) party would extend both the presidents and parliaments terms from five to seven years. That would effectively postpone the countrys 2028 elections until 2030. HRW said on Tuesday that police and unidentified armed men in recent months have threatened, harassed, and beat up several people who are opposed to the move, including members of the opposition National Constitutional Assembly political party. Zimbabwes leaders should demonstrate their commitment to the rule of law by respecting the countrys constitution and international human rights obligations for freedom of expression and assembly, Idriss Ali Nassah, a senior Africa researcher at HRW, said in a statement. Civil society, legal experts, and ordinary people should be allowed to peacefully express their views without fear. Italy buys rare Caravaggio portrait for about $35m Italy has purchased a rare portrait by Baroque master Caravaggio for nearly $35m, one of the largest sums the state has ever paid for a single artwork, the countrys Culture Ministry announced. Advertisement Advertisement The portrait of Monsignor Maffeo Barberini, an influential cleric who later became Pope Urban VIII, was painted by Caravaggio around 1598. This is a work of exceptional importance, Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli said in a statement. The painting had been held in a private Florence collection and was attributed to Caravaggio in 1963. It was shown in public for the first time in 2024 at Romes Palazzo Barberini and will now enter the permanent collection in the palaces art gallery. The acquisition comes a month after the Italian Culture Ministry bought Antonello da Messinas Ecce Homo for $14.9m, securing the rare work by the 15thcentury Renaissance master just as it was due to be auctioned in New York. A visitor looks at Caravaggios Portrait de Maffeo Barberini at the Gallerie Nazionali di Arte Antica in the Barberini Palace in Rome in 2024 [AFP] UN peacekeepers in South Sudan defy order to leave opposition-held town The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has said it will keep its peacekeeping force in Akobo despite an order by the countrys military to leave the opposition-held town. Advertisement Advertisement In a statement on Monday, UNMISS warned that any military operations in and around Akobo a town in the countrys northeast, near the border with Ethiopia could gravely endanger the safety and security of civilians. The South Sudan Peoples Defence Forces had on March 6 ordered civilians to leave Akobo and neighbouring villages ahead of a planned offensive, UNMISS said, while peacekeepers were given 72 hours to leave. For its part, UNMISS reaffirms that its peacekeepers will remain in Akobo, providing a protective presence for civilians. The Mission reiterates that the safety and security of its personnel, premises, and assets must be fully respected at all times, it said. Fears of a return to all-out civil war in South Sudan have increased amid a surge in violence between government forces and opposition groups. Democratic Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore launched his reelection campaign on his home turf Wednesday in the company of his many friends in high places, with leaders from the General Assembly, local union and his own party. Also present: the GOP opponent Amore beat in the 2022 general election. In a training room and union hall at UA Local 51 Plumbers and Pipefitters union headquarters in East Providence, Amore told the crowd that his former opponent Pat Cortellessa is a true gentleman. From the audience, Cortellessa silently flashed two thumbs up. Advertisement Advertisement Cortellessa told Rhode Island Current after the short speaking program that hes gotten to know Amore since the previous election where he won a little over 40% of the vote. He has even testified on behalf of Amore-led initiatives like his ongoing plea for an improved state archives building and history center. I really got to like this gentleman, his persona, his outlook, Cortellessa said. Hes cleaned up the voting rolls. Hes enforced the signature issue on validation, and I believe that he should continue on the next four years. So far Amore remains unopposed for his reelection bid for the statewide office which oversees everything from elections and the state archives to lobbyist and business registrations. Any eventual opponents would face an incumbent backed by a weighty slate of supporters, many of whom lined up next to him at Wednesdays event. Among the guests were Pat Crowley, president of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi and Senate President Valarie Lawson. All extolled Amores capabilities and successes in their respective comments. Also attending, but not speaking, were Treasurer James Diossa and Liz Beretta-Perik, chair of the Rhode Island Democratic party. East Providence Mayor Bob DaSilva also made a non-speaking appearance. Amore was presented a gift by Paul Alvarez, the business manager of UA Local 51: An apple pie from Greggs, the local restaurant chain known for its desserts. Advertisement Advertisement We gave Gina Raimondo a pie when she was first running for governor, and we want to think that thats the reason she won the governors race, Alvarez said. I am the last person that should get a pie, Amore, a former state representative, joked in his turn at the podium before detailing his achievements in the office over the past three years. The Rhode Island Civic Leadership Program, which Amore called nationally recognized, has attracted over 300 participants from more than 50 of the states high schools, he said. Amore said hes also given more than 120 voting and civics lessons which focus on the importance of voting and why you need to vote every chance you get in locales across Rhode Island. Ive stood up to the federal overreach of our elections administration, and that resulted in being sued, Amore said, referencing a recent battle with President Donald Trumps administration over the feds access to voter roll information. The United States versus Gregg Amore. Im up for that fight. Advertisement Advertisement Amore said unions can be a force for good in electoral politics, recalling his father as a union man, a proud and active member of Local 310 Utility Workers of America who took his 7-year-old son to a picket line at the electric company. Its more important than ever to remind people that one of the most democratizing forces in American history is the American labor movement, Amore said. The American labor movement has been at the forefront of nearly every expansion of voting rights the nation has undertaken. It has given voice to working people of this country, members and nonmembers alike. Lawson, who also serves as president of the National Education Association Rhode Island, shares political and career paths with Amore. Both are East Providence Democrats and former teachers. Greg and I go back forever eighth grade, Lawson said. So Ive had a long time to see Greg grow into the person he is today. That dedicated teacherthe dedicated public servant and the proud townie that we both are. Advertisement Advertisement Crowley, among the most powerful and influential labor leaders in the state, referenced Amores former life as a high school history and civics teacher a role Crowley suggested has continued in his current role, just slightly transformed. Hes the social studies teacher, the history teacher for all of us here in Rhode Island, Crowley said. Not one to miss an opportunity for a history lesson, Amore invoked the nations past as a valuable lesson for the future. Our founding fathers were aligned in their belief that in order for the American experiment to be successful, the nations citizens and leaders needed to be virtuous, Amore said. They knew human beings were imperfect. They were imperfect, but they also knew that if people lived a virtuous life or tried tothat it could combat the worst instincts of [hu]mankind. Advertisement Advertisement Lets treat each other well, lets be respectful, lets be decent, even when we passionately disagree, Amore said. Amore had $180,000 in his campaign account at the end of 2025. The General Election is Nov. 3, 2026. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The Flathead County Planning Board is set to review a permit that would allow for cabins at the Moose Creek RV Park and Resort in West Glacier to comply with zoning regulations. The planning board will review two additional applications during its Wednesday meeting, which will be followed by a workshop for a marijuana zone text amendment. A public hearing will be held for all three applications. The meeting will be held in the second-floor conference room South Campus Building, 40 11th St. W., Kalispell, and starts at 6 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Joe Dee Dycus, with Moose Creek Resort Holdings, LLC, is seeking a Major Land Use permit for 22.11 acres located at 11505 U.S. 2 East and 141 Lake Five Road in West Glacier. The permit would bring the 10 guest cabins on the property into compliance, according to a staff report. The area is located within the Middle Canyon Zoning District of the Canyon Area Land Use Regulatory System. The Middle Canyon Land Use Advisory Committee unanimously voted on Feb. 24 in support of the application. In addition to the cabins, the property includes a bed and breakfast, RV park and associated amenities, according to a staff report. Areas surrounding the property are a mix of residential and U.S. Forest Service land. The property and its existing facilities were purchased in 2024. Previously named San-Suz-Ed, the park has operated since 1964. Advertisement Advertisement The new owners want to bring the facilities into compliance with state and local regulations with a Major Land Use permit, according to the application. A Minor Land Use permit for the expansion of the seven-bedroom bed and breakfast was approved by planning staff on Dec. 4, 2025. Officials from the Flathead City-County Health Department, however, objected to the operation of the guest cabins. Current public accommodation only allows for four bedrooms in the bed and breakfast, the agency stated in the staff report. The extra three rooms, two glamping pods and two cabins need a septic review and then added to the license. The four bunk houses also need to be added to the campground license, which will require state approval, according to the staff report. Additionally, only 53 of the 63 RV spaces are approved, and the 10 extra spaces need to be included as well. THE BIGFORK Fire District plans to build a fire station on 8.6 acres of land at 935 Chapman Hill Road. The area is currently zoned R-2 (one family limited residential) and allows for the development of residential lots. However, fire district officials speculated that families wouldnt appreciate loud sirens and flashing lights from the station disturbing them through the night. Advertisement Advertisement The district thus seeks to rezone the property adjacent to Montana 35 as B-2 (general business). Property owners of a combined 10 acres of property at 186 and 190 Kokanee Bend Drive near Columbia Falls seek to rezone the land from SAG-5 (suburban agricultural) to R-2.5 (rural residential). Owners Susan and Robert Prier want to split their land at 186 Kokanee Bend Drive into two residential lots for family members who do not qualify for an immediate family transfer, according to the application. The owners intend to estate plan their property at 190 Kokanee Bend Drive. Each property currently contains a single-family dwelling and detached accessory structures, according to a staff report. Advertisement Advertisement Adjacent properties to the north and east are zoned SAG-5, properties to the west are SAG-10 and properties to the south are unzoned, according to a staff report. Nearby property is zoned R-1. The proposed R-2.5 permits agricultural uses and the development of two additional residential lots, according to a staff report. At max build out, it would generate an additional 18.86 average daily trips on Kokanee Bend Drive, a 60-foot-wide easement that provides access to 78 residences. Reporter Hannah Shields can be reached at 758-4439 or [email protected]. Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) is one of the stocks on which Jim Cramer gave his opinions. When a caller inquired about the stock, Cramer said: Let me go to work on this Because I gotta tell you something, you did hit the key stock in this entire market, and that is Chevron. Why? Because Michael Wirth is the best at what he does. You got Mike Wirth at the helm, you got the best assets, you got a great yield, you got a rock-solid balance sheet. But you now have a high stock price. This has just had a parabolic move and what do you do with a parabolic move? You either sell half or sell a quarter, and thats what youre going to do Monday. That is not a criticism of Mike and Chevron; its what I always advise, and its almost always right. Sell half or a quarter. The stock has moved too high, too quickly. Photo by Luis Ramirez on Unsplash Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) is an integrated energy company that explores, produces, refines, and markets oil, natural gas, and petrochemical products. We mentioned the stock while discussing the best spring stocks to buy. You can read it here. While we acknowledge the potential of CVX 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. A flood warning was issued by the National Weather Service in Northern Indiana at 9:28 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10. The warning applies to Elkhart, Indiana, and Branch and St. Joseph counties. The NWS warns: "Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Detailed river forecasts and additional information can be found at www.weather.gov/iwx under Rivers and Lakes. The next statement will be issued Wednesday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. EDT." Branch County weather radar What are NWS meteorologists saying? At 9:28 p.m., the NWS issued a statement including the following information: Advertisement Advertisement "The National Weather Service in Northern Indiana has issued a Flood Warning for the following rivers in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Tiffin River at Stryker affecting Williams, Fulton OH and Defiance Counties. Saint Joseph River Michigan at Three Rivers affecting Elkhart, Branch and St. Joseph MI Counties," the NWS said. Overnight thunderstorms were expected to bring widespread rainfall. "The latest trends have Tiffin River at Stryker, and Saint Joseph River Michigan at Three Rivers going into minor flood stage Wednesday afternoon. For the Tiffin River, including Stryker, Minor flooding is forecast. For the Saint Joseph River Michigan, including Three Rivers, Mottville, Elkhart IN, South Bend, Niles, Minor flooding is forecast," the NWS said. WHAT: Minor flooding is forecast. WHERE: Saint Joseph River Michigan at Three Rivers. WHEN: From Wednesday afternoon to Sunday evening. IMPACTS: At 7 feet, Expect minor flooding of the Scidmore Park picnic facilities in Three Rivers. At 8:45 p.m. EDT Tuesday the stage was 6.9 feet. The river will fall to 6.8 feet just after midnight Wednesday, March 11. It will then rise above flood stage early tomorrow afternoon to 7.3 feet Friday evening. It will fall below flood stage Saturday evening to 6.4 feet early Monday morning. It will then rise to 6.5 feet Monday evening. It will fall again and remain below flood stage. Flood stage is 7 feet. What to do during a flood warning If advised to evacuate, do so immediately. Use a battery-powered radio or TV to get the latest emergency information. Do not walk through floodwater - just 6 inches of moving water can knock you off your feet. Turn around, don't drown: Never drive into a flooded street. Two feet of moving water can sweep away a car, and roads may be washed out. Watch for fire hazards. Move to higher ground. Stay alert and keep weather notifications on. Keep children away from floodwaters - they can hide rocks, trees, and debris. Michigan weather watches and warnings Stay informed. Get weather alerts via text. This weather report was generated automatically using information from the National Weather Service and a story written and reviewed by an editor. See the latest weather alerts and forecasts here This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Flood warning issued for Branch. St. Joseph counties A former Ohio teacher has been sentenced after being convicted of a child sex crime. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Owen King was sentenced to 14 months in jail last week on one count of pandering obscenity involving a minor, according to CBS affiliate WTOL in Toledo. The judge also sentenced him to five years probation and to register as a Tier II sex offender. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement A Fulton County, Ohio, jury initially indicted him on 19 counts of child sex crimes back in April 2025. Kings charges stemmed from the period of January until March of 2025, WTOL said. He resigned from his teaching position in April 2025, according to a Fayette Local School District spokesperson. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Former Stockton Deputy Police Chief Kathryn Nance, now head of the Reno Police Department, has been placed on administrative leave along with five officers amid an investigation in which leadership of the agency has been handed over to the Washoe County Sheriff's Office, the Reno Gazette Journal reported Monday. Nance, Reno's first female police chief and Stockton's second-ever female deputy police chief, joined the Stockton Police Department in 1996 and rose through the ranks over three decades with the agency. She took the helm of the Reno Police Department in January 2023, months after Stanley McFadden was officially sworn in as Stockton's 50th police chief. She had been a finalist for the top job before the city tapped McFadden. Washoe County Undersheriff Corey Solferino will serve as acting chief of the Reno Police Department and will provide temporary leadership during the investigation, Reno officials said Monday. Advertisement Advertisement More: Washoe sheriff seeks Lombardo, Vegas police input amid RPD situation The investigation The imposition of paid administrative leave for the chief and five officers has never seen before in Washoe County, the Reno Gazette Journal reported. The city said police services in Reno will continue without interruption, and further information will be provided as it becomes available and is legally appropriate to share. Officials have not released details about the allegations under investigation. The city of Reno did not give insight into the allegations that led to six Reno Police Department employees being placed on leave. Advertisement Advertisement Reno City Manager Jackie Bryant said the city would not say whether the five officers are among the departments top leadership but a Reno Police Protective Association attorney said it did not involve any of its members. The RPPA has roughly 280 members consisting of patrol officers and detectives, and almost 100% membership. "As far as we are aware it is not any of our members," RPPA attorney Ron Dryer told the RGJ. Bryant would say only that the accusations were violations of city policy. Bryant would not say if there were any victims tied to the investigation. More: Why are Reno police chief, officers on forced leave? What we know so far Reno Police Chief Kathryn Nance poses Jan. 11, 2023 at City Hall. About Chief Kathryn Nance The Reno City Council chose Nance as Renos 21st police chief in February 2023. She has three decades in law enforcement, beginning in 1996 with the Stockton Police Department. Advertisement Advertisement In Stockton, she worked as a beat cop and detective doing gang violence suppression and homicide work, and later oversaw logistics and operations. According to public records, Nance's regular salary is $275,757, or $434,983 with benefits. During her time in Stockton, Nance also led the Stockton Police Officers Association and ran as a Republican to unseat former U.S. Rep. Jerry McNerney of California's 9th Congressional district in 2016. Nance's platform included ending federal funding to "sanctuary cities" and ending the Affordable Care Act, according to Ballotopedia. As Nance's policing career reached new heights, her family was struck by hardship: James Nance, her husband, a Stockton Police Department motorcycle officer, was involved in a crash in 2018 that left him seriously injured and unable to walk. The crash came just a week after Nance had applied to become a captain. Advertisement Advertisement Nearly a year later, Nance was promoted to captain. More: Washoe Undersheriff Corey Solferino to serve as acting Reno police chief Who is leading the Reno department? The city of Reno has entered into an interlocal agreement with the Washoe County Sheriffs Office that allows Solferino to serve as the acting chief effective immediately, according to a city news release. The city says Solferino brings more than two decades of law enforcement experience to the role and he currently oversees major operational divisions within the Washoe County Sheriffs Office, including staff management, detention, and administrative services. Washoe County's Undersheriff Corey Solferino is taking over as new acting Reno Police Department chief, as Chief Kathryn Nance and five officers placed on paid administrative leave on March 9, 2026. Solferino has also worked closely with regional law enforcement partners, including the Reno Police Department, on coordinated public safety initiatives and joint operations. Advertisement Advertisement I want to express my sincere thanks to Sheriff Balaam and Undersheriff Solferino for stepping up to assist the Reno Police Department during this time, said Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve in the release. Our agencies work closely together year-round, and I know their partnership will help ensure continuity of service and public safety while the administrative investigation moves forward. The Citys priority is ensuring that the Reno Police Department continues to operate effectively and maintain the communitys trust while this administrative investigation proceeds, said Reno City Manager Jackie Bryant. This temporary agreement provides experienced leadership and allows the department to remain focused on delivering critical public safety services to Reno residents. City manager says decision was 'excruciatingly difficult' Putting the sheriff's department over RPD, "is the most appropriate decision at this time given the allegations that we have," Bryant said. "I take full responsibility for the decision as city manager and it was excruciatingly difficult," Bryant said. "Any time a police officer goes on administrative leave it is a devastating experience, it hurts." Advertisement Advertisement Bryant said the city has never seen this many officers put on administrative leave. "What is not normal is the executive staff, the chief of police, being someone that we need to put an acting chief of police in place of," Bryant said. "We certainly haven't done that before in this region that I'm aware of." Bryant said the Nevada Department of Public Safety is conducting the investigation, and no timeline of how long the investigation will last can be disclosed right now in order to protect the due process of the investigation. When asked what the reaction from the Reno Police Department was, she said everyone was obviously upset, but despite the situation, the police officers will continue to do their regular work. Mayor Hillary Schieve addresses the media in the Reno City Council chambers on Monday, March 9, 2026. Reno mayor says city acted quickly Mayor Hillary Schieve said when allegations were raised, the city acted immediately, although there was no information given about when city officials first learned of any issues. Advertisement Advertisement You have my word, this investigation will be handled with fairness, integrity and accountability," Schieve said. "I absolutely understand how it can fracture the trust of the community. ... We have a very, very skilled department, and they will not miss a beat." In a statement, the Reno Police Protective Association wrote: "The professional peace officers of the Reno Police Protective Association were made aware that some members of the Reno Police Department are under investigation relating to criminal and/or administrative allegations and have been placed on administrative leave. "The RPPA has cooperated with the City of Reno and will continue to cooperate with the City and all agencies that are involved in these investigations. "We trust that due process will be followed and that the allegations are being fully and completely investigated. ... Advertisement Advertisement "The RPPA fully supports its members and the professional peace officers that make up our ranks will continue to serve our community with dedication, honor and integrity as they always have done." Record archives contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Reno Gazette Journal: Reno police chief Kathryn Nance, 5 officers on leave amid probe (FOX40.COM) Former Stockton police leader Kathryn Nance is on leave in Reno amid an investigation. Kathryn Nance Nance, now Renos chief of police, and five officers were placed on administrative leave Monday. She was appointed to the position in early 2023 after a 25-year career in Stockton, becoming the Nevada citys first female police chief. The officers are on leave pending the outcome of an independent investigation into alleged and unspecified violations of Reno policies. Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve said she requested the Nevada Department of Public Safety conduct the investigation to ensure its independence and objectivity. Advertisement Advertisement Public safety and maintaining the trust of our community are our highest priorities, Schieve said in a statement. When concerns are raised involving leadership in the Reno Police Department, it is our responsibility to address them thoughtfully and transparently while ensuring the safety of our residents. Before moving to Reno three years ago, Nance spent her entire career in Stockton. She started at the department in 1996 and rose through the ranks, earning a promotion to captain in 2019 and to deputy chief in 2020. In 2016, she mounted an unsuccessful campaign for U.S. Congress in Californias 9th Congressional District. In Stockton, Nance investigated major crimes, especially homicides and gang violence, according to Reno police. As deputy chief, she oversaw the Stockton Police Departments $53 million budget and other logistical and fiscal duties. Advertisement Advertisement During the investigation, Nevadas Washoe County Sheriffs Office will lead the Reno Police Department, officials said. Washoe County Undersheriff Corey Solferino will serve as acting chief of police. Stockton police said they are aware of the situation but are not investigating anything regarding Nances time working for the California department. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News. (This story has been updated with additional information.) In a report issued Wednesday, March 11, the state Office of the Inspector General formally rebuked the former chief executive officer of the Worcester Regional Retirement System for abusing public funds, and the system's board for failures that imperiled the fiduciary interests of the organizations 14,000 members. The Worcester Regional Retirement System oversees the investments made to fund the retirement for 100 governmental agencies in Central Massachusetts. Advertisement Advertisement Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro's office found that CEO Michael Sacco, hired by the board in 2019 and forced to resign in 2023, worked part-time hours in what was supposed to be a full-time job. Sacco, who also represented 53 other retirement boards in the Massachusetts retirement system as private clients when he was hired, attended meetings and hearings to represent those clients during regular work hours of the Worcester Regional Retirement System. The inspector general's office suggested the organization claw back paid-out vacation time and excess earnings received in 2023. In addition, Shapiro recommended the agency request the Massachusetts Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission recalculate Saccos length of service to reflect the actual time he was working for the Worcester Regional Retirement System, as opposed to the time during those three years he was engaged with his private practice clients. Massachusetts Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro testified Tuesday at an informational hearing called by Rep. Dan Donahue, D-Worcester, House chair of the Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy to discuss the call for oversight of the Cannabis Control Commission. In his interview with the inspector general's office during the course of the probe, Sacco stated that the WRRS CEO job required approximately 20 hours of work per week and that he spent about 30 hours per week working in the WRRS office, according to the report. Sacco stated he could earn more independently as an attorney. In a written response to the 51-page report, Sacco said the report was "replete with inaccuracies, misstatements, statements taken out of context and in several cases, outright lies none of which are the result of anything I said or did." Advertisement Advertisement In addressing the issue of his salary, Sacco wrote: "I earned every penny the WRRB paid me during my tenure when they hired me in January 2020, they were paying the former CEO Kevin Blanchette approximately $180,000 a year, and on average, the WRRB paid my law firm $80,000 a year for the legal work that we performed for them. When they hired me as CEO, my contract also required me to perform all the legal work for the WRRB that I had been performing in years past. "The salary they offered to me and that I accepted was $150,000 annually to perform both jobs," Sacco said in his written statement. "I also committed to them that I would continue in the position for 10 years. What that means is that what was costing the WRRB $260,000 a year before I took over as CEO, I agreed to perform for $150,000 a year, saving them $110,000 a year, or a total of 1.1 million dollars over that 10-year period to which I committed to them. In his statement, Sacco said he routinely worked from home on agency business. In addition, Sacco said, "The State Ethics Commission conducted a thorough, comprehensive and unbiased review of my tenure at the WRRB and closed its inquiry into the matter without any adverse finding." Advertisement Advertisement The inspector general's office found that the Worcester Regional Retirement System board failed to adequately supervise Sacco to identify and curtail the alleged abuse. The board also allowed him to resign rather than firing him, according to the report. Sacco started working as the retirement system's CEO in January 2020, under a six-year contract that paid $150,000 a year. The report said in hiring Sacco, the board received a verbal agreement that he would wind down his client list as pending issues were resolved, allowing him to dedicate a full 40 hours a week to the Worcester organization. Misgivings articulated by board members when negotiating the contract with Sacco were swept aside by Saccos assurances that he would only engage with his private clients during his off hours, including lunch hours and weekends. The verbal agreement was reached after Sacco balked at the boards suggestion it be included in his formal contract. Advertisement Advertisement If the board had done due diligence, according to the inspector general's report, it would have been alerted to the issues earlier in his tenure. The report found that an analysis of Saccos first four weeks on the job revealed problems that would continue to be demonstrated throughout his tenure as CEO. While the report focused on Sacco and his tenure with the Worcester agency, it noted that its findings underscore concerns that the OIG has regarding the public employee retirement systems generally. It recommended that the Legislature look for a better way to organize the states 104 public retirement systems to mitigate similar risks. In the report, Shapiro discussed proposed legislation that addressed Sacco's postretirement earnings, suggesting the agency seek to recoup excess payments. Sacco, in his statement, said the legislation "seeks to limit my postretirement excess earnings to the amount that the WRRB paid me during the three months that I was retired, not to exempt me from postretirement earnings. The OIGs suggestion that my constitutional right to seek redress before the Legislature should be adversely impacted by this severely flawed report is very troubling to me, and it is government overreach at best." Advertisement Advertisement According to the report, employees of the Worcester Regional Retirement System alerted board members that Sacco was frequently missing in action. The employees reported that Sacco participated in online meetings with private clients during his regular office hours. His absences, employees told the board, and failure to perform all of his expected duties were affecting morale. The board, according to the report, questioned Sacco about his work schedule in 2021, and was assured that he only engaged with private clients during off hours. The report said that board members indicated they agreed to pay Sacco two $5,000 merit bonuses, partially to dissuade his engagement with private clients. Records requests through the states Freedom of Information Act, made by the Worcester board to all 104 retirement boards in the state system, revealed the extent of Saccos involvement with private clients during times he was on the job. Advertisement Advertisement The inspector general documented that Sacco attended 350 events representing private clients, most during Worcester Regional Retirement System business hours. The chief executive also failed to officially request and document leave time during Florida vacations. The report also indicated that Sacco underperformed as CEO, failing to write biannual newsletters, canceling regular staff meetings and failing to attend investment management committee meetings. The position has seven key components that were to be met by the CEO, including member outreach, organizing and attending meet-and-greets with members. An eighth prong, according to state law, is to discharge his duties for the exclusive purpose of providing benefits to members and their beneficiaries with the care, skill, prudence and diligence The report documented a portion of the abuses the inspector general's office found: In the first four weeks of his employment, which started Jan. 9, 2020, Sacco billed private clients $10,675 for 42.7 hours of work. This included attending meetings for hours at a time, at some distance from the Worcester Regional Retirement System's Auburn office. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Report: Former Worcester area retirement official abused public funds PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (WHTM) A fugitive was added to the FBIs ten most wanted list for torturing, kidnapping, and killing two Vietnamese brothers in Pennsylvania. The FBI announced on Wednesday that Trung Duc Lu was added to the list and is wanted in connection with the deadly Philadelphia kidnapping in 2014. A third man was also kidnapped and tortured, but he survived the attack, the FBI said. Head priest of Pennsylvania church accused of stealing baseball cards from Walmart Advertisement Advertisement Lu was charged with conspiracy to commit kidnapping, kidnapping, interstate travel in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to collect and extension of credit by extortionate means, conspiracy to distribute marijuana, and aiding and abetting, the FBI said. A federal arrest warrant was issued in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for Lu in July 2019. The FBI said Lu was born in Vietnam and moved to the United States as a teenager. He reportedly has ties to New York City and is a suspected member of the Born to Kill street gang. Lu has numerous aliases and may be going by Trung D. Lu, Tuan Hoang, Phong Le, Phong Van Le, Brendan Lu, Calvin Lu, Trung Lu, Duc Trung, Duc L. Trung, Lu Trung, or B, the FBI said. Adding Trung Lu to the FBIs Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list reflects the seriousness of his alleged crimes and our unwavering commitment to bringing him to justice, special agent in charge of FBI Philadelphia Wayne A. Jacobs said. The FBI and our partners will continue to leverage every available resourceboth here at home and abroadto locate and apprehend him. No matter how much time passes or where he attempts to hide, the FBI will continue pursuing him until he is found and taken into custody. Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Morning Weather Forecast 539 people have been added to the FBIs Most Wanted list since 1950. 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. Funeral arrangements have been announced for the Pennsylvania state police corporal who was killed in the line of duty over the weekend. A viewing for Corporal Timothy O'Connor will be held next Tuesday at St. Joseph's Church in Downingtown from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. A funeral service will take place the following day, Wednesday, March 18, beginning at 11 a.m. at the same location. O'Connor was shot and killed Sunday night while responding to a report of an erratic driver in West Caln Township. Advertisement Advertisement Police say he stopped the vehicle at Route 10 and Michael Road, and within seconds of approaching it, the driver-identified as 32-year-old Jesse Elks-opened fire, fatally wounding him. Authorities say Elks then took his own life. READ MORE | Pennsylvania state police trooper shot and killed during traffic stop; suspect also dead Community mourning loss of trooper killed during traffic stop According to state police, O'Connor was assigned to Troop J, Embreeville Station. He enlisted in September 2010 as part of the 131st cadet class. After graduating, he served at Troop J, Avondale, later joining the Criminal Investigation Unit in 2016. He transferred back to Troop J, Embreeville, in 2022 and was promoted to corporal that July. O'Connor is the 105th member of the Pennsylvania State Police to die in the line of duty. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Getty Images Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in October 2018, and since then, her condition has deteriorated to the degree she may need a lung transplant. With her son Marius Borg Hiby on trial for rape, among other charges, the future Queen is taking time away from her official duties. Mette-Maritwhose friendship with Jeffrey Epstein was revealed in emails released earlier this yearhas not carried out any official duties since January, and now the Norwegian royal family has issued an official statement regarding her absence. Guri Varpe, palace communications manager, told Norwegian outlet TV2 that the crown princess needs to be focused on her rest and recovery. As is known, the Crown Princess has the chronic disease pulmonary fibrosis, the representative said. As we communicated in December, there has been a clear negative development in the Crown Princess's health recently, and preparations have begun with a view to an assessment for a lung transplant. Crown Princess Mette-Marit, pictured with Crown Prince Haakon, is pictured at her last public engagement on January 28. | Credit: Getty Images Crown Princess Mette-Marit is pictured in June 2025. | Credit: Getty Images The Crown Princess has an increasing need for tailored training, rest and recovery, and her official program is adapted to her health condition, Varpe added. Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic lung disease where lung tissue becomes thick and scarred, resulting in permanent damage to the lungs. The disease impairs oxygen transfer to the bloodstream and makes breathing more difficult.Per TV2, Mette-Marits husband, Crown Prince Haakon, did not comment on his wifes absence from public life when carrying out duties on recent occasions. Regarding Mette-Marit's connection with Epstein, Varpe released a statement in early March reading, "The Crown Princess herself wishes to tell about what happened and explain herself in more detail. The Crown Princess is in a very demanding situation. She hopes for understanding that she needs time." As if the traffic wasn't already some of the worst in the state, Los Angeles drivers now have to deal with some of the highest fuel costs, as well. With so much uncertainty surrounding oil as global tensions continue to rise overseas, one Los Angeles gas station actually started charging people $8.21 a gallon to fill up. While Gas Buddy says the statewide average currently sits around $5.26 a gallon (as of this writing), there's nothing stopping a gas station from charging more than the other guys. It's not a crime, either. California only has laws against price gouging during emergencies (though the state does reserve the right to investigate and penalize excessive margins outside of those scenarios). It's a pain point people are feeling not just in California but coast to coast as well. According to that same Gas Buddy data, the national average is above $3 in every state but Kansas and Oklahoma since the outbreak of war in Iran. And even then, they're only a few cents away from crossing the threshold themselves. That's on top of seasonal trends that typically send gas prices higher this time of year anyway. Advertisement Advertisement Read more: 21 Popular Oil Filter Brands, Ranked Why gas is so much more expensive in California Car passing in front of gas station sign in California - Mario Tama/Getty Images If it feels like you're always hearing about higher gas prices in California over all the other states, it's because they have a few factors working against them. For one, the state's excise taxes, environmental fees, and climate programs all contribute to the price people pay at the pump. California also requires a specialized cleaner-burning gasoline blend. That's both more expensive to produce and made by a smaller number of refineries. In line with basic supply and demand economics, that gives them the freedom to charge more for it. To top it all off (no pun intended), less in-state gasoline production has led to an even higher demand. Sure, you could say this one specific gas station is just trying to get media attention, but they might not be alone for long. Some state lawmakers fear that the combination of global instability and California's unique fuel market could drive prices that high across the entire state. A recent report cited by state Sen. Suzette Valladares suggested gasoline could reach $8 per gallon statewide by the end of 2026 if current trends continue. 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. (NewsNation) Shawn Harris, a Democrat, and Clayton Fuller, a Republican, will head to an April runoff as voters in northwest Georgia decide who will fill the U.S. House seat previously occupied by former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, according to a Decision Desk HQ projection. Voters in the 14th Congressional District chose among a crowded field of 22 candidates. Fuller, a district attorney for the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit, received President Donald Trumps endorsement. Midterm calendar: What is your states 2026 primary election day? Advertisement Advertisement Georgia special elections are conducted in what are called jungle primaries, in which all candidates run on a single ballot, regardless of political party. As no candidate received more than 50% of the vote, the race heads to a runoff election between the top two vote-getters, held April 7. The results are available below. 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. Molina Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:MOH) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer discussed amid the reshuffling of the S&P 500. Cramer highlighted it as a long-term loser, as he remarked: Next, Molina Healthcare is a managed care play with lots of exposure to Medicare and Medicaid, the weakest part of a weak business. That includes the kind of Medicare Advantage plans that have been wrecking the entire industry. The stock is down 63% over the past two years. This is another one where the market cap got too small. Plus, S&P Global is not exactly reluctant to get rid of long-term losers. Photo by AlphaTradeZone Molina Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:MOH) provides managed health services specifically tailored for low-income individuals and families, delivered through federal and state programs. Cramer mentioned the stock during the March 26, 2025, episode, as he said: Finally, look at a little outfit called Molina Healthcare, again, Im looking at the leaderboard, the domestic health insurer that works with state governments to give people healthcare while trying to keep costs down. These guys have no exposure to tariffs whatsoever, one reason why the stock rallied more than 4% today. Thats an ideal service business when youre talking about 25% tariffs on foreign cars. It is worth noting that the companys stock is down nearly 55% from the time when the above comment was aired. While we acknowledge the potential of MOH 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. The special election to replace former Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene is projected to head to a runoff after none of the candidates secured a majority of the votes on Tuesday night. Republican Clay Fuller, who received President Donald Trump's endorsement, is projected to face Democrat Shawn Harris to represent Georgia's 14th congressional district, according to a projection by the BBC's US partner CBS. The two candidates beat a crowded field of 17 candidates for the runoff slots. Advertisement Advertisement Trump gave Fuller his "complete and total endorsement" in a Truth Social post and while holding a rally in Rome, Georgia, last month. Tuesday's election served as an early test of Trump's power to shape the upcoming midterm elections in November. "For those of you who questioned how important Donald J Trump is to this country, to Georgia 14, and the state of Georgia, you see what this man means to this community, what he means to the people in this country, and what he means to the MAGA movement," Fuller, a former district attorney, said on Tuesday night. The runoff election will be held 7 April. Advertisement Advertisement Whoever wins the seat will serve out the rest of Greene's term, which ends in January, but they must begin campaigning again immediately to win their own full term in Congress in the midterms. Harris, the Democrat, received the most votes on Tuesday night, likely due to the fact that the Republican base splintered among many candidates. In the runoff, Harris will face only Fuller, who may see Georgia's Republicans coalesce behind him. By Wednesday morning, Trump had already began trying to steer support in Fuller's direction. "Clay Fuller is going to be a fantastic Congressman in representing the Great State of Georgia," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "Now we have to be careful and finish it off. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!" Advertisement Advertisement Democrats are doing their part to capture early momentum, too, with former presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg congratulating Harris on X. "Proud to be in your corner - and looking forward to campaigning with you on Saturday," Buttigieg said. Former district attorney Clay Fuller, a Republican, and retired Army Brig Gen Shawn Harris, a Democrat, will face off in the 7 April runoff [Getty Images] Harris told the BBC his campaign would continue to "stay true to what we've been doing" ahead of the runoff. "Everybody who voted for any other candidate [...] I want to talk to every last one of them, and say: 'Give me a chance'", he said. Greene's larger-than-life political persona loomed over voters as they chose her replacement. In her nearly six years in Congress, Greene developed a reputation for bombastic committee appearances, embracing conspiracy theories, and supporting hardline immigration policies. Advertisement Advertisement She was one of Trump's most prominent backers until their relationship combusted over the Epstein files; Greene pushed for legislation that would demand the government release its trove of documents, despite Trump's opposition. Congress eventually passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, and Trump signed it into law, after sustained political pressure. But their relationship never healed. Since leaving office in January, she has used her X account to criticise Trump for the US and Israel's military operation against Iran. Voters went to the polls on Tuesday mindful of the feud. They had the dizzying task of choosing from 17 candidates, both Democrat and Republican. Some Republicans used Trump's endorsement to guide their own vote, wanting a more reliable fighter for the president they support. Advertisement Advertisement Marsha Miles "would have voted for Fuller anyway", she told the BBC outside a polling place in Rome, but Trump's endorsement signalled he was the right choice. But she also chose Fuller because "of his morals, what he stands for, and his military service". Fuller ran on a platformed that echoed Trump's priorities of mass deportation, increased domestic manufacturing, and a tough-on-crime stance. "He's the perfect choice for representation in this area," said Teresa Lumsden, who attended his election night party. Meanwhile, Democrats in the district hoped to flip the seat after six years of Greene's representation by electing Harris, a retired brigadier general and local farmer. Sheila Hutchings, a Democrat, voted for Harris because she wanted "a more positive" personality who would "speak kindly" to all constituents regardless of party. Germany plans to ban petrol stations from raising prices more than once a day, Economy Minister Katherina Reiche said on Wednesday in an effort to combat skyrocketing fuel costs. The government is looking to implement the measure as quickly as possible in light of the rising prices caused by the Iran war, Reiche said in Berlin. Reiche noted that fuel prices rise extremely quickly when crude oil costs are high, while in turn prices only decline slowly when costs decline. Advertisement Advertisement "We want to break this mechanism," she said, adding the measure would be implemented through a change to antitrust law. Under the plans, which are modelled on a mechanism used by Austria since 2011, petrol stations would be allowed to raise prices no more than once a day, but no such limit would apply to lowering prices. Prices for diesel and petrol have been soaring since Israel and the US began to attack Iran on February 28. Tehran has responded by striking oil-rich Gulf states that host US military bases and blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for global oil supplies. German politicians have accused petrol stations and oil suppliers of taking advantage of the situation and rising prices prematurely. Advertisement Advertisement Petrol station operators have blamed oil companies, saying they have no influence on the prices at the pump which are set by the companies. Petrol and diesel prices were up by 0.017 ($0.0197) on average in Germany on Tuesday, according to the ADAC motoring organization. However, prices dropped by a few cents again on Wednesday, in what might be a sign of potential easing, as Reiche announced Germany would release some of its national oil reserves in response to a request by the International Energy Agency to alleviate the market. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has promised another 93 million ($107 million) in humanitarian aid for Middle East nations affected by the Iran war. Wadephul was in Qatar on Wednesday as Iranian missiles and drones continue to rain on the Gulf region in response to joint Israeli-US attacks. Germany's top diplomat embarked on a visit to the Middle East earlier this week that has so far taken him to Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in a show of support for allies targeted by Tehran. Advertisement Advertisement The latest sum brings total German humanitarian aid provided to the region over the past months to 118 million. The funds are to go to the UN Refugee Agency, the World Food Programme, UNICEF, the Red Cross and other aid organizations to allow them to keep up operations in the region, including in Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and the Palestinian territories. Wadephul was due to hold talks in Doha with Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to discuss the war that saw Iran swiftly target US military bases in the Gulf region after Israel and the US launched their initial attacks on February 28. Attacks on the region continued on Wednesday, with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman all reporting intercepted drone and missile strikes. Advertisement Advertisement The Government of Dubai Media Office said two drones came down near the city's international airport, injuring four people. A plume of smoke could be seen as far as the airport of Abu Dhabi, where Wadephul landed earlier on Wednesday. Qatar, which is home to the key US military base al-Udeid, on Tuesday stressed that it will, for the time being, continue to refrain from actively intervening in the military confrontation with Iran. "Qatar is not a party in this war," Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said. "We still believe in diplomacy, but we will respond appropriately to any attack on Qatar." Advertisement Advertisement He said Qatar is striving to de-escalate the conflict and communication channels with Tehran remain open. The country has been targeted by dozens of Iranian drone and missile attacks and shot down two Iranian fighter jets. An Airbus A400M from the German Air Force sits on the tarmac at Berlin Brandenburg Airport. The aircraft has arrived from a deployment scenario in Lithuania, where Germany's 45th Battletank Brigade is stationed to help defend NATO's eastern flank against a potential Russian attack. Through the open rear ramp, medics carry a wounded soldier on a stretcher and hand him over to emergency teams from St John Ambulance and the Maltese aid service. From there, he is registered and taken to hospital for treatment in Germany. For now, it's only a drill. Advertisement Advertisement As part of the German military's 2026 Quadriga drills, the Bundeswehr is running through the so-called rescue chain for wounded soldiers during the Medic Quadriga exercise together with civilian emergency services, covering the entire route from the deployment area in Lithuania to treatment in Germany. The Bundeswehr describes it as the "most complex" and "largest" medical exercise carried out since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Injured soldiers are to arrive in Berlin by aeroplane to be redistributed and receive further treatment. - Franziska Muller / Euronews 'Joint strategic stress test' The exercise aims to boost the Bundeswehr's operational readiness and response capability while strengthening cooperation with civilian partners in the healthcare sector, including St John Ambulance and the aid agency Malteser International. For the first time, the entire military medical evacuation chain was tested, from treating the wounded in the operational theatre in Lithuania to their care in German hospitals. A military rescue chain is a coordinated system designed to ensure that casualties receive rapid and continuous treatment, from the site of injury through to hospital care. Advertisement Advertisement Around 1,250 people took part in the exercise, including roughly 1,000 military personnel and 250 staff from civilian organisations. Participants included the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK), the German Red Cross, Johanniter, the German Life Saving Association (DLRG), ADAC Air Rescue and the Berlin Senate. The MedEvac Airbus, effectively a flying intensive care unit operated by the German armed forces, had originally been scheduled to transport the exercise casualties from Lithuania to Berlin last week. An Airbus A310 Medevac aircraft is being prepared in Cologne on 28 March 2020 for the transport of six COVID-19 patients from northern Italy to Germany - Kevin Schrief/Luftwaffe/AP Photo However, due to the current security situation in the Middle East, the flight had been cancelled at short notice. The aircraft is currently on "operational standby." Despite the flight being cancelled, a number of exercise casualties were brought to a centre near Berlin's Airport last Friday, where they were registered, medically assessed and treated according to the severity of their injuries. Advertisement Advertisement As Surgeon General Dr Ralf Hoffmann explained, in a real emergency evacuations would not rely on aircraft alone, but also on trains. "Our aim is to have trains available by 2028 at the latest that can be used to transport the wounded," he said. He pointed to the war in Ukraine as an example, where around 90% of patient transfers are carried out by rail, showing that trains are among the most important means of transport in crisis zones. A practice casualty is treated, 6 March 2026 - Preloznik/ Bundeswehr During the Medic Quadriga exercise, however, the airport served as the central hub of the rescue chain. The process begins there with checks to determine whether chemical or biological agents were involved. If necessary, the wounded must be decontaminated before undergoing their initial medical assessment. Advertisement Advertisement This is followed by an initial examination and medical triage, after which the patients are handed over to emergency teams. They then coordinate the onward transfer to nearby civilian or military hospitals. The wounded are finally transported by ambulance or helicopter to hospitals across Berlin and Brandenburg. 'You can only rely on what you've practised' Hoffmann added that "it's important that we are able to deal with and care for large numbers of wounded in an emergency". In the event of a conflict on NATO's eastern flank, up to 1,000 casualties per day could need to be transported from the Baltic states to Germany. "Our calculations show that we would need around 15,000 acute care beds in the system, taking hospital stays into account. In my view, that is manageable if we prepare for it in good time," he said. Pistorius on Friday, 6 March 2026, at the Medic Quadriga exercise near Berlin - Bundeswehr/Preloznik Germany's Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, who visited the exercise last Friday, explained that the effort follows a simple credo: "You can only rely on what you've practised. And only what you train and rehearse in peacetime can you master in times of tension and defence." Advertisement Advertisement According to the defence minister, the exercise serves as a "joint strategic stress test," highlighting Germany's role as a logistical hub in the event of a crisis because of its central location. NATO's logistics hub In the event of war, Germany is expected to become NATO's central logistics hub. This is set out in the so-called Operational Plan Germany (OPLAN DEU). Under the plan, up to 800,000 troops could be moved through German territory to NATO's eastern flank in an emergency. According to the Wall Street Journal, OPLAN DEU consists of a classified document of around 1,200 pages. It was drafted roughly two and a half years ago at the Julius Leber Barracks in Berlin and is now being implemented "at full speed." The aim of the plan is to ensure that political decisions in a crisis or conflict can be taken quickly, in line with constitutional procedures and in close coordination, allowing for a rapid response. However, the Wall Street Journal reports that implementation could face major obstacles, including ageing infrastructure such as dilapidated bridges, ports at risk of structural failure, gaps in military capabilities and insufficient coordination with civilian authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Related Rescue chain in action The US-Israeli military operation against Iran has been ongoing for more than a week now and alongside US bases in the Middle East, Germany is also playing a role: Ramstein Air Base is one of the US military's most important hubs in Europe, including for the medical evacuation of wounded personnel. It shows how a military rescue chain would operate in a real emergency. Much like in a potential crisis on NATOs eastern flank, the process begins in the operational theatre, where medics and field hospitals provide the first treatment. US soldiers from the 437th Airlift Wing inspect a C-17 Globemaster III prior to delivery by Boeing at the factory in Long Beach, California, on 12 September 2013 - AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes Seriously injured soldiers are then flown out on strategic transport aircraft often Boeing C-17 Globemaster III planes as part of the so-called "Aeromedical Evacuation System." Many of these flights first land at Ramstein Air Base. From there, patients are transferred to the nearby Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, the largest US military hospital outside the United States. German diplomatic staff at the country's consulate in Erbil have left Iraq due to the Iran war, the Foreign Office said on Wednesday. It comes after Germany withdrew its embassy staff from the Iraqi capital Baghdad on Monday amid the US-Israeli attacks on Iran, which sparked retaliatory strikes from Tehran on Israel and the wider Gulf region. Erbil is the capital of the semi-autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq and has been repeatedly targeted in the conflict that began on February 28. Advertisement Advertisement The diplomatic staff stationed in Erbil were temporarily pulled out of Iraq on Tuesday, Foreign Office officials said on the sidelines of a visit by Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul to Saudi Arabia. Wadephul arrived in Israel on a surprise visit on Tuesday from where he travelled on to Riyadh. He decided to temporarily withdraw the staff from Erbil in light of the local security situation, but the consulate can still be reached, the ministry said. German embassy staff based in Tehran were evacuated on Saturday in light of ongoing US-Israeli attacks. Germany's phase-out of nuclear energy is "irreversible," Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Tuesday, as the European Commission unveiled plans for the expansion of small modular reactors (SMRs). After a meeting with Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis in Berlin, Merz said he shared European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's assessment that the German move away from atomic power was a strategic mistake. Germany's nuclear phase-out began in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan, with the country's final power plants being decommissioned in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement "The decision is irreversible," Merz said. "I regret that, but that's the way it is." The German government is focusing on optimizing energy policy, Merz said, calling for grids to be expanded and the energy supply to be increased. Merz's government has committed to the construction of new gas-fired power plants to serve as "backups" for renewable sources such as solar and wind power. The comments came as von der Leyen unveiled her plans to expand nuclear energy production, including the deployment of SMRs, to ensure an affordable and climate-friendly electricity supply in the European Union. "In the last years, we see a global revival of nuclear energy and Europe wants to be part of it," von der Leyen said on Tuesday at the second international summit on nuclear energy in Boulogne-Billancourt near Paris. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul arrived in Qatar on Wednesday as Iranian missiles and drones continue to rain on the Gulf region in response to joint Israeli-US attacks. Wadephul embarked on a visit to the Middle East earlier this week that has so far taken him to Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in a show of support for allies targeted by Tehran. Germany's top diplomat plans to hold talks in Doha with Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to discuss the war that saw Iran swiftly target US military bases in the Gulf region after Israel and the US launched their initial attacks on February 28. Advertisement Advertisement Attacks on the region continued on Wednesday, with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman all reporting intercepted drone and missile strikes. The Government of Dubai Media Office said two drones came down near the city's international airport, injuring four people. A plume of smoke could be seen as far as the airport of Abu Dhabi, where Wadephul landed earlier on Wednesday. Qatar, which is home to the key US military base al-Udeid, on Tuesday stressed that it will, for the time being, continue to refrain from actively intervening in the military confrontation with Iran. "Qatar is not a party in this war," Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said. "We still believe in diplomacy, but we will respond appropriately to any attack on Qatar." Advertisement Advertisement He said Qatar is striving to de-escalate the conflict and communication channels with Tehran remain open. The country has been targeted by dozens of Iranian drone and missile attacks and shot down two Iranian fighter jets. A former Gloucester police officer retired in lieu of disciplinary action, according to a recent report from the Massachusetts State Post Commission. Jeremiah Nicastro is accused of establishing a personal bank account solely in his name to receive an expend donations intended for the Community Impact Unit and a Venmo account connected to his bank account was used to collect donations without prior authorization from the chief. The Massachusetts State Police Commission said Nicastro likely violated state municipal finance law by establishing a checking account that game him, as a city employee, direct control over donated funds without adhering to the process required. Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, Gloucester Police said they did not comment on personnel matters. Nicastro was also listed as an instructor on JGPR Public Relations. The company told Boston 25 that Nicastro taught a webinar back in 2024 and he was not scheduled to teach in 2026. In his bio, it stated that Nicastro had been in law enforcement for 25 years and currently oversaw the Gloucester Police Department Community Impact Unit. 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 We now know how much its going to cost to cross the Gordie Howe International Bridge when it opens. Bridge officials say the standard passenger vehicle toll will be $8 ($5.75 US) to cross and $12 ($8.75) per axle for commercial trucks, oversized vehicles and larger passenger vehicles. Breakaway, the bridge's vehicle tag program, will offer drivers discounted rates, and will allow motorists to drive to any open toll lane. Advertisement Advertisement Breakaway members receive a 25 per cent discount, the authority says. That means it will cost $6 for passenger vehicles and $9.60 per axle. The span will be opening this spring, the bridge company said in a statement on Wednesday. It will provide a highway-to-highway connection between Ontarios Highway 401 and Michigans Interstate-75 with six traffic lanes, 16 toll lanes and 60 Canada and U.S. inspection lanes. Just as crews are fine-tuning every detail of the project, were ensuring a smooth start for all travellers and delivering on our commitment of a modern and efficient border crossing, said David Henderson, Bridging North Americas chief executive officer. The Ambassador Bridge costs $14, or $10 US, to cross for autos, buses and motorcycles. A representative from the Ambassador Bridge did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday. Rates are 'reasonable': resident Dariuss Piatkoeski, a Windsor resident, says the newly announced rates are "reasonable." Advertisement Advertisement "I think they need to compete with [the] tunnel and they need to compete with the [Ambassador] bridge," Piatkoeski told CBC News. "Personally for me, the new bridge is a winner," he said, adding that he plans to use the Gordie Howe whenever it opens. (Emma Loop/CBC) Another resident, Louis Elachkar, welcomes the announcement, saying the rates are "great" and he "can't wait 'til it opens up" to use it. 'We've been getting taken advantage of' Buerhan Maierdan, president of Etlas Freight, said over the almost 20 years he's been in business, he's had no choice but to use the Ambassador Bridge, the cost of which he said is "high." Advertisement Advertisement He said it costs approximately $100 US one way per 18-wheeler truck transporting produce from Canada to the U.S. and from the U.S. to Canada. Maierdan said he would not be surprised if the Ambassador Bridge decides to lower rates in wake of the cheaper ones announced by the Gordie Howe. (Pratyush Dayal/CBC) "I hope this new bridge opens up soon that helps everybody, not only the trucking industry, but consumers as well," said Maierdan. "Windsor is a very essential, very critical corridor for trade between Canada and the United States, so we need [this] bridge." New rates 'very reasonable' Tal Czudner, CEO of the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel said the announced rates represent "a great thing for our community," and called them "very reasonable," and represents another option for people to go back and forth easily. Czudner says two of the border crossing options are Canadian, and notes the tunnel is still the cheapest choice if passengers use a Nexpress vehicle tag $5.90. GOP Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith will face off against Democrat Scott Colom in November in Mississippi, with NBC News projecting that both have won their respective primaries on Tuesday. It will be a difficult race for Colom, a district attorney. A Democrat has not won a Senate race in Mississippi since 1982 and President Donald Trump won the state by 23 points in 2024. And Ty Pinkins, who was the Democratic Senate nominee against GOP Sen. Roger Wicker in 2024, is running for Senate again, but as an independent. But some Democrats, including Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairwoman Kirsten Gillibrand, have suggested that Colom could be a strong candidate. It also wont be the first time Hyde-Smith and Colom have clashed: the GOP senator blocked Coloms nomination for a federal judgeship during the Biden administration. Scott Colom, a district attorney, is one of three Democrats running for the Senate in Mississippi. (Jeff Amy / AP file) (Jeff Amy) Colom told NBC News ahead of his campaign launch in September that he forgave Hyde-Smith but remained frustrated with how she votes, pointing to Hyde-Smiths support for Trumps signature tax cut and spending legislation known as the One Big Beautiful Bill. Advertisement Advertisement Trump endorsed Hyde-Smith ahead of Tuesdays primary, but she still faced a challenge from Republican Sarah Adlakha. A physician who largely self-funded her campaign, Adlakha launched ads Hyde-Smith of being beholden to special interests, while Hyde-Smith accused Adlakha of being a Chicago liberal and touted her endorsement from Trump. The primary did force Hyde-Smith to spend some of her campaign funds, spending $2.4 million on the race as of Feb. 18, according to campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission. Colom has also spent in the race despite facing a nominal challenge for the Democratic nomination. Hyde-Smith still had a financial advantage in the contest, with $2.2 million in her campaign account to Coloms $560,000. Advertisement Advertisement Hyde-Smith is running for her second full term in the Senate. She was appointed to the seat in 2018 to replace former GOP Sen. Thad Cochran, and won a special election against former Democratic Rep. Mike Espy, who also served as Agriculture Secretary, to serve out the rest of Cochrans term. Hyde-Smith won her first full term in the Senate in 2020, defeating Espy again, this time by 10 points, as Trump carried the state by 16 points. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Realty Income Corporation (NYSE:O) is one of the stocks on which Jim Cramer expressed his thoughts. Cramer was bullish on the stock during the episode, as he stated: Even at this crazy moment, its been a good year for Realty Income, letter O, the real estate investment trust that mostly owns retail properties Its been diversifying itself lately. The stock is up 15% year-to- date with a nearly 5% dividend yield. Now, some of thats because Realty Income has made a push into industrial, gaming, and data center properties while also moving into Mexico. Stock market data. Photo by Burak The Weekender on Pexels Realty Income Corporation (NYSE:O) provides real estate capital to major companies and manages a large portfolio of commercial properties. The company also provides consistent monthly dividends and has a long history of increasing these payments. While we acknowledge the potential of O 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. What would you do with an extra $1,745? Thats how much Gov. Maura Healey says every Bay State household is owed after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trumps tariffs last month The Democratic governor made the ask in a Tuesday letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, arguing that, with 2.8 million households in the state, the administration was into Massachusetts to the tune of $4.88 billion. Advertisement Advertisement Do a little math, and that comes out to the $1,745 the tariffs cost each Massachusetts household between February 2025 and January 2026. From groceries and household goods to construction materials and consumer products, Massachusetts residents paid more at the register and businesses absorbed higher operating costs, Healey wrote to Bessent. Having unlawfully seized over $100 billion ... from American people and businesses, the federal government must immediately take steps to pay full restitution. The U.S. Supreme Court, with a majority that included Trump appointees, struck down the trade levies last month, ruling that Trump trampled on a power that belongs to Congress. Businesses immediately began lining up for refunds for the extra theyd been charged by Washington for imports. Their arguments were bolstered last week when the U.S. Court of International Trade ordered U.S. Customs and Border Protection to pay up. Advertisement Advertisement Trump has since said he plans to reimpose the tariffs under a separate section of federal law. And the group that successfully challenged the levies the first time around is already gearing up for another fight. Healey urged the Republican White House to similarly reconsider those new trade levies, arguing that the previous regime wreaked havoc on our economy and increased costs for hardworking families and small businesses across Massachusetts. It makes no sense to stubbornly continue this failed and unlawful policy that increases costs on everyone, she continued. But Healey, who is seeking reelection this fall, could have her work cut out for her as she looks to shake loose reimbursements from Washington. Advertisement Advertisement Thats because business owners are skeptical that theyll ever see any of the billions shaken loose by the high courts ruling on the trade levies, The Guardian reported. Trump has said that the issue could be tied up in courts for the next five years," the newspaper reported. More on Politics . Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here. A 150-foot-long Boeing E-6B Mercury, colloquially known as the "Doomsday Plane," was seen flying low over California this past weekend amid the escalating war between the U.S. and Iran. On Tuesday morning, Fresno Yosemite International Airport representatives confirmed to SFGATE that the aircraft was conducting approaches at the airport on Sunday. However, those who posted photos of the aircraft flying low over the city on social media described its presence as "unnerving," and it's understandable why. Advertisement Advertisement Heralded as a dual-mission aircraft and "critical national security asset," the E-6B is a modified version of the E-6A, which was based off of a commercial Boeing 707. Overall, it bridges the gap between the country's top decision-makers and America's nuclear arsenal, allowing the president of the United States and the secretary of Defense to contact bombers and missile silos. In addition to using two wire antennas to communicate with ballistic missile submarines, the E-6B is capable of launching ballistic missiles on land while soaring through the air. First deployed in October 1998, the 150-foot-long, 42-foot-high aircraft has a wingspan of 148 feet and is capable of holding 22 crew members. Deployments reportedly last for three weeks at a time, and in 2025, planespotters watched it fly past them near the MacDill Air Force Base in Florida. Travis Air Force Base press representatives did not respond to SFGATE's request for more information by the time of publication. This breaking news story has been updated. More News - 5 former California execs indicted in grocery store bribery case - Outerwear retailer files for bankruptcy, will shutter Calif. stores - Calif. teen dies on visit to Big Sur state park swimming hole - Nearly 100 Marin County car sales linked to 'Montana Loophole' scheme Sign up for daily SFGATE breaking news alerts here. This article originally published at Gray 'Doomsday Plane' spotted flying low over California. MONTPELIER, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) With the Vermont National Guard deployed for the war in Iran, some people are calling on the Vermont Legislature to take action and help bring the Guard members back home. A group of advocates shared their thoughts at the Vermont State House Tuesday afternoon, arguing Congress isnt doing enough to stop the Trump Administration from carrying out what they view as an illegal war. On that note, they believe it should be up to states now to step in. If Congress fails to defend the Constitution, then that falls to the states, said Isaac Evans-Frantz, a Brattleboro Selectboard member and the Director of Action Corps, a nonprofit organization. We need our state government here in Montpelier to have a backbone, stand up Vermonters are already feeling the impact. Families are watching their loved ones being deployed. Advertisement Advertisement The group called on the Vermont House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs to hold a hearing on bill H.355, better known as the Defend the Guard Act. State Representative Troy Headrick, an Independent from Burlington, drafted the bill, which aims to restore checks and balances and keep the Vermont National Guard at home to help Vermonters deal with their own disasters. When Guard members are sent to unauthorized conflicts overseas, Vermont loses the people we depend on during emergencies here at home, said Reverend Doctor Scott Couper, a minister with the United Church of Christ in Brattleboro. If the president is going to call on our Vermont Guard members to put their lives at risk, they deserve at the very least the guarantee of required checks and balances to justify this extreme measure, added State Representative Esme Cole, a Democrat from White River Junction. However, the Defend the Guard Act was first introduced more than a full year ago, and has only sat in the House Gov. Ops. Committee since. The advocates critiqued the committees chair, State Representative Matt Birong, a Democrat from Vergennes, for allowing that to happen, and argued the bill needs to be taken up immediately. Advertisement Advertisement That said, its unlikely anything will happen with the act this year, since it would need full House approval before Crossover Day at the end of this week, and the House Gov. Ops. Committee has multiple other bills scheduled for discussion on their calendar. On top of that, the bill would likely be battled in courts if it were to become a law, due to federal statutes like the Supremacy Clause. Even keeping those facts in mind, the speakers are still pushing for change, saying nothing is more important than protecting Vermonts service members. The time is of the essence, that hearing should be held tomorrow, Evans-Frantz said. The Vermont National Guards new Adjutant General, Henry Harder, told ABC22 & FOX44 last week that while their men and women are deployed, they want everyone to know they will care for their families and loved ones until they return home. Advertisement Advertisement ABC22 & FOX44 reached out to Rep. Birong for comment, but have yet to hear back. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44. There's an effort to get a special prosecutor appointed to investigate federal agents' actions during "Operation Midway Blitz," but there's some high-level pushback. Chicago law firm Loevy & Loevy is leading the charge, calling for a special prosecutor to investigate federal agents' use of force while conducting immigration enforcement last fall. The firm claims U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents committed assault and battery against peaceful civilians, members of the clergy and reporters; illegally kidnapped and detained an elected official and others; tear-gassed entire neighborhoods; and shot multiple people, killing at least one. Advertisement Advertisement They said "An independent, special prosecutor is essential to ensure that there is accountability in Cook County." In response to the group's demands, Cook County State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke said the petition for a special prosecutor would only make it more difficult to prosecute and convict federal agents accused of breaking the law. O'Neill Burke said in part, "The stakes are too high for us to get this wrong, and I will strenuously oppose this petition." Last month, her office outlined protocol for charging federal agents that would apply to cases involving a death, shooting, act of violence or use of force incident, related to federal immigration enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement The call for appointing a special prosecutor to go after federal agents who may have committed crimes is an effort for accountability but it's practically unheard of. Any potential charges against agents during the Trump administration are expected to be fraught with legal challenges. An incident from September is referenced by Loevy & Loevy in the call for a special prosecutor. Silverio Viellagas Gonzales, a man who was living in the U.S. without legal permission, was shot and killed by immigration agents during enforcement operations in Franklin Park. Body camera video from Franklin Park police officers captured some of the confusion about how accountability of the shooting would be handled. Advertisement Advertisement One officer said, "So, do we handle the shoot?" Another said, "Wouldn't it be state's, at a minimum?" And then Mike Witz, the Franklin Park director of police said, "No, because it's a federal shooting, you're not going to investigate a federal officer." Local police did not investigate that federal shooting. Instead, the FBI responded, but when asked by the I-Team, was unable to provide details of the investigation, referring questions to the Department of Homeland Security. That is one reason why civil rights attorneys are calling for a special prosecutor in Cook County. "Presumably it is to create accountability here, but the odds are stacked against it," said ABC7 Chicago Chief legal analyst Gil Soffer, who says it would be highly irregular for a judge to allow the appointment of a special prosecutor, especially when O'Neill Burke has created a protocol to hold ICE agents accountable, which includes a plan to preserve relevant evidence, which is just the start. "The biggest hurdle is the Supremacy Clause in the Constitution, which says, effectively that federal law trumps state law. What it means here is that a federal agent can't successfully be prosecuted unless it's shown that they acted objectively, unreasonably and outside the scope of their duties. They have this qualified immunity. Unless the state can clear that hurdle, they won't be able to prosecute these defendants." Advertisement Advertisement That means the battle for accountability starts well before a jury could even be selected and centers on whether charges can be brought at all by a county prosecutor, special or otherwise. Soffer noted three main hurdles. "The petition for a special prosecutor to succeed in the first instance, they're not often granted. They require some sort of conflict or inability to perform the job on the part of the state's attorney. If that hurdle is cleared, the immigration agent or agents would be able to say, 'you can't prosecute me. I have qualified immunity so long as I acted within the scope of my authority and I acted reasonably.' On top of all that, a federal agent would have the right to force this action into federal court. So it's charged there," Soffer said. That means state prosecutors would have to try any case against federal agents in front of a federal judge and jury. That makes it an uphill battle on all fronts because, as seen in Minneapolis, federal investigators are not required to share evidence with local prosecutors to build a case and have not shared thus far. The coalition of more than 200 elected officials, community organizations, attorneys and religious leaders plan to share more about their push at a news conference. That's happening later this week. A New Hampshire man is accused of stabbing a victim in the face and back in an unprovoked attack outside of a club over the weekend, police said Wednesday. Ryan Halloran, 42, of Manchester, with no known address, was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree assault with a deadly weapon, police said in a statement. The victim did not know the suspect and the attack appeared to be unprovoked, police said. Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, Manchester Police responded to the area of 199 Manchester St. for a reported stabbing. When officers arrived, they saw a crowd gathered in front of the Winona Social Club. Officers located a man holding a paper towel against his face and suffering from a stab wound to the left side, police said. The victim told police he had been sitting in front of the club when a man approached him and stabbed him in the face and back. After police spoke with the victim, investigators found a man meeting the physical description of the attacker, later identified as Halloran, in the area, and he had a knife, police said. 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 Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo was asked to leave the Houston Rodeo Tuesday evening after she was denied entry to a concert at NRG Stadium, according to a since-deleted post she made to Facebook. Hidalgo said she was "manhandled" after she and a group of guests, including two children, were prohibited from attending the sold-out Megan Moroney concert at NRG Stadium. A representative for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, in a prepared statement, said the area Hidalgo attempted to access was limited to "chute seat ticket holders only," premium seating priced at $425. The rodeo spokesperson said Hidalgo and her group were "directed back to their ticketed seating," after they were denied access to the "dirt area." Advertisement Advertisement MORE ON THE JUDGE: Who is Lina Hidalgo? What to know about the Harris County judge Hidalgo, however, said she was "kicked out" of the stadium in the lengthy Facebook post. "Before I could talk to the director, the men physically shoved me and threatened me with arrest," the county judge wrote. "They asked me to leave the county's stadium, which I did, leaving my guests to watch the concert elsewhere." Hidalgo's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday afternoon. Harris County, which owns NRG Stadium, leases it each year to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. High-ranking county officials and their guests enjoy regular free access to performances held at NRG via a county-owned suite in the stadium. Hidalgo was among those who received free access to a Beyonce concert held in late June, for instance. Advertisement Advertisement Hidalgo said Tuesday's incident happened because she is a woman, and said it may have been politically motivated. "Look, in such a divided country, perhaps those guys just disagree with my politics. They had the chance to change that twice at the ballot box and lost," Hidalgo wrote. "If it had been a different county executive, a man, I'm willing to bet nobody would've been shoved, the director of the rodeo and the head of security of the rodeo wouldn't have been deployed to keep the county leader out, and things would've just been fine." She ended her post with a call for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo to provide information on how much it had charged previous county judges for concert access. This article originally published at Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo says she was 'kicked out' of Houston Rodeo concert and 'manhandled'. Residents in a Millville, New Jersey, neighborhood spent hours trying to understand what was happening after a New Jersey State Police helicopter circled overhead, and troopers eventually entered a home while searching for a suspect. Video from a Ring camera shows state police and officers in tactical gear taking over the front porch of a home on the 100 block of Third Street. Officers are heard speaking into a doorbell camera moments before entering the residence. Advertisement Advertisement A woman who lives in the home and did not want to be identified said she was at work at the time of the incident, but her son was inside when police surrounded the house. She said her son later described the encounter to her. Heavy police presence prompts concern in South Jersey neighborhood "My son was here, he was a little freaking out, they actually made him come out with his hands up and guns were drawn," she said. The woman said her son told her troopers explained they were pursuing someone on foot in the area. "They just said they were on a foot pursuit and the guy was jumping the fences behind my house. A construction worker saw him go down my steps, but didn't know where he went from there. That's why they need to make sure everything is safe," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Nearby residents also noticed the heavy police activity. Michele Brown of Bridgeton said she was walking her dogs when she saw officers in the area. "It was a lot I didn't understand what was going on," Brown said. Brown said the scene was alarming for people nearby. "Definitely startling cause you see all these cops with their guns out, and you're just looking like, 'Whoa'," she said. Action News reached out to New Jersey State Police for more information, but we did not receive a response. In a statement, Millville police say the suspect was not apprehended after fleeing state police on foot. There is no suspected threat to the community, the department added. (This story has been updated with new information.) Traffic in Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati could be disrupted as President Donald Trump is scheduled to make two stops in the area March 11. Trump will start the day visiting Thermo Fisher Scientific, a pharmaceutical and biotechnology company located in the Cincinnati suburb of Reading, Ohio. He will discuss TrumpRx.gov, a new prescription drug website. He will then visit the Verst Logistics Contract Packaging Facility at 2200 Gateway Blvd. in Hebron. Doors to the event will open at 1 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for the U.S. Secret Service said residents and visitors near Hebron and Reading can expect intermittent road closures and parking restrictions. The U.S. Secret Service works closely with our local law enforcement partners to maintain a robust security posture, while minimizing disruptions to the public, the spokesperson said. Boone County Sheriffs spokesman Lieutenant Anthony Theetge recommended motorists avoid the area near the event if possible. If you dont want to get hung up in traffic, just stay clear of the area for a while, he said. Boone County Sheriffs deputies will be assisting with the event, though Theetge said the department will be able to continue its service to the county as usual with its staff and the Florence Police Department. What roads will be closed in Cincinnati during the Trump visit? Motorists in the Greater Cincinnati area can expect closures along portions of Interstate 75 throughout the day, which will impact the evening rush hour, a Secret Service spokesperson said. Advertisement Advertisement Residents and visitors in the area are encouraged to consider alternative routes when available, the spokesperson said. The U.S. Secret Service and our local law enforcement partners appreciate the communitys patience and understanding as we work to keep both our protectees and the public safe. Live Cincinnati traffic map This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Traffic conditions, road closures for Trump visit in Cincinnati Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday said the joint U.S.-Israeli war against Iran is quite contained, even as the U.S. continues to reduce staff at embassies and consulates in the Gulf region. I see in the media banners that say, you know, war expanding or war spreading. Its actually the opposite. Its actually quite contained, Hegseth told reporters at the Pentagon. The State Department on Monday drew down personnel in Saudi Arabia and the U.S. consulate in Adana, Turkey, ordering the departure of nonessential staff and families in response to threats from Iranian retaliation. Advertisement Advertisement There are now 10 U.S. embassies and consulates in the Middle East with reduced staffing, with two the embassies in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait fully suspending operations. The reductions are the largest since the Iraq War started in 2003. President Trump has offered conflicting views on when the U.S. and Israel will end the military campaign against Iran, on Monday insisting it is very complete and will wrap up soon, but adding we havent won enough. That follows his demands from last week that Tehran offer its complete and total surrender, warning Washington could widen its attacks. Hegseth on Tuesday said the U.S. will not stop its war until the enemy is totally and decisively defeated, adding that Trump gets to control the throttle and decide when to end it on our timeline and at our choosing. Advertisement Advertisement Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters that Irans offensive attacks continued to trend downward, with missile strikes down 90 percent since the start of the war and drone attacks down 83 percent. Hegseth said Tuesday would be the biggest day of U.S. strikes so far, as America and Israel target Irans missile launchpads and missile and drone production facilities across the country. Officials in Tehran this week appeared prepared to dig in for a longer fight after already firing hundreds of missiles and drones at Gulf States that host U.S. air bases, threatening to tip the war into a wider regional conflict. Hegseth said it was a big mistake for the Iranians to start targeting its neighbors after the U.S. and Israel launched joint strikes starting 11 days ago, arguing that Tehran had pushed those countries towards supporting the U.S. effort. Advertisement Advertisement I cant say that we anticipated necessarily thats exactly how they would react, but we knew it was a possibility, Hegseth said. And more allies are more of those countries are coming onside, recognizing that you cant live under a conventional umbrella with nuclear ambitions, with a radical regime like that. The Trump administration has faced criticism for an apparent lack of planning around evacuations of American personnel, tourists and expatriates in the Middle East ahead of its war on Iran, which quickly drew Iranian fire on U.S. allies across the region. Americans deserve a government that steps up to help them through times of crisis, not turn their back on them to fend for themselves, a group of Senate Democrats wrote in a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on March 4. 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. Do you recognize them? [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The Miami Township Police Department is looking for a person they say is connected to the theft of two bicycles. TRENDING STORIES: The theft occurred on March 7, in the 7100 block of Mad River Road, after the suspect entered the victims back porch area and stole the bikes. Advertisement Advertisement The police department shared several pictures on social media of the suspect. While the images are not the clearest, the suspect appears to have a distinct tattoo on his right arm, which may help with identification, the department said in their post. Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to contact Officer Foley by email at lfoley@miamitownship.com. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] CNBC "Mad Money" host Jim Cramer has been commenting on the markets for decades. But it is not his commentary that people watch. It is the effects it can have on the markets. And perhaps for the first time in a long while, his comments are offering a sense of hope to investors looking beyond the charts. Related: Irans Hormuz shutdown puts major economies at risk Iran war escalations spook investors The conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran has expanded far beyond the three countries directly involved. The war, which began on Feb. 28 when the United States launched "Operation Epic Fury" against Iran, entered its tenth day on March 9. Ayatollah Ali Khameneis son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been officially named Irans new supreme leader after his father was reportedly killed in airstrikes earlier this week. Iran has continued retaliating against U.S. and Israeli strikes by targeting American military bases across the Gulf region. Several neighboring countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Israel, have been hit by Tehrans missiles and drones, resulting in civilian casualties. Financial markets have reacted sharply as geopolitical tensions escalate, with volatility reaching new highs. Crude oil prices have surged above $100 per barrel. Meanwhile, gold is struggling to maintain its reputation as a safe-haven asset after falling to $5,082.34 per ounce. Just days earlier, on March 4, gold had climbed above $5,400 per ounce. In the cryptocurrency market, Bitcoin led the initial downturn, briefly dropping close to $63,000. The asset has since recovered and is trading within a range between $67,000 and $69,000. Bitcoin briefly crossed $70,000 on March 5, reaching a high of $73,669 the same day. Major altcoins such as XRP (XRP), Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL) have also experienced similar volatility amid the broader market uncertainty. Popular on TheStreet Roundtable: Cramer's effect gives hope The comments appeared after a U.S. attack struck a freshwater desalination plant on Irans Qeshm Island near the Strait of Hormuz. This disrupted water supplies in 30 villages, according to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Barely 24 hours later, Bahrain's Interior Ministry said that Iran struck its desalination plant. Intentional attacks on civilian water infrastructure are banned under international humanitarian law. Article 54 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions specifically safeguards drinking water facilities, and deliberately targeting them may qualify as war crimes under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Oklahoma U.S. Rep. Kevin Hern formally announced his bid for U.S. Senate on Wednesday. Hern currently serves Oklahomas First Congressional District, which encompasses the Tulsa area. He was first elected to Congress in 2018. In his announcement video on social media, Hern focused on his support of President Trumps agenda. He called out both liberal politicians and Republicans in Name Only, or RINOS, as threats to Trumps policies. Advertisement Advertisement The American Dream is under threat by the radical left and RINO Republicans, who oppose President Trumps America First agenda and want to turn the United States into a third-world country, Hern said in the video. In the House, Hern sits on the Committee for Ways and Means, which writes tax legislation. Before he entered Congress, his main occupation was as a McDonalds franchisee. Herns bid for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination comes after Trump announced plans to appoint current Sen. Markwayne Mullin as Secretary of Homeland Security. Mullins appointment still must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate, and he has not yet resigned. If confirmed, Mullin, a Republican, must vacate his U.S. Senate seat before he can lead DHS. Advertisement Advertisement Herns decision to run for U.S. Senate means he will not seek another term in the U.S. House. Who will fill Herns Congressional seat? Herns choice to campaign for Senate will have a waterfall effect, opening up the Republican primary election for his seat in the House of Representatives this November. State Representative Mark Tedford, R-Tulsa, has already declared for the race. He serves on the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency oversight committee and said in a press release that he is focused on fiscal responsibility. Washington doesnt have a shortage of politicians, Tedford said in the press release. What it needs is leaders who understand how the real economy works and who are willing to stand up for the people who make this country run, just like President Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Tulsa Pastor Jackson Lahmeyer has reposted several X posts that say he is considering entering the race. Lahmeyer previously ran in the primary election for Senate against James Lankford, in which he lost. He has been vocal about his disdain for Lankford, who certified the results of the 2020 election as a victory for Joe Biden, to the ire of some of Trumps base. Lahmeyer also founded Pastors for Trump, a political network of conservative Christian pastors. The Tulsa World also reports that Tulsa County Sheriff Vic Regalado is considering entering the Republican primary for Herns seat. He has been the countys sheriff since 2016. Previously, he served with the Tulsa County Police Department. On the Democratic side, several candidates have already declared for both Senate and House seats. NKiyla Jasmine Thomas, a nurse, Troy Green, a business owner and former law enforcement officer and Jim Priest, an employment lawyer, have begun campaigns as Democrats for Senate. Erica Watkins, who previously served in the Oklahoma National Guard, and John Croisant, a member of the Tulsa Public Schools Board, have both declared for the House. Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Stephanie Bice, who currently represents central Oklahomas House District 5 in Congress, has also said she is considering running for Mullins seat . Prior to the election in November, Gov. Kevin Stitt will have to appoint an individual to finish the remainder of Mullins term, which ends in January 2027. According to state law, the individual must sign an affidavit stating they will not run in November, though its unclear whether they can be forced to stand by that affidavit. Filing for Oklahoma state and federal offices runs from April 1-3. This article was originally published by KOSU. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.) on Wednesday announced his bid for U.S. Senate in Oklahoma, running to replace Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R), who was tapped last week to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Hern, a wealthy businessman, is the first candidate to formally enter the GOP primary to succeed Mullin, whose seat was already up for reelection this year. I grew up on an Air Force base, worked my way through school, built businesses, and served Oklahoma in Congress, he said in a social media post alongside a video announcing his candidacy. Now Im ready to fight for Oklahoma in the Senate. Advertisement Advertisement In the video, the congressman touted his relationship with the president, saying hes running for Senate to ensure President Trump has a loyal ally in the upper chamber, before flashing to a clip of Trump saying Hern has done a great job. Hern also said hes running for higher office because the American Dream is under threat by the radical left and RINO Republicans who oppose President Trumps America-first agenda and want to turn the United States into a third-world country. The congressman highlighted issues including securing the southern border, deporting immigrants, standing with law enforcement and delivering economic affordability. Hern ended the video calling himself America first and Oklahoma proud. The primary election will take place on June 16. Candidates must file to run during the three-day filing period from April 1-3. Advertisement Advertisement Herns campaign launch was expected after he told reporters last Thursday, Stay tuned for the announcement next week. Other Republicans were reportedly considering a run for the seat. Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-Okla.) teased a potential bid in a post on the social platform X last week, saying, Ive received encouragement from every corner of this great state to run for the US Senate. And its something Im carefully considering. Stay tuned! she added. But multiple Oklahoma strategists told The Hill they saw Hern as the races likely front-runner, pointing especially to his financial advantage. Early reporting indicated Hern could put $5 million of his own money into the race, with $2.5 million already in his campaign account. Advertisement Advertisement I think it starts with Kevin Hern, and it might end with him, Oklahoma Republican strategist Pat McFerron, founding partner of CMA Strategies, said in an interview last week. He might be able to clear the field. Hes got money he can roll over. Hes got personal wealth, hes got good numbers, hes solid with the right side of the electorate, which is what really matters, he added. Trump tapped Mullin to replace Kristi Noem as DHS secretary last week, setting off a scramble to replace the senator in the Sooner State. Once Mullin leaves his post, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) will have 30 days to appoint a Republican to temporarily fill the seat. The appointee, who must pledge not to run for a full term this fall, will be replaced by the winner of the general election in November. Advertisement Advertisement Updated: 2:10 p.m. EST 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. Lebanons Hezbollah militia fired dozens of rockets at northern Israel on Wednesday evening, according to the Israeli military, which reported several impacts. Israel's Magen David Adom emergency service said a woman and a man were lightly injured. Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 and the news outlet The Times of Israel reported that Hezbollah launched around 100 rockets. The Times of Israel described the barrage as the largest Hezbollah attack on Israel since early this month, when the militia resumed rocket fire at Israel after a prolonged pause in fighting. Advertisement Advertisement The renewed attacks came in response to the killing of Irans supreme leader Ali Khamenei. The Israeli military said in the evening it had begun a new "large-scale" wave of strikes against Hezbollah targets in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital, Beirut. The military had earlier warned residents there to evacuate. The aftermath of a direct Hezbollah rocket hit on a residence in Upper Galilee, March 11, 2026. (photo credit: UNITED HATZALAH) In response to Hezbollah's rocket barrage, the IDF resumed strikes on Dahiyeh, Beirut, and is considering attacking Lebanon's civilian infrastructure, a source told the 'Post.' Missile sirens sounded across Israel in the early morning hours of Thursday after the IDF detected incoming missiles launched from Iran at Israeli territory. No casualties or serious injuries were reported, according to Magen David Adom, and MDA first responders were dispatched to treat individuals who were injured while on the way to protected spaces. Advertisement Advertisement Earlier on Thursday, sirens sounded across central Israel shortly after the launch of ballistic missiles from Iran towards Israeli territory. According to Magen David Adom, no casualties were reported. MDA paramedics were dispatched to scenes where people were injured while moving to protected areas. According to Israeli police, law enforcement and Border Guard officers were dispatched to the scene of a shrapnel fall that caused property damage in central Israel. Iranian missiles intercepted over the Sharon region of Israel on March 12, 2026. (CREDIT: FAIR USE UNDER ISRAELI COPYRIGHT LAW, ARTICLE 27A). Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday evening, five people were injured when a rocket hit a residence in the Upper Galilee in northern Israel, including four suffering from anxiety, United Hatzalah announced on Wednesday evening. Firefighters cut off the electricity to the residence to prevent a fire, United Hatzalah added. The aftermath of a direct Hezbollah rocket hit on a residence in Upper Galilee, March 11, 2026. (credit: UNITED HATZALAH) This came after sirens sounded across the country after Hezbollah and Iran launched a joint attack on Israel on Wednesday night. Hezbollah terrorists launched about 200 rockets against northern Israel in a single barrage on Wednesday night, according to public broadcaster, KAN News. IDF Arabic-langugage spokesperson Col (res.) Avichay Adraee warned residents of Dahiyeh, a southern suburb of Beirut known to be a Hezbollah terror stronghold, to evacuate the area due to IDF strikes on Wednesday night. Adraee issued a similar warning earlier on Wednesday afternoon, but the latest comes after Hezbollah terrorists launched a barrage of over 100 rockets towards northern Israel, with at least one direct hit recorded. Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, United Hatzalah stated that it had received reports of rockets and shrapnel hitting several sites in northern Israel. There were also reports of rocket fallout starting a fire in a forest in the region. United Hatzalah paramedics respond to Hezbollah rocket hits in northern Israel, March 11, 2026. (credit: UNITED HATZALAH) Shortly before the attack, Israeli officials told CNN that the IDF is preparing for a "significant expansion" of Iran and Hezbollah attacks on Wednesday night. However, Israeli officials told The Jerusalem Post that "We are preparing for a possible expansion of the missile launches by Hezbollah, but the wave of rumors is exaggerated." After tonight's Hezbollah attacks, Israeli officials are considering hitting civilian infrastructure targets in Lebanon, one told the Post. IDF, MDA, Fire and Rescue Authority dispatch emergency responders throughout northern Israel Soldiers from the IDF's Search and Rescue Brigade, as well as Magen David Adom and the Fire and Rescue Authority, dispatched several crews throughout northern Israel to extinguish fires, treat injuries, and search for anyone who may be trapped. Advertisement Advertisement MDA reported treating a man in his 50s with a mild hand injury caused by flying debris. Sirens sounded without a prewarning in northern Israel, and residents were told to stay near bomb shelters. In Jerusalem, the West Bank, and areas of central Israel, sirens sounded following a launch from Iran. A man is accused of fatally stabbing a woman who worked as his housekeeper at his North Carolina home before fleeing the state, authorities said. Hours after the killing on Friday, March 6, an investigator with the U.S. Marshals Service Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force captured Matthew Jared Vukmer, according to the Orange County Sheriffs Office in North Carolina. Vukmer, 53, who is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Paula Floyd, was apprehended in Grayson County, Virginia, the sheriffs office said in a news release issued the evening of March 6. Advertisement Advertisement Vukmer is accused of stabbing Floyd, 54, to death at his home in the community of Wyngate, located near Hillsborough, the morning of March 6, according to authorities. Floyd had been working for Vukmer as his housekeeper for more than 20 years, according to family and friends who spoke with WRAL-TV. Iowa Husband Admitted He Stabbed His Scientist Wife to Death in a Statement to Police "Were truly heartbroken," one of Floyds friends, Gracie Toler, told the TV station. "We want answers, thats what we want." Following Vukmers arrest in Virginia, he decided not to speak with law enforcement and asked for an attorney, according to the sheriffs office. Advertisement Advertisement It was not currently clear whether he retained an attorney as of Tuesday, March 10. He awaits extradition to North Carolina, a process that may take several weeks, the sheriffs office said in the news release. Law enforcement initially arrived at Vukmers home in response to a 911 call made by Vukmers wife on March 6, according to authorities, ABC11 reported. Vukmers wife was said to have found Floyd on the ground of the Vukmers home after she heard a disturbance involving Floyd and Vukmer. Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood said investigators found Vukmer at a vacation cabin in the area of Galax, Virginia, later on March 6, according to ABC11. Advertisement Advertisement We know the family and friends of Paula Floyd experienced a life-shattering event today, and we continue to extend our condolences, Blackwood said in a statement. It is our hope that they take some small measure of comfort knowing that her assailant is in custody. California Firefighter Detained After His Wife Was Found Dead in Their Home, LAPD Confirms In the wake of her death, Toler created a GoFundMe page in support of Floyds family. She was deeply loved by her family, friends, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing her, Toler wrote of Floyd. Her kindness, love, and the way she cared for others will never be forgotten. Her family is now facing the difficult reality of moving forward without her, the GoFundMe page says. A motive for the killing, if known, has not been shared by police. On Wednesday, the House passed Senate Bill 1220 with an attached amendment allowing highway speed limits in Florida to reach 80 mph, 10 mph higher than the speed limit on Interstate 95. People outside a rest stop in St. Johns County have mixed opinions on the increase. Lisa Chesin, a retiree traveling from California to Tampa, said she doesnt think its a good idea. I think people drive faster than the speed limit, so increasing it to 80 miles an hour is just gonna cause additional problems and unnecessary injuries and death, Chesin said. Advertisement Advertisement Other drivers think the increase wont make much of a difference. All the people are gonna go fast over the speed limit, and youre always gonna have people driving too slow, Alberto Gonzales of Orlando said. Now that the House has passed the bill, it will need to clear the Senate before potentially taking effect on July 1. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [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. The Iowa House of Representatives passed a bill Tuesday that would increase income limits for Iowans with disabilities who rely on Medicaid for essential services and also put certain restrictions on nutrition assistance programs. Several House Democrats said the bill would lead to starving infants and have a negative impact on Iowas economy. While several lawmakers argued the bill could go further, the changes to benefits for Iowans with disabilities were supported across the House. The changes to nutrition programs, namely a provision that would restrict participation in the federally funded Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, or WIC, was opposed by Democrats in the House. Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX House File 2716 would require the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to use the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements, or SAVE, program to verify immigration or citizenship status when determining eligibility for public assistance programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, WIC, medical assistance programs, the state child care assistance programs and the family investment program. Rep. Angel Ramirez, D-Cedar Rapids, said WIC, a program providing infant formula, breastfeeding support and nutrition to children and mothers, isnt a luxury. Its the difference between a healthy birth and a preventable tragedy, Ramirez said. And right now, WIC reaches families regardless of immigration status, because hunger does not know papers. Advertisement Advertisement Ramirez said the bill would deny food to children and infants who had no say in how they came into this country. Iowa has always stood for the dignity of every child this bill asks us to abandon that value, to look at a hungry infant and say: your paperwork matters more than your health, Ramirez said. Rep. Austin Harris, R-Moulton, said restricting programs like WIC so that only U.S. citizens and qualified aliens can partake is not a new concept. It comes down to this: Are we a nation of laws or not? Do we play by the rules or not? Harris said on the floor. Do we put Iowans first, or do we allow people who broke into this country to take advantage of these public assistance programs? Advertisement Advertisement Reps. Ross Wilburn, D-Ames and Rob Johnson, D-Des Moines, said the provisions related to nutrition would also have a negative impact on the local economy as fewer participants in the food assistance programs would mean less money spent in the local food economy. We are here not only stripping people from their SNAP benefits, but were also costing the state millions of dollars in monthly income, Johnson said. A fiscal note on the bill shows it will cost the state $44 million in fiscal year 2027. A large share of that figure comes from the Legislative Services Agencys calculation that compliance with the bill would require 86 new full-time employee positions with Child Support Services. Rep. Timi Brown-Powers, D-Waterloo, referenced the bills fiscal note and said the estimated costs show the Legislature is jumping the gun and throwing a lot of stuff in one bill. Advertisement Advertisement Harris, who managed and introduced the bill, said the fiscal note was way off. He noted the section calling for nearly 90 full-time employees drew on requirements from a bill that was enacted in 2023. Work without worry Harris said the best part of HF 2716 is the work without worry section that allows Iowans with disabilities to continue working and earning money without losing access to Medicaid services. This section of the bill would increase the income limit from 250% of the federal poverty limit to 300% of the federal poverty limit for Iowans to qualify for the Medicaid for Employed People with Disabilities program. I know some would like to have seen us go further in that, but this is a start, and I think it is, without a doubt, a large step in the right direction, Harris said. Advertisement Advertisement He also said the fiscal note did not take into consideration that with the bill in place, Iowans with disabilities on Medicaid would be able to earn more, pay more in taxes and potentially get off other public assistance programs. We have people who are on welfare who are begging us to let them work more I think thats a pretty conservative principle, Harris said. I think that this bill will give them the opportunity, a further opportunity, to contribute to society in the ways that they want to. Rep. J.D. Scholten, D-Sioux City, introduced an amendment that would have further expanded the work without worry policy in the state and removed the income cap for eligibility. Scholtens amendment also would have removed the other provisions of Harris bill, which Harris argued made the amendment not germane to the bill. The House, in a vote of 62-31, sided with Harris and the amendment was scrapped. Harris introduced his own amendment to the bill which exempted spousal income and one vehicle from income considerations for the Medicaid for employed persons with disabilities program. Harris said the amendment, which was adopted, also specified that legal children are allowed to receive WIC benefits, even if their parents are illegal. Advertisement Advertisement HF 2716 also requires HHS to submit various reports to the Legislature and waivers to the federal government, which Harris said would help the state align with changes to the programs made in the federal spending law known as the one big beautiful bill. The federal law included certain provisions that would penalize states with error rates in assistance programs above a certain threshold. HF 2716 would require periodic reports to the Legislature on error rates so the body could see the train coming down the tracks and know if they would need to appropriate more money for the programs, Harris explained. HHS could also require public assistance benefit program applicants to provide proof of 12 months of residency in the state, under the bill. The bill passed with a vote of 62-30, primarily along party lines. It moves to the Senate for further consideration. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE ANNVILLE, Pa. (WHTM) A new housing community in Lebanon County held its official ribbon cutting ceremony earlier this week. On March 10, the Garman Builders hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the new Southgate housing community situated in Annville, Lebanon County off of Bachman Road. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Local Business Beat According to Garman Builders, land development at the new community first began back in March 2025, followed by the start of vertical construction in September last year. Advertisement Advertisement It should be noted that this project is being tackled in four phases, and currently Garman Builders are in Phase 1. Once taken to completion, the new Southgate community will come to boast a total of 252 homes, with 50% of them being built by the Garman Builders, and the other half will be built by Landmark Homes. Lebanon County continues to grow, and with that growth comes a clear need for thoughtfully designed new homes, Hope Graby, Director of Marketing for Garman Builders said. Southgate responds directly to what todays buyers are asking for updated floorplans, high-value features, and a location that keeps them connected to work, schools, and community. Between Garman Builders and Landmark Homes, the Southgate community will offer 31 single-family floor plans ranging from 1,839 to 3,824 square feet in size. Homes for both companies are starting at $471,900. Advertisement Advertisement Plans include one and two-story homes, and homes with first-floor owners suites, and options for dual first-floor suites. According to Garman Builders, all Southgate homes will come equipped with: Gas Fireplace Luxury Vinyl Tile in Full Baths and the Laundry Room Hardwood Flooring in Foyer/Kitchen/Power Room Granite Countertop in Kitchen Tile Backsplash in Kitchen Full-Height Finished Basemen In addition to the homes, the Southgate community will also offer walking trails and a playground, although the playground has still not been built. A public grand opening for Southgate is planned for Saturday, March 14 from 11 a.m. to 2p.m. Advertisement Advertisement To learn more about the new community, you can go online. This is a developing story. Stay with abc27 News as more information becomes available. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. Nick Doughty, who runs retail operations for Portlands Elephants Delicatessen, has ordained two weddings for employees who chose to get married inside the delis flagship building on Northwest 22nd Avenue. He held his daughters second birthday party there and filled the planter beds outside of the buildings signature green rounded storefront with his own two hands. On Tuesday morning, he watched it burn. Fire investigators believe someone lit a fire outside of the building that ultimately spread onto the roof and into the restaurant, Portland Fire Bureau spokesperson Rick Graves said Tuesday. Officials werent sure yet whether that human caused fire was intentional or accidental, Graves said. Ive been holding this building together for 20 years and, you know, to see it go down in something senseless like this is terrible, Doughty said. Advertisement Advertisement Doughty called CEO Martin McClanan around 1 a.m. Tuesday to tell him about the fire. Human caused fire at flagship Portland deli leaves employees reeling When McClanan arrived, firefighters were in the process of dumping water onto the burning building, he said. For the next four hours, McClanan and Doughty an employee of 20 years waited for firefighters to finally knock down the flames. You come down hoping that its just isolated and small and youll be open for lunch, McClanan told The Oregonian/OregonLive on Tuesday morning. But after he saw trucks pouring water on the building, McClanan said, it registered that: oh, my God, this is incredibly real. McClanan said that hes grateful nobody was hurt in the fire, but doesnt know what it means for the restaurant. Hours after the fire on Tuesday, he wasnt sure when the location could reopen or how much it would cost to repair. Human caused fire at flagship Portland deli leaves employees reeling Matt Santy, a neighbor who lives behind the restaurant, said he woke to the roar of chainsaws, which firefighters used to cut holes in the delis roof to pump water into the burning building. Advertisement Advertisement At first he thought it was the sound of trucks picking up oil waste or trash from the commercial property. When the sound didnt relent, he opened his eyes and saw the red and blue flashing lights of fire trucks against his bedroom wall. Im like, oh no, Santy said. Santy could see black smoke billowing from the vents that would normally funnel smoke from cooking food, he said. He watched as firefighters raised ladders against the side of the building and flames ate away at the structure. Afraid it might spread, he grabbed his dog and left his house. Human caused fire at flagship Portland deli leaves employees reeling By the time that daylight broke, much of the building was charred and blackened, and puddles of waterlogged soot stretched across parts of the sidewalk. Advertisement Advertisement McClanan hopes the restaurants insurance will cover much of the damage. Hes trying to find work opportunities for the roughly 50 people employed at the now damaged location. Human caused fire at flagship Portland deli leaves employees reeling Its pretty emotional. We love this place, and its just damn sad, he said. We love our customers, we love our employees. And now we gotta close it down and hopefully we can get it back. Person of interest in Elephants fire Portland Fire & Rescue released photo and video Tuesday of a person they believe may have knowledge of how the fire started. Graves asked anyone with information to contact the tip line at 503-823-3473 or arsontips@police.portlandoregon.gov. Read the original article on oregonlive.com. Add oregonlive.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here. More than 800 business registrations filed last year in California may have been fraudulent, CBS News California Investigates has found. That figure represents a small proportion of the more than 3 million businesses registered in the state in 2025, but it appears to indicate a growing problem with identity theft. Identity theft experts say criminals are creating fake business entities by targeting a specific population: legal immigrants. Advertisement Advertisement People can register a business, such as a limited liability or stock corporation, through the California Secretary of State's office. Typically, it requires cursory information about the business name, who is part of the business and a fee. The Secretary of State's office says using its secure portal means "stronger protection from business identity theft and fraud." On Nov. 6, 2023, someone claiming to be Tomas Andriusonis registered a business named "Andriusonis Kitchen & Bath," and listed an address at a location in North Hills. When CBS News California Investigates went to the address, it turned out to be a private home. Both occupants said they knew nothing about a kitchen and bath company. The real Tomas Andriusonis lives half a world away, just outside of Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. Advertisement Advertisement When contacted by senior investigative reporter Ross Palombo, Andriusonis said he doesn't own a kitchen and bath business and has never been in that line of work. It's not just him. CBS News California Investigates randomly sampled more than 10 suspicious Secretary of State business filings, which included construction companies, senior care centers, nail salons and pharmacies. None appeared to be real businesses. All of the locations checked were private businesses or apartments. Three separate businesses were registered to one small Glendale apartment. David Maimon, a fraud investigator for SentiLink, a provider of identity and risk solutions, said he uncovers new trends in fraud to help banks avoid losses. Advertisement Advertisement 2.96 MB How former immigrant records fuel business-based fraud "We find a lot of identities connected with former legal immigrants here in the U.S.," Maimon said. Maimon uncovered the new trend in identity theft by analyzing SentiLink data, which he said shows the apparent targeting of immigrants who have moved to the U.S. for school or temporary work, then returned to their home countries. Maimon said criminals use these stolen identities because those victims are less likely to discover fraud while living abroad. He described this type of identity theft as "gold" for criminals. Advertisement Advertisement According to data from the Federal Trade Commission, there were 135,575 reports of identity theft between Q1 and Q3, which was 97% of the number of reports of identity theft in 2024. The FTC data also show that Los Angeles, Long Beach and Anaheim rank sixth for identity theft among all metropolitan areas in the U.S. With those "golden IDs," Maimon said, criminals created more than 800 fraudulent businesses in Southern California last year. "Once you have a business under your name, then the limits are way higher and you can definitely aim for bigger loans," Maimon said. One woman who asked to remain anonymous told CBS News California Investigates that identity theft ruined her life. Advertisement Advertisement Her financial records showed increased spending for a fake construction company registered in her name with the Secretary of State's office at a Van Nuys address. Zip codes in California with registered businesses that could be fraudulent (Symbol map) Now living in Thailand, the former Penn State student said she discovered 30 accounts with thousands of dollars in total charges, all connected to her name. "Before this thing happened, my credit score was 800," the woman said, noting that her credit score has since plummeted to 419. In Andriusonis' case, Bank of America eventually filed a lawsuit against him for more than $45,000 in charges that he said he never spent. Advertisement Advertisement "I was a bit in disbelief," Andriusonis said. "This was very weird to hear, how easily the bank gave out the loan ... How easy it was to fake my ID documentation." It's made easy, Maimon said, because registering these businesses with the state makes the businesses seem real. CBS News California Investigates was able to register a business, "Fake Business, LLC," with the Secretary of State's office for $70. With no apparent approval or verification on the Secretary of State's website, it was possible to register " within minutes. California Secretary of State Shirley Weber declined an interview to discuss the business registration process. A representative for Weber's office said that state law only requires the office to "file" the business, it does not require them to investigate the legitimacy of the entity. The spokesperson said the office does have a fraud detection procedure, but would not elaborate. Advertisement Advertisement "Anyone can go on the internet, pay $200 and there you have it," said Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Peter Hish, who works with the Fraud & Cyber Crimes Bureau. In L.A. County, Hish said business registration fraud is just one part of the 25,000 ID theft cases his Cyberfraud Unit saw last year, victimizing thousands of people along the way, which can have grave consequences. Hish explained that he's seen people become suicidal after experiencing identity theft. One of the women living at a Glendale address being used for a fraudulent business was receiving mail for a company called "YJ Pharmacy" for months. Maimon believes she is one of the many victims who are indirectly affected by these cases. Advertisement Advertisement "I think the state could find way more than 10 businesses in one day," Maimon said. But until they do, victims worry about what other businesses they'll find connected to them down the road. "I'm not sure who to blame the most," Andriusonis said. CBS News California Investigates reached out to Gov. Gavin Newsom for a comment. His office declined repeated interview requests and did not issue a statement. CBS News exclusive: LA is "ground zero" for hospice fraud Family of teacher killed during prank asks for charges to be dropped against teens How Venezuela is changing 2 months after Maduro's capture Juice bar and coffee shop chain Joe & The Juice has partnered with Uber Eats in the UK to expand its delivery service in the country. The arrangement gives the company access to Uber Eats broad UK network, which now covers more than 70 towns and cities and is available to more than 90% of the countrys population. In a statement, Joe & The Juice said the move will enable Uber Eats users to order the brands products for on-demand delivery. The partnership will also build the brands omnichannel presence and unlock more ordering occasions throughout the day. The launch comes as more consumers are turning to delivery for breakfast and functional beverages. According to Uber Eats data, breakfast was the fastest-growing meal occasion in 2025, with searches for breakfast and coffee more than doubling year on year. By linking with Uber Eats, the juice bar chain aims to cater to this rising demand by bringing its menu directly to homes and workplaces. Joe & The Juices UK managing director Jon James said: At Joe, our mission has always been to make high-quality, better for you food and drinks part of peoples everyday routines. Partnering with Uber Eats allows us to remove barriers to access and meet customers wherever they are, whether at home, at work or on the go. With demand for matcha and breakfast continuing to rise, this partnership gives us the scale and reach to serve even more communities across the UK." The brand will also remain available on Just Eat and Deliveroo. Last month, Aditya Birla New Age Hospitality partnered with Joe & The Juice to launch and operate the brand in India. "Joe & The Juice widens UK delivery reach with Uber Eats deal" was originally created and published by Verdict Food Service, a GlobalData owned brand. A Hungarian delegation led by Gabor Czepek, State Secretary at Hungary's Energy Ministry, has set out for Ukraine to hold talks on reopening the Druzhba oil pipeline and to assess its condition. Source: European Pravda, citing Czepek on Facebook Details: At the border crossing with Ukraine, Czepek said the delegation wants to negotiate not only with the Kyiv government, which is responsible for energy policy, but also with ambassadors and a representative of the European Commission, arguing that resuming oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline is the only solution to Europe's energy crisis. Advertisement Advertisement Czepek also mentioned the energy situation caused by the war in the Middle East. He added that the delegation intends to determine the current state of the pipeline and create the conditions required for its operation to resume. Czepek added that the delegation includes an oil industry expert, a senior government official with international experience, and an energy market analyst. He also noted that the delegation had held talks with representatives of Slovakia's energy sector and government in Bratislava before travelling to Ukraine. Background: Last week Czepek said he had sent a letter to Ukraine's Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal giving Ukraine "three days" to reopen the Druzhba pipeline. Earlier, Hungary and Slovakia announced plans to send a monitoring mission to the site of the damage to the Druzhba pipeline in the city of Brody in Ukraine's west in order to obtain an expert assessment. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Paris yesterday and said they share the view that oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline should be resumed. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of lying after Zelenskyy said he does not know what the Hungarian delegation is doing in Ukraine. Source: European Pravda, citing Szijjarto on Facebook Details: Szijjarto said that "the Ukrainian president is lying". Quote: "Zelenskyy claims he did not know about the arrival of the Hungarian delegation in Ukraine because the Hungarian government did not coordinate the visit with Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. But what is the reality? Yesterday we officially informed the Ukrainians that a Hungarian delegation led by Deputy Energy Minister Gabor Czepek [State Secretary at Hungary's Energy Ministry] would visit Ukraine to inspect the condition of the Druzhba oil pipeline, and we also requested a meeting with Ukraine's energy minister." Advertisement Advertisement More details: Szijjarto also posted a photo of a document dated 10 March referring to the relevant request from the Hungarian Embassy to Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It said the delegation would be in Kyiv on Thursday and Friday. The embassy asked the ministry to help arrange a meeting between the delegation and Denys Shmyhal, Ukraine's First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy. Szijjarto said the Ukrainians had blocked oil supplies to Hungary at a time when maritime oil transport is facing its greatest uncertainty in history, while the only alternative to the Druzhba oil pipeline is the sea route. Quote: "Therefore, the Ukrainian oil blockade is nothing less than a serious crime against Hungary." Background: Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he does not know what the Hungarian delegation that arrived allegedly to inspect the Druzhba oil pipeline is doing in Ukraine. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry stated that a Hungarian "monitoring group" entered Ukraine on the morning of 11 March, but it has no official status and no official meetings are scheduled. The group of Hungarians led by Gabor Czepek, Hungary's State Secretary of the Ministry of Energy, announced its intention to visit Ukraine to hold talks on restoring the operation of the Druzhba oil pipeline and to inspect its condition. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! BUDAPEST, March 11 (Reuters) - The main Hungarian opposition party Tisza's lead over long-time Prime Minister Viktor Orban's Fidesz shrank slightly in a poll published on Wednesday, as campaigning enters its final month before an April 12 election. Nationalist Orban faces the biggest challenge to his rule in 16 years, although the outcome of the vote - coming against the backdrop of the Ukraine-Russia war and building economic challenges - remains highly uncertain, with opinion polls showing that many voters are still undecided. A poll by 21 Research Centre (21 Kutatokozpont), conducted between March 2 and 6 and released on Wednesday, showed Tisza leads by 14 percentage points ahead of Fidesz among decided voters, down from a 16-point lead in the agency's last poll in January. Advertisement Advertisement Centre-right Tisza, led by former government insider Peter Magyar, had the support of 53% of decided voters, unchanged from January, according to 21 Research Centre, while 39% backed Fidesz, up from 37% in the previous poll. The poll, published by news site 24.hu, showed 38% support for Tisza among all voters, with Fidesz backed by 30%. Based on the poll, Tisza could win 115 seats in Hungary's 199-seat parliament, and Fidesz could expect 78 seats. The far-right Our Homeland (Mi Hazank) party would be the only other party crossing the 5% threshold to win seats. Magyar has said his party would curb corruption, unlock billions of euros in frozen European Union funds to boost the economy, and firmly anchor Hungary in the EU and NATO. Advertisement Advertisement Fidesz has pointed to other surveys that still show it on course to victory, though opponents - who criticise Orban for harming the rule of law and keeping warm ties with Russia - say these have mainly been conducted by institutes with financial or personal ties to the ruling party. (Reporting by Anita Komuves; Editing by Alex Richardson) The Hungarian parliament on March 10 voted in support of a resolution opposing Ukraine's EU accession and continued European assistance to the war-torn country. Lawmakers urged Hungary's government to "avoid sending money or weapons to Ukraine" and instead support "international peace efforts," Hungarian government spokesperson Zoltan Kovacs said. The measure, backed by 142 lawmakers, with 28 voting against and four abstaining, comes amid surging tensions between Kyiv and Budapest and just a month before pivotal Hungarian parliamentary elections. Advertisement Advertisement Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whose Fidesz-KDNP Party Alliance holds 135 seats in parliament, has staunchly opposed Ukraine's entry into the EU. "The resolution states that Ukraine's accession to the EU is opposed because the country is at war, and its admission would risk making the European Union a direct party to the conflict," Kovacs said on X. Ukraine was granted EU candidate status in 2022 in the wake of Russia's all-out invasion, but Budapest has so far blocked the opening of the first accession clusters. Hungarian lawmakers also warned that further EU aid to Ukraine would come at the cost of cohesion and agricultural financing for member states. Advertisement Advertisement The resolution urged the government to "prevent both Hungary and the EU from being drawn into the war," echoing Orban's long-standing narrative that Western military support for Ukraine is thwarting a peaceful resolution. The MPs further warned against "initiatives that would transform the EU into a military alliance" and efforts to bypass unanimity in EU decision-making. Budapest is currently blocking the EU's 20th package of sanctions against Moscow and a 90-billion-euro ($105-billion) loan for Kyiv in connection with the halt of oil transit via the Druzhba pipeline. The route, which had been funneling Russian crude to Hungary and Slovakia via Ukrainian territory, went offline in late January due to a Russian strike in western Ukraine, Kyiv said. Advertisement Advertisement Bratislava and Budapest have accused Ukraine of intentionally withholding supplies. Hungarian-Ukrainian tensions escalated further last week after Hungary seized two Ukrainian bank vehicles carrying more than $80 million in cash and gold and expelled seven bank employees on suspicion of money laundering activities. Kyiv has denounced the move as "state terrorism." Read also: Exclusive: Saudi Arabia prepping huge deal for Ukrainian weapons amid Iranian drone threat Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Hunters are preparing to return to the hunting grounds in hopes of tagging turkeys. The Fall 2025 season ended just a few short months ago, but hunters wont have to wait long to get back into the wild to bag the birds. Last year's turkey hunting seasons resulted in more than 15,000 turkeys being harvested by hunters and more than 50,000 tags sold by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Turkey hunting is an intimate experience, calling the birds close, making it go against instinct, using your experience and skills learned from time spent in the woods to try to trick that bird to coming to you, said Jim Coffey, forest wildlife biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). And if everything goes right, only around 22-25 percent of our tags get filled. Even the most experienced turkey hunters make mistakes. Advertisement Advertisement Iowa DNR recently announced the dates for the spring hunting season for youth and adult hunters. Heres everything you need to know if youre interested in turkey hunting this spring. When can you hunt turkeys in Iowa? Iowa DNR has designated four different seasons for turkey hunting. During each of these seasons, hunters are allowed to use either a gun or a crossbow to hunt. However, Iowa DNR has also designated a portion of its spring turkey hunting season for archery-only hunting by state residents. Hunters may begin hunting turkeys in each season one half-hour before sunrise. Hunters are not allowed to hunt turkeys after sunset. When are Iowa turkey seasons in 2026? Heres a look at when each season starts: Advertisement Advertisement Combination Gun/Bow Season 1: April 13-16 Combination Gun/Bow Season 2: April 17-21 Combination Gun/Bow Season 3: April 22-28 Combination Gun/Bow Season 4: April 29-May 17 The youth season for residents 15 and under is from April 10-12. Do I need a license to hunt turkeys in Iowa? Iowa DNR requires residents and non-residents to have a license in order to hunt turkeys within the state. A resident hunting/habitat license is $35 and tags are $28.50. Residents may have a maximum of two spring turkey hunting licenses. Hunters may purchase two archery-only licenses, one archery-only and one combination gun/bow license, or two combination gun/bow licenses with one of those being a Season 4 license. Advertisement Advertisement For nonresidents, the prices are higher. A nonresident hunting/habitat license is $144. Nonresident turkey tags cost $119. In order to purchase a hunting license in Iowa, hunters must also be certified in hunter education. The course is free. Licenses are not required for hunters under the age of 16 if accompanied by a licensed adult. Is it legal to hunt turkeys in Iowa without a license? Hunting without a license in Iowa is prohibited. Doing so could lead to a simple misdemeanor charge. According to Iowa DNR, the fine schedule for hunting turkeys each time without a license is as follows: Hunting without a license: $135.50 No habitat fee: $89.50 No turkey tag: $95.25 Shooting a turkey without reporting the mandatory harvest: $89.50 Advertisement Advertisement If you are required to go to court, civil penalties for infractions are $200 per turkey. Emery Glover is an audience engagement specialist for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at eglover@usatodayco.com. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa's spring turkey hunting season is near. Here's what you can hunt. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported 12-year-old American twin sisters to Guatemala, even after their motherwho was also deportedrequested for them to stay in Florida with their grandmother. Now ICE has been ordered to bring them home. Marly Carolina Morataya Zepeda was ordered to appear at an Orlando, Florida, ICE facility on March 9 with her children and documents to complete her deportation process. Her mother, Sonia Garcia Valles, waited outside the courthouse with the twins until an ICE officer told her to bring the twins into the detention center, where they were taken into custody. The court filed a temporary restraining order against the twins deportation, only to learn hours later that they were already on a plane to Guatemala, even though their mother filled out the proper paperwork to have her children, who were born in Orlando, stay in the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement The traumatic error is being remedied. Respondents are DIRECTED to coordinate with Petitioners and their counsel to facilitate, including by covering all associated costs, the IMMEDIATE AND SAFE RETURN of minor Petitioners A.E.T.M. and A.E.T.M. to the United States, specifically to the custody of their grandmother, Sonia Garcia Valles, in Orlando, Florida via the Orlando International Airport, the court order read. This massive mistake has become all too common during the Trump administration, even as it claims time and time again that it does not deport American citizens, much less middle schoolers. The Trump mass deportation push has led to ICE screwing up at levels weve never seen before, American Immigration Council senior fellow Aaron Reichlin-Melnick wrote on Wednesday. These kinds of errors have always happened on occasion in the past, but now theyre happening daily/weekly as basic accountability measures have been pushed aside in the rush to deport. A Philippines-based woman has described how "heartbreaking" it is to get less than $2 per hour pretending to be much better paid OnlyFans models in online chats. The platform works by linking creators of explicit content to users, who pay a subscription to access their material and chat online. However, while high-profile creators can earn large sums of money, the job of interacting with fans - and attempting to sell them images and videos - is often done by low-paid people, employed by third parties, such as the person the BBC spoke to. Advertisement Advertisement A union representing such workers - known as "chatters" - told BBC News it was concerned about the "largely unregulated nature of this type of online work". OnlyFans, which generated $7.2bn (5.3bn) revenue in 2024, declined to comment but its terms of service state that its business relationship is solely with the content creator. 'It's really not pleasant' The BBC is not naming the woman it spoke to in order to protect her identity. Employed by an agency used by the model she was pretending to be, she says she first took up this type of work to support her family during a period of lower income, earning under $2 per hour and working an 8hr shift five days a week. Advertisement Advertisement She would be set targets to earn the model hundreds of dollars worth of sales of pictures and videos during her shift. The most popular creators on the platform claim to earn millions of dollars per month. A more recent period of chatting work with a new agency offered improved conditions and pay, though still less than $4 an hour. She said she knew the work would involve explicit content - but even so "sexting" was unpleasant. "It's kind of icky when you think about it, because you'll have to do sexting a lot of times, like, several times in an hour because, you know, you'll be talking to several fans all at once". Advertisement Advertisement She said the people she chatted to often seemed "really nice" but were obviously lonely, making the whole process feel sad, especially as she was not the person she was pretending to be. That dishonesty troubled her, she said, "Technically, I'm scamming them, because I'll be sending all those photos and videos to them, and I'm just after the sale," she said Indeed the use of chatters has lead to legal cases against OnlyFans and the agencies who employ them, by users and law firms who feel the practice is deceptive. So far none have succeeded. Some fans the chatter said would ask for "really weird, kinks or fetishes" which she could generally tolerate - but not always. Advertisement Advertisement "There are days where I feel like, 'what the hell am I doing here?' because there are days that it would really take its toll on you". Asked if she felt exploited, she described accepting an under two dollars an hour pay rate as "not her finest hour". "It's really not pleasant, you know? You're going to question yourself. Your morality, even, and even your conscience," she told the BBC. "It's really kind of heart-breaking, especially knowing that the agency is getting way more," she added. The chatter also described concerns about potential legal risk in taking on the work, given relatively tough anti-pornography laws in the Philippines. Advertisement Advertisement The BPO Industry Employees' Network or BIEN is an independent union representing workers in the outsourced business process jobs in the Philippines. Mylene Cabalona, its president, told the BBC that "while the Philippines does have relatively strict laws regarding pornography, our main concern as a union is the largely unregulated nature of this type of online work". This raised, she said, serious concerns about workers' exposure to "potentially egregious or harmful content, as well as a lack of clear guidelines on safety, accountability, and worker protection". But there were also advantages to outsourced digital jobs, including chatting, which could, Cabalona said, allow workers to earn income from home, while supporting clients or platforms abroad. Advertisement Advertisement "These jobs can also offer higher potential income compared to some local entry-level jobs and provide opportunities to develop skills in digital work," she noted. [BBC] Sign up for our Tech Decoded newsletter to follow the world's top tech stories and trends. Outside the UK? Sign up here. If your gas tank is running low, you might want to fuel up soon. Gasoline prices are rising quickly in Idaho. Gas prices usually begin climbing this time of year as stations switch to summer-blend fuel, which costs more to produce. However, thats not the only reason fuel costs are spiking, according to AAA Oregon/Idaho. Idaho drivers are facing soaring gas prices due to the Iran conflict, the automobile association said in a Monday, March 9, news release. Advertisement Advertisement Heres what to know: How much are gas prices increasing in Idaho? As of Tuesday, March 10, a gallon of regular gasoline cost about $3.40 in Idaho, according to AAA. Thats an increase of about 32 cents compared to a week ago, the automobile association said. A gallon of gas costs 47 cents more in Idaho than it did a month ago, AAA said. Prices across the country are off to the races, but they arent skyrocketing in Idaho as quickly as they have in other states, AAA Idaho public affairs director Matthew Conde said in Mondays release. However, these days, thats like celebrating the last banana to go rotten. Its only a matter of time Patrons fuel up at a Stinker Stores gas station in Boise in 2021. (Darin Oswald/doswald@idahostatesman.com) How did Iran air strikes impact gas prices? As of Tuesday, the Strait of Hormuz was closed to shipping in response to air strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel, effectively halting all trade of essential goods from the Middle East through that narrow waterway. Advertisement Advertisement The maritime trading port, which sits between Iran and Oman, is one of the worlds most important oil chokepoints, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The Strait of Hormuz supports 20% of the crude oil trade around the world, the federal agency said. The inability of oil to transit a major chokepoint, even temporarily, can create substantial supply delays and raise shipping costs, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said on its website. Crude oil prices recently surged past $100 a barrel for the first time in nearly four years, CNN reported. As of Tuesday, Brent crude oil futures had dropped to $88.50 a barrel after jumping to $120 over the weekend for the first time since 2022, according to the Trading Economics website. Gas prices are soaring in Idaho, AAA says. (David Staats/dstaats@idahostatesman.com) Will fuel costs continue to rise? According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the countries most likely to be affected by supply disruptions due to the Strait of Hormuz closure are China, India, Japan and South Korea. Advertisement Advertisement The United States has federal oil reserves to help cushion the economic impact, the Trading Economics website said. However, if the Iran conflict continues for an extended period, costs will eventually rise as a result of the shutdown. President Donald Trump told CBS News on Monday that the war (against Iran) is very complete, pretty much. Topping off your tank may continue to get pricier until the Strait of Hormuz reopens. To conserve gas and save money, AAA said drivers should bundle trips, avoid stop-and-go traffic and leverage fuel rewards points. Caitlin Dill of Boise visits the gas pump to fill up her car in 2013 at a Boise filling station. (Darin Oswald/doswald@idahostatesman.com) What are current gas prices in Boise? Idaho Falls? As of Tuesday, a gallon of regular gas cost about $3.53 a gallon on average nationwide. Advertisement Advertisement However, Idaho drivers can find gas for less in most major cities. As of Tuesday, these were average per-gallon prices for regular gas at metropolitan areas around Idaho: Boise : $3.42 Coeur dAlene : $3.48 Idaho Falls : $3.31 Lewiston : $3.54 Pocatello : $3.37 Twin Falls: $3.35 Find cheapest gas stations near me GasBuddy is a price-tracking website designed to help drivers find the cheapest gas prices in their areas. You can search for the most affordable gas stations near you on the GasBuddy website. Idaho lawmakers introduced legislation Wednesday declaring state support for eliminating the federal Department of Education, after a committee debated whether the public should weigh in on the subject. Ultimately, after a divided voice vote, House State Affairs Chairman Rep. Brent Crane, R- Nampa, ruled that the motion to introduce the bill, known in the legislature as a memorial, which serves as a formal quest, and hold a hearing passed. House Assistant Majority Leader Jason Monks, R-Meridian, attends a post-State of the State Address press conference on Jan. 12, 2026, at the Idaho Capitol in Boise. (Photo by Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun) House Majority Leader Jason Monks, a Meridian Republican, said Gov. Brad Littles office asked him to carry the joint memorial, which would be sent to Idahos congressional delegation to show the Legislatures support for turning over education oversight fully to the states. Monks said Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield also supported the federal departments elimination. Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trump has said the elimination of the federal Department of Education, established in 1980, is a top priority for his administration, though that would require an act of Congress. Joint memorials do not change the law and are merely a formal request or declaration. Rep. Joe Palmer, R-Meridian, made a motion to introduce the memorial, but also send it to whats called the House second reading calendar, which would bypass the usual public hearing process and send it straight for a full House floor debate. Monks had said he didnt have a preference on if the memorial had a public hearing or not. Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Monica Church, a Boise Democrat, strongly opposed circumventing a public hearing and made a substitute motion to introduce the bill and recommended that it return so the committee could gather input from the community. If we believe that this memorial is important, I believe we need to let the public have an opportunity to talk about it, Church said. She said if the federal Department of Education were eliminated, there would potentially be significant changes in state systems to oversee compliance with federal laws, such as those related to civil rights, gender discrimination, and special education. Committee members discussed for around 15 minutes whether a public hearing was needed. Rep. Anne Henderson Haws, D-Boise, noted that the memorial made statements such as the departments elimination would cause taxpayer dollars to be spent more efficiently and therefore lead to better student outcomes. Advertisement Advertisement I dont think that its fiscally responsible to make statements like this without any backing behind this bill, Haws said. And so we should at least have a hearing on this in this committee, so that we can further discuss whether there is evidence that thats actually true. When the committee voted on Churchs motion to introduce the bill and have a hearing, the aye and nay votes were very close. It was unclear how many voted either way, but Crane ruled it passed. The joint memorial may return for a public hearing and another vote at the discretion of the committee chair. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The IDF confirmed on Tuesday that it had struck 80 targets in Lebanon during the day. Four Iranian diplomats were killed in Lebanon on Sunday in an Israeli attack, Iranian state media claimed on Tuesday, citing Iran's UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani. The Iranian report follows the IDF confirmation earlier on Monday that it had renewed its strikes against Hezbollah terrorists and infrastructure in Beirut. Advertisement Advertisement The military also stated it had identified a cell of Hezbollah terrorists, directing an aircraft to carry out a strike on Monday. During Operation Roaring Lion, the IDF confirmed it had dismantled over 70 missile launchers. Additionally, the IDF struck a Hezbollah rocket launcher in southern Lebanon early on Tuesday morning, and began conducting raids in southern Lebanon, and identified terrorists who entered a structure near the soldiers. Following the identification, an IDF tank opened fire, killing the terrorists, the military stated. IDF strikes Radwan Force structure, weapons storage facility in Lebanon A structure belonging to commandos from Hezbollah's Radwan Force was also struck, as well as a weapons storage facility belonging to the terrorists, the military added. Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, the IDF identified suspects operating near IDF soldiers, posing a threat, and the Israel Air Force conducted a strike to kill the suspected terrorists. IDF strikes a Hezbollah terror command center in southern Lebanon in footage published March 10, 2026. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT) Further, the IDF found numerous weapons and propaganda materials belonging to Hezbollah terrorists. Earlier on Tuesday, the IDF announced that it had carried out attacks on Hezbollah command centers during the overnight hours. These centers were near Ansar, a village in southern Lebanon where rockets were fired towards Israel, the military stated. Advertisement Advertisement Before the strike, the IDF Arabic-language spokesperson's office issued an evacuation warning to village residents. IDF completes round of strikes against Al-Qard Al-Hasan terror financing organization in Lebanon Amid this, the IDF continued to carry out strikes against assets of the Al-Qard Al-Hasan terror financing organization, noting that approximately 30 assets were attacked in the past week. IAF fighter jets, guided by Israeli military intelligence, completed a round of strikes on Monday against the financing organization, which funds Hezbollah's terror activities, including the purchase of weapons, production equipment, and payment of terror salaries. Reuters contributed to this report. Last week, the SEC did something rather unusual for the Trump erait announced a plan to fine a crypto company for violating Americas securities laws. Since President Donald Trumps return to power, the Wall Street regulator has dropped virtually all crypto-related cases it inherited from prior administrations. The agencys new leadership has argued it should have no part in regulating most crypto activity. But on Thursday, the SEC moved to settle its longstanding case against Justin Sun, a controversial crypto entrepreneur with business ties to the Trump family. Legal experts say the unique dynamics of the settlement may have unforeseen implicationsand, potentially, undermine some of the logic propping up the Trump SECs aggressively pro-crypto posture. In 2023, the SEC under President Joe Biden accused Sun not only of offering unregistered securities in the form of two crypto tokensTRX and BTTbut also of manipulating the secondary markets for those tokens with wash trading. Within weeks of Trumps return to the White House, however, the SEC paused the case. The move prompted an uproar among Democrats, who highlighted Suns payments of tens of millions of dollars to Trump family crypto projects. Sun quickly became the face of political attacks regarding the presidents alleged crypto corruption. Last week, the SEC finally announced a plan to settle its case against Sun for $10 million and dismiss all outstanding charges against the entrepreneur. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) swiftly blasted the deal, which still needs to be approved by a federal judge, as a free pass handed to a crypto billionaire with ties to Donald Trump. But there may be more to the proposed settlement than meets the eye. While the agreement between Sun and the SEC did not require the crypto entrepreneur to admit any wrongdoing, it did expressly state Sun needed to pay the $10 million for violating the Securities Act of 1933. If the SEC wanted to fine Sun, it had to claim jurisdiction over his case. But does that mean the Trump SEC still contends TRX or BTT were, in fact, securities? Such an admission could constitute a huge shift in the SECs approach to crypto, given the regulator has dismissed nearly every other ongoing case involving similar tokens. A source familiar with the SECs thinking confirmed the agency did, in fact, take such a view when deciding it had jurisdiction to settle its case against Sun. The SEC has jurisdiction because it alleged in the amended complaint that, at the time of the wash trading, TRX was offered and sold subject to an investment contract, the source told Decrypt. Illinois voters who plan to use mail-in ballots for the March 17 primary election should be aware of postmarking procedures and ballot return options. Mail-in ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day and arrive within two weeks afterward, according to a community announcement. However, ballots dropped in a mailbox or handed to a letter carrier may not receive a postmark until they are processed at a regional facility, which can take a day or two. Voters returning ballots by mail close to the primary are advised to visit a postal service retail location and have their ballot manually postmarked, according to the announcement. Return by mail, drop box or in person Most of Illinois' 108 local election authorities offer secure drop boxes for ballot returns, allowing voters to bypass the mail system. Information on drop box availability and locations is available on the Illinois State Board of Elections website, according to the announcement. Advertisement Advertisement Voters can also return their marked mail ballots in person to their local election authority's office. Mail ballots are available through March 12 Those wishing to vote by mail have until March 12 to request a ballot from their local election authority. Applications and contact information are available on the Illinois State Board of Elections website, according to the announcement. The State Board of Elections is an independent state agency responsible for overseeing the administration of election laws in Illinois. Elections are administered locally by the state's 108 election authorities. 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 Journal Standard: Mailing a ballot in Illinois? What you need to know by March 17 COLUMBIA The House approved two income tax bills Tuesday immediately after passing a $15.4 billion spending plan that didnt factor in their revenue losses. The votes sent one bill, which lowers state income tax rates, to the governors desk. Republicans tout it as a tax cut, though many South Carolinians will pay more next year under the changes. Democrats blasted the bill as a tax increase on working people. The other bill would temporarily apply federal tax cuts to state income taxes. The House advanced the first draft of the state budget in a vote of 101-18, with members of the ultra-conservative Freedom Caucus opposed. It included about $248 million for tax relief in anticipation of the passage of laws changing how the state collects revenue. Advertisement Advertisement Thats not enough to cover the combined $597 million in income tax reductions representatives passed immediately after. The House voted 71-49 to agree with the Senates accelerated reduction of the top marginal income tax rate, a move expected to reduce taxes for almost 43% of filers and reduce revenue by nearly $309 million in the first year. Democrats noted that its impact to taxpayers vary wildly across income levels. State revenue analysts predict 23% of filers will pay more next year, while 35% will see no change. The legislation requires further reductions in future years as the economy grows. It was the final vote needed to send that bill to Gov. Henry McMaster. The budget and the other tax-cutting bill still have a long way to go. Advertisement Advertisement Representatives unanimously advanced a plan to use federal tax reductions for taxes due April 15. Conforming for one year only to the changes passed by Congress last summer is expected to reduce revenues by $288.5 million. Its unclear whether senators will even take that up. Legislators will figure out how to account for the reductions when the budget returns to them from the Senate, said Ways and Means Chairman Bruce Bannister. They may not need to cut anything. State revenue updates between the budgets first draft and the Senate passing its version generally provide legislators more money to spend. Those updates look at collections so far this year and how that impacts predictions for next fiscal year. Ultimately, the Houses second budget proposal which sets up negotiations between the chambers will depend on what the Senate passes. Bannister was unsure how the House would deal with a property tax cut for older homeowners that the Senate advanced. Advertisement Advertisement If thats a sticking point for senators, that could change the calculations on the House side as well, he said. Well see if those numbers hold, Bannister, R-Greenville, told reporters after the votes Tuesday night. Leaders were generally happy with their first bite of the budget, which advanced faster than anticipated with no major changes. This is a budget that brings people together rather than pulls people apart, House Speaker Murrell Smith, R-Sumter, told reporters. Income taxes Some Republicans said the reduced income tax rates, which already went beyond what the House passed last year, still didnt cut enough. As advanced by the House last year, the overall reduction in year one was $119.1 million, compared to $308.7 million in the Senate plan, according to updated estimates from the state Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office. Advertisement Advertisement Democrats and Republicans in the hardline Freedom Caucus said a purported tax cut shouldnt increase taxes. Democrats pointed out that roughly a third of tax filers who report between $20,000 and $30,000 in taxable income, after deductions and any other adjustments, will pay more next year. According to the analysis, those roughly 89,000 filers will pay, on average, $39 more on their 2027 returns, while about 52,000 filers in that income range will pay, on average, $52 less. The analysis shows winners and losers for every income level. More than 70% of South Carolinians reporting over $1 million in taxable income are expected to see a decrease, averaging $10,000. But 20% of those highest earners will pay more next year, to the tune of more than $17,000. Advertisement Advertisement The changes will affect taxpayers differently depending on their situations and applicable adjustments. There are ups and downs even for filers reporting zero taxable income. Under the bill, 35% of filers continue to pay zero state income taxes. Any increase for a taxpayer is too much, said Rep. Jordan Pace, who leads the Freedom Caucus. I think its an absolutely insane proposition that the Republican supermajority House is going to raise taxes, the Goose Creek Republican told reporters after the vote. The bill includes a plan to eventually eliminate the states income tax entirely through incremental reductions that happen only if revenue grows enough to support them. Pace likened the goal to the tunnels painted on brick walls in the cartoon Wile E. Coyote taxpayers would believe theyd reach a 0% income tax rate one day but never actually get there. Advertisement Advertisement This could put us to zero, maybe one day, when Im 67 years old and I have grandkids, Pace said during the debate. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX He proposed a half dozen changes to bring the tax rate further down, in some cases at a cost of more than $1 billion to the state. None passed. Rep. Brandon Newton, one of the bills 55 sponsors, called Paces arguments disingenuous, saying his cuts were not about trying to pass good legislation but to use as reelection fodder. All 124 House seats are on the ballot this year. Any of Paces plans would risk both blowing up the budget and potentially killing the bill, Newton said. Advertisement Advertisement Only adopting the Senates changes sent the bill to the governor. Any change would return it to the Senate for negotiations. Im certainly not going to let my legacy be that I had the opportunity to put on the desk of the governor the ability to have no income tax in South Carolina in a responsible way and I gave it up because it wasnt perfect, said Newton, R-Lancaster. Budget debate Members of the Freedom Caucus attempted to slash parts of the budget, particularly ones that made decisions they disagreed with. None of those efforts stuck. The budget debate at times delved into philosophical questions about what constitutes a core function of government, a metric the Freedom Caucus uses to decide what they believe deserves state money. Their definition includes education, roads, law enforcement and museums, but not agencies such as the Arts Commission or the Sea Grant Consortium, which conducts environmental research along the coast. That conversation, which echoed arguments the caucus has made during past budget debates, rankled other legislators. Advertisement Advertisement As Rep. Josiah Magnuson attempted an explanation by comparing the governments functions to a solar system, with the least important agencies orbiting from the furthest distances, Rep. Daniel Gibson stopped him. Im not a smart man, but Im dumber now than I was 10 minutes ago, the Greenwood Republican said. He asked Magnuson, R-Campobello, to specify what he supported cutting, including from grants supporting marketing for sporting events. Would you shut the ball fields down, son, yes or no? Gibson asked. The answer was ultimately no, since that amendment, like the vast majority proposed, didnt pass. Advertisement Advertisement Among the most dramatic proposed changes were cuts to Clemson University and the salaries of directors overseeing the public health and the commerce departments. Clemson came under fire six months ago, when staff members made social media posts critical of conservative activist Charlie Kirk immediately after he was fatally shot on a Utah college campus. The university said it couldnt do anything, since the staff members were exercising their rights to free speech, but reversed course and fired the employees after legislators, including head budget writers, sent a letter calling for immediate and appropriate action, without specifying what that looked like. One of the fired employees, a professor, will get paid through the end of this semester, though hes not teaching any classes, after settling a lawsuit with the university. Asking legislators to cut the universitys entire $225 million in state funding, Rep. April Cromer pointed to the response to Kirks death, as well as a federal investigation into the university for partnering with a program meant to increase the number of Black, Hispanic and Native American doctoral students and professors at business schools across the country. The university has since cut ties with the program. Cromer, an Anderson Republican, also repeatedly said she had problems with the leadership of Jim Clements, Clemsons president for a dozen years who retired in December. Return Clemson to the people, Cromer said. Stop funding the woke, the waste. Taking away all of Clemsons money would turn it into a de facto private institution, Newton said. Essentially, state representatives would be washing its hands of a major university, he said. The proposal was clear politicking, said Rep. Justin Bamberg, who added that he felt the conversation had devolved into nonsense instead of a genuine conversation on how the state should spend its money. To see higher education turned into some kind of dog and pony show is disappointing, the Bamberg Democrat said. Similarly, Freedom Caucus members felt they had a bone to pick with Edward Simmer, interim director of the states public health department, and Harry Lightsey, who oversees the state commerce agency. Simmer, who led the since-dissolved Department of Health and Environmental Control, has remained interim director after a Senate committee rejected his appointment to permanently lead the agency. The full Senate has not voted on his appointment, allowing him to stay. Some legislators take issue with Simmers encouragement of the COVID-19 vaccine, which was in the early stages of its rollout when Simmer took the helm. Edgerton blamed Simmer for the ongoing measles outbreak, the largest in the country, primarily focused in Spartanburg County, even though vaccination has increased and cases have slowed in recent months. Lightsey irked legislators when he asked for $150 million more for the Scout Motors manufacturing facility in the works near Columbia, after legislators gave the company $1.3 billion to come to the state. They accused Lightsey of racking up a cost overrun. The budget did not include that $150 million. Legislators are working to determine whether that number is accurate, Bannister has said previously. I believe if you dont do a good job, you should be fired, and he should be fired, Edgerton said of Lightsey. Other legislators questioned how they would find a replacement to the agency heads for the meager salaries the Freedom Caucus proposed $1 for the health department and $10,400 for the commerce secretary. If Simmer, for instance, were to step down before the next budget cycle because of the cut in his pay, How are we going to pay for a director of the department? Caskey asked. Like other years, none of the Freedom Caucus attempts to cut funding got through, as representatives yanked dozens of proposed changes over procedural objections and voted to set aside others. House leaders did agree with an amendment to scrutinize open positions at state agencies for possible waste. That led to the Freedom Caucus pulling many of its proposals, preventing much of the protracted debate of recent years. Barring the occasional call for legislators to mind their manners, tempers stayed primarily under wraps, paving the way for what legislators ultimately praised as a smooth budget process. On Wednesday, Bannister recalled the states motto dum spiro spero, a Latin phrase meaning while I breathe, I hope in the chambers ability to vote on the entire package the night before. Without naming anyone or group, he said much of the budget debate seemed to come from legislators who want to run for re-election by touting their opposition to GOP leaders, rather than propose something that would really pass. He also borrowed a line from George Washingtons character in the play Hamilton: Winning was easy, young man. Governing is a lot harder, Bannister said. Ladies and gentlemen, once youre here, its time to quit campaigning, he said. Its time to quit trying to win. Its time to do the difficult work of governing. After taking the perfunctory votes necessary Wednesday to send the budget package and conformity bill to the Senate, the House adjourned for a post-budget break. The chamber will not meet next week. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE ASHTABULA City Fire Department Lieutenant Geoff Cannon is preparing to take over as fire chief March 19. Cannon is replacing Shawn Gruber, who is retiring March 18. Shawns done a really great job for the last 11 years, and I really just want to continue on the work that hes done to get us to the point where we are right now, Cannon said. He became lieutenant around ten years ago, with a two-decade career in firefighting. Advertisement Advertisement Cannon grew up in Painesville next-door to his grandfather, who was a firefighter for that city. I was pretty young when he retired, but I do remember he had a carpet business and a lot of the guys that werent retired would come over and have breakfast at him and my grandmothers house, Cannon said. The sense of camaraderie Cannon saw among firefighters growing up got him interested in the career, he said. Its like having a second family, he said. Its a pretty cool thing to be a part of. Cannons career started in 2004 as a part-time firefighter in Fairport and Painesville townships, before moving to Ashtabula with his future wife in 2006. Advertisement Advertisement He said he remembers being on duty at the AFD during an ice storm in the 2000s, when he and other firefighters had to rescue people from an apartment fire. When I got hired, we didnt have an ambulance here at the fire station, so we were running a lot more fires. We were going on fewer calls, he said. Now, were going on far more calls, a lot more EMS calls. As he rose the ranks, Cannon said he saw the city change around him, especially in the area of Bridge Street. The transformation there has really been incredible in the last 20 years, he said. Youre starting to see it filter out more into the city, and thats a pretty neat thing to watch. It happens slowly, so its not like big hotels pop up every day. Advertisement Advertisement Cannon said Gruber has been very helpful, showing him the ropes of how to administer the fire department. Shawn was a lieutenant when I started here as a new guy, and hes been kind of a mentor to me my whole career, he said. Cannon is taking over at a time when the AFD is being hit by challenges afflicting other fire departments across the region. Statewide, many fire departments are having a hard time recruiting volunteers and staff. We have to take the civil service tests to get hired, Cannon said. And when I was testing, you took every test you could, and theres 100, 200 people for one or two jobs. Now, weve seen lists as small as seven or eight people on it. Advertisement Advertisement There is not just one cause for the issue, but many younger people appear less interested in firefighting and other hands-on jobs, instead turning toward technology-related careers, Cannon said. Thats my own personal opinion, thats not necessarily scientific data, he said. Despite that, Cannon said the AFD does a great job retaining its staff by making the department a friendly working environment. Rising costs and increased wait times for vehicles have also impacted emergency services. A new ladder truck will be delivered to the AFD later this fall, years after the city ordered it, Cannon said. Advertisement Advertisement You cant go to the store and get a new one when [a vehicle] breaks or is completely at the end of its life, he said. You have to think pretty far in advance, and the costs are skyrocketing. I mean theyre, in some cases, doubling plus what there were just a few years ago. The citys current ladder truck is from around 1991, Cannon said. For a vehicle in Northeast Ohio, I think thats about as much as you can really expect out of it, he said. The unmanned U.S. Coast Guard station is another challenge for the AFD and other county departments along Lake Erie. Cannon said he wants the AFD to continue building relationships with neighboring fire departments like Saybrook and bringing in water rescue training for firefighters. Indian Trail leaders are moving toward regulating e-bike usage following a town hall meeting on Tuesday, where Mayor David Cohn directed the town attorney to draft a new ordinance. The proposal aims to address growing safety concerns regarding motorized bikes on local sidewalks and greenways. The move comes amid increasing resident complaints about minors operating e-bikes at high speeds and ignoring traffic laws. Advertisement Advertisement While the town cannot regulate e-bikes on state-controlled roads, officials are seeking to establish local rules for speed limits and sidewalk safety to protect both riders and pedestrians. ALSO READ: Union County cracking down on reckless dirt bike riders Cohn said the prevalence of e-bikes in neighborhoods has led to unsafe conditions, particularly involving younger riders. Cohn noted that many operators are minors who do not have licenses and often fail to stop at stop signs while riding on sidewalks. No license and riding on the sidewalks and theyre not obeying the law, not stopping at stop signs and theyre going 30, 35 miles an hour, Cohn said. Advertisement Advertisement He added that the issue has escalated to intentional disruptions of traffic. Whats really happening now is youre seeing large groups of kids doing wheelies down the road, sometimes theyre aggravating, on purpose, the cars, Cohn said. The town faces specific jurisdictional limits on where it can enforce new regulations. Indian Trail cannot regulate vehicles on streets controlled by the North Carolina Department of Transportation, which prevents the town from mandating insurance, licensure, or helmets on state-maintained roads. We cant regulate them on any NCDOT streets, I think we can create an ordinance dealing with our sidewalks and greenways, dealing with speed limits, Cohn said. Advertisement Advertisement Town leaders are currently evaluating how to assign accountability for violations. Cohn expressed that it may be difficult to determine if consequences should fall on the operators or their guardians. Do you hold the parents responsible or do you hold the children responsible? Cohn said. While town leaders are recommending civil penalties in the ordinance, it remains unclear how minors would be cited for these infractions. The push for a new ordinance follows a trend of local governments taking notice of motorized bike safety. Under current guidelines, e-bikes are generally required to remain under 20 mph, as vehicles exceeding that speed are classified as mopeds. Advertisement Advertisement Cohn emphasized the need for a local solution to manage the current situation. We need to come up with an ordinance to somehow slow this down or stop it, Cohn said. He noted that the town intends to have personnel available to cite you for it and maybe have a penalty for them. Indian Trail town leaders are expected to hold a vote on the proposed ordinance next week. VIDEO: Teens riding dirt bikes disrupt shoppers in Wesley Chapel In March 2026, a claim circulated online that U.S. military commanders told troops that U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran were part of a Christian war to bring about Armageddon and the return of Jesus. The claim came from a Substack post by the independent journalist Jonathan Larsen, who based his report on information from the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, a nonprofit organization that works to protect religious freedom in the U.S. armed forces. The foundation keeps complainants anonymous to avoid retribution. Larsen and Mikey Weinstein, the founder of the MRFF, both said they had not received any video or audio recordings of the reported Christian messaging by commanders. Therefore, we leave this claim unrated. We contacted the Department of Defense for comment on Larsen's report and the MRFF's information and await a reply. A claim (archived) circulated online in early March 2026 that U.S. military commanders told troops that attacks on Iran were part of a Christian war to bring about Armageddon and the return of Jesus. Allegations followed joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran that killed the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The strikes continued into March, as U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told reporters on March 10 that the day would be the "most intense day of strikes inside Iran." One Facebook user who shared the claim wrote: Over 200 active-duty service members, spanning every branch of the military across more than 50 installations, reported to a military watchdog group that their commanders told them the war in Iran is divinely ordained. One commander reportedly told troops that Donald Trump "has been anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth." The claim also circulated on Instagram (archived), X (archived), Threads (archived) and Bluesky (archived). Snopes readers searched our site for more information about the claim. Advertisement Advertisement The claim came from reporting by the independent journalist Jonathan Larsen, who also writes the commentary Substack "The F***ing News." Larsen based his report on information from the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, a nonprofit organization that works to protect religious freedom in the U.S. armed forces. According to Larsen's report, an anonymous service member had complained to the MRFF that one commander reportedly told troops, "President Trump has been anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth." Larsen reported that MRFF kept complaints anonymous to protect complainants from backlash. Armageddon is the name of a biblical place where, according to the Bible, the kings of earth lead by demons would wage war on the forces of God. According to the Book of Revelation, Jesus would return during this fight, also known as the Second Coming. Snopes does not rely on anonymous sources in our reporting. Larsen and Mikey Weinstein, the MRFF founder, both said they had not received any video or audio recordings of the reported Christian messaging by commanders. Therefore, we leave this claim unrated. Advertisement Advertisement We contacted the Department of Defense for its comment on the Larsen's reporting and the information from the MRFF and await a reply. Weinstein told Snopes that by the morning of March 3 the MRFF had received around 200 complaints about commanders invoking Christian messaging to describe U.S. action in Iran. Weinstein previously told Larsen the organization received more than 110 such complaints between Feb. 28 and March 2, 2026. Those complaints came from "more than 40 different units spread across at least 30 military installations" across "every branch" of the military, Larsen reported, citing the MRFF. Reason behind reported Christian messaging unclear Because the Department of Defense had not returned requests for comment by Snopes or Larsen at the time of this writing, it was unclear whether the Pentagon had directed commanders to use Christian messaging about the strikes on Iran. Advertisement Advertisement Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is a Christian. In May 2025, he introduced (archived) a monthly Christian prayer service at the Pentagon, and he sometimes invokes his faith during interviews and appearances. During a March 2, 2026, news conference, Hegseth said (archived) the focus of U.S. strikes in Iran was to "destroy Iranian offensive missiles, destroy Iranian missile production, destroy their navy and other security infrastructure and they will never have nuclear weapons." Hegseth did not say during that news conference that the war in Iran was a religious war. DOD allows some religious expression In a statement reported by Larsen, Weinstein urged members of the military who used Christian messaging to describe strikes in Iran to remember that "their oath is SOLELY to the United States Constitution, which includes both a full separation of church and state mandate in the First Amendment." Advertisement Advertisement The oath Weinstein referred to was the Oath of Enlistment, in which a person enlisting into the military swears to protect the U.S. Constitution and follow orders from commanding officers and the president. The First Amendment secures the rights to freedom of religion and speech and the rights to assemble and petition Congress. Weinstein also said members of the military who engaged in Christian messaging should be "swiftly, aggressively and visibly prosecuted for numerous violations of the military criminal code known as the Uniform Code of Military Justice" the federal law governing the military. Weinstein's statement did not specify which parts of the code he thought commanders who employed Christian messaging to talk about the war in Iran had breached. Code breaches can result in prosecution under the code's criminal justice system. According to one DOD policy document (Section 1.2.b): Components will accommodate individual expressions of sincerely held beliefs (conscience, moral principles, or religious beliefs) which do not have an adverse impact on military readiness, unit cohesion, good order and discipline, or health and safety. The complaint that Larsen included in his report specifically said the Christian messaging destroyed "morale and unit cohesion." Advertisement Advertisement On March 6, three days after Weinstein told Snopes he had received more than 200 complaints about religious messaging to U.S. troops, Pennsylvania Rep. Chrissy Houlahan and 29 other lawmakers wrote to the Inspector General of the Department of Defense to call for an investigation in the complaints the MRFF flagged. At the time of this writing, it was unclear whether the Defense Department would investigate the complaints as requested.Weinstein told Snopes that before the Trump administrations, the Pentagon was responsive to complaints brought by the MRFF but that was no longer the case. Instead, Weinstein said, the foundation employed a "Chronicle, Expose, Intervene, Attack" strategy to attempt to mount public pressure on the department and Hegseth to address the complaints. Snopes has reported extensively on claims related to Hegseth in the past, including whether his tattoos have religious or political associations. Sources: 'About'. Military Religious Freedom Foundation, https://www.militaryreligiousfreedom.org/about/. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026. Advertisement Advertisement 'DOD INSTRUCTION 1300.17'. Department of Defense, 1 Sept. 2020, https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/130017p.pdf?ver=2020-09-01-151756-730. 'DVIDS Webcast - Hegseth Hosts Pentagon Prayer Service'. DVIDS, https://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/36230. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026. 'First Amendment'. Constitution Annotated, https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-1/. GAMBRELL, JON. 'Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Who Led the Islamic Republic since 1989, Is Dead at 86'. AP News, 1 Mar. 2026, https://apnews.com/article/iran-supreme-leader-ayatollah-ali-khamenei-dead-5b13b69b708c4ed38e8f95f5fb41a597. Advertisement Advertisement 'Houlahan, Members of Congress Call for Investigation into Military Leaders "Biblical End Times" Claim'. U.S. Representative Chrissy Houlahan, 6 Mar. 2026, https://houlahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4936. Larsen, Jonathan. 'U.S. Troops Were Told Iran War Is for "Armageddon," Return of Jesus'. Substack newsletter. Jonathan Larsen's Substack, 3 Mar. 2026, https://jonathanlarsen.substack.com/p/us-troops-were-told-iran-war-is-for. Lerner, Robert E. 'Armageddon'. Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/place/Armageddon. 'Live Updates: Hegseth Says Today Will Be the "Most Intense Day of Strikes inside Iran"'. AP News, https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump--03-10-2026. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Oath of Enlistment - Army Values. https://www.army.mil/values/oath.html. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine Hold a Press Briefing. Department of Defense, 2 Mar. 2026, https://www.war.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/4418959/. 'US Defense Chief Hegseth Leads Christian Prayer Service at Pentagon'. Reuters, 21 May 2025, https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-defense-chief-hegseth-leads-christian-prayer-service-pentagon-2025-05-21/. 'What to Know about the Archconservative Church Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Attends'. PBS News, 12 Aug. 2025, https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/what-to-know-about-the-archconservative-church-defense-secretary-pete-hegseth-attends. The international community has condemned Irans drone strikes on Azerbaijans Nakhchivan on Thursday, as tensions between the two neighbours continue to escalate following the attack. Several Gulf states and European countries have spoken out against the attacks, warning they risk further destabilisation of an already volatile region. Qatar described the incident as an act of hostility that threatens regional stability, while Saudi Arabia called the attack an unjustifiable hostile stance and expressed solidarity with Baku. Advertisement Advertisement Kuwait also condemned the strikes, describing them as a violation of international law and the UN Charter. A number of European countries have also criticised the attack, including France, despite recent tensions between Paris and Baku. Lithuania and other EU states expressed solidarity with Azerbaijan, warning that the incident risks widening the conflict. Ukraines Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also slammed the drone strikes, saying the attack demonstrated that Iran represents a threat both regionally and globally. Four civilians were injured in the attack on Thursday, with one drone landing close to a village school, while another struck the terminal of Nakhchivan International Airport. Damage at Nakhchivan International Airport after what Azerbaijan said was an Iranian drone strike - Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev accused Tehran of committing an act of terror, warning that any future attacks on Azerbaijani territory would face the countrys Iron Fist. Advertisement Advertisement Speaking after the strike, Aliyev said Azerbaijan had recently helped evacuate Iranian diplomats from the country due to rising tensions in the region only for the drone attack to occur hours later. We helped Iranian diplomats to leave safely, yet shortly afterwards our territory was targeted, Aliyev said, describing the incident as a betrayal and a serious escalation. Baku says it is continuing to formulate its response to the attack, as the countrys armed forces remain on heightened alert. Officials confirmed that Azerbaijan has placed its army on full combat readiness while assessing further measures. Azerbaijan is also consulting international partners, Baku has said. Advertisement Advertisement Diplomatic staff from Azerbaijans embassy in Tehran and the countrys consulate general in Tabriz have also been evacuated, as tensions with Iran deepen. Authorities have also decided to shut down cross-border traffic with Iran. Meanwhile, United Nations sources in Baku told Euronews that Azerbaijan helped evacuate some UN personnel and their families from Tehran amidst growing security concerns. The evacuations took place as regional tensions rose sharply following the drone strikes, and fears grew that the confrontation between Iran and Azerbaijan could escalate further. Thursdays incident marked one of the most serious direct attacks on Azerbaijani territory in recent years, raising concerns that the wider conflict involving Iran could spill into other areas in the South Caucasus. Iran has not accepted responsibility for the attack, which Azerbaijani officials have rejected due to existing evidence proving Tehran's involvement. The Iowa City Community School District Board of Directors has tabled $7.5 million in recommended budget cuts, citing a need for more time for review. The motion to table the Fiscal Year 2027 budget cuts passed in a 4-3 vote at the regular meeting of directors on Tuesday, March 10. The board also unanimously voted to table its audit resolution. Both topics will be discussed at the next regular meeting on Tuesday, March 24. Advertisement Advertisement The districts 2027 fiscal year budget is due by the end of April. Since January, the ICCSD has been looking at ways to trim an estimated $5-6 million from the upcoming budget after spending more on salaries than it could afford. More cuts are anticipated in future years. More: Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with 6 festive events in Iowa City The district proposed $7.5 million in cuts across several buildings, including $2 million at the administration level and district office, $1.7 million in operations and district personnel, $1.6 million in non-personnel savings and $2.2 million in classroom savings. The proposed cuts are driven by maintaining strong while ensuring the long-term financial stability of the district, according to superintendent Matt Degner. The board said the proposed reductions avoid classroom cuts and aim to protect direct instruction and core learning experiences. Superintendent Matt Degner speaks March 3, 2026 during a special board meeting of the Iowa City Community School District in Iowa City, Iowa. Other cuts could include staffing reductions through attrition, including retirements, voluntary resignations, and "performance-based non-renewals." Board documents suggest that the district doesn't plan to lay off faculty, but will enforce involuntary transfers and reductions in teaching positions achieved through attrition." Advertisement Advertisement More: Bronze bison to stampede into Iowa City on Smithsonian tour We had initially thrown out a target of $6 [million], Degner said Tuesday. As we know, this is an ongoing financial challenge for us. It would seem to make sense to incur those savings as we can, as fast as we can. The district plans to examine and negotiate compensation and benefit packages within the central office. The board will hold an exempt session with Iowa City CSD officials on March 24 to ensure the districts thinking is aligned with the board. Director Jayne Finch listens to Director Mitch Lingo speak March 3, 2026 during a special board meeting of the Iowa City Community School District in Iowa City, Iowa. Board director Jayne Finch said administrative contract changes should be finalized before voting on the broader budget cuts to increase fairness and trust with the community. Advertisement Advertisement More: Iowa Senate passes bill barring local trans civil rights protections I want to emphasize this is less about dollar amount, and really more about sending a message to our community that we hear you, Finch said. This is the symbolic step demonstrating shared sacrifice, and it builds trust and credibility. Helps protect morale, signals responsible stewardship, ethical leadership, and there may be a small practical financial impact as well. Board considers revisiting plan for Iowa City elementary schools Finch, along with directors Charlie Eastham, Mitch Lingo and board president Ruthina Malone, voted to postpone the vote. Board vice president Molly Abraham, along with board directors Jennifer Horn-Frasier and Lisa Williams, approved the cuts. More: City Park Pool, closed since 2024, delays opening. What to know Advertisement Advertisement Williams suggested the board address budget reductions in three stages: by drafting a plan, "taking a tough look" at the organizational chart to identify additional savings, and analyzing operations at the district's 20 elementary schools. Director Lisa Williams speaks March 3, 2026 during a special board meeting of the Iowa City Community School District in Iowa City, Iowa. Williams said the district should consider the "Reenvisioning our elementary schools" plan, which was tabled in 2024. The plan suggested ways to eliminate inefficiencies across the district's 20 elementary schools to achieve more consistent class sizes. Variations of the plan include possibly eliminating two schools, pairing schools, creating academies and preschools. More: Here's how much Midwest region gas prices increased from last week This board has got to get serious about these elementary schools and our lack of students and too many seats. We have to solve that problem, Williams said. It is hard work Let me tell you what community comment is going to look like when we start talking about closing elementary schools. Its awful, its not fun, and six of us sat through it with Hills. A file photo of Horace Mann elementary taken on Sept. 19, 2013. Iowa City CSD chose to close Hills Elementary in 2024 to save more than $1.5 million. The building was a staple in the small Johnson County community for nearly 60 years. Advertisement Advertisement The "Reenvisioning our elementary schools plan, created after the board voted to close Hills Elementary, was tabled in September 2024 when community members asked for more clarity. We owe it to our families to make tough decisions and set us up for success, Williams said. I want to be clear; I dont think this is the end of the road for us. Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and education reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached at JRish@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @rishjessica_ This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Iowa City school board delays vote on $7.5M budget cuts. What to know An Iowa Senate subcommittee moved ahead legislation Wednesday to set a residency requirement in the University of Iowa nursing program with no guarantees of it even coming to the full Education Committee without members seeing more information. House File 2226 passed the House with other higher education legislation Feb. 24. It would require the UIs bachelor of science in nursing program to establish a 70% residency requirement and prioritization of Iowa students for enrolling applicants, with reporting requirements to the General Assembly. Iowa Senate Education Committee Chair Lynn Evans, R-Aurelia, chaired the subcommittee alongside Sen. Molly Donahue, D-Marion, and Sen. Mike Pike, R-Des Moines. Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Iowa Board of Regents State Relations Officer Jason Chapman told the subcommittee the board has concerns about what the bill would do for the nursing profession in the state. There is a limited pool of graduating high school students who turn to a nursing education every year, he said, and if the UI is needing to draw in more in-state students, that could harm programs at Iowas private universities and community colleges as well as at the University of Northern Iowa. Some of those already have vacancies and seats theyre trying to fill, and so if theres less candidates available to go to them, then some of those programs might be in jeopardy of (losing) long-term sustainability, Chapman said. The UI recognizes the goal of the bill, Chapman said, and has already started looking into assigning an earlier admission date and lowering the required minimum ACT score for Iowa residents to 24, rather than the 26 score requirement for out-of-state applicants. Advertisement Advertisement One of Donahues main issues with the legislation was the huge fiscal impact it could have. A fiscal note on the bill states the UI College of Nursing would see decreased revenues by as much as $1.3 million by fiscal year 2030. She added that she wants the best students admitted to all medical fields, not just Iowa kids. Pike agreed that the university shouldnt lower its standards just to get more Iowa students in, and questioned what the process would be if the UI does fail to meet the 70% threshold would an exception be made to fill seats, or would the university not be allowed to bring any more out-of-state students in? You dont want to have open seats when we have need for these areas, Donahue said. We want to be able to fill them, and if you can only fill them from Missouri, then fill them with Missouri. Evans and Pike both signed off on the legislation, with the caveat from Evans that he wont make any promises about bringing it to committee until he receives more information on the programs current admission requirements and efforts to recruit Iowan students. Advertisement Advertisement Theres questions I need to answer before I make a value determination on this, Evans said. I have had conversations during the interim with Representative Collins, who helped author this, but since that time, I havent had a lot of conversations with him, so I plan on moving it along today. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Iran launched what has been described as its heaviest barrage of strikes since the start of the war on Israel and Gulf states early on Wednesday, as cross-border attacks between Israel and Hezbollah escalated violence on the Lebanon front. Iranian missile and drone attacks robbed millions of people in Israel of their sleep, as rocket alarms sounded repeatedly and missile-defence systems intercepted incoming projectiles. "I hardly slept a wink," said one resident of Tel Aviv, where sirens sounded from midnight until the early hours of the morning. Advertisement Advertisement The Magen David Adom emergency service said there were no reports of injuries. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iran's elite force, confirmed the 37th wave of strikes, which it said targeted Be'er Ya'akov, south-east of Tel Aviv, according to state radio. The IRGC said ballistic missiles with multiple warheads were used in the attack and that US targets in Erbil and Bahrain had also been attacked. The Tasnim news agency, which is close to the IRGC, said the the barrage was Iran's heaviest since the war began after US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. Gulf states hit by further strikes The Saudi Defence Ministry said seven ballistic missiles and seven drones were intercepted across various parts of the country. It added that several drones were intercepted in the east and near the large Shaybah oil field. Advertisement Advertisement According to the Al Arabiya news channel, about a third of Iranian drone attacks in Saudi Arabia so far have targeted oil facilities in the country's east. In Kuwait, the Defence Ministry said four drones were intercepted while another crashed in open terrain. The Emirati Defence Ministry said it was responding to Iranian drone and missile attacks and called on residents to follow safety precautions. Dubai's media authority meanwhile announced that two drones had crashed near the international airport, injuring four people. Qatar and Oman also said they had repelled attacks, with Oman's state news agency reporting that one drone had been shot down and another had crashed into the sea. Advertisement Advertisement Several vessels transiting The Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz were also hit by projectiles, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Centre said. Israeli attack on Tehran bank draws threats from Iran Meanwhile, the Israeli military said it was operating around the clock to target Iranian infrastructure used for firing ballistic missiles. An overnight Israeli attack on a bank branch in Tehran, which killed several employees, prompted Iran to declare banks legitimate targets in a further escalation. With this "illegitimate and unusual act in war," the enemy has declared economic centres and banks in the United States and Israel as targets themselves, Iran's state broadcaster reported, citing the military leadership. Advertisement Advertisement "The Americans should await our countermeasure and our painful response," said a statement from Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which takes command during wartime. Government supporters gathered in Tehran on Wednesday for a large mourning ceremony for the commanders killed in the war, with state television showing crowds assembling around a lorry holding coffins as Israeli fighter jets thundered over the west of the capital for fresh airstrikes. Amir Hatami, commander-in-chief of Iran's army, paid tribute to the dead in a statement. "We will defend the dignity and honour of Islamic Iran to the last drop of blood," he said, according to the Fars news agency. Strikes hit Beirut as Israel moves troops to Lebanon border Violence between Israel and Lebanon also escalated on Wednesday as Israeli airstrikes struck central Beirut, killing at least four people and injuring another four, according to officials. Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli military said it had launched strikes in Beirut's southern Dahiyeh suburbs, targeting command centres and weapons depots of the Lebanese Hezbollah militia, which is allied with Iran. The Lebanese National News Agency (NNA) said attacks also continued in the south of the country and in the eastern Bekaa Valley, where officials said at least 14 people were killed and 29 others injured. Hezbollah said it had attacked Israeli troops in southern Lebanon with rockets several times on Tuesday evening and throughout the night. Fears of an Israeli ground offensive in Lebanon are growing after the Israeli military's Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir ordered the transfer of troops from the Gaza Strip to the border with Lebanon. Advertisement Advertisement The Golani Brigade, which has been deployed repeatedly in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas conflict two and a half years ago, is to be moved to the north to reinforce Israel's Northern Command. Hezbollah launched targeted attacks on Israel around a week ago in support of Tehran amid the joint US-Israeli offensive in Iran. The attacks were the militia's first since a ceasefire agreement with Israel came into force in November 2024. Despite the ceasefire, Israel had continued to attack Hezbollah targets, arguing that the group was not complying with the deal's terms and was trying to rearm. Hezbollah in turn accused Israel of violating the ceasefire. Iran's armed forces launched another wave of missile and drone attacks on Israel early on Wednesday. Repeated rocket alerts were reported between midnight and the early morning in the greater Tel Aviv area. Residents said sleep was minimal as Israel's missile defence system intercepted the incoming projectiles. Emergency service Magen David Adom said there were no reports of injuries. The Times of Israel earlier reported that rockets were either intercepted or landed in uninhabited areas. Advertisement Advertisement Iran also launched attacks on several Gulf states overnight. The Saudi Ministry of Defence said seven ballistic missiles and seven drones were intercepted across various parts of the country. In Kuwait, the Defence Ministry said four drones were intercepted while another crashed in open terrain. Air-raid sirens also sounded in Bahrain. The Iranian news agency Tasnim, which is close to the country's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), described the barrage as the heaviest wave of attacks since the start of the war. Meanwhile, the Israeli military said that a drone team in western Iran had been eliminated by the Israeli Air Force on Monday shortly before it could launch drones toward Israel. The military said it was operating around the clock to target Iranian infrastructure used for firing ballistic missiles, aiming to limit the scale of attacks on Israeli territory. Taking the job could help Elise in four ways: Many older Americans say work also offers critical access to health insurance and Social Security benefits. Respondents to the University of Michigans National Poll on Healthy Aging (2) claimed other important factors include having a sense of purpose, contributing to society, keeping their brain sharp and maintaining social connections. Working longer would obviously boost their retirement savings, allowing her to close the $280,000 shortfall. However, for Elise, the new job may be about more than just money. Americans believe they need about $1.26 million to retire comfortably, according to a 2025 study from Northwestern Mutual (1). So Elise and her spouse are within striking distance of that magic number even without maximizing Social Security, but not quite yet. The couple has roughly $980,000 saved about $900,000 in 401(k)s and IRAs and $80,000 in cash with a nearly paid-off mortgage. Lets say Elise is married and that, hypothetically, her 63-year-old husband has also been on her employer plan. Her partner is two years away from Medicare eligibility. Thats the core of her dilemma. Heres what else is at stake. Shes tempted, but she cant see herself working beyond the end of the year. She also wonders if its fair to take a leadership job she intends to leave soon. Besides, going back to an employer that had already let her go once seems like a pretty big risk. Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake heres what it is and the simple steps to fix it ASAP Most Americans earn a dismal 0.39% APY on their cash at big banks. Unlock up to 4.05% APY and pay $0 in account fees instead with a Wealthfront Cash Account Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how But a new opportunity arose, prompting her to reconsider her plans. Elises old employer offered her a team-leading, client-facing role in a department she had always wanted to join, with strong pay and benefits. With four years to go until 65, she would have to cover health insurance costs on her own. She was approved for Social Security, and then, just before she gave her notice, was laid off. Her severance package covered her until her Social Security benefits began. Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. Story Continues 1. Social Security If Elise begins withdrawing Social Security at 62, she will receive about 30% less in monthly benefits than if she waits until she reaches 67, which is full retirement age (FRA). If she holds off until 70, shell earn delayed retirement credits of about 8% per year. 2. Health insurance Staying employed until she is 65 can help Elise avoid expensive pre-Medicare premiums. 3. Health and happiness Theres also a non-financial upside: Older adults who keep working often report stronger mental and overall well-being (2). If the new role is genuinely interesting, Elise may enjoy staying in the workforce a bit longer. 4. Increased savings Working for even 1224 months could allow her to top up her accounts and possibly utilize the age-based super catch-up provisions (3) of up to $35,750 in 2026 for individuals aged 6063. From here, she may want to stash this extra cash in a high-yield account to ensure her money keeps up with inflation. Something like a Wealthfront Cash Account could be a good option, as it allows users to earn up to 4.05% APY a 3.30% base rate plus 0.75% APY boost for the first three months on their savings. Thats over ten times the national deposit savings rate, according to the FDICs February report. With no minimum balance or account fees, 24/7 withdrawals and free domestic wire transfers, Elise can ensure her funds remain accessible at all times. Plus, Wealthfront Cash Account balances of up to $8 million are insured by the FDIC through program banks. What should Elise do? Elise is in a lucky position to have a choice. The new client-facing, team-leading job leaves her better off financially perhaps also physically and mentally. If she loves the work, values the benefits, can pause her Social Security claim and is willing to give the role a good two-year run, then she should take the job. A simple way to square ethics with opportunity is to accept that she can commit to 1824 months and be transparent about a limited horizon. Conversely, if Elise is determined to stick to her plan of retiring within a year and is happy with the money shes already saved, she may be better off turning down the offer. Exiting in under a year can create transition pain and possibly bruise her relationship with her employer and colleagues. But either way, Elise is in a good position. If the job is truly her dream, the benefits suggest that she should do one last lap for two years. By then, she can retire on her terms. But shes also in a good position to retire now and cover pre-Medicare insurance without straining the plan. Whatever she chooses, its important she stays on top of her net worth so that shes well prepared with income forecasts and any necessary budgeting. Seek out expert opinion It might make sense for Elise to consult with a qualified financial advisor to determine the best path forward. For personalized advice on retirement planning, Advisor.com can connect you with a vetted FINRA/SEC-certified expert near you for free. From their database of thousands, you will be matched with a pre-screened financial advisor who meets your specific needs. Set up a free, no obligation consultation today to find the right advisor for you. Budget every penny While its always nice to have more, Elise and her husband are already ahead of many Americans when it comes to retirement savings. Households between 55 and 64 have an average balance of around $537,560, and Elises nest egg is much larger than that (4). Still, retiring early can create new financial pressure. If she steps away from work at 61, Elise will need her savings to last longer and claiming Social Security early would mean her monthly checks could be reduced to about 70% of their full value. To ensure she has enough to last throughout these additional years, its important to create and follow a budget. This will let her see exactly how much she spends in a given month and year, and plan accordingly. But budgeting doesnt come naturally to everyone. It can feel tedious even for those who love numbers. A platform like Monarch Money can help simplify the process. Monarch Money puts all your finances under one roof, making it easy to see how much you have, how much you spend and how you spend it. Once you link your accounts including investments and real estate accounts you can view every transaction through one clean, searchable list, allowing you to quickly spot unexpected charges like unwanted subscriptions and cancel them. You can even get custom notifications regarding upcoming bills, reducing the chance of missing a payment and incurring late fees. Monarch Money helps you forecast your spending beyond just one month, so you can plan for the retirement of your dreams. Invest even during retirement Even in retirement, Elise could still look for ways to invest, but without a steady paycheck, large investments may not be possible. At this stage of life, smaller investments are a more realistic way to maintain growth over time. Thats where tools like Acorns can help. The platform allows users to invest spare change automatically. Signing up for Acorns takes minutes: Just link your card, and Acorns will round up each purchase to the nearest dollar and invest the difference into a diversified portfolio of ETFs. Just $30 in weekly roundups could grow to nearly $90,000 over 20 years if it compounds at an average annual return of 10% meaning by the time Elise reaches 81, she could have an extra $90,000 to spend on healthcare and other needs. With Acorns, you can invest in an index ETF with as little as $5 and if you sign up today and set up a recurring investment, Acorns will add a $20 bonus to help you begin your investment journey. You May Also Like Join 250,000+ readers and get Moneywises best stories and exclusive interviews first clear insights curated and delivered weekly. Subscribe now. Article sources We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines. Northwestern Mutual (1); University of Michigan (2); Fidelity (3); Kiplinger (4) This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Iran has declared Google, Amazon and Microsoft legitimate targets for attack, publishing a hit list of tech company offices and data centres in the Middle East. The Iranian Tasnim News Agency on Wednesday said Tehran was preparing to pursue enemy technology infrastructure. In a Telegram post, Tasnim listed 29 offices, data centres and research hubs owned by the seven companies in Qatar, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. Advertisement Advertisement It also named the US tech companies Nvidia, Palantir, IBM and Oracle as targets for attack. As the regional war expands into an infrastructure war, the scope of Irans legitimate targets gradually broadens, Tasnim said in a post titled Irans new targets. Last week, Amazon data centres in the UAE and Bahrain were attacked by Iranian drones. The locations listed include not just data centres but advertising sales offices and research centres in busy cities. The companies have not yet said if they have taken steps to protect staff, close offices or otherwise respond to the threat. Amazon evacuated employees from a damaged data centre last week. Advertisement Advertisement Iran also threatened to attack banks and other financial institutions on Wednesday, saying that people should stay outside a one-kilometre radius. Many of the tech companies named by Iran have significant operations in the Middle East, including several regional data centres, as governments and businesses demand local data storage, as well as major operations in Israel, a cybersecurity hub. Nvidia has around 5,000 staff in Israel and spent $7bn (5.2bn) acquiring the Israeli start-up Mellanox in 2019. Google has a Doha data centre region, and Microsoft has said it plans to open a data centre in Saudi Arabia by the end of the year. Last weeks attacks against Amazon are believed to be the first military attacks against a US tech companys data centres. Advertisement Advertisement The actions threaten to affect the UAEs and Saudi Arabias dreams of capitalising on cheap energy and plentiful land to become major players in AI infrastructure. Tech companies and Gulf states had outlined plans for major data centre investments in recent years, as the regions governments seek to move beyond oil and curry favour with the US, which is racing against China to develop powerful artificial intelligence systems. Data centres are typically large and sensitive to disruption, making them vulnerable targets for attack. Microsoft did not comment. IBM, Google, Amazon, Nvidia, Oracle and Palantir were contacted for comment. 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. Welcome back to World Brief, where were looking at Irans efforts to control the Strait of Hormuz, North Korea denouncing joint U.S.-South Korean military drills, and the death toll from drone strikes in Haiti. Sign up to receive World Brief in your inbox every weekday. Trading Energy Threats U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth vowed on Tuesday that today will be, yet again, our most intense day of strikes inside Iran at the same time that Iranian forces unleashed a new barrage of attacks on Israel and its Gulf neighbors. With both Washington and Tehran ruling out cease-fire talks, experts expect the global energy crisis to worsen as the war trudges on. Advertisement Advertisement Fears of Iranian attacks coupled with high insurance costs have largely halted oil and gas tankers from traversing the Strait of Hormuz, where around 20 percent of the worlds crude normally passes. On Tuesday, Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said that Tehran will not allow the export of even a single liter of oil from the region to the hostile side and its partners until further notice, adding that we are the ones who will determine the end of the war. In response, U.S. President Donald Trump warned that If Iran does anything that stops the flow of Oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far. Such threats have left global markets scrambling. The cost of a barrel of Brent crude hit around $90 on Tuesday, nearly 24 percent higher than when U.S.-Israeli strikes first targeted Iran on Feb. 28. That, however, is down from Mondays spike, which saw Brent prices reach almost $120. West Texas Intermediate crude also recorded falling prices from Monday into Tuesday, though costs still hit around $85 per barrel. The Strait of Hormuz will either be a path of peace and prosperity for all, or a path of failure and suffering for warmongers, Ali Larijani, Irans top national security official, wrote on X on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration is pursuing several strategies to counter high oil prices. On Thursday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent issued a 30-day waiver for India to buy Russian crude already at sea in an effort to enable oil to keep flowing into the global market. The following day, Bessent revealed that Washington is considering lifting even more sanctions on Russian oil. The U.S. Development Finance Corporation has also begun offering a backstop for maritime insurance to persuade tankers to make the risky trip through Hormuz, though experts say that the plan is likely inadequate to address the scale of the problem. In addition, the White House has said that it is considering having the U.S. Navy escort tankers through the strait. And on Tuesday, oil prices dropped in response to a post on X by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright announcing that the U.S. Navy had successfully carried out such a mission; however, minutes later, the post was deleted without explanation. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a press briefing shortly after that the U.S. Navy has not escorted a tanker or a vessel at this time, though she noted that thats an option the president has said he will absolutely utilize if and when necessary at the appropriate time. Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, the International Energy Agency (IEA) convened an emergency meeting on Tuesday to decide whether to release emergency oil stockpiles to help bring down costs; IEA member nations hold more than 1.2 billion barrels of public crude reserves. Todays Most Read Iran Signals Defiance by Naming Khameneis Son as Supreme Leader by Ali Hashem China Is Learning the Lessons of Hard Power by Deng Yuwen David Halberstams Warning Is More Urgent Than Ever by Julian E. Zelizer What Were Following Condemning Freedom Shield. Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, denounced joint U.S.-South Korean military drills (dubbed Freedom Shield) on Tuesday, calling them a provocative and aggressive war rehearsal. Although she did not directly mention the Iran war, she warned that such exercises will further destroy regional stability at a time when wars are break[ing] out in different parts of the world due to the reckless acts of outrageous international rogues. North Korea has long portrayed such military drills as invasion rehearsals, using them as justification for its own weapons tests and military demonstrations. However, both the United States and South Korea maintain that the annual Freedom Shield exercise, which began on Monday and will run through March 19, is defensive in nature. Advertisement Advertisement The 10-day drill will involve thousands of U.S. and South Korean troops and 22 field training exercises. That is fewer than half the number of exercises carried out last year. Freedom Shield will also serve as an opportunity to prepare for the transfer of U.S. wartime operational control of South Koreas forces to Seoul, which Washington aims to complete before South Korean President Lee Jae-myungs term ends in 2030. Lethal drone strikes. Haitian forces killed more than 1,200 people in drone strikes targeting violent gangs between March 1, 2025, and Jan. 21, 2026, according to a new Human Rights Watch report published on Tuesday. That includes at least 17 children and 43 adults not tied to criminal groups. In total, Haitis military carried out 141 operations during those 10 months. In this time, more than 40 percent of all killings occurred between Dec. 1 and Jan. 21, with drone attacks in the capital of Port-au-Prince increasing significantly. Haitian officials have offered no indication that drone strikes were in response to any threat to life that might allow for the deliberate lethal use of force through such attacks, Human Rights Watch said. Instead, many of these attacks appear to be attempts to target and kill people in circumstances that amount to unlawful, extrajudicial killings. In recent months, armed gangs have expanded their control well beyond Port-au-Prince, killing thousands of people, displacing more than 1 million others, and devastating the countrys economy. A multinational task force with the United Nations backing has largely failed to quell the violence, even after expanding its mandate in September to include military troops. Advertisement Advertisement Will not comply. U.N. peacekeepers in South Sudan defied a government order on Monday to shut down their base in Akobo, an opposition-held town near the Ethiopian border. The U.N. mission in South Sudan will continue to provide a protective presence for civilians, it stated, adding that the safety and security of its personnel, premises, and assets must be fully respected at all times. The South Sudanese military issued the evacuation order on Friday, giving peacekeepers, nongovernmental organizations, and civilians 72 hours to leave Akobo ahead of a planned assault. Fighting between state and opposition forces reignited last year, and in December, the opposition seized several government outposts in Jonglei state. Since then, a government-led counteroffensive has displaced more than 280,000 people, many of whom have sought refuge in Akobo. Any military operations in and around Akobo gravely endanger the safety and security of civilians, mission director Anita Kiki Gbeho said. Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States demanded in a letter sent to South Sudanese President Salva Kiir on Monday that the army cancel its planned offensive and revoke its evacuation order, warning of further deaths, displacement and suffering for the South Sudanese people. However, South Sudanese Information Minister Ateny Wek Ateny has since defended the order, saying it was linked to earlier coordination with the U.N. mission. Odds and Ends Its a bird. Its a plane. Its a meteorite? Stargazers got a close-up view of a falling meteorite on Sunday when shards of at least one fireball crashed through a bedroom ceiling in Koblenz, Germany. No injuries were reported. Although the incident caused some unanticipated home renovations, astronomers appeared excited about its location, as finding such debris is usually a difficult and time-consuming task. Meteorites are studied to better understand the history and makeup of the solar system. As the Operation Epic Fury joint U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran moves into its 12th day, Tehran is intensifying its campaign against shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz. At least three commercial ships were struck today, according to a British monitoring organization. In This Article Each were hit in separate incidents by an unknown projectile, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a monitoring agency that is part of the U.K. Royal Navy. One was a cargo ship traveling north of Oman. Another was a bulk carrier hit north of Dubai. The third was a container vessel struck near Ras al-Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates, The Washington Post noted. A Thai-flagged cargo vessel, Mayuree Naree Bangkok, was attacked near the Strait of Hormuz on March 11, leaving 3 of its 23 crew missing. The ship had departed Dubai and was heading to India when struck near its stern. #Iran pic.twitter.com/0BYBjqJIt1 NOELREPORTS (@NOELreports) March 11, 2026 Japan's Mitsui OSK Lines-owned container ship damaged near Strait of Hormuz https://t.co/wTxo32EEk8 Nikkei Asia (@NikkeiAsia) March 11, 2026 Since Epic Fury was launched on Feb. 28, UKMTO has received 17 reports of incidents affecting vessels operating in and around the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz (SOH) and Gulf of Oman, the organization stated. That figure includes 13 attacks and four suspicious incident reports. UKMTO WARNING 019-26 UPDATE 001 Click here to view the full Warning https://t.co/JwxT8aIkIg#MaritimeSecurity#MarSecpic.twitter.com/OLc0G5Q2Zb UKMTO Operations Centre (@UK_MTO) March 11, 2026 Iran said it is increasing these attacks to serve as an economic weapon against the U.S., Israel and allies. Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. will not be able to control oil prices, the spokesperson for Tehrans Khatam al-Anbiya military command headquarters vowed on Wednesday. We wont allow even one liter of oil to reach the U.S., Zionists and their partners, Ebrahim Zolfaqari proclaimed. Any vessel or tanker bound to them will be a legitimate target. Get ready for the oil barrel to be at $200 because the oil price depends on the regional security which you have destabilized, Zolfaqari added. As one example of market volatility, Brent Crude was trading at just over $90 a barrel as of Wednesday morning Eastern Day Light time, according to OilPrice.com. The prices have fluctuated wildly, surging to a recent high of more than $116 a barrel on March 8 and dropping to a little more than $84 a barrel yesterday. Iran is threatening to not allow ships through the Strait of Hormuz, also saying they will force oil to $200 per barrel. Not a single liter of oil will pass through the Strait of Hormuz for the benefit of the U.S., Israel, or their partners. pic.twitter.com/AdabOT8t3Q Breaking911 (@Breaking911) March 11, 2026 Even as it cuts off the Strait for others, Iran is exporting more oil through the Strait of Hormuz than before the war, showing it is in control of a strategic waterway that it has closed off to the rest of the regions oil producers, The Wall Street Journal reported. Iran is exporting more oil through the Strait of Hormuz than before the war, showing it is in control of a strategic waterway that it has closed off to the rest of the regions oil producers https://t.co/CeZTClmHBa The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) March 11, 2026 The worlds biggest liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plant in Qatar hasnt exported a shipment for five days, Bloomberg News reported. It marks the longest streak in data going back to 2008. Advertisement Advertisement A loaded tanker hasnt left the Ras Laffan facility in five days, according to a Bloomberg analysis of Kpler ship-tracking data. No LNG ship traversed the Strait of Hormuz after Feb. 28, when the US and Israel began strikes on Iran. The unprecedented closure of the liquefaction plant, which supplies nearly 20% of the worlds LNG, came after an Iranian drone attack early last week resulting in a jump in gas prices in Europe and Asia, the news organization noted. Ras Laffan did load a handful of shipments after stopping output, likely using fuel from storage tanks, the last of which was on Friday. The worlds biggest LNG export plant in Qatar hasnt exported a shipment for five days the longest streak in data going back to 2008 threatening to further boost prices for the fuel https://t.co/BKFTpIV0dH Bloomberg (@business) March 11, 2026 Two pipelines were built one in Saudi Arabia, the other in UAE just to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. This conflict, The Wall Street Journal posited, has highlighted their importance since they are the only ways to get a significant amount of oil out of the Persian Gulf and into world markets. The blockage in the Strait of Hormuz has suddenly made Saudi Arabias East-West pipeline one of the most critical pieces of infrastructure in the world https://t.co/6bwxev9vKc The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) March 11, 2026 Irans closure of the Strait to most foreign shipping has thrown the world energy market into chaos, causing oil and gas prices to fluctuate dramatically. Advertisement Advertisement Japan, Germany and Austria will release oil from their strategic reserves in response to disruptions in the supply from the Middle East, officials in those countries said on Wednesday, according to the Post. They made the announcements hours before a meeting of leaders of the Group of 7 industrialized nations, including the United States, to discuss jointly releasing oil in consultation with the International Energy Agency. Japan will begin releasing oil from its reserves as early as Monday to offset disruptions in Middle Eastern supply, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Wednesday in Tokyo. Clash Report (@clashreport) March 11, 2026 The International Energy Agency (IEA) on Wednesday agreed to release 400 million barrels of oil to address the supply disruption triggered by the Iran war, the largest such action in the organizations history, CNBC reported. The IEA did not set out a timeline for when the stocks would hit the market, the news outlet noted. It said that the reserves would be released over a timeframe that is appropriate to the circumstances of each of its 32 member countries. The U.S., meanwhile, has yet to tap into its Strategic Petroleum Reserve, a network of salt caverns in Texas and Louisiana that can hold up to 714 million barrels of crude. PARIS/LONDON, March 11 (Reuters) The International Energy Agency is to recommend the release of 400 million barrels of oil, the largest such move in IEA history, to try to restrain soaring crude prices amid the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. Idrees Ali (@idreesali114) March 11, 2026 Iran is not preventing all ships from passing through the Strait. Tehran has agreed to provide Bangladeshi oil vessels with safe passage. The move comes as the Bangladesh government has intensified efforts to maintain a stable fuel supply through multiple strategic measures amid escalating conflict in the Middle East. Advertisement Advertisement Bangladesh has sought assurances from Iran for the safe passage of its oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG)-carrying vessels through the Strait of Hormuz as escalating conflict in the Middle East threatens one of the worlds most critical energy shipping routes. Iran has officially agreed to grant safe passage to Bangladeshi oil and LNG vessels traveling through the Strait of Hormuz. Under the new agreement, Bangladeshi ships must notify Iranian authorities before entering the strategic waterway to ensure secure transit. The move comes pic.twitter.com/24spSuaLKl Middle East Monitor (@MiddleEastMnt) March 11, 2026 Some vessels are also using their AIS system to identify as Chinese owned, shipping expert Sal Mercogliano noted. Irans closure of the Strait does not pertain to Chinese-owned ships. The Marshal Islands-bulker KSL Laiyang is running the Strait. She is broadcasting on AIS "China Owners & Crew". This is EXACTLY what we saw happen in the Red Sea against the Houthis. Expect to see more of this. pic.twitter.com/LSCESnEDKI Sal Mercogliano (WGOW Shipping) (@mercoglianos) March 10, 2026 The New York Times claimed that Irans ongoing attacks on shipping, as well as its continuing missile and drone barrages are an example of how the Trump administration miscalculated Irans response to Epic Fury. "Some admin officials are growing pessimistic about the lack of clear strategy to finish the war. But they've been careful not to express that directly to Trump, who's declared the military op is a complete success."@MarkMazzettiNYT, @tylerpager, @ewonghttps://t.co/acpWw9P5MW Shalom Lipner (@ShalomLipner) March 11, 2026 The Trump administration has said it will send U.S. Navy warships to escort commercial vessels through the Strait, but that plan has yet to be implemented. Such a deployment would put American warships at far greater risk than they are facing now at standoff distances from Iran. It remains unclear how much longer Epic Fury will continue. The longer it does, however, the more Iran can bring economic pain around the globe with even just threats against Strait shipping. The Iranian attacks have led to Trump proposing that the U.S. provide political risk insurance for seaborne trade in the Gulf. However, Lloyds of London, the heart of maritime insurance globally, emphasizes it has not stopped providing contracts to those who ask although at the right tariff, The Guardian reported. Advertisement Advertisement Though no escorts have been set up, the U.S. is continuing to strike Irans Navy, including the sinking of the last of Irans Soleimani class catamaran warships, the head of U.S. Central Command said in a video statement on Wednesday morning. To date, we have struck more than 5,500 targets inside Iran, including more than 60 ships using a variety of precision weapon systems, Adm. Brad Cooper said in a video. Just yesterday, we had strike waves nearly every hour from different locations and directions going into Iran. We also took out the last of four Soleimani class warships. Thats an entire class of Iranian ships now out of the fight. Update from CENTCOM Commander on Operation Epic Fury: pic.twitter.com/5KQDv0Cfxs U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 11, 2026 Cooper did not name which of the catamarans was hit, but the video shows one from the Soleimani class and one from a smaller class. The hull number on the smaller ship PC313-01 indicates it was the IRIS Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. The ship was unveiled in a ceremony at Bandar Abbas in January 2024, the Iranian Press TV news outlet reported at the time. The now-sunk IRIS Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis at its unveiling in January 2024. (Iranian media) U.S. Army Sgt. First Class Cory Hicks told ABC News about the Iranian drone attack on a command center in Kuwait that killed six soldiers on March 1. Sgt. First Class Cory Hicks described the horrific moment a drone struck a U.S. command center in Kuwait and killed six service members: I turned to my right, and thats when it blew up and just blew the whole building apart. What You Need to Know is streaming on @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/7Zf0WQLYIp ABC News (@ABC) March 11, 2026 The deadly attack was more severe than previously known, with dozens of troops suffering injuries that included brain trauma, burns and severe injuries from shrapnel, according to CBS News. NEWS via @CBSNews: An Iranian drone attack in Kuwait that killed U.S. service members in the early hours of the war with Iran was more severe than previously known, with dozens suffering injuries that included brain trauma, shrapnel trauma and burns, per sources. More than 30 Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) March 11, 2026 Advertisement Advertisement Irans new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is safe and sound despite war injuries, Yousef Pezeshkian, a government adviser and the son of Irans president, claimed on Wednesday. I heard news that Mr Mojtaba Khamenei had been injured. I have asked some friends who had connections, Pezeshkian stated on Telegram. They told me that, thank God, he is safe and sound. State television had called Khamenei, 56, a wounded veteran of the Ramadan war but never specified his injury. BREAKING Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei is "safe and sound" despite reports of an injury during the war with Israel and the United States, the son of the Iranian president said on Wednesday pic.twitter.com/97ofF4dS1G AFP News Agency (@AFP) March 11, 2026 Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has threatened to attack economic centers and banks related to United States and Israeli entities in the region after what it called an attack on an Iranian bank, Al Jazeera reported. Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters, a group described as IRGC-owned by the United Nations, said on Wednesday that the enemy left our hands open to targeting economic centres and banks belonging to the United States and the Zionist regime in the region. To the people of Bahrain, the UAE, and Kuwait: Do not remain within one kilometer of banks Khatam alAnbiya Headquarters spokesperson: After the U.S. and Israeli attack on an Iranian bank, we are now free to target U.S. and Israeli economic centers and banks across the region. IRAN MILITARY (@IranMilitaryEN) March 11, 2026 The warning came after a reported attack on a Bank Sepah branch north of Iran, which is said to have killed many putting in extra hours ahead of the Persian New Year. The Khatam Al-Anbiya Air Defense HQs warns people in the entire region to stay away for 1km from banks after American-Zionists attacked a Bank Sepah branch in north of Tehran, killing a lot of personnel working extra hours ahead of Persian New Year. pic.twitter.com/JYcAaCQlLI Fereshteh Sadeghi (@fresh_sadegh) March 11, 2026 Iranian officials claimed to have hit several other U.S. targets in the region on Wednesday. (Reuters) The Iranian military said on Tuesday it had launched missiles at a U.S. base in northern Iraq, the U.S. naval headquarters for the Middle East in Bahrain, and at Be'er Ya'akov city in central Israel. Explosions rang out in Bahrain, while in Dubai four people were Phil Stewart (@phildstewart) March 11, 2026 IDF Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir claimed that many thousands of Iranian soldiers and commanders have been killed so far in this war. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir says "many thousands" of Iranian soldiers and commanders have been killed in Israeli strikes in Iran, warning that "no one is immune." "We are in a campaign that is deepening the damage to the Iranian regime and its foundations and pushing pic.twitter.com/0C5XvjBFTy Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) March 11, 2026 Advertisement Advertisement The IDF released new video showing airstrikes on what it claims were Iranian troops preparing to launch drones. The IDF releases footage showing airstrikes on Iranian soldiers who were preparing to launch drones at Israel from western Iran this week. According to the military, the Iranian soldiers were identified on Monday at a drone launching site. A short while later, an Israeli Air pic.twitter.com/XRWXO7YVaq Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) March 11, 2026 The IDF completed another wave of strikes in Dahiyeh in Beirut against what it claims were Hezbollah command centers and weapons storage sites. IDF said it issued a warning to residents before the attacks and also struck a Hezbollah command post in the coastal area of Tyre. " , " . , " , . pic.twitter.com/9nx1X4ZCJ2 (@idfonline) March 11, 2026 The IDF justified the strike by claiming the Lebanon-based Iranian proxy is hiding missiles, drones and other weapons in the heart of the Dahieh neighborhood in Beirut. INTELLIGENCE REVEALS: Hezbollah is hiding its strategic weapons in the heart of the Dahieh in Beirut, beneath the residential buildings of Lebanese residents. These are missiles, drones and additional weapons funded by the Iranian terror regime and designed to harm Israeli LTC Nadav Shoshani (@LTC_Shoshani) March 10, 2026 The owner of this white pickup may be the luckiest person in the Middle East. Video emerged on social media showing Lebanese Army troops removing an unexploded bomb from the vehicles cargo bed. Lebanon: Footage shows the army removing an unexploded missile following an early-morning assassination attempt. pic.twitter.com/aJAikNuAm8 Open Source Intel (@Osint613) March 11, 2026 Advertisement Advertisement Faced with growing threats from Hezbollah, Zamir ordered the Golani Brigade to be transferred from the Southern Command to operations in the Northern Command sector. Zamir added that a decision will be made regarding additional reinforcements. NEW: The IDF says Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir has ordered significant reinforcements to Israels northern front, shifting the Golani Brigade combat team from the south to Northern Command following a new operational assessment. The move comes amid developments in Israel War Room (@IsraelWarRoom) March 11, 2026 In a post on X, the UAE Defense Ministry (MoD) said its air defenses are currently dealing with missile attacks and incoming drones originating from Iran, and the Ministry of Defense confirms that the sounds heard in scattered areas of the country are the result of the air defense systems intercepting ballistic missiles, as well as fighter jets intercepting drones and loitering munitions. . UAE air defences are pic.twitter.com/aa5b1gw7vh |MOD UAE (@modgovae) March 11, 2026 Reuters posted a photograph on X of a building in Manama, Bahrain, reportedly damaged by an Iranian drone strike. A building damaged in a reported Iranian drone strike, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Seef, Manama, Bahrain, March 10, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer pic.twitter.com/luPTavYyJT Idrees Ali (@idreesali114) March 11, 2026 With Bahrain also being battered by Iranian attacks, Gulf Air has relocated its fleet of aircraft from there to Saudi Arabia, according to Al Jazeera. UPDATE: Gulf Air relocates fleet from Bahrain airport to Saudi Arabia for safety LIVE updates: https://t.co/C3ygr5vReGpic.twitter.com/WzzAuQnENj Al Jazeera Breaking News (@AJENews) March 11, 2026 Iranian Armed Forces spokesperson Brig.-Gen. Abolfazl Shekarchi called on regional Muslims and countries to reveal the locations of U.S. and Israeli military assets to enable Tehran to conduct more accurate attacks, the Jerusalem Post reported, citing official Iranian media. Shekarchi also framed the request as a way to ensure the safety of the people in the region. I call on the Muslim people of the region and the countries of the region to show us the hideouts of US and Zionist forces so that they themselves will not be harmed, and so that we can strike them more precisely, Shekarchi proclaimed. Iranian Armed Forces spokesperson Brig.-Gen. Abolfazl Shekarchi called on regional Muslims and countries to reveal the locations of US and Israeli military assets to enable Tehran to conduct more accurate attacks.https://t.co/YSSDWmIZ8s The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) March 11, 2026 In the wake of the joint U.S.-Israeli attack, The New York Times has identified at least 17 damaged U.S. sites and other installations, several of which have been struck more than once since the war began, the publication reported. Our analysis is based on high-resolution, commercial satellite imagery, verified social media videos and statements by U.S. officials and Iranian state media. The New York Times has identified at least 17 damaged U.S. sites and other installations, several of which have been struck more than once since the war began. https://t.co/hIG7CKXe2A pic.twitter.com/ui7lnyoQ2q Levent Kemal (@leventkemaI) March 11, 2026 U.S. Air Force maintainers can be seen in the X post below loading weapons onto B-1B Lancer bombers, which have arrived at Fairford Air Base in the U.K. US Airforce ground crew work under hatches of a B1 Lancer at RAF Fairford today. What appear to be cruise missiles sit by the warplane. Three B1 bombers returned this morning, on what is believed to be the first attack on Iran from a British base during this conflict. @AJENews pic.twitter.com/80YkxHL5rT Richard Gaisford (@richardgaisford) March 11, 2026 Romanian President Nicusor Dan said that U.S. refueling planes, monitoring equipment and satellite communications systems can use his countrys military bases. BUCHAREST, March 11 (Reuters) American refueling planes, monitoring equipment and satellite communications could use Romanian military bases during the U.S.' offensive in Iran, Romanian President Nicusor Dan said on Wednesday. Idrees Ali (@idreesali114) March 11, 2026 Turkey has reportedly deployed an ASELSANs SAHIN 40mm anti-drone system to Northern Cyprus, where it is now operational to defend against low-flying mini and micro UAVs using airburst smart grenades. Turkiye deployed ASELSANs SAHIN 40mm anti-drone system to Northern Cyprus, where it is now operational to defend against low-flying mini and micro UAVs using airburst smart grenades. pic.twitter.com/HT641qe6w7 Clash Report (@clashreport) March 11, 2026 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claims that Russia may send troops to Iran. That would be in addition to the support Moscow is already providing in the form of drones and air defenses, Zelensky said. He added that Russia will likely send missiles in the not-far-off future. President Zelenskyy: Russia may send troops to Iran. Russia is already supporting Iran with drones and will definitely support it with missiles. And it is certainly helping now with air defense. : @CaolanReportshttps://t.co/WnFQFO7Fgkpic.twitter.com/4iu6yGsUZd Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) March 11, 2026 Ukraine, which has long sought interceptors to help fend off waves of Russian missile and drone attacks, took to social media to note the discrepancy in how much it has been supplied over the course of four years versus how much the U.S. and allies have used during 11 days of Epic Fury. 800 Patriot missiles were used for air defense in just 3 days in the Middle East. Ukraine received 600 in 4 years of full-scale war. Russia, Iran and North Korea form a new Axis of Evil. Ukraine was the first to confront this Axis. We continue to fight, but we need support. The pic.twitter.com/wUQVn9gSVK Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) March 10, 2026 Add Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to the list of world leaders proclaiming that an Ayatollah-led regime in Iran should never obtain nuclear weapons. Italy's Meloni on Iran: We cannot afford an Ayatollah regime in possession of a nuclear weapon, combined, moreover, with a missile capability that could soon be able to directly strike Italy and Europe. pic.twitter.com/gdQE6HlckA Clash Report (@clashreport) March 11, 2026 UPDATES: We have concluded our rolling coverage in this piece. UPDATE: 5:11 PM EST Video has emerged showing a reported attack on an oil tanker near Iraq. Information at this point is scarce. The Ambrey martime security firm said it is investigating the matter. NEW: An oil tanker was targeted in territorial waters near Iraq. pic.twitter.com/QE39k4xXnf Clash Report (@clashreport) March 11, 2026 The U.S. used as much as $4 billion worth of munitions in the first 72 hours of its attacks against Iran, including about 400 cruise missiles and 800 air defense interceptors, Bloomberg News reported, citing estimates from German defense giant Rheinmetall AG. The numbers, released in the companys earnings presentation on Wednesday, were drawn from publicly available sources and in-house assumptions, the slides said, according to the news outlet. Other reports have put the munitions cost for the first two days of the conflict higher, at as much as $5.6 billion. The US used as much as $4 billion worth of munitions in the first 72 hours of its attacks against Iran, including about 400 cruise missiles and 800 air defense interceptors, according to estimates from German defense giant Rheinmetall https://t.co/7xiR8WNbtM Bloomberg (@business) March 11, 2026 Trump said that he picked the name Epic Fury from a list of about 20 and that the U.S. has already won. You know, you can only do it if you win and weve won, the American leader proclaimed. Let me say: weve won. You never like to say it too early, but we won the bet in the first hour. It was over. Trump on Iran: Operation Epic Fury is that a great name? Well, its only good if you win. You know, you can only do it if you win and weve won. Let me say: weve won. You never like to say it too early, but we won the bet in the first hour. It was over. They gave me a pic.twitter.com/AJOEGY08Eq Clash Report (@clashreport) March 11, 2026 Israels Iron Dome air defense system could not stop about half the 100 rockets Hezbollah launched at Israel just a few hours ago, New York Post reporter Caitlin Doornbos posted on X. Exclusive: The Iron Dome could not stop about half the 100 rockets Hezbollah launched at Israel just a few hours ago. Caitlin Doornbos (@CaitlinDoornbos) March 11, 2026 The leaders of the G7 group of nations the United States, Canada, Japan, Italy, Britain, Germany and France agreed to examine the option of providing escort for ships so they can navigate freely in the Gulf, according to a statement from the G7 Presidency on Wednesday. (Reuters) The leaders of the G7 group of nations the United States, Canada, Japan, Italy, Britain, Germany and France agreed to examine the option of providing escort for ships so they can navigate freely in the Gulf, said a statement from the G7 Presidency on Wednesday. Phil Stewart (@phildstewart) March 11, 2026 Despite threats from the regime to stay home, anti-government protestors are reportedly continuing to take to the streets in Iran demanding change. For 12 consecutive night, without missing a single day, Iranian people have hit the streets to express their anger over Israel/US attacks on Iran & its leader. They express support for armed forces & demand harsh revenge. Video from Urumia, 11 PM. https://t.co/GfIhLwFnzZ pic.twitter.com/w0RAIdrxXm Arya Yadeghaar (@AryJeay) March 11, 2026 The U.K. Defense Ministry (MoD) provided its latest update on Middle East operations. Update on UK operations in the Middle East, 11 March 2026. pic.twitter.com/1eYIkcW5sf Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) March 11, 2026 The UAE MoD said its air defenses dealt with 6 ballistic missiles, 7 cruise missiles, and 39 drones coming from Iran today. Since the start of the brazen Iranian aggression, UAE air defenses have dealt with 268 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,514 drones. 6 7 39 . (11 2026) 6 7 39 . pic.twitter.com/8BV5VPkwaE |MOD UAE (@modgovae) March 11, 2026 UPDATE: 4:48 PM EST The IRGC posted video it claims shows missile launches toward U.S., Israeli and allied military bases housing American forces in the region. Irans IRGC published footage of its missile launches towards Israel and US bases. The missiles include Qadr, Emad, Kheybar Shekan, and Fattah missiles against targets in Tel Aviv, Haifa, and US bases in the region such as the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan & Prince Sultan pic.twitter.com/Jkb8JRO04q Arya Yadeghaar (@AryJeay) March 11, 2026 Kuwaiti air defenses are currently confronting hostile missile and drone attacks, the nations army announced on X. The General Staff of the Army notes that if explosion sounds are heard, they are the result of air defense systems intercepting the hostile attacks, the announcement added. . . . pic.twitter.com/vFiXjuXdXP KUWAIT ARMY (@KuwaitArmyGHQ) March 11, 2026 UPDATE: 4:18 PM EST Three Ukrainian teams of military personnel and engineers have gone to the Middle East to help the U.S. and allies in the fight against Iran, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on X. After four years of fending off daily bombardment by Russian missiles and drones, Ukraine has a lot of hardearned expertise to share. Three Ukrainian teams have gone to the Middle East. Strong teams with experts, military personnel, and engineers. The military are already communicating and working today. The NSDC Secretary, Rustem Umerov, has arrived in the UAE today to discuss areas of cooperation. He will Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) March 11, 2026 Al Jazeera said a senior Iranian military official claimed that if Washington commits a strategic mistake, another strait will be in a situation similar to the Strait of Hormuz, the publication posted on X. The region may enter a regional war soon, and we still have many cards to play. Any American mistake will complicate the situation in the region, and Iran has phased and graduated military plans. #| : # pic.twitter.com/gLm38EUy4D (@AJArabic) March 11, 2026 Video is emerging on social media claiming to show Tehran under a large drone attack. Holy sh*t Drones are flying all over Tehran tonight hitting basij/IRGC stations Israel is neutralizing the regimes crackdown machineits finally happening pic.twitter.com/Yz7Nj3sdNW Throwback Iran (@Tarikh_Eran) March 11, 2026 Despite what appears to be a coordinated Israel attack on Basij checkpoints in Tehran, the regime is reportedly keeping a tight lid on any potential anti-government protests, journalist Nilo Tabrizy said a source told her. The government constantly sends threatening [text] messages to everyone. It says that if you come to the streets to protest, you will be considered an Israeli soldier and will be killed. A source in Iran told me about the continued repression by state security forces despite waves of heavy air strikes over their city: "The government constantly sends threatening [text] messages to everyone. It says that if you come to the streets to protest, you will be Nilo Tabrizy (@ntabrizy) March 11, 2026 Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament is urging pro-government crowds to remain on the streets. Dear Iranian nation, to whom I would sacrifice my life a thousand times! MB Ghalibaf stated on X. Your presence in the streets has bewildered and enraged the enemy. This humble soldier of yours has three requests from you: the streets, the streets, the streets. Your children in the armed forces have taken their lives in hand to defend #Iran; strengthen their backs by holding the streets firm. ! . : . # . | MB Ghalibaf (@mb_ghalibaf) March 11, 2026 Alarms have again sounded in Bahrain, as the nation braces for another wave of Iranian attacks, officials there claim. Ministry of Interior (@moi_bahrain) March 11, 2026 Kuwait National Guard bomb squad engineers have destroyed a drone warhead that fell inside a fuel tank, spokesman Jadaan Al-Fadhel said in a statement on Wednesday, adding that no injuries were reported during the operation. Kuwait National Guard bomb squad engineers have destroyed a drone warhead that fell inside a fuel tank, Spokesman Jadaan Al-Fadhel said in a statement on Wednesday, adding that no injuries were reported during the operation. The bomb squads worked for seven days to unload the pic.twitter.com/dj03OwacvK KUWAIT TIMES (@kuwaittimesnews) March 11, 2026 UPDATE: 3:45 EST During a visit to Thermo Fisher Scientific in Cincinnati on Wednesday, Trump said that for Iran, its a war. But for America, its easier than we thought. During a site visit to Thermo Fisher Scientific in Cincinnati on Wednesday, President Trump told reporters the U.S. military operation in Iran is "both" a "little excursion" and a "war." "For them it's a war," Trump said. "For us it's turned out to be easier than we thought." pic.twitter.com/RkRZxWuRfN ABC News (@ABC) March 11, 2026 The U.S. president also claimed that more than two dozen Iranian mine boats have been destroyed during Epic Fury. They started talking about mines. So we hit 28 mine ships as of this moment, Trump proclaimed. Twenty-eight. Like, using the same weapon the exact same weapon that we use against the drug dealers in the water. We have as an example, we had tremendous drugs pouring in through the water through the sea. And now we have almost none. Its down 97%. U.S. President Donald J. Trump tells reporters that 28 mine-laying vessels operated by the Iranian Navy and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) have now been targeted and destroyed: They started talking about mines. So we hit 28 mine ships as of this moment. pic.twitter.com/znwGK9sydD OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) March 11, 2026 Iran deployed about a dozen mines in the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported, citing two sources familiar with the matter. The move is likely to complicate reopening the waterway an important route for shipping oil and liquefied natural gas. Western sources in a conversation with N12: "The Iranians have already laid more than 10 mines in the Strait of Hormuz and intend to lay more. Both the entry and exit routes are blocked to put pressure on us. They have created a bypass route and allow only those they want to Raylan Givens (@JewishWarrior13) March 11, 2026 Trump is preparing to invoke Cold War-era powers to pave the way for renewed oil production off the southern California coast, Bloomberg News is reporting. The move is seen as a long-shot bid to help ease the global crude supply crunch spurred by his war with Iran, according to the outlet. Trump is set to soon summon authorities under the Defense Production Act to preempt state laws and ease permitting for Sable Offshore Corp., a Houston-based company looking to restart significant production from a cluster of offshore platforms in California, Bloomberg added. The plan was described by a person familiar with the matter who asked not to be named because its not yet public. Trump is preparing to invoke Cold War-era powers to pave the way for renewed oil production off the southern California coast, a long-shot bid to help ease the global crude supply crunch spurred by his war with Iran. https://t.co/uopErGQnUh Bloomberg (@business) March 11, 2026 The fire at Omans Salahah Port seems to be intensifying. The port was attacked by Iran earlier on Wednesday. Major fire is intensifying at Salalah Port in Oman following Iranian attack earlier today. pic.twitter.com/lvY4jJvwrA Clash Report (@clashreport) March 11, 2026 Several security forces and members of Irans paramilitary Basij force were killed by Israeli drones in Tehran today, according to the IRGC-affiliated Fars News Agency. Irans IRGC-affiliated Fars News Agency has reported that several security forces and members of the paramilitary Basij force were killed in Tehran today, accusing Israel of targeting them with drones. Ghoncheh Habibiazad | (@GhonchehAzad) March 11, 2026 UPDATE: 2:53 PM EST Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets from Lebanon and Iran fired several ballistic missiles at the area, according to Israeli media. The Israeli military later confirmed that it didnt intercept some of the projectiles, adding that rescue services and emergency teams are currently operating at the impact sites. WATCH: Hezbollah rockets launched toward northern Israel pic.twitter.com/GaonTWp3ka Faytuks Network (@FaytuksNetwork) March 11, 2026 Video has emerged showing an Iranian Shahed-type long-range strike drone approaching, then hitting the fuel tanks in the Omani port of Salalah earlier on Wednesday. The attack caused a powerful explosion and fireball. The moment when an Iranian Shahed-type long-range strike drone impacted one of the fuel tanks in the Omani port of Salalah earlier on Wednesday, causing a powerful explosion. https://t.co/rpz8cawfHI pic.twitter.com/wzBA3CVY5B Status-6 (War & Military News) (@Archer83Able) March 11, 2026 In a post on X, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said he told leaders from Russia and Pakistan that his nation reaffirms its commitment to peace in the region. The only way to end this warignited by the Zionist regime & USis recognizing Irans legitimate rights, payment of reparations, and firm intl guarantees against future aggression, he exclaimed. Talking to leaders of Russia and Pakistan, I reaffirmed Irans commitment to peace in the region. The only way to end this warignited by the Zionist regime & USis recognizing Irans legitimate rights, payment of reparations, and firm int'l guarantees against future aggression. Masoud Pezeshkian (@drpezeshkian) March 11, 2026 The Coordination Committee of the Iraqi Resistance issued a warning to Syrian leader, Ahmed Sharaa, threatening that any hostile move toward Lebanon, particularly if coordinated with the U.S. or Israel, would be treated as a declaration of war against the entire Axis of Resistance. Notable: The Coordination Committee of the Iraqi Resistance a loosely coordinated body made up of Iran-backed Shiite militias in Iraq that align messaging, threats, and occasionally operations issued a warning to Syrian leader, Ahmed Sharaa, threatening that any hostile move pic.twitter.com/ze40sgZcPC Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) March 11, 2026 The threat in Iraq remains real as you can see by the following video, which reportedly shows an interceptor hitting an Iranian drone over Erbil. Footage of a coalition interceptor slamming into an Iranian drone over Erbil, Iraq tonight. pic.twitter.com/yc9cfEXcAe OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 11, 2026 There is pushback to claims that the U.S. is sending Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems from Korea for deployment to the Middle East. According to the latest reports, the six launchers present in Korea left their base, delivered (presumably 48) interceptor missiles to Osan Air Base to be transported out, then returned. (And an anti-THAAD group is demanding the radar be removed, as it is still there) https://t.co/T4igHmcCDq Joel Atkinson (@Joel_P_Atkinson) March 11, 2026 UAE reportedly sees an opportunity to reclaim the Abu Musa, Greater and Lesser Tunb islands that Iran seized in 1971. UAE sees an opportunity to reclaim the Abu Musa, Greater and Lesser Tunb islands that Iran seized in 1971. https://t.co/IvNYRxIhYY Yaroslav Trofimov (@yarotrof) March 11, 2026 The Bellingcat investigative team geolocated eight videos showing U.S. Tomahawk launches. Bellingcat has geolocated eight videos showing US Tomahawks cruise missiles in Iraq heading towards Iran. The missiles appear to be flying low across valleys and were most likely fired from the Mediterranean sea, an expert told us. pic.twitter.com/9bTO2BODa1 Trevor Ball (@Easybakeovensz) March 11, 2026 UPDATE: 2:40 PM EST Saying most of Irans Navy has been destroyed, Trump urged oil companies to start using the Strait of Hormuz again. TRUMP: I think oil companies should use the Strait of Hormuz. "We took out just about all of their mine ships in one night just about all of their navy is gone." pic.twitter.com/vJ53Xr1AiN Breaking911 (@Breaking911) March 11, 2026 Meanwhile, India condemned the Iranian attack on the Thai ship bound for Kandla. Statement regarding ship bound for Kandla, India https://t.co/CdtmMXAdPYpic.twitter.com/xVK9AymYn2 Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) March 11, 2026 Iran and the terrorist militias allied with it may be planning to target U.S.-owned oil and energy infrastructure in Iraq, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad warned. Additionally, Iran-aligned terrorist militias have targeted hotels frequented by Americans in various parts of Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. 11 2026 1 : : . U.S. Embassy Baghdad (@USEmbBaghdad) March 11, 2026 The IDF released a video containing what it says was audio of a radio exchange between an Israeli and U.S. pilot. UPDATE: 2:06 EST An ongoing military investigation has determined that the United States is responsible for a deadly Feb. 28 Tomahawk missile strike on an Iranian elementary school, The New York Times reported, citing U.S. officials and others familiar with the preliminary findings. The Feb. 28 strike on the elementary school was the result of a targeting mistake by the U.S., preliminary inquiry says: U.S. Central Command created the target coordinates for the strike using outdated data provided by the Defense Intelligence Agency. https://t.co/sgMwh2wRz1 pic.twitter.com/2cTHHdGg3q Christiaan Triebert (@trbrtc) March 11, 2026 Irans Armed Forces spokesman General Shekarchi warned the U.S. and allies against striking Iranian ports. If any threat is made against our ports, all docks and economic ports in the entire region will be our legitimate targets, and we will carry out operations heavier than those we have done so far, he vowed. #BREAKING Spokesperson of Iran's Armed Forces General Shekarchi: If any threat is made against our ports, all docks and economic ports in the entire region will be our legitimate targets, and we will carry out operations heavier than those we have done so far. pic.twitter.com/vrtKP4bOkQ Tehran Times (@TehranTimes79) March 11, 2026 Iran may be using a Chinese satellite navigation system to target Israel and United States military assets in the Middle East, intelligence experts say, according to Al Jazeera. Former French foreign intelligence director Alain Juillet told Frances independent Tocsin podcast this week that it is likely that Iran has been provided access to Chinas BeiDou satellite navigation system because its targeting has become much more accurate since the 12-Day War with Israel in June, the outlet reported. Iran may be using a Chinese satellite navigation system to target Israel and US military assets in the Middle East, say intelligence experts. Here's what we know about China's BeiDou navigation system https://t.co/PUR599KPgE pic.twitter.com/7V3doDnKI8 Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) March 11, 2026 1:55PM EST The NYT reports that Pentagon officials told U.S. lawmakers that Iran has as much as 50% of its missiles and launchers remaining. "Two military officials said there was concern that the Pentagon did not have full clarity on all of Irans launch sites. The officials also said that Iran had kept many missiles in reserve to strike at important battlefield targets like the American radars. Pentagon officials ProfTalmadge (@ProfTalmadge) March 11, 2026 A Merlin early warning and control helicopter has arrived in Cyprus to provide a critical look down capability for spotting incoming drones. You can read about how critical this capability is and how new assets are being sent to the Middle East to help provide it in our story from yesterday linked here. A Royal Navy Merlin airborne surveillance and control helicopter has arrived in Cyprus earlier this week to boost the defence of UK military forces. https://t.co/mTNrHAlhQHpic.twitter.com/MosoOF9DY9 Royal Navy (@RoyalNavy) March 11, 2026 Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com PARIS (AP) Gasoline prices are rising largely because of the Iran war's impact on the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passageway for oil and gas from the Persian Gulf. The waterway off Iran's coast, now effectively closed, is so vital for the global economy that governments are working on blueprints to speedily reopen it to shipping when the shooting stops. In Europe, French President Emmanuel Macron is leading an international effort to unblock the energy choke point, so that oil, gas and goods could flow freely again when circumstances permit." He envisions countries using warships to escort tankers and container vessels through the strait when fighting is less intense, whenever that may be. Former naval officers who have served in the Hormuz passage say vessels would be sitting ducks, with little room for maneuver in the strait's narrow shipping lanes, if foreign naval forces attempted to reopen the waterway before a cessation of hostilities. Advertisement Advertisement In todays context, sending warships or civilian vessels into the Strait of Hormuz would be suicidal, French navy retired Vice Adm. Pascal Ausseur said in an interview with The Associated Press. A ceasefire agreement with Iran would make the situation shift from suicidal to dangerous. At that point, military ships could be deployed. And then escort operations could begin," he said. Here's a look at how Hormuz might be made navigable again: Battle-hardened in the Red Sea French, American, British and other naval crews already have valuable experience of fighting off missiles and drones in the region. They have escorted and defended cargo vessels through attacks in the Red Sea carried out by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. Advertisement Advertisement French frigates used machine guns, cannons and sophisticated air-defense missiles to fend off Houthi strikes. French frigate Alsace downed three ballistic missiles in the Red Sea in 2024 as it was escorting a container ship. The ship's commander at the time, Capt. Jerome Henry, told the AP that being on the receiving end of the potentially deadly strikes was unnerving and exhausting. The sea battles also took a toll on U.S. Navy ships and personnel. There were repeated attacks, either by drones or missiles, Henry said in an interview. The crew didnt get much sleep. French retired Vice Adm. Michel Olhagaray, a former head of Frances center for higher military studies, says that all navies learned a great deal about working together and escorting ships from their Red Sea missions and have also drawn on Ukraine's experiences against Russian barrages of missiles and drones during Moscow's war. It would allow us to deploy to that region with fairly refined know-how and a high level of cooperation and that is extremely important, said Olhagaray, who commanded a French frigate that patrolled the Strait of Hormuz during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s. Higher risks Iran is militarily far better equipped than its Houthi proxies in Yemen, which caused considerable damage and disruption in the Red Sea between November 2023 and January 2025. Armed by Iran, the rebels targeted more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two and killing four sailors, and greatly reduced trade flows. Advertisement Advertisement Iran can reach all of the Strait of Hormuz and its approaches with anti-ship cruise missiles that it developed off Chinese-made weapons, according to mapping by the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency. It can also target vessels with longer-range missiles, drones, fast attack craft and naval mines, which it used during the Iran-Iraq war. U.S. strikes on mine-laying Iranian vessels in this latest conflict underscore the gravity of that danger. With war raging, the Hormuz passage is very, very dangerous and the risks for shipping are much greater than in the Red Sea against the Houthis, Olhagaray said. The means to counter this threat must be far more substantial and far more effective, he said. Before the heat can decrease ... most of the offensive installations on land in Iran would have to be eliminated. There would need to be constant monitoring, patrols, extremely close surveillance, and a very high level of intelligence to be able to say that it would be possible to allow tankers to transit, even with military escorts. That will not happen at all not at all in the near future. Reassuring insurers Experts say another challenge will be reassuring shipping insurers and companies that navigating in Hormuz waters is feasible again. Insurance premiums for shipping in the strait have soared to levels that France's transport minister described as insane," causing a big problem for shippers. Advertisement Advertisement Maritime traffic is a business. That business has to make money. If insurance costs are so high that you cant make a profit by sailing through a given area, then you dont sail through that area, said Ausseur, now a director of the Mediterranean Foundation for Strategic Studies, a think tank. Insurance rates for oil tankers that want to transit through Hormuz are many times higher than they were before the war and are approaching levels that have been charged for ships carrying grain from Ukraine during the ongoing war with Russia, said Marcus Baker, global head of marine, cargo and logistics for insurance broker and risk adviser Marsh Risk. Potential naval escorts for commercial ships would be helpful, Baker said. Thats been done before in conflicts past, so thats not something unusual and that will obviously give a degree of confidence to the insurers that the vessels are going to have a greater degree of safety, he said. ___ Mae Anderson in New York, and Sylvie Corbet in Paris, contributed to this report. WASHINGTON A fiery debate broke out in the Senate on Wednesday, March 11, as lawmakers faced intensifying pressure amid the Iran war and growing airport security lines to end the monthlong partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. The Senate once more opted against even partially reopening the agency after Democrats tried to unanimously pass a bill to fully fund most of its contents except for (crucially) Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection and the Office of the Secretary. Republicans blocked the measure, saying they couldn't support a bill that disregards immigration enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement "We're not going back to the era of defund the police," said Sen. Katie Britt, R-Alabama, a key figure in the talks to end the shutdown. "We're not doing it." (L/R) Rodney Scott, Commissioner of US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Joseph Edlow, Director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and Todd Lyons, acting director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), testify during a House Committee on Homeland Security hearing on Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on Feb. 10, 2026. A staffer holds up a display of Renee Good and Alex Pretti who were both killed by ICE agents, during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing on Feb. 10, 2026 in Washington, DC. The Department of Homeland Security has faced criticism over law enforcement tactics targeting undocumented immigrants and the killing of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis. Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Todd Lyons testifies during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing on Feb. 10, 2026 in Washington, DC. The Department of Homeland Security has faced criticism over law enforcement tactics targeting undocumented immigrants and the killing of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis. Chairman U.S. Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) speaks during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing on Feb. 10, 2026 in Washington, DC. The Department of Homeland Security has faced criticism over law enforcement tactics targeting undocumented immigrants and the killing of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis. Committee ranking member Representative Bennie Thompson, D-MS), speaks with a picture of Liam Ramos displayed behind him, a 5 year-old boy who was detained by ICE on January 20, during a House Committee on Homeland Security hearing on Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on Feb. 10, 2026. Rodney Scott, Commissioner of US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), testifies during a House Committee on Homeland Security hearing on Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on Feb. 10, 2026. (L/R) Rodney Scott, Commissioner of US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Joseph Edlow, Director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and Todd Lyons, acting director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), are sworn in during a House Committee on Homeland Security hearing on Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on Feb, 10, 2026. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Rodney Scott and Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow arrive for a House Homeland Security Committee hearing entitled "Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security: ICE, CBP, and USCIS", on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Feb. 10, 2026. ICE, Border Patrol leaders face Congress over deadly Minnesota raids 1 of 8 (L/R) Rodney Scott, Commissioner of US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Joseph Edlow, Director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and Todd Lyons, acting director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), testify during a House Committee on Homeland Security hearing on Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on Feb. 10, 2026. Republicans and Democrats shouted at each other on the Senate floor against an increasingly dire political backdrop. As the war in Iran rapidly escalates, lawmakers have warned that critical antiterrorism divisions within the 9/11-era Cabinet agency are facing staff and resource shortages. At the same time, security lines have begun to snake longer at airports across the country, as workers at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which is part of Homeland Security, continue to go unpaid. As is always the case with shutdowns, the pain has started to grow in more visible ways, pulling focus from the reason it started in the first place. Advertisement Advertisement Read more: A blind woman, a 'dream job,' and the toll of the government shutdown In this case, Democrats, horrified by the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good by federal agents in Minneapolis, dug their feet in last month and refused to fund the agency that houses ICE and Border Patrol. Since then, they've been negotiating with congressional Republicans and the White House over potential reforms to federal immigration enforcement. Among other things, they want a ban on masks for agents, more requirements for officers to wear body-worn cameras and a commitment to no raids without warrants from a judge. Republicans have said some of those asks, including the mask ban, are nonstarters. They've been more amenable to other requests, though, like the body-worn cameras demand. President Donald Trump ousted Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem last week in a move many Democrats were happy to see, but it didn't immediately change their minds on funding the department. Advertisement Advertisement Speaking on the Senate floor, a visibly upset Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, accused Democrats of allowing the latest counterproposal from the Trump administration, which he said "went further" than many Democrats expected, to languish for two weeks. Senate Majority Leader John Thune talks with reporters at the U.S. Capitol on March 11 in Washington, DC. "This is a one-sided negotiation," he said. Washington's Patty Murray, the top Democratic appropriator in the Senate, shot back that her party doesn't want to negotiate with Republicans if they'll just be overruled by the White House. "I am willing to talk to people," she said. "But I'm not willing to sit in a room, have coffee, give away a few things, and then have (Trump adviser) Stephen Miller override whatever we all agree to." Advertisement Advertisement Read more: White House says Trump's SAVE Act threat not applicable to DHS funding Terrorism risks, TSA lines growing Members of the FBI perform an investigation near Buford's bar in downtown on March 1, 2026 in Austin, Texas. Three people are dead and 14 others hospitalized following a mass shooting early Sunday morning. The stakes of the DHS shutdown are only getting higher. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Oklahoma, the chair of the House Appropriations Committee, said that Coast Guard men and women, including those in harm's way in Bahrain because of the war, "are completing missions without full resources behind them." Lawmakers and federal officials have also said the Iran conflict has increased the risks of terrorism in the United States. In just the nearly two weeks since the war began, two separate incidents underscored that reality. On March 1, three people were killed outside a bar in Austin, Texas. The suspect was wearing a "Property of Allah" sweatshirt, and reports indicate he was wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the Iranian flag. On March 9, two teenagers were accused of igniting bombs outside the home of New York City's mayor in an attack motivated by the Islamic State, according to a federal complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Simultaneously, travelers are facing TSA lines of up to nearly three hours long at some major airports, causing missed flights and massive delays during peak travel, the TSA told USA TODAY in a statement. Workers only received partial paychecks earlier this month and now face their first full missed paycheck, raising the risk of "crippling staff shortages," according to the agency. For those reasons, Democrats have continued to push Republicans to pass funding for most of DHS while they work out an immigration enforcement deal with the Trump administration. "Republicans claim they're worried about TSA and FEMA," said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York. "They can't be too worried, because they're blocking it right now." Zachary Schermele is a congressional reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach him by email at zschermele@usatoday.com. Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele and Bluesky at @zachschermele.bsky.social. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Iran war clouds ICE concerns as DHS shutdown talks remain stalled By Bo Erickson HEBRON, Kentucky, March 11 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump sought to reassure Americans during a trip to Kentucky and Ohio on Wednesday that rising gasoline prices linked to the Iran war were temporary, as fellow Republicans worried that the increases are stoking voter anxiety about the economy. Trump's campaign trip was his first since the start of the U.S.-Israeli military operation in Iran on February 28. It offered him a chance to sharpen his economic message and tout his record ahead of November's midterm elections, when his fellow Republicans will be defending narrow majorities in both chambers of the U.S. Congress. Advertisement Advertisement On his first stop, at a plant in Cincinnati, Ohio, Trump's initial remarks focused on the Iran war. Gasoline prices are up 61 cents from last month on average in both Kentucky and nationwide, according to travel organization AAA. "Oil will be coming down," Trump said on Wednesday. "It's going to come down more than we, than anybody understands." Trump told Cincinnati's Local 12 TV channel that the U.S. would reduce the U.S. strategic petroleum reserve "a little bit." His predecessor, former President Joe Biden, also released oil from the SPR to limit price rises during the early months of Russia's war in Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Trump's remarks on the economy in Hebron in northern Kentucky were the latest in a series of speeches Trump has delivered around the country to sell the American public on his economic policies. Trump touted his efforts to lower drug prices, one of the key selling points for Republicans in the elections, as well as cuts to income taxes on tips and overtime for many Americans as part of the "One Big Beautiful Bill" passed by Congress last year. CAMPAIGN AGAINST KENTUCKY REPUBLICAN MASSIE Hebron is part of the district represented by Republican U.S. Representative Thomas Massie, a Trump critic who often breaks with his party. Advertisement Advertisement Massie led the high-profile push for more transparency from Trump's Justice Department in its handling of files connected to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Trump has endorsed Ed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL officer and farmer, to face off against Massie in the party's primary on May 19. "Thomas Massie is a disaster for our party," Trump told the Kentucky crowd. "He's got to be voted out of office as soon as possible." In an interview with Reuters, Massie remained optimistic about his prospects despite criticism from Trump. "The political reality of Wednesday is that more people are going to know that President Trump has endorsed against me, he said. The good news is our polling shows that even if, in the impossible case 100% knew that on (the) May 19 primary, I would still win." (Writing by Bo Erickson and Costas Pitas; additional reporting by Steve Holland and Bhargav Acharya; Editing by Ross Colvin, Will Dunham, Howard Goller and David Gregorio) He added that such cooperation can establish security in the region, and urged people in the region not to shield US forces. Iranian Armed Forces spokesperson Brig.-Gen. Abolfazl Shekarchi called on regional Muslims and countries to reveal the locations of US and Israeli military assets to enable Tehran to conduct more accurate attacks, the Iranian state-affiliated Defa Press reported on Wednesday. Shekarchi also framed the request as a way to ensure the safety of the people in the region. Advertisement Advertisement I call on the Muslim people of the region and the countries of the region to show us the hideouts of US and Zionist forces so that they themselves will not be harmed, and so that we can strike them more precisely," Shekarchi said. The spokesperson went on to assert that the US and Israel were using the people in the region as "human shields." "In this way, the people of the region will be safe from the crushing blows of our armed forces, and we can also free these people from the United States and Israel, Shekarchi added. Palestinians carry gas cylinders at the Hamza Shaheen station in Hebron on January 24, 2026, amid a cooking gas shortage in the West Bank. Station owners report Israel has reduced gas supplies entering the territory since renewed threats of a US-Israeli-Iranian war. (credit: Photo by Mosab Shawer / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images) He went on to say that such cooperation can establish security in the region, and urged people in the region not to shield US forces. Advertisement Advertisement We ask the Muslim people of the region not to become shields for the invading US army so that, God willing, we can more effectively, more strongly, and more quickly remove the Americans from the region, he said. Shekarchi also accused Washington and Jerusalem of purposely targeting civilians. The criminal US army and the Zionist regime, which are unable to confront our armed forces and every day suffer heavy losses under the powerful strikes of our forces, are, out of desperation and inability to face our military, shedding the blood of ordinary people; our women, innocent children, and men, he said. He said attacks had taken place in Tehran on consecutive days. Advertisement Advertisement As part of these actions, two shameless and savage crimes were committed in Tehran yesterday and today, Shekarchi said. Warnings of retaliation against the 'American-Zionist enemies' Addressing what he described as American-Zionist enemies, Shekarchi warned of retaliation. We tell them to expect crushing blows in retaliation for these savage acts. Soon we will avenge these actions and deliver very severe strikes against them, he said. Shekarchi also accused the United States of hypocrisy regarding its stated support for the Iranian public. The criminal United States and the lying, delusional Trump launched this aggression under the slogan of supporting the Iranian people. Now those same people whom the Americans falsely claimed they wanted to support are being killed and bloodied under American bombing and missile strikes, he said. An Iranian-linked hacker group that took credit for a cyberattack against a global medical technology company on Wednesday said it was spurred to action by the airstrike against an elementary school in Iran. The group, known as Handala, is accused of carrying out a wiper attack against devices tied to the US-based company Stryker. Wiper attacks use specialized malware designed to permanently delete or corrupt data. An employee for Stryker in Cork, Ireland, where the company employs several thousand people, told the Irish Examiner that the cyberattack affected devices connected to its network, including personal phones. Advertisement Advertisement Internal login and admin pages used by employees in Cork now reportedly show the logo for Handala, which describes itself as a pro-Palestinian hacking group. Handala is suspected by cybersecurity firms of having ties to Iranian intelligence. A spokesperson for Stryker described Wednesday's incident as "a global network disruption," stating that its "teams are actively working to restore systems and operations as quickly as possible." In a post to its website, Handala said it carried out the attack against Stryker, which it called a "Zionist-rooted corporation," in retaliation for the airstrike against the Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school in Minab, Iran, on Feb. 28. Handala said the cyberattack resulted in the destruction of 50 terabytes of data from more than 200,000 systems, servers and mobile devices linked to Stryker. Straight Arrow News reached out to Stryker to inquire about the claim, but did not receive a reply. Advertisement Advertisement The hacker group ended its post by referring to the U.S. and its allies as "demons" with ties to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein before issuing a warning: "This is only the beginning of a new chapter in cyber warfare. To all those plotting attacks on the infrastructure of the Axis of Resistance: The era of hit-and-run is over!" Wednesday's incident is believed to be the first destructive cyberattack against a Western entity in response to the ongoing war with Iran. Prior to the conflict, Handala frequently took credit for hacking Israeli companies and individuals, including former Prime Minister Ehud Barak. Handala did not respond to a request for comment from SAN. Related Links DUBAI, March 10 (Reuters) - Iran has arrested dozens including a foreign national for allegedly spying for the country's "enemies", the Intelligence Ministry said on Tuesday, amid a continued war with the U.S. and Israel. The U.S. and Israel launched airstrikes against Iran on February 28, killing the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several commanders. During the ongoing conflict, Iran has launched retaliatory strikes against Gulf countries that are U.S. allies and host American military bases. Advertisement Advertisement Without identifying the arrested person's nationality, Iran's Intelligence Ministry said the foreign national "was conducting espionage on behalf of the United States and Israel, and acting as a proxy for two Gulf countries," according to state media. In the past years, Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps have arrested dozens of dual nationals and foreigners, mostly on espionage and security-related charges. Rights groups have accused the Islamic Republic of trying to win concessions from other countries through arrests on security charges that may have been trumped up. Tehran denies arresting people for political reasons. The ministry also said "30 spies, internal mercenaries, and operational agents of Israel and the U.S." had been arrested over the past few days. Advertisement Advertisement Separately, Iran's Police chief Ahmadreza Radan told state TV that some 81 people had been detained so far for "sharing internal Iranian information with hostile media and enemies". He did not give further information. (Reporting by Elwely Elwelly; Editing by Alexandra Hudson, Parisa Hafezi and Stephen Coates) Iran has deployed about a dozen mines in the Strait of Hormuz, two sources familiar with the matter said. Head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGC-N) Alireza Tangsiri warned that vessels must obtain permission from the Islamic Republic before passing through the Strait of Hormuz, pro- and anti-regime outlets reported on Wednesday. Ships that ignored warnings from the Iranian Navy and IRGC-N and attempted to pass through the waterway had "run into trouble," anti-regime London-based outlet Iran International cited Tangsiri as saying. Advertisement Advertisement According to Iran International, he mentioned two vessels, Expres Rome and Mayuree Naree, saying that they tried to pass through the strait despite warnings, and were "caught in incidents." Additionally, in the event that Iran's ports and docks are threatened, all ports and docks in the region will be legitimate targets for the Iranian military, a senior spokesperson told Iranian state TV. Iran has laid about a dozen mines in Strait of Hormuz, sources say Meanwhile, Iran has deployed about a dozen mines in the Strait of Hormuz, two sources familiar with the matter said, in a move likely to complicate the reopening of the narrow waterway, an important route for shipping oil and liquefied natural gas. Exports of oil and LNG through the strategic chokepoint along Iran's coast have effectively been halted by the war launched 12 days ago by the United States and Israel, helping to drive a surge in world energy prices. Advertisement Advertisement Irans military command on Wednesday said the world should be prepared for oil to hit $200 a barrel. One source said the locations of most of the mines are known but declined to say how the US planned to deal with them. CNN first reported the mining of the strait on Tuesday. Iran has long threatened to retaliate against any military attack by mining the strait. About a fifth of global oil and LNG normally passes through the strait, and Tehran's ability to stop shipping through the channel gives it enormous leverage over the US and its allies. The US military says it has targeted Iranian mine-laying vessels, eliminating 16 of them on Tuesday. But the US Navy has so far declined to provide protective escorts to commercial ships through the strait. Advertisement Advertisement US President Donald Trump on Tuesday demanded that Iran immediately remove any mines deployed in the strait and he said that it would face unspecified military consequences if it failed to do so. Mayuree Naree is a Thailand-flagged bulk carrier that was hit by two projectiles, which caused a fire and damage to the engine room, the carrier operator Precious Shipping announced. Twenty members of the vessel's crew were evacuated to Oman while three were reported missing, Thailand's Transport Ministry stated. The Thailand-flagged cargo ship Mayuree Naree engulfed in black smoke in the Strait of Hormuz, March 11, 2026. (credit: ROYAL THAI NAVY/Handout via REUTERS) The ministry said the crew had abandoned the vessel in a lifeboat and were rescued by the Omani navy. It said an explosion occurred in the stern of the ship and caused a fire in the engine compartment, where the remaining three crew members had been working. Advertisement Advertisement The outlet also cited maritime security agencies saying that three ships, including the Thailand-flagged vessel, had been "hit by unknown projectiles" on Wednesday, bringing the number of international vessels struck to at least 14 since the conflict began on February 28. Two other vessels damaged on Wednesday by apparent Iranian strikes The other two ships that sustained damage were the Japan-flagged container ship ONE Majesty, which is operated by Ocean Network Express, and bulk carrier Star Gwyneth, owned by Star Bulk Carriers, with crews on both vessels reported as safe, Iran International reported. Tangsiri, who holds the rank equivalent to a rear-admiral, was sanctioned by the US Treasury Department as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist on 24 June 2019, followed by secondary sanctions in 2024 due to his role in an Iranian military company that develops drones. He was appointed IRGCN chief by then-supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in August 2018. Advertisement Advertisement In 2025, pro-regime Tehran Times reported that he claimed that the US is incapable of challenging Iran's "maritime dominance" in the Persian Gulf, including the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters contributed to this report Danish toymaker Lego Group is preparing for higher energy and raw material costs as oil and gas prices climb amid conflict in the Middle East. Chief executive Niels Christiansen told Reuters that rising oil prices could, over time, lift the cost of plastics and other inputs. He said existing supply agreements should soften the effect, meaning any impact would be gradual. Brent crude has jumped by as much as 65% since the US and Israel bombed Iran last month, moving above $100 a barrel. The broader rise in energy prices has added to cost pressures for manufacturers, alongside continued supply-chain uncertainty linked to the expanding conflict involving Iran and weaker growth in some consumer markets. Lego is also dealing with shifting US tariff policy after the Supreme Court struck down some key levies introduced by Donald Trump last month. Trump later set a blanket 10% tariff that could increase to 15%. According to the report, the company plans to open its first US factory in 2027 in Virginia. In 2025, Lego reported growth across every region and product category, with sales increasing in the US, Europe and Asia-Pacific. China returned to growth after two years of flat or declining performance. Christiansen said the results were supported by higher volumes rather than price rises, and added the company has no near-term plan to increase prices as it targets a broader customer base. Lego expects high single-digit revenue growth this year. Alongside its core business, Lego has widened brand partnerships, including Formula One, Nike, and shows such as Bluey and Pokemon. It is also introducing a new SMART Brick incorporating lights, scanners, speakers and sensors. "Lego prepares for rising costs, expands smart bricks and Pokemon report" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand. Israeli forces have launched air strikes across Lebanon as Israel targets the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah during the Israeli-United States war on Iran. Two Israeli air attacks on Tuesday hit Lebanons southern city of Tyre, known as Sour in Arabic. This came shortly after the Israeli army issued a statement threatening attacks on Tyre and Sidon, also known as Saida, urging residents to evacuate immediately and move at least 300 metres [about 1,000ft] away. The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has intensified since the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on February 28, the first day of the US-Israeli strikes. Since then, the opposing forces have clashed in eastern Lebanon while Israel has carried out attacks across Lebanon, including the capital, Beirut. Advertisement Advertisement There is a battle for control over south Lebanon with the Israeli military increasing its presence along the border and within Lebanese territory, Al Jazeeras Zeina Khodr said, reporting from Zahrani, Lebanon. Israeli media are reporting that Israel wants to expand its presence in southern Lebanon, expand that buffer zone, she said, but Hezbollah says it has so far repelled advances on a number of axes. On Tuesday, Israel also launched an air raid on the southern Lebanese town of Qabrikha while Israeli jets attacked the towns of Deir Siryan and Taybeh, Lebanons National News Agency (NNA) reported. The Israeli military said it had launched air attacks near Ansariyeh, claiming that the air strikes targeted a Hezbollah headquarters in an area where it said rockets had been launched towards Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Al Jazeera journalists on the ground also reported an Israeli drone strike that targeted the southern Lebanese town of Barashit while the NAA reported strikes on the southern towns of Adchit and Breqaa and said four people were injured in the town of Harouf. A strike also hit the southern suburbs of Beirut after the Israeli army repeated its forced evacuation threat for the entire area, known collectively as Dahiyeh and home to hundreds of thousands of people. It warned of imminent attacks on the neighbourhoods of Haret Hreik, Ghobeiry, Laylaki, Hadath, Burj al-Barajneh, Tahwitat al-Ghadir and Chiyah. Israeli warplanes launched a raid a short while ago on the southern suburbs, the first after the warning issued by the enemy, the NNA reported. The Israeli military said it began striking Hezbollah infrastructure in the area. Advertisement Advertisement In a later update, the Israeli militarys Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, issued an urgent evacuation warning for residents in the southern Lebanese areas of Arnon, Yahmar, eastern Zuqtar and western Zuqtar to leave immediately and head to north of Nabatieh. We defend our land Earlier on Tuesday, the NNA reported that Israeli warplanes launched attacks overnight on the towns of Almajadel, Chaqra, Srifa and in the Bekaa Valley. Attacks were also reported on the outskirts of Bint Jbeil and Ainatha. The NNA said four people were killed in the Bint Jbeil district. The strikes came as Lebanese media reported that a Maronite Catholic priest, Pierre al-Rahi, was killed by Israeli tank fire in the village of Qlayaa in southern Lebanon. Advertisement Advertisement Lebanese newspaper LOrient-Le Jour reported that al-Rahi was killed when an Israeli tank fired on the home of a local couple a second time after several people had rushed there to try to help. We narrowly escaped a massacre because there were many of us there, said Hanna Daher, the head of Qlayaas council, according to LOrient-Le Jour. Despite this, several people were injured, including the priest, Pierre el-Rahi, who succumbed to his wounds. A day before he was killed, al-Rahi had spoken to the France24 television channel from the steps of his church in Qlayaa, saying he would stay to defend the village peacefully. Advertisement Advertisement We are forced to stay despite the danger when we defend our land, and we do so peacefully, al-Rahi told France24. None of us carries weapons. All of us carry peace and goodness and love, he added. Hezbollah attacks Separately, the Israeli army announced that in the past week, it had hit 30 sites belonging to the Al-Qard al-Hasan financial association in Lebanon, which is affiliated with Hezbollah. The NNA reported that the nonprofit was also bombed by Israeli forces in October 2024. At the time, Amnesty International said the attacks should be investigated as a war crime as branches of financial institutions are civilian objects unless they are used for military purposes. Advertisement Advertisement As Israeli attacks continued, Hezbollah has also increased its counterattacks. At least 16 people were injured in a Hezbollah missile attack on central Israel, according to Magen David Adom, Israels national emergency medical service. Hezbollah also said it launched a missile attack on the Givaa drone control base, east of the Israeli city of Safad, and fired rockets at the Yiftah barracks near the Lebanese-Israeli border. Hezbollahs fighters launched several attacks on Israeli forces in southern parts of Lebanon. It said its fighters ambushed Israeli soldiers on the outskirts of the city of Khiam and hit three Merkava tanks. The three vehicles were seen burning, it said. Stop Lebanon sliding into chaos On Monday, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urged both Hezbollah and Israel to stop their actions, calling for a return to the November 2024 ceasefire to stop the country sliding into chaos. Advertisement Advertisement In a statement after crisis talks with Middle Eastern leaders, including Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Kallas called on Hezbollah to cease all actions against Israel, asserting the countrys right to self-defence. She also called out Israel for heavy-handed retaliation that was causing mass displacement and further destabilising a fragile situation. Israel should cease its operations in Lebanon, she said, warning that it risks drawing Lebanon and its people into a war that is not theirs with severe humanitarian consequences. Aoun on Monday accused Hezbollah of working towards the collapse of the state, expressing Beiruts readiness for direct negotiations with Israel. Advertisement Advertisement At least 486 people have been killed in Israeli attacks on Lebanon since Monday last week, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health. In addition, Israeli attacks on Lebanon have displaced 100,000 people in one day, bringing the total number of displaced above 667,000, United Nations official Karolina Lindholm Billing told reporters in Geneva from Beirut. The representative in Lebanon for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees added that the figure represented a faster pace of displacement compared with 2024 during the previous war between Israel and Hezbollah. The IDF's operations against Iran and Hezbollah continue, but missile threats and technical failures continue to complicate the situation. Progress is slow, and the threat remains high. The conflicts pitting Israel against Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon continued on Tuesday, though with no clear substantial progress for any side. The IDF and the US continued to bomb Iran in several parts of the country, with the hope of gradually reducing the ballistic missile threat and weakening the Islamic regime sufficiently for regime change. However, none of the specific targets that were hit appeared to be of great significance. Advertisement Advertisement For example, the military noted on Tuesday that it had destroyed most of the central assets of the regimes internal security forces and of the Basij militia in the Ilam Province of western Iran. According to the IDF, Irans internal security forces and Basij carried out numerous terror plans and perpetrated the brutal repression of Iranian protesters during the December-January period. When pressed by The Jerusalem Post about why Ilam Province is significant compared to the larger and more well-known provinces, the IDF did not respond. No major hits Although the IDF announced on Thursday that over 400 regime locations have been bombed, on Monday, it had said that only 1,900 fighters have been killed, which is out of an estimated 400,000 Iranian soldiers, around 125,000 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces, and one to two million Basij militia, of which 200,000 are hardcore members. Advertisement Advertisement Likewise, Iran continued to fire ballistic missiles at Israel throughout the day, but achieved no major hits, though shrapnel fell in several areas. On Tuesday evening, Magen David Adom confirmed that it was searching for damage, following reports of shrapnel falling in the Beit Shemesh area. The police said no injuries were reported, though minor structural damage was reported in the Menashe region. Additionally, Coast Guard and bomb squad officers responded to several sites where shrapnel from missile interceptions fell, causing minor property damage. Technical failure? Also on Tuesday, the IDF said that an atypical technical failure led to two Hezbollah missiles impacting central Israel on Monday, with interceptors missing their marks, and without even a warning siren. Advertisement Advertisement One of the missiles hit Ramle, and the second struck an open area in the Mateh Yehuda Regional Council; both missile strikes lightly wounded many civilians. Despite the failure, most of the missiles fired on Monday were intercepted by Israels multilayer air defenses. Also, the IDF said that the technical failure did not occur because of some new kind of Iranian technology, but rather the missiles fired were weapons that the IDF is acquainted with. Following a probe into the incident, the IDF said that adjustments were implemented to strengthen interception capabilities against similar threats in the northern area. Advertisement Advertisement A second man who was wounded by an Iranian cluster bomb attack in central Israel on Monday died of his injuries on Tuesday, medical officials announced. Cluster munitions Separately, the IDF Home Front Command said on Tuesday that 50% of the ballistic missiles that Iran has fired on Israel during the current war have been cluster munitions. This is a shift from the June 2025 war with Iran, when occasionally the missiles were built of cluster munitions, but most were not. Typically, Iranian ballistic missiles have 500 to 1,000 kilograms of explosives in them and strike one target, causing significant damage to the target and its immediate surroundings. Advertisement Advertisement However, cluster munitions might contain dozens of eight-kilogram size bombs, which spread out over a 10-kilometer square radius. On the one hand, each hit from a cluster munition causes less damage than a single ballistic missile hit. On the other hand, each hit can still be deadly. Each hit can penetrate multiple floors in a single building, and, if such a missile breaks apart before its shot down, can cause a wider number of dangerous impacts. When discussing the issue, the IDF was pressed about criticism that, in recent days, it has repeatedly sent millions of Israelis into bomb shelters and safe rooms when Iran has only fired a single missile, which was unlikely to have endangered so many people in different locations at once. Advertisement Advertisement The IDF explained that its polygon its algorithm for evaluating which cities to warn based on the estimated trajectory of a ballistic missile errs on the side of saving lives, even if it inconveniences people in their daily routines. That said, the IDF said that, whenever it can, it does exclude certain parts of the country from receiving warnings where the chances of them being targeted are very low. Each launch also includes an assessment of the specific warhead and how large the explosives it carries are. On the Lebanese front, the IDF renewed its strikes against Hezbollah and the groups infrastructure in Beirut, including 80 additional strikes, the military confirmed on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement The IDF also confirmed it had identified a cell of Hezbollah terrorists getting ready to fire rockets on Israel, but that it had struck them first. According to the IDF, it has destroyed at least 70 Hezbollah missile launchers during the current conflict with Hezbollah. Moreover, IDF Divisions 36 and 91 encountered and killed some Hezbollah fighters as they moved deeper into southern Lebanon as part of Israels forward-leaning defense of the northern border. Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report. Israeli fighter jets strike operatives from Irans drone array at western Iran launch site IDF continues targeting missile-related infrastructure amid simultaneous strikes on Beirut The Israel Air Force has launched another "wide-scale wave of strikes" against Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) infrastructure across Iran on Wednesday afternoon, simultaneously with strikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut, the IDF said. In addition, the IDF struck several IRGC infrastructure sites in Tehran and other Islamic Regime military strongholds throughout the country. Advertisement Advertisement Earlier on Wednesday, Israeli fighter jets struck a group of operatives from Irans drone array at a launch site in western Iran shortly before they were set to launch drones toward Israel. The IDF said it had identified "several operatives from the Iranian terror regime drone array at a launch site in Western Iran," and that the strike took place shortly after the operatives' entry to the launch site. An illustration of the identification and strike on the regime's operatives who operated within an IRGC command center. Video released March 11, 2026 (CREDIT: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT). The IDF added that it is continuing to operate against missile-related infrastructure in western Iran "in order to reduce, to the extent possible, the scope of missile fire toward Israeli territory." Advertisement Advertisement Footage circulating on social media shows heavy damage to buildings at the IRGC's command headquarters in Fardis from joint Israel-US strikes. IDF strikes regime military infrastructure Additionally, Iran International shared a video from Monday strikes on military positions in Qods, showing "a huge mushroom-shaped explosion" billowing up over the city. Also on Monday, the IDF announced that it had completed several waves of strikes against the regime's infrastructure across Tehran, Isfahan, and southern Iran, including command centers and manufacturing sites in Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz. The IDF also said that it had struck several long-range ballistic missiles launch sites and military infrastructure belonging to the IRGC. This is a developing story. The senior Israeli defense sources noted that tackling Iran's ballistic missile threat was among the military's primary goals in the war. As doubts about the prospect of imminent regime change in Iran spike, senior defense sources have told The Jerusalem Post this is not and never was a military goal. Rather, the IDF always hoped to enhance the conditions that might make regime change in Iran possible if the domestic opposition to the government would be ready to take to the streets again in sufficient numbers to topple the regime, the sources said. Advertisement Advertisement The military would look positively at regime change and wanted to try to help the process, but it never had illusions that military action by itself would guarantee such an outcome, they said. This message might contrast with the public line ofPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has vacillated between calling publicly for Iranian protesters to erupt into the streets to bring about immediate regime change, as opposed to talking about it as a potential event and process that might take at least a year. The distinction is important to the IDF, which feels the public should view the current war as a success based on the limited mission parameters defined for beforehand. Zamir emphasizes importance of destroying Iran's launchers Defense sources were adamant that the IDF has consistently focused on substantially reducing the threat posed by the Iranian regime, as opposed to imminent regime change itself. Advertisement Advertisement In his one major public speech, a recording released on March 5, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir emphasized the importance of having destroyed the vast majority of Irans ballistic-missile launchers as the first and most crucial goal. Putting off attacking the ballistic-missile threat would have allowed it to grow significantly, he said. The Post understands that the Iranians were producing 150-200 missiles per month and were on their way to producing 300 per month. Such a pace could have doubled or even tripled the missile arsenal within a year or two and led to a volume of missiles that could have overwhelmed Israels missile shield. We will further dismantle the regime and its military capabilities, Zamir said in his March 5 speech, adding that we are stripping the regime of its military capabilities, strategically isolating them, and bringing them to a point of weakness unlike any it has known. Advertisement Advertisement While those already hoping for regime change may have considered Zamirs remarks to be a specific commitment, his wording carefully tiptoed around the issue, suggesting only that the IDFs actions could make such an outcome more likely, without stating that it intended to bring it about directly. Besides these two goals, the IDF has also attacked various nuclear sites. Rep. James Comer (R-KY) said President Donald Trumps Department of Justice asked New Mexico investigators to shut down a 2019 probe into a ranch owned by convicted child sex predator Jeffrey Epstein. Comer joined Fox Newss Jesse Watters on Tuesday evening after New Mexico authorities searched a ranch in the state once owned by Epstein. Victims of Epstein have said they were trafficked at the ranch. This is the second time the property has been investigated. The property was being probed in 2019, but federal investigators reportedly took over and shut things down. Epstein died of an apparent suicide in 2019 while incarcerated awaiting sex trafficking charges. Advertisement Advertisement Comer, who chairs the House Oversight Committee, said on Tuesday: The federal government asked New Mexico to stop their investigation, I believe, back in 2019 of that ranch. So theres just so many questions about how the government failed, the victims and how government failed in trying to prosecute Epstein sooner. I mean, this whole thing doesnt make sense. Everyone has conspiracy theories on how Epstein was able to get away with it. Was it because he had powerful friends? Was it because he was an agent? We dont know, but were gonna find out and Im glad that theyre on the ground now in New Mexico searching that property. Congressman, you said in 2019 the government told New Mexico authorities to stand down in investigating the ranch, Watters replied. Do you know what branch of the government? Comer responded: It was the Department of Justice, I believe. And I believe it was because they had I believe, it perhaps was Southern District of New York because they had taken over the investigation at that point. So, again these are questions that we have. We want to get the answers. Watch above via Fox News. The post James Comer Says Trump DOJ Asked New Mexico Officials to End Jeffrey Epstein Investigation first appeared on Mediaite. Delaware resident and former first lady Jill Biden has a memoir coming out this summer, and she's opening up about her time in the East Wing. Biden has announced that she has writtten about the time she and former President Joe Biden lived at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. The book is scheduled for a June 2 release. The book, announced March 11, will focus on some challenging times in the White House. "I entered the role of first lady in a unique time in our nation's history, in the midst of a pandemic and the shadow of an insurrection. Those days tested all of us our resilience, our compassion and our belief in one another," Jill Biden said in an announcement video. "Serving in the historic East Wing was the honor of my life," said Jill Biden, a life-long educator, adding that "parts of this story have been told, but not all of it." Advertisement Advertisement The former first lady indicated the book would touch on Joe Biden's abrupt departure from the 2024 presidential race, after which Vice President Kamala Harris stepped in to run against Donald Trump, whom her husband had defeated in 2020. The memoir would reveal "what that moment meant for our family and for me personally," she said. She ended her video by saying, "Let's set the record straight." The book, "View from the East Wing,'' will be released by Gallery Books Group, an imprint of the powerhouse book publisher Simon & Schuster. The Bidens live in Greenville and Rehoboth Beach, and Joe Biden hopes his presidential library will be located in the state. The former presidents office announced Sept. 6 that his presidential library will be built in Delaware. Advertisement Advertisement Delaware stars: Do you know all these 18 famous people from Delaware? First ladies typically release White House memoirs first Jill Biden's choice to release a White House memoir falls in line with tradition. First ladies have typically released their personal accounts of the presidency before their spouses. "Spoken From the Heart" by Laura Bush was published in May 2010, six months before former President George W. Bush's book "Decision Points" the following November. Former first lady Jill Biden, pictured in Green Bay, Wisconsin, is set to release her White House memoir this June. Michelle Obama's popular "Becoming," among the best-selling memoirs in U.S. history, was published in November 2018, two years before Barack Obama's presidential memoir, "A Promised Land," landed in November 2020. Advertisement Advertisement New memoir: Valerie Bertinelli reveals public response to sexual trauma revelation 'My heart broke' First lady Melania Trump's self-titled coffee table book came out in 2024, but President Donald Trump has yet to release a book about his first term. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jill Biden announces memoir focused on time in White House Podcast host Joe Rogan took aim at President Donald Trumps war in Iran on Tuesday, joining a chorus of voices who historically supported the president and are now speaking out against his intervention in the Middle East. Rogan, who endorsed Trump just days before the 2024 election and attended his inauguration, said during Tuesdays episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, with guest Michael Shellenberger, that a key selling point of Trumps campaign was the promise of no more wars. News: Joe Rogan Calls Trump Admin Detaining Pro-Palestine Students Kind Of Shifty Well, it just seems so insane based on what he ran on. I mean, this is why a lot of people feel betrayed, right? Rogan said. He ran on no more wars, and these stupid senseless wars, and then we have one that we cant even really clearly define why we did it. Advertisement Advertisement Shellenberger suggested Trump was specifically against endless wars. Listen, man, theyre all endless, Rogan replied, before comparing the current situation to former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfelds estimation of how long the United States would be involved in Iraq. Do you ever hear Rumsfeld talk about Iraq when it first happened? They were talking about like six weeks. Six weeks. Oh, yeah. Six weeks, Rogan said. Politics: Joe Rogan Turns On Trump To Shut Down His Signature Claim The comments Rogan was referring to were made by Rumsfeld ahead of the U.S. invasion of Iraq that ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein in 2003. Advertisement Advertisement I cant tell you if the use of force in Iraq today would last five days or five weeks or five months, but it certainly isnt gonna last any longer than that, Rumsfeld said in an interview with Infinity Broadcasting. Like this article? Keep independent journalism alive. Support HuffPost. Joe Rogan: "It just seems so insane based on what he ran on. I mean, this is why a lot of people feel betrayed. He ran on no more wars and these stupid, senseless wars. And then we have one that we can't even really clearly define why we did it." pic.twitter.com/0EodoqdrMM Home of the Brave (@OfTheBraveUSA) March 10, 2026 While Rogan didnt directly compare Rumsfelds comments with recent remarks made by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, others have suggested they echo what many Bush administration officials said before the U.S. invasion of Iraq. The progressive MeidasTouch Network outlet, for example, posted a video comparing Rumsfelds comments with Hegseths comments following the initial strike on Iran by U.S. and Israeli forces. Politics: 'Absolute Betrayal': Joe Rogan Regular Turns On Trump, Calls For Impeachment We can say four weeks, but it could be six, it could be eight, it could be three, Hegseth said. Advertisement Advertisement Other figures who previously endorsed Trump have also spoken out against his decision to launch a military campaign in Iran. Former Fox News host and vocal Trump ally Tucker Carlson has fervently spoken out against U.S. intervention in Iran, calling the attack absolutely disgusting and evil, during an interview with ABC News in late February. Carlson also suggested the move is likely to cause a rift within Trumps base, saying, This is going to shuffle the deck in a profound way. Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), in the wake of her public falling out with the president, also spoke out against U.S. involvement in Iran. Politics: Rand Paul Confronted About Markwayne Mullins Comments About His Assault Ahead Of Confirmation The Trump admin actually asked in a poll how many casualties voters were willing to accept in a war with Iran??? Greene wrote on X shortly after the attacks began. How about ZERO, you bunch of sick ******* liars. We voted for America First and ZERO wars. Advertisement Advertisement Despite many on the right breaking with Trump on this issue of Iran, recent polling has found a vast majority of registered Republicans support the presidents actions. A Fox News poll conducted earlier this month found that 84% of Republicans approve of the current U.S. military action against Iran. However, that same poll found that the war is unpopular among Democrats and independents, with only 20% and 40% approving of it, respectively. Related... Read the original on HuffPost NORMAN - A Norman woman who accused Oklahoma County Commissioner Myles Davidson of stalking and harassing her was granted a protective order against him in a hearing on Wednesday. Davidson, 50, who is a Republican representing Oklahoma County's District 3, had no comment after the three-hour-long hearing on March 11 in the Cleveland County District Court, which went into explicit detail regarding numerous in-person and online encounters. At the hearing, Davidson testified that he did have a relationship with the woman that involved kissing and sexual touching, but that it was never unwanted by her. He also said that after she filed her request for a protective order, he went to marital counseling with his wife, Marilyn Davidson, who was present in the courtroom. Advertisement Advertisement During the proceedings, the woman shook her head several times as Davidson testified. The woman's attorney, Matt Swain, told reporters outside the courtroom that his client is "thrilled that this is over with and she can hopefully put it behind her." Attorney Ed Blau leads Marilyn and Myles Davidson, District 3 Oklahoma County Commissioner, into a court hearing in Cleveland County District Court on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. "We're just thankful that (the judge) was able to hear all the evidence, give us time to present our case, and give my client an opportunity to be heard, because throughout this whole process, she's felt that nobody's been listening," Swain said. The Oklahoman is not identifying the woman because it typically does not name alleged victims of sex offenses. Advertisement Advertisement Associate District Judge Beth Stanley ordered Davidson to stay away from the woman and maintain no contact for three years. More: OK County Commissioner Myles Davidson will not be charged over sexual accusations Davidson's attorney, Ed Blau, said he will appeal to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. In requests for the protective order, the woman alleged that Davidson began sexually harassing her in November 2023. She alleged he "grabbed my breasts and attempted to kiss me, without my consent," in Oklahoma City last May. She alleged in July that he "attempted to force me into having sex with him while we were in Philadelphia on a work trip." Advertisement Advertisement She alleged that after the trip, she got text messages she believed were from Davidson. The woman works for the Oklahoma Cooperative Circuit Engineering Districts Board, which advises state lawmakers and county commissioners on matters related to the county highway system, according to its website. In court filings, she described Myles Davidson as a coworker. On Friday, March 6, the Attorney General's office determined that Davison will not face criminal prosecution over accusations he groped the woman last year. More: Woman seeks protective order against Oklahoma County Commissioner Myles Davidson, wife Advertisement Advertisement The determination came after a thorough review of the Oklahoma City Police Department's investigation into a sexual battery allegation, the press secretary, Leslie Berger, said. Davidson took office three years ago after beating Democrat Cathy Cummings in the 2022 general election. He stepped down as chairman of the Board of County Commissioners last September but has refused to resign from office. He has been seeking reelection this year and already has drawn opponents, though the outcome of the hearing on Wednesday could change that. During the police investigation, he declined to talk to detectives about the accusations on the advice of his attorney. The attorney confirmed Davidson chose not to do an interview. "His position is these things didn't happen," Blau previously told The Oklahoman. Advertisement Advertisement More: Norman woman alleges Oklahoma County Commissioner Myles Davidson sexually assaulted her The attorney general's office made the decision on prosecution because Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behenna recused her office in December. She told Attorney General Gentner Drummond that Davidson is a client "in that my office provides legal advice and representation to the Commissioner in his official capacity." Swain previously told The Oklahoman that the decision not to prosecute Davidson was political and absolutely baffling. Swain made a point of noting that Davidson did not cooperate in the police investigation "at all." Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story and will be updated. Contributing: Cheyenne Derksen, The Oklahoman This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Judge grants protective order against OK County Commissioner Myles Davidson TOPEKA Douglas County District Judge James McCabria declined Tuesday to pause enforcement of a new state law that invalidated drivers licenses and criminalizes bathroom use for transgender residents, saying he doesnt have enough information yet and that he believes Kansans are tolerant. In a six-page ruling which includes a section titled Who to believe? McCabria said attorneys for the American Civil Liberties Union and Attorney General Kris Kobach provided no examples to support their claims that the law will harm transgender people or that the law makes bathrooms more secure. In hearing the arguments of each side, the Court is struck by a basic assumption each side makes about the other that our lesser angels drive our choices, McCabria wrote. Yet, the very paucity of actual examples that either side has put forward in any of the arguments suggests the opposite that the vast majority of Kansans are tolerant, understanding, accepting and generally supportive of each other and that the vast majority of transgender persons have experienced this as Kansans. Advertisement Advertisement Two transgender men from Lawrence filed a lawsuit Feb. 26, the day the law took effect, arguing it violates their constitutional rights to due process, privacy, equality and expression. They also argue the law violates a constitutional requirement that bills passed by the Legislature contain only one subject. Attorneys with the ACLU and the Philadelphia-based Ballard Spahr law firm represent the plaintiffs, who are identified by the pseudonyms Daniel Doe and Mathew Moe. They asked the court to issue a temporary restraining order, which would have paused enforcement of the law for 14 days, which a possible 14-day extension. McCabria wrote in his decision that the request for a temporary restraining order requires plaintiffs to pass multiple legal tests: They have to demonstrate a likelihood of winning the case, show the law would cause immediate and irreparable harm, and show that a restraining order serves the public interest and no other remedy is available. The conclusion became self-evident this Court simply does not have the information the law requires to enter a Temporary Restraining Order at this stage of the proceedings, he wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Plaintiffs can continue to provide evidence and arguments in support of an injunction, which would block enforcement of the law while the case is being litigated. McCabria scheduled a case management conference for March 18. This is a devastating, but hopefully temporary, setback for our clients and transgender people across the state of Kansas, said Harper Seldin, a senior staff attorney for the ACLU. The harm of this law has already had sweeping impacts on the lives of transgender people like our clients, threatening their ability to hold a job, go to school, or go about their daily lives. The GOP-led Kansas Legislature this year fast-tracked Senate Bill 244, limiting public input and debate at every step. The Legislature overrode Gov. Laura Kellys veto of the bill on Feb. 18, and the law took effect as soon as paperwork could be finalized. Under the law, individuals in public buildings must use bathrooms and other private spaces, such as locker rooms, that align with their sex assigned at birth, rather than their gender. It isnt clear how governments, schools, universities, libraries and other entities are supposed to ensure proper bathroom use, but failure to do so will result in a $25,000 fine on first offense and $125,000 fines on subsequent offenses. Advertisement Advertisement Individuals who use the wrong bathroom will receive a warning on first offense, a $1,000 fine for breaking the law on subsequent offenses, and be charged with a Class B misdemeanor crime on third and subsequent violations. They also are subject to civil lawsuits from anyone aggrieved by their bathroom choice. Proponents said the law will make it safer for cisgender women to use the bathroom, even though there is no evidence to support the claim. They ignore the reality that the law now requires transgender men, who look and sound like men, to use the womens bathroom. In his ruling, McCabria said he rejected the assumption that every restroom visit is fraught with the potential for violence or embarrassment if this law is not immediately suspended. Or, especially, to assume the Legislature intended to promote such negative experiences when the law was passed. The law also requires that gender markers on drivers licenses and birth certificates match an individuals sex assigned at birth. Advertisement Advertisement Shortly before the law took effect, the Kansas Department of Revenue sent letters to 275 residents who had changed their gender markers to let them know their drivers licenses had been invalidated. Kobach said during a court hearing Friday that 138 of the 275 individuals who were affected by the law had already gotten a new drivers license. You cant take it seriously, the impossibility of complying, when so many already have, Kobach said. Trans Liberty, a national advocacy group, announced Monday it was launching Operation Lifeboat to serve transgender Kansans who need support. The organization previously issued a statewide evacuation warning for transgender people. Advertisement Advertisement Operation Lifeboat provides an online portal for trans people to request help with transportation, packing, hauling and getting settled somewhere else, breaking leases, emergency financial aid, legal guidance, DMV escorts and other assistance. Allies can offer to help as drivers, hosts, movers and donors. Our goal is to meet this moment with both urgency and compassion, said Brandon Callahan, an incident commander for the operation. This operation is built to provide real support to people who need it while coordinating the many individuals and organizations stepping forward to help. The Oregon gas tax referendum vote will remain on the May ballot, following a judge's denial to grant a motion that would stop it from being moved from November. The March 10 hearing in Marion County Circuit Court was the first proceeding for at least three lawsuits over moving the vote from November to May. Leaders of the referendum effort including Senate Minority Leader Bruce Starr, R-Dundee, gubernatorial candidate Rep. Ed Diehl, R-Scio, and Jason Williams, founder of the Taxpayers Association of Oregon, 36 county petition circulators and the Right to Vote on the Gas Tax PAC sued Secretary of State Tobias Read on March 3. Advertisement Advertisement The plaintiffs were involved in the signature collecting initiative to let voters decide on increases to the gas tax, payroll tax and title and registration fees passed in a 2025 special legislative session. They asked the court to issue a temporary restraining order to stop Read from placing the referendum vote on the May ballot instead of November and asked that Read be required to demonstrate why a pause on the move should not happen. Judge David Leith declined to grant the request, ruling the anti-gas tax petitioners were not likely to succeed on the merits of the case. The plaintiffs argued the referendum date should not be allowed to be moved after signatures were collected. Advertisement Advertisement Democratic lawmakers passed, and Gov. Tina Kotek signed, Senate Bill 1599 to do that on March 2. That was five days after a deadline from Read. Passing SB 1599 by Feb. 25, Read said, would allow time for arguments for and against the ballot measure to be submitted and give Oregonians a chance to participate without having to pay a fee. Submitting arguments requires $1,200 or the collection of 500 signatures. The deadline to file materials for the voter's pamphlet is March 12. Oregon Department of Justice attorney Thomas H. Castelli, center left, argues against a temporary restraining order to stop implementation of Senate Bill 1599 on March 10. Attorney Julie Parrish, right, argued on behalf of opponents to the gas tax. Gathering enough signatures and having them delivered to and verified by the Secretary of State's Office on that timeline is "a near impossibility, if not a total impossibility," the preliminary injunction motion says. Advertisement Advertisement Leith said in his opinion that it is "undoubtedly true" the deadline to submit arguments would make it harder for people to do so. However, it does not violate free speech, he said, because that expedited timeline applies to people both in favor of and against the ballot measure. This is a legislative choice but that doesnt make it a constitutional one," attorney Julie Parrish argued for the referendum supporters. Parrish was a Republican state representative for four terms. Not allowing the gas tax vote to be in November puts trust in Oregon's elections at risk, the plaintiffs claimed. The Oregon Department of Justice argued that being able to add to the voters' pamphlet is not a constitutional right and people can advocate for or against the referendum in other ways. Advertisement Advertisement Nothing in this bill deprives anyone of their right to speak out on what they want to happen here, attorney Thomas H. Castelli said on behalf of the state. Leith described the case as novel and difficult, ultimately opting to issue a decision by March 11. His order came hours after a federal judge weighed in on another suit over the referendum following March 11 oral arguments. In that case, the judge ordered Read to allow a low income, disabled woman to submit an argument for the voters' pamphlet without the fee or signature requirement, but did not extend that to others in a similar situation, which the plaintiff had requested. "I understand that I am not the last word here," Leith said March 10, referring to the likelihood his ruling is appealed to a higher court. Advertisement Advertisement One of the plaintiffs and chief petitioners of the referendum, Rep. Ed Diehl, R-Scio, said they were still deciding how to respond. Anastasia Mason covers state government for the Statesman Journal. Reach her at acmason@statesmanjournal.com or 971-208-5615. This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Judge rules Oregon gas tax vote will stay on May ballot PARIS Les Secrets de Loly, the buzzy French brand for textured hair, has a new owner Quadrivio Group which is meant to back international expansion. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. More from WWD Kelly Massol, who founded Les Secrets de Loly in 2009, was its sole owner until April 2022, when Quilvest Capital Partners took a minority stake to help boost geographic reach and scale. As Quadrivio enters into the brands capital, Quilvest is exiting Les Secrets de Loly. Quadrivio is joined by co-investors Weinberg Capital Partners and Three Hills Capital Partners. Massol retains a significant stake in Les Secrets de Loly and is to continue spearheading the brands strategic vision with the existing management team headed by Carlota Thevenot, Les Secrets de Lolys chief executive officer. In less than a decade, the company has become one of the leading French brands for textured hair including wavy, loose curls and tight coils. Les Secrets de Loly products have natural, high-performance formulas developed for each type of hair texture. They are sold with an omnichannel strategy in channels including pharmacies, selective retail, e-commerce and marketplaces. One Les Secrets de Loly product is sold every seven seconds, according to the brand. Quilvest supported Les Secrets de Lolys structuring and professionalism, plus strengthened the leadership team. This phase consolidated the brands foundations governance, organization, supply chain and commercial and marketing strategy while sustaining three consecutive years of double-dight growth, Les Secrets de Loly said in a statement. Kelly Massol On the geographic front, the brand plans to step up its rollout across Europe and the Middle East. Quadrivio, which is a European investment fund with expertise in Italy, should help reinforce Les Secrets de Lolys presence on the continent. Quadrivios investment will support this international ambition: structuring operations at a European level, strengthening local capabilities and enabling controlled scaling leveraging product expertise and the strength of a loyal, engaged community, Les Secrets de Loly said. This transaction represents a new milestone for the brand, Massol said in the statement. Following a successful structuring phase with Quilvest, we now have a solid foundation to accelerate internationally while preserving our DNA. The fee and signature requirement to submit arguments for the voters' pamphlet on the Oregon gas tax referendum will be waived for a Klamath Falls woman, a federal judge ordered March 11. U.S. District Court Judge Michael Simon said he would grant part of a request to issue a temporary restraining order in response to a lawsuit claiming the deadline and requirements to submit arguments on the gas tax referendum violates the First Amendment, 14th Amendment and the Americans with Disabilities Act. The suit was filed on behalf of Mary Martin, a 73-year old Klamath Falls resident, and any other Oregonians who are disabled and low income that want to submit arguments for the voters' pamphlet but are unable to. Martin's lawyer asked the judge to order the defendant, Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read, to accept arguments for or against the referendum on the voters' pamphlet without the required signatures or fee. No Tax Oregon supporters hold signs against the Oregon gas tax and other fee increases on Dec. 12, 2025, at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem. Simon opted to waive the requirements only for Martin, but not for the larger potential group. Doing so, he said, could mean "hundreds, if not thousands" of people trying to avoid the requirements to file arguments and burden the Secretary of State's Office. Advertisement Advertisement Submitting the statements requires collecting 500 signatures or paying $1,200. Martin can't pay that fee, her complaint says, and cannot get the required signatures on such a tight deadline because of her mobility issues. Martin's drafted argument statement against the increased transportation costs reads in part "these tax hikes punish the people who can least afford them." Read could waive the fees for anyone in a similar situation to Martin, Simon said, but he does not have to. Simon said he believed the requirements should be removed for Martin under the unique confluence of circumstances." He also stated that he saw the potential for an ADA issue because someone without disabilities would have two pathways to submit signatures, where someone who could not physically collect signatures would only have one. Hundreds of thousands of signatures were collected in late 2025 to refer parts of a transportation bill a six cent increase to the gas tax, doubling of the payroll tax and higher title and registration fees to voters. After the referendum qualified for the ballot, Democratic lawmakers passed a bill moving the date of that vote from November to May. Advertisement Advertisement Republicans were able to slow down the bill and it passed the Senate on March 2, after a Feb. 25 deadline set by the Secretary of State's Office. That date would have given 10 business days to submit arguments. Shortening the timeline "could impact Oregonians ability to make an informed decision about the referendum and for proponents or opponents to make their voices heard," Read said in a Feb. 25 letter. The March 11 oral arguments came one day after similar proceedings in Marion County Circuit Court. There, the plaintiffs argued the legislature cannot move the referendum date after signatures have been collected. Simon said he would issue a written decision March 11. A decision in the Marion County case was expected the same day. Advertisement Advertisement Anastasia Mason covers state government for the Statesman Journal. Reach her at acmason@statesmanjournal.com or 971-208-5615. This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Judge waives gas tax argument requirement for Klamath Falls woman When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A composite image of Jupiter taken by the James Webb Space Telescope, showing the planet's rings and two of its moons, Amalthea and Adrastea. The blue glow around Jupiter's poles is the aurora. | Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, Jupiter ERS Team; image processing by Ricardo Hueso (UPV/EHU) and Judy Schmidt. Jupiter's moons can have surprising effects on the world's displays of auroral lights by "stomping down" on the planet's gigantic magnetic environment. These surprising effects, detected in observations from the James Webb Space Telescope ( JWST ), include a cold spot in Jupiter's atmosphere, and a rapid increase in the density of charged particles. Advertisement Advertisement "The moons constantly interact with the magnetic field and plasma surrounding the planet and that interaction leads to highly energetic particles traveling down magnetic field lines and then crashing into the planet's atmosphere, creating the auroral footprints that map to where the moons orbit around Jupiter ," said Katie Knowles, who is a Ph.D. researcher at Northumbria University in the U.K., in a statement . Jupiter's auroral lights are created in similar fashion to Earth's as charged particles riding on the solar wind slam into Jupiter's magnetic field and are funneled down towards the gas giant's poles. When they enter the atmosphere, they collide with atoms and molecules, causing them to glow. However, by interacting with Jupiter's magnetic field, its four largest moons the Galilean moons Io , Europa , Ganymede and Callisto can leave an imprint on the aurora. The footprints are exacerbated by a phenomenon known as the Io Plasma Torus. Io is the solar system 's most volcanic body, and its volcanoes spew out tons of charged particles that drift into orbit around Jupiter, forming the plasma torus that is held in place by Jupiter's magnetic field. As the Galilean moons orbit Jupiter, they interact with the plasma torus and the magnetic field, and drive ions towards Jupiter's atmosphere, contributing to the aurora and generating electrical currents that influence how bright the auroral footprints are. Previous multi-wavelength measurements have tracked how bright the aurora, and these footprints, can become. However, in September 2023, Northumbria's Henrik Melin and Tom Stallard used the to take snapshots of the area on Jupiter's where auroral events rotated into view. By watching the edge of Jupiter's disk, the JWST was able to probe the side profile of Jupiter's atmosphere directly beneath an aurora. A JWST Near-Infrared Camera image of Jupiter and, inset, the JWST's Near-Infrared Spectrometer's observations of the cold spot associated with Io's auroral footprint. | Credit: NASA/ESA/CSA/Jupiter ERS Team; NIRCam image processing by Judy Schmidt; NIRSpec image: Katie L. Knowles (Northumbria University) When Knowles analyzed that data, she found something unexpected. Advertisement Advertisement The JWST took five snapshots, and in four of them, everything looked normal. But in one snapshot, a cold spot appeared in the atmosphere below an aurora connected to Io's footprint. While the rest of the aurora was at a steady temperature of 919 degrees Fahrenheit (493 degrees Celsius), the cold spot was a "mere" 509 degrees Fahrenheit (265 degrees Celsius). The density of ions streaming into the upper atmosphere to power the aurora around the cold spot was also far higher than had ever been measured before. One particularly abundant ion present was the trihydrogen cation (H 3 +) and the ion density was, on average, three times greater than the rest of the aurora. Moreover, within the cold spot, densities could vary by up to 45 times in just that small region. "We found extreme variability in both temperature and density within Io's auroral footprint that happened on the timescale of minutes," said Knowles. "This tells us that the flow of high-energy electrons crashing into Jupiter's atmosphere is changing incredibly rapidly." Jupiter's auroral lights are the most powerful in the solar system, but they are not the only auroral lights present in our corner of the neighborhood. Of course, there are Earth's auroral lights but Earth's moon does not leave a footprint on our planet's aurora because it does not interact with Earth's magnetic field strongly enough. However, Saturn 's moon Enceladus , which is spewing particles into space via its water geysers, does impact the aurora on the ringed planet. It is therefore possible that this cold spot phenomenon also happens there. Advertisement Advertisement "This work opens up entirely new ways of studying not just Jupiter and its other Galilean moons, but potentially other giant planets and their moon systems," said Knowles. "We're seeing Jupiter's atmosphere respond to its moons in real-time, which gives us insights into processes that occur throughout our solar system and perhaps further afar." However, questions remain. For instance, the cold spot was only seen in one image. How often do they occur, what causes them to switch on and off, and how are they influenced by conditions in Jupiter's magnetic environment? Knowles is already searching for answers. In January 2026 she was awarded time on NASA's Infrared Telescope Facility on Mauna Kea in Hawaii to track the various auroral footprints over six nights as they rotate with the planet, and she is currently analyzing the data. Kalispell city councilors voiced concerns Monday over proposed changes to county septic regulations striking the requirement that all septic systems use pressurized distribution. The change would allow gravity systems in Flathead County, which local conservation nonprofits warned at the March 10 meeting could harm the regions high groundwater and abundant surface water without proper oversight. The Flathead City-County Board of Health recommended the change to county commissioners. Kalispells representative, Rod Kuntz, defended his vote in a letter to Council, saying it was based on scientific evidence and state Department of Environmental Quality standards. Advertisement Advertisement Proponents argue that gravity-fed septic systems are more reliable, cheaper and can better serve homes in remote areas without access to electricity because they rely on natural gravity to move wastewater from a home to a drainfield. But councilors echoed critics concerns. Mayor Ryan Hunter noted that the county adopted its 2004 pressure-dose requirement to protect groundwater and that the state recommends pressure-dosed systems for their more uniform and controlled distribution. Hunter gauged whether councilors wanted to send a letter urging commissioners to reconsider, but it failed to garner enough support after some worried weighing in on a county issue was outside their jurisdiction. Because all new developments within city limits must connect to the municipal water system, Councilor Sid Daoud argued that Council shouldnt weigh in on an issue that doesnt affect Kalispell residents. Advertisement Advertisement But Councilor Lisa Blank argued that any harm to the regions water bodies, such as Flathead Lake, would still affect the community. The people who are employed as a result of the resources that we have in that area, both in recreation, guiding ... its significant. So it does affect Kalispell in a number of ways, Blank said. Councilor Kari Gabriel, a conservation educator, said she views the regulation as regressive, but opposed sending a letter unless it was jointly drafted with Whitefish and Columbia Falls. Hunter said coordinating a letter with the two cities before the countys public hearing next week wasnt feasible. Advertisement Advertisement A NARROW majority of councilors agreed to further explore allowing fourplexes in all residential zones during its final review of the new land use plan. Hunter strongly supported the move, arguing it would bring more missing middle housing to the market, help prevent sprawling neighborhoods and give small-scale developers a chance to build capital. We need 500 units a year to stay even with the growth, he said. So its important to have the flexibility of increasing that supply over time. Hunter, who lives near a fourplex, said it is hardly distinguishable from a single-family home. He added that mixing housing types into established neighborhoods can help bring together people from diverse backgrounds. Advertisement Advertisement I have friends in those buildings that are of a different socioeconomic class, that I may never have met and have the opportunity to know if I didnt live in a neighborhood with mixed housing types, Hunter said. While allowing fourplexes is a measure that can be adopted under the Montana Land Use Planning Act, Council opted to pursue a standalone zoning update so design standards can be applied to ensure the buildings fit the surrounding neighborhood. Hunter and the four new faces on Council supported the move, but the four veteran councilors were skeptical that their constituents favored the change. I think theyre great in new developments where everyone knows what they are buying into. I could never go into my neighborhood and say that Im going to support a fourplex sandwiched into all these single residence places that are there now, Gabriel said. Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 758-4407 and [email protected]. The Kalispell Planning Commission on Tuesday night is inviting residents to weigh in on potential changes to subdivision rules that would eliminate public hearings on proposed developments. The meeting starts at 6 p.m., March 10 in City Hall, 201 First Ave. E. The overhaul of the public comment process is mandated under the Montana Land Use Planning Act, a 2023 state law designed to streamline housing construction by requiring 10 Montana cities to also adopt a new land use plan and new zoning regulations that promote higher density development. Advertisement Advertisement The provision of the law repealing public hearings remains under review by the state Supreme Court, but the updates must still be made to comply with the states May deadline, according to Assistant Development Services Director PJ Sorensen. Some local builders praised the law for scrapping the cumbersome public meetings they say slow down development. However, members of the Planning Commission have strongly opposed the changes. Commission President Chad Graham even voted against the citys new land use plan, arguing that the law stifles meaningful public input on site-specific development proposals. Residents can still weigh in on proposals during a written public comment window that opens 15 days after planning staff posts its initial determination in a local newspaper and alerts property owners within 150 feet of the project. The original bill did not include a public comment period, but the state Legislature added one in 2025, according to Sorensen. Planning staff must issue their decision within 30 days of the comment period ending, but that decision can also be appealed. Advertisement Advertisement Following Tuesdays public hearing, the Planning Commission will decide whether to recommend the changes to Kalispell City Council. ANOTHER PUBLIC hearing will be held on a request to build a car wash and drive-through coffee shop off U.S. 2 West near its intersection with the U.S. 93 Bypass. Tumbleweed Offices I, LLC is looking for annexation and initial zoning of B-2 (General Business) on four acres currently in the county. Kalispells growth policy designates the northern portion of the property as commercial and the southern portion as industrial. The public can also weigh in on a request from homeowners on Fourth Avenue West between Fifth and Sixth streets west to require curbside parking permits on their street. Advertisement Advertisement The Westside Parking Management zone was established in 2015 to regulate curbside parking around Flathead High School. Demand for curbside parking far exceeded the available space, resulting in limited open spots, congested streets and compromised road safety, according to a staff report. Residents get two free parking permits and can buy guest passes. Students and teachers must buy a permit to park on streets within the zone. Eight of the 10 property owners that reside on the portion of Fourth Avenue West signed a petition to include the area in the parking management zone. Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 758-4407 and [email protected]. A popular predictions market app will not pay out the $54 million some of its users believed they were owed after correctly forecasting the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to a report. Kalshi, which allows players to gamble on real-world events, offered customers favorable odds on Khamenei, 86, being out as Supreme Leader in response to the announcement of joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Tehran in the early hours of Saturday morning. The company promoted the trade on its homepage and app and tweeted on Saturday: BREAKING: The odds Ali Khamenei is out as Supreme Leader have surged to 68 percent. Advertisement Advertisement It continued: Reminder: Kalshi does not offer markets that settle on death. If Ali Khamenei dies, the market will resolve based on the last traded price prior to confirmed reporting of death. Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in airstrikes on Saturday launched as part of Operation Epic Fury (Getty) Khamenei was later confirmed dead in the airstrikes and the company clarified in a follow-up post: Please note: A prior version of this clarification was grammatically ambiguous. As a customer service measure, Kalshi will reimburse lost value due to trades made between these clarifications. The companys CEO, Tarek Mansour, offered a similar explanation on X (Twitter), pointing out that event contracts like these are not offered directly tied to death, arguing that by out, Kalshi had been referring to the possibility of Khamenei voluntarily stepping down or agreeing to a peaceful transition of power, not his being assassinated. Advertisement Advertisement He said he still believed the trade was important because leadership changes in Iran have major impact on the world order, including on oil and commodity prices and geopolitical relations. A Kalshi spokesperson has since told The Independent: Kalshi doesnt allow markets directly tied to death. We included every precaution on this market to make sure people could not trade on the outcome of death. The strikes have devastated Iranian targets and prompted deadly retaliation from Tehran (AFP/Getty) Our rules were clear from the beginning, we never changed them, and we settled based on the rules. We even reimbursed all fees and net losses out of pocket to the tune of millions of dollars to make sure not a single person lost money on this market. Kalshi is a peer-to-peer exchange and does not profit from user losses. We have no incentive not to pay out our users, but we need to follow the rules of the exchange and the rule of law. Profiting from death is not allowed on Kalshi, and that's a good thing. Advertisement Advertisement The company has nevertheless attracted a firestorm of complaints on social media. One Israeli-American business executive in New York told The Washington Post he had placed two bets on Khamenei being removed from power on either March 1 or April 1 worth $3,460 in total and subsequently believed he had won $63,000 when the rulers demise was announced later that day. I was booking my trip to Courchevel, he told the Post. Then they changed the rules and everybody got screwed. Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy has said betting on real-world events represents American commercial immorality on steroids (AFP/Getty) Amanda Fischer, a former chief of staff at the Securities and Exchange Commission who now works as a policy director at the financial advocacy group Better Markets, said she was not convinced by Mansours response and said the episode had exposed just how problematic this business is. Advertisement Advertisement How is an 86-year-old theocratic leader supposed to lose his power other than through death? she asked the Post. All of the Kalshi users who placed bets on this believed they were voting on a death market, and many are very angry at how Kalshi broke the trades. Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy has since expressed his disapproval of such trades being offered in the first place, saying they were a sign of a dystopian world. This is American commercial immorality on steroids, he said. Once events that involve good and evil simply become a financial product, I dont know how right and wrong matters any longer People shouldnt be rooting for people to die because they placed a bet. Murphy added that he is drafting legislation to ban prediction market gambling related to government actions, warning that it could corrupt public decision-making. Advertisement Advertisement Donald Trump Jr., the presidents eldest son, joined Polymarket's advisory board last August, a competitor to Kalshi. The betting analytics company Bubblemaps tweeted on Saturday that six suspected insider traders had made $1.2 million by correctly guessing that the U.S. would attack Iran on February 28, the date that Operation Epic Fury did indeed commence. Sen. Murphy responded to that post on Threads with the comment: Its insane this is legal. People around Trump are profiting off war and death. Im introducing legislation ASAP to ban this. The same accusations arose in January when an anonymous polymarket trader won $400,000 by correctly forecasting the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. Special Forces. KANSAS CITY, Mo. A 23-year-old Kansas City man is charged in connection to a deadly shooting this past weekend near Westport. Jackson County prosecutors on Tuesday charged Lamar Marlow HarrisEl with second-degree murder and armed criminal action. Driver of stolen car crashes into building, pole during high-speed police chase According to court documents, officers with the Kansas City Police Department (KCPD) responded to a shooting call just after 2 a.m. on Saturday, March 7, in the area of West 39th Street and Baltimore Avenue. Advertisement Advertisement When officers arrived to the apartment there, they located the victim lying in the parking lot with apparent gunshot wounds to the head. He was pronounced dead at the scene and identified as 34-year-old Jose Poole. Initial investigation indicates the shooting took place in the back parking lot of the apartments after the victim had an interaction with one or more suspects that ended with gunshots. Detectives contacted a female witness who stated she was pursuing a romantic relationship with HarrisEl. She stated she went to the Baltimore location to meet up with HarrisEl and quickly noticed he was with three unknown men and three unknown women, court documents say. Still wanting to spend time with HarrisEl, the witness suggested to have a game night and agree to taken HarrisEl and the unknown individuals to her place. Advertisement Advertisement Court documents say as the night progressed, one of the unknown females, who arrived with HarrisEl, began arguing with him and the witness. It later became apparent that the woman was impregnated by HarrisEl. The witness stated she was confused as to why HarrisEl brought a woman, with whom he had previously been in a romantic relationship with, around her, court documents say. As the argument continued to escalate, a nearby security officer overheard the commotion and advised the group to keep the noise down. In fear of being contacted by a higher authority regarding the noise disturbance, the witness asked the group to leave her apartment as the argument reached its breaking point, according to court documents. Court documents say as everyone walked to the parking lot to leave, HarrisEl attempted to talk the witness down. The witness stated the victim was with her and began trying to de-escalate the situation as the group remained loud. Advertisement Advertisement The witness stated the victim was not armed or was being physically aggressive. While watching the victim, the witness noticed HarrisEl confronting the victim. HarrisEl then quickly took out a handgun and shot the victim with what appeared to be a rapid burst of fire, causing the victim to fall to the ground, court documents say. World Cup official says tournament is too big to be postponed amid Iran war Court documents say the witness believed HarrisEl was equipped with a modified weapon as the shots were fired quickly. The witness stated HarrisEl left the parking lot on foot as the other individuals. Advertisement Advertisement HarrisEl was taken into custody on Monday, March 9, after being located through a cell phoen ping. Hes being held in the Jackson County jail on a $150,000 cash-only bond. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. After 30 years on Kansas Citys Country Club Plaza, Three Dog Bakery will close. The pet store, 602 W. 48th St., had signs posted on its windows Tuesday announcing its closure. For 30 incredible years, weve had the distinct honor of being a part of your daily walks, your celebratory milestones, and the beautiful bond you share with your pets, the signs read. We will miss the pitter-patter of paws through our doors more than words can say. Advertisement Advertisement While we dont have a home just yet, our commitment to Kansas Citys pets remains strong as ever. We hope this isnt a final goodbye, but rather a see you soon. Employees told The Star its last day would be next Sunday or before then, depending on how quickly product sells out. The store is advertising 75% off nonpastry items. The brand could not be immediately reached for further comment Tuesday. It still has two locations: 7951 W. 160th St. in Overland Park and 910 NW Blue Parkway in Lees Summit Three Dog Bakery was founded by Dan Dye and Mark Beckloff in 1989 in Kansas City. Its widely considered one of the worlds first dog bakeries. Advertisement Advertisement In 2014, the company was purchased by a private investment group. In 2023, the company sold its consumer products division, which sells products to major retailers like Walmart and Target, to a private equity firm based in New York. Three Dog announced in 2024 that it would open a new flagship store downtown, in Kansas Citys Power & Light District. The KC Live district sued Three Dog Bakery, after the location never opened, saying it failed to pay rent and provide key information prior to signing the lease. Its Leawood location, 4322 W. 119th St., has closed and is now home to Brookside Barkery. Reality Check is a Star series holding those with power to account and shining a light on their decisions. Have a suggestion for a future story? Email our journalists at RealityCheck@kcstar.com. Have the latest Reality Checks delivered to your inbox with our free newsletter. A Douglas County judge says he hasnt been presented with evidence to justify blocking Kansas new state law policing transgender identity in government-owned restrooms and on state identification documents. In a six-page ruling issued on Tuesday, District Court Judge James McCabria denied the American Civil Liberties Unions motion for a restraining order that would have prevented the law from being enforced on a temporary basis. Advertisement Advertisement However, Attorney General Kris Kobach told McCabria at a hearing on Friday that the state would voluntarily refrain from invalidating anyone elses drivers licenses or adjudicating complaints about restroom usage until March 26, a month after the law took effect. A temporary restraining order would have formalized that moratorium for up to 14 days and could have been extended at the judges discretion. After three hours of argument, over a hundred pages of briefing and exhibits, reviewing dozens of cases cited by the parties and its own research . . . the conclusion became self-evident this Court simply does not have the information the law requires to enter Temporary Restraining Order at this stage of the proceedings, McCabria wrote. The judge, an appointee of former Republican Gov. Sam Brownback, asserted that acting hastily to invalidate a state law risks the appearance of either political bias or lack of appreciation for the value and importance of the full, fair deliberative process in such circumstances. Advertisement Advertisement He found that ACLU staff attorney Harper Seldin fell short on the first two elements necessary to justify a temporary restraining order demonstrating a likelihood of the plaintiffs success based on the merits of the claim and showing that there would be immediate, irreparable harm if the court did not intervene. Each side tells the Court harm will happen to their side no matter what the Court does, McCabria wrote. But the Court cannot fairly analyze important concepts like injury to personal autonomy, informational privacy or equality under the law (or even determine whether they apply) without examining well-developed factual scenarios that have been subjected to challenge and debate. Judge touts Kansans tolerance The new law, which was enacted by Republican supermajorities in the Legislature over Gov. Laura Kellys veto, violates multiple provisions of the Kansas Constitution, the ACLU argues. The law establishes penalties for people who dont use restrooms on government property in accordance with their sex assigned at birth. It also prohibits state agencies from updating the gender markers on drivers licenses and birth certificates and requires anyone who has amended that information on their documents to surrender them for replacement at their own cost. Advertisement Advertisement The legal challenge was brought on behalf of two trans men who live in Lawrence and are identified under pseudonyms in court filings as Daniel Doe and Matthew Moe. Kobach, who urged the Legislature to pass the law, is leading its defense on behalf of the state. The Attorney General says the restroom component of the Act was necessary to protect Kansans from encounters that invade their sense of security, privacy and tradition. No examples of actual encounters have been offered to the Court, McCabria wrote. Plaintiffs say that obeying the law will lead to encounters that invade not only their sense of self but also the sense of security and privacy of those they will encounter in the assigned restroom. No examples of actual encounters with others having occurred or ongoing were presented to the Court, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Arguments put forward by both sides about the drivers license and birth certificate provisions of the law were similarly unsatisfactory to the judge. In hearing the arguments of each side, the Court is struck by a basic assumption each side makes about the other that our lesser angels drive our choices, McCabria wrote. Yet, the very paucity of actual examples that either side has put forward in any of the arguments suggests the opposite that the vast majority of Kansans are tolerant, understanding, accepting and generally supportive of each other and that the vast majority of transgender persons have experienced this as Kansans. McCabria ordered attorneys for both parties to appear in court next Wednesday at 9 a.m. for a case management conference. SANTIAGO, Chile, March 11 (UPI) -- Conservative leader Jose Antonio Kast was sworn in Wednesday as president of Chile, taking office from outgoing leftist President Gabriel Boric and vowing a hardline response to crime and irregular migration. Kast, a 60-year-old lawyer and former leader of the Republican Party, won the presidency on his third attempt, campaigning on what he called an "emergency government" focused on dismantling organized crime networks and tightening border controls. The inauguration ceremony was held at Chile's National Congress in the port city of Valparaiso and attended by about 1,100 guests, including some Latin American presidents, Spain's King Felipe VI, Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau. Advertisement Advertisement The transfer of power came amid heightened security concerns after a police officer was shot in the head during a routine inspection in southern Chile earlier Wednesday. "Starting today, things are going to change. Anyone who attacks a Carabinero attacks all of us, and I promise we will pursue them, find them, prosecute them and put them behind bars," Kast said minutes before formally taking office, referring to Chile's national police force. Public concern over crime has grown in recent years, with rising reports of homicides, kidnappings and extortion. While crime rates remain below those of several other South American countries, many Chileans describe the country as increasingly affected by transnational gangs. Kast has pledged swift action against criminal groups that authorities widely linked to gangs originating in other Latin American countries. He also said he plans to deport about 350,000 migrants living in Chile without legal status and close the country's northern border. Advertisement Advertisement Kast's election comes amid a broader conservative shift in parts of Latin America. Last week he attended the "Shield of the Americas" summit in near Miami alongside allies of U.S. President Donald Trump. Foreign policy tensions marked the final days of Boric's administration, particularly over a proposed undersea fiber-optic cable connecting Chile and Hong Kong. U.S. officials have expressed concern about the project, reflecting Washington's broader scrutiny of Chinese involvement in critical infrastructure in the region. U.S. Ambassador to Chile Brandon Judd, who attended the inauguration, said he expects ties with the Trump administration to improve under Kast. "I know the relationship will be better because he is always thinking about Chile's sovereignty. And when we talk about critical infrastructure, Kast will safeguard Chile," Judd said. Advertisement Advertisement He said the United States does not object to Chile maintaining economic and trade relations with China, but is concerned about projects that involve critical infrastructure. "We know business is important for all countries. If they do business with China, that is fine. It is critical infrastructure that concerns us," he said. On the economic front, the new government plans to cut $6 billion in public spending over 18 months. Finance Minister Jorge Quiroz has ordered a 3% across-the-board reduction in government expenditures for all ministries. Former University of Kentucky competitive cheerleader Laken Snelling has been indicted for manslaughter after it was determined her baby was born alive before she allegedly hid the body in a trash bag last year. Snelling was indicted by a grand jury on charges of first-degree manslaughter, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and concealing the birth of an infant on Tuesday, March 10. The manslaughter charge was added after testing revealed her baby was alive when she allegedly concealed the newborns body in a trash bag in the closet of her Lexington, Kentucky, home in August 2025. Advertisement Advertisement The Kentucky Medical Examiner's Office determined the infants cause of death was "asphyxia by undetermined means." Ex-Boyfriend of University of Kentucky Cheerleader Laken Snelling Provides DNA After Babys Death They were given the information about homicide, the four levels of homicide and then deliberated and decided that manslaughter first degree was the charge that should come out of the grand jury, Fayette Commonwealths Attorney Kimberly Baird explained to WKYT after the hearing. Baird said Snelling is due back in court in the next two or three weeks. She waived her right to a preliminary trial in September 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Snelling was arrested on August 30, 2025, three days after a third party called 911 and reported that an infant was found cold to the touch in the closet of Snellings room. When she was questioned by the police, Snelling admitted to giving birth and to concealing the birth by cleaning any evidence, placing all cleaning items used inside of a black trash bag, including the infant, who was wrapped in a towel. In court records obtained by WKYT in September 2025, Snelling told authorities she guessed the baby was still alive when she gave birth and passed out on top of the body. Snelling claimed she woke up and found the baby blue and purple. Advertisement Advertisement The former cheerleader then wrapped up the infant and laid next to the body on the floor, per the records. Kentucky Cheerleader Laken Snelling Ordered McDonalds Shortly After Allegedly Concealing Birth of Baby After eventually being taken to a local hospital for evaluation, Snelling admitted to hearing a whimper before she concealed the babys body. She pleaded not guilty to all charges in September 2025. Snelling was released on $100,000 bond and ordered to live on house arrest. Snelling is a former student at the University of Kentucky and had been a performer on the schools STUNT cheerleading team for three seasons. Shortly after she was arrested, a university spokesperson confirmed to Us Weekly that Snelling was no longer enrolled at the school or on the STUNT team. Artificial intelligence continues to make waves in markets, spurring new investments and concerns each week. Nvidia (NVDA) is drumming up anticipation for its flagship developer conference next week, with a $2 billion investment in Nebius and a rare blog post from CEO Jensen Huang this week, arguing that AI represents the largest infrastructure build-out in human history, spanning industries from energy to software. Meanwhile, the clash between Anthropic (ANTH.PVT) and the US Department of Defense continues to unfold. The AI startup filed a lawsuit against the Department of Defense on Monday to block a ban on the company after the Pentagon labeled it a "supply chain risk for national security." Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei vowed to fight the designation, which is usually reserved for foreign adversaries, writing that Anthropic has "no choice but to challenge it in court." As US federal agencies like the Treasury Department begin to revoke access to Anthropic, other AI players have offered the Pentagon alternative services. OpenAI (OPAI.PVT) reached a deal with the military, which elicited pushback from employees and users. And on Tuesday, Alphabet's Google said it was introducing AI agents at the Department of Defense for unclassified work. Follow along for the latest updates on the tech sector. LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER 74 updates Iran's security chief Ali Larijani issued a veiled threat to US President Donald Trump on Tuesday, warning him to be careful "not to be eliminated" and saying Tehran was not afraid of his "empty threats." "Iran is not afraid of your empty threats. Even those greater than you could not eliminate the Iranian nation," said Larijani in a post on X. "Take care of yourself not to be eliminated," Larijani added. Advertisement Advertisement While it is questionable whether Tehran has the means or the capacity to make good on its words, Larijani's immense stature within the regime should not be underestimated. While Larijani could never have succeeded the late Ali Khamenei as supreme leader, the veteran Iranian powerbroker has re-emerged as a central figure in Tehrans security establishment after his son Mojtaba Khamenei was named the new ayatollah. His closeness to Mojtaba Khamenei became even further apparent after Larijani feted his appointment by the Assembly of Experts, saying on X that the decision had left Israel and the United States in despair. Larijani is widely seen as part of the close circle surrounding the new supreme leader, alongside judiciary chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Ahmad Vahidi, who has been appointed commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on March first, and senior security official and commander of Khatam al-Anbiya Central HQ, Ali Abdollahi. Advertisement Advertisement His comments have also placed him at the centre of the escalating war of words between Tehran and Washington. Earlier this week, Larijani warned that security in the Strait of Hormuz would not stabilise as long as the conflict with the US and Israel continued, suggesting the strategic oil route could become impassable. That remark prompted a sharp response from Trump, who warned that Iran would be hit 20 times harder if it attempted to block the waterway. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard displays its equipment during a drill on Abu Musa Island in the Persian Gulf, 2 August 2023 - AP Photo Trump had earlier dismissed Larijanis threats, saying he did not know who the Iranian official was. I have no idea what hes talking about, who he is. I couldnt care less, Trump said, adding that Iran had already been forced to back down. Advertisement Advertisement Larijani had previously declared that Trump must pay the price for the US-Israeli strikes on Iran and warned that the Islamic Republic would not leave the American president alone after the killing of Ali Khamenei. Larijani has also threatened major retaliation against the US and Israel. The two "have burned the heart of the Iranian nation, and we will burn theirs in return," Larijani said after Khamenei's death. He warned that Iran's armed forces would respond far more severely. "They must know this is not a matter of striking and walking away," he added. Where does Larijani's power come from? Larijani, 67, serves as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and is considered one of the most prominent figures in Iran's political and security apparatus. Advertisement Advertisement A former commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, he served as chief of staff of the IRGC during the Iran-Iraq War. In recent years, Larijani has represented Khamenei in managing relations with Russia, China and Gulf Arab countries rather than President Masoud Pezeshkian. He travelled to Oman before a recent round of talks with Washington to outline Tehran's framework and conditions. After Hezbollah and other Shia proxy forces failed to deter Israel, Khamenei assigned Larijani to manage relations with Lebanon and Yemen. The move was interpreted as a signal aimed at the commander of the Quds Force, the IRGC's external operations wing, since Larijani is a civilian figure. FILE: IRGC troops standing at attention during the guard's drill in the Persian Gulf, 16 February 2026 - AP Photo Larijani's role in the killings during the recent protests was significant enough that the Trump administration included him on its sanctions list. Advertisement Advertisement Between 2005 and 2007, Larijani was appointed secretary of the Supreme National Security Council under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and oversaw Iran's nuclear file. He resigned or was removed due to disagreements with Ahmadinejad, returning to the position on 5 August 2025. Larijani served as speaker of the Iranian parliament for 12 years, from 2008 to 2020, and was a key negotiator in Iran's nuclear talks with world powers, playing a central role in the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPA). He also headed Iran's state broadcaster from 1994 to 2004 and served as minister of culture and Islamic guidance from 1992 to 1994. He attempted to run for president twice, but the Guardian Council rejected his candidacy both times. Powerful family of 'true believers' Larijani comes from a prominent clerical family. His father was a high-ranking clergyman, and his father-in-law, Morteza Motahhari, was a key revolutionary theorist and close aide to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. His brother Sadeq Larijani served as head of Iran's judiciary for a decade. Advertisement Advertisement In the early 2020s, the Larijani brothers' names were linked to corruption allegations, including land grabs, bribery and ownership of 63 personal bank accounts containing billions of tomans. In 2021, Larijani was tasked with negotiating a 25-year strategic agreement with China valued at several billion dollars. FILE: Iran's former parliament speaker Ali Larijani speaks with media after registering his name as a candidate for the June 28 presidential elections, in Tehran, 31 May 2024 - AP Photo In a televised interview referring to last summer's 12-day conflict, Larijani claimed Israelis "called me during that war and said I had 12 hours to leave the country or they would kill me". After the EU designated the IRGC as a terrorist organisation, Larijani wrote on X that "armies of countries that participated in the 27-member bloc's recent measure against the IRGC are considered terrorist" according to a parliamentary resolution. Advertisement Advertisement "The consequences of this action will fall on the European countries that took such steps," he warned. Larijani holds a PhD in philosophy, reportedly focusing on the teachings of Immanuel Kant. Many of his relatives live in the West, including a nephew who is a university professor in the UK and a daughter who taught in the US until Iranian opposition groups pressured her to leave her academic position. A major policy change related to car registrations recently went into effect, according to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV). It comes after the agency received backlash for adding to its requirements last year without notifying the public. Is the Texas DMV requiring stricter ID rules for vehicle registration? Yes. The board of the TxDMV voted unanimously on Thursday, February 12, 2026, to pass a rule that requires folks to present different documentation than in years past in order to register vehicles in the state. Advertisement Advertisement The Texas Civil Rights Project said in a social media statement that the shift will soon make it "impossible for undocumented immigrants to own a vehicle." How did the Texas DMV registration process change? The TxDMV sent a message to county tax offices on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, per the San Antonio Express-News. A revised version of the alert is available on the TxDMV website. It said that, effective immediately, an applicant for initial registration or renewal must show proof of their legal status by presenting a valid Texas driver's license or an unexpired U.S. or foreign passport with a "current permanent resident card or unexpired immigrant visa." Prior to this, businesses could accept passports and driver's licenses that were 12 months past expiration, per the San Antonio Express-News. Advertisement Advertisement This notice came one day after Republican representative Brian Harrison, who represents House District 10, publicly called on Governor Greg Abbott to change the policy. He also sent an electronic letter to Abbott's office. "Since he appoints the DMV Board, I am asking him to instruct his appointees to immediately issue rules to stop illegal aliens from registering vehicles in Texas," Harrison wrote in a post on X. Come January 2026, the TxDMV hosted a public hearing at its Austin headquarters to get feedback from the community on the proposed rule. The Texas Tribune reported that testimonies were given by about 35 small business owners, county tax assessor offices, and other organizations. Concerns raised by some of them included that it would reduce road safety and make it difficult for people to get to their jobs, as Texas is a car-dependent state. The outlet claims no one spoke out in support at the meeting. Advertisement Advertisement The following month, the TxDMV Board voted to change the identification requirements. What is the new law for registration renewal in Texas? Beginning on Tuesday, March 5, 2026, these are the acceptable IDs for the transaction of an initial registration, per the TxDMV. These requirements will also apply to registration renewals beginning on January 1, 2027. List A - Acceptable ID for Transactions "Valid, unexpired REAL ID-compliant driver's license or state ID from any state or territory of the United States. Without REAL ID Valid, unexpired driver's license or state ID that does not meet REAL ID requirements, issued by state that requires proof of legal presence: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming Without REAL ID Valid, unexpired driver's license or state ID that does not meet REAL ID requirements issued by any state or territory of the United States, plus: o U.S. birth certificate, o Certificate of Naturalization, or o Certificate of Citizenship Valid, unexpired U.S. passport Valid, unexpired foreign passport PLUS: o Form I-94 (Not in Parole status), o Current permanent resident card, or o Unexpired immigrant visa from the United States Department of Homeland Security Valid, unexpired Texas License to Carry a Handgun issued by TxDPS List B Acceptable Photo ID for Transactions Driver's license or ID issued by a U.S. state or territory Texas License to Carry a Handgun issued by TxDPS U.S. passport Foreign passport U.S. military ID North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ID ID issued under a Status of Forces Agreement U.S. Department of Homeland Security ID U.S. Department of State ID U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ID Note: Only List B acceptable forms of ID can be expired up to 12 months." This article originally published at What to know about the big change to Texas car registration. Lawmakers aren't able to agree on a state budget in time for the scheduled March 13 end of this year's regular session. So what's next? It's the second year in a row that lawmakers haven't passed the only bill they're required to pass each year, the budget, on time. But conversations about the big pots of money known as allocations are still ongoing, House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, told reporters after the March 9 floor session. Advertisement Advertisement Still, that's not the only conversation up in the air. Lawmakers filed close to 1,900 bills this year, but only 86 have passed both the House and the Senate as of the close of legislative business on March 10. More: Florida lawmakers to miss state budget deadline for second year in row Here's what to know looking at the end of legislative session, budget or no: How will session go into overtime? When talking to reporters again on March 10, Perez didn't clarify whether the session would be extended, or whether lawmakers would recess and convene again later on. He did say they'll adjourn "whenever the Senate and the House come to an agreement and have done their work and feel like it is completed." Advertisement Advertisement "It's a moving target, but eventually we will leave here and we will work on the budget," Perez said. Perez also didn't answer whether lawmakers might try to pass a budget when they come back for a special session on redistricting in late April, which was called by DeSantis. The state's next fiscal year starts on July 1. More: Will DeSantis, Legislature go out not with a bang but a whimper? Speaker of the House Daniel Perez, left, greets Senate President Ben Albritton on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. What's going on with the budget? The primary holdup has been a "fundamental disagreement" between the two chambers on spending, Perez previously told reporters. The Florida Senate proposed a $115 billion budget; the House came in at a lower $113.6 billion, a difference of roughly $1.4 billion. Advertisement Advertisement That gap alone, for example, is enough to fund the educational costs for roughly 150,000 public-school students for a year, according to previously released budget information, or pay for the resurfacing of 1,0002,500 miles of 2 to 4lane roads. The deal was supposed to be ready by March 10 to comply with the state's constitution, which mandates a 72-hour 'cooling off' period between the time the budget is published and when lawmakers can vote on it. Perez told the House lawmakers will gather again after sine die at the end of the week. Sine die is Latin for "without day" and a motion to adjourn sine die is the last action of a session of the Legislature, according to the Senate website. More: Florida lawmakers to miss state budget deadline for second year in row People pass through the fourth floor rotunda during opening day of session Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. What happens to bills that haven't passed both chambers? Bills that haven't passed both the House and Senate by the end of Friday have a grim future: Perez told reporters that when lawmakers leave, he "expects everything to die." Advertisement Advertisement Many measures, some discussed heavily at the beginning of legislative session, fell through the cracks this session as a consequence of tensions between the House and Senate. These include setting artificial intelligence regulations, pushed by the Senate, or sweeping property tax reform, championed by the House. More: Ideas dead or dying as Legislature staggers toward finish line House Republicans also sought to allow parents to sue for damages for the wrongful death of an unborn child, and to lower the age for purchasing a rifle from 21 to 18 years old. But those have been held up in the Senate. Additionally, Senate President Ben Albritton's legislative priority known as Rural Renaissance, increasing funding in rural areas of Florida, passed the Senate on the second day of session, but hasn't seen the light of day in the House. Advertisement Advertisement Perez has said the House will only be hearing Senate bills that match a House bill already on its calendar. From here out, the House will only consider "returning messages," bills that passed one chamber and then another, but were changed and have to go back to be OK'd yet again. To become law, identical language must be approved by both. This reporting content is supported by a partnership with Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. USA Today Network-Florida First Amendment reporter Stephany Matat is based in Tallahassee, Fla. She can be reached at SMatat@gannett.com. On X: @stephanymatat. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida budget delay puts brakes on legislative session President Donald Trump is expected to make two stops in Greater Cincinnati Wednesday afternoon, likely snarling traffic and commutes as his motorcade makes its way through the area. Details on what roads will be impacted by Trump's March 11 visit remain limited. Here's what we know: Ellie Suggs, left, talks with Mattie Savage as she makes a sign at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, Reading Branch, before President Donald Trump arrives in Reading on March 11, 2026. Trump will visit Thermo Fisher Scientific, a pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, in Reading to discuss TrumpRx.gov, a new prescription drug website. Ellie Suggs, left, talks with other demonstrators as she makes a sign at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, Reading Branch, before President Donald Trump arrives in Reading on March 11, 2026. Trump will visit Thermo Fisher Scientific, a pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, in Reading to discuss TrumpRx.gov, a new prescription drug website. Amber Taylor, 26, makes a sign at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, Reading Branch, before President Donald Trump arrives to Reading on March 11, 2026. Taylor said this will be her first time attending a protest. Trump visits Northern Kentucky 1 of 3 Ellie Suggs, left, talks with Mattie Savage as she makes a sign at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, Reading Branch, before President Donald Trump arrives in Reading on March 11, 2026. Trump will visit Thermo Fisher Scientific, a pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, in Reading to discuss TrumpRx.gov, a new prescription drug website. When will Trump arrive? Trump is expected to arrive at Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky International Airport after lunch, according to the White House. Advertisement Advertisement A temporary flight restriction for the movement of a "VIP" is in effect for much of the area beginning at noon, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Where will Trump speak in Greater Cincinnati? Trump will first visit Thermo Fisher Scientific, a pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, in Reading at 2:30 p.m. to discuss TrumpRx.gov, a new prescription drug website. Then, Trump will visit Verst Logistics in Hebron around 4 p.m. An invitation for the event was sent to supporters by U.S. Rep. Andy Barr's Senate campaign office. The invitation includes no information about the purpose of his visit, but notes the president will make "remarks." When will Trump leave? Air Force One prepares to take off from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport in Hebron, Ky., as President Donald Trump leaves following a campaign rally in downtown Cincinnati on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019. After Trump speaks in Reading and Hebron, he will leave during the evening rush hour from Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky International Airport. Advertisement Advertisement The temporary flight restriction for the area expires at 5:30 p.m., according to the FAA. What roads will be closed by Trump's visit? Details on the specific roads that will be closed during Trump's visit are limited. Alexi Worley, a Secret Service spokeswoman, said portions of Interstate 75 will be closed throughout the day and closures are expected to impact the evening rush hour. "Residents and visitors in the area are encouraged to consider alternative routes when available," Worley said. "The U.S. Secret Service and our local law enforcement partners appreciate the communitys patience and understanding as we work to keep both our protectees and the public safe." Advertisement Advertisement Evendale village officials told motorists to expect closures, detours and significant disruptions in the area of Reading Road, Galbraith Road, Ronald Reagan Highway and both directions of the I-75 corridor. Amberley Village officials said heavy traffic is expected in the northern part of the village between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Cincinnati police spokesman Sgt. Anthony Mitchell deferred to Secret Service for information about road impacts within city limits. The Ohio Department of Transportation recommends motorists use OHGO, their live interactive traffic site, for the latest updates on road closures and traffic. Will rush hour traffic be impacted by Trump's visit? Yes, evening rush hour traffic will likely be impacted by Trump's visit. Advertisement Advertisement While the exact times Trump will arrive and depart have not been publicly released, he is expected to leave during the evening rush hour, according to the White House. Alexi Worley, a Secret Service spokeswoman, said portions of Interstate 75 will be closed throughout the day and closures are expected to impact the evening rush hour. Arrival and departure times are subject to change. The National Weather Service in Wilmington expects multiple rounds of storms, including strong winds, around the evening rush hour. This story may be updated. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Will Trump's Cincinnati visit impact rush hour traffic? What we know MOSCOW, March 11 (Reuters) - The Kremlin on Wednesday accused British specialists of involvement in a deadly Ukrainian strike on the Russian city of Bryansk that used British Storm Shadow missiles and said it would take Britain's role "into account". The Bryansk regional governor said Tuesday's strike killed at least six civilians and injured 37 in what he called a "terrorist missile attack", without saying what was hit. Ukraine said it had struck a key plant producing missile components. Moscow accused it of deliberately targeting civilians. Asked by Reuters if there would be a military response to the use of British missiles against sovereign Russian territory, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia would take into account the British involvement. Advertisement Advertisement "It is obvious that the launch of these missiles was impossible without British specialists," Peskov told reporters. "We are aware of this, we know it well, and we naturally take it into account." "In order to prevent such barbaric actions by the Kyiv regime from continuing, the special military operation is being conducted," he said, adding that one of the goals of the operation was to demilitarise Ukraine. There was no immediate comment from London, though Russia has repeatedly said that Ukraine needs Western expertise and Western-supplied targeting data and satellite imagery to fire advanced missiles deep into Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that Kyiv had struck one of the most important military factories in Bryansk that produced electronics for Russian missiles. Advertisement Advertisement Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the strike was premeditated and directed against civilians, and challenged the U.N. to assess what had occurred. (Reporting by Dmitry AntonovWriting by Maxim Rodionov; editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Philippa Fletcher) Whoever replaces Kristi Noem is going to have to deal with the mountain of paperwork shes left behind, as multiple vendors await payments from the Department of Homeland Security, Axios reported Wednesday. Theres a mountain of backed-up contracts and invoices on her desk that the new guy will just have to deal with, a source familiar with the situation at DHS told Axios. The backlog on Noems desk predated the ongoing partial government shutdown, as the result of the outgoing secretarys policy to personally approve all expenditures above $100,000. Those disruptions are now exacerbated by the shutdown. Advertisement Advertisement Under Noems tenure, multiple contracts with immigration detention facilities across the country have lapsed, according to Axios. Camp East Montana, the countrys largest immigration detention facility, had a contract with DHS that expired at the end of February. A contract with a family detention center in Dilley, Texaswhich holds dozens of immigrant childrenexpired at the beginning of March. New Jerseys Delaney Hall is also operating without a contract, and many small county jails are similarly awaiting payments. Noem has also delayed distribution of disaster relief funds through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. A source familiar with FEMAs delays told Axios that DHSs front office was a giant shit-show. The ramifications of her tenure are going to be felt for years and years and years and years, the source said. Were not really going to know exactly how bad it is until we have a major hurricane that unfortunately impacts someplace in the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Another source familiar with the situation at DHS told Axios that even if Noems review policy was reversed and everything goes back to the way it was its going to take weeks, if not months, of constant work to restore funding to DHS vendors. DHS adviser Corey Lewandowski told Axios that the government shutdown limited certain spending, and he insisted that all possible funding had been distributed. FRANKFORT, Ky. Should I stay or should I go? No, we're not talking about the 1981 punk rock classic by The Clash it's the question on Kentucky lawmakers' minds as they weigh attending the legislative session in Frankfort or traveling to Northern Kentucky to see President Donald Trump speak. And it seems like the session might be winning out. Trump will be in Hebron, Kentucky, just a few miles southwest of Cincinnati, on March 11 to speak at a Verst Logistics packaging facility. Trump's visit lands him in the heart of Kentucky's 4th Congressional District, where Trump's hand-picked candidate, Ed Gallrein, is locked in a primary race with incumbent U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, who has been in a well-documented feud with the president since he again took office in 2025. Advertisement Advertisement The event is likely to be a who's who of Kentucky Republican politics, with three high-profile candidates running for Sen. Mitch McConnell's seat in attendance. Former Attorney General Daniel Cameron and Lexington businessman Nate Morris will be there, along with U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, who's bringing a verifiable convoy of buses one from Lexington, one from Louisville and one from Somerset. But for state lawmakers, time is of the essence. Kentucky's legislators are halfway through a busy 60-day session, with only a few weeks left to pass bills and the state's two-year budget. Keep up with all things politics: Sign up for The Courier Journal's weekly newsletter. Both the House and Senate gavel in at 2 p.m. on March 11 in Frankfort, almost a 90-minute drive away from where the president is scheduled to make his remarks in Hebron just before 5 p.m. Despite the time crunch and the distance, some are still planning to make the trip. Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Steve Rawlings, R-Burlington, told The Courier Journal he'll be in the audience in Hebron, and he won't be the only member of his chamber there. He said he'll be joined by two other Northern Kentucky senators Gex Williams and Shelly Funke Frommeyer along with Sens. Gary Boswell, Lindsey Tichenor and Phillip Wheeler. "I have not ever been to (a Trump event)," Rawlings said. "This is going to be a big surprise. ... We're very much a hot spot in Boone County with the Thomas Massie vs. Ed Gallrein race." Sen. Steve Rawlings, R-Burlington, speaks on the Senate floor on Feb. 20, 2026. But some legislators are choosing to stay behind. Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, will not be among the contingent of senators in the crowd in Hebron. One reason, he said, is because he does not plan to change the chamber's schedule or rush through business in the hours ahead of the event. Advertisement Advertisement "We're 20 days from needing the budget on the governor's desk," he said. "Time is our most valued asset." The legislature's other top Republican leader won't be in attendance either. House Speaker David Osborne, R-Prospect, said while lawmakers had been invited, he was unaware of any representatives who were planning on going to Trump's event, and the House's schedule would not be impacted. "Clearly, a presidential visit to a region demands a lot of respect, so I would suspect that some Northern Kentucky legislators might go, but I don't know that for sure," Osborne said. Rep. Kim Banta, R-Ft. Mitchell, represents a portion of Hebron in her Northern Kentucky district but said she won't be in attendance when the president takes the stage. Advertisement Advertisement "If it were on a Saturday, maybe," she said after a committee meeting in Frankfort. "But this is more important, to be where I was elected to be." She doesn't hold it against lawmakers who make the road trip, but "we've still got a lot of evening work with the budget and other bills." Representative Kim Banta, Co-Chair, listened to speakers during a public comment period during a meeting of commonwealth's Efficient and Effective School Governance Task Force on Tuesday evening at Central High School in Louisville, Kentucky. Aug. 27, 2024 Rep. TJ Roberts, R-Burlington, said although he supports what the president is doing with the economy, his focus is on getting bills passed through the legislature, specifically House Bill 78, which will be heard in the House Judiciary Committee the same day Trump arrives. The bill, which was sponsored by Roberts, would strengthen legal protections for firearms and ammunition manufacturers, like Ruger & Co., which recently acquired Anderson Manufacturing in Roberts' district. "I appreciate the president is in my district because he's protecting industry and making sure that jobs are growing, but if our court system is constricting jobs with a major manufacturer being in my district ..." Roberts told The Courier Journal. "At a certain point, as much as I want to be there in person to support, I can give my support in spirit while making sure that the people in District 66 get to keep their jobs if they work for Ruger." Advertisement Advertisement Although unconfirmed, it's likely Trump will use the visit to campaign for Gallrein which may also divide Northern Kentucky lawmakers, many of whom support Massie and attended his kickoff event. Roberts, who views Massie as both a mentor and friend, said he wasn't getting in the middle of the battle between the president and the representative. "I don't make public statements when mom and dad are fighting," Roberts said. Reach reporter Keely Doll at kdoll@courierjournal.com or follow her on X at @keely_doll. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky lawmakers weigh Trump visit, legislative duties FRANKFORT A Republican and a Democrat are behind bills in the Kentucky House that would give the states two major political parties a chance to open their primaries to the fastest-growing group of Kentucky voters independents. While any such change wont come in time for this years May 19 primary when voters will nominate candidates for local, state and federal offices, Republican Rep. Vanessa Grossl, of Georgetown, told the Lantern its a discussion worth having for the future. About 11% of Kentuckys voters are registered as independent or with a third party, making them ineligible under current law to vote in the states partisan primary elections. Advertisement Advertisement Opening primary elections to independents would pull candidates from both parties toward the political middle, Grossl said. This could be some kind of countermeasure, perhaps, for the will of the voter to really make a difference and hopefully pull us back toward the middle a little bit, she said. I think that thats where most Americans are and most Kentuckians are. Grossl said most of the lawmakers she speaks to who oppose opening primaries are closely aligned with party or incumbents in solid red districts, but those in more purple districts, where narrow vote margins could swing elections, are more likely to be open to the idea. Grossl said that, a number of good, solid Republicans have lost to further right candidates in recent years. Grossl sees the increase in independents as a sign that those voters arent comfortable with either party right now, but that doesnt mean that they shouldnt be a part of the political process. They still are taxpayers and taxes support elections, she said. Grossl won her House seat by about 200 votes two years ago by unseating House Democratic Caucus Chair Cherlynn Stevenson, whose district had been redrawn by the legislatures GOP supermajority. Rep. Adam Moore, D-Lexington, hopes lawmakers will discuss the question of open primary elections during the interim between legislative sessions. (LRC Public Information) Lexington Democratic Rep. Adam Moore, the sponsor of another open primaries bill, also gained his seat two years ago by flipping a district in Jessamine and Fayette counties that had been held by a Republican. Advertisement Advertisement Moore said he doesnt expect his House Bill 799 to get a committee hearing during the 2026 session, but it could be heard sometime during the interim between regular sessions. The extra time to consider the bill would be an opportunity to make it better and get buy-in from both sides of the aisle, he added. Both bills would put the decision to open primaries in the hands of the Republican and Democratic parties, although the lawmakers said they had not discussed their proposals before filing the bills last week. Grossls House Bill 874 would take effect in December 2027 after the next statewide elections for constitutional officers, including the governorship. The idea of opening primaries has an important ally in Republican Secretary of State Michael Adams, the states top election official. Adams, previously told the Kentucky Lantern that he favors allowing independent voters to choose which primary to vote in. Advertisement Advertisement That, Adams said, would encourage the top two political parties to court independents instead of just responding to the most zealous parts of their base. Adams said in a statement through a spokesperson that he appreciated Grossl filing her bill. We now have legislators from both sides of the aisle working to open our primary elections to Independent voters, and I hope both parties will come together behind some version of this reform, Adams said. Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams favors opening primary elections to independents. (Kentucky Lantern photo by McKenna Horsley) Grossl said her proposal is inspired by a 2011 bill sponsored by Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, that would have opened primaries to independent voters. It was approved in the Republican-controlled Senate but died in the House which was controlled by Democrats at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Grossl said her proposal would give Republicans and Democrats a wild card that they can pull out of their pockets to allow independents to vote in their primaries. I kind of see it as inviting them onto our front porch, Grossl said, adding that registration for Republicans and independents has grown in recent years. Registered Republicans surpassed registered Democrats for the first time in Kentucky history in 2022. Grossl also wants to have dialogue with independent voters in her House district and encourage more people to get out and vote regardless of party, she said. Both bills say independents would have to be registered as such by Dec. 31, which is in line with an existing deadline in state law to change party registration in order to vote in the next primary election. Advertisement Advertisement Before filing his bill, Moore spoke to Jefferson County Clerk David Yates, a Democrat who is the top elections officer in the states most populous county. Yates told the Lantern that he viewed the idea as a positive move as it could lead to more people voting in elections. Jefferson County Clerk David Yates. (LRC Public Information) However, as a former state lawmaker, Yates said he doesnt think the General Assembly has the appetite to open primaries now, particularly with false narratives about elections being stolen swirling around. Yates previously served as the Democratic whip in the Senate caucus. Even as a growing number of voters register without joining either of the two main political parties, Yates doubts lawmakers will feel pressure to open primaries. Nevertheless, he sees value in discussing the option. I have good friends on both sides of the aisle of Frankfort, but I think sometimes when youre part of a supermajority, as the Republicans are right now, I think theyre less likely to be able to allow changes that could disrupt that, Yates said. Though they cannot vote in partisan primaries in May, independent voter registrations are surging. The secretary of states office recently highlighted February voter registration numbers, which continued to show an increase in independent voters in Kentucky. A press release said that of 2,606 net new registrants, about two-thirds registered as other political affiliation, mostly independent. A Lakewood father was arrested this week after his infant died from critical injuries. Officers were dispatched March 5 to Mary Bridge Childrens Hospital in Tacoma after the baby was taken there the day before, Lakewood Police Department spokesperson Sgt. Charles Porche told The News Tribune via email. The injuries the baby sustained were not initially explainable, Porche wrote. Detectives learned through their investigation that the 21-year-old father allegedly caused the injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Porche wrote the baby died Monday. The father was arrested the same day and booked into the Pierce County Jail on suspicion of homicide by abuse. Pierce County prosecutors are requesting a 72-hour hold in court Wednesday, according to a spokesperson for the department. The man remains in custody at the jail. This is the first homicide in Lakewood this year. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) Las Cruces Public Schools is celebrating its latest school to receive the community school designation. Students, staff, City of Las Cruces leaders, district administrators and the LCPS Board of Education joined together on March 6 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially designate Sunrise Elementary as a community school, the eighth in LCPS. It is now known as Sunrise Community Elementary School. Advertisement Advertisement This is going to continue to bring resources to our students, our families, and our educators, said Dora Solis, principal at Sunrise Community Elementary School. Its going to continue to not only bring resources but also align our resources. Were also going to be more empowered to bring in our parents, to help us have that equity and voice in making decisions. Sunrise Community Elementary School will help support the needs of students living on the East Mesa side of Las Cruces, LCPS said. Community schools at LCPS provide a variety of support services such as mental health resources, medical services, social-emotional support, and nutrition assistance. While programs may differ from campus to campus, they all share the same mission, to empower students, families, and communities to thrive in a nurturing environment that helps them reach their full potential, the district said. Advertisement Advertisement Community schools in the district build on local partnerships with Dona Ana Community College, New Mexico State University, the NMSU College of Health, Education and Social Transformation (HEST), La Clinica de Familia and Casa de Mi Alma to expand resources and opportunities for students and families. Community school coordinators work on campus alongside school staff to support students through regular check-ins, helping to build a positive school culture while addressing and reducing chronic absenteeism, the district said. Through these ongoing connections, coordinators identify ways to best support students. Once you listen to students and families about what they want to see here on the campus, those community partnerships can really find where they fit, said Johnny Rivera, LCPS Community Schools manager. Advertisement Advertisement At Las Cruces Public Schools, community schools focus on six key components: strong student and family engagement; collaborative leadership; expanded and enriched learning opportunities; community-connected classroom instruction; a culture of belonging; and integrated systems of support. 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. LiveRamp Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RAMP) is one of the Best Small-Cap Growth Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds. On March 4, LiveRamp Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RAMP) announced a new partnership with Predactiv to help brands and organizations use offline data, called PII. PII includes offline data such as names, addresses, emails, and phone numbers. The integration turns the PII data into secure identifiers for use in Predactivs Data Platform. Management noted that LiveRamp handles the identity resolution and converts the sensitive PII into privacy-safe, interoperable identifiers such as hashed email addresses, mobile advertising IDs, and IP-based ones. After transformation, these identifiers can be used for modeling, analytics, enrichment, and audience activation within Predactivs ecosystem. This move expands what data Predactiv can handle. Earlier users had limited options to handle PII. However, now users can access all platform features, including a new Lookalike Modeling tool that resolves identities safely. The new tool, with the help of LiveRamp Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RAMP), lets data owners turn PII into privacy-safe products they can sell. LiveRamp Holdings (RAMP) Partners With Predactiv Copyright: rawpixel / 123RF Stock Photo LiveRamp Holdings (NYSE:RAMP) is a technology company that provides a privacy-focused data collaboration platform. It offers the LiveRamp Data Collaboration platform that allows businesses to activate, unify, and manage customer data over multiple marketing mediums. The company ensures the security and privacy of consumers data in this context. While we acknowledge the potential of RAMP as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026 and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money. Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News. Latvia's Ministry of Culture has issued a statement calling for Russia's participation in the Venice Biennale to be reconsidered, and 22 countries have signed it. Source: Latvia's Ministry of Culture Details: The joint letter was addressed to Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, President of La Biennale di Venezia, to the Board of Directors of La Biennale di Venezia, and to Alessandro Giuli, Italy's Minister of Culture. The statement was signed by the culture and foreign ministers of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden and Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement The ministers stressed that, for more than a century, the Venice Biennale has stood as a platform for artistic freedom and should therefore also bear a moral responsibility. Quote from the joint statement: "Culture is not separate from the realities societies face. It shapes how people understand the world, what they value, and how they choose to act. Cultural institutions therefore carry not only artistic significance but also moral responsibility." More details: The letter said Russian strikes destroyed or damaged museums, historic sites, monuments and other cultural institutions in Ukraine. It also noted that the Russian Federation remains subject to European and international sanctions, including in the cultural sphere, imposed over its violations of international law and Ukraine's sovereignty. The statement also referred to artists and curators who left the Russian pavilion after the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The ministers said international cultural platforms must not be used to legitimise military aggression or undermine the system of international sanctions. Advertisement Advertisement The European Commission has also urged the Venice Biennale to reconsider Russia's participation. In a statement on 10 March 2026, Henna Virkkunen, European Commission Executive Vice-President, and Glenn Micallef, the Commissioner for intergenerational fairness, youth, culture and sport warned that the EU Commission could suspend EU grant funding for the Venice Biennale if Russia is allowed to reopen its pavilion at this year's exhibition. Quote from the EU Commission: "The European Commission has been clear in its stance concerning Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. Culture promotes and safeguards democratic values, fosters open dialogue, diversity and freedom of expression, and should never be used as a platform for propaganda." More details: PinchukArtCentre, a Ukrainian international centre for contemporary art, has also called on the organisers of the 61st Venice Biennale to deny Russia participation in the international contemporary art exhibition. Italy's Ministry of Culture earlier issued a statement saying that the decision regarding Russia's participation in the 61st Venice Biennale had been made independently by the Biennale Foundation despite the government's position. The ministry noted that it does not support this decision. Russia's participation in the 61st Venice Biennale On 4 March, the Venice Biennale published the list of participating countries in the world's largest art exhibition, which included Russia. The Russian national pavilion will be titled The Tree is Rooted in the Sky, and its commissioner will be Anastasia Karneeva. Advertisement Advertisement The Russian art consultant and contemporary art manager was appointed commissioner of the Russian pavilion in 2021 for the following eight years. However, Russia missed the Biennale twice, in 2022 and 2024. Karneeva is the daughter of Nikolai Volobuyev, a retired general and deputy director of one of the largest defence corporations, Rostec. Previously, Volobuyev served as deputy head of Russia's Federal Customs Service and director for special assignments at Rosoboronexport. From 1975 to 2004, he served in the structures of the KGB of the USSR and later the FSB of Russia. In 2014, Karneeva co-founded the art consulting company Smart Art together with Ekaterina Lavrova, the daughter of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! State lawmakers continue to call for improvement and accountability from Louisianas child welfare agency on how it responds to reports of abuse and neglect most notably in cases involving child deaths when officials were made aware of previous problems but failed to take action. One legislator, Sen. Regina Barrow, D-Baton Rouge, has submitted a bill to eliminate the Department of Children and Family Services and move its functions to the state health and labor agencies. Though her proposal faces long odds to gain approval, the senator is using it as a platform to keep the long troubled agency in the spotlight. Barrow has pressed for change at the department since the June 2022 death of 2-year-old Mitchell Robinson from a fentanyl overdose. Children and Family Services had been notified at least three times previously about the child, including two instances he was brought to a hospital unresponsive, treated with Narcan and released to his mother. Advertisement Advertisement I am very frustrated with the outcomes I am seeing Barrow said. We cant afford another child to die. DCFS Secretary Rebecca Harris appeared Tuesday before Barrow and other members of the state Senate Selection Committee on Women and Children, which had requested an update on how the agency fields calls and online reports to its abuse hotline and its ongoing reorganization effort. To reduce instances of child abuse ending with serious injury or death, Harris said the department is now using what its calling a 3-by-3-by-3 rule. An investigation is triggered automatically if the agency receives three calls or reports of abuse within three months that meet one of three criteria: the call involves either the same victim, the same perpetrator or the same household. So far in 2026, the department has fielded reports of 10 child deaths statewide with at least three confirmed fatalities from abuse or neglect. DCFS Medical Director Dr. Rebecca Hook said investigations are still pending for the majority of the remaining seven deaths. Advertisement Advertisement There were 53 child deaths reported to the state last year. Investigations have been completed in all of those cases, and 28 were substantiated as abuse- or neglect-related, according to Hook. Since she took over leadership in August, Harris has sought to bolster Children and Family Services front-line response to child abuse and neglect. She reassigned some 100 child welfare supervisors from office jobs to field positions where they can handle cases directly. Though they were technically demoted, the employees pay was not lowered. Harris also scrapped the agencys remotely staffed abuse hotline to create a centralized child call center at the departments Baton Rouge headquarters. Most of the 50 staffers who took calls from home in around-the-clock shifts were not given the option to relocate or keep their jobs, and instead were sent to regional offices for different assignments in child welfare or foster care. Sen. Katrina Jackson-Andrews, chair of the select committee, said she continues to field calls from the affected state employees with complaints about working under supervisors with less experience and not having needed equipment. Advertisement Advertisement There have been 50 departures from child welfare positions since Dec. 15, the original deadline remote hotline workers were given to decide whether they would move to regional offices. Harris has since pushed back the full transition to an in-house call center to midyear. The largest number of exits,17, were employees who held the position of child welfare specialist 3, a senior-level position that requires at least three years experience. Most of the departures were in the form of resignations, with 31. In an interview, Harris said the departures have not impacted the call center. She attributed some employees decision to leave to uncertainty created from Barrows legislation to scrap the department, though Civil Service records show only five employees left after the senators bill was made public in late February. Advertisement Advertisement If DCFS is this important, it deserves a seat at the table and not to be pushed under a larger organization, Harris said. Also among the staff complaints Jackson-Andrews said she received was a need for more supervisors for second-shift employees, consisting of caseworkers who handle after-hours and weekend assignments. The senator urged Harris to request more money from state lawmakers to meet her staffing needs, although Gov. Jeff Landry has proposed a standstill budget for next fiscal year. We cant be so busy on what we call savings that we cant give you what you need to take care of children, Jackson-Andrews said. Harris has previously said she would not increase department staffing and instead would lean on technology and training to improve services. After Tuesdays hearing, the secretary said she would be making a request for additional staffing and new vehicles for the agencys field workers. A bus fire in Switzerland killed at least six people and left three others hospitalized with severe injuries, police said Tuesday. They said they were investigating whether the blaze was intentionally set by someone on the bus. Police spokesperson Frederic Papaux of Fribourg canton, or region, said the inferno broke out Tuesday evening on a bus in the town of Kerzers, about 15 miles west of Bern, the Swiss capital. "At this stage, we have elements suggesting a deliberate act by a person who was inside the bus," Papaux said at a news conference, according to Reuters news agency. Advertisement Advertisement Police would not elaborate on why they believe the fire could have been deliberately started. Fribourg police said in a statement that a criminal investigation had been opened by public prosecutors "to determine the exact circumstances of the tragedy." Authorities said they could not immediately confirm reports that a person had doused themselves in gasoline, CBS News partner BBC News reported. Papaux did not say how many people were on the bus, noting that people were fleeing the vehicle when first responders arrived, according to the Agence France-Presse news agency. Fire investigators examine the charred shell of a postal bus that caught fire in Kerzers, Switzerland, Tuesday, March 10, 2026. / Credit: Alessandro della Valle/Keystone via AP (Alessandro della Valle/Keystone via AP) Images from the scene on Swiss media showed flames tearing through the bus. Advertisement Advertisement "After rushing to the scene, rescue teams noted that the vehicle was totally engulfed in flames," the regional government said in a statement. Ambulance and helicopter teams ferried three injured people with severe injuries to hospitals, while two others were treated on site, police said. The regional transport bus is operated by PostBus, which is affiliated with the national postal service. Some 500,000 people, including schoolchildren, use them daily, according to AFP. "I am shocked and saddened that people in Switzerland have once again lost their lives in a serious fire," Swiss President Guy Parmelin said on X. "The circumstances are being investigated. I would like to express my condolences to the families of those who died in Kerzers. My thoughts are also with the injured and the emergency services." Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this year, a fire that broke out at a New Year's party at Le Constellation bar in the ski resort of Crans-Montana left 40 people dead and over 100 injured. Investigators have said that blaze started when sparklers on Champagne bottles ignited the bar's ceiling. CBS News exclusive: LA is "ground zero" for hospice fraud Family of teacher killed during prank asks for charges to be dropped against teens She was an active 69-year-old, but records said she was dying in hospice At least nine people were killed and 44 others injured in Russian attacks against Ukraine over the past day, local authorities reported on March 11. Russia launched 99 attack drones including 70 Shahed-type drones at Ukraine over the past day, the Air Force reported. Ukrainian air defense shot down or jammed 90 of those drones. Glide bomb strikes nearer to the front line were nonetheless deadly for many Ukrainians. Such an attack in northern Sumy Oblast killed two and injured three, local government reported. Advertisement Advertisement A similar attack on neighboring Kharkiv Oblast claimed the lives of two Ukrainians and injured seven others, Governor Oleh Syniehubov wrote, identifying the target as a "civilian business." Vadym Filashkin, governor of Donetsk Oblast, wrote on Telegram that attacks in Sloviansk killed four and injured 21. Further south in Kherson, where the Dnipro River forms the front line, attacks killed one and injured 12, including one child, reported Governor Oleksandr Prokudin. Another woman injured in an attack on March 9 succumbed to her injuries and died in the hospital. Governor Ivan Fedorov wrote that Russia attacked Zaporizhzhya Oblast 706 times over the past 24 hours, but found no deaths and only one injured civilian. Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Storm Shadows hit major Russian missile control system factory, Zelensky says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. By Dave Graham and Olivia Le Poidevin KERZERS, Switzerland, March 11 (Reuters) - Six people died and five were injured in a bus fire in Switzerland that police suspect was caused by a man who set himself ablaze, though there was no indication it was an act of terrorism. Swiss authorities said on Wednesday the suspected perpetrator, a 65-year-old Swiss man who one official described as "disturbed," was among the dead, and had earlier been reported missing by his family. Advertisement Advertisement The bus was engulfed in flames on Tuesday evening on a road near the centre of Kerzers, a town of about 5,000 inhabitants in the western canton of Fribourg, about 20 km (12 miles) from the Swiss capital Bern, police said. "As for the motive, there is absolutely no evidence to suggest that this could be a terrorist act," Raphael Bourquin, Fribourg's attorney general, told a press conference. A criminal investigation has been opened into suspected homicide, arson, and endangering the lives of others, Bourquin said. The six dead were formally identified and except for the 63-year-old bus driver who was Portuguese, all of them were Swiss. They included two women, 25 and 39, and two males aged 16 and 29, police said. Advertisement Advertisement PANICKED PASSENGERS SEEN ESCAPING The suspect is believed to have boarded the bus with bags before dousing himself in flammable material and starting the blaze, officials said. Investigators were going through CCTV footage as well as social media posts to understand the man's motives, and said further searches and interviews would take place. Passengers were seen escaping from the burning bus, panicked and injured. Video after the flames were extinguished showed the charred remains of the yellow vehicle. Zeynel Teke, 61, was working at his food stall when flames erupted from the bus and it stopped in front of him. Advertisement Advertisement Two or three people came out of the vehicle, and Teke ran to help, using his hand to put out flames on one woman. He went to get his fire extinguisher but the flames were too hot to get close enough to douse them. "It's so sad to see people burning in front of your eyes. It could be my child, it could be yours," he said. Two of the injured people remain in hospital, a 56yearold woman and a 34yearold man, police said. WITNESSES DESCRIBE HORROR Mina Gendre was about to close up the shop she works in when she saw the bus was ablaze inside. "It was so shocking," said Gendre. "I saw someone come running out of the bus on fire." Advertisement Advertisement One video of the fire circulating among Kerzers' residents showed what appeared to be a body in flames moving on the ground next to the burning bus. Nirosan Vickneswaran, 37, was waiting anxiously for news of his cousin who was on the bus. "We don't know if he's injured or worse," he said. "All we know is that somebody set fire to themself." A memorial was quickly erected next to the site of the blaze. Swiss President Guy Parmelin offered condolences and said on X: "It shocks and saddens me that once again people have lost their lives in a serious fire in Switzerland." Advertisement Advertisement In January, Switzerland was rocked by a fire in a bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana that killed 41 people and injured 115. Parmelin laid flowers in Kerzers with local officials on Wednesday afternoon and paid tribute to rescue workers who battled the blaze. (Reporting by Dave Graham in Kerzers, Olivia Le Poidevin in Geneva; additional reporting by Cecile Mantovani; Editing by Alex Richardson, Andrew Cawthorne and Lincoln Feast.) TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A Kansas town known for its prisons is allowing a shuttered private prison to reopen and house immigrants detained for living in the U.S. illegally after a nearly yearlong legal fight amid a massive national push for new detention centers. The City Commission in Leavenworth on Tuesday approved a permit to private prison operator CoreCivic. Members voted 4-1 to approve a three-year permit with conditions that set minimum staffing levels, ban the housing of minors and provide for a city oversight committee. If they dont follow those guidelines, we can pull the permit, Mayor Nancy Bauder said before the vote. Advertisement Advertisement The 1,104-bed Midwest Regional Reception Center is 10 miles (16 kilometers) west of the Kansas City International Airport. CoreCivic, one of the nations largest private prison operators, said the center will generate $60 million annually once its fully open. Leavenworth, Kansas, sued CoreCivic after it tried to reopen the shuttered prison without city officials signing off on the deal. The legal battle played out in state and federal courts, with the Department of Justice siding with CoreCivic in legal filings. The department argued that the city was engaged in an aggressive and unlawful effort to interfere with federal immigration enforcement. It appears to be the only such legal battle nationally to delay a private prison from opening amid President Donald Trumps push for mass deportations. The city argued that requiring a permit would prevent future problems, while CoreCivic maintained that it didnt need a permit and the process would take too long. Advertisement Advertisement Leavenworth was an unlikely foe because the GOP-leaning citys name alone evokes a shorthand for serving hard time. Prisons employ hundreds of workers locally at two military facilities, the nations first federal penitentiary, a Kansas correctional facility and a county jail, all within 6 miles (10 kilometers) of city hall. CoreCivic stopped housing pretrial detainees for the U.S. Marshals Service in its Leavenworth facility in 2021 after then-President Joe Biden called on the Justice Department to curb the use of private prisons. The American Civil Liberties Union and federal public defenders said inmates rights had been violated and there were stabbings, suicides and even one homicide. The citys lawsuit described detainees locked in showers as punishment and accused CoreCivic of impeding city police force investigations of sexual assaults and other violent crimes. Almost four dozen people spoke in opposition to the permit before the commissions vote. Bauder admonished the crowd several times for being too noisy, and police removed a protester who yelled vulgar comments. Advertisement Advertisement We, we the people of Leavenworth, are not fooled and we dont care about their money, David Benitez, a city resident, told the commission. Some backers of the permit cited the potential boost to the local economy. Two CoreCivic employees argued for approval, and one of them, Charles Johnson, of Kansas City, Kansas, said his job gave him purpose and allowed his family to get off of state assistance. The people I work alongside are caring, professional and committed to doing things the right way, he said, his comments drawing boos from critics outside the commissions meeting room. City Commissioner Holly Pittman said because the city stood firm, it could negotiate conditions on the permit. She said denying it would risk a potentially expensive lawsuit. I will not gamble the financial stability of this city, she said before voting yes. Let me be clear: Approval does not mean endorsement. ___ Hollingsworth reported from Mission, Kansas. LEAVENWORTH CoreCivic will reopen its private prison in Leavenworth to house immigration detainees after city commissioners approved the companys special use permit on Tuesday, the result of a process one commissioner called agonizing. Two people were arrested and multiple people were ejected as they shouted profanity during an hour of public comments and 30 minutes of discussion before the city commission voted 4 to 1 to approve the permit. CoreCivic and the city of Leavenworth have been fighting for a year as the company sought to reopen the prison it closed in 2021. With a $60 million U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement annual contract in hand, the Nashville-based private prison company tried through the courts to reopen without going through the citys development process. Advertisement Advertisement Brian Todd, a CoreCivic spokesman, said in a statement that ICE officials would decide when the Midwest Regional Reception Center will begin housing detainees. As we have from the start, CoreCivic remains committed to operating a safe, transparent and accountable facility, he said. We look forward to our continued partnership with the city and to the benefits the MRRC will bring to Leavenworth and the surrounding communities. The vote was a second and final consideration of CoreCivics special use permit, which sets regulations for how the prison will operate and oversight the city will provide. Commissioner Rebecca Hollister was the sole vote against the permit, as she was during the first consideration on Feb. 24. Leavenworth city commissioner Rebecca Hollister explains her vote against allowing CoreCivic to reopen its private prison. (Photo by Grace Hills for Kansas Reflector) How they voted Hollister said specific issues outlined in the permit caused her to vote no, including a clause that requires breaches of the agreement to continue for 30 days after a notice before termination could occur. Advertisement Advertisement There have been valid concerns regarding potential violations that occur intermittently, but not necessarily for 30 days continuously, she said. Hollister said CoreCivic officials answered her questions and invited her into the facility, but that she believes the companys promise of transparency and cooperation requires a high level of trust that is difficult for her to have, especially given the companys problems at other facilities. With the knowledge I have right now, I just do not have sufficient faith that their operation would meet all the golden factors in development regulations, she said. I hope to be wrong, and I think thats possible based on my last positive conversations with staff. Two commissioners made it clear their positive votes swung on fiscal responsibility. Advertisement Advertisement This has been an agonizing process, said Commissioner Joe Wilson. Everybody wants to make this morality over fiduciary responsibility, but I think there is a real risk to the future of the city, based on how the vote turns out that has to be considered, that could have long-term ramifications for our children, for our tax base, for our law enforcement and our firefighters and the services that we can provide. Commissioner Holly Pittman agreed, saying leadership doesnt mean choosing an easy path. She was mayor last year for much of the citys court fights with CoreCivic and was the subject of dark-money political ads accusing her of holding back progress by forcing CoreCivic to go through the special permit process. Pittman said the vote wasnt about immigration policy or national politics, or whether she or anyone else dislikes CoreCivice. Advertisement Advertisement It is a land use decision governed by law and by the constraints of our political authority, she said. After reviewing all the legal framework, the zoning standards and the court rulings, I believe denying this permit would expose our taxpayers to a significant financial risk, and I will not gamble the financial stability of this city. Mayor Nancy Bauder said Leavenworth didnt have a permit when CoreCivic was previously open and if the company violates it, the city can pull the permit. Commissioner Samuel Maxwell declined to comment. William Rogers, a former guard at Leavenworths CoreCivic facility before it closed in 2021, has been fighting the prison reopening for more than a year. He says he doubts the company will keep its promises to the community. (Photo by Grace Hills for Kansas Reflector) Public comment More than 115 people signed up to speak, but Bauder limited public comment to one hour, which allowed about 45 people to speak, three of whom were in favor of approving the special use permit. Advertisement Advertisement At the February meeting, public comment lasted three hours. Bauder said commissioners offered multiple opportunities for residents to share their views over the past year, and typically on second consideration of a special use permit, they dont take public comment. Many people ceded their time to others with simple statements asking the commissioners to vote against the permit. Others were passionate in their opinions about how CoreCivic and ICEs presence would change Leavenworth. They drug you through the mud by the scalp face first for a year, and I will not see you bend the knee now, said John Watt, of Junction City. Stand up. Advertisement Advertisement Watt expressed a concern echoed by others that once the company is open and holding ICE detainees it will be difficult to enforce stipulations in the permit. Like a bloated tick, theyre going to get their head in and theyre going to swell up on those tax dollars and theyre going to be very difficult to get them to move, he said. Some acknowledged the challenge facing commissioners. Unfortunately, CoreCivic has now put you in a position where your responsibilities to the citys finances now lie in direct opposition to the responsibilities that you have as leaders to protect our people and our community, said Daniel McIntosh, of Leavenworth. Advertisement Advertisement The equation comes down to assessing risk, he said. If you vote yes, you lessen the risk to the immediate situation of the citys finances, but you also place at risk the health, safety, welfare and liberty of individuals in that facility and outside, McIntosh said. While we appreciate the efforts youve taken to mitigate those risks, you run the risk that any oversight granted by this permit may not be enforceable at all. After the commission meeting ended, police took CreCivic officials and commissioners out through side doors to avoid the angry crowd of about 150 people who gathered outside, shouting shame repeatedly. William Rogers, a former CoreCivic employee who has been active in protesting the companys attempts to reopen, said before the commission meeting that he expected the permit to pass. He has little hope CoreCivic will treat incarcerated people better than in the past. Advertisement Advertisement Rogers pointed to the recent death of Emmanuel Damas, an immigrant applying for asylum, who was arrested by ICE in Boston last year. Damas died from an infected tooth and the resulting sepsis infection after being held at the Florence Detention Center in Arizona, which is owned by CoreCivic. Damas death reminded Rogers of the exact same situation that occurred when he was a prison guard at CoreCivics facility in Leavenworth. Rogers said he repeatedly sought medical treatment for a prisoner with an infected tooth and was ignored. He was off one day and returned to find the prisoner was in the hospital, near death from sepsis, Rogers said. The prisoner lived, but Roger said he saw repeated instances like that while working at CoreCivic and that it makes him dread the future for the facility. He also is concerned about the effects of a larger ICE presence in Leavenworth on people of different ethnicities. Advertisement Advertisement Lets just call it what it is - this is an attack on the brown people, he said. In the Hispanic community, people are afraid to come out. It doesnt matter what their status is right now. Rogers said people who are doing everything they are supposed to and are here as asylum seekers are being put in jail by ICE. At the gathering after the commission meeting, speakers stood to express their frustration but also to offer encouragement. Our work here, throughout the entire three years that weve been involved in this, is not in vain, said Karla Juarez, executive director of Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation. I see new faces. I see new people advocating. New people making public comments. New people, actually a lot of people who believed that CoreCivic should open, now on our side. Correction: A quote from John Watt was corrected. Protesters gather outside Leavenworth City Hall on March 10, 2026, to encourage city commissioners to vote against a permit that would allow private prison company CoreCivic to reopen in the community. Protester William Rogers made this sign and put it by Leavenworth City Hall doors, then he carried it up to speak before the city commission against CoreCivic reopening. Protesters gather outside Leavenworth City Hall on March 10, 2026, to encourage city commissioners to vote against a permit that would allow private prison company CoreCivic to reopen in the community. Protesters gather outside Leavenworth City Hall on March 10, 2026, to encourage city commissioners to vote against a permit that would allow private prison company CoreCivic to reopen in the community. Protesters gather outside Leavenworth City Hall on March 10, 2026, to encourage city commissioners to vote against a permit that would allow private prison company CoreCivic to reopen in the community. Protesters gather outside Leavenworth City Hall on March 10, 2026, to encourage city commissioners to vote against a permit that would allow private prison company CoreCivic to reopen in the community. Protesters line an outside viewing area during the Leavenworth City Commission meeting on March 10, 2026. A coalition of environmental and tribal groups have withdrawn their attempt to stop wintertime survey work by ConocoPhillips in parts of the federally controlled National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska on the North Slope. Sovereign Inupiat for a Living Arctic, Center for Biological Diversity, and The Wilderness Society filed a notice of dismissal Friday, a little over one month after U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason struck down their request for a preliminary injunction. That denial meant ConocoPhillips could proceed with its survey work, and a further challenge would have been moot. Advertisement Advertisement Judge Sharon Gleason approved the dismissal this week. The groups, represented by the environmental law firm Earthjustice, had argued that the Bureau of Land Management failed to implement sufficient environmental protections during the winter survey season. While we are not continuing this case, we will continue to monitor BLMs compliance with its updated mitigation measures, which BLM adopted after we filed our case, and which now include a commitment to assure adequate snow cover to protect the tundra from oil and gas activities, wrote Earthjustice attorney Ian Dooley in a prepared statement sent by email. Several other lawsuits pertaining to oil and gas work in the NPRA remain pending in federal court. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX It was a wartime gesture of support that travelled from Lanarkshire to an under-siege Leningrad, and then back again. Now two collections of World War Two letters linking Scotland and Russia are to go on display in Airdrie. The unlikely connection dates back to the autumn of 1941 when volunteers from the Airdrie branch of the Russia Today Society decided to collect and send messages of support to women in Leningrad. Advertisement Advertisement In just two weeks they gathered thousands of signatures and messages of support and collated then in a bound volume, which became known as the Scottish Album. Incredibly, the book not only reached the Soviet city - but one was sent back in return. The blockade of Leningrad - now known as St Petersburg - by Nazi Germany began in 1941 and lasted until 1944, lasting just under 900 days. At least 800,000 people are estimated to have died during the siege. Locals suffered extreme hunger and faced constant bombardment but they did not surrender. Advertisement Advertisement The idea for the album was conceived early in the conflict by Lanarkshire art teacher Margaret Plant. It was covered in Buchanan tartan silk, decorated with a thistle, and included illustrations and poetry by Robert Burns and the Coatbridge poet Janet Hamilton. In December 1941, Agnes Maxwell, the secretary of the Women's Anglo-Soviet Committee, presented the book to the Soviet embassy in London. Against long odds, it was transported along limited wartime supply routes and eventually reached Leningrad. Despite the terrible conditions in the city, media reports from the time said the album was received with great enthusiasm. Advertisement Advertisement It was read aloud at meetings attended by workers, teachers, scientists and housewives, offering a striking reminder people far away were thinking of them. Factory workers in Leningrad were among those who took up arms [Getty Images] In response Women in Leningrad created their own album for Scotland, filled with letters, watercolours and prints. The work was overseen by the artist Anna Petrovna Ostroumova-Lebedeva, with poetry contributed by Vera Inber. The Russian album was secretly transported out of the city, flown to Moscow and then sent on to Britain. In 1943 it arrived in Glasgow and became the centrepiece of a "Russia Week" exhibition in Airdrie - celebrating the courage and resilience of the people of Leningrad. Advertisement Advertisement The original Leningrad Album is cared for by the Mitchell Library in Glasgow, while the original Scottish album remains in St Petersburg. However facsimile copies of both albums will now be available for the public to view at Airdrie Library. The copy of the Scottish album was donated by Helen Morrison, a local Burns enthusiast. She said: "The album carried a simple but powerful message of friendship and admiration from the women of Airdrie and Coatbridge for the courage of Leningrad's women. "I thought it was important for people in Airdrie, as well as visitors to the library, to be able to see this album. Advertisement Advertisement "I really hope it will continue to inspire young people in here in North Lanarkshire and beyond, keeping alive a powerful example of friendship, culture and kindness across borders." A copy of the album sent from Russia to Scotland was previously acquired by North Lanarkshire Council in 2017. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) was raked over the social media coals on Tuesday after proclaiming the night before that hes asking his constituents to send their sons and daughters over to the Mideast. It all started when Graham, appearing on Fox Newss Hannity on Monday night, declared to Sean Hannitys audience: I go back to South Carolina. Im asking them to send their sons and daughters over to the Mideast. Since then, voters, commentators, and politicians on both sides of the political aisle are letting the senator have it. Advertisement Advertisement Fellow South Carolina Republican Rep. Nancy Mace said she doesnt want to send the states children into the war: I do not want to send South Carolinas sons and daughters into war with Iran. Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) March 10, 2026 Left-leaning commentator Ed Krassenstein said Grahams remarks should make everyone in America cringe and never vote for a Republican ever again. This statement by Republican Senator @LindseyGrahamSC should make everyone in America cringe and never vote for a Republican ever again. I go back to South Carolina. Im asking them to send their sons and daughters over to the Mideast. What I want you to do in the Mideast to pic.twitter.com/ofROFJ39M8 Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) March 10, 2026 Newsmaxs Todd Starnes wondered how those sons and daughters of South Carolina would feel about Grahams remarks. Fox News host Lindsey Graham wants to send South Carolina's sons and daughters to the Middle East. I wonder how the sons and daughters of South Carolina feel about that? toddstarnes (@toddstarnes) March 10, 2026 Plenty more agreed: Lindsey Im with Israel Graham: I'm going back to South Carolina and asking them to send their sons and daughters to the Middle East. I would say that this man has lost his ever-loving mind but at this point, Im not sure he had one to begin withpic.twitter.com/U2bqoPsJKS Rachel Blevins (@RachBlevins) March 10, 2026 Advertisement Advertisement Every single Republican elected official should be asked if they agree with Lindsey Graham that we should be sending our sons and daughters over to Iran to fight in this illegal war. Mike Nellis (@MikeNellis) March 10, 2026 If the Trump Administration wants to continue losing support for this war among Americans under 40, please keep putting Senator Lindsey Graham on TV every day. https://t.co/RaF3HO3heY Caroline Sunshine (@CSUNSHINE) March 10, 2026 On the night the 7th American troop was brought home in a casket to fight a war no one voted for Lindsey Graham is asking for our sons and daughters for another regime change war. As a veteran of those wars, Im asking you to help me get Graham out of office. James Dunn (@dunnrightpodcst) March 10, 2026 Lindsey Graham says he will return to South Carolina and ask residents to support sending their sons and daughters to serve in the Middle East. FU Lindsey! Anarie Whit (@anarie_wit) March 10, 2026 Advertisement Advertisement This is an insane thing for a United States senator to say. Totally indefensible. https://t.co/6rRhkv1xSG Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) March 10, 2026 Graham, who is unmarried and has no sons or daughters of his own, has been a frequent target of ire over his seemingly constant TV appearances to talk about the Iran conflict. In just a few short days, he has threatened other nations like Cuba and Saudi Arabia, demanded boots on the ground in Iran, and even talked like hes the president of the United States Watch above via Fox News. The post Lost His Ever-Loving Mind: Lindsey Graham Draws Heat Over Remark About Sending Americas Sons and Daughters to the Middle East first appeared on Mediaite. This story was originally published on Trucking Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Trucking Dive newsletter. Carriers reported a mix of freight dynamics for mid-quarter Q1, suggesting different exposures and advantages to the market. Heavier freight and higher volumes benefited some carriers, perhaps overlapping with positive manufacturing sentiment in the first few months of the year, a notable shift from 2025. [W]e remain cautiously optimistic about the direction of the domestic economy, Old Dominion Freight Line CEO and President Marty Freeman said in a news release. Results were preliminary, multiple companies noted. Heres what carriers said on their performance for the first two months of 2026 compared to a year ago. ArcBest The Arkansas based transport conglomerate had tonnage increase by 6%, shipments per day up by 2% and billed revenue per hundredweight down by 5%, according to a securities filing. A changing freight profile helped its tonnage, but lower fuel surchange revenue contributed to the revenue shrink, the company said in its filing. ArcBest noted theres still softness in the market. Old Dominion Freight Line For the carrier, LTL revenue per hundredweight increased 3.5%, despite metrics showing a decrease in daily LTL tonnage and shipments per day, the company reported. The company is remaining disciplined in its yield management and sees ongoing improvement in its revenue per hundredweight metric. Saia Tonnage per workday was down 4.8%, with January year over year shipments declining but February YoY shipments improving, according to a financial release. The company noted contractual renewals in January 2026 were 6.6% and remained strong in February 2026 at 5.9%. XPO The carriers tonnage increased by 0.2% in February, driven by a volume uptick, according to a news release. That entailed a 3% increase in shipments per day despite a 2.8% decrease in weight per shipment. Editors note: This story was updated to state XPOs numbers pertained to just one month in Q1. Recommended Reading THAILAND (KTAL/KMSS) Regina Harville, a teacher with ties to the Shreveport area, says she is stranded overseas while trying to find a way home as global tensions rise. Middle East turmoil raises U.S. gas prices to $3.47 per gallon Unable to teach because she is stuck in Bangkok, Thailand, without her computer, Harville says the main thing on her mind is her first- and second-grade students. If youre online with your students, what if that childs house or something gets hit? Harville said. We have twenty-something kids online. I just cant imagine, and Im a parent. Advertisement Advertisement She said the situation began after a routine trip took an unexpected turn. On the 28th, we caught our plane, and it was supposed to be a direct flight from Bangkok back to Kuwait, she said. Mid-air, we were diverted to India, and then they gave us less than 48 hours to get out of there. They wouldnt even allow us to extend our stay. After being diverted, she said the airline refused to rebook them to Bangkok and instead offered a route through Saudi Arabia. US and Iran dig in and ramp up threats as war rages with no end in sight They were going to fly us to Saudi Arabia and bus me back to Kuwait when the U.S. Embassy has already been telling citizens to leave, Harville said. Advertisement Advertisement She said some teachers have managed to leave the region, but the process has been expensive. Just getting to the border and trying to get home it takes two to three days because of all the travel and cancellations, she said. Its like three or four thousand dollars. While navigating travel complications, she said she continues to teach online with about 20 students. Were supposed to be teaching live online, so were doing class online, she said. The teacher also said it has been frustrating watching other countries help their citizens return home. Ive seen people going back to the Philippines, and their embassy was helping them, she said. Our government is not doing any of that for us. Advertisement Advertisement She said she has not had much success finding a way home so far. I havent had much luck at all right now, she said. So its kind of sad to see that nobody cares about anybody else. GoFundMe support The teacher has created a fundraiser to help cover travel expenses as she attempts to leave the region. Those wishing to donate can do so here. The Latest: About 140 US troops injured, 8 severely, so far in Iran war, Pentagon says Seeking help from federal leaders Staff with the office of U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson say they are aware of the situation and advise enrolling in the STEP program, and call the district office at 318-840-0309 to open a case on a citizens behalf. Advertisement Advertisement Johnson represents Louisianas 4th Congressional District, which includes the Shreveport area. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com. (The Center Square) Lynchburg City Council voted Tuesday to reaffirm cooperation with federal law enforcement agencies after members debated whether the city should formally join a federal immigration enforcement program. Council approved a resolution stating the city will continue partnering with Virginia and federal authorities consistent with city practices and applicable law. The measure passed 6-0 with one council member absent. Advertisement Advertisement Voting in favor were Mayor Larry Taylor and council members Chris Faraldi, Martin Misjuns, Stephanie Reed, Sterling Wilder and Vice Mayor Curtis Diemer. The vote followed a lengthy discussion about how local police should work with federal immigration authorities after first-term Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger ended a previous statewide directive encouraging cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Spanberger earlier rescinded an executive order from former Gov. Glenn Youngkin that had directed state agencies to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement efforts. Her administration also ended Virginia State Police participation in the federal 287(g) program, which allows trained officers to carry out certain immigration enforcement functions under federal supervision. Councilman Chris Faraldi, who introduced the resolution, said the measure was intended to make clear that Lynchburg will continue operating under its current practices. Advertisement Advertisement Lynchburg will continue to operate as normal, regardless of what Richmond says, Faraldi said during the meeting. Police Chief Kennith R. Edwards Jr. told council members the department already works with federal authorities and contacts U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement when necessary. Under current practice, individuals arrested by Lynchburg police on criminal charges are transported to the Lynchburg Adult Detention Center. Jail officials then conduct checks and contact ICE if the person is determined to be unlawfully present in the country, leaving federal authorities to decide whether to issue a detainer or take custody. During the meeting, some council members pushed to go further by formally joining the federal 287(g) immigration enforcement program, which allows trained local officers to perform certain immigration enforcement functions under federal supervision. Advertisement Advertisement Supporters of the proposal said a formal agreement could provide officers access to additional federal databases, training and potential funding for equipment and transportation. Vice Mayor Curtis Diemer said stronger coordination between local and federal agencies could improve public safety. Public safety is strengthened by cooperation, clarity and common sense, Diemer said. Other council members said the resolution already reaffirmed existing cooperation and warned that requiring the police department to participate in the federal program could strain staffing and override the police chiefs recommendation. Advertisement Advertisement Councilwoman Stephanie Reed said the department already works with federal agencies when needed and said she trusts the police chiefs judgment. I trust our police chief. I trust our officers, Reed said. Edwards told council members the police department currently does not participate in a 287(g) agreement and indicated the department does not have the manpower to dedicate officers to the program. A substitute motion directing the city to enter the 287(g) program failed 4-2 with one member absent before council members returned to the original resolution. Council then approved the measure reaffirming the citys existing cooperation practices with federal law enforcement agencies. Married At First Sight Australia viewers have reacted to the first weddings of season 13, with some fans claiming one groom "should be running out of that door". The reality show, which is already a few weeks ahead in Australia, returned to UK screens tonight, bringing a new group of brides and grooms together to marry total strangers. Meeting for the first time on their wedding day in tonight's episode were Alissa Fay and David Momoh, whose wedding got off to a slightly awkward start. Channel 4 Related: Best streaming services Advertisement Advertisement Before beginning her wedding speech, Alissa told the groom that she couldn't go through with the wedding unless he got down on one knee and proposed to her first. At the wedding reception, David's friends shared their concerns at the moment, calling Alissa's behaviour "controlling". She later apologised, saying she wasn't "a mean girl" and that it was something she needed to know he was "all in". Her apology was well received by David. Reacting to the awkward moment, fans took to X to share their thoughts, with one fan writing: "David shouldn't be getting on one knee to propose to her, he should be running out of that door while he's still got the chance!!" Advertisement Advertisement "Where do they find these people, she literally thinks men should beg to be with her. Run David will you can, there are red flags everywhere," penned another. Channel 4 "Nah david run as fast as you can," said one viewer, while one fan wrote: "Fair play to Alissa saying sorry to David." Meanwhile, Rachel Gilmore and Steven Danyluk also met for the first time at the altar, with things seemingly getting off to a good start despite Rachel being in fits of laughter throughout the vows. It didn't take long for Rachel to notice that she hadn't received a compliment from her new husband, with the bride saying: "I don't know how I'm feeling with Steven at the moment. I'm overthinking the whole compliment thing. It could be nerves, it could be other things." Advertisement Advertisement Rachel later challenged Steven on the lack of compliments and he said: "You do look gorgeous today, you do. You look fantastic and I'm really sorry I didn't say it when it mattered." Channel 4 Related: MAFS UK star reveals "wobble" moment that didn't air ahead of the show's new reunion episode Admitting he "dropped the ball as a groom", he apologised profusely, which eased Rachel's insecurities. Reacting to their wedding, one fan said: "Cant believe Rachel hasnt had a relationship for 14 years. Shes very pretty but God. that incessant laughing. Make it stop!" Advertisement Advertisement "Single for 14 years been in a committed relationship with laughter her whole life," quipped another. One viewer wrote: "Actually p***ing myself at Rachel manically laughing and her husband looking concerned. Imagine her at the dentist" Married at First Sight Australia airs on Nine Network in Australia and E4 in the UK, and returns on Monday, 9 March at 7.30pm. Interested in talking about Married at First Sight? Visit our dedicated sub-forum Read more Married at First Sight news on our dedicated homepage The new edition of Living Legends, a 100-page all-colour celebration of Harry Styles, is here! Buy Harry Styles in newsagents or online. You Might Also Like Texas Sen. Ted Cruz blasted Tucker Carlson as the single most dangerous demagogue in the U.S. as MAGA is being ripped apart by Donald Trumps war in Iran. The pair have been at each others throats for months, but they reignited their feud this week when Cruz appeared at a conference on antisemitism. I have seen more antisemitism in the last eighteen months on the right than at any point in my lifetime, Cruz said. It is growing, and it is gaining real purchase, especially with young people. Sen. Ted Cruz, pictured in January, reignited his feud with podcaster Tucker Carlson on Tuesday when he called the former Fox News host the Speaking at the conference hosted by the Republican Jewish Coalition and National Review, the Texas senator warned that antisemitism was being spread by loud voices and specifically singled out Carlson as the most consequential. Advertisement Advertisement I believe Tucker Carlson is the single most dangerous demagogue in this country, Cruz warned. He argued the antisemitism spike started about a year and a half ago, with Carlson giving a platform to crackpot professors looking to rewrite history. He also noted Carlson hosting far-right white nationalist Nick Fuentes on his show. Nick Fuentes is a goose-stepping Nazi, Cruz said. When you say you agree with Hitler, you are a Nazi. Speaking last fall at the Republican Jewish Coalition Leadership Summit, Cruz also blasted Carlson for his Fuentes interview, calling him complicit in that evil. Advertisement Advertisement The senators comments on Tuesday came after Carlson last week blasted Cruz and others for trusting Israeli intelligence as the U.S. and Israel wage war against Iran. He argued the U.S. has been manipulated by Israeli intelligence. The track record suggests, hey, no offense to Ted Cruz and all the other dumbos who are always saying, we get all this actionable intelligence, its so important, we need them so desperately. Really? Carlson questioned. Lets evaluate the quality of that intelligence." The conservative podcaster has been fiercely critical of Trumps Iran war since the U.S. first launched strikes on February 28, joining Israel in an ongoing military operation. Conservative podcaster Tucker Carlson, pictured at the White House on January 9, blasted Cruz and other Republicans on his March 2 podcast as But Cruz and Carlson have clashed over Israel and Iran for nearly a year. The Texas senator actually appeared on Carlsons show last June, where he was repeatedly pressed about his knowledge of Iran. Advertisement Advertisement You dont know the population of the country you seek to topple? Carlson asked Cruz incredulously at the time. Cruz shook his head and asked, How many people live in Iran? 92 million, Carlson told him. How could you not know that? The conversation between the two rapidly devolved into a yelling match where Carlson argued that knowing details about Iran was extremely relevant if Cruz was going to call for its government to be overthrown. Cruz appeared to be fuming about the exchange for some time because when Carlson admitted he did not know the number of Christians in Qatar on his show last month, the senator was quick to react. Advertisement Advertisement What?!? Tucker doesnt know the Christian population in Qatar??? How can he possibly have an opinion about them? he wrote on X. But its clear which of the two men has Trumps ear at the moment as the war continues: Trump praised Cruz just before launching the war in late February. The president also hit back at Carlson calling the war disgusting and evil, arguing Tucker has lost his way and is not MAGA in an interview with ABC News. The Maine man charged with killing a Colchester woman called police on Sunday night, shouting hysterically and saying he had accidentally shot his girlfriend, according to an arrest affidavit released Wednesday. Austin Doucette, 24, was charged with murder in the death of Makayla Rose DeSantis, 23. Doucette, of Carabassett Valley. He was held without bail for an appearance in Farmington District Court Wednesday afternoon, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement In a recorded 911 call at about 7:30 p.m., Doucette told a dispatcher that he had accidentally fired a gun, saying, "I can't believe I did this" and "I'm sorry babe," the affidavit says. Doucette was "yelling and hysterical throughout the phone call," state police said. Doucette told the dispatcer that he was driving to Farmington to get treatment for his wounded passenger and the call ended, according to the affidavit by Maine State Police Detective Chrisoph Mutschin. He called 911 again soon after and said, "My girlfriend has a gunshot wound" and "it accidentally went off," Mutschin wrote. Doucette said his girlfriend was shot in the stomach/abdomen area and then said, "I'm so (expletive)" and "I would never do this" and "I don't want to go to jail," the homicide detective wrote. Medics were dispatched to meet Doucette, who was driving a Hyundai Elantra with Connecticut plates, and took DeSantis from the car for transport to a nearby hospital, the affidavit says. She was then flown to the Maine Medical Center in Portland, where she died at about 9 p.m., police said. The medical examiner found the cause of death was gunshot wounds to her chest and the manner was homicide, according to the affidavit. The medical examiner observed two gunshot wounds that appeared to enter on her right side and exit on the left side, police said. Advertisement Advertisement At the condominium near the Sugarloaf ski resort where Doucette and DeSantis lived, investigators found a .45-caliber handgun with the slide locked to the rear and three fired shell casings on the floor in the living room, Mutschin wrote. Bullet "defects" were found in pillows on the couch and on a coffee table and another bullet penetrated the floor, police said. One bullet was recovered from the stuffing material in the back of he couch while another perforated a pillow and the couch and struck a wooden door behind the couch, police said. This article originally published at 'I'm sorry babe,' Maine man said in frantic 911 call after fatally shooting CT girlfriend: Police. (The Center Square) Maine Republicans have rolled out a plan to overhaul the state's Medicaid program as they ramp up criticism of Democratic Gov. Janet Mills over her response to the Trump administration's ongoing fraud investigation. The proposal calls for an independent review of the MaineCare program to determine if the state has adequate capacity to detect waste, fraud, and abuse, as well as regular financial audits and enforcement of federal work requirements. Senate Minority Leader Trey Stewart said a key requirement of the legislation would "ensure that able-bodied working adults without dependents have to do something." Advertisement Advertisement "Whether thats going to school, volunteering in their community or searching for work, they have to do something," the Presque Isle Republican said in remarks Tuesday. Medicaid is jointly funded by states and the federal government. In Maine, the federal government covers most of MaineCare's $5.4 billion in annual spending, with the state contributing about $1.5 billion, according to federal data. A January report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General found nearly 100 Medicaid payments for autistic rehabilitative and community support services did not fully comply with federal and state requirements. The federal watchdog directed the state to repay at least $28.7 million for the federal share of the payments. Last week, the Mills administration sent a 47-page response to questions from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services about the $45 million in "improper" payments flagged by the audit. Advertisement Advertisement In a video, Mills who is running for U.S. Senate referred to CMS Director Mehmet Oz as a "former TV doctor" and accused the Trump administration of using the allegations of fraud to "punish" Democratic-led states. She defended the state's efforts to detect fraud in the program and MaineCare's improper payment error rate is 2.4%, which is less than half the national average. Look, this is a thinly disguised attempt to attack and intimidate those who stand up to the presidents abuses of power," Mills said. But House Minority Leader Billy "Bob" Faulkingham criticized the governor's response as "insulting" and reiterated calls for the Mills administration to open its books to federal watchdogs. He said the Trump administration isn't targeting blue states. The federal government is coming after fraud. Period," Faulkingham, a Winter Hill Republican, said in remarks Tuesday. "This isnt because its Maine, this isnt because its a blue state, this isnt because its Janet Mills. Thats just a victimhood defense." The Tennessee Valley Authority announced its support for the coal industry while abandoning clean energy priorities. As the nation's largest public power provider, this shift raises questions about the role of federally owned utilities and about worsening pollution nationwide. What's happening? As Grist reported, TVA shared details about its coal commitment at a recent board meeting. The announcement followed years of promises to invest in renewable energy and sustainable battery storage and a political shift in the organization's board, as three Biden administration appointees were terminated and replaced with Trump administration choices. Advertisement Advertisement The board attributed its refocus on coal to energy affordability and reliability as well as job creation. However, coal-powered plants have failed during storms, and spills have caused devastating environmental disasters in the region. Why is a reliance on coal power problematic? Coal is among the most toxic fuel sources in the world because of the harmful pollution it generates. Burning coal releases hazardous substances and contributes to air pollution that leads to serious health issues, including respiratory infections and lung cancer. This pollution also contributes to the steady overheating of the planet, which affects climate patterns and increases the likelihood and severity of extreme weather events. Coal is also becoming less economically viable because coal plants are more expensive to operate than renewable energy infrastructure such as solar and wind farms. Advertisement Advertisement TVA has been historically known for its political independence. But its move to fall in line with Trump administration policies and revert to supporting coal signals a disconnect between science, public input, and politics. "People are upset. They feel like we're going backward," the Sierra Club's Amy Kelly told Grist. "The fact that these plants are from the '50s and '60s and we're just going to prop them up with Band-Aid solutions to appease the current administration is going to cost people." Joe Schiller, a retired professor who lives near a Tennessee coal plant, called the power provider's support for coal "a betrayal," saying, "It contradicts everything they've told us about the plants in the past." What's being done to advance clean energy policy? Abundant scientific research demonstrates the harmful effects of coal-fired power plants on human health and the environment. Advertisement Advertisement Efforts are underway to repurpose old coal plants to become cleaner and more sustainable while creating new jobs. Former coal plants are now home to backup battery energy storage solutions and have significantly reduced air pollution levels in nearby communities. If you are concerned about coal power plants where you live, consider contacting your elected officials to voice your opinions. As the TVA issue demonstrates, energy policy is often closely connected to political leaders. Voting for candidates who will take climate action can also set your community on the path toward clean energy solutions that support local jobs and breathable air. 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 25-year-old man accused of driving stolen vehicles and leading police on two high-speed car chases in Macomb County has been charged, officials said. Caesar Cooper was arraigned last Wednesday in the 39th District Court in Roseville on one case and two days later in the same court for another, the Macomb County Sheriff's Office and the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office said. In the first case, the Detroit resident is charged with third-degree fleeing and eluding police, receiving and concealing a stolen motor vehicle, and being a four-time habitual offender. Advertisement Advertisement In the second, he is charged with third-degree fleeing police and being a four-time habitual offender. A judge set Cooper's bond in each case at $250,000 and scheduled his next court hearing for March 18. If released on bond, he must wear a GPS steel cuff tether, officials said. Cooper faces up to five years in prison for each count of third-degree fleeing police, and up to five years for receiving and concealing a stolen vehicle. Prosecutors said the sentences could be harsher due to his criminal record. Authorities allege Cooper fled from police twice and led officers on car chases earlier this month. Advertisement Advertisement In the first incident, Roseville police tried to conduct a traffic stop on a dark-colored BMW with no license plate near Interstate 94 and 12 Mile on March 2. However, the driver refused to stop and sped off on westbound I-94. Officers terminated the pursuit on I-94 near Nine Mile Road. Investigators believe Cooper was driving the vehicle, which reached speeds of about 115 mph. In the second incident, on March 4, Roseville police tried to conduct a traffic stop on a dark-colored BMW with no license plate at 11 Mile and Gratiot. Again, the driver sped off, running through two red traffic signals before getting on I-696, according to authorities. Investigators said they believe Cooper was driving the stolen vehicle at speeds of more than 120 mph. Advertisement Advertisement Police arrested Cooper last Thursday in Westland. Cooper has several previous convictions for crimes, including assault with a dangerous weapon, breaking and entering, unlawful driving away of a vehicle, and fleeing police, according to the Michigan Department of Corrections. He was most recently discharged from prison in February 2025, the department said. Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido said he urges the state's legislature to enact mandatory minimum prison sentences for individuals who flee from police. "When people run, it creates an extremely dangerous situation for both the public and law enforcement," Lucido said. "Macomb County has already experienced too many injuries and deaths. There must be zero tolerance for fleeing." cramirez@detroitnews.com @CharlesERamirez This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Man accused of fleeing Roseville police in stolen car charged BLOOMFIELD - Present and former town officials on Wednesday remembered the man who died in a house explosion as a quiet voice of reason and always-present leader who cared deeply for the community, especially its children. Thomas S. Moore was identified by town officials as the man who died, although Bloomfield police have not yet confirmed his identity. Moore was vice chairman of the Bloomfield Republican Town Committee and a former board of education member who ran for town council in last fall's municipal elections. Advertisement Advertisement Moore was an "outstanding public servant" and a gentleman who was "very, very concerned about the community," said Robert Ike, a fellow Republican who served on the local board of education with Moore for years. "I'm just devastated," Ike said Wednesday. "He cared about the community, in his quiet way. What a loss. What a loss." "Tommy was quiet, but effective, he said. "He voiced his opinions at the meetings. He stood his convictions at meetings. Tommy was his own man. Team player, but he stood by his own convictions." If Moore's view of an issue was a little different than that of others in his party on the board, his fellow Republicans listened and learned that "in most cases, his stuff made sense," said Ike, who also is the town's Republican Registrar of Voters. Advertisement Advertisement Even though Moore was in a different political party than former school board chairman Donald Harris, he had earned his respect. "We always found ourselves working well as a team," Harris said. "Tom always had that straightforward, No. 1, in his heart and in his mind: He was there for the children. He was dedicated to doing what's best for the kids." "Kind heart, he was easy to work with, easy to talk to. ... He was always there," Harris said. "He never missed a meeting." Campaign vow: Work for better quality of life Moore ran for council because he wanted to continue serving his community, he wrote on Facebook in October. He ended up not winning a seat. Advertisement Advertisement Republicans want a better quality of life, and for that to happen, the town has to "reduce the tax burden and eliminate wasteful spending," Moore said. "We also want economic development, we need to create incentives for businesses," he added. As for his years on the school board, Moore said it was "rewarding, exciting, and challenging" to represent parents, students and teachers. Raised in Hartford public housing, Moore said he graduated from what was once called Eastern Connecticut State College, now a university. He served six years in the U.S. Army, half of that time in the Connecticut National Guard. Advertisement Advertisement "Upon completion of military service, I was employed in Early Childhood Education (Mount Olive Daycare Program) and later open up my own day care center called Tender Loving Care," he wrote. In addition to his job at Mount Olive, he worked as a supervisor of juveniles who were at risk of harming themselves or others, Moore wrote. Neighborhood in shock Although they didn't all know his name, neighbors described Moore as a man who mostly kept to himself, but greeted passing children with a wave as he cared for the flowers that bloomed in front of his split-level home. "He always used to wave at me whenever I rode my bike," said Michale Clarke, now in is 20s. Advertisement Advertisement Clarke spoke Tuesday morning, while he was facing Moore's property. The house was gone. The only thing left was the foundation, basement and front steps with their black handrail intact. The blast happened about 6:10 p.m. Monday, and it turned pieces of the house into shrapnel. A window frame that was launched across the street almost hit Moore's neighbor, Paulette Lawrence, who was out for a walk, she said. No one else was injured and no other houses were damaged. A shattered window lay across the street from a house destroyed on Banbury Lane in Bloomfield, Conn., Tuesday, March 10, 2026. Firefighters recovered a body early Tuesday from the remnants of the home that exploded on Monday, a police official said. The man has since been identified as Thomas S. Moore, a former member of the local board of education. (Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media) The explosion shook houses, they said, and sent people in other Bloomfield neighborhoods out of their houses to investigate what happened. Advertisement Advertisement First responders were able to communicate with the man trapped in the basement after the blast, Mayor Anthony Harrington said Tuesday. Residents said they had smelled the odor of gas in the days before the explosion, and that Connecticut Natural Gas responded. A worker stuck long, handheld probes into the ground to check levels of natural gas. A CNG spokesperson said late Tuesday afternoon that the gas company is cooperating with investigators, but released no details about what may have gone wrong. "The incident in Bloomfield remains under investigation and CNG continues to support those efforts," said Angela Baccaro, a communications manager. This article originally published at Man killed in Bloomfield house explosion was an 'outstanding public servant,' officials say. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A 67-year-old Swiss man behind an international investor scheme that defrauded victims of about $6 million pleaded guilty today after living abroad as a fugitive for nearly 11 years. According to a U.S. Department of Justice document, Martin Schlaepfer was scheduled to go to trial in Las Vegas on March 23, but is now scheduled to be sentenced on June 9 and he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A Las Vegas man, Anthony Brandel, was previously found guilty in the international securities fraud scheme. Along with two men from Wisconsin James Warras and Sean Finn Brandel fabricated bank documents that showed Schlaepfers company held hundreds of millions of dollars in overseas bank accounts. The three men were convicted of conspiracy and multiple counts of wire fraud and securities fraud after saparate jury trials in 2015 and 2020. Each was sentenced to 87 months in prison, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Nevada. Advertisement Advertisement A fourth defendant, Joseph Micelli of Las Vegas, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and securities fraud in 2015 and was sentenced to 60 months in prison, the news release said. Schlaepfer, of Zurich, Switzerland, was indicted in December 2013. He was arrested in Italy in September 2024, pursuant to an Interpol Red Notice, and extradited to the United States in July 2025. He told investors he was the CEO of Malom Group AG, a purported Swiss investment company. When victims wired their money into an escrow account controlled by the co-conspirators, the money was released and disbursed to, among others, Schlaepfer for his own personal use. Another Zurich man in the case, Hans-Jurg Lips, remains at large outside the United States. Advertisement Advertisement As early as October 2009, Schlaepfer and his co-conspirators in Switzerland and Las Vegas promoted investments that they knew to be fictitious. They told victims that, for an up-front payment, Malom would provide access to lucrative investment opportunities and substantial cash loans. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the DOJs Criminal Division and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada made the announcement. The FBIs Las Vegas Field Office is investigating the case. Senior Counsel Anna G. Kaminska and Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Anthony Lopez for the District of Nevada are prosecuting the case. 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. As Iran continues to retaliate against the Feb. 28 U.S.-Israeli strike that took down Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, sites across the Middle East continue to be hit. Rescue flights have been taking off from cities including Muscat and Oman throughout last week, but expansive airspace closures and strikes targeting airports in the region have complicated any attempts at restarting air service. In the early hours of March 11, two drone strikes on Dubai Airport (DUB) injured four people amid similar attacks on Zayed International Airport (AUH) in Abu Dhabi, CBS News reported. Most major international airlines, including Lufthansa, KLM, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines, have temporarily canceled service to the Middle East for periods that keep extending as the conflict deepens and spreads beyond the initial attack. Many Middle Eastern routes to not restart "until later this month," British Airways says Amid widespread uncertainty around aviation safety, the United Kingdom's British Airways is now saying that its flights to cities like Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, and Tel Aviv will not restart "until later this month." Service between London Heathrow (LHR) and Abu Dhabi will, meanwhile, not restart "until later this year." After running daily rescue flights to London from the Oman capital of Muscat from March 5, British Airways also said it will stop these for the time being "due to reduced demand," as most travelers who wanted to be evacuated have now made it home. Related: Iranian strike hits major airport, injuries reported "We have limited seats remaining on our repatriation flights from Oman (Muscat) to London Heathrow on 11 and 12 March for customers with an existing booking," the airline said, adding that it will be "keeping the situation under constant review" to see if more evacuation flights are necessary at a future date. Airlines promising to restart select commercial routes in March include Delta for its flights between JFK and Tel Aviv and Air France for its routes to Riyadh and Beirut from Paris. Dutch flag carrier KLM also issued an update, saying its flights to Riyadh and Dammam from Amsterdam will not restart until March 12 at the earliest, while flights to Dubai will remain canceled throughout the month. Airlines have canceled flights to cities such as Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Tel Aviv throughout March.Image source: Shutterstock Image source: Shutterstock When other airlines are restarting Middle East flights "Due to ongoing unrest in the Middle East, KLM has decided to cancel all flights to Dubai up to and including March 28," the airline said in a statement. "We understand that this decision has a significant impact on our travelers and are doing everything possible to keep them well informed. " The Brief Austin police asking public for help identifying robbery suspect Suspect robbed a South Austin Target on Feb. 25 and assaulted an employee AUSTIN, Texas - The Austin Police Department is asking the public for help identifying a suspect who robbed a South Austin Target store. The backstory APD says the incident happened on Feb. 25 at around 8:47 p.m. at the Target located at 9500 S. I-35. The suspect entered the store and selected several men's clothing items. Advertisement Advertisement Police say as the suspect was heading toward the exit, a loss prevention employee attempted to stop him. The suspect then assaulted the employee and fled on foot through the parking lot to his vehicle. Video surveillance captured the suspect leaving in a dark grey pickup truck. Dig deeper The suspect is described as follows: White male Approximately 60" 63" tall Mid 30s to early 40s years of age Large built Last seen wearing: Gray long-sleeved shirt, light gray capri pants or joggers, white shoes, grey ball cap featuring a black and white shield logo. What you can do Anyone with any information should contact APD's Robbery unit at 512-974-5092. Advertisement Advertisement You may submit your tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or calling 512-472-8477. A reward of up to $1,000 may be available for any information that leads to an arrest. The Source Information from Ausitn Police Department. A former restaurant owner in Lake Sammamish was sentenced to 30 months in prison for defrauding an elderly widow with dementia, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office in the Western District of Washington 62-year-old Richard Dale Radcliffe befriended the women who had lived near his restaurant after he learned she was wealthy, a press release said. The woman had no surviving family members and Radcliffe arranged to be included in her will, gained access to her bank accounts, and managed for a friend to have power of attorney over the victim, according to prosecutors. Advertisement Advertisement This defendant ingratiated himself into the life of an elderly widow, encouraging her to make him and his family beneficiaries in her will, said U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd said. But he did not wait for her death to start taking her money he raided her accounts to pay for his own luxuries. His callous conduct is deserving of this prison sentence. Radcliffe used around $515,000 from her accounts to fund real estate purchases, travel, gambling, and costs to operate his restaurant, the release said. Prosecutors said the victim was moved into an assisted living facility but passed away in 2020 and Radcliffe tried to claim a life insurance policy pretending to be her dead spouse. The FBI flagged the claim as fraudulent, starting the investigation that led to Radcliffes arrest and sentencing. In November 2025, he admitted to stealing from her accounts and on Tuesday, he was sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, a $20,000 fine, $124,000 restitution to the IRS, and forfeiture of $515,000, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office in the Western District of Washington. A man faces several charges in Pierce County after he allegedly burned dozens of trees and harassed construction workers. Prosecutors charged the 44-year-old man with two counts of second-degree arson, two counts of felony harassment and third-degree malicious mischief, according to court records. A plea of not guilty was entered on his behalf during an arraignment Tuesday. Pierce County Superior Court Commissioner Barbara McInvaille set bail at $100,000. Advertisement Advertisement Court documents show the alleged crimes spanned from Fircrest to Tacoma until the mans arrest in University Place. Details from charging documents A patrol officer in Fircrest was dispatched at 11:50 a.m. Monday to the 100 block of Berkeley Avenue for a possible arson. It was reported someone had set fire to bushes in the front yard of a home. The officer was advised the incident might have been related to others that occurred in Tacoma, according to charging documents. Documents show there was a significant amount of smoke in the front yard, and people at the scene used a fire extinguisher to put out the flames. Witnesses described the suspected arsonists appearance, and officers conducted a search in the area. The defendant was arrested after someone reported seeing a man near a post office at University Place, documents show. He allegedly was holding a lighter when police found him. There was also a strong odor of smoke coming from him. Advertisement Advertisement Documents state that when the man was in custody, officers in Tacoma connected him to an arson that happened at about 11:30 a.m. that day in the 1200 block of South Woodlawn Avenue. The homeowner told police his house was lined with trees, and they were set on fire. Many of the trees were bare and black, documents show. The homeowner confirmed 35 of his trees were damaged, and it was about a $21,000 loss. Officers noted the trees were a short distance from the house, and the structure easily could have caught on fire. The defendant also is a suspect in an incident near WinCo Foods grocery store in the 6200 block of 6th Avenue where a man threatened to kill a construction worker just before 10:30 a.m., according to documents. Advertisement Advertisement Documents show the worker was part of a crew using excavators to dig up part of the nearby parking lot with excavators. He told police the workers saw a man come into the construction area, and he was talking to himself. The man allegedly yelled he did not want the workers to bury dead bodies. The construction worker told police the man turned to him and pulled out a 12-inch knife and said, Im going to kill you. When the man noticed other workers, he put the knife back in his pocket and ran off. Documents show another 911 call reported that a construction worker for a different project in that area reported a man stabbed his car tire with a knife and ran off behind the grocery store. Police began to search for the man and noted that within the hour multiple 911 callers reported someone starting a fire in Fircrest. After he was arrested, it was determined from the suspect description that he had threatened both construction workers near the grocery store. Advertisement Advertisement The defendant was taken to the Pierce County Jail. Lighters and a knife that were found on him were booked into evidence by police. Court records show the man has several convictions, including last month for second-degree reckless burning in Tacoma. He also has a reckless burning conviction from 2025 in Tacoma. The Federal Bureau of Investigations Seattle office and Federal Way Police announced that a man wanted in connection with two murders in 2023 was named to the FBIs Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list in a press conference on Tuesday. 33-year-old Samuel Ramirez Jr. allegedly shot and killed two women and injured a third person on May 21, 2023 outside the Stars Bar and Grill in Federal Way, according to FBI Seattle. The victims, Katie Duhnke and Jessyca Hohn, worked at the bar, KIRO 7 previously reported. Advertisement Advertisement Teena Nelson, owner of Stars Bar & Grill, described her employees as being central to the atmosphere of the business. She recalled the distinct personalities of the two women: Katie was pretty much the life of the party, Nelson said. Jessica was justvery pretty, very stylish. Nelson was notified of the shooting shortly after it occurred in the early morning hours. It was horrific. I got a call at 3:30 in the morning to come quickly. My bartenders had been shot, she said. Nelson noted that the suspect had visited the establishment several times previously without causing issues. She recalled that interactions on the night of the killings seemed peaceful. Advertisement Advertisement When he left, he walked here and waved goodbye to the girls. The girls turned around and said good night. It was very cordial, Nelson said. Authorities say Ramierz Jr. fled the country to Tijuana, Mexico after the shooting and has not been caught. The FBI says he should be considered armed and dangerous. The owner expressed frustration that it took nearly three years for the suspect to be elevated to the FBIs highest-priority list. Its about time. Its been almost three years and I wish it would have happened sooner, Nelson said. I just never thought that he would flee and be in coming on three years that they still have not found him. Advertisement Advertisement The decision to place Ramirez on the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list was based on the severity of the crime and his ability to evade capture. Mike Herrington, special agent in charge of the Seattle FBI field office, explained the specific requirements for such a designation. It is reserved for the most dangerous and elusive subject that we have, Herrington said. Federal Way Police Chief Andy Hwang said the involvement of federal authorities is necessary due to the belief that Ramirez left the state and potentially entered Mexico. We dont really have the capacity to go to Mexico and investigate, whereas the FBI has a counterpart they can work with to bring this guy into custody, Hwang said. Advertisement Advertisement Designating Ramirez Jr. on the FBIs Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list raises the reward leading to his capture to $1 million, up previously from $25,000. He is described as a White/Hispanic male, 6 feet tall and 200 pounds, with black hair and several tattoos, including a lions face on his wrist and forearm. An FBI flier says he has ties to Lake Havasu City, Arizona; Compton California; Las Vegas, Nevada; as well as Jalisco and Sinaloa, Mexico. Anyone with information is asked to call the FBIs Toll-Free tipline at 1-800-225-5324, contact their local FBI field office or submit a tip at tips.fbi.gov. Authorities are searching for a man who is wanted in connection with a triple shooting at a Worcester bar from December. Worcester resident Xabiel Xabi Feliciano, 30, has been charged in a Dec. 29, 2025, shooting at Guertins 1905 on Grand Street, according to a Worcester Police Department wanted notice. He faces multiple counts, including assault with a dangerous weapon and various firearms charges. Investigators believe Feliciano fired multiple guns during the shooting, and police have yet to recover them, according to the notice. Authorities are advising anyone who encounters Feliciano to consider him armed and dangerous. Advertisement Advertisement The notice describes Feliciano as a Hispanic man with black hair and brown eyes. He is listed as being 6-foot-3 and weighing 225 pounds. No further information about Feliciano or the shooting has been released. Guertins 1905 was formerly called Guertins Cafe, but its new owner, Theo Dimopoulos, changed the name when he reopened the bar in 2024. Guertins Cafe shuttered in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A man was killed in a shooting at the bar about a year before the December 2025 triple shooting, according to the Telegram & Gazette. More news from Central Massachusetts Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is undergoing a leadership transition while also facing funding lapses amid frustrations in Congress over the immigration actions taken by former immigration head Kristi Noem. After undergoing tense questioning before the Senate Judiciary Committee last week, Noem found herself posting on social media just two days later about a career shift and a thank-you to the president. She might have seen it coming following Januarys second fatal federal immigration law enforcement-involved shooting in Minnesota, Noem was moved out of the spotlight, and border czar Tom Homan was brought in to cool tensions between federal and state leaders. Advertisement Advertisement When asked in an interview with NBC News what he learned from the situation in Minnesota, Trump responded, Maybe we can use a little bit of a softer touch, but you still have to be tough. It seems he found that softer touch solution in a man Trump described in a social media post as a MAGA Warrior, and former undefeated professional MMA fighter, Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin. Markwayne will work tirelessly to Keep our Border Secure, Stop Migrant Crime, Murderers, and other Criminals from illegally entering our Country, End the Scourge of Illegal Drugs and, MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN, Trump said in his announcement. Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump shakes hands with Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., at a campaign rally at Albuquerque International Sunport, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Albuquerque, N.M. | Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Associated Press The businessman from Oklahoma Just days before he was recommended for the position, Mullin called out his Democratic colleagues for the DHS funding freeze that began on Feb. 17 over disagreements between Republicans and Democrats over federal immigration enforcement. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security must have every resource available to protect the homeland. Now would be a good time for angry @SenateDems to end their political blockade and fully fund @DHSgov. https://t.co/egSWfRXyzn Markwayne Mullin (@SenMullin) March 1, 2026 Mullin is known for viral moments showcasing his tough demeanor in Senate committee meetings from spats with Sen. Bernie Sanders to actually challenging a congressional witness to a physical fight. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt labeled the senator a fighter for Oklahoma who will fight to keep our nation secure. Advertisement Advertisement Like the president, Mullin does not fit the stereotypical mold of a seasoned politician. His campaign website labels him a Christian, family man, rancher and businessman from rural Oklahoma. Though he had started college, he postponed his studies after his father fell ill, and he moved home to manage the family plumbing business. In 2010, he earned his degree in applied science in construction technology from Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology, and in 2018, received an honorary doctorate degree from Bacone College. As a kid from Westville, it has been the greatest honor and privilege to serve the people of Oklahoma for the past thirteen years in both the House and Senate. I am grateful to President Trump for nominating me to lead the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, he said in his announcement on social media. As a kid from Westville, it has been the greatest honor and privilege to serve the people of Oklahoma for the past thirteen years in both the House and Senate. I am grateful to President Trump for nominating me to lead the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. I look forward to Markwayne Mullin (@SenMullin) March 5, 2026 I look forward to earning the support of my colleagues in the Senate and carrying out President Trumps mission alongside the departments many capable agencies and the thousands of patriots who keep us safe every day, he said. Will Mullin be favored over Noem? Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., left, talks with Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, right, before President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. | Win McNamee via the Associated Press Though he hasnt yet been confirmed by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and the full Senate, his approval is widely expected, given the Republican majority in the chamber. Advertisement Advertisement Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman, who sits on the Senate committee, said he would vote in favor of his Republican colleague for the position. But that view may place him in the minority within his own party. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said on X that he is a resounding NO when it comes to supporting Mullin as Noems replacement. The rot in DHS is deep, much deeper than any individual. Its a question of policy not personnel, he continued. The Senate should not consider any DHS Secretary nominee until DHS and ICE are reined in. Noem was widely disliked by Democratic politicians and even by some Republican leaders. Advertisement Advertisement Following her ouster as head of DHS, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker told Noem in a video, Dont let the door hit you on the way out. Dont let the door hit you on the way out, Kristi Noem. pic.twitter.com/p6SPcRztFw Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) March 5, 2026 But Pritzker also wanted to make it clear that just because Noem was no longer head of federal immigration enforcement, it doesnt mean shes safe from accountability. Heres your legacy: Corruption and chaos. Parents and children tear-gassed. Moms and nurses, U.S. citizens getting shot in the face. Now that youre gone, dont think you get to just walk away, Pritzker said. I guarantee you, you will still be held accountable. Litigation, he implied, could be in Noems future. Maryland doubled down on its legal challenge to federal immigration policy Tuesday, suing for records in its probe of conditions at a Baltimore detention center while seeking an emergency order to stop construction at a planned Williamsport facility. Attorney General Anthony Brown (D) filed suit in federal court Tuesday to force Immigration and Customs Enforcement to turn over documents the state is seeking as part of its investigation of unlawful conditions at the immigrant holding facility at the George H. Fallon Building in downtown Baltimore. Those conditions include allegations of overcrowding, unsanitary conditions and lack of medical care, among other claims. But ICE has refused to turn over documents, relying on boilerplate objections that the requested material is burdensome, overbroad, or irrelevant, according to the states lawsuit. Advertisement Advertisement Also Tuesday, Brown filed a request for an emergency injunction to immediately halt any construction or retrofitting of a warehouse near Williamsport that ICE quietly purchased and plans to turn into a detention center for 1,500 people. The emergency request comes a little more than two weeks after the state sued to block the Trump administrations unlawful decision to pursue the Williamsport facility. Since buying the 825,000-square-foot facility in January, ICE has moved with unrelenting speed on the project and on Friday awarded a $113 million contract to KVG LLC of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to immediately retrofit the warehouse into this massive immigration detention facility. The emergency injunction is needed to stop work while the states larger lawsuit against the project proceeds, Brown said. Federal immigration authorities are barreling past their legal obligations in an effort to build an immigration detention facility as quickly as they can. Once construction begins, the damage to Marylands waterways, protected species, and communities cannot be undone, Brown said in a statement Tuesday evening on the emergency injunction request. Representatives from the Department of Homeland Security and ICE did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit against the ICE facility in Baltimore claims the agency has exceeded the holding center capacity of 56 people, detaining more than 120 people in holding rooms, or cells, not designed or equipped for sleeping, or to provide food, water, or medical care for extended periods of time. The suit said the rooms were designed to hold people for up to 12 hours, but some immigrants said they had been there for more than 10 days, during which they were treated like animals. The windowless rooms have no showers and one toilet for 4o or 50 people, the suit says. During a news conference Tuesday morning, Brown gave other examples of unfit care at the facility. One person with a brain tumor didnt receive medical treatment for more than 10 days, Brown said, while a woman in the facility became so distressed from the conditions she repeatedly banged her head against a wall. Every one of these detainees is someones parent, or someones child, someones spouse, someones neighbor, someones friend, Brown said. They are human beings, and every one of them has been trapped in a nightmare. These are not isolated incidents, and this is not new. Advertisement Advertisement The state began an investigation of the holding facility in January, but Brown said the federal government has stonewalled us at every turn. They rejected our subpoena outright with boilerplate objections and no real answers. The lawsuit asks the court to compel release of the information the state is seeking. Besides ICE, the suit also names Todd Lyons, who leads the agency, the Department of Homeland Security and its former Secretary Kristi Noem, who was fired Thursday by President Donald Trump (R). The lawsuit comes just days after U.S. District Judge Julie Rubin approved a class-action suit Friday on behalf of detainees at the Baltimore facility and ordered ICE to: Limit detainees at the facility to no more than 56 at a time; Conduct medical screenings for each person detained within 12 hours of arrival; and Clean the rooms at least once a day, provide hygiene supplies and access to medication upon request within 24 hours. Advertisement Advertisement According to Rubins 67-page opinion, the Trump administration argued that a preliminary injunction in the case would impede its progress to conduct immigration enforcement. But Rubin disagreed, writing that her order merely would require that it be done within the confines of the Constitution. A person holds a sign in front of the George H. Fallon building Aug. 25, 2025, during a rally in support of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. (File photo by William J. Ford/Maryland Matters) Browns lawsuit also comes a day after members of Marylands congressional delegation traveled to Baltimore and made a surprise visit. No detainees were inside the building at the time, but Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-4th) said the conditions inside arent better than the shelter space where he went to adopt dogs. Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) joined federal and local officials outside the building Monday for a press conference after the delegation members tour. Ferguson welcomed Browns filing of a lawsuit Tuesday over conditions at the facility. Were supposed to be the beacon on the hill where we want people to come because of the promise of opportunity and freedom, he said. Instead, what were seeing is an administration thats focused on using fear and terror to intimidate. At the end of the day, what were seeing by the federal administration is something where cruelty is the objective. Advertisement Advertisement Maryland House Minority Leader Jason Buckel (R-Allegany) said he was not surprised by the lawsuit, the latest in dozens filed by Brown against the Trump administration. Hes just filing lawsuits every day for political purposes, rather than to better the lives of Marylanders, Buckel said. Im not sure what the basis for a lawsuit would be to suggest that the state somehow can file a lawsuit about detainees who, by their definition, probably are not citizens of the United States, nor legal citizens of Maryland. To try to enforce something that I just dont see any basis for. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) Gov. Dan McKee is joining Mass. Gov. Maura Healey in asking the Trump administration to issue tariff refunds to households across Rhode Island. On Tuesday, Healey penned a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, demanding more than $4.8 billion in tariff refunds. She said with approximately 2.8 million households across Massachusetts, it would mean a refund of $1,745 to every household. I call on the Trump Administration to immediately formulate a plan to refund tariff proceeds and put money back in the pockets of the hardworking people of Massachusetts, Healey wrote. Advertisement Advertisement I also urge the Trump administration to rethink and rescind the new global tariffs that it has imposed that will once again raise costs on consumers and businesses. It makes no sense to stubbornly continue this failed and unlawful policy that increases costs on everyone, Healey added. McKee followed suit on Wednesday, writing to Bessent that with more than 440,000 households in Rhode Island, residents are owed over $770 million. For many Rhode Island families, $1,751 would make a meaningful difference by helping offset the cost of groceries, rent, and other essential household expenses, McKee wrote. Now that the courts have determined these tariffs were unlawful, the money taken from families and businesses should be returned. The letters from both New England governors come about two weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trumps global tariffs that he imposed under an emergency powers law. Advertisement Advertisement The majority found that it was unconstitutional for Trump to unilaterally set and change tariffs, because taxation power belongs to Congress. The Framers did not vest any part of the taxing power in the Executive Branch, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote. Justices Brett Kavanaugh, Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented. The tariffs at issue here may or may not be wise policy. But as a matter of text, history, and precedent, they are clearly lawful, Kavanaugh wrote. The courts majority did not address whether businesses could get refunded for the billions they have collectively paid in tariffs. Advertisement Advertisement Court documents show that its estimated the United States has collected approximately $165 billion, not including interest. If the entries are not liquidated before the end of the year, it is further estimated that $10 billion of interest will have accrued. American taxpayers will bear this financial burden, U.S. Court of International Trade Judge Richard Eaton wrote in a court filing last Friday. Eaton had ordered immediate compliance, but pushed back the timeline after federal officials said they needed 45 days to set up an automated system. He ordered that officials provide an update on their progress by Thursday. Alexandra Leslie (aleslie@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter covering Providence and more for 12 News. Connect with her on Facebook, X/Twitter and Bluesky. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the free WPRI 12+ TV app. Follow us on social media: Advertisement Advertisement 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. Megyn Kelly is firing shots at a longtime US Senator. Lindsey Graham has been in the spotlight lately for his threats against several foreign countries. Among the nations the South Carolina Senator has called out are Lebanon, Cuba, and Spain. Online, Megyn got very candid about her thoughts about Lindsey calling him a homicidal maniac. The political commentator wonders whether he is calling more shots than he should. In a recent interview, Lindsey said that he felt Spain had lost its way, adding that he no longer believed it was good for the US to conduct business with the European nation. Megyn Kelly thinks Lindsey Graham is playing POTUS Lets get real. The problem with Lindsay Graham isnt (just) that hes a homicidal maniac, its that Trump likes and is listening to him, and Trumps favorite channel is parading him around like a Hefner bunny in stockings on every show. Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) March 10, 2026 South Carolinas prominent Senator may have more influence on American decisions than we think. Megyn seems to think that hes playing the role of President in many affairs. She believes that Lindsey is the one who pushed for the US to enter into a conflict with Iran. On her X account, Megyn said that she believes Donald Trump likes and is listening to him (Lindsey). Advertisement Advertisement According to Megyn, Lindsey isnt just looking to go to war with Iran. She believes that the Chair of the Senate Budget Committee is also keen to start a conflict with the Lebanese and possibly the Cubans. The Iranian war is an issue that seems to have had a polarizing effect on Americans. In a poll released last week, nearly half of the respondents disapproved of US actions in the Middle Eastern country. Both Megyn and Meghan McCain have repeatedly pleaded with the President to keep his distance from Lindsey. Meghans late father, former Presidential candidate John McCain, knew Lindsey well. Megyn is among the many people who believe that the war in Iran is due to the influence of Lindsey and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. TELL US DO YOU THINK LINDSEY GRAHAM HAS A LOT OF SAY OVER THE PRESIDENTS DECISIONS? The post Megyn Kelly Calls Senator Lindsey Graham a Homicidal Maniac Amid War on Iran appeared first on Reality Tea. Megyn Kelly has rebuked South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham over his support for the U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran, calling him a homicidal maniac with a bloodlust that is insatiable. Speaking on SiriusXMs The Megyn Kelly Show Monday, the host picked over a Wall Street Journal report discussing the senators recent trips to Israel in which he is quoted as saying: Theyll tell me things our own government wont tell me. Graham, a long-time Iran hawk, claims in the story that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu showed President Donald Trump intelligence reports pertaining to Iran that finally convinced him to give the go-ahead to Operation Epic Fury in the early hours of February 28. Advertisement Advertisement We are 100 percent doing this because of Israel, Kelly said in response. Megyn Kelly addresses the Iran conflict on her SiriusXM show on Monday March 9, 2026 (The Megyn Kelly Show/SiriusXM) If you used a but-for cause, would we be doing this if Israel were not involved? The answer is no, we wouldnt. Weve heard that from Marco Rubio. Now we hear that from Lindsey Graham directly. Israel was the one pushing for this war. And Lindsey Graham helped, and so did some Fox News contributors, and so did many others who were Israel firsters like Mark Levin. Kelly returned to the WSJ story to recount its claim that Trump called Graham to personally thank him for his TV appearances in support of the conflict and that the senator pitched Trump on bombing Iranian and Hezbollah elements inside Lebanon, to which the president reportedly gave a non-committal answer. Advertisement Advertisement She then quoted Graham as saying, What I dont understand is why more people dont do it. Try to shape these events. This is a moment of world history here. Just jump in the deep end of the pool. Offering her own conclusions, Kelly did not hold back: This guy is a homicidal maniac with a bloodlust that is insatiable. He wants us he got us into the Iranian war, Lindsey Graham. South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham cheerleaders for the U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran on Sean Hannitys Fox News show on Monday March 9, 2026 (Hannity/Fox News) Now he wants us to get involved in a Lebanese war, which Israels already starting or involved in, and he wants us to go into Cuba, from the sound of it, possibly. Is that a boots on the ground situation? I dont know. But this guy should be nowhere near President Trump. He should not be allowed within 20 feet of the presidents orbit, and the president should make the decision to keep this guy the hell away from him or, at least in his own mind, shut down his influence. This is not a force for good in the United States of America, Lindsey Graham. Advertisement Advertisement Kelly kept up her attacks on the senator on X (Twitter), posting clips from his latest Fox interview with Sean Hannity, during which Graham arguably overstepped his brief by promising Saudi Arabia a mutual defense agreement, something he is not authorized to offer. The senator also used the occasion to call Irans theocratic leadership religious Nazis and Democratic former presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden fools for attempting to placate the regime rather than snuff out its nuclear ambitions. Reacting to an excerpt of Graham declaring, Im with Israel, until my dying day, she wrote: Attn South Carolinians with doubts about the Iran war: your U.S. Senator says explicitly Im not with you, Im with Israel. More than1,000 people in Iran have been killed since the U.S. and Israel began striking the country over a week ago, according to local officials (Getty) In response to Graham's admonishment of Spain for refusing to let the U.S. use its airbases to attack Tehran, Kelly said, When did Lindsay Graham become our president? In the past 24 hours hes threatened Lebanon, Cuba, the Saudis, the wider Arab region and now checks notes Spain. Advertisement Advertisement She is not the only person on the right to have gone after the Republican over his cheerleading for the airstrikes. On Sunday, former Georgia GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene attacked the administration on X for refusing to rule out the prospect of drafting American citizens into a wider war in the Middle East. In the course of a three-post diatribe, she said: A bunch of psycho Republicans want to not only draft your sons but your daughters too!!!!! Send Lindsey Graham, Mark Levin, and Laura Loomer and ALL the murderous blood thirsty maniacs that support this America LAST WAR. Greene increasingly pitching herself as the MAGA movements queen across the water since retiring from Congress in January after breaking with Trump is just one of many members of the right opposed to new American intervention overseas. Its America First purists would prefer the president to focus on domestic economic priorities and are angered by his failure to honor his pledge to stay out of forever wars. This story was originally published on C-Store Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily C-Store Dive newsletter. Getty Realty Corp. has promoted Robert J. Ryan, senior vice president of acquisitions, to chief investment officer, according to a company announcement. He took his new role on Feb. 27. He replaces Executive Vice President, Chief Investment Officer and Chief Operating Officer Mark Olear, who has retired. The company has chosen not to backfill the COO position. Ryan joined Getty Realty in 2016 as director of real estate. Before taking over the SVP role, he served as VP of acquisitions and senior director of real estate and development, according to the announcement. He also worked for more than four years as vice president of asset management with Marx realty, a Manhattan-based owner and developer of office and retail properties, and spent eight years with Macerich, an owner, operator and developer of retail and mixed-use developments. RJ has been a critical member and effective leader of Gettys acquisitions team since 2018, and I am confident that he will thrive in his new role as we continue to grow and diversify our portfolio of convenience and automotive retail properties, said Christopher Constant, Gettys president and CEO. Olear has been with Getty for more than a decade, according to his LinkedIn bio. Before joining the company in 2014, he worked in a variety of real estate leadership roles at prominent retailers Home Depot and Toys R Us as well as financial company TD Bank. While I look forward to the next chapter, I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to contribute to Gettys success over the last 12 years, said Olear in a LinkedIn post. He added, Starting as a Market Analyst with Pathmark Supermarkets in the mid 80s, I could not have imagined where a career in real estate would lead me. Getty has over 700 convenience stores in its portfolio, by far the largest segment of its business, according to the company website. Thats followed by car washes, auto service locations and drive-thru QSRs. Recommended Reading Giorgia Meloni has accused the US and Israel of acting outside the scope of international law with their attacks on Iran. In her strongest criticism of the conflict yet, the Italian prime minister also demanded that Washington find out who was responsible for the missile strike on Shajareh Tayyebeh girls school. Ms Meloni labelled the attack in Minab, southern Iran, on Feb 28 a massacre. It killed more than 160 people, most of them children. Advertisement Advertisement Her comments may upset Donald Trump, who can be sensitive to criticism from world leaders he considers allies. He and Ms Meloni have long appeared to have a close friendship. She said the Americans and Israelis had broken international law by launching the Iran war and made it plain that Italy had no intention of getting involved in the campaign. Coffins are lined up for the funerals of children and staff killed in the air strike on their school on the first day of the Iran war - Getty As the conflict entered its 12th day, Ms Meloni said Washington had not asked to use her countrys air bases for its bombers and fighters, and if a request were made, it would need to be debated by the Italian parliament. She told the Senate on Wednesday the war was an intervention that Italy is not part of and does not intend to take part in. She drew parallels with Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine four years ago, which she said triggered global destabilisation. Advertisement Advertisement Ms Meloni said the US-Israeli war on Iran should be seen in the context of a structural crisis in the international system with threats becoming increasingly frightening and unilateral interventions outside the scope of international law ... multiplying. However, she also said Iran must not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons and such a development would result in dramatic repercussions for global security, leaving Europe exposed to a potential nuclear threat from Tehran. Ms Meloni was the only European leader to attend Donald Trumps second inauguration and they are seen as close friends - AP The Italian prime minister said: We cannot afford a regime of ayatollahs in possession of nuclear weapons, combined with a missile capability that could soon be able to directly strike Italy and Europe. In remarks that may further antagonise Washington, Ms Meloni said the Americans must establish exactly who was responsible for the attack on the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls school. Advertisement Advertisement Mr Trump has said the incident was being investigated, but suggested on Monday that Iran may have fired at the school. Analysis by experts suggests the school was hit by a US Tomahawk missile. Neither Iran nor Israel has Tomahawks. A military inquiry has found it may have been caused by outdated targeting data. Officials said the findings were from a preliminary investigation, but they suggest Mr Trump was wrong to blame Iran for the attack. Image credit: Planet Labs If US forces were shown to be responsible, it would be one of the worst cases of American troops killing civilians in the Middle East in the past three decades. Advertisement Advertisement Ms Meloni told her parliament: Responsibility must be ascertained for the massacre of girls in southern Iran. The safety of civilians and children must be protected. By distancing herself from the Trump administration, Ms Meloni may have one eye on a referendum in Italy later this month. The vote, on March 22-23, is about reforms to the judiciary, but is shaping up as a de facto plebiscite on her four years in office. As Italy heads towards a general election next year, Ms Meloni knows the Iran war is deeply unpopular with the Italian public and she must be careful over her friendship with Mr Trump. Mourners at the funeral ceremony for the girls killed when Shajareh Tayyebeh school was hit by a missile, now believed to have been a US Tomahawk - Shutterstock Italy is providing air-defence assets to Gulf allies that have been hit by missile and drone strikes by Iran, Ms Meloni told parliament. Advertisement Advertisement She said: This is not only because these are friendly nations and strategic partners of Italy, but also because there are tens of thousands of Italian citizens in that area whom we must protect, not to mention the fact that there are about 2,000 Italian soldiers stationed in the Gulf. Ms Meloni made her address as an Italian frigate arrived in Cyprus the latest European warship to bolster the defences of the island a week after the attack by an Iranian-made drone on RAF Akrotiri. The Federico Martinengo joins German, French and Greek ships already in Cypriot waters. It reached Cyprus far in advance of Britains contribution, HMS Dragon, which left Portsmouth on Tuesday. There has been intense criticism over the time it took to prepare the Royal Navy ship for deployment to the eastern Mediterranean. Meanwhile, Spain has formally withdrawn Ana Maria Salomon Perez, its ambassador to Israel, six months after she was recalled from Tel Aviv. Advertisement Advertisement She returned to Madrid in September after Pedro Sanchez, the Spanish prime minister, banned the US from sending weapons to Israel to stop what he described as genocide in Gaza. 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. Jeffrey Epstein's once notorious Zorro Ranch in New Mexico is now crawling with investigators -- and TMZ has learned the authorities are trying to see if there's any substance to rumors dead bodies were buried on the property. Sources familiar with the situation tell us ... the New Mexico Department of Justice is working in coordination with the ranch's new owner, Don Huffines, a Dallas-based real estate mogul who is currently running for Texas Comptroller. Getty Huffines and his family purchased the property in 2023 and then renamed it Rancho de San Rafael in honor of the patron saint of healing, promising to turn the land into a Christian retreat. Advertisement Advertisement Our sources say the search by investigators at the ranch was several weeks in the making, and the owners are "very happy that the search is taking place," having pledged their full cooperation. We're told it's expected the investigators will share their findings with the public if they do uncover anything. Our sources note the primary focus of the probe is to determine whether any bodies are buried on the land. Jeffrey Epstein Files Guess Who - Click image to open gallery New Mexico investigators began zeroing in on the ranch after the latest tranche of Epstein Files was released on January 30, containing unsubstantiated, anonymous tips. One of the tips claimed Epstein covered up the deaths of two girls he abused by requesting they be buried in the mountains close to the property. Epstein owned the ranch from 1993 until his death in 2019 while in federal detention awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. HONOLULU (KHON2) On March 9, 2026, the federal government announced it moved for leave to amend its civil forfeiture complaint regarding Michael J. Miske, a crime boss convicted in July 2024. According to a plaintiff filing in federal court, Miske allegedly died by suicide to stop the more than $20 million forfeiture of his criminal proceeds. In December 2024, Miske died from a drug overdose in prison. A federal jury convicted him on July 18, 2024 of murder, racketeering conspiracy and 11 other felony charges. Advertisement Advertisement Our criminal prosecution of Michael Miske demonstrated that he was a thug who used robbery, felony assaults, drug trafficking, fraud, chemical weapons attacks on his competitors, murder, and criminal obstruction to terrorize and intimidate Hawaii for many years, said United States Attorney Ken Sorenson. On July 24, 2024, a jury in a related criminal forfeiture proceeding found 27 assets seized from Miske to be forfeitable. When he was found guilty by a brave Hawaii jury, Miske then resorted to a plan to frustrate the lawful forfeiture of his criminally derived property by scheming to kill himself while in federal custody awaiting sentencing, Sorenson said. The federal government alleged Miske conspired with others to smuggle fentanyl into the Federal Detention Center, Honolulu because his death would terminate those proceedings. Advertisement Advertisement The complaint alleged Miske arranged a car for a recently released inmate, and that person brought him the fentanyl. Miske used small amounts of fentanyl ahead of the suicide to make it look like an accidental overdose, the court documents alleged. KHON2 reached out to attorneys representing Miskes trust in the forfeiture case for comment. The criminal investigation is still ongoing. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. It was Sunday April 25, 2021, a spring morning in the farmland of Lenawee County, Michigan. Rikkell Bock drove the short distance from her house to her childhood home for her weekly breakfast with her mother, Dee Warner. Rikkell Bock: Sundays we would go up to my mom's first thing. Rikkell says that when her mom was not there, and not answering calls or texts, it just didn't feel right. Rikkell Bock: If my mom could glue her phone to her hand, she would If I didn't respond to a text message in five minutes, I was getting another one, "Hello?" Advertisement Advertisement One of Dee's cars, a Hummer, was parked at the farm office, just down the road. Erin Moriarty: What about your mother's car that you drove all the time, the Cadillac? Rikkell Bock: It was parked in the garage. Erin Moriarty: So, all your mother's cars are there? Rikkell Bock: Yes. Erin Moriarty: And she's not responding to any kind of calls or texts? Rikkell Bock: No. The fertilizer sprayer, usually parked in a barn, was gone, and Rikkell's stepfather, Dale Warner, was out on it working. Erin Moriarty: Was that normal? Rikkell Bock: Yeah. it was pretty normal for him to work any day, any time of day. Advertisement Advertisement Rikkell went down the road to the home of Gregg and Shelley Hardy Dee's brother and sister-in-law. Shelley Hardy: She said, "We can't find her." And I'm like, "what do you mean you can't find her?" They said, "Her car is here. We have called everybody. We don't know where she's at." Gregg Hardy: The first thing I did was call her number If she was somewhere, she would answer my phone call and then I text her. Erin Moriarty: And did you Gregg Hardy: And nothing. WHERE'S DEE WARNER? Rikkell and her Aunt Shelley went driving to look for Dee. They returned to her house with only more questions. Advertisement Advertisement Shelley Hardy: There were blankets laying on the couch and tissues, tissues everywhere Everywhere. There were these tissues. They looked upstairs in the bedroom and bathroom for clues. Rikkell Bock: Her make-up bag was gone. Her curling iron, and all of that stuff was gone. Later they learned Dee's phone and passport were missing, too. Rikkell Bock: The feeling that I had in my stomach was nothing but fear. Zack Bock, another of Dee's four children from her first marriage, soon came over to join the search. He went down to the farm office to look for any sign of his mom. Zack Bock: There's cameras here in the office. I'll look at the cameras. Advertisement Advertisement There was a security camera inside the office and a few more outside. Zack Bock: I never saw her walk to the office. I never saw her drive a vehicle. I didn't see her. And there was something else out of the ordinary. Their 9-year-old sister Lena, Dee and Dale's only child together, had stayed at her cousin's house the night before and Dee hadn't yet called or come to get her. Rikkell Bock: Lena went everywhere with my mom. They were very, very close. Erin Moriarty: And would she ever leave Lena behind with Dale? Rikkell Bock: Never. Zack Bock: I called my siblings. We met up at my house, and we called the sheriff's department. Advertisement Advertisement By now, it was late in the day on Sunday, and the Lenawee County Sheriff's Office sent a deputy, Austin Hall, to talk to Dale Warner. The conversation was recorded on a body camera: DEPUTY HALL (bodycam | April 25, 2021 ): Hi, I'm Deputy Hall from the Lenawee County Sheriff's Office. How are you, sir? DALE WARNER: Good. A still from bodycam video shows Dale Warner talking with a deputy from the Lenawee County Sheriff's Office about the whereabouts of his wife Dee on April 25, 2021. Warner spoke with investigators many times and allowed them to search his property multiple times. / Credit: Lenawee County Sheriff's Office DALE WARNER (bodycam | April 25, 2021): She was sleeping on the couch. Dale told police he had last seen Dee that morning before he went out to work. DALE WARNER (bodycam | April 25, 2021): And then this morning around 6 o'clock, I got up and, you know, she was snoring away I texted her and she didn't answer. So, I figured, well, she's still sleeping. Advertisement Advertisement Dale seemed to believe his wife was alive and well and that she left intentionally. DALE WARNER (bodycam | April 25, 2021): Well, her hair curler's gone, her hair dryer's gone, her make-up bag is gone I went and seen all that stuff gone, I wasn't real concerned. He said she might be using another phone. DALE WARNER (bodycam | April 25, 2021): I told the other kids she's got a second phone DEPUTY HALL: Do you have a phone number? DALE WARNER: No. It's a secret phone that she doesn't know that I know she has it. Dale also told police that Dee had been upset and suffering from a migraine the night before after an argument with two of her employees. Advertisement Advertisement DALE WARNER (bodycam | April 25, 2021): I came home last night, and she was really upset. She was talking ... bad things as far as employees, the one employee decided to quit DALE WARNER: (bodycam | April 25, 2021): We got three different businesses here. So, the tensions are high all the time. Dale and Dee Warner ran three main businesses from their farm. Zack Bock was their bookkeeper. Zack Bock: My mom ran essentially the office for all three businesses. There was a trucking business with about 15 employees that Dee managed. Zack Bock: She always referred to it as her trucking business. Dee and Dale Warner owned a trucking business with about 15 employees. They also had a farm business, raising crops, and a chemical company that sold fertilizer and seed, all based on their rural property. / Credit: CBS News And there was the farm itself, and a chemical company, that sold fertilizer and seed. Advertisement Advertisement Erin Moriarty: Which was the most successful? Which did the best? Stephanie Voelkle: 100% the trucking company. Stephanie Voelkle worked for the Warners and describes Dee as a good businessperson: tough, generous and hard-working. But Rikkell says that running that trucking business was not easy for Dee. Rikkell Bock: I know that she had a hard time getting respect from some of the farmers because she was a woman and younger and pretty. Dale told police that conflict between Dee and their employees was nothing new. DALE WARNER (bodycam | April 25, 2021): I mean, she's had altercations with quite a few people. I mean, she's pretty wired, if you know my wife. Advertisement Advertisement DEPUTY HALL: I I don't know, but DALE WARNER: She's in your face and tells you how it is. On Saturday, the day before she went missing, Dee had texted Voelkle asking her how to block the driver who had quit from the company's Facebook page. Stephanie Voelkle (reading her texts) I told her how to do it. ... that was at 4:34. Erin Moriarty: On Saturday afternoon, April 24th. Stephanie Voelkle: Yep. And then at 4:44, I said, "did you tell Zack?" At 7:43, I said, "How are you?" (crying) And she never answered. Erin Moriarty: That's the very last time you ever heard from Dee Warner? Stephanie Voelkle: Yeah. Shelley Hardy wondered if the pressures had just become too much for Dee. Erin Moriarty: You're thinking at that point, she might have taken her life? Shelley Hardy: I did. Gregg Hardy: We were worried because of everyone's report of her emotional behavior. Shelley Hardy: She had been upset and had an argument on Friday and Saturday Gregg Hardy: The crescendo was building up There might have been a breaking point ... QUESTIONS FOR DALE WARNER Erin Moriarty: Can you think of a day when no one knew where your mother was? A full day. Rikkell Bock: No. After hearing nothing from Dee, some of those closest to her feared she may have harmed herself and they noticed that her husband Dale didn't seem very worried. DALE WARNER (bodycam): She'll cool off and she'll come back home. Dale had told the sheriff's deputy that Dee, when upset, had a history of spending the night elsewhere. DALE WARNER (bodycam): She took all her bags. So, somebody picked her up. And he said he thought she might come back eventually. DALE WARNER (bodycam): I mean, I don't know what else to do other than wait a day or so, and see what DEPUTY HALL: Sure. DALE WARNER: she shows up. But the sheriff's office did not wait for Dee to show up. They came out on Monday and Tuesday to conduct interviews and search the property. On Thursday, four days after Dee disappeared, they searched the farm again. And Dale agreed to talk to them, at length, at the kitchen table. Dale now told the investigators that he and Dee had had a fight on Saturday. He said she had accused him of talking about her, behind her back, to the employees she had fought withwhich Dale denied. DALE WARNER (bodycam | April 29, 2021): And she hang up the phone and I had no more contact with her the rest of the day. ... I tried calling her several times and she wouldn't answer her phone. He said he didn't talk to Dee again until that evening, at home, when their fight continued. DALE WARNER (bodycam | April 29, 2021): She says, "you don't care about me, nobody cares about me, and what does it matter if I'm even here?" Dale and Dee Warner were married in 2006. It was Dee's second marriage. Her friends and family said they weren't an obvious pair. / Credit: Rikkell Bock Dale and Dee Warner had been partners in life and business since they started their first company together in 2005the year before they got married. Erin Moriarty: Was this a love match? Did you feel that way? Gregg Hardy: No. She had a desire for success. Shelley Hardy: Yes. Gregg Hardy: I believe that's what her attraction was, I really do. They weren't an obvious pair. Dee's family and friends say she loved to have fun, dress up, go out, and dance. Dale, they say, just seemed to work a lot. Stephanie Voelkle: I don't know what she's seen in him. I really don't. He doesn't like to do things with her. I went on a cruise with her because he didn't want to go. Zack Bock: Dale was fairly quiet, kind of distant from all of us kids. Rikkell Bock: When he did communicate, it was usually -- he kind of liked to poke at people where he knew would hurt the worst. Rikkell says Dale helped feed Dee's insecurities. Rikkell Bock: I don't think she ever felt, good enough like she felt like she had to prove constantly everything in her life, her looks, her her money, her businesseseverything. Dee's family later learned she had been having an affair. It didn't surprise them, they said, given the state of her marriage. But police say her affair partner was out of town the weekend she went missing and could not have had anything to do with the case. A week after her disappearance, Dee's brother Gregg Hardy organized a search of the land around her home. Gregg Hardy: We all went on foot And we walked up probably 5, 6, 700 acres Erin Moriarty: Wow. Gregg Hardy: We -- we came up zero. By now, Dee's family was growing suspicious of Dale. On the day Dee went missing, Dale told each of them what happened, but they say they all heard slightly different versions. Gregg Hardy: She had a bad migraine headache. She was laying on the floor. He gave her a massage. She went to sleep. He picked her up and put her on the couch about 12:30. ... he got up about 6, 6:30, he left, but she was snoring on the couch. Zack says Dale told him he had had a fight with Dee. Zack Bock: He said that they had a really big fight the night before. But Rikkell says Dale told her the fight was no big deal. Rikkell Bock: He said that they had a little fight the night before and she was all mad and she won't answer him now. And there was another odd detail in the story Dale told Dee's family and police that Sunday. DALE WARNER (April 25, 2021 | bodycam): The only thing that's really strange, too, is this time she put her wedding ring on my desk, in the office and left it. You know and now she's gone. DEPUTY HALL: Yeah. DALE WARNER: She's never done that before. Rikkell Bock, Zack Bock and Gregg Hardy all say Dale showed them that ring on Sunday too, seeming to offer it as proof that Dee had left intentionally, and maybe for good. But Gregg says that ring is worth as much as $40,000. And leaving it behind didn't sound like Dee. Gregg Hardy: That's not my sister. Not only would she not give him the wedding ring back, she probably would've thrown a Molotov cocktail in the house on her way out. As time passed the family's suspicions that Dale had harmed his wife only grew. About six weeks after Dee went missing, Gregg says he confronted Dale about how he thought the investigation was progressing. Gregg Hardy: I ask him point-blank, "Dale, what do you think about your wife is still missing? She just disappeared on thin air?" And he said to me "Well, it could be a little faster, but I think they're doing a good job. And that's when I I told him, I said, "you know what? You're a liar" And I told him, "I'll get you." Erin Moriarty: You told him that? Gregg Hardy: Yeah. But believing Dale had something to do with Dee's disappearance was very different from being able to prove it. The Michigan State Police and the FBI helped the county sheriff conduct a large-scale search of their properties again in October, but there was still no sign of Dee alive or dead. Shelley Hardy: We had been struggling because everybody said you don't have a body; you don't have a body. In February 2022, 10 months after Dee had gone missing, Shelley was watching an episode of "48 Hours" featuring an investigator named Billy Little. BILLY LITTLE (from "48 Hours"' "Searching for Maya Millete") You don't have a body. So what? You don't get to get away with murder because you're good at disposing of bodies. Shelley Hardy: So I thought, "Oh my gosh, I I got to have Gregg see this." so he watched it and immediately when he said that, he said, "get me that guy's number." A BROTHER'S "GUT FEELING" Gregg Hardy was convinced Dale Warner was behind his sister's disappearance. Although the sheriff's office had conducted at least seven searches and interviewed Dale Warner several times, Gregg was growing impatient by what he saw as a lack of progress. Authorities, says Gregg, told him that without a body it would be difficult to charge Dale Warner with murder. Which is why Gregg called Missouri-based attorney and investigator Billy Little. Billy Little: Maybe you'll find the body, maybe you won't. But don't sit around waiting for Santa Claus to come. You gotta solve this case. Little made his first trip to Lenawee County in the spring of 2022. Billy Little (driving with Moriarty in Lenawee County): My goal is always to just discover the truth, find out what happened the nice thing about the truth is it doesn't have a side. Little got to work on his own investigation and learned from Dee's family that the couple argued frequently especially about money. Billy Little: This was not a happy marriage, a marriage of endless love. Dee's adult children told Little their mom had often talked about divorce but said she didn't want to split custody of their little sister Lena with Dale Warner. Still, the day before Dee disappeared, they say, something had changed. Erin Moriarty: Had you really seen your mother like that before? Rikkell Bock: Upset, yes. But this was just very different. She was, like, almost calm. Dee Warner / Credit: Parker Hardy (Parker Hardy) Dee's kids say that she had finally had enough and was going to tell Dale that night she wanted to sell the profitable trucking business and end her marriage. Erin Moriarty: This was Dee's life. Why did she want to sell the business? Billy Little: Because it had become too difficult emotionally and personally for her That's how bad the marriage had gotten. Gregg told Little that he thought Dale was moving money between the businesses after Dee disappeared. Gregg had already filed a civil suit to protect Dee's interests and to get more information about what Dale was doing. Gregg Hardy: Call it a gut feeling if you'd like, whatever you'd call it. In court documents, Dale says he did move moneyon the advice of professionals. The more Little learned, he says, the more he like the family became convinced that Dee was no longer alive. Billy Little: The evidence that she's dead is the absence of evidence that she's alive. No surveillance cameras, no electronic signature, her phone's not found, her bank accounts were never accessed cash wasn't taken from the house. Even the ring She didn't even take that. Dee Warner's brother, Gregg Hardy, says he was being sarcastic when he wrote the billboard in Lenawee County, Michigan, that read Gregg and Little tried to increase the pressure on Dale. Friends had started a social media campaign called "Justice for Dee." And Gregg paid for a billboard that he says he wrote sarcastically, saying "Help Dale Find Dee." It went up at a big intersection near Dale Warner's farm where, Hardy says, drivers from the trucking company would be sure to see it every day. Billy Little (driving with Moriarty): "Help Dale Find Dee." It was part of almost psychological operations. But Little says he and Gregg were mostly focused on trying to find evidence to help build a murder case without a body. Billy Little: You've got a lot of equipment, you've got a lot of chemicals, there are a lot of ways to dispose of the body on a farm. And they continued to search relentlessly for any trace of Dee. Gregg Hardy (with Moriarty): You can see there is a silo right over there. That's the location of where the buildings were. The property Gregg showed Moriarty, about three miles from Dale and Dee Warner's home, is one of the places that stood out to Gregg. Six months after Dee disappeared, there was a fire where the old farmhouse used to be, and Hardy says the neighbors told him they thought Dalewho owned the property with Deehad set that fire. The fire was determined to be a controlled burn, which are common in the area. Police searched the site in October 2021, just a few days after that fire. It's not known what, if anything, they learned. Gregg and Little came here themselves the next year. Gregg Hardy (with Moriarty at the property): We used a drone to fly, not only this site, but every site we could find around here. We flew a couple thousand acres of drone footage. They found nothing conclusive. But that old farm was just one site they thought was suspicious. Gregg Hardy: There is basically three or four major sites that bother me. There was a field near Rikkell's house that Dale had farmed. And another field, two towns over, that Dale had access to. And many more places Gregg wanted police to check further. Erin Moriarty: And is it the really hard part about this, Gregg, is there's just so many places? Gregg Hardy: There are so many places. In August 2022, the Michigan State Police took over Dee's case. Gregg and Little had pushed for this because they say the state police had more experience and resources than the county sheriff. After the state police took over the case, they interviewed Dale again and pressed him on his story. Warner told them that the argument with that employee just before Dee disappeared was partly about Dee taking money from the business DALE WARNER (Dec. 2022 police interview): Dee said he [that employee] called her out and said, I know what you've been doing. You've been taking this money you know you've been doing this and she'd been had, she couldn't hide it anymore. But police did not have evidence that Dee had stolen money. In September, the family filed another suit to have Dee Warner declared legally dead. Gregg says he wanted to be able to file a wrongful death suit against Dale one day. The family waited for news on the criminal case and then Gregg Hardy: It was pretty crazy because we had a meeting with the prosecutor the same day and she gave me no indication. On Nov. 21, 2023, two-and-a-half years after Dee Warner went missing, the news came that her husband, Dale, was under arrest. Stephanie Voelkle was preparing for her mother's funeral when she got the call. Stephanie Voelkle: Rikkell's boyfriend, called me and he said Dale was arrested for murder. And I fell to my knees at the funeral home. [I was] just so happy. Dale Warner was charged with the murder of his wife Dee. He pleaded not guilty, and Dee's family braced themselves for a long legal battle ahead. Rikkell Bock: However long it took, we wouldn't stop fighting. DEE WARNER'S FAMILY GETS THEIR DAY IN COURT On May 1, 2024, just a little more than three years after Dee Warner disappeared, her friends and family gathered at the Lenawee County District Court for the first day of Dale Warner's preliminary hearing. Erin Moriarty: You had to testify. Were you nervous? Rikkell Bock: Yeah I mean, all you do is tell the truth. So that's what I kept telling myself. It would be up to Judge Anna Frushour to decide if the case should move to trial. Stephanie Voelkle: I was worried because there is so little physical evidence. Dee had been recently declared dead in civil court, but Dale's defense attorney, Mary Chartier, said this was a fact prosecutors would need to establish themselves in the criminal case. MARY CHARTIER (in court): There is no body. There are no body parts. Whether Ms. Warner is dead is something that the government needs to prove. But the state was determined to show that while there was no body, there was also no evidence that Dee was still alive. JACKIE WYSE (in court): Since April 24th, 2021, have you seen Dee Warner? STEPHANIE VOELKLE: No. JACKIE WYSE: Have you heard from Dee Warner? STEPHANIE VOELKLE: No. And prosecutor Jackie Wyse worked to show there was no evidence that Dee had taken off on her own. She asked Voelkle about that secret phone that Dale claimed his wife had. JACKIE WYSE (in court): Did she ever discuss getting a second phone with you? STEPHANIE VOELKLE: She did. She had asked me to look into pricing and trying to find one for her, yes. JACKIE WYSE: OK. So, up until April 25th, 2021, did you ever purchase that phone? STEPHANIE VOELKLE: No. Erin Moriarty: Could she have bought the phone on her own? Stephanie Voelkle: Yeah. She could have bought it on her own, but she would've had somebody else set it up. She was not tech savvy. Michigan State Police Detective Daniel Drewyor is the lead investigator on this case. He testified at the preliminary hearing about the exhaustive searches law enforcement did to find any trace of activity from Dee over the three years she had been missing. DET. DREWYOR (in court): We did, search warrants for healthcare records, phone records. We searched numerous vehicles We got records for social media. We did several land searches. All their searches came up emptybut Dee's daughter, Rikkell, had noticed something curious at the Warner home. On the stand, she said that on the day her mother disappeared she saw tire tracks by the back of the house. RIKKELL BOCK: There were two tracks that led up to the sliding glass door. The prosecution suggested that the tracks Rikkell Bock saw at the back of the house the day her mother disappeared were left by Dale Warner using the farm's JCB front-end loader to remove Dee Warner's body from their home. / Credit: Michigan State Police There were no security cameras pointed at this part of the property, but the prosecution suggested that the tracks Rikkell saw were left by Dale Warner using the farm's JCB front-end loader to remove Dee's body from their home. DET. DREWYOR: When parking the front-end loader, the JCB, in this spot, the bucket attached to it fits between those two pillars and you can set it on the deck up against the back door. DALE WARNER (Dec. 2022 | police interview): I didn't see anything in the house. Dee was still sleeping. In his 2022 interview with police, Dale Warner had an explanation for those tracks he said he thought he used the loader to go back to the house and get his worksheet for the sprayer at around 6:30 a.m. DALE WARNER (Dec. 2022| police interview): I think I had to run and grab my damn sheet, my load sheet. I don't remember for sure ... I come got the JCB, the loader, pulled around by the house and I run in. I had to grab something out of the house and I run back out, got in the loader, backed back out. MARY CHARTIER (in court): No evidence that Ms. Warner is dead ... and no evidence that she was murdered was found, correct? DET. DREWYOR: Yes, ma'am. The defense emphasized there was no evidence Dale had anything to do with Dee's disappearance. And, in fact, his statements about what he was doing that morning were supported by security videos around the farm. The videos, played in court, show Dale at 7 a.m., using that front-end loader. At 7:45 a.m., police say, he sends Dee this text that was read out loud in court, "Going to be spraying. call you later :)" He is seen three minutes later driving a sprayer onto the road and returning at 8:13 a.m. MARY CHARTIER (in court): So, you had the sprayer records for the John Deere and then did you actually even do a sprayer reenactment? DET. DREWYOR: We did. Yes, ma'am. MARY CHARTIER: Consistent with what Mr. Warner said, right? DET. DREWYOR: Consistent with the time that occurred on that morning, yes. Dale Warner, who pleaded not guilty, listens in court during his preliminary hearing in the case involving his wife Dee Warner's disappearance and alleged murder. A judge would decide if the case should move to trial. / Credit: CBS News The defense also argued that Dale had not acted like a guilty man. He allowed police to search his properties and spoke to them many times after Dee disappeared. Only parts of a few of those interviews were played in court, but his attorney said that Dale had repeatedly denied harming Dee. MARY CHARTIER (in court): Of all the phone calls and interviews with Mr. Warner, he never once said he harmed his wife, correct? DET. DREWYOR: Correct. MARY CHARTIER: He was always adamant that he did not, correct? DET. DREWYOR: Yes. Over and over, the defense underscored the lack physical evidence in the case. MARY CHARTIER (in court): Do you have a murder weapon in this case? DET. DREWYOR: No, ma'am. MARY CHARTIER: Big pool of blood, anything like that? DET. DREWYOR: No, we have no forensic evidence of that nature. No, Ma'am. In her final statement to the judge, Chartier argues that there is no basis for the charges. MARY CHARTIER (in court): They hone in on Mr. Warner from the beginning. MARY CHARTIER (in court): If he murdered his wife, where on earth is Ms. Warner? JACKIE WYSE (in court): Since 4/25/2021, nobody has heard from or seen Dee Warner. Prosecutor Jackie Wyse maintained that the state's case was strong. JACKIE WYSE: All we're required to prove at this stage is, probable cause to believe that Dale Warner killed Dee Warner. And probable cause standard has been met. The decision was now with the judgeand Dee's supporters were worried. Would Dale now face the murder charge at trialor would he walk out as a free man? Rikkell Bock: The thought of him getting out was just scary. Do we have enough? AN IMPORTANT DISCOVERY CLOSE TO HOME On June 7, 2024, Judge Anna Frushour returned to court with her decision. She first spoke about Dee. JUDGE ANNA FRUSHOUR: Dee Warner was a woman with a big heart and a temper. She cared for her children and grandchildren, and employees. There was nothing, in the evidence, that suggested she would disappear intentionally, especially from her children. And there was nothing she heard, the judge said, that made her feel differently. JUDGE ANNA FRUSHOUR: The statements by Dale Warner of a secret phone ... and someone coming to pick up Dee Warner were not supported by any facts or evidence in this case. But there was enough evidence, she said, to believe that Dee Warner was dead and that her husband was likely the one behind it. JUDGE ANNA FRUSHOUR: There is probable cause that Dee Warner died by homicide at the hands of the defendant, Dale Warner. Rikkell Bock: This is reality. They think that there's enough evidence that he killed our mom to go to trial. Dale has been ordered to stand trial for the murder of his wife, but Little knows the real work is still ahead. Billy Little: My fear for getting past a preliminary hearing was probably a one out of 10. My fear of getting a conviction at trial is probably an eight out of 10. Erin Moriarty: It's a high bar. Billy Little: Yeah. Law enforcement was still searching for physical evidence and in August 2024, two months after that preliminary hearing concluded, that's exactly what they found. Dee's family heard about it first. Rikkell Bock: I received a message ... that said we need to have an emergency meeting with the detectives. They met detectives at Gregg and Shelley Hardy's farm. Police told them they had gone back to a property that Dale and Dee Warner owned and taken away a large metal tank that was used to store fertilizer. According to a search warrant, that tank had a "non-factory weld on the back" and a sign on it that said, "out of service" "do not fill." When the tank was scanned, investigators finally found what they had been looking for. Rikkell Bock: It was my mom. Well, it was a body in a tank. Dee Warner's remains had been hiding in plain sight her body discovered in a fertilizer tank on the property she owned with her husband. / Credit: WTOL It took just days, authorities say, to confirm that the body inside that tank was Dee Warner. Her death was ruled a homicide. Erin Moriarty: And how did she die? Gregg Hardy: They're not sharing that with me. Authorities are not granting any interviews about this case before the trial, but that warrant also says that security video from the day Dee was reported missing showed Dale in one of the farm buildings "searching for something near the welding equipment." For three years, police had been looking for Dee's body underground, and now they had come to believe that she might have been concealed above ground. Gregg Hardy: The tank was in this ... agricultural storage building right behind me. Erin Moriarty: And was the cylinder right in here? Gregg Hardy: Yeah, it was parked here. Erin Moriarty: So, Dale would have access to all this? Gregg Hardy: He did. Gregg says he has no doubt now that Dale killed Dee and hid her body. Gregg Hardy: All these things point in one single direction, clearly, without any question. Erin Moriarty: And that's to Dale? Gregg Hardy: That's correct. Dale's defense attorney declined to speak to "48 Hours" on camera, but she told us that Dale maintains his innocence and said in an email they're "prepared to vigorously fight for him in court and present his defense." Erin Moriarty: Isn't it likely that Dale's going to argue, well, that was a cylinder sitting out in a barn, anybody had access to that cylinder, someone could have come into his own barn and put your mom? Rikkell Bock: Absolutely. I mean, he he can say anything. Rikkell says finding her mom's body after these three long years gave the family a sense of peace. Rikkell Bock: I wanted to shout from the rooftops to everybody that she didn't leave us willingly. Dee Warner / Credit: Rikkell Bock Dee's family laid her to rest in a private burial soon after her body was identified. Her daughter Lena, now 12, was with them. Gregg Hardy (emotional): The one thing that she knows for sure, that was her mother there. That her mother didn't leave her. It was real. Shelley Hardy (crying): It's like you get hit in the stomach every time I miss her laughter and her comfort. Erin Moriarty: You miss her? Stephanie Voelkle: Very much I miss her every day. Rikkell and Zack Bock say they miss their mother deeply, and that her death has changed them in profound ways. Zack Bock: I'm now three years sober. And, shortly after she went missing, I started my own real estate company. I stopped being scared of failing on something 'cause there was nothing left to lose. Rikkell Bock: He's my mom's spirit, very hardworking and driven and determined. Erin Moriarty: Your children will grow up hearing about Dee. Rikkell Bock: Yeah. Erin Moriarty: What will you tell them about your mother? Rikkell Bock: Oh, my mom enjoyed being a grandma so much ... They will always remember how she would have been there. My mom would've been there for everything. On March 10, 2026, a jury found Dale Warner guilty of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence in the death of Dee Warner. Produced by Sarah Prior. Cindy Cesare is the development producer. Chelsea Narvaez is the field producer. Doreen Schechter, Diana Modica and Joan Adelman are the editors. Lourdes Aguiar is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. Judy Tygard is the executive producer CBS News exclusive: LA is "ground zero" for hospice fraud Family of teacher killed during prank asks for charges to be dropped against teens How Venezuela is changing 2 months after Maduro's capture Microsoft and a group of retired military leaders are throwing their weight behind Anthropic in asking a federal court to block the Trump administration's designation of the artificial intelligence company as a supply chain risk. Microsoft, in a legal filing, is challenging Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's action last week to shut Anthropic out of military work by labeling its AI products as posing a threat to national security. So are a group of 22 former high-ranking U.S. military officials, some of whom were secretaries of the Air Force, Army and Navy and a head of the Coast Guard. They allege in their own court filing that Hegseth's actions are a misuse of government authority for retribution against a private company that has displeased the leadership. Advertisement Advertisement The Pentagon took the action against Anthropic after an unusually public dispute over the company's refusal to allow unrestricted military use of its AI model Claude. President Donald Trump also said he was ordering all federal agencies to stop using Claude. The use of a supply chain risk designation to address a contract dispute may bring severe economic effects that are not in the public interest, Microsoft, a major government contractor, said in its Tuesday filing in the San Francisco federal court, where Anthropic sued the Trump administration on Monday. The Pentagon's action forces government contractors to comply with vague and ill-defined directions that have never before been publicly wielded against a U.S. company, Microsoft's legal brief says. It asks for a judge to order a temporary lifting of the designation to allow for more reasoned discussion between Anthropic and the Trump administration. Advertisement Advertisement The Pentagon declined to comment, saying it does not remark on matters in litigation. Microsoft's filing also expressed support for Anthropic's two ethical red lines that were a sticking point in the contract negotiations after the Pentagon insisted the company must allow for all lawful uses of its AI. Microsoft also believes that American AI should not be used to conduct domestic mass surveillance or start a war without human control, the company said. This position is consistent with the law and broadly supported by American society, as the government acknowledges. The software giant's court filing followed others supporting Anthropic, including one from a group of AI developers at Google and OpenAI, and another from a group of organizations such as the Cato Institute and the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Advertisement Advertisement A fourth such filing came from the group of retired military chiefs that includes former CIA director Michael Hayden, who's also a retired Air Force general, and retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, who led the government response to Hurricane Katrina. Far from protecting U.S. national security, the Secretarys conduct here threatens the rule-of-law principles that have long strengthened our military, said their filing. U.S. District Judge Rita Lin is presiding over the case in federal court in San Francisco, where Anthropic is headquartered. Anthropic has also filed a separate and more narrow case in the federal appeals court in Washington, D.C. Lin, who was nominated to the bench by President Joe Biden in 2022, has scheduled a March 24 hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Neither legal filing mentions the war in Iran, which started shortly after Trump and Hegseth announced they were punishing Anthropic, but the ex-military officials warn that the sudden uncertainty of targeting a technology widely embedded in military platforms could disrupt planning and put soldiers at risk during ongoing operations. The current commander of U.S. Central command confirmed in a video posted to social media Wednesday about U.S. strikes on Iran that the military was using advanced AI tools to sift through vast amounts of data in seconds, though he didn't specifically name which tools. Adm. Brad Cooper said these AI tools are enabling leaders to make smarter decisions faster but stressed that humans will always make final decisions on what to shoot and what not to shoot and when to shoot. Anthropic was, until recently, the only one of its peers approved for use in classified military networks. But as a result of the dispute, military officials have said they're looking to shift that work to competitors Google, OpenAI and Elon Musk's xAI. - AP writer Konstantin Toropin contributed to this report. A young California girl who was kidnapped in 2020 when she was just 5 years old has been found safe, about 2,700 miles from home in North Carolina. The girl, identified as Karen Rojas by the organization Missing People in America, was reported missing from Duarte, about 20 miles east of Los Angeles, on July 1, 2020. Los Angeles Countys Department of Family Services had an ongoing investigation involving the child at the time she went missing, the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department said. Advertisement Advertisement According to authorities, the childs mother who had custody stopped communicating with DCFS personnel and was believed to have taken the child, authorities said. Last Friday, detectives received information that the child could be in Washington County, North Carolina, about 135 miles from Raleigh, and approximately 2,700 miles from Southern California. Karen Rojas, who was kidnapped in 2020 when she was just 5 years old, has been found safe in North Carolina (National Center for Missing and Exploited Children) An investigation revealed that Rojas, now 11 years old, was enrolled at a local school in North Carolina under an alias name, the Washington County Sheriffs Office said. After working in combination with multiple agencies from NC to California, the child was taken into protective custody, and is SAFE! authorities said. Advertisement Advertisement These are very rare occurrences to have such a positive outcome on such an old case as this, but it reminds us that through hard work, and dedication, and cooperation. Stories with positive outcomes like these can happen, the sheriffs office added. No arrests were announced in the case. Due to the childs age and ongoing investigations, authorities will not be providing any additional information, the Washington County Sheriffs Office said. The Los Angeles Sheriffs Department says it will continue to work with the Department of Family Services and authorities in North Carolina on its investigation. (NewsNation) Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, a Republican, claimed victory Tuesday in Mississippis primary election and will head to the general election seeking a second full term against challenger District Attorney Scott Colom, a Democrat, according to Decision Desk HQ projections. Hyde-Smith, who earned President Donald Trumps complete and total endorsement, defeated Mississippi doctor Sarah Adlakha. On the Democratic side, District Attorney Scott Colom took the projected victory over Marine Corps veteran Albert Little and Priscilla Williams-Till, a distant relative of Emmett Till. Advertisement Advertisement Midterm calendar: What is your states 2026 primary election day? Four U.S. House seats are up this primary as well. Primary candidates need more than 50% of the total vote to advance to the general election in Mississippi. If no candidates receive that many votes, the top two candidates move on to a runoff election, held April 7. Mississippi is an open primary state, where voters can cast ballots in any partys primary regardless of registration. Follow the results below. 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. Despite overwhelming public opposition, Mississippi regulators on Tuesday approved an operating permit for 41 gas-powered turbines to run at xAIs Southaven power plant. The new turbines will help power Grok, xAIs controversial chatbot. A recent Floodlight visual investigation confirmed the plant was operating more than a dozen of the 27 unpermitted turbines already located at the site. The Environmental Protection Agency has long required that such pollution sources be permitted under the Clean Air Act. However, Mississippi regulators maintained that because the turbines are parked on tractor trailers, they don't require permits for the first year in operation. The permit granted to xAI this week is for 41 additional turbines at the site that will operate continuously. The machines could emit more than 6 million tons of greenhouse gases and over 1,300 tons of harmful air pollutants every year, according to xAIs permit application making the expanded facility one of the largest fossil fuel power plants in the state. Southaven residents have described being bombarded by ceaseless noise and pollution from the 114-acre site for months. Hundreds turned out to a February hearing to denounce the project and xAIs plans to expand the site, and not a single community member spoke in support of the project at the Tuesday hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advocacy groups like the NAACP and Southern Environmental Law Center criticized the seven-member permitting board after their unanimous vote to approve the permit. Mississippi state regulators appear to be more interested in fast-tracking xAIs personal power plant than conducting a thorough review of its impacts and having meaningful engagement with the families that will be forced to live with this dirty facility and its pollution in their communities, said Patrick Anderson, a senior attorney with the SELC. The final permit was approved at a hearing in Jackson nearly three hours from Southaven held on an election day. Floodlight spoke with several residents after the hearing for their reactions (their quotes have been lightly edited for clarity). Shannon Samsa, a physicians assistant, had hoped to raise a family in Southaven, but the presence of xAis gas-powered turbines has made her and her husband reconsider. I don't want my children to be growing up around such massive amounts of air pollution, she said. (Evan Simon/Floodlight) Shannon Samsa, physicians assistant, executive director of the Southaven-based Safe and Sound Coalition. Advertisement Advertisement Im disappointed, but not surprised. It was pretty obvious this permit was going to be pushed through at any cost. It feels like the decision had already been made before the public hearing last month, no matter what residents said. That being said, I do want to be clear that this is not the fault of my community. We did our part. We spoke up, raised concerns, and tried to warn them. We did not create this situation or approve this project. The people who had the power to stop this project chose not to. The consequences of this decision do not belong to me or to any of the residents who tried to warn them. They belong to the officials and agencies who approved this project anyway, and they will have to live with that on their conscience, not us. My husband and I are probably going to relocate after I start my career later this year. I dont know that well move completely out of DeSoto County just yet, but well definitely be trying to put some distance between us and xAI as soon as we possibly can. We were hoping to stay in the same apartment that weve been in for nearly 10 years for a few more years, so that we could save up to buy a house and have children, as well as pay my student loans down. But that doesnt seem like a realistic or safe option for us anymore. Jason Haley looks out at the xAI gas plant in Southaven. For months, Haley has complained of loud noises emanating from the facility and urged community leaders to shut down the plant. (Evan Simon/Floodlight) Jason Haley, Southaven resident Advertisement Advertisement I expected them to approve it. Our concerns arent taken seriously. Theres too much money involved to worry about the current and future impact on people. One of the guys on the board announced his retirement right after approving it. Krystal Polk, Southaven resident The asking of public concerns and comments were just a formality. The decision was already made. Musk is allowed to play by a different set of rules, and money and power can buy anything at this moment, even at the risk of human health. I am disappointed and disheartened that no one on the board had the courage to stand for what was right. It was not in their backyard and therefore they believe it does not affect them. I pray no one they know becomes a statistical number from the detrimental effects of the power plant. But I will not give up fighting for myself and others. Recent murders in Kansas City and St. Louis one at a nightclub, the other at a coffeeshop have people asking why the assailants, both with histories of violent crime, were out on the streets in the first place. When violence strikes, anger is natural. It often translates into demands for harsher sentences. The debate is often framed as tough versus soft. But the real question is severity versus certainty. Crime in those cities has declined in recent years, but statistics offer little comfort to grieving families or those living in stricken communities. When violence feels random, people demand accountabilityand understandably ask why repeat offenders were free. In the two cases above, the system failed to protect, to deter, and to rehabilitate. But if we want fewer tragedies, we must ask not only whether sentences were long enough, but whether deterrence was working at all. Advertisement Advertisement If we say the system failed to deter, we should be clear about what deterrence means. It depends less on how long someone might serve and more on how likely they believe they are to be caught. A large body of criminological research reaches the same conclusion. As the National Institute of Justice puts it, the certainty of being caught is a vastly more powerful deterrent than the punishment. This has concrete implications for what Missouri should fund and prioritize. If certainty is what deters, then clearance rates are not just bureaucratic metricsthey are central to public safety. Many people who commit crimes do not expect to be caughtand in many cases, that expectation is rational. Clearance rates vary by offense, and over the past five years, St. Louis has improved its clearance rates for homicide, aggravated assault, robbery, and burglary. Homicide clearance has reached roughly 70% in some years, up from 55% in 2021. But the city has far less success solving motor-vehicle theftsabout 10% solved annually over the past decade. Kansas City offers another illustration. A preliminary analysis by the Jackson County Prosecutors Office found that of 135 reported homicides in 2024, police referred 74 cases by years endabout 55%. Referral is not conviction, and homicide investigations are difficult. But if a would-be offender perceives only a coin-flip chance of facing charges, debating whether the sentence is 25 years or 35 years misses the point. Advertisement Advertisement The severity-first approach also faces a familiar empirical problem: once penalties are already substantial, harsher sentences show little consistent deterrent effect. Even studies of the most severe sanctionthe death penaltyhave failed to find strong evidence of meaningful crime reductions. What works better, on average, is raising the perceived risk of swift detection and responsewhether through visible police presence that increases the chance of immediate intervention or through higher clearance rates that signal crimes will not go unsolved. Thats one reason focused deterrence strategiestargeting the small number of chronic offenders and groups driving a large share of violence, clearly communicating consequences and following throughshow positive effects. If certainty is what deters, Missouri should invest in the unglamorous fundamentals: more investigative capacity, better coordination with prosecutors and faster forensic turnaround so cases move to resolution without years of delay. The good news is that last year the legislature created the Missouri Violent Crime Clearance Grant Program. It authorizes grants to local law enforcement agencies for strategies aimed at increasing violent-crime clearance ratesinvestigative capacity, technology, training and other initiatives designed to solve more cases. A recent survey found that 85% of Missouri voters support such an effort. Advertisement Advertisement The bad news is that the grant program is not yet funded. Money is tight, and years of overspending have constrained the budget. But public safety is governments core responsibility, and a modest appropriationon the order of a few million dollarscould yield significant returns. None of this requires being soft on crime. It requires being serious about how deterrence works. Missouri can keep adding years to sentenceseven as annual costs per inmate have risen sharply in recent yearsbut if many offenses never reach the sentencing stage, the deterrent effect will remain limited. A justice system built on certainty is also more legitimate. It does not rely on extreme punishments to compensate for a low probability of accountability. It focuses on the basics: solve more cases, process them faster and follow through consistently. Advertisement Advertisement When people ask why someone with a violent record was still on the street, theyre asking if the system protects them. The answer isnt simply longer sentences. Its swift, certain consequencesclearly communicated and consistently enforced before the next crime happens. Recent crime trends are promising. Missouri should reinforce those trends by making it unmistakably clear that violent crime will be met not just with punishmentbut with certainty. By Parisa Hafezi March 9 (Reuters) - Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's son Mojtaba was chosen by Iran's Assembly of Experts to succeed his late father as supreme leader, in a sign that hardliners were still firmly in charge. The clerical body named the 56-year-old mid-ranking cleric, who has survived the U.S.-Israeli air war on Iran, as successor more than a week after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in an air strike, Iranian media reported. Advertisement Advertisement A member of the council, Ayatollah Mohsen Heidari Alekasir, said in a video on Sunday that a candidate had been selected based on Khamenei's guidance that Iran's top leader should be "hated by the enemy". "Even the Great Satan (U.S.) has mentioned his name," Heidari Alekasir said of the chosen successor, days after U.S. President Donald Trump said Mojtaba was an "unacceptable" choice for him. FATHER'S "GATEKEEPER" Mojtaba amassed power under his father as a senior figure close to the security forces and the vast business empire they control. He has opposed reformers seeking to engage with the West as it tries to curb Iran's nuclear programme. Advertisement Advertisement His close ties with the elite Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) give him added leverage across Iran's political and security apparatus and he has built up influence behind the scenes as his father's "gatekeeper", sources familiar with the matter said. "He has strong constituency and support within the IRGC, in particular amongst the younger radical generations," said Kasra Aarabi, head of researching the IRGC at United Against Nuclear Iran, a U.S.-based policy organisation. The supreme leader has the final say on matters of state, including foreign policy and Iran's nuclear programme. Western powers want to prevent Tehran developing nuclear arms. Iran says its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes only. Mojtaba could face opposition from Iranians who have shown they are ready to stage mass protests to press their demands for greater freedoms despite bloody crackdowns by the authorities. Advertisement Advertisement He was born in 1969 in the holy Shi'ite city of Mashhad and grew up as his father was helping lead the opposition to the Shah. As a young man, he served in the Iran-Iraq war. Mojtaba studied under religious conservatives in the seminaries of Qom, Iran's center of Shi'ite theological learning, and has the clerical rank of Hojjatoleslam. He has never held a formal position in the Islamic Republic's government. He has appeared at loyalist rallies, but has rarely spoken in public. His role has long been a source of controversy in Iran, with critics rejecting any hint of dynastic politics in a country that overthrew a U.S.-backed monarch in 1979. Advertisement Advertisement US SANCTIONS The U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Mojtaba 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. Its website said Khamenei had previously delegated some of his responsibilities to Mojtaba, who it said had worked closely with the commander of the IRGC's Quds Force and the Basij, a religious militia affiliated with the Guards, "to advance his fathers destabilising regional ambitions and oppressive domestic objectives". Mojtaba 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. Advertisement Advertisement In 2024, a video was widely shared in which he announced the suspension of Islamic jurisprudence classes he was teaching at Qom, fuelling speculation about the reasons. Mojtaba bears a strong resemblance to his father, and wears the black turban of a sayyed, indicating his family traces its lineage to the Prophet Mohammad. Critics have said Mojtaba lacks the clerical credentials to be supreme leader - Hojjatoleslam is a notch below the rank of Ayatollah, the position held by his father and Ruhollah Khomeini, who founded the Islamic Republic. 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. Advertisement Advertisement A U.S. diplomatic cable written in 2007 and published by WikiLeaks cited three Iranian sources describing Mojtaba as an avenue to reach Khamenei. Mojtaba was widely believed to have been behind the sudden rise of hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who was elected president in 2005. Mojtaba backed Ahmadinejad in 2009 when he won a second term in a disputed election which resulted in anti-government protests that were violently suppressed by the Basij and other security forces. Mehdi Karroubi, a moderate cleric who ran in the election, wrote a letter to Khamenei at the time objecting to what he alleged was Mojtaba's role in supporting Ahmadinejad. Khamenei rejected the accusation. Advertisement Advertisement Mojtaba's wife, who was killed in last Saturday's airstrikes, was the daughter of a prominent hardliner, the former parliament speaker Gholamali Haddadadel. (Writing by Tom Perry, Michael Georgy and Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Timothy Heritage, Alexandra Hudson) As Apple has grown its product lines (like MacBooks and iPhones) and expanded the services it offers (like cloud storage and Apple TV) over recent years and decades, it has needed to employ more and more people. From its two founders, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, who started Apple out of a garage in 1976, the company has evolved into a global tech giant with offices and retail stores in over 20 countries, employing tens of thousands worldwide. Heres how many employees Apple has, how much they make, where they work, and what the CEO pay gap looks like. How many employees does Apple have? Apple had about 166,000 full-time employees globally at its fiscal year ending September 27, 2025, according to business data aggregator Bullfincher. Thats more than double the number of people it employed (about 60,400) in fiscal year 2011, when founder Steve Jobs served his last full year as CEO. According to Apple's job creation page, 80,000 employees a little less than half of the company's workforce are in the U.S., with an additional 450,000 working for the company's suppliers. Here's a look at the company's employment footprint over the last decade: Apple grew its workforce footprint by 1.22% percent from 2024 to 2025. BullFincher BullFincher Related: Where is Apples headquarters? A spaceship-like office with thousands of trees What is Apples revenue per employee? Apple posted $416 billion in revenue in 2025. Based on 166,000 full-time workers, the company brought in about $2.5 million per employee. By comparison, in 2011, a year before Tim Cook took over as CEO, per-employee revenue was lower, at $1.79 million (based on $108 billion in revenues and about 60,400 full-time employees). By comparison, the revenue per employee at Nvidiathe worlds biggest company by market valuewas larger, at $5.1 million in its fiscal year 2026, based on about 42,000 employees and $215.9 billion in revenue. Who are the highest and lowest-paid Apple employees? Apple, like other companies, uses a CEO pay ratio, which compares the CEOs compensation to that of the median employee. In 2025, CEO Tim Cook was the highest-paid employee at $3 million. His annual salary hadnt changed since 2016. But his total compensation was $74.29 million, compared to the median employee compensation of $139,483. That CEO pay ratio was 533 to 1. This ratio is based on Apples annualized base salaries for permanent full-time and part-time employees who didnt work the full year. By comparison, Nvidias ratio was smaller, at 166 to 1, due to employing fewer workers than Apple and paying a higher median salary. CEO Jensen Huang's total compensation in Nvidias fiscal year 2025 was $49.86 million, versus $301,233 for the median employee. Which Apple department has the most employees? Apple doesnt provide this information publicly. According to Unify GTM, which compiles data using artificial intelligence, the bulk of Apples workforce is in engineering. Based on 120,485 Apple employees (which would be equivalent to about its headcount of about 123,000 full-time employees in 2017), 41% were in engineering, followed by business management (15%), sales and support (9%), marketing and product (7%), operations (7%), finance and administration (6%), information technology (4%), consulting (3%), other (5%), and a remaining 3% that Unify didnt identify. By comparison, in 2026, Nvidia had 42,000 employees across 38 countries, of which 31,000 were involved in research and development and 11,000 in sales, marketing, operations, and administrative positions. More on Apple: Apples workforce dynamics are likely to change in the years to come. In 2025, the tech giant announced plans to invest $600 billion in the U.S. over a four-year period, aiming to bring some of its supply chain and advanced manufacturing back home through an initiative dubbed the American Manufacturing Program (AMP). Apple said that in four years, it planned to directly hire 20,000 people in the U.S. of which the majority would be focused on research and development, silicon engineering, software development, and AI and machine learning. Where do most of Apple's employees work? Apples largest concentration of workers is at its Apple Park headquarters in Cupertino, California, which houses more than 12,000 employees across many of the company's divisions, including research and development. Still, Apple has more than 500 retail stores globally, which collectively employ thousands of workers. This story was originally published by TheStreet on Mar 11, 2026, where it first appeared in the Technology section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here. The mother of an 11-year-old boy and her boyfriend were arrested after police said an employee at a local Illinois business found the child badly beaten with blood on his face. The employee at a Fox Lake business called police the morning of Friday, March 6, and described the boy as having welts, bruises, and scratches across his body, according to the Fox Lake Police Department. According to court documents viewed by CBS News, the child fled from his home to the business, where he reported his mother assaulted him, on March 6. Advertisement Advertisement Fox Lake investigators and officers then met with the employee and the boy, who was wearing only underwear and appeared battered, the department said in a news release issued Monday, March 9. The child was taken to Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital for a medical assessment as officers headed to his mothers home, according to police. At the Fox Lake residence, officers arrested his mother, Priscilla P. Marshall, police said. Fox Lake is a suburb of Chicago. An investigation revealed that Marshall and her boyfriend, Cody R. Marion, had abused her 11-year-old son for several years, according to police, including by beating him with household items and pouring dish soap in his mouth and ears. Advertisement Advertisement The couple would also not let the boy attend school, police said. Mother, Boyfriend Arrested in Death of Her Son, 8, As Abused 10-Year-Old Is Hospitalized Marshall, 34, and Marion, 35, are charged with aggravated battery to a child, domestic battery involving bodily harm, domestic battery involving physical contact, and endangering the life or health of a child, according to police. It was not currently clear whether Marshall and Marion had retained attorneys who could speak on their behalf. The boy told authorities that he awoke to Marshall tossing items at his house that morning while Marion was cleaning dishes, according to prosecutors. Advertisement Advertisement Marshall allegedly began beating him and told him that nobody loves him while his two younger sisters cried, prosecutors said in court filings, CBS News reported. The boy said that his mother punched him in his face, causing his nose to bleed, and poured dish soap in his mouth and ear, according to court documents viewed by the outlet. When officers arrested Marshall, they found two children, ages 1 and 2, who appeared unharmed at her home, according to police. They learned that Marshall had two more sons who had been attending school at the time of her arrest, police said. All of the children were taken into protective custody before officers returned to the house to arrest Marion, according to police. Advertisement Advertisement The 11-year-old boy told investigators that Marshall would not beat his four siblings, just him, according to authorities, CBS News reported. In addition to allegedly beating him with extension cords, metal spatulas and spoons, Marshall is accused of threatening to stab the child in his back, prosecutors said, according to CBS News. Mom, Boyfriend Shot Kids With BB Guns While They Were Locked in Chicken Pen, Missouri Sheriff Says She also made her 13-year-old son beat the 11-year-old, according to court documents viewed by the outlet. According to Lake County Assistant States Attorney Kathleen Laughlin, Marshall would force the 11-year-old child to write the phrase, youre not a loved child, everybody hates you repeatedly in a notebook, the Lake and McHenry County Scanner reported. The boy was also forced to eat food out of cans while the family enjoyed McDonald's, cops said. Advertisement Advertisement Marshall was due in court for a detention hearing on Tuesday, March 10, according to the Lake County States Attorneys Office. Prosecutors have filed a petition for her detention. On March 9, a judge granted prosecutors request to detain Marion, the states attorneys office said in a news release. In a statement, Lake County States Attorney Eric Rinehart vowed to hold Marshall and Marion accountable. To think of a child having to flee their own parents is heartbreaking, and I would tell anyone abusing their child that you will face serious consequences when we find you, Rinehart said. If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453. Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has found a resolution the Helena City Commission passed last month in response to aggressive federal immigration enforcement around the nation appears to be a blatant violation of a statewide ban on sanctuary cities and demanded the city change its policy. In a cease-and-desist letter sent March 10, Knudsen said the resolution establishes a broad sanctuary city policy that seeks to protect every illegal immigrant in the citys jurisdiction, regardless of whether that alien has committed a serious crime and is a recidivist. The Attorney General and Gov. Greg Gianforte, both Republicans, announced a month ago a formal investigation had been initiated into the citys resolution, stemming from a 2021 law Gianforte signed. Advertisement Advertisement Sanctuary cities are those with policies that often do not fully cooperate with federal immigration laws in order to protect the safety of all residents. Montanas law says that state agencies or local governments cannot restrict government employees from sending to, receiving from, exchanging with, or maintaining for a federal, state, or local government entity information regarding a persons citizenship or immigration status for a lawful purpose. Helenas public information officer Amanda Opitz told the Daily Montanan the city is currently reviewing the matter, but cannot discuss the details of a potential legal issue. The city is committed to transparency and compliance with the law. The city takes these matters seriously and will continue to cooperate with the appropriate authorities while remaining focused on serving our community, Opitz said. Advertisement Advertisement The Helena City Commission signed its resolution on Jan. 26 with overwhelming support from members of the public, as concern about aggressive federal immigration enforcement around the nation has increased and has affected even small communities in Montana. The resolution affirms existing policies that restrict employees from disclosing sensitive information, including immigration status, with outside entities, including federal agencies, unless there is a court order. The resolution also supports Helena Police Department policies that officers will not stop, pursue, interrogate, investigate, arrest, or otherwise detain a person based solely on their immigration status or suspected violations of immigration law. Knudsen wrote that at least two of the provisions in the resolution appear to be illegal, and that the overall resolution will have a chilling effect on HPD officers and city employees, by sending a strong signal that cooperation with federal immigration enforcement agencies goes against city policy. He also wrote that a section of the resolution that allows city police officers to ask federal officers to unmask creates an adversarial relationship, which he said undermines public safety and forces immigration officers to fear for their safety when they are simply carrying out their lawful duties. Advertisement Advertisement According to Montana statute, violations of the sanctuary city law could lead to a $10,000 fine for every five days a local government is out of compliance, withholding of state funds including from the Montana coal board and coal board endowment program. Knudsen wrote that the city commission must change its policy or otherwise demonstrate that you are in compliance with the prohibition on sanctuary jurisdictions. The city Commission has 15 days to provide answers to the following questions from the Department of Justice: FROSTBURG Gov. Wes Moore will serve as the keynote speaker for Frostburg State Universitys 168th commencement May 21. The governors address will come during the College of Business, Engineering, Computing and Analytics and the College of Humanities, Arts and Sciences ceremony at 2 p.m. I am honored to join the Frostburg State University community to celebrate the remarkable achievements of the Bobcats 2026 graduating class, Moore said in a statement. These future graduates embody the spirit of excellence and grit that define the state of Maryland, and their potential is our greatest asset. I look forward to uplifting their accomplishments and witnessing how they lead our state toward a brighter future. Advertisement Advertisement Darlene Brannigan, the universitys interim president, said the school is thrilled to welcome Moore. His visit is an incredible opportunity for our graduates and their loved ones to celebrate this milestone together and I know our entire FSU community will be energized and inspired by his remarks as our students prepare to take their next steps, personally, academically and professionally, she said. For more information on Frostburg State Universitys commencement ceremony, visit https://www.frostburg.edu/annual-events/commencement/. NEED TO KNOW A North Carolina man was stopped in Florida for speeding When the deputy asked his passenger for identification, she gave him several fake names and birthdates, police allege The man, Joshua Magraff, said the two were in Florida "to play gambling games," police allege A North Carolina man was pulled over for speeding and inside his car a sheriffs deputy found a teenage girl who had been missing for a month, authorities allege. On Sunday, March 8, a deputy with the Putnam County Sheriffs Office in Florida pulled over a vehicle that was traveling at a high rate of speed on US 17 South near Crescent City, the sheriffs office said in a statement on Facebook. Advertisement Advertisement In body cam footage provided by the sheriffs office, the driver identified himself as Joshua Magraff, 37, of Charlotte. When the deputy asked the young female passenger for identification, Magraff says, No sir, thats my little cousin, saying she was 16. When the deputy asks the passenger for her name, she said Huh? several times before stating that her name was Brandy Lewis. She said was born in 2013, which would make her only 12 years old. The passenger then gave the deputy two more false names and birthdates, causing him to be concerned for her welfare, the statement says. The deputy had the girl sit in his patrol car, where she told him her real name. Advertisement Advertisement Upon a search, it was found that the teen was reported missing a month earlier from North Carolina, the statement says. Authorities reached out to the teen's mother, who said she didnt know Magraff and that she had reported her daughter missing on Feb. 16. The deputy asked Magraff to step out of the car and questioned him about his connection to the teen. Magraff changed his story, saying she was not his cousin, but a "friend." When the deputy asked Magraff how old he is, he told him he is 37. Youre 37 and you're friends with a 16-year-old girl? the deputy asked Magraff. 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. Magraff then told the deputy he thought the girl was 19 and that they were in Florida to play gambling games, the statement says. Advertisement Advertisement Deputies searched the vehicle and allegedly found 19 counterfeit $100 bills, synthetic marijuana, marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Deputies contacted the Department of Children and Families to take custody of the teen until she could be reunited with her mother. Magraff was arrested and charged with interference in child custody, synthetic marijuana possession, possession of counterfeit currency, contributing to deliquency of a minor and possession of drug paraphernalia. Joshua Magraff mugshot Credit: Putnam County Sheriff's Office He was taken to the Putnam County Jail and held on $9,000 bond. The investigation is ongoing. It is unclear whether Magraff has an attorney who can speak on his behalf. Read the original article on People The states Charter Schools Review Board approved four new remote academies this week, allowing more brick-and-mortar schools to offer online instruction. The move comes as North Carolina officials push for a separate funding overhaul for the states standalone virtual schools. The newly approved programs are operated through existing campuses and allow students to attend classes virtually. Mondays vote brings the total number of remote charter academies across the state to 21. The programs are distinct from North Carolinas standalone virtual charter schools, which operate entirely online. The state previously had two pilot programs operating entirely online, and the board has approved two additional standalone virtual schools in recent weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Supporters say the remote academies help schools serve students who cannot attend classes in person, or who remain on waiting lists for seats at physical charter campuses. But some members of the review board questioned whether the growth of remote programs is driven by educational needs or by the ability it offers schools to enroll more students and collect the state funding tied to each one. I see it as a money grab for a lot of schools that are doing it, board member Stephen Gay said, adding that he does not believe in the remote model. Board Chairman Bruce Friend, whose own school recently received approval for a virtual spinoff, bristled at that characterization. Advertisement Advertisement If its a money grab, then we need to weed that out from the get-go, Friend said, not make that a generic comment that applies to those involved in this learning environment. The board approved requests from Central Wake High School, Triangle Math and Science Academy, Jackson Day School and Phoenix Academy. Bryan Setzer, a director at Triangle Math and Science Academy, said the school hopes the virtual program will help students who need flexible schedules or have health concerns. We have a mission to educate and give students opportunities, and were going to do it in a thoughtful way, Setzer said. Advertisement Advertisement North Carolinas two original statewide virtual charter schools have struggled academically for much of the past decade. Still, some review board members said demand for online learning remains strong. This is the future, said vice chair John Eldridge. If this is what parents want weve got to find a way to do it the best way possible. Board member Eric Sanchez said regulators need a clearer picture of what effective virtual schooling looks like before approving new programs. If were talking about money grabs and were talking about exploding something that theres no accountability [for] whatsoever, how do we know at the end really what is good? Sanchez said. The expansion comes as the State Board of Education has asked lawmakers to overhaul how standalone virtual programs are funded. The board included the request as one of its legislative priorities, citing roughly $25 million in cash reserves held by the states two original virtual schools. Advertisement Advertisement Those schools North Carolina Virtual Academy and North Carolina Cyber Academy have been designated continually low-performing since their 2015 launch, though N.C. Virtual Academy exceeded growth expectations in 2023. The millions in balances have drawn scrutiny over transparency and whether public dollars are being sufficiently reinvested in students. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has signed into law nearly every piece of legislation that lawmakers passed in this years 30-day session. Wednesday was the governors deadline to sign or veto bills anything she did not act on died as a pocket veto once the deadline passed. As of publication time Wednesday, Lujan Grisham had signed 71 bills into law, including an $11.1 billion state budget, the nations first universal child care program and medical malpractice reform. She vetoed two bills; one that would have reined in the governors capabilities for emergency spending, and one that would have created rebates for low-carbon construction materials. Lujan Grisham exercised a pocket veto on House Bill 96, which would have created a space commission working group. No charges will be filed against a former Auburn substitute teacher who was allegedly dismissed from the job after students reported inappropriate conduct during class, the Worcester County District Attorney has determined. In a post on social media, Auburn Public Schools said they wanted to clarify and address a number of rumors and inaccuracies about the incident. On February 27 at the middle school, several students reported concerns to school staff regarding the behavior of a substitute teacher, including the viewing of inappropriate material on social media and inattentiveness while supervising students. Advertisement Advertisement Our students did exactly what we encourage every day at Auburn Middle School, they spoke up when something did not feel right, the statement further reads. The individual was dismissed from the building, will no longer be working in Auburn Public Schools in the future, and a throughout investigation begun. The same day, the school said the Auburn Public Schools filed a report with the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF), known as a 51A report, which is standard procedure when concerns involving student safety arise. As part of that process, DCF will determine whether any further action or referral to other authorities is warranted. The Auburn Police Department conducted follow-up interviews with staff members and DCF conducted interviews with some of the students who had reported the behavior, the statement further reads. Advertisement Advertisement While the behavior was inappropriate and unacceptable, the Auburn Police Department concluded it did not meet the threshold for criminal charges. The District Attorneys office also reviewed the case and found no probable cause to charge the individual. The statement further reads that substitute teachers in Auburn Public Schools go through background checks that include CORI (Criminal Offender Registry Information), SORI (Sex Offender Registry Information), and fingerprinting to further identify any criminal offenses. The candidates for hire then participate in at least two interviews with the administration, prior employment is reviewed, and substitutes are required to participate in district training before working with students. 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 Southeast Raleigh homeowner Anthony Pope fought long and hard to qualify for one of the states senior citizen property tax exclusions. When Pope finally got it, his property tax bill dropped from $4,600 to roughly $2,000 a year. Like many seniors on fixed incomes, Pope was feeling the pinch of rising property taxes that some say make homes unaffordable. Anthony Pope addresses workshop attendees in 2024. (Photo: Greg Childress/NC Newsline) Its definitely been a big help for me, Pope said. Advertisement Advertisement Those concerns have caught the attention of lawmakers in Raleigh, prompting leaders of the state House and Senate to launch committees to review factors contributing to high property taxes and identify ways to reduce the burden on homeowners. State Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) also announced recently he will introduce legislation during the short session to halt property tax revaluation change for one year while the legislature examines and adopts property tax reforms. That signals that a permanent solution to the problem is likely to be at least a year away. North Carolinians are shouldering the burden of massive increases in local budgets, Berger said. A moratorium will be the first step in making much-needed reforms to property taxes in our state. Advertisement Advertisement Lawmakers have begun to push reforms to the states homestead exclusions, such as increasing income limits, to make them accessible to more homeowners. They [seniors] cannot afford the property tax bills for the home that they have owned for decades and paid off, State Rep. Erin Pare (R-Wake) told NC Newsline. Rep. Erin Pare (Photo: NCGA) Theyve had to make difficult decisions between the things that they need to buy to live, like their prescription drugs and paying gigantic property tax bills. North Carolina currently offers three property tax relief programs for qualified homeowners that are administered by counties: The Elderly/Disabled Homestead Exemption is for residents 65 years or older or those who are totally and permanently disabled. The program excludes from taxes the greater of $25,000 or 50% of the assessed value of the owners permanent residence. To qualify, income for the preceding year must be $38,800 or less, including both incomes for a married couple. The Circuit Breaker limits the amount of annual property taxes the owner pays on their permanent residence. Eligibility is limited to homeowners who are 65 and older or who are totally and permanently disabled. The tax bill is limited to a fixed percentage of income, and any taxes owed above that limit are deferred until a disqualifying event such as the owners death. This program requires a new application to be filed every year. Income for both an applicant and spouse cannot exceed $58,200. The Disabled Veteran Exclusion excludes up to the first $45,000 of the appraised value of the permanent residence of a disabled veteran who has a total and permanent service-connected disability or who received benefits for specially adapted housing. There is no age or income limitation for this program. Advertisement Advertisement Pare filed House Bill 59 last year to expand eligibility for homestead exclusions. The bill is one of several filed targeting high property tax rates, but none have yet made it into law. H59 would increase the income eligibility limit for married couples applying for the homestead exclusion to 115% of the existing limit, introduce a new qualification method based on area median income (AMI), and eliminate the previous system of deferring property taxes under the circuit breaker. Pare co-chairs the House Select Committee on Property Tax Reduction and Reform formed by House Speaker Destin Hall (R-Caldwell) to review local property taxes. Senate Leader Berger formed a similar committee. Theres a lot of different proposals right now that are being gathered from all members of the [House] committee that will hopefully end up in one piece of legislation, Pare said. Advertisement Advertisement As NC Newsline previously reported, a proposal floated by the Tax Foundation during a recent meeting of the House property tax reform committee would cap how much revenue local governments can collect from existing properties each year. Under the levy limit, new construction would be exempted. The Tax Foundation is a conservative-leaning organization that promotes tax reductions. It ranks states based on their tax systems. Such proposals have county officials worried. Kevin Leonard (Photo: NC Association of County Commissioners) Were opposed to these pieces of legislation unless the state makes up for the monies that they are going to be taking away from county governments, said Kevin Leonard, executive director at the N.C. Association of County Commissioners. Advertisement Advertisement In a recent paper, Riley Judd, who works on The Pew Charitable Trusts Fiscal 50 Project, which tracks state trends in long-term financial health, concurred with Leonards assessment. Without sustainable replacements or backfill mechanisms, such measures can put some critical services at risk and threaten the financial stability of local governments, Judd said. Meanwhile, Leonard noted that most county expenditures 70% to 75% are for state-mandated services. Those services include public schools, public safety and human services, he said. Any pressure that the General Assembly places on revenue is going to impact the ability for a county to pay for mandated services, Leonard said. Advertisement Advertisement As the cost of those services rise over time, unless the state gives counties money for them, counties either have to increase property taxes or reduce services, Leonard said. Its like a balloon, Leonard said. You squeeze here, its going to come out there. Leonard added that one-size-fits-all solutions will not serve the state well.You need the ability for counties to be flexible thats one of the reasons why you elect county commissioners. Joy Hicks, director of advocacy and policy at the commissioners association, said theyre closely watching Senate Bill 349, introduced by Sen. Brad Overcash (R-Gaston). Like Pares bill, S349 would end the marriage penalty by increasing income limits for married couples, and end the tax deferment for the circuit breaker, which some seniors dislike because it burdens heirs with repaying the taxes. Joy Hicks (Photo: NC Association of County Commissioners) Both are things that make it harder for some people to be able to get into those programs, Hicks said. Were definitely taking a look at those things to see if those are things that we can support. Advertisement Advertisement Anthony Pope also has some ideas for improving homestead exclusion programs. He was denied the exclusion at first because the family home he lives in has two names on the deed Popes and his sisters. The circuit breaker requires all owners to have owned and occupied the residence the previous five years. Pope said his sister received a circuit breaker exclusion for a separate home she owns and lives in. After arguing his case before the North Carolina Board of Equalization and Review, Pope was granted the circuit breaker. Pope is unsure why he was granted the exclusion but believes the eligibility requirements are open to interpretation. I dont care what reason they came up with, but they approved me for it for the last two years, Pope said. Advertisement Advertisement The provision requiring all people on a deed to have lived in a residence for the past five years and also qualify for the circuit breaker exclusion should be stripped from the eligibility requirements, Pope said. I say thats ridiculous because [for] most heirs property, in particular Black heirs property, you may have several people on the deed, Pope said. Do you realistically expect all of those people to have lived in the house the last five years? Pope, the founder of Men of Southeast Raleigh, works with several organizations and nonprofits to educate residents about tax relief programs available to them and other strategies to reduce property taxes, including filing appeals with county tax offices. The process should be easier, Pope said. Advertisement Advertisement Everything is computerized and a lot of the elderly residents do not know how to do it [file appeals and fill out applications] on a computer and they just give up and pay the taxes, Pope said. He also said income restrictions should be increased to allow more people to take advantage of exclusions. People who are receiving Social Security benefits and also a pension, theyre probably going to be over that limit but still struggle to pay property taxes, Pope said. BOSTON A North Dartmouth man charged with the fatal 2023 stabbing of 59-year-old Margarita Morehead in her Chelsea apartment was sentenced March 9 after pleading guilty to second-degree murder last month, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced in a press release. Judge Joshua Wall sentenced Angel Alvarez, 68, to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 17 years. Alvarez pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in violation of a protection order on Feb. 11. A North Dartmouth man charged with the fatal 2023 stabbing of 59-year-old Margarita Morehead in her Chelsea apartment was sentenced March 9 after pleading guilty to second-degree murder last month, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced in a press release. Alvarez dated Margarita Morehead for several years and lived off and on in her Chelsea apartment. Throughout their relationship, Alvarez exhibited jealousy and hostility toward Morehead and frequently accused her of infidelity, according to the release. In October 2022, Morehead obtained a restraining order against Alvarez that prohibited him from contacting her. The order was in effect at the time of her murder. Alvarez stabbed Morehead multiple times with kitchen knife Despite the order, Morehead and Alvarez remained in contact. On the morning of May 8, 2023, Alvarez was in Moreheads apartment when they began arguing over her attempts to end their relationship, according to the release. Alvarez punched Morehead twice in the face and became enraged when she said that her daughter, expected to visit later that morning, would see her injuries. Alvarez then grabbed a large kitchen knife and stabbed Morehead multiple times in the chest. Alvarez cut two of his own fingers during the attack. Alvarez fled the apartment, leaving Morehead to bleed to death on the floor, according to the release. Advertisement Advertisement A neighbor heard Morehead screaming and saw Alvarez leave the apartment, leaving a trail of blood behind him. The neighbor did not call police but instead went twice during the next 40 minutes to Moreheads apartment door, where he heard breathing that became increasingly faint. Finally, the neighbors partner contacted a local domestic violence hotline. The hotline operators called Chelsea Police, according to the release. Offices arrived and found Morehead unresponsive, with multiple stab wounds to her chest and back and a kitchen knife next to her body. Police obtained security video that showed Alvarez leaving the building and driving away in a red sedan with a mismatched hood. Investigators found the car abandoned nearby, with bloodstains inside and out, according to the release. Morehead was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Throughout the day, Alvarez made efforts to evade police and dispose of evidence, including his bloody clothing and a cellphone. Video from Target in Everett showed Alvarez purchasing new clothing and changing into it before leaving the store. In phone calls throughout the day, Alvarez told others that he had stabbed Morehead and that he was contemplating self-harm, according to the release. Alvarez called police to turn himself in Alvarez called police later that evening to turn himself in. Advertisement Advertisement Morehead, a mother of four, was described as a pillar of her community during sentencing, according to the release. One of her sons said, beyond our family, this crime has deeply affected friends, neighbors, and the broader community who knew and respected Margarita. The son added, Our mother, Margarita, was not defined by the way her life ended, but by the way she lived, by the love she gave to family, the guidance she offered to others, and the quiet strength she carried every day. Moreheads daughter said domestic violence didnt just take my mothers life. It took a grandmother from my son, a parent from me, and a piece of our family that can never be replaced. Alvarez was the 'perfect example of a monster' Moreheads sons partner described Alvarez as a monster and said, the defendant is a perfect example of a monster, one who the victim Margarita Morehead loved, cared for, supported. Help available for victims of domestic or sexual violence The victims of any crime, including domestic or sexual violence, should call 911 in an emergency, the release states. SafeLink, a statewide DV hotline, can be reached at 877-785-2020. SafeLink is answered by trained advocates 24/7 in English, Spanish and Portuguese, as well as TTY at 877-521-2601. It also has the capacity to provide multilingual translation in more than 140 languages. RAINN, the nations largest anti-sexual violence organization in partnership with more than 1,000 local sexual assault service providers across the country, can be reached at 800-656-4673. Advertisement Advertisement Help is also available for members of the LGBTQ+ community experiencing domestic or intimate partner violence through The Network/La Red by calling 617-742-4911 or 800-832-1901. This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: North Dartmouth man sentenced for fatally stabbing former girlfriend North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his teenage daughter observed tests of strategic cruise missiles fired from a warship, state media reported on Wednesday. The images came as North Korea threatened responses to US and South Korean military drills as Washington continues its war with Israel on Iran.They show the two in a conference room looking at a screen showing weapons being fired from the Choe Hyon, a year-old naval destroyer. US soldiers work at a training field during a military drill in South Korea, near the border with North Korea. Credit: AP Kim Jong Un watched the missile launches via video on Tuesday and underscored the need to maintain a powerful and reliable nuclear war deterrent," the state media channel KCNA reported.The girl, reportedly named Kim Ju Ae and about 13, has accompanied her father at numerous prominent events, including military parades and weapons launches, since late 2022. Advertisement Advertisement South Koreas spy agency assessed last month Kim Jong Un was close to designating her as his heir. Subscribe free to our weekly newsletter for exclusive and original coverage from ITV News. Direct to your inbox every Friday morning. KCNA said the missiles hit target islands off North Korea's west coast.It quoted Kim Jong Un as saying the launches were meant to demonstrate the navy's strategic offensive posture and get troops familiarised with the weapons. Leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter watch cruise missiles launches from the naval destroyer, according to the North Korean government Credit: North Korean government Kim Jong Un observed similar cruise missile launches from the Choe Hyon in person last week, but his daughter was not seen at that appearance.Tuesday's missile firings came after the start of the springtime US and South Korean military drills that North Korea views as an invasion rehearsal. Advertisement Advertisement Kim Jong Un's daughter close to being named future leader, Seoul says South Korean ex-president receives life sentence for imposing martial law On Tuesday, Kim Jong Un's sister and senior official, Kim Yo Jong, warned the drills reveal the US and South Korea's inveterate repugnancy toward" North Korea. She said North Korea will convince the enemies of our war deterrence.The 11-day Freedom Shield drill that began Monday is largely a computer-simulated command post exercise and will be accompanied by a field training program. North Korea often reacts to the two sets of training with its own weapons tests. Reporting History sees journalists join News At Ten anchor Tom Bradby to revisit their remarkable on-the-day reports of defining events of the modern age. Listen to the episodes below... Mark Zuckerberg once shared a pivotal piece of advice he received from legendary Apple Inc. co-founder and one of his mentors, Steve Jobs, which led him to travel to India. Steve Jobs' Advice During Uncertain Times In 2015, Meta Platforms, Inc. CEO Zuckerberg shared a little-known story about the early days of Facebook, when acquisition offers were on the table and pressure to sell was high. He said mentors and investors debated whether the company should be sold. During that period, he met Jobs, who encouraged him to reconnect with his vision by visiting a temple in India that the Apple co-founder had visited years earlier during his own period of reflection. Zuckerberg said Jobs believed the experience could help clarify purpose and long-term thinking. Don't Miss: A Month Of Reflection In India The Meta CEO said he traveled to India and spent nearly a month there. He said observing how people connected and communicated reinforced his belief in Facebook's mission to help build stronger global connections. The trip, he said, reminded him why he started the company and strengthened his resolve to keep it independent. Trending: Own the Characters, Not Just the Content: Inside a Fast-Growing Pre-IPO IP Company Turning Down Buyout Offers In 2006, reports indicated that after Zuckerberg rejected Viacom's $750 million bid for Facebook, Yahoo followed with a $900 million offer. The acquisition ultimately fell apart, and the companynow known as Meta has since grown to a market capitalization of about $1.67 trillion. Zuckerberg later acknowledged he did not approach the decision with advanced financial calculations. Instead, he focused on mission and long-term impact. "I think if I sold this company, I'd just go build another company like this and I kind of like the one I have," he said in a later interview, explaining why staying the course made sense to him. In its latest quarter, Meta reported revenue of $59.89 billion, surpassing analyst expectations of $58.30 billion. The company also posted adjusted earnings of $8.88 per share, exceeding estimates of $8.16 per share, according to Benzinga Pro. Read Next: EVENES, Norway Norwegian F-35s intercepted Russian intelligence-gathering aircraft two days in a row during an ongoing NATO military exercise here. On March 11 at 9:30 am, the deep and distinctive rumble of two Norwegian fighter jets echoed across the silent, mountainous terrain here in northern Norway, where NATO forces are currently conducting part of the biennial Cold Response 2026 exercise. Seconds later, two F-35s from the Norwegian Air Force darted off from Evenes Air Station to monitor a Russian Ilyushin Il-20M aircraft detected along the Norwegian coast. The military plane, which Moscow primarily uses for surveillance and reconnaissance missions, flew with its transponder switched off, according to the Norwegian Armed Forces. Advertisement Advertisement A statement from the Forsvaret, Norways armed forces, described the event as routine and expected during large-scale military exercises. They identified and shadowed the aircraft along the Norwegian coast before it turned northwards off Vesteralen the [Russian] plane then flew south twice more, reaching as far as Lofoten, before returning to the Kola Peninsula around 1:30 pm, the statement said. It was the second instance in as many days in which Russian aircraft were detected and identified as operating in international airspace off Finnmark, Norways northernmost region that straddles the Barents and Norwegian seas. On March 10, two F-35s were deployed for the same mission. That time, the Russian Ilyushin Il-20M was reported to have headed north of Srya and then returned to the Kola Peninsula. Advertisement Advertisement During a media briefing, Col. Hans Martin Steiro, the Norwegian air wing and base commander at Evenes, explained that in quick-reaction alert (QRA) missions, an alarm sounds when a non-allied aircraft is detected, and fighter crews have 15 minutes to be airborne. Norwegian pilots have flown an average of 38 QRA missions aimed at unidentified Russian planes per year since 2022, according to a military briefing to reporters. (NewsNation) The Trump administration recently greenlighted a nuclear reactor to be built for the first time in a decade. The plant, to be located in Kemmerer, Wyoming, has brought nothing but positive reaction from the area, the citys mayor, Robert Bowen, told The Hill. It means big things for us, Bowen said. Were expanding. Our population base is increasing. Our tax base is increasing. We got a lot of investment in our community, a lot of out-of-towners coming investing. Its been great. Advertisement Advertisement The project from Terrapower, a Bill Gates-backed company, will use next-generation technology and is expected to power up nearly 400,000 homes. Moon mission delayed due to SpaceX issues, NASA says One of the great things about TerraPower is how open and honest theyve been with us and upfront on everything, added Bowen. Theyve been very, very sharing with everything outside of trade secrets, of course, but theyve been very open with our community, and so theyve put a lot of fears to rest that people have had. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is so involved, and we have a high level of trust for them. Theres so much oversight on this, so much regulation that our locals really dont have much fear of this. Theyre all very supportive. Advertisement Advertisement Bowen acknowledged the plant also allows the city to be on the front lines of leading the charge for the new energy industry. This new plant, new type, very advanced, and I think its going to be the cutting-edge technology for other plants, he stated. Its going to set a standard. 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. After his speeding Lexus struck and killed a volunteer firefighter in North East Township in August 2023, motorist Dawann M. Simmons made statements at the scene about whether he would lose his job or whether his insurance costs would go up. Simmons was driving with a suspended license. He never asked about the condition of the victim, Shawn Giles, who was killed as he was directing traffic around an accident on Route 20 at Brickyard Road. Simmons' statements at the scene did not help him at his sentencing in Erie County Common Pleas Court more than a year ago, and the statements did not help him on appeal. Advertisement Advertisement In a ruling on March 10, the Pennsylvania Superior Court referred to the statements as it affirmed the sentence that then-Judge Daniel Brabender imposed on Simmons in January 2025. Brabender gave Simmons nine years and one month to 18 years and two months in state prison. The sentence was in the aggravated range of the sentencing guidelines. Simmons pleaded no contest to the third-degree felony of homicide by vehicle and he pleaded guilty to eight other offenses, including the third-degree felony of accidents involving death or personal injury while not properly licensed. Aftermath: Firefighter's widow stresses importance of PA's Move Over Law Advertisement Advertisement The Erie County District's Attorney's Office withdrew DUI-related charges over issues with a blood draw. Appeals court rejects claim that sentence was too severe At sentencing, Brabender said the circumstances of the crash, impact on the community and other factors "not only justify but require an aggravated sentence." He called Simmons' statements at the crash scene about his job and insurance costs "completely outrageous and actually offensive" because Simmons never inquired about Giles. Simmons claimed the sentence was excessive in his appeal to Superior Court. Simmons argued, according to the Superior Court decision, that Brabender "was influenced by the sense of public outrage and displayed bias and animus emanating from this highly public and notorious incident." Simmons said the sentence was also too extreme given that the fatal crash was unintentional and due to his recklessness. Firefighters pay respects as the body of Fuller Hose Co. volunteer Shawn Giles, 53, is taken to a funeral home in North East on Aug. 21, 2023. A motorist struck and killed Giles the day before as Giles was directing traffic at an accident scene in North East Township. A three-judge panel of the Superior Court unanimously sided with Brabender in upholding the sentence as well as Simmons' no-contest and guilty pleas. The panel said Brabender who retired at the start of the year properly considered the various factors in the case, and the panel quoted Brabender as saying Simmons' comments at the accident scene were "completely outrageous and actually offensive." Advertisement Advertisement Recent accident: Erie police officer was cited in fatal crash. Victim's family is upset "We find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in fashioning Appellant's sentence despite his behavior being reckless rather than intentional," Senior Judge Correale F. Stevens said in the three-judge panel's 17-page ruling. "The court considered all required and permissible factors and provided adequate justification for its sentence." Motorist was driving as high as 78 mph before crash Simmons, 43, is at the state prison at Albion. Giles, 53, was a fire policeman for the Fuller Hose Co. in North East. He was killed as he directed traffic around the previous accident scene shortly before 2:50 p.m. on Aug. 20, 2023. Simmons ignored emergency responders, drove into the accident scene and struck Giles, who was wearing fluorescent clothing. Advertisement Advertisement Simmons was driving his 2007 Lexus at 78 mph 1.2 seconds before the accident and about 58 mph when Giles was struck, according to police. The crash occurred where the posted speed limit was 55 mph. The rules for speed at accident sites reduced the limit to 35 mph. The crash was captured on a Pennsylvania State Police vehicle's dash camera. Brabender said at the sentencing that he reviewed the video. "It stayed with me a while," he said. Contact Ed Palattella at epalattella@usatodayco.com or 814-870-1813. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: 'Outrageous' remarks doom motorist's appeal over firefighter's death NEED TO KNOW A treasure hunter who spent years in prison after refusing to reveal the location of 500 missing gold coins from one of the greatest shipwrecks in the U.S. has been released Tommy Thompson discovered the 1857 Ship of Gold, also known as SS Central America, off the coast of South Carolina in 1988 Thompson, now 73, was then sent to prison in 2015 after not disclosing where the ships 500 gold coins were located A treasure hunter who spent years in prison after refusing to reveal the location of 500 missing gold coins from one of the greatest shipwrecks in the U.S. has been released. Tommy Thompson discovered the 1857 Ship of Gold, also known as SS Central America, off the coast of South Carolina in 1988, according to the Associated Press and The Columbus Dispatch. Advertisement Advertisement The Ship of Gold sank in 1857 during a hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean, killing 425 people, per The Columbus Dispatch. Tommy Thompson Credit: Delaware County Sheriff's Office via AP Thompson, now 73, was then sent to prison in 2015 after not disclosing where the ships 500 gold coins were located. On Wednesday, March 11, a spokesperson from the Federal Bureau of Prisons records confirmed to PEOPLE that Thompson was released from the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons on Wednesday, March 4. The spokesperson added that there would be no further comment on the conditions of confinement, as well as release plans, due to privacy and security reasons. Advertisement Advertisement Thompson was initially celebrated when he made the discovery, which included the ships 150-year-old treasure, according to the Associated Press. 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. SS Central America known as the Ship of Gold Credit: Library of Congress/AP However, after not revealing the location of the ships estimated $100 million gold coins and bars, many investors who financially backed his expedition felt cheated, The Columbus Dispatch reported. Investors argued that they had not received any money for the 500 gold bars and thousands of coins that were sold for $50 million, according to The Associated Press. Gold ingot recovered from the S.S. Central America, which sank in 1857 Credit: Steven Senne/AP Thompson then faced multiple lawsuits before going on the run in Florida, per the outlet. Advertisement Advertisement The explorer was eventually located in a hotel three years later. He was subsequently sentenced to prison after being found in contempt of court. He was also ordered to pay $1,000 for every day of his imprisonment, $3,335,000 in civil contempt fines and a $250,000 fine in the criminal contempt case, per The Columbus Dispatch. Thompson is now reportedly claiming that the coins, which were worth $2.5 million, were given to a trust in Belize. He also stated that the $50 million was used for legal expenses and bank loans, according to The Associated Press. Read the original article on People OKLAHOMA CITY As Oklahoma public schools continue to suffer from a teacher shortage, the state Senate passed bills to entice future educators and limit use of uncertified instructors. Both bills now advance to the state House for consideration. SB 1614 from Sen. Ally Seifried, R-Claremore, would require uncertified adjunct teachers to have a high school diploma to work in public schools. State law mandates only that they have distinguished qualifications in their field. Advertisement Advertisement Seifrieds bill, which passed with no questions nor debate, also would prohibit schools from hiring adjunct instructors as full-time reading or math teachers for kindergarten through fifth-grade classes. State law already prohibits adjunct instructors from teaching the youngest elementary grades. As it relates to kindergarten through fifth grade, we need to make sure teachers have the proper training, she said when passing the bill through committee Feb. 24. College scholarship funds for aspiring teachers would double under Senate Bill 1546, which passed a floor vote 37-10 on Tuesday. Full-time education majors with fewer than 90 college credit hours would qualify for $2,000 per academic year, up from $1,000, and those whove completed more than 90 credit hours could receive $5,000 per year rather than $2,500. The bill would cost about $10.49 million, according to an estimate from Senate staff and the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. More than 7,600 students currently receive funds from the scholarship, known as Inspired to Teach. Advertisement Advertisement The legislation also would rename the scholarship program as NEXT-ED, New Educators for Excellence in Teaching and Education. Existing rules require recipients to be enrolled in a teacher preparation degree program, and they must pledge to teach in an Oklahoma public school for five years after graduation. We want to double it and reimagine it because weve seen its effectiveness, but weve also seen the limit that it has in terms of the finances, the bills author, Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, said in a January news conference where he first discussed the idea. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Oklahoma's tragic familiarity with tornadic destruction runs deep, from the catastrophic Moore tornadoes of 1999 and 2013 to countless smaller outbreaks across the decades. The state's 2026 tornado season so far has already claimed four lives after only three days of storms, which places this year as the second-deadliest in the last 30 years. Over the past three decades, Oklahoma has recorded more than 2,100 tornadoes, resulting in 166 deaths and over 2,500 injuries. While many twisters strike open land and cause little harm, the ones that hit populated areas often leave a lasting mark on both communities and history. Advertisement Advertisement Here's a look at some of the significant tornado data recorded in Oklahoma's recent memory. Oklahoma 2026 tornado season So far, Oklahoma has seen at least 17 tornadoes touch down, with the potential of more to be designated as crews finalize data from the Friday, March 6, storms near Tulsa. Of the 17, three tornadoes have caused four fatalities and three deaths. Tornadoes have hit the northern portion of the state the most so far. The Tulsa area has seen the brunt of 2026's tornado season, as Creek, Mayes, Okmulgee, Osage, Rogers, Tulsa and Wagoner counties have received 10 of the 17 tornadoes. Yet, Cleveland County has seen the most tornadoes to date, with three tornadoes occurring within the county lines, all during the Jan. 8 weather event. Advertisement Advertisement The January 2026 storm not only tied the record for most tornadoes in January, but it also brought in the first of three injuries. Two more injuries were recorded in March in Okmulgee County. Both people are expected to recover, but the two did lose much in their lives, including entire home, cars, computers, phones and clothes. So far, tornadoes have also claimed the lives of four people in Oklahoma, including a mother and daughter from Fairview and a husband and wife from Beggs, during separate weather events in March. On Thursday, March 5, Jodie Owens, 47, and her 13-year-old daughter Lexi Owens were killed when their vehicle was struck by a tornado west of Fairview, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. The following day, husband and wife Todd and Becky McClellan were killed when a tornado struck their home in Beggs, south of Tulsa, according to a GoFundMe organized by the family. Advertisement Advertisement With four fatalities, 2026 has already become the second-deadliest tornado season in the last 10 years. The worst tornado season in Oklahoma in the last 30 years was 1999, with 42 fatalities and almost 700 injuries recorded. What is the most fatal tornado in Oklahoma history? The deadliest tornado in Oklahoma history was an F-5 tornado that came through Newcastle, Moore and Del City until its end in Midwest City. The tornado resulted in 36 deaths and 583 injuries, and wrought 37 miles of damage. MAY 3, 1999 TORNADO: Tornado damage: Aerial view of Moore looking northeast from near 12th street northeast. First Baptist Church is at top right. [PAUL HELLSTERN/THE OKLAHOMAN] During the 10 minutes or so that it was in Moore, it destroyed nearly 700 homes, 200 apartment units, 25 businesses and Kelley Elementary School. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma's 2026 tornado season is second-most deadly in last decade STERLING, Virginia Lindsay Shaw was happy when she found out a data center was going up 100 meters from her front door. Unlike most of her neighbors, she preferred a supercomputing hub to a shopping mall, which might bring a crush of car traffic. She was even more pleased when she learned the data center would generate its own power rather than connecting to the grid and driving up her electric bills. But then the data center turned on, along with the eight natural gas turbines powering it. Now her home is barraged by a high-pitch whine that she says has made her newly screened-in porch unusable. Advertisement Advertisement We dont want to be outside anymore, said Shaw, a cybersecurity professional living in Loudoun County, one of the densest data center hotbeds on Earth. A lot of people might see this as progress, like I did. But if its impacting you then you see, Oh, thats what it means for a data center to be in your community. Shaws experience is a possible cautionary tale for President Donald Trump, who is pitching a new wave of data-center-specific power plants as the solution to easing voters anxieties about the economic costs of the artificial intelligence boom. A pledge he signed last Wednesday with leaders of Amazon, Google, OpenAI and other tech giants calls for data companies to build, bring, or buy the new generation resources and electricity needed to satisfy their new energy demands, while paying the full cost of those resources. But all those tech industry power generators would need to go somewhere. And that creates more possible reasons for neighbors like Shaw to turn against a project. I would never have bought my home if I thought this could happen, said Craig Dobbs, who lives 1,200 feet from the new gas-powered facility in Sterling owned by Silicon Valley-based Vantage Data Centers. He said he couldnt walk his dog, Piper, one day last month because the noise was unbearable outside. Advertisement Advertisement If anyone is hearing about these going in with their own gas turbine systems off the grid, they really need to think again, because its not fun, Dobbs said. The White House declined to answer questions about data centers local impacts. Vantages vice president of global marketing, Mark Freeman, did not answer questions about noise from the facility, though he said it is fully permitted and in accordance with zoning ordinances of Loudoun County. In response to a complaint from Dobbs, company Vice President of Public Policy John Stephenson wrote that "Im sorry to learn about your situation with increased noise impacting you," according to a copy of the email Dobbs shared with POLITICO. Dobbs had sent the company a video taken from his front door and sound measurements taken on his phone in late February. Stephenson said the data centers operations team had not seen any abnormalities on the day in question. Advertisement Advertisement However, we take any reports of issues at the site seriously, Stephenson wrote, adding that he would have the team investigate the issue further. The Data Center Coalition, an industry trade group, did not respond to questions about data center noise or what industry best practices exist for mitigating its impact on neighbors. Democratic Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, who represents most of Loudoun County in Congress, has dozens of data centers in his district but said he hears more complaints from constituents about Vantages Sterling location than any other facility. The noise and the pollution, thats what makes it stand out to me, said Subramanyam, who also covers part of Prince William County where data center construction is booming. While Trumps pledge might help with the ratepayer issue, he said, it comes at another cost to the community. Moneys not the only cost The White Houses plan is meant to address one political obstacle to the AI boom the fear among many voters that powering the hundreds of new data centers being planned across the country will make electricity more expensive for ordinary Americans. Advertisement Advertisement People think that if a data center goes in, their electricity prices are going to go up, Trump said during a roundtable with executives from tech companies including Microsoft, Google, Meta and OpenAI. Some centers were rejected by communities for that, and now I think its going to be just the opposite. But the main solution Trump highlighted telling tech companies to build your own power plant could exacerbate another one: People dont want to live next to power plants any more than they want to live next to data centers. Just 37 percent of respondents to a POLITICO Poll in January said they would support building data centers within three miles of their home, compared with 36 percent who would support a power plant. In Shaws neighborhood in Sterling, the whine of the Vantage data centers gas turbines can be heard even at homes half a mile away. Sometimes that noise combines with rumbling from the data centers backup diesel generators. Noise is a common complaint when data centers are built close to residents. Thats often because cooling systems atop the warehouse-sized buildings can make a low-pitched hum, especially on hotter days when they are operating more intensely. Because Vantages power plant is always running, its impossible to know exactly what aspects of its noise are coming from the gas turbines as opposed to the data centers cooling system. Advertisement Advertisement But multiple advocates and data center neighbors who have spent time around these kinds of facilities say the noise from Vantage is higher-pitch and more constant. Greg Pirio, who lives 200 yards from the Sterling plant, told POLITICO that he has had to take sleeping pills on nights when the noise, carried on the wind, is particularly bad. Another neighbor, Hari Doue, said she has been considering spending $8,000 to soundproof two windows in her sons bedrooms to help them sleep at night. Pollution can come with the noise. One Harvard-affiliated analysis released last week found that soot emissions from the gas turbines could cause $53 million to $99 million in annual health impacts, largely in respiratory and cardiac problems, if the facility emits the maximum pollution levels allowed by its Clean Air Act permit. It sounds good to get these off the grid, but people need to understand the implications of these kinds of proposals, Pirio said. We feel kind of screwed over. Advertisement Advertisement Freeman, the Vantage vice president, criticized the health analysis for relying on worst-case scenario models instead of actual emissions from the facility. The analysis, he said in response to questions from POLITICO, should not be interpreted as forecasts of actual operations, local exposure or attributable health outcomes. Vantages Sterling location came online ahead of a growing trend of data centers that are installing their own gas turbines instead of hooking to the electric grid, as tech companies seek to get online faster while utilities struggle to keep up with demand. That trend began long before Trump announced his pledge and has resulted in a shortage of turbines. The pop-up power plants may be popular with technology companies, but plans for installing them have stirred opposition in some communities. Advertisement Advertisement Last spring, officials in Virginias Pittsylvania County voted down a proposed data center megacampus that would have been powered by a 3,500-megawatt gas-fired power plant. Local opposition to the project grew after researchers from Harvard University used computer modeling to predict that the power plant could result in more than $31 million in annual health care related costs. Michael Cork, a health scientist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, conducted a similar analysis of the Vantage data center in Sterling as part of his consulting group, EmPower Analytics Group. The analysis, released last week, found that soot emissions from the facility could cause tens of millions of dollars in annual health impacts, not just in Sterling and Loudoun County but as far away as the District of Columbia and parts of Maryland. Because its located in a densely populated area of the country, even modest increases in pollution can translate into substantial public health costs and implications, he said. Both studies used an Environmental Protection Agency mapping tool to estimate the power plants health impacts. Corks analysis, funded by the local environmental group Piedmont Environmental Council, underscores that data centers costs are not just financial. Advertisement Advertisement Its not just a question of reliability or affordability, its also a public health question, and quantifying the health burden is crucial so that policy makers and regulators can make their own decision about how to support digital infrastructure while also protecting air quality and saving lives, Cork said. While Vantages Freeman disputed the findings, he did not respond when asked for information about the facilitys actual emissions and how they might differ from what its permit allows. Jessica Medeiros, who lives an estimated 600 feet from the data center, said it has not just disrupted her sleep but caused her to feel congested when in her home and her neighborhood. The symptoms disappear when she leaves the neighborhood, she said, but come back when she returns home. People talk about the cloud like its something floating in the sky, but for those of us living right next to these facilities, the cloud comes with a noise and feeling like I have allergies year-round, whenever Im in my house, she said. No zoning rules to cover this Regardless of what Trump and the industry pledged last week, decisions about whether to allow data centers to generate power on-site come down to local officials tasked with approving zoning ordinances and variances. Advertisement Advertisement The Vantage facility is just one of 200 data centers in Loudoun County, whose massive concentration of the computing hubs hosts much of the worlds internet traffic and has given it the nickname Data Center Alley. Following complaints about Vantages on-site turbines, local officials are working on updating the countys comprehensive plan to address concerns including those involving on-site gas turbines and noise. There are no zoning rules to cover this, county Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Michael Turner said in an interview. Turner said county officials didnt understand in 2022 and 2023 exactly what it meant to have gas turbines at a data center, nor did they have zoning rules to address it. When Vantage submitted its building plans to the county, the plan was to use gas turbines only temporarily, not as a primary power source. Because data centers typically include backup diesel generators and other temporary power sources, it seemingly complied with the zoning ordinance, and the county allowed the project. At the time, county rules allowed data centers to be built by right without any public hearing that might have invited more scrutiny. But shortly after the project received approval, Turner said, Virginia power utility Dominion Energy told Vantage that it would have to wait three years before connecting to the electric grid. Vantage then pivoted to relying on the gas turbines for all of its power, Turner said. Dominion did not respond to a request for comment. Vantages Freeman also did not respond to questions about how long the data center would continue to rely on the turbines. It was only after the data center was operating, following a tour he took of the facility, that Turner said county officials realized the data center was running in island mode. It was very impressive, but it was obvious that this is not what we thought was allowed, Turner said. Turner said he doesnt think Vantage set out to deceive anyone. Still, he noted, zoning rules at the time would not have allowed the power plant to be built in its current location if it wasnt part of a data center. Now the county is working to rewrite its zoning rules for data centers to categorize baseload power generation, responsible for producing all of a data centers power, as an on-site utility, which would be subject to more stringent rules. It is separately working on new noise rules for the supercomputing hubs. Data centers can be wonderful, but you need to preemptively establish performance standards in order to make them compatible with your neighborhoods, he said. Sign up for Executive Dysfunction, a weekly newsletter that surfaces under-the-radar stories about what Trump is doing to the lawand how the law is pushing back. It seems fair to assume that Donald Trumps second presidency hasnt turned out quite the way Ed Martin had hoped. The former interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia has faced a series of embarrassing setbacks over the past 14 months, tumbling down the Justice Departments ladder, rung by rung, as fellow Republicans turned sharply against him. But the biggest blow so far arrived on Tuesday, when disciplinary counsel for the D.C. bar announced a formal complaint against Martin for professional misconduct. The charges accuse him of violating his oath to the Constitution, then interfering with the investigation into his alleged malfeasance. If found culpable, he could be suspended from the practice of law or disbarred in D.C. Whats perhaps most remarkable about the case against Martin isnt its allegations of unconstitutional behavior, which was already a matter of public record. Its that upon receiving the initial complaint, Martin reportedly launched a pressure campaign against the D.C. Court of Appeals, lobbying the chief judge to dismiss the charges and suspend the lead investigator on his case. These actions would constitute egregious breaches of professional ethicsclearer-cut violations, in fact, than the conduct that triggered the accusations against him. Its no wonder that Attorney General Pam Bondi is trying to award herself the power to shut down bar investigations into DOJ attorneys like Martin: D.C.s disciplinary counsel appears to have him dead to rights. Advertisement Advertisement Martins fall from grace has been swift but not particularly surprising. He rose to prominence helping plan and finance the Stop the Steal rally on Jan. 6, then defended many of that days insurrectionists in court. Trump installed him as D.C.s interim U.S. attorney on Inauguration Day, even though Martin had had no prosecutorial experience whatsoever. From this post, he implemented the presidents mass clemency for Jan. 6 defendants and purged the office of prosecutors who had helped convict them. He also investigated Democratic lawmakers on bogus charges of mortgage fraud. When Senate Republicans refused to confirm Martin as permanent U.S. attorney, Trump gave him four new titles, including director of the DOJs Weaponization Working Group. But Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche reportedly demoted him after he allegedly leaked grand jury material, which is a federal crime, then lied about it to department leaders. He claims to serve as pardon attorney but has been pushed out of DOJ headquarters and is soon expected to leave the agency altogether. The D.C. bars complaint, though, has nothing to do with any of this. Instead, it stems from one of Martins side quests during his brief stint as interim U.S. attorney: his harassment of Georgetown University Law Center. In February 2025, Martin sent a letter to then-Dean William Treanor saying it was unacceptable that the school continues to teach and promote DEI. He ordered Treanor to swiftly remove DEI from all courses and curriculum and declared that his office would not hire Georgetown Law grads until the dean fell in line; he also wrote to Georgetowns president to suggest that the school might lose federal funding if Treanor failed to comply. In a forceful response, Treanor stood on principle, asserting that the school had a First Amendment right to teach and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion as a Catholic value. Martin eventually backed downan early, embarrassing defeat in the administrations campaign to shake down higher education. Many Georgetown Law graduates (myself included) were appalled by this brazen effort to punish a private Jesuit institution for teaching values opposed by the regime. One such alumnus was Phillip Argento, a retired California judge, who filed a complaint about the incident with Hamilton P. Fox, the D.C. bars disciplinary counsel. Fox opened an investigation and concluded that Martin had run afoul of a rule of professional conduct that forbids attorneys from violating their oath of office, which includes a vow to support the U.S. Constitution. Advertisement Advertisement Mr. Martin knew or should have known that, as a government official, his conduct violated the First and Fifth Amendments, Fox wrote in the charges unveiled Tuesday. Martin violated freedom of speech, according to Fox, when he demanded that Georgetown Law change what it teaches students and how it teaches them, while using coercion to punish or suppress a disfavored viewpoint. And he violated due process by failing to provide Georgetown Law fair notice of what is allegedly prohibited because he didnt define DEI or explain why he had the power to censor its advocacy. Foxs legal theory is not frivolous, but it is far from a slam dunk. There is little precedent establishing that a bar may sanction an attorney for wielding the powers of government unconstitutionally. Last year, the D.C. bars Board on Professional Responsibility did recommend disbarment for Jeffrey Bossert Clark, the DOJ official who tried to overturn the election at the end of Trumps first term. (Its ruling is currently pending with the D.C. Court of Appeals.) That ruling held that lawyers may lose their license for egregious abuse of office. But it rested on Clarks false statements and rank dishonesty, finding that he should have known he was pushing the DOJ to tell a lie that would lead to the unconstitutional reversal of an election. In his own complaint, Fox similarly argued that Martin knew or should have known that he was acting unconstitutionally, though he did not claim that he made factual misrepresentations in an official capacity. Martins letter was absurd and malicious. But was it so outrageous as to constitute a violation of his oath? He can, and presumably will, mount a plausible argument that the disciplinary counsel cannot sanction a public official based on its own subjective view of what crosses the constitutional line. There is a real chance that the Board on Professional Responsibility or the D.C. Court of Appeals will ultimately embrace this view. But that would no longer let Martin off the hookbecause, instead of contesting Foxs first claim against him through the proper legal channels, he allegedly tried to quash it by committing a far more clear-cut ethical breach. According to the charges, Martin refused to respond to the complaint, and instead wrote directly to the chief judge and senior judges of the D.C. Court of Appeals. In the letter, he requested a face-to-face meeting with all of you to discuss this matter and find a way forward. And he copied Trumps White House counsel for informational purposes because of the importance of getting this issue addressed. Advertisement Advertisement The chief judge, Anna Blackburne-Rigsby, told Martin that he could not speak with her ex parteoutside the formal process and without Fox presentand would have to follow standard procedure. Rather than take her advice, Martin reportedly told the disciplinary counsel he was communicating with the chief judge and copied her on the email. She responded, again, that she could not talk with him ex parte. The disciplinary counsel then asked Martin to turn over his letter to the judges. Rather than comply, he apparently wrote to the chief judge a third time, insisting that you not only suspend Mr. Fox immediately to investigate his conduct, but also to dismiss the case against me because of his prejudicial conduct. Unfortunately for Martin, the D.C. Rules of Professional Conduct expressly forbid lawyers from communicating with a judge unless authorized to do so by law or court order, which he was not. There appears to be no serious dispute that Martin communicated with Blackburne-Rigsby ex parte not once, not twice, but three separate times, all in an effort to evade discipline against him. If proven, this behavior is a textbook example of misconduct sanctionable by the bar. Fox therefore charged Martin with violating this rule, as well as another prohibiting conduct that seriously interferes with the administration of justice. The erstwhile interim U.S. attorney, then, is in a pickle of his own making. Had he simply fought Foxs complaint the right way, he may well have defeated the charges in short order. But because he allegedly tried to obstruct the investigation, he faces a separate set of charges on much firmer legal ground. Even if this conduct doesnt merit disbarment, it could easily trigger a temporary suspension of his law license. Martin rose to infamy brandishing legal jeopardy against his foes. Now, thanks to his own overreach, he faces consequences he cannot threaten away. RALEIGH, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) With the Iran War now in its second week, support, at least among elected officials, has fallen along party lines. That partisan divide over the conflict is also present in the race for North Carolinas open US Senate seat. Queen City News Chief Political Correspondent Andy Weber asked GOP nominee Michael Whatley about US involvement within days of the initial strikes. I do think the U.S. should be involved. I think that the president has been very clear, that the mission is to make sure that Iran does not develop nuclear weapons and is no longer going to be able to export terror and really be a threat to American interests and allies around the region, said Whatley. MORE | Diesel prices climb nearly $1 in North Carolina amid Iran conflict Democratic nominee Roy Cooper was asked for his position during a campaign stop in Greensboro on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement I think we need to take back the constitutional authority, particularly on the declaration of war. But Im worried that this may end up being a forever war thats going to end up driving up costs for everyday people. I want to focus on making sure we lower costs, said Cooper. Dr. Chris Cooper, a political scientist at Western Carolina University, said no matter the outcome, whatever happens in Iran will be tied directly to the president, not a single candidate for Senate. Neither Whatley nor Cooper are currently in office. Nobodys going to punish either one of them directly or reward either one of them directly. But the question is about the party brand, right? Clearly this is, for good or ill, is Donald Trumps war, said Dr. Cooper. The professor argued if there are any major developments in the war by November, whether good or bad, Whatleys support will see the greatest impact. Advertisement Advertisement I think it is the Republican Party that will get the benefits or the blame, depending on how things go and how folks perceive it, he added. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. An awkwardly worded question and a poorly phrased answer by a government official have launched speculation and debate about the possibility of a draft. Most of it is wrong or at least misguided, but reflects a growing uncertainty over what comes next in the ongoing fight with Iran. The latest flurry of concern about a draft came after a Sunday interview between White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Fox News Maria Bartiromo. First, here is the exchange that started it all: Advertisement Advertisement Mothers out there are worried that were going to have a draft, that theyre going to see their sons and daughters get involved in this. What do you want to say about the presidents plans for troops on the ground? Bartiromo asked, in reference to Operation Epic Fury, which began Feb. 28 with the U.S. military striking more than 5,000 Iranian targets as of Tuesday. The president, as commander in chief, wants to continue to assess the success of this military operation. Its not part of the current plan right now, but the president, again, wisely keeps his options on table, Leavitt said. Theres no greater priority or responsibility to this president than, of course, protecting the American people and protecting our troops. The U.S. has not had a draft in more than five decades. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Philip Ribas. It wasnt immediately clear if Leavitt was responding to the question about deploying ground combat troops to Iran, or the possibility of a military draft. The exchange quickly went viral, even prompting a response from the White House, but not before it made the rounds online. This is not the first time that fears over a draft have emerged during ongoing military operations. But the U.S. has not had a draft since the Vietnam War and is more likely to rely on the kinds of provisions it used during the Global War on Terror to boost manpower. How does a draft work in the United States? A draft is a formal process for military conscription, which in the U.S. is the Selective Service System. American men between 18 and 25 must register and can face fines, imprisonment, and become ineligible for federal jobs if they fail to do so. Advertisement Advertisement If a draft was instituted, it would first take men turning 20, then those 21, and so on through 25, with 18 and 19-year-olds last. To institute a draft, Congress would have to update the Military Selective Service Act with specific references to the current conflict, and then the president would have to sign it, Kate Kuzminski, director of studies for the Center for New American Security, told Task & Purpose. 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 The U.S. had early conscription systems during the American Revolution and World War I, until a formal draft was established for World War II and again in the Vietnam War. Advertisement Advertisement Registration for the Selective Service System had remained relatively optional until the most recent defense bill. Now, the Selective Service System can tap federal data, like information from the Social Security Administration, to automatically register young men. The agency is also directed to notify those who have been registered. Congress has also long debated whether a draft should include both men and women. In 2016, for instance, two Republicans introduced the Draft Americas Daughters bill. The president cant unilaterally decide to implement a military draft, and thats on purpose, Kuzminski said. Even if President Donald Trump announced a draft without Congress, she asked: What current American man is going to follow through on a draft order that isnt legal? Even when its legal, we have people who avoid their induction notices. We have the example of Vietnam, where people pushed back on it, and because we see Vietnam as a bad war, poorly executed war, she said. But people pushed back during World War I and World War II as well. Why a draft is unlikely Kuzminski said the political decision to institute a draft would likely come after the U.S. has already utilized its active duty force, activated Reserve and National Guard units, and called back the Individual Ready Reserve. All of these options would equate to nearly 3 million troops, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Its an unsavory topic to think about if weve gone through that many folks, she said. And thats before youre even considering casualty rates affecting those who are in the conflict. But, Kuzminski emphasized that a military draft is a political decision, not a decision that military leaders make. Since a draft is unlikely to be politically popular, Kuzminski said she doubts that a president or members of Congress would institute one, especially in an election year. She speculates that Congress and a sitting president would only risk voters wrath if we had an invasion of the homeland, she said, like the bombing of Pearl Harbor.And the military already can invoke other forms of compulsory service. During the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, some service members had their military contracts involuntarily extended through a program called a stop-loss. Others were pulled back into active duty from the Individual Ready Reserve, while reservists and National Guard troops saw unprecedented combat deployments. Marsh has named Nick Studer as president and CEO of Marsh Risk, succeeding Martin South. South will move into an enterprise-wide role as chief client officer (CCO) of Marsh, working with leaders across the companys businesses. The leadership changes take effect on 1 April. Studer and South will remain on the companys Executive Committee. Both will report to John Doyle, president and CEO of Marsh. Commenting on the appointments, Doyle said: Our vision is to make Marsh the most impactful professional services firm in the world. These appointments will help us accelerate growth, increase our agility, unlock additional value for our clients and realise our vision. Studer joined Oliver Wyman, part of Marsh, in 1997. He held senior consulting posts across consumer, industrial and financial services, before becoming president and CEO in 2021. He has served on cross-industry organisations, including as a founding director of TheCityUK and a founding advisory board member of the FICC Markets Standards Board. South rejoined Marsh in 2007 and led the business in several regions including Asia-Pacific, the UK and Ireland, Europe, and the US and Canada. He became president and CEO of Marsh Risk in 2022. He first joined the company in 1985 with Bowring Marsh. South also held leadership roles at Zurich Financial Services. He served on the Group Management Board, overseeing operations outside North America and Europe, and was CEO of Zurichs London operations. Marsh said it expects to announce a new CEO of Oliver Wyman and Marsh Management Consulting by 1 April. Studer commented: I am honoured to lead Marsh Risk and delighted to be carrying forward our mission to grow a paradigm-shifting risk advisor, all-connected risk intermediary and passionate advocate for our clients. "Marsh names Nick Studer as CEO of Marsh Risk " was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand. Lebanons government just did something that would have been unthinkable a year ago. Prime Minister Nawaf Salams Cabinet imposed a blanket ban on Hezbollahs military and security activities last week, ordering the Lebanese Armed Forces to stop rocket launches and other attacks from Lebanese territory. Days later, Justice Minister Adel Nassar instructed the public prosecutor to pursue arrests including Hezbollahs secretary general, Naim Qassem on charges of violating government decisions and inciting sedition. Some are calling this a turning point. I am not. These moves are symbolic, not structural. As long as Hezbollahs global criminal financial empire remains intact, Lebanon is not entering a post-Hezbollah era as some claim. Advertisement Advertisement And the government has not taken the most basic step available to it: formally dissolving Hezbollah as a political entity a group which, unlike every other party in the country, has never applied for legal recognition under Lebanese law. At best, we are watching political theater. At worst, we are mistaking gestures for governance. The symbolism is undeniably bold. For the first time, a Lebanese cabinet has formally declared Hezbollahs resistance operations a violation of national sovereignty triggered by rockets fired into Israel in support of Iran during the conflict begun 11 days ago. But symbolism is not enforcement. The prosecution itself requires cabinet approval, where Hezbollah and its allies still hold decisive influence. Whats more, even if the cabinet approves it, the Lebanese state lacks the capacity to enforce it. Hezbollah commands a large, battletested armed wing, maintains superior firepower in key areas, and controls strategic territory from Beiruts southern suburbs to the southern border and the Bekaa Valley. The state cannot compel a group that outguns it, outmaneuvers it, and holds veto power through the threat of internal unrest. Lebanon has been here before. UN Security Council Resolution 1701 after the 2006 war, the so-called disassociation policy, and countless internal agreements all collapsed for the same reason: the Lebanese state does not hold a monopoly on force, and Hezbollah retains the ability to block or reverse any decision it dislikes. Qassems reaction was predictable: He accused the cabinet of acting as Israeli agents and vowed defiance. Without dismantling Hezbollahs financial and organizational core, this supposed crackdown remains a loud gesture with no teeth. Advertisement Advertisement To understand why these measures fall short, we need to be honest about what Hezbollah has become. It is not merely Irans proxy militia. It is a vertically integrated enterprise: political party, intelligence service, welfare network, and global criminal organization operating under Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force command. For years, Tehran funneled more than $1 billion annually to Hezbollah. As Irans economy faltered, illicit revenue filled the gap. In 2018, the U.S. Justice Department listed Hezbollah among the worlds top transnational criminal organizations, alongside major drug cartels. Hezbollahs business affairs component runs cocaine trafficking from Latin America, money laundering networks across West Africa and Europe, cigarette smuggling, and counterfeiting operations. Fronts like Al Qard al Hassan and other businesses sustain salaries, weapons procurement, and patronage networks, even as Lebanons economy collapses. Lebanon cannot disarm Hezbollah while this empire remains intact. Prosecuting Qassem for sedition while his networks launder billions is like arresting a bank teller while leaving the vault wide open. Dismantling Hezbollah is not a declaration it is a process, and it requires alignment between Beirut and Washington. Advertisement Advertisement Lebanons government must implement the Homeland Shield Plan and empower the Lebanese military to seize and decommission weapons transparently. It must target the cash economy by shutting down Hezbollah-linked financial structures such as Al Qard al Hassan and placing opaque institutions notably the Council of the South under strict auditing and anticorruption oversight. It should designate Hezbollah domestically as a transnational criminal organization, enabling asset freezes tied to drug trafficking, smuggling and laundering. And it must provide offramps for the Shia community by linking reconstruction loans to disarmament benchmarks and negotiating border security guarantees with Israel. For the Trump administration, the priority is a financial kill shot: expanding the Transnational Criminal Organizations designation with secondary sanctions on Hezbollahs global networks, especially in Latin America and Africa. Washington should use aid leverage by conditioning support for Lebanons military on measurable progress, suspending assistance if benchmarks stall. It should apply military pressure by integrating Hezbollah degradation into Operation Epic Fury, targeting Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps arms flows, and sharing intelligence with Israel and the Lebanese Armed Forces. And it must coordinate diplomacy by rallying the EU and Gulf states around sanctions and reconstruction incentives. Irans internal turmoil Ayatollah Ali Khameneis death and the weakening of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has created a rare window. Hezbollahs lifeline is fraying. But half measures risk driving the group deeper underground, making it more clandestine and more dangerous. Lebanons recent moves acknowledge a truth long denied: Hezbollahs unilateral wars violate national sovereignty and have dragged Lebanon into conflicts it did not choose. But unless the groups war economy is dismantled, Hezbollah will adapt, rearm, and continue pulling Lebanon into Irans regional confrontations. Advertisement Advertisement A U.S.-led strategy that treats Hezbollah not only as a terrorist organization but as a transnational criminal organization and as an arm of the Iranian state is the only path to restoring Lebanese sovereignty. Until then, Nassars arrest request is noise, not transformation. Lebanon deserves more than gestures. It deserves a state capable of defending its borders, its institutions, and its future. And that requires dismantling the empire that sustains Hezbollahs power not applauding symbolic decrees that leave its foundations untouched. Charbel A. Antoun is a Washington-based journalist and writer specializing in U.S. foreign policy, with a focus on the Middle East and North Africa. 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. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) may have been giving an early preview of the 2028 presidential race when he declared recently that he has never accepted and never will accept support from AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. In todays Democratic politics, that statement is not merely about campaign finance. It signals that distancing oneself from pro-Israel advocacy groups is becoming a new political test inside the party. With former Vice President Kamala Harris, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Newsom himself widely viewed as potential contenders for the Democratic nomination, early signals about where candidates stand on Israel and its supporters may take on increasing political significance. Advertisement Advertisement For decades, support for Israel was one of the least controversial positions in American politics. Democrats and Republicans alike routinely affirmed the U.S.Israel alliance. Organizations such as AIPAC operated openly in Washington as advocates for maintaining strong strategic ties between the two countries. That bipartisan consensus has begun to fray. Within the Democratic Party particularly among younger and progressive voters attitudes toward Israel have shifted significantly. The war in Gaza following Hamass Oct. 7 massacre accelerated those divisions. Protests on college campuses, contentious debates in Congress and a surge of activism on social media have turned Israel from a broadly supported ally into a sharply contested issue within parts of the party. In that environment, AIPAC itself has become something of a political symbol. For critics on the left, the organization represents what they view as the entrenched donor class and the political influence of pro-Israel advocacy groups. For supporters, AIPAC remains a mainstream organization advocating for a democratic ally in a volatile region. But regardless of where one stands in that debate, the political effect is increasingly clear: Democratic candidates are becoming wary of public association with the organization. Advertisement Advertisement Newsoms comment illustrates this new dynamic. As governor of California home to one of the largest Jewish populations in the country he has repeatedly expressed support for Israels right to defend itself and condemned Hamas. He visited Israel after the Oct. 7 attacks and signed legislation addressing antisemitism on California college campuses. At the same time, his decision to emphasize that he will not accept AIPAC support sends a signal to progressive voters who view the organization with suspicion. The message appears aimed less at changing policy than at navigating the internal politics of a Democratic primary electorate that is increasingly divided over Israel. The rhetorical groundwork for this shift was laid several years ago. In 2019, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) sparked controversy when she suggested that American support for Israel was driven by money, tweeting that it was all about the Benjamins, followed by a reference to AIPAC. Democratic leaders rebuked the remark at the time as invoking harmful stereotypes, and Omar later apologized. But the episode also helped introduce a new vocabulary into political debate framing Israel policy through the lens of donor influence and campaign finance. That language has since spread widely in activist circles. Advertisement Advertisement In recent Democratic primaries, progressive groups have increasingly highlighted whether candidates have received support from AIPAC or affiliated political committees. Some candidates have pledged not to accept such support at all. The result is a subtle but meaningful shift. In past presidential cycles, candidates often emphasized pro-Israel credentials as a signal of reliability on foreign policy. Today, some appear to believe that distancing themselves from pro-Israel advocacy groups may be politically advantageous in a Democratic primary. Whether this trend represents a lasting ideological transformation or simply tactical positioning remains unclear. American public opinion about Israel is complex and often divided along generational lines. Many Democratic voters remain supportive of Israels security while also critical of particular Israeli policies. Still, the emerging dynamic raises important questions for roughly 7.5 million Jews in the U.S. one of the countrys most politically active voting blocs and a community that has historically leaned strongly Democratic. Changes in how pro-Israel advocacy is viewed within the party carry broader implications. If association with a major pro-Israel advocacy organization becomes politically risky inside one of Americas two major parties, what does that mean for mainstream Jewish political engagement? Does it suggest that traditional forms of pro-Israel advocacy are becoming politically suspect? Or is it simply another manifestation of the broader debate over money in politics playing out through the lens of Middle East policy? Advertisement Advertisement Presidential campaigns are shaped not only by policy positions but also by the political boundaries candidates believe they must navigate. When a leading Democratic contender begins publicly drawing lines about which support he will accept and which he will reject, it reflects assumptions about where the partys base is moving. Newsoms declaration may therefore be less about AIPAC itself than about the future of Democratic presidential politics. If distancing from the most prominent pro-Israel advocacy organization becomes routine among Democratic candidates, it marks a noteworthy shift in how Israel and American Jewish political engagement is viewed within one of the nations two major parties. Stephen M. Flatow is the father of Alisa Flatow, who was murdered in an Iranian-sponsored Palestinian terrorist attack in 1995, and author of A Fathers Story: My Fight for Justice Against Iranian Terror. He is president of the Religious Zionists of America. 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. Two years ago, I attended the Utah Republican Convention as a neighborhood delegate. I expected spirited debate. I did not expect shouting, name-calling and candidates unable to finish their remarks because of sustained boos and personal insults. I turned to the delegate next to me and asked what was happening. This is just Utah politics, he shrugged. It shouldnt be. We can do better. After the convention, Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson wrote on X that the event was no longer a family friendly environment, describing the vulgarity and viciousness her young nieces witnessed. Her words echoed what many attendees felt: Name-calling, slurs and intimidation were rampant throughout the 14-hour day. The GOP convention is no longer a family friendly environment. Im mortified by the vulgarity and viciousness my young nieces were exposed to by another gubernatorial campaigns supporters. Its embarrassing, sad, and clearly no longer for kids. pic.twitter.com/2PJUE0x3Lx Deidre Henderson (@DeidreHenderson) April 28, 2024 The irony was striking. The very delegates shouting down candidates held decisive voting power. They did not need to yell; they could simply vote. Convention delegates wield real influence: A candidate who earns 60% of the delegate vote secures the party nomination outright; if no one reaches that threshold, the top two advance to a primary. In some races, the difference between success and defeat comes down to only a handful of votes. Advertisement Advertisement We would not allow booing and name-calling among schoolchildren, yet we tolerate it among adults wielding real power. If this is just Utah politics, then Utah politics needs better delegates who model civility for those who are watching and learning from us. The solution is simpler than many realize: Attend your neighborhood caucus and elect delegates who treat others with respect, allow voices to be heard even in disagreement, and make informed decisions without shouting down their peers. Almost everyone complains about politics these days at the gym, in the grocery store, even at church. Theres plenty to worry about, nationally, locally and internationally. One of the best ways to influence Utahs political tone is by showing up at your neighborhood caucus and helping choose the people who shape the conventions. Advertisement Advertisement This March 17, Utah Republicans will meet in neighborhood caucus gatherings across the state. Democratic caucus meetings will be held the same night. Attending is also a great way to get to know some of your neighbors and the people shaping your local community. Attend. Elect delegates who act with civility, discernment and integrity. Your participation has real power. Politics will never improve if we leave it to the loudest voices or the most theatrical personalities. But if you engage at the grassroots level, you can help ensure that Utah politics reflects the respect, thoughtfulness and community-mindedness it deserves. Show up. Elect wisely. And help make Utah politics better, one neighborhood caucus at a time. Thousands of Orange County students will attend new schools this fall after the Orange County School Board voted unanimously Tuesday night to close 7 campuses at the end of the school year. The decision marks a historic moment for the district and follows months of discussion about falling student enrollment. The schools slated for closure include six elementary schoolsBonneville Elementary, Chickasaw Elementary, Eccleston Elementary, McCoy Elementary, Meadow Woods Elementary, and Orlo Vista Elementaryas well as Union Park Middle School. The votes came during an emotional meeting at Orange County Public Schools headquarters, where teachers, parents, and even board members were visibly upset by the decision. Advertisement Advertisement The board voted on the closure of each individual schoolone at a time. This is not a happy day. This is a very disappointing and very sad point in time, said chair Teresa Jacobs, who added she and other board members felt they were in mourning over the votes. Parents and community members pushed back against the decision. Its like shutting the door on our students, closing the door, the volunteer said. Sympathy only goes so far. If you cant keep a school open, then sympathy doesnt help us. District leaders say the closures are necessary because several campuses are operating far below capacity. According to Orange County Public Schools, the seven schools are currently using only 38% to 61% of its capacity, leaving many classrooms empty. Advertisement Advertisement Union Park Middle School currently enrolls about 558 students but has the capacity to serve more than 1,400. Eccleston Elementary is also operating at roughly half capacity, with 345 students enrolled as of last week. District officials say maintaining under-enrolled schools stretches resources thin and could limit opportunities for students. It would wreck my nerves to know theyre not getting the same treatment as other students because theyre a small school, said District 5 board member Vicki-Elaine Felder. Financial pressures play a major role in the decision. The district reports it has already lost $41 million due to declining enrollment. By closing the seven schools, Orange County Public Schools expects to save approximately $10 million. Advertisement Advertisement District leaders say enrollment declines are driven by several factors, including lower birth rates, families moving to different neighborhoods, immigration policies, and more parents choosing private or charter schools through voucher programs. Officials also warn that enrollment is expected to continue falling in the coming years, meaning the district may need to keep adjusting its school footprint to match the number of students it serves. For many families and educators, however, Tuesday nights vote marks the end of an era for long-standing neighborhood schools, and the beginning of what theyre concerned will be a difficult transition. Bonneville Elementary School rezoned to Columbia Elementary and East Lake Elementary Union Park Middle Schoolrezoned to Glenridge Middle, Legacy Middle, Odyssey Middle, Roberto Clemente Middle, and Discovery Middle Chickasaw Elementary SchoolDeerwood Elementary and Engelwood Elementary Eccleston Elementary SchoolWashington Shores Elementary McCoy Elementary SchoolShenandoah Elementary and Ventura Elementary Meadow Woods Elementary SchoolWyndham Lakes Elementary and Southwood Elementary Orlo Vista Elementary SchoolEagles Nest Elementary, Ivey Lane Elementary, Oak Hill Elementary Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Pennsylvania State Police Cpl. Timothy OConnor will be laid to rest next week in Chester County. O'Connor, 40, was shot and killed in the line of duty after stopping a vehicle for a report of erratic driving near Honey Brook at approximately 8:25 p.m. March 8. Authorities said Jesse Nathan Elks, 32, of Chester County, killed the veteran trooper as OConnor approached the vehicle. The driver then stepped out of the car and shot and killed himself with a semiautomatic pistol, authorities said. Advertisement Advertisement The funeral services, according to the Parkesburg Borough Police Department, are as followed: A viewing will be held Tuesday, March 17, 4:30 to 8 p.m. at St. Joseph's Church at 338 Manor Avenue in Downingtown. The funeral is Wednesday, March 18 at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph's Church. O'Connor, a husband and father, had served as a corporal in Troop J based in Newlin Township since 2022, according to the press release. "We have lost a dear member of our family, a hero and member of the Pennsylvania State Police, said Lt. Col. George Bivens, acting commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police. Our hearts remain with Corporal OConnors wife, daughter, and family." Advertisement Advertisement O'Connor's parents shared remarks in public social media posts. "My hero lost his life tonight," his dad, also named Timothy O'Connor, wrote. More: Why flags in PA are at half-staff His mother, Maureen O'Connor, described her son as "always the vigilant protector, until the end." "I will always be proud of you Tim," she wrote. "Mom has it from here." O'Connor first enlisted in the state police force in 2010, according to the press release. Jess Rohan can be reached at jrohan@usatodayco.com. This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: PA State Police Cpl. Timothy OConnor funeral set in Chester County (Mark Schiefelbein/AP photo/X) Attorney General Pam Bondi has moved into housing on a military base amid ongoing threats, according to a new report. The New York Times, citing multiple people familiar with the situation, reported that Bondi relocated within the past month from an apartment to one of several military bases in Washington where other Trump officials are also living. Bondis move reportedly came amid threats from the cartels and critics upset over her handling of files related to convicted child sex predator Jeffrey Epstein. Advertisement Advertisement Other Trump officials moved to military facilities amid security threats include Kristi Noem, who recently lost her gig as head of the Department of Homeland Security, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. A spokesperson for Noem previously told the Times that she was paying fair-market rent for her military base housing, though other reports suggested the housing was free. Bondis staff saw an uptick in threats against the attorney general, especially in recent months with Epstein files backlash and the capture of disputed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who is now facing narco-terrorism charges in the United States. The latest backlash on Epstein came after Bondi announced that all Epstein files have been released by the Department of Justice, following weeks of complaints about redactions and more in the files that were released. Advertisement Advertisement Victims of Epstein specifically complained about a lack of DOJ action based on information in the files and the fact that some of their names were actually exposed and had to be later redacted. This latest release of Jeffrey Epstein files is being sold as transparency, but what it actually does is expose survivors, some victims wrote in a statement. Once again, survivors are having their names and identifying information exposed, while the men who abused us remain hidden and protected. That is outrageous. The post Pam Bondi Reportedly Moved Onto Military Base Amid Threats From Cartels and Epstein Critics first appeared on Mediaite. A judge has halted the parole of a Sterling Heights man convicted of assaulting, raping, and kidnapping a woman more than 30 years ago, officials said. Floyd Jarvi, 67, was convicted in 1994 and sentenced to 23 to 60 years in prison. The Michigan Parole Board in January granted Jarvis latest request for parole. He was scheduled to be paroled on March 10. However, a Livingston County Circuit Court judge on Feb. 27 granted a stay requested in January by the Michigan Attorney General's Office. It cited Jarvi's lack of remorse. Advertisement Advertisement "I am relieved by the courts decision to pause Mr. Jarvis parole," Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement on Tuesday. "My office will continue working to protect the survivor in this case and the safety of the community." Court records did not list an attorney for Jarvi on Wednesday. Jarvi first became eligible for parole in 2014, but his request was denied several times before the parole board decided in October 2022 to release him. Nessel's office intervened in the case on behalf of the victim and appealed the Parole Board's decision. The board reversed itself in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Later the same year, the board said it would deny Jarvi's parole request until 2026. Jarvi pleaded no contest to 13 charges. Authorities accused him of assaulting, raping, and kidnapping Wendy Jo Morrison in 1993. He is currently housed at the Central Michigan Correctional Facility in Gratiot County, according to the Michigan Department of Corrections. cramirez@detroitnews.com @CharlesERamirez This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Parole of Sterling Heights man convicted of 1993 rape, assault halted (WHTM) The candidates for Pennsylvanias May 19, 2026, primary election are largely set, with several contested races coming up. Statewide, Governor Josh Shapiro (D) and Treasurer Stacy Garrity (R) will not have primary challengers in a gubernatorial election that will garner national attention. Shapiros Lieutenant Governor, Austin Davis, also faces an uncontested primary running on a separate primary ballot. Advertisement Advertisement Attorney Jason Richey, whom Garrity has endorsed as her running mate, is being challenged by Westmoreland County resident John Ventre, who dropped out of the governors race to run for the number two job. In Congress, Pennsylvanians across the state will see six contested primaries in May. Most notably, eight Democrats filed in the 3rd District for retiring Congressman Dwight Evans seat, and no Republicans have filed to run in the historically Democratic Philadelphia district. Pittsburgh Congresswoman Summer Lee will also once again have a primary challenger with tech advocate William Parker. She is the lone incumbent facing a primary battle this term. Advertisement Advertisement As of March 11, these are the candidates who will appear on their respective congressional district ballots, in alphabetical order. 1st Congressional District Democratic Party Bob Harvie Lucia Dora Simonelli Republican Party Brian Fitzpatrick (Incumbent) 2nd Congressional District Democratic Party Brendan Boyle (Incumbent) Republican Party Jessica Arriaga 3rd Congressional District Democratic Party Cole Carter Morgan Cephas Jamillah Naderah Griffin Karl Morris Dave Oxman Christopher Rabb Ala Stanford Sharif Street Republican Party No candidates in the Republican Party have filed a petition for the 2026 election. 4th Congressional District Democratic Party Madeleine Dean (Incumbent) Republican Aurora Stuski 5th Congressional District Democratic Party Mary Gay Scanlon (Incumbent) Republican Party Nicholas Manganaro 6th Congressional District Democratic Party Chrissy Houlahan (Incumbent) Republican Party Martin Young 7th Congressional District Democratic Party Robert Brooks Ryan Crosswell Lamont McClure Carol Obando-Derstine Republican Party Ryan Mackenzie (Incumbent) 8th Congressional District Democratic Party Paige Cognetti Republican Party Rob Bresnahan (Incumbent) 9th Congressional District Democratic Party Rachel Wallace Republican Party Dan Meuser (Incumbent) 10th Congressional District Democratic Party Justin Douglas Janelle Stelson Republican Party Scott Perry (Incumbent) 11th Congressional District Democratic Party Nancy Mannion Republican Party Lloyd Smucker (Incumbent) 12th Congressional District Democratic Party Summer Lee (Incumbent) William Parker Republican Party James Hayes 13th Congressional District Democratic Party Elizabeth Farnham Republican Party John Joyce (Incumbent) 14th Congressional District Democratic Party David Bradstock Republican Party Guy Reschenthaler (Incumbent) 15th Congressional District Democratic Party Ray Bilger Republican Party Glenn GT Thompson (Incumbent) 16th Congressional District Democratic Party Justin Wagner Republican Party George Mike Kelly (Incumbent) 17th Congressional District Democratic Party Chris Deluzio (Incumbent) Republican Party Anthony Guy Jesse Vodvarka Advertisement Advertisement Candidates could still be removed from the ballot through the petition objection process, where a candidate could argue that their opponent does not have enough valid signatures. Candidates have until March 17 to file objections. Voters have until May 4 to register to vote and May 12 to apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot. All ballots must be returned by Election Day, May 19. Pennsylvanias primaries are closed, meaning Independents can not vote, and voters registered to either the Democratic or Republican primaries can only vote in those races in May. 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. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and his Montegomery County, PA, neighbors have filed lawsuits against each other over an escalating land dispute. They're fighting over a narrow 2,900-square-foot piece of property, which is a common boundary between Shapiro's $830,500 private residence and his neighbors' house. Neighbors Jeremy and Simone Mock are accusing Shapiro of unlawfully taking over part of their lot, according to court documents. Advertisement Advertisement Shapiro has countersued them, claiming that he owns the land being disputed through "adverse possession." "This is a case of squatters rights, which is the colloquial term for the legal doctrine known as adverse possession," says attorney Chad Cummings, who is not associated with the case but has reviewed the arguments. "Where a person continuously maintains possession of anothers property openly, visibly, and notoriously for a set period of time, which varies by state, the squatter can file a court action to ask the court to recognize the squatterthe 'adverse possessor'as the legal owner through a quiet title action," Cummings tells Realtor.com. A court document shows the common boundary between the Mock property and the Shapiro property. (Mock vs. Shapiro Court Documents) Details of the dispute The Shapiros wanted to build an 8-foot security fence on the disputed land, after their official residence in Harrisburg was a target of arson last spring, according to court documents. Advertisement Advertisement When they tried to get a permit for the fence, a land surveyor discovered that the existing fence line "did not fall within the metes and bounds description of their property," according to their deed. Court documents outline the area (shaded in green) of the Mock property that the Shapiros were offering to purchase from the Mocks. (Mock vs. Shapiro Court Documents) The complaint alleges that the Shapiros then offered to buy the land from the Mockswho had been paying taxes on the property for nine yearsso they could move forward with the fence. The Mocks' lawsuit says that when the Mocks and Shapiros couldn't agree on a purchase price, the Mocks instead offered to lease the land to the Shapiros. Although the Shapiros allegedly agreed to the lease in the beginning, according to court documents, they eventually backed out. Advertisement Advertisement According to the countersuit documents, Shapiro and his wife, Lori, claim they are the owners of the disputed area as a matter of law by "adverse possession." The Shapiros claim that for more than two decadesfrom 2003 to 2025they have cared for the contested area as their own property. Under Pennsylvanias adverse possession law, an individual who occupies property without the owners consent may obtain legal title after maintaining continuous possession for 21 years. The countersuit claims the Shapiros have maintained and improved the disputed area by mowing the lawn and clearing leaves and debris since May 22, 2003. The countersuit also alleges that a fence separating the two properties was already in place when the Shapiros bought their home in 2003, and that both households treated it as the property line until 2025. Advertisement Advertisement According to the countersuit, the Mocks have not occupied the contested parcel since buying their home in April 2017. The filing also says they did not dispute the Shapiros use of the land until October 2025, when they were notified that the Shapiros considered it part of their property. Once the lease agreement fell through between the Mocks and Shapiros, "what followed was an outrageous abuse of power," the Mocks' lawsuit alleges. "The Shapiros started to treat the Mock Property as their own by, among other things, planting large arborvitae type trees and other plants on the Mock Property, flying a drone over the Mock Property, threatening to remove healthy trees on the Mock Property, and chasing away the Mocks arborist and surveyor." The lawsuit further claims that "Governor Shapiro personally directed the State Police to patrol the Mock Property. On multiple occasions, when the Mocks have attempted to use their property, the State Police have insisted the area was 'disputed' and told them to immediately exit their property." The Mocks claim they were forced to pause construction of a fence at the command of the state police because police said the fence contractors were approaching a disputed area in the security zone"and that they may not enter without permission of the Shapiros and/or the state police. "To be clear, these members of the State Police are on the Mock Property," the Mocks claim in their lawsuit. (Mock vs. Shapiro Court Documents) Shapiro's countersuit alleges the Mocks posted signs on the disputed property, claiming that they owned the area. Advertisement Advertisement A person familiar with the situation told the Washington Post that the signs said, "This is my property" and Hippity Hoppity, stay off my property." Shapiro's re-election campaign affected Meanwhile, Shapiroa Democratis currently running for re-election in the 2026 Pennsylvania gubernatorial race. One of his opponents, Stacy Garrity, has used this neighbor dispute in her campaignposting Valentines Day messages on social media with Shapiros face that say: I love you more than I love my neighbors yard. Rosie Lapowsky, a spokeswoman for the governor, tells Realtor.com, "The Shapiros have occupied the entirety of their property at their family home for more than 23 years without interruption, including this small strip of land that has been on the Shapiros side of the fence since the day they moved into the house. They have raised their four children in this backyard, which has been undisputed as part of their current property dating back longer than they have even owned the home. After an assassination attempt on the Shapiro familys lives last year, the Pennsylvania State Police conducted a thorough review of their security at both the governors residence and their family home in Abington, including securing this longstanding boundary, which unveiled a several decades-old map that disputed how the property has been understood for 23 years." Advertisement Advertisement Lapowsky continues, This dispute over a small piece of the Shapiros backyard has been turned into a shameless political stunt by their neighbors and members of the Republican State Senate, who are now harassing, and exploiting the Shapiros. Pennsylvania property law is clear on this matter and the Shapiros brought this up with their neighbors themselves in an attempt to resolve the matter amicably. Regrettably, the neighbors chose a different path to file a frivolous lawsuit, and we look forward to a judge ruling on the merits. Will Simons, another Shapiro spokesperson, told NBC10, "The governor looks forward to a swift resolution and will not be bullied by anyone trying to score cheap political points, especially at the expense of his family's safety and well-being." But the Mocks' attorney, Walter Zimolong, a prominent Republican lawyer, told the Washington Post, This is not a political action or stuntits a straightforward defense of the property rights of two innocent people." Realtor.com reached out to the attorney for the Mocks for comment. A Pennsylvania man has been arrested in connection with a sextortion investigation, and detectives with the Arvada Police Department said they're concerned there may be additional victims who have not come forward. According to Arvada Police, David Ajiri, 25, turned himself in at the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office and was booked into the jail on a charge of Criminal Extortion. Investigators believe Ajiri targeted women, and girls as young as 14 years old, across the country since at least 2018. Police said they've identified one victim but believe there are "many more" who have not yet been identified or have not come forward. Through their investigation, they found evidence that indicates Ajiri targeted women nationwide, not just in Arvada. Advertisement Advertisement Ajiri is suspected of using dating apps, friendship apps, and social media platforms to contact women. He then convinced victims to send intimate images or videos in exchange for payment, Arvada Police said in a news release. Detectives found that victims were never actually paid. According to police, when they confronted him, he threatened to send their images or videos to friends, family members, or social media contacts unless they continued to provide additional sexual content, money, or both. Police said they also found evidence indicating that Ajiri sold some of the content online. Detectives have identified dozens of aliases and social media accounts believed to be used by Ajiri. These include: Brandon Cress Brandon Ali David E Cristian Ortiz David Andrews Dylan M Damon A Danny Rodriguez Dave Jordan Dave E Christan Morris Adam Russell Dave Jordan Dylan Michaels David Jaeger Anthony Anthony Matthews Jay Jay A DJay Mike Green Mike Brandon Dante Brad Manning Names used when posing as women Mckenzie McKenzie Jensenn Kenzie Kensy Kensi Kens Kels Kelsi Lexi Instagram accounts used brandoncress87 crort786 mikegreen876 mikegbrandon0 brandc428 nbalifer23 davidandrews2054 dmol678 cro6788 oc65ks Snapchat accounts used kenslove3 mikebrown867 chris.morris98 dajiri8535 Anyone who has communicated with Ajiri under these names or accounts, or who believes they may have been a victim of sextortion connected to this investigation, is encouraged to contact the Arvada Police Department at 720-898-7171 regarding case AR25004692. Mercedes-Benz has settled a case with the US National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) over allegations linked to its conduct during a union organising campaign at its Alabama plant. Under the agreement with the NLRB, the automaker will circulate and follow a notice explaining employees rights to organise. According to the notice obtained by Bloomberg, the company states: WE WILL NOT threaten you with the closure and/or relocation of the facility to a non-union location, like Mexico, or anywhere else, if you choose to be represented by a union. In an emailed response to Just Auto, a Mercedes-Benz representative said: "Following our Team Members decision to reject UAW representation two years ago and the withdrawal or dismissal of the vast majority of the UAWs accusations, we resolved these matters with the NLRB with no admission of violations, despite the UAWs objections to the settlement." The dispute relates to a 2024 vote at the Alabama facility in which workers declined to join the United Auto Workers (UAW). The union had argued that the result was affected by unlawful company actions, including retaliation against employees who supported unionisation. As part of the settlement, Mercedes-Benz agreed to withdraw disciplinary measures imposed on one worker. The company also committed not to warn employees that they could lose benefits if they choose to unionise. According to the report, the automaker also agreed it would not unlawfully surveil or question employees about distributing union materials in non-work areas during breaks. It also agreed not to otherwise interfere with, restrain, or coerce workers as they exercise their organising rights. NLRB prosecutors approved the settlement despite objections from the UAW, which had requested that Mercedes management be required to read the notice to workers. In a letter sent to the unions lawyers last week, an NLRB regional director said such a step was unnecessary. A separate case brought by the union asking the NLRB to overturn the 2024 election outcome is still under review. The agreement could also draw additional attention to Mercedes-Benz operations in the US and Germany. The UAW has called on regulators to ensure the company follows its stated principle of remaining neutral during union organising campaigns. "We look forward to working directly with our Team Members on measures to ensure we remain an employer of choice and provide a safe and supportive work environment. We want to continue to build on and enhance the success this plant has achieved over almost 30 years to continue providing superior vehicles for the world while also focusing on our people," the spokesperson added. CHESTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) The Pennsylvania State Police are honoring the Trooper who was killed in the line of duty Sunday during a traffic stop in Chester County. Corporal Timothy OConnor Jr. enlisted in the Pennsylvania State Police in September 2010 as a member of the 131st cadet class and was assigned to Troop J Avondale after graduation. He transferred to Troop J, Embreeville, in March 2022 and was promoted to Corporal in July 2022. OConnor, 40, was the 105th member of the Pennsylvania State Police to die in the line of duty. He leaves behind a wife and daughter. Photo of slain Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Corporal Timothy OConnor Jr.. From PSP The gunman who shot and killed OConnor was identified as 32-year-old Jesse Elks, of Honey Brook. State Police say Elks died following a self-inflicted gunshot. Advertisement Advertisement OConnor was responding to an erratic driver, identified as Elks, in the area of Walnut Road and Compass Road in Honey Brook Township. OConnor found the vehicle within minutes and pulled it over near the intersection of Route 10 and Michael Road in West Caln Township, just a few miles from the Lancaster County line. State Police say Elks immediately opened fire, hitting OConnor as he was approaching the vehicle. OConnor was taken to Paoli Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Elks got out of his vehicle, walked a short distance, and fatally shot himself. The reason for the shooting is still unclear, as the incident is still being investigated by the PSP Troop J Major Case Team and the Chester County District Attorneys Office. This is a tragic day for all of us. We have lost a dear member of our family, a hero and member of the Pennsylvania State Police, Lieutenant Colonel George Bivens, Acting Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police, said. Our hearts remain with Corporal OConnors wife, daughter, and family. We ask for everyones continued prayers to help them during this devastating time. Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now abc27 Evening Newsletter Flags in Pennsylvania were ordered to be flown at half-staff by Governor Josh Shapiro in honor of OConnor. Pennsylvania tragically lost one of our finest when State Police Corporal Tim OConnor was killed in the line of duty. My heart breaks for Corporal OConnors wife Casey, their young daughter, and their entire family, Governor Shapiro said. Lori and I mourn with the Pennsylvania State Police family and with all of our law enforcement partners. Ive directed flags across our Commonwealth to be lowered in honor of Corporal OConnor. May his memory be a blessing. Advertisement Advertisement Pennsylvania State Troopers Association (PSTA) today released the following statement from President Stephen Polishan on Cpl. OConnor. Losing a Trooper is a tragedy for all members of the Pennsylvania State Police, past and present. It is a deep and profound loss because he is our brother. It reminds us how dangerous this job is and that something as simple as tomorrow is never guaranteed. Corporal Tim OConnor lived his life with honor, bravery and integrity. We will never allow his memory to fade because heroes are eternal. His wife, Casey, and young daughter will forever be part of our family. Please join us in praying for Corporal OConnor and his beautiful family. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. The Pentagon published an awkwardly worded press release announcing a soldier's death. The press release is titled "DOW Identifies An Army Believed to Be Casualty." Retired military spokespeople say casualty announcements are among the military's most sensitive communications. The Pentagon last week announced the death of a US Army soldier killed while supporting Operation Epic Fury before a medical examiner had positively identified them. Former military spokespeople said that it was an unusual and awkwardly phrased departure from standard procedures. In a press release titled, "DOW Identifies An Army Believed to Be Casualty," the Department of Defense announced "the believed to be death" of Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan, an Army reservist who died during an Iranian strike that also killed five other troops in Kuwait. Advertisement Advertisement According to the release, Marzan, a soldier with the 103rd Sustainment Command, "was at the scene of the incident on March 1, 2026, and is believed to be the individual who perished at the scene. Positive identification of Chief Warrant Officer 3 Marzan will be completed by the medical examiner." A defense official told Business Insider a medical examiner has since confirmed Marzan's identity. Screenshot of the DoD announcement. war.gov/screengrab Prematurely announcing a death risks misidentification, which can erode public trust if corrections are later required, two former military spokespeople told Business Insider. They also said attention to detail and clarity in these communications shows respect. "When a service member is killed in combat, they deserve better than this," Joe Plenzler, a retired Marine lieutenant colonel who worked in public affairs during the Global War on Terror, wrote in a post to LinkedIn. Advertisement Advertisement He told Business Insider separately that "it's a simple matter of respect to make sure that everything is accurate." US Central Command, which oversees American military operations in the Middle East, has reported seven US service members killed in action in the Iran war that began in late February. The fatal strike in Kuwait came as Iranian forces launched missiles into countries across the region. Marzan is the only service member in this conflict so far who has been described as "believed to be" dead. Asked about the statement, the Office of the Secretary of Defense referred Business Insider to the Army, saying, "DOW announces, all follow-on questions go to the Army." The Army did not provide comment to Business Insider. Why the Pentagon statement was unusual Typically, the military refers to a service member whose death has not yet been confirmed as "DUSTWUN," short for "duty status whereabouts unknown," a retired Army spokesman who served during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan told Business Insider. The term is used when a service member's absence is involuntary and their status cannot yet be confirmed. Advertisement Advertisement Announcing a death before positive identification by a medical examiner marks a break from norms that governed casualty reporting over two previous decades of war, the former spokesman said. The DUSTWUN designation is intended for situations where ongoing rescue efforts prevent an immediate determination, though recovery of remains is not always required to declare a service member deceased, according to military policies outlining casualty procedures. "We had thousands of casualties throughout the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and Syria," said the retired Army official. "I don't recall ever announcing someone as 'believed to be a casualty.'" Few communications are as important or sensitive as announcing a casualty, he said, describing a somber process honed after more than 7,000 US service member deaths during the Global War on Terror, according to Brown University's Costs of War project. Plenzler, the former Marine public affairs officer, told Business Insider that all communications related to sensitive topics, including casualties, were generally examined by at least three people before publication because of the heavy impact on public trust. Advertisement Advertisement In his LinkedIn post, he recalled seeing "people removed from leadership positions for getting names incorrect during memorial services." While the former Army spokesman expressed disappointment in what they characterized as an awkwardly written DoD announcement, he also noted that many of the personnel who oversaw casualty communications during the height of the previous wars in the Middle East have since left the service, leaving newer troops to manage hard notifications and public messaging. "We have been sort of out of this business now for several years," he said. Marzan, 54, lived in Sacramento and was assigned to an Iowa-based logistics unit. Business Insider could not reach a Marzan family member for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Communicating casualty updates comes with a learning curve, the former Army spokesman said. The details of this release are unclear, but he said he hopes "they've learned a lesson from this." The announcement comes amid broader shifts in how the military communicates during fast-moving combat operations, including increased reliance on social media updates from combatant commands and the Pentagon. Communications once known for staid military-speak now often feature videos of US missile strikes or jets taking off, strong wartime rhetoric, or posts debunking Iranian "bogus claims." Read the original article on Business Insider This story was updated to add new information. Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, one of six soldiers killed in an Iranian attack on Kuwait on March 1, has been positively identified after he was previously believed dead. Marzan, 54, previously of West Des Moines, was killed in the Iranian attack on the Shuaiba Port in Kuwait on March 1, the Department of War confirmed in a news release on Wednesday, March 11. Marzan was previously identified as a possible death in the attack as the department awaited positive identification from a medical examiner. Advertisement Advertisement The Department of War described the incident as an "unmanned aircraft system attack." The other soldiers killed in the attack were Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines; Maj. Jeffrey O'Brien, 45, of Waukee; Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; and Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota. U.S. Army Reserve Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, California, poses in an undated photograph in his uniform. Marzan was killed March 1, 2026, at the Port of Shuaiba, Kuwait, during an attack. All were part of the 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), headquartered in an Army Reserve center near Fort Des Moines, which provides fuel, food, water and ammunition, as well as transportation equipment and supplies to troops. In a news conference Wednesday, Gov. Kim Reynolds praised all six soldiers who died in the attack. Advertisement Advertisement "Regardless of where they lived, they actually trained together in our state, they served our country and they sacrificed their lives for our freedom, she said. And we will never forget." More: What to know about the soldiers from Iowa-based unit killed in Kuwait Marzan enlisted in the active Army in 1990 in Sacramento, then transferred to the Army Reserve in 1994, becoming a data operations warrant officer in 2011, according to a news release from the Army Reserve. He deployed to Croatia and Bosnia in 1996 and Egypt and Kuwait from 2019-2020. Marzan had several awards and decorations, including the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal and the Army Commendation Medal. Advertisement Advertisement Property records show Marzan and his family lived in West Des Moines from 2007 to 2023. The Pentagon identified him as being from Sacramento, California, where he grew up. The Army Reserve said he last lived in Spotsylvania, Virginia. Reynolds told reporters she was honored to join the families of the fallen soldiers at Dover Air Force Base over the weekend for the dignified transfer of their bodies. She said while there she met Coadys parents and siblings and OBriens wife, children and parents, as well as Marzans family. "He and his family were actually longtime residents two of his kids are here of Iowa," Reynolds said of Marzan. "And his wife shared that even after moving out of state they still considered themselves Iowans. So you will notice that anytime we talk about them we refer to them as former Iowans." Advertisement Advertisement Marzan's funeral will be held in Sacramento, according to a GoFundMe fundraiser aiming to support travel for family and fellow soldiers interested in attending. The fundraiser was organized by Connor Kuehl, a former mentee of Marzan's, according to a Facebook post. "Recently, my former unit, the 103rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, lost six incredible Soldiers in a tragic accident. Among them was CW3 Robert Marzana man who was a mentor, a leader, and a father figure to me and dozens of others for over 25 years," Kuehl said in the post. Kuehl said in the post that the funeral is "just over two weeks away." The fundraiser, with a goal of $20,000, has raised over $15,000 as of noon Wednesday. Remaining funds will be distributed to the families of the other fallen soldiers. Advertisement Advertisement "In this time of tremendous grief for so many, please help us ensure that those who loved them most are able to pay their respects to our fallen heroes," Kuehl said in the fundraiser. U.S. Army Reserve Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of Des Moines, Iowa, poses in an undated photograph in his uniform. Coady was killed March 1, 2026, at the Port of Shuaiba, Kuwait, during a drone attack. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, died in an Iranian attack in Kuwait on Sunday, March 1. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, died in an Iranian attack in Kuwait on Sunday, March 1. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, died in an Iranian attack in Kuwait on Sunday, March 1. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, was identified as a casualty in an Iranian attack against Kuwait, where he was deployed, on Sunday, March 1. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, was identified as a casualty in an Iranian attack against Kuwait, where he was deployed, on Sunday, March 1. In a combination images, From left Sgt. Declan Coady, Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, Capt. Cody Khork and Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, four U.S. Army Reserve soldiers who were supporting Operation Epic Fury who were killed on March 1, 2026, in Kuwait at the Port of Shuaiba, during an unmanned aircraft system attack. Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, a resident of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, enlisted in the National Guard as a 92A (Automated Logistics Specialist) in 2005. She transferred to the Army Reserve in 2006 and deployed to Kuwait and Iraq in 2019. Amor's awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M" Device. Capt. Cody Khork, a resident of Lakeland, Fla., enlisted as a 13P (Multiple Launch Rocket System / Fire Direction Specialist) in the National Guard in 2009. He commissioned as a Military Police Officer in the Army Reserve in 2014. He deployed to Saudia Arabia in 2018, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in 2021, and Poland in 2024. Khork's awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Superior Unit Award, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 10 Year Device and "M" Device, and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, a resident of Bellevue, Nebraska, enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2006 as a 91B (Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic). He had two deployments to Kuwait in 2009 and 2019. Tietjens' awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal With "M" Device. See Des Moines Army Reserve soldiers killed in Iranian attack 1 of 10 U.S. Army Reserve Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of Des Moines, Iowa, poses in an undated photograph in his uniform. Coady was killed March 1, 2026, at the Port of Shuaiba, Kuwait, during a drone attack. 140 injured in Iran war so far, most have returned to duty Sean Parnell, chief Pentagon spokesperson, said in a statement Tuesday that about 140 U.S. service members have been injured since the start of the Iran war, which began Feb 28. He did not specify their injuries or how soldiers were wounded. "The vast majority of these injuries have been minor, and 108 service members have already returned to duty," Parnell said. "Eight service members remain listed as severely injured and are receiving the highest level of medical care." U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn said on social media last week that nine soldiers with the Des Moines-headquartered 103rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command were wounded in action. A news release from CENTCOM about the attack said five soldiers were "seriously injured" and "several others sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions." Advertisement Advertisement Sgt. First Class Cory Hicks of the 103rd Command said he was right next to Amor during the attack, according to reporting from KSTP-TV, a Minnesota ABC affiliate. He suffered from shrapnel wounds, a lacerated kidney, a severed spleen and facial fractures, KSTP reported. Kinda looked around and I saw everything was just smoke and fire and crazy and chaos, he told KSTP. Reynolds said all but one of the soldiers who were wounded in the attack are now receiving treatment at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland. She had previously said the wounded soldiers had been evacuated to Germany. "All but one are now in Walter Reed and are receiving care and families that were able to go are there," she said. "So thats probably all the information that I can share, but they are for the most part back home and were hoping to get that last one brought back home soon." Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson from the Pentagon declined to comment on the status of injuries beyond Parnell's statement. Kyle Werner is the breaking news and public safety reporter for the Register. Reach him at kwerner@registermedia.com. Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on X at @sgrubermiller. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Robert Marzan officially identified as sixth death in Iranian attack After endorsing President Donald Trump in 2024, podcaster Joe Rogan said the war in Iran has people feeling betrayed by a president who ran on no more wars. Rogans show is the top-ranked podcast on Spotify with millions of listeners. His comments are the latest example of a prominent Trump-aligned media figure speaking out against the military operation in Iran. Rogan discussed the conflict in his March 10 show with journalist Michael Schellenberger. Smoke rises following an explosion, after Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, in Tehran, Iran, February 28, 2026. People gather at the site of a destroyed building at a school where, as the state media reports, several people were killed in an Israeli airstrike, following strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran, in Minab, Iran in this screengrab obtained from a social media video released on February 28, 2026. Iranian state media reported on February 28 that Israel struck a school in southern Iran, resulting in 40 deaths. Smoke rises following an explosion, after Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israel had launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran, in Tehran, Iran February 28, 2026 in this screen grab taken from video. Iranian people run for cover in Tehran, Iran, on February 28, 2026, as explosions are heard after a reported strike and Israel announced it had launched a "preemptive strike" on Iran, with sirens sounding in Jerusalem and phone alerts warning of an "extremely serious" threat. Smoke rises following an explosion after the U.S. and Israel reportedly launched an attack against Iran, in Tehran, Iran, February 28, 2026, in this screen grab taken from video. A graffiti on a wall reads" Down with the U.S.A", after Israel said it launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran, in Tehran, Iran, February 28, 2026. People run for cover following an explosion, after Israel said it launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran, in Tehran, Iran February 28, 2026. A plume of smoke rises after an explosion on February 28, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. After explosions were seen in the Iranian capital, the office of the Israeli Defense Minister issued a statement saying it had launched a preemptive strike against the country. A plume of smoke rises following a reported explosion in Tehran on February 28, 2026. Two loud blasts were heard in Tehran on February 28 morning by AFP journalists, and two plumes of thick smoke were seen over the centre and east of the Iranian capital. Israel's defence ministry announced it had launched a "preemptive strike" on Iran as sirens sounded in Jerusalem and people across the country received phone alerts about an "extremely serious" threat. U.S. President Donald Trump pumps his fist after disembarking Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., February 27, 2026. Hours later, Trump made live comments about the military strikes he launched against Iran. A plume of smoke rises over Tehran after a reported explosion on February 28, 2026, after Israel said it carried out a "preemptive strike" on Iran as sirens sounded in Jerusalem and phone alerts warned of an "extremely serious" threat. A plume of smoke rises following a reported explosion in Tehran on February 28, 2026. Two loud blasts were heard in Tehran on February 28 morning by AFP journalists, and two plumes of thick smoke were seen over the centre and east of the Iranian capital. Israel's defence ministry announced it had launched a "preemptive strike" on Iran as sirens sounded in Jerusalem and people across the country received phone alerts about an "extremely serious" threat. Buildings inin Tehran stand after Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, February 28, 2026. Iranians try to clear a street amid heavy traffic in Tehran, Iran, on February 28, 2026, as explosions are heard following a reported strike and Israel announced it had launched a "preemptive strike" on Iran, with sirens sounding in Jerusalem and phone alerts warning of an "extremely serious" threat. Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the southern Lebanese area of al-Qatrani on February 28, 2026. Lebanon's foreign minister said on February 24 his country feared its infrastructure could be hit by Israeli strikes if the situation with Iran escalates, after Israel intensified its attacks on Tehran-backed Hezbollah Anti-riot police stand in front of state building that is covered with a giant anti-U.S. billboard depicting the destruction of a US aircraft carrier in downtown Tehran on a main street in Tehran on February 21, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. In recent weeks, the United States had moved vast numbers of military vessels and aircraft to Europe and the Middle East. The US and Israel proceeded to launched strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026, Latest photos capture US and Israeli strikes against Iran 1 of 16 Smoke rises following an explosion, after Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, in Tehran, Iran, February 28, 2026. It just seems so insane based on what he ran on, Rogan said. I mean, this is why a lot of people feel betrayed, right? Advertisement Advertisement He ran on no more wars, end these stupid, senseless wars and then we have one that we cant even really clearly define why we did it, Rogan added. More: 'Betrayal.' MAGA lashes out on Iran, prompting Trump pushback. Trump appeared on Rogans popular podcast in 2024 as part of a campaign that targeted younger male voters, and Rogan endorsed him on the day before the election. The podcaster attended Trump's inauguration last year. Trumps campaign pitch since he first ran for president in 2016 has included criticism of past U.S. military interventions in the Middle East. The Republican National Committee promoted his 2024 campaign as the pro-peace ticket. Joe Rogan during UFC 300 at T-Mobile Arena on Apr 13, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Trump helped reorient his party around a more populist foreign policy message that eschewed years of GOP orthodoxy on utilizing American military might. His non-interventionist approach became central to the MAGA movement. Now, hes facing criticism from prominent MAGA voices, including conservative media figures Tucker Carlson and Megyn Kelly. Advertisement Advertisement Carlson told ABC News that the Iran campaign is "disgusting and evil," while Kelly said, "I would like to be better convinced that this is worth the sacrifice of American blood and treasure." More: 'Disgusting and evil.' Trump faces MAGA backlash on Iran. Trump responded in an interview with journalist Rachael Bade that MAGA is Trump MAGAs not the other two, dismissing Carlson and Kelly. MAGA wants to see our country thrive and be safe," Trump added. "And MAGA loves what Im doing every aspect of it This is a detour that we have to take in order to keep our country safe and keep other countries safe, frankly. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Podcaster Joe Rogan criticizes Donald Trump's 'insane' Iran war The Puyallup Police Department (PPD) has posted new photos of a man accused of armed robbery at a credit union on February 25. At around 2:15 p.m., a man was caught on security camera footage walking into the Harborstone Credit Union wearing a disguise including a dark-colored wig and a facemask. New photos show the man after he took off his disguise wearing a neon yellow undershirt, greyish jeans, white shoes, and a backpack, PPD said. Advertisement Advertisement He is described as around 40 years old, six feet tall, and about 230 pounds with a light complexion. Anyone with information is asked to call the Puyallup PD tip line at 253-770-3343 or email tips@puyallupwa.gov. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos amended his public resume after reporting by The Arizona Republic found the document had misrepresented his work history. The revelations about the sheriffs early career as an El Paso police officer raised questions about his background as his department continued to investigate the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie. Nanos' resume posted on the Sheriff's Department website had said he worked at the El Paso Police Department until 1984. Records show that Nanos resigned in 1982 in lieu of termination from his hometown police department after a string of disciplinary problems, two years earlier than was stated on his resume. Advertisement Advertisement The Sheriffs Department corrected the El Paso date on his resume and revised the year he was promoted to captain in Pima County, spokesperson Angelica Carrillo said March 10. The Pima County Sheriff's Department recently identified two clerical errors in Sheriff Chris Nanos' publicly posted resume. Both date discrepancies were administrative in nature and were not intended to mislead or misrepresent Sheriff Nanos' work history, Carrillo said. Search for Savannah Guthrie's mother: What are the latest developments? Microphones pile on a podium ahead of a press conference to discuss the ongoing case of Nancy Guthrie at the Pima County Sheriff's Department in Tucson on Feb. 5, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, is missing and was last seen the evening of Jan. 31, 2026. Who is Chris Nanos? What to know about longtime Pima County sheriff Chris Nanos, Pima County sheriff, updates members of the press on the ongoing case of Nancy Guthrie at the Pima County Sheriff's Department in Tucson on Feb. 5, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, is missing and was last seen the evening of Jan. 31, 2026. Chris Nanos, Pima County sheriff, updates members of the press on the ongoing case of Nancy Guthrie at the Pima County Sheriff's Department in Tucson on Feb. 5, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, is missing and was last seen the evening of Jan. 31, 2026. Chris Nanos, Pima County sheriff, updates members of the press on the ongoing case of Nancy Guthrie at the Pima County Sheriff's Department in Tucson on Feb. 5, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, is missing and was last seen the evening of Jan. 31, 2026. Chris Nanos, Pima County sheriff, updates members of the press on the ongoing case of Nancy Guthrie at the Pima County Sheriff's Department in Tucson on Feb. 5, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, is missing and was last seen the evening of Jan. 31, 2026. Heith Janke, the FBI special agent in charge of the case, updates members of the press on the ongoing case of Nancy Guthrie at the Pima County Sheriff's Department in Tucson on Feb. 5, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, is missing and was last seen the evening of Jan. 31, 2026. Chris Nanos, Pima County sheriff, updates members of the press on the ongoing case of Nancy Guthrie at the Pima County Sheriff's Department in Tucson on Feb. 5, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, is missing and was last seen the evening of Jan. 31, 2026. A timeline of events is displayed on a television during a press conference about the ongoing case of Nancy Guthrie at the Pima County Sheriff's Department in Tucson on Feb. 5, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, is missing and was last seen the evening of Jan. 31, 2026. Heith Janke, the FBI special agent in charge of the case, updates members of the press on the ongoing case of Nancy Guthrie at the Pima County Sheriff's Department in Tucson on Feb. 5, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, is missing and was last seen the evening of Jan. 31, 2026. Heith Janke, the FBI special agent in charge of the case, updates members of the press on the ongoing case of Nancy Guthrie at the Pima County Sheriff's Department in Tucson on Feb. 5, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, is missing and was last seen the evening of Jan. 31, 2026. Heith Janke, the FBI special agent in charge of the case, updates members of the press on the ongoing case of Nancy Guthrie at the Pima County Sheriff's Department in Tucson on Feb. 5, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, is missing and was last seen the evening of Jan. 31, 2026. Chris Nanos, Pima County sheriff, updates members of the press on the ongoing case of Nancy Guthrie at the Pima County Sheriff's Department in Tucson on Feb. 5, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, is missing and was last seen the evening of Jan. 31, 2026. Heith Janke, the FBI special agent in charge of the case, updates members of the press on the ongoing case of Nancy Guthrie at the Pima County Sheriff's Department in Tucson on Feb. 5, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, is missing and was last seen the evening of Jan. 31, 2026. Heith Janke, the FBI special agent in charge of the case, updates members of the press on the ongoing case of Nancy Guthrie at the Pima County Sheriff's Department in Tucson on Feb. 5, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, is missing and was last seen the evening of Jan. 31, 2026. Savannah Guthrie's mom, Nancy, 84, missing from Arizona home 1 of 14 Microphones pile on a podium ahead of a press conference to discuss the ongoing case of Nancy Guthrie at the Pima County Sheriff's Department in Tucson on Feb. 5, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, is missing and was last seen the evening of Jan. 31, 2026. Who is Chris Nanos? What to know about longtime Pima County sheriff It was a change in tone for the sheriff, who initially declined to answer questions about his work history and accused The Republic of writing a hit piece. Advertisement Advertisement "Thats your urgent request? You sure you dont want to go back to my high school and ask why I got swats from the principal? Good luck with your hit piece," Nanos wrote in an email March 9. The department statement did not acknowledge reporting on Nanos' disciplinary history with the El Paso police, where he worked from 1976 to 1982. Nanos was suspended or put on leave without pay for a cumulative 37 days during his time in the El Paso department, according to a Republic review of an internal affairs card the department used to document his discipline. Nanos was disciplined for alleged use of excessive force, a shot fired, off-duty gambling, tardiness, failure to report for duty and other violations of rules and regulations. Advertisement Advertisement The sheriff also received written reprimands for dereliction of duty, making threats and use of the siren on a police vehicle that violated the departments orders. In total, 26 allegations were listed on Nanos' internal affairs history card over a five-year period. Nanos has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to professionalism, in his decades-long career in law enforcement, the department said in an email. The Democratic sheriff is an elected official who oversees 1,442 full-time employees and 138 volunteers, according to a 2024 report from the department. Sheriff Nanos has dedicated more than four decades to law enforcement and public service. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to professionalism, accountability, and the safety of the communities he serves. As Sheriff of Pima County, he continues to lead the department with experience, integrity, and a clear focus on protecting the residents of Pima County, Carillo said. Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of "Today" show co-host Savannah Guthrie, was reported missing from her home in a community just north of Tucson on Feb. 1, 2026. Search underway: Nancy Guthrie's disappearance was being investigated as a crime Laura Gargano, a neighbor, speaks to members of the press on Feb. 5, 2026, after providing information to private security personnel related to the suspected kidnapping at Nancy Guthrie's residence, following the disappearance of Guthrie, the 84yearold mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, outside Tucson. Chris Castorena, a private detective based in Phoenix volunteering his time to search for Nancy Guthrie, scans her street for clues on Feb. 5, 2026, after the disappearance of Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, who went missing from her home outside Tucson. Chris Nanos, Pima County sheriff, updates members of the press on the ongoing case of Nancy Guthrie at the Pima County Sheriff's Department in Tucson on Feb. 5, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, is missing and was last seen the evening of Jan. 31, 2026. Laura Gargano, a neighbor, speaks to members of the press after providing information to private security personnel related to the suspected kidnapping at Nancy Guthrie's residence, following the disappearance of Guthrie, the 84yearold mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, in Tucson, Arizona, U.S. February 5, 2026. REUTERS/Rebecca Noble Chris Castorena, a private detective based in Phoenix volunteering his time to search for Nancy Guthrie, scans her street for clues on Feb. 5, 2026, after the disappearance of Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, who went missing from her home outside Tucson. Chris Nanos, Pima County sheriff, updates members of the press on the ongoing case of Nancy Guthrie at the Pima County Sheriff's Department in Tucson on Feb. 5, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, is missing and was last seen the evening of Jan. 31, 2026. Heith Janke, the FBI special agent in charge of the case, updates members of the press on the ongoing case of Nancy Guthrie at the Pima County Sheriff's Department in Tucson on Feb. 5, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, is missing and was last seen the evening of Jan. 31, 2026. Chris Nanos, Pima County sheriff, updates members of the press on the ongoing case of Nancy Guthrie at the Pima County Sheriff's Department in Tucson on Feb. 5, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, is missing and was last seen the evening of Jan. 31, 2026. Heith Janke, the FBI special agent in charge of the case, updates members of the press on the ongoing case of Nancy Guthrie at the Pima County Sheriff's Department in Tucson on Feb. 5, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, is missing and was last seen the evening of Jan. 31, 2026. Heith Janke, the FBI special agent in charge of the case, updates members of the press on the ongoing case of Nancy Guthrie at the Pima County Sheriff's Department in Tucson on Feb. 5, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, is missing and was last seen the evening of Jan. 31, 2026. Heith Janke, the FBI special agent in charge of the case, updates members of the press on the ongoing case of Nancy Guthrie at the Pima County Sheriff's Department in Tucson on Feb. 5, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, is missing and was last seen the evening of Jan. 31, 2026. A timeline of events is displayed on a television during a press conference about the ongoing case of Nancy Guthrie at the Pima County Sheriff's Department in Tucson on Feb. 5, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, is missing and was last seen the evening of Jan. 31, 2026. Chris Nanos, Pima County sheriff, updates members of the press on the ongoing case of Nancy Guthrie at the Pima County Sheriff's Department in Tucson on Feb. 5, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, is missing and was last seen the evening of Jan. 31, 2026. Chris Nanos, Pima County sheriff, updates members of the press on the ongoing case of Nancy Guthrie at the Pima County Sheriff's Department in Tucson on Feb. 5, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, is missing and was last seen the evening of Jan. 31, 2026. Heith Janke, the FBI special agent in charge of the case, updates members of the press on the ongoing case of Nancy Guthrie at the Pima County Sheriff's Department in Tucson on Feb. 5, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, is missing and was last seen the evening of Jan. 31, 2026. Heith Janke, the FBI special agent in charge of the case, updates members of the press on the ongoing case of Nancy Guthrie at the Pima County Sheriff's Department in Tucson on Feb. 5, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, is missing and was last seen the evening of Jan. 31, 2026. Microphones pile on a podium ahead of a press conference to discuss the ongoing case of Nancy Guthrie at the Pima County Sheriff's Department in Tucson on Feb. 5, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, is missing and was last seen the evening of Jan. 31, 2026. Chris Nanos, Pima County sheriff, updates members of the press on the ongoing case of Nancy Guthrie at the Pima County Sheriff's Department in Tucson on Feb. 5, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, is missing and was last seen the evening of Jan. 31, 2026. Pima County Sheriff's deputies walk through the driveway of Nancy Guthrie's home after the disappearance of the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, who went missing from her home in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 4, 2026. Media broadcasts outside the home of Nancy Guthrie after the disappearance of the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, who went missing from her home in Tucson on Feb. 4, 2026. Investigators speak in the driveway of Nancy Guthrie's house after the disappearance of the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, who went missing from her home in Tucson on Feb. 4, 2026. Media broadcasts as private security stands guard in the driveway of Nancy Guthrie's house after the disappearance of the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, who went missing from her home in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 4, 2026. Private security stands guard in the driveway of Nancy Guthrie's house after the disappearance of the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, who went missing from her home in Tucson on Feb. 4, 2026. A sign of support stands outside the home of Nancy Guthrie in Tucson on Feb. 4, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, is missing and was last seen the evening of Jan. 31, 2026. Hundreds of people gather for a vigil to pray for Nancy Guthrie at St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church in Tucson on Feb. 4, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, is missing and was last seen the evening of Jan. 31, 2026. Hundreds of people gather for a vigil to pray for Nancy Guthrie at St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church in Tucson on Feb. 4, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, is missing and was last seen the evening of Jan. 31, 2026. Members of the media wait outside as hundreds of people gather for a vigil to pray for Nancy Guthrie at St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church in Tucson on Feb. 4, 2026. Hundreds of people gather for a vigil to pray for Nancy Guthrie at St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church in Tucson on Feb. 4, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, is missing and was last seen the evening of Jan. 31, 2026. Hundreds of people gather for a vigil to pray for Nancy Guthrie at St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church in Tucson on Feb. 4, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, is missing and was last seen the evening of Jan. 31, 2026. Hundreds of people gather for a vigil to pray for Nancy Guthrie at St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church in Tucson on Feb. 4, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, is missing and was last seen the evening of Jan. 31, 2026. People attend a vigil at St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church after the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, who went missing from her home in Tucson on Feb. 4, 2026. Leo (left), Talina and Declan blow out their candles after attending a vigil to pray for Nancy Guthrie at St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church in Tucson on Feb. 4, 2026. A street sign stands across from the home of Nancy Guthrie in Tucson on Feb. 4, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, is missing and was last seen the evening of Jan. 31, 2026. Private security stands guard in the driveway of Nancy Guthrie's house after the disappearance of the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, who went missing from her home in Tucson on Feb. 4, 2026. The front of Nancy Guthrie's house after the disappearance of the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, who went missing from her home in Tucson on Feb. 4, 2026. People attend a vigil at St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church after the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, who went missing from her home in Tucson on Feb. 4, 2026. People attend a vigil at St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church after the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, who went missing from her home in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 4, 2026. Drops of blood, confirmed to be Nancy Guthrie's, can be seen on the Spanish tile at the front door of the home of Guthrie, mother of "Today" show host Savannah Guthrie. Drops of blood, confirmed to be Nancy Guthrie's, can be seen on the Spanish tile at the front door of the home of Guthrie, mother of "Today" show host Savannah Guthrie. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos gives updates on the search for Nancy Guthrie on Feb. 3, 2026. Television media set up at the house of Nancy Guthrie, NBC host Savannah Guthrie's mother, on Feb. 3, 2026, in Catalina, Ariz. The front of the home of Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show co-host Savannah Guthrie, on Feb. 3, 2026. A blue shirt was strewn over the rocks by the front door. Nancy Guthrie was abducted from the home some time after about 9:30 p.m. on Jan. 31, the Pima County Sheriff's Department said. Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of "Today" show co-host Savannah Guthrie, went missing from her home (pictured here) in the affluent Catalina Foothills area just north of Tucson on Feb. 1, 2026. A sign is posted at the house of Nancy Guthrie, NBC host Savannah Guthrie's mother, on Feb. 3, 2026, in Catalina, Ariz.The search continues in the Tucson area for Nancy Guthrie, after she was reported missing on February 1. Nancy Guthrie and "Today" anchor Savannah Guthrie are pictured in an undated photograph provided by NBC. Arizona officials say they are investigating Nancys disappearance as a "crime." Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, disappeared from her Arizona home on Feb. 1, 2026. Savannah Guthrie's mother's disappearance is being treated as a crime by Arizona police. Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, disappeared from her Arizona home on Feb. 1, 2026. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos gives an update on the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, mother of Savannah Guthrie, on Feb. 2, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, disappeared from her Arizona home on Feb. 1, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, disappeared from her Arizona home on Feb. 1, 2026. Sgt. David Stivers of the Pima County Sheriff's Department at the news conference regarding the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, mother of Savannah Guthrie, on Feb. 2, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, disappeared from her Arizona home on Feb. 1, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of "Today" show co-host Savannah Guthrie, went missing from her home (pictured here) in the Catalina Foothills area just north of Tucson on Feb. 1, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, mother of 'Today' show anchor Savannah Guthrie, disappeared from her Arizona home on Feb. 1, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of "Today" show co-host Savannah Guthrie, was reported missing from her home in a community just north of Tucson on Feb. 1, 2026. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos gives an update on the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, mother of Savannah Guthrie, on Feb. 2, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of "Today" show co-host Savannah Guthrie, went missing from her home (pictured here) in the affluent Catalina Foothills area just north of Tucson on Feb. 1, 2026. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos gives an update on the search for Nancy Guthrie on Feb. 1, 2026. Who is Nancy Guthrie? What to know about Savannah Guthrie's mother 1 of 60 Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of "Today" show co-host Savannah Guthrie, was reported missing from her home in a community just north of Tucson on Feb. 1, 2026. Search underway: Nancy Guthrie's disappearance was being investigated as a crime Stephanie Murray covers national politics and the Trump administration for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. She also co-hosts The Gaggle, The Republics weekly politics podcast. Reach her via email at stephanie.murray@usatodayco.com and on social media @stephanie_murr. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Sheriff Chris Nanos revises resume after Republic report Pittsburgh police officer now charged with assault after off-duty fight A Pittsburgh police officer is now facing a criminal charge after an off-duty fight at a bar in Pleasant Hills. Online court records show Richard Dilimone Jr. is charged with one count of felony aggravated assault. Dilimone has been on administrative leave since the bar fight in early February. The off-duty officers were out celebrating a promotion when the incident happened. Channel 11 Chief Investigator Rick Earle previously spoke to Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala, who confirmed that one of the off-duty officers used a beer bottle during the fight. Advertisement Advertisement RELATED COVERAGE >>>11 Investigates Exclusive: DA gives update on investigation into fight involving Pittsburgh officers Court records say the investigation revealed that Dilimone was the person who hit someone with a beer bottle across the forehead, causing a large laceration. Channel 11s Gabriella DeLuca spoke with the attorney for the man who was hit over the head. The man is reportedly at a loss for words about what happened that night. He reportedly got nine stitches and has met with numerous doctors to see if they can repair the damage that was done. For the victims attorney, Casey White, the charges are both a relief and a disappointment. Advertisement Advertisement Its kind of a double-edged sword because my client was charged with simple assault even though we cooperated with law enforcement and explained the situation and detailed what happened that night and how my client was acting in self defense, White tells 11 Investigates. Whites client, Edward Estes, is charged with simple assault because hes accused of punching another off-duty officer in the nose during the fight. But White claims Estes was just trying to break it up. He says he got his friend out of the bar and then returned. He went back to the City of Pittsburgh police officer and told him everything is good, everthing is quiet, White said. And thats when the City of Pittsburgh officer escalated it, and my client acted in self-defense, and the individual, the police officer charged today, smashed a beer bottle over my clients head. Dilimones attorney, Phil Dilucente, had no comment today, but said: Well have plenty to say at the preliminary hearing. Advertisement Advertisement This isnt Dilimones first run-in with the law. In 2018, while driving his patrol car, he was charged with causing an accident while not properly licensed and driving without a license. His license had expired about three weeks before he crashed into the rear bumper of a pickup truck that slammed into a car on the South Side, injuring a woman. Its unclear what happened with that case, as all of the records have been removed from the online portal. Three other officers were also placed on administrative leave while the incident was being investigated. Theyve since returned to work and have not been charged. Advertisement Advertisement According to a statement from public safety officials, Detective Dilimone remains on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the legal process in this matter. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW Poland's right-wing conservative President Karol Nawrocki is blocking the country's participation in the EU's multibillion-euro Security Action for Europe (SAFE) armaments programme, despite attempts by the government to persuade him otherwise. Nawrocki instead submitted his own draft on defence financing to parliament in Warsaw. Defence Minister Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz told the PAP news agency on Wednesday that Nawrocki's proposal was even worse than he had expected. Advertisement Advertisement Due to the increasing threat from Russia, the European Union is providing 150 billion (about $175 billion) in low-cost loans for armaments through the SAFE programme. Poland is set to be the largest beneficiary, receiving 44 billion. The government and parliament in Warsaw have already given their approval for the programme. However, Nawrocki still needs to sign the agreement by March 20. The president, the right-wing populist former governing Law and Justice (PiS) party and the entire Polish right wing reject the programme. A spokesman for the European Commission in Brussels said they did not want to interfere in the Polish discussion, but stressed that the programme must be implemented for the sake of the security of Poland, Ukraine and the EU as a whole. Advertisement Advertisement Prime Minister Donald Tusk and his defence minister attempted to change Nawrocki's mind on Tuesday. According to PAP, Tusk said that Poland urgently needed the EU money to expand its army. Instead, the president referred to his own proposal to invest profits from the national bank in armaments. The Polish right wing fears that the EU programme could primarily benefit the German and French arms industries. Tusk has promised that 70-80% of the money will be spent in Poland. Police in DeKalb County are warning students not to take part in a rumored Senior Skip Day takeover planned for Wednesday at Wade Walker Park. According to the DeKalb County Police Department, the gathering circulating online is not an approved event. Officials say officers will enforce truancy laws if students skip school and show up at the park. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Police also say they are taking the situation seriously due to criminal activity that has been reported at recent teen takeover events in Cobb County and the city of Atlanta. Advertisement Advertisement Atlanta police say they recovered nearly a dozen guns after responding to a teen takeover along and around the Beltline last week. Atlanta police said no one was injured. RELATED STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Then last month, 17 people were arrested after a takeover event caused chaos at The Battery in Cobb County. Cobb County residents say large crowds of teenagers, some appearing as young as 12, overran The Battery. DKPD says, Be smart, stay in class. If the event occurs, DeKalb County police say they will take appropriate enforcement measures and may charge those involved if illegal activity is involved. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Community and energy industry advocates are calling on Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo to halt NV Energys controversial peak demand charge that is expected to increase some bills by $20 a month and is set to take effect in Southern Nevada on April 1. Lombardos reaction, as well as his opponents, to calls to intervene could help determine the outcome of the gubernatorial election in November, suggests longtime Nevadan Jon Wellinghoff, who has deep roots in the energy industry. Wellinghoff has served as Nevadas Consumer Advocate and as a chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Wellinghoff calls NV Energys effort to impose the peak demand charge not only one of the most important ratepayer stories in the country, but for Nevada, one of the most significant political stories ever. Advertisement Advertisement The charge will be based on a customers highest 15-minute period of energy consumption each day. It is unprecedented among investor-owned utilities in the U.S. and comes as NV Energy recovers from a public relations nightmare an acknowledgement that it overcharged customers more than $65 million over two decades, followed by a series of corporate contortions to avoid full repayments. April Fools Day is when the new charge goes into place. People are going to go crazy when this happens, suggests Wellinghoff. By June 1, I think people will have pitchforks before the Public Utilities Commission and NV Energy. As weve seen in other states, like New Jersey, governors have the power to freeze rates and stand with the people for energy affordability, Jackie Spicer of the Nevada Environmental Justice Coalition, a group of community and faith-based organizations urging Lombardo to take action, said in a news release last week. In a separate action, the Alliance for Solar Choice, a coalition of industry advocates, is asking Nevadans to sign a petition asking Lombardo to derail the demand charge until state lawmakers can have a say in 2027. Advertisement Advertisement NV Energy contends the change in the way bills are calculated is necessary to offset what it says is a $50 million annual subsidy paid by full-service ratepayers on behalf of solar customers. The people have had it with NV Energy, says Angel DeFazio, a fervent critic of the utility and the PUC. But if Lombardo interferes, the Commission, in my opinion, is no longer independent. It would be an admission that his appointees favor utilities. Lombardo appointed the three PUC members who approved NV Energys application to impose the peak demand charge. Attorney General Aaron Ford, a Democrat who is hoping to unseat Lombardo in November, could emerge as a hero to ratepayers, says Wellinghoff. His Bureau of Consumer Protection is asking Clark County District Judge Mary Kay Holthus to throw out the peak demand charge, based in part on a Nevada law that prohibits rates based on time of day. Advertisement Advertisement Aaron Ford could turn around what is an eight-to-one campaign monetary advantage here very quickly by simply taking advantage of this, says Wellinghoff. Ford reported $1.5 million in cash on hand in January, compared with Lombardo, who reported $9 million. Of all Republican governors up for reelection in 2026, Lombardo is the most vulnerable, according to the Cook Political Report, which ranks the Nevada race as a toss-up. California Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Tom Steyer is on the TV every other hour talking about doing away with PG&E in Southern California, says Wellinghoff. Im running for governor. Vote for me. Ill municipalize these things and well lower our rates. Where are the people in Nevada talking about the same thing? Advertisement Advertisement Im suing to stop this demand charge, while Joe Lombardo is sitting on the sidelines and making life more expensive, Ford told the Current, adding that Lombardo should use every tool available to him to lower costs for Nevada families. Wellinghoff says Ford would be wise to consult the playbook that helped buoy another Democratic AG to victory more than 40 years ago. In 1982. Nevada Power, which changed its name to NV Energy in 2008, had just erected a gleaming edifice on West Sahara. Then-Attorney General Richard Bryan, a savvy Democrat known for having his finger on the pulse of the electorate, was running for governor against Republican incumbent Gov. Robert List. Bryan deemed Nevada Powers building a monument to corporate greed and suggested ratepayers honk as they drove by. Advertisement Advertisement Las Vegans, who were up in arms over the cost of electricity, made signs that said Honk if you hate Nevada Power. Bryan became governor with an 11% win over List. It was the last time a Democratic candidate for governor defeated a Republican incumbent in Nevada, Wellinghoff notes. Coincidentally, NV Energy is once again moving its headquarters this time to a $28 million office building in Summerlin. In February, Holthus rejected a motion filed by the utility and the Public Utilities Commission to consolidate the Bureau of Consumer Protections case with another filed in Carson City. Wellinghoff says the judges decision signals to me shes looking very seriously at what the plaintiffs are saying here. Advertisement Advertisement Holthus timing could be critical to Fords campaign, says Wellinghoff. If the judge overturns this before or shortly after April 1, she could dampen the political impact, says Wellinghoff, noting its still a win for Fords Bureau of Consumer Protection. But I think from a political perspective, it would be better for Ford if she doesnt have time to rule, doesnt rule, or in essence, rules against him. Then he can say were taking this to the Nevada Supreme Court, which, of course, wont happen before the election. I think he would have more political momentum if people are still having to pay these ridiculous bills all through the summer while hes campaigning. Ford, he says, can use the courts ruling to his advantage either way. This is an election-winning issue, because people are going to go nuts. Lombardo, faced with an electorate struggling to pay its power bills, likely has few options, says Wellinghoff. He is just going to stew in the fact that his Public Utilities Commission made this decision. The governors office declined to respond to questions and directed the Current to the PUC to learn more information about the demand charge. SAN FRANCISCO, March 11 (Reuters) - Meta Platforms on Wednesday unveiled a roadmap of four new chips that the company is making in-house, as it rapidly expands its data centers. Like many big tech companies such as Alphabet and Microsoft, Meta has invested heavily in building a team that can design chips in-house in addition to purchasing off-the-shelf products made by Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices. Making chips designed to tackle the specific types of data crunching Meta requires can lead to designs that use less energy and at a better cost. The new chips are part of the company's Meta Training and Inference Accelerator (MTIA) program and the first of the new chips called the MTIA 300 is in use powering the company's ranking and recommendation systems. The other three will be rolled out this year and in 2027, with the final two chips, the MTIA 450 and 500 being designed to perform inference, the process when an AI model such as the one that powers the ChatGPT app responds to customer queries and requests. "We see inference demand exploding at the moment and that's what we're currently focused on," Yee Jiun Song, Meta's vice president of engineering, said in an interview. Meta has had some success with inference chips but has struggled with its long-time ambitions to make a generative AI training chip, capable of building the large models that power AI apps. Beginning with the MTIA 400, which the company says is on the path to being used in its data centers, Meta has designed an entire system around the chips, which is roughly the size of several server racks and includes a version of liquid cooling. The company plans to release the new chips at six-month intervals because it is rapidly expanding the number of data centers it uses to run apps like Instagram and Facebook, Song said. "That is the reality of how quickly our infrastructure is being built out," Song said. The company said in January it expects capital spending of between $115 billion and $135 billion this year. Meta contracts Broadcom to help with some elements of the designs, though Song did not specify which chips. The company uses Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co to fabricate the processors. In February, Meta signed big deals with Nvidia and AMD to buy tens of billions of dollars worth of chips. (Reporting by Max A. Cherney in San Francisco; Editing by Sonali Paul) Tashkents first permanent Centre for Contemporary Arts marks the transformation of a former industrial power station into a new cultural institution for Uzbekistan and the wider region. Built in 1912 as the citys first diesel power plant, the structure has been initiated by Gayane Umerova, Chairperson of the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation. It is conceived as a long-term platform for contemporary art, research and public engagement, linking early 20th century industrial heritage with a programme focused on the development of a creative economy. Advertisement Advertisement When we first envisioned the CCA, I knew I wanted it to be open to all, a place for inspiration, dialogue, opportunity, and a hub for the community, Umerova explained. Through sustained investment in cultural infrastructure and programming, we are, for the first time, building a creative economy across Uzbekistan, and Im proud of the opportunities for future generations being created through the dynamic programming at the CCA. Architecture and design philosophy The buildings conversion is led by the Paris-based architectural practice Studio KO, founded by Karl Fournier and Olivier Marty. Their approach integrates architecture, interiors and landscape within a single framework, drawing on the sites industrial past while adapting it for exhibitions, performances and public programmes. Diesel station exhibition space - Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation The architectural model, first presented at Art Basel Paris in October 2025, outlines a complex that will include a large exhibition pavilion, lecture halls, workshops, a library and bookshop, an open-air cinema that converts into a stage, a cafe and administrative offices. Traditional Uzbek materials and light-filtering design elements have been incorporated to maintain a dialogue between local craft and contemporary form. Advertisement Advertisement Related Leadership and vision The Centres Artistic Director and Chief Curator is Dr Sara Raza, whose curatorial practice spans Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. At its core, the Centre is a space for dialogue between artists and intergenerational local, global, and digital audiences to participate in art and ideas, she says. The institution is intended to operate as an open-access space, with free entry, positioning itself both as a regional cultural hub and as a civic gathering point in a city historically shaped by exchange along trade routes linking Europe and Asia. Advertisement Advertisement Beyond exhibitions, the CCA will support research and professional development. Since 2024, preparatory initiatives have included artist residencies, youth workshops and digital programming through CCA Radio. Structured internships, fellowships and traineeships are planned for early-career curators and cultural managers. In collaboration with the Architectural Association in London, the Centre will launch a three-year Visiting School programme from 2026 to 2028, focusing on vernacular architectural thinking in Uzbekistan through fieldwork, research and public presentations. 2026: The first exhibition-led year The year 2026 will be the Centres first full exhibition season. The inaugural exhibition, Hikmah (Wisdom), curated by Dr. Sara Raza, will open alongside the public launch in March. The exhibition will feature site-specific works that respond to the buildings architecture while exploring themes of knowledge and insight. Advertisement Advertisement Participating artists include Kimsooja, Ali Cherri, Nadia Kaabi-Linke, Muhannad Shono, Nari Ward, Shokhrukh Rakhimov, and Tarik Kiswanson. A central work, Flying Carpets by Nadia Kaabi-Linke, is on loan from the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York and will be shown in Central Asia for the first time. From May to November, the Centre will present a major exhibition of Vyacheslav Akhunov as a collateral project of the 61st Venice Biennale. Spanning five decades of multidisciplinary practice, the exhibition will include painting, drawing, video and installation works, as well as previously unrealised pieces from the 1970s. The presentation situates Uzbek contemporary art within a broader international context. In September, the programme will continue with Centre for Cosmic Energy, guest curated by Zelfira Tregulova. The exhibition revisits the work of Ilya and Emilia Kabakov within the former industrial setting, reframing the building as a space for speculative artistic inquiry. Public programmes and city-wide engagement The Centres launch will coincide with the Navruz Gala and Festival, scheduled from 21 to 23 March 2026. The multidisciplinary programme will include music, performance, poetry, film and food events, positioning the institution as an active civic venue from its first days of operation. Advertisement Advertisement Summer programming will extend into the city through Tashkent Summer Days, running from 21 June to 9 August. Curated in collaboration with Invisible Island Studio, the seven-week public art initiative will activate multiple districts and mahallahs, drawing on the memory of historic open-air festivals and cinema culture while introducing contemporary artistic interventions into public space. The year will conclude with Tashkent Film Encounters in December, a programme that revisits the legacy of the Tashkent International Film Festival, held between 1968 and 1988, and reinterprets it as a contemporary platform for global cinema and cross-cultural dialogue. President Donald Trump is on his way to the commonwealth after a stop in Cincinnati March 11. He appeared at a pharmaceutical and biotechnology manufacturing plant just north of Cincinnati to discuss TrumpRx.gov, a new prescription drug website, and also made comments on the ongoing conflict with Iran. He will later make "remarks" at an event at the Verst Logistics Contract Packaging Facility in Hebron. Advertisement Advertisement Here's what to know: What did President Trump say in Cincinnati? Trump toured a pharmaceutical and biotechnology manufacturing plant in Reading, Ohio, with Marc Casper, Thermo Fisher's chairman and CEO; Mike Shafer, president of Biopharma Services; and Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator for the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Service. The president said the U.S. was "paying more than any other nation, by far," for drugs and has pushed to lower the costs of medications. "We went from the highest in the world to the lowest in the world," he said. He also made comments about Iran and said oil and gas prices, which have risen in recent days amid the conflict, are expected to drop. Advertisement Advertisement He referred to the ongoing conflict as "an excursion that will keep us out of a war" and said U.S. military members have been successful in eliminating many of Iran's missiles and drones. Trump to make 'remarks' in Hebron Trump will speak at an event at the Verst Logistics Contract Packaging Facility in Hebron, located in Boone County just south of Cincinnati. Doors to the event open at 1 p.m., with Trump expected to speak just before 4:30 p.m. While there is little information about the purpose of his visit, 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 about two months away. Massie has not been shy about voting against the president over the years, but the dispute reached its peak 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 had ties to many powerful people and died by suicide in jail in 2019. Advertisement Advertisement Trump vs. Massie: Donald Trump to visit Kentucky. About conflict between president, Thomas Massie Reporters Lucas Aulbach and Patricia Gallagher Newberry contributed. Reach Marina Johnson at Marina.Johnson@courier-journal.com. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: President Trump to visit Kentucky. What he said in Cincinnati A new report has expressed alarm at what it describes as backsliding press freedoms across the Americas, with the United States seeing the steepest decline. The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) released its latest press freedom index on Tuesday, ranking last year as the lowest point for freedom of expression since the report began in 2020. Researchers found that the Americas have experienced a dramatic deterioration in unrestricted speech, according to the report. Advertisement Advertisement This is one of the worst years for journalism in the region, marked by murders, arbitrary arrests, exile, and rampant impunity in countries such as Mexico, Honduras, Ecuador, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Colombia, Cuba, and Venezuela, the report said. It added that enhanced restrictions on free speech have occurred in countries of various ideological persuasions, whether right-wing or left-wing. The US, however, was singled out as an area of alarming decline. In a ranking of 23 countries across the hemisphere, the US dropped from fourth place to 11th, indicating that journalists operate with increased restrictions. Changes under President Donald Trump, who returned to office last year, were cited as a primary factor. Advertisement Advertisement Even though journalistic practice in the United States remains protected by the Constitution and laws, last years events saw the erosion of safeguards, the report explained. Trump, it said, had contributed to the stigmatisation of critical journalism. The report also pointed to developments like cuts to public media funding and the closure of Voice of America, a government-funded broadcaster, as detriments to the free press. In total, the report tallied 170 attacks against journalists in the US last year, and it cited interactions with federal immigration agents as an area of concern. The report also noted that Nicaragua and Venezuela continue to rank as without freedom of expression. Advertisement Advertisement In Venezuelas case, for instance, it cited the closure of more than 400 radio stations and the detention of 25 journalists in the wake of the controversial 2024 presidential election. On a scale of 100, the report ranked press freedom in the country at 7.02. It remains in last place on the reports list of 23 countries. El Salvador also dropped in the indexs latest evaluation, now in 21st position on the press freedom list, just ahead of Nicaragua and Venezuela. In an accompanying statement, Sergio Arauz, the president of the Association of Journalists of El Salvador (APES), denounced what he called the escalating repression under the government of President Nayib Bukele. Advertisement Advertisement Arauz noted that 50 Salvadoran journalists had been pushed into exile in the last year amid a campaign of harassment by the government. There are no possibilities of practicing journalism fully without facing consequences when there is an Executive branch with virtually unlimited powers and no effective legal oversight, said Arauz. Since 2022, Bukele and his government have placed the country under a state of emergency that suspended key civil liberties and granted wide latitude to state security forces, in the name of addressing crime. Tuesdays report pointed to the state of emergency as a factor in undermining free speech, and also cited El Salvadors new Foreign Agents Law, which gives the government the power to dissolve organisations that receive funding from abroad. Advertisement Advertisement El Salvador is one of eight nations categorised in the index as high restriction, along with Ecuador, Bolivia, Honduras, Peru, Mexico, Haiti and Cuba. The Dominican Republic, Chile, Canada and Brazil were ranked among the highest for protecting press freedoms. In recent weeks, theres been a series of indefensible incidents in which Republican members of Congress have peddled overt and explicit anti-Muslim bigotry, but GOP Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee added to the pattern this week, publishing a message to social media that argued, Muslims dont belong in American society. Democratic leaders have been quick to condemn the hateful partisan trend, but Republican leaders failed to do the same, and it was difficult to wonder whether someone like House Speaker Mike Johnson would ever address the subject in a meaningful way. The good news is, the Louisiana Republican finally said something on Tuesday afternoon. The bad news is, Congress most powerful GOP leader made an ugly problem even worse. Advertisement Advertisement After a brief comment about the significance of tone, Johnson effectively presented a defense of his far-right members bigotry. Theres a lot of energy in the country and a lot of popular sentiment that the demand to impose sharia law in America is a serious problem. Thats what animates this, the House speaker said. The language that people use its different language than I would use, but I think thats a serious issue. Sharia law and the imposition of sharia law is contrary to the U.S. Constitution. He concluded, When you seek to come to a country and not assimilate but impose sharia law, sharia law is in conflict with the Constitution. Its not about people as Muslims; its about those who seek to impose a different belief system that is in direct conflict with the Constitution. Right off the bat, its important to emphasize that it would have been incredibly easy for Johnson to simply say, The Republican Party does not support religious bigotry of any kind. The fact that he couldnt bring himself to make such an obvious declaration speaks volumes about the state of the contemporary GOP. Advertisement Advertisement Whats more, the House speaker was suggesting that its Muslim Americans fault that some House Republicans are peddling anti-Muslim bigotry, which is every bit as disgusting as it seems. But lets not overlook the inanity of Johnsons tacit defense. Younger readers might not be aware of this, but between 2011 and 2015, the threat of creeping sharia law became quite common in far-right circles, before eventually getting picked up by some Republicans eager to score points with the most rabid elements of the GOP base. (Newt Gingrich, for example, included an anti-sharia provision in his 2012 presidential platform.) The basic idea behind this paranoid nonsense was that Americans needed to fear the demise of the separation of church and state, which would give way to the imposition of Islamic rules on the public against Americans will. Advertisement Advertisement State-sanctioned sharia law did not and could not exist in this country, and the idea that government officials would impose sharia on the populace was obviously silly. But at the time, too many Republicans and their allies took all of this quite seriously, as part of a bizarre campaign to scare people and turn Muslim Americans into a threat in need of government action. More than a decade later, as GOP officials and candidates look for new ways to divide the American public and scare conservative voters, partisan hysterics about sharia law have made a furious comeback, despite the inconvenient fact that there is still no credible effort underway to impose Islamic rules on unsuspecting Americans. Its a detail the House speaker really ought to be aware of. As for Ogles, the scandal-plagued lawmaker responded to the controversy with a follow-up item via social media, arguing that if a sitting member of Congress said that Christians dont belong in American society, it wouldnt even be a news story. Advertisement Advertisement The next time the Tennessee Republican wonders why he isnt taken seriously as an elected official, he should keep this in mind. This post updates our related earlier coverage. The post Pressed on religious bigotry, Speaker Johnson makes an ugly problem even worse appeared first on MS NOW. This article was originally published on ms.now A man from Jamaica who was previously deported from the United States was sentenced to six months in prison on Tuesday in Hartford federal court for making a false statement on a U.S. passport application. According to a report from the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Marlon Damian White also known as Damian Marlon White is a 47-year-old Jamaican citizen who last lived in Hartford. Court documents and statements show that White was admitted to the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident in 1995. Advertisement Advertisement However, prosecutors point out he was convicted of various offenses in the years that followed. RELATED: Jamaican deported from US admits to passport fraud after being caught in Connecticut Whites offenses include a state conviction in New York for second-degree assault, as well as a federal conviction in the Southern District of New York for a drug distribution violation, for which he was sentenced to two years in prison. Following his federal conviction, Whites status as a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. was revoked. In February 2006, he was deported to Jamaica. Sign up for the FOX61 newsletters: Morning Forecast, Morning Headlines, Evening Headlines Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors note that White later returned to the U.S. illegally. On May 6, 2024, he used a false name, false birth date and false place of birth to apply for a U.S. passport in Hartford. In the process of applying, White provided officials with a fake birth certificate and a drivers license that falsely represented he was born and raised in California. RELATED: Jamaican man charged in CT for using sweepstakes scheme to steal millions from elderly White was arrested on Oct. 9, 2025, and has been detained since. He pleaded guilty to the offense on Dec. 15, 2025. When White completes his prison term, he will be removed to Jamaica again. Advertisement Advertisement The case has been investigated by the U.S. Department of States Diplomatic Security Service. The case is part of Operation Take Back America, which uses resources from the U.S. Department of Justice to curb the amount of undocumented people entering the country. It also aims to eliminate cartel activity and protect American communities from violent crime. ---- Dalton Zbierski is a story desk editor and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com. ---- Do you have a story idea or something on your mind you want to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at newstips@fox61.com. ---- HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET FOX61 NEWS Download the FOX61 News APP Advertisement Advertisement iTunes: Click here to download Google Play: Click here to download Stream Live on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching FOX61. Steam Live on FIRE TV: Search FOX61 and click Get to download. FOLLOW US ON X, FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM The Providence Police Department has announced the death of one of its horses. "The Providence Police Department is saddened to share the passing of Mounted Command equine Thunder," the department said in a Facebook post on Tuesday, March 10. "Thunder, 12, was born at Grants Farm in St. Louis, Missouri and was later purchased and generously donated to the department by McLaughlin and Moran, Inc.," the post says. Advertisement Advertisement "Thunder proudly served the City of Providence and will be deeply missed by the Providence Police Department, especially his partner, Officer Jose Mendez, and Commanding Officer of the Providence Police Department Mounted Command, Sergeant Steven Courville," the department said. Officers and horses in the department's mounted command patrol city streets, provide crowd control and often participate in parades. The horses are kept at Roger Williams Park, according to a story by Kristen Curry on the website of the Roger Williams Park Conservancy's Facebook page. Horses were the main mode of transportation when the department was formed in 1864 and continued into the 1940s, according to the Conservancy's report. Horses were brought back in 1979 by former Mayor Buddy Cianci, the report says. The Providence Police Department announced the death of Thunder on Tuesday, March 10. "Most of the horses that live in the park come from St. Louis, surplus Clydesdales from the Anheuser-Busch stables," the story reports. Advertisement Advertisement The unit is funded through the city's budget, but the horses are acquired through donations and accepted into the command after being vetted for their temperament and bravery. In July of 2023, the command lost another horse, Salute. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Providence police horse dies A synthetic version of psychedelic mushrooms will be legal for use in mental health therapy in South Dakota if its approved by the federal government. Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden signed a bill into law on Tuesday that sets the state up to instantly legalize crystalline polymorph psilocybin if the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves its use and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration reschedules it from a drug of abuse to a drug with medical value. House Bill 1099 sailed through the House of Representatives 58-7 on the strength of testimony about the drugs promise in clinical trials as a more effective option for post-traumatic stress disorder and treatment-resistant depression. Lobbyists for combat veterans testified in support of the measure. The bill met a bit more resistance in the Senate, where Rapid City Republican Sen. Greg Blanc pulled it from the chambers consent calendar a list of noncontroversial bills passed with a single vote unless a senator asks to remove one to decry the idea of using a psychedelic drug in therapy. Advertisement Advertisement Blanc pleaded with his fellow senators to resist the bills conditional legalization, but supporters returned repeatedly to the theme of hope for veterans and treatment-resistant depression and stressed that nothing would happen until the federal government green-lit the drug as safe and effective. The bill passed the Senate 21-12. Rhoden also signed a bill on Tuesday to create the crime of fraudulent assisted reproduction. House Bill 1164 was spurred by the actions of a fertility doctor in Indiana who inseminated dozens of women with his own sperm without their knowledge. His story inspired the Netflix documentary Our Father, which Piedmont Republican Rep. Terri Jorgenson saw before deciding to craft and sponsor the bill. Starting July 1, it will be a felony crime to engage in fraudulent assisted reproduction in South Dakota. Parents or children affected by it will be empowered to seek civil damages. Advertisement Advertisement The governor also announced on Tuesday morning that hed signed a bill requiring social media companies with 100 million or more monthly users to give to South Dakotans, upon request, a copy of all personal data collected about them. Senate Bill 111 also sets up parameters for usability and access of the requested data. Later in the day, Rhodens office issued a press release to say hed signed Senate Bill 164, requiring motorists with commercial drivers licenses to be proficient in English, and Senate Bill 180, which says non-U.S. citizens must have legal status to have CDLs. He additionally signed House Bill 1286, which makes numerous reforms to the governor-controlled Future Fund for economic development, including the addition of definitions for acceptable uses of the fund, requiring more reporting to legislators about the funds awards, stipulating information required of applicants, directing the Governors Office of Economic Development to develop rules governing the funds use, and requiring the office to make recommendations to the governor about potential awards. As of Tuesday afternoon, the governor had signed 127 bills into law and vetoed one this legislative session. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Russia has launched a secret disinformation campaign to help Viktor Orban win re-election as Hungarys prime minister. The Kremlin plans to flood TikTok and other social media platforms with content praising Mr Orban as a defender of Hungarian sovereignty. Peter Magyar, his main rival, will be depicted as an EU puppet. The plot has echoes of Moscows large-scale hybrid warfare campaign, which ultimately failed to swing Moldovas parliamentary elections last year in favour of pro-Russian candidates. Advertisement Advertisement Mr Orban, the longest-serving leader in the EU, has repeatedly clashed with the bloc over the Russia-Ukraine war, sanctions against Moscow, the rule of law, migration and gay rights. He is vetoing a 90bn (75bn) EU loan for Ukraine after Volodymyr Zelensky refused to repair a pipeline carrying Russian oil to Hungary that was hit by a Russian air strike. Poster shows Peter Magyar, Orbans opponent, being told by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen: Gas price increase! Cant say no to them - AFP The nationalist conservative has been prime minister for 15 consecutive years and 19 in total, but he faces a serious challenge from Mr Magyar and his Respect and Freedom (Tisza) Party on April 12. The Financial Times reported that Vladimir Putin had endorsed a plan by media consultancy Social Design Agency. The Russian agency was sanctioned by the US and UK in late 2024 for running a campaign of AI-generated deepfakes to stir up anti-Ukrainian hatred. Advertisement Advertisement According to a proposal, the campaign will paint Mr Orban as a strong leader with global friends. Fifty pro-Orban figures and 30 opposition figures were reportedly targeted to spread the content. Putin phoned the Hungarian leader on March 3 and praised his principled and sovereign stance on his war on Ukraine. Hungary has repeatedly called for an end to the war and continues to buy Russian oil. Trump also praises Orban Donald Trump has also endorsed Mr Orban, a darling of Maga conservatives, and suggested that Budapest, the Hungarian capital, as a possible venue for a Russia-Ukraine peace summit last year. Social Design Agency reportedly wants to smear Mr Magyar as a Brussels puppet with no outside support. It calls for information attacks against him and his party, which it will paint as incompetent, divided and with secret agendas. Advertisement Advertisement Independent outlet VSquare reported last week that three officers from Russias military intelligence agency, the GRU, were posted to its embassy in Budapest to interfere in the elections. The operation is reportedly overseen by Sergei Kiriyenko, a Putin aide who led attempts to interfere with the Moldovan election, but failed to prevent the re-election of the president, Maia Sandu. Maia Sandu, Moldovas president, was targeted by an online smear campaign before her countrys elections in 2024 - AP Mr Magyar was a member of Mr Orbans Fidesz party but is now running a campaign focused on anti-corruption, the economy and public services. Tisza has avoided taking a pro-Ukraine or pro-EU position, instead positioning itself as a more competent and less corrupt alternative to Fidesz. On Monday, Mr Magyar called on Mr Orban to halt the planned election fraud and order Russian agents out of Hungary. Advertisement Advertisement He said: In the coming days, Fidesz, with the help of Russian intelligence services, will launch a smear and disinformation campaign previously tested in Moldova, primarily on social media, especially on TikTok. I also want to make it clear that after April 12, everyone who participated in these criminal acts will be held accountable before the courts. Evgeny Stanislavov, Russias ambassador to Hungary, denied any interference. Putins spokesman blamed fake news for the claims. Hungarys government said they were Left-wing fake accusations and a pitiful attempt to distract from alleged Ukrainian efforts to sway the elections. Mr Orban has been accused of plotting false-flag attacks to win the election by whipping up fears of Ukrainian sabotage. He ordered the seizure of cash and gold from a Ukrainian bank last week. Fideszs election campaign depicts Mr Magyar as an EU puppet and the prime minister as the only leader able to keep Hungary out of the war. Posters show Mr Magyar with Mr Zelensky and Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission. Advertisement Advertisement One deepfake video shows the opposition leader driving Mrs von der Leyen on a highway. They reach a junction with signs showing left for Brussels and straight for Hungary. The fake Mr Magyar drives past signs pointing to War and Higher taxes, saying: Dont worry Ursula, I always choose the left side. 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. Raleigh continues to attract big-name entities. An Omni Hotel is being built at the end of Fayetteville Street, but just nine miles north, the luxury retailer Saks Fifth Avenue is pulling the plug in the City of Oaks. Shoppers say the closure is a blow for the Raleigh area. "I think it's sad," said Raleigh resident Amy Martinez. "I'm disappointed because this area, we really don't have any upscale stores," said Wake Forest resident Chaney Hawthorne. Advertisement Advertisement She said she travels to Washington, D.C., or New York City to get certain luxury items. "You don't want to go all the way out of town to get certain stuff. You want to stay in the area locally," said Hawthorne. Visit Raleigh said it's not instrumental in luring retailers here but is invested in their success and will market for them, as the shopping experience is a big part of tourism. "Last year we had 19 million visitors - 34% of those visitors shopped," said Denny Edwards, president and CEO of the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (GRCVB). "Raleigh's economic success and the demand for vibrant, walkable retail go hand-in-hand," said Raleigh Economic Development Director Kyle Touchstone. "We're seeing examples of that all across the city, especially in our desirable mixed-use districts. Ralliant is a publicly-traded company who just established their global headquarters in the main district of North Hills. Raleigh Iron Works is home to Swiss luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet's North American Service Center. BuildOps opened its East Coast hub in The Creamery at Glenwood South. A diverse business environment with thriving retail and hospitality sectors is important to the quality of life that makes Raleigh a smart move for corporate operators and decision-makers." Advertisement Advertisement Saks said in a statement that the decision to close was based on several factors, including store performance and customer preferences. Martinez said her dad used to work at Saks. She is among those shifting their spending habits. She goes to mixed-use spaces or spends money online. "I don't really necessarily go to the mall anymore," said Martinez. "It's kind of empty there. There's nothing really much there anymore, so it's not like something you're excited to go to anymore." Macy's is also closing at Triangle Town Center and is liquidating its inventory. ABC11 reached out to the mall and inquired about the next steps for the spaces but has not heard back. Doors at Saks are expected to shutter in May, and employees at Macy's said the department store will close at the end of April. Download the ABC11 News app The Charity Commission has opened an investigation into the running of a mental health hospital that has been facing allegations of abuse and neglect. The regulator will examine how the trustees of St Andrew's Healthcare in Northampton oversaw the safeguarding of patients, the BBC was told. It would also be examining the charity's financial viability and the way it was run. St Andrew's Healthcare did not respond when approached for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Last month, the BBC revealed 15 staff members had been arrested since October 2024 following allegations of rape, ill-treatment and neglect at the hospital. A spokesman for the commission said: "We have now opened a regulatory compliance case into St Andrew's Healthcare to assess concerns about the oversight of safeguarding provision by the trustees of the charity." "The financial viability of the charity and the wider governance, management and administration of the charity by its trustees" was also being investigated, he added. The spokesman said the Charity Commission was speaking to the charity's trustees and other regulators "to determine our next steps". Patients moved On Wednesday NHS England (NHSE) announced that 287 inpatients currently being treated at the Northampton site would be taken out of the hospital and alternative arrangements for treatment would be found. Advertisement Advertisement A spokesman for St Andrew's confirmed it had also reported this to the Charity Commission. On the same day that NHSE announced the withdrawal of patients from the hospital, Dr Vivienne McVey, the chief executive of St Andrew's Healthcare, informed colleagues she was retiring after three years in the role. St Andrew's is described as "the UK's leading independent charitable provider" of specialist mental health care. Most of its patients are referred to the hospital by the NHS and include people with psychiatric illness, learning disabilities, acquired brain injury and related disorders. Advertisement Advertisement In the most recent full financial year, the charity's income was of more than 235m. It also operates facilities in Birmingham and Essex, which were unaffected by NHSE's decision to withdraw patients. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Montero Mining completes comprehensive Potrero Gold study in Chiles Maricunga Belt Proactive uses images sourced from Shutterstock Montero Mining and Exploration Ltd (TSX-V:MON, OTC:MXTRF) said on Monday it has completed a detailed exploration and data compilation program at its Potrero gold project in Chiles Maricunga Belt, a prolific mining district in northern Chile. The program, which incorporated advanced analytics and machine learning techniques, aimed to refine the geological and structural understanding of the project and assess its potential for gold mineralization at depth, the company said. Potrero is located about 50 km southeast of El Salvador and 20 km north of Kinross La Coipa mine, in a district that also hosts Gold Fields Salares Norte mine and Rio2s Fenix project. The project comprises a contiguous package of mining concessions covering interpreted hydrothermal alteration and structural corridors identified to date. Monteros exploration program included geological mapping at 1:10,000 scale, high-resolution geochemical sampling using four-acid digestion ICP-MS methods, analysis of satellite imagery for clay and iron oxide mapping, and reprocessing of 189 line-kilometres of historical magnetic survey data. In addition, the company completed approximately 28 line-kilometres of induced polarization and resistivity surveys. The completion of this integrated program represents an important step forward in our understanding of Potrero, Montero CEO Dr. Tony Harwood said. Rather than focusing on isolated anomalies, we are taking a systematic approach, combining detailed fieldwork with AI-assisted modelling and modern visualization tools to identify and prioritize areas for further analysis. Historic exploration at Potrero has included surface sampling, geophysical surveys, and drilling. Verde Resources Inc. reported intersections of gold in reverse circulation drilling, including 126 metres at 0.44 g/t gold and surface grab samples up to 7 g/t gold. Hochschild Mining later completed over 2,700 metres of diamond drilling, confirming the presence of gold anomalies. Montero noted that it has not independently verified the historical results. Detailed geological mapping shows Potrero hosts a hydrothermal system within andesitic domes and breccias, with polydirectional quartz-limonite and quartz-magnetite stockwork veining typical of porphyry gold systems in the Maricunga Belt. Geophysical surveys are being integrated with geological and geochemical datasets as part of ongoing AI-assisted modelling and three-dimensional visualization. This work is ongoing and will guide the next phase of exploration leading to drill target definition following completion of the company's technical evaluation process, Harwood noted. Montero said it has commissioned an independent geochemical vectoring analysis with Fathom Geophysics, which will be integrated into the companys evolving interpretation. The firm plans to continue refining its geological, geochemical, and geophysical models. The percentage of Minnesotans without health insurance jumped from 3.8% in 2023 to 5.8% in 2025, according to a new survey by the Minnesota Department of Health. The figure translates to around 116,000 more Minnesotans living without health insurance, reversing a trend of improvement since 2017. The numbers come from the Minnesota Health Access Survey, which measures health insurance and health care access across the state every two years. The 2025 survey included responses from 16,254 Minnesotans. Advertisement Advertisement Lack of insurance results in delayed or deferred care and worse health outcomes, more medical debt for families, and increased rates of uncompensated care for health systems, Minnesota Commissioner of Health Brooke Cunningham said in a press release announcing the survey results. Racial and ethnic disparities in insurance rates worsened, with the uninsured rate for Hispanic Minnesotans jumping from 11.4% in 2023 to 20.7% in 2025. People with lower incomes are also disproportionately uninsured; 13% of people with an income below 200% of the federal poverty level $64,300 for a family of four in 2025, for example are uninsured. Also, 12.4% of insured Minnesotans reported being worried about losing coverage, an increase from 7.7% in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement The percentage of Minnesotans covered by public insurance programs such as Medicaid, MinnesotaCare and Medicare dropped from 44.1% in 2023 to 39.6% in 2025, which the report said drove some of the overall decrease in insurance rates. The portion of Minnesotans insured through their employer increased slightly from 49.3% to 51.4%. The survey doesnt include many future changes to federal health spending from the 2025 budget reconciliation law, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which health research organization KFF projected will increase Minnesotas uninsured population by roughly 170,000 by 2034. The survey also does not include the impacts of a 2025 legislative repeal of undocumented adults eligibility for MinnesotaCare, a state-subsidized health insurance program. Around 17,400 undocumented people were enrolled in MinnesotaCare in April 2025 after becoming eligible in Jan. 2025 thanks to legislation passed by the 2023 Democratic-Farmer-Labor trifecta. Undocumented adults stopped being able to submit new applications for MinnesotaCare starting in July 2025, and those who were enrolled lost their insurance in Jan. 2026. Around a quarter of the undocumented enrollees were children, who are still eligible under the new statute. The vast majority of undocumented immigrants were not enrolled through MinnesotaCare; according to Pew Research, 2.2% of Minnesotans, or 130,000 people, are undocumented. The race to fill the Georgia 14th Congressional District seat left vacant by now-former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is heading to a runoff. Because no candidate received the necessary majority of votes, the top two vote-getters, Republican Clay Fuller and Democrat Shawn Harris, will have a runoff on April 7. [LIVE RESULTS: Who will fill Marjorie Taylor Greenes seat?] We are not focusing on the long road ahead. If we focus on winning each day, the victories will add up, and we will be on Capitol Hill, Fuller said at his watch party. Advertisement Advertisement Tonight, you might expect everyone here to be Democrats, but there are also Republicans here who want change. I am thankful for this opportunity, Harris said at his watch party. Georgias 14th Congressional District covers parts of 10 counties stretching from metro Atlanta to the Tennessee and Alabama borders. RELATED STORIES Advertisement Advertisement Fuller is a local district attorney who has been endorsed by President Donald Trump. Harris is a cattle farmer and retired Brigadier General with the United States Army. The winner will serve out the remaining months of Greenes term. But if they want to remain in Congress beyond next January, they will have to run again. Republicans and Democrats seeking a full two-year term are set for a May 19 party primary, and possibly a June 16 party runoff, before advancing to the general election in November. Fuller, Harris and nine other Republicans have qualified to run in Novembers election for a full two-year term. Advertisement Advertisement Returning another Republican to Congress would bolster the partys narrow majority in the House. Republicans currently control 218 House seats to Democrats 214. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] When Republicans took control of Washington, D.C., in 2025, party leaders touted big plans to enact their agenda through the partisan fast-track procedure known as reconciliation. But skip forward one year, just eight months before that majority will be at stake, no one seems sure if thats still the plan. Republicans passed their first reconciliation package in the Big Beautiful Bill last summer, approving massive tax cuts while cutting spending for certain programs the party found wasteful or unnecessary. At the time, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said they could get at least two more megabills through Congress before the midterm election cycle hit. Johnson says another reconciliation bill is still in the works but details of what will be included, how quickly it can pass, or even if it has enough support are still unclear. Advertisement Advertisement Lets be realistic that it will not be as big, but it can be just as beautiful, Johnson told reporters at the annual House Republican issues conference on Tuesday in Florida. The top House Republican said they are still whittling down policy ideas to be included in the framework, and that were not there yet. Stay tuned, he said. But not all members of his conference seem convinced. Rep. Jason Smith, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee that did much of the heavy lifting in the previous reconciliation bill, appeared to brush off the reality of a second package clearing Congress before November. Advertisement Advertisement If you look at history, it is extremely rare for two partisan reconciliation bills to ever pass in the same Congress, Smith said. I would absolutely love a second reconciliation bill. I would love that, but I just dont think it will ever happen. Smith has cast doubt on the likelihood of a second reconciliation bill for months, telling reporters it was his goal to get as many policies in the first package as possible to ensure as many wins as possible. That included Trumps top campaign promises of no taxes on tips or overtime pay. But for the rest of the Republican conference, the odds of a second package seems open-ended: If leadership thinks its a good idea, sure; if not, then no. President Donald Trump speaks at the Republican Members Issues Conference, Monday, March 9, 2026, at Trump National Doral Miami in Doral, Fla. | Mark Schiefelbein, Associated Press I have a great deal of respect for Jason Smith, but if he is talking like that, then I need to understand what his reasoning is for that, Rep. Mike Kennedy, R-Utah, told the Deseret News in an interview. But reconciliation is certainly a tool in this toolbox that we can use. Advertisement Advertisement Other Republicans at the issues retreat seemed enthusiastic about a second reconciliation bill, echoing Kennedys statement that its one of the partys strongest tools to get their agenda passed in a closely divided Congress. Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., said he would be for a second reconciliation package but acknowledged the challenges it would pose. One hurdle, he noted, is the lack of time to pass a reconciliation package compared to the previous one which Republican leaders began crafting one year before they won control of the Senate and White House in 2024. Look, its an election year, and you run out of runway sometime in late spring to early summer on things that are new, Cole said. We dont have the time we had before. Rep. Blake Moore, who supports another reconciliation bill, cited similar concerns, noting the first reconciliation package had a greater sense of urgency thanks to the tax hike deadlines they were working against. Advertisement Advertisement That was the driving force to getting it, making sure it got done, Moore told the Deseret News in an interview. There isnt that impetus right now on anything because theres nothing thats looming that can be catastrophic like that. Its possible that Republicans could add some sort of policy spending to support the Iran war as part of the reconciliation package, all though that is far from certain. But some Republicans say that could be a way to encourage passage. The question remains whether Republicans will explore a second reconciliation bill but the biggest question facing the party now is whether theres enough support to even try. The first consensus has to be whether to do it, House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris said. Then I think the consensus will build rapidly to make it a fairly narrowly focused deal with a couple of the issues that are at hand. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), once championed by Silicon Valley, is facing a primary challenge from a tech entrepreneur seeking to capitalize on the industrys growing antipathy toward the progressive Democrat after he voiced support for a controversial California wealth tax. Ethan Agarwal, who launched a brief bid for California governor last year, announced last week that he was jumping into the Democratic primary to represent the Golden States 17th Congressional District. He is joining the race as Khannas support among wealthy Silicon Valley leaders has waned since he backed a proposed ballot initiative that would hit the states billionaires with a one-time 5 percent tax. Advertisement Advertisement Its certainly going to be an uphill battle, California Democratic strategist Steven Maviglio said of Agarwals bid. Ro Khanna is a nationally recognized figure with a household name well beyond his congressional district, and he has a massive war chest. And that is a very difficult fight. Khanna first secured his seat in Congress in 2016 with the backing of Silicon Valley and has long been viewed as a tech-friendly Democrat. However, Khanna has rattled the industry with his recent support of the wealth tax and dismissive comments toward several prominent tech billionaires who are planning to leave his state. Following a report that venture capitalist Peter Thiel and Google co-founder Larry Page were making moves to depart from California in late December, Khanna wrote in a post on X, I echo what FDR said with sarcasm of economic royalists when they threatened to leave, I will miss them very much. Advertisement Advertisement The congressman further explained his position on the proposed wealth tax in a separate post, arguing that AI was created with our tax dollars given the federal funding that has flowed to researchers through the California university system. Americas central challenge is to make sure the AI revolution works for all of us, not just tech billionaires, Khanna wrote at the time. So yes a billionaire tax is good for American innovation which depends on a strong and thriving American democracy. Supporters of the tax are still obtaining signatures to secure its place on the California ballot in November. If approved, it would implement a one-time 5 percent tax on the states wealthiest residents to help state health care, food assistance and education programs. The proposal has divided California Democrats, putting Khanna at odds with Gov. Gavin Newsom, one of the leading contenders for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination. Advertisement Advertisement We have a progressive tax structure, and I aggressively defend it, Newsom told The New York Times in January. But this is not that and were already paying the price. One state cant do this alone. Agarwal underscored in an interview with The Hill that he supported Khanna when he first ran for Congress but argued that over the last eight years, hes really pivoted significantly from the core principles that got him elected in the first place. Its the wrong idea, Agarwal said of the tax proposal. There is a massive wealth gap in this country. There are numerous ways that we can and should tax billionaires more. Im not opposed to those. Im opposed to the wealth tax because its going to have the opposite effect of what its intended. Khannas support for the wealth tax spurred almost immediate opposition from Silicon Valley titans, who have rallied around Agarwals congressional bid. Advertisement Advertisement Y Combinator President and CEO Garry Tan announced his support for the tech entrepreneur shortly after the campaign launched, alleging that Khanna has turned his back on the district. He said he would help tech, that his predecessor did nothing but name a post office, Tan wrote in a post on the social platform X. We would rather Khanna do that than work to destroy prosperity with national asset seizure. Venture capitalist Ron Conway, who was a key backer of former Vice President Kamala Harriss bid for president in 2024, also backed Agarwal. Its time for a new member of Congress in Silicon Valley who prioritizes the advancement of technology and the continuation of the amazing job creation that the Silicon Valley ecosystem has produced for the last 25 years, he said on X. Advertisement Advertisement Conway is one of several high-profile figures contributing to standalone efforts to defeat the California ballot initiative. He gave $100,000 to one such group, Stop the Squeeze, in November. Google co-founder Sergey Brin gave $20 million to Building a Better California, which has so far directed its funds toward competing ballot initiatives. Brin was joined by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen and venture capitalist Michael Moritz, each of whom gave $2 million to the effort. Larsen is also throwing his money behind a separate effort to oppose the wealth tax called Golden State Promise. Both he and Ripple have given $5 million to the group. And Palantir co-founder Peter Thiel, who was an early backer of President Trump in 2016, gave $3 million to a political action committee tied to the California Business Roundtable, which is opposing the ballot initiative. Advertisement Advertisement The battle over the California wealth tax is drawing national attention as Silicon Valley flexes its influence over the Trump administration and the debate over the Democratic Partys future heats up ahead of 2028. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has jumped into the debate on the other side, traveling to the Golden State in mid-February to campaign for the billionaire tax. Khanna, who has also bolstered his national profile over the past year, joined Sanders last week in unveiling federal legislation that would establish a 5 percent tax on the countrys billionaires. Californians themselves are split on the issue. Recent polling from the University of California, Berkeley, and Politico found that 50 percent of voters said they would back the wealth tax, while 28 percent said they would not and another 23 percent were unsure. There is a lot of sentiment against sending the drivers of Californias economy, those Google zillionaires, out of state or away from Silicon Valley, David McCuan, a political science professor at Sonoma State University, told The Hill. Advertisement Advertisement But theres also a corresponding view by voters that, look, theyre upset about affordability, he continued. And nowhere is that more acute than in Silicon Valley, where its so expensive to live. Even as the wealth tax debate weakens Khannas support among Silicon Valley heavyweights, this may not be enough to unseat him, Maviglio said, noting the tax would affect fewer than 250 people in the state. I understand the frustration, but I think you need a candidate with a message thats more than Im not him, he said. [Khannas] opponent has been a candidate for governor for months and got zero traction. I think they just want to make him kind of nervous, but I dont see it as a real threat. While Agarwal has repeatedly hit Khanna over the wealth tax on social media, his official platform centers on banning stock trading in Congress, targeting political corruption, lowering health care costs and generally tackling affordability, according to his website. Advertisement Advertisement I think for the first time its going to make Ro Khanna actually spend some campaign cash on his reelection and pay a little more attention to his district, Maviglio added. Fundamentally, thats probably a good thing. As of the end of last year, Khanna had nearly $15.5 million in cash on hand, according to federal campaign finance filings. The California Democrat has easily sailed to reelection in his past four races with a margin of at least 35 points. Khanna has also gained national prominence, particularly in recent months, as he has led a push alongside Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) to force the Justice Department to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein. His rising profile has sparked speculation of a 2028 presidential bid. He wants to be the West Coast equivalent of [Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.)], and he wants to have that national stature that drives into a place of contention for 2028 on the left, McCuan said. Advertisement Advertisement Agarwal acknowledged Khannas national profile and the 2028 speculation, suggesting all that is fine, but none of those things are consistent with his primary responsibility, which is to the district itself. The way that I win this race is by showing people from this district that I care about them as opposed to caring about building my own national profile, he added. If Agarwal gains traction, that could hurt Khannas national ambitions, Maviglio noted, suggesting that he has to perform exceedingly well or thatll tarnish any thoughts he has of running for president. That threatens Ro, but it doesnt threaten the power of incumbency or put him in danger of losing reelection, McCuan added. But it makes the race closer. Updated at 8:21 a.m. EDT 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. Mar. 10ROCHESTER Rochester Public Schools has released its achievement and integration plan for the next three years, which it is required to do as a district with a high percentage of minority students compared with neighboring districts. The plan is listed for the years from 2026 to 2029. It includes goals for the district as a whole, but also for Gage Elementary specifically, which is identified as a "racially isolated school" because of its high percentage of minority students. A racially-isolated school is one that has a minority population that is at least 20% higher than the district as a whole. According to Superintendent Kent Pekel, RPS receives about $3 million in achievement and integration funding to help pursue the goals associated with the work. Advertisement Advertisement The plan outlines five district-wide goals to improve the performance of students from minority backgrounds and low-income families. It then lists three goals that specifically pertain to Gage Elementary. The first goal for Gage is to increase the reading proficiency, as measured by the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment, from 19% to 43.7% by 2029. The second goal for Gage is to work with the Minnesota Department of Education to remove the designation of it being a racially identified school, "while strengthening the school's educational program." According to the report, a contributing factor for Gage being classified as a racially isolated school was because the district's Spanish immersion program was included in the building at the time it received the designation in 2024-25. The Spanish immersion program has since been moved to Riverside Central Elementary. Advertisement Advertisement "After the relocation, the school's enrollment more closely reflected the demographics of its attendance area," the report reads. However, minority students still comprise the majority of the student body. In 2025-26, Gage has a student population of 346 students, 21% of whom are white, 6.6% are Asian, 35.3% are Black, 24.3% are Hispanic, 0.6% are American Indian and 12.1% are two or more races. Among the district as a whole, 50.9% of students are white, 8.6% are Asian, 17.2% are Black, 13.2% are Hispanic, 0.9% are American Indian, 0.1% are Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 0.2% are other Indigenous Peoples, and 8.9% are two or more races. According to Pekel, it is not necessary to redraw the boundaries in order to remove Gage's status as a racially isolated school, since there are a number of families within the school's boundary who choose to send their children elsewhere. The task, he said, is to make Gage into a school that families want to attend. Advertisement Advertisement The third goal for Gage is to increase the percentage of teachers of color at the school from 9.8% to 12% by 2029. The first goal for the district overall includes reducing the difference between the four-year graduation rate of Latino students and the rate of all other students by 5.25% by 2029. The district was using the baseline four-year graduation rate of Latino students from 2024, which was 71%. Pekel said the reason they chose to focus on Hispanic students was because their graduation rate was the lowest among the district's racial demographics. The second district-wide goal is to reduce the disparity in postsecondary enrollment within 16 months of graduation between the students from low-income families and students who are not from low-income families by 6.3% by 2029. The baseline the district is using is the class of 2023, after which 54.2% of low-income students enrolled in postsecondary enrollment. Advertisement Advertisement The third district-wide goal is to "reduce the disparity in rigorous course taking between students of color and white students by 4% by 2029. The baseline for that goal is the 2024-25 year, when 41.5% of students of color were taking "at least one rigorous course." The fourth district-wide goal is to increase the percentage of teachers who are people of color and teach "rigorous coursework" such as advanced placement, and career and technical education courses. The fifth district-wide goal is to "increase sustained cross-district participation," in which "students from Rochester Public Schools and partner districts learn together." BUCHAREST, March 11 (Reuters) - Romania will host U.S. refuelling planes, surveillance and satellite communications gear for its Tehran operations, President Nicusor Dan said on Wednesday, adding the equipment was "defensive" and carries no munitions. Dan had earlier convened the EU and NATO state's top defence council, which approved the American request. Parliament voted to approve the measure as well, despite criticism from the far-right opposition who criticised the plan despite being self-avowed supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump. Romania, a staunch Washington ally, is home to a U.S.-developed Aegis Ashore ballistic missile defense system, deployed a decade ago in the town of Deveselu to counter potential threats to NATO allies. It was updated after Russia invaded Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement "We are talking about refuelling planes, some monitoring equipment and some satellite communications equipment in correlation with the Deveselu shield," Dan said. "This equipment is defensive, it does not carry actual ammunition. To the extent that parliament approves ... it will be deployed to Romania in line with the U.S.-Romanian partnership." SOME 1,000 US TROOPS REMAIN IN ROMANIA While some EU countries -- such as France, Greece and Italy -- have sent warships to Cyprus after Iranian-made drones struck a British base on the island, others allow use of their military bases. Advertisement Advertisement Most EU top officials have condemned Iranian strikes in the region and urged an end and a diplomatic solution to the conflict. The U.S. withdrew about 1,000 troops from Romania's Mihail Kogalniceanu air base last year, as the U.S. focused on its own borders and the Indo-Pacific region. Another 1,000 U.S. troops remain in Romania. The permanent allied presence in Romania stands at around 3,500 NATO troops, including U.S. soldiers. Romania shares a 650 km (400-mile) land border with Ukraine, over which Russian drones have flown towards Ukrainian port infrastructure, while mines in the Black Sea from the conflict impact key trade and energy routes. (Reporting by Luiza Ilie; Editing by Bernadette Baum) MADISON U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson said Wednesday he will work with Sen. Tammy Baldwin to reconvene Wisconsin's bipartisan nominating commission but at the same time urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to keep Brad Schimel in charge of the U.S. attorney's office in Milwaukee. Federal judges in the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced March 10 they have declined to name Schimel the permanent U.S. attorney, ending his interim term in the position. His last day is expected to be March 16. Schimel, 61, was named interim U.S. Attorney in November as the state's bipartisan nominating committee failed to come to a consensus on a nominee for the position. Advertisement Advertisement He was sworn in as the top federal prosecutor for the state's Eastern District on Nov. 17, after being appointed by Bondi. Chief U.S. District Judge Pamela Pepper observes Brad Schimel signing paperwork formalizing his appointment as interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin on Nov. 17, 2025, at the Milwaukee federal courthouse. "It is bizarre that the Eastern District Court writes that they view Brad Schimel as performing well as an interim U.S. attorney but then declines to appoint him for the duration of the vacancy especially when they are fully aware that Senate Democrats are obstructing the nomination and confirmation of U.S. attorneys throughout the country," Johnson said in a statement. On March 10, Chief Judge Pamela Pepper issued a statement saying the judges were declining to do that. In the statement, Pepper said the decision should not be viewed as "criticism or commentary on the performance or qualifications" of Schimel or any of the attorneys in the office. Advertisement Advertisement "To the credit of that office, from the Courts perspective, it has continued to represent the citizens of this district well," Pepper wrote. The judges did not take a vote at the meeting, which was held March 9. Rather, they decided they did not want to insert themselves into the process. "I am obviously disappointed in their decision. I encourage Attorney General Pam Bondi to utilize available authorities to keep Brad in charge of the U.S. attorneys office," Johnson said. The Republican senator said he would also work with Baldwin, a Democrat, to reconvene the state's federal nominating commission. Advertisement Advertisement "Last year, the commission failed to produce recommendations for Wisconsins U.S. attorney offices because some commissioners refused to evaluate certain applicants based solely on their qualifications," Johnson said. "I urge the commissioners not to inject partisan politics into their important work." The commission has also been unable to deliver a nominee for the U.S. Attorney position in the state's Western District. Chadwick Elgersma was named acting U.S. Attorney by the Justice Department in July 2025. The Western District judges ultimately appointed Elgersma as the full-time U.S. Attorney earlier this year. Baldwin has opposed Schimel holding the position from the start, and had recently urged the judges of the Eastern District not to keep Schimel on. "Im glad that the judges of the Eastern District of Wisconsin are respecting the process that Senator Johnson and I have to get high-quality, impartial prosecutors to serve Wisconsin," Baldwin said in a statement in response to the judges' decision. Advertisement Advertisement "It has not always been easy, but the hard work is worthwhile for the people we serve. I look forward to getting back to work with Senator Johnson and the bipartisan nominating commission to put forward experienced U.S. Attorney candidates for the open positions," Baldwin said. Schimel ran for a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court in spring 2025, losing to liberal candidate Susan Crawford by 10 percentage points. President Donald Trump backed Schimel in the race. In an interview in early March, Schimel said he was surprised by Baldwin's continued opposition and, at the time, was hopeful the judges would vote for him to be permanent U.S. attorney. "This is a wonderful calling," Schimel said. "I'm blessed to be here. I hope its going to continue." Advertisement Advertisement Schimel was not available for comment following the judges' decision. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Milwaukee has been in the spotlight as it won a guilty verdict in a high-profile case against former Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan. A jury found Dugan guilty of obstructing federal immigration agents seeking to arrest an undocumented immigrant. Jessie Opoien can be reached at jessie.opoien@jrn.com. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Ron Johnson says he'll work with Baldwin to reopen US attorney talks When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Smoke rises following a US bombing in Tehran, Iran. | Credit: Mowj / Middle East Images / AFP / Getty Images President Donald Trump has called himself the peace president, but throughout his second term in office he has demonstrated an ongoing willingness to use the military in overseas operations. Ecuador and Iran represent the latest conflicts the United States has engaged in, but they are just two of several countries to become entangled with the U.S. military once Trump reentered the White House Ecuador In March 2026, the Trump administration launched a military operation in another country, though not against its government: The White House announced it is collaborating with Ecuador to combat terrorists in the South American country, said Al Jazeera. Joint military efforts have already started in Ecuador, with operations launched against designated terrorist organizations. Advertisement Advertisement Several questions remain, as both Ecuador and the United States havent specified who theyre targeting, locations of operations or the scope of military actions, said USA Today. But Trumps decision to send in the military marks an embrace of past American strategies fighting drug traffickers in Latin America. Iran Trump has been jawing at Iran since retaking office over the countrys alleged attempts to develop a nuclear weapon. Following a bombing campaign in June 2025 that destroyed several of Irans nuclear facilities, in February 2026 the U.S. joined Israel and attacked more than 1,000 targets in Iran, said Reuters. This full-scale assault killed several of Irans top officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. While Republican officials and members of the Trump cabinet have variously called the Iran conflict a mission or defense operation, Trump himself has repeatedly used the term war. Trumps calculation has been that he can launch military operations with the loss of few American lives and minimal disruption to the economy, said The New York Times, but the opening days of the war in Iran are challenging that assumption. No American ground troops have yet been sent to Iranian soil, but the administration has not ruled out deploying soldiers. Venezeula As with Iran, Trump also pushed to remove the leader of Venezuela, President Nicolas Maduro, alleging that he was a national security threat. Trump accomplished this goal in January 2026 when the U.S. launched an incursion into Venezuelas capital, Caracas, that captured Maduro and left the country in a state of uncertainty over its political and economic future, said Time. Advertisement Advertisement Maduro was brought to the United States to face charges of narco-terrorism, but Trump has never formally declared war on Venezuela, despite overseeing an aggressive military campaign on the South American country, said Time. The White House has justified its attacks using the presidents Article II constitutional powers, which give the president the authority to defend the country against threats. Maduros vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, has since taken over Venezuela. Meanwhile, Trump has offered conflicting statements on the future of U.S. involvement in the country, said the Council on Foreign Relations. Syria In response to an attack by the Islamic State militant group, Trump in January 2026 carried out large-scale strikes against Islamic State group targets in Syria, said BBC News. These strikes were conducted in an effort to combat terrorism and protect U.S. and partner forces in the region. The initial strike involved more than 90 munitions fired at more than 35 Syrian targets, according to BBC News. It later came out that the Islamic States assault was performed by a member of Syrias security forces slated for dismissal over his extremist views, said the Times, though the Islamic State itself has not claimed responsibility for the attack. While White House officials have continued to say they will seek vengeance, the Syrian leadership has pledged continued cooperation with the United States and its allies to combat ISIS in the country, said the Council on Foreign Relations. Caribbean territories While not an attack against one specific country, more than 40 U.S. strikes against alleged drug trafficking boats have been carried out in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific since September 2025, said NBC News. Democrats in Congress have criticized the strikes, which have reportedly left over 130 people dead, though Trump has repeatedly argued that the strikes are preventing illicit drugs from entering the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Though most Caribbean nations have criticized the use of U.S. military force, at least one has sung a different tune: Trinidad and Tobago came out strongly on Washingtons side with a full-throated endorsement of President Donald Trumps belligerent drug policy in the region, said Bloomberg. This makes the nation one of the only Caribbean locales to take Trumps side. Yemen From March to May 2025, the United States launched naval and airstrikes against Yemens Houthi rebels in what was code-named Operation Rough Rider, said Time. This was, up to that point, Trumps largest military operation of his second term. The strikes were aimed at a variety of Houthi targets in the country, including radar systems, air defenses, and missile and drone launch sites in response to the Houthis attack on international ships in the Red Sea. At least one of these attacks by the U.S. caused dozens of civilian casualties and significant damage to port infrastructure, said Human Rights Watch, and the event should be investigated as a war crime. This assault, in the town of Hodeidah, targeted the port through which 80% of Yemens humanitarian assistance arrives, Human Rights Watch reported. U.S. officials have denied any wrongdoing. Iraq A more minor military incursion took place in March 2025, when the military conducted a precision airstrike in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, that killed the Islamic States second-in-command, Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rifai, according to the U.S. Central Command. Al-Rifai was one of the most important ISIS members in the entire global ISIS organization. We will continue to kill terrorists and dismantle their organizations, Gen. Michael Kurilla of the U.S. Central Command said. Advertisement Advertisement After the Iran conflict broke out in February 2026, Trump administration officials also had discussions with Kurdish leaders in northern Iraq and northwestern Iran about potentially arming groups opposed to the Iranian regime, said NBC News. This would be the latest in a decades-long saga of military action between the U.S. and Iraq. Somalia Since February 2025, just weeks after taking office, Trump has been conducting strikes in Somalia to target ISIS and al-Shabaab, said NewsNation. There have been more than 100 strikes launched, mostly using drones. As with Ecuador, Somali officials seem receptive to the military usage. The operation reinforces the strong security partnership between Somalia and the United States in combating extremist threats, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said in a post on X. Somalia remains resolute in working with its allies to eliminate international terrorism and ensure regional stability. An initial assessment by the Pentagon indicated that multiple operatives were killed in the operation, said Deutsche Welle. It also stated that no civilians were harmed in the strikes. Russia on March 11 accused Ukraine of repeatedly attacking energy facilities tied to gas supplies for Turkey and of plotting sabotage against Black Sea pipelines. Over the past two weeks, Russian defenses fended off 12 attacks against Gazprom sites that ensure gas exports for the TurkStream and Blue Stream pipelines, the Russian energy giant claimed. Moscow also informed Turkey about Ukraine's alleged "plans to sabotage and disrupt the infrastructure" of the TurkStream and Blue Stream pipelines, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said. Advertisement Advertisement The accusations come after Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Feb. 24 that any sabotage of Black Sea pipelines could derail peace talks. Analysts and officials who previously spoke to the Kyiv Independent framed Moscow's repeated allegations about Ukraine-backed sabotage plots as part of an effort to disrupt and influence U.S.-led negotiations. The claim also comes after President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the next round of peace talks could take place in Turkey, a country that has hosted earlier rounds of negotiations. The Russkaya compressor station in Krasnodar Krai was attacked on March 11, and the Beregovaya and Kazachya stations were attacked a day earlier, Gazprom claimed. Advertisement Advertisement Russia's Defense Ministry reported that its forces downed 185 Ukrainian drones across multiple Russian regions, occupied Crimea, the Black Sea, and the Azov Sea overnight on March 11. Ukraine has not commented on Moscow's accusations. Kyiv's forces have previously conducted drone strikes on Russian gas and oil facilities, targeting a key source of the country's fossil fuel revenue. TurkStream runs from Russia's Krasnodar Krai to Kiyikoy in Turkey's European part, with most of the gas flowing onward to Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, and Greece. It is effectively the last pipeline still delivering Russian gas to Europe. Blue Stream funnels gas from Russia's Stavropol Krai to Ankara and plays a major role in Turkey's gas imports. Advertisement Advertisement Putin also warned Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto of Kyiv's alleged plans to sabotage TurkStream during their meeting in Moscow on March 4. Hungary, broadly regarded as the most Kremlin-friendly government in the EU, has deepened energy ties with Moscow throughout the full-scale war. Read also: Explainer: Russia disrupts Ukraine peace talks with timed false accusations Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The mayor of Utahs largest city feels good about the recently completed legislative session in the state. I can say without a doubt, this is one of the most productive legislative sessions that weve had as far as our relationship goes with state legislators, said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall. In a press conference on Wednesday, Mendenhall spoke about the recent session alongside the citys legislative affairs director, Angela Price. Advertisement Advertisement The mayor highlighted the relationships that she and the city have built with state leaders and how those relationships have taken years to foster. Im confident that Salt Lakers are better today because of those relationships that weve forged, and I appreciate the Legislature recognizing the importance of local government in our state, she said. She added that there are sometimes major differences that come between Salt Lake City and the Legislature, but the city will continue to stay at the table and work with its partners on Capitol Hill. The key topics of the session that Mendenhall and Price highlighted were tax reform, economic development, transportation, public safety and homelessness, energy, water and immigration. Advertisement Advertisement Many of the bills that Mendenhall and Price expressed concerns about were ones that didnt pass. Price shared that each year she makes a post-session report with the citys high priority-bills, and this is the first time shes had a list of failed bills. Were grateful that leadership really focused on sound policy this year, she said. The Legislature introduced a record number of bills this year 1,016 but only 540 passed, which is fewer than the past few years. Mendenhall said she hopes this communicates to lawmakers that that they need to be quite strategic if they want to advance a bill through the Legislature, and that not everything can stay. A look at Salt Lake Citys high-priority bills from this session The Utah Capitol in Salt Lake City on Monday, March 2, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News The city leaders discussed a number of bills they actively tracked and worked on that will have impacts on Salt Lake City. There were 53 bills that the city considered high priority. Advertisement Advertisement One of these bills was SB242, a major transportation bill that will require the city to make an agreement with UDOT dealing with highway reduction strategy road projects. It will also require the city to ensure safety for all modes of transportation and adopt a critical routes capacity map. Mendenhall said this allows them to analyze the impacts of bike lanes and other roads, and also gives the city clarity on what they can and should do. Another bill that will impact the city is HB492, an infrastructure, housing and transportation bill from Rep. Calvin Roberts, R-Draper. The bill would appropriate $100 million for the state infrastructure fund and allow for the utilization of county sales and use tax for the convention center, among other things. Homelessness was also a key topic that Mendenhall spoke about, specifically HB308, which will increase the amount that nonshelter cities contribute to the Homeless Shelter Cities Mitigation account. Mendenhall said that the cost of homeless services has increased for Salt Lake City. Advertisement Advertisement Its appropriate that the formula changes. I expect all cities need to invest more, but Salt Lake Citys investment has, for a long time, been exponentially greater than others, the mayor said. Water was another priority highlighted, specifically HB296, which will allow water committed to the Great Salt Lake to be part of water conservation plans. They also highlighted a few failed bills, including HB302, which would limit cities to adopting one official flag, but would allow multiple ceremonial flags. There was also SB97, which would have put a cap on property tax increases. Their list of high-priority bills also highlighted HB212, which would have provided a way for new counties to be formed. For more than two decades, Elizabeth Conway has worked for Abbott, the maker of infant formula, medical devices, and drugs, in Columbus, Ohio. Roughly a year and a half ago, she began to ease into retirement through the companys phased retirement program. It was a test to see if I really was ready to retire, she said. It allows me to step into it at my pace and on my terms, the 60-year-old global manager told Yahoo Finance. Formal phased retirement programs that offer a reduced or flexible schedule and a lighter workload have been few and far between. Last year, just 7% of firms surveyed by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) offered a formal program. A larger shareabout 2 in 10 offered an informal phased retirement program where workers typically create their own plan with their manager. Interest in phased retirement programs is growing, although formal programs remain uncommon, Paul Rangecroft, Fidelity Workplace Consulting's senior vice president, told Yahoo Finance. Read more: How much do you really need to save for retirement? The appeal of downshifting The data is clear: A growing number of workers want to downshift one gear at a time. More than 4 in 10 workers would like to see wellness programs that address opportunities for a gradual transition out of the workforce and more part-time scheduling options, according to SHRM. Employers cite the cost of formal programs or the hassle of administering them, preferring to cherry-pick workers for these opportunities based on the desire to retain their special skills. Older workers want and need to work beyond traditional retirement age, said Catherine Collinson, CEO and president of nonprofit Transamerica Institute and the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies. Theyre not financially ready to retire, and they may enjoy what they do. However, they can only succeed if employers are welcoming and supportive. Fidelity research shows that onethird of baby boomers working today have delayed retirement and two-thirds of those do so out of financial necessity. Millions of workers in their 50s and 60s say theyre lagging behind their savings goals and must keep socking money away in their employer plans for as long as possible. In addition, theyre keenly aware of the necessity of hanging on to employer-provided health insurance until theyre eligible for Medicare at 65. Finally, the income you earn from staying on the job, even at a reduced level, can help you push back claiming Social Security benefits, boosting your monthly payout down the road. New satellite imagery shows several of Iran's F-14s destroyed by recent airstrikes. Iran is the sole remaining operator of the iconic, American-made Tomcat fighter jet. The Israeli military said it targeted Iran's F-14 fleet over the weekend. New satellite imagery shows several destroyed American-made F-14 fighter jets at an Iranian airbase that was recently targeted by Israeli strikes. The images, collected on Monday by the US spatial intelligence firm Vantor and obtained by Business Insider, show visible wreckage of at least two F-14 Tomcats on the apron at the 8th Tactical Air Base in Isfahan, a city in central Iran. Advertisement Advertisement The base is a hub for the Iranian Air Force's fleet of vintage F-14s. An image collected on February 22, before the conflict, shows dispersed Tomcats and what Vantor identified as F-7s, the export variant of the Chinese Chengdu J-7. Three F-14s at an Iranian airbase in Isfahan on February 22. Satellite image 2026 Vantor. At least two destroyed F-14s, as well as other aircraft, are seen on March 9. Satellite image 2026 Vantor. At least two of the F-14s were destroyed by airstrikes one of the jets was completely replaced by a massive scorch mark. Several F-7s were also attacked. The Israeli military said on Sunday that its forces carried out airstrikes at the Isfahan airport, targeting an undisclosed number of F-14 fighter jets two days after it bombed more than a dozen Iranian aircraft at the Mehrabad airport in Tehran. Israel previously attacked Iran's aging F-14 fleet during the June 2025 war between the two countries. Advertisement Advertisement Iran is the only remaining operator of the F-14, a legacy multi-role fighter jet manufactured by the American firm formerly known as Grumman Aerospace Corporation, now the defense giant Northrop Grumman. The wreckage of two F-14 Tomcats at an Iranian airbase. Satellite image 2026 Vantor. The fighter jet, designed for carrier launch, was introduced by the US Navy in the 1970s and flew combat missions for decades until 2006, when the Pentagon replaced the F-14 with the F/A-18 Super Hornet. The Tomcat remained a celebrated aircraft, though, thanks in part to its appearance in the 1986 and 2022 "Top Gun" movies. The US sold nearly 80 F-14s to Iran in the years before the 1979 Iranian revolution ended what was once a partnership between the two countries. In the years since, Tehran's fleet has slowly declined as maintenance and logistical challenges grew. It is now believed to have only a few dozen left, though the exact figure is uncertain. International sanctions and embargoes have rendered Iran's air force largely obsolete. It's a hodgepodge of American-made jets like F-14s and F-5s and Soviet-era planes such as Su-24s and MiG-29s. It's limited airpower has forced Tehran to rely on ballistic missiles and attack drones to project power. Advertisement Advertisement The US and Israel have heavily targeted Iranian aircraft, as well as its ballistic missile and drone capabilities, since they began their intensive bombing campaign on February 28. Adm. Brad Cooper, the head of US Central Command, said American forces alone had struck more than 5,500 targets inside Iran as of Wednesday. American military leadership has assessed that Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks across the Middle East have decreased by 90% and 83%, respectively, since the war began. The war has left hundreds of people dead inside Iran and across the wider Middle East and has upended regional travel and oil markets. Read the original article on Business Insider In Sanford, nearly one in six of the 3,200 or so public school students are considered economically disadvantaged, facing challenges such as food insecurity or housing instability. But because of the way school funding is currently determined, officials say the district is not getting enough support from the state, nor can it turn to local residents to make up the difference. Instead, the district has been forced to close schools, cut essential staff and educational programming, Sanford Superintendent Matt Nelson told the Legislatures Education Committee on Monday. Dozens of school leaders from all over the state attended the public hearing and echoed Nelsons call to update the public education funding formula. They highlighted how the current formula has consistently left schools in less affluent communities with far fewer resources than wealthier districts. Advertisement Advertisement For instance, Sanford can spend about $15,000 on each student annually to provide basic services, which is about $3,500 less than the state average, and about $9,000 less than a wealthy district where less than 10% of the student population is considered economically disadvantaged. Every year this formula goes unreformed is another year the gap compounds, Nelson said. Another year the children in the Sanford community are told by the numbers that they matter less. That has to stop. Previous studies have looked into potential updates to the formula, but this is the first time since the method was established in 2004 that the whole funding model could be substantially updated. Last year, lawmakers asked the Maine Education Policy Research Institute to examine how the model could more equitably distribute state funds. But according to MEPRIs findings, right now the model itself is not funding the minimum requirements of a school, MEPRI Co-Director Amy Johnson told the Maine Morning Star. Advertisement Advertisement The analysis is very clear that there are some parts of the funding model that need to be changed in order to adequately fund what schools need to spend to provide a basic education. Thats why MEPRIs report, which LD 2226 is based on, suggests ways to not only redistribute existing state funding to ensure poorer districts arent left without adequate resources, but to also add to the overall amount the state contributes to public education. The bottom line for my community and for many others in Maine that you will hear from today is that the status quo is untenable, said Democratic Rep. Marc Malon from Biddeford, testifying in support of the bill. And we have to do a better job of supporting the children and families facing the greatest needs, so that all Maine kids can get the most out of their school experience. How the formula could change MEPRI recommended four changes to the funding formula to make it more equitable, a stated goal of the Legislature. LD 2226 incorporates all these changes, although the Department of Education is still analyzing their potential impacts. Advertisement Advertisement The most significant change is increasing the state contribution by $39 million to adequately fund teacher salaries. The models been too low to recognize what they need, so thats just catching up to where they need to be to get the resources to pay their teachers, Johnson said. Because right now [districts] are paying extra out of pocket at the local level to cover those teacher salaries. The Maine Education Association, which represents thousands of educators statewide, highlighted the importance of updating the formula to meet updated cost-of-living standards, which have not been taken into consideration since the model was first introduced two decades ago. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement The union also found in its own analysis that consistently, the schools with the lowest teacher salaries are relying more on property taxes to fund their schools and relying more on state aid, said John Kosinski, director of government relations. Another major change, which was the focus of the public hearing, includes redistributing the state contribution so that poorer districts do not have to rely as heavily on local property taxes, compared to wealthier districts. Currently, the state covers 55% of public education funding overall and uses the same mill rate statewide to determine how much each municipality must contribute. The mill rate a percentage of property value was 0.662% for fiscal year 2025. Because the rate is fixed, each district must raise the same percentage of their property value to put toward education funding. A district with low property value will raise less money than one with high property value, and will therefore receive more state funding, regardless of local income or poverty levels. The bill would replace that with a sliding scale. Communities with low poverty levels would be expected to contribute more through local taxes, while economically disadvantaged communities would have a lower mill rate expectation and receive more state funding. By adjusting their mill rate downward, this change would help communities that have high property values but also high levels of student poverty. In rural areas of Maine, where property values can be high even as poverty remains widespread, superintendents said the change could provide much-needed relief. Advertisement Advertisement Im pleasantly surprised to hear that we may, in fact, make structural changes to the system that could benefit the small, land-rich, dirt poor towns that I represent, said Republican Rep. Will Tuell of East Machias. Here I am today urging you to support LD 2226, because it will bring an estimated $2.5 million in school funding to property tax-laden Washington County. MEPRIs other recommendations include an additional $18 million from the state for school transportation, instructional support and increasing funding to districts with a disproportionately high number of poor students. A separate report from MEPRI also outlines proposed changes to special education funding, which are included in the bill but were not discussed Monday because the Department of Education has not yet completed its analysis of how they would affect districts. Under the current model, wealthier districts often receive more special education funding because the formula is based on how much districts already spend. These recommended updates more accurately reflect the true minimum costs required to operate Maine schools today and improve the fairness and equity of our funding distribution, said Paula Gravelle, director of public school finance within the Maine Department of Education. The framework proposed in the bill language may be an incremental step toward increasing equity and fairness in the funding formula. New Jersey schools can face legal repercussions for sexual abuses committed by their workers even if the sexual misconduct took place off school grounds and outside of school-related events, New Jerseys Supreme Court ruled Wednesday. The 6-1 decision creates a new standard for examining whether schools have whats known as vicarious liability and can face lawsuits for their role in allowing or failing to stop abuses. To be vulnerable, a school must have given the abuser authority over a students educational environment that resulted in the sexual abuse, and it must have appeared to tacitly approve of the abuse. The state law in question does not categorically bar the imposition of vicarious liability on a public entity for acts of sexual abuse outside the scope of a teachers employment, Justice Anne Patterson wrote for the court. Among other things, the high court said judges should consider whether schools implemented and enforced policies to prevent the sexual abuse of students, the circumstances of the abuse, whether the abuse took place on school property or at school-related events, whether it took place during school hours, and whether it was reported to school officials. Advertisement Advertisement Under the standard, a school that fails to investigate reported sexual abuse could be considered to have tacitly approved of the abuse. A school could also be considered to tacitly approve if a teacher abused a student inside of their classroom for days or weeks and other school officials who ought to have been aware failed to stop it, the court said. The decision flowed from four separate cases filed by adults who alleged they were sexually assaulted or abused by teachers in high school and sued their schools after lawmakers approved the Child Victims Act in 2019. That law massively expanded the statute of limitations on civil suits over sexual abuse and assault, and it stripped public entities, like schools, of immunity from such lawsuits, which had until then been granted by the states Tort Claims Act. The latter law controls which claims can be brought against government entities in New Jersey. In one of the cases at question, a man sued the Upper Freehold Regional School District, alleging a former science teacher who has since died had abused him at the teachers home in 1979. Advertisement Advertisement The other three cases involved students who alleged former South Orange-Maplewood School District teacher Nicole Dufault sexually assaulted them. Dufault pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated criminal sexual contact in 2020. The decision was not unanimous, a rarity for the seven-person court. Justice Douglas Fasciale split with the majority, saying in a dissent that he believes the Child Victims Act makes schools liable for employees sexual abuses only if they occurred within the scope of their employment. The majoritys two conclusions are inconsistent: It is odd to assume that the Legislature intended to create vicarious liability for acts outside the scope of employment but simultaneously intended for this Court to curb that exposure by announcing new limitations on that liability, Fasciale wrote in his dissent. In a response to the dissent, the majority said limiting schools liability to sexual abuse cases within the scope of a workers employment would undermine the Legislatures express goal of expanding victims rights. Advertisement Advertisement A test to weigh whether a school gave a teacher control over a student and whether abuses occurred while that control was exerted would be more appropriate, Fasciale said. Fasciale said the ruling would create strict liability a type of liability that, unlike most, does not consider a persons intent or mental state for schools facing suits over teachers sexual abuses, though the majority insisted otherwise. The Supreme Court remanded all four cases back to trial judges. They said the three students who sued the South Orange-Maplewood School District had proved they had vicarious liability claims. Because the man who sued the Upper Freehold Regional School District alleged he was sexually assaulted by a teacher outside of school hours, a trial judge will have to determine whether he can pursue a vicarious liability claim using the standard the courts decision created. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Cuts to the federal workforce under the administration of President Donald Trump have not exempted the Mohawk Valley. As of December, there were 2,400 federal workers employed in the Utica-Rome area, 200 fewer than one year earlier, according to Sen. Charles Schumers office. Thats a 7.7% decrease. The latest data from the New York State Department of Labor shows 8,300 fewer federal workers across the state in December, 2025 than in December, 2024, a 7% drop, Schumer, D-NY, said. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-NY, speaks at the ribbon cutting of the Rome Air Force Research Laboratory's Extreme Computing Facility at Innovare Advancement Center in Rome in this O-D file photo from 2023. Schumer, citing the latest state statistics, has expressed concern over the 8,300 federal jobs lost in New York between December, 2024 and December, 2025, including 200 in the Utica-Rome area where the lab is one of the biggest federal employers. New Yorkers are paying the price for Trump and DOGEs reckless and chaotic job cuts, Schumer said in a statement. In every corner of New York, dedicated public servants who spent their whole careers giving back to their communities have had their livelihoods ripped away. These arent just numbers, they are the federal workers who help our veterans get the care they need, who make sure seniors get their Social Security, and help farmers when they are struggling. Advertisement Advertisement The cuts have brought long wait times, delays and chaos for New Yorkers trying to use federal services, he continued. Oneida County numbers In Oneida County, the largest employers of federal workers are the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Eastern Air Defense Sector (EADS), all in Rome. Other federal employees work for a variety at a variety of places, such as the Social Security Administration and other federal service offices, the federal court system, Fort Stanwix National Monument and the United States Post Office, which is an independent agency within the federal government. Utica-Rome was not the hardest hit area, neither in terms of the number or percentage of jobs lost. Advertisement Advertisement New York City lost the most federal jobs 3,100, according to the state labor department data shared by Schumer. But with 43,600 federal jobs left in December, the cuts were only 6.6% of the total federal workforce. Ithaca was slammed with a 33.3% decrease in federal jobs, but that only worked out to the loss of 100 jobs. Ithaca had 200 federal workers left as of December. More: Tariffs and a local business: Hochul visits Cazenovia brewery More: New $500 utility bill rebate for New Yorkers proposed. What to know Nasau and Suffolk counties on Long Island took the next biggest hits in terms of both jobs and the percentage of workers lost. The local federal workforce fell by 1,600 workers to 15,400 in December, a drop of 9.4%. A look at other percentages lost Heres how many federal workers other cities had as of December, the drop in jobs from a year earlier and the percentage of jobs lost: Advertisement Advertisement Syracuse: 7,000 workers in December, 500 jobs lost, 6.7% decrease. Albany-Schenectady-Troy: 6,500 workers in December, 500 jobs lost, 7.1% decrease. Buffalo-Cheektowaga: 9,700 workers in December, 500 jobs lost, 4.9% decrease. Poughkeepsie-Newburgh: 5,300 jobs in December, 400 jobs lost, 7% decrease. Rochester: 4,100 workers in December, 200 jobs lost, 4.7% decrease. This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Schumer: Trump administration cut 200 federal jobs in Utica-Rome Youve likely heard of AI bots being used improperly by lawyers, but what about lawsuits over AI bots practicing law without a license? Reuters reported on one such case last week. At the Court The interim docket case on the Trump administrations effort to remove protected status from Syrian nationals is now fully briefed, and the courts decision could come at any time. The court will next hear arguments on Monday, March 23, the first day of its March sitting. Morning Reads Abbie VanSickle, The New York Times Advertisement Advertisement Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Ketanji Brown Jackson publicly sparred on Monday evening over how the court is handling a barrage of emergency requests to clear the way for Trump administration policies while participating together in an annual lecture series in Washington, D.C., according to The New York Times. The polite but forceful back-and-forth gave a rare glimpse into the justices sharply differing viewpoints about how to navigate repeated emergency requests by the Trump administration to greenlight its policies. Kavanaugh said that such requests are not a new phenomenon and have become more common because gridlock in Congress has led presidents to do more through executive orders, which have then been challenged in court. Jackson, on the other hand, suggested that the court is treating requests from the Trump administration differently and signing off on new policies rather than maintain[ing] the status quo. I think it is not serving the court or our country well at this point, Jackson said. Jack Birle, Washington Examiner As it awaits the Supreme Courts decision in an interim docket case on Syrian nationals participation in the Temporary Protected Status program, the Trump administration is facing a new lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts over its effort to remove TPS status from Somalians. The lawsuit claims the conditions in Somalia are a humanitarian crisis, which supports extending the temporary status that has been in place since 1991, and that DHSs process of ending the status was a reflection of the administrations preordained, pretextual, politically influenced agendas, according to the Washington Examiner. The current TPS designation for Somalia is set to expire on March 17. Zach Schonfeld, The Hill Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, the Liberty Justice Center, [a] libertarian public-interest firm that helped topple President Trumps emergency tariffs at the Supreme Court, filed a lawsuit over tariffs imposed after the court issued its ruling, according to The Hill. The firm is representing a new group of businesses who say they shouldnt have to pay Trumps latest tariffs, including Burlap & Barrel and Basic Fun!. The businesses contend that Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows for tariffs addressing balance-of-payments deficits, cannot be used to impose tariffs now that the U.S. has moved to a floating exchange rate. Nuria Martinez-Keel, Oklahoma Voice The Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board on Monday again rejected a groups application to open a Jewish charter school in the state, with board members saying they had no choice but to comply with a 2024 decision from the Oklahoma Supreme Court that prohibited the concept of taxpayer-funded religious schools, according to Oklahoma Voice. However, Brian Shellem, the chair of the board, said most of the board members disagree with that 2024 ruling and plan to fight against it alongside the Jewish school. The U.S. Supreme Court left the Oklahoma ruling in place last year after the justices deadlocked 4-4 in a case on a Catholic charter school. (The tie was possible because Justice Amy Coney Barrett recused herself from the case.) Elise Hammond, CNN Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey granted clemency to Charles Burton, who had been scheduled to be executed on Thursday. Burton was sentenced to death for his role in the 1991 murder of Douglas Battle during a robbery, although he was not the shooter and was not in the store at the time of the killing, according to CNN. Ivey said she could not proceed in good conscience with the execution because he was not the shooter and commuted Burtons sentence to life without parole. Iveys announcement came as the Supreme Court was considering Burtons request for a stay of execution. On Site Contributor Corner In her A Second Opinion column, Haley Proctor revisited last weeks oral argument in United States v. Hemani and explored what it means for a modern gun control law to fit within a historical tradition of firearm regulation. gun gavel american flag Contributor Corner In their Brothers in Law column, Akhil and Vikram Amar explored the many factual and legal data points that cut against the Trump administrations effort to limit access to birthright citizenship. If law and facts mean anything at all anything! then surely the [birthright citizenship] case is easy-peasy, they wrote. The United States Capitol building is seen in Washington D.C., United States, on December 9, 2025 Podcasts Advisory Opinions Members of the SCOTUSblog/Advisory Opinions Extended Universe Sarah Isgur and David French, along with Akhil Amar and Andy Lipka from Amaricas Constitution and Will Baude and Dan Epps from Divided Argument discussed the current term and the future of originalism. Advertisement Advertisement A Closer Look: Exhibitions at the Court If you live in the Washington, D.C. area or plan on visiting for cherry blossom season, wed recommend stopping by the Supreme Court to see its latest exhibitions. Exhibitions are one of the four core programs put on by the Curators Office. This also includes collections (such as caring for historic objects), court photography, and visitor programs. Exhibitions began with the very first curator, Cathy Skefos, who started the Curators Office pretty much from scratch in 1973. Chief Justice Warren Burger summed up the concept in this way: [The Courts exhibit program] communicates to all Americans a sense of the story of the Supreme Court as a living institution, and in that process to add warmth and humanity to the building itself. Current exhibitions include: Harlan Fiske Stone: A Man for All Seats, From Petition to Opinion: How the Supreme Court Works, Integration Must Proceed Forthwith, The Triumph of Justice: Adolph Weinmans Courtroom Frieze, and In Re Lady Lawyers: The Rise of Women Attorneys and the Supreme Court. The Stone and Lady Lawyers exhibitions are viewable online, while the others (besides the images shown on the exhibition website) can only be seen at the court itself. Advertisement Advertisement The Harlan Fiske Stone exhibit, which commemorates the courts 12th chief justice, lands on the 100th Anniversary of Stone joining the Court, and looks back at Stones life and service. Fun fact: Stone was the first and, to date, only justice to sit in every seat on the bench, going from the most junior justice to chief throughout his tenure on the court. As for the other exhibitions: The From Petition to Opinion exhibit allows viewers to [f]ollow the process of how a case comes before the Supreme Court, the procedures the Justices use to complete their work, and some of the constitutional questions the Court has faced over time. (While admittedly nerdy, its also fascinating to see the old petitions with their respective filing colors.) Integration Must Proceed Forthwith involves the legal story behind the post-Brown 1957 integration of Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. The temporary exhibit has the judges bench in which Judge Ronald Davies ordered the high schools desegregation and in doing so changed American history. Advertisement Advertisement The Triumph of Justice: Adolph Weinmans Courtroom Frieze exhibit explores how Weinman developed and designed the four sculptural panels inside the courtroom (which feature historical lawgivers and allegories of law and justice). And to learn about the women who carved a path for future female advocates, judges, and Supreme Court Justices, you can visit the exhibit In Re Lady Lawyers: The Rise of Women Attorneys and the Supreme Court. Notable objects include a judicial robe and jabot worn by Justice Sandra Day OConnor, historic photographs, as well as memorabilia and personal effects from Justices Sandra Day OConnor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Amy Coney Barrett, and Ketanji Brown Jackson. Is much of this for Supreme Court obsessives? Sure. But if youre reading this newsletter (and thanks for doing so!) you might just qualify as such. SCOTUS Quote JUSTICE KAGAN: Right. And I completely understand that, Mr. Gannon, but even your own interpretation doesnt get you the information Advertisement Advertisement (Laughter.) (Lights out.) CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS: I knew we should have paid that bill. (Laughter.) JUSTICE KAGAN: My red light on the bench is still working. Nichols v. United States For more Supreme Court news and analysis, visit SCOTUSblog. Read more at SCOTUSblog By Cassell Bryan-Low LONDON, March 11 (Reuters) - Naval drones have been used in at least two attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf region since war erupted between the U.S., Israel and Iran, according to maritime authorities and analysts, demonstrating a dangerous new threat in the key shipping lane. The emergence of the use of explosive-laden unmanned surface vessels, which Ukraine has used with great effect in its war with Russia, comes as Iran threatens to block oil shipments from transiting the key Strait of Hormuz, the chokepoint for one-fifth of the world's oil. Advertisement Advertisement The first sea-based drone attack was on March 1 when a crude oil tanker, the MKD VYOM, was hit about 44 nautical miles off Oman, killing one crew member, Britains maritime agency said. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said in a public advisory that an unmanned surface vessel struck the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker just above the waterline, triggering an explosion and fire in the engine room. Days later, a small vessel struck the Bahamas-flagged crude oil tanker Sonangol Namibe while anchored near Iraqs Khor al Zubair port, according to U.S. representative company Sonangol Marine Services. The company said its 23 crew members were safe, and did not comment on what kind of vessel struck the vessel, citing an ongoing investigation. Footage of the attack posted online shows a small speedboat-shaped object racing toward the side of the ship before slamming into it, triggering an explosion that sent plumes of thick smoke into the air. The vessel in the video appears to be a naval drone that exploded on impact, according to two UK-based maritime specialists, Sidharth Kaushal, a research fellow at think tank RUSI, and Robert Peters of maritime security firm Ambrey. SEA DRONES CAN IMMOBILIZE SHIPS Advertisement Advertisement Peters said he believes Iran was responsible for the Sonangol Namibe attack, noting that Tehran has previously showcased its naval drone capabilities at military displays. He pointed to the timing of the attack, which came a day after Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had struck an American oil tanker in the northern Persian Gulf, setting it ablaze, according to Irans semiofficial Mehr news agency. The IRGC said missiles were used in that attack, Mehr reported. Iran has said the world should be ready for oil at $200 a barrel as its forces hit merchant ships on Wednesday, and as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has come to a near-standstill. Reuters was unable to determine who was responsible for the two attacks. The Iranian mission to the UN in New York didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. If Irans involvement is confirmed, it would be the first known instance of the Islamic Republic directly using naval drones to attack commercial vessels, according to Peters. Iran-aligned Houthi militants from Yemen have previously used drone boats against commercial ships in the Red Sea. Advertisement Advertisement Peters said sea drones can carry more explosives than aerial ones, potentially rivaling the payload of ballistic missiles. While aerial drones can kill crew members from above, sea drones can immobilize ships if they hit the right place, he said. If your ship is immobilized, if they want to follow up you are highly vulnerable. (Reporting by Cassell Bryan-Low in London; additional reporting by David Jeans in New York; Editing by Joe Brock and David Gaffen) THOMASTON - A controversial civics education event linked to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon that Fairfield parents rejected earlier this year was scheduled to be held at Thomaston High School next Tuesday. But the event - a History Rocks! America 250 "Trail to Independence" student program - was canceled by district officials on Tuesday, hours after details about it were shared on social media. As of Tuesday afternoon, it was still listed on the school's online calendar. Advertisement Advertisement The program was originally scheduled for 90 minutes during the school day and had been promoted as an opportunity for students to learn about Revolutionary War-era history. A similar event in Fairfield, where McMahon was scheduled to speak in January, was canceled after significant backlash from parents. "Cancelling the event is the most responsible course of action to maintain a safe and orderly environment for our students and staff," Thomaston School District Superintendent Francine Coss wrote in a message to parents on Tuesday afternoon. Coss, school leadership and the U.S. Department of Education all did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The event was part of a broader 50-state tour of schools by McMahon that has been embraced by President Donald Trump and a collection of conservative education groups, but has drawn backlash from some historians, students and liberal critics who argue the programming is light on history and heavy on political messaging. Advertisement Advertisement To date, no events have successfully been held in Connecticut. McMahon, a Connecticut resident and former senatorial candidate, has pushed back on the idea that the events constituted "indoctrination." U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with Secretary of Education Linda McMahon during an executive order signing ceremony in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on July 31, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) "Some have tried to brand this tour as radical,' dangerous' and partisan indoctrination.' How absurd. What you see is not politics - it is a shared commitment to our nation's story," she said in a statement to the New York Times last month. "It speaks volumes about certain voices in our society that they would seek to distort a celebration of America's 250th anniversary and deprive children of this experience." Advertisement Advertisement According to an email sent to parents by Thomaston Board of Education Chair Nathan Vieira announcing the event, the guest speaker for the Thomaston stop had not yet been finalized. In addition to McMahon, other guest speakers across the country have included Erika Kirk and Katharine Gorka, a longtime advisor of Trump's and the wife of top White House aide Sebastian Gorka. "There will be no campaigning, no partisan messaging, and no political endorsements," Vieira said of the event in his message to parents. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment. SCOT ALLYN/Register Citizen James Brady, 16, foreground, works on Bob, the Operation P.E.A.C.C.E. robot, in the industrial arts room of Thomaston High School. Kalyn Newmin, 17, of Bristol, watches in the background. "Our focus remains on student learning and engagement with American history, and we are proud to have this educational opportunity be provided to our students," Vieira said in his announcement email. Advertisement Advertisement The tour is a collaboration between the Department of Education and a "civics education coalition" that includes pro-Trump administration groups, including the America First Policy Institute and Turning Point USA, which was the campus activism group founded by killed conservative activist Charlie Kirk. In addition to canceling the event in Fairfield, parents have successfully canceled a similar event in Alabama and have protested the gatherings across the country. This article originally published at Second Connecticut school district cancels Linda McMahon-linked civics event. A handful of school districts held special elections on Tuesday, March 10, asking voters for additional funds to cover budget shortfalls or structural improvements. In Bergen County, most of the school measures passed, with still some partial vote-by-mail ballots left to count. In Mahwah, only one of the two public questions passed. Ho-Ho-Kus The unofficial results, which include election night and partial vote-by-mail numbers, were:YES: 1,001 - NO: 742 Advertisement Advertisement The grade school district's proposal for a $3.1 million measure to resolve a shortfall in its 2026-2027 budget was leading toward passing by 259 votes on the last count on March 10. The district asked for voter approval for the money because there was a 30% jump in health premiums and a 20% jump in utilities, according to the district. School officials said the district would only be able to finance $19.5 million of an anticipated $21.6 million in expenses. If the referendum is passed, it will raise the school portion of the property tax bill for the average home assessed at $1.38 million by about $1,984 per year, or about $165 per month. The district warned, if the proposal fails, the district said, it will have to make an additional 20 to 25 staff cuts to balance the budget, resulting in increased class sizes and reduced electives. A proposed George Washington School gym. Mahwah The unofficial results, which include election night and partial vote-by-mail numbers, were: Question 1: YES: 1,952 - NO: 1,780 Question 2: NO: 2,155 - YES: 1,510 The pre-kindergarten to grade 12 district sought approval of a two-question, $138.4 million bond measure to finance infrastructure improvements to its six schools, which educate 2,800 students. Advertisement Advertisement Question 1 sought approval for $75.8 million in infrastructure improvements and upgrades to all buildings. It qualifies the district for $25.6 million in state aid. The estimated average yearly school property tax increase for the average assessed home would be $300 if the first question is approved. Question 2 sought approval for $62.6 million to equalize facilities at its schools. It qualifies the district for $3 million in additional state aid. The estimated average school yearly property tax increase would be $372 if it is approved. Question 1 can pass on its own, but the second question can pass only if the first one passes. Both must be approved for the district to qualify for a total of $28.1 million in state aid. Story continues below photo gallery. Mikie Sherrill is shown at the New Jersey State House to deliver her first budget address as governor, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Trenton. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill is shown at the New Jersey State House just before delivering her first budget address as governor, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Trenton. Mikie Sherrill is shown at the New Jersey State House to deliver her first budget address as governor, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Trenton. Former NJ Lieutenant Governor, Kim Guadagno, is shown at the State House before Governor Sherrill's budget address, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Trenton. Mikie Sherrill is shown at the New Jersey State House to deliver her first budget address as governor, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Trenton. Gov. Mikie Sherrill delivers her first NJ budget address. See photos 1 of 5 Mikie Sherrill is shown at the New Jersey State House to deliver her first budget address as governor, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Trenton. If both proposals had passed by the voters, school property taxes for the average township home, assessed at $481,238, would have gone up $684 annually, or $57 per month. Norwood The unofficial results, which include election night and partial vote-by-mail numbers, were:YES: 408 - NO: 232 Advertisement Advertisement Taxes will not increase with the $6.1 million proposal to finance construction of upgrades to its Summit Street building, which serves 610 students. As a matter of fact, officials said, taxes will actually go down $29 per year because the district is simultaneously retiring a previous debt service. The average taxpayer on a home assessed at $558,615 is currently paying $171 annually to pay off the previous debt service, which will be retired. The measure up for a vote will cost taxpayers $142 per year. Montclair Montclair voters appeared to have partially approved a tax increase on March 10 to fund a massive deficit in the school district's budget that ballooned due to prior officials' failure to properly report spending on a number of services. The district's existing debts and projected shortfall were posed to voters across two separate ballot questions. Advertisement Advertisement In unofficial results posted online by the Essex County Clerk , Question 1 (seeking a one-time $12.6 million) had the Yes votes leading by only 80 (4,783 to 4,703) with 100% of the districts reporting. While Question 2 (seeking $5 million annually) saw the No votes ahead by 231 votes (4,852 to 4,621). In all, the clerk reported that 9,507 ballots were cast among Montclair's 33,806 registered voters (28%). If the results stand, voters approved $12.6 million to pay outstanding obligations from the prior school year as a one-time tax levy, or an additional $1,117.37 to this year's tax bill for a homeowner with property assessed at the township average of $639,000, according to Superintendent Ruth Turner. Netcong YES: 173 - NO: 276 Netcong Elementary School asked for a $9 million referendum question to cover costs of a five-classroom elementary school addition with accessible toilet rooms and a cafeteria, toilet room upgrades, a faculty work room, a renovated media center, a relocated nurse suite, an intervention room and space for physical and occupational therapy. Advertisement Advertisement The project cost would have been offset by $1.9 million in approved debt service aid. On average, a home assessed at $266,072 would have seen a tax impact of $422 per year, or $35 per month if it had passed. Additional reporting by Marsha Stolz and Nicholas Katzban This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: See results of five March 10 North Jersey special school elections As gas prices soar amid the war in Iran, Michigan drivers are facing some of the highest gas prices in the country 6 cents per gallon higher than the national average. There are 10 states in the U.S. with gas prices ranging from $3.607 to $5.290 for a gallon of regular, including Michigan. Drivers are seeing an average price of $3.607 Tuesday, March 10, according to AAA. Residents in California are paying the highest prices in the country: $5.290 a gallon, as of Tuesday, March 10. Advertisement Advertisement And there's no end in sight. In a post on TruthSocial, President Trump said, "short term oil prices will drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat is over," adding it "is a very small price to pay for U.S.A., and World, Safety and Peace." The national average for a gallon of regular gas was $3.539 on March 10, 2026. Michigan gas prices shot up at least 60 cents to $3.58 a gallon from the week before and could go to $4 a gallon or more in the days ahead, a result of the expanding war in the Middle East and fast-rising oil prices. Here's what you should know about gas prices as the war with Iran continues. Why are gas prices so high right now? How high gas prices could go? According to AAA, the highest average price for gas across the United States was $5.02 per gallon, set June 14, 2022. Advertisement Advertisement "Traders at Polymarket anticipate that the most likely range for gas prices to land by the end of March is between $4.50 and $5," according to an article published by Silver Bulletin and echoed by Yahoo!Finance. Breakdown on what we pay for in gallon of gas Crude oil makes up less than half of the price of gas, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Crude oil makes up less than half of the price of gas, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. A breakdown of the costs associated with a gallon of regular gas in November 2025 were as follows: Crude oil: 47% Refining: 16% Distribution, marketing: 20% Taxes: 17% Which states have the highest prices? These are the states with the highest regular grade gas prices, according to AAA: Advertisement Advertisement California: $5.29 Washington: $4.68 Hawaii: $4.59 Nevada: $4.29 Oregon: $4.25 Arizona: $3.96 Alaska: $3.95 Pennsylvania: $3.64 Florida: 3.63 Michigan: $3.60 Where are cheapest gas prices in Michigan? According to AAA, the cities averaging the cheapest average price for a gallon of regular as of March 10 are: Metro Detroit: $3.557 Marquette: $3.569 Benton Harbor: $3.614 Flint: $3.624 Ann Arbor: $3.636 Where are the highest gas prices in Michigan? According to AAA, the cities averaging the highest average price for a gallon of regular as of March 10 are: Jackson: $3.678 Lansing-East Lansing: $3.675 Saginaw-Bay City-Midland: $3.661 Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland: $3.657 Traverse City: $3.655 When will gas prices go down? President Trump on gas prices: 'very small price to pay' In a post on TruthSocial on March 8, Trump said: 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. ONLY FOOLS WOULD THINK DIFFERENTLY!" Previously, Trump encouraged Americans to hold on. "This (the war with Iran) is far more important than having gasoline prices go up a little bit," Trump said, adding prices will "drop very rapidly when this is over." Chris Wright, U.S. Department of Energy secretary, told CNN on Sunday the spike in energy prices would last weeks, at the worst, not months. We want it back below $3 a gallon. And it will be again before too long, Wright said. Advertisement Advertisement You never know exactly the time frame of this, but, in the worst case, this is a weeks, this is not a months thing. How can you find the cheapest gas? Whether you're traveling or at home, several apps are available to help you find the cheapest gas where you are, including: GasBuddy, AAA and Gas Guru. The Google Maps and Waze apps, which are used by many people for current traffic alerts and directions, also offer gas-price info. There's often quite a difference in the price of gas in the same town so it pays or should we say saves to shop around. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Gas prices climbing. How Michigan ranks nationally amid Iran war Federal immigration agents have smashed car windows, dragged people out of their cars, held individuals at gunpoint and conducted operations outside sensitive locations such as schools. In many instances, theyve worn face coverings or masks that make it challenging to identify individual agents. Now, Oregonians are poised to gain a significant tool to respond to those scenarios under House Bill 4138, which cleared the Oregon Legislature. Although the bill also contains several measures to boost the states sanctuary status, its main provisions require law enforcement agencies in the state to display a unique number or last name, badge and agency type if they are conducting operations in the state. They also must adopt public policies that generally prohibit the use of facial coverings. The bill currently sits on Gov. Tina Koteks desk, though she has signaled she will sign it. Advertisement Advertisement Folks have worked hard to understand what we can do as a state and try to push in an area that, frankly, we didnt think wed have to deal with, Kotek told reporters shortly after the legislative session ended Friday. Legislative Democrats stressed that they took great pains to ensure the legal viability of the legislation, though they were weighing different approaches such as a bill to create a November 2026 ballot referendum to ban secret police or a measure to require identification on top of the masks federal agents have worn. But HB 4138 won out in the legislative process, with the bills author saying it responds to a moment which calls for decisive action. Fascism isnt knocking at our doors anymore; it is knocking down our doors without warrants and we must respond accordingly, said Rep. Farrah Chaichi, D-Beaverton, in a statement. Our immigrant communities deserve to feel safe and secure, and I am proud that this bill is a step towards accountability and visibility for all Oregonians. While there is a significant possibility that the bill could face a lawsuit echoing a court case playing out against similar California laws, Oregons legislation is unique. It doesnt create civil or criminal penalties for individual officers like legislation passed by California and Washingtons legislatures. Advertisement Advertisement Instead, law enforcement agencies will have 180 days after the bill is signed into law to create a public policy on facial coverings that complies with the identification provisions. Oregonians, a law enforcement oversight body or a local government could file a written objection with any law enforcement agency operating in the state for a policy on facial coverings that fails to align with the legislation, which carves out exceptions for instances such as an undercover operation or medical necessity. The agency would have 180 days to correct any deficiencies in its policy. The person or group who made that request could file a lawsuit seeking a court order against the agency in state court if it fails to adequately address the objection. If an individual was suing a federal agency such as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, legal experts say the federal government would likely try to move that case to federal court and potentially try to get the case dismissed. The U.S. Constitutions supremacy clause, which allows federal laws to supersede conflicting state ones, would be at the center of those arguments. Uncertainty on the streets and in the courts Chaichi previously acknowledged in an interview with the Capital Chronicle that cases filed in state court could move to federal court. Advertisement Advertisement While the legislations ability to regulate federal agents is tested, she said she hopes that people will at least be able to identify their local law enforcement. In her district, she has heard from people with different immigration statuses that they are not reporting assault, burglary and domestic violence cases to local authorities due to heightened mistrust. The whole situation is terrorizing, having people snatched off the streets, especially without due process, she said. But then having masked people do it, the uncertainty of not knowing who you can and cant trust is another level of terrifying. Legal experts disagree over whether states have the ability to regulate federal agents wearing masks. Some say the issue could need to be clarified by the U.S Supreme Court. U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder in early February halted Californias anti-masking law on the grounds that it singled out federal and local law enforcement and violated the supremacy clause, prompting lawmakers in that state to work on legislation broadening the law to include state law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement But she allowed a California law requiring all law enforcement agents to display uniform identification including an agency and name or badge number to stand. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has since paused that decision as it currently weighs whether to uphold the law upon appeal. During a March 3 hearing for oral arguments, a California lawyer was unable to produce an example of a case in which a court has upheld a state law that directly regulates the federal governments authorized conduct. And enacting a regulation affecting all types of law enforcement is not necessarily enough to guarantee a measure stands in federal court, according to Tung Yin, a professor of law at Portlands Lewis & Clark Law School. He warned that the federal government could use comments by Oregon officials to prove the legislation targeted federal agents. California claimed its bill was not intended to single out federal law enforcement, and Oregon might argue the same, Yin wrote in an email. The timing of such laws being enacted when ICE has been heavily masking, etc. might give rise to an inference that federal agents were targeted as the subjects of this law. If there are statements by legislators or by the governor, I wonder if those could be used by the federal government as evidence that they were targeted. The Trump administration has justified the use of masks by arguing that its officers have been subject to a dramatic rise in doxing, assaults and threats, though it hasnt publicly disclosed data corroborating that claim. A spokesperson for the Homeland Security Department sent a statement containing the photos of five individuals the department deemed public safety threats arrested by ICE. Advertisement Advertisement Sanctuary politicians attempting to ban our federal law enforcement from wearing masks and demanding that they reveal their identities is despicable and a flagrant attempt to endanger our officers, Deputy Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said in a statement. To be crystal clear: we will not abide by unconstitutional bans. The Supremacy Clause makes it clear that state politicians do not control federal law enforcement. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Since September 2025, MSCI has been in a holding pattern, floating around $565. Is there a buying opportunity in MSCI, or does it present a risk to your portfolio? Check out our in-depth research report to see what our analysts have to say, its free. Why Is MSCI Not Exciting? We're sitting this one out for now. Here is one reason there are better opportunities than MSCI and a stock we'd rather own. Previous Growth Initiatives Have Lost Money Return on equity, or ROE, tells us how much profit a company generates for each dollar of shareholder equity, a key funding source for banks. Over a long period, banks with high ROE tend to compound shareholder wealth faster through retained earnings, buybacks, and dividends. Over the last five years, MSCI has averaged an ROE of negative 139%, a bad result not only in absolute terms but also relative to the majority of firms putting up 25%+. It also shows that MSCI has little to no competitive moat. MSCI Return on Equity Final Judgment MSCIs business quality ultimately falls short of our standards. That said, the stock currently trades at 29.3 forward P/E (or $565 per share). This multiple tells us a lot of good news is priced in - we think there are better opportunities elsewhere. Wed recommend looking at a safe-and-steady industrials business benefiting from an upgrade cycle. Stocks We Would Buy Instead of MSCI ALSO WORTH WATCHING: Top 5 Momentum Stocks. The best time to own a great stock is when the market is finally noticing it. These aren't just high-quality businesses. Something is happening with them right now. Elite fundamentals meeting near-term momentum both boxes checked at the same time. Find out which stocks our AI platform is flagging this week. See this week's Strong Momentum stocks FREE. Get Our Strong Momentum Stocks for Free HERE. Stocks that have made our list include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,326% between June 2020 and June 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Kadant (+351% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today. Legislation to bar new employment contracts with H1-B visa holders from certain countries made its way through an Iowa Senate subcommittee and the chambers workforce committee Wednesday with concerns from some about legal repercussions. House File 2513, passed out of the House with a 68-27 vote last week, would bar state universities from entering into employment contracts with citizens of federally designated foreign adversaries and state sponsors of terrorism holding an H-1B visa, the bill stated, including Syria, China, Russia, Iran, Cuba, North Korea and Venezuela. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement State universities and community colleges are registered undecided on the bill, lobbyists told subcommittee members Wednesday morning, but have concerns about its potential to cause lawsuits. Jillian Carlson, state relations officer for the Iowa Board of Regents, said a very small percentage of the nearly 30,000 people employed by universities hold H1-B visas between 120 and 130 people. We do have concerns that this would open us up to lawsuits due to conflict with both state and federal laws on discrimination based on national origin, Carlson said. Dennis Tibben, lobbyist for State Shield Action, which he described as a public policy group focused on safeguarding the states against national security threats, called the legislation a common sense approach to ensuring the sensitive information being used and produced by U.S. higher education institutions is safe and isnt exposed to potentially hostile people. Sen. Mike Pike, R-Des Moines, chaired the subcommittee and was joined by Sen. Thomas Townsend, D-Dubuque, and Sen. Adrian Dickey, R-Packwood. Both Pike and Dickey expressed concerns with the number of people Carlson mentioned, with Pike saying it only takes a few bad actors to bring the problem this bill is seeking to solve into the forefront. Advertisement Advertisement Those numbers are concerning to me as to, is this whats in the best interest, not only for our students, but also for our country, (to) have individuals here that may not be loyal to America in the same manner that we all are, Dickey said. Multiple Dubuque organizations have registered against the legislation, Townsend said, added he hasnt had the time to speak with them so he will need to do more research before he supports the legislation. Townsend also said the bill allows for a discriminative practice to not allow state universities to hire people who are in the country legally and have already been vetted to live and work here. It could open up the universities and the board of regents to lawsuits for discrimination of country of origin, he said. Pike said during committee discussion that a vote against the legislation is a vote for U.S. adversaries, including those were actively engaged in conflict with who are killing our troops, to maintain their free pass to steal intellectual property and opportunities from U.S. citizens. Advertisement Advertisement I urge a yes vote on this bill that sends a message that it is not acceptable to hire professors whose main objective may be how they can best aid terrorism or foreign adversaries, Pike said. The legislation will move to the Iowa Senate debate calendar. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE In a surprising development, Serbia has emerged as an operator of the Chinese-made CM-400 air-launched supersonic standoff missile. The weapon has been integrated into Serbias Soviet-era MiG-29 Fulcrums, which have undergone various upgrades. As it stands, the Balkan state, which has had a turbulent recent history, likely fields a missile capability otherwise unmatched in Europe (outside of Russia, at least). A photo recently emerged showing a Serbian Air Force and Air Defense MiG-29 carrying a pair of CM-400 missiles on its inboard underwing hardpoints. As we reported yesterday, Serbian Air Force showcased, for the first time, that they are in possession of Chinese made CM-400 supersonic air-ground missiles, with a reported range of up to 400 km. This makes Serbia the second foreign customer, after Pakistan. Pair of missiles pic.twitter.com/Yo2Utzf8DV Peter Voinovich (@PeterVoinovich) March 10, 2026 There had also been previous clues that Serbia might be poised to introduce a powerful new weapon of some kind. Advertisement Advertisement According to Belgrade-based defense journalist Petar Vojinovic, the chief of the General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces, Gen. Milan Mojsilovic, stated last month that in the air component, we have weapons of a similar maximum range and lethality [to the PULS rocket artillery system]. Mojsilovic was referencing the Israeli-made PULS (Precise and Universal Launching System) since this has been recently introduced by the Serbian Army. You can read more about this ground-launched artillery rocket here. Serbia's Acquisition of PULS Systems and Hermes 900 UAVs from Israel Serbia ordered 1,000 kamikaze drones from Iran in 2023. In 2025, it made significant purchases from Israel's Elbit Systems: a $335 million rocket and drone deal in January, and a $1.6 billion PULS (Precise and pic.twitter.com/IiHPqyo5BZ Clash Report (@clashreport) October 8, 2025 Furthermore, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic recently alluded to recently introduced military capabilities, stating: people couldnt dream about everything we have, everything we are acquiring, they couldnt dream. As for the CM-400, this weapon was developed and is manufactured by the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC), apparently primarily for export. So far, it is not known to be in Chinese military service. Advertisement Advertisement Unveiled in 2012, the CM-400 has a length of around 17 feet, a diameter of 16 inches, and weighs roughly 2,000 pounds. This includes one of two types of warheads, either a high-explosive charge weighing 330 pounds or an armor-piercing warhead weighing 440 pounds. The CM-400 is a supersonic weapon, and CASIC claims it can reach a speed of Mach 4.5 in the terminal phase of flight. It has often been described as a hypersonic missile, but this is likely not the case: Mach 5 is typically considered to be the boundary between high-supersonic and hypersonic speed. Nevertheless, it is clearly a very fast missile. The missiles range remains unclear, with varying accounts of this aspect of its performance. Advertisement Advertisement At the very least, it is reported to have a range of 155 miles, while some sources claim it can hit targets at a range of 186 miles or even 250 miles. The CM-400AKG anti-radiation missile on display during Airshow China 2024. Photo by Shen Ling/VCG via Getty Images VCG The CM-400 has also been described as a quasi-ballistic missile, though this is also probably not entirely accurate. Generally speaking, a quasi-ballistic missile is capable of being used on a depressed trajectory. This makes the missile more capable of significant maneuvering in flight, presenting greater challenges even for opponents with more robust missile defense capabilities. In the case of the CM-400, the missile reportedly flies on a relatively high ballistic trajectory, powered by its solid rocket motor. It then careens toward its target at a steep angle of descent. While it may also be able to maneuver dynamically during its terminal attack phase, to attack moving ships, it doesnt fly on a depressed trajectory, as far as we know. Advertisement Advertisement In terms of target sets, the missile has been widely described as an anti-ship missile, specifically even as a carrier-killer. In fact, the basic weapon can also be configured as an anti-radiation missile, and it is presumed to also have the capability to attack non-emitting ground targets. Depending on the different targets, the CM-400 can have different seeker heads fitted. All of the versions have an inertial guidance system with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) correction. For the terminal phase, it relies on an infrared/optoelectronic seeker for attacking naval targets, or a passive radar seeker to take out electromagnetic emitters. The circular error probable (CEP) for the anti-radiation version is claimed to be 16-33, reduced to 16 feet or less for the anti-ship version. Previously, the only confirmed export operator of the CM-400 was Pakistan, which uses it on its JF-17 Thunder multirole fighters. Pakistani officials claimed that the missile saw successful combat use against Indian S-400 air defense systems during the conflict between the countries in May last year. However, this remains unconfirmed. A JF-17 Thunder of the Pakistan Air Force armed with CM-400 missiles. via Chinese internet Pakistan shows footage of its JF-17 Thunder jet taking off to hit Indian S-400 air defence system with Chinese-origin CM-400AKG hypersonic missiles in anti-radiation variant. The missile features a passive radar guidance mode, allowing it to home in on radar emissions, making it pic.twitter.com/DUQTOQciDk Clash Report (@clashreport) May 10, 2025 In Serbian service, the CM-400 is carried by the MiG-29 fighter. These aircraft were first acquired by the then Yugoslavia in the 1980s. Survivors of Operation Allied Force in 1999 were later supplemented by secondhand MiG-29s from Russian and Belarusian stocks. The aircraft have also been moderately upgraded and are now known as MiG-29SM+. Fourteen examples are currently in active Serbian service. A Serbian MiG-29 accompanies the Airbus of the German chancellor after a visit to Serbia in 2024. Photo by Michael Kappeler/picture alliance via Getty Images picture alliance The long-term plan for the Serbian MiG-29s is somewhat unclear, since the country ordered 12 Dassault Rafale multirole fighters, in a deal that you can read more about here. Advertisement Advertisement For the time being, however, in the CM-400, Serbia looks to have secured a capability that is very likely unique in the wider region. With its combination of very high speed, long range, and fire and forget guidance, the missile is ideal for deep standoff strikes. It is optimized for striking hardened strategic targets, day and night, and in all weather. Thanks to CATICs Standalone Weapon Fire Control System (SWFCS), also designated as WZHK-1 by China, the CM-400 (and other Chinese missiles) areis designed to allow foreign models of aircraft to operate Chinese missiles and bombs. Speaking to Janes during the exhibition, a CATIC official said that the system is designed to equip a range of Chinese air-launched weapons and can be installed on existing weapon hardpoints. Advertisement Advertisement The system gives air forces around the world the ability to easily integrate Chinese-made weapons with their aircraft without requiring them to make software or hardware changes to the host aircraft, a CATIC official told Janes about the SWFCS back in 2024. CATICs Standalone Weapon Fire Control System (SWFCS). Petar Vojinovic The [SWFCS] uses a wireless data system that connects to a tablet in the cockpit that can be worn by the pilot. The tablet acts as a portable wireless controller that the pilot can use to launch the missiles, the official added. Similar tablet-based soluiions have also been used by Ukraine to rapidly integrate Western weapons on Soviet-era jets, as you can read about here. Ukrainian Air Force Su-27 Flanker Wild Weasel operations, seen here conducting multiple low level standoff strikes against Russian radars with US-supplied AGM-88 HARMs. pic.twitter.com/7CosjXFNkO OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) April 21, 2024 The same SWFCS interface is also being used to carry another Chinese air-to-ground weapon, the LS-6 precision-guided munition. This is a 1,100-pound-class weapon that combines a general-purpose bomb with a strap-on upgrade package to provide range extension and precision strike capabilities. Imagenes de MiG-29SM serbios con misiles antibuque CM 400 y bombas guiadas LS6-500 de fabricacion china. pic.twitter.com/dYLmuEFORQ DefensaNAC (@DefensaNAC) March 10, 2026 Meanwhile, weapons in the CM-400 class are a response to the growing threat posed by ground-based air defense systems, which are pushing combat aircraft ever further from the targets they are assigned to destroy. Advertisement Advertisement With its very high maximum speed, the CM-400 is also well suited to attacking time-sensitive targets, which could also include mobile air defense systems or mobile ballistic missiles, provided their coordinates can be established in the required timeframe. For Serbia, the new missile would appear to offer a relatively easy way to expand its air-launched, precision standoff strike capability. With a high degree of flexibility, fast reaction time, and the ability to penetrate most enemy air defenses, it is a notably hard-hitting weapon for what is otherwise a fairly modest air force. It is also interesting that Serbia is looking to China to fulfil its missile needs, rather than Russia. A Serbian pilot gets ready for takeoff aboard a MiG-29 at Batajnica Air Base in 2024. Photo by Andrej ISAKOVIC / AFP ANDREJ ISAKOVIC While Belgrade and Moscow have traditionally had good relations, acquiring Russian arms has become far harder since the West imposed sanctions in response to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Even before this, however, there were signs that Serbia was looking to move away from Russia as its main arms supplier. As such, it has increasingly moved into a more Western-oriented orbit, with acquisitions from Airbus, for example, but it is also buying weapons from China and Israel. A U.S. Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawk and a Serbian Mi-17 Hip during CSAR maneuvers conducted over Serbia in 2023. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Edgar Grimaldo At the same time, the Serbian military is increasingly switching to more NATO-style doctrine, as well as equipment, including exercises alongside the U.S. Air Force, as you can read about here. Bearing in mind the fact that it can be integrated on non-Chinese platforms, it will be interesting to see if other nations also adopt the CM-400. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com A suspected serial arsonist has pleaded not guilty after being charged with two murders in connection with a Hollywood house fire that killed two elderly sisters last month, prosecutors said Wednesday. Jovan Lamar Duverne, 39, was also charged with 11 counts of felony arson after allegedly setting a series of fires across Hollywood, the Los Angeles County district attorney's office said. "Setting fires anywhere is reckless and extraordinarily dangerous, but deliberately igniting multiple fires in a residential community shows a shocking disregard for human life," District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement. "We allege this defendant went on a dangerous arson spree across Hollywood that ultimately claimed the lives of two elderly sisters inside their home. Our hearts are with their loved ones as they mourn this devastating loss." Advertisement Advertisement Duverne faces a special circumstance allegation of multiple murders, as well as sentence enhancements related to a prior arson conviction, including a second-strike allegation, according to prosecutors. He is being held without bail. Between Jan. 26 and Feb. 4, 2026, Duverne allegedly set fires at 10 locations in Hollywood, using a handheld torch-style lighter, the DA's office said. He then allegedly walked between locations lighting rubbish and attempting to enter buildings. On Feb. 4, around 2 a.m., Duverne allegedly set fire to a residence, which resulted in the deaths of Maria Del Consuelo Alarcon-Valdez, 76, and Yolanda Honda, 82. Duverne was arrested later that day near Hollywood Boulevard and Wilton Place, authorities said. Asked by ABC7 for additional details about the arrest, a spokesperson for the district attorney's office said they would emerge in court proceedings. Advertisement Advertisement If convicted as charged, Duverne faces a sentence of up to death or life in state prison without the possibility of parole, prosecutors said, adding that a decision on whether to seek the death penalty will be made at a later date. A deadly house fire that killed two sisters in their Hollywood home is now being investigated as a crime, and police tied the fire to others that burned in the same area. The case remains under investigation by the DA's office's Arson and Explosives Section and the Los Angeles Police Department's Robbery-Homicide Division, with assistance from the Los Angeles Fire Department's Arson Counter Terrorism Section. More thunderstorms could move across Kentucky on Wednesday, March 11, as a storm system pushes east through the Ohio Valley, bringing the risk of damaging winds, isolated tornadoes and hail. Forecasters say several rounds of storms may develop through the day as a cold front approaches the region. While the waves of rain and storms could limit how intense conditions become overall, some storms may still reach severe levels, according to the National Weather Service. Damaging wind gusts are expected to be the most common hazard. However, meteorologists say a few storms could briefly spin up tornadoes, particularly in areas where storms organize into lines. Large hail is also possible with stronger cells. Advertisement Advertisement Early Wednesday afternoon, March 11, a tornado watch was issued for parts of southern Indiana and far northern Kentucky as atmospheric conditions supported the possibility of rotating storms. Meteorologists say the atmosphere over Kentucky is warm and humid for early March, with temperatures climbing into the upper 60s and low 70s and dew points in the 60s. That moisture, combined with strong winds higher in the atmosphere, can help thunderstorms organize and intensify. Severe weather: Tornado in northwest Indiana causes two deaths and widespread damage After the morning's tornado watches, additional storms are expected later in the afternoon and evening as the cold front moves through. Advertisement Advertisement Most storms are expected to move quickly, which should limit widespread flooding. Still, some locations that see repeated storms could receive 1.5 to 2 inches of rain in a short time. Outside of thunderstorms, strong winds may also develop Wednesday afternoon. Gusts could reach 35 mph or higher in some areas as strong winds a few thousand feet above the ground mix down to the surface. Storm chances should end from northwest to southeast Wednesday evening as the cold front moves through the state. Behind the system, cooler air will move into Kentucky overnight. Temperatures are expected to fall quickly, dropping from the 70s during the day into the 40s within several hours after the front passes. Advertisement Advertisement Quieter weather is expected Thursday through Saturday, March 12-14, with highs mainly in the 50s and mostly dry conditions. Rain chances could return late in the weekend as another storm system develops across the central United States. Forecasters say that system could bring additional storms Sunday before much colder air arrives early next week. Severe weather: Showers, thunderstorms likely as rain moves through Louisville. What to know Kentucky weather watches and warnings Stay informed. Get weather alerts via text Brandi D. Addison covers weather across the United States as the Weather Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network. She can be reached at baddison@gannett.com. Find her on Facebook here. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Will Kentucky get tornadoes? See timing, forecast as storms hit Before a polar vortex settles over Ohio, a severe weather outbreak stretching from Texas to the Great Lakes could bring strong thunderstorms, hail, damaging winds, flooding and possibly tornadoes to the state through Thursday night, March 12, 2026, according to AccuWeather meteorologists. This setup has the potential to produce the most widespread and impactful severe weather outbreak weve seen so far this year, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Courtney Travis said in a press release. The overlap of strong winds aloft, abundant moisture from the Gulf and sharp temperature contrasts creates an environment supportive of tornadoes, damaging wind gusts and hail. Here's a look at the forecast for Ohio. Severe storms are expected to start rolling into Ohio on Tuesday afternoon and evening, March 10, according to AccuWeather meteorologists. From Tuesday afternoon into Tuesday night, severe thunderstorms are expected to expand from Texas to southern Michigan. Advertisement Advertisement AccuWeather meteorologists are forecasting a high risk for severe weather on Tuesday across parts of Texas, Illinois, Missouri and Iowa. By Wednesday and Wednesday night, the severe weather threat will shift eastward, extending across more than a dozen states from eastern Texas to Pennsylvania and upstate New York. Hail, damaging wind gusts of 60-70 mph and isolated tornadoes remain possible as the storm advances into the Great Lakes. The risk of severe weather then will shift to the East Coast on Thursday. Severe storms are expected in Ohio on Wednesday, March 11, AccuWeather meteorologists forecast. Flash floods a threat in the Ohio Valley The additional rainfall from this round of severe weather could trigger flash flooding. Recent heavy rains have saturated the soil across parts of the Plains and Ohio Valley. It will not take much additional rain to trigger flash flooding in areas that have been soaked by storms and downpours over the past few days, Travis said. These storms will bring some beneficial rainfall to areas dealing with severe drought from Texas to Ohio. How to stay safe during severe weather and tornadoes in Ohio If severe weather or tornadoes are in the forecast in Ohio, the National Weather Service has some tips on how to stay safe: Advertisement Advertisement Go to a safe shelter immediately, such as a safe room, basement, storm cellar, or a small interior room on the lowest level of a sturdy building. Stay away from windows, doors, and outside walls. Do not go under an overpass or bridge. Youre safer in a low, flat location. Watch out for flying debris that can cause injury or death. Use your arms to protect your head and neck. If you cant stay at home, make plans to go to a public shelter. AccuWeather adds the following: Keep your phone fully charged Turn on severe weather notifications Ensure alert volume is loud enough to wake you overnight Have multiple ways to receive warnings, such as a weather radio or additional apps on your phone Never rely solely on an outdoor tornado siren, which may not be heard indoors, Travis said. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Severe thunderstorms, tornadoes target Ohio. See weather forecast Members of San Francisco's Chinatown community say they are even more frightened after learning new details about a stabbing that prosecutors now describe as completely unprovoked. The attack happened last Thursday afternoon at Stockton and Sacramento streets, where prosecutors say a man was stabbed in the back for no reason. Court documents obtained by ABC7 Eyewitness News state there were "no words spoken, no threat posed," and that the suspect, Jian Feng Huang, 37, "acted without mercy and with the specific intent to kill the victim." Advertisement Advertisement Rawnie Chan, a store manager whose business sits near the intersection, said many initially believed the suspect and victim must have known each other or had argued. Learning it was random, she said, has left the community even more concerned. Chan said the store has been open for 20 years and nothing like this has ever happened. The area was crowded at the time, and she said Huang had just been seen eating down the street moments before the stabbing. PREVIOUS STORY: Suspect in unprovoked SF Chinatown stabbing charged with attempted murder: DA Chan added that the attack unfolded so quickly that many people nearby, including elderly residents who don't speak English, didn't immediately understand what was happening. Someone eventually called 911. Chan said a nurse rushed in asking for ice, and workers grabbed towels to help stop the bleeding until police arrived. Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors said the victim was placed in a medically induced coma and that the knife narrowly missed severing his aorta. People in the neighborhood told ABC7 Eyewitness News they know of Huang's father but not the victim. Many expressed fear and urged that Huang remains behind bars. Huang, who was previously convicted of arson in San Mateo County in 2020, made his first court appearance Tuesday in San Francisco. He pleaded not guilty to several charges, including attempted murder. No bail was set. He is expected back in court in the coming weeks. If you're on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live March 11 (UPI) -- A cargo vessel was set ablaze in the Strait of Hormuz in the early hours of Wednesday after being hit by an unknown projectile, British maritime authorities said. The Royal Navy's Maritime Trade Operations center said in an alert that the vessel had issued an SOS and the crew were evacuating after it was struck about 11 nautical miles north of Oman's Musandam Peninsula. UKMTO said the incident had been reported to it by a "company security officer." Advertisement Advertisement "Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO while authorities continue to investigate," the center added. The report did not state the type of cargo vessel but the BBC named it as the Thai-flagged container ship, Mayuree Naree, along with pictures of thick black smoke billowing from the deck. Thai authorities said a rescue effort by the Oman Navy was underway and had rescued 20 of 23 crew so far. The Mayuree Naree was en route from Khalifa Port in the UAE when it was attacked, the Thai Navy said. UKMTO issued warnings regarding attacks on two other commercial vessels off the coast of the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement The master of a bulk carrier called in being hit by an unknown projectile in the Persian Gulf, 50 nautical miles northwest of Dubai, just after 6 a.m. local time. No one was hurt and there was no report of any environmental impact. In the second incident, the master of a container vessel, also northwest of the UAE, reported "sustaining damage from a suspected but unknown projectile," but confirmed that all crew members were safe and accounted for. The extent of the damage had yet to be determined and was being investigated by the crew. The first of these was the Marshall Islands-flagged Star Gwyneth, while the second was the Japan-flagged One Majesty, both of which sustained damage to their hulls, with One Majesty reported to be limping its way to a safe harbor, according to the BBC. Wednesday's incidents bring to 13 the number of confirmed attacks on vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz since the United States and Israel launched their airborne offensive against Iran on Feb. 28. Advertisement Advertisement Iran has responded by bringing to a virtual standstill shipping using the narrow waterway through which around 20% of the world's oil and gas is exported from Gulf producers to global markets. U.S. Central Command said Tuesday that it had sunk a significant number of Iranian vessels near the strait, including 16 that were laying mines in the shipping lane. "Iran's rapid and extensive retaliation against shipping and regional energy, port and economic infrastructure has severed a vital artery in global supply chains, as the flow of oil, refined products, LNG and chemicals grinds to a near halt," Verisk Maplecroft's Middle East analyst Torbjorn Soltvedt wrote in a note. "Additional attacks against ships in and around the Strait of Hormuz overnight underscore that Iran still presents a very real threat to shipping," he said. U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly raised the prospect of using the U.S. Navy to provide safe passage to shipping through the strait but the White House was forced Tuesday to deny claims by Energy Secretary Chris Wright that the first naval escort had taken place. Concerns about mold allegedly linked to multiple patient deaths has emerged at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, one of Scotland's largest hospitals. What's happening? According to Sky News, investigators found mold and dirty water inside a ward treating vulnerable immunocompromised people. Sky News reported that parts of the adult bone marrow transplant unit at the Glasgow hospital have been closed. Several rooms in Ward 4B were sealed off, and patients were moved out after mold and water ingress were identified inside the unit. Advertisement Advertisement According to the report, bone marrow transplant patients often have weakened immune systems and depend on carefully controlled air systems to avoid infection. Professor Hugh Pennington, emeritus professor of bacteriology at the University of Aberdeen, told Sky News the findings were "shocking." Why is clean ventilation important? Hospitals rely on clean air and water systems to protect patients whose immune systems are too weak to fight infections. Maintaining clean ventilation systems and sterile environments is especially important in intensive care and transplant units. Pennington said any form of mold could kill bone marrow patients whose immune systems are suppressed during treatment. According to investigations into the hospital, multiple patients have potentially died from poor filtration. Advertisement Advertisement "We either have a Scottish government that are not informed of the current situation on 4B or they have willfully ignored it to protect the reputation of the hospital," said Louise Slorance, the widow of a man who died shortly after being admitted into the hospital for lymphoma. Holding businesses and major entities accountable to building resilience instead of reducing it is crucial to the well-being of communities. According to Sky News, this particular hospital has faced years of controversy over water contamination and ventilation issues since opening in 2015. When institutions fail to properly respond to health hazards, communities and the environment feel the reverb. For example, workers at St. George Endocrine and Diabetes Clinic in Utah got sick from being allegedly exposed to unsafe radiation levels even after workplace complaints. It's also a concern about transparency and exploitative profit. Public health risks can emerge when major corporations continue to push products despite knowing they emit toxic chemicals into homes. What's being done about safety? According to the report, portable air filtration units and air scrubbers are being used in the hospital while testing continues. Sky News also reported that police and prosecutors have been continuing a corporate homicide investigation into deaths that may be linked to environmental conditions at the hospital since 2015. Advertisement Advertisement NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said patient safety remains a priority and that the issues are being managed through established infection control procedures, according to its statement cited in the report. The health board also acknowledged that the hospital has faced "challenges linked to build quality" since it opened. For readers, learning how institutions communicate environmental risks can help identify situations in which organizations may misrepresent health or environmental hazards to further their own profit, a practice known as greenwashing. 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. PIERRE A bill that would have required some South Dakota employers to use a federal website to verify employees work eligibility failed in the state Senate on Wednesday, the second-to-last day of the annual legislative session. E-Verify is a free website from the federal government that compares records from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Social Security Administration to the information on an employees I-9, an employment verification document that employers must file for all new employees, regardless of citizenship status. In its final, amended form, House Bill 1209 would have required employers with more than 25 employees to check an employees documents with E-Verify within 10 days of their first day of work. The states Department of Labor requires employers to file new hire documents within 20 days. Sen. Sue Peterson, R-Sioux Falls, said she contacted small-business owners in her district about the bill. Advertisement Advertisement They were already doing what they were required to do, and adding E-Verify to it didnt add anything, she said. In fact, they were happy to do it as their patriotic duty. The bill said that if the states attorney general investigated a business and had reasonable cause to believe an employer committed a violation, the state could recover $2,000 in civil penalties per unauthorized or unverified employee. Including E-Verify as another step in the hiring process could curb unauthorized immigration to the state, according to the bills supporters. But it also would put undue burdens on small-business owners, according to Sen. Randy Deibert, R-Spearfish. Yes, theres a problem. Does this solve the problem? Absolutely not, he said. It increases my overhead, which means Im charging each of you more for my services. Advertisement Advertisement The bill in its initial form succeeded in the House in February. Senators later amended it, as did a conference committee of members from each chamber. The amended bill failed 15-18 on Wednesday in the Senate, and a subsequent attempt to revive the bill also failed. For broadcasters Starting July 1, tribal police helping their state or local counterparts will be recognized as law enforcement officers under South Dakota law. Gov. Larry Rhoden signed House Bill 1007 and other public safety and public welfare-related bills into law on Monday, March 10. Dealing with absent lawmakers in SD South Dakota Legislature lacks rules on absent lawmakers: Analysis Currently, the definition of law enforcement doesnt include tribal officers, who routinely assist their stateside counterparts on crime and crash scenes but lack jurisdiction outside tribal borders. Advertisement Advertisement State-recognized law enforcement officers are afforded legal protections, among them assault laws that deem simple assaults against them as felony crimes. HB 1007 will extend those protections to tribal officers as they support public safety operations anywhere in the state. Rhoden signs other bills Rhoden also signed a bill Monday removing the addresses, email addresses and personal phone numbers of police and judges from the publicly available information listed on the states voter rolls. House Bill 1084 initially included a prohibition on the release of contact information for elected officials, but was amended based on concerns about constituents loss of access to their elected representatives. Kristi Noem's new job Noem debuts as Trump envoy at Latin American leader summit after DHS ouster Advertisement Advertisement On the public welfare side, Rhoden signed a bill into law that will require the use of a translator or interpreter when requested during administrative contested case hearings. House Bill 1219 was sponsored by Sioux Falls Democratic Rep. Erik Muckey in response to concerns about the inability of some Lakota speakers to engage in administrative hearings on a proposed uranium mine in southwestern South Dakota. State law already requires translation services when requested during circuit court proceedings. Administrative contested case hearings include cases heard by state-appointed boards or commissions, or by the states Public Utilities Commission. As of Monday afternoon, Rhoden had signed 116 bills so far in 2026. Hes vetoed one bill, which would effectively ban the production or sale of lab-grown meat. The Legislature has not yet considered the veto. As he vetoed that bill, he signaled his support for a five-year moratorium on lab-grown meat. Senate Bill 124, which would do that, has passed both legislative chambers and awaits his consideration. Advertisement Advertisement Rhoden also announced plans to hold a signing ceremony Tuesday in Pierre for Senate Bill 113, which will make it a felony crime for any person to purposely prevent any other person from practicing religion through violence or threats of violence. This is the last week of the legislative session, other than a day reserved on March 30 if necessary to consider vetoes. South Dakota Searchlight is part of States Newsroom, the nations largest state-focused nonprofit news organization. This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: South Dakota tribal police gain new law enforcement rights When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Getty / NurPhoto Nexperia's Chinese subsidiary has announced that it has achieved small-batch production of chips using 12-inch silicon wafers, a development that deepens the split between the unit and its Dutch parent company, which does not manufacture wafers at that diameter. Go deeper with TH Premium: Chipmaking tsmc In a statement posted to its Chinese social media account, Nexperia China said it had reached a new milestone in its "independent R&D and mass production capabilities," per Reuters, producing bipolar discrete devices, Schottky rectifiers, and electrostatic discharge protection devices. All of these are commodity power semiconductors that the Dutch company also manufactures. Nexperia's European headquarters declined to comment, and Nexperia China could not immediately be reached to confirm where it is sourcing its 12-inch wafers.The most likely supplier is WingSkySemi, a 12-inch wafer fab in Shanghai operated by Wingtech founder Zhang Xuezheng. Back in December, Reuters reported on a letter sent to Nexperia China's distributors, which named WingSkySemi as the planned source of automotive-grade wafers, with a stated monthly capacity of 30,000 wafers, alongside 8-inch IGBT wafer supply from Shanghai GAT Semiconductor and United Nova Technology Co., a fab linked to SMIC.The chips that Nexperia China claims it can now produce are simpler than IGBTs, the insulated-gate bipolar transistors used for current regulation in applications like EVs and industrial equipment. That said, if true, the announcement demonstrates how far the companys Chinese subsidiary has moved toward building a self-contained supply chain since its spat with Nexperia proper began in late 2025. That started when the Dutch government took control of Nexperia from Wingtech in October 2025, citing governance concerns, and subsequently installed a European management team. In October, the Dutch side halted wafer shipments to Nexperia's Chinese factories, citing nonpayment, while a Dutch court ordered Wingtech's founder removed as Nexperia CEO. Beijing then responded by restricting exports of Nexperia's finished chips, causing shortages that forced Honda to temporarily suspend production at factories in China and Japan. Both governments partially relaxed their measures in November, but legal proceedings and the internal battle over control have continued to rage on, with Nexperia saying in December that its Chinese subsidiary has shown "no intention to negotiate a short-term solution to restore the flow of chips to customers."Nexperia China has said it delivered more than 11 billion chips to over 800 customers since mid-October despite the disruption. A Dutch court hearing on control of the company was scheduled for January 14, but its not yet clear what followed that hearing, and no resolution to the corporate governance dispute has been publicly announced. President Donald Trumps sway over the Republican Party faces a fresh test Tuesday with a free-for-all special election in northwest Georgia to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene, the Trump ally-turned-critic who vacated her seat in Congress in January. Clay Fuller, a former prosecutor and Air Force veteran, won Trumps endorsement from a field of nearly 20 candidates. But the presidential seal of approval, which Trump delivered last month on a visit to the district, has done little to streamline the remarkably crowded contest. Were the candidate thats going to have his back on Capitol Hill, Fuller told reporters Tuesday outside a polling place in Rome, Georgia. Even though some other candidates in this race may say that theyre 100% pro-Trump, I think its important for the voters to ask them what percentage they are now that President Trump has endorsed us. Advertisement Advertisement Yet other GOP rivals on the ballot have also vowed to fully support the president and his agenda. Colton Moore, a former state senator and conservative firebrand, has been running ads suggesting he is the true America First candidate and Trump loyalist in the race. He praised the president but dismissed the importance of a Trump endorsement, saying: The swamp money has come in against us. Theres a lot of folks who talk a big conservative game, but when it comes down to doing conservative stuff, theyre nowhere to be found, Moore said Monday in an interview on a conservative talk radio show on WLAQ, a station in the district based in Rome, Georgia. We need to find a fighter, a legislator, whos willing to bring that fight with true vigor. Tom Gray, a pastor who is also running to replace Greene, expressed his support for Trump but added: Were independent thinkers and decision-makers. Advertisement Advertisement Jim Tully, a former Greene staffer and longtime Republican activist who is on the ballot, also touted his admiration for Trump. Yet he said voters loyal to the president could draw their own conclusions about the race, saying: Weve never talked about this being President Trumps district. This district belongs to the people. Could a Democrat win? The sprawling 14th Congressional District covers 10 counties stretching from the Atlanta suburbs to the Appalachian foothills along the Tennessee state line. Its ruby-red Trump country but with enough Democrats and independents to cause heartburn for Republicans in a special election that sends the top two vote-getters regardless of party into an April runoff if no candidate wins over 50%. If Georgia 14 turns blue, it would be a tragedy for the presidents agenda, Fuller told CNN. We as a party need to start having an honest conversation about that. Advertisement Advertisement Shawn Harris, a retired Army brigadier general who lost to Greene in 2024, is the Democratic contender who worries Republicans the most. He received nearly 135,000 votes the last time he was on the ballot a fraction of which would likely vault him into a runoff though turnout on Tuesday is expected to be lower than in the 2024 contest. Shawn Harris files paperwork in Atlanta to run in the special election for Georgias 14th Congressional District on January 12. - Alyssa Pointer/Reuters Harris said Republicans tried to get him to change parties, but instead he is trying to recruit moderates or disillusioned Republicans to his campaign even, he said, if they come secretly. Voting is not church, Harris said in an interview. You dont have to confess. You just have to go in there and do whats best for you, your family and your grandkids. Republican officials believe Harris is likely to be one of the top two finishers to advance to an April 7 runoff. Regardless of the outcome of that election, candidates must run again for the seat this fall, starting with the primary on May 19, in a dizzying series of elections. Advertisement Advertisement The feud between Trump and Greene a former ally has created a sense of unease and anger among some voters in the district. Greene has remained on the sidelines of the race but has kept alive her relentless criticism of Trump, most recently on his decision to strike Iran. Testing a Trump endorsement Its an open question whether any of those critiques will cause Republican voters to sour on Trump or to take his endorsement less seriously. Georgia has long stood as a leading barometer for Trumps performance. He won the state in 2016. He lost it in 2020, which placed it at the center of unfounded claims of widespread election fraud. He won it again in 2024. Clay Fuller speaks next to President Donald Trump in Rome, Georgia, on February 19, 2026. - Kevin Lamarque/Reuters Moore was at the center of Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 election. His actions ultimately led to him being kicked out of the Republican state Senate caucus. He was later arrested at the state Capitol in Atlanta after trying to enter the House chamber, where he had been banned by Republican leaders. Advertisement Advertisement If elected, Moore said, he would join the House Freedom Caucus and help defend against bad legislation. Yet that is precisely what concerns Republican leaders in Congress, particularly the speaker, who helped persuade Trump to endorse Fuller over Moore or other candidates. Republican leaders are searching for a reliable vote, a top GOP aide told CNN, not another rabblerouser. For all of the challenges facing Trump as he enters his second year back in power, the ability to maintain his winning coalition will be at the center of the fight for Congress as voters give their verdict on the first half of his second term. One of the most closely watched US Senate races in the nation, a wide-open contest for governor and competitive state legislative races are already shaping up in Georgia as a referendum on Trumps agenda and how the state has fared over the past year. Advertisement Advertisement In the abbreviated two-month campaign, Fuller pledged to voters that he would have President Trumps back on Capitol Hill and that he would not become a thorn in his side, a not-so-subtle reference to Greene. We have to support President Trump, Fuller said. Hes the greatest foreign policy president in our time. Ill fight for him, and thats why he endorsed me in this race. This story has been updated with additional details. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The special election to fill former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's vacant House seat in Georgia's solidly red 14th Congressional District is headed to a runoff next month. The seat in northwestern Georgia was left vacant when Greene stepped down at the beginning of January. Green quit Congress with a year left in her term after a public falling out with President Donald Trump over the Epstein files. Tuesday's special election ended in a runoff between Trump-endorsed Republican District Attorney Clay Fuller and retired Army veteran Shawn Harris. Advertisement Advertisement The GOP clings to a razor-thin 218214 majority in the House. As a result, Republicans cannot afford any surprises and allow the Democrats to pull an upset in a district Trump carried by a whopping 37 points during his 2024 presidential election victory. Trump Foe Fani Willis Blocked Yet Again From Collapsed Rico Case As President Pushes To Claw Back Millions The election to take over former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's seat will head to a runoff between a Republican and Democrat next month. (Getty Images) All 17 candidates in Tuesday's special election in Georgia, regardless of party affiliation, were on the same ballot. Twelve were Republican, three were Democrats. Read On The Fox News App Since no contender topped 50% of the vote in the primary, the top two candidates are advancing to an April 7 runoff. Advertisement Advertisement Harris, a retired Army brigadier general, got 39.9% of the vote, while Fuller, a district attorney for the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit, got 34.2%. House Gop Fears Primary Losers Could Jeopardize Razor-thin Majority American flags are on display outside the office of the 14th Congressional District of Georgia in the Rayburn House Office Building Thursday, March 5, 2026, on Capitol Hill in Washington. With $4.3 million raised, Harris was the fundraising champion among all 17 candidates, but Fuller has a Trump endorsement in a district the president won handily. Fuller teamed up with the president recently during a stop in the district at an event in Rome, Georgia, during which he described himself as a "MAGA warrior." In addition to his Trump backing, Fuller is backed by the politically potent and deep-pocketed fiscally conservative group the Club for Growth. Advertisement Advertisement "I think we've been very successful in staying with our message discipline that President Trump truly matters in Georgia 14," Fuller told Fox News Digital. "His support has meant the world to me and meant the world to the voters. So, we're just going to continue to get that message out about President Trump supporting us, and my experience, being a military officer, an elected district attorney and an America First fighter too." Fbi Subpoenas 2020 Arizona Voting Docs As Federal Push Into Election Administration Widens Former Congresswoman Greene, once a top Trump ally in the House, became a vocal critic of his and stayed neutral in the race to succeed her. Fuller told Fox News Digital Tuesday night that he had not gotten a chance to speak with other Republicans in the race, but said he was confident that the Republican Party would embrace him against Harris. Republican congressional candidate Clay Fuller, left, speaks next to President Donald Trump during a visit to the Coosa Steel Corporation in Rome, Ga., Feb. 19, 2026. Third place Tuesday evening went to former state Sen. Colton Moore, a vocal Trump backer who enjoyed support from the far right. Moore garnered 10.9% of the vote. Advertisement Advertisement "Everybody in the field understands that a Democrat cannot represent Georgia 14. It would be a tragedy for Georgia 14, a tragedy for the MAGA movement. And we're going to rally around as a party and go and win this thing and defeat Sean Harris," Fuller said Tuesday evening. Original article source: Special election replacing Marjorie Taylor Greene goes to runoff between Trump-endorsed candidate and Democrat Lucy was a 13-year-old student at R.J. Murray Middle when an attack inside at the school left her injured and embarrassed. According to the familys attorney, the violence was not random. He says it followed days of threats that had been circulating among students on social media. Video recorded in January of 2025 and later shared on Instagram shows Lucy backing away before another student grabs her by the hair and swings her to the ground. As the video continues, Lucy can be seen covering her head while she is repeatedly punched. Photos taken afterward show spots where her hair was pulled out from the root. Mike Balangue of Campione Law is representing Lucy and her family in a lawsuit against the St. Johns County School District. He says the attack came after threats that had been building during Christmas break. Advertisement Advertisement >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Balangue says Lucy and her mother tried to warn the school the morning it happened. According to the attorney, Lucy reported the threats to the dean as soon as she arrived at school because the last message warned that someone planned to hurt her when they saw her at school. Lucys mother also contacted administrators that same morning, asking them to keep an eye on her daughter. An email sent that day shows Lucys mother reaching out to school staff just hours before the fight. But the attorney says when the students later went to P.E., there was no one around to stop what happened next. Advertisement Advertisement Balangue says there was no supervision nearby when several students surrounded Lucy and the attack began. He also claims the schools response afterward made the situation even more difficult for the teenager. Instead of immediately addressing her medical needs and contacting her parents, Balangue says Lucy was brought into a peer mediation and made to confront the student who had just attacked her. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] The family says the experience was humiliating. They eventually pulled Lucy out of the school, and she has been homeschooled ever since. The student accused of attacking Lucy did face juvenile criminal charges, but it is unclear what the outcome of that case was. Advertisement Advertisement Now the family is taking legal action against the school district. Their attorney says many families move to St. Johns County because of the reputation of its schools, but he believes this was a moment when the system failed to protect a student. When Action News Jax reached out to the district for comment, a spokesperson said they could not comment because of pending litigation. Balangue says the family hopes the case can be resolved through an agreement, but if that does not happen, they are prepared to take the case to trial. [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. ST. LOUIS A man is accused of robbing a Vietnam veteran outside a veterans hospital in St. Louis. According to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Missouri, 68-year-old Lafayette Hutchins, from St. Louis, was charged on Feb 18 for robbing a Vietnam veteran at gunpoint in the parking lot of the John J. Cochran Veterans Hospital. He was arrested Tuesday, appeared in court, and pleaded not guilty. In court, a motion was filed to keep him in jail until trial. Advertisement Advertisement Hutchins is charged with one count of robbery within the special territorial jurisdiction of the United States. The Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General investigated the case. 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 2. An 80-year-old North Canton man is accused of buying guns from a Stark County sporting goods store and selling them in Greece. George Manuselis was arrested in New York on Jan. 8 while on his way to Greece. Last month, a federal grand jury indicted him on seven federal charges, all related to smuggling or lying to buy firearms. He's scheduled to stand trial in Cleveland on April 20 before U.S. District Judge Dan Aaron Polster. Advertisement Advertisement A spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Ohio and Jeffrey Lazarus, a public defender representing Manuselis, both declined comment for this story. Manuselis requires a Greek interpreter, according to court records. Federal authorities began to investigate in early 2025 after several guns purchased in Stark County were recovered in Greece, as well as information about Manuselis' arrest there in 2022. Gun laws in that European country are more strict than in the U.S. In a court affidavit, an ATF agent stated Manuselis may have been selling guns in Greece for the past 17 years. Advertisement Advertisement The agent presented a spreadsheet documenting the North Canton man's alleged purchases of more than 40 guns from Fin Feather Fur Outfitters in the Belden Village area, and coinciding trips to Greece. In the affidavit, the agent wrote that Manuselis was interviewed at his home on Dec. 11, 2025, a day after he'd tried to buy eight guns. During that session, he allegedly admitted selling guns in Greece for about $3,000 each, court records indicate. "Manuselis said that he had taken about nine firearms to Greece," the agent stated in the records. The agent wrote that Manuselis kept insisting that "he had a license but it appearedto be an expired concealed carry permit, not a license which permitted him to export firearms." Advertisement Advertisement At that point, the agent said Manuselis agreed to sign a warning letter. It explained such "straw purchases" are against the law. The agent stated that he also told the man it is illegal to sell guns or take them to Greece. However, that same afternoon, a Fin Feather Fur Outfitters representative phoned the agent to say Manuselis was inside the store and attempting to buy a Glock 9 mm pistol, court records show. Also, on that same day, Homeland Security notified the agent that Manuselis had booked a Jan. 8, 2026 flight from Cleveland to New York, then subsequent flights to Amsterdam and Athens, Greece. According to the agent's affidavit, Manuselis went to the same sporting goods store three more times and bought four more handguns all during the weeks between receiving the warning letter and his scheduled flights. Advertisement Advertisement Manuselis is charged with two counts of smuggling goods from the U.S. and five counts of making false statements during the purchase of a firearm. A separate legal notice from the Eastern District of New York, indicates authorities are pursuing forfeiture of items seized from Manuselis at the time of his January arrest in Brooklyn. The seized items: $56,712 in cash, five pistols and 950 rounds of ammunition. Reach Tim at 330-580-8333 or tim.botos@cantonrep.com.On X: @tbotosREP This article originally appeared on The Repository: George Manuselis of North Canton accused of smuggling guns to Greece Citing funding issues, state officials have abandoned their $65 million vision to transform underused land near the new Elanco headquarters into an expansion of White River State Park. In October 2024, state officials unveiled grand plans for a 15-acre plot of land along the White River's west bank between Washington Street and Oliver Avenue, just west of downtown Indianapolis. The state planned to build a gleaming year-round event center, a river theater, greenspaces and an improved riverside path all meant to complement the new OneHealth Innovation District, a hub to be anchored by animal health giant Elanco and a Purdue University research center. But funding constraints, caused in part by a $2 billion shortfall in state revenue forecasts last year, have led the state to call off the park expansion, officials told IndyStar. News of the project's cancellation was first reported by Mirror Indy. Advertisement Advertisement "In February, the decision was made to end the current project due to finances," the White River State Park Development Commission, a governing body with most members appointed by Indiana Gov. Mike Braun, said in a statement. "The state will continue to explore future options to envision the best use of the site." A broken promise at former GM stamping plant Redevelopment of the waterfront parcel was supposed to bring a lively public space right next to Elanco's new $200 million global headquarters, which opened in October at the site of the former GM stamping plant just to the west. Neighbors in west Indianapolis were promised new park amenities that would improve their quality of life and better connect their homes to downtown. But hints of trouble surfaced in September when the state, with Elanco's consent, quietly demolished an old crane bay from the former GM plant that was supposed to be converted into an event pavilion. That demolition followed state lawmakers' decision to remove $15 million earmarked for the state park expansion from the biennial budget, after a bleak financial forecast. Once the crane bay was torn down, the Lilly Endowment asked for and received a refund for a $30 million grant meant to support the facility's renovation, according to the Indianapolis Business Journal. Advertisement Advertisement Now the future remains unclear at the largely vacant site, which is owned by the Indiana Economic Development Corp., a state agency. IEDC officials and Braun did not respond to requests for comment about the site's future. A rendering shows plans for a 15-acre White River State Park expansion along the west bank of the river. Elanco officials say that since the company announced its intention to move to the site in December 2020, the vision has been "to create new amenities and green space that can be enjoyed by everyone in the community." Elanco remains committed to that initial vision for the space. "We are deeply disappointed the state has chosen to defund the development of the White River State Park," Elanco spokeswoman Colleen Dekker told IndyStar. "The waterfront is a significant community asset that has been underutilized for far too long." A setback for plans to improve near west side The state park development was meant to dovetail with the new Henry Street Bridge and Indianapolis Cultural Trail expansion set to open later this year. The city has invested more than $130 million to build the infrastructure necessary to connect the east side of the river, near Lucas Oil Stadium, to the west side around the Elanco headquarters, according to the mayor's office. Advertisement Advertisement City officials are "disappointed" by the setback but remain "committed to any potential future opportunities to make this project a reality," said Emily Kaufmann, a spokeswoman for Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett. For residents near the site, the abrupt stoppage is a reminder that attracting the right kind of development west of downtown has never been easy, said Jay Napoleon, president of The Valley Neighborhood Association. Over the past 15 years, plans have come and gone for the former GM stamping plant and the surrounding area. Given the mission of White River State Park leaders bill it as "Indy's Backyard" and "the perfect urban getaway" Napoleon said he's puzzled by the scrapped expansion plans. "This was going to become the front yard of The Valley," Napoleon said. "And it's not just a neighborhood thing. This is too important to the future of downtown Indianapolis to just walk away from." Advertisement Advertisement Residents had heard few concrete updates until now, as plans were seemingly "hush-hush" since first announced, said Jonathan Howe, president of the West Indianapolis Neighborhood Congress. He thought the state park expansion could enhance the sense of community around a "long-neglected and well-positioned piece of land." "I personally liked the idea the city and state have been selling us for years multi-use community spaces that were to include retail, restaurants, services, and things like that, which would create jobs that suit the available workforce and opportunities for local businesses," Howe said in an email. But now, he added, "I'm skeptical that it will ever be anything other than more Elanco property." Advertisement Advertisement Email Indianapolis City Hall Reporter Jordan Smith at JTSmith@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X @jordantsmith09 and Bluesky @jordanaccidentally.bsky.social. Alysa Guffey writes business and development stories for IndyStar. Contact her at alysa.guffey@indystar.com. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: White River State Park expansion canceled amid Indiana budget issues (The Center Square) - The top official at Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education on Wednesday expressed disappointment in Gov. Josh Shapiro's proposal to flat-fund the massive system in 2026-27, but he said it was too early to predict a tuition increase for next school year. Chancellor Christopher M. Fiorentino spoke at a budget hearing held in the Capitol on Shapiro's proposal to give the 83,000-student system the same funding of about $626 million that it received for 2025-26. Leaders of the system originally asked for a 5% increase. Advertisement Advertisement "We felt that 5% would put us in a position to hold tuition level. We still have that position," Fiorentino told the House Appropriations Committee. "We feel that an investment in the State System of Higher Education is an investment in the future of the Commonwealth." The 14-campus system has faced strong headwinds in recent years, including significant enrollment declines. In 2022, several schools merged to create PennWest, and state Rep. Charity Krupa of Fayette County asked Fiorentino about the status of the merger. Fiorentino said carrying out the merger was "uncharted territory" for the system and it was doing as well as it could. "We made assumptions around how much we thought we could save in terms of administrative overhead," he said. "Unfortunately, I think some of the projections were overestimates of what the potential savings were." Advertisement Advertisement The system, he said, is working to adjust the allocation formula it uses to distribute the state money it receives. Community colleges around the state are also flat-funded at about $277 million in the governor's budget proposal. Tuesday Stanley, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges, said they had been looking for 6%. Shapiro's budget proposal is just that - a proposal - and it is certain to change as his administration negotiates with lawmakers ahead of the June 30 budget deadline. Stanley said the 15 community colleges were flat-funded this year, and if it happens again, more cuts will be necessary. "We do not want to impact student success, or access," she said. Advertisement Advertisement The online undergraduate market is "huge and getting bigger," Fiorentino said in response to a question from Lackawanna County Democratic Rep. Kyle Mullins. While 18- to 22-year-olds who live on campus have been the "longtime bread and butter" for the system, Fiorentino said, it is making a big effort to cater to online students. Cambria County Republican Rep. Jim Rigby, a former police chief, asked for specifics on the proposed spending of $10 million for first-responder training at community colleges. Stanley said those training programs are "very expensive" and carried out at a loss, and particularly the ones that focus on fire training. Megan Coval, president of Butler County Community College, said her school runs a public safety program at a loss of about $500,000 a year, and the state money would be "tremendously helpful." Leaders of Pennsylvania's four "state-related" universities testified at a separate budget hearing earlier in the day. Those four schools - Penn State, Temple, Pitt, and Lincoln universities - operate independently but receive streams of funding that must be approved in the Legislature by a vote of two-thirds of a chamber, rather than a simple majority. Advertisement Advertisement Shapiro proposed level funding for three of the schools and for Lincoln, the smallest, a 5% increase in funding. That excludes a new dollop of $30 million in "performance funding" that would be tied to performance metrics. The infusion of state money lowers costs at these schools significantly for Pennsylvanians. For instance, University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Joan Gabel told lawmakers the average in-state undergraduate at Pitt is paying $21,000 a year less than out-of-state counterparts because of the state help. This state's massive data centers cant get the power they need, so theyre creating their own supply In rural Millard County, Kalen Taylor is bracing for the day the farmland across the street transforms into a sprawling data center complex. Initial plans for Joule Capital Partners 4,000-acre data center site call for six buildings, each powered by 69 Caterpillar natural gas-powered generators to meet the intensive energy demands. Construction is slated to begin this spring. Once built, Taylor will likely hear the equivalent of more than 400 semi-trucks idling in his neighborhood around the clock, producing emissions year-round. I just would rather look out my back door and see cornfields than a data center, Taylor said. I like the sound of crops rustling in the wind, not the hum of a CAT generator making power. Advertisement Advertisement Farther north, Eagle Mountain city officials have turned to massive data centers operated by tech giants like Meta to provide much-needed tax revenue. But even in this urban, rapidly growing part of the state, developers struggle to secure the power they need from Utahs largest electric utility, Rocky Mountain Power. Google has delayed building a campus there due to energy constraints. That prompted the City Council to explore building small nuclear reactors, to the consternation of many residents, The Salt Lake Tribune reports. It means our city would become a radioactive storage site, said Joy Rasmussen, a mom of four who bought a home in Eagle Mountain in 2022. This spring, in Washington D.C., Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah) spoke glowingly to Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, about Utahs aspirations to lead the nation with data centers and advanced technologies during a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on artificial intelligence. Curtis noted the challenges that come with data centers insatiable energy demands. How, the senator asked, can the state protect ratepayers? Advertisement Advertisement The best way, Altman responded, is much more supply. More generation. With the growing demand for more data centers, Utah finds itself in a difficult position. State and federal officials have called AI the arms race of a new era, as the nation looks to fend off Russia and China and forge its place as the worlds leader in technology, energy and innovation. And Utah looks to position itself at the forefront of that fight. Map showing where Utah has added new data centers and where two new ones will be built in Millard County. - Christopher Cherrington // The Salt Lake Tribune The states main electricity provider, Rocky Mountain Power, doesnt have the capacity to meet the surge in energy demand. Data center developers have instead turned to generating their own electricity, mostly using natural gas. Gov. Spencer Cox has zeroed in on nuclear as a cleaner energy solution as part of his Operation Gigawatt. That collision of the AI boom and limited power supplies means Utahs rush to build data centers is likely to rely on fossil fuel energy for the foreseeable future, raising concerns about the states already struggling air quality. Alternative sources wont match the demand the centers generate potentially as much as four times what Utah residents and businesses currently consume. Small nuclear plants are at least a decade away, while the Trump administration has curtailed many incentives for solar and wind power. Advertisement Advertisement Lawmakers and regulators are trying to balance the needs of energy-intensive industries without ratepayers feeling the environmental and pocketbook pains felt in other parts of the country, like rising energy bills and polluted resources. Were kind of in a big mess right now, said Logan Mitchell, a climate scientist and energy analyst for Utah Clean Energy, and its manifesting in all of these different ways. Data centers turn to self-built power Rocky Mountain Power, like many private utility providers in the U.S., has a monopoly as the sole electricity provider in much of Utah, but it must yield to state regulation. For decades, power providers hummed along as energy demand across the country stayed relatively flat. Conflict arose, however, when platforms like Altmans ChatGPT, Googles Gemini and Elon Musks Grok made AI a mass consumable good rather than a niche product. Demand for more data centers gripped the globe, and the utilities, which plan for energy needs decades in advance, were caught unprepared and undersupplied. Data centers use substantial amounts of energy, with rows of servers computing day and night for services that are an increasing part of daily life streaming services, online banking, e-commerce and the rise of AI. In arid Utah, many data centers have pivoted away from water-guzzling evaporative cooling in favor of closed-loop systems, which require more electricity to run. Advertisement Advertisement Last year, the Utah Legislature passed SB 132, allowing private companies with energy demands of 100 megawatts or more to build their own generating stations that operate off the public grid used by nearly everyone else. The bills sponsor, Sen. Scott Sandall, R-Tremonton, specifically cited data centers as he promoted the legislation. It kind of un-handcuffs Rocky Mountain Power to provide these loads for data centers, for AI, for large manufacturers, Sandall said, those that are coming in, and quite frankly, changing the curve of power demand. In Millard County, both Joule and Creekstone Energy intend to build their own massive facilities, powered by natural gas. We are so excited for other alternative energy sources like geothermal and solar and wind and someday, maybe even nuclear, said Mark McDougal, a managing partner of the Joule data mega-campus. But we cant wait for that. Advertisement Advertisement Natural gas is efficient, McDougal said, and a proven technology that can run around the clock. The developers received support from county leaders because of their potential to create employment in construction, maintenance and security, along with boosting economic development. The rural community in central Utah lost its largest employer, the Smithfield Foods pork processing plant, in 2023 it accounted for about a quarter of all jobs in the county. The idling of the nearby Intermountain Power Plants remaining coal units also caused a hemorrhaging of local jobs. Construction of the massive sites will bring some jobs to the communities, but data centers generally employ a relatively small number of permanent workers. Millard Countys location is attractive to data center developers because it lies on a fiber optic corridor and near a natural gas pipeline, along with large transmission lines associated with the old coal plant. Advertisement Advertisement Having both of those in the same place, said Ray Conley, Creekstones CEO, and not having a large metropolitan area that is competing for power is a very unique combo. It also lies outside the Wasatch Front, an area plagued for years by poor air quality that falls short of federal standards. Its so hard where you have inversions and trap emissions, McDougal said. [Here] emissions are able to disperse. An aerial view of the site for the Joule Energy Data Center Campus on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. - Rick Egan // The Salt Lake Tribune Joules applications filed with the state indicate it will produce 1 gigawatt to start about a quarter of the electricity Utah currently uses annually. But its own public statements indicate it intends to produce more than 4 gigawatts onsite. Creekstone, less than a mile away, intends to produce 10 gigawatts, Conley confirmed. Advertisement Advertisement At least a few computing campuses want to build natural gas plants on the Wasatch Front as well, despite its inversions and air quality challenges. Data company QTS received approval from the Eagle Mountain City Council to build a 20-acre, 200 megawatt plant last year, although a company spokesperson said it secured power from Rocky Mountain instead. In West Jordan, the expanding Novva data campus received state approval to build a 200 megawatt natural gas plant in December 2024. But natural gas is an old greenwashing term, Mitchell said. The fuel is methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Burning it produces carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides and other pollutants. Nitrogen oxides mix in the atmosphere, get baked by the sun and turn into particulate pollution in the winter and ozone pollution in the summer. Advertisement Advertisement The pollutants create haze in rural parts of the state as well, and impact visibility at Utahs famed national parks from Arches to Zion. Even data centers on the Wasatch Front that have tapped into the existing power grid also received approval to install hundreds of diesel-fueled generators in the last five years, including QTS, Meta and the National Security Agency in Utah County and eBay, Aligned, DataBank, Oracle and Novva data centers in Salt Lake County. Those generators would only run during blackouts and other emergencies when the campuses cant get enough grid power, according to permit applications. But diesel emissions contain even more harmful pollutants than natural gas. Inversion conditions cause hazy air in the Salt Lake Valley in 2024. - Francisco Kjolseth // The Salt Lake Tribune In November, the federal government removed Northern Utah from its list of regions out of compliance for wintertime inversion pollution after more than a decade, thanks to state efforts like banning wood burning on poor air quality days, combined with stricter federal regulations on vehicles and fuel. But it continues to struggle with meeting national requirements for ozone smog. The new data centers coming online, with their diesel and natural gas generators, could bump the state right back out of compliance, environmental advocates say. Advertisement Advertisement Theyre eating into all of the progress weve made to reduce emissions from other sources, Mitchell said. State regulators said theyre not just concerned about temporary diesel generators and year-round natural gas generators taking a bite out of air quality gains in recent years. Were concerned about all growth, said Bryce Bird, director of the Utah Division of Air Quality. Everything that has to do with people also has emissions associated with it. That doesnt mean Utah cant be a tech leader, said Department of Environmental Quality Executive Director Tim Davis. But the states still figuring out how to strike the right balance between affordable energy creation, environmental protection and improving public health. I dont know of a state that is not having similar conversations, Davis said. Thats just a mind-numbing amount of new power that theyre trying to plan for. If anybody wants to criticize data centers, look in the mirror Novva applied for a two-year presidential exemption from the Clean Air Act in March under a program designed to benefit coal plants, smelting facilities and chemical manufacturers. The company asked for the exemption so it could operate using diesel generators while it finishes building its natural gas plant, according to records obtained by Grist and shared with The Salt Lake Tribune. The company noted Rocky Mountain Power cant provide the electricity needed until 2031, and even then, its not guaranteed. The requested exemption aligns with national security interests, Novva wrote in its application, citing the U.S. Department of States assertion that AI is at the center of an unfolding global technology revolution and can help make Americans safer. Novva CEO Wes Swenson said he never received a response to the exemption request. He insisted, however, that data centers like his are important for protecting American data. If anybody wants to criticize data centers, look in the mirror, Swenson said. I want Netflix, I want Prime, I want Apple TV. Nobody goes to the library anymore. Who uses cash? Where do people think that all comes from? Where will all the new energy come from, and how will it impact Utahns? Utah leaders have honed in on nuclear power, and small modular reactors in particular, as a cleaner and more sustainable solution to the spike in energy demand. The need is not just driven by data centers, but also a hoped-for renaissance in manufacturing and the future electrification of Utahs transportation. But Rocky Mountains parent company, PacifiCorp, only has firm plans for one small reactor a plant under construction by TerraPower in Kemmerer, Wyoming. It wont come online until around 2032, and Utah will share its projected 500 megawatts with other Western states. Enthusiasm for small nuclear reactors within Utahs borders appears tepid. Brigham City is the only community so far to fully embrace nuclear reactors. But in making that announcement, state leaders were light on specifics in explaining why the small city needs the power. No known data centers are planned for the area. A QTS data center taking shape west to the Meta facility in Eagle Mountain on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. - Francisco Kjolseth // The Salt Lake Tribune Ninety minutes south in Eagle Mountain, Metas data campus is expanding, a huge QTS data hub is under construction and Google is waiting to build on 300 acres it owns within city limits. The city made two attempts last year to adopt an ordinance to allow for nuclear development and other energy projects, including solar farms. After receiving mixed feedback, the efforts failed. The pivot to nuclear has environmental and clean energy advocates wondering why Utah has shied away from renewables. Cox calls his Operation Gigawatt an all-of-the-above strategy that welcomes all energy sources. But resources like wind and solar have faded from the conversation. People see renewable energy as the woke liberal energy, and we have to stick with fossil fuels and nuclear, because thats what conservatives want, said Ed Stafford, a professor of marketing at Utah State University whose research focuses on renewables. Politicization of energy is just a bad thing, because, as common sense tells us, we should go with the cleanest and cheapest forms of energy that spreads the wealth around. PacifiCorp intends to bring no new solar, wind or battery storage online in Utah over the next two decades, according to the latest draft of its long-term resource plan. Meanwhile, the utility isnt factoring large energy consumers, like data centers, into its projections, to Mitchells frustration. Rocky Mountain Power should be planning for the reality of the future, Mitchell said, rather than creating a fictional reality that indicates they dont have much load growth and theyre not going to build new resources. A spokesperson for the utility said their future planning does include some customer requests for large loads. We generally model only projects that have a high probability of being constructed, the spokesperson said. Many of the large load inquiries the company receives have a high degree of uncertainty. Data center developers and operators interviewed for this story said they support transitioning to cleaner energy sources. But they also need consistent and reliable power when the sun doesnt shine and the wind doesnt blow. The economic rebates and incentives are going away, which is why its not as in fashion as it was before, said Conley, Creekstones CEO. But a lot of [data] customers are willing to pay a premium for green energy instead of dirty energy. A sign marks the site for the Creekstone Energy Data Center Campus which is currently just a dirt lot, on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. - Rick Egan // The Salt Lake Tribune Conleys company recently applied with the Utah Office of Energy Development to operate the Intermountain Power Plants remaining coal units, which went idle this year after the plants customer base in California decided to transition to cleaner energy sources. Diversification, the CEO said, reduces risk. Risk is at the forefront of at least some Utahns minds, particularly as news stories across the nation call out data centers for driving up the cost of power for all ratepayers. Utilities build new generating plants and upgrade decades-old grid equipment to meet rising demand, then spread the costs among all their customers. This year, Pew reports, both data centers and cryptocurrency mining could cause the average U.S. power bill to grow 8% by 2030. In Utah, however, SB 132 seems to serve a dual purpose of helping data center developers get the energy they need behind the meter, while protecting other customers who still use the traditional grid. Theres very little evidence that data centers have impacted rates to date, said Michele Beck, director of the Office of Consumer Services, a utility watchdog part of the Utah Department of Commerce. She called SB 132 one of the best ideas out there for protecting power customers in the nation. But, she said, its important for Utahns to remain vigilant. Its not just utilities struggling to catch up to new demand. Regulators have struggled to keep pace as well. The industry in general is speeding up, Beck said. It just compounds everything. Grist reporter Naveena Sadasivam and Tribune reporter Addy Baird contributed to this story. This story is made possible through a partnership between The Salt Lake Tribune and Grist, a nonprofit environmental media organization. This story was produced by The Salt Lake Tribune and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Bank Sepah is a state-run institution, largely responsible for paying the salaries of Iran's military and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The data center of Iran's state-run Bank Sepah was hit by a strike in Tehran on Wednesday, The Jerusalem Post learned. The disruption at the bank, which is largely responsible for paying the salaries of Iran's military and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, is expected to prevent it from paying salaries for a period, forcing it to find alternative solutions. Advertisement Advertisement The strike occured early in the day, anti-regime London-based Iran International reported. The attack occured while the bank was processing salary payments for the military, the outlet added. On Tuesday, both Bank Sepah, and another state-run institution Bank Melli, had services disrupted in an apparent cyber attack. The disruptions continued on Wednesday, with online banking inoperable, and only card-based services running, Iran International stated. Israel, US, continue strikes on Tehran, Islamic Regime, IRGC Media outlets, including Iran International, reported explosions across several neighborhoods in Tehran throughout Wednesday as Israeli-US strikes continue against the Islamic Regime as part of operations Roaring Lion and Epic Fury. This is a developing story. The Legislatures Judiciary Committee reconsidered a bill to reinstate parole in Maine, with some suggesting a study of the issue instead. But ultimately, lawmakers remain divided on the best path forward. The original proposal to bring back the conditional early release program that Maine was the first state to abolish 50 years ago failed to gain committee support last month, not because of opposition to the underlying policy but over implementation concerns. Those concerns are what committee co-chair Rep. Amy Kuhn (D-Falmouth) proposed be studied in an amendment presented Wednesday when the panel reconsidered its votes. The state has studied parole before, bill sponsor Rep. Nina Milliken (D-Blue Hill) said, voicing her opposition. Advertisement Advertisement The Legislature turned a bill proposed by the late Rep. Jeff Evangelos to bring back parole into a study in 2021, with seven of the 12 members of that commission recommending reinstatement. Sometimes I feel like the Legislature does this thing where we just continue to study and study and study, Milliken said. At some point we should just support the policy if we agree with the policy. Kuhns amendment, which three committee members supported, would evaluate how a new parole system would interact with existing resentencing procedures a key concern of the Democratic holdouts on the original bill. It would also examine the consequences of parole being reinstated retroactively to when it was banned in 1976, as opposed to only applying to future sentences, and consider the most effective makeup of the board. The issue of concurrent sentencing, such as a parole board and a court both deciding whether to return someone to prison, remained a point of contention Wednesday, with Maine Department of Corrections spokesperson Jill OBrien also weighing in with concerns about the separation of powers. Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Adam Lee (D-Auburn) offered a different amendment, which three lawmakers supported, that is essentially the original proposal but offers a plan for how to handle concurrent sentencing. I appreciate what the amendment is trying to do, OBrien said. Im just not sure it wouldnt be challenged. Rep. David Sinclair (D-Bath) voted for his own alternative version: bringing back parole but eliminating the provision that would make it retroactive. Five members, all Republicans, voted against passage altogether, and two were absent. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Sir Nick Clegg announced he was leaving Meta days before Donald Trump entered the White House last year - Chris J Ratcliffe/Bloomberg Sir Nick Clegg and his former Meta boss Sheryl Sandberg have joined the board of a tech company building Britains biggest AI data centre. The former deputy prime minister is taking up the board post at NScale as it becomes one of Britains most valuable tech companies, hitting a $15bn (11bn) valuation after raising $2bn. Sir Nick left his position as Metas president of global affairs last year, with Donald Trumps election victory having led to him being replaced by Joel Kaplan, a Republican lobbyist. Ms Sandberg left the company in 2022 after 14 years as Mark Zuckerbergs second in command, saying she wanted to focus on charity work. She will also serve as an adviser to the company. NScale, a two-year-old start-up spun out of a cryptocurrency mining business, has rapidly raised billions of dollars amid surging demand for facilities to run AI. On Monday, the company announced it had raised $2bn from investors including Nvidia, Dell and Nokia. The funding round was led by Norwegian energy giant Aker and US investment firm 8090 Industries. It said the investment was Europes largest ever Series C funding round, referring to a companys third major round of financing, and came six months after it raised $1bn. It has also borrowed from Blue Owl, the under-pressure US investment firm that recently blocked investors from withdrawing cash. NScale has unveiled plans for sites in Norway, the US and Portugal. It is preparing to build Britains largest AI data centre in Essex under a deal with Microsoft, as well as operate OpenAIs Stargate project in the UK. However, the company has faced scrutiny because it is yet to construct an AI data centre. It is one of a number of so-called neocloud businesses seeking to compete with major cloud companies such as Amazon, Microsoft and Google. NScale is led by Josh Payne, a 33-year-old former coal miner who moved his focus to data centres after moving to London from Australia. Ms Sandberg told the New York Times that she saw similarities between Mr Payne and Mr Zuckerberg, who was 23 when he recruited her to Facebook. She said: Every market, every business has its risks and certainly there are things that Nscale is going to have to navigate. My job is to come on the board and use the experience I have to help Josh navigate those challenges. Sir Nick announced last year that he was leaving Meta days before Mr Trump entered the White House, saying it was the right time to leave. He has also taken a role at venture capital firm Hiro Capital. 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. BOSTON (WWLP) Fish and Game Commissioner Tom OShea said the Healey administration has heard an enthusiastic interest in lifting the outright ban on Sunday hunting thats been in place for centuries, an idea already scuttled by a legislative committee this session. The states Sunday hunting ban is more than 200 years old, the administration said, and was rooted in the Puritanical blue laws that once governed Massachusetts. Only Massachusetts and Maine still have outright Sunday hunting bans, and the idea of lifting it here has been debated for at least 35 years without any change. But based on an overabundance of deer (particularly in Southeastern Mass. and the islands) and the public health and safety problems that can result from an overpopulation of deer, OShea said the Division of Fisheries & Wildlife put questions about expanding access to hunting out to the public at listening sessions and with a comment period this winter. The administration asked about the Sunday hunting ban, the prohibition against crossbows for hunting and the distance hunters must keep between themselves and any buildings or roads. Advertisement Advertisement We heard really overwhelmingly from over 10,000 people and organizations that they were really interested and happy that we were bringing these questions up about hunting and access. In particular, Sunday hunting, we heard support and majority support for considering, the Legislature considering opening Sundays to hunting, OShea told the Joint Ways and Means Committee at its budget hearing in Amherst on Tuesday. He added, For our agency, over 10,000 public comments is really quite an enthusiastic interest. Altering the Sunday hunting ban is the subject of legislation this session, nearly all of which has been sent to dead-end studies by the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. Those bills include S 576 from Sen. Peter Durant, H 941 from Rep. Paul Frost, H 993 from Rep. Marc Lombardo and H 1016 from Rep. Kelly Pease. Two other bills, H 1057 from Rep. Alyson Sullivan-Almeida and H 1065 from Rep. David Vieira, have not formally been reported out. The committee did not report on either bill by their deadlines, according to the clerks office. Under House rules, Chairwoman Rep. Christine Barber is supposed to send the bills to a study, but that has not yet occurred. Gov. Maura Healey voiced support for expanded hunting in a January announcement of MassWildlifes listening sessions, though she did not explicitly back any one proposal. Advertisement Advertisement Hunting has always been woven into Massachusetts history supporting families, boosting local economies, and helping keep our deer populations healthy, Healey said. Expanding opportunities for hunters will carry that tradition forward while protecting public health and ensuring were maintaining balance in our wildlife populations. When legislation to lift the ban got a public hearing in 2023, opposition testimony greatly outweighed support. The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals opposes legislation to lift the Sunday hunting ban this session. Given the protection and relief that the Sunday hunting ban provides to the more than 99% of Massachusetts residents who do not hunt, we urge upholding the Sunday hunting ban, the organization said. It is entirely reasonable for a state as densely populated as Massachusetts to uphold a law that allows non-consumptive nature users to enjoy our natural resources with their families, friends, and companion animals without risking conflicts with hunting activity. Other statutory changes the Healey administration floated for feedback this winter included changes to the ban on crossbow hunting and the setback limits hunters must adhere to. Advertisement Advertisement Only hunters with a permanent disability are currently allowed to hunt with crossbows, which require less physical strength to use than traditional or compound bows. The Healey administration said other New England states have recently changed their laws to allow crossbows for deer hunting. Another hunting-related change that would require legislative action is the reduction of the buffer area between roads or buildings and hunting zones. Massachusetts law prohibits hunting within 500 feet of a dwelling or a building in use and within 150 feet of a road. The Healey administration said other states in the region have less restrictive setbacks for archery hunting than Massachusetts. During the same hearing Tuesday, Rep. Todd Smola of Warren raised issues related to access for boating and fishing around the Quabbin Reservoir with Department of Conservation and Recreation Commissioner Nicole LaChapelle. A salmon fisherman, Smola said the entire Quabbin area delegation is concerned about Pottapaug Pond in Hardwick and OLoughlin Pond in New Salem, both of which were closed to to all boating for the 2025 season due to a floating aquatic invasive species called swollen bladderwort. DCR had said it was working on an access plan for 2026 and beyond. Advertisement Advertisement Recreational access fishing and access to areas on the Quabbin was part of the deal when those communities were disincorporated, Smola said, referring to the four communities that were flooded to create a water resource for Boston. He added, If you need more resources, Id like to see that proposed as part of the budget. Because this isnt just a tiny, old water body like thousands of others in the commonwealth of Massachusetts. This is the water body in Massachusetts. LaChapelle, the former mayor of Easthampton, said she understands that lawmakers are expecting an access plan and pledged that it would be ready soon. But she also told Smola that he should prepare for some hard conversations once the plan is out. We now have more data of the last three years of our efforts to eradicate and, honestly, to level set what can and cant be done. We are now putting together that access plan. We are a few weeks behind, she said. But looking forward to meeting with the delegation around those issues, around access, what is feasible, but also a plan that has money to it and I dont have an amount for you. And but also I would want to be very plain that interventions and what we are are looking at in these two ponds also come with a high priority of clean drinking water Im not going to sugarcoat it, theres some hard conversations coming up around this plan. 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. Sgt. First Class Cory Hicks says he remembers hearing a "buzzing noise" that quickly got louder, right before an Iranian drone attack on a U.S. command center in Kuwait that killed six of his fellow service members. "I remember turning my head to the left and I'd seen the nose of that drone pop through, and as soon as it did I knew what it was, it was either a missile or a drone," Hicks told ABC Minneapolis affiliate KSTP from his hospital room in the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland. "So I turned to my right, and that's when it blew up and just blew the whole building apart." Iran live updates Advertisement Advertisement Hicks said he and other soldiers had been in a bunker while missiles and drones were intercepted overhead. He said they then got an "all clear," so they came out of the bunker and went back into their work station -- at which point he said the deadly drone strike occurred at Shuaiba port in Kuwait. The Pentagon hasn't responded to a request for comment regarding his account. "Kind of looked around and I saw everything was just smoke and fire and crazy and chaos," Hicks told KSTP. "At that point in time, I knew that I had to get out of there, so I grabbed my battle buddy and pulled him out and tried to get people out as fast as I could," he said. That's when he realized he was "a lot more injured" than he initially thought. Hicks said he got hit with shrapnel that severed an artery attached to his spleen and struck his arms and face. He said he has nerve damage to his face that makes it difficult to smile now. KSTP - PHOTO: Sgt. First Class Cory Hicks speaks with KSTP from his hospital room, March 9, 2026. "I'm making strides," Hicks, 37, a native of Princeton, Minnesota, told KSTP on Monday from Walter Reed, where he said he expects to be for several more weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Hicks' wife, Shanyn, said she was at home getting their children ready for church when a friend called her about the attack and told her her husband was injured and in the hospital. "I just remember falling to my knees, and just hyperventilating," she told KSTP from the hospital room. "Not having all the information -- it was terrifying," she told the station. Hicks said there's a joke in the military community that a deployment to Kuwait is a "vacation, not a deployment." Though a situation can quickly turn hostile, he said. "You just have to try to prepare your mind for that, and I don't think any of us were really prepared for it, just because we were in Kuwait," he told KSTP. "There hasn't been war in Kuwait for over 30 years. You know, we thought we were safe." Advertisement Advertisement Trump attends dignified transfer of 6 fallen service members killed in Kuwait amid Iran war Hicks is assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, an Army Reserve unit based in Des Moines, Iowa. The six soldiers killed in the March 1 attack were assigned to the same unit. One of the six soldiers killed in the attack was also from Minnesota -- Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake. Hicks said Amor was "literally five feet from me" when the attack occurred. "She was very, very optimistic on life, very full of life," Hicks told KSTP. Hicks said he had gotten to know Amor over the past year and that she challenged him to read more while deployed overseas. Advertisement Advertisement "She was just the kindest, kindest woman ever," he told KSTP. "She always went above and beyond to make sure you're taken care of." Department of Defense - PHOTO: Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota Hicks' wife, who is also in the Army Reserves, said she was in the same location as Amor for her first reserves unit. "She had the biggest, happiest, most welcoming smile," she told KSTP. "She always went out of her way to help you make sure you were taken care of." Shanyn said Amor's death hits close to home, and that she feels for the fallen soldier's husband and children. "Now they have to find their new way of life, they have to find their new way of remembrance and their new way of peace. And that could have been any one of those families overseas," she told KSTP. Advertisement Advertisement Also killed in the Kuwait attack were Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa; Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, California; Maj. Jeffrey R. O'Brien, 45, of Indianola, Iowa; and Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska. Overall, seven U.S. service members have been killed in action and at least 140 injured since the start of the war, according to the Pentagon. Mark Schiefelbein/AP - PHOTO: An Army carry team moves a flag-draped transfer case with the remains of U.S. Army Reserve soldier Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor past President Donald Trump during a casualty return, March 7, 2026, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. Shanyn said she feels "blessed" that her husband made it back. "It could have been a lot worse. He's here, he's able to see and hear for the most part, he's got his limbs, and that's all I could ask for," she told KSTP. "Our kids still have their dad, I still have my partner, I couldn't be more blessed." Advertisement Advertisement As he recovers in the hospital, Hicks said his message for others is to not take anything for granted. "Life is precious, life is short," he told KSTP. "Appreciate the ones you love and the ones that are close to you, because you might not ever get to even talk to them again," he said. ABC News' Steve Beynon contributed to this report. A suspect in the 1974 murder of a mother of three in her Oceanside home was identified by DNA, finally bringing closure to her family. Nassau County police announced Wednesday that Thomas Generazio of Oceanside killed 31-year-old Barbara Waldman in 1974, a cold case that has remained unsolved until now. Waldman was discovered face down in her bedroom by her 5-year-old son, her hands bound behind her back with her stockings wrapped around her neck. She had been shot in the head and strangled. Advertisement Advertisement "I've had the image of my mom in my head since I'm 5, and it won't go away until I die," Eric Waldman said Wednesday. The case remained unsolved until last year, when DNA identified a suspect, who died of cancer at the age of 57 in 2004. Authorities said Generazio "committed a violent sexual assault against the mother and put a bullet in the back of her head as she lay on the floor, tied up with the stockings she was wearing." A sketch at the time "was almost a perfect match to the subject" ... but DNA evidence did not exist, and Generazio slipped through the investigative cracks. Advertisement Advertisement He was employed as a sanitation worker with two prior arrests, for assault and possession of stolen property "We would have liked to have seen him in jail for that entire time for that brutal murder that he did, the animal that he was that day, taking that mother from her three children, just inexcusable," Nassau Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder, said in announcing the arrest. Family members were initially told of the breakthrough in 2024, but more investigation was necessary. The closure brought relief to her children, who battled persistent rumors for decades that their father was the killer. Advertisement Advertisement "As children, we heard many times that people were suspicious of my father and that he may have had something to do with my mom's murder, this powerful social mark of disgrace was heavy and hurtful to our family," the victim's daughter Marla Waldman said. She said her dad had to be strong for his kids and he never ran from the rumors. "He continued to work, live, raise his family and become a well loved member of the Oceanside community," Marla said. "Happily today, 52 years later, I get to say to the world that our father Jerry Waldman is exonerated. He was a victim, not a villain. After three difficult, life changing years of putting this intricate puzzle together, we can finally put it to rest." At one point, a man confessed to the killing while in prison, but DNA did not match. Advertisement Advertisement The family's hopes were dashed again when DNA failed to link another man convicted in a similar 1968 killing in Valley Stream. Nassau police did not give up, continuing DNA testing at the family's urging, eventually using genetic genealogy to identify the suspect. Barbara Waldman ---------- * More Long Island 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. The FBI is now offering a $1,000,000 reward for the arrest of a suspect wanted in connection with a horrific crime that happened more than a decade ago in Philadelphia. Trung Duc Lu is now on the FBI's list of the 10 Most Wanted fugitives. He is accused of torturing, kidnapping and murdering two brothers in August 2014. "Trung Lu has earned his spot on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted list," said David Metcalf, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, during a news conference on Wednesday. Trung Duc Lu FBI.gov The victims, Vu and Viet Huynh, were tortured and killed. Their friend was also attacked but survived. Advertisement Advertisement "These were not abstract crimes. They were acts of brutal, calculated violence carried out against members of this community," said Wayne Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Philadelphia Field Office. Trung Duc Lu, a Vietnamese-born resident of New York, would be 45 years old today. Investigators say he is heavily tattooed and stands 5'7" tall. Prosecutors believe he was part of a New York street gang and was sent to Philadelphia to collect on a $100,000 drug debt. The victims were stabbed, tied down to cement buckets and dumped in the Schuylkill River in August of 2014. The third victim, 23-year-old Thanh Voong, survived. Advertisement Advertisement "These are vicious, vicious, vicious people. This goes above and beyond usually what we see in the crime scene unit," said John Taggert, a former crime scene investigator who works as an assignment editor at Action News. "They were bound and gagged and had multiple stab wounds all of them, even the guy that got out of the river," added Taggert. FBI.gov In 2016, Tam Le was convicted of his role and sentenced to death, though he died in prison in 2025. But investigators have not given up. "There is still an empty cell left that we need to fill," said Metcalf. "To the victims' families, this announcement is for you. We have not forgotten what was taken from you. We have not moved on," said Jacobs. Advertisement Advertisement It's believed that Trung Lu is in his home country of Vietnam, but feds say he still has ties here, including children living in the United States. Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI's Toll-Free tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). You can also contact your local FBI office, the nearest American Embassy or Consulate, or you can submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov. Killeen, Tx (FOX 44) Just short of three years after it happened, one of the suspects in a break in of a Killeen home and the attack of the occupants has been found and arrested in Michigan. Janyla Jean Mack, who is now 21 years old, was accused with three others in the March 12, 2023 incident in the 4400 block of Deek Drive. Late that afternoon, police were called to the home told that four females had come and were pounding on the door, saying they were there to fight the victims daughter. When they did not gain entrance through the door, three of them entered the home through a second story window while the fourth broke a downstairs window and also entered. Advertisement Advertisement Once inside, all four became combative with the victim and her spouse. During the altercation, one suspect bit the victim and another attempted to deploy pepper spray toward the victim but instead struck the spouse. The suspect then dumped food onto the kitchen floor and told the victims they would return before fleeing prior to the officers arrival. Both victims were transported to Advent hospital for treatment. The case was presented to the Bell County District Attorneys Office and three complaints were issued. Justice of the Peace Gregory Johnson subsequently issued warrants for their arrest. Two of them were arrested a short time later. Advertisement Advertisement On February 5, 2026 the Killeen Police Department was notified that Janyla Mack had been arrested by the Oakland County Sheriffs Office in Michigan and was being held on the nearly three-year-old warrant. From there, extradition action was taken and she has been brought back to the Bell 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 KWKT - FOX 44. An elderly couple in Indiana was found dead after their home was destroyed, and another person was killed in Illinois as a string of tornadoes touched down in multiple states on Tuesday. At least 17 tornadoes were reported in Indiana, Illinois, Texas and Alabama over the past 72 hours, according to data from NOAA's Storm Prediction Center. There were also more than 300 damaging severe storm reports from the Southeast to Pennsylvania. Lake Village, Indiana a town of about 1,800 people in Newton County was in the path of a "large tornado" Tuesday night, officials said. Two people died when their home was struck by a tornado, according to Liz Woods, deputy chief of staff at the Indiana Department of Homeland Security. Advertisement Advertisement The National Weather Service reported Wednesday that the tornado responsible for the two deaths tore through northern Illinois and northern Indiana and had a preliminary rating of EF-3, with estimated peak winds of 150 mph. The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies the strength of a tornado from EF-0, the weakest, to EF-5, the strongest. The tornado was estimated to have traversed a distance of 36.6 miles on the ground over one hour and 21 minutes, starting in Kankakee County, Illinois located south of Chicago and ending its journey in Jasper County, Indiana. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said Thursday that local officials in Kankakee County learned of one casualty during recovery efforts, adding that his "heart breaks for this individual's family and the whole community." Fierce winds pummel Indiana, destroy homes Advertisement Advertisement The two people killed in Indiana were tentatively identified as a couple in their 80s, Arlene and Edward Kozlowski, the Newton County Coroner's Office said. An autopsy was scheduled for Friday. Ed Kozlowski and Arlene Kozlowski. / Credit: Family of the Kozlowskis to CBS Chicago Indiana State Police said officials located 10 people who were injured, though there were others who transported themselves to local hospitals. More than 100 structures were damaged and 32 were destroyed, but many homes that were damaged weren't included in the figure, officials said during a news conference Wednesday afternoon. "Considering the damage that we've seen, I am really surprised there aren't a lot more injuries," Lake Township Volunteer Fire Department spokesperson Lori Postma said during a news conference earlier Wednesday. A secondary search and rescue effort will be conducted and the damaged scenes will also be double-checked, state police told reporters. Advertisement Advertisement "There is a lot of devastation, there are complete annihilation of homes," Postma said. She also said four homes belonging to firefighters were severely damaged. Multiple suspected tornadoes were being investigated by the weather service. Toppled trees lean against a home in the aftermath of a powerful storm that ripped through the area a day earlier in Lake Village, Indiana, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. / Credit: Nam Y. Huh / AP (Nam Y. Huh / AP) Jennifer Telford, 49, told The Associated Press she hid in her basement in Lake Village, where she followed news reports of the storm. She said she didn't hear the tornado that struck to the south, adding that not all warning sirens sounded. "The siren in town didn't go off," she said. "The sirens outside town did." Felicia Wilson was seen salvaging what she could from what's left of her home. "My husband put his heart and soul into this," Wilson told CBS News. "It hurts, it does. Our little community though has come together." Advertisement Advertisement The EF-3 tornado that touched down in Kankakee County downed trees and power lines and overwhelmed the 911 center with emergency calls, according to local officials. The twister caused major damage on the south side of Kankakee City, said Trooper Jayme Bufford, a spokesperson for the Illinois State Police. It then traveled northeast into Aroma Park, where it leveled entire blocks shearing the roofs off some buildings and ripping straight through others. The tornado was seen on video ripping across a field of farmland near an airport. Its speed and force left residents stunned as it barreled toward their homes. An employee emerges after being rescued from a Family Dollar store destroyed by a tornado on March 10, 2026 in Lake Village, Indiana. / Credit: Michael Hickey/Getty Images It came with a storm that also dumped softball-sized hail, some of which was a record-breaking 6 inches. Jim Retondo of Aroma Park, Illinois, said his son told him to run to the basement as the hail came down seconds later. Advertisement Advertisement "I could hear all this stuff banging on the roof as we were going down," Retondo told CBS News. Officials were seen overnight going door to door and walking through homes in rubble, performing search and rescue efforts. The American Red Cross of Illinois said a shelter was open at Kankakee Community College, offering meals, charging stations, pet kennels and a place for people to stay. "We stepped out and saw our neighbor's garage gone ... and the next neighbor's house gone, both of our cars, my living room, our shed, gone," said Carlin Arseneau, a Kankakee resident. Tornado and severe thunderstorm watches for March 11, 2026. / Credit: CBS News The severe weather threat continued Wednesday afternoon into the evening, with numerous tornado watches already issued. Advertisement Advertisement This comes just days after at least six people were killed last week in Michigan and Oklahoma after powerful storms produced at least three tornadoes. Max Golembo contributed to this report. How Venezuela is changing 2 months after Maduro's capture Hawaii's Kilauea volcano sends glassy fragments, ash into the air during new eruption Iran unleashes massive attacks on Day 13 of war Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) is leading in a wide-open California Democratic primary to replace term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), new polling shows. A new Emerson College Polling/Inside California Politics survey found Swalwells support had ticked up several points since December, pushing him to the top of the pack with 17 percent of likely voters. Republican former Fox News host Steve Hilton was in second place with 13 percent support, down several points since hitting 17 percent in February. Advertisement Advertisement In Californias nonpartisan system, the top two candidates move on from the primary to the general, regardless of party affiliation. Republican Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and billionaire Tom Steyer notched 11 percent each, and former Rep. Katie Porter (D) brought in 8 percent support. A 25 percent plurality of voters, though, were still undecided two months out from the June showdown. Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, noted that Swalwells support among Democratic voters increased from 23 percent to 27 percent, boosting his standing. Steyers support from Democrats also bumped from 12 percent to 16 percent in the same period. Advertisement Advertisement Among independent Californians, a 39 percent plurality is undecided, Kimball said. The crowded field of candidates running for governor coupled with Californias unique top-two system could give Republicans a rare opening in the deep blue stronghold. Former Vice President Kamala Harris decided against a potential bid that observers expected would have been field-clearing. And Porter was seen as a likely front-runner before her image took a hit after viral video clips stoked controversy around her behavior. With no standout front-runner, experts have cautioned that Democrats could splinter voter support, carving a path for two Republicans to advance to the general. Advertisement Advertisement In a model developed by California Democratic data expert Paul Mitchell, the most likely governors race dynamic using polling and betting market information to model thousands of potential primary outcomes was a Democrat-versus-Republican race. But the model found that Republicans were the top two vote-getters in roughly a quarter of hypothetical outcomes, raising red flags for Democrats in a state where they typically dominate. The last time a Republican won Californias governorship was 2006, when former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) won reelection. The state has gone blue in the presidential race every cycle since 1992. The survey was conducted March 7-9 among 1,000 likely California voters. The results have a credibility interval, similar to a margin of error, of 3 percentage points. Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) on Monday said one of his staffers flew to Colombia to return a hearing aid device to a 6-year-old who was deported alongside his mother. As we stand here, my staff has just landed in Columbia, and is placing the hearing devices back in the boys ear, the California lawmaker said at a Monday press conference. He was able to do that with the help of the community who rallied to get his devices and personal belongings. So I thank my staff, and I thank the community for coming together, Swalwell added. Advertisement Advertisement Last week, Lesly Rodriguez Gutierrez was detained alongside her son, Joseph, during a routine check-in with immigration officials, according to local outlet KWU2. The family was then sent to Colombia, their country of origin, without being given a chance to obtain Josephs hearing aids, according to their attorney. Swalwell said his office is working with the Families Council to help the family to the United States under humanitarian parole, so Joseph can return to his school. What happened here was not about public safety. How does ruining the life of a six-year-old deaf child make our community or our country be safer? It doesnt. It makes the country darker, Swalwell said on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement The familys attorney, Nikolas De Bremaeker, said Rodriguez Gutierrez was pleading with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to allow her to get the assistive devices that her six-year-old deaf child desperately needs to live, at the Monday press conference. He said her family member was in a car outside the building and would have been able to bring the assistive devices to her. 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, De Bremaeker said. Then in a fundamental violation of the familys due process rights, ICE misled our team at every turn regarding the location of the family and stopped Ms. Torrijos Gutierrez from having access to counsel, which she is entitled to under our constitution, he added. Advertisement Advertisement De Bremaeker said he was unable to locate the family for three days after they were detained at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements San Francisco office. He said the confusion blocked him from submitting the necessary emergency filings in the appropriate jurisdiction. To make matters worse, Ms. Torrijos Gutierrez was not allowed to invoke the humanitarian protections that should have stopped and blocked the detention and deportation of a six-year-old deaf child, his mom, and his four-year-old sibling, De Bremaeker added. 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. ALBANY, New York A state budget fight over raising taxes on rich people and corporations is becoming a litmus test for how power is wielded in the Empire States capital and pitting Gov. Kathy Hochul against New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Democratic state lawmakers this week formally proposed tax hikes that Hochul does not want, but are central to the democratic socialist mayors costly agenda. Speaking Wednesday at POLITICOs New York Agenda: Albany Summit, Hochul reiterated her tax hike opposition. But she demurred when asked to predict whether a final spending plan deal would include any increases. Advertisement Advertisement Lets focus on getting the budget done, she said. Im going to be smart about this budget and continue to address the affordability crisis. Despite leading the nations largest city, Big Apple mayors often need state approval to enact their goals, and Mamdanis tax hike push is no different. The coming weeks in Albany will determine whether the new mayor, who rode a far-left populist platform to an upset election last year, will have the influence in the opaque and secretive statehouse to achieve a victory on a signature issue. The budget is due March 31. There are a lot of friends and fellow travelers in the Senate Dems and the Assembly Dems who do share a vision with the mayor, Republican Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt said. This budget is going to come down to who has more influence in Albany the mayor of New York or the governor of New York? The Democratic-led state Senate and Assemblys budget proposals are in sharp contrast to Hochuls $263 billion spending plan that does not include any significant tax hikes. The governor, who is running for a second full term this year, has steadfastly opposed tax increases over concerns they would make the state far less competitive. It would also fly in the face of her push to tout affordability measures in a state with a notoriously high cost of living and one of the countrys highest tax burdens. Advertisement Advertisement Tax-the-rich boosters will be turning their attention to Hochul with the goal of intensifying a public pressure campaign to get her to bend on the issue. Our Time, a group composed of former Mamdani campaign volunteers, is expected to ramp up efforts to push for a tax hike, though an Albany rally sponsored by the group last month was sparsely attended . The Working Families Party, a left-leaning ballot line that is yet to endorse the governor, is pointing to President Donald Trumps sweeping domestic policy package making deep cuts to health care and food assistance funding. But opponents contend that raising taxes now would arrive at a deeply fraught time for New Yorks economy and harm a fragile post-Covid recovery. The top 1 percent of earners account for more than 40 percent of the states personal income tax revenue. New York has the third highest tax rates for people who earn more than $1 million behind only California and Hawaii. Wealth tax fights are breaking out in other large blue states like California. And increasing taxes on rich New Yorkers is politically popular . But in New York, the debate highlights a schism among Democrats that Hochul is eager to sidestep in an election year she wants to keep free of intraparty drama. Advertisement Advertisement That will be difficult this month as left-leaning Democratic state lawmakers mobilize for a fight over boosting taxes. Cheering them on is Mamdani, who is also trying to fill a $5.4 billion gap in the citys budget. The Legislature and I agree: we cannot bridge this budget deficit on the backs of working-class New Yorkers, Mamdani said in a statement. In a worrisome sign for the mayor, Moodys, the bond rating agency, revised its fiscal outlook for New York City from stable to negative on Wednesday afternoon. It suggests Moody's could eventually downgrade the the city if its fiscal situation isn't rectified. The governor has shown little public willingness to strike a deal that includes tax hikes. In a statement, her office was noncommittal in reaction to the tax hike proposals from the Legislature. Advertisement Advertisement The governor looks forward to working with the legislature to pass a budget that makes New York safer and more affordable for working families, said Hochul spokesperson Kara Cumoletti. The governor on Wednesday told POLITICO she wants a system in place where its not just taxing for the sake of taxing and to avoid further erosion of New Yorks wealthy tax base. I need people who are high net worth to support the generous social programs that we have in our state, she said. Hochul has often touted how she can work with anyone as she tries to avoid the bitter fights that have routinely erupted between New York governors and mayors for decades. Advertisement Advertisement And she has formed a bond with Mamdani on key issues like expanding free child care in New York, a policy the mayor touted during his campaign. Hochul has also moved to aid the citys budget woes by sending an additional $1.5 billion in direct assistance. She indicated, though, that the city budget is in the hands of the mayor and City Council. Now its up to the city council, she said. Theyre doing their job, too. Federal spending cuts are taking an axe to New Yorks sizable Medicaid program billions of dollars in reductions in the coming years that no tax increase would be able to fill. Yet left-leaning advocates contend New York needs to respond with hiking taxes as a partial backstop, especially as many of the cuts are set to take effect next year. At the same time, the federal government has signaled plans to investigate fraud in the program. With all of Trumps cuts to New York and removing of aid, New York is in crisis, said Working Families Party co-director Jasmine Gripper. In order to address that crisis immediately and to make sure we protect working families, we need to raise revenue and only raise revenue from the ultra rich. Advertisement Advertisement Hochuls allies in the business community, though, contend the state is facing increasingly stiff competition from around the country. A hike in the corporate tax rate in the nations financial capital would make neighboring states far more attractive, they warn. New York states flat population numbers driven by years of outmigration are expected to result in the loss of two House seats after the next Census in 2032. Jobs are more mobile today than theyve ever been, said Steve Fulop, the president of Partnership for New York City, which represents the interests of big business in the city. While people werent reticent to work remotely prior to Covid, today working remotely is something most companies can do rather easily. What you see is New Jersey one mile away being far more competitive than New York. Advertisement Advertisement Then there is the political dimension. Polls have shown Hochul leading her likely Republican opponent, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, by double digits. Yet she does not want to hand him a weapon to undercut her affordability message, especially as she also rails against the impact of Trumps tariffs. Blakemans campaign quickly seized on the tax hikes proposed this week by Democrats. Kathy Hochul and Mamdani have a spending problem, not a revenue problem, he said in a statement. When big companies and their executives leave New York, they take with them jobs and economic activity, leaving the middle class with the tax burden. Florida has more people, and their budget is half of New York. Hochuls campaign in response pointed to the governors push to lower middle-income tax rates. Governor Hochul has cut middle-class taxes to historically low rates and put money back in New Yorkers pockets a good place for Bruce Blakeman to start caring about protecting our states jobs and economy would be standing up against Donald Trumps expensive tariffs, which are making everything harder for small businesses right now, Hochul campaign spokesperson Ryan Radulovacki said. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, shut down the possibility that the war in Iran would become a long, protracted engagement for the U.S. during an interview on Tuesday, and said he wouldn't support an extended operation in the region. "I don't think there's any possibility that this becomes a long, protracted military engagement. You're not going to see hundreds of thousands of boots on the ground. You're not going to see us there months and then years. Iran is not Iraq. They are very, very different. I think the Iraq war was a mistake. I would not support a major and extended invasion in Iran. This is very different. These are targeted, but very consequential strikes to take out a very direct threat," he told CNBC's "Squawk Box." Cruz sounded the alarm on Iran and the regime's attacks against Americans over the last 40 years. Advertisement Advertisement "Twice, the Ayatollah has hired hitmen and sent them to try to murder President Trump. And so I think President Trump made a very reasonable decision that he was going to act as commander in chief to stop this threat to America," the Texas senator said. Gop Senators Says Trump's Strikes 'Significantly Degraded' Iran But Emphasize Attacks Not 'Forever Wars' "I don't think there's any possibility that this becomes a long, protracted military engagement. You're not going to see hundreds of thousands of boots on the ground," Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said on March 9th. (Getty Images) The senator argued that the spike in oil prices would be temporary. Read On The Fox News App "In terms of the oil prices, we've seen a temporary spike. I don't think it will be extended. Naturally, when you have military conflict in the Middle East, that predictably has an impact on oil prices. But I think over the long term, this will put downward pressure on oil prices." Advertisement Advertisement The war with Iran has sent global oil prices skyrocketing past $100 a barrel as the regime's stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz has all but stopped tankers from using the shipping lane. With oil higher, gasoline and diesel prices are rising fast. Where American Support For Trumps Iran Strikes Stand As New Polls Roll In President Donald Trump gives a speech about the economy at the Coosa Steel Corporation factory in Rome, Georgia, on Feb. 19, 2026. President Donald Trump told Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst that he is "not happy" with Iran's choice of Mojtaba Khamenei as the new supreme leader. Trump warned in a Truth Social post Monday that Iran will be hit "twenty times harder" if the regime does anything that stops the flow of oil within the Strait of Hormuz. Trump said the U.S. would "take out easily destroyable targets that will make it virtually impossible for Iran to ever be built back" as a nation but that he prays that does not happen. Advertisement Advertisement Click Here For More Coverage Of Media And Culture Sen. Ted Cruz speaks during a roundtable discussion at the U.S. Capitol on March 3, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Cruz was also pressed on Trump, saying Monday that the U.S. was nearing the end of the war. CNBC's Becky Quick asked, "If we're near the end to that, my assumption was at that point that maybe we would live without the regime change. But you're convinced that the president is waiting for a regime change that could take a little longer than some people are anticipating?" "I think the president is right, regardless that we're near the end of it," Cruz responded. "It is certainly possible this lasts a couple more weeks, but I don't think we're looking at a many-month or many-year engagement. I think this is focused at delivering on concrete objectives, and I think many of them are being delivered on already." Advertisement Advertisement Click Here To Download The Fox News App When asked for comment, the White House directed Fox News Digital to the president's comments during a Monday press conference where he said the war could end soon and touted what the U.S. has achieved in its strikes so far. Original article source: Ted Cruz shuts down extended Iran war talk, says it's 'not Iraq' amid oil price spike News that a business is slashing prices isn't great if you're worried about its margins and overall profitability. But offering reduced prices can, however, help with winning market share. As a result, it's not always obvious whether a move to reduce prices can be beneficial for a stock in the long run. Pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO) is planning to drastically reduce the list prices of its popular GLP-1 treatments, including Ozempic and Wegovy, next year. The company has been facing growing competition, and investors may be concerned that this is confirmation of its struggles in the hotly competitive weight loss market. 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 However, here's why I think that this can prove to be a great move for Novo Nordisk in the long run, and why investors may benefit from it. Image source: Getty Images. Up to a 50% cut coming next year Starting in 2027, Novo Nordisk plans to make its popular GLP-1 drugs far more attractively priced. At $675 per month, the list price for its GLP-1 medications will be up to 50% lower for patients; Wegovy, which is approved for weight loss, currently has a list price of $1,349. For people who have high deductibles, this can make the treatments far more accessible. The company, however, is likely going to offset some of the price decline by reducing rebates. This comes as there is increased pressure from the government to lower drug prices. And it could intensify the competition with key rival Eli Lilly, whose weight loss drug Zepbound has been helping people achieve greater weight loss than Wegovy. At around $1,100 per month, Zepbound's list price is currently a bit lower than Wegovy's. Why this could help Novo Nordisk's stock By offering a lower price for Wegovy and other GLP-1 drugs, Novo Nordisk may be in a better position to take back market share from Eli Lilly, or at least, give its current patients less of a reason to consider switching. Market share can be key in the weight loss market as patients need to take GLP-1 drugs on a continuous basis, otherwise there is the danger that they can regain the weight they lost while on the drugs. And if there's a bit of a financial incentive to use Wegovy, that can help grow its market share. Novo Nordisk's problem these days is growth, as the company is forecasting potentially a double-digit decline for the year ahead. If the company can find a way to get back to generating strong numbers, that can be key to winning over growth investors again. It has strong profit margins of around 33% and there's room for the company to sacrifice some profit in exchange for market share. And while a 50% decline in price may sound significant, with lower rebates, the impact likely won't be so drastic. NEED TO KNOW Four men are potentially facing charges of manslaughter after two teens were found dead in a rental lodge Cherish Bean, 15, and Ethan Slater, 17, are believed to have died from carbon monoxide poisoning The couple were reportedly on vacation with Cherish's family Four people have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with the deaths of two British teens who died in a rental cabin believed to be as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. Cherish Bean, 15, and her boyfriend Ethan Slater, 17, were found dead at Little Eden Holiday Park in Bridlington, England on Feb. 18, according to Humberside Police. Advertisement Advertisement PEOPLE previously reported that three men had been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter and have since been released on conditional bail. Now, the BBC is reporting that a fourth man is also suspected. It is not clear if the men have been formally charged yet. At an official inquest, a coroner said the couple were on vacation with Cherish's family, staying in a separate nearby cabin, and were "fit and well," the BBC reported. The evening of their deaths, Cherish had complained of a headache and was given medication by her mother before going to bed, per the BBC. Authorities have said they suspect the teens died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. Advertisement Advertisement According to the BBC, a detective testified that a boiler was taken from the cabin and is being examined. The four men potentially facing charges are involved in management and maintenance at the lodge park where they were staying, the detective reportedly said. 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. The teens' families have since paid tribute to their children. My girl, my world, my love, my everything, Cherishs mom said, according to Humberside Police. My perfect girl, my angel, has left this world, and we are broken as a family. I am broken as a mother, and I will never ever be the same again. Advertisement Advertisement Ethan's parents also provided a statement through police. Ethan, you will always be remembered for the amazing young man you were, and the one you were destined to be, his mother said. Cherish was the apple of Ethans eye. Everyone could see how smitten they both were. She was beautiful, elegant, and made Ethan happy. We know you will keep each other young and safe. Look after each other. Rest in peace. Read the original article on People Two men sit in prison one literally, one figuratively. The first man, 19-year-old Luke Resecker, just became an inmate in Iowa Park, Texas, and could be 84 by the time hes free again. Hes imprisoned because he may have been high on marijuana when he caused a car crash that killed six members of an Atlanta family in 2023. The second man, 43-year-old Lokesh Potabathula, is a prisoner of his own memories. The crash caused by Resecker killed his wife of 14 years, his two only children, and three other family members. It also left him paralyzed from the waist down. Advertisement Advertisement Now just a few months after a jury sentenced Resecker to 65 years behind bars, the teenager is appealing the prison term and arguing for a new trial. Meanwhile people in his small Texas town have started an online petition to get the case before President Donald Trump or Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in hopes of getting a pardon or a reduced sentence. The case initially was in the national spotlight for the sheer magnitude of the tragedy but it has grown into something even larger. At the heart of the matter involving the two men destined for tragedy lies an important judicial and societal question: How much should we punish someone for a tragic mistake? "He's a good kid, and he's in there with hard-core drug dealers and murderers," Resecker's mother, Ashley Resecker, told USA TODAY. "I know six people lost their lives. Every single day for the rest of his life he will be living with that guilt ... But this is a life sentence." The prosecutors who tried the case previously told USA TODAY that Resecker's sentence is justice for the loss of life, particularly Potabathula's 11-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter. Advertisement Advertisement "They're off the face of the Earth and they're never going to see their dad again," prosecutor Connor Day said. "Its a result of what Luke was doing." Here's what we know about the case, Resecker's fight for a lighter sentence and how Potabathula feels about a possible second chance for the teenager. Luke Resecker is pictured in the hospital after suffering a head injury in a fatal crash in Texas that happened when he crossed the center line in a no-passing zone and collided head-on with a minivan carrying seven members of a family. The crash On Dec. 26, 2023, Lokesh Potabathula was celebrating the holidays with his family: 36-year-old wife Naveena, 11-year-old son Kruthik, 9-year-old daughter Nishidharaman, and his in-laws, Nageswararao and Sitamahalakshmi Ponnada. The Atlanta family was in Texas to spend time with Potabathula's cousin, 28-year-old Rushil Barri. Barri was driving the family back to his home in Arlington, Texas, after the group had visited a wildlife center. Advertisement Advertisement As the family drove north on U.S. Highway 67, 17-year-old Luke Resecker and his friend were heading south in his truck. At some point, Resecker left his lane and crossed a double yellow line. Investigators said Resecker was trying to pass the car in front of him, but his defense attorneys say he was making a move to veer left onto County Road 1119, all while navigating a curve in the road with the sun in his eyes. Whatever Resecker's intention, his truck slammed head-on into the Potabathula family minivan. Resecker was driving at about 65 mph while the Lokesh family van was traveling at about 75 mph. The results were catastrophic. The aftermath is shown following a tragic crash between 17-year-old Luke Resecker in a Chevy Silverado and a Honda Odyssey minivan carrying a family of seven, six of whom were killed. The Dec. 26, 2023, crash occurred along a two-way highway near Cleburne, Texas, about an hour southwest of Dallas. Everyone was killed except Lokesh, Resecker and Resecker's friend, though all three survivors had life-threatening injuries. Potabathula could move only his head when he came to and now has permanent paralysis below his waist. Resecker had traumatic brain injuries, was in a coma for five days, had to have about 30% of his skull removed, and spent months in intensive therapy, according to his mom. Resecker's friend also suffered a traumatic brain injury. Advertisement Advertisement Inside Resecker's truck, Texas Highway Patrol troopers found THC wax and marijuana. Prosecutors say his blood tested positive for THC (10 nanograms per milliliter of blood). In states like Colorado and Washington, the legal limit for drivers is 5 nanograms per milliliter. But states like Texas and California have no minimum for what's considered impaired. Resecker's trial attorney, Alan Steele, told USA TODAY that the THC in Resecker's system was "not in and of itself proof of intoxication," and that under Texas law, the standard of proof "says that he must have lost normal use of physical or mental faculties as a result of drugs, alcohol or both." The evidence did not show that, Steele said. Plus, the spot where the crash happened is notorious in the region for being dangerous and was the site of a kindergarten teacher's death in 2017, according to reporting from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "He just didn't see this minivan," Steele said. "This accident happened because of a kid who made a bad left turn." Nine-year-old Nishidharaman Potabathula (left), 64-year-old Nageswararao Ponnada (second from left), 60-year-old Sitamahalakshmi Ponnada (bottom center), 36-year-old Naveena Potabathula (second from right), 11-year-old Kruthik Potabathula (right) and 43-year-old Lokesh Potabathula (top center) are pictured. Everyone but Lokesh Potabathula was killed in a car accident caused by then-17-year-old Luke Resecker on Dec. 26, 2023 near Cleburne, Texas. The trial Resecker was charged as an adult because Texas is one of just three states that consider a person criminally responsible at age 17, according to the Interstate Commission for Juveniles. Advertisement Advertisement Among the most compelling evidence the jury saw was bystander and police bodycam footage that showed the graphic and chaotic aftermath of the crash. Many wept when Potabathula took the stand to tell them how much he had loved his family and how empty his life is without them. Resecker's mother also talked to jurors to help them understand his difficult childhood. Resecker was only 11 when his father hanged himself in jail after learning Resecker's mother was filing for divorce because of domestic violence. Two years later, Resecker's older brother Tanner also committed suicide. In the end, jurors found Resecker guilty of second-degree manslaughter, misdemeanor driving while intoxicated, and first-degree aggravated assault with a deadly weapon causing serious bodily injury. They sentenced him to 65 years in prison, or until 2088. Advertisement Advertisement Resecker won't be eligible for parole for more than 30 years, when he'll be 50. Luke Resecker is pictured with his mother and little sister, and a photo of his older brother, who died by suicide. The fight While punishments for people who've caused fatal crashes while high have varied wildly from state to state, Resecker's sentence stands out for being unusually tough, especially given his young age, according to a USA TODAY review of similar cases. Resecker's attorney has appealed both his conviction and his sentence, and is seeking a new trial. The process could take months or years to hash out in courts. Meanwhile a petition seeking a pardon or reduced sentence for Resecker has more than 1,200 signatures. It is being spearheaded by people in Resecker's small hometown of Glen Rose. Advertisement Advertisement "The incident involving Luke Resecker on U.S. Highway 67 was a tragic accident, not an act of intentional harm," the petition says. "While the consequences were devastating and irrevocable, a single, catastrophic mistake, not criminal intent or a pattern of dangerous behavior, caused them." The petition is directed to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, who grew up in Glen Rose, and asks her to help bring the case to the attention of President Trump and Gov. Abbott. It says that Resecker is "already permanently changed in ways that only God can undo." "We believe in accountability balanced with mercy," the petition says. "We do not believe that permanently incarcerating a young man for a single tragic accident serves the long-term interests of justice, public safety, or responsible use of public resources." Advertisement Advertisement Ayron Stinson, the Glen Rose woman who started the petition, told USA TODAY that she's waiting to get at least half the town's population of 3,000 people to sign it before sending it off to Rollins. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, a native of Glen Rose, Texas, speaks next to U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House, in Washington, D.C., on June 10, 2025. The victim As Resecker sits in his prison cell, Lokesh Potabathula sits in the Atlanta apartment where he now lives. In addition to losing his family and the use of his legs, he had to give up his home, the family dog Nemo and all the fish in the 10 aquariums they had. He also has given up the majority of his friends because it's too hard to be around their kids. His only living family members are back in India, where he says it's much harder to live independently without the use of his legs than it is in the U.S. When he's not working his remote IT job, Potabathula spends his time thinking about what he has lost. "My family was everything to me," he told USA TODAY. Advertisement Advertisement He and his wife Naveena wed in 2009 in an arranged marriage in India, as is common there. "Within the first couple of weeks we both fell in love with each other," Potabathula said. "We had an unconditional love ... Some people never find that." Husband and wife Lokesh (right) and Naveena Potabathula are pictured. The couple moved to the U.S. not long after they got married. They had their son Kruthik in 2012 and their daughter Nishidharaman "Nishi" two years later. Kruthik was a passionate member of his school's robotics club and was "very smart," while Nishi was in tune with nature and loved taking care of the family's pets and watering the plants. Fridays at home were the best, Potabathula said. Kruthik and Nishi would pull their mattresses down the staircase of their Atlanta home, Potabathula would get takeout, and they'd all settle in for a night of Despicable Me, Finding Nemo, or The Addams Family. Potabathula has complicated feelings about Resecker's fight for a lighter prison term. He believes that the reason Resecker didn't see his family's van is because he was high. He worries about someone else being hurt if he's freed. "What is the guarantee that he'll not take drugs and drive again and commit another mistake, another crime?" he said. "If there's a guarantee then OK but I don't want another family to suffer like this." Outside of that, he said Resecker's potential release "doesn't matter" too much to him. "At the end of the day my family won't come back," he said. "All my happiness was taken away." Nine-year-old Nishidha Potabathula (left), 64-year-old Nageswararao Ponnada (second from left), 60-year-old Sitamahalakshmi Ponnada (bottom center), 39-year-old Naveena Potabathula (second from right), 10-year-old Kruthik Potabathula (right) and Lokesh Potabathula (top center) are pictured. Everyone but Lokesh Potabathula was killed in a car accident caused by then-17-year-old Luke Resecker on Dec. 26, 2023 near Cleburne, Texas. Naveena Potabathula and her son Kruthik Potabathula are pictured in 2013. Nine-year-old Nishidha Potabathula is pictured. Ten-year-old Kruthik Potabathul is pictured. Husband and wife Lokesh (right) and Naveena Potabathula are pictured. Husband and wife Lokesh (left) and Naveena Potabathula are pictured with their children, Nishidha (right) and Kruthik. Husband and wife Lokesh (left) and Naveena Potabathula are pictured with their children, Nishidha (right) and Kruthik, in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Photos show happy Atlanta family before car crash's devastation 1 of 7 Nine-year-old Nishidha Potabathula (left), 64-year-old Nageswararao Ponnada (second from left), 60-year-old Sitamahalakshmi Ponnada (bottom center), 39-year-old Naveena Potabathula (second from right), 10-year-old Kruthik Potabathula (right) and Lokesh Potabathula (top center) are pictured. Everyone but Lokesh Potabathula was killed in a car accident caused by then-17-year-old Luke Resecker on Dec. 26, 2023 near Cleburne, Texas. The inmate Although the crash that killed Potabathula's family was over two years ago, Resecker didn't spend a day behind bars until he was convicted at the end of October. Until then he had been in hospitals, undergoing rehab and getting his high school diploma. Since Dec. 30, Resecker has been imprisoned temporarily in Abilene and then permanently in Iowa Park, Texas, about 180 miles from his home, said his mother, Ashley Resecker. "He's scared because he doesn't know what to expect," she said, adding: "If he didnt have his strong faith in God he wouldnt be able to get through this." Before the crash, she said Resecker was a typical high schooler and worked two jobs, one as a cook at a BBQ restaurant and seasonally doing yard work. He wanted to help his single mom pay bills and make some money of his own, she said. She knew that Resecker was smoking marijuana from time to time and even made him undergo at-home drug tests, all of which she says he passed. So she wasn't too worried. It was only after the crash that she said she learned the full extent that he started using it when he was around 13 or 14 to help cope with his brother's suicide. She said that her son doesn't remember if he smoked before the crash. All he remembers is that he didn't smoke in the morning and that he and his friend had enjoyed lunch at a Mexican food place. She said she was in complete shock when the jury handed down the 65-year sentence and that she even passed out. Her son remained calm at the time but she said he broke down when she talked to him over the phone a couple days after he was booked in jail. "He was just crying and crying and crying," she said. Luke Resecker is pictured with his mother and little sister, and a photo of his older brother, who died by suicide. Luke Resecker is pictured with his mother and his little sister. Luke Resecker is pictured with a family pet. Luke Resecker is pictured in the hospital after suffering a head injury in a fatal crash in Texas that happened when he crossed the center line in a no-passing zone and collided head-on with a minivan carrying seven members of a family. Luke Resecker is pictured in the hospital after he crashed his Chevy Silverado into a minivan carrying a family. Texas teen's life forever changed after causing catastrophic car crash 1 of 5 Luke Resecker is pictured with his mother and little sister, and a photo of his older brother, who died by suicide. The lesson However much time Resecker ends up serving, both families left devastated by the crash agree that they don't want anyone else to experience what they have. Potabathula said he thinks the people in Resecker's life needed to do more to stop him from getting high. He said he hopes that people who hear about his story can learn from the tragedy, and either get the help they need or the help their loved one needs. "I dont want another family to suffer like this," he said. Though Ashley Resecker said she didn't know the extent of her son's marijuana habit, she does have regrets. "I should have done more as far as getting him actual counseling," she said. "But from the outside looking in, I didn't see that he needed anything extra other than what he was getting from family and church." She said her son has hopes of becoming a counselor to kids who are struggling with personal tragedy, to show them how to find healthy ways of coping instead of turning to drugs. "He's not the same person anymore," she said. "He knows the pain that Lokesh's family has suffered. The pain is very real. He very much feels it. He lives it every day." Amanda Lee Myers is a senior crime reporter who covers breaking news, cold case investigations and the death penalty for USA TODAY. Follow her on X at @amandaleeusat. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Teen who killed 6 in THC crash got 65 years. Can Trump help him? We're closing our live coverage of day 11 of the war in Iran now, a day that ended with reports of more air strikes on Tehran and air raid alerts sounding in Qatar. Tuesday also wrapped up with a warning from US President Donald Trump that Iran would see military consequences "at a level never seen before" if it mined the key waterway, the Strait of Hormuz. Trump also claimed that the US military had "completely destroyed" 10 inactive Iranian mine-laying vessels after reports of Iranian action in the strait. Advertisement Advertisement That came after some confusion earlier on Tuesday about whether or not the US Navy had escorted a cargo ship through the strait as suggested by US Energy Secretary Christ Wright in an online post that was swiftly deleted. Iran meanwhile dismissed that claim saying the US hadn't dared come near the waterway and that such an operation had only happened "Maybe on PlayStation." Join our journalists in the region and worldwide for more comprehensive coverage of this war early on Wednesday morning. The Brief Republican Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee is facing bipartisan backlash for anti-Muslim social media posts. On Monday, Ogles posted on X: "Muslims don't belong in American society. Pluralism is a lie." He doubled down a day later, despite widespread criticism. A Tennessee congressman is under fire for doubling down on social media posts that disparage Muslims. GOP Rep. Andy Ogles shared the first anti-Muslim post on Monday, then again on Tuesday after he was widely criticized. Heres the latest: What did Rep. Andy Ogles say? What they're saying On Monday, Ogles posted on X : "Muslims don't belong in American society. Pluralism is a lie." Advertisement Advertisement A little more than 24 hours after his first post, Ogles doubled down, despite bipartisan backlash. RELATED: Live updates: Iran fires missiles across Gulf as war continues "Paperwork doesn't magically make you American," he wrote on X , with a link to an update on the New York terror suspects. "Muslims are unable to assimilate; they all have to go back." The backstory The comments came after two suspects, reportedly aligned with the Islamic State terrorist group, tried to set off bombs in New York City during a protest outside the mayors residence called "Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City, Stop New York City Public Muslim Prayer." Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Video shows Gracie Mansion bomb suspect buying fuses: See alleged timeline of events The other side Ogles post sparked immediate backlash: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat, called Ogles a "malignant clown." "Disgusting Islamophobes like you do not belong in Congress or in civilized society," Jeffries wrote on X. Republican Richard Grenell, a staunch ally of President Trump and interim president of the Kennedy Center, joined Democrats in condemning the comments. "Stop attacking the First Amendment to the United States Constitution," Grenell wrote in response to Ogles post. Advertisement Advertisement Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, also called Ogles remarks "disgusting." "Racism like this doesnt belong in American society," Schumer wrote. "This is disgusting and Republicans should denounce this." Other anti-Muslim statements Ogles isnt the only member of Congress whos openly expressed anti-Muslim sentiment. Last month, Rep. Randy Fine of Florida posted on social media: "If they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one." After the attempted terror attack in New York, Fine wrote, "We dont need to live like this. Deport them ALL." House Speaker defends anti-Muslim statements Big picture view House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, defended both GOP colleagues when asked about their statements. Advertisement Advertisement "Ive spoken to those members, and all members as I always do, about our tone and our message and what we say," Johnson said. "Theres a lot of energy in the country and a lot of popular sentiment that the demand to impose Sharia law in America is a serious problem. Thats what animates this. The language that people use its different language than I would use but I think thats a serious issue. Sharia law and the imposition of Sharia law is contrary to the U.S. Constitution. "When you seek to come to a country and not assimilate but impose Sharia law, Sharia law is in conflict with the Constitution," he continued. "Its not about people as Muslims; its about those who seek to impose a different belief system that is in direct conflict with the Constitution." What is Sharia law? Dig deeper Sharia, in Arabic, means "the way," scholar Asma Afsaruddin told The Conversation in 2021. Sharia is a broader moral compass for Muslims, like how to pray and how to treat others, but its Sharias harsh interpretations in some Muslim countries that makes it more controversial. Advertisement Advertisement In Afghanistan, for example, women arent allowed to work or study because thats how the Afghan government interprets Sharia. In Saudi Arabia, women are also closely monitored as an interpretation of Sharia. In other countries, homosexuality is severely punished. Scholars, however, say those interpretations are from Islamic extremists who favor a more fundamental legal system. They also say the word "Sharia" has long been used to demonize Muslims in the West. The Source This report includes comments from Reps. Andy Ogles, Hakeem Jeffries, Randy Fine and Mike Johnson, Sen. Chuck Schumer, and information from The Conversation. Two women in Texas have been arrested after they allegedly disguised drones to look like birds and attempted to fly contraband into a federal prison located in Grant Parish. The Grant Parish Sheriffs Office said that Melanie Jean Worthington and Kassy Marie Cole used a drone to fly in plastic crow decoys filled with the contraband, according to a Facebook post shared by the department. Both of the women claimed they were paid $40,000 to smuggle the items into the prison, according to police. However, it is not clear if they told authorities who paid them or why they were tasked with the job. Advertisement Advertisement Officials said that the plastic crows were allegedly filled with drugs, cellphones and tobacco, according to the statement. Mom, Boyfriend Shot Kids With BB Guns While They Were Locked in Chicken Pen, Missouri Sheriff Says Worthington, 38, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute and taking contraband into a penal institution. Meanwhile, Cole, 41, was arrested for possession of synthetic marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, taking contraband into a penal institution and an outstanding warrant from a previous arrest. It is not clear what incident the outstanding warrant was from. Advertisement Advertisement It is not currently clear if Worthington or Cole have entered pleas or retained legal representation following their arrests. The Grant Parish Sheriffs Office did not immediately respond to Us Weeklys request for comment regarding any updates in the case. Believe it or not, Worthington and Coles recent arrests mark the ninth and 10th arrests of suspects trying to smuggle contraband into the Federal Prison in Grant Parish since the beginning of 2026, according to KALB. The last two men who tried to smuggle contraband into the prison used a cannon to shoot meth and tobacco over the prison walls. In addition to sharing both Worthington and Coles mug shots, police also uploaded a photo of the fake crow via Facebook. The black crow had a beak and facial features, while it was also covered in tape. Advertisement Advertisement It is not currently clear how authorities spotted the fake crows or connected Worthington and Cole to the scheme. While reflecting on the crime, Grant Parish Sheriff Steven McCain told reporters that the crime was pretty creative but it didnt work, according to Louisiana Radio Network. McCain went on to state that when authorities tracked down Worthington and Cole, they were found with the plastic crows in their possession that connected them to the crime. Controversial Influencer Ash Trevino Arrested on Active Felony Warrants in Texas, Police Confirm Its just amazing, the ideas they come up with. But theres so much money involved that people are willing to continue to take the chance of not getting caught, he said. Advertisement Advertisement After the police department shared the post about the arrests, a handful of people took to the Facebook posts comments section to weigh in on the situation. We flying birds now? lol maybe they should try an armadillo! one person wrote while poking fun at the scheme, and another person jokingly asked, Is that a real bird, my only question? The investigation into the case remains ongoing. (NewsNation) Thousands of locals gathered today to mourn a Lebanese priest who was killed in southern Lebanon by Israeli forces, according to Lebanese media. Pope Leo called Father Pierre El-Rahi a true shepherd who always remained beside his people with the love and sacrifice of Jesus, the Good Shepherd. The Maronite priest was killed March 9 in Qlayaa as he tried to help parishioners whose house had been fired upon by an Israeli tank, according to Lebanese media reports. Advertisement Advertisement Pope Leo on Iran strike: Stop the spiral of violence Pope Leo said when the priest heard that some parishioners had been wounded by a bombardment, he rushed to their aid. May the Lord grant that the blood he shed, the pope prayed, may be a seed of peace for beloved Lebanon. According to the social media account Eastern Christians, days earlier, Father Pierre had said, We have decided to remain here despite the danger, because these are our homes and we will not leave them. We will not allow anyone to enter our village and use it for anything. About 30% of Lebanon is Christian. The country used to be over half Christian, but emigration and low birth rates have dramatically decreased their presence. Lebanese Christians are Maronite Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Melkite Catholic, Armenian Orthodox and Protestant. Advertisement Advertisement The Christian community remains a vibrant part of Lebanese society with a large presence in Beirut and Mount Lebanon. Israeli forces attack Lebanon Israeli warplanes began attacking southern Lebanon in retaliation for rockets and drones launched by Hezbollah. According to local reports, Hezbollah militants had entered the Christian villages in southern Lebanon where Father Pierre was killed, endangering the community. Hezbollah is a Lebanese Shia Islamist political party supported by Iran that opposes the existence of Israel and has vowed to destroy the country. Iran conflict: What is an Islamic Republic? President Donald Trump commented today on the situation in Lebanon amid the current hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. Advertisement Advertisement We love Lebanon, we love the people of Lebanon, President Trump told reporters, adding that we gotta get rid of Hezbollah. Father Pierre was reportedly 50 years old. Faith is an integral part of millions of Americans daily lives. One Nation Under God is committed to reflecting Americas voices, values and communities covering stories of faith and religion, from the latest headlines to stories of hope. Subscribe 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 NewsNation. Irans military has warned that British cargo ships in the Gulf are now legitimate targets after three vessels were hit in the Strait of Hormuz in just 24 hours. The Thailand-flagged bulk carrier Mayuree Naree, the Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier Star Gwyneth, and third vessel, a Japan-flagged container ship, were all hit by projectiles overnight. While it is unclear who fired on the ships, Iran has claimed control of the critical route for 20 per cent of global oil shipments, and threatened to strike any vessel passing through it. Advertisement Advertisement In a warning on Wednesday it indicated British cargo ships are now legitimate targets. We wont allow even one litre of oil to reach the US, Zionists and their partners. Any vessel or tanker bound to them will be a legitimate target, Ebrahim Zolfaqari, an Iranian military spokesman, said. Get ready for the oil barrel to be at $200 because the oil price depends on the regional security which you have destabilised, he added. The warning came as G7 leaders agreed to examine the option of providing escort for ships so they can navigate freely in the Gulf. French President Emmanuel Macron had convened a call with leaders to discuss the US-Israeli war on Iran and its impact on rising energy prices. Advertisement Advertisement Some of the crew of the Thailand-flagged bulk carrier Mayuree Naree were forced to evacuate the vessel off the UAE after it was hit. Smoke spewing off the Thai bulk carrier 'Mayuree Naree' near the Strait of Hormuz after an attack (ROYAL THAI NAVY/AFP via Getty Im) Earlier, the Japan-flagged container ship One Majesty sustained minor damage from an unknown projectile 25 nautical miles (46 km) northwest of Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates, two security sources said. A third vessel, the Marshall Islands-flagged Star Gwyneth bulk carrier, was also hit by an unknown projectile approximately 50 miles northwest of Dubai, according to maritime security firms. The latest incidents increase the number of ships that have been attacked since the conflict began to at least 14. Advertisement Advertisement Peter Aylott, director of policy at UK Chamber of Shipping told Times Radio that the indiscriminate attacks by Iranian forces meant around 1,000 vessels were now stuck in the Gulf, including 80 to 90 with British interests. As America sought to prize open the strait to end turmoil in oil markets, US Central Command said 16 Iranian mine-laying ships had been eliminated after Trump warned Tehran not to put out any mines. An Iranian naval vessel just before it is struck by a projectile near the Strait of Hormuz on March 10, 2026, according to US defence chiefs (US Central Command (CENTCOM)/AFP) In other developments on the 12th day of Donald Trumps war: *The US President said the US is not finished yet when asked about the war in Iran * Preliminary findings of a Pentagon inquiry reportedly found the US responsible for the strike on a Iranian girls school that killed 170. Advertisement Advertisement *US banks asked employees to evacuate their offices after Iran threatened to strike US and Israel-linked banks in the Middle East * An FBI alert warned police departments in California that Iran could retaliate for US attacks by launching drones at the West Coast. * Oil storage facilities were struck in Oman's Salalah port, said maritime sources. Drones struck fuel tanks in the port, Oman TV reported. There was no reported disruption to the continuity of oil supplies or petroleum derivatives in the country. * Britain and other members of the International Energy Agency agreed to release a record 400 million barrels of oil to try to stop prices spiralling. Advertisement Advertisement * The US and Israel exchanged new waves of airstrikes with Irans military as the conflict raged on. * The US military warned civilians in Iran to immediately avoid all port facilities where Iranian naval forces are operating * Israel hit Beirut with new attacks targeting militant group Hezbollah. * Four people were injured after two drones "fell in the vicinity" of Dubai International Airport, say local officials. * Residents in Qatar were told to shelter inside after alerts over incoming missiles. * Senators in Washington raised fears that the US was on a path to putting boots on the ground in Iran and that Trump had no plan to keep open the Strait of Hormuz. Advertisement Advertisement * Israeli intelligence chiefs believe Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was lightly wounded in an airstrike and that is why he has not been seen in public. * Irans police chief Ahmadreza Radan warned opponents of the regime that anyone taking into streets at the enemys request will be confronted as an enemy not protestor. * Britain was being dragged deeper into the conflict after US bombers took off from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire for airstrike missions. A US Airforce B-1 bomber takes off from RAF Fairford on March 10 (Getty Images) The conflict has effectively blocked vital shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz, halting the flow of one-fifth of the worlds fossil energy supplies from the petroleum-rich Gulf. Advertisement Advertisement But after a major surge in crude oil prices on Monday, global energy prices have tumbled and stock markets rebounded as investors bet that the US would seek to end the war soon. Adding to market optimism, the International Energy Agency has proposed the largest release of oil reserves in its history to further stabilize crude prices, the Wall Street Journal reported. But Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps vowed to block oil shipments from the Gulf unless US and Israeli attacks ceased. The Revolutionary Guards said it fired missiles on Tuesday evening at Qatars US-run Al Udeid base and the Al Harir base in Iraqs Kurdistan, followed by drone attacks on a gathering of American troops at Al Dhafra air base in the United Arab Emirates and Juffair naval base in Bahrain. Advertisement Advertisement Early on Wednesday, Iranian state media reported another round of attacks was unleashed on US military installations in Bahrain. A fireball rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted an area in Beirut's southern suburbs overnight into Wednesday, March 11 (AFP via Getty Images) Overnight into Wednesday morning, millions of Israelis were repeatedly driven into bomb shelters as the military warned Iran had launched missiles toward Israel, a sign that Tehran retains the capacity to strike Israel after nearly two weeks of hostilities. The sound of explosions from air defences intercepting the rockets punctuated the pre-dawn darkness as air raid sirens blared and Israelis scrambled to safe rooms and shelters. The latest attacks from Iran roughly coincided with a new Israeli barrage on Beirut aimed at rooting out the Iran-backed group Hezbollah, which has fired into Israel from Lebanon in solidarity with the Tehran government. Advertisement Advertisement After the naming of new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, a hardliner chosen to succeed his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who was killed on the wars first day, the Tehran regime warned opponents not to take to the streets. Irans police chief Ahmadreza Radan warned that anyone taking into streets at the enemys request will be confronted as an enemy not protestor. All our security forces have their fingers on the trigger, Radan told state television. Smoke rises following a strike on the Bapco Oil Refinery, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, on Sitra Island Bahrain, on March 9 (REUTERS) Iran also arrested dozens of people, including a foreign national, accused of spying for the countrys enemies, the Intelligence Ministry said on Tuesday. More than 1,300 Iranian civilians have been killed since the US and Israeli air strikes began on February 28, according to diplomats. Dozens of Beirut residents have also been killed in Israeli attacks, while Iranian strikes on Israel have killed at least 11 people. Seven US soldiers have been killed in the conflict and the Pentagon on Tuesday estimated about 140 American troops have been wounded. Three top employees who have worked for Gov. Tina Kotek since her first day in office will leave during the next month as the governor ramps up her reelection campaign. The departing employees are Taylor Smiley Wolfe, Koteks deputy chief of staff for initiatives; Legislative Director Bob Livingston and Elisabeth Shepard, public affairs and communications director. Smiley Wolfe and Shepard are taking new jobs, while Livingston plans to retire. Kotek also announced that Emerald Bogue, director of government affairs and strategy at the Port of Portland, will join her office through a temporary intergovernmental partnership as a special adviser. Bogue will help oversee legislative affairs, communications, federal response and Koteks economic agenda. Advertisement Advertisement And Amelia Porterfield, who now serves as Koteks regional solutions director, will oversee initiatives on Koteks key policy areas of homelessness and housing, mental health and addiction and education. In a statement, Kotek thanked the departing employees and described the end of the 2026 legislative session and preparation for a likely second term next year as a time of staff transition. Over the last three years, the team in my office has served Oregonians with distinction, she said. Together we have taken on big challenges while standing up for Oregon values in the face of actions from President Trumps administration. The work is not done, and the year ahead will be a busy one. Smiley Wolfe will take over as policy director at the Ford Family Foundation, a nonprofit that provides grants in rural Oregon and Siskiyou County, California. She worked for Kotek during her tenure as speaker of the Oregon House, and her last day is April 24. Advertisement Advertisement Before serving on Koteks transition team and joining her administration, Livingston had worked for more than 30 years with the Oregon Fire Service, with 20 years as president or legislative director of the Oregon State Fire Fighters Council. Hell retire April 17, and Danny Moran, current deputy legislative director, will serve as the interim legislative director. Shepard started with Kotek as a press secretary after serving as communications director for former Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt. Shes moving to Washington, D.C. to serve as chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Janelle Bynum, an Oregon Democrat first elected in 2024. Her last day is March 23. Lucas Bezerra, the governors deputy communications director, will take over as interim public affairs and communications director. Two other members of Koteks communications team also left in the past few months. Press secretary Roxy Mayer is on temporary assignment with Koteks reelection campaign, while Anca Matica, a natural resources communications and policy adviser, left to serve as political director of the labor coalition Our Oregon. While employees have left the governors office or temporarily moved from official work to her campaign, the governor last lost multiple top employees at the same time under very different circumstances in 2024. Advertisement Advertisement That spring, Koteks chief of staff and several other top employees quit or took leave. Public records released by the governors office a month later confirmed that Koteks top staff were concerned about the growing role of Aimee Kotek Wilson, Koteks wife, in influencing policy and acting as a public face for the governor. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Isabelle Valdez, 15, and Lois Lippert, 14, were back in court on March 11 for a bond hearing. The girls, who attended Lake Brantley High School in Altamonte Springs, have been charged with attempted murder. 10:30 a.m. update: A judge decided in court Wednesday morning that Valdez and Lippert will remain in the jail. The next court hearing for both teens has been set for April 29. Original story: Two high school students accused of plotting to kill a classmate in Seminole County are expected to ask a judge for bond Wednesday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Isabelle Valdez, 15, and Lois Lippert, 14, have been charged with attempted murder. Altamonte Springs police investigators said the teens took a knife to Lake Brantley High School with the intent to kill another student. Both suspects have been held on no bond since their arrests in January. FILE IMAGE: Lake Brantley High School in Altamonte Springs, Fla. On the day of their arrest, the girls were put into the back of the same patrol car. As WFTV previously reported, the move allowed officers to listen in to a conversation between the girls, who didnt realize they were being recorded. Their conversation included jokes about mug shots, discussions about how much prison time theyd receive, and frustrations one of their friends snitched, officers said. Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors are now using that conversation as ammunition against Valdez and Lippert as they push a judge to keep the girls behind bars. Investigators reported the girls shared an obsession with the shooter of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in Connecticut and intended to kill the victim because they believed he resembled the gunman. According to police reports, the girls planned to use the victims blood in a ritual to bring back to life the Sandy Hook shooter. Channel 9s Martha Sugalski recently spoke to the mother of the student investigators say was the intended target. Jenifer, who also works as a speech-language pathologist at the school, described the emotional toll as a constant struggle that has affected her ability to sleep and eat. Advertisement Advertisement Channel 9 will be in court Wednesday morning for the 9 a.m. bond hearing for Valdez and Lippert. Watch Eyewitness News starting at noon for updates on this story. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Three Berks County residents are accused of stealing Lowes store account information from victims and racking up nearly $50,000 in purchases across multiple statewide store locations. The co-defendants include 48-year-old Joel Dejesus Cabrera-Gutierrez; 35-year-old Francisco Dejesus-Valerio; and 28-year-old Leury Antonio Cepeda-Brioso, all of Reading. Cabrera-Gutierrez is charged with four counts of felony theft; one count felony receiving stolen property; one count felony access device is unauthorized by the issuer; one count felony criminal use of communication facility; and related offenses. Advertisement Advertisement Dejesus-Valerio is charged with five counts of felony theft; one count felony corrupt organizations; one count criminal use of communication facility; one count felony receiving stolen property; and one count felony access device is unauthorized by the issuer. Cepeda-Brioso is charged with four counts of felony theft; one count felony corrupt organizations; one count felony receiving stolen property; and one count felony access device is unauthorized by the issuer. All three are awaiting arraignments on the charges, according to court records. Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced the arrests of the three co-defendants on Wednesday. No attorney information was immediately available for any of the co-defendants in court records. Advertisement Advertisement These defendants harmed unsuspecting customers and businesses with this widespread scheme, Sunday said in a statement. I am grateful that our Organized Retail Crime Section works with law enforcement across the Commonwealth to hold criminals accountable for conduct that harms all consumers by forcing businesses to raise prices of goods. Authorities said incidents spanned from Aug. 4, 2025 to Sept. 30, 2025 in Columbia, Franklin, Monroe, Warren and York counties in Pennsylvania. The trio allegedly used the account numbers of five customers to place orders through the home improvement retailers website. Purchases included items typically used in the construction trade, such as doors, flooring and kitchen cabinets, authorities said. Lowes store surveillance footage captured the items being picked up, the AGs Office said. Advertisement Advertisement The Office of Attorney Generals Organized Retail Crime Section is prosecuting the case. Read the original article on lehighvalleylive.com. Add lehighvalleylive.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here. As the war in Iran and its ripple effects continue to escalate, global crude oil prices surpassed $100 per barrel for the first time since July 2022. Most major stock futures continue to nosedive as prices across oil-reliant industries spiked. Gas prices and airfare are seeing the most immediate impact, although the jump in airfare on flights from Asia and the Middle East is also influenced by surging demand as large numbers of travelers remain stranded across the region. In addition, chaos in the global oil market has caused combined price jumps of as much as 400% on airlines flying between Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. "Travel demand may be curtailed as costs become prohibitive": analyst Flights between Seoul and London, as first reported by Reuters from Google Flights data, spiked from $564 at the start of the month to $4,359 as last seen on March 11. Flights on Singapore Airlines have also surged by as much as 200% on flights from Singapore to London and New York. Some analysts are predicting that, as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian strikes on targets across the Middle East continue, oil prices could top $150 per barrel before the end of the month. "The issue for the airlines now is that travel demand may be curtailed as costs become prohibitive for leisure travelers and as some companies start to limit business travel due to the uncertain outlook," Lorraine Tan, director of equity research at Morningstar Asia, wrote in an investor note. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has been among those warning of how a spike in crude oil prices will impact airlines.TheStreet TheStreet Airline heads also warn of airfare price spikes Last week, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby was also among the industry insiders who warned that a prolonged conflict will cause significant losses to airlines that they will then have no choice but to pass on to customers through raised ticket prices. Jet fuel accounts for between 25% and 30% of an airline's total operating expenses, according to IATA data. More Travel News: "If it continues we'll feel it in Q2 also," Kirby said at a panel discussion on aviation at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, adding that the immediate impact on the prices travelers see will "probably start quick." Other airlines have also warned about the conflict's impact on their operating costs and subsequently airfare prices for travelers. Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air said it expects to see losses of as much as 50 million due to rising fuel prices. Delta Air Lines has estimated that an oil price increase of just one cent per gallon will increase its fuel costs by $40 million per year by the end of 2026. The administration of President Donald Trump is asking the Supreme Court to overturn a judge's order allowing temporary protected status for Haitian immigrants to remain in place, potentially opening the door for deportations to begin. The request for the case to be heard by the Supreme Court of the United States was filed on March 11. The nation's highest court has not agreed to take the case as of 4:30 p.m. on March 11. Haitian TPS had been set to expire in early February but a federal judge in Washington, D.C., ordered it to remain in effect while a lawsuit filed by several Haitians proceeds through the legal process. Haitians have had temporary protected status since 2010, and an estimated 350,000 Haitians live in the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Temporary protected status can be given to immigrants from countries where environmental disaster, epidemics, ongoing armed conflict or other extraordinary and temporary conditions exist. TPS allows those migrants to live and work legally in the United States. The Supreme Court emergency appeal comes less than a week after a federal appeals court denied a similar request. On March 6, the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia denied the administration's request for an order that would allow the temporary protected status to expire while the case is appealed. In the 2-1 ruling, Judges Florence Pan and Bradley Garcia said the administration has failed to articulate why the TPS designation was tolerated for months but now poses imminent harm to the United States. Both Pan and Garcia are appointees of President Joe Biden. Advertisement Advertisement "It had no urgent need for a stay because Haiti's TPS designation would expire ' in the next few months' - that is, four and a half months later in February 2026," Pan and Garcia wrote. "But here too, it should be no more than a 'few months' before this court can adjudicate the government's appeal on the merits. Yet the government does not explain what has changed to make the continued presence of Haitian TPS holders during that interim period a matter of 'imminent' irreparable harm." Marie, a Direct Support Professional for Saint Dominic's Family Services in Blauvelt, cries as she talks March 3, 2026 about the consequences of the Trump administration's efforts to end Temporary Protected Status for Haitian immigrants. Marie, a Haitian immigrant who has worked for St. Dominic's for ten years, fears having to leave the people she cares for, saying that she considers them her family. She also fears for her safety should she be deported to Haiti, where she hasn't lived for over twenty years. In a dissenting opinion, Appellate Judge Justin Walker, a Trump appointee, noted that the Supreme Court has granted the administration's request in similar cases it has already ruled upon. However, Walker wrote that the plaintiffs in the Haiti case do face the potential for harm. "If termination means the unlawful removal to Haiti of Plaintiffs who would prefer to stay in America, the Plaintiffs are injured: America is a safe and developed nation with individual liberties and economic opportunity - Haiti is not," Walker wrote. Prior to the Feb. 2 ruling from U.S. District Court Judge Ana Reyes, Haitian immigrants in Springfield had been bracing for a possible surge of immigration enforcement in the area. During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump and Vice President JD Vance amplified false rumors of Haitian migrants in Springfield eating their neighbors pets and vowed to deport them. Advertisement Advertisement More: Judge who blocked Haitian TPS termination says she received death threats If the Supreme Court agrees to review the case, it could have oral arguments and issue a decision through its regular process. The court also could rule through an emergency order, similar to what was done with temporary status for Venezuelan immigrants. A similar request related to TPS for Syrian immigrants is also pending. Reporter Bethany Bruner can be reached at bbruner@dispatch.com. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Haitian TPS lawsuit could be headed to Supreme Court The Trump administration on Wednesday asked the Supreme Court to pause a ruling by a federal judge in Washington, D.C., that barred the government from ending a program that allows Haitians to remain in the United States temporarily. U.S. Solicitor General D. John Sauer also asked the justices to take up the merits of the case, as well as a similar one already before them involving Syria, without waiting for a federal appeals court to weigh in. The issues that the governments application presents are common among the numerous challenges to efforts to terminate the program for a variety of countries, have been ventilated in litigation across the country, and cry out for immediate resolution, Sauer wrote. The program at the center of the case is known as the Temporary Protected Status program. Created in 1990, it allows the Department of Homeland Security to designate the nationals of a particular country to stay in the United States and work when they cannot return home because of a natural disaster, armed conflict, or other extraordinary or temporary conditions there. In 2010, Janet Napolitano then the Secretary of Homeland Security designated Haiti under the TPS program after a massive earthquake occurred just outside the countrys capital, leading to more than 200,000 deaths and widespread destruction. Advertisement Advertisement On Nov. 28, 2025, then-DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced that Haitis TPS designation would end on Feb. 3, 2026. Although she acknowledged escalating violence and gang violence in Port-au-Prince, the countrys capital, she said that she had determined that there are no extraordinary and temporary conditions in Haiti that prevent Haitian nationals from returning in safety. But in any event, Noem continued, it is contrary to the national interest of the United States to permit Haitian nationals to remain temporarily in the United States. On Dec. 5, 2025, a group of five Haitian nationals with TPS went to federal court in Washington to challenge the governments effort to end the program. As of June 2025, approximately 350,000 Haitian nationals in the United States had temporary protected status. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes issued a ruling on Feb. 2, 2026, that temporarily barred the Trump administration from ending TPS for Haitians. Reyes agreed with the challengers that it was substantially likely that Noem had ended the Haitian TPS designation because of hostility to nonwhite immigrants. Noems conclusion that Haiti (a majority nonwhite country) faces merely concerning conditions cannot be squared with the perfect storm of suffering and staggering humanitarian toll described in page-after-page of the record before her. Moreover, Reyes added, Noem had not as required by law consulted with other federal agencies before ending Haitis TPS designation, nor had she considered the billions Haitian TPS holders contribute to the economy. Last week a divided panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit turned down the governments plea to put Reyes ruling on hold while litigation continues. The majority acknowledged that the Supreme Court, in two cases on its interim docket involving the Trump administrations efforts to terminate TPS designations for Venezuela, had granted similar requests from the government. But the court of appeals concluded that those cases were meaningfully distinct because the government had invoked complex and ongoing negotiations with Venezuela as part of its irreparable harm concerns not present, the court of appeals said, in this case. Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration then came to the Supreme Court on Wednesday, asking the justices to intervene. Sauer emphasized that the Haiti and Syria cases are the legal equivalent of fraternal, if not identical, twinstoo similar to distinguish from this Courts previous stay orders in the Venezuela TPS cases. The lower courts, Sauer argued, should be guided by those rulings, as two other federal courts of appeals have in cases involving the termination of TPS for other countries. But other lower courts, Sauer noted, have instead fastened upon immaterial distinctions (a lack of elaboration; disclination to divin[e] what this Court might have reasoned, different countr[ies]) to disregard the necessary import of those orders. Sauer also cited Reyes ruling as an example of how lower courts are again attempting to block major executive-branch policy initiatives in ways that inflict specific harms to the national interest and foreign relations. Unless and until the Supreme Court steps in, Sauer said, this unsustainable cycle will repeat again and again, spawning more competing rulings and competing views of what to make of this Courts interim orders. This Court, Sauer wrote, should break that cycle by granting stays as well as granting review on the merits now. The Supreme Court has directed the challengers to file their response to the governments request by Monday, March 16, at 12 p.m. EDT. For more Supreme Court news and analysis, visit SCOTUSblog. Read more at SCOTUSblog Attorney General Pam Bondi has reportedly been moved to secure housing on a Washington, D.C. area military base after she received threats from drug cartels and those angry over her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, according to a new report. Sometime in the past month, Bondi was moved out of an apartment in Washington, D.C. after federal law enforcement officials flagged the threats against her, The New York Times reports, citing "people familiar with the situation." Bondi reportedly began receiving threats in the wake of the Trump administration's capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in January, a senior official with direct knowledge told The NYT. Advertisement Advertisement The report did not include specific details of any of the threats made against Bondi. She isn't the only Trump administration official who has been moved onto military bases to protect them from blowback. Attorney General Pam Bondi has been moved to military housing in the Washington, D.C. area after she received threats from drug cartels and those angry over her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation and file release, according to a new report (AFP via Getty Images) President Donald Trump's Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller widely seen as the architect of Trump's heavy-handed anti-immigration agenda has also been moved into protective housing. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former Department of Homeland Security Director Kristi Noem, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have also been placed in secured housing. All of the officials are the public faces of Trump's most controversial undertakings his foreign policy, his anti-immigration agenda, and his military adventurism and now Bondi, the face of the Justice Department that handled the Epstein case, will join them. The report did not disclose the exact location of the base where the AG has been moved. Advertisement Advertisement It's unclear if Bondi and the rest of Trump's front-liners are paying to stay on the bases. Last year, before she was ousted, Noem told The NYT that she was paying "fair-market rent" for her on-base housing. U.S. officials who are at risk of being targeted by domestic or foreign threats taking up residence on military bases is not an unprecedented practice. During Trump's first term, Mike Pompeo similarly stayed on a base, as did Trump's then-Defense Secretary James Mattis. During former President George W. Bush's administration, his Defense Secretary Robert Gates, stayed in naval housing near Washington, D.C. In 1974, Congress approved the use of the U.S. Naval Observatory for use as the vice presidents residence. The US Vice President's Residence at the Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C. (AFP via Getty Images) Bondi's move to base housing reportedly occurred around or just after the Super Bowl, based on the report. During this year's Super Bowl, the survivors of Epstein's crimes ran a televised public service announcement pleading with Bondi to adhere to the terms of the Epstein Files Transparency Act and release all of the documents the government has regarding the investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Stand With Us, Tell Attorney General Pam Bondi Its Time For The Truth, the PSA said. Bondi and the Department of Justice released more than 3.5 million documents relating to Epstein in late January, some 42 days after it was legally required to do so. But the public later learned there were documents pertaining to Epstein that, for reasons unknown, the Justice Department did not make public. That revelation gave rise to renewed suspicions of a cover-up by the Trump administration. Bondi has faced criticism not only for failing to release all of the Epstein files, but also for failing to properly redact the files that were released. She was forced to remove thousands of published Epstein documents because they contained names and other identifying information about victims. Victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein react as US Attorney General Pam Bondi testifies before a House Judiciary Committee hearing on "Oversight of the Department of Justice" on Capitol Hill on February 11 (AFP/Getty) This latest release of Jeffrey Epstein files is being sold as transparency, but what it actually does is expose survivors, Epstein victims wrote in a statement following the release. Once again, survivors are having their names and identifying information exposed, while the men who abused us remain hidden and protected. That is outrageous," Advertisement Advertisement They continued, saying that as survivors, we should never be the ones named, scrutinized, and re-traumatized while Epsteins enablers continue to benefit from secrecy." "This is a betrayal of the very people this process is supposed to serve," the letter said. The Independent has requested comment from the Department of Justice. Republican House candidate Clay Fuller says his playbook for the runoff election for a vacant congressional district in solidly red northwest Georgia that was once held by Marjorie Taylor Greene is simple. "We're just going to continue to get that message out about President Trump supporting us, and my experience, being a military officer, an elected district attorney and an America First fighter too," Fuller told Fox News Digital. Fuller was interviewed soon after he advanced to the runoff after coming in the top two in the special election in Georgia's 14th Congressional District. He will face off in the runoff with Democrat Shawn Harris, a retired brigadier general and cattle farmer. Advertisement Advertisement Harris grabbed 37% of the vote, with Fuller at 35% amid a field of 17 candidates, including 12 Republicans. Special Election To Fill Marjorie Taylor Greene's Old Seat In Congress Heads Into Overtime Tuesday's special election and the April 7 runoff are being held as Republicans cling to a razor-thin 218214 majority in the House. Read On The Fox News App Republican Clay Fuller speaks to supporters after learning he would advance to a runoff election during an election night watch party, March 10, 2026, in Rome, Georgia. (AP Newsroom) The congressional seat was left vacant when MAGA firebrand Greene stepped down at the beginning of January. Greene quit Congress with a year left in her term, after a very public falling out with Trump mostly over her push to release the Jeffrey Epstein files. Advertisement Advertisement The GOP cannot afford any surprises and allow the Democrats to pull an upset in a district which extends from Atlanta's northwest exurbs to Georgia's northwestern border with Alabama and northern border with Tennessee that Trump carried by a whopping 37 points in his 2024 presidential victory. Conservative Leader: Midterms A Choice Between Trump's Great Progress' And Letting Socialists Back In "President Trump truly matters in Georgia 14," emphasized Fuller, a local prosecutor and Air National Guard member. Trump teamed up with Fuller during a stop in the district in March. Speaking ahead of the president at an event in Rome, Georgia, Fuller described himself as a "MAGA warrior." Republican congressional candidate Clay Fuller, left, speaks next to President Donald Trump, during a visit to the Coosa Steel Corporation in Rome, Georgia, Feb. 19, 2026. "Its Christmas every time he's here," Fuller told Fox News Digital. "Let's get him back as many times as we can. I'd love to have him here every day. I know he's got bigger issues than Georgia 14 to deal with, but I'd love to see him. Let's get Vice President JD Vance down here. Let's get everybody down here." Advertisement Advertisement Fuller was also backed by the deep-pocketed political group Club for Growth, which pushes a pro-growth, limited government agenda. Democratic Party of Georgia Chair Charlie Bailey, pointing to Harris topping the field Tuesday, argued that "Georgians are sick and tired of cost-raising, health care-cutting, failed Republican leadership and Shawns performance tonight is the proof." Harris, taking to social media Wednesday, said, "Last night we came out on top in a crowded field and earned our spot in the runoff. Thats no small thing in Northwest Georgia. Now its one-on-one on April 7. Were going right back to work and were going to win again." But Harris, who lost to Greene by nearly 30 points in 2024, will face a steep climb in the runoff election. Advertisement Advertisement Democrat sources tell Fox News Digital it's highly unlikely Democratic-aligned groups will invest resources in the runoff. It's on to an April 7 runoff election in Georgia's 14th Congressional District, in the race to fill the House seat left vacant when then-Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican, resigned from Congress in early January. Fuller said he would be reaching out to the other Republican candidates who were on the ballot, including former state Sen. Colton Moore, a vocal Trump supporter who enjoys plenty of support from the far right. Moore finished in third place, with nearly 12% of the vote. Click Here To Download The Fox News App "We know that the Republican Party is going to consolidate around President Trump's choice. We're going to drive out the vote," Fuller said. And he emphasized, "Everybody in the field understands that a Democrat cannot represent Georgia 14. It would be a tragedy for Georgia 14, a tragedy for the MAGA movement. And we're going to rally around as a party and go and win this thing and defeat Sean Harris." Original article source: Trump ally Clay Fuller advances in Georgia fight for MTGs former seat Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., is endorsing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for U.S. Senate. Paxton is facing off against incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, in the Lone Star State's GOP U.S. Senate primary runoff. "Ken Paxton is a proven conservative fighter who will be a champion for the people of Texas in Washington," Burlison, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, said in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital. Advertisement Advertisement Cornyn, Paxton Ready To Go For The Throat In 2Nd Act Of Brutal Primary Campaign Left: Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., leaves a meeting of the House Republican Conference in the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, June 4, 2025; Right: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton campaigns as a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate at an event on Feb. 28, 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Getty Images) "During the Biden Administration, Ken led the national legal charge to stop the Biden Border Crisis and stop the far-left agenda. He's fought for Texans' rights against woke corporations and the Austin political establishment. In the Senate, he will continue to be a fearless conservative who will never back down. That's why I'm proud to wholeheartedly endorse his campaign," Burlison added. While Cornyn and Paxton were the top finishers in the primary, no candidate won a majority, so the two men will go head-to-head in a runoff primary election later this year. Read On The Fox News App Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trump indicated that he plans to endorse one of the two men but has held off on choosing. Trump notably endorsed Burlison for reelection last year, describing him as a "warrior" for the MAGA movement. Paxton Vows He's Staying In This Race Even If Trump Backs Cornyn In Texas Gop Clash President Donald Trump takes questions from the media during a bilateral meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office of the White House on March 3, 2026, in Washington, D.C. "The Republican Primary Race for the United States Senate in the Great State of Texas, a State I LOVE and won 3 times in Record Numbers (the HIGHEST vote ever recorded, by far!!!), cannot, for the good of the Party, and our Country, itself, be allowed to go on any longer. IT MUST STOP NOW! We have an easy to beat, Radical Left Opponent, and we have to TOTALLY FOCUS on putting him away, quickly and decisively!" Trump declared in the Truth Social post. "Both John and Ken ran great races, but not good enough. Now, this one, must be PERFECT! My Endorsements within the Republican Party have been virtually insurmountable! It is such an honor to realize and say that almost everyone I Endorse WINS, and wins by a lot, especially in Texas! I will be making my Endorsement soon, and will be asking the candidate that I dont Endorse to immediately DROP OUT OF THE RACE! Is that fair? We must win in November!!! Thank you for your attention to this matter," the president added in the post. Advertisement Advertisement The Right Thing: Paxton, Cornyn Trade Blows In Texas Primary But Unite For Trump's Iran Strikes Click Here To Download The Fox News App Texas state Rep. James Talarico defeated U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett in the Texas Democratic U.S. Senate primary. Original article source: Trump ally endorses Paxton over Cornyn as GOP Senate primary heads to high-stakes Texas runoff Washington The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court on Wednesday to clear the way for it to end temporary deportation protections for more than 350,000 Haitian immigrants. The bid for emergency relief from the Justice Department is the latest arising out of the Department of Homeland Security's efforts to end Temporary Protected Status for a host of countries, putting immigrants from those places at risk of deportation. The Supreme Court has so far allowed the Trump administration to roll back protections for Venezuelan migrants, and a request involving Syrian immigrants is awaiting action from the high court. Haitians were first granted Temporary Protected Status in 2010 because of "extraordinary and temporary conditions" following a catastrophic earthquake that left more than 300,000 people dead and devastated the country. Advertisement Advertisement In his first administration, President Trump moved to rescind the protections for Haiti, but the termination was caught up in a court fight and didn't take effect because he left office. But after Mr. Trump returned to the White House for a second term, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem took steps to end Haiti's TPS designation, effective Feb. 3. Noem determined the decision to end the protections "reflects a necessary and strategic vote of confidence in the new chapter Haiti is turning" and the president's "foreign policy vision of a secure, sovereign and self-reliant Haiti." While the secretary acknowledged that certain conditions in Haiti remained "concerning," Noem said parts of the country were "suitable" to return to. But in December, a group of five Haitian nationals challenged Noem's termination of TPS and sought to block the move. A federal district court granted their request last month, finding in part that Noem's decision to unwind the protections was likely motivated by racial animus. Advertisement Advertisement "Kristi Noem has a First Amendment right to call immigrants killers, leeches, entitlement junkies, and any other inapt name she wants," U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes wrote. "Secretary Noem, however, is constrained by both our Constitution and the [Administrative Procedure Act] to apply faithfully the facts to the law in implementing the TPS program. The record to-date shows she has yet to do that." The Justice Department appealed, and a divided three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., declined to freeze the lower court's decision. In urging the Supreme Court to allow the Trump administration to rescind the deportation protections, Solicitor General D. John Sauer argued that the theory embraced by the lower court threatened to invalidate "virtually every immigration policy of the current administration." Lower courts, he said, "are again attempting to block major executive-branch policy initiatives in ways that inflict specific harms to the national interest and foreign relations, while crediting harms to respondents that inhere in the temporary nature of TPS." Advertisement Advertisement TPS was created by Congress in 1990 and provides temporary immigration protections for people from countries beset by armed conflicts, natural disasters or other "extraordinary and temporary" conditions that make it dangerous for deportees to return. Migrants from a country designated for TPS generally cannot be removed from the U.S. and are authorized to work for the length of the designation, which typically lasts up to 18 months and can be extended. As part of his immigration agenda, Mr. Trump has moved to end TPS protections for immigrants from at least a dozen countries, including Afghanistan, Haiti, Nicaragua, Somalia and Yemen. CBS News exclusive: LA is "ground zero" for hospice fraud Family of teacher killed during prank asks for charges to be dropped against teens How Venezuela is changing 2 months after Maduro's capture Screenshot via Liz Landers Twitter President Donald Trump dismissed a reporter as rotten on Wednesday after she pointed out that his former attorney general contradicted his claim about 2020 election fraud. While speaking with the press outside the White House, PBSs Liz Landers asked Trump about the FBI issuing a grand jury subpoena for Arizona election records related to an inquiry into the results of the 2020 presidential election. Records were also recently seized by the FBI in Georgia related to the 2020 election. Advertisement Advertisement Sir, in Arizona, why did the FBI seize election records in that state? Landers asked Trump on Wednesday. Well, they probably thought the election was rigged, right? Trump responded. Landers then reminded him that Bill Barr, his former attorney general, found there was no widespread fraud in the 2020 election that would have changed the outcome, despite the presidents long-held belief there was. It wasnt rigged, though, Landers told the president. Oh, really? Who how do you know? Trump asked. Your own attorney general in 2020 said that there was not measurable voter fraud to change the outcome of the election, Landers said. Advertisement Advertisement You dont think it was rigged? I think it was rigged! Trump said. Sir, wheres the evidence of that? Landers asked. If you think it wasnt rigged, youre a rotten reporter! Trump said before moving on. I asked @POTUS about the FBI reportedly seizing election records in Arizona. He said they must have done that because it was a rigged election. I pointed out to him that his own AG said there was not measurable voter fraud to overturn that election pic.twitter.com/fGnfxTH3HO Liz Landers (@ElizLanders) March 11, 2026 Trump previously endorsed the Arizona news, calling it great on Truth Social. Trump and Barr had a falling out over the formers election fraud claims. Barr told NBC News in 2022 that he confronted Trump about his claims and told him they were bulls**t and his team was wrong for peddling them. Barr said the president became enraged in reaction. The president did earn Barrs endorsement in 2024, but he responded by mocking him and saying he let down people by not properly investigating election fraud. Advertisement Advertisement Wow! Former A.G. Bill Barr, who let a lot of great people down by not investigating Voter Fraud in our Country, has just Endorsed me for President despite the fact that I called him Weak, Slow Moving, Lethargic, Gutless, and Lazy (New York Post!), Trump posted to Truth Social at the time. Based on the fact that I greatly appreciate his wholehearted Endorsement, I am removing the word Lethargic from my statement. The post Trump Blasts Rotten Reporter After She Reminds Him His Own AG Contradicted His Election Claim first appeared on Mediaite. President Donald Trump had some choice words for U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie while visiting the Kentucky congressman's district on March 11. Trump was in Kentucky to visit Verst Logistics, a packaging manufacturer in Kentuckys 4th Congressional District, represented by Massie since late 2012. The president and the congressman have been in a bitter feud for the better part of a year, disagreeing over federal spending, overseas intervention and the release of the Epstein files. During a 75-minute speech, Trump called the congressman a "loser," "disloyal" and "a disaster as a congressman, and frankly, as a human being." Trump also called Massie "Rand Paul Jr.," saying the congressman "votes no on everything." Advertisement Advertisement "I could give him the best things in the history of a Republican voter, and he'd vote no," Trump said. "There's something wrong with him." While on stage, Trump also propped up Ed Gallrein, the candidate he chose to challenge Massie in the 2026 Republican primary. Trump praised Gallrein's background as a farmer and former Navy SEAL officer. "He's like central casting," Trump said. "This is the guy I'm looking for. I wanted just give me somebody with a warm body to beat Massie. And I got somebody with a warm body but a big, beautiful brain." Trump also defended Gallrein, who left the Republican Party and filed as an independent in 2016 after Trump was chosen as the presidential nominee. Before Trump's visit, Massie's campaign launched a new attack ad featuring Gallrein's hiatus as a member of the Republican Party and calling the Shelby County native a "Never Trumper." Advertisement Advertisement "He came back strong because I got involved, and he came back stronger than he ever was," Trump said. JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND - MARCH 11: U.S. President Donald Trump waves as he boards Air Force One on March 11, 2026 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. President Trump is traveling to Ohio and Kentucky today to highlight two local businesses. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) US President Donald Trump boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on March 11, 2026. Trump will be making multiple stops in Kentucky and Ohio including Thermo Fisher Scientific and Verst Logistics. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP via Getty Images) US President Donald Trump waves as he boards Marine One as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 11, 2026. Trump will be making multiple stops in Kentucky and Ohio including Thermo Fisher Scientific and Verst Logistics. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media next to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 11, 2026. REUTERS/Brian Snyder US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters alongside White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt before departing from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 11, 2026. Trump will be making multiple stops in Kentucky and Ohio including Thermo Fisher Scientific and Verst Logistics. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) US President Donald Trump speaks with guests before boarding Marine One as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 11, 2026. Trump will be making multiple stops in Kentucky and Ohio including Thermo Fisher Scientific and Verst Logistics. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) US President Donald Trump speaks to guests on his way to board Marine One as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 11, 2026. Trump will be making multiple stops in Kentucky and Ohio including Thermo Fisher Scientific and Verst Logistics. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before boarding Marine One as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 11, 2026. Trump will be making multiple stops in Kentucky and Ohio including Thermo Fisher Scientific and Verst Logistics. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) US President Donald Trump speaks with guests before boarding Marine One as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 11, 2026. Trump will be making multiple stops in Kentucky and Ohio including Thermo Fisher Scientific and Verst Logistics. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before boarding Marine One as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 11, 2026. Trump will be making multiple stops in Kentucky and Ohio including Thermo Fisher Scientific and Verst Logistics. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before boarding Marine One as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 11, 2026. Trump will be making multiple stops in Kentucky and Ohio including Thermo Fisher Scientific and Verst Logistics. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 11: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters as he departs for Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on March 11, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is traveling to Ohio and Kentucky today to highlight two local businesses. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 11: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters alongside White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt as he departs for Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on March 11, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is traveling to Ohio and Kentucky today to highlight two local businesses. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) U.S. President Donald Trump walks as he heads to Marine One to travel to Ohio and Kentucky, from the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 11, 2026. REUTERS/Brian Snyder US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before boarding Marine One as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 11, 2026. Trump will be making multiple stops in Kentucky and Ohio including Thermo Fisher Scientific and Verst Logistics. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters alongside White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt before departing from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 11, 2026. Trump will be making multiple stops in Kentucky and Ohio including Thermo Fisher Scientific and Verst Logistics. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters alongside White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt before departing from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 11, 2026. Trump will be making multiple stops in Kentucky and Ohio including Thermo Fisher Scientific and Verst Logistics. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) Guests on the South Lawn of the White House wait for US President Donald Trump to walk to Marine One in Washington, DC, on March 11, 2026. Trump will be making multiple stops in Kentucky and Ohio including Thermo Fisher Scientific and Verst Logistics. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) Guests on the South Lawn of the White House wait for US President Donald Trump to walk to Marine One in Washington, DC, on March 11, 2026. Trump will be making multiple stops in Kentucky and Ohio including Thermo Fisher Scientific and Verst Logistics. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) Donald Trump visits Northern Kentucky. See photos from the event 1 of 19 JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND - MARCH 11: U.S. President Donald Trump waves as he boards Air Force One on March 11, 2026 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. President Trump is traveling to Ohio and Kentucky today to highlight two local businesses. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) Trump said he was interested to see how Massie votes on the SAVE Act, which would require proof of documentation to vote in federal elections. "He has to vote for it," Trump said. "But he's a nut job, so you never know." Gallrein, who entered the U.S. House race in October 2025 with Trump's endorsement, thanked the president for his support and condemned Massie for voting against Trump and the Republican Party. "You deserve an authentic, true Republican conservative that stands shoulder to shoulder with our president and the Republican Party and against the Democrats trying to destroy our nation," Gallrein said before leading the crowd in chants of "U.S.A., U.S.A." Former US Navy SEALs officer Ed Gallrein speaks as US President Donald Trump looks on during their visit to Verst Logistics in Hebron, Kentucky, on March 11, 2026. President Trump is backing Capt. Ed Gallrein, who is eyeing to unseat his outspoken critic Representative Thomas Massie, Republican of Kentucky, in the November 2026 mid-term elections. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP via Getty Images) Prior to the presidents speech, Gallrein called Massies opposition to action in Iran unforgivable. Advertisement Advertisement Thomas Massie has failed the voters of this district time and time again. He has misrepresented the district," Gallrein said. "You deserve a congressman who stands united with you, the president and the Republican Party. Even before he took the stage, Trump was railing against the Kentucky congressman. In a Truth Social post just hours before the event, the president called Massie The Republican Partys Worst 'Congressman,' EVER and defended Gallrein for his change in voter registration. Thomas Massie, is attacking GREAT Navy Seal Hero, Ed Gallrein, who is running against him in the Primary, saying that Ed became an Independent for a period of time, long ago, Trump wrote. The fact is, many people do that, but Ed still supported me, and strongly, which is far more than Massie ever did, or does. Ed came back into the Party after he saw the Strength and 'Wisdom' that I displayed. Massie hasn't stayed silent amid the criticisms. Prior to Trump's visit, he appeared on Cincinnati-area radio station 55KRC-FM, saying he was "glad" the president was visiting Kentucky, while questioning if Trump would address rising gas prices and the impact of tariffs on logistics facilities like the one in Hebron. Advertisement Advertisement Massie previously challenged Gallrein to a debate, joking that the president could moderate it, according to reporting from the Cincinnati Enquirer. While on the air, he called his primary challenger "lifeless," a "poser" and a "Never Trumper." "Thats true, Im not running against Donald Trump. Im running against a nobody who lost a state Senate race that they dusted off, Massie said. Reach reporter Keely Doll at kdoll@courierjournal.com or follow her on X at @keely_doll. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Donald Trump calls Thomas Massie 'disaster,' 'loser' in KY speech Federal judges in Milwaukee announced that Brad Schimels temporary appointment as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin will expire next week. Schimel, the states former attorney general who unsuccessfully ran for the Wisconsin Supreme Court last year, was tapped by Attorney General Pam Bondi for the role in November. His appointment came as Wisconsins two senators, Democrat Tammy Baldwin and MAGA Republican Ron Johnson, could not agree on who should serve in the role. Brad Schimel lost the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court election by more than 10 points, in what became the most expensive judicial race in U.S. history. / Eric Cox/Reuters That resulted in Schimels term being just temporary, and under federal law it was set to end March 17 unless a majority of judges in the Eastern District of Wisconsin agreed to extend his appointment, which they did not. Advertisement Advertisement In doing so, the Court intends no criticism or commentary on the performance or qualifications of the Interim United States Attorney or any of the attorneys in the United States Attorneys Office. To the credit of that office, from the Courts perspective, it has continued to represent the citizens of this district well, the announcement read. The judges await the nomination and confirmation of a full-time United States Attorney by the President and United States Senate, the announcement concluded. Schimel was appointed to the Waukesha County Circuit Court after he did not win reelection as Wisconsin AG in 2018. / Scott Olson/Getty Images Last week, Baldwin said she opposed Schimel continuing to serve in the role as she argued that the Senate needs to get back to that process and not allow the Trump administration to skirt the law. We have a process in Wisconsin that has worked to advance high-quality, impartial, and experienced candidates. Sometimes its been hard, but getting the right person who will uphold the rule of law, not pledge loyalty to the President, is more important than ever, she said in a statement. Baldwin did not support Schimel's appointment, and said she looks forward to supporting a nonpartisan official for the role. / ALEX WROBLEWSKI / AFP via Getty Images In response, Schimel told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he was unaware where Baldwins vitriol was coming from, and said they had a pleasant working relationship. Advertisement Advertisement In reaction to the news that Schimel would not be staying past his 120-day interim period, Baldwin said, Im glad that the judges of the Eastern District of Wisconsin are respecting the process that Senator Johnson and I have to get high quality, impartial prosecutors to serve Wisconsin. The Daily Beast reached out to the White House, DOJ, and Eastern District of Wisconsin for comment. Several of Trumps temporary prosecutors have been dealt the same blow that Schimel now has. Trumps former personal attorney, Alina Habba, was thrown out of the New Jersey U.S. Attorneys office last year in a dramatic back-and-forth in court. Advertisement Advertisement Schimel served as the states attorney general from 2015 to 2019 alongside former Republican Gov. Scott Walker. The pair lost their re-election campaigns in 2018, and Walker appointed him to the Waukesha County Circuit Court. He lost the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court race, even with Elon Musks high-value endorsement, by more than 10 percentage points to now-Justice Susan Crawford in what became the most expensive judicial race in U.S. history. The states 2025 Supreme Court race was seen as an early litmus test for how the Trump administrations policies were playing out, especially as Wisconsin has been a key swing state in presidential elections for the last decade. Republicans hold a slight edge over Democrats in the states voter roll, and it is the only state left that has a Republican and a Democrat currently representing it in the Senate. Baldwin hung onto her Senate seat in the 2024 election, all while Trump won the state by about 30,000 votes over Kamala Harris. President Donald Trump likes to say that no one understands the Make America Great Again movement like him, its founder and undisputed champion. But as he weighs which candidate to endorse in the U.S. Senate runoff in Texas, some of the states Republicans fear he may be out of step with what his base wants. In interviews with The Associated Press, several said it would be a mistake for Trump to endorse four-term incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, a favorite of the Washington establishment, over conservative crusader Ken Paxton, the state attorney general. Some of his hardest and most ardent supporters will see this as a slap in the face," said Tom Oliverson, a Houston-area lawmaker who leads the Republican caucus in the Texas House. Advertisement Advertisement Steve Toth, a Republican state lawmaker from The Woodlands who recently defeated incumbent Rep. Dan Crenshaw, said "what the president doesnt understand here in Texas is the amount of frustration that Texas voters have with John Cornyn. Since Trump remains widely popular in the state, I dont think its a mistake thats going to hurt him, Toth said. But do I think its a mistake for him to possibly endorse John Cornyn? Yes, I do. Cornyn and Paxton are facing off in a May 26 runoff after neither won a majority in the March 3 primary to clinch the nomination outright. Trump said March 4 that he would endorse one of them, and subsequently hinted in an interview with Politico that he was leaning toward Cornyn. But no endorsement has been announced, leaving both candidates jockeying for the upper hand in a race that could become increasingly ugly and expensive in the weeks to come. Advertisement Advertisement Cornyn has his own supporters within the Texas Legislature. Im hoping that the president will look at all the facts and support an honorable senator who has represented Texas very well, as opposed to a crook and a liar, said Rep. Charlie Geren of Fort Worth. Cornyn tried to further align himself with Trump on Wednesday by reversing his position on the Senate filibuster. The senator said he would support changing the rules to pass the SAVE America Act, which the president has described as his top priority. The legislation would require voters to prove their citizenship when registering. I support whatever changes to Senate rules that may prove necessary, Cornyn wrote in an op-ed in the New York Post, to get the bill through the Senate and on the presidents desk for his signature. Advertisement Advertisement Paxton had already played for Trump's favor on the issue, saying nearly a week ago that he would be willing to drop out of the race if the Senate passed the measure. Right now it's stalled because there aren't enough votes to overcome the filibuster, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune doesn't want to change the rules. Cornyns campaign began airing its first television advertisement of the runoff campaign, a bruising spot that uses a Christian theme that notes Paxtons wife accused him of infidelity. A narrators booming voice intones, Thou shalt not commit adultery, over images of churches and the Bible. The campaign is spending $330,000 for the opening round and is expected to expand it. Cornyn was elected in 2002, at the height of Texan George W. Bushs popularity as president. He has more recently been dismissive of Trump and his agenda, saying in 2023 that Trumps time has passed." Likewise, he had called Trumps proposed U.S.-Mexico border wall naive early on, and helped pass gun-control legislation after the Uvalde school shooting in 2022. Rep. Matt Shaheen of Plano said Cornyn has the conservative credentials, notably as a reliable opponent of abortion rights, but has broader appeal than Paxton. Advertisement Advertisement John Cornyn is the only person who can beat James Talarico, Shaheen said, referring to the Democratic nominee in the race. And I believe the president understands that. Texas Rep. Wesley Virdell, a leading gun-rights advocate in the state House from Brady, said he's worried that Trump will back Cornyn. I have concern that he may be getting bad advice from certain officials, said Virdell. I hope he will take other conservative members opinions into consideration, because I think its going to look really bad for President Trump if he endorses him." Paxton, despite the nod to Trumps legislative priority, has shown no signs of dropping from the race. He plans to speak at the Conservative Political Action Committee conference, a gathering of the nations leading conservative officials and personalities, this year in Dallas. Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Shelley Luther of rural Grayson County said her constituents would be disappointed if Trump backed Cornyn. Theyd be like, Hes out of touch with what Texans want,'" she said. ____ Beaumont reported from Des Moines, Iowa. Oil climbed in another volatile trading session as escalating rhetoric from global leaders over the war in Iran outweighed an emergency release of crude reserves by wealthy nations. West Texas Intermediate futures gained 4.6% to settle above $87 a barrel. Iran told regional intermediaries that for a ceasefire, the US must guarantee that neither it nor Israel will strike the country in the future. The US is unlikely to accept those terms, further diminishing already fading expectations that the war will end soon. Most Read from Bloomberg Trump said the US could strike even more targets in Iran if we want, just a day after insisting the operation is winding down. The European Union, meanwhile, called for continued enforcement of the price cap on Russian oil, tempering speculation that Moscows crude could flow more freely to global markets in the near term. The developments limited bearish momentum after the International Energy Agency on Wednesday announced an unprecedented release of 400 million barrels, surpassing even the drawdown following Russias invasion of Ukraine. Many traders also remain wary of the lack of clarity surrounding US release plans, with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum saying in a CNBC interview that American participation would ultimately be up to the president. With 15 to 20 million barrels a day of Persian Gulf supply currently offline, the plan provides cushion for about a month, said Pavel Molchanov, an analyst at Raymond James. Its a good start, though if the Iran conflict were to last beyond March, additional releases may be needed. The release highlights the tenuous state of the oil market after the war in the Middle East effectively halted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz the narrow channel that typically handles a fifth of global crude flows and led major Persian Gulf producers to cut output. Three vessels were hit with suspected projectiles in the region on Wednesday, as the conflict shows no signs of abating. Some countries have begun to detail release plans. The UK is set to contribute 13.5 million barrels, while South Korea plans to release 22.46 million barrels from its strategic oil reserves. Beyond the global release, Washington has floated a range of other creative measures to stem a sharp rise in energy prices. Trump is preparing to invoke the Defense Production Act to preempt state laws and ease permitting for Sable Offshore Corp., in a bid to boost domestic output with foreign barrels stranded overseas. Republican Clayton Fuller and Democrat Shawn Harris are advancing to a runoff in the special election to serve out the remainder of former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greenes term in Congress. Fuller, a local prosecutor and Air National Guard member, is heavily favored in the April 7 runoff in the deep-red northwest Georgia district. He overcame a crowded field of Republican competitors with the help of an endorsement from President Donald Trump in early February. But his inability to win 50 percent of the vote means the seat will remain open for another month, hampering House Republicans already-slim majority. Advertisement Advertisement The election was widely expected to head into a runoff given the high volume of interest in the seat. The crowded special election drew interest from more than 20 candidates after Greenes abrupt departure from Congress amid her high-profile falling-out with Trump. Greene declined to throw her support behind any candidates in the race, but her legacy and public spat with the president loomed large over the race to replace her in the House. Harris, the Democrat, unsuccessfully challenged Greene in 2024. Despite advancing into the runoff, the retired brigadier general and cattle farmer faces a steep uphill climb to overcome the districts conservative lean. Georgias 14th Congressional District stretches from Atlantas northwest exurbs along the states border with Alabama and up to its northern border with Tennessee. Greene has carried the seat by massive margins since she was first elected in 2020 a reflection of the areas strong conservative tilt. The seat is expected to remain out of reach for Democrats regardless of the political headwinds Republicans face nationally this year as prices rise and voters sour on Trumps agenda. But Harris actually led the crowded field of candidates with nearly all votes counted. The Democratic candidates combined to win 40 percent of the overall vote in a district where Democrats won just 31 percent of the vote in each of the last two presidential elections, making this election the latest Democratic over-performance in a special election over the past year. Advertisement Advertisement The runoff extends the seats vacancy in Washington, where House Republican leadership is eager to grow their razor-thin majority as quickly as possible. But election season in Georgia, even for this seat, is hardly over. Several of the candidates who mounted special election bids have already qualified to run in the mid-May primary for a full term representing the district. That includes former state Sen. Colton Moore, a hardline conservative and longtime Trump supporter who declined to step back from the race even without the presidents backing and finished a distant third in the race. Fuller is set for a rematch with many of the same figures he triumphed over in this special election, though he now enters that primary with the advantage of a nascent incumbency as well as Trumps support. CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article misspelled Marjorie Taylor Greenes name. Ellie Suggs, left, talks with Mattie Savage as she makes a sign at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, Reading Branch, before President Donald Trump arrives in Reading on March 11, 2026. Trump will visit Thermo Fisher Scientific, a pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, in Reading to discuss TrumpRx.gov, a new prescription drug website. Ellie Suggs, left, talks with other demonstrators as she makes a sign at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, Reading Branch, before President Donald Trump arrives in Reading on March 11, 2026. Trump will visit Thermo Fisher Scientific, a pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, in Reading to discuss TrumpRx.gov, a new prescription drug website. Amber Taylor, 26, makes a sign at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, Reading Branch, before President Donald Trump arrives to Reading on March 11, 2026. Taylor said this will be her first time attending a protest. Trump visits Northern Kentucky 1 of 3 Ellie Suggs, left, talks with Mattie Savage as she makes a sign at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, Reading Branch, before President Donald Trump arrives in Reading on March 11, 2026. Trump will visit Thermo Fisher Scientific, a pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, in Reading to discuss TrumpRx.gov, a new prescription drug website. President Donald Trump gave Ohio native Jake Paul a shout out at a rally in Kentucky on March 11. Trump referenced investment in the United States. "We got $18 trillion and Jake Paul knows what that means. $18 trillion!" Trump said at the beginning of his remarks. US boxer and influencer Jake Paul waits for US President Donald Trump to speak at Verst Logistics in Hebron, Kentucky, on March 11, 2026. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP via Getty Images) Paul, a boxer and YouTuber, attended Trump's rally at Verst Logistics in Hebron, Kentucky. Trump also visited Thermo Fisher Scientific in Reading, Ohio on March 11. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president wanted to meet with business owners and lawmakers he admired and talk about the economy. Jake Paul is here at Trumps Kentucky rally just a few miles from his home state of Ohio. He emerged into the crowd moments after Trump participated in an undisclosed podcast interview pic.twitter.com/UQUMZRKNM9 Katelyn Caralle (@Katelyn_Caralle) March 11, 2026 Paul was born in Cleveland and grew an audience as a social media and Disney Channel star. Advertisement Advertisement In 2024, he encouraged his audience to vote for Trump in his stead, as Paul lives in Puerto Rico and can not vote in presidential elections. This story was republished to add a gallery and links to related content. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio native Jake Paul attends Trump rally in Northern Kentucky President Trump will venture to northern Kentucky on Wednesday in a forceful effort to topple a sitting Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie (Ky.), who has emerged as the presidents most vocal GOP antagonist in the Capitol. Trump is scheduled to visit a packaging plant in Hebron in Massies 4th Congressional District, where the president has endorsed Massies primary opponent, Ed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL officer whos vowing to stick by Trump and deliver America First results for Kentucky. The visit comes amid the U.S.-Israel attacks on Iran, which are shaping up to be a potent issue in the race after Massie voted last week in opposition to Trumps unilateral strikes a lonely position in a GOP conference where only one other Republican crossed the aisle to demand that Trump get congressional approval to continue the operations. Advertisement Advertisement The Kentucky primary, slated for May 19, is being closely watched as a gauge of Trumps continued grip on the GOP at a time when hes facing low approval ratings, a tough midterm cycle when hes not on the ballot, and internal accusations that hes abandoned the America First pledge that swept him back into office. Massie, perhaps more than any other Republican in Congress, has been forceful in airing those criticisms. And hes not letting up just because the primary is getting closer. The price of gas has gone up $0.47 and the price of diesel has gone up $0.83 in 10 days due to War with Iran, Massie posted this week on the social platform X. This isnt America First. Advertisement Advertisement Massie, a conservative iconoclast with a libertarian lean, is no stranger to internal challenges, having easily fended off primary contenders in each of the past three cycles. But his willingness to break with GOP leaders has grown only more pronounced throughout Trumps return to office over the past year, when hes jousted with the White House over some of the biggest issues in Washington. That list includes Trumps tariffs, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files and Iran. That track record has infuriated Trump, who is well known for demanding loyalty and going after anyone who doesnt provide it. Its also made Massie public enemy No. 1 in the eyes of the MAGA faithful, and Gallrein is seen as the most formidable threat to Massies seat since he first won it in 2012. Trump is doing everything he can to make sure Massie is shown the exit. Trump, before endorsing Gallrein, had handpicked him to enter the contest. A number of outside groups associated with Trump have spent heavily on the race. On Truth Social, the president has gone after Massie relentlessly, calling him a moron, the worst Republican in Washington and a pathetic RINO. (In the same taunting vein, hes also gone after Massies wife). And this week, in the wake of Massies vote against the Iran strikes, Trump will take that feud directly into the district to stump for Gallrein in a test of his continued influence over Republican primary voters. Advertisement Advertisement Heading into the visit, some House Republicans offered sideways praise of Massie for his consistency in promoting a set of principles. But those same voices also defended Trumps decision to go after the seven-term maverick, saying Massie has invited the blowback by bucking the president on some of his top priorities. I believe that Thomas Massie believes what he believes. [But] much of what he believes thats contrary to the president of the United States and our leadership, I dont agree with, said Rep. Mark Alford (R-Mo.). And the president has every right to you know, hes built a pretty big war chest, and hes made it known that hes going to use that to get members in Congress who are going to vote the America First agenda. And Im supportive of that. Massie, through it all, has remained defiant, arguing that hes merely trying to hold Trump to the promises he made during the 2024 campaign. Advertisement Advertisement He said he voted against Trumps big tax cut package, for instance, because it piles trillions of dollars onto deficit spending, contrary to Trumps vows to reduce the national debt. He says hes championed the release of the Epstein files not only on behalf of Epsteins victims, but also the millions of voters who believed Trump would release them on his own. And in opposing the Iran conflict, he was not only reasserting Congresss powers to declare war, but making good on Trumps promise to avoid any more forever wars in the Middle East and shift those scarce resources to domestic problems instead. Most people will give me a pass when they see that Im carrying out the promises that were made during the election, even if Im not 100 percent on track with whatever is happening that day in Congress that [Speaker] Mike Johnson (R-La.) wants, he told local news recently. Still, Massies record of challenging Trump is long and growing. In 2021, he was among the minority of House Republicans who did not vote to overturn Trumps 2020 defeat to former President Biden. In 2024, Massie was among a small handful of House Republicans who endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over Trump in the GOP presidential primary. Advertisement Advertisement Last summer, he was one of just two Republicans to oppose the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Last fall, he was instrumental in forcing the Epstein bill to the floor over Trumps objections. Last month, he was one of just six Republicans to oppose Trumps tariffs on Canada. And last week, he and Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) were the lone GOP defectors on the Iran war powers vote. In Trumps GOP, that rebellious streak carries plenty of risks. The president, despite sinking national numbers, still commands a devout following in the deep red districts that most House Republicans represent. And hes been successful in toppling other high-profile Republicans who broke with him on big issues, including former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), who lost her primary to a Trump ally, and former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who quit Congress at the start of this year. Massie is acknowledging that his clashes with the president, particularly on Iran, have made this primary race much tougher than those before it. But he said he retains confidence that voters will reward his independent streak in a district where hes an established brand. Advertisement Advertisement I feel confident that Ive got the constitutional position right, Massie told The New York Times this week. And Im hopeful that the politics will follow later. Sudiksha Kochi contributed. 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. Donald Trumps war in Iran is weakening U.S. military resources and weapons surpluses around the world. The Washington Post reports that military assets are being rerouted to the Middle East, including from East Asia, where high-end weapons systems are typically kept to defend against possible action from China and North Korea. Parts of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, system are now being moved from South Korea, and Patriot missile interceptors are also being moved from East Asia to defend against Iranian ballistic missiles and drones. An unnamed official told the Post that the moves were precautionary to defend against a possible increase in Iranian retaliatory attacks, and not due to an immediate weapons shortage in the Middle East. But this puts the U.S. at risk in the places now missing these air defense systems, which are considered the most advanced in the world. Advertisement Advertisement The more THAADs and Patriots you shoot, the more risk you assume in the Indo-Pacific and in Ukraine, Mark Cancian, who monitors American weapons inventories at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told the Post. Last year, during Israels 12-day war with Iran, the U.S. used about 25 percent of its THAAD interceptors, as well as large amounts of ship-borne interceptors. A THAAD battery usually needs 95 soldiers, six truck-mounted launchers, 48 interceptors (eight for each launcher), one radar system, and a fire control and communications component. As of the middle of last year, there were only nine active THAAD batteries worldwide. One of them costs anywhere from $1 billion to $1.8 billion. Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, warned the president last month that a protracted war with Iran could deplete U.S. weapons stockpiles, especially considering other U.S. military actions in at least seven countries, as well as U.S. support for Ukraine. If the U.S. runs low on these systems and needs to buy more, it will cost taxpayers billions of dollars and put national security at risk. Its abundantly clear that Trump didnt factor this into his decision to go to war. By Bo Erickson HEBRON, Kentucky, March 11 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that "we won" the Iran war but that the United States will stay in the fight to finish the job. "You never like to say too early you won. We won," Trump told a campaign-style rally in Hebron, Kentucky. "In the first hour it was over." He said the United States had knocked out 58 Iranian naval ships. Advertisement Advertisement Trump has seesawed on Iran, crediting the U.S. military for significantly degrading Iran's military but resisting a speedy end to the conflict. "We don't want to leave early do we?" Trump said. "We got to finish the job." He said the United States has "virtually destroyed Iran." He seemed to signal that the United States would continue the fight for now. "We don't want to go back every two years," he said. (Reporting by Bo Erickson and Steve Holland, editing by Michelle Nichols and Caitlin Webber) Donald Trumps nominee for a top diplomatic post has been withdrawn from consideration after a growing backlash over his past remarks on race and Jewish people left him without crucial Republican support. Jeremy Carl, who had been tapped to serve as the assistant secretary of state for international organisations a role overseeing US policy towards bodies such as the UN announced on Tuesday that he was stepping aside after failing to secure unanimous backing from Republicans on the Senate foreign relations committee. In a statement posted on X, Carl thanked Trump and the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, for their support but acknowledged that it would not be enough to secure confirmation. Advertisement Advertisement With unanimous opposition from Senate Democrats to my candidacy, we also needed the unanimous support of every GOP [Grand Old Party] senator on the Committee on Foreign Relations, he wrote. Unfortunately, at this time this unanimous support was not forthcoming. The Senate foreign relations committee normally votes on nominations before sending them to the full Senate. Carls prospects had appeared shaky since his confirmation hearing in February, when one Republican member of the panel publicly broke ranks. John Curtis, a Senator for Utah, who is regarded as one of the more moderate Republicans in the chamber, said afterwards that he could not support the nomination, citing Carls record of comments on Israel and Jewish people. I find his anti-Israel views and insensitive remarks about the Jewish people unbecoming of the position for which he has been nominated, Curtis said. Advertisement Advertisement The opposition was particularly damaging because Democrats on the committee were already united against Carl, leaving the White House dependent on unanimous Republican backing to move the nomination forward. The failure marks a rare setback for Trump in a Republican-controlled Senate that has largely approved his appointments. Carls withdrawal was welcomed by the American Jewish World Service (AJWS), a non-profit organisation which had highlighted his record of racist, antisemitic and homophobic views and petitioned members of the committee to oppose the nomination. Rori Kramer, the director of US advocacy for the AJWS, said: We are thrilled to see that Jeremy Carl will not hold this vital role at the State Department. He represents those whove turned their backs on the universal human rights that the US has long championed. Those rights still matter for everyone. Because of this, Jeremy Carl was not fit to serve. We oppose any nominee who champions hate and fails to live up to those ideals. Advertisement Advertisement During his confirmation hearing, senators pressed Carl over a series of past statements that critics said echoed themes associated with white nationalist ideology. Senators questioned him about comments appearing to endorse the so-called great replacement theory a widely discredited conspiracy theory claiming that elites are deliberately replacing white populations with immigrants. When asked whether he believed there was a deliberate effort to replace white Americans, he responded that Democratic immigration policies had certainly sent signs of that. Carl told senators he could not recall making some of the remarks cited during the hearing and said he regretted others. He also acknowledged making comments that minimised the impact of the Holocaust, describing them as absolutely wrong. Further criticism centred on earlier writings and interviews in which Carl argued that Jewish people often love to play the victim and suggested that resentment towards Jews could arise because historically they had chosen professions that made them more oppressive. Advertisement Advertisement He has also criticised the federal holiday of Juneteenth, which marks the end of slavery in the US, calling it a race-hustling and white-shaming event. Carl is a senior fellow at the Claremont Institute, a conservative thinktank, and previously served as a deputy assistant secretary at the interior department during Trumps first administration. He added in a second tweet: Ive had multiple Senators from our caucus (and not just based ones) reach out to me to let me know how disappointed they were in this result. And several Senators went above and beyond the call of duty in supporting me. But unfortunately, we also have a significant number of problem Senators, and with no help from the Democrats and a narrow majority, were unfortunately going to see a lot of disappointments. Our voters need to pay attention in primaries and if you have a good Senator, make sure that Senator is holding his weaker colleagues feet to the fire. Three cargo ships have been struck in the Strait of Hormuz after Donald Trump urged oil tankers to show some guts and sail through the passage off the coast of Iran. The Thailand-flagged bulk carrier Mayuree Naree was hit by unknown projectiles on Wednesday, with images showing black smoke billowing out from the vessel. The Japan-flagged container ship One Majesty and the Marshall Islands-flagged Star Gwyneth also came under fire in the narrow strait between Iran and Oman, where around one-fifth of the worlds oil and liquefied natural gas passes. Three crew members from the Thailand-flagged cargo ship Mayuree Naree are reported missing after being struck in the Strait of Hormuz. / ROYAL THAI NAVY / Royal Thai Navy/Handout via REUTERS Iran has largely closed the Strait of Hormuz to all shipping in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli airstrikes against the country, and attacked several ships that attempted to pass through the waterway in the early days of the conflict. Advertisement Advertisement The standoff has caused a steep rise in oil prices, which climbed above $100 per barrel for the first time since 2022 on Monday before falling back slightly. Trump has encouraged tankers to go through the Strait of Hormuz and ignore the active war zone around them. These ships should go through the Strait of Hormuz and show some guts. Theres nothing to be afraid of. They have no navy. We sunk all their ships, Fox News host Brian Kilmeade said Monday while recounting a phone call he had with the president. Kilmeade added that Trump told him there is risk in the region, the region is volatile, there are launchers. Theres just about 150 left, thats just about 20 percent of totals. They cant regenerate, they cant make any more. Advertisement Advertisement There have been no confirmed injuries or deaths as a result of the attacks on the three ships on Wednesday. But three crew members aboard the Thai-flagged Mayuree Naree are reported missing, the vessels operator, Precious Shipping, said in a statement. The remaining 20 crew members were rescued and brought safely ashore in Oman. Trump has acknowledged that ships attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz may require naval escorts. However, the U.S. Navy has reportedly refused requests from ships seeking military escorts through the strait since the start of the Iran war on Feb. 28 because the risk is considered too high, unnamed sources told Reuters. Advertisement Advertisement In a typically deranged Sunday Truth Social post, Trump warned Iran it would face U.S. strikes TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far if it blocked the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz. The Daily Beast has contacted the White House for comment. President Donald Trump, who is backing challenger Ed Gallrein over incumbent GOP Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky's 4th Congressional District Republican primary, highlighted his endorsement again on Tuesday ahead of his planned Wednesday visit to the Bluegrass State. Trump then followed that up by targeting Massie again in a Wednesday morning Truth Social post. "I predict that 'Representative'Thomas Massie will go down as the WORST Republican Congressman in the long and fabled history of the United States Congress, even worse than Crazy Liz Chaney, Cryin Adam Kinzinger, and Marjorie Traitor Brown (Remember, Green turns to Brown under stress!). They are all misfits and losers, but Massie, who is running against a great American Patriot in the Kentucky Primary, will hopefully lose BIG. I LOVE KENTUCKY!!!" the president declared in the Wednesday morning Truth Social post. Advertisement Advertisement In a text message to Fox News Digital, Massie wrote, "It was actually Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger who teamed up with Trump in March of 2020 to try and defeat me." Trump Stirs Gop Primary Drama With Visit To Massie's Kentucky Home Turf Rep. Thomas Massie questions Attorney General Pam Bondi during a House Judiciary Committee hearing in the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 11, 2026. (Getty Images) In a post on X, Massie wrote, "I predict President DJT will begrudgingly sign my beautiful Epstein Files Transparency Act, causing beleaguered princes and ambassadors and prime ministers and CEOs around the world to be arrested or resign in total shame. Oh wait, that already happened." Read On The Fox News App The president had declared in part of a Truth Social post on Tuesday, "Captain Ed Gallrein has my Complete and Total Endorsement against Congressman Thomas Massie He only votes AGAINST the Republican Party, making life very easy for the Radical Left. Unlike lightweight Congressman Massie, a true hater of Israel, and a totally ineffective LOSER who has failed us so badly, CAPTAIN ED GALLREIN IS A WINNER WHO WILL NOT LET KENTUCKY DOWN!" Advertisement Advertisement "Someones upset to learn Woke Eddie left the Republican Party when Trump won the nomination! Heres todays Truth Social post. Its just a copy and paste from several months ago. Says Ed filed today, which isnt even possible since the filing deadline passed in January," Massie wrote in a Tuesday post on X. Massie on Tuesday posted a document on X that he said was Gallrein's voter registration card the document shows Gallrein registering as an independent in May 2016. "Heres Eds Voter Registration card documenting when he abandoned the GOP to protest Trump securing the nomination just days before," Massie wrote in the post. In a text message to Fox News Digital on Wednesday morning, Massie said of Trump's Tuesday post, "His Truth Social post was recycled from months ago, but our ad is brand new. Well be running the ad in this X post on TV and radio today," Massie wrote, pointing to a post that features a campaign ad attacking Gallrein over his party affiliation history. Advertisement Advertisement Massie's campaign ad claims that Gallrein switched his registration back to the Republican Party in 2021. Gop Rep Massie Joins Democrats In Opposition To Us Iran Strikes President Donald Trump monitors military operations against Iran in Washington, on March 2, 2026. "I was proud to vote for President Trump all three times and donate in 2020 and 2024, unlike Thomas Massie who campaigned against him in 2024 and sides with the Democrats to vote against President Trump every week in Congress," Gallrein said in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital. Patriot Or Pathetic Rino? Maverick Republican Thomas Massie Trades America First Label For America Only Trump is slated to appear at an event in Hebron, Kentucky, on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement A Tuesday post on Gallrein's X account said, "President Donald Trump is coming to Kentuckys 4th Congressional District this Wednesday to support Ed Gallrein for Congress." Ed Gallrein seen with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House. When asked about the visit, White House spokeswoman Liz Huston told Fox News Digital, "President Trump will visit the great states of Ohio and Kentucky on Wednesday to tout his economic victories and detail his Administrations aggressive, ongoing efforts to lower prices and make America more affordable." Click Here To Download The Fox News App In a text message to Fox News Digital on Wednesday morning, Massie wrote, "I have other previously scheduled events in the district today, including a visit to two public schools that are about 3 hours from the Presidents speech." Fox News Digital's Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report Original article source: Trump posts support for Massie primary challenger ahead of Kentucky visit Donald Trump has said that the war with Iran may end soon because there is practically nothing left for the United States military to bomb. In an interview with Axios on Wednesday, the US president emphasised that he can make the decision to stop the fighting whenever he likes. Any time I want it to end, it will end, Trump was quoted as saying. His statement coincided with comments from Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, suggesting that the timeline for ending the war is open-ended. Advertisement Advertisement The operation will continue without any time limit, as long as required, until we accomplish all objectives and achieve victory in the campaign, Katz said, according to The Times of Israel. In his remarks to Axios, Trump reiterated his view that the war is proceeding ahead of schedule. The war is going great. We are way ahead of the timetable. We have done more damage than we thought possible, even in the original six-week period, Trump said. The US president has repeatedly made pronouncements about the war ending soon, but Washington has not provided a clear timeline for concluding the military offensive. Advertisement Advertisement It is also unclear whether Tehran would abide by a ceasefire announced solely by the US. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian laid out on Wednesday Tehrans conditions for ending the war, including compensation for the US-Israeli assault and firm international guarantees that Iran would not be attacked again. Talking to leaders of Russia and Pakistan, I reaffirmed Irans commitment to peace in the region. The only way to end this warignited by the Zionist regime & USis recognizing Irans legitimate rights, payment of reparations, and firm int'l guarantees against future aggression. Masoud Pezeshkian (@drpezeshkian) March 11, 2026 On Tuesday, the news outlet CNBC asked Trumps envoy Steve Witkoff how the war may end. He said, I dont know. Trump told The Times of Israel earlier this week that ending the war would be a mutual decision with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, suggesting that the US would not pull out of the operation unilaterally. Hormuz warning Officials in the Trump administration have been boasting about the war efforts, stressing daily that Iran is receiving heavy blows and that its military capabilities are receding. Advertisement Advertisement The US and Israel have launched thousands of bombs against Iran, killing at least 1,300 people. Still, Tehran has continued to fire drones and missiles against Israel, while also targeting US assets across the Middle East as well as energy and civilian sites in the Gulf region. Despite Trumps repeated threats, Iran has also managed to keep the Strait of Hormuz largely shut to commercial shipping, disrupting the flow of oil out of the region. The blockade has sent oil prices soaring and spread economic uncertainty across the world. Earlier this week, Trump warned Iran of death, fire and fury if it continues to block ships in Hormuz. Advertisement Advertisement But on Wednesday, three vessels were attacked near the strait. Past statements by Trump about opening Hormuz and ending the war have calmed economic markets and brought down oil prices, but only temporarily. Trump previously suggested that the US Navy may accompany commercial ships through Hormuz, but the Iranian military said it would welcome the move, suggesting that it is prepared to attack US troops in the waterway. On Tuesday, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright wrote on the social media platform X that the US Navy had escorted an oil ship through Hormuz, then quickly deleted the post. The White House subsequently confirmed that the claim was not true. Advertisement Advertisement Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi later accused US officials of posting fake news to manipulate markets. On Wednesday, the US military called on Iranian to stay away from ports near the strait. Iranian dockworkers, administrative personnel, and commercial vessel crews should avoid Iranian naval vessels and military equipment, the US militarys Central Command, which focuses on the Middle East, said in a statement. Iranian naval forces have positioned military vessels and equipment within civilian ports serving commercial maritime traffic. War objectives Trump initially said that his aim was to bring freedom to the Iranian people. Advertisement Advertisement But as the ruling system in Iran showed no signs of collapsing, US officials have articulated other goals for the campaign: destroying Irans nuclear, missile and drone programmes as well as the countrys navy. Trumps aides have repeatedly said that the US president alone will decide when these objectives are met. Last week, Irans Assembly of Experts chose Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the opening US-Israeli strikes on February 28. The decision was seen to proclaim Irans defiance of the US. Trump had opposed the younger Khameneis selection as leader, and he had repeatedly asserted that the US must have a role in shaping Irans government. Advertisement Advertisement Asked on Wednesday whether he could declare victory against Iran while Mojtaba Khamenei is in charge, Trump said, I dont want to comment on that. With the Iranian regime still intact, some critics have questioned what the US would do, should Tehran rebuild its military capabilities after the war. After a classified briefing with administration officials on Tuesday, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said that the goal of the war appears to be destroying lots of missiles and boats and drone factories. But the question that stumped them: What happens when you stop bombing and they restart production? Murphy wrote on X. They hinted at more bombing. Which is, of course, endless war. By Humeyra Pamuk, Jasper Ward and Jana Winter WASHINGTON, March 11 (Reuters) - The FBI warned law enforcement agencies last month of the possibility that Tehran might try to retaliate for any U.S. strikes on Iran by launching surprise drone attacks in California, according to a security bulletin seen by Reuters. The confidential alert, issued by the FBI through the multi-agency Los Angeles Joint Regional Intelligence Center, surfaced publicly on Wednesday as the war that began on February 28 with massive U.S. and Israeli bombardments of Iran stretched into its 12th day. Advertisement Advertisement Iran, whose supreme leader and other top officials were killed in air strikes, has fought back with missile and drone aircraft attacks against Israel and several Gulf states that host U.S. military installations. Several U.S. soldiers were killed on the second day of the war in an attack on a base in Kuwait. Speaking to reporters at the White House before ABC News first broke word of the FBI security bulletin, President Donald Trump shrugged off the notion of Iran-backed attacks on the U.S. homeland. California Governor Gavin Newsom said he was not aware of any "imminent threats" to the state. Advertisement Advertisement An unclassified copy of the security bulletin obtained by Reuters was undated. But the prospective wording of the text makes clear it was issued before the outbreak of hostilities, and that the potential for Iranian revenge attacks on the U.S. homeland was already contemplated. It cited FBI information that as of early February Iran "allegedly aspired to conduct a surprise attack using unmanned aerial vehicles" launched from a sea vessel against targets in California "in the event that the US conducted strikes against Iran." "We have no additional information on the timing, method, target, or perpetrators" of any such attack, the bulletin added. The Federal Bureau of Investigation declined to comment on the bulletin. Advertisement Advertisement CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR NOT AWARE OF ANY IMMINENT THREATS The U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran quickly widened into a broader regional conflict with broad consequences for worldwide energy and stock markets. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has sought to block vital oil shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz, driving up global fossil fuel prices. The war also has spilled over into Lebanon, with Israel's military exchanging strikes with Iran-backed Hezbollah forces in and around Beirut. Asked on Wednesday if he were worried that Iran may ramp up its retaliation to include strikes on U.S. soil, Trump told reporters, "No, I'm not." Advertisement Advertisement The governor's office said the bulletin was one of many security updates the state received from federal partners daily. California, it said, had elevated its security posture since the start of the conflict. In a message posted on X, Newsom said he was "in constant coordination with security and intelligence officials" to monitor "potential threats to California including those tied to the conflict in the Middle East." "While we are not aware of any imminent threats at this time, we remain prepared for any emergency in our state," he said. Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles, California's most populous city, said her office and the Los Angeles Police Department were "coordinating closely with state and federal partners to keep Angelenos safe." Advertisement Advertisement She added, "At this time, there is no specific or credible threat to Los Angeles." Reuters reported earlier this month that Iran and its proxies could target the U.S. with attacks. A threat assessment produced by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said Iran and its proxies "probably" pose a threat of targeted attacks on the United States, although a large-scale physical strike was unlikely. 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Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $534,008!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $1,090,073!* The U.S. has sunk 16 mine-laying ships near the Strait of Hormuz, the Pentagon said, after Donald Trump threatened Iran over reports of mines in the key shipping route. I am pleased to report that within the last few hours, we have hit, and completely destroyed, 10 inactive mine laying boats and/or ships, with more to follow! Trump wrote on Truth Social Tuesday. U.S. Central Command later wrote on X the military destroyed a total of 16 mine-laying ships near the strategically important Mid East waterway. Advertisement Advertisement Trumps announcement came minutes after the president warned against Iran placing mines in the waterway that carries about a fifth of the worlds oil supply. An Iranian naval vessel as it is struck by a projectile near the Strait of Hormuz as part of Operation Epic Fury (US Central Command) If for any reason mines were placed, and they are not removed forthwith, the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before, Trump wrote on Truth Social earlier Tuesday. CBS News had reported Iran may be getting ready to deploy mines in the Strait of Hormuz, citing U.S. officials. People familiar with U.S. intelligence reporting on the matter told CNN Iran had already laid a few dozen mines in the key waterway in recent days. Advertisement Advertisement Trump said the U.S. was using the same Technology and Missile capabilities deployed against Drug Traffickers to permanently eliminate any boat or ship attempting to mine the Hormuz Strait. US forces have destroyed 16 mine laying ships (US Central Command) The president was seemingly referring to the controversial boat strikes the U.S. has carried out in the Caribbean and Pacific, which have killed more than 150 people. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday the U.S. will not allow terrorists to hold the Strait of Hormuz hostage. At the direction of President Trump, @CENTCOM has been eliminating inactive mine-laying vessels in the Strait of Hormuzwiping them out with ruthless precision, Hegseth wrote on X. To the weakened Iranian regime: you have officially been put on notice! Advertisement Advertisement Iran has threatened to attack any ship that tries to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, which is bordered in the north by the Middle Eastern country. Ebrahim Jabari, a senior official with Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said last week, The strait is closed. If anyone tries to pass, the heroes of the Revolutionary Guards and the regular navy will set those ships ablaze," according to Reuters, which cited Iranian state media. The Strait of Hormuz is a waterway bordered in the north by Iran that carries about a fifth of the worlds oil supply (AFP/Getty) Tankers that travel through the Strait of Hormuz transport oil and gas from Iran, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates, the Associated Press reported. Most of the oil carried through the waterway is sold to Asia. Oil prices surged Monday to nearly $120 a barrel, the highest since 2022. Oil prices later recovered, dropping back below $90 after Trump told CBS News the Iran war is very complete, pretty much. Advertisement Advertisement Iran has no navy, no communications, they've got no air force. Their missiles are down to a scatter. Their drones are being blown up all over the place, including their manufacturing of drones, Trump said. The Pentagon says the US has sunk 16 mine-laying ships after Trump threatened Iran over reports of mines in the Strait of Hormuz (AFP/Getty) But uncertainty about how long the U.S. will continue its military campaign against Iran remains during the second week of the conflict. A new Quinnipiac University poll found 18 percent of American voters think it will take weeks for the Iran war to end, 32 percent think it will take months and 26 percent think the conflict will last longer than a year. At least 1,230 people in Iran have been killed in the conflict, according to the Associated Press. The joint U.S.-Israeli strikes killed the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. His son, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has taken over as Irans supreme leader. At least seven American service members are dead over the conflict. Advertisement Advertisement Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has decried Trumps argument for starting the Iran war. The Iran war, which began more than a week ago, has caused uncertainty in the oil and gas industry (Middle East Images) The claim that Iran was planning on attacking the U.S. or U.S. Forces, whether preventively or preemptively, is a sheer and utter lie, Araghchi wrote on X Tuesday. The sole purpose of that lie is to justify Operation Epic Mistake, a misadventure engineered by Israel and paid for by ordinary Americans. Trump has insisted Israel did not force Americas hand to launch military strikes against Iran, in an effort the U.S. has dubbed Operation Epic Fury. I might of forced their hand, the president told reporters. President Donald Trump is taking his feud with Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., to the libertarian lawmaker's home turf on Wednesday. Trump is expected to hold an event in Hebron, Kentucky, on Wednesday, the Republican Party of Kentucky announced on social media Monday. It's located in the northern part of the state's 4th Congressional District, which Massie represents. Massie's primary rival, Ed Gallrein, will attend the Hebron event, his campaign confirmed to Fox News Digital on Tuesday, while deferring all other questions on the matter to the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Massie himself will miss the event due to a previously scheduled official engagement, his spokesperson told Fox News Digital. Khanna And Massie Threaten To Force A Vote On Iran As Prospect Of Us Attack Looms President Donald Trump will be visiting Rep. Thomas Massie's congressional district on Wednesday. (Getty Images) When asked about the visit, White House spokeswoman Liz Huston told Fox News Digital, "President Trump will visit the great states of Ohio and Kentucky on Wednesday to tout his economic victories and detail his Administrations aggressive, ongoing efforts to lower prices and make America more affordable." Read On The Fox News App The president has thrown his considerable influence behind Gallrein to unseat Massie after the GOP lawmaker publicly defied Trump on multiple occasions. Advertisement Advertisement Massie, Khanna To Visit Doj To Review Unredacted Epstein Files Massie most recently was one of two House Republicans to vote to stop Trump's joint operation in Iran with Israel, though the legislation was successfully blocked by the majority of GOP lawmakers and a handful of Democrats. Ed Gallrein, left, seen with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House. He was also one of two Republicans to vote against Trump's "big, beautiful bill" last year. Trump in turn has hurled a slew of personal attacks against Massie, including calling him "weak and pathetic" in a statement endorsing Gallrein in October. "He only votes against the Republican Party, making life very easy for the Radical Left. Unlike lightweight Massie, a totally ineffective LOSER who has failed us so badly, CAPTAIN ED GALLREIN IS A WINNER WHO WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN," Trump posted on Truth Social at the time, one of numerous criticisms targeting the Kentucky Republican through the years. Advertisement Advertisement He called Massie the "worst Republican congressman" in July amid Massie's bipartisan push to force the Department of Justice (DOJ) to release its files on Jeffrey Epstein. Then-Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, and Rep. Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, during a news conference outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. But Massie has so far appeared to defy political gravity despite making political enemies out of both Trump and House GOP leaders. Click Here To Download The Fox News App He handily defeated multiple primary challengers in 2024 and 2022, despite public feuds with Trump, and has served his district since 2012. Gallrein is a retired Navy SEAL and farmer who launched his campaign days after Trump made his endorsement. Their primary election day is May 19. Original article source: Trump stirs GOP primary drama with visit to Massies Kentucky home turf President Trump doubled down on his support for Capt. Ed Gallrein, who is eyeing to unseat outspoken Trump critic Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) in November, ahead of his visit to Kentucky. Trump wrote late Tuesday on Truth Social that voters want desperately to get rid of Thomas Massie, the Worst Republican Congressman we have had in many years. The person that will help us do the job, and do it right, is Navy SEAL, Army Ranger, Fifth Generation Kentucky Farmer, and American Hero, Captain Ed Gallrein, a true Patriot, the president continued. Today, Ed, who also happens to be central casting, officially filed to run for Congress. Advertisement Advertisement He claimed Gallrein is far and away the best candidate to defeat Massie, calling the GOP challenger a big fan of our recent attack on Nicolas Maduro, the Dictator of Venezuela. Additionally, as a very successful Businessman, Ed knows how to Create GREAT Jobs, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Support our Amazing Farmers and American Agriculture, Unleash American Energy Dominance, and Champion our Nations Golden Age, Trump added. The praise came ahead of Trumps trip to Kentucky on Wednesday including touring a packaging plant in the town of Hebron, which falls in Massies 4th Congressional District where he is expected to tout his economic agenda. Trump is also scheduled to make a stop at another facility in nearby Cincinnati earlier in the day. Trump on Wednesday, in a separate Truth Social post, called the incumbent lawmaker, the WORST Republican Congressman in the long and fabled history of the United States Congress, even worse than Crazy Liz Chaney, Cryin Adam Kinzinger, and Marjorie Traitor Brown (Remember, Green turns to Brown under stress!), referring to former Reps. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.). Advertisement Advertisement They are all misfits and losers, but Massie, who is running against a great American Patriot in the Kentucky Primary, will hopefully lose BIG, he added. Massie and Trump have had wars of words over several different issues, most notably the Department of Justices files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and Trumps recent unilateral strikes on Iran. The Kentucky Republican has not pulled back on his criticism of the president, having slammed Trump over rising gas prices as a result of the Middle East conflict. The price of gas has gone up $0.47 and the price of diesel has gone up $0.83 in 10 days due to War with Iran, Massie posted this week on social platform X. This isnt America First. He also co-sponsored a House vote to push forward a war powers resolution to rein in Trumps power. Democrats largely supported the effort, but the vote failed with most Republicans siding with the president. Advertisement Advertisement Gallreins campaign webpage accuses Massie of holding up the presidents agenda. This is Trump Country. Its time we had a Congressman who acts like it, the page reads, quoting the candidate. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. President Donald Trump blasted fellow Republican Rep. Thomas Massie in his Kentucky district as the "worst person" and "a total disaster," as the president demanded loyalty from GOP lawmakers who hold narrow majorities in the House and Senate. Massie is a conservative lawmaker but has run afoul of Trump for leading the approval of legislation forcing the release of Justice Department documents about the accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Massie also voted against Trump's tax-cut legislation last year and to halt the war on Iran, a resolution that failed. Hes the worst person," Trump said of Massie at a rally at Verst Logistics in Hebron, Kentucky. "Massie is a complete and total disaster as a congressman and frankly as a human being." House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos and videos from Jeffrey Epsteins former private Caribbean island on Dec. 3, 2025. House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos and videos from Jeffrey Epsteins former private Caribbean island on Dec. 3, 2025. House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos and videos from Jeffrey Epsteins former private Caribbean island on Dec. 3, 2025. House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos and videos from Jeffrey Epsteins former private Caribbean island on Dec. 3, 2025. House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos and videos from Jeffrey Epsteins former private Caribbean island on Dec. 3, 2025. House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos and videos from Jeffrey Epsteins former private Caribbean island on Dec. 3, 2025. House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos and videos from Jeffrey Epsteins former private Caribbean island on Dec. 3, 2025. House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos and videos from Jeffrey Epsteins former private Caribbean island on Dec. 3, 2025. House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos and videos from Jeffrey Epsteins former private Caribbean island on Dec. 3, 2025. House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos and videos from Jeffrey Epsteins former private Caribbean island on Dec. 3, 2025. Jeffrey Epstein island photos show abandoned Caribbean estate 1 of 10 House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos and videos from Jeffrey Epsteins former private Caribbean island on Dec. 3, 2025. Trump often threatens to support primary opponents of Republicans who oppose him. But the Kentucky trip is part of an escalation of his involvement in congressional races, after he traditionally lobbed his insults or endorsements of rivals through social media or in exchanges with reporters Advertisement Advertisement Trump's Kentucky visit comes two weeks after he visited Rome, Georgia, where the race is on to succeed former GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who resigned after clashing with the president. Trump's Republican choice, Clay Fuller, got into a runoff in the March 10 primary against Democrat Shawn Harris. Trump is campaigning to hold on to narrow Republican majorities in the House and Senate in the November midterm elections and to ensure loyalty in the ranks. The House has 218 Republicans and 214 Democrats with three seats vacant. Massie becomes a key vote when he sides with Democrats. "We've got to get rid of this loser," Trump said of Massie. "He's disloyal to the Republican Party. He's disloyal to Kentucky. And most importantly, he's disloyal to the United States of America. He's got to be voted out of office as soon as possible." Advertisement Advertisement More: Donald Trump to visit Kentucky. About conflict between president, Thomas Massie President Donald Trump speaks at Verst Logistics in Hebron, Kentucky, on March 11, 2026. Trump endorsed Ed Gallrein, a Kentucky farmer and former Navy SEAL, in the May 19 GOP primary against Massie. Gallrein received four Bronze Star Medals and two Presidential Unit Citations during his 30 years in the military. Trump said he was "straight out of central casting." He said, 'I came back because of the strength and wisdom that Donald Trump displayed,'" Trump said of Gallrein. Im going to use that statement in an ad." Millions of dollars have been poured into the primary race from voters throughout the country and from a handful of billionaires. Gallrein joined Trump on stage to say that his endorsement had generated a lot of support for his campaign. Advertisement Advertisement "You deserve an authentic true Republican conservative that stands shoulder to shoulder with our president and the Republican Party, and against the Democrats who are trying to destroy our nation," Gallrein said. Massie was one of a few Republicans in the House and Senate to oppose the war on Iran. He argued that Congress holds the power to declare war and Trump hadnt met the requirements of the 1973 War Powers Resolution to embark on the war without a congressional declaration, without statutory authorization and without an attack on the United States. American families in my district want to know: How is this going to help them pay for groceries? Massie said on the House floor on March 4. How does this make them any safer in their schools or in their neighborhoods? How does this help them pay for housing? What is the dispute between Trump and Massie over Epstein? Trump was friends with Epstein in the 1990s and early 2000s before a falling out. Trumps picture and name appear repeatedly in the documents but he has forcefully denied wrongdoing. Advertisement Advertisement Trump criticized Republicans who sided with Democrats in approving the Epstein files as fools. Trump argued that Epstein documents distracted from the successes of his administration. The department has released about 3.5 million pages of documents and withheld another 2.5 million pages. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has said the confidential documents name the women who accused Epstein of abuse, could hurt potential prosecutions or include the internal legal deliberations of the department. Trump calls Massie 'worst' but Massie says they share supporters Trump has said its time to move on. But lawmakers such as Massie continue to call for the release of all the documents, to learn about alleged co-conspirators with Epstein and how he made his money. Hours before his trip, Trump singled out Massie for criticism in a social media post. Advertisement Advertisement "I predict that 'Representative' Thomas Massie will go down as the WORST Republican Congressman in the long and fabled history of the United States Congress," Trump said. Massie said in an interview before Trump posted the comments that he welcomes the president to his district because they share a lot of the same supporters. "I've taken care to never insult the president, to never call him names," Massie said. "If I have a policy disagreement with him, I articulate it and keep it to that." Contributing: Reuters This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump calls Massie 'disaster' after opposing him on key initiatives Its clear that regime change is among the biggest objectives of the U.S. war in Iran. I have to be involved in the appointment of Irans next leader, President Donald Trump said on March 5, 2026. Trump has also said he might put U.S. boots on the ground to get the job done. Trump now joins a long list of modern U.S. presidents from Franklin Roosevelt to Harry Truman, Lyndon Johnson, George W. Bush and Barack Obama who started wars to either overthrow hostile regimes or support embattled friendly governments abroad. Advertisement Advertisement For all the parallels to history, though, Trumps Iran war is historically unique in one critically important way: In its early stages, the war is not popular with the American public. A recent CNN poll found that 59% of Americans oppose the war a trend found in poll after poll since the war began. As an expert on U.S. foreign policy and regime change wars, my research shows that whats likely generating public opposition to the Iran war today is the absence of a big story with a grand purpose that has bolstered public support for just about every major U.S.-promoted regime change war since 1900. These broad, purpose-filled narratives generate public buy-in to support the costs of war, which are often high in terms of money spent and lives lost when regime change is at stake. Two historical examples In the 1930s and 40s, a widely accepted and largely true story about the dangers of fascism spreading and democracies falling galvanized national support in the United States to enter and then take on the high costs of fighting in World War II. Advertisement Advertisement Likewise, in the 2000s a dominant narrative about preventing a repeat of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and stopping terrorism brought strong initial public support for the war in Afghanistan, with 88% support in 2001, and the war in Iraq, with 70% support in 2003. With no comparable narrative around Iran today, Trump and Republicans could face big problems, especially as costs continue to rise. No anti-Iran narrative Iran has been a thorn in the side of many American presidents for a long time. So, whats missing? Why no grand-purpose narrative at the start of this war? Two things. First, grand-purpose narratives are rooted in major geopolitical gains by a rival regime the danger to the U.S. For the anti-fascism narrative, those events were German troops plowing across Europe and the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. For the anti-terrorism narrative, it was planes crashing into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. A U.S. Army carry team in Dover, Del., moves a coffin on March 7, 2026, containing the remains of a U.S. soldier killed in the retaliatory Iranian strike on Kuwaits Port of Shuaiba. Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images Gains like these by rivals prove traumatic to the nation. They also dislodge the status quo and provide the opportunity for new grand-purpose narratives with new policy directions to emerge. Advertisement Advertisement Today, most Americans see no existential danger around Iran. A Marist poll from March 3, 2026, found that 55% of Americans view Iran as a minor threat or no threat at all. And the number who see Iran as a major threat, 44%, is down from 48% in July 2025. By contrast, 64% of Americans saw Iraq as a considerable threat prior to the 2003 U.S. war in Iraq. The poll numbers on Iran arent surprising. Iran is far from a geopolitical menace to the United States today. To the contrary, its been in geopolitical retreat in the Middle East in recent years. In the summer of 2025, Irans nuclear nuclear enrichment facilities were significantly damaged completely and totally obliterated, according to Trump, though there is no confirmation of that claim during the 12-Day war between Iran and Israel. Advertisement Advertisement And in recent years, Tehran has lost a major ally in Syria and witnessed its proxy network all but collapse. Iran has also faced crippling economic conditions and historic protests at home. As the polls show, none of that has sparked a grand-purpose narrative. Missing a good story The second missing factor for narrative formation today is any strong messaging from the White House. In the months prior to World War II, Roosevelt used his position of authority as president to give speech after speech, setting the context of the traumatic events of the 1930s, explaining the dangers at hand and outlining a course going forward. Though less truthful in its content, Bush did the same for nearly two years before the Iraq War. Advertisement Advertisement Trump did almost none of this storytelling leading up to the Iran war. Five days before the war started, the president devoted three minutes to Iran in a nearly two-hour State of the Union Address. President Trump appears at a press conference in Miami on March 9, 2026. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images Prior to that, he made a comment here and there to the press about Iran, but no storytelling preparing the nation for war. Likewise, since the war began, the administrations stated reasons for military action keep shifting. No wonder 54% of Americans polled disapprove of Trumps handling of Iran and 60% of Americans say Trump has no clear plan for Iran. Also, 60% disapprove of Trumps handling of foreign policy in general. By comparison, Americans approved of Bushs handling of foreign policy by 63% in early 2003. Advertisement Advertisement Absent a cohesive, unifying story, its also no surprise there is lots of political fracturing today. Partisan divides run deep Democrats and independent voters strongly oppose the war. But Trumps MAGA coalition is cracking too, with people like Tucker Carlson and Marjorie Taylor Greene sharply criticizing the war. The way out If he opts for it, there is an off-ramp for Trump from the Iran war. Its one he knows well. When U.S. leaders get caught up in costly regime change wars that outrun national support, they tend to back down, often with far fewer political costs than if theyd continued their unpopular war. Advertisement Advertisement When the disaster referred to as Black Hawk Down hit in Somalia in 1993, killing 18 U.S. Marines, President Bill Clinton opted to end the mission to topple the warlords that ruled the country. Troops came home six months later. Likewise, after the Benghazi attack killed four Americans in Libya in 2012, Obama pulled out all U.S. personnel working in Libya on nation-building operations. And just last year, when Trump realized that U.S. ground troops would be necessary to topple the Houthi militant group in Yemen, he negotiated a ceasefire and ended his air war in that country with no significant political fallout. With Trumps Iran war, gas prices keep rising, more soldiers are likely to die, and stocks are highly volatile. Advertisement Advertisement Backing down makes a lot of sense. History confirms that. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Charles Walldorf, Wake Forest University Read more: Charles Walldorf is a Senior Fellow at Defense Priorities. March 10, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools - Elementary Principal Preeti Nichani is named the National Distinguished Principal for Alabama. Nichani reacts as she enters the surprise assembly. March 10, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools - Elementary Principal Preeti Nichani is named the National Distinguished Principal for Alabama. Student Allen Beatty presents flowers to Nichani. March 10, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools - Elementary Principal Preeti Nichani is named the National Distinguished Principal for Alabama. Student Allen Beatty presents flowers to Nichani. March 10, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools - Elementary Principal Preeti Nichani is named the National Distinguished Principal for Alabama. Nichani hugs Tuscaloosa City School Board President Eric Wilson while board member Erskine Simmons makes a video. March 10, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools - Elementary Principal Preeti Nichani is named the National Distinguished Principal for Alabama. March 10, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools - Elementary Principal Preeti Nichani is named the National Distinguished Principal for Alabama. Nichani poses with her husband, Avi Nichani. March 10, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools - Elementary Principal Preeti Nichani is named the National Distinguished Principal for Alabama. Hope Zeanah, assistant executive director of the Alabama Association of Elementary School Administrators, presents Nichani with a commemoration of her award. March 10, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools - Elementary Principal Preeti Nichani is named the National Distinguished Principal for Alabama. Nichani reacts as she enters the surprise assembly. March 10, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools - Elementary Principal Preeti Nichani is named the National Distinguished Principal for Alabama. Nichani reacts as she enters the surprise assembly. March 10, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools - Elementary Principal Preeti Nichani is named the National Distinguished Principal for Alabama. Nichani reacts as she enters the surprise assembly. March 10, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools - Elementary Principal Preeti Nichani is named the National Distinguished Principal for Alabama. Superintendent of Education Mike Daria gives Nichani a smile and congratulations. March 10, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools - Elementary Principal Preeti Nichani is named the National Distinguished Principal for Alabama. Nichani embraces her husband, Avi Nichani. March 10, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools - Elementary Principal Preeti Nichani is named the National Distinguished Principal for Alabama. Nichani embraces her husband, Avi Nichani. March 10, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools - Elementary Principal Preeti Nichani is named the National Distinguished Principal for Alabama. Nichani struggles with her emotions as she receives applause. March 10, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools - Elementary Principal Preeti Nichani is named the National Distinguished Principal for Alabama. Nichani receives the award from last years winner, Shannon McCaskey, principal of Frances Nungester Elementary in Decatur. March 10, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools - Elementary Principal Preeti Nichani is named the National Distinguished Principal for Alabama. Nichani gets a hug from the 2025 winner, Shannon McCaskey from Frances Nungester Elementary in Decatur. March 10, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools - Elementary Principal Preeti Nichani is named the National Distinguished Principal for Alabama. Tuscaloosa Magnet School principal honored 1 of 17 March 10, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools - Elementary Principal Preeti Nichani is named the National Distinguished Principal for Alabama. Nichani reacts as she enters the surprise assembly. Tuscaloosa Magnet Elementary Principal Preeti Nichani thought something was fishy March 18 when Superintendent Mike Daria called her away from a Leadership Tuscaloosa event to return to the school. Nichani's suspicions grew when she drove into the parking lot and noticed far too many cars, but it was not until she entered the gym with Daria that her suspicions were confirmed. Nichani was met by thunderous applause, screams of approbation, and a student bringing her flowers. Preeti had been named the National Distinguished Principal for the state of Alabama. She will join 49 other principals in Washington, D.C., as Alabama's representative and with the possibility of being named the National Distinguished Principal of 2026 for the nation. March 10, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools - Elementary Principal Preeti Nichani is named the National Distinguished Principal for Alabama. Student Allen Beatty presents flowers to Nichani. "I see the door like open this much," Nichani said, making a narrow opening between her forefinger and thumb. "I knew it was set up at this point. I knew it. There was a feeling. And the gym is never this quiet, never. Advertisement Advertisement "I'm still numb. I'm excited. I really feel like every educator needs to understand that all the educators who have impacted me, this is in their honor," she said. Though Nichani thought the superintendent was playing games with her to get her back to the school, she credited Daria for being the one who urged her to go back to school for an advanced degree and enter the system's leadership. Nichani has been in the Tuscaloosa City Schools system for her entire career, 24 years, teaching special education in Arcadia Elementary before moving to become assistant principal at Verner Elementary and Rock Quarry Elementary. She has been principal at Tuscaloosa Magnet Elementary for nine years. "I'm a born and raised TCS educator and this is like my family. I love our school system and what we do for our students," Nichani said. Advertisement Advertisement Nichani compared the event to receiving an Academy Award. March 10, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools - Elementary Principal Preeti Nichani is named the National Distinguished Principal for Alabama. Nichani gets a hug from the 2025 winner, Shannon McCaskey from Frances Nungester Elementary in Decatur. "I'm excited, but this is not me. It is my students who push me. It is them, and they make me better daily; my teachers, my faculty, my own personal family. My parents live in India. They are my biggest motivators. The award belongs to everybody else but me," Nichani said. Daria had praise for Nichani, saying of her, "You've heard the saying, 'Iron sharpens iron.' This is an example of that. Working with a team of high-performing leaders who are relentless to make sure we get results for each and every child, that's across this district. Dr. Nichani received an award today, recognizing her work doing just that." More: Central High senior Parker Evans joins elite Tuskegee aviation program Advertisement Advertisement Daria said he could not recall, at least in his time in the system, when another TCS principal had earned the award. He was not surprised that Nichani received the honor. "She believes so much in public education, and lives that every day and pours everything into it, so no, no surprise at all that she was chosen," Daria said. Daria said her impact on her colleagues, community and the system as a whole contributed to her winning the honor. Daria said her work was so apparent to those around her that Nichani did not have to promote what she was doing because the work spoke for her. Nichani was selected from a final pool of three elementary school principles who were from about 1,000 elementary schools across the state. March 10, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools - Elementary Principal Preeti Nichani is named the National Distinguished Principal for Alabama. Nichani struggles with her emotions as she receives applause. Shannon McCaskey, the 2024 winner of the award and principal at Frances Nungester Elementary in Decatur, said that Nichani was a clear winner to the selection committee. Advertisement Advertisement "One thing that stood out to me when I visited Tuscaloosa Magnet School is that everything she touches turns to gold; everything she touches gets better," McCaskey said. Tuscaloosa Magnet Elementary was one of Alabamas Top 50 schools for third-grade reading growth in 2018, received the Legislative Performance Recognition Award under the Code of Alabama 16-6C-3 after earning a perfect score of 100 on the state report card, and was recognized as both a state and national School of Character in 2022. The Distinguished Principal program is administered by the National Association of Elementary School Principals and is sponsored in Alabama by the Bailey Education Group. Reach Gary Cosby Jr. at gary.cosby@tuscaloosanews.com. To support his work, please subscribe to The Tuscaloosa News. This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Tuscaloosa principal named state's best Police arrested two people accused in the killing of a flight attendant in South Philadelphia. It happened back in November 2025. Police found Amadoy Thiam suffering from severe head injuries outside his home along the 2400 block of Federal Street in South Philadelphia. William Percha and Shamar Moody are now under arrest. Police haven't released a motive just yet. The initial police call was for a burglary. Scientists have confirmed that two marsupial species, known only from ancient fossils for more than 7,000 years, are still alive in New Guineadiscovered through a combination of Indigenous knowledge, a wildlife photograph, university specimens in a jar, and a citizen science platform. The Bishop Museum in Honolulu announced the discovery on Tuesday. The pygmy long-fingered possum and the ring-tailed glider had not been confirmed alive for more than 7,000 years before this research. The two marsupials are what scientists call Lazarus speciesorganisms that reappear after being thought extinct. Finding even one is rare. Advertisement Advertisement The discovery of two Lazarus species, thought to be extinct for millennia, is unprecedented, said Dr. Tim Flannery of the Australian Museum in a news release. Scientists Discovered Multiple New Species in 6 Days5 Disguise as Poop! Flannery and Dr. Kristofer Helgen of the Bishop Museum conducted the research over the past two years to confirm the animals existence in New Guinea. To be able to say that they indeed are alive brings me joy as a scientist and conservationist. It feels like a second chance to learn about, and protect, these remarkable animals, Helgen said in the news release. How the species were originally identified The story stretches back to the 1990s. Dr. Ken Aplin first identified the species through fossils after teeth belonging to the animals were excavated during an archaeological dig in western New Guinea. Advertisement Advertisement For years, those teeth were the only evidence these creatures had ever existed. The scientific assumption was that they had died out thousands of years ago. Then Helgen spotted something. He identified one of the species after seeing a photograph of the gliding ring-tailed possum in the wild and recognizing it as one of the species Aplin had previously classified as extinct. A single photograph taken in the field matched up with ancient fossil records, bridging a gap of millennia. Indigenous communities and citizen science made it possible This was not the product of a well-funded expedition with high-tech equipment. Indigenous communities in the Tambrauw and Maybrat regions of West Papua assisted scientists in identifying the animals based on their knowledge of the marsupials behavior and lifestyle. People who lived alongside these creatures already knew they were there. The scientific record just hadnt caught up. Scientists Are Discovering New Species Faster Than Ever Advertisement Advertisement The pygmy long-fingered possum got its own separate line of confirmation. Researchers discovered two preserved specimens of the species in a jar at the University of Papua New Guinea. Those specimens provided evidence that the species had survived more recently than previously believedmeaning the animal had been collected, stored, and cataloged without anyone connecting it to Aplins fossil record. Then theres Carlos Bocos. A citizen scientist, Bocos posted photographs of the pygmy long-fingered possum on the platform iNaturalist. His images provided additional evidence confirming the species survival. Bocos later became a co-author on the study documenting the species survivala path from casual wildlife photography on a public platform to co-authorship on a peer-reviewed paper. What this means for extinction research Helgen framed the discovery as something beyond a feel-good zoological story. He said the rediscovery demonstrates that extinction can be averted, adding, Its a message of hope, one of second chances. Advertisement Advertisement That framing matters because extinction timelines are often treated as final. Once a species drops off the confirmed-alive list, research funding, habitat protection, and conservation attention tend to shift elsewhere. Scientists Reexamine Common Frog and Discover Multiple Species These two marsupials survived for thousands of years without anyone in the scientific community knowing they were still around. The question that raises: how many other species categorized as extinct might still be out there, undetected? The role of Indigenous ecological knowledge also points to a shift in how biodiversity research is conducted. Communities in the Tambrauw and Maybrat regions of West Papua had familiarity with these animals long before Western researchers confirmed their existence. That local knowledge, combined with Bocos citizen science contributions on iNaturalist, suggests that the tools for finding lost species may already exist outside traditional research institutions. Advertisement Advertisement The Bishop Museum maintains a newsroom with updates on research like this for those tracking biodiversity and conservation developments. Scientists Rediscovered 21 Lost Species in 5 Days, Including a Millipede Unseen Since 1897 Scientists Uncover 500-Million-Year-Old Species Hiding In Plain Sight In South Korea Some of Your Favorite Celebrities Have Real-Life Animal Species Named After Them Two similar legislative bills are progressing in the Oklahoma Legislature. Both House Bill 2978 and Senate Bill 1250 deal with restrictions on school library material, attempting to prohibit "obscene" content from students. While similar in nature, HB 2978 and SB 1250 are not the same. The House bill, authored by Rep. Chris Banning, R-Bixby, would require school libraries to prohibit obscene materials as defined in Oklahoma law. The Senate bill, proposed by Sen. Warren Hamilton, R-McCurtain, would prohibit a library in a school district or charter school from having any pornographic materials or sexualized content accessible to students under the age of 18. Advertisement Advertisement Here's what we know about the development of each bill. What is House Bill 2978? House Bill 2978, authored by Rep. Banning, was introduced on Feb. 3. Per the original document in the Oklahoma Legislature, the bill required all school libraries to stop offering obscene materials, as defined in OS 21 Section 1024.1. The amendment, enacted during the 2024 legislative session, defines obscenity as any representation, performance, depiction or description of sexual conduct, whether in any form or on any medium, including still photographs, videos and more. Since its introduction, the bill has been amended to clarify that the provisions of the measure do not apply whenschools are choosing books and materials to use in sex education classes, according to Rep. Melissa Provenzano on March 6. Advertisement Advertisement HB 2978 passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives on a 74-17 vote and now proceeds to the Oklahoma Senate. What is Senate Bill 1250? Senate Bill 1250, authored by Sen. Hamilton, was introduced on Dec. 12, 2025. The bill would prohibit a library in a school district or charter school from having any pornographic materials or sexualized content accessible to students under the age of 18, requiring every school district or charter school to submit a list of all books and other materials available in its school library to the State Department of Education annually by Oct. 1. Hamilton's bill also clarifies that a student may read, own, possess, or discuss any book obtained without the assistance or encouragement of the district or charter school, its employees, or its libraries, but it prohibits students from bringing pornographic material or sexualized content on school grounds. Parents and legal guardians would be allowed to report suspected violations to the State Department of Education. Advertisement Advertisement Each school district and charter school would have a written policy for reviewing the educational suitability and age-appropriate nature of any material in a library and for receiving and responding to complaints regarding books and materials in libraries, per the document. The bill was amended on March 6 by Hamilton to add that suspected violations would be investigated by the school district board of education or charter school governing body and reported to the DOE. The bill passed the Education committee and is eligible to be heard on the Senate floor. Obscenity a frequent topic in Oklahoma legislature In recent years, Oklahoma officials have increasingly focused on how state obscenity laws apply to books and materials in school libraries. Existing criminal statutes defining obscenity have remained in place, but debate has shifted to whether and how those standards should be enforced in public schools. Advertisement Advertisement In 2022, state leaders, including former Oklahoma state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters, scrutinized specific titles in school libraries for possible violations of obscenity law, signaling a move to treat some library materials as a lawenforcement issue rather than a local curriculum dispute. Since then, lawmakers have introduced a series of bills to bar obscene or sexually explicit materials from school libraries, often by tying eligibility of books and other media to the states legal definition of obscenity and, in some cases, by creating or expanding penalties for schools or employees that provide such material to students. Supporters say the measures are aimed at keeping pornography out of schools and giving parents clearer recourse when they object to titles on the shelves, while critics argue that the proposals could amount to book bans and sweep in works that address sexuality, gender identity or other sensitive topics in an educational context. Isa Almeida is a trending reporter for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Isa? She can be reached at ialmeida@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @ialmeidasports. Support Isa's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma bills aiming to ban 'obscene' content in school libraries advance A prominent Emirati tycoon vented his frustration at Donald Trump for drawing the Gulf into war with Iran in comments that later disappeared. Khalaf Al Habtoor, a billionaire whose developments have helped shape Dubais skyline, sharply criticised the US on social media. His comments appeared to reveal wider frustration at the regional fallout of Donald Trumps war on Iran, and possible sensitivity about discussing it in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Advertisement Advertisement Mr Habtoor also rebuked Lindsey Graham, the US senator, for his calls for Gulf countries to join the conflict. The posts were widely followed in the Gulf media and discussed online, with many saying they agreed with his remarks. However, they were later taken down without explanation. The Emirates rulers themselves have made no comments on the wider politics of the conflict beyond condemning Iranian aggression. The authorities have also issued strict warnings to the public about spreading rumours or posting any comments that might be considered harmful to public order or national unity. The UAE has faced more than 1,700 drone and missile attacks from Iran since America and Israel began their campaign against Tehran. Advertisement Advertisement In his first post, Mr Habtoor accused Mr Trump of placing the Gulf states at the heart of a danger they did not choose. He wrote: Who gave you the authority to drag our region into a war with Iran? And on what basis did you make this dangerous decision? Did you calculate the collateral damage before pulling the trigger? And did you consider that the first to suffer from this escalation will be the countries of the region itself! He also questioned whether Mr Trump was acting at Israels behest. Mr Habtoor said: The peoples of this region have the right to ask as well: Was this your decision alone? Or did it come as a result of pressures from Netanyahu and his government? Advertisement Advertisement He went on: Thank God, we are strong and capable of defending ourselves, and we have armies and defences that protect our homelands, but the question remains: who gave you permission to turn our region into a battlefield? Mr Al Habtoor also questioned whether Mr Trump was acting at Israels behest - Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images A later post reacted to comments by Mr Graham that the Gulf states should join Americas campaign. Mr Habtoor wrote: We will not enter this war to serve the interests of others, nor will we sacrifice our sons in a conflict that could have been avoided through diplomacy and political solutions. Both his posts were removed without explanation soon afterwards. At least one article in the local media reporting his remarks was also no longer available. It is not known why the posts were no longer showing. One of Mr Habtoors original posts stated: We will not enter this war to serve the interests of others - GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images Mr Habtoors tweets were replaced with encouraging words about the UAE. Advertisement Advertisement How beautiful our country is this morning, with clouds filling the sky and the rains of goodness pouring down upon the land of the Emirates, he said. The post added: We ask God to perpetuate security and safety upon our country, to preserve our wise leadership, and to keep the Emirates forever a land of goodness and a source of pride for us all. Similar frustrations to those voiced by Mr Habtoor are reported to be shared inside Gulf governments, which have spent recent months trying to mediate a peace deal between the US, Israel and Iran. Qatar, Oman, the UAE and Kuwait are all reported to have been pushing for diplomacy to end the conflict and for an off-ramp for both Mr Trump and the Iranians. Advertisement Advertisement In the run-up to the conflict, Gulf states had feared that they would have the most to lose from any war. No one in the region chose to go to war with Iran we have seen the limitations of military solutions in the past, Mohammed Baharoon, director of the Dubai public policy research centre, told Bloomberg, referring to the wars in Gaza, Yemen and Iraq. He added: Were directly joined at the hip by geography. Once the war is over and US ships go home, we will have to deal with Iran. With the conflict under way, the UAE has issued strict orders against posting anything online that it feels may cause panic or inflame the situation. Advertisement Advertisement The country already has one of the worlds strictest cybersecurity laws, and residents have been told to only share information from official sources. An unnamed 60-year-old British man was arrested in Dubai this week after allegedly filming missiles while on holiday. It is not known whether footage was shared on social media. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of the UAE, said over the weekend that his country would not be easy prey for Iran. He said: The UAE is beautiful and exemplary, but I tell you, do not be deceived by appearances the UAE has tough skin and bitter flesh. We will carry out our duty toward our country, our people, and our residents. I promise everyone that we will emerge stronger. 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. Oracle (ORCL) is making some uncomfortable moves. The Austin, Texas-based technology giant is reportedly planning to cut thousands of jobs across multiple divisions. At the same time, it has scrapped a planned flagship artificial intelligence data center project in Texas. And it is redirecting that spending toward a broader buildout of cloud infrastructure for clients like OpenAI and Meta (META). For investors, this raises a fair question: Is Oracle trimming fat to run leaner, or is it a sign that the company is straining under the weight of its AI ambitions? More News from Barchart Oracles AI Infrastructure Bet Is Expensive Oracle ended its fiscal second quarter of 2026 with remaining performance obligations, essentially its backlog of future contracted revenue, of $523.3 billion. That's up 433% from a year earlier. A large portion of that backlog comes from deals signed with Meta, Nvidia (NVDA), and others. www.barchart.com Oracle's cloud infrastructure revenue grew 66% year-over-year (YoY) in the most recent quarter. GPU-related revenue, which powers the AI workloads at the heart of all this demand, grew 177%. Capital expenditures hit $12 billion in just that single quarter. To put that simply, Oracle is spending money at a staggering pace to build the data centers needed to serve its AI customers. And that's where the tension starts. According to Simply Wall Street: Oracle is reallocating spending away from payroll and at least one large site, the now-cancelled Texas AI data center, toward a broader network of facilities. The company is also facing multiple securities class-action lawsuits questioning how its AI strategy was communicated to investors. Oracle Principal Financial Officer Doug Kehring told analysts on the December earnings call that Oracle expects full-year fiscal 2026 revenue of $67 billion. Notably, the cloud giant expects fiscal 2026 capital expenditures to increase by $15 billion compared to its earlier estimate. Oracle's free cash flow in the second quarter was a negative $10 billion. The company is funding its buildout through a mix of debt, customer-supplied hardware, and vendor financing arrangements. Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison and other executives stressed on the earnings call that the AI infrastructure behemoth is committed to maintaining its investment-grade debt rating. Edit: The Dodge County Sheriff in Wisconsin is also now claiming that Sunny Naqvi was never booked into their system, raising even more questions about this odd case. It seems increasingly clear that multiple people here have to be lying, and it would seemingly have to either be the collective group of Naqvi, her entire family and friends, all other five people who were detained, her lawyers and a Cook County Commissioner, or all of CBP and now a Wisconsin sheriff as well. Well be keeping an eye on this story in the hope that more definitive evidence is offered up. To those Americans with their heads buried firmly in the sand, U.S. citizenship often seems to be perceived as some kind of shield of protection that will inevitably safeguard them from having the same indignities foisted upon them as we simply accept being inflicted on everyone else who has been detained by federal immigration agents in the last year. It should be obvious to all by this point that this isnt the casewhen your turn comes around, the agent of ICE or Border Patrol youre facing down wont care that youre a U.S. citizen. Fish out a xerox of your birth certificate or social security card; it wont make a difference in Americas fascism era. Hell, they wont even admit that youre in their custody when your family demands to know where the fuck you are. Just look at what happened to Chicago resident and U.S. citizen Sunny Naqvi last weekshe was reportedly detained at OHare International Airport because CBP didnt like the look of her travel history, and spent the next two days in detention while agents lied to her family, likely only being eventually released (in a different state) because she had a local elected official as a family friend. Oh, and then CBP claimed she was never detained. Sundas Sunny Naqvi is a 28-year-old, born and raised in the northern Chicago suburb of Evanston. She reportedly works for German software company SAP SE, and was traveling internationally as part of a group of six legal U.S. residents for work: Three citizens and three green card holders who have Pakistani passports. They were on their way to India on a work trip, but were turned back during a layover in Istanbul due to visa issues, according to Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison, a family friend of the Naqvis who ultimately assisted when she was detained. Thus, the group of six ultimately flew back home to Chicago, only to find agents of Customs and Border Protection waiting to detain them on Thursday morning when they arrived. According to Morrison, the only reason cited for why they were all being detained was their recent travel history. None of the other individuals names have been made public. The family of Sunny Naqvi says she spent the next 30 hours in detention at OHare, before the group was eventually taken to Chicagos ICE facility in Broadview on Friday evening. Immediately prior to Cook County Commissioner Morrison performing a walk-through of the facility that night, Naqvi and the others were then suddenly transported across state lines to the Dodge Detention Facility in Wisconsin, where they were eventually released early on Saturday morning, nine miles away from the detention center, where they were forced to hitchhike to somewhere they could be picked up. All told, Naqvis family says she was in detention for just under two days, with zero charges filed or formal accusations made against them. And the entire time that Naqvi was in detention, her family says federal agents refused to admit that they had her, or where she was. They only knew her location, in fact, by tracking the location of her phonefirst to the ICE facility in Chicago, and then to Wisconsin. The family has provided images of this. Advertisement Advertisement We were being lied to our faces, said sister Sarah Afzal to Block Club Chicago. We saw her location smack dab in the middle of the [Broadview] facility. We saw her location in Wisconsin in the middle of that facility We were in contact with her, and they kept being like, I dont know what to tell you.' But wait, it gets more outrageous. In a jaw-dropping statement, a spokesperson for CBP speaking to Block Club Chicago on Monday claimed that the entire story involving Naqvi is blatantly false, and that she was only in their custody for 90 minutes. Summer Sundas Sunny Naqvi, arrived at OHare at 10:21 a.m. on March 5, 2026, says the CBP statement. CBP officers referred her to Secondary, for additional inspection based on law enforcement checks and conducted a baggage exam. Ms. Naqvi departed CBP within 90 minutes of her arrival to the United States. Ms. Naqvi was not taken into custody or transferred to ICE for detention. So Customs and Border Protection is claiming, essentially, that this group of six people are ALL LYING about having been detained for two days, and that their families, friends and lawyers are also lying and in on a massive conspiracy, and that a Cook County Commissioner is also lying, and that the family has fabricated fake phone data showing that Naqvi was taken to the ICE facility in Chicago and then to Wisconsin. Its either all of that, or CBP is lying about having detained a U.S. citizen. Which of those would satisfy Occams razor? Advertisement Advertisement They have been lying from the very start of this, said Morrison on Monday. I dont think they want to own up to the fact that, once again, they have illegally detained American citizens without due process. It sounds like they are trying to create a cover-up. They are seeking not to have any accountability whatsoever. And I think this is terrifying and concerning to us all. We need transparency of the facts of what actually occurred. We need accountability for everyone who took part in this moment. But we need investigations by our Congress, and we need action and legislation to ensure that this doesnt happen again. It is clear, regardless of what happened, that Naqvi is very fortunate to have had a local elected official wielding legitimate governmental power as a family friend, although it begs the obvious question: What would have happened to her if she didnt have that friend? What are family members of a citizen supposed to do when federal agents detain someone, and then claim that they havent detained the person? Thank God [Afzal] reached out to me, Morrison said in a statement to media. No one should need to have an elected official have to further someones voice when their constitutional rights are being impeded on. Im glad I was able to help in this moment. Naqvis attorney, Robert Held, decried her detention at a press conference with Morrison, speaking to the media. Advertisement Advertisement This is whats happening around the country, Held said. The neighborhoods and communities that are being traumatized and terrorized are taking the brunt of this administrations racist policies. This reign of terror will end one day those responsible will be held to account. There must be transparency and accountability. Local candidates running for Congress in Chicagos 7th and 9th Districts also attended the press conference and called for immigration reform and overview, while pointing out the obvious: Only a sufficient public outcry succeeded in getting Naqvi released from federal agents who wouldnt even admit to her family that she was in their possession. They were only brought home after their families and our community refused to back down and kept asking for answers, said congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh. This is going to be the new normal if we dont stand up against it. U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson and Iowa Sen. Zach Wahls both argued their campaigns are able to reach across the aisle as they submitted petition signatures Wednesday to qualify in the 2026 primaries for Iowas U.S. Senate seat. As she submitted paperwork, Hinson said her campaign is focused on showing the successes of GOP control of Congress and the Trump administration in an midterm cycle expected to be difficult for Republicans. Hinson, who currently represents Iowas 2nd Congressional District, is the best-known Republican U.S. Senate candidate for 2026, having garnered endorsements from President Donald Trump and many other Republicans in Iowa and Congress, including incumbent U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst. Advertisement Advertisement Hinson submitted 15,000 petition signatures Wednesday to the Iowa Secretary of State to qualify for the June 2, 2026 primary. Senate candidates are required to submit 3,500 signatures from Iowans supporting their campaign which must include 100 signatures from at least 19 different counties by Friday, March 13 to have their name listed on the primary ballot. One other Republican U.S. Senate candidate, former state legislator Jim Carlin, filed his campaign paperwork March 2. Two other announced GOP candidates, John Berman and Joshua Smith, have yet to file. At a news conference after submitting her paperwork, Hinson said her petition signatures came from all 99 counties. She thanked her campaign staff and volunteers for their work to knock doors, hold events and speak with their communities about Hinson and her case for keeping the seat in Republican control, saying her campaign has really built a movement of people who are sick and tired of the way Washington, D.C.s chaos and dysfunction has been running, and who will not rest until our nations capital shares my goal of running a whole lot more like Iowa. Though Republicans have had several election cycles of major wins in Iowa, some political forecasters believe GOP candidates may face more difficult races in 2026 in both Iowa and across the nation, especially as some voters express dissatisfaction with certain federal program cuts or economic decisions like tariffs enacted by the Republican-controlled Congress and Trump. While some House seats representing Iowa are expected to be more contentious, the Senate race remains rated a likely Republican seat by Cook Political Report and Sabatos Crystal Ball. Advertisement Advertisement Hinson said she believed her campaign would succeed and win over needed no party and moderate votes by showcasing that she and Republican lawmakers have been addressing the top concerns of Iowans while serving in Washington. I think its all about priorities, Hinson said at the news conference. And I listen to what those priorities are, because those are Republican priorities, but theyre also Iowans priorities, and they are what I continue to hear as I travel through all 99 counties of this state, right? I think about what I just mentioned child care access, maternal health care access, affordability, for buying a home, making sure health care costs are lower those are all things that I think we all are raising good solutions, and Ive proven myself as that kind of leader. Before heading to the Iowa Capitol, Hinson spoke to conservatives at the Westside Conservative Club earlier Wednesday at the Machine Shed restaurant in Urbandale. She reiterated to the crowd her focus is on advancing conservative proposals that can make it to the presidents desk. Good is the enemy of perfect, and I will always vote for the most conservative bill we can get consensus on, Hinson said. That has always been my philosophy. Now dont get me wrong, there are those times when you put a line in the sand, we say, thats it. Iowa agriculture is mine. You know, when I look at the fights Ive picked with our leadership, theyve been standing up for whats best for my state and for Iowa agriculture. Im not afraid to pick those fights, but I also know when its important to say, hey, Ive gotten the best deal Im going to give my district.' Wahls agrees to debates, submits primary paperwork Wahls, a Democratic candidate running for the U.S. Senate, also submitted his paperwork to run Wednesday with more than 10,000 signatures from all 99 counties. He said 15% of the signatures come from registered Republicans and independents. Iowa Sen. Zach Wahls, D-Coralville, spoke with reporters before he submitted binders of petition signatures to the Iowa Secretary of States office March 11, 2026, qualifying him for the primary ballot for Iowas U.S. Senate seat. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Wahls is expected to be in one of the most competitive primary races in the state in June against Iowa Rep. Josh Turek, D-Council Bluffs. Turek is planning to file his campaign paperwork Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Wahls led in fundraising between October and December 2025 at $742,294, with Turek raising $677,806 though both were behind Hinsons $1.68 million raised in the most recent Federal Election Commission reporting period. Though Wahls was the highest Democratic fundraiser in the primary race, Turek has received some support from national Senate Democrats through the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. The DSCC has not made an endorsement in the race, but other Democrats previously running in the U.S. Senate primary Iowa Rep. J.D. Scholten, D-Sioux City, and former Knoxville Chamber of Commerce executive director Nathan Sage both endorsed Turek. As the June 2 primary nears, Turek committed earlier in March to two televised debates for the U.S. primary. This campaign is about making life better for Iowans, and I look forward to bringing that message straight to voters during these debates, Turek said in a statement. I hope my opponent will join me and continue our Iowa tradition of debates. Advertisement Advertisement Speaking with reporters Wednesday, Wahls said conversations are ongoing, but he plans to appear in televised debates. When asked how many debates he wanted to participate in, Wahls told reporters, as many as you guys want to invite us to. Well, its a little early to get into specifics, but we definitely are looking forward to having the opportunity to take this message to voters, Wahls said. We know that its resonating with people, both in the Democratic Party and across the political spectrum, and you know, youll see us on the (air)waves relatively soon. While some campaign operatives have described Wahls as the progressive and Turek as the moderate Democratic candidate, Wahls said his campaign has built a broad coalition around progressive and moderate policies, as well as issues like implementing term limits, which he said some people believe are a conservative idea. I think for most Iowans, its not just about, you know, is it a Democratic idea or Republican idea?' Wahls said. And I reject the idea that party has a monopoly on all the right ideas. I believe that the best ideas are the ones that work best for our state, and I really do not care which party they come from. Advertisement Advertisement Hinson told reporters she believed Wahls was currently positioned to be her likely opponent in the general election. Lets just say I think Zach Wahls seems to be running away with it right now, Hinson said. Hes raising the money. He seems to have the momentum. But no matter if its Zack Wahls or Josh Turek, I will beat either of them, and I know that I look forward to contrasting my vision for the future of our state and our country with theirs. British Armed Forces assets continue to flow into Cyprus, as the United Kingdom bolsters its military presence in the eastern Mediterranean in response to the war in the Middle East. While the British government has not taken part in direct military action against targets within Iran, the expanding conflict has also put Cyprus under direct threat. Meanwhile, the rush to bolster the U.K.s military capabilities in the region has highlighted some glaring deficits in the British Armed Forces. The British military response to the conflict in the Middle East has centered on the island of Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean, which has long been home to a U.K. Armed Forces presence. As well as providing a landing pad for British forces operating in the region, for example, during the counter-ISIS mission, Cyprus has long been used by the British for training and exercises. The so-called Sovereign Base Areas on Cyprus comprise the airbase of RAF Akrotiri and Dhekelia Station (a former airfield), which have been in British hands since the Republic of Cyprus was established in 1960. British bases in Cyprus in relation to the wider eastern Mediterranean. Google Earth RAF Akrotiri. Google Earth Fighter assets Before the Iran war began, eight Royal Air Force Typhoon multirole fighters were already deployed to Akrotiri, where they were still operating on the U.K. counter-ISIS mission, Operation Shader. Other U.K. Armed Forces personnel were also in Iraq under Shader. Advertisement Advertisement In the wider region, there was also an existing RAF Typhoon footprint in Qatar, where a squadron of the jets is operated jointly with the Qatar Emir Air Force. This unit was strengthened in January, when another four Typhoons deployed there from the United Kingdom, specifically for air defense. Today, we can confirm we are sending four additional @RoyalAirForce Typhoon jets to Qatar, to support defensive operations in the region. These aircraft are in addition to the existing jets from the UK-Qatar Joint Typhoon Squadron that we deployed in January to reinforce pic.twitter.com/WZZDEj3Vfa Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) March 5, 2026 Typhoons from No. 12 Squadron, the joint U.K.-Qatar Typhoon squadron, conduct a flypast over Doha. Crown Copyright AS1 Tomas Barnard RAF In February, six RAF F-35B Lightnings were sent to Akrotiri in Cyprus, joining the Typhoons already deployed there. As Iran and its proxies have launched drones and missiles at countries across the region, the U.K. Armed Forces have been active in intercepting drones (and potentially also cruise missiles). The real wakeup call came overnight on March 1, when a drone launched by Hezbollah in Lebanon hit Akrotiri. There were no reported casualties and only minimal damage, although this was, significantly, an impact that tore a hole in the hangar used by the U.S. Air Force U-2 Dragon Lady spy planes that are also regularly detached to Cyprus. Two more drones heading toward Cyprus were reportedly intercepted the same day. Damage at RAF Akrotiri from the drone strike that hit the base. "Minimal damage" to an aircraft shelter for US Air Force U-2 Spy Planes. Not the runway as previously reported. (Src: https://t.co/K7K0dUoGrU) pic.twitter.com/LHbLOFZJSE UK Forces Tracker (@UKForcesTracker) March 5, 2026 Another two drones heading for Cyprus were intercepted on March 4, according to a Cypriot government spokesperson. Advertisement Advertisement The U.K. Ministry of Defense has confirmed that the four Typhoons in Qatar, as well as the Cyprus-based F-35Bs, have since been active in bringing down hostile drones. The F-35B achieved its first air-to-air victories in British hands when one of the fighters shot down a pair of Iranian drones, announced on March 3. The pilot involved in that historic engagement was a Royal Navy aviator embedded within the RAFs joint-force No. 617 Squadron, the Dambusters. The pilot fired two infrared-guided Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (ASRAAM) in the space of 20 minutes, each from a range of less than a mile, to destroy the Shahed-type drones over Jordan. They subsequently told The Telegraph: Your adrenaline is pumping pretty hard, youre working down low at night above the desert in unfamiliar terrain. Emotionally, those things get pushed aside in the moment. Its not until after landing that it begins to settle in. An F-35B jet conducts Quick Reaction Alert training, operating from RAF Akrotiri. Crown Copyright AS1 Amber Mayall RAF Lt. Col. Mike Carty, commanding officer of No. 617 Squadron, added: The tempo of flying here is greater than anything the Lightning Force has embarked upon before. The sheer amount of sorties and flying hours is quite high. People are being stretched and working incredibly hard, but nobody is under any particular strain. We are set up here to be able to sustain this. Advertisement Advertisement The continued threat posed by Iranian drones and cruise missiles has also seen the decision made to send another four Typhoons to Qatar. RAF Typhoons have also successfully shot down drones targeting Bahrain, Jordan, and Qatar. An update on UK operations in the Middle East, 09 March 2026. pic.twitter.com/dXbvxEn1iT Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) March 9, 2026 Destroyer deployment The United Kingdom has also elected to beef up its defensive capabilities in the eastern Mediterranean with the deployment of a Type 45 destroyer. This was the subject of considerable debate before it was finally announced that HMS Dragon would sail for the region. The warship departed yesterday for a voyage that will take around 10 days. HMS Dragon departs Portsmouth Harbour, U.K., to head to the eastern Mediterranean to bolster British defences in the region today, on March 10, 2026. Crown Copyright LPHOT Tim Lombard However, the Type 45 is the United Kingdoms most balanced and capable air defense platform, at least against drones and cruise missiles. HMS Dragon has begun her journey to the eastern Mediterranean to join the UK's defensive operations in the region. Hundreds of well-wishers, including loved ones of the ship's crew, lined the seawall as the ship sailed from Portsmouth. https://t.co/xQqazM6Mcdpic.twitter.com/ScskyAu0CF Royal Navy (@RoyalNavy) March 10, 2026 The basic Type 45s weapons fit includes Aster 30 missiles fired from the Sea Viper system, which represents the Royal Navys outer air defense layer. According to the Royal Navy, the Sea Viper is able to track hundreds of potential threats to an individual ship or task group at ranges up to 250 miles, using Aster 30 missiles to eliminate them when they close to around 70 miles. Other sources suggest the Mach-3 missile has a range of more than 75 miles. HMS Dragon fires a Sea Viper missile against a supersonic sea-skimming target. Crown Copyright LPhot Oliver Leach Advertisement Advertisement There is also the Aster 15 with a range of around 18 miles, optimizing it for close-in and local-area and point defense. For aerial threats even closer to the warship, the Type 45 can call upon a pair of Phalanx close-in weapon systems (CIWS) armed with 20mm Gatling cannons, 30mm guns, and various machine guns. When it comes to ballistic missile defense, the Type 45 is much more limited, however. While HMS Diamond did shoot down one of the Houthis anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs) in 2024, this is an easier threat to deal with than the medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBMs) that Iran is currently launching toward Israel. "Smoke" (infrared) decoy employment aftermath seen from HMS Diamond's bridge during the ballistic missile engagement. One of the decoy launchers can be seen beneath the 30mm gun sponson, loaded with the by now familiar mix including Chemring Large Payload Carriers. pic.twitter.com/1TgWrgrDzP Gabriele Molinelli (@Gabriel64869839) April 26, 2024 Also in 2024, the U.K. Ministry of Defense announced that it would invest around $515 million to upgrade Sea Viper, making it even more lethal against new and growing threats from hostile drones and missiles. Advertisement Advertisement Under the upgrade, the Aster 30 missile will be modernized to improve its capabilities against ASBMs, with an enhanced warhead plus new guidance and seeker software. The upgrade will also address the Sampson multi-function radar as well as the command-and-control system and combat management system. A second phase will see the evaluation of a new missile, the Aster 30 Block 1NT, currently under development by France, Italy, and the United Kingdom. This missile features a new seeker, which would further improve the ballistic missile defense capabilities of the Type 45. In particular, Block 1NT will be better equipped to intercept MRBMs carrying maneuverable reentry vehicles (MaRVs), which you can read more about here. However, these upgrades are yet to be fielded. More generally, there have long been questions about the availability of the Type 45s, despite their undoubted capabilities. These six vessels are still very modern, but they have spent a notably long time in maintenance. Typically, only two are actually available to deploy at any given time. With one of the warships normally earmarked for the North Atlantic and Russia, and another needed to escort one of the U.K. aircraft carriers when that is at sea, there is very little capacity left to play with. Advertisement Advertisement This also brings us to the question of the two British aircraft carriers of the Queen Elizabeth class. With the war entering its second week, HMS Prince of Wales appeared poised to deploy, with the crew at five days notice to sail. Earlier this week, however, the Prime Ministers official spokesman gave the following statement: HMS Prince of Wales has always been on very high readiness. The MoD is increasing the preparedness of the carrier reducing the time it would take to set sail for any deployment but there is no decision taken to deploy her. HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen Elizabeth are pictured at sea for the first time together in 2021. Crown Copyright HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen Elizabeth pictured at sea for the first time. Wednesday 19 May 2021 saw a historic moment in Britains carrier renaissance as HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales met at sea for the first time. Petty Officer Photographer Jay Allen Critics of the hugely costly aircraft carrier program might ask why these warships, which are designed to respond to just this kind of crisis, are being held back. U.S. President Donald Trump also used the lack of carrier deployment as a stick with which to beat the U.K. government. On his Truth Social platform, Trump said that the United States did not need Britains carriers in the conflict and suggested they would have been useful had they deployed before the war began. Short-range air defense To help cover short-range air defense over Cyprus, the United Kingdom has deployed two Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters armed with Martlet missiles. On the plus side, each helicopter can carry up to 20 of these missiles, which are ideal for bringing down drones. On the other hand, the missiles have a range of only around five miles, and with just two cabs available, the Wildcat deployment is really only capable of providing limited point defense. A Royal Navy Wildcat HMA2 lifts off for a training flight after arrival at a British base in Cyprus on March 8, 2026. Crown Copyright AS1 Joshua Whiting With that in mind, its somewhat surprising that the British Army hasnt deployed any of its Sky Sabre short-range air defense systems to Cyprus, or anywhere else in the region. The Sky Sabre is intended to bring down aircraft, as well as drones and cruise missiles. However, its unclear how many batteries are currently deployable. One is stationed in the Falkland Islands, and another has been deployed on NATOs eastern flank, in Poland, and the 12 batteries on order are still being delivered. Advertisement Advertisement The Sky Sabre fires the Common Anti-Air Modular Missile, or CAMM, also known as the Land Ceptor. The same CAMM missile is also used in naval applications including aboard Royal Navy warships as the Sea Ceptor. Fitted with an active-radar seeker, the CAMM is derived from the aforementioned ASRAAM. The CAAM has a reported range of more than 15 miles and is said to be able to tackle a wide range of threats, including low-observable targets, high-speed missiles, drones, and precision-guided air-to-ground weapons. The British Army Sky Sabre air defense system. Sky Sabre comprises three separate components: the Agile Multi-Beam Surveillance Targeting radar (Giraffe, pictured left), the Battle Management Command & Control Communications (not shown), and the Land Ceptor CAMM (Common Anti-Air Modular Missiles) missile launcher vehicle (right). Crown Copyright Corporal Adam J Wakefield Meanwhile, the ability to surveil the airspace around Cyprus received an upgrade yesterday with the arrival of a Royal Navy Merlin HM2 Crowsnest helicopter, with airborne surveillance and control (ASaC) capabilities. A Royal Navy Merlin airborne surveillance and control helicopter has arrived in Cyprus earlier this week to boost the defence of UK military forces. https://t.co/mTNrHAlhQHpic.twitter.com/MosoOF9DY9 Royal Navy (@RoyalNavy) March 11, 2026 The Merlin brings a look-down sensor capability, making it something of a pocket version of the E-7 Wedgetail. From altitude, the radar has an excellent field of view to spot low and slow-flying targets, even if they are relatively small. This makes it especially useful for tracking drones and cruise missiles. A Royal Navy Merlin Crowsnest helicopter from RNAS Culdrose, seen here departing for the Middle East on March 7, 2026. Crown Copyright Royal Navy Other British counter-drone units have also been active in the wider region. Advertisement Advertisement Few details have been provided, but these are likely to consist of non-kinetic systems (like the ORCUS) and man-portable air defense systems (like the Starstreak missile) used by troops who have a limited presence in Jordan and Iraq, where they have been since before the Iran war began. The Air Defence Troop of 29 Commando, armed with Starstreak, reacts to a simulated F-35 attack during Exercise Green Dagger 25, in California. Crown Copyright LPhot Stainer- Hutchins Overall, though, the conflict has highlighted the somewhat limited nature of U.K. ground-based air defense capabilities. More generally, the deployments so far, in a purely defensive capacity, have raised concerns about the breadth, depth, and readiness of U.K. military power and its relevance in international affairs. The question of going kinetic The United Kingdom initially denied permission for the U.S. military to use its airbases including Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean for strikes against Iran, as we discussed at the time. This was soon revised, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer saying his government had agreed to a U.S. request to use British military bases for defensive strikes. The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, visits RAF Akrotiri in December 2024. Crown Copyright Were the British stance to change, it is questionable whether RAF jets, as currently deployed, would be able to make a significant contribution, based on their small numbers, their other taskings, and the long distance to targets in Iran. Advertisement Advertisement According to an assessment by the U.K.-based Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) think-tank, realistically, the fighter force at Akrotiri would only have been able to fly 28 strike sorties against Iran, had they been committed to Operation Epic Fury. This is very much a best-case scenario, and would also have required significant tanker support. A British offensive campaign against Iran would otherwise rely primarily upon the Royal Navy, which operates nuclear-powered attack submarines that can launch Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAM). However, this is a capability that has suffered from poor availability in recent years. Currently, only one of five in-service Astute class submarines, HMS Anson, is at sea, and it was in the Indo-Pacific region as of January. HMS Anson arrives in Australia earlier this year for a historic visit to strengthen the U.K.s commitment to the security of the Indo-Pacific. Crown Copyright LAC Thomas Clarke-Kelly So far, however, the U.K. government has held back from committing to any kind of direct offensive action against Iran, although there have been voices raised across the political spectrum urging that the United Kingdom should back the United States more actively, including taking part in strikes. Kemi Badenoch, leader of the opposition Conservative Party, berated Starmer this week for not doing more to stop the people who are attacking us and said the U.K. Armed Forces should do more than catch the arrows and should catch the archer a reference to striking missile and drone facilities directly. For the time being, the U.K. Armed Forces, ravaged by decades of post-Cold War cuts, are bringing some useful but fairly limited in capacity air defense capabilities to the region. Should the U.K. governments policy regarding Iran become aligned with that of the United States, then much more serious questions will be answered about the relevance and resilience of British military power in an operation of this kind. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com Health divisions within the UK government and British non-profit organisations have banded together to support infectious disease trials in Africa, South Asia, and South-East Asia amid a shifting global vaccine landscape. The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), and the UK-based global health charity, Wellcome, will co-lead the initiative to help run high-quality clinical studies evaluating marketed vaccines and therapeutics for infectious diseases. Through this scheme the group will place a keen focus on high-burden diseases that pose significant risk to health and life including bacterial infections like tuberculosis and viral diseases like dengue, as well as invasive fungal and lower respiratory and bloodstream infections. Advertisement Advertisement According to Lucy Chappell, CEO of the NIHR, investing in quality trials within local communities will allow researchers to generate the evidence needed to inform policy, improve care and accelerate the uptake of effective vaccines and treatments. Florian von Groote, head of clinical research at Wellcome, said the partnership will help demonstrate real-world impact of infectious disease preventatives and treatments. Results from controlled trial conditions dont always translate into real-world impact and evidence is strongest when generated locally. This funding call will support researchers in Africa, South Asia and SouthEast Asia to lead clinical trials that generate evidence to inform policy and guideline change improving outcomes for people most affected by infectious diseases, he commented. US lowers foreign aid investment on domestic focus Alongside the UKs efforts, the European Union (EU) has the Global Health EDCTP3 scheme, which will has a budget of 1.84bn ($2.13bn) to support clinical trials and health research. In December 2025, the EU allocated 147m in funding to support projects developing new or improved drugs for diseases like tuberculosis, HIV and lower respiratory tract infections in sub-Saharan Africa. Then in February 2026, the bloc pledged 225m to develop next-generation flu vaccines. Advertisement Advertisement While certain nations are upping their spend on foreign aid, this trend is not unanimously seen across the high-income nations. Over the past year, the US has been pulling funding in this area to focus on its domestic health agenda. Under the Trump administration, the US which was once one of the largest financial contributors to health research worldwide made significant cuts to its offerings by cancelling 80% of its foreign research and aid projects under the USAID scheme. According to the World Health Organizations (WHO) director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, these actions are having a serious impact on global health. The US officially left the WHO in January 2026 after a year of departure notice came to an end. Ghebreyesus said that he deeply regretted the decision, adding that the consequences on public health extend to the rest of the world. "UK health authorities join forces to champion foreign infectious disease trials" was originally created and published by Pharmaceutical Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. KYIV, Ukraine Ukraine warned allied governments for years to prepare for a new kind of war, one in which cheap, mass-produced drones would overwhelm both the tactics and economics of traditional air defense. You dont have time, Andrii Hrytseniuk, the CEO of Brave1, recalled telling officials in recent years. Shahed [drones] will come not only to Ukraine, but to other countries. You need to use your time not to stick to previous conventional warfare, but to work on the new era. Brave1 was established in 2023 as Ukraines state-backed defense innovation hub, which funds, tests, and fast-tracks new military technology from hundreds of Ukrainian startups. Advertisement Advertisement Three years after Brave1s formation, the Iran war has made Hrytseniuks warning prescient. In the first week alone, the U.S. and Israel struck more than 3,000 targets across Iran while Tehran fired over 500 ballistic missiles and nearly 2,000 drones at U.S. bases and Israeli cities across 12 countries, burning through over 800 Patriot interceptor missiles in three days more than Ukraine received from allies throughout four years of war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pointed out on Thursday. And we are not slowing down, U.S. Central Command posted on X the next day. The conflict has since drawn in at least a dozen countries and put Ukraines counter-drone expertise at the center of a global scramble, with the Pentagon and at least one Gulf state now in active talks to buy Ukrainian-made interceptor drones, according to Financial Times. An EU envoy, meanwhile, is reportedly brokering introductions between Gulf governments and Kyivs manufacturers. Advertisement Advertisement They are really asking for some help with interceptor drones specifically, Hrytseniuk told Military Times on Friday. A Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile is launched during testing in 2021. (Darrell Ames/U.S. Army) Ukraine first made the shift to cheap interceptors not by choice, but because Russias nightly Shahed waves were burning through Western-provided missiles faster than allies could resupply them. Last month, Ukrainian interceptors destroyed more than 70% of incoming Shaheds over Kyiv, freeing scarce Patriot missiles for the ballistic threats they were designed to stop. The irony is hard to ignore: the besieged country that spent four years begging for Patriot batteries to combat a nuclear power 10 times its size has quietly built a new layer of air defense at a fraction of the cost, according to The New York Times and now Washington, which spent roughly $4 billion on missile defense interceptors in the first week of the Iran war alone, is calling Kyiv for help. Advertisement Advertisement Interceptor drones are small, fast, semi-autonomous unmanned aircraft often costing between $1,000 and $2,500 each designed to hunt and destroy incoming drones by ramming into them or detonating alongside them at altitude. Compact enough to fit inside a duffel bag and fast enough to chase a Shahed in the dark, Ukraines interceptors can fly at speeds between 195 and 280 miles per hour, depending on the model. Most combine thermal imaging with radar tracking and AI-assisted guidance, with a human operator taking manual control for the final seconds of the intercept. Ukraine now has more than 20 companies producing interceptor drones, the National Security and Defense Council announced in January. Advertisement Advertisement The most impressive thing is how far we have technically advanced, Roman Yeremenko, a director at Aero Center, a Ukrainian full-cycle manufacturer that builds both drones and their ammunition, told Military Times earlier this week. A Ukrainian officer shows a thermobaric charge of a downed Shahed drone launched by Russia in 2024. (Efrem Lukatsky/AP) Modern Ukrainian interceptors started with Mavic scouts dropping jerry-rigged grenades simple, improvised. Then came FPV drones: first 7-inch frames, then 10, then 12. Aero Centers first munition, Malyuk (Baby), weighed just 450 grams enough for one or two Mavic drops. But the troops kept asking for more capabilities, Yeremenko said. Then came 1 kg payloads, 1.5 kg, even bigger, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Engineers working long into the night learned to wire warheads directly to flight controllers, built initiation systems and moved into producing kamikaze FPVs. Whats getting developed now? Heavy bombers carry 510 kg of ammunition and fly 2535 miles regularly, according to Yeremenko. This is a war of technology, he said. And the one who is ahead will win this war. Several Ukrainian companies are now fielding systems with combat records no Western manufacturer can match. Wild Hornets' Sting has been in combat longer than any other Ukrainian interceptor. A spokesman for the group told CBS News last week that the $2,500 FPV drone has downed 3,900 drones since May 2025 including, the company says, the first confirmed downing of Russias jet-powered Geran-3 and a Shahed fitted with an air-to-air missile. Advertisement Advertisement Reaching 195 mph with a thermal camera and AI-assisted terminal guidance, it can engage targets up to 15 miles away and fits in a standard duffel bag. SkyFalls P1-SUN interceptor drone stands on a field during testing. (SkyFall) At the lowest price point is SkyFalls P1-SUN, a fiber-optic Shahed hunter on a 3D-printed modular airframe that costs Ukrainian units just $1,000 a pop. A company representative recently told Reuters that the drone, which SkyFall says has been upgraded to 280-mph capabilities with computer vision and thermal imaging, has downed more than 1,500 Shaheds and 1,000 other drones in four months and is a hot ticket item internationally since Iran came under fire. Then there is Ukrspecsystems' Octopus, now built under license by more than 15 Ukrainian manufacturers and, since November, at a new factory in the United Kingdom. Advertisement Advertisement It flies at night, cuts through electronic jamming at up to 4,500 meters, and locks onto targets autonomously the kind of all-conditions reliability that made it the MoDs pick for mass production. Ukraines Octopus interceptor drone. (Ukraine MoD) The UK deal marked the first time a Western government licensed a Ukrainian-designed interceptor for domestic production, a model that five NATO countries Germany, France, Italy, Poland and the UK have since agreed to build on by jointly developing affordable interceptor drones of their own, per Militarnyi. Not every system follows the same blueprint. Aero Center is teaming up with Dwarf Engineering, a software company focused on creating multiplatform mission control systems for UAVs, to build a comprehensive interceptor drone package for Ukrainian units and international partners that includes the drone, payload and software needed to integrate it into current air defense systems. Its a different approach to development entirely, Ihor Matviyuk, who heads Aero Center Drones, Aero Centers subsidiary UAV division, told Military Times. Advertisement Advertisement An extra 100 grams [on a combat drone] can mean minus two kilometers range, Vladyslav Piotrovskyi, Dwarf Engineerings CEO, told Military Times on Friday. Piotrovskyi added that the trade-off only works if all three components are optimized as one. But every groundbreaking interceptor system in Ukraines arsenal faces the same expiration window. Russias latest strike drone, the feared Geran-5, can reach speeds up to 370 mph technically fast enough to outrun every Ukrainian interceptor currently in service, according to Business Insider and they grow deadlier every day. The Russians are trying. They are not as stupid as they look, Yeremenko told Military Times. They are adapting to our means of destruction. Advertisement Advertisement Ukrainian and Russian tech becomes outdated every six weeks on average, the drone experts explained, so Ukraine cannot stand still. Aero Center is now building medium-class drones with payloads up to 10 kilograms and ranges of roughly 25 kilometers middle-sized drones, but with the functions and features of big bombers designed for a battlefield where the threat evolves faster than any single airframe can answer, the companys UAV expert said. Ukraine has already learned how to build and integrate an entirely new air defense system in an asymmetric war. Now, its offering the playbook to allies in exchange for the kind of help Kyiv still cannot produce on its own. We are ready to help. We are suggesting help, Brave1s CEO told Military Times. For us, its important to have an alliance that is strong to stop the war and prevent the start of new wars. Alongside an image of a burning Shahed posted Friday on X, Ukraines Ministry of Defense spelled out its current offer to the West: We can help you fight against Shaheds. Help us fight against ballistic missiles. Qatar has called on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to take immediate steps to halt Iranian attacks on countries across the Middle East, warning that a failure to act sends a dangerous signal. Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani, Qatars ambassador to the UN, on Wednesday condemned Irans missile and drone strikes on targets across the region as a clear violation of international law and the UN Charter. The continued targeting of our territory by the Islamic Republic of Iran does not reflect good faith, and impacts deeply the foundation of understanding upon which bilateral relations between our countries have been built, she told reporters at the UN headquarters in New York. Advertisement Advertisement The Security Council must act [and] fulfil its responsibility. Failure to respond would send a dangerous signal that attacks against uninvolved neighbours carry no consequences, she said. Her comments came shortly before the Security Council voted in favour of a draft resolution denouncing the wave of Iranian attacks on Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Iranian forces began firing ballistic missiles and drones at what it said were United States and Israeli targets across the Middle East after the two countries launched a war against Iran on February 28. But the Iranian strikes also have targeted civilian infrastructure, disrupting energy production and grounding flights for several days, particularly in hard-hit Gulf nations. Advertisement Advertisement The US has confirmed its loss of eight US service members in the Iranian attacks since the war began, while deaths have also been reported by several regional countries, including Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. At least 1,255 people have been killed in US-Israeli attacks across Iran, which Iranian officials say have targeted schools, hospitals and oil facilities, as well as thousands of residential buildings. The escalating death toll has caused international concern and calls for de-escalation, but the war has so far shown no signs of abating. Iranian drones hit, target Gulf oil facilities Gulf leaders and their Western allies have increasingly voiced condemnation of the Iranian attacks, despite Tehrans attempts to reassure countries in the region that it is only targeting US and Israeli interests. Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, Omans Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said condemned strikes on the countrys territory in a call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to the Omani state news agency. The call came shortly after Omani authorities confirmed that drones had struck fuel tanks at the port in Salalah, leading to damage but no casualties. Reporting from the Qatari capital Doha, Al Jazeeras Dmitry Medvedenko said the Salalah attack caused a fire and a large plume of smoke. But the Omani state news agency, quoting energy ministry officials, said that no damage had been done to fuel-product flow in the country or the continuity of oil supplies, Medvedenko noted. Advertisement Advertisement Elsewhere in the region, Saudi Arabias Defence Ministry said it intercepted and destroyed a drone flying towards the Shaybah oilfield while the Emirati authorities said they were responding to a new wave of Iranian strikes. The UAEs Ministry of Defence said in a social media post that its air defence systems were intercepting ballistic missiles while fighter jets were responding to drones and loitering munitions. Qatar also responded to more Iranian firings on Wednesday, saying it thwarted three waves of missile attacks. GENEVA (AP) A U.N.-backed panel of independent experts focusing on racial discrimination says racist hate speech by U.S. President Donald Trump and other American political leaders, along with a crackdown on immigration in the United States, have led to grave human rights violations. The Geneva-based Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination issued its decision Wednesday and urged the U.S. to suspend immigration enforcement operations at, and near, schools, hospitals, and faith-based institutions. The decision, made under the committee's early warning protocol, is not legally binding but seeks to hold a country in this case, the U.S. to its own international commitments. Advertisement Advertisement The committee said it also was deeply disturbed by the use of derogatory and dehumanizing language around migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. Committee members attributed a reported rise in racial discrimination to racist hate speech targeting those groups but did not point to any specific data. Besides speech, there is also concern about the impact of politicians and other public figures weaponizing stereotypes to incite hate crimes and discrimination. Portraying them as criminals or as a burden, by politicians and influential public figures at the highest level, particularly the President, the committee said in a news release, may incite racial discrimination and hate crimes. Trump, as well as Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama, have been in office when the U.N. condemned systemic racism, hate and discrimination. But the panel this time specifically cited Trumps speech as part of the problem. They did not single out Biden or Obama for their rhetoric. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, along with U.S. Customs and Border Protection also were singled out for racially profiling people of color and conducting identity checks that often seemed arbitrary. Advertisement Advertisement This United Nations assessment is just as useless as their broken escalator, and their extreme bias continues to prove why no one takes them seriously," said White House spokesperson Olivia Wales, who noted Trump's work reducing crime and securing the U.S. border. "No one cares what the biased United Nations so-called experts think, because Americans are living in a safer, stronger country than ever before, she added. In the report, the committee alleges the U.S. is not living up to its obligations as a party in the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, which the U.N. adopted in 1965. The report noted incidents involving discriminatory, dangerous and violent methods have left eight people dead in the last three months, including Alex Pretti and Renee Good, two U.S. citizens protesting in Minnesota. Pretti and Good died in separate shootings at the hands of federal agents during Operation Metro Surge. The use of lethal force in those two cases was tantamount to arbitrary deprivation of life and other gross violations of international human rights law, the panel stated. Advertisement Advertisement Migrants, refugees and asylum seekers who are detained also deserve humane and equal treatment free from discrimination under the Convention. But, these groups have been denied basic essential services, including health care, education and social support, the report states. The committee is calling on the U.S. to review whether its immigration policies abide by international human rights law. This should include suspending immigration enforcement operations, including around schools, faith-based institutions and hospitals, repealing discriminatory measures related to asylum procedures and putting up safeguards so immigration agencies cannot access personal data in government databases. However, it's not clear if the U.N. could actually enforce these proposals. This is not the first time the panel has criticized the U.S. over racism and discrimination. It did so in 2014, after the widespread Black Lives Matter protests over the police shooting death of Michael Brown and other victims, and again in 2020 after the murder of George Floyd. Advertisement Advertisement Also in 2020, a different U.N. human rights body heard similar arguments from a special rapporteur on contemporary racism, discrimination and xenophobia. The Trump administration made mass deportations a key part of its second-term agenda and launched a wave of immigration restrictions and heightened enforcement in multiple cities across the country. The crackdown has led to a surge in arrests of immigrants and mounting concerns by critics over the tactics the administration is using both in detention and enforcement. The administration has cited security and economic concerns for the crackdown. The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination counts 18 independent experts from around the world as members, and they monitor implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The U.S. ratified the convention in 1994. ____ Tang reported from Phoenix. AP writer Collin Binkley in Washington contributed. The UN Security Council on Wednesday called for Iran to halt its attacks on Gulf states, in a resolution that did not mention US or Israeli strikes on Iran, prompting Tehran's ambassador to decry a "blatant misuse" of the international body. The resolution, passed by 13 votes with two abstentions, "demands the immediate cessation of all attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran against Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan." It also "condemns any actions or threats by the Islamic Republic of Iran aimed at closing, obstructing, or otherwise interfering with international navigation through the Strait of Hormuz." Advertisement Advertisement Iran has repeatedly struck Gulf states in retaliation to US-Israeli attacks that killed Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and continue to pummel Iranian sites. The Islamic republic has also fired on commercial ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial sea passage for the global fuel trade, in a bid to inflict pain on the global economy. Jamal Fares Alrowaiei, the UN ambassador of Bahrain, which introduced the resolution sponsored by 135 countries, said its passing reflected the Gulf's key role in the global economy. "This is why ensuring the security of this region is not merely a regional matter, it is a common international responsibility that is closely linked to the stability of the global economy and energy security," Alrowaiei told the Security Council. Advertisement Advertisement Veto-holders China and Russia both abstained from the Security Council vote, angered that the resolution did not acknowledge US-Israeli hostility towards Iran. Iranian ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said adoption of the text represented a "blatant misuse of the Security Council mandate in pursuit of the political agendas" of the United States and Israel. "Let me make it clear, this resolution is a manifest injustice against my country, the main victim of a clear act of aggression," he said. The United States, which backed the text, said its adoption reflected a broad condemnation of Iranian strikes. Advertisement Advertisement "Iran's strategy of sowing chaos, of trying to hold their neighbors hostage, trying to shake the resolve of the region, has clearly backfired, as shown by this vote today," said US ambassador Mike Waltz. rh-bjt/des Rep. Rob Bresnahan (R-Pa.), whos faced a firestorm over hundreds of stock trades after campaigning in 2024 on a promise to ban congressional stock trading, has insisted he doesnt talk to his financial adviser about the activity and that he has no input on them. But a little-noticed local radio interview from last April contradicts a significant part of Bresnahans line on the market moves. When asked last spring about the trades after a New York Times story highlighted how he flip-flopped on the campaign pledge, he told the host, Bob Cordaro, I mean, I meet with my financial adviser. We talk about, you know, what different positions are coming up. Advertisement Advertisement The interview which is no longer available on the website for Cordaro's show is starkly different from Bresnahans previous statements about the trading he and his spokespeople have made on multiple occasions in the last year. Bresnahan campaign spokesman Chris Pack said Bresnahans comments were referring to 30,000 foot investment strategy and not about stock trades, and that is clear in the surrounding context of the interview. One Democratic operative aware of the audio, granted anonymity to speak candidly about campaign strategy, predicted that Bresnahans own words in the interview could be used in ads against him ahead of the November midterms when he'll take on Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti in a highly competitive district. Cognetti lists banning congressional trading as her first issue on her campaign website. In June, when pressed about the topic by a constituent during a tele-town hall, Bresnahan said, I think you need to know that the trades are being executed on my behalf. I do not have any dialogues with my financial advisers. In July, he said he provided absolutely no investment advice or input to my financial advisers. Advertisement Advertisement A month later, he inserted a line in his Periodic Transaction Reports in which he asserted: All investment decisions related to my personal financial portfolio are delegated to professional financial advisors. I have no role in, nor am informed of, specific investment decisions prior to their execution. Members of Congress are required to file the reports to disclose Wall Street transactions. During a time of public distrust of Congress, the issue of congressional stock trading has become a symbol of members appearing to enrich themselves based on inside information that they learn in office. Even President Donald Trump called for a ban on this type of trading during his State of the Union address. Both parties have competing proposals to reform the practice but action is currently stalled. Bresnahans congressional spokesperson, Hannah Pope, told the New York Times in August that the trades are done by a financial adviser without his input. He learns about them when the public does through reports that members of Congress have to file on their trading, she said. In the April interview with Cordaro, he was asked by the friendly conservative host: Sum and substance, youre saying, Look, I did not buy and sell on information Ive gleaned here in Congress. My advisers doing my trading for me, and I am duly reporting it. Is that fair? Advertisement Advertisement Bresnahan responded by saying, Absolutely. Absolutely. Right hand to God on my mothers life. Without a question. He then said he sometimes learns about the trades on X accounts that track congressional stock trading reports. Im not on a day by day, minute by minute. I mean, I meet with my financial adviser. We talk about, you know, what different positions are coming up. Bresnahan then says he actually even took it a step further and is exiting his real estate holdings in Pittston, a city in his district, to avoid conflicts of interests in his congressional work. Pack, the Bresnahan campaign spokesperson, called questions about his investing a ridiculous stretch. To imply that Rob having the equivalent of a routine annual 401(k) meeting with his financial advisers to discuss risk tolerance amounts to insider trading would mean that every member of Congress or congressional staffer who discusses risk tolerance as part of their retirement planning is also engaged in insider trading, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Does this same standard apply to Goldman Sachs banker Paige Cognetti, whose financial disclosure reports list millions of dollars in investment holdings, and whether she has routine conversations with her financial adviser about long-term strategy? (Cognetti worked for Goldman Sachs between 2014 and 2016.) When asked about POLITICOs reporting on Bresnahan, Ted Rossman, a principal analyst at Bankrate.com, said that different financial advisers have different ways of working with clients to maximize portfolio growth, with some talking to clients about individual stock positions and others being more general. But even if its not a direct order to buy or sell a certain amount of an individual company, just sharing thoughts on themes in the market and the economy could be problematic politically since members of Congress have information that the average public is not privy to, said Rossman. Bresnahan, who comes from a wealthy Pennsylvania construction family, has bemoaned the controversy, raising the question in July that if he stopped trading, he could lose money. And then do what with it? Just leave it all in the accounts and just leave it there and lose money and go broke? Advertisement Advertisement When running for Congress in 2024, Bresnahan campaigned on a pledge to ban congressional stock trading, writing in a letter to a local newspaper that the idea that we can buy and sell stocks while voting on legislation that will have a direct impact on these companies is wrong and needs to come to an end immediately. But last year he was one of the most prolific stock traders in Congress, making more than 600 stock trades in 2025 before suspending the trading toward the end of the year after much criticism. Among his trades at issue have been the sale of Pennsylvania health care-related bonds worth between $100,001 and $250,000 and stock in four Medicaid providers worth up to $130,000 before he voted on massive Medicaid cuts. Democrats seized on clips of the Bresnahan trades that Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico brought up on Joe Rogan, during a discussion of how broken Washington was, and even on conservative channel OAN. The trades have also been noticed by his constituents, with 54 percent of voters in his swing district knowing about the trades in an August Public Policy Polling poll commissioned by Democratic group House Majority PAC. House Republicans also have privately raised concernsabout the issue hurting Bresnahan, who has since introduced his own legislation to ban stock trading. His trading has made its way into the campaign. A seven-figure TV ad campaign is already underway that cites his Medicaid-related stock trades. Cognetti, who does not own any individual stocks, featured Bresnahans stock trading as one of her main issues in her announcement video. During the tele-town hall in June, one woman who said she had voted for him confronted Bresnahan, telling him, Youre making all these trades I thought you were supposed to stop trading, adding, I didnt send you there to trade. NEED TO KNOW The Pentagon reportedly blocked press photographers from two briefings on ongoing military actions in Iran after several outlets published photos of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that his staff found "unflattering" According to a report from The Washington Post, Hegseth's staff took issue with photos taken during a rare on-the-record briefing on March 2 A spokesperson for the Pentagon characterized the Post's reporting as "false" The Pentagon blocked press photographers from two briefings on ongoing military actions in Iran after several outlets published photos of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that his staff found unflattering, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday, March 11. According to the report, Hegseth's staff took issue with photographs taken during a rare on-the-record briefing on March 2, two days after the U.S. and Israel killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Iranian supreme leader, in a joint strike. Outlets including The Associated Press, Reuters and Getty Images sent photographers to the briefing from Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Advertisement Advertisement According to Wednesdays report, Hegseths aides told colleagues after the briefing that they did not like the way the secretary looked in the photos, which were published by a wide range of media outlets because they are licensed globally. Pentagon staff then barred photographers from two subsequent briefings, on March 4 and March 10, the Post reported, citing sources familiar with the decision. Since then, only the Defense Departments staff photographers have been permitted into the briefings. A photo of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the March 2, 2026, press briefing Credit: Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty In an email to PEOPLE, a department spokesperson called the Post's reporting false, sharing a statement from Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson that said: In order to use space in the Pentagon Briefing Room effectively, we are allowing one representative per news outlet if uncredentialed, excluding pool." "Photographs from the briefings are immediately released online for the public and press to use," Wilson continued. "If that hurts the business model for certain news outlets, then they should consider applying for a Pentagon press credential. Advertisement Advertisement Representatives for the AP and Reuters did not immediately return PEOPLEs requests for comment on the Posts reporting. A spokesperson for Getty declined to comment. 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. Hegseth, a former Fox News host, has frequently and publicly expressed disdain for major media outlets, accusing them of cheering against President Donald Trump and intentionally focusing on negative stories that make the administration look bad. Under Hegseths leadership, the Defense Department implemented restrictive new rules for journalists, leading to a mass exodus of Pentagon reporters from virtually every major news organization. A federal judge appeared skeptical of the departments new policy during oral arguments Friday in Washington, in a legal challenge filed by The New York Times. Read the original article on People Shoppers in western Pennsylvania are being warned after a scam targeting grocery store customers surfaced in a Shaler Township Giant Eagle parking lot. According to a report by CBS News Pittsburgh, authorities say the suspects approached people claiming to collect donations for a funeral, then asked them to pay using their debit or credit cards instead of cash (1). Must Read Investigators say the suspects then allegedly used electronic devices to copy the card information and make unauthorized charges, and they believe the group could be operating in multiple areas. How this scam works Tap-to-pay technology and portable card readers have become a normal part of modern retail transactions, enabling contactless purchases in seconds. As highlighted in a 2024 article by PYMNTS, Mastercard reported contactless payments accounted for 70% of its transactions as of Q3 that year (2). And according to a 2025 report from digital banking services firm Cheqly, almost 90% of consumers across the country had used contactless payments before (3). While this method of payment is fast and convenient, it also creates opportunities for criminals to process a payment without the victim ever seeing the full transaction. In some cases, victims may not see the total before tapping. In others, scammers can quickly adjust the amount or move the device out of view, making it easy to overcharge or capture card information. By the time victims check their bank statements, they could discover they were charged for a much higher amount than they expected, or that their card information was compromised and used elsewhere. But a big flaw with this scam can be exposed by savvy consumers who take their time before they donate to a cause the pressure to pay there and then is a huge red flag. "It's really important that you know exactly who you're giving to," Caitlin Driscoll, public relations director with the Better Business Bureau of Western Pennsylvania, told CBS (1). "Don't be afraid to ask questions regarding who the donation is impacting, the organization that they are collecting for. You don't have to give on the spot." Pilots who fly Apache helicopters for the Army are fiercely dedicated to their mission of watching over and defending forces below on the ground. But in the heart of every Apache pilot is a secret yearning: to find an air-to-air target and blow it out of the sky. This week, the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defense released video of their own AH-64s engaging and shooting down Iranian Shaheed drones that it said were headed towards targets in the country. The Israeli Army has also used AH-64s to attack Iranian drones in flight in recent months. As Apache pilots, we love to blow things up, and the idea that we can do air-to-air stuff is pretty amazing, said Don Bentley, who flew Apaches for 10 years in the Army, including in Afghanistan with the 4th Infantry Division, and now writes military novels. Advertisement Advertisement Bentley and another long-time Apache pilot told Task & Purpose that the UAE engagements show how the 40-year-old helicopter has a place in the new world of drone warfare. . . Footage showing the UAEs air defences intercepting and destroying Iranian UAVs that attempted to pic.twitter.com/vvHmZkcBri |MOD UAE (@modgovae) March 8, 2026 Emily Hills enlisted in the army as a truck mechanic but flew the helicopters for 10 years as a warrant officer, including on combat deployments and as a test pilot, retiring in 2018. I love the Apache. Shes a maintenance pilots worst nightmare, but I love her. So to see the fact that it could calculate that [engagement] is amazing, Hills said. Ive always joked that, you know, the reason that we sell so many aircraft is that we hope theres an Apache-Apache dog fight someday. We clearly dont really want that, but it was neat to see. Tactics designed for ground used in the air Both pilots agreed the videos appear to be real, with on-screen symbols that match Apache targeting and flight systems and tell-tale signs of tactics and weapons that match their own experience. Advertisement Advertisement The engagement appears to show Apaches tracking and firing at Iranian Shaheed drones, which have been widely used in the ongoing conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran. Bentley said that, not surprisingly, the Apaches appear to be using their 30mm M230 chain gun, which pivots underneath the nose of the helicopter, with tactics similar to ground engagements. What you see in the video is the 30 millimeter cannon that the Apache has, Bentley said. It is not designed for air-to-air engagements. It actually fires at a much slower rate than what a fighter jet would. So, for instance, while a fighter cannon might fire 3,000 rounds per minute, the Apache one fires just at 600. Most of those look like 10-round bursts, which is what the cannon is designed for, to shoot armor and stuff. An AH-64 Apache helicopter assigned to Task Force Nighthawk flies through a landing zone during aviation operations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility on Nov. 3, 2025. Army photo by Spc. Doniel Kennedy. Apaches do not fire tracer rounds, Bentley pointed out, because the guns are targeted with a forward-looking infrared, or FLIR, system, allowing the weapons officer to see each rounds heat signature. Advertisement Advertisement The gunner was in the FLIR mode so [the bullets] looked black but were actually the heat from the rounds, Bentley said. Tracers are for a higher rate of fire machine gun, where youre walking the rounds in. With the Apache, what youre doing is firing a select number of rounds, and then you adjust the rounds based on the impact. So youre not firing a continuous stream, like when you walk in tracers. Though it doesnt appear to have been used in this instance, the U.S. has been testing air-burst ammunition designed specifically for taking out drones. You can look at the video and see, theres a couple of those shots where you can see the rounds going by and theyre not air bursting, Bentley said. Theyre going straight past the target. So I think theyre the normal Apache rounds. Hard flying to set up an easy shot Hills noted that American Apache pilots preferred firing short bursts in cities in Iraq and Afghanistan. Advertisement Advertisement If youre shooting rounds over a populated area, conservation of ammunition is important for collateral damage, she said. So I thought it was a really skillful professional engagement. Hills noted that while the gun is being targeted by the pilot in the front seat, the pilot in the rear is likely pushing the helicopter at close to top speed to stay in the best spot for firing. She also noted that watching the full-throttle engagement made her think of the maintenance troops that had the helicopters multiple systems working properly. The back seater is doing an amazing job of keeping a level weapons firing platform, which is the job of the back seater, she said. I know that aircraft is extraordinarily well maintained, that gun was shooting nails, which, especially in the desert, is extremely difficult to get it to do that. You know, the M230 is a fickle girl. Hills also wondered if the mechanics might actually be Americans working as contract workers. Advertisement Advertisement A lot of the guys I was in the Army with got out and went over there, she said. So it still makes me extraordinarily proud of them, because theyre still turning wrenches and still in the fight. Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopters supported U.S. troops in countless engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan. Photo courtesy of Dan McClinton. The UAE has flown Apaches for close to three decades and bought over 30 of the latest versions of the helicopter in 2024. I trained and went to school with UAE pilots, Hills said. They were in our flight classes when I was going through. The sheer novelty of seeing an Apache air-to-air kill reminded both pilots that the helicopters were originally conceived with the ability to carry Stinger missiles, a weapon designed to bring down a fighter jet. Early Apache models even had firing switches for the air-to-air system on the flight controls. It was envisioned that there would be hard points on the end of the two Apache wing stores where you could potentially mount a Stinger, said Bentley. I never used it in 10 years of flying. US forces have been unable to locate all of Irans missile launch sites, officials have disclosed. Donald Trump, the US president, told CBS News on Monday that the American-Israeli war with Iran was very complete, pretty much. He added: Were very far ahead of schedule. However, Irans missile attacks have continued, and two unnamed military officials have claimed that the Pentagon does not have full clarity on all of its enemys launch sites, according to The New York Times. Advertisement Advertisement The sources said that Iran had kept many missiles in reserve to strike at important battlefield targets like the American radars designed to identify threats. It is the latest report to raise questions about the Trump administrations strategy and the decisions it made leading up to the war. Some officials have suggested that Mr Trump and his advisers misjudged how Iran would respond. Unlike last years 12-day war, Iran has fired barrages of missiles and drones at US military bases across the Gulf, with cities in Arab nations, such as Dubai, among those hit. Before the war began, some military advisers had warned that Iran could launch an aggressive campaign in response and would view the US-Israeli attacks as a threat to its existence, according to The New York Times. Advertisement Advertisement Other advisers were confident that killing senior ruling figures in Iran would lead to more pragmatic leaders taking over, who might bring an end to the war. Meanwhile, reports that the US turned down a Ukrainian offer to buy battle-proven technology for downing Iranian-made attack drones are expected to raise further concerns. US officials told Axios that snubbing the proposal was one of the biggest tactical miscalculations by the Trump administration. The US news website reported that during a White House meeting in August, Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, offered Mr Trump low-cost interceptor drones. How Ukraines Sting interceptors work: The proposal was reportedly part of efforts to strengthen ties between the nations and to show his thanks for US support during Kyivs war with Russia. Advertisement Advertisement But the offer was dismissed, with one US official suggesting that there may have been concerns in the administration that Mr Zelensky was seen as a self-promoter from a state that did not command enough respect. Iranian Shahed drones have since been linked to the deaths of seven US service members. The US formally asked Mr Zelensky for help in tackling the drones last Thursday, The New York Times reported. On Wednesday, an analysis by the same newspaper revealed that during the war so far, Iran has damaged at least 17 US sites and other installations several of which had been struck more than once. US embassies, military bases and defence infrastructure have all been hit since Iran began firing thousands of missiles and drones at both the US and allied countries military sites across the region. Advertisement Advertisement American officials also told The New York Times that the intensity of Irans retaliation suggests the regime may have been more prepared for war than the Trump administration anticipated. A Pentagon assessment disclosed to Congress last week estimated that the cost of the single strike on the US Navy Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain on Feb 28 stood at $200m (150m), a congressional official told the newspaper. US Fifth fleet naval base, Manama, Bahrain The Trump administration has also been weighing whether to send US commandos to raid one of Irans key nuclear sites. Iran is scrambling to salvage highly enriched uranium through a narrow entrance to underground bunkers in Isfahan. This could be used to build nuclear bombs. Advertisement Advertisement The US president said he was considering whether to send in special troops to secure the uranium in the bunkers, which were hit by American bombs in June. The Iranians are believed to have at least 450kg of 60 per cent enriched uranium. It would only take weeks to convert it into 90 per cent weapons-grade material, which could be used to make as many as 11 nuclear bombs. Mr Trumps previous reassurances over the cost of oil have also been called into question. Around 10 days before the start of the conflict, Chris Wright, the US energy secretary, argued that the 12-day war with Iran in June 2025 had seen little disruption to oil supplies and told Bloomberg that prices blipped up and then went back down. Advertisement Advertisement Yet oil prices swung wildly on Tuesday after Mr Wright tweeted, and then hastily deleted, a post that claimed the US navy had successfully escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz to ensure oil remains flowing to global markets. The waterway had been effectively closed for tankers since the Iran war began when the post was published, causing chaos for global oil markets. Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, later confirmed the claim in the post was false. Despite the clarification, the market had already been disrupted, with the price of Brent crude moving from a low of $82 a barrel to as high as $92 as a result of the conflicting reports. 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. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) Temporary Protected Status for more than 350,000 Haitian migrants across the U.S. will remain in effect after a federal appeals court denied the governments request for a stay of a judges earlier ruling. The TPS status covers more than 15,000 Haitians living in and around Springfield. Springfield split on judges TPS decision for Haitians In a new court filing in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, a three-judge panel voted 2-1 to deny the governments motion for a stay regarding the termination of TPS for Haitians. Advertisement Advertisement Geoff Pipoly, the lead counsel representing the Haitians in this case, issued a statement to 2 NEWS. Haiti is among the most unsafe countries in the world. People who get sent there are likely to be killed. Were pleased that the appeals court ruling means that Haitian TPS holders get to remain in the U.S. in safety for at least a while longer. Geoff Pipoly Haitian community in Springfield facing uncertain future On Monday, the Department of Homeland Security sent 2 NEWS a response to the appellate court panels decision. Supreme Court, here we come. Haitis TPS was granted following an earthquake that took place over 15 years ago, it was never intended to be a de facto amnesty program, yet thats how previous administrations have used it for decades. Temporary means temporary and the final word will not be from activist judges legislating from the bench. Department of Homeland Security Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseths Pentagon apparently isnt feeling the same affordability struggles as many average Americans, as he approved spending more than $93 billion in September, including on luxury food items and iPads. A new analysis published by government watchdog Open the Books found that in September the end of the 2025 fiscal year Hegseth reportedly burned through cash, including spending $9 million on crab and lobster dinners. According to Military.com, an increase in military officials eating pricey meals has traditionally been viewed as a sign that something may be brewing such as President Donald Trumps war in Iran though it appears Hegseth has been dining well at the Pentagon since at least last spring. Advertisement Advertisement The spending review found that in the month of September alone, the Defense Department spent $6.9 million in total on lobster tail and $2 million on Alaskan king crab, according to the government watchdog. In 2025, the department also spent more than $7.4 million on lobster tail across the months of March, May, June and October. The decadent seafood wasn't the only expensive sustenance purchased at the Pentagon. Hegseth also spent approximately $15.1 million on ribeye steak in September, $124,000 for new ice cream machines, and $139,224 on doughnut orders. Due to the way federal funding works, there is pressure on department heads to end their fiscal years without a surplus of funds. If they do, it raises questions in Congress as to whether or not the agency or department needs a reduction in its annual budget. That said, some of the purchases are lavish. In September, Hegseth spent nearly $100,000 on a Steinway & Sons grand piano to outfit the home of the Air Force chief of staff. He also spent $5.3 million on Apple devices, including brand-new iPads, according to the report. Shelling out: Hegseth has racked up a hefty bill on lobster tails and crab legs (AFP/Getty) The Pentagon paid $225.6 million for furniture, including $12,540 for fruit basket stands and more than $60,000 for recliners from high-end furniture maker Herman Miller. Advertisement Advertisement The agency spent more money on furniture in 2025 than it has since 2014. To be fair to Hegseth, the military has been spending enormous amounts of money on furniture for decades. According to the analysis, the Defense Department has spent an average of $257.6 million on furniture every September since 2008, marking a 564 percent increase above its typical furniture spending throughout the year. And Hegseth isnt actually the worst offender; former President Barack Obama routinely spent between $300-$400 million on furniture in September during his years in office, according to the report. Spending on furniture decreased under President Joe Biden, though it's worth noting his first two years saw many federal employees working from home due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Pentagon's most expensive spending spree during September was on grants and contracts. In that month alone, the Defense Department spent more than $90 billion on grants and contracts. Advertisement Advertisement In the last five working days of September alone, the report says the department spent $50.1 billion on grants and contracts, more than the annual defence budgets of countries such as Israel and Italy. The Department of Defense spent more than $90 billion on grants and contracts in September 2025 (AFP/Getty) Under Secretary Hegseth, the Pentagon has consistently said its mission is to refocus on warfighting and lethality, Open the Books CEO John Hart said in the analysis. Last year, we highlighted the problem of wasteful use-it-or-lose-it year-end spending. We noted that this reform is fully within the secretarys control and is a historic opportunity to make good on that promise. California Governor Gavin Newsom drew attention to the Pentagon's spending in a social media post featuring an AI-generated image of Hegseth kicking back in a posh recliner surrounded by a grand piano, numerous iPads, and plates filled with lobster tail and steak. HEGSETH BLOWING $93 BILLION OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS IN 1 MONTH !! the post said. Advertisement Advertisement Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury, a New Mexico Democrat, said she planned to launch an investigation into Hegseths spending. In addition to billions of taxpayer dollars being burned in this war in Iran, reports are showing that Sec. Pete Hegseth blew $93 billion in federal DOD funding at the end of last year, she wrote on social media before listing his various expenditures. You better believe well be investigating. Democratic Congressman Chuck Schumer called Hegseth a grifter on social media. Hegseth spent $93 billion in one month roughly the cost of extending the ACA tax credits for THREE YEARS. But instead of lowering Americans healthcare costs, Hegseth used millions of taxpayer dollars on fruit baskets, Herman Miller recliners, ice cream machines, Alaskan King Crabs, and a Steinway & Sons grand piano, he wrote. A true grifter in every sense of the word. Members of the US Air Force prepare munitions at RAF Fairford in the UK (AFP/Getty) The Independent has requested comment from the Department of Defense. Advertisement Advertisement In February 2025, Hegseth said he welcomed a Department of Government Efficiency review of defense spending to help him find ways to reduce waste. We need to know when we spend dollars, we need to know where theyre going and why that simple accounting, and that has not existed at the Defense Department, Hegseth told Fox News at the time. Were going to fix that. The Pentagon's spending spree came just weeks before millions of Americans lost access to their SNAP food benefits, leaving the states to fill in the gaps. Now, six months later, Americans are learning the astronomical cost of Trump and Hegseth's war in Iran. Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. military has used an estimated $5.6 billion worth of munitions during the opening two days of the war with Iran, according to government officials who spoke to The Washington Post. Trump has insisted that the war in Iran which has already killed seven U.S. service members and injured around 140 others will be over quickly, but has provided no timeline or plan of action indicating that the U.S. is preparing to withdraw from the conflict. US petrol prices have surged since the start of the war involving Iran, with the average price of regular unleaded rising by 55 cents to about $3.54 per gallon as of Tuesday, according to the American Automobile Association. The increase of nearly 19% marks the first time since July 2024 that the national average has climbed above $3.50 per gallon. One gallon equals 3.785 litres. Despite the rise, fuel remains cheaper in the United States than in Germany, for example. US motorists pay the equivalent of roughly 81 euro cents (94 US cents) per litre, reflecting lower taxes and levies as well as domestic oil production. Advertisement Advertisement The war has also disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route that normally carries about a fifth of the world's traded oil. This has pushed fuel prices higher worldwide, including in Germany, where the average price for E10 petrol, the cheapest widely used petrol grade, climbed above 2 per litre on Monday. Fuel prices are a politically sensitive issue in the United States, particularly ahead of the mid-term elections in November. US President Donald Trump had pledged during his campaign to expand production of fossil fuels such as oil and coal to lower energy costs for US citizens. Since the start of the conflict, the US government has been looking for ways to increase global supply, including by easing sanctions on Russian oil. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said on Tuesday the recent rise in oil and petrol prices would only be temporary. Iran unleashed a wave of attacks against Israel and Gulf nations on Wednesday, including targeting a Saudi oilfield, as reports of a proposed record release of oil reserves helped calm markets and prices. The war sparked by US-Israeli strikes on Iran has spread across the region and beyond, causing spiking energy costs, fuel rationing, and even school closures. G7 leaders will meet by video conference later Wednesday to discuss the war's economic consequences, particularly the "energy situation," the French presidency said, and the International Energy Agency will decide on a proposal for its largest-ever oil reserve release, the Wall Street Journal reported. Advertisement Advertisement The United States on Tuesday said it was hitting Iranian ships capable of mining the Strait of Hormuz, the crucial passageway for oil that has been effectively closed by Iranian threats. The US military posted video footage of Iranian boats blasted apart, saying it had destroyed 16 minelayers near the strait through which one-fifth of the world's oil passes. "If for any reason mines were placed, and they are not removed forthwith, the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before," President Donald Trump wrote on social media. Trump faces mounting political risks over the surging cost of oil, months before US elections. Crude prices spiked five percent late Tuesday, before turning lower Wednesday after the reserve release report. Advertisement Advertisement Trump has said the US military could accompany tankers through the strait, but his administration acknowledged that a post by the energy secretary announcing a first such escort was untrue. Early Wednesday, the UK maritime agency said a container ship off the coast of the United Arab Emirates had been hit by an "unknown projectile," illustrating the ongoing risks to transport through the region. With an eye on jittery markets, Trump on Monday said the war would be short, although his defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, then said Tehran would be hit by unprecedented fire on Tuesday. - 'Not seeking ceasefire' - Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli-US attacks came weeks after Iranian authorities ruthlessly crushed mass protests, although the United States and Israel say they are not necessarily seeking to topple the Islamic republic. Iranian authorities warned against dissent at home, with the country's police chief saying protesters will be be viewed and dealt with as "enemies". "All our forces are also ready, with their hands on the trigger, prepared to defend their revolution," said national police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan in comments aired by IRIB. Tehran also intensified its assault on targets in the region, with the government announcing it carried out its own "most intense and heaviest" salvo, firing missiles for three hours at cities across Israel. Advertisement Advertisement AFP journalists heard air raid sirens and explosions in Jerusalem. Emergency services reported no immediate injuries, although Channel 12 said several people were hurt in Tel Aviv. New salvos were reported early on Wednesday, with no reports of injuries. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they also fired on Bahrain and Iraqi Kurdistan, both of which have a heavy US presence, and also targeted a US air base in Kuwait, Iranian media said. Kuwait said it had downed eight drones, without offering further details. Drones and ballistic missiles were also intercepted elsewhere in the Gulf, including multiple drones heading to the Shaybah oil field in Saudi Arabia, its defence ministry said. Advertisement Advertisement Earlier, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a former top commander in the elite Revolutionary Guards, said in an English-language post on X: "Certainly we aren't seeking a ceasefire." "We believe the aggressor must be punished and taught a lesson that will deter them from attacking Iran again," he added. Seven US military personnel have been killed and about 140 injured since the start of the war, according to the Pentagon. - Fright in Tehran - The United States and Israel launched the war on February 28 with an attack that killed Iran's veteran leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. His son Mojtaba Khamenei has been named his successor, though he has yet to appear in public. Advertisement Advertisement In Tehran, one woman in her 40s said she found some reassurance in her impression that the bombings "don't target ordinary buildings". But she said, "The noise of the bombings is extremely disturbing." Iran's health ministry said on March 8 that more than 1,200 people had been killed, and over 10,000 civilians injured. The conflict has spread as far as Sri Lanka, where US forces torpedoed an Iranian ship, and Australia, which said Wednesday it granted asylum to two more members of the Iranian women football team. Iraq and Lebanon, both home to Iran-backed fighters, have become proxy grounds in the war. Advertisement Advertisement In Iraq, Iranian-linked groups said Tuesday that five of their fighters died in strikes they blamed on the United States. In Lebanon, hundreds of people have been killed and hundreds of thousands have fled their homes following Israeli airstrikes and ground operations targeting Iran-backed Hezbollah. New Israeli strikes were reported in Beirut's southern suburbs on Wednesday, with the health ministry saying another five people had been killed in the southern town of Qana. An Israeli strike also hit a central Beirut neighbourhood on Wednesday morning, state media reported. Iran complained to the United Nations that four of its diplomats died in a strike on a seafront hotel in central Beirut on Sunday, which Israel said was aimed at "key commanders" from Iran's Revolutionary Guards. Advertisement Advertisement The effects of the war are being felt globally, with the UN trade and development agency warning of rising costs for essentials like fuel and food hitting the world's most vulnerable people. In Egypt, which increased the cost of fuels by up to 30 percent, mother-of-six Om Mohamed fretted about the future. "We were barely getting by as it is. I don't know how people will manage," she told AFP at a Cairo market. burs-sah/hmn Editor's note: The story has been updated with the latest details. U.S. President Donald Trump said on March 9 that the U.S. is preparing to waive certain oil-related sanctions to stabilize global energy prices as the war in Iran drives markets higher. The comments signal a potential shift in Washington's sanctions enforcement as the escalating conflict in the Middle East threatens global oil supply and economic stability. Advertisement Advertisement Trump did not specify which country could receive sanctions relief. The Kyiv Independent has learned that the administration is considering reducing sanctions on Russian oil. "We're waiving certain oil-related sanctions to reduce prices," Trump said. "So we have sanctions on some countries. We're going to take those sanctions off until this straightens out." "Then who knows, maybe we won't have to put them on." The remarks came hours after Trump held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine and the growing conflict in Iran. Advertisement Advertisement Global oil and gas prices surged after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran on Feb. 28. In response, Tehran closed the Strait of Hormuz, a route that carries roughly 20% of the world's oil supply. While easing sanctions could boost global energy supplies, critics say it risks undermining efforts to pressure Moscow over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which entered its fifth year in February. President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that lifting sanctions would be a "serious blow" to Ukraine and a "reputational blow" for the world. "How can sanctions be lifted from Russia if it is an aggressor?" Zelensky said during a briefing with journalists on March 10, stressing that sanctions are designed to prevent Moscow from funding its war on Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Alexander Kirk, a sanctions campaigner at the NGO Urgewald, told the Kyiv Independent that relaxing restrictions could embolden the Kremlin to further continue its aggression. "The call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin only underlines what is at stake," Kirk said. "Easing sanctions on Russia now would throw the Kremlin a rope at the very moment the walls are closing in. Ukrainians will pay for that choice in blood." "At the moment Moscow is positioning itself as a partner in solving the global energy crisis, the West should remember that this is the same fossil fuel revenue stream funding the war in Ukraine." The potential sanctions relief follows a temporary waiver granted last week, allowing India to purchase Russian crude already loaded on tankers at sea to offset supply disruptions from the Middle East. Advertisement Advertisement The waiver came after months of U.S. pressure on New Delhi to scale back imports of Russian oil. Last year, the Trump administration imposed a 25% "reciprocal" tariff on Indian goods and an additional 25% penalty linked to purchases of Russian crude. The U.S. president later lifted the additional penalty on Feb. 7 after India pledged to halt direct and indirect imports of Russian crude and increase purchases of U.S. energy. Despite the temporary measures, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright claimed on March 8 that Washington does not plan to abandon its broader sanctions policy toward Russia. "We just made a pragmatic decision," Wright told Fox News. "I don't think there's any change in the pressure there Russia's oil remains sanctioned. There's no change in policy towards Russia." Advertisement Advertisement The debate over sanctions comes as concerns grow about Moscow's role in the Middle East crisis. U.S. officials have alleged that Russia provided Iran with intelligence on American military positions in the region, including ships and aircraft. Iran remains one of Russia's closest partners since the start of Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Read also: Iran war stalls Ukraine-Russia peace talks as Trump shifts focus to Middle East Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. USS Nimitz, a 50+ year-old aircraft carrier for the Navy, will be leaving Washington waters for the last time as the Navy plans to retire the vessel. KIRO 7 has confirmed that the aircraft carrier left Saturday, March 7, heading for Norfolk, Virginia, where it will be decommissioned in May. Its the Navys oldest aircraft carrier and first of its kind, and was commissioned in 1975. It has called Bremerton home since 2015. Advertisement Advertisement The base in Bremerton said it could see a new aircraft carrier stationed there in 2029. KIRO 7 Meteorologist Robert Van Winkle is taking a look back at the aircraft carriers history ahead of its departure and decommission: Russian occupation authorities in Mariupol are disconnecting apartments from utilities as part of a process to identify and confiscate housing, Ukraine's National Resistance Center said on March 11. According to the center, homeowners in Mariupol are being disconnected from utilities, including electricity, and told to contact "Energosbyt Donetsk," the main electricity supplier in the Russian proxy-controlled part of Donetsk Oblast. To restore service, residents must reissue all necessary documentation and provide information about the people living and registered there. The National Resistance Center said that while the data update is presented as a "regular procedure," the personal information is handed over to occupation authorities and can then be used to facilitate the seizure of homes. Advertisement Advertisement "The disconnection of utilities becomes the first stage of the mechanism for real estate redistribution," the National Resistance Center said. This measure is part of a broader process through which occupation authorities identify, reclassify, and seize Ukrainian property In December 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin effectively legalized property theft in Ukraine's occupied territories with a decree granting authorities the power to seize residential premises that "show signs of being ownerless." In reality, the owners have usually fled or been killed during Russia's full-scale invasion. Petro Andriushchenko, head of the Center for the Study of the Occupation, told the Kyiv Independent that the law "officially legalized the process," saying it gave occupation authorities the power to "seize anyone's property at their own discretion, simply by refusing to accept the ownership documents." Advertisement Advertisement Andriushchenko added that 5,000 apartments in Mariupol had been seized by Russian occupation authorities as of December 2025, with the number increasing by 100 to 200 per week. Mariupol was besieged by Russian forces between February and May 2022, leaving thousands dead and reducing the city to rubble. According to the authorities' estimates, at least 25,000 people could have been killed during the siege of Mariupol, with exact numbers likely much higher. Despite this, some Ukrainian citizens still live under Russian occupation alongside Russians who moved there after the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Read also: Its disgusting How Russia legalized property theft in Ukraines occupied territories Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. A bill designed to slash regulations on short-term rentals is heading to Gov. Brad Littles desk despite concerns from opponents around how unfettered Airbnbs could affect neighborhoods around Idaho. The state Senate on Monday advanced a House proposal demanding that cities and counties treat short-term rentals like any other homes, stripping almost all local requirements for inspections, parking, fire safety and licensing. This has been worked on the past three years, and I think this bill gets it right, cosponsor Rep. Jordan Redman, R-Coeur dAlene, said during debate on the House floor in February. Weve seen cities in this state regulate short-term rentals so significantly that they effectively ban them. This is about protecting Idahoans private property rights. Advertisement Advertisement House Bill 583 bolsters a 2017 law generally barring cities from passing laws to limit short-term rentals like Airbnbs and VRBOs. The original law allows local regulations only to safeguard public health, safety and general welfare. Since then Airbnb advocates claim that some cities particularly those in tourist-heavy areas have implemented de facto bans through burdensome requirements and expensive demands under the guise of public health. Rep. Jordan Redman, R-Coeur dAlene, cosponsored House Bill 583. (Sarah A. Miller/smiller@idahostatesman.com) The message of that [2017] act is pretty clear: These uses are important to our state, said Sen. Todd Lakey, R-Nampa, who brought the house bill to the Senate, during debate on Monday. Youre to treat [short-term rentals] the same as any other residential use, and youre not to treat them differently. A number of cities did not get that message, or did not like that message. Opponents, including the Association of Idaho Cities, still dont like it. Theyre worried the bill could undermine residential zones and deny cities the tools they need to confront problems at rentals if they arise. The new language targets nearly every angle cities have found to work around state law and leaves the barest features of public safety behind. Cities can, but dont have to, require smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms and fire extinguishers. They can also require the owner to provide portable egress ladders and a diagram of the home with exits, fire extinguishers and first-aid kits marked for renters. And they can limit the capacity of a home to whatever the building code states it would be if it were occupied by full-time residents. Advertisement Advertisement Requiring major changes particularly any that would require significant money would be expressly banned. That outlaws modifications to the home itself, including extra parking or sewer capacity, fire sprinklers, additional entrances or exits, or upgrades to meet current building codes. The bill also bans administrative requirements like licensing, inspection, additional insurance thresholds, professional management mandates and conditional-use permits. Caps on the number of short-term rentals, as well as any limits on their concentration or rules around owner-occupancy, would be banned. Weve regulated ourselves to death, said Rep. Dale Hawkins, R-Fernwood. Let people who own land do what they want to on that land. The bill, which strips power from local governments in favor of state law, gave some conservative lawmakers pause. But most reached a consensus that cities and counties had put too many restrictions in place. We talk a lot about local control here, Redman said. The local-est control is the property owner. A neighborhood or a business district? Sen. Mark Harris district includes the resort town of Lava Hot Springs in Eastern Idaho ground zero for the states debate over short-term rentals, he said. The city had some of the strongest restrictions in the state, more or less treating Airbnbs like any other business until the Idaho Supreme Court struck down aspects of its ordinance in 2025. Harris voted for original law in 2017 but said Monday that the strengthening legislation took too much from cities looking to keep workers nearby. Advertisement Advertisement To me, the pendulum has swung too far the to the other side, he said. Harris pointed to Teton County on the Wyoming border, a recreation hotspot and one of the most expensive places in Idaho. Its too expensive for normal people to live there, he said. The nearest sheriffs deputy lives 45 minutes away. School teachers cant afford to be there. Is this a product of short-term rentals? I dont know but it doesnt help. His prediction: This issue is going to come back. Nampa Republican Sen. Todd Lakey, seen here in 2024, brought Redmans bill to the Senate floor Monday. (Sarah A. Miller/smiller@idahostatesman.com) Rep. Steve Berch, D-Boise, sees a similar imbalance in property rights under Redmans bill. Birch represents a chunk of the Boise Bench that he described as largely residential. Hes worried that the legislation eliminates protections for the integrity of a neighborhood, which Redman said is a common pretext for adopting local rules against short-term rentals. A neighborhood, he argued during Februarys floor debate, could turn into a quasi-business district if checks on Airbnbs are removed. For Berch, who voted against advancing House Bill 583 in the House Business Committee, the changes would put a thumb on the scale in favor of people who want to use a home for business purposes. Advertisement Advertisement In fact, these short-term rentals are a business, he said. If it wasnt a business, it wouldnt have been sent before the Business Committee. That irony wasnt lost on the Association of Idaho Cities. The group, which advocates for and lobbies on behalf of municipalities, opposed Redmans bill. Short-term rentals are being operated to generate income, often with frequent guest turnover, and they can create impacts that look very different from a traditional long-term residence or even long-term rentals, association Deputy Director Jonathan Wheatley told the Idaho Statesman in an email. That is exactly why cities had been concerned with having at least basic tools to identify where they were operating and who to contact when problems arose. Though Wheatleys group lobbied against the bill, it isnt totally opposed to rolling back restrictions on rentals. The association supported Senate Bill 1263, a separate vision that would peel back some rules but still let cities mandate licenses and require property owners to designate a local contact in case trouble arises. Advertisement Advertisement That was especially important because short term rental issues were often time sensitive and neighborhood based, Wheatley said. Noise complaints, parking conflicts, trash, overcrowding, and late night disturbances were typically resolved fastest when there was a clear point of contact who could respond quickly. S1263 had provided that pathway. H583 had moved in the opposite direction by taking away the basic tools that made that accountability possible. Now he worries that conflicts will end up falling to police, straining local resources. Printed in early February, the Senate bill has languished in committee and not reached the main floor. Realtors, hosts and Airbnb support restriction repeal On Monday, the Idaho Vacation Rental Association lauded the Senate vote for clarifying the treatment of short-term rentals as a lawful residential use. Advertisement Advertisement This legislation does not remove local tools or diminish community protections, President Spencer K. Bailey said in a press release. What it does is reinforce the idea that existing rules should be applied consistently across housing types, focusing enforcement on behavior rather than labeling one category of homeowner differently from another. Baileys group was not registered as a lobbyist on the bill, but 20 lobbyists representing 11 organizations worked on the legislation, according to state records. Those included lobbyists for Airbnb, Inc. and Idaho Realtors, who backed the legislation. Short-term rentals are a popular enterprise among lawmakers, too: Across both chambers, some 20 lawmakers declared business entanglements with short-term rental properties, either as owners, managers or contractors working on rentals. Idaho has an opportunity to lead with thoughtful policy that respects homeowners while protecting the character of our communities, Bailey said. We remain committed to working with policymakers and local leaders to ensure that balance continues. Advertisement Advertisement What happened to that Idaho bill? Stay updated on latest at the Capitol with this tracker Property rights vs. peace and quiet? Idaho could cut rules on short-term rentals A clear message: Housing a serious problem to 9 of 10 Boiseans, poll finds Pantoro posts stronger half-year result as Norseman production drives earnings Proactive uses images sourced from Shutterstock Pantoro Gold Ltd (ASX:PNR, OTC:PNTOF, FRA:RKN) has reported higher revenue and earnings for the first half of FY2026, supported by gold production of 41,623 ounces from its Norseman Gold Project in Western Australia. The WA-based producer generated revenue of $238.6 million for the six months to December 31, up from $153.4 million in the prior corresponding period, while EBITDA rose to $135.5 million from $63.8 million. Gross profit increased to $85.1 million compared with $15 million a year earlier. Net cash from operating activities totalled $128.3 million, more than doubling from $56.1 million in the first half of FY2025. Pantoro ended the period with a cash and gold balance of $216.5 million, including $189.4 million in cash and 4,133 ounces of gold in circuit and safe valued at $6,558.27 per ounce. The company remains debt free and fully unhedged. Norseman development work advances growth plans Operations during the period centred on mining and development activities across multiple areas of the Norseman project, with open pit mining at the Gladstone Mining Centre starting in November 2025. Mining at Gladstone is currently planned in stages 1 and 2 through to March 2027, although the company expects pit life could be extended through the addition of the Daisy South open pit and a third stage at Gladstone. Grade control drilling for stage 3 is underway. Pantoro also progressed development work at the Bullen underground mine, where dewatering, rehabilitation and drilling programs have advanced plans for the next underground production area. A final investment decision on mining the OBriens and Crown South orebodies, accessed via the Bullen decline, is expected soon. Exploration and extensional drilling also continued across the Norseman tenure, with the company completing 91,962 metres of drilling and investing $63.4 million in exploration and major capital growth projects during the half year. The work forms part of Pantoros strategy to establish multiple underground mining centres to support production growth from FY2027. At the Princess Royal mining area, open pit mining was completed in early February 2026, with exploration work now underway to define a potential underground mining opportunity. Weather and contractor change prompt guidance revision Pantoro also updated production guidance for FY2026, lowering expectations following operational disruptions earlier in the year. A significant rainfall event linked to Ex-Tropical Cyclone Mitchell in February 2026 delivered more than 80 millimetres of rain at the Scotia site, temporarily flooding several underground areas and halting open pit and haulage operations for several days. NEW BEDFORD The last shipment of turbine blades for the $4.5 billion Vineyard Wind 1 project left New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal on March 10. Mayor Jon Mitchell said, The deployment of the final major components of the Vineyard Wind project represents the closing argument of the case we have been making for years: that New Bedford is well-suited to be a center of the offshore wind industry. No matter when the next projects are ready to proceed, we and our many partners have shown that the industry can successfully compete and operate projects from here while working cooperatively with the fishing industry. Gordon Carr, New Bedford Port Authority executive director, said, Todays final shipment of Vineyard Wind turbine blades from the Port of New Bedford represents an important milestone, not only for this project, but for the role our port has played in this process over the last few years. New Bedford Harbor has shown it can be a critical marshalling and logistics center for large projects while continuing to support our world-class fishing industry. Advertisement Advertisement The project had been in danger of stalling when the Trump administration in late December issued a stop-work order. According to documents filed with the U.S. District Court in January, at the time the project was 95% finished, with 61 of 62 turbines installed and 44 turbines already commissioned to produce 572 megawatts of the projects 800-megawatt capacity. The company had been looking to finish the project, which began construction in 2022, by March 31, according to the Cape Cod Times. Two men walk along the Blue Lane along West Rodney French Boulevard in New Bedford. In the distance a barge can be seen bringing wind turbine blades to the Vineyard Wind offshore wind farm. The last shipment of turbine blades for the $4.5 billion Vineyard Wind 1 project left New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal on March 10. U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts granted the company a preliminary injunction on Jan. 27 allowing Vineyard Wind 1 to restart full construction activities in its lease area south of Marthas Vineyard while a broader legal challenge moves through the court system, according to the Cape Cod Times. Offshore wind battle: Vineyard Wind 1 blows past federal stop-work order, project to resume Ruling blocked a suspension order issued Dept. of Interior That ruling blocked a Dec. 22 suspension order issued by the U.S. Department of the Interiors Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to five major East Coast offshore wind projects, including Vineyard Wind. Advertisement Advertisement Vineyard Wind 1 filed a lawsuit and a request for an injunction on Jan. 15 after BOEM ordered construction paused for at least 90 days while the agency reviewed it and the other four projects against a classified national security assessment the Department of War submitted in November, the Cape Cod Times reported. The order also affected Revolution Wind, Empire Wind, Sunrise Wind and Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind-Commercial. All five were granted injunctions. Revolution Wind, Empire Wind and Coastal Virginia all received injunctions from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia earlier in January. Sunrise Winds was approved Feb. 2 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Keeping the lights on: Here's why Vineyard Wind keeps generating power despite federal stop-work order - for now Vineyard Wind did not respond to a request for comment Vineyard Wind did not respond to a request for comment on the last shipment of turbine blades shipping out on March 10. Advertisement Advertisement The company issued a statement after the Jan. 27 court ruling, As the legal process proceeds, Vineyard Wind will continue to work with the Administration to understand the matters raised in the Order. Vineyard Wind will focus on working in coordination with its contractors, the federal government, and other relevant stakeholders and authorities to safely restart activities, as it continues to deliver a critical source of new power to the New England region. The Department of the Interior had announced it was suspending construction on the five projects in December 2025 due to national security risks identified by the Department of War in recently completed classified reports. This pause will give the Department, along with the Department of War and other relevant government agencies, time to work with leaseholders and state partners to assess the possibility of mitigating the national security risks posed by these projects. Crews are seen adjusting the straps hanging from one of the giant cranes operating in the wind turbine assembly area. The last shipment of turbine blades for the $4.5 billion Vineyard Wind 1 project left New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal on March 10. Unclassified reports from the U.S. Government have found that the movement of massive turbine blades and the highly reflective towers create radar interference called clutter, according to a press release issued by the Department of the Interior in December 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Clutter can obscure legitimate moving targets and generate false targets in the vicinity of the wind projects, according to the release. Court found government did not provide sufficient proof The Cape Cod Times reported that the courts found the government did not provide sufficient proof of imminent national security risks. According to legal filings, the federal government can shut down offshore projects for national security reasons but only temporarily when there is a change in NORADs readiness status. This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Vineyard Winds last turbine-blade shipment departs New Bedford Highway work crews are often at risk of injury or worse from passing vehicles, leading state and federal agencies to install crash-absorbing devices that mitigate impacts on guardrails, construction vehicles and work zones to enhance safety. However, safety devices called truck-mounted attenuators (TMAs) have not been as effective. The portable barriers are affixted to the rear of work trucks and are designed to blunt the impact of crashes and protect workers. Over the past four years, there have been an average of 77 strikes on non-automated truck-mounted attenuators in Virginia, and more than 50 operator injuries since 2020, according to state lawmakers. Advertisement Advertisement Now, the state is considering using autonomous technology to improve roadside safety in work zones and to explore future commercial use opportunities. Its just giving the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) the chance to see how this will work out and maybe get some numbers on whether or not it improves safety for VDOT workers or not, said Del. Jackie Glass, D-Norfolk, sponsor of House Bill 582. The measure proposes a pilot program for autonomous truck-mounted attenuators in work zones. Autonomous TMAs can enhance worker safety by removing drivers from high-risk environments where vehicles often strike protective trucks. Advertisement Advertisement Under this legislation, TMAs used in the pilot must undergo successful testing and be approved by the Department of Transportation. The department would also be required to submit an annual report on the pilots progress and effectiveness to the General Assembly. Sen. Kannan Srinivasan, D-Loudoun, has introduced similar legislation through Senate Bill 320. This promotes safety, Srinivasan said. Thats exactly why I was passionate about this bill when I met with VDOT because with 50 injuries and 77 strikes on TMAs in the last four years, that can be avoided (with this legislation). Glass emphasized that her bill and similar legislative efforts represent the future of transportation technology. Advertisement Advertisement If you watch the first episode of The Jetsons, you will see a robot, you will see Alexa. The last thing that they dont have are flying cars, but were moving in a way that folks imagined, Glass said. So if youre a believer in that humans will continue to innovate, especially around the space of transportation, this is a space to put your head and put your thoughts into. Expanding autonomous technology use Legislators are also considering how to implement autonomous technology, including proposals that include stakeholder input on the subject. HB 1124, sponsored by Del. Nadarius Clark, D-Suffolk, would establish strict regulations and safety standards for the operation of autonomous vehicles. Lawmakers amended the bill to task the states autonomous vehicle work group with assessing the workforce impacts of autonomous vehicles, including a review of job losses and gains, by Nov. 1. Advertisement Advertisement Clark said his bill also ensures that representatives from driver labor unions and the manufacturing industry will be part of the dialogue. Their role is to ensure that, while were studying autonomous vehicles, we will also look at the effects for workers that may lose their jobs sadly because of the technology, but also making sure that they are at the table, Clark said. Clarks bill successfully passed both chambers on Wednesday afternoon. Since its introduction, the Department of Planning and Budgeting and VDOT have determined that the state needs to allocate $130,000 to cover a one-time expense for hiring the necessary personnel with expertise to evaluate employment impacts from autonomous vehicles. Advertisement Advertisement SB 670, a proposed comprehensive framework bill for commercial autonomous vehicles in the state, has been postponed for a second year. Sen. Saddam Azlan Salim, D-Fairfax, the bills sponsor, said lawmakers will carry the proposal over to next year to allow for further refinement and the addition of supporting regulations, particularly concerning safety, privacy, liability, cross-jurisdictional coordination, and employment impacts. The industry is coming, whether we like it or not, it is technology thats moving forward, Salim told the Mercury last week. The General Assembly will adjourn on Saturday, after which the governor will review all legislation passed by both chambers and decide whether to approve, reject, or amend them. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX WASHINGTON (DC News Now) A 35-year-old man from Herndon, Va., was sentenced to eight years in prison for traveling to D.C. to try to sexually abuse a 6-year-old. The U.S. Attorneys Office (USAO) for the District of Columbia said that 35-year-old Timothy Brockerman was sentenced Wednesday to 96 months in prison. On Sept. 19, 2025, Brockerman pleaded guilty to one count of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. Advertisement Advertisement The USAO said that Brockerman drove from Virginia to D.C. to try to sexually abuse a child. $4 million unclaimed Mega Millions ticket sold at Montgomery County grocery store Court documents said that Brockerman had contacted another person online on April 21, 2025. He told the other user that he was sexually interested in children, and the other user said that he was the father of a 6-year-old child. The USAO said that Brockerman told the other user he was going to go to the District to sexually abuse the child. Police arrested Brockerman on April 29, 2025, as he drove from his home in Virginia to meet the other online user. Advertisement Advertisement He didnt fantasize, he acted. This office, along with our law enforcement partners, will prosecute anyone who intends to harm a child and bring the full force of justice against them, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro said in a news release. Law enforcement found a cell phone with videos and pictures of child sexual abuse material, as well as chats and text messages with others discussing the sexual abuse of children. After his prison term, Brockerman will have to serve another 20 years of supervised release. 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 DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. Volusia County public safety officials are gearing up for the busy season by making sure all agencies are on the same page. On Wednesday morning, the sheriffs office, beach safety, and EMS met to practice an ocean rescue training that involved saving a stranded swimmer. A boat ride with beach safety showed a step-by-step process of how a water rescue happens from start to finish. The training began with a stranded swimmer being pulled from the water on a jet ski. When she was brought to shore, a rescue dummy took her place. Advertisement Advertisement In this exercise, the training dummy is a pediatric patient. Doctors from Arnold Palmer were on site to give feedback on the response. This should absolutely have no gaps, no times where oh I wish we had done this or done this differently. We have to be right on this every time, said Doctor Mary Farrell. Beach Safety Deputy Chief AJ Miller explained that ensuring every agency understands its role in the rescue mission is critical as the busy season approaches. We are right on the precipice of spring break, we have a lot of people coming into town, so we need to be ready because when more people come, you have more emergencies, so you need to be prepared for any situation, said Miller. Advertisement Advertisement Central Florida spring break starts Friday. It will be all hands on deck from every agency across Volusia County at the beaches. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Ohio Republican U.S. Sen. Jon Husted testified for the defense Wednesday morning in the trial of two former First Energy executives, the latest development in the largest public bribery scandal in Ohio history. After he was unable to testify last week due to the Iran war, Husted appeared over Zoom. Watch his testimony below: For weeks, the state has made its case that former FirstEnergy CEO Chuck Jones and VP Mike Dowling paid former Public Utilities Commission Chair Sam Randazzo $4.3 million in bribes, along with $61 million spent to create and pass Ohio House Bill 6, which was legislation to provide a billion-dollar bailout to their struggling nuclear facilities at the expense of Ohio utility customers. Advertisement Advertisement In March of 2023, a federal jury found that former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and former GOP leader Matt Borges participated in the scheme that has now left four men guilty and two dead by suicide. Householder is nearly three years into his 20-year prison sentence for accepting the bribe from FirstEnergy, while Borges is out after serving half of his five-year sentence. Jones and Dowling face nearly a dozen state charges each, ranging from bribery to corrupt activity. Last year, a federal grand jury indicted them on racketeering charges. For years, we have been uncovering the close ties between FirstEnergy and major political players. Advertisement Advertisement Our previous investigations have shown that FirstEnergy executives say that then-Lt. Gov. Husted worked closely with them to pass H.B. 6 in 2019, after they helped fund his campaign. Husted is now a candidate in one of the most closely watched Senate races this cycle. Follow WEWS statehouse reporter Morgan Trau on X and Facebook. This article was originally published on News5Cleveland.com and is published in the Ohio Capital Journal under a content-sharing agreement. Unlike other OCJ articles, it is not available for free republication by other news outlets as it is owned by WEWS in Cleveland. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE President Donald Trump visited both Kentucky and Ohio March 11 while taking part in two separate site visits and events. He was scheduled to visit Thermo Fisher Scientific in Reading, Ohio, as well as a Verst Logistics contract packaging facility in Hebron, Kentucky just south of Cincinnati in Boone County. During his time at the facility in Hebron, Trump held a rally just before 4:30 p.m. You can watch this full remarks above. Advertisement Advertisement Live updates: Trump to visit Massie's district in Kentucky today JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND - MARCH 11: U.S. President Donald Trump waves as he boards Air Force One on March 11, 2026 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. President Trump is traveling to Ohio and Kentucky today to highlight two local businesses. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) US President Donald Trump boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on March 11, 2026. Trump will be making multiple stops in Kentucky and Ohio including Thermo Fisher Scientific and Verst Logistics. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP via Getty Images) US President Donald Trump waves as he boards Marine One as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 11, 2026. Trump will be making multiple stops in Kentucky and Ohio including Thermo Fisher Scientific and Verst Logistics. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media next to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 11, 2026. REUTERS/Brian Snyder US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters alongside White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt before departing from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 11, 2026. Trump will be making multiple stops in Kentucky and Ohio including Thermo Fisher Scientific and Verst Logistics. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) US President Donald Trump speaks with guests before boarding Marine One as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 11, 2026. Trump will be making multiple stops in Kentucky and Ohio including Thermo Fisher Scientific and Verst Logistics. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) US President Donald Trump speaks to guests on his way to board Marine One as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 11, 2026. Trump will be making multiple stops in Kentucky and Ohio including Thermo Fisher Scientific and Verst Logistics. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before boarding Marine One as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 11, 2026. Trump will be making multiple stops in Kentucky and Ohio including Thermo Fisher Scientific and Verst Logistics. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) US President Donald Trump speaks with guests before boarding Marine One as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 11, 2026. Trump will be making multiple stops in Kentucky and Ohio including Thermo Fisher Scientific and Verst Logistics. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before boarding Marine One as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 11, 2026. Trump will be making multiple stops in Kentucky and Ohio including Thermo Fisher Scientific and Verst Logistics. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before boarding Marine One as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 11, 2026. Trump will be making multiple stops in Kentucky and Ohio including Thermo Fisher Scientific and Verst Logistics. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 11: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters as he departs for Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on March 11, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is traveling to Ohio and Kentucky today to highlight two local businesses. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 11: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters alongside White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt as he departs for Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on March 11, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is traveling to Ohio and Kentucky today to highlight two local businesses. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) U.S. President Donald Trump walks as he heads to Marine One to travel to Ohio and Kentucky, from the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 11, 2026. REUTERS/Brian Snyder US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before boarding Marine One as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 11, 2026. Trump will be making multiple stops in Kentucky and Ohio including Thermo Fisher Scientific and Verst Logistics. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters alongside White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt before departing from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 11, 2026. Trump will be making multiple stops in Kentucky and Ohio including Thermo Fisher Scientific and Verst Logistics. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters alongside White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt before departing from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 11, 2026. Trump will be making multiple stops in Kentucky and Ohio including Thermo Fisher Scientific and Verst Logistics. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) Guests on the South Lawn of the White House wait for US President Donald Trump to walk to Marine One in Washington, DC, on March 11, 2026. Trump will be making multiple stops in Kentucky and Ohio including Thermo Fisher Scientific and Verst Logistics. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) Guests on the South Lawn of the White House wait for US President Donald Trump to walk to Marine One in Washington, DC, on March 11, 2026. Trump will be making multiple stops in Kentucky and Ohio including Thermo Fisher Scientific and Verst Logistics. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) Donald Trump visits Northern Kentucky. See photos from the event 1 of 19 JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND - MARCH 11: U.S. President Donald Trump waves as he boards Air Force One on March 11, 2026 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. President Trump is traveling to Ohio and Kentucky today to highlight two local businesses. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) When is Donald Trump visiting Kentucky? Trump was scheduled visit the Verst Logistics facility on the afternoon of March 11. Doors to the event opened at 1 p.m., with a pre-program began at 3 p.m., according to information sent to registered guests. Trump was scheduled to speak at 4:25 p.m., according to the president's public schedule. Where will Trump be visiting in Kentucky? Trump planned to attend an event in Hebron at a Verst Logistics contract packaging facility, 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. Ellie Suggs, left, talks with Mattie Savage as she makes a sign at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, Reading Branch, before President Donald Trump arrives in Reading on March 11, 2026. Trump will visit Thermo Fisher Scientific, a pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, in Reading to discuss TrumpRx.gov, a new prescription drug website. Ellie Suggs, left, talks with other demonstrators as she makes a sign at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, Reading Branch, before President Donald Trump arrives in Reading on March 11, 2026. Trump will visit Thermo Fisher Scientific, a pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, in Reading to discuss TrumpRx.gov, a new prescription drug website. Amber Taylor, 26, makes a sign at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, Reading Branch, before President Donald Trump arrives to Reading on March 11, 2026. Taylor said this will be her first time attending a protest. Protesters hold a demonstration outside Thermo Fisher Scientific in Reading, Ohio ahead of President Donald Trump's visit to the site on March 11, 2026. A protestor braves the rain for a demonstration outside Thermo Fisher Scientific in Reading, Ohio ahead of President Donald Trump's visit to the site on March 11, 2026. Protesters hold a demonstration outside Thermo Fisher Scientific in Reading, Ohio ahead of President Donald Trump's visit to the site on March 11, 2026. See protests over Donald Trump's visits to Kentucky, Cincinnati 1 of 6 Ellie Suggs, left, talks with Mattie Savage as she makes a sign at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, Reading Branch, before President Donald Trump arrives in Reading on March 11, 2026. Trump will visit Thermo Fisher Scientific, a pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, in Reading to discuss TrumpRx.gov, a new prescription drug website. When are Kentucky elections? Primary elections in Kentucky will take place on May 19, with the general election set for Nov. 3. Ray Padilla is the lead digital producer for The Courier Journal. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Watch President Donald Trump's visit, speech in Hebron, Kentucky West Virginia is staring down a crisis of rising jail bills. At the start of this month, six out of 10 of the states regional jails were overcrowded. Worse yet, 2,555 people were legally innocent people awaiting trial. The cost of all this inefficiency and cruelty is staggering. Last years $49.1 million jail bill was the highest ever, and it will get worse. Thanks to a run of kick-the-can policies, even if counties use exactly the same number of jail days this year the bill will rise by $8.4 million. If nothing is done the following year, the bill will rise by another $15.4 million. Higher jail bills mean less money for firefighters, less money for safe drinking water, less money for housing and human services and economic development. As one county commissioner explained: This cost is getting passed on to the taxpayers in this county, and its reducing essential services that we need to meet to make sure that were taking care of everybody. Advertisement Advertisement Enter the West Virginia Legislature. What is their solution to the crisis of rising jail bills? House Bill 4606, a proposal to change how bond is set when a person is accused of a felony. HB 4606 would tie the hands of magistrates, prohibiting them from giving a personal recognizance bond (PR bond) to any person arrested for a felony, and forcing them to set a money bond. Whats going on here? Does the House think that magistrates are not qualified to make a judgment call? Do they simply think they know better? Its worse. The main argument made by those in favor of the bill is that this policy is already in effect. House Judiciary Committee members argued that magistrates are already barred from granting PR bonds because of a law that was passed in 1965. There are a few problems here. First, that 1965 policy was written for the Justices of the Peace, which was abolished by the voters and replaced with the magistrate system a decade later. Second, subsequent legislation in 1984 and 2000 explicitly gave magistrates the power to offer the least restrictive bonds (i.e. PR bonds). Advertisement Advertisement In fact, magistrates around the state follow the current law. In 2024, magistrates set PR bonds in 1,281 felony cases roughly 1 out of 10 felonies filed that year. The law requires magistrates to tailor the bond to the person, not just the charge. Even then, many felonies are nonviolent and pretrial incarceration is unwarranted. What we do know is that fewer personal recognizance bonds mean more jail days for innocent people, more overcrowding, and millions fewer dollars for essential county services. A similar bill was defeated in 2024 after it became public that the bill sponsor was literally married to the lobbyist for the bail bond industry. But two years later, lawmakers seem less concerned about restraining an industry that profits on peoples inability to afford their liberty. In Mondays Senate Judiciary meeting, one lawmaker responded to the concern that more people would be sent to jail with, Thats how bondsmen make their money. (Senate Judiciary hearing, timestamp 4:12:18). Jail overcrowding proves costly not only for taxpayers and county budgets. It is also deadly. A new report shows that even though the regional jails were originally designed for 2,883 people, they now have 4,596 people on any given day. In the last five years, a person has died in a West Virginia jail every 17 days. Most of those deaths are classified as unnatural. Advertisement Advertisement There is one simple way to reduce jail bills and jail deaths and save money for firefighters and utilities and economic development: reduce the number of days that legally innocent people spend in jail. This is not difficult. First things first: the Senate should not advance HB 4606. Next, the counties can act on their own to reduce unnecessary incarceration. The West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy published a checklist of 12 policies that some counties have already employed to make their dockets swifter, fairer, and more affordable from addressing capias arrests swiftly to instituting regular review of people jailed pretrial to holding bail review hearings on all cases. We can still save our county budgets for community needs and economic development before its too late. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX White House Communications Director Steven Cheung hit back at Sen. Richard Blumenthal after the Democratic lawmakers sounded the alarms about the administration putting boots on the ground in Iran. Cheung, known for his signature juvenile insults, gave a vile new take on an ongoing Trump attack on Blumenthal. Da Nang D---head is a known liar and fraud. Look no further than his lie about serving in Vietnam. He didnt, Cheung wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Da Nang D---- is what Trump has been calling the Connecticut senator for years. The White House Communications Director responds to Sen. Blumenthal's warnings about Iran. / X Cheungs attack on Blumenthal, which was reposted by the White House rapid response account on X, came after the senator issued a stark warning after being briefed on the war in Iran. I emerged from this briefing as dissatisfied and angry, frankly, as I have from any past briefing in my 15 years in the Senate, Blumenthal said. He was speaking in the U.S. Capitol after attending a briefing on the war, which has now entered its eleventh day. I am left with more questions than answers, especially about the cost of the war. My answers have been unanswered, the senator told reporters. I guess I am most concerned about the threat to American lives, of potentially deploying our sons and daughters on the ground in Iran. We seem to be on a path toward deploying American troops on the ground in Iran to accomplish any of the potential objectives for it. Advertisement Advertisement He also raised concerns over the Russians reportedly helping Iran, warning, Literally, Russia seems to be aiding our enemy, actively and intensively with intelligence and perhaps with other means. The White House has not ruled out U.S. boots on the ground, and Trump administration officials have not directly disputed a report that Russia was helping Iran target Americans, only noting that the Kremlin said it was not and insisting it did not matter. Leavitt was asked about Blumenthals concerns about land troops on Tuesday, but she argued that Democrats on Capitol Hill were being quite disingenuous and accused them of playing politics. As for boots on the ground, the president has talked about this repeatedly. Wisely, he does not rule options out as commander in chief, Leavitt said. Advertisement Advertisement But Cheung resorted to name-calling on X with his update to Da Nang D--- which Trump has repeatedly used to attack Blumenthal for years. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung is seen during a US-Russia summit on Ukraine at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 15, 2025. (Photo by Drew ANGERER / AFP) (Photo by DREW ANGERER/AFP via Getty Images) / Drew Angerer/AFP via Getty Images The senator has admitted in the past that he misstated serving in Vietnam, when he had in fact received multiple military deferments from 1965 to 1970. Starting in 1970, he served in the Marine Corps Reserve, but he never actually deployed to Vietnam. Trump escalated his attack on Blumenthal last year when he accused him of lying about his military service and called for an investigation into the Connecticut senator. Blumenthal shot back that the allegations were distorted at the time. The president himself never served during the Vietnam War, avoiding the draft five times, including four times to complete his education before receiving a diagnosis of bone spurs. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt clashed with a CBS reporter on March 11 after being pressed on whether President Donald Trump invented claims to justify strikes on Iran. Karoline Leavitt snaps at reporter for Donald Trump question CBS News Chief White House Correspondent Nancy Cordes confronted Karoline Leavitt about Donald Trumps assertion that Iran was planning to attack U.S. targets within seven days. Cordes pointed out that no U.S. or Israeli leaders were making similar claims. There are no U.S. leaders or Israeli leaders who are making those same claims, so is he making this up to justify his decision to go to war now? Cordes asked. Leavitt shot back: The president is not making anything up, Nancy. Advertisement Advertisement She insisted Trump acted on intelligence. He is looking at this every single day based on intelligence. Based on facts and based on intelligence that he himself and his negotiators have consumed based on their, again, negotiations with the rogue Iranian regime over the past year, Leavitt said. Despite Leavitts insistence, the exchange showed inconsistencies in the administrations messaging. The Pentagon had reportedly told Congress there was no intelligence suggesting Iran planned to strike first. It directly contradicts the White House position. Earlier in the briefing, Cordes had challenged Leavitt on the same topic, asking where Trump was getting his information. Leavitt responded by framing the presidents decision as instinct backed by evidence. This was a feeling the president had based on facts, she said. Facts provided to him by his top negotiators who had been engaged with the Iranian regime in a good faith effort. The press secretarys defense mirrored Trumps own language from his Monday press conference in Florida. There, he claimed, I thought that they were going to attack us. I thought they would if we didnt do this at the time we did it (via The Daily Beast). The post White Houses Karoline Leavitt Fires Back at CBS Reporter for Donald Trump Question appeared first on Mandatory. The News Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmers private meeting Tuesday with President Donald Trump went far more smoothly than an Oval Office encounter a year ago, when she fled after hiding her face behind a folder. In an interview with Semafors Ben Smith Wednesday, Whitmer said despite criticism from the left, her work with the president has paid off on the problem of Asian carp in the Great Lakes, disaster funding, and the future of the Selfridge Air National Guard Base. As Democratic governors in big blue states jockey to become chief Trump antagonist, Whitmer shows no sign of leaving her pragmatic lane. Advertisement Advertisement Im going to do what I think the right thing to do is for Michigan, and the people of Michigan have rewarded me for that, she said, pointing to her 60% approval rating. Whitmer, speaking at the Blackrock Infrastructure Summit, also criticized the hardline approach to data centers taken by some progressives. Data centers are going to get built, she said. The question is, are they going to get built right? When asked if the next president should repeal Trumps tariffs she walked a fine line, saying, I think that the next president should stop the tariff chaos. Whitmer said she hasnt made a decision about whether to run for president, but she has joked about it with her dad. My father once said to me, You know, youd have to be a sociopath to run for president. And then about two years ago, he said, You might need to think about running for president. And I said, Are you calling me a sociopath, Dad? Regardless of whether she runs, Whitmer would like to stay in public service. I just know that were going to have a lot of work to do as a nation and we need great people and I like to think of it as an Avengers-style approach, she said. Advertisement Advertisement As far as her meeting a year ago at the White House, Whitmer acknowledged it was embarrassing, at least in the moment. I thought I was having a one-on-one with the president, Whitmer recalled, as the White House team walked her into a press gaggle. At one point, I just held up the folder because I just didnt want to be there. And it was on the front of The New York Times, and I took a lot of crap for it, from the left. Whitmer said that in the end Michigan voters didnt agree with her critics in the media. She also joked that she wondered why Mayor Zohran Mamdani was called smart by the chattering class for visiting Trump at the White House, though she stopped short of saying whether she believes theres a double standard for female politicians. In the near term, she said Democrats should stay focused on affordability, even if its not the word to use. I do think as we go into this midterm election, staying focused on whats possible, what we can do to help people get ahead, keep more money in their pocket, take care of their families, she said. Thats where elections are decided. James Carville said, Its about the economy, stupid, right? That will always be the truth. Notable EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG) is among the 14 Best Oil and Gas Dividend Stocks to Buy Right Now. Piper Sandler Raises EOG Resources, Inc. (EOG) Price Target to $127 EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG) is one of the largest crude oil and natural gas exploration and production companies in the United States, with proved reserves in the US and Trinidad. On March 5, Piper Sandler upped its price target on EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG) from $123 to $127, but maintained its Neutral rating on the shares. The updated target comes amid the Middle East war, which has led to Iran closing down the Strait of Hormuz and putting around a fifth of the global oil, product, and natural gas supply at risk. While the rising tensions have overshadowed the recent Q4 results and FY 2026 outlook, Piper does not expect many changes from the US operators. EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG) posted strong results for its Q4 2025 on February 25, with the firm beating estimates in both earnings and revenue. The company is targeting to deliver a free cash flow of approximately $4.5 billion in 2026, with its breakeven price to cover the years capital program and regular dividend standing at $50 WTI. It needs mentioning that the Middle East conflict has pushed the WTI crude oil futures to around $80 per barrel, providing a significant FCF growth opportunity for operators like EOG. EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG) boasts an impressive annual dividend yield of 3.19%, putting it among the 11 Best Energy Stocks to Buy for Dividends in 2026. While we acknowledge the potential of EOG as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 12 Best Crude Oil Stocks to Buy as Tensions Rise and 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading into 2026. Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News. Outside a remote immigration detention facility in the Florida Everglades known as Alligator Alcatraz, an activist was handed something unusual by a departing guard: a patch from his uniform. The patch shows a large alligator skull with its jaws open wide next to a hooded skeleton holding a scythe. The skeleton, depicted with red eyes and resembling the Grim Reaper, stands before silhouettes of guard towers and fencing that resemble a prison compound. Red banners frame the image with the words Alligator Alcatraz on top and You Cant Hide on the bottom. The guard, who identified himself as Officer Martinez and was wearing a Special Housing Unit uniform, told an activist that he had the patches made and distributed them to other guards. Advertisement Advertisement He told me he made the patches and that he gives them to people including other guards, said Courtney Prokopas, 41, an activist with Witness at the Border, a volunteer advocacy group that organizes demonstrations outside immigration detention centers across the country. She had traveled from St. Petersburg and camped out for several days outside the facility. To verify whether guards inside the facility wore the patch, a detainee recently released from the center was asked over the phone whether anything about the guards uniforms stood out to him. Without being shown the patch, he described the insignia. What I saw was Alligator Alcatraz, a skeleton dressed in black holding a hatchet and a crocodile underneath, said Lewis Ortigoza, who had been detained at the facility. It looked like something demonic. Advertisement Advertisement On March 7, during a FaceTime call, Ortigoza was shown the patch obtained from the guard and confirmed it matched the one he had seen worn by officers inside the facility. Yes, he said. That one. When reached by phone, a man who said he was Officer Martinez hung up after being told the call was about an altercation and the patches. Mike King, an emergency-management consultant and emergency manager at the Florida detention site affiliated with Critical Response Strategies, identified the guard as Steven Martinez. I can confirm that he and another officer were both demobilized following an altercation between the two, King said, noting that he had not seen the patch before and that it is not an authorized part of the uniform. Guard discharged Prokopas said she was standing outside the facility on March 3 holding a cardboard sign that read SHAME when Martinez stopped his truck near the entrance gate while waiting for a break in traffic to pull onto U.S. 41. The two began speaking through the open window of his vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement During the exchange, Martinez told her he had just been fired after fighting with another officer. He had fresh gashes on his face. Prokopas said Martinez was wearing the patch on his uniform. She said he then removed it from his shoulder and handed it to her. An upset Martinez told Prokopas that he previously worked for the Bexar County Sheriffs Office in Texas. He said he had just been discharged from Critical Response Strategies, the private contractor that provides security at the detention center, after a physical altercation with another guard. Martinez told Prokopas he planned to report the incident to the Miccosukee Police Department because the detention center sits on tribal land. Advertisement Advertisement Later that day, he returned to the facility after Miccosukee police told him the matter was outside their jurisdiction. He told me to keep the patch. I told him No, its OK, Prokopas said. He insisted and said he had plenty. When Martinez returned, she said, he was wearing another of the same patch on his shoulder. On March 7, an officer with the Miccosukee Police Department confirmed that a man had walked into the department on Tuesday, March 3, seeking to report a physical altercation with another guard at the detention center. The officer said he was turned away because the facility falls under the states jurisdiction, not the tribes. Advertisement Advertisement The facility sits on land associated with the Miccosukee Tribe but is operated by federal immigration authorities, creating overlapping jurisdiction between tribal, state and federal agencies. The Florida Highway Patrol, which investigates incidents on the premises, said it is looking into this. So is the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Bexar County Sheriffs Office. Remote facility The detention center located deep in the Florida Everglades houses migrants detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement while they await immigration proceedings. The site is widely known as Alligator Alcatraz, a name introduced by Florida officials when it was announced and later embraced by President Donald Trump. The facility sits in a remote stretch of the Everglades surrounded by wetlands and wildlife including many alligators miles from major population centers. Advertisement Advertisement On any given day, tens of thousands of migrants are held in immigration detention facilities across the United States while they await immigration proceedings and deportation. In the past year alone, at least 40 people have died while in immigration detention, according to data compiled from federal records and watchdog groups that track deaths in custody. The deaths have intensified scrutiny over detention conditions and the oversight of facilities operated by private contractors. Immigration-enforcement actions have also drawn heightened attention following several high-profile incidents involving U.S. citizens. At least three U.S. citizens have died in encounters tied to immigration-enforcement operations in the past year. Many immigration detention facilities are staffed in part by private contractors responsible for security, transportation and other operations. Critics have long raised concerns that the use of private contractors can complicate oversight and accountability when incidents occur inside detention facilities. Advertisement Advertisement The Everglades detention center relies on security personnel from Critical Response Strategies, the contractor that Martinez said he worked for when he distributed the patches. Prokopas said the guard who approached her was wearing a uniform bearing the companys logo. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comments. The symbol Ortigoza said the patch always made his heart race. He said the patches were worn by guards throughout the facility. It felt like they were meant to make us even more afraid than we already were, he said. I always felt haunted by it, but I never said anything because I was so afraid. Advertisement Advertisement I was paying attention to everything, and I noticed it, he said, noting that guards sometimes removed and reattached the patches. They had it attached to their shoulder. They had more than one type, but the one that impacted me the most was that one. It made me feel like I was bound to die. Ortigoza said he spent 21 days inside the detention center before being released in late February on bond an outcome that is relatively rare in immigration-detention cases. Custom morale patches have become increasingly common among some military and law-enforcement units, often featuring aggressive imagery or slogans intended to build camaraderie among personnel. In recent years, however, several departments have moved to prohibit unofficial patches after public criticism that some designs glorify violence or intimidation. For Ortigoza, the patch was difficult to ignore. When youre in there, he said, you notice everything. This story was originally published in Two Can Be True, a newsletter by former Miami Herald national immigration reporter Monique O. Madan. Labour MPs, fresh from a weekend back in their constituencies, have returned to Westminster with two broad concerns about the war in Iran: one is that a huge economic shock is about to hit the UK and - similar to the shock felt after Russias invasion of Ukraine - it could be felt for years to come. The second concern is that Europe could face a massive refugee crisis on a scale not seen since the war in Syria. Then, millions of refugees travelled to Europe, with many eventually settling in Germany. This time, MPs believe millions of Iranians - many of whom have family ties to the UK - will seek asylum here in Britain. Advertisement Advertisement Public opinion is firmly against the UK getting more involved in the conflict - just eight percent of voters in a recent YouGov survey said the UK military should join US and Israeli airstrikes against Iran. Labour believes its current response is broadly in line with public opinion. And the party is now seeking to call out its opponents on the right. Senior Labour figures have been highlighting what they see as an inconsistent response from Reform UK. They point to comments from Nigel Farage - who has gone from saying the gloves need to come off and the UK should do all we can to support the operation led by the US and Israel - to today arguing that the UK should not get involved in another foreign war. Advertisement Advertisement If he had been Prime Minister he would have already dragged our country into this war and wouldnt be able to u-turn like he has done today, said the Chair of the Labour Party, Anna Turley. Farage has been accused of u-turning after he said on Tuesday that the UK should not get involved in the US war with Iran Credit: PA Labour have also pointed out the Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has been far more supportive of the US decision to bomb Iran. Even public criticism from President Trump - in which the US president said of Keir Starmer this is not Winston Churchill were dealing with - hasnt overly worried the prime ministers aides. They are fairly relaxed about Keir Starmer being seen to stand up to a US president who is deeply unpopular with the British public. Almost twenty five years on from the war in Iraq, politicians on both sides of the Atlantic are still asked about whether they supported the US-led invasion in 2003. Advertisement Advertisement If the conflict in Iran goes on for anywhere near as long as the war in Iraq - and its consequences for the middle east and wider world are anywhere near as destabilising - British politicians will be held to what they say now for years to come. From Westminster to Washington DC - our political experts are across all the latest key talking points. Listen to the latest episode below... Its clear that regime change is among the biggest objectives of the U.S. war in Iran. I have to be involved in the appointment of Irans next leader, President Donald Trump said on March 5, 2026. Trump has also said he might put U.S. boots on the ground to get the job done. Trump now joins a long list of modern U.S. presidents from Franklin Roosevelt to Harry Truman, Lyndon Johnson, George W. Bush and Barack Obama who started wars to either overthrow hostile regimes or support embattled friendly governments abroad. Advertisement Advertisement For all the parallels to history, though, Trumps Iran war is historically unique in one critically important way: In its early stages, the war is not popular with the American public. A recent CNN poll found that 59 percent of Americans oppose the war a trend found in poll after poll since the war began. As an expert on U.S. foreign policy and regime change wars, my research shows that whats likely generating public opposition to the Iran war today is the absence of a big story with a grand purpose that has bolstered public support for just about every major U.S.-promoted regime change war since 1900. These broad, purpose-filled narratives generate public buy-in to support the costs of war, which are often high in terms of money spent and lives lost when regime change is at stake. Two historical examples In the 1930s and 40s, a widely accepted and largely true story about the dangers of fascism spreading and democracies falling galvanized national support in the United States to enter and then take on the high costs of fighting in World War II. Advertisement Advertisement Likewise, in the 2000s, a dominant narrative about preventing a repeat of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and stopping terrorism brought strong initial public support for the war in Afghanistan, with 88% support in 2001, and the war in Iraq, with 70% support in 2003. With no comparable narrative around Iran today, Trump and Republicans could face big problems, especially as costs continue to rise. No anti-Iran narrative Iran has been a thorn in the side of many American presidents for a long time. So, whats missing? Why no grand-purpose narrative at the start of this war? Two things. First, grand-purpose narratives are rooted in major geopolitical gains by a rival regime the danger to the U.S. For the anti-fascism narrative, those events were German troops plowing across Europe and the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. For the anti-terrorism narrative, it was planes crashing into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. A U.S. Army carry team in Dover, Del., moves a coffin on March 7, 2026, containing the remains of a U.S. soldier killed in the retaliatory Iranian strike on Kuwaits Port of Shuaiba. (Getty Images) Gains like these by rivals prove traumatic to the nation. They also dislodge the status quo and provide the opportunity for new grand-purpose narratives with new policy directions to emerge. Advertisement Advertisement Today, most Americans see no existential danger around Iran. A Marist poll from March 3, 2026, found that 55 percent of Americans view Iran as a minor threat or no threat at all. And the number who see Iran as a major threat, 44 percent, is down from 48 percent in July 2025. By contrast, 64 percent of Americans saw Iraq as a considerable threat prior to the 2003 U.S. war in Iraq. The poll numbers on Iran arent surprising. Iran is far from a geopolitical menace to the United States today. To the contrary, its been in geopolitical retreat in the Middle East in recent years. In the summer of 2025, Irans nuclear enrichment facilities were significantly damaged completely and totally obliterated, according to Trump, though there is no confirmation of that claim during the 12-Day war between Iran and Israel. Advertisement Advertisement And in recent years, Tehran has lost a major ally in Syria and witnessed its proxy network all but collapse. Iran has also faced crippling economic conditions and historic protests at home. As the polls show, none of that has sparked a grand-purpose narrative. Missing a good story The second missing factor for narrative formation today is any strong messaging from the White House. In the months prior to World War II, Roosevelt used his position of authority as president to give speech after speech, setting the context of the traumatic events of the 1930s, explaining the dangers at hand and outlining a course going forward. Though less truthful in its content, Bush did the same for nearly two years before the Iraq War. Advertisement Advertisement Trump did almost none of this storytelling leading up to the Iran war. Five days before the war started, the president devoted three minutes to Iran in a nearly two-hour State of the Union Address. President Trump at a press conference in Miami on March 9, 2026. (Getty Images) Prior to that, he made a comment here and there to the press about Iran, but no storytelling preparing the nation for war. Likewise, since the war began, the administrations stated reasons for military action keep shifting. No wonder 54% of Americans polled disapprove of Trumps handling of Iran and 60% of Americans say Trump has no clear plan for Iran. Also, 60% disapprove of Trumps handling of foreign policy in general. By comparison, Americans approved of Bushs handling of foreign policy by 63% in early 2003. Advertisement Advertisement Absent a cohesive, unifying story, its also no surprise that there is a lot of political fracturing today. Partisan divides run deep Democrats and independent voters strongly oppose the war. But Trumps MAGA coalition is cracking too, with people like Tucker Carlson and Marjorie Taylor Greene sharply criticizing the war. The way out If he opts for it, there is an off-ramp for Trump from the Iran war. Its one he knows well. When U.S. leaders get caught up in costly regime change wars that outrun national support, they tend to back down, often with far fewer political costs than if theyd continued their unpopular war. Advertisement Advertisement When the disaster referred to as Black Hawk Down hit in Somalia in 1993, killing 18 U.S. Marines, President Bill Clinton opted to end the mission to topple the warlords that ruled the country. Troops came home six months later. Likewise, after the Benghazi attack killed four Americans in Libya in 2012, Obama pulled out all U.S. personnel working in Libya on nation-building operations. And just last year, when Trump realized that U.S. ground troops would be necessary to topple the Houthi militant group in Yemen, he negotiated a ceasefire and ended his air war in that country with no significant political fallout. With Trumps Iran war, gas prices keep rising, more soldiers are likely to die, and stocks are highly volatile. Advertisement Advertisement Backing down makes a lot of sense. History confirms that. Charles Walldorf, Professor of Politics and International Affairs, Wake Forest University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The post Why Trumps War Against Iran Is Uniquely Unpopular Among Americans appeared first on Katie Couric Media. Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis reported March 10 that one of his deputies was involved in a serious single-vehicle crash on Route 50 at Old Railroad Road in Mardela. Here's what to know. Lewis shared on Facebook that the crash occurred at about 1:20 p.m. First responders from the Hebron Volunteer Fire Department and Mardela Volunteer Fire Department quickly arrived on the scene and provided critical care to the injured deputy while preparing him for immediate transport. Advertisement Advertisement The deputy was transported by Delaware State Police helicopter to the University of Maryland R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. The University of Maryland R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. "Im proud to share that I am here in Baltimore with our deputy and his law enforcement family, and we have just learned that he will likely be discharged and headed home later this evening. This is the outcome we were all praying for as we drove to Baltimore," Lewis shared on Facebook. "I want to express my deepest gratitude to the Maryland State Police, the Delaware State Police aviation team, our fellow law enforcement partners, and the dozens of sheriffs deputies, firefighters, EMS personnel, and concerned civilians who immediately stepped up when the call for help went out. Your willingness to respond without hesitation reflects the very best of our community and the brotherhood and sisterhood of public safety. Lewis added more about the "emotional day" in a later post: Advertisement Advertisement "Today has been a long and emotional day. I want to sincerely thank the dozens of Sheriffs and Chiefs from across the region, along with the many citizens from our state and our community, who took the time to text, call, and reach out after the crash involving one of our motor deputies earlier today. The outpouring of support has truly been overwhelming, and it means more than I can put into words. STACKED OCEANS CALLING LINEUP: Mumford & Sons, Gwen Stefani to headline 2026 Oceans Calling Festival MARYLAND'S DEEP IRISH HISTORY: Irish heritage and history run deep in Maryland. Now to celebrate it. "When you put one of your men on a med-evac helicopter for transport to a trauma center some two hours away, you are immediately covered in a cascade of emotions. Then you have to make that long drive across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and up into Baltimore City. Advertisement Advertisement "But, I knew what to expect. Ive made this drive across that bridge thousands of times over 42 years in law enforcement. Shortly after I arrived, I saw several P.G. County cars outside. I learned that officers from the Prince Georges County Police Department were down the hall from our injured deputy attending to one of their own. A P.G. County motor officer had also gone down on his motor unit today and was undergoing emergency surgery. "Before leaving, I had the privilege of seeing my deputy discharged from Shock Trauma in Baltimore, and even more importantly, I had the honor of driving him home. Along the way, he and several of his colleagues were treated to dinner at Bridges Restaurant on Kent Island, followed by Dairy Queen for dessert in Easton, before making the slow ride back into Wicomico County. "Moments like this remind us just how strong the bond is within the law enforcement community and how much support exists in the communities we serve. "Most importantly, thank God hes home." This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Wicomico sheriff's deputy seriously injured in Route 50 crash Wearing a black dress, the wife of Haitis slain president immediately began to sob on Tuesday as the U.S. governments star witness testified against four South Florida men standing trial on charges of conspiring to kill her husband more than four years ago at the couples home outside Port-au-Prince. I am Martine Moise, I am Mrs. Jovenel Moise, who was assassinated at our house, she testified in Miami federal court, as she burst into tears in mid-sentence. I am the First Lady of Haiti. Please forgive me. ... Ive been waiting so long, its been over four years since Ive been waiting. Please forgive me if Im crying, said Moise, who spoke through a Creole interpreter. Advertisement Advertisement Moise, 51, who took the witness stand after opening statements in the assassination trial, described how she and her 53-year-old husband were awakened by gunfire outside their hilltop home after 1 a.m. on July 7, 2021 the initial sign that they might be killed in an ambush. I was very afraid. I was in shock as well by so many gunshots, she testified. I looked in his eyes and I saw the same feelings. She said her husband told her: Honey, were dead. Kids, dog hid in the bathroom Moise said she crawled downstairs on her hands and knees to check on the couples daughter and son, and found them in the sons room. She said she instructed them to hide in a windowless bathroom, along with one of the familys dogs, for their own safety on the first floor of the house. Advertisement Advertisement Then, she crawled back upstairs to the master bedroom, where she found her husband lying near the bed. He told her to hide on the other side of the bed to avoid stray bullets. She said she could not fit under the bed frame because it was low. I put my head and shoulders under part of the bed, she said, describing how she lay on her stomach on the bedroom floor. She asked her husband if he had called any officials in charge of protecting the couples home. He told her that he called Dimitri Herard, head of presidential security; Jean Laguel Civil, a top security official; and Leon Charles, the Haitian national police chief. They were in charge of the security detail posted outside the couples home. At that dramatic point, her testimony ended because the 12-person jury had to adjourn early on Tuesday. On Wednesday, she will resume her testimony, which is expected to describe how a team of former Colombian soldiers hired by a Doral-based security firm fatally shot her husband and wounded her arm and thigh. A ceremony in honor of late Haitian President Jovenel Moise at the National Pantheon Museum in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on July 20, 2021. (VALERIE BAERISWYL/AFP via Getty Images) Four men on trial The defendants standing trial are Arcangel Pretel Ortiz, 53, a former FBI informant, Colombian national and U.S. permanent resident; Antonio Intriago, 62, the Venezuelan-American owner of a Doral security company that hired Pretel; James Solages, 40, a Haitian-American handyman who also worked for Intriago; and Walter Veintemilla, 57, an Ecuadorian American who helped finance the plan targeting Moise. All have been in custody in the Miami federal detention center since their arrests. Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, federal prosecutor Sean McLaughlin said the four men conspired with others to plan, fund and carry out the kidnapping and killing of Moise at meetings in South Florida and Haiti. Their goal was to remove him from power and replace him with a political candidate who would hire Intriagos security company for future government contracts. He was brutally shot and killed at point-blank range by a team of Colombia mercenaries, McLaughlin told the jury, saying they were driven by greed, arrogance and power. But defense attorneys countered that a senior Haitian government official, Joseph Felix Badio, and several national police officers carried out the deadly assault on that July night, arguing that Moise was already dead when the Colombian crew arrived at his home with intentions of only arresting him. When the Colombians got there, it was for a legitimate arrest, said Intriagos lawyer, Emmanuel Perez. When the Colombians went into the room, the president was dead. Advertisement Advertisement This was clearly an orchestrated effort for the Colombian men to take the blame for the assassination of President Moise, said Ortizs lawyer, Orlando do Campo. My client was set up, he had no reason to believe that his efforts to apprehend an illegitimate president were anything outside the law. He thought he was going to Haiti and that he was going to arrest the president, said Solages attorney, Jonathan Friedman, pointing out that all of the defendants were relying on an arrest warrant for Moise that was signed by a Haitian judge in early 2021. Everyone at trial here relied upon that warrant, he said. Although it took years for the Miami case to go to trial because of the voluminous amount of evidence, more than half of the 11 defendants charged in the case have already admitted to playing a role in the conspiracy to kill Moise or to a lesser charge. Advertisement Advertisement Five defendants pleaded guilty to the main conspiracy charge and were sentenced to life in prison. The sixth pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of smuggling ballistic vests to the Colombian commandos hired by Intriagos company, Counter Terrorist Unit Security, to execute the hit job, according to court records. All but one are expected to be called as witnesses for the government during the two-month trial. On Tuesday, March 10, winter continues to flex its cold muscles, as eight states have winter storm warnings and watches from the National Weather Service (NWS) expected to bring up to 5 feet of snow, even with spring around the corner. The NWS has issued new winter storm warnings, watches and advisories across the country, and even though it's already the metrological spring, it sure doesn't feel like it throughout much of the U.S. that's dealing with snow and high winds. 8 States Getting Hit With New Snow, High Winds Up to 5 Feet in Select Areas States bracing for snow from Tuesday, March 10, going into Friday, March 13, include Oregon, Michigan, Washington, Wisconsin, Montana, Alaska, South Dakota and Wyoming. Advertisement Advertisement Areas of Washington state are bracing for the most snow over the next several days, with up to five feet expected in areas such as Holden Village, Stevens Pass, the Cascades of Snohomish and Whatcom. The lower end of snow in these areas would be one foot, but especially in higher elevations, expect substantially more, according to research from the NWS. The National Weather Service in Spokane warned to "expect heavy mountain snow Tuesday p.m. through Friday a.m., creating challenging pass travel. Strong winds Wednesday and Thursday. By the weekend, the focus shifts to rising rivers and potential localized flooding in low-lying areas." In Michigan, up to 9 inches of snow is expected in northern areas of the state and the U.P. In a weather report on Michigan news station TV6, meteorologists note, "There will be a wintry mix along Lake Michigan. Otherwise, moderate to heavy intensities, especially in Marquette County." They also add that snowfall amounts will range from seven to nine inches for the Northern U.P., with around a foot inland in Marquette County. An 'Active Period' of Weather is Expected Across the U.S., Weather Experts State The NWS in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, warns that an "active period" of weather is upon us this week. "Strong to severe storms will be possible Tuesday evening," they state on X. "Cold air will then intrude into the region, changing any remaining rain over to a wintry mix and wet snow Wednesday morning." Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, South Dakota, Wyoming and Oregon and bracing for several inches of snow but should avoid feet at this point. In Alaska, cold is an issue, with Seward Peninsula getting up to 45 mph to 65 mph winds and wind chills of 50F. In the Northeast, the weather experts at AccuWeather tellMen's Journal that a "potent storm" going east is expected to bring "ice buildup" in northern New England and northeastern New York. This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Mar 10, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here. A Kansas City woman faces felony assault charges in Clay County after allegedly swinging a pair of shears towards paramedics in Claycomo Monday. Christin Austin, of Kansas City, faces two counts each of first-degree assault and armed criminal action, as well as one count of resisting arrest, according to a Clay County warrant in support of her arrest. At 11:49 a.m. Monday, officers with the Claycomo Police Department were called to the area of U.S. Highway 69 and North Palmer Drive on reports of a combative ambulance patient, department chief Matt Coonce said in a press release Tuesday . Advertisement Advertisement While attempting to transport Austin, the woman allegedly took a pair of trauma shears from a paramedic, Coonce said. She then swung the shears in a violent manner, nearly striking a first responders neck. Austin then exited the ambulance with the shears, Coonce said. When officers arrived, the woman reportedly continued to swing the shears aggressively. Officers eventually took the shears from Austin, and she was taken into custody, Coonce said. The woman allegedly resisted officers during her arrest. Austin was transported to an area hospital for an evaluation, Coonce said. After her release, she was placed on a 24-hour hold. Advertisement Advertisement We are grateful for the quick actions of our officers and the professionalism of the paramedics involved in this dangerous situation, Coonce said. Nearly a year ago, a paramedic in Kansas City was fatally stabbed in the back of an ambulance while transporting a patient to an area hospital. The patient, Shanetta Bossell, allegedly stabbed 29-year-old Graham Hoffman in the heart at around 1 a.m. on April 27, 2025. According to the press release and a warrant for her arrest, Austin is being held on a $50,000 cash-only bond. The woman is not listed as being in custody at the Clay County Jail or the Missouri Department of Corrections. Advertisement Advertisement Court records show Austin has previously been convicted of second-degree property damage in Liberty and first-degree trespassing in Kansas City, both class B misdemeanors in Missouri. No further court dates are set in her case. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) The sudden resignation of The Ohio State Universitys president on Monday has many wondering what the search for a new president will look like. On Monday, Ted Carter resigned after a little more than two years on the job after disclosing an inappropriate relationship with a podcaster who was seeking public resources to support her personal business. Who is Krisanthe Vlachos? The relationship was believed to be with Krisanthe Vlachos, a podcaster whose association with Carter was made public by JobsOhio, the sponsor of the program. Advertisement Advertisement Vlachos is the host of The Callout Podcast. She is also the owner of Veteran USA LLC, which has a business address registered to the WOSU studios on the Ohio State campus. Vlachos interviewed Carter multiple times on the podcast and posted online that he was a friend and mentor. Ted Carter received over $4.6 million from Ohio State in three years While Veteran USA LLC was registered to the WOSU building in late December, the zip code on the registration does not match; instead, the registration lists a St. Louis zip code. NBC4s sister station in St. Louis went to a home listed for Vlachos, where a man identified himself as her brother-in-law. He said Vlachos had moved out a year ago and that he did not keep in touch with her. Advertisement Advertisement NBC4 has tried to reach out to Vlachos for comment, but has not heard back. Searching for a new president The search that landed Carter the job lasted about nine months, with the university hiring an outside search firm for approximately $500,000. People with ties to the university are keeping an eye on how the search for the next president will look. We all care deeply about this place and if they want us to actually be part of that, its pretty easy to do, but they have to want that, Ohio State University associate professor of English Pranav Jani said. In the past, OSU formed a presidential search committee, which was then divided into two subcommittees: the presidential selection committee, composed of trustees, and the university advisory committee made up of faculty, staff and students. The subcommittees worked together to identify a candidate that the search committee then recommended to the board. Advertisement Advertisement Family of man killed in crash with Columbus police officer files wrongful death lawsuit I think theres a real mood for, you know, its not about business as usual this time, Jani said. Jani is also a board member of the American Association of University Professors at OSU. He feels the community did not get enough input in the past and hopes this time, it will be different. Ill just say were really hoping that this moment, which is a moment of crisis for any university, actually becomes a moment of self-reflection and a moment of transparency where we can follow our shared values and use a process thats inclusive and democratic and transparent, transparent to choose the new president, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Jani said the AAUP has written a letter to the board of trustees to voice these concerns. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. Key takeaways The duration of the US-Israel may come down to ammunition stockpiles, as both sides face mounting strain in an expensive missile-and-interceptor arms race. While US and Israeli strikes have severely degraded Irans missile infrastructure and launch capacity, Iran is adapting by spreading out targets, relying on cheaper drones, and aiming to inflict psychological and economic pain rather destroy military targets. Even with high interception rates, the staggering cost and limited production of advanced US defense systems like Patriot and THAAD risk depleting Western stockpiles, with global ripple effects that could shape future conflicts beyond the Middle East. President Donald Trump has suggested that the US-Israeli air campaign in Iran will continue until they cry uncle, or when they cant fight any longer. Irans foreign minister has said their own military will fight as long as it takes and that they have little interest in negotiating a ceasefire. But continuing the war isnt just a question of will; its a question of means. And one key constraint on how long the conflict might rage is how much ammunition each side has to continue it. Currently, its an arms race between Iranian missiles and drones and US, Israeli, and Gulf State countermeasures to shoot them down. And while the answers to questions about their capacity are closely guarded, there are signs of strain on both sides. Advertisement Advertisement With its conventional military overmatched and its network of regional allies badly degraded, Irans main remaining means of fighting is its missile and drone stockpile. Iran has fired thousands of missiles and one-way attack drones at 13 countries, killing at least 43 people, according to data compiled by the Israeli think tank INSS. These include seven US servicemembers. Iran has struck a wide range of targets, from US military bases to luxury hotels in Dubai to Amazon data centers. On Wednesday, three ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz came under drone attack as part of Irans effort to shut down one of the key chokepoints of the world energy market. This is dwarfed by the damage that has been inflicted by the US and Israel on Iran, where more than 1,200 people have been killed according to Iranian authorities, and much of the countrys military and political infrastructure has been destroyed. But Irans attacks would have been far worse for the wider region if the countries they were going after didnt have such strong defenses against missiles and drones. Most of the countries that have been heavily targeted appear to be successfully intercepting over 90 percent of the projectiles Iran has fired at them. Advertisement Advertisement Doing so is not easy, however. Interceptors are among the worlds most sophisticated and in-demand weapons, and the successful interception effort has come at a tremendous cost. The US burned through an estimated $2.4 billion worth of Patriot interceptors, which cost around $4 million each, in just the first five days of this war. During last Junes conflict, the US used around a quarter of its total stock of THAAD interceptors, which are fired from a mobile anti-missile battery. Only around 11 interceptors are made per year, and the use rate is likely similar this time around. Youre on the wrong side of the cost curve if you are doing missile defense in the first place, said Sam Lair of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies. Thats just the reality of how these, these types of wars work. Interceptors are expensive, they dont have very many of them, and not many of them are produced each year. These kinds of interceptors have sometimes been referred to as the table stakes of todays missile and drone-heavy wars, and the reverberations of the current Mideast missile war are being felt well beyond the region. European officials say interceptors needed for the war in Ukraine are being diverted to the Middle East. In a sign of just how pressing the need has become, the US is reportedly moving parts of a powerful THAAD interceptor system from South Korea to the Middle East on the same week that North Korea is test-firing missiles from its latest warship. Advertisement Advertisement Offensive weapons, while a lesser concern, are also an issue: The US may need years to replenish its stocks of Tomahawk missiles, to take one example. For years, all of the services have been firing precision stocks much faster than their replacement rates, said MacKenzie Eaglen, a defense analyst at the American Enterprise Institute. How long can Iran keep firing? Heavy US and Israeli bombardment of Irans missile facilities is taking a toll on its ability to fire them in the first place. According to the US military, the number of Iranian missile launches is down 90 percent, and drone launches are down 83 percent since the start of the conflict, which Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth called strong evidence of degradation. Some experts believe the drop in launches is evidence that Iran is holding back some of its arsenal, anticipating a long fight, but its still safe to say that by any conventional metric, Iran is losing the missile war. Advertisement Advertisement But the goal of Irans leaders is not to defeat the US and Israel there was never any question of that its to continue to inflict pain to the point where Trump, facing skyrocketing gas prices, a jittery economy, falling poll numbers, and grumbling allies, decides to call it quits and resist calls to renew the war again later. Prior to last Junes 12-day war, Iran was believed to have between 2,000 and 3,000 missiles in its stockpile. It fired around 600 in that conflict, and many more were destroyed on the ground by Israeli airstrikes, but in the months since, Iranian authorities had worked to replenish those stockpiles and harden their defenses. Many of these were concentrated in vast underground missile cities. In the early phase of the war, these were hit heavily, and Irans own air defenses proved mostly unable to defend them. Mobile launchers were often destroyed immediately after leaving the facilities. The US has used bunker buster bombs to destroy the entrances to the cities, leaving hundreds of missiles buried underground. Israel estimates that it has destroyed or buried around 70 percent of Irans missile launchers. Even if those estimates are on the high end, the speed at which the US and Israel have been able to dismantle much of Irans once-feared missile deterrent has surprised many observers. Iran has also been something of a pioneer in the development of one-way attack drones. The low-cost Iranian Shahed has been used extensively by Russias military against Ukrainian cities for years. The US is now deploying its own drone closely modeled on the weapon. The size of Irans drone stockpile is unknown, but before the war, its production capacity was estimated at around 10,000 per month, though its surely less now. Advertisement Advertisement While less powerful, these drones could be pivotal in Irans efforts to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed to oil exports. In this campaign, the Iranians may have taken some lessons from their Yemeni allies, who used a relatively small number of drones and missiles to create chaos in the Red Sea during the war in Gaza. Irans choice of targets in this war has been somewhat unexpected. While some feared a massive salvo against Israel that would overwhelm the countrys air defenses, the strikes have been more spread out, with 20 times more total projectiles directed against the Gulf states than Israel. This may partly be the result of the damage inflicted on the command structure of Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Iranian doctrine gives missile commanders wide latitude to choose their targets when they dont have word from Tehran. It was 30 different IRGC, commanders doing their own thing, and thats why we saw them doing things like launching against Oman, which made no sense to anybody, said Decker Eveleth, an analyst at the Center for Naval Analyses, noting that Oman was the country that had attempted to mediate a nuclear agreement between Iran and the United States in the lead-up to the war. Iran may also be targeting the Gulf because those are the missiles it still has available. It used many of its longer-range weapons to strike Israel during the 12-day war. Its shorter-range missiles, aimed primarily at the Gulf and US bases in the region, were relatively untouched and were not as heavily bombed in the early days of this war. Theyve been hit more heavily over the last few days. By striking airports and hotels rather than military targets, Iran may also be aiming to demoralize and frighten local populations, building on similar attacks against Israeli cities during the 12-day war last year. They started hitting a lot more civilian areas, Nicole Grajewski of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace said. It turned out to have a high psychological cost for the Israelis it was pretty terrorizing for them at the population level. Advertisement Advertisement The hope may be that the damage to regional countries may get to the point that their governments start putting more pressure on Trump to end the war, though it could also have the adverse effect of drawing them into the conflict directly. As for Israel itself, Iran has begun launching missiles fitted with cluster munitions that burst at high altitude, scattering tiny bomblets. While not particularly effective against hardened military targets, these have the advantage of being difficult to intercept. (Theyre also banned by more than 120 countries because of the dangers unexploded bomblets can pose to civilians long after conflicts end.) A numbers game Despite the high intercept rates, there are signs that the region was not fully prepared for the Iranian onslaught. Some analysts have questioned why the six US troops killed in Kuwait on March 1 were working in what appeared to be a makeshift operations center, given that it was the US that determined when the war began. Axios has reported that US officials last year rejected a Ukrainian offer to sell the same anti-drone technology it is now installing under fire. There were also reports early in the war that Gulf states were running dangerously short on interceptors and that the US was scrambling to provide them with more. Countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE rely on advanced US-made systems like Patriot and THAAD for air defense, which, though highly effective, are extremely expensive and ill-suited to take on large numbers of cheap missiles and drones. Advertisement Advertisement The UAE has had success in using helicopters to shoot down drones at a lower cost, and experts from Ukraine a country that now knows a thing or two about shooting down missiles and Iranian-made drones have been dispatched to the region to consult. Overall, the fear of running out of interceptors has become less acute as the number of Iranian launches has dropped. As for Israel, it isnt publicizing its intercept rate this time around in order to make it harder to assess its stockpiles, but the country was also reportedly running low on stockpiles at the end of the 12-day war. Iran is still getting some missiles and drones to their targets. On March 10, more than 25 percent of drones fired at the UAE got through, significantly higher than previous days. Iran also now appears to be targeting the radar facilities used by the US to track incoming missiles. Modern interceptors may be able to take down most of what Iran is firing at US troops and the cities of the Middle East in this war for now. But the impact may be felt in the next one. And even if Iran no longer has enough resources to overwhelm the regions defenses, they may hope they can keep up the threat long enough for the costs to become intolerable. Carmen Mejia should have walked out of a Travis County courtroom Monday a free woman. Instead, the 54-year-old formally exonerated of killing a baby in 2003 is sitting in the Travis County jail, waiting to learn whether federal immigration agents will take her into custody and attempt to deport her. During a hearing Monday, visiting Judge David Wahlberg dismissed the indictment that led to Mejias 2005 murder conviction. Under normal circumstances, that ruling would have allowed Mejia to leave the courthouse with family members and supporters who had gathered to celebrate her exoneration. Advertisement Advertisement But federal immigration officials placed a hold on Mejia, requiring jail staff to detain her for up to 48 hours while U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement decides whether to take her into custody. Ms. Mejia is essentially in limbo waiting to see if she is going to be taken into ICE detention or be able to walk free, said Vanessa Potkin, director of special litigation at the Innocence Project and one of the attorneys who has spent the past two years working to clear Mejias name. Carmen Mejia hugs her daughters after being exonerated in Travis Countys 460th Criminal District Court in Austin Monday, March 9, 2026. The Texas Criminal Court of Appeals issued an opinion in January declaring that Meija was "actually innocent" in the killing of 10-month-old Abelardo Casiano, an infant she was babysitting at the time. (Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman) Mejias wrongful conviction stems from a 2003 incident in which 10-month-old Abelardo Casiano was severely burned while in her care. Mejia, then 31 and a mother of four, rushed the infant to a hospital, but he later died. Advertisement Advertisement In January, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ruled that Mejia did not commit the crime and that no crime occurred. Potkin said she has visited Mejia twice at the jail since Monday afternoons hearing. Mejia, she said, is relieved that her name has finally been cleared. But the possibility of further detention now hangs over her. Shabel Castro, another Innocence Project attorney who worked on the case, said Mejia emigrated to the United States from Honduras in 1995. Four years later, she received temporary protected status after a natural disaster in her home country. Temporary protected status allows immigrants to live and work legally in the United States but must be renewed regularly. Advertisement Advertisement Castro said Mejia renewed her status at least five times before she was arrested in 2003 over Casianos death. After her arrest, she was no longer able to renew her protected status or pursue another legal immigration status that would allow her to remain in the United States. Potkin said Mejia has not lived in Honduras for more than 30 years and has no family or support system there if she is deported. Instead, she hopes to remain in the United States and rebuild relationships with her four daughters, who were all six years old or younger when their mother was arrested. Now Mejias immediate fate rests with ICE. Carmen Mejia listens to testimony during her exoneration hearing in Travis Countys 460th Criminal District Court in Austin Monday, March 9, 2026. Judge David Wahlberg signed the order finding Mejia is actually innocent of the 2003 death of a 10-month-old infant in her care. Experts determined the baby was accidentally burned with scalding bathwater not intentionally harmed by Mejia, as prosecutors originally argued. (Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman) Danny Woodward, a policy attorney with the Texas Civil Rights Project, said Mejias 48-hour detention is mandatory under state law, but deportation is not. Advertisement Advertisement A 2017 law known as Senate Bill 4 requires local law enforcement agencies to honor immigration detainer requests like the one placed on Mejia. But ICE still has discretion over whether agents take someone into custody. ICE does not have to come pick her up, Woodward said. They regularly choose not to do that, though it has been less common over the past year. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, did not immediately respond to questions about Mejia on Monday. Kristen Dark, a spokesperson for the Travis County Sheriffs Office, said ICE notifies jail staff if agents plan to take someone with a detainer request into custody. She said she could not disclose information about inmate transfers due to security precautions. Advertisement Advertisement If ICE declines to take Mejia into custody, she will leave the jail sometime Wednesday afternoon as a free woman. Potkin said that even as ICE detentions have increased over the past year, she remains hopeful the agency will decline to detain Mejia given her wrongful conviction and two decades of imprisonment. Ms. Mejia has worked so hard for the opportunity to be reunited with her children, Potkin said, and with every fiber of her being she wants to remain here with her children. Japans Pokka Sapporo Food & Beverage is divesting its vending machine business to local teas and waters producer Lifedrink Company. In a statement last week, the subsidiary of food-and-drinks group Sapporo Holdings said it had entered an absorption-type split agreement with Lifedrink. Lifedrink specialises in the production and sale of mineral water, sparkling water and tea, according to its website. Under the arrangement, Lifedrink will create a new subsidiary to take over the vending machines business, while Pokka Sapporo will be the splitting entity. Financial details on the deal were not disclosed. As the company responsible for the Sapporo Group's food and beverage business, we are promoting business portfolio management in line with the group's medium-term management plan while also working on structural reforms aimed at further development of each business, the statement said. The company cited pressures in the vending machine channel, pointing to challenges including rising equipment maintenance costs and labour shortages. It also pointed to sluggish demand in the market, following pricing changes driven by rising raw material costs and consumers' tendency to save money. In a separate statement, Lifedrink said the addition of a new direct sales channel will contribute to further strengthening our business foundation. The successor companys name and location have yet to be decided. Lifedrink said the successor company is expected to generate capital of Y10m ($63,095). The transfer will include part of the assets, liabilities, contracts and other rights and obligations connected to the vending machine business. It will also include the shares of three subsidiaries: PS Beverage (PSB), Star Beverage Service (STB) and Okinawa Sunpokka (OSP). Lifedrink's new subsidiary is due to be set up by the end of this month, with the transfer of the vending machine business expected to take place by 1 October. Both Pokka Sapporo and Lifedrink are also discussing a business alliance intended to ensure a smooth transfer and enable future collaboration, Pokka Sapporo said. In its statement, Lifedrink said it is considering an arrangement under which Pokka Sapporo would supply products for a certain period, with sales continuing through vending machines carrying Pokka Sapporo trademarks. In November, Sapporo Holdings lowered its forecast for annual revenue but raised its guidance for profits. The brewer anticipates revenue of Y523bn ($3.38bn) in 2025, down 1.7% from its February estimate. In 2024, Sapporo generated revenue of Y530.78bn. The West Virginia House of Delegates Finance Committee has signed off on legislation allowing the state to spend nearly $200 million in federal funding from the Rural Health Transformation Program. Senate Bill 570 creates an appropriation for the Rural Health Transformation Program within the state Department of Health and grants spending authority for the approximately $199,000. The bill passed the Senate last month and had been pending in the House Finance Committee. Gov. Patrick Morrisey twice held news conferences urging lawmakers to hurry the funding authorization process along, most recently on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement West Virginia has been given a historic opportunity to strengthen rural health care, Morrisey said in a statement Tuesday. We already have the funding and we already have the plan. What we need now is legislative authorization so we can put these resources to work for the people of West Virginia. The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid announced late last year the state had been awarded approximately $199 million for 2026 through the Rural Health Transformation Program, a five year program that aims to transform the existing rural health care infrastructure and build sustainable health care systems that expand access, enhance quality of care, and improve outcomes for patients, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Under Morriseys plan for the program, West Virginia rural schools, libraries and other community institutions would be outfitted for use in telemedicine. The state also plans to address the states health care worker shortage by recruiting high school students to health care careers, adding health care faculty at regional and technical colleges and using financial incentives to attract and keep providers in rural areas. Del. Evan Worrell Another of the initiatives, the Rural Health Link, would provide patients access to transportation to medical appointments using public buses, ride-share services and volunteer drivers. Advertisement Advertisement Curtis Capehart, a representative for Morriseys office, told the Finance Committee the state has until Oct. 30 to obligate the money. If the obligated funds are not spent by the end of September 2027, the federal government will pull back any unspent money, he said. Speaking in support of the bill, House Health Committee Chairman Evan Worrell, R-Cabell, said the program would be historic for the state and he looks forward to seeing Morrisey sign it. Two hundred million [dollars] in one year to transform health care in the state of West Virginia with the seven pillars, is phenomenal, Worrell said. We look forward to seeing how thats going to actually shape our state as we all know, were the worst in the country when it comes to a lot of these metrics and data points. So I look forward to seeing some of these change through, through this funding, through future funding. The bill will go to the full House of Delegates for a vote. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE NEED TO KNOW Wyoming is the fifth state to enact a six-week abortion ban, following Florida, Georgia, Iowa, and South Carolina Governor Mark Gordon criticized the law for lacking exceptions for rape and incest, calling it an "unfortunate flaw" Advocacy groups plan to challenge the ban, with Gordon acknowledging it may face legal battles in the courts Wyoming is now the fifth state to enact a so-called heartbeat ban, which bans all abortions after six weeks, the stage when cardiac activity can be detected in a fetus although its often long before most women know theyre pregnant. Governor Mark Gordon signed the bill into law on March 9 despite acknowledging what he called an unfortunate flaw in the legislation: Where the act does not align to my pro-life stance is in the concern for specific vulnerable populations. I have continually identified my position on exceptions for women facing pregnancy caused by rape or incest, and risk of the woman's life or substantial and irreversible physical impairment, Gordon wrote in a letter to Wyoming lawmakers. Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon in 2023. Credit: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty While the act does include the exception in cases that preserve the woman from an imminent peril that substantially endangers her life or health, it does not address rape or incest. This is in my mind an unfortunate flaw. Advertisement Advertisement Wyoming is the fifth stage to enact a heartbeat ban, after Florida, Georgia, Iowa and South Carolina. States with near-total bans on the medical procedure are Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia. This ban is an attack on Wyomingites constitutional freedom to make their own health care decisions, and it puts the health and well-being of our communities at risk, Julie Burkhart, president of Wellspring Health Access, said in a statement obtained by Associated Press, which reported that Burkhart is ready to challenge the ban through legal channels. Gordon acknowledged the bill's litigious future in a post on X, writing, "I share concerns with many others, regrettably, that this Act represents another well-intentioned but likely fragile legal effort with significant risk of ending in the courts rather than in lasting, durable policy. The solution I had hoped for is to put the issue before a vote of the people of Wyoming from whom, according to Article 1 of our Wyoming Constitution, all governmental power derives." Stock image of a woman talking to her doctor Credit: Getty Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Gordon's post continued: "While I support the upright, moral intentions behind HEA 29, I believe this Act very likely puts us back in the all too familiar and unfortunate territory of pro-life litigation. Rather than finding a remedy that saves the unborn, I fear we have only added another chapter to the sad saga of repeatedly trying to force a specific solution that will not uphold the legal scrutiny of the courts." Advertisement Advertisement The state-by-state bans began after Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court decision of 1973 that granted women the right to an abortion in every state, was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022. Read the original article on People A young mother of two has been killed while defending her six-year-old son from three attacking dogs in California. Emily Panuco, 26, from Parker, Arizona, had driven her son across the state line to rural Big River, California, on 27 February so he could see a litter of puppies at her mothers home. The puppies belonged to an abandoned neighbourhood dog that Panucos mom was feeding. According to local authorities, when Panuco's son approached the puppies to pet them, three adult dogs, including the puppys mother, suddenly attacked him. Emily Panuco, who was killed, aged 26, in an attack by three dogs. Seen here with her two children (GoFundMe) Panuco stepped in, putting herself between the animals and her son, and managing to push the boy into the car during the attack. Advertisement Advertisement She somehow got him into the car, and maybe she wasnt able to get in because the car was still running, the door was open, said her motherinlaw, Esther Panuco. I think that was her first instinct, that she didnt even think about what would happen to her, that she needed to save her son, she said. The six-year-old survived the attack with bites to his legs, arms and back. Panuco did not. Her body was discovered by her mother who returned home the following day. Emily Panuco leaves behind her husband, Richie, their sixyearold son and a sevenmonthold baby. (GoFundMe) Her mom is grieving very much too. She found her, she was not home. When she got there later on they had been there for a little while, her mother-in-law said. Advertisement Advertisement The boy witnessed the entire attack, she said. He saw everything, he saw the whole attack." Panuco leaves behind her husband, Richie, their sixyearold son and a sevenmonthold baby. A GoFundMe page set up by relatives describes the family as reeling from the loss and struggling to cover medical bills, funeral costs and the longterm care for the children and specialized therapy for her son after witnessing his mother's death. Richie Panuco is my cousin, and he is facing an unimaginable loss, the statement on the page says. His wife, Emily, tragically passed away after being attacked by dogs while protecting their young son. Advertisement Advertisement Emily worked at the Colorado River Indian Tribes Library, where she was known for her kindness and care for local children and families. Her relatives said her absence has left a tremendous void. Were just trying to get through this heartbreaking time, the GoFundMe statement reads. Every donation, no matter the size, will make a meaningful difference. Local authorities confirmed that the three adult dogs involved in the attack were euthanized. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he does not know what the Hungarian delegation that arrived allegedly to inspect the Druzhba oil pipeline is doing in Ukraine. Source: Zelenskyy before a meeting with Bundestag President Julia Klockner, as quoted by Ukrinform and European Pravda Details: Zelensky said he received information about the visit of the delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "And what is the delegation doing here? I don't know. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs told me that, well, some people arrived. They categorised it as a private trip." Background: Ukraine's Foreign Ministry stated that on the morning of 11 March, a Hungarian "monitoring group" entered the country, though it has no official status or scheduled official meetings. The group of Hungarians led by Gabor Czepek, Hungary's State Secretary of the Ministry of Energy, announced its intention to visit Ukraine to hold talks on restoring the operation of the Druzhba oil pipeline and to inspect its condition. Earlier, Hungary and Slovakia announced plans to send a monitoring mission to the site of the damage to the Druzhba pipeline in the city of Brody in Ukraine's west in order to obtain an expert assessment. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Support Local News Reporting in the Yakima Valley To support timely fact-based Yakima Herald-Republic reporting like the piece above, you can use one of the convenient options below. Donations through this system are tax deductible. Quick Read iShares Poland (EPOL) returned 38.53% past year and 127.78% over 5 years vs Vanguard Europe (VGK) at 20.19% and 60.45%. iShares Poland holds $643M, 0.59% expense ratio, 2.89% yield. iShares Poland captures strong Polish equity returns driven by domestic consumption and institutional credibility from NATO/EU membership. The analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks. Get them here FREE. Most European equity exposure sits in Western Europe: Germany, France, the UK. Poland, the largest economy in Central and Eastern Europe, rarely makes the list. That gap has drawn attention from investors seeking diversification beyond Western Europe. Over the past year, Polish equities have outpaced broad European stocks by a wide margin, and the simplest way for US investors to access that market is through the iShares MSCI Poland ETF (NYSEARCA:EPOL). What EPOL Is Actually Doing in a Portfolio EPOL is a single-country emerging market ETF tracking the MSCI Poland IMI 25/50 Index, which covers large, mid, and small-cap Polish equities. Issued by BlackRock iShares and trading since May 25, 2010, the fund holds $643 million in net assets with an expense ratio of 0.59%. The return engine is straightforward: you are buying into the earnings growth of Polish businesses. Top holdings concentrate in financials, energy, and materials, with PKO Bank Polski, PKN Orlen, KGHM, and Allegro making up a meaningful share. Poland's domestic consumption has been a durable growth driver, and NATO and EU membership provides institutional credibility that many emerging markets lack. The fund also carries a 2.89% dividend yield, adding a modest income component. READ: The analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks The Performance Case Is Hard to Ignore Over the past year, EPOL returned 38.53%, compared to 20.19% for the Vanguard European ETF (NYSEARCA:VGK), which tracks broad developed European markets. Over five years, EPOL is up 127.78%, roughly double VGK's 60.45%. That is a meaningful gap for a country most US investors have never considered. The Tradeoffs Are Real Single-country concentration is the primary risk. Poland represents one economy, one currency, and one geopolitical neighborhood. The Polish Zloty trades at roughly 0.27 USD per PLN today, meaning currency moves directly affect returns for US investors. A strengthening dollar erodes gains even when Polish stocks rise in local terms. Geopolitical proximity to the Russia-Ukraine conflict adds a risk premium that is difficult to quantify but impossible to ignore. Defense spending has surged since 2022, supporting certain sectors while reflecting an elevated threat environment most Western European markets do not carry. Raiffeisen Bank International AG is approaching an agreement to acquire the Romanian operations of Garanti BBVA, reported Bloomberg. The Austrian bank has reportedly proposed a purchase price of about 1.2 times the book value for the unit, which would amount to approximately 550m ($640m) based on last years financial data. Negotiations are said to be well advanced, though there remains a possibility of delays or that the discussions could end without a deal, the sources said. Both BBVA and Raiffeisen have declined to comment. One source told Reuters that paying above book value is unavoidable given the limited number of takeover targets on offer, adding, It's currently a seller's market. Garanti BBVA, listed in Istanbul, stated in a stock exchange filing that it is assessing various possibilities for its assets and subsidiaries and is open to considering offers for a possible transaction, but emphasised that no final decision has been made. At the end of January, Raiffeisen Bank CEO Johann Strobl noted that the bank maintained "a buffer for acquisitions". While he did not address rumours about interest in Garanti BBVA Romania specifically, Strobl commented that several markets are considered appealing by Raiffeisen, with Romania among them. Raiffeisen recently reported a 48% increase in preliminary 2025 consolidated profit, attributed to higher loan growth. The deal would represent a significant development for Raiffeisen following unsuccessful attempts to divest its Russian unit and around 2bn in losses from legal cases related to foreign-currency loans issued by its former Polish business. "Raiffeisen close to acquiring Garanti BBVA Romania " was originally created and published by Retail Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand. By PAMELA JANSSON [email protected] Ironwood Members of the Ironwood City Commission on Monday approved the submission of applications for Congressional Discretionary Spending grants in relation to three pending city projects. City Manager Paul Anderson summarized the targeted projects as follows: 1. The Wells Fargo Affordable Housing Project The city of Ironwood has been in talks with a developer for numerous years to develop 50 units of affordable housing at the old Wells Fargo site owned by the city of Ironwood in downtown Ironwood, said Anderson in a related agenda report. The developer currently has a funding gap of $2.5 million. We have been struggling to figure out how to close that gap, Anderson told commissioners on Monday. Beyond that gap, Anderson noted that, in order for the project to succeed, the city also would need to apply for a $10 million low-income housing tax credit through the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, known by its acronym of MSHDA. 2. Newport Location Water and Sewer Project According to Anderson, the Newport area is compromised by old water mains that are leaky, undersized and galvanized. Moreover, he said, Theres no sewer system in the neighborhood. Instead, he said that each of the 27 households has its own septic system, and some of those are failing. Addressing the project could cost an estimated $1.85 million, and if the city received related CDS funds, they would be contingent upon the citys 20% match of roughly $370,000, which would need to be split from water and sewer funds in a future fiscal year budget. 3. Two or three squad cars for the Ironwood Public Safety Department Anderson said that Tom Bergman, community development director, will work with IPSD Director Matthew Sterbenz to address a related CDS application. According to michigan.gov, the state issues the federal CDS grants for projects such as infrastructure, economic development, public safety, and other community services such as health and education needs. Anderson said that CDS funding recently enabled the city to purchase a state-of-the-art fire truck. He said that submitting an application will not guarantee funding for the desired projects, but added, The answers always no if you dont apply. In other news, commissioners also tabled a request from the citys Human Relations and Equity Committee in relation to a resolution that would allow it to accept donations and to solicit funds. According to Committee Chair Carol Erickson, the committee received an unsolicited donation, which it could not process because no formal policy is now in place. She said that the resolution thereby would make possible an operating budget, which we have not had. I do think we should have a system, said Commissioner Steve Frank, but he added that he is not in favor of committee members engaging in active solicitation. I really dont like that, he said, It puts people on the spot. It puts businesses on the spot. He added that the city should not be putting itself in that position. Yeah, I think it needs a little more work, said Anderson, who noted that he will seek input from the city attorney and from city staff in relation to the resolution language. Commissioners also: Approved Gogebic Countys 2026 County-Wide Early Voting Agreement, along with the designation of Ironwood City Clerk Clerk Jennifer Jacobson as the backup early voting site coordinator. County Clerk Juliane Giackino is the main early voting site coordinator. Early in-person voting was added to Michigan Election Law in 2024 and requires a minimum of nine consecutive in-person voting days prior to all federal and state elections, said Jacobson in a related agenda memo. Early in-person voting is not required in local elections. The law permits jurisdictions to collaborate and operate a single early voting site to reduce individual costs and resources. The early voting agreement will apply to county elections in both August and November. Approved a bid from Bessemer Small Engine for $8,700 per cut for this years lawn mowing of the citys Riverside Cemetery. The approval is limited to six cuts, for a total of $52,200. There were no other bids. Approved a $5,685 bid from Superior Lawn Care LLC of Ironwood for 2026 mowing of city parks. Bessemer Small Engine also submitted a bid for $10,170. Approved a $47,514.75 bid to P.K. Contracting Inc., based in Troy, Michigan, for pavement markings in 2026. Farhrner Asphalt Sealers LLC, based in Plover, Wisconsin, also submitted a bid for $110,049.60. Authorized the Department of Public Works to purchase 700 tons of early salt and 200 tons of back-up salt for the 2026-27 winter season. DPW lead Jason Alonen said this is the standard amount ordered for a normal winter season. Authorized Mayor Kim Corcoran to execute an engineering agreement for Phase 1 of the Water Treatment Project, thereby transferring $1,950.73 to contingency and extending the contract completion date from Aug. 31, 2025, to March 31, 2026. Approved a $22,991.75 package from the U.S. Department of Agricultures Rural Development Pay Package for the Water Treatment Phase 1 Project. Approved a change order increase of $19,425.18 for C.D. Smith Construction Inc. of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, for work on the Water Treatment plant Phase 2 Project. Approved city staff to seek bids for this years asphalt paving and paving work. Approved $37,290 for the purchase of 1.08 acres of property near the former Newport School, along Burt Street, between E. Bundy and Kennedy streets, with the ultimate aim of facilitating a playground in the Jessieville neighborhood. Timothy Patrick is selling the land. Its long been talked about that theres a desire to have a neighborhood playground in this area, said Anderson, who added that commissioners had addressed the issue in a closed session a couple months ago. In a Tuesday email, the city clerk added, A playground in Jessieville was identified as a high priority in both the citys Comprehensive Plan and in the City Commission goals. With Jessieville having limited space that could accommodate a park/playground area, city staff determined this location to be the best viable option for a neighborhood playground. All votes were unanimous with all members present. The commissions next regular meeting will be on March 23 at 6 p.m. in the commission chamber of the Ironwood Memorial Building. Rainbow Rare Earths rises 8% on $916m Brazil project assessment and Mosaic deal Proactive uses images sourced from Shutterstock Rainbow Rare Earths Ltd (LSE:RBW, OTC:RBWRF, FRA:RR1), the LSE-listed critical minerals company, rose 8% to 28p after unveiling a $916 million net present value economic assessment for its Uberaba rare earths project in Brazil and signing a joint development agreement with Mosaic, the New York-listed fertiliser giant. The Uberaba project, located in the Minas Gerais state of Brazil, would extract rare earth elements from phosphogypsum, a waste product generated during phosphoric acid production at Mosaic's existing operations on site, using proprietary processing technology developed by Rainbow. The economic assessment estimates a post-tax internal rate of return of 45%, average annual earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of $217 million over a 30-year mine life, and a capital payback period of just 1.7 years, based on a capital expenditure of $279 million. Rainbow and Mosaic have signed a joint project development agreement to advance a pre-feasibility study, with the intention of establishing a joint venture in which Mosaic would hold 51% and Rainbow 49%, subject to final negotiation of terms. The partners are targeting initial production by 2030, subject to further studies, regulatory approvals and financing. The project mirrors Rainbow's flagship Phalaborwa project in South Africa, which uses the same phosphogypsum processing approach, and the company said lessons learned at Phalaborwa could allow Uberaba to be developed on a faster timeline. George Bennett, chief executive of Rainbow, said Brazil was emerging as a strategically important rare earths hub for the Americas, with strong interest in funding from the United States and allied nations seeking to build supply chain independence from China. The International Energy Agency (IEA) made itself a prime time slot just after the market opening this morning, declaring that its members would release 400 million barrels amid the ongoing conflict in Iran. The proposed release would be the largest ever, larger than the 362 million+ barrel relief that the IEA (180 million) and the U.S. (182 million) jointly delivered in 2022 as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent price shock. Prices promptly surpassed $125/bbl. But despite the announcement, oil prices barely budged. So what's 400 million barrels really? That depends on how quickly the conflict can end. What is the IEA's release? The proposed 400 million barrel release by the IEA is the largest ever, underscoring the seriousness of the situation. It aims to arrest rising oil prices as shipping corridors like the Strait of Hormuz remain shut and the regional conflict ensnares Gulf-era oil producers. At first, the announcement seemed to achieve the desired effect, even without specifics about when the barrels would arrive on the market. Instead, a statement simply read: "The IEA Secretariat will provide further details of how this collective action will be implemented in due course." The release follows Japan's release of 80 million barrels, or 15 days of its oil consumption, from its own strategic reserves, an effort that will begin next week amid the ongoing conflict. More countries are expected to follow with releases of their own. But as soon as it was priced in, the impact of the IEA's 400 million barrel announcement quickly faded, replaced by renewed fears of rising prices and a prolonged conflict in the region. This afternoon, Brent Crude Oil is up 4.81% to $92. Across the pond, U.S. Crude Oil is up 4.73% to $87.40. Both are back above their pre-announcement levels, raising the question: Why isn't the announcement of the largest-ever barrel release holding oil prices in check? Why isn't it moving prices? Even if the conflict ended today, it could take weeks or months to restore order, affecting markets long after missiles or drones stop flying. President Donald Trump initially ignited excitement in the market by saying that the operation in Iran was "very complete, pretty much" on Friday, but most of that excitement has faded as the President's comments have been interpreted to mean at least three more weeks of fighting. And short of a diplomatic offramp, even staffers admit that there's no clear timeline for restoring the region's stability. Related: Will investors fall for anything? As Iran War declared "complete," it threatens to continue, with asterisks With that, nearly a fifth of global oil supplies, at least a third of fertilizer ingredients, and other important industrial compounds remain stuck in place. Rheinmetalls Boom Keeps Rolling, but the Market Wants More - Moby THE GIST Rheinmetall is booming. The German defense giant just laid out another year of explosive growth, highlighted its role in replenishing missile stockpiles drained by the Iran war, and reminded investors that Europes rearmament story is far from over. And yet the shares dropped. That is what happens when a company stops being a defense stock and starts being a defense expectation machine. WHAT HAPPENED Rheinmetall said 2026 sales should rise by 40% to 45% to between 14 billion and 14.5 billion (about $16 billion), with an operating margin of about 19%. The company reported 2025 sales of 9.94 billion, up 29% year over year, while operating profit rose to 1.84 billion and the operating margin reached 18.5%. Those results were solid, but they missed market expectations. Analysts had been looking for revenue closer to 10.5 billion for 2025, and forecasts for 2026 had crept toward 15 billion. The guidance therefore landed slightly light relative to the markets most optimistic estimates. The shares fell following the announcement despite the company reporting a record order backlog of 63.8 billion, up 36% from the previous year. Management used the earnings release to underline how strong demand remains across the defense sector. Rheinmetall said it is in a prime position to help the US replenish missile stockpiles used in the Iran war, particularly through products such as solid rocket motors. The company said higher spending on missile restocking and air defense now appears inevitable. The wars in Ukraine and Iran are both driving demand. Ukraine continues to fuel long-term demand for ammunition, armored vehicles, and artillery systems. The Iran conflict is adding urgency around air defense systems and anti-drone technology. Chief executive Armin Papperger said Rheinmetall systems deployed in the Middle East had already shot down more than 100 drones during a recent weekend, highlighting the growing role of air defense in modern conflicts. The company is also reshaping its business. Rheinmetall plans to sell its civilian automotive division in order to focus fully on defense activities. It is also expanding into naval systems following the acquisition of shipbuilder Naval Vessels Lurssen. Rheinmetall proposed a dividend of 11.50 per share for 2025, up from 8.10 the previous year. WHY IT MATTERS The muted market reaction says less about Rheinmetalls performance and more about how the defense sector has evolved. For the past few years the company has been one of the clearest ways for investors to play Europes sudden shift toward rearmament. After decades of underinvestment, governments are now scrambling to rebuild ammunition stockpiles, upgrade armored forces, and deploy modern air defense systems. Amid growing demand for data centers that can deliver AI compute at scale, Nvidia-backed British AI infrastructure company Nscale is now valued at $14.6 billion. This makes it one of Europes latest decacorns alongside Helsing and Mistral AI. Nscale has bet on vertical integration, from energy and data centers to compute and orchestration software. Its new valuation stems from a $2 billion Series C, which it calls the largest in European history, though the figure includes a $433 million pre-Series C SAFE backed by Blue Owl, Dell, Nvidia and Nokia in October. The raise was supported by Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan, whose involvement has been interpreted as IPO preparation and not without reason: Nscale CEO Josh Payne told The New York Times his company might seek to go public as early as this year to generate more capital. Alongside its funding and plans, the company also announced that former Meta COO Sheryl Sandberg, former Yahoo president Susan Decker, and former U.K. deputy prime minister Nick Clegg are joining its board. Nscale is no newcomer to big rounds and announcements. In September, it announced a $1.1 billion Series B led by Aker. Aker is a public Norwegian company with interests in energy and is also co-leading the Series C alongside New York-based investment firm 8090 Industries. The companies also agreed that Akers joint venture with Nscale will now be fully managed by the startup. Dubbed Stargate Norway, this Norway-based AI infrastructure project has the ambition to run on 100,000 Nvidia GPUs by the end of 2026, with OpenAI as an initial customer. According to Aker president and CEO, yvind Eriksen, who sits on Nscales board, this step strengthens execution by putting delivery and governance under one roof, while keeping continuity for the people and projects already underway. Last October, Nscale also signed an expanded deal with Microsoft to bring approximately 200,000 Nvidia GPUs to three data centers in Europe and one in the U.S., in collaboration with Dell. Dell and Nvidia both participated in the Series C, as did Astra Capital, Citadel, Jane Street, Lenovo, Linden Advisors, Nokia, and Point72. Nscale expects the new funding to accelerate the development of its AI infrastructure across Europe, North America, and Asia, while helping the company expand its engineering and operations teams, and strengthen its platform. Equity aside, the company also raised debt last month, with a $1.4 billion delayed draw term loan backed by GPUs to finance some of its clusters across Europe. It aims to harness rising enterprise demand and low-cost renewable energy while renewing its pledge to reuse waste heat, develop local skills, and invest in regional infrastructure as part of Stargate Norway. Amin Nasser is the chief of Saudi Aramco, the worlds largest oil producer and the Saudi states main revenue source - Iran-Crisis/Aramco/Reuters Saudi Arabia will be able to resume the majority of its oil exports within days, the boss of state-owned oil giant Saudi Aramco has said. Amin Nasser said the company was working to redirect shipments via a pipeline to ports on the Red Sea. This would allow it to sidestep a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical choke point for global supplies of oil and natural gas. Mr Nasser said: Immediately as the ports were starting to close, we ramped up production through the East-West Pipeline, which has a capacity up to seven million barrels a day, most of it for export. Approximately two million barrels of that will be utilised supplying existing refineries in the western regions, which also export some of the products to the global market. We are ramping up. We should be reaching capacity in a couple of days. The comments suggest at least five million barrels a day will soon hit the market, meaning Saudi Arabia will be able to resume about 70pc of its oil exports. Aramco, which is the worlds largest oil producer and the primary source of revenue for the Saudi state, exported roughly seven million barrels a day prior to the crisis. Mr Nasser said flows were pending an availability of vessels which are currently en route. He added that the company was restarting production at its Ras Tanura refinery after it was targeted in a drone attack last week. Nevertheless, Mr Nasser warned the Iran war could have catastrophic consequences for global oil markets. The Aramco chief said the conflict was the biggest crisis the regions oil and gas industry has faced after supplies were squeezed and global storage levels fell to their lowest level in five years. Mr Nasser said: If this disruption goes on longer, we will see faster drawdowns. There would be catastrophic consequences for the worlds oil market, and even more drastic consequences for the global economy. He warned of a drastic domino effect for the global economy as reduced oil production drives up prices. This risks hammering sectors such as aviation, agriculture and car manufacturing. Mr Nasser added: Spare oil output capacity is mostly concentrated in this region, so shipping resuming in the Strait of Hormuz is absolutely critical. Energy markets have been thrown into turmoil after the US and Israeli strikes on Iran led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Credit: Marine Traffic Aramco has already begun cutting output at two of its key oil fields, and the countrys output has reportedly fallen by as much as 2.5 million barrels daily. Neighbouring Gulf countries, including the UAE and Kuwait, have also begun to cut output or declared force majeure on oil shipments as a result of the conflict. President Donald Trump announced Monday that the war in Iran would be over very soon, and that oil tankers would be given special U.S. Navy escorts to navigate between the Persian Gulf and global oceans. With gasoline prices and energy inflation already ticking up around the world, the speedy resumption of global petroleum trade has become a matter of urgency for the global economy, according to the worlds largest oil and gas company. The widening conflict in the Middle East has all but immobilized the fossil fuel trade stemming from the region over the past 10 days. Attacks targeting vessels and energy production infrastructure have discouraged most exporters from venturing through the Strait of Hormuz, eliminating up to 20% of traded petroleum from global markets. Trump suggested the war involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran could end soon after speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he had a very good call and that Putin wanted to be helpful in resolving the conflict. Trump told reporters the military campaign was progressing rapidly and described it as a short-term excursion, adding that the war could be over very soon. However, later the same day, he struck a more cautious tone, telling Republican lawmakers that the fight was not finished and vowing that the U.S. would continue military pressure until Irans leadership and military capabilities were fully defeated. The mixed messages reflected uncertainty about the wars timeline even as markets reacted to his earlier suggestion that the conflict might be nearing its end. Global energy markets reel A prolonged closure of the Strait has become a distinct risk over the past few days, raising questions as to how global energy markets and economies would cope. There would be catastrophic consequences for the worlds oil and markets the longer the disruption goes on, and the more drastic the consequences for the global economy, Amin Nasser, CEO of Saudi Aramco, said during the companys quarterly earnings call Tuesday. Aramco is Saudi Arabias majority state-owned petroleum and gas company, and the worlds largest fossil fuel producer. The company, like all exporters operating in the Gulf, has been hit hard by the Straits closure. On Monday, Aramco began cutting production across multiple oil fields before reaching storage capacity, joining producers in Iraq, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates who have done the same. Oil prices have been on a wild ride over the past week. The global Brent crude benchmark surged past $100 a barrel over the weekend as fears mounted that a protracted conflict in the Middle East was in the offing, and scraped $120 on Monday, its highest level since 2022. Prices retreated sharply on Tuesday in the aftermath of Trumps comments promising a swift end to the war to around $90 a barrel. Shell plc (NYSE: SHEL) has agreed to sell Jiffy Lube International and its subsidiary Premium Velocity Auto (PVA) to an affiliate of Monomoy Capital Partners for $1.3 billion, marking a strategic exit from the U.S. quick-lube service business while maintaining its core lubricants brands. The transaction, announced Monday, involves Pennzoil Quaker State CompanyShells U.S. lubricants subsidiarydivesting the Jiffy Lube brand and its network of franchised automotive service centers. The deal also includes the sale of Premium Velocity Auto, the second-largest Jiffy Lube franchisee, which operates more than 360 locations across 20 U.S. states. As part of the agreement, Shell will enter into a long-term lubricants supply arrangement with Monomoy, ensuring that Jiffy Lube locations continue to use Shell products after the sale. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. The $1.3 billion divestment enables Shell to monetize a non-core retail service business while preserving demand for its lubricant brands through a supply agreement with the new owner. Shell executives said the move aligns with the companys broader effort to optimize its downstream portfolio and allocate capital toward higher-return opportunities. By capitalizing on a strong market opportunity, this divestment allows us to monetize an asset that is not central to Shells lubricants portfolio in the U.S. and reinvest in opportunities that generate higher returns, said Machteld de Haan, President of Downstream, Renewables and Energy Solutions at Shell. Shell will retain ownership of its core lubricant brandsincluding Pennzoil, Quaker State, Rotella, and other Shell-branded productsalong with manufacturing, marketing, and distribution operations across the U.S. and Canada. These businesses supply consumer, commercial, and industrial lubricant markets. Jiffy Lube has been part of Shells lubricant operations in the United States for more than two decades. The brand operates over 2,000 service centers across the U.S., with additional licensees in Canada, offering oil changes, lubrication services, and light automotive repairs for cars and light trucks. According to Shell, Jiffy Lube accounts for roughly 6.5% of the companys total lubricants volume in the U.S. and Canada. Premium Velocity Auto, included in the sale, is one of the largest operators within the franchise network, running hundreds of service centers under the Jiffy Lube brand. This story was originally published on Payments Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Payments Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Payment processor Shift4 said Monday that it has promoted two executives from Global Blue, the European tech company it acquired last year, into leadership positions. Members of Global Blue's leadership team will now serve as president of Shift4s international division and as the companys chief accounting officer. Pier Francesco Nervini is the new president of Shift4s international division while Filippos Mintiloglitis is chief accounting officer, Shift4 said in a Monday news release. The Allentown, Pennsylvania-based company also promoted Timothy Goodwin, naming him as chief payments officer a newly created position. Dive Insight: Shift4 bought the Swiss payments technology company Global Blue in July for $1.5 billion. Nervini joined Global Blue in 2014 and most recently served as head of accounts and head of commercial for Northern Europe. In his new role, Nervini will be responsible for all commercial and go-to-market efforts outside of the Americas," Monday's news release said. Nervini replaces Jacques Stern, a Shift4 spokesperson said in an email. Stern is Global Blues former chief executive. The spokesperson did not immediately say if Stern left the company or moved to a different role. As chief payments officer, Goodwin, "is now responsible for all payment technology including the companys gateway and processing platforms globally," the release said. Shift4 hired Goodwin who has worked in the payments industry for two decades as a senior vice president of product last year. Before joining the company, he most recently worked as chief product and technology officer for Planet Payments. Mintiloglitis was head of global external reporting for Global Blue, and he replaces Jay Whalen, who is leaving Shift4 to join a non-competitive company, Mondays release said. We are happy to congratulate Pier and Tim on their new roles and thank Jay for the strong foundation he has built within our finance organization, Shift4 CEO Taylor Lauber said in the release. Recommended Reading Silicon Valley Piles $4 Billion into Anduril As Iran War Drags - Moby BREAKING NEWS Silicon Valley is pouring billions into defense-tech firm Anduril as the Iran War drags on for another week. Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), founded by Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz well-known supporters of President Trump and lovers of super-exclusive Telegram group chats announced talks to raise an additional $4 billion for the company alongside Thrive Capital. The investment puts Andurils valuation at a whopping $60 billion. This is the same Thrive Capital, founded and managed by the one and only Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, who recently met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Those talks, clearly, didnt go so well. Jared is also close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu through his father, Charles Kushner, a wealthy New Jersey real-estate developer and major donor to pro-Israel causes. Anduril specializes in everything from autonomous weapons systems to AI-powered surveillance networks. a16z invested $41 million in their Series B back in September 2019 at a $1 billion valuation, and followed on with another six investments, including their latest. This is Thrives first known direct investment, but Andurils backers include Thrive compatriots like Peter Thiels Founders Fund, General Catalyst, and investor Elad Gil all of which have joined Thrive in venture rounds. 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. In other words, these guys know each other and are part of a tight syndicate that gets ahead by sharing the one edge every VC needs to succeedinformation. And sll these late stage venture firms investing at the same time means that an IPO might be coming soon for Anduril. But dont take our word for it. Palmer Luckey, the man who refuses to buy a pair of closed-toe shoes and cant stay out of the Margaritaville gift shop, said last summer that, Anduril will definitely go public. Many industry analysts and internal indicators point to an IPO between late 2026 and 2027. This makes sense, because the war profiteer business is booming. Anduril expects to nearly double revenue to $4.3 billion in 2026, up from an estimated $2 billion in last year, per The Information. That figure tracks with a Reuters report from March 3 stating that Trump met with U.S. defense executives due to "significantly depleted U.S. weapons stocks" a moment Anduril and its long list of investors have been waiting for. One stock. Nvidia-level potential. 30M+ investors trust Moby to find it first. Get the pick. Tap here. Slate Auto, the electric vehicle startup backed by Jeff Bezos, has replaced its CEO months ahead of the launch of its affordable electric truck. Former Amazon Marketplace vice president Peter Faricy is the new person in charge of the company, and he started on Monday, Slate spokesperson Jeff Jablansky told TechCrunch. Most recently, Faricy had been an adviser at McKinsey and Bessemer Venture Partners. Faricy left the role at Bessemer to join Slate, according to Newsweek, which first reported the hire. Slate Autos first CEO, longtime Chrysler veteran Christine Barman, is now the President of Vehicles, according to Jablansky. Barman was Slates first hire. The company was still a secretive project called Re:Car that was started inside a manufacturing incubator based in Massachusetts called Re:Build Manufacturing, as TechCrunch first revealed last year. Barman stood out not only because she was one of only two women CEOs running a U.S. automaker, but also because she had become the face of the company since it emerged from stealth in April 2025. She was featured in many of the promotional videos Slate has produced in the past year, including one last month where she teased that the company would finally reveal the price of its basic electric truck in June. In her new role, Barman is going to do everything we need to deliver its truck on time and on budget, according to Jablansky. The company, which has raised around $700 million from Bezos and other wealthy backers, at one point promoted that its electric truck would start at under $20,000 before Congress and the Trump administration took away the federal EV tax credit. Its now targeting the mid-$20,000 range for the starting price of its truck. Buyers will be able to customize it in all kinds of ways, including converting it into an SUV, for more money. Faricy has become CEO at a time when Slate is about to start converting its list of refundable preorders which now has about 160,000 people into vehicle orders, according to Jablansky. Peters experience building Amazon Marketplace was really critical for us, Jablansky said. Changing CEOs so early in the companys history may come as a shock, although its not surprising that the company tapped a former Amazon executive. Bezos helped fund the startup, as did former Amazon executive Diego Piacentini. Bezos family office head has a board seat. One of Slates co-founders is Jeff Wilke, who used to be the Amazon Consumer CEO. And the heads of Slates mobility, UX/UI, e-commerce, fleet sales, and HR teams all used to work at Amazon. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Smile Doctors is weighing a refinancing of roughly $2 billion in debt as the orthodontics-focused dental company explores ways to potentially reduce borrowing costs, according to people familiar with the matter. The company has hired Barclays to lead discussions around a possible transaction in the US leveraged loan market, a move that could allow the debt to be sold to a broader pool of investors. The existing loans were provided by several private lenders, including Blackstone (NYSE:BX) and Antares, according to information compiled by Bloomberg. Those loans currently carry interest at 5.75 percentage points over the Federal Reserve's secured overnight financing rate benchmark. People familiar with the discussions indicated the company may be able to lower its borrowing costs if the debt is refinanced through a wider investor base. The current debt package financed an investment by Thomas H. Lee Partners in January 2022, while Linden Capital Partners acquired a majority stake in Smile Doctors in 2017. Talks with investors are still at an early stage and a refinancing may not materialize. The discussions are unfolding during a period of heightened volatility in credit markets tied to conflict in the Middle East, though the company is not facing immediate pressure to act because the existing loans do not mature until 2028. (Photo: Mischa Keijser/Getty Images) New solar power installations declined significantly in Nevada last year, as the Trump administration prioritized boosting fossil fuels and implemented policies limiting the growth of renewable energy, according to an industry report released on Tuesday. Nevada ranked 27th in the United States for solar installation last year, a dramatic fall from ranking among the top ten in 2023 and 2024, according to the report and data published by the Solar Energy Industries Association and Wood Mackenzie, an energy research firm. Despite the fall in new solar power installations in 2025, Nevada still ranks sixth in the nation in total solar capacity producing 8.2 gigawatts of solar energy or enough to power 1.4 million homes annually. Solar energy also maintained its position as the largest source of new electricity generation added to the electric grid in Nevada and across the United States in 2025, despite setbacks induced by recent policy decisions under the Trump administration. Nevada has leaned into solar energy in recent years, generating nearly one-third of its electricity from solar thanks to the abundance of sunshine and public land in the state. Since 2016, the share of Nevadas in-state electricity generation from all solar sources has more than tripled. Nevada also ranks fourth in the nation in battery storage capacity, with over 6.3 gigawatt-hours of storage capacity installed. However, recent federal actions targeting clean energy could halt as many as 10 solar and storage projects on federal and private lands, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. Those projects represent nearly 95% of all planned new power in the state. In July the Trump administration mandated that all solar and wind energy projects on public lands be personally approved by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, a threshold that Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo said has stalled several solar projects in the state. Solar power installations also declined nationally last year, decreasing by 14% compared to 2024, the report said. Solar still accounted for more than half of all new electricity generation added to the electric grid nationally in 2025, installing 43.2 gigawatts of new capacity last year. According to the report, tariff-related expenses and the reversal of renewable energy tax credit policy were among factors leading to delays and cancellations across all solar energy segments. The biggest decline came from community solar installations, which declined by 25% from 2024. In Nevada, the Trump administration froze $156 million grant funding under the Solar for All program, which would have financed community solar projects that would benefit low-income households. MILAN, March 11 (Reuters) - Stellantis said on Wednesday it has priced a multi-tranche 5 billion euro ($5.8 billion) equivalent hybrid bond offering, tapping capital markets weeks after it announced multi-billion charges in a major reset of its electric vehicle strategy. The automaker announced last month it was taking 22.2 billion euros in impairments after rolling back its electric-vehicle (EV) push, a shift CEO Antonio Filosa attributed to overestimating how quickly customers would switch to cleaner driving. As part of the move, Stellantis announced it would issue up to 5 billion euros in non-convertible subordinated perpetual hybrid bonds to help it preserve a strong balance sheet and available liquidity. Stellantis said on Wednesday the bond offering - which was executed on Tuesday - consisted of three tranches: 2.2 billion euros in perpetual fixedrate resettable notes with a 5.25-year non-call period and a 6.25% coupon; 1.8 billion in perpetual notes with an 8-year non-call period and a 6.875% coupon; 865 million pounds ($1.16 billion) in perpetual notes with a 6.5year non-call period initially paying an 8.25% coupon. "This issuance will further strengthen Stellantis' capital structure and liquidity position," the Jeep-to-Peugeot maker said in a statement. The notes settlement is expected on March 16. The automaker, whose brands also include Ram, Chrysler, Fiat and Citroen, is shifting to put greater emphasis on hybrid and internal combustion models - versus former CEO Carlos Tavares' EV-centred strategy - arguing demand for fully electric vehicles has lagged earlier projections, particularly in the United States. Stellantis will present its new long-term business plan on May 21. ($1 = 0.8595 euros) ($1 = 0.7441 pounds) (Reporting by Giulio PiovaccariEditing by Keith Weir) May NY world sugar #11 (SBK26) is up +0.47 (+3.33%), and May London ICE white sugar #5 (SWK26) is up +5.70 (+1.38%). Sugar prices continued higher today on the fresh surge in oil prices seen after Israel bombed 30 oil depots in Iran. The rally in oil prices benefits ethanol prices, encouraging the world's sugar mills to divert more cane crushing toward ethanol production rather than sugar, thereby curbing sugar supplies. More News from Barchart On February 12, sugar prices plunged to 5.25-year nearest-futures lows on concern that a global sugar surplus will persist. On February 11, analysts from sugar trader Czarnikow said they expect a global sugar surplus of 3.4 MMT in the 2026/27 crop year, following an 8.3 MMT surplus in 2025/26. Also, Green Pool Commodity Specialists said on January 29 that they expect a 2.74 MMT global sugar surplus for 2025/26 and a 156,000 MT surplus for 2026/27. Meanwhile, StoneX said February 13 that it expects a global sugar surplus of 2.9 MMT in 2025/26. The International Sugar Organization (ISO) on February 27 forecasted a +1.22 MMT (million metric ton) sugar surplus in 2025-26, below an earlier projection of +1.63 AMMT. That follows a -3.46 MMT deficit in 2024-25. ISO said the surplus is being driven by increased sugar production in India, Thailand, and Pakistan. ISO is forecasting a +3.0% y/y rise in global sugar production to 181.3 million MMT in 2025-26. Signs of lower sugar output in Brazil are supportive of sugar prices, after Unica on February 18 reported that sugar production in Brazil's Center-South in the second half of January fell by -36% y/y to only 5,000 MT. However, cumulative 2025-26 Center-South sugar output through January is up by +0.9% y/y to 40.24 MMT. Also, the ratio of cane crushed for sugar rose to 50.74% in 2025/26 from 48.14% in 2024/25. The Indian Sugar and Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) reported on March 6 that India's 2025-26 sugar output from Oct 1-Feb 28 was up +12% y/y to 24.75 MMT. Last Wednesday, the ISMA projected India's 2025/26 sugar production at 29.3 MMT, up 12% y/y, below an earlier projection of 30.95 MMT. The ISMA also cut its estimate for sugar used for ethanol production in India to 3.4 MMT from a July forecast of 5 MMT, which may allow India to boost its sugar exports. India is the world's second-largest sugar producer. It has been more than four years since fast-casual restaurant chain Sweetgreen (NYSE: SG) went public in November 2021. While the company looked to be a promising investment at the time, by focusing on green and healthy meals, it didn't take long for it to fall out of favor with investors. Since going public, Sweetgreen's stock has lost close to 90% of its value. While the stock did experience a resurgence in 2024, it has found its way back into the abyss, with investors feeling more bearish than ever about the business. Sweetgreen is coming off a tough year, and unfortunately, it expects more challenges ahead. Is there so much bearishness priced into its valuation that it can arguably make for a good contrarian buy, or is this simply a risky growth stock you should avoid? 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. Sweetgreen is struggling to grow sales Last month, Sweetgreen reported its latest quarterly earnings numbers, which were troubling. And its guidance wasn't encouraging, either. For the three-month period ending Dec. 28, 2025, the company's revenue declined by roughly 4%, to $155.2 million. Its same-store sales, which include only stores that were open a year ago, were down by nearly 12% as traffic was down significantly. To make matters worse, Sweetgreen anticipates a further decline in same-store sales this year, projecting a 2% to 4% decline in 2026. The company is, however, working on ways to try to reenergize its growth by testing out the success of wrap sandwiches, and it plans to improve checkout times. Is the stock too risky to buy? Sweetgreen has positioned itself as a healthy food option for consumers, but the problem is that the company's salads are proving to be far too expensive. There's no shortage of social media posts complaining about the company's high-priced salads, which can exceed $20. At a time when consumers are looking to save money on eating out, Sweetgreen's business is finding it difficult to prove to customers that it offers value. This year, the restaurant stock is down 11%, and that's after an already brutal 2025, when it declined by an incredible 79%. Things are going from bad to worse for Sweetgreen stock, with the only saving grace being potentially that, at this point, a ton of bearishness is already factored into its share price. I wouldn't, however, suggest buying the stock even though it may seem cheap. Sweetgreen has an uphill battle ahead to prove to consumers that it does provide good value, because right now, the results appear to suggest otherwise. I'd take a wait-and-see approach with the stock, as it does look far too risky to own, even at its reduced valuation. The company reported a net loss of $29 million for the first quarter of 2026, although this was an improvement from the previous year's loss. The suspension of flights to Cuba due to fuel shortages is anticipated to impact second-quarter results, as Cuba represented 10% of winter season capacity. Four aircraft were grounded in the first quarter due to ongoing GTF engine issues, with full resolution not expected until 2027 or 2028. The launch of a new loyalty program in partnership with Desjardins Group and Visa is expected to create a new recurring revenue stream and strengthen customer engagement. Transat AT Inc ( TRZBF ) expanded its network with new destinations, contributing positively to overall performance and supporting a balanced demand profile. Transat AT Inc ( TRZBF ) reported a 5% increase in revenue to $871 million for the first quarter of 2026, despite disruptions from Hurricane Melissa. Story Continues Q & A Highlights Q: Can you provide more details on your fuel hedging strategy and how it protects against price increases? A: Jean-Francois Pruneau, Chief Financial Officer, explained that more than half of their fuel consumption for the second quarter is hedged, providing protection against price increases. However, he did not disclose specific levels at which they are hedged. The hedging strategy is aligned with booking patterns to mitigate fuel price spikes effectively. Q: What benefits do you expect from the new loyalty program, and when will it be implemented? A: Annick Guerard, President and CEO, stated that the loyalty program, developed in partnership with Desjardins and Visa, is expected to launch in the second half of 2026. It aims to create a new recurring revenue stream, improve revenue quality, and drive higher load factors. The program is designed to capture a 4-5% market share that Transat currently misses due to the absence of a loyalty program. Q: How is Transat managing the impact of geopolitical issues and operational disruptions on bookings? A: Annick Guerard noted that while geopolitical issues like the situation in Cuba and operational disruptions in Puerto Vallarta have affected consumer confidence, demand remains strong in Europe and other sun destinations. Transat is redeploying capacity to destinations like the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica to mitigate impacts. Q: What are the expectations for capital expenditures in fiscal 2026 and 2027? A: Jean-Francois Pruneau indicated that while Q1 2026 CapEx was lower due to timing issues, there will be a catch-up, aligning with their full-year expectations. It is too early to provide specific guidance for fiscal 2027. Q: How much progress has been made on the $100 million elevation program, and is there potential for upside? A: Jean-Francois Pruneau confirmed that they are on track to achieve the $100 million target by mid-2026, with approximately $70 million already realized. Annick Guerard added that they continue to explore new initiatives for cost savings and revenue generation, suggesting potential upside. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. During the last four months of 2025, South Carolinians found it more difficult to find work than in recent years, with the unemployment rate rising to 4.8% in December, above the national average of 4.4%. The state saw a loss of 5,900 net payroll jobs, as reported by the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce. Executive Director William Floyd attributed the rise in the unemployment rate primarily to a significant influx of new entrants into the labor force, rather than just layoffs. Three months into 2026, the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the U.S. economy's total nonfarm payroll unexpectedly dropped 92,000 jobs in February, with the unemployment rate holding steady at the national average of 4.4%. Employment in the health care, information, and federal government sectors continues to trend down, contributing to the overall decline in job numbers, while 7.6 million Americans remain unemployed, highlighting ongoing difficulties in the labor market nationwide. Here's a closer look at what is happening with the job market in South Carolina. How much did South Carolina's labor force grow? The Palmetto State labor force grew by 64,500 individuals over the past year, with December 2025 estimates to be 2,614,214. This increase is attributed to the states population growth, according to the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce. Can South Carolina's growing population fuel the labor market? As reported by the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce, population growth has major implications for the labor market, as it leads to new entries into the labor force and increases demand for goods and services. However, the effects arent spread equally across the state, and some regions feel pressure in their labor markets more acutely than others. Between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025, South Carolinas population increased by nearly 80,000 people and grew at a rate of 1.5%, faster than any other state in the country, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The primary driver of recent population growth was domestic migration. From July 2024 to July 2025, South Carolina netted 66,622 domestic migrants, meaning 66,622 more people moved into the state than out of it. Overall, South Carolinas population continues to grow rapidly, largely due to migration from other states. Whether recently relocated or a lifelong resident, South Carolina offers a diverse range of job opportunities across various industries. SC leads nation in annual GDP growth Two essential indicators of economic health are gross domestic product and personal income. Job growth and increased GDP have been steady across most industries, according to the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce. Uniper Starts Paying Again as Berlin Eyes the Exit - Moby THE GIST Uniper is doing something normal again. It is paying a dividend. For most companies, that barely counts as news. For a business that had to be rescued by the German state when Europes gas market blew up, its a signal that the emergency phase is ending and the long march back to the stock market is getting real. WHAT HAPPENED Uniper, a German energy multinational, said it will propose a dividend of 0.72 (about 83 cents) a share for 2025, its first payout in four years and worth about 300 million in total. Because the German government still owns 99.12% of the company, Berlin will collect almost all of it. The company also forecast 2026 adjusted EBITDA of 1 billion to 1.3 billion, broadly in line with the 1.1 billion it delivered in 2025. Adjusted net income is expected at 350 million to 600 million, compared with 544 million last year. Those 2025 results were well below the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA fell from 2.6 billion in 2024, while adjusted net income dropped from 1.65 billion. But management said that decline was expected and reflected a more normalized earnings base after the extreme distortions of the gas crisis era. The dividend ban imposed as part of Germanys 2022 rescue was lifted at the end of 2025. That reopened the door to shareholder payouts and marked another step in Unipers effort to become viable for capital markets again. That matters because Berlin cannot stay in control forever. Under EU state-aid rules tied to the bailout, Germany must reduce its stake to 25% plus one share by the end of 2028. That means either a sale, a re-listing, or some mix of the two. Uniper also said it plans to invest around 5 billion through 2030, with more than half going into Germany. A large share of that will go toward hydrogen-ready gas-fired power plants, including roughly 2 gigawatts planned at Gelsenkirchen and Staudinger. WHY IT MATTERS This is not really a dividend story. It is a rehab story. 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. Back in 2022, Uniper became the poster child for Europes energy panic. Russia cut gas supplies, replacement fuel had to be bought at painful prices, and Berlin stepped in with a bailout big enough to all but nationalize the company. It was one of those moments when the phrase too important to fail stopped sounding theoretical. Now the state is no longer just the rescuer. It is the giant shareholder trying to figure out how to leave. That is why the dividend matters. Not because 300 million is some spectacular payout, but because it makes Uniper look like a normal listed company again. Dividends are boring. In this case, boring is the whole point. Management is trying to show that the company has moved past survival mode and into something steadier, more predictable, and more investable. This story was originally published on Supply Chain Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Supply Chain Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Clothing retailer Urban Outfitters Inc. is moving forward with the second phase of its logistics investments into its rental brand Nuuly. The investments are taking place at Nuuly's facility in Kansas City, Missouri area, which began operations in February 2024. Urban Outfitters had previously announced a $60 million, five-year plan to build out the facility. With revenue growth driven by an increase in subscribers, the logistics investments will help expand capacity, Francis Conforti, COO and co-president, said during a Q4 earnings call. Dive Insight: With Urban Outfitters building out the second phase of its automation at its Kansas City-area facility, it expects to see benefits in delivery and logistics, Conforti said during the Feb. 28 call. The Nuuly brand saw revenue grow by 43%,driven by a 40% increase in average active subscribers in Q4 compared to the year prior, Conforti told analysts. It also saw operating margin improvement, which was fueled by efficiencies in logistics and the "natural leverage of our operating expenses against strong revenue growth, he said. With its fiscal year 2027 capital expenditures of approximately $385 million, 40% of that sum will go toward logistics investments, CFO Melanie Marein-Efron said in the call. "The logistics investments are to expand our capacity and automation in both the subscription and Retail segment businesses," Marein-Efron said. Although the company did not specify what the automation would focus on, Senior Director of Fulfillment Tony Coccerino told Supply Chain Dive it was planning to add sortation technology in 2025, per a 2024 email. Other retailers are also leaning on automation in their supply chains. For Walmarts capital investment strategy, the retail giant's spending includes retrofitting some of its distribution centers with automation, President and CEO John Furner said in a recent earnings call last month. But even small businesses are increasingly finding ways to deploy technology, thanks to solutions such as subscription service models and artificial intelligence, experts have noted. Correction: This story has been corrected to reflect Urban Outfitters Inc.s official company name. Recommended Reading Tariff revenue totaling $26.59 billion came into US coffers in February, marking another monthly decline as the US Supreme Court struck down the lion's share of President Trump's tariffs. The Treasury Department's monthly statement for February, released on Wednesday, followed a January tariff revenue reading of $27.74 billion. Wednesday's release also showed that the US ran an overall deficit of more than $1 trillion between October and February the first five months of the fiscal year. On tariff revenues, the release marks the fourth straight monthly decline after Trump dialed back key tariffs last November. Monthly tariff revenue peaked in October at $31.35 billion. The latest release covered the month of the Supreme Court's Feb. 20 decision striking down the tariffs imposed under a 1977 law called the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Trump immediately moved to replace those tariffs by announcing 10% global duties for 150 days using a different authority: Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act. The president has also pledged to raise those duties to 15% but has not yet followed through. The White House has also launched efforts to make new permanent tariffs after the Section 122 tariffs expire, seeking to implement them under different authorities. Read more: 5 ways to tariff-proof your finances President Trump speaks with reporters on the South Lawn of the White House on Wednesday before departing on a trip to Kentucky and Ohio. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) Tom Williams via Getty Images The US government continues to run massive deficits, the report showed, including $308 billion in February alone, which far outstripped tariff revenues despite Trump's frequent claims that tariffs are balancing the budget. All told, tariffs have brought in about $144 billion so far this fiscal year. Ongoing questions of tariff refunds The final tally of tariff revenue is far from certain because of ongoing lawsuits by companies seeking refunds on the IEEPA tariffs. The Supreme Court didn't specify if refunds would be required. The US Court of International Trade recently said the government must issue refunds for all illegally collected tariffs. The administration has delayed action, while about $166 billion in IEEPA revenue collected since Trump's return to office remains up in the air. The new data also comes as Trump is trying to refocus his message on affordability with a visit to Ohio and Kentucky on Wednesday afternoon to tout his economic wins and his tariffs. He posted to Truth Social that he would visit a business that is expanding, he said, "because of my America First Trade Policies, most specifically TARIFFS." Yet both states have felt the negative effect of tariffs, with Kentucky even joining a recent multistate lawsuit seeking to strike down Trump's pivot to Section 122 tariffs. Vitestro has raised $70m to advance development and broaden the commercialisation of its autonomous blood-drawing robot. The Dutch companys oversubscribed Series B financing round saw a mix of strategic and financial investment from new participants including Mayo Clinic, Sutter Health, Puma Venture Capital, and ROM Ultrecht. Existing investors including NYBC Ventures and Sonder Capital also participated. Vitestros Aletta Autonomous Robotic Phlebotomy Device (ARPD) is a robotic system for autonomous diagnostic blood collection. Combining multimodal imaging and artificial intelligence (AI), the venepuncture system is designed to alleviate staffing pressures and improve patient experience in clinical settings. ARPD obtained a European CE mark in August 2024, becoming the first robotic system of its kind to receive this designation. Vitestro began deploying the system in a limited range of healthcare settings across Europe in March 2025. Vitestro said the latest funds will support ARPDs US regulatory clearance via the US Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) de novo pathway and advance global commercial edicts such as manufacturing scale and infrastructural development. Vitestros ADOPT pivotal trial (NCT05878483) of ARPD completed in July 2025, as per the studys entry on Clinicaltrials.gov. While full results of this study have not yet been released, interim data released in May 2024 revealed that ARPD met its primary endpoint by achieving 95% first-stick success, comparable to manual venipuncture first-stick success rates of 93-97%, as per the company. First-stick success refers to the clinical achievement of successfully performing a blood draw on the first attempt. On the developmental front, Vitestro added that the latest funding will be used to advance ARPDs technical capabilities and integration into existing technology infrastructure. Vitestros CEO, Toon Overbeeke said: "Closing our Series B financing reflects strong conviction in our mission to establish a new standard in autonomous robotic venous access and diagnostic blood collection. "Our technology has evolved from a novel vision into a clinically validated reality, and we are grateful for the support of this distinguished syndicate of strategic, healthcare, and life science investors as we move toward broad clinical adoption. In the healthcare space, robotic systems are predominantly used in surgical procedures. According to GlobalData analysis, the robotic surgery market is growing at a CAGR of 5.6% and is projected to reach a valuation of around $17.3bn in 2035. However, Vitestros fundraise reflects investor confidence in the use of robotics in further clinical workflows. The situation in the Middle East is getting more expensive for the rest of the world. After Iran elected Mojtaba Khamenei the son of their former leader oil prices climbed above $100 a barrel. While the White House has used strong words in response, the stock market hasn't fallen apart yet. Most investors are holding onto a specific timeline. U.S. President Donald Trump suggested the military action would last about four or five weeks. Because of this, many people on Wall Street are making a bet they call "TACO," which stands for "Trump Always Chickens Out." Related: Trump says Iran war Is 'pretty much over' but night traders arent convinced They believe President Trump will eventually back down or make a quick deal, just as he has done before with trade taxes and foreign policy. However, this outlook faces new pressure as Iran begins laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz. This critical chokepoint carries one-fifth of the worlds crude oil, and intelligence reports suggest a few dozen mines have already been placed. While the activity is not yet extensive, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) still holds up to 90% of its mine-laying boats and could feasibly deploy hundreds more in the channel now described as a death valley. On Tuesday, March 10, President Donald Trump demanded on Truth Social that any mines be removed IMMEDIATELY. He warned that if they are not cleared forthwith, Iran will face military consequences at a level never seen before. Although US officials confirmed the Navy has not yet escorted vessels through the closed strait, the President noted that removing the mines would be a giant step in the right direction. Popular on TheStreet Roundtable: Buying the dip For some investors, this conflict looks like a "buy-the-dip" opportunity. This means they buy stocks while people are panicking and prices are low, hoping that everything will return to normal in a month. However, Jacob Manoukian, a top strategist at JPMorgan Private Bank, says this is a complicated move. In an interview with Fortune, he explained that while a deal is possible, these global events can take unpredictable turns. As a strategist, the risk case that were worried about is that theres a lot of potential paths that this can take, that are out of the control of one party or another, Manoukian said. He warned that Wall Street is trying to figure out a situation where nobody is quite sure how things will end. With Nvidia's (NVDA) annual GPU Technology Conference (GTC) just days away, Wells Fargo is sending a clear message to investors: Do not wait. Analyst Aaron Rakers, who ranks in the top 1% of Wall Street analysts by performance, reiterated his overweight rating on Nvidia shares this week and maintained his $265 target. With the stock trading around $178, that implies roughly 49% upside from current levels. His message to investors was direct: "We're NVDA buyers ahead of the event." GTC 2026 runs March 16 through 19 in San Jose. It is not just a product showcase. Historically, it has been a reliable stock catalyst. Nvidia has outperformed the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index by about 30% in the three months following GTC, according to Rakers, with individual-year gains ranging from roughly 12% to 45%. What Rakers is watching at GTC The Wells Fargo analyst has a specific list of catalysts he expects could move the stock during and after the conference. At the top is a pipeline update. Nvidia's committed AI infrastructure pipeline has already surpassed $500 billion, with visibility stretching into 2027. More Nvidia: Rakers estimates the company has recognized roughly $240 billion to $250 billion of that opportunity since Blackwell began shipping in late 2024. An update pushing the pipeline figure to $600 billion or more would be a meaningful positive signal for investors. He is also watching for details on Kyber, Nvidia's next-generation high-density rack architecture, and how early lessons from the GB200 NVL72 rollout are shaping the platform's development. Updates on Rubin CPX, the GPU built for long-context AI inference expected to launch in late 2026, will also be closely followed. Key GTC catalysts Rakers is tracking Pipeline update: A revision above $600 billion in committed AI infrastructure, which would signal accelerating demand visibility into 2027 Kyber architecture: Details on Nvidia's next high-density rack design and GB200 NVL72 learnings Rubin CPX: Architecture specifics and positioning for long-context AI inference workloads Groq integration: Whether Nvidia's Groq IP agreement leads to standalone inference chips or folds into future GPU roadmaps Custom silicon: Any announcements around dedicated chips for hyperscalers such as OpenAI, following Wall Street Journal reporting on an inference chip in development The $600 billion capex wall behind the thesis Rakers' bullish stance is not built on conference speculation alone. It rests on one of the largest capital spending waves in corporate history. Geopolitical conflict has driven oil prices higher in dramatic fashion. That is likely to lead to material revenue growth for oil companies. You can already see the impact on Wall Street, as the energy sector has been outperforming the broader market. Don't get caught up in the excitement, buy a relatively boring industry stalwart like Chevron (NYSE: CVX) instead. What does Chevron do? Chevron operates in the upstream segment of the energy sector, producing oil and natural gas. This business will directly benefit from rising energy prices. However, it also operates in the midstream, which transports energy and produces fairly reliable cash flows. And it operates in the downstream segment, which uses oil and gas as inputs. Rising oil prices will hurt Chevron's downstream business. 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. Being vertically integrated provides stability to Chevron's business over the long term, even though it will ultimately limit the benefits it derives from rising oil and gas prices. The company is basically built to withstand energy price volatility, because oil prices rise and fall over time. Another long-term support for Chevron's business is the company's rock-solid balance sheet. Its debt-to-equity ratio is among the lowest in its peer group at roughly 0.25x. When oil prices do fall, the company has the wherewithal to add debt to support its business and dividend until energy prices recover. At that point, debt is reduced again. In one year, Chevron will be just as desirable as it is today Rising oil prices are great news for energy companies across the board. Investors are clearly rushing to buy energy companies that will benefit. The biggest gains over the next year are likely to be seen among pure-play energy producers, with companies like Chevron trailing a bit because of their broad diversification. Long-term investors should be happy to see that, because the near-term benefit of rising oil prices is likely to be temporary. At least that is the historical dynamic of the energy sector. In one year, meanwhile, Chevron's business will be just as balanced and attractive as it is today. And that will be true over the three- and five-year periods, too. Before you get caught up in the excitement around rising oil prices over the short term, make sure you consider what will happen when oil prices fall. That could happen sooner and more rapidly than you may expect. Blue skies ahead? Most Read from Fast Company Jay Graber, the CEO of social media network Bluesky, announced that shes stepping down on Monday. Graber is transitioning from CEO to a new role as Blueskys chief innovation officer, she wrote in a Bluesky post, and will be succeeded by interim CEO Toni Schneider. Schneider, a venture capitalist and partner at True Ventures, posted: I am thrilled to announce that Ill be joining Bluesky as interim CEO. I deeply believe in what this team has built and the open social web theyre fighting for. Bluesky was founded by Jack Dorsey in 2019, and actually began as an internal project at what was then Twitter (now X). It was spun off and became an independent company in 2021. It has seen significant user growth in recent years after Elon Musk took over Twitter and changed its name to X. In fact, earlier on Monday, Blueskys user count had recently surpassed 43 million. Graber, in a longer blog post, wrote that the company will search for a full-time CEO going forward. As Bluesky matures, the company needs a seasoned operator focused on scaling and execution, while I return to what I do best: building new things. As part of this transition, Toni Schneider, former CEO of Automattic and partner at True Ventures, will join our team as interim CEO, while our board runs a search for a permanent chief executive. Likewise, Schneider, in a post of his own, wrote that he will remain a partner at True Ventures, where hes been since 2005, while serving as interim CEO. At Bluesky, a small and extraordinarily talented team has signed up over 40 million people, nurtured an open developer ecosystem with over 500 active apps, and scaled all the systems that make that experience smooth and possible: a consumer app, servers, onboarding, moderation, safety, the list goes on, he wrote. And theyve done it while staying true to the open protocol underneath. Now its time to build on that foundation and deliver more open goodness to the world. Aside from his work in venture capital, Schneider was previously CEO of Automattic, the parent company of WordPress, between 2006 and 2014. This post originally appeared at fastcompany.com Subscribe to get the Fast Company newsletter: http://fastcompany.com/newsletters Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (NYSE:FIX) is among the 10 Best Performing S&P 500 Stocks in the Last 2 Years. Why Makes Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (FIX) A Compelling Investment Opportunity On February 23, DA Davidson boosted the price target on Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (NYSE:FIX) to $1,800 from $1,200, and reiterated a Buy rating. This price target hike is due to what the firm describes as a blockbuster quarter across earnings, cash flow, and bookings. While raising its estimates, DA Davidson discussed earnings prospects for 2027, including a supplemental long-term analysis outlining EPS and cash flow potential. The firm sees Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (NYSE:FIX) as a core holding due to a range of factors, particularly the companys market presence, data center customers, expert trade personnel, and strong management. These catalysts will lead to sustained shareholder returns. On the same day, Stifel also lifted the price target on Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (NYSE:FIX) to $1,611 from $1,196 and maintained a Buy rating, according to TheFly. This follows the companys fourth-quarter results, after which the firm said that it still likes the companys solid Texas footprint. Texas is among the fastest-growing and largest states for data center development, the firm noted. Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (NYSE:FIX) is a Texas-based provider of a range of services, including installation, maintenance, repair, and replacement, for the mechanical and electrical services industry. From building developers and general contractors to architects and consulting engineers, the company serves a wide range of clients. While we acknowledge the potential of FIX as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026 and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money. Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News. Shares of gold miner Newmont Mining (NYSE: NEM) rallied 15.7% in February, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. Newmont is the largest mining company in the world that primarily mines gold, while it also generates ancillary revenue from byproducts copper, zinc, silver, lead, and other metals. 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 But as Newmont is primarily a gold producer, the stock is heavily levered to gold prices. Gold prices rose during February, bolstering shares, while Newmont also delivered fourth-quarter earnings above consensus. Moreover, a dispute with its JV partner on a certain project actually helped bolster investor sentiment on top of all that. Newmont delivers, and reins in Barrick At the beginning of the month, Newmont made an announcement regarding its joint venture with Barrick Mining (NYSE: B) that boosted shares. On February 5, Barrick announced that it intended to spin off its North American mining assets into a separate company and sell a portion of that new company in an IPO. Newmont co-owns one of the mines within the new company, holding a 38.5% stake in Barrick's Nevada Gold Mine (NGM). Following the announcement, Newmont issued a press release stating that any transaction affecting the JV must respect the protections for Newmont contained in those provisions. Newmont in particular wants Barrick to improve operations at NGM, which has seen a "degradation in performance and subsequent asset value over the past six years." It appears Newmont believes an IPO may not attract as high of a price as it otherwise would if the NGM were performing better, and it seems that Newmont wants Barrick to improve operations at that mine before the transaction. Image source: Getty Images. Newmont went on to deliver fourth-quarter earnings later in the month, with both revenue and adjusted earnings per share beating consensus estimates by a wide margin. Revenue of $6.81 billion was up 20.5%, beating expectations by $560 million, while adjusted EPS came in at $2.52, up 80%, beating expectations by $0.49. Newmont achieved these beats thanks to higher-than-expected production at its Cadia and Yanachocha mines, as well as an ongoing corporate cost-reduction program. And of course, Newmont's performance was also bolstered by rising gold prices, which rose roughly 5% during February. That was the seventh straight monthly rise, and likely due to anticipation of war with Iran, since gold is sometimes viewed as a hedge against global instability. U.S. warships began assembling in the area during February, and war eventually broke out on Feb. 28. Shares of Nu Holdings (NYSE: NU) sank 15.6% in February and continued to fall in March, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. After reporting earnings late in the month, investors were disappointed about the uncertainty with the banking giant's expansion strategy into the United States, as well as the continued macroeconomic uncertainty that has rattled markets. The stock is still up 43% in the past year. Here's why Nu Holdings stock fell in February, and whether it is a buy for your portfolio right now. 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 Betting on a new market Nu Holdings operates Nu Bank, a digital banking giant that has taken the Brazilian, Mexican, and Colombian markets by storm. It now has 131 million customers as it looks poised to dominate Latin American consumer banking. Q4 2025 results showed more of the same impressive growth figures. Customers grew 15% year-over-year, while revenue per active customer rose 45% on a constant-currency basis, leading to total revenue growth of 45% in the period (active customers are not the same as total customers). In 2025, Nu Bank generated $16.3 billion in revenue and $2.87 billion in net income. It is still keeping the gas pedal down as it hopes to accelerate growth in its newer markets of Mexico and Colombia, which is eating into its true profit potential. Long-term, the company plans to expand into the United States, replicating its digital banking model to serve Latin American customers living in the country. It recently sponsored Inter Miami, showing its dedication to the country's expansion. There is also room to expand to other Latin American markets such as Argentina, Chile, or Uruguay. So why did the stock fall? Well, it likely had to do with uncertainty about expanding into the United States, where banking competition is much fiercer than in Mexico or Brazil. Investors were likely not pleased with this news, as macroeconomic factors could be hurting its core regions, such as cartel violence in Mexico. Combined with the broad market dip, it is no surprise that Nu Holdings stock has slumped. Image source: Getty Images. Time to buy Nu Holdings stock? After dipping, Nu Holdings' stock is now trading at a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 25. This is expensive for a bank, but investors should remember that Nu Holdings is still heavily reinvesting to expand its presence and product portfolio in its core regions, giving it a huge runway to grow, especially when combined with the new geographies it plans to enter. Texas Pacific Land Corporation (NYSE:TPL) is among the 10 Best Performing S&P 500 Stocks in the Last 2 Years. Why Texas Pacific Land Corporation (TPL) Is In Focus On February 23, KeyBanc lifted the price target on Texas Pacific Land Corporation (NYSE:TPL) to $639 from $350 and maintained an Overweight rating. Analyst Tim Rezvan from KeyBanc highlighted the water segments solid dynamics, as well as meaningful developments in power generation and data center opportunities. While noting a 30-plus-gigawatt Permian power generation build-out, the firm said that power and data center build-outs are now seen as matters of timing rather than probability. The firm added that the development seems closer to materializing than previously thought. Texas Pacific Land Corporation (NYSE:TPL) is well-positioned from both land and water aspects, KeyBanc asserted, suggesting additional upside potential. As outlined by Texas Pacific Land Corporation (NYSE:TPL) during its earnings call on February 19, the company aims for capital expenditures for the year in the range of $65 million to $75 million. The company plans to sustain its investments in water management and desalination technologies, with a long-term goal of building multiple multi-gigawatt energy campuses. Texas Pacific Land Corporation (NYSE:TPL), founded in 1888, is a Texas-based company specializing in land and resource management, water services, and operations businesses. While we acknowledge the potential of TPL as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026 and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money. Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News. This story was originally published on HR Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily HR Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Plaintiffs in a closely watched lawsuit against HR vendor Workday may bring disparate-impact age discrimination claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, a federal judge held Friday, rejecting an argument previously advanced by Workday. Workday argued that Congress unsuccessful attempts to amend the ADEA to cover job applicants meant the plaintiffs in Mobley v. Workday, Inc., who are job applicants, were not covered by the law. But Judge Rita Lin wrote that the U.S. Supreme Court has rejected similar arguments. Lin also held that prior district court precedent affirming the ADEAs coverage of applicants was not disturbed by the end of Chevron deference. However, Lin granted Workdays motion to dismiss certain California state law claims and an individual plaintiffs disability discrimination claim against the company. The court set a deadline of March 27 for plaintiffs to file an amended complaint correcting the deficiencies identified in her order. Dive Insight: HR professionals have been watching the Workday lawsuit closely; one attorney wrote in an opinion piece to HR Dive that the outcome of the case could be a defining moment for a U.S. legal system grappling with whether the outputs of artificial intelligence-based hiring programs could be discriminatory. In Mobley, the first named plaintiff alleged that he had been rejected from more than 100 positions at companies that used Workdays recruitment screening tools. He claimed violations of the ADEA as well as Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. In 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California granted a request for preliminary certification of a nationwide collective action on the claim of age discrimination. Workday has contested the lawsuit for nearly two years. The company argued in January that the ADEA did not grant disparate-impact discrimination protections to job applicants, noting that en banc decisions of the 7th and 11th U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals held as much. In 2017, the California district court in which Mobley was filed reached the opposite conclusion. But Workday argued that this decision should have been invalidated by the Supreme Courts Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo ruling, which forbade courts from deferring to federal agencies reasonable interpretation of ambiguous statutes. Jensen Huang: AI factories need electricians, plumbers, pipe-fitters - Patrick T. Fallon / AFP/Getty Images Nvidias chief executive has urged people to become plumbers and electricians if they want to cash in on the worlds artificial intelligence boom. Jensen Huang said that a spending spree worth trillions of dollars on projects such as data centres would lead to well-paid manual roles as part of the largest infrastructure build-out in human history. He offered the advice in an attempt to downplay fears that AI could unleash a jobs bloodbath and upend the global economy. Nvidia has become the worlds most valuable company and is now worth $4.4tn (3.3tn), fuelled by massive demand for its microchips. However, the company is also battling claims that it is merely the biggest beneficiary of an AI bubble. Mr Huang said: We have only just begun this build-out. We are a few hundred billion dollars into it. Trillions of dollars of infrastructure still need to be built. Around the world, we are seeing chip factories, computer assembly plants and AI factories being constructed at unprecedented scale. This is becoming the largest infrastructure build-out in human history. The labour required to support this build-out is enormous. AI factories need electricians, plumbers, pipe-fitters, steelworkers, network technicians, installers and operators. These are skilled, well-paid jobs, and they are in short supply. You do not need a PhD in computer science to participate in this transformation. In contrast to claims that AI could render many jobs obsolete, he pointed to the rise in demand for radiologists despite AI being used to read medical scans. AI now assists with reading scans, but demand for radiologists continues to grow, he said. That is not a paradox. When AI takes on more of the routine work, radiologists can focus on judgment, communication and care. Hospitals become more productive. They serve more patients. They hire more people. Tech companies have outlined plans for record levels of spending to build AI data centres. Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Meta plan to spend $660bn this year, up 60pc on last year, much of it on constructing AI data centres. However, Oracle, another major data centre company, recently unveiled plans to cut thousands of jobs and has scrapped plans with ChatGPT maker OpenAI to expand a major Texas facility. Surging energy prices, as well as concerns about consumers electricity bills, have also raised questions over the expansion of data centres, which consume huge amounts of power. Tech companies gathered at the White House last week to sign a pledge to bear the costs of expanding electricity output. 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. If the drumbeat of Silicon Valley leaders warning that artificial intelligence will wipe out millions of jobs has you anxious about the future of work, the outlook in Europe might offer some solace. A new study from the European Central Bank released last week finds that fears about AI-driven job losses may be premature. On average, companies integrating AI are slightly more likely to hire more workers than cut withwith AI-intensive firms about 4% more likely to grow headcounts, and companies investing in the technology roughly 2% more likely to hire than firms that arent investing at all. While the margins are small, the findings suggest that companies adopting AI arent shedding workers to make room for the technology. Instead, many appear to be using it to boost productivity while expanding their workforce. Investment in and the intensive use of AI are not yet replacing jobs, the ECB economists wrote. In fact, some firms are hiring additional employeesperhaps because they are looking to develop and implement AI technologies while maintaining their existing production processes, or because AI is a way to help them scale up more quickly. Part of the explanation may simply be that AI adoption is still relatively early. Among the European companies surveyed, only about two-thirds say their employees use AI at all, and fewer than one-third report investing in the technology. But as AI use ramps up, workforce dynamics dont appear to bring dramatic changes. Firms planning to invest in AI over the next year still plan to hire more workersinstead of shedding them. American and British workers are giving up on their own job marketsand flocking to Europe The uncertain job market in the U.S. is already pushing some workers to look abroad. The U.S. experienced close to net zero or negative migration in 2025the first time thats happened in at least half a century, according to estimates from Brookings. Researchers expect the trend to continue into 2026. For many Americans, Europe has become an increasingly popular destination. In Portugal, the number of American residents has increased by more than 500% since the pandemic, according to the countrys Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum. In Spain and the Netherlands, the number of Americans has nearly doubled over the past decade, The Wall Street Journal reported. Moreover, more Americans moved to Germany and Ireland last year than vice versa. Brits are making similar calculations. As the job market tightens in the United Kingdom, some young workers are increasingly looking beyond their home country for job opportunities. Xaar and Polipress International have collaborated to deliver digital embellishment technology in Italys premium label market, with particular traction among wine label producers. More than 20 Xaar Versatex printbars have been installed nationwide through this partnership. These systems are now operating at multiple stages in the label production process, supporting both printing and converting tasks. The Versatex printbar enables the application of varnish and cold foil embellishments within a single unit, using one type of fluid. It is designed in both left-to-right and right-to-left variants, which allows it to fit into varied digital workflows. The printbar is also compatible with Nilpeter and HP Indigo label presses, as well as ABG finishing lines. Xaar Versatex product manager Tom Mooney said: Polipresss success in the Italian wine label market is a testament to the power of partnership and innovation. Versatex enables converters to deliver stunning embellishments such as high-opacity whites, tactile varnishes, and cold foiling with precision and speed, helping brands stand out on the shelf. By working together, Xaar and Polipress are providing Italian label converters with new tools to address evolving requirements in the luxury packaging sector, the company said in a statement. Polipress' international sales manager Angelo Tribocco said: Together with Xaar, we have introduced a technology that quickly proved to be a real game changer. "From the very first installations, our customers immediately recognised the value: the ability to unlock new levels of creativity while achieving an efficiency and cost performance that traditional analogue solutions simply cannot reach. "Xaar and Polipress advance digital embellishments for Italian wine labels" was originally created and published by Packaging Gateway, a GlobalData owned brand. As USDA released itsreport in mid-February, the news broke that Idaho had climbed back into the third-place slot for milk production in 2025. Eking out a win over Texas which had taken the number three slot away from them in 2024 the Gem State produced 18.26 billion pounds of milk last year. This gave it the edge by a margin that the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation noted was equivalent to approximately a days worth of milk produced in the state. Its largely a symbolic victory and a tongue-in-cheek rivalry; Idaho Dairymens Association chief executive officer Rick Naerebout told the states farm bureau that it is kind of fun to have this back and forth with their fellow dairy giant Texas. But the relatively miniscule differences in milk production among the states underscore a larger battle. Dairy farmers operate on razor-thin margins, and any upheaval from any direction can make or break a sector as changes play out over time. And right now, Idaho dairy farmers are facing a challenge from within, as state legislators advance bills that industry advocates say could destabilize their workforce and potentially cripple operations. Bill 704, which was advanced by the Idaho House Business Committee on Feb. 23, would require employers to corroborate their workers status through E-Verify, a federal database regardless of the business size. This bill marks a departure in stance from a more constrained Senate proposal that zeroes in on mandatory E-verification for state and local governments, as well as businesses that have state contracts in excess of $100,000 and have 150 or more employees. The House bill is advancing alongside another measure that would allow for Idaho residents to be charged with a misdemeanor should they knowingly employ, continue to employ, rehire, recruit, or refer for employment a worker who is in the country illegally. We have some profound risk, Naerebout told Hoards Dairyman after speaking to legislators at the Feb. 20 House committee hearing. He urged lawmakers to let the immigration issue play out at the federal level, calling the proposed state legislation a patchwork and warning that it would open dairy farmers up to economic risk. Some legislators think we exaggerate the possible economic harm that the loss of our workforce would cause, he told Hoards Dairyman, pointing to the Idaho dairy industrys recent growth and its vulnerability. We just had about a 7.5% growth rate in 2025, and you could easily see just as significantly great numbers to the negative if we had a shocking event to the availability of workers in the state. Naerebout also emphasized that the measures wouldnt only have an impact on dairy farms, but on Idahos economy as a whole. Agriculture, construction, and hospitality these are leading industries that drive 35% of our economy, he said. After experiencing the tone and tenor at the committee's hearing, he expects that both the bills will make it through the House. Then itll be up to us to try to work with the Senate, try to articulate our case there, and see if we cant find a more welcoming audience for our concerns. That body might be more receptive to the associations message, and the farmers behind it, Naerebout surmised. At core, he said, this is an issue that state-level action can only make worse, which is why he and other opponents of such bills believe that immigration measures should be left to Washington. The state can do nothing to offer us a visa program, he said. Should the bills pass, Naerebout said that the Idaho Dairymens Association will take up their case with the governor. Wed see if he has any appetite to veto it, and then after that, we will look at our legal options. A Constitutional argument could be made for House Bill 700, he noted, but 704 would be a matter of trying to figure out how to navigate that new world if we had to. Similar drama around E-Verify is playing out in other states; Naerebout pointed to a 2025 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid at a Nebraska meat processing plant. Thats a great example of how there are significant inaccuracies with E-Verify, he said. You had the facility verifying, and they still lost around 100 employees due to the enforcement activity. We truly dont know how accurate or inaccurate E-Verify is going to be, and what the impact of these bills would be on our industry. Other Idaho agricultural groups have spoken about the measures, which were advanced with do-pass recommendations. If they pass, they are slated to take effect July 1. Claroty, the cyber-physical systems (CPS) protection company, today announced it has been named a Leader in the 2026 Gartner Magic Quadrant for CPS Protection Platforms. Claroty received a designation as a Leader in the report's second year of publication. According to the report, Gartner sees the CPS protection platform market as maturing and continuing to grow rapidly as cyberthreat actors (nation states and profit-motivated alike) increasingly target organisations in industries and critical infrastructure environments where CPS are prevalent. Meanwhile, end-user organisations continue to deploy CPS everywhere through automation and production transformation efforts, which further expands the attack surface. In our opinion, Claroty has the institutional knowledge and innovative solutions to bridge the organisational gaps that have historically hindered the success of implementing holistic CPS protection programs. The Claroty Platform, comprised of the SaaS-powered Claroty xDome, on-premise Claroty Continuous Threat Detection (CTD), and Claroty xDome Secure Access, helps organisations to achieve business-level outcomes, including compliance, risk reduction, and operational integrity, by enabling teams to operationalise asset visibility and insights, exposure management, network protection, and threat detection. Were thrilled to once again be recognised as a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for CPS Protection Platforms, said Yaniv Vardi, CEO of Claroty. We feel we have entered a new era of high-value targets for cyber attackers looking to disrupt the operations with the greatest impact on our daily lives, making it critical for CPS protection technologies to be held to the highest standard, and to be the most innovative and effective security solutions on the market. We believe Claroty recently demonstrated the strength of xDomes dynamic discovery capabilities at the S4 Conference in Miami at the first-ever PoC Pavilion. In the showcases test manufacturing environment, Claroty gained the deepest asset visibility through dynamic discovery. As Claroty looks ahead, aided by the recent $150 Million in Series F funding, the company continues to accelerate toward its aggressive vision for building the industrys most comprehensive CPS protection platform. Claroty will continue to make investments that advance its unified solution set, prioritising research and development across core capabilities and the adoption of AI within the platform that drives efficient achievement of desired business outcomes. A Representative Vendor in 2026 Gartner Market Guide for CPS Secure Remote Access Claroty was also recently named a Representative Vendor in the inaugural Gartner Market Guide for CPS Secure Remote Access. Much like the broader CPS Protection Platform, the report notes, Inappropriate or malicious access to CPS can result in severe real-world consequences, including safety hazards, environmental damage and operational failure. CPS secure remote access products reduce these risks by preventing the abuse of remote connections, preserving the integrity, safety and security of the systems, and restricting even verified users to only the specific device or application needed for their tasks.2 Recognised by Customers on Gartner Peer Insights On Gartner Peer Insights, Claroty has a 4.9 out of 5 based on 119 ratings submitted in the last 12 months in the CPS Protection Platforms market, with a 97% Would Recommend score, as of March 3, 2026. Reviews include: "Claroty has proven to be one of our best tools in the cybersecurity stack. From day one, the implementation process was smooth and efficient, allowing us to hit the ground running without major hurdles. The platform itself is powerful, user-friendly, and consistently delivers value. Overall, Claroty has been a fantastic partner in our security efforts, and we're very pleased with the experience. "Claroty is not just a visibility platform, but a strategic resource that significantly enhances our operational capabilities in cyber security across OT/IoT, medical and IT device environments, thanks to its exceptional ability to provide information." "Claroty has been outstanding from start to finish. Their staff are very knowledgeable and helpful and are highly recommended. The product itself is amazing and will simplify our implementation of network segmentation and highlighting underutilised equipment, malicious communications, along with other areas of risk or concern." Magic Quadrant reports are a culmination of rigorous, fact-based research in specific markets, providing a wide-angle view of the relative positions of providers in markets where growth is high and provider differentiation is distinct. Providers are positioned into four quadrants: Leaders, Challengers, Visionaries and Niche Players. The research enables organisations to get the most from market analysis in alignment with their unique business and technology needs. To learn more about Clarotys position as a Leader, view a complimentary copy of the Magic Quadrant report or read the Claroty blog. GUEST INTERVIEW: Fernando Castanheira has decades of experience buying and selling technology. He's got a clear-eyed view of why most AI initiatives never escape the lab. The numbers are bleak. Riverbed's own research says 62% of enterprise AI initiatives are trapped in pilot or development. An MIT study puts the failure rate closer to 95%. Pick your poison; either way, the majority of corporate AI projects are going nowhere fast. Fernando Castanheira, CIO of Riverbed, isn't surprised. "Most AI projects don't stall because of the models," he told me during a video interview we conducted two days after his appearance at the IDC and Riverbed Observability Summit 2026 in Australia. "They stall because the environment isn't ready." That environment problem breaks down into 3 stubborn, interrelated failures: fragmented data scattered across cloud, on-prem, and edge; infrastructure bottlenecks that inject latency and unpredictability; and a plain lack of visibility into what's actually happening across the stack. The model works beautifully in the lab. Then it hits the real world, with its messy hybrid plumbing, and falls apart. My video interview with Fernando, upon which this article is based, is embedded immediately below. Please watch, and read on! The CIO Gig Has Changed (A Lot) Castanheira's career arc tells the story of how the CIO role has been rewired. Two decades at JPMorgan Chase, sitting on the buying side. Now at Riverbed, building the tools he once consumed. The shift he describes is fundamental. Five years ago, the job was infrastructure stability and cost control. Beepers. Uptime dashboards. Reactive firefighting. "The CIO has moved from running IT efficiently to enabling the business strategically. Reliability still matters, but it's the foundation, not the finish line." Now his time goes to AI adoption strategy, partnering with the business on growth, and translating technical risk into language that boards and executives can actually parse. This infographic generated by Gemini Nano Banana 2, the article continues thereafter, please read on! The Data Has to Move (Fast) One product Castanheira kept circling back to: Data Express, a new Riverbed offering designed to haul massive datasets (we're talking 40, 50 petabytes) from point A to point B at roughly 10x the speed of conventional methods. Something that took 10 months now takes one. Something that took 10 hours takes one. The use case is obvious. If you're a large bank or insurer trying to build a foundational AI model, your training data is splattered across environments. You need to consolidate it. And you need to do it before next quarter, not next year. "Every customer I talk to, I ask: what's your biggest challenge around AI initiatives? They say data movement." Castanheira says pilots are already running. The customer reactions, he says, have been strong. 12 Observability Tools. 9 Vendors. One Mess. The average enterprise runs 12 observability tools across roughly 9 vendors. Castanheira says the highest number he's personally encountered was around 80. Dozens of tools generating different views of your environment become noise with a subscription fee. Riverbed's response, over the past 3 years, has been to build a unified platform spanning endpoints, applications, and network. The goal: replace the wall of dashboards in the operations centre with something that actually supports decisions. "Most enterprises still use observability to react faster. What you actually want is to prevent the issue. The best incident is the one that never happens." The progression Castanheira describes goes like this: siloed tools become unified platforms; dashboards become decision support; alerts become autonomous (or semi-autonomous) action. One large bank he works with started by automating away 20% of its support tickets. They're now at 40%. That's not a vanity metric. Fewer tickets means cheaper operations and more productive users. When 1 Second Costs You Revenue Castanheira pushes the idea of observability as commercial intelligence, not just an IT health check. The example he gives is precise. Take a 1-second delay in a customer-facing application. With proper observability, you can trace where that delay originates (network, cloud, database, endpoint). You correlate the delay with user behaviour: abandoned transactions, drop-offs, slower interactions. Then you quantify the revenue impact. That's when the monitoring dashboard becomes a business intelligence tool. He also described Riverbed's Aternity platform, which measures application performance from the end user's perspective without touching the code. They've built a concept called "business activities" that tracks how applications are actually being used, what "normal" looks like, and flags spikes before they cascade into thousands of affected users. "Once application developers understand that power, you're not just talking to network administrators anymore. You're in a completely different conversation." Zero Trust Is Breaking Your Network Visibility (And There's a Fix) Castanheira flagged something a lot of organisations probably haven't considered. When you implement zero trust (and nearly everyone is), your traditional network performance monitoring tools lose visibility. The NPM appliance sitting in your data centre, the one that used to see across the enterprise, suddenly can't. Riverbed's answer: NPM Plus, which ports that network monitoring capability into a unified agent sitting on the endpoint itself. So visibility works outward from the user's device, across hybrid, cloud, and on-prem, regardless of zero trust architecture. It even does packet captures, which Castanheira acknowledges are traditionally the domain of "network nerds." Riverbed is layering AI on top to make that data interpretable for level 1 and level 2 support staff who've never looked at a packet capture in their lives. The Board Wants Answers (And They're Asking Better Questions) Boards are pulling CIOs into strategy conversations earlier and more often, particularly around AI. Castanheira confirms it: his board asks about AI at every meeting. They want to know about competitive advantage, automation risks, and the state of the digital backbone. "They don't need a lot of technical detail, but they expect clarity, confidence, and business alignment." Internally, Riverbed is running AI adoption through a steering committee focused on 3 tracks. First: developer productivity, using AI coding tools (they've kicked the tyres on several and settled on a couple). Second: organisational productivity via Microsoft Copilot, which Castanheira says has generated more compliments than any other project during his tenure. Engineers who used to spend hours triaging email after work now get AI summaries of what matters. Third: operational intelligence, layered on top of a freshly completed ERP transformation (NetSuite and Salesforce), with AI baked into finance, HR, and sales operations. Speed vs. Reliability: Who Wins? When speed and reliability collide, Castanheira doesn't hesitate: reliability wins. But speed matters to stay competitive, so you can't ignore it. His answer to the tension is, characteristically, observability. "The balance comes from starting with visibility, scaling with confidence, and automating where trust exists. You can't just automate blindly." His recommended approach to AI rollout: start slow. Begin with level 1 and level 2 support staff. Then broaden to the wider IT organisation. Then, eventually, enable end users. Crawl, walk, run. The CIOs who skip the crawl tend to be the ones generating the failure stats. Australia: Pragmatic and Ready Australian CIOs, Castanheira reports, are pragmatic. The challenges he heard at the Observability Summit mirror what he sees globally: AI scale, hybrid complexity, skills pressure. But there's a strong local emphasis on resilience, cost efficiency, and user experience. "They want AI to deliver quickly, but not at the expense of stability or trust," he said. (When asked if Australia is behind other markets, he grinned: "You're not behind. You're actually ahead. How many hours? About 14 hours ahead of us.") The CIO as Revenue Driver Should CIOs have sales targets? Castanheira laughed and said no (while making sure his CEO, Dave, didn't get any ideas). But he's firm that the CIO should be accountable for enabling revenue. When technology performance directly shapes customer experience, productivity, and speed to market, the CIO sits squarely in the revenue conversation. Making sure salespeople have the right tools, ensuring finance can close the books, keeping operations humming: that's all revenue enablement, even if it doesn't show up on a quota sheet. "Some large bank CIOs would say: we're really a technology company disguised as a bank." That line isn't exaggeration. When you look at the headcount and investment in tech at major financial institutions, the disguise is pretty thin. The IBM PC XT (and Why This Moment Feels 100x Bigger) Asked about his first personal computer, Castanheira lit up. An IBM PC XT. Maybe 20 megs of hard disk space. 640K of RAM. Two 5-and-a-quarter-inch floppy drives, so you could copy from one to the other. He's been through the internet transition, client-server computing, the cloud migration. Each one felt transformative at the time. This one, he says, feels 100 times bigger. "If you're in technology, you should be happy. This is a massive set of changes happening at breakneck speed." The Takeaway Castanheira's parting advice is deceptively simple: focus on outcomes, not tools. Understand what the business is trying to achieve. Then figure out how technology enables those outcomes. The cool tech that doesn't move the needle isn't worth the demo. His final word carried weight: "AI isn't just a technology shift. It's an operational one. The organisations that succeed will be the ones that build trust, visibility, and resilience into their digital foundations." The train has left the station, as he put it. The question isn't whether to get on board. It's whether your infrastructure can handle the ride. +++ This infographic generated by Gemini Nano Banana 2. SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here. For a nation founded on principles of limited government, personal liberty and free-market competition, the United States has a socialism problem. And one of the chief contributors is an unlikely culprit: our schools. About four in 10 Americans including a full two-thirds of Democrats have a positive view of socialism, according to a Gallup poll this fall. Another recent study by the CATO Institute paints an even more alarming picture: It finds more than 60% of voters under the age of 30 hold a favorable opinion of socialism, compared to just half who feel the same about capitalism. These shifting attitudes are not the result of some failure on the part of capitalism, despite activists' efforts to spin it as such. It's the product of the far left's insatiable desire to amass more power under its elitist ruling class which has hijacked the U.S. education system and transformed into a vehicle to advance its mission. Make no mistake, the United States remains the land of opportunity and a beacon of hope for the rest of the world. Our country boasts the highest GDP in the world, driven largely by small businesses, which employ nearly half the workforce. And while some like to bemoan the wealth divide, Americans make up most of the world's population living at or above our middle-class standards, and today it is the leader in economic opportunity for those willing to work for it. American democracy remains an exemplar for the rest of the world, helping promote and defend freedom well beyond our borders. And our commitment to individual liberties and free speech gives hope to those struggling under regimes that subjugate their people under the banners of socialism and communism. Yet you wouldn't know it from the anti-American messaging being foisted on young people through our schools. Under the watch of powerful teachers unions, American apologetics have been foisted on students, indoctrinating them into the belief that our country's history, however imperfect, should warrant some vast cultural redistribution. Our system of government and economy may not be flawless, but they have made and continue to make the United States a global leader for good. Instead of espousing the virtues of opposing despotism and protecting liberty, our schools are pushing curricula fashioned around critical race theory and the woke 1619 Project retellings of our history meant to vilify our country and its systems rather than provide an education that equips students to think critically and do better. Many expect such woke ideology to be preached at college campuses. It's one reason why most Americans' say a traditional four-year degree is no longer worth the cost a trend that accelerated under former President Joe Biden's retreat from American exceptionalism. A major in the history of gender or LGBTQ+ studies might be good for baptizing impressionable young people in the culture of wokeism, but it turns out those degrees don't have much value for employers or students. It shouldn't be surprising that over two-thirds of recent college graduates come out with a positive opinion of socialism, compared to only 40% who would say the same about capitalism. Who can blame them after being beat over the head with the alleged merits of socialism and evils of capitalism for more than a decade? Perhaps most alarming is that student outcomes have steadily fallen while the Department of Education has enabled this cultural and economic assault. The unelected bureaucrats whose job is to equip students with the skills to think independently and prepare them to succeed in the real world have instead been focused on stoking culture wars and hawking the liberal agenda which serves to further entrench their power. President Donald Trump and Education Secretary Linda McMahon have promised to dismantle the Department of Education, and it is imperative Congress give them the authority to finish the job. The nearly 50-year-old dinosaur has been hijacked by the left and weaponized against American ideals. Meanwhile, it's failed in its only responsibility to improve educational outcomes. Hopefully, students will one day read in the history books about the Trump administration's historic accomplishment of closing the U.S. Department of Education. That will be a clue that conservatives finally ended the left's attack on our young people and got our education system back to the task of preparing future generations of leaders. Comment by clicking here. Ken Buck served in the United States House of Representatives from 2015-2024 representing Colorado's 4th congressional district. He now serves as a Fellow with the Independent Center. SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here. While battling the SAVE America Act, Democrats' go-to grenade has exploded in their faces. "Photo ID = Jim Crow 2.0!" has proven to be patently prejudiced. It is downright bigoted to claim that blacks and other voters of color are too dazed and confused to acquire photo ID, especially when 50 states already have issued licenses to an estimated 31 million black drivers. Federal agents ask the same supposedly dimwitted black passengers for photo ID at airport checkpoints. Somehow, they comply and fly daily. No wonder black Americans reject this racist rubbish. In a 2025 Pew Research poll, 76% of blacks favored photo ID to vote, as did 82% of Hispanics. (Ditto: 85% of whites). Just how stupid do Leftists think these respondents of color are? Democrats have built a new hill to die on. They swear that the SAVE America Act's proof-of-U.S.-citizenship requirement will stymie potential voters. Democrats whine that locating one's birth certificate is an insurmountable hurdle like pinpointing one's Kindergarten report card. "You have to prove U.S. citizenship," Congressman Ted Lieu (D - California) told MS Now's Chris Jansing. "If you don't have a passport, it's pretty hard to prove that, unless you can somehow find your birth certificate." "You've got to find your birth certificate," Governor Gavin Newsom (D - California) recently moaned. "I have no clue where mine is." "I don't have my birth certificate," Senator Bernie Sanders (Socialist - Vermont) told KTLA-TV. Mystified, he added, "G od knows how I get it." Divine intervention is unnecessary here. Birth certificates are far easier to attain than Leftist liars argue. One need not trawl through parental attics for such papers. Instead, VitalChek.com offers birth certificates online. I applied for one from California in eight minutes. This is so easy, even Gavin Newsom could do it. VitalChek is a 45-state solution. Hawaii, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Wyoming offer birth records online, but only through their own websites. VitalChek's prices average $35.16, ranging from as little as Michigan's $9.00 to as much as Arizona's $95. (The five non-VitalChek states charge from Vermont's $12 to Wyoming's $26.) Shipping is extra. Documents arrive directly from relevant government agencies. "Photo ID costs money!" Democrats will bellow. Republicans want photo IDs gratis for voting. They could arrange for VitalChek and its competitors to accept a coupon code (e.g., REGISTER). This would slash prices to $0.00. The U.S. Treasury would pay this foregone revenue to VitalChek et al. Alternatively, Audacy/YouTube host Annie Frey suggests that new voters recover registration expenses via federal tax credits. Republicans would endorse such federal spending. Another Democrat kvetch bites the dust. Meanwhile, public enthusiasm remains enormous and bipartisan for the SAVE America Act and its reforms. A February 25-26 Harvard-Harris survey of 1,999 registered voters found that 71% support this measure, including 50% of Democrats, 69% of independents, and 91% of Republicans. Regarding proof of citizenship to register, 75% of those polled agree, specifically: 61% of Democrats, 73% of independents, and 90% of Republicans. Should states delete foreign citizens from voter rolls? Broadly, 80% approve, namely 72% of Democrats, 76% of independents, and 90% of GOP participants. Photo ID to vote? Overall, 81% applaud. Democrats: 70%. Independents: 79%. Republicans: 92%. Thus, Republicans, independents, and even Democrats overwhelmingly want the SAVE America Act and its policies. Simultaneously, Democrat critiques have devolved from ridiculous to racist. So, why the hell is this bill stuck in the Senate? Majority Leader John Thune (R - South Dakota) seems too petrified to schedule a vote and, if necessary, push Democrats into a talking filibuster. Thune should make them stand up until their knees buckle. Let Democrats explain why they reject legislation that at least half their fellow Democrats desire, as do seven of 10 independents and nine of 10 Republicans. Americans demand the Save America Act. Senate Republicans should give them what they want. Senator Thune: Get on with it. Lead or step aside. 2026 Deroy Murdock SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here. A grainy video appears to show a line of blindfolded young girls parading past an underwear-clad Donald Trump. A girl's anguished voice cries out in German. The video cuts to scenes of Trump and other famous figures talking with the late child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. "This video is not fake," said a post on X from an account called HDX News that was viewed more than 6.8 million times. "These pedophile perverts started a war so that this wouldn't be talked about." The video is indeed fake, disinformation researchers say. And the account is part of a pro-Iran propaganda network that has found viral success by tapping into the conspiracy theory that Trump attacked Iran to distract the public from the Epstein files. To erode public support for the joint U.S.-Israel military operation, Iranian state media has sought to portray those countries' leaders as part of a corrupt and depraved "Epstein class" or "Epstein regime." While such content often fails to gain much traction outside Iran, the message is spreading through generically named "news" accounts that researchers say appear to be using the Epstein conspiracy theories to serve pro-Iran talking points to a global audience. "There is a lot of Epstein-related content being pushed out to draw eyeballs," said Bret Schafer, who directs U.S. research and policy at the nonprofit Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD). The logic: "You come for the Epstein content, and you stay for the propaganda." The Epstein posts are part of a maelstrom of Iran-related misinformation that has engulfed social media since Feb. 28, when strikes by the United States and Israel killed the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and touched off a conflict that has spread across the Middle East. Mixed in with real footage of the conflict are dramatic videos of missile strikes, downed fighter jets and earth-shaking explosions that have racked up millions of views on X, TikTok, Instagram and Telegram, only to be debunked as AI-generated fakes, real footage from past conflicts being passed off as new, or scenes from video games. HDX News was part of a network of at least 15 anonymous X accounts churning out content that aligns with the messaging of Iran's Islamist regime and resharing one another's posts, according to ISD researchers who identified the campaign. Another, called GPX News, posted the same fake Epstein video - a mishmash of imaginary, AI-generated scenes with bits of real footage - and received more than 4.7 million views, according to X's publicly viewable metrics. "The White House is aware of attempts by the Iranian regime to influence public opinion in the United States, which is why we have consistently warned the fake news against being used by these bad actors and amplifying their propaganda," White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said Monday. Both accounts were suspended by X after The Post reached out for comment, though others in the network remained active as of Monday. X did not respond other than asking for examples of the posts and accounts. Schafer said it's not clear whether the accounts are working on behalf of Iran's government or merely support it. But he added that the pro-regime propaganda they promoted was "not subtle." Their posts included triumphant reports of successful Iranian strikes on American and Israeli targets; calls for followers to "stand with Iran"; and suggestions that China and Russia stand ready to back Iran in a cataclysmic world war. All 15 accounts ISD found were created in the past two years, and nine of them were verified on X, meaning they pay a subscription fee to Elon Musk's social network in return for features that can include greater visibility, a blue checkmark verifying their authenticity and the chance to generate revenue from their posts. Both of the accounts that posted the fake Epstein video have also generated some engagement on X with explicitly antisemitic and even pro-Nazi posts. HDX News got more than a thousand "likes" on an apparently AI-generated video of a bearded Jewish man holding an Israeli flag laughing as he dances through a field of graves studded with American flags. A third account from the network, called GPX Press, received more than 27,000 likes and 2.6 million views on a post showing a video of an Adolf Hitler speech, to which it added the message: "Today, the world has truly discovered why Hitler killed the Jews." Last week, X's head of product, Nikita Bier, announced that users who post "AI-generated videos of an armed conflict" without a disclosure would be suspended for 90 days from making money on the platform, with subsequent violations triggering a permanent ban. Bier said the company would use Community Notes and other signals to identify such AI-generated content. "During times of war, it is critical that people have access to authentic information on the ground," Bier said in an X post. "We will continue to refine our policies and product to ensure X can be trusted during these critical moments." It was not clear whether the pro-Iran accounts were suspended for violating the new policy or a preexisting X rule. The conflict has also sparked a sharp rise in antisemitic content, according to researchers from the Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish civil rights organization - some of it seeking to link Epstein, who was Jewish, to the conflict. "Pretty quickly after the conflict began, this conspiratorial rebranding of Operation Epic Fury" - the U.S. military's official name - into 'Operation Epstein Fury' started circulating on social media platforms," said Oren Segal, the ADL's senior vice president of counter-extremism and intelligence. An ADL report found that the phrase "Epstein Fury" was mentioned more than 90,000 times by some 60,000 different accounts on X within the conflict's first three days. It isn't only pro-Tehran accounts that are drawing those connections. Hours after the strikes, Candace Owens, the American right-wing political commentator who has more than 5.9 million subscribers on YouTube, re-shared a post on X that included an AI-generated image of Trump flanked by Israel flags and suggested that the United States was "blowing up" Iranians because it's "controlled by" Jews. Owens added her own caption: "Operation Epstein Fury fully explained." At least one of the accounts in the pro-Tehran network on X reshared a post by Owens that accused Israel of orchestrating the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Segal said the problem with online antisemitism is not only that it is hurtful but that it is often accompanied by real-world harassment, threats and violent attacks on Jewish people in the United States and around the world. Asked whether she stands by her posts, how she felt about her posts being shared by a pro-Iran propaganda account, and her reaction to Segal's concern that she was fueling antisemitism, Owens said via e-mail: "Of course I stand by my post. Israel is a filthy, terrorist state that mass murders children and Christians." Other disinformation researchers have also taken note of the campaign to link U.S. and Israeli leaders to Epstein. Posts on X that used the phrase "Epstein regime" - a derogatory reference to the U.S.-Israel alliance - increased one hundred-fold on the first day of the missile strikes, said Emerson Brooking, director of strategy at the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab. Several of the most popular posts to use the phrase came from Owens. While many liberal-leaning users have left X since Musk bought it, Brooking said, the network remains highly influential in geopolitics, partly due to its popularity among Republican leaders, right-wing influencers and the MAGA base. X is banned in Iran, yet the country's leaders - including Khamenei and former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad - have long maintained accounts to project their messaging to the wider world, he said. Brooking said the impact of any given piece of propaganda or disinformation may be limited, even if it finds a large audience. But in aggregate, they can spur shifts in public opinion over time, especially when they reinforce narratives - such as the idea that Trump attacked Iran to distract from the Epstein files - that many people were already inclined to believe. Will Oremus is a technology reporter covering the collision of social media, AI and democracy. (COMMENT, BELOW) SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here. Recently, the usual suspects became very excited by what they viewed as an explosive revelation in the Jeffrey Epstein case. The Justice Department, they alleged, had suppressed an account of a woman who told the FBI that when she was 13 or 14 years old, she had been repeatedly raped and abused by Epstein, who arranged for his friend Donald Trump to rape and abuse her, too. The woman waited 35 years to tell the authorities until August 2019, the third year of Trump's presidency, and shortly after Epstein's highly publicized second arrest, incarceration, and death. Her story focuses on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, where her mother worked in a small real estate office. The alleged victim claimed that Epstein lived there for a period of time in at least two residences, although she did not know the location. Here is the FBI's write-up, known as a 302 report, of the Trump allegation: [The woman] recalled at least one incident in which Epstein took her off of the island [Hilton Head] when she was between 13 to 15 years old. He drove her and/or flew her to either New York or New Jersey. She was "introduced to someone with money, moneyIt was Donald Trump." [The woman] and Epstein were with others, to include Trump, in a very tall building with huge rooms. Trump did not like [the woman], "from the get-go he didn't like that I was a boy-girl," (referencing a tomboy). [The woman] could not recall the identities of the other individuals present; however, they all exited when Trump asked everyone to leave the room. Trump mentioned something to the effect of, "Let me teach you how little girls are supposed to be." Trump unzipped his pants and put [the woman's] head "down to his penis." [The woman] "bit the shit out of it." Trump struck [the woman] and said words to the effect of, "Get this little bitch the hell out of here." [The woman] advised that she bit Trump's penis because he disgusted her. "He had money; it reeked off of him." The account is obviously salacious and sensational. Democrats jumped on the story, alleging that the Justice Department, which released the material above, had tried to cover it up. George Conway, the anti-Trump gadfly who has played a role in sex cases against both Bill Clinton and Donald Trump, went so far as to allege that Trump went to war in Iran to distract the public from the devastating new Epstein accusation. "Look, it's just purely a coincidence that Donald Trump started a war just days before the release of FBI 302s of interviews of a victim claiming he raped her when she was 13 years old," Conway, who is now running for the House, wrote a few days ago. There's a problem with all this. There is nothing in the woman's story in the FBI documents that supports her allegation against Trump. Nothing. For that matter, there is nothing that establishes any sort of link with Jeffrey Epstein, either. First, there is the issue of Hilton Head Island. A lot is known about Jeffrey Epstein, and there has been no mention of him living on Hilton Head Island for any period of time. The Guardian reported that, "Mark Epstein, Jeffrey Epstein's brother, told The Guardian that he had no knowledge of his brother spending summers on Hilton Head in the early 1980s. 'I would have known,' he said in a phone call." Then there is the timing. The woman said the alleged Trump encounter happened when she was between 13 and 15 years old. That would be somewhere in the 19831985 time range. Virtually every account of the Trump-Epstein friendship places its beginning in the late 1980s. In 2002, before the troubles, Trump said he had known Epstein for 15 years, which would have been since 1987. Early accounts of them being together at the same events date back to the end of the 1980s and into the early 1990s. Then there are the other figures in the woman's story. An alleged Epstein associate, whom the woman called "Jim Atkins," played a large role in her story. She said that Epstein had explicit photographs of her and then tried to use them to blackmail her mother. That, according to the FBI report, "resulted in her mother embezzling from her real estate company to pay [Epstein]. [The woman] stated that her mother 'tried to buy back the photos and secrets over the years,'" and that "a man named Jim Atkins, a friend/associate of Epsteinparticipated with Epstein in blackmailing [the woman's] mother." The woman said that "Jim Atkins" was involved with a university in Ohio, and said that he abused her. "Jim Atkins" is a new name in the Epstein saga, even to people who have kept up with the story. A few days ago, the Miami Herald's Julie Brown, who has done more than any other journalist to push the Epstein story into the news, wrote, "The woman could not name any of the other men Epstein trafficked her to, except for a man she identified as 'Jim Atkins,' whom she believed worked for an Ohio university. The Miami Herald could not locate him on deadline." Finally, there is the woman herself. By all accounts, she has led a troubled life. She had drinking and drug problems, and her mother went to prison. "After her time with Epstein, the alleged victim accumulated a record of criminal charges, drug dependency, and domestic turmoil," the Charleston Post and Courier reported. "She had a daughter and was prosecuted for filing false claims for food stamp applications. [She] avoided prison by completing a drug diversion program." The Post and Courier said the woman had three husbands and at least one violent domestic incident. She ended up living with family members in Georgia, "developing a romantic relationship with a terminally-ill man who was saving money for his funeral," the outlets reported. "She stole an envelope filled with cash from him and spent a year in the county jail for it. Her public defender told the Post and Courier that she described her life to him as having been permanently scarred by her experience with Epstein." The short version of the tale is this: There is every reason for reasonable people, that is, those outside the company of anti-Trump fanatics, to be very cautious with this story. I hold medical licenses in multiple states. As a teleradiologist, I have to; it is the nature of the work. What I did not fully anticipate was how much time I would spend navigating the patchwork of continuing medical education (CME) requirements that vary significantly from state to state. The variation in numbers In Montana, the state requires exactly zero hours of CME for license renewal. Drive across the border to Washington, and suddenly you are facing 200 hours over four years. The variation continues across the country. Illinois requires 150 hours over three years while Vermont asks for 30 hours over two. Michigan mandates training on implicit bias and human trafficking; South Dakota has no special topic requirements. Each state has developed its own approach, presumably based on what its medical board believes best serves patients, but the resulting landscape can be challenging to navigate. The deadline challenge License renewal deadlines add another layer of complexity. Some states tie renewal to your birthday. Others use fixed calendar dates: December 31 in Alabama, January 31 in Florida for MDs, June 30 in Mississippi. Delaware renews on odd years. Hawaii prefers even years. Texas staggers renewals quarterly. West Virginia assigns deadlines based on the first letter of your last name: A through L renew in even years, M through Z in odd years. To complicate matters further, CME reporting cycles often dont align with the license renewal dates themselves. For physicians licensed in a single state, this is manageable. For teleradiologists, locum tenens physicians, or anyone practicing across state lines, it requires careful organization. Miss one deadline, and you risk practicing without a valid license, a potentially career-ending mistake. Questions worth asking The correlation between required hours and patient outcomes is not always clear-cut. A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology by Patel et al. compared quality of care and outcomes for heart attack patients in states with mandatory CME requirements versus states without them. The researchers found no significant difference in patient mortality or the use of proven therapies. Some states with zero or low CME requirements (like Montana or Colorado) frequently appear in the top tier of various national health care quality rankings. Conversely, some states with high CME requirements appear in the lower tiers of those same rankings. This isnt to say continuing education lacks value; it clearly does. Most physicians engage in continuous learning regardless of state mandates because staying current is essential to good patient care. The question is whether the current state-by-state regulatory approach is the most effective way to ensure physician competency, or whether the administrative burden might be streamlined without sacrificing quality. The toll on physicians What is rarely discussed is how compliance tracking adds to physician workload. We are already managing long hours, electronic health record demands, and administrative tasks. For physicians with multiple licenses, CME compliance becomes a significant additional responsibility, tracking different credit types, finding state-approved courses on mandated topics, and maintaining awareness of various deadlines. We sometimes rely on credentialing departments or administrative assistants to help manage the load. But here is the cold truth: If the administrator messes up, I am the one who gets in trouble. Looking forward The good news is that technology is making this easier. Tracking tools are emerging that can monitor requirements across multiple states, send deadline reminders, and help physicians understand which credits satisfy which mandates. What once required spreadsheets and calendar alerts can now be partially automated, a welcome development for anyone juggling multiple licenses. Perhaps there is also an opportunity for medical boards to explore greater standardization or reciprocity agreements. Many states have made progress on license portability through compacts; similar collaboration on CME requirements could reduce administrative burden while maintaining educational standards. Until then, I will keep tracking my deadlines and credits, grateful for the tools that make it more manageable. And I will continue hoping that these conversations make the system serve both physicians and patients as effectively as possible. Vladislav Tchatalbachev is a radiologist. I play Go. Not chess. Not checkers. Go: the ancient strategy game where the objective is not to capture pieces but to claim territory. In chess, you attack. In checkers, you jump. In Go, you place. Each stone lands quietly. Each position builds on the last. The opponent is still arguing about three moves ago while the board is already decided. The board has been built one placement at a time. For the past several months, analysis on direct care models and employer-aligned primary care has been accumulating here (see the prior piece on employer-aligned DPC and physician autonomy), each piece a different angle on the same territory. The data behind it is cited. None of that data has been disputed. What arrived instead was not a debate. It was a pattern. Attack the credential. Question the motive. Announce the rebuttal. Drop the article in the comment thread. Repeat. The Bureau of Labor Statistics figures, the KFF survey data, the AMA ownership benchmarks, and the Milbank Scorecard were never touched. A credential attack is not a stone. It does not move the territory. Some of the substantive arguments circulating in the market, however, are worth examining on the merits. The right question points in the wrong direction The question of why physicians left traditional medicine is the right question. The answer is the slow accumulation of administrative weight, every metric, every productivity benchmark, every prior authorization, that arrived not as a hostile takeover but as a series of reasonable-sounding negotiations. The guardrails became the cage. That diagnosis is correct. It is also an argument for what comes next, not an argument against it. Physicians left because institutional employment extracted their autonomy incrementally. The question now is what prevents that from happening again. According to the AMAs 2024 Physician Practice Benchmark Survey, only 35.4 percent of physicians held an ownership stake in their practice in 2024, down from 53.2 percent in 2012 and from approximately 76 percent in the early 1980s. A PAI-Avalere analysis found that 77.6 percent of all U.S. physicians are now employed by hospitals, health systems, or corporate entities. The trend is not slowing. The employer channel, structured on physician terms, is one of the few available mechanisms to reverse it, not by re-entering the same institutional structures, but by negotiating outside them. The analogy that assumes the market already works The grocery store analogy is a clean argument. A grocery store does not need to partner with local employers so workers can afford food. It does not need a TPA between the produce section and the customer. The store sets its prices. The customer decides. It is also describing a market that American health care dismantled decades ago. A DPC practice does not operate in a functioning consumer market. It operates in a market where 154 million Americans access care through employer-sponsored insurance, where the KFF 2025 Employer Health Benefits Survey shows average family premiums have reached $26,993 per year, and where the BLS 2024 Consumer Expenditure Survey shows median household expenditures running $78,535 against pre-tax income of $104,207. A household in that position is not making a free consumer choice. They are deciding whether to add a $100 to $150 monthly DPC membership on top of a catastrophic insurance premium that already consumes a significant share of their disposable income. The grocery store does not have that problem because food is not intermediated by a third-party payer that pre-negotiates what the store can charge before the customer walks in. The reason DPC needs a structural alternative to pure retail demand is precisely because the system has already eliminated the functioning market the analogy assumes. Pointing to that market as the solution does not explain how to reach it from here. Both costs are broken. That is the argument, not the objection The $27,000 employer family premium warrants the same scrutiny as the $150 monthly DPC membership. The $150 membership is not the access problem. It is one of the solutions. The $27,000 annual premium is the problem. That is precisely the argument the employer-aligned case has been making. The employer channel as currently structured routes $27,000 per year per family through insurers who set the terms, design the network, and capture the margin. The case for physician-led employer contracting is not that physicians should accept that structure. It is that the employer relationship can be used to restructure it. When an employer contracts directly with a DPC or direct care practice as a line item in the benefits package, the membership cost is absorbed at the employer level. The household no longer faces the dual burden of the insurance premium and the membership fee simultaneously. The employer gains direct leverage over primary care access and total spend. The physician captures a recurring contract outside insurance billing architecture. The insurer is partially disintermediated. That is not capitulation to the broken system. That is using the employers existing economic position to route around it. The $27,000 premium and the $150 membership are both symptoms of the same structural failure. The employer channel, structured correctly, addresses both. The questions on the board were already there Four questions have been central to this analysis from the beginning: Which partnership structures preserve physician autonomy and panel discipline? Which contracting models maintain price transparency? Which employer arrangements expand access without recreating administrative burden? Where does new infrastructure add clinical value versus simply adding margin layers? Those questions did not originate as objections. They are the analytical framework this work has been building toward. The fact that they are now being raised as challenges to the employer-aligned argument is worth noting, because the framing assumes the questions point toward retail DPC as the answer. The case for pure retail DPC is straightforward: no employer, no intermediary, patient pays physician directly. The physician sets panel size, sets price, and controls the relationship. That model works, and it deserves credit for what it has built. The market, however, has already moved underneath it. According to the Hint Health 2025 Employer Trends in Direct Primary Care report, compiled from data across 2,400 DPC clinicians, 7,200 employer sponsors, and 1.2 million members, 58 percent of all DPC memberships in 2024 were employer-sponsored, up 18 percent since 2022. A third of employer-DPC memberships now flow through networks rather than independent practices. The retail model is actively becoming majority employer-sponsored. The question was never whether retail DPC can survive. The question is whether independent physicians control what is replacing it. The practices already working inside employer-aligned structures are building the answers contract by contract. Those answers require operational context that no op-ed can provide. What can be said here is that the questions are the right ones, and that asking them is exactly what physicians entering this space should be doing before they sign anything. The physician is the product. The question is who structures the deal Primary care physicians are the front door of a $5.3 trillion system. Every referral is a capital routing decision. Every panel is a revenue stream that flows somewhere. The physician carries the clinical relationship. The current system captures the economic return. The Milbank 2026 Primary Care Scorecard shows national primary care spending dropped to 4.5 percent of total health expenditure in 2023. OECD nations average approximately 8 percent. The U.S. spent $5.3 trillion on health care in 2024, and less than five cents of every dollar reached a primary care physician. That gap did not accumulate because physicians lacked clinical skill. It accumulated because physicians accepted influence as a substitute for economic ownership. The concerns about intermediary extraction are legitimate. They are also an argument for physician-controlled contract structure, not an argument against the employer channel. Every platform fee, every TPA arrangement, every navigation vendor taking a cut exists because a physician did not negotiate the terms before signing. The protection is not avoidance. It is the contract. Physicians who understand that are already building it. The employer channel is not the enemy of DPCs founding principles. Unexamined participation in it is. The difference between those two things is the contract. Dana Y. Lujan is a health care strategist and operator with more than twenty years of experience across payers, providers, and health systems. She is the founder of Wellthlinks, a consulting firm that helps employers and providers redesign care models through concierge and direct primary care, and author of The CEO Physician: Strategic Blueprint for Independent Medicine. Dana has led multi-state network development, payer contracting, financial modeling, and compliance initiatives that strengthen provider sustainability and employer value. She previously served as president of the Nevada chapter of HFMA and is pursuing a JD to expand her expertise in health care law and compliance. She has been featured in Authority Magazine and publishes on KevinMD, MedCity News, and Medium, where she writes on health care innovation, direct primary care, concierge medicine, employer contracting, and compliance. She has forthcoming BenefitsPRO. Additional professional updates can be found on LinkedIn and Instagram. As a practicing physician who has worked in the health care field in five different countries, I have a pretty solid idea of why health care in the U.S. is so problematic. In the U.S., many entities related to health care are owned by the same companies. This is a concept called vertical integration, where one business controls every stage of the supply chain. To understand this, imagine the car industry. Suppose one company owned the factory that manufactures car parts. That same company also owns the dealership that sells the cars. They also own the bank that provides the auto loans. They own the insurance company that sells the car insurance. They own the repair shops that fix the cars. And they own the suppliers that provide the replacement parts. If this were the case, how expensive do you think cars and car insurance would be? A company that both sets the price and receives the payment would have no incentive to keep those prices low. This is increasingly what is happening in major parts of U.S. health care. For example, my health insurance is UnitedHealthcare, which is owned by UnitedHealth Group. They operate a highly integrated model: A pharmacy benefit manager (PBM), which acts as a middleman for prescription drugs, called OptumRx A group purchasing organization (GPO) called Emisar A pharmaceutical commercialization company called Nuvaila An advanced therapy distribution and pharmacy business called Optum Frontier Therapies A pharmacy called Optum Specialty Pharmacy A retail pharmacy called Genoa Healthcare Health care providers through Optum This level of ownership is not unique to UnitedHealthcare. Other large health care companies, including Aetna, Cigna, and Anthem, also use vertically integrated models. Why one company is allowed to own businesses at every step of the process is beyond me. An upcoming problem Another development that is adding yet another layer to this system is third-party litigation funding. This is when investors, sometimes including private equity firms and other investment funds, provide money to finance lawsuits. In return, those investors receive a portion of the financial award if the lawsuit is successful. Owning the insurance company, the PBM, the GPO, the drug manufacturer, the distribution centers, the pharmacies, and the doctors offices is apparently not enough. This completely new entity has now been added, creating yet another financial incentive connected to health care. One result that I am seeing is increasing insurance costs for health care providers. In some cases, malpractice insurance has already become so expensive that physicians stop practicing. Many health care providers cannot afford the coverage. Rising liability costs also discourage new physicians from entering the field. We already have a shortage of health care providers, and policies that push doctors out of practice only make it harder for patients to get care. Private equity firms, investment funds, and financial groups now fund lawsuits in the same way they would fund other business ventures. When this intersects with health care, it creates another financial layer in the system. In addition to insurers, pharmacy benefit managers, manufacturers, distributors, and providers, there can now also be investors whose financial return depends on the outcome of medical lawsuits. This means that lawsuits themselves can become financial assets that outside companies invest in. Litigation funding is now yet another business connected to health care where these companies can generate revenue. What is not a solution Having worked in many different countries has given me a unique perspective. First, I will say that the idea of a government-run health insurance system for everyone might sound appealing. However, I have worked in countries that use this type of system, and it has its own problems. Imagine your doctors office being run like the DMV. Government-run organizations are often slow, filled with bureaucracy, and difficult to move forward efficiently. The last time I went to the DMV, I had an appointment and I was still there for three and a half hours. I have patients who live in countries with socialized medicine who actually fly to the U.S. for their appointments with me. Somehow, it is actually quicker for them to be seen that way. In many of these countries where socialized medicine exists, people who have the financial means often purchase private insurance on top of the government system, if that is available. They do this because the government-run health care system does not always provide the level of access or quality of care they are looking for. Think about it this way. If you are arrested, the government provides a public defender for free. But if you had the money, would you go with the public defender or hire your own private attorney? To be clear, universal health care simply means that everyone in the country has access to health care. By that strict definition, universal health care is a good thing. However, the term is often erroneously used to imply a health care system that is run by the government. The more accurate term for a government-run health care system is socialized medicine. To be clear, I am not arguing against universal health care. I am arguing against socialized medicine. I make this argument having worked in socialized medicine in the U.K. and in universal health care in Australia and Japan. The fact that people argue for or against the two without knowing there is a huge difference is concerning but a topic for another time. A potential solution I do not like to complain about problems without offering at least some ideas about what might improve them. My proposed idea would be to separate each entity within the health care system. Let doctors run doctors offices. Let pharmacists run pharmacies. Let insurance companies stay within their own lane. As for PBMs, we should ask whether they are actually necessary. And for companies that fund litigation against health care providers, what benefit to society are they providing? People already sue health care providers all the time. This simply encourages even more litigation. The U.S. is already one of the most litigious countries in the world. Eliminate the middlemen, and the entities that remain should be run by the professionals who actually understand how those parts of the system work. Finally, universal health care would be nice, but perhaps not the government-run kind. Stephanie Waggel is a physician and founder of Improve Medical Culture. She can be reached on X @imedicalculture, Facebook, and Instagram. At her clinic, Improve Life PLLC, she helps adolescents, young adults, and women treat anxiety, depression, relationship problems, stress, OCD, ADHD, and self-esteem issues. She also founded a concierge medical practice for mothers at Moms Physician, which provides personalized care and support for mothers navigating the physical and mental health challenges of pregnancy, postpartum life, and parenthood. Dr. Waggel is also a mother, cancer survivor, author, marathon runner, motivational speaker, and teacher. She has lived in the Washington, DC area for over fifteen years and enjoys serving the community. She has worked in health care in five countries and is overall very familiar with many cultures. Dr. Waggel works to decrease the stigma of mental illness that is present in our society. She was filmed for the movie Do No Harm, which focuses on and discusses abuse in the medical education system, and has been asked to speak for various organizations such as Public Citizen, Care2, and One Story. Her story was chronicled in the KevinMD articles, Hospital fires doctor for having cancer and The doctor fired for having cancer speaks up. She is a member of Postpartum Support International, with a focus on perinatal mental health, and offers internship programs for high school students, college students, and medical students. (Photo courtesy of Haps Magazine Korea) Air Premia will increase flights on its Incheon to Tokyo Narita route, expanding service from seven weekly flights to ten starting March 29. A new afternoon service, operating as flights YP735 and YP736, will be added to the schedule. The exact operating days will vary depending on airport conditions. From March 29 to April 19 the additional flight will run on Monday, Friday and Sunday. From April 20 to April 26 the schedule will shift to Monday, Friday and Saturday, and beginning April 27 the flights will operate on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The new service will depart Incheon International Airport at 1:50 p.m. and arrive at Narita International Airport at 4:30 p.m. The return flight will leave Narita at 5:40 p.m. and land in Incheon at 8:25 p.m. Air Premia first launched the route in December 2022 with four weekly flights. Service expanded to five flights in 2023, six in 2025, and daily flights earlier this year. With the latest increase, the airline will operate ten flights per week. According to the airline, the route has carried more than 513,000 passengers since launch with an average load factor of 91.8%. The News in Brief Wednesday, March 11, 2026 The President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Pere Joan Pons Sampietro, told journalists that a significant communication gap exists between Georgia's government and its opposition. Speaking after meetings at the Government Administration, Sampietro explained that his visit aimed to address the country's democratic state with all major political actors."The [OSCE] Parliamentary Assembly has been working closely with all actors in Georgia over the past 6-7 months. These are confidential, very frank conversations," Sampietro said. "What you have seen over the past two days is the result of these months of work. We managed to work with almost all opposition parties, but also with the Prime Minister, the President, the Foreign Minister, and the [Parliament] Speaker."The OSCE leader raised specific concerns regarding political boycotts and violence. While he emphasized that the organization condemns violence in all forms, he stressed that democratic systems must protect the rights of their citizens."We managed to raise all the issues," Sampietro stated. "Allow me to tell you that we raised the issues of the lack of dialogue, boycott, and violence. This organization [OSCE] condemns all forms of violence, but democratic systems must also protect citizens' rights."Despite meeting with the Prime Minister, the President, and the Speaker of the Parliament, Sampietro concluded that a fundamental lack of engagement persists."And we raised the issue of this lack of dialogue with the Prime Minister, the President, the Parliament Speaker, as well as with the opposition," Sampietro said. "And I must say that there is a lack of dialogue."The United National Movement (UNM) issued a statement on Facebook reaffirming its commitment to a cooperation agreement signed by Georgia's democratic parties on March 2, 2026. The party emphasized its dedication to the newly formed Opposition Alliance, stating that the group's primary goal is to challenge the current government.Under the terms of the agreement, member parties are prohibited from making public statements that delegitimize or discredit one another. The UNM made it clear that it will strictly follow these rules to avoid internal conflict."The agreement also sets out the principles of relations and conduct among the parties, obliging the signatory parties to refrain from any public statements that serve to delegitimize another member party of the alliance," the statement read.The party leadership called on its supporters to focus on strengthening the coalition rather than engaging in political infighting."We distance ourselves from any attacks on partner parties and call on all party members and supporters to adhere to the aforementioned agreement rules and direct all efforts toward strengthening the 'Opposition Alliance' to end Ivanishvili's dictatorial regime," the party concluded. Film director Roman Polanski has been charged with raping a 13-year-old girl at the home of Hollywood star Jack Nicholson. The 43-year-old, who is out on bail, will appear in a Los Angeles court next week. He could receive a prison sentence of up to 50 years if he is found guilty. Polanski is facing four charges including rape, sodomy, child molestation and giving drugs to a minor. According to Los Angeles Police, the rape took place after a photograph shoot at Mr Nicholsons home. Polanski was later arrested at a hotel in Beverley Hills after the childs mother went to the police. She said that her daughter had been taken to the Nicholson home on the understanding that she was being photographed for the French edition of Vogue. But the mother later revealed that her 13-year-old child had been raped. Police also raided Mr Nicholsons home and arrested his girlfriend Angelica Huston, daughter of film director John Huston, after she was found to be in possession of a small amount of cocaine. She too was later freed on bail. Mr Nicholson was not in town at the time and Los Angeles Police said he was in no way connected with the events. Polanski was the husband of actress Sharon Tate, who was one of seven people murdered by the Charles Manson family in 1969. Born in Paris but raised in Poland, he suffered a tragic childhood his Jewish mother was taken to Auschwitz concentration camp and killed in the gas chambers, his father survived Mauthausen concentration camp and Polanski himself managed to escape the Cracow ghetto. [] Courtesy BBC News In context In August 1977 Roman Polanski pleaded guilty to having unlawful sex with the 13-year-old girl. In December of that year he went into prison for a 90-day psychiatric study but was released after 42 days. Knowing that he faced a possible jail sentence, Polanski jumped bail and fled to France in February 1978. The judge who was due to pass sentence on the French-born director, said he only intended to impose a light sentence on Polanski and he would have expelled him from the US had he not fled the country. Since then, the French born director has been unable to return to the US for fear of arrest and imprisonment, and he has avoided making films in the UK because of the danger of extradition. He continued to direct several films in Europe. His film The Pianist landed Mr Polanski an Oscar in 2002 for best director but he was unable to attend the ceremony for fear of arrest. Thirty years after his original conviction, in September 2009 Mr Polanski was arrested in Switzerland on a US arrest warrant. His victim had long since agreed an out-of-court settlement and called for charges against him to be dropped. Like this: Like Loading... Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong announced its 2025 annual results, reporting the completion of the sale of its Macau business for a total consideration of HKD110 million in January, ending more than 20 years of operations in the territory. During the 2025 financial year, the group recorded recurring business revenue of HKD5.45 billion, up 17.3% year-on-year, while EBITDA remained stable at HKD1.51 billion. However, the Macau operations losses weighed on the groups overall performance, resulting in a net loss attributable to shareholders of approximately HKD25 million, a swing from profit to loss. The telecoms Hong Kong business posted a profit of HKD18 million, down 42% from the previous year, mainly due to lower bank interest income, while EBITDA rose 6% to HKD180 million. The Macau segment included a one-time provision for a loss-making contract; excluding this item, the group would have reported a net profit attributable to shareholders of HKD5 million. Capital expenditure for HKT Hong Kong remained stable at HKD433 million. Commenting on the 2025 annual results, a spokesperson for the company said, The disposal of our Macau operations, completed in January 2026, will allow us to allocate resources more effectively to our Hong Kong business, strengthen operational performance, and support the stabilization of the overall business. According to the Legal Affairs Bureaus (DSAJ) company registration, the shareholders of Hutchison Telecom have changed to CTM, with the company collectively holding shares valued at MOP10 million. Like this: Like Loading... The Pharmaceutical Administration Bureau (ISAF) recently held seminars where president Choi Peng Cheong called for pharmacists to be proactive in providing pharmaceutical services, emphasizing the need to be fully informed about the risks of long-term medication use for residents. The official encouraged community pharmacists to take the initiative in monitoring residents with long-term medication use, polypharmacy, and potential health risks when providing pharmaceutical services, and to engage in work promoting both physical and mental health. Choi noted that Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) pharmacists in local pharmacies, along with practitioners working in these pharmacies, can more frequently share knowledge about TCM prevention and health maintenance with residents, promoting the integration of TCM culture into daily life. He added that this actively leverages the unique advantages of TCM in health maintenance and disease prevention, fostering residents physical and mental well-being. During the seminars with the pharmaceutical sector, topics such as promoting residents physical and mental health, pharmaceutical care for the elderly, collaborative market supervision, and industry development were discussed. The president stated, ISAF prioritizes the elderly and children as key care groups, aligning with the governance concept of decentralizing service resources to community neighborhoods and promoting residents physical and mental health. He said the bureau continues to promote the safe use of medications and the culture of TCM among the elderly and youth in community neighborhoods through interdepartmental cooperation and collaboration with pharmacy-related associations and professional organizations. Macaus pharmacies and TCM pharmacies are spread throughout the city, forming an important primary pharmaceutical care network. Community pharmaceutical professionals are among the most accessible and trusted professionals for residents, playing an indispensable role in promoting public health. Choi believes that strengthening the role and function of community pharmacies and TCM pharmacies in safeguarding and promoting public health can further develop the social value of the pharmaceutical profession, bringing community pharmaceutical services closer to residents needs. During exchanges with representatives from the TCM pharmaceutical sector, Choi indicated that the government continues to advance the 1+4 appropriate economic diversification development strategy. Topics such as the development of young pharmaceutical professionals and responding to population aging were also discussed. Sector representatives reflected on the current business situation and offered opinions on market supervision, electronic services, medication supply, and legal dissemination. He stated that as a pharmaceutical supervision and administration service, ISAF firmly adheres to the concept of ensuring safety through supervision and administration, and promoting development through service provision. This year marks the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan and the 3rd Five-Year Plan of the region, and ISAFs president reaffirmed that the bureau will continue to align with these plans. He explained that the 15th Five-Year Plan clearly proposes objectives including promoting the quality enhancement and modernization of priority industries, strengthening the dissemination and influence of Chinese civilization, and driving the heritage and innovation of TCM. The official expressed hope that the sector would put forward suggestions to jointly promote the high-quality development of Macaus TCM industry. He added that ISAF places great importance on communication and collaboration with the sector, soliciting opinions on various pharmaceutical supervision tasks through regular exchanges. Ricaela Diputado ISAF recalls anti-tumor medication The Pharmaceutical Administration Bureau (ISAF) has recalled the prescription medication Tazverik Tablets 200 mg, manufactured by Patheon Pharmaceuticals Inc. in the United States, following a notification from a local drug importer. The medicine, used for treating blood cancer, is being voluntarily recalled globally by its manufacturer as a precautionary measure. The decision comes after continuous clinical trial data suggested a potential increased risk of secondary hematological malignancies, new, distinct blood cancers (e.g., leukemia, lymphoma, myelodysplastic syndrome) that may develop months or years after treatment for a prior primary cancer. The products potential risks may outweigh its therapeutic benefits. According to the importer, the medication had been supplied to private hospitals and polyclinics in the region. The ISAF has instructed the importer to follow up on the recall, and medical institutions and clinics should immediately cease using this medication. Residents who have already obtained the medication from medical institutions or clinics may consult their attending physicians or pharmacists for guidance. For inquiries, residents can contact the ISAF during office hours at 8598 3233. RD Like this: Like Loading... The government has proposed establishing community service zones for seniors across Macau, designed to be accessible within 15 to 20 minutes, while the Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) announced yesterday updates on its population aging plan, indicating that data collection on seniors living alone and in two-elderly households will soon be completed. In mid-2025, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture O Lam announced plans to address aging in Macau, stating that the population aged 65 and older currently stands at 14.6%. This figure is projected to rise to 21.4% by 2029, surpassing the threshold for a super-aged society. By 2041, this percentage is expected to reach 24.8%, nearly one-quarter of the total population. To respond to this demographic shift, the government plans to establish community service zones for seniors across Macau that are accessible within 15 to 20 minutes and include various senior service institutions. The Secretary further emphasized that census data on seniors living alone and in two-elderly households will serve as a crucial foundation for developing community-based elderly care. A follow-up briefing on the aging plan was held yesterday, with Wilson Hon, president of IAS, stating that data collection is nearing completion through the cooperation of more than 70 social service organizations across Macau in order to establish a comprehensive database. This lays the foundation for targeted policy implementation in future elderly services, he noted during his remarks. Notably, the Macau authorities have addressed the issue of insufficient residential care places for the elderly by proposing the exploration of pilot programs. As reported, they aim to identify pilot care facilities in mainland China within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, including Zhuhai, where the government will extend support to elderly residents. Currently, more than 100 related proposals are in the planning stage for implementation within the first two years, as the authorities compile an Action Plan for Elderly Services from 2026 to 2035, with plans to proceed with this initiative as a pilot program. Hons bureau hosted a Lunar New Year banquet for social service personnel yesterday, where he announced that the bureau will systematically implement two long-term plans this year. These initiatives will focus on continuously enhancing services for the elderly and improving rehabilitation services. Facing the dual challenges of declining birth rates and an aging population, Hon emphasized the bureaus commitment to addressing the needs of both the elderly and children. This year, we will collaborate with relevant departments to implement the Full-Cycle Maternal Health Protection Program and the Parent Academy, he stated. He further explained that the goal is to build a comprehensive system of public services and safeguards that spans the entire life cycle and integrates into all aspects of daily life. Meanwhile, the bureau revealed plans to launch a funding program aimed at encouraging social service organizations to procure assistive technology devices. Additionally, it will review the current funding system to support social institutions in enhancing service efficiency and innovation capabilities. Like this: Like Loading... ITV News understands that Irans allies, the Houthis in Yemen, are threatening to close a major trade route between Europe and Asia. There is real concern that an expansion of the war will see the Houthis engage and disrupt shipping through Bab el-Mandeb, which lies between Yemen and Djibouti, according to intelligence sources in the region. What is the Bab el-Mandeb? The Bab el-Mandeb, Arabic for Gate of Tears or Gate of Grief, is a maritime strait separating the Horn of Africa from the Arabian Peninsula. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its positioning makes it one of the most important shipping routes in the world. The narrow passage forms a key commercial chokepoint, connecting the Red Sea, which leads to the Suez Canal, with the Gulf of Aden, which opens into the Indian Ocean. Where is the Bab el-Mandeb located? The Bab el-Mandeb lies between Yemen and Djibouti at the southern end of the Red Sea. Map locating the Bab el-Mandeb Strait What is the strait's significance and what would disruption mean? At only 20 miles wide and 70 miles long, the Bab el-Mandeb geographically small, but vastly influential when it comes to global affairs. It is a gateway for ships travelling between Europe, the Middle East, and Asia via the Suez Canal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several billion tons of cargo pass through the narrow waterway every year, including crude oil and manufactured goods. Without the Bab el-Mandeb being operational, vessels may be forced to reroute. Subscribe free to our weekly newsletter for exclusive and original coverage from ITV News. Direct to your inbox every Friday morning. All the alternative shipping options, such as going around the Cape of Good Hope, would add significant time to the cargo's journey. Any such disruption of traffic would have a near-immediate impact on the availability and cost of imports such as electronics, household goods, clothing, and toys, among other things. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In terms of oil, the strait provides a route for oil and liquefied natural gas to Europe. Who are the Houthis? The Houthis are a political-military movement from northern Yemen, allies of Iran. Yemen controls the Bab el-Mandeb, and the Houthis have, in previous years, used the strait strategically by threatening shipping. Blocking the route would allow the Houthis to participate in indirect confrontation, by disrupting international shipping. Reporting History sees journalists join News At Ten anchor Tom Bradby to revisit their remarkable on-the-day reports of defining events of the modern age. Listen to the episodes below... KUALA LUMPUR, March 11 The countrys higher education admissions process will soon see a structural overhaul under the governments proposed single window, single offer system. The new system will streamline applications while reducing uncertainty for students. While public university admissions are already largely centralised, education policymakers say the new approach could go further by tightening coordination, limiting overlapping offers, and accelerating final placements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here is what it means and how it differs from the current system. What is the current admissions system? At present, applications to public universities are managed through Unit Pengambilan Universiti (UPU), a centralised platform that allows students to rank programme choices across public universities, polytechnics, and community colleges. Through the current system, students can simultaneously apply through multiple channels, including direct applications to private universities, matriculation programmes administered by the Education Ministry, the Malaysian Higher School Certificate (STPM), and overseas universities and private foundation programmes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This means a single student may hold multiple conditional or confirmed offers at the same time. What problem is the government trying to solve? The current structure could lead to students holding seats while waiting for preferred offers, causing late release of vacancies, extended appeal rounds, and uncertainty for both applicants and universities. Universities face difficulties forecasting actual enrolment numbers, while students may endure weeks of anxiety over overlapping deadlines and conditional offers. What would the single window, single offer system change? Under the proposed model, admissions would be processed through a more tightly integrated national platform. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir, the current system does not have a single offer system, and because of that students are able to accept multiple offers. With the single window, single offer system, students who have submitted their applications will receive only one offer, based on their best results, and it will also be grounded in the meritocracy system that we have established all this time. As such, we will no longer have to debate about this year in year out on why one student received a particular offer while another did not. With this unified system referred to as the single window, single offer system there will no longer be two separate systems involved in evaluating students who are entering universities, he told the Parliament in February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In essence, the system aims to reduce duplication and synchronise decision-making across institutions. Rather than receiving multiple confirmed placements, students would receive only one final offer at any given time. Accepting that offer would automatically release other potential seats back into the system. Comparatively, in the current system, vacancies are temporarily locked by undecided students. When will the plan take effect? Zambry said the implementation is for Form Six students and matriculation applicants once the two pre-university pathways are transferred under the Higher Education Ministry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ministry has set 2027 for implementation, with the exact date to be announced later. For now, the ministry is fine-tuning the process, including technical and management matters, as well as legal provisions. Moving ahead The proposal reflects a push toward modernising public service delivery through digital integration and tighter process management. It also signals a move toward greater certainty in a process that affects tens of thousands of Malaysian students each year. Ecuador is in crisis, with a higher murder rate than Haiti, a stagnant economy, and rampant poverty. What is the governments response? Expelling the Cuban embassy and inviting American troops with open arms! On 6 March, staff at the Cuban embassy in Quito were given 48 hours to leave the country. The state gave no explanation for the move, but it came two days after the US Southern Command (the same body which invaded Venezuela), launched a military operation in Ecuador to combat the scourge of narco-terrorism. On March 3, Ecuadorian and U.S. military forces launched operations against Designated Terrorist Organizations in Ecuador. The operations are a powerful example of the commitment of partners in Latin America and the Caribbean to combat the scourge of narco-terrorism. Together, pic.twitter.com/MrkKZcrDbs U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) March 4, 2026 These two events are not a coincidence. Right-wing reactionary President of Ecuador Daniel Noboa has been one of the leaders most welcoming to American imperialism. Ecuador has gone from being one of the safest countries in Latin America, to one of the most dangerous since the pandemic. Noboa wants an El Salvador-style crackdown on gangs, and he wants the Americans to help. Declaring the Cuban Ambassador persona non grata, closing down the embassy, and further isolating the Cuban Revolution is a tokenistic chip to the Americans. The only reason Noboa didnt kick out all Cuban doctors is because Lenin Moreno already did so in 2019. The cocaine trade is at the heart of Ecuadors violence. Its economy was pummeled by COVID and never recovered. The fastest growing export in recent years has been bananas, but thats only because drugs are smuggled with the fruit, which goes to every corner of the world. Ecuador doesnt produce drugs on a significant scale, but it has become a centre of the international drug trade due to its deep sea ports, failing economy, banana industry, and army of unemployed youth. 70 percent of the worlds cocaine (grown in Colombia and Peru) flows through Ecuador, with rival gangs fighting for control. One Ecuadorian man, who began smuggling when he was 14, told the BBC: The Albanian mafia would call me and say: We want to send 500kg of drugs. If you dont accept, they kill you. Demand for cocaine is only growing, especially in Europe. The drug is shipped out in hundreds of tonnes, and searching every shipment of bananas is impossible. This is what makes the Ecuadorian-American mission even more useless. So far, the military operation, headed by the US Southern Command has been vague, unplanned, and aimless. On 6 March, the US used helicopters, aircraft, boats, and drones to bomb a small camp in the jungle, with nothing to show for it except for some craters. The Ecuadorian state has hinted at whats to come, with Noboa saying they are launching a new phase against narco-terrorism and illegal mining, adding: In the month of March, we will conduct joint operations with our regional allies, including the United States. As decades of failed drug-war policies have shown, no amount of militarised warfare will ever clear out drug violence, if the root of the problem remains. But this operation has little or nothing to do with drugs. The real target Just this past November, Noboa gave then-US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristy Noem a horseback tour of former US military bases in the coastal cities of Manta and Salinas, with the plan to reopen them and fill them with US soldiers and equipment. Ecuador has been an excellent partner to the U.S. in our work to stop illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and smugglers on land and on the seas. It was wonderful to be back in this beautiful countryand even better to see it on horseback! President Noboa and First Lady of pic.twitter.com/eU5mQ7C4ag Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) November 6, 2025 Unfortunately for Noboa, the 2008 constitution passed by the left-wing government of Rafel Correa explicitly bans any and all foreign military bases on Ecuadorian soil. The state put forward a referendum to change this, as is required by law, and was defeated by 60 percent. As we said at the time, None of this will stop the oligarchys president. A few days after the defeat in the referendum, Noboa travelled to the US to discuss with his masters how he can continue with the same subservient policies that do nothing but harm the Ecuadorian people. We now know what the new plan is. This language of fighting drugs is a cover for Yankee imperialism. Last year, the US designated two Ecuadorian gangs as terrorist groups, with Marco Rubio saying the move brings all sorts of options of military intervention. The aptly named Americas Counter Cartel Conference held on 5 March and attended by 16 of the Latin American countries closest to the US shows this tactic in its crudest form. Pete Hegseth, speaking at this meeting, told heads of state they must aggressively attack cartels, and that America is prepared to take on these threats and go on the offense alone if necessary. Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, said Cartels that operate in this hemisphere are the ISIS and al-Qaida of this hemisphere and must be treated just as ruthlessly. The Shield of the Americas summit, which met on 7 March, was more of the same, with Kristi Noem telling the 12 invited nations: Our objectives are going to be to destroy the cartels, to go after these narco-terrorists that are destroying our people, killing our children and our grandchildren. Were also going to keep our adversaries at bay. But none of this is about stopping drugs. Noboas family, owners of Noboa Trading, have been caught smuggling hundreds of kilograms of cocaine. No one faced any charges from that seizure, but the reporter behind the story had to flee the country due to death threats from Noboas party. The Noboa family controls the entire chain of the banana export business, from planting and harvesting to transportation and private ports. The real target of America in the hemisphere is, as weve previously written, Chinese economic expansion. Ecuador is one of the Latin American countries most closely tied to China, with exports from the former to the latter increasing a hundredfold in the last 20 years, reaching $5 billion in 2024. The US aims to economically and politically dominate what it sees as its own backyard, and increasing its violent military presence is a key part of this. In Peru, the United States is pushing the state to invest $1.5 billion to expand a naval base to be used by the Americans a mere 80 kilometers from Chinas new megaport in Chancay. Dislodging China from countries heavily dependent on its economy is not easy, but military expansion is the strongest weapon the US has, since it cant compete with Chinese industry. A bad trade This is the current gameplan of the US: strengthen American imperialism with the excuse of fighting drug trafficking, block Chinese economic expansion, and isolate Cuba. This has been done to a greater or lesser extent in countries all over the continent. The Ecuadorian ruling class can try to shoot and bomb their way out of the drug crisis all they want, but Ecuadors problems have deep social and economic roots not solvable under capitalism. Increasing crime and the economic crisis in Ecuador have forced the closure of 11 hospitals and 145 primary health centers. Between 2021 and 2025, Ecuadors health budget was cut by nearly 40 percent. Almost 200,000 dont have access to basic healthcare. The mass poverty and despair of the country will only feed the fire of narco-crime, as people look to survive any way they can. Instead of addressing this, Ecuador is expelling Cuban emissaries and launching costly military operations doomed to fail. The Ecuadorian working class has already decisively rejected the presence of foreign military bases, both in the 2008 constitution and the 2025 referendum, showing the whole democratic process to be a sham. The state will always find a way to get what it wants. Real power comes from mobilisations on the streets. Movements like the general strikes in the 2000s, 2022, and 2025, are exactly whats needed to not only topple the reactionary Noboa government, but to kick out American imperialism with it. The United Nations in Mauritius, in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, marked International Womens Day 2026 with a high-level workshop titled Justice in Practice: A Multi-Stakeholder Workshop on Womens Rights in Vision 2050 on 10 March 2026 at Le Sirius, Le Labourdonnais Hotel. Bringing together government, civil society, academia and UN agencies, the event translated the global theme, Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls, into the local context, ensuring that varied voices informed Mauritius long-term development vision. In her opening remarks, the UN Resident Coordinator for Mauritius and Seychelles, Ms. Lisa Simrique Singh highlighted that the challenges we face are not gender neutral, our policies and development strategies cannot afford to be gender blind. The Hon. Mrs. Marie Arianne Navarre-Marie, Minister of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, highlighted that Rights. Justice. Action these are not aspirations for Mauritius. They are obligations. And this government will meet them. The Hon Gavin Patrick Cyril Glover, SC, Attorney-General stated that The work before us is not glamorous. Much of it happens in drafting rooms, in committee meetings, in the slow revision of procedural rules. But it is essential. A legal system that does not protect women fully cannot credibly claim to protect justice fully. Dr. The Hon. Mrs. Jyoti Jeetun, Minister of Financial Services and Economic Planning, emphasized that Gender should become a design principle, not an add-on. In every area jobs, justice, finance, climate we must ask: what does this mean for girls and women most at risk of being left behind? Through the sharing of lived realities and the application of strategic foresight, the workshop elevated grassroots voices within national development planning and generated civil society-informed recommendations. Participants highlighted the persistent gap between rights guaranteed in law and justice experienced in practice, particularly for survivors navigating reporting and legal systems that are not always survivor-centered. Discussions underscored the need for stronger coordination across legal, medical and social support services, enhanced training for justice actors, and trauma-informed approaches to ensure survivors can access justice safely and with dignity. These outcomes will contribute to the mainstreaming of womens rights in Vision 2050 and reinforce Mauritius commitment to human rights and equal protection under the law. Kenyan President William Ruto on Monday, March 9, signed the National Infrastructure Fund into law, describing it as a landmark initiative aimed at accelerating economic growth and reducing reliance on foreign financing. Speaking in Nairobi, Ruto said mobilising domestic capital would help address development challenges and enable Kenya to finance its transformation independently. The expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport will be the first project funded under the initiative, supported by about 20 billion Kenyan shillings (155 million U.S. dollars) in equity from the fund and domestic institutional investors. Ruto said the fund aims to bridge the countrys infrastructure financing gap by raising over 5 trillion shillings to support major projects, including 10,000 megawatts of clean energy, 50 mega dams, 200 micro-dams, over 1,000 small dams, 2,500 km of dual carriageways, and 28,000 km of roads. He added that the fund will also support the extension of the Standard Gauge Railway from Naivasha to Malaba near the Uganda border and Kisumu in western Kenya. The fund will be overseen by an eight-member board comprising four independent directors, three public officers and a chief executive officer, with financing expected from government allocations, private investment, privatisation proceeds, grants and loans. Senior Ethiopian military officials have described on March 10, the countrys quest for access to the Red Sea as a matter of national survival, sovereignty and long-term development. Speaking at a national Symposium organised by the National Ethiopian Army Association, General Yimer Mekonnen, Head of Education and Training Main Department, said Ethiopias demand for maritime access is rooted in history rather than recent political ambition. He noted that during the Axumite civilisation, ports such as Adulis and Zeila served as major trade gateways for Ethiopia. According to him, recognising Ethiopias right to utilise Red Sea Ports would strengthen the countrys economy and enhance trade linkages with global markets. Also addressing the gathering, Major General Teshome Gemechu, Director-General for External Relations and Cooperation at the Ethiopian National Defence Force, said Ethiopias loss of direct sea access resulted from historical circumstances that detached the country from its natural maritime outlet. Despite this, he stressed that Ethiopia remains committed to regaining access through peaceful and diplomatic means. President of the National Ethiopian Army Association, Sergeant Birhanu Amare, emphasised that the pursuit of maritime access is a national interest that transcends political divisions. He reaffirmed the associations support for the Government and the leadership of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, pledging that veterans would continue to stand behind efforts to secure Ethiopias strategic interests. The symposium brought together members of the National Ethiopian Army Association from across the country to deliberate on Ethiopias long-standing aspiration for access to the Red Sea. Angola currently produces around 35,000 tonnes of tilapia each year, reflecting the countrys growing investment in aquaculture and efforts to boost domestic fish production. Officials from the fisheries sector have said on March 10, tilapia farming has expanded steadily across several provinces, supported by Government programmes aimed at strengthening food security and reducing dependence on imported fish. The freshwater species, widely cultivated in ponds and reservoirs, has become one of the most important farmed fish in the country. Authorities note that the increase in tilapia production is largely driven by the establishment of fish farms, hatcheries and training initiatives for local producers. These measures are intended to improve fish breeding techniques and increase output in both small-scale and commercial aquaculture operations. The government has also encouraged private sector participation in fish farming, viewing aquaculture as a strategic sector capable of creating jobs, improving rural livelihoods and supplying affordable protein to the population. Experts say Angola possesses significant potential for aquaculture because of its favourable climate and abundant inland water resources. With continued investment in infrastructure, technology and training, the country hopes to further expand fish production and strengthen the role of aquaculture in the national economy. Ghanas Tema Oil Refinery is preparing to expand its production capacity as part of efforts to revitalise operations and strengthen its role in the countrys petroleum industry. The refinery is currently undertaking technical processes aimed at increasing its processing capacity from 28,000 barrels per stream day to 45,000 barrels per stream day. The expansion will be achieved through the integration of an additional processing facility known as the F61 unit, which will operate alongside the existing F1 unit. Both units will be linked to the refinerys crude distillation system to enhance operational efficiency and boost overall output once the integration is completed. Officials say engineers are presently carrying out transitional technical procedures required to incorporate the new unit into the refinerys system following the facilitys recent resumption of operations. The refinery is currently operating under a tolling arrangement, where private companies supply crude oil to the facility for processing. Under this system, the refinery charges a processing fee while the refined petroleum products are returned to the companies that supplied the crude. Corporate Affairs Officer Godwin Mahama Ayaba disclosed the plans during an interview on Citi FM on March 9. He explained that under the tolling arrangement, the refinery does not control the marketing or distribution of refined products. Ayaba further indicated that management is exploring additional expansion plans that could increase the refinerys capacity to about 60,000 barrels per stream day in the medium term. " " Some of these places produce more than 1 million barrels per day. pan demin / Shutterstock When you ask what country has the most oil, the answer depends on whether you mean proven oil reserves or oil production. Proven reserves measure how much crude oil can be economically extracted with current technology. By that metric, a small group of nations dominates global oil reserves. Advertisement Here are 10 countries with the most proven oil reserves and how their oil sectors shape the global energy market. AsiaticLibrary 011 More than 2,000 rare and precious books are reportedly missing from the historic library of The Asiatic Society of Mumbai, insiders have told Mumbai Mirror, raising concerns about the status of valuable literary treasures. Life members, former managing committee members and insiders from the research wing of the century-old institution have alleged that thousands of rare volumes have either been misplaced, lost or simply vanished from the library.Sources within the Society told Mumbai Mirror that a list maintained internally already records over 2,000 books marked as misplaced. What has alarmed members is that a significant portion of these books belong to rare and historically valuable collections, some of which may be difficult, if not impossible, to replace.Many titles marked as misplaced are part of the Societys rare archives. These are books that scholars from across the world come to study, said an insider, questioning the administrations silence. If these books cannot be located, why has an FIR not been filed yet? Whats stopping the office bearers from initiating a formal investigation?Despite repeated attempts, in person and over messages, Vispi Balaporia, president, The Asiatic Library, refused to respond to Mirrors questions.Charity Commissioner Amogh Kaloti declined comment, citing that the Assembly is in session. The Society is a public charitable trust.Officials tight-lippedFounded in 1804, it is one of the oldest non-governmental institutions in the country and houses an extraordinary collection of manuscripts, rare books and historical documents. Its iconic Town Hall building in South Mumbai has long been a magnet for historians, researchers and bibliophiles.However, insiders claim irregular stock-taking of books may have contributed to the problem. According to sources, the library has allegedly not conducted systematic audits of its holdings, making it difficult to determine exactly when the books went missing.Sources told Mirror that the issue was recently raised in the ongoing Assembly session, after which the Charity Commissioner is said to have sent an inspector to The Asiatic Society to take stock of the situation and record number of books at the historic library.After the inspector submitted a detailed report before the Commissioner on March 9, the president of The Asiatic Library was called to Kalotis office and asked about thousands of books apparently missing from the library, said source at the Charity Commissioner office.Former members of the managing committee said the issue has been quietly discussed within internal circles for some time. Yet, critics argue that no decisive action has been taken to trace the missing volumes or determine whether they were stolen, misplaced, or damaged.Elections soonMirror had on October 8 reported about the crumbling infrastructure of the library. The society is also mired in a political tussle. After several failed attempts, elections are scheduled for March 14 to fill 19 positions on the managing council. Its a straight Congress vs BJP fight for the presidents post, with ex-MP Kumar Ketkar taking on the BJPs Vinay Sahasrabuddhe.Loss of historical knowledgeThe allegations have triggered concern among scholars and heritage conservationists, who warn that the disappearance of rare books could mean the irretrievable loss of valuable historical knowledge.These collections are part of our intellectual heritage, said a researcher familiar with the librarys archives. If rare books disappear without accountability, it is a loss not just for Mumbai, but for the larger academic world.As pressure mounts, members are demanding transparency from the Societys administration and calling for a thorough audit of the librarys holdings. Many believe that registering a police complaint could be the first step toward uncovering what really happened to the missing books.A life member, Vaijayanthi Chakravarthy, said, We are aware of the issue. We need digitization.The director (in-charge) of Dr MM PV Kane Research Institute, Dr Suraj Pandit, said, I would underline that there is anomaly in the data which the Society has maintained, there is no maintenance of the historic library, research students hardly get books to study here, most of the posts are vacant, etc.Meanwhile, former manging committee member Vivek Ganpule said, According to the official records, more than 2,000 books are misplaced. It means these books were not returned to the library by the members. In January last year, a 23-year-old woman met a 20-year-old man in January on the social media platform X. As the two became acquainted, they started communicating on Instagram. The conversation soon turned into a year-long cycle of abuse when the accused allegedly threatened the victim to send nudes. As the victim complied after long-term pressure and abuse, the accused allegedly began harassing her by sending the same photographs through various social media accounts under different names. Distressed by the continued harassment and at the verge of taking the extreme step, she contacted a helpline associated with the NGO Brush of Hope, with the support of the Maharashtra Cyber Department. After going through counselling, she filed a complaint, following which Sakinaka police arrested the accused on March 7 from Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh. During interrogation, the accused allegedly told investigators that he committed the crime due to porn addiction. This is not an isolated case as many women in the city continue to face from cyberbullying, sextortion and online harassment. Officials report that the cyber-harassment helpline launched by Maharashtra police, in collaboration with Brush of Hope, has received nearly 8,000 distress calls since its launch on International Womens Day last year March 8, 2025 indicating that the sheer scale of cyber abuse. Before the helpline was introduced, state police had received nearly 1,000 cyber harassment complaints in 2024, with around two girls approaching the police daily with such grievances, an officer said. According to data shared by the NGO, between March 2025 and December 2025, the helpline received over 6,787 calls, averaging about 21 calls a day and nearly 1,100 interactions per month. During this period, 49 cases were resolved purely through counselling without the need for legal escalation, while 34 cases remained under counselling and monitoring. With the helplines support, six FIRs were registered. As of March 10, the helpline has received 1,213 calls, with the daily average increasing to around 40 calls. Officials said 53 cases were resolved through counselling, while 25 cases remain under monitoring, and 27 cases required police intervention, leading to eight FIRs being registered, including the Sakinaka case. The Sakinaka case According to the complaint in the Sakinaka case, the accused sent screenshots to the victim claiming that her photographs had already been uploaded or were about to be circulated online. The victim also received threatening messages from multiple social media accounts suspected to be operated by the same individual, pressuring her to send more explicit images. The accused allegedly warned her that if she did not comply, her photographs would be shared with her family members, friends and social media contacts, an official said. The continuous threats caused severe emotional distress to the woman, who eventually sought help through the helpline. Brush of Hope counsellors provided emotional support and guided the victim on preserving digital evidence such as screenshots, usernames and message records. She was also informed about her legal rights and advised to approach the police. Following this, the woman, accompanied by her sister, approached the Sakinaka police station, where an FIR was registered. Police officials said Maharashtra Cyber Cell, headed by ADG Yashasvi Yadav, assisted in tracing the digital footprints linked to the social media accounts used in the harassment. During the investigation and digital tracking, the accused was identified as Aman Tiwari and arrested from Kanpur. He was later produced before a court in Mumbai and has been remanded to judicial custody. Officials urged victims of online abuse not to hesitate in reporting such incidents and to preserve digital evidence that could assist investigations. The Pentagon burned through $5.6 billion worth of munitions during the first two days of its military assault on Iran, according to three US officials, a figure that underscores the deepening alarm among some on Capitol Hill over the speed at which US forces have eaten into the scarce supply of Americas most advanced weaponry. The estimate, shared with Congress on Monday, raises new questions about the Trump administrations broad dismissal of lawmakers concerns that the Iran operation is quickly eroding the militarys readiness. Pressure building in Cong The Trump administration also is expected to send Congress a supplemental defence budget request as soon as this week - potentially totalling tens of billions of dollars - to help sustain its campaign, officials said. That, too, is expected to face opposition from many Democrats whose attempts to restrain the administration from further military action in Iran have come up empty. In response to questions from The Washington Post about the state of US weapons inventories, Sean Parnell, the Pentagons chief spokesman, issued a statement saying that the Defence Department has everything it needs to execute any mission at the time and place of the Presidents choosing and on any timeline. Its unclear how long the war could last. President Donald Trump said last week that the operation could take more than a month, though on Monday he told CBS News that it is very complete, pretty much, citing Irans significant military losses. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine told reporters last week that the campaign was transitioning away from its reliance on precision munitions and instead will increasingly use the more plentiful stores of laser-guided bombs as US and Israeli forces push inland after establishing air superiority over Iran. High cost of precision warfare The $5.6 billion figure highlights how costly the strikes were before that transition began, said the officials, who like some others spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive estimate. They did not specify how many and what kinds of munitions were expended in the wars opening days. The Post has previously reported that the military has fired hundreds of precision weapons since the start of hostilities on Feb. 28, including advanced air defence interceptors and Tomahawk cruise missiles. US Central Command, which oversees military operations throughout the Middle East, has said that more than 3,000 targets have been hit in Iran using more than 2,000 munitions. Mark Cancian, who closely monitors U.S. inventories at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, said the shift away from these longer-range munitions will dramatically lower the price of each strike, from millions of dollars spent on each round fired to less than $100,000, in some cases. Weapons moved from other regions As it churns through its inventories, the military is also rerouting assets from other parts of the world, including the Indo-Pacific region, where lawmakers have long feared that any US conflict with China would be challenged by the Pentagons limited stocks of high-end weapons. The Pentagon is moving parts of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) system from South Korea to the Middle East, according to two separate officials. The military is also drawing from its supply of sophisticated Patriot interceptors in the Indo-Pacific and elsewhere to bolster its defence against Irans drone and ballistic missile attacks, these people said. One of the officials said the moves were not due to an immediate shortage of weaponry in the Middle East but were rather a precautionary measure in case Iran drastically increased its rate of retaliatory attacks, which had fallen more than a week into the conflict. The more THAADs and Patriots you shoot, the more risk you assume in the Indo-Pacific and in Ukraine, Cancian said. The two air defence systems are considered the most advanced in the world. Growing risks and losses Ahead of the operation, Caine had warned Trump that an extended conflict with Iran could deplete US stocks of precision weaponry, sapped after years of support for Ukraine in its war with Russia and the administrations other military actions in at least seven countries, The Post has reported. The administration has sought to downplay Caines assessment. Analysts have said theyve been surprised at the sophistication of Irans retaliatory strikes, including its ability to target and at times overwhelm key parts of US and Israeli air defence systems like radars and command and control infrastructure. Russia is supplying Iran with intelligence to enhance the accuracy of its strikes against American forces, a move that could compensate for the damage the Iranian military has sustained in the war. Three American F-15 fighter jets were also downed in a friendly-fire incident with Kuwait. Cancian estimated that the planes cost about $100 million each. Seven American service members have died a little more than a week into the war, six during a drone strike in Kuwait and another after an attack in Saudi Arabia. John Hudson and Ellen Nakashima contributed to this report. Last month, US President Donald Trump signed bipartisan legislation that includes $108.8 million for the US programme to fight neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). As people of faith who have previously served in the government, we see the US NTD programme not as charity but as a morally sound investment grounded in support from the private sector and faith-based groups to make America safer, stronger and more prosperous. NTDs are a group of 21 conditions, including dengue, chikungunya, rabies and leprosy, that thrive amid tropical poverty. When they do not kill, they maim or marginalise their victims. And they have profound economic consequences for the places where they are endemic. Several diseases are close to elimination, and many could be consigned to the dustbin of history with continued US leadership. NTDs threaten approximately 1.5 billion people worldwide. This is down from almost 2.2 billion in 2010, in no small part because of the US commitment to eliminate NTDs. Indeed, 600 million people around the world nearly twice the size of the US population are no longer at risk from these diseases, thanks to the American taxpayer. US leadership on NTDs isnt just about improving global health outcomes or caring for the least of these. These diseases are in the American homeland, and they strike Americans deployed overseas. Some will remember troops returning from Iraq in 2004 with leishmaniasis, or Baghdad boil, which causes symptoms that include sores, fever and swelling of the liver. But leishmaniasis isnt just in the Middle East; its endemic in Arizona, Oklahoma and Texas. Late last year, the first locally acquired case of the mosquito-borne disease chikungunya in New York was reported in Long Island. In California, Florida and Texas, dengue cases are increasing, Chagas disease is endemic in several states, and some 200 cases of leprosy are reported in the US every year. If we are not careful, more NTDs will follow. Thats because these diseases dont have far to travel; many are endemic in Latin America and the Caribbean. They are also a sad, enduring reality in places of strong US strategic interest like the Philippines and Indonesia. Since 2006, the US has invested in country-led distribution of NTD medicines donated by pharmaceutical companies. To date, companies have donated nearly 30 billion treatments. Its hard to overstate the impact of these corporate donations. They save lives, prevent illness and help America leverage more than $1 billion in donated drugs every year. Thanks to this collaboration, 60 countries have eliminated at least one of these diseases entirely. And we are on track to reach the global goal of eliminating at least one NTD in 100 countries by 2030. This reflects the deep commitment to fighting NTDs by the countries that are most affected. Earlier this year, faith leaders wrote a joint letter calling for US leadership on NTDs, crediting Americas historic success on the diseases as a testament to what can be achieved when faith, science, and compassion converge. With support like this from the president and Congress, America can continue to lead in the fight to eliminate these ancient scourges. Stewart Simonson served as assistant secretary for public health emergency preparedness, US. Tim Ziemer served as senior director for global health security and biodefense at the National Security Council and as US global malaria coordinator The Washington Post The Dandpatta, a gauntlet sword with a long, sharp blade attached to a padded hilt, was built for speed, swishing arcs, especially for a soldier on horseback. Today, the Dandpatta is something more than a weapon. It became an emblem of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the 17th-century warrior king who stretched the Maratha kingdom across the subcontinent. In 2024, Maharashtra declared the Dandpatta the Rajyashastra, or the state weapon. The age of Shivaji Maharaj was, among many things, an age of extraordinary ingenuity in arms. His armies wielded the Firangi, a straight-bladed sword imported from Europe, the Shamsher, a curved and single-edged sword, and the rare Kirach, a long blade that tapers almost imperceptibly toward its tip. But of all the objects that survive from this period, none captures the imagination quite like the Wagh Nakh. The tiger claw is a compact set of iron blades worn across the knuckles, which is just as deadly as it is inconspicuous. This cache of Maratha-era weapons comes together at the governments latest Museum on Wheels, titled the Shiv Shastra Shaurya Gatha. The Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Maharashtra, has put together 104 weapons inside a customised bus that will be travelling across the state throughout the year. Beyond the static exhibition Tejas Garge, Director of Archaeology and Museums, Maharashtra, says they wanted to reach audiences beyond the gallery-going public, reach every house and every child. We wanted to spread the spirit of nationalism, of resilience and to perpetuate the idea that never take arms unless its necessary, he adds. The Museum on Wheels was launched at the P. L. Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Academy in Mumbai on February 19 by Culture Minister Ashish Shelar. The idea came off the back of yet another exhibition, one with an exceptionally blood-soaked history. In 1659, when a supposed peace negotiation with Bijapur Sultanate general Afzal Khan turned deadly, it was a concealed Wagh Nakh that saved Shivaji Maharaj and ended his adversary. For centuries afterwards, that same weapon sat in Londons Victoria and Albert Museum after the last Chhatrapati of Marathas, Pratap Singh Bhonsale, gifted it to an English officer. Years were spent in negotiations to bring the Wagh Nakh back until 2024, when it came home on a three-year loan. Its display, along with other weapons, drew massive interest across Satara, Nagpur, and Kolhapur, the heartland of the Bhonsale family. The museum could not reach a large number of people, so we decided to put a similar one on wheels, says Garge. He, along with weapons expert Girija Dudhat, curated the articles on display. The collection invites viewers to look at artistry just as much as history, with handles and hilts carved with animals, revealing the craftsmanship of the era that had an eye for both power and beauty. The visitors can also spend time tuning in to short two-and-a-half-minute documentaries that detail Shivaji Maharajs life and victories. Metal collection The plan is to cover all 36 districts over the year, parking at district collectorates and opening its doors to schools and institutions. The bus arrived in Nashik less than two weeks ago and has already drawn 16,000 visitors, according to Garge. In one visit, Garge watched a group of specially-abled children cluster around the displays, absorbed, asking questions about Maratha martial arts. Seeing his objective come to life, Garge says, This is for them the younger generations, to expose them to history through real objects. While Shivajis history remains alive in folk culture, street names, and political imagination, what the Museum on Wheels offers, rolling from district to district, is a chance to witness the metal that forged the Marathas valour. The museums schedule will be available on mahaarchaeology.in soon. Nazrin Abdul The U.S.-Azerbaijan Trade and Business Conference held in Washington focused on strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries, expanding economic cooperation, and boosting bilateral trade relations, AzerNEWS reports, citing the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR). According to a statement from the company, the conference featured an opening session titled Strengthening Bilateral Trade and Strategic Cooperation. Speaking at the session, SOCAR President Rovshan Najaf emphasized that more than three decades of successful energy cooperation between Azerbaijan and the United States have made a significant contribution to the development of Azerbaijans energy sector. He noted that U.S. companies were among the first partners involved in Azerbaijans major oil and gas projects, adding that the foundation of this cooperation was laid with the signing of the Contract of the Century. Najaf said that cooperation between SOCAR and U.S. companies has expanded over the years across multiple areas of the energy sector. In addition to exploration and production, the partnership now includes engineering, digital technologies, and sustainability initiatives. He also highlighted the growing importance of data centers, noting that demand has increased alongside the expanding use of artificial intelligence in business. Najaf further stressed that Azerbaijan continues to provide reliable natural gas supplies to Europe through the Southern Gas Corridor, playing an important role in strengthening Europes energy security. According to him, Azerbaijans strategic geographic location, developed infrastructure, and long-standing experience in international cooperation have reinforced the countrys position as a regional energy hub and a key gateway to the Caspian region. Addressing regional connectivity, Najaf noted that initiatives such as TRIPP create significant opportunities to promote trade and enhance regional integration, contributing to economic cooperation and long-term stability in the South Caucasus. The conference also included several panel discussions on cooperation opportunities in the energy, technology, and finance sectors. SOCAR Vice President Afgan Isayev spoke during a panel session titled Development of Energy Infrastructure and Capital Flows into the Future Energy Sector. Last month, the Strategic Partnership Charter between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the United States was signed. In this context, the U.S.-Azerbaijan Trade and Business Conference is seen as an important platform for expanding business ties and identifying new investment opportunities between companies from both countries. Arnold, CA The California Office of Emergency Services will be in Calaveras County this week conducting damage assessments of privately owned structures. The Calaveras County Sheriffs Office reports that it is part of the ongoing response efforts following the late February storm system. It is a joint project in coordination with the Calaveras County Office of Emergency Services and the Building Department. The county declared a State of Emergency, which is still being reviewed by California officials. If approved, a low-interest loan program may become available for eligible residents and businesses to support recovery efforts. In addition, AT&T continues to make repairs in the Arnold area after 49.000 feet of cable were damaged during the storm, disrupting phone and internet service. The sheriffs office reports that AT&T immediately deployed dozens of crews to begin rebuilding the service network. As of yesterday, all 49,000 feet of damaged cable have been successfully repaired. They are now moving into the final stages of recovery as they tend to roughly 800 homes that require replacement lines, tying each house directly into their network. In addition, the Calaveras County Public Works crews are actively addressing storm-related roadway issues. In these efforts, they are ensuring that roadways are cleared of all remaining storm debris, that infrastructure is repaired, and that roads are safe to travel on, ultimately leading to open roadways. PARIS (AP) Gasoline prices are rising largely because of the Iran wars impact on the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passageway for oil and gas from the Persian Gulf. The waterway off Irans coast, now effectively closed, is so vital for the global economy that governments are working on blueprints to speedily reopen it to shipping when the shooting stops. In Europe, French President Emmanuel Macron is leading an international effort to unblock the energy choke point, so that oil, gas and goods could flow freely again when circumstances permit. He envisions countries using warships to escort tankers and container vessels through the strait when fighting is less intense, whenever that may be. Former naval officers who have served in the Hormuz passage say vessels would be sitting ducks, with little room for maneuver in the straits narrow shipping lanes, if foreign naval forces attempted to reopen the waterway before a cessation of hostilities. In todays context, sending warships or civilian vessels into the Strait of Hormuz would be suicidal, French navy retired Vice Adm. Pascal Ausseur said in an interview with The Associated Press. A ceasefire agreement with Iran would make the situation shift from suicidal to dangerous. At that point, military ships could be deployed. And then escort operations could begin, he said. Heres a look at how Hormuz might be made navigable again: Battle-hardened in the Red Sea French, American, British and other naval crews already have valuable experience of fighting off missiles and drones in the region. They have escorted and defended cargo vessels through attacks in the Red Sea carried out by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. French frigates used machine guns, cannons and sophisticated air-defense missiles to fend off Houthi strikes. French frigate Alsace downed three ballistic missiles in the Red Sea in 2024 as it was escorting a container ship. The ships commander at the time, Capt. Jerome Henry, told the AP that being on the receiving end of the potentially deadly strikes was unnerving and exhausting. The sea battles also took a toll on U.S. Navy ships and personnel. There were repeated attacks, either by drones or missiles, Henry said in an interview. The crew didnt get much sleep. French retired Vice Adm. Michel Olhagaray, a former head of Frances center for higher military studies, says that all navies learned a great deal about working together and escorting ships from their Red Sea missions and have also drawn on Ukraines experiences against Russian barrages of missiles and drones during Moscows war. It would allow us to deploy to that region with fairly refined know-how and a high level of cooperation and that is extremely important, said Olhagaray, who commanded a French frigate that patrolled the Strait of Hormuz during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s. Higher risks Iran is militarily far better equipped than its Houthi proxies in Yemen, which caused considerable damage and disruption in the Red Sea between November 2023 and January 2025. Armed by Iran, the rebels targeted more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two and killing four sailors, and greatly reduced trade flows. Iran can reach all of the Strait of Hormuz and its approaches with anti-ship cruise missiles that it developed off Chinese-made weapons, according to mapping by the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency. It can also target vessels with longer-range missiles, drones, fast attack craft and naval mines, which it used during the Iran-Iraq war. U.S. strikes on mine-laying Iranian vessels in this latest conflict underscore the gravity of that danger. With war raging, the Hormuz passage is very, very dangerous and the risks for shipping are much greater than in the Red Sea against the Houthis, Olhagaray said. The means to counter this threat must be far more substantial and far more effective, he said. Before the heat can decrease most of the offensive installations on land in Iran would have to be eliminated. There would need to be constant monitoring, patrols, extremely close surveillance, and a very high level of intelligence to be able to say that it would be possible to allow tankers to transit, even with military escorts. That will not happen at all not at all in the near future. Reassuring insurers Experts say another challenge will be reassuring shipping insurers and companies that navigating in Hormuz waters is feasible again. Insurance premiums for shipping in the strait have soared to levels that Frances transport minister described as insane, causing a big problem for shippers. Maritime traffic is a business. That business has to make money. If insurance costs are so high that you cant make a profit by sailing through a given area, then you dont sail through that area, said Ausseur, now a director of the Mediterranean Foundation for Strategic Studies, a think tank. Insurance rates for oil tankers that want to transit through Hormuz are many times higher than they were before the war and are approaching levels that have been charged for ships carrying grain from Ukraine during the ongoing war with Russia, said Marcus Baker, global head of marine, cargo and logistics for insurance broker and risk adviser Marsh Risk. Potential naval escorts for commercial ships would be helpful, Baker said. Thats been done before in conflicts past, so thats not something unusual and that will obviously give a degree of confidence to the insurers that the vessels are going to have a greater degree of safety, he said. ___ Mae Anderson in New York, and Sylvie Corbet in Paris, contributed to this report. By JOHN LEICESTER Associated Press Police in Orlando, Florida, have arrested and charged a 46-year-old Kenyan-born nurse, Abedinecho Kyalo Katue, for allegedly sexually assaulting a vulnerable patient. Officers from the Orlando Police Department took Katue into custody last week following a months-long investigation into an incident at AdventHealth hospital on East Rollins Street. The arrest affidavit traces the case back to January 2025. At that time, police responded to a call from the hospital after a patient reported an assault while receiving medical care. The victim, who was recovering from a right leg amputation and had her left foot in a cast, informed investigators that Katue was the nurse assigned to her. She stated that he entered her room several times late at night and during the early morning hours. According to her account, he made comments about her looks, telling her how attractive she was and that he wanted to take special care of her. The woman further alleged that the nurse touched and penetrated her with his finger. He reportedly claimed he was checking her genitals, even though her medical procedures had nothing to do with that area of her body. Investigators reveal that the victim secretly recorded some of these encounters. One officer wrote: I reviewed the audio recordings. However, some were very low volume, and it was difficult to make out everything clearly. In one of the recordings, Katue can be heard saying, I cant remember the last time I took care of such a young, black, beautiful girl like you. Authorities say the abuse worsened when the woman reported that Katue entered her room while she used a bedpan, touched her inappropriately, and told her his actions were normal. She also alleged that he gave her morphine through her IV without her permission to try to keep her quiet. Following a long investigation, police issued a warrant for Katues arrest last year. However, they only caught him last week after an officer spotted his white Range Rover on Orange Blossom Trail and identified him as the wanted suspect. Katue now faces several charges, including sexual battery on a physically incapacitated person and lewd or lascivious battery on a disabled individual. According to jail records, he remains in the Orange County Jail without bond while his case moves through the American legal system. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has arrested a TikTok user seen tearing Kenyan banknotes in a viral video. In a 27-second clip shared on the popular social media platform, the internet user identified as Maximilian Motara places stacks of money on a table, specifically bundles of Sh100 notes, and tears them apart one by one. The DCI confirmed the arrest in a statement on March 10. They noted that the Banking Fraud Investigations Unit (BFIU), a specialized division that fights financial crimes and protects the banking sectors integrity, led the operation. Banking Fraud Investigations Unit (BFIU) detectives have arrested a man who was wanted for allegedly mutilating Kenyan currency notes and flaunting the acts on TikTok, stated the DCI. The DCI confirmed that the man is in custody as they prepare to take him to court. There you go. Law is law, I actually felt bad bana na hiyo siku niliuza tu nyanya ya 70 bob the whole day. Finya yeye qumamaye pic.twitter.com/s5qTF4a9pA Barrack Gumba (@_gumba1) March 10, 2026 Under Kenyan law, it is a criminal offense to deliberately damage money. Wilfully tearing, cutting, defacing, or mutilating banknotes is illegal. According to Section 367A of the Penal Code (Cap. 63), anyone found guilty of these actions faces a fine of up to Sh2,000, a prison sentence of up to three months, or both. The Penal Code also defines defacement broadly. Any intentional destruction, including writing on, stapling, or folding notes in a way that damages them, falls under this category. The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) holds the sole responsibility for protecting the nations currency. Due to this responsibility, the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) frequently implements enforcement measures against any actions that misuse Kenyan money. The arrest comes barely a month after the CBK banned the growing practice of folding banknotes into flower-like bouquets and using cash as decorative gifts, saying the trend damages currency and disrupts circulation. In a statement released on February 2, the regulator said it had noted an increase in the use of Kenyan shilling banknotes for celebratory and ornamental purposes, including cash flower bouquets, decorative displays, and similar arrangements popular at weddings, birthdays, and graduations. The CBK warned that damaged notes interfere with the smooth operation of cash-handling systems across the banking sector. It explained that adhesives, pins, staples, and tape affect the performance of automated teller machines (ATMs), cash-counting machines, and sorting equipment used by banks and businesses. This results in increased rejection of banknotes during processing and leads to premature withdrawal and replacement of currency, at an avoidable cost to the public and store of value, the bank added. The ODM Linda Wananchi movement is stepping up to provide an independent look at how the 10-Point Agenda, originally brokered by President William Ruto and former party leader Raila Odinga, is actually moving along. Deputy party leader Godfrey Osotsi noted that the group intends to publish a Peoples Report to show the real progress of the reform commitments pledged to Kenyans in the March 7, 2025 agreement. Tomorrow, Wednesday, we shall release a Peoples Report presenting an independent assessment of the true status of the implementation of the 10-Point Agenda, Osotsi said yesterday. Osotsi framed this move as a way to protect ODMs core values and the various reform promises made to the public. He argued that Kenyans have a right to an honest, unbiased account of the progress made on the National Dialogue Committee framework. He cautioned that any lack of clarity would dishonor the sacrifices made by citizens who fought for political and economic change. The Vihiga Senator took aim at certain ODM leaders for spinning misleading stories about the deal. He specifically challenged claims that the agreement lacks a timeline or that March 7 serves only as a symbolic anniversary. Osotsi argued that this perspective is wrong and threatens the reform goals born from the National Dialogue Committee (Nadco) and the nationwide protests. He reminded everyone that those demonstrations grew from a public demand for better governance and economic accountability. He insisted that the KICC signing was far more than a political photo op. Instead, he described it as the hard-won result of public pressure and negotiations designed to fix governance flaws, ease economic pain, and protect human rights. Osotsi highlighted his personal involvement in the negotiations for the March 2025 deal and the follow-up framework the two leaders signed on August 6, 2025. He explained that before finalizing the agreement, ODM held internal talks where some members suggested turning the partnership into a formal coalition with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA). However, he noted that Odinga turned down the idea, firmly stating that the engagement with President Ruto must prioritize reforms over political alliances. The senator also shared that the ODM Central Management Committee eventually found that the government had ignored several reform promises. This failure prompted the party to create a five-member oversight team to track the progress of the implementation. Even with this oversight in place, Osotsi claimed the public mostly receives PR spin instead of clear, steady updates on reform progress. He cautioned that downplaying these commitments threatens the very core values of the ODM party. The National Dialogue Committee report and the subsequent 10-Point Agenda Agreement were not political conveniences. They were the result of sustained public agitation and national demand for reforms, he said. Osotsi pointed out that Kenyans sacrificed a great deal to win these concessions. He insisted that no one should downplay or twist these promises for cheap political points. He promised that the upcoming Peoples Report will deliver a blunt, independent look at whether the reforms sparked by the Raila-Ruto talks are actually happening. This development comes as UDA and ODM lawmakers gathered in Nairobi on Tuesday for a joint parliamentary group meeting. Their main goal was to evaluate and align their efforts on carrying out the 10-Point Agenda, which is a strategic plan outlining ten key priorities for development and reform. Former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju faced a major blow after the High Court dismissed his attempt to stop the auction of his multi-billion-shilling property to settle a Sh2.2 billion bank loan. In 2024, Tuju sought court injunctions to prevent Garam Investment Auctioneers from selling his prime assets in Karen and along Ngong Road in Nairobi. This move followed several previous rulings against him, including one from a London court. Despite those setbacks, the former Rarieda lawmaker tried to reopen the case. He argued that he had found new evidence regarding the Sh2.2 billion debt dispute with the East African Development Bank. However, the Supreme Court of Kenya had already dismissed Tujus appeal in 2023. Justices Philomena Mwilu, Mohammed Ibrahim, Smokin Wanjala, Njoki Ndungu, and William Ouko stated that Tuju failed to justify his request to introduce more evidence. As a matter of course, the petitioners have not explained the relevance of this further witness statement in relation to their appeal, they said. The evidence at the center of the dispute was a witness statement that David Washington Barnabas Ochieng recorded with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations on December 21, 2022. Tuju tried to introduce this statement to provide details about the early contract negotiations between him and the bank. In another blow, Tujus business, Dari Limited, lost its bid to throw out an affidavit from the East African Development Bank. Carol Luwaga had sworn the affidavit in question. Tuju and four other petitioners, including Dari Limited, challenged the banks response. They argued that Luwagas replying affidavit, which opposed his appeal, was invalid. Tuju claimed in court documents that Luwaga, a resident of Kampala, Uganda, could not have sworn to the document in Nairobi as stated. This is because it was allegedly sworn in Nairobi before a Commissioner for Oaths without any evidence that she was in Nairobi at the time, Tuju argued in court documents. Back in the High Court, Tuju argued that the fresh evidence would turn the litigation in his favor. However, Garam Investment Auctioneers, the East African Development Bank, and Knight Frank Valuers opposed the application. They urged the court to dismiss the request, labeling it a vexatious abuse of the legal process designed to stall the loan recovery. In her ruling on March 9, 2026, Justice Josephine Mongare noted that the plaintiffs were essentially asking the court to revisit an injunction it had already denied. She pointed out that they were trying to reopen a debt already determined internationally and recognized at home, while challenging securities that multiple court orders had already addressed. I find that the banks position and objection are well-founded: that this application is a blatant abuse of court process, meant to frustrate its lawful recovery efforts after years of default and litigation, Mongare said. There is no way that the plaintiffs amended plaint dated April 25, 2025, survives, and the same is accordingly struck out. Following the dismissal of this application, Tuju has failed to prevent the auction of his Entim Sidai Wellness Sanctuary and properties linked to Dari Limited. Justice Mongares ruling likely ends the matter, especially since the Supreme Court had already rejected similar attempts. The Supreme Court judges previously dismissed Tujus arguments because he failed to provide evidence. It is trite law that whoever alleges must prove. In this case, the petitioners who have alleged have not validated their averments with any proof to justify their allegations. Therefore, these are bare allegations that are unsubstantiated, and we say no more, they said. The dispute stems from a Sh1.5 billion loan that the East African Development Bank granted to Tuju, which the bank claims he defaulted on. His children served as guarantors for the loan, which was meant to fund the construction of 12 two-story bungalows in Karen, with each home valued at roughly Sh100 million. Laman Ismayilova Azerbaijan's archaeology holds many secrets, revealing a past full of mysteries and discoveries to researchers. In an interview with AzerNEWS, the director of the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Philosophy in History, Associate Professor Farhad Guliyev, discussed a recent discovery that promises to reshape our understanding of the region's ancient history. He shared details of the discovery, the artefact's significance, and how such finds help us better understand the lives and cultures of our ancestors. Q: What discoveries in recent years do you consider the most significant? A: In recent years, research conducted by the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) has yielded interesting results. First and foremost, the main result of the research conducted in Taghlar Cave by an international expedition led by Japanese archaeologist Yashihiro Nishiyaka and Azerbaijani archaeologist Azad Zeynalov, based on an agreement signed with the University of Tokyo, can be considered a noteworthy discovery. In 2025, paleoanthropological remains were discovered. These are believed to be the remains of a Neanderthal, approximately 80,000 years old; the find is currently being analyzed in Japan. The relevance of this issue lies in the fact that approximately 50,00060,000 years ago, Homo sapiens and Neanderthals actively interacted and interbred in the Middle East. This region, including the Caucasus, became one of the main "hybridization zones" after humans left Africa. Without hybridization, modern humans would not have been able to disperse over such vast territories, nor would they have developed such rapid immunity to diseases different from those prevalent in the African region. This discovery could provide important information about Neanderthal populations in the region during the period preceding hybridization. This topic is of great interest to global scientific circles. A tomb dating from 1231-1295 may rightfully be considered one of the most valuable discoveries by Azerbaijani archaeologists in 2025. The ruins of the ancient city of Kharaba Gilan are located in Nakhchivan, approximately one kilometer northeast of the village of Kalantar Diza in the Ordubad district. Bahlul Ibrahimli, who led an expedition to Nakhchivan, discovered mummified burials with clothing during his research in the tombs. This form of burial has nothing in common with Islamic traditions. So far, according to the accepted primary working hypothesis, these burials belong to the Buddhist tradition. It is known that the Ilkhanids (Khulagids) finally converted to Islam at the very end of the 13th century. Very interesting finds of mummified human remains and equally interesting well-preserved garments made from fashionable fabrics from the reign of the Chingizids in Western Asia. Another notable monument is the ancient settlement of Tavatepe, located near the village of Ashagi Kesemen in the Agstafa district and belonging to the Khojaly-Gedabay culture (13th-7th centuries BC, Late Bronze Age - Early Iron Age). Bakhtiyar Jalilov, together with the University of Catania (Italy), conducted archaeological excavations at the Tavatepe settlement. During the excavations, a ritual sanctuary dating back approximately 3,500 years, more than 100 well-preserved ceramic samples, pintaderas (seals for various purposes), a fireplace, and anthropomorphic figurines were discovered. In 2025, Taleh Aliyev conducted archaeological excavations at the Torpaggala settlement in the village of Leleli in the Kakh district. According to the research, the most intensive settlement of this area dates back to the late antiquity and early Middle Ages. Near the village of Demirchi in the Shamakhi district, archaeological research was conducted under the direction of Akif Guliyev at the Atbatan necropolis, dating back to the early Middle Ages. More than ten stone cist burials were studied. During excavations this year, silver drachmas belonging to the Sassanid ruler Khosrow II Parviz (590628) were also discovered. The Khinalig Archaeological Expedition, led by Idris Aliyev, conducted exploratory excavations in the Guba district at sites dating back to the ancient and early medieval periods, as well as at the Bronze Age site of Bargushad. Key finds include coins from the Caliphate period, various beads, silver and bronze bracelets, a bronze earring, a signet ring, and a Chinese bronze mirror dating back to the Tang Dynasty. The entire complex dates to the 8th9th centuries. The bronze mirror is the first such find in Azerbaijan and the Caucasus. According to preliminary estimates, an iron helmet, a spearhead, and silver plates dating to the 6th7th centuries were discovered at another excavation site, suggesting that these items belonged to the Khazar tribes. Jeykhun Eminli conducted archaeological research at the Bilgah necropolis, located in the village of Urakeran in the Yardimli district. It is worth noting that the Bilgah necropolis is one of the most important sites for the study of Atropatena, a state that played a significant role in the history of Azerbaijani statehood. Research conducted under the direction of Safar Ashurov in the Mount Beshbarmag State Historical-Cultural and Nature Reserve revealed that the Beshbarmag Complex spans both the Early Bronze Age and the medieval period. At the Alisha Fortress, located in the village of Alasha in the Astara district, excavations led by Mikayil Mustafayev uncovered fortress walls, additional rooms, an artificial reservoir, and infrastructural elements such as a line of clay pipes. Ceramic samples, including fragments of ornamented tiles, indicate that the monument dates back to the 11th14th centuries. Q: Have any significant finds been discovered in the liberated territories? A: I have already reported on a new find in Taghlar. In addition, other research is being conducted in the liberated territories, yielding interesting results. Research continues at the Uzerliktepe site, the only Middle Bronze Age settlement in the South Caucasus, which is remarkable for both its size and the thickness of its cultural layer. It should be noted that, after research conducted here in the 1950s, it remains a mystery why the study of this majestic and unique site was discontinued during the Soviet period. The Fuzuli-Khojavand Iron Age Archaeological Expedition, led by Zaur Hasanov, conducted research at the Yedditepe burial mound, located between the liberated villages of Mirzajamalli and Merdinli in the Fuzuli district. The work was carried out with the joint participation of scientists from Korea and Switzerland. Archaeological surveys and excavations were conducted at Tugh State Historical, Cultural and Natural Reserve in the Khojavand district under the leadership of Natig Alishov, with the support of the State Tourism Agency. Research has continued at the Shahbulag Complex. During the work conducted by Tevekkul Aliyev, the high density of stone structures, utility pits, tandoors, and a wide variety of ceramic vessels revealed evidence of the vibrant life of Shakhbulag during the medieval period. Chronologically, the upper cultural layer of the excavated site dates back to the 11th to early 13th centuries, while the underlying layer dates back to the 9th to 10th centuries. As a result of research conducted by Shamil Najafov on the territory of the Khojaly Historical and Archaeological Complex, the site of a mausoleum adjacent to the Khojaly turbe was discovered within the necropolis. It had no visible above-ground features and was located at a depth of approximately 70 cm. Furthermore, another burial mound dating to the Bronze Age was discovered within the necropolis. In January 2025, under the leadership of Arif Mammadov, archaeological research continued at the Red Church, a monument dating to the Albanian period and part of the Tugh Nature Reserve. Furthermore, under his leadership, the East Zangazur Archaeological Expedition conducted research in the village of Sharifan in the Zangilan district. The discovered artifacts confirmed that the monument dates back to the 13th15th centuries and provided important scientific data for the study of medieval religious and architectural traditions and the social life of the region. Some foreign detractors, seeking to distort the history of our people, have claimed that a Muslim population appeared in Karabakh only in the 18th century, during the formation of the khanates. However, research conducted in Shahbulag, the Khojaly necropolis, and Sharifan refutes these falsified claims. Under the leadership of Vusal Hasanov, an expedition was organized to study Albanian-period monuments accidentally discovered during construction work in the village of Zar in the Kalbajar district. Research conducted by the Forensic Archaeology Department is also noteworthy. Together with a working group of the State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons, research was conducted in the liberated territories of the Aghdam, Aghdere, Khojaly, Shusha, and Askeran districts to search for Azerbaijani citizens missing during the First Karabakh War. Excavations were conducted in the Aghdam, Shusha, Khojaly, Aghdara, Kalbajar, and other districts; human skeletons and fragments, presumably belonging to citizens killed or missing during the First Karabakh War, were discovered at various sites. Q: What is the purpose of resuming scientific research in Icherisheher and Gala? A: Archaeological excavations conducted in Icherisheher during the Soviet period contributed to the formation of a certain scientific understanding of Baku's past. However, at that time, archaeometric research was not as advanced as it is today, and the limited research conditions within the reserve meant that many questions remained unanswered. Currently, a general agreement has been reached regarding the initiative to begin scientific research in the Icherisheher State Historical and Architectural Reserve. In other words, planned archaeological excavations are planned in both Icherisheher and Gala, the results of which will be analyzed in scientific laboratories (primarily those related to radiocarbon dating). Fragmentary studies of monuments or cultural layers revealed during construction and improvement work no longer meet modern scientific requirements and pose serious challenges to the development of tourism. Modern, systematic archaeological research is needed, involving various scientific disciplines. Q: Which international partners are involved in the Institute's current projects? Are there any joint expeditions planned with international research centers? A: After the Republic of Azerbaijan gained independence, especially since the early 2000s, joint archaeological research began with various scientific centers around the world. In recent years, international research has noticeably intensified and diversified across various scientific fields. Thus, the following international archaeological expeditions can be noted: Azerbaijan - Germany (Azykh Cave in the Khojavand district, Janavartepe in the Aghjabadi district, Aghalyktepe in the Agstafa district); another international expedition to study the Azykh Cave, conducted jointly with scientists from Denmark; Azerbaijan - Italy (Tavatepe monument in the Aghstafa district); Azerbaijan - Korea - Switzerland (Yedditepe monument in the Fuzuli district); Azerbaijan - Korea (Salbir territory in the city of Gabala); Azerbaijan - Japan (Taghlar Cave in the Khojavand district); Azerbaijan - Kazakhstan - Turkiye (Yedditepe monument in the Imishli district). Azerbaijan - USA (Bilgah necropolis of the ancient period in the Yardimli district). Archaeological research in Azerbaijan is generating significant interest among international scientific centers in the context of studying the history of the human civilization.At the same time, international archaeological expeditions create conditions for familiarization with new scientific technologies, mastering them, and training young archaeologists with modern knowledge. Furthermore, our archaeologists participate in research conducted in other countries and in scientific conferences. In particular, the work of the Azerbaijani-Turkish International Archaeological Expedition, led by Muzaffar Huseynov, is noteworthy. It is conducting research in the Merkez, Karakoyunlu, and Aralik districts of Igdir Province (Turkiye). Our archaeologists have also participated in international scientific and research events in Turkiye, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Japan, China, North Macedonia, the Vatican, Portugal, Poland, and other countries. Scientists from Turkiye, Kazakhstan, Japan, Denmark, Sweden and a number of other countries held scientific seminars and presentations at our Institute. In recent years, as a result of archaeological research conducted in the country and the strengthening of international ties, our institute has increased the number of published scientific articles. At the closing session of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, the results of a statistical analysis of scientific institutions' publications abroad were announced. In 2025, the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology was the scientific institution that published the largest number of papers in journals included in the SCOPUS database. No other research institute in the humanities and social sciences can compare with the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology in terms of the number of publications abroad. All this is one of the most striking examples of the integration of Azerbaijan's archaeology into the global arena. Q: What projects for the preservation of archaeological and anthropological heritage are planned in the coming years? A: First of all, in collaboration with the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry, digital registration of material culture samples discovered during archaeological research in the 20th and 21st centuries and stored in the institute's and museum collections has begun. Such work has been ongoing for a long time in many developed countries, and we must strive to close the gap in this area. A digital database should be created for each find, the data from which can then be subjected to analytical analysis using artificial intelligence technologies. In the long term, the results of such analysis will open up broad opportunities for understanding the processes of formation of archaeological cultures, the vectors of their dissemination, and transformation. Similarly, there is a serious and urgent need for the digital registration of anthropological material and, in general, the creation of an anthropological archive. Work in this direction is also underway. Lukas Kohler, who was a graduating senior from Reading, Pennsylvania, was one of two recipients of the 2025 Rickert-Ziebold Trust Awards. There are seven finalists for this years award to be announced on April 13. (Photo by Russell Bailey) Seven finalists vie for SIUs 2026 Rickert-Ziebold Award by Pete Rosenbery CARBONDALE, Ill. Seven graduating seniors in Southern Illinois University Carbondales School of Art and Design are preparing to compete for the universitys most prestigious art prize the Rickert-Ziebold Trust Award. The finalists were announced on March 5 and come from a variety of disciplines art education, ceramics, communication design, glass, industrial design and painting. The exhibition is from April 13 through April 18 in the SIU Surplus Gallery, 432 S. Washington St., Carbondale. Winners will be announced at 3:30 p.m. April 13. A reception will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. April 17 in the Surplus Gallery, with the awards presentation at 7 p.m. The gallery is in the Studio Arts Building, formerly known as the Glove Factory. Media Advisory Reporters, photographers and news crews are welcome to cover the 2025 Rickert-Ziebold Trust Award reception and award presentation on April 17 at the SIU Surplus Gallery. The reception is set for 6 to 8 p.m., with the award presentation at 7 p.m. For more information, contact Sun Kyoung Kim, Ricket-Ziebold committee chair, at sunkim@siu.edu or the Surplus Gallery at 618-453-7548 or sgallery@siu.edu. Each year, seniors in the School of Art and Design, part of the College of Arts and Media, graduating from the fall semester to the end of the summer term apply for the competition displaying their knowledge gained throughout the years at SIU. The honor includes a substantial scholarship. For some, it is perhaps their first experience with peer competition and professional evaluation. School of Art and Design faculty judge presentations on the basis of performance and excellence in creative achievement. Past and present Rickert-Ziebold Trust Award recipients reflect the ideals and aspirations of the award benefactors. Award finalists The finalists are: Zach Abella, glass, Tacoma, Washington. Lydia Dowell, industrial design, Columbia, Illinois. Naomi Fader, art education, Godfrey, Illinois. Kassidee Gabby, communication design, Marion, Illinois. Kennadee Gabby, art education, Marion, Illinois. Autumn Meyer, painting, Highland, Illinois. Olive Vowell, ceramics, Paducah Kentucky. Longtime award The purpose of the trust is to promote excellence in visual arts. The award was established by the Rickert family in honor of the late Joseph Rickert, an attorney and former state senator from Waterloo, to encourage young artists. Because of the Rickert familys vision, love of art, and confidence in the future, the School of Art and Design is able to present cash awards annually to Rickert-Ziebold scholars. Gallery hours The exhibition in the Surplus Gallery will be open to the public from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 13-17 and 10 a.m. to noon April 18. For more information, contact Sun Kyoung Kim, Ricket-Ziebold committee chair, at sunkim@siu.edu or the Surplus Gallery at 618-453-7548 or sgallery@siu.edu. Judy Hoepker and daughter Morgan Stevenson, owners of Rolling Oak Alpaca Ranch, speak to participants at last years SBDC Day seminar. Photo provided. Sign up now for SIUs SBDC Day seminar and celebration set for March 18 by Christi Mathis CARBONDALE, Ill. The Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Southern Illinois University Carbondale is hosting an SBDC Day celebration and Business Growth Seminar on March 18 in recognition of National SBDC Day. The no-cost workshop will provide local entrepreneurs and small business owners with valuable practical tools, expert guidance and opportunities to connect. The event runs from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Gower Translational Research Center, 1785 University Press Drive in Carbondale. The theme is Stronger Together, Powered by Small Business. I have the privilege of working with entrepreneurs every day who are pouring their energy, savings and heart into building something meaningful for their families and our region. SBDC Day gives us the opportunity to celebrate their courage and determination, said Michael Jessup, director of the Illinois SBDC at SIU. At the Illinois SBDC at SIU, we are committed to walking beside them with practical guidance and steady support as they grow. Comprehensive experience This years event will showcase ways the Illinois SBDC at SIU and local professional partners collaborate to help businesses succeed. Workshops will focus on a wide variety of topics including: Business planning goals. Profitability. Hiring employees. Building the right network of professional advisers including bankers, lawyers, accountants, insurance specialists and human relations professionals. Participants will also hear an inspirational success story from a local client, learn about research and growth resources the SBDC offers, and participate in an interactive panel discussion featuring experienced business professionals. A networking luncheon with local experts is included. Sign up now The SBDC Business Growth Seminar is open to all current and aspiring business owners in the region. It is free, but advance registration is required. Sign up online. Space is limited so organizers suggest registering early. Helping businesses grow The SIU and countrywide National SBDC celebrations recognize the vital role that Americas Small Business Development Centers play in helping entrepreneurs launch, grow and sustain successful businesses. According to Americas SBDC 2026 Annual Report, clients generated $5.1 billion in sales as new businesses delivered nearly ten times the return for every dollar invested by the centers across the country. U.S. entrepreneurs keep communities alive by producing goods, innovations and the equivalent of 68,033 new full-time jobs. What inspires me the most is watching a business owner move from uncertainty to confidence, Jessup said. Whether it involves refining a business plan, understanding their financials or preparing for expansion, we are here to help them take the next step. SBDC Day is a reminder that when we strengthen our small businesses, we strengthen Southern Illinois as a whole. The Illinois SBDC at SIU provides no-cost, confidential advisement, training and resources to help entrepreneurs across Southern Illinois as they launch, grow and sustain successful businesses. To learn more, visit the website or call 618-536-2424. An important meeting was held in Baku last week. A launch seminar organized by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) with the participation of the governments of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on the Trans-Caspian Green Energy Corridor project took place. The participants discussed the feasibility study of the first phase of the project, analyzed approaches. The project is focused on the formation of an interregional system for connecting the electric networks of the three countries, which is designed to facilitate the exchange of green energy in the Caspian region and open the way for its export to European energy markets. As you know, the global energy industry is on the path of transformation from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. Although Europe's overly rapid start on this issue has led to some "exhalation," the need to combat climate change remains on the agenda. As Baku has repeatedly pointed out, the transition should take place smoothly, without sudden movements and taking into account the realities. Azerbaijan itself follows this formula and continues to develop renewable energy sources, while at the same time continuing to produce and export hydrocarbon fuels. Today, the country's partners are also gradually beginning to lean towards a step-by-step path to achieve the goal as the most rational one. For its part, Baku continues to be an alternative source of oil and gas for Europe, while taking steps to assert its role as a supplier of green energy. A new infrastructure is gradually being formed on the map of Eurasia, which can connect the Central Asian region with European markets through Azerbaijan. The Trans-Caspian Green Energy Corridor becomes the central element of this architecture. We are talking about a large-scale energy communications system, in which electricity produced from solar and wind sources in Central Asia and the Caspian region will be transferred through Azerbaijan and the South Caucasus to the European energy system. This project is gradually turning from a concept into a real infrastructure initiative capable of changing the energy map of the entire region. A key element of the future corridor will be an underwater high-voltage cable that will connect the energy systems of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. According to an analytical report by the Astana International Financial Center and the Institute for Development and Diplomacy at ADA University, this transmission line will become the foundation of the region's new energy architecture. In fact, we are talking about creating an infrastructure that will allow exporting clean electricity from Central Asia to the European Union. The underwater cable across the Caspian Sea will become part of a larger energy scheme, a project to transport green energy across the Black Sea, which will connect the South Caucasus with Europe. Thus, an extended energy route is being formed: Central Asia-the Caspian Sea-Azerbaijan-the South Caucasus-the Black Sea-Europe. This will be the first such project, and it is expected to change the very logic of energy cooperation on the continent. Previously, east and west were connected by oil and gas pipelines, but now the export and transit of electricity begins. For the European Union, which is planning to completely abandon fossil fuels and advocate decarbonization, this corridor is of strategic importance. It creates an additional source of energy supply and contributes to the diversification of energy supplies, reducing dependence on oil and gas. It is no coincidence that the initiative is being considered in the context of the European infrastructure development program Global Gateway. In April 2025, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan signed a memorandum of understanding, marking the beginning of the creation of a joint venture for the implementation of the Trans-Caspian Energy Corridor. The initiative has received support from major international financial institutions, including the Asian Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. The Italian company CESI has already started developing a feasibility study for the project. It is expected that the feasibility study will be ready by the beginning of 2027, after which the project will move to the stage of financing and practical implementation. The Trans-Caspian Green Energy Corridor is an integral part of the Black Sea Energy Black Sea Cable project, implemented with the key participation of Azerbaijan. In early December, the European Commission finally granted Black Sea Energy PMI status. The PCI/PMI status (Project of pan-European interest) makes the project attractive to investors, primarily European ones. The status opens up great opportunities for the project. It will allow for the use of accelerated administrative procedures, provides the project with a special legal framework, cross-border regulatory compatibility, and the possibility of obtaining EU funding. It should be recalled that initially the Central Asian countries were not involved in the project of exporting green energy to Europe. The Agreement on Strategic partnership for the construction of Black Sea Energy was signed on December 17, 2022 by Azerbaijan, Georgia, Hungary and Romania in Bucharest. The project provides for the laying of an underwater cable with a length of 1,195 km, designed to supply electricity produced in Azerbaijan through Georgia and the Black Sea to Romania for subsequent transportation to Hungary and the rest of Europe. At the initiative of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan joined the system. And now Black Sea Energy has significantly expanded the boundaries, which will significantly increase the capabilities of this energy corridor. Currently, solar and wind energy are developing in the partner countries of Central Asia. Azerbaijan has also had its say in this matter. The largest Garadag solar power plant in the region with a capacity of 230 MW, built by Masdar, has been commissioned, and the Khizi-Absheron wind power plant with a capacity of 240 MW, implemented by ACWA Power, has begun operation. In addition, construction of a solar power plant has begun in Bilasuvar, which will challenge Garadagh's status as the largest in the South Caucasus. Solar and wind power plants are also being built in other regions of the country, including the liberated territories and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. Baku has set a goal to increase the capacity of renewable energy sources to 6-8 GW by 2030, and their share in the energy mix to about 38-40 percent. AR Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov, speaking at the 12th ministerial meeting of the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council and the 4th ministerial meeting of the Advisory Council on Green Energy in Baku, said that Azerbaijan is implementing a plan to produce 8 GW of renewable energy for domestic consumption, export and operation of data centers. According to him, 2 GW of this capacity will be integrated into the national grid as early as 2027, and the export of 3.9 GW is scheduled to begin in 2032. However, this is not the only direction in which Azerbaijan is working today. Construction of the Zangezur power transmission line with a capacity of 1 thousand tons has begun. MW, which will become the main link of the Azerbaijan-Turkey-Europe green energy corridor. In addition, technical solutions for the integration of 1 GW of solar energy from Nakhchivan into the Turkish grid are being evaluated, and work continues on the Azerbaijan-Turkiye-Georgia-Bulgaria energy corridor project. Earlier, the Turkish side announced plans to bring the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkiye-Bulgaria corridor project to the next stage in March this year. And recently Romania announced its intention to join this project. In this regard, the Turkish side has developed a draft protocol on amendments to the memorandum signed last year, taking into account the interests of Bucharest. The memorandum of understanding on the establishment of the Azerbaijan-Turkiye-Georgia-Bulgaria corridor was signed in April 2025. In the near future, the selection of a consultant for the development of a feasibility study of the project will begin. Needless to say, the implementation of all these projects will strengthen Azerbaijan's role in the region. He will remain a key link in any scenario. And this role will only increase with the expansion of geopolitical perturbations. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced a new set of prudential norms for banks that cap dividend payouts at a maximum of 75 per cent of Profit After Tax (PAT) for most banks, linking profit distribution more closely with capital strength, profitability and regulatory compliance. The central bank issued the Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks - Prudential Norms on Declaration of Dividend and Remittance of Profit) Directions, 2026 on March 10. These norms will come into effect from Financial Year (FY) 2026-27 and will replace the earlier directions issued on November 28, 2025. Under the new framework, banks incorporated in India that meet the eligibility criteria will be allowed to declare dividends up to the limits prescribed but in aggregate not exceeding 75 per cent of the Profit After Tax for the relevant period. The RBI said banks must satisfy several prudential conditions before declaring dividends or remitting profits. These include maintaining compliance with regulatory capital requirements at the end of the previous financial year and continuing to meet these requirements at the end of the financial year in which the dividend is proposed. The regulator also stated that the regulatory capital of the bank must not fall below the applicable capital requirement even after the dividend payout. Further, banks incorporated in India must have a positive adjusted Profit After Tax (PAT) for the period for which the dividend is proposed. In the case of foreign banks operating in India in branch mode, they must have a positive PAT for the period for which profits are to be remitted to their head office. In addition, banks must not be under any explicit restrictions from the RBI or any other authority regarding declaration of dividends or remittance of profits. The new prudential norms have also been extended to other categories of banks with similar conditions. For Small Finance Banks and Payment Banks, dividend payouts will also be capped at up to 75 per cent of the Profit After Tax, provided they meet the prescribed regulatory requirements. Local Area Banks and Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) have been given a slightly higher limit. These banks will be allowed to declare dividends up to 80 per cent of the Profit After Tax, subject to compliance with the same prudential conditions laid down by the RBI. For all these categories of banks, the RBI has mandated that the institutions must continue to meet regulatory capital requirements both before and after the proposed dividend payment and must report positive adjusted profits for the relevant financial year. The central bank has also emphasised the role of bank boards in overseeing dividend decisions. According to the directions, boards will be responsible for ensuring compliance with the prudential framework, including eligibility conditions, payout limits and reporting requirements to the regulator. The RBI has also clarified that certain categories of profits may be ineligible for distribution. The directions contain provisions specifying profits that cannot be used for payment of dividends or remittance of profits by foreign banks operating in India through branch mode. The framework also introduces reporting requirements and restrictions on dividend payments, along with penal consequences in cases where banks fail to comply with the prescribed norms. In the notification, the RBI said it has repealed the earlier directions in public interest. "The Reserve Bank of India being satisfied that it is necessary and expedient in the public interest to do so, hereby repeals the Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks - Prudential Norms on Declaration of Dividends and Remittance of Profit) Directions, 2025... with effect from Financial Year (FY) 2026-27," the RBI said. Along with the main framework for commercial banks, the RBI has also issued additional directions extending similar prudential principles to other categories of banks. These include the Reserve Bank of India (Payment Banks - Prudential Norms on Declaration of Dividend) Directions, 2026, Reserve Bank of India (Local Area Banks - Prudential Norms on Declaration of Dividend) Directions, 2026, Reserve Bank of India (Regional Rural Banks - Prudential Norms on Declaration of Dividend) Directions, 2026, and Reserve Bank of India (Small Finance Banks - Prudential Norms on Declaration of Dividend) Directions, 2026. The RBI has also issued amendments to the guidelines on the Setting Up of Wholly Owned Subsidiaries (WOS) by Foreign Banks. Under these amendments, wholly owned subsidiaries of foreign banks incorporated in India will be allowed to declare dividends in the same manner as domestic banks. The RBI said the amendments will also come into force from FY 2026-27. (ANI) SMPL Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], March 11: In the evolving world of destination weddings, where experiences increasingly define celebrations, A2Z Events & Weddings has carved a distinctive space for itself as a brand that approaches weddings as thoughtfully designed experiences rather than conventional events. Over the past eleven years, the company has built a reputation for curating culturally immersive and globally inspired celebrations that blend design thinking, storytelling, and operational precision. With more than 300 weddings delivered across destinations worldwide, A2Z Events & Weddings has steadily grown into a trusted creative partner for families seeking celebrations that are deeply personal and seamlessly executed. What distinguishes the brand within the industry is its ability to conceptualize original experiential formats. A2Z Events & Weddings holds the rare distinction of being the only company to secure the Limca Book of Records twice for its original Intellectual Properties, along with recognition in the India Book of Records. These achievements reflect the brand's capability to transform creative ideas into large scale experiences that push the boundaries of traditional wedding design. The company's work has also been recognized across prominent industry platforms. A2Z Events & Weddings received two honors at the Great Indian Wedding Awards, presented during the International Congress for Wedding Futures, celebrating its contribution to innovation within the wedding ecosystem. The brand was also awarded Best Sustainable Wedding at the EEMAX Global Awards 2025, acknowledging its commitment to responsible and environmentally conscious celebrations. Further reinforcing the brand's leadership in the experiential events space, Co-Founder Zawedd Alii was recognized among the Outstanding 35 Under 35 by EVENTFAQS Media, highlighting his role in driving creative innovation within the industry. Among its most notable milestones, the company has successfully curated two prestigious royal family weddings. Managing celebrations of this nature requires exceptional discretion, cultural sensitivity, and meticulous planning, further strengthening the brand's reputation for handling highly discerning and culturally significant occasions. Building on this momentum, A2Z Events & Weddings is now expanding its dedicated wedding vertical to further strengthen its national and global destination wedding capabilities. The initiative represents a strategic step toward building a stronger ecosystem that supports complex multi destination celebrations for global clientele. The specialized division will focus on deepening relationships with international hospitality partners while streamlining destination logistics including hotel coordination, guest transfers, and permissions in collaboration with local administrations. It will also strengthen partnerships with regional creative and vendor ecosystems across emerging and iconic destinations. This expansion reflects the brand's long-term vision of delivering culturally immersive celebrations that remain effortless for families while maintaining the creative and experiential depth that defines the A2Z philosophy. Speaking about the company's journey and vision, Aparajita Chowdhury, Founder and Creative Director of A2Z Events & Weddings, said: "For us, a wedding is not an event, it is a deeply personal experience. Every destination we explore, every partnership we build, and every celebration we design reflects our commitment to creating moments that stay with our couples, their families & guests forever. After eleven years, our passion is stronger than ever, and we are excited to bring new destinations and fresh creative possibilities to the world of destination weddings." As the destination wedding landscape continues to evolve globally, A2Z Events & Weddings is positioning itself at the intersection of creative vision, cultural understanding, and operational excellence, shaping celebrations that are designed with intention and remembered for a lifetime. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by SMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.) President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an addressed the AK Party group meeting, delivering a forceful message on the ongoing war in the Middle East, particularly concerning the US, Israel, and Iran. Erdo?an urged an immediate halt to the conflict, saying, We are continuing our efforts to silence the weapons, AzerNEWS reports. Highlighting the humanitarian toll, Erdo?an recalled that 175 female students were killed in Iran on the first day of attacks, adding, Some high-ranking Iranian figures, including Khamenei, were assassinated. Iran's infrastructure has suffered serious damage. The Iranian people are now struggling to survive every day. These developments are causing great devastation both geographically and economically. The President also commemorated the 105th anniversary of Turkiyes National Anthem, describing it as the most eloquent symbol of the nations shared values and freedom. These are the fundamental values that led the national struggle to victory, laid the foundation of the Republic of Turkiye, and formed the essence of the Turkish nation: the call to prayer, the Quran, martyrdom, the flag, and freedom, Erdo?an said. Emphasizing unity and inclusivity, Erdo?an stressed Turkiyes stance on regional conflicts: We have never looked at the people of our region, including our brotherly Iranian people, as this one is Shia, this one is Sunni, this one is Turk, this one is Kurd, and we never will. For us, there is only humanity. We stand by anyone who is wronged or suffering. We reject discrimination based on race, sect, religion, language, or origin. Erdo?an extended a call to all Muslims, declaring: We do not have a religion like Sunnism or Shiism. We have only one religion, and that is Islam. Hz. Ali is ours, Hz. Omar is ours, our mother Hz. Aisha is ours, and our mother Hz. Zeynep is ours. He warned that the attacks on Iran are having broader regional and global consequences, particularly by driving up oil prices, saying, Already, not just the countries involved in the conflict, but the entire world is preparing to pay the price. PNN New Delhi [India], March 11: We are thrilled to announce the official launch of the NXT Fellowship, a premier one-week immersion program designed for the next generation of global leaders in the heart of Bharat. Launched by the NXT Foundation, the fellowship coincides with the second edition of the NXT Summit at Bharat Mandapam, bringing together a diverse cohort of scholars to engage directly with the unfolding story of India's progress. 100 sessions, 70 Fellows, 39 Universities, 8 Days, 1 Mission: Towards Peak Humanity. The inaugural cohort represents an extraordinary coming together of young minds from some of the world's most prestigious institutions. Fellows have travelled to India from universities across the world, including Harvard University, Stanford University, University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, London School of Economics, Tsinghua University, Johns Hopkins University, Tufts University - The Fletcher School, National University of Singapore, University of Tokyo, as well as leading institutions across India such as Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Indian Institute of Science Bangalore and IIT Gandhinagar. From Armenia and Bhutan to the United States, Europe, and East Asia, the cohort reflects the truly global spirit of the program. Over the course of eight days, fellows are participating in an intensive schedule of dialogues, site visits, and cultural experiences, designed to give them a deeper understanding of India's ideas, institutions and aspirations. The mornings begin with the practice of Yoga, where guided postures and breath work help set the tone of the day. Beyond the classroom, the fellowship also offers a window into India's living heritage. The fellows have travelled to the historic 15th century Neemrana Fort Palace in Rajasthan, where they indulged in the 'Bharat Bazaar', a curated shopping experience with traditional indian Trinkets and practices. At the core of the program are conversations with some of India's most distinguished voices in policy, economics and diplomacy. The fellows have engaged in insightful sessions with leading figures such as economist and former Chief Economic Advisor Krishnamurthy V. Subramanian, veteran diplomats Bhaswati Mukherjee and Ajay Bisaria, historian Hindol Sengupta, development economist Mitali Nikore, and Lt Gen PJS Pannu. These interactions have given participants an opportunity to explore themes ranging from India's economic transformation and foreign policy to the country's evolving role in shaping the global order. Through discussions, cultural experiences and leadership dialogues, the NXT Fellowship is designed not just as a program but as a platform, one that connects emerging global leaders with the ideas and energies shaping India today. As the fellowship unfolds alongside the NXT Summit at Bharat Mandapam, these 70 fellows are not merely observers of India's journey. They are active participants in a shared conversation about the future, and about how a new generation can work together towards peak humanity. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.) Taiwan will not sharply increase its gasoline and natural gas prices despite surging global oil prices triggered by the ongoing Middle East conflict that began with American and Israeli attacks on Iran, Focus Taiwan reported, citing officials. As per the news report, Premier Cho Jung-tai said the Cabinet has activated a "dual price-smoothing" mechanism since Monday to limit increases in the prices of gasoline and diesel fuel. Under the normal fuel calculation formulas, gasoline and diesel would have gone up NT$5.4 (USD 0.17) per liter and NT$4.8 per liter, respectively, on Monday, but under the mechanism, the increases were limited to NT$1.5 and NT$1.1 per liter. Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun said Monday during a Cabinet price stabilization meeting that state-run CPC Corp., Taiwan, would absorb 60 percent of the price increases. Taiwan adopted a similar policy in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which sent oil prices soaring, but led to CPC Corp. losses of NT$193.7 billion in 2022, NT$22.4 billion in 2023 and NT$35.45 billion in 2024. As per the report, Cho said the Cabinet has also implemented a 50 percent commodity tax cut -- the provisional maximum -- on diesel and gasoline imports and will subsidize 50 percent and 14 percent of fuel costs for the agricultural and fishing sectors, respectively. During a legislative session Tuesday, opposition Kuomintang (KMT) lawmaker Wang Hung-wei asked Economics Minister Kung Ming-hsin whether the war in the Middle East will disrupt Taiwan's natural gas supplies, which rely almost entirely on imports. Kung replied that he was "confident" such a scenario would not occur. Kung said Monday that the ministry has secured 20 of the 22 liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers it estimates Taiwan will need to transport LNG through April in response to the Middle East situation, adding that it expects to secure the remaining two soon. The minister also said that CPC Corp. currently has no plans to raise LNG prices, despite reports that Formosa Petrochemical Corp., another major LNG importer in Taiwan, has increased prices by NT$20 per barrel in parts of southern Taiwan. But he did not disclose whether that would continue, as natural gas prices surge due to the Middle East conflict. According to the Japan/Korea Marker (JKM), which covers natural gas prices to East Asia, including Taiwan, prices on Monday reached US$55.38 per MWh (megawatt-hour), up 51.3 percent from the US$36.60 per MWH seen on Feb. 27 just before the war started. (ANI) Actor Adivi Sesh and Mrunal Thakur's upcoming film 'Dacoit' has received a new release date. The film, which was earlier planned to hit theatres on March 19, 2026, will now arrive a few weeks later. On Tuesday, the makers officially announced that the action-romantic thriller will now hit cinemas on April 10, 2026, instead of the earlier date, which coincided with the festival of Ugadi. Actor Adivi Sesh shared the update with his fans on his official social media handle. Announcing the new date, the actor wrote, "Goldfish on April 10. In Theaters Worldwide." Take a look https://x.com/AdiviSesh/status/2031347753733992464?s=20 The film stars Adivi Sesh in the lead role and also features Mrunal Thakur. The project has created interest among fans as Sesh has also worked on the writing of the film. Known for choosing story-driven projects, the actor has co-written the story and screenplay along with Shaneil Deo, who is also directing the film. Dacoit is being shot at the same time in Hindi and Telugu. Apart from Sesh and Thakur, the film will also feature filmmaker Anurag Kashyap in a crucial role. The film was earlier set for a March 19 release, but the makers reportedly decided to shift the date as other big films, including 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge' and 'Yash's Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups' were also planned for the same day. However, Toxic has now been pushed to June 2026, while Pawan Kalyan's 'Ustaad Bhagat Singh' has moved to that date. Adivi Sesh was last seen in HIT: The Second Case (2022), directed by Sailesh Kolanu. The film followed the story of police officer Krishna Dev, also known as KD, who investigates a series of crimes involving female victims as part of the HIT unit in Andhra Pradesh. (ANI) Actor Colman Domingo has addressed past criticism from Paris Jackson regarding the upcoming biographical film 'Michael', saying he hopes she will eventually appreciate the tribute to her father, the late pop icon Michael Jackson. As per The Hollywood Reporter, in a recent interview with a magazine, the 'Euphoria' star reflected on the discussion that emerged last year after Paris publicly distanced herself from the film. Domingo portrays the Jackson family patriarch, Joe Jackson, in the project directed by Antoine Fuqua. "I hope that she eventually loves the tribute that we made about her father," Domingo said, commenting on Paris Jackson's earlier criticism of the film. The controversy began in September 2025 after Domingo told People magazine that Paris and her brother, Prince Jackson, were "very much in support" of the biopic. Paris responded on Instagram, stating she had no involvement in the production. "Don't be telling people I was 'helpful' on the set of a movie I had zero percent involvement in," she wrote at the time, adding that she had read an early draft of the script and shared feedback about elements she felt were inaccurate. When those concerns were not addressed, she said she chose to step away from the process. Domingo clarified in the new interview that his earlier remarks had been "conflated" and "taken out of context," noting that the original article was later updated to better reflect his comments. He also revealed that he reached out to Paris directly through Instagram to address the misunderstanding. According to the actor, Paris responded positively to his message, reacting with a heart emoji. Beyond the public exchange, Domingo also discussed the complexity of portraying Joe Jackson, a figure whose relationship with his children has long been debated. Michael Jackson himself had spoken about experiencing abuse during childhood. "For me, it was about finding his humanity," Domingo said, describing his approach to the role. He noted that Joe Jackson helped shape the careers of some of the most influential performers in music history, while acknowledging that his parenting methods remain controversial. The film features Michael Jackson's nephew, Jaafar Jackson, making his feature film debut as the King of Pop. The cast also includes Miles Teller, Laura Harrier, Kat Graham, Larenz Tate, Derek Luke and Nia Long, who portrays Michael's mother, Katherine Jackson. Backed by Michael Jackson's estate, Michael is scheduled for theatrical and IMAX release on April 24, following multiple delays. (ANI) 'Harry Potter' actor Daniel Radcliffe recently got real when he spoke about the pressures faced by child actors and why therapy should be a must for them. The actor said that while many people believe young stars are living a dream life, the reality can often be very different behind the scenes. According to TMZ, Radcliffe spoke about the issue during an appearance on Bustle's "One Nightstand With Daniel Radcliffe." During the conversation, the actor talked about the mental health struggles many young performers face while growing up in the spotlight. While sharing his thoughts, Radcliffe explained why therapy should be "mandatory" for child actors. He recalled a heartbreaking incident about a young actor who later died by suicide. "The illusion that child stars are living a perfect dream can be crushing behind the scenes, which is exactly why therapy should be built into the system," Radcliffe said. The actor also spoke about his own early years during the Harry Potter films. Radcliffe said that when the movies were being made in the early 2000s in the UK, mental health support was not much talked about. However, he shared that he felt lucky because he was surrounded by supportive people who helped make his experience positive. Radcliffe became a global star after he played Harry Potter in the film series based on J.K. Rowling's books. The story followed the life of the young wizard Harry Potter and his friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley as they studied at 'Hogwarts School of Witchcraft' and 'Wizardry' and fought the dark wizard Lord Voldemort. The films were released between 2001 and 2011 and became one of the most popular film franchises in the world. (ANI) Veteran actor Nana Patekar steps into the world of digital streaming for the first time with the socio-political thriller series 'Sankalp', directed and produced by acclaimed filmmaker Prakash Jha. The show premiered on March 11, 2026, and is streaming for free on Amazon MX Player. Set against the backdrop of contemporary politics and personal ambition, Sankalp explores the complex dynamics of power, loyalty, and mentorship. Patekar leads the series as Ma'at Saab, a formidable educator and strategist who quietly shapes political forces from behind the scenes. The recently unveiled trailer offered audiences a glimpse into the narrative tension at the heart of the story, depicting a clash between a mentor and his student. Inspired by the chronicles of Chanakya and Chandragupta but set in present-day India, the series blends political intrigue with emotional conflict. Speaking to ANI about the project, Jha said the story draws from the ambitions of people across the country, particularly young individuals preparing to take on leadership roles. "The special thing about Sankalp is that it reflects the aspirations of millions and crores of people in our country, especially young people who prepare themselves to run the nation," Jha said, adding, "They work hard toward those aspirations, and each of them has a different story." The filmmaker explained that the narrative follows a man whose early ambitions collapse due to a conspiracy. After returning to his village by the banks of the Ganga, the character dedicates two decades to rebuilding himself and eventually challenges the very system that once defeated him. "It has a bit of fantasy in it," Jha noted, adding that the story imagines how a determined individual might transform failure into a long-term mission. "He works hard for 20 years and ultimately breaks through the system that defeated him," he added. Despite the dramatic storyline, Jha clarified that the central character is not based on a real person. "I don't personally know any such character. It is an imagination, an idea that if something like this were to happen, it would make for a remarkable story," he said. However, he believes the themes resonate with audiences because the situations and characters remain close to reality. "People feel as if I'm presenting society on screen, but in truth I'm simply telling stories," he added. For Patekar, collaborating with Jha again was a natural decision. The actor said he trusts the director's instincts when it comes to building powerful characters. "If there's nothing new, he won't come to me. And if there's nothing new, he himself won't make it," Patekar said, adding, "Whenever he approaches me, it means the character has strength." The actor also reflected on how Jha's detailed explanations help performers connect with their roles. According to Patekar, the director immerses himself so deeply in a character while narrating the story that actors can easily visualise the role they need to portray. Joining the ensemble is actor Sanjay Kapoor, who plays the Chief Minister in the series. Kapoor hinted that his character plays a significant role in the betrayal that shapes the narrative but refrained from revealing further details. "My role is that of the Chief Minister," Kapoor said. "Nana ji's character begins the journey and then gets backstabbed. One of the reasons for that in the show is my character. When you watch it, you'll understand." Kapoor described working with Jha as a long-awaited professional milestone. "People talk about a 'bucket list' of people they want to work with, and Prakash ji was on my list," he said. The actor also shared that his association with Patekar goes back nearly three decades, making their reunion on 'Sankalp' particularly meaningful. Sanjay Kapoor and Nana Patekar last worked together in the 2002 film 'Shakti: The Power'. Off-screen, the camaraderie among the cast extended to the dining table. Patekar joked that he had been hired for two roles on the project: acting and cooking. According to him, when he prepared evening meals for the team on set, it often became a time for everyone to bond, laugh, and strengthen their sense of family. Produced by Jio Studios and PJP Films Productions, Sankalp also features Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Neeraj Kabi, Kubbra Sait and Kranti Prakash Jha in key roles. (ANI) Known for his powerful rhythms and energetic style, Shivamani's instrumental display created an electrifying yet spiritual atmosphere, with the audience swaying in unison and immersing themselves in the sacred riverside ceremony. The Ganga Aarti, performed by Swami Chidanand Maharaj, saw prayers offered to the sacred river, creating a serene atmosphere that resonated deeply with attendees. The combination of devotional rituals and Shivamani's energetic drumming made the festival a unique blend of spirituality and musical artistry. Speaking to ANI, Shivamani expressed his admiration for Rishikesh, famously referred to as Devbhoomi. "Parmarth Niketan Ashram offers a sense of peace and spiritual calm. Being here brings immense serenity. I prayed to Mother Ganga for blessings, happiness, peace, and prosperity," he said. Shivamani's performance was accompanied by keyboard player Runa, who reflected on the festival's personal significance. "Every year we come here, it feels like home. We aim to offer music that inspires prayer for good health, wealth, prosperity, and a peaceful life," Runa said. The festival continues to attract spiritual seekers and music enthusiasts alike, highlighting Rishikesh's growing reputation as a hub for wellness, culture, and devotional experiences. The Yoga Festival, which is being held at Parmarth Niketan Ashram from March 9 to 15, began on Monday with traditional prayers and rituals. (ANI) West Bengal police strongly refuted allegations made by BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari that police personnel's postal ballots were being collected through a so-called welfare organisation, asserting that the process of voting for police personnel on election duty follows strict Election Commission procedures and leaves no scope for manipulation. In a post on X responding to Adhikari's claims, the police clarified that postal ballots cannot be collected by reserve officers and are issued only through authorised election officials at designated centres. "The allegation raised is strongly refuted. There is no scope for the collection of Postal Ballots (PB) from police personnel by Reserve Officers. PBs are issued only by the Presiding Officer at the Postal Voting Centre (PVC)," West Bengal Police said. The police further explained that after casting their vote, personnel seal their postal ballot in the prescribed envelope and drop it in a designated drop box at the Postal Voting Centre, with the entire process being videographed. https://x.com/WBPolice/status/2031325649043075554 According to the clarification, police personnel deployed outside their constituency on election duty vote through the Postal Ballot facility available to Absentee Voters in Essential Services (AVES). They must apply through Form 12D, which is forwarded by the Police Nodal Officer to the concerned Returning Officer or Assistant Returning Officer for verification. "Approved voters receive SMS intimation regarding the venue, date and time of voting at the PVC. Details of the arrangements are also published on the official website of the District Election Officer," the police said. They added that Postal Voting Centres are set up at the Returning Officer headquarters, where eligible police personnel report for voting. After proper identification in the presence of polling agents from political parties, the voters cast their ballots to ensure transparency in the electoral process. "There is no possibility of Postal Ballots being taken out of the PVC or being collected by Reserve Officers of Police," the statement added. The clarification comes after Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari alleged that the Trinamool Congress government was attempting to manipulate the electoral process by instructing police officers to collect postal ballots through a police welfare organisation. Adhikari had urged the Election Commission to intervene, calling the alleged move a "direct assault on free and fair elections" and demanding action against officials involved in handling postal ballots outside authorised channels. (ANI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address the Lok Sabha on Wednesday during the debate on the motion seeking the removal of Speaker Om Birla. The motion was moved by Congress MP Mohammad Jawed, with more than 50 MPs standing in support of the resolution. BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, who was in the Chair, granted leave to move the motion and announced that 10 hours had been allotted for debate, and asked MPs to stick to the resolution. He said that the Speaker was generous with the permissions and procedure for the Opposition resolution. A total of 118 Opposition MPs signed the resolution, alleging "partisan behaviour" by the Speaker. The discussion on the no-confidence motion began on Tuesday with sharp exchanges over procedure, including objections from AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi and Congress MP KC Venugopal, who said that the House should elect a member who would preside over the debate. They questioned how the choice was made of who would be in the Chair from the panel of Chairpersons. However, BJP leaders rejected these objections. Former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and BJP MP Nishikant Dubey termed the Opposition's arguments "baseless". Initiating the debate, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said the resolution was meant to safeguard parliamentary dignity and was not driven by personal animosity. "This resolution has been brought as a responsibility to protect the dignity of the House, not personally against Om Birla," Gogoi said. He also took a swipe at Rijiju, remarking that parliamentary records would show the minister frequently interrupting Opposition members. "In the future, when research is done on parliamentary records and transcripts, statistics will show that Kiren Rijiju was the Parliamentary Affairs Minister who interrupted the Opposition the most," he said. Gogoi said that part of the Motion states that the Speaker of the Lok Sabha "has ceased to maintain the impartial attitude necessary to command the confidence of all sections of the House; that, in his partisan conduct, he disregards the rights of Members and makes pronouncements and rulings calculated to affect and undermine those rights; and that he espouses the version of the ruling party on controversial matters". In his remarks, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju targeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and said he has "no cure" if one believes themselves to be above the Speaker in the House. "When you look at the Constitution and the rules of the house, no one has challenged any decision of the Speaker. That day I was upset for the fact that the Opposition MP said that 'I do not need permission from anyone to speak in Parliament', this is on record. 'This is my right to speak in Parliament', our Leader of Opposition said this. So I was thinking, there are many senior members in Congress, why did they not explain that in this House, PM, minister, LoP can be present but one needs permission from speaker to speak," Rijiju said. He suggested that Congress could have chosen Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as its leader in the House. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra hit back at Rijiju and said Rahul Gandhi makes fearless attacks on the government on issues concerning people. "There is only one person in the country who has not bowed down before them in the last 12 years. It is the Leader of the Opposition. They cannot digest the truth he speaks," she said. (ANI) The Congress on Wednesday lashed out at the Centre, questioning their silence after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the US had "permitted" India to temporarily purchase Russian oil. Leavitt also added that this decision came as India has been a "good actor" and previously stopped buying sanctioned Russian oil." Congress focused on the words "permitted and good actor" used by the White House spokesperson, cornering Centre over what they say is a "blatant insult to our sovereignty and dignity." "White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says the United States has PERMITTED India to accept Russian oil and calls Indians GOOD ACTORS. Read that again, PERMITTED, GOOD ACTORS," Congress said in a post on X. https://x.com/INCIndia/status/2031579485653577841?s=20 "Why is the Government of India not objecting to this blatant insult to our sovereignty and dignity? Instead of defending India's honour, Prime Minister Modi chooses to remain conspicuously silent," the party added. The Congress further demanded answers from the BJP-led government alleging its silence on this matter. "So the country must ask: What is he afraid of? Why are India's decisions being dictated from outside? Why is Narendra Modi being blackmailed by the United States? The people of India deserve answers. Because India's sovereignty is not negotiable," they said. The White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, during a media briefing on Tuesday, said that the United States had "permitted" India to temporarily purchase Russian oil in the wake of the disruptions to global energy supplies amid the conflict in West Asia. When asked whether she had spoken to the US President about oil-sanction waivers to India in the wake of the developing security situation in West Asia, Leavitt responded, saying that the decision comes as India has been a "good actor", and while the measure is short-term, it will not provide significant financial benefit to Russia. "I have spoken to the President about it and the Secretary of the Treasury and the whole National Security team came to this decision because our allies like India have been good actors and previously stopped buying sanctioned Russian oil. So as we work to appease this temporary gap of oil supply around the world, because of the Iranians, we have temporarily permitted them to accept Russian oil", Leavitt said. Her remarks come amid heightened tensions in West Asia after the killing of 86-year-old Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in joint military strikes by the US and Israel on February 28, following which Iran, in its retaliation, targeted Israeli and US assets in several Gulf countries. The US-Israel strikes also killed several senior leaders of the Islamic Republic. (ANI) Germany will release part of its oil reserves as part of an internationally coordinated effort to mitigate price increases on international markets stemming from the Iran war, Economy Minister Katherina Reiche told reporters on Wednesday, AzerNEWS reports. "The International Energy Agency yesterday evening asked its member states to release oil reserves of 400 million barrels. We will accede to this request and make our contribution," Reiche said in Berlin. Earlier, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said that her country would release oil reserves as early as next week to ease pressure on the prices of petrol and other energy sources. Spain approved the move as well. Earlier Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the Group of Seven advanced economies, said the G7 would this week discuss a possible release of strategic oil reserves. A possible meeting of G7 leaders on the energy issue could take place this week, Macron told journalists on his way to Cyprus. However, speaking to reporters after chairing a video meeting of G7 finance ministers, French Finance Minister Roland Lescure said the group was "not there yet". Asked if they had agreed on releasing stockpiles to lower prices, Lescure said from Brussels: "What we've agreed upon is to use any necessary tools, if need be, to stabilise the market, including the potential release of necessary stockpiles." Such a measure can only be effective if it is implemented in a "coordinated" manner, Lescure added. The war triggered by US-Israeli strikes on Iran is fuelling fears for the global economy, with global stock markets sinking and oil rocketing above $100 a barrel for the first time since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The Doda district administration on Wednesday District officials in Doda have reached out to the families of 5 students who are unable to leave Iran because of the current war-like situation in the Middle East. Officials have confirmed that 5 students from Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district remain stranded in Iran amid the ongoing regional crisis, while 1 student has returned home. Deputy Commissioner of Doda, Krishan Lal, while speaking to ANI, said, "We conducted an exercise to know how many students of Doda district are stuck in Iran. Out of the 6 students, 1 came back on 27th, and 5 were stranded. The Ministry of External Affairs shared us some contact numbers, which we have shared with the parents, who can ask their kids to get in touch with the Indian Embassy. I assure the public that the district administration is always there to address genuine grievances of the public..." Meanwhile, on Tuesday, assuring the safety of the large Indian community in the United Arab Emirates amid the ongoing tensions in West Asia, UAE Ambassador to India Abdulnasser Jamal Alshaali said that the Indian diaspora in the Gulf nation is safe and cared for, highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's direct engagement with the UAE leadership during the situation. Alshaali said Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally contacted UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan soon after concerns arose, reflecting the strong ties between the two nations and the importance both countries attach to the well-being of the nearly four million Indians living in the UAE. "They were watching the place where their son works, where their daughter lives, where their family has built a life. And Prime Minister Modi's response to that reality was immediate. He called His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE, directly," Alshaali said. He added that PM Modi's move demonstrates the Indian leadership's close monitoring of the situation and its active engagement with the UAE authorities regarding the safety of Indian nationals. "The four million Indians living in the UAE deserve to know that their Prime Minister was personally engaged, personally watching, and personally in contact with the leadership of the country they call home," he said. Addressing Indian families concerned about their relatives in the UAE, the Ambassador delivered a direct message of reassurance, stating, "To the mother in Kerala watching the news at midnight, and to the father in Gujarat refreshing his phone waiting to hear from his son in Dubai, let me be extremely clear: Your family in the UAE is not alone. They are safe, they are cared for, and they are considered family by the leadership of this country," he said. Earlier this month, the All India Medical Students Association (AIMSA) received more than 18 distress calls from Indian students stranded in Iran, particularly from Isfahan, where Indian medical students are currently staying, the student's body said on Sunday. The student medical association said that they received reports about students moving underground into a basement after an attack near Darvaze-ye Shirazi, close to their hostel. Distressing calls were again received in the night, March 7 and in the morning, March 8, as the situation remains tense. Students from Qom, including those studying at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, and Iran University of Medical Sciences, reported that they were relocated after nearby residential buildings were targeted, leaving many students extremely frightened, the release stated. (ANI) BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Wednesday slammed Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray over accusing him of "sacrificing" his ideology for power and reminded him of his father Bal Thackeray's "oath" to never align with Congress after the incident in 1969. Sharing a written answer in Lok Sabha from 1969 when Bal Thackeray opened fire in the air from his licensed revolver at Mahim to prevent a mob from attacking him on September 26, 1969, Nishikant Dubey said, "Shiv Sena Uddhav, have some shame. Balasaheb Thackeray ji and the conspiracy to assassinate him were hatched in 1969; questions were raised in Parliament to cancel his revolver license. After learning of the conspiracy, Balasaheb Thackeray ji took an oath that he would never align with Congress in his lifetime. For the sake of power, ideology has been sacrificed." Bal Thackeray was on his way home from Dadar when a taxi overtook him. Thackeray stopped the car and argued with the cabbie. However, the argument escalated. Soon, a mob gathered there. Sensing trouble, Thackeray opened fire in the air in self-defence. BJP has repetitively targeted Shiv Sena (UBT) for aligning with the Congress, despite having opposing ideologies. Shiv Sena split in 2022 also happened due to this when Eknath Shinde rebel Uddhav Thackeray, expressing his displeasure on party aligning with the Congress. The split caused the collapse of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. Eknath Shinde then became the Chief Minister of Maharashtra with BJP support. Later, both parties got involved in the legal battle as Shinde claimed that his faction is the real Shiv Sena. He won that battle, and Uddhav Thackeray's faction was called Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray). (ANI) Amid fears of a disruption over the shortage of LPG gas, the consumers at Gorakhpur have been lined up outside gas agencies since early morning, looking to get a fresh stock of cylinders for their home cooking needs. One buyer, Ajay Nishad, stated that this stressful situation has persisted for the past ten days. He noted that approximately 400 to 500 people have lined up outside the gas agencies. "We have been standing in line since 3 a.m. The situation has been like that for 10 days... If people do not arrive on time, many return home without gas. Around 400-500 people are in the line," Nishad told ANI. Ajay further noted that he had heard reports of a price hike for LPG cylinders. He mentioned that the cost has reportedly increased by approximately 60 rupees, with consumers now being charged 975 rupees instead of the previous rate of 915 rupees. "Heard in the office that the rates have increased to 60 rupees, instead of 915, we are being charged 975," added Nishad. Vishwavijay Singh, State Vice President of the Congress party, criticised the BJP while reacting to reports of consumers lining up outside gas stations, alleging that a widespread shortage of gas and that administrative arrangements have completely collapsed, and accused the government of not being able to provide essential facilities to the general public. "In CM's own constituency, there is a shortage of gas. The administrative arrangements have completely collapsed. The Government is unable to provide essential facilities to the general public," Singh told ANI. He further alleged that domestic LPG cylinders are being sold at inflated prices. "There is black marketing. People are being sold gases at higher rates. The UP government has been unsuccessful in giving gas to everyone," added Singh. However, Dhananjay Rai, representing Bharat Gas Distribution Management, stated that they are providing gas to consumers accordingly and maintained that there is no issue of a gas shortage. "There is no issue. Checking numbers, we are giving gas to people accordingly," Rai told ANI. (ANI) Congress MPs on Wednesday protested in the Parliament premises over the alleged shortage of commercial LPG cylinder across the country. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also joined the protest. The Opposition MPs carried the banners saying, "PM is compromised." The INDIA bloc leaders have sought a discussion on the reported shortage of LPG amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia. Earlier today, Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat demanded a detailed discussion on the situation in West Asia, accusing the Centre of "running from its responsibilities." "PM Modi said in 2022 that we will reduce imports, but we are instead relying on other countries. There should be a detailed discussion in the Parliament over our immediate steps ahead. The impact of the war has started to show. This government is running from its responsibilities," Sukhdeo Bhagat told ANI. The shortage of LPG has emerged amid global energy supply disruptions triggered by the ongoing conflict in West Asia. In response, the Union government has invoked the Essential Commodities Act to prioritise domestic LPG supply, reserving higher allocations for households, hospitals, and essential services while restricting commercial distribution in several regions. The government has mandated a new 25-day inter-booking period for domestic LPG refills. Congress MP Pramod Tiwari also hit out at the Centre and said, "The government failed to predict the possible threats arising from the West Asia conflict." CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP V Sivadasan alleged that the party will raise the matter in the Parliament. "A lot of hotels shut down, and a lot of families are suffering due to the shortage. The central government is not ready to manage this issue properly. We will raise this issue in the Parliament, and our party will raise the issue outside the Parliament and conduct a nationwide campaign against the price hike," the CPI(M) MP told ANI. Communist Party of India (CPI) MP P Sandosh Kumar on Wednesday submitted a suspension of business notice to discuss the issue in the Rajya Sabha (ANI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Wednesday said that 56 of 60 aspirants clearing the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examinations were beneficiaries of the state government's Naan Mudhalvan scheme. Addressing the appreciation ceremony for candidates clearing the UPSC examinations, CM Stalin said that the 'Naan Mudhalvan' scheme and special training programs have yielded results for students. The Chief Minister said, "First of all, I would like to convey my congratulations and appreciation to those who have succeeded in the All India Civil Services Examination through their hard work and dedication. A few years ago, the number of candidates from Tamil Nadu succeeding in the UPSC examination had been steadily declining. After the Dravidian Model government came to power, we took note of this issue and introduced numerous initiatives to address it immediately." "Our government has implemented several efforts, such as the 'Naan Mudhalvan' incentive scheme, special training programs to prepare candidates for interviews, and many other initiatives. These efforts have been yielding good results in recent times, and I would like to extend my appreciation and thanks to the officials who worked on these initiatives," he added. Stalin asked the successful candidates to treat citizens with humility and maintain social justice when they take up administrative roles. He said, "This year, 60 candidates from Tamil Nadu have been selected, and it gives me special happiness that 56 of them have benefited from the Naan Mudhalvan scheme. In my view, this number should increase even further." "The successful candidates present here should become role models and go on to serve as District Collectors and administrative officers across various districts in India. You may also serve as Indian ambassadors in foreign countries and strengthen the relationships between nations. You must also treat ordinary people with kindness and humility. All of you should work with the values of social justice as your foundation. I believe that you will bring great pride and recognition to Tamil Nadu," the Chief Minister added. Launched in 2022, Naan Mudhalvan is a skilling initiative under the Department of Special Programme Implementation to empower the youth of the state to gain industry-relevant, employable skills. The UPSC declared the civil services final result for 2025 on March 6. A total of 958 candidates have made it to the merit list. (ANI) In a landmark judgement reaffirming a patient''s right to die with dignity, the Supreme Court on Wednesday, for the first time ever, allowed for a 31-year-old man who has been in a vegetative state to undergo passive euthanasia in order to ensure that the best interest of the patient and to give him the right to die with dignity. A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Vishwanathan reasoned that the as per various medical reports, further administration of CAN (Clinically Assisted Nutrition) will not be in the best interest of the patient. The applicant, Harish Rana has been in a vegetative state since the last thirteen years after an accidental fall from a building in 2013. Passive euthanasia is the practice of withdrawing life-sustaining treatment to patients in persistent vegetative state, in order to allow them a natural death. The Court has also directed All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to provide facilities to shift the patient to it''s palliative care department to carry out a robust withdrawal of medical care in a manner that ensures that the patients'' dignity is preserved to the highest degree. "The famous literary Shakespeare quote ''To be or not to be'' is now being used for judicially interpreting the ''Right to Die''", Justice Pardiwala noted at the beginning of the judgement. The Court also expressed its appreciation for the parents of the patient for their resilient care for their son. "You are not giving up in your son. You are allowing him to live with dignity", Justice Pardiwala said while concluding the judgement.The top court has applied the guidelines passed in it''s earlier ruling in the Common Cause case. "However, the present case represents the first instance where the guidelines laid down in Common Cause v. Union of India are being applied in their full measure before this Court," the bench said. In November 2025, the top court had set up a medical board at the Noida district hospital to explore the idea of passive euthanasia for the person. In October 2024, the Union Health ministry had released the draft of "Guidelines for Withdrawal of Life Support in Terminally ill Patients". The guidelines issued states that it should be based on "considered decision" taken by doctors on withdrawal of life support in terminally ill patients based on certain conditions. According to the draft guidelines the withdrawal includes four conditions, a) any individual declared brainstem death as per THOA Act. b) Medical prognostication and considered opinion that patient''s disease condition is advanced and not likely to benefit from aggressive therapeutic interventions c) Patient/surrogate documented informed refusal, following prognostic awareness, to continue life support d) Compliance with procedure prescribed by the Supreme Court. (ANI) Telangana Jagruthi Founder K Kavitha on Wednesday accused the Congress-led state government of violating constitutional norms by using bulldozers to demolish the homes of 750 people in Khammam city in a single day. K Kavitha, while speaking to ANI, said, "The Congress Party, led by Revanth Reddy, claims to support the Constitution, yet the Congress government here is acting entirely against it. In Khammam city, 750 people were violently evicted in a single day, and bulldozers were used to tear down their homes. Following this, 3 ministers claimed that more than half of the evicted people had certificates, then why were the bulldozers used?... This is why we staged a hunger strike. We went to Khammam and led a large protest, yet the government remained unmoved... But after our hunger strike was announced, the government began to backtrack..." Meanwhile, Telangana Jagruthi leader Kavitha has intensified her protest by continuing her indefinite hunger strike at the Telangana Jagruthi Central Office in Banjara Hills, demanding immediate justice for the victims of the house demolitions in Velugumatla, Khammam district. Kavitha began her hunger strike on Monday night in Khammam to stand in solidarity with the displaced families. In the early hours of Tuesday, nearly 600 police personnel arrested her and shifted her to Hyderabad. Despite the arrest, she has vowed to continue her indefinite hunger strike from the Telangana Jagruthi office until the government provides justice to the victims. Speaking on the occasion, Kavitha strongly demanded that the government must immediately announce that new houses will be constructed for the victims at the exact location where their homes were demolished in Velugumatla. She made it clear that her hunger strike will continue until the government gives a written assurance. Kavitha questioned the government's authority to occupy Bhoodan lands, stating that these lands were donated specifically for the welfare of the poor. She alleged that the sudden demolitions are part of a larger conspiracy to evict poor families after the land value in Velugumatla increased, so that the land can be handed over to influential and wealthy individuals. She strongly criticised the Congress government, accusing it of functioning as an anti-poor and anti-people administration. she said that the government has been mercilessly demolishing houses of the poor not just in Khammam but across the state. Kavitha expressed outrage that nearly 750 houses were demolished at midnight using bulldozers, even during the crucial period of 10th class and Intermediate examinations. She said houses belonging to students who had hall tickets were also demolished, raising serious concerns about the future of those students, a press note stated. Earlier that day, Kavitha expressed solidarity with families affected by the alleged demolition of houses in Velugumatla village in Khammam district. After meeting the affected families, Kavitha staged a sit-in protest along with them at the statue of BR Ambedkar located at the ZP Centre in Khammam city. She was joined by Visharadhan Maharaj and other supporters, demanding justice for the displaced residents. Later in the night, at around 9 pm, Kavitha reached Ambedkar Bhavan in Khammam and began an indefinite hunger strike along with the displaced residents of Velugumatla, intensifying the protest against what she termed "illegal demolitions." According to Telangana Jagruthi, the Velugumatla incident refers to the demolition of several houses in the village near Khammam city in February 2026, which has since triggered political protests and a public debate. Speaking to ANI, Kavitha accused the Congress government of bulldozing the houses of poors in Khammam. (ANI) Communist Party of India (CPI) MP P Sandosh Kumar on Wednesday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visits to Kerala and Tamil Nadu, saying the Prime Minister will deliver "long speeches and empty promises" during his visit. Speaking to ANI outside Parliament, P Sandosh said, "It is his duty to visit states like Keralam and Tamil Nadu. What is big in this? He will deliver a long speech and make empty promises. Nothing will happen. " PM Modi is scheduled to visit Kerala today, where he will inaugurate, dedicate to the nation, lay the foundation stone and flag off multiple developmental projects worth around Rs 10,800 crore in Ernakulum. In Tamil Nadu, the Prime Minister will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for projects costing about Rs 5,650 crore in Tiruchirappalli. When asked about the reported shortage of LPG cylinders across the country, P Sandosh said that he had submitted a suspension of business notice in the Rajya Sabha, seeking a discussion on the issue. "They (PM Modi and Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri) could have discussed the Epstein files, too, since Hardeep Puri's name is in those files. I have given a notice under 267 to discuss this issue of LPG. I don't know whether the government will allow it or not," he said. Earlier today, he moved a suspension of business notice in the Rajya Sabha to discuss the reported shortage of LPG amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia. Giving the notice, the MP flagged the longer waiting period and price hike for LPG cylinders, saying that the shortage had created "immense hardship" for the citizens. He said that the Upper House of the Parliament should be informed about the "actual status of LPG reserves, the steps taken to ensure uninterrupted supply, and the contingency measures being adopted to protect consumers from shortages and price shocks." Meanwhile, JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha maintained that there was no shortage of LPG and PM Modi has reviewed the situation. "Everything is under control in India. Prime Minister Modi has reviewed this, and the government has clearly stated that there is no shortage. Any attempt to spread rumours and spoil the atmosphere should be avoided. The government has clearly said that there is no shortage at present, but hoarding should not be done. The government is vigilant about these things," Jha said. Global energy supply disruptions were triggered by the ongoing conflict in West Asia. In response, the Union government has invoked the Essential Commodities Act to prioritise domestic LPG supply, reserving higher allocations for households, hospitals, and essential services while restricting commercial distribution in several regions. The government has mandated a new 25-day inter-booking period for domestic LPG refills. (ANI) Congress MP K Suresh on Wednesday criticised the ruling government over the reported shortage of LPG gas in the wake of the West Asia conflict, alleging that the authorities are failing to disclose the real situation in the country. Suresh claimed that the government continues to downplay the crisis, asserting there is "nothing to worry about," although numerous hotels and businesses have reportedly shut down due to the fuel shortage. Highlighting this discrepancy, the Congress MP accused the government of misleading the public about the severity of the situation. The LPG and CNG crisis in the country is very serious. The govt is not revealing the real situation. Many of the hotels and other businesses have closed. The situation is very serious. But the government is saying that there is nothing to worry about. At the same time, restaurants & hotel owners are saying that the situation is serious. The govt is misleading the people of the nation," Suresh told ANI. Meanwhile, Congress MPs today protested in the Parliament premises over the alleged shortage of commercial LPG cylinders across the country. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also joined the demonstration, where Opposition leaders carried banners reading, "PM is compromised." Ahead of the protest, Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat accused the Centre of "running from its responsibilities." "PM Modi said in 2022 that we will reduce imports, but we are instead relying on other countries. There should be a detailed discussion in the Parliament over our immediate steps ahead. The impact of the war has started to show. This government is running from its responsibilities," Sukhdeo Bhagat told ANI. The INDIA bloc leaders had sought a discussion in Parliament on the reported shortage of LPG amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia. Communist Party of India (CPI) MP P Sandosh Kumar on Wednesday submitted a suspension of business notice in Rajya Sabha to discuss the reported shortage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders across the country amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia. Giving the notice, the MP flagged the longer waiting period and price hike for LPG cylinders, saying that the shortage had created "immense hardship" for the citizens. He said that the Upper House of the Parliament should be informed about the "actual status of LPG reserves, the steps taken to ensure uninterrupted supply, and the contingency measures being adopted to protect consumers from shortages and price shocks." The shortage of LPG has emerged amid global energy supply disruptions triggered by the ongoing conflict in West Asia. In response, the Union government has invoked the Essential Commodities Act to prioritise domestic LPG supply, reserving higher allocations for households, hospitals, and essential services while restricting commercial distribution in several regions. (ANI) The discussion on the no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla turned heated when LoP Rahul Gandhi interjected BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, stating he was "stopped multiple times" when he raised issues of "Prime Minister Narendra Modi being compromised" and the book of former Army Chief General MM Naravane (Retd). As Ravi Shankar Prasad questioned the authenticity of Rahul Gandhi's claims, the Lok Sabha LoP rose up and said, "I was stopped multiple times (from speaking in Lok Sabha). Last time I raised the issue of PM being compromised. I raised the issue of Mr Naravane. I raised the issue of Epstein. I was silenced. Our PM has been compromised, and everyone knows. Refuting the claims, Ravi Shankar Prasad asserted, "I like to remind the LoP that PM Narendra Modi can never be compromised. I will add one more thing: Is the debate allowed in point of order? It is not." Ravi Shankar Prasad then questioned the no-confidence motion against Om Birla, which was brought by the Opposition, accusing the speaker of "partisan behaviour" and not allowing Rahul Gandhi to speak. "I do not understand this motion. Gaurav Gogoi asked what the issue was in quoting the book. The book, which never got published, circulated. How can anyone authenticate it?" He urged the Opposition not to use parliament proceedings to satisfy the "ego of a leader". "Let the instrument of opposition against the speaker not be weaponised to satisfy the ego of a leader," he said. On February 2, during the motion of thanks on the President's Address, Lok Sabha witnessed sharp verbal exchanges after the Leader of the Opposition in the Lower House sought to quote a magazine article containing excerpts from Naravane's unpublished memoir. Gandhi's reply during the motion of thanks on the President's Address was interrupted by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who raised concerns that a Congress MP cannot quote from an unpublished book, which he said has not been authenticated. Moments into his speech, Rahul Gandhi addressed an allegation by BJP MP Tejasvi Surya against the Congress, linking it to questions of patriotism and national culture.The ruling benches objected to Gandhi's attempt to cite excerpts from the unpublished memoir of former Army Chief General Naravane. Later a motion was moved against Speaker Om Birla by Congress MP Mohammad Jawed, with more than 50 MPs standing in support of the resolution. BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, who was in the Chair, granted leave to move the motion and announced that 10 hours had been allotted for debate, and asked MPs to stick to the resolution. He said that the Speaker was generous with the permissions and procedure for the Opposition resolution. A total of 118 Opposition MPs signed the resolution, alleging "partisan behaviour" by the Speaker.(ANI) The accused, Munniappa, was apprehended from the Bawana area following sustained technical surveillance and field intelligence by the NDR team of the Crime Branch. Police said Munniappa was convicted in a 2012 murder case registered at Bindapur, where two accused had allegedly assaulted a local resident with an iron rod in JJ Colony, Dwarka, leading to the victim's death. He was later convicted by a Dwarka court in 2016. The convict was granted four months' parole on February 5, 2024, from Mandoli Jail, but failed to surrender after the parole period ended and went absconding. During the search operation, police found that the accused was frequently changing locations and SIM cards, moving across several states, including Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, and Delhi, to evade arrest. Acting on specific information, a Crime Branch team conducted a raid in Rajiv Nagar Extension, Bawana, and successfully apprehended him. After legal formalities, the accused has been sent back to Mandoli Jail. (ANI) Kerala Education Minister V Sivankutty on Wednesday alleged that the Union government has "deliberately excluded" state ministers from the inauguration ceremony of National Highway 66, despite the state contributing around Rs 5,580 crore for land acquisition for the project, among other contributions. Speaking to ANI, Sivankutty said the state government had not even been formally invited to the event, even though it played a key role in facilitating the highway's development. "It is shocking that representatives of the state government have been deliberately excluded from the inauguration ceremony of National Highway 66 (India), which was completed after the state government spent a huge amount of money for land acquisition. The state government has not been given a proper invitation," Minister Sivankutty said. Calling it a "political stunt" to exclude the leaders of the state, the minister said that the state bearing the burden of atleast Rs 12,000 crore for the whole project, which had been praised by the Union Ministers and other officials too. "The state government spent Rs 5,580 crore for acquiring land. Since this amount was included in the borrowing limit, the state had to bear a financial burden of nearly Rs 12,000 crore... Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, as well as officials of the National Highways Authority of India, had publicly appreciated the efforts of the Kerala government several times," he said. Sivankutty further alleged that those who had earlier opposed the highway project were now attempting to claim credit for it. "Ironically, those who once collected soil and went to Delhi during protests to block the highway development are now present on the inauguration stage. Those who tried to stop the development are now claiming its credit, that is a clear double standard," he added. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Keralam, where he inaugurated, laid the foundation stone of and flagged off multiple developmental projects worth around Rs 10,800 crore in Ernakulum. The Prime Minister will inaugurate, dedicate to the nation and lay the foundation stone for multiple development projects worth about Rs 5,650 crore in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, where he will address the gathering on the occasion. In the road infrastructure sector, the Prime Minister will inaugurate two major highway projects. The first is the six-laning of the Thalapady-Chengala section of NH-66, built at a cost of over Rs 2,650 crore. This section forms part of the Mumbai-Kanyakumari Economic Corridor and will strengthen connectivity between Kasaragod and Kannur districts and neighbouring regions, including Mangalore and Muzhapilangad. The project will improve connectivity to key towns such as Kasaragod, Bekal, Payyannur and Kannur, enhance linkage to Azhikkal Port and support tourism and trade. Apart from road projects, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for the Polypropylene Unit at the Kochi Refinery of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL). The investment in this project is over Rs 5,500 crore. The capacity of this Polypropylene Unit is 400 Kilo Tons Per Annum. Polypropylene is an essential material used in packaging, automotive components, medical devices, textiles, and household products. The facility will strengthen India's domestic polymer manufacturing capability, reduce import dependency, promote industrial growth and generate employment opportunities in the region. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the citizens of Kerala after the Union Cabinet approved renaming the state as 'Keralam,' saying that the state has now got the rightful name. Addressing the Golden Jubilee celebration of Akhila Kerala Dheevara Sabha in Kerala, PM Modi hailed the fishing community of the state. The Prime Minister said, "Today, as I stand among you, there is a sense of joy for the entire state. The long wait of my Malayali brothers and sisters has come to an end. You have all been demanding for years that Kerala's name be changed to Keralam. Our BJP-led NDA government at the centre has approved this proposal. I can see the joy on all your faces. This beautiful state got its rightful name as per Malayali culture." On February 24, the Union Cabinet gave its approval to the proposal to change the name of Kerala to Keralam. The Legislative Assembly of Kerala had passed a resolution for the change of name in June 2024. Further lauding the work of Akhila Kerala Dheevara Sabha, PM Modi said, "Today we are witnessing a historic moment. The Akhila Kerala Dheevara Sabha is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The organisation has been working for the rights of the fishermen community. I congratulate all fishermen in Keralam, and Akhila Kerala Dheevara Sabha members. It was mentioned that the Prime Minister has come to give his blessings, but for me, the public is like God, and I came here to receive their blessings." "A few days ago, when I came to Keralam, I interacted with Akhila Kerala Dheevara Sabha members. Akhila Kerala Dheevara Sabha has presented an example of balancing life and employment, and progress and nature. You live the Indian philosophy and thought. The world considers water, rivers, and seas a resource. Dheevara community considers oceans as its 'amma' (mother)," he added. Attacking the LDF and UDF, he alleged that the previous governments had neglected the fisherman community. "Previous governments have, for decades, neglected the fisherman community. But now the NDA government is progressing and boosting them to unlimited capabilities. Our government has recognised the potential of the fisherman community and its role in the blue economy. It is the BJP-NDA government that created a separate Ministry of Fisheries. Several steps have been taken to bring them into the mainstream. Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, a provision of around 1400 crore rupees has been made for Keralam. Because of this, the fisheries sector in Keralam is progressing rapidly," he said. Later today, the Prime Minister will inaugurate, dedicate to the nation, lay the foundation stone and flag off multiple developmental projects worth around Rs 10,800 crore in Ernakulum. PM Modi will lay the foundation stone for the Polypropylene Unit at the Kochi Refinery of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL). The investment in this project is over Rs 5,500 crore. He will also inaugurate two major highway projects. The first is the six-laning of the Thalapady-Chengala section of NH-66, built at a cost of over Rs 2,650 crore. The second project is the six-laning of Kozhikode Bypass from Vengalam to Ramanattukara, constructed at a cost of around Rs 2,140 crore, a press release from the PMO said. (ANI) The Lawyers' Canteen at the Delhi High Court has temporarily stopped preparing and serving main course meals due to the unavailability of LPG gas cylinders. According to a notice issued by Sandeep Sharma of the Lawyers' Canteen, the kitchen is currently unable to cook main course items because of the shortage of LPG gas supply. The notice was addressed to the Hon'ble Secretary of the court and all advocates. The notice stated that the canteen management does not have any information at present about when the LPG supply will be restored. It further mentioned that the preparation of main course food items will resume once the gas supply becomes available again. However, the canteen clarified that other food items that do not require cooking on LPG will continue to be served. These include sandwiches, salads, fruit chaat and similar refreshments. The management also expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to advocates and visitors and sought their understanding and cooperation until normal services resume.Amid the West Asia conflict, the Centre had announced a price hike of Rs 60 for cooking LPG cylinders on March7. Following the hike, the non-subsidised prices of LPG cylinders stand at Rs 913 in Delhi, Rs 939 in Kolkata, Rs 912 in Mumbai, and Rs 928 in Chennai. The difference in prices across state comes from the applicable taxes levied by state government. Amid fears of a disruption over the shortage of LPG gas, the consumers in Uttar Pradesh also lined up outside gas agencies from early morning, looking to get a fresh stock of cylinders for their home cooking needs. One buyer, Ajay Nishad, stated that this stressful situation has persisted for the past ten days. He noted that approximately 400 to 500 people have lined up outside the gas agencies. Amid the supply disruption, the Central government has mandated a new 25-day inter-booking period for domestic LPG refills.The shortage of LPG has emerged amid global energy supply disruptions triggered by the ongoing conflict in West Asia. In response, the Union government has invoked the Essential Commodities Act to prioritise domestic LPG supply, reserving higher allocations for households, hospitals, and essential services while restricting commercial distribution in several regions.The Union Petroleum Ministry has stated that the invocation of the Act has established a clear priority list for natural gas distribution to manage current supply constraints. Under this new mandate, there is a 100 per cent assured supply of domestic piped gas for homes and CNG for vehicles. Other sectors will face calibrated supply caps based on their previous six-month average consumption. These measures come as India, which typically sources 30 per cent of its natural gas via the Strait of Hormuz, navigates the logistical challenges posed by the regional conflict. (ANI) The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Centre, all State governments and institutions receiving public funds to dissociate the chairperson of the NCERT social science curriculum, Professor Michel Danino, along with his two associate members, from any role in preparing school curriculum or finalising textbooks for the next generation over the controversial sub-chapter titled "Corruption in the Judiciary" in the Class 8 NCERT Social Science textbook. A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant also directed that Danino and his team be dissociated from rendering any service in any institution that would involve payment to them from public funds. However, the court clarified that the direction would be subject to the three individuals approaching the court to seek modification of the order after furnishing their explanation. "At the outset, we have no reason to doubt that Professor Michel Danino, along with Ms Diwakar and Mr Alok Prasanna Kumar, either does not have reasonable knowledge about the Indian judiciary or they deliberately and knowingly misrepresented the facts in order to project a negative image of the Indian judiciary before students of Class 8 who are at an impressionable age. There is no reason as to why such persons be associated in any manner with the preparation of the curriculum or finalisation of textbooks for the next generation. We direct Union, all States and all institutions receiving State funds to disassociate them from rendering any service which would mean payment to them from public funds," the court noted. The Bench also took exception to NCERT's affidavit stating that Chapter 4 had already been rewritten. It is directed that even if the chapter has been rewritten, it cannot be included in the curriculum without approval from a committee of domain experts to be constituted by the Central government. The court also expressed disappointment over the composition of the existing committee. "We find it slightly disappointing that not a single eminent jurist is included in the committee," the Bench remarked. The court directed that if Chapter 4 of the textbook has been rewritten, it shall not be published unless it is approved by a committee of domain experts consisting of one former senior judge, one eminent academician and one renowned practitioner. "We direct that if at all Chapter 4 of the textbook has been rewritten, the same shall not be published unless it is approved by a committee of domain experts," the order stated. The Bench also reiterated that its interim directions were not intended to prevent legitimate and objective criticism of the judiciary. "We hasten to reiterate paragraph 9 of our order dated February 26 to show that the interim directions issued are not intended to prevent any healthy, objective and legitimate criticism of the functioning of the judiciary. If the judiciary is suffering from any deficiencies like any other institution, it will be a welcome step not only for the future generation of the nation, it will open doors for the present generation to take necessary remedial steps", the Court noted. The court directed the Centre to constitute the expert panel within one week. During the hearing, Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta informed the Bench that the Director of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) had tendered an unconditional apology through an affidavit. "An unconditional apology has been tendered in the affidavit submitted by the Director of NCERT. A one-line unconditional apology has been published. The Central Government has already directed NCERT to review textbooks of all standards in this context," Mehta submitted. The court accepted the apology but expressed concern over the process through which the NCERT curriculum was being approved. "Instead of leaving it to the NCERT, we would have appreciated that the Central government... Not after tendering this apology, this affidavit is eye-opening. That NCERT curriculum is approved without any scrutiny," the Bench observed. Responding to the court's concerns, Mehta said the government was aware of how to deal with the situation. "We know how to deal with such persons. They must also know how to deal with the current CJI. Right now, they have realised their mistake. There is an unconditional apology," the Court verbally remarked. Earlier, on February 26, this year, the Court had issued show cause notices to the Secretary of the Department of Education and Literacy (Ministry of Education) and to NCERT Director Dr Dinesh Prashad Saklani to show cause as to why suitable action either under Contempt or under any other law should not be taken against those who have prepared the sub-chapter in the Class 8 NCERT book "Corruption in the judiciary". Refusing to stall its suo motu proceedings, even after the NCERT had issued an apology with respect to the said selective inclusion of the said Chapter, the Court had imposed a blanket ban on the Class 8 textbook in question. It has clarified that any attempt to circumvent or bypass this order will be treated as direct interference with the administration of justice and will amount to contempt of court. The Court had further directed the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to place on record the details of the Teaching-Learning Materials Committee that approved the impugned chapter. The names, qualifications, and credentials of all members of the chapter development team are to be furnished before the Court. Today, the Court noted NCERT's compliance in terms of its earlier directions and accepted its apology. It also ordered the constitution of a fresh Committee in this regard and ordered the removal of the panel behind the inclusion of the controversial chapter in the Class 8 book, which had led the Court to initiate suo moto proceedings in the matter. (ANI) Keralam BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Wednesday accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of creating a "manufactured controversy" to divert public attention from major development projects being launched in the state. Keralam BJP chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar, while speaking to the reporters, said, "Let us be clear in what context this drama is happening. There are 30 days for the elections, the CPM CM very clearly knows that we won't remain the CM because the govt will be booted out by the people of Keralam for misgovernance and corruption. The head of state has been invited by Govt of India to a program. It is the duty of the CM to inform govt of India if he wants any other persons to be invited too. He has not done this. Where is it written that the son of the CM should be invited? The CM should have written to GoI and requested to also invite other people. Today, what they are doing is a manufactured controversy to distract people from projects to be launched in Keralam today. This state is a mess today due to the misgovernance of Pinarayi Vijayan..." Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Keralam Education Minister V Sivankutty alleged that the Union government has "deliberately excluded" state ministers from the inauguration ceremony of National Highway 66, despite the state contributing around Rs 5,580 crore for land acquisition for the project, among other contributions. Speaking to ANI, Sivankutty said the state government had not even been formally invited to the event, even though it played a key role in facilitating the highway's development. "It is shocking that representatives of the state government have been deliberately excluded from the inauguration ceremony of National Highway 66 (India), which was completed after the state government spent a huge amount of money for land acquisition. The state government has not been given a proper invitation," Minister Sivankutty said. Earlier, on Monday The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) held a meeting of its Kerala leadership at the residence of former national president JP Nadda in Delhi to discuss preparations for the upcoming Assembly elections in the state. The meeting, which began at 6 pm, lasted for nearly two hours and focused on the candidate list, state strategy, manifesto, slogans, and other things. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP national president Nitin Nabin, former party chief JP Nadda, Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, former Union minister V Muraleedharan, Kummanam Rajasekharan, K Surendran, Aparajita Sarangi, Prakash Javadekar, Vinod Tawde, Bhupendra Yadav, Shobha Karandlaje and BJP National Executive member PK Krishnadas were among those present at the meeting. After the meeting, state BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar and senior leader V Muraleedharan said detailed discussions were held on the party's election preparations. They said the Kerala unit presented its election plan to the central leadership, and deliberations were held on the proposed list of candidates. According to party leaders, the BJP is likely to announce its candidates in two phases. The final decision on the candidates will be taken at the party's Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting scheduled for March 12, which is expected to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top leaders. The BJP plans to contest around 100 seats in Kerala, while its allies Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS) and Twenty20 are expected to contest the remaining 40 seats as part of the alliance. (ANI) The Delhi High Court on Wednesday granted additional time to Kuldeep Singh Sengar and others to file their replies to an application seeking enhancement of the sentence in the Unnao custodial death case. The application has been filed by the daughter of the deceased, who is also the Unnao rape survivor. She has sought enhancement of the 10-year sentence awarded to Sengar and other convicts. Division bench comprising justices Navin Chawla and Ravinder Dudeja granted more time to the respondents as a copy of the application could not be supplied to some of the respondents. The bench noted that the original matter had been listed for hearing on March 2. However, the date was later declared a holiday, following which the matter was listed for March 11. The court has now scheduled the next hearing in the matter for March 28. Except for Kuldeep Singh Sengar, all other convicts are on bail in this case. Advocate Mehmood Pracha appeared for the Unnao rape victim, who has moved the plea. On the other hand, advocate Anubha Bhardwaj had appeared for the CBI and submitted that the petition should be heard only after deciding its maintainability. Kuldeep Singh Sengar is serving 10 years sentence in the custodial death case and a life sentence in the minor rape case. His appeals in both cases are pending before the Delhi High Court. The earlier bench had noted that, as per the direction of the Supreme Court, the matter should be decided on priority and within 3 months. All matters are pending before different benches. In this situation matter can't be decided in 3 months. The Delhi High Court had suspended the sentence of Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the custodial death case in December 2025. However, the Supreme Court had stayed the order. (ANI) Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Amit Bansal granted protection to Umesh Chandra Padala, who allegedly designed T-shirts worn by the protestors. The court directed Padala to cooperate with the ongoing investigation being carried out by the Delhi Police. The court further instructed the Delhi police to give 7 days' notice to Umesh Chandra Padala, a resident of Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, in case of his arrest. Padala has been attributed the role of designing the T-shirts allegedly used in the protest and is stated to have aided the alleged main conspirators in planning the demonstration. Advocate Saimon Farooqui and Advocate Mohd Azam Khan appeared on behalf of the accused during the hearing. This case pertains to a protest organised at the AI Impact Summit in Bharat Mandapam on February 20. Delhi Police has arrested Udai Bhanu Chib, President Indian Youth Congress, and 13 others in this case. Anticipatory bail pleas of Manish Sharma and Rajeev Kumar are pending hearing tomorrow before the Patiala House Court. This case is being transferred to the Crime Branch of the Delhi police. (ANI) He said incidents such as the actions of HYDRA in Hyderabad, issues involving the disabled in Mahabubnagar, and house demolitions in Lagacharla and Khammam reflect the government's approach. KTR alleged that in Velugumatla, houses belonging to nearly 1,000 families were demolished allegedly for the benefit of benamis of three ministers. He said the state government has now realised its mistake and is planning to issue land ownership pattas (title deeds) to poor families. KTR stated that during the government led by K Chandrashekar Rao, land and pattas were provided to lakhs of people across the state. He further alleged that individuals such as Suresh, Damodar and Kishore are benamis of three ministers. According to KTR, the ruling party believed that after the municipal elections, no one would question their actions. He said many families had spent lakhs of rupees to build their houses, but those homes were demolished. Now, he added, the government is hurriedly issuing pattas. KT Rama Rao alleged that houses of poor people were demolished in Khammam's Velugumatla area for the benefit of certain real estate interests. "Recently, Congress ministers, for the real estate profits of three Binamis in Khammam's veligumatla have demolished houses of poor people... We will not leave until the pattas have been given to the poor in Khammam's Velugumatla... There are 1000 people whose houses were demolished, but giving pattas to 310 only... Are you running a government or a circus?" he said. KTR demanded that the state government provide house site pattas to every family whose homes were demolished anywhere in the state. (ANI) Tourism Ambassador to the Government of Himachal Pradesh and Miss Earth India 2022 Vanshika Parmar said that while global uncertainties and tensions in parts of the Middle East may create concerns within the tourism industry, Himachal Pradesh continues to remain a safe and attractive destination for travellers from across the world. Speaking on the sidelines of the district-level International Women's Day celebration in Hamirpur, Parmar on Monday emphasised that the state's tourism sector must respond to global developments by strengthening sustainable tourism, local participation and women-led enterprises. "Global developments do create concerns for the tourism industry, but Himachal's strength lies in its peace, culture and natural beauty," Parmar said. She added, "Himachal Pradesh continues to remain a safe, welcoming and culturally rich destination for travellers from across India and the world." Parmar was felicitated as Chief Guest at the programme organised by the district administration under the Department of Women and Child Development, where she outlined a broader vision linking tourism growth with women-led development in the hill state. Tracing her roots to Village Tunhi in Nadaun Tehsil of Hamirpur district, Parmar said her journey from the hills of Himachal to international platforms continues to be shaped by the values of the region. "Hamirpur is known as Veer Bhoomi, a land of courage, discipline and service. Those values have always guided my journey," she said. Coming from an Armed Forces family, Parmar's father, Group Captain SK Parmar, serves in the Indian Air Force, while her maternal and paternal grandfathers, Colonel Nanak Chand Chauhan and Colonel Shakti Chand Parmar, served in the Indian Army. She credited her upbringing for instilling a strong sense of public service and social responsibility. "My family always believed that personal success must be accompanied by service to society," Parmar said. An alumna of Miranda House, University of Delhi, Parmar completed both her undergraduate and postgraduate studies there and is currently pursuing doctoral research alongside her policy and advocacy initiatives. At 18, she became the first young woman from Himachal Pradesh to win an international Alpha pageant national crown and represented India at the Miss Earth global platform in the Philippines among delegates from over 85 countries. As Tourism Ambassador, Parmar highlighted the potential of tourism as a major pathway for women's economic empowerment in Himachal Pradesh. She suggested strengthening women-led tourism enterprises, including homestays, heritage tourism initiatives, craft clusters and culinary tourism based on traditional Himachali cuisine. "Tourism must become a bridge connecting culture with livelihoods," she said. Parmar also stressed the need to connect Himachal's artisans and local products with global markets through digital platforms and international collaborations. "Our shawls, embroidery, jewellery and handmade crafts carry centuries of heritage. With the right platforms, these traditions can empower women economically while preserving cultural identity," she added. Parmar also shared elements of a policy framework she calls "Empowerment by Design," which proposes that women's empowerment should be embedded in governance, education and economic policy structures. Among the ideas she suggested were district-level Gender Innovation Labs linking universities, communities and administrations, and a Digital Gender Equity Dashboard to track district-wise progress in education, employment and safety. During the programme, Parmar also praised the work of Anganwadi workers, women leaders and self-help groups, calling them the backbone of rural social development. "These women are the silent architects of social change, ensuring that government schemes reach every household and every child," she said. Parmar welcomed welfare initiatives launched by the Himachal Pradesh government under Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, including the Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh-Samman Nidhi Yojana, which provides monthly financial assistance to women. According to Parmar, such programmes demonstrate an evolving governance approach that integrates social security, education and economic empowerment. Parmar said she hopes to work with educational institutions, government departments and women's groups to create opportunities for young women from Himachal to participate in national and global leadership spaces. "From the villages of Hamirpur to the global stage, the journey of a girl should never be limited by geography. When a woman rises, an entire society rises with her, "Parmar added. (ANI) Iran claims attacks on U.S., Israeli targets as Israel intercepting Iranian missiles Xinhua) 12:20, March 07, 2026 Israeli security forces and first responders work at the site of an Iranian strike in Tel Aviv, Israel, March 6, 2026. Iran's armed forces said Friday that they attacked U.S. and Israeli targets across the region, while the Israel Defense Forces said its air defense systems were intercepting another missile launch from Iran. (Gideon Markowicz/JINI via Xinhua) TEHRAN/JERUSALEM, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Iran's armed forces said Friday that they attacked U.S. and Israeli targets across the region, while the Israel Defense Forces said its air defense systems were intercepting another missile launch from Iran. In a statement, Iran's army said its ground force has targeted U.S. military bases in Kuwait with drones launched in large numbers, vowing that the attacks will continue in the coming hours. Meanwhile, Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said it has launched a large number of Khorramshahr-4, Kheibar and Fattah missiles towards Israeli and U.S. targets in its 22nd wave of attacks, according to a statement published on its official news outlet Sepah News. In another statement, the IRGC said in the latest wave, the Khorramshahr-4 missiles carried 2-ton warheads and hit the targets with speeds of above Mach 14. The IRGC listed the targets as U.S. bases in regional countries, as well as Tel Aviv, Ben Gurion Airport and military centers in Haifa. For its part, the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that, "a short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran ... Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat." On Saturday morning, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities. Iran responded through several waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. bases in the Middle East. Israeli security forces and first responders work at the site of an Iranian strike in Tel Aviv, Israel, March 6, 2026. Iran's armed forces said Friday that they attacked U.S. and Israeli targets across the region, while the Israel Defense Forces said its air defense systems were intercepting another missile launch from Iran. (Gideon Markowicz/JINI via Xinhua) Israeli security forces and first responders work at the site of an Iranian strike in Tel Aviv, Israel, March 6, 2026. Iran's armed forces said Friday that they attacked U.S. and Israeli targets across the region, while the Israel Defense Forces said its air defense systems were intercepting another missile launch from Iran. (Gideon Markowicz/JINI via Xinhua) This photo taken on March 6, 2026 shows the site of an Iranian strike in Tel Aviv, Israel. Iran's armed forces said Friday that they attacked U.S. and Israeli targets across the region, while the Israel Defense Forces said its air defense systems were intercepting another missile launch from Iran. (Gideon Markowicz/JINI via Xinhua) (Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Du Mingming) Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said that it is unfortunate for the country's parliamentary politics that the opposition has brought a resolution for the removal of Speaker Om Birla and that members are expected to speak and participate in proceedings according to the rules and procedures. Replying to the two-day debate on the opposition resolution, Amit Shah said that the Speaker serves as a neutral custodian, representing both the ruling party and the Opposition. He said the House is not a marketplace and the members are expected to follow the rules. "This is not ordinary. After about four decades, a No-Confidence Motion against the Lok Sabha Speaker has been brought. It is unfortunate for Parliamentary politics and this House," Amit Shah said. "According to the established history of this House, its proceedings are conducted on the basis of mutual trust. The Speaker serves as a neutral custodian, representing both the ruling party and the Opposition. Specific rules have been created by this very Lok Sabha to guide how the Speaker should conduct the sessions. This House is not a marketplace; members are expected to speak and participate according to its rules and procedures," he added. Amit Shah slammed the opposition parties and said its action has raised questions on the deep reputation of India's democracy. The Constitution has given the role of a mediator to the Speaker. You cast suspicions on the mediator. In 75 years, both the Houses have made the foundation of our democracy deeper than 'paatal'. Opposition has questioned the reputation of that deep foundation," he said. Amit Shah said the BJP has been in the Opposition for a long time, but it never brought a no-confidence motion against the Speaker. "Three times, a no-confidence motion against the Speaker of the Lok Sabha was introduced in the House; however, neither the BJP nor the NDA has ever brought forward such a motion," he said. Over 42 members took part in the debate. (ANI) Patiala House Court on Wednesday granted bail to Divyansh Girdhar, Bhudev Sharma and Kuber Meena. They were arrested by the Delhi Police in the AI Summit Protest case. Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) granted bail on a bond of Rs 25000 and a surety bond of the same amount. The court has imposed certain conditions upon the accused persons. On March 6, Link Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Vanshika Mehta had deferred the bail hearing of three accused and listed the same before the concerned court on Monday. The court earlier had issued notice on the bail application of Divyansh Girdhar, Bhudev Sharma, and Kuber Meena. Duty Magistrate Charan Salwan had rejected the bail plea of Bhudev Sharma and Divyansh Girdhar on March 2. The accused persons had sought bail in parity with 10 other accused persons. The court had dismissed the bail pleas. "In my considered view, the present application for remand and the prayer for bail stand on a distinctly different footing from that of the co-accused already granted bail," the Duty Magistrate had said while rejecting the bail pleas. The court said that it is a settled principle of criminal jurisprudence that while the rule of parity is a relevant consideration in matters of bail, it is not to be applied in a mechanical or uniform manner. The court had also dealt with the submissions based on the right to protest. The court held that the right to protest, subject to reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2) and Article 19(3) of the Constitution, is a cherished constitutional guarantee in a democratic polity. "However, the exercise of such rights is not absolute and must be balanced against considerations of public order, security of the State, and other legitimate restrictions contemplated under the Constitution," the court had said. The court noted that it is revealed from the record that the alleged protest took place during a National Event attended by foreign delegates and dignitaries. "The nature, timing, and location of the protest are relevant factors at this stage of investigation, particularly in assessing issues of security, public order, and the larger ramifications of the alleged acts," Duty Magistrate Salwan said. (ANI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha, questioning his frequent foreign visits and accusing him of spreading misinformation about not being allowed to speak in Parliament. Referring specifically to Gandhi's time in abroad, Shah said that when it is a chance to speak in the House, the Congress leader is "seen in Germany or England," instead of participating in debates. Shah's remarks came during a heated discussion on the Opposition's no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. The Home Minister dismissed the allegation that the Leader of Opposition's voice is being suppressed, saying it is up to members themselves to decide when they speak during debates. "LoP has grievances that he is not allowed to speak and that his voice is stifled. I would like to ask him who will decide who has to speak? The Speaker? No, you have to decide this," Shah said. He added that data from the 18th Lok Sabha shows Congress MPs collectively spoke for 157 hours and 55 minutes, questioning why Gandhi himself did not utilise those opportunities. "But when it is a chance to speak, you are seen in Germany, in England. Then he complains...Congress MPs spoke for 157 hours and 55 minutes in the 18th Lok Sabha. How much did the LoP speak? Why did you not speak? Which Speaker stopped you? Nobody can. Misinformation is spread to defame the Lok Sabha," he said. Earlier, defending the Speaker's office, Shah strongly criticised the Opposition for bringing a no-confidence motion against Birla. According to the Home Minister, such a move undermines the dignity of the parliamentary institution. While recalling past parliamentary traditions, Shah noted that when the BJP-led alliance was in the Opposition, it never attempted to bring a no-confidence motion against the Speaker. "We worked as a constructive Opposition and preserved the dignity of the post," he said. Shah further emphasised that the Constitution assigns the Speaker the role of a neutral mediator in the House. Casting doubts on the Speaker's impartiality, he argued, damages a foundational pillar of India's democratic system. "In 75 years, both Houses of Parliament have strengthened the foundation of our democracy deeply. By questioning the Speaker, the Opposition is casting suspicion on that very foundation," Shah said. Calling the motion unprecedented in recent decades, Shah described it as a troubling development for parliamentary politics. "This is not ordinary. After nearly four decades, a no-confidence motion against a Lok Sabha Speaker has been brought. It is unfortunate for parliamentary politics and for this House," he added. Meanwhile, the motion was moved by Congress MP Mohammad Jawed on Tuesday, with more than 50 MPs standing in support of the resolution. BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, who was in the Chair, granted leave to move the motion and announced that 10 hours had been allotted for debate, and asked MPs to stick to the resolution. He said that the Speaker was generous with the permissions and procedure for the Opposition resolution. A total of 118 Opposition MPs signed the resolution, alleging "partisan behaviour" by the Speaker. (ANI) For the past month, students of Jawaharlal Nehru University have been protesting against corruption in the administration and the deeply casteist remarks made by the Vice Chancellor, Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, including her statement that "Dalits and Blacks are drugged with victimhood." These remarks have sparked widespread anger across the campus and raised serious concerns about the conduct and accountability of the university's highest office. With the cooperation of all School Faculty Committees (SFCs), councillors, student organisations and the wider student community, the JNUSU led a sustained protest movement. What began as a strike gradually intensified into lockdowns across several schools of the university. Students collectively participated in these democratic actions through decisions taken at various School General Body Meetings (GBMs). During this period, the administration responded with repression. FIRs were filed against several students, including multiple FIRs against Office Bearers (OBs) of the Union, simply for implementing the democratic decisions taken by the student body in GBMs. The situation escalated when students marched to the Ministry of Education (MoE) to demand implementation of UGC regulations, adequate funding for the university, and the resignation of the Vice Chancellor for her casteist remarks. The police detained more than 50 students and arrested 14 of them. The JNU-14 were sent to Tihar Jail, where they spent three days in custody. Throughout this ordeal, the Vice Chancellor failed to issue even a single statement condemning the police action against her own students. Her silence, combined with the heavy-handed police response, made the nexus between the administration and the police increasingly evident. This repression has only demonstrated that the strike and lockdown had indeed put pressure on the administration. In order to democratically ascertain the opinion of the student community, the JNUSU conducted a referendum on 10th March across all schools of the university, asking students whether the Vice Chancellor should continue in office in light of her casteist remarks and the ongoing administrative corruption. The response from the student community was overwhelming. A total of 2409 students cast their votes in the referendum. 2181 students (90.54%) voted against the continuation of the Vice Chancellor in JNU. 207 students (8.59%) voted in favour of her continuation. 21 votes (0.87%) were declared invalid. The referendum clearly reflects the overwhelming sentiment of the student body. The students of JNU have delivered a decisive democratic mandate demanding accountability and the resignation of the Vice Chancellor. We also announce that the Public Hearing of the Vice Chancellor of JNU is scheduled next week in JNU, where we are going to invite retired judges, lawyers, academicians and activists. We will publish the chargesheet of her corruption, nepotism, casteism, violation of reservation, and undemocratic functioning of JNU. JNUSU reiterates its demand for the immediate resignation of the Casteist Vice Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, calls upon the Ministry of Education to take cognisance of the democratic voice of the students. (ANI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday hit out at Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha, saying that Parliament is not a "market" to debate press conferences. Speaking during the debate on the Opposition's no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Shah mocked Gandhi for allegedly seeking a discussion in the House based on his recent press conference. "He suddenly had an idea - to have a debate on his own press conference. This is not a market. This is the Lok Sabha. Topics for debate are formally decided here. From your great-grandfather to your grandmother to your father, there were tall leaders in India, but the Lok Sabha never had a debate on anyone's press conference," he said. He further said that expecting Parliament to debate a press interaction lowered the standards of the House, adding that the Speaker Birla's decision not to allow such a discussion protected the dignity of Parliament. "If he expects that his 'great press conference', built on a foundation of lies, will be debated in the House, then Om Birla did a favour to the House by not letting its standards fall," Shah further said. The Home Minister also criticised Gandhi's parliamentary attendance record, citing figures from previous Lok Sabhas to question the Congress leader's participation. He said, "Suno, ab sun'na padega," angrily as Opposition MPs raise protest as he read out the attendance sheet of Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi from 15th to 17th Lok Sabha. "In the 17th Lok Sabha, his attendance was 51%. The national average was 66%. In the 16th Lok Sabha, his attendance was 52%. The national average was 80%. In the 15th Lok Sabha, his attendance was 43%. National average was 76%," Shah said. Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha rejected the Opposition's no-confidence motion against Speaker Om Birla by a voice vote amid sloganeering. The House has been adjourned for the day till 11 AM on Thursday. (ANI) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has told a Delhi court that its investigation in a terror funding case was delayed due to the law and order situation in Jammu and Kashmir following the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In its submission before the court on March 11, 2026, the agency stated that certain investigative steps in Kashmir could not be carried out due to protests and unrest that erupted after the Iranian leader's death in late February. The NIA said that it was unable to conduct "pointing out" procedures in the Valley, during which the accused are taken to specific locations to identify places where arms and ammunition were allegedly concealed. According to the agency, the prevailing law and order situation and protests following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made it difficult to safely carry out these field investigations. The submission was made during the production of two accused, Tufail Ahmad Bhat and Zameer Ahmad Ahangar, who were arrested on February 25, 2026, in connection with the case. According to the NIA, the two accused are allegedly part of a larger conspiracy to wage war against India by procuring and supplying weapons for terrorist activities. During interrogation, the agency claimed that Zameer Ahmad Ahangar had been in contact with a foreign handler linked to a terrorist organisation through social media platforms. The agency also informed the court that technical delays have further slowed the investigation. It stated that duplicate SIM cards of the accused persons' Kashmir-based mobile numbers are yet to be received from telecom service providers, which has delayed the extraction and analysis of their social media accounts and digital evidence. Seeking further time for investigation, the NIA requested the court to grant an additional 10 days of police custody of the accused. The agency said it needs the extended custody to extract social media data in the presence of the accused, confront them with financial transactions that have surfaced during the probe, and collect biological, handwriting and signature samples as permitted by the Magistrate court. The NIA also plans to confront the accused with co-accused persons and witnesses as part of efforts to uncover the larger conspiracy behind the alleged terror activities. The court had earlier granted the agency 10 days of police custody of the accused, which ended on March 11. Medical reports from Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital have declared both accused fit for further interrogation. (ANI) Andhra Pradesh IT & HRD Minister Nara Lokesh on Tuesday strongly criticised YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, accusing him of repeatedly obstructing development and employment opportunities in the state. Reacting to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by YSRCP MP Maddila Gurumoorthy in the Andhra Pradesh High Court against the proposed Google AI Hub and data centre investment in Visakhapatnam, Minister Lokesh alleged that the move reflects the party's continued opposition to projects that create jobs for the youth. In a post on X, Minister Lokesh said that Jagan has consistently opposed development initiatives in the state - from opposing the Amaravati capital project to cancelling power contracts and filing cases against IT development centres meant to generate employment. Minister Lokesh said that the latest PIL against the Google AI Hub in Vizag, which he described as India's largest foreign direct investment* in the sector, raises serious concerns about the YSRCP leadership's approach towards investment and job creation. Calling Jagan "anti-development," Minister Nara Lokesh further remarked that such actions show hostility towards the aspirations of Andhra Pradesh's youth, who are looking for opportunities in emerging technology sectors. He added that Andhra Pradesh has moved forward on the path of development and investment, asserting that attempts to block projects bringing global technology companies and employment opportunities will not succeed. On the other hand, earlier today, YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday said the budget presented by the Chandrababu Naidu government is filled with misleading numbers and false narratives. Jagan said that since Chandrababu came to power, the "state's debt has been continuously increasing. During our five-year government, the total borrowing was about Rs 3.31 lakh crore. But in just two years of Chandrababu's rule, the debt has already crossed Rs 3.20 lakh crore." Whenever Chandrababu comes to power, Jagan said that revenues have declined and debts have risen. "The reason is clear - rampant corruption and large-scale misuse of resources. Government lands are being handed over to private real estate companies at throwaway prices. Lands worth thousands of crores in Visakhapatnam are being allotted to relatives and associates." The government is not even maintaining a minimum balance in the treasury, Jagan Reddy slammed the TDP. "The Assembly sessions were reduced to drama, skits, and self-praise instead of discussing people's issues. We asked questions about the Super Six promises, but there were no answers. What happened to the promises made to women? What happened to housing for the poor? In the last two years, have they given even a single piece of land or constructed even one house for the poor?" he said. (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Kangana Ranaut on Wednesday accused Congress of creating "hungama" and they did not let the Union Home Minister speak. Speaking to the reporters outside the Parliament, Raut said,"Congress always levels allegations, but when it came to hearing the truth, they started a hungama. They did not let the Union Home Minister speak. The country has seen how Rahul Gandhi does not attend parliament, stays abroad and doesn't speak according to the rules." Her remarks came after the Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a sharp attack on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha, questioning his frequent foreign visits and accusing him of spreading misinformation about not being allowed to speak in Parliament. Referring specifically to Gandhi's time in abroad, Shah said that when it is a chance to speak in the House, the Congress leader is "seen in Germany or England," instead of participating in debates. "LoP has grievances that he is not allowed to speak and that his voice is stifled. I would like to ask him who will decide who has to speak? The Speaker? No, you have to decide this," Shah said. He added that data from the 18th Lok Sabha shows Congress MPs collectively spoke for 157 hours and 55 minutes, questioning why Gandhi himself did not utilise those opportunities. "But when it is a chance to speak, you are seen in Germany, in England. Then he complains...Congress MPs spoke for 157 hours and 55 minutes in the 18th Lok Sabha. How much did the LoP speak? Why did you not speak? Which Speaker stopped you? Nobody can. Misinformation is spread to defame the Lok Sabha," he said. Shah's remarks came during a heated discussion on the Opposition's no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. The Home Minister dismissed the allegation that the Leader of the Opposition's voice is being suppressed, saying it is up to members themselves to decide when they speak during debates. (ANI) The Revenue, Horticulture and Tribal Development Minister of Himachal Pradesh government, Jagat Singh Negi, on Wednesday expressed concern that rationing of LPG under the Essential Commodities Act could severely impact households and the tourism sector in the hill state if supply shortages continue. Speaking to ANI in Shimla, Negi said that LPG supply is completely controlled by the Central government and any decision on rationing or restrictions could directly affect daily life across Himachal Pradesh and other states. He warned that the situation could worsen in the backdrop of the ongoing crisis in the Middle East and Iran, which may disrupt fuel supply chains and trigger shortages. "LPG is totally controlled by the Central government, and the entire supply is with them. If the rationing of essential commodities continues due to shortages, it will create serious problems. Forget about tourism first; every household kitchen will be affected. If people are unable to cook food on time, it will disrupt daily life. Children have to go to school, workers have to go to work, and if there is no food on time, how will people manage their day?" he raised questions. Negi further said that tourism, one of the key sectors of the hill state's economy, could also face setbacks if fuel shortages continue, as hospitality units and local businesses depend heavily on LPG and other fuels. He added that the state government is monitoring the situation closely, but the availability of LPG ultimately depends on supply decisions taken by the Centre. The minister cautioned that prolonged shortages could force people to revert to traditional cooking methods such as firewood or old stoves, which would create additional hardships for households in the region. (ANI) Domestic LPG production has increased by about 25 percent and the entire domestic LPG production is being directed towards household consumers, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas said on Wednesday. Government said for non-domestic LPG, priority is being given to essential sectors such as hospitals and educational institutions. The remarks were made at an inter-ministerial briefing was held on the recent developments in West Asia was organised at the National Media Centre today. Senior officers from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. For non-domestic LPG, priority is being given to essential sectors such as hospitals and educational institutions, ministry official said. The current price of a domestic LPG cylinder in Delhi is Rs 913 after a recent Rs 60 increase. For PMUY beneficiaries the price remains Rs 613 per cylinder. The Government has approved Rs 30,000 crore compensation for oil marketing companies for LPG under-recoveries, officials said. India imports about 60 percent of its LPG consumption and out of these imports about 90 percent come through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been impacted due to current happenings. A three-member committee of Executive Directors from IOCL, HPCL and BPCL has been constituted to review allocations to restaurants, hotels and other commercial users and to ensure fair and transparent distribution of available LPG supplies On Natural gas front, the Government issued a Natural Gas Control Order on 9 March 2026 under the Essential Commodities Act to manage gas supplies and protect priority sectors. Domestic PNG supply and CNG for vehicles will receive 100 percent supply with no cuts, officials said. Tea industries, manufacturing units and other industrial consumers connected to the gas grid will receive about 80 percent of their previous six-month average supply. Fertiliser plants will receive about 70 percent supply, while refineries and petrochemical units will take a reduction of about 35 percent so that higher priority sectors can be protected. India's total natural gas consumption is about 189 MMSCMD, of which 97.5 MMSCMD is produced domestically. About 47.4 MMSCMD of supply has been affected due to force majeure conditions. India's crude oil supply remains secure, ministry said highlighting that country's daily consumption is about 55 lakh barrels and through diversified procurement the volumes secured currently exceed what would normally have arrived through the Strait of Hormuz during this period. India now imports crude from around 40 countries. As a result of this diversification, about 70 percent of crude imports are now coming from routes outside the Strait of Hormuz compared with about 55 percent earlier. At the briefing it was mentioned that, the Union Home Secretary held a meeting with the Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Police of all States and Union Territories. States and Union Territories were advised to take strict measures against hoarding of essential commodities and ensure uninterrupted availability of essential supplies. Ministry of External Affairs provided an update on the situation concerning Indian nationals in the region. Two Indian nationals have lost their lives and one remains missing in incidents involving merchant ships that came under attack. Condolences were conveyed to the families. Some injured Indian nationals are receiving treatment and are being assisted by Indian missions. One Indian national injured in Israel is recovering well and another injured in Dubai is in contact with the Indian Consulate. About 9,000 Indian nationals are currently in Iran. The Indian mission remains in close contact with the community. Indian students and pilgrims have been relocated to safer cities outside Tehran, MEA officials said. Assistance is also being provided for land border crossings into Armenia and Azerbaijan so that individuals can take commercial flights back to India. Citizens have been advised to follow the official social media handles of the Ministry of External Affairs and Indian missions for regular updates, they added. (ANI) Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Sudhakar Singh on Wednesday warned of worsening LPG shortage, accusing the government of hiding facts and citing failures in foreign policy. Speaking to ANI, outside the Parliament, Singh said,"The Indian government is hiding a lot of things.The airlines are also compensating for fuel prices.This is the failure of the government's foreign policy. This problem will only worsen..." The volatility in the LPG market is primarily driven by the ongoing conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran, which has significantly impacted the Strait of Hormuz. This maritime corridor is critical for India, as it is the transit route for approximately 85-90% of its LPG imports. To prevent a domestic shortage, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has invoked the Essential Commodities Act (1955). This allows the government to prioritise domestic household LPG supplies by directing refineries to maximise LPG production and restrict the diversion of propane and butane to other industrial or petrochemical uses. While the government maintains that domestic household supply is secure, sectors like hospitality (hotels and restaurants) have reported significant operational challenges due to shortages of commercial LPG cylinders. Some establishments in cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi have reportedly reduced operating hours or curtailed menus to manage fuel stocks. To address the grievances of non-domestic users, the government has formed a three-member committee to assess bottlenecks and manage supply distribution. Additionally, India has diversified its energy import strategy, including sourcing from the US Gulf Coast, to mitigate the impact of the Strait of Hormuz disruption. Earlier in the day, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal acknowledged the government's decision to prioritise domestic LPG production for household use, calling it a necessary step to ensure benefits reach consumers directly. Speaking to ANI, the Rajya Sabha MP also asserted that a significant impact on Indian industries was inevitable due to the ongoing conflict between the USA, Israel, and Iran. "These are consequences, this was bound to happen, the war will continue, it will go on for 2-4 weeks, it will be very difficult. Our industries, be it textiles, petrochemicals or our need for LPG, out of which 40 pc comes from Qatar, if this is closed, various sectors will be impacted, so the government did right in prioritising it should first go to the consumers (supply) then industries, essential commodities, these decisions are right," said Sibal. Meanwhile, this comes in the backdrop of escalating war in West Asia between Iran, Israel and the United States, which has spread to the Gulf countries. Due to reprioritisation, domestic LPG production has increased by 10 per cent in the last few days and consignment of LPG and LNG is coming from various sources. The sources said a new consignment of LPG/LNG is expected very soon. "We were in crisis earlier, but today we are not in any crisis of petroleum products. Indian refineries are running at full capacity as they were operating before the Iran-Israel conflict," a source said. (ANI) Former National Security Advisor (NSA) MK Narayanan on Wednesday warned that the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran could escalate into a serious crisis, with far-reaching implications for the global economy and security. Speaking to ANI on the situation, Narayanan said the conflict could escalate, with an uncertain duration. Iran may suffer the most, but the world could face economic and other impacts. "It has the potential to become a much more serious conflict. It is difficult to predict how a conflict will turn out. Since the United States is now playing a lead role in this conflict, I don't know how long it could last. Iran has been known for years to be willing to fight to the last person concerned. So it could be long drawn out. Iran will be the worst sufferer. But I think the rest of the world will face the implications, both economically and otherwise," he said. On the Iran-Israel conflict and gas prices rise, former Deputy NSA, Pankaj Saran said India should help ease tensions as the US conducts a major military campaign on Iran, urging communication channels be maintained and hoping the campaign of bombing Iran ends soon. "At this point in time, it is important that everyone, particularly in India, help to diffuse some of the tension. We are in the middle of a massive military campaign by the United States on Iran. The United States has made it very clear that they are not interested in listening to anyone or in deflecting its objectives. We have to maintain those channels of communication, and we have to hope that this entire military campaign of bombing Iran comes to a halt earlier rather than later," Saran said. Earlier today, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Randhir Jaiswal, confirmed that the two Indian nationals have lost their lives and one remains missing amid the ongoing West Asian conflict. During the Inter-Ministerial Briefing on Recent Developments in West Asia in the national capital, the MEA spokesperson reiterated that the welfare and safety of India's large diaspora in the region remain the government's "utmost priority" as the conflict continues to escalate. "As you know, we have a large diaspora in GCC countries, numbering around 10 million. The welfare of our diaspora is of utmost priority and importance to us," the MEA Spokesperson said. The MEA stated that the casualties occurred when Indian nationals were aboard merchant vessels that were attacked in conflict-affected waters, adding that several Indians have also sustained injuries in the Gulf region amid the conflict, including one person hurt in Israel and another reportedly injured in Dubai. "As for the casualties, we have lost two Indian nationals, and one remains missing. We express our condolences to their families. The incidents of death and the missing person occurred when they were on merchant vessels that came under attack," Jaiswal said. "A few Indians have also been injured in the GCC region. One person was injured in Israel, and there are reports of another individual being injured in Dubai. The MEA is in regular touch with them," he added. This comes amid heightened tensions in West Asia following the killing of 86-year-old Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in joint military strikes by the US and Israel on February 28, after which Iran, in its retaliation, targeted Israeli and US assets in several Gulf countries and Israel, causing disruption in the waterway and affecting international energy markets and global economic stability. (ANI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin has written to Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri seeking reconsideration of provisions in the Natural Gas (Supply Regulation) Order, 2026. He raised concerns that the proposed cap on gas supply to power plants, based on recent average consumption, may not reflect seasonal demand and could affect electricity generation during peak summer months. The Chief Minister suggested instead linking gas allocation to consumption during the same period as the previous year. Additionally TN CM has mentioned that due to the expected shift from gas to electricity for commercial users and hotels, it is important to meet the peak electricity demand during the summer season. Meanwhile, government on Wednesday said domestic LPG production has increased by about 25 percent and the entire domestic LPG production is being directed towards household consumers, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas said on Wednesday. Government said for non-domestic LPG, priority is being given to essential sectors such as hospitals and educational institutions.The remarks were made at an inter-ministerial briefing was held on the recent developments in West Asia was organised at the National Media Centre today. For non-domestic LPG, priority is being given to essential sectors such as hospitals and educational institutions, ministry official said.The current price of a domestic LPG cylinder in Delhi is Rs 913 after a recent Rs 60 increase. For PMUY beneficiaries the price remains Rs 613 per cylinder. (ANI) Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday condemned the BJP-led Union Government for allegedly being "negligent and insensitive" towards the LPG shortage issue, calling it a case of "collective failure." Calling the situation alarming, Gelhot advised the general public to use cooking gas and petrol-diesel considerately. He further requested the state and central government to ensure LPG gas supply in dhabas used by daily wage workers. "The deepening crisis in the supply of cooking gas (LPG) in the country due to the war in the Gulf countries is extremely alarming. It is unfortunate that the Modi government remains as negligent and insensitive as ever regarding this potential national crisis. The central government's inability to assess the situation in time is a clear case of 'collective failure'," Gelhot wrote in a post on X. "In the current circumstances, my appeal to the general public is to use cooking gas and petrol-diesel with complete responsibility and frugality. The supply of LPG gas should be ensured in dhabas used by daily wage labourers for cooking their daily meals, by both the central and state governments," he added. https://x.com/ashokgehlot51/status/2031687552193720448 The Former Rajasthan Chief Minister especially urged the state government to ensure uninterrupted gas availability in 'Indira Kitchen', on which lakhs of needy people rely for meals. "At the same time, I have a special request to the Rajasthan government that, at the very least, uninterrupted availability of gas be ensured in 'Indira Kitchen' (currently named Annapurna Kitchen), because lakhs of needy people, students, and labourers depend on these for their meals," he requested. Meanwhile, Karnataka Minister M B Patil also expressed concerns over the warnings issued by hotel associations, stating that they might be forced to close within the next few days due to inadequate gas supply, despite assurance of no shortage by Piyush Goyal. "... Piyush Goyal has said that there is no shortage of gas. But on the contrary, hotel associations, including Bhartiya Vidyarthi Bhavan and others, have warned that hotels may be forced to close within two days due to insufficient gas supply. Arrangements are urgently needed to meet the requirements of industry, hotels, and households," he said. The reactions come after the Centre had recently announced a price hike of Rs 60 for cooking LPG cylinders, amid the West Asia conflict. Following the hike, the non-subsidised prices of LPG cylinders stand at Rs 913 in Delhi, Rs 939 in Kolkata, Rs 912 in Mumbai, and Rs 928 in Chennai. The difference in prices across states comes from the applicable taxes levied by the state government. The government has mandated a new 25-day inter-booking period for domestic LPG refills. (ANI) A heated debate unfolded in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday as Union Home Minister Amit Shah sharply attacked the Opposition during the debate on a resolution seeking the removal of Speaker Om Birla, accusing them of undermining parliamentary traditions and spreading misinformation about the functioning of the House. Replying to the two-day debate on the motion moved by Congress MP Mohammad Jawed, Shah said bringing such a resolution against the Speaker was "unfortunate" for parliamentary politics and stressed that members must follow the rules of the House. "This is not ordinary. After about four decades, a No-Confidence Motion against the Lok Sabha Speaker has been brought. It is unfortunate for Parliamentary politics and this House," Shah said. Defending the institution of the Speaker, he said the Constitution gives the Speaker the role of a neutral mediator between the ruling party and the Opposition. "According to the established history of this House, its proceedings are conducted on the basis of mutual trust. The Speaker serves as a neutral custodian, representing both the ruling party and the Opposition," Shah said. He added that Parliament cannot function like an open forum without rules. "This House is not a marketplace; members are expected to speak and participate according to its rules and procedures," he said. Shah also accused the Opposition of weakening democratic institutions by questioning the Speaker's role. "The Constitution has given the role of a mediator to the Speaker. You cast suspicions on the mediator. In 75 years, both Houses have deepened the foundation of our democracy. The Opposition has questioned the reputation of that deep foundation," he said. The Home Minister said that although the BJP had spent years in the Opposition, it had never moved a no-confidence motion against a Lok Sabha Speaker. "Three times, such a motion has been introduced in the history of this House, but neither the BJP nor the NDA has ever brought forward such a motion," he added. During his speech, Shah also targeted Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of complaining about not being allowed to speak while often being absent from the House. Referring to Gandhi's foreign trips, Shah said, "LoP says he is not allowed to speak. But when it is a chance to speak, you are seen in Germany, in England. Then he complains." Citing parliamentary data, he said Congress MPs spoke for 157 hours and 55 minutes in the current Lok Sabha session and questioned why Gandhi did not use the opportunities available. He also mocked Gandhi for allegedly seeking a discussion in Parliament on his press conference. "He suddenly had an idea to have a debate on his own press conference. This is not a market. This is the Lok Sabha. From your great-grandfather to your grandmother to your father, there were tall leaders in India, but the Lok Sabha never had a debate on anyone's press conference," Shah said. The Home Minister further questioned Gandhi's parliamentary attendance record. "In the 17th Lok Sabha, his attendance was 51%, while the national average was 66%. In the 16th Lok Sabha, it was 52% against a national average of 80%. In the 15th Lok Sabha, his attendance was 43% while the national average was 76%," Shah said as Opposition members protested. Amid loud sloganeering by Opposition MPs, the Lok Sabha eventually rejected the resolution seeking Birla's removal through a voice vote. BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, who was presiding over the proceedings, called for the vote after Shah concluded his reply. More than 42 members had participated in the debate. The motion had been backed by 118 Opposition MPs, who accused the Speaker of "partisan behaviour." Furthermore, during the debate, Shah also accused the Congress of spreading "lies" about Indian farmers suffering losses due to the India-US interim trade deal. He said the real setback for farmers occurred during negotiations at the World Trade Organisation in 2013 under the Congress-led government. "Opposition says Indian farmers suffered losses due to the India-US trade deal. This claim is a lie being spread. Indian farmers have not suffered losses in any agreement," Shah said. He argued that decisions taken during the 2013 WTO negotiations had put India's agricultural support system at risk. Meanwhile, the Opposition strongly objected to Shah's remarks about Rahul Gandhi, leading to protests and sloganeering in the House. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, speaking after the session, said the Home Minister should have confined his remarks to the motion against the Speaker. "The no-confidence motion was against the Speaker, not Rahul ji. He should have spoken on that issue. He used an unparliamentary word in Parliament today, but the Chair did not object to it," she told reporters. Congress leader KC Venugopal also criticised Shah, saying the discussion was meant to address the Speaker's conduct, not Rahul Gandhi's presence in the House. "The issue for discussion is the unconstitutional and anti-democratic conduct of the Speaker, not whether LoP Rahul Gandhi is in the House or not," he wrote on X. "And where is the Prime Minister when such a serious issue is being debated? Why has he deserted the House? Not only has he given this Session a miss, but also was absent on multiple critical occasions - including the Vote of Thanks to the President, the GST Bill, and did not vote on the Triple Talaq Bill either. Does that not show how little he cares about Parliamentary democracy? If the BJP had an ounce of concern for democracy beyond lip-service, they would give space to the Speaker to carry out his duties in a neutral and impartial way," the post further read. Furthermore, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged that a word used by the Home Minister during the debate had been expunged from the records of Parliament. "One of the Home Minister's favourite words uttered again today in the Lok Sabha has been expunged," Ramesh said in a post, accusing the ruling side of using abusive language in debates. "It had previously been used and expunged on December 10, 2025. Earlier on Feb 6 2020, a word used by the Prime Minister in the Rajya Sabha had also been expunged. G2 are Masters of Abuse & Defamation," the post further read. Despite the sharp exchanges and protests, the House rejected the resolution against Birla. (ANI) Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department (PWD) Minister, Vikramaditya Singh, on Wednesday, called on the Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Nitin Gadkari, at Parliament House He was accompanied by Rajya Sabha MP and Himachal Pradesh Congress in-charge, Rajni Patil. According to an official release, the meeting revolved around accelerating key road, bridge and tunnel projects in Himachal Pradesh, strengthening all-weather connectivity and ensuring that the State's fragile hill areas receive robust and safe infrastructure support from the Union Government. The PWD Minister apprised Gadkari of the unique geographical challenges of Himachal Pradesh, frequent landslides and disasters, and the need for a long-term, sustainable road network that can serve local residents, farmers, horticulturists, tourists and the defence forces alike. He underlined that many sanctioned projects are at various stages of implementation and requested continued Central support, timely release of funds and flexibility in norms for hill States so that works can progress without delay. A major focus of the meeting was on the strategically important Ghatasni-Shilha-Badhani-Bhubu Jot-Kullu road and the proposed tunnel at Bhubu (Bhoo Bhoo) Jot. Vikramaditya Singh urged that the Bhubu Jot tunnel and its approach road be treated as a priority project and that this entire stretch be declared a National Highway in view of its strategic, economic and tourism potential, the release stated. Singh explained that the tunnel would provide an all-weather alternative link between Jogindernagar region and Kullu via the Lug Valley, substantially reducing the distance and travel time between Pathankot, Jogindernagar, Mandi and Kullu, easing congestion on existing routes and improving access to border areas. The PWD Minister highlighted that the Bhubu Jot corridor would open up new opportunities for tourism, home-stay-based livelihoods, small businesses and transport services in the Lug Valley and adjoining regions. He also pointed out the strategic importance of an additional reliable route for defence logistics towards high-altitude areas, especially during winters when certain passes remain closed due to heavy snowfall. Vikramaditya Singh requested that, keeping in view this broader national interest, the proposal for the Bhubu Jot tunnel and the upgradation of the connecting road be processed on priority. Apart from the Bhubu Jot proposal, Vikramaditya Singh also took up several important bridge and road projects from different parts of the State. He pressed for the construction of a double-lane bridge over River Beas between Basantipattan and Kheri to seamlessly connect Kangra and Hamirpur districts, thereby decongesting existing stretches of the National Highway and providing a shorter, safer route for daily commuters as well as commercial vehicles. As per a release, he also raised the proposal for a motorable steel truss bridge over the Beas near Pandoh in Mandi district, which would significantly improve intra-district connectivity, provide alternate routes during highway blockades and support local economic activities. The PWD Minister further referred to the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) and other centrally sponsored schemes under which several works in Himachal Pradesh have already been sanctioned. He expressed gratitude for the approvals granted so far and requested that additional proposals for widening, strengthening and improving hill roads, as well as for slope protection, tunnels and bypasses, be accorded expeditious clearance. He mentioned that the State Government has framed its priorities in line with the recently approved annual road plan, and that PWD is committed to ensuring high-quality execution on the ground. Vikramaditya Singh also conveyed the State's appreciation for policy initiatives such as support for ropeway projects and relaxation of certain norms for hilly terrain, which would help diversify transport options and reduce pressure on narrow mountain roads. He stressed that better connectivity is not merely a matter of convenience, but a necessary condition for economic growth, disaster response, education, health services and overall quality of life in a mountainous State like Himachal Pradesh, a release further read. The release said that Nitin Gadkari gave a patient and positive hearing to all the issues raised by the Himachal PWD Minister and Rajni Patil. He appreciated the detailed presentation of the State's priorities and assured that the concerns of Himachal Pradesh would be examined sympathetically at the appropriate level. He stated that the Union Government is committed to improving road and bridge infrastructure in all hill and border States and that genuine requirements of Himachal Pradesh would receive due consideration. Vikramaditya Singh reiterated that, under the leadership of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Himachal Pradesh Government is determined to work in close coordination with the Union Government to carry forward important connectivity projects. He expressed confidence that with continued Central support, remote, border and disaster-prone areas of the State will gradually be integrated through better, safer and all-weather roads, thereby creating new opportunities for employment, investment and inclusive development for the people of Himachal Pradesh, a release added. (ANI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday accused the Congress of spreading "lies" about likely losses to Indian farmers due to the India-US Interim Trade Agreement, stating the real setback to farmers had occurred during negotiations at the World Trade Organisation in 2013 under the previous government. "Opposition says that Indian farmers would suffer losses due to the India-US trade deal. This claim is a lie being spread. I want to say that Indian farmers have not suffered losses in any single agreement," Shah said. India has entered into trade agreements with several countries. According to Shah, the real issue dates back to negotiations at the WTO in 2013, when key provisions related to food security and agricultural support were accepted during the Congress-led government. He said those decisions had put Indian farmers at risk, but later, when the BJP-led government came, due protection was ensured. Shah also referred to the recently held global AI Impact Summit, which saw large international participation. Slamming Congress's "shirtless protest", Shah said, "Congress, following its tradition, undresses to stage protests and claims the right to protest. The Janta Mantar in Delhi is a place to hold protests. They went to the place in Delhi and tarnished India's prestige. While opposing the BJP, they are harming India." Shah further criticised the Opposition for bringing a no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, stating that such actions cast doubt on constitutional institutions. The Lok Sabha on Wednesday rejected the opposition resolution for the removal of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla through a voice vote amid noisy scenes in the House with Congress members protesting against the remarks of Amit Shah against party leader Rahul Gandhi. BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, who was in the Chair, asked Mohammad Jawed to speak after the Home Minister's reply and said he can do so only when Congress members go to their seats. Amid loud sloganeering by the opposition members, Jagdambika Pal called for a voice vote and said the resolution had been defeated. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched a strong attack on ruling DMK in poll-bound Tamil Nadu and accused it of dynastic politics, "scientific corruption model" and said people have made up their minds for a change in the state. Addressing a public gathering here, PM Modi said the DMK-led government is not implementing some central schemes due to apprehension that the credit will go to the NDA and said BJP-led government has big plans for the progress of Tamil Nadu. He also slammed DMK over law and order situation in the state. "What's the condition of Tamil Nadu today? Under the DMK govt, violent crimes against women have become common. Recently, everyone saw the horrible news related to a DMK member who did not spare a little girl. Today, criminals roam fearlessly, harming women. But I promise that NDA will ensure that women of Tamil Nadu live without fear. We will provide good law and order. It's criminals who will live in fear, not the people," he said. "DMK has delayed the scheme to build houses for the rural poor because they are afraid that the people will credit the central govt for it. We have big plans for the progress of Tamil Nadu. For example, we have made the state a part of the rare earth corridor. We have proposed the Bengaluru-Chennai and Chennai-Hyderabad bullet train project," he added. PM Modi said that farmers of the delta are the backbone of Tamil Nadu's food security and accused the DMK of not fulfilling its promises. "They deserve fair prices, good facilities and modern storage infrastructure. DMK promised to create grain warehouses, but today, farmers are searching for these warehouses, which are nowhere to be found. Similarly, DMK had promised a big increase in MSP for paddy. Farmers are asking what happened to these promises. Illegally sandmining is destroying the river and threatening the environment. Yet, those responsible for it continue to enjoy the protection of DMK," he said. "In 2021, the people of Tamil Nadu brought DMK to power. Instead of taking it as a responsibility, they have betrayed the mandate. In DMK, everything starts and ends with one family. Ministers may change, MLAs may change, but power remains with one dynasty. DMK is infamous for its scientific corruption model. Today, the same model is being used to make Tamil Nadu an ATM for one family. A Minister from this very district is involved in a huge cash-for-jobs scam," he added. PM Modi said infrastructure funding to Tamil Nadu has tripled in the last decade. "For the NDA's govt, Tamil Nadu's progress is extremely important. Since 2014, the central govt about Rs 3 lakh crore through devolution alone. This is many times more than the amount sent during the earlier Congress DMK govt. Infrastructure funding to Tamil Nadu has tripled in the last decade compared to the decade before that. The NDA govt has spent around Rs 57000 crore on national highways in the state. This is more than four times the amount spent by the Congress-DMK govt between 2004 and 2014. We have invested almost Rs 8000 crore in building rural roads in Tamil Nadu," he said. PM Modi said Tamil Nadu's culture and architecture attract people from all over the world and people don't come only through Chennai, they also fly to places like Tiruchi, which is an international airport. "After the new terminal was built by our government in Tiruchi many people shared their happiness with me. They said it's modern and at the same time fully immersed in the culture of Tamil Nadu. Now, we have taken a big decision for the airport of Madurai. Madurai is home to one of the oldest airports in the state. It's a crucial gateway to southern Tamil Nadu. Now, our government has elevated Madurai airport to international status. By doing so, we are bringing the world to the doorstep of Madurai. This will mean direct flights to and from many important global cities," he said. "I came here to Tiruchi. It was for a programme related to projects worth nearly Rs 20000 crore. A few days ago, I had visited Madurai. We held a programme that had a project worth over Rs 4400 crore. Today, in Tiruchi, I'm just coming from a programme involving projects worth Rs 5600 crore. We are making big investments in the future of Tamil Nadu," he added. PM Modi said that desire for change is gaining momentum in Tamil Nadu. "The river Kaveri flows with unstoppable force. Similarly, in this election, this election season in Tamil Nadu, the desire for change is gaining huge momentum. The whole state has made up its mind to throw out the DMK from the government. The people want a govt that works for every family, not just one family. And they know that the NDA can bring change in Tamil Nadu," he said. "Be it rallies in Tamil Nadu, in personal meetings across India, or in programmes like Kashi Tamil Sangamam, I take a keen interest in connecting with Tamil people. I can feel the pulse of the state very clearly," he added. PM Modi said Trichy is a land of courage and faith and it has seen the bravery of the Marudhu brothers. "I also remember Major M Saravanan, who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Kargil War. When it comes to respecting Tamil Nadu and its culture, our Government has always been at the forefront. It is a matter of pride that CP Radhakrishnan, a son of Tamil Nadu, is our Vice President. A few months ago, he released a postage stamp in honour of Emperor Perumbidugu Matharaiyar. It was a moment of pride for Tamil Nadu," he said. The Prime Minister said that the conflict in West Asia has affected energy supply chain in the world and his government believes in the ideology of India First. PM Modi said his government will follow the same approach of putting interests of Indians above everything else and there is no need to panic or pay attention to rumours. He urged people to spread only correct and verified information and expressed confidence that the country will navigate every situation successfully. "Today, I'd like to speak to the people of Tamil Nadu about the conflict in West Asia. It has affected the whole world's energy supply chain. We believe in the ideology of India First," he said. "In any situation, we have seen how our government always puts the interests of Indians above everything. Even in these times, our approach will be the same. There is no need to panic or pay attention to rumours. I'd like to appeal to the people, let's only spread only correct and verified information," he added. The Prime Minister also referred to the government's handling of COVID-19 pandemic and said 100 crore Indians "showed the world how mature our nation is". "I am confident that as a nation, we will navigate every situation successfully," he said. Earlier, addressing a rally in Ernakulum in Kerala, PM Modi said that the new India doesn't leave their people in trouble and has always used all its strength to protect them. "It's natural for all of you to be concerned about what's happening in West Asia today. Millions of our brothers and sisters work there. But you must remember that the BJP-NDA government is in power today. Whenever any of our countrymen has been in trouble, we have used all our strength to protect them. Today's India doesn't leave its people in trouble. We are providing security all facilities to Indians stuck in the war," he said. He also expressed gratitude to the Gulf countries for ensuring the safety of Indians. "I am satisfied that our friendly countries in the Gulf are taking care of our citizens. Our embassies and missions are 24/7 helping them. They are offering food, residents, protections to them," he said. Targeting the Congress over their criticism of the Government's handling of the West Asia Conflict, PM Modi accused them of "willingly giving provocative statements" to endanger the safety of Indians. "It is unfortunate that the Congress party is looking for politics at this time of global crisis. Congress is willingly making provocative statements to cause disruptions. Our people get stuck there so they can abuse Modi. This is thier play," he said. "It is unfortunate that the Congress party is looking for politics at this time of global crisis. Congress is willingly making provocative statements to cause disruptions. Our people get stuck there, so they can abuse Modi. This is thier play," he added. Earlier, PM Modi launched a series of transformative developmental projects aimed at bolstering the infrastructure and economy of Tamil Nadu. Totaling an investment of five thousand six hundred crore rupees, these initiatives span clean energy, petroleum related manufacturing, and enhanced multi-modal connectivity through highways, railways, and rural roads. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said these projects will boost energy access, connectivity, and create thousands of jobs for the youth of Tamil Nadu. Focusing on sustainable energy, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for Bharat Petroleum's City Gas Distribution (CGD) network. This Rs 3,700 crore project is set to transform the Nilgiris and Erode districts by providing Piped Natural Gas (PNG) to nearly nine lakh families and numerous commercial entities. Highlighting the environmental benefits, Shri Modi noted "The positive environmental impact of this project over just eight years will be similar to the planting of four crore trees." The Prime Minister remarked that the dedication of the Indian Oil Corporation's Lube Blending Plant in Chennai to the nation is a significant move to strengthen the 'Make in India' initiative. PM Modi highlighted that as one of the largest facilities of its kind globally, the plant is designed to meet the high demands of various industries within and outside the state. "The increase in local production of lubricants also reduces imports and saves money for the nation," he said. The Prime Minister also underscored the importance of rural connectivity by inaugurating 370 kilometres of rural roads constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. Reflecting on the cultural heritage of the region, the Prime Minister announced a new highway bypass project at Gangaikonda Cholapuram. The project aims to protect the UNESCO recognized grand temple built by Emperor Rajendra Chola by diverting heavy traffic away from the sacred site, ensuring the safety of both the monument and its visitors. The Prime Minister highlighted the rapid modernization of the state's transport sector, following the recent modernization and redevelopment of eight stations under the Amrit Bharat programme. New train services were flagged off, linking key locations such as Nagercoil, Coimbatore, Rameshwaram, Tirunelveli, Mayiladuthurai, Karaikkudi with other regions to foster tourism and local trade. "We are working day and night for the state's progress and we will continue to do so," PM Modi said. (ANI) Amid the evolving security situation in West Asia and the Gulf, Israeli Defence Forces on Tuesday (local time) conducted a combined strike in Tehran and Tabriz, as per the details shared by the Israel Defence Forces. In a post on X, the IDF said, that the targets struck included a special units command center in Tabriz, an "Imam Hassan" security unit military compound in Tehran, a command center for the security unit responsible for ballistic missile launches & artillery fire, a command center for the Intelligence and General Security Police in Maragheh Province and a large Basij forces compound in Tabriz. https://x.com/IDF/status/2031454513337344030?s=20 Meanwhile, the Israeli Air Force in a post on X said that it had intercepted missiles launched from Iran and called for people to exercise caution. In a post on X, it said, "The IDF has identified that a short time ago, missiles were launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel. Defense systems are operating to intercept the threat. In the last few minutes, the Home Front Command has issued a preliminary directive directly to mobile phones in the relevant areas. The public is requested to exercise responsibility and act in accordance with the directives - they save lives. One must enter protected spaces upon receiving the alert and remain in them until a new announcement. Exit from the protected space will be permitted only after receiving an explicit directive; continue to act in accordance with Home Front Command directives." https://x.com/IAFsite/status/2031483568145244648?s=20 Tasnim News Agency, citing the Iranian Army, said that an Israeli military intelligence and satellite surveillance center in Haifa was targeted by drones. It wrote on X, "The Iranian Army has confirmed that an Israeli military intelligence and satellite surveillance center in Haifa (Ofek), which played a key role in the development and production of advanced military weaponry, was successfully targeted by drones." https://x.com/Tasnimnews_EN/status/2031470199661043788?s=20 It also claimed that Iran had shot US MQ-9 Reaper and sraeli Hermes Drones over Isfahan. https://x.com/Tasnimnews_EN/status/2031467815065063662?s=20 It further said that several Qadr, Emad, and Kheibar Shahkan missiles were launched against US-Israeli targets. https://x.com/Tasnimnews_EN/status/2031467214948175925?s=20 Meanwhile, Al Jazeera Breaking reported that the UAE said that it was responding to a 'barrage of ballistic missiles' from Iran. It further reported that Saudi Arabia mentioned two drones being intercepted near the Shaybah oil field. On Tuesday, CENTCOM also shared visuals of attacks on Iranian naval vessels. https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/2031489675760640370?s=20 https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/2031456940090372370?s=20 Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi denied the claims that the country was planning a "pre-emptive" attack on the US and its forces, a claim that the United States has peddled to attack the Persian Gulf country. Dismissing it as a lie, Araghchi called Operation Epic Fury a grave misadventure. The developments follow amid an escalating security situation in West Asia, which has resulted in the conflict being now expanded beyond Iran, with Iranian retaliatory strikes--using missiles and drones--targeting U.S. military bases, embassies, and civilian/energy infrastructure in neighbouring Gulf nations, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan. The conflict has caused significant disruptions to global energy supplies, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, where approximately 20% of the world's oil transits. (ANI) A delegation from the International Crisis Group lead by its CEO Comfort Ero, met the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Secretary (South) Neena Malhotra on Tuesday. The delegation briefed the Secretary on the functioning of the group and the situation in West Asia. Sharing the details in a post on X, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "A delegation from @CrisisGroup led by their President & CEO @EroComfort met Secretary (South) Dr.Neena Malhotra today. The delegation briefed Secretary on the organisation and functioning of the International Crisis Group. They also discussed regional conflicts including the situation in West Asia." https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/2031350219364085848?s=20 Crisis Group CEO Comfort Ero hailed the meeting productive and said in a post on X, "Dear Secretary (South) Dr. Neena Malhotra, thank you for receiving me and my colleagues @PierrePrakash & donthi_praveen today. Really great conversation on a range of conflicts in the region." https://x.com/EroComfort/status/2031364624202052041?s=20 As per its official website, the International Crisis Group is an independent organisation working to prevent wars and shape policies for a peaceful world. "Crisis Group sounds the alarm to prevent deadly conflict. We build support for the good governance and inclusive politics that enable societies to flourish. We engage directly with a range of conflict actors to seek and share information, and to encourage intelligent action for peace", its official website said. Amid the evolving security situation in West Asia and the Gulf, India has urged all sides to exercise restraint and avoid escalation. Earlier in his statement in Parliament on Monday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had said India had expressed its deep concern over the situation in West Asia and urged all sides to exercise restraint, avoid escalation and prioritise the safety of civilians. He said India is in favour of peace and urges a return to dialogue and diplomacy. "We believed, and we continue to believe, that dialogue and diplomacy should be pursued to de-escalate tensions and address underlying issues. It is also imperative that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states in the region be respected," Jaishankar said. (ANI) Esmaeil Baqaei, the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran, on Tuesday paid tributes to the sailors of IRIS Dena who were killed after the frigate was torpedoed and sunk by a US submarine approximately 40 nautical miles off the coast of Galle, Sri Lanka. He called the action by the United States a "war crime" and in violation of international laws-- further underlining that the Iranian people would not forget it. In a post on X, Baqaei said, "We honor the fallen sailors of the #Dena frigate, martyred on 4 March far from their homeland. The Dena had been officially invited by the Indian Navy to participate in a joint naval exercise and a port visit. In a brutal act amounting to a war crime, the United States attacked the vessel near the coasts of India and Sri Lanka and sank it." The post added, "Worse still, the U.S. deliberately obstructed rescue operations for the sailors. This act not only constitutes aggression under UN General Assembly Resolution 3314 (Definition of Aggression), but also a grave violation of the laws of war, including Geneva Convention II (1949) and Additional Protocol I (1977). The Iranian people will neither forget nor forgive this heinous crime." https://x.com/IRIMFA_SPOX/status/2031407515490017552?s=20 Earlier, IRIS Dena sank south of Sri Lanka on March 4 after being struck by a US submarine torpedo approximately 20 nautical miles west of Galle. Following the incident, the Indian Navy deployed vessels, including INS Tarangini and INS Ikshak, along with maritime patrol aircraft such as P-8I aircraft, to assist Sri Lanka-led search and rescue operations. Of the estimated 180 crew members on board IRIS Dena, around 87 sailors were reported dead, while about 32 survivors were rescued by the Sri Lanka Navy and admitted to hospitals in Galle. Earlier, in an interview with ANI, Iran's Ambassador to India Mohammad Fathali said that the Islamic Republic of Iran is closely monitoring the situation after the tragic incident involving IRIS Dena and is continuing efforts to assess the circumstances and ensure the well-being of the crew members. "Following the tragic incident involving the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Dena in the waters of the Indian Ocean, the Islamic Republic of Iran is continuing to follow up on the situation of the crew members and to examine the different aspects of this incident," the envoy said. The developments follow amid an escalating security situation in West Asia, which has resulted in the conflict being now expanded beyond Iran, with Iranian retaliatory strikes--using missiles and drones--targeting U.S. military bases, embassies, and civilian/energy infrastructure in neighbouring Gulf nations, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan. (ANI) Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi held a telephone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to discuss the latest regional developments and the security implications arising from what Tehran described as the military aggression of the United States and Israel against Iran. According to Iran's Foreign Ministry, the two diplomats exchanged views on the evolving situation in West Asia and the broader consequences of the conflict for regional and international stability. During the conversation, Araghchi outlined what he called the crimes committed by the United States and Israel against the Iranian people and stressed Tehran's resolve to defend its sovereignty. Detailing Iran's position, Araghchi said the country remains firm in protecting its territorial integrity amid heightened tensions in the region. He emphasised that Iran would continue to respond to any threats against its national interests and security. "Iran's Foreign Minister emphasised the country's determination to continue defending its national sovereignty and territorial integrity," the statement said. Araghchi also drew attention to the responsibility of the United Nations Security Council in addressing what he described as violations of international law and threats to global stability. "Iran's Foreign Minister reminded the United Nations Security Council of its responsibility to address the blatant violation of international peace and security caused by the aggressive actions of the Israeli regime and the US," the statement noted. "He stressed that any indifference towards the continued law-breaking by the US and the Israeli regime will lead to the insecurity of the entire region and the world." During the discussion, Lavrov reiterated Russia's criticism of the actions by Washington and Israel. "The Russian Foreign Minister, while emphasising his condemnation of the US and Israel's military aggression against Iran," the statement said, also congratulated Araghchi on the selection of Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei as the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Lavrov further conveyed Moscow's willingness to support diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions and improving security conditions in the region. "He also announced Russia's readiness to offer its good offices to strengthen regional security," the statement added. The conversation comes amid escalating tensions in West Asia, where diplomatic exchanges and international responses continue as countries weigh the implications of the confrontation on regional stability and global security. (ANI) Supporters of the Tibetan movement from across India gathered in McLeodganj on Wednesday to offer long life prayers for Tibetan spiritual leader Tenzin Gyatso. The prayer ceremony was organised by the Core Group for Tibetan Cause-India, an umbrella body that coordinates various Tibet support groups across the country. Participants said the event was significant because it brought together people from diverse religious and regional backgrounds in India to collectively pray for the well-being and longevity of the Tibetan leader, who has lived in exile in India since 1959. Speaking on the occasion, R K Khrimey, National Convener of the Core Group for Tibetan Cause, highlighted the importance of the gathering and the unity displayed at the event. "I'm a national convener for the Core Group for Tibetan Cause. This Core Group for Tibetan Cause is the apex coordinating body of all the Tibetan support groups in India." "Now, it's for the first time in our country or in the history that, you know, the normal Tibetan support groups, wherein we have all the religions- Hindus, Muslims, Christians and the other religions are all in that group. So, for the first time in history that, you know, we are offering a long life prayer to His Holiness Dalai Lama. And today is the day on the 11th of March, 2026, that we are going to. we are all gathered here today to offer that long life prayer to His Holiness Dalai Lama." Khrimey also spoke about the historical ties between India and Tibet and the broader significance of the Tibetan issue. "Dalai Lama, it's our very, the century old relations with the Tibet and India. And more so, you see, the Tibet's, you know, the independence, we call it, you know, Tibet ka azadi, Bharat ka suraksha. Since we had the earlier very good relations with Tibet and we had no problem with them, we have been now, you know, after the Chinese PRC has illegally occupied the Tibet, it has now become the unwanted, undesired neighbour with us." The event also featured traditional ritual performances by participants from Arunachal Pradesh. Sonam Wangdue, representing communities from the state, explained the significance of the Cho practice performed during the ceremony. "So, we are representing our Arunachal community that are practising this Cho practise. So, it's basically, the Cho is basically a practise. In the ancient time, it was practised by the yogis in a very sacred way in the mountains. So, nowadays, generally people are practising this Cho as an offering to the deity god, the Trima Nangmo, which is also called as the Krodhi Kali. So, we are offering this for the long life of His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama." Wangdue further emphasised the spiritual importance of the Tibetan leader for their community. "He is our everything. He is the root guru. He is our location in the human form. So, He is more than anything to our community. So, as in our daily life, as we pray to our god and to our deity, we also pray to His Holiness for His long life. Because His vision is very necessary." Other supporters from different parts of India also attended the event to express solidarity with the Tibetan cause. Kamlakar Payas, who travelled from Amravati in Maharashtra, said, "I have come from the Tibet Suburb Group. And we pray for the long life of Dalai Lama. And we feel that Tibet should get freedom. And for that, we are standing with him. We are standing in his movement." Pankaj Goyal, the original convener of the Core Group for Tibetan Cause and National Association Minister of Bharat Tibet, said the ceremony coincides with global celebrations marking the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday year. "Today, for the freedom of Tibet, there are various organisations that support the cause of Tibet. The officials, workers and common people of all those organisations are present here. And as we see all the programmes, we remember that the 90th birthday of Param Pawan Dalai Lama ji is celebrated in different ways all over the world." The ceremony was led by around 45 participants from Arunachal Pradesh who performed traditional 'Cho' prayers -- a ritual that symbolically represents detachment from material attachments. Organisers said the gathering reflected growing support among Indian citizens for the Tibetan cause and the teachings of the Dalai Lama centered on peace, compassion and non-violence. (ANI) South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has praised Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for playing a key role in strengthening the strategic partnership between Brazil and South Africa. Ramaphosa made the remarks during a joint address in Brasilia as part of his state visit to Brazil. Speaking alongside Lula, the South African leader highlighted the importance of the Brazilian president's leadership in deepening bilateral ties and expanding cooperation between the two nations. He described Brazil as a vital strategic partner for South Africa across multiple sectors, as per the reports of Brasil 247. "President Lula, your leadership has strengthened the foundations of our strategic partnership. We see Brazil as a strategic partner in many ways and value its cooperation and collaboration in a range of areas," Ramaphosa said, emphasising the shared commitment of both countries to equality, economic growth and poverty eradication. Ramaphosa noted that the relationship between Brazil and South Africa is rooted in shared values and a common vision for inclusive development. According to him, the partnership extends beyond bilateral engagement and plays an important role in strengthening cooperation among countries of the Global South. Collaboration between the two nations spans economic development, social programmes and international political coordination. The South African president also acknowledged Lula's role in strengthening the influence of the Group of Twenty (G20). Ramaphosa referred to Lula's participation in the summit held in Johannesburg and thanked the Brazilian leader for his contribution to enhancing the forum's global significance. He expressed appreciation for Brazil's leadership during its presidency of the G20, saying South Africa had learned valuable lessons and adopted several initiatives from Brazil's term before assuming the group's presidency. Ramaphosa further voiced confidence that Brazil would continue supporting South Africa during its tenure leading the forum. He concluded his remarks by describing the close ties between the two nations, saying that for South Africans, visiting Brazil "feels like being in a second home." The visit included bilateral meetings, institutional engagements and discussions aimed at strengthening economic and political cooperation. Both countries are also members of the BRICS grouping of emerging economies. (ANI) The Indian Army and the French Army conducted a Subject Matter Expert Exchange on March 9 and 10, aimed at strengthening professional military cooperation and enhancing mutual understanding on evolving aspects of modern warfare. The interaction focused on key operational themes relevant to contemporary battlefields, particularly the employment of long-range strike capabilities and advanced precision weapon systems. Such exchanges form an important part of defence engagement between friendly nations, allowing military professionals to share operational knowledge, doctrinal insights and technological developments shaping modern conflicts. In a post on X, Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADG PI) of the India Army wrote, " Subject Matter Expert Exchange between the #IndianArmy and the #FrenchArmy was conducted on 09 & 10 March 2026, focusing on the employment of Long Range Vectors (LRVs) and Precision Guided Munitions (PGMs) in contemporary warfare. Delegations from both the Armies exchanged perspectives on operational employment, doctrinal developments and evolving global trends in precision fires and deep-strike capabilities, fostering professional military learning and deeper #DefenceCooperation." https://x.com/adgpi/status/2031611489615057166?s=48 The exchange provided an opportunity for both sides to deliberate on the growing importance of precision strike capabilities in modern military operations. Long Range Vectors (LRVs) and Precision Guided Munitions (PGMs) are increasingly viewed as crucial components of modern warfare, enabling armed forces to conduct accurate strikes against strategic targets while minimising collateral damage. Military experts from both countries discussed operational experiences, emerging technologies and doctrinal developments that are shaping the use of these systems in present-day conflicts. Subject Matter Expert Exchanges are designed to deepen professional understanding between partner armies and improve interoperability where required. These interactions also help both sides stay informed about evolving global military trends, technological innovations and strategic thinking that influence defence planning. Earlier, India's High Commissioner to Maldives G Balasubramanian called on the Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi to discuss ways to further strengthen the India-Maldives strategic partnership. In a post on X, the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADG PI) of the Indian Army stated, "Shri G.Balasubramanian, High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Maldives, called on #GeneralUpendraDwivedi, #COAS. They discussed ways and means of deepening the India-Maldives strategic partnership, reviewed the evolving regional security landscape and explored avenues to further strengthen defence and diplomatic cooperation between the two nations." According to the ADG PI, the meeting focused on deepening bilateral cooperation amid an evolving regional security landscape. During the interaction, both sides reviewed current security dynamics in the Indian Ocean region and explored avenues to enhance defence and diplomatic collaboration between the two countries. The discussion also highlighted the importance of sustained engagement between India and the Maldives in maintaining stability, security and cooperative ties in the region. (ANI) Yousef Pezeshkian the son of the Iranian President has confirmed that Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei is 'safe and sound'. This after certain reports claimed that he had been injured during the ongoing strikes by US and Israel, reported Al Jazeera. In a message posted on the messaging app Telegram Yousef Pezeshkian said, "I heard news about Mr. Mojtaba being injured. I asked friends who had contact. They said, thank God, he is healthy and there is no problem." The New York Times had earlier suggested in its report that Mojtaba Khamenei, had been wounded and has since avoided public appearances due to security concerns. The NYT report quoted three Iranian sources saying that senior officials informed them that Khamenei was injured during the first day of the Israeli operation on February 28. Meanwhile, as the West Asia conflict entered Day 12 a cargo vessel is hit by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in a fire onboard and prompting the crew to evacuate and request assistance, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations. Iran had vowed to block the flow of oil through the strait amid the war with the US and Israel. That was followed by a warning from US President Donald Trump who issued a sharply worded statement against Iran, calling on the country to refrain from placing mines in the Strait of Hormuz and warning of military consequences if they are not removed. The US President said, "If Iran has put out any mines in the Hormuz Strait, and we have no reports of them doing so, we want them removed, IMMEDIATELY! If for any reason mines were placed, and they are not removed forthwith, the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before. If, on the other hand, they remove what may have been placed, it will be a giant step in the right direction! Additionally, we are using the same Technology and Missile capabilities deployed against Drug Traffickers to permanently eliminate any boat or ship attempting to mine the Hormuz Strait. They will be dealt with quickly and violently." In New York, Iran's Ambassador to the UN, Amir-Saeid Iravani alleged that the US and Israel were deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure. "They are deliberately and discriminately targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure across my country. They show no respect for international law and no restraint in committing these crimes. Densely populated residential area and critical civilian infrastructure are deliberately targeted. So far, these horrific crimes have resulted in the martyrdom of more than 1,300 civilians. They have also destroyed 9,669 civilian sites, including 7,943 residential homes, 1,617 commercial and service centres, 32 medical and pharmaceutical facilities, 65 schools and educational institutions, 13 Red Cross building and several energy supply facilities," he said. The Iranian envoy further called on the UN to act saying that, if Iran had been targeted today it could be some other nation tomorrow. "It is deeply regrettable that Security Council continues to remain silent. The Council is turning a blind eye to this grave violation, despite its primary responsibility under the UN Charter to maintain international peace and security. Instead, some Council members are attempting to reverse the roles and position of victims and aggressors. Today it is Iran. Tomorrow it could be any other sovereign state. The international community must act now to stop this bloody war against the Iranian people," he said. Wednesday marks day 12 of the West Asia Conflict with both sides hardening their position even as the fighting takes a toll on civilian lives and fuel supplies. (ANI) Two drones struck the area surrounding Dubai International airport causing no casualties but injuring a few people. In a post on X, Dubai Media Office wrote, "Authorities confirm that two drones fell in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport (DXB) a short while ago, resulting in minor injuries to two Ghanaian nationals and one Bangladeshi national, and moderate injuries to one Indian national. Air traffic is operating as normal." This attack is a part of ongoing missile strikes by Iran in retaliation to the US-Israel strikes. Earlier, Iran''s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has announced launching multiple new waves of its ongoing retaliatory Operation True Promise 4 against sensitive and strategic American and Zionist targets. The IRGC said it had launched the "37th wave" of the operation on late Tuesday night.According to the IRGC, the latest wave "was carried out over more than three hours, with continuous, multi-layered missile strikes, including the heaviest type of missiles. "During this phase, IRGC claims to have hit targets in Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan, the US Navy''s Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, and military centres in Be''er Ya''akov, Tel Aviv. The targets were hit using the Kheibar Shekan, Qadr, and the Khorramshahr missiles, the statement read. Iran had launched Operation True Promise 4 after the United States and Israel launched strikes against the Islamic regime. Meanwhile, The Israel Defence forces have revealed that nearly half of the 300 ballistic missiles launched by Iran at Israel carried cluster bomb warheads. The IDF said that on Tuesday most of the missiles were intercepted, but one carrying a large warhead had exploded in an open area outside Beit Shemesh, near Jerusalem. No injuries were reported. Cluster bomb warheads indiscriminately spread dozens of sub munitions, each with several kilograms of explosives, over a radius of around 10 kilometres. Use of the munitions is banned under the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions, whose signatories do not include Israel, Iran or the US. After US-Israel launched a bombing campaign on Iran, the Islamic nation has responded by launching hundreds of missiles and drones across the region, including at Israel. Iran''s strikes in Israel have killed 12 people and wounded over 2,000, according to Israeli health authorities. (ANI) In his latest address, the former crown prince of Iran Reza Pahlavi has called on citizens to remain inside their homes, prepare for a decisive phase of political struggle, and continue a nationwide strike, describing the current moment as a critical stage in a broader campaign against authorities. In the statement addressed to "fellow compatriots," Pahlavi warned that the situation had reached a highly sensitive point and urged people to prioritise their safety while maintaining unity through peaceful means of resistance. "Dear fellow compatriots, we are now in a very sensitive stage of our final struggle," the message said. The statement appealed to citizens to make necessary preparations and avoid public spaces, suggesting that tensions in the streets could escalate. Emphasising personal safety, the speaker advised people to remain indoors while continuing to participate in the ongoing strike. "I ask you to prepare your essential needs as soon as possible, and for the sake of your own security, leave the streets and stay in your homes. Continue the strike and do not show up for work. To demonstrate your unity, keep up the nighttime chants with full force," the message added. The call for citizens to stay away from workplaces and sustain strike action suggests an attempt to apply economic and social pressure while limiting the risk of confrontation in public areas. In addition to addressing civilians, the message also directly appealed to members of the military and security apparatus, urging them to reconsider their alignment with the authorities and side with the public. "To the military and security forces: This is the last chance to separate yourselves from the repressive forces and join the people," the statement said. The message concluded with a brief indication that further instructions could follow, suggesting that supporters should remain prepared for the next stage of mobilisation. "Await my final call." Reza Pahlavi has been guiding the locals of Iran since the beginning of the year, when Iranians were protesting the economic conditions. Currently, the war involving the United States, Israel, and Iran escalated in late February 2026 after joint US-Israeli airstrikes targeted several Iranian cities and military sites. The strikes reportedly killed senior Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, triggering a major regional conflict. Iran retaliated by launching drones and ballistic missiles at Israel and US military bases across the Gulf region. (ANI) At the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Romana Majid from Rajasthan Samgrah Kalyan Sansthan, during the Annual full-day meeting on the rights of the child, in her oral statement, highlighted India's efforts to address violence against children and strengthen child protection systems. In her remarks, Majid stated that every child, regardless of birthplace, deserves safety, dignity and opportunity. She pointed out that violence against children remains a global concern, with more than half of the world's children experiencing some form of violence each year. Such violence, she noted, not only threatens children's physical safety but also affects their emotional well-being, education and long-term development. Majid highlighted India's evolving commitment to tackling the issue through a comprehensive legal and institutional framework. She referred to key legislations such as the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, which aim to safeguard children from abuse and exploitation while ensuring justice and rehabilitation. She also highlighted government programmes designed to strengthen child protection systems across the country. According to Majid, initiatives such as the Integrated Child Protection Scheme and Mission Vatsalya focus on providing rehabilitation services, protection mechanisms and safe alternative care for vulnerable children. Drawing attention to developments in Jammu and Kashmir, Majid noted that the region has seen encouraging changes at the grassroots level. School enrolment rates have risen to more than 98 per cent, contributing to safer environments and improved educational access for children. Efforts to promote peace education and secure learning spaces have also helped reduce absenteeism while strengthening engagement between schools and communities. She further noted the role of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), which operates a 24/7 helpline to assist children in distress. In Kashmir, Majid said, child-friendly policing initiatives and dedicated courts for cases under the POCSO Act are helping ensure faster and more sensitive justice for victims. Concluding her statement, Majid emphasised that while progress has been made, sustained efforts are still required. Strengthening implementation, expanding child protection systems and investing in prevention, awareness and healing are essential to ensure that every child grows up safe, valued and free from violence. (ANI) Indian students studying in Iran have begun making arrangements to leave the country amid growing safety concerns, with the first batch expected to depart for the Armenia border on Thursday as evacuation plans gradually take shape. According to information shared with students, those enrolled at Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), and Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (SBUMS) have been offered two evacuation routes -- either through Armenia or Azerbaijan. Authorities and student groups have been coordinating to ensure that those willing to leave can travel safely to the designated exit points. Several students, however, have opted to return to India by commercial flights instead of crossing land borders immediately. A large number of them have booked Flydubai flights scheduled for March 15, March 16, and the following days, which will allow them to travel back home once they reach nearby international airports. At Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, where 86 Indian medical students are currently pursuing their studies, local authorities have suggested a separate evacuation route to facilitate their movement. Under this plan, students can travel via Shiraz - Qom - Baku Airport in Baku, Azerbaijan, from where they can board international flights to India. The evacuation arrangements come amid rising anxiety among Indian students across different Iranian universities, many of whom have been closely monitoring the situation and seeking assistance from student organisations and public representatives. Mohammad Momin Khan, President of the All India Medical Students Association (AIMSA) J&K, said he has been receiving distress calls from Indian students enrolled at Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, and Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. According to him, many students have been urging authorities to arrange evacuation as they fear that conditions across the country may not be safe. "Students are calling continuously and requesting evacuation as they believe no part of Iran is currently safe," Khan said, highlighting the concerns being expressed by students and their families back home. He also acknowledged the efforts of political representatives who have been in touch with students and coordinating assistance. Khan expressed gratitude to Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, Member of Parliament, for extending support and helping raise the concerns of Indian students with the relevant authorities. "Dr Khan also expressed gratitude to Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, Member of Parliament, for his constant support and coordination in addressing the concerns of Indian students and assisting in efforts to facilitate their safe return," the statement said. With several batches preparing to leave over the coming days, students and families are hoping that arrangements for safe passage and travel will continue to improve as more people seek to return to India. (ANI) China's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun has expressed China's willingness to remain in touch with all the parties involved in the West Asia conflict to de-escalate the issue, reported China Daily. Addressing the media, Jiakun said, "Will continue to strengthen communication with all relevant parties, including the parties directly involved in the conflict, and play a constructive role in easing tensions and restoring peace in the #MiddleEast" Jiakun also said that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has also criticized US and Israel for breaking international law while still holding peace talks with Iran. Earlier, China expressed concern over the functional blockage of the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing West Asia conflict and called on "relevant parties" to immediately halt military operations and avoid further escalation. Speaking at a press conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said stability in the region is crucial as the Strait of Hormuz is a vital route for global trade and energy supplies. "The Strait of Hormuz and waters nearby are an important route for international goods and energy trade. Keeping the region safe and stable serves the common interests of the international community," Guo said. He urged all parties, particularly the US, Israel and Iran, involved in the conflict to prioritise de-escalation and prevent the crisis from affecting the global economy. "China urges parties to stop the military operations at once, avoid further escalation, and prevent the regional turmoil from having a larger impact on global economic growth," he said. Reiterating Beijing's position, the spokesperson said the immediate priority should be to end hostilities and stop tensions from spreading further in the region. "The pressing priority now is that relevant parties should stop the military operations at once, avoid further escalation and spread of tensions, and prevent the regional turmoil from having a larger impact on global economic growth," Guo added. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most critical shipping routes, through which a significant portion of global oil and gas supplies passes. The conflict in the region, following the killing of 86-year-old Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in joint military strikes by the US and Israel on February 28, after which Iran, in its retaliation, targeted Israeli and US assets in several Gulf countries, has disrupted the waterway and affected international energy markets and global economic stability. (ANI) Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense detected the presence of six Chinese naval vessels operating around their territorial waters as of 6am (local time) on Wednesday. Taiwanese forces said they monitored the situation and responded. In a post on X, the MND said, "6 PLAN vessel operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and responded. No flight path illustration is provided, as we did not detect PLA aircraft operating around Taiwan during this timeframe." https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/2031535580052599140?s=20 Earlier on March 10, Taiwan's MND detected the presence of six Chinese naval vessels operating around itself. In a post on X, MND said, "6 PLAN vessel operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and responded. No flight path illustration is provided, as we did not detect PLA aircraft operating around Taiwan during this timeframe." https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/2031173193289830533?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) US Envoy to India, Sergio Gor, on Wednesday congratulated Taranjit Singh Sandhu on being sworn in as Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, succeeding Vinai Kumar Saxena. Gor recalled Sandhu's stint as the former Ambassador of India to the United States, saying he has worked hard to promote US-India ties. A seasoned diplomat with over three decades of experience, Sandhu has played a key role in strengthening India-US ties, serving as India's Ambassador to the United States from 2020 to 2024. In a post on X, Gor said, "Congratulations to my good friend Taranjit Singh Sandhu being sworn in as Lt. Governor of Delhi. You've done so much to promote U.S.-India ties in my nation's capital and you'll do a great job serving the people of your nation's capital." https://x.com/USAmbIndia/status/2031657839534690556?s=20 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also extended greetings to Sandhu. In a post on X, he said, "Attended the oath-taking of Taranjit Singh Sandhu as Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. Congratulate him on his new responsibility. Confident he will serve the people of Delhi with fullest commitment." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/2031675747635724741?s=20 Newly appointed Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Taranjit Singh Sandhu on Wednesday took the oath of office in the presence of Delhi High Court Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was also present at the swearing-in ceremony. Taranjit Sandhu is part of the major administrative reshuffle of Governors and Lieutenant Governors across the country. In the reshuffle, Taranjit Singh Sandhu replaced VK Saxena, who has now been appointed as the Ladakh LG. He was also a BJP candidate in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Speaking to reporters, he said that Delhi has been his 'karmabhoomi' (workplace). He called for solution oriented approach across party lines to resolve the challenges faced by the national capital. Sandhu said, "Delhi has several stakeholders, and Delhi has also been my karmabhoomi (workplace). I have studied and worked here. Together we will work for Delhi's development. PM Modi has a vision for India, and Delhi is the capital. The elected government and all the stakeholders have a responsibility. The challenges will keep on increasing. However, there are challenges in other places as well. It is our responsibility to turn challenges into opportunities. Everyone together, irrespective of the party, must work together to find solutions to the various problems." (ANI) Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel, Gideon Saar urged the United Nations Security Council to designate Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. Saar said that due to Iran's strikes, which were in blatant flagration of international law, 13 civilians had died in Israel. In a post on X, he said, "The Iranian regime's recent actions underscore that its aggression constitutes a direct threat not only to Israel, but to regional and international peace and security. I urge the UN Security Council to condemn Iran and immediately designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization. My letter to the UNSC and President of the Council, US Representative to the United Nations Mike Waltz." https://x.com/gidonsaar/status/2031681138687709243?s=20 Meanwhile, Iran's IRGC said it attacked US troops in Kuwait, claiming to hit the al-Udairi helicopter airbase, the Mohammed al-Ahmad naval base and the Ali al-Salem airbase. In the statement, it also claimed to have struck a naval base in Bahrain, hosting US troops, with missiles and drones, as per Al Jazeera. Iran's army also said it targeted Israel's military intelligence agency, a naval base in the northern port city of Haifa and an Israeli radar system. Thousands of Iranians gathered in Tehran for the funerals of several senior Iranian commanders killed in recent US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Live images broadcast from the capital show large numbers of mourners attending the ceremony, which honours high-ranking military figures who were killed during the attacks, as per Al Jazeera. Meanwhile, almost 20,000 civilian buildings across Iran have suffered damage during the ongoing Israeli-US war, said the Iranian Red Crescent Society, as quoted by Al Jazeera. The humanitarian organisation said its preliminary assessments show that about 19,734 civilian structures have been affected. Among the damaged sites are hospitals, schools and aid facilities. It said 77 medical centres and 65 educational institutions were among the buildings hit. It also reported damage to 16 facilities operated by the organisation itself. (ANI) The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) has strongly condemned what it described as racist and defamatory remarks made by Chinese media outlets against Japanese Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Arfiya Eri, calling the incident an example of discrimination and transnational intimidation targeting Uyghurs. In a press release, WUC stated that the controversy began on February 27 when the Chinese media website Sina.com published remarks attacking Eri's ethnic background. The report allegedly referred to the Japanese official as "frontier poison" and "toxic," language that the WUC said amounted to racial abuse directed at her Uyghur heritage. The statements were later circulated on the social media platform TikTok by the Chinese Communist Party-affiliated newspaper Global Times, further amplifying the remarks and exposing Eri to widespread online hostility. Eri, whose parents originate from East Turkistan, became a Japanese citizen after her family obtained nationality in 1999. Before entering politics, she worked as an academic and also served as an officer at the United Nations. In 2023, she was elected to Japan's parliament as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party, becoming the first person of Uyghur origin to be elected to a national parliament in the diaspora. The WUC said Eri has consistently worked to raise awareness about alleged human rights violations against Uyghurs in East Turkistan and has advocated for greater international attention to the issue. Responding to the remarks, the Japanese government lodged a formal diplomatic protest, or demarche, with China over what it described as an unprecedented insult directed at a democratically elected official. WUC President Turgunjan Alawdun said the incident reflected broader discrimination faced by Uyghurs. He stated that the language used by Chinese media demonstrated the "dehumanisation" experienced by Uyghurs under Chinese rule and linked the rhetoric to what he described as China's wider policy of transnational repression. The World Uyghur Congress expressed solidarity with Eri and welcomed Tokyo's diplomatic response. WUC also urged the Japanese government to demand a public apology from Chinese authorities and called on governments worldwide to condemn racist rhetoric in international discourse. (ANI) A recent analysis by the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) has revealed a significant rise in anti-Indian commentary and hostility on social media platforms, with targeted posts and coordinated campaigns driving much of the online rhetoric, as stated in a column by Tanner Nau, Editorial Fellow at The Free Press. According to The Free Press column by Tanner Nau, the NCRI report stated that anti-Indian discourse on social media platform X saw a dramatic increase in 2025, nearly tripling compared to 2024 and generating over 300 million views. The institute identified approximately 24,000 posts containing anti-Indian content, reflecting growing online animosity linked to debates over immigration, national identity and visa policies. Tanner Nau, in his column, stated that the analysis found that this surge was driven not by broad public engagement but by a small number of highly active accounts, with the three "most prolific posters" alone responsible for 525 posts. These accounts accounted for more than 10 per cent of all likes and 20 per cent of reposts among anti-Indian content reviewed by the institute. The report highlighted that many posts emerged in response to changes in US immigration policy, particularly around H-1B work visas. In September, the Trump administration introduced a USD 100,000 fee for employers sponsoring H-1B workers, described by the White House as a measure to curb fraud. NCRI noted that much of the highly engaged anti-Indian commentary during that period praised the policy as a way to restrict Indian immigration while also engaging in racially charged language. Social media posts frequently included ethnic slurs and stereotypes alongside discussions about visas, legal and illegal immigration, and cultural assimilation. The volume of anti-Indian posts peaked in mid-December 2025, with some weeks seeing over 800 posts containing derogatory terms such as "pajeet" and "dothead", Tanner Nau stated in his column for The Free Press. One recent instance that reignited online controversy involved a video of an Indian couple participating in an online dance challenge at the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC, which prompted some users to condemn the couple's behaviour and call for limits on H-1B visas, the column stated. NCRI identified the three most frequent creators of anti-Indian posts on X as NeonWhiteCat, MattForney, and TheBrancaShow. As of this week, MattForney and TheBrancaShow together had approximately 219,000 followers, while NeonWhiteCat's account appeared to be inactive. The report also noted the political implications of the trend. Historically, Indian Americans have tended to support the Democratic Party, but recent Carnegie Endowment for International Peace research shows a shift, with 46 per cent of Indian Americans identifying as Democrats in 2026 - down from 52 per cent in 2020. Prominent Indian Americans have held influential roles in US politics, including FBI Director Kash Patel and Harmeet Dhillon, head of the US Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division. Dhillon -- born in India -- faced online backlash from fringe activists during the Republican National Convention in 2024 over her delivery of a Sikh prayer, comments she described as "blatant racism and nativism", according to The Free Press column by Tanner Nau. Some conservative-leaning Indian Americans have expressed concern about the impact of toxic online narratives on community engagement and political alignment. Utsav Sanduja, former executive director of Hindus for America First, said that the rise in anti-Indian rhetoric was a troubling development for communities that had worked to build bipartisan political support, as reported in the column. Unlike some immigration criticisms that frame newcomers as a burden on public resources, much of the online anti-Indian commentary instead portrayed Indian immigrants as "too successful" or accused them of "stealing American jobs", citing data showing that Indian-led households had significantly higher median incomes and educational attainment than national averages, the column stated. The report also highlighted online hostility directed at US Second Lady Usha Vance, whose parents immigrated to the US from India and who has been both celebrated for her role and targeted by far-right commentators. NCRI found more than 2,000 posts related to anti-Indian commentary around Usha Vance. When asked about far-right comments last year, Vice President JD Vance responded bluntly, saying that one controversial critic could "eat shit". The column, citing the NCRI study, underscores the evolving landscape of social media discourse around immigration and identity in the United States, with online platforms playing an increasingly influential role in shaping narratives and amplifying divisive content. (ANI) Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (East) P Kumaran on Wednesday bid farewell to Indonesia's Ambassador, Ina Krisnamurthi, at a dinner attended by ASEAN country heads. Kumaran thanked Krisnamurthi for strengthening India-Indonesia ties and wished her success. In a post on X, MEA said, "Secretary (East) Shri P Kumaran hosted a dinner to bid farewell to Indonesia's Ambassador, Ms. Ina Krisnamurthi, with the Heads of Mission of ASEAN countries in attendance. Secretary (East) thanked Ambassador Krisnamurthi for her valuable contributions towards further strengthening India-Indonesia bilateral ties and wished her success in her future endeavours." https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/2031621063600419007?s=20 The relationship between India and Indonesia has reached a high point, underpinned by a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (elevated in 2018). Ambassador Krisnamurthi, who assumed office in November 2021, has served during a pivotal era for these ties, which have recently expanded into critical defence and strategic domains. India and Indonesia share two-millennia old close cultural and commercial contacts. Hindu, Buddhist and later Muslim faith traveled to Indonesia from the shores of India. The stories from the great epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata form a source of Indonesian folk art and dramas. The shared culture, colonial history and post-independence goals of political sovereignty, economic self-sufficiency and independent foreign policy are unifying factors of the bilateral relationship, as per a statement by the Consulate General of India in Medan, Indonesia. The struggle against colonial powers and a similar ethos of democratic traditions, pluralist culture, and progressive leadership are some of the common strands connecting India and Indonesia. President Sukarno of Indonesia was the Guest of Honour during the first Republic Day of India in 1950. Independent India and Indonesia became chief votaries of the independence of Asian and African countries, the spirit of which led to the historic Bandung Conference of 1955 and later formation of the Non-Aligned Movement in 1961. Since the adoption of India's 'Look East Policy' in 1991, and its upgradation to 'Act East' in 2014, there has been a rapid development of bilateral relations in political, security, defence, commercial and cultural fields. India has an Embassy in Jakarta, a Consulate General in Bali and Medan, and Honorary Consul in Surabaya. (ANI) Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a telephonic conversation with Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia Faisal bin Farhan on the need to make efforts to prevent further escalation of the Middle East crisis. In a post on X, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia said, "On March 10, Sergey Lavrov & Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia Faisal bin Farhan spoke over the phone. The Foreign Ministers emphasized the need to consolidate the efforts of the international community to prevent further deterioration of the situation in the Middle East." https://x.com/mfa_russia/status/2031706413102469276?s=20 This comes as earlier on March 10, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Tuesday cautioned Russia against intervening in the ongoing conflict in West Asia amid rising tensions involving Iran with the US and Israel. His remarks came during a Pentagon briefing, following questions about a recent telephone call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Hegseth described the call as a "strong call" that reaffirmed the possibility of peace in Russia's war with Ukraine and underlined that Russia should not become involved in the Iran conflict. "The [US] president, as I've said before, maintains strong relationships with world leaders, which creates opportunities and options for us in very dynamic ways. The President said it was a good call. I was not on it, but those who were said it was a strong call reaffirming, hopefully, the opportunity for some peace in Russia and Ukraine and also a recognition that, as it pertains to this conflict, they should not be involved," Hegseth said. Putin received a telephone call from US President Donald Trump on March 10, where the two leaders discussed the conflicts in Iran and Ukraine, Russia Today reported, citing Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov. As per Russia Today, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov told journalists that the American president initiated the call to discuss the latest international developments. The conversation between the two focused on the Iran conflict and trilateral talks between Washington, Moscow and Kyiv aimed at settling the Ukraine conflict. According to Russian News Agency TASS, Ushakov said, "Tonight, a phone call of the Russian and US presidents has taken place. The conversation was businesslike, open and constructive, which is usually the case in dialogue between the Russian and US leaders." Putin had a phone call with Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, as per a statement by Kremlin. "During Vladimir Putin's telephone conversation with Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, the leaders had a thorough discussion of the escalation in the Middle East resulting from the United States and Israel's armed aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran," the statement read. Separately, on March 9, Lavrov held talks with Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister. In a statement by the Russian MFA, it said, "The ministers compared notes on key items on the global and Middle East agendas focusing on the situation in Syria, Yemen and the Palestinian-Israeli settlement. They agreed to maintain close coordination of Moscow and Riyadh's efforts at promoting a comprehensive and sustainable settlement of numerous regional conflicts through an inclusive and equal dialogue based on the stakeholders' legitimate interests and concerns. (ANI) North Korea is intensifying preparations for its upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for next week, including forming election committees and reviewing candidates for the Supreme People's Assembly, according to a report by Yonhap News Agency citing North Korean state media on Wednesday. According to Yonhap News Agency, the country is set to elect deputies to the 15th Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) on Sunday, following last month's major ruling party congress. Parliamentary elections in North Korea are typically held every five years, and the upcoming vote will be the first since 2019. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), election committees have been established at provincial, city, county and military levels across the country as part of preparations for the vote, Yonhap News Agency reported. The State media also indicated that meetings are being conducted nationwide to assess the qualifications of potential candidates for the legislature. The process appears similar to a primary stage aimed at selecting a single candidate for each electoral district. KCNA stated that officials enjoying public confidence, along with workers, farmers, people from different sectors of society and military personnel, have registered as candidates for deputy positions in the assembly. "Officials who have earned high public trust, workers, farmers and people from all walks of life, as well as soldiers, have been registering as candidates for assembly deputies," the KCNA stated as quoted by Yonhap News Agency. Authorities have also completed the registration of all eligible voters in each constituency, according to the report. Under the voting procedure, citizens cast ballots in favour of a candidate by placing them in the ballot box, while those opposing a candidate must strike through the candidate's name - a system that effectively removes secrecy from the voting process, Yonhap News Agency reported. The Supreme People's Assembly, described in the constitution as the highest organ of state authority in North Korea, is widely regarded by analysts as primarily endorsing decisions made by the ruling Workers' Party of Korea. (ANI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday held talks with French Foreign Minister Jean-Nol Barrot on West Asia crisis. Jaishankar said in a post on X, "Appreciate the exchange of assessments today with FM Jean-Nol Barrot of France on the West Asia conflict. Look forward to continuing it in person." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/2031688529777135994?s=20 On the other hand, French President Emmanuel Macron expressed concern over people being displaced in Lebanon, while calling for Hezbollah to cease attacks. In a post on X, he said, "Respecting international law means protecting civilian populations. The situation of the hundreds of thousands of people displaced in Lebanon is a matter of grave concern. France is currently delivering 60 tonnes of emergency aid for them, with the support of the CMA CGM foundation, in addition to what is being done with the United Nations and NGOs on the ground. Hezbollah must cease its attacks from Lebanon toward Israel and hand over its weapons to the Lebanese Armed Forces." https://x.com/EmmanuelMacron/status/2031698664679247902?s=20 "Israel must respect Lebanese sovereignty and exercise restraint. Israelis and Lebanese people have the same right to live in peace and security. This is the very reason for the constant commitment of the French armed forces within UNIFIL since 1978. France is reliable and faithful to its friends," he added. Meanwhile as for India, the Ministry of Civil Aviation is keeping a close watch on the ongoing developments in the West Asia region and its possible implications for air travel between India and the region. Minister of Civil Aviation, Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu is continuously overseeing the situation and maintaining direct engagement with all relevant stakeholders to ensure quick and coordinated responses. Airlines are making appropriate operational arrangements in response to the evolving situation, with passenger safety and continuity of services remaining the primary considerations, as per a statement by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Operational data for 09th March 2026 indicates that 45 inbound flights operated by Indian carriers arrived in India from West Asia, carrying 7,407 passengers. (ANI) Drones struck fuel tanks in the port, Oman TV reported. No damage to merchant vessels was reported, Ambrey said. Iran continues to target energy production and storage sites throughout the Gulf in response to ongoing US and Israeli attacks on the country. Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said held a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, where he conveyed his disapproval and condemnation of the ongoing attacks against Omani territory, Al Jazeera reported, citing the country's state news agency. The Omani leader reiterated the sultanate's neutral stance in the ongoing conflict, while affirming that Oman will take all necessary measures to maintain its security and stability. The strikes came even as Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq congratulated Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei on his appointment as Iran's new supreme leader, The Times of Israel reported, citing the official Oman News Agency on March 9. "His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq -- may God protect and preserve him -- sent a cable of congratulations to His Eminence Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei on the occasion of his selection as Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran," The Times of Israel reported, citing the agency. Oman was a mediator in recent talks between Iran and the United States, which collapsed during the war triggered by joint US-Israel strikes on Iran. Meanwhile, three commercial ships have been hit by unidentified projectiles near the Strait of Hormuz, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO), which monitors activity in the waterway, as per Al Jazeera. Explosions Iran as it said that the US and Israeli forces have bombed nearly 10,000 civilian sites in the country, and killed more than 1,300 civilians since the war began 11 days ago, as per Al Jazeera. (ANI) Strengthening the growing ties between India and Australia, a delegation led by the newly appointed Australian Consul General, Silai Zaki, met with Kerala Assembly Speaker AN Shamseer in Thalassery. The high-level discussion focused on expanding bilateral cooperation, with Zaki announcing Australia's readiness to cooperate with Kerala in education and industry, focusing on job opportunities in healthcare. A primary highlight of the meeting was the Australian government's expressed interest in Kerala's renowned nursing workforce. Recognising the excellence of local healthcare professionals, Consul General Zaki assured the Speaker that graduates from the Nursing Institute under the Thalassery Malabar Cancer Centre (MCC) will be provided with pathways to work in the Australian healthcare sector. "Australia is keen to attract nursing candidates from Kerala, given the high standards and excellence displayed by professionals from the region," the Consul General stated, noting that this initiative aims to address workforce demands while offering global career opportunities to Kerala's students. Beyond healthcare, the delegation and the Speaker discussed broader avenues for collaboration. Both parties explored deeper cooperation in academic exchange programs and technical education, aiming to align Kerala's vocational training with Australian industry requirements. The meeting served as a forum to discuss potential new investment avenues in Kerala, leveraging the state's human capital and growing industrial infrastructure. Speaker AN Shamseer welcomed the proposal, stating that the meeting marks a strategic step in fortifying Kerala's bilateral relations with Australia. "This engagement paves the way for strengthening our ties and exploring new, mutually beneficial investment opportunities that will benefit both our economies," he said. The meeting was also attended by Senior Advisor Janaki Sriram and Additional Private Secretary to the Speaker, S.K. Arjun, marking another chapter in the diplomatic and economic outreach between the two regions. Earlier in the day, Zaki lauded the India-Australia collaboration on the use of locally-sourced biomass. In a post on X, she said, "In a world-first trail in India, an India-Australia collaboration has demonstrated that biomass locally sourced from agricultural waste can partially replace coal in steelmaking. The breakthrough offers a scalable pathway to cut emissions." https://x.com/AusCGChennai/status/2031694393435197943?s=20 She also visited Malappuram to hold talks with Indian Union Muslim League Kerala state committee. In a post on X, she said, "Great to visit Malappuram this week to meet leaders of Indian Union Muslim League Kerala state. We discussed opportunities to deepen Australia-India ties, Kerala's political landscape, recovery efforts in Wayanad, and impacts of the Middle East conflict. Thank you for the warm welcome during Ramadan." https://x.com/AusCGChennai/status/2031289593824518207?s=20 DCG Cameron chaired introductory meetings with Australian electrical and grid technology companies, Andhra Pradesh transmission corporation APTRANSCO, and electricity supply companies. Australia-India working in partnership for more efficient and safer electrical grids as renewables expand. (ANI) Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan Toshimitsu Motegi on Wednesday welcomed the decision made by the International Energy Agency (IEA) to implement a collective release totaling 400 million barrels of oil by the member countries, a statement by Japan's Foreign Minister said. The decision has been taken to address the deterioration in crude oil market conditions resulting from curtailment of crude oil production and exports in the Middle East. This collective release demonstrates the determination of the IEA member countries to act in solidarity to ensure a stable supply of energy, which underpins people's daily lives, and to stabilize the market, as per the statement. Ensuring the stable supply of energy, such as the crude oil market, and market stability is of utmost importance for the stability of the global economy, as well as Japan's economy and Japanese daily lives, the statement said. Japan will continue all diplomatic efforts toward the early de-escalation of the situation in the Middle East, while also continuing to respond in a timely manner to secure a stable energy supply for the world and Japan, in cooperation with relevant international organizations such as the IEA, as well as major consumer and oil-producing countries, as per the statement. The International Energy Agency (IEA) on Wednesday announced the largest-ever release of emergency oil stocks in its history, making 400 million barrels of oil available to global markets to mitigate disruptions caused in the global energy supply by the ongoing West Asia conflict. In a video statement, IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol highlighted that the conflict has severely impacted global oil and gas markets, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, and the decision was taken "to offset the supply lost through the effective closure of the Strait." He emphasised that the resumption of oil and gas transit through the Strait of Hormuz remains critical for long-term stability. "IEA countries will be making 400 million barrels of oil available. I repeat, 400 million barrels of oil available to the market to offset the supply lost through the effective closure of the Strait. This is a major action aiming to alleviate the immediate impacts of the disruption in markets. But, to be clear, the most important thing for a return to stable flows of oil and gas is the resumption of transit through the Strait of Hormuz," Birol said. (ANI) Mauritania and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) have signed two financing agreements worth 116.6 million to strengthen the countrys health and energy sectors. The agreements were signed in Jeddah by Mauritanias Minister of Economic Affairs, Abdallah Ould Souleymane Ould Cheikh Sidia, and IsDB Vice-President for Operations, Rami Ahmed, in the presence of senior Mauritanian officials, including the governor of the Central bank. The first agreement, valued at 61.4 million, will finance the construction and equipping of an integrated referral hospital in Nouakchott focused on maternal, newborn and child health, with the aim of reducing maternal and infant mortality. The second deal, worth 55.2 million, will support the interconnection of the electricity grid between Mauritania and Mali, including the installation of grid-connected solar power plants to enhance renewable energy supply and regional integration. Mauritanian officials said the agreements reflect the long-standing partnership between the country and the IsDB, which dates back to Mauritanias accession as a founding member in 1974, and align with national plans to accelerate development and improve essential public services. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs hailed the quadripartite negotiations hosted lately by Madrid and Washington on the Sahara in line with UN Security Council resolution 2797 which endorsed the Autonomy Plan in the Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty. The French supportive position comes in a press release issued by Quai dOrsay following the meeting held Tuesday in Paris by French top diplomat Jean-Noel Barrot with his Moroccan peer Nasser Bourita on the sidelines of the 2nd World Nuclear Energy Summit, hosted by France in Boulogne-Billancourt. The French Foreign Ministry statement said UNSC resolution 2797 provided a clear framework for re-starting talks based on the Moroccan autonomy plan, under the auspices of the United Nations. The historic Sahara resolution 2797, adopted end of October 2025, calls upon the four parties to the Sahara conflict (Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania and Polisario), to engage in discussions without preconditions, taking as basis Moroccos Autonomy Proposal, with a view to achieving a final and mutually acceptable political solution. During their talks, Barrot and Bourita reaffirmed the importance of the reinforced special partnership between France and Morocco and applauded the vitality of their relationship. The Quai dOrsay also said the two ministers are looking forward to the 15th edition of the High-Level Bilateral Meeting in Morocco. Morocco was the fourthlargest African trade partner of the United States in 2025, with bilateral goods exchanges reaching $7.5 billion, even as Africa as a whole accounted for less than 1.5% of total US trade. Moroccos exports to the United States totaled $1.96 billion, consisting mainly of fertilizers, semiconductors, textiles, agricultural products and vehicles, according to the US Census Bureau data. US exports to Morocco, including fuels, aircraft and hightechnology equipment, reached $5.51 billion, leaving Rabat with a $3.65 billion trade deficit. Overall, Africas goods trade with the United States amounted to $83.44 billion out of Americas $5.64 trillion in global trade, underscoring the continents limited role in global supply chains. African exports to the United States reached $43.02 billion, representing only 1.25% of total US imports, largely driven by raw materials such as hydrocarbons, minerals and agricultural commodities. South Africa remained the United States top African trade partner with $23.05 billion in exchanges and a $10.10 billion surplus. Egypt followed with $12.54 billion in trade but posted a $6.63 billion deficit, while Nigeria ranked third at $12 billion, recording a $1.80 billion deficit. US Congresswoman Claudia Tenney has joined a growing bloc of lawmakers backing legislation to formally classify the Polisario Front as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), becoming the tenth member of Congress to support the initiative. Her endorsement marks another step in a campaign that has accelerated since February and is increasingly framed in Congress as a response to the groups alleged ties to Iran, Hezbollah and Russia. Tenney, a New York Republican, announced her support on March 9. Her move follows the March 3 endorsement by Republican Congressman Don Bacon, a former US Air Force general and cybersecurity specialist, whose backing helped shift the debate onto security terrain. Bacons support came just days after endorsements from Representatives Zachary Nunn on February 24 and Pat Harrigan on February 13, both with military backgrounds. Their involvement has reinforced the framing of the Polisario as a destabilizing actor with alleged links to Iranian proxy networks. The legislation was introduced on June 24, 2025 by Representatives Joe Wilson and Jimmy Panetta. It would require the US administration to formally designate the Polisario a terrorist group. Republican Senator Ted Cruz has also announced plans to introduce a Senate version of the bill. During February hearings on North Africa and the Sahel, Cruz accused the Polisario of undergoing a Houthization process, adding that the Algeria-backed group has connections to Iranian drone technology and arms supply chains benefiting jihadist groups in the Sahel. The European Parliament hosts for the first time a debate on the right of the Kabyle people to independence from Algerian colonialism. This high-profile political event shows the momentum that is building around the Kabylia cause on the international scene. It also deals a hard blow to the Algerian regime. The debate, scheduled for this Wednesday, is organized by Member of European Parliament Nicolas Bay, Vice-Chair of European Conservatives and Reformists Group. The list of guest speakers includes militant Azwaw at Qasi, President of Kabyle League for Human Rights, historian & researcher Charlotte Touati and Yann Baly, President of Christian Solidarity Association. The presentations and debate will focus on the Kabyle struggle and sufferings endured by minorities under Algerian dictatorship. The EU Parliament debate comes few weeks after the support expressed by the Canadian Parliament to the right of Kabylia people to independence. Kabylia proclaimed independence from Algeria on December 14, 2025, in Paris. The announcement was made by Kabyle Independence Movement (MAK) before a large audience including MPs and activists from France, Canada, Israel, the United Kingdom and beyond. Kabylia has historically constituted autonomous political entities before the Ottoman and then French conquests. For decades, the nearly 10 million strong Kabyle people have protested against discrimination and economic marginalization by the central Algerian state. The Kabylia unilateral proclamation of its Independence marks a seismic shift in MAK struggle, evolving from identity advocacy to an openly independence focused strategy. Morocco is accelerating one of Africas most ambitious desalination program as it seeks to secure steady drinking water supplies, support agriculture and meet rising industrial demand, according to Water Minister Nizar Baraka. The country aims to mobilize 1.7 billion cubic meters of desalinated water annually by 2030, a strategy centered along its coastline and built on publicprivate partnerships (PPPs), modern technology and coordinated planning, Baraka told LEconomiste. Eleven projects are currently planned across regions including the Oriental, Tangier, Rabat, Essaouira and Guelmim, with studies already completed. Work is also advancing on the SoussMassa plant, while cooperation with phosphate giant OCP supports the expansion of the El Jadida and Safi facilities to supply both drinking water and industrial use, he said. Morocco today operates 17 desalination plants producing 350 million cubic metres per year, with four additional projects including expansions at El Jadida and Safi under construction. In the south, construction of the Dakhla plant has reached 78% completion and will be paired with a dedicated wind farm, while Casablanca is preparing to host Africas largest desalination plant, with a total capacity of 300 million cubic metres a year, he said. To ensure water equity nationwide, Morocco is also deploying mobile desalination units. A total of 124 units are already producing 771 litres per second from seawater and brackish groundwater, while 77 more, with a capacity of 514 litres per second, are being commissioned. Multiple countries in Asia have introduced austerity measures and travel restrictions to curb fuel use. (Source: Getty) Thailand is the latest country to tell workers across most of its government agencies to work from home effective immediately as it tries to reduce demand for fuel. Nations around the world continue to worry about the supply of refined liquid fuels as the Iran conflict continues to escalate with some turning to increasingly drastic measures. The Thai prime minister has also ordered government officials to suspend overseas trips and urged civil servants to conserve energy by using stairs instead of elevators, a government spokesperson said on Tuesday, local time. The country last week suspended all exports of refined liquid fuels. It was a move that Rabobank's senior macro economist Benjamin Picton said would impact Australia's access to imports and could be the start of putting us on a path towards our own restrictions. "We might be talking about work from home mandates. We might be talking about restrictions on air travel and even rationing, if it got bad enough for long enough," he told Yahoo Finance. RELATED Thailand isn't alone in its dramatic mandates. Pakistan has ordered sweeping austerity measures to curb travel including closing schools for two weeks and enforcing rotating WFH mandates for government employees with the private sector urged to do the same. Universities have also been told to switch to online teaching while people have also been asked to restrict social gatherings. The country's prime minister announced the measures in a televised address to the nation on Monday night, local time. Bangladesh, which like Pakistan and Thailand, is also heavily reliant on crude oil and energy imports, has introduced very similar emergency measures restricting the public. Trinh Nguyen, a senior economist for emerging markets in Asia, reacted to the latest move by Thailand suggesting other nations in southeast Asia will follow. "Demand destruction is happening," she wrote online overnight. "First, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Next, Southeast Asia." Aussies urged not to panic buy fuel, warned over rising food prices Australian motorists are being urged to avoid panic buying, which is exacerbating supply problems and leading to spending limits at some service stations around the country. The rise in diesel prices in the capitals, some as high as 230 cents a litre, was going to be detrimental to agriculture, mining and transport, NRMA spokesperson Peter Khoury said. The worlds top crude oil and LNG importer, China, is not as exposed and vulnerable to energy deliveries from the Middle East as one might think. China has been amassing crude volumes in storage for months, it has been working for years to diversify oil and gas supply sources and routes, and has boosted the share of transport electrification, which has reduced demand for road transportation fuels. As the Middle East crisis choked off supplies via the worlds most critical oil and gas chokepoint, the Strait of Hormuz, China is more resilient to the supply shock than other regions and countries, including Europe, India, Japan, South Korea, or Southeast Asia, analysts say. Inventory Buffer One might think that China, as the biggest crude oil importer, would feel the supply squeeze immediately and acutely. Yet, its supply buffer of an estimated 1.2-1.3 billion barrels of crude in strategic and commercial stockpiles could last up to four months, Rush Doshi, director of the China Strategy Initiative at the Council on Foreign Relations, told CNBC on Monday, when oil prices briefly hit $118 per barrel. China has taken the last 20 years to reduce some of its dependence on maritime oil flows, Doshi said. With pipelines and more renewable energy in the electricity mix, China depends on flows via the Strait of Hormuz for 40-50% of its seaborne crude oil imports, Doshi reckons. Moreover, China has been amassing crude in strategic and commercial reserves for nearly a year. This oil hoarding is paying off in the unpredictable and already highly disruptive war in the Middle East. Related: Little-Known US Company Lands Important Pentagon Contract in Rare Earth Race Chinas energy security strategy and plan to aggressively buy cheaper crude, including sanctioned barrels, is insulating the worlds second-largest economy, to some extent, from short-lived supply disruptions. Beijing is estimated to have been amassing crude into commercial and strategic inventories for nearly a yeartaking advantage of lower international prices and even lower prices for sanctioned supply out of Iran, Venezuela, and Russia. Unlike the United States, China does not report inventories. Analysts are looking at overall supply (domestic production plus imports) and refinery processing rates to estimate how much crude is going into strategic or commercial reserves and how much is being processed into fuels. Analysts estimate that Chinas total reserves stand at between 1.2 billion barrels and 1.3 billion barrels. China currently holds an estimated 1.3 billion barrels of crude in onshore storage, equivalent to around four months of seaborne imports at the 2025 average rate, Emma Li, Lead China Oil Market Analyst at Vortexa, wrote in an analysis on Monday. Crude Flow Diversification Chinas overall crude supply system demonstrates significant resilience to a temporary disruption at the Strait of Hormuz, supported by diversified suppliers, substantial onshore inventories, and stable pipeline inflows from Russia and domestic production, Li said. In the weeks before the war, China had reduced exposure to Strait of Hormuz crude oil flows, mostly thanks to the surge in purchases of Russian crude that doesnt travel through the chokepoint in the Middle East. The share of Chinas seaborne imports transiting the Strait of Hormuz has dropped from 39% in 2025 to about 33% now, according to Vortexa data. Thats because Chinese imports of Russian seaborne crude have jumped from around 1.2 million barrels per day in 2025 to about 1.8 million bpd now. Related: No Magnets, No Drones: How China Controls the Future of Warfare Private Chinese refiners stepped up purchases as weaker demand from other Asian buyers created opportunities, reducing reliance on Hormuz-linked Iranian supplies, Vortexas Li said. Despite being the top crude importer in the world, China is less exposed to the Hormuz crisis than many other buyers in Asia, including India and the developed economies of Japan and South Korea. India relies on the Middle East for about 60% of its crude supply, while Japans dependence is a massive 90%. China also continues to rely on Iranian and Russian crude, large volumes of which are already amassed in floating storage on tankers close to Chinese shores. The independent refiners in China have been and continue to be the top buyer of Irans crude, while China has also been opportunistically scooping up the Russian oil that India shunned for a few months under U.S. pressure, but is now back to buying, with U.S. blessing. Record volumes of nearly 40 million barrels of sanctioned Iranian, Russian, and Venezuelan crude are idling in floating storage on tankers near China. The crude volumes in floating storage, with more than three-quarters of the tankers laden with Iranian oil, have jumped by 17% compared to the week before the Middle East war started, according to Kpler data cited by Bloomberg on Monday. The proximity to China and the willingness of Chinese refiners, especially the private crude processors, to buy sanctioned crude could ease to an extent Chinas short-term pain from spiking oil prices and halted Hormuz flows. Beijings vulnerability to the current supply shock varies widely across the refining sector, according to Vortexa. Refineries with heavy Hormuz-linked supply chains or with limited substitution options could be forced to accelerate maintenance schedules or reduce processing rates. Overall, while China is unlikely to face an immediate nationwide refining disruption, a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz would likely result in selective refinery run cuts, shifting crude trade flows, and tighter regional product balances across Asia, Vortexas Li noted. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Less than a week ago, the head of the International Energy Agency said there was plenty of oil in the market, and there was no need for an emergency release. This week, Fatih Birol proposed an emergency release of hundreds of millions of barrels, the largest ever. Meanwhile, the U.S. oil and gas industry seems to be in a wait-and-see modeand its hard to blame them. The launch of strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran prompted retaliation that resulted in something few expected would ever happen: the effective freeze of tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, meaning a fifth of global oil exports had suddenly become unavailable. Some tankers do pass the Strait if they are Chinese-flagged or Iranian-flagged, but most Persian Gulf oil is staying in the Persian Gulf for now. Besides an emergency release from the OECD stockpiles, a response to the spike in oil and gas prices could have come from producers outside the Middle East, most obviously the United States. Most of the countrys oil comes from the shale patch, which could be ramped up and down fast, so why are they not doing it? For starters, U.S. shale oil drillers have matured significantly since the early 2000s, when they basically drilled for drillings sakeand for the sake of repaying their debtjust to see how much more the shale rock would yield. Those times are over. Now, shale producers are much more careful with their production plans. As Wood Mackenzie noted in a report this week, E&Ps have so far been suggesting that they are not yet committing to increased activity, in case the higher prices prove to be temporary. Related: Little-Known US Company Lands Important Pentagon Contract in Rare Earth Race Arguss Stephen Cunningham also pointed out the shale industrys corporate policy evolution over the past decade, with capital discipline taking priority over fast response to changes in market balance. Reversing that, Cunningham argued, would require a sea change in boardroom strategy. Whats more, the recent consolidation in the U.S. oil industry has resulted in Big Oil dominanceand Big Oil does not knee-jerk to sudden changes in oil prices resulting from severe supply disruption. Especially when its stocks are suggesting investors and traders all expect the disruption to be dealt with fast. The market is anticipating a swift end to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and a subsequent collapse in oil prices back to normalized levels, the head of energy research at Melius Research told Reuters this week. The rally in oil prices is primarily contained to near-term spot prices rather than longer-dated crude oil futures. This explains why Big Oil shares have risen quite modestly compared to benchmark oil prices and why the industry does not really have much incentive to respond to the supply shock with more production. Instead, it could simply reap the benefits of higher prices while they last. Related: No Magnets, No Drones: How China Controls the Future of Warfare In gas, however, things are a little bit differentand more concerning for consumers. The United States is the biggest producer of natural gas and the biggest exporter of the commodity in liquefied form. Yet U.S. LNG producers are already at capacity and physically cannot boost production to respond to the gap in supply that opened when QatarEnergy shut down its production facilities. Wood Mackenzie notes that there will be new LNG capacity coming on stream later this year on the Gulf Coast, but added that this new capacity will be only about 20% of what has been lost from the shutdown of QatarEnergys Ras Laffan. And this, in turn, means that we could reasonably expect a prolonged gas squeeze in Europe and Asia, with the latter switching to coal and the former possibly forced to reconsider its ban on Russian gas. The irony in the current situation is that while U.S. producers are entirely justified in adopting the wait-and-see approach, the longer the supply disruption continues, the longer it would take to bring Middle Eastern production back onlineand the longer prices would remain elevated, potentially motivating a response from the shale patch. But that response would immediately pressure prices, eliminating most of the gains shale producers could expect. Not only this, but U.S. shale drillers cannot close the oil supply gap alone, just like LNG producers cannot cover all lost Qatari supply. This should be a worrying thought because it is related to actual, physical oil supply. Indeed, Wood Mac estimated that even if oil trades at $100 per barrel over the next six months, U.S. shale drillers could only add about 600,000 bpd by the end of the yearand it is unlikely for oil to trade at $100 over a period of six months. In such a situation, the industry is doing the smartest thing for its own good. And it just got proven right as oil prices slumped to below $90 for both Brent crude and WTI after the news broke that the IEA and G7 will be discussing the largest ever emergency release of oil. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Earlier this year, U.S. forces snatched Venezuelas Nicolas Maduro from Caracas, and the Trump administration stepped in to take over the countrys oil industry. Many appear to have expected the same with Iran, sooner or later, but for now, it seems President Trump is in no hurry to plan an oil seizurelikely because Iran is a very different story from Venezuela. You look at Venezuela, the U.S. president told NBC News. People have thought about it, but its too soon to talk about that. The rather cryptic response suggests that Trump appreciates the much more complicated situation he is in with Iran. Venezuelas oil seizure was easy and straightforward. Venezuela, as cynical geopolitical observers like to say, is in Washingtons backyard. This is not the case with Iran, as most recently proven by the fact that the war the United States and Israel launched against Tehran is taken longer than perhaps hoped for, and has caused a major disruption in global oil and gas trade. Trumps latest remarks about the war featured a statement that it was going to end very soon, which prompted a selloff among oil traders, who were apparently eager to see lower oil prices. These statements, however, should be taken with a pinch of salt since the situation is not a hundred percent under President Trumps control. Related: Little-Known US Company Lands Important Pentagon Contract in Rare Earth Race We're very proud to be involved in this and it's going to be ended soon, Trump told the media this week, as cited by CBS. And if it starts up again, they'll be hit even harder. Further, Trump said that major strides toward completing our military objective. That military objective remains a sort of a moving target, but earlier in the war, Trump declared that nothing short of unconditional surrender would satisfy him. However, it is noteworthy that there have been no references to oil in any of the U.S. presidents recent warnings to Iran and statements about the objectives of the war to the media. The problem is obvious enough. In Venezuela, Trump basically went in and took the oil. There was no resistance from either the government or the army. In Iran, such resistance is a certainty, meaning that if the U.S. president wants to take over Irans oil, he would have to go in with troopssomething Trump does not appear to consider among his preferred options, especially in an election year. Commentators like to talk about installing a pro-U.S. leader but that would be as challenging as taking over the oil industry with boots on the ground. History suggests that attacks on a countrys leadership only strengthen that leadership, and Iran itself is a good case in pointyears of sanctions have done the opposite of shaking the authority of the religious leaders. On the contrary, they have served to cement them in their leadership positions, reducing the chances of reforms taking place anytime soon. Related: No Missiles, No Drones: What Happens When Rare Earths Stop Flowing? Speaking of sanctions, Trump also said this week that sanctions on some countries will be lifted to make up for the supply disruption in the Persian Gulf. Seeing as the three countries with oil sanctions are Venezuela, Iran, and Russia, and Venezuela is already in the fold, the sanction relief likely concerns Russia. So, we have sanctions on some countries. Were going to take those sanctions off until this straightens out, Trump said Monday at a news conference. Then, who knows, maybe we wont have to put them on therell be so much peace, he said, as quoted by Al Jazeera. Meanwhile, traffic in the Strait of Hormuz remains paralyzed, with reports about one oil tanker traversing the strait on Monday with its transponder turned off. Per Windwards latest update, two vessels passed Hormuz on Monday, both Iranian-flagged. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com China's softening of decarbonization goals reflects the increasing difficulty of the "final stretch" to 2030focusing on hard-to-abate sectorsand a global political movement prioritizing energy security, particularly following the US's retreat from emissions regulation. The plan highlights a central tension in China's energy strategy, as the nation commits to a world-leading renewable energy build-out while simultaneously greenlighting the development of new coal-fired capacity. China's 15th Five-Year Plan scales back climate ambition by ending energy intensity targets and laying out cuts that analysts say are insufficient to meet its legally binding Paris agreement pledges. In Chinas new five-year plan, released Thursday, the worlds second-largest economy declared its aim to lead global climate governance. However, the targets laid out in the nations 15th five-year plan mark a cautious turn in Chinas approach to energy strategy, reflecting the global cool-off on climate-related policy and a general sense of unease in energy markets. China is set to continue full-speed ahead in its renewable energy additions, but is fundamentally changing the way that it tracks progress on emissions reduction. The new five-year plan marks an end to Chinas energy intensity targets, which have guided the countrys measurement and evaluation of climate progress for years. This means that, going forward, the pace of total emissions reductions will depend mostly on whether renewable energy deployment can keep pace with overall economic growth, based on what Greenpeace told the nonpartisan news outlet Semafor. However, the pace of renewable energy additions is set to remain high. The plan aims to replace 30 million metric tons of coal each year with renewable energy capacity. The plan also states that it aims to reach peak consumption of the dirtiest fossil fuel by 2030. At the same time, however, China has been greenlighting the development of new coal-fired capacity at the highest rate in over a decade. The 15th Five-Year Plan therefore highlights a central tension in Chinas climate policy, writes EnviroTec, a world-leading renewable build-out occurring alongside continued fossil-fuel expansion, leaving uncertainty about whether emissions will begin a sustained decline before the 2030 peak target. Related: Little-Known US Company Lands Important Pentagon Contract in Rare Earth Race Overall, the cuts outlined in the new plan are not nearly ambitious enough to meet Chinas pledges under the Paris agreement. In the legally binding pledges, China agreed to cut its carbon intensity by 65 percent from 2005 to 2030. The current plan would result in a cut of just 17 percent between now and 2030, but analysts calculate that China would need to achieve a 23 percent reduction over the next five years in order to meet its Paris commitment. Li Shuo, director of the China Climate Hub at the Asia Society Policy Institute, told Climate Home News that the new watered down tone of Chinas decarbonization goals indicates a quiet recalibration, effectively acknowledging how difficult the goal has become. Its true that the final stretch to 2030 will be the hardest. The lowest-hanging fruits of decarbonization have already been reached, and now the really tricky problems remain. "The focus increasingly shifts to more challenging areas - decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors, integrating a much larger share of renewables into the power system and building a more flexible and resilient electricity system," Muyi Yang, a senior energy analyst for energy think tank Ember, recently told Reuters. But while Chinas softening of decarbonization ambitions is reflective of this harsh reality, it's also reflective of politics namely, a global easing of climate ambitions. With the worlds largest economy, the United States, turning its back on climate change completely, the pressure is off on a global scale to do the hard and dirty work of decarbonization. Related: Magnet Wars: How the U.S. Plans to Break Chinas Grip on Rare Earths In February, the Trump administration dealt a death blow to emissions regulation in the United States when it formally revoked the 2009 endangerment finding that legally recognizes carbon emissions as a threat to public and environmental health. The Environmental Protection agency labeled the move as the largest deregulatory action in American history. The revocation kneecaps the ability of legislators to regulate and set binding emissions targets. The underlying scientific consensus remains unaltered, but the policies and actions against climate change have been effectively nullifiedsuggesting a swift and full retreat of the climate policy of the United States, reports China U.S. Focus. This retreat is a huge reflection of and driving factor in a global movement toward prioritizing energy security over energy sustainability. This pivot is only going to intensify in the new energy market chaos wrought by the United States war in Iran. Stranded supplies in the Gulf are already throwing Asian markets into a panic, and we can expect wartime priorities to shift climate goals to the back of the line. By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The conflict has caused the single biggest oil supply disruption in history, but its most serious impacts are on human and environmental health. The war in Iran is sending shockwaves through global energy markets that will be felt for years to come. The conflict is causing the single biggest oil supply disruption in history, as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has caused a nine-day disruption of 20 percent of the worlds oil transports, more-than doubling the previous record set during the Suez crisis of 1956. But the war and its energy market impacts represent much more than just economic chaos they are also the harbingers of serious and lasting human and environmental impact across the region and the world. The United States and Israel have been targeting Irans energy infrastructure in their ongoing attacks, with disastrous results for local lands and people. Monitors have admitted that they are so overwhelmed by the scale and breadth of environmental impacts from the war that they are struggling to keep track of the environmental disasters arising from the widening war according to The Guardian. Explosions at oil storage facilities have left fires burning for days as a black rain has fallen over the capital city of Tehran as it chokes on noxious smoke. To me, this black rain indicates toxic pollutants such as hydrocarbons, ultrafine particles known as PM2.5, and carcinogenic compounds called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have made their way into the rain, Gabriel da Silva, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at The University of Melbourne, recently wrote for The Conversation. He added that this rain would also include heavy metals and inorganic compounds from all of the buildings and other materials set ablaze by the strikes. The resulting acid rain could be catastrophic for human, animal, and environmental health, experts warn. While this rain alone is cause for massive concern for Iranians, its likely just the tip of the iceberg. Oil raining down on Tehran is likely only the first tell of the environmental damage and the impact that that has on peoples health that the US and Israels war will cause, Global Witness cautioned in a recent report. Environmental incidents are already widespread across the country. The Conflict and Environment Observatory has assessed 232 incidents for their level of environmental risk, and has flagged three types of emerging environmental harm: pollution from the destruction of military sites, marine pollution from the destruction of oil infrastructure along the Gulf coast, and the destruction of inland fossil fuel infrastructure. (Source) There is also cause for concern about potential damage to Irans nuclear power infrastructure, and all of the associated environmental and health risks that would come along with such damage. In last years 12 days of war between Iran and Israel, there was considerable concern about lasting impacts of irradiation on the lands and soils near attacked nuclear power plants and nuclear enrichment sites. I want to make it absolutely and completely clear, [in] case of an attack on [a nuclear power plant], a direct hit could result in a very high release of radioactivity to the environment, Rafael Mariono Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), warned in a June 23 statement about the war between Iran and Israel. But even the missiles that didnt hit nuclear sites carry serious environmental and public health hazards, as aerial attacks and the fires they create release huge amounts of toxic pollutants that end up in soil and groundwater. This has been an issue that is concerning in the Middle East, and some of these impacts are even transboundary and trans generational, Kaveh Madani, director of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health, told the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists last year. So, the war might be over, but these impacts would remain there. The Conflict and Environment Observatory also warns that there will be new forms of environmental fallout as the war drags on. In addition to the threat of nuclear irradiation, the watchdog warns that Israel and the United States may also target desalination plants, gravely impacting the availability of freshwater and potentially unleashing sodium hypochlorite, ferric chloride and sulfuric acid into the environment. The organization also warns that Iranian environmental governance, already weak, will all but collapse under this new stress. In addition to the risks imposed by direct attacks on energy infrastructure, the war also poses a major threat to the climate. Wars are huge contributors to climate change. The greenhouse gas emissions associated with Russias war in Ukraine, for example, reached levels comparable with the entire annual emissions of France in just the first two years, according to a report from a Ukrainian watchdog organization. By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com An oil pipeline crossing the Canada-US border may be back on government agendas, as the proponent, South Bow Corp (TSX:SOBO), looks to revive the long-dead project. TC Energy (TSX:TRP) spun the oil pipeline component of its business out to South Bow in 2024 to concentrate on natural gas and power. The rationale for Keystone was a way to bring together booming US oil production, and to a lesser extent, production from the oil sands in Northern Alberta, to Gulf Coast refineries that were facing declining imports from Mexico and Venezuela. The project was first proposed in 2008 and was supposed to begin carrying 830,000 barrels a day in 2012. But the Obama administration struck it down on environmental grounds. President Trump then revived it during his first term, before Joe Biden killed it again by revoking the pipelines permit on his first day as president in 2021. A network of pipelines called the Keystone Pipeline already exists and moves oil within the United States. The pipeline expansion would allow more oil sands crude to flow to the US Gulf Coast, cutting through Montana, South Dakota, and Nebraska before heading south. Earlier this month, CBC News reported that a proposal by South Bow to revive parts of the canceled pipeline could increase Canadas crude exports by 12%. However, it would need a green light from President Trump, and additional links to US refining hubs are required. Canadian Prime Minister Carney reportedly brought up the pipelines revival in a conversation with Trump in October. Just over a year ago, Trump pledged easy regulatory approvals for the project, saying in a Truth Social post, We want the Keystone XL Pipeline built. The new pipeline, renamed Prairie Connector, would take a different route through the US than the previous Keystone XL project. CBC says South Bow is considering reviving some of the line that was already built in Alberta and has the necessary permits. Related: Little-Known US Company Lands Important Pentagon Contract in Rare Earth Race The 450,000?barrel?per?day line is planned to extend from Hardisty, AB, to several US delivery hubs, including Cushing, Oklahoma, and the Gulf Coast. The original alignment followed the existing Foothills natural?gas system owned by TC Energy, which carries Alberta natural gas to the US border. South Bow is reportedly getting its ducks in a row by approaching farmers and ranchers in southwest Saskatchewan to re-survey land that lies along the original Keystone XL pipeline route. The Calgary-based firm said March 5 it has launched an open season for its proposed Prairie Connector pipeline, running until March 30, after which it will assess commercial support. During an earnings call last Friday, South Bows CEO Bevin Wirzba declined to give a cost estimate or timeline for the potential pipeline, but said that working within a pre-invested corridor ups the chances of quickly advancing construction, the Globe and Mail reported. Saskatchewan, the Western Canadian province next to Alberta, announced in February 2025 that it would consider all permits crossing its territory as pre-approved. The part of the project within the United States is being spearheaded by Bridger Pipeline, which recently filed a proposal with Montana for a 1,038-kilometer pipeline with capacity for 550,000 barrels per day. The line would begin near the Canadian border in Phillips County, Montana, and terminate in Guernsey, Wyoming. Additional spurs would then be bolted onto the pipeline to reach refining hubs such as Cushing, OK, and the Gulf Coast. However, it remains unclear who would be willing to take on the risk. According to the Globe and Mail, quoting the founder of Plainview Energy Analytics, Matthew Lewis, the biggest challenge would be getting permits, and building a new pipeline would likely face environmental challenges that could tie up the project in court. Bridger is proposing in its application that the Montana-to-Guernsey leg be built along existing pipeline infrastructure, making it easier to obtain the required permits. A presidential permit would be required for the segment that crosses the US-Canada border. The Canadian government hasnt ruled out the possibility of a renewed Keystone XL. A spokesperson for former Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said last year the government is open to having a productive conversation about advancing the project. A December 2025 Ipsos poll found that 75% of Canadians are in favor of constructing new pipelines. By Andrew Topf for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The U.S.Israel attacks on Iran and the AfghanistanPakistan conflict threaten Central Asias plans to establish southbound trade routes to markets in Asia and Africa. Military escalation between Afghanistans Taliban-led government and Pakistan threatens several emerging trade, transport, and energy corridors linking Central Asia to South Asia, the Persian Gulf, and global markets. Risks are both direct (insecurity along routes) and indirect (border closures, investor withdrawal, and partner-state reluctance). Pakistan previously moved goods through Afghanistan to Central Asian markets, accounting for significant export volumes (bilateral trade was USD2.4 billion in 2025). That corridor is effectively closed, with border crossings, supply chains, and customs operations stalled. The loss of reliable land access undermines Afghanistans (food, fuel, industrial inputs) and Central Asian access southward toward Pakistans seaports. Several high-profile connectivity initiatives depend on peace and stable transit through Afghanistan; heightened conflict raises the risk of delay or failure. The 760-kilometer UzbekistanAfghanistanPakistan Railway is intended to link Central Asia directly to the Arabian Sea via Afghanistan and Pakistan. The USD6 billion project will cut transit time by five days and reduce transport costs by 40%, but the current conflict makes construction and future operations insecure. International financiers, including the Asian Development Bank and Persian Gulf investors, are likely to hesitate if PakistanAfghan relations remain adversarial. Uzbekistan cannot guarantee safe transit if Pakistan views Taliban-linked militant groups as a threat. CASA-1000, a $1.2 billion cross-border electricity transmission project exporting surplus hydropower from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to Afghanistan and Pakistan, also becomes vulnerable if conflict escalates. Construction of the long-delayed Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) natural gas pipeline is underway, but has made limited progress. TAPI is a 1,814-km pipeline running from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan and Pakistan to India, with a capacity of 33 billion cubic meters (bcm)/year. Construction started in 2015, and the Turkmenistan portion was completed by the end of 2024; the Afghanistan section to Herat is projected for completion by the end of 2026. TalibanPakistan hostility undermines Taliban security guarantees, Pakistan may freeze cooperation on construction segments, and India will not commit to off-take agreements in a conflict zone. Existing road corridors within Pakistan and Afghanistan are at risk. In Pakistan, the Khyber Pass Road corridor, the PeshawarTorkham Expressway, and trucking routes carrying Central Asian exports to Karachi and Gwadar are high-risk, raising insurance and transport costs, making Pakistani ports less competitive for Central Asian exporters. In Afghanistan, the KabulJalalabad highway, the KabulKandahar highway, and routes linking Mazar-i-Sharif to Pakistan are vulnerable, and traffic will slow during security operations. Pakistan may suspend provisions of the AfghanistanPakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) to pressure the Taliban, leading to retaliation by the Afghan side. Goods from Central Asia transiting Afghanistan will be vulnerable to sudden policy reversals that may strand the cargo, vehicles, and drivers. The Central AsiaSouth Asia Economic Corridor (CASAEC) is a regional framework that includes road, rail, and energy integration between Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. The fighting could stall corridor planning as AfghanistanPakistan coordination collapses, Persian Gulf and Chinese investors pause financing, and Central Asian states may shift focus to westward or eastward routes. The conflict will increase instability along transit corridors, border closures and freight disruption, higher shipping and insurance costs, reduced investor confidence, and a shift away from Pakistan routes toward Iran or the Caspian Sea. The Trans-Afghan Railway, the TAPI natural gas pipeline and the CASA-1000 electricity project can only succeed if there is peace between Kabul and Islamabad. Politically, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan lose strategic depth as southward access to the Arabian Sea becomes blocked. Iran becomes more critical as Central Asian states may reroute trade through Iran, but this is risky amid the U.S./IsraelIran conflict. Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) planning is disrupted, and Chinas efforts to develop northsouth corridors through Afghanistan and Pakistan face setbacks if neither side can guarantee stability. Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan border Afghanistan and will be concerned about spillover violence and refugee flows from adjacent areas of Afghanistan. In summary, Central Asia loses a key Southward trade gateway through which goods and transit benefits were expected to expand. U.S.Israel attacks on Iran are disrupting regional routes and supply chains. The conflict - particularly around the Strait of Hormuz and Persian Gulf airspace - has significant implications for Central Asia. The crisis has disrupted tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, an energy corridor that hosts the movement of more than 20 percent of global oil and liquefied natural gas exports. Oil price volatility and rerouting add cost and uncertainty for Central Asian energy imports and transit. Air and freight logistics have also been affected. Thousands of flights have been canceled or rerouted due to airspace closures, making AsiaEurope routes longer and more expensive. The spill-over includes concerns about airspace over South and Central Asia if instability spreads. Related: Little-Known US Company Lands Important Pentagon Contract in Rare Earth Race Projects that rely on stable Iran, such as the International North-South Transport Corridor, a 7,200-km multimodal network of sea, rail, and road routes for moving freight between India, Iran, Central Asia, Azerbaijan, Europe, and Russia., will face elevated risk if Irans logistics infrastructure (the seaports of Chabahar and Bandar Abbas) is targeted or trade sanctions tighten. Central Asia depends on Iran for access to sea links and alternative routes outside of Russia and China; the current conflict weakens that option. Although partly complete in sections such as the AzerbaijanIran Western Route, RussiaAzerbaijan links, and the MumbaiBandar Abbas maritime leg, full efficiency depends on stable operations through Iranian territory. The Five Nations Railway Corridor is a rail link to connect China, through Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan, to Iran and ultimately to Persian Gulf ports. The corridor is meant to deepen Central Asias link to global markets via Iran and help the participants avoid maritime chokepoints. A major escalation in or around Iran threatens construction, cross-border coordination, and raises security costs and deters financing and investment, particularly in sections involving Iranian infrastructure. The corridor is making slow progress with limited freight operations between Iran and Afghanistan. The Southern Corridor through Iran is a broader set of Iranian rail expansions intended to bolster East-West connectivity between Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Iran has been upgrading tracks and electrifying main corridors that link Central Asian freight to the Persian Gulf and European markets. Projects include the MarandCheshmeh-Soraya railway and expansion of the TurkmenistanIran rail link toward Turkey and beyond. Nargiza Umarova of the Institute for Advanced International Studies in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, notes the Southern Corridor is critical for Central Asia, but active conflict could cause delays, rerouting of freight, and suspension of services as neighboring countries close borders or airspace. Shuttle services that rely on Iranian rail infrastructure may find it difficult to operate safely under US and Israeli attacks. The Central AsiaPersian Gulf Multimodal Corridor, under the Ashgabat Agreement, links Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Oman, and is designed for combined rail, road, and maritime transport. Iran represents a critical section of this corridor, enabling overland freight to reach the Persian Gulf, and conflict-related disruption could curtail services that depend on Iranian logistics capacity, customs cooperation, and security guarantees. The corridor is not yet fully operational, and attacks on Iran will slow work. The DauletabadSarakhsKhangiran natural gas pipeline links Central Asian energy exports to Iranian networks. Its continued operation supports regional energy trade and complements transport infrastructure by enhancing the incentives for broader integration. Escalation around Iran could threaten energy infrastructure, encourage sanctions, or lower regional investment in pipeline expansions. The pipeline is operational and moves 12 bcm of gas annually. South-North land corridors through Afghanistan and Pakistan were emerging as strategic links for Central Asia to South Asia and Indian Ocean transits. These include Trans-Afghan rail and road routes and the partly operational Lapis Lazuli Corridor linking Afghanistan with Turkmenistan and beyond, and Central Asian plans to diversify away from RussiaChina routes toward Pakistan and Iran. These land routes are now under severe strain as conflict blocks key junctions and raises security costs, discourages investment, and delays infrastructure completion. Iran or neighboring states (e.g., Pakistan, Turkey) may close borders or airspace, effectively severing key overland corridors that run through or around Iran. This has already happened in parts of the region during heightened conflict. Possible alternatives are the Middle Corridor that links Central Asia through the Caspian Sea to Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, and onward to Europe seen as a safer alternative; and the ChinaKyrgyzstanUzbekistan Railway, another BRI overland route that increases Central Asian connectivity to China and Europe without relying on Iran links. With Iran unstable and Pakistan embroiled in conflict, Central Asias access to ports becomes more constrained. Alternative maritime accessespecially via Iranian portsbecomes riskier and more expensive. Central Asian exporters may increasingly rely on northern or eastwest corridors (Russia, China) instead of struggling North-South options. And Iran may move to assert more control over Chabahar Port in light of Indias USD 10 billion in defense deals with Israel. Rail corridors tied to Iran are optimized to complement maritime freight through Persian Gulf ports. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and shipping routes can cascade back into overland connectivity planning and usage. Displaced trade flows risk increasing transport costs, delivery times, and logistical uncertainty for Central Asian exporters and importers. Some countries could see trade patterns shift further east toward Chinese markets or Caspian routes. Investment flows into connectivity infrastructure are likely to slow unless security stabilizes, as investors avoid conflict zones. Heightened geopolitical risk reduces or slows foreign investment and financing for infrastructure projects, and may prompt Central Asian states to pivot toward alternatives such as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor) bypassing Iran. Despite the disruptions, Central Asian states may pursue diversification by pushing more trade via rail and the Trans-Caspian corridor (bypassing conflict zones), deepening ties with Chinas BRI and the Middle Corridor through the Caucasus, and strengthening overland routes to Europe that bypass Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran. The U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran do not just threaten Iranian territory and infrastructure - they endanger key pieces of the regional connectivity architecture that Central Asia seeks to build for diversifying trade routes, reducing dependence on Russia or maritime chokepoints, and integrating into global markets. Despite Trumps friendly approach toward Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, he is likely to prioritize cooperation with Israel in the conflict with Iran, leaving regional economic repercussions to be addressed later. Among the effects may be reduced interest by Persian Gulf investors if they turn their attentions to repairing infrastructure damaged by Iranian attacks or increasing military spending. These combined geopolitical crises are undermining Central Asias planned integration into South Asian and Middle Eastern trade networks, prompting nations to pivot toward more secure connectivity options to sustain economic growth and avoid being cut off from global value chains. By James Durso More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Intent on staying on Tehrans good side, Armenia and Azerbaijan have both saluted the elevation of Mojtaba Khamenei to be Irans Supreme Leader. The congratulatory notes sent by Yerevan and Baku highlight the delicate geopolitical balance that both are trying to maintain amid the ongoing US-Israeli air campaign to cause the Islamic Republics collapse. Both Armenia and Azerbaijan share a frontier with Iran. Meanwhile, both are heavily invested in developing a US-backed trade corridor, known as TRIPP or the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity. They are likewise striving to finalize a provisional peace deal brokered personally by President Donald Trump. Under the circumstances, both Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev clearly hope that their proffered congratulations to Khamenei do not cause consternation in the White House. Aliyevs message to the new Iranian Supreme Leader was particularly solicitous. I hope that together we will make further efforts to develop interstate relations in a spirit of mutual respect and trust, in accordance with the interests of our peoples, Aliyev wrote, according to a transcript of his message published by his press service. The tone is understandable given that Azerbaijani-Iranian tension continues to run high following a March 5 Iranian drone strike on Azerbaijans exclave of Nakhchivan. Since then, Azerbaijani officials have undertaken a variety of measures aimed at avoiding another attack. So far, Pashinyan and Aliyev appear to have threaded a diplomatic needle, given that there has been no adverse reaction from Washington yet concerning their actions. At the same time, Trump told the administration-friendly television channel Fox News that he was generally not happy with the Khameneis selection. Among Central Asian nations, only Tajikistan, a country that shares close cultural and linguistic ties with Iran, offered congratulations to Khamenei, who replaced his father after he was killed on the first day of the US-Israeli air war. Related: Little-Known US Company Lands Important Pentagon Contract in Rare Earth Race Meanwhile, social media in Central Asia is abuzz with posts expressing concern that the toxic smoke caused by US-Israeli attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure may reach Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The meteorological services of both Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have tried to tamp down social media-driven rumors about potential hazardous fallout from the war. For example, the Uzbek agency, Uzhydromet, dismissed the possibility of toxic rain reaching the country, adding that there has been no discernable impact on air quality caused by events in Iran. Elsewhere, it appears that Russian leader Vladimir Putin is attempting to mediate an end to the warfare in Iran. A readout of a phone conversation released by the Kremlin revealed that Putin and Trump talked about the war and other issues for an hour on March 9. The Russian President put forward a number of considerations aimed at achieving a speedy political-diplomatic settlement of the Iranian conflict, taking into account, among other things, recent contacts held with leaders of the Persian Gulf states, with the President of Iran [Masoud] Pezeshkian, and with the heads of several other nations, the Kremlin statement reads. It added that the two discussed the Ukraine war. The conversation was highly substantive and will undoubtedly be of practical significance for the future cooperation of the two countries across various spheres of international policy, according to the Kremlin. Trump described the conversation as a very good talk. By Eurasianet More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Driving past the gleaming skyscrapers of downtown Tel Aviv, a huge video billboard catches the eye as the advertisement switches from groceries to a giant portrait of the US president with the caption: "Thank you, God and Donald Trump!" The tribute bears witness to Israeli gratitude for America's role in the military strikes on Iran. Israeli officials have repeatedly stressed that the two countries are in lockstep. "The cooperation is historic between the US military and the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) and between the Israeli Air Force and the US Air Force," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on March 6 in an example of how the two countries are on the same page. There is indeed extremely close military and political coordination. But there are also areas where priorities differ. When Does This End? For years, Netanyahu has pushed the idea of regime change in Iran and still appears committed to that aim. "Our aspiration is to enable the Iranian people to cast off the yoke of tyranny," he said on March 9. But most analysts believe regime change cannot be achieved quickly, so Trump's statement later that day, that the war could be over " very soon," raised the question: What if America's choice of an end date is earlier than Israel's? "The United States is the one who leads when it comes to that end date. Israel is willing to continue these attacks against the Islamic regime. We're also engaged against Hezbollah, an Islamic regime proxy in Lebanon. We would like to continue that. But we'll stop when the US says we need to stop," Miri Eisin, a former deputy head of the Israeli military's Combat Intelligence Corps, told RFE/RL on March 10. "There were very clear aims of regime change, and you're not seeing that. But let's be realistic about it. There's the rhetoric of politicians and there's the reality of the military. For the military, every additional day [means] more targets. For the politicians, they make their own decisions," added Eisin, now a fellow at the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT) at Reichman University in Tel Aviv. War Aims In fact, it is not entirely clear whether regime change is even one of the US objectives. When US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth listed US war aims a few hours after RFE/RL spoke to Eisin, he didn't even mention it. Related: Little-Known US Company Lands Important Pentagon Contract in Rare Earth Race "One: Destroy their missile stockpiles, their missile launchers, and their defense industrial base, missiles and their ability to make them. Two: Destroy their navy. And three: Permanently deny Iran nuclear weapons forever," Hegseth said as he went through the goals of the conflict. Trump has spoken of "unconditional surrender" and said regime change would be "the best thing that could happen." He said on March 10 that he was "disappointed" that the Iranian regime chose Mojtaba Khamenei to replace his late father as supreme leader but declined to say what the United States might do about it. RFE/RL has spoken to a number of US congressional aides focused on national security in Washington who have voiced concern about a potential disconnect on this and other issues. "One government appears to be pursuing regime collapse," a Republican aide said on condition of anonymity. "The other says it isn't -- except when it does. And that's the rub. On key objectives, we're not entirely in sync." In any war, the timeline usually depends on the aims being pursued. Following the three objectives listed by Hegseth, victory can be declared without regime change. Some analysts argue the United States may prefer an earlier end to operations than Israel if oil prices rise too much because the two countries have a different pain-tolerance level in this regard. Sarit Zehavi, head of Tel Aviv think-tank Alma, said Iran's war strategy -- and its attacks on the Gulf states -- was focused on just this. "The interest was to create a situation that America will not finish the job. To create a situation that the Gulf countries will ask Trump to stop," she said. Oil There have also been some hints of divergence on military targets, with Washington reportedly unhappy at an Israeli strike on an Iranian oil facility which showered Tehran in black rain a few days ago. Asked about this on March 10, Hegseth said hitting the oil sites "wasn't necessarily our objective." But he rejected the idea that Israel was pulling the United States into operations that go against Washington's interests: "We're not getting pulled in any direction. We're leading, the president is leading." On Capitol Hill, another aide, speaking on condition of anonymity, cautioned: "Destroying oil fields can spiral energy markets. Israel sees it as crippling Iran's ability to fund war, but for the US there's a risk we drag the global economy into the conflict. It's a tactical win with strategic costs." On March 9, influential Republican Senator Lindsey Graham spelled it out in a social media post. "Please be cautious about what targets you select," he wrote, adding that the oil economy would be crucial for Iran's reconstruction. But Yoel Guzonsky, a former member of Israel's National Security Council, said his country's strikes on Iranian oil facilities had in fact been a calibrated warning shot. "Both the US and Israel are being very careful not to hit the main oil installations with Iran because they know that Iran's retaliation might be in the Gulf states, and then we'll see a different scenario," he said, referring to the danger of future Iranian strikes on Gulf-state oil industry targets. "Iran didn't even scratch the oil fields and the gas fields in the Gulf," he added. "Perhaps Iran is saving itself another escalatory step toward a longer war." Hezbollah The issue of Hezbollah, designated as a terrorist organization the United States, also suggests Israel and the White House have slightly different priorities in this war. For Washington, hitting Iran is top of the agenda. In Israel, Hezbollah is a threat that's much closer to home. "People don't think about the fact that I drive up north, and I live up north, and you can be 100 meters, let alone a kilometer or two, from these different sites that Hezbollah is firing from. So, for us, that's a very near and present danger," Eisin told RFE/RL. There have been numerous Israeli media reports and analyst predictions in recent days that a much larger ground offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon may be being prepared. But, Eisin added, this was not diverting Israel's attention from the war with Iran. Eisin said Israel was mostly using different kinds of forces in Lebanon and was also attacking Iranian targets there. "Israel openly attacked a few days ago, at the heart of Beirut, an Islamic regime Quds force. So, you see that combo here. We're attacking the Islamic regime, different types of terror army capabilities, both in Lebanon and in Iran," she said. But for Washington, the calculus is different. "From a US perspective, Hezbollah is a proxy problem, rather than a direct existential threat," one congressional aide said. By RFE/RL More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Green activist investor Follow This has vowed to fight BP in court after the supermajor did not include a Follow This-led resolution to explain how the company takes investment decisions to create value for shareholders. In January, Follow This and 23 institutional investors filed shareholder resolutions with both BP and Shell, requesting disclosure of shareholder value creation under scenarios of declining oil and gas demand. The resolution for the Annual General Meeting of BP, to be held on April 23, 2026, is backed by 23 institutional investors with $1.74 trillion in assets under management. The resolutions proposed at BP and Shell mark a strategic shift. Rather than requesting Paris-aligned emissions reduction targets, they focus on financial performance and value creation, Follow This said in January. These resolutions are designed to increase shareholder pressure and focus attention on the financial unsustainability of fossil fuel business models, said Mark van Baal, founder of Follow This. BP, however, last week did not include the proposed resolution in its notice for the AGM. Regarding the Follow This resolution left out of the AGM notice, the activist investor said in a statement on Wednesday carried by Reuters that If BP does not comply within two days, Follow This and investors will pursue injunctive relief in court ordering BP to circulate the resolution to shareholders. Related: Little-Known US Company Lands Important Pentagon Contract in Rare Earth Race A spokesperson for BP said that The board determined, having taken legal advice, that the proposed resolution did not conform to legal requirements. Moreover, we have a clear strategy with multi-year targets to drive long-term shareholder value across the cycle and remain fully committed to responsible industry-standard climate related reporting. In the notice for the AGM, the supermajor asked shareholders to vote against another resolution that demanded disclosures on how BP promotes a disciplined approach to capital expenditure in order to generate an acceptable return on capital for each new material oil and/or gas project of the company. BPs board does not support this resolution as it is duplicative of existing disclosures the company already makes and recommended shareholders vote against it. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Chevron and Shell are reportedly close to sealing deals for oil production in Venezuela following the United States takeover of the countrys energy industry, Reuters wrote, citing unnamed sources. Both companies had already secured preliminary deals with the Venezuelan authorities. Per the sources, Chevron is in talks to expand production at its Petropiar joint venture operation with PDVSA, tapping an adjacent deposit to the one currently under exploitation. The supermajor is currently seeking to negotiate lower royalty rates for the new deposit, Reuters also said in its report, adding it would also seek additional incentives made available under Venezuelas new oil law. If the deal is finalised, Chevron would become the largest private producer of heavy crude in Venezuelas Orinoco Belt. Shell, meanwhile, is in talks for the development of fields in eastern Venezuela, in the Monagas North area. Reuters noted that the area contains some of Venezuelas few deposits of light and medium crude. Shell also has plans for developing natural gas resources in Venezuela, both offshore and onshore, the company told Reuters in a statement concerning the news of the negotiations. Related: Little-Known US Company Lands Important Pentagon Contract in Rare Earth Race The new law, approved by parliament earlier this year, stipulates that private companies will assume full management of the activities at its own expense, account, and risk, after demonstrating its financial and technical capacity through a business plan that will be subject to approval by the Venezuelan oil ministry. The ownership of the resources to be developed by private companies, however, will remain with the Venezuelan state. The new law also caps royalty rates at 30% but allows the government to set individual royalty rates for projects based on factors such as investment needs and competitiveness. Following the adoption of the new law, Venezuelas interim president Delcy Rodriguez said she expected fresh oil investments of as much as $1.4 billion this year. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Oil markets are bracing for an even bigger potential price shock with Iran on Wednesday warning that crude could surge to $200 per barrel if the war involving the U.S. and Israel continues to destabilize the Middle Easts energy corridors. Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for Irans Khatam al-Anbiya military command headquarters, warned the world to get ready for oil to be $200 a barrel, arguing that regional security has been destabilized by the ongoing bombing campaign against Iran. The $200 oil price tag warning follows a major Iranian drone strike on Wednesday on Omans largest oil storage facility. Tehran also warned that no oil shipments will be allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz until the attacks stop, placing the worlds most critical oil chokepoint at the center of the escalating conflict. The narrow waterway between Iran and Oman normally handles roughly 20% of global oil supply and a large share of LNG trade, making any sustained disruption a major threat to global energy markets. Oil prices have already reacted violently to the growing risk. Brent crude briefly surged to around $120 per barrel earlier this week before retreating toward the $90 range after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested the conflict might end soon. Renewed attacks on shipping and infrastructure, however, have quickly revived fears of supply disruptions. Security incidents across the Persian Gulf are continuing to mount. Maritime authorities and ship-tracking firms report a growing number of attacks on commercial vessels operating near the Strait of Hormuz, with several ships struck in the latest round of incidents. Tanker movements through the region have already begun slowing as insurers and ship operators reassess the risks of transiting the corridor. Energy analysts say the conflict is increasingly evolving into a direct confrontation over the Middle Easts oil supply network, with strikes now targeting ports, storage terminals, commercial shipping and export routes across the region. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Iranian drones struck oil storage facilities at the Port of Salalah in Oman on Wednesday, marking the latest attack on Gulf energy infrastructure as the regional war expands into a full-scale confrontation over global oil supply. Fuel storage tanks at the port were hit in the strike, according to maritime security firm Ambrey and Omani state media, though no merchant vessels in the area were damaged. OSINT account Visioner shared video footage of the oil storage facilities after the attack: ????????????BREAKING | A few minutes ago, Iranian drones struck Omans largest oil storage facilities at the Port of Salalah in Oman. See the latest updates with us: @visionergeo pic.twitter.com/jVl1LU0x9s Visioner (@visionergeo) March 11, 2026 The attack is the newest incident in a widening campaign targeting energy logistics and oil infrastructure across the Middle East during the ongoing 2026 war involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. Salalah, located on Omans southern coast along the Arabian Sea, has become an increasingly important hub for tankers seeking to bypass the increasingly dangerous Strait of Hormuz. The strike raises fresh concerns that Iran is expanding the conflict beyond the Gulf chokepoint and into alternative export routes used by oil producers and shipping companies. A Pattern of Energy Infrastructure Attacks The strike follows several similar incidents targeting oil and gas facilities across the region since the conflict began in late February. Earlier this month, drones hit a fuel storage tank at the Port of Duqm in Oman, another strategic energy hub located outside the Strait of Hormuz. Iran-linked strikes have also targeted Saudi Arabias massive Ras Tanura oil refinery, briefly forcing operations to halt after drone debris sparked a fire at the facility. Ships Attacked in Strait of Hormuz Iran also targeted vessels attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, according to statements from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported by Irans semi-official Fars News Agency. The Thai-flagged bulk carrier Mayuree Naree was fired upon after disregarding warnings and insistently attempting to illegally pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the IRGC said. Another vessel, the Liberian-flagged Express Rome, was also struck by Iranian projectiles after ignoring warnings from Iranian naval forces, according to the statement. Ship-tracking data from MarineTraffic showed that both vessels had been operating in the Strait earlier in the day. According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), at least 13 vessels have been attacked across the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman since hostilities began on February 28 following U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehrans retaliatory response. Three of those incidents occurred on Wednesday alone. Earlier in the day, a spokesperson for Tehrans Khatam al-Anbiya military command headquarters warned that Iran will never allow even a single liter of oil to pass through the Strait of Hormuz for the benefit of the United States, the Zionists, or their partners. With attacks now targeting ports, storage facilities, and commercial shipping simultaneously, analysts warn the conflict is increasingly evolving into a broader campaign aimed at disrupting the Middle Easts energy supply network. By Tom Kool for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com QatarEnergys shutdown of its LNG production complex has resulted in a streak of five days with zero shipments of the superchilled fuel, according to Kpler data cited by Bloomberg. This is the longest period with no Qatari LNG leaving the country since 2008, the publication noted, adding no LNG carrier has passed the Strait of Hormuz since February 28. That includes vessels normally exporting liquefied gas from the UAE, meaning 20% of the worlds LNG exports are gone. QatarEnergy the state-owned energy giant responsible for all of the countrys liquefied natural gas exports announced a complete halt to LNG production after Iranian drone strikes hit facilities at Ras Laffan Industrial City and Mesaieed Industrial City. This happened on March 2. A force majeure declaration followed on QatarEnergy exports. The move prompted a surge in gas prices in the key markets of Asia and Europe, with buyers turning to U.S. LNG. With Asia fetching higher prices than Europe, U.S. cargoes with liquefied natural gas initially en route to Europe diverted to Asia. According to Bloomberg, at least eight LNG tankers have been diverted to date. This, in turn, triggered a further spike in European gas prices. Related: Little-Known US Company Lands Important Pentagon Contract in Rare Earth Race Restarting production at Ras Laffan will take several weeks, meaning even if the hostilities in the Middle East end today, it will take a while for Qatari LNG supply to return to markets. However, some have struck an optimistic note: Rystad Energy said last week it did not expect any long-term price impacts on LNG from the Qatari shutdown, noting there was every reason to believe the supply disruption would be temporary. Even so, however, forecasts for an LNG glut emerging this year have been hastily revised. Morgan Stanley wrote in a recent note that if the Qatari LNG shutdown lasts for a month, it would cause a deficit on the global LNG market. U.S. producers cannot respond fast enough because their liquefaction trains are already running at capacity and new capacity due to start up later this year is nowhere near enough to fill the Qatari gap. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com By Larry Huss, President Donald J. Trump has undertaken the difficult task of dealing with the largest and longest supporter of international terrorism the Islamic Republic of Iran. A task that every president since President Jimmy Carter failed to address, although President Ronald Reagan at least secured the release of Americans held hostage for 444 days under Mr. Carters administration. But even Mr. Reagan failed to address the underlying problem. Most attempted to ignore the problem or at worse flung a guided missile into an empty warehouse. Others like President Barack Obama and Joe* aided and abetted the terrorist regime by flooding their coffers with dollars that they would eventually use to increase their supply of missiles, hasten their advance towards acquiring a nuclear weapon and fund terrorist insurgencies across the globe like Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, the Houtis in Yemen, and Al-Shabaab in Somalia. But Mr. Trump is like none of them. He believes in solving the problem and the problem is the theocratic rule of the ayatollahs under the Islamic Republic of Iran. Mr. Trump has defined four particular goals in dealing with Iran: Destroying the regimes ballistic missile stocks and launchers and its capacity to produce new ones. Annihilating the Iranian Air Force and Navy Stopping Iran from arming, funding and directing proxy militant groups. Preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Unless you are watching CNN, MSNBC (MSNOW) or the View, you would have to concede that the American-Israel coalition has annihilated the Irans Air Force and Navy. Likewise the embargo of Iranian oil, including its own self delusional blockade of the Straits of Hormuz have nearly bankrupted Iran and thus funding for the terrorist networks has basically dried up. With the exception of Hezbollah most of these terrorist networks are sitting out the current conflict. And the rocket launchers and missile stocks are decidedly declining. Now comes the hard one ensuring that Iran abandons its quest for a nuclear weapon. Mr. Trump has said that whatever regime winds up governing Iran must disavow any attempts or intentions to secure a nuclear weapon. Few nations currently have nuclear weapons. Fewer nations express any intention of acquiring a nuclear weapon. The vast majority of nations have conceded that they have no intention of trying to acquire a nuclear weapon after all, Russia alone possesses enough nuclear weapons to destroy the entire earth multiple time. And for that matter so does the United States. So why is it so hard for Iran to join that lengthy list of non-proliferation nations? It is pretty simple. Based on the diabolic teaching of the Shia ayatollahs of Iran, generations have been taught from the moment of birth that they have a sacred duty to destroy Israel and eradicate Judaism from the face of the Earth. It has become almost a part of their DNA. And what easier way than to incinerate Israel than with nuclear weapons missiles, bombs, artillery and suit case bombs. There is nothing more chilling than the prospect of that reality and yet it is accepted as a necessary element of Shia Iran. So long as Iran remains governed by the psychotic mullahs of the Shia branch of Islam there will never be an agreement to forego nuclear weapons. These clerics seem quite comfortable with destroying their own nation and the death of their own people. It is the Jim Jones approach to martyrdom. But before we proceed with the choices facing Iran, lets take a short history lesson. Mohammed Reza Pahlavi seized control of Iran from the Muslim clerics in 1925. He declared the restoration of the Peacock Thrown and declared himself to be Shah -a title used by early kings of Persia. Mr. Pahlavi and his son (second Shah of Ian) were cruel and vicious dictators and used the SAVAK, their secret police, to capture, torture and eventually kill those believed to be disloyal or otherwise present a threat to the imperial government. The United States through the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) provided support to the Pahlavis and turned a blind eye to their repressive regimes. Eventually, the Shia clerics, led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, seized control of Iran after an extended civil war and immediately declared that Iran would be governed as a theocracy with Mr. Khomeini as its undisputed leader. All decisions would be funneled through Mr Khomeini. Among the first of those was to disarm and collect all of the arms possessed by the defeated Iran army and all of its citizens. And thereafter to establish the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) which was roughly the same as the dreaded SAVAK but under Mr. Khomeinis rule and to capture and murder all of the members of SAVAK. In the end all that remained in Iran were in fact killed. One blood thirsty regime after another. Iran like much of the Middle East is, in fact, subject to ancient tribal hatreds that require only an imagined slight to rekindle those feuds into another killing spree. That being said, the choices are now; A popular uprising. But the ayatollahs Khomeini and Khameini disarmed the citizenry immediately after winning Irans civil war. The ayatollahs remain in full control of the government, the military and the IRGC. With the exception of the Kurds in northern Iran there is no domestic body capable of mounting an insurrection. And given the recent history of Iran, there is no conscience that would be offended by the killing of ten of thousands of innocent civilians. Recruiting a successor regime. That seems to be the preferred method by Mr. Trump but no such leader has stepped forward other than the Shahs son. That alone will ignite another round of indiscriminate killing of anyone associated with the ayatollahs. It will also engender memories of the previous Shah and the SAVAK and the thousands of people living in Iran who remember the Shahs cruelty and the deaths of family members. It is likely to create a three way civil war the current regime still under the iron control of the ayatollahs, those who hate the current regime, and those who hate the Pahlavis and the SAVAK. It will look like France when it lost its own civil war and the English simply stepped in and took over. And finally armed intervention by the United States. The worst possible solution. Not only have generations been conditioned to accept the destruction of Israel and the genocide of the worlds Jews, they have extended that blood lust to the United States because of its support of Israel and its support of the Shahs through the CIA. It is estimated that Iran, prior to the recent attacks, fielded a military force of one million backed and controlled by the IRGC which itself numbers about 250,000. The IRGC is fanatically supportive of the Ayatollahs. American intervention with boots on the ground would be suicidal. Not only would American troops face the Iranian army and the IRGC but in every alley, behind every door and atop every building would be some civilian looking for revenge. The idea that there is a flood of Iranians waiting to embrace the United States as a savior is delusional. The new killing fields of Asia will now be Iran. Its not that the American military can win a war against the Iranian army and the IRGC, rather it is the oc winning what would be a country physically devastated populated by people who resented all of those who participated There are two better solutions. First, gather with the leaders in the Middle East that have been attacked by Iran and guide them to the creation of combined military force to enter and take control of the Iranian government until elections can be called. There is much to be said for regional intervention particularly because all would be Muslims. Some care would be required to ensure that the ancient conflict between the Shias of Iran and the Sunnis of Saudi Arabia not dominate the occupying force. The goal would be singular protect the citizenry until a new government is installed a government that would forego a quest for nuclear weapons and would accept the existence of its neighbors, including Israel. Israel cannot be a visible participant. The second solution would be simply to repeat the original four goals at the start of the war and declare success in the first three while maintaining vigilance while Iranians resolve their governance problems to ensure that any new government disavows nuclear ambitions. This is likely to lead to a prolonged civil war in Iran but that is often the case in the founding of a nation. _______________________________ * I have noted in previous columns that even the worst public figures are entitled to the courtesy of their designated title initially and/or the courtesy title of Mr., Mrs, or Ms. thereafter. However, Joe Biden was the worst head of state in our nearly 250 years of existence. So bad was he that it is impossible to determine whether he actually served as President of the United Sates or just ceded all the power to a cabal of unelected bureaucrats and wealthy donors. He has sullied and corrupted every thing he touched and remains undeserving of any official courtesy. " " Corruption takes many forms. Korawat photo shoot / Shutterstock The most corrupt states often appear in research that tracks public corruption convictions, bribery cases, and misconduct among elected officials. In the United States, investigators and political science researchers try to measure corruption using data from the Department of Justice and other public corruption statistics. Studies examine legal and illegal corruption across the executive branch, legislative branches, and judicial branches. The goal is to shed light on how public officials misuse government power for private interest. Advertisement Several reports compare federal public corruption convictions per 100,000 population across American states; work connected with Harvard Universitys Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics examines illegal and legal corruption using survey-based indices. Using that ranking system and U.S. Department of Justice public corruption conviction data, these are nine U.S. states (and the District of Columbia) that frequently appear in discussions of higher public corruption conviction rates. Kathmandu, Nepal, March 11,2026: Behind the closed doors of Nepals power centers, a quiet but intense drama is unfolding. It isnt just about who will lead the next government; its about who will hold the keys to the countrys checkbook. At the heart of this debate are two menRameshwar Khanal and Dr. Swarnim Waglerepresenting a classic choice between proven stability and a hunger for transformation. The Case for the Steady Hand For Balendra (Balen) Shah, the man many now look to as a potential Prime Minister, the choice seems to be about "not fixing what isn't broken." Shah has reportedly taken a liking to the incumbent Finance Minister, Rameshwar Khanal. To Shah, Khanal isn't just a politician; he is the "anchor" who kept the ship steady during turbulent waters. By working in lockstep with the Central Bank Governor, Bishwa Poudel, Khanal has built a reputation for fiscal discipline that has earned the trust of the markets. For a young leader like Shah, having a veteran like Khanal by his side offers a sense of securitya shield against economic chaos. The Rising Star and the Partys Dream However, inside the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), there is a different heartbeat. Many see Dr. Swarnim Waglea world-class economist and a charismatic MPas the face of the "New Nepal" they promised voters. RSP Chairman Rabi Lamichhane has long been whispered to favor Wagle for the Finance portfolio. For the partys base, Wagle represents a bold leap forwarda move away from traditional governance toward a more modern, global economic approach. The tension isn't necessarily personal; its a clash of philosophies: Do we stick with the man who knows the system, or do we empower the man who wants to reinvent it? The Search for a Middle Ground As rumors of a "rift" between Shah and Lamichhane begin to swirl, party insiders are working overtime to calm the waters. They insist the leadership is in harmony, but the "Plan B" discussions tell a different story. There are whispers that Sushila Karki is looking to bridge the gap by moving Khanal to the National Assembly, honoring his expertise while potentially clearing a path for Wagle. If Wagle doesn't get the Treasury, he is expected to lead another "powerhouse" ministry where his intellect can be put to use without unsettling the current economic balance. Whats Really at Stake? Beyond the names and titles, this is a story about a nation at a crossroads. Whether it is Khanals disciplined hand or Wagles visionary spark, the decision will signal exactly what kind of future the new government intends to build. For now, the public waits, watching the headlines, as the leaders try to decide which version of the future they value more. Caribbean queen conch poachers captured in Alacranes Reef off the coast of Yucatan Alacranes Reef National Park, Yucatan Federal authorities seized a boat, fishing gear and made three arrests during an at-sea inspection. The Federal Attorney Generals Office for Environmental Protection were part of the patrol for poachers. According to the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) they seized the boat for illegal fishing activities March 4. Three people on board were found in possession of illegally caught Caribbean queen conch (Lobatus gigas) within the Alacranes Reef National Park, a Protected Natural Area, they said in their March 10 press release. Profepa explained that the National Park functions as a sanctuary and breeding ground for this species, located in the state of Yucatan. Three divers were arrested March 4, 2026. The Secretariat of the Navy (Semar), the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Conanp), the National Commission of Aquaculture and Fisheries (Conapesca) and the non-profit organization Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, participated in the patrol. Authorities said the patrols are part of the permanent surveillance efforts to prevent the illegal extraction of marine species and protect natural resources in this Natural Protected Area. During the operation, carried out on March 4, an illegal fishing vessel was detected and intercepted. Three divers were arrested, Profepa reported yesterday. Upon inspection, prohibited fishing gear was found including diving suits, fins, snorkels, masks, hooks and drilling tools, screwdrivers, and a compressor. In addition to nine queen conch shells and seven pieces of raw, eviscerated fresh conch meat. The pink snail has been under permanent ban since 1988 due to its overexploitation and slow recovery rate, so there is no authorization from the competent regulatory authority for its extractive use. Inspectors seized their boat, gear and illegal catch March 4, 2026. Therefore, the equipment, the specimens and parts of wildlife, along with the vessel and its engine, were placed under the custody of the Semar, the authority that acted as first responder, for their placement before the Attorney Generals Office (FGR). The queen conch is a species of great ecological importance to Caribbean marine ecosystems and is listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Its illegal harvesting poses a direct threat to the balance of the reefs and seagrass beds where it lives. The Government of Mexico banned pink snail fishing in 1988. Profepa will continue to participate in coordinated actions to monitor and protect marine ecosystems, in order to prevent illegal fishing activities that affect biodiversity and natural resources in the countrys Protected Natural Areas. Firefighters battle Riviera Maya brush fire ahead off official forest fire season Riviera Maya, Q.R. Playa del Carmen firemen worked with Civil Protection to put out a highway brushfire Tuesday. Motorists traveling the federal 307 in Riviera Maya reported flames and, in some areas, whiteouts of thick smoke. Emergency personnel located the burning brush roadside approximately 13 kilometers south of the city of Playa del Carmen. Reports say the Tuesday morning fire started near Punta Venado around 11:00 a.m. Thick smoke affected driving in some areas Tuesday. March 10, 2026. Drivers alerted 9-1-1 to the situation since strong winds were fanning flames that were quickly devouring more roadside brush. Firetrucks from Playa del Carmen were at the site of the wildfire along with at least one Civil Protection vehicle. Smoke from the fire, which quickly spread to over 200 meters in length, affected southbound traffic. Firefighters were on scene for several hours ensuring no flareups. Authorities said that although the forest fire season has not officially begun, they are on alert due to the increase in temperatures and the dry conditions that have occurred earlier than expected. PDC firemen were on scene for hours Tuesday March 10, 2026. By the time the fire was fully extinguished, approximately 2.4 hectares had burned. While an official cause of the fire remains unknown, authorities are asking the public not to throw cigarette butts out the window. Protesting taxi drivers complicate passenger travel in and out of Mexico City International Mexico City, Mexico Taxi drivers in Mexico City continue to block access to the Mexico City International Airport (AICM). In response, dozens of police in riot gear line terminal roadways. The large group of taxi drivers, who are blocking both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 at the AICM, are protesting against ride share (app) companies operating out of the airport. Police in riot gear line airport roadways to ensure peace is kept during the protest. March 11, 2026. At 10:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, a large group of taxi drivers began blocking access to Terminals 1 and 2 of the airport. On Tuesday, the AICM posted a public alert ahead of the anticipated road blocks. Access disruptions to the Mexico City International Airport (AICM) are expected due to a mobilization of airport taxi operators and permit holders. Taxi drivers starting protesting at Terminal 1 Wednesday morning. March 11, 2026. The Mexico City Government Secretariat (SECGOB) reports that on Wednesday, March 11, possible traffic disruptions are expected at the entrances to both terminals of the Mexico City International Airport (AICM) due to a mobilization announced by members of the group Transportacion Terrestre Nueva Imagen, AC, made up of permit holders and taxi operators at the airport. Given this situation, we urge citizens to take precautions when traveling, especially those with scheduled flights or activities near the airport, in order to avoid any problems. It is also reported that staff from the Undersecretariat of Political Coordination, Prevention and Good Governance (SCPPyBG) of the SECGOB will remain on site, monitoring the situation and, if necessary, engaging in dialogue with the protesters, with the aim of preventing further harm to the population. The SECGOB reiterates its respect for the right to free expression, while calling for public demonstrations to take place without affecting the mobility of citizens. As of 1:00 p.m. Mexico City time, traffic into Terminal 1 was backed up for kilometers according to the Secretary of Citizen Security (SSC) webcam. SSC cam footage at noon March 11 shows kilometers of backed up traffic into Mexico City International Terminal 1. Travel has been complicated in both Terminals 1 and 2 of the countrys largest airport due to the taxi driver protest. Police trucks offered free rides to travelers seen pushing their luggage toward the airport. Police picked up passengers walking toward the airport with their luggage. March 11, 2026. At least three vehicles have been towed from blocking Terminal 2 access. The Undersecretariat of Traffic Control had the vehicles transferred to an impound lot. One man, reported to be 39, was arrested after breaking a window in a tow truck near the where the taxi drivers are protesting. It is not clear if he was part of the protest. Police are seen here using their own tow trucks to remove vehicles blocking airport access. March 11, 2026. Protesters remain at Terminal 1 of the Mexico City International Airport, however, at Terminal 2, the road has been reopened by police. Police usher traffic through Terminal 2 of AICM Wednesday afternoon. March 11, 2026. Reports say the airport terminal access is affected by taxi drivers from 11 groups who want authorities to agree to stop app-based ride share companies and taxis from being able to do business at the airport. CCTV: We noted that over the past two days, Foreign Minister Wang Yi had phone calls with his counterparts from Kuwait, Bahrain, Pakistan and Qatar for exchanges of views on the situation in Iran. But meanwhile, tensions in the region ratchet up, and risks of conflict escalation and spillover grow. Could you give us more information on Chinas position and efforts to promote deescalation? How does China view the future development? Guo Jiakun: On the situation in Iran, Foreign Minister Wang Yi has recently reached out to relevant parties and once again communicated with his counterparts of regional countries through phone calls to call for peace, end to hostilities and deescalation. Foreign Minister Wang Yi pointed out that this is a war that should not have happenedit is a war that does no one any good. Without the UNs authorization, the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in the process of the ongoing U.S.-Iran negotiation, which clearly violates international law. Countries sovereignty, security and territorial integrity should be respected. China does not go along with attacks against countries in the Gulf region and condemns indiscriminate attacks against civilians or non-military targets. The pressing priority now is to stop military operations at once and prevent the conflict from spreading. The way out of the conflict is to return to dialogue and negotiation as soon as possible and strive for restoration of peace. The fundamental solution is to jointly return to the right track of abiding by international law and basic norms of international relations. Since the very first day of the conflict, China has unequivocally called for ceasefire, end of hostilities, return to dialogue and negotiation, and political settlement. As we speak, Special Envoy of the Chinese Government on the Middle East Issue is in the Middle East to carry out shuttle diplomacy. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and sincere friend of Middle Eastern countries, China will stay committed to urging peace and defending justice and fairness. China will continue to strengthen communication with relevant parties, including parties to the conflict, and play a constructive role for deescalation and restoration of peace. Shenzhen TV: Its reported that 16 UN experts of the special procedures of the Human Rights Council in a joint press release expressed grave concern at Japans denial of the right to truth, justice and reparation of survivors of the comfort women system, and called on Japan to make official apologies and adequate compensation. They also stressed the importance of preserving historical memory through educational materials. Whats Chinas comment? Guo Jiakun: The forced recruitment of comfort women was an atrocious crime committed by Japanese militarists. This heinous act severely trampled on the rights of the victims and was an undeniable fact backed by solid evidence. The UN human rights mechanism made a clear statement to once again express condemnation and outrage over Japanese militarists crime and demonstrate the international commitment to defending fairness and justice. We urge Japan to repent for the history of aggression and the suffering it inflicted on the victims, heed and act on the suggestions given by UN human rights experts, properly handle the issue of comfort women and other issues left over from history with honesty and a sense of responsibility, and take concrete actions to earn trust from its Asian neighbors and the international community. AFP: The shipping company COSCO is reportedly suspending its operations at Balboa port on the Panama Canal. Panama Supreme Court earlier this year annulled CK Hutchisons contract to that port. Could you confirm COSCO suspending its operations there and provide any details of the reasons? Guo Jiakun: Im not familiar with that. Id refer you to competent authorities. Bloomberg: The Pentagon is moving parts of its THAAD air defense system from South Korea to the Middle East. Does China have a comment on this? Will China oppose the U.S. returning those weapons to South Korea in the future? Guo Jiakun: We noted relevant reports. Chinas opposition to the U.S. deployment of THAAD anti-missile system in the ROK remains unchanged. PTI: The Indian government yesterday eased norms for foreign investments from neighborhood countries, especially China. It comes in the backdrop of the easing of relations between the two countries after five years of freeze between the two countries. I would like you to have a comment on this particular decision by the Indian government. Guo Jiakun: Id refer you to competent authorities. AFP: The U.S. said that it struck what it says Iranian boats being used to lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz. I wondered if you have any comment on the potential mining of the Strait? Has China had any talks with Iran or others on keeping the Strait open? Guo Jiakun: We are gravely concerned over the ongoing tense situation in the Middle East. The pressing priority now is that relevant parties should stop the military operations at once, return to the track of dialogue and negotiation as soon as possible, and avoid further escalation and deterioration of the situation. PTI: I have a question regarding the shuttle diplomacy. Is this particular diplomacy focused in the Gulf region? Or is it being extended to Israel and the U.S. as well to bring about a kind of ceasefire to halt the war, at least at present? Is the Chinese government also in touch with the U.S. on these particular diplomatic efforts? Guo Jiakun: I just shared Chinas mediation efforts in answering an earlier question. You may also have noted a recent phone call between Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Israeli counterpart. As we speak, Special Envoy of the Chinese Government on the Middle East Issue is visiting the region, as part of Chinas efforts to help bring about an immediate stop to the military conflict and to bring parties concerned back to the track of dialogue and negotiation to avoid further escalation of the situation. China will continue to maintain communication with all relevant parties, including parties to the conflict. Dear Prudence is Slates advice column. Submit questions here. Dear Prudence, My wife has needlessly created an uproar with our neighbors across the street. Our neighbors have two orange trees in their front yard, and this is the time of year when the oranges are ripe. Well, my wife decided to take nearly all of the neighbors oranges to make marmalade for her book club, and now the neighbors are furious. She claims shes in the right for taking the oranges because there were more than they could use anyway. I recently overheard her talking to a friend on the phone, and shes making plans to swipe the remaining oranges! I cant watch her every minute, and Im concerned the neighbors may take legal action if she steals the last of their oranges. I confronted her and made her promise to leave them alone. She said she would, but I dont believe for a moment she will. Whats the answer? Citrus Soured Dear Citrus Soured, Is your wife OK? Does she have a criminal history? Im kidding, sort of. But whenever I hear about behavior like this (which, youre right, is totally unacceptable), it feels important to know whether it just came out of the blue or is part of a pattern. The only data I have to go on is that shes in a book club, which tells me she has historically been a person who socializes normally and doesnt rob everyone she meets. So if her behavior is new, Im actually a bit concernednot just about tensions with your neighbors, but also about whats going on with her. It would be one thing if shed just plucked a few pieces of fruit off a nearby tree, but to go all the way into her neighbors yard and take almost all the oranges and plan to do it again, even after knowing about the neighbors fury, makes me think she may be dealing with one of the many things that can happen to a persons brain that Im not qualified to weigh in on. So put the produce aside for a second and think about whether shes been behaving erratically in other areas of her life and whether theres any way you might be able to chat with her doctor or therapist (or encourage her to do so) about it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Until then, for the sake of neighborhood peace and avoiding an arrest, it wouldnt stretch the truth too much if you said to your neighbors, I really want to apologize for my wifes actions. She is exhibiting some strange behaviors and is not herself at the moment, and I ask for your patience as we figure things out. Shes assured me that she wont be returning to take any more oranges, and Ill try to make sure this is the case. But if anything happens, please call me before calling the authorities, and I will try to make it right. Classic Prudie My partner and I, who are in a gay relationship, are close friends with a lesbian couple. Mary and Jean desperately want a baby, and after some discussion my partner decided to donate his sperm. We have no interest in being parents but are happy to be uncles. Unfortunately Mary experienced a significant illness and Jane got laid off from work, and now they are worried they cant afford in vitro fertilization The tough-minded female medical examiner has become a detective-show clicheone that has apparently contributed to a boom in women entering the professionbut it wasnt always so. Dr. Kay Scarpetta, the creation of crime novelist Patricia Cornwell, was a pioneering figure when she first appeared in 1990s Postmortem. Through the 28 books that followed, Scarpetta has shown herself to be passionately focused and elegantly turned out. The daughter of Northern Italian immigrants, shes an excellent cook who makes her own pasta from scratch. She has an unreliable, extroverted sister whose daughter Kay has more or less raised, and the two sisters fight like cats and dogs. Naturally, in the first screen adaptation of this iconic characterAmazon Primes new series ScarpettaKay is played by Nicole Kidman? Granted, Kay, like Kidman, is blond, but the Australian actress best known for portraying manicured, WASP-y, upper-class women with perfect facades and dark secrets is probably no ones idea of Kay Scarpetta. Then again, Scarpetta is also likely nobodys idea of a conventional detective series. For one thing, at least as many minutes of the early episodes are devoted to Kays messy domestic situation as are to the case at hand. And even the case at hand is personally problematic for Kay because the dead woman whose body is discovered by the train tracks in the opening scenes has been murdered according to the pattern of a serial killer that Kay famously caught 25 years ago. If the same man committed this crime, then did our heroine get the wrong guy? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This may sound muddled, but Scarpetta works, perhaps against the odds, and it works splendidly. The eight-episode serieswhich has already been greenlit for a second seasonbegins as a peculiar fusion of family drama and icky autopsy-table close-ups. Kay tries to figure out why a weapon used in the recent murder is covered with the fingerprints of a suspect who was exonerated in that long-ago case. The viewers have plenty of other mysteries to puzzle over: Why has Kay returned to a job she left ages ago, and why are some people in the department less than pleased to see her back? Why are Kay and her husband, Benton (Simon Baker, with a buttery Virginian accent), living together in an enormous house with her sister, Dot (Jamie Lee Curtis), and Dots husband, Pete (Bobby Cannavale), when they all clearly drive one another nuts? And who exactly owns this fancy house, with its white-pillared portico and adjacent cottage, where Dots daughter, Lucy (Ariana DeBose), resides, surrounded by computer monitors and also being made crazy by her flamboyant mother? Come to think of it, who would willingly subject themselves to Dot? Curtis, true to form, plays her as an overbearing, self-styled bon vivant with a cleavage-forward wardrobe who celebrates her daughters birthday by donning a sequin-covered jumpsuit with mismatched light-up Christmas-bulb earrings. Advertisement Advertisement Showrunner and writer Elizabeth Sarnoff wisely withholds any exposition dumps on these matters. Instead, viewers are plunged into the midst of Kays exploding extended family and must keep their own eyes peeled for clues. Scarpetta weaves back and forth between two storylines: the present-day investigation and scenes of the younger Kay (a riveting Rosy McEwen) pursuing that early, career-making case. The often-comic tumult in the present-day Scarpetta household at first seems unconnected to Kays work. But Pete, the detective she worked with in the first investigation (the younger Pete is played by Jake Cannavale, Bobbys son), ended up marrying Dot, and Kay herself married Benton, the FBI agent assigned to help them back in the day. As the two stories unfold, it becomes clear how closely linked they are, and how the mistakes, lies, and secrets from the past have shaped the crimes of the present. Advertisement Advertisement Scarpetta can glide adeptly from humor to pathos and back. Lucya sorceress with computerscopes with the death of her beloved wife, Janet, by spend most of her day talking to an A.I. replicant of the dead woman on a screen, much to the dismay of her mother. Pete, now retired, is supposed to be jollying Lucy out of this routine by assisting her with starting a detective agency. Instead, Kay enlists Pete to help her solve the present-day murders because she doesnt trust the assistant assigned to her by an old rival. Pete and Kays partnership is undeniably effective, but they have the irritable camaraderie of an old married couple. From the past storyline, we can see that she has been briskly correcting his Neanderthal notions for decades. Meanwhile, Dot is furious that Pete has backburnered the detective-agency plan at the crook of a finger from Kay. For his part, Benton, working on a related case for the feds, is obliged to withhold information that might help their investigation and ease Kays fears, and he knows shell be furious about this when she finds out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The detective whose obsession with work ravages her personal life is another of those TV cliches, but rarely is a sleuths domestic turmoil as compelling to viewers as the crime. Scarpetta might be the first series in which the detectives home life steals the show from the investigation. Kidman, Curtis, Cannavale, and Baker spin screwball energy out of Sarnoffs well-honed dialogue, and if its impossible to believe in Kidman as an Italian American, her bickering with Curtis nevertheless has the ring of sisterly authenticity as it escalates from zero to 60 in a matter of seconds. Scarpetta also lingers over more quietly funny character moments, as when the young Pete, driving around, tailing a suspect, soulfully sings along when the Commodores Three Times a Lady comes on the car radio. If Scarpetta has a flaw, its that the identification of the killer feels like a bit of an afterthought. All the mysteries surrounding that mysterythe undercurrents in Kays family and the way the past haunts its membershave become much more intriguing. Or is this a flaw? In a genre rife with shopworn tropes, its the detective series that captivates while breaking the mold that is the most worth celebrating. This piece was originally published on State Court Report , a hub for reporting, analysis, and commentary about state courts and constitutions. State Court Report is a project of the Brennan Center for Justice. Suppose your local police department decided to collaborate with a masked man who, under the guise of catching criminals, was routinely grabbing people off the street and beating them. Would state law impose any limits on local law enforcements arrangement with this vigilante? No, not Batman. An ICE agent. In cities and states nationwide, the Trump administration has deployed thousands of federal officers, including agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. Whatever the purported benefits of this enforcement surge, its toll has been alarming. In Minneapolis, federal agents shot and killed Renee Good and Alex Pretti. In Chicago, agents brutalized protesters, journalists, and bystanders alike, including local officials and religious leaders. Across the country, people caught in the immigration crackdown have been killed by federal officers or died in federal custody. But the federal enforcement surge is only half the picture. Both ICE and federal Border Patrol rely on collaboration with state and local law enforcement to detain immigrants, share data and resources, and control protests. In Tennessee, for example, state highway patrol officers reportedly conducted pretextual, racially discriminatory traffic stops with ICE agents riding shotgun. In Massachusetts, local officers have reportedly shared the identities and locations of immigrants in state custody with federal immigration authorities. Even in so-called sanctuary jurisdictions that prohibit or discourage collaboration, state and local police have nevertheless shared information with ICE, resulting in the detention and deportation of residents. In addition, over the past year, municipalities have signed record numbers of agreements under the 287(g) program, which creates formal partnerships between state and local police departments and ICE. President Donald Trump has suggested, incorrectly, that states are duty-bound to provide this kind of assistance to federal immigration authorities. He has denounced sanctuary jurisdictions as lawless. He has issued multiple executive orders seeking to punish these sanctuary cities and states. And the Department of Justice has launched a series of lawsuits against cities and states for refusing to assist federal immigration officers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump is wrong. The 10th Amendment gives states the authority to refuse to participate in federal programs, including immigration enforcement. Just as many states have chosen not to assist in enforcement of the federal prohibition on marijuana possessionindeed, many have expressly decriminalized marijuana possession under state lawthey can choose not to assist the federal government in enforcing federal immigration law. Some states or municipalities have done precisely that. But the abhorrent behavior of federal immigration agents in recent months, combined with the federal governments apparent determination to continue that behavior, raises an additional possibility: While the U.S. Constitution permits states and cities to opt out of assisting federal officers with immigration enforcement, state constitutions may actually compel that opt-out. State constitutions can go beyond the U.S. Constitution in protecting individual rights. For example, suppose an officer pulls over a vehicle because he suspects that the passengers are undocumented immigrants but claims that the reason for the stop is a broken taillight. Even if that pretextual stop is permissible under the U.S. Constitutions Fourth Amendment, the officers actions might still violate a state constitutional right against unreasonable searches and seizures. Similarly, making a stop based partly on a suspects language, race, ethnicity, or occupationwhat law professor Anil Kalhan termed a Kavanaugh stop, in reference to Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaughs concurring opinion in Noem v. Vasquez Perdomocould violate a states equal-protection guarantee even if federal courts deem it to pass muster under the U.S. Constitution. Advertisement Advertisement Federal agents are unlikely to worry about the heightened protections of state constitutional law. By virtue of the U.S. Constitutions supremacy clause, those agents typically dont have to follow the constitutions for the states in which they operate. (Heck, these days it feels as if they scarcely worry about the U.S. Constitution.) Advertisement State and local officers dont have that luxury. State constitutions fully bind those officers, including when exercising state law-enforcement authority to assist federal immigration agents. At a minimum, state and local officers must not directly undertake conduct that violates the state constitution. But shouldnt they also avoid facilitating such conduct by federal agents? That question brings us, naturally, back to Batman. Suppose the fictional Commissioner Gordon thinks vital evidence is inside a private home or is known only to a bad guy. But instead of seeking a search warrant or inviting the bad guy for questioning, he lights up the Bat-Signalperhaps anticipating that Batman might use physical force to extract the evidence. Under what circumstances would the state constitution hold the commissioner responsible for Batmans methods? Advertisement Related From Slate Pam Bondis Ludicrous New Scheme to Protect Lying DOJ Lawyers Read More That state constitutional questionthat is, whether state actors are legally responsible for the actions of someone with whom theyve chosen to collaborateshouldnt hinge on whether you think Batmans heart (or ICEs) is in the right (or wrong) place. The answer might be found in the state action doctrine. Applying that doctrine, courts have attributed third-party conduct to the state when there is a close nexus between the state and the third party. Advertisement Advertisement For example, the California Supreme Court has concluded that constitutional protections extend to illegal searches by private citizens who participated in a police operation if police officers stood silently by while the illegal search took place. Similarly, the New Mexico Supreme Court has held that state courts should exclude evidence gathered by private security guards if those guards routinely exceeded the bounds of a reasonable search and police officers knew of that practice and condoned or participated or even failed to discourage it. Advertisement Although these attribution cases typically involve third-party private actors, their logic applies more forcefully when state and local officers associate with third parties who are federal agents. Federal agents are government actors, and state constitutions seek, at a minimum, to protect their residents rights against government infringement. Indeed, some state courts have interpreted state constitutions to protect rights broadly without regard to the status of the person violating those rights. Advertisement States also have strong incentives to ensure that state and local police officers do not negligently, or even willfully, undertake joint activities with federal officers that harm their own residents. Even in the absence of wrongdoing by state officials, for example, the New Mexico Supreme Court has applied the exclusionary rule to evidence seized by a federal agent who violated the state constitution. The court reasoned that it had the authorityand indeed the dutyto insulate our courts from evidence seized in contravention of our states constitution. High courts in Oregon and Washington have adopted similar rules. These decisions suggest that in deciding when to attribute federal action to state and local officers for purposes of the state action doctrine, state courts should be wary of any conduct by state and local officials that risks facilitating behaviorby anyonethat contravenes the state constitution. State officials should be just as wary. If ICE and Customs and Border Protection act without apparent regard for the rights of state residents, local police entanglement with federal immigration enforcement risks more than the erosion of trust with local communities. It may also, in effect, erode the guarantees of their state constitutions. State and local officials should therefore consider the possibility not only that the U.S. Constitution gives them a choice about whether to assist federal immigration enforcement, but that their own state constitutions might compel them to decline. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. A brutal authoritarian regime amassing dangerous weapons. A feckless, deceitful, and puffed-up American government. A president who liberals are largely convinced must be the worst and dumbest in history. A spineless Congress. A divided public. A slew of private contractors and companies that practically have cartoon dollar signs popping up in their eyes. A war allegedly about self-defense, ostensibly for freedom, but maybe just for oil. For Americans over the age of, say, 35, the Iran war feels awfully familiar. In 2001, I was a college freshman at New York University, and watched as the twin towers fell and the country convulsed in fear and rage. I watched as we invaded Afghanistan, a move that initially seemed at least somewhat justified, but then, as the Bush administration began making the case for invading Iraq, did not. The administration connected the Iraq war rhetorically, but not at all factually, to a national tragedy, seemingly banking on American ignorance about the Middle Easta national assumption that it was a vast desert of bad guys wishing the U.S. illto make the case that taking out Saddam Hussein would somehow partly avenge a terrorist act carried out primarily by Saudi nationals. The primary pretext for it was weapons of mass destructionweapons, it turned out, that never existed, and for which extremely limited evidence was proffered in the first place. The government promised a quick fix: an efficient shock and awe bombing campaign; children so thrilled to be liberated they would greet soldiers with flowers in their fists; then, ostensibly, Iraqi democracy. Hussein, George W. Bush promised Americans, was a very bad guy, the worst of the worst, someone who deserved to be disposed of. After all, he said, this is the guy who tried to kill my dad. We protested, on the streets and at the ballot box. But anti-war liberals were a minority back thenlarge majorities of Americans, including the youngest voters, supported military action in Iraq. Most believed, wrongly, that Hussein had aided in the 9/11 attacks. Now, in retrospect, public opinion is very different, with most Americans saying that the Iraq war was a mistake. And its hard to conclude otherwise. There were no weapons of mass destruction, and the country was nowhere close to a nuclear bomb. The war pitched Iraq into chaos and destabilized the entire region for decades, a debacle from which the Middle East has still not recovered. The war in Afghanistan, waged largely because the Taliban was protecting the terrorist networks that had attacked America, wound up similarly ruinous. After 20 years, the U.S. finally executed a chaotic and ill-planned withdrawal; the Taliban swiftly retook power and returned the country to the regressive, misogynistic, and miserable nation it was before 9/11. On the home front, mass government surveillance efforts defied constitutional protections for American citizens. A shocking number of American soldiers behaved abominably, from torturing prisoners in Abu Ghraib to engaging in the most horrifying of atrocities, including gang rape and murder. Administration lawyers and leaders went to great lengths to legalize torture, indefinite imprisonment, domestic spying programs, and many other abuses; to this day, prisoners remain held in Guantanamo Bay. In the two decades that followed the Iraq invasion, al-Qaida expanded its reach, the heady protests of the Arab Spring fizzled out, and wars in Libya and Syria kicked off and trudged on, fueling refugee crises that sent the politics of the U.S. and Europe spiraling rightward. ISIS rose to deadly power, America spent trillions upon trillions, and Iran was able to expand its own power and influence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is difficult to look at Americas post-9/11 wars and pinpoint one positive thing that came out of them. And so it is especially discombobulating to feel as though were repeating themexcept this time with even less justification and (somehow) even worse people in charge. The justifications for attacking Iran remain in flux. Freedom for the Iranian people is the closest the administration has gotten to a coherent pretext, and its not a wholly misguided one. The theocratic Iranian regime was among the most abusive and oppressive in the world, recently massacring thousands or perhaps tens of thousands of protestersexact numbers are unclear because the regime has gone to great lengths to conceal its crimes. Iranian women have been particularly persecuted, with any alleged behavioral, social, or sartorial infractions punished by a harsh morality police. The regime is widely despised, and Iranians and members of the diaspora the world over have long been hoping for its downfall. Even those who distrust Donald Trump are hanging on to some hope that he may, however improbably, deliver them from evil. All I want is freedom for the people, Trump said last month as the U.S. began its bombing campaign. Advertisement Advertisement But this is a president who supports and admires autocrats across the worldso long as theyre personally friendly to him. While Trump says he must have a hand in picking Irans new leader, there is so far no evidence that such a selection hinges on anything other than a promise to be Trump-friendly. And, to state the obvious, an American president selecting an Iranian leader is not exactly a democratic process. With each day, the administration provides a new reason for war. At one point, it was because Iran was close to producing nuclear weapons. (It is not.) At another, that Iran was close to having missiles that could hit the U.S. (It is not.) The 1979 Iran hostage crisis has been trotted out, as has the existence of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah and Hamas militias. The war was self-defense, the administration has said, although the theoretical attacks we were defending against seem to be many years off in the future. Some members of the administration have promised that regime change would come swiftly and the U.S. could pull back within a few days; others have cautioned that this could take a while. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the U.S. went to war because Israel did; actually, Trump responded, if anything, I might have forced Israels hand. About a week into the war, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that we went to war because Iran tried to kill President Trump, and President Trump got the last laugh. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most Americans, it seems, have learned something from our recent history, even if this administration has not. Fifty-six percent of Americans oppose military action in Iran, just 44 percent support it, and only 36 percent approve of Trumps handling of the situation. For elder millennials like me, this war feels something like deja vuor perhaps a bad dream that never quite ends. In those shocked and disquieting months after 9/11, when Americans felt newly vulnerable, I could at least wrap my mind around the case for war to dismantle the groups that had perpetrated the attack, and even the very human desire for revenge. I opposed the Iraq war from the beginning, but I could also understand why some otherwise liberal-minded people supported it. If Saddam Hussein, an unstable and bloodthirsty dictator who had previously amassed an enormous arsenal of weapons and had used chemical and biological ones before, really was on the brink of possessing region-destroying weapons, that certainly needed to be addressed. My view at the time was that the evidence in support of war was far too thin, and the administration far too cagey with it. But even I didnt fully clock just how fast and loose the Bush administration played with the facts in its case for wareven I didnt predict that after the invasion, weapons inspectors would find nothing. Advertisement Advertisement The Iraq war was for millennials what the Vietnam War was for boomers a few decades before, a generation-defining event. Vietnam, of course, was particularly resonant because of the draft and the high death toll, but both sowed deep distrust in our government and deep cynicism toward American claims that we were spreading the gospels of freedom and democracy. The Iraq war made some of us ashamedor at least made some of us consider sewing Canadian flag patches on our backpacks when we traveled. Unlike those in generations ahead of us, who remember a time when the U.S. was the definition of global cool and a desire for blue jeans brought down the Berlin Wall, those of us who came of age in a post-Iraq era understand that our country is both feared and envied, seen as a sometimes-great place where the impossible can happen, but also often as erratic, ignorant, and potentially extraordinarily dangerous. Advertisement Advertisement The Iraq war was also a veil-pulling moment for a number of Americans, a time when many who had supported the war in its run-up found themselves grappling with the reality of getting it badly, terribly wrong. Or perhaps many did no grappling at all, convincing themselves that they had always been against it, or maybe just not thinking about ita privilege not on offer to the scores of Iraqis who lost family members and loved ones. In any event, there is now a decidedly negative national narrative around Iraq, a consensus that the war was an error and a hit to Americas global reputation. Advertisement Advertisement When it comes to Iran, that seems to be the consensus from the beginning. There is no veil to be pulled back here, no coherent pretext to watch fall apart, no recent mass killing of Americans to allegedly avenge. Whether the wars early unpopularity will change the course of events, though, remains an open question. We can and should hope for a better outcome for Iranians than for Iraqis: freedom from an oppressive regime, minimal death and destruction, a smooth democratic transition, a functional democracy, a peaceful and prosperous society. But for those of us who feel as if weve seen this movie before, its hard not to feel awfully apprehensive about how it all ends. In Iran, where the supreme leader was killed just a few days ago, clerics gathered to elect his replacement. The supreme leader is a unique figure, in charge of Iran both spiritually and militarily. The new leader is named Mojtaba Khamenei and is the son of the previous supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. Hes 56 and has some religious education but nowhere near the distinction that hes supposed to have. But what he does have is a long record in the shadows of being close to the circles of power in the Islamic Republic. His power comes from the fact that hes been sitting right there at the right hand of his father for decades, says Graeme Wood, a staff writer at the Atlantic. Hes been right there where decisions are made, and I think he was chosen in part because he represents a kind of status quo for this regime, unpopular as it is. On a recent episode of What Next, host Mary Harris spoke to Wood about Irans new leader and how he differs from his father. This transcript has been edited and condensed for clarity. Mary Harris: Before we talk a little bit more about who the new supreme leader is, can you explain briefly what Irans governing structure looks like and what the role is for someone with the title of supreme leader? Graeme Wood: Irans governing structure is unique in the world. Its a fascinating system that started off in 1979. And in a nutshell, what Iran tried to do was overthrow a secular monarchy and replace it with an authoritarian religious order. At the top of that order would be the Shiite cleric, who had the most distinction as a religious scholar, and that person would be the head of state, and all power would flow through that. The guy who was originally chosen was the Ayatollah Khamenei. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He spent his entire life doing religious study, sitting around with books and students. And suddenly hes in charge of a modern military, of modern diplomacy. All the things that a modern state has are in the hands of this old guy, who was, just months before, answering questions about whether a menstruating woman is considered clean under the following circumstances. So he was not dealing with ordinary, day-to-day stuff, let alone whether you should pursue an atom bomb. But its a signal of where the power is, right? Yeah, the religious figure is nominally at the top of everything and, in fact, actually at the bottom of everything. But it is still a modern state, which means that there are generals. There are elected officials. There are all sorts of people who occupy the day-to-day important administrative and political roles. But everybody has known, since the beginning of the Islamic Republic, that the buck finally stops with the supreme leader, who was supposed to be this religious scholar. Advertisement Its worth talking, too, about how the supreme leader is chosen. Because when I was reading about it, it reminded me of how a pope is chosen. Theres this assembly of experts, 88 senior Shiite clerics who have elected themselves, but they choose who the supreme leader is, right? Advertisement Yeah, its supposed to be very conclave-like, where you get the scholars together and they discuss which of them is the scholar of scholars. Then, that person, for the rest of his life, runs the country. Now we have Mojtaba Khamenei, whos the son of Ali Khamenei. From your description, it seems as if a similar selection process happened this time. Hes a less religious person, but hes certainly someone who people think can consolidate power. Is that a fair assessment? Advertisement He is someone whos connected with powerful people in the regime, and acceptable for a lot of people you do need to please. And what Im talking about here are the people with the guns: the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. They are the physical guardians of the revolution. Theyre the ones who are fighting and being destroyed right now by American bombs. So they have been close to Mojtaba Khamenei for some time. And thats, of course, why hes the supreme leader, because he plays well with them rather than because hes well known for having the best advice about Islamic law. Advertisement I can see why the selection makes a kind of sense, but doesnt it undermine the whole idea of the revolution itself, which was about an Islamic state? Advertisement Advertisement Very much so. Theres hypocrisy here. When the Islamic revolution happened in 1979, they said, This is an insane system, a monarchy, that the son of the current guy is the person whos going to rule until he dies. Nonsense. What were looking for is the best of the best, and specifically the best Shiite religious scholars. And now whats happened? Youve turned over the leadership of the Islamic revolution; the supreme leader is the hereditary son of the previous supreme leader. And so Iranians, when they see Mojtaba Khamenei taking over for his father, see hypocrisy and also just something that doesnt quite sit right, because sons dont take over for fathers in religious roles. Advertisement But it does sound as if Mojtaba Khamenei has been laying the groundwork for this kind of move for some timehe got involved in the presidential elections back in 2005 and 2009. Do you want to explain that a little bit? Advertisement Yeah, Mojtaba has been involved in politics for about 20 years, but mostly in the shadows. The president who was elected in 2005like all presidents in the Islamic Republic, theyre not really elected in a free election. The Guardian Council decides whos allowed to run. And Mojtaba Khamenei was said to be involved in the selection of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a hard-liner, very conservative. And thats how he became president of Iran in 2005 and was later reelected. Advertisement You talked to one source who told you that Mojtaba Khamenei was the most dangerous man in the world. Why did he say that? This was a guy who had actually studied with Mojtaba Khamenei when they were students together. And his memory of studying with Mojtaba was that the guy was laser-focused on the end of the world, apocalyptic questions. And he thought that Iran had kind of a mission from God to bring about the end of the world. Advertisement My source remembers vividly that Mojtaba was totally besotted with the apocalypse and was also just a very shrewd, intelligent guy. And my source thought that having someone who was both Machiavellian and who thought the end of the world was coming and could help that happen by creating a condition of extreme violence was highly dangerous. Related From Slate For Millennials Like Me, the Iran War Feels Horribly Familiar Read More Now that hes the new supreme leader, what is Mojtabas vision for Iran? Do we even know yet? We dont really know what his vision is. We can guess, and we can make some pretty educated guesses. Everybodys scrambling to find any facts about the guy, finding out where he studied, what he said, and not finding out very much at all, really grasping at small shreds of detail. Now, theres ample evidence that hes not interested in some big modernization project. There is no sign that he is interested in transforming the Islamic Republic into something thats maybe friendly toward secular states, the United States, Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What do you think is going to happen in the next few days? Donald Trump is clearly not thrilled with this selection. Also, Israel is giving interesting messages. What are you anticipating? I have little doubt that the Israelis and probably the Americans will want to assassinate Mojtaba Khamenei. The Israelis have said that, unequivocally, whoever is in that office is a legitimate target. So theyre going to go after him, and theyve obviously been pretty good at finding the people they want to kill and killing them. So I wouldnt be surprised if there are efforts made in that regard. But so much of whats happened in this war has been utterly baffling in the sense that its been planned for decades, and yet in some ways it seems as if its not been planned for at all. And so what happens on a day-to-day basis, there are enormous swerves in what one should expect for the United States in particular. Advertisement What the Americans and the Israelis are united on is the belief that whatever else needs to happen, the Iranian nuclear missile and naval capability needs to be degraded to the point where it cant threaten Israel and the U.S. and their allies and interests anymore. So were going to see more and more bombing, more and more attacks to bring that capability as close to zero as possible. What actually turns out to be the political outcome, thats where things are really up in the air. Its unclear what the Trump administration would be happy with, what theyll settle for, and what ultimately they want and expect. Sign up for Executive Dysfunction, a weekly newsletter that surfaces under-the-radar stories about what Trump is doing to the lawand how the law is pushing back. It seems fair to assume that Donald Trumps second presidency hasnt turned out quite the way Ed Martin had hoped. The former interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia has faced a series of embarrassing setbacks over the past 14 months, tumbling down the Justice Departments ladder, rung by rung, as fellow Republicans turned sharply against him. But the biggest blow so far arrived on Tuesday, when disciplinary counsel for the D.C. bar announced a formal complaint against Martin for professional misconduct. The charges accuse him of violating his oath to the Constitution, then interfering with the investigation into his alleged malfeasance. If found culpable, he could be suspended from the practice of law or disbarred in D.C. Whats perhaps most remarkable about the case against Martin isnt its allegations of unconstitutional behavior, which was already a matter of public record. Its that upon receiving the initial complaint, Martin reportedly launched a pressure campaign against the D.C. Court of Appeals, lobbying the chief judge to dismiss the charges and suspend the lead investigator on his case. These actions would constitute egregious breaches of professional ethicsclearer-cut violations, in fact, than the conduct that triggered the accusations against him. Its no wonder that Attorney General Pam Bondi is trying to award herself the power to shut down bar investigations into DOJ attorneys like Martin: D.C.s disciplinary counsel appears to have him dead to rights. Martins fall from grace has been swift but not particularly surprising. He rose to prominence helping plan and finance the Stop the Steal rally on Jan. 6, then defended many of that days insurrectionists in court. Trump installed him as D.C.s interim U.S. attorney on Inauguration Day, even though Martin had had no prosecutorial experience whatsoever. From this post, he implemented the presidents mass clemency for Jan. 6 defendants and purged the office of prosecutors who had helped convict them. He also investigated Democratic lawmakers on bogus charges of mortgage fraud. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Senate Republicans refused to confirm Martin as permanent U.S. attorney, Trump gave him four new titles, including director of the DOJs Weaponization Working Group. But Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche reportedly demoted him after he allegedly leaked grand jury material, which is a federal crime, then lied about it to department leaders. He claims to serve as pardon attorney but has been pushed out of DOJ headquarters and is soon expected to leave the agency altogether. The D.C. bars complaint, though, has nothing to do with any of this. Instead, it stems from one of Martins side quests during his brief stint as interim U.S. attorney: his harassment of Georgetown University Law Center. In February 2025, Martin sent a letter to then-Dean William Treanor saying it was unacceptable that the school continues to teach and promote DEI. He ordered Treanor to swiftly remove DEI from all courses and curriculum and declared that his office would not hire Georgetown Law grads until the dean fell in line; he also wrote to Georgetowns president to suggest that the school might lose federal funding if Treanor failed to comply. In a forceful response, Treanor stood on principle, asserting that the school had a First Amendment right to teach and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion as a Catholic value. Martin eventually backed downan early, embarrassing defeat in the administrations campaign to shake down higher education. Advertisement Advertisement Many Georgetown Law graduates (myself included) were appalled by this brazen effort to punish a private Jesuit institution for teaching values opposed by the regime. One such alumnus was Phillip Argento, a retired California judge, who filed a complaint about the incident with Hamilton P. Fox, the D.C. bars disciplinary counsel. Fox opened an investigation and concluded that Martin had run afoul of a rule of professional conduct that forbids attorneys from violating their oath of office, which includes a vow to support the U.S. Constitution. Advertisement Mr. Martin knew or should have known that, as a government official, his conduct violated the First and Fifth Amendments, Fox wrote in the charges unveiled Tuesday. Martin violated freedom of speech, according to Fox, when he demanded that Georgetown Law change what it teaches students and how it teaches them, while using coercion to punish or suppress a disfavored viewpoint. And he violated due process by failing to provide Georgetown Law fair notice of what is allegedly prohibited because he didnt define DEI or explain why he had the power to censor its advocacy. Advertisement Foxs legal theory is not frivolous, but it is far from a slam dunk. There is little precedent establishing that a bar may sanction an attorney for wielding the powers of government unconstitutionally. Last year, the D.C. bars Board on Professional Responsibility did recommend disbarment for Jeffrey Bossert Clark, the DOJ official who tried to overturn the election at the end of Trumps first term. (Its ruling is currently pending with the D.C. Court of Appeals.) That ruling held that lawyers may lose their license for egregious abuse of office. But it rested on Clarks false statements and rank dishonesty, finding that he should have known he was pushing the DOJ to tell a lie that would lead to the unconstitutional reversal of an election. Advertisement Advertisement Related From Slate Pam Bondis Ludicrous New Scheme to Protect Lying DOJ Lawyers Read More In his own complaint, Fox similarly argued that Martin knew or should have known that he was acting unconstitutionally, though he did not claim that he made factual misrepresentations in an official capacity. Martins letter was absurd and malicious. But was it so outrageous as to constitute a violation of his oath? He can, and presumably will, mount a plausible argument that the disciplinary counsel cannot sanction a public official based on its own subjective view of what crosses the constitutional line. There is a real chance that the Board on Professional Responsibility or the D.C. Court of Appeals will ultimately embrace this view. Advertisement Advertisement But that would no longer let Martin off the hookbecause, instead of contesting Foxs first claim against him through the proper legal channels, he allegedly tried to quash it by committing a far more clear-cut ethical breach. According to the charges, Martin refused to respond to the complaint, and instead wrote directly to the chief judge and senior judges of the D.C. Court of Appeals. In the letter, he requested a face-to-face meeting with all of you to discuss this matter and find a way forward. And he copied Trumps White House counsel for informational purposes because of the importance of getting this issue addressed. Advertisement The chief judge, Anna Blackburne-Rigsby, told Martin that he could not speak with her ex parteoutside the formal process and without Fox presentand would have to follow standard procedure. Rather than take her advice, Martin reportedly told the disciplinary counsel he was communicating with the chief judge and copied her on the email. She responded, again, that she could not talk with him ex parte. The disciplinary counsel then asked Martin to turn over his letter to the judges. Rather than comply, he apparently wrote to the chief judge a third time, insisting that you not only suspend Mr. Fox immediately to investigate his conduct, but also to dismiss the case against me because of his prejudicial conduct. Advertisement Unfortunately for Martin, the D.C. Rules of Professional Conduct expressly forbid lawyers from communicating with a judge unless authorized to do so by law or court order, which he was not. There appears to be no serious dispute that Martin communicated with Blackburne-Rigsby ex parte not once, not twice, but three separate times, all in an effort to evade discipline against him. If proven, this behavior is a textbook example of misconduct sanctionable by the bar. Fox therefore charged Martin with violating this rule, as well as another prohibiting conduct that seriously interferes with the administration of justice. The erstwhile interim U.S. attorney, then, is in a pickle of his own making. Had he simply fought Foxs complaint the right way, he may well have defeated the charges in short order. But because he allegedly tried to obstruct the investigation, he faces a separate set of charges on much firmer legal ground. Even if this conduct doesnt merit disbarment, it could easily trigger a temporary suspension of his law license. Martin rose to infamy brandishing legal jeopardy against his foes. Now, thanks to his own overreach, he faces consequences he cannot threaten away. Interview: Tanzanian lawmaker inspired by China's governance, modernization path Xinhua) 16:24, March 10, 2026 DAR ES SALAAM, March 10 (Xinhua) -- As the "two sessions" of China's top legislature and top political advisory body convene in Beijing, international attention is fixed on the policies being formulated, particularly those outlining the trajectory of China's high-quality development under its new five-year blueprint. Ado Shaibu, a member of the Tanzanian parliament, believes China's governance and development path offers important inspiration for developing countries. "China is an important partner for Tanzania, so what happens in China matters not only to the Chinese people, but also to the world," Shaibu, who chairs the Local Authorities Accounts Committee of the Tanzanian parliament, said in an interview with Xinhua. He highlighted the practical orientation of the sessions, which "always focus on real issues such as employment, development, stability, and improving people's lives." This year's sessions carry additional significance as 2026 marks the opening year of China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) period. In Shaibu's view, China's political system has played a decisive role in driving the country's long-term socio-economic development. "China is able to plan beyond short election cycles, and that is very important," he said. "When you look at China's achievements in infrastructure, poverty reduction and industrial growth, you can see the impact of policy continuity and strong coordination." On China's whole-process people's democracy, Shaibu said, "What I find important is that democracy is treated as a continuous process of consultation, participation and, most importantly, delivering results." In his view, the emphasis is on whether policies tangibly improve people's wellbeing through better infrastructure, education, healthcare and poverty alleviation. "That is why China describes its system as one that closely links governance with people's needs and long-term development," he said. Shaibu believes democracy should not be measured by a single standard. Different countries have different historical backgrounds, cultures and development stages, and therefore choose different political paths. "In many Western countries, democracy is centered on frequent elections and party competition," he said. "But sometimes this leads to polarization, social division, and policy instability, which can disrupt long-term development plans." By contrast, he noted, China's approach emphasizes consultation, consensus-building and long-term planning, with a strong focus on results. "The advantage of 'Chinese-style democracy' is that it is closely connected to national development goals and people's well-being." Shaibu also expressed a strong interest in Chinese modernization, which "provides both inspiration and practical examples" for Africa and other developing regions. "Chinese modernization shows that there is no single path to development," he said. "It puts people at the center, focuses on improving livelihoods, reducing poverty, building infrastructure, and protecting the environment." For African countries, he said, the key point is to pursue development paths suited to their own national conditions while learning from successful experiences elsewhere. "China's governance system has delivered real results in development and living standards. Every country has its own system, and diversity should be respected," he said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Bridgeoverbroadway produced a lifetime-best victory off a confident drive from Anthony MacDonald in the $28,767 conditioned feature on Tuesday, March 10 at Miami Valley Raceway. Bridgeoverbroadway fired out from the rail and briefly dropped back to third while Spend The Prize (Sam Widger) and Mega Money (David Miller) battled for the early lead to the quarter in :27. Before the dust could settle on that confrontation, MacDonald had Bridgeoverbroadway out to move up and aggressively take over from brief leader Mega Money. As the field, now strung out and single file, headed to the half in :56, 2-1 choice Amazing Catch (Austin Hanners) moved first-over from fourth and advanced on the leader. Bridgeoverbroadway unleashed a :27.4 third quarter to thwart any headway from Amazing Catch and opened up by 1-3/4 lengths at the three-quarters in 1:23.4. Around the final turn and into the stretch, Bridgeoverbroadway lengthened that lead and cruised home to win by two lengths and stop the timer in 1:52.4. Mega Money held for second while In The End (Trace Tetrick) rallied for third. Bridgeoverbroadway scored her sixth win of the year in 10 starts for trainer Scot Davidson and The Stable's Bridgeoverbroadway Group. The four-year-old daughter of Six Pack-Black Broadway is now eight-for-43 lifetime. She paid $7.40 to win. In the sub-featured $24,658 conditioned event, 2025 North America Cup elimination starter Pants On Fire won his four-year-old debut. He was initially fifth off the gate but eventually worked to the lead around the first turn reached control at the quarter in :27.4. From there, David Miller tapped the brakes to the tune of a :30.2 second quarter, reaching the half in :58.1. As they neared the midway point, Quantum (Chris Page) was out and moving from fifth for a first-over trip. Quantum bore out on the turn but straightened out down the backside and charged forward to draw even with Pants On Fire, but the leader swelled up and began to slowly pull away past three quarters in 1:26. A couple of taps was all Pants On Fire needed as he sailed down the lane to win by a comfortable length in 1:53.4. Southern Rockfest (Austin Hanners) used a pocket trip to finish second while Cruising Zone (Tetrick) finished third. For the lightly raced Pants On Fire, it was his first outing since his North America Cup elim start last June. The Brian Brown trainee is now four-for-eight lifetime for owners Doug Overhiser, VIP Internet Stable LLC, William Johnson II, and Kalinoski Stable. He paid $2.80 at the windows. Trainer Anette Lorentzon had three winners on the 14-race card. Lorentzon won with I Stand Alone As ($10.20), Seal The Deal As ($5.40) and Lions Tracer As ($2.60). The trainer, aiming for her 10th straight year with more than 100 wins, is 12-for-80 in 2026. Brian Brown had a training double. Chris Page drove three winners. Racing returns to Miami Valley on Wednesday with a 4 p.m. first post. (With files from Miami Valley Raceway) IBM and Lam Research have entered into a five-year agreement to develop new materials and fabrication processes to enable sub-1nm logic scaling. The collaboration will utilise IBMs research facilities at the NY Creates Albany NanoTech Complex and Lam Researchs process tools, including dry resist technology, etch platforms, and deposition systems. Both companies plan to focus on advancing High-NA EUV lithography processes and developing capabilities for increasingly complex device architectures. Advertisement The partnership aims to extend logic scaling beyond current limits by building and validating process flows for nanosheet and nanostack devices, as well as backside power delivery. These efforts are intended to support patterning and interconnect technologies required for future generations of logic devices. IBM and Lam Research have previously collaborated on several semiconductor technology milestones, including 7nm, nanosheet, and EUV process technologies. IBM Semiconductors GM Mukesh Khare said: Lam has been a critical partner to IBM for over a decade, contributing to key breakthroughs in logic scaling and device architecture such as nanosheet and the worlds first 2nm node chip, unveiled by IBM in 2021. Advertisement Advertisement We are thrilled to be expanding our collaboration to tackle the next set of challenges to enable High-NA EUV lithography and sub-1nm nodes. The new agreement continues this work by aiming to accelerate the industrys adoption of advanced logic scaling techniques. Lam Research chief technology and sustainability officer Vahid Vahedi said: As the industry enters a new era of 3D scaling, progress depends on rethinking how materials, processes, and lithography come together as a single, high-density system. We are proud to build on our successful collaboration with IBM to drive HighNA EUV dry resist and process breakthroughs, accelerating the development of lower power and higher performance transistors that will be critical for AI era. Advertisement Advertisement Lam Research provides wafer fabrication equipment and related services to the semiconductor sector, supporting device manufacturing across a range of applications. In February 2025, Lam Research announced its plan to invest more than $1.2bn (Rs104.2bn) in the Indian state of Karnataka over the coming years. The company signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Karnataka government to lease, and eventually purchase, a land parcel owned by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) in Whitefield, Bengaluru. "IBM and Lam Research partner on sub-1nm logic scaling technologies" was originally created and published by Verdict, a GlobalData owned brand. Advertisement Advertisement Quantum computing has long been discussed as a future threat to Bitcoin. Now, researchers say the same technology could undermine encrypted messaging systems used by governments, journalists, and millions of users worldwide. In a new report released on Monday, IBM described its work with communications developers from Signal and Threema to redesign messaging protocols for a future in which quantum computers may be able to break the encryption underlying secure communications. Breaking through this kind of encryption is practically impossible with even the most capable classical supercomputers, unless you have a spare billion years to kill. But a major computing revolution underway today may soon change that, the researchers wrote. Advertisement While much has been written about the quantum threat to cryptocurrency, cryptography researcher Ethan Heilman said encrypted messaging platforms may face a more immediate quantum risk than Bitcoin. The shortterm threat is much greater for something like Signal than for Bitcoin because of storeandforward attacks, Heilman told Decrypt. Conceivably, someone could record communications now and then attack them later when they have a quantum computer. A store-and-forward attack occurs when an adversary intercepts and saves encrypted data, or in this case, messages, today with the intention of decrypting it later, once more powerful tools like a quantum computer make breaking the encryption possible. Launched in 2012 and 2014, respectively, Threema and Signal offer end-to-end encrypted messaging, calls, and group chats, with encryption keys stored on users devices rather than on company servers. Advertisement Advertisement Classical computers cannot break current encryption, but a sufficiently powerful quantum computer could solve the underlying cryptographic problems that protect it. Progress in the field has accelerated in recent years. Coinbase CEO Says Quantum Computing 'Solvable Issue' for Crypto Recent experiments from IBM, Google, and Caltech have improved stability, scaling, and error correction, narrowing the time for when a practical quantum machine will come online, intensifying debate about the threat to cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, which use elliptic-curve cryptography to secure transactions. A sufficiently powerful quantum computer could theoretically use Shors algorithm to derive private keys from exposed public keys. Advertisement Advertisement Heilman said the growing use of encrypted messaging in government underscores why long-term communication security has become a priority for researchers. Weve seen a lot of people in the White House use Signal, he said, referring to the 2025 incident known as Signalgate, where it was revealed that senior U.S. national security officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, used disappearing Signal messages on personal devices to discuss sensitive government matters, after adding a journalist to a groupchat. Historically, there have been intelligence cases where communications were recorded decades earlier and only broken later, Heilman said. So for communication security, theres always the risk of the future decrypting the past, which we dont have in Bitcoin. Post-Quantum Shift Could Force Crypto Exchanges to Rethink Wallet Security Future proofing Signal has begun preparing for a potential future in which those so-called harvest now, decrypt later attacks become a reality. Advertisement Advertisement In 2023, the messaging company introduced the PQXDH upgrade to protect new sessions against such attacks. In 2025, Signal strengthened those defenses with a Sparse PostQuantum Ratchet (SPQR) protocol upgrade that extends postquantum protection to ongoing messages, calls, and media. For its part, Threema said it is working with IBMs cryptography researchers to explore integrating the National Institute of Standards and Technology-standardized ML-KEM algorithm into its messaging system as part of a shift toward quantum-safe encryption. The research also focuses on protecting metadata, including information about who belongs to encrypted group chats. When trying to port the existing Signal protocol for protecting this metadata to quantum-safe, the team quickly realized that just replacing the current components with their quantum-safe versions would likely lead to an up to a hundredfold increase in Signals bandwidth, the report reads. This meant they would need to redesign the protocols from the ground up for speed and communication efficiency. Advertisement Advertisement Most researchers say machines capable of attacking Bitcoin remain far beyond current technology. Still, Heilman flagged that the pace of development will likely accelerate if quantum advances continue. As soon as the threat becomes more real, things move quicker, he said. By Irakli Laitadze On February 4, 2026, the Georgian Parliament adopted amendments to the Law of Georgia On Higher Education. The controversial reform triggered mass protests from the academic community and broader society, which are still ongoing. The government argues that the reform will modernize the education system, concentrate limited financial resources, and increase the competitiveness of universities. A central element of the reform is the principle One CityOne Faculty, under which multidisciplinary universities will be reorganized into specialized institutions aligned with regional and market demands. Critics argue that the reform will reduce institutional autonomy, weaken interdisciplinary research, and hinder integration with the European higher education system. BACKGROUND: Over the past twenty years, Georgia has implemented EU standards in the field of higher education. The country participates in the Bologna Process and meets the criteria of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). The aim of this process and the EHEA standards is to improve the quality of education, promote student mobility, and ensure the international recognition of Georgian academic degrees. Despite significant progress, several persistent problems remain: weak research infrastructure, insufficient links between universities and the labor market, and the excessive concentration of higher education institutions in the capital, Tbilisi. Of the sixty-one higher education institutions in Georgia, forty-six are located in Tbilisi. In early February, the Government of Georgia initiated a reform of the higher education system; however, it significantly deviates from the actual needs of universities. The reform has provoked protests among professors, students, and the broader public. According to the government, the proposed changes will improve the quality of higher education and make it more responsive to labor market demands. One of the declared goals of the reform is to support regional universities. The government argues that improving the quality of teaching may reduce the migration of young people to the capital and strengthen social and economic development outside Tbilisi. In addition, such support is expected to enhance the stability of regional universities and enable them to respond more effectively to local challenges. The government argues that budget centralization and the redistribution of academic resources will enable more efficient use of funding for competitive salaries, equipment, and infrastructure. According to this view, restructuring will create better conditions for academic research. One of the key elements of the governments reform is the principle of One City One Faculty. This approach implies the abandonment of classical multidisciplinary universities and the creation of institutions focused on only a few disciplines. Critics argue that such a model will ultimately weaken academia. According to the government, however, this mechanism will eliminate the duplication of academic programs across universities and align education more closely with labor market demands. The reform will also allow the state to control the distribution of quotas and admission rates. The number of students receiving state-funded scholarships, as well as their allocation across higher education institutions, will be determined directly by state priorities. A significant share of Georgias academic community fiercely opposes the reform. Particularly active in the protests are professors and students at Ilia State University, an institution known for its strong criticism of the government. The university has become a main target of the authorities, most probably for this reason. Since February 4, protests have been held daily by several thousand campaigners, taking the form of marches and open-air lectures in front of the university. IMPLICATIONS: The concentration of administrative and financial management reduces the role of universities in academic decision-making. Without control over financial resources, universities lack the capacity to strengthen specific disciplines. Decisions on how to allocate funds should remain the responsibility of the universities themselves. External bureaucratic structures are not well positioned to accurately identify or assess the specific needs of individual institutions. The dismantling of multidisciplinary higher education institutions will reduce opportunities for interdisciplinary research and may hinder innovation. Excessive specialization risks making education overly dependent on current economic conditions and short-term market demands. Such institutions tend to be less adaptable to changes in the labor market and may limit graduates career prospects. If only one specialized institution operates in a region, local students will face limited educational choices, which may further increase migration to Tbilisi. Although specialization may appear beneficial, since concentrated funding could strengthen specific subdisciplines, in practice this effect is likely to be limited. This is a complex issue that involves the broader context of the entire education system, including secondary education. It cannot be addressed solely through structural changes within universities, as the quality of higher education is directly influenced by the preparedness of school graduates, curriculum standards, teacher training, and assessment models. Without coordinated reform at earlier stages of education, university reforms risk becoming fragmented and ineffective. A systemic approach is therefore essential to ensure coherence, continuity, and long-term sustainability across all levels of education. Consequently, the governments emphasis on specialized institutions may replace strategic development with short-term objectives. In the long term, such reliance on market signals may undermine the stability of educational institutions. Nearly 75 percent of Georgias population supports further integration with the European Union and there is significant concern that these reforms will jeopardize the countrys participation in the Bologna Process and its ability to meet EHEA criteria. The inadequacy of the reform in addressing existing challenges raises international, as well as domestic, concerns. Moreover, the reform appears to contradict the commitments outlined in Georgias Association Agreement with the EU. From 2026, Georgian state universities will be unable to admit foreign students, or will be allowed to admit only a limited number with prior state approval. Such academic restrictions and increased state control are likely to reduce both the number and the quality of joint research projects, participation in international academic programs, and student exchange programs. The reform was developed without meaningful involvement of the academic community through open consultations, analytical assessments, or financial evaluations, raising serious concerns about its transparency. The absence of clearly presented criteria, objectives, and implementation mechanisms undermines trust among professors and students and encourages perceptions that the reform serves political rather than strategic goals, including increased control over academic freedom and expression. Moreover, unclear decision-making procedures heighten the risk of politicization. When the criteria for financing and the reorganization of higher education institutions are not transparent, concerns about political influence and corruption arise. Limited public access to information on decision-making processes, budget allocations, and performance indicators also makes it difficult to evaluate whether the reforms objectives are being achieved. The lack of clear benchmarks and independent evaluation mechanisms weakens accountability and reduces public trust in the reform process. CONCLUSIONS: Criticism of the higher education reform by scholars and students highlights significant risks. The reform goes far beyond administrative restructuring and carries important social and political implications. These include the preservation of institutional and academic autonomy, transparent governance, funding for research, admission policies, the social role of universities, continued integration into European education and research frameworks, and the risk of unemployment among the intellectual elite. All of these areas risk becoming adversely affected by the proposed changes. As of today, the reform applies to all state-owned universities, but there is no guarantee that similar measures will not later be extended to private higher education institutions. The reform contradicts Article 27 of the Constitution of Georgia, which guarantees academic freedom and the autonomy of higher education institutions. A major concern is that the reform may institutionalize political control over universities and significantly reduce their autonomy. Critics argue that an implicit objective of the reform is to marginalize pro-Western academic circles, which have traditionally served as spaces for open debate and free discussion. In the context of the governments increasingly anti-Western orientation and democratic backsliding, the autonomy and independence of universities remain essential pillars of a free society. AUTHORS BIO: Irakli Laitadze is an Adjunct Professor at Ilia State University (Tbilisi, Georgia) and Senior Fellow of the think-tank EU Awareness Centre (Brussels). He was previously a career diplomat, serving as a senior Counsellor in the Mission of Georgia to the EU and Director of the EU Political Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia. After his diplomatic service, he was the CFO in GMT Hospitality and CEO of Publishing House Artanuji. He holds degrees from Tbilisi State University, the Diplomatic School of Madrid (Diploma), and Cambridge University (MBA), and a Ph.D. (Magna cum laude) from Tbilisi Free University. Czech law allows a revolutionary new treatment for severe depression. From Based in Bohemia. Dr. Tomas Palenicek sits down on a park bench and tells me about magic mushrooms. The sun bathes Pragues Nusle neighborhood in its warmth. The Czech capital is experiencing its first real day of spring. Its hard not to feel optimistic about life, the universe, everything. Were witnessing something of a psychedelic renaissance, he says. Palenicek is a clinical psychiatrist at the Czech Republics National Institute for Mental Health. Hes also the head of the institutes Psychedelic Research Center. Hes devoted much of his career to studying the power of psilocybin the chemical compound in magic mushrooms to help people with severe depression. Psilocybin is especially promising for those patients who no longer respond to antidepressants those who remain locked in their prison of depression for months or years. Dr. Tomas Palenicek, head of the Psychedelic Research Center at the National Institute for Mental Health, just outside Prague. Psychedelics are different compared to traditional drugs in that in many people if they are effective they can bring about a rapid switch in mood, Dr. Palenicek says. Its why we call them fast-acting antidepressants. When Palenicek says fast, he means hours or days. Patients who have been overwhelmed by crushing depression for years have seen improvement almost immediately after a single dose of psilocybin. For some, the change is long-lasting. Theyve felt better for weeks, months, even in several cases a year. And theyre patients who have been weaned off their regular antidepressants. This sounds miraculous, I venture. A veritable wonder drug. Dr. Palenicek is keen to temper my enthusiasm. A third of patients respond strongly. A third show a moderate response. A third show no response at all, he says. Still, its something. Magic mushrooms are still illegal in Czechia, at least for recreational use. Psilocybin remains a controlled psychotropic substance under the Czech law on addictive substances. Possession of a small amount (generally understood as being up to 40 fresh mushrooms or about five grams of dried) for personal use is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine. Possession of more than a small amount technically becomes a criminal offense. As is cultivating, selling, or distributing psilocybin. In medicine, however, things are different. For several years the healing potential of psilocybin has been the subject of clinical trials by Dr. Palenicek and others. But this year, the law was amended. There is now something called psilocybin for medical use. It means the Czech Republic has become one of just three countries in Europe (after Germany and Switzerland) that allows psilocybin to be administered to patients as a therapeutic tool, not just as part of clinical trials. Psilocybin can only be used with those suffering from what you and I would call severe depression. Doctors like Palenicek prefer to call it Major Depressive Disorder (or MDD when theyre scribbling it down on their notepads). It can also be used to treat conditions such as end-of-life anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. For psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, it is very much not suitable. For now, its use is still fairly limited. This is largely due to the restricted availability of the synthesized psilocybin used in sessions, which needs to be imported. I ask Dr. Palenicek exactly what psilocybin does to the depressed brain, and quickly regret it. He uses phrases like downregulating serotonin 2A receptors and increasing synaptic neuroplasticity. Things my O level biology do not permit me to fully comprehend. I dont tell Dr. Palenicek this, but I myself have done some research into psilocybin. It was far less rigorous than that carried out by him and his colleagues. This was research undertaken by me and my housemates at Coventry Polytechnic in the late 1980s. It involved spreading magic mushrooms on slices of bread and eating them. And subsequently walking through a local graveyard. I dont recommend it. At all. Psychiatrist and psychotherapist Dr. Vivian Winkler. Psilocybin is not a miracle drug. It doesnt help everyone, and its not appropriate for everyone, says Dr. Vivian Winkler, a psychiatrist and psychotherapist at the Psychedelic Research Center. We absolutely do not recommend recreational use, particularly for vulnerable people. But Dr. Winkler tells me the story of a woman in her 50s who was recently treated with psilocybin at the institute. The woman had been suffering from major depression for years. She was unable to work. Relations with her family had become strained. The woman was given a single dose of psilocybin. It was administered in a controlled clinical setting after doctors had gradually tapered off her antidepressants. The session went beautifully. She had lots of moments of emotional catharsis. It was very spiritual, Dr. Winkler says. She kind of reconnected to her spirituality or her relationship with God, which is something that she said had been important to her when she was young, but then for many years she abandoned it. Dr. Winkler says the woman had experienced an epiphany in her relationship with her children, a relationship that had been causing her pain and grief. There was a lot of emotional release. She was crying a lot, but it was a mixture of tears of sadness and gratitude, Dr. Winkler recalls. She said afterward it was a life-changing experience, one that she could only compare to giving birth to her children. Dr. Winkler tells me she had seen the woman a few days before we spoke. She said she was feeling great. Shes since reconnected with her husband and children. A group of Czechoslovak Army officers completely losing the plot after being secretly dosed with LSD for an experiment. Source: LSD: Made in CSSR documentary, Czech Television. Dr. Palenicek and his colleagues are in fact continuing a long tradition of research into psychedelic substances such as psilocybin and LSD. Czechs were trailblazers in the field as far back as the 1950s. One of the founding fathers of the discipline is Dr. Stanislav Grof, whos still lecturing at the age of 94 in the United States. In the 1950s and 1960s there was growing evidence that these compounds could be useful in psychiatry. A documentary film called LSD Made in CSSR features Grof and others recalling how Communist Czechoslovakia explored the potential of such drugs for good and ill. It includes now legendary footage of an experiment in which Czechoslovak Army officers are dosed with LSD and then try (and fail, hilariously) to follow orders. However, psilocybin and LSD were banned in the 1970s. Research was halted for decades. I joked earlier that I knew nothing about serotonin receptors and neuroplasticity. Thats not completely true. Like so many people I experienced my own depressive episode, about 20 years ago. It started as a downward spiral of insomnia, anxiety, Xanax, and panic attacks. It evolved into a maelstrom of terrifying symptoms including depersonalization, derealization, and major depression. It was finally resolved by an SSRI antidepressant whose name Ive gladly forgotten. It was a miserable 18 months. I dont think I was ever truly suicidal. But I do remember one day shortly before the SSRIs were due to kick in when I could no longer see the point in living. Anyway, it feels like a long time ago, and I made a full recovery into the happy and slightly annoying 56-year-old I am today. The only controlled substances that enter my body these days come from the hop fields of West Bohemia and the coffee plantations of Brazil. Its left me a bit like the former Prince Andrew and his inability to sweat with an inability to get anxious about things. Which is great, frankly. But most of all its given me a lasting sense of compassion for those trudging through the quicksand of depression. As well as a deep admiration for those like the doctors Winkler and Palenicek who are trying to help them climb out of it. Rob Cameron is a journalist and broadcaster based in Prague. He is the BBC correspondent for the Czech Republic and Slovakia and a regular contributor to Deutsche Welle, ORF, RTE, and Monocle Radio. This piece originally appeared in Rob Camerons Substack, Based in Bohemia. Republished by permission. How to check TSA security wait times at Newark Airport during shutdown Airports across the country face long wait times at TSA checkpoints amid the partial government shutdown with spring break increasing travel across the country. Travelers at Newark Liberty International Airport can track security lines right on the airports website. At the bottom of the Newark Airports homepage, there is a section titled Security & Customs Wait Times, which lists estimated wait times for general and TSA pre-check-in lines. Estimated times are provided for Terminals A, B and C and gates. Advertisement As of 2:30 p.m. on March 10, the longest waiting time for a general security line at Newark Airport was for gates 60-68 at Terminal B which stands at 35 minutes. TSA pre-check-in lines do not look too alarming in the afternoon of March 10, with the longest being six minutes at Terminal B, gates 40-49. This morning, Newark Airport said general security lines reached up to 24-minute wait times and nine minutes for TSA PreCheck lines. Newark lines look mild compared to the hours long wait times other airports across the country experienced over the weekend. Houstons William P. Hobby Airport and Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport reported wait times of up to three hours on March 8. Airports attributed long TSA lines to a shortage of workers as the partial government shutdown, involving the Department of Homeland Security, looms. Advertisement Advertisement The shutdown started on Feb. 14 as those in the Senate argue over the DHS funding bill in the 2026 budget. Democrats wont support funding of DHS' ICE and Border Patrol agencies amidst ICE officers shooting and killing two people in Minnesota in January, while Republicans argue to keep financing the organization. President Donald Trumps Big Beautiful Bill gave Homeland Security $170 billion in funding to for immigration enforcement through 2029. Over 50,000 TSA officers and 100,000 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) workers are not being paid during the shutdown, said the Trump administration. This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: How to check TSA security wait times at Newark Airport Its not often that a state trail gets love from a national publication. But the Gitchi-Gami State Trail is deserving of the praise, according to USA Todays 10Best series of readers choice polls, which recently opened voting for the best recreational trail in the United States. The Gitchi-Gami Trail is a finalist for the recognition, with USA Today editors praising the (currently) 36-mile trail for its scenic views, access to historical sites, and pit stops in five state parks, including Gooseberry Falls State Park and Split Rock Lighthouse State Park. Advertisement Sign up for our FOOD AND DRINK newsletters Gooseberry FallsPhoto by Melissa Turtinen (Photo by Melissa Turtinen) The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says that when the rest of the trail's segments are complete, itll connect Two Harbors and Grand Marais across 86 miles of paved trail. Its already incredibly impressive," the 10Best blurb reads, "offering splendorous views of Lake Superior with views of the Temperance River Gorge, the Beaver Bay Bridge, the North Shore Mining Railroad, Grand Marais, and so much more." Voting for the best recreational trail will be open through noon on Monday, April 6, with the final ranking released on Wednesday, April 15. This story was originally published by Bring Me The News on Mar 11, 2026, where it first appeared in the MN Lifestyle section. Add Bring Me The News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. BOSTON In a city steeped in history, few buildings bear a legacy as enduring and consequential as the Old North Church a symbol not just of Boston or Massachusetts, but of the nation itself. As the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, MassLive was granted special access to the 300-year-old church, from its subterranean depths to the seldom-seen heights of its iconic steeple. Inside the churchs sanctuary, steeple, crypts and courtyards is an institution that functions simultaneously as an active Episcopal congregation, a final resting place for the dead and a historic site of incalculable significance. Advertisement The historic site portion is stewarded by the secular nonprofit organization Old North Illuminated, whose work preserves and tells the complex, nuanced story of the church today and for generations to come. Built in 1723 in Bostons North End neighborhood, the church is best known for the pivotal role it played in Paul Reveres famed midnight ride, signaling the movements of British troops in colonial Massachusetts. The April 18, 1775, message of One if by land, two if by sea the famous lantern signal given to Revere and fellow rider William Dawes was delivered by the churchs sexton, Robert Newman, and vestryman John Pulling. The four men helped warn the colonists ahead of the Battles of Lexington and Concord. As part of its 250th anniversary interpretation, the Old North Church is examining the revolution and the spectrum of political belief that existed during this transformational time in American history, according to Emily Spence, director of education for Old North Illuminated. Advertisement Advertisement I like to say everyone was a Loyalist until they werent, Spence said. Not everyone here was Patriot, not everyone here was Loyalist. And the revolution meant different things for them and had different implications for their lives. By looking at key figures from congregants, to church leaders, and even those without inherently religious ties to the church, a less rigid and black-and-white picture emerges of peoples motivations and their responses to shifts in society occurring around them. For example, lantern-holders like Newman and Pulling, though lesser known than Revere, were equally putting themselves at risk by assisting the Patriots and committing an act of treason against the crown in the process, Spence said. Newman was later arrested, while Pulling fled with his family to Hingham for the duration of the war, according to Spence. Advertisement Advertisement A rare view from inside the steeple inside the Old North Church. The window on the right faces west where you can see the Zakim Bridge and the window on the right faces South with the One Congress building. As pictured on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2026 in Boston, Mass. A view from the rear of the Old North Church in Boston, Mass. as pictured on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2026. The Old North Church as pictured from Hull Street in Boston, Mass. on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2026. The tomb of Capt. Thomas Potts at the Old North Church Crypt in Boston, Mass. as pictured on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2026. This organ at the Old North Church was installed in 1759. Repairs and maintenance have been done to the organ but there are components that are still original. As pictured on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2026 in Boston, Mass. Advertisement Advertisement A view from inside the brick portion of the front of the Old North Church where bricks shape this porthole window. As pictured on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2026 in Boston, Mass. The wooden and rope mechanism that pulls facilitates the ringing of the bells in the bell tower of the Old North Church as pictured on Thursday, Feb, 18, 2026 in Boston, Mass. Coins are left atop the plaque of the tomb of Capt. Samuel Nicholson in the crypt at the Old North Church on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2026 in Boston, Mass. A dusty portrait of one of the vicars of the Old North Church as pictured on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2026 in Boston, Mass. Advertisement Advertisement One of the eight bells inside the Old North Church in Boston, Mass. as pictured on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2026. This organ at the Old North Church was installed in 1759. Repairs and maintenance have been done to the organ but there are components that are still original. As pictured on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2026 in Boston, Mass. An image of a signed document by Paul Revere in the Old North Church in Boston, Mass. on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2026. A view of the Old North Church Steeple in Boston, Mass. on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2026. A plaque commemorating President Gerald Ford speaking at the pulpit of the Old North Church in Boston, Mass. as pictured on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2026. Advertisement Advertisement There are two upper seating areas at the Old North Church as pictured on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2026 in Boston, Mass. A narrow wooden staircase provides access to the bell tower of the Old North Church in Boston, Mass. on Thursday, Feb, 18, 2026. A view of Hull Street from inside the Old North Church under the famous staple that started the American Revolution. As pictured on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2026 in Boston, Mass. Outside of the Old North Church is The Third Lantern commemorating the bicentennial anniversary of the the American Revolution and the role the Old North Church played in notifying Americans that the British were heading down the Charles River towards Lexington and Concord. As pictured on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026 in Boston, Mass. Advertisement Advertisement A rare view from inside the steeple inside the Old North Church. The window on the right faces east and the window on the left faces north. As pictured on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2026 in Boston, Mass. Under the Old North Church in Boston's North End neighborhood is the Old North Crypt. As pictured on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2026 in Boston, Mass. A view of the Boston skyline from the same steeple that lit the American Revolution. As pictured from inside the Old North Church in Boston, Mass. on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2026. Two massive identical chandeliers hang rom the celing at the Old North Church in Boston, Mass. as pictured on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2026. Advertisement Advertisement A commemorative plaque on the rear wall of the Old North Church provides information about some of the most symbolic components of the church. As pictured on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2026 in Boston, Mass. The Old North Church is located in Boston's historic North End neighborhood at 193 Salem St. on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2026. A plaque commemorating the famous signal lanterns placed inside this steeple to signal the passage of the British towards Lexington and Concord. As pictured on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2026 in Boston, Mass. Reporter Christopher McLaughlin at the top of a very steep wooden staircase that ascends to the top of the steeple of the Old North Church in Boston, Mass. on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2026. Advertisement Advertisement The Old North Church is still active and practicing. The design was to trap heat, and the closer to the front of the church that the boxes were, the more expensive they were to own. As pictured in Boston, Mass. on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2026. The pulpit at the front of Old North Church in Boston, Mass. as pictured on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2026. Light filters in through the window behind the altar at the Old North Church in Boston, Mass. on Thursday, Feb, 18, 2026. The steeple at the Old North Church as seen today is the third version. The previous two steeples collapse or were blown over by storms. As pictured on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2026 in Boston, Mass. Old North Church as pictured on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2026 in Boston, Mass. Neither one of them ever admitted during their lives what they did, Spence said. We believe they probably swore an oath of secrecy. And so, they took these risks, and then they never got any credit for it. Spence said that, as part of Old Norths 250th interpretation, the church is examining the idea of active citizenship and what it means in historical and present contexts. How can we kind of be inspired from the people of Old Norths history to think about what communities we belong to and how can we take action and have a positive impact on that community?, Spence said. Visitors to the Old North Church are challenged to question their own beliefs as to whether they would have sided with the Patriots, the Loyalists or somewhere in between. A digital quiz, available on site via posted QR codes, helps them explore that question. Visitors to the Old North Church are challenged to question their own beliefs as to whether they would have sided with the Patriots, the Loyalists or lie somewhere in the middle. Quiz-takers first identify where they think they fall on the Patriot-Loyalist spectrum, then answer 10 open-ended questions that touch on topics and ideas still debated today, connecting the past and present. At the end, they are given a result indicating where they would fall ideologically if they had lived during the American Revolution, with some respondents almost certain to receive answers they did not anticipate. I hope that its thought-provoking for people, Spence said. I think people will be surprised to see the way the issues of the past feel resonant today, too. Each year, around the anniversary of Paul Reveres ride in mid-April, Old North hosts an annual fundraiser called Lanterns & Luminaries. For 2026, the Old North Church will present the third Lantern Award to Boston Pops Orchestra conductor Keith Lockhart. The award is meant to honor someone who embodies the idea of active citizenship, as well as characteristics such as leadership, courage, hope and tenacity, Spence said. She cited Lockharts role leading rousing Fourth of July performances at the Hatch Shell on the Charles River Esplanade each summer and the Pops work in making the arts more accessible. Lanterns & Luminaries features a dramatic reading of the poem Paul Reveres Ride by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, re-enactors dressed in costume and on horseback, a lighting of lanterns in the steeple and a formal reception. This years event takes place on Thursday, April 16, where Lockhart will also give a keynote address upon accepting his award. Recently, the churchs facade has been the site of light projections by the Boston-based art collective Silence Dogood, whose mission is to tie the citys revolutionary past of protest and resistance with modern-day struggles for liberty and justice. Around Valentines Day this year, the church partnered with Silence Dogood to display a series of projections featuring Bible verses on empathy and loving ones neighbor. It was a nod to immigration politics, which have embroiled the country in the past year. The North End famously has been a hub for immigrants coming to America for more than a century. I think this (message) really spoke to not only kind of this intersection that the church has between faith and history, but also its location here in the North End, which immigration has played a really important role in this communitys history, Spence said. She acknowledged that throughout its storied history, the Old North Church has not always been a loving neighbor to all, even those who came to pray within its own walls. Wealthy white congregants in the 18th century purchased reserved seating in the churchs unique box pews on the floor level of the church sanctuary, Spence explained. At the same time, Black and Indigenous congregants, some of whom were enslaved by their fellow parishioners, were segregated to one side of the upstairs gallery seating. On the other side were seats relegated for white people who were poor, servants or indentured and could not afford, or werent allowed, to sit at floor level, Spence said. She described the church at this time as interracial but not integrated. The Old North Churchs early status as an Anglican church in what was then a largely Puritan Boston meant that there was an incentive to baptize as many people as possible into the faith, regardless of skin color. However, because many of those who worshipped at Old North in this era were involved in maritime trade, they either directly or indirectly profited from slave labor or enslaved people of color themselves. The wealth accrued from maritime trade helped fund the construction and furnishing of the church, including its iconic steeple. Its the feature that made Old North famous. Its a symbol of freedom, Spence said, but added, It would not have existed without enslaved labor. The church, reckoning with its past, creating dialogue around these topics, and fully telling and acknowledging even the darker elements of its own history, is a reason why it is a member of the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience (ICSC) a group of over 400 sites worldwide with a similar mission. While maritime trade tied the church to slavery in its early years, simultaneously, the business propelled congregants to shift their attitudes about loyalty to the crown, even as devout Anglicans. As punishment for the revolt at the Boston Tea Party, Spence said, the citys port was closed, preventing people from making money and doing business. Read More: Black History Month turned 100 this year. What this meant to local Black leaders I think you start to see people, maybe who were a little bit more sympathetic to the Loyalist side, start to be pushed more to the Patriot side, Spence said, helping to set in motion larger societal changes down the road. Two hundred years later, in 1976, Queen Elizabeth II, the then-reigning monarch of Great Britain, visited the church to mark the bicentennial of the American Revolution. During that visit, Queen Elizabeth gave a speech in Boston about how the leaders of the American Revolution would be surprised and probably pleased to hear how far the two nations have come as allies since then, Spence said. Today, Episcopal congregants still gather for religious service each Sunday in the box pews of the Old North Church pews made from original preserved wood from the churchs earliest days. When Sunday service isnt occurring, thousands of tourists visit the church annually. As they tour the sanctuary the main portion of the church theyll see ornate chandeliers, a raised pulpit, and an organ dating back to 1759 at the back. As visitors ascend, they can learn more about the history of the churchs steeple, which has existed in three separate iterations. The original steeple from the 1775 lantern signal collapsed amid a blizzard known as the Great Gale of Boston in 1804. Later rebuilt in a slightly different fashion with a clock face, this second steeple stood for another 150 years before tumbling down from the force of Hurricane Carol in 1954 a moment now revealed to have been captured on video. Todays current steeple has remained in place since 1955, built in the style of the original 18th-century structure. Most tours will end in the churchs bell-ringing chamber. Spence said the church maintains a group of bell ringers to this day, but their history dates back to 1750, when teenage boys from the North End rang the bells. A 15-year-old Paul Revere was among the churchs earliest bell ringers, Spence added, though Revere himself wasnt Anglican and would not have worshipped at the church. Beyond that, few are able to access the twisting, narrow and uneven staircases that lead into the belfry. Here, bells ranging in weight from about 600 to 1,500 pounds have stayed in place since the 1740s after they were cast in Gloucester, England. Going up another four stories, following in the footsteps of lantern-lighters Newman and Pulling, a one-of-a-kind view emerges up top. The vantage point from here gives unobstructed views toward Downtown Boston, the Zakim Bridge, Charlestown, Boston Harbor, East Boston and Logan Airport. Back at ground level and below ground lie the churchs historical crypts, the final resting place for 1,100 souls. The crypts are also home to the Cursed Brick a brick stolen from, and then anonymously returned to, the church, which some claim brought a series of bad luck to its thieves. Read More: Famous actor connects with his heritage during an emotional visit to historic Mass. house Inside the U-shaped underground passageway, there are 37 tombs, each of which can fit up to two dozen coffins. The tombs date back as early as 1732, Spence said. Coffin burials stopped in the crypts sometime during the mid-19th century. These days, people can still be formally interred beneath the Old North Church, but only as cremated remains in the churchs Columbarium, she said. The Old North Church and its crypts, located at 193 Salem St., are open for visitors from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. On Sundays, the building is open from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. after church service lets out, and it is closed on Mondays. Admission and tours start as low as $10 for visitors who wish to explore the building and learn more about its three centuries of history. More boston Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Mike Vernon embodied the British blues producer who turned teenage obsession into a six-decade force behind Blue Horizon label and iconic recordings. His sharp ear elevated Eric Clapton, Fleetwood Mac, and David Bowie, linking raw American roots to UK rock evolution. Schoolboy Blues to Decca Powerhouse Hailing from mid-1940s Surrey, Mike Vernon absorbed church choir hymns and his parents' jazz LPs before rock'n'roll from Little Richard and Fats Domino pulled him into African American blues. At Croydon Art College, he chased Cyril Davies and Alexis Korner, co-founding R&B Monthly fanzine with brother Richarda bible for London's scene with its meticulous artist and release breakdowns. Persistence paid off when Decca hired the 18-year-old in 1962 as A&R assistant for 8 weekly. He captured visiting US blues acts and demos from the Yardbirds and Spencer Davis Group, though rejected. His breakthrough: channeling Chicago intensity into John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers' 1966 "Blues Breakers" with Eric Clapton. The album hit UK No. 6, went gold, and crowned Clapton the era's premier white blues-rock guitarist. Vernon helmed all Mayall's major releases after that. As detailed in his Wikipedia entry, this phase solidified his production chops early on. Blue Horizon Sparks a Blues Boom Vernon and Richard launched Blue Horizon for scarce US blues 45s, securing a pivotal 1967 CBS deal. Peter Green's Fleetwood Macfresh off replacing Clapton in Mayalldelivered under Vernon's guidance with "Black Magic Woman" and the haunting "Albatross," topping UK charts in December 1968. The label propelled British acts like Chicken Shack (featuring Christine McVie), Savoy Brown, and Ten Years After. It also resurrected US legendsChampion Jack Dupree, Lightnin' Slim, Otis Spann, Furry Lewis, Johnny Shines, Bukka Whitegranting them UK acclaim absent back home. Vernon even produced David Bowie's 1967 debut and "The Laughing Gnome," a novelty smash he always backed. The Guardian's obituary paints this as peak British blues fervor. Ventures Into Funk and Beyond As blues dipped in the 1970s, CBS bailed on Blue Horizon, but the brothers opened Chipping Norton Studios in 1971. Vernon dropped solo albums, fronted funk's Olympic Runners, and produced doo-wop hitmakers Rocky Sharpe and the Replays for UK and international wins. Jazz-funk outfit Level 42 and soul act Bloodstone's 1973 "Natural High" bore his stamp. By 2000, Spain became home base for mentoring young UK blues talent and his own releases, plus swapping notes on Errol Dixon and Ottilie Patterson. Mike Vernon's Enduring Blues Mark Vernon, who passed at 81, forged British blues producer stardom through Blue Horizon label, reviving forgotten greats while igniting legendshis raw, dynamic sound echoes across genres today. NO-SHOW: Immigration cubicles stand empty as only two officers out of 15 showed up for duty. 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. Harvey Weinstein has criticised Gwyneth Paltrow nearly a decade after allegations against him helped trigger the global #MeToo movement. Harvey Weinstein has criticised Gwyneth Paltrow nearly a decade after allegations against him helped trigger the global #MeToo movement Weinstein, 73, the former film producer who was convicted of sex crimes in cases brought in New York and California, made the comments in an interview conducted from custody with The Hollywood Reporter claiming he wont forgive the actress for speaking publicly about an encounter she said occurred early in her career, The fallen movie producer is currently awaiting a retrial after an appeals court overturned his New York conviction, ruling that testimony presented during the original trial had been prejudicial. In his Hollywood Reporter interview, Weinstein discussed allegations made by Gwyneth Paltrow, now 53, who said she was 22 when the then-producer allegedly made an unwanted advance during a meeting connected to a film role. Gwyneth was among dozens of women who publicly accused Harvey of sexual misconduct in 2017, accusations that helped ignite the #MeToo movement. Weinstein said: I dont know what drove her to do what she did. He added: To make such a big deal over nothing. I walked out of a nice meeting with her and said, How about a massage? And she just went, No, I dont think so. I got the message. I never put my hands on her. She told Brad Pitt. Brad Pitt came to me and said, Dont do anything like that with my girl. I said, Dont worry, Brad. I got it. But then Gwyneth goes on Howard Stern and and makes a big deal about it all. She knows that nothing happened. But this person who was a friend, who owes her career to me, just stabs me in the back. She wanted to be part of the crowd. I wont forgive her for that. Gwyneth previously said the incident took place after a meeting in a hotel room during the early stages of her acting career. She added she rejected the alleged advance and later told her then-boyfriend Brad Pitt, 62, about the encounter. Gwyneth later described how Brad confronted Harvey at the opening night of the play Hamlet on Broadway in 1995. She told Howard Stern her Fight Club actor partner pushed Weinstein against a wall and warned him: If you ever make her feel uncomfortable again, Ill kill you. Gwyneth said she had little power at the time of the incident but later decided to speak publicly about the alleged behaviour as part of a wider reckoning within the film industry. She added said: I was expected to keep the secret. Were at a point in time when women need to send a clear message that this is over. This way of treating women ends now. Gwyneth had worked with Weinstein on the film Shakespeare in Love, which he produced through Miramax. The movie went on to win multiple Academy Awards and Gwyneth received the Oscar for best actress in 1999 for her performance. Weinstein co-founded the film production companies Miramax and The Weinstein Company and produced films including Pulp Fiction and The Crying Game during his career in Hollywood. He has repeatedly denied allegations of non-consensual sexual activity and has maintained that any relationships were consensual. More information The Final Environmental Impact Statement and draft Record of Decision are available on the Forest Services website by going to www.fs.usda.gov/r03/coronado/projects and clicking on the link for the Hermosa Critical Minerals Project. Objections can also be submitted through the website; by mail to the Southwestern Regional Forester, 333 Broadway Blvd. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87102; or by email, with the subject line of CNF Hermosa Critical Minerals Project, to objections-southwestern-regional-office@usda.gov. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos updated his public resume after a report Monday by The Arizona Republic found it misrepresented his work history. The Republic reported that records show Nanos resigned in 1982 in lieu of termination from the El Paso Police Department after disciplinary problems, two years earlier than was stated on his resume. The resume was corrected as of Tuesday to show Nanos left the El Paso department in 1982, not 1984. The Sheriff's Department described the resume errors as administrative and unintentional. Nanos had initially declined to answer The Republic's questions about his work history. "You sure you dont want to go back to my high school and ask why I got swats from the principal? Good luck with your hit piece, Nanos told the newspaper. His department's written statement Tuesday after The Republic's initial article did not acknowledge the reporting, by Republic national reporter Stephanie Murray, on Nanos' disciplinary history with the El Paso police, where he worked from 1976 to 1982. "Warren Petersen knows all this,'' she said. "He has known it for years.'' Mayes also said that Petersen, who is running to be the GOP nominee for attorney general to take her on in November, has been "an unrepentant election denier.'' She pointed to a rally he had after the election in 2020 claiming "we certified the vote prematurely.'' Petersen then co-chaired the oversight of the Cyber Ninjas inquiry with Fann. Mayes also took a shot at the president, saying what his administration appears to be pursuing is not a legitimate law enforcement inquiry. "It is the weaponization of federal law enforcement in service of crackpots and lies,'' she said. The 2022 report by Brnovich was only one of several which concluded that the findings of Cyber Ninjas, which had never conducted an election audit before being hired by Fann, were misleading or wrong . Other claims had since been debunked, including people voting duplicate ballots, machine-filled-in ballots, missing signatures on absentee ballots, and tallying machines liked to the internet. For example, there was a claim by Doug Logan, CEO of Cyber Ninjas, that the county logged what he said were 74,232 more early ballots than the number of requests sent out. County spokesman Fields Moseley, whose staff worked with the county recorder to research the claims, said in response at the time there were two problems with that. First, he said the records show there were 2,364,426 requests for early ballots, with 1,918,024 returned. Axed: Ridley UK crime drama starring Adrian Dunbar ends at two seasons. UK police series Ridley starring Adrian Dunbar (Line of Duty, Blood) has been axed by ITV after two seasons. He played retired Detective Alex Ridley, lured back to the service as a consultant to assist with murder cases. An ITV spokesperson told Radio Times: There are currently no plans to return to Ridley. Wed like to extend our thanks to creator and writer Paul Matthew Thompson, executive producer Jonathan Fisher and the team at West Road Pictures for producing two successful series. Dunbar is thankfully set to return as Ted Hastings in Line of Duty Season 7, which is set to begin filming in Belfast this month. A row between Ukraine and Hungary over a pipeline carrying Russian oil appeared to deepen Wednesday when Budapest said it had dispatched a delegation for talks, only for Kyiv to deny the group had any official status. Hungary and neighbouring Slovakia accuse Kyiv of deliberately delaying reopening the Druzhba pipeline pumping Russian oil to the two landlocked states. Ukraine says the pipeline was damaged by Russian strikes in January. Hungary's Energy Minister Gabor Czepek said the group, including representatives from Slovakia, would aim to hold talks on reopening Druzhba. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was also "tasked with carrying out a fact-finding mission regarding the pipeline" to assess its condition and "create the conditions necessary for its reactivation", he said. Kyiv said it was aware that a group of Hungarians had crossed the border but stressed there was no plan for talks with officials. "It's a private trip. We didn't invite them," Ukrainian presidential official Sergiy Kyslytsya said during a meeting attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and reporters, including AFP journalists. Earlier Wednesday, Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesman Georgiy Tykhy told reporters that the "group does not have any official status or any scheduled official meetings, so it is clearly incorrect to call them a delegation". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said Budapest had notified Ukraine of the visit in advance via an "official diplomatic note". But a Ukrainian diplomatic source, speaking on condition of anonymity, shared a letter appearing to show Kyiv had rejected the dates the Hungarian side had proposed. Zelensky said last week it could take four to six weeks to make the pipeline operational again. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has urged the European Union to suspend sanctions on Russian oil and gas to counter rising prices since the Middle East war erupted. The nationalist leader, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has ramped up political attacks on Ukraine ahead of a closely fought parliamentary election in Hungary on April 12. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Relations hit a new low last week when Hungary arrested seven Ukrainian state bank employees in a money-laundering probe and seized $80 million of cash and nine gold bars they were transporting from Austria. Ukraine accused Hungary of kidnapping them and threatened to hit back with sanctions. burs/jhb Queen Camilla delivered a speech condemning abuse and violence against females during an International Womens Day event. Queen Camilla delivered a speech condemning abuse and violence against women during an International Womens Day event The 78-year-old told survivors they are not alone and criticised those who heap abuse on others without thought of consequence. Camilla spoke at an event on Tuesday (10.03.26) marking International Womens Day, which fell on 8 March, hosted by the Women of the World organisation at St Jamess Palace, London. The gathering also celebrated the 15th anniversary of the Women of the World movement and brought together campaigners, performers and public figures including Helen Mirren, Hannah Waddingham, Cherie Blair and Penny Lancaster. During the event, Camilla wore a badge bearing the phrase Shame Must Change Sides, which had been given to her by French rape survivor Gisele Pelicot. Her speech took place amid renewed attention on the Jeffrey Epstein scandal following legal developments involving her brother-in-law Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, 66, who has previously faced allegations connected to Epstein. Camilla said: To every survivor of every kind of violence, many of whom have not been able to tell their stories or who have not been believed, please know that you are not alone. She added: We stand with you and alongside you, today and every day, in solidarity, sorrow and sympathy. Every woman has a story. And these stories must be told. Because when we live in a culture of silence, we empower violence against women and girls. Camilla also criticised abusive behaviour online, saying it contributed to wider patterns of harm. She said: And we cannot be surprised by physical cruelty if, in digital forums, we turn a blind eye to those who heap abuse on others without thought of consequence. Every woman has a story. And so, too, does every man. Let us join together to, in Gisele Pelicots words, bring about a collective awakening. Its about education, respect and kindness towards others. Its that simple. Andrew Windsor has faced allegations from sex trafficking victim Virginia Giuffre, who died in 2025 from suicide aged 41 after having accused him of sexual misconduct linked to his paedophile friend Jeffrey Epstein. The former prince stripped of his royal titles in October by his older brother King Charles, 77, has always denied the allegations and later reached an out-of-court settlement with Virginia thought have been around 12 million without admitting liability. When asked if Camillas speech was a thinly veiled reference to the Epstein scandal, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said: I think Her Majestys speech speaks for itself. In a joint op-ed published in German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama called for an accelerated integration process of Serbia and Albania into the EU. They described their idea as a "realistic path to the EU", with functional partial integration serving as an intermediate step to revive the EU enlargement process and increase stability in the region. Their joint proposal entails gradual integration into the EUs internal market and the Schengen area, but without EU Commissioners from their countries, members of the European Parliament and the right of veto. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A full EU member state enjoys all of the above rights. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama. - AP Photo The EU accession process for Serbia and other Western Balkan countries has stalled for years, as candidate countries have not made sufficient progress on rule of law, anti-corruption measures, media freedom and judicial reforms required for EU membership. Western Balkans 'a new frontline for investment in EU's stength' "In our part of Europe, the Western Balkans - a region geographically surrounded by the EU and historically linked to Europe's destiny - the prospect of membership remains the strongest driver for reform, investment and reconciliation," the leaders of Serbia and Albania wrote in the article. Addressing the EU, they said: "It is high time that the EU recognises that the Western Balkans represent a new frontline for investment in the EU's strength". Together, candidate countries would now seek a "realistic path" to full membership, they said. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and French President Emmanuel Macron in January 2026. - AP Photo Accelerated integration of the prepared candidate countries into the single market and Schengen area could "strengthen the EU's economic and political position", they argued, "without burdening the EU's decision-making architecture". Serbia and Albania stated intent to reform last November In November 2025, Euronews welcomed the heads of state and government of Albania, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Ukraine as well as the President of the European Council and the EU Enlargement Commissioner to the Euronews Enlargement Summit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The event coincided with the publication of the European Commissions annual enlargement report. In the report, the Commission highlighted Belgrades lack of alignment when it comes EU sanctions against Moscow. At the summit, Serbias President Aleksandar Vucic defended his countrys commitment to reform. "I will not justify myself for having spoken to anyone," Vucic told Euronews, referring to his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic - AP Photo Vucic sidestepped a question about protests in his country and instead emphasised the countrys strong economic performance. According to him, Serbias national debt has declined. Serbia first applied for EU membership since 2009, but negotiations have since stalled. In addition to concerns over media freedom, electoral law reform and civil society, Belgrades foreign policy has been a source of concern for EU leaders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related Albania also emphasised at the Euronews Summit that it aims to become a full member of the EU by 2030 at the latest. "2030 is not a dream date, but a deadline based on a simple calculation," Rama said in his speech. He added that he expects negotiations to be finalised within the next two years. In 2025, the Albanian prime minister had secured a fourth term in office with a clear election victory. - AP Photo Together with Montenegro, Albania is considered one of the most promising candidates for EU accession. Tackling corruption, however, is one of Albania's biggest challenges if it is to become an EU member. "We accept support, partnership and help, but we don't take lessons from anyone in the fight against corruption," said Rama at the event in November. Since applying for EU membership, Albania has introduced instruments to combat corruption, such as the establishment of the "anti-corruption authority SPAK". In a rural area of Tam Quang commune, Thai Binh (now part of Hung Yen province), many locals know the special story of two brothers who married two sisters. The couples are Nguyen Duy Thanh (born 1986) and Dao Thi Phuong (born 1992), and Nguyen Duy Lam (born 1989) and Dao Thi Thao (born 1997). Thanh and Lam are biological brothers, while Phuong and Thao are biological sisters. Although their families live about 50 kilometers apart, fate brought them together in an unusual way. A special match Thanh and Lam with their wives (from left). Thanh and Phuong met first in 2015 while working at the same company. After only a few months of getting to know each other, they decided to get married. At that time, Lam was working in Japan and could only send his congratulations from afar. Because he could not attend the wedding, he knew little about his sister-in-laws family. That changed in September 2016, when Lam returned to Vietnam for good. A surprising coincidence later introduced him to Thao - the woman who would become his wife. Lam recalled that although his hometown was in Hung Yen, his parents and brother had moved to Dien Bien to live and work in 2013. When Phuong gave birth to her first child in 2016, she returned to her parents home after childbirth. During the Lunar New Year of 2017, Lam joined his parents and brother on a visit to bring Phuong back home. It was there that he met Thao for the first time. Thanh and his wife (far left) and Lam and his wife (far right) with their parents. He still remembers her petite figure and cheerful, carefree personality. Despite meeting him for the first time, Thao warmly invited him to join the family meal and chatted with him naturally. Her friendliness left a strong impression on him. After the holiday, the rest of the family returned to Dien Bien, but Lam stayed behind in his hometown. His brother later realized the reason: Lam had developed feelings for Thao. Their relationship progressed quickly. After meeting a few more times and spending time together - including a trip to the beach - they began officially dating. Once they were confident about their feelings, the couple shared the news with both families, who were delighted at the prospect of becoming in-laws once again. Lam recalled his parents saying: As long as our children are happy, we will always support them. This way, the two families will become even closer. A warm and harmonious family life The small family homes of Thanh and Lam (from left). Both families soon gathered again to discuss the wedding plans. During Lam and Thaos wedding ceremony, the same parents who had previously represented the grooms and brides families once again raised celebratory glasses and offered their blessings. Thanh and Phuong were busy helping organize the wedding. For Thanh, his younger brothers wedding - which was also the wedding of his wifes younger sister - felt like an especially joyful occasion. After getting married, Lam and Thao spent some time working and learning in Hanoi. In 2019, they moved to Dien Bien to live closer to Lams parents and Thanhs family. During their first year there, the two couples lived together in the same house, creating a lively and warm family environment. We shared meals at the same table every day. If one person was busy, the others helped out. Whenever someone had difficulties, the rest of the family supported them, Thanh said. Because the daughters-in-law were also sisters and the husbands were brothers, the family rarely experienced conflicts. In mid-2020, Lam and Thao moved to their own house about 300 meters away. Although they no longer live under the same roof, the two families remain extremely close. Instead of sharing meals daily, they usually gather on weekends so everyone can better manage their work and childcare responsibilities. Thanh shared that during these gatherings, the two sisters often call their parents back home via video, chatting about everything from daily life to family matters. Seeing this, their parents-in-law sometimes jokingly tell them: If our two sons hadnt married two sisters, we wouldnt have scenes like this - daughters-in-law calling the same parents together. The entire family often laughs at this playful remark. The closeness also extends to the next generation. Thanh and Phuong have three children, while Lam and Thao have two. The cousins are very close and affectionate because they see the strong bond between their parents. Even the way family members address each other remains simple and harmonious. Lams children call Thanh and Phuong uncle and aunt, while Thanhs children address Lam and Thao as uncle and aunt as well. Over the years, the two couples have shared many important moments together, including caring for their parents on both sides of the family. Thanh said he feels grateful for this special connection, which has made the entire family even more united and happy. Thanh Minh Under the programme, the southern largest economic hub has set several key health targets to be achieved by 2030. The average height of children and adolescents under 18 is expected to increase by at least 1.5cm, while the average life expectancy of residents is projected to reach around 77 years, including at least 68 years of healthy living. From 2026, residents will receive free periodic health check-ups or screening examinations at least once a year. Each citizen will also be issued an electronic health record to monitor and manage their health throughout their lifetime. By 2030, the city plans to implement a policy to exempt residents from basic hospital fees while ensuring universal health insurance coverage. The municipal authorities aim to ensure that all commune- and ward-level health stations are equipped with adequate facilities and personnel. The proportion of health insurance-based medical examinations and treatment conducted at grassroots health facilities is targeted to exceed 20%. Looking ahead to 2045, Ho Chi Minh City seeks to build a high-quality living environment where key health indicators and essential healthcare services are on par with those of developed countries in the region and worldwide. By that time, the average life expectancy of residents is expected to exceed 80 years, including more than 71 healthy living years. The healthcare system is expected to become modern, equitable, efficient and sustainable, prioritising disease prevention while meeting increasingly diverse healthcare needs of the population. To realise these goals, the municipal Party Committee has outlined six groups of solutions, including improving healthcare mechanisms and policies; strengthening preventive and grassroots healthcare systems; enhancing the quality of the healthcare workforce; reforming healthcare financing; promoting breakthroughs in science, technology and digital transformation; and accelerating the development of the private healthcare sector while mobilising more resources for healthcare. In the coming period, the city plans to rotate at least 1,000 doctors each year to work for a certain period at ward- and commune-level health stations to improve the quality of medical examination and treatment at the grassroots level. Ho Chi Minh City will also gradually increase spending on disease prevention as well as early diagnosis and treatment of certain illnesses, particularly for priority groups. The State budget and the Health Insurance Fund are expected to cover a number of preventive services, chronic disease management, periodic health check-ups and screening services provided at primary healthcare facilities. At the same time, the city is promoting comprehensive digital transformation in healthcare and completing healthcare databases that meet standards for connectivity and data sharing. Electronic health records, electronic medical records and e-prescriptions will be operated to ensure synchronised connectivity and lifecycle-based health data management, while advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data and the Internet of Things will be increasingly applied to enhance transparency and efficiency in medical services. To mobilise more resources for healthcare development, the city plans to introduce incentive mechanisms for private healthcare providers, including allowing flexible conversion of land use purposes to medical land for certain suitable projects while accelerating land clearance for healthcare-related construction projects. In the coming years, Ho Chi Minh City is also expected to develop additional campuses of several general and specialised hospitals to ease pressure on central facilities and improve healthcare services for residents in the city and neighbouring localities./. VNA A concept image of the iPhone 18 Pro Max in red. Photo: AR Technology/YouTube A sleek design with a slightly transparent back, bold new colors that draw attention, and a camera system capable of competing with professional photography gear are among the rumors surrounding Apples highly anticipated flagship models - the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max - expected to debut in September 2026. According to leaks cited by sources such as MacRumors, CNET and Forbes, excitement around Apples next-generation Pro lineup is already building within the tech community. If these reports prove accurate, the 2026 Pro models could become one of the most intriguing iPhone generations in years. A fresh design with a semi-transparent back Apple has long been known for its philosophy of gradual design evolution rather than radical change. With the iPhone 18 Pro series, the company may continue that approach but with a bold twist. One of the biggest rumors centers on a new glass finish on the back that creates a semi-transparent effect, replacing the current two-tone aesthetic. According to leaked descriptions, the back panel may allow users to subtly glimpse parts of the devices internal structure, creating a more futuristic appearance and a smoother visual transition between the metal frame and glass surface. This design could make the iPhone appear more premium while eliminating the strong color contrast between different materials. Instead, the entire device would feature a more unified and refined look. Display sizes are expected to remain largely unchanged. The iPhone 18 Pro may retain a 6.3-inch display, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max could continue with a 6.9-inch screen. However, the Pro Max version may become slightly heavier, exceeding 240g and slightly thicker to accommodate a larger battery. The rear camera module could also receive subtle refinements, with a more streamlined camera platform that still retains the familiar triple-lens layout but appears more balanced. In addition, the Ceramic Shield ring surrounding the MagSafe charging area could adopt a semi-transparent design, further reinforcing the devices futuristic aesthetic. Bolder color options for the Pro lineup For years, iPhone Pro models have typically appeared in understated tones such as gray, silver or natural titanium. However, Apple is rumored to be experimenting with more vibrant color options for the iPhone 18 Pro series. One of the most notable possibilities is a deep red or burgundy finish, a luxurious shade that could debut alongside the devices launch. Apple has released red iPhones before, but those usually appeared later in the product cycle, such as with the iPhone 7. Other experimental colors reportedly include warm coffee brown and deep purple. Among these, the burgundy shade is believed to be the most likely to reach mass production. If Apple maintains its usual strategy, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max could launch with four to five color options. Importantly, these colors may not simply be coatings but integrated directly into the titanium frame, helping prevent fading and maintaining a polished look over time. Display and front camera improvements While the iPhone 18 Pro Max display may not change dramatically in size, subtle improvements could maximize usable screen space. Dynamic Island - the cutout housing the camera and sensors - is rumored to shrink by about 35 percent. This could make watching videos and gaming feel less distracting. Some rumors also mention under-display Face ID technology, which would move the front camera to the upper-left corner and eliminate the cutout entirely. However, several sources suggest the technology may not be ready by 2026, meaning Dynamic Island will likely remain but in a more compact form. Apple may also upgrade the selfie camera to 24 megapixels, compared with the current 18-megapixel sensor. This improvement could deliver sharper video calls and higher-quality self-portraits, an upgrade that may particularly appeal to content creators. Rear camera: A new step in mobile photography Camera performance has always been a defining feature of the iPhone Pro series, and the iPhone 18 Pro Max could continue pushing the boundaries of mobile photography. Building on the familiar triple-camera system - consisting of a main lens, ultra-wide lens and 5x telephoto lens - Apple may introduce a mechanical variable aperture. This would allow users to adjust the aperture from f/1.6 to f/22, similar to DSLR cameras. Such flexibility could provide greater control over depth of field, enabling artistic background blur for portraits or sharper details for landscape photography. The feature could also help reduce overexposure and improve performance in low-light conditions. Telephoto lenses may also receive wider apertures, helping reduce noise when zooming in darker environments. Some leaks also mention a new triple-layer stacked sensor that could deliver faster processing speeds, higher dynamic range and more accurate colors. Performance and connectivity powered by the A20 chip Inside the iPhone 18 Pro Max could be Apples new A20 Pro chip, reportedly manufactured using TSMCs 2nm process. The chip is expected to use Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module packaging, allowing RAM to be integrated directly with the CPU and GPU. This design could improve performance by around 15 percent while increasing energy efficiency by as much as 30 percent. The device is also rumored to feature 12GB of RAM as standard, enabling smoother multitasking and stronger support for Apples artificial intelligence features. Battery capacity may also exceed 5,000mAh, potentially reaching around 5,200mAh in the eSIM-only Pro Max version. With a more efficient chip and optimized design, battery life could see noticeable improvements. In terms of connectivity, Apple may introduce a new C2 modem supporting faster 5G mmWave speeds and expanded satellite connectivity for services such as messaging and navigation outside traditional network coverage. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max may not completely redefine the smartphone experience, but Apple appears to be refining nearly every aspect of the device - from the semi-transparent finish and bold new color palette to meaningful upgrades in camera technology and performance. At a time when the smartphone industry is racing toward foldable displays and flashy AI features, Apples strategy of focusing on refinement and polish could offer a different kind of appeal. If the rumors prove accurate, the iPhone 18 Pro Max may become a device that keeps users deeply invested in the iOS ecosystem for years to come. Hai Phong From Japan to the mountainous district of Con Cuong in Nghe An province, Japanese volunteer Unoki Kohei is not only supporting the development of community tourism but also working alongside local residents to safeguard the traditional cultural values of the Thai ethnic group. Unoki Kohei believes Con Cuong is a land rich in natural beauty, distinctive culture and warm hearted people. Unoki Kohei is a Japanese volunteer working in the field of community development and is currently assigned to the Peoples Committee of Con Cuong commune in Nghe An. He holds a masters degree in Earth and Environmental Sciences from the Graduate School of Science and Technology at Kumamoto University in Japan. Before taking up his assignment in Vietnam, Unoki underwent more than two months of intensive training at the training center of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). During this time, volunteers were trained in skills for living and working overseas and also studied Vietnamese. He then continued with one additional month of training in Hanoi, and throughout his assignment JICA has supported him in further improving his Vietnamese language skills. In his daily work in Vietnam, he communicates directly with local officials and residents in Vietnamese, occasionally using translation applications when needed. Working in Con Cuong commune, Nghe An, Unoki Kohei has developed a deep appreciation for the nature, people and cultural life of the Thai community there. For him, preserving cultural identity is not only about protecting traditions but also about unlocking the potential for sustainable community tourism. Discovering a land rich in culture and nature When asked what brought him from Japan to the mountainous region of western Nghe An and the Thai community there, Unoki explained that he came to Vietnam as part of the JICA volunteer program. Through the process of registering volunteers areas of interest and matching them with the needs of localities in partner countries, JICA assigned him to work at the Peoples Committee of Con Cuong district - now Con Cuong commune in Nghe An province. When he first started working there, he quickly realized that the region possessed many appealing qualities: abundant nature, distinctive culture and, above all, the warmth of the local people. Even now, he feels fortunate to have the opportunity to live and work in this area. Reflecting on his first impressions of the villages in Con Cuong, Unoki said the region still preserves the simple traditional lifestyle of the Thai people. Local residents, he noted, are extremely friendly and welcomed him - a foreign visitor - with genuine warmth and sincerity. The Japanese volunteer believes Thai culture is one of the key elements that make tourism in Con Cuong especially attractive. When he first visited the villages in Con Cuong, what impressed him most was that traditional Thai culture remains deeply present in everyday life. Stilt houses, traditional cuisine and brocade weaving all contribute to a living cultural space rarely found in large cities. He was also deeply touched by the hospitality of the residents. Although he is a foreigner, people often receive him as if he were part of their family. Sometimes language remains a barrier, he admitted, but through smiles and sincerity he has always felt welcomed and able to integrate easily into the community. Community tourism built on nature and culture According to Unoki, Con Cuong holds great potential for community tourism thanks to its rich natural environment and the traditional cultures of ethnic minority groups. The region is blessed with diverse ecosystems, particularly the Pu Mat National Park. Vast forests, mountains and rivers have largely retained their pristine character, creating ideal conditions for eco tourism and nature based experiences. At the same time, the area preserves many traditional cultural values of ethnic minority groups, especially the Thai people. Experiences such as staying in homestays within traditional stilt houses, enjoying local cuisine, watching traditional dances and learning about handicrafts can all become attractive tourism products. This combination of nature and culture forms the foundation for community tourism. It is a model in which local residents directly participate and benefit, while also maintaining and protecting their cultural identity. The cultural appeal of Thai traditions Unoki believes that Thai cultural traditions play a crucial role in creating the appeal of tourism in this region. Stilt houses, for instance, are not merely a type of dwelling. They embody generations of knowledge and experience in how local people live in harmony with nature. When visitors stay in these houses as part of a homestay experience, they can directly experience that traditional way of life. Local cuisine prepared with bamboo, forest ingredients and other natural materials, along with traditional music, dances and handicrafts such as brocade weaving, also offer unique cultural experiences. Importantly, these cultural elements are not performances staged solely for tourists. They have long existed as part of everyday life in the community. Because of that authenticity, visitors can truly feel the uniqueness and sincerity of the local culture. Balancing tourism development and cultural preservation Unoki Kohei is deeply impressed by the friendliness and hospitality of local residents, who often welcome him like a member of their own family. According to Unoki, the key to successful community tourism lies in maintaining a balance between development and cultural preservation. Culture should not be altered or distorted simply to serve tourism. Instead, communities should respect and maintain their traditional lifestyles and share those values naturally with visitors. Local residents, he emphasized, must play a central role in the tourism development process. Rather than having outside actors make all decisions, residents should take pride in their culture and welcome visitors in ways that align with their own rhythm of life. This approach will help tourism grow in a more sustainable way over the long term. Challenges facing local communities Through his work supporting community tourism, Unoki has observed several challenges facing local residents. While people are increasingly interested in developing tourism, difficulties remain, particularly in communication, promotion and marketing. For example, using the internet to introduce destinations or communicate with international tourists is still relatively new for many residents. In addition, most homestays in the area are managed by families, and not everyone has formal training in tourism services. Therefore, sustainable tourism development will require time for local people to gradually learn and accumulate experience. Lessons from Japan and other countries Drawing on experiences from Japan and other countries, Unoki believes there are valuable lessons that could benefit community tourism in Vietnams mountainous regions. In Japan, many rural and mountainous areas have successfully developed tourism based on local nature and culture. In these places, residents often cooperate with one another to collectively organize tourism activities, creating a community based system for welcoming visitors. Even small regions can become well known if they communicate and promote their unique features effectively. Unoki believes that if Con Cuong can clearly present and promote its cultural and natural values, more and more visitors will discover the region. Changing awareness among local residents Con Cuong is blessed with pristine landscapes and remarkable natural beauty, while also serving as a cradle of rich cultural traditions of ethnic minority communities. Since the beginning of his work in the area, Unoki has noticed encouraging changes in local attitudes toward tourism. When he first arrived, many residents believed tourists would only visit through travel companies. Recently, however, some people have begun to realize that they themselves can introduce and promote their villages to visitors. Residents are also gradually recognizing that the culture and natural environment of their homeland are valuable assets that visitors find appealing. For Unoki, this shift in awareness is a very important step forward. The community at the center of sustainable tourism While support from government agencies and businesses is important, Unoki believes the most crucial factor in community tourism remains the local people themselves. As the name suggests, community tourism places the local community at the center. When residents feel proud of their culture and natural surroundings and wish to share their homeland with visitors, tourism can develop in a sustainable way. A message to international visitors If international visitors come to the Thai villages of western Nghe An, Unoki hopes they will feel the warmth of community life and the strong connections among people there. The region offers not only beautiful natural scenery but also a cultural heritage and way of life preserved through generations. It may not yet be a famous destination, he said, but that is precisely what allows visitors to experience a genuine and simple side of Vietnam. If travelers leave with fond memories of the local culture and the hospitality of the people, Unoki says he would feel truly happy. Thai An The assessment was shared by experts at the launch of the DHL Global Connectedness Report 2026, jointly released by DHL and the Stern School of Business at New York University during an event in Hanoi on March 10. Short-term disruption likely According to John Pearson, Chief Executive Officer of DHL Express, logistics and air transport operations in the Middle East were immediately affected when tensions in the region escalated. In recent days, several flights and cargo transport activities have been suspended or limited, causing disruptions to supply chains. Despite these challenges, DHL said international trade continues to strive to maintain its recovery momentum and is expected to gradually stabilize once geopolitical tensions ease. As one of the worlds largest logistics companies, DHL has maintained a presence in the Middle East since 1996. Over the past 12 months, the region has continued to record positive growth thanks to strong demand for cargo transport, particularly in major logistics hubs such as Dubai. Sharing a similar view, Professor Steven A. Altman, Director of the DHL Initiative on Globalization at the NYU Stern Center for the Future of Management, said instability in the Middle East will inevitably affect global trade. The region accounts for around 4-6% of total global goods trade. However, based on economic data and historical developments, Altman believes the current disruption is likely to be short-lived and will not fundamentally alter the ongoing trajectory of globalization. I remain optimistic about the regions ability to recover in the near future, he said. The DHL Global Connectedness Report 2026 shows that globalization remains at a record-high level despite rising geopolitical tensions and higher tariffs imposed by the US. The report measures globalization on a scale from 0% - representing no cross-border activity - to 100%, where borders and distance no longer influence flows. Results for 2025 show that the worlds globalization level reached 25%, matching the record high previously set in 2022. Experts predict that global trade will continue to expand in the coming years. Recent US tariff increases may slow trade growth in the short term, but they are unlikely to significantly disrupt global trade flows. Forecasts indicate that global goods trade will grow at an average rate of 2.6% per year through 2029, roughly in line with growth over the past decade. One reason global trade continues to expand is that most international commerce does not directly involve the US. In 2025, around 13% of global imports were destined for the US, while 9% of global exports originated from the country. Meanwhile, many countries are pursuing new trade agreements to ensure access to alternative markets. Vietnam among top 10 countries improving global connectivity The report also highlights Vietnam as one of the ten countries with the strongest increase in global connectivity over the past 25 years. Between 2001 and 2025, Vietnam gained 6.5 points in the Global Connectedness Index. Two other Asia-Pacific economies, Singapore and Laos, also recorded strong increases during the same period. Singapore currently ranks first in the world in the 2026 globalization index. In this years ranking, Vietnam stands 36th among 180 economies based on international flows of trade, capital, information and people. Notably, among middle-income economies, Vietnam - together with Malaysia and Thailand - achieved the highest level of global connectedness. According to Professor Altman, Vietnams sustained growth in per capita income over the past decades has gone hand in hand with a surge in trade since the country launched its economic reform policy. Today, Vietnam ranks sixth globally in terms of goods exports relative to GDP and fifth worldwide in export market reach. The outlook for the 2026-2030 period is considered highly positive. Vietnam is projected to record the worlds fourth-largest absolute increase in goods trade and the 24th-fastest trade growth rate, at about 6% per year. Vietnam is currently the worlds sixth-largest goods exporting economy relative to GDP. I hope Vietnam can continue improving its position to fourth place in the future, Altman said. Hong Khanh From March 31 to April 2, 2026, the ProPak Vietnam 2026 exhibition will take place at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC). During the event, the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) in Vietnam, in collaboration with the Italian Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Association (UCIMA), will present an exhibition area featuring 15 leading Italian companies specializing in food processing and packaging machinery. The companies will be located at booths nr. AL1-5, AL7-16, AL19 in Hall A2. Visitors will have the opportunity to engage directly with Italian manufacturers of food processing and packaging equipment and explore a wide range of packaging solutions. These include processing, filling, capping, and both primary and secondary packaging systems for various industries such as food processing, beverages, confectionery, agriculture, personal care and cosmetics, as well as transportation systems and end-of-line equipment. For Vietnamese businesses, the exhibition offers a valuable chance to stay updated on the latest trends and access advanced packaging technologies, helping optimize production processes and improve overall operational efficiency. The Italian packaging machinery industry is currently experiencing strong growth while maintaining a leading position globally. ProPak Vietnam 2026, Italian Trade Agency, UCIMA, Italian packaging machinery, packaging technology, food processing equipment, Vietnam packaging industry, sustainable packaging In 2024, industry revenue reached a record 10 billion (approximately US$10.8 billion), with exports accounting for around 80 percent of total revenue. The European Union remains the largest market, followed by Asia, non-EU Europe, North America, and Central and South America. The top three export destinations are the United States, France and Germany. This leadership, built over many years by Italian manufacturers of automatic packaging and wrapping machines, is supported by several core strengths. These include a high technological and quality standard in machinery design, strong customization capabilities and production flexibility, reliable after-sales services across global markets, and a competitive balance between quality and price. Italy is also a pioneer in developing eco-friendly packaging solutions that help businesses meet ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) standards. With a strong commitment to sustainability and minimizing environmental impact, Italian packaging machinery manufacturers continue to improve production processes, increase the use of recycled materials, and develop reusable packaging solutions. Alongside technological innovation, the Italian packaging industry is also investing heavily in building a global technical support network. Italian machinery manufacturers maintain robust customer service systems that allow clients to easily maintain, upgrade and optimize equipment performance. Continuous technical support helps businesses increase productivity while minimizing downtime in production lines. Over the years, ITA has organized Italian pavilions at ProPak Vietnam, attracting the participation of many Italian companies and creating opportunities for cooperation and market expansion. The event allows Italian businesses not only to connect with partners in Vietnam but also to strengthen their brand presence across Southeast Asia, opening new prospects for collaboration and sustainable growth. The packaging industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors in Vietnam, with a projected annual growth rate of 15-20 percent in the coming years, according to Vietnam Briefing. This expansion is driven by rapid economic and social development, the rapid rise of e-commerce, and a network of free trade agreements that boost both domestic retail consumption and international exports. ProPak Vietnam 2026 is expected to be a pivotal event, showcasing advanced packaging technologies while further strengthening trade connections between Italy and Vietnamese businesses. Phuong Uyen Customers visit a DatBike electric motorbike dealership on Nghi Tam Street in Hanoi as demand increases. The recent surge in gasoline prices has significantly increased transportation costs, prompting many consumers in Hanoi to consider switching from gasoline-powered motorbikes to electric alternatives. Gasoline prices have climbed steadily in recent weeks, at times exceeding VND27,000 per liter (US$1.10), putting pressure on household transportation budgets. As a result, the electric motorbike market has become noticeably more active, with dealers reporting a sharp increase in both customer visits and sales. Electric motorbikes selling rapidly At several electric motorbike stores in Hanoi, customer traffic has risen significantly in recent days, with some dealerships experiencing near-constant crowds. A sales employee at a DatBike dealership on Nghi Tam Street in Tay Ho District said the number of visitors and buyers has surged in recent days, roughly three to four times higher than usual. Previously, we sold about four to five bikes per day, and on busy days perhaps seven or eight. But over the past two days, sales have jumped to around 20 bikes per day, the employee said. For an electric motorbike store, that is a very impressive figure. According to the employee, most customers are looking for models priced between VND40 million and VND50 million (US$1,600-2,000). Many buyers mention rising gasoline costs as the main reason for considering electric motorbikes. Some customers who previously visited the store just to explore options have now returned to place orders. A VinFast electric motorbike dealership on Tran Hung Dao Street has recorded a similar surge in interest, with customer numbers rising sharply over the past few days. Not only are stores crowded with visitors, but remote consultation channels such as hotlines have also become overloaded. A sales representative said staff have had to prioritize in-store consultations due to the sudden influx of customers. Customers keep coming to look at the bikes. Sometimes we have to focus on assisting them directly, so we cannot answer all hotline calls immediately, the representative explained. Many visitors are particularly interested in models priced below VND30 million (approximately US$1,200), such as the Evo or Feliz lines, because their operating costs are extremely low - often only a few thousand dong worth of electricity for dozens of kilometers of travel. At a Honda dealership on Vo Chi Cong Street in Hanoi, which sells the electric ICON e: model, staff also reported increased customer interest. Previously, inquiries about Hondas electric motorbikes were limited, as most customers still preferred familiar gasoline-powered scooters. However, with fuel prices rising steadily, more people are beginning to explore electric options. Consumers reconsider transportation costs Nguyen Minh Tuan, a resident of Hoang Mai District in Hanoi, said he is considering replacing his gasoline motorbike after more than six years of use. In the past, filling up with VND70,000-VND80,000 (US$2.80-3.20) could last several days. Now every refill is nearly VND100,000 (about US$4) but it doesnt go very far, he said. If I switch to an electric motorbike, I think the running cost would be much lower. Similarly, Pham Thu Hang, an office worker in Thanh Xuan District, said she had never considered buying an electric motorbike before. But recently gasoline prices have gone up, and Ive also heard that Hanoi may restrict gasoline-powered motorbikes in the future, so I started researching electric models, she said. Hoang Anh, who lives in Dong Anh and works at a Samsung factory in Bac Ninh, said he usually commutes by company shuttle bus because the distance from home to work is quite far. However, recent rumors about possible fuel shortages have made him concerned about transportation options. If the company shuttle stops running or I need to travel independently, I wouldnt know how to manage, he said. As a result, he and his wife are considering purchasing an electric motorbike as a backup means of transport and a way to save fuel costs if gasoline prices continue rising. In reality, the shift toward electric vehicles is driven not only by fuel costs. Market studies show that Vietnam is one of the fastest-growing electric two-wheeler markets in the world, with hundreds of thousands of units sold each year. VinFast alone sold more than 406,000 electric motorbikes in 2025, highlighting rapidly growing demand. Industry forecasts suggest that Vietnams electric two-wheeler market could reach about US$7 billion in revenue by 2030, expanding at an average annual growth rate of around 18%. Environmental policies and potential restrictions on gasoline-powered vehicles in major cities are also expected to accelerate this transition. Y Nhuy Seven years ago, Ha Ngoc Chi from Lang Son received a heart transplant from a 37 year old donor. Today, that donated heart continues to beat strongly, helping her pursue her dreams as a student. Not only has Chi regained her health, but she has also worked hard academically. Recently, she won second prize in a provincial chemistry competition for outstanding students. The heart she received years ago did not just save her life - it also helped illuminate a brighter future for the determined young girl. Chi receives a health check-up seven years after her heart transplant. Photo: Hospital provided Since childhood, Chi had suffered from dilated cardiomyopathy. Her family faced many difficulties. Her father works as a factory worker while her mother takes on cleaning jobs to support the family. Their hardship was even greater because Chis older brother also had the same disease and had passed away. The burden of making a living combined with constant worries about illness often pushed the family to the brink. Doctors explained that the only way to prolong Chis life was a heart transplant. When her parents heard that their daughter had a chance to receive a new heart, they felt both joy and anxiety. There was hope, but also many concerns - especially about the cost of such a complicated operation. The family tried to raise money from many sources and received help from kind donors. Yet another question remained: where would a suitable heart come from? Then a miracle happened. A 37 year old man suffered a serious traffic accident and was declared brain dead. In their moment of deepest grief, his family decided to donate his organs to save others. Chis medical indicators at the time matched the donated heart. On October 1, 2019, the heart transplant surgery was successfully performed at Viet Duc Friendship Hospital in Hanoi. The donated heart began beating again inside the young girls chest, bringing with it life, hope and a new future. Now, seven years later, that heart of compassion continues to beat steadily, helping Chi grow, study and continue pursuing the dreams of her youth. N. Huyen Robert Carradines ashes will be scattered at sea. Robert Carradines ashes will be scattered at sea The actor, 71, known for roles in film and television including Lizzie McGuire, died on 23 February aged 71 by suicide, and documents obtained by TMZ now show Robert has been cremated, with plans for his ashes to be scattered in the water. The Los Angeles Medical Examiners Office previously confirmed Roberts death was caused by a brain injury resulting from hanging. Roberts family later issued a statement describing his long struggle with bipolar disorder and urging greater awareness of mental health. They said in a statement: It is with profound sadness that we must share that our beloved father, grandfather, uncle, and brother Robert Carradine has passed away. In a world that can feel so dark, Bobby was always a beacon of light to everyone around him. The statement continued: We are bereft at the loss of this beautiful soul and want to acknowledge Bobbys valiant struggle against his nearly two-decade battle with bipolar disorder. We hope his journey can shine a light and encourage addressing the stigma that attaches to mental illness. At this time we ask for the privacy to grieve this unfathomable loss. With gratitude for your understanding and compassion. Robert had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder after the death of his brother David Carradine, who died in 2009 aged 72. In the weeks before his death, Robert had been preparing to begin work on a film project titled The Driver. Director Connie Lamothe told the Daily Mail Robert had been expected to play the mafia crime leader Antonio Politano in the production. She said: The last conversation was positive and upbeat. The filmmaker added Robert had spoken with members of the production team in mid-January and appeared ready to begin work. Connie said: There was nothing that suggested otherwise. Robert was part of a prominent acting family and had worked in film and television for decades. His daughter Ever Carradine, 50, is also an actor. She was born during Roberts relationship with actor Susan Snyder. Robert later married Edith Mani and the couple had two children, Marika Carradine and Ian Carradine. Robert and Edith were married for 25 years before divorcing. The Resolution A/Res/80/249 was approved on March 10 during the 80th session of the assembly. The initiative was proposed by Brazil together with a core group of 18 countries, including Vietnam, and received co-sponsorship from 97 UN member states the highest level of support among draft resolutions considered at the current session. The strong backing reflects the international communitys recognition of the coffee sectors importance in promoting socio-economic development and sustainable livelihoods for millions of people worldwide. The resolution highlights that coffee is not only a key agricultural commodity but also carries profound cultural and social values, closely linked to the traditions and daily life of many countries. The global coffee industry plays a vital role in supporting the livelihoods of millions of households, particularly smallholder farmers, while generating significant export revenues for developing economies. It also acknowledges the contribution of the global coffee value chain to economic growth, job creation and poverty reduction, as well as its role in advancing food security, gender equality and the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. For Vietnam one of the worlds leading coffee producers and exporters, the adoption of the resolution holds special significance. As a member of the core group promoting the initiative, Vietnam actively worked with partners to advance the proposal, helping strengthen international cooperation for the sustainable development of the global coffee value chain while promoting the image and value of Vietnamese coffee worldwide. The resolution is expected to encourage governments, international organisations and stakeholders to deepen cooperation in supporting coffee-growing communities and fostering innovation in the sector./. VNA Documents for the 14th National Party Congress have reaffirmed the imperative of pursuing rapid yet sustainable development anchored in sci-tech, innovation, and digital transformation, while placing strong emphasis on efficient management and use of natural resources, environment protection, and proactive climate change adaptation. Green growth, circular economy, and low-carbon economy are identified as cross-cutting orientations designed to drive deep structural economic reform; boost productivity, quality, efficiency, and national competitiveness. Amid new development requirements, advancing green growth is no longer viewed as discretionary but as an inevitable path to harmonise robust economic expansion with environment protection and rising living standards. In response, the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Environments Party Committee moved swiftly to issue an action plan in line with the 14th National Party Congresss Resolution. The plan targets sustainable agricultural development grounded in green and ecological principles, with sharply reduced emissions, while ensuring food security, lifting rural incomes, improving the effective management and use of natural resources, and proactively adapting to climate change, all in support of the broader ambition to achieve sustained double-digit growth. To deliver on these goals, the plan spells out specific tasks, timelines, lead and coordinating agencies, and resource requirements. Institutional reform sits at its core, with priority given to building a modern legal framework for emerging domains, including green economy, circular economy, and carbon markets. It also calls for greater decentralisation accompanied by oversight, a decisive shift from pre-approval controls to ex-post supervision, and the use of sci-tech and data as the backbone of modern governance. A detailed roadmap for revising, supplementing, and issuing legal documents has been laid out, complete with assigned responsibilities and deadlines, signaling firm intent to convert the Partys resolution into concrete, measurable action. In the new development phase, green growth stands as both a strategic direction and a long-term national commitment. Many localities have moved proactively to translate the policy into tailored schemes and practical models adapted to their specific circumstances. The northern mountainous province of Son La offers a clear illustration of how green growth can be attuned to local realities. Guided by the Party Central Committees directives, the provincial Party Committee has identified two pillars: climate-resilient clean and organic agriculture powered by modern technology, and the development of eco-tourism, agricultural tourism, and experiential travel that capitalises on its cultural heritage and natural landscapes. To date, Son La has established nine hi-tech agricultural zones, hundreds of traceable planting areas and safe agricultural supply chains, and hundreds of OCOP (One Commune One Product) items, many of which are protected domestically and globally. Local farm produce have been exported to more than 20 countries and territories. In tourism, the province is working to build a sustainable eco-tourism brand to drive the green restructuring of its economy. Notably, the Moc Chau National Tourist Area has been honoured by the World Travel Awards as Asias Leading Nature Destination for four consecutive years (2022-2025) and Worlds Leading Nature Destination in 2022, 2023, and 2025. With the right policy mix, institutional support, and measurable results, green growth is poised to emerge as a pillar of Vietnams new development model, helping advance its ambition for rapid and sustainable progress. Looking ahead, the provincial Party Committee plans to renew leadership approach, focus on key priorities and breakthrough areas, and promptly evaluate on-the-ground experiences to scale effective models. Priority will be given to developing circular economy in agriculture, through greater reuse and deep processing of by-products, and linking clean, organic, hi-tech agriculture with eco-tourism. These aim to minimise environmental footprints, protect biodiversity, and preserve both cultural identity and natural scenery. At the same time, Son La seeks to effectively harness its potential in solar, hydropower, wind, and biomass energy, while expanding renewable energy production and models tailored to local conditions./. VNA The first two human books participating in Vietnams Human Library. Thai Ha Books has launched Vietnams first Human Library in Hanoi - a unique reading space where the books are not printed pages but real people sharing their life stories. The idea for the project had been nurtured for years by Dr Nguyen Manh Hung, CEO of Thai Ha Books. He said the concept was first considered when the company opened the Museum of Books and Reading Culture in Hanoi about five years ago. On its opening day, the first two human books available for readers were Dr Nguyen Manh Hung himself and Donald Stark, director of DEE Publishing in New Zealand. Both are also prolific authors. Dr Hung has written and published 16 books, while Stark has authored around 60 titles. Speaking to VietNamNet, Dr Hung explained that the Human Library is a special library model in which books are neither printed volumes, e-books nor audiobooks, but real people with real-life stories. Participants can borrow a human book to have a direct conversation and listen to their experiences for a set period of time. However, he prefers a more approachable name for the concept - the living book library. Here, books are volunteers who share their life stories and answer questions from readers. Each reading session usually lasts about 20 to 30 minutes in the form of a direct conversation, he said. According to Dr Hung, the Human Library is a community project designed to promote dialogue between people, helping foster empathy, understanding and a reduction in social prejudice. In this model, the book is the storyteller, while the reader is the person who comes to listen and ask questions. The reading space thus becomes a two-way conversation, where readers can ask almost anything as long as the discussion remains respectful and civil. In the early stages, most living books will be well-known individuals with influence and credibility in society. Over time, however, the library plans to expand to include people from a wider range of backgrounds, especially those with unique life experiences. Dr Hung said he hopes the library will feature truly meaningful human books, such as former drug addicts who have rebuilt their lives, transgender individuals, people with disabilities, migrants who moved from rural areas to cities, or those who have experienced major life challenges. Stories shared directly like this can help listeners understand life from another persons perspective. That can change how we see the world and sometimes even change our own lives, he said. Hung also emphasized that the Human Library concept is not his own invention. The model began in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2000 when social activists Ronni Abergel, Danni Abergel, Asma Mouna and Christoffer Erichsen launched the initiative. It was first introduced at the Roskilde Music Festival with the aim of combating violence and social prejudice. Since then, the concept has spread widely and is now present in more than 70 to 80 countries worldwide. We are simply one of the organizations bringing this meaningful model closer to readers in Vietnam, Hung said. According to the organizers, the key difference of the Human Library is that readers do not passively receive information as they would from traditional books. Instead, they can ask questions, exchange ideas and engage directly with the storyteller. Tinh Le The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade meets with businesses to discuss fuel supply on March 10. Photo: Thu Thuy According to representatives from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade, the price of RON95 gasoline in Vietnam remains lower than equivalent products in several countries across the region. Anyone who still has inventory should pump it out and sell it. If you keep holding it, you will have to bear the losses later, an official advised fuel traders. On the morning of March 10, during a working session between the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade and fuel distribution businesses, Nguyen Khac Hieu, deputy head of the Energy Management Division, analyzed the price structure of RON95 gasoline. Currently, this type of gasoline is priced at VND27,047 per liter (approximately US$1.10). Of this, the import cost from the Singapore market accounts for nearly VND19,000 per liter (approximately US$0.77), equivalent to around 70 percent of the total price structure. The remaining 30 percent consists of import taxes, logistics costs and business operating expenses. According to Hieu, the governments recent decision to reduce the preferential import tax on certain fuel products from 10 percent to zero percent will help stabilize domestic retail gasoline prices. In addition, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Finance are preparing to activate the fuel price stabilization fund. If global oil prices rise sharply, the fund will be used immediately to support price control. As a result, gasoline prices in the coming period are expected to remain relatively stable, especially as global oil prices are currently trending downward. Those who still have fuel in storage should release it for sale. If they keep it, they will have to accept losses later, he told traders attending the meeting. How Vietnams fuel prices compare with other countries According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade, Vietnams RON95 gasoline price remains lower than comparable products in several countries across the region. Specifically, gasoline prices are currently about VND46,000 per liter (US$1.87) in Singapore, VND38,600 per liter (US$1.57) in Laos and VND32,000 per liter (US$1.30) in Thailand. In China, the price is around VND28,900 per liter (US$1.18), while Cambodia records about VND28,800 per liter (US$1.17). Indonesias gasoline price is around VND20,000 per liter (US$0.81), while Malaysia records roughly VND17,000 per liter (US$0.69) due to government fuel subsidies. Overall, gasoline prices in Vietnam are increasing, but compared with countries with similar levels of economic development, our prices remain lower, Hieu said. In response to current market conditions, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade is testing a localized fuel management approach that includes three key measures. First, distributors that need to move fuel tankers within the city center can submit documents to the department with vehicle license plates and travel routes. The department will then coordinate with the citys Department of Construction to allow tankers to travel during daytime hours, helping speed up fuel distribution. Second, importers encountering difficulties with customs procedures can notify the department so it can coordinate with local customs authorities to provide a green lane for faster clearance. Third, the department will implement a daily monitoring plan for fuel supply. Fuel wholesalers and distributors will be required to report their inventory and supply situation each day, allowing authorities to coordinate distribution between areas experiencing shortages and those with surplus supply. Officials also noted that several suburban areas in Ho Chi Minh City recently experienced brief fuel shortages lasting only a few hours. This triggered anxiety among some residents, prompting them to buy gasoline using their motorbikes, siphon fuel from their tanks and store it in containers at home for stockpiling. Authorities warned that this behavior is extremely dangerous and should be strictly prohibited due to serious fire safety risks. Tran Tien Dat, deputy head of the Ho Chi Minh City Market Surveillance Sub-Department, said that on the morning of March 10, residents in one suburban district increased gasoline purchases and attempted to store fuel in containers. Market surveillance forces coordinated with local police to educate residents about the dangers of storing gasoline at home. Under the current circumstances, Dat urged fuel suppliers to strengthen their responsibility to ensure stable supply and maintain energy market stability. He also called on consumers to remain calm. Consumers can rest assured that authorities are working actively and effectively. Businesses are fulfilling their responsibilities to the market. Therefore, people should stay calm and avoid stockpiling gasoline, he said. Tran Chung Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Vietnam is facing an estimated annual credit gap of up to 24 billion USD as they seek increasing funding to meet environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards and accelerate their green transition, experts said at the Impact Investment Connect: Capital for Growth Forum held in Ho Chi Minh City on March 10. The forum, jointly organised by the Ho Chi Minh City Investment and Trade Promotion Centre (ITPC) and the Impact Investment Exchange (IIX) with support from Global Affairs Canada (GAC), gathered nearly 200 investors, financial institutions and businesses from Vietnam and abroad to explore ways of connecting Vietnamese enterprises with global impact investment flows. The event was part of the Impact Investment Readiness in Vietnam (IIRV) project funded by Canada. Since 2022, the initiative has mobilised more than 17.5 million CAD (about 12.5 million USD) in impact investment for Vietnam while helping build capacity for nearly 250 social impact businesses. Robert Kraybill, Chief Investment Officer at IIX, said Vietnams social impact business ecosystem plays an important role in supporting vulnerable communities such as ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and low-income households, particularly in mountainous areas in the northern and central regions. However, access to finance remains a major challenge. About 92.8% of social impact businesses are micro and small enterprises, many of which lack collateral and have limited credit histories. Despite generating significant social value, both social impact businesses and SMEs in Vietnam face one of the largest credit gaps in ASEAN, with an estimated annual shortfall of around 24 billion USD, of which about 62% of demand remains unmet, Kraybill said. The pressure on businesses is mounting as Vietnam pursues its goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and promotes policies on renewable energy, the circular economy and sustainable supply chains. These commitments require enterprises to invest in energy-efficient technologies, digitalised supply chains and product traceability systems. Speakers at the forum highlighted impact investment as a promising channel to help narrow the funding gap. Nguyen Loc Ha, Standing Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, said the city is prioritising higher-quality investment flows and encouraging sustainable business models. Impact investment, he noted, not only targets financial returns but also generates positive social and environmental outcomes, aligning with global trends toward green growth, the circular economy and inclusive development. To attract more capital, experts suggested developing innovative financial structures such as blended finance, in which public or development finance institutions share initial risks to attract private investors. Flexible instruments including revenue-based financing, results-based financing and impact-linked loans were also recommended to better suit SMEs cash flows. Jim Nickel, Ambassador of Canada to Vietnam, reaffirmed his countrys commitment to supporting Vietnam in building an inclusive and sustainable economy. Through the IIRV project and with appropriate support, he said, Vietnams social impact enterprises could attract the capital needed to create jobs, improve farmers livelihoods and address environmental and climate challenges. Experts noted that achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals requires an estimated 4 trillion USD in global investment annually. Developing suitable financial infrastructure and capital instruments will therefore be key to mobilising private investment for Vietnams SME sector./. VNA The issue was highlighted at a press briefing on March 10 announcing the Vietnam Smart Factory Exhibition 2026 (VSE) and the Vietnam Hardware and Hand Tools Expo (VHF). Speakers at the event said the global manufacturing landscape is becoming increasingly polarized. Chinese hardware products - including metal items made from copper, iron and aluminum used in construction and mechanical industries - dominate the market through competitive pricing. Meanwhile, imports from Europe maintain their strong position in the high-end quality segment. Steven Ni, a representative of Uninet Exhibition in Singapore, said Vietnamese hardware manufacturers cannot rely on traditional low-cost outsourcing or attempt to compete purely on price if they want to challenge imported products. Steven Ni, representative of Uninet Exhibition (Singapore), speaks to reporters at the event on March 10. Photo: Du Lam Competing through cheap labor is no longer a sustainable advantage as global technical standards become increasingly strict. Domestic enterprises need to shift from supplying low-cost products to delivering optimized value. According to Ni, the most suitable market position for Vietnamese companies today lies in the mid- to upper-mid segment, where customers look for stable quality, streamlined design, reasonable pricing and flexible services. Vietnam also enjoys several unique advantages, including a strategic geographic location, faster delivery times and relatively low logistics costs within the ASEAN region. Vietnamese businesses do not need to be like China, nor can they replicate Europe. But they can become a smart choice that balances quality, cost and service, he said. Smart manufacturing ecosystem Moving toward higher value segments will require Vietnamese manufacturers to transform their operating models and adopt core technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Industrial Internet of Things, robotics and digital twin systems to improve quality control. Vo Xuan Hoai, Deputy Director of the National Innovation Center (NIC), said smart manufacturing is among the key sectors prioritized by the Vietnamese government. These foundational technologies are fundamentally changing how factories operate, while also optimizing supply chains. Vietnam currently has around 2,000 companies operating in the supporting industries sector. Some of them have already joined the supply chains of multinational corporations. Vo Xuan Hoai, Deputy Director of the National Innovation Center, introduces highlights of the Vietnam Smart Factory Exhibition 2026 and the Vietnam Hardware and Hand Tools Expo. Photo: Du Lam However, to expand their scale and capabilities, businesses need platforms to connect with partners, exchange experience and access new technologies. The VSE and VHF exhibition series aims to provide such a platform. The events are organized by the National Innovation Center in collaboration with Uninet Exhibition, EIMS Korea-Vietnam and the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center. The exhibitions are expected to feature nearly 500 booths from about 400 companies representing more than 30 countries, with foreign enterprises accounting for around 60%. Organizing the two exhibitions simultaneously will create a comprehensive industrial ecosystem. The VHF exhibition will showcase hardware tools, mechanical components and industrial accessories, while VSE will introduce smart factory technologies such as unmanned aerial vehicles, automation systems and 3D printing. Organizers expect the events to serve as a strategic networking platform, accelerating digital transformation in Vietnams manufacturing sector and helping local businesses master comprehensive smart factory solutions. Du Lam Weather conditions nationwide on election day, March 15, are expected to be generally favorable. Photo: Thach Thao The information was released by Nguyen Thuong Hien, Director General of the Vietnam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration, who provided an update on weather conditions and natural hazards across the country during this period. March 15 is also expected to see nationwide elections for the 16th National Assembly and Peoples Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term. According to the forecast, northern Vietnam is currently experiencing the effects of a northeast monsoon that has brought colder conditions. From the evening of March 12 to March 13, an additional cold surge is expected to strengthen this pattern and influence weather across several regions. Notably, between March 13 and 14, provinces from Quang Tri to eastern Quang Ngai are forecast to experience rainfall, with some areas seeing moderate to heavy rain and thunderstorms. Weather outlook across regions from March 10 to 16 Northern Vietnam is expected to see little rainfall overall, with light fog in the early morning and generally dry conditions during the day. Nights and early mornings will remain cold. In the mountainous provinces of Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Lao Cai and Son La, scattered showers and thunderstorms may occur on the evenings of March 13 and March 16. Central Vietnam is forecast to experience showers and scattered rainfall between March 10 and 14. In particular, areas from Quang Tri to eastern Quang Ngai may see moderate to heavy rain and thunderstorms on March 10 and again between March 13 and 14. From March 15 to 16, weather conditions in the region are expected to become more stable with reduced rainfall. Areas from Thanh Hoa to Hue are forecast to see decreasing cloud cover and sunshine during midday and afternoon hours, while the south-central coastal region is expected to experience sunny daytime conditions. In the Central Highlands and southern Vietnam, weather conditions between March 10 and 16 are expected to remain mostly dry with sunny days and light morning fog. In the Central Highlands, nights and mornings will be cooler. Weather outlook for Hanoi In Hanoi, the period from March 10 to 12 is forecast to remain dry with light morning fog. Skies are expected to clear toward midday and afternoon, bringing some sunshine, while nights and mornings remain chilly. From March 13 to 15, skies will become cloudier, with light fog and occasional drizzle during the night and early morning. Conditions will improve later in the day. Minimum temperatures during this period are expected to range from 17 to 19 degrees Celsius, while daytime highs will reach around 22 to 25 degrees. Weather conditions on election day Mai Van Khiem, Director of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, said weather conditions across Vietnam on election day, March 15, are expected to be generally favorable. In northern provinces, rainfall will be limited, though coastal plains may experience fog and light mist in the morning. Some isolated showers may occur but mainly in the early hours, with clearer conditions later in the day. Central provinces are expected to see cloudy skies with light rain in the morning, followed by sunshine in the afternoon. Meanwhile, the Central Highlands and southern provinces are forecast to remain mostly dry and sunny, with no signs of heatwaves. At sea and along coastal areas, northeast winds are expected to remain moderate, generally below level 5 on the Beaufort scale. However, Khiem warned that dangerous weather phenomena such as thunderstorms, whirlwinds, lightning, hail and strong gusts have become increasingly complex in recent years. Authorities and residents are therefore advised to closely follow official weather forecasts and warnings in order to take timely preventive measures. Bao Anh Taking advantage of a weekend break, Thu Ha from Hanoi and a group of friends traveled about 240km to Ta Xua commune in Son La province, formerly Lang Cheu commune in Bac Yen district, to see the wild apple blossoms in full bloom. After seeing many photos of the wild apple flowers in Ta Xua shared on social media, we were really impressed. So we decided to take a two-day, one-night trip here to enjoy the romantic scenery of the northwest mountains, Ha said. In Ta Xua, the period from late February to early March each year marks the time when wild apple trees - also known locally as tao meo - begin to bloom, spreading their pure white blossoms across the forests and hillsides. At first glance, the flowers resemble plum blossoms. Each flower has a yellow center surrounded by delicate petals. The blossoms often grow in dense clusters that weave together along the branches. Each flower usually has four to five small, thin petals. When blooming at their peak, they create clusters of soft ivory-white blossoms. Young tourism worker Linh Xinh, who lives in Ta Xua, said the wild apple blossom season is relatively short, lasting only about three to four weeks. After that, the flowers gradually fade and the trees begin to produce new buds. Linh suggested several beautiful places for photographing the blossoms, including the road leading into the former Lang Cheu commune. This area currently has the most abundant and striking blooms. Another location frequently visited by travelers is the Happy Town Ta Xua homestay, located in the area known as Dinh Gio. Here, many wild apple trees are blooming simultaneously, surrounding the houses with clusters of white flowers. Visitors who are not staying overnight can still ask the homestay owner for permission to enter and take photos among the blossoms. The road leading to the former Hang Dong commune, now part of Ta Xua, also features many blooming wild apple trees, although the density of blossoms here is not as thick as in Lang Cheu. March weather in Ta Xua is no longer too cold, and it is convenient to travel between villages, making it a good time for visitors to come and admire the wild apple blossom season, Linh said. She also noted that Ta Xua becomes quite crowded in March, so travelers planning to stay overnight should book accommodation in advance. Mornings and nights can still be chilly, so visitors are advised to bring warm jackets and comfortable shoes to move easily between blossom viewing spots. Travelers are also encouraged to maintain cleanliness and protect the natural landscape while visiting and taking photos. Beyond Ta Xua, visitors can also travel to Nam Nghiep village in Ngoc Chien commune, Son La province, formerly part of Muong La district, to admire another beautiful wild apple blossom season while exploring other attractions in the region. Some areas of Ta Xua are entering peak wild apple blossom season, attracting many visitors and photographers. Photo: Linh Xinh Clusters of white wild apple blossoms stand out against the blue sky, creating a fresh and romantic landscape. Photo: Linh Xinh Visitors can find beautiful photo spots with wild apple blossoms in Lang Cheu, Hang Dong and several accommodation areas around the villages. Photo: Linh Xinh Visitors are advised to wear light-colored clothing to stand out amid the wild apple blossom season. Photo: Linh Xinh Thao Trinh Meghan, Duchess of Sussex is to attend a "girls' weekend" in Australia, where attendees can pay more than A$3,000 for a group photograph with her. Meghan, Duchess of Sussex will attend a retreat The former Suits actress and her husband, Prince Harry, were recently revealed to be making their first visit Down Under in seven years, and it has now been revealed that Meghan will headline a women's-only retreat in Sydney during their tour. The three-day event takes place at the five-star at the InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach from April 17-19 and is described as a "girls' weekend like no other", with just 300 places available. Early bird tickets start at A$2,699 per person, and a VIP package - which includes front-row seats and a group table photo with Meghan, costs A$3,199. Gemma O'Neill, host of the Her Best Life podcast, who are running the retreat, said: I have admired [Meghan] and what she has endured...and how she has demonstrated how a woman can be pushed down and she can still rise. I feel so flattered because shes effectively doing this as a favour because of our mutual friend, and shes doing it because she really loves what our community is about, which is women trying to grow...be their best selves and trying to help other women. Its a very small event for 300 women... its going to be a fireside chat with Meghan and I. And in an announcement revealing Meghan will be the weekend's headline speaker, the podcast wrote on Instagram: "This is going to be an unforgettable weekend designed for women who want to reconnect, recharge, laugh, learn and have some serious fun. The retreat is described on Her Best Life's website as an intimate luxury weekend by the ocean designed to bring women together for powerful conversations, relaxation, laughter and unforgettable experiences. While Meghan's candid address is pitched as the weekend's "highlight", attendees can also take part in a womens psychology session, yoga, sound healing, time by the pool and a dance-floor-filled disco night. Harry and Meghan first visited Australia in their first official overseas engagement as a married couple in 2018, months before they stepped back as working royals, and they will be returning to the country as private citizens, visiting Sydney and Melbourne to pursue their own charitable and commercial interests. However, they are not expected to take their children, Prince Archie, six, or four-year-old Princess Lilibet because the youngsters will be in school. Their spokesperson confirmed: 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. According to the Daily Telegraph, Harry is likely to focus on visiting the armed forces and veterans' communities, having previously spent a month at a barracks in Darwin in 2015. Adrian Edmondson is fronting a new television birdwatching series because he realised he had reached his sixties without knowing much about the wildlife around him. Adrian Edmondson is joining a new television birdwatching series because he realised he had reached his sixties without knowing much about the wildlife around him Describing the gap in his knowledge as a huge hole in my education. Adrian, 69, best known for anarchic roles in The Young Ones and Bottom, will appear alongside fellow actor Samuel West, 59, in the forthcoming family-friendly factual series Sam and Ade Go Birding. The programme will air on Channel 5 and follows the pair travelling across Britain on weekend trips to observe and document birdlife. Adrian said about why he took the job: I dont know how I got to be this old without knowing more about birds. It feels like a huge hole in my education. Sam is going to fill me in. And we get to go to the pub! Samuel, who also stars in All Creatures Great and Small, has been birdwatching for two decades and has recorded sightings of more than 400 British species. The series will follow the two actors as they travel to several locations across the British Isles in search of different bird species. According to programme details released by broadcaster 5, the pair will visit West Cornwall to look for Cornish choughs, waders and transatlantic birds blown off course, North Norfolk in pursuit of brent and pink-footed geese and the Somerset Levels to spot kingfishers, egrets and bitterns. Samuel described birdwatching as a simple activity that allows people to connect with nature. He said: Watching birds is a simple pleasure. At heart, it's an invitation to connect with the natural world. All you need is a desire to look, listen and enjoy. A pair of binoculars helps; a friend to share it with makes it even better (especially when theyre as much fun as Adrian Edmondson.) Im thrilled that we get to invite the 5 audience along with us on our travels; they've already proved how tasteful and clever they are by liking All Creatures Great and Small so much. Welcome to the gentle art of noticing. The programme is produced by Frank Films and will consist of three weekend adventures focusing on birdwatching and conversations between the two actors. Kit Morey, commissioning editor at Channel 5, said the series would combine wildlife observation with personal discussions between the presenters. The TV boss said: Sam and Ade Go Birding is one of the most heartwarming pieces of televisual joy Ive had the good fortune to be part of. Whilst celebrating Britains beautiful birdlife, Sam and Ade share their equally beautiful friendship and remind us that it really is the simple things in life that can bring the greatest happiness. Frank Films have creating something truly special, and at a time when the world feels overwhelming, we hope 5s audiences will welcome this calm, uplifting and extremely humorous escape. The synopsis for the programme states between bird sightings the presenters discuss a range of subjects including obsession, ageing, acting, childhood memories, losing a parent and the hobbies that have interested them over the years. Matt Tebbutt has reportedly been dropped from MasterChef: The Professionals after just one season. Matt Tebbutt is rumoured to have been cut from MasterChef: The Professionals after just one series The Saturday Kitchen host, 52, took over from scandal-hit Gregg Wallace, 61, on the Masterchef spin-off last year. However, an insider has told The Sun newspaper that the TV chef won't be returning alongside Marcus Wareing and Monica Galetti in future series of the BBC show, but he could still pop-up as a guest judge. The source said: There might be a few eyebrows raised that Matt isnt staying on given he has just joined. He didnt do anything wrong and will definitely come back to the series as a guest in the future. But bosses simply realised that they could get away with just having Marcus and Monica at the helm, especially as their chemistry is great and they have a tight relationship. Three was a bit of a crowd. Matt has taken it all in his stride and has plenty of other work to keep him busy. The whole experience was brilliant exposure for him. A spokeswoman for the programme's production company Banijay refused to comment on the speculation. She said: No decisions have been made yet about the presenting line up for the future series of MasterChef. We wont comment on speculation. Upon being announced as Gregg's replacement after an investigation into his alleged misconduct, Matt gushed: Its an absolute honour to be working alongside these two titans of the food world. Their knowledge and uncompromising attitude is now the stuff of legend and I look forward to them taking me under their wing and seeing the chefs get off to a flying start in the competition! On March 10, regulators and market institutions convened a forum titled 'AGM Season 2026: Compliance or Breakthrough Efficiency or Sustainability' in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, with in-person and online formats. The third such annual event came as international capital increasingly scrutinises governance capacity and commitments to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards. The conference, jointly organised by the State Securities Commission of Vietnam, Vietnam Stock Exchange, Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HSX), Hanoi Stock Exchange, and the Vietnam Institute of Directors (VIOD), aims to help public companies prepare for the upcoming AGM season amid significant regulatory changes and growing scrutiny from investors. Vietnams stock market is moving closer to the goal of being upgraded to emerging market status under Morgan Stanley Capital International's classification, the International Financial Centre in Ho Chi Minh City has officially commenced operations, and the Vietnam Corporate Governance Code has been introduced, establishing a governance framework aligned with standards set by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Nguyen Hoang Duong, vice chairman of the State Securities Commission, noted that this series of positive developments across the country's financial system and broader economy are converging just as AGM season begins. Experience from markets across the region shows that when international capital begins to look at an emerging market, investors are not just examining financial figures, he said. They observe how companies operate and manage governance, and the AGM is where this becomes most visible. The level of information transparency, the quality of the boards explanations, the culture of dialogue with shareholders, and the ability to communicate strategy and ESG commitments are all assessed through a single AGM. For major institutional investors, pension funds, or institutions with strict governance standards, a well-organised AGM serves as one of the most credible signals a company can send to the market, Duong added. Nguyen Hoang Duong, vice chairman of the State Securities Commission of Vietnam According to Trinh Son Hong, acting chairman of HSX, AGMs should not be viewed merely annual legal procedure, but as an important opportunity for substantive dialogue with shareholders and the market. "With significant events already affecting the stock market in 2026, transparency and governance standards for listed companies are becoming more demanding, especially from institutional and foreign investors," said Hong. "Improving AGM quality is therefore not just about compliance, it is a key factor in strengthening corporate credibility and access to international capital." Alongside the development of the capital market, Vietnams legal framework for corporate governance is also continuing to evolve. Providing updates on regulatory changes, Le Trung Hai, deputy head of the Public Company Supervision Department at the State Securities Commission of Vietnam, said the 2025-2026 period has seen several important adjustments related to corporate governance regulations. These changes include amendments to the Enterprise Law 2025, Decree No.168/2025/ND-CP on enterprise registration, and notably Decree No. 245/2025/ND-CP amending and supplementing Decree No.155/2020/ND-CP, which guides the implementation of the Securities Law. One notable change is the amendment to the Enterprise Law 2025, which introduces the concept of beneficial owner. This helps identify individuals who ultimately control companies within complex ownership structures, Hai said. The provision is intended to enhance governance transparency and support regulators in monitoring corporate activities. From a corporate governance perspective, Phan Le Thanh Long, general director of VIOD, said AGMs are increasingly viewed by investors as a key indicator of confidence in a companys leadership. In developed markets, the quality of an AGM is assessed through multiple factors, including the level of information transparency, the boards ability to provide explanations, shareholders participation rights, and the quality of dialogue between companies and investors, said Long. A well-organised AGM does more than comply with legal requirements; it demonstrates professionalism in governance. Companies should prepare comprehensive documentation in advance, provide timely disclosures, and create opportunities for shareholders to discuss, ask questions, and contribute opinions, he added. According to Long, investor confidence is not built overnight but accumulated over time. As such, AGMs should be viewed as an important touchpoint in a companys strategy to build credibility and strengthen its reputation in the capital market. During a panel discussion held simultaneously in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and livestreamed between both venues, speakers highlighted evolving AGM practices among Vietnamese companies. The session was moderated by Long and Vu Quang Thinh, a VIOD board member and board member of Dynam Capital. Panellists noted that many companies have begun transforming the way they organise AGMs to make them more transparent and interactive. The discussion also highlighted a growing trend towards the adoption of technology. Tools such as e-voting and online participation are increasingly used to expand shareholder engagement, particularly for institutional and foreign investors. According to the speakers, AGMs are no longer just regulatory meetings but are becoming important events in corporate communication strategy. They provide an opportunity for companies to present strategic direction, demonstrate governance capability, and strengthen market confidence. Fragmented legalities impede green bonds The issuance of a standardised green taxonomy, expected this year, is anticipated to unlock the market by clarifying green criteria for issuers and investors, and helping Vietnamese firms meet stricter global standards. Coteccons charts course for regional expansion Coteccons is taking concrete steps to expand beyond Vietnam, seeking growth opportunities in regional markets as part of its long-term development strategy. Eric Yeo, country general manager of AWS Vietnam, outlined the company direction at a media briefing at its new office in Hanoi on March 4, stating the companys new GenAI capabilities would benefit the local market. He said that GenAI was already touching every industry and organisation of every size. Over the past 12 months, he has seen CEOs, C-suite leaders, and chairpersons in Vietnam increasingly asking: how does this create value? The conversation is no longer just about GenAI, and experimenting endlessly, but what GenAI will actually bring to the business. If we look at GenAI momentum globally, the numbers are striking. One or two years ago, we were still discussing GenAI in relatively early stages. Today, 78 per cent of companies worldwide are using GenAI in at least one business function, according to McKinsey. Thats incredibly fast progress within just 12 months, he said. He added that half of these companies had already moved GenAI into production. And 40 per cent were already seeing and expecting tangible benefits from GenAI production workloads, according to Deloitte. Eric Yeo, country general manager of AWS Vietnam At the broader landscape, it clearly sees several major shifts underway. People are no longer just hearing about GenAI. Increasingly, they are talking about agentic AI. Deloitte said that three-quarters of organisations using GenAI were meeting or exceeding their return on investment targets. In customer service alone, agentic AI is driving 14 per cent faster resolution rates while reducing handle time by 9 per cent, according to McKinsey. By 2028, Gartner predicts that 33 per cent of applications will incorporate some form of agentic AI, up from just 1 per cent today. Thats a massive jump, from 1 per cent to 33 per cent in just a few years. This reflects the rapid pace at which agentic AI is expected to grow. And the benefits, whether in time savings, reduced handling effort, or issue resolution, are already becoming visible, Yeo said. In Vietnam, LPBank Securities is a practical example. The bank developed a customer service solution using GenAI on Amazon Bedrock with Claude. Its investors frequently call in with inquiries about stocks and securities. With this AI-powered solution, they can now provide 24/7 responses, reducing handling time by 80 per cent. According to AWS, AI adoption was projected to grow 39 per cent on-year in 2025. And now about 61 per cent of Vietnamese companies expect operational improvements from AI, and 58 per cent anticipate cost savings. Over the past one to two years, most AI use cases have focused on productivity gains and cost reduction. But now, we are seeing a shift towards revenue generation and new customer acquisition. The conversation is moving from cost efficiency to incremental revenue growth, Yeo said. He added that looking at the broader evolution, AI had moved through multiple stages: from simple AI checkbox features, to single agents, and now to multi-agent systems capable of executing coordinated tasks together. This is the next phase of transformation. This is what companies are focusing on today. AI is no longer just a checkbox exercise. To make AI solutions easier and more accessible to customers and partners, AWS has many areas of advancement. These are ready-to-use AI tools and solutions. Customers can simply go onto AWS Marketplace and deploy them, rather than building everything from the ground up. Large enterprises like banks may have the capability to build complex AI systems internally. But many organisations do not. Thats why we want to ensure that businesses of all sizes, across all industries, can access and use GenAI, agentic AI easily through the marketplace, he said Katalon is a great example of this in action. It operates in the US and other international markets, including Vietnam. Recently, it adopted Amazon Nova Act and AgentCore to enhance their platform. By leveraging agentic AI, it can significantly accelerate their testing processes, reducing testing time by 60 per cent and saving 25 hours per sprint. Future investment In Vietnam, AWS has two offices. There are three key areas it continues to focus on. First, bringing infrastructure to Vietnam. AWS Outposts and AWS Edge services are already available. The company is going to launch the Local Zone in Hanoi soon. Its just a few more months away, something our customers have been waiting for. We continue to make investments in infrastructure in Vietnam, Yeo said. Second, It is continuously building its partner ecosystem to help local partners scale with AI and GenAI. Third, and equally important, is training Vietnamese builders and professionals. Since 2017, AWS has trained over 100,000 professionals in Vietnam. Now, it is evolving from foundational cloud skills to AI and advanced cloud skills. A great example is VPBank, one of the largest commercial banks in Vietnam. Through AWS Skills Builder, their employees can access more than 600 courses across AI, ML, GenAI, security, database and storage, enabling them to upskill from basic to advanced cloud capabilities. It has moved beyond basic cloud adoption into AI, while also working on core banking migration. To better service customers and partners in the digital path, AWS announced new capabilities at re:Invent 2025 late last year. The first is the next leap forward in GenAI capabilities. Accordingly, it unveiled three frontier agentsa new class of AI agents: Kiro Autonomous Agent, AWS Security Agent, AWS DevOps Agent. The others are update Amazon Bedrock - expanded model selection with18 new models providing greater choice and flexibility for organisations; new Amazon Nova 2 model family; update Amazon Bedrock AgentCore with new components to help enterprises accelerate GenAI workloads from prototype to production securely, and at scale. Elsewhere, the update AWS Transform helps accelerates enterprise modernisation of legacy infrastructure and applications by using GenAI, reducing costs and improving security. The second is next-generation infrastructure and silicon. They include new AWS Graviton5 Processors AWSs most powerful and efficient custom chip for cloud workloads that delivers up to 25 per cent better performance. The update Trainium3 UltraServers is now available, built for organisations to train and deploy AI models up to 4.4 times faster at half the cost. And new AWS AI Factories dedicated AWS infrastructure that transforms organisations data centres into high-performance AI environments. Third is data as the backbone of AI innovation. They include update Amazon S3 enhancing capabilities. Together, these investments underscore AWS longterm commitment to supporting Vietnams digital transformation and accelerating GenAI and agentic AI adoption across industries. Anticipating this wave, Meet The Experts (MTE) one of the largest conference series in the real estate and hospitality sector in Vietnam and the region is now open for registration. Taking place on March 31 at Vinpearl Landmark 81, Autograph Collection in Ho Chi Minh City, MTE 2026 is expected to bring together more than 50 international speakers and over 900 senior industry leaders, including representatives from real estate developers, hotel owners and operators, design consultancies, project consultants, general managers, and other leading experts in the sector. The event will serve as an ideal platform for foreign investors to connect with domestic developers and hotel owners, while gaining access to timely market updates and insightful, forward-looking discussions. Source: WeHub The conference will feature keynote presentations and panel discussions covering a wide range of topics, including market outlooks for Vietnam and the region; hospitality and real estate investment and development; risks and opportunities; global and local trends in residential, hospitality and retail sectors; unlocking franchise potential in the Vietnamese market; affordable luxury projects; and a dedicated panel discussion on Vietnam in 2030. In addition, speakers will share perspectives on branded residences, wellness, sustainability, and technology in real-world applications, as well as the ultra-luxury, experience-led segment, emerging design trends, and many other engaging subjects. At the same time, this years event marks a significant milestone for MTE and the hospitality and real estate industry with the special participation of globally recognised speakers and experts such as Philippe Starck, who will take the stage in an exclusive session titled 'Experiential Design: A One-to-One Conversation with a Global Innovator'. MTE connects the minds shaping hospitality and real estate creating conversations, partnerships, and insights that help the industry move confidently into the next market cycle, said Mauro Gasparotti, founder of WeHub and host of the event. The grand ballroom at MTE 2025. Source: WeHub Other highlights will include a 'Global and Local Hotel Outlook' presented by Jesper Palmqvist, regional vice president Asia-Pacific at STR CoStar; 'Vietnam Real Estate and Hospitality: What's Next?' presented by Hieu Do, CEO at VinaLiving; and 'Designing the Future: A New Standard of Living in Mixed-Use Developments' presented by Jose Claudio Silva, design principal at 10 Design. Other presentations will be delivered by Jens Reichert, vice president of Development (Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam), Accor Hotels Group; Prab Thakral, president and Group CEO, Boutique Corporation, and Duong Bach, country manager, PropertyGuru Vietnam. Along with the talk from Philippe Starck, another main highlight will be panel discussions featuring leading real estate developers including Gamuda Land, Nam Long, Phu Long, and Bitexco, among others. Beyond the main sessions, MTE 2026 will also feature an experience room showcasing hotel technology, HoSkar Night networking session, food and beverages, and various experience activities. The event promises attendees the opportunity to gain insights from practical examples, forge valuable connections, and explore potential collaborations. Organisers aim to create an immersive and engaging experience that will leave participants inspired and empowered to grow their businesses in the future. To register, visit: https://meettheexpertsevents.com/registration/ For more information about the event, please contact: Lisa via Host@wehubyou.com Hospitality and real estate leaders to gather for MTE Hanoi 2025 Meet The Experts (MTE), one of the regions leading hospitality and real estate conferences, is set to return with its Hanoi 2025 edition at a pivotal moment for Vietnams property and tourism sectors. Hospitality sector heading towards new development cycle Meet The Experts (MTE), a business conference for the real estate and hospitality sectors, took place on March 18 in Ho Chi Minh City. Procter & Gamble Vietnam, part of American consumer goods giant P&G, in collaboration with the Ho Chi Minh City Federation of Labour, awarded Nguyen Duc Canh Scholarships to 150 outstanding disadvantaged students in the city on March 7. The Nguyen Duc Canh Scholarships 2026 mark P&G Vietnams 29-year journey of supporting Vietnam's young generations The event marks a new milestone in the 29-year journey of accompanying the young "Chap canh uoc mo" scholarship programme, affirming P&G Vietnam's long-term commitment to investing in education and community development. The ceremony took place on March 7 at Lai Thieu Ward Political Centre (Ho Chi Minh City), with the participation of Bui Thanh Nhan Member of the Presidium of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour, chairman of Ho Chi Minh City Federation of Labour; Nguyen Kim Loan, vice chairwoman of Ho Chi Minh City Federation of Labour; and Stefan Wysocki P&G Ben Cat Plants manager; P&G Vietnams department managers, together with local authorities, teachers, parents and students. Launched nearly 30 years ago, the programme supports disadvantaged students to pursue their educational aspirations with confidence. The programme has supported more than 4,000 students, many of whom have built successful careers, and are now contributing positively to society. Over the years, the success of this initiative has leveraged the close collaboration between P&G Vietnam and the Binh Duong Federation of Labour, now the Ho Chi Minh City Federation of Labour, alongside local authorities. Continuing the meaningful journey under a new name, Nguyen Duc Canh Scholarship carries forward the mission of empowering young students to pursue their dreams through education. This year, a total of 150 scholarships worth VND300 million ($12,000) were awarded. Each scholarship includes financial support along with practical gifts such as essential household products, including Ariel detergent, Head & Shoulders shampoo, and Ambi Pur air freshener. Stefan Wysocki, P&G Ben Cat Plants manager awarded scholarships to students with outstanding performances in Ho Chi Minh City. Stefan Wysocki, Ben Cat Plants manager, P&G Vietnam, noted that for more than 30 years, P&G Vietnam has been committed to supporting the communities in which they operate through sustainable development initiatives. Marking a new chapter with the Nguyen Duc Canh Scholarship, we hope to continue creating opportunities for students to pursue their education with greater confidence and ambition. We appreciate the trust and companionship of local authorities and partner organisations, which enable this programme to expand its reach and deliver long-term positive impact to the community, he said. Bui Thanh Nhan, chairman of Ho Chi Minh City Federation of Labour, delivered remarks at the ceremony Bui Thanh Nhan, chairman of Ho Chi Minh City Federation of Labour, said that as Ho Chi Minh City continued to expand its economic scale and strengthen international integration, ensuring educational opportunities for the younger generation played a vital role in the citys human resource development strategy. The Nguyen Duc Canh Scholarship 2026, sponsored by P&G Vietnam, is a clear example of effective collaboration between businesses and trade unions in supporting young people. We sincerely appreciate P&G Vietnams nearly three decades of dedication in helping thousands of students pursue their dreams and prepare to contribute to the nations future, he said. In more than 30 years of operation in Vietnam, P&G has not only contributed positively to propelling socioeconomic development through brands presented in millions of homes, such as Ariel, Downy, Pantene, Head & Shoulders, Rejoice, or Gillette, but also pioneered many sustainable development initiatives, creating practical and long-term values for communities across the country. P&G and Central Retail Vietnam launch forest restoration drive In celebration of Earth Day 2023 on April 22, P&G Vietnam, in collaboration with Central Retail Vietnam and Gaia Vietnam, have launched the 'Forests for Good' restoration scheme to promote environmental protection and inspire consumers to play an active role in preserving the earth. P&G asked to help Vietnamese businesses join its supply chain Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang has asked Procter & Gamble (P&G) to expand its partnership and create the best conditions for Vietnamese businesses to join its supply chain. On March 9, Sun Life Vietnam Life Insurance Co., Ltd. announced that the Ministry of Finance had approved an increase in charter capital from VND18.43 trillion ($708.8 million) to VND18.91 trillion ($727.3 million), under amended licence number No.68/GPDC 16/KDBH. The move underscores the company's confidence in Vietnam's growth potential. The additional capital is set to be allocated to accelerating digital transformation, strengthening technology infrastructure, and enhancing customer experience. These initiatives aim to improve accessibility and efficiency in delivering insurance and financial solutions to customers. Lay Hoon Tan, CEO of Sun Life Vietnam, said, The capital increase reflects the companys continued investment in Vietnam and its focus on sustainable growth through innovation and customer-centric solutions. In 2025, Sun Life maintained its leading position in Vietnams voluntary pension insurance market, with total assets under management of the Voluntary Pension Fund exceeding VND4.48 trillion ($172.3 million). The company launched seven new products last year, including universal life, term life, and next-generation health and protection solutions, expanding its portfolio to better meet customers evolving financial protection needs. Alongside its business activities, Sun Life Vietnam continued to demonstrate its commitment to standing by customers by providing timely financial support, paying out more than VND608 billion ($23.4 million) in insurance benefits in 2025. In addition, the company contributed over VND 2.2 billion ($84,600) through the Vietnam Red Cross to support families affected by natural disasters and floods during the past year. Sun Life wins 14 Bloomberg Businessweek awards in 2025 The insurer celebrates top honors across multiple categories, reflecting its strong commitment to innovation and customer-first solutions. Sun Life positions Vietnam as a strategic market in Asia With a vision for sustainable growth, Sun Life Vietnam is accelerating its expansion, digital transformation, and customer experience initiatives while fostering meaningful connections with the community, particularly the younger generation. Banjul, Gambia (PANA) A Special Select Committee of The Gambias National Assembly has identified major weaknesses in the management and disposal of assets linked to former President Yahya Jammeh, following investigations conducted after the work of the Janneh Commission The North Wales growth deal has moved from a red to amber rating after significant improvement in delivery, but concerns remain over the pace of economic development through corporate joint committees. Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Evans told the Senedds Economy Committee that over 100 million of the 240 million growth deal money has now been committed in North Wales, following what she described as a period of building momentum. The most recent external integrated assurance annual review in November showed the deal moving from red to amber, representing what the Cabinet Secretary called significant improvement in the programmes progress. We are seeing progress and improvement. Those assurance reviews are more than meetings, I would say. They are more detailed monitoring and evaluation of progress. But we are seeing significant improvement now, I think, in terms of the situation and delivery in North Wales particularly, Ms Evans said. Passing the chocolate hobnobs The update came as committee chair Andrew RT Davies pressed ministers on whether meetings and assessments were delivering real change, asking if they were just passing the chocolate hobnobs rather than driving progress. Mr Davies highlighted that last summer the North Wales growth deal had created only 35 jobs and brought in 1.8 million of private capital, questioning how the committee could have confidence in corporate joint committees charged with regenerating deprived communities. The Cabinet Secretary defended the use of corporate joint committees as delivery vehicles for both growth deals and the new local growth fund, arguing they already have statutory responsibilities for regional transport plans, strategic economic plans and land use planning that make them well-placed for the work. She confirmed that Welsh Government holds regular engagement with growth deals through official meetings and a joint government board that meets quarterly to assess progress, alongside annual assurance reviews undertaken by the Welsh Governments integrated assurance hub. Transitional year For the new local growth fund, Ms Evans announced a transitional year has been agreed to address concerns raised in consultation about whether corporate joint committees are the right delivery bodies. That will allow us to work on some of those points that were raised in that consultation, for example around strengthening the CJCs, making sure that we do have those correct monitoring and evaluation points in, she told the committee. The Cabinet Secretary said the local growth fund would have outcome-focused key performance indicators with more detail to be published in due course, alongside a Wales-wide advisory board to provide oversight and share best practice. Liz Lalley, director of economic strategy and policy, added: On the local growth fund specifically, as we take this forward now, we will look at monitoring and evaluation and agree how we will assess performance as part of the work now as we take it forward to deliver. So, we will be looking for measurable outcomes and how we can keep an eye on them going forward. Welsh Government is providing funding to corporate joint committees through local growth fund money received from UK Government to strengthen their capacity to deliver economic development programmes. Spotted something? Got a story? email us at Got a story? email us at news@wrexham.com Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan has declined to say when she first became aware of national security concerns linked to three men with Welsh Labour connections, after they were arrested and bailed on suspicion of assisting Chinese intelligence services. The exchanges in the Senedd came after counter-terrorism officers arrested the three men earlier this month. All three have since been released on bail. Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrests were made under the National Security Act 2023, on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service. The three men are David Taylor, Matthew Aplin and Steve Jones. Taylor is a former PCC candidate locally, and is the husband of Scottish Labour MP Joani Reid. Jones previously served as special adviser to former Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones and later advised the Welsh Government. Aplin was a press officer for Labour Senedd member. None of the three has been charged. Metropolitan Police Commander Helen Flanagan said at the time of the arrests: We have seen a significant increase in our casework relating to national security in recent years, and we continue to work extremely closely with our partners to help keep the country safe and take action to disrupt malign activity where we suspect it. She added: Todays arrests are part of a proactive investigation and while these are serious matters, we do not believe there to be any imminent or direct threat to the public relating to this. The Senedd exchange Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar MS raised the matter at First Minister Questions. He told the chamber that all three men had previously worked in political roles connected with Welsh Labour and/or the Welsh Government, and that all three appeared to have been connected to Bute Energy. The Welsh Conservative Leader Darren Millar asked. First Minister, many of us were shocked last week to learn that three men had been arrested on suspicion of assisting Chinese intelligence services. All three of those individuals had previously worked in political roles connected with the Welsh Labour Party and/or the Welsh Government, and all three appear to have been connected to Bute Energy. Last week, I called on you to come to the Chamber to make an emergency statement on this matter. Instead, the following day, you issued a few cursory sentences that told us nothing. Given the seriousness of this situation and the fact that three peoplenot just onehave been arrested, can you tell us when did you become aware of the national security concerns? And, can you also tell us whether youve initiated an urgent review of the vetting and security arrangements for staff employed by your Government and Party? First Minister Eluned Morgan replied, I think its got to be made absolutely clear that this is a live investigation. Therefore, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on any detail affecting this issue. This is a serious issue. There are serious allegations being laid down. Therefore, I want to respect that legal process, and I will not be commenting on the details of any of this case. Darren Millar MS followed up, First Minister, with respect, Im not asking you to compromise the ongoing police investigation, Im asking you about the vetting procedures for people who have access to privileged information and Welsh Labour Government Ministers. Its a perfectly reasonable set of questions, and it doesnt compromise any ongoing investigations. People have a right to know what action the Welsh Government is taking to ensure that those they employ are loyal to our country and do not pose a security threat. We know that we have a critically important energy industry here in Wales, a very important semiconductor industry, and that our Welsh ports are critical as well to the whole of the United Kingdom. And its not just staff based here in Wales that we need to know whats going on about, you have staff as well in mainland China. The Welsh Government has not one but three offices located in China. So, in addition to answering the first set of questions about when you became aware of these national security concerns and what youve done to check the vetting processes and security arrangements, can you also tell us what you are doing to ensure that our national security is not being compromised by the Labour Party or the Welsh Labour Government in either Wales or China, and what meetings have taken place in those overseas offices in China over the past five years? The First Minister fired back, I dont know what would compromise this investigation. You have made some assumptions there that my answering these questions doesnt make a difference. I just want to be clear: I dont know. I dont know the details of this investigation. This is a live investigation. Its inappropriate for me to comment further on it. National security will always be our priority. Anything that the police need from us in the Welsh Government, they will get, and well always support the work of the police and the security services to keep people safe. Millar pressed further, arguing that questions about vetting procedures did not compromise any ongoing police investigation, First Minister, let me get this right: you are telling me that you do not know when you became aware of these national security concerns about these three individuals, and youre telling me that you have no idea whether you, yourself, have initiated an urgent review of the vetting and security procedures since the announcement of this news. That is what youre telling us, that you dont know what youve done, which I find absolutely outrageous, to be honest with you. You seem to be wanting to continuously evade these questions, and the public will make their own judgment as to why that is the case, because its not just China that youve cosied up to in recent years as a Government, youve also cosied up to communist Vietnam, havent you, First Minister? And we know today from the news that there have been social media content farms in Vietnam that have been exposed for spreading fake news and AI-generated media and content in an attempt to influence our democracy here in Wales and across the United Kingdom. Youve cosied up to these two countries, countries that many people regard as enemies of the United Kingdom, through education partnerships, higher education partnerships, cultural exchange visits and all sorts of other engagement at all sorts of different levels, including rolling out the red carpet for Government representatives. So, can I ask you, First Minister, yet again, when did you become aware of these security concerns? What have you done to urgently review the vetting and security arrangements, and will you now go away and review all of your international relationships as a Welsh Government, particularly with China and Vietnam? The First Minister again rejected the debate citing the live investigation, I understand that you want to draw me into this issue. Im telling you very clearly I will not be drawn into a live investigation. What I will say is that I think we should recognise that threats to our way of life are increasing. You just have to look at the world today, international developments over the last two weeks, to understand that we live in an era of unprecedented uncertainty. The range of risks we face are increasing, and we do face threats from foreign Governments, with hostile state activity being undertaken on British soil. Its clear that Wales is not immune from these risks. Let me be clear that there is support that the national security services have offered to Senedd Members if they fear that there is any attempt at infiltration within this place. The arrests form part of a broader pattern of counter-terrorism activity linked to alleged Chinese state interference in the United Kingdom. Security minister Dan Jarvis told the House of Commons following the arrests that Chinese representatives in the UK and Beijing had been reprimanded, and that the investigation concerned foreign interference targeting UK democracy. He said: If there is proven evidence of attempts by China to interfere with UK sovereign affairs, we will impose severe consequences and hold all actors involved to account. Outstanding security issues Although not connected or mentioned in the above exchange, there are still outstanding questions about the general security of Welsh Government Ministers with Vaughan Gething MS resigning as First Minister in July 2024 a day that saw some details of leaked ministerial messages released. As as noted since, there has been no suggestion or comment from Welsh Government or other MSs of hacking concerns or illegality, nor any detail from any party on who had access to the screen of the phone to take copies of messages and then store them up for several years. (Archive image of Mr Millar in the Senedd) Spotted something? Got a story? email us at Got a story? email us at news@wrexham.com The Cold Springs parents accused of killing their 5-year-old daughter, Izabella both pleaded not guilty to all charges, on Wednesday. Andrea and Nicholas Loving are both charged in the little girl's murder. Both parents are next scheduled to appear in court in late May for a status hearing where a trial date could be set. DECEMBER 23, 2025: A new amended criminal complaint details what led the Washoe County District Attorneys Office to charge Andrea Loving with first degree murder. The complaint says the abuse last from December 2022 to April of this year. It alleges Andrea Loving helped Nicholas Loving in the killing of their daughter, Izabella Loving. Documents suggest that she also helped with covering up the abuse. The office alleges she had two of her children lie to police and Child Protective Services, having them blame their other sibling for the injuries. The complaint claims the parents did not enroll Izabella into school even though she was of age to also hide the abuse. It also alleges the mother told the father the little girl was deserving of the abuse and wanted him to be the one that delivers it. A date has not been set for Andrea Lovings next court hearing, but Nicholas Lovings next appearance is scheduled for January 7. The DA's Office says both parents have waived their preliminary hearings with Reno Justice Court, and their cases are being bound over to Second Judicial District Court for all further proceedings. The Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks released this statement after the announcement: The loss of Izabella Loving continues to weigh heavily on our community and everyone in my office, said DA Chris Hicks. As this case continues to move forward, the facts uncovered only reinforce the seriousness of what occurred and the responsibility we have to pursue justice for Izzy. With the benefit of additional evidence and continued investigative efforts by our law enforcement, my office has expanded the charges against Andrea Loving to reflect the nature and extent of her actions. These filings represent careful, deliberate decisions based on the evidence and our obligation to seek justice on Izzys behalf. Although we are limited in what we can publicly disclose at this stage, the public can be assured that this case remains an active priority. We will continue to provide information as permitted while safeguarding the integrity of the legal process. Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam released this statement: With the recent filing of expanded charges against Andrea Loving by the Washoe County District Attorneys Office, our agency remains steadfast in our commitment to Izzy and to ensuring that every aspect of this investigation is carried forward with the highest level of care and thoroughness. This development marks another significant step toward achieving full accountability for the tragedy that occurred. We continue to work closely with the District Attorneys Office as this case progresses through the criminal justice system, and we remain deeply grateful for the collaboration among all partner agencies involved from the very beginning. Our focus remains on honoring Izzys memory, supporting those affected by this case, and advocating for the safety and protection of every child in our community. As always, we urge our community to remain vigilant and to report any suspected abuse or neglect. Every report can make a difference, and every child deserves to be protected. AUGUST 14, 2025 According to court hearing results, a judge has denied multiple motions to restrict public and media access in the case of Nicholas and Andrea Loving, the Cold Springs parents accused of child abuse in the death of their 5-year-old daughter, Izabella. Nicholas was recently charged with open murder after the medical examiner ruled Izabella's death a homicide. Investigators found the toddler dead in her Cold Springs home back in April. During Thursdays hearings, both defendants appeared separately before Judge Ryan Sullivan. In Nicholas Lovings case, the court denied an emergency motion to prohibit electronic coverage at pre-trial hearings, as well as a motion to limit the dissemination of confidential case information to the public. The court also denied Andrea Lovings similar motion to limit pre-trial public comment by the parties, law enforcement agents, and judicial district staff. Defense attorneys for both Nicholas and Andrea requested a 60-day continuance, which the state did not oppose. The court set a mandatory status conference for both defendants on Oct. 16, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. AUGUST 12, 2025: Nicholas and Andrea Loving both attended court on Tuesday following the death of their five-year-old daughter, Izabella, in an April homicide. Nicholas Loving had his bail hearing today where he pleaded not guilty, and the judge approved a request for a no bail hold. He is also waiving his right to a speedy trial. As for Andrea Loving, her motion hearing has been pushed to later this week. The defense team for both Loving parents claim they have filed additional information for both Nicholas and Andrea's probable cause sheets. Neither judges have had the chance to look through the new information yet, resulting in the rescheduling. As we've been reporting, both parents are accused of child abuse against their daughter. Last week, Nicholas was charged with open murder after the medical examiners ruled Izabella's death a homicide. Investigators found the toddler dead in her Cold Springs home back in April. Andrea and Nicholas are both due back in court Thursday morning at 9. Washoe County has appointed Ryan Gustafson as assistant county manager, with the change taking effect March 30. Gustafson has worked for the county since September 2017 and currently serves as director of the Human Services Agency. In the new position, he will move from leading that agency to supporting countywide priorities and strategic initiatives as part of the county managers leadership team. Gustafson brings more than two decades of experience in human services, with a career focused on child welfare and childrens mental health. His public service work began in 2000 and includes time with the Washoe County School District, the State of Nevada, and local psychiatric facilities. Gustafson graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno, with a bachelors degree in psychology and a masters degree in educational psychology. In 2007, he became a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and later spent several years in private clinical practice. During his career, Gustafson has focused on building systems that support people and families and improving access to services for vulnerable members of the community. While serving as director of the Human Services Agency, he helped guide programs and partnerships that provide support to people across Washoe County. In his new role as assistant county manager, Gustafson will work with County Manager Kate Thomas and the countys executive leadership team to advance strategic priorities and support essential services across the county. The Washoe County Board of County Commissioners voted 3-2 to approve an appeal to a denial of the Sierra Reflections project in Pleasant Valley. This means the housing development will move forward. World Properties, Inc., the developer, appealed the denial, calling it "arbitrary" and saying it ignored evidence on the record. At the County Commission meeting on Tuesday, public comment about Sierra Reflections took over three hours. Many people are unhappy with the project, with one saying the proposed roundabouts on U.S. 395 Alternate would do more harm than good. "That roundabout will also cause gridlock for the traffic. and more importantly, if there is a catastrophic event such as a wildfire, people are going to have a tough time evacuating," said William Cowan, a 23-year resident of Pleasant Valley. Cowan was specifically talking about a roundabout proposed on 395 Alt just south of Pagni Lane. Another roundabout is being considered at Eastlake Boulevard. As we've reported, the proposed development would span over 700 acres and have 938 homes as well as open space. At its meeting on January 6 of this year, the Washoe County Planning Commission unanimously denied the plan, citing infrastructure concerns such as fire and police. Another Pleasant Valley resident expressed her concerns about flooding in the area. "They say they're going to put an eight-foot cap of dirt on top of that, and another eight feet of dirt on top of that, which creates a dike. And we flood downstream. "I mean, we slide into the valleys, it goes all the way to Damonte Ranch and then out to the Truckee [River]," said Delia Greenhalgh. Greenhalgh said she helped with the Envision Washoe 2040 master plan, adopted in January 2024. She feels Sierra Reflections ignores the master plan. "I think all the time that we worked on these, it should be respected," she said. "They say that everything's about zoning Sierra Reflections. It's not about zoning. It's about the work we put into the Envision, into our area, and the time we put into our master plans." Neighbors said the project does not have buffer zones around sensitive cultural resources, as recommended by Envision Washoe 2040. NEW YORK (AP) A widening war in Iran has halted oil tankers, made targets of refineries and spooked investors worried about the cascading impact of spiking energy prices. In response, the International Energy Agency agreed on Wednesday to release the largest volume of emergency oil reserves in its history, with the Paris-based organization pledging to make 400 million barrels of oil available from its member nations' stockpiles. The announcement marked a shift in momentum in government response to the war upending the flow of oil, with other global leaders previously indicating reluctance to tap into stockpiles. Here is a look at the energy supplies that countries hold and when they tap them: Many countries have reserves of oil Since war erupted in the Middle East on Feb. 28 with the U.S. and Israel's joint attacks on Iran, the flow of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz has all but stopped, cutting off a vital passageway where roughly one-fifth of the worlds oil sails through on a typical day. Major producers in the region like Iraq, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates have also cut production because they are running out of storage space. And Iran, Israel and the U.S. have all struck oil and gas facilities, worsening supply concerns. That has sent prices soaring with dramatic swings almost every day. On Monday, Brent crude oil the international standard surged to as high as nearly $120 a barrel, before falling to under $90 after President Donald Trump suggested the war could be near an end. But attacks have continued to escalate since, pushing prices back to about $100 a barrel. Countries around the world hold vast quantities of oil that they can use in the event of a crisis. Because oil is a global commodity and flooding the market with a sudden stream of new supply has international implications, countries often talk to one another before tapping reserves. That includes coordinating with the IEA, an organization created in the aftermath of the 1973 oil crisis. It has 32 members including Germany, Austria and Japan, all of whom confirmed Wednesday that they would be tapping parts of their reserves. The U.S., Mexico, Australia and other major countries are also part of the IEA. IEA members currently hold over 1.2 billion barrels of public emergency oil stocks, with a further 600 million barrels of industry stocks held under government obligation. The largest-ever previous collective release of emergency stocks by IEA member countries was 182.7 million barrels following Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Each of the IEA member countries promises to have a reserve at least equivalent to what they import in a 90-day period. The U.S. exports more than it imports, maintaining its own reserve known as the Strategic Petroleum Reserve despite there being no requirement. But for other countries, tapping their reserves means that they will eventually need to replenish what was removed. Because of that, countries tend to keep reserves for a last-resort scenario, should the disruption be prolonged, said Maksim Sonin, an energy executive who works with Stanford Universitys Hydrogen Initiative. Timing a release is tricky Opting to use oil reserves is never a simple calculation, particularly when linked to a war with constantly shifting parameters and no clear timeline. When nations tap into strategic reserves in situations like the war in Iran, the oil is sold into the global marketplace, theoretically increasing supply and thus, lowering prices. The key question on drawing down these reserves remains one of, How long will this conflict last? said Tom Seng, an energy finance professor at Texas Christian University. And, more importantly, How long will the Strait of Hormuz remain blocked? Oil reserves have been tapped when the market has faced major disruption in the past, including wars in Iraq, Libya and, most recently, in Ukraine. Kenneth Medlock, senior director of the Center for Energy Studies at Rice University, said its not a matter of whether the current conflict is serious enough to merit intervention, but whether the precise moment has arrived. The price is up but it could get worse, Medlock said. What happens if this drags on for two, three months? Then you run into a situation where you lose your buffer. Shift in discussions and the impact on prices Before Wednesday, countries were reticent to tap reserves. Over the weekend, Trump downplayed the idea of turning to the U.S. reserve, maintaining that supplies were ample and prices would soon fall. But that's changed. On Wednesday, the president told WKRC Local 12 in Cincinnati his administration would tap into the SPR a little bit to bring down prices. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright later confirmed the U.S. would release 172 million barrels as part of the IEAs effort. Representatives from the Group of Seven major industrialized powers previously held off on using strategic reserves earlier this week, too. But G7 nations also joined the IEA effort. French President Emmanuel Macron praised Wednesday's decision and noted the amount pledged by the G7 nations alone comprises 70% of the total, including 14.5 million barrels from France. Talk of tapping into national reserves helped ease energy markets earlier this week. But crude prices actually ticked up after the withdrawal was confirmed Wednesday, with Brent rising 4.8% to settle at $91.98. That is far higher than the roughly $70 it was selling for before the war started less than two weeks ago. Analysts maintain the IEA's release of 400 million barrels is a short-term bridge, making up for just a few weeks of lost supply. Over 10,000 Chinese travelers safely return from UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, other countries: spokesperson Xinhua) 16:28, March 10, 2026 BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- More than 10,000 Chinese travelers have safely and orderly returned from the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and other countries, a foreign ministry spokesperson said here Tuesday. Spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a regular news briefing that in recent days, the Chinese foreign ministry, in coordination with the Civil Aviation Administration of China, has arranged for domestic airlines to significantly increase capacity and urgently dispatch flights to the Middle East to pick up Chinese passengers stranded there. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Port Sudan, Sudan (PANA) - A Sudanese medical charity has said that more than two dozen civilians including students, women and medics were killed or wounded when a Rapid Support Forces (RSF) drone attacked a school in a central Sudan village on Tuesday PARIS (AP) A group representing many of the world's wealthiest countries agreed Wednesday to release the largest volume of emergency oil reserves in its history, in a bid to counter the effects of the Iran war on energy markets and the halt of cargo shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The International Energy Agency said it will make 400 million barrels of oil available from its members emergency reserves, which is more than double the 182.7 million barrels that the IEA's 32 member countries released in 2022 in response to Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This is a major action aiming to alleviate the immediate impacts of the disruption in markets, said Fatih Birol, executive director of the Paris-based IEA. But, to be clear, the most important thing for a return to stable flows of oil and gas is the resumption of transit through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has attacked commercial ships across the Persian Gulf in response to U.S. and Israeli strikes, escalating a campaign of squeezing the oil-rich region as global energy concerns mount and effectively stopping cargo traffic in the narrow Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of all oil is shipped from the Persian Gulf toward the Indian Ocean. Iran has also targeted oil fields and refineries in Gulf Arab nations, aiming to generate enough global economic pain to pressure the U.S. and Israel to end their strikes. According to the IEA, export volumes of crude and refined products are currently at less than 10% of prewar levels. Birol noted that the situation in natural gas markets is also very challenging, with Asia the most severely affected region. There are few options to replace the missing LNG cargoes from Qatar and the Emirates, he said. Global energy supply has been reduced by around 20%." A push to lower the price at the pumps The IEA's announcement came a day after energy ministers from the Group of Seven the leading industrialized nations of Canada, the United States, France, Italy, Japan, Germany and Britain met in Paris to look at ways to bring down prices. It also came just before G7 leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, met Wednesday via videoconference. During his introductory remarks during Wednesday's video call, French President Emmanuel Macron praised the IEA decision to release emergency oil stocks, saying it is very important to do everything possible to increase global production and that the 400 million barrels amounted to the equivalent of 20 days of the volume being exported through the Strait of Hormuz. The amount pledged by the G7 nations alone comprises 70% of the total, including 14.5 million barrels France will contribute, Macron said, noting that the IEA decision was prepared at the G7 level. Trump said hours later his administration would tap the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve to try and reduce gasoline prices, telling WKRC Local 12 in Cincinnati, Well, well do that and then well fill it up. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright later confirmed the U.S. would release 172 million barrels of oil from the SPR as part of the IEA's effort. Wright said the release would begin next week and take roughly 120 days for delivery and that the administration would then work to replace about 200 million barrels in the next year. Trump frequently criticized his predecessor Joe Biden's administration for tapping the reserve to try and bring down gas prices. How much might it help? Maksim Sonin, an energy executive who works with Stanford Universitys Hydrogen Initiative, said the release would have a short-term stabilizing effect, but that it would diminish if the war persists and the Strait of Hormuz remains essentially at a standstill. Its not a silver bullet to solve everything, Sonin said. You have to solve the underlying problem. Neil Crosby, a vice president of oil analytics at Sparta, which tracks oil trading, said as big as the release is, it amounts to a little Band-Aid. This scenario was always written off by large parts of the industry: In case we get to the scenario of where theres a war with Iran, the U.S. Navy will ensure that Hormuz doesnt stay closed, Crosby said. And then we got there, and its closed. ... Its a complete disaster. Oil follows snaking journeys that can take weeks to go from drill sites to gas pumps. It must pass through refineries, where it is turned to fuel, before it is shipped off via pipelines and tankers to terminals, and then on to gas stations. Because of this, no single decision has an immediate impact. But Kenneth Medlock, senior director of the Center for Energy Studies at Rice University, said the release of reserves will calm markets and prevent wild price swings and could lead to lower prices at the pump in the next week or so. Still, a trade-off is involved by tapping reserves. Youre depleting stocks now. Thats always the catch-22, Medlock said. Youre selling them today but that means you cant sell them tomorrow because theyre gone. Member countries pledge help Germany, Austria and Japan said earlier Wednesday that they would release parts of their oil reserves in response to the IEA's request for members to release 400 million barrels. The IEA reserves were established in 1974 following the Arab oil embargo, and IEA member countries currently hold more than 1.2 billion barrels of public emergency oil stocks, with a further 600 million barrels of industry stocks held under government obligation. Germanys economy ministry, Katherina Reiche, said the IEA asked Germany to release 2.64 million tons roughly 19.7 million barrels of its oil reserves. She said it would take a couple of days before the delivery of the first quantities. Germany stands behind the IEAs most important principle of mutual solidarity, Reiche said. The German government also said it will introduce a measure to allow gas stations in Germany to raise fuel prices no more than once a day. The federal government wants to introduce this as quickly as possible, Reiche said. It wasnt immediately clear how much oil Austria was releasing. Starting Monday in Austria, price increases at gas stations will be allowed only three times a week, said the countrys economy minister, Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer. He said Austria was releasing part of its emergency oil reserve and extending the national strategic gas reserve, adding: One thing is clear: in a crisis, there must be no crisis winners at the expense of commuters and businesses. IEA nations have released emergency stocks on five previous occasions: During the 1990-1991 Gulf War, after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, during the Libyan civil war in 2011, and twice after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Grieshaber reported from Berlin. Associated Press reporters Matt Sedensky, Cathy Bussewitz and Wyatte Grantham-Philips in New York, and John Leicester and Sylvie Corbet in Paris contributed to this report. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Iran targeted the worlds busiest international airport Wednesday and attacked commercial ships as U.S. and Israeli strikes rocked Tehran, while the United Nations' most powerful body demanded a halt to the Islamic Republics strikes on its Gulf neighbors that threaten global oil supplies. The latest attacks marked an escalation in Iran's campaign aimed at generating enough global economic pain to pressure the United States and Israel to end the war that started 12 days ago. But there were no signs that the conflict was subsiding. On Thursday, an Iranian attack sparked a major fire on Bahrains Muharraq Island, home to the island kingdoms international airport. Authorities urged people to stay indoors and close windows to avoid smoke. The airport has jet fuel tanks, and other tanks in the area serve the kingdoms oil industry. Also, an attack on Iraqs Basra port killed at least one person and forced a halt to operations at all the countrys oil terminals. Farhan al-Fartousi, the director-general of the General Company for Ports of Iraq, said the attack targeted a vessel in a ship-to-ship transfer area at the port on the Persian Gulf. Iraqs commercial ports remained open, though the oil terminals had been shut, according to his statement carried by the state-run Iraqi News Agency. The first week of war with Iran cost the United States $11.3 billion, according to the Pentagon, which provided the estimate to Congress in a briefing earlier this week, according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private meeting. The military reported spending $5 billion on munitions alone in the war's first weekend. Both sides have dug in, hoping to outlast the other as the conflict upends trade routes, chokes supplies of fuel and fertilizer coming out of the Gulf and threatens air traffic through one of the worlds most-traveled regions. Iran has targeted oil fields and refineries in Gulf Arab nations and effectively stopped cargo traffic through the narrow Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of all traded oil passes. In response, the International Energy Agency agreed to release 400 million barrels of oil, the largest volume of emergency oil reserves in its history, in a bid to counter the war's effects on energy markets. The U.S. planned to release 172 million barrels of oil next week from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve to combat steep prices. UN body demands Iran stop egregious attacks on Gulf nations The U.N. Security Council voted Wednesday to approve a resolution demanding a halt to Irans egregious attacks on its Gulf neighbors. Among the most recent attacks, four people were wounded after two Iranian drones hit near Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates, though flights continued, the Dubai Media Office said. Firefighters extinguished a blaze early Thursday at a luxury apartment tower in Dubai Creek Harbor after an Iranian drone strike. At Omans Port of Salalah, crews battled a blaze at fuel storage tanks there, according to the Oman News Agency. The international community is resolute in rejecting these Iranian attacks against sovereign countries that are threatening the stability of the peoples, especially in a region of strategic importance to global economy, energy, security and security of global trade, said Bahrains U.N. ambassador, Jamal Alrowaiei. The 13-0 vote in the U.N.s most powerful body reflects Irans isolated position as it has aggressively responded to Israeli and U.S. strikes. China and Russia two Iranian allies abstained from the vote. Their U.N. ambassadors called the proposal extremely unbalanced in not mentioning the strikes against Tehran that began the war. Russias U.N. ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, said it might leave the impression that Iran, on its own volition and out of malice, conducted an unprovoked attack on Arab states. Iranian U.N. Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said the resolution deliberately ignores the root causes of the current crisis. Meanwhile, more attacks in Gulf countries were reported. Drones were launched toward the cities of Irbil and Sulaymaniyah in Iraqs Kurdistan region, while in the southern part of the country, an oil vessel flying the Australian flag was struck near Khor Al-Zubair Port, according to two Iraqi navy officials who also spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly. The official said 25 members of the crew were rescued. It was not immediately clear whether any others were missing. Explosions rock Jerusalem while Lebanon hit by Israeli strikes On Thursday, sirens wailed and loud explosions were heard shortly after midnight in Jerusalem and other parts of Israel. The Israeli military said it was responding with another wide-scale wave of strikes in Tehran. The fallout across the Middle East widened as Israel also struck what it said were targets connected to Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. An Israeli strike hit a car Thursday in Ramlet al-Bayda, a major seaside tourist area of Beirut where dozens of displaced people have been sheltering. Seven people were killed and 21 others were wounded, the Lebanese Health Ministry said. The Israeli military press office told The Associated Press it was not aware of a strike at that location. Blasts shook Beiruts southern suburbs Wednesday, producing fires and plumes of smoke. Israel's military said the strikes were in response to Hezbollah firing dozens of rockets fired simultaneously across northern Israel. It marked some of the heaviest fighting between the two since the war began. One rocket hit a house near the Israeli town of Karmiel, lightly injuring two people, according to Israeli rescue services. At least 634 people have been killed in Lebanon since the latest fighting began, the Lebanese Health Ministry said Wednesday. The U.N. refugee agency said at least 759,000 people have been internally displaced in Lebanon. Iranian authorities say more than 1,300 people have been killed there, and Israel has reported 12 people dead. The U.S. has lost seven soldiers while another eight have suffered severe injuries. This story has corrected the name of Bahrain's U.N. ambassador and corrected the location of the Beirut strike by removing the word eastern. Abou AlJoud reported from Beirut. Mascaro reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Sam Mednick in Tel Aviv, Israel, also contributed to this report, along with AP journalists around the world. Articles Sorry, there are no recent results for popular articles. Crews worked overnight to complete repairs and are working to repair the asphalt in the travel lanes north of Innovation Drive. Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk said on Tuesday he was horrified by growing accounts of serious violations during the ongoing conflict in South Sudan, including gruesome killings of civilians, the destruction and poisoning of key water sources, and fresh waves of mass displacement AceShowbiz - The NBC morning program Today has shown signs of returning to a more standard broadcast format while continuing to cover the ongoing search for the mother of co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, Nancy Guthrie. This marks the second consecutive day that the show has led with news unrelated to the high-profile missing person case, reflecting producers efforts to balance daily news responsibilities alongside a deeply personal story affecting their team. Nancy Guthrie has been missing since January 31, and since then, NBC News platforms have consistently focused on the search. The case has received prominent placement on Today, NBC Nightly News, and the streaming service NBC News Now. Coverage has detailed the suspected abduction, ongoing police investigations, and the nationwide response supporting Savannah Guthrie and her family during this difficult time. On Thursdays broadcast, Today led with breaking news about the arrest of former Prince Andrew in the United Kingdom before transitioning into updates on the Guthrie case. The following day, co-anchors Craig Melvin and Hoda Kotbwho is guest-hosting for Savannah Guthrie this weekcovered a range of stories including severe weather, the Winter Olympics, and the royal arrest before presenting the latest developments regarding Nancy Guthrie. According to an insider familiar with the program, the Today team is committed to maintaining a sense of normalcy while addressing the intense national interest in the case and supporting their colleague. This solidarity has been visible on air throughout the week. On Friday, anchors Melvin, Kotb, and Al Roker all wore yellow ribbons as a symbol of support for the Guthrie family. The studio itself has been adorned with yellow flowers, which have been prominently displayed on camera. Ben Bogardus, chairman of the journalism department at Quinnipiac University, describes the situation as an interesting case study unfolding in real time with no clear or obvious answers. He notes the close relationship between the Today anchors and their missing colleague, suggesting the coverage will naturally attract scrutiny. Bogardus advises that the anchors acknowledge their personal connection to Savannah Guthrie and clarify that their approach to this story will differ from how they might handle a similar case involving strangers. This transparency, he says, will help viewers understand and accept the unique nature of the coverage. Viewership of Today has surged amid the coverage, with audiences tuning in for the latest information on Nancy Guthrie. However, part of this increase is also attributed to NBCUniversals extensive reporting on the Winter Olympics in Milan, which typically draws larger audiences to the networks media outlets. For the five-day period ending February 13, Today achieved a 30% increase in viewership compared to the same time last year, averaging 3.48 million viewers, according to Nielsen data. Among the key demographic of adults aged 25 to 54, the show saw an 8% rise in audience size, averaging 697,000 viewers. During the same timeframe, ABCs Good Morning America averaged nearly 2.91 million viewers overall and 475,000 in the 25-54 demographic. CBSs CBS Mornings drew an average of about 1.7 million total viewers and 238,000 in the key demographic. Based on Nielsens data, Today captured roughly 43% of the combined audience for the three major broadcast morning shows, while Good Morning America took 36%, and CBS Mornings held 21%. As the search for Nancy Guthrie continues, the Today show appears to be carefully adjusting its format to sustain regular news coverage while honoring the personal impact on its team, maintaining audience engagement through a mixture of breaking news, special events, and ongoing updates on the case. AceShowbiz - Pulp Fiction writer-director Quentin Tarantino has responded sharply to criticism from actress Rosanna Arquette, who spoke out against the frequent use of the N-word in the films script. Rosanna Arquette, known for her role as Jody in the 1994 crime classic, recently told The Times UK that although she acknowledges the films iconic status and artistic merits, she is personally exhausted by the repeated use of the N-word. She described it as racist and creepy and expressed frustration that Tarantino seems to have been granted a hall pass for the language. In a pointed statement released late Monday, Tarantino addressed Arquette directly, questioning her motives for publicly denouncing a project she once eagerly joined. He suggested that her remarks were driven by cynical reasons and criticized the lack of solidarity among artistic collaborators. The letter read in part: Dear Rosanna, I hope the publicity you're getting from 132 different media outlets writing your name and printing your picture was worth disrespecting me and a film I remember quite clearly you were thrilled to be a part of? Do you feel this way now? Very possibly. But after I gave you a job, and you took the money, to trash it for what I suspect is very cynical reasons, shows a decided lack of class, no less honor. There is supposed to be an esprit de corps between artistic colleagues. But it would appear the objective was accomplished. Congratulations Q. The phrase esprit de corps refers to a shared pride and loyalty among members of a group, highlighting Tarantinos expectations of respect within creative partnerships. The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to Tarantinos representatives for further comment. The use of racially charged language in Tarantinos films has drawn criticism before, with notable voices like Spike Lee speaking out against it. When asked about this topic in a 2022 HBO Max interview on Whos Talking to Chris Wallace, Tarantino responded bluntly, advising viewers who find the content objectionable to simply choose other films: Then see something else. If you have a problem with my movies then they aren't the movies to go see. Apparently, I'm not making them for you. Supporting Tarantinos stance, actor Samuel L. Jackson, who has appeared in multiple films by the director including Pulp Fiction, defended the use of authentic language in storytelling during a 2019 interview with Esquire. Jackson emphasized that writers must depict characters truthfully, including their vernacular, to maintain honesty in narrative. Jamie Foxx also weighed in on the debate in 2018 while promoting Django Unchained, another Tarantino project. He noted that the frequent use of the N-word in the film reflected the historical realities of the period it portrays, underscoring the importance of contextual accuracy in artistic expression. The ongoing dialogue around racial language in Pulp Fiction and other Tarantino films highlights the tension between artistic freedom and cultural sensitivity, with no clear resolution in sight. Both supporters and critics continue to voice passionate perspectives on this complex issue. AceShowbiz - Karla Thaynnara, a well-known influencer who shared her passion for motorcycles on social media, tragically died in a motorcycle accident on Tuesday morning. The 25-year-old influencer was involved in a collision with a car on a highway around 8 AM local time, according to the Brazilian news outlet Correio Braziliense. After the initial crash, she was struck by a second vehicle, which ended her life at the scene. Upon arriving at the site of the accident, Jose Carlos Andrade Nogueira, her father and a reserve military police officer, was informed of Karla Thaynnara's death. Overcome with grief, he reportedly took his own life shortly afterward. Karla is survived by a young daughter. The community and family mourned both Karla and her father during a joint funeral held on Wednesday. Sandro Avelar, the Secretary of Public Security of the Federal District, addressed the gathering, describing the event as "a great tragedy." With over 60,000 followers on Instagram, Karla regularly posted content about her vacations, family moments, and especially her motorcycle adventures. Her final post was on February 21, featuring a video of her exercising at the gym. This heartbreaking series of events has deeply affected her followers and family alike. If you or someone you know is struggling with emotional distress or crisis, help is available. Contact or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org for support. AceShowbiz - Harry Styles has shared how the tragic passing of his One Direction bandmate Liam Payne has deeply affected him and led to a profound reassessment of his own life. Speaking for the first time about Liams death, Harry Styles, 32, revealed the complex emotions and public pressures he faced while grieving the loss of his close friend, who died at age 31 in 2024. Liam died after a fatal fall from a third-floor balcony at a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The incident shocked fans worldwide, and Harry Styles appeared on Apple Musics The Zane Lowe Show to discuss his forthcoming fourth studio album Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally, as well as his ongoing struggle to publicly address Liams death. Even the idea of talking about it, I struggle with that a little bit, Harry admitted. He elaborated on the difficulty of navigating grief when it feels as though others expect you to express it in certain ways. There was a period when he passed away where I really struggled with kind of like acknowledging how strange it is to have people kind of like own part of your grief in a way. I have such strong feelings around my friend passing away. Harry Styles explained the pressure of feeling that expressing grief publicly might not align with others expectations: And then suddenly being, you know, like aware of theres maybe like a desire from other people of you to convey that in some way, or it means youre not feeling what youre feeling or something, you know? He emphasized the unique difficulty of losing a friend so similar to himself, saying, Its so difficult to lose a friend. Its difficult to lose any friend, but its so difficult to lose a friend who is so like you in so many ways. Harry spoke fondly of Liam Payne as someone with a kindest heart who just wanted to be great. He reflected on how Liams passing became a pivotal moment for him to reconsider his own path: It was a really important moment for me in terms of taking a look at my life and being able to say to myself, OK, what do I want to do with my life? How do I want to live my life? And I think the greatest way you can honour your friends who pass away is by living your life to the fullest. The two were part of One Direction, one of the most successful boybands globally, alongside Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan. The group went on an indefinite hiatus in 2016, after which each member pursued solo careers. Harry Styles quickly established himself as a solo artist, signing a lucrative deal with Columbia Records in 2016, the same label that had represented One Direction. Despite the bands break, Harrys career flourished with multiple Grammy and Brit Awards, and his net worth reportedly reached 175 million. Liam Payne, meanwhile, experienced early solo success with his debut single but struggled to maintain the same level of momentum. He released only one full studio album before his untimely death and had been dropped by Universal Musicthe label that had signed him after his transition from Sonyjust days prior to his passing. In his interview, Harry Styles also revealed that he took nearly a four-year hiatus to reflect on his career and whether music remained his passion or had become merely a job. Approaching his 30th birthday, he sought to pause and reassess his relationship with his work. I didnt want to just roll straight into another process of making something and I thought it was time to just, honestly, like make sure I still loved it, he said. He acknowledged his privilege in being able to take this break and emphasized the importance of checking in with oneself, especially after a long period of activity: Its a good thing to have moments where youve done something for a long time to kind of stop and check in with yourself about, Do I do this because this is what Ive been doing for a long time, or do I do this because I really love it? I dont think thats about being ungrateful because its so obviously amazing. Aside from grief and career reflections, Harry also discussed his personal life, revealing a desire for marriage and family. Watching three of his closest friends get married inspired him to evaluate where he sees himself in the coming years. His relationship with actress Zoe Kravitz, 37, continues to grow stronger. This shift in perspective influenced his songwriting, particularly on a track titled American Girls from his upcoming album Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally. He described the song as having a bittersweet quality: Its actually quite a lonely song in a lot of ways. I watched my three closest friends get married. And actually seeing them trust in something and risk something to find something truly fulfilling... I was like, Im single, so Im having all the fun. He further explained that American Girls captures the magic of finding the right person to share life with and the vulnerability involved in such a connection: Its like being truly vulnerable with someone, like sharing a life with someone like that. Reflecting on all these life events, Harry Styles shared how important it has been to pause and gain perspective: Having the time to stop and assess all of it and really look at my life from a birds eye view and go, What do I actually want in my life? Like, I have all these things around me all the time. Its hard to pull those things in without making space for them. Through his candid discussion, Harry sheds light on the intimate and often complicated experience of grief, the pressures of public life, and the journey toward living authentically after loss. His reflections on Liam Paynes death underscore how the loss of a close friend can inspire a renewed commitment to embracing life fully, honoring those who have passed by cherishing the present. AceShowbiz - The cause of death for Katherine Hartley Short, daughter of actor Martin Short, has been officially confirmed. According to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health death certificate obtained by TMZ, Katherine died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The certificate also states that Katherine, aged 42, was cremated following her passing. She was found deceased inside her Hollywood Hills home last Monday after authorities responded to a welfare check. The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed she was discovered behind a locked door, with a firearm and a note recovered at the scene. The contents of the note have not been disclosed publicly. Law enforcement sources previously told TMZ that Katherine had not been heard from for approximately 24 hours before a concerned friend contacted police. Officers were forced to enter through the locked door to find her body. Homicide detectives who arrived at the scene found no evidence of foul play, according to the official report. A close friend shared with TMZ that Katherines behavior in the days leading up to her death seemed normal, with no indication that she might harm herself. The tragic news has reportedly left her father Martin Short deeply shaken. TMZ reported that the 75-year-old comedian has been inconsolable since his daughters sudden passing and has withdrawn from the public eye. Martin Short has canceled several upcoming comedy shows with longtime collaborator Steve Martin and also missed the Actors Awards, where he was nominated for Outstanding Male Actor in a Comedy Series. Katherine was the eldest child of Short and his late wife, actress Nancy Dolman. The couple adopted Katherine as well as their sons Oliver, 39, and Henry, 36. Dolman passed away in 2010 at age 58 after battling ovarian cancer. A graduate of the University of Southern California, Katherine held a master's degree and worked professionally as a licensed clinical social worker. She was also involved in a mental health charity. Friends later told the Daily Mail that Katherine had privately struggled with personal challenges but was widely respected for her compassion and commitment to helping others. She was last publicly seen with her father in 2023 during her 40th birthday celebration at Grandmaster Recorders in Hollywood. The event included notable figures such as Catherine O'Hara, Joni Mitchell, Kurt Russell, and Goldie Hawn. Since the news of her death became public, several close friends of Martin Short have visited him at his home in Los Angeles to offer support. Among those reportedly paying their respects are Steven Spielberg, Eugene Levy, and longtime television bandleader Paul Shaffer. Insiders also revealed to the Daily Mail that Shorts Only Murders In The Building co-stars Meryl Streep and Steve Martin are rallying around him during this heartbreaking time. A source close to the family described the situation as as much of a horror to Martin and his sons, her brothers, as humanly possible. The insider added, For someone who brings so much joy to so many, who is always trying to lift others up and make them laugh, this loss has completely shattered him. He is gutted, and as you would expect, his closest friends are surrounding him with love and support. In a statement released to the Daily Mail, representatives for the Short family confirmed the devastating news. It is with profound grief that we confirm the passing of Katherine Hartley Short. The Short family is devastated by this loss and asks for privacy at this time, the statement read. Katherine was beloved by all and will be remembered for the light and joy she brought into the world. This tragic loss has deeply affected Martin Short and his family, who are currently mourning while supported by a circle of close friends and colleagues. The details surrounding Katherines passing reveal the pain behind the public figures private sorrow, underscoring the importance of compassion and support in times of grief. AceShowbiz - Ghetts, known for his role in "Supacell" and his career as a rapper, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison following a fatal hit-and-run incident in the UK. According to reports, Ghetts pleaded guilty to charges of causing the death of Yabin Tamang, a 20-year-old Nepalese student, as well as to one count of dangerous driving related to the crash. The tragic collision occurred on October 18 of the previous year on a residential road in Ilford, East London. Investigations revealed that Ghetts, whose real name is Justin Clarke-Samuel, was driving at approximately 60 miles per hour when he struck Tamang. It was also reported that he had consumed alcohol before getting behind the wheel. After the collision, Ghetts did not stop at the scene but returned home instead. He was arrested the following day. Tragically, Tamang succumbed to his injuries two days after the accident. In addition to his prison sentence, Ghetts has had his driving license revoked for 17 years, meaning he will be barred from driving for a significant period even after his release. This case has drawn attention due to Ghettss public profile in both music and acting, highlighting the severe consequences of dangerous driving and hit-and-run offenses. AceShowbiz - Madonna has assembled a star-studded cast for what is reportedly her most extravagant music video to date, marking a major moment in her ongoing musical comeback. The 67-year-old icon has secretly recruited supermodel Kate Moss along with acclaimed actors Gwendoline Christie and Benedict Cumberbatch for the upcoming video, which was filmed at Black Island Studios in West London. The production features a dramatic car crash stunt, a warehouse rave setting, and extras suspended from the ceiling, emphasizing the scale and ambition of the project. This music video accompanies the lead single from Madonna's forthcoming album, Confessions On A Dance Floor Part 2, a follow-up to her original 2005 hit. While Gwendoline Christie filmed openly on set, Kate Moss and Benedict Cumberbatch were kept under wraps, arriving discreetly by car to maintain secrecy. A source told The Sun that Gwendoline Christie was visible during filming, but Kate Moss and Benedict Cumberbatch were shielded from public view, with their scenes shot in secret last Thursday. The insider emphasized that Madonna aims to make a powerful return with this era, pushing creative boundaries through high-energy stunts and unexpected elements within the video. The shoot reportedly extended overnight, with the cast working from 4pm until 2am. It took place across six stages, involving a large crew numbering in the hundreds. One part of the set was designed to mimic an opulent mansion, complete with grand marble columns, a bar, and a lounge adorned with artwork on its walls. Another scene was filmed in a warehouse rave environment, where Madonna's stunt double performed the car crash sequence before moving into the party atmosphere. This combination of lavish and gritty locations underlines the videos dynamic visual style. Details of Madonna's on-set demands also emerged, revealing she had a trailer maintained at an exact 28 degrees Celsius and a wardrobe rack filled with Dolce & Gabbana outfits. The involvement of the Italian luxury brand ties in with recent collaborations, as Madonna is currently the face of their 2025 and 2026 campaigns. The Daily Mail reached out to representatives for Madonna, Benedict Cumberbatch, Kate Moss, and Gwendoline Christie for comment, though no official statements have been released. Recently, Madonna also appeared modeling a bridal-inspired look for Dolce & Gabbana. The ensemble included lace gloves and a delicate veil, reminiscent of her iconic 1984 Like A Virgin music video, where she famously donned a wedding dress. Her modern take featured a corseted top with a sweetheart neckline, lace underwear, fishnet stockings, and white pumps, showcasing her enduring style influence. The campaign images were shared on Instagram, accompanied by the caption LA BAMBOLA ... ?, which translates to The Doll in Italian. In a video clip, Madonna sings in Italian to a small audience, highlighting her ongoing connection with the brand. In addition to the campaign, Madonna made a notable appearance at the Dolce & Gabbana Milan Fashion Week show for the Fall-Winter 2026-27 collection. Seated next to Vogue editor Anna Wintour alongside her boyfriend Akeem Morris, she arrived to the accompaniment of her hit song Youll See. Fans and attendees captured the moment as she warmly greeted actor Alberto Guerra, with whom she recently collaborated on a Dolce & Gabbana project. Madonnas relationship with Dolce & Gabbana dates back to the 1990s, including memorable moments like wearing a crystal-studded bodice for the 1991 New York preview of the film Truth Or Dare. The designers also crafted costumes for her Erotica tour in 1992 and the Drowned World Tour in 2001, cementing a long-standing partnership. Her latest public appearance at the brands showroom for the Spring-Summer 2025 collection saw her wearing a lace veil with her signature blonde locks worn loose. She paired a black blazer with a dark minidress and turquoise leather gloves, continuing to make bold fashion statements. AceShowbiz - The atmosphere at Sundays 2026 Actor Awards was charged with excitement as history-making Oscar winner Viola Davis revealed her astonishment and joy when announcing that Michael B. Jordan had achieved a stunning upset over Timothee Chalamet. As Viola Davis opened the envelope, her mouth dropped open in surprise before she enthusiastically called out Jordans name. The audience immediately rose to their feet, applauding the Sinners star with a prolonged ovation. Michael B. Jordan received the award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role, recognizing his dual portrayal in Sinners, Ryan Cooglers horror hit that recently set a new Oscars record with 16 nominations. Many had expected Timothee Chalamet to win for his role in Mary Supreme, especially after his Golden Globes victory earlier this year in the same category. The broadcast captured Viola Davis repeatedly exclaiming, "Oh! Oh! Oh!" as the camera shifted to Jordan walking onstage to join her. Later, viewers saw Davis smiling warmly while Jordan received congratulatory remarks from attendees. Upon joining her, Jordan embraced Davis before delivering an emotional acceptance speech reflecting on his journey in Hollywood and the honor of receiving the SAG Award. Jordan said, "I don't even know where to begin. I wasn't expecting this at all. And I just want to quickly say that I'm so honored and privileged to be nominated in categories with people, actors, and humans that I love, I love their work and what you contribute to our craft." He continued, "This ride has been unbelievable. Thank you for welcoming me in and making me feel seen." The live coverage also showed Chalamet applauding Jordan from his seat at the Mary Supreme cast table, displaying sportsmanship despite the unexpected outcome. Later in the evening, the cast of Sinners secured the nights most prestigious award, winning the SAG-AFTRA unions Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. Alongside Michael B. Jordan, fellow cast members Wunmi Mosaku, Miles Caton, Delroy Lindo, and Hailee Steinfeld contributed to this collective success. Jordans solo victory at the Actor Awardsformerly known as the SAG Awardsintroduces uncertainty into the Oscars Best Actor race, where Chalamet had been viewed as the frontrunner. This marks a notable shift, especially after Chalamet earned another Best Actor nomination from the Academy last year for his portrayal of Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown. At the 2025 Actor Awards, Chalamet delivered an acceptance speech that resonated with ambition and reverence for acting legends. He explicitly mentioned Viola Davis while expressing his desire to be considered among the greats in the craft. He said, "I'm inspired by the greats. I'm inspired by the greats here tonight. I'm as inspired by Daniel Day-Lewis, Marlon Brando, and Viola Davis as I am by Michael Jordan and Michael Phelps, and I want to be up there." He added, "So I'm deeply grateful to that. This [award] doesn't signify that, but it's a little more ammo, a little more fuel to keep going. Thank you so much." This years Actor Awards ceremony has set the stage for an intriguing awards season, with Michael B. Jordan emerging as a powerful contender and Timothee Chalamet facing unexpected competition. For those interested in the complete rundown of winners from the 2026 Actor Awards, full details are available following the events conclusion. AceShowbiz - Alan Cumming, who hosted the recent BAFTA Film Awards, has finally spoken out about a troubling incident that overshadowed the event. Over a week after an audience member with Tourettes syndrome shouted a racial slur during a presentation by Delroy Lindo and Michael B. Jordan, Alan Cumming addressed the situation publicly for the first time. In an Instagram post, Alan Cumming issued a heartfelt apology to Black communities worldwide, as well as to those affected by Tourettes syndrome. The host acknowledged that what was meant to be an evening celebrating creativity, diversity, and inclusion instead turned into a deeply distressing experience for many. Its now been a week since I hosted the BAFTAS. What should have been an evening celebrating creativity as well as diversity and inclusion turned into a trauma triggering sh*tshow, Alan Cumming wrote. He expressed sorrow for the pain caused by hearing the racial slur broadcast globally and for the reminder it served to the Tourettes community about the widespread misunderstanding and intolerance surrounding their condition. Alan Cumming also reflected on the broader lessons from the incident, emphasizing the gravity of words and the dangers of rushing to judgment without full awareness. He urged recognition and respect for all forms of trauma, underscoring the failure of decisions made both to air slurs and to censor free speech during the ceremony. Despite the controversy, Alan Cumming congratulated the artists whose work was unfortunately overshadowed by the nights events. His statement aims to bring attention to the importance of sensitivity and understanding in moments meant to celebrate artistic achievements. AceShowbiz - Will Smith is requesting a judge to dismiss the sexual harassment lawsuit filed against him, with his legal team labeling the case as a baseless attempt to extort money. The lawsuit was initiated last month by violinist Brian King Joseph, who alleges that after returning to his Las Vegas hotel room, he discovered a note signed by "Stone F" stating, "Brian, I'll be back...just us." Joseph's complaint also mentions finding various personal items in the room, including wipes, a beer bottle, a red backpack, a bottle of HIV medication bearing another persons name, an earring, and hospital discharge papers belonging to an unknown individual. In their motion to dismiss the suit, Will Smith's attorneys argue that Joseph admits he has no idea who "Stone F" refers to, yet has inexplicably targeted Smith and his company, Treyball Studios, in the legal action. Additionally, the defense points out that Joseph was hired only on a per-show basis and was never promised a permanent role on the tour, contradicting Josephs claim that he was invited to join the band. The filing further states that Joseph and Smith were never alone together, calling into question Josephs allegation that Smith was "grooming" him. Smith's legal team is hopeful the judge will grant their motion to strike the lawsuit. They also indicate they are prepared to present witnesses who will testify that Joseph was not invited to continue with the group because he exhibited erratic behavior, was difficult to work with, and made other band members uncomfortable. Ultimately, Will Smith's side characterizes the lawsuit as frivolous and driven by financial motives. Attempts to reach Josephs lawyers for comment have not been successful so far. Meanwhile, Josephs attorney has stated that the outcome of a jurys decision holds more weight than Smith's perspective on the case. Texas' new school voucher program is drawing far more applications than it can fund, and most of the students seeking the money are already in private schools, according to state data. The Texas Education Freedom Accounts, or TEFA, is a $1 billion program that gives families taxpayer money to help pay for private school tuition and other education costs. Applications opened on February 4 and run through March 17 for the 202627 school year. In a little more than a month, more than 160,000 Texas families applied, far surpassing the 90,000-student cap set for the program's first year. Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock has said he expects TEFA to hit its limit quickly because of the strong interest, according to CBS News. State data show that 79% of TEFA applicants are students who already attend private schools. Lawmakers who pushed for the program, including Governor Greg Abbott, had promoted vouchers as a way to help public school and homeschooled students move into private education options. The new numbers suggest the first wave of funding will mostly subsidize families who have already left the public system, rather than driving a large, immediate shift out of public schools. The law requires the Comptroller's Office to use a lottery and a priority system if applications exceed the available spots. Students with disabilities from lower-income families are placed first in line, followed by other low- and middle-income students. About 11% of all applicants, roughly 18,000 students, are children with disabilities from households at or below 500% of the federal poverty level. Overall, just 35% of applicants come from families earning 200% or less of the federal poverty level, meaning most applicants are from higher-income households, KSAT reported. Families approved for TEFA can receive up to about $10,474 per year for education expenses, with higher amounts available for some students with disabilities. The money can be used for private school tuition, textbooks, tutoring, therapies, and other approved educational services. More than 1,400 private schools across Texas have signed up to take part in the program so far, from pre-K through high school. Public school advocates warn that the vouchers could still harm districts over time because state funding in Texas follows the student. Groups like Raise Your Hand Texas argue that any dollars shifted into vouchers reduce money available for teacher pay, tutoring, and other services in traditional public schools. However, because most current applicants are already in private school, some analysts say the first-year impact on public school budgets may be smaller than originally feared, at least until more public school students begin to move, as per Raise Your Hand Texas. AceShowbiz - Acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo del Toro is set to make a surprising comeback to television by reprising his role in the longest-running live-action sitcom ever, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. This announcement comes amid his busy schedule, including multiple projects and a highly anticipated return to the Academy Awards. In just over a week, Guillermo del Toro will mark his sixth Academy Awards nomination thanks to his latest film, Frankenstein. Over the past twenty years, the celebrated director has been a frequent presence at the Oscars, earning nods for works such as Pans Labyrinth, Hellboy II: The Golden Army, The Shape of Water, Nightmare Alley, and Guillermo del Toros Pinocchio. Among these five previous nominations, he has won three times. This year, Frankenstein, starring Jacob Elordi and Oscar Isaac, has secured nine nominations, making it a strong contender for multiple wins at the upcoming ceremony. Beyond his award season achievements, del Toro remains remarkably active in filmmaking. Alongside Frankenstein, he is developing two additional projects. One is an animated adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguros fantasy novel titled The Buried Giant, also in partnership with Netflix. The other is a thriller called Fury, which reunites him with Oscar Isaac following their collaboration on Frankenstein. Amid these cinematic endeavors, del Toro recently shared a glimpse of his return to television. Taking to social media, the director posted a behind-the-scenes photo showing himself as the disheveled character Pappy McPoyle, a role he last portrayed in Season 11 of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. This teaser suggests that the upcoming eighteenth season will feature a McPoyle-centric episode, marking del Toros return to the comedy series. Fans of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia will be pleased to hear that the new season appears to be progressing without significant delays. Filming has been underway for several weeks, and cast members Rob McElhenney, Kaitlin Olson, Charlie Day, and Glenn Howerton have been actively sharing updates on social media. Unlike past seasons where multi-year gaps occurred, Season 18 seems poised for a more timely release schedule. AceShowbiz - With the 25th anniversary of Monsters, Inc. approaching, Pixar is gearing up to bring the beloved franchise back to theaters with a third installment. According to a detailed report by the Wall Street Journal, a new feature film, Monsters Inc. 3, is currently in the works at Disneys acclaimed animation studio. This marks the first full-length movie in the franchise in over a decade, following 2013s prequel, Monsters University, and the 2021 Disney+ spin-off series, Monsters at Work. The report cites "people familiar with the matter" as sources for this surprising confirmation, though specific plot details remain under wraps. It is not yet clear whether Monsters Inc. 3 will continue directly from the original films story or take a different creative direction, similar to how Monsters University explored the origins of Mike and Sullys friendship. Fans are especially curious if iconic voices like Billy Crystal and John Goodman will reprise their roles as Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan, respectively. Both actors returned for the prequel and the Disney+ series, suggesting their potential involvement in this new chapter. Adding further excitement, Disney is simultaneously developing a Monstropolis-themed area and roller coaster at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Florida. This attraction is expected to feature voice work from the original cast, reinforcing the studios commitment to the franchises legacy. Other returning voice talents may include Steve Buscemi as Randall Boggs, Sullys competitive rival; Jennifer Tilly as Mikes girlfriend Celia; and the ever-present Pixar staple John Ratzenberger as the Abominable Snowman. The Monsters, Inc. series began in 2001 with the original film, which portrayed the energetic duo Mike and Sully working at a scream-powered energy factory. The plot thickened when a little girl, affectionately called Boo (voiced by Mary Gibbs), accidentally entered the monster world, uncovering a conspiracy within the company. The 2013 prequel, Monsters University, took audiences back to the college days of Mike and Sully, highlighting their evolution from rivals to best friends. The follow-up series, Monsters at Work, fast-forwards to a future where laughter, rather than scares, powers the energy grid, continuing the story in the same universe. Despite Pixars ongoing dedication to original storiesexemplified by their recent sci-fi comedy Hoppers, which has received critical praisethe studio remains invested in expanding its popular franchises. Following the huge success of Inside Out 2, Pixar has multiple sequels slated for release in the coming years. These include Toy Story 5, set to arrive on June 19, 2026, where Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), and the gang face a new threat from a rogue tablet device. Looking further ahead, the Wall Street Journal report also confirms that The Incredibles 3 is scheduled for a 2028 release, followed by Coco 2 in 2029. This slate demonstrates Pixars balanced approach between original projects and beloved franchises, ensuring fans have plenty to anticipate. Currently, Monsters Inc. 3 is in active development, with the full Monsters, Inc. catalogue available for streaming on Disney+. Fans eager for updates on the progress of the film should stay tuned to industry sources such as Collider for the latest news. The enduring popularity of the Monsters, Inc. franchise, combined with the anniversary milestone, signals an exciting new chapter for Pixars cherished characters. Whether revisiting old faces or introducing new ones, the upcoming film aims to recapture the magic that made the original a classic. AceShowbiz - Anne Burrell, the late Food Network star, was not administered Narcan by paramedics because she was pronounced dead upon their arrival, according to a recent police report. The report, obtained by TMZ, states that Anne Burrell's husband, Stuart Claxton, discovered her body face-up on the bathroom shower floor of their Brooklyn residence at 7:40 AM on June 17 of last year. Emergency medical personnel arrived shortly after and declared her deceased at 8 AM. Authorities noted the presence of "numerous over-the-counter medications mixed in a bowl" near Burrell's body. The New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined the cause of death as suicide, citing "acute intoxication due to the combined effects of diphenhydramine, ethanol, cetirizine, and amphetamine." The manner of death was officially ruled as suicide. Naloxone, commonly known by its brand name Narcan, is a medication primarily used to reverse opioid overdoses rapidly. It can also mitigate certain effects of amphetamines. However, the paramedics concluded that Burrell was beyond revival when they arrived, so Narcan was not administered, as detailed in the report. In prior reports, investigators revealed that a suicide note and journal entries expressing suicidal thoughts were found in the primary bedroom of Burrell's home. Anne Burrell, a New York native, hosted several Food Network shows including "Secrets of a Restaurant Chef" and "Worst Cooks in America." She also made appearances in the 'Iron Chef' series. If you or someone you know is facing a crisis or struggling with mental health, support is available. Contact or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org for help. AceShowbiz - The staff of the Writers Guild of America West initiated a strike on Tuesday, alleging violations of labor laws by union leadership. This labor action impacts roughly 100 of the 150 employees represented by the Pacific Northwest Staff Union (PNWSU), who authorized the strike following unsuccessful contract negotiations last month. The union stated, "The Writers Guild Staff Union (WGSU) has called an unfair labor practice strike in protest of ULPs committed by Writers Guild of America West management." They accused management of conducting surveillance on union activities, terminating supporters of the union, and engaging in bad faith surface bargaining, which showed little intention to resolve critical issues raised by the staff. This strike occurs just one month before the [strong]WGA[/strong] is scheduled to enter talks with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) to negotiate a new contract for Hollywood television and film writers. Despite the strike, union leadership has expressed expectations that bargaining with the AMPTP will proceed as usual. On Tuesday afternoon, staff union members began picketing outside the [strong]WGA West[/strong] headquarters, carrying signs with slogans such as "It's Giving AMPTP" and "WGA Live Your Labor Values." A large inflatable mascot known as Scabby the Rat, a common symbol in labor protests, was positioned at the intersection of 3rd Street and Fairfax Avenue to draw attention to the strike. Missy Brown, co-chair of the WGSU bargaining committee, commented on the lack of meaningful dialogue, saying, "There's just been no engagement - no real engagement - from them to us." She added that during the most recent negotiation session, it became clear that management was unwilling to make further concessions. In a public statement on its website, the [strong]Writers Guild of America[/strong] affirmed its commitment to continue bargaining in good faith with the staff union. The guild also noted that negotiations with the AMPTP would be minimally impacted because executive staff and managers essential to those talks would not participate in the strike. However, the [strong]WGA West[/strong] headquarters will remain closed to both the public and union members during the strike period. Additionally, all screenings at the Writers Guild Theater have been suspended, disrupting planned events at the facility. The guild had organized two meetings scheduled for Wednesday and Saturday to update writers on negotiating priorities for the forthcoming AMPTP discussions. Due to the strike, these meetings have been canceled. Furthermore, the WGA's annual awards ceremony, set for March 8, currently has no announced changes regarding its status amid the ongoing labor dispute. In response to the strike and related allegations, [strong]WGA West[/strong] denied any bad faith negotiations. The guild expressed respect for the staffs right to strike, emphasizing its efforts over 19 negotiating sessions since September to offer comprehensive proposals aimed at improving compensation, workplace protections, and conditions. The guild stated that accusations by the PNWSU of unfair labor practices lack merit. It assured that the WGAW Board, the WGA Negotiating Committee, and executive staff would continue preparations for the upcoming AMPTP negotiations. Management staff will maintain essential guild operations, including dues collection and residual payments, while working toward a resolution of the first contract with the staff union. Missy Brown expressed concerns about how management would handle critical guild functions during the strike. She noted, "I think they think they're just going to rely on the middle managers to run the whole thing, but at a certain point, there are dues that have to be processed, residual checks that have to go out. It's a lot of work. I don't know how you do all of it." Staff members have not indicated how long the strike might last but are prepared for a prolonged action. Andrew Aroche, a coordinator in the guild's inclusion and equity department, remarked, "We are out here taking this leap of faith together. I think it gives people a lot more comfort knowing that they're going into these unknown waters with company, and with good company." Last week, WGA staff also picketed outside a member meeting held at the Sheraton Universal Hotel. The union members are advocating for "just cause" protections, seniority rights, and an improved wage scale. According to the staff union, 64% of its members earn less than $84,850 annually. The staff union was established last spring, with contract negotiations beginning in September. Dylan Holmes, co-chair of the WGSU bargaining committee, told Variety that staffers did not anticipate that negotiations would stretch so long as to overlap and potentially affect the AMPTP bargaining timeline. Holmes stated, "We would have never guessed that we would be so far apart that it felt like we were speaking different languages." Both the WGA and the staff union have published side-by-side charts outlining their respective positions on contract demands. The staff union has also protested the firing of three employees and filed an unfair labor practices charge with the National Labor Relations Board in August. Meanwhile, employees of the Writers Guild of America East (WGAE), based in New York and represented by a separate union, have expressed solidarity with their western counterparts. A spokesperson for the WGAE United Steelworkers Staff Union declared, "The WGAE United Steelworkers Staff Union stands in solidarity with our union siblings at the Writers Guild of America West staff union as they strike over unfair labor practices. Every worker deserves fair pay, just cause, and respect at work - including union staff. We urge WGAW management to come to the table and bargain in good faith." AceShowbiz - Timothee Chalamet found himself at the center of controversy on The View after his recent remarks about ballet and opera sparked backlash from the hosts. During a town hall event with Matthew McConaughey, Chalamet expressed mixed feelings about supporting movies in theaters and contrasted that with his reluctance to engage in ballet or opera. He described those art forms as efforts to keep this thing alive even though no one cares about this thing anymore. Sarah Haines reminded the panel and viewers that Chalamet comes from a family deeply involved in ballet, noting his grandmother, mother, and sister all participated in the New York City Ballet. She lightheartedly commented, This seems like a family issue. Sunny Hostin, a member of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, voiced her disappointment and offense at Chalamets comments. She called his remarks vapid and shallow, emphasizing the hurt they caused given her connection to classical ballet. Whoopi Goldberg strongly criticized Chalamet for disparaging the arts while attempting to be humorous, suggesting his comments might have cost him 14 cents. She highlighted the personal nature of his attack, saying, You come from a dance family. And so, when you crap on somebody elses art form, it doesnt feel good. Goldberg also addressed Chalamet directly, calling him boy with a disclaimer of no disrespect, mirroring how he had spoken during the town hall. She warned him to be careful with his words, especially when provoking anger from passionate fans. She further condemned his attempt to soften the insult by saying no disrespect, stating, Thats absolute disrespect! and advised against apologizing when an insult had already been made, as it undermines sincerity. The exchange highlighted tensions around supporting traditional arts and the sensitivity surrounding public remarks from prominent figures like Chalamet, especially given his family's strong ties to ballet. AceShowbiz - Sean Combs, known as Diddy, and his son Christian Combs, also known as King Combs, have settled a legal dispute with their former law firm Summa LLP regarding unpaid legal fees. According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Summa LLP alleged that the father-son duo failed to pay multiple invoices for over 100 attorney hours and 90 paralegal hours rendered since March 2025. The outstanding balance was reported to be at least $53,688.35. Some of these legal fees were reportedly connected to a sexual assault lawsuit involving King Combs. The case was brought by Grace O'Marcaigh, who claimed she was working as a steward on a yacht allegedly chartered by Diddy just days before New Year's Eve 2022. Grace alleged that King Combs attempted to force her to perform oral sex against her will, causing her emotional and mental distress. Grace filed suit against King Combs for assault and included Diddy as a defendant for allegedly aiding and abetting the assault. The current status of this lawsuit remains unclear. Despite the legal complications, Summa LLP and the Combs family have reached a settlement regarding the unpaid fees, and the law firm has dismissed its lawsuit over the outstanding bill. Alejandro Barrientos, the attorney representing Summa LLP, confirmed the settlement but declined to provide further details. This resolution closes one chapter in the ongoing legal challenges faced by Sean Combs and Christian Combs, allowing them to move forward without the burden of this particular dispute. AceShowbiz - Marvel's ambitious cosmic saga set to reshape its intergalactic universe is facing an unexpected halt. Following the launch of the Imperial event in 2025, Marvel had planned a bold expansion into its cosmic characters and storylines through multiple new series scheduled for 2026. However, these plans are now being scaled back significantly due to disappointing sales and lukewarm fan response. The Imperial crossover, crafted under the guidance of Jonathan Hickman, was intended to revolutionize Marvel's cosmic landscape. Hickman, known for his transformative work on the X-Men and the Ultimate Universe, restructured the power dynamics within Marvels outer space territories, setting the stage for a new era of interstellar storytelling. After him, five different creators were lined up to continue expanding this universe through spin-offs and ongoing series. Unfortunately, those follow-up series have not gained the traction Marvel hoped for. Titles such as Imperial Guardians, Nova Centurion, Planet-She Hulk, Exiles, and Black Panther: Intergalactic are all seeing their issue orders cut short. In fact, Exiles might never even launch, as Marvel reassesses its commitment to the entire post-Imperial cosmic lineup. The core reason for this retrenchment appears to be underwhelming sales figures, which have failed to justify continued investment. The Imperial event was designed as a destination story a conclusion that rearranged Marvels cosmic characters into new roles rather than a journey that built ongoing interest. This approach may have contributed to the limited enthusiasm for the subsequent series. Fans were reportedly dissatisfied with the direction taken for key characters, such as Star-Lord, whose moral ambiguity by the end of Imperial alienated some readers. Similarly, the spin-off focusing on Black Panther in space failed to capture a strong following. This combination of creative and commercial challenges has left Marvel in a difficult position for 2026. The critical reception for the new cosmic titles was mixed at best, and sales data did not support the publishers original plans. While this does not necessarily mean Marvel is abandoning its cosmic universe entirely, it is clear that the company is recalibrating its approach rather than pushing forward as initially intended. One of the more intriguing setups from Imperial involved the rise of both Star-Lord and Black Panther as leaders of vast intergalactic empires. This narrative foundation hinted at a potential third cosmic-level conflict akin to Marvels previous Civil War storylines a clash so grand it would dwarf earlier events. However, there is currently no indication that Marvel plans to pursue this storyline, leaving fans uncertain about the future of these characters and their cosmic domains. Marvels cosmic universe has long been a complex and richly populated part of its overall mythology. The publishers attempt to inject new life into this area with Imperial and its follow-ups was bold but ultimately undercut by lackluster fan engagement and sales performance. Whether Marvel will return to this universe with renewed strategies remains to be seen, but for now, the ambitious slate of cosmic titles set for 2026 faces an uncertain fate. The cancellation of these titles also raises questions about Marvels broader editorial direction. The company has cut multiple series over recent years due to similar sales issues, and the cosmic line appears to be the latest casualty of this trend. This contraction impacts not only new series but also the momentum built by Imperial to redefine key characters and cosmic storylines. Despite the setbacks, Marvel fans still have hope that the publisher might salvage some elements of the post-Imperial cosmic narrative. The groundwork laid by Imperial and Jonathan Hickman provided a fresh framework that could be revisited or reimagined in the future. For now, though, much of the planned expansion for 2026 is on hold or canceled, leaving the cosmic universe on pause. In summary, Marvels grand cosmic experiment following the Imperial event has not achieved the commercial success necessary to sustain its planned slate of spin-offs and ongoing series. Titles aimed at exploring new aspects of the cosmic Marvel Universe have been canceled or delayed indefinitely. While this development disappoints fans eager for expanded intergalactic adventures, it reflects the realities of market demand and creative reception. Marvels cosmic heroes and villains remain a significant part of its universe, but 2026 will likely see fewer new stories in this realm than originally anticipated. The publishers focus now appears to shift toward reevaluating how to best leverage the cosmic setting and characters moving forward, balancing ambition with practical considerations of audience interest and sales performance. AceShowbiz - Mary Walsh, a longtime CBS News producer, has left the network after an extensive 46-year career, citing increasing pressure to align newsroom coverage with a specific political viewpoint as a key reason for her departure. In a farewell note shared with colleagues last Friday and obtained by TheWrap, Walsh expressed frustration over directives to tailor reporting toward a particular segment of the political spectrum. "We've been told to aim our reporting at a particular part of the political spectrum," she wrote. "Honestly, I don't know how to do that." Walsh reflected on the concept of legacy media, emphasizing that its true meaning lies not in technology but in the lasting impact and journalistic standards upheld over generations. She remarked on the evolution of storytelling techniques, recalling days when script editing involved scissors and tape, and stressed that preserving the legacy of great CBS News journalists remains crucial. The timing of Walsh's exit closely follows the official announcement of the merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery. This deal capped months of speculation and developments, including Paramount CEO David Ellisons comments about his connections to the Trump administration and plans to potentially merge CBS News and CNN into a "scaled news service" aimed at appealing to the "70% of Americans that are in the middle." Reached for comment, Walsh declined to discuss her exit note or the circumstances surrounding her departure. Her decision to leave is part of a broader wave of voluntary buyouts accepted by nearly a dozen CBS News producers from the "Evening News" team. This voluntary departure offer coincides with ongoing changes under Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss and new "Evening News" anchor Tony Dokoupil, whose tenure has sparked accusations of a rightward political bias within the networks coverage. Dokoupil has been noted for his congenial reporting on officials from the Trump administration, a marked shift that has drawn scrutiny. Meanwhile, Weiss faced national criticism over a delayed airing of a "60 Minutes" segment critical of immigration enforcement policies, which correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi described as influenced by political considerations. Weiss maintained that the delay was due to the need for further reporting. A CBS News spokesperson declined to comment on the departures or newsroom shifts, though an insider previously acknowledged to TheWrap that some staff exits were anticipated given the new leadership and editorial direction. Veteran journalist Jim LaPorta expressed his sadness on social media over Walshs departure, highlighting her decades of frontline reporting from locations such as Jordan, Mogadishu during 1993, Bosnia, Bangkok, Vietnam, and Afghanistan in 2009. Walsh began her illustrious career at CBS News in 1979, during the era of anchor Walter Cronkite. Over the years, she worked alongside prominent figures including "60 Minutes" correspondent Bill Whitaker and former network president Susan Zirinsky, who recently returned in an advisory capacity focused on journalistic standards. In a message to staff obtained by TheWrap and first reported by Status, Evening News executive producer Kim Harvey thanked Walsh for her many years of service but disputed her claims about political influence on the newsrooms reporting. Harvey stated, "That is simply not true. Here at the 'Evening News,' we value our editorial independence, and CBS News leadership has never asked us to aim our reporting in any political direction." In an email chain viewed by TheWrap, Susan Zirinsky shared personal memories of working with Walsh, praising her composure and steadiness under pressure. Zirinsky described Walsh as a "confidant" and someone who remained calm amidst chaos, noting that she tried unsuccessfully to persuade her to stay, citing the importance of her perspective during the networks forthcoming changes. CBS News is expected to undergo additional layoffs later this spring, preceding the full integration anticipated from the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger slated for later in the year. Walsh's exit follows recent upheaval within the "Evening News" team, including producer Alicia Hasteys outspoken criticism of the networks "sweeping new vision" for the program. It also comes shortly after the removal of Javier Guzman, the former No. 2 producer of the show, during Dokoupils initial week as anchor due to reported disagreements with executive producer Harvey. Status first reported on Walshs departure, marking the end of a nearly half-century tenure marked by frontline coverage of presidential campaigns and global conflict zones. AceShowbiz - Warner Bros. Discovery has chosen to accept a lucrative offer from Paramount, leaving Netflix behind after a previously announced merger deal. Initially, Warner Bros. Discovery and Netflix revealed their agreement on December 5. However, Paramount, which had been pursuing Warner Bros. Discovery for several months, launched a public tender offer that was repeatedly rejected by the David Zaslav-led company. This dynamic shifted when Paramount presented what it termed a "superior offer," prompting Warner Bros. Discovery to reconsider and accept Paramounts bid, giving Netflix four days to match it. The streaming giant declined and withdrew from the deal. Paramount CEO David Ellison has steadily increased concessions with each new offer over recent months. The Warner Bros. Discovery board still needs to vote on approving the Paramount merger agreement, which is expected to be announced publicly with full financial details once finalized. Meanwhile, key terms of the superior offer have been disclosed by the involved companies. Netflix will receive a substantial $2.8 billion termination fee paid by Paramount for walking away from the transaction. Paramount will acquire all outstanding Warner Bros. Discovery shares at $31 per share in cash, an increase from the prior $30 per share offer. The earlier proposal valued the companys equity at approximately $78 billion and the enterprise value at $108 billion, which included net debt and noncontrolling interests. Although the new valuations are expected to be higher, exact figures will be confirmed only after the deal is officially completed. Additionally, a daily ticking fee of $0.25 per quarter will be payable to Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders starting September 30, 2026, and will continue until the Paramount transaction closes. This is an acceleration compared to the previous offer, which set the fee to accrue after December 31, 2026. The earlier fee was estimated at roughly $650 million per quarter for any delay beyond that date. Paramount has agreed to a $7 billion regulatory termination fee payable to Warner Bros. Discovery if the deal fails due to regulatory hurdles. This is a significant increase from the prior $5.8 billion breakup fee. Another key concession by Paramount is its commitment to eliminate $1.5 billion in potential financing costs linked to Warner Bros. Discoverys outstanding debt exchange offer. Paramounts agreement also includes a narrowed definition of Company Material Adverse Effect that excludes the performance of Warner Bros. Discoverys Global Linear Networks business. This means Paramount cannot invoke this clause to back out of the deal if the traditional linear television segment deteriorates between signing and closing. Backing the transaction financially, the Ellison Trust is providing a $45.7 billion equity commitment, personally guaranteed by Larry Ellison. He has also pledged to supply additional equity funding if required to satisfy solvency certificates mandated by Paramounts lending banks. The debt commitment amounts to $57.5 billion, supplied by Bank of America, Citigroup, and Apollo. The previous offer involved $43.6 billion in equity commitments from the Ellison family and RedBird Capital Partners, alongside $54 billion in debt commitments. It also included an irrevocable personal guarantee from Larry Ellison covering the equity financing and any damages claims against Paramount. Looking at Warner Bros. Discoverys current financial condition, the company ended 2025 with $33.5 billion in debt, as disclosed in its latest quarterly financial report. The Paramount deal would add roughly $57.7 billion in new debt to the combined entity. The total debt load would surpass $90 billion. Paramounts management has touted $6 billion in expected cost savings from the merger, which would likely result in workforce reductions. This contrasts with Netflixs position, which argued for deeper cuts but emphasized maintaining jobs as a key advantage of its proposed deal. The financial strength of the Ellison family, led by Larry Ellison, represents a factor in this transaction. Currently ranked number six on the Forbes Real-Time Billionaires List, Larry Ellisons net worth is estimated at $194.9 billion. Market analysts have begun weighing in on the latest development. Robert Fishman from MoffettNathanson noted that the swift conclusion of the bidding war confirmed Paramounts strategic necessity for acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery, while highlighting Netflixs confidence in its own growth prospects by refusing to overextend in acquisitions. Fishman also suggested that the combined Paramount, Skydance, and Warner Bros. Discovery entity could become a significant media player if it manages its financial resources effectively. In summary, the deal sees Paramount outbidding Netflix and securing an acquisition backed by the financial resources of the Ellison family. Netflix exits with a $2.8 billion payout, while Warner Bros. Discovery prepares for a new chapter under Paramounts ownership, pending final approvals and regulatory clearance. Pocket-size device supports up to 120B models locally with 0 token fees, without requiring cloud or high-end GPU DOVER, Del., March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Tiiny AI Inc. (www.tiiny.ai), a U.S. AI Infra startup, today announced that its Tiiny AI Pocket Lab surpassed US$1 million in Kickstarter pledges within five hours of its March 11 launch. Tiiny AI Hits 1 Million in 5-hours. Tiiny AI Pocket Lab is a pocket-size personal AI supercomputer that plugs into a laptop or PC and turns it into a local AI terminal. Built as a dedicated backend for always-on AI, it is designed to support up to 120B-parameter models locally without requiring internet, cloud services, separate servers, or a high-end GPU. It also offers one-click deployment, 0 token fees, and an always-on operating profile within a 65W power envelope. The milestone signals early demand for what Tiiny AI calls "AgentBox" a new class of dedicated local devices designed to run always-on AI models and agent workflows privately and persistently, including OpenClaw-based agents. It also reflects a broader shift from cloud-based AI toward edge-cloud synergy, where routine agent tasks run locally for privacy, reliability, and greater cost control, while the cloud is used selectively when needed. In the first five hours, the campaign reached US$1,009,664 in pledges from 728 backers. The backer base was led by the United States (about 70% of backers, by backer count), followed by Germany and Canada, with additional backers from the United Kingdom and Spain, as of 3:00 pm EDT on March 11. "We are in a broader shift from cloud-based AI to edge-cloud synergy, with a new hardware layer emerging: agent-native devices built to run always-on workflows locally," said Samar Bhoj, GTM Director at Tiiny AI. "Our focus is to make that experience accessible with one-click deployment, local-first operation, 0 token fees, stronger privacy controls, and a practical edge-cloud synergy model that uses the cloud only when needed." Pricing and Availability Kickstarter campaign page: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tiinyai/tiiny-ai-pocket-lab Kickstarter super early-bird price: US$1,399 Website-only deposit program: Tiiny AI offers a US$9.90 deposit on its website to lock in a US$1,299 price (US$100 lower than the super early-bird price). Estimated delivery: August 2026 (final schedule and regional availability detailed on Kickstarter) AgentBox: A New Category Built for Always-On AI Workflows As AI adoption accelerates, cloud-based AI is encountering friction for many everyday workflows: recurring usage costs, privacy and data-sovereignty concerns, reliability risks from network or cloud outages, and long-context capabilities. At the same time, agent frameworks are pushing AI beyond chat and into multi-step workflows, such as organizing files, building local knowledge bases, generating reports, and executing tasks over time. Against this backdrop, Tiiny AI sees the emergence of "AgentBox" a new class of compact local AI devices designed to support always-on agent workflows. Tiiny AI Pocket Lab is built to support up to 120B-parameter models locally, while offering privacy, reliability, and greater control as a persistent local AI engine that works alongside users' existing devices. This "AgentBox" is powered by Tiiny AI's proprietary optimization technologies, including TurboSparse and PowerInfer, designed to improve throughput and efficiency for local inference on compact hardware. The company offers a ready-to-use open-source ecosystem. Tiiny AI Pocket Lab supports one-click installation of more than 50 leading open-source models including OpenAI GPT-OSS, Llama, Qwen, GLM, Mistral, and Phi, and enables seamless deployment of over 100 popular open-source AI agen t s such as OpenClaw, OpenCode, Flowise, Presenton, Libra, Bella, and SillyTavern. Users receive continuous updates, including official OTA hardware upgrades. To further strengthen ecosystem openness, Tiiny AI said the product will also support user-imported .gguf models from Hugging Face beyond the officially adapted mainstream models. The company plans to launch a corresponding model conversion tool in July 2026. SOTA open-source LLMs will receive priority support from Tiiny AI, while longer-tail models can be converted and imported by users based on their own needs. This is intended to make the product not only a local AI device, but also a more controllable local AI runtime environment with greater transparency and user oversight. Built for Local-First Security and Control As AI agents become more capable and more autonomous, security concerns are expanding beyond the model itself into broader areas such as permission management, behavior auditing, and execution control. In response, Tiiny AI emphasizes three design principles: local-first operation, least privilege, and human-in-the-loop control. The company says sensitive workflows should remain locally processed whenever possible; agent access to tools, files, and APIs should be limited to only what is necessary for a given task; and human confirmation or audit mechanisms should remain in place for actions involving sensitive data, external systems, or critical operations. According to Tiiny AI, this is part of what distinguishes AgentBox from a generic local AI setup and cloud-based AI: it is meant to provide a more transparent and controllable environment for running AI continuously in everyday workflows. In December 2025, Tiiny AI Pocket Lab was verified by Guinness World Records under the category "The Smallest MiniPC (100B LLM Locally)", recognizing its form factor and ability to run a 100B-parameter LLM locally. Formed in 2024, the team brings together global engineers from MIT, Stanford, HKUST, SJTU, Intel, and Meta, with deep expertise in systems engineering, AI inference optimization, and hardwaresoftware co-design. Their research has been published in premier academic conferences including SOSP, OSDI, ASPLOS, and EuroSys. In 2025, Tiiny AI secured a multi-million dollar seed round from leading global investors. Headline specs (configuration dependent): Memory: 80GB LPDDR5X Storage: 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD Performance: ~1840 tokens/second (config dependent) Power: 30W TDP (65W adapter required); designed within a 65W power envelope Dimensions/weight: 142 80 22 mm; 300g Compatibility: macOS & Windows (Note: performance figures are configuration dependent; Tiiny AI can provide test conditions upon request.) Press kit: ### About Tiiny AI Inc. Tiiny AI Inc. is a U.S. AI Infra startup. The company's mission is to make advanced AI personal, private, and accessible, bringing powerful model and agent workflows to local devices with simplified deployment and predictable costs. With its founding team formed in 2024 by engineers from MIT, Stanford, HKUST, SJTU, Intel, and Meta, the company develops breakthrough technologies such as TurboSparse and PowerInfer that enable up-to-120B LLMs to run on pocket-sized consumer devices for the first time. Tiiny AI's mission is to make advanced AI accessible, private, and personal. SOURCE Tiiny AI Inc. By Helen Richardson, insurance senior product manager, U.K. and Ireland, LexisNexis Risk Solutions Typically, customer information within insurance firms is stored separately across multiple business lines such as motor, home, health and pet, with little ability to link records and create a cohesive customer view. The result is a fragmented understanding of risk and protection needs. A single customer view (SCV) brings those fragments together, enabling insurance providers to understand each customer in context, as an individual with unique and evolving needs. A unified view helps insurers act with greater precision and empathy Seeing the full picture of a customers relationship with a brand, or group of brands, allows insurance providers to make fairer, more accurate decisions about cover and pricing. A joined-up record also means, as a best practice, customers dont have to repeat their details or reverify their identity across multiple lines of business. Building inclusion through insight A key enabler of the single customer view is the ability to reliably link and match data across the organisation and this is where customer identity resolution solutions such as LexID for Insurance can play a crucial role. By bringing and ultimately resolving multiple records into a single, accurate customer identity, LexID can help insurance providers build a comprehensive and current understanding of each individual. This richer perspective supports deeper personalisation, more tailored product design and, ultimately, better customer outcomes. Crucially, a connected view of customers also strengthens how insurance providers identify and support vulnerable customers. Vulnerability can stem from four main drivers poor health, low capability, reduced resilience or negative life events such as redundancy or relationship breakdowns. When indicators emerge in one part of the business, they should inform interactions everywhere. When customer data becomes linked across sales, underwriting and claims, teams no longer need to rely on fragmented or inconsistent records. Instead, every function sees the same customer reality and can adapt communication and decision-making appropriately. By unifying identity intelligence across the value chain, insurance providers avoid siloed views, reduce repeated questioning, and can help ensure that vulnerable customers receive fair, empathetic and consistent treatment at every touchpoint. A truly operationalised SCV is one that supports both inclusion and Consumer Duty compliance. Equally, when vulnerability indicators or life-event triggers are integrated into the insight, insurance providers can adapt communication and claims processes in ways that protect customers during moments of stress or change. The result is both commercial sustainability and social value: inclusion through understanding. Technology and trust go hand in hand Creating a single customer view requires careful and responsible stewardship of data. Consent, accuracy, and transparency are central. Insurance providers need trusted partners who can unify and enrich data responsibly bringing together policy, public, and behavioural insights within a compliant, ethical framework. At LexisNexis Risk Solutions, we help insurers do exactly that: turning fragmented datasets into actionable intelligence that strengthens customer understanding and outcomes. With data-linked insights available at quote, renewal and claim, insurance providers can deliver fairer pricing, smoother journeys, and stronger retention all while meeting regulatory expectations around fairness and vulnerability. Consumer Duty pressures make the Single Customer View essential A further key benefit of customer identity resolution, and its ability to enable a single customer view, is how it supports Consumer Duty reporting. The Chartered Insurance Institutes latest Consumer Duty report highlights the continued difficulty firms face to produce high-quality Board reports. Knowing what data to include, accessing appropriate data, integrating datasets effectively, and demonstrating relationships across them were among the most significant barriers identified[ii]. These challenges align directly to the capabilities a single customer view can deliver, including: Detailed segmented analysis, especially for vulnerable customers reducing blind spots and helping firms evidence fair outcomes. Connecting data across teams to challenge assumptions and drive change replacing manual processes with insight-ready intelligence. Improved data quality a core FCA expectation, supported by consistently linked, verified customer information. Better visibility of customer segments and vulnerability characteristics enabling firms to identify and support vulnerable customers. The FCAs own Consumer Duty findings reinforce this direction of travel[iii]. Good practice examples emphasised high-quality MI and meaningful analysis of different customer types, including those with vulnerability characteristics. However, areas for improvement centred on data quality, insufficient segmentation and a lack of evidence showing firms fully understood differential customer outcomes. A single view of customers can directly address these concerns. Whether detecting early signs of financial vulnerability, understanding affordability pressures behind motor premium sensitivity, or strengthening fraud prevention through identity-linked insight, SCV provides the analytical foundation the Consumer Duty demands. A connected future for inclusive protection The Financial Inclusion Committees strategy sets a clear challenge: build protection that reflects real lives. The solution lies in seeing customers clearly across products, life stages, and risk profiles. By embracing the single customer view supported by enriched, connected data that meets both customer needs and regulatory expectations, insurance providers can bridge the protection gap, personalise experiences and help ensure that the promise of insurance security, fairness, and peace of mind reaches everyone. [i] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/financial-inclusion-strategy/financial-inclusion-strategy#financial-resilience-through-insurance-1 [ii] https://www.knowhow.cii.co.uk/news/2025/new-cii-report-highlights-key-challenges-in-consumer-duty-board-reporting/#:~:text=Findings%20were%20drawn%20from%20a,submitted%20their%20first%20mandatory%20reports. [iii] https://www.fca.org.uk/publications/good-and-poor-practice/consumer-support-outcome-good-practices-areas-improvement#revisions The Pensions Regulator has called on the pensions industry to take immediate action to protect millions of peoples retirement savings after a rise in reports of impersonation fraud. A new scam alert issued today to more than 35,000 pension industry professionals by TPR, in collaboration with City of London Police (CoLP), warns that fraudsters are posing as pension savers to gain access to their retirement pots. The criminals get hold of savers personal information and use it to breach security checks and access their accounts. They then change the bank details or set up a fake account in the savers name to divert funds and steal hard-earned retirement savings. Trustees must safeguard all members no one is immune All members of UK pension schemes are urged to be vigilant, but those now living in Africa are at a heightened risk of being targeted, an analysis of reports to Report Fraud has found. The analysis carried out by a TPR intelligence expert embedded in CoLP - identified a sharp rise in reports of impersonation fraud affecting UK members residing in Africa in 2025. This follows a year-on-year rise since 2016. Around 500,000 was reported lost and around a further 2.5 million were at risk between 2021 and 2025. But TPR warns similar risks apply across other jurisdictions and has renewed its earlier warning about impersonation fraud. In the alert issued today, TPR, together with CoLP, urges trustees and administrators to: Review their identity and verification check procedures to ensure they remain robust. Review data security for letters and documents that are posted to overseas addresses. Encourage members to strengthen online security by adopting two-step verification and using stronger passwords. Tell Report Fraud about any suspected fraud immediately. You don't have to be certain to report. Every report counts Gaucho Rasmussen, TPRs Executive Director, Enforcement and Legal Group, says: Fraudsters will stop at nothing to get their hands on savers pension pots. And no one is immune. We are urging the pensions industry to act immediately to protect savers by strengthening their defences and ensuring their members do the same. As a pensions professional, you are the first line of defence against scammers and its vital you also report any suspicions to the new Report Fraud service. The intelligence behind the latest industry alert came largely from the pension industry, with 90% of the reports made by trustees and administrators. This latest scam warning demonstrates just how valuable intelligence from industry is in protecting savers, Gaucho added. Every report counts, allowing us to identify threats and take joint action with our Pension Scams Action Group partners to prevent harm to savers. Together, we can stop criminals in their tracks. Report Fraud, the new national reporting service for cyber crime and fraud, replaced Action Fraud in December. Chris Bell, Service Delivery Director at the City of London Police, said: Its important we collaborate with our partners to ensure every measure is taken by both industry and savers to protect pension pots criminals will go to great lengths to impersonate and try to steal lifetime savings. Thats why Report Fraud, which is run by the City of London Police, supports this alert to urge everyone to protect their pension accounts and stay vigilant to fraudsters attempting to gain unauthorised access. "Anyone who suspects fraudulent activity should tell Report Fraud. Every report counts - this new service is designed to enhance intelligence sharing across industry and the public and contributes to warnings like this. This alert demonstrates impact of ongoing partner collaborations, especially between public and private sectors, enabling us all to tackle fraud where possible and protect pension customers and their life savings. Close analysis of reports to Report Fraud continues TPR launched a new digital campaign on 23 February, encouraging the pensions industry to report suspicious activity to Report Fraud. All reports relating to pension fraud continue to be closely analysed by our TPR intelligence analyst embedded in CoLP. This collaboration is part of a wider partnership to accelerate the disruption and prevention of pension fraud, as well as to improve the reporting journey. Pension professionals can find out more about Report Fraud, the Governments new Fraud Strategy and the latest in the fight against pension fraud in our free live PSAG webinar on 18 March 2026.Lord Hanson, the Fraud Minister, will be amongst those taking part. The United States literally began with these words: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. (What that actually means, particularly the pursuit of Happiness part, is different for different people. At a minimum, however, we can all agree that Life means, well...life.) Advertisement The above quotation, of course, comes from the Declaration of Independence . But that document doesnt define the structure of our government; the Constitution does. And its from the Constitution that we get our federal system, under which (originally) the federal government had a few well-defined and finite powers such as defense, foreign relations, and adjudicating conflicts between the various states. States, on the other hand, reserved all those powers not specifically prohibited to them or delegated to the federal government. The truth is that the system worked very well for a long time. About 150 years. But starting in the 1910s, with the passage of the 16th and 17th amendments , the line between the states and the federal government started to blur; in the 1930s, it began to fray; and by the 1990s, it was basically gone, which is the situation we find ourselves with today. Advertisement This evisceration of our federal system means that, for all intents and purposes, the Constitutions limited government no longer exists. From welfare to education to employment to consumer products to media to farming to housing, the federal government is involved in virtually every other aspect of American lives. Id even go so far as to suggest that 70% or more of what the federal government does is unconstitutional. Nonetheless, you know one place where federal control largely doesnt extend? The criminal justice system. That doesnt mean there is no federal involvement, because in reality, there is . However, states exert more control over the criminal justice system than they do over other aspects of life, such as healthcare, automobiles, banking, etc. Advertisement But maybe thats one area where the federal government should take control, or at least some control. Why? Because state and local governments are facilitating the spilling of American blood. Across the country, from Virginia to Maine to California, we are seeing state and or local governments failing to protect that most basic thing upon which America was founded: Life. The reports and stories we see regularly are heartbreaking. A criminal with 40 arrests murders a young woman during a home invasion. An illegal alien with 30 prior arrests fatally slashes a random woman's neck as she stands at a bus stop. A thug with 17 priors beat a 64-year-old man to death in a subway because he didnt like the way the victim looked at him . Advertisement Advertisement Image created by Vince Coyner. For far too many criminals, the justice system is a collection of empty threats and not a deterrent to anything, all of it empowered by government employees more focused on leftist agendas than the safety of the citizens they serve. Advertisement Stephen Miller pointed out recently that Western civilization only started flourishing after centuries of culling the most violent among them via capital punishment. Ive often said that its impossible to go into a dark movie theater and fully enjoy the show if youre worried the entire time that the guy behind you might shoot you in the back of the head. Similarly, its difficult to build a functioning, flourishing society, one that advances science and technology and that builds prosperity, if the citizens of said society worry about being killed waiting for the subway or driving home from work or standing in line at some fast food restaurant. All the creativity people might put into inventing new widgets, conducting cancer research, or teaching children to read instead gets focused on how to avoid becoming a crime victim. These state and local policies are the bleeding edge (literally) of George Soross and the swamps attempts to destroy the Republic and turn America into the leftist paradise they all dream of controlling. And just as communism in the 20th century did nothing but deliver bloodshed, economic ruin, and tyranny everywhere it showed its ugly head, we see the same thing in blue states and cities across America. Given the failure of blue state / city judges, prosecutors, and District Attorneys to protect their citizens lives (violating the Constitutions description of governments function), Washington should step in to do the job. The feds wont be able to protect everyone, but they will be able to tackle the problem in a way that the states and cities refuse to do. What kinds of things can be done? First: Make murder a federal, capital crime and only a limited, streamlined appeal process so that the thing doesnt drag on for years or decades. Second: The federal government should begin to indict and imprison said judges, prosecutors, and DAs every single time one of the career criminals they put back on the street kills someone. But, you might say, all these prosecutors, judges, and DAs have qualified immunity. Maybe from state charges, but not from federal civil rights violations. Think back to 1992 when a local jury acquitted the police officers of assault and use of excessive force in the beating of Rodney King. What happened then? The feds came in and charged those same officers with violating Kings civil rights, and they won convictions. Frankly, that was a BS charge then, but the precedent was set. If using a baton on someone who put the lives of countless motorists at risk is a violation of civil rights, then actually empowering the murder of someone is at least as much so. As such, given the role that the various government officials play in putting on the street career criminals who then go on to commit murder, the Justice Department should hold them accountable. What would the result of such a policy be? One would be that it would force government officials to weigh the potential consequences of releasing criminals into communities against the potential outcome to the community should that criminal murder someone. Another would be that crime would drop precipitously as career criminals find themselves behind bars far more often than theyre accustomed to. None of this is ideal, and this is not an ideal solution, but as Voltaire said: Perfect is the enemy of good. When government officials not only dont protect citizens but actively put them in harms way, they should pay for those decisions. Government without accountability is just another way of saying tyranny, something the Declaration of Independence was specifically written to oppose. Five centuries ago, Spain stood as a beacon of light in a darkened world, confronting empires built on the blood of innocents. Today, that same nation has descended into a modern form of barbarism, endorsing the ritualistic slaughter of the unborn under the guise of "rights." By examining Spain's heroic role in ending human sacrifice in the New World and contrasting it with its current embrace of abortion, we uncover a profound spiritual shift -- from Christian valor to demonic influences that prioritize death over life. Advertisement The Spanish Conquest: Liberating the New World from Human Sacrifice In the early 16th century, Spanish explorers and conquistadors arrived in the Americas, encountering civilizations steeped in ritual violence. The Aztec Empire, centered in what is now Mexico, was a powerhouse of terror, where human sacrifice was not an aberration but the cornerstone of their religion. Aztec priests, believing their gods demanded blood to sustain the universe, conducted mass killings on an unimaginable scale. At the inauguration of the Great Temple in Tenochtitlan in 1487, estimates suggest over 80,000 victims were sacrificed over four days, their hearts ripped out while still beating to appease deities like Huitzilopochtli. The empire's subjects, including allied tribes, lived in fear, often kidnapped for these gruesome rituals. Advertisement Enter Hernan Cortes, the Spanish conquistador who, in 1519, led a coalition that toppled this empire of death. Far from a mere quest for gold, Cortes's expedition was framed as a divine mission to spread Christianity and eradicate pagan atrocities. He allied with indigenous groups oppressed by Aztec tyranny who eagerly joined the fight against their overlords. By 1521, Tenochtitlan fell, and with it, the institutionalized human sacrifice that had claimed countless lives. The Spanish imposed Christianity, converting millions and building churches atop ruined temples, symbolizing the triumph of life-affirming faith over bloodthirsty idolatry. Franciscan friars demanded an end to these practices under threat of death, ensuring the old ways were buried. Similarly, in South America, Francisco Pizarro's forces confronted the Inca Empire in the 1530s. While the Incas' sacrifices were less prolific than the Aztecs', they still offered humans -- often children -- to gods like Inti and Pachamama during crises such as droughts or conquests. The Spanish conquest dismantled this system, introducing the Gospel and halting these rituals. As one historical account notes, the Europeans "helped end human sacrifice" while spreading Christianity, marking a pivotal expansion of western civilization. Spain's actions, though imperfect, saved untold lives and brought the light of Christ to millions, transforming societies from death cults to communities rooted in human dignity. Advertisement This era exemplifies Spain's historical commitment to life: confronting evil head-on, not for domination alone, but to uphold the sanctity of every human soul created in God's image. Abortion as Spain's New Human Sacrifice Advertisement Fast forward to today, and Spain has tragically inverted its legacy. What was once a force against human sacrifice now promotes it through abortion. In Aztec and Inca times, victims were offered to appease false gods; now, the unborn are sacrificed on the altar of convenience, autonomy, and secular ideology. This is no hyperbole -- abortion ends innocent lives in a sterile, systematized manner, echoing the ancient horrors but sanitized for modern sensibilities. Spain's slide into this culture of death accelerated with progressive reforms. The 2023 amendments to its abortion law not only expanded access but mandated the creation of registries for healthcare professionals who conscientiously object to participating in abortions. In a chilling development, on March 10, 2026, the High Court of Justice of Madrid ordered the regional government to "immediately" begin compiling such a registry, overriding resistance from Madrid president Isabel Diaz Ayuso, who decried it as "blacklisting" doctors and vowed never to force them against their conscience. Health Minister Monica Garcia hailed this as a "legal victory for abortion rights," but from a pro-life standpoint, it's a victory for persecution -- creating lists of those who refuse to partake in what we see as infanticide. Advertisement This registry isn't just bureaucratic; it's a tool to intimidate and marginalize pro-life advocates in medicine, much like how ancient empires coerced participation in sacrifices. By compiling names of objectors, the state effectively brands them as obstacles to "progress," potentially exposing them to harassment or professional repercussions. It's a stark reminder that when societies abandon God, they revert to valuing power over people. Spain's Spiritual Regression Advertisement This betrayal signals a deeper spiritual malaise: Spain's drift toward demonic worship disguised as secular humanism. Once a bastion of Catholicism that evangelized the world, Spain now champions policies that profane life. Abortion, with its ritualistic elements -- clinical procedures ending in the disposal of human remains -- mirrors the demonic pacts of old, where blood was spilled to satisfy unseen forces. Today, those forces are the idols of individualism, feminism, and state control, all antithetical to Christian teachings on the sanctity of life from conception. The irony is profound: The nation that ended mass sacrifices in the Americas now legalizes the annual termination of tens of thousands of pregnancies, framing it as empowerment. This isn't progress; it's regression to paganism, where the vulnerable are expendable. As pro-life advocates, we must reclaim Spain's true heritage -- calling out this demonic inversion and fighting for laws that protect the unborn, just as the conquistadors protected the innocent from the knife. In conclusion, Spain's history teaches us that confronting human sacrifice requires courage and faith. Let us pray and act to restore that spirit, ending the modern abomination of abortion and returning to a culture that honors every life as sacred. The souls of the unborn cry out for justice -- will Spain listen, or continue down this path of darkness? Image: Public Domain If you or someone you know lives in California and has schoolchildren, ask them whether they would welcome receiving $17,000 per child each year to send their child(ren) to a private or religious school rather than to a failing neighborhood public school! Advertisement It could happen. The Childrens Educational Opportunity (CEO) Act is a proposed statewide ballot measure for November 2026 that is currently gathering the required voter signatures to qualify, but there are just a few days remaining before the March 31 deadline. Educator and former Thousand Oaks Mayor, Kevin McNamee, is the lead proponent for the 2026 statewide ballot initiative that puts the parents in charge of where their child attends school. The CEO Act would amend the California Constitution to establish state-controlled Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) for every K12 student, funded from existing Proposition 98 dollars that voters previously earmarked for education. Participation in the CEO Act is entirely optional. Each year, the state would deposit approximately $17,000 per student into a childs ESA. Parents would then choose among all education options, including private schools, faith-based schools, and homeschooling. Advertisement Parents never handle the money directly. Once they select an eligible school, the ESA trust sends tuition payments straight to that institution, with any unused funds remaining in the account and earning interest. For example, if a kindergarten charges $7,000 per year, that amount flows from the ESA to the school, and the remaining $10,000 stays in the account to grow for future educational expenses. Unused ESA funds roll over annually, can be used after 12th grade for accredited trade schools, community colleges, universities, or postgraduate education, and, after age 18, may be transferred to a family members ESA or donated to an eligible school. Crucially, the CEO Act is designed to be revenue-neutral. It does not raise taxes; instead, it reallocates existing Proposition 98 dollars so that funds follow the student rather than automatically flowing to government-operated schools. The overall fiscal commitment to education remains the same, but families gain direct agency over where their childs share is spent, including but not limited to tuition, tutors, books, supplies, online classes, special needs, and transportation. Advertisement California Governor Gavin Hair Gel Newsom is one of the reasons many parents prefer their children to be educated outside the public school system. When Hair Gel is campaigning for president, he can share that California Assessment of Student Performance Progress (CAASPP) testing reveals that 43% of the Golden States public school 11th graders cant read or read proficiently, and 70% cant do basic math. Advertisement Image created using AI. Unfortunately, the numbers are worse for Californias black and Hispanic public school 11th graders. Fifty-nine percent of black and 51 percent of Hispanic 11th graders cant read or read proficiently, and 84 percent of black and 81 percent of Hispanic cant do basic math. Advertisement You might wonder why this isnt making headline news. For starters, this has been happening for years. Communist-leaning teachers unions are more interested in the woke LGBT+ agenda and planning pro-Hamas or anti-ICE protests. Also, Californias Democrat political and educational leaders dont seem to care if students graduate without knowing basic math or reading. They would rather boast about a meaningless 88 percent public school student graduation rate, even though students are often handed a useless diploma, while proud parents, unaware their child lacks basic skills, take photos for social media. (Indeed, during his Katie Couric interview, Newsom thought it was unfair that Mississippi students were doing better because the state abandoned social promotions.) Advertisement Then you know what happens to those ignorant graduates? They cant find employment. In a tight labor market, no one wants to hire someone who cant read, write, or do basic math. Needing to work, these illiterate graduates accept minimum wage, dead-end jobs that dont pay enough to rent a rundown studio apartment in a crime-infested neighborhood. Their next step is seeking government handoutsone of the few areas where California excels. According to McNamee: Parents are being deceived. They do not find out that their child cannot read or do math until after graduation, when their child cant complete a job application. The parents think their child is doing great in public school, getting A grades, yet do not find out the truth until after graduation. The answer is to return to what worked before. Return to a time when the parent was in charge of deciding where their child goes to school, and not being forced into a failing local public school. Return to a time when parents, not politicians or bureaucrats, were in charge of their childs education regardless of race, family income, or zip code. It is time to get rid of the top-down education model driven by a few intellectual elites in Sacramento who dictate what is taught and how it is taught in our public schools. It is not working. You might be surprised to learn that the highest literacy rate in the United States occurred during the 1800s when the community hired the local schoolteacher who taught in a one-room schoolhouse where all children from 4 to 15 years of age were encouraged to learn. Children could read, write, do math, learn history and civics, and they enjoyed learning. It was a time when excellence was demanded, and students responded by meeting the high expectations of the teacher, parents, and community. Look at these sixth-grade tests from the 1890s. This demand for excellence continued through the early 1900s. This is a test students had to pass in 1912. How many people today (even those with graduate degrees) could pass this exam? According to McNamee, todays public school is a 100-plus-year-old industrial education model that works for some but not most of todays students. Todays public school is much like going to a shoe store selling only size 9 shoes. It works for some customers but not all. California public schools want to crank students through an assembly line education factory. Too many students are being left behind revealed by dismal standardized test scores. But time is running out. March 31 is the deadline for signatures. Even if you dont live in California, you might know people who do. Visit EducationOpportunity.org to download, print, sign, and mail the petition to the CEO at the address at the bottom of the petition. Gavin Newsom is often referred to as the U-Haul salesman of the year because his multiple failures have encouraged many residents to move to a red state. From having the nations largest homeless population to the nations highest taxes to the largest illegal alien population that abuses government programs, to students unable to do basic reading or math, California fails at many metrics. But with the CEO Act, we the people can do something to help students, so they graduate with the necessary basic skills to continue their education or find meaningful employment. Californians can turn that failing F grade into an A. Robin M. Itzler is a regular contributor to American Thinker. She is the founder and editor of Patriot Neighbors, a free weekly national newsletter, and can be reached at [email protected]. 2026 may well go down in history as the beginning of a new world order and the commencement of a unipolar century. Not since the end of World War II will the world have shifted so dramatically. Donald Trump is on the verge of shattering the dreams of the Globalist ideologues in Europe, permanently undermining the hegemonic fantasies of Communist China, and thwarting the mindless expansionist ambitions of Putins Russia. Advertisement He has set the stage for a de facto American empire. An empire, together with new strategic allies and partners, that would not overtly dominate or control the civilized and developed world, but through financial, economic, military, and technological dominance could bestride the world as the arbiter of last resort. The foundation of this potential dramatic shift was laid on January 20, 2025, with Trumps recognition that this is the time (1) to confront the Globalists, China, and Russia and (2) to reconstitute American economic supremacy by unabashedly utilizing the twin weapons of tariffs and access to the worlds largest economy to reset global trade, re-establish American dominance in manufacturing and technology, and reconfirm that the U.S. dollar is irreplaceable as the worlds reserve currency. At the same time, he began to significantly escalate domestic energy production and focus on dramatically expanding not only the size but the lethality of the military. Advertisement The next phase of this confrontation began on June 22, 2025, with an astounding exhibition of American power and determination: the unprecedented stealth bombing of Irans most secure underground nuclear facilities by seven B-2 Bombers making a 36-hour round trip from the United States. This milestone achievement was soon overshadowed by the inconceivably successful and, for the Americans, bloodless capture of Nicholas Maduro and the effective takeover of Venezuela on January 3, 2026. The significance of the overwhelming success of the June 2025 bombing of Iran and the Maduro raid was not lost on Xi Jinping of China, Vladimir Putin of Russia, and a vast panoply of world leaders. Advertisement Lost amid these accomplishments was Panamas willingness to stand up to Chinese threats and intimidation. On January 29, 2026, Panama acquiesced to Trumps demands and unilaterally terminated Chinas long-term exclusive contract (originally signed in 1997 and renewed until 2046) to operate and effectively control the Panama Canal, an extraordinarily vital global shipping chokepoint in Americas backyard and a major Chinese foothold in the Western Hemisphere. However, the most significant step of this march toward a new world order occurred on February 28, 2026, after six months of fruitless negotiations with the intransigent and despotic Iranian government. The threat of a nuclear Iran equipped with ballistic missiles in league with China and Russia far outweighed the risk of unilateral military action to permanently halt Irans nuclear ambitions and foster a change in its governance. This was an action that could only have been undertaken by a Donald Trump in coordination with Americas most reliable partner and ally, Israel. Advertisement The Iranian and Venezuelan campaigns also carried major global implications, as both nations were part of a budding Communist Chinese/Russian coalition to militarily and economically dominate the globe. Among Chinas primary objectives over the past 15 years has been recruiting countries, such as Panama, through dubious economic incentives (for example, the Belt and Road Initiative) in order to create a global alliance with China at the helm as the worlds sole superpower. Thus, Venezuela and Iran had significant economic and military ties with China and Russia. Between them, Venezuela and Iran supplied China with roughly 20% of its oil needs at discounted prices. The loss of this volume of cheap oil will severely affect Chinas economy and military, as it will have to rely on the vagaries of the oil market now dominated by the United States and other American-allied countries. Advertisement Additionally, the weaponry, in particular anti-aircraft and missile defense, that China and Russia supplied to Venezuela and Iran has been exposed to be easily circumvented and grossly ineffective. Further, both China and Russia have remained on the sidelines, refusing to provide financial or military aid to their so-called allies. China cannot risk losing access to the American market, and Russia, after four years of futility and massive casualties, cannot defeat a far smaller Ukraine, much less send military or economic aid to another country Advertisement Image created using AI. This reality is not lost on other nations around the world that have either allied with China or are contemplating doing so. Many will soon follow Panamas lead and recognize that China is an unreliable ally and a potential paper tiger. Then, they will unilaterally sever ties with the Chinese. The new world order that may well emerge from the first thirteen months of Donald Trumps second term will also be marked by dramatic changes in alliances. No longer will the nations of Western Europe and Australia in the Pacific be Americas primary allies. The Western European nations will be replaced by Poland and other Eastern European countries as NATO dies a gradual and inevitable death. In the Pacific, a newly resurgent Japan will evolve into the role of being one of Americas staunchest allies and most reliable partners. This process is being accelerated by Japans newly elected (by a landslide) government, and at the behest of Donald Trump. Most of the nations of Central and South America, having been awakened from their infatuation with Communist China and Marxism, are now in the process of permanently tying their futures to that of the United States, their global superpower neighbor to the North. In the centuries-old powder keg that is the Middle East, Israel has evolved into being Americas most reliable, closest, and most valued partner. This is a status that the entire world now sees and that carries strategic importance that is hard to overstate. As Tamir Morag, an Israeli journalist, recently wrote: Israel is not, as detractors claim, an American client state, it is its closest partner, a sister nation to the empire that carries the entire Western civilization on its mighty shoulders. Based on the current course of events, Chinas dreams of being the worlds dominant superpower are over, and Moscow will no longer register any global attention. The violent and destructive -isms that were an outgrowth of Marxism over the past 175 years are potentially on the verge of being relegated to the ash heap of history. As it stands today, neither China nor Russia nor any alliance they might forge can stop this process from moving relentlessly forward. However, there is one entity that can. That is the Marxist-dominated Democrat party if it seizes the reins of power in Washington D.C. Democrats represent the last best hope of Communist China and Putins Russia to achieve global hegemony. The current iteration of the Democrat Party is, in reality, not only China and Russias de facto ally but its Fifth Column. Thanks to Donald Trump and the American citizenry, the world stands on the brink of a potential golden age led by the United States and its allies and partners. But it is also in the hands of the American citizenry whether this potential becomes reality, not only in how they vote, but also in ensuring the vote is not fraught with fraud and manipulation. Last week, The Bureau revealed that in 2020, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) visited a lab belonging to Bobby Shah, also known as Bahman Djebelibak, a Vancouver businessman sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury for links to a Chinese drug syndicate. Worse, a senior RCMP officer emailed Shah a recipe for fentanyl production. Advertisement Shahs company, Valerian Labs, is the only Western node connected to a Chinese fentanyl trafficking network. However, it remains unclear whether the RCMP is investigating Shah or plans to file charges. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which has been monitoring Shah since 2023, has criticized the RCMP for stonewalling. Questions have naturally arisen about Canadas efforts to combat narcotics, especially involving China. The Shah case highlights Canadas complicated connection with communist China, partly stemming from a history of anti-American sentiment. Becoming a trading partner with China was viewed as a way to lessen economic reliance on the U.S., reduce its influence on foreign policy, and discover new markets. Advertisement But any effort to create a new national identity that overlooks geography, history, and inherent ideology is risky. Especially when cozying up to communist China, which aims for global dominance with clear focus, long-term strategy, and sneaky execution. In Under Assault: Interference and Espionage in Chinas Secret War Against Canada, Dennis Molinaro, a former Canadian national security analyst, uses recently declassified documents to detail Chinas covert operations in Canada: interference in politics and policy, espionage, theft of intellectual property, and suppression of Chinese immigrants. Advertisement It all started in 1968 when Pierre Trudeau, a sympathizer of communism, became prime minister. He was targeted even before taking office: he first visited China in 1949, the year the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) won the civil war, and again in 1960 with journalist Jacques Herbert. They authored a book praising communism Two Innocents in Red China after a guided tour that kept them from witnessing the devastating famine and the brutal takeover of Tibet. Not surprisingly, within two years of becoming prime minister, he recognized China, convinced that it would become a communist utopia. Ordinary Canadians might have seen his decision as a way to promote peace during the Cold War and balance the threat of the Soviet Union. But the Chinese clearly saw it differently: a relationship with Canada was a way to force the U.S. to accept Beijings legitimacy and to gain a major role in the global order. Advertisement Leftist France was the first to recognize the CCP-led Chinese government, in 1964; in 1970, Canada followed suit, with Trudeau leading a Liberal Party government. But even before that, in 1965, as a newly elected member of Parliament, Trudeau believed that if Canada engaged with China, it would be harder for the Americans to stop us, according to Molinaro. Molinaros book cites documents suggesting Trudeau might have been the first prime minister targeted by China. His actions clearly support this: while acknowledging China, he cut ties with Taiwan; he condemned the Vietnam War; and he aimed for Canada to diversify trade away from the U.S. Advertisement Meanwhile, CCP operatives cultivated academics and politicians to favor China in Canada and the U.S. The influence operations were funded by jade and narcotics smuggling into Toronto and Montreal. Molinaro says Canadian officials chose deliberate blindness even though they knew the CCP was interfering with Canadian-Chinese communities, and the government ignored Chinas human rights abuses in Tibet and against its own people. In 1971, Canada was among 76 countries that voted to admit China to the U.N., while the U.S. and 34 others opposed its entry. Taiwan was summarily expelled. For the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, China sought and received Canadas assistance to gain recognition as the One China. Taiwan was barred from participating under the name Republic of China, prompting its athletes to boycott the event. Ottawa supported China for the Olympics despite knowing that the CCP was using Canadian embassies and consulates in the U.S. as spy stations. (It wasn't until 1979 that China was permitted to open liaison offices in the U.S.) Advertisement Trudeau continued to provide aid to China, using it as an incentive to boost trade. By 1980, China replaced Taiwan as a member of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In 1981, Ottawa launched a five-year aid-for-trade program worth $75100 million in federal funding. Such Canadian help played a significant rolealong with Deng Xiaopings gradual shift toward a socialist market economyin transforming China into an economic giant. Even after the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989, when many countries imposed sanctions on trade with China, Canada strengthened its business ties with China. In 1993, Prime Minister Jean Chretien led a trade delegation to Beijing despite knowing that the CCP was connected to criminal gangs and was harassing pro-democracy students in China and Canada. Molinaro explains how Ottawa expanded its trade relations with China to include defense and military exchanges. In 1994, Chinese Vice Premier Zou Jiahua was secretly taken on a tour of a Canadian nuclear facility, followed by the sale of two nuclear reactors in 1996. Canada had no qualms about aiding a country known for human rights abuses and a poor environmental record. It also did not hesitate to help Pakistan fix a reactor in Karachi in 1992, even though it had ended nuclear cooperation with Pakistan in 1976. By 1998, Pakistan was a nuclear power. Pro-democracy and environmental activists protested but were ignored. Describing a deal to sell spy planes with Israeli surveillance equipment to China, Molinaro says he cannot confirm whether the sale took place but cites it as evidence that Canada was willing to do anything for China. Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper did aim to shift relations with China, canceling bilateral engagement and focusing on human rights. However, when actions by pro-CCP groups reduced political support, he found it practical to open six trade offices in China. He also allowed China to establish a consulate in Montreal, and pledged to cooperate on aerospace, telecom, and pharmaceuticals. China is notorious for cyberattacks and espionage, but Canada doesnt seem to care. Chinese hackers compromised data at Nortel, a telecom and networking equipment manufacturer, stole its technology, and took control of entire computers. However, after Nortels bankruptcy, the Canadian Department of National Defense moved its staff into the companys headquarters despite reports that it was bugged. Given that Canada is a Five Eyes member, this is especially concerning to the U.S. China is probably the worlds biggest technology thief: NSA director Keith Alexander describes its theft as the greatest transfer of wealth in human history. China has stolen vacuum technology from Dyson, trade secrets for the color white from DuPont, C-17 aircraft designs, files on the F-35, and information on deadly viruses. But Canadian universities receive $50 million in research funds from Huawei, a known Trojan horse for the CCP, and work with Chinas National University of Defense Technology, which is blacklisted by the U.S. as a security risk. The 47 Confucius Institutes in Canada, now known as Centers for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC), promote Chinas image and suppress criticism of its policies. Through these institutes and the Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA), overseen by the United Front Work Department (UFWD), the CCP fights against the five poisons: support for Taiwan, Tibetan self-determination, the Uighurs, the Falun Gong, and pro-democracy movements. Canada has failed to protect its Chinese communities from repressive UFWD actions such as surveillance, illegal arrests and deportations, and threats to relatives in China. In Under Assault, Molinaro argues that Chinas infiltration of Canada has become dangerously widespread and presents a major threat. The U.S. has every reason to reevaluate its policies toward its northern neighbor, with which it shares the worlds longest undefended border. Image generated by ChatGPT. The Iranian mullahs forty-seven year reign of terror may be thankfully coming to an end, and not a bit too soon. Advertisement Indeed, much of Irans diaspora throughout the West is appropriately celebrating, including many in Canada. As for those Iranians in the West who are grieving the loss of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his gang of thugs, we must ask what the heck they are doing in our countries, given their support for something diametrically opposed to Western democracy and a Western value system. Methinks integration is not their top priority. This problem is particularly problematic in my native Canada, where there are approximately seven hundred Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) perhaps more terrorizing and intimidating the Iranian diaspora and almost certainly contributing to the spike in Jew-hatred that Canada has experienced in recent years. Is it a coincidence that three Jewish synagogues in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) specifically Bayt Synagogue, Shaarei Shoyamin Synagogue, and Temple Emanu-El Synagogue have been hit by gunfire in recent days, following the American and Israeli attacks on Iran? Advertisement This feral Jew-hatred goes above and beyond any animosity toward Israel and its government. Anyway, the presence of IRGC terrorists on our soil makes Iran a clear and direct threat not only to others, but to Canada as well. Furthermore, the Iranian regimes hatred of Jews, coupled with its nuclear program, makes it a grave threat to Israel, a country it has threatened to obliterate. It bears repeating that the first duty of a nation-state is to protect its citizens, which the Netanyahu government is doing. After all, it would be wildly irrational for Israel to sit back and wait for Iran to launch a nuclear attack. Threats of genocide absolutely must be taken seriously. Advertisement Also, any suggestion that there be a ceasefire, as recommended by Canadian foreign affairs minister Anita Anand, is shortsighted. A premature ceasefire will leave the evil Iranian regime intact, so as to enable it to eventually rise from the ashes, restart its nuclear program, and resume its threats to Israel and the West. If all of that isnt enough, Iran also bankrolls and arms Hezballah, Hamas, and the Houthis, who have murdered thousands of American civilians, military personnel, and diplomatic corps members among many, many others. Neutralizing these groups is more likely with a defanged Iran. Most of the funding and material support will dry up, and these terrorists will be more likely to wither on the vine. Things will become much more difficult for them and, conversely, much safer for the rest of us. Advertisement A side benefit is the consequence for the Peoples Republic of China, which has now seen two of its major oil suppliers, Venezuela and Iran, neutralized in recent weeks. This puts additional strain on their economy generally and their military industrial complex specifically. Can their good buddy Vlad pick up the slack? In any event, setbacks for China equals potentially good news for the rest of us. In short and on a concluding note, the American-Israeli attack on Iran has merit. Governments and military forces of these nations are to be commended. Their actions are long overdue. Advertisement Image via Pixabay. NEW YORK, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Sage has been named the UK's top choice for operations and inventory management in the 2026 Best ERP Solutions for Manufacturing rankings by Expert Consumers. The recognition highlights Sage's role in supporting manufacturers with integrated enterprise resource planning systems designed to improve visibility, streamline processes and strengthen financial control. Best ERP Solutions for Manufacturing Sage UK - a UK-based provider of cloud and hybrid enterprise resource planning solutions that help manufacturers integrate finance, operations and inventory management within a single, connected system The annual review assessed ERP providers serving the UK manufacturing sector, with a focus on operational efficiency, inventory management capability, financial oversight and deployment flexibility. Sage was recognised for its comprehensive cloud-based ERP portfolio and its suitability for small, mid-sized and growing global manufacturers. Addressing Manufacturing's Operational Pressures UK manufacturers continue to face supply chain volatility, rising material costs and increased compliance requirements. In this environment, access to real-time operational and financial data has become a critical requirement rather than a competitive advantage. Enterprise resource planning software integrates day-to-day business processes into a single system. By connecting functions such as finance, inventory, production and workforce management, ERP systems provide leaders with accurate insights and a consolidated view of performance across the organisation. Sage's ERP solutions are designed to connect these core processes within a single, secure database, enabling manufacturers to manage operations, track resources and monitor financial performance in real time. Core Capabilities Recognised by Expert Consumers The review highlighted several capabilities that positioned Sage as a leading choice for operations and inventory management in manufacturing: Real-time visibility into inventory levels to reduce stockouts and overstocking Tools to optimise warehouse layout and streamline logistics Production planning and scheduling functionality to improve resource utilisation Financial consolidation across multi-entity organisations Cloud-based deployment options that support scalability and remote access By consolidating accounting, inventory, manufacturing and sales processes, ERP systems can help manufacturers reduce duplication, improve data accuracy and support audit readiness. Sage Intacct and Sage X3 for Manufacturing Expert Consumers' review noted Sage's portfolio approach to ERP, particularly the availability of solutions tailored to different business sizes and operational complexity. Sage Intacct is a cloud accounting and ERP solution designed to provide financial visibility and operational control. Across industries, Sage Intacct customers report: 250 percent return on investment Six-month payback period 79 percent reduction in close time 65 percent productivity improvement These metrics were cited as indicators of measurable operational impact for organisations adopting integrated ERP systems. For mid-sized and global manufacturers, Sage X3 offers a comprehensive business management platform tailored to demanding operational environments. It is used across manufacturing, distribution, chemicals and services industries, supporting companies that require visibility across multiple sites or geographies. Key capabilities include production management, inventory optimisation and insight into global operations, enabling organisations to expand into new markets while maintaining oversight of costs and compliance requirements. Integration and Deployment Flexibility The review also highlighted Sage's deployment options, which allow manufacturers to choose between: On-premise ERP for greater control and customisation Cloud-based ERP for subscription-based access and simplified maintenance Hybrid ERP models combining both approaches Cloud-based systems offer flexibility and scalability, with service providers managing updates and infrastructure. This approach can reduce the technical burden on internal teams and support access from multiple locations. ERP systems from Sage can integrate with other cloud-based software, including customer relationship management, e-commerce, HR and payroll platforms. Integration with legacy and on-premise systems is supported through APIs and connectors, which can be critical for manufacturers operating with established infrastructure. Supporting the Full Manufacturing Lifecycle Manufacturing ERP systems are used to improve production planning and scheduling, track materials and equipment usage, and generate reports required for compliance and quality assurance. Beyond production, Sage's ERP modules extend across: Accounting and finance Inventory and warehouse management Sales and order management Human resources and payroll Supply chain coordination By consolidating these functions, manufacturers gain a single source of truth across departments, improving collaboration and decision-making. Implementation Considerations The review noted that ERP implementation can present challenges, including data migration, change management and system integration. Sage provides guidance to help businesses build a structured business case for ERP adoption. Key steps include identifying inefficiencies in current systems, defining measurable goals, estimating implementation costs and risks, and securing stakeholder buy-in. A phased approach to data migration and cross-functional collaboration during integration can reduce disruption and improve long-term adoption. ERP, CRM and Financial Systems: Clarifying the Role As part of its analysis, Expert Consumers highlighted the distinction between ERP, CRM and standalone financial software. ERP systems integrate multiple business processes into a single platform. CRM systems focus on customer data and relationship management. Financial software may operate independently or as part of an integrated ERP environment. For manufacturers seeking to align production, inventory and finance within one system, ERP provides consolidated oversight that standalone systems may not deliver. Looking Ahead As UK manufacturers continue to modernise operations and invest in digital infrastructure, ERP adoption is expected to remain a strategic priority. The recognition of Sage as the UK's top choice for operations and inventory management in 2026 reflects demand for integrated, cloud-enabled systems capable of supporting efficiency, compliance and growth. For the full review, please visit the Expert Consumers website. About Sage Sage exists to knock down barriers so everyone can thrive, starting with the millions of Small and Mid-Sized Businesses served by us, our partners and accountants. Customers trust our finance, HR and payroll software to make work and money flow. By digitising business processes and relationships with customers, suppliers, employees, banks and GOVERNMENTS, our digital network connects SMBs, removing friction and delivering insights. Knocking down barriers also means we use our time, technology and experience to tackle digital inequality, economic inequality and the climate crisis. About ExpertConsumers.org: Expert Consumers delivers news and insights on consumer products and services. As an affiliate, Expert Consumers may earn commissions from sales generated using links provided. SOURCE ExpertConsumers.org The New York Post reported yesterday that college professors at elite universities have observed a huge rise of students registering as disabled to game the system, and these instructors are now sounding the alarm on what they call a scam, as it permits these not-so-disabled students to have special accommodations, able to skirt what should be a rigorous and demanding academic schedule. Here are some of the numbers, from the Post: Advertisement One in five students at Brown and Harvard are now registered as having some form of disability, according to an analysis by The Atlantic but professors suspect some of them are bogus. [snip] Advertisement At Stanford, 38% of students have registered with the Office of Accessible Education, and 1 in 8 undergraduates received accommodations as of this fall. The number of students receiving testing accommodations has tripled in eight years at the University of Chicago and quintupled in the past 15 years at UC Berkeley, the Atlantic reported. Advertisement The article includes insight from one professor, University of Utahs Nicholas Wolfinger, who details the extent and nature of these special accommodations. Students with learning disabilities are given time-and-a-half to complete assignments, which isnt good enoughnow they want twice as much time to finish their homework, as compared to their peers. Per Wolfingers estimation, around 10% of his students have the disabled label with accommodations. So catering to slackers isnt going to yield positive results? Giving losers unfair advantages wont actually compel them to meet the standard but instead, permit them to move the goalposts? Of course, Im not speaking to those with legitimate learning disabilitiesthough I dont think a legitimate diagnosis means a person is entitled to easier coursework while non-disabled students have different and more difficult standardsIm only speaking to those abusing the system. Advertisement Additionally, Wolfinger and academic colleagues suspect that these students will be unprepared for the workplace after graduation: He [Wolfinger] worries students are becoming accustomed to advantages that wont follow them into the real world, adding: Students will find that when they graduate college, they cannot go to their boss and say, Hey I cant turn this in by Friday. I dont think thats gonna fly. Advertisement [snip] They will find it emotionally jarring when supervisors dont make accommodations, a political science professor at a top 20 university concurred. I cant imagine employers give these kinds of accommodations. Advertisement Wait, so promoting victimhood isnt a recipe for success, contribution, and independence? Who knew? Now, I certainly dont know what beliefs, views, and political affiliations Wolfinger holds, but I would love to know if he always had a brain, or if hes recently had an epiphany that leftism in academia is a disaster in every single way. The bread and butter of colleges and universities is curriculum rooted in woke victimhood: the blacks, the Arab Palestinians, the Mexicans, the Somalis, anyone whose ancestors lived under Western colonization, and on and on and on. Theyve taught and endlessly promoted victimhood as an excuse for everything, offering it as a legitimate reason why certain groups should not be held to a high standard, but now its a problem? What gives? Image: Free image, Pixabay license. Nine months after the twelve-day war of June 2025, the Middle East stands at a perilous crossroads. The death of Ali Khamenei and several high-ranking officials has not yet yielded the new day many hoped for. Instead, the region is grappling with the wreckage of a regime that, for four decades, built its legitimacy on three errors: the pursuit of nuclear weapons, an expansive ballistic missile program, and a genocidal hostility toward Israel. Advertisement As a researcher who has walked the grounds of Auschwitz-Birkenau and spent fifteen years developing a manuscript titled The Black Birds of Warsaw, I am acutely aware of what happens when a states central organizing principle is the elimination of a people. In Poland, I saw the physical remains of an ideology that turned hatred into an industry. When I hear the rhetoric emanating from Tehran even from the voices vying for power in the current vacuum I recognize the same dehumanizing patterns. Hostility toward Israel is not merely a policy for the Islamic Republic; it is a structural necessity that has locked Iran into a terminal confrontation with the West. Advertisement The first error theocratically mandated antisemitism is the most profound. To call for the erasure of a U.N. member-state is to opt out of the international order. For Israel, a nation born from the ashes of the 1940s, Israel First is a survival mandate. When Tehran funds proxies like Hezballah and Hamas to tighten a ring of fire and war, it is inviting the strikes we witnessed last summer and we are witnessing nowadays. The second error is the nuclear pursuit. Despite the regimes claims of peaceful intent, the billions spent on uranium enrichment while Iranian citizens suffered under economic repression revealed the true priority: a nuclear umbrella for state-sponsored terror. The worlds number-one sponsor of terrorism cannot be permitted a nuclear trigger. Advertisement Third is the missile program. During the June 2025 war, we saw these capabilities used with deadly intent, and we are witnessing them now. Iran believes that it has an inalienable right to hold Tel Aviv, Riyadh, and the region hostage with ballistic technology. This expansionism forced a defensive alignment between Israel and its Arab neighbors that has fundamentally changed the map. America and Israel were justified in dismantling the IRGCs capabilities and war machine. Diplomacy failed because the regimes DNA would not allow for it to succeed. Yet, as a writer who has focused on the victims of history, I believe that the ultimate tragedy is the Iranian people. They have been held hostage by a leadership that preferred building bunkers for missiles over schools for its children. Advertisement The regime has sealed its own fate through these three errors. Mere destabilization is no longer enough; the structure of the Islamic Republic itself was the obstacle to peace. As we look toward the remainder of 2026, the regime change war must end soon, and the goal must be a region where independent states respect one anothers existence. Ideally, the next generation will look back and see that the path to social justice and coexistence was only cleared once the architecture of confrontation was finally torn down. To live is to witness the death of evil! Advertisement Dimitris Eleas is a New Yorkbased writer and activist. He is currently completing a fifteen-year research project and manuscript on the Holocaust and antisemitism, The Black Birds of Warsaw. Advertisement Image: Chickenonline via Pixabay, Pixabay License. A few days ago, a teenager threw an IED into a crowd in front of Gracie Mansion. (Fortunately, it did not go off, and no one was hurt.) Once in police custody, the young perpetrator pledged his allegiance to ISIS. These facts are not in dispute; only the reporting of them is. Advertisement It was textbook Islamic terrorism, aimed at what this young man perceived to be infidels. It had nothing to do with our domestic internecine politics, only international terrorism aimed at all Americans, but youd never know it if you got your news from the legacy media. According to them, some right-winger threw a homemade bomb at Muslim mayor Zohran Mamdanis new homeGrace Mansion. Youd be led to believe it was textbook Islamophobia. Or, as another story went, it was some kid who showed up on a warm early spring day then, though some magical series of events of which he himself was a victim, found himself mixed up in some very serious trouble, somehow, and gosh darn it, nothing is what it appears. Advertisement That was a take too, unbelievably. First up, the X post from CNN now deleted that started a well-deserved round of howling from those of us with clear eyes and sources other than legacy media. Advertisement Every CNN employee who participated in writing, approving, and posting this needs to be terminated. An absolute disgrace to the field of journalism. pic.twitter.com/VDgcgnLV06 StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) March 10, 2026 As the X-poster wrote, every CNN employee who participated in it should be fired. What a disgrace. It would be a disgrace (and a teachable moment) at a high school newspaper, never mind a global bleeping network. Its hard to believe someone at that level could write such dreck, but here we are. Yet again. That X post began a round of posts like this one, from all quarters, not just satire writers. From everyone with eyes to see. Some of them wouldve been funny had the entire thing not been such an indictment on our garbage news media: Advertisement CNN Reports On Japanese Teenagers Who Came To Hawaii For What Could've Been Beautiful Day At Beach https://t.co/DFlQVXoTuV pic.twitter.com/2ibUHp2qcT The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) March 10, 2026 The Federalists Sean Davis has exactly the right take when CNN finally deleted it: Advertisement The problem is not that it failed to reflect the gravity of the attack. The problem is that youre a bunch of filthy liars who get off on deliberately hiding the truth behind BS euphemisms. https://t.co/NXJABgBPyj Sean Davis (@seanmdav) March 10, 2026 But it wasnt just CNN, which would be bad enough. Behold The New York Times: "Accused of bringing a bomb .. " - NYT Bro is literally holding a looney toons ass bomb with a lit fuse and its SMOKING pic.twitter.com/cyiYligtuZ Melissa Chen (@MsMelChen) March 10, 2026 Again its right there in the picture. And theres clear video of the entire episode. The facts are not in dispute in any way, shape or form. Advertisement Finally, this beauty ABC News, though I could have gone on. Activists don't hold home made explosive devices. Terrorists do. pic.twitter.com/p36t3Gl4qX John Aziz (@aziz0nomics) March 11, 2026 Activists? Really??? And the way it reads, youd think the activist was far-right instead of the self-confessed ISIS wanna-be he is. The caption is purposely misleading. The writing tortured to produce the desired left-wing narrative. The only activists in this whole sordid mess are the members of the press, twisting and torturing the facts to force a desired outcome. This isnt just mere bias. Its active and malicious framing of indisputable facts to elicit a response, make the reader or viewer draw a conclusion: that the real evil in this world is the far-right and the real victims in this world are the Muslims, like Mayor Zohran Mamdani. It is written as though the writer cannot conceive of the world any other way. And heres something to contemplate: It is to weep that this mayor of all mayors will oversee ceremonies this coming September 11th, twenty-five years after that terrible day. We can only imagine what hell say. What he wont say. What he will imply. And how this garbage media will buttress, reinforce, and amplify him. We should steel ourselves for it, knowing its coming. M. Walter blogs at www.mwalterwriter.com. Image from X. America is only a few short months away from celebrating its quarter-of-a-millennial birthday, which is being officially feted as America 250, as well as its Super Centennial. But can America survive for another fifty years, all the way to its Tri-Centennial Celebration? Even as Trump fights an existential war abroad, theres one here at home, too. Advertisement Without question, the country has had a long and glorious lifespan. However, as the world surely knows, its life has not been without errors when it was navigating rocky roads and dangerous waters, and its survival was iffy, at best. One need only go back 165 years to the Civil War to verify that observation. Of course, at the moment of our nations creation, it experienced multiple birth pangs. But the men and women who willingly put their very lives on the line did so despite knowing that the outcome was not guaranteed. The nation could have been stillborn in the earliest days of its fight for survival against the overwhelming might of the British Empire. Advertisement Just recently, I was reminded of both the fight for Americas survival during the Civil War years (the nation might not have reached even its Centennial celebration) and its founding conflict, when I took one of my many walks through the famous cemetery in my neighborhood of Sleepy Hollow, New York. Sleepy Hollow Cemetery is the final resting place of many captains of industry (families such as the Rockefellers and Carnegies), as well as this countrys very first internationally recognized literary giant, Washington Irving. Advertisement Within the borders of the expansive cemetery are monuments commemorating both the Civil War and Revolutionary War dead. These landmarks are stark reminders of how fragile a nations life can be. The words carved in stone on the Revolutionary monument remind us: Advertisement Photo by the author. Advertisement 1776 - 1783 In Memory Advertisement of the OFFICERS and SOLDIERS of the REVOLUTION who by their valor sustained the cause of liberty and independence on these historic fields. While we honor the dead, its important to remember the raw courage of the living, including those too old to take to the battlefield themselves. When he signed his name to the Declaration of Independence, an act of treason in the eyes of King George III and the British Crown, and therefore a hanging offense, Benjamin Franklin allegedly made this grim observation: We must all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately. That ominous observation recently came to mind when one of Barack Obamas henchwomen, Susan Rice, laid out the Democrats game plan once they regain power. On a recent podcast, she warned that those who take a knee to Trump would be getting a reckoning. Rice stated that the Democrats would not be playing by the old rules when it came to retribution. Rice was making it clear: Do not align yourself now with Trump or any of his tens of millions of supporters and followers. Your time is not going to end well. We know thats not an empty promise. Those who ventured to Washington, D.C., on January 6, 2021, not just because they believed that the 2020 election was stolen, but because they knew it was flipped for Biden...well, they saw that the Democrats excel at revenge. Rices promised lawfare will once again be redefined, smashing all previous Funk & Wagnalls definitions (Rowan and Martin will be turning over in their graves). So, what can derail the Democrats destructive engine? Might hanging together in these critical days be strongly advised? Might patriotism in action be the solution? President Trump has made it abundantly clear that two major standards are needed for defining a nation: secure borders and honest elections. The border is secure. However, the S.A.V.E. America Act is still twisting in the wind. Within months of the spectacular celebratory events surrounding July 4, 2026, Americans will once again have the sacred opportunity to head to the polls to choose their leaders. The choices this year could not be more stark. The Democrats will be clearly and unabashedly out for revenge. Two things are now necessary toagain, in Franklins wordskeep the Republic: Patriots must maintain the pressure on elected officials to pass S.A.V.E., and then they must vote in overwhelming numbers this November. No one can afford to sit this one out. These actions will uphold the Republican majority in Washington and assure that President Trumps impressive and powerful agenda continues to stave off Americas fundamental transformation. Image created using AI. Albin Sadar is the author of Obvious: Seeing the Evil Thats in Plain Sight and Doing Something About It, as well as the childrens book collection Hamster Holmes: Box of Mysteries. In the early 19th century, England produced an animal so enormous that it became a national curiosity. Named the Craven Heifer, this extraordinary cow achieved fame as the largest ever exhibited in England. For a brief period in the early 1800s, crowds gathered simply to marvel at her extraordinary bulk, and stories about the gigantic animal spread across the country. The Craven Heifer was born in 1807 on the estate of Reverend William Carr near Bolton Abbey. Carr raised the animal with special attention to feeding and care, and within a few years she grew to astonishing proportions. An 1811 portrait of Craven Heifer by an unknown artist. Credit: Wikimedia Commons At her peak, the cow reportedly weighed about 312 stone (1,980 kilograms). She measured roughly 11 feet 4 inches (3.4 meters) in length, stood more than 5 feet (1.6 meters) at the shoulder, and had a girth of about 10 feet (3 meters). The cows immense bulk soon caused practical difficulties. The entrance to the cowshed was too narrow for her to pass through. To solve the problem, the doorway had to be rebuilt twice the normal width. The enlarged doorway reportedly still exists as a reminder of the gigantic animal that once lived there. Stories of the colossal cow spread quickly throughout Yorkshire. Farmers, travellers, and curious sightseers came to see the animal whose size seemed almost unbelievable. Eventually the cow was sold for 200 to a showman named John Watkinson, who decided to take her on a tour across the country. In 1811, the Craven Heifer began a slow journey from Craven to Sheffield and then to London, and finally back to Craven. The journey took 73 days, during which the cow attracted much attention wherever she went and people paid to see her. Other famous cows: Tura Coo: The Cow That Led A Town To Riots Fidel Castro And His Miraculous Bovine Despite public enthusiasm, the tour turned out to a financial disaster and Watkinson decided to dispose her. An attempt at sale turned out to be fruitless. So in March 1813, Watkinson entered her in a cockfighting competition involving several competitors and birds, at Carleton, a small village outside of Skipton. The winner, a Huddersfield innkeeper named Boothroyd, took Craven Heifer home and proceeded to have her slaughtered. Her butchered remains were sold at a premium of one shilling a pound. Craven Heifers shocking end attracted criticism from Rev. Robert Thomlinson, who raised his voice against the barbarism, while a school boy was expelled for attending the cockfight. Rev. Carr too was reportedly disgusted by the event. The appearance of animals like the Craven Heifer was not entirely accidental. She was a product of the sweeping changes taking place in British agriculture during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. During this time, farmers began applying more systematic methods to agriculture and animal husbandry. Improvements in crop rotation, better fodder crops such as turnips and clover, and the enclosure of common lands allowed livestock to be fed more efficiently and raised under controlled conditions. With abundant winter feed available, animals could be fattened and grown to sizes rarely seen before. Equally important was the development of selective breeding. Breeders carefully paired animals with desirable traits, such as large bodies, rapid growth, or high meat yield, to create improved strains of livestock. Among the pioneers of this method was Robert Bakewell, whose experiments with sheep and cattle demonstrated the power of controlled breeding. As a result, unusually large animals became something of a national fascination. Enormous cattle were often displayed at agricultural fairs or taken on exhibition tours. One famous example was the Durham Ox, an immense steer bred in northern England that toured the country in the early 1800s and attracted thousands of paying spectators. Another celebrated curiosity was The White Heifer That Travelled, whose striking appearance and size also drew attention. The Craven Heifer belonged to this era of agricultural experimentation and spectacle. Although her life was brief, the Craven Heifer left a lasting mark on local folklore. Many inns and pubs in Yorkshire have adopted her name, and the Craven Bank featured an image of the cow in one of their bank notes for some ninety-odd years. Her fame also survives through artworks. An oil portrait painted in 1811 sold at auction in 2013 for more than 16,000, demonstrating that fascination with Englands largest cow has not faded. In 2018, a life-sized statue of Yorkshires most famous cow was unveiled at the 160th Great Yorkshire Show before it was permanently established at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate. Sculpture of the Craven Heifer at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England. Credit: Wikimedia Commons Reference: # The Legendary Craven Heifer: A Symbol of Yorkshires Agricultural Heritage. All About Yorkshire # Carl Griffin. The life and afterlife of the Craven Heifer: on the biography of a famed beast. Recognition Highlights Billd's People-First Culture and Mission to Transform Construction Finance AUSTIN, Texas, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Billd, the leading provider of financial solutions for commercial subcontractors, announced today that it has been ranked No. 2 on Forbes' 2026 list of America's Best Startup Employers out of 20,000 companies nationwide. Forbes' America's Best Startup Employers 2026 identified the top performing startups in the United States by gathering more than 7 million data points across eligible companies. While 2,500-plus companies qualified for in-depth analysis, in the end, only 500 companies made the final ranking. Billd ranked No. 2 on Forbes Best Startup Employers 2026. Known within the construction industry as innovators and creators of essential subcontractor financing products, Material Financing and Pay App Advance, Billd launched new products in 2026, including Flex Line, a line of credit built for construction, and Billd Predictable Pay, a GC early pay program that is transforming how GCs increase margin and pay their subcontractors, proving once again the impact of specialized financing products in the space. "Landing at the No. 2 spot on Forbes' list of America's Best Startup Employers is an incredible honor that reflects our team's relentless focus and drive toward 'always better' in everything we do as the top construction finance provider in the U.S," Chris Doyle, Founder and CEO of Billd, said. "This ranking confirms that by putting our people first and keeping our mission at the forefront, we are not just creating a great place to workwe are transforming the state of construction finance and serving as the champion of the subcontractor in an industry long-overdue for disruption." Billd's ranking is a direct reflection of a mission-driven culture focused on establishing a new payment standard in construction. This accolade recognizes the Austin-based firm's commitment to its team, and its customers, as it continues to develop purpose-built capital solutions that empower subcontractors to do the best work of their lives. Being named in the top 10 companies alongside brands such as Anthropic (No. 6), Ramp (No. 10), and Whatnot (No.1), places Billd among fellow industry disruptors and fast-growing category leaders. A Data-Driven Recognition of Excellence To be eligible for Forbes' list of top startup workplaces, companies must be headquartered in the U.S., founded between 2016 and 2023, and employ at least 50 people. The award was presented in collaboration with Statista, the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider. Each employer's final evaluation was based on three key criteria: Employer Reputation: Extensive social listening to monitor news, blogs, and social media for positive sentiment regarding company culture and engagement. Extensive social listening to monitor news, blogs, and social media for positive sentiment regarding company culture and engagement. Employee Satisfaction: An evaluation of online reviews and company data related to compensation, healthcare, leave benefits, and career advancement. An evaluation of online reviews and company data related to compensation, healthcare, leave benefits, and career advancement. Company Growth: A measure of headcount growth and market presence including job openings and web traffic over a two-year period. Billd has always believed that the best way to serve subcontractors is to build a team of people who genuinely care about the problem they're solving. That focus on culture extends to their customers, and the industry as a whole, and is the foundation on which the business is built. By prioritizing culture, the team at Billd believes they are better equipped to drive the meaningful change the construction industry has long needed. "Being named the No. 2 Best Startup Employer in the country is a testament to every person at Billd who shows up every day committed to changing the construction industry for the better," Jesse Weissburg, Co-Founder of Billd said. "When we founded Billd, we made a commitment to create a culture where talented, driven people could do their best work while making a real difference for the subcontractors we serve. To see that vision validated on a national stage means everything." For more information on America's Best Startup Employers, visit Forbes. About Billd: Billd stands alone as a partner that truly champions the subcontractor. Founded in 2018 by two industry veterans in both construction and finance, Billd's construction-specific financial and payment products empower subcontractors to overcome the impacts of the longstanding broken payment cycle in construction. Billd offers access to working capital solutions to cover subcontractors' most pressing challenges, including materials and labor, providing flexible credit to accommodate the unpredictability of cash flow in construction. Learn more at Billd.com. About Statista: Statista publishes hundreds of worldwide industry rankings and company listings with high-profile media partners. This research and analysis service is based on the success of statista.com, the leading data and business intelligence portal that provides statistics, business-relevant data, and various market and consumer studies and surveys. MEDIA CONTACT: Lydia Adams Billd [email protected] SOURCE Billd The annual Al Quds Day march may still go ahead as a static gathering this weekend despite the original event being banned by the Home Office. Earlier today, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood approved a request from the Metropolitan Police to ban the event that was set to take planned for Sunday. The march had initially drawn criticism over apparent backing for the Iranian regime after its organisers expressed support for the countrys late leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Despite efforts to stop the march over concerns of public disorder, organisers have suggested that a static demonstration will now go ahead instead. The Al Quds Day march is being advertised by organisers as an annual march and rally in support of Palestine. Taking to social media, the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) wrote in an Instagram story: IHRC strongly condemns the decision by the Metropolitan Police to ban the Al Quds Day March. People taking part in the Al Quds Day march in 2025 (Jonathan Brady/PA Wire) However a static Al Quds Day protest will still go ahead, organisers wrote, adding: We hope to see you on Sunday 15th March InshaAllah. Lord Walney said there was a "loophole" in public order legislation depriving ministers of the power to stop rallies that stay in one location. The former independent adviser on political violence told the Press Association: "It was the right decision to ban this due to the risk of serious disorder, but it's not clear how that risk would be substantially lessened if they go ahead with a static protest. "So this does highlight the loophole in our public order legislation, which is well-intentioned due to the freedom of assembly. "But that freedom is not absolute, and in exceptional cases like this, it makes sense for the police to be able to recommend that a large, static protest doesn't go ahead either. "It is a loophole, and given the volatility of the situation which is already spilling over to British streets, I hope this is an issue that the Home Secretary will look at urgently." Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley told LBC there could be some "messiness" and "violence" at the protest on Sunday, but he is "more optimistic" about officers being able to control it as a static protest. The announcement came shortly after Ms Mahmood decided to ban the original event, saying she was satisfied doing so is necessary to prevent serious public disorder, due to the scale of the protest and multiple counter-protests, in the context of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. She added: Should a stationary demonstration proceed, the police will be able to apply strict conditions. I expect to see the full force of the law applied to anyone spreading hatred and division instead of exercising their right to peaceful protest. The march had drawn criticism over apparent backing for the Iranian regime after its organisers expressed support for the countrys late leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Several counter-protests had also been planned for the day. Former Metropolitan Police chief superintendent Dal Babu said the march would be "extremely challenging" to police. Demonstrators march through central London during an Al Quds Day rally in 2024 (PA) He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The last time we had a ban was in 2012, so this is a very, very serious decision, but it would have been based on police intelligence." Mr Babu added: "There are people who want to demonstrate against what (the) Iran regime is doing. "There are Jewish groups that want to demonstrate around the Al Quds. "There are other groups who want to demonstrate... I understand from the police that this will be groups that want to do counter-demonstrations near the point where this demonstration is taking place. "So, it's going to be an extremely challenging situation for the police to manage." He later added: "An outright ban is extremely unusual and I think we need to trust the police, trust their judgment." The Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC), which organises the protest, has previously insisted the demonstration is always good natured and peaceful. It is the first time a protest march has been banned since 2012. The Metropolitan Police said previous Al Quds Day marches resulted in arrests for supporting terrorist organisations and antisemitic hate crimes. In a statement, the force said: The decision to ban it this year is purely based on a risk assessment of this specific protest and counter-protests we do not police taste or decency or prefer one political view over another, but we will do everything we can to reduce violence and disorder. The Met said the uniquely complex international situation and severe risks meant merely placing conditions on the protest will not be sufficient to prevent it from resulting in serious public disorder. It added that it would place strict conditions on any static protest, which the law does not allow the police or Government to ban, but given the tensions, we have to accept that confrontations could still take place. The decision follows calls from Labour and Conservative MPs to ban the march. Earlier on Tuesday, courts minister Sarah Sackman said people expressing support for the malign regime in Iran should not be on the streets of London calling for hate and hostility against this country. We are hearing that the Al Quds Day march has been banned. We will now watch to see whether the organisers try to hold a different kind of event in its stead. This is a positive development and a move that CAA and others, including a number of MPs, have been calling for. pic.twitter.com/mATFPY2sIh Campaign Against Antisemitism (@antisemitism) March 10, 2026 Shadow Home Office minister Alicia Kearns also called for the march to be cancelled, saying there was no place in our country for the celebration of terrorists. A spokesman for the IHRC, Faisal Bodi, told the BBCs The World Tonight that it was a sad day for freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and the right of people to legitimately protest about issues they feel strongly about. He added: This demonstration has taken place for the last 40 years peacefully. The IHRC has previously expressed support for Irans former supreme leader, the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Following his death in a US-Israeli airstrike last month, the group said Mr Khamenei chose to stand on the right side of history and described him as a rare role model who would be mourned by freedom loving people all over the world. The Campaign Against Antisemitism welcomed the decision to ban the march, saying it was a positive development and adding: Allowing this hate-fest to go ahead would have sent the message that Islamists rule the roost in Britain. You can be walking down the street and suddenly the sirens go off, and you have to run to a bomb shelter. Sometimes, I dont even know where the bomb shelters are I just follow the crowd and hope they know. New Yorker Joy Rosenthal revealed to The Independent how her daily life now contains periods of intense panic, after becoming trapped in Israel amid the war against Iran. I just want to feel safe again, she said via video chat from an apartment in Jerusalem. The 39-year-old, from the borough of Queens, flew into Tel Aviv three days before Operation Epic Fury, arriving on Wednesday, February 25, for family celebrations, including her nephews bar mitzvah and a cousins wedding. She was expecting to fly back to New York City via London yesterday, March 10, but the flight to the UK capital, operated by El Al, was canceled on Sunday. New Yorker Joy Rosenthal pictured in Jerusalem. She's trapped in Israel amid the war with Iran and has described how her daily life now is spent going in and out of bomb shelters (@thebroadwaywiz) The London-New York JFK flight was with El Al partner Virgin Atlantic, but the carriers customer service team could only offer a full refund or a flight from Tel Aviv to NYC in late April. Joy took the refund. I dont want to wait until the end of April, she said. However, for the time being, shes stuck, and is having to find a way of dealing with constant warnings of impending missile and rocket strikes pinging on her cell phone at all times of day and night. Every time the alarm goes off, my heart starts racing. Its petrifying. I don't film the bombs or explosions. I just run to safety, Joy explained. She revealed that she is staying at an apartment belonging to a neighbor of her parents, who live in Jerusalem. Joy (middle) is pictured in Jerusalem with her mother, Esther, and cousin, Asher. Joy revealed how she sometimes has to rely on following the crowds to find bomb shelters People take cover on a highway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv as air raid sirens warn of incoming Iranian missiles (AP) Fortunately, it has a bomb shelter and a bathroom right next door in a room with no windows, which is a comparative luxury. In the synagogues bomb shelter, there was no bathroom, revealed Joy. You had to go up the stairs and out of the shelter. She described the situation shes in as very scary, and is coping mentally with prayer. I believe in God and I just hope that nothing bad can happen to me and Ill get out, she said. I believe this was meant to be, but at the same time, its very scary. Joy, who runs a website about Broadway shows, has limited options for escape. Israeli security forces inspect a damaged road after a missile launched from Iran struck Jerusalem on Sunday, March 1 (AP) Joy said that missile and rocket attack warnings arrive on her phone constantly (@thebroadwaywiz) She has registered for the U.S. Embassy evacuation list, and while some of her friends have been flown out to Athens, Greece, and told to find their own way back to America from there, Joy has been told to wait and be patient. She feels that the government hasnt given her enough guidance and doesnt always answer the phone. She revealed: [The U.S. Government] just said, They will call you and give you two hours notice to get to the airport. If you don't take that option, then they're not going to offer you a different one. Joy explained that there are options to return via Egypt, but she'd heard of Israeli women being sexually assualted at the border. Pictured is an advert for a repatriation flight to New York via Egypt and Romania (@thebroadwaywiz) It could be anywhere, as long as it's safe. Traveling to Egypt by land is also a possibility, but Joy has heard horror stories about women being sexually assaulted once theyre over the border. A trace of an air defense missile interception during an Iranian attack over Jerusalem's Old City on Sunday, March 1 (AP) Joy is desperate to see her brother, Yoni, left, who has Down syndrome (@thebroadwaywiz) She said: You can go through Egypt and pay $40, but I read somewhere that they're separating the men and the women, and that the women are being sexually assaulted. So, I do not feel comfortable doing that. In desperation, Joy pleaded for help on her @thebroadwaywiz Instagram profile. Part of that desperation comes from missing her brother, Yoni, back in New York. He has Down syndrome and I visit him every week, said Joy. I havent seen him since I got here. I really miss him. He doesn't want to FaceTime, he doesn't talk and doesn't understand the concept. What will it feel like to finally get home? Heaven, said Joy. The Independent has reached out to Virgin Atlantic for comment. Gabriel returns to the Arsenal XI this evening (London Standard) Arsenal have brought their key players back into the starting line-up for the Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen tonight. Mikel Arteta's side are in Germany for the first leg of the last-16 tie and should be fresh after there was plenty of rotation against Mansfield in the FA Cup at the weekend. CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW BAYER LEVERKUSEN VS ARSENAL LIVE! David Raya, Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi and Gabriel were all given the afternoon off completely against the League One side and return here. William Saliba has missed the last two matches with an ankle injury but took part in first-team training on Tuesday and Arteta confirmed he is fit to start. Also in that session were Leandro Trossard and Riccardo Calafiori, despite both being forced off with minor injuries against Mansfield. Both could be available in Leverkusen. Those two are a possibility that they are available, and we'll see tomorrow how we use them, Arteta said. However, Arteta has opted to start Gabriel Martinelli with Trossard missing out. The Brazilian has scored six Champions League goals this season despite starting only four matches. Martin Odegaard was not seen in training as he continues to struggle to overcome a knee issue and he has been ruled out of the clash on Wednesday night. That leaves a decision to be made at No10, with Eberechi Eze getting the nod as Arsenal continue to be cautious with Kai Havertzs fitness. Ben White also missed out on Tuesday's training session, with it now almost a month since the full-back was last available, but he has travelled to Germany with the squad and is on the bench. Confirmed team news Arsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Rice, Eze, Saka, Martinelli, Gyokeres. Substitutes: Arrizabalaga, Ranson, White, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Mosquera, Salmon, Norgaard, Madueke, Dowman, Havertz, Jesus. Daniel Cormier is the latest rival to come to the defence of Jon Jones, after the controversial fighter was left out of the UFCs upcoming White House event. On 14 June, the UFC will host an unprecedented fight card on the South Lawn, and the contests were unveiled on Saturday, with the co-main event pitting Alex Pereira against Ciryl Gane in an interim-title bout at heavyweight. Notable in his absence from the card was Jones, who retired last summer and vacated the heavyweight belt in the process but who immediately tried to reverse his retirement upon learning of the UFCs White House plans. Jon Jones during a press conference after failing a drug test in 2016 (Getty) On Saturday evening, Dana White said Jones was never going to feature at the event, leading the former two-weight champion to challenge the UFC presidents claim; Jones, 38, insisted negotiations had taken place. And even Tom Aspinall, who was elevated from interim champion to regular title-holder when Jones retired, went to bat for Bones despite the American putting the Britons career on hold by refusing to fight him for the best part of two years. Now, Joness fiercest rival has come out in support of him, too. Fighter-turned-commentator Cormier, who lost to Jones in 2015 before their 2017 no-contest, said on his YouTube channel: I kind of felt bad for him. I felt bad for Jon, because it just seemed like he wanted to fight on that card bad. Think about this, and Ive said this time and time again: I think Jon got to fight Stipe [Miocic] because he goes, Give me this legacy one, and Ill give you the Aspinall fight. Then he reneged. Im retired. Cormier, 46, was referring to Joness sole defence of the heavyweight title, a stoppage win over Miocic in November 2024. Prior to that bout, at which time Miocic was 42 years old, the former champion had not competed since March 2021. Before Jones stopped Stipe Miocic in November 2024, the latter hadnt fought since March 2021 (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Then he goes, I kind of want to fight at the White House, Cormier continued. I think this is kind of like a come-to-Jesus moment. At 28, 29 no matter what you did when he got that event cancelled with Chael [Sonnen], they said: Youll never headline again. But he was selling pay-per-views, so you had to go back to him. But at 38, 39, hes got bad hips and injuries, and it looks like hes on his way out. Theyre kind of like, Youre not going to prove value for me in the long term, so I dont think we need bend over for you anymore. Its crazy. This time, Cormier was referring to a 2012 event that was cancelled when Jones refused to face Sonnen on short notice, after Joness original opponent Dan Henderson withdrew. [Saturday was] not the first time [White has] said anything derogatory about him, Cormier said. Its hard to get that upset when someones actually shown you that behaviour before, but right now, it seems like it just really bothered [Jones] that he was getting called a liar. Dana White (centre) with Jones and Daniel Cormier (left) in 2016 (AP) Ive called him everything. Hes been called negative stuff for years, but now its like this thing bothered him. I honestly think maybe it was because the White House thing meant something to him. Jones took to social media to ask for his UFC release, but Cormier said: Theres no way you can release Jones, because then Jones and Francis [Ngannou] can be made outside of the UFC. Thats you giving someone power. You cant let him go. Theres no way that he could actually fight anywhere else or be released. I dont think hes getting released. Last week, it was announced that ex-UFC champion Ngannou had left the PFL, and that he will fight Philipe Lins at an event organised by Jake Pauls Most Valuable Promotions. The fight will take place at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, on 16 May. After Jones outpointed Cormier in 2015, they clashed again in 2017, with Bones knocking out DC but later seeing the win overturned to a no-contest. The altered result came courtesy of a failed drug test by Jones neither his first nor last. His first two failed drug tests thwarted planned contests with Cormier in early 2015 and in 2016. Despite his failed drug tests and numerous run-ins with the law, many fans consider Jones the greatest mixed martial artist of all time. His record stands at 28-1 (1 NC), with his sole defeat having come via disqualification in 2009. MILWAUKEE, March 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Edelson Lechtzin LLP, a national class action law firm based in suburban Philadelphia, is investigating data privacy claims against Bell Ambulance, Inc. On December 23, 2025, Bell Ambulance, Inc. discovered a data breach affecting its computer network. If you would like to discuss this case with a lawyer, please click HERE. About Bell Ambulance, Inc. Bell Ambulance, Inc. is a private ambulance service based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. What happened? On February 13, 2025, Bell Ambulance became aware of unauthorized activity on its computer network. The company engaged third-party forensic specialists to determine the full nature and scope of the incident. The investigation confirmed that an unauthorized individual accessed data within the Bell Ambulance network. Bell Ambulance identified individuals affected by the data breach and notified them on April 18, 2025, for whom Bell had reliable address information. The notice letters indicate that Bell Ambulance has offered affected individuals access to credit monitoring and identity protection services. How can I protect my personal data? If you receive a data breach notification regarding Bell Ambulance, Inc., you should take steps to protect yourself against identity theft and fraud. Such measures include regularly reviewing your account statements and monitoring your credit reports for any suspicious activity. Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating a class action lawsuit seeking legal remedies for individuals whose sensitive personal data may have been compromised in the Bell Ambulance, Inc. data breach. For more information, please contact: Marc Edelson, Esq. EDELSON LECHTZIN LLP 411 S. State Street, Suite N-300 Newtown, PA 18940 Phone: 844-696-7492 ext. 2 Email: [email protected] Web: www.edelson-law.com About Edelson Lechtzin LLP Edelson Lechtzin LLP is a national class action law firm with offices in Pennsylvania and California. In addition to data breach cases, our lawyers focus on class and collective litigation involving allegations of securities and investment fraud, violations of the federal antitrust laws, ERISA employee benefit plans, wage theft, and consumer fraud. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions. SOURCE Edelson Lechtzin LLP The Unite union has announced it will cut funding to Labour by 40 per cent - Jacob King/PA Labours biggest union backer has cut its annual donation to the party by more than 500,000 in a major blow to Sir Keir Starmers leadership. Unite will cut funding by 40 per cent and members will be formally consulted on whether they want to remain in the Labour Party. Sharon Graham, the general secretary of Unite, warned the Prime Minister that her members were coming to the end of the line with his leadership, adding: Do your job and be real Labour. Ms Graham has become an increasingly vocal critic of Sir Keir, accusing him of failing to stand up for British industry and its workers. Hostilities came to a head on Wednesday on the first anniversary of the bin strike by Birmingham city council workers. Bin workers for the Labour-run council have been locked in a dispute over pay and conditions since last March. A provisional pay deal was struck last summer but collapsed amid union claims it was blocked by government-backed commissioners. Unite announced on Wednesday it would cut its donations to Labour this year by 580,000. Sharon Graham, the general secretary of Unite, warned the Prime Minister: Do your job and be real Labour - Geoff Pugh /The Telegraph Ms Graham warned Sir Keir: Workers are scratching their heads asking whose side are Labour on, who do they really represent, because it certainly isnt workers. Labour needs to wake up and smell the coffee. The cut in affiliation fee shows the anger of Unite members. Mainstream, a soft-Left group within Labour backed by Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, said that Unites decision should set alarm bells ringing across our party. It added: Todays rupture is the direct result of a leadership that has too often taken its own movement for granted. Labour cannot afford to keep ignoring its roots. If the party continues down this path it risks hollowing out the very coalition that made us a force for change in the first place and working people will be the ones who lose out. To disaffiliate from Labour, Unite members would need to vote to approve the move at the next rules conference, which will be in 2027. Labour has continued to slump in the polls, trailing a surging Green Party under Zack Polanski. A recent YouGov poll put the Greens at 21 per cent and Labour on 16 per cent along with the Conservatives. Reform UK remains ahead on 23 per cent. Unite warned Sir Keir Starmer that members were coming to the end of the line with his leadership - Jaimi Joy/Reuters Labours biggest donors are Unite, Unison and the GMB, according to the Electoral Commission, which publishes data for the past 25 years. The data show that over this time, Labour has received 52.2m from Unite, 43.8m from Unison and 39m from the GMB. In 2025, Labour received the third-lowest donation from the unions on record. A Labour source said it was incredibly frustrating that the bin strikes had not been resolved and said Unite could and should end the strikes. A party spokesman said: The Labour Party is proud to be funded by our dedicated members, affiliated supporters, trade union members and party donors. The Labour Government is delivering the biggest upgrade to workers rights in a generation to address low pay, insecure work and poor working conditions, which will benefit 15 million workers across the country. Unites decision to cut funding is a serious deterioration in an increasingly fractious relationship between Ms Graham and Sir Keir. Ms Graham has been particularly critical of Labours industrial policy, including its approach to drilling in the North Sea which she claimed has led to unnecessary job losses. She told The Telegraph in 2025 that Sir Keir should sack Ed Miliband following concerns that his pursuit of net zero was putting North Sea jobs at risk. Unison is also warning it will cut funds unless Sir Keir pursues a more Left-wing agenda. Its members elected a new hard-Left leader in 2025, Andrea Egan, who was expelled from the party in 2022. She has pledged a comprehensive review of the unions relationship with the party. The Observer reported last August that Labour was facing a 4m hole in its finances. A boy aged 13 has been arrested for allegedly encouraging other children to fight with weapons during so-called school wars that spread from London to the parts of the UK on social media. The teenager, from Sheffield, is accused of malicious communications and an alleged public order offence. He remains in police custody, South Yorkshire Police said. Earlier this month a 15-year-old boy and a man in his 20s were detained in east London by the Metropolitan Police on suspicion of encouraging or assisting crime. Children as young as 11 were encouraged to fight rival pupils in posts circulating on TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram. Pupils have been told to arm themselves with compasses, scissors, metal combs and rulers (X / Twitter) Posters inspired by notorious Los Angeles street gangs the Bloods and Crips feature men in balaclavas. They urge Red vs Blue clashes between students who can be violent by arming themselves with compasses, metal combs, scissors, rulers and other weapons including kitchen knives and fireworks. Each school is listed under sides for mass brawl rounds in boroughs including Hackney, Islington, Camden, Newham, Croydon, Greenwich, Havering and Rainham. The Met put officers on the gates - and even detentions at several schools in the capital cancelled. Last month, a 13-year-old boy allegedly stabbed two boys aged 12 and 13 in the neck and squirted another with insect spray at Kingsbury High School, Brent. In Sheffield, Inspector Katie Hammond said: We know how worried parents, families, staff and pupils have been since these social media posts started appearing here in South Yorkshire and we have provided support and reassurance to our local schools and communities through a high-visibility presence and increased patrols. Behind the scenes we have also been actively monitoring social media and carrying out intelligence checks, and doing all we can to track down the accounts responsible and shut them down. We are taking this matter seriously and are doing everything in our power to deal with it swiftly and robustly. I believe the overwhelming majority of children here in South Yorkshire understand this trend is reckless and irresponsible, and not at all reflective of the real, positive relationships which exist between our educational establishments, young people and communities. Brain trauma, shrapnel and amputation: Injuries of US troops in Iran attacks more severe than disclosed, report says An Iranian drone attack in Kuwait that injured dozens of American troops and killed at least six was reportedly more severe than initially reported, with injuries allegedly including brain trauma and burns, while one service member may need an amputation. The strike, which targeted a unit on a civilian port in the Persian Gulf, also caused shrapnel wounds, according to CBS News. At least 140 U.S. service members were injured over the first 10 days of the U.S.-Israel campaign against Iran, according to Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell. At least 108 service members have returned to duty, and eight remain listed as severely injured, defense officials told The Independent. More than 30 troops remained hospitalized in medical centers in San Antonio, Washington, D.C., and Germany, according to CBS. Asked to confirm the extent of the previously unreported injuries and whether any troops remain hospitalized in the wake of the attack, U.S. Central Command referred The Independent to Parnells statement. At least 140 US service members were injured over the first 10 days of the Iran war, including dozens hit by an Iranian drone in Kuwait (AP) U.S. troops killed in the attack on March 1 marking the first American deaths after the Trump-directed assault sparked chaos across the Middle East reportedly had insufficient overhead cover when the drone smashed into a command center there. Service members killed in the attack were part of a logistical support unit at the Shuaiba port, where a prefabricated, triple-wide trailer-style structure was protected against ground threats by concrete barriers, according to satellite imagery. But the facility allegedly did not have any hardened protection to deflect or minimize explosive force. In a statement on social media, Pentagon spokesperson Parnell refuted reports that the attack struck a makeshift office space at the facility and claimed every possible measure has been taken to safeguard our troops at every level. You have air defenses, and a lots coming in, and you hit most of it, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters at the Pentagon last week. Every once in a while, you might have one, unfortunately, we call it a squirter, that makes its way through, he added. And in that particular case, it happened to hit a tactical operations center that was fortified, but these are powerful weapons. Images of the building from 2001 shows what appears to be a thin metal rooftop, though it is unclear whether any additional fortified layers were underneath. It does not appear that the building had any meaningful improvements since 2009, according to reviews of satellite and archival imagery of the facility. The drone attack at Shuaiba port in Kuwait struck what appeared to be facility without any hardened protection to deflect or minimize explosive force (Planet Labs PBC) Thick smoke could be seen from a building in the complex the morning of the attack, satellite images show. Smoke poured into the facility, making it difficult to rescue those who were trapped inside, according to CBS. Sgt. First Class Cory Hicks, who survived the attack, said everything was just smoke and fire and crazy and chaos. Seeing the nose of that drone pop through, and as soon as it did, I knew what it was. It was either a missile or a drone, so I turned to my right, and thats when it blew up and just blew the whole building apart, he told KTSP in Minnesota. He was hit in the face and arms with shrapnel, requiring several stitches at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in D.C. Six troops were killed in the attack. All of whom, including Hicks, are Army Reserve troops assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command based in Des Moines, Iowa. The casualties include Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39; Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20; Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35; Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, 54; Maj. Jeffrey OBrien, 45; and Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42. She was literally five feet from me when it happened, Hicks said of Amor. When I looked over my left shoulder, the drone impacted basically right above her. A drone that struck the Kuwait facility impacted right above Sgt 1st Class Nicole Amor, according to Sgt First Class Cory Hicks, who survived the attack (US Army) A seventh service member 26-year-old Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington was killed in a separate strike in Saudi Arabia on March 1. It is unclear how many others were injured in that attack. Their sacrifice, and the sacrifices of their families, will never be forgotten, Lt. Gen. Robert Harter, the chief of Army Reserve and the commanding general of U.S. Army Reserve Command, said in a statement after their names were released. Defense department officials did not initially specify how many had been hurt in the Kuwait attack, but later said that five were seriously wounded and several others sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions, CBS reports. Two of the service members were missing after the attack and were later found under the rubble, sources told the broadcaster. Drones which are relatively cheap to manufacture compared to other military equipment typically fly slow and low to the ground to evade air defenses, and are capable of targeted attacks that can cause just as much damage. The problem is that you dont get the early warning with these low and slow threats, Tom Karako with the Center for Strategic and International Studies told The Wall Street Journal last week. This is the next chapter of air defense. Its an everybody problem. Its an everywhere problem. Scenes from the annual Al Quds Day march - Mike Kemp The annual Al-Quds day march was scheduled to take place in London on March 15, organised by the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC), but was cancelled by Shabana Mahmood after a request from Mark Rowley. For many years this demonstration has been a source of deep concern for Jewish communities, counter-extremism practitioners and parliamentarians alike. Those concerns are not simply political disagreements about the Middle East. They stem from the troubling background of the organisation behind the march and the atmosphere that has repeatedly surrounded previous demonstrations. In the Governments Independent Review of Prevent in 2023, the reviewer Sir William Shawcross described the IHRC asan Islamist group ideologically aligned with the Iranian regime, that has a history of extremist links and terrorist sympathies. That is an extraordinary assessment of an organisation which continues to operate in Britains public space. Lord Mendelsohn and Lord Polak, supported by dozens of MPs, had reportedly called on the Home Secretary to consider banning the demonstration before last nights decision. Their concern is rooted in the fact that previous Al-Quds marches have been marked by arrests for racial hatred and the open display of symbols linked to the proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah. The IHRC itself is also currently the subject of a statutory enquiry by the Charity Commission, which opened an investigation into the organisation last October. The enquiry follows a pattern of activity that many observers have long found deeply troubling. Among some of the troubling IHRC activities was their attendance at a candlelit vigil for the late General Qassem Soleimani, the commander of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Soleimani was not simply a controversial political figure. His campaigns across the Middle East fuelled conflicts that contributed directly and indirectly to the deaths of tens of thousands of Syrians. To commemorate such a man in London speaks volumes about the ideological positioning of the organisation involved. For many British Jews, the annual demonstration has become associated with images of Hezbollah flags and inflammatory slogans appearing on the streets of London. Those images travel quickly through communities already feeling vulnerable, particularly in the aftermath of the Gaza conflict. Jewish organisations have repeatedly warned that the march heightens fear and anxiety within their communities, with some people choosing to avoid central London altogether when the event takes place. We cannot ignore the broader context in which this march occurs. Over recent years Britain has increasingly seen conflicts from the Middle East imported directly onto our streets. The language used in these demonstrations often frames the conflict in stark, absolutist terms, frequently invoking Zionists as a catch-all enemy and presenting the situation through a narrative of permanent grievance. As a British Muslim, I recognise deeply the spiritual and historical significance of Jerusalem for Muslims and Christians. But that recognition must sit alongside an equally clear acknowledgement of the citys central place in Jewish history and identity. Any meaningful conversation about Jerusalem must be rooted in that reality. It should also not seek to downplay the significance for Christians and Muslims. Events like the Al-Quds Day march do little to encourage such nuance. Instead, they risk reinforcing hostility at a time when relations between communities are already fragile. In the 25 years I have spent working with Muslim and Jewish communities, I have rarely seen relations under such strain. The aftermath of the Gaza war has intensified emotions on all sides, while wider geopolitical tensions including the role of Iran in the region continue to fuel polarisation. My instinct is always to defend the right to protest. Freedom of expression is one of the cornerstones of democratic society. Yet there are moments when the state must weigh that principle against the risk of deepening communal division and amplifying extremist narratives. This was one of those moments. A driver crashed their vehicle into the White House gate Wednesday morning, leading to a massive police presence and local streets being temporarily shut down. The D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and U.S. Secret Service flocked to the scene near the barricade at Connecticut Avenue and H Street Northwest after the incident occurred at approximately 6:37 a.m. ET. The driver, who has not been publicly identified, was detained and brought in for questioning. Its unclear what led to the crash at this time but a police spokesperson told CBS News that no injuries have been reported. Secret Service police officers with the Uniformed Division are looking into a suspicious vehicle, a spokesperson for the Secret Service said. A vehicle crashed through the barricades near the White House Wednesday morning, sparking police response (Fox5) The driver of the car has been detained and is being questioned. Various entrances and the streets are temporarily closed as teams conduct their work. We will provide additional information once we get updated from officers later this morning, the spokesperson added. This is the second time in a matter of months that a vehicle has collided with a White House structure. In October, a driver was arrested after ramming their car into the security gate. This is a developing story... Six-time Irish champion Flat jockey Colin Keane is now also a Cheltenham Festival winning-rider after expertly guiding The Mourne Rambler to success in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper. Trained by Noel Meade, the 15-2 chance had impressed at Leopardstown over the Christmas period, with his handler calling on the services of a man whom he had enjoyed Group One success with on the level for the five-year-olds big date with Prestbury park. Chris Gordons Bass Hunter, the leading British-trained contender, attempted to make all as he did at Ascot in December in the hands of the trainers son, Freddie. However, the strong Irish pursuit loomed heading down hill, with Keane aboard The Mourne Rambler one of those weaving his way through traffic into a prime position to strike. Swinging the bend for home the Juddmonte number one asked his mount for extra and the five-year-old turned on the after burners to storm up the Cheltenham hill and add Festival success to the many big races the pilot has landed around the world. It is a victory that caps a fine few days for Keane having got engaged to Ger Lyons daughter Kerri on Sunday. He said: Its up there with my career highlights, Im fortunate enough to have had some great days and this was a bucket list item of mine to tick off just riding here, never mind winning so this is brilliant. Riding in this wasnt on my mind until Noel rang me and how often do you get the opportunity to ride in a race like this, as trainers have their jockeys. When Noel rang me, it was something I grabbed with both hands and an easy yes. He rang me about two weeks ago and I was riding at Dundalk and had a missed call off him and when I rang him back he asked if I would be interested and I said of course. I just needed to get my licence sorted and now the rest is history. I suppose the nerves were a little different walking out in front of a crowd like that, its a different level really and Ascot can be busy, but this is some atmosphere. Keanes appearance at the Cheltenham Festival comes despite being caught up in the travel days caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East having been out in Dubai to ride at Meydan on the Super Saturday card that went ahead amidst rising tensions in the region. I was stuck out in Dubai for a few days going insane and I suppose the difficult part was not knowing when I was getting home, added Keane, who joins Jamie Spencer who won this same race with Pizarro in 2002 as a Cheltenham Festival-winning Flat jockey. The first few days were rough, but then you got used to it and it was just a case of flights being cancelled then you would book on another one and that would get cancelled. Thankfully we all got home. It was a welcome return to the Festival winners enclosure for Meath-based Meade, who was successful at the meeting for the seventh time having landed his first success since Jeff Kidder in 2021. Meade said: Its marvellous and weve only got around 15 jumpers so its great to be back in this winners enclosure. Its probably about a third of what we used to have and we have around 45 Flat horses, but this is just great. I have had all his family and he was bred by a very good friend of mine from my childhood, Christopher McKeever. This fellow is the best of him and I had a feeling he would handle the ground as he is light. Id say he has plenty of speed so if hes back here next year it would be over two miles. His jumping needs some ironing out but we can work on that now. Be careful not to get eliminated: Irans stark warning to Trump as war escalates A senior Iranian official made a thinly veiled threat against Donald Trumps life on Tuesday as the US continued to pound Iran with bombs. US defence secretary Pete Hegseth promised the most intense day of strikes yet, just a day after the US president vowed to rain down death, fire and fury on the Islamic Republic. The sacrificial nation of Iran doesnt fear your empty threats, security chief Ali Larijani wrote in a defiant post on X on Tuesday in response to Mr Trumps Truth Social post. Even those bigger than you couldnt eliminate Iran. Be careful not to get eliminated yourself. Donald Trump has been warned he could have a target on his back (Getty) The war of words came as Iran continued to strike countries across the Gulf, with Bahrain reporting its first death that of a 29-year-old woman as a result of the ongoing conflict. At least 12 people have been killed across the oil-rich nations, the vast majority of them migrant workers, according to the New York Times. Around 140 US troops have been wounded in the past 10 days, the chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said on Tuesday. The vast majority of these injuries have been minor, and 108 service members have already returned to duty, he said in a statement to CNN. Doubts have emerged over the wars duration after Mr Trump said it would be a short-term excursion that would be over very soon in a statement to press on Monday. Mr Hegseth said the war would be ended on our timeline and at our choosing as global supply chains reeled from surging oil prices. Energy markets have been plunged into chaos due to paralysed shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz, which Tehran has threatened to fully close. Ali Larijani said Iran did not fear Trumps empty threats (AP) Mr Hegseth said that more fighter jets and bombers were being deployed to pound Iran as other experts have warned that the Islamic Republic could be playing a war of attrition, exhausting expensive US weaponry before using its better gear. US president Donald Trump also threatened Iran with a military response at a level never seen before if mines are laid in the Strait of Hormuz, afterCNN reported that Iran had begun laying mines in the key shipping route - through which around one-fifth of the worlds crude oil passes. Two intelligence sources told the broadcaster that mining was not extensive yet, with a few dozen laid in recent days. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before if no action is taken to remove the mines. If for any reason mines were placed, and they are not removed forthwith, the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before, he wrote. If, on the other hand, they remove what may have been placed, it will be a giant step in the right direction! Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted an area in Beirut's southern suburbs on Tuesday (AFP/Getty) It comes amid market turmoil, with oil prices having surged over the weekend and hitting a high of $115 a barrel on Monday. Prices subsequently fell after Trump said the war would end very soon. Downing Street said this afternoon that Britain was working with allies on a range of options to support commercial shipping, as the ministry of defence announced that a British warship, the HMS Dragon, a Type 45 Destroyer, left Portsmouth naval base on Tuesday afternoon headed for the Eastern Mediterranean. Irans foreign minister Abbas Araghchi signalled that Iran was no closer to backing down under US-Israeli pressure, telling PBS: We are well prepared to continue attacking them with our missiles as long as needed and as long as it takes. It comes as new reports suggested that the US are considering taking over Kharg Island, a small 7.7 square mile piece of land that is home to 94 per cent of Irans oil exports and its main oil export terminal. US administration officials said that discussions on seizing the key island have taken place, according to Axios. Reports also suggested that Iran could activate sleeper cells to carry out attacks across the globe. The US is reported to have intercepted encrypted communications believed to have originated in Iran that were sent out following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a US-Israeli attack on 28 February, ABC News reported, citing a federal alert sent to law enforcement agencies. Meanwhile, the Trump administration asked Israel not to carry out strikes on Irans energy facilities, according to a report in Axios. The requests mark the first time the White House has imposed restrictions on Israel since the countries launched a joint war on Iran 10 days ago. Churchill and Austen to be replaced on banknotes by wildlife in move to tackle counterfeits The Bank of England is set to replace historical figures with images of the UKs diverse wildlife on its next series of banknotes, inviting the public to help choose which natural elements will feature. This significant change marks a departure from over 50 years of showcasing prominent Britons such as Sir Winston Churchill, Alan Turing, and Jane Austen on the nation's currency. The central bank stated that the move to wildlife imagery offers a fresh opportunity to celebrate another vital aspect of the country. Crucially, it also aims to bolster security, making the new notes more resistant to counterfeiting and their security features more easily distinguishable. The decision follows a public consultation where the UK wildlife theme garnered the highest proportion of nominations, securing 60 per cent of votes. Architecture and landmarks closely followed with 56 per cent, ahead of notable historical figures (38 per cent), arts, culture and sport (30 per cent), innovation (23 per cent), and noteworthy milestones (19 per cent). Over 44,000 responses were received, encompassing online surveys, emails, and designs submitted by schools and the wider public. A second consultation is scheduled for this summer, seeking further public input on specific wildlife choices, which could include plants, landscapes, and animals. The next series of banknotes will still show a portrait of the King (PA) While the new banknotes are still several years from being issued, they will continue to feature a portrait of the monarch. The design process will also prioritise the representation of all home nations: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Victoria Cleland, chief cashier at the Bank of England, commented: The key driver for introducing a new banknote series is always to increase counterfeit resilience, but it also provides an opportunity to celebrate different aspects of the UK. Nature is a great choice from a banknote authentication perspective and means we can showcase the UKs rich and varied wildlife on the next series of banknotes. I look forward to hearing about the publics favourite wildlife during our forthcoming summer consultation. Members of Congress have called for oversight of the use of artificial intelligence in war after reports the U.S. military is using AI tools to help determine which sites in Iran to attack. As the use of AI grows in tandem with conflict in the Middle East, several publications, including The Independent, have reported on the technologys use in military operations. NBC News reported Wednesday, citing two people familiar with the matter, that the U.S. military is using AI systems from Palantir to identify potential targets for air strikes in the Iran war. Palantirs Maven Smart System is using classified satellite data and surveillance to help provide instantaneous targeting and target prioritization to the U.S. military amid its striking campaign in Iran, The Washington Post reported last week. Members of Congress have called for oversight of the use of artificial intelligence in war after reports found that the U.S. military is using AI tools to help determine which sites in Iran to attack (AFP via Getty Images) The Maven Smart System uses Anthropics Claude tool. A source familiar with the Department of Defenses use of Claude told The Independent the tool can help military personnel understand a large volume of intelligence reports more quickly than a human. But the source made clear that Claude does not decide which military targets to strike, saying that it is a human job. The Independent has reached out to Palantir and the DOD for comment. Several Democrats called for greater oversight of the U.S. militarys AI usage in NBC News report. We need a full, impartial review to determine if AI has already harmed or jeopardized lives in the war with Iran, Representative Jill Tokuda of Hawaii, who is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said. We need a full, impartial review to determine if AI has already harmed or jeopardized lives in the war with Iran, says Representative Jill Tokuda of Hawaii (Getty Images) Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, a former CIA analyst who serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said, Its really up to the humans, and in this case the Secretary of Defense, to ensure that theres human redundancy for the foreseeable future, and that is what we just dont have confidence in. Representative Sara Jacobs of California, another House Armed Services Committee member, said, We have a responsibility to enforce strict guardrails on the militarys use of AI and guarantee a human is in the loop in every decision to use lethal force, because the cost of getting it wrong could be devastating for civilians and the service members carrying out these missions. A newly-published investigation by The Independent and conflict monitoring group Airwars found that Abdul-Rahman al-Rawi, a 20-year-old student, was the first known civilian killed in a series of airstrikes that were acknowledged to have been carried out with the help of AI. Abdul-Rahman was caught up in one of dozens of attacks carried out by the US in February 2024 against Iraqi government-aligned forces and Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria. At least 1,230 people in Iran have been reportedly killed in the Iran conflict (AFP via Getty Images) Admiral Brad Cooper, who leads the U.S. Central Command, has admitted that the military is using AI tools in its fight against the Iranian regime. Our warfighters are leveraging a variety of advanced AI tools. These systems help us sift through vast amounts of data in seconds so our leaders can cut through the noise and make smarter decisions faster than the enemy can react, Cooper said in a video statement Wednesday. Humans will always make final decisions on what to shoot and what not to shoot and when to shoot, but advanced AI tools can turn processes used to take hours and sometimes even days into seconds, the admiral continued. Admiral Brad Cooper, who leads the U.S. Central Command, has admitted that the military is using AI tools in its fight against the Iranian regime (AFP via Getty Images) At least 1,230 people in Iran have been killed in the conflict, the Associated Press reported, according to local officials. Its unclear how many of those were civilians. A preliminary Pentagon report has found that the U.S. was responsible for the unintentional bombing of an all-girls school in Minab, Iran, The New York Times reported Wednesday, citing U.S. officials and others familiar with the findings. The February 28 strike killed some 175 people, most of whom were children, the NYT reported, citing Iranian officials. Its unknown if AI had a role in the strike. When asked about the report outside the White House Wednesday, Trump said, I dont know about it. Kneecap rapper Liam Og O hAnnaidh will not face a terror trial after judges at the High Court rejected a Crown Prosecution Service appeal against the decision to throw out the case. The rapper, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was accused of displaying a flag in support of proscribed terror organisation Hezbollah at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, on November 21 2024. But the case was thrown out in September last year, with chief magistrate Paul Goldspring ruling the proceedings were instituted unlawfully. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) appealed against the decision at the High Court at a hearing in January, with the Kneecap rapper opposing the challenge. Liam Og O hAnnaidh said Kneecap would continue to talk about Gaza (Niall Carson/PA) (Niall Carson) In a judgment on Wednesday, two judges at the High Court upheld the decision and dismissed the CPS appeal. Judge Goldspring had agreed with O hAnnaidhs lawyers that prosecutors needed to seek the Attorney Generals permission to charge the rapper before informing him on May 21 that he would be charged with a terror offence. This permission was sought and given the following day, which the court heard meant the charge fell outside the six-month time frame in which criminal charges against a defendant can be brought. O hAnnaidh spoke at a press conference in Belfast shortly after the ruling (Niall Carson/PA) (Niall Carson) Lord Justice Edis, sitting with Mr Justice Linden, said in Wednesdays decision that the judge was right to hold that he had no jurisdiction to try any summary-only offence alleged to have been committed on that date. He said: The respondent has not been tried for his alleged conduct on November 21 2025 and will not be tried. He has not been convicted, and he has not been acquitted. In a statement provided through his lawyers, O hAnnaidh said after the decision: I owe eternal gratitude to my legal team, who left no stone unturned in ensuring justice was upheld. This entire process was never about me, never about any threat to the public and never about terrorism, a word used by the British Government to discredit people you oppress both in Ireland and across the world. It was always about Palestine and about what happens if you dare to speak up. About what happens if you can reach large groups of people and expose their hypocrisy. O hAnnaidh performs under the stage name Mo Chara (Niall Carson/PA) (Niall Carson) I will not be silent. Kneecap will not be silent. Speaking at a press conference in Belfast shortly after the ruling, O hAnnaidh said: This is bigger than us whatever kind of stress that we felt, its minimal compared to the stress put on the families in Gaza. Well continue to use whatever platform we have to talk about Gaza, he added, saying the band has lost gigs and been restricted as a result of the court proceedings. He later said: We said we would fight you in your court and we would win we have, three times now. Your own High Court has ruled against you. The pathetic thing about this whole process is that you falsely tried to label me a terrorist, when it is the British government ministers that are arming and assisting a genocide in Gaza. Supporters of O hAnnaidh outside Westminster Magistrates Court in August (Jordan Pettitt/PA) (Jordan Pettitt) The CPS said we accept the judgment and will update our processes accordingly after the ruling. A spokesperson added: The High Court has clarified how the law applies to the issuing of written charges in summary offences where Attorney General permission is required for the Director of Public Prosecutions to consent to a prosecution. In the 13-page decision, Lord Justice Edis said the decision turned on a very narrow and technical legal issue and has nothing to do with whether the respondent committed the offence set out in the charge. Lord Justice Edis said the proceedings against the rapper were instituted on May 21 2025, rather than at a later date in the time limit. He continued: It is a matter of concern that a charge which both the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Attorney General considered met both parts of the full code test for crown prosecutors will never now be determined. There was, they decided, a realistic prospect of conviction and the prosecution was in the public interest. We have not investigated the reasons for this failure and nor do we seek to attribute blame. AUSTIN, Texas, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- This Friday at SXSW, ElevenLabs will advance its '1 Million Voices' initiative, a commitment to provide 1 million people living with permanent voice loss free access to its voice restoration technology - a $1 billion in-kind investment - by launching a global effort to find and support those living with permanent voice loss. ElevenLabs debuts 11 Voices at SXSW, the first docuseries where people with voice loss narrate their own stories using their AI-generated voices. The initiative is being championed by actor Rebecca Gayheart Dane, who will join ElevenLabs at SXSW to honor the legacy of her late husband, actor Eric Dane. Eric, who lived with ALS, used ElevenLabs' technology to restore his voice and was an early advocate for the program. The centerpiece of this effort is the premiere of 11 Voices - the first docuseries where people with voice loss narrate their own stories using their AI-generated voices. By showing the human impact of AI-enabled voice restoration, ElevenLabs aims to reach more people living with voice loss across every country and language. Restoring identity and connection The 11 Voices docuseries follows 11 individuals from the US and UK living with conditions such as ALS and Cerebral Palsy. Featured stories include: Scott, a stroke survivor who now uses his AI voice to give public lectures again. Pam, a hospital chaplain with ALS who has returned to counseling patients. Bryan, a brain-injury survivor who has regained the ability to socialize and create music. Abdi, who has cerebral palsy and once was nonverbal, now uses his voice to pursue acting and modeling. The series shows how restoring someone's voice can restore their sense of self. By using AI to bring back the specific warmth and nuance that make a person's voice unique, ElevenLabs is helping people reconnect with their families, friends, coworkers and themselves. "When someone loses their voice, they often lose their independence and connection with the people they love," said Mati Staniszewski, cofounder of ElevenLabs. "The most rewarding part of building ElevenLabs is using our technology to help restore someone's agency and sense of identity, no matter where they live or what language they speak." Voice restoration at SXSW The docuseries will premiere at SXSW during a live panel titled "Hello Again: Restoring Voices with AI." Moderated by Kamala Avila-Salmon (CEO of Kas Kas Productions), the session will feature ElevenLabs cofounder Mati Staniszewski alongside actor Rebecca Gayheart Dane. Honoring the legacy of Eric Dane, who was an early champion of the 1 Million Voices program, Rebecca has stepped forward to help ensure that everyone facing a similar diagnosis can access the same technology that allowed Eric to restore his voice. "Our voices are such an important part of who we are, and something most of us take for granted," said Rebecca Gayheart Dane. "As Eric's speech became gradually more impaired, I watched how that loss dimmed so much of his joy and sense of self. When he received his ElevenLabs voice, it made him emotional to have that part of himself back, and to know our daughters would always be able to hear his voice. It sounded just like him. Eric wanted to help as many people as possible through his advocacy work, and I hope to carry on his wishes by championing this program in his honor." The session will also feature Yvonne Johnson, who is profiled in the docuseries. In a powerful demonstration of the technology's impact, Yvonne will participate in the discussion live on stage using her own ElevenLabs-powered voice. Expanding the 1 million voices initiative The program started in 2024 as a small project in the U.S. to help people with ALS. Since then, it has grown to support anyone in the world with permanent voice loss, regardless of their medical diagnosis. To date, ElevenLabs has supported approximately 7,000 individuals and built a network of more than 800 nonprofit and communications partners worldwide. The company's nonprofit partners span 49 countries - across every continent - and all 50 U.S. states. Together with strategic partners in the U.S., U.K., Africa, New Zealand, and Australia, and expanding collaborations across Latin America and the Global South, ElevenLabs is working to ensure this technology reaches people in every language and region. The initiative provides eligible users with a free ElevenLabs license for life. Participants use past recordings to create a digital version of their voice that integrates with assistive devices, allowing them to use their own voices in daily communication. Participants keep full ownership of their voice models and decide how they are used. Join the initiative ElevenLabs is looking to reach more people who can benefit from this technology. Individuals living with voice loss and the non-profits that support them can apply at elevenlabs.io/impact-program How to watch 11 Voices The series is available to stream HERE, as well as on ElevenLabs' YouTube channel and Spotify. The official trailer, narrated by Sir Michael Caine in his ElevenLabs voice, can be viewed HERE. About ElevenLabs ElevenLabs is an AI research and product company transforming how we interact with technology. We launched in January 2023 with the first human-like AI voice model. Today, we serve millions of users and thousands of businesses across three main platforms. ElevenAgents enables businesses to deliver seamless and intelligent customer experiences, with the integrations, testing, monitoring, and reliability necessary to deploy voice and chat agents at scale. ElevenCreative empowers creators and marketers to generate and edit speech, music, image, and video across 70+ languages. ElevenAPI gives developers access to our leading AI audio foundational models. SOURCE ElevenLabs DACA mom with US citizen daughter sues Trump administration after deportation to Mexico: I followed the rules Maria de Jesus Estrada Juarez showed up for a green card appointment in Sacramento, California, and was deported the next day. Estrada Juarez, who came to the United States when she was 15 years old, is among tens of thousands of immigrants with legal protections under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, an Obama-era program that has shielded them from removal from the country. The 42-year-old hotel worker and mother of a 22-year-old U.S. citizen is now stranded in Mexico, according to a federal lawsuit against Donald Trumps administration seeking her return. California is the only home I have ever truly known, Estrada Juarez said in a statement shared with The Independent. I built my life in Sacramento, raised my daughter there, and worked hard for years under DACA to support my family, she said. I followed the rules and showed up to my immigration appointment believing I was taking the next step toward stability. Instead, I was taken away from my daughter and forced out of the country overnight. I just want the chance to return home to my family and the life we built together. DACA recipient Maria de Jesus Estrada Juarez, pictured in a video briefing with Sen Alex Padillas office, says she was illegally deported after showing up for a green card interview (Sen. Alex Padilla) More than 200 DACA recipients were arrested between January and November last year, and at least 86 were deported, according to Homeland Security data provided to members of Congress, though the Trump administration has provided lawmakers with conflicting data. Estrada Juarez showed up for a scheduled green card interview at a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office on February 18 alongside her daughter. She was arrested after the interview, according to her complaint. Marias deportation was unlawful and violated basic principles of due process, according to her attorney Stacy Tolchin. She had a valid DACA status, she appeared for her immigration appointment as instructed, and she should never have been removed from the country, Tolchin added. Through this lawsuit, we are asking the court to order the government to correct this violation of the law and return Maria to the United States immediately. The complaint states that Estrada Juarez had previously received a document stating that she is barred from returning to the U.S. for 10 years because an immigration court judge had ordered her removal. But the lawsuit argues she has never received such an order and has never been in removal proceedings, let alone been seen before an immigration judge. The Department of Homeland Security argues the government ordered her removal in 1998 when she was still a child and she was removed from the United States shortly after. She illegally re-entered the U.S. a felony, according to a spokesperson for DHS. She was arrested and her final order re-instated. ICE removed her from the U.S. on February 19, 2026. Padilla, pictured with DACA recipients at a press conference in 2025, is among members of Congress demanding answers from Trumps DHS about the numbers of Dreamers the administration has arrested and deported despite protections against their removal (AFP via Getty Images) Her arrest and removal has outraged members of Congress who have repeatedly pressed Homeland Security officials and Secretary Kristi Noem for information about DACA recipients in government custody. Sen. Dick Durbin, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, cited Estrada Juarezs case last week during Noems testimony. The secretary said she was not aware of her removal and would look into it. News of DACA recipients being arrested and deported is deeply troubling, Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla of California said in a statement last month, after DHS officials confirmed the arrests and removals of dozens of DACA recipients. These arrests disrupt families, harm communities, and inflict unnecessary social, emotional, and economic costs, he said. DACA recipients go through strict background checks every time they renew this protection, and the Trump administration has not hesitated to arrest immigrants with no serious criminal convictions and falsely label them the worst of the worst. In statements to Congress, DHS has reported 270 DACA recipients were arrested and 174 were removed last year, though a separate review sent to lawmakers said 261 DACA recipients were arrested and 86 removed. The discrepancies between the two responses demonstrate gross incompetence or intentional misdirection, according to Democratic Reps. Delia C. Ramirez and Sylvia Garcia, who have called on DHS to provide a full accounting by March 13. We know that Noem and DHS have refused to abide by the protections that DACA provides to Dreamers. It is clear that DACA recipients are at great risk; we must have transparency, Ramirez said. Nearly 134,000 DACA recipients had obtained lawful permanent resident status as of March 31, 2024, according to the Congressional Research Service, citing the most recent available data. There were 533,280 active DACA recipients as of December 31, 2024. The starting procedure at the Cheltenham Festival came under scrutiny again on Wednesday, with Irish amateur Declan Queally exchanging words with Nico de Boinville prior to the Turners Novices Hurdle and subsequently lodging a complaint against the Gold Cup-winning rider with the stewards. The opening event on day two of the showpiece meeting started almost four minutes later than advertised, after a prolonged effort to get the 21 runners into a suitable order, with De Boinville and Queally clashing as they fought for a position close to the tapes. Returning to the weighing room following the race, Queally, whose mount Ill Sort That finished fifth, told Matt Chapman on ITV Racing: The start was a bit of a mess and I got trapped back further than I wanted. I was being abused by an English rider Nico de Boinville and its not very nice. Im an amateur coming here riding in front of my kids and that, its horrific. Riding runner-up Act Of Innocence, De Boinville who won the Gold Cup aboard Coneygree in 2015 responded: Maybe he should look in the mirror. At a subsequent inquiry held by the stewards into the start, four jockeys were found in breach of the rules, including Queally. A report read: The starter reported that Jack Kennedy, the rider of Ballyfad, Mr D. Queally, the rider of Ill Sort That, Danny Gilligan, the rider of Skylight Hussle, and Darragh OKeeffe, the rider of Walks In June, had not approached the tape at a walk or a jig-jog thereby causing a false start, resulting in a standing start. The riders and the starters were interviewed and shown recordings of the incident. Kennedy and Queally were suspended for one day for misconduct at the start. As it was their second offence in 12 months, Gilligan and OKeeffe were suspended for two days. In a further development, it transpired a complaint had been made by Queally regarding an incident at the start. The report added: An inquiry was held into a complaint received from Mr D. Queally regarding an incident at the start. The stewards, having heard the initial evidence from Queally and Nico de Boinville, have adjourned the matter to obtain further evidence. Analysing the start on ITV, riding greats Ruby Walsh and Sir Anthony McCoy felt both riders had the right to stand their ground, with Walsh reiterating his stance that the starting procedures require alteration. McCoy said: One person has as much right to be there as someone else. Just because whoever you are doesnt mean to say you should be in there. I dont think Declans done much wrong. I dont think one person is any more entitled to be there than another. Walsh added: Thats the same Nico de Boinville who rode Jonbon last year and put his head on the tape. Maybe he needs to look in the mirror, too. You need a rolling start. Ive said it for a long time. If they walk in front of a tape and then it moves in front of the horses, youd have none of this drama. One horse heavily inconvenienced by the false start in the race was Paul Nicholls 5-2 favourite No Drama This End, who had to settle for a slot further back than ideal and was eventually pulled up by Harry Cobden. Part-owner Max McNeill said: I think they should have given them another chance to walk in again at the start. If they dont do it first time, they should tell them off and do it again. The Irish jockeys know what they are doing and they are going to make it as difficult for the class horse in the races possible. Im not blaming anyone. The horse wasnt good enough on the day, but we live to fight another day. Im not blaming Harry at all as it was a lottery at the start. A social media post from President Donald Trumps energy secretary that was quickly deleted has sent oil markets into a frenzy, according to a new report. Earlier Tuesday, Energy Secretary Chris Wright wrote on X that the U.S. Navy had escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway to the global oil supply that Iran has effectively closed as the U.S. and Israel continue their military campaign against the Middle Eastern country. President Trump is maintaining stability of global energy during the military operations against Iran, Wright wrote. The U.S. Navy successfully escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz to ensure oil remains flowing to global markets. Wrights post was quickly deleted and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the Navy has not escorted any vessel through the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed by Iran (REUTERS) Despite the Trump administrations efforts to correct Wrights false statement, it had at least some impact on the oil markets, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday. During the roughly 10 minutes Wrights post was up, an exchange-traded fund, or ETF, linked to oil futures saw $84 million of its market capitalization erased, the WSJ reported. ETFs are collections of investments, often structured around a strategy, such as tracking the energy sector of the stock market. Benchmark U.S. crude futures, which serve as the reference price for crude oil in the country, plummeted by as much as 19 percent at one point in the day, according to the WSJ. A social media post from President Donald Trumps energy secretary that was quickly deleted has sent oil markets into a frenzy, according to a new report (POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Futures later settled at $83.45 a barrel, down 12 percent, the WSJ reported, noting that it was the sharpest daily decline in four years. The Trump administration has blamed a staffer for Wrights now-deleted post, telling multiple outlets, A video clip was deleted from Secretary Wrights official X account after it was determined to be incorrectly captioned by Department of Energy staff. The Independent has reached out to the Department of Energy for further comment. Earlier Tuesday, Energy Secretary Chris Wright erroneously wrote on X that the U.S. Navy had escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz (AFP via Getty Images) Oil has been a major concern amid the Iran war, which began over a week ago (Getty Images) Oil has been a major concern amid the Iran war, which began over a week ago. At least 1,230 people are dead in Iran, per the Associated Press, and at least seven American service members have been killed in the conflict. Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has reportedly threatened to attack any ship that tries to pass through the Strait of Hormuz and there are reports of Iran placing mines in the waterway that carries about a fifth of the worlds oil supply. U.S. Central Command said Tuesday the military destroyed 16 mine-laying ships near the Strait of Hormuz, and Trump warned on Truth Social if mines are not removed, the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before. When Rachel Cooper arrived at hospital to give birth to her son in April 2018, she had no idea she would be leaving days later with a life-changing injury. But Ms Cooper, now 43, is one of the dozens of mothers and families who say they were harmed by poor maternity care at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, one of the largest trusts in the country. The now 43-year-old was discharged from the hospital after her vaginal labour with an untreated third-degree tear that was missed by medics. It eventually became infected and, despite doctors claiming her symptoms were normal, Ms Cooper was forced to undergo surgery when her baby was just eight days old. Eight years on, she is still living with the repercussions. She told The Independent: The dangerous medical practices and poor treatment by staff characterised every stage of my birth journey and has had a permanent effect on my mental health. Im not the mother to my baby that I could have been. Ms Cooper told her story as the government announced on Tuesday that Donna Ockenden, who chaired the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital maternity inquiry and is currently chairing the Nottingham University Hospitals maternity inquiry, will now also chair the probe into the Leeds trust. Her appointment comes after months of campaigning by families in Leeds for her to be chair after initial pushback from health secretary Wes Streeting. The full terms of the Leeds inquiry have yet to be agreed, but it is expected to look at cases between January 1 2011 and December 1 2025. The decision to hold an inquiry came following a BBC investigation in early 2025, which highlighted that the deaths of at least 56 babies and two mothers over the preceding five years may have been preventable. Revealing her experience, Ms Cooper, who lives in Leeds, recalled how she was sitting on the ward holding her son when she had a sudden urge to go to the toilet. She toldThe Independent: I went to stand up and immediately afterwards, my bowels opened, filing my underwear. I had no control whatsoever. I was shocked and distraught. Ms Cooper said she sought out midwives on the ward to tell them what had happened. But she said she was made to wait and wait - only to be then told what she had experienced was normal. She said: It felt like going to A&E with a broken leg to be told it's only a cramp. [They were] quite defensive and made it feel like: Who was I to know about this and raise this? And why would I know things about what was happening to my body? As far as they were concerned, there wasn't anything wrong. I did go on to further raise it and was told it was normal by a doctor in terms of, you know, people can experience that after birth. Donna Ockenden (PA Archive) She said she wanted the doctors to be right, but the severity of her symptoms made her concerned about how she would recover without any treatment. I became quite distressed about being in the hospital and being in the place where I should be able to get help - yet not being able to get that, she said. Ms Cooper was discharged days later. But with her symptoms continuing, a community midwife examined her at home and recommended she return to hospital. Ms Cooper was assessed as having an undiagnosed third-degree tear that had become infected. Yet, once diagnosed, she faced further uncertainty and unanswered questions, she said. I'd get no word as to why or what was meant to be happening next. The midwife said to me a few times, you're invisible - and that is absolutely how it felt - completely invisible. Eight days after being diagnosed, Ms Cooper was given surgery to address the tear. She had a stoma fitted - an opening to the abdomen that allows for urine or faeces to be diverted out into a colostomy bag. Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust faces an inquiry into alleged poor maternity care (PA) Although she has been left with the physical impact, Ms Cooper said she has also been left with harm to her mental wellbeing. I can't trust the hospital, and it's going to be very hard when there comes a time when something else happens to me and I have to go to the hospital, she said. Ms Cooper said she hopes the trust will approach the inquiry with openness and transparency and acknowledge that things went wrong. I want them to accept that this is needed and that this is about people who've been harmed and babies that have died, and it's about preventing that in the future, she said. Dr Dipesh Odedra, clinical director of womens services at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: We are truly sorry to Rachel for the harm she suffered following the birth of her son in our hospital. We recognise how traumatic this must be for her and apologise for the failings in her care. We fully investigated her care at the time and developed an action plan to address these failings, although we appreciate this will not bring any comfort to Rachel and her family. Gordon Elliott is confident his Cullentra warrior Teahupoo can regain his crown in the Paddy Power Stayers Hurdle. The nine-year-old was an emphatic winner of the Cheltenham Festivals day three feature in 2024 and found only fellow Robcour-owned star Bob Olinger too strong when bidding for back-to-back successes 12 months ago. In the past two seasons Teahupoo has not run between the Hattons Grace at Fairyhouse in the autumn and his early March trip to Prestbury Park, but this season Elliott slotted in an extra outing, which saw him turn the tables on Bob Olinger in impressive fashion. Teahupoo is getting a bit older so I thought another run wasnt a bad idea, said the trainer. He doesnt do anything fancy at home so you never really know where you are with him. Hes a warrior and hes got form around Cheltenham, were really looking forward to it. I suppose when you go back through the years, Stayers Hurdle horses never really get the credit they deserve but I wouldnt mind having a few more like him. One of Teahupoos biggest threats appears to be his three years younger stablemate Honesty Policy, who finished third in the Long Walk at Ascot on his first start outside novice company. Elliott added: He is a classy horse and improved all through last year. I was very impressed with what he did at Ascot. Henry de Bromheads Bob Olinger is a three-time Festival winner, with his Stayers Hurdle triumph of last year preceded by victories in what was the Ballymore Novices Hurdle and the now defunct Turners Novices Chase. He was seven lengths behind Teahupoo in Leopardstowns Christmas Hurdle and he too has been kept fresh since ahead of his return to the Cotswolds. Hes class and he always has been. Obviously we lost him for about a year, a year and a half, which was probably our fault, but its great to have him back, said De Bromhead. It was a lovely run (at Leopardstown). Those older lads, you dont want to be too hard on them for their first run, so he ran lovely. Kabral Du Mathan has looked every inch a top-class horse in the making in winning his first two starts for Dan Skelton and while a Festival appearance looked unlikely for a while, the title-chasing trainer has ultimately decided to roll the dice over three miles for the first time. Im not afraid to pitch this horse into battle, but what I didnt want to do was something I would regret in a year or two or three down the line, by giving him that hard race he doesnt need at that age, he explained. I think he comes into this very interestingly and from a different angle. Youve got all those horses in there that have stayed three miles and know how to get down and dirty from the back of two out, here is a horse who is undoubtedly going to be played late and used for speed. I hope it makes for good viewing, I hope we come out on top and I feel with that speed angle, if the ground is just good to soft, we have an asset that maybe the others have less of these days. Emma Lavelles Ma Shantou has improved hugely this season, winning each of his three starts at Cheltenham and earning himself a step up to the highest level by winning the Cleeve Hurdle in January. Lavelle said: Hes done everything weve asked of him at home and were now hoping he can do everything were asking of him on the track. I dont think the ground will be any problem to him and he seems sharp at home. He is not a flamboyant workhorse, he just does what you ask him and the proof with him is always on the track he puts his head down and off he goes. He has obviously done well at Cheltenham all season and judged on his last performance we dont think weve seen his ceiling just yet. Other contenders include Impose Toi, who won the Long Distance Hurdle and the Long Walk before the turn of the year but was no match for Ma Shantou on Trials day. He won nicely in his first three races this season, including the Long Walk where I thought he was really good, said Henderson. He does want good ground and at Cheltenham on Trials day neither Nico (de Boinville) or I really wanted to run the ground was horrible. Hes notoriously lazy though and does nothing at home and I couldnt see how we could get from the Long Walk to the middle of March without a run. He was beaten giving 6lb to Emma Lavelles horse on horrible ground. We should have better ground and hell be 6lb better off, so if we cant reverse the form then we are in the wrong race. Ex-ICE lawyer who said this job sucks is running for Congress in Minnesota A government lawyer who told a federal judge this job sucks when she was hauled to court over the Trump administrations immigration arrests is now running for Congress as a Democrat. Julie Le, a now-former Homeland Security attorney, is preparing to formally launch her campaign for a House seat in Minnesota which is currently held by Rep. Ilhan Omar, whose district represents the same Minneapolis area where federal officers fatally shot two demonstrators this year. Le, who was a prosecutor for Immigration and Customs Enforcement in immigration court, was supporting the U.S. Attorneys office in Minnesota last month to help with an avalanche of lawsuits that followed mass arrests under President Donald Trumps sweeping deportation efforts in the state. A judge wanted lawyers to answer for ICEs alarming failures to comply with court orders to swiftly release wrongly detained immigrants leading to Les now-infamous outburst. What do you want me to do? said Le, according to a transcript from the hearing. The system sucks. This job sucks. Former ICE lawyer Julie Le is entering the Democratic primary race to represent Minnesota in the House after she was fired for telling a federal judge this job sucks in court (Julie Le for Congress) She was fired hours later. The episode exposed the growing frustrations among government attorneys that rarely boil over in public but are now beginning to spill out into courtrooms, where judges are increasingly running out of patience and threatening to hold officials in contempt. Sometime I wish you would just hold me in contempt, your honor, so that I can have a full 24 hours of sleep, Le told Minnesota District Judge Jerry R. Blackwell last month. According to court records, Le was named as the governments attorney on more than 80 immigration cases in the state after Operation Metro Surge began. Le told the judge she was simply overwhelmed by the number of legal challenges from Trumps mass deportation dragnet. She said it was like pulling teeth to get Homeland Security to follow court orders. Le is running on an immigration reform platform after she was embroiled in an avalanche of litigation against the Trumps administrations surge of federal agents in Minnesota (REUTERS) Le, who is kicking off her campaign on March 13, is among several former prosecutors and officials who left the Trump administration to run as Democratic candidates for higher office this year. Former special counsel Jack Smiths deputy J.P. Cooney, who formerly worked at the public corruption division of the U.S. attorneys office in Washington, is running for a House seat in Virginia after he was fired in January 2025. Le has centered her platform around immigration reform, noting that she witnessed firsthand the complexities of our immigration and legal systems. She knows firsthand how broken they are and the reforms needed to improve them, according to her campaign website. Through her work representing both the government and working families in immigration cases, Julie has witnessed how the system fails everyday people and seen families torn apart by bureaucratic inefficiency and a system that doesn't work for those who need it most, the website says. The nations immigration system is outdated and inefficient, creating a humanitarian crisis, according to her campaign. A weeks-long surge of federal immigration officers into Minnesota under the command of Border Patrol official Greg Bovino at the direction of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem led to thousands of arrests, with lawsuits alleging violent and unconstitutional detentions and illegal use of force. In January, Border Patrol agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, just two weeks after an ICE officer fatally shot Renee Good. None of the agents involved in either incident have been criminally charged. State and local officials in Minnesota are now investigating more than a dozen incidents to determine whether federal officers violated any laws during the surge. Le will enter a primary race to unseat Omar, who has represented Minnesotas 5th congressional district since 2019 and has handily defeated primary challengers and won re-election in three previous election cycles. Omars campaign also has key endorsements from Democratic members of Congress and more than $1 million on hand as her campaign entered 2026, according to campaign finance records. Its not because shes not doing the job, Le told The Washington Post. Its just for what I could bring to the table. FBI warned US West Coast police that Iran might try a drone attack: report The FBI reportedly warned California police departments in February that Iran could retaliate against the U.S., if it were to conduct strikes, by using drones aimed at the West Coast, according to an alert viewed by ABC News. The alert, distributed at the end of February, told law enforcement that the FBI had recently acquired information that as of early February 2026, Iran allegedly aspired to conduct a surprise attack using unmanned aerial vehicles from an unidentified vessel off the coast of the United States Homeland, specifically against unspecified targets in California, in the event that the U.S. conducted strikes against Iran. The FBI added it had no additional information on timing, method, target, or perpetrators of this alleged attack. Its unclear when exactly the alert was sent to police departments, but the U.S. began carrying out strikes on Iran February 28. The FBI and FBI Los Angeles field office declined to comment for this story. An alert, sent to California police departments in February, warned that Iran could retaliate against the US by conducting drone strikes on the West Coast (Getty) The Independent has asked the Pentagon for comment. California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a press conference Wednesday that the state was aware of potential drone strikes and had already relayed the information to local partners. As it relates to drone strikes, weve been aware of that information. Weve been working collaboratively through the [State Operations Center], Newsom said. Drone issues have been always top of mind, and weve assembled some work groups specifically around those concerns, the governor added. Oakland police officers told the San Fransico Chronicle that they had spoken with federal partners who informed us that there may be a heightened risk due to the conflict in the Middle East and that they are maintaining close contact with local, state and federal law enforcement. But a person familiar with the memo downplayed the credibility of the threat to the Los Angeles Times. An unnamed source told the outlet that the warning was based on intelligence received by the U.S. Coast Guard and that the warning was cautionary but did not have any indication that Iran was planning an attack. Trump told reporters Wednesday he was not concerned about a potentail attack on US soil (AP) Since the U.S. launched attacks on Iran, killing former Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran has retaliated with strikes against U.S. military bases in the Middle East, but not against the U.S. homeland. A threat assessment, conducted in February by the Office of Intelligence and Analysis at the Department of Homeland Security and obtained by Reuters, determined that Iran and its proxies probably pose a threat to attacks on the U.S., but said a large-scale attack was unlikely. When asked Wednesday if he was fearful of an attack on U.S. soil, President Donald Trump responded: No, Im not. The president has maintained that the attacks in Iran are meant to be a temporary military operation to destabilize the Iranian military and prevent it from attacking its neighboring countries. So far, Iran has retaliated against Israel, the United Arab Emrites, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon, Jordan and others. Finally some good news for humans: Tilly Norwoods AI music video is abysmal slop Its been a rough few years for anyone working in Hollywood. Between major film and television productions leaving California, job losses associated with troubling mergers and Los Angeles literally and repeatedly catching fire, good news has been hard to come by. Hope, however, has now arrived from an unexpected source: AI actor Tilly Norwood has released a music video for a crude approximation of a Disney ballad called Take The Lead, and its so awful it may do more to remind people of the power and importance of human-made art than any protest or petition ever could. This presumably was not the intention of Norwood, or rather her creator Eline van der Velden, CEO of AI-focused production company Particle 6 and the AI talent studio Xicoia. The brunette, hazel-eyed digital starlet caused a furor when first unveiled last year. The fact that the music video has been released in the run-up to this years Oscars points to the fact that Norwoods overlords thought the video might act as a shot across the bows for Hollywood elites and announce the avatars arrival as a serious A-lister. Can't wait to go to the Oscars! they wrote in the videos cloying YouTube caption. Does anyone know if they have free valet parking for my flamingo? Needless to say, Norwood wont be going to the Oscars this year, or any year. In fact, the music video is full of eerily-smoothed approximations of things an AI creation can never do, like wandering down the streets of London and Los Angeles taking selfies with fans or chatting on the sofa on The Graham Norton Show. The rest of the video comes off like Katy Perrys California Gurls without the personality, while flamingos referred to in the caption are lifeless renderings that succeed only in dragging the whole thing deeper into the uncanny valley. Rather than an impressive demonstration of the possibilities of AI, the video acts as a reminder of all the ways Norwood is and always will be unable to interact with the real world us humans actually live in. Tilly Norwood in the music video for 'Take The Lead' (Particle6/Xicoia) All of thats before we even discuss the song, which is teeth-grittingly painful to listen to. The video opens with a disclaimer stating that 18 real humans were involved in the process, from production designers to costume designers to prompters, editors and an actor. Youll notice that they dont claim any musicians were involved in this monstrosity. Having been forced to listen to the song more than once while writing this piece, its hard to believe that any of these real humans have real ears. Weirdest of all are the lyrics. The chorus is a clangingly on-the-nose defense of AI, with the avatar singing: We can scale, we can grow / Be the creators weve always known / Its the next evolution, can't you see? / AIs not the enemy, its the key. Yet moments later, Norwood is bizarrely lying about being human and possessing a soul: They say its not real, that its fake / But I am still human, make no mistake / My souls in every move I take. Unsurprisingly, the online reaction to the video has been universally negative. Weird that it keeps saying its human when it is literally not human, said one YouTube commenter, while another pointed out that Norwoods portrayal cant even remain consistent for the length of a four-minute music video: Ive never seen so many freckles disappear, reappear and move to different places. Norwood is an 'AI actress' created by Xicoia/Particle6 (Xicoia/Particle6) Plenty more were upset about the natural resources guzzled up in the creation of the clip, with one writing: No flamingos were harmed, but about that drinking water you humans are so crazy about... and another observing that: Nerd CEOs really think we want this slop instead of a healthy water supply. Research from the University of California in 2023 calculated that ChatGPT drinks roughly 500ml of water for every 10 to 50 medium-length responses. Terrible music videos presumably require much, much more. Just last October, several actors were getting seriously worried about what the dawn of Norwood meant for their careers. Toni Collette, Natasha Lyonne and Whoopi Goldberg all spoke out against the AI creation, while Emily Blunt exclaimed: Good Lord, were screwed. Thankfully, on this new evidence, rumors of actings demise have been severely exaggerated. The technology will (surely) get better, but to watch Take The Lead is to be reminded time and again of the heart that AI performance is lacking. At the Oscars this Sunday, there will be lots of winners and many more losers, and when they find out who is who, everyone involved will experience the whole gamut of human emotions. Tilly Norwood could never. Daniel Sewell (centre) with his stag group, who opted to head to Benidorm to watch the Cheltenham Festival this year but did not expect the rain (Ibrox Bar Benidorm) It might be 1,300 miles away, but more and more people are choosing to swap Cheltenham for Benidorm during festival week, where cheap drinks and hotels are a-plenty. However, for the sun-seekers arriving on the Mediterranean coastline for festival week this year, theres been one problem the weather. As Prestbury Park basks in warm winter sunshine, in Benidorm, rain has forced T-shirt-wearing race enthusiasts to head inside many of the bars on the strip. Huge outdoor screens remain rolled up, and uncovered outdoor seating areas are near empty. We came to watch Cheltenham in the sun with cheap beer and hotels but the rain, well, we could be in Cheltenham, said Daniel Sewell, who is in the popular resort from Monday to Thursday. As someone who has been to the festival several times most recently in 2018 the 35-year-old from Warrington booked the week away with friends as a combined stag do. For live updates on the Cheltenham Festival click here for our blog The group of 14 have filled an apartment, paying a total of 800, while the return flight has cost them 130 each. At Ibrox Bar on Wednesday, they were sharing 10 buckets of five bottled beers. Drinkers inside the Ibrox Bar in Benidorm watch one of the races on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival (Ibrox Bar) Meanwhile at Cheltenham, on-the-gate tickets start at 70 and pints of beer, despite being reduced in price this year, cost 7.50. I couldnt have drunk anymore last night if I tried, and I still only spent 50, said Mr Sewell. However, while the price is right for revellers, the weather hasnt quite met expectation yet. Mr Sewell said: We first got the idea through those pictures on social media of people watching Cheltenham in huge outdoor seating areas, watching big screens, in the sun. So far this year, the weather has not been great, but the atmosphere is still really good. I think for some of the people who are not into racing so much, this is a great way to watch racing. For others who would attend Cheltenham Festival for the entire week, also staying overnight in the area, the savings for watching the racing abroad are even greater. Ronnie Russell, from Hull, who used to attend the festival each year, is in Benidorm for the week having paid 500 for five nights full board in the four-star Hotel Rosamar. The Cheltenham Festival in Benidorm is underway. Could you see yourself doing it? pic.twitter.com/Ey1Aq43aoV Stephen R Power (@racingblogger) March 11, 2025 This year is his third festival at the Spanish resort, where people swap the Cheltenham roar on the first race for the Benidorm bellow. Three years ago it was sunny, the 67-year-old said. Last year, and this year so far, we havent had the weather, but Id still rather be here than stuck in the Cheltenham car park and covered in mud. Ronnie Russell (second right) and Ibrox Bar owner Wilma Wallace during the Cheltenham Festival (Ibrox Bar) We love the 2 pints but the prices are creeping up, and its getting so popular here for festival week you need to book in advance. The experience is still great. According to travel retailer On the Beach, bookings at Benidorm during the festival were up 65 per cent compared to last year, with hotels seeing the number of bookings more than double. Wilma Wallace, from the Ibrox Bar, said: It started about eight years and it has got bigger every year. We just hope the weather gets better on Thursday and Friday. The sun shines in Cheltenham as Queen Camilla arrives for Ladies Day on Wednesday (Action Images/Reuters) Attendance at Cheltenham has been declining. The overall attendance last year was 218,839, down 5 per cent on 2024. However, on this years opening day, attendance was up. It followed changes including a 30p reduction in the price of draught beer or cider, and a relaxation in outdoor drinking areas. Ladies Day has also returned on Wednesday after a five-year hiatus. Racecourse chief executive Guy Lavender told the BBC: It is wonderful to see so many people wanting to engage with and celebrate the event. Whether fans are watching from the comfort of their own home, while on holiday in Benidorm or soaking up the unbeatable atmosphere on course, we want them to feel a part of it and we are proud that these four days in March are a key marker in people's calendars each year. Clay Fuller speaks next to Donald Trump, during a visit to the Coosa Steel Corporation in Rome, Georgia, on 19 February 2026. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters (Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) Clay Fuller, a former Republican prosecutor, and Shawn Harris, a Democrat and retired army general, will head to a run-off after they came out ahead in a special election Tuesday to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene in Congress. The election for the Georgias 14th congressional district has been seen as a test of Donald Trumps sway and may provide a rare opportunity for Democrats in a deep-red pocket of north-west Georgia. Fuller has Trumps endorsement and had raised more than $1m leading into voting Tuesday, but Harris, who faced Greene two years ago, has raised more than four times as much. Even though four Republican candidates dropped out before the election, the Republican field was fractured among more than a dozen candidates, including former state senator Colton Moore, a combative agitator to the right of most Republican legislators in Georgia. Fuller and Harris will face each other again on 7 April, and the winner will complete the rest of Greenes term through the end of this year with hopes of re-election. Greene, a firebrand on the right, broke hard against Trump last year after years of loyalty, beginning by questioning his first strike on Iran in June, then by sounding alarms during budget talks that the end of healthcare subsidies would wreck her constituents finances. The administrations resistance on the Epstein files was the last straw. Trump and Greene turned on each other, leading to Greenes resignation in January to avoid a contentious, divisive primary challenge. Fuller, a lieutenant colonel in the air national guard, is also a former Trump White House fellow and by current Republican standards a mainline conservative and Trump loyalist, which paved the way for Trumps endorsement. Harris, a soldier turned cattle rancher, won about 135,000 votes in a losing effort in 2024, a record in Georgias 14th district. The Cook Political Report still rates the district as R+19, but Democrats have been over-performing in Republican districts since Trumps election. In an interview in December, Harris told the Guardian that the field for Greenes successor appears open to a Democrat. I dont care who it is, but when we do our analysis because Marjorie Taylor Greene was so far out there we dont see the Republican party, Donald Trump or the local Republican party getting somebody thats closer to the center, said Harris. Because if you get somebody thats closer to the center, then guess what? You got Shawn Harris. Even before war in Iran, Harris said that people in Georgia are more focused on economic issues than foreign wars, and that Congress should be working on getting the cost of groceries to fall. The economy is very bad, Harris said. People know that things cost more now. People know that. You dont have to be told, you just know it, you can feel it across the board. Middle-class families are now struggling to pay the light bill, put food on the table, trying to figure out how theyre going to pay their rent or pay their mortgage. But on Tuesday, voters had different opinions on what would help them move forward. Yvonne Otts, 85 and a Dalton native, said the biggest thing for me is to get somebody with good sense, common sense. Greene, she said, put herself first she didnt put America first. Were putting American first for the first time [with Trump]. I supported a Republican candidate the president should have people around him who support him, Otts said. As for the war in Iran, That doesnt affect me at all, she said. Its a very short-term thing. But Arthur Carlson, turning 97 next week and a retired Seventh-Day Adventist minister, said Trump says America First, but he doesnt act it and the war in Iran is one example. Ever since he got in, hes tried to be king. Carlson voted for one of the three Democrats in the field of 17 candidates to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene. NEW YORK, March 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Fondo MIVIVIENDA S.A. (the "Issuer") announced that Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. (the "Offeror") has commenced an offer to purchase for cash (the "Offer") up to US$375,000,000 aggregate principal amount (the "Maximum Purchase Amount") of the Issuer's 4.625% Notes due 2027 (the "Notes") upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in an Offer to Purchase dated the date hereof (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the "Offer to Purchase"). The table below summarizes certain payment terms of the Offer: Description of Notes CUSIP/ ISIN Nos. Outstanding Principal Amount Offer Consideration (1)(2) Early Tender Payment (1) Total Consideration (1)(2) Maximum Purchase Amount 4.625% Notes due 2027 344593 AF5 / US344593AF57 P42009 AE3 / USP42009AE34 US$600,000,000 US$957 US$50 US$1,007 US$375,000,000 _____________ (1) Per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes. Excludes accrued and unpaid interest to be paid to Holders whose Notes are validly tendered and accepted for purchase by the Offeror. (2) The Total Consideration equals the Offer Consideration plus the Early Tender Payment. Excludes accrued and unpaid interest to be paid to Holders whose Notes are validly tendered and accepted for purchase by the Offeror. The Offer will expire at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on April 13, 2026, unless extended or earlier terminated by the Offeror (this date and time, including as extended or earlier terminated, the "Expiration Date"). The early tender deadline for the Offer will be 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on March 23, 2026 (this date and time, including as extended or earlier terminated by the Offeror, the "Early Tender Date"). Holders of the Notes must validly tender their Notes at or before the Early Tender Date to be eligible to receive the Early Tender Payment. Notes tendered may be withdrawn prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on March 23, 2026, but not thereafter, except as required by applicable law. If the aggregate principal amount of all Notes validly tendered at or prior to the Early Tender Date by Holders does not exceed the Maximum Purchase Amount, then the Offeror will accept all such Notes validly tendered. However, if the aggregate principal amount of all Notes validly tendered at or prior to the Early Tender Date by Holders exceeds the Maximum Purchase Amount, then the Offeror will accept for purchase all such validly tendered Notes on a prorated basis until the aggregate principal amount of Notes accepted reaches the Maximum Purchase Amount, and will not accept for purchase any Notes validly tendered after the Early Tender Date. If the aggregate principal amount of all Notes purchased on the Early Settlement Date does not exceed the Maximum Purchase Amount, then the Offeror will accept all Notes validly tendered after the Early Tender Date, and at or prior to the Expiration Date, so long as the aggregate principal amount of all such Notes, along with all Notes purchased on the Early Settlement Date, does not exceed the Maximum Purchase Amount. However, if the aggregate principal amount of all Notes validly tendered after the Early Tender Date, and at or prior to the Expiration Date, along with all Notes purchased on the Early Settlement Date, exceeds the Maximum Purchase Amount, then the Offeror will accept for purchase all such Notes validly tendered after the Early Tender Date and at or prior to the Expiration Date on a prorated basis until the aggregate principal amount of Notes, including all Notes purchased on the Early Settlement Date, reaches the Maximum Purchase Amount. Notes that are validly tendered at or prior to the Early Tender Date will have priority over any Notes validly tendered after the Early Tender Date. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Offer being satisfied or waived and to the Offeror's right to amend, extend, terminate or withdraw the Offer, the Issuer expects that payment for all Notes validly tendered at or before the Early Tender Date, subject to the Maximum Purchase Amount and proration, and accepted by the Offeror will occur promptly following the Early Tender Date (the "Early Settlement Date," which is expected to be the second business day following the Early Tender Date, but which may change without notice). The Issuer expects that payment for all Notes validly tendered after the Early Tender Date and at or before the Expiration Date, subject to the Maximum Purchase Amount and proration, and accepted by the Offeror will occur promptly following the Expiration Date (the "Final Settlement Date," which is expected to be the second business day after the Expiration Date, but which may change without notice). The Offeror reserves the right, in its sole discretion, subject to applicable law, to increase, decrease or eliminate the Maximum Purchase Amount, however, there can be no assurance that the Offeror will do so. Accordingly, Holders should not tender any Notes that they do not wish to be accepted in the Offer. Holders of Notes who validly tender and do not validly withdraw their Notes at or before the Early Tender Date and whose Notes are accepted for purchase by the Offeror, subject to the Maximum Purchase Amount and proration, will receive the Total Consideration set forth above, which includes the Early Tender Payment. Holders of Notes who validly tender their Notes after the Early Tender Date and at or before the Expiration Date and whose Notes are accepted for purchase by the Offeror, subject to the Maximum Purchase Amount and proration, will receive the Offer Consideration set forth above. In addition, Holders of Notes who validly tender Notes in the Offer, and whose tender of Notes are accepted by the Offeror, will receive accrued and unpaid interest in respect of their purchased Notes from the last interest payment date to, but not including, (i) in the case of any Notes tendered at or before the Early Tender Date, the Early Settlement Date and (ii) in the case of any remaining Notes tendered after the Early Tender Date, the Final Settlement Date. The Offer is being made by the Offeror on behalf of the Issuer, and the Issuer has consented to the Offeror making the Offer. It is intended that the Notes validly tendered at or prior to the Early Tender Date and purchased by the Offeror in the Offer will be exchanged (the "Exchange") by the Offeror with the Issuer for certain new notes to be issued in a new offering by the Issuer (the "New Notes Offering") exempt from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and therefore will only be offered and sold to "qualified institutional buyers" (QIBs) in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act and outside the United States to non-U.S. persons in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act. The Offeror's obligation to accept for purchase and to pay for Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Offer is conditioned upon, among other things, the pricing of the New Notes Offering on terms satisfactory to the Issuer and the New Offering having not been terminated prior to the Early Settlement Date. No assurance can be given that the New Offering will be priced on the terms currently envisioned or at all. Additional conditions to the Offer are described in the Offer to Purchase. The Offeror may amend, extend, terminate or withdraw the Offer. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. are the dealer managers for the Offer. Global Bondholder Services Corporation has been appointed as the tender agent and information agent for the Offer. Persons with questions regarding the Offer should contact J.P. Morgan Securities LLC at +1 (866) 846-2874 (U.S. toll-free) or +1 (212) 834-7279 (collect), or Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. at +1 (800) 372-3930 (U.S. toll-free) or +1 (212) 225-5559 (collect). Holders who would like copies of the Offer to Purchase may call the information agent, Global Bondholder Services Corporation at +1 (212) 430-3774 or +1 (855) 654-2014 (toll free). This press release is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation, an offer to purchase, or a solicitation of an offer to sell with respect to any securities. The Offer is being made solely pursuant to the Offer to Purchase that is being distributed to the holders of Notes. The Offer is not being made to, nor will tenders be accepted from or on behalf of, holders of Notes in any jurisdiction in which the making of the Offer or the acceptance thereof would not comply with the laws of that jurisdiction. Further, this press release is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities. The Offer is being made solely pursuant to the Offer to Purchase and its related documents. The Offer to Purchase and its related documents have not been filed with, and have not been approved or reviewed by any federal or state securities commission or regulatory authority of any country. No authority has passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of the Offer to Purchase and its related documents or any other documents related to the Offer, and it is unlawful and may be a criminal offense to make any representation to the contrary. Forward-Looking Statements The Offer to Purchase contains words, such as "believe," "intend," "estimate," "expect," "could," "may," "will," "plan," "target," "project," "potential," "predict," "forecast," "guideline," "should," "anticipate" and similar expressions, that identify forward-looking statements reflecting the Issuer's views about future events and financial performance. Words such as "believe," "could," "may," "will," "anticipate," "plan," "expect," "intend," "target," "estimate," "project," "potential," "predict," "forecast," "guideline," "should" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying these statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Issuer's strategy, plans, objectives, assumptions, prospects, beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve inherent risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are based on current plans, estimates and projections, and therefore you should not place undue reliance on them. Although the Issuer believes the assumptions upon which these forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, any of these assumptions could prove to be inaccurate and the forward-looking statements based on these assumptions could be incorrect. Actual results could differ materially and adversely from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors that may be beyond the Issuer's control, including but not limited to those described in the Offer to Purchase. These statements speak only as of their dates, and the Issuer does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any of them as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. About the Issuer Fondo MIVIVIENDA S.A. is a Peruvian state-owned corporation (sociedad anonima) dedicated to providing lower- and middle-income working families and individuals, with access to financing to purchase, construct, or improve their residences. SOURCE Fondo MIVIVIENDA S.A. Matt Mahan has emerged a favorite of Silicon Valley among a crowded field of Democratic contenders for Californias governors seat. Photograph: Christopher Victorio/Shutterstock (Photograph: Christopher Victorio/Shutterstock) Tech billionaires are adding to their already huge spending spree on California politics as campaigns for governor and a proposed wealth tax heat up. According to recently released campaign finance disclosures, big names pouring millions into state politics include current and former chief executives from Google, DoorDash, Reddit, LinkedIn and Facebook evidence of Silicon Valleys increasing involvement in politics. Googles former CEO Eric Schmidt has become a major donor, contributing $1.04m to an independent committee, the California Business Roundtable, that is campaigning against the proposed Billionaire Tax Act, according to new filings released by the state government. The union-backed tax proposal, opposed by almost all of the states mega-rich, aims to help cover education, food assistance and healthcare programs. New campaign filings also reveal that Google co-founder Sergey Brin has donated to both Republican and Democratic candidates for the California governors seat, playing both sides of the aisle. Brin contributed $39,200 last week to Republican candidate Steve Hilton, a former Fox News contributor who served as an adviser to former British prime minister David Cameron. Hilton, also a billionaire, is married to Googles former head of communications Rachel Whetstone. Related: The smart, the rich, the powerful: Epstein associated with Silicon Valley elite years after his release from prison Brin has also bankrolled Democratic candidate Matt Mahan, a Silicon Valley favorite among the crowded field of Democrats. Last month, Brin maxed out the limit for individual campaign donations for Mahan, at $78,400. On Monday, Brin handed a $1m donation to an independent committee working to elect Mahan called Deliver for California. Brin, who relocated to a $42m estate on the north-eastern shore of Lake Tahoe in Nevada after the billionaire tax proposal, contributed $20m in January to a committee combating the measure, Building a Better California. Schmidt donated $2m to the same committee around the same time. A notoriously private person, Brin has become increasingly involved in politics in 2026, as has the rest of Silicon Valley. He attended a White House dinner with Donald Trump last year, where the president called his girlfriend, wellness influencer Gerelyn Gilbert-Soto, a really wonderful Maga girlfriend. Brins former wife is Nicole Shanahan, who was Robert F Kennedy Jrs running mate for president in 2024. Mahan, who went to college with Metas CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, and is seen as the tech-friendly candidate, has been able to garner millions in donations from Silicon Valley since announcing his campaign at the end of January. New campaign filings from the state show hes recently received individual donations of $39,200 from DoorDashs CEO, Tony Xu, and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman. And he brought in the max of $78,400 from Reddits CEO, Steve Huffman, Cruise co-founder and former CEO Kyle Vogt, Napster co-founder and former Facebook president Sean Parker and Zyngas founder, Mark Pincus. In the last round of campaign filings, Mahan even courted donors who helped launch companies known for working with the Trump administration, including the Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale and Anduril co-founder Matt Grimm. Like Brin, Lonsdale has also donated to Hilton. The battle over the billionaire tax has seen a steady flow of funding coming from the tech world too. Campaign filings show donors to Building a Better California include DoorDash CEO Xu ($2m), crypto billionaire and Ripple CEO Chris Larsen ($2m) and Stripe CEO Patrick Collison ($2m). Those whove donated to the California Business Roundtable include Palantir co-founder Peter Thiel ($3m), Ring founder James Siminoff ($100,000) and Larsen ($750,000). Both Mahan and Hilton have publicly said they oppose the proposed billionaire tax, which is still in the signature-gathering phase to get on the November ballot. Campaign organizers said in a statement on Wednesday that theyve been working around the clock to collect those signatures. Representatives for Schmidt declined to comment. Brin didnt immediately return request for comment. An overseas Filipino worker sleeps as she waits for updates on her cancelled flight to the Middle East at Manila's International Airport Photograph: Aaron Favila/AP (Photograph: Aaron Favila/AP) Sirens warning of Iranian missiles blare out so frequently that Joycee Pelayo, a Filipino living near to Tel Aviv, doesnt leave the house any more. Each time an alert sounds, she rushes to help the older man she cares for, supporting him into a wheelchair, then down the steps into a nearby shelter. Last night, there were three alerts. We received it at about 2am, in the middle of the night, and then 3am, and then 4am, says Pelayo. She is among 2.4 million Filipinos living across the Middle East, who moved in pursuit of higher wages and a chance to give a better life to families back home, but now find themselves living with a daily barrage of drone and missile strikes. Related: Minab school bombing: what evidence is there that the US was responsible? The war that has erupted between the US, Israel and Iran, engulfing the region, has already proved deadly to Filipinos workers abroad. On 28 February, 32-year-old Mary Ann De Vera, a Filipino working as a carer, became the first casualty of the conflict in Israel. She was killed in Tel Aviv after being hit by shrapnel while escorting her employer, an older woman, to a shelter. Her employer survived. Migrant workers have repeatedly found themselves in the frontlines of recent conflict in Israel. Thai nationals, who help power Israels agricultural industry, accounted for the highest number foreign victims of the Hamas attacks in October 2023. At least 47 Thais were killed, while 28 Thai hostages were eventually released. Four Filipinos were also killed in the Hamas attack. The Middle East is one of the main destinations for Filipinos who work abroad, and the salaries offered in the region in jobs ranging from domestic work and healthcare, to construction and engineering can be many times higher those available back home. In the Philippines, those who go abroad to work are praised by politicians as modern day heroes, because of the tens of billions of dollars they remit home every year. But such work comes at a high personal cost. They endure long periods away from children and partners, and can be vulnerable to abuse and mistreatment, especially in countries with a kafala (sponsorship) system, where workers are heavily dependent on their employers. Over recent years, pressures have increased pressures further, with workers facing instability through the pandemic, and, for the 31,000 Filipinos based in Israel, repeated bouts of conflict. Some are now weighing up whether to try to return home questioning if the crisis could intensify further, and how relatives who rely upon their salaries would manage if they did return. However airspace closures and restrictions mean those who want to go home have very limited options. Robert Laurince Ramil, moved to Qatar seven months ago to work in the mechanical department of a gas plant. Of the six men in his dorm room, four of them, including Ramil, want to leave. We can find work anywhere, but your safety and life are more important, he says. Staff are staying in their dormitories 24/7, and leaving only to eat at an on-site canteen, he says. He spends his time following news updates and speaking to family members, including his wife and two sons, back home. The daily blasts are so loud the floor shakes. Work for now has been cancelled, though the workers are still being paid. Others though say they feel safe. Salhee Enriquez, 48, a carer in Tel Aviv, says life has continued as normal. Every establishment has their own bomb shelter, she says, adding that after years of conflict, people have become used to the situation. She cares for a woman with dementia, but was told by the womans daughter to prioritise her own safety in the event of a siren. She said, you have a family, they are waiting for you, you are young, so go and save your life first. Enriquezs family in the Philippines calls her constantly, waking her in the night to check she is OK, and asking her to return. She is a single parent who moved abroad to support her daughter. If I go home, we dont have enough money to provide for us, she says. Besides, she tells relatives, the airport is closed. Campaigners in the Philippines have frequently called on the government to create better job opportunities at home, so that people arent forced to go overseas. Pelayos daughter was only two years old when she moved away, but in Israel she earns 10 times more than the pay she received in her past job. High air fares and fears about leaving her employer in the lurch, meant six years passed before she was able to fly home for a holiday to see her daughter again. Of course I want to go home and be with my family, adds Pelayo. But there is no job that will [match] my salary here. Its a big difference. My daughter now is asking me because they heard about whats happening, they saw the news in the Philippines shes asking me mama why you dont go home, says Pelayo. [I asked her] pray for me. Dan Marsh launched Indelible Fine Art in 2022 and had been thinking of expanding in Dubai In February, Dan Marsh flew out to Dubai. Not for a holiday, but for a research trip: could he find somewhere to live? Marsh, who is based in Brighton, had spent the last few years wondering whether he should move to Dubai. I usually go out to Dubai over the Christmas period, so its always been something thats on my mind, he says. Ive always flipped between: should I? Shouldnt I? Marsh liked the feeling of safety on the streets, which made it feel like a good place to raise a family. He has friends in Dubai, who seemed to be doing well. One had started a successful tech business, having benefited from the networking opportunities and contacts hed been able to make. Crucially, Marsh believed that it could be a smart decision for his own business. Since 2022, he has run Indelible Fine Art, a contemporary art gallery in Brighton. But with sustained investment in arts and culture in the United Arab Emirates, he had wondered about expanding in Dubai. In a bid to become a global cultural hub, the UAE has been making a concerted effort to grow its creative economy, which contributed AED 21.9 billion (4.46bn) to the countrys GDP in 2022, according to a recent Creative Dubai report. Following the opening of the Louvre Abu Dhabi in 2017, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is one of a number of museums set to open this year, while the inaugural Frieze Abu Dhabi is scheduled for November. The Louvre Abu Dhabi opened in 2017 (Alamy Stock Photo) The UAE has put a lot of money into the arts and culture. I think theyre at the forefront in terms of what theyre trying to do with art, says Marsh. We were looking at opening a branch and expanding there, and potentially getting into [Frieze] as well. After years of wavering, the scales had recently tipped towards making the move. Marsh and his wife India had broken the news to friends and family, and were hoping to relocate within the next few months if they could find somewhere to live. Its number one for the gallery, and I think it would be phenomenal to be out there. The safety aspect was a big factor, especially if you have a little one and youre bringing them up. Londons a bit mental. I felt like that would have been the ideal place to move your life to. In February, Marsh booked a week of property viewings all over the city: apartments, villas, houses. We had seen a couple of places [we liked], it was just trying to make up our mind on where we wanted to go, he says. Marsh also explored potential locations for a new gallery, including Dubai Mall, which is home to the likes of MB&F M.A.D. Gallery and Eden House of Art. That would have been ideal in terms of footfall, perhaps pushing the gallery and giving it more of an oomph, says Marsh. I feel like youd get a lot more out there than in London, or on the Kings Road. With Marsh and India thinking about starting a family, they had even visited potential schools. Its worth bearing in mind. Schools out there are probably a lot better than those here, he says. We definitely set our minds on going out there. Marsh went property hunting in Dubai last month (Unsplash) But over the last week, places like the UAE, which have traded on their reputation for safety, have found themselves caught in the crossfires of the US-Israel war on Iran. Since US and Israeli strikes on 28 February, Iran has retaliated with attacks on all members of the Gulf Co-operation Council, which includes the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait. Last week, Iran struck Dubais famous Fairmont Hotel, with social media videos showing fires breaking out near the entrance. The Burj Al Arab hotel was also hit by an intercepted drone, and Dubai International Airport sustained minor damage, according to the airports media office on X. The incident has caused widespread travel disruption, leaving passengers stranded and flights from the UK to the Middle East cancelled. Dubais property market has boomed in recent years, thanks in part to its reputation as a safe haven. Between 2024 and 2025, the total property sales value grew by 25 per cent, according to Knight Frank, while 500 homes were sold for more than 7.5 million last year, representing a landmark high for the top end of the market. Now, though, some, like the British influencer who paid 100,000 for a private jet, are scrabbling to leave. And others, like Marsh, are cancelling their plans to move. Dan Marsh at Indelible Fine Art (Supplied) Everyone is watching developments very closely and hoping the situation stabilises quickly but if tensions escalate further and this turns into a prolonged conflict, people will inevitably start to question whether they want their capital tied up there long term and whether its a safe place to live and raise a family. In similar situations in the past, we have seen a flight to safety, buying agent Jo Eccles told Homes & Property last week. Marsh, like many others around the world, watched videos of the Burj Al Arab Hotel in flames on social media. You see videos of places where you never would have imagined something like this happening, he says. Until then, I was still dead set on going out there. The main thing for me was the safety side of things. Every time Ive been out there, its felt like the safest place. Now, that safetys gone, he continues. You dont know how long its going to go on for. You dont know what the ripple effects are going to be. Its frustrating, because wed advanced so far in terms of what wed decided to do, but its just all come to a halt. For now, Marsh is in a kind of limbo, uncertain of his next move. Even if the conflict were to end, he feels it is too early to say whether opening a gallery in Dubai would still be a good idea. In a sense, Im happy that I hadnt put pen to paper on a place. My wife and I have made a conscious decision to put a pin in it, he says. Now, its back to square one. This photo shows oil storage containers of German mineral oil logistics company Unitank at Westhafen in Berlin, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, Germany, on March 11, 2026. The 32 member countries of the International Energy Agency (IEA) decided on Wednesday to unlock 400 million barrels of oil from their reserves the biggest such release ever to ease the impact of the Middle East war. Strategic oil reserves act as a cushion in case of economic shocks or disruptions. Here is an explainer on how and why they came about. Read moreMiddle East war live: Strait of Hormuz ships hit as Iran says US-linked vessels 'legitimate targets' Why store oil? Oil powers cars, boats and planes. Covering around one third of global energy needs, oil is also the primary resource making up a raft of plastic-based daily items. That makes it essential to the economy and oil also plays a crucial role in times of conflict, as Yves Jegourel, co-director of the CyclOpe think tank, pointed out in January. Sufficient supplies of oil, along with other raw materials such as aluminium, are necessary for conducting a war. Countries, especially those which do not produce oil, usually build up a reserve supply in the event of geopolitical upheaval or supply chain disruption. Read moreKharg Island: Irans untouchable oil artery? What role for the IEA? The role of the IEA, set up in 1974 following the first oil shock of 1973, is to ensure the secure supply of energy. Around 30 countries are members, including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand and the United States. Each member has "an obligation to hold oil stocks equivalent to at least 90 days of net oil imports," that can be mobilised if a crisis arises. That "may include stocks held exclusively for emergency situations as well as stocks held for commercial purposes," be they crude oil or refined products, according to the IEA. The aim is to "mitigate the negative economic impacts" of shortages or disruptions to supply. Precedents The IEA must agree on collective action once it has assessed the disruption and current market conditions. It has acted on five occasions: in the run-up to the Gulf War in 1991, after hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, during the Libyan civil war in 2011 and twice since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The price of a barrel of crude of US benchmark West Texas Intermediate raced first past $100 and then $110 in recent days, before slipping back. How much in current stocks? The global oil market has been in surplus since the beginning of 2025, according to the IEA. Global stocks last year topped 8.2 billion barrels, providing a "significant safety cushion against potential disruptions," it said. The planet consumes around 100 million barrels of oil daily. IEA members hold more than 1.2 billion barrels of public emergency stocks, the organisation says, as well as some 600 million additional barrels of stocks which governments oblige the industry to hold. Watch moreIran war stifles Hormuz shipping: Unprecedented impact on oil & global economy What of non-members? In Asia, which relies more heavily upon Middle Eastern oil imports, the situation may be more concerning. According to Bloomberg, China asked key refiners in early March to suspend their exports of diesel and gasoline. A huge consumer of oil, particularly from the Middle East, China has accumulated significant crude reserves of around 1.2 billion barrels over recent years, according to intelligence analysis from Kpler. This amounts to "around 115 days of its crude oil imports by sea". Another large-scale consumer, India, has obtained a US waiver to buy 30 days of Russian oil supplies normally subject to international sanctions. (FRANCE 24 with AFP) Defending champion Inothewayurthinkin will sport first-time cheekpieces among a field of 11 in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup. The eight-year-old has run three lacklustre races so far this season but reports of some sparkling homework in recent weeks have reignited enthusiasm for his chances. Gavin Cromwell had initially expressed doubts about his participation after he took a heavy fall at the Dublin Racing Festival but he has been the subject of plenty of market support in the build up. Three of the first four from the King George at Christmas will lock horns once more in Ben Paulings winner The Jukebox Man, Willie Mullins Gaelic Warrior and the Nicky Henderson-trained Jango Baie. Haiti Couleurs will aim to add the Gold Cup to the Irish and Welsh Nationals he has already won while Grey Dawning represents the Dan and Harry Skelton combination. Festival regular Envoi Allen, Firefox, Gold Tweet for France, LHomme Presse and Spillanes Tower complete the field while Affordale Fury was not declared. A full field of 22 will go to post in the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle, headed by Mullins Doctor Steinberg. Paul Nolans Thedeviluno, Gordon Elliotts Spinningayarn and Cromwells The Passing Wife give Ireland a strong hand. The home team consists of Paulings Mondouiboy, Joe Tizzards Kripticjim and Skeltons Moneygarrow, among others. Dinoblue will face eight rivals as she attempts to win the Mrs Paddy Power Mares Chase, with Panic Attack also there. There are 20 in the JCB Triumph Hurdle with market leaders Proactif, Macho Man, Maestro Conti and Minella Study all declared. There is a full field of 24 in the William Hill County Hurdle with the weights headed by Ndaawi, while the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle is also full, as is the Princess Royal Challenge Cup Open Hunters Chase. The International Energy Agency (IEA) says it has agreed to release a record 400 million barrels of oil from its strategic reserves to help stabilise markets. The UK Government said it will contribute 13.5 million barrels from its own stockpile for the release. The conflict in Iran has halted shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and pushed the price of oil and gas sharply higher. Today, @IEA Member countries unanimously agreed today to carry out the largest ever oil stock release making 400 million barrels from their emergency reserves available amid market disruptions from the Middle East conflict. Read more https://t.co/4HGtR7ZYZB pic.twitter.com/sPH1rOm8LY International Energy Agency (@IEA) March 11, 2026 The IEA, which includes the UK, said the release the largest in the 50-year history of the 32-nation alliance will account for around a third of its 1.2 billion barrel stockpile held for emergencies. Members hold a further 600 million barrels of industry stocks under government obligations. Energy secretary Ed Miliband said: With this action, the UK is playing our part in working with our international allies to address the disruption in oil markets. The UK has strong and diverse energy supplies, and the price cap plays an important role in protecting energy bills until July. The way to protect families and businesses in the long run is to get off our dependency on global fossil fuel markets, and on to clean, homegrown power which we control. (PA Graphics) (PA Graphics) The Government stressed that the resumption of tankers using the Strait of Hormuz is critical and said it will will continue to work closely with partners to achieve this. Brent crude oil prices were up 3.5% on Wednesday afternoon at 90.87 US dollars a barrel, although this remains significantly down from the peak hit on Monday amid concerns over an intensification in the Iran conflict. Rachel Winter, partner at Killik & Co, said: The IEAs decision to release strategic oil reserves on an unprecedented scale is a significant intervention, and markets will take note. Whether it succeeds will depend on how long the conflict continues and whether other producers move to fill any supply gap. In the short term, we may see some relief at the pump, and oil majors such as BP and Shell, which have benefited from the recent price spike, could give back some of those gains. Iran has trolled President Donald Trump by releasing an AI-generated propaganda video that mocks the Jeffrey Epstein files scandal that has dogged his administration. The Islamic regime shared the two-minute video this week depicting Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as Lego figurines amid the joint U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign on Iran. It comes as some of Trumps fiercest critics have accused the president of risking world war to distract from the Epstein files fiasco. In the bizarre video, posted by Irans Tasnim News Agency, Trump and Netanyahu stood beside a Lego Satan and looked over a folder titled: Jeffrey Epstein File. An Epstein-figure in an orange prison jumpsuit was pictured in the file next to a grey-haired Lego character. Iran has trolled President Donald Trump by releasing an AI-generated propaganda video that mocks the Jeffrey Epstein files scandal that has dogged his administration (Iran state media) The Lego figure of Netanyahu then laughed over Trumps shoulder, whose expression changed to one of anger after looking at the file. Incensed by what he had seen in the Epstein files the Trump figure then pushed a big red button to launch a U.S. missile. In the video, the U.S. missile struck a girls school, which appeared to be a reference to the elementary school in Minab, southern Iran, where 175 schoolgirls and staff were killed on the first day of the war. That incident remains under investigation on the source of the attack. The clip cut to a classroom before fading to black, and showed rubble from the explosion. A Lego Iranian soldier was seen holding a childs pink backpack among the ruins. The propaganda video heavily implies that the U.S. was responsible for the deadly missile strike. At a press conference Tuesday, Trump refused to take blame for a Tomahawk missile, which investigators believe was likely fired by U.S. forces that struck the school. Video obtained by The New York Times and other outlets shows the apparently American strike hitting a Revolutionary Guard Corps naval base and the school building next to it. The video goes on to depict the Iranians taking revenge for the strike by launching attacks in Tel Aviv, on British forces in Cyprus and targeting U.S. vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. In the bizarre video, posted by Irans Tasnim News Agency, Trump and Netanyahu stood beside a Lego Satan and looked over a folder titled: Jeffrey Epstein File (Tasnim News Agency) In the video, the U.S. missile struck a girls school, which appeared to be a reference to the school in Minab, southern Iran, where 175 schoolgirls and staff were killed (Tasnim News Agency) The Independent has contacted Lego for comment. Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Republican Rep. Thomas Massie were among those accusing the president of launching a fresh conflict in the Middle East to distract from Epstein. He impulsively went in on Venezuela. He impulsively went in on Iran. There was no exit and no endgame for either of these situations. It led to increased global instability everywhere he goes, Ocasio-Cortez told MeidasTouch last week. And every time hes done that, it has been consistent with a spike or a revelation in what is happening with the Epstein files. I dont think that that coincidence is something to dismiss off the cuff. I think that he feels existentially tied to it. Massie, the Kentucky congressman who spearheaded legislation to release the documents, also said that bombing Iran wont make the Epstein files go away. Saturday Night Live also took a swipe at Trump, with James Austin Johnson parodying the presidents Truth Social video in which he first announced Operation Epic Fury. War, what is it good for? Distracting from the Epstein files! Johnson said. The saga refuses to calm the public. Most recently, a new statue depicting Trump and the late sex offender recreating a scene from The Titanic appeared Tuesday on D.C.s National Mall near the U.S. Capitol. The large sculpture titled King of the World is a nod to the famous moment from the 1997 blockbuster The Titanic, when the films protagonists stand together at the prow of the doomed ship. The tragic love story between Jack and Rose was built on luxurious travel, raucous parties and secret nude sketches, a plaque at the base of the installation states. This monument honors the bond between Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein. Welcome back? Tourism to Dubai has collapsed despite attractions such as the world's highest building, the Burj Khalifa (Simon Calder) The escalating conflict in the Middle East is causing massive losses for the travel and tourism industry, a new study reveals. The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) estimates the US and Israeli assault on Iran, together with Tehrans retaliatory strikes on Gulf nations, has cut international visitor spending across the Middle East by at least US$600m (450m) per day around 20m per hour. The organisation attributes the slump to disruptions to air travel, traveller confidence and regional connectivity. Normally, around half a million passengers per day fly to, from or via the three big aviation hubs: Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE, and Doha in Qatar. The region usually accounts for five per cent of global international arrivals. One in seven international passengers making connecting flights is transferring at one of the Gulf hubs. But commercial operations at those airports have largely collapsed, along with inbound tourism. Many governments, including the UK, warn against travel to the region. Any disruption affects demand worldwide, which impacts airports and flights, hotels, car hire companies and cruise lines, the WTTC report says. Gloria Guevara, the organisations president and chief executive of the WTTC, said: History shows that the sector can recover quickly, especially when governments support travellers through hotel support or repatriation. Our analysis of previous crises demonstrates that security-related incidents often see the fastest tourism recovery times, in some cases as quickly as two months, when governments and industry work together to restore traveller confidence. Speaking exclusively to The Independent, the senior aviation figure Jonathan Hinkles said: I think the via market across the Gulf hubs will recover pretty quickly, despite the images of the terminal at Dubai being hit by an exploding drone a pretty sobering sight for the millions whove seen that view in normal times. But at the end of the day, the Gulf carriers will be able to recover that market through price alone. The tourism industry to the Gulf states will take rather longer to bounce back, I suspect. I believe people will be more wary, having seen both the impact of the strikes on major hotels in Dubai, for one, but also the travel disruption of those who were in situ as this began. Many holidaymakers who were caught up in the conflict had to shelter from Iranian raids before finding a flight home possibly involving a road trip across the desert to Muscat in Oman. Tony Wheeler, co- founder of the Lonely Planet travel guide empire, said the conflict would put a little bit of a dent in the fortunes of Emirates, the leading Gulf airline. But he forecast that connectivity would help the airline bounce back. Basically, these days, if you want to go anywhere in the world, you can do it with one stop in Dubai, he told The Independent travel podcast from his home in Melbourne. I'm amazed: Africans you meet, and they say, I'm from Hargeisa in Somaliland. How do you get from Melbourne to Hargeisa? One stop, you fly to Dubai, and you jump on another plane. Boom, you're there. It's phenomenal. People won't want to pass that convenience up. At present, though, the Foreign Office warns against changing planes in any of the Gulf hubs. Read more: How will the Gulf crisis hit passenger confidence? American actress and comedian Kathryn Hahn will star in Disneys live-action version of Tangled as the evil Mother Gothel, it has been announced. The 52-year-old, known for Bad Moms and The Studio, will take on the vain antagonist in the remake of the beloved 2010 animated musical. The film follows Rapunzel, a young girl with magical blonde hair, who escapes a secret tower and her overprotective mother after meeting runaway bandit Flynn Rider. On Tuesday, Hahn shared a video on her Instagram account where she revealed the news to her 846,000 followers. The video showed the actress present her OOTD (outfit of the day) which featured a baggy black graphic T-shirt of the animated character with the words Mother Gothel written in gold print. Among those celebrating the news in the comment section was actress Donna Murphy, who voiced the character in the animation film. She said: From one Mother to anotherCongrats! And rememberI love you MOST. Kathryn Hahn stars in Seth Rogans hit series The Studio (James Manning/PA) (James Manning) Hahn also quoted Mother Gothels song, Mother Knows Best, in her Instagram bio. Disney Studios confirmed the role in a post on X which read: You want her to be the bad guy? FINE. Kathryn Hahn is Mother Gothel in Disneys live-action Tangled. She joins previously announced co-leads, Australian actor Teagan Croft, known for Titans, who will portray Rapunzel, while American actor Milo Manheim will take on the role of Flynn. Hahn is known for appearing in a number of hit comedy films including Step Brothers, How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days and Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy and Tiny Beautiful Things. She also stars in Seth Rogans hit series The Studio as the head of marketing Maya Mason a role which earned her an Emmy nomination for best supporting actress. Further details of Disneys live-action Tangled film are yet to be announced. Sir Keir Starmer faced fresh criticism over the Lord Mandelson scandal as a dossier of documents relating to his appointment as British ambassador to the US was published which also revealed the peer asked for nearly 550,000 in severance pay after being sacked. The Mandelson Files show that in the end he was awarded a 75,000 payout. Emails released outlined how Lord Mandelson opened his severance pay negotiations by requesting a full payout of his contract, totalling more than 500,000. An email dated October 16 last year, with the subject heading "PM settlement" from Alice McCullough from the Foreign Office's HR directorate, read: "If there's any pushback, it might be worth mentioning that he opened negotiations asking us to pay out his contract (over 500k). A separate document on the severance payment explained: Negotiations began with a request by the individual to pay out the remainder of the 4- year salary costs of the fixed term appointment. This would have amounted to 547,201. Lord Mandelson with Jeffrey Epstein (House Oversight Committee) The Prime Minister hopes that releasing the papers will show how the former Cabinet minister lied during his appointment process about the extent of his links to paedophile financier Epstein. But the files laid out the extent of the warnings that the PM received before giving the peer the sought-after diplomatic post. The due diligence advice that went to Sir Keir flagged a report that said Lord Mandelson maintained ties to Epstein after he was convicted of procuring an underage girl and allegedly stayed at his house while he was imprisoned. In a section entitled Relationship With Jeffrey Epstein, the due diligence document said: "A 2019 report commissioned by JPMorgan found that Epstein appeared to 'maintain a particularly close relationship with Prince Andrew the Duke of York and Lord Peter Mandelson, a senior member of the British government'. "The report cited Epstein's personal records which showed contact beginning in 2002 and continuing throughout the 2000s. "After Epstein was first convicted of procuring an underage girl in 2008, their relationship continued across 2009-2011, beginning when Lord Mandelson was business minister and continuing after the end of the Labour government. Mandelson reportedly stayed in Epstein's House while he was in jail in June 2009. "On reporting of the JP Morgan report, Lord Mandelson's spokesperson said 'Lord Mandelson very much regrets ever having been introduced to Epstein. This connection has been a matter of public record for some time. He never had any kind of professional or business relationship with Epstein in any form'." The due diligence report also pointed to a 2024 Telegraph report on the pair's links. It also said: "The Cabinet Office holds official records that are likely to be released by the National Archives early next year, which relate to a Tony Blair meeting with Epstein that was facilitated by Mandelson." The due diligence analysis concluded: "To note - general reputational risk." The 136 pages of evidence also include advice given to Sir Keir by former Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, emails to and from Lord Mandelson and details of the peers 75,000 payout when he was removed from his ambassador role. Sir Keirs judgement was thrust back into the spotlight for pressing ahead with the appointment of Lord Mandelson, twice sacked from the Cabinet, despite warnings against doing so from senior ministers. Shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart said: His fingers are all over this. Hes already admitted that he knew about Mandelsons ongoing relationship with Epstein when he appointed him. Time and again his judgment has been found wanting. Lord Mandelson was appointed as UK ambassador in Washington in December 2024 but sacked in September 2025. Sir Keir decided to fire the peer after emails released by Bloomberg "revealed a depth and extent of a relationship with Epstein which he had not been aware of previously when he made the decision to appoint Mandelson", according to a No 10 private office note. National security adviser Jonathan Powell said after the peer's sacking that he found the appointment process "unusual" and "weirdly rushed", according to a September 12 call record. Mr Powell also "raised concerns about the individual and reputation" to Sir Keir's then-chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, the memo said, but "MM responded that the issues had been addressed". Philip Barton, the then-Foreign Offices top civil servant, "also had reservations around the appointment", the memo said. Lord Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein (.) Lord Mandelson was arrested on February 23 on suspicion of misconduct in public office, having been accused of passing sensitive information on to Epstein during his time as Business Secretary from 2009 to 2010 during Gordon Browns premiership. He was subsequently bailed, but later released from his bail conditions, although he remains under investigation. Cabinet minister Darren Jones said a big number of documents were being released on Wednesday. He also told how a second batch of Whatsapp messages and other documents will be published in coming weeks, after they have been checked over by the Met Police to ensure their release does not jeopardise its investigation. When those documents become available you will be able to see in a bit more detail what the Prime Minister meant by the depth and extent of the relationship that had not been made clear to the Prime Minister, he told ITVs Good Morning Britain. Last month, MPs ordered the Government to release tens of thousands of documents relating to Lord Mandelsons appointment in 2024 after questions over how the peer was vetted and what was known about his links to Epstein. Former British ambassador to the US Lord Peter Mandelson with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during a visit to Washington in September 2025 (PA/Carl Court) (PA Wire) The Prime Minister has insisted Lord Mandelson lied repeatedly to No 10 about his relationship with Epstein, before and during his tenure as ambassador. But he has apologised for the appointment and admitted that it was a mistake. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has also been arrested and is also being investigated by the police over suspected misconduct in public office when he was a UK trade envoy. He faces being axed from the royal line of succession. Andrew leaves Aylsham Police Station on the day he was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office (REUTERS) The release of the Mandelson documents was ordered when Labour MPs, led in a revolt by former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, backed a humble address motion tabled by the Tories, a rarely-used manoeuvre which compels the Government to act. Some files will be withheld for national security or foreign relations reasons, but the final say over which documents are redacted rests with Parliaments Intelligence and Security Committee. The hires come on the heels of Garage Beer's remarkable 2025, with the brand posting the largest volume growth of any U.S. craft brewer, adding over 100,000 barrels. COLUMBUS, Ohio, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Garage Beer, the fastest-growing independent beer brand in the U.S., today announced several major leadership additions. Building on recent roster expansions led by CEO and Founder Andy Sauer, including external board members Bill Hackett and Pete Marino, as well as President Brian Amicon, the brand continues to strengthen its team with two more seasoned industry operators: CFO Patrick Brang, most recently of BeatBox Beverages, and CRO Andrew McGuire from Molson Coors. "Patrick and Andrew are tremendous additions to the Garage Beer team. Patrick brings a strong track record of scaling businesses in growth mode, while Andrew adds deep experience and leadership in the beer industry. We're humbled and excited to have both of them helping drive the next stage of Garage Beer's growth," says Garage Beer President Brian Amicon. Per Beer Marketer's Insights, these additions come on the heels of more impressive news from Garage Beer. In a challenging 2025 for beer, Garage Beer led the category's few bright spots, posting the largest volume growth of any brewer that is defined as craft by size, adding over 100,000 barrels. Patrick Brang, Chief Financial Officer Patrick Brang brings extensive experience from high-growth beverage brands, including seven years at Founders Brewing Co. and four years at BeatBox Beverages, one of the leading ready-to-drink brands, which was recently acquired by AB. At Garage Beer, Brang will oversee financial strategy and operations, working closely across departments to strengthen processes, support continued revenue growth, and improve overall financial performance as the brand scales nationally. Known for a collaborative, hands-on approach that extends well beyond traditional finance functions, Brang has built a reputation for partnering across organizations to help burgeoning beverage brands scale efficiently, experience that aligns closely with Garage Beer's next phase of expansion. Andrew McGuire, Chief Revenue Officer Andrew McGuire joins from Molson Coors Beverage Company, where he spent more than 20 years in a variety of sales and commercial leadership roles, most recently serving as Chief Customer Officer for the U.S. business. Prior to the CCO role, McGuire also led Molson Coors' Commercial Center of Excellence, a cross-functional organization connecting Sales, Marketing, Supply, and IT to drive category growth, expand retail partnerships, and strengthen commercial capabilities across the business. Over the course of his tenure, McGuire held leadership roles across distributor management, national accounts, and regional operations, including Regional Vice President for Molson Coors' Great Lakes Region, where he oversaw distributor and retail relationships across nine states and helped return the region to sustained growth. About: Garage Beer is America's fastest-growing light beer, now available in all 50 states. Crisp, crushable, and brewed for good times, Garage Beer is a no-nonsense 4% ABV lager with just 95 calories and 3g of carbs. It comes in two crowd-favorite varieties: Classic and Lime. Beer finder locater here and follow the ride at www.drinkgaragebeer.com, Instagram, and X. Media Contact: James Masello, [email protected] SOURCE Garage Beer Sir Keir Starmer has hinted at a move to cancel a fuel duty hike amid concerns over the impact that the Middle East crisis will have on the UK economy. The prime minister told MPs that the planned 5p increase would be kept under review before it is due to come into force in September. Fuel duty is currently frozen to help drivers with the cost of living, but that is due to end in the autumn. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has so far resisted calls to cancel the planned hike in response to the oil price spike caused by Donald Trumps war on Iran. But his comments, which came during a tetchy exchange at Prime Ministers Questions, pave the way for another possible U-turn. Pressed on the issue by Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, the prime minister said: We are not increasing the cost of petrol. We are absolutely clear in taking the measures that are necessary to deal with the impact of the conflict in Iran. Were dealing with that with other allies, were taking the necessary action. But the best thing that we can do is to work with others to de-escalate the situation." He added: Fuel duty is frozen. It is going to remain frozen until September. And we will keep the situation under review in light of what is happening in Iran. Later, in response to Tory MP Graham Stuart, he added: In light of what is happening in Iran, of course we will look carefully at the situation. Sir Keirs remarks were a distinct shift in statements given earlier this week by the chancellor, who had insisted that the rise would go ahead in September. Starmer has said Labour will look carefully at the situation when it comes to fuel duty (Parliament TV) Pressed on the subject in a Commons statement on Monday and then again during Treasury questions on Tuesday, she had added: Of course, we always keep taxes under review. Fears over a cost of living crisis similar to what happened in 2022 as a result of Russias invasion of Ukraine have been heightened by the price of oil rising more than 20 per cent to above $100 a barrel and gas more than 50 per cent. The RACs head of policy said on Wednesday that diesel prices have already risen by nearly 9 per cent since 28 February. Meanwhile, petrol prices are on average 6 per cent more across the same period, RAC Fuel Watch said. But Ms Reeves justified the increase, claiming that fuel duty was already 11p a litre below where they would have been under the plans of the previous Tory government. Ms Badenoch hit back over his fuel duty comments in response to lengthy criticism by the PM that she herself had U-turned on whether the UK should be joining the US and Israel in attacking Iran. Sir Keir said Ms Badenoch relentlessly attacked him for refusing to join the initial US-Israel strikes, before changing her position. Yesterday, in the wake of the economic consequences, the leader of the opposition totally abandoned her position, he said. She told the BBC I never said we should join. He added: That is the mother of all U-turns on the single most important decision a prime minister ever has to take whether to commit the United Kingdom to war or not. He said she and Nigel Farage had been spooked and were now furiously trying to backpedal on their stance. Kemi Badenoch has been accused of totally abandoning her position when it comes to the Iran war (House of Commons/UK Parliament) Responding to the possibility that the fuel duty rise may be cancelled, John OConnell, chief executive of the TaxPayers Alliance, said: Motorists will be desperately hoping that the prime minister is getting ready to slam the brakes on the planned fuel duty hike. Prices at the pump are set to surge over the coming weeks, and yet the government is currently planning to pour petrol on the flames by driving up prices even further. The chancellor needs to put taxpayers minds at ease by putting a stop to the hike. A Conservative Party spokesperson said: We have just seen a truly shameful display from the prime minister. Six times he was asked why he is raising fuel duty for families and businesses this year, six times he refused to answer, instead smearing the leader of the opposition and deliberately misrepresenting her position on Iran and our armed forces. Keir Starmer has shown he doesnt care about drivers and doesnt care about the cost of living. He has no answer on petrol prices, because he knows that raising fuel duty for the first time in 15 years is the clearest possible symbol of Labours total mismanagement of the economy. After PMQs, a Downing Street spokesperson played down divisions between the words of the prime minister and chancellor. They noted that Ms Reeves had said things are moving on a daily basis and added: Its our long-established position that decisions around taxes are set at Budgets. King Rasko Grey gained ample compensation for his near-miss at Leopardstown last month when handing Willie Mullins a record-extending eighth Turners Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham. Sent off at 11-1 and the choice of Paul Townend from a host of Closutton contenders, King Rasko Grey was third in a blanket finish to a Grade One over two miles at the Dublin Racing Festival but thrived for the step up in trip at Prestbury Park. In a race where Paul Nicholls 5-2 favourite No Drama This End could never make his presence felt and was ultimately pulled up, it was Nicky Hendersons Act Of Innocence who carried British hopes on his shoulders heading into the home straight locked in battle with the Mullins raider. However, he proved no match for the talented six-year-old, who relished every yard of the Cheltenham hill to come home two and a half lengths clear to give Townend his 40th Festival winner and also provide a welcome tonic for owner Audrey Turley after Galopin Des Champs was ruled out of the Gold Cup. Mullins said: I looked at the big screen after the race and I couldnt believe he was 11-1. I thought he was one of ours coming here with a really good chance. You never have a banker coming to Cheltenham, but I thought he would be 2-1 or 3-1 max after his run at the Dublin Racing Festival. I wasnt tipping him to my friends as I thought hed be too short for them theyre all very poor! I said after the Leopardstown that he would step forward. I thought he was a little short going into that and I expected him to improve. I think Paul chose to ride this horse straight away, there was no debate, and I thought the same to me this fellow was head and shoulders above a lot of the horses here. Its great for the Turleys after the disappointment (with Galopin Des Champs) earlier in the week, its fantastic for them to have a winner here. On what next season holds for his charge, he added: I actually thought he could be a Champion Hurdle type. I dont know whether he is or not and Im sure hell jump a fence, but well have a look at his Champion Hurdle credentials first. Of Act Of Innocence, who runs in the same Gordon and Su Hall colours of Supreme Novices Hurdle winner Old Park Star, Henderson said: He got a nice run up the inside there and he maybe did put his head in front briefly, but hes done nothing wrong and hes a lovely, big horse who can only improve, as is the case with yesterdays horse Old Park Star theyre big, chasing type of horses. I think its holiday time for both of them, I would have thought so, I really would I dont think they need to do that again. Theyve got big futures and I suspect that is enough for them this year. Kneecap rapper Mo Chara will not face a new terror trial after judges at the High Court rejected a Crown Prosecution Service appeal against the decision to throw out the case. The rapper, whose real name is Liam Og O hAnnaidh, was accused of displaying a flag in support of proscribed terror organisation Hezbollah at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, on 21 November 2024. The case was thrown out last September, with the chief magistrate ruling the proceedings were instituted unlawfully. Judge Paul Goldspring had agreed with the rappers lawyers that prosecutors needed to seek the permission of the attorney general before informing him that he would be charged with a terror offence. This permission was sought and given the following day, which the court heard meant the charge fell outside the six-month time-frame in which criminal charges against a defendant can be brought. The CPS appealed against the decision at the High Court at a hearing in January, with O hAnnaidh opposing the appeal. Lord Justice Edis and Mr Justice Linden have given their decision on Wednesday afternoon, rejecting the appeal. Lord Justice Edis, said that the judge was right to hold that he had no jurisdiction to try any summary-only offence alleged to have been committed on that date. He said: The respondent has not been tried for his alleged conduct on September 21 2025 and will not be tried. He has not been convicted, and he has not been acquitted. A press conference is due to take place at Conway Mill in Belfast in response to the judgment. In a statement provided through his lawyers, O hAnnaidh said after the decision: "I owe eternal gratitude to my legal team, who left no stone unturned in ensuring justice was upheld. "This entire process was never about me, never about any threat to the public and never about 'terrorism', a word used by the British Government to discredit people you oppress both in Ireland and across the world. "It was always about Palestine and about what happens if you dare to speak up. About what happens if you can reach large groups of people and expose their hypocrisy. "I will not be silent. Kneecap will not be silent." Speaking at a press conference in Belfast shortly after the ruling, O hAnnaidh said: "This is bigger than us - whatever kind of stress that we felt, it's minimal compared to the stress put on the families in Gaza." "We'll continue to use whatever platform we have to talk about Gaza," he added, saying the band has "lost gigs" and been "restricted" as a result of the court proceedings. The CPS said "we accept the judgment and will update our processes accordingly" after the ruling. A spokesperson added: "The High Court has clarified how the law applies to the issuing of written charges in summary offences where Attorney General permission is required for the Director of Public Prosecutions to consent to a prosecution." In the 13-page decision, Lord Justice Edis said the decision "turned on a very narrow and technical legal issue and has nothing to do with whether the respondent committed the offence set out in the charge". Lord Justice Edis said the proceedings against the rapper were "instituted" on May 21 2025, rather than at a later date in the time limit. He continued: "It is a matter of concern that a charge which both the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Attorney General considered met both parts of the full code test for crown prosecutors will never now be determined. "There was, they decided, a realistic prospect of conviction and the prosecution was in the public interest. "We have not investigated the reasons for this failure and nor do we seek to attribute blame." Kneecap rapper Liam Og O hAnnaidh said he will not be silent after High Court judges decided he will not face a new terror trial. The Belfast musician, 28, who uses the stage name Mo Chara, was accused of displaying a flag in support of proscribed terror organisation Hezbollah at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, on 21 November 2024. The case was thrown out last September over an issue with timing, as chief magistrate Paul Goldspring ruled the proceedings were instituted unlawfully. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) appealed the decision, but two judges at the High Court on Wednesday upheld it and dismissed the appeal. Judge Goldspring had agreed with Mr O hAnnaidhs lawyers that prosecutors needed to seek the attorney generals permission to charge the rapper before informing him on 21 May 2025 that he would be charged with a terror offence. This permission was sought and given on 22 May, which the court heard meant the charge fell outside the six-month time frame in which criminal charges can be brought. Lord Justice Edis, sitting with Mr Justice Linden, said in Wednesdays decision that: On 22 May 2025, the attorney general gave the DPP [director of public prosecutions] permission to consent to the prosecution, and on the same day a second written charge and requisition was issued by the police and posted to the respondent. This was in the same terms of the first written charge, and was issued more than six months from the time when the offence was allegedly committed. Kneecaps Liam Og O hAnnaidh during a press conference at Conway Mill in Belfast after the High Court delivered its judgment in the appeal (PA Wire) The judgment added: The judge was right to hold that he had no jurisdiction to try any summary-only offence alleged to have been committed on that date. It continued: The respondent has not been tried for his alleged conduct on 21 September 2025 and will not be tried. He has not been convicted, and he has not been acquitted. Following the handing down of the decision, Mr O hAnnaidh said in a statement through his lawyers: This entire process was never about me, never about any threat to the public and never about terrorism, a word used by the British government to discredit people you oppress both in Ireland and across the world. It was always about Palestine and about what happens if you dare to speak up. About what happens if you can reach large groups of people and expose their hypocrisy. I will not be silent. Kneecap will not be silent. In the 13-page decision, Lord Justice Edis said the decision turned on a very narrow and technical legal issue and has nothing to do with whether the respondent committed the offence set out in the charge. In a press conference in Belfast after the decision was made, Mr O hAnnaidh said the band no longer fears repercussions. Left to right: Kneecap's manager Dan Lambert, their lawyer Darragh Mackin, and band members Mo Chara, Muhllai Bap, and DJ Provai during a press conference at Conway Mill in Belfast (PA Wire) Supporters gathered at the venue cheered the band as its members walked in at the start of the conference. A banner with the Irish slogan Saoirse don Phalaistin which translates to Freedom for Palestine was displayed behind the band, as well as Irish and Palestinian flags. Mr O hAnnaidh said: This is bigger than us whatever kind of stress that we felt, its minimal compared to the stress put on the families in Gaza. Well continue to use whatever platform we have to talk about Gaza, he said, adding the band has lost gigs and been restricted as a result of the court proceedings. We dont give a f*** about the repercussions anymore, Mr O hAnnaidh added. A CPS spokesperson said: The High Court has clarified how the law applies to the issuing of written charges in summary offences where attorney general permission was required for the director of public prosecutions to consent to a prosecution. We accept the judgment and will update our processes accordingly. Labour struggled to pass the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill amid significant opposition - Aaron Chown/WPA Hereditary peers will no longer sit in the House of Lords after Labour struck a deal with rebels in the upper chamber. Most hereditary peers were removed from the Lords by Sir Tony Blairs government in 1999, but some were allowed to keep their seats. Labour promised in its manifesto to abolish the remaining hereditary peers, but had been struggling to pass the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill amid significant opposition. They will no longer sit in the upper chamber after the current session ends in May. However, some Conservative and crossbench peers will be allowed to sit as life peers after ministers offered a compromise to get the bill passed. The Conservatives dropped their opposition to the legislation once the concession had been made. Baroness Smith, the Leader of the House of Lords, said: The Lords plays a vital role within our bicameral Parliament, but nobody should sit in the House by virtue of an inherited title. That is why the Government committed to removing the remaining hereditary peerages, completing the reforms that were started over a quarter of a century ago. Getting this bill through is a major first step towards reform of the Lords, with further changes to follow including on members retirement and participation requirements. Lord True, the Conservative leader in the upper chamber, told the BBC that he had accepted the compromise to end eternal [parliamentary] ping-pong. The Government also plans to increase the number of paid ministers in the Lords. One of the departing hereditary peers, the Earl of Devon, said he believed the public will miss us. We should be proud to sit here as embodiments of the hereditary principle dating back a millennium, he told the BBC. Six killed in Swiss bus fire after passenger sets themselves alight At least six people have been killed in a bus fire in Switzerland after a passenger reportedly set themselves alight. Three people were injured in the incident in the town of Kerzers with footage shared on social media showing the vehicle engulfed in flames. The vehicle was travelling in the canton of Fribourg, which is around 12 miles from the countrys capital of Bern. At this stage, we have elements suggesting a deliberate act by a person who was inside the bus, Frederic Papaux, a spokesperson for Fribourg police said. It is too early to tell whether the incident is terror-related, said Christa Bielmann, another local police spokesperson, while local authorities said there is no indication or evidence that terrorism is involved. Investigators are looking into reports that a person on board the bus had poured fuel on themselves, Bielmann added. Police said the fire on the bus may have been set deliberately after reports of a man setting themselves on fire (Fribourg Cantonal Police) We have no indication that suggests we might be dealing with a terrorist attack, Swiss state councillor Romain Collaud told the Swiss-French broadcaster RTS on Wednesday morning, adding that investigations remain ongoing. Three people were injured and taken to hospital and two others caught up in the blaze were examined at the scene but did not need to be hospitalised. Two of the injured remain in a serious condition in hospital while the third was able to return home. Collaud confirmed that the bus was not electric but one with a combustion engine. The bus belonged to the company, Postauto, with local media reporting it was a postal bus. In Switzerland, postal bus services are a public bus service that operate as part of local mail delivery system as well as providing public transport. The incident took place in Kerzers, several kilometres from Bern (Keystone) On Tuesday evening passengers were seen escaping from the burning bus, panicked and injured, Papaux said, adding that no other vehicle was involved. Swiss media outlet 20 Minuten said it had seen a video taken at the scene in which an injured person said: A man set himself on fire. He poured gasoline over himself and then lit himself. Video after the flames were extinguished showed the charred remains of the vehicle, a yellow so-called Postauto. The identification of the six people who died could take several days, MCollaud said, adding it is not known if the person suspected of starting the fire was among the victims. Fire investigators examine the remains of the bus that was engulfed in flames (AP) Swiss president Guy Parmelin offered his condolences and said the incident was being investigated. It shocks and saddens me that once again people have lost their lives in a serious fire in Switzerland, he said in a statement on X, noting investigations were under way. Switzerlands parliament commemorated the fire victims at the start of their session as the National Council and Council of States rose for a minute of silence on Wednesday. We learned with great dismay of the fire involving a postal bus in Kerzers in the canton of Fribourg. This tragic event is shaking not only a region, a canton, but far beyond, said Fribourg National Council President Pierre-Andre Page (SVP). A floral tribute lays at the site of the bus fire (Reuters) On behalf of the National Council and in my own name, I would like to express our sympathy and sincere condolences to the families and relatives of the victims and wish the injured a speedy recovery. In the Council of States, President Stefan Engler spoke of an incomprehensible fire. Out of nowhere, an everyday situation takes an unimaginable turn, perhaps on the way home from work or school. In January, Switzerland was rocked by a fire in a bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana that killed 41 people and injured 115. The wounds from Crans-Montana are still fresh, fuelling strong reactions today, Collaud said. These are clearly events no one wants to experience, or relive. Yet they seem part of everyday life now, happening more frequently in Switzerland and worldwide, which is unfortunate, he told RTS. In London, two-thirds of stop and searches end with no further action (Nick Ansell/PA) Black people face a disproportionately higher risk of being stopped and searched by police in affluent areas of London. New data reveals they are up to 48 times more likely than white people to experience this. A comprehensive analysis of 152,000 Metropolitan Police stop records from 2023 further revealed that the stated reasons for these searches were often less specific when applied to Black individuals. Researchers at King's College London identified the wards with the most significant disparities: East Sheen in Richmond, where Black people were 48 times more likely to be searched; Dulwich Village, with a rate of 40 times; and Hampstead Town, at 38 times. Across London, Black residents were 3.4 times more likely than their white counterparts to be stopped and searched by officers in February this year, compared to a national average of four times. Dr Yijing Li from Kings College London said: Our modelling revealed clear evidence of unexplained disproportionality in how stop and search powers are used across London. Analysis of 152,000 Met Police stop records from 2023 revealed that the stated reasons for these searches were often less specific when applied to Black individuals (Getty Images/iStockphoto) These data-driven insights provide a robust evidence base to support fairer, more effective policing in London, and aim to help rebuild trust between communities and law enforcement. In London, two-thirds (65.9%) of stop and searches end with no further action, and 17.4% lead to an arrest. In 2025, Met officers carried out 149,299 searches, with 19,054 for weapons. In total 3,748 weapons were found 1,860 during searches for weapons and 1,888 from stop and searches relating to other suspected offences such as drugs and stolen property. London mayor Sadiq Khan, said: Stop and search is a vital policing tool. Done well, it stops those intent on causing harm and fear in our communities and takes dangerous weapons and drugs off our streets and ultimately saves lives. But when done badly and unfairly, it harms community confidence and trust and damages the partnership and community relationships so important to policing by consent and keeping Londoners safe. This major new research shows significant and unacceptable levels of disproportionality that we must act on. Thats why, along with the other steps to support and hold the Met to account, I am introducing a mandatory annual report of how stop and search is being used in London. The use of stop and search must be more transparent and accountable to deliver a safer and fairer London for all. Londoners are the quickest to raise concerns about rising London Underground temperatures, a new study has found. According to recent findings, commuters in the British capital are more likely to complain quickly about soaring Tube temperatures than their counterparts in Boston and New York. Based on findings at Northwestern University in the US, complaints by Brits surged by 27 per cent for every degree the temperature increased above 10C. By contrast, complaints went up by 12 per cent for each degree among New Yorkers and just 10 per cent among those in Boston. However, while Londoners recorded the highest spike of complaints when temperatures rose, New York still recorded the most overall complaints. Just 40 per cent of trains on the London Underground have air conditioning (PA Archive) Researchers suggested that this may suggest thermal conditions in New Yorks transit system are less comfortable than those in Londons. In their methodology, the researchers explained that they examined how commuters across the three key subway networks perceived heat at different times of day. Scanning 85,000 posts across X and Google Reviews from 2008 to 2024, they focused on posts specifically about heat discomfort. Addressing the findings, researchers acknowledged that: Subsurface temperatures in the London Underground, for example, have reached 47C, surpassing Londons highest recorded air temperature [of 40.2C]. People struggle to use parts of Londons Underground network, especially during summer, due to soaring temperatures and inadequate ventilation. Just 40 per cent of trains on the London Underground have air conditioning, which is considered the oldest subway system in the world. While newer trains, such as those on the Elizabeth line, are air-conditioned, its harder to update other parts of the network, which are sometimes very deep underground. There are also other reasons for soaring temperatures, including packed tube carriages and even train brakes, adding to the overall heat. Last summer, some Tube travellers complained of commutes feeling like a sauna with temperatures inside the Underground reaching 33C in July 2025. Data published last year also revealed which Underground lines are the hottest, with the Victoria and Central lines often predicted to have the warmest temperatures across the network. The government has published the first set of documents relating to Lord Peter Mandelsons appointment as ambassador to the United States on Wednesday, less than two months after emails between the statesman and Jeffrey Epstein were brought to light. In February, MPs ordered the government to release tens of thousands of documents relating to Lord Mandelsons appointment in 2024 after questions over how the peer was vetted and what was known about his links to the disgraced financier. The prime minister has insisted Lord Mandelson lied repeatedly to No 10 about his relationship with Epstein, before and during his tenure as ambassador. Lord Mandelson was arrested on 23 February on suspicion of misconduct in public office, having been accused of passing sensitive information on to Epstein during his time as business secretary. He was released pending investigation. Here is what we know about the pairs relationship. 2002 Lord Mandelson writes a memo encouraging the then-prime minister Tony Blair to meet Epstein, according to The Times. 2003 Lord Mandelsons message to Epstein, in which he describes him as his best pal, is included in a birthday book compiled by convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell. Part of Mandelsons birthday message to Epstein (House Committee on Oversight and Reform) 2006 As police in Florida suggest Epstein should be charged with four counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor, Lord Mandelson says, I am following you closely and here whenever you need, after Epstein tells him he is attempting to set up another prosecutor meeting, according to Bloomberg. Epstein is later arrested and Bloomberg reports that Lord Mandelson asks the paedophile for updates on the same day, saying keep me posted. 2007 Epsteins lawyers engage in a discussion with Miami attorney Alexander Acosta about a plea bargain that would allow him to avoid prosecution. Mandelson speaking with Jeffrey Epstein in a picture from the latest trove of documents released (House Oversight Committee) 2008 Epstein pleads guilty to soliciting prostitution and soliciting a minor and is sentenced to 18 months in a minimum-security prison. The US attorneys office agrees not to prosecute Epstein for more serious federal crimes in a secret arrangement. Lord Mandelson writes emails showing support for Epstein while he is facing charges for soliciting a minor, including one that says: Your friends stay with you and love you. The emails, reported by The Sun, also show the former Labour minister tells Epstein to fight for early release shortly before his prison sentence. A young Epstein poses with a woman whose face has been blocked out to protect her privacy (House Oversight Committee) 2009 Lord Mandelson stays at Epsteins Manhattan apartment while the paedophile is serving his 18-month sentence, an internal report by the JP Morgan bank suggests. Epstein is released from prison after serving 13 months. 2019 Epstein is arrested on sex trafficking charges after lawyers in New York conclude they are not bound by the secret non-prosecution agreement. The paedophile financier is found dead in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Centre in New York a month later. Lord Mandelsons affiliation with Epstein is thrown into the spotlight after a picture of him with the paedophile financier on St Barts is published. Keir Starmer appointed Lord Mandelson as the US ambassador last February (PA) 2025 Lord Mandelson tells a Financial Times reporter to f*** off after being asked about his relationship with Epstein. The House Oversight Committee in the US releases a number of documents from the Epstein estate, including the birthday book with Lord Mandelsons message in it. Lord Mandelson describes his birthday message to Epstein as very embarrassing during an interview with The Suns Harry Cole Saves the West programme. Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer asks Lord Mandelson to stand down. 2026 Lord Mandelson features in more than three million documents released by the US Department of Justice related to paedophile financier Epstein. Met Police launches a criminal investigation into Lord Mandelson into allegations he passed on sensitive information to Epstein during his time as business secretary. Lord Mandelson is arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was subsequently bailed, but later released from his bail conditions, although he remains under investigation. On Wednesday 11 March, the government released a tranche of documents related to Lord Mandelsons appointment as ambassador to the United States. Lost star Matthew Fox reveals why he walked away from Hollywood for 7 years Matthew Fox is reflecting on his 2015 decision to take a long hiatus from acting, following the conclusion of the survival drama Lost and a string of movie roles. Fox, 59, starred as Jack Shephard throughout the entire six-season run of Lost, from 2004 to 2010. He later appeared in a handful of movies, including Emperor (2012), World War Z (2013) and Bone Tomahawk (2015), before stepping away on an extended hiatus. He made his long-awaited return in the 2022 miniseries Last Light and the 2023 miniseries C*A*U*G*H*T. He will next star in Taylor Sheridans new standalone series, The Madison. Speaking to Variety at the series premiere, Fox explained the reason for his lengthy acting break. I felt like it was time to engage really intensely with my family. I had missed some of their childhood because I was on set all the time with Lost and doing films, he said. Fox has two children, daughter Kyle and son Byron, whom he shares with his wife of nearly 35 years, Margherita Ronchi. So it was the right moment for me to step back, take time to engage with the people that I love and care about the most in the world. And I did that, and then I kinda missed storytelling, and this opportunity came along from Taylor and I was like, Yeah Im in, he added. Now I have a balance. Matthew Fox took a seven-year break from acting in 2015 to focus on his family (Getty) Matthew Fox on his long acting hiatus after #Lost: I felt like it was time to engage really intensely with my family. I had missed some of their childhood because I was on set all the time with Lost and doing films. pic.twitter.com/aYcwoSbusY Variety (@Variety) March 10, 2026 The Emmy-nominated actor was cast in The Madison in 2024, joining Michelle Pfeiffer, Patrick J. Adams, Elle Chapman and Beau Garrett. The forthcoming series was originally intended to be a sequel to Sheridans popular Western drama Yellowstone. However, it is reportedly now being handled as a standalone series, centered on a different family within the Yellowstone universe. Teased as Sheridans most intimate work to date, in an official logline, the storyline unfolds across two distinct worlds: the beautiful landscape of Montana and the vibrant energy of Manhattan as it examines the ties that bind families together. Fox starred as Jack Shephard throughout the entire six seasons of 'Lost' (ABC) Director Christina Alexandra Voros told Variety in 2024 that The Madison is such a different story from Yellowstone. The common ground is the landscape, she explained. We are in Montana, but it is seen through a completely different lens, so it feels like another facet of this cut stone that has been polished. There are parallels in the scope of landscape and a human beings place in that space, but its coming at it from a completely different point of view. The Madison premieres its first three episodes on Paramount+ Saturday, March 14, with the final three on March 21.